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White House Reacts to Hussein Response

Aired March 18, 2003 - 14:01   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.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Thirty hours and counting. Any time after that, if Saddam Hussein and his sons still in Iraq, President Bush could order U.S. troops to go in.
CNN White House Correspondent Susan Malveaux keeping an eye on final preparations at the White House. Suzanne, what's the mood there today?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It's a determined mood. It's also rather somber. Administration officials realize what they have to do -- quite defiant as well. White House reacting to Saddam Hussein and his son both saying they refuse to comply with this ultimatum to leave their country. But either way, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer making it very clear that U.S. troops will go into Iraq, and they'll go soon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president made clear that Saddam Hussein had 48 hours to leave beginning at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time last night. The president also made it plain to the American people that if Saddam were to leave, the American forces, coalition forces would still enter Iraq, hopefully this time peacefully, because Iraqi military would not be under orders to attack or fire back. And that way, Iraq could be disarmed from the possession of weapons of mass destruction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: President Bush involved in a number of critical meetings earlier today. He met with his national security team. He also met with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. We are told to go over the last minute details of military planning. He's also going to be meeting with his cabinet members this afternoon to discuss various policy issues. The goal, really, of the administration of course, to try to keep that coalition of the willing together.

Secretary of State Colin Powell issuing a list of 30 of those countries. Also, President Bush reaching out to those who do not necessarily agree with U.S. policy towards Iraq. He made a few phone calls, one to Russian President Vladimir Putin, also to China's new president, Hu Jintao, to both of them to discuss their points, their differences on Iraq, but also the administration acknowledging that they need the kind of aid for reconstruction and refugees and all of that type of assistance that comes with a post-Saddam regime.

Should also note as well, Miles, that there are security measures that have been stepped up here around the White House. This morning we saw that the perimeter around the White House has been expanded, that Pennsylvania Avenue now closed to pedestrians. Also, the White House tours have been suspended until further notice, even White House press corps members, as well as staffers, had to get our IDs checked about a block away before entering the White House grounds -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Suzanne, we're glad you got in. Let me ask you this question. On those conversations with some of those leaders of countries that opposed the Bush administration at the U.N. Security Council, is it likely they will, in the end, assist the United States, when and if the time comes, with aid in rebuilding Iraq?

MALVEAUX: Well, administration officials certainly hope so. That's why they're having these conversations now. It would not be surprising if they got involved in some way. Already Russian president Vladimir Putin, as well as the new Japanese president coming forward saying that, Yes, they would like to provide some assistance in a post-Saddam regime. This is something that the United States is not surprised by. But, of course, there is still some hard feelings between the countries because of the veto threat and, of course, the lack of support in going in with military action.

At this point, there are really only two countries -- Australia and Britain, that have actually offered to supply their own troops.

O'BRIEN: Suzanne, the president is famous for being -- not being a micromanager. I'm curious -- as the time grows closer to possible military action, is there any sign of change in all of that? In other words, is he getting into the details of the battle plan at all?

MALVEAUX: Absolutely, Miles. He is getting into the details. He's going to have another meeting with Secretary Rumsfeld this afternoon. Earlier today they also, we are told, went over with a fine-tooth comb some of those plans that are going to be moving forward. We have been told that the president, quite frankly, is moving forward on the assumption that Saddam Hussein certainly is not going to step down, and that there may -- one senior administration official said, may be some sort of encouragement for Saddam Hussein, perhaps in the next 24 hours to get out of town.

O'BRIEN: Suzanne Malveaux on the north lawn of the White House. Thanks very much.

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 March 18, 2003 - 14:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Thirty hours and counting. Any time after that, if Saddam Hussein and his sons still in Iraq, President Bush could order U.S. troops to go in.
CNN White House Correspondent Susan Malveaux keeping an eye on final preparations at the White House. Suzanne, what's the mood there today?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It's a determined mood. It's also rather somber. Administration officials realize what they have to do -- quite defiant as well. White House reacting to Saddam Hussein and his son both saying they refuse to comply with this ultimatum to leave their country. But either way, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer making it very clear that U.S. troops will go into Iraq, and they'll go soon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president made clear that Saddam Hussein had 48 hours to leave beginning at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time last night. The president also made it plain to the American people that if Saddam were to leave, the American forces, coalition forces would still enter Iraq, hopefully this time peacefully, because Iraqi military would not be under orders to attack or fire back. And that way, Iraq could be disarmed from the possession of weapons of mass destruction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: President Bush involved in a number of critical meetings earlier today. He met with his national security team. He also met with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. We are told to go over the last minute details of military planning. He's also going to be meeting with his cabinet members this afternoon to discuss various policy issues. The goal, really, of the administration of course, to try to keep that coalition of the willing together.

Secretary of State Colin Powell issuing a list of 30 of those countries. Also, President Bush reaching out to those who do not necessarily agree with U.S. policy towards Iraq. He made a few phone calls, one to Russian President Vladimir Putin, also to China's new president, Hu Jintao, to both of them to discuss their points, their differences on Iraq, but also the administration acknowledging that they need the kind of aid for reconstruction and refugees and all of that type of assistance that comes with a post-Saddam regime.

Should also note as well, Miles, that there are security measures that have been stepped up here around the White House. This morning we saw that the perimeter around the White House has been expanded, that Pennsylvania Avenue now closed to pedestrians. Also, the White House tours have been suspended until further notice, even White House press corps members, as well as staffers, had to get our IDs checked about a block away before entering the White House grounds -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Suzanne, we're glad you got in. Let me ask you this question. On those conversations with some of those leaders of countries that opposed the Bush administration at the U.N. Security Council, is it likely they will, in the end, assist the United States, when and if the time comes, with aid in rebuilding Iraq?

MALVEAUX: Well, administration officials certainly hope so. That's why they're having these conversations now. It would not be surprising if they got involved in some way. Already Russian president Vladimir Putin, as well as the new Japanese president coming forward saying that, Yes, they would like to provide some assistance in a post-Saddam regime. This is something that the United States is not surprised by. But, of course, there is still some hard feelings between the countries because of the veto threat and, of course, the lack of support in going in with military action.

At this point, there are really only two countries -- Australia and Britain, that have actually offered to supply their own troops.

O'BRIEN: Suzanne, the president is famous for being -- not being a micromanager. I'm curious -- as the time grows closer to possible military action, is there any sign of change in all of that? In other words, is he getting into the details of the battle plan at all?

MALVEAUX: Absolutely, Miles. He is getting into the details. He's going to have another meeting with Secretary Rumsfeld this afternoon. Earlier today they also, we are told, went over with a fine-tooth comb some of those plans that are going to be moving forward. We have been told that the president, quite frankly, is moving forward on the assumption that Saddam Hussein certainly is not going to step down, and that there may -- one senior administration official said, may be some sort of encouragement for Saddam Hussein, perhaps in the next 24 hours to get out of town.

O'BRIEN: Suzanne Malveaux on the north lawn of the White House. Thanks very much.

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