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American Morning
Colin Powell Says There's No Smoking Gun
Aired February 04, 2003 - 08:17 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: Colin Powell says there is no smoking gun but the secretary of state says that when he addresses the U.N. tomorrow, he will prove that Saddam Hussein is hiding weapons of mass destruction.
So, does Powell have enough evidence to make the case against Iraq before the U.N.?
Let's turn to Richard Roth, who's standing by at the U.N. with more -- good morning, Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Of course, things might be a little harder for the U.S. because Colin Powell says he's coming here without a smoking gun to present, and that's what a lot of countries and people seem to be looking for when proving the case on Iraq. Yet, the secretary of state says he's going to come here with evidence that shows Iraq is hiding weapons of mass destruction.
Two countries who will be sending foreign ministers huddled at a high level summit today. French President Jacques Chirac and British Prime Minister Tony Blair meeting in Paris. Britain more on the sides of the United States, while France is still strongly opposed to the use of military force at this juncture.
Yesterday, Iraq's ambassador, Mohammed Aldouri, said Colin Powell can come but he doesn't have any proof.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOHAMMED ALDOURI, IRAQI AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: They would expect that he will present some evidence although I am not sure that he can do that because there is, there would not be evidence on the question of mass destruction weapons in Iraq and also on the relationship with al Qaeda. In this we are sure. We are confident that they, he can't present such evidence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: In many countries around the world, Colin Powell perhaps is the most respected figure in this Bush administration for making the case on Iraq. As for American citizens, well, the latest CNN/"USA Today" poll, Gallup poll, shows on the importance of Powell's presentation of evidence, 60 percent of the people say it's very important, 27 percent say what Powell's presentation will be, 27 percent on somewhat important, 12 percent saying not important at all. Those numbers may jumble up, Paula, in the days to come following Powell's hour long presentation with photographs and perhaps transcripts of eavesdropping on phone calls and intercepts -- Paula.
ZAHN: Well, you will be our man tomorrow at the U.N. when our special coverage gets under way at 10:30.
Richard Roth, thanks so much.
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 February 4, 2003 - 08:17 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Colin Powell says there is no smoking gun but the secretary of state says that when he addresses the U.N. tomorrow, he will prove that Saddam Hussein is hiding weapons of mass destruction.
So, does Powell have enough evidence to make the case against Iraq before the U.N.?
Let's turn to Richard Roth, who's standing by at the U.N. with more -- good morning, Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Of course, things might be a little harder for the U.S. because Colin Powell says he's coming here without a smoking gun to present, and that's what a lot of countries and people seem to be looking for when proving the case on Iraq. Yet, the secretary of state says he's going to come here with evidence that shows Iraq is hiding weapons of mass destruction.
Two countries who will be sending foreign ministers huddled at a high level summit today. French President Jacques Chirac and British Prime Minister Tony Blair meeting in Paris. Britain more on the sides of the United States, while France is still strongly opposed to the use of military force at this juncture.
Yesterday, Iraq's ambassador, Mohammed Aldouri, said Colin Powell can come but he doesn't have any proof.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOHAMMED ALDOURI, IRAQI AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: They would expect that he will present some evidence although I am not sure that he can do that because there is, there would not be evidence on the question of mass destruction weapons in Iraq and also on the relationship with al Qaeda. In this we are sure. We are confident that they, he can't present such evidence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: In many countries around the world, Colin Powell perhaps is the most respected figure in this Bush administration for making the case on Iraq. As for American citizens, well, the latest CNN/"USA Today" poll, Gallup poll, shows on the importance of Powell's presentation of evidence, 60 percent of the people say it's very important, 27 percent say what Powell's presentation will be, 27 percent on somewhat important, 12 percent saying not important at all. Those numbers may jumble up, Paula, in the days to come following Powell's hour long presentation with photographs and perhaps transcripts of eavesdropping on phone calls and intercepts -- Paula.
ZAHN: Well, you will be our man tomorrow at the U.N. when our special coverage gets under way at 10:30.
Richard Roth, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
