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President Bush Holds Teleconference With U.S. Troops and Others in Tikrit

Aired October 13, 2005 - 09:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: You can see it there, President Bush is going to be holding a teleconference with U.S. troops and others in Tikrit this morning. That's happening in just about 15 minutes on so. We'll carry that for you live when it happens from the White House.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: You know, of course, Tikrit, that's an important name. That's the hometown, ancestral of Saddam Hussein and his clan. You don't get any more Sunni than that.

S. O'BRIEN: No.

M. O'BRIEN: And that is the key. What will the Sunnis do? Will they stay home, as they did in January? Or will they go out and vote? In which case not many people say there could be a lot of yes votes. So it could be the deciding no vote for the referendum. All of this, the president, I'm sure, will be thinking about as he addresses those troops.

S. O'BRIEN: Interesting, he's going to be addressing not only U.S. troop, but Iraqi troops as well, which I think is sort of interesting. It will be interesting to hear what his message is and how he weaves that into his words this morning. We'll just have to wait and see though.

(WEATHER REPORT)

M. O'BRIEN: We are anxiously awaiting the president's speech coming up in 10 minutes. Not a speech, teleconference, and he's going to be speaking to a handful of troops, U.S. troops, and at least some representatives of the Iraqi army, who are in Tikrit currently. Bob Franken is at the White House where word of this trickled out this morning. Bob, a teleconference implies kind of a two-way conversation. Is this what this is going to be?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is. We were witnessing in the setup to it the troops practicing their impromptu answers to what they expect will be impromptu questions, and we're told that there are going to be 10 members of the 42nd Division in Tikrit and at least one Iraqi security member. These are people who are involved in the training of the Iraqi security forces, and of course it's all part of the run-up to the election that is going to be held on Saturday, the referendum over the constitution.

And we are told by Scott McClellan that the president is going talk about the preparations to make sure that there is security in that very volatile area of Iraq, as the referendum occurs, and they're going also hear thanks from the president for the participation for of troops and they're going to be talking to that member of the Iraqi security force.

Of course, we'll remember that there was some controversy about how successful the training of those Iraqi security forces has gone, with many saying that the number that have been qualified falls short of what the hope his been. The president is going to express his usual optimism.

One other thing when Scott McClellan was repeatedly asked what he thought the outcome of the election would be, the referendum in Iraq, he refused to give an answer. So I think there's a huge amount of uncertainty that's going around us -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: But it sounds a lot like a fair amount of certainty about the Q&A on this teleconference, nonetheless.

FRANKEN: Put it this way, the commander in chief asks, the commanded will answer in ways that I suspect we'll all agree are polite.

M. O'BRIEN: Talking point, sir. All right, thank you very much, Bob Franken.

(NEWSBREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: We want to reiterate that we are just a few moments away from the president's address to U.S. troops and Iraqi troops. He's going to be talking to them in Tikrit. He's going to be doing it, though, from the White House. It's a teleconference. We just heard from Bob a few minutes ago. It will be really a back and forth with the troops. We're going to bring it to you live when it happens. It's just minutes away.

Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: A story out of Iraq. Two journalists who were working as partners, both in their life and in their work, were shooting a story about archaeological sites in Iraq when he was kidnapped, captured by insurgents. Their story is now a book. It's called "American Hostage" and it's a story not only about Micah Garen's kidnapping, but also, the search by Marie-Helene Carleton, who really is responsible, frankly, for how this turned out, in a large way.

Welcome, thank you for talking with us. It's a terrible story. Bring us up to speed on what happened. You were held for ten days. When were you kidnapped?

MICAH GAREN, AUTHOR, "AMERICAN HOSTAGE": I was kidnapped in August of last year, and Marie-Helene and I were both out in Iraq for five months in the south, and we were working on a documentary film about the looting of antiquities in the south. And it was my last weekend of filming.

S. O'BRIEN: Just days before you were supposed to leave.

GAREN: Yes, just a few days before I was supposed to leave. And I was filming in a marketplace and they discovered that I was a foreigner, because I used to go dressed as a local to try to blend in. And militants grabbed me and my translator together, threw us in the back of a car, and drove us out to the marshes.

S. O'BRIEN: Marie-Helene, when were you aware that he'd been kidnapped?

MARIE-HELENE CARLETON, AUTHOR, "AMERICAN HOSTAGE": He'd been kidnapped for three days, and I had just returned to the United States and I didn't know that. On Monday morning early, I got a phone call from Micah's mother because she'd gotten a call from the Associated Press, saying that Micah was missing. And it was a terrifying phone call, something you never expect to hear.

