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U.S. Government Continues to Keep Track of What's Happened in Kenya
Aired November 29, 2002 - 13:06 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: The U.S. government continues to keep track of what has happened in Kenya. The attacks have impinged somewhat on President Bush's holiday plans. CNN's John King standing by at Crawford, Texas, with Mr. Bush spending a few days at his ranch.
Hi, John.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: How are you, Kyra?
Today, Mr. Bush keeping in touch, we are told with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. He did issue a statement yesterday voicing his condolences. As you know, Mr. Bush trying to have a relatively quiet Thanksgiving holiday weekend, but this certainly distracting him from plans on the ranch. He is keeping in touch with officials we are told back in Washington and offering the governments of Kenya and Israel any help they might request in connection with this investigation.
Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Anyone specifically or any type of aid specifically, John, that you know about that could be going from Washington to East Africa?
KING: That depends on what the Kenya government or the Israeli government requests. Because there are no Americans among the victims, there is no direct role for the United States government in the investigation. But officials from the embassy in Kenya were to meet and did meet today with Kenyan officials and the Israeli investigators.
If the FBI can help, for example, the United States says it will make resources available. If there are suspects identified the CIA and the FBI and other agencies could use their databases to see if those suspects are linked to any terrorist group, al Qaeda or other groups. U.S. Officials say it is too soon to tell whether al Qaeda is involved, but as Mike Boettcher just noted, there are certainly some things the United States government finds suspicious.
PHILLIPS: And also, Washington has provided millions of dollars to Kenya for counter terrorism training, right?
KING: That's right, more than $3 million since 1998. Remember, that is when the U.S. Embassy in Kenya and also the embassy in Tanzania, those two embassies were struck, U.S. officials say by al Qaeda in 1998. Since then, more than $3 million in U.S. counterterrorism aid directly to Kenya, $750,000 in money given to Kenya just earlier this month, that $750,000 specifically slated for improvements in airport security across Kenya.
PHILLIPS: And, John, President Bush and the president of Kenya are set to meet I guess in a week or so. What do you expect them to be talking about? No doubt this?
KING: Already the plans for that meeting were to have significant discussions about counterterrorism efforts, about efforts -- the U.S. administration credits the government of Kenya for doing quite a bit so far in trying to crack down but U.S. officials also say they still believe there are al Qaeda operatives and other potentially terrorist operatives in Kenya. That was to be one major focus of discussion. There are economic relationships as well, but security already was to be item one in that meeting. You can be certain it will dominate the talks.
PHILLIPS: All right. Live from Crawford, Texas, John King, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
in Kenya>
Aired November 29, 2002 - 13:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. government continues to keep track of what has happened in Kenya. The attacks have impinged somewhat on President Bush's holiday plans. CNN's John King standing by at Crawford, Texas, with Mr. Bush spending a few days at his ranch.
Hi, John.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: How are you, Kyra?
Today, Mr. Bush keeping in touch, we are told with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. He did issue a statement yesterday voicing his condolences. As you know, Mr. Bush trying to have a relatively quiet Thanksgiving holiday weekend, but this certainly distracting him from plans on the ranch. He is keeping in touch with officials we are told back in Washington and offering the governments of Kenya and Israel any help they might request in connection with this investigation.
Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Anyone specifically or any type of aid specifically, John, that you know about that could be going from Washington to East Africa?
KING: That depends on what the Kenya government or the Israeli government requests. Because there are no Americans among the victims, there is no direct role for the United States government in the investigation. But officials from the embassy in Kenya were to meet and did meet today with Kenyan officials and the Israeli investigators.
If the FBI can help, for example, the United States says it will make resources available. If there are suspects identified the CIA and the FBI and other agencies could use their databases to see if those suspects are linked to any terrorist group, al Qaeda or other groups. U.S. Officials say it is too soon to tell whether al Qaeda is involved, but as Mike Boettcher just noted, there are certainly some things the United States government finds suspicious.
PHILLIPS: And also, Washington has provided millions of dollars to Kenya for counter terrorism training, right?
KING: That's right, more than $3 million since 1998. Remember, that is when the U.S. Embassy in Kenya and also the embassy in Tanzania, those two embassies were struck, U.S. officials say by al Qaeda in 1998. Since then, more than $3 million in U.S. counterterrorism aid directly to Kenya, $750,000 in money given to Kenya just earlier this month, that $750,000 specifically slated for improvements in airport security across Kenya.
PHILLIPS: And, John, President Bush and the president of Kenya are set to meet I guess in a week or so. What do you expect them to be talking about? No doubt this?
KING: Already the plans for that meeting were to have significant discussions about counterterrorism efforts, about efforts -- the U.S. administration credits the government of Kenya for doing quite a bit so far in trying to crack down but U.S. officials also say they still believe there are al Qaeda operatives and other potentially terrorist operatives in Kenya. That was to be one major focus of discussion. There are economic relationships as well, but security already was to be item one in that meeting. You can be certain it will dominate the talks.
PHILLIPS: All right. Live from Crawford, Texas, John King, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
in Kenya>
