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CNN Live Today
Israel Launches Counter-Attack After Suicide Bombings
Aired January 06, 2003 - 10:14 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: Now this incident in Israel was also added to the agenda at the White House this morning. President Bush had that to tackle along with everything else he was talking about this morning with those reporters who were assembled for the morning gaggle.
And our Suzanne Malveaux was there. She joins us now from her post at the executive mansion with a little look at what President Bush had to say just moments ago.
Good morning, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
Actually, it was White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer who gaggled with us just moments ago, first of all talking about the president's reactions to those bombings, saying once again that he condemns these horrific acts.
He was asked a couple of times if there was any reaction from the administration on how Israel was handling this. We'd mentioned before about the closing of universities, those arrests. No reaction whatsoever. Only to say that Israel continues to have the right to defend itself in a variety of ways.
Now, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer also using very strong language in reaction to Saddam Hussein's praise of the suicide bombings in Israel, calling those comments horrific, in his words.
He also responded to Saddam Hussein's accusation that those weapons inspectors inside of Iraq, inside of the country, were acting as spies. He simply dismissed that and said that this is an international mission, a mission that must continue -- Leon.
HARRIS: Suzanne, what about the talk now coming out of the White House about President Bush's plan, economic stimulus plan that he's going to be unveiling tomorrow?
MALVEAUX: Well, it's very, very big. We are being told $600 billion over 10 years. This is something that he's going to discuss with his cabinet members this afternoon.
A senior administration official tells us really the centerpiece of this is the elimination of the tax on stock dividends. That official saying it is an issue of fairness, that dividends are taxed twice, once as corporate profits and secondly as income to shareholders. The whole point is they hope that this will really boost the stock market.
But already, Leon, you know there are plenty of critics, analysts as well as Democrats and presidential hopefuls, that are saying that this is not going to work. It only benefits the wealthiest Americans, the top five percent.
And we're also expected, of course, to hear the Democrats come up with their own economic stimulus package.
This is something that the president certainly hopes to push through. He thinks that he does have the House behind him but mind find a little bit more resistance in the Senate. There will be a lot of negotiations when it comes to this package -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right. That's just the beginning of the debate. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thanks much. We'll see you soon, OK?
MALVEAUX: Sure.
HARRIS: All right.
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 January 6, 2003 - 10:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now this incident in Israel was also added to the agenda at the White House this morning. President Bush had that to tackle along with everything else he was talking about this morning with those reporters who were assembled for the morning gaggle.
And our Suzanne Malveaux was there. She joins us now from her post at the executive mansion with a little look at what President Bush had to say just moments ago.
Good morning, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
Actually, it was White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer who gaggled with us just moments ago, first of all talking about the president's reactions to those bombings, saying once again that he condemns these horrific acts.
He was asked a couple of times if there was any reaction from the administration on how Israel was handling this. We'd mentioned before about the closing of universities, those arrests. No reaction whatsoever. Only to say that Israel continues to have the right to defend itself in a variety of ways.
Now, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer also using very strong language in reaction to Saddam Hussein's praise of the suicide bombings in Israel, calling those comments horrific, in his words.
He also responded to Saddam Hussein's accusation that those weapons inspectors inside of Iraq, inside of the country, were acting as spies. He simply dismissed that and said that this is an international mission, a mission that must continue -- Leon.
HARRIS: Suzanne, what about the talk now coming out of the White House about President Bush's plan, economic stimulus plan that he's going to be unveiling tomorrow?
MALVEAUX: Well, it's very, very big. We are being told $600 billion over 10 years. This is something that he's going to discuss with his cabinet members this afternoon.
A senior administration official tells us really the centerpiece of this is the elimination of the tax on stock dividends. That official saying it is an issue of fairness, that dividends are taxed twice, once as corporate profits and secondly as income to shareholders. The whole point is they hope that this will really boost the stock market.
But already, Leon, you know there are plenty of critics, analysts as well as Democrats and presidential hopefuls, that are saying that this is not going to work. It only benefits the wealthiest Americans, the top five percent.
And we're also expected, of course, to hear the Democrats come up with their own economic stimulus package.
This is something that the president certainly hopes to push through. He thinks that he does have the House behind him but mind find a little bit more resistance in the Senate. There will be a lot of negotiations when it comes to this package -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right. That's just the beginning of the debate. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thanks much. We'll see you soon, OK?
MALVEAUX: Sure.
HARRIS: All right.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