And as frightening as it was, my first reaction, and everyone's first reaction -- family, friends and journalists around the world -- was to get on the phone and do something. And really, it's that grassroots effort that sprang into motion that's really responsible for Micah's release.

S. O'BRIEN: It really is responsible for saving your life. You were blindfolded for much of your captivity, and you were forced to make a videotape. And in your book, you write about how that -- that, really, was the worst moment for you.

GAREN: Yes, it was. It was absolutely...

S. O'BRIEN: You brought the blindfold. So show that to me first.

GAREN: This is actually the same binding they used. Sometimes they'd tie may hands with it, sometimes they'd use it to blindfold me. And it was alternate. Sometimes they would keep us blindfolded, sometimes they wouldn't. And that moment when they brought me in to make this video was absolutely terrifying, because I had seen all of the other videos. I'd seen Nick Berg, and...

S. O'BRIEN: You know what it meant. Usually it means the end.

GAREN: Right. I mean, they didn't -- I didn't have understand the Arabic to know what the -- that there was a threat of execution.

S. O'BRIEN: What did you say in your video?

GAREN: In the second video, they asked me to say -- to request that the U.S. forces leave Najaf. And for me, it was really important to get across the message that I was OK and that I wanted my family to be strong. So I threw in a few clues into the video. One of the clues was in the first video, they made me make a -- winked my eye. And in the second video, I said I've been asked to make this statement. So for me, it was a way to getting across people that these weren't my words.

S. O'BRIEN: Marie-Helene, did you get those clues when you saw that? Because that has to be a horrible thing, to see this video. And you know how it ends for so many other kidnapped victims.

CARLETON: When the video threat was first released on Wednesday, it was the shattering of all hope. Because everything had been going so well until then. We'd heard from journalists...

S. O'BRIEN: Did you get the wink? Did you get the...

CARLETON: We didn't see the wink, but I was trying really hard to look at the photo and really sense what Micah was feeling and I did feel strength there. And we were trying to send him as much strength as we could.

S. O'BRIEN: How did your release come about? How did it happen?

GAREN: Well, it was really because of all the incredible efforts and appeals. And the appeals went out on so many different levels. They went to Muqtada al Sadr, they went all the way down to local clerics. And it was because of this incredible outpouring of support that, within ten days, they were forced to release me.

S. O'BRIEN: Ten of the longest days of your life, one has to imagine. As you see what's happening here and the president, as you well know, is going to be talking to some of the troops -- Iraqi troops and American troops in Iraq. As they head toward voting on this critical referendum, for both of you, what goes through your mind?

GAREN: Well, really, living in that country for five months, what you really want to see is you want to see the country pull together. I mean, the country has so much incredible potential. It's an amazing country. And you just hope that the people can somehow pull together and overcome the violence and horror that's going there now.

S. O'BRIEN: You hope. Do you think it can be done?

CARLETON: In time and with the grassroots effort. I think what happened in our case is the same thing could happen in there, the building of institutions, of infrastructure. I think it's really that grassroots effort that will help the country in the long run.

S. O'BRIEN: You've got an upcoming wedding.

CARLETON: We do.

S. O'BRIEN: That was the biggest sigh I've heard. Yes, the next thing to get through together in the next year. And then what's next for you?

GAREN: Well, we're starting to edit the film that we had worked on out there, so hopefully we'll have that done in about six months. S. O'BRIEN: All right. We'll hopefully get a chance to take a look that when it's completed. Thank you for talking with us. Micah Garen and Marie-Helene Carleton. Thank goodness you're back. It's great to see that it was a story that ended very well. The book is called "American Hostage."

Well, you could -- let's see if we can show a picture. You're looking at the -- where the president's going to be speaking from in the White House teleconference. We're going to bring that to you live and listen to what the president's telling the troops, U.S. troops and Iraqi troops, as well, right after this short break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: Well, you know, sometimes communication in this day and age can be a little dicey, especially when you're talking about a little two-way conference, Tikrit to the White House residence, which is what is trying to be patched together as we speak, while the engineers work. The president awaits, and we await his teleconference with some members of -- what is it? The 42nd?

O'BRIEN: Infantry division, yes.

M. O'BRIEN: Forty-second infantry, as well as at least one member of the Iraqi security forces. Not exactly a spontaneous exchange, we should tell you.

Bob Franken has been telling me about while they were trying to patch this together, them rehearsing. Bob Franken on the North Lawn of the White House to tell us what they have -- the kind of questions and answers we should expect to hear.

