Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Making Case for War Against Iraq
Aired January 29, 2003 - 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: Focusing now on that State of the Union speech. It was not a war speech, but Iraq certainly was a central theme.
With more on the president's message and the Democratic response, let's go to White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux.
Good morning -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
President Bush is taking his agenda to the American people today on the road when he travels to Grand Rapids, Michigan. As you know, a critical speech for the president, both his international and domestic agenda really put on the table there.
Some of the highlights of the domestic agenda included a $674 billion economic stimulus package, as you know, tax cuts as well as incentives for small businesses, Medicare reform with drug benefits for the elderly, new spending for global AIDS prevention as well as funds for drug treatment and the disadvantaged.
On the international front, you know, Paula, it was all about making the case against Saddam Hussein, the sense of urgency and the president's resolve to confront Saddam Hussein with or without the approval of the U.N. Security Council. The president also making a link between the Iraqi leader and al Qaeda.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Imagine those 19 hijackers with other weapons and other plans, this time armed by Saddam Hussein. It would take one vial, one canister, one crate slipped into this country to bring a day of horror like none we have ever known. We will do everything in our power to make sure that that day never comes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, Paula, the president is promising more than just this hypothetical scenario connected to 9/11. He says that there will be more evidence to show a strong case against Saddam Hussein, that Secretary of State Colin Powell will go before the U.N. Security Council on February 5 to actually disclose some of the previously- classified information about that. The administration not saying there's a direct link to September 11, but rather that there is a connection between Saddam Hussein and terrorist organizations, as well as al Qaeda.
I should also let you know about the Democratic response as well. Very quickly, they called the president's economic plan, saying that this would be inefficient, it would not benefit the economy in the short term, it would only benefit the wealthiest Americans.
We also heard from Senator Kennedy, who said that they believe and he wanted an additional approval from Congress before any type of military action be authorized for the president to go forward. But as we know already that there is legislation that's passed that the president does have a green light if he decides to use military force against Saddam Hussein -- Paula.
ZAHN: Suzanne, thanks for that update 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 January 29, 2003 - 07:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Focusing now on that State of the Union speech. It was not a war speech, but Iraq certainly was a central theme.
With more on the president's message and the Democratic response, let's go to White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux.
Good morning -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
President Bush is taking his agenda to the American people today on the road when he travels to Grand Rapids, Michigan. As you know, a critical speech for the president, both his international and domestic agenda really put on the table there.
Some of the highlights of the domestic agenda included a $674 billion economic stimulus package, as you know, tax cuts as well as incentives for small businesses, Medicare reform with drug benefits for the elderly, new spending for global AIDS prevention as well as funds for drug treatment and the disadvantaged.
On the international front, you know, Paula, it was all about making the case against Saddam Hussein, the sense of urgency and the president's resolve to confront Saddam Hussein with or without the approval of the U.N. Security Council. The president also making a link between the Iraqi leader and al Qaeda.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Imagine those 19 hijackers with other weapons and other plans, this time armed by Saddam Hussein. It would take one vial, one canister, one crate slipped into this country to bring a day of horror like none we have ever known. We will do everything in our power to make sure that that day never comes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, Paula, the president is promising more than just this hypothetical scenario connected to 9/11. He says that there will be more evidence to show a strong case against Saddam Hussein, that Secretary of State Colin Powell will go before the U.N. Security Council on February 5 to actually disclose some of the previously- classified information about that. The administration not saying there's a direct link to September 11, but rather that there is a connection between Saddam Hussein and terrorist organizations, as well as al Qaeda.
I should also let you know about the Democratic response as well. Very quickly, they called the president's economic plan, saying that this would be inefficient, it would not benefit the economy in the short term, it would only benefit the wealthiest Americans.
We also heard from Senator Kennedy, who said that they believe and he wanted an additional approval from Congress before any type of military action be authorized for the president to go forward. But as we know already that there is legislation that's passed that the president does have a green light if he decides to use military force against Saddam Hussein -- Paula.
ZAHN: Suzanne, thanks for that update 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
