NBC News Special Report: The State of the Union - Interview

SHOW: NBC News Special Report: The State of the Union (9:00 PM ET) - NBC

HEADLINE: Discussion of State of the Union address and Democratic response

ANCHORS: TOM BROKAW

REPORTERS: TIM RUSSERT; RON ALLEN

BODY:
TOM BROKAW, anchor:
Another member of the United States senator—Senate is Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts who has been the most outspoken critic of a possibility of war against Iraq.

The president's remarks on Iraq tonight, the possibility of a tie between Saddam Hussein and terrorist agents, whether they're al-Qaeda or otherwise. Did any of that cause you to rethink your position in opposition to the possibility of a war?

Senator TED KENNEDY (Democrat, Massachusetts): Not at all, because there's no suggestion by this administration—as Tony Blair said to parliament this week, there's absolutely no connection between al-Qaeda, Iraq, and 9/11. There's communications between Iraq and the al-Qaeda. We understand that and we know that. But that doesn't compare to the dangers that Syria poses in terms of supporting terrorism.

What we have to do today—and I think people that were watching the president tonight—I'm not sure that Americans feel any relief in their own mind about sending their sons and—and daughters to war in the Middle East. I think what is necessary is the president of the United States should come to the con—American people and give them the evidence of the imminent threat to American security, and then the Congress to pass a resolution if they are going to make that finding before we send American troops to war.

I think the president outlined tonight a danger of al-Qaeda. The terrorism threat is still there. A year ago the president said the greatest danger that America was facing is the danger of terrorism and al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda is still out there. It is still a terrorist organization, and as well as the new threats that we are facing in North Korea. We should give focus and the attention to—in support to the inspectors that are working there with the support of the United Nations. And we ought to continue our efforts to deal with the problems of terror from al-Qaeda. And we also ought to give the focus and attention to North Korea and the real danger of the proliferation of nuclear materials that could be a danger in the hands of terrorists.

BROKAW: Well, the administration is sending Secretary of State Colin Powell to the United Nations next week, February 5th. They're saying well in advance of that speech that he will have a very strong irrefutable case to make against Saddam Hussein, how he's defied the principles of international law, the UN resolutions, how he continues to defy the UN weapons inspection procedure by moving the sites around, keeping mobile laboratories on the move, and also by not accounting for thousands of rockets that could deliver those chemical agents, Senator.

Sen. KENNEDY: That speech ought to be made by the president of the United States to the American people, not by Colin Powell to the Security Council. That speech ought to be made by the president about how Iraq poses an imminent threat. No one is justifying Saddam Hussein. He's a ruthless dictator. But the inspectors are doing their job. The inspections are working. Let's give time to the inspections and inspectors to work. We cannot predict with any certainty what the results will be with an armed conflict with Iraq. We ought to have that if it's absolutely necessary. But the inspections are working now. Let the inspections work. Let's give the support.

Our own intelligence personnel indicate that they can give additional kind of material to the inspection teams so that they continue the work. Let's give them a chance to go and head—to work. And then, if that is not going to work, let the president come to the American people and give the irrefutable case like Adlai Stevenson did at the time under—with President Kennedy about the missiles in Cuba. The American people will respond then, and the international community will respond. What we have now is a go-it-alone foreign policy, still a rush-to-war policy in terms of Iraq, and sort of a 'you're on your own' in terms of domestic policy here at home.

BROKAW: Senator, does the president have authority to go to war against Iraq after the passage in the House and in the Senate earlier this year?

Sen. KENNEDY: Well, he has the resolution that we passed three months ago. But a lot's changed in the last three months. First of all, the inspectors are round the go—on the ground and the system is working, and we ought to continue to let it work. Secondly we have seen the—recognized the fact that bin Laden is still alive, that the terrorists are active and working in Indonesia and Yemen, in—in—in Kuwait. And thirdly, we have seen the reemergence of North Korea as a real danger in terms of the proliferation of the—of—of nuclear materials. All that is new.

We ought to—if the president wants to send American servicemen there—now, he has to be able to make that case. I'm glad that Colin Powell is going to the Security Council, but it is the president should make it to the case ***(as spoken)***, and then the Senate should act again. It's been over three months. The situation has changed. Nothing is more important for a vote in the United States Senate than a war and peace and sending servicemen and women to danger, and that is our most important vote. And the president to—and we ought to indicate that again, if that's going to be a decision that this country is going to make, and the president should make the speech to the American people and make the case. That case has not been made yet, and it wasn't made tonight.

BROKAW: Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts. Thank you very much for being with us tonight.