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CNN Live Sunday
Hussein Calls Emergency Session of National Assembly to Discuss U.N. Resolution
Aired November 10, 2002 - 17:02 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: Iraqi President Saddam Hussein called the emergency session to discuss the U.N. resolution. CNN's Jane Arraf has more from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF (on camera): The Iraqi president has called for an emergency session of the National Assembly. Now, that could take place as early as Monday. Members of parliament say they have a session scheduled and they're expected to discuss the Security Council resolution.
After they discuss it, they'll send their recommendation to the Revolution Command Council, the highest body in Iraq, chaired by President Saddam Hussein.
Now, this is really a tall order for Iraq to reverse its course, and reverse its opposition to the Security Council resolution and to the return of weapons inspectors, but it is expected to welcome them back, and it's expected to accept the resolution. Members of parliament say they expect to show some flexibility towards it.
In Cairo, at an Arab League meeting of foreign ministers, Iraq's foreign minister, Naji Sabri, said that his Arab colleagues had agreed that any resolution and any weapons inspections should respect Iraq's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. Very big items for Iraq, obviously, but open to interpretation.
Now, the foreign minister is scheduled to come back here and brief the cabinet and the president on what's gone on in Cairo, and sometime soon, before the end of this deadline for Iraq's acceptance on Friday for the resolution, we could see Iraq saying yes to the return of weapons inspectors.
Jane Arraf, CNN, reporting from Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: President Bush, though, is not expected to accept any delays or failures by Iraq to meet those U.N. deadlines. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice says the U.S. has a zero tolerance policy as far as Iraq is concerned. CNN's Frank Buckley joins us from the White House with more on what the week ahead could mean for a showdown with Iraq. Frank, already plans are in play for buildup of troops in the Persian Gulf. FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol, and Bush administration officials believe that they'll know fairly quickly whether or not the Iraqi government intends to comply with the U.N. Security Council resolution. They say if the government does not comply, that the U.S. will be ready to act with military force.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): President Bush returned to the White House ready for war, if Iraq refuses to comply with the 17th Security Council resolution demanding inspections and disarmament.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I can assure you if he doesn't comply this time, we're going to ask the U.N. to give authorization for all necessary means, and if the U.N. isn't willing to do that, the United States, with like-minded nations, will go and disarm him forcefully.
BUCKLEY: The broad outline of a war plan has already been approved by the president. It calls for intense air strikes, and up to 250,000 troops for a land invasion. Critical deployment decisions are still to come.
Under the resolution passed by the U.N. Security Council on Friday, the U.S. would consult with the U.N. before taking any military action, a move applauded by one prominent Democrat who voted against the U.S. Senate resolution authorizing force.
SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: I think it would be more likely that he'll comply if when he looks down the barrel of the gun, he sees the world at the other end, not just the United States.
BUCKLEY: But in Washington, few express optimism that Saddam Hussein will open all doors.
SEN. EVAN BAYH (D), INDIANA: If you look at Saddam Hussein's past behavior, it's hard to be optimistic about the prospect for these inspections working.
BUCKLEY: And the Bush administration dismissed the Iraqi president's call for an emergency meeting of the National Assembly to discuss the resolution.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: It's ludicrous. Saddam Hussein is an absolute dictator and tyrant, and the idea that somehow he expects the Iraqi Parliament to debate this -- they haven't ever debated anything else, I'm surprised he's even bothering to go through this ploy.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BUCKLEY: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the Security Council resolution is anything about regime change, but Bush administration officials say that is coming one way or another, either the Iraqi regime will comply with the Security Council resolution, and be a changed regime, or the disarmament will take place and the regime will be changed by force -- Carol.
LIN: Frank, in case of a worst-case scenario here, how long would it take, or does the Bush administration anticipate it would take to get 250,000 troops in place?
BUCKLEY: It's a great deal of -- great many people to move into a region all at once. Many of them coming from the U.S., others from Europe. We're told that by planners that that could take place at some point in January, but it's more likely that any military action would come in February.
