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CNN Live Sunday
Bush Prepares to Address Nation
Aired October 06, 2002 - 17:24 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is back at the White House at this hour, preparing to address the nation for tomorrow night on the topic of Iraq. And our CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is at the White House. And Kelly, I suppose the president is working with his advisers on his address?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: He is, Fredricka. He was expected to spend some time today going over some drafts of that speech, and aides say the president will try to answer some lingering questions about his tough Iraq policy, such as why now and why does he believe Saddam Hussein poses such a unique threat to the U.S. and the world.
Now, as you said, the president arrived back at the White House a little bit earlier this afternoon after spending the weekend up at his family's home in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Part of the strategy here, though, by this president is to put pressure on lawmakers as they prepare to vote on a military resolution giving the president the authority to use force, if necessary, against Iraq. The president has some convincing to do when it comes to Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy, who said the president should use other options besides war to deal with the threat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: I will not support that resolution. Let me say, there's nothing more important that this country does than send its young people to war. The administration hasn't made the case that this is a clear and present and imminent danger to the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: But Senator Kennedy appears to be in the minority, because most Republicans and Democrats are predicting that the president will get strong support in the House and in the Senate when lawmakers take up this issue in the days ahead. The president hoping that this vote on this congressional resolution will influence skeptical allies to back a tough new resolution up at the United Nations.
And the timing of this speech is significant. It comes on the one-year anniversary of the military campaign against Afghanistan. The president is hoping his strong words will convince the American people and skeptical U.S. allies that Iraq should be the next focus of the war on terror -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks, Kelly Wallace at the White House.
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 October 6, 2002 - 17:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is back at the White House at this hour, preparing to address the nation for tomorrow night on the topic of Iraq. And our CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is at the White House. And Kelly, I suppose the president is working with his advisers on his address?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: He is, Fredricka. He was expected to spend some time today going over some drafts of that speech, and aides say the president will try to answer some lingering questions about his tough Iraq policy, such as why now and why does he believe Saddam Hussein poses such a unique threat to the U.S. and the world.
Now, as you said, the president arrived back at the White House a little bit earlier this afternoon after spending the weekend up at his family's home in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Part of the strategy here, though, by this president is to put pressure on lawmakers as they prepare to vote on a military resolution giving the president the authority to use force, if necessary, against Iraq. The president has some convincing to do when it comes to Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy, who said the president should use other options besides war to deal with the threat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: I will not support that resolution. Let me say, there's nothing more important that this country does than send its young people to war. The administration hasn't made the case that this is a clear and present and imminent danger to the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: But Senator Kennedy appears to be in the minority, because most Republicans and Democrats are predicting that the president will get strong support in the House and in the Senate when lawmakers take up this issue in the days ahead. The president hoping that this vote on this congressional resolution will influence skeptical allies to back a tough new resolution up at the United Nations.
And the timing of this speech is significant. It comes on the one-year anniversary of the military campaign against Afghanistan. The president is hoping his strong words will convince the American people and skeptical U.S. allies that Iraq should be the next focus of the war on terror -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks, Kelly Wallace at the White House.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
