*EPF502 03/21/2003
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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