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CNN Live Today

Bush Thanks Coalition Partners in War on Terror

Aired March 11, 2002 - 11:24   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush looked back at 9-11 and ahead to the war against terror.

Our White House Correspondent Major Garrett was there for the ceremonies and a speech and tells us more. Major, good morning.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. The overarching theme of the six month commemoration event at the White House was to thank the coalition for all it's done and all that the president hopes it will continue to do in the ongoing war on terrorism.

Why was that the overarching theme? Well, because the White House has come to understand and now concedes openly, for the first time, that the president's State of the Union Address mentioning an "axis of evil," unnerved many coalition partners because they felt they had been left out of the loop as the president opened, what they considered to be a perilous new front on the war on terrorism without sufficiently consulting them.

So, today's event was designed, in part, to maybe mend some fences with coalition partners. And in his speech, the president said everyone around the world should understand that his pledge to continue the war on terrorism to its finality is absolute.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Every nation should know that, for America, the war on terror is not just a policy. It's a pledge. I will not relent in this struggle for the freedom and security of my country and the civilized world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GARRETT: That was the ceremony here at the White House. Leon, I understand we have some breaking news we want to get to. Toss it back to you.

KAGAN: All right. Thank you very much. Major Garrett at the White House. Thank you.

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