Bob, good morning again.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what they're going hear from the president is a big thank you, and there's going to be a discussion, we're told, about the preparations by the 42nd leading up to the referendum on Saturday as Iraq votes on the constitution. Members was 42nd, there will be 10 of them, and one member of an Iraq security force. The 42nd is involved in the training of the Iraqi security forces in that very, very hostile area of Tikrit in Iraq.

We are told, by the way, that the reason that there's been a delay here has been a power problem which is certainly not something unusual in Iraq these days. The president has left the White House. He walked across the driveway just a few minutes old to the old executive office build ready to begin this question and answer, but it has not started. So we can only imagine about 8,000 miles away, there are some well-prepared members of the U.S. military and Iraq military waiting to talk to the president if they can just solve those infernal power problems.

M. O'BRIEN: Sitting in the dark, waiting for the president is what's going on right now.

FRANKEN: Right. M. O'BRIEN: You know, I think apparently they fixed the signal. You know, I've got to tell you, If they used CNN field engineers, there wouldn't be a problem. ]

But we've got a two-minute warning now. Bob, while we're awaiting that, let's talk about the stakes on Saturday's referendum, because we talked just a little while ago with a "Washington Post" journalist who said in some respects when you talked to Sunnis, it's almost a sideshow.

As we look at live pictures, apparently they have the signal there.

It's become a bit of an irrelevancy to them as far as the daily life goes. That's not the kind of message we're going to get from the White House.

FRANKEN: Well, no, the White House is saying that it is pleased to see that Iraq is making these steps for democracy. At the same time, by the way, the White House is refusing to predict the result, and a huge problem is the division between the Shia Muslims and the Sunni Muslims in Iraq, and that gap has not been closed, by any means, although there have been some baby steps by the Sunnis to participate in this government.

Remember, the Sunnis have been the ones in power since Saddam Hussein's reign. The Sunnis are the vast majority there, and the Sunnis are worried that they're going to get swallowed up by any sort of government that emerges out of this. So this is not going to be the definitive last step, but obviously, the administration would like to see this accepted in the country so they can proclaim that there is progress being made, make that proclamation as doubts begin in the United States about the wisdom of the whole venture.

O'BRIEN: As you mentioned, Bob, huge implications, not only for the people living in Iraq, but here in this country as well, as we're just a few -- maybe a minute away from hearing from the president. As you say, really, what happens on Saturday is going to play a big role in what happens after that here in this country, certainly as support for the war goes.

FRANKEN: Well, and since there is so much doubt about the outcome, the administration has the advantage of low expectations. The president, of course, will express his optimism, but anything that is not a crushing defeat possibly will be characterized here as a step in the right direction by the administration. I repeat that Scott McClellan, given repeated opportunities this morning, would not predict the result in Iraq.

O'BRIEN: Hey, Bob, the president's coming out. Let's listen in.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Captain Kennedy (ph)?

KENNEDY (ph): Yes, Mr. President.

BUSH: Well, it's good to see you. Thanks.

Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to allow me to visit with you a little bit.

I've got some questions for you here in a minute, but I do want to share some thoughts with you.

First, I want to thank the members of the 42nd Infantry Division and Task Force Liberty for serving our country with such distinction and honor.

I want you to know that the mission you are on is vital to achieving peace and to protecting America. One of my most solemn duties, a duty that you have joined me on, is to protect the American people. And we're facing an enemy that is ruthless and cold-blooded, an enemy that actually has a philosophy.

And the philosophy is so opposite of ours. It is the exact opposite of what America stands for. We stand for religious freedom and freedom to speak and womens' rights and capacity for people to realize their dreams.

BUSH: They stand for a vision that doesn't believe in freedom; that if you don't agree with their narrow point of view that you're subject to reprisal.

And so I want to thank you for being a part of this global war.

And Iraq is a part of the war because the enemy understands that a free Iraq will be a blow to their vision and their strategy of spreading dominance throughout the broader Middle East.

And so I want to thank you. When you e-mail your families, you tell them how proud the commander in chief is of their patience and their support as well.

One of the tactics of the enemy is to shake our will. Part of their strategy is to use the killing of innocent people to get the American government to pull you out of there before the mission is complete.

BUSH: I'm going to assure you of this: that so long as I'm the president, we're never going to back down, we're never going to give in, we'll never accept anything less than total victory.

It's important for you to know that. It's important for the enemy to know that as well.

We got a strategy and it's a clear strategy. On the one hand, we will hunt down these killers and terrorists and bring them to justice and train the Iraqi forces to join us in that effort.

