CNN - 2003-03-17 - 10 a.m. (E)
Channel: malgent
Transcript
Language: English (original, YouTube automatic captions)
[0:00] Iraq is making preparations to use
[0:02] chemical weapons. Now, they are very
[0:04] clear that they do not see chemical
[0:06] weapons yet moving, but we are told
[0:09] there is quote more chatter. The words
[0:12] of officials here in Washington, more
[0:14] chatter in the system. One official
[0:16] reminding us, just think back to the
[0:18] audio tapes that Coen Powell showed at
[0:20] the United Nations that uh everyone
[0:23] heard of Iraqi commanders talking to
[0:25] each other. Officials again saying if
[0:27] they can find the chemical weapons that
[0:29] they believe are being prepared, they
[0:31] will strike them. But so far they have
[0:34] no direct intelligence as to where these
[0:36] chemical weapons may be. A lot of
[0:38] concern, however, finally Paula, because
[0:40] we also know there are a number of large
[0:42] artillery pieces that the Iraqis have
[0:44] placed near the Kuwaiti border,
[0:46] artillery that is capable of firing
[0:49] chemical munitions. So officials telling
[0:51] us here in Washington recent fresh
[0:53] evidence that Iraq is making
[0:55] preparations in their words to possibly
[0:57] use chemical weapons. Paul
[0:59] >> just brought up the issue of artillery
[1:00] pieces. There was a published account
[1:02] that the Iraqis have actually moved a
[1:04] bunch of artillery pieces to the oil
[1:06] fields and along the oil pipelines. Is
[1:08] anybody at the Pentagon confirming that
[1:10] yet this morning? Well, officials are
[1:12] confirming that there are a number of
[1:14] large artillery pieces in the Alfa
[1:16] Peninsula, which is next to the oil
[1:18] fields and along the Kuwaiti border. So
[1:20] far, those uh artillery pieces have not
[1:23] been struck. They are surfaceto-surface
[1:24] artillery pieces. Officials saying the
[1:27] technicalities of the no-fly, no drive
[1:29] zone don't allow them to strike it, but
[1:31] certainly there is a roundthe-clock
[1:33] reconnaissance over southern Iraq at
[1:35] this point, watching very carefully to
[1:37] make sure those pieces don't get armed.
[1:39] Pollock
[1:39] >> Barber, thanks for the update. Uh, that
[1:41] wraps it up for Jack Haerty and me. Go
[1:44] off and enjoy the parade.
[1:45] >> Be an interesting week, isn't it?
[1:47] >> Yeah, boy. Put your seat belts on.
[1:48] >> Yeah.
[1:49] >> We're going to check in now with Leon
[1:51] Harris and Carol Costello who are
[1:52] standing by in Atlanta. And you get to
[1:54] see the get to watch the same shot we've
[1:55] been watching for the last 3 hours.
[1:57] Dozens of people walking by those two
[1:59] microphones that are set up in a mic
[2:00] stand at the UN. But I know if anybody
[2:02] eventually takes the mics, they will
[2:04] have some very important things to say.
[2:05] Have a good show. You two.
[2:06] >> All right. Good deal. Thank you very
[2:07] much. Appreciate it. You folks have a
[2:08] good one this morning. Welcome folks.
[2:10] We're just now hitting 10 a.m. in the
[2:11] east, 7 a.m. in the west. Leon Harris
[2:13] here at the CNN global headquarters in
[2:15] Atlanta.
[2:15] >> I'm Carol Costello. Darren Kagan is on
[2:17] assignment and thank you for joining us.
[2:20] >> All right, Darren Kag by the way on our
[2:21] way to an assignment in the Persian
[2:23] Gulf. Hopefully we'll be seeing in
[2:24] something and hear from her in just a
[2:26] bit. Uh all this hour, we got quite a
[2:28] bit going on.
[2:30] >> The clock appears to be ticking toward a
[2:31] moment of truth at the United Nation.
[2:33] Members of the Security Council are due
[2:34] to meet at any moment for close
[2:36] consultations. Though there appears to
[2:38] be little optimism that war in Iraq will
[2:40] be averted. One ominous sign came just
[2:43] hours ago when the US advised inspectors
[2:45] to leave Iraq. At this hour, they do
[2:48] remain on the job and on edge as
[2:50] diplomats a half world away desperately
[2:52] search for common ground.
[2:54] Also live this hour, the latest from the
[2:56] White House. Minutes ago, reporters
[2:58] there gathered for an informal briefing
[3:00] from the administration. CNN White House
[3:02] correspondent Dana Bash will join us in
[3:03] a few minutes with a live update.
[3:05] >> But up first this hour here on CNN, the
[3:07] door is closing on United Nations debate
[3:09] this hour, both literally and
[3:11] figuratively. Diplomats are now filing
[3:13] their way into the Security Council
[3:15] chambers, but there is little optimism
[3:16] there that this closed meeting is going
[3:18] to provide the breakthrough needed to
[3:19] prevent war. CNN's senior UN
[3:22] correspondent Richard Roth is at his
[3:23] post. Let's check in with him right now
[3:24] and get to the very latest. Good
[3:26] morning, Richard.
[3:27] >> Good morning, Leon. We're expecting an
[3:28] update, a critical update on the status
[3:30] of the United States UK Spain resolution
[3:33] which called on Iraq to cooperate by the
[3:36] 17th of March today with a full
[3:38] disclosure on weapons of mass
[3:40] destruction. Downstairs in the basement,
[3:42] a new area because of refurbishment
[3:44] going on in the security council
[3:45] consultation room. The council is going
[3:48] to meet. They haven't started yet. We've
[3:49] seen Pakistan and Mexico and Guinea, key
[3:52] uncommitted members of the United
[3:54] Nations Security Council on this
[3:56] resolution tussle file in. They may not
[3:58] feel the pressure anymore after today
[4:01] because if the US decides to withdraw
[4:03] the resolution, uh they will not have to
[4:05] announce how they would have voted or
[4:07] would vote. Uh right now, if we take a
[4:09] look downstairs, uh there's a high drama
[4:11] here in this basement area waiting for
[4:14] key diplomats. We have yet to see US
[4:16] Ambassador Negropanti or British
[4:17] Ambassador Greenstar. We have seen
[4:19] others file in. If the US was to
[4:21] withdraw its resolution, it would mean
[4:24] they certainly didn't have the votes
[4:26] after weeks of trying. They only had
[4:27] four publicly despite press reports and
[4:30] leaks and other comments. Maybe they got
[4:32] up to eight within striking distance,
[4:34] the Secretary of State Powell said, but
[4:35] they never cleared the hurdle of getting
[4:37] nine in favor without any vetos. France
[4:39] and Russia to the last moment here have
[4:41] remained adamant there was no need for
[4:43] another resolution that Iraq was
[4:44] cooperating enough with the military
[4:46] pressure from the US to not justify a
[4:50] war at this time. Leon.
[4:51] >> Well, Richard, the question then becomes
[4:53] if this resolution is this this proposed
[4:56] resolution actually is withdrawn. Is
[4:58] there any other role for the UN from
[5:00] here on out? The role will be mostly
[5:02] humanitarian after that um the United
[5:04] Nations uh will in effect.
[5:09] >> As you could hear right now from our
[5:10] team of squatters, US Ambassador Negrop
[5:12] and British Ambassador Greentock are on
[5:15] their way down to that meeting room. uh
[5:17] I believe they've just entered uh the
[5:19] United Nations through the so-called
[5:20] delegates entrance. So in a matter of
[5:22] moments we will see these two gentlemen.
[5:24] We believe there may be an announcement
[5:25] from them. These have been the two
[5:27] allies. They were allies here in New
[5:28] York. They were allies in the Azora
[5:30] Islands yesterday along with Spain in
[5:32] their bid to try to finally come up with
[5:35] a solution diplomatically. Here uh comes
[5:38] British Ambassador Sir Jeremy Greentock
[5:40] approaching the microphone. Let's
[5:42] listen. and he's flanked by the Spanish
[5:44] ambassador. And there's US ambassador
[5:46] John Negra Ponte. And they've got a
[5:48] piece of paper in their hands. Here's
[5:49] their announcement.
[5:51] >> Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I'd
[5:52] be grateful for quiet for a moment.
