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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

21 March 2003

White House Report March 21: War in Iraq

(From early morning briefing by Press Secretary Ari Fleischer) (580)
CIA BELIEVES IT WAS SADDAM ON TV, BUT DOES NOT KNOW WHEN TAPED
Asked to confirm news reports claiming that Iraq's dictator Saddam
Hussein was injured in the opening strikes on Iraq, White House Press
Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters March 21 "there are a number of
rumors that are swirling. I don't deal with rumors. There is nothing
concrete that I can report.
"The CIA's assessment of the tape," Fleischer said, "is that it does
appear to be the voice of Saddam Hussein but there is no conclusive
evidence about whether it was taped before or after operations began.
It would not be surprising if he did make videos ahead of time."
Fleischer said if the CIA says it was Saddam's voice, then it is
likely that the man seen on the tape was also Saddam. "I don't think
they're making a distinction between his voice and his image. I think
the issue is the timing of it."
BUSH EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES FOR FIRST CASUALTIES OF WAR
After four Americans and eight British troops were killed when a U.S.
helicopter crashed in northern Kuwait, Fleischer said it was an
example of why "it is important for the American people to remember
that this still could be a long, lengthy, dangerous engagement. This
is, as the president said, the opening phase. It can be a long,
lengthy dangerous engagement because this is war. This is the nature
of war. As we saw there have already been casualties. The president
regrets the casualties and expresses his condolences. This is a
reminder to all people that no matter what people perceive, this is
real, this is war, this is dangerous and there are many risks ahead."
BUSH MEETS WITH CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS
President Bush met at the White House the morning of March 21 with
leaders of Congress to brief them on the situation in Iraq.
Those at the meeting included Speaker of the House of Representatives
J. Dennis Hastert, House Majority Leader Tom Delay, House Minority
Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, and Senate
Minority Leader Tom Daschle.
"I've asked the members of Congress to come up (to the White House) so
that members of my administration can keep the leadership up-to-date
as the war to liberate Iraq and to remove weapons of mass destruction
out of Iraq proceeds," President Bush told reporters as the meeting
began.
IRAQ WAR A PHASE IN ONGOING WAR AGAINST TERROR
Asked what has changed in the White House now that the United States
is at war, Fleischer told reporters "The fact of the matter is that
the country has been at war since September 11, 2001."
"The president very much views this as an additional phase in the
ongoing war against terror. The structures of the White House have
been set up since September 11th in the way that deals with war,
information about war, keeping the president informed," he said.
BUSH HEADS TO CAMP DAVID, WILL MEET WITH WAR COUNCIL
Bush was to leave the White House Friday afternoon, March 21, for Camp
David, the presidential retreat in the Maryland mountains, where he
will spend the weekend. On Saturday, March 22, he will meet there with
his War Council, including Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard B. Myers and Secretary of
State Colin Powell.
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)



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