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Bush, Blair Meet to Discuss War, Role of U.N. in Iraq

Aired March 27, 2003 - 13:22   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.


JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: There was literally a council of war today at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland. President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain talked about the war and the period after the war.
CNN's White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is just outside Camp David.

Suzanne, they were in full agreement today, at least publicly.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Publicly, they were. There were some issues where they see differently, but they really didn't get into that in much detail.

President Bush, as well as British Prime Minister Tony Blair, having lunch together here at Camp David, part of -- They're holding a 24-hour war council.

The reason for this summit, really, is to assess the -- the situation in Iraq, the progress, as well as to at least explore the U.N. role for a post-Saddam regime, as well as show some resolve in disarming Saddam Hussein.

President Bush earlier today saying that the grip of terror around the throats of the Iraqi people is being loosened.

But when President Bush was pushed to give some sort of time table, just how long will this war last, he did not say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If I can...

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's not a matter of time table, it's a matter of victory. And the Iraqi people have got to know that, see. They've got to know that they will be liberated, and Saddam Hussein will be removed, no matter how long it takes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, both leaders addressed the problem with the U.N. and this impasse, the oil for food program. They say there is say a humanitarian crisis. They are really trying to push that through. President Bush saying that it should not be politicized. And Blair emphasized the role of the U.N. in a post-Saddam regime, saying that it was very important that it play a central role in providing humanitarian aid, as well as reconstruction. This is something that the Bush administration would like to see in a limited capacity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: After that is the issue of the post-conflict administration where, as we said in our resource statement, it's important, there again, that the U.N. is involved and that any post-conflict administration in Iraq is endorsed by it.

But there are huge numbers of details to be discussed with our allies. As to exactly how that is going to work...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: So both leaders agree publicly not to get into those details at the time. They both emphasize that they have an international coalition backing them in this war with Iraq.

They also wanted to emphasize that they would keep within international law. President Bush saying, here, that the Iraqi government would not be imposed by outsiders. Blair saying that -- ensuring that Iraq's territorial integrity would be assured after Saddam Hussein is gone -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: Suzanne, why did the White House want this meeting now? Why did -- and the British, for that matter? Why did they need to do this, one week into the war?

MALVEAUX: Well, both sides really felt that they wanted to show a sense of resolve and a sense of support, that they -- yes, they have an international support behind them.

But also, a lot of questions coming up this weekend. And Mr. Blair actually said, you're only dealing with seven days here into this campaign. But already a lot of questions about did they appropriately prepare the American people for what this entailed? Did they expect that it was going to go as long as it has or has it been as difficult as they thought? Did the humanitarian aid, was that coming as quickly as it should have?

All of these questions, even some criticism in the first week of this campaign, both leaders feeling like they had to really get out in front, get in front of the issue and actually address this.

WOODRUFF: All right, Suzanne Malveaux. I know listening to Prime Minister Blair, he was pretty animated when answering those questions about a split in Europe. He said if there were problems, he said we're going to have time later to go back and look at what went wrong, but not now.

All right, Suzanne Malveaux at Camp David, very close to Camp David, thanks, Suzanne. MALVEAUX: Sure.

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 27, 2003 - 13:22   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: There was literally a council of war today at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland. President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain talked about the war and the period after the war.
CNN's White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is just outside Camp David.

Suzanne, they were in full agreement today, at least publicly.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Publicly, they were. There were some issues where they see differently, but they really didn't get into that in much detail.

President Bush, as well as British Prime Minister Tony Blair, having lunch together here at Camp David, part of -- They're holding a 24-hour war council.

The reason for this summit, really, is to assess the -- the situation in Iraq, the progress, as well as to at least explore the U.N. role for a post-Saddam regime, as well as show some resolve in disarming Saddam Hussein.

President Bush earlier today saying that the grip of terror around the throats of the Iraqi people is being loosened.

But when President Bush was pushed to give some sort of time table, just how long will this war last, he did not say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If I can...

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's not a matter of time table, it's a matter of victory. And the Iraqi people have got to know that, see. They've got to know that they will be liberated, and Saddam Hussein will be removed, no matter how long it takes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, both leaders addressed the problem with the U.N. and this impasse, the oil for food program. They say there is say a humanitarian crisis. They are really trying to push that through. President Bush saying that it should not be politicized. And Blair emphasized the role of the U.N. in a post-Saddam regime, saying that it was very important that it play a central role in providing humanitarian aid, as well as reconstruction. This is something that the Bush administration would like to see in a limited capacity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: After that is the issue of the post-conflict administration where, as we said in our resource statement, it's important, there again, that the U.N. is involved and that any post-conflict administration in Iraq is endorsed by it.

But there are huge numbers of details to be discussed with our allies. As to exactly how that is going to work...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: So both leaders agree publicly not to get into those details at the time. They both emphasize that they have an international coalition backing them in this war with Iraq.

They also wanted to emphasize that they would keep within international law. President Bush saying, here, that the Iraqi government would not be imposed by outsiders. Blair saying that -- ensuring that Iraq's territorial integrity would be assured after Saddam Hussein is gone -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: Suzanne, why did the White House want this meeting now? Why did -- and the British, for that matter? Why did they need to do this, one week into the war?

MALVEAUX: Well, both sides really felt that they wanted to show a sense of resolve and a sense of support, that they -- yes, they have an international support behind them.

But also, a lot of questions coming up this weekend. And Mr. Blair actually said, you're only dealing with seven days here into this campaign. But already a lot of questions about did they appropriately prepare the American people for what this entailed? Did they expect that it was going to go as long as it has or has it been as difficult as they thought? Did the humanitarian aid, was that coming as quickly as it should have?

All of these questions, even some criticism in the first week of this campaign, both leaders feeling like they had to really get out in front, get in front of the issue and actually address this.

WOODRUFF: All right, Suzanne Malveaux. I know listening to Prime Minister Blair, he was pretty animated when answering those questions about a split in Europe. He said if there were problems, he said we're going to have time later to go back and look at what went wrong, but not now.

All right, Suzanne Malveaux at Camp David, very close to Camp David, thanks, Suzanne. MALVEAUX: Sure.

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