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White House Thinks Nuclear Parts Found In Iraq Bolsters Its Case
Aired June 26, 2003 - 15:01 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.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: The White House says that the discovery in Iraq of equipment need to do make nuclear weapons bolsters the president's case that Saddam Hussein did have weapons of mass destruction. In exclusive CNN report, disclosed that centrifuge parts need to do develop a nuclear bomb, were dug up in a Baghdad backyard by an Iraqi scientist. The scientist says he had hid those parts 12 years ago under orders from Saddam Hussein's son.
For more White House reaction, let's go to our correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. Suzanne, what are they saying about all this?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well Judy, they believe that this bolsters their case, and they bring up a number of points, they say that are significant. First of all, the fact that the Iraqi scientist approached U.S. officials, that he came voluntarily with the story. They say that this really builds on his credibility.
Secondly, the fact that this Iraqi scientist previously was interviewed by international weapons inspectors as recently as last year, that he did not offer this information at that time. They say that this really goes to the arguments -- supports their arguments -- that scientists and Iraqis were so afraid of reprisals from Saddam Hussein's regime that they did not offer reliable testimony and stories about what it was that they were hiding, or what the Iraqi leader had in his possession.
And finally, they say, that they have the evidence here. They have documents. They have the materials to build this case. And what the case is, is that in this particular situation, that Iraq had the intend to hide these components from weapons inspectors, and then to reconstitute its nuclear weapons program. Later, once inspectors left, once those economic sanctions were lifted, all of this, of course, bolstering their case that Saddam Hussein's declaration that he had no weapons of mass destruction, was false and that the United States was justified in overturning the Iraqi regime.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON: Dr. Obeidi told us that these items: the blue prints and the key centrifuge pieces, represented a template for what would be needed to do rebuild a centrifuge uranium enrichment program. He also claimed that this concealment was part of a secret high-level plan to reconstitute the nuclear weapons program once sanctions had ended.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And Ari Fleischer also saying that this is not the only garden in Iraq suggesting that, perhaps, there are similar stories that will unfold.
Also I should tell you, Judy, in another related matter, the administration defending its claim that these labs, these mobile trailers, were labs for a biological production. They say that the CIA as well as the Pentagon had information that that was the case, despite, a report -- an internal report from the state's department's own intelligence saying they thought it was premature to make that conclusion.
But the White House insisting all a part of their strategy to answer the critics and answer the questions that the administration allegedly exaggerated claims that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, leading to invading Iraq, they say that they were justified -- Judy.
WOODRUFF: Now Suzanne, separately today you have the IAEA, which is the International Atomic Energy Agency, saying that when it looks at these parts found in a backyard, that this doesn't constitute evidence of weapons of mass destruction or evidence of a smoking gun.
Now, what does the White House say to that?
MALVEAUX: Well, the administration would agree that it is not a smoking gun, that it really is not that strong, that this is simply a piece of the puzzle here, that this is one particular story.
But they believe that this supports their argument that at the very least, Saddam Hussein was trying to hide these components of a nuclear program, and that later had every intention of actually reconstituting that program, not necessarily evidence that it had happened, but that he certainly had the intention to do so.
WOODRUFF: All right. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House. Thanks very much.
And we'll have more on the Iraqi discovery in another CNN exclusive. That's tonight on "LIVE FROM THE HEADLINES" at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Its Case>
Aired June 26, 2003 - 15:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: The White House says that the discovery in Iraq of equipment need to do make nuclear weapons bolsters the president's case that Saddam Hussein did have weapons of mass destruction. In exclusive CNN report, disclosed that centrifuge parts need to do develop a nuclear bomb, were dug up in a Baghdad backyard by an Iraqi scientist. The scientist says he had hid those parts 12 years ago under orders from Saddam Hussein's son.
For more White House reaction, let's go to our correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. Suzanne, what are they saying about all this?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well Judy, they believe that this bolsters their case, and they bring up a number of points, they say that are significant. First of all, the fact that the Iraqi scientist approached U.S. officials, that he came voluntarily with the story. They say that this really builds on his credibility.
Secondly, the fact that this Iraqi scientist previously was interviewed by international weapons inspectors as recently as last year, that he did not offer this information at that time. They say that this really goes to the arguments -- supports their arguments -- that scientists and Iraqis were so afraid of reprisals from Saddam Hussein's regime that they did not offer reliable testimony and stories about what it was that they were hiding, or what the Iraqi leader had in his possession.
And finally, they say, that they have the evidence here. They have documents. They have the materials to build this case. And what the case is, is that in this particular situation, that Iraq had the intend to hide these components from weapons inspectors, and then to reconstitute its nuclear weapons program. Later, once inspectors left, once those economic sanctions were lifted, all of this, of course, bolstering their case that Saddam Hussein's declaration that he had no weapons of mass destruction, was false and that the United States was justified in overturning the Iraqi regime.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON: Dr. Obeidi told us that these items: the blue prints and the key centrifuge pieces, represented a template for what would be needed to do rebuild a centrifuge uranium enrichment program. He also claimed that this concealment was part of a secret high-level plan to reconstitute the nuclear weapons program once sanctions had ended.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And Ari Fleischer also saying that this is not the only garden in Iraq suggesting that, perhaps, there are similar stories that will unfold.
Also I should tell you, Judy, in another related matter, the administration defending its claim that these labs, these mobile trailers, were labs for a biological production. They say that the CIA as well as the Pentagon had information that that was the case, despite, a report -- an internal report from the state's department's own intelligence saying they thought it was premature to make that conclusion.
But the White House insisting all a part of their strategy to answer the critics and answer the questions that the administration allegedly exaggerated claims that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, leading to invading Iraq, they say that they were justified -- Judy.
WOODRUFF: Now Suzanne, separately today you have the IAEA, which is the International Atomic Energy Agency, saying that when it looks at these parts found in a backyard, that this doesn't constitute evidence of weapons of mass destruction or evidence of a smoking gun.
Now, what does the White House say to that?
MALVEAUX: Well, the administration would agree that it is not a smoking gun, that it really is not that strong, that this is simply a piece of the puzzle here, that this is one particular story.
But they believe that this supports their argument that at the very least, Saddam Hussein was trying to hide these components of a nuclear program, and that later had every intention of actually reconstituting that program, not necessarily evidence that it had happened, but that he certainly had the intention to do so.
WOODRUFF: All right. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House. Thanks very much.
And we'll have more on the Iraqi discovery in another CNN exclusive. That's tonight on "LIVE FROM THE HEADLINES" at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Its Case>
