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CNN Live Saturday

State Department Proposes to End the Rule of Taliban in Afghanistan

Aired September 29, 2001 - 16:01   ET

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

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A lot of developments coming out of the White House and also Camp David. That's where the President is spending the weekend. Near Camp David is our Major Garrett.

Major, hello.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello and good afternoon to you, Daryn. As you mentioned, the president at the presidential retreat at Camp David. His big item for business today, a video teleconference with his entire national security staff, also called informally the war cabinet, the Bush White House.

The president in his White House photograph that is being released this afternoon. You can see him sitting there at the Camp David compound. With him, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency George Tenet, and his Chief of Staff Andrew Card. Every other member of the Bush war cabinet National Security team able to watch the president and the president watch them via video teleconference hook-up.

And as you mentioned, Daryn, there is a memorandum that has been prepared by the President by senior State Department and National Security Council officials. CNN has obtained the contents of that memorandum. Let me read to you a couple of key points.

As you said in the open, strong indications the White House believes the Taliban is not only illegitimate regime, but that the White House will directly aid those who seek to topple them. Let me read to you one key portion of that memorandum.

"We," meaning the U.S government, "do not want to choose who rules Afghanistan, but we will assist those who seek a peaceful, economically developing Afghanistan free of terrorism."

A couple of things worth pointing out there, no specifics in this memorandum at all about exactly who the U.S. government would support. Would it be the armed Northern Alliance? Would it be the exiled former king of Afghanistan, who has been living for a good long while in Rome? Would it be so-called moderate forces within the Taliban itself?

No specificity there. Only those who seek an Afghanistan free of terrorism, that is peaceful and economically developing. Another key portion of the memo, Daryn, also talks to not only the fact that this is not a campaign against the people of Afghanistan, but also underscores previous U.S. government support from Muslims who have had to repel those who have invaded their territory, or those who have tried to resist ethnic cleansing.

Let me read to you that relevant section of the memorandum. "Our quarrel is not with Islam or the Afghan people. We have stood with Muslims in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Kuwait. And we aided Afghans in their liberation struggle against the former Soviet Union. We will support the Afghan people in the future. They deserve peace and stability, freedom from foreign terrorists and a government that represents all Afghans. We call on others to joins us, so we can help Afghans recover and rebuild."

Now Daryn, you might recall earlier this week, during a visit of Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, President Bush said that the United States was not supportive of nation building in Afghanistan. Nevertheless, this memorandum clearly puts the United States government squarely behind those who seek to topple the Taliban. Exactly how and what will come, if that Taliban regime is in fact toppled, not yet clear. Daryn?

KAGAN: Question for another day. Major Garrett in Hagerstown, Maryland. Thank you very much. Not too far from Camp David. Major, thank you.

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