[5:57] I would like to make a statement uh on
[6:00] behalf of the three co-sponsors of the
[6:03] seven March draft resolution.
[6:07] As you know, we have worked very hard in
[6:11] the last few days in a final effort
[6:14] to seek a council consensus on Iraq.
[6:19] In an effort to re reunite the council,
[6:22] the United Kingdom proposed last week an
[6:26] ultimatum which would challenge Iraq to
[6:28] take a strategic decision to disarm.
[6:33] There were three key elements to the
[6:36] compromise we proposed.
[6:39] First, tough but realizable tests,
[6:43] including an unequivocable unequivocal
[6:46] commitment to disarmament by Saddam
[6:48] Hussein.
[6:50] Second, a realistic but tight timetable
[6:55] for completion of those tests given the
[6:58] urgent need for Iraq to comply after 12
[7:02] years of proarication.
[7:05] And third, an understanding that if Iraq
[7:10] failed the tests, serious consequences
[7:13] would ensue as set out in resolution
[7:17] 1441.
[7:21] Having held further discussions with
[7:23] council members over the weekend and in
[7:25] the last few hours, we have had to
[7:28] conclude
[7:30] that council consensus will not be
[7:32] possible in line with resolution 1441.
[7:38] One country in particular has underlined
[7:41] its intention to veto any ultimatum,
[7:45] quote, no matter what the circumstances,
[7:48] unquote.
[7:50] That country rejected our proposed
[7:52] compromise before even the Iraqi
[7:55] government itself
[7:57] and has put forward suggestions that
[7:59] would row back on the unanimous
[8:01] agreement of the council in resolution
[8:04] 1441.
[8:07] and those suggestions would amount to no
[8:10] ultimatum, no pressure and no
[8:13] disarmament.
[8:15] Given the situation, the co-sponsors
[8:18] have agreed that we will not pursue a
[8:22] vote on the draft UK US Spanish
[8:25] resolution in blue.
[8:29] The communicates and press statements
[8:31] that issued at the Azour's summit
[8:35] explain the position of our governments
[8:36] on the way forward.
[8:39] The co-sponsors reserve their right to
[8:42] take their own steps to secure the
[8:45] disarmament of Iraq. Thank you.
[8:48] >> So, how much of a failure is this for
[8:50] British American diplomacy?
[8:55] >> Good morning. We share the fully the
[8:57] statement. We share the statement made
[9:00] by my British colleague.
[9:04] Resolution
[9:06] 1441 was quite clear
[9:10] in parag paragraph 4. It established in
[9:14] an uh in a cubical way that any false
[9:18] statement or omission or the sheer fact
[9:22] of not cooperating fully would
[9:24] constitute a further material breach.
[9:28] We believe that the government of Iraq
[9:31] was given a last opportunity and it has
[9:34] squander it. Thank you.
[9:43] Good morning.
[9:46] Hi. Can you hear me? I I would like to
[9:49] uh
[9:51] say that we associate ourselves fully
[9:54] with the statement made by Ambassador
[9:58] Greentock.
[10:00] I would just make the further point that
[10:03] it has been nearly 4 and a half months
[10:07] since the council unanimously adopted
[10:09] resolution 1441
[10:13] which found Iraq in material breach and
[10:16] gave it a final opportunity
[10:19] to disarm or face serious consequences.
[10:24] The government of Iraq has clearly
[10:26] failed to comply.
[10:30] Our governments believe that through
[10:31] acts of omission and commission,
[10:35] Iraq is now in further material breach.
[10:40] We advocated a second resolution
[10:44] because a United Council would have
[10:46] shown it was intent on enforcing
[10:50] resolution 1441
[10:53] and disarming Iraq.
[10:56] We bel believe that the vote would have
[10:59] been close.
[11:01] We regret that in the face of an
[11:04] explicit threat to veto by a permanent
[11:08] member, the vote counting became a
[11:11] secondary consideration. Thank you.
[11:14] >> We go on in.
[11:17] >> Okay.
[11:17] >> And with that, we've been getting this
[11:19] remarkable news, this uh historic
[11:21] announcement coming there from the
[11:22] ambassadors of the US and Spain and the
[11:26] UK. there arriving at the UN for what
[11:28] was supposed to be a behind closed doors
[11:29] meeting today to discuss what was going
[11:31] to happen next with this Iraq standoff.
[11:32] But the word we're getting now from the
[11:34] British ambassador there who announced
[11:36] Jeremy Greenock moments ago coming out
[11:38] and saying that the proposal, this
[11:40] proposed resolution that was being
[11:41] offered by the US and co-sponsored by
[11:43] Spain and Britain uh for a test, a tight
[11:47] timetable and for an understanding of
[11:49] serious consequences would follow Iraq's
[11:51] non-compliance. That proposal is not
[11:53] going to be voted upon. They're taking
[11:55] that proposal off the table. Now, you
[11:56] also just saw there at the bottom of the
[11:58] screen some other breaking news that we
[11:59] also heard while we were listening to
[12:01] these ambassadors make this
[12:02] announcement. We have also learned,
[12:04] we've been told, CNN has learned from UN
[12:06] officials that UN sec uh Secretary
[12:09] General Kofanan is going to be telling
[12:12] the inspectors that are right now in
[12:13] Iraq it is time for them to leave. We do
[12:16] not know if he has issued that order
[12:17] yet. Let's go back now to the UN. We
[12:20] understand the French ambassador is
[12:21] speaking. uh
[12:23] even if the consultation didn't start
[12:27] yet uh that uh the co-sponsor of the
[12:32] draft resolution
[12:34] uh decided not to push this resolution
[12:36] to a vote. Uh they have realized that
[12:40] the majority in the council is against
[12:43] and oppose a resolution
[12:46] author authorizing the use of force.
[12:49] This is the position of the
[12:52] huge majority in the council. Uh during
[12:55] the last day uh members of the council
[13:00] repeatedly stated that and and it is a
[13:04] majority in the council that it would
[13:07] not be legitimate to authorize the use
[13:11] of force. Now while uh the inspections
[13:16] set up by resolution uh are uh producing
[13:21] results and uh now I understand that uh
[13:27] uh the co-sponsor
[13:30] made some bilateral uh consultation last
[13:33] bal consultation uh last night and and
[13:36] and this morning and uh the result is
[13:40] that the majority of the council confir
[13:42] confirm confirm that uh they do not want
[13:47] to authorize the use of force. They
[13:50] consider the majority consider that it
[13:52] will not be legitimate whereas the
[13:55] inspection is producing result to take
[13:58] such a decision. Thank you very much.
[14:02] And with that we heard there there the
[14:03] response from the French ambassador to
[14:04] Lasablier coming out and saying that in
[14:07] their consultations uh that happened
[14:09] here before the behind closed door
[14:10] meeting was supposed to take place there
[14:12] at the UN that a majority in his words a
[14:14] majority of the council members have
[14:16] confirmed that in their view no use of
[14:18] force in Iraq would be legitimate while
[14:21] the inspections were actually paying
[14:23] dividends and paying off and being
[14:25] productive. And those were that is the
[14:26] view uh there from the French ambassador
[14:28] and that stands in sharp contrast to
[14:30] what we heard earlier just moments ago
[14:32] from the US ambassador John Negropati
[14:34] who says that he believes that if a vote
[14:35] had taken place it would have been a
[14:37] close vote. However, what we heard here
[14:39] from the French ambassador is that there
[14:40] was a huge majority against the draft
[14:43] resolution. Let's go back now to our
[14:45] Richard Roth who's standing by there at
[14:46] the UN has been listening as well.
[14:47] Richard?
[14:48] >> Yes. Uh it's a stunning loss for the
[14:50] United States but they never really
[14:52] wanted this resolution. uh they were
[14:54] totally happy with the the existing one
[14:57] that was approved by everybody.
[14:58] >> Richard, I'm sorry to interrupt you once
[14:59] again. Please hold on, Richard and
[15:01] audience as well. We are just now being
[15:02] told that President Bush is now going to
[15:04] be coming out and talking to the
[15:05] American public. We believe it's going
[15:06] to happen at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. That is
[15:08] what we have just now learned from our
[15:10] sources there at the White House.
[15:11] President Bush is saying that he is
[15:12] going to address the nation at 8:00 p.m.
