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CNN Live Event/Special

Sen. Daschle Speaks on Bush's Conference on Iraq

Aired September 04, 2002 - 12:13   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We are going to take you live to the Hill now, where Senator Tom Daschle is talking about Iraq and his meeting with the president earlier this morning.
SEN. TOM DASCHLE (D-SD), MAJORITY LEADER: I would not want to assert that they're not available, but I would say that I know of no member of Congress that has the answers to those questions, and I think it would be very hard for us to come to any conclusion on a resolution until those questions, and as I said, many other questions, are answered.

So we will look forward to the dialogue that started this morning, and I would hope that we could continue to become more informed and to better understand the motivation of this administration as it relates to Iraq.

Let me also say that, as you know, we began debating the homeland security bill this week. Beginning at 1 o'clock, we'll take the bill up again today, and I'm concerned that the Republicans have chosen not to offer the amendment that they had indicated they would offer today. They're going to delay that. That further moves back the opportunity we all were looking forward to engage in a debate and move this process forward.

I did say yesterday, and I'll confirm again today, that -- no, we didn't do it yesterday. Senator Lott and I have agreed to publicly announce our intentions...

PHILLIPS: Senator Tom Daschle speaking on the Hill there. Not long after, he met with the president of United States this morning, talking about Iraq. He said that he felt the meeting was definitely a positive first step, but he still wants to know -- a lot of leaders want to know about international support and what allies will support the president if indeed he wants to attack Iraq.

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