WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 6, 2006
Bush Talks About His Biggest Fear
President Discusses 9/11, War On Terror, Iraq With Katie Couric
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Couric And The President
Only On The Web: Katie Couric discusses politics, regrets and the war on terror with President Bush.
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Are We Secure?
Only On The Web: CBS News' Katie Couric asks President Bush if the United States has become safer since the attack on the World Trade Center.
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How Safe Are We Now?
Americans from different backgrounds weigh in on the war on terror in Part One of Katie Couric's September 11th special, 'Five Years Later: How Safe Are We?'
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Katie Couric talks to President Bush. (CBS)
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Are We Safe?
Join CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric as she explores the lessons we have learned.
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How Safe Are We?
Keeping America secure five years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
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Bush Presidency
The president's agenda, plus facts, figures, major events and key personalities.
"I am inflexible when it comes to making sure we don't get hit again. And you bet I'm gonna remain strong about making sure that the world we leave behind is a more peaceful world," the president said.
"You have said we can't cut and run on more than one occasion. We have to stay until we win. Otherwise, we'll be fighting the terrorists here at home, on our own streets. So what do you mean exactly by that, Mr. President?" Couric asked.
"Well, I mean that a defeat in Iraq will embolden the enemy and will provide the enemy — more opportunity to train, plan, to attack us. That's what I mean," Mr. Bush said. "You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror. I believe it. As I told you, Osama bin Laden believes it. But the American people — have gotta understand that a defeat in Iraq — in other words, if this government there fails, the terrorists will be emboldened, the radicals will topple moderate governments. I truly believe this is the ideological struggle of the 21st century. And the consequences for not achieving success are — are dire."
During Couric's interview Tuesday morning, the president revealed information about previously undisclosed terror plots. Fourteen suspected top al Qaeda terrorists, captured after 9/11, revealed important information during interrogations. Now, the president is pushing Congress to approve military tribunals to put them on trial.
"Can you give us any indication about what kind of information you were able to glean from these, quote-unquote, high value targets?" Couric asked.
"Right. Well, for example, we uncovered a potential anthrax attack on the United States. Or the fact that Khalid Sheikh Mohammad had got somebody to line up people to fly airlines, to crash airlines on, I think, the West Coast or somewhere in America. And these would be Southeast Asians. In other words, we've uncovered cells," the president said.
"When you look back on the last five years, President Bush, is there anything that you wish you had done differently?" Couric asked.
"Yeah. I mean, I wish, for example, Abu Ghraib didn't happen. That was a stain on our nation's character, and it sent a signal about who we're not to a lot of people around the world. I probably could have watched my language a little better, you know?" Mr. Bush replied.
" 'Bring it on,' for example," the president said. "Sometimes I try to explain myself in plain terms. And sometimes the terms are too plain."
Click here to read Part II of the Couric interview with President Bush.
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It is a pity that we will have to wait until 2009 to get someone in the White House who has a plan besides "stay the course".
http://www.michaelyon-online.com
Go to the Dispatches section.
Not many reporters have been as close to the action as Yon, and he gives a very accurate picture of what is really going on in Iraq.
I believe he will be returning to Iraq at somepoint.
The man should be on trial for murder for each of the unnecessery deaths of US AND Iraqi soldiers, not to mention the 10s of thousands of civilians.
He is no better than Stalin. In fact worse. Stalin at least had the guts to admint his wrong doings. I have to hear accept responsibility for anything.
"Well, you know, I make a %u2014 I
approach it with mixed emotions. I
remember the horror. And I remember the,
you know, the loss of life. I also
remember the lessons.
What kind of writer actually adds in an interviewee's moments of pause or stammering? CBS has tried to do this in keeping with its liberal agenda: Make Bush look bad. If this were Bill "perjury" Clinton, you can bet the writer of the article would have employed "editing" to make the Ex-President "terrorist freeing liar" sound smooth and well spoken. This is just ridiculous editorializing. Stop calling yourselves the "news" and be honest about who you are the "opinions" (of a vocal minority).
"CBS needs you....you're smart....you don't have to say everything the producers tell you to say! Most people, conservative and liberal, have little faith in the NY Times polls!"
sue, I'm a liberal & I do believe good polls. You don't speak for me.
First off, it was a joint CBS & NYT poll. Why wouldn't CBS use it? Secondly, it amazes me how incredibly insulated you all are to not see the truth when its crumbling around you.
I'm a successful developer in Houston & yet, I can still see the fundamentals of the country are in bad shape.
Why can't people like you?
Bush's stammering and stuttering and inability to form a coherent sentence isn't "opinion" it's demonstrated fact. He does it ALL THE TIME. Virtually every time he opens his mouth in public. If you want the false, sanitized version of Bush's comments please go to the White House website - they regularly clean up his mistakes and misstatements before they publish their "transcripts".
Clinton on the other had needs no such revisionism as he is able to speak clearly, concisely and knowledgeably. At least that is the case whenever I've heard him speak or read what he has said.
I'm sorry if this reflects poorly on your chosen leader or causes you discomfort but is is a fact that has been commented on extensively for, oh, at least six years now and is not evidence of CBS News Bush "bashing".
"What kind of writer actually adds in an interviewee's moments of pause or stammering?"
The kind that strives to report factually?
