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CNN Live Saturday

President Bush Cuts Trip to Shanghai Short

Aired October 20, 2001 - 17:25   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Once again, the president cutting his trip to Shanghai a bit short. He will start back to Washington tomorrow night instead of on Monday morning.

To the White House and Kelly Wallace to tell us why now.

Kelly, hello.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello there, Bill.

Well, aides say there's no urgent reason for the president cutting this trip back by about 12 hours. They say this is always an option and that the president just wants to get back to the White House earlier, again, to focus on this campaign against terrorism.

When he gets up, probably a short time from now, he is likely to get an update from his Homeland Security Chief Governor Tom Ridge about the latest involving anthrax on Capitol Hill. Then he'll be meeting later in the day with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A big goal of this trip to Shanghai, trying to shore up this international coalition against terrorism, and in his weekly radio address, the president sending a message to countries around the world. The message is either you agree to fight terrorism now or you face the prospect of terrorists striking in your very own homeland sometime possibly in the future.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The nations meeting here in Shanghai understand what is at stake. If we do not stand against terrorism now, every civilized nation will at some point be its target. We will defeat the terrorists by destroying their network wherever it is found. We will also defeat the terrorists by building an enduring prosperity that promises more opportunity and better lives for all the world's people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And during his key note speech in Shanghai, the president said that terrorists targeting the World Trade Center tried to shake confidence in the global economy, but he said they failed to do that. The president would not comment on the first U.S. ground forces in southern Afghanistan, but he did offer condolences to the families of the two American soldiers killed. He said these soldiers did not die in vain, that their cause is just and right and that America will prevail.

Bill, coming out of Sunday will be a communique. The leaders will condemn the September 11 attacks, but there will be no mention of the military campaign because of criticism from some countries of that military action.

Bill, back to you.

HEMMER: More on that on Sunday. Kelly Wallace, thanks.

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