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CNN Live Event/Special

America's New War: White House Says Taliban Must Meet Demands

Aired October 01, 2001 - 06:11   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the White House did not waste any time or mince words on the Taliban's announcement that they knew the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden.

For more on this and reaction from there, CNN White House correspondent Major Garrett joins us. Morning, Major.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

The White House wasted no time, indeed, and was very blunt as it has been throughout this ordeal that the Taliban must adhere to the president's demands: turn over Osama bin Laden, all of his associates, eradicate all terrorist camps within Afghanistan and hand over any other suspected terrorists that may be in that country. That was the solid and uniform administration word expressed throughout Sunday on the Sunday talk shows.

But, Carol, let me also update you on a couple of new developments. CNN has confirmed that President Bush has authorized $100 million in humanitarian aid to assist the emerging humanitarian crisis along the Afghan-Pakistan borders as refugees flee Afghanistan in fear of a potential U.S. military strike. Administration officials tell CNN that $100 million of humanitarian aid will be spread out through the remainder of this year, this calendar year, and humanitarian food drops are being contemplated -- actively being contemplated by the military. One potential glitch there is they're not sure exactly where to drop them and make sure if they do drop food aid it does not fall into the hands of the Taliban regime.

There is also a report this morning in the "New York Times" that the president has authorized covert aid to those forces trying to topple the Taliban regime. But administration officials CNN spoke with this morning would not comment on that story, but over the weekend, it emerged that the White House had directly created a policy to support those who do want to topple the Taliban regime. An internal memo drafted for the president by the National Security Council and the State Department said exactly that that the U.S. government would back those who seek a peaceful, economically developing Afghanistan, one free of terrorism. Carol.

LIN: We shall see. Thank you very much. Major Garrett reporting live from the White House very early this morning.

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