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CNN Live Sunday
Congressional Leaders Urge Caution in Approach to Liberia
Aired July 06, 2003 - 18:03 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.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: Congressional leaders are urging caution in approaching Liberia. The head of the powerful Senate Arms Services Committee, Senator John Warner, believes the situation in the West African nation is too chaotic. He wants to proceed carefully before committing any U.S. troops there. CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash brings us the latest in the debate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy Birthday, Mr. President.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The president, attending church on his 57th birthday is still mulling whether to send American troops for humanitarian help or peacekeeping in Liberia. But senior members of Mr. Bush's own party are not waiting for his decision to voice reluctance about a mission to the war-torn country.
SEN. JOHN WARNER (R-VA), CHAIRMAN, ARMED SERVICES CMTE.: This senator is very concerned about the personal safety of any Americans who go into that situation now. No matter how demanding the requirements are to help those poor people with the basic food and medicine.
BASH: Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner is calling for a congressional approval for any deployment, saying key questions still must be answered.
WARNER: Is it vital in our national security interests? What are the details of that mission? And what's the exit strategy?
BASH: The White House is warning no one should get ahead of themselves, saying the president is still waiting for word from a team sent to Liberia to assess what may be needed from America. Part of the concern, past U.S. deployment to Africa, beginning with good intentions and ending badly, like Somalia in 1993.
SEN. PAT ROBERTS (R-KS), INTELLIGENCE CHAIRMAN: I don't want to send our troops into an area where they're going to become targets under the banner of peacekeeping.
SEN. JAY ROCKEFELLER (D-WV), INTELLIGENCE CMTE: Traditionally, peacekeeping efforts, Bosnia, Haiti, other places, have not always turned out to be short trips.
BASH: Dangers Liberia may present aside, with nearly 10,000 troops in Afghanistan and some 150,000 in Iraq, lawmakers from both parties are asking how much can the military handle?
ROBERTS: We obviously the reconstitution going on in Iraq where we're now fighting an anti-guerrilla effort. I know the president wants to focus on Africa. I know that there are a great many terrorists who fled from Afghanistan to that part of the world. I'd be very cautious about this.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: Now, White House and military officials say if there is a U.S. mission to Liberia, it would be limited in duration and numbers and could have a humanitarian assistance as its focus -- Kelli.
ARENA: Dana Bash, putting in a long day at the White House, thank you.
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 July 6, 2003 - 18:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: Congressional leaders are urging caution in approaching Liberia. The head of the powerful Senate Arms Services Committee, Senator John Warner, believes the situation in the West African nation is too chaotic. He wants to proceed carefully before committing any U.S. troops there. CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash brings us the latest in the debate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy Birthday, Mr. President.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The president, attending church on his 57th birthday is still mulling whether to send American troops for humanitarian help or peacekeeping in Liberia. But senior members of Mr. Bush's own party are not waiting for his decision to voice reluctance about a mission to the war-torn country.
SEN. JOHN WARNER (R-VA), CHAIRMAN, ARMED SERVICES CMTE.: This senator is very concerned about the personal safety of any Americans who go into that situation now. No matter how demanding the requirements are to help those poor people with the basic food and medicine.
BASH: Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner is calling for a congressional approval for any deployment, saying key questions still must be answered.
WARNER: Is it vital in our national security interests? What are the details of that mission? And what's the exit strategy?
BASH: The White House is warning no one should get ahead of themselves, saying the president is still waiting for word from a team sent to Liberia to assess what may be needed from America. Part of the concern, past U.S. deployment to Africa, beginning with good intentions and ending badly, like Somalia in 1993.
SEN. PAT ROBERTS (R-KS), INTELLIGENCE CHAIRMAN: I don't want to send our troops into an area where they're going to become targets under the banner of peacekeeping.
SEN. JAY ROCKEFELLER (D-WV), INTELLIGENCE CMTE: Traditionally, peacekeeping efforts, Bosnia, Haiti, other places, have not always turned out to be short trips.
BASH: Dangers Liberia may present aside, with nearly 10,000 troops in Afghanistan and some 150,000 in Iraq, lawmakers from both parties are asking how much can the military handle?
ROBERTS: We obviously the reconstitution going on in Iraq where we're now fighting an anti-guerrilla effort. I know the president wants to focus on Africa. I know that there are a great many terrorists who fled from Afghanistan to that part of the world. I'd be very cautious about this.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: Now, White House and military officials say if there is a U.S. mission to Liberia, it would be limited in duration and numbers and could have a humanitarian assistance as its focus -- Kelli.
ARENA: Dana Bash, putting in a long day at the White House, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