[15:14] Eastern. Richard, let's go back to you
[15:16] now.
[15:17] >> Yes. The US wanted this resolution more
[15:19] for the British government and support
[15:20] international cover, international
[15:22] legitimacy for any military action,
[15:24] though they believe they have the legal
[15:25] basis in resolution 1441 passed November
[15:28] 8th by all 15 members. Uh it will not be
[15:31] known now whether the those uncommitted
[15:34] who will probably drift from the
[15:35] limelight now Cameroon, Guinea,
[15:37] Pakistan, Mexico, Chile exactly how they
[15:40] would have voted. They were desperately
[15:41] trying to come up with other diplomatic
[15:43] solutions, but they died over the
[15:45] weekend and even Friday as prospects
[15:47] dimmed for this resolution and the US,
[15:50] UK, and Spain huddled in the Azor's
[15:52] Islands. Kofian is going to tell the
[15:53] security council now that he is going to
[15:56] withdraw the inspectors and he
[15:57] presumably will get the blessing of the
[15:59] United Nations Security Council because
[16:01] the inspectors report to the full
[16:03] council. Uh we talked earlier about how
[16:05] council refurbishment and handiwork has
[16:07] to had forced all the ambassadors down
[16:09] in the basement. That's why you saw
[16:10] ambassadors Negrai and Greentock
[16:12] speaking there. Now they're moving up to
[16:13] the full council chamber which you now
[16:15] see because the room was too small in
[16:18] the basement. Uh this was high-powered
[16:20] politics. France sticking to its veto
[16:22] threat sticking to the end. Many thought
[16:24] France would crumble crack as they some
[16:27] say in the past. They stayed to it and
[16:29] thus Russia was emboldened to also join
[16:31] in in possible veto threats. China would
[16:33] have maybe joined in or maybe abstained.
[16:35] Now the United Nations diplomatic path
[16:37] is over and here there is a feeling that
[16:40] it's just a matter of time before it's a
[16:42] military approach with Iraq. Leon,
[16:45] >> thank you very much, Richard. Richard
[16:46] Roth at the UN this morning as
[16:48] developments there are seeming to come
[16:50] fast and furious.
[16:51] >> Oh, you're not kidding, Leon. So there
[16:52] will be no more no vote on the second UN
[16:55] resolution and the president will speak
[16:56] to the nation at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time.
[16:58] Let's head to Washington DC now to our
[17:00] White House correspondent, Dana Bash.
[17:01] Dana, what will the president say? Well,
[17:04] we were just told by Ari Fleer, the
[17:06] White House spokesman, that the
[17:07] president, as you said, will speak at
[17:09] 8:00 Eastern tonight. He will address
[17:11] the nation. And what will he what he
[17:13] will say, Ari Flecher said, is that to
[17:15] avoid military conflict, Saddam Hussein
[17:18] must leave the country. That is what Ari
[17:20] Fleer says. The president will say at
[17:22] 8:00 tonight in an address to the
[17:24] nation. Ari Fleer also saying that the
[17:26] diplomatic window is now closed. He said
[17:29] the UN has failed to meet its own
[17:32] demands and as a result uh the
[17:34] diplomatic window is now closed and so
[17:36] that is what the president will say
[17:38] tonight and as you said uh it is clear
[17:40] that the uh resolution has been
[17:41] withdrawn from the UN and things are
[17:43] moving quite quickly
[17:45] >> Dana that diplomacy has apparently
[17:47] failed. Does the president look upon
[17:48] this as a failure?
[17:51] >> Well it depends how it depends how you
[17:53] look at it. If you're talking about
[17:54] failure at the United Nations, I think
[17:56] the president made it very clear his
[17:58] frustration with the United Nations. Uh
[18:00] when he when he spoke yesterday in the
[18:02] Azor, he was making it very clear that
[18:04] the UN he felt uh and still feels had
[18:07] the responsibility to live up to what he
[18:09] says as Ari Fleer said again today is
[18:12] their own demands. And that demand is
[18:14] for Saddam Hussein to disarm or face
[18:16] serious consequences. Those were the
[18:17] terms of the resolution that passed in
[18:19] November. That was resolution 1441 that
[18:22] passed unanimously. What you've seen at
[18:23] the White House is an attempt by
[18:26] President Bush and his chief ally Tony
[18:28] Blair and others to try to get the UN to
[18:30] pass a second resolution because they
[18:32] felt that that was what some of the
[18:34] president's allies particularly Tony
[18:36] Blair needed at the UN. But that has not
[18:38] happened. The White House has failed to
[18:41] get other countries on board at the
[18:43] United Nations and uh the president has
[18:45] been saying for a while that the
[18:46] diplomacy has weeks not months. Now uh
[18:49] clearly that diplomatic window as Ari
[18:51] Flecher said earlier just moments ago
[18:53] point blank that diplomatic window has
[18:56] now closed
[18:57] >> completely. Dana Bash thanks very much.
[18:59] So again the president will address the
[19:00] nation at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time. Ari
[19:02] Fleer will also present a White House
[19:04] briefing. We will carry that live too.
[19:06] That will happen at 12:15
[19:09] p.m. Eastern time. That's this
[19:11] afternoon. Well, diplomacy is over.
[19:14] Activity in Baghdad is quickening.
[19:16] Iraqis are scooping up provisions as
[19:17] they face the prospect of hunkering down
[19:20] for war. We want to take you to the
[19:21] Iraqi capital now for the view from
[19:23] Baghdad. CNN senior international
[19:25] correspondent Nick Robertson is there.
[19:27] Has Saddam come out and said anything,
[19:29] Nick?
[19:31] >> Carol, not at this time. We've seen
[19:33] President Saddam Hussein appearing on
[19:35] Iraqi television this afternoon with the
[19:36] Tunisian foreign minister. And perhaps
[19:38] for the Iraqi viewers, a chance to hear
[19:41] something from their leader that they
[19:42] haven't heard before about the weapons
[19:44] of mass destruction. He did say that
[19:46] Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction,
[19:49] something we've heard many, many times
[19:50] before. What people haven't really heard
[19:52] here, and what President Saddam Hussein
[19:54] was telling the Chunisian foreign
[19:56] minister was that Iraq had had these
[19:59] weapons of mass destruction in the past
[20:01] for defensive use. He said Iraq had
[20:04] fought a long war, an 8-year war with
[20:06] Iran, and it had needed to have chemical
[20:09] and biological weapons of mass
[20:10] destruction at that time. Now, this is
[20:13] uh as far as we can tell, this sort of
[20:15] description about why Iraq has had
[20:17] weapons of mass destruction in the past
[20:19] has not been heard uh from the Iraqi
[20:22] leader very at least for a very long
[20:24] time. We also hear from the UN weapons
[20:26] inspectors here while they're certainly
[20:28] aware that it very much appears at this
[20:30] time that there's going to be a formal
[20:32] request uh arriving here requesting them
[20:34] to leave. They say they have not heard
[20:36] that request yet. They are waiting for
[20:38] UN weapons chief Hans Blicks to formally
[20:40] pass that information to them. There are
[20:42] 56 weapons inspectors in the country at
[20:45] this time. The UN here says that it has
[20:48] 134 staff total in the inspection
[20:50] mission and that their primary plan at
[20:52] this time would be to fly out of Iraq if
[20:54] and when they get that evacuation order.
[20:56] They do have the option of driving to
[20:58] the Jordanian border. that would take
[20:59] somewhat longer, but their plan at this
[21:01] time, as we understand, is to evacuate
[21:03] by aircraft to Cyprus. We have heard
[21:06] today from Iraq's information minister,
[21:08] Muhammad Alsah, talking about the Azour
[21:10] summit, essentially calling it a
[21:12] failure.
[21:15] I think it's a failure. those despicable
[21:20] three failures. They tried again to
[21:25] divert the attention and all they
[21:28] presented is a series of lies and a
[21:31] series of dark black propaganda like Mr.
[21:36] Bush and the others.
[21:39] >> Now, Al Sahaf also saying Iraq continues
[21:42] to cooperate with the weapons
[21:43] inspectors. However, with the weapons
[21:45] inspectors clearly on the brink of
[21:47] leaving, that appears to be all over.
[21:49] Carol
[21:50] >> Nick, let's go back to Saddam Hussein
[21:52] admitting that he once had weapons of
[21:54] mass destruction. What is the
[21:56] significance of that?
