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CNN Saturday Morning News
Cheney Visits Saudi Arabia, Attempts to Gain Support for War
Aired March 16, 2002 - 08:08 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: Vice President Dick Cheney meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah today. It's the latest stop on his swing through the Middle East to gain support for the war against terrorism. Yesterday the vice president took a break from diplomatic talks to salute Americans taking part in the terror campaign.
CNN's John King reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the northern Arabian Sea, 700 miles from Afghanistan, air support for Operation Anaconda. And a VIP guest aboard the USS John C. Stennis. For Vice President Dick Cheney, a chanced to see the war on terrorism firsthand and take a one day break from difficult Middle East diplomacy.
On the flight deck watching an F-18 Hornet catapulted off the deck and onto Afghanistan. And in the combat direction center, the ship's war room, Mr. Cheney watched ongoing operations and received an update on the Stennis' mission since arriving here in late December. More than 7,000 sorties in all, including 86 on the day Mr. Cheney came aboard, a reminder this is a war of uncertain duration.
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This war will end when we and our allies have delivered justice in full measure and no terrorist group or government can threaten the peace of the world.
KING: A constant reminder in the ship's hangar, a flag from the rubble of Tower Two of the World Trade Center. Standing just a few feet away, Mr. Cheney said one reason for his trip to the region is to voice the president's resolve.
CHENEY: And let there be no doubt no matter how long it takes, the forces of freedom will defeat the forces of terror.
KING: Operations in recent days are overwhelming in support of the ground troops in eastern Afghanistan.
CAPT. DAVID BURKE, MARINE F-16 PILOT: Sometimes we'll back looking at moving targets, possibly vehicles, sometimes troops, on an infiltration, we'll actually be moving down a road, sometimes fixed emplacements, sometimes things like troops in the open, caves, entrances.
KING: Lunch below deck was another Cheney stop, the sailors and marines happy to have a VIP guest after four long months at sea.
(on camera): Aides to the vice president say the message here goes well beyond a pep talk to those waging the war. One major goal of the terrorist attacks was to drive the United States and its military firepower out of the Persian Gulf and the entire Middle East region. The vice president says his trip here is proof that won't happen, that the United States is here to stay.
John King, CNN, aboard the USS John C. Stennis in the Northern Arabian Sea.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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