"CBS has tried to do this in keeping with its liberal agenda: Make Bush look bad."
The President doesn't really need much help in that area.
"If this were Bill "perjury" Clinton, you can bet the writer of the article would have employed "editing" to make the Ex-President "terrorist freeing liar" sound smooth and well spoken."
Clinton is not President anymore. Try to keep up.
There are multitudes of archives filled with news reports from CBS and many others which are highly critical of the Clinton administration. In few of them does Clinton babble like Bush, though.
"This is just ridiculous editorializing."
Well, what YOU write certainly is. What Couric and CBS reported is literal fact. Don't like it? Tough. Vote in a more wellspoken, competent crook next time.
"Stop calling yourselves the "news" and be honest about who you are the "opinions" (of a vocal minority)."
You wouldn't know news if it sent your son to die in Iraq.
Its been a nightmare since day one.
Given all this public information about Iraq and al Qaida, I fail to appreciate Mr. Bush's argument that Iraq is the center of our war on terror. Iraq is the reason that we are failing to contain terrorism. The Iraq war has depleted our military resouces and has bankrupted our positive regard in the world. Mr. Bush has promoted a foreign policy that has alienated our allies and exacerbated hatred towards us in the non-terrorist Muslim world.
The real center of the al Qaide threat is Afghanistan and Pakistan, NOT Iraq. We have lost our control of the hearts and minds of those people and the Taliban have regained significant power and influence again. We have lost our advantage, as well as the opportunity to capture bin Laden because our special ops troops and military were re-deployed to fight this insane war in Iraq. Mr. Bush has "cut and run" from the real center of the war on terror and has failed us miserably.
Bush may have his misgivings. I don't agree with his immigration policies, he signs every pork barrel spending bill that lands next to his pen, and he isn't the best communicator. But he has done more to take action against terrorism than any other president this country has ever had. Reagan pulled out of Lebanon in 1983 after the Marine barracks got bombed. Clinton took little to no action against Islamic terror. Instead of sitting around waiting for the next attack, America is hitting back. It's the hard path to take, but we really don't have any other option. There is no negotiating with al Qaida, Hamas, Hezbollah, MILF, none of them.
And she noted the pros and cons of his Texas swagger.
She was going on about Bush's daunting task as president in this time in history.
Has she forgotten that Bush got us into this insanity in the middle east?
I was under the impression that journalists on the network news were supposed to be unbiased in their reporting of the news at hand. From her comments it is clear that she would appear to be a staunch Bush fan.
Remember, Katie, he's responsible for over 2600 dead Americans.
And god knows how many wounded.
Perhaps Fox would be a better venue for you.
Thanks for allowing me to vent while there is still free speech in this country.
I'll continue to watch the local CBS News but from here on in as long as Katie's on the air I'll be watching another channel.
Thank god for Tivo. Now I can show my friends what biased journalism is all about.
If you'd like to respond, please feel free. I may have it all wrong. You could win me back.
thanks,
former Katie supporter
And she noted the pros and cons of his Texas swagger.
She was going on about Bush's daunting task as president in this time in history.
Has she forgotten that Bush got us into this insanity in the middle east?
I was under the impression that journalists on the network news were supposed to be unbiased in their reporting of the news at hand. From her comments it is clear that she would appear to be a staunch Bush fan.
Remember, Katie, he's responsible for over 2600 dead Americans.
And god knows how many wounded.
Perhaps Fox would be a better venue for you.
Thanks for allowing me to vent while there is still free speech in this country.
I'll continue to watch the local CBS News but from here on in as long as Katie's on the air I'll be watching another channel.
Thank god for Tivo. Now I can show my friends what biased journalism is all about.
If you'd like to respond, please feel free. I may have it all wrong. You could win me back.
thanks,
former Katie supporter
You can admire a man without agreeing with him. Katie has taken more than her share of cheap shots at the President during the past 5 years and I would hardly call her a "a staunch Bush fan." There are so many out there that would have you believe that President Bush has no adirable qualities whatsoever, but I'm telling you they're wrong. You don't get re-elected without admirable qualities. I voted for Clinton twice and Gore in 2000. I certainly would not have counted myself as a staunch Bush fan until the election campaign of 2004. Seeing the alternative in leadership quickly made me a fan. George W. Bush was the best man for the job of protecting this country and he still is. There are many of his policies that make me angry (ie, spending, immigration, etc...), but there is no issue as important to me as National Security.
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by opposebush
September 9, 2006 9:08 PM PDT
- Thanks for your comments slots23 - I think you hit the nail on the head. Katie smarten up - or you are going to lose your viewing audience. You may be in 3rd place - but after all there is no 4th or 5th, but there is a total loss of viewers, which means you will be off the air. As for this person's comments ( jlowens13 ). Bush is aggressive, but is only for his and Chaney's pocket books. They are getting richer, while the rest of us are getting poorer. Or haven't you purchased anything lately like milk, gas, etc. Just the basics. I notice they don't include these items in our spending numbers. It makes them look too bad. Bush and Chaney (B&C)are ruining this country. The terrorists have one. They goal was to bring us to our knees. Nice job B&C in making sure they got what they wanted. I know they are trying to make us scared to death, but I don't buy it.
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See all 34 CommentsKatie you need to rethink your position on the B&C terrorists, you could find yourself off the top 100 most powerful women in the country list.