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CNN Live Event/Special

Showdown Iraq: Word From White House

Aired November 12, 2002 - 12:02   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.


WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Here in Washington, one White House official tells us the Iraqi parliament's rejection is just quote -- as I said -- "pure theater." But what does the president say?
CNN's Frank Buckley is over at the White House. He's joining us now live -- Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, not surprisingly, the president is not putting a lot of stock in what the Iraqi parliament has to say. Senior administration officials here have all along said that the final decision here will rest with Saddam Hussein.

Earlier this morning, the president was asked about the vote in the Iraqi National Assembly, and here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Iraqi parliament is nothing but a rubber stamp for Saddam Hussein. There's no democracy. This guy's a dictator. And so, we'll have to see what he says.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: Now, yesterday, Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser, also talked on this subject. She downplayed the significance of the Iraqi parliament vote saying that -- quote: "They don't have a right to accept or reject the resolution. They are obligated to accept."

The White House believes that the real answer, again, will come from Saddam Hussein on Friday -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Frank Buckley at the White House -- thanks very much.

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 November 12, 2002 - 12:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Here in Washington, one White House official tells us the Iraqi parliament's rejection is just quote -- as I said -- "pure theater." But what does the president say?
CNN's Frank Buckley is over at the White House. He's joining us now live -- Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, not surprisingly, the president is not putting a lot of stock in what the Iraqi parliament has to say. Senior administration officials here have all along said that the final decision here will rest with Saddam Hussein.

Earlier this morning, the president was asked about the vote in the Iraqi National Assembly, and here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Iraqi parliament is nothing but a rubber stamp for Saddam Hussein. There's no democracy. This guy's a dictator. And so, we'll have to see what he says.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: Now, yesterday, Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser, also talked on this subject. She downplayed the significance of the Iraqi parliament vote saying that -- quote: "They don't have a right to accept or reject the resolution. They are obligated to accept."

The White House believes that the real answer, again, will come from Saddam Hussein on Friday -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Frank Buckley at the White House -- thanks very much.

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