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CNN Live Sunday

Bush to Address Nation Tonight

Aired September 07, 2003 - 10:06   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.


SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Stay the course. That's expected to be the president's message in about 10 hours, when he addresses the nation on Iraq. This for the first time since May 1, when he declared major combat there was over.
CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is on the north lawn and joins us with the very latest and a look ahead at what we could expect this evening -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Sean, as you know, Mr. Bush really facing a critical juncture of his presidency, answering and facing many questions and criticism on his ability to turn the economy around, when you're looking at 93,000 jobs that were lost just last month, on his ability to bring Israelis and Palestinians together back on the road of peace, with the resignation of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, and, of course, his ability to turn the situation around in Iraq. And that is really going to be the focus of tonight's address to the nation.

There have been many Democrats, as well as some Republicans, recently, who have been calling for the president to give his vision to the American people about the involvement inside of Iraq. That is exactly what the president is going to be doing this evening. And it comes at a very important time for the administration, a time when the president is trying to broaden international support for the reconstruction effort inside of that country. Also at a time when he's going to be asking Congress for additional funds for that effort.

Secretary Powell earlier today giving a preview of the president's speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: It is in the interest of the world, and it is certainly the goal of the United States to turn sovereignty back to the Iraqi people for their country and for their destiny as quickly as possible. The president has said this all along, he will reaffirm that tonight.

Tonight he will say we are going after terrorists. We're going to create the security needed in Iraq. We're going to encourage more nations to join us in this effort. And he will also say that there are challenges ahead, and there will be fiscal requirements. And he will talk about the need for supplemental funding.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MALVEAUX: Some of the highlights of the speech include, of course, talking about the progress inside of Iraq, efforts to expand international support, the role of the Iraqi people, as Secretary Powell mentioned, the additional costs and time and resources. A White House aide saying in the tune of $60 billion for next year. Of course, the importance of U.S. involvement inside of that country for the long term -- Sean.

CALLEBS: Well, Suzanne, how is the administration -- or is it going to deal with, perhaps, the Democrats this evening saying, we told you so? We need more international support, and we need a lot more money than the administration had initially said.

MALVEAUX: Well, here's what the administration is going to say. They're going to say that there are sacrifices that need to be made, that these are the things that have to be done. They're going to acknowledge the fact that additional resources are necessary.

National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice speaking to our own Wolf Blitzer just moments ago, saying that, yes, the president will be specific about those resources. We are talking about in the tune of some $60 billion next year that he's going to go before Congress and ask for.

In a way, the administration is acknowledging that, yes, there are things and there are needs that need to be met that perhaps were not acknowledged before. At the same time, they're going to say that this is something that is necessary to protect the national security of the American people.

CALLEBS: OK. Suzanne Malveaux, thanks very much from the White House.

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 September 7, 2003 - 10:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Stay the course. That's expected to be the president's message in about 10 hours, when he addresses the nation on Iraq. This for the first time since May 1, when he declared major combat there was over.
CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is on the north lawn and joins us with the very latest and a look ahead at what we could expect this evening -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Sean, as you know, Mr. Bush really facing a critical juncture of his presidency, answering and facing many questions and criticism on his ability to turn the economy around, when you're looking at 93,000 jobs that were lost just last month, on his ability to bring Israelis and Palestinians together back on the road of peace, with the resignation of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, and, of course, his ability to turn the situation around in Iraq. And that is really going to be the focus of tonight's address to the nation.

There have been many Democrats, as well as some Republicans, recently, who have been calling for the president to give his vision to the American people about the involvement inside of Iraq. That is exactly what the president is going to be doing this evening. And it comes at a very important time for the administration, a time when the president is trying to broaden international support for the reconstruction effort inside of that country. Also at a time when he's going to be asking Congress for additional funds for that effort.

Secretary Powell earlier today giving a preview of the president's speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: It is in the interest of the world, and it is certainly the goal of the United States to turn sovereignty back to the Iraqi people for their country and for their destiny as quickly as possible. The president has said this all along, he will reaffirm that tonight.

Tonight he will say we are going after terrorists. We're going to create the security needed in Iraq. We're going to encourage more nations to join us in this effort. And he will also say that there are challenges ahead, and there will be fiscal requirements. And he will talk about the need for supplemental funding.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MALVEAUX: Some of the highlights of the speech include, of course, talking about the progress inside of Iraq, efforts to expand international support, the role of the Iraqi people, as Secretary Powell mentioned, the additional costs and time and resources. A White House aide saying in the tune of $60 billion for next year. Of course, the importance of U.S. involvement inside of that country for the long term -- Sean.

CALLEBS: Well, Suzanne, how is the administration -- or is it going to deal with, perhaps, the Democrats this evening saying, we told you so? We need more international support, and we need a lot more money than the administration had initially said.

MALVEAUX: Well, here's what the administration is going to say. They're going to say that there are sacrifices that need to be made, that these are the things that have to be done. They're going to acknowledge the fact that additional resources are necessary.

National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice speaking to our own Wolf Blitzer just moments ago, saying that, yes, the president will be specific about those resources. We are talking about in the tune of some $60 billion next year that he's going to go before Congress and ask for.

In a way, the administration is acknowledging that, yes, there are things and there are needs that need to be met that perhaps were not acknowledged before. At the same time, they're going to say that this is something that is necessary to protect the national security of the American people.

CALLEBS: OK. Suzanne Malveaux, thanks very much from the White House.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com