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American Morning

Showdown Iraq: Rumsfeld in Europe

Aired February 07, 2003 - 08:09   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Want to move on now to Iraq and President Bush saying -- quote -- "The game is over" for Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. He called yesterday for the United Nations to back up Resolution 1441. And he says the U.S. would welcome a second resolution if it makes clear that the council stands behind its previous demands.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will not wait to see what terrorists or terrorist states could do with chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons. Saddam Hussein can now be expected to begin another round of empty concessions, transparently false denials. No doubt he will play a last-minute game of deception, the game is over. All the world can rise at this moment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will visit troops today at Aviano Air Base in Italy. He also will present the American case against Iraq to European allies.

Alessio Vinci joining us live now. He is at that base in northern Italy.

Alessio, hello.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Daryn.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld just arrived here at the Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy a few moments ago. He arrives from Rome where earlier this morning he met with both the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and the Defense Minister Antonio Martino. Italy being one of the staunchest allies of the United States in this showdown with Iraq, alongside, of course, these other European countries such as Britain, Spain and Portugal.

The Italian minister and the defense minister, they have met for a long period of time this morning. Both the defense minister thanked the Italian government for all the support he had shown, not just in the war against terrorism, the Italians have just sent 1,000 men to Afghanistan, but also for their political and moral support they have shown to the United States in recent months.

Secretary Rumsfeld told reporters at a press conference that diplomacy had basically failed and that he welcomed the ongoing debate that is going on in Europe at this time on whether there should be a war or not. But he also said that the world should know that the weapons of mass destruction that Saddam Hussein has is far more lethal than conventional ones and that the international community should do everything it can to stop them. The defense secretary on his way here also told reporters in the plane that the momentum for the war against Iraq was building.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: This is a critical time, and needless to say, anyone who looks at what's taking place can see that momentum is building with respect to the effort to get Iraq to disarm. The letter by the eight nations was a courageous thing and an example of leadership. The letter that followed of the 10 nations, the so-called Building as 10 (ph), suggests that momentum is building.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VINCI: The United States Secretary of Defense pointing out that they are not alone in their war against Iraq despite the fact that many countries around the world have accused the United States of being unilateral. The -- he is talking about new NATO members in Eastern Europe who have shown a great deal of support for the United States. The defense secretary also this morning telling reporters that not acting against Iraq would be far more devastating than any war that would follow.

Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: Alessio Vinci reporting from northern Italy. Alessio, thank you.

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 7, 2003 - 08:09   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Want to move on now to Iraq and President Bush saying -- quote -- "The game is over" for Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. He called yesterday for the United Nations to back up Resolution 1441. And he says the U.S. would welcome a second resolution if it makes clear that the council stands behind its previous demands.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will not wait to see what terrorists or terrorist states could do with chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons. Saddam Hussein can now be expected to begin another round of empty concessions, transparently false denials. No doubt he will play a last-minute game of deception, the game is over. All the world can rise at this moment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will visit troops today at Aviano Air Base in Italy. He also will present the American case against Iraq to European allies.

Alessio Vinci joining us live now. He is at that base in northern Italy.

Alessio, hello.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Daryn.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld just arrived here at the Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy a few moments ago. He arrives from Rome where earlier this morning he met with both the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and the Defense Minister Antonio Martino. Italy being one of the staunchest allies of the United States in this showdown with Iraq, alongside, of course, these other European countries such as Britain, Spain and Portugal.

The Italian minister and the defense minister, they have met for a long period of time this morning. Both the defense minister thanked the Italian government for all the support he had shown, not just in the war against terrorism, the Italians have just sent 1,000 men to Afghanistan, but also for their political and moral support they have shown to the United States in recent months.

Secretary Rumsfeld told reporters at a press conference that diplomacy had basically failed and that he welcomed the ongoing debate that is going on in Europe at this time on whether there should be a war or not. But he also said that the world should know that the weapons of mass destruction that Saddam Hussein has is far more lethal than conventional ones and that the international community should do everything it can to stop them. The defense secretary on his way here also told reporters in the plane that the momentum for the war against Iraq was building.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: This is a critical time, and needless to say, anyone who looks at what's taking place can see that momentum is building with respect to the effort to get Iraq to disarm. The letter by the eight nations was a courageous thing and an example of leadership. The letter that followed of the 10 nations, the so-called Building as 10 (ph), suggests that momentum is building.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VINCI: The United States Secretary of Defense pointing out that they are not alone in their war against Iraq despite the fact that many countries around the world have accused the United States of being unilateral. The -- he is talking about new NATO members in Eastern Europe who have shown a great deal of support for the United States. The defense secretary also this morning telling reporters that not acting against Iraq would be far more devastating than any war that would follow.

Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: Alessio Vinci reporting from northern Italy. Alessio, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com