Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

White House Reacts to Saddam's Speech

Aired August 08, 2002 - 07:05   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go to Washington to see how the administration is reacting to what some are describing as a very predictable speech. President Bush says he will deal with all threats to the United States with the tools, all of the tools at his disposal, including the military.

And CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is standing by with reaction to President Hussein's speech.

Good morning -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Well, the White House still wants to fully analyze this speech, but the initial sense is that administration officials are not impressed, not moved, not swayed by what Saddam Hussein had to say.

A senior administration official telling me that the regime in Baghdad knows exactly what it needs to do, and that it must comply with obligations it agreed to back in 1991 to fully disarm and rid the country of weapons of mass destruction. This official saying in essence the administration has heard this all before from the Iraqi leader.

And, Paula, you have seen the administration really dismiss Iraq's invitation of weapons inspectors to come to Baghdad for talks. And yesterday, we had continued tough talk from both Vice President Cheney and President Bush. The vice president saying he doesn't believe that even if inspectors get back in the country, that will satisfy international concerns about the country's ability to develop weapons of mass destruction.

And the president, for his part, never mentioned Iraq or Saddam Hussein, but as you said, he said he will use all means at his disposal to deal with these threats -- Paula.

ZAHN: All right, Kelly, appreciate the update so 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.