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American Morning
Interview with John McCain
Aired February 12, 2003 - 08:04 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: What went wrong? That is the question law makers will be asking NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe this morning during a joint congressional hearing on the Columbia disaster.
Arizona's John McCain is the chairman of the Senate committee that oversees NASA.
He joins us now from Capitol Hill to discuss the shuttle hearing and the risk of terrorism here at home.
Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING.
Good to see you, Senator.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Thank you, Paula.
ZAHN: I'd like to start off first with the issue of terror. You've just heard a little bit of John King's reporting. I know the administration is saying that this tape is proof that there is an al Qaeda-Saddam Hussein link and yet just to put a perspective in this, we should make it clear that there was no mention of Saddam Hussein until about 12 minutes into the tape, and some folks who have analyzed the tape say that it was a sort of a weakly stated case against him.
How convinced are you that there is an al Qaeda-Saddam Hussein link?
MCCAIN: I can't make a judgment on that. What I am convinced of is that Osama bin Laden is trying to incite all to join common cause with him to destroy America, Americans and everything we stand for. Even though he dislikes the "socialist regime," as he calls it, in Baghdad, he still wants them to join him in destroying America.
So that's really the conclusion that I draw and that increases the nature of the threat and the magnitude of it, if he can incite others to join his "crusade."
ZAHN: How concerned are you about this orange state of alert that we're enduring right now?
MCCAIN: I'm very concerned. I don't have the classified information, but when I talk to people who do, they are very concerned. The frustrating thing, obviously, to all Americans is exactly what you do about it besides being more alert.
ZAHN: Do you think this country is prepared for another potential attack on our soil? MCCAIN: I think Americans are very resilient and I think we're very tough and I think we're committed to defeating this threat that we face. But I think clearly it would be a serious blow. But I am confident Americans would recover from it. But I, and I also am confident that our law enforcement people and intelligence sources and others are doing everything that they can.
ZAHN: On to the issue of the debate about a potential military action against Iraq. You and other senators have announced plans to introduce a resolution thanking 18 European allies for standing with the U.S. against France and Germany. Do you want to expand on that this morning? How angry are you about the position France and Germany have taken?
MCCAIN: Well, I'm very frustrated, of course, as most of us are. But I think there is a difference between France and Germany. The German chancellor used the anti-American card in order to win reelection. The Germans have helped us in Afghanistan, in Kosovo and Bosnia. They're continuing to even provide protection for our bases in Germany. The French, on the other hand, continue to try to throw sand in the gears of every effort that NATO makes. So there's a dramatic difference. After Iraq is over, the Germans will be back with us. We will continue to have a problem with the French.
We want to thank the countries that have stood with us and that's the majority of Europeans. They have changed the equation. A few weeks ago it appeared as if the United States was isolated from Europe. Now it's pretty obvious that France and Germany are isolated from Europe and I think it's appropriate if we as a nation thank those nations for standing with us, particularly those that were former members of the Soviet Union and know what terror is really all about.
ZAHN: And how do you think France should be treated in all of this?
MCCAIN: Oh, I don't know. I think France risks becoming irrelevant because if they do, which is absolutely inexcusable, what they're doing now, and that is prohibiting the emplacement of defensive equipment in Turkey, an ally with a front line on Iraq, then we will act bilaterally and that will make France irrelevant in these deliberations and the activities that are necessary to fight the war on terrorism. I regret that.
ZAHN: Back to the issue of the very important congressional hearings that will be held on NASA today. One of the issues your committee will be addressing is whether budget cuts at NASA had anything to do with the Columbia disaster.
What are your initial thoughts on that?
MCCAIN: My initial thoughts are that's a very legitimate question and it's going to be one of the first questions asked of Mr. O'Keefe. I feel, Paula, that we have a two phased inquiry here and the first one is the obvious what caused the tragedy and how do you remedy it. But the second one is a long overdue policy debate. What's the role of the shuttle? Is there a follow on to the shuttle? What's the role of unmanned space exploration? What is the real use of the international space station? And what are our budgetary commitments in the long-term to space exploration?
I believe America will continue space exploration. But these policy decision need to be made and as soon as possible.
ZAHN: A lot of concern over the fact that the chairman of the board named to investigate the Columbia disaster warned, you know, he had originally warned that no one at NASA would be immune to the scrutiny and yet there are those who think that certain board members have too close of a relationship to NASA.
Are you concerned about the independence of this particular investigation?
MCCAIN: I think they've got some outstanding people on it. I think they have made the right moves. I think that Mr. O'Keefe has got great credibility here and I think that the members of the investigatory commission do. But I don't think they should make the mistake that the previous investigation made after the Challenger disaster, and that's withholding information.
For example, there's an e-mail that was sent which voiced concerns about the possibility of overheating, etc. They're not revealing that e-mail. I think they should. If they don't come forward and share information with the American people almost as quickly as they have it, then I think there's going to be skepticism.
ZAHN: Senator John McCain, always good to see you.
MCCAIN: Thank you, Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks for covering so much territory with us this morning.
MCCAIN: Thank you.
ZAHN: I know you all have a lot on your minds.
Thanks again for your time.
MCCAIN: Thank you.
