Washington Week Show - # 4237
Washington Week Show - WW 4237 - "Show Open"
Washington Week Show # 4237 - Hitting the Wall (The US and Britain shift direction on Iraq), Coalition Convenes, War and Peace (American reactions), What Were They Thinking? Host Gwen Ifill, with guests include Michael Duffy, Doyle McManus, Mara Liasson. Composite footage (unclean) with Washington Week title and text : British Prime Minister Tony Blair stating "United Nations to secure the second resolution." UN security council. Colin Powell. United Nations building. President George W. Bush walking outside to podium with Colin Powell. Vladimir Putin and French President Jacques Chirac. President Bush and Tony Blair. Bush waving and walking with First Lady Laura Bush. Busy street with pedestrians. Protesters with signs that read "United We Stand," "War is a Failure of Government."
Washington Week Show - WW 4237 - "UN Resolution"
Gwen Ifill begins the show with news on the British and United States working together on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. British Prime Minister Tony Blair says, "It's precisely now when we do have all this focus on the issue of weapons of mass destruction and Saddam and all the things that he has done. It's precisely now that we say to the Arab and Muslim world, we accept the obligation of even-handedness. We accept that it is right now that we have to say to people that the issue of peace between Palestinians and Israelis is as important as any other issue to us." Doyle McManus of The Los Angeles Times details the difficulty the Bush Administration is having in even getting a majority vote in the UN for a resolution on Iraq.
Washington Week Show - WW 4237 - "US Diplomacy"
Doyle McManus of the Los Angeles Times tries to explain why a superpower like the United States is having difficulty persuading nations to join its cause in Iraq. With President's previous statements on Iraq showing the willingness to go it alone if need be, many other nations do not feel inclined to join if it is not in their interests. The connection with Iraq to the emergence of the Israeli-Palestinian peace plan is that it is in Britain's interest to push the peace process forward. With the United States joining the effort, Britain will be more willing to help the United States in Iraq.
Washington Week Show - WW 4237 - "US Diplomacy"
Gwen Ifill mentions the proposal Chile had on the table, but Doyle McManus of the Los Angeles Times points out the fatal flaw in that proposal (UN resolution requirement). The meeting in the Azores will be the last ditch attempt to seek out a moral victory (9 votes at the UN Security Council).
Washington Week Show - WW 4237 - "UN Resolution"
U.S. President George W. Bush saying, "No matter what the whip count is, we're calling for the vote. We want to see people stand up and say what their opinion is about Saddam Hussein and the utility of the United Nations Security Council and so, you bet, it's time for people to show their cards, let the world know where they stand when it comes to Saddam." Michael Duffy of Time Magazine explains the difficulty in going it alone, despite all the rhetoric being put forward by the Bush Administration. This also marks the first time the administration has set goals for itself and fallen short. Duffy lists some of the silver lining benefits that come from negotiating and delaying the UN resolution vote (i.e. shore military plans, give thought to what will be said to the American people, etc.).
Washington Week Show - WW 4237 - "Internal Diplomacy"
Gwen Ifill notes the phone calls being made by top administration officials to people within the United States government. Michael Duffy of Time Magazine explains that the Bush Administration is flexing his diplomatic muscles, trying to bring everyone in on the same message. The problem is that this "muscle" has not been exercised before, hampering the administration's goals in regards to military action against Iraq. He also answers Mara Liasson's question on whether the top administration officials were all on-board going to the UN in the first place (they were not) and why that was the case.
Washington Week Show - WW 4237 - "US Diplomacy"
Doyle McManus of the Los Angeles Times asks Michael Duffy of Time Magazine whether there will be any power shifts over the likely failure of the UN Security Council vote. Michael says there will likely not be any significant differences in power structure in the near future. Everyone has a share of blame for the way the strategy has played out. He answers Gwen Ifill's question on why the wait to go it alone. President Bush needs time to backtrack previous statements on the need for UN approval and he still has to sell the message for Iraqi invasion to the American people. Gwen Ifill asks if the administration's credibility is in tatters after constantly moving the goal posts. Duffy states that if the United States can't keep Britain on its side after the Azores meeting, credibility may becomes a real issue, and then the US would be going it alone in Iraq.
Washington Week Show - WW 4237 - "Public Opinion"
Gwen Ifill switches the subject: what the American people think of a war in Iraqi. Mara Liasson (NPR) says polls give many results depending on demographics, although foreign polls definitely show widespread opposition to the possible war. Polling at home shows that the majority of Americans support the war, but also want UN inspectors to be given more time. A caveat to polling is the numbers can change after the bombs start to fall. She notes that being for or against the war is too simplistic a question. Some people support the war, but only through a UN resolution. Geographically, there are places where support for the war is lacking, namely Iowa, where someone like Howard Dean and the Democrats can make inroads.
Washington Week Show - WW 4237 - "Democratic Support"
Michael Duffy of Time Magazine asks Mara Liasson of NPR about Democrats who do support the war. She says that they do still support it, but they criticize the President in the way it has been handled. Overall, most Democrats prefer a return to domestic issues as well.
Washington Week Show - WW 4237 - "Show End"
Gwen Ifill closes the show with a segment called, "What Was He Thinking?" Focuses on two Congressional Democrats who independently made controversial statements about Osama Bin Laden and the Jewish community. She wraps up the show, signs off. Credits roll.