Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Bush Continues to Work Phones
Aired March 11, 2003 - 11:04 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: On "Showdown: Iraq," the vote was widely expected to take place today, a U.N. vote that would, in effect, clear the diplomatic path for war in Iraq.
CNN White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux starts us off this hour with the evolving U.S. strategy -- hi, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. The president continues to work the phones today, really putting the weight of his position and his stature behind this second resolution. Yesterday, he called eight world leaders. Today we understand he called the president of Angola, a key member of the U.N. Security Council, one that says it is undecided publicly. We have not heard whether or not the president has swayed its leader in any way.
But clearly the president making the case for that second resolution earlier today. As well, the president engaged in a number of meetings with his top level advisers. We saw today, as Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, General Richard Myers, as well as the vice president and others here at the White House.
There is really a robust debate that is taking place now. It is over this resolution, some of the specifics, particularly over the deadline, whether or not the March 17 deadline should be extended, perhaps, for days, as much as a week. Not weeks or months as some U.N. Security Council members have suggested.
Now this very controversial, some people believe that Saddam Hussein has been given enough time. There is no need for an extension. Others saying, let's let this play out just a little bit longer. Perhaps we can win over some of those undecided U.N. Security Council members.
Now, earlier today, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer was asked about this, and he said -- and I am quoting -- "the exact timing will be decided by the diplomats. But in any case, the time has come for members to take a stand and to express themselves. There's room for a little more diplomacy here, but not much more room and not much more time."
He was asked specifically about a proposal that would extend it for one month past March 17. He called that one, Heidi, a nonstarter.
COLLINS: Suzanne, let me ask you quickly, is there any word from the Bush administration on concerns for keeping the morale up of the troops that are already there, should this continue on for quite some time? MALVEAUX: Well, you just saw the secretary -- the deputy secretary of Defense there talking about the morale, and of course, yes, they want to make sure that those troops are in it, that they keep their heart in all of this.
At the same time, they don't want them there to be waiting forever. They say that yes, there's a timetable certainly. But the administration also recognizes this is something they do, it is part of their job, that they are prepared, that if they have wait weeks, that they will. But yes, they're going to allow this diplomacy to play out just a little bit further, but not that much more.
COLLINS: Suzanne Malveaux live from the White House -- thank you.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, as has been discussed of late, a series of disarmament tests for Iraq could bridge the diplomatic divide right now at the U.N., but how long will the U.S. give the process to play out?
Senior U.N. Correspondent Richard Roth joins us now with that angle -- good morning, Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. Well, with the White House saying a vote should come later this week, there's not much time. The British are interested in examining a series of tests for the Iraqi government based on recommendations from the United Nations weapons inspectors.
They were all along supposed to come up with so-called final disarmament tasks for Iraq by the end of the month, but time may be running out to get to that point. Hans Blix, chief weapons inspector, said he could have by next week that list. Many of the uncommitted members of the United Nations Security Council are interested in giving Iraq more time, but also some tests to see if it truly wants to disarm.
British ambassador, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, says there may be five to six benchmarks Britain would be interested in, possibly, if it could be worked out, that would be given to Iraq. But all of this still has to be discussed and hammered out based upon this resolution, also, that's still on the table by the U.S., U.K., and Spain. The British delegate talked about the divide in the council.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEREMY GREENSTOCK, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: Some members of the council are dangerously close to proposing endless procrastination, which takes all the pressure off Iraq and allows the threat which has been building up there, with reconstitution of programs of WMD to go on ad infinitum. That's what Saddam is counting on.
I think there are people in the middle who are really concerned there's a danger there, but don't want to go to war unless it is absolutely the last resort. The U.S. and the U.K. are fed up with the provocation by Iraq, but we are prepared to listen further to our council colleagues.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: WMD standing for weapons of mass destruction. And as the British ambassador noted, he's willing to listen to the council colleagues, while the entire Security Council will listen to the rest of the United Nations membership, more than 50 countries expected to speak today and tomorrow about the situation in Iraq -- Leon.
HARRIS: Richard, you know what just occurred to me? We've been seeing what's happening now with the U.S. doing its lobbying. We've seen what has happened now with the French doing their lobbying. Where is the secretary-general in all of this?
ROTH: Right now, he's in the Hague. He was there for establishment of the International Criminal Court, but in his most comments today, he publicly said that a U.S. military action without out the Security Council voting in favor would be a violation of the United Nations charter.
Mr. Annan also said this would have a bad impact on the United Nations, but in the past he has said the U.N. will still be left standing. He is the so-called moral authority of the United Nations, and his opinion is known, and it does count, but the United States is willing to shrug it off because it believes it is justified in going in, citing Iraq's threat to the region and to the United States.
HARRIS: And the latest signals for the fence sitters -- from the fence sitters right now?
ROTH: Is more time, as Angola's ambassador said yesterday, we're not there yet, practically begging for patience and for the media to almost leave them alone until they decide. Many will abstain, and the U.S. needs nine votes in favor. Sometimes the U.S. says they think they have it. Colin Powell the other day said they are within striking distance. If they don't get the nine votes, we never know whether anyone would have vetoed.
HARRIS: Very interesting. Richard Roth at the U.N. this morning, appreciate it. Take care. Heidi, over to you.
