Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

President Trying to Lobby For More International Help in Iraq

Aired September 25, 2003 - 07:33   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: To with thousand now, the president, after spending two days here in New York trying to lobby for more international help in Iraq, to the White House and Suzanne Malveaux to find out whether or not the administration thinks they got anything done here in New York City over the past two days -- Suzanne, good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Bill.

The president walked away, the administration confident at the very least it generated some good will between the anti-war coalition when he met one-on-one with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder as well as France's Jacques Chirac. At the very least, the president, beyond making his case, made it very clear what he was willing to negotiate on and what he was willing not to negotiate on, that the U.N. would have a broader mandate, be able to help out with elections, as well as the constitution, but would not really have very much say when it came to the timetable of turning over power back to the Iraqi people. That is something the administration made very clear -- Bill.

HEMMER: Suzanne, what now for the White House as this strategy continues to evolve?

MALVEAUX: Well, one of the points here is that it's far from clear whether or not, despite the fact they're probably going to get a U.N. Security Council resolution, whether or not they really convinced countries to contribute the $20 billion that they're looking for or the 15,000 troops that they're hoping to aid in their effort.

What is next here is that they are going to try to lobby very intensely the 15 members of the U.N. Security Council, not just focusing on the permanent five, but all 15, to try to generate as much support as possible so that those who don't support this resolution, most notably France, will be isolated in this effort. It'll show that the world community is behind the United States.

But, still, far from clear whether or not they're really going to get that kind of support after they win that resolution.

One thing that the president is going to be doing in the weekend to come is he's going to be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to try to convince him to aid in the Iraqi reconstruction, as well.

A lot of questions still ahead -- Bill.

HEMMER: Indeed, there are. Suzanne, thanks, from the White House this 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




Iraq>


Aired September 25, 2003 - 07:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: To with thousand now, the president, after spending two days here in New York trying to lobby for more international help in Iraq, to the White House and Suzanne Malveaux to find out whether or not the administration thinks they got anything done here in New York City over the past two days -- Suzanne, good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Bill.

The president walked away, the administration confident at the very least it generated some good will between the anti-war coalition when he met one-on-one with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder as well as France's Jacques Chirac. At the very least, the president, beyond making his case, made it very clear what he was willing to negotiate on and what he was willing not to negotiate on, that the U.N. would have a broader mandate, be able to help out with elections, as well as the constitution, but would not really have very much say when it came to the timetable of turning over power back to the Iraqi people. That is something the administration made very clear -- Bill.

HEMMER: Suzanne, what now for the White House as this strategy continues to evolve?

MALVEAUX: Well, one of the points here is that it's far from clear whether or not, despite the fact they're probably going to get a U.N. Security Council resolution, whether or not they really convinced countries to contribute the $20 billion that they're looking for or the 15,000 troops that they're hoping to aid in their effort.

What is next here is that they are going to try to lobby very intensely the 15 members of the U.N. Security Council, not just focusing on the permanent five, but all 15, to try to generate as much support as possible so that those who don't support this resolution, most notably France, will be isolated in this effort. It'll show that the world community is behind the United States.

But, still, far from clear whether or not they're really going to get that kind of support after they win that resolution.

One thing that the president is going to be doing in the weekend to come is he's going to be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to try to convince him to aid in the Iraqi reconstruction, as well.

A lot of questions still ahead -- Bill.

HEMMER: Indeed, there are. Suzanne, thanks, from the White House this 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




Iraq>