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CNN Sunday Morning
U.S. Continues High Stakes Diplomacy at Security Council
Aired March 09, 2003 - 10:01 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: We begin with the high stakes diplomacy that continues today at the United Nations as the Security Council gets ready to vote on a resolution that could pave the way to war with Iraq, security or secretary, rather -- Secretary of State Colin Powell is expressing optimism about the support the U.S. may have when the votes are counted. More now from CNN White House correspondent, Dana Bash -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fredricka. Well, you're right, Secretary of State Colin Powell has made the rounds on the Sunday talk shows this morning and he did say that he is optimistic, that he can get the nine or 10 votes on the Security Council that the United States and the U.K. and Spain need to pass their resolution at the U.N. early next week. They are hoping that's when the vote will take place and that, of course, would give a deadline to Saddam Hussein to disarm.
However, the secretary did say that he would not be surprised if France would veto the resolution. That of course, would absolutely kill it. Now, the question is what if it fails? Colin Powell did make clear that the president never thought he needed the second resolution, that he already has all of the authority he needs to use military action against Saddam Hussein.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: If we don't get the vote the president will then have to make a judgment as to whether or not we're prepared now to lead a coalition of the willing, to disarm Saddam Hussein, and change the regime because that's the only way to get him to disarm. And I would not prejudge what the president might do, but I think the president's spoken rather clearly on this point for many, many months.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now even if the resolution does pass, the question is will Iraq be able to meet a March 17 deadline of totally disarming? The secretary made clear, just like other administration officials have done before him, that they don't see any hope that Iraq will fully disarm at all by March 17. So the question is whether or not the United States will use military action to get rid of him, to disarm him and to bring in a whole new regime in Iraq. The secretary of state said the window for diplomacy is rapidly closing and the possibility for war is rapidly increasing -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Dana. Thank you very much, from the White House.
Well, what's the next step in the administration's campaign to disarm Iraq? U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is the guest on "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER" at noon Eastern, 9:00 a.m. Pacific.
Now, for the latest on what's going on today at the United Nations, let's check in with CNN's Michael Okwu -- good morning, Michael.
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, good morning to you. The Security Council will meet behind closed doors tomorrow afternoon. We understand it will happen at about 4:00. Now, following the chief weapons inspectors' reports on Friday, the Iraqis appear to be bolstered by this. They believe they have a clean bill of health and they have issued a statement essentially asking that the sanctions be lifted there. That is unlikely to happen. We imagine the Security Council may discuss that issue tomorrow, but, clearly, their focus is on this second resolution, that in fact, if passed, which had a March 17 deadline for Saddam Hussein to comply with.
Now, of course, as you heard Dana Bash mention, the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is increasingly confident that he may win those nine or 10 votes that he would need to pass this resolution. Still though, the United States trying to ward off a veto from Russia, France, as well as China on the Council. These countries made it very clear that they would like inspections to continue for quite some time. And the French foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, is essentially taking a trip to some of those very key African states on the Council, Guinea, Angola, Cameroon, trying to influence them to come on to his side. So a great deal of horse-trading going on behind the scenes right now. Of course, President Bush is working the phones along with Great Britain's prime minister, Tony Blair -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Well, Michael, let's talk about another member of Bush's so-called access of evil, Iran. There are many reports that are saying that Iran is certainly the next threat of a nuclear power. Is the U.N. apparently so distracted or so focused on Iraq that perhaps it's not committing the time and energy needed for other hot spots like Iran.
OKWU: Well, it's an interesting question. The United Nations, as you know, is very focused on the whole Iraqi issue at this point, but it's something that they have been -- they have been thinking about. There was no comment today from the IAEA. And of course, the IAEA director, General Mohamed ElBaradei is back in Vienna where he is based. He went to this particular site that was in question some time ago and he noted that it was a place that needed to be further investigated, but at this point Security Council diplomats are very concerned about what's going on in regions outside of Iraq, what's going on in North Korea, what's going on now in Iran. And all along, the concern that diplomats have had, Fredricka, is that while they were focusing on the Iraqi issue and they were experiencing a greater division on the Council is what would happen when these other hot spots manifest themselves, that they become greater problems. What would they do if they can't find unity on Iraq, how are they going to find unity on these other issues? That's the big concern. WHITFIELD: All right. Michael Okwu from the U.N., thank you very much.
