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American Morning
Interview with White House Communications Director
Aired May 01, 2003 - 07:15 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It is a primetime speech later tonight you will see here on CNN. The president is expected to declare that the combat phase in Iraq is over, and he will deliver that address from the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln. That aircraft carrier now on the final leg of its journey home from the Persian Gulf. It's been gone a long time, too; nine months at sea.
More now on the president's message, from the White House, Communications Director Dan Bartlett live with us this morning in Washington.
Dan, good morning to you. Nice to see you today.
DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Hey, Bill. How are you?
HEMMER: I'm doing just fine.
Listen, if the president is going to say the combat phase is over but the war is not, what's the point of the message tonight?
BARTLETT: Well, it's a very significant moment for our country and for our nation's troops. The fact that the military combat phase of this mission is over is very significant. It speaks to the testament of the strategy, of the fighting valor of the men and women who wear our uniform. So it's a big day. It's important.
The president will also tell the American people that there are key objectives that still must be met in the country and in the broader war on terror. We are still searching for and we will find the weapons of mass destruction that Saddam Hussein hid throughout his country.
We will also track down and hunt down and verify the remains of Saddam Hussein's regime itself. And we also have difficult work ahead in helping the Iraqi people transform into a representative government that renews their country their country into a way of life that they haven't experienced in more than 30 years.
HEMMER: Dan, let me stop you there. Go back a little bit. You say the president cannot declare a victory right now. What's the message in that to the American people if you cannot say right now that it's been won in Iraq?
BARTLETT: Well, I think it's important to understand that the situation in Iraq is part of a broader war on terror that started 19 months ago after our nation was attacked on 9/11. And it's important that the American people understand, and the president is going to explain this tonight, that we still have difficult work that lies ahead, not only in Iraq, but also in Afghanistan, Indonesia, other parts of the world where al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations are planning and training and is seeking weapons of mass destruction.
Now, the situation in Iraq, thankfully, has moved beyond the phase of heavy military combat operations. That is a significant moment, and it's time for us to give the type of credit to the military they deserve.
HEMMER: Yes, I agree with you on that final point absolutely 100 percent in terms of the credit given to the U.S. military. But at what point can the White House come out and define and say victory has been declared?
BARTLETT: Well, that's something that just like the president received the counsel of his commanders in the field -- Tommy Franks and his commanders -- about the heavy combat phase, he will also consult Secretary Rumsfeld and other members of his military leadership. And when those objectives, key objectives, are met, both in Iraq, also in the broader war on terror, he will make those updates to the American people.
So I can't put a timetable on it. I wish we could. We're making great progress on the war on terror. Tonight marks a significant milestone when we talk about the heavy combat phase being over, but there is difficult work that lies ahead. Our nation is resolved to meet those obligations, and tonight is an opportunity for him to speak directly to the American people and to the men and women who have fought so bravely.
HEMMER: Dan, about 20-15 seconds left here, if you could in a word or two.
BARTLETT: Sure.
HEMMER: There are suggestions out there, different reports that say this is the point at which the White House hits that pivot, goes away from the war in Iraq, focuses back on the U.S. economy. Is there to be a point made in there?
BARTLETT: What I think we will hear from the president tonight is that we have a lot of work left to do in Iraq and on the broader war on terror. The American people expect President Bush, and he is fully doing this, is to focus both on our national security and our economic security. That's why he's also traveling the country talking about a jobs package, because our economy needs it. He's pressuring Congress to pass this jobs package as soon as possible, so we can create more jobs in America, so those who can't find work can. But the president is equally focused on both: our national security and our economic security.
But tonight is a night to talk about the war on terror, to talk about our success in Iraq, and to give thanks to the men and women who wear the uniform.
HEMMER: Primetime 9:00 here on CNN. Dan Bartlett from the White House -- thanks, Dan. Nice to talk to you.
BARTLETT: Thanks, Bill.
HEMMER: There is a legal reason as to why combat cannot be declared over.
For that, Jeffrey Toobin checks in right now.
Good morning to you.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Howdy.
HEMMER: I didn't know we needed a lawyer for this one, but maybe you can tell me.
TOOBIN: You always need a lawyer, Bill.
HEMMER: Good morning.
TOOBIN: It's the Geneva Convention. The Geneva Convention says two things are supposed to happen when a war is officially declared over. One is you're supposed to give all of the prisoners of war back more or less right away. And the second thing, and this is especially relevant, is you're supposed to stop trying to kill the leaders on the other side.
Here, obviously, the pursuit of Saddam Hussein continues and everybody in the deck of cards. The government doesn't want to be in a position of stopping that, and if they said that the war was over, they, under the Geneva Convention, would be more or less obligated to stop.
HEMMER: Let me be premature here. Is it possible looking down the road that a declaration of war will never be made in Iraq?
TOOBIN: Well, it's quite possible, because -- and remember, we never formally declared war in terms of Congress declaring war. We haven't in most of our combat experiences. But basically, this, under the Geneva Convention, counts as a war, and since our troops have been so active, you couldn't really say we weren't fighting. But once you stop, you're really supposed to stop, and we're not ready to stop.
HEMMER: And based on history and the military in the last century, the best example probably is Korea. Technically, North and South are still at war.
TOOBIN: Still at war. You know, Vietnam was undeclared. All of these combat situations, but at some point we do say it's time, that it's over. That's when the prisoners go back. That's when we stop pursuing the generals. It hasn't happened yet here.
HEMMER: Thanks, Jeff. Talk to you next hour, all right?
TOOBIN: There you go.
HEMMER: Actually later in this hour with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
TOOBIN: With Dr. Sanjay.
