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CNN Saturday Morning News

White House Pondering Next Move In Campaign to Disarm Iraq

Aired February 15, 2003 - 09:00   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.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The White House pondering its next move in the campaign to disarm Iraq. A report by the chief U.N. weapons inspectors to the Security Council seemed to do more to boost the opponents of war that we're hearing from today than to support U.S. calls for a new war resolution.
To see what's going on in Washington, we turn it now to CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. Good morning again, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.

Well, the White House is really going to be facing a political showdown in the weeks to come. President Bush yesterday, at the FBI headquarters, making the case that Saddam Hussein must be disarmed immediately. But, at the same time, Secretary of State Colin Powell in the hot seat at the United Nations facing U.N. Security Council members calling for more time for inspections.

Well, administration officials are telling us that despite these calls, that the White House is moving forward, they'll go forward to issue a second resolution to the U.N. Security Council to declare Iraq in continuing material breach of previous resolutions that require Saddam Hussein to disarm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Robust inspections has to be something that goes hand in hand with cooperation and compliance on the part of the Iraqi regime. No matter how robust the inspection regime -- you make the inspection regime, if Iraq is not cooperating, if Iraq is not complying with the resolution, you're not going to get to the right answer, which is the disarmament of Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: So the administration certainly hoping it will get the support of U.N. Security Council members, but, of course, in the weeks to come, to make that critical decision whether or not to move with or without the U.N. Security Council.

Also should keep a close eye on what happens with Turkey. Administration officials tell us within 48 hours, they expect a breakthrough with NATO, that they will support Turkey in defense measures. This in all likelihood would make Turkey more likely to allow U.S. troops on the ground, critical to a U.S.-led war with Iraq, if that actually does become a reality, Miles.

O'BRIEN: Suzanne Malveaux in Washington. Thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Iraq>


Aired February 15, 2003 - 09:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The White House pondering its next move in the campaign to disarm Iraq. A report by the chief U.N. weapons inspectors to the Security Council seemed to do more to boost the opponents of war that we're hearing from today than to support U.S. calls for a new war resolution.
To see what's going on in Washington, we turn it now to CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. Good morning again, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.

Well, the White House is really going to be facing a political showdown in the weeks to come. President Bush yesterday, at the FBI headquarters, making the case that Saddam Hussein must be disarmed immediately. But, at the same time, Secretary of State Colin Powell in the hot seat at the United Nations facing U.N. Security Council members calling for more time for inspections.

Well, administration officials are telling us that despite these calls, that the White House is moving forward, they'll go forward to issue a second resolution to the U.N. Security Council to declare Iraq in continuing material breach of previous resolutions that require Saddam Hussein to disarm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Robust inspections has to be something that goes hand in hand with cooperation and compliance on the part of the Iraqi regime. No matter how robust the inspection regime -- you make the inspection regime, if Iraq is not cooperating, if Iraq is not complying with the resolution, you're not going to get to the right answer, which is the disarmament of Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: So the administration certainly hoping it will get the support of U.N. Security Council members, but, of course, in the weeks to come, to make that critical decision whether or not to move with or without the U.N. Security Council.

Also should keep a close eye on what happens with Turkey. Administration officials tell us within 48 hours, they expect a breakthrough with NATO, that they will support Turkey in defense measures. This in all likelihood would make Turkey more likely to allow U.S. troops on the ground, critical to a U.S.-led war with Iraq, if that actually does become a reality, Miles.

O'BRIEN: Suzanne Malveaux in Washington. Thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Iraq>