Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

America Strikes Back: As Military Campaign Ongoing Overseas, Support from U.S. Congress

Aired October 08, 2001 - 11:40   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.
JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: As Governor Ridge assumes office here at the White House and as the president monitors the military campaign here overseas, one key ingredient is support from the United States Congress. The administration quite happy with the declarations of support from the United States Congress as the military campaign began yesterday.

For the latest today now, let's check in with CNN congressional correspondent Kate Snow -- Kate.

KATE SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It remains the same reaction, very favorable from Capitol Hill. The leaders of Congress put out a statement yesterday, strongly supporting the president. The chairman of key committees have been briefed throughout the weekend. They continue to be briefed throughout the day today. House Speaker Dennis Hastert was told directly by the president on Saturday that this would be happening, and then this morning, I'm told by his aide that he says his mind is very focused on the men and women, the sailors, the soldiers, carrying out this mission, and he wishes them -- quote -- "Godspeed" -- John.

KING: A new sense of urgency. There was some frustration at the White House last week, the president's plan for airline and airport security hung up because of the debates in Congress. And the anti- terrorism package, the attorney general says, is critical to fighting the war on terrorism, held up because of some debates in Congress.

Any sense that the military campaign will give those efforts a boost in the Congress?

SNOW: Definitely that sense, John, and that is the hope, I think, of leaders here and the White House, that they will get moving on some of this.

Speaker Hastert and leader Gephardt are actually heading to New York City again today. They were there last week, just one week ago today, down at ground zero, along with a lot of other members of the house. At that time, Mr. Gephardt says they were invited by the New York Stock Exchange to come back and have some key meetings with economic advisers, people who -- head CEOs, heads of companies. They're also going to be meeting with labor leaders later this afternoon up in New York City. Talking about that economic stimulus package, one of the many projects that the White House really wants Congress to move on quickly, there is general agreement, John, that, it should between $50 billion and $75 billion in size. On Friday, you will recall President Bush indicating he would support most or all of that being tax cuts. Democrats would like to see some other spending in there, too, but they are definitely moving on that front and on some of the other fronts -- John.

KING: Kate Snow on Capitol Hill, thank you for that. The economy one of the president's urgent focus. Another obviously the military campaign. In that event here at the White House a short time ago, the president said the Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld would update the American people a bill later on day one of the campaign against terrorism.

Standing by for us at the Pentagon this morning, CNN's Bob Franken -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And, John, that will be in about an hour and a half, at 1:15 Eastern, when they bring the results of what's called the BDA, the battle damage estimate, or bombing damage estimate. We've already been told that they struck at about two dozen military and terrorist sites, everything from power grids to some of the suspected camps to actually clusters of some of the military forces and tanks. And we do know that about 50 cruise missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched four ships, as well as two submarines.

We do know that about 2,500 aircraft were involved. B-2 stealth bombers flying all the way from Kansas, and flying from Diego Garcia, B-1s, B-52s, dropping their loads of bombs, as well as strike aircraft you see taking off from the aircraft carriers that have been in the Gulf. They were in position. We have known that for quite sometime, in this region around the Persian Gulf.

Now as I mentioned, we are going to get some precise figures on the estimates of day one of this combat. But earlier in the day, based on preliminary estimates, Defense Department officials made clear that they were quite satisfied.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: My impression is that it has been very successful. We do however, have to understand that it's going to be a very long and sustained effort. As I said yesterday, there is no silver bullet, no single thing that's going to win effort for the coalition forces.

But all of the aircraft returned safely. The humanitarian food and medicine drops were successful, and the planes are starting to return now. So we feel that thus far, it's been a very successful effort.

(END VIDEO CLIP) FRANKEN: The humanitarian drop, including 37,500 meals. That was on day one, John. Very clear that soon there will be a day two, both of humanitarian relief and more combat -- John.

KING: Bob, it seems unique to this operation, the military and the diplomacy, if you will, hand in hand. Even as the Pentagon or the president discussed the bombing and the attacks, they make clear in almost every sentence that we are also dropping food. Why so?

FRANKEN: Well, there are two reasons. One, they claim, of course, that they have genuine humanitarian concerns, but secondly, they're trying to pound the message repeatedly, this not a combat or war against the Afghan people or against the Muslim religion. As a matter of fact, there is a lot of compassion for them. They consider them victims of the Taliban government and of course Al Qaeda, as much as the United States.

KING: Bob Franken at the Pentagon, thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com