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American Morning

Compromise Amendment?

Aired March 06, 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: The flurry of diplomatic activity at the United Nations over the resolution that would authorize war against Iraq.
Richard Roth joins us now from the U.N. with more.

Richard, do you have any idea what you're going to hear tomorrow?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Well, in Hans Blix' report, he's likely to point out he believes Iraq is disarming when it comes to the Al Samoud II missiles. He called that real disarmament yesterday at a news conference with United Nations journalist. But he couldn't account, he said, and guarantee that Iraq has dismantled and destroyed all of its biological weapons. Could be a mixed portrait, but since the Al Samoud II missiles is the latest development, it may seem a bit more upbeat. And a lot of diplomats are watching closely for this report.

Meanwhile, there are other reports the British and the United States may be cooking up some type of compromise to placate France, Russia, China and Germany, something to add to the resolution introduced the other day, implicit authorization for the use of force. The compromise being -- quote -- "noodled about" said one official to CNN. He said there is still time.

Of course, all the diplomats on the Council who oppose war at this moment would like to give Saddam Hussein more time.

Chief inspector Hans Blix says if a war occurs, it would be a failure of a different sort.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HANS BLIX, CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR: If the threat of force is not successful and -- to bring to out effective disarmament and verification of it, then that's a failure of this method. And it goes to the use of force, which has a very different path and tragic, and then I feel very sorry that the avenue in which I was working, for which I was working, did not measure up to what major players want to have.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: Blix may say tomorrow what he told a journalist, that it's a pity that Iraq only seems to react under the threat of military action -- Paula. ZAHN: And of course there's been a lot of analysis, that probably the worst-case scenario for the United States is that if Iraq agrees, I guess Hans Blix is going to come up with clusters of areas that he continues to have concerns about, and if they would make some compromises, then what the U.S. would do?

ROTH: There would be perhaps may be a short-term deadline that might encompass some of these outstanding issues, these clusters, to give Iraq a final test. Do this on biological weapons? Do this on chemical? But with a very short leash, very short days, don't know if that's going to be enough for the French and the Russians.

ZAHN: And, Richard, in 10 seconds or so, if there is military action, how much advanced notice will the inspectors get?

ROTH: That's a good question that they want to know. They're hoping that the Security Council, through the United States Secretary of State Colin Powell will give them some word. Blix said yesterday they can get out in 48 hours. There was a lot of controversy when the U.N. inspectors pulled out last time, but they weren't U.N. staff. They were supplied by the countries. This time, they're going to have to be told by the U.N. to get out.

ZAHN: Richard Roth, 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 March 6, 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: The flurry of diplomatic activity at the United Nations over the resolution that would authorize war against Iraq.
Richard Roth joins us now from the U.N. with more.

Richard, do you have any idea what you're going to hear tomorrow?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Well, in Hans Blix' report, he's likely to point out he believes Iraq is disarming when it comes to the Al Samoud II missiles. He called that real disarmament yesterday at a news conference with United Nations journalist. But he couldn't account, he said, and guarantee that Iraq has dismantled and destroyed all of its biological weapons. Could be a mixed portrait, but since the Al Samoud II missiles is the latest development, it may seem a bit more upbeat. And a lot of diplomats are watching closely for this report.

Meanwhile, there are other reports the British and the United States may be cooking up some type of compromise to placate France, Russia, China and Germany, something to add to the resolution introduced the other day, implicit authorization for the use of force. The compromise being -- quote -- "noodled about" said one official to CNN. He said there is still time.

Of course, all the diplomats on the Council who oppose war at this moment would like to give Saddam Hussein more time.

Chief inspector Hans Blix says if a war occurs, it would be a failure of a different sort.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HANS BLIX, CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR: If the threat of force is not successful and -- to bring to out effective disarmament and verification of it, then that's a failure of this method. And it goes to the use of force, which has a very different path and tragic, and then I feel very sorry that the avenue in which I was working, for which I was working, did not measure up to what major players want to have.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: Blix may say tomorrow what he told a journalist, that it's a pity that Iraq only seems to react under the threat of military action -- Paula. ZAHN: And of course there's been a lot of analysis, that probably the worst-case scenario for the United States is that if Iraq agrees, I guess Hans Blix is going to come up with clusters of areas that he continues to have concerns about, and if they would make some compromises, then what the U.S. would do?

ROTH: There would be perhaps may be a short-term deadline that might encompass some of these outstanding issues, these clusters, to give Iraq a final test. Do this on biological weapons? Do this on chemical? But with a very short leash, very short days, don't know if that's going to be enough for the French and the Russians.

ZAHN: And, Richard, in 10 seconds or so, if there is military action, how much advanced notice will the inspectors get?

ROTH: That's a good question that they want to know. They're hoping that the Security Council, through the United States Secretary of State Colin Powell will give them some word. Blix said yesterday they can get out in 48 hours. There was a lot of controversy when the U.N. inspectors pulled out last time, but they weren't U.N. staff. They were supplied by the countries. This time, they're going to have to be told by the U.N. to get out.

ZAHN: Richard Roth, 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