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CNN Live Saturday

President Bush Spends Weekend at Camp David Plotting Military Strategy

Aired October 27, 2001 - 17:01   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: President Bush is spending much of this weekend plotting strategy in America's new war. He is at Camp David where he's huddling with advisers. Let's go right now with the latest from CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace who joins us from near the presidential retreat.

Kelly, what's the latest?

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well Catherine, it's really become a weekly ritual for the president on Saturday morning chairing a video teleconference from the presidential retreat at Camp David with his National Security Council.

The president met with his advisers for about 30 minutes this morning, going over the military action in Afghanistan and also continued concerns about cases of anthrax in the United States. Now Mr. Bush every Saturday also delivers a weekly radio address. Today his focus was really on lawmakers in the United States. Congress -- the president calling on Congress to finish up work on a bill to beef up security at airports around the United States.

Mr. Bush making it very clear he does not like the Senate bill, which cast 100 to nothing because that bill would require that passenger and baggage screeners become federal employees. Democrats think this would be the best way to endure you're getting the best workers. The president making it clear he wants the federal government to have the flexibility to decide whether workers should be federal employees or use private contractors.

The president saying he fully backs a Republican bill to be taken up in the House this week backed by Republican Congressman Don Young.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Young bill allows the use of private contractors operating under tough federal standards on background checks with federal law enforcement at every gate to promote better screening services, and ensure that security managers can move aggressively to discipline or fire employees who fail to live up to the rigorous new standards.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: Now no mention in that radio address, again, of more cases of anthrax in the United States, but a new poll showing more Americans a bit concerned about efforts by the administration to protect America from any terrorist attacks in the United States. According to a new "Newsweek" poll, 48 percent of those felt the administration had a well-thought out plan for fighting bioterrorism at home while 43 percent said they believe it does not.

Now in that same poll about 88 percent of Americans polled totally support the military campaign underway in Afghanistan and also gives President Bush high marks for how he's handling this campaign so far. So clearly Catherine, you see Americans very confident with the military action, but somewhat concerned, at least so far, about the federal government's handling, at least so far, this bioterrorism threat including anthrax.

Catherine, back to you.

CALLAWAY: Kelly, thank you. CNN's Kelly Wallace.

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