[21:59] Well, the significance is that this is
[22:01] really an explanation for the people of
[22:03] Iraq at a time when President Saddam
[22:06] Hussein is looking to keep the people of
[22:08] Iraq behind him, to give them, if you
[22:11] will, some sort of credible explanation
[22:13] for why Iraq has had weapons of mass
[22:16] destruction in the past. It's one thing
[22:17] here for people to hear the leadership
[22:19] saying the country has no weapons of
[22:21] mass destruction, while many in the
[22:22] international community say Iraq does.
[22:25] It's one thing for them to hear that
[22:26] from the Iraqi leader. now getting some
[22:29] sort of explanation about it. Uh the
[22:31] timing obviously very very critical.
[22:33] This is a time for the country here for
[22:35] President Saddam Hussein to look to his
[22:38] people to give him support. Now we know
[22:40] from officials here they say in the
[22:42] referendum last year people voted 100%
[22:45] in support of President Saddam Hussein.
[22:47] But at this time the leadership really
[22:49] needs to know and really needs to make
[22:51] sure that it does at this very critical
[22:53] time have that support in a credible
[22:55] fashion. Carol,
[22:57] >> it just seems to be a little late for
[22:58] that, but we'll see what happens. Um,
[23:00] Nick Robertson reporting live from
[23:02] Baghdad today. Leon,
[23:03] >> now we have some news coming to us out
[23:05] of the State Department in Washington.
[23:06] We've just received word that Secretary
[23:08] of State Coen Powell is going to be
[23:10] having a press conference this morning.
[23:11] We expect it to get underway in about 20
[23:13] 25 minutes or so. We think it's going to
[23:15] be around 10:45 Eastern. And of course,
[23:17] live coverage right here on the network
[23:19] as Secretary of State Coen Powell comes
[23:20] out to talk to us after this word coming
[23:22] from the UN that the draft resolution
[23:24] offered by the US, Spain, and Britain is
[23:26] now being taken off the table. Now,
[23:28] earlier today, both the US and the
[23:30] British governments urged their citizens
[23:31] to leave Kuwait immediately. The State
[23:34] Department cites quote a deteriorating
[23:36] security situation in the region end
[23:38] quote. The US State Department issued
[23:41] similar orders for non-essential
[23:42] consular personnel and dependent not
[23:45] only in Kuwait but elsewhere in the
[23:47] Middle East. The evacuation orders
[23:48] include Syria, Israel, Gaza, and the
[23:51] West Bank. And the consequences of
[23:53] staying in that region may be getting
[23:55] more and more serious because we've got
[23:56] some breaking news coming to us now from
[23:58] the the Pentagon. Officials are saying
[24:00] that Iraq may be may be preparing to use
[24:04] chemical weapons if war breaks out.
[24:06] Let's go to Barbara Star who's standing
[24:07] by at the Pentagon. She brought us this
[24:09] news just recently. Let's go to her for
[24:10] the latest. Barbara
[24:12] >> Leon, what US officials here in
[24:13] Washington are saying is that in the
[24:16] last few days, there is recent and fresh
[24:19] evidence that Iraq is preparing to use
[24:22] chemical weapons. Now, they are very
[24:23] clear no one has actually seen chemical
[24:26] weapons move. No one has seen the
[24:29] physical evidence of chemical weapons
[24:30] yet, but officials say there is, in
[24:33] their words, more chatter in the system,
[24:36] reminding us that of the time that
[24:38] Secretary of State Colon Powell played
[24:40] some audio tapes at the UN just a few
[24:42] weeks ago of Iraqi commanders talking to
[24:45] each other. Officials say, "Think of the
[24:47] evidence in those terms." Now, US
[24:50] reconnaissance is watching Iraq
[24:52] virtually around the clock at this
[24:53] point, looking for any evidence of that
[24:56] type of activities, and officials are
[24:58] saying if they can find the chemical
[25:00] weapons and they see them on the move,
[25:02] indeed, those munitions will be struck.
[25:04] One of the biggest concerns is that in
[25:07] the last several days as well, there are
[25:08] several large pieces of Iraqi artillery
[25:11] that have been moved close to the
[25:13] Kuwaiti border and along the Alfa
[25:15] Peninsula. These artillery pieces are
[25:17] said to be capable of firing chemical
[25:20] munitions and many of those artillery
[25:22] pieces now are within range of US troops
[25:24] in Kuwait. But again, officials saying
[25:27] at this point it is chatter in the
[25:29] system. They haven't seen the munitions
[25:31] yet. Leon,
[25:32] >> very troubling news there. Thanks,
[25:34] Barbara. Stay on top of that for us.
[25:35] We'll get back to you on the very
[25:36] latest. Thank you, Barbara. Barbara,
[25:38] start with the Pentagon.
[25:39] >> Uh, we want to take it back to the
[25:40] United Nations. The Pakistani ambassador
[25:42] speaking right now. Let's listen to what
[25:44] he has to say. iplomacy. It seems pretty
[25:46] clear the diplomatic window has closed.
[25:50] >> Well, I think that the diplomatic window
[25:53] is never closed. Not even uh in in the
[25:56] worst of times. So, let's hope let's
[25:59] hope that there is still space.
[26:02] >> Do you blame the French for scuffing
[26:03] this like the Americans do?
[26:05] >> We blame nobody.
[26:06] >> Mr. ambassador the French ambassador
[26:08] said this morning that uh he got
[26:10] confirmed that the majority would have
[26:12] voted no for new for this American
[26:15] resolution on which side was Pakistan
[26:18] would have been I I I do not enter into
[26:22] conjecture.
[26:22] >> Oh come on I mean I mean this morning
[26:24] you did say that diplomacy and and
[26:26] politics should go on. I mean sure so it
[26:29] was no time for war or what? Pakistan
[26:32] had always said that we would decide our
[26:35] position when the time came to vote. The
[26:38] time did not come to vote.
[26:41] >> Are you happy about that?
[26:43] >> Uh I think you should ask the other 14
[26:46] as well.
[26:48] >> Pakistani ambassador Moonin Aram dodging
[26:51] some questions there from reporters who
[26:53] are eager for any answers that u the
[26:55] ambassadors at the United Nations must
[26:57] have. We have to tell you 10:45 Eastern
[26:59] time, Coen Pal said for a press
[27:01] conference. We're going to carry that
[27:02] live.
[27:03] >> And of course, the biggest news of all
[27:04] that we've heard so far this morning,
[27:05] President Bush has announced that he is
[27:07] going to be addressing the nation 8:00
[27:09] p.m. Eastern tonight. And we've gotten a
[27:10] bit of a heads up on what we expect to
[27:12] hear him say. President Bush will be
[27:13] telling the country tonight as Saddam
[27:15] Hussein has only a matter of a few days
[27:17] to lead the country. Stay tuned. Much
[27:19] more on all this coming up after a
[27:20] break.
[27:24] >> I don't know what to do, doc. I keep
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[27:29] >> I see.
[27:30] >> Customers apply online or by phone 24/7.
[27:33] They never come to the bank anymore.
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[28:51] >> Singular, a different way to treat
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[29:03] three-year-old cry from having her
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[29:11] >> and it doesn't hurt. The machine itself
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[29:25] >> The event surrounding the showdown with
[29:27] the Rock now gathering up now to
[29:28] critical speed with just within the past
[29:31] 10 15 minutes or so this morning. We've
[29:32] seen a flurry of activity at the United
[29:34] Nations in New York. We heard there this
[29:36] morning the announcement that the draft
[29:38] resolution being offered by the US,
[29:40] Britain, and Spain has now been pulled
[29:41] off the table, meaning therefore that
[29:43] all deliberations diplomatically at the
[29:46] UN regarding a holding off a war on Iraq
[29:48] have now been taken off the table. Also,
[29:51] we have also learned that Secretary of
[29:52] State Coen Powell is going to be coming
[29:54] out at the State Department. He is going
[29:55] to be having a press conference and
[29:57] offering us his view. We expect that to
[29:59] happen within about 15 minutes or so.
