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CNN Live Saturday

Bush to Military: `We're at War'

Aired September 15, 2001 - 16:32   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.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush today used the strongest words he has used since Tuesday's terrorist attacks. The president advised the military today to, quote: "Get ready to do whatever it takes to win this war." For the first time the president labeled Osama bin Laden the prime suspect behind what happened. President Bush and his national security team are at Camp David right now considering their next moves, we are told.

And that's where we find our White House correspondent Kelly Wallace -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well Judy you are exactly right. You can certainly say this is the strongest rhetoric by President Bush since Tuesday's attacks. In addition to calling on everyone in uniform to get ready, the president also asking the American people to be patient for what he says will be a sweeping and effective campaign against terrorists and those who harbor them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): At the secluded presidential retreat in the Maryland mountains, President Bush huddles with his national security team and prepares the American people for war.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're at war. There's been an act of war declared upon America by terrorists, and we will responsible accordingly.

WALLACE: The president refuses to discuss military options, but for the first time he specifically named suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden as a, quote, "prime suspect" behind Tuesday's terrorism spree.

Bin Laden is believed to be hiding out in Afghanistan, with the ruling Taliban government providing him safe haven.

BUSH: This act will not stand. We will find those who did it, we will smoke them out of their holes, we will get them running and we'll bring them to justice.

WALLACE: When asked if those words mean President Bush is considering using ground troops to attack terrorists, aides say nothing has been ruled out.

But winning this so-called war and finding the elusive bin Laden won't be easy, says a former Clinton administration official.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not fighting a military; we're not fighting an organized power, but we're fighting a very diffuse and shadowy organization that has links in many different parts of the world.

WALLACE: Knowing Americans are hungry for swift retaliation, the president uses his radio address to say a sweeping response will come, in time.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

BUSH: You will be asked for your patience, for the conflict will not be short. You'll be asked for resolve, for the conflict will not be easy. You'll be asked for your strength, because the course to victory may be long.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WALLACE: And aides say President Bush has gained strength from his meeting Friday with more than 200 family members with loved ones still missing, believing his job is to turn sorrow into something positive for future generations.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And while the American people are overwhelmingly supportive of a military response, keeping that support up will be another big challenge for the president, especially if a prolonged military attack results in some U.S. troops losing their lives -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: All right, Kelly Wallace reporting from near Camp David, where the president is spending this weekend.

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