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CNN Live Saturday

President Bush Says War on Terror Needs More than Wishful Thinking

Aired June 01, 2002 - 18:07   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. Commander in Chief addressed some newly minted army officers today. President Bush told West Point graduates that their future battles will likely involve the war on terror.

Here's CNN's Kelly Wallace with more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Saluting the graduates of West Point, President Bush says this military academy, which bred World War II leaders like Eisenhower and Patton, is once again answering history's call.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our security requires all Americans to be forward-looking and resolute, to be ready for preemptive action when necessary to defend our liberty and to defend our lives.

WALLACE: Mr. Bush, telling these 958 new Army officers that the war on terror has only begun, and that the threat is "without precedent."

BUSH: The attacks of September 11 required a few hundred thousand dollars in the hands of a few dozen evil and deluded men. All of the chaos and suffering they caused came at much less than the cost of a single tank.

WALLACE: One of the goals here, preventing an American public, almost nine months after the attacks, from growing complacent. Something graduates like brothers Tom and Kirk Rheus (ph) worry about.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would like to see more support, more understanding.

WALLACE: The president's visit to West Point not only designed to bolster these future leaders in the war on terror, but to send a message to skeptical European allies -- Mr. Bush saying the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction must be dealt with.

BUSH: We cannot send Americans and our friends by hoping for the best. If we wait for threats to fully materialize, we will have waited too long.

WALLACE: Just back from his European tour, the president seems to be responding to criticism of a U.S. unilateral approach to the war. He stressed the need for countries to work together to fight terror, and resolve crises like current tensions between nuclear neighbors India and Pakistan.

BUSH: America needs partners to preserve the peace.

WALLACE: But, Mr. Bush was firm, saying that America will take the battle to the enemy, a warning to those he labeled terrorists and tyrants and a message that hits home here. As these newly- commissioned officers celebrate, they know they can be on the front lines very soon.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, West Point, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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