Copyright 2004 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
ABC News Transcripts
SHOW: WORLD NEWS TONIGHT WITH PETER JENNINGS (06:30 PM ET) – ABC
December 10, 2004 Friday
LENGTH: 429 words
HEADLINE: TAKING CREDIT JOHN ASHCROFT MAKES FAREWELL SPEECH
BODY: PETER JENNINGS, ABC NEWS
(Off Camera) In Washington today, one of the most polarizing figures in the Bush administration has given his farewell speech. Attorney General John Ashcroft said unequivocally that his department, the Justice Department, and his policies, have prevented terrorists from attacking the United States. Here’s ABC’s Pierre Thomas.
PIERRE THOMAS, ABC NEWS
(Voice Over) In his farewell remarks to Justice Department employees, John Ashcroft left no doubt why he thinks there has not been another 9/11- scale attack.
JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL
For three years, terrorists have not struck at America, because you and people who work with you in this law enforcement community have not let them.
PIERRE THOMAS
(Voice Over) Ashcroft pointed to the arrest of hundreds of terrorism suspects and 195 convictions as evidence of success. He cited the case of Iyman Faris, who admitted to plotting to bring down the Brooklyn Bridge.
JOHN ASHCROFT
We have dismantled terrorist operations from New York to Oregon, from Florida to Ohio, from Virginia to California.
PIERRE THOMAS
(Off Camera) Some security experts question whether the government has actually disrupted any major attack. And others say the government should be careful about taking credit for stopping another 9/11.
PIERRE THOMAS
(Voice Over) As for all those arrests and convictions, in a number of cases, some of the most serious charges failed to stick.
LAILA AL-QATAMI,
AMERICAN-ARAB ANTIDISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE
They’ve made a lot of arrests, but if you look at the conviction records, the convictions are not terrorism-related.
PIERRE THOMAS
(Voice Over) One of Ashcroft’s senior aides tells us tonight he meant exactly what he said. The aide said, “the scores of FBI agents and Justice Department attorneys who have worked nonstop since 9/11 have made a major difference.” Pierre Thomas, ABC News, Washington.
PETER JENNINGS
(Voice Over) President Bush has almost finished shuffling his cabinet. Today, he nominated Samuel Bodman to be the secretary of energy. Mr. Bodman was number two at the Treasury Department. The president has one last cabinet post to fill, which is the secretary of health and human services.
PETER JENNINGS
(Voice Over) There is word from the supreme court today that Chief Justice Rehnquist does plan to swear in President Bush for a second term next month. As you can see, he presided over the president’s first inauguration. Mr. Rehnquist has been away from the court since October the 22nd because of thyroid cancer.
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
LOAD-DATE: December 13, 2004