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American Morning

Bush Tells Congress He'll Confer On Iraq

Aired September 05, 2002 - 07:03   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: The president's campaign to convince Congress and the world that Saddam Hussein must go is now in full swing. Mr. Bush promised key lawmakers he will seek congressional approval before taking any military action against Iraq, but warned them that doing nothing about Saddam is not an option.
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GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Saddam Hussein is a serious threat. He is a significant problem. And it's something that this country must deal with.

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ZAHN: The president's stand will likely get a boost from the closest U.S. ally, Great Britain, when he meets with British Prime Minister Tony Blair over this weekend at Camp David, in advance of the president's major speech next week at the U.N.

Joining us right now is John King to give us a little more perspective on all of this.

Good morning -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Paula.

You might say, so far, so good, is the White House perspective, one day after the president began what he promises will be an aggressive sales pitch for his policy toward Iraq. But they acknowledge here at the White House, and there is plenty of public evidence, that it's still a very tough sales job ahead for this president, not only here at home, but overseas as well.

Out of that meeting, most key members of Congress said the president will get what he wants, a resolution endorsing his policy that Saddam Hussein must go -- unclear just how that resolution will address the subject of military action right now.

But overseas, key Arab ministers saying a U.S. military confrontation with Iraq would be devastating in the Middle East. The German chancellor, normally a key ally, once again, saying his country would take no part.

So Mr. Bush, as you noted, will meet with Tony Blair this weekend. The U.S. is grateful for his support. The president also will pick up the phone in the days ahead to call the leaders of China, Russia and France, permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, to try to win them over.

Now, also a focus on Capitol Hill in answering the questions, mostly from Democrats. Some want to know how much a war would cost, how long would U.S. troops stay in Iraq after any military confrontation? And many lawmakers are saying why the switch after a decade of containment, trying to keep Saddam Hussein in place with sanctions? Why does this president see a pressing need for military action now?

The week after next, you will see administration officials go to the Hill, present some classified briefings, evidence they say will convince those key members of Congress that the United States, as the president said yesterday, cannot afford to wait -- Paula.

ZAHN: So, John, if these key members of Congress continue to have these concerns, what makes the administration think, or the leading members of Congress you spoke with, that the president is going to get the resolution he wants?

KING: Well, Congress was on the record back in 1998 in a Democratic administration endorsing this policy of regime change. So there seems to be no question at all that Congress can pass a non- binding resolution that says Saddam Hussein is a menace, Saddam Hussein must go, Saddam Hussein must commit and keep his pledge to the United Nations to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.

There is a debate over how specific the language should be in saying the president has the backing of the Congress in using military force. That will play out over the next two weeks.

But there is a majority in Congress that has already gone on the record in agreeing that Saddam Hussein must go, and in an election year, nobody believes the Congress will turn its back on that policy.

The big debate will be, does this administration convince key members of Congress that there is a pressing, immediate threat that Saddam Hussein is prepared to act now, or share his weapons with terrorists right now in a way that would harm the United States or its key allies overseas.

ZAHN: All right, John, thanks so much -- appreciate that live update.

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