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CNN Sunday Morning

Bush Gives No Timetable on Attacking Iraq

Aired August 11, 2002 - 11:05   ET

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

KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is still giving no timetable on a possible attack against Iraq. Of course, it's been discussed so much. And recently as Iraqi opposition leaders label Saddam Hussein weak.
Our Suzanne Malveaux is with the president at his ranch in Crawford, Texas with more. So, Suzanne, these opposition leaders saying that even the Republican guard would rise up against him.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right -- really strong words from those opposition leaders. The president this weekend really putting the pressure on Saddam Hussein -- just yesterday saying that Iraq is an enemy until proven otherwise.

And between the harsh rhetoric that you're hearing from the Crawford ranch to those high level meetings with top Bush administration officials and those Iraqi opposition groups, you know that the administration's position has been that the days are numbered for Saddam Hussein.

It was just yesterday that those leaders from those six Iraqi opposition groups met with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld as well as joint chiefs of staff as well as the vice president, Dick Cheney, via a video link to his home in Wyoming.

Now those leaders emerged saying that they were confident. They shared in the same principle -- the regime change as the Bush administration, the ousting of Saddam Hussein.

What is interesting, however, is that the words have become stronger from the administration calling for his ouster. Also opposition from members of Congress who have come forward -- even Republicans.

It was earlier this week House Majority Leader Dick Army argued for containment and it was just this morning that Democratic leader Senator Carl Levin joined in.

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SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: It's a very complex issue and I think some of the president's rhetoric over time has been just too simplistic, not considering the very complex factors and not listening to his senior military advisers who basically say that the containment policy can work.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now the president has been saying that -- yes -- he is consulting with members of Congress as well as U.S. allies before the United States would take any type of action against Saddam Hussein, really trying to open up the dialog here.

We will be hearing from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as well as National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. Later in the week they will be coming here to the Crawford ranch specifically to talk about U.S. options in Iraq. Kris?

OSBORN: Suzanne Malveaux, live in Crawford, Texas -- thank you very much.

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