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VX Investigation

Aired December 12, 2002 - 11:08   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to tackle something quite a bit more serious now. The nerve agent VX is so deadly a drop on your skin can kill you in a matter of minutes. Well, today, the Bush team is looking into the possibility that Iraq sold or gave that chemical to a group that's got links to Al Qaeda.
Our national correspondent Frank Buckley joins us now from the -- he's on the road this morning. He's with President Bush, who's visiting Philadelphia this morning.

Hello, Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Leon.

The president expecting to arrive here in Philadelphia shortly. He's left the white house this morning from the South Lawn aboard Marine One, headed to Andrews Air Force Base to transfer to Air Force One and then to fly up here to Philadelphia, where he's going to be signing an executive order that will make it easier for faith-based groups to get federal money.

On the nerve agent story, yes, senior administration officials do confirm that in late October or early November, intelligence services did get some information about the possibility that Islamic fundamentalists operating out of Iraq were attempting to get a poisonous substance, as it's been described. But these U.S. officials cautioned that this is uncorroborated information. They say there's no intention to raise the threat level here in the U.S., and there's no evidence that links Iraq to any of this activity.

One official said that "The Washington Post" article regarding the VX nerve agent was "far too conclusive sounding." But government officials do confirm that Al Qaeda is attempting to obtain weapons of mass destruction. And the CIA director just this week said that it's his belief that the Al Qaeda is still planning to commit further attacks on U.S. and on U.S. interests -- Leon.

HARRIS: Frank Buckley in Philadelphia. Thanks, Frank. We'll see you soon.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 12, 2002 - 11:08   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to tackle something quite a bit more serious now. The nerve agent VX is so deadly a drop on your skin can kill you in a matter of minutes. Well, today, the Bush team is looking into the possibility that Iraq sold or gave that chemical to a group that's got links to Al Qaeda.
Our national correspondent Frank Buckley joins us now from the -- he's on the road this morning. He's with President Bush, who's visiting Philadelphia this morning.

Hello, Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Leon.

The president expecting to arrive here in Philadelphia shortly. He's left the white house this morning from the South Lawn aboard Marine One, headed to Andrews Air Force Base to transfer to Air Force One and then to fly up here to Philadelphia, where he's going to be signing an executive order that will make it easier for faith-based groups to get federal money.

On the nerve agent story, yes, senior administration officials do confirm that in late October or early November, intelligence services did get some information about the possibility that Islamic fundamentalists operating out of Iraq were attempting to get a poisonous substance, as it's been described. But these U.S. officials cautioned that this is uncorroborated information. They say there's no intention to raise the threat level here in the U.S., and there's no evidence that links Iraq to any of this activity.

One official said that "The Washington Post" article regarding the VX nerve agent was "far too conclusive sounding." But government officials do confirm that Al Qaeda is attempting to obtain weapons of mass destruction. And the CIA director just this week said that it's his belief that the Al Qaeda is still planning to commit further attacks on U.S. and on U.S. interests -- Leon.

HARRIS: Frank Buckley in Philadelphia. Thanks, Frank. We'll see you soon.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com