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CNN Live Event/Special
Powell Speaks on Iraq Rebuilding Issues Between White House, Pentagon
Aired October 10, 2003 - 14:25 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Secretary of State Colin Powell outside the state department, fielding questions from reporters. Let's listen in.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: ... made the case clearly, I think, that Iraq was in material breach of its obligations based on the information we have from David Kay.
And the president wanted the American people to understand clearly that there are no second thoughts on our part and that the evidence is overwhelming.
I don't know that it rose to the level of something that was a mammoth new campaign, but in light of the fact that we were putting op-ed pieces, we were appearing in different places, the president was going to New Hampshire, the vice president was going to give a speech and Dr. Rice was going out to Chicago, it seemed like a timely thing to at least take note of this series of speeches and op-eds that were going in. That's all I would say about it.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, about the reorganization, restructuring of the Iraq reconstruction with Condoleezza Rice heading this effort, some reports out there that President Bush did this because he was dissatisfied with his Cabinet.
POWELL: It was the normal work of the National Security Council. I'm very familiar with it, having been a national security adviser and deputy. And that's all I have to say about it. I don't find it anything surprising, shocking or -- surprising or shocking.
(LAUGHTER)
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) getting North Korea back to the table. We're hearing words to that effect.
POWELL: I saw a report earlier today that a North Korean diplomat suggested that they were looking for a second round of talks in December, but nothing has been scheduled yet.
We are in contact with our colleagues. We are also in contact with the North Koreans through different channels. And we have some ideas with respect to security assurances that we will be presenting in due course. OK?
It's Friday, guys. It's a lock. It's a wrap. It's over.
QUESTION: Can I ask you about the resolution? Do you expect actually to get a resolution...
POWELL: I've spent most of my day today on the resolution. We're working on language. I've talked to a number of my colleagues. I'll be talking to more of them this afternoon and evening. And I think we're making some progress.
QUESTION: Making progress...
POWELL: I think we're making some progress. Watch this space.
QUESTION: What about the Nobel Peace Prize today?
(CROSSTALK)
POWELL: No, we are very pleased to see the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to this very, very dedicated and committed woman who has spent so much of her life in the cause of justice and freedom. So the president, I think, put out a statement earlier today and we're very pleased at that.
Thanks, guys.
PHILLIPS: Secretary of State Colin Powell taking a number of questions from reporters there. Just commenting on Shirin Ebadi. The Iranian, of course, human right activist that received the Nobel Prize today, shocking a lot of people including leaders like Mr. Powell. But it was something that caught our attention, something you don't always hear the secretary of state say when he greeted reporters coming out of the car.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POWELL: TGIF.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, why did the...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Thank God it's Friday. I think we can all relate to that.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Oh so that's who that stands for.
PHILLIPS: You never knew, did you?
O'BRIEN: I thought it was thank goodness.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
House, Pentagon>
Aired October 10, 2003 - 14:25 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Secretary of State Colin Powell outside the state department, fielding questions from reporters. Let's listen in.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: ... made the case clearly, I think, that Iraq was in material breach of its obligations based on the information we have from David Kay.
And the president wanted the American people to understand clearly that there are no second thoughts on our part and that the evidence is overwhelming.
I don't know that it rose to the level of something that was a mammoth new campaign, but in light of the fact that we were putting op-ed pieces, we were appearing in different places, the president was going to New Hampshire, the vice president was going to give a speech and Dr. Rice was going out to Chicago, it seemed like a timely thing to at least take note of this series of speeches and op-eds that were going in. That's all I would say about it.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, about the reorganization, restructuring of the Iraq reconstruction with Condoleezza Rice heading this effort, some reports out there that President Bush did this because he was dissatisfied with his Cabinet.
POWELL: It was the normal work of the National Security Council. I'm very familiar with it, having been a national security adviser and deputy. And that's all I have to say about it. I don't find it anything surprising, shocking or -- surprising or shocking.
(LAUGHTER)
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) getting North Korea back to the table. We're hearing words to that effect.
POWELL: I saw a report earlier today that a North Korean diplomat suggested that they were looking for a second round of talks in December, but nothing has been scheduled yet.
We are in contact with our colleagues. We are also in contact with the North Koreans through different channels. And we have some ideas with respect to security assurances that we will be presenting in due course. OK?
It's Friday, guys. It's a lock. It's a wrap. It's over.
QUESTION: Can I ask you about the resolution? Do you expect actually to get a resolution...
POWELL: I've spent most of my day today on the resolution. We're working on language. I've talked to a number of my colleagues. I'll be talking to more of them this afternoon and evening. And I think we're making some progress.
QUESTION: Making progress...
POWELL: I think we're making some progress. Watch this space.
QUESTION: What about the Nobel Peace Prize today?
(CROSSTALK)
POWELL: No, we are very pleased to see the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to this very, very dedicated and committed woman who has spent so much of her life in the cause of justice and freedom. So the president, I think, put out a statement earlier today and we're very pleased at that.
Thanks, guys.
PHILLIPS: Secretary of State Colin Powell taking a number of questions from reporters there. Just commenting on Shirin Ebadi. The Iranian, of course, human right activist that received the Nobel Prize today, shocking a lot of people including leaders like Mr. Powell. But it was something that caught our attention, something you don't always hear the secretary of state say when he greeted reporters coming out of the car.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POWELL: TGIF.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, why did the...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Thank God it's Friday. I think we can all relate to that.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Oh so that's who that stands for.
PHILLIPS: You never knew, did you?
O'BRIEN: I thought it was thank goodness.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
House, Pentagon>