ZAHN: And the hearing into the Columbia disaster is scheduled to get under way at 9:30 Eastern time. We will bring that to you live when it happens.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 12, 2003 - 08:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: What went wrong? That is the question law makers will be asking NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe this morning during a joint congressional hearing on the Columbia disaster.
Arizona's John McCain is the chairman of the Senate committee that oversees NASA.
He joins us now from Capitol Hill to discuss the shuttle hearing and the risk of terrorism here at home.
Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING.
Good to see you, Senator.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Thank you, Paula.
ZAHN: I'd like to start off first with the issue of terror. You've just heard a little bit of John King's reporting. I know the administration is saying that this tape is proof that there is an al Qaeda-Saddam Hussein link and yet just to put a perspective in this, we should make it clear that there was no mention of Saddam Hussein until about 12 minutes into the tape, and some folks who have analyzed the tape say that it was a sort of a weakly stated case against him.
How convinced are you that there is an al Qaeda-Saddam Hussein link?
MCCAIN: I can't make a judgment on that. What I am convinced of is that Osama bin Laden is trying to incite all to join common cause with him to destroy America, Americans and everything we stand for. Even though he dislikes the "socialist regime," as he calls it, in Baghdad, he still wants them to join him in destroying America.
So that's really the conclusion that I draw and that increases the nature of the threat and the magnitude of it, if he can incite others to join his "crusade."
ZAHN: How concerned are you about this orange state of alert that we're enduring right now?
MCCAIN: I'm very concerned. I don't have the classified information, but when I talk to people who do, they are very concerned. The frustrating thing, obviously, to all Americans is exactly what you do about it besides being more alert.
ZAHN: Do you think this country is prepared for another potential attack on our soil? MCCAIN: I think Americans are very resilient and I think we're very tough and I think we're committed to defeating this threat that we face. But I think clearly it would be a serious blow. But I am confident Americans would recover from it. But I, and I also am confident that our law enforcement people and intelligence sources and others are doing everything that they can.
ZAHN: On to the issue of the debate about a potential military action against Iraq. You and other senators have announced plans to introduce a resolution thanking 18 European allies for standing with the U.S. against France and Germany. Do you want to expand on that this morning? How angry are you about the position France and Germany have taken?
MCCAIN: Well, I'm very frustrated, of course, as most of us are. But I think there is a difference between France and Germany. The German chancellor used the anti-American card in order to win reelection. The Germans have helped us in Afghanistan, in Kosovo and Bosnia. They're continuing to even provide protection for our bases in Germany. The French, on the other hand, continue to try to throw sand in the gears of every effort that NATO makes. So there's a dramatic difference. After Iraq is over, the Germans will be back with us. We will continue to have a problem with the French.
We want to thank the countries that have stood with us and that's the majority of Europeans. They have changed the equation. A few weeks ago it appeared as if the United States was isolated from Europe. Now it's pretty obvious that France and Germany are isolated from Europe and I think it's appropriate if we as a nation thank those nations for standing with us, particularly those that were former members of the Soviet Union and know what terror is really all about.
ZAHN: And how do you think France should be treated in all of this?
MCCAIN: Oh, I don't know. I think France risks becoming irrelevant because if they do, which is absolutely inexcusable, what they're doing now, and that is prohibiting the emplacement of defensive equipment in Turkey, an ally with a front line on Iraq, then we will act bilaterally and that will make France irrelevant in these deliberations and the activities that are necessary to fight the war on terrorism. I regret that.
ZAHN: Back to the issue of the very important congressional hearings that will be held on NASA today. One of the issues your committee will be addressing is whether budget cuts at NASA had anything to do with the Columbia disaster.
What are your initial thoughts on that?
MCCAIN: My initial thoughts are that's a very legitimate question and it's going to be one of the first questions asked of Mr. O'Keefe. I feel, Paula, that we have a two phased inquiry here and the first one is the obvious what caused the tragedy and how do you remedy it. But the second one is a long overdue policy debate. What's the role of the shuttle? Is there a follow on to the shuttle? What's the role of unmanned space exploration? What is the real use of the international space station? And what are our budgetary commitments in the long-term to space exploration?
I believe America will continue space exploration. But these policy decision need to be made and as soon as possible.
ZAHN: A lot of concern over the fact that the chairman of the board named to investigate the Columbia disaster warned, you know, he had originally warned that no one at NASA would be immune to the scrutiny and yet there are those who think that certain board members have too close of a relationship to NASA.
Are you concerned about the independence of this particular investigation?
MCCAIN: I think they've got some outstanding people on it. I think they have made the right moves. I think that Mr. O'Keefe has got great credibility here and I think that the members of the investigatory commission do. But I don't think they should make the mistake that the previous investigation made after the Challenger disaster, and that's withholding information.
For example, there's an e-mail that was sent which voiced concerns about the possibility of overheating, etc. They're not revealing that e-mail. I think they should. If they don't come forward and share information with the American people almost as quickly as they have it, then I think there's going to be skepticism.
ZAHN: Senator John McCain, always good to see you.
MCCAIN: Thank you, Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks for covering so much territory with us this morning.
MCCAIN: Thank you.
ZAHN: I know you all have a lot on your minds.
Thanks again for your time.
MCCAIN: Thank you.
ZAHN: And the hearing into the Columbia disaster is scheduled to get under way at 9:30 Eastern time. We will bring that to you live when it happens.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
