[Carol Lin, Cnn Anchor:] Mr. Bush is moving forward today; he meets British Prime Minister Tony Blair. CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace has that part of the story. Kelly, there's probably a pretty good reason they're doing this at Camp David: a time to get personal with one another.
[Kelly Wallace, Cnn White House Correspondent:] That is exactly right, Carol, because President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have spoken on the telephone two times, but this will be their first face-to-face meeting, and it is being billed as a get-acquainted session, but also a chance for the two men to start talking about tough issues such as what to do about Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and a proposed U.S. nuclear missile shield.
[Wallace:] President Bush, in his news conference Thursday, said he was anxious to meet the British prime minister.
[George W. Bush, President Of The United States:] Britain and the United States have got a special relationship; we'll keep it that way.
[Wallace:] Tony Blair shared a special relationship with former President Clinton, and analysts predict even though Mr. Blair and Mr. Bush don't have as much in common, they will still develop a strong bond.
[Charles Kupchan, Council On Foreign Relations:] I think that Blair will probably be able to strike a good, cordial relationship with Bush in the sense that one of Bush's assets is that he is an affable and warm person who is able to get along even with people of different political persuasions.
[Wallace:] The two men meet at a time when European and Arab allies are increasingly critical about U.S. and British air strikes against Iraq. Among the issues on the agenda: crumbling support for United Nation sanctions against Iraq, U.S. plans for a controversial missile defense system, trade disputes between the United States and the European Union and the struggling Northern Ireland peace process. Another issue to discuss: Europe's plan to create its own defense force, something the Bush administration wants to make sure does not undermine
[Nato. Condoleezza Rice, National Security Adviser:] We believe this is a good thing as long as it is consistent with the enhancement of NATO. We believe that we share that goal with the British.
[Wallace:] The meeting with Tony Blair follows Mr. Bush's talks with the Canadian prime minister and his visit to Mexico last week.
[Lin:] Well, Kelly, since they've already talked twice on the phone, do you have any sense of the personal relationship they have been able to build so far? Have they hit it off?
[Wallace:] Apparently it seems they have hit it off. We understand those two phone conversations have gone quite well, so well that one British official is saying the two men have already established somewhat of a personal rapport before they even meet face to face. And what is interesting, both sides say these are two men who really value personal relationships, two men who are results oriented, pragmatic, so there's a lot of optimism that the two leaders will, in fact, develop a strong relationship over the next couple of years Carol.
[Lin:] It's certainly much to talk about Kelly Wallace at the White House.