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CNN Sunday Morning

A Mission of War and Peace

Aired March 10, 2002 - 09:06   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it's a mission of war and peace for Vice President Dick Cheney. He embarks today on a 12-nation tour in the Middle East, the Gulf, and Britain. He'll be looking for support in the War against Terrorism, and for a peaceful solution to the violence in the Middle East.

And, in an unprecedented move, Mr. Cheney is traveling overseas in the plane that is usually called Air Force One. Of course, when he's aboard it's called Air Force Two. CNN White House Correspondent Major Garrett joining us with whatever details we can share about this tightly held, tightly-secured trip. Major.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles. I guess the first thing we need to point out is, let's show that video of the Vice President and his wife, Lynne Cheney, getting aboard the 747 always reserved for the President of the United States, George W. Bush.

You know, oftentimes when the Vice President talks to leaders on Capitol Hill or talks to world leaders, he can say quite authoritatively, I speak for the President. Well now, the symbolist heft of what is typically Air Force One, now Air Force Two because he will be aboard, will be flying to the very region where the United States needs the most help as the War on Terrorism continues, as it seeks for, searches rather for a breakthrough in the Middle East, and as it possibly prepares nations throughout the region for future military activities in Iraq. They symbolism there simply can not be overstated.

As you said, Miles, there's not much we can say about the Vice President's trip, other than to say it starts in London. There will be a commemoration ceremony he will participate in tomorrow with the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, marking the six-month anniversary of 9/11. Then onto the region, he'll stop and talk to leaders in the Middle East about the situation between the Israelis and Palestinians, also about key financial and diplomatic efforts that allies in the region can take in the War on Terrorism, and again on the subject of Iraq.

The key issue with Iraq is really not so much an inspections regime, but one that finds a way to verify, once and for all, whether or not Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction, and if it is, what the United States intends to do about it. Miles.

O'BRIEN: Major Garrett at the White House, thank you very much.

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