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American Morning
Bush Reacts to POWs' Rescue
Aired April 13, 2003 - 11:55 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Something we've all been waiting for now a little bit today. President Bush and his comments, obviously he learned of this news earlier today. Seven American POWs safe, back in the hands of the U.S. military. Our Dana Bash is standing by now at the White House with more details on reaction from the president. Hi, Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. Well, as we first reported earlier this morning, the president was informed of the fact that these Americans had been -- that had been missing were back in safe hands. The president at Camp David at this time, was called by his national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, at about 7:00 this morning to tell him that missing Americans were found. Unclear still at this point what exactly his reaction was, although we can imagine that it was one of jubilation and joy, because we have been told over the past three weeks, and it's noteworthy that it was exactly three weeks ago today that the president also at Camp David got a phone call and was informed by his staff that these seven soldiers were taken prisoners of war, so we are told that he asked frequently about them, frequently about their status, so at this time this morning he was informed that they were safe and sound and in American hands - Heidi.
COLLINS: Dana, is there anything you can tell us about protocol here, as far as what will happen once the president does give formal reaction to this? Will he speak with the families? Will he actually meet with the former POWs at some point? Do you know anything about that?
BASH: Unclear exactly what he will do in terms of meeting with the families. The White House likes to keep his conversations with both family members of soldiers and military men and women who die and also with former prisoners of war private. They don't tend to give us a lot of information on that. But certainly we will be asking if he will be calling the family members, and perhaps the former prisoners of war themselves. So we'll let you know -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Very good. All right. Dana Bash at the White House today, thanks so 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 April 13, 2003 - 11:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Something we've all been waiting for now a little bit today. President Bush and his comments, obviously he learned of this news earlier today. Seven American POWs safe, back in the hands of the U.S. military. Our Dana Bash is standing by now at the White House with more details on reaction from the president. Hi, Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. Well, as we first reported earlier this morning, the president was informed of the fact that these Americans had been -- that had been missing were back in safe hands. The president at Camp David at this time, was called by his national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, at about 7:00 this morning to tell him that missing Americans were found. Unclear still at this point what exactly his reaction was, although we can imagine that it was one of jubilation and joy, because we have been told over the past three weeks, and it's noteworthy that it was exactly three weeks ago today that the president also at Camp David got a phone call and was informed by his staff that these seven soldiers were taken prisoners of war, so we are told that he asked frequently about them, frequently about their status, so at this time this morning he was informed that they were safe and sound and in American hands - Heidi.
COLLINS: Dana, is there anything you can tell us about protocol here, as far as what will happen once the president does give formal reaction to this? Will he speak with the families? Will he actually meet with the former POWs at some point? Do you know anything about that?
BASH: Unclear exactly what he will do in terms of meeting with the families. The White House likes to keep his conversations with both family members of soldiers and military men and women who die and also with former prisoners of war private. They don't tend to give us a lot of information on that. But certainly we will be asking if he will be calling the family members, and perhaps the former prisoners of war themselves. So we'll let you know -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Very good. All right. Dana Bash at the White House today, thanks so 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
