Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

White House Emphasizes Negotiation is Not an Option

Aired October 06, 2001 - 14:04   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the response from the Bush administration has been the same since the terror attacks. No discussions, no negotiations with the Taliban. President Bush is spending this weekend at Camp David.

CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace joining us from nearby. Kelly, in a response from the White House in light of the Taliban's offer?

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, a very quick response, Catherine. And it is that there will be no negotiation, that it is time for action, not words. Administration officials saying the Taliban leaders know President Bush's demands. They include turning over Osama bin Laden and his associates and also immediately releasing those eight Western aid workers. So the message from the White House, no discussions, no negotiations.

We also heard something else today, Catherine, from President Bush. In his weekly radio address, he gave the clearest indication yet that some military action against the Taliban might not be too far away.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Taliban has been given the opportunity to surrender all the terrorists in Afghanistan, and to close down their camps and operations. Full warning has been given. And time is running out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Now the President, who left for Camp David yesterday afternoon, spent 45 minutes chairing another video teleconference meeting with his National Security Council team. Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld, just back from a five-nation trip, attended that meeting, we understand. But from Washington, Condoleezza Rice, the president's national security adviser and CIA Director George Tenet, some of the officials joining the President at the presidential retreat.

And one other thing President Bush tried to do in his weekly radio address, something he's been doing day after day, to make the case that this campaign is not against the people of Afghanistan, not against any religion, but against a regime which Mr. Bush says harbors terrorists.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Our enemy is not the Arab world. Many friendly Arab governments are themselves the targets of extremist terror. Our enemy is not Islam, a good and peace-loving faith that brings direction and comfort to over one billion people, including millions of Americans. And our enemy is not the people of any nation, even when their leaders harbor terrorists. Our enemy is the terrorists themselves and the regimes that is shelter and sustain them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And so, Catherine, on a day when the Taliban leaders are saying that this is a campaign targeting the people of Afghanistan, a campaign that could lead to humanitarian crisis, Mr. Bush saying once again, the United States pledging $320 million in humanitarian assistance to help the people. And Catherine, for the first time, Mr. Bush saying conditions permitting, the U.S. military could consider dropping some food, air drops of food, to the people -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: And Kelly, does the White House know if their message is actually getting to the people of Afghanistan?

WALLACE: Well, that is a key point and a key question whether or not the people on the streets are actually getting this message. We do know there is some consideration of actually dropping some leaflets, having the U.S military drop some leaflets. Again, to get the message out that this is a campaign again terrorists and not against the people.

Also, we know from the Pentagon, our colleagues there, the administration considering dropping some transistor radios as well, so that the people could listen to State Department or Voice of American broadcasts to again get the message that this is a campaign against the Taliban for harboring terrorists, and not again against the people -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: And Kelly, going back to what you said at the beginning of your report, the importance of what we heard the President say today, we've heard him say at our time and at our choosing. The first time we've heard him say the time is running out.

WALLACE: It is. It is the first time he's used those four words. As you noted, the President has not really set any timetable. He has basically said there will be no timetable, that the U.S. will act based on its own choosing.

He did say this today though, "time is running out." When I asked administration official about this, he said it is an indication again that time is running out for the Taliban leaders. When I asked if this is an indication that military action is imminent, he wouldn't respond. But again, the message is, time is running out. Either the Taliban leaders respond to these demands or military action could soon be happening. CALLAWAY: All right, Kelly Wallace, from near Camp David. Thank you, Kelly.

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