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CNN Live Today
Bush in Great Britain
Aired November 19, 2003 - 10:59 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Bush in Great Britain with a vigorous defense of the war in Iraq. Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is with the president in London this morning. Correspondent Gaven Morris is on the streets, keeping a watch on the protesters.
Suzanne, we begin with you.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, President Bush and the first lady got the royal treatment this morning at Buckingham Palace. That's where they were formally welcomed by the queen, as well as Prince Phillip, and it was all the pomp and circumstance that you can imagine.
But of course the highlight, the centerpiece of President Bush's trip, was a speech that he made earlier today before a friendly audience, defending the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and also outlining his broad vision of his foreign policy. Now Mr. Bush argued that September 11th taught the United States and should show the rest of the world that it cannot be complacent in taking on terrorists or rogue regimes.
The president talking about three pillars needed for peace and security: first, international alliances have to be up to the challenge. He said also free nations have to be willing at certain times to use force, and that there must be a commitment to global expansion of democracy. All of those key, he said, to bringing stability to Iraq as well, as the Middle East and, despite opposition from much of Europe, President Bush said that the U.S. will not be deterred.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq and pay a bitter cost of casualties and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins.
(APPLAUSE)
We will help the Iraqi people establish a peaceful and democratic country in the heart of the Middle East. And by doing so, we will defend our people from danger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, President Bush avoided potential heckling from the boisterous parliament by giving his speech before an invited-only audience. But the president did acknowledge in kind of a light- hearted way the presence of protesters, and even some objections about his visit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: It was pointed out to me that the last noted American to visit London stayed in a glass box dangling over the Thames.
(LAUGHTER)
A few might have been happy to provide similar arrangements for me.
(LAUGHTER)
I thank her majesty the queen for interceding.
(LAUGHTER)
We're honored to be staying at her house.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Well, he is right. Protesters have been following his every move. They have been relatively small in number but, Daryn, it's expected that number's going to grow to 100,000 tomorrow -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Suzanne, thank you for that.
Let's get the latest on those protesters. Gaven Morris handling that part of the story for us -- Gaven.
GAVEN MORRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, indeed, many of the protest organizers saying this really was an entree, the hors d'voures (ph) today, in terms of the protest.
There were more than one today. They converged on this part of town, Trafalgar Square. Probably at most there was 1,000 in the main protest. As they say, they're really trying to get their message through to President Bush. There were reports from inside the conference center where the president was giving his speech that the protests could be heard within that hall. So perhaps they're at least getting some of their message across.
But really tomorrow is the day when we're going see 100,000, possibly more here, descending on Trafalgar Square here for the main part of the protest.
Now I was down on the streets with the protesters as they made their way around London today, and it was a very mixed crowd. There were many of the traditional protest groups that you would expect at this sort of thing, but also Americans out in force. We spoke to a number of Americans who said, well, we find it hard to get our voice heard at home, so why not try here. We saw elderly people, we saw families, so a very mixed crowd, a very peaceful crowd out today. And the police very happy with the conduct of them. We saw only one arrest, and I don't think there were any others during the day. So peaceful, but loud today. Tomorrow will be a whole different story, much more people, much more volume -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Gaven Morris in London, thank you for the latest on that.
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 November 19, 2003 - 10:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Bush in Great Britain with a vigorous defense of the war in Iraq. Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is with the president in London this morning. Correspondent Gaven Morris is on the streets, keeping a watch on the protesters.
Suzanne, we begin with you.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, President Bush and the first lady got the royal treatment this morning at Buckingham Palace. That's where they were formally welcomed by the queen, as well as Prince Phillip, and it was all the pomp and circumstance that you can imagine.
But of course the highlight, the centerpiece of President Bush's trip, was a speech that he made earlier today before a friendly audience, defending the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and also outlining his broad vision of his foreign policy. Now Mr. Bush argued that September 11th taught the United States and should show the rest of the world that it cannot be complacent in taking on terrorists or rogue regimes.
The president talking about three pillars needed for peace and security: first, international alliances have to be up to the challenge. He said also free nations have to be willing at certain times to use force, and that there must be a commitment to global expansion of democracy. All of those key, he said, to bringing stability to Iraq as well, as the Middle East and, despite opposition from much of Europe, President Bush said that the U.S. will not be deterred.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq and pay a bitter cost of casualties and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins.
(APPLAUSE)
We will help the Iraqi people establish a peaceful and democratic country in the heart of the Middle East. And by doing so, we will defend our people from danger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, President Bush avoided potential heckling from the boisterous parliament by giving his speech before an invited-only audience. But the president did acknowledge in kind of a light- hearted way the presence of protesters, and even some objections about his visit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: It was pointed out to me that the last noted American to visit London stayed in a glass box dangling over the Thames.
(LAUGHTER)
A few might have been happy to provide similar arrangements for me.
(LAUGHTER)
I thank her majesty the queen for interceding.
(LAUGHTER)
We're honored to be staying at her house.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Well, he is right. Protesters have been following his every move. They have been relatively small in number but, Daryn, it's expected that number's going to grow to 100,000 tomorrow -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Suzanne, thank you for that.
Let's get the latest on those protesters. Gaven Morris handling that part of the story for us -- Gaven.
GAVEN MORRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, indeed, many of the protest organizers saying this really was an entree, the hors d'voures (ph) today, in terms of the protest.
There were more than one today. They converged on this part of town, Trafalgar Square. Probably at most there was 1,000 in the main protest. As they say, they're really trying to get their message through to President Bush. There were reports from inside the conference center where the president was giving his speech that the protests could be heard within that hall. So perhaps they're at least getting some of their message across.
But really tomorrow is the day when we're going see 100,000, possibly more here, descending on Trafalgar Square here for the main part of the protest.
Now I was down on the streets with the protesters as they made their way around London today, and it was a very mixed crowd. There were many of the traditional protest groups that you would expect at this sort of thing, but also Americans out in force. We spoke to a number of Americans who said, well, we find it hard to get our voice heard at home, so why not try here. We saw elderly people, we saw families, so a very mixed crowd, a very peaceful crowd out today. And the police very happy with the conduct of them. We saw only one arrest, and I don't think there were any others during the day. So peaceful, but loud today. Tomorrow will be a whole different story, much more people, much more volume -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Gaven Morris in London, thank you for the latest on that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
