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Secretary Powell's Future

Aired August 06, 2003 - 15:06   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.


JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Well, there's been a lot of talk in political circles lately about Secretary of State Colin Powell's future. Today, President Bush brushed off the speculation with Powell at his side. Our White House correspondent, Dana Bash, is with the president in Crawford, Texas.
Dana, does that mean all this talk about Powell leaving after a first term is wrong?

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Not necessarily, Judy. They didn't go that far. But, Judy, it's important to note that the White House is saying this visit from Secretary Powell and his deputy, Richard Armitage, had been planned for weeks. However, we were told that we wouldn't have any access, reporters wouldn't see any of the men while they were here for the 24-hour visit, but the President surprised us.

He took them out to lunch at a place called The Coffee Station (ph), really the only place to sit down and have a meal in this small, small town of Crawford. And it was an opportunity for the president to have some pictures with his secretary of state, stand shoulder to shoulder with him, and also an opportunity for the president to say that he supports Secretary Powell and take some playful jabs at Washington and the rumor mill in Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Washington, particularly in August, is a dangerous period -- a dangerous time, because there's a lot of speculation. And all I can tell you is the man flies to Crawford and we spend a good 24 hours talking about how we're going to work together to make the world a better place.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I certainly (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the president. And this is all speculation with no basis and fact and no basis for the story to begin with. And we're doing our job today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: But, Judy, as we were just talking about, there was no actual commitment for a second term or having Secretary Powell part of the president's second term. But the president did suggest that there is an election between now and then and it is about 17 months away -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: Dana, to a very different story, and that is Liberia. For weeks there has been speculation about whether the U.S. would be sending troops in there. Now we understand a small force has gone into Liberia. Does that mean more troops will be going in later?

BASH: Administration officials say not to look at it that way. The president did approve this very small force, the liaison team, as they are calling it. He did so yesterday by teleconference from his ranch.

Today he did speak about it. He said that the reason why he thought it was important for this team to get in there was to help the West African peacekeeping troops that have gone in there. About 200 are there.

He said that he wanted them to see what they could do, see what the U.S. could do in the future in terms of humanitarian assistance. But, Judy, there are about 2,000 troops waiting in the seas off the coast of Liberia, about 100 miles away. But at this point there are no plans to send them in to join up with the West African troops that are already there.

WOODRUFF: All right. Dana Bash, following it all for us from Crawford, Texas. Dana, thanks very 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 August 6, 2003 - 15:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Well, there's been a lot of talk in political circles lately about Secretary of State Colin Powell's future. Today, President Bush brushed off the speculation with Powell at his side. Our White House correspondent, Dana Bash, is with the president in Crawford, Texas.
Dana, does that mean all this talk about Powell leaving after a first term is wrong?

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Not necessarily, Judy. They didn't go that far. But, Judy, it's important to note that the White House is saying this visit from Secretary Powell and his deputy, Richard Armitage, had been planned for weeks. However, we were told that we wouldn't have any access, reporters wouldn't see any of the men while they were here for the 24-hour visit, but the President surprised us.

He took them out to lunch at a place called The Coffee Station (ph), really the only place to sit down and have a meal in this small, small town of Crawford. And it was an opportunity for the president to have some pictures with his secretary of state, stand shoulder to shoulder with him, and also an opportunity for the president to say that he supports Secretary Powell and take some playful jabs at Washington and the rumor mill in Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Washington, particularly in August, is a dangerous period -- a dangerous time, because there's a lot of speculation. And all I can tell you is the man flies to Crawford and we spend a good 24 hours talking about how we're going to work together to make the world a better place.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I certainly (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the president. And this is all speculation with no basis and fact and no basis for the story to begin with. And we're doing our job today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: But, Judy, as we were just talking about, there was no actual commitment for a second term or having Secretary Powell part of the president's second term. But the president did suggest that there is an election between now and then and it is about 17 months away -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: Dana, to a very different story, and that is Liberia. For weeks there has been speculation about whether the U.S. would be sending troops in there. Now we understand a small force has gone into Liberia. Does that mean more troops will be going in later?

BASH: Administration officials say not to look at it that way. The president did approve this very small force, the liaison team, as they are calling it. He did so yesterday by teleconference from his ranch.

Today he did speak about it. He said that the reason why he thought it was important for this team to get in there was to help the West African peacekeeping troops that have gone in there. About 200 are there.

He said that he wanted them to see what they could do, see what the U.S. could do in the future in terms of humanitarian assistance. But, Judy, there are about 2,000 troops waiting in the seas off the coast of Liberia, about 100 miles away. But at this point there are no plans to send them in to join up with the West African troops that are already there.

WOODRUFF: All right. Dana Bash, following it all for us from Crawford, Texas. Dana, thanks very 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