Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=6/17/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH / IRAQ (L)

NUMBER=2-316799

BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE= WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: President Bush Defends Iraq War

INTRO: Less than two-weeks before the transfer of sovereignty to Iraq's interim government, President Bush is defending his decision to go to war and oust Saddam Hussein. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports from the White House.

TEXT: On a day of more violence in Baghdad, President Bush tried to keep the focus on the long term objective.

/// BUSH ACT ///

"Iraq will be free. And a free Iraq is in our nation's interest."

/// END ACT ///

Speaking to reporters at the end of a meeting with his cabinet, Mr. Bush said a free Iraq will make the world more peaceful. He did not refer directly to the suicide bombing in Baghdad that claimed dozens of lives, but his meaning was clear.

/// BUSH ACT ///

"We fully understand terrorists will try to shake our will to try to shake our confidence, to try to get us to withdraw from commitments we have made in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. They will not succeed."

/// END ACT ///

The remarks came as the White House was confronting another apparent challenge to its rationale for war.

A staff report issued Wednesday by the commission investigating the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, said there was no evidence to support claims of a working relationship between the al-Qaida terrorist network and Saddam Hussein.

When asked about the report, President Bush said he never spoke of a direct link between the ousted Iraqi leader and the September 11th attacks. But he insisted Saddam Hussein had terrorist ties.

/// BUSH ACT ///

"This administration never said that the 9-11 attacks were orchestrated between Saddam and al-Qaida. We did say there were numerous contacts between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaida."

/// END ACT ///

Earlier, White House spokesman Scott McClellan downplayed the findings of the commission staff, calling them consistent with the administration's views. He said Saddam Hussein's ties to terrorism were well known and long standing, noting the former Iraqi regime harbored terrorists, provided support to suicide bombers, and had high-level contacts with terrorist groups. (SIGNED)

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