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The New Iraq: Progress Report
Aired July 01, 2003 - 15:02 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.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Turning international now, the White House says progress is being made in Iraq's reconstruction, despite continued hit-and-run attacks on American targets. A rocket-propelled grenade was fired at two U.S. armored vehicles in central Baghdad today, killing an Iraqi interpreter and wounding six soldiers.
And U.S. military officials are investigating an explosion near a mosque in Fallujah overnight that killed six people. There's no word yet on what caused the blast. Central Command says Americans were not involved.
Within the past hour, President Bush talked about the post-war situation in Iraq during a reenlistment ceremony for military service members.
Let's go to the White House now and our correspondent Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Judy, it was really a clear recognition from the White House that the president had to address this concern, this growing number of U.S. casualties inside of Iraq since the president had declared major combat in that country over May 1.
The president outlined a number of victories. He talked about those involved in the September 11 attacks. Almost all are in custody or dead. He talked about senior al Qaeda, 65 percent captured or killed. But he also addressed the defeats as well; those Taliban members who have fled to the Afghanistan/Pakistan border. He talked about Baath Party loyalists who have been killing U.S. soldiers. But the bottom line here to Americans is that the war on terror, the reconstruction of Iraq will be in the president's words, "a massive, long-term undertaking."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: From the beginning, we have known the effort would be long and difficult and that our resolve would be tested. We know that sacrifice is unavoidable. We have seen victories in the decisive defeat of two terror regimes and in the relentless pursuit of a global terror network. Yet, the war on terror goes on. We will not be distracted and we prevail.
(END VIDEO CLIP) MALVEAUX: And Judy, also what was significant here is what the president did not talk about in his speech, what he did not mention -- no mention of the elusive Osama bin Laden or Saddam Hussein. No mention of finds of weapon of mass destruction and no mention of a clear timetable of deployment of U.S. troops. These are all questions and some will criticize the Bush administration about foreign policy. It is clear that the White House today answered some questions, but that there are still some that go unanswered -- Judy.
WOODRUFF: All right. Thanks very much, Suzanne Malveaux.
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 July 1, 2003 - 15:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Turning international now, the White House says progress is being made in Iraq's reconstruction, despite continued hit-and-run attacks on American targets. A rocket-propelled grenade was fired at two U.S. armored vehicles in central Baghdad today, killing an Iraqi interpreter and wounding six soldiers.
And U.S. military officials are investigating an explosion near a mosque in Fallujah overnight that killed six people. There's no word yet on what caused the blast. Central Command says Americans were not involved.
Within the past hour, President Bush talked about the post-war situation in Iraq during a reenlistment ceremony for military service members.
Let's go to the White House now and our correspondent Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Judy, it was really a clear recognition from the White House that the president had to address this concern, this growing number of U.S. casualties inside of Iraq since the president had declared major combat in that country over May 1.
The president outlined a number of victories. He talked about those involved in the September 11 attacks. Almost all are in custody or dead. He talked about senior al Qaeda, 65 percent captured or killed. But he also addressed the defeats as well; those Taliban members who have fled to the Afghanistan/Pakistan border. He talked about Baath Party loyalists who have been killing U.S. soldiers. But the bottom line here to Americans is that the war on terror, the reconstruction of Iraq will be in the president's words, "a massive, long-term undertaking."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: From the beginning, we have known the effort would be long and difficult and that our resolve would be tested. We know that sacrifice is unavoidable. We have seen victories in the decisive defeat of two terror regimes and in the relentless pursuit of a global terror network. Yet, the war on terror goes on. We will not be distracted and we prevail.
(END VIDEO CLIP) MALVEAUX: And Judy, also what was significant here is what the president did not talk about in his speech, what he did not mention -- no mention of the elusive Osama bin Laden or Saddam Hussein. No mention of finds of weapon of mass destruction and no mention of a clear timetable of deployment of U.S. troops. These are all questions and some will criticize the Bush administration about foreign policy. It is clear that the White House today answered some questions, but that there are still some that go unanswered -- Judy.
WOODRUFF: All right. Thanks very much, Suzanne Malveaux.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
