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CNN Sunday Morning
Wolfowitz Says Intelligence Not an Exact Science
Aired July 27, 2003 - 10:42 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.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: Well, from recent history to a current controversy. The report on the 9/11 terrorist attacks about what the U.S. government knew beforehand has drawn some criticism.
Now the Bush administration speaks out about what the U.S. has learned.
CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash is at 1600 Pennsylvania avenue, and she joins us now live from there with a report.
Good morning, Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Andrea.
Well, you know, as questions about prewar intelligence on Iraq have really plagued the Bush administration for the past few weeks, you've heard more and more from Bush officials, telling reporters and really telling the American public that what they need to keep in mind is the fact that it is a different world, it is a post-September 11 world and you need to remember the fact that intelligence is not an exact science.
Now that is exactly what we heard earlier this morning from Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who was appearing on some of the Sunday morning talk shows. He said that the report that came out of Congress late last week, detailing the intelligence lapses in the days and months leading up to 9/11, should be evidence that is important to connect the dots, and it is important through the prism of Iraq, that that country was a threat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOLFOWITZ: I think the lesson of September 11 is that you can't wait until proof after the fact. I mean, it surprises me sometimes that people have forgotten so soon what September 11, I think, should have taught us about terrorism, and that's what this is all about.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, the other question that has been plaguing the Bush administration is that of cost. How much is it going to cost us to stay in that country for, perhaps, months, maybe -- probably years, as Bush officials have said.
The foreign relations chairman, Richard Lugar, said to NPR this weekend, that he believes the president owes it to the American people to give a detailed account of what exactly he believes it will cost in terms of money and in terms of years and perhaps troops.
Paul Wolfowitz didn't exactly answer that question. All he said was that President Bush has made it clear that the United States will be there for awhile.
But he also used the argument that it did cost a lot in terms of money and in terms of U.S. troops' lives to contain Saddam Hussein for the past 12 years, and that should be kept in mind as we go forward in Iraq and rebuilding Iraq.
He also made clear that he does believe that Iraqi people and the infrastructure there, particularly oil, will help to pay for some of the costs to rebuild the country -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: Dana Bash at the White House, thank you very much.
BASH: Thank you.
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 July 27, 2003 - 10:42 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: Well, from recent history to a current controversy. The report on the 9/11 terrorist attacks about what the U.S. government knew beforehand has drawn some criticism.
Now the Bush administration speaks out about what the U.S. has learned.
CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash is at 1600 Pennsylvania avenue, and she joins us now live from there with a report.
Good morning, Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Andrea.
Well, you know, as questions about prewar intelligence on Iraq have really plagued the Bush administration for the past few weeks, you've heard more and more from Bush officials, telling reporters and really telling the American public that what they need to keep in mind is the fact that it is a different world, it is a post-September 11 world and you need to remember the fact that intelligence is not an exact science.
Now that is exactly what we heard earlier this morning from Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who was appearing on some of the Sunday morning talk shows. He said that the report that came out of Congress late last week, detailing the intelligence lapses in the days and months leading up to 9/11, should be evidence that is important to connect the dots, and it is important through the prism of Iraq, that that country was a threat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOLFOWITZ: I think the lesson of September 11 is that you can't wait until proof after the fact. I mean, it surprises me sometimes that people have forgotten so soon what September 11, I think, should have taught us about terrorism, and that's what this is all about.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, the other question that has been plaguing the Bush administration is that of cost. How much is it going to cost us to stay in that country for, perhaps, months, maybe -- probably years, as Bush officials have said.
The foreign relations chairman, Richard Lugar, said to NPR this weekend, that he believes the president owes it to the American people to give a detailed account of what exactly he believes it will cost in terms of money and in terms of years and perhaps troops.
Paul Wolfowitz didn't exactly answer that question. All he said was that President Bush has made it clear that the United States will be there for awhile.
But he also used the argument that it did cost a lot in terms of money and in terms of U.S. troops' lives to contain Saddam Hussein for the past 12 years, and that should be kept in mind as we go forward in Iraq and rebuilding Iraq.
He also made clear that he does believe that Iraqi people and the infrastructure there, particularly oil, will help to pay for some of the costs to rebuild the country -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: Dana Bash at the White House, thank you very much.
BASH: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