[30:01] Live coverage of that right here on the
[30:03] network. Also, and perhaps even more
[30:05] importantly this morning, we have also
[30:07] learned from the White House that
[30:08] President Bush is going to be coming out
[30:10] and addressing the nation. You see here
[30:11] a live picture from the UN. We've been
[30:13] seeing a stream of UN ambassadors coming
[30:15] out by those microphones and offering
[30:16] their perspectives this morning. Many of
[30:18] them still saying they're holding out
[30:19] hope for diplomacy. We're going to keep
[30:21] our eye tuned to that particular
[30:23] location and once anyone else comes out
[30:24] of any import, we'll go there and get
[30:26] their words. Now, getting back to
[30:27] President Bush, we understand that he is
[30:29] going to be speaking to the nation
[30:30] tonight 8:00 p.m. Eastern. And we
[30:32] understand that he's going to be saying
[30:33] that Saddam Hussein has only a number of
[30:35] days to leave that country. Now, joining
[30:38] us now this morning to talk about all
[30:39] these developments as well as this
[30:41] perhaps this this proposed speech from
[30:43] President Bush this evening is Joe
[30:44] Wilson. He is a former US envoy to Iraq
[30:47] and he was there at the time of the 1991
[30:50] Gulf War. He joins us this morning from
[30:52] Washington. Good to see you again,
[30:53] Ambassador Wilson.
[30:55] Quite a bit to talk about this morning.
[30:57] First of all, let's begin with this
[30:58] announcement about the draft resolution
[31:00] being taken off the table. Are you
[31:01] surprised by that? What does this mean
[31:02] to you?
[31:03] >> Not at all. The United States didn't
[31:05] want this draft resolution from the very
[31:06] beginning. They supported it only
[31:08] because Tony Blair needed it for some
[31:10] political cover in the UK. When the
[31:13] president came out last week and
[31:14] provided Tony Blair uh the other fig
[31:17] leaf, which is a commitment to the
[31:19] Middle East peace process, that made
[31:20] that was done clearly because the
[31:22] resolution was dead in the water. What I
[31:24] am surprised about is the is playing the
[31:26] blame game. It's u uh the fact that uh
[31:29] there were a number of countries that
[31:30] opposed it is just one of those facts of
[31:33] life. There's no particular need to go
[31:34] out and start blaming anybody for
[31:37] standing in the way of this juggernaut.
[31:38] >> Well, we've heard heavy blame being laid
[31:40] at the feet of France on this one.
[31:42] You're surprised by that?
[31:43] >> Well, I find it I find it really
[31:45] unnecessary, undignified. um uh
[31:47] particularly in pride the Americans in
[31:49] view of the fact that president made it
[31:50] very clear he didn't feel any particular
[31:52] need to go back to the United Nations in
[31:54] the beginning obviously didn't feel the
[31:56] need because it wasn't clear that he'd
[31:57] get a second resolution so his uh his
[32:01] his thinking on that was was verified
[32:04] well you were saying here that this is
[32:06] and this has been the the view by many
[32:08] that this whole idea of this second
[32:10] resolution was to offer cover for Tony
[32:12] Blair
[32:13] >> with there being no vote what what
[32:15] actually was accomplished
[32:17] Well, I think I think that by there
[32:19] being no vote, uh, legally the United
[32:21] States and its allies in this war will
[32:24] will be able to revert to 1441 and a
[32:27] serious consequences phrase as
[32:30] justification for taking the military
[32:31] action they're about to take. Uh, had
[32:34] they gone for another vote and it had
[32:36] been voted down, uh, then there it would
[32:39] have called into question the legality
[32:40] of uh, of this war operation.
[32:43] >> All right. Well, speaking of operations,
[32:45] one operation that perhaps is underway
[32:47] even as we speak now is the evacuation
[32:49] of all US personnel who had and those
[32:52] who are called non-essential personnel
[32:53] who may be within that region either in
[32:55] Kuwait or any any other country in the
[32:57] region. Can you explain to us what that
[32:58] process is all about?
[33:00] >> Sure. When we did the Gulf War, we
[33:02] evacuated non um essential personnel
[33:06] from everywhere from Tanzania to
[33:07] Moritania. It's basically getting uh
[33:09] dependents, the wives and children of
[33:11] American diplomats as well as diplomats
[33:13] who were not essential to the day-to-day
[33:15] functioning of the of a smaller reduced
[33:18] size embassy in a wartime situation
[33:20] trying to get people to safety
[33:22] essentially.
[33:22] >> Mhm. Now, as we heard just moments ago,
[33:24] we did hear the word that something of a
[33:26] tip off as to what President Bush may
[33:28] come out and talk about this evening, is
[33:29] that he may be coming out and saying
[33:31] that Saddam Hussein has only a matter of
[33:33] days before to leave the country, a
[33:35] matter of days in order to avert war.
[33:38] I'm assuming that you don't believe
[33:39] that's in any way likely.
[33:41] >> Oh, I don't think that we're we're going
[33:43] to avert war. Um, and I think a matter
[33:45] of days is probably right. If you if you
[33:48] look at the shock and awe strategy of
[33:50] somewhere between 48 and 72-hour bombing
[33:53] and you back it up a little bit, we
[33:55] could be at war as early as say
[33:56] Wednesday. My guess is that they will
[33:59] not want to bomb Baghdad heavily on the
[34:02] Friday holy day, but maybe they will.
[34:04] >> Well, they haven't been able to predict
[34:06] almost anything in this whole entire
[34:08] process. So, who knows about that?
[34:10] >> Actually, Paula Paula suggested the
[34:12] other day that I predicted almost
[34:14] everything.
[34:15] >> Oh, is that right? In that case, you're
[34:16] coming back for sure. Ambassador Joe
[34:18] Wilson, always good to have you. Thank
[34:20] you for your time.
[34:21] >> Thanks, Leon.
[34:21] >> Carol,
[34:22] >> byebye.
[34:22] >> All right, Leon. Um, a reminder again,
[34:24] in just about 15 minutes, Defense
[34:26] Secretary Coen Pile will hold a press
[34:28] conference. We're going to be carrying
[34:29] that for you live. We're also monitoring
[34:31] the United Nations to see if any more
[34:33] ambassadors want to come out and give
[34:34] their perceptions of what happened
[34:35] today. Of course, that second UN
[34:37] resolution will not be voted on. The
[34:39] diplomatic window now closed. In fact,
[34:42] President Bush will speak to the nation
[34:44] at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time to tell Saddam
[34:46] Hussein he has just a few days to leave
[34:48] his country. We'll be back right after
[34:50] this break. You stick around.
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[37:25] >> If you are just joining us, it's 10:35
[37:28] Eastern time and a lot is happening this
[37:29] morning. For example, uh that second US
[37:32] res UN resolution rather in the United
[37:34] Nations will not be voted on. It has
[37:37] been withdrawn.
[37:39] Also, Kofian will order weapons
[37:41] inspectors out of Iraq and President
[37:43] Bush will be speaking to the nation live
[37:45] at 8:00 Eastern time tonight. CNN's
[37:48] coverage will begin at 700 p.m. Eastern.
[37:50] We hope you join us then. Now, on to
[37:53] this. Kurds living in northern Iraq find
[37:54] themselves especially vulnerable as the
[37:56] talk of war increases. And the threat is
[37:58] from within their own country in the
[38:00] form of Iraqi troops. So, many Kurds are
[38:03] literally heading for the hills,
[38:04] especially now. CNN's Jane Araf is in
[38:06] northern Iraq and joins us via video
[38:09] phone.
[38:14] >> Harold, the diplomatic exodus has
[38:16] sparked, sorry, the diplomatic standoff
[38:18] has sparked an exodus from this city.
[38:21] Now, police here have been waving
[38:22] through tens of thousands of people. All
[38:25] of them hoping to outrun what they feel
[38:27] is imminent war. Now there are trucks,
[38:30] buses, motorcycles, even all packed to
[38:33] the rafters with belongings. Practically
[38:35] everything people can carry away.
[38:37] Children packed into taxi cabs. Some of
[38:39] the cars are carrying cradles on top.
[38:41] All of these people are fleeing east
[38:44] further into Kurdish controlled
[38:45] territory. And they say it's because
[38:47] they feel that the diplomatic process
[38:49] has broken down and war is coming. And
[38:51] if war comes, they say there's a threat
[38:53] of a chemical attack. Now, a lot of the
[38:56] children that we've been seeing here are
[38:57] laughing and waving. They see it as a
[38:59] big adventure, but the parents are
[39:00] worried. They have very distinct
[39:02] memories of chemical attacks on the
[39:04] Kurds by Iraqi forces in previous years.
