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CNN Live Sunday
Interview With Bob Beauprez
Aired December 14, 2003 - 16:45 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.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Now we want to turn quickly to a congressman who visited U.S. troops in Iraq just last month. Republican Representative Bob Beauprez was part of an eight-member congressional fact finding mission. He joins us now from Denver. Bob Beauprez, Congressman from the state of Colorado. First of all, what how do you think the capture of Saddam Hussein changes the situation on the ground in Iraq?
REP. BOB BEAUPREZ (R), COLORADO: I think it is watershed, Judy. I happened to be able to visit with five city councilmen from Baghdad who were in Denver today, and I don't know that I have ever seen people more happy, gleeful, and now looking to the future instead of over their shoulder and watching their back. It's big news, a lot to be done yet. But this is -- this is historic.
WOODRUFF: Congressman, I saw a quote from Senator Jay Rockefeller today, of the Intelligence Committee saying, "this proves that Saddam Hussein himself was not managing the resistance." In other words, suggesting the resistance goes on and anti-American effort, not so much a pro-Saddam Hussein effort. Do you see it that way?
BEAUPREZ: Well, we have known for a long time that this network of terror is just that, a network that includes a lot of American haters, anti-Semites, anti-freedom people around the world, but Saddam clearly was a critical, pivotal figure that they rallied around. And the Ace of Spades is off the table, it's big news, very big news. Look at the faces of the people in Baghdad.
WOODRUFF: The president himself said, however, that we should not expect the violence to end in Iraq. What's your expectation? Do you think it will at least taper off with his capture?
BEAUPREZ: Well, in time. I think what it does is hasten the eventual outcome. And that's a real critical point, is that the outcome has already been determined, the timing of it is what's still in doubt. This takes a key figure off the table. Many of the Iraqi people that we saw were keeping their head down and their mouths shut, because they were wondering one, about whether or not we were going to stay the course, and two, whether or not Saddam might somehow resurrect himself. That question has been answered.
WOODRUFF: It certainly has, that last part of it. All right, Congressman Bob Beauprez of Colorado. Thank you, sir. It is good to see you.
BEAUPREZ: Thank you, Judy.
WOODRUFF: We appreciate it.
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 December 14, 2003 - 16:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Now we want to turn quickly to a congressman who visited U.S. troops in Iraq just last month. Republican Representative Bob Beauprez was part of an eight-member congressional fact finding mission. He joins us now from Denver. Bob Beauprez, Congressman from the state of Colorado. First of all, what how do you think the capture of Saddam Hussein changes the situation on the ground in Iraq?
REP. BOB BEAUPREZ (R), COLORADO: I think it is watershed, Judy. I happened to be able to visit with five city councilmen from Baghdad who were in Denver today, and I don't know that I have ever seen people more happy, gleeful, and now looking to the future instead of over their shoulder and watching their back. It's big news, a lot to be done yet. But this is -- this is historic.
WOODRUFF: Congressman, I saw a quote from Senator Jay Rockefeller today, of the Intelligence Committee saying, "this proves that Saddam Hussein himself was not managing the resistance." In other words, suggesting the resistance goes on and anti-American effort, not so much a pro-Saddam Hussein effort. Do you see it that way?
BEAUPREZ: Well, we have known for a long time that this network of terror is just that, a network that includes a lot of American haters, anti-Semites, anti-freedom people around the world, but Saddam clearly was a critical, pivotal figure that they rallied around. And the Ace of Spades is off the table, it's big news, very big news. Look at the faces of the people in Baghdad.
WOODRUFF: The president himself said, however, that we should not expect the violence to end in Iraq. What's your expectation? Do you think it will at least taper off with his capture?
BEAUPREZ: Well, in time. I think what it does is hasten the eventual outcome. And that's a real critical point, is that the outcome has already been determined, the timing of it is what's still in doubt. This takes a key figure off the table. Many of the Iraqi people that we saw were keeping their head down and their mouths shut, because they were wondering one, about whether or not we were going to stay the course, and two, whether or not Saddam might somehow resurrect himself. That question has been answered.
WOODRUFF: It certainly has, that last part of it. All right, Congressman Bob Beauprez of Colorado. Thank you, sir. It is good to see you.
BEAUPREZ: Thank you, Judy.
WOODRUFF: We appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
