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CNN Live Event/Special

Colin Powell Briefs the Press

Aired September 23, 2001 - 08:30   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.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Colin Powell, the secretary of state, we are told, speaking live here in Washington. Let's listen in.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: ... the possibility of civilian casualties, but there is always that risk. The important point is we are not interested in going after the Afghan people. We are interested in going after Osama bin Laden and the al Qaeda network, murderers of over 6,000 people in this incident. Murders in earlier incidents, and frankly we should stop finding some way to generate sympathy for these murders.

They are unfaithful to their own fundamental beliefs. We are proud of the relations we have with Arabs and believers in the Islamic faith, both overseas and fellow Americans who believe in Islam, and this is a travesty to Islam, what Mr. Osama bin Laden has done. Thank you.

QUESTION: Can I ask you one question about Saudi Arabia?

KING: Secretary of State Colin Powell moving on there after an appearance at the ABC network, speaking briefly to reporters outside, calling this unfair to Islam, a travesty to Islam, he says, that Osama bin Laden says the teachings of the Quran justify this, what he called jihad, against the United States.

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