[39:07] None close to here, but still the fear
[39:09] is great enough to send them fleeing in
[39:10] the tens of thousands and it's expected
[39:12] to continue into the night. Carol Jane
[39:16] Raf reporting live via video phone this
[39:18] morning. Uh the Kurds in northern Iraq
[39:21] afraid and um they have reason to be
[39:23] afraid, especially now since diplomatic
[39:25] efforts have broken down completely.
[39:27] >> Exactly. We're going to continue to
[39:28] watch that as that develops. As a matter
[39:30] of fact, any moment now, we expect
[39:32] Secretary of State Coen Powell is going
[39:33] to be having a press conference at the
[39:35] State Department in Washington. Very
[39:38] interested here. We are to hear what he
[39:39] has to say this morning. So stay with
[39:40] us. We'll have coverage of them.
[39:42] >> Something else very interesting, Leon,
[39:43] before we head to break. Let's take a
[39:45] look at the big board because stocks are
[39:46] going wild.
[39:47] >> That's amazing. Absolutely amazing. You
[39:49] see the Dow industrials are up.
[39:51] >> Oh my goodness.
[39:51] >> Triple digits. They're up and this is
[39:53] perhaps in the last 2 or 3 minutes or so
[39:55] they've gone up maybe 25 30 points. I'm
[39:58] also seeing the NASDAQ is up as well. Uh
[40:01] markets perhaps reacting because the air
[40:03] of uncertainty may have been removed
[40:05] this morning.
[40:05] >> That's right. Because certainly a lot
[40:07] has been happening and the market is
[40:08] reacting to that. We'll have much more
[40:09] on the business front and more after
[40:12] this.
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[42:28] >> Welcome back as we continue our coverage
[42:30] this morning of the apparent closing of
[42:31] the window of diplomacy and the
[42:33] resolution on the standoff with Iraq.
[42:35] Word coming from the UN this morning
[42:36] that the US draft resolution that was
[42:39] co-sponsored by Spain and Britain has
[42:40] been pulled off the table and a vote
[42:42] will not be held on that resolution this
[42:44] morning. Lots of questions about whether
[42:46] or not there would even be a chance that
[42:48] that resolution would pass. That is not
[42:50] even going to be an issue now as that
[42:51] resolution has been pulled. Now, we
[42:53] understand that US Secretary of State
[42:54] Coen Powell will be coming out within
[42:56] about the next 5 minutes or so to this
[42:58] podium here at the State Department in
[42:59] Washington. We'll be getting his words
[43:02] on the latest developments. So stay with
[43:04] us. We'll have live coverage of that
[43:05] right here. Now, in the meantime, there
[43:07] appears to be a growing sense of public
[43:09] support in the US for an American le
[43:11] invasion of Iraq. And at least that's
[43:13] the feeling being expressed now of the
[43:15] latest CNN USA Today Gallup poll which
[43:17] was released over the weekend. And our
[43:18] Bill Schneider is joining us now with
[43:20] the details and the analysis on that
[43:21] poll. Morning, Bill. Lots to talk about
[43:23] there, no doubt.
[43:24] >> Yes, there is. Uh we've seen a lot of
[43:26] pictures of rallies, but the fact is
[43:28] Americans are rallying behind President
[43:30] Bush. Just since the beginning of March,
[43:32] the number of Americans who favor an
[43:34] invasion of Iraq with US ground troops
[43:36] has jumped from 59 to 64%. That 64 is
[43:41] the highest level of public support
[43:43] since just after the 911 attacks a year
[43:46] and a half ago. In other words, the
[43:48] public is saying,
[43:49] >> "Let's roll." Now the those numbers
[43:52] though, Bill, have been affected one way
[43:53] or another by the question about whether
[43:55] or not if the UN actually sanctions,
[43:58] outrightly sanctions any movement of US
[44:00] troops into the region. What do the
[44:01] numbers tell you about that? Now,
[44:03] >> what they tell us, Leon, is that the uh
[44:05] idea of not putting this to a vote at
[44:07] all is the least favorite option of the
[44:10] American people. Obviously, if the UN
[44:12] supported a new resolution,
[44:14] overwhelmingly Americans would favor
[44:16] going in and they'd also by a majority
[44:18] favor going in 54%. If the resolution
[44:20] were put to a vote and it was rejected
[44:22] by the UN, but Americans are split over
[44:25] the idea of going in if there's no UN
[44:28] vote at all. To the public, a UN vote
[44:30] means we tried. No UN vote means we gave
[44:33] up. Now, there is a problem with um uh
[44:36] asking for a resolution and going in
[44:38] even if it's rejected. That would
[44:40] violate the UN charter and it would be
[44:42] illegal under international law. Suppose
[44:44] we do what we seem to be planning to do,
[44:46] go to war without asking for a UN vote.
[44:48] Has that ever happened? Sure. It happens
[44:51] all the time. There was no UN vote to
[44:53] authorize the Vietnam War, the Soviet
[44:55] invasion of Afghanistan, the British war
[44:58] in the Falcons, and most recently the
[45:00] NATO war in Kosovo. I think the rule is
[45:02] it's much better to ignore the UN, which
[45:05] we apparently have chosen to do, than it
[45:07] would be to defy the UN.
[45:09] >> Very interesting. I'm be curious to see
[45:11] exactly what the poll numbers look like
[45:12] next time around now that that has
[45:13] happened. So, what do the numbers say
[45:15] about the US public support of the UN?
[45:17] I've got to think that based upon those
[45:19] numbers that US can't be having very
[45:21] much uh confidence right now in the UN.
[45:23] >> Not at all. In fact, US support,
[45:25] American public support for the UN has
[45:27] taken a big hit. As recently as January,
[45:29] Americans thought the UN was doing a
[45:31] good job, 50 to 42%. But look at
[45:34] people's view of the UN now. 58%
[45:36] negative. Gallup has been asking this
[45:38] question since 1953. This is the worst
[45:41] rating, the worst that the UN has gotten
[45:44] in 50 years. And Leon, before we jump to
[45:46] the conclusion that it's Republicans and
[45:48] angry radio talk show hosts dumping on
[45:51] the UN, I have some news. The UN took
[45:53] its biggest hit among Democrats. the
[45:55] number of Democrats who think the UN is
[45:56] doing a lousy job jumped by 30 points
[45:59] since January.
[46:00] >> Now, that is very interesting. Does that
[46:01] say anything at all about the the way
[46:03] that the administration has actually
[46:04] been making the case and that they've
[46:05] actually made it successfully with even
[46:07] with perhaps those that may have been
[46:08] the most skeptical of of the of the
[46:10] administration.
[46:11] >> That's right. There this is a partisan
[46:13] issue, but it's not quite Democrats on
[46:14] one side, Republicans on the other.
[46:16] Republicans almost unanimously support
[46:18] the option of an invasion. Democrats are
[46:21] actually split, which means they don't
[46:23] speak with one voice.
[46:24] >> Yeah. Speaking of the case that the
[46:25] administration's been making, it's been
[46:27] criticized that the administration's
[46:28] been trying to go too much and stretch
[46:30] out too far perhaps in trying to uh in
[46:33] making the case against the war on
[46:34] terror and saying that that there's been
[46:35] some connections between Saddam Hussein
[46:37] and what happened here in 911. What do
[46:39] the numbers say about that?
[46:40] >> Well, let's listen what the president
[46:42] said. He said in his news conference on
[46:44] March 6th, September the 11th, should
[46:45] say to the American people that we're
[46:47] now a battlefield, that weapons of mass
[46:49] destruction in the hands of terrorists
[46:51] could be deployed here at home. In other
[46:53] words, the president's argument for war
[46:55] is if Saddam Hussein is not disarmed, he
[46:58] will launch another 9/11. That's why
[47:00] Americans now support something they've
[47:02] never supported or even contemplated in
[47:04] the past, which is a preemptive war.
[47:07] Now, 88% of Americans agree with the
[47:10] president and believe Saddam Hussein
[47:12] supports terrorist groups that have
[47:14] plans to attack the United States.
