Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
France's Reaction to State of the Union
Aired January 29, 2003 - 09:09 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: In Europe, more reaction today. Let's get to France, where we know the reaction so far has been tepid when it comes to military action.
Jim Bittermann with more on the speech last night.
Jim, good afternoon to you.
All right, a bit of trouble with the audio there, with the microphone, Jim. If we get it worked out, we'll certainly pitch it back to you in Paris.
But in the meantime, though, we do know the French have that veto power on the Security Council. We know they have been publicly against any military action. Let's try yet again one more time in Paris.
Here's Jim -- Jim.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, I think you can hear me now. President Jacques Chirac says that there is still not enough information to justify military action in Iraq, and his foreign minister said on French radio this morning, that he would welcome the idea that the United States would provide more evidence next week in the United Nations. He said the French have been asking that for weeks. So there is skill some skepticism in government circles. I guess you would call what the "Lamon (ph)" is suggesting today, "Lamon (ph)," the leading daily newspaper here saying Iraq -- Bush promises proof. That's the way they summarized Bush's speech last night before the Congress.
And it's also being said here that there's some skepticism in other parts of Europe. We're sensing that from Spain and from other parts of Europe, including Great Britain, where America's leading ally faced what I guess you would describe as skepticism when he went before parliament earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Let us be clear that the troops are down there in the case of Saddam refusing to comply with the U.N. resolution. But rather than try and make points about what the command and control is going to be, when we know, of course, our troops are going to have to work with other countries, it is surely better that we combine now as a house, as a country, to put maximum pressure on Saddam, because the one thing that would make conflict inevitable is the signal of weakness in our determination to deal with it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BITTERMANN: Just one further note, Bill. France's top terrorism judge Jean Luis Rutier (ph) says earlier today that, in fact, if the United States goes it alone in Iraq, it could actually help terrorist groups to recruit new members, and it might actually harm security in the United States and Europe if the United States goes it alone in Iraq -- Bill.
HEMMER: Certainly interesting as developments come along, and interesting to get the reaction today from the U.N. Security Council as they go into that brief that was given on Monday.
Jim, many thanks. Jim Bittermann in Paris.
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 - 09:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In Europe, more reaction today. Let's get to France, where we know the reaction so far has been tepid when it comes to military action.
Jim Bittermann with more on the speech last night.
Jim, good afternoon to you.
All right, a bit of trouble with the audio there, with the microphone, Jim. If we get it worked out, we'll certainly pitch it back to you in Paris.
But in the meantime, though, we do know the French have that veto power on the Security Council. We know they have been publicly against any military action. Let's try yet again one more time in Paris.
Here's Jim -- Jim.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, I think you can hear me now. President Jacques Chirac says that there is still not enough information to justify military action in Iraq, and his foreign minister said on French radio this morning, that he would welcome the idea that the United States would provide more evidence next week in the United Nations. He said the French have been asking that for weeks. So there is skill some skepticism in government circles. I guess you would call what the "Lamon (ph)" is suggesting today, "Lamon (ph)," the leading daily newspaper here saying Iraq -- Bush promises proof. That's the way they summarized Bush's speech last night before the Congress.
And it's also being said here that there's some skepticism in other parts of Europe. We're sensing that from Spain and from other parts of Europe, including Great Britain, where America's leading ally faced what I guess you would describe as skepticism when he went before parliament earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Let us be clear that the troops are down there in the case of Saddam refusing to comply with the U.N. resolution. But rather than try and make points about what the command and control is going to be, when we know, of course, our troops are going to have to work with other countries, it is surely better that we combine now as a house, as a country, to put maximum pressure on Saddam, because the one thing that would make conflict inevitable is the signal of weakness in our determination to deal with it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BITTERMANN: Just one further note, Bill. France's top terrorism judge Jean Luis Rutier (ph) says earlier today that, in fact, if the United States goes it alone in Iraq, it could actually help terrorist groups to recruit new members, and it might actually harm security in the United States and Europe if the United States goes it alone in Iraq -- Bill.
HEMMER: Certainly interesting as developments come along, and interesting to get the reaction today from the U.N. Security Council as they go into that brief that was given on Monday.
Jim, many thanks. Jim Bittermann in Paris.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