HEMMER: Looking forward to it. Thanks.
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 May 1, 2003 - 07:15 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It is a primetime speech later tonight you will see here on CNN. The president is expected to declare that the combat phase in Iraq is over, and he will deliver that address from the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln. That aircraft carrier now on the final leg of its journey home from the Persian Gulf. It's been gone a long time, too; nine months at sea.
More now on the president's message, from the White House, Communications Director Dan Bartlett live with us this morning in Washington.
Dan, good morning to you. Nice to see you today.
DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Hey, Bill. How are you?
HEMMER: I'm doing just fine.
Listen, if the president is going to say the combat phase is over but the war is not, what's the point of the message tonight?
BARTLETT: Well, it's a very significant moment for our country and for our nation's troops. The fact that the military combat phase of this mission is over is very significant. It speaks to the testament of the strategy, of the fighting valor of the men and women who wear our uniform. So it's a big day. It's important.
The president will also tell the American people that there are key objectives that still must be met in the country and in the broader war on terror. We are still searching for and we will find the weapons of mass destruction that Saddam Hussein hid throughout his country.
We will also track down and hunt down and verify the remains of Saddam Hussein's regime itself. And we also have difficult work ahead in helping the Iraqi people transform into a representative government that renews their country their country into a way of life that they haven't experienced in more than 30 years.
HEMMER: Dan, let me stop you there. Go back a little bit. You say the president cannot declare a victory right now. What's the message in that to the American people if you cannot say right now that it's been won in Iraq?
BARTLETT: Well, I think it's important to understand that the situation in Iraq is part of a broader war on terror that started 19 months ago after our nation was attacked on 9/11. And it's important that the American people understand, and the president is going to explain this tonight, that we still have difficult work that lies ahead, not only in Iraq, but also in Afghanistan, Indonesia, other parts of the world where al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations are planning and training and is seeking weapons of mass destruction.
Now, the situation in Iraq, thankfully, has moved beyond the phase of heavy military combat operations. That is a significant moment, and it's time for us to give the type of credit to the military they deserve.
HEMMER: Yes, I agree with you on that final point absolutely 100 percent in terms of the credit given to the U.S. military. But at what point can the White House come out and define and say victory has been declared?
BARTLETT: Well, that's something that just like the president received the counsel of his commanders in the field -- Tommy Franks and his commanders -- about the heavy combat phase, he will also consult Secretary Rumsfeld and other members of his military leadership. And when those objectives, key objectives, are met, both in Iraq, also in the broader war on terror, he will make those updates to the American people.
So I can't put a timetable on it. I wish we could. We're making great progress on the war on terror. Tonight marks a significant milestone when we talk about the heavy combat phase being over, but there is difficult work that lies ahead. Our nation is resolved to meet those obligations, and tonight is an opportunity for him to speak directly to the American people and to the men and women who have fought so bravely.
HEMMER: Dan, about 20-15 seconds left here, if you could in a word or two.
BARTLETT: Sure.
HEMMER: There are suggestions out there, different reports that say this is the point at which the White House hits that pivot, goes away from the war in Iraq, focuses back on the U.S. economy. Is there to be a point made in there?
BARTLETT: What I think we will hear from the president tonight is that we have a lot of work left to do in Iraq and on the broader war on terror. The American people expect President Bush, and he is fully doing this, is to focus both on our national security and our economic security. That's why he's also traveling the country talking about a jobs package, because our economy needs it. He's pressuring Congress to pass this jobs package as soon as possible, so we can create more jobs in America, so those who can't find work can. But the president is equally focused on both: our national security and our economic security.
But tonight is a night to talk about the war on terror, to talk about our success in Iraq, and to give thanks to the men and women who wear the uniform.
HEMMER: Primetime 9:00 here on CNN. Dan Bartlett from the White House -- thanks, Dan. Nice to talk to you.
BARTLETT: Thanks, Bill.
HEMMER: There is a legal reason as to why combat cannot be declared over.
For that, Jeffrey Toobin checks in right now.
Good morning to you.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Howdy.
HEMMER: I didn't know we needed a lawyer for this one, but maybe you can tell me.
TOOBIN: You always need a lawyer, Bill.
HEMMER: Good morning.
TOOBIN: It's the Geneva Convention. The Geneva Convention says two things are supposed to happen when a war is officially declared over. One is you're supposed to give all of the prisoners of war back more or less right away. And the second thing, and this is especially relevant, is you're supposed to stop trying to kill the leaders on the other side.
Here, obviously, the pursuit of Saddam Hussein continues and everybody in the deck of cards. The government doesn't want to be in a position of stopping that, and if they said that the war was over, they, under the Geneva Convention, would be more or less obligated to stop.
HEMMER: Let me be premature here. Is it possible looking down the road that a declaration of war will never be made in Iraq?
TOOBIN: Well, it's quite possible, because -- and remember, we never formally declared war in terms of Congress declaring war. We haven't in most of our combat experiences. But basically, this, under the Geneva Convention, counts as a war, and since our troops have been so active, you couldn't really say we weren't fighting. But once you stop, you're really supposed to stop, and we're not ready to stop.
HEMMER: And based on history and the military in the last century, the best example probably is Korea. Technically, North and South are still at war.
TOOBIN: Still at war. You know, Vietnam was undeclared. All of these combat situations, but at some point we do say it's time, that it's over. That's when the prisoners go back. That's when we stop pursuing the generals. It hasn't happened yet here.
HEMMER: Thanks, Jeff. Talk to you next hour, all right?
TOOBIN: There you go.
HEMMER: Actually later in this hour with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
TOOBIN: With Dr. Sanjay.
HEMMER: Looking forward to it. Thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