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 11, 2003 - 11:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: On "Showdown: Iraq," the vote was widely expected to take place today, a U.N. vote that would, in effect, clear the diplomatic path for war in Iraq.
CNN White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux starts us off this hour with the evolving U.S. strategy -- hi, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. The president continues to work the phones today, really putting the weight of his position and his stature behind this second resolution. Yesterday, he called eight world leaders. Today we understand he called the president of Angola, a key member of the U.N. Security Council, one that says it is undecided publicly. We have not heard whether or not the president has swayed its leader in any way.
But clearly the president making the case for that second resolution earlier today. As well, the president engaged in a number of meetings with his top level advisers. We saw today, as Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, General Richard Myers, as well as the vice president and others here at the White House.
There is really a robust debate that is taking place now. It is over this resolution, some of the specifics, particularly over the deadline, whether or not the March 17 deadline should be extended, perhaps, for days, as much as a week. Not weeks or months as some U.N. Security Council members have suggested.
Now this very controversial, some people believe that Saddam Hussein has been given enough time. There is no need for an extension. Others saying, let's let this play out just a little bit longer. Perhaps we can win over some of those undecided U.N. Security Council members.
Now, earlier today, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer was asked about this, and he said -- and I am quoting -- "the exact timing will be decided by the diplomats. But in any case, the time has come for members to take a stand and to express themselves. There's room for a little more diplomacy here, but not much more room and not much more time."
He was asked specifically about a proposal that would extend it for one month past March 17. He called that one, Heidi, a nonstarter.
COLLINS: Suzanne, let me ask you quickly, is there any word from the Bush administration on concerns for keeping the morale up of the troops that are already there, should this continue on for quite some time? MALVEAUX: Well, you just saw the secretary -- the deputy secretary of Defense there talking about the morale, and of course, yes, they want to make sure that those troops are in it, that they keep their heart in all of this.
At the same time, they don't want them there to be waiting forever. They say that yes, there's a timetable certainly. But the administration also recognizes this is something they do, it is part of their job, that they are prepared, that if they have wait weeks, that they will. But yes, they're going to allow this diplomacy to play out just a little bit further, but not that much more.
COLLINS: Suzanne Malveaux live from the White House -- thank you.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, as has been discussed of late, a series of disarmament tests for Iraq could bridge the diplomatic divide right now at the U.N., but how long will the U.S. give the process to play out?
Senior U.N. Correspondent Richard Roth joins us now with that angle -- good morning, Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. Well, with the White House saying a vote should come later this week, there's not much time. The British are interested in examining a series of tests for the Iraqi government based on recommendations from the United Nations weapons inspectors.
They were all along supposed to come up with so-called final disarmament tasks for Iraq by the end of the month, but time may be running out to get to that point. Hans Blix, chief weapons inspector, said he could have by next week that list. Many of the uncommitted members of the United Nations Security Council are interested in giving Iraq more time, but also some tests to see if it truly wants to disarm.
British ambassador, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, says there may be five to six benchmarks Britain would be interested in, possibly, if it could be worked out, that would be given to Iraq. But all of this still has to be discussed and hammered out based upon this resolution, also, that's still on the table by the U.S., U.K., and Spain. The British delegate talked about the divide in the council.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEREMY GREENSTOCK, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: Some members of the council are dangerously close to proposing endless procrastination, which takes all the pressure off Iraq and allows the threat which has been building up there, with reconstitution of programs of WMD to go on ad infinitum. That's what Saddam is counting on.
I think there are people in the middle who are really concerned there's a danger there, but don't want to go to war unless it is absolutely the last resort. The U.S. and the U.K. are fed up with the provocation by Iraq, but we are prepared to listen further to our council colleagues.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: WMD standing for weapons of mass destruction. And as the British ambassador noted, he's willing to listen to the council colleagues, while the entire Security Council will listen to the rest of the United Nations membership, more than 50 countries expected to speak today and tomorrow about the situation in Iraq -- Leon.
HARRIS: Richard, you know what just occurred to me? We've been seeing what's happening now with the U.S. doing its lobbying. We've seen what has happened now with the French doing their lobbying. Where is the secretary-general in all of this?
ROTH: Right now, he's in the Hague. He was there for establishment of the International Criminal Court, but in his most comments today, he publicly said that a U.S. military action without out the Security Council voting in favor would be a violation of the United Nations charter.
Mr. Annan also said this would have a bad impact on the United Nations, but in the past he has said the U.N. will still be left standing. He is the so-called moral authority of the United Nations, and his opinion is known, and it does count, but the United States is willing to shrug it off because it believes it is justified in going in, citing Iraq's threat to the region and to the United States.
HARRIS: And the latest signals for the fence sitters -- from the fence sitters right now?
ROTH: Is more time, as Angola's ambassador said yesterday, we're not there yet, practically begging for patience and for the media to almost leave them alone until they decide. Many will abstain, and the U.S. needs nine votes in favor. Sometimes the U.S. says they think they have it. Colin Powell the other day said they are within striking distance. If they don't get the nine votes, we never know whether anyone would have vetoed.
HARRIS: Very interesting. Richard Roth at the U.N. this morning, appreciate it. Take care. Heidi, over to you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