[47:16] That's the principal reason why
[47:18] Americans support an invasion. But in
[47:21] fact, 51% believe Saddam Hussein was
[47:24] himself personally involved in 911.
[47:28] >> Well, Leon, I think the bottom line is
[47:30] for Americans, this war is all about
[47:33] 911.
[47:34] >> Yeah, that that's very interesting
[47:35] because there have been there's no
[47:38] shortage of voices who are saying there
[47:39] is no connection or there has been no
[47:41] proven connection between Saddam Hussein
[47:43] and and September 11th and yet the
[47:44] public still believes that.
[47:46] >> That's right. The administration has
[47:47] made two points. There are ties between
[47:49] Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda, some
[47:51] al-Qaeda presence in Iraq. And the
[47:54] argument that I just quoted, the
[47:55] president says if we don't disarm him,
[47:57] there'll be another September 11th. But
[47:59] no clear evidence that he was personally
[48:01] tied to September 11th. Nevertheless,
[48:03] Americans believe it. They probably
[48:04] believe it because Saddam Hussein and
[48:07] al-Qaeda share the same goal. They want
[48:09] to see both of both of them want to see
[48:11] Americans dead.
[48:13] >> Bill Steiner, thank you very much.
[48:14] Appreciate that as always. Bill Steiner
[48:16] in Washington. Carol,
[48:17] >> well, can you say Leon, the news has
[48:19] been fluid this morning? It certainly
[48:20] has. Things are changing. We told you
[48:22] about that White House briefing by Ari
[48:23] Faer at 12:15 Eastern time. Well, he has
[48:26] now cancelled that event. And maybe we
[48:28] should have expected that since the
[48:29] president is to speak to the nation at
[48:31] 8:00 Eastern time tonight. Also, we've
[48:34] learned the president will be meeting
[48:35] with congressional leaders at 5:45
[48:37] Eastern time this afternoon. Of course,
[48:39] we'll keep you updated on all of these
[48:41] fast-breaking developments today. We're
[48:43] going to take a break. We have so much
[48:45] more to tell you about, so stay right
[48:46] there.
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[49:51] >> The State Department and Secretary of
[49:52] State Coen Powell.
[49:54] >> Unonyimity. The Security Council came
[49:56] together following President Bush's
[49:58] historic speech to the United Nations on
[50:00] the 12th of September. And on the 8th of
[50:02] November, after long negotiations uh
[50:05] passed UN resolution 1441
[50:09] by unanimous vote 15 to zero, not one
[50:12] member failing to raise a hand in
[50:15] support of that resolution.
[50:17] In the months after the passage of UN
[50:20] resolution 1441,
[50:22] we watched as the inspectors began their
[50:24] work and we were immediately concerned
[50:27] that Iraq was not going to understand
[50:30] the intention of 1441 when Iraq
[50:33] submitted 30 days later a declaration
[50:35] that can only be said to be false, not
[50:38] complete, rather incomplete, not
[50:41] truthful, untruthful, and nowhere near
[50:44] meeting the spirit intended
[50:46] in 1441.
[50:48] We call that out to the international
[50:51] community at that time. We said we
[50:53] believe that that false declaration was
[50:55] a material breach. We continued to
[50:58] support the inspectors. We continued to
[51:00] watch and although we have seen some
[51:03] process improvements and some grudging
[51:06] movement on the part of Sodom Hussein's
[51:08] regime to provide some information and
[51:11] provide some equipment to the
[51:13] inspectors. It certainly wasn't the kind
[51:16] of compliance and total cooperation that
[51:19] 1441 required and that we were hoping
[51:22] but had no illusions about Iraq being
[51:25] able to accept and respond to. As a
[51:29] result of this and as a result of a
[51:31] number of briefings that we received
[51:33] from UNMovic and IAEA
[51:36] uh a week and a half ago, the United
[51:38] Kingdom, the United States, and uh Spain
[51:42] uh put forward a resolution that would
[51:44] once again give Sodom Hussein one last
[51:47] chance to act or face the serious
[51:50] consequences that were authorized and
[51:52] clearly intended in UN resolution 1441.
[51:56] Unfortunately, over the last um roughly
[51:59] uh two weeks or thereabouts, a little
[52:01] less than two weeks that we have
[52:02] debating this particular draft
[52:04] resolution and despite best efforts to
[52:06] see whether or not language could be
[52:08] adjusted uh to make it more acceptable
[52:11] to council members, it is clear that
[52:13] there are some permanent members of the
[52:15] council that would veto any such
[52:17] resolution or any resolution resembling
[52:20] the one that the British TD Friday
[52:22] before last at the United Nations. As a
[52:24] result of this, uh, the United Kingdom,
[52:27] the United States, and Spain decided to
[52:31] not call for a vote on this resolution.
[52:34] Um, we spent a great deal of time
[52:36] overnight uh and earlier this morning
[52:39] talking to friends and colleagues around
[52:41] the world about uh the resolution and it
[52:45] was our judgment reached by the United
[52:48] States, the United Kingdom and Spain
[52:50] that no further purpose would be served
[52:52] by pushing this resolution. So, we are
[52:55] not going to ask for a vote on the
[52:56] resolution. the resolution uh will uh
[52:59] die anyway because it had a built-in
[53:02] date of 17 March within the resolution
[53:04] which has not been modified. As you
[53:07] heard the president and the other
[53:10] leaders who assembled in the Azors
[53:12] yesterday for the Atlantic summit say
[53:15] the window on diplomacy is uh closing.
[53:19] Uh the moment of truth is arriving and
[53:22] you will hear a speech from the
[53:23] presidenti of the United States this
[53:25] evening. President Bush will address the
[53:26] nation and the world on the situation as
[53:29] we now see it. Um, in his speech, he
[53:32] clearly will issue an ultimatum to Sodom
[53:35] Hussein that the only way to avoid the
[53:37] serious consequences that were built
[53:40] into 1441 is for Sodom Hussein and his
[53:44] immediate cohort uh to leave the country
[53:47] and to allow uh this matter to be
[53:49] resolved through the peaceful entry of
[53:52] force and not a conflict. Nevertheless,
[53:54] um the president's determination will be
[53:56] made clear tonight that this matter
[53:58] cannot continue indefinitely. That Sodom
[54:00] Hussein is guilty of the charges that
[54:04] have been brought against him previously
[54:06] through these many resolutions which
[54:07] acknowledged that he had weapons of mass
[54:10] destruction and he has failed to disarm
[54:13] himself as required by the various
[54:15] resolutions. We believe and I think um
[54:18] you've also heard an opinion from uh
[54:21] British legal authorities uh within the
[54:23] last 24 hours that there is sufficient
[54:26] authority in 1441 678 and 687 earlier
[54:31] resolutions for whatever military action
[54:34] might be required. I'm very very pleased
[54:37] that the council did come together last
[54:39] November 8th for 1441. of course
[54:42] disappointed that we were unable to get
[54:44] a subsequent resolution but we believe
[54:46] that our actions now are u supported by
[54:51] international law whatever actions we
[54:53] might take in the future and the
[54:55] president will talk to this issue
[54:56] tonight I won't say any more about the
[54:58] president's speech because the president
[55:00] of course will have the opportunity to
[55:02] speak for himself and uh make the points
[55:04] perfectly clear to the American people
[55:06] and to the international community.
