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CNN Live Saturday
Bush Devotes Radio Address to Dangers Facing Troops in Iraq
Aired June 21, 2003 - 12:05 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to the new Iraq, and the security of U.S. forces in the still perilous region there. President Bush devoted his address to the dangers facing U.S. troops and the effort to stabilize the country. CNN's White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux is live with details from the White House.
Hi, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, hi, Fred.
President Bush is really wearing two hats, now, as commander in chief and fund raiser in chief. It was just last night that the president raised $2.5 million at a Georgia fund raiser for his re- election campaign. The president's emphasizing -- highlighting issues on his domestic and international agenda, but this morning on his weekly radio address, he took on his critics, those who say that the White House hyped claims that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, justifying invading Iraq. Also, taking on those concerns from American people, those who realized that more than 50 U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq since major combat has ended, just a little less than half of those from attacks from Islamic extremists, as well as, Saddam loyalists.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our military's acting decisively against these threats. In Operation Peninsula Strike and Operation Desert Scorpion our forces have targeted Ba'ath party loyalists and terrorist organizations. In Baghdad, more than 28,000 American combat forces and military police are enforcing the law and arresting criminals. We're also training Iraqis to begin policing their own cities.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And Fred, some military analysts see it as particularly disturbing what is happening on the ground inside of Iraq because of what they see as a collaboration between the Saddam loyalists and also, these Islamic extremists. You take on top of that, the fact that U.S. intelligence assessment that Saddam Hussein is likely alive and inside of Iraq, the concern here is those who are actually carrying out these attacks may be bolstered by the prospect -- simply by the prospect that Saddam Hussein may return to power -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right. Suzanne Malveaux from the White House, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Iraq>
Aired June 21, 2003 - 12:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to the new Iraq, and the security of U.S. forces in the still perilous region there. President Bush devoted his address to the dangers facing U.S. troops and the effort to stabilize the country. CNN's White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux is live with details from the White House.
Hi, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, hi, Fred.
President Bush is really wearing two hats, now, as commander in chief and fund raiser in chief. It was just last night that the president raised $2.5 million at a Georgia fund raiser for his re- election campaign. The president's emphasizing -- highlighting issues on his domestic and international agenda, but this morning on his weekly radio address, he took on his critics, those who say that the White House hyped claims that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, justifying invading Iraq. Also, taking on those concerns from American people, those who realized that more than 50 U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq since major combat has ended, just a little less than half of those from attacks from Islamic extremists, as well as, Saddam loyalists.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our military's acting decisively against these threats. In Operation Peninsula Strike and Operation Desert Scorpion our forces have targeted Ba'ath party loyalists and terrorist organizations. In Baghdad, more than 28,000 American combat forces and military police are enforcing the law and arresting criminals. We're also training Iraqis to begin policing their own cities.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And Fred, some military analysts see it as particularly disturbing what is happening on the ground inside of Iraq because of what they see as a collaboration between the Saddam loyalists and also, these Islamic extremists. You take on top of that, the fact that U.S. intelligence assessment that Saddam Hussein is likely alive and inside of Iraq, the concern here is those who are actually carrying out these attacks may be bolstered by the prospect -- simply by the prospect that Saddam Hussein may return to power -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right. Suzanne Malveaux from the White House, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Iraq>
