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CNN Saturday Morning News
Anti-war Protest Have Begun All Around World
Aired February 15, 2003 - 08:00 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now more on our top story. Back in Iraq, the weapons search goes on. U.N. inspectors fan out today looking for weapons of mass destruction. Iraq says at least eight sites were searched, including agriculture, college, an agricultural site, a college and a rocket and missile component factory. And tens of thousands of Iraqis demonstrated across the country to show support of President Saddam Hussein and denounce the United States.
Anti-war rallies are taking place all around the world.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair says war against Iraq can still be averted, but in a speech to the ruling Labor Party conference this morning, Blair said Iraqi concessions to the U.N. weapons inspectors are not enough.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: But let no one forget two things. To anyone familiar with Saddam's tactics of deception and evasion, there is a weary sense of deja vu. As ever, at the last minute concessions are made and as ever, it is the long finger that is directing them. The concessions are suspect. Unfortunately, the weapons are real.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Blair's speech comes one day after U.N. inspectors reported to the Security Council and apparently gave encouragement to opponents to military action -- Miles.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, Heidi, the White House is pondering its next move in the campaign to disarm Saddam Hussein after a basically positive report by the U.N.'s chief weapons inspector. The U.S. failed to win new Security Council support for a war against Iraq.
We get an update now from our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, joining us from the bureau this morning.
Good morning, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.
The White House is really facing a political showdown in the weeks to come. Yesterday we saw President Bush at FBI headquarters making the case that Saddam Hussein must be disarmed immediately, but at the same time Secretary of State Colin Powell at the United Nations in the hot seat before U.N. Security Council members, calling for more time for inspections.
Well, administration sources tell CNN that despite this, the White House will continue to push for a second resolution in the U.N. Security Council declaring that Iraq is in material breach of previous resolutions requiring it to disarm.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Robust inspections have to be matched by cooperation and compliance. And no matter how robust you make the inspections, no matter how many inspectors you put in, unless there is compliance and cooperation on the part of the Iraqi regime, then you really haven't accomplished anything. And while we noted some progress on process, frankly, I was not satisfied that we have seen anything with respect to real progress on substance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, Turkey, of course, will be critical for any U.S.- led war on Iraq. We are told from administration sources to expect within 48 hours a breakthrough in NATO, that they would provide defense for Turkey. That would make it much more likely that Turkey would grant U.S. troops to be based there, which is critical for the United States. Yesterday we saw President Bush with the foreign minister of Turkey. Yet to be worked out is this economic package with Turkey, which could have a price tag of some $20 billion -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Suzanne, did the president warm up the White House TV and watch the U.N. events yesterday?
MALVEAUX: We're told, actually, he missed Blix's report, as well as the rebuttal from Secretary Powell, that he was lunching with Cheney at the time. But, of course, he was briefed on all of the reports and still the president very much determined to move forward. Yes, they're hoping for international support, but at the same time saying that it will move forward without the support of the United Nations.
O'BRIEN: Suzanne Malveaux in Washington, thank you very much -- Heidi.
COLLINS: While the White House plans its campaign against Iraq, the case for peace, not war, is being made in streets all over the globe. Hundreds of thousands of war protesters have gathered in cities across Australia and an estimate 10,000 others have gotten their message out in Seoul, South Korea.
There are more anti-war demonstrations in other cities and we're bringing them to you.
Our Matthew Chance is in Berlin this morning and CNN's Jim Bittermann joins us from Paris and our John Martone is following the action in Istanbul, Turkey.
We begin with Berlin and Matthew Chance -- good morning, Matthew. MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you very much, Heidi.
And the view from Berlin, the German capital, is of a country very much united in its opposition against any possible war with Iraq. Tens of thousands of people had been expected to attend this rally in the center of Berlin. Police are telling us it could be as many as 200,000 people that have come here.
Now, Germany is perhaps unique in Europe because the politicians that run it are basically holding the same position when it comes to Iraq as do these many tens of thousands of marchers here in the streets of Berlin, basically, that they would not support any kind of war against Iraq, even if that war was authorized by a new United Nations Security Council resolution. That position of Gerhard Schroeder, the German chancellor, very much isolating him from the old traditional alliance that it's had with the United States, but also basically with the exception of France, putting him at odds with other European power, political leaders as well.
Now, there are big European rallies taking place across this continent. In London, organizers say as many as a million people could turn up. The same figure is said to be expected in the Italian capital, Rome. France also a big protest planned.
