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CNN Live Sunday
Should U.N. Inspectors Be Called in Back to Iraq?
Aired April 27, 2003 - 17:33 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Back in the U.S., the discovery of barrels of toxic chemicals in Iraq is sparking new debate about weapons of mass destruction. If they're the real deal, should coalition forces handle it, or should weapons inspectors from the United Nations be called in?
Let's go to CNN's Chris Burns at the White House for the latest -- Chris.
COOPER: Hi, Anderson.
Well, certainly, the subject of talk shows today after the discovery of what was believed to be nerve agents, Carl Levin the Senate Democrat sounding off, suggesting that the U.S. could have a true PR problem if it doesn't have the United Nations involved. Also some comments from the U.N. weapons -- the nuclear watchdog for the United Nations. Let's listen to them both.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CARL LEVIN (D) MICHIGAN: The skepticism about America in this world is so deep, that if we find and when we find weapons of mass destruction, that many people will not believe it. Many people around the world will think we planted those weapons, unless the U.N. inspectors are there with us. We need to go back as soon as we can. Not only for credibility purposes, but we still have a mandate under the Security Council resolution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: Well, what does that mean about the resolution? Well, there is a linkage here. Not only does the U.N. want to find those weapons of mass destruction, if they exist, but they have to declare, at least under these existing U.N. resolutions, that Iraq is free of weapons of mass destruction in order to lift the crushing U.N. sanctions that have deprived Iraq of investment and aid, various kinds of aid, but especially investments. And that is the crux of the matter. The United States would like to get those sanctions lifted to allow the investment and to rebuild Iraq. And that is the question there now. The White House is standing by comment from Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, a couple of days ago, insisting that the U.N.-led inspectors can do the job.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, PRESS SECRETARY, WHITE HOUSE: The president is looking forward, not backward. And we will reassess the framework designed to disarm the Iraqi regime, given the new facts on the ground.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: Those facts on the ground, as they exist, the White House says that they would like to remain in charge at least for the time being, leaving, however, open the possibility that they could bring the United Nations in to confirm that there were any smoking guns -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Chris Burns at the White House. Thanks 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
Aired April 27, 2003 - 17:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Back in the U.S., the discovery of barrels of toxic chemicals in Iraq is sparking new debate about weapons of mass destruction. If they're the real deal, should coalition forces handle it, or should weapons inspectors from the United Nations be called in?
Let's go to CNN's Chris Burns at the White House for the latest -- Chris.
COOPER: Hi, Anderson.
Well, certainly, the subject of talk shows today after the discovery of what was believed to be nerve agents, Carl Levin the Senate Democrat sounding off, suggesting that the U.S. could have a true PR problem if it doesn't have the United Nations involved. Also some comments from the U.N. weapons -- the nuclear watchdog for the United Nations. Let's listen to them both.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CARL LEVIN (D) MICHIGAN: The skepticism about America in this world is so deep, that if we find and when we find weapons of mass destruction, that many people will not believe it. Many people around the world will think we planted those weapons, unless the U.N. inspectors are there with us. We need to go back as soon as we can. Not only for credibility purposes, but we still have a mandate under the Security Council resolution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: Well, what does that mean about the resolution? Well, there is a linkage here. Not only does the U.N. want to find those weapons of mass destruction, if they exist, but they have to declare, at least under these existing U.N. resolutions, that Iraq is free of weapons of mass destruction in order to lift the crushing U.N. sanctions that have deprived Iraq of investment and aid, various kinds of aid, but especially investments. And that is the crux of the matter. The United States would like to get those sanctions lifted to allow the investment and to rebuild Iraq. And that is the question there now. The White House is standing by comment from Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, a couple of days ago, insisting that the U.N.-led inspectors can do the job.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, PRESS SECRETARY, WHITE HOUSE: The president is looking forward, not backward. And we will reassess the framework designed to disarm the Iraqi regime, given the new facts on the ground.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: Those facts on the ground, as they exist, the White House says that they would like to remain in charge at least for the time being, leaving, however, open the possibility that they could bring the United Nations in to confirm that there were any smoking guns -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Chris Burns at the White House. Thanks 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
