WRAP Bush tries to win domestic support for efforts to oust Saddam

Описание: (4 Sep 2002)

1. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle walking into White House
2. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner walking into White House
3. Senator John McCain walking into White House
4. Wide shot of Bush with congressional leaders and cabinet members
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) US President George W. Bush:
"Saddam Hussein is a serious threat. He is a significant problem and something this country must deal with. And today the process starts, about open dialogue with the elected officials and therefore the American people about our future and how best to deal with it."
6. Cutaways
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) US President George W. Bush:
"I will first remind the United Nations that for 11 long years, Saddam Hussein has side-stepped, crawfished, wheedled out of any agreement he had made not to develop weapons of mass destruction, agreements he had made to treat the people within his country with respect. And so, I'm going to call upon the world to recognize that he is stiffing the world."
8. Wide shot of Bush at meeting
9. Congressional leaders walk out to speak with press outside White House
10. Cutaway of press
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) US Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle:
"The president began to make his case to us today. We're hoping for more information and greater clarity in the days and weeks ahead."
12. Cutaway
13. SOUNDBITE: US Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle:
"But I would say that it would not be my assumption that the military course is the only action available to him today."
14. Wide shot of leaders outside the White House

STORYLINE:

President Bush presented his case against Iraq to US Congressional leaders on Wednesday, opening what he said would be a series of consultations with lawmakers and US allies.

Bush pledged to seek congressional approval before taking action against Saddam Hussein but at the same time he warned US allies who are reluctant to join him, that their "credibility is at stake" as they decide whether to back his plans.

The president said Saddam is a "serious threat," and added that "doing nothing about that serious threat is not an option for the United States."

Bush said the Iraqi leader is "stiffing the world" - by violating his promises not to have weapons of mass destruction.

Congressional leaders emerged from their talks with President Bush saying they would vote before the November 5th elections on a non-binding resolution about what to do about Iraq.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said the meeting was not classified, so they have not yet heard all of the administration's evidence that Saddam Hussein is developing weapons of mass destruction.

Daschle said, however, the leadership looks forward to hearing such evidence in the days and weeks ahead.

Leaders from both parties also agreed military action is not a done deal.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld was headed to the Capitol later Wednesday for classified meetings to talk more specifically about options and strategies.

Even as Bush consults with Congress about Iraq, he will also be pressing his case with U-S allies and will lay out many of his concerns in a speech to the United Nations next week.

One ally who is supporting Bush on Iraq -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair -- will meet with Bush this weekend at Camp David.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...