And it is in the French capital that we find CNN's Jim Bittermann.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Matthew, well, thousands of people are gathering here in the Place Dome Ferochero (ph) on the south side of Paris for a demonstration that is expected to stretch across the city before it's over in about four hours from now. It's one of about 80 demonstrations in towns and villages across the country. More than a hundred groups are taking part, everybody from the Communist Party to Americans in France against the war.
Now, the organizers say this is not an anti-American demonstration, but it certainly is anti-George Bush. There are a lot of signs and placards out in the crowd ridiculing the American president and saying that war is not necessary, questioning his motives, insinuating that a war in Iraq would not be about spreading democracy throughout the Middle East, but rather about laying claim to Iraq's oil.
I should say that this is a whole demonstration, all the demonstrations across France today are more about international consumption than domestic consumption because the government here has made it very clear that it is against war in Iraq. And it did it again yesterday in the United Nations, when the foreign minister spoke out quite clearly, saying that for now at least, military action is not warranted.
I thought I'd show you the "Le Monde" that just came out just a few hours ago. The headline saying "War Retreats and Anti-War Demonstrates," talking about today's demonstrations -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Jim Bittermann, thank you. O'BRIEN: Protests against a war with Iraq are also taking place in the Middle East.
Let's spin the globe, go to Istanbul, Turkey.
And that's where we find our James Martone -- James.
JAMES MARTONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, well, we're in Istanbul. The foreign minister, by the way, is in Washington on his way back to Turkey for serious talks with Turkish officials. He's been in Washington dealing with U.S. officials over an economic plan, a plan that Ankara says would ease, allow for its help in any U.S. war on Iraq.
Now, very much opposed to any war are the people here. Polls show demonstrators, people, Turks not wanting war. They say in today's demonstration, which happened about an hour ago, it's just folding up here and there'll be others throughout the day, people shouting anti-American slogans. Interesting, because so far we haven't heard many of those. People saying they want the U.S. out of the Middle East and people saying they do not want a war in neighboring Iraq.
Now, the Turks remember the 1991 Gulf War, with a cost of billions of dollars. Their economy is suffering already. Not only that, but Iraq, they say, is a neighbor and they don't want to see it hit. So major opposition here to U.S. plans for any war with Iraq, which Turks on the street, Turks at this demonstration we saw today saying they want no part of -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: James Martone, Istanbul, Turkey.
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 February 15, 2003 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now more on our top story. Back in Iraq, the weapons search goes on. U.N. inspectors fan out today looking for weapons of mass destruction. Iraq says at least eight sites were searched, including agriculture, college, an agricultural site, a college and a rocket and missile component factory. And tens of thousands of Iraqis demonstrated across the country to show support of President Saddam Hussein and denounce the United States.
Anti-war rallies are taking place all around the world.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair says war against Iraq can still be averted, but in a speech to the ruling Labor Party conference this morning, Blair said Iraqi concessions to the U.N. weapons inspectors are not enough.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: But let no one forget two things. To anyone familiar with Saddam's tactics of deception and evasion, there is a weary sense of deja vu. As ever, at the last minute concessions are made and as ever, it is the long finger that is directing them. The concessions are suspect. Unfortunately, the weapons are real.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Blair's speech comes one day after U.N. inspectors reported to the Security Council and apparently gave encouragement to opponents to military action -- Miles.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, Heidi, the White House is pondering its next move in the campaign to disarm Saddam Hussein after a basically positive report by the U.N.'s chief weapons inspector. The U.S. failed to win new Security Council support for a war against Iraq.
We get an update now from our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, joining us from the bureau this morning.
Good morning, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.
The White House is really facing a political showdown in the weeks to come. Yesterday we saw President Bush at FBI headquarters making the case that Saddam Hussein must be disarmed immediately, but at the same time Secretary of State Colin Powell at the United Nations in the hot seat before U.N. Security Council members, calling for more time for inspections.
Well, administration sources tell CNN that despite this, the White House will continue to push for a second resolution in the U.N. Security Council declaring that Iraq is in material breach of previous resolutions requiring it to disarm.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Robust inspections have to be matched by cooperation and compliance. And no matter how robust you make the inspections, no matter how many inspectors you put in, unless there is compliance and cooperation on the part of the Iraqi regime, then you really haven't accomplished anything. And while we noted some progress on process, frankly, I was not satisfied that we have seen anything with respect to real progress on substance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, Turkey, of course, will be critical for any U.S.- led war on Iraq. We are told from administration sources to expect within 48 hours a breakthrough in NATO, that they would provide defense for Turkey. That would make it much more likely that Turkey would grant U.S. troops to be based there, which is critical for the United States. Yesterday we saw President Bush with the foreign minister of Turkey. Yet to be worked out is this economic package with Turkey, which could have a price tag of some $20 billion -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Suzanne, did the president warm up the White House TV and watch the U.N. events yesterday?
