Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3/30/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH IRAQ OVERNIGHTER (S ONLY)

NUMBER=2-301531

BYLINE= PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE= WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush is back at the White House after a weekend at his Camp David retreat, where he consulted with members of his war council. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports after a weekend out of the public spotlight, Mr. Bush plans to make a quick trip today (Monday) to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to talk about homeland security.

TEXT: The president will visit a Coast Guard port facility in the Philadelphia area. He will use the occasion to press Congress to approve his request for roughly 75 billion dollars to pay for emergency costs this fiscal year related to Iraq and the war on terrorism.

More money for homeland security is included in that bill -- about four billion dollars. The White House says the money will be used for a number of purposes, including bolstering the Coast Guard.

Before leaving for Philadelphia Mr. Bush is expected to get another detailed update on the war at the White House. Over the weekend, a few top aides joined him at Camp David. The full war council, including the secretaries of state and defense, took part in a secure videoconference call Saturday on the war effort.

Earlier, in his weekly radio address, the president reported progress in Iraq, but noted difficult fighting lies ahead. He said he is confident that victory will come. (signed)

NEB/PW/MAR