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CNN Saturday Morning News

Bush Monitors Iraq From Vacation

Aired August 03, 2002 - 09:05   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.
LARRY SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush has some tough issues weighing on his mind as he begins a month-long vacation, one of them being the father-son legacy of Saddam Hussein.

He is beginning his break at the family compound in Maine, and White House correspondent Kelly Wallace joins us now live from Kennebunkport. Kelly, good morning.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Larry.

Well, the White House is really pouring cold water on this latest move, this offer by Iraq. Number one, U.S. officials very skeptical. You heard Secretary of State Colin Powell saying that just a few moments ago. But number two, because the ultimate goal of this administration is what it calls regime change.

President Bush has made it very clear he believes Saddam Hussein must go.

Now, we saw the president on the golf course bright and early this morning. Joining him, his father, the former president. And a bit of news involving former president Bush. You can see he has some marks on his face. He has had some treatment for lesions caused by exposure to the sun. According to a release from the Mayo Clinic, these are not skin cancers. However, these are lesions that could become cancerous if they were not treated and eliminated and relieved.

Now, the president was trying to get reporters to cheer on his father as he teed off. He said to reporters to clap, saying, "Come on, make the good old boy feel better."

Now, no comments from President Bush about Iraq's offer to have these weapons inspectors come back in for talks in Baghdad. This is all coming, though, as there have been hearings on Capitol Hill about the administration's plans for Saddam Hussein and about any possible military action to bring about the removal of the Iraqi leader.

One message coming from lawmakers, members of Congress would like to have this president come to Congress to get any approval for any military action.

Here's Senator Carl Levin, who appears on CNN's "NOVAK, HUNT, AND SHIELDS." (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "NOVAK, HUNT, AND SHIELDS")

SEN. CARL LEVIN (D-MI), CHAIRMAN, ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: There's too much of a potential for significant casualties, and the resources involved are huge. And the impact on the region and on our security is so large that the president, it seems to me, would not proceed without congressional authority.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Now, asked if the president would go and get congressional support before any military action against Iraq, U.S. officials say that is just too premature a question. They continue to say, Larry, President Bush has no war plans on his desk -- Larry.

SMITH: OK, Kelly Wallace, live, Kennebunkport, Maine, thanks so much for that report.

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