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Bush, Blair Speak Following Attacks
Aired November 20, 2003 - 10:08 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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Now as you know, President Bush is on an official state visit to Britain. Both he and Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke with defiance and resolve after today's attacks in Istanbul. '
CNN Senior White House correspondent John King is traveling with the president, and he has more on the official response to the attacks.
John, a very firm president we saw this morning, in this morning's news conference.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol, tough words from both leaders. This latest attack in Istanbul obviously adding a great sense of urgency to the scheduled discussions between President Bush and his chief ally in the war in Iraq and the broader war on terrorism, Prime Minister Tony Blair, at 10 Downing Street. There is a great sense of urgency. Both men said the terrorist are trying to question their resolve, their resolve into question. As Prime Minister Blair put it, he will not flinch because of today's bombing on the war on terrorism.
An interesting question arose at the news conference between the two leaders, obviously a British enclave targeted in Istanbul. Both governments believe there is no coincidence that that bombing would take place at a time when Mr. Bush is here in London. Prime Minister Blair was asked if he believed Great Britain was paying a price, because of his personal to the United States and to President Bush. Prime Minister Blair said that should not be the issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: What has caused the terrorist's attack today in Turkey is not the presence of the United States, is not the alliance between America and Britain. What is responsible for that terrorist attack is terrorism, are the terrorists.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Both leaders also said one powerful deterrent to terrorism in the Mideast would be a thriving democracy in Iraq. Both committed to completing the mission in Iraq. Mr. Bush faced a skeptical question from one British journalist who asked whether Mr. Bush was rushing troops home from Iraq because of the upcoming presidential nomination back in the United States. The president firmly disputed that. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The cruelty is part of their strategy. The terrorists hope to intimidate. They hope to demoralize. They particularly want to intimidate and demoralize free nations. They are not going to succeed. Great Britain, America and other free nations are united today in our grief, and united in our the determination to fight and defeat this evil wherever it is found.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Now the strategy discussions between the two leaders continue again. They are focusing on troop levels in post-war Iraq and, Carol, both leaders also taking pause on this day because of the tragic bombing in Istanbul, to issue condolences for the victims. Obviously a great sense of urgency here in London at word a senior British diplomat was killed. Officials say they are still trying to gather more evidence as to who was responsible, but both the U.S. and the British governments suggesting that this bombing at least in the early hours, in the wake of it, once again bears the signature of al Qaeda -- Carol.
LIN: Thank you very much, John King reporting live in London.
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 20, 2003 - 10:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Now as you know, President Bush is on an official state visit to Britain. Both he and Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke with defiance and resolve after today's attacks in Istanbul. '
CNN Senior White House correspondent John King is traveling with the president, and he has more on the official response to the attacks.
John, a very firm president we saw this morning, in this morning's news conference.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol, tough words from both leaders. This latest attack in Istanbul obviously adding a great sense of urgency to the scheduled discussions between President Bush and his chief ally in the war in Iraq and the broader war on terrorism, Prime Minister Tony Blair, at 10 Downing Street. There is a great sense of urgency. Both men said the terrorist are trying to question their resolve, their resolve into question. As Prime Minister Blair put it, he will not flinch because of today's bombing on the war on terrorism.
An interesting question arose at the news conference between the two leaders, obviously a British enclave targeted in Istanbul. Both governments believe there is no coincidence that that bombing would take place at a time when Mr. Bush is here in London. Prime Minister Blair was asked if he believed Great Britain was paying a price, because of his personal to the United States and to President Bush. Prime Minister Blair said that should not be the issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: What has caused the terrorist's attack today in Turkey is not the presence of the United States, is not the alliance between America and Britain. What is responsible for that terrorist attack is terrorism, are the terrorists.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Both leaders also said one powerful deterrent to terrorism in the Mideast would be a thriving democracy in Iraq. Both committed to completing the mission in Iraq. Mr. Bush faced a skeptical question from one British journalist who asked whether Mr. Bush was rushing troops home from Iraq because of the upcoming presidential nomination back in the United States. The president firmly disputed that. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The cruelty is part of their strategy. The terrorists hope to intimidate. They hope to demoralize. They particularly want to intimidate and demoralize free nations. They are not going to succeed. Great Britain, America and other free nations are united today in our grief, and united in our the determination to fight and defeat this evil wherever it is found.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Now the strategy discussions between the two leaders continue again. They are focusing on troop levels in post-war Iraq and, Carol, both leaders also taking pause on this day because of the tragic bombing in Istanbul, to issue condolences for the victims. Obviously a great sense of urgency here in London at word a senior British diplomat was killed. Officials say they are still trying to gather more evidence as to who was responsible, but both the U.S. and the British governments suggesting that this bombing at least in the early hours, in the wake of it, once again bears the signature of al Qaeda -- Carol.
LIN: Thank you very much, John King reporting live in London.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