[55:08] You'll also notice that in their
[55:11] statements yesterday at the Atlantic
[55:13] summit, all of the leaders spoke to a
[55:16] future for Iraq that will be brighter if
[55:19] it comes to the use of military force,
[55:21] where this dictator will no longer be
[55:24] able to oppress his own people, no
[55:25] longer able to threaten his neighbors,
[55:28] and no longer able to develop these
[55:30] horrible weapons which could be used
[55:32] against his neighbors as they have been
[55:34] used in the past or of greater concern
[55:37] to us. can spread and be acquired by
[55:40] terrorist organizations which might use
[55:42] them against us, our friends or our
[55:44] interest. I think it was also important
[55:46] to note in the president's statement
[55:48] yesterday his commitment to the UN and
[55:49] the role that we believe the UN will
[55:52] play uh in the aftermath of any conflict
[55:55] uh should it come and our continued
[55:57] support uh for the UN. With that, I'll
[56:00] take a couple of questions. secretary on
[56:02] the allies back in November when several
[56:04] of them tried to dilute the resolution
[56:07] and they did accomplish some word
[56:08] changes. Um would it be fair to say that
[56:12] they understood at the end that force
[56:16] was possible because their impress they
[56:18] seem to give the impression they had
[56:19] succeeded in sidet tracking force and
[56:23] could you say if you think there'll be
[56:24] permanent damage to the alliance with
[56:27] what the French have done with support
[56:29] from Germany and Russia
[56:30] >> on your first question Barry uh there
[56:32] can be no confusion on this point if you
[56:35] remember the debate that we were having
[56:37] before 1441 was passed there There were
[56:39] some nations who insisted that a second
[56:42] resolution would be required and we
[56:45] insisted that a second resolution would
[56:47] not be required. And as we negotiated
[56:50] our way through that, we made it
[56:51] absolutely clear that we did not believe
[56:54] that the resolution as it finally passed
[56:56] would require a second resolution. And
[56:59] in fact, the resolution that we are not
[57:01] taking to a vote today is not a
[57:03] resolution that we uh believed was
[57:05] necessary. It was a resolution we were
[57:07] supporting along with the United Kingdom
[57:09] who tabled it and Spain. It was a
[57:11] resolution that would help some of our
[57:12] friends to show to their publics and to
[57:15] the world that we had taken uh one last
[57:18] step. We had made one last effort to see
[57:21] if Sodom Hussein would come into
[57:23] compliance. The burden of this problem
[57:26] rests squarely on Sodom Hussein and his
[57:30] continuing efforts to deceive, to deny,
[57:33] to do everything to divide the council,
[57:36] to take advantage of every meeting we
[57:38] have had over the last several months to
[57:39] do something just before that meeting to
[57:41] suggest that he is complying when he
[57:43] really isn't. And the world should know
[57:45] that uh this crisis is before us because
[57:48] of this regime and it flagrant violation
[57:51] of obligations that it entered into over
[57:53] the last 12 years. That's where the
[57:55] burden lies.
[57:56] >> And the is there permanent damage to the
[57:58] excuse me
[57:59] >> uh is there permanent damage to uh to
[58:02] the the alliance? I the UN uh is an
[58:05] important institution
[58:07] um and it will survive and the United
[58:10] States will continue to be uh uh an
[58:12] important member of the United Nations
[58:15] and its various uh uh organizations. But
[58:18] clearly this is a test in my judgment
[58:21] that the security council did not meet.
[58:23] We all knew what we were doing last
[58:24] fall. The very reason that we went into
[58:27] a went into a prolonged negotiation on
[58:30] 1441 was so that it did not become the
[58:34] same kind of resolution that we had seen
[58:36] so many times in the past that had a lot
[58:38] of words, a lot of rhetoric and Sodom
[58:40] Hussein can simply ignore and thumb his
[58:42] nose at. This was a resolution that
[58:45] every person who voted for it, every
[58:48] permanent representative who was there
[58:50] on the 8th of November and voted for
[58:52] this resolution knew that it was
[58:54] different. that serious consequences
[58:56] would flow and those serious
[58:57] consequences meant the use of force to
[58:59] disarm Sodom Hussein if he did not
[59:02] comply with that resolution and
[59:04] cooperate fully with the inspectors to
[59:06] disarm that regime.
[59:08] >> Mr. Secretary, how how long a period of
[59:10] time do you think is appropriate for
[59:11] Saddam Hussein to be uh allowed to get
[59:14] out and who uh who else besides him
[59:17] would have to leave if uh if if they
[59:21] want to avert war?
[59:22] >> Um I I won't speak to a time limit. The
[59:24] president may may do that in the speech
[59:26] this evening and I'll leave that to him.
[59:28] But clearly we would want to see Saddam
[59:31] Hussein depart as well as immediate
[59:33] members of his family who are in
[59:35] positions of control and authority over
[59:38] the armed forces of Iraq. And there are
[59:40] a number of other individuals who would
[59:42] also like to see depart. Some of them
[59:44] were mentioned in in the weekend press,
[59:47] but it's not just one individual I think
[59:48] to solve the problem.
[59:49] >> Do you have a number though? Is there
[59:51] >> um I don't have a number at hand. There
[59:53] are variety of of numbers and ideas
[59:55] floating around and if somebody uh in
[59:57] Baghdad wishes to know the names I'm
[59:59] sure we'd be able to provide them.
[60:02] >> Uh Mr. Secretary, can you give us some
[60:04] insight what has happened over the last
[60:06] 24 hours since the meeting in the Azors?
[60:08] Who were the problems? What kind of
[60:10] conversations did you have? Who did you
[60:12] reach out to? What were the responses?
[60:14] Um the United Kingdom obviously uh
[60:18] reached out to a number of their um
[60:21] colleagues um and um I I can't speak for
[60:24] them. I'll let them cover their own
[60:26] calls and consultations. Similarly,
[60:29] Spain and and others uh Richard will
[60:32] give you the list of my calls uh for
[60:34] this morning, but it's about uh oh 12 or
[60:37] 15. I've spoken to the French just spoke
[60:39] to foreign minister Dilpan. I spoke to
[60:42] Foreign Minister Yoshka Fischer of
[60:44] Germany. I've spoken to Foreign Minister
[60:46] Eigor Ivanov of the Russian Federation.
[60:49] I've spoken to the new Chinese foreign
[60:50] minister, Foreign Minister Lee. Um I
[60:54] spoken to President Misharf. I have
[60:56] spoken to Kofi Anan. Um I have spoken to
[61:00] uh foreign minister George Papandreo of
[61:02] Greece who's also in the Greek
[61:04] presidency for this period. I've spoken
[61:07] to foreign secretary straw. Uh I spoken
[61:09] to foreign minister Palasios of Spain
[61:12] and uh there's a very long list waiting
[61:15] when I get back upstairs. The response
[61:17] was um you know this this is where we
[61:20] are. Does anybody see any prospects for
[61:22] movement on this particular resolution?
[61:25] And uh frankly everybody pretty much
[61:28] accepted that this resolution was uh not
[61:31] going to be a successful one because
[61:34] there was one nation France that had
[61:36] indicated that it would veto it under
[61:38] any set any set of circumstances or any
[61:41] similar resolution is modified uh that
[61:44] would leave a path open to conflict. But
[61:47] we always knew from the very beginning
[61:50] that such a path had to be kept open.
[61:53] And this is what serious consequences
[61:55] meant. And without that path, Saddam
[61:57] Hussein would never comply. And what he
[62:00] was trying to do is just stretch it out.
[62:01] More inspections, more time. Let's
[62:03] delay. Let's let's give a little here,
[62:05] give a little there. Let's see if we can
[62:07] break this consensus. And um with the
[62:11] certainty of a French veto and possibly
[62:14] other vetos, uh this was not the time to
[62:17] have further division within the council
[62:19] by taking this to a vote.
[62:22] >> I got one. Let me Excuse me. Excuse me.
[62:24] Yeah. Mr. Secretary, you seem to imply
[62:26] yesterday in one of the shows that you
[62:27] believe French commercial interests
[62:28] would help drive the position. I'm
[62:30] wondering if you can elaborate on that.
[62:31] And how firm a guarantee do we have that
[62:33] Turkey won't send its troops well into
[62:34] northern Iraq and cause problems with
[62:36] the the Kurds there? I I made the point
[62:39] that they're uh in response to the
[62:41] question that of course they're their
[62:42] commercial interest uh that everybody
[62:44] has to uh consider. Um, and the French
[62:48] have uh for years had difficulties with
[62:53] the inspection regime. And I pointed out
[62:54] in one of the shows yesterday that when
[62:57] you go back to 19 98 in 19 early 1999
[63:02] when the current inspection regime was
[63:04] being developed when UNMOIC was being
[63:07] created after the collapse of the
[63:09] previous inspection regime uh France
[63:11] worked actively for a number of months
[63:14] and our judgment to uh try to weaken
[63:17] that inspection regime. uh and at the
[63:20] end of the day when compromises had been
[63:23] made and everybody thought we had a a
[63:24] good outcome before our time, previous
[63:27] administration, even then France
[63:29] abstained from voting for it. And so uh
[63:33] um that is of concern to us. But in