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Bush Spokesperson: Too Early To Blame Al Qaeda
Aired November 29, 2002 - 14:06 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: President Bush was swift to condemn the Kenya attacks, but a White House spokesperson cautioned against jumping to conclusions about possible al Qaeda involvement.
CNN's senior White House correspondent John King is at the Bush ranch in Crawford, Texas, where the family is spending the holiday.
John -- what do you know?
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, twice, today, President Bush has participated in secure video conferences back to senior administration officials in Washington. On those calls, he was updated on the investigation so far into the strikes, both in Kenya and Israel yesterday, as well as other developments in the ongoing war against terrorism.
U.S. officials have suspicions about al Qaeda, largely in part because al Qaeda is known to operate in Kenya. Remember, it was August 1998 the U.S. Embassy in Kenya and also in the African nation of Tanzania were bombed. U.S. officials say al Qaeda conducted those bombings.
So, certainly, there are suspicions about al Qaeda activity in Kenya, and suspicions because of the use of those surface-to-air missiles, equipment al Qaeda is known to have.
U.S. officials also say a Somali Islamic group is among the suspects, at least from the U.S. perspective, but they say they cannot come to any conclusive findings just yet.
U.S. officials on the scene in Kenya offered any and all assistance the United States government can give to the Kenyan government and to the Israeli investigative teams. U.S. officials say no direct involvement for the United States in the investigation, because no Americans among those killed, but that they will do anything and provide any resources that they can.
You mentioned the president's statement last night, Mr. Bush condemning in -- quote -- "the strongest possible terms this tragic violence and the killings." The president also saying it is time for the United States and its allies to redouble their efforts now in the global war against terrorism -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: John, meanwhile, next week, the president is also meeting with the president of Kenya, right?
KING: He is meeting with the president of Kenya at the White House, even before these tragedies. Security and counterterrorism, the war on terrorism were the top priorities in that meeting.
Since 1998, the United States government has given more than $3 million directly to Kenya, all part of billions -- hundreds of millions of dollars the United States has spent on account of terrorism within its budget and in foreign assistance, more than 3 million directly to Kenya. Kyra, 750,000 of that just earlier this month to help the Kenyan government improve airport security.
We are told when the two presidents meet at the White House that counterterrorism and global security will be the top subjects, some economic assistance likely to come up as well.
PHILLIPS: All right, John King, thanks so much.
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 29, 2002 - 14:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush was swift to condemn the Kenya attacks, but a White House spokesperson cautioned against jumping to conclusions about possible al Qaeda involvement.
CNN's senior White House correspondent John King is at the Bush ranch in Crawford, Texas, where the family is spending the holiday.
John -- what do you know?
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, twice, today, President Bush has participated in secure video conferences back to senior administration officials in Washington. On those calls, he was updated on the investigation so far into the strikes, both in Kenya and Israel yesterday, as well as other developments in the ongoing war against terrorism.
U.S. officials have suspicions about al Qaeda, largely in part because al Qaeda is known to operate in Kenya. Remember, it was August 1998 the U.S. Embassy in Kenya and also in the African nation of Tanzania were bombed. U.S. officials say al Qaeda conducted those bombings.
So, certainly, there are suspicions about al Qaeda activity in Kenya, and suspicions because of the use of those surface-to-air missiles, equipment al Qaeda is known to have.
U.S. officials also say a Somali Islamic group is among the suspects, at least from the U.S. perspective, but they say they cannot come to any conclusive findings just yet.
U.S. officials on the scene in Kenya offered any and all assistance the United States government can give to the Kenyan government and to the Israeli investigative teams. U.S. officials say no direct involvement for the United States in the investigation, because no Americans among those killed, but that they will do anything and provide any resources that they can.
You mentioned the president's statement last night, Mr. Bush condemning in -- quote -- "the strongest possible terms this tragic violence and the killings." The president also saying it is time for the United States and its allies to redouble their efforts now in the global war against terrorism -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: John, meanwhile, next week, the president is also meeting with the president of Kenya, right?
KING: He is meeting with the president of Kenya at the White House, even before these tragedies. Security and counterterrorism, the war on terrorism were the top priorities in that meeting.
Since 1998, the United States government has given more than $3 million directly to Kenya, all part of billions -- hundreds of millions of dollars the United States has spent on account of terrorism within its budget and in foreign assistance, more than 3 million directly to Kenya. Kyra, 750,000 of that just earlier this month to help the Kenyan government improve airport security.
We are told when the two presidents meet at the White House that counterterrorism and global security will be the top subjects, some economic assistance likely to come up as well.
PHILLIPS: All right, John King, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
