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CNN Live Today

Interview with Rudy Giuliani

Aired July 31, 2003 - 11:42   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: There are two stories this week about airline security, and they appear to add up to one of those head scratching moments. First, we learn that Al Qaeda may be planning another terrorist hijacking, and then we find out the federal government may be cutting back on air marshals because of a lack of funds. What's going on here. We'll have a chance talk to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani who led the city through the 9/11 attacks, plus making some news of his own.
Mr. Mayor, good morning.

RUDY GIULIANI, FMR. NEW YORK MAYOR: Good morning. How are you?

KAGAN: I'm doing great. It sounds like you're busy up there. Tell us what you're up to on Wall Street?

GIULIANI: We began a partnership, an alliance with Bear Stearns and my company, Giuliani Partners, and it's a $300 million fund, and the idea of it is to invest in companies that are developing state of the art security and antiterrorism measures, to try to...

KAGAN: Well, let's talk -- I'm sorry, go head.

GIULIANI: To try to help those companies improve their management, I have the former fire commissioner, former head of emergency services. At the beginning, when we started this, we had Bernie Carat (ph), who was a former police commissioner. He is now in Iraq, hoping to put together the police in Iraq. Hopefully, he'll be back with us pretty soon. And the idea is to improve these companies so they can deliver state of the art security.

KAGAN: Well, let's talk about the federal government trying to provide some of this security. As I said off the top here, some conflicting reports from the federal government. First of all, this report that Al Qaeda might be trying to plan another hijacking using airplanes and trying to fool the passengers and head it once again into some landmark areas. And what do you make with that, in light of the report also that they might be cutting back on the federal air marshals.

GIULIANI: Well, I think there's no question that we still have to be concerned about air safety. There has been a lot of concentration on air safety. There has been a lot of resources put in it, both by the federal government and the airlines, but we are going to probably need to do more.

And the reality is that a lot of this has to be done, not just by the federal government, but it has to be done by the airlines and the airports as well. So a partnership there is probably the way to answer it.

KAGAN: But you know being on Wall Street and your days in government, the bottom line here, mayor, is money, and where does that money come from and who should be footing that bill?

GIULIANI: Both. The federal government has put a lot of money into the airlines, and put a lot of money into airline security, so some of it will also have to come from the airlines and some of it is going to have to come from the airports, because it's really a joint responsibility.

KAGAN: And while I have you here, let me ask you about another story that's been making news over the last weekend. That's this congressional report with 9/11 and the cause and what's behind it and the investigation, and the 20-something pages that are missing. A lot of people thinking that there is information there that implements the Saudi government. The Bush administration refuses to release that, saying it's an ongoing investigation. The Saudi government itself coming out and saying, give us that information, so at least they can counter. The Democrats are screaming cover up. What do you think about those 27 or 28 pages? Should they be released?

GIULIANI: Well, the cover-up charge kind of gets me, because I think no matter what, they're going to scream cover-up. It's getting into a political year. The reality is I think you have to accept the word of the administration, that the information could compromise an ongoing investigation, could reveal sources, and for now it should be made public. I have no reason to disbelieve that. The Bush administration is very, very honest, has a great deal of integrity, has the national security...

KAGAN: Don't you think, Mr. Mayor, if no one else, the people of New York City deserve to know about what happened that led up to the events that victimized your city?

GIULIANI: We do. But our desire to know shouldn't lead to compromising an ongoing investigation or possibly putting in jeopardy the life of an informant. I spent more of my life in law enforcement than politics, and I have seen that actually happen. So when someone says that, I have to take it seriously.

KAGAN: And now it's the next chapter, spending time on Wall Street. You might be interest to know, the stock market is having a good day. The Dow is up 144 points. The Nasdaq is up 31.

GIULIANI: I'm sure it's not because of this.

KAGAN: Not just because of you, a powerful man, but not that powerful.

GIULIANI: You're darn right.

KAGAN: Good luck with the new venture. Thank you for stopping by. GIULIANI: Thank you very much, Daryn.

