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American Morning

Intelligence Probe

Aired February 06, 2004 - 07:06   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: In Washington, after weeks of criticism, President Bush today will name a nine-member commission to investigation U.S. intelligence-gathering. Arizona Senator John McCain is said to be on that panel, according to a source with the administration.
Yesterday, President Bush sought to blunt criticism that pre-war U.S. intelligence on Iraq was faulty.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We know Saddam Hussein had the capability to produce weapons of mass destruction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: CIA Director George Tenet yesterday forcefully defending his agency's work before the war. Tenet saying that a report in October of 2002 painted an objective assessment of a Iraqi regime working to build threatening weapons programs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE TENET, CIA DIRECTOR: Let me be clear. Analysts differed on several important aspects of these programs, and those debates were spelled out in the estimate. They never said there was an imminent threat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: George Tenet from yesterday.

This morning, we're joined by senior White House correspondent, John King.

And, John, are we seeing now this gap develop between what the CIA and the White House are saying on this matter?

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, the White House would say it is not a substantive gap, Bill, but it is a gap, if you will, because of the different responsibilities. George Tenet's job, and his analysts' job, is to give the president the information on what they believe to be the threat, whether the issue be Iraq, Libya, North Korea or anywhere else.

Here at the White House, they say the president had to make the political and the policy decision about whether to go to war, and this president would say in a post-9/11 world when it comes to people like Saddam Hussein, he is going to assume the worst, not the best, when he is given a CIA analysis that might have some dispute in it.

Now, the question now will be, of course: Did anyone tinker with that intelligence? What were the sources of that intelligence? That is the goal of this review the president will announce today by signing an executive order creating that new nine-member commission.

The president says he wants to find out if the intelligence was wrong, but he also says, again, especially in a post-September 11 world, don't look for an apology. He believes whether weapons are found in Iraq or not, going to war was the right thing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Knowing what I knew then, and knowing what I know today, America did the right thing in Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Now, we know from our sources here at the White House and elsewhere in the administration that Senator John McCain of Arizona will be among the members of this nine-member commission. He, at times, has been critical of this administration. So, the White House is hoping it shows they're not afraid to put a maverick, someone with an independent streak, on this commission that the president will announce later today here at the White House.

Another name that has come up from time to time is David Kay. He was the chief weapons inspector in Iraq until just recently. He was here at the White House yesterday to meet with the president's national security adviser, although David Kay told CNN late in the day that he did not expect to be on that commission. Again, the president will make that announcement a bit later today -- Bill.

HEMMER: John, Jack mentioned a few moments ago, "Meet the Press," this Sunday morning with Tim Russert, no easy interview, we all know that from past experience. What does that signal from the White House that they will take this measure and do the interview Sunday morning?

KING: That we are in a political environment. We also have this significant policy debate over the intelligence in Iraq, and the president is the White House's best weapon, if you will, in a political argument. They want to get the president out there to make the case.

His approval rating has fallen under 50 percent for the first time. That is significant if you are an incumbent president seeking re-election. That is one number they watch quite closely. He is under 50 percent. They believe the person most effective in making the administration's case, explaining his decision to go to war and getting into this whole debate are over pre-war intelligence is the president himself.

HEMMER: All right, John, thanks -- John King on the White House Front Lawn.

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 February 6, 2004 - 07:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In Washington, after weeks of criticism, President Bush today will name a nine-member commission to investigation U.S. intelligence-gathering. Arizona Senator John McCain is said to be on that panel, according to a source with the administration.
Yesterday, President Bush sought to blunt criticism that pre-war U.S. intelligence on Iraq was faulty.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We know Saddam Hussein had the capability to produce weapons of mass destruction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: CIA Director George Tenet yesterday forcefully defending his agency's work before the war. Tenet saying that a report in October of 2002 painted an objective assessment of a Iraqi regime working to build threatening weapons programs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE TENET, CIA DIRECTOR: Let me be clear. Analysts differed on several important aspects of these programs, and those debates were spelled out in the estimate. They never said there was an imminent threat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: George Tenet from yesterday.

This morning, we're joined by senior White House correspondent, John King.

And, John, are we seeing now this gap develop between what the CIA and the White House are saying on this matter?

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, the White House would say it is not a substantive gap, Bill, but it is a gap, if you will, because of the different responsibilities. George Tenet's job, and his analysts' job, is to give the president the information on what they believe to be the threat, whether the issue be Iraq, Libya, North Korea or anywhere else.

Here at the White House, they say the president had to make the political and the policy decision about whether to go to war, and this president would say in a post-9/11 world when it comes to people like Saddam Hussein, he is going to assume the worst, not the best, when he is given a CIA analysis that might have some dispute in it.

Now, the question now will be, of course: Did anyone tinker with that intelligence? What were the sources of that intelligence? That is the goal of this review the president will announce today by signing an executive order creating that new nine-member commission.

The president says he wants to find out if the intelligence was wrong, but he also says, again, especially in a post-September 11 world, don't look for an apology. He believes whether weapons are found in Iraq or not, going to war was the right thing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Knowing what I knew then, and knowing what I know today, America did the right thing in Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Now, we know from our sources here at the White House and elsewhere in the administration that Senator John McCain of Arizona will be among the members of this nine-member commission. He, at times, has been critical of this administration. So, the White House is hoping it shows they're not afraid to put a maverick, someone with an independent streak, on this commission that the president will announce later today here at the White House.

Another name that has come up from time to time is David Kay. He was the chief weapons inspector in Iraq until just recently. He was here at the White House yesterday to meet with the president's national security adviser, although David Kay told CNN late in the day that he did not expect to be on that commission. Again, the president will make that announcement a bit later today -- Bill.

HEMMER: John, Jack mentioned a few moments ago, "Meet the Press," this Sunday morning with Tim Russert, no easy interview, we all know that from past experience. What does that signal from the White House that they will take this measure and do the interview Sunday morning?

KING: That we are in a political environment. We also have this significant policy debate over the intelligence in Iraq, and the president is the White House's best weapon, if you will, in a political argument. They want to get the president out there to make the case.

His approval rating has fallen under 50 percent for the first time. That is significant if you are an incumbent president seeking re-election. That is one number they watch quite closely. He is under 50 percent. They believe the person most effective in making the administration's case, explaining his decision to go to war and getting into this whole debate are over pre-war intelligence is the president himself.

HEMMER: All right, John, thanks -- John King on the White House Front Lawn.

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