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CNN SATURDAY MORNING NEWS

President Bush is in Philippines Today

Aired October 18, 2003 - 07:03   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is in the Philippines today. It is the second leg of his six nation Asia tour and he's putting the spotlight on fighting terrorism.
CNN's John King is traveling with the president and he joins us from Manila with more -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Suzanne, good evening to you from Manila.

Mr. Bush attending a state dinner at this hour, nearing the end of an eight hour visit to the Philippines. Mr. Bush here and greeted today with full pomp and circumstance, an elaborate welcoming ceremony, complete with a 21 gun salute, a troop review, as Mr. Bush was greeted by the Philippine President, Gloria Arroyo.

Mr. Bush here to thank her for her staunch support of the United States in the war on terrorism. The Abu Sayyaf terror group operates in the Philippines. President Bush says that under President Arroyo's leadership, that terrorist network is being eradicated. Mr. Bush says the United States has provided key military assistance as long as it -- along with some intelligence sharing. And in a speech to the congress here in the Philippines, the first by a U.S. president since Dwight Eisenhower in 1960, Mr. Bush says the partnership between the United States and the Philippines is a model for other nations in Southeast Asia to follow as they fight terrorism, as well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Nations that choose to support terror are complicit in a war against civilization. Nations that try to ignore terror and hope it will only strike others are deluding themselves, undermining our common defense and inviting a future of catastrophic violence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Advancing the war on terrorism one of the president's goals on this trip to Asia. Trying to round up more international support for post-war Iraq is another. Mr. Bush had a bilateral meeting with President Arroyo. She was one of the leaders who supported Mr. Bush before the war in Iraq. After that session, speaking to reporters, Mr. Bush referred to the unanimous vote by the United Nations Security Council backing a new resolution that endorses the United States' post-war political plan in Iraq. Mr. Bush says he hopes that unanimous vote on that new Security Council resolution helps him on this trip, as he tries to round up more financial commitments for Iraq's reconstruction and more commitments to send troops to Iraq, as well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: It's important to these countries around the world to see the U.N. act the way the U.N. acted, in a 15-0 U.N. Security Council resolution vote. There was a strong vote and as to whether or not they'll participate, time will tell.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Now, again, Mr. Bush here to salute the Philippines for its role in the war on terrorism, but reminders of the continuing terrorist threat. F-15s escorting Air Force One as it landed here in Manila. Also, some protests out on the streets today. And Mr. Bush will leave after about eight hours on the ground here, despite the fact that he's here for a state dinner this evening. He will go on to Bangkok, the site of the annual Asia-Pacific economic summit. The White House deciding not to stay here in the Philippines, in part, mostly, officials say, because of security concerns -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: John, I know you're not getting a lot of sleep, but good luck on that trip.

John King from Manila.

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