Clinton Reacts to Japan’s Crisis

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer spoke with CNN anchor Ali Velshi about Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s comments on the voluntary evacuation of U.S. military family members in Japan and about his travel in Tunisia with Secretary Clinton. Tune in to The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET on CNN for more reports from Blitzer’s travels with the Secretary.  A Transcript of the interview is after the jump.

Transcript
THIS IS A RUSH FDCH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

WOLF BLITZER, HOST:  Tell us what the latest is, because we’re — we’re deeply concerned about Americans in Japan right now.

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE:  Well, as you know, the — the president has authorized the departure of Americans.  And that’s the decision that was made based on all the evidence that we had before the day ended in — in Washington yesterday.  But there will be a continuing evaluation.  This is, as I told you, literally a minute by minute analysis.  And we’re doing everything we can to support the Japanese and their heroic efforts in dealing with this unfolding disaster.

BLITZER:  This must weigh heavily on you, even on a trip like this.

CLINTON:  Well, it does, Wolf.  I mean this is a very serious problem with, you know, widespread ramifications and, you know, first and foremost, we want to help the Japanese, our great ally, deal with this and limit the — the damage to the health and safety of the Japanese people.  But our primary responsibility, always, is to the health and safety of Americans.  And so we’re — we’re working toward most of those goals.

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