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CNN Sunday Morning

Bush Returns From Vacation

Aired September 01, 2002 - 10:02   ET

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

CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush returns to the White House today after a month long vacation at his ranch in Texas. He has quite a good deal on his agenda, including the Iraq debate, of course.
Let's turn to our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux. Suzanne, was it really a vacation for him?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's a very good point. Actually, the president returning today to Washington after a 27-day working vacation. It was really a busy one. He earned nearly -- raised nearly $9 million for Republic candidates.

He traveled across the country, emphasizing a number of domestic issues and gave at least 16 speeches. Of course, he has a full plate when he comes back to Washington.

We expect that he is going to be pushing Congress to move forward on a number of key legislative issues, mainly homeland security, a Pentagon budget, as well as terrorism insurance, but of course, make no mistake, this administration is also engaged in a full-court press to make the case for military strike in Iraq.

We saw that last week as Vice President Dick Cheney, in the strongest case ever, making that case. Aides are now debating whether or not President Bush will direct that directly. They emphasize that he has not made up his mind when it comes to what we will do concerning Iraq.

Now, all of this, in the meantime there has been a growing opposition that has become much more vocal in terms of U.S. policy toward Iraq. The possibility of a military strike not only from our allies, at least 14 countries expressing some caution, but also now from top Republicans, namely from Bush Sr.'s administration.

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LAWRENCE EAGLEBURGER, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: Unless it is very clear that Saddam is very close to having nuclear weapons, not just any old weapon of mass destruction, but nuclear weapons, and very close to having them, I think it would be very wrong for us, alone, without allies, to go in and try to take him off the scene, to march into Iraq, replace him with somebody else, stay there as an army of occupation for some years. We do not understand the morass we will be walking into unless the threat is so immediate that we must act.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now also joining in that debate this morning in an op- ed page in the "Washington Post," former Senator Bob Dole says that he bolsters the case, supports the case for military strike in Iraq, but he also cautions President Bush to obtain congressional approval, not just consultations, but approval before any type of action is taken -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: And Suzanne, of course the president is well aware of all the conversations that have been going on while he's been gone over the debate over Iraq, but do you think the tone is going change at all now that he's back in Washington?

MALVEAUX: You know, what's really interesting is that I don't think the tone is necessarily going to change, but the administration is very much aware of the type of issues that resonate with the voters, and November midterm elections are right around the corner.

What we are told is the president is really going to emphasize some of those domestic issues that voters are most concerned with, namely about the economy, homeland security, their pension funds, things like that.

They are very much aware that it is not necessarily the issue of war at Iraq that is going to give the Republicans the type of support they need.

CALLAWAY: All right. Thank you. Suzanne Malveaux in Washington.

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