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CNN Live Sunday

Bush Authorizes CIA to Topple Hussein

Aired June 16, 2002 - 18:05   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Now we move on to the war on terror. President Bush is authorizing the CIA to use whatever means necessary to topple Saddam Hussein, this according to the "Washington Post." CNN White House Correspondent Kelly Wallace in Crawford, Texas with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): While President Bush spent the weekend at his Crawford, Texas ranch, his aides declined to confirm this report in Sunday's Washington Post that the president earlier this year directed the CIA to use all available tools to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, including using lethal force to capture him.

This covert operation would include the possible use of CIA and Special Forces teams who would be authorized to kill Hussein if they were acting in self defense. Republicans said Mr. Bush could do whatever it takes to oust the Iraqi leader.

SEN. RICHARD SHELBY (R-AL), INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: I think the sooner we have a regime change, the better off the whole area is going to be, the better off the world is going to be.

WALLACE: Democrats who agree the Iraqi leader must go, question whether the president has a plan for a post-Hussein Iraq, noting how former President Bush during the Persian Gulf War chose not to go as far as toppling Hussein.

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D-DE), FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE: Mr. President, there's a reason why you father stopped. The reason he didn't go to Baghdad, and I'm not criticizing it, the reason he didn't go to Baghdad, he wasn't prepared to stay for five years.

WALLACE: Other Iraq watchers say it's unlikely a covert operation alone could knock off Hussein.

FRANK GAFFNEY, FORMER ASSISTANT DEFENSE SECRETARY: The chances of our being able sort of in a rifle shot to take out Saddam and bring down the regime around him through only covert means seems to me to be pretty small.

WALLACE: As for a wider operation, the president as recently as Friday said a military attack is not imminent. GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: But there are no plans on my desk right now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: No war plans because the president knows in order to get Arab support for any military action, there must be progress in Middle East peacemaking, so that's priority number one, while the U.S. also steps up efforts beyond simply supporting Iraqi opposition groups to get rid of Saddam Hussein -- Carol.

LIN: All right, thank you very much, Kelly Wallace in Crawford, Texas.

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