LIN: All right. Thank you very much. Frank Buckley, reporting live from the White House tonight.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Discuss U.N. Resolution>
Aired November 10, 2002 - 17:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Iraqi President Saddam Hussein called the emergency session to discuss the U.N. resolution. CNN's Jane Arraf has more from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF (on camera): The Iraqi president has called for an emergency session of the National Assembly. Now, that could take place as early as Monday. Members of parliament say they have a session scheduled and they're expected to discuss the Security Council resolution.
After they discuss it, they'll send their recommendation to the Revolution Command Council, the highest body in Iraq, chaired by President Saddam Hussein.
Now, this is really a tall order for Iraq to reverse its course, and reverse its opposition to the Security Council resolution and to the return of weapons inspectors, but it is expected to welcome them back, and it's expected to accept the resolution. Members of parliament say they expect to show some flexibility towards it.
In Cairo, at an Arab League meeting of foreign ministers, Iraq's foreign minister, Naji Sabri, said that his Arab colleagues had agreed that any resolution and any weapons inspections should respect Iraq's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. Very big items for Iraq, obviously, but open to interpretation.
Now, the foreign minister is scheduled to come back here and brief the cabinet and the president on what's gone on in Cairo, and sometime soon, before the end of this deadline for Iraq's acceptance on Friday for the resolution, we could see Iraq saying yes to the return of weapons inspectors.
Jane Arraf, CNN, reporting from Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: President Bush, though, is not expected to accept any delays or failures by Iraq to meet those U.N. deadlines. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice says the U.S. has a zero tolerance policy as far as Iraq is concerned. CNN's Frank Buckley joins us from the White House with more on what the week ahead could mean for a showdown with Iraq. Frank, already plans are in play for buildup of troops in the Persian Gulf. FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol, and Bush administration officials believe that they'll know fairly quickly whether or not the Iraqi government intends to comply with the U.N. Security Council resolution. They say if the government does not comply, that the U.S. will be ready to act with military force.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): President Bush returned to the White House ready for war, if Iraq refuses to comply with the 17th Security Council resolution demanding inspections and disarmament.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I can assure you if he doesn't comply this time, we're going to ask the U.N. to give authorization for all necessary means, and if the U.N. isn't willing to do that, the United States, with like-minded nations, will go and disarm him forcefully.
BUCKLEY: The broad outline of a war plan has already been approved by the president. It calls for intense air strikes, and up to 250,000 troops for a land invasion. Critical deployment decisions are still to come.
Under the resolution passed by the U.N. Security Council on Friday, the U.S. would consult with the U.N. before taking any military action, a move applauded by one prominent Democrat who voted against the U.S. Senate resolution authorizing force.
SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: I think it would be more likely that he'll comply if when he looks down the barrel of the gun, he sees the world at the other end, not just the United States.
BUCKLEY: But in Washington, few express optimism that Saddam Hussein will open all doors.
SEN. EVAN BAYH (D), INDIANA: If you look at Saddam Hussein's past behavior, it's hard to be optimistic about the prospect for these inspections working.
BUCKLEY: And the Bush administration dismissed the Iraqi president's call for an emergency meeting of the National Assembly to discuss the resolution.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: It's ludicrous. Saddam Hussein is an absolute dictator and tyrant, and the idea that somehow he expects the Iraqi Parliament to debate this -- they haven't ever debated anything else, I'm surprised he's even bothering to go through this ploy.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BUCKLEY: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the Security Council resolution is anything about regime change, but Bush administration officials say that is coming one way or another, either the Iraqi regime will comply with the Security Council resolution, and be a changed regime, or the disarmament will take place and the regime will be changed by force -- Carol.
LIN: Frank, in case of a worst-case scenario here, how long would it take, or does the Bush administration anticipate it would take to get 250,000 troops in place?
BUCKLEY: It's a great deal of -- great many people to move into a region all at once. Many of them coming from the U.S., others from Europe. We're told that by planners that that could take place at some point in January, but it's more likely that any military action would come in February.
LIN: All right. Thank you very much. Frank Buckley, reporting live from the White House tonight.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Discuss U.N. Resolution>
