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CNN Sunday Morning

Bush Orders CIA to Oust Hussein

Aired June 16, 2002 - 10:05   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Earlier this year, according to today's "Washington Post," President Bush signed an order directing the CIA to conduct covert operations to topple Saddam Hussein.

Mr. Bush is spending Father's Day with his family in a ranch in Crawford, Texas. CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is there with more on this story.

It's no surprise, Kelly, this is information that we've known, right?

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I don't know if we can say it's information we've known, Kyra.

What we can say is it's no big surprise, because, of course, President Bush has made it clear that he believes Saddam Hussein must go. The question, of course, how the administration will go about bringing that about.

You would expect, of course, this president who wants to get rid of Saddam Hussein would use all means at his disposal, including any kind of covert or secret plan. According to the "Washington Post," the plan would include having the possibility of the CIA and U.S. Special Forces teams inside Iraq to capture Saddam Hussein, and also, of course, to kill him, if they are in acting in self-defense.

So no surprise that the president might consider this. U.S. officials right now, Kyra, are declining comment. And that's no surprise either. Said one U.S. official, "We never comment on alleged covert operations" -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So you have to wonder, is this a precursor to action in Iraq. Everybody wants to know if this is the next target in this war on terrorism.

WALLACE: Well, the sense is that any kind of covert plan to topple Saddam Hussein, that it might be difficult to carry out. The chances of success, probably somewhat small, but it could be an initial step before any military action.

You have heard, Kyra, the president say time and time again -- he just said it on Friday -- that he has no war plans on his desk. So no imminent military action, it appears. And again also, the complicating factor, the violence in the Middle East between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

This administration really knows that it really must make progress in the Middle East in order to have Arab support for any military campaign to remove Saddam Hussein -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Kelly, the week ahead, I bet the president will be talking about homeland security?

WALLACE: He certainly will, of course. And what's interesting, Kyra, I believe Tom Ridge, his homeland security director, will be testifying before lawmakers this week, trying to encourage Congress to pass the proposal to create this new federal agency.

And what's significant here, Tom Ridge has not testified before Congress so far. The administration had prevented him or had said he should not testify because he's an informal adviser to the president. But now he'll be going before Congress, trying to urge lawmaker to act quickly to create this new cabinet level agency -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: CNN's White House correspondent, Kelly Wallace. Thanks, Kelly.

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