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CNN Live Sunday
Prime Minister Berlusconi To Be Hosted At Bush Ranch
Aired July 20, 2003 - 18:02 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.
WHITFIELD: President Bush is discussing the precarious conditions in Iraq with Italy's Prime Minister Berlusconi. Bush wants international forces to help take on some of the burden of rebuilding Iraq.
Our Chris Burns is at the President's ranch in Crawford, Texas, where Mr. Bush is doing a little down home diplomacy. Any promises being made, Chris?
CHRIS BURNS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, CRAWFORD, TEXAS: Well, we'll see, Fredricka. President Bush giving a down home greeting to Silvio Berlusconi, driving up in his pickup truck to pick up one of his close friends and allies in his war on terror.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
BURNS: Payback time for one of President Bush's coalition of the willing. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi gets a rare invitation to the President's Crawford ranch.
Amid steadily rising U.S. casualties in Iraq, hosting Mr. Berlusconi can be a way to sound out Europeans on getting more help to stabilize the country.
The Bush administration is also asking patience to establish an Iraqi government by next year, to track down Saddam Hussein and his supporters, blamed for the violence.
L. PAUL BREMER, U.S. ADMINISTRATOR IN IRAQ: We recognize the importance of getting a hold of Saddam Hussein, or killing him, which is why we have placed a $25 million reward on his head, and $15 million on each of his son's head.
These attacks that we're seeing basically are attacking our successes.
BURNS: Still, Democrats say the Bush administration should be more flexible in order to get more international troops to share the burden in Iraq, even if that means a broader U.N. mandate that many countries are demanding before committing what could be tens of thousands of troops.
SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN, (D) DELAWARE: We are going to get the international community more involved, in both the donor side, the money side, as well as the troops. We're going to get this done, because it's in the interests of the world that we do it. Because failure to do it will be less secure. (END VIDEO)
BURNS: Bush administration officials are reluctant to hand over power in Iraq to an international authority. But they are handing over security duties over to the Iraqi themselves.
Still, critics say that they believe that the situation will only worsen unless there is broader international support, and as soon as possible - Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Chris Burns, thanks very much.
BURNS: 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 20, 2003 - 18:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WHITFIELD: President Bush is discussing the precarious conditions in Iraq with Italy's Prime Minister Berlusconi. Bush wants international forces to help take on some of the burden of rebuilding Iraq.
Our Chris Burns is at the President's ranch in Crawford, Texas, where Mr. Bush is doing a little down home diplomacy. Any promises being made, Chris?
CHRIS BURNS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, CRAWFORD, TEXAS: Well, we'll see, Fredricka. President Bush giving a down home greeting to Silvio Berlusconi, driving up in his pickup truck to pick up one of his close friends and allies in his war on terror.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
BURNS: Payback time for one of President Bush's coalition of the willing. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi gets a rare invitation to the President's Crawford ranch.
Amid steadily rising U.S. casualties in Iraq, hosting Mr. Berlusconi can be a way to sound out Europeans on getting more help to stabilize the country.
The Bush administration is also asking patience to establish an Iraqi government by next year, to track down Saddam Hussein and his supporters, blamed for the violence.
L. PAUL BREMER, U.S. ADMINISTRATOR IN IRAQ: We recognize the importance of getting a hold of Saddam Hussein, or killing him, which is why we have placed a $25 million reward on his head, and $15 million on each of his son's head.
These attacks that we're seeing basically are attacking our successes.
BURNS: Still, Democrats say the Bush administration should be more flexible in order to get more international troops to share the burden in Iraq, even if that means a broader U.N. mandate that many countries are demanding before committing what could be tens of thousands of troops.
SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN, (D) DELAWARE: We are going to get the international community more involved, in both the donor side, the money side, as well as the troops. We're going to get this done, because it's in the interests of the world that we do it. Because failure to do it will be less secure. (END VIDEO)
BURNS: Bush administration officials are reluctant to hand over power in Iraq to an international authority. But they are handing over security duties over to the Iraqi themselves.
Still, critics say that they believe that the situation will only worsen unless there is broader international support, and as soon as possible - Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Chris Burns, thanks very much.
BURNS: 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
