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American Morning

President's Tour

Aired October 22, 2003 - 09:01   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: President Bush arrived in Australia a short time ago, the final stop on his six-nation, eight-day Asian tour. Trade and terror the topics of his agenda.
John King traveling with the president, live now from Australia with more there.

John, good evening.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Bill. Or good morning back in New York.

Mr. Bush had an extended conversation with reporters on Air Force one on his way here. He says he believes this trip to Asia has been a success. He says he believes diplomacy aimed at ending the North Korea nuclear standoff has been advanced. Mr. Bush saying he enjoyed good relations and good meetings with leaders on this trip. The final stop in Canberra, Australia, Mr. Bush greeted at the airport by a close friend and a close ally, Prime Minister John Howard of Australia, one of the early leaders to endorse the president's war in Iraq. Australia also, of course, sent troops. So this final stop for the president a chance to say thank you to a close ally.

Mr. Bush came here from Bali, Indonesia, a chance at that stop to tell the terrorists he would not be frightened away. Remember one year ago, the deadly hotel bombing in Bali. Mr. Bush trying to offer words of encouragement and support for Indonesia's president Megawati as she takes on al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

And the president saying in his news conference, and again aboard Air Force One that another key goal for his stop in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, was to try to erase the perception many Muslims have that Americans believe all Muslims are terrorists.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Americans hold a deep respect for the Islamic faith, which professed by a growing number of my own citizens. We know that Islam is fully compatible with liberty, and tolerance and progress, because we see the proof in your country, and in our own.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Mr. Bush on the ground in Bali for just a little more than three hours. Security was extraordinary. Warships out in the seas, patrol boats closer to shore, helicopters, some 5,000 police and troops involved. Tough security for the president anyway, but even heightened security because the government of Indonesia saying in recent days it believes terrorist attacks could be imminent there -- Bill.

HEMMER: John, thanks. John King in Australia.

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 22, 2003 - 09:01   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 arrived in Australia a short time ago, the final stop on his six-nation, eight-day Asian tour. Trade and terror the topics of his agenda.
John King traveling with the president, live now from Australia with more there.

John, good evening.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Bill. Or good morning back in New York.

Mr. Bush had an extended conversation with reporters on Air Force one on his way here. He says he believes this trip to Asia has been a success. He says he believes diplomacy aimed at ending the North Korea nuclear standoff has been advanced. Mr. Bush saying he enjoyed good relations and good meetings with leaders on this trip. The final stop in Canberra, Australia, Mr. Bush greeted at the airport by a close friend and a close ally, Prime Minister John Howard of Australia, one of the early leaders to endorse the president's war in Iraq. Australia also, of course, sent troops. So this final stop for the president a chance to say thank you to a close ally.

Mr. Bush came here from Bali, Indonesia, a chance at that stop to tell the terrorists he would not be frightened away. Remember one year ago, the deadly hotel bombing in Bali. Mr. Bush trying to offer words of encouragement and support for Indonesia's president Megawati as she takes on al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

And the president saying in his news conference, and again aboard Air Force One that another key goal for his stop in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, was to try to erase the perception many Muslims have that Americans believe all Muslims are terrorists.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Americans hold a deep respect for the Islamic faith, which professed by a growing number of my own citizens. We know that Islam is fully compatible with liberty, and tolerance and progress, because we see the proof in your country, and in our own.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Mr. Bush on the ground in Bali for just a little more than three hours. Security was extraordinary. Warships out in the seas, patrol boats closer to shore, helicopters, some 5,000 police and troops involved. Tough security for the president anyway, but even heightened security because the government of Indonesia saying in recent days it believes terrorist attacks could be imminent there -- Bill.

HEMMER: John, thanks. John King in Australia.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com