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Bush: Troops Are 'Liberators'

Aired January 03, 2003 - 13:05   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 is calling them liberators. The president told troops at Fort Hood, Texas today if they are called on to fight in Iraq, it will not be to conquer, but to liberate people. White House -- Dana Bash is in Crawford, Texas near the president's ranch. She's been following the president, brings us more from there -- hi, Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. How are you?

Well, the president traveled about 80 miles from here in Crawford to Killeen, Texas. That is the home of Fort Hood. That is the Army base, the largest Army base in the country. He spoke to troops, rallied the troops, and said as commander in chief, he believes that they can do whatever it takes to keep peace around the world. He's confident that they have the ability to do what they need to do wherever they are sent. But when it comes down to it, in terms of Iraq, he said the U.S. military must be ready for action against Saddam Hussein.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The use of military force is this nation's last option, his last choice. Yet a force becomes necessary to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, and enforce the will of the United Nations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now, he also made clear as Kyra pointed out earlier, that the United States military will not -- if they do go to Iraq, will not be there to conquer, but rather to keep the peace and create some kind of Democratic rule there.

He also made clear as he did earlier this week, that there is a difference in U.S. policy between what's going on in North Korea and Iraq. With North Korea, he says that the U.S. will continue to seek a diplomatic solution using the allies and neighbors and friends around the world to do that.

But he said with regard to Iraq, Saddam Hussein has proven time and time again that he can't comply with U.N. resolutions, and he said that the declaration that he put forward last month in terms of what weapons of mass destruction he has, was not complete. And he said that he hopes Saddam Hussein does disarm peacefully, but again, if not, he will employ the folks that he spoke to today to help do that -- Kyra. PHILLIPS: And Dana, not on talking to the troops, but also talking about the economy, right? Getting ready for next week?

BASH: That is right. He told reporters yesterday that he will have a speech next week in Chicago where he will unveil an economic stimulus plan, which he says will, he hopes, will stimulate the economy. It will be a combination of various forms of tax cuts. And he -- aides tell us that he is going to try to focus on the fact that he believes his plan will help all Americans and also help Americans that don't have jobs.

And of course, as you heard from Nancy Pelosi, the new House minority leader, they will have their own plan, and you can be sure that next week when Congress comes back, they will be butting heads, as usual, on the economy -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Dana Bush (sic) live from the President's ranch there in Crawford, Texas. Thank you.

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 January 3, 2003 - 13:05   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 is calling them liberators. The president told troops at Fort Hood, Texas today if they are called on to fight in Iraq, it will not be to conquer, but to liberate people. White House -- Dana Bash is in Crawford, Texas near the president's ranch. She's been following the president, brings us more from there -- hi, Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. How are you?

Well, the president traveled about 80 miles from here in Crawford to Killeen, Texas. That is the home of Fort Hood. That is the Army base, the largest Army base in the country. He spoke to troops, rallied the troops, and said as commander in chief, he believes that they can do whatever it takes to keep peace around the world. He's confident that they have the ability to do what they need to do wherever they are sent. But when it comes down to it, in terms of Iraq, he said the U.S. military must be ready for action against Saddam Hussein.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The use of military force is this nation's last option, his last choice. Yet a force becomes necessary to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, and enforce the will of the United Nations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now, he also made clear as Kyra pointed out earlier, that the United States military will not -- if they do go to Iraq, will not be there to conquer, but rather to keep the peace and create some kind of Democratic rule there.

He also made clear as he did earlier this week, that there is a difference in U.S. policy between what's going on in North Korea and Iraq. With North Korea, he says that the U.S. will continue to seek a diplomatic solution using the allies and neighbors and friends around the world to do that.

But he said with regard to Iraq, Saddam Hussein has proven time and time again that he can't comply with U.N. resolutions, and he said that the declaration that he put forward last month in terms of what weapons of mass destruction he has, was not complete. And he said that he hopes Saddam Hussein does disarm peacefully, but again, if not, he will employ the folks that he spoke to today to help do that -- Kyra. PHILLIPS: And Dana, not on talking to the troops, but also talking about the economy, right? Getting ready for next week?

BASH: That is right. He told reporters yesterday that he will have a speech next week in Chicago where he will unveil an economic stimulus plan, which he says will, he hopes, will stimulate the economy. It will be a combination of various forms of tax cuts. And he -- aides tell us that he is going to try to focus on the fact that he believes his plan will help all Americans and also help Americans that don't have jobs.

And of course, as you heard from Nancy Pelosi, the new House minority leader, they will have their own plan, and you can be sure that next week when Congress comes back, they will be butting heads, as usual, on the economy -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Dana Bush (sic) live from the President's ranch there in Crawford, Texas. Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com