24 (TV Series)

Day 2: 2:00 a.m.-3:00 a.m. (2003)

Dennis Haysbert: President David Palmer

Quotes 

• General Gratz : In order to exploit the advantages of a surprise attack: we've lost twelve bomb squad squadrons from three state side bases. But initial air strikes will be launched from our bases in the region. Sir, that is consistent with your request to begin before your address to the nation

  President David Palmer : I know what I asked for, that came out wrong. You and the Joint Chiefs have done a remarkable job mobilizing our forces on such short notice

  General Gratz : Thank you Sir

  Vice President Jim Prescott : Mr. President, is it fair to assume that you're still behind the attack? Because I'm sensing some "equivocation."

  President David Palmer : I told the Vice President but I haven't shared this with the rest of you. Jack Bauer, the CTU agent most responsible for finding the nuclear bomb has reason to believe that the Cypress audio was fabricated

  Vice President Jim Prescott : Bauer has no hard evidence

  President David Palmer : Not at this point

  General Gratz : Mr. President, this battle plan requires our surprising the enemy with an initial strike of overwhelming force. We will lose that if we wait any longer, the target will mobilize their defenses and our casualties will increase over the long term

  President David Palmer : By how much?

  General Gratz : By twenty thousand troops

  President David Palmer : And we have no choice but to proceed with the plan stated?

• Mike Novick : I waited until the meeting broke to tell you that the Governor called from Sacramento

  President David Palmer : What's going on now?

  Mike Novick : More people are hitting the streets: the government wants you to dispatch the National Guard like you did in Murrieta

  Lynne Kresge : Mr. President, Tony Almeida from CTU is holding for you on the emergency SAT COM network

  President David Palmer : Why on SAT COM?

  Lynne Kresge : Since news of the bomb got out network circuits have been completely overloaded. Ninety percent of all systems went down a few minutes ago

  Mike Novick : I can talk to Almeida if you want

  President David Palmer : [to Mike]  put him on speaker

  President David Palmer : Mr. Almeida, this is President Palmer. You're also on with Mike Novick and Lynne Kresge

  Tony Almeida : Mr. President, Jack Bauer just called with some new information and the truth is I'm a little conflicted about contacting you with this but he "claims", he has evidence that the Cypress recording is counterfeit

  President David Palmer : What kind of evidence?

  Lynne Kresge : Source recording on three Middle Eastern men on the audio which were then re-edited

  President David Palmer : Have these been authenticated?

  Tony Almeida : Not yet. We're getting it soon

  President David Palmer : How soon?

  Tony Almeida : Within the hour Sir

  Mike Novick : Mr. Almeida, your confidence in Jack Bauer is curious. An hour ago you told me he assaulted CTU personnel and took illegal custody of a witness

  Lynne Kresge : Sir, Jack had no choice under the circumstances

  Mike Novick : I don't follow

  Tony Almeida : The man who had the evidence would not have turned it over if Jack involved CTU

  President David Palmer : Mr. Almeida, what makes you so sure that this is any more real than the Cypress recording?

  Tony Almeida : That's just it Sir. I'm not

  President David Palmer : Thank you for your candor, Mr. Almeida. I'll take this information under advisement

  Tony Almeida : [Before hanging up]  thank you Mr. President

• President David Palmer : We're calling off the attack

  Mike Novick : Sir, before you do that, we should talk through the consequences

  President David Palmer : We've talked enough

  Mike Novick : Mr. President, I appreciate your respect for Jack Bauer: I do, but you know the man's reputation

  President David Palmer : I know the man

  Mike Novick : Then maybe you should think about your reputation

  President David Palmer : Meaning?

  Mike Novick : A nuclear bomb was detonated on US soil and we've been shown proof connecting the weapon to three nations in the Middle East

  President David Palmer : Proof that maybe false

  Mike Novick : Unless you respond decisively, your enemies will exploit that as a failure of leadership. It's a sign of personal weakness

  President David Palmer : So, what're you saying? That we should proceed with a military operation just to prove I'm decisive? What if Jack Bauer is right?

  Mike Novick : What if his wrong?

  Mike Novick : Sir, we've all heard the Pentagon's assessment. Stopping and restarting this military action could cost tens of thousands of American lives

  President David Palmer : It's an "acceptable" risk, if the alternative is raging war against three innocent countries

  Mike Novick : Mr. President, we know from past experience these countries aren't innocent. I'm urging you in the strongest possible terms to reconsider

  President David Palmer : I've made up my mind. Now get General Gratz back in here and conference in the Joint Chiefs