Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4/02/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH / IRAQ (S)

NUMBER=2-301680

BYLINE= PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE= WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

///EDS: REISSUED TO UPDATE EXPECTED TIME OF BUSH'S SPEECH///

VOICED AT:

///EDS: BUSH SPEAKS AT CAMP LEJEUNE AT 10:35 A.M. EST////

INTRO: President Bush travels today (Thursday) to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina - - the home base for many of the marines serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports from the White House.

TEXT: Camp Lejeune knows the price of war only too well. Its servicemen and women have been serving in lead units in Iraq, and it has suffered a high percentage of the U-S casualties.

White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer says the president will meet with the relatives of those killed in the conflict, and will extend his sympathies.

///FLEISCHER ACT///

It is going to be a private meeting with the families. As you know, the president does think carefully about these decisions to put Americans in harm's way and he cares deeply about that.

///END ACT///

Mr. Fleischer says Mr. Bush will talk about the human cost of war in his public remarks. But he indicates most of the president's speech at Camp Lejeune will amount to a review of military operations. He says the president will speak about the progress made and the difficulties that lie ahead. (signed)

NEB/PW/MAR