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American Morning
Bush to Meet With Iraqi Exiles
Aired April 04, 2003 - 08:38 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: At the White House, Dana Bash is watching the movements of the president today, where he will meet, we understand, with members of the Iraqi American community. Dana, good morning there.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
And the White House today -- it's interesting to watch because they are trying to strike a delicate balance in the way they talk about this war. They spent the entire week trying to combat suggestions that the war wasn't going fast enough, that the battle plan was flawed. You heard the president at military installations twice this week talk in detail about the successes of the war almost to bat back at criticism on the war plans.
Now, we're hearing from the White House that they are a little bit concerned about what one official told was irrational exuberance. This morning a senior official briefing reporters said -- quote -- "I still want to caution everybody, we are still in the middle of battle. It's not over."
And in terms of victory, which people are sort of quietly talking about, the president obviously saying that victory is going to happen no matter what. But in terms of the timing of that, the officials said, "Victory is when the President announces it."
The mission is twofold: disarmament of Iraq, and a regime change, and that has not changed. So they are trying to, of course, talk up the successes but caution people, especially as the troops amass in and around Baghdad that it still could be awhile before this is all over.
Now, as you said, the president is going to meet privately in the Oval Office today with some Iraqi exiles. He will talk to them, according to a White House official, about the fact that, he promises that unlike 12 years ago when the U.S. was at war with Iraq, they will not leave Saddam Hussein in power. And after that meeting, the president will head to Camp David for the weekend -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Dana. That has been the pattern -- Camp David on the weekends. It is Friday, to be expected I guess, as the pattern follows through again today. Dana Bash, thanks.
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 April 4, 2003 - 08:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: At the White House, Dana Bash is watching the movements of the president today, where he will meet, we understand, with members of the Iraqi American community. Dana, good morning there.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
And the White House today -- it's interesting to watch because they are trying to strike a delicate balance in the way they talk about this war. They spent the entire week trying to combat suggestions that the war wasn't going fast enough, that the battle plan was flawed. You heard the president at military installations twice this week talk in detail about the successes of the war almost to bat back at criticism on the war plans.
Now, we're hearing from the White House that they are a little bit concerned about what one official told was irrational exuberance. This morning a senior official briefing reporters said -- quote -- "I still want to caution everybody, we are still in the middle of battle. It's not over."
And in terms of victory, which people are sort of quietly talking about, the president obviously saying that victory is going to happen no matter what. But in terms of the timing of that, the officials said, "Victory is when the President announces it."
The mission is twofold: disarmament of Iraq, and a regime change, and that has not changed. So they are trying to, of course, talk up the successes but caution people, especially as the troops amass in and around Baghdad that it still could be awhile before this is all over.
Now, as you said, the president is going to meet privately in the Oval Office today with some Iraqi exiles. He will talk to them, according to a White House official, about the fact that, he promises that unlike 12 years ago when the U.S. was at war with Iraq, they will not leave Saddam Hussein in power. And after that meeting, the president will head to Camp David for the weekend -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Dana. That has been the pattern -- Camp David on the weekends. It is Friday, to be expected I guess, as the pattern follows through again today. Dana Bash, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
