Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
U.S. Response to Iraqi Declaration
Aired December 19, 2002 - 07:03 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: President Bush appears convinced that Iraq's arms disclosure fails the truth test. Secretary of State Powell today will deliver the administration's formal response.
Let's turn to Suzanne Malveaux, who is standing by at the White House with a little preview on what we might expect.
Good morning -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Here's what we expect from the day. First of all, we're going to hear from chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix, who is going to go before the UN Security Council and say that Iraq has failed the test, failed to completely give an accurate accounting of its alleged weapons program.
We then expect to hear from Secretary Powell at the State Department to reiterate the United States position, very much saying the same thing -- that it's failed to account for its biological, chemical and nuclear components of its alleged nuclear program.
And then also we expect to hear perhaps from President Bush as early as tomorrow. He has a meeting with the Middle East Quartet -- that's Russia, United Nations as well as the European Union -- that he is probably going to talk specifically about the Iraqi declaration.
Now, the critical timeframe, we are told by a senior administration official, in which the United States will assess all information and make a decision of whether or not military action is necessary, whether or not this country is going to go to war would be late January or early February. Why this timetable? A couple of important points.
First of all, January 27, that is when the chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix is scheduled to give his first comprehensive report to the UN Security Council -- that is regarding inspections, as well as the Iraqi declaration.
Secondly, it would give the United States the time it needs to build the coalition, the allies, to convince them that this is the correct course to take; also allows weapons inspections to intensify, gives time to establish a system to get the Iraqi scientists out of the country for interviewing.
And finally, allows for a military buildup to get the troops, the personnel and the equipment in position.
Yesterday, White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer again reiterating the president's position that for Saddam Hussein, the end game is near.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I assure you this president does not bluff. When he said that Saddam Hussein must disarm, and that he wants Saddam Hussein to disarm so peace can be preserved, or Saddam Hussein will be disarmed, it is not a bluff. He hopes Saddam Hussein will do it, still.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: So, Paula, we are talking about weeks, not months, of when this administration will make the decision whether or not military action is necessary, and whether or not our country is going to go to war -- Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks, Suzanne -- Suzanne Malveaux reporting from 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 December 19, 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: President Bush appears convinced that Iraq's arms disclosure fails the truth test. Secretary of State Powell today will deliver the administration's formal response.
Let's turn to Suzanne Malveaux, who is standing by at the White House with a little preview on what we might expect.
Good morning -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Here's what we expect from the day. First of all, we're going to hear from chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix, who is going to go before the UN Security Council and say that Iraq has failed the test, failed to completely give an accurate accounting of its alleged weapons program.
We then expect to hear from Secretary Powell at the State Department to reiterate the United States position, very much saying the same thing -- that it's failed to account for its biological, chemical and nuclear components of its alleged nuclear program.
And then also we expect to hear perhaps from President Bush as early as tomorrow. He has a meeting with the Middle East Quartet -- that's Russia, United Nations as well as the European Union -- that he is probably going to talk specifically about the Iraqi declaration.
Now, the critical timeframe, we are told by a senior administration official, in which the United States will assess all information and make a decision of whether or not military action is necessary, whether or not this country is going to go to war would be late January or early February. Why this timetable? A couple of important points.
First of all, January 27, that is when the chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix is scheduled to give his first comprehensive report to the UN Security Council -- that is regarding inspections, as well as the Iraqi declaration.
Secondly, it would give the United States the time it needs to build the coalition, the allies, to convince them that this is the correct course to take; also allows weapons inspections to intensify, gives time to establish a system to get the Iraqi scientists out of the country for interviewing.
And finally, allows for a military buildup to get the troops, the personnel and the equipment in position.
Yesterday, White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer again reiterating the president's position that for Saddam Hussein, the end game is near.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I assure you this president does not bluff. When he said that Saddam Hussein must disarm, and that he wants Saddam Hussein to disarm so peace can be preserved, or Saddam Hussein will be disarmed, it is not a bluff. He hopes Saddam Hussein will do it, still.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: So, Paula, we are talking about weeks, not months, of when this administration will make the decision whether or not military action is necessary, and whether or not our country is going to go to war -- Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks, Suzanne -- Suzanne Malveaux reporting from 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.
