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Iraq and U.N. Weapons Inspectors at Odds Over Evidence

Aired December 23, 2002 - 13:04   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: Both Iraq and the U.N. weapons inspectors at odds over evidence, trying to prove that Saddam Hussein has or doesn't have weapons of mass destruction.
With significant developments in Iraq comes reaction from the White House, and our senior correspondent John King is there.

Hi, John.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Kyra.

President Bush keeping track of this from Camp David for the holiday weekend. Mr. Bush heading out to Camp David a bit early. U.S. officials say Iraq must comply with the U.N. demands, and they are rejecting the latest suggestion. Iraq saying, why doesn't the CIA come in and help look for those weapons? The United States says Iraq has. Iraq, of course, says it has no weapons of mass drugs. White House officials saying that there are weapons inspectors on the ground. It is up to them and up to the Iraqis to cooperate with them.

One senior administration official telling CNN early in the day -- quote -- "The burden of proof remains squarely on Iraq to prove they don't have weapons of mass destruction. They have not made a strategic choice to disarm."

White House officials expecting a period of back and forth, if you will, between Iraq and the inspectors on the ground.

One thing the White House is looking for, you mentioned, the fact that the head of the nuclear inspectors, Mohammed Al-Baradei says his inspectors are beginning to interview scientists. What the White House wants most right now over the next few weeks is for some of those interviews to be conducted outside of the country. They want the inspectors to take scientists who might have the most critical, sensitive information about Iraq's weapons program, take them outside of Iraq, take their families outside of Iraq with them.

The United States believes only under those circumstances would those scientists be most honest. The inspectors have voiced concerns about that process. We are told the United States is preparing to come up with the resources to provide housing and other allowances for scientists if they are taken out of the country. The Bush administration believes that is a critical next step, if these inspectors are to get to the bottom of what the White House says are lies and omissions in that Iraqi declaration about its weapons program. PHILLIPS: John King, live at the White House. Thanks.

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 December 23, 2002 - 13:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Both Iraq and the U.N. weapons inspectors at odds over evidence, trying to prove that Saddam Hussein has or doesn't have weapons of mass destruction.
With significant developments in Iraq comes reaction from the White House, and our senior correspondent John King is there.

Hi, John.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Kyra.

President Bush keeping track of this from Camp David for the holiday weekend. Mr. Bush heading out to Camp David a bit early. U.S. officials say Iraq must comply with the U.N. demands, and they are rejecting the latest suggestion. Iraq saying, why doesn't the CIA come in and help look for those weapons? The United States says Iraq has. Iraq, of course, says it has no weapons of mass drugs. White House officials saying that there are weapons inspectors on the ground. It is up to them and up to the Iraqis to cooperate with them.

One senior administration official telling CNN early in the day -- quote -- "The burden of proof remains squarely on Iraq to prove they don't have weapons of mass destruction. They have not made a strategic choice to disarm."

White House officials expecting a period of back and forth, if you will, between Iraq and the inspectors on the ground.

One thing the White House is looking for, you mentioned, the fact that the head of the nuclear inspectors, Mohammed Al-Baradei says his inspectors are beginning to interview scientists. What the White House wants most right now over the next few weeks is for some of those interviews to be conducted outside of the country. They want the inspectors to take scientists who might have the most critical, sensitive information about Iraq's weapons program, take them outside of Iraq, take their families outside of Iraq with them.

The United States believes only under those circumstances would those scientists be most honest. The inspectors have voiced concerns about that process. We are told the United States is preparing to come up with the resources to provide housing and other allowances for scientists if they are taken out of the country. The Bush administration believes that is a critical next step, if these inspectors are to get to the bottom of what the White House says are lies and omissions in that Iraqi declaration about its weapons program. PHILLIPS: John King, live at the White House. Thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com