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American Morning
'End of Combat'
Aired April 30, 2003 - 09:19 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Despite recent clashes in Fallujah, President Bush expected to declare an official end to the combat in Iraq. That announcement comes tomorrow onboard the USS Lincoln, returning home from the Gulf. However, this will not be a V.I. Day, a victory in Iraq day. So then, exactly what will it be?
We turn to Jeff Greenfield for an answer on that. What's the president hoping to accomplish?
JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SR. ANALYST: And He's got some problems of what he's hoping to accomplish. And I thought the best way to show you that was to contrast what the president may do tomorrow with what the first President Bush's victory speech in March of 1991 after Iraq was driven out of Kuwait.
The first thing I want you to notice is how much emphasis the first President Bush placed on the international nature of the war. Let take a look at what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE BUSH SR., PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a victory for every country in the coalition, of the United Nations, a victory for unprecedented international cooperation and diplomacy, so well-led by our Secretary of State James Baker. It is a victory for the rule of law and for what is right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GREENFIELD: Now this President Bush isn't about to praise the United Nations. It wasn't a victory for diplomacy, because the diplomacy aspect didn't work out. So I think he has to figure out a way to talk about international participation for the world community without embracing the United Nations that he kind of didn't work out at. In addition, which, of course, this coalition was a lot more limited than the first one.
The second thing is, we are hearing a lot about how the president has to turn pivot, if I can use the cliche, to the whole issue of peace in the Middle East. Listen to how much emphasis the first President Bush placed on exactly that 12 years ago.
Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE BUSH SR.: By now, it should be plain to all parties that peacemaking in the Middle East requires compromise. At the same time, peace brings real benefits to everyone. We must do all that we can to close the gap between Israel and the Arab states, and between Israelis and Palestinians. The tactics of terror lead absolutely nowhere. There can be no substitute for diplomacy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GREENFIELD: Now this is a good reason why we take the long view, Bill, because this is 12 years ago, we're hearing much the same rhetoric today, terrorism must end, we've got a new prime minister for the PLO. But anybody who think this is going to be wrapped up in a year or two is an optimist.
And another thing is we've heard endless talk how this President Bush has to turn to the economy, you know, endless talk, ad nauseam, about what happened to the first President Bush because he didn't pay enough attention to the economy. Well, listen in the victory speech how the first President Bush tried to turn our attention to the economy -- take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE BUSH SR.: Our first priority is to get this economy rolling again. The fear and uncertainty caused by the Gulf Crisis were understandable. But now that the war is over, oil prices are down, interest rates are down, and confidence is rightly coming back, Americans can move forward to lend, spend and invest in this, the strongest economy on Earth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GREENFIELD: So the point here is not that the first President Bush wasn't aware he was supposed to do something about the economy, but the bad economic news helped sink him in 1992.
So, Bill, the point is, even though this President Bush, and Karl Rove really know they're supposed to fix the economy, the question is, can they? Is intention enough if things don't work out.
HEMMER: The big answer, still out there. I think it's interesting the way the White House is choosing the combat segment of Iraq is over for now, because we know the peace is going to be difficult, but not without help.
Thank you, Jeff.
GREENFIELD: Impatience is the enemy both of them and us in the media.
HEMMER: So true.
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 30, 2003 - 09:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Despite recent clashes in Fallujah, President Bush expected to declare an official end to the combat in Iraq. That announcement comes tomorrow onboard the USS Lincoln, returning home from the Gulf. However, this will not be a V.I. Day, a victory in Iraq day. So then, exactly what will it be?
We turn to Jeff Greenfield for an answer on that. What's the president hoping to accomplish?
JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SR. ANALYST: And He's got some problems of what he's hoping to accomplish. And I thought the best way to show you that was to contrast what the president may do tomorrow with what the first President Bush's victory speech in March of 1991 after Iraq was driven out of Kuwait.
The first thing I want you to notice is how much emphasis the first President Bush placed on the international nature of the war. Let take a look at what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE BUSH SR., PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a victory for every country in the coalition, of the United Nations, a victory for unprecedented international cooperation and diplomacy, so well-led by our Secretary of State James Baker. It is a victory for the rule of law and for what is right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GREENFIELD: Now this President Bush isn't about to praise the United Nations. It wasn't a victory for diplomacy, because the diplomacy aspect didn't work out. So I think he has to figure out a way to talk about international participation for the world community without embracing the United Nations that he kind of didn't work out at. In addition, which, of course, this coalition was a lot more limited than the first one.
The second thing is, we are hearing a lot about how the president has to turn pivot, if I can use the cliche, to the whole issue of peace in the Middle East. Listen to how much emphasis the first President Bush placed on exactly that 12 years ago.
Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE BUSH SR.: By now, it should be plain to all parties that peacemaking in the Middle East requires compromise. At the same time, peace brings real benefits to everyone. We must do all that we can to close the gap between Israel and the Arab states, and between Israelis and Palestinians. The tactics of terror lead absolutely nowhere. There can be no substitute for diplomacy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GREENFIELD: Now this is a good reason why we take the long view, Bill, because this is 12 years ago, we're hearing much the same rhetoric today, terrorism must end, we've got a new prime minister for the PLO. But anybody who think this is going to be wrapped up in a year or two is an optimist.
And another thing is we've heard endless talk how this President Bush has to turn to the economy, you know, endless talk, ad nauseam, about what happened to the first President Bush because he didn't pay enough attention to the economy. Well, listen in the victory speech how the first President Bush tried to turn our attention to the economy -- take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE BUSH SR.: Our first priority is to get this economy rolling again. The fear and uncertainty caused by the Gulf Crisis were understandable. But now that the war is over, oil prices are down, interest rates are down, and confidence is rightly coming back, Americans can move forward to lend, spend and invest in this, the strongest economy on Earth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GREENFIELD: So the point here is not that the first President Bush wasn't aware he was supposed to do something about the economy, but the bad economic news helped sink him in 1992.
So, Bill, the point is, even though this President Bush, and Karl Rove really know they're supposed to fix the economy, the question is, can they? Is intention enough if things don't work out.
HEMMER: The big answer, still out there. I think it's interesting the way the White House is choosing the combat segment of Iraq is over for now, because we know the peace is going to be difficult, but not without help.
Thank you, Jeff.
GREENFIELD: Impatience is the enemy both of them and us in the media.
HEMMER: So true.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
