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CNN SHOWDOWN: IRAQ
Rescue of POW Jessica Lynch Seems to Have Lifted Everyone's Spirit
Aired April 2, 2003 - 12:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: From the troops on the front lines to the commander in chief, the rescue of prisoner of war Jessica Lynch seems to have lifted everyone's spirit.
Here's our White House correspondent Dana Bash, Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf. They certainly have lifted the spirits here at the White House definitely. The president was given the information about the fact that Jessica Lynch was successfully rescued last night. He was told by his Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, you see him here arriving this morning. Donald Rumsfeld briefs the president at least twice a day. Last night he talked to him by telephone. The president was in the Oval Office. He called and said that Jessica Lynch was rescued. The president said according to the White House, quote, that's great. What we don't know is the involvement the president had before this rescue mission was taken on. The White House is saying that the president didn't have to order it by law. What we don't know is what kind of information he had before the mission took place. We are supposed to get little bit more information on that later today.
Regardless, they are certainly very happy about the fact that she seems to be safe and okay. They are saying at the White House, although they are rejoicing with Jessica Lynch and her family, that joy is tempered by the fact that the president recognizes that there have been casualties in this war and there are still members of the military missing. Ari Fleischer saying, of course, the president's heart goes out to those who have lost their lives and those who are still missing.
Now, Wolf here at the White House, we are not going to see the president today. He will be focused on the domestic front today. He is going to have a meeting in the Oval Office with some economists from Wall Street. He's going to focus on his tax cut. The tax cut was of course cut by the Senate last week in half. Went from $720 billion down in half to more than $300 billion. What they are trying to do here at the White House is get some kind of happy medium perhaps. They are saying now they would go for something in the middle of $300 and $700 so that is what the president is focused on today. Little bit on the domestic front, Wolf.
BLITZER: Dana Bash thank you.
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