Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Reports: U.K. Working on Resolution Compromise
Aired March 07, 2003 - 07:09 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: America's allies were playing very close attention to the president's comments last night.
For some of Europe's reaction now, let's go to London, where our chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, is standing by.
Christiane -- good morning.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, as the president of the United States continues to make the case for war, certainly in Europe in many countries the question still persist: Is war the best way to deal with this?
On the U.S. side, the U.K., you just heard from Richard, has introduced the possibility of amendments, compromises. However, the French are saying, certain senior French officials telling us, that even if there is a new compromise that puts down an ultimatum or a deadline, they would oppose it.
The question, of course, the Big V: Would any of those opposed in the permanent five -- France, Germany, Russia -- will they -- rather, China -- will they use their veto?
Russians now saying, after a phone conference with President Bush last night, the Kremlin releasing a transcript, apparently Vladimir Putin saying -- quote -- "That they believe that there is every chance still for this to be resolved peacefully, and that the inspections need more time."
French, as I say, saying they would oppose any new deadline or ultimatum.
Blair, whose whole career and rather support of the U.S. position has rested on getting a second resolution, is desperately trying to get a second resolution pushed through the U.N. But in an unlikely forum on MTV yesterday has told people that even now without a resolution, even if other countries veto it, he will still go to war.
And there is some good news for Blair. There is a new poll out showing that more Britains are likely to back Blair's position; however, with very strict caveats. Seventy-five percent of British people say that if there is a smoking gun, if Hans Blix shows a smoking weapons of mass destruction gun, and if going to war is backed by a U.N. resolution, then 75 percent of Britains would support that. However, without that, a majority of Britains would very heavily oppose it; 24 percent of Britains would only support that if there was no U.N. resolution. So, the numbers still not looking good for Blair.
ZAHN: Christiane Amanpour, thanks for the update, and we'll be checking in with you throughout the 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.
Aired March 7, 2003 - 07:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: America's allies were playing very close attention to the president's comments last night.
For some of Europe's reaction now, let's go to London, where our chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, is standing by.
Christiane -- good morning.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, as the president of the United States continues to make the case for war, certainly in Europe in many countries the question still persist: Is war the best way to deal with this?
On the U.S. side, the U.K., you just heard from Richard, has introduced the possibility of amendments, compromises. However, the French are saying, certain senior French officials telling us, that even if there is a new compromise that puts down an ultimatum or a deadline, they would oppose it.
The question, of course, the Big V: Would any of those opposed in the permanent five -- France, Germany, Russia -- will they -- rather, China -- will they use their veto?
Russians now saying, after a phone conference with President Bush last night, the Kremlin releasing a transcript, apparently Vladimir Putin saying -- quote -- "That they believe that there is every chance still for this to be resolved peacefully, and that the inspections need more time."
French, as I say, saying they would oppose any new deadline or ultimatum.
Blair, whose whole career and rather support of the U.S. position has rested on getting a second resolution, is desperately trying to get a second resolution pushed through the U.N. But in an unlikely forum on MTV yesterday has told people that even now without a resolution, even if other countries veto it, he will still go to war.
And there is some good news for Blair. There is a new poll out showing that more Britains are likely to back Blair's position; however, with very strict caveats. Seventy-five percent of British people say that if there is a smoking gun, if Hans Blix shows a smoking weapons of mass destruction gun, and if going to war is backed by a U.N. resolution, then 75 percent of Britains would support that. However, without that, a majority of Britains would very heavily oppose it; 24 percent of Britains would only support that if there was no U.N. resolution. So, the numbers still not looking good for Blair.
ZAHN: Christiane Amanpour, thanks for the update, and we'll be checking in with you throughout the 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.
