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Bush Signs Legislation Authorizing Inquiry
Aired November 27, 2002 - 13:01 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: First this hour, President Bush has named Henry Kissinger to lead an independent probe of September 11. In his announcement today, the president says the probe will not be focused on possible government lapses, but will concentrate instead on the tactics and motives of the terrorists.
CNN's Kathleen Koch is standing by at the White House to tell us more about the probe, and the man appointed to run it.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, we have heard nothing but praise from members of both political parties, from families of 9/11 victims of the 9/11 terrorist for Dr. Henry Kissinger.
He was, of course, a former secretary of state and national security adviser to two different presidents. They believe that he is the right man for what will be a very tough job. Now, it was earlier this morning that President Bush signed the law creating, basically, a ten member independent commission whose job it will be to probe the 9/11 attacks.
Despite what the president said, it will be tough for the panel to avoid looking into whether or not the government could have done more to stop the terrorists. Dr. Kissinger, afterwards, came out and spoke to the cameras, and he insisted that no stone will remain unturned, even if fingers point to allies like Saudi Arabia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY KISSINGER, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: We should go where the facts lead us, and that we are not restricted by any foreign policy considerations. I have had a conversation with the secretary of state, who will designate a liaison person with us, and he has promised me, as one would expect, the fullest cooperation. We are under no restrictions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: Lawmakers who helped to draft this law believe that it is important that the panel have access to any and all information that it needs, even if it comes from President Bush himself, the commander in chief.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: I would be surprised if this commission, in pursuit of the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help them God, did not want to speak with this president and high officials in this administration, and previous presidents and high officials in previous administrations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: After today's signing ceremony, Mr. Bush boarded the helicopter Marine One heading to Andrews Air Force Base, and from there on to Crawford, Texas.
He'll be spending the Thanksgiving holidays there at his ranch with his family. And this morning, as I was coming into the White House, trucks were pulling up, loaded down with Christmas trees. So Kyra, before Mr. Bush returns on Sunday, the White House will be decked out with holiday finery.
PHILLIPS: All right. Well, Kathleen, can you talk about any of the reservations that are circling within the White House about a 9/11 inquiry?
KOCH: Certainly, Kyra. As recently as two months ago, President Bush and the White House opposed an independent inquiry. They really believed that it could become very partisan, very political, that it would, indeed, distract the administration from its primary focus right now of preventing any future terrorist attacks, and that vital intelligence information, perhaps purposefully or perhaps inadvertently might leak out in the process, but the families of 9/11 terrorism victims were very, very adamant that they believe that a probe like this could be bipartisan and would indeed be very important at getting at the truth.
So the White House went along.
PHILLIPS: All right. Live from the White House, Kathleen Koch. Thank you.
KOCH: You bet.
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 27, 2002 - 13:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: First this hour, President Bush has named Henry Kissinger to lead an independent probe of September 11. In his announcement today, the president says the probe will not be focused on possible government lapses, but will concentrate instead on the tactics and motives of the terrorists.
CNN's Kathleen Koch is standing by at the White House to tell us more about the probe, and the man appointed to run it.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, we have heard nothing but praise from members of both political parties, from families of 9/11 victims of the 9/11 terrorist for Dr. Henry Kissinger.
He was, of course, a former secretary of state and national security adviser to two different presidents. They believe that he is the right man for what will be a very tough job. Now, it was earlier this morning that President Bush signed the law creating, basically, a ten member independent commission whose job it will be to probe the 9/11 attacks.
Despite what the president said, it will be tough for the panel to avoid looking into whether or not the government could have done more to stop the terrorists. Dr. Kissinger, afterwards, came out and spoke to the cameras, and he insisted that no stone will remain unturned, even if fingers point to allies like Saudi Arabia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY KISSINGER, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: We should go where the facts lead us, and that we are not restricted by any foreign policy considerations. I have had a conversation with the secretary of state, who will designate a liaison person with us, and he has promised me, as one would expect, the fullest cooperation. We are under no restrictions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: Lawmakers who helped to draft this law believe that it is important that the panel have access to any and all information that it needs, even if it comes from President Bush himself, the commander in chief.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: I would be surprised if this commission, in pursuit of the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help them God, did not want to speak with this president and high officials in this administration, and previous presidents and high officials in previous administrations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: After today's signing ceremony, Mr. Bush boarded the helicopter Marine One heading to Andrews Air Force Base, and from there on to Crawford, Texas.
He'll be spending the Thanksgiving holidays there at his ranch with his family. And this morning, as I was coming into the White House, trucks were pulling up, loaded down with Christmas trees. So Kyra, before Mr. Bush returns on Sunday, the White House will be decked out with holiday finery.
PHILLIPS: All right. Well, Kathleen, can you talk about any of the reservations that are circling within the White House about a 9/11 inquiry?
KOCH: Certainly, Kyra. As recently as two months ago, President Bush and the White House opposed an independent inquiry. They really believed that it could become very partisan, very political, that it would, indeed, distract the administration from its primary focus right now of preventing any future terrorist attacks, and that vital intelligence information, perhaps purposefully or perhaps inadvertently might leak out in the process, but the families of 9/11 terrorism victims were very, very adamant that they believe that a probe like this could be bipartisan and would indeed be very important at getting at the truth.
So the White House went along.
PHILLIPS: All right. Live from the White House, Kathleen Koch. Thank you.
KOCH: You bet.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
