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CNN Live Saturday

Bin Laden Condemns United Nations

Aired November 03, 2001 - 15:03   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's check in now with our White House correspondent Kelly Wallace. She's got the latest for us from Washington.

Kelly, hello.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello there, Leon. Actually, from Hagerstown, Maryland, a little outside Washington, near the presidential retreat at Camp David.

Senior government officials, Leon, pointing to bin Laden's condemnation of the United Nations and Arab countries which belong to the world body, the senior officials saying they believe bin Laden is making a, quote, "grave error" and may have irreparably damaged himself and Afghanistan's ruling Taliban in the Arab world.

These senior government officials going on to say, quote, "bin laden must believe that the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon and even Iraq are infidels." They go on to say, "By launching this attack against the other Arab nations, he's alienating millions of moderate Muslims."

Now, these senior U.S. officials believe that bin Laden's statement is, quote, "an act of desperation." They also believe he is feeling the heat of the military campaign against Afghanistan. I am told that the U.S. is working to get it's response, quote, "everywhere in the world" through the administration's new Coalition Information Center. This is something that was set up by the Bush administration earlier in the week. There is a so-called war room in the White House linked to an office in London and, soon, to an office in Islamabad, Pakistan. The goal really to respond or counter Taliban or bin Laden statements throughout the 24-hour news cycle.

Now, senior administration officials have said they don't believe they are losing the so-called propaganda war with bin Laden and the Taliban, but they do concede they could do a better job getting the administration's message out. That message is that this is not a campaign against Muslims. It's not a campaign against Islam, but a campaign against terrorists and those who harbor them.

Now, Leon, as for President Bush, he is spending the weekend at the presidential retreat at Camp David. Earlier today he chaired another video teleconference with his national security council. Joining him at the presidential retreat, his National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and his chief of staff Andrew Card. All other officials joined that meeting from Washington.

We understand the president will be spending some time working with his advisers this weekend, preparing for what is going to be a very busy week. The president will be meeting with six world leaders in Washington to emphasize the strength of the coalition against terrorism. He'll also be delivering two -- what are being billed as two major international speeches, including one one week from today, in fact, at the United Nations. That is where we expect, Leon, the president to give a progress report on this campaign against terrorism.

Leon, back to you.

HARRIS: All right. Good deal, Kelly. We'll be listening for that report coming up. Thank you very much. Kelly Wallace reporting live for us today.

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