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American Morning
Homeland Security, Iraq Becoming Political Battlegrounds
Aired September 26, 2002 - 08:10 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, we want to get to another storm right now, a political storm in Washington. Homeland security and Iraq quickly exploding now into political issues. Angry Democrats yesterday firing shots at the White House. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle demanding an apology from the president for remarks that were made earlier this week. The president accused the Democratic controlled Senate of not being interested in the security of the American people. That was part of the quote from earlier this week.
Suzanne Malveaux at the White House joins us live now for more on this -- good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, we've just learned that the president is going to be meeting with House Republican and Democrats here at the White House about 10:15, specifically dealing with the issue of Iraq. He's then going to make some comments in the Rose Garden. But last night the president extended an olive branch to Congress at a Republican dinner here in Washington. He praised both Republicans and Democrats, making a strong case against Saddam Hussein. But the president also expressed some frustration that the Senate is not passing his version of homeland security. But he said not all senators are to blame.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Unfortunately, some in the Senate, not all in the Senate, want to take away the power that all presidents have had since Jimmy Carter. And I'm not going to stand for it. The Senate must hear this, because the American people understand it. They should not respond to special interests in Washington, D.C. They ought to respond to this interest, protecting the American people from future attack.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now in its strongest case yet, the administration making a link, they say, between al Qaeda and Iraq. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice yesterday on the "Newshour With Jim Lehrer" saying we know, too, that several of the detainees, in particular some high ranking detainees, have said that Iraq provided some training to al Qaeda in chemical weapons development. So, yes, there are contacts between Iraq and al Qaeda, and there are some al Qaeda personnel who found refuge in Baghdad.
She goes on to say, though, however, that no one is trying to make an argument at this point that Saddam Hussein somehow had operational control of what happened on September 11, so we don't want to push this too far. But this is a story that is unfolding and is getting clearer and we are learning more.
Now, in the next few days the president is going to take that message on the road, a series of campaigning as well as fundraising for Republicans in Texas, Colorado, as well as Arizona -- Bill.
HEMMER: Thank you, Suzanne.
Suzanne Malveaux, front lawn of the White House this morning.
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 September 26, 2002 - 08:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, we want to get to another storm right now, a political storm in Washington. Homeland security and Iraq quickly exploding now into political issues. Angry Democrats yesterday firing shots at the White House. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle demanding an apology from the president for remarks that were made earlier this week. The president accused the Democratic controlled Senate of not being interested in the security of the American people. That was part of the quote from earlier this week.
Suzanne Malveaux at the White House joins us live now for more on this -- good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, we've just learned that the president is going to be meeting with House Republican and Democrats here at the White House about 10:15, specifically dealing with the issue of Iraq. He's then going to make some comments in the Rose Garden. But last night the president extended an olive branch to Congress at a Republican dinner here in Washington. He praised both Republicans and Democrats, making a strong case against Saddam Hussein. But the president also expressed some frustration that the Senate is not passing his version of homeland security. But he said not all senators are to blame.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Unfortunately, some in the Senate, not all in the Senate, want to take away the power that all presidents have had since Jimmy Carter. And I'm not going to stand for it. The Senate must hear this, because the American people understand it. They should not respond to special interests in Washington, D.C. They ought to respond to this interest, protecting the American people from future attack.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now in its strongest case yet, the administration making a link, they say, between al Qaeda and Iraq. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice yesterday on the "Newshour With Jim Lehrer" saying we know, too, that several of the detainees, in particular some high ranking detainees, have said that Iraq provided some training to al Qaeda in chemical weapons development. So, yes, there are contacts between Iraq and al Qaeda, and there are some al Qaeda personnel who found refuge in Baghdad.
She goes on to say, though, however, that no one is trying to make an argument at this point that Saddam Hussein somehow had operational control of what happened on September 11, so we don't want to push this too far. But this is a story that is unfolding and is getting clearer and we are learning more.
Now, in the next few days the president is going to take that message on the road, a series of campaigning as well as fundraising for Republicans in Texas, Colorado, as well as Arizona -- Bill.
HEMMER: Thank you, Suzanne.
Suzanne Malveaux, front lawn of the White House this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
