LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE; CNNfn - Part 1.

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ANNOUNCER: This is LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE for Wednesday, February 5, 2003. Here now, Lou Dobbs. LOU DOBBS, CNNfn ANCHOR, LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE: Good evening. Tonight setting the stage for war against Saddam Hussein. Members of the United Nations are considering evidence against Iraq presented by Secretary of State Colin Powell. The secretary said it`s clear that Iraq is hiding weapons of mass destruction and is linked to the al Qaeda terrorist network.

Secretary Powell asked the United Nations how much longer are we willing to put up with Iraq`s noncompliance. We begin our coverage with Michael Okwu at the United Nations -- Michael. MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Lou, good evening to you. The secretary of state spoke for almost 90 minutes laying down his case like a prosecutor at a trial. And making the case quite emphatically that Iraqi government is systematically, hiding weapons of mass destruction and that`s just the beginning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Saddam Hussein has directly participated in the effort to prevent interviews. In early December, Saddam Hussein had all Iraqi scientists warned of the serious consequences that they and their families would face if they revealed any sensitive information to the inspectors. (END VIDEO CLIP)

OKWU: In addition to secret audiotapes of Iraqi communications, Powell relied on satellite photos featuring biological and chemical weapons plans, mobile production facilities for biological agents and video of Iraqi flights simulating the spraying of anthrax. Iraq`s U.N. ambassador said Powell`s were arguments were "utterly unrelated to the truth." (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMMED ALDOURI, IRAQI AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N. (through translator): The pronouncements in Mr. Powell`s statements on weapons of mass destruction are utterly unrelated to the truth. No new information was provided. Mere sound recordings that cannot be ascertained as genuine. (END VIDEO CLIP)

OKWU: Now, the foreign ministers of great Britain and Bulgaria were staunchly supportive of what the secretary of state had to say. In the meantime, foreign ministers from Russia, France and China were not as supportive. They said that this is just evidence that the inspectors need more time on the ground -- Lou. DOBBS: Michael, thank you. Michael Owku from the United Nations. Despite Secretary Powell`s presentation, France, Germany, China and Russia have, indeed, refused to move from their opposition to war against Saddam Hussein. Senior White House Correspondent John King joins us now. John, what is the administration`s reaction to this continued opposition on the part of those countries?

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Lou, certainly they are disappointed here at the White House that they did not get more vocal support from those key Security Council members, veto powers in the hands of China, Russia and France.

But they also say here at the White House stay tuned. All of the statements read by those ministers after Secretary Powell`s presentation were prepared in advance. What the White House says will be critical is what those governments say two, three, four, five days from now and especially critical what those governments say after they next hear from Dr. Hans Blix, the chief inspector on February 14.

The White House believes the secretary made a compelling case that inspectors are being played with, being toyed with, being manipulated on a daily basis.

The argument now, Lou, will be should this be about containment or consequences? France, Russia and Germany saying give the inspectors more people, more money, more resources to contain Saddam Hussein. Secretary Powell and look for the president to make this case tomorrow saying that is not what Resolution 1441 was all about. It said full Iraqi compliance immediately or move to consequences. That will be the debate over the next week. DOBBS: John, is there any indication that the president again is going to raise strongly the issue of the relevance of the United Nations?

KING: That indeed will be part of…