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American Morning

Bush Today Meets with NATO Secretary General George Robertson

Aired February 19, 2003 - 08:06   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: Meanwhile, President Bush today meets with NATO Secretary General George Robertson at the White House. The meeting comes as NATO approves the deployment to Turkey of radar planes and other defenses in case there is a war against Iraq.
Meanwhile, a U.S.-backed resolution that would authorize using force against Iraq may be delayed by lack of support.

John King joins us at the White House or from the White House this morning -- good morning, John.

And then Turkey threw another wrench in potential military plans this morning, too, didn't they?

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Diplomatic and military complications, even political complications, Paula, facing the president at this critical moment. U.S. officials say they will continue negotiations with Turkey, but are making plans, if necessary, to stage an invasion into northern Iraq without the use of Turkish military bases. That is a major military complication.

On the diplomatic front, that new U.N. resolution. We are told it is quite simple, just a few lines long, but it is being delayed, its implementation. It's being put on the table before the Security Council. It is being delayed because the United States continuing to search for nine votes on the Council and trying to make sure that France and others would not use their veto power.

As part of that diplomacy, some hard ball politics, you might say. Secretary of State Colin Powell conducting an interview with a French radio station in which he takes clear issue with President Jacques Chirac and the position of the French government. Secretary Powell saying in that interview, "It cannot be a satisfactory solution for inspections just to continue forever because some nations are afraid of stepping up to the responsibility of imposing the will of the international community."

And if you had any doubt about which country he might be referring to, the Secretary went on to say, "It is not a matter of more inspectors or a longer inspection process. French colleagues think that is the issue. That is not the issue in our judgment."

So the consultations continue, but also some pressure here. The secretary of state among those doing interviews with international outlets. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice has done the same, as well. The United States hoping to put pressure on France to at least agree to let the resolution go through, if not to win its support. Ultimately, those consultations continuing and as you noted, Paula, Lord Robertson of NATO comes to the White House late this afternoon. The president's goal in that meeting is mostly just to say thank you for Lord Robertson's perseverance in overcoming the opposition of France, Belgium and Germany in getting those NATO resources on their way to Turkey now to defend Turkey, a key NATO ally, if there is war in Iraq -- Paula.

ZAHN: Let's come back to the thorny Turkish issue for a moment. You say that this clearly would be a huge military complication to go to war without the use of Turkish military bases. Does it appear as though there is a deal to be carved out where more aid than has been offered to far to Turkey might come forward?

KING: Well, the president told senior Turkish officials on Friday he had gone as far as he could go. It's a multi-billion dollar aid package. The question is will the Turkish -- will the Turks bend under that demand from the White House? Is there a little more give at the White House? It seems in some ways an unseemly debate, to make this about money, at a time the president has said confronting Saddam Hussein is about the principle of eliminating weapons of mass destruction. But that is what we have right now, two key allies debating the price, if you will, of the United States being allowed permission to use those bases.

Some here at the White House say they are pessimistic a deal can be reached. Others say that pessimism is simply part of the negotiating and they think in time a deal will be struck in the days, perhaps a week or so ahead.

ZAHN: Thanks, John.

John King reporting from the White House for us 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




Robertson>


Aired February 19, 2003 - 08:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, President Bush today meets with NATO Secretary General George Robertson at the White House. The meeting comes as NATO approves the deployment to Turkey of radar planes and other defenses in case there is a war against Iraq.
Meanwhile, a U.S.-backed resolution that would authorize using force against Iraq may be delayed by lack of support.

John King joins us at the White House or from the White House this morning -- good morning, John.

And then Turkey threw another wrench in potential military plans this morning, too, didn't they?

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Diplomatic and military complications, even political complications, Paula, facing the president at this critical moment. U.S. officials say they will continue negotiations with Turkey, but are making plans, if necessary, to stage an invasion into northern Iraq without the use of Turkish military bases. That is a major military complication.

On the diplomatic front, that new U.N. resolution. We are told it is quite simple, just a few lines long, but it is being delayed, its implementation. It's being put on the table before the Security Council. It is being delayed because the United States continuing to search for nine votes on the Council and trying to make sure that France and others would not use their veto power.

As part of that diplomacy, some hard ball politics, you might say. Secretary of State Colin Powell conducting an interview with a French radio station in which he takes clear issue with President Jacques Chirac and the position of the French government. Secretary Powell saying in that interview, "It cannot be a satisfactory solution for inspections just to continue forever because some nations are afraid of stepping up to the responsibility of imposing the will of the international community."

And if you had any doubt about which country he might be referring to, the Secretary went on to say, "It is not a matter of more inspectors or a longer inspection process. French colleagues think that is the issue. That is not the issue in our judgment."

So the consultations continue, but also some pressure here. The secretary of state among those doing interviews with international outlets. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice has done the same, as well. The United States hoping to put pressure on France to at least agree to let the resolution go through, if not to win its support. Ultimately, those consultations continuing and as you noted, Paula, Lord Robertson of NATO comes to the White House late this afternoon. The president's goal in that meeting is mostly just to say thank you for Lord Robertson's perseverance in overcoming the opposition of France, Belgium and Germany in getting those NATO resources on their way to Turkey now to defend Turkey, a key NATO ally, if there is war in Iraq -- Paula.

ZAHN: Let's come back to the thorny Turkish issue for a moment. You say that this clearly would be a huge military complication to go to war without the use of Turkish military bases. Does it appear as though there is a deal to be carved out where more aid than has been offered to far to Turkey might come forward?

KING: Well, the president told senior Turkish officials on Friday he had gone as far as he could go. It's a multi-billion dollar aid package. The question is will the Turkish -- will the Turks bend under that demand from the White House? Is there a little more give at the White House? It seems in some ways an unseemly debate, to make this about money, at a time the president has said confronting Saddam Hussein is about the principle of eliminating weapons of mass destruction. But that is what we have right now, two key allies debating the price, if you will, of the United States being allowed permission to use those bases.

Some here at the White House say they are pessimistic a deal can be reached. Others say that pessimism is simply part of the negotiating and they think in time a deal will be struck in the days, perhaps a week or so ahead.

ZAHN: Thanks, John.

John King reporting from the White House for us 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




Robertson>