Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

Officials Say Bombing in Saudi Arabia Not Connected to Attacks on America

Aired October 06, 2001 - 16:06   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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: We want to check in now for reaction in all of this that is coming from outside Camp David where President -- the president is spending the weekend. We're joined by CNN White House Correspondent Kelly Wallace. Kelly, let me start you off by asking if there was any reaction to this report of a bombing in Saudi Arabia?

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, we did talk to one administration official, Marty. Let me tell you what this official said. The official's saying based on first report it appears to be an isolated incident -- not connected to the September 11th terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in western Pennsylvania -- but this official saying we are collecting the facts, we are still looking into this.

Also, the official saying the administration could not confirm whether any of the dead or injured were Americans. So obviously the administration focusing on that.

And I should note, Marty, we heard from top officials -- White House Chief of Staff Andy Card, other officials in interviews over the past few days said this is going to be a time where every incident is going to get looked at very, very closely -- the people on the ground there, people in that country, people around the world because of the concerns of September 11th. But obviously a lot of searching and looking into these incidents will have to take place before any connections can be drawn to September 11 -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: Kelly, the president once again reaffirms humanitarian aid for the people of Afghanistan. How do we know if his words are getting through to the people though?

WALLACE: Well, that is a good question. Although the administration is doing everything it can to try and get that message out -- you have the administration reaching out to opposition groups -- the Northern Alliance. You have the president obviously using the airwaves to try and get this message out. You also have some discussion about maybe the administration dropping or the military dropping leaflets to the people of Afghanistan. This has been done lots of time before to try to get a message out and encourage opposition to that ruling regime there.

You also have some discussion -- the Pentagon sources saying some discussion of actually dropping transistor radios into the country -- another way for the people to listen to State Department broadcasts, Voice of America broadcasts -- again, to get the message out that this is not a campaign against any religion, not a campaign against the people but, again, a campaign against suspected terrorists and those who harbor them. And that is a message obviously trying to get directly to the people -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: The president gave another indication that time is running out for the Taliban -- that in his radio address today, right?

WALLACE: Absolutely -- very tough talk from the president and the first time we heard him use those worlds -- "time is running out." Clearly the president has been trying to step up the pressure on the Taliban, has been saying either adhere to all of his demands, which include turning over Osama bin Laden, closing down terrorist training camps or face consequences.

The president had said earlier in the week that he was not going to put a time table or any deadline -- that the U.S. would act based on it's own time. Obviously the president putting the "time is running out" out there. Some analysts believe the president trying to, again, step up the pressure on the Taliban, making it clear that military action could be not too far away but also making it clear that if the Taliban does adhere to these demands that it could prevent itself from any kind of attack. Marty?

SAVIDGE: All right. Kelly Wallace -- 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