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Administration Considers War in Iraq Part of War on Terror
Aired February 27, 2003 - 11:09 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, while Iraq positions for possible war, so does the White House. President Bush is working to build up support for an attack. Let's check in now with our senior White House correspondent, John King. He's at his post this morning -- hello, John.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Leon. A reminder here at the White House this morning that any war in Iraq would be, at least in the White House view, part of the wider war on terrorism, and a reminder that there are some parallels what they experienced in Afghanistan.
In the Oval Office right now, Hamid Karzai, the president of Afghanistan, the president put in power after U.S. troops went into Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban regime. Mr. Karzai discussing continued U.S. military presence, as well as his need for continued U.S. aid during that meeting with President Bush.
We expect to hear from both leaders at the end of that meeting shortly. In a speech last night here in Washington, Mr. Bush laid out a similar scenario when it comes to Iraq. Mr. Bush says American military force might be necessary to go into Iraq, and he says the goal will be well beyond disarming Iraq. It would also be to change the regimes.
The president says he can envision a thriving democracy inside Iraq, and the president also said -- noteworthy in this speech last night, that he does not believe a democracy would only be good for the people of Iraq.
Mr. Bush suggests that if you have a democratic Iraq, it will be a beacon across the region, and perhaps even create an environment in which there is pressure on the Palestinians and the Israelis to finally settle their differences.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A Palestinian state must be a reformed and peaceful state that abandons forever the use of terror. For its part, the new government of Israel, as the terror threat is removed and security improves, will be expected to support the creation of a viable -- a viable Palestinian state.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Now, the president insists he has not made a final decision to go to war in Iraq, but if you listen to that speech last night, Mr. Bush is talking about a leader who expects a long-term U.S. military occupation inside Iraq, an occupation that would cost billions of dollars. Many in the region skeptical about that. There is a great deal of resentment about the use of American power in the region, but Mr. Bush made clear in that speech last night he is determined to go forward -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right. Thanks, John. Appreciate that report.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Terror>
Aired February 27, 2003 - 11:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, while Iraq positions for possible war, so does the White House. President Bush is working to build up support for an attack. Let's check in now with our senior White House correspondent, John King. He's at his post this morning -- hello, John.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Leon. A reminder here at the White House this morning that any war in Iraq would be, at least in the White House view, part of the wider war on terrorism, and a reminder that there are some parallels what they experienced in Afghanistan.
In the Oval Office right now, Hamid Karzai, the president of Afghanistan, the president put in power after U.S. troops went into Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban regime. Mr. Karzai discussing continued U.S. military presence, as well as his need for continued U.S. aid during that meeting with President Bush.
We expect to hear from both leaders at the end of that meeting shortly. In a speech last night here in Washington, Mr. Bush laid out a similar scenario when it comes to Iraq. Mr. Bush says American military force might be necessary to go into Iraq, and he says the goal will be well beyond disarming Iraq. It would also be to change the regimes.
The president says he can envision a thriving democracy inside Iraq, and the president also said -- noteworthy in this speech last night, that he does not believe a democracy would only be good for the people of Iraq.
Mr. Bush suggests that if you have a democratic Iraq, it will be a beacon across the region, and perhaps even create an environment in which there is pressure on the Palestinians and the Israelis to finally settle their differences.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A Palestinian state must be a reformed and peaceful state that abandons forever the use of terror. For its part, the new government of Israel, as the terror threat is removed and security improves, will be expected to support the creation of a viable -- a viable Palestinian state.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Now, the president insists he has not made a final decision to go to war in Iraq, but if you listen to that speech last night, Mr. Bush is talking about a leader who expects a long-term U.S. military occupation inside Iraq, an occupation that would cost billions of dollars. Many in the region skeptical about that. There is a great deal of resentment about the use of American power in the region, but Mr. Bush made clear in that speech last night he is determined to go forward -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right. Thanks, John. Appreciate that report.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Terror>
