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CNN Live Today
Coalition Tanks Move Into Firdos Square in Baghdad
Aired April 09, 2003 - 11:23 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to check in now with Dana Bash, who is at the White House with an update. A quick question for you, Dana, as we get started here, did the president watch any of this coverage live today, or was he just told about the reports of the statue coming down?
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Paula, it's unclear if the president actually watched the coverage, but we are told by the spokesman, Ari Fleischer, that he is getting constant updates on what is going on and on these extraordinary pictures coming back. But there is a sense of vindication here at the White House and in this administration in watching this. Vice President Dick Cheney gave a speech this morning in New Orleans, and he made it clear that despite the early criticism of the war plan what we're seeing today, these pictures and the events of the day is proof that the war plan was not flawed.
He said -- quote -- "with every day, with every advance of our coalition troops the wisdom of that plan becomes more apparent." And Cheney called this, quote, "one of the most extraordinary military campaigns ever conducted." and Paula, from the president, Ari Fleischer, the president's spokesman, said that he feels that this is certainly a historic day and that freedom's taste is quenchable.
But the other thing that they are saying, sort of the note that is coming from this White House, that is being struck here at this White House, is one of caution. They are making it very clear. I spoke to one official just a little while ago who said, look, these are wonderful pictures and this is a wonderful event that we're watching, but it's not over, and that while this is dramatic footage it's not the whole picture. Ari Fleischer saying that the president himself wants to remind the American people that this is a time for caution and that there are many dangerous areas in Baghdad and for the armed forces that remain ahead, other cities that could be tough going ahead. So that's the word coming from the White House here at this time -- Paula.
ZAHN: Dana, did we learn anything new about the possible timeline for this war from the vice president?
BASH: Not necessarily on the timeline. They are certainly, as I said, being cautious. They are taking it day by day, really hour by hour, and they're watching how things unfold certainly in the north, in the areas that are sort of less clear how secure those areas are. So the timeline, they are being -- also being very cautious. They're just sort of watching it unfold and waiting to see on that. But in terms of the Iraqi interim government, he did give a sense that that could be something that could be getting together, could be forming soon. He mentioned that there will be a meeting on Saturday in Nasiriya that could start the ball rolling on that -- Paula.
ZAHN: Dana Bash, thanks so much.
The quote coming out of the White House that Dana just told us about, freedom's taste is quenchable but still an acknowledgement on the administration's part that there can be a very tough road ahead.
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 April 9, 2003 - 11:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to check in now with Dana Bash, who is at the White House with an update. A quick question for you, Dana, as we get started here, did the president watch any of this coverage live today, or was he just told about the reports of the statue coming down?
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Paula, it's unclear if the president actually watched the coverage, but we are told by the spokesman, Ari Fleischer, that he is getting constant updates on what is going on and on these extraordinary pictures coming back. But there is a sense of vindication here at the White House and in this administration in watching this. Vice President Dick Cheney gave a speech this morning in New Orleans, and he made it clear that despite the early criticism of the war plan what we're seeing today, these pictures and the events of the day is proof that the war plan was not flawed.
He said -- quote -- "with every day, with every advance of our coalition troops the wisdom of that plan becomes more apparent." And Cheney called this, quote, "one of the most extraordinary military campaigns ever conducted." and Paula, from the president, Ari Fleischer, the president's spokesman, said that he feels that this is certainly a historic day and that freedom's taste is quenchable.
But the other thing that they are saying, sort of the note that is coming from this White House, that is being struck here at this White House, is one of caution. They are making it very clear. I spoke to one official just a little while ago who said, look, these are wonderful pictures and this is a wonderful event that we're watching, but it's not over, and that while this is dramatic footage it's not the whole picture. Ari Fleischer saying that the president himself wants to remind the American people that this is a time for caution and that there are many dangerous areas in Baghdad and for the armed forces that remain ahead, other cities that could be tough going ahead. So that's the word coming from the White House here at this time -- Paula.
ZAHN: Dana, did we learn anything new about the possible timeline for this war from the vice president?
BASH: Not necessarily on the timeline. They are certainly, as I said, being cautious. They are taking it day by day, really hour by hour, and they're watching how things unfold certainly in the north, in the areas that are sort of less clear how secure those areas are. So the timeline, they are being -- also being very cautious. They're just sort of watching it unfold and waiting to see on that. But in terms of the Iraqi interim government, he did give a sense that that could be something that could be getting together, could be forming soon. He mentioned that there will be a meeting on Saturday in Nasiriya that could start the ball rolling on that -- Paula.
ZAHN: Dana Bash, thanks so much.
The quote coming out of the White House that Dana just told us about, freedom's taste is quenchable but still an acknowledgement on the administration's part that there can be a very tough road ahead.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
