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David Kay Briefs Senators on Fruitless Search

Aired January 28, 2004 - 13:01   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: The so far fruitless search for contraband weapons in Iraq is giving new ammunition to Iraq war critics on Capitol Hill. The newly-departed leader of the U.S. Survey Group is sharing his controversial findings with the Senate Armed Services Committee, as well as his conclusions that pre-war intelligence was bad.
We get the latest from CNN's brand-new congressional correspondent, we welcome him, Joe Johns.

Hello -- Joe.

JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles.

It has been, in some ways, a balanced assessment from Dr. David Kay, his remarks, calling for a fundamental analysis of the intelligence leading up to the war with Iraq, the search for weapons of mass destruction.

At the hearing right now, Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas is speaking.

A number of points he's made, some of which he's made before -- David Kay has -- including there was no attempt to pressure analysts to reach any conclusions.

But perhaps the most important single point is the point he makes that it is highly unlikely significant quantities of weapons of mass destruction are going to be found.

Here's part of what he had to say in part.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID KAY, FMR. CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR: I believe that the effort that has been directed to this point has been sufficiently intense that it is highly unlikely that there were large stockpiles of deployed militarized chemical and biological weapons there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: Now, in an exchange with Senator John McCain of Arizona, it was also another point, this point is that Saddam Hussein was the real person the United States was trying to get in the war and that, in itself, is the justification for what the United States did.

Let's listen to that. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: So, the point is, if he were in power today, there is no doubt that he would harbor ambitions for the development and use of weapons of mass destruction. Is there any doubt in your mind?

KAY: There's absolutely no doubt, and I think I've said that, Senator.

MCCAIN: Good. But it's important to emphasize this point when we look at what has obviously been an intelligence failure.

KAY: I agree.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: Now, congressional Republicans continue to argue that the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq must go on, and until that time no conclusions should be made. Dr. David Kay himself said that he believes that search should continue.

Miles -- back to you.

O'BRIEN: Well, I'm curious. Why does he say that, Joe, if he -- he seems awfully certain in the way he talks. Why does he feel that it's important to continue the search? And who does he think should do the searching, for that matter?

JOHNS: Well, obviously there is a question here about making sure that all of the processes are followed in Iraq as it were. As you know, another person has been named to take over the search in Iraq for weapons of mass destruction. The administration also is pushing that position, too.

If you listen between the lines to Dr. Kay, you really get the sense that he was trying to present a fairly balanced view of this and did not buy in completely to one side or the other, although, as you said at the top, it will be used by both sides to make their points.

O'BRIEN: Joe Johns on Capitol Hill for us, thank you 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 January 28, 2004 - 13:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The so far fruitless search for contraband weapons in Iraq is giving new ammunition to Iraq war critics on Capitol Hill. The newly-departed leader of the U.S. Survey Group is sharing his controversial findings with the Senate Armed Services Committee, as well as his conclusions that pre-war intelligence was bad.
We get the latest from CNN's brand-new congressional correspondent, we welcome him, Joe Johns.

Hello -- Joe.

JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles.

It has been, in some ways, a balanced assessment from Dr. David Kay, his remarks, calling for a fundamental analysis of the intelligence leading up to the war with Iraq, the search for weapons of mass destruction.

At the hearing right now, Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas is speaking.

A number of points he's made, some of which he's made before -- David Kay has -- including there was no attempt to pressure analysts to reach any conclusions.

But perhaps the most important single point is the point he makes that it is highly unlikely significant quantities of weapons of mass destruction are going to be found.

Here's part of what he had to say in part.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID KAY, FMR. CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR: I believe that the effort that has been directed to this point has been sufficiently intense that it is highly unlikely that there were large stockpiles of deployed militarized chemical and biological weapons there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: Now, in an exchange with Senator John McCain of Arizona, it was also another point, this point is that Saddam Hussein was the real person the United States was trying to get in the war and that, in itself, is the justification for what the United States did.

Let's listen to that. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: So, the point is, if he were in power today, there is no doubt that he would harbor ambitions for the development and use of weapons of mass destruction. Is there any doubt in your mind?

KAY: There's absolutely no doubt, and I think I've said that, Senator.

MCCAIN: Good. But it's important to emphasize this point when we look at what has obviously been an intelligence failure.

KAY: I agree.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: Now, congressional Republicans continue to argue that the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq must go on, and until that time no conclusions should be made. Dr. David Kay himself said that he believes that search should continue.

Miles -- back to you.

O'BRIEN: Well, I'm curious. Why does he say that, Joe, if he -- he seems awfully certain in the way he talks. Why does he feel that it's important to continue the search? And who does he think should do the searching, for that matter?

JOHNS: Well, obviously there is a question here about making sure that all of the processes are followed in Iraq as it were. As you know, another person has been named to take over the search in Iraq for weapons of mass destruction. The administration also is pushing that position, too.

If you listen between the lines to Dr. Kay, you really get the sense that he was trying to present a fairly balanced view of this and did not buy in completely to one side or the other, although, as you said at the top, it will be used by both sides to make their points.

O'BRIEN: Joe Johns on Capitol Hill for us, thank you 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.