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Blix to Meet With Powell
Aired October 04, 2002 - 14:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Chief U.N. Weapons Inspector Hans Blix is meeting this afternoon with Secretary of State Colin Powell and other top administration officials. The subject: resuming arms inspections in Iraq.
Meanwhile, the president is planning an important address on Iraq Monday night.
White House correspondent Kelly Wallace joins us now the details.
What's the strategy out of Cincinnati, Kelly?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the strategy is part of the president's p.r. campaign for his tough policy when it comes to Iraq, an opportunity to educate the American people, but the timing is very significant.
It will come on the eve of votes in the House and in the Senate on a resolution giving the president the authority to use force if necessary and also comes as the president is facing a real difficult challenge, trying to get support for a new resolution up in the United Nations.
And so, what we're going to see is this president try to build support on the part of the American people if he ever decides to wage war against Saddam Hussein. And a new message, really, coming from the president over the past few days and he's issued it just a short time ago as well. He is saying if the U.S. decides to pursue military action, the U.S. will not be acting alone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: For the sake of our freedom, for the sake of peace, if the United Nations won't make the decision, if Saddam Hussein continues to lie and deceive, the United States will lead a coalition to disarm this man before he harms America and our friends.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: And Kyra, some of the countries the U.S. believes will be part of that coalition: Britain, Italy, Australia, even countries like Romania and Bulgaria -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Kelly, let's talk about this meeting with Hans Blix, Colin Powell, also Condoleeza Rice. What's the goal of this meeting? WALLACE: Well, aides say they want to have a discussion. They want to hear first hand from Dr. Blix about his meetings in Vienna earlier this week with the Iraqis, but they also want to convey to Dr. Blix, the administration's position that it believes inspectors absolutely should not go back inside Iraq until there is a new, tough inspections regime.
White House officials somewhat heartened going into the meeting because Dr. Blix has indicated he intends to delay the return, at least until he gets new instructions from the U.N. -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Kelly Wallace at the White House.
Thanks, Kelly.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 4, 2002 - 14:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Chief U.N. Weapons Inspector Hans Blix is meeting this afternoon with Secretary of State Colin Powell and other top administration officials. The subject: resuming arms inspections in Iraq.
Meanwhile, the president is planning an important address on Iraq Monday night.
White House correspondent Kelly Wallace joins us now the details.
What's the strategy out of Cincinnati, Kelly?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the strategy is part of the president's p.r. campaign for his tough policy when it comes to Iraq, an opportunity to educate the American people, but the timing is very significant.
It will come on the eve of votes in the House and in the Senate on a resolution giving the president the authority to use force if necessary and also comes as the president is facing a real difficult challenge, trying to get support for a new resolution up in the United Nations.
And so, what we're going to see is this president try to build support on the part of the American people if he ever decides to wage war against Saddam Hussein. And a new message, really, coming from the president over the past few days and he's issued it just a short time ago as well. He is saying if the U.S. decides to pursue military action, the U.S. will not be acting alone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: For the sake of our freedom, for the sake of peace, if the United Nations won't make the decision, if Saddam Hussein continues to lie and deceive, the United States will lead a coalition to disarm this man before he harms America and our friends.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: And Kyra, some of the countries the U.S. believes will be part of that coalition: Britain, Italy, Australia, even countries like Romania and Bulgaria -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Kelly, let's talk about this meeting with Hans Blix, Colin Powell, also Condoleeza Rice. What's the goal of this meeting? WALLACE: Well, aides say they want to have a discussion. They want to hear first hand from Dr. Blix about his meetings in Vienna earlier this week with the Iraqis, but they also want to convey to Dr. Blix, the administration's position that it believes inspectors absolutely should not go back inside Iraq until there is a new, tough inspections regime.
White House officials somewhat heartened going into the meeting because Dr. Blix has indicated he intends to delay the return, at least until he gets new instructions from the U.N. -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Kelly Wallace at the White House.
Thanks, Kelly.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