Well, let's get the view from inside Iraq right now. CNN's senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is in Baghdad and he joins us to bring us up-to-date -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, U.N. officials say six more of the Al-Samoud 2 missiles have been destroyed today along with 11 warheads. Also U.N. weapons inspectors have visited a site called the al Quetta Complex. That was a site they visited yesterday. When they were there yesterday, they were tagging warheads. It's not known exactly what they were doing there today, possibly the same thing.
Also, today, we've seen President Saddam Hussein appear on television. He was with not only his two sons, not only many of the military leaders, air defense, army commanders from the country, but also with the minister of defense, the minister of military industrialization, and the message from those commanders to President Saddam Hussein that the country's military production lines are working in full support of the army and that the people of Iraq would support the army and do their bit to fight from their houses if necessary to support the country.
Also, we've heard from Iraq's foreign ministry today, criticizing what it says are U.S. efforts to have some Iraqi diplomats expelled from what the foreign ministry says are 60 foreign countries around the world. The foreign ministry called it a hysterical effort from the CIA to try and get Iraqi diplomats to defect. And the foreign ministry told those countries affected not to succumb to U.S. pressure -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Nic, back to the Al-Samoud 2 weapons, six additional weapons, missiles, have been destroyed today bringing that total now to 46. Does it appear as though Iraq is working very hard in which to expedite the process of reaching the 120 to 130 in all? It seems as though six have been sort of a max of each day.
ROBERTSON: Six had been pretty much an average figure for the number destroyed each day. Now, the U.N. said they weren't setting a timeline. They did say that in their estimation this work could be completed in two weeks. We are now into the eighth day. At this rate, to complete the 120 missiles it would take another two weeks, so about a week longer than the U.N. had originally said that it was possible to do it in.
We do know that the destruction finishes sort of early afternoon here, but the U.N. says it is up to Iraq, the timeline, and that Iraq has to get these missiles in from the bases, from the military bases, around the country where the missiles are deployed. It's very difficult to get an indication if Iraq is dragging its feet and not trying hard enough. Certainly, the U.N. inspectors not giving any clues about their assessment of the speed of this process -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much, Nic Robertson from Iraq.
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 March 9, 2003 - 10:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: We begin with the high stakes diplomacy that continues today at the United Nations as the Security Council gets ready to vote on a resolution that could pave the way to war with Iraq, security or secretary, rather -- Secretary of State Colin Powell is expressing optimism about the support the U.S. may have when the votes are counted. More now from CNN White House correspondent, Dana Bash -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fredricka. Well, you're right, Secretary of State Colin Powell has made the rounds on the Sunday talk shows this morning and he did say that he is optimistic, that he can get the nine or 10 votes on the Security Council that the United States and the U.K. and Spain need to pass their resolution at the U.N. early next week. They are hoping that's when the vote will take place and that, of course, would give a deadline to Saddam Hussein to disarm.
However, the secretary did say that he would not be surprised if France would veto the resolution. That of course, would absolutely kill it. Now, the question is what if it fails? Colin Powell did make clear that the president never thought he needed the second resolution, that he already has all of the authority he needs to use military action against Saddam Hussein.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: If we don't get the vote the president will then have to make a judgment as to whether or not we're prepared now to lead a coalition of the willing, to disarm Saddam Hussein, and change the regime because that's the only way to get him to disarm. And I would not prejudge what the president might do, but I think the president's spoken rather clearly on this point for many, many months.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now even if the resolution does pass, the question is will Iraq be able to meet a March 17 deadline of totally disarming? The secretary made clear, just like other administration officials have done before him, that they don't see any hope that Iraq will fully disarm at all by March 17. So the question is whether or not the United States will use military action to get rid of him, to disarm him and to bring in a whole new regime in Iraq. The secretary of state said the window for diplomacy is rapidly closing and the possibility for war is rapidly increasing -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Dana. Thank you very much, from the White House.
Well, what's the next step in the administration's campaign to disarm Iraq? U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is the guest on "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER" at noon Eastern, 9:00 a.m. Pacific.
Now, for the latest on what's going on today at the United Nations, let's check in with CNN's Michael Okwu -- good morning, Michael.
