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CNN Saturday Morning News
President Bush Faces Axis of Evil Simultaneously
Aired December 14, 2002 - 08:10 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.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, of course, Saddam Hussein and Iraq are at the top of the White House international agenda, but there's plenty to talk about domestically, as well.
Let's check in with White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux for an update -- good morning, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Arthel.
President Bush is spending the weekend at Camp David, but of course his plate is full. The White House, the stakes could not be higher, dealing with potential threats from all three members of Mr. Bush's axis of evil, that is, Iraq, Iran and North Korea.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice-over): President Bush raised more than a few eyebrows when he labeled Iraq, North Korea and Iran members of an axis of evil. Now, the administration is Simultaneously being confronted with threats from all three. But the White House strategy is decidedly different for each.
Iraq claims it has no weapons of mass destruction. The White House says otherwise. The Bush administration is engaged in diplomacy backed by military might. But the White House says it will hold off on military action until it has examined Iraq's declaration on weapons of mass destruction more thoroughly.
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We've always said that we wanted to carefully review the document in terms of reviewing not only what is in it, but what is not in it.
MALVEAUX: But for North Korea, no talk at all of military action, despite the fact this country recently admitted to developing a secret nuclear weapons program. It now plans to reactivate several nuclear facilities and wants to turn away international monitors.
Instead, the White House is urgently consulting with allies, including South Korea and Japan. President Bush stresses he wants a peaceful solution, but will not negotiate with North Korea to disarm. North Korea is the closest to having a nuclear weapons program, White House aides say, but least likely to use them because it needs U.S. economic and humanitarian aid.
FLEISCHER: The world is not, cannot just be treated as a photocopy machine, the policies in one part of the world need to be identically copied for another. MALVEAUX: As for Iran, commercial satellite photos taken in September show that Iran has secretly been building large nuclear facilities at two locations. The administration says despite Iran's claims, they are not for peaceful means. But while the White House says it has grave concerns about Iran's nuclear facilities, it will wait for an update from international monitors.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: And, Arthel, while the administration grapples with dealing with all three members of Mr. Bush's axis of evil, White House aides emphasizing that the focus remains on public enemy number one, that is, Saddam Hussein and Iraq -- Arthel.
NEVILLE: Now, Suzanne, on another note, has the White House said anything else about the Trent Lott controversy?
MALVEAUX: Well, the White House is really sticking up for Senator Lott. As before, President Bush had strongly admonished the senator for his comments, but then just yesterday, Ari Fleischer, White House spokesperson, said after Senator Lott held that press conference, he said, and I'm quoting here, "Senator Lott was candid and forthright. He apologized again and rightly so. I reiterate the president does not think he needs to resign."
So the White House certainly hoping that they can put this behind them. They know it is going to take a couple of days, if not a week, for people to express their views. But again, the president believes that he should not resign his post and that he accepts Lott's apology -- Arthel.
NEVILLE: OK, Suzanne Malveaux, thank you so much for that report.
MALVEAUX: 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 December 14, 2002 - 08:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, of course, Saddam Hussein and Iraq are at the top of the White House international agenda, but there's plenty to talk about domestically, as well.
Let's check in with White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux for an update -- good morning, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Arthel.
President Bush is spending the weekend at Camp David, but of course his plate is full. The White House, the stakes could not be higher, dealing with potential threats from all three members of Mr. Bush's axis of evil, that is, Iraq, Iran and North Korea.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice-over): President Bush raised more than a few eyebrows when he labeled Iraq, North Korea and Iran members of an axis of evil. Now, the administration is Simultaneously being confronted with threats from all three. But the White House strategy is decidedly different for each.
Iraq claims it has no weapons of mass destruction. The White House says otherwise. The Bush administration is engaged in diplomacy backed by military might. But the White House says it will hold off on military action until it has examined Iraq's declaration on weapons of mass destruction more thoroughly.
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We've always said that we wanted to carefully review the document in terms of reviewing not only what is in it, but what is not in it.
MALVEAUX: But for North Korea, no talk at all of military action, despite the fact this country recently admitted to developing a secret nuclear weapons program. It now plans to reactivate several nuclear facilities and wants to turn away international monitors.
Instead, the White House is urgently consulting with allies, including South Korea and Japan. President Bush stresses he wants a peaceful solution, but will not negotiate with North Korea to disarm. North Korea is the closest to having a nuclear weapons program, White House aides say, but least likely to use them because it needs U.S. economic and humanitarian aid.
FLEISCHER: The world is not, cannot just be treated as a photocopy machine, the policies in one part of the world need to be identically copied for another. MALVEAUX: As for Iran, commercial satellite photos taken in September show that Iran has secretly been building large nuclear facilities at two locations. The administration says despite Iran's claims, they are not for peaceful means. But while the White House says it has grave concerns about Iran's nuclear facilities, it will wait for an update from international monitors.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: And, Arthel, while the administration grapples with dealing with all three members of Mr. Bush's axis of evil, White House aides emphasizing that the focus remains on public enemy number one, that is, Saddam Hussein and Iraq -- Arthel.
NEVILLE: Now, Suzanne, on another note, has the White House said anything else about the Trent Lott controversy?
MALVEAUX: Well, the White House is really sticking up for Senator Lott. As before, President Bush had strongly admonished the senator for his comments, but then just yesterday, Ari Fleischer, White House spokesperson, said after Senator Lott held that press conference, he said, and I'm quoting here, "Senator Lott was candid and forthright. He apologized again and rightly so. I reiterate the president does not think he needs to resign."
So the White House certainly hoping that they can put this behind them. They know it is going to take a couple of days, if not a week, for people to express their views. But again, the president believes that he should not resign his post and that he accepts Lott's apology -- Arthel.
NEVILLE: OK, Suzanne Malveaux, thank you so much for that report.
MALVEAUX: 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
