Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Who Should Run a Post War Iraq?

Aired March 27, 2003 - 11:33   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: Right now, we're going to turn to White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, who is standing by with more details on what we've all just listened in on -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Paula, Jamie brings up a good point about kicking that can down the road. But the administration certainly realizes there's going to be some point they have to deal with those issues and certainly deal with the U.N. Security Council.

The bottom line is some of those members, those who oppose the U.N. resolution, oppose United States' war with Iraq, Russia, China, France, Germany, Syria, all of them want to have a role in a post- Saddam regime. But at the same time, do not want to legitimize or endorse this war. That is what the administration is dealing with.

So you're talking about the U.N. role afterwards, whether or not they are going to get the approval or actually see the United States, as Jamie had mentioned before, having that kind of military occupation, at least for a short-term, a transition term.

We also heard about the Oil for Food program. This is something that the administration desperately wants to see back into Iraq. This is something where they pulled out those staffers for the Oil for Food program when they were administering that program.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan wants to get them back in. He is somewhat stuck in the middle here. But they are saying, look, if you try to revise this program from being administered from the United Nations to the Iraqi government, we know that this is going to give a bit too much power, perhaps, to the United States and Britain. That's what some members are saying, Russia, as well as Syria, because they know that the United States is going to be involved in that government, in that reform effort, with the Iraqi government.

So all of this making it very complicated to initiate that humanitarian aid, to get that food back in the country, and as Jamie had mentioned before, looking ahead here. What is the role of the U.N.? Are they going to be able to get those sanctions lifted out of Iraq? They're going to need the cooperation of the U.N. Security Council.

ZAHN: I know, Suzanne, we talked to you about this a little bit earlier this morning. But so much was always made of the relationship between Tony Blair and Bill Clinton when he was president. This relationship has come a long way, hasn't it, in terms of closeness between President Bush and Tony Blair? MALVEAUX: Well, absolutely, both of them praising each other. The president, we heard, praising Tony Blair for being a man who was courageous in all of this. Of course, Mr. Blair receiving quite a bit of criticism in his own country.

The two, we know, very good friends, quite frank with each other, even if they have differences. They've been talking on a daily basis since the beginning of the war.

But also Mr. Blair, thankful for the support of the president as well. That is why the administration went through that huge process of diplomacy, trying to get that second U.N. resolution passed. Ultimately, it did not work, but that was primarily for Prime Minister Tony Blair to get the kind of support that he needs, the same thing he is looking for when he looks at those U.N. resolutions further down the road.

He's going to need that kind of support from the U.N. Security Council, from those who oppose this war, because he's looking at trying to unite, once again, the European allies with the United States.

ZAHN: Thanks so much, Suzanne Malveaux. Also interesting to note the prime minister also said, when asked about the relationship between these two countries, saying the alliance has never been stronger than it is today.

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 27, 2003 - 11:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Right now, we're going to turn to White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, who is standing by with more details on what we've all just listened in on -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Paula, Jamie brings up a good point about kicking that can down the road. But the administration certainly realizes there's going to be some point they have to deal with those issues and certainly deal with the U.N. Security Council.

The bottom line is some of those members, those who oppose the U.N. resolution, oppose United States' war with Iraq, Russia, China, France, Germany, Syria, all of them want to have a role in a post- Saddam regime. But at the same time, do not want to legitimize or endorse this war. That is what the administration is dealing with.

So you're talking about the U.N. role afterwards, whether or not they are going to get the approval or actually see the United States, as Jamie had mentioned before, having that kind of military occupation, at least for a short-term, a transition term.

We also heard about the Oil for Food program. This is something that the administration desperately wants to see back into Iraq. This is something where they pulled out those staffers for the Oil for Food program when they were administering that program.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan wants to get them back in. He is somewhat stuck in the middle here. But they are saying, look, if you try to revise this program from being administered from the United Nations to the Iraqi government, we know that this is going to give a bit too much power, perhaps, to the United States and Britain. That's what some members are saying, Russia, as well as Syria, because they know that the United States is going to be involved in that government, in that reform effort, with the Iraqi government.

So all of this making it very complicated to initiate that humanitarian aid, to get that food back in the country, and as Jamie had mentioned before, looking ahead here. What is the role of the U.N.? Are they going to be able to get those sanctions lifted out of Iraq? They're going to need the cooperation of the U.N. Security Council.

ZAHN: I know, Suzanne, we talked to you about this a little bit earlier this morning. But so much was always made of the relationship between Tony Blair and Bill Clinton when he was president. This relationship has come a long way, hasn't it, in terms of closeness between President Bush and Tony Blair? MALVEAUX: Well, absolutely, both of them praising each other. The president, we heard, praising Tony Blair for being a man who was courageous in all of this. Of course, Mr. Blair receiving quite a bit of criticism in his own country.

The two, we know, very good friends, quite frank with each other, even if they have differences. They've been talking on a daily basis since the beginning of the war.

But also Mr. Blair, thankful for the support of the president as well. That is why the administration went through that huge process of diplomacy, trying to get that second U.N. resolution passed. Ultimately, it did not work, but that was primarily for Prime Minister Tony Blair to get the kind of support that he needs, the same thing he is looking for when he looks at those U.N. resolutions further down the road.

He's going to need that kind of support from the U.N. Security Council, from those who oppose this war, because he's looking at trying to unite, once again, the European allies with the United States.

ZAHN: Thanks so much, Suzanne Malveaux. Also interesting to note the prime minister also said, when asked about the relationship between these two countries, saying the alliance has never been stronger than it is today.

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