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American Morning
Hussein Denies Iraq has Missiles That Violate U.N. Rules
Aired February 26, 2003 - 09:03 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: Saddam Hussein denies Iraq has missiles that violate U.N. rules. He also says he would not go into exile, and says he's willing to die in Iraq. Speaking to CBS News, he said -- quote -- "Whoever decides to forsake his nation from whoever requests is not true to his principles. We will die here." The denial comes as President Bush applies even more pressure, challenging the United Nations to honor its word and disarm Baghdad.
We have two reports for you this morning. Nic Robertson will be joining us from Baghdad, Chris Burns from the White House.
Good morning, gentlemen. Why don't we get started with you, Nic?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Dan Rather asked President Saddam Hussein whether or not he'd go ahead and meet the U.N. deadline to destroy the Al-Samoud II missiles beginning Saturday. The Iraqi leader said that Iraq was committed to working with the U.N. inspectors to the U.N. resolution that they had complied before and they'd comply in the future. When Mr. Rather pushed him on the issue, would he destroy the Al-Samoud II missiles he said that we don't have any missiles that go beyond the U.N. range; everything that we have had has been destroyed in the past.
Now it's not clear if he's referring to the SCUD missiles and other missiles that Iraq have that were destroyed in the 1990s by the U.N. inspection mission, or if he's referring to the Al-Samoud II missiles. But clearly, clearly no clear answer there -- Paula.
ZAHN: Nic, any reaction from the Iraqi public to this interview, or has much of it seeped out into the public's knowledge?
ROBERTSON: Really nothing so far. And it will be interesting to see if any of it is played on Iraq Television. Normally, pretty much whoever visits and meets with President Saddam Hussein, that gets on Iraqi Television, there's a translation with it, people are told what the Iraqi leader did, what he said, what the other person said. It will be interesting to see if that comes out.
But really, the analysts here are waiting to see the whole thing, because they say that in the past, President Saddam Hussein often sort of answers in very lengthy answers, very long, he wraps up different topics. They say they really need to hear exactly what the questions were, and then read the answers and see if they can read between the lines there -- Paula.
ZAHN: Of course Americans haven't heard the interview either. It airs for the first time tonight. Nic Robertson, thanks so much.
Back to Chris Burns now, who's battling the elements in D.C., as he covers the White House.
Good morning, Chris.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, the Bush administration is saying that the world will not be fooled again, that there is still -- that what we do know about the weapons so far in Iraq, publicly anyway, is only the tip of the iceberg. President Bush sounding increasingly intent on going ahead with military action if Saddam does not start rolling out weapons that the U.S. says he has. President Bush continuing to build his coalition of the willing, meeting with the president of Azerbaijan here at White House today.
This evening, he'll be giving a speech to the American Enterprise Institute talking about the (UNINTELLIGIBLE), looking past such a conflict or a regime change, talking about bringing democracy not only to Iraq, but to the Middle East. So he is looking even beyond that.
But what is dominating the headlines today is the question of the price tag. Once again, there are estimates upwards of $95 billion just for the invasion, and what comes immediately afterward that the price could go even higher. Bush administration officials are not commenting directly. They are saying that perhaps some of this could be a wish list by the Pentagon. But again, this price tag bandied about as President Bush struggles with his economics policy -- Paula.
ZAHN: And, Chris, any reaction there to the latest Pew Research poll showing the president's approval ratings are down, I guess, to the lowest level since pre- September 11th levels?
BURNS: Approval ratings remaining in the 50s overall. However, for the first time, we're seeing, at least in these polls, the approval rating is negative against President Bush for his economic policy. He is struggling to get through this new budget, a budget with a $300 billion deficit, and with this report about $95 billion price tag for a war against Iraq. That does not come as good news for the Bush administration -- Paula.
BURNS: Thanks so much, Chris. Chris Burns reporting from a snowy White House Lawn.
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 26, 2003 - 09:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Saddam Hussein denies Iraq has missiles that violate U.N. rules. He also says he would not go into exile, and says he's willing to die in Iraq. Speaking to CBS News, he said -- quote -- "Whoever decides to forsake his nation from whoever requests is not true to his principles. We will die here." The denial comes as President Bush applies even more pressure, challenging the United Nations to honor its word and disarm Baghdad.
We have two reports for you this morning. Nic Robertson will be joining us from Baghdad, Chris Burns from the White House.
Good morning, gentlemen. Why don't we get started with you, Nic?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Dan Rather asked President Saddam Hussein whether or not he'd go ahead and meet the U.N. deadline to destroy the Al-Samoud II missiles beginning Saturday. The Iraqi leader said that Iraq was committed to working with the U.N. inspectors to the U.N. resolution that they had complied before and they'd comply in the future. When Mr. Rather pushed him on the issue, would he destroy the Al-Samoud II missiles he said that we don't have any missiles that go beyond the U.N. range; everything that we have had has been destroyed in the past.
Now it's not clear if he's referring to the SCUD missiles and other missiles that Iraq have that were destroyed in the 1990s by the U.N. inspection mission, or if he's referring to the Al-Samoud II missiles. But clearly, clearly no clear answer there -- Paula.
ZAHN: Nic, any reaction from the Iraqi public to this interview, or has much of it seeped out into the public's knowledge?
ROBERTSON: Really nothing so far. And it will be interesting to see if any of it is played on Iraq Television. Normally, pretty much whoever visits and meets with President Saddam Hussein, that gets on Iraqi Television, there's a translation with it, people are told what the Iraqi leader did, what he said, what the other person said. It will be interesting to see if that comes out.
But really, the analysts here are waiting to see the whole thing, because they say that in the past, President Saddam Hussein often sort of answers in very lengthy answers, very long, he wraps up different topics. They say they really need to hear exactly what the questions were, and then read the answers and see if they can read between the lines there -- Paula.
ZAHN: Of course Americans haven't heard the interview either. It airs for the first time tonight. Nic Robertson, thanks so much.
Back to Chris Burns now, who's battling the elements in D.C., as he covers the White House.
Good morning, Chris.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, the Bush administration is saying that the world will not be fooled again, that there is still -- that what we do know about the weapons so far in Iraq, publicly anyway, is only the tip of the iceberg. President Bush sounding increasingly intent on going ahead with military action if Saddam does not start rolling out weapons that the U.S. says he has. President Bush continuing to build his coalition of the willing, meeting with the president of Azerbaijan here at White House today.
This evening, he'll be giving a speech to the American Enterprise Institute talking about the (UNINTELLIGIBLE), looking past such a conflict or a regime change, talking about bringing democracy not only to Iraq, but to the Middle East. So he is looking even beyond that.
But what is dominating the headlines today is the question of the price tag. Once again, there are estimates upwards of $95 billion just for the invasion, and what comes immediately afterward that the price could go even higher. Bush administration officials are not commenting directly. They are saying that perhaps some of this could be a wish list by the Pentagon. But again, this price tag bandied about as President Bush struggles with his economics policy -- Paula.
ZAHN: And, Chris, any reaction there to the latest Pew Research poll showing the president's approval ratings are down, I guess, to the lowest level since pre- September 11th levels?
BURNS: Approval ratings remaining in the 50s overall. However, for the first time, we're seeing, at least in these polls, the approval rating is negative against President Bush for his economic policy. He is struggling to get through this new budget, a budget with a $300 billion deficit, and with this report about $95 billion price tag for a war against Iraq. That does not come as good news for the Bush administration -- Paula.
BURNS: Thanks so much, Chris. Chris Burns reporting from a snowy White House Lawn.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