The second part of the strategy is a political strategy, based upon the knowledge that you defeat a backward, dark philosophy with one that's hopeful.

BUSH: And that hopeful philosophy is one based upon universal freedom.

I'm very impressed that the Iraqi government has continued to work to have a constitution that attracts Sunnis and Shias and Kurds. They've worked hard to get a constitution, and now the people of Iraq are going to get to vote once again: on a constitution, in this case.

And I want to thank you for providing the security necessary for people to exercise their free will. You're part of a historic mission that is laying the foundation for peace.

I am convinced that, when we look back at this time in history, those who follow us -- whether it be in the armed services or in the political process -- will say, "Thank goodness the United States of America didn't lose our nerve or will," that we've put in motion something that can't be stopped, and that is the march of freedom.

So I want to thank you for giving me a chance to visit with you. You've just got to know the American people are proud of you.

BUSH: You've got tremendous support here at home. And there's nobody more proud of you than I am.

Now, let me ask you some questions, Captain, if you don't mind. One of the questions I have is about the pre-election operations -- about what you've been doing and what's your strategy and how do you think it's going to make sure that people have a chance to vote.

By the way, you're in Tikrit, as I understand it, as well. It's, kind of, an interesting place to be. It's Saddam's old stomping grounds.

KENNEDY: Good morning, Mr. President, from Tikrit. I'm Captain Brent Kennedy.

To my right is Sergeant Major Akel (ph) from the 5th Iraqi Army Division.

We're working together here with the Iraqis in Task Force Liberty for the upcoming referendum and we're surging an operation called Operation Saratoga that includes the securing of over 1,250 polling sites. We're working right alongside with the Iraqis as they lead the way in securing these sites.

BUSH: That's good.

So the vote's in less than 48 hours -- or about 48 hours, I guess. So are you confident? I mean, how do you feel like the operations are going?

KENNEDY: Mr. President, I'm going to field that question to Captain Smith (ph).

BUSH: I didn't want to throw you a hardball there, Captain.

SMITH (ph): Good morning, Mr. President.

I'm Captain Dave Smith from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I'm representing the 3rd Brigade Combat Team headquartered in Baquba.

BUSH: Right (ph).

SMITH; I work directly with the Iraqi army. I am responsible for coordinating all of their security responses in our area of operations.

Sir, our Iraqi partners have been conducting battalion- and brigade-sized operations since April.

SMITH: They have been planning and coordinating with other Iraqi security forces, such as the Iraqi police and local government agencies, preparing for this referendum.

Sir, we, as coalition forces, we have taken a supporting role only as they prepare to execute this referendum.

BUSH: And how are they doing? I mean, give us an assessment. One of the things, Captain, that people in America want to know is, one, do the Iraqis want to fight? And are they capable of fighting? And maybe somebody can give us an appraisal.

KENNEDY: Mr. President, I'm going to field that question to Captain Pratt (ph).

PRATT (ph): Good morning, Mr. President. My name is Captain Steven Pratt from Pocatello, Idaho, serving with the 116th Brigade Combat Team as the Iraqi army coordinator.

The Iraqi army and police services, along with coalition support, have conducted many and multiple exercises and rehearsals. Recently, we've conducted a command post exercise in which we brought together these Iraqi security forces with emergency service units and the joint coordination center, in which we all sat around a terrain model and discussed what each one would do at their specific location and what they would do at the referendum.

It was impressive to me to see the cooperation and the communication that took place among the Iraqi forces. Along with the coalition backing them, we'll have a very successful and effective referendum vote.

BUSH: Captain, thank you very much.

Let me ask you something. As you move around, I presume you have a chance to interface with the civilians there in that part of the world.

BUSH: You know, a lot of Americans are wondering whether or not people appreciate your presence or whether or not the people are anxious to be part of the democratic process.

Can you give us a sense for the reception of the people there in Tikrit toward coalition forces as well as the Iraqi units that they encounter?

KENNEDY: Mr. President, I'm going to field this question to Captain Williams.

WILLIAMS: Mr. President, I'm Captain David Williams. I'm from Los Angeles, California. I'm currently with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, attached to the military and transition team.

Sir, in north-central Iraq, voter registration is up 17 percent. That's 400,000 new voters in north-central Iraq, and 100,000 new voters in the Salah al Din province.

Sir, I was with my Iraqi counterpart in the city of Tikrit last week, and he was going around talking to the locals.

WILLIAMS: And from what he told me that the locals told him, the Iraqi people are ready and eager to vote in this referendum.

