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CNN Live Event/Special

Attorney General Ashcroft Holds News Conference

Aired September 24, 2002 - 13:43   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Live to the Justice Department now, with Attorney General John Ashcroft talking about homeland security.
Let's listen in.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: ... Congress has disassembled a wall once constructed in the Congress that provided a barrier or a blockage that kept the kind of information from flowing freely that we need to have flowing.

QUESTION: Do you support Senator Lieberman's proposal for a blue ribbon 9/11 commission?

ASHCROFT: The administration has indicated that it endorses the idea of a commission to review and find out if there are additional ways that we can learn from what happened in 9/11 so as to improve our capacity to prevent terrorism.

QUESTION: General, you mentioned the indictment of a member of the FARC last March. I'm wondering if he's ever been arrested or extradited or if progress has been made in this issue?

ASHCROFT: Carlos Bolas, I believe, was apprehended in Suriname, and he remains in the custody of the United States pursuant to the indictments that were announced I believe last March regarding FARC.

Thank you all very much.

PHILLIPS: Attorney General John Ashcroft speaking at the Justice Department there. Quick comments concerning homeland security.

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 September 24, 2002 - 13:43   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Live to the Justice Department now, with Attorney General John Ashcroft talking about homeland security.
Let's listen in.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: ... Congress has disassembled a wall once constructed in the Congress that provided a barrier or a blockage that kept the kind of information from flowing freely that we need to have flowing.

QUESTION: Do you support Senator Lieberman's proposal for a blue ribbon 9/11 commission?

ASHCROFT: The administration has indicated that it endorses the idea of a commission to review and find out if there are additional ways that we can learn from what happened in 9/11 so as to improve our capacity to prevent terrorism.

QUESTION: General, you mentioned the indictment of a member of the FARC last March. I'm wondering if he's ever been arrested or extradited or if progress has been made in this issue?

ASHCROFT: Carlos Bolas, I believe, was apprehended in Suriname, and he remains in the custody of the United States pursuant to the indictments that were announced I believe last March regarding FARC.

Thank you all very much.

PHILLIPS: Attorney General John Ashcroft speaking at the Justice Department there. Quick comments concerning homeland security.

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