MALVEAUX: We're told, actually, he missed Blix's report, as well as the rebuttal from Secretary Powell, that he was lunching with Cheney at the time. But, of course, he was briefed on all of the reports and still the president very much determined to move forward. Yes, they're hoping for international support, but at the same time saying that it will move forward without the support of the United Nations.
O'BRIEN: Suzanne Malveaux in Washington, thank you very much -- Heidi.
COLLINS: While the White House plans its campaign against Iraq, the case for peace, not war, is being made in streets all over the globe. Hundreds of thousands of war protesters have gathered in cities across Australia and an estimate 10,000 others have gotten their message out in Seoul, South Korea.
There are more anti-war demonstrations in other cities and we're bringing them to you.
Our Matthew Chance is in Berlin this morning and CNN's Jim Bittermann joins us from Paris and our John Martone is following the action in Istanbul, Turkey.
We begin with Berlin and Matthew Chance -- good morning, Matthew. MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you very much, Heidi.
And the view from Berlin, the German capital, is of a country very much united in its opposition against any possible war with Iraq. Tens of thousands of people had been expected to attend this rally in the center of Berlin. Police are telling us it could be as many as 200,000 people that have come here.
Now, Germany is perhaps unique in Europe because the politicians that run it are basically holding the same position when it comes to Iraq as do these many tens of thousands of marchers here in the streets of Berlin, basically, that they would not support any kind of war against Iraq, even if that war was authorized by a new United Nations Security Council resolution. That position of Gerhard Schroeder, the German chancellor, very much isolating him from the old traditional alliance that it's had with the United States, but also basically with the exception of France, putting him at odds with other European power, political leaders as well.
Now, there are big European rallies taking place across this continent. In London, organizers say as many as a million people could turn up. The same figure is said to be expected in the Italian capital, Rome. France also a big protest planned.
And it is in the French capital that we find CNN's Jim Bittermann.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Matthew, well, thousands of people are gathering here in the Place Dome Ferochero (ph) on the south side of Paris for a demonstration that is expected to stretch across the city before it's over in about four hours from now. It's one of about 80 demonstrations in towns and villages across the country. More than a hundred groups are taking part, everybody from the Communist Party to Americans in France against the war.
Now, the organizers say this is not an anti-American demonstration, but it certainly is anti-George Bush. There are a lot of signs and placards out in the crowd ridiculing the American president and saying that war is not necessary, questioning his motives, insinuating that a war in Iraq would not be about spreading democracy throughout the Middle East, but rather about laying claim to Iraq's oil.
I should say that this is a whole demonstration, all the demonstrations across France today are more about international consumption than domestic consumption because the government here has made it very clear that it is against war in Iraq. And it did it again yesterday in the United Nations, when the foreign minister spoke out quite clearly, saying that for now at least, military action is not warranted.
I thought I'd show you the "Le Monde" that just came out just a few hours ago. The headline saying "War Retreats and Anti-War Demonstrates," talking about today's demonstrations -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Jim Bittermann, thank you. O'BRIEN: Protests against a war with Iraq are also taking place in the Middle East.
Let's spin the globe, go to Istanbul, Turkey.
And that's where we find our James Martone -- James.
JAMES MARTONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, well, we're in Istanbul. The foreign minister, by the way, is in Washington on his way back to Turkey for serious talks with Turkish officials. He's been in Washington dealing with U.S. officials over an economic plan, a plan that Ankara says would ease, allow for its help in any U.S. war on Iraq.
Now, very much opposed to any war are the people here. Polls show demonstrators, people, Turks not wanting war. They say in today's demonstration, which happened about an hour ago, it's just folding up here and there'll be others throughout the day, people shouting anti-American slogans. Interesting, because so far we haven't heard many of those. People saying they want the U.S. out of the Middle East and people saying they do not want a war in neighboring Iraq.
Now, the Turks remember the 1991 Gulf War, with a cost of billions of dollars. Their economy is suffering already. Not only that, but Iraq, they say, is a neighbor and they don't want to see it hit. So major opposition here to U.S. plans for any war with Iraq, which Turks on the street, Turks at this demonstration we saw today saying they want no part of -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: James Martone, Istanbul, Turkey.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
