CBS The Saturday Early Show (7:00 AM ET) January 4, 2003
President Bush visits troops at Ft. Hood
GRETCHEN CARLSON, co-host: With war clouds on the horizon, President Bush took his message to some of the troops who will be on the front lines. CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller is with the president in Crawford, Texas.
Good morning to you, Mark. MARK KNOLLER reporting: Good morning, Gretchen.
There is no more difficult duty a president has than sending US troops into harm's way. Now, as the US moves closer to the possibility of war with Iraq, the president wanted to be seen rallying the troops.
President GEORGE W. BUSH: America will act deliberately. America will act decisively. And America will prevail, because we've got the finest military in the world.
KNOLLER: At the sprawling Ft. Hood Army Base, the nation's largest, the commander in chief spoke to thousands of soldiers, who may soon find themselves in combat in the Persian Gulf.
Pres. BUSH: I know that every order I give can bring a cost. I also know without a doubt that every order I give will be carried out with skill and unselfish courage.
KNOLLER: The president's message were frequently interrupted by gung ho shouts of...
Unidentified Soldiers: (In unison) Hooyah!
KNOLLER: ...a sign his message was being well received.
Sergeant THERESA HARDNETT (1st Calvary Division): It touched home--everything he said. His words were very deep. It moved me. I'm--I'm ready. My unit is ready.
Staff Sergeant GREGORY TENORE (555th Engineering Company): I support what the president thinks we should do, but on a personal note, I'm for going and defending my children.
KNOLLER: But some think troops may be an easier sell than the rest of the nation.
Mr. JOHN PIKE (Director, Global Security Organization): President Bush is going to face his biggest challenge in the next several weeks persuading the American people that this war is necessary and unavoidable. And clearly, he has not done that yet.
KNOLLER: That didn't seem to be the case at Ft. Hood.
Sergeant First Class KEN CORBETT (555th Engineering Company): I served with his father in the Gulf War the first time we did this. And we all have a job to do. And I think that's part of what--our job is defending our countr--country.
KNOLLER: The troops at the Army base seem resigned to the prospect of war, though they heard Mr. Bush say it may yet be avoided, but only if Saddam Hussein ends his defiance and rids Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.
Pres. BUSH: You see, the use of military force is this nation's last option; his last choice.
KNOLLER: But the president's visit to Ft. Hood, his mingling with war-ready troops and his inspection of Army tanks, helicopters and rocket launchers sends another blunt message to Saddam that Mr. Bush is dead serious when he threatens military action and that the US military is ready.
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