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 July 31, 2003 - 11:42   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: There are two stories this week about airline security, and they appear to add up to one of those head scratching moments. First, we learn that Al Qaeda may be planning another terrorist hijacking, and then we find out the federal government may be cutting back on air marshals because of a lack of funds. What's going on here. We'll have a chance talk to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani who led the city through the 9/11 attacks, plus making some news of his own.
Mr. Mayor, good morning.

RUDY GIULIANI, FMR. NEW YORK MAYOR: Good morning. How are you?

KAGAN: I'm doing great. It sounds like you're busy up there. Tell us what you're up to on Wall Street?

GIULIANI: We began a partnership, an alliance with Bear Stearns and my company, Giuliani Partners, and it's a $300 million fund, and the idea of it is to invest in companies that are developing state of the art security and antiterrorism measures, to try to...

KAGAN: Well, let's talk -- I'm sorry, go head.

GIULIANI: To try to help those companies improve their management, I have the former fire commissioner, former head of emergency services. At the beginning, when we started this, we had Bernie Carat (ph), who was a former police commissioner. He is now in Iraq, hoping to put together the police in Iraq. Hopefully, he'll be back with us pretty soon. And the idea is to improve these companies so they can deliver state of the art security.

KAGAN: Well, let's talk about the federal government trying to provide some of this security. As I said off the top here, some conflicting reports from the federal government. First of all, this report that Al Qaeda might be trying to plan another hijacking using airplanes and trying to fool the passengers and head it once again into some landmark areas. And what do you make with that, in light of the report also that they might be cutting back on the federal air marshals.

GIULIANI: Well, I think there's no question that we still have to be concerned about air safety. There has been a lot of concentration on air safety. There has been a lot of resources put in it, both by the federal government and the airlines, but we are going to probably need to do more.

And the reality is that a lot of this has to be done, not just by the federal government, but it has to be done by the airlines and the airports as well. So a partnership there is probably the way to answer it.

KAGAN: But you know being on Wall Street and your days in government, the bottom line here, mayor, is money, and where does that money come from and who should be footing that bill?

GIULIANI: Both. The federal government has put a lot of money into the airlines, and put a lot of money into airline security, so some of it will also have to come from the airlines and some of it is going to have to come from the airports, because it's really a joint responsibility.

KAGAN: And while I have you here, let me ask you about another story that's been making news over the last weekend. That's this congressional report with 9/11 and the cause and what's behind it and the investigation, and the 20-something pages that are missing. A lot of people thinking that there is information there that implements the Saudi government. The Bush administration refuses to release that, saying it's an ongoing investigation. The Saudi government itself coming out and saying, give us that information, so at least they can counter. The Democrats are screaming cover up. What do you think about those 27 or 28 pages? Should they be released?

GIULIANI: Well, the cover-up charge kind of gets me, because I think no matter what, they're going to scream cover-up. It's getting into a political year. The reality is I think you have to accept the word of the administration, that the information could compromise an ongoing investigation, could reveal sources, and for now it should be made public. I have no reason to disbelieve that. The Bush administration is very, very honest, has a great deal of integrity, has the national security...

KAGAN: Don't you think, Mr. Mayor, if no one else, the people of New York City deserve to know about what happened that led up to the events that victimized your city?

GIULIANI: We do. But our desire to know shouldn't lead to compromising an ongoing investigation or possibly putting in jeopardy the life of an informant. I spent more of my life in law enforcement than politics, and I have seen that actually happen. So when someone says that, I have to take it seriously.

KAGAN: And now it's the next chapter, spending time on Wall Street. You might be interest to know, the stock market is having a good day. The Dow is up 144 points. The Nasdaq is up 31.

GIULIANI: I'm sure it's not because of this.

KAGAN: Not just because of you, a powerful man, but not that powerful.

GIULIANI: You're darn right.

KAGAN: Good luck with the new venture. Thank you for stopping by. GIULIANI: Thank you very much, Daryn.

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