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, good morning to you. The Security Council will meet behind closed doors tomorrow afternoon. We understand it will happen at about 4:00. Now, following the chief weapons inspectors' reports on Friday, the Iraqis appear to be bolstered by this. They believe they have a clean bill of health and they have issued a statement essentially asking that the sanctions be lifted there. That is unlikely to happen. We imagine the Security Council may discuss that issue tomorrow, but, clearly, their focus is on this second resolution, that in fact, if passed, which had a March 17 deadline for Saddam Hussein to comply with.
Now, of course, as you heard Dana Bash mention, the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is increasingly confident that he may win those nine or 10 votes that he would need to pass this resolution. Still though, the United States trying to ward off a veto from Russia, France, as well as China on the Council. These countries made it very clear that they would like inspections to continue for quite some time. And the French foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, is essentially taking a trip to some of those very key African states on the Council, Guinea, Angola, Cameroon, trying to influence them to come on to his side. So a great deal of horse-trading going on behind the scenes right now. Of course, President Bush is working the phones along with Great Britain's prime minister, Tony Blair -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Well, Michael, let's talk about another member of Bush's so-called access of evil, Iran. There are many reports that are saying that Iran is certainly the next threat of a nuclear power. Is the U.N. apparently so distracted or so focused on Iraq that perhaps it's not committing the time and energy needed for other hot spots like Iran.
OKWU: Well, it's an interesting question. The United Nations, as you know, is very focused on the whole Iraqi issue at this point, but it's something that they have been -- they have been thinking about. There was no comment today from the IAEA. And of course, the IAEA director, General Mohamed ElBaradei is back in Vienna where he is based. He went to this particular site that was in question some time ago and he noted that it was a place that needed to be further investigated, but at this point Security Council diplomats are very concerned about what's going on in regions outside of Iraq, what's going on in North Korea, what's going on now in Iran. And all along, the concern that diplomats have had, Fredricka, is that while they were focusing on the Iraqi issue and they were experiencing a greater division on the Council is what would happen when these other hot spots manifest themselves, that they become greater problems. What would they do if they can't find unity on Iraq, how are they going to find unity on these other issues? That's the big concern. WHITFIELD: All right. Michael Okwu from the U.N., thank you very much.
Well, let's get the view from inside Iraq right now. CNN's senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is in Baghdad and he joins us to bring us up-to-date -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, U.N. officials say six more of the Al-Samoud 2 missiles have been destroyed today along with 11 warheads. Also U.N. weapons inspectors have visited a site called the al Quetta Complex. That was a site they visited yesterday. When they were there yesterday, they were tagging warheads. It's not known exactly what they were doing there today, possibly the same thing.
Also, today, we've seen President Saddam Hussein appear on television. He was with not only his two sons, not only many of the military leaders, air defense, army commanders from the country, but also with the minister of defense, the minister of military industrialization, and the message from those commanders to President Saddam Hussein that the country's military production lines are working in full support of the army and that the people of Iraq would support the army and do their bit to fight from their houses if necessary to support the country.
Also, we've heard from Iraq's foreign ministry today, criticizing what it says are U.S. efforts to have some Iraqi diplomats expelled from what the foreign ministry says are 60 foreign countries around the world. The foreign ministry called it a hysterical effort from the CIA to try and get Iraqi diplomats to defect. And the foreign ministry told those countries affected not to succumb to U.S. pressure -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Nic, back to the Al-Samoud 2 weapons, six additional weapons, missiles, have been destroyed today bringing that total now to 46. Does it appear as though Iraq is working very hard in which to expedite the process of reaching the 120 to 130 in all? It seems as though six have been sort of a max of each day.
ROBERTSON: Six had been pretty much an average figure for the number destroyed each day. Now, the U.N. said they weren't setting a timeline. They did say that in their estimation this work could be completed in two weeks. We are now into the eighth day. At this rate, to complete the 120 missiles it would take another two weeks, so about a week longer than the U.N. had originally said that it was possible to do it in.
We do know that the destruction finishes sort of early afternoon here, but the U.N. says it is up to Iraq, the timeline, and that Iraq has to get these missiles in from the bases, from the military bases, around the country where the missiles are deployed. It's very difficult to get an indication if Iraq is dragging its feet and not trying hard enough. Certainly, the U.N. inspectors not giving any clues about their assessment of the speed of this process -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much, Nic Robertson from Iraq.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
