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American Morning

Bush to Ease Logging Restrictions

Aired August 22, 2002 - 07:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush says he is a patient man, and says he is in no hurry to go after Saddam Hussein.
Our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux, tracking that story, the latest, with us this morning on the Front Lawn.

Suzanne -- good morning.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Bill.

The focus of President Bush's meeting yesterday in Crawford, Texas really was not about Iraq; rather it was about missile defense, Pentagon spending, as well as the transformation of the military.

But having said that, the president also made it very clear that policy and Iraq is a top priority of the administration, the ousting of Saddam Hussein, but equally important, he stressed that this administration is not in a rush to war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will look at all options, and we will consider all technologies available to us and diplomacy and intelligence. But one thing is for certain is that this administration agrees that Saddam Hussein is a threat.

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MALVEAUX: Now later today, President Bush is taking on a domestic battle. He'll be traveling to southern Oregon. It's one of the many western states that have been devastated by wildfires this year. The president is expected to announce an initiative that would ease the restrictions for logging in some of the national forests, to clear out some of the brush in those areas that are susceptible to wildfires.

Now, there are some environmentalists who are criticizing this, saying that this takes away some of the safeguards that are necessary to protect our national forests -- Bill.

HEMMER: Suzanne, thanks -- Suzanne Malveaux at the White House this morning.

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