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CNN Saturday Morning News
Bush to Decide on Whether U.S. Troops Will Be Sent to Liberia
Aired July 05, 2003 - 08:03 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.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The president, you've likely heard by now, wants Taylor to step down, of course, the Liberian president, immediately. But a decision on whether to send U.S. troops to Liberia is pending.
Let's discuss this with White House correspondent Dana Bash.
She joins us live from our Washington bureau -- so, Dana, no formal decision, but the president kind of hinted a bit in Ohio yesterday talking to troops, didn't he?
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, yesterday when he talked to troops, he certainly talked broadly about the idea that he believes that it is the U.S.' place in the world to help to spread liberty and peace. He certainly talked broadly about that.
But he is, at this time, this weekend, spending time at the White House as he prepares to leave Monday for his first trip to Africa as president. And his aides insist that this should not be considered what they call an artificial deadline for a decision on whether to send U.S. peacekeeping troops into Liberia.
But the White House is cautiously optimistic about Charles Taylor's promise to leave the country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president has called for Charles Taylor to leave Liberia so that peace and stability can take root. If this report of Charles Taylor leaving is true, the president would be encouraged by it. But it's important that it's more than words. It has to be deeds. He needs to leave so that peace can be achieved.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, this weekend, by order of the president, a team of about a dozen people from the Pentagon are heading to Liberia to get more information for Mr. Bush about what exactly the situation is on the ground and what exactly would be needed if the U.S. would send peacekeeping troops to assist other West African countries who would also, according to the White House, be contributing a large force to help with peacekeeping there. And it is unlikely they will have an assessment for the president before he leaves for Africa Monday, although anything is possible. But regardless, if he doesn't make a final decision, at least by sending this African -- this team to Liberia to assess the situation he will be able to talk to Liberia's neighbors when he meets with them on Monday and make sure that they understand he is doing what he can to be helpful, at least in trying to assess the situation on the ground -- Kris.
OSBORN: Yes, Dana Bash, CNN White House correspondent, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Liberia>
Aired July 5, 2003 - 08:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The president, you've likely heard by now, wants Taylor to step down, of course, the Liberian president, immediately. But a decision on whether to send U.S. troops to Liberia is pending.
Let's discuss this with White House correspondent Dana Bash.
She joins us live from our Washington bureau -- so, Dana, no formal decision, but the president kind of hinted a bit in Ohio yesterday talking to troops, didn't he?
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, yesterday when he talked to troops, he certainly talked broadly about the idea that he believes that it is the U.S.' place in the world to help to spread liberty and peace. He certainly talked broadly about that.
But he is, at this time, this weekend, spending time at the White House as he prepares to leave Monday for his first trip to Africa as president. And his aides insist that this should not be considered what they call an artificial deadline for a decision on whether to send U.S. peacekeeping troops into Liberia.
But the White House is cautiously optimistic about Charles Taylor's promise to leave the country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president has called for Charles Taylor to leave Liberia so that peace and stability can take root. If this report of Charles Taylor leaving is true, the president would be encouraged by it. But it's important that it's more than words. It has to be deeds. He needs to leave so that peace can be achieved.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, this weekend, by order of the president, a team of about a dozen people from the Pentagon are heading to Liberia to get more information for Mr. Bush about what exactly the situation is on the ground and what exactly would be needed if the U.S. would send peacekeeping troops to assist other West African countries who would also, according to the White House, be contributing a large force to help with peacekeeping there. And it is unlikely they will have an assessment for the president before he leaves for Africa Monday, although anything is possible. But regardless, if he doesn't make a final decision, at least by sending this African -- this team to Liberia to assess the situation he will be able to talk to Liberia's neighbors when he meets with them on Monday and make sure that they understand he is doing what he can to be helpful, at least in trying to assess the situation on the ground -- Kris.
OSBORN: Yes, Dana Bash, CNN White House correspondent, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Liberia>
