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American Morning
Growing Storm in Washington Over War
Aired September 19, 2003 - 08:15 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: All right, back to the issue of Iraq and what could be a growing storm in Washington over the criticism of that war.
Strong words from a member of the Senate, blasting the Bush administration on the war itself, the intent for the war and the price tag.
Suzanne Malveaux inside of the White House this morning to give us more details on this -- good morning there.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, Senator Kennedy really joins this growing chorus of critics who are calling into question the president's justification for war. The reason this debate is intensifying is because members of Congress are looking at this $87 billion price tag for the effort and before they sign that check, law makers say they want some answers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: A decision was made in Texas in August and then announced in September by the president. That's the history of it. It's the wrong war at the wrong time. There was no imminent threat to the United States. No one doubted that we could be militarily successful, but there was no plan for peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, the White House refused to comment on Senator Kennedy's statements, but a Republican official did say anonymously to CNN, and I am quoting here, "The senator's comments reflect the tired old soft on defense attitude of the Democratic Party and the American people are thankful for a strong and decisive leader in President Bush, who isn't afraid to make tough decisions."
Also, Bill, weighing in this morning, Secretary of State Colin Powell, in a commentary in the "Wall Street Journal," talks about the problems in Iraq.
But he also talks about the progress that is being made. But he summarizes this not by saying the justification is about weapons of mass destruction or Saddam Hussein or the imminent threat. What he does say, however, and I'm quoting here, "Anyone who doubts the wisdom of President Bush's course in Iraq should stand, as I did, by the side of the mass grave in Halabja in Iraq's north. That terrible site holds the remains of 5,000 innocent men, women and children who were gassed to death by Saddam Hussein's criminal regime."
Now, Bill, the president is trying to win more international support for troops as well as money. The president is hosting Jordan's King Abdullah at Camp David. He will be for the next couple of days. And then the president next week is going to go before the U.N. General Assembly with a U.N. Security Council resolution still being worked out, hoping that they can get more international support -- Bill.
HEMMER: Thanks, Suzanne.
Suzanne Malveaux from the White House.
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 September 19, 2003 - 08:15 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, back to the issue of Iraq and what could be a growing storm in Washington over the criticism of that war.
Strong words from a member of the Senate, blasting the Bush administration on the war itself, the intent for the war and the price tag.
Suzanne Malveaux inside of the White House this morning to give us more details on this -- good morning there.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, Senator Kennedy really joins this growing chorus of critics who are calling into question the president's justification for war. The reason this debate is intensifying is because members of Congress are looking at this $87 billion price tag for the effort and before they sign that check, law makers say they want some answers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: A decision was made in Texas in August and then announced in September by the president. That's the history of it. It's the wrong war at the wrong time. There was no imminent threat to the United States. No one doubted that we could be militarily successful, but there was no plan for peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, the White House refused to comment on Senator Kennedy's statements, but a Republican official did say anonymously to CNN, and I am quoting here, "The senator's comments reflect the tired old soft on defense attitude of the Democratic Party and the American people are thankful for a strong and decisive leader in President Bush, who isn't afraid to make tough decisions."
Also, Bill, weighing in this morning, Secretary of State Colin Powell, in a commentary in the "Wall Street Journal," talks about the problems in Iraq.
But he also talks about the progress that is being made. But he summarizes this not by saying the justification is about weapons of mass destruction or Saddam Hussein or the imminent threat. What he does say, however, and I'm quoting here, "Anyone who doubts the wisdom of President Bush's course in Iraq should stand, as I did, by the side of the mass grave in Halabja in Iraq's north. That terrible site holds the remains of 5,000 innocent men, women and children who were gassed to death by Saddam Hussein's criminal regime."
Now, Bill, the president is trying to win more international support for troops as well as money. The president is hosting Jordan's King Abdullah at Camp David. He will be for the next couple of days. And then the president next week is going to go before the U.N. General Assembly with a U.N. Security Council resolution still being worked out, hoping that they can get more international support -- Bill.
HEMMER: Thanks, Suzanne.
Suzanne Malveaux from the White House.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
