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American Morning
Bush in Asia
Aired October 21, 2003 - 09:02 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: We go to Asia straightaway. The president in Singapore arriving a short time ago. His agenda throughout this tour of Asia has been centered around terrorism and security.
Our senior White House correspondent John King traveling with the president, joins us today from Singapore.
John, good evening there.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Bill, good evening, or good morning to you back in New York.
This is stop four of six in Asia for the president on this week- plus long tour. Mr. Bush meeting at this hour with Prime Minister Goh of Singapore. The prime minister criticized quite a bit by international human rights group for cracking down on media dissent, for stifling political opposition. But Mr. Bush a short time ago saluting him as a key ally in the war on terrorism, deciding to focus on what the White House likes about this prime minister, his aggressive pursuit of terrorism suspects in this part of the world. Singapore also a frequent port of call for U.S. naval vessels in the Pacific and a place where you see U.S. businesses featured quite prominently. So no anti-American sentiment here, as president might find elsewhere in the region.
Now Mr. Bush came to Singapore fresh from the annual Asia Pacific Economic Summit in Bangkok. The White House says Mr. Bush is quite satisfied that he convinced the leaders at that summit to expand their focus beyond the economy on to security and terrorism issues. No mention of the North Korea nuclear standoff in the official communique adopted at the APEC summit, but the host of the summit, Thailand's prime minister, did read a statement after the gathering endorsing the White House position that the nuclear standoff should be resolved peacefully, through six-party negotiations, that include not only the United States, but also Russia, China, Japan and South Korea as well.
Now here in Singapore, a very prominent American presence. You see cooperation with the military. You see U.S. businesses here featured quite prominently. English is the preferred language in Singapore. So a welcome stop for the president here tonight. A very different scene perhaps awaiting at the next stop in Indonesia. In Jakarta today, protests outside of the U.S. embassy. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation, anti-American sentiment is quite deep; the terrorism problem quite deep as well.
Mr. Bush will be going to Bali in Indonesia to meet with president, Megawatti, a symbolic stop, the White House says. It was just a year ago, of course, the devastating bombing in Bali. President Megawatti since that bombing, U.S. officials say, has become much more aggressive in the war on terrorism. Mr. Bush will talk strategy with her.
And he also will meet with some moderate Muslim clerics. The president trying to make the case that they need to discourage violence and discourage extremism and perhaps present a better picture of the United States. But, Bill, heading into that meeting, some of the clerics who will be there saying that Mr. Bush helps stoke the Americans -- anti-American sentiment in Southeast Asia because, in their view, he is too pro-Israel when it comes to the Palestinian conflict and other disputes in the Middle East -- Bill.
HEMMER: A lot to cover. John, thanks. John King live in Singapore with the update from Southeast Asia.
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 October 21, 2003 - 09:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We go to Asia straightaway. The president in Singapore arriving a short time ago. His agenda throughout this tour of Asia has been centered around terrorism and security.
Our senior White House correspondent John King traveling with the president, joins us today from Singapore.
John, good evening there.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Bill, good evening, or good morning to you back in New York.
This is stop four of six in Asia for the president on this week- plus long tour. Mr. Bush meeting at this hour with Prime Minister Goh of Singapore. The prime minister criticized quite a bit by international human rights group for cracking down on media dissent, for stifling political opposition. But Mr. Bush a short time ago saluting him as a key ally in the war on terrorism, deciding to focus on what the White House likes about this prime minister, his aggressive pursuit of terrorism suspects in this part of the world. Singapore also a frequent port of call for U.S. naval vessels in the Pacific and a place where you see U.S. businesses featured quite prominently. So no anti-American sentiment here, as president might find elsewhere in the region.
Now Mr. Bush came to Singapore fresh from the annual Asia Pacific Economic Summit in Bangkok. The White House says Mr. Bush is quite satisfied that he convinced the leaders at that summit to expand their focus beyond the economy on to security and terrorism issues. No mention of the North Korea nuclear standoff in the official communique adopted at the APEC summit, but the host of the summit, Thailand's prime minister, did read a statement after the gathering endorsing the White House position that the nuclear standoff should be resolved peacefully, through six-party negotiations, that include not only the United States, but also Russia, China, Japan and South Korea as well.
Now here in Singapore, a very prominent American presence. You see cooperation with the military. You see U.S. businesses here featured quite prominently. English is the preferred language in Singapore. So a welcome stop for the president here tonight. A very different scene perhaps awaiting at the next stop in Indonesia. In Jakarta today, protests outside of the U.S. embassy. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation, anti-American sentiment is quite deep; the terrorism problem quite deep as well.
Mr. Bush will be going to Bali in Indonesia to meet with president, Megawatti, a symbolic stop, the White House says. It was just a year ago, of course, the devastating bombing in Bali. President Megawatti since that bombing, U.S. officials say, has become much more aggressive in the war on terrorism. Mr. Bush will talk strategy with her.
And he also will meet with some moderate Muslim clerics. The president trying to make the case that they need to discourage violence and discourage extremism and perhaps present a better picture of the United States. But, Bill, heading into that meeting, some of the clerics who will be there saying that Mr. Bush helps stoke the Americans -- anti-American sentiment in Southeast Asia because, in their view, he is too pro-Israel when it comes to the Palestinian conflict and other disputes in the Middle East -- Bill.
HEMMER: A lot to cover. John, thanks. John King live in Singapore with the update from Southeast Asia.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
