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CNN Live At Daybreak
Iraq Overriding Theme to Bush's News Conference
Aired July 31, 2003 - 05:07 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We mentioned President Bush's comment on gays during that news conference. Well, one overriding theme to that news conference was this, was -- came as no surprise. It was Iraq.
Our Senior White House Correspondent John King was there.
He tells us what was on the mind of the president and the press.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The president took responsibility for making a now discredited claim that Iraq was trying to buy nuclear materials in Africa, but insisted the overall case for war was strong.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I analyzed a thorough body of intelligence, good, solid, sound intelligence.
KING: And he vigorously defended his national security adviser, who initially blamed the CIA but later acknowledged the White House was warned the claim about trying to buy uranium in Africa was dubious.
BUSH: Dr. Condoleezza Rice is an honest, fabulous person and America is lucky to have her service. Period.
KING: In answering 17 questions over 52 minutes, the president acknowledged his tax cuts are a factor in growing budget deficits, but said the economy needed a boost, said new intelligence suggests al Qaeda might try to hijack international flights heading to the United States, called for a law banning gay marriage, but urged Americans to be tolerant of homosexuals.
BUSH: I am mindful that we're all sinners and I caution those who may try to take the speck out of their neighbor's eye when they've got a log in their own.
KING: It was the ninth formal news conference of the Bush presidency and his first since launching the war in Iraq. Mr. Bush took issue with critics who suggest the administration did not have a plan to win the peace.
BUSH: I never expected Thomas Jefferson to emerge in Iraq in a 90 day period. And so this is going to take time.
KING: The president says U.S. troops are on the hunt for Saddam Hussein.
Across town, Secretary of State Powell put it this way.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Saddam Hussein is no longer bad news, he's a piece of trash waiting to be collected.
KING: And Mr. Bush held firm in refusing to make public classified documents about possible Saudi involvement in supporting the September 11 hijackers.
BUSH: It is important for us to hold this information close so that those who are being investigated aren't alerted.
KING (on camera): The president also had no apologies about his aggressive political fundraising. Asked how he could spend $170 million or perhaps even more on next year's presidential primaries, even though he has no Republican opposition, the president smiled and said, "Just watch."
John King, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 July 31, 2003 - 05:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We mentioned President Bush's comment on gays during that news conference. Well, one overriding theme to that news conference was this, was -- came as no surprise. It was Iraq.
Our Senior White House Correspondent John King was there.
He tells us what was on the mind of the president and the press.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The president took responsibility for making a now discredited claim that Iraq was trying to buy nuclear materials in Africa, but insisted the overall case for war was strong.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I analyzed a thorough body of intelligence, good, solid, sound intelligence.
KING: And he vigorously defended his national security adviser, who initially blamed the CIA but later acknowledged the White House was warned the claim about trying to buy uranium in Africa was dubious.
BUSH: Dr. Condoleezza Rice is an honest, fabulous person and America is lucky to have her service. Period.
KING: In answering 17 questions over 52 minutes, the president acknowledged his tax cuts are a factor in growing budget deficits, but said the economy needed a boost, said new intelligence suggests al Qaeda might try to hijack international flights heading to the United States, called for a law banning gay marriage, but urged Americans to be tolerant of homosexuals.
BUSH: I am mindful that we're all sinners and I caution those who may try to take the speck out of their neighbor's eye when they've got a log in their own.
KING: It was the ninth formal news conference of the Bush presidency and his first since launching the war in Iraq. Mr. Bush took issue with critics who suggest the administration did not have a plan to win the peace.
BUSH: I never expected Thomas Jefferson to emerge in Iraq in a 90 day period. And so this is going to take time.
KING: The president says U.S. troops are on the hunt for Saddam Hussein.
Across town, Secretary of State Powell put it this way.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Saddam Hussein is no longer bad news, he's a piece of trash waiting to be collected.
KING: And Mr. Bush held firm in refusing to make public classified documents about possible Saudi involvement in supporting the September 11 hijackers.
BUSH: It is important for us to hold this information close so that those who are being investigated aren't alerted.
KING (on camera): The president also had no apologies about his aggressive political fundraising. Asked how he could spend $170 million or perhaps even more on next year's presidential primaries, even though he has no Republican opposition, the president smiled and said, "Just watch."
John King, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