BUSH: That's good. That's a pretty interesting concept for the people of Tikrit when you really think about the fact that Saddam Hussein's hometown -- they didn't get to vote too often when he was the leader there.

Let me ask you about the progress. Most of you have been there for nearly a year, as I understand it. And is it possible to give us a sense, a, kind of, calibration of what life was like when you first got there and what it's like today?

KENNEDY: Mr. President, Master Sergeant Lombardo (ph) will answer this question.

LOMBARDO (ph): Good morning, Mr. President. I'm Master Sergeant Corrine Lombardo with the Headquarters 42nd Infantry Division and Task Force Liberty from Scotia, New York.

First, I'd like to say that this is a pleasure to speak with you again. We had the honor of your visit in New York City on November 11th in 2001, when you recognized our rainbow soldiers...

BUSH: Yes.

LOMBARDO: ... on their recovery and rescue efforts at ground zero.

BUSH: Were you there?

LOMBARDO: We began our fight against terrorism in the wake of 9/11 and we're proud to continue it here in north-central Iraq.

BUSH: Let me ask you something: Were you there when I came to New York?

LOMBARDO: Yes, I was, Mr. President.

BUSH: I thought you looked familiar.

(LAUGHTER)

LOMBARDO: Well, thank you. BUSH: I probably look familiar to you, too.

(LAUGHTER)

LOMBARDO: Yes, you do, Mr. President.

I can tell you, over the past 10 months, we've seen a tremendous increase in the capabilities and the confidences of our Iraqi security force partners.

LOMBARDO: We've been working side by side, training and equipping 18 Iraqi army battalions. Since we began our partnership, they have improved greatly. And they continue to develop and grow into sustainable forces.

Over the next month, we anticipate seeing at least one-third of those Iraqi forces conducting independent operations.

BUSH: Yes, that's important.

And the American people have got to know it. And I appreciate you bringing that up, Sergeant Major, about what the progress is like.

In other words, we've got a measurement system.

LOMBARDO: Together with our coalition forces, we've captured over 50 terrorists as well as detained thousands of others that have ties to the insurgency. And I believe it is these accomplishments and the numerous accomplishments from our task force that will provide a safe and secure environment for the referendum vote.

BUSH: Well, I appreciate that.

There's no question that we need to stay on the offense. And we need to stay on the offense with well-trained Iraqi forces, side by side the finest military ever to exist, and that's the United States military.

LOMBARDO: It is, Mr. President. Thank you.

BUSH: Yes, Sergeant Akel, thank for joining us. I appreciate your service. You got something to say, Akel?

AKEL: Good morning, Mr. President, thank you for everything. Thank you very much for everything.

BUSH: You're welcome.

AKEL: I like you.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: Well, I appreciate that.

MURPHY (ph): Good morning, Mr. President.

BUSH: Go ahead.

MURPHY: I'm First Lieutenant Greg Murphy (ph) from the 278th Regimental Combat Team from the volunteer state of Tennessee.

I want to tell you, sir, that we appreciate you coming with us today for this interview and hearing us express our confidence in the Iraqi security forces' role in the upcoming referendum.

Sir, we're prepared to do whatever it takes to make this thing a success. But the important thing here is that the Iraqi army and the Iraqi security forces: They're ready and they're committed.

MURPHY: They're going to make this thing happen.

Back in January when we were preparing for that election, we had to lead the way. We set up the coordination. We made the plan.

We're really happy to see during the preparation for this one, sir, they're doing everything. They're making the plans. They're calling each other. They've got it laid out.

So on Saturday, sir, we're going to be beside them, we're going to be there to support them through anything, but we can't wait to share in their success with them on Sunday.

Sir, from all of us here at Task Force Liberty here in Tikrit, we want to express our gratitude to you for spending a little time with us this morning. And thank you, sir, for hearing our assessment of the current situation here in Tikrit, Iraq.

BUSH: Well, Lieutenant, thanks. It's been my honor.

And, you know, I wish I could be there to see you face to face to thank you personally. Probably a little early for me to go to Tikrit, but one of these days perhaps the situation will be such that I'll be able to get back to Iraq to not only thank our troops, but to thank those brave Iraqis who are standing strong in the face of these foreign fighters and radicals that are trying to stop the march of freedom.

BUSH: Again, I want to thank you all for being so courageous, for stepping up when the United States of America needed you.

I repeat what I said earlier: Please give your loved ones my deepest respect.

And you got to know, the American people are standing strong with you. We're proud of you.

May God bless you all in your work. And when you get back to the States, if I'm hanging around, come by and say "hello."

Thank you all.

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