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CNN Live Saturday
White House Reuses to Comment on Nuclear Contingency Plans
Aired March 09, 2002 - 12:04 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And we want to get more perspective now on the newspaper report about the latest nuclear contingency plans drawn up by the Bush administration.
CNN's White House correspondent Kelly Wallace joins us live with some insight there -- good morning -- or good afternoon rather, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you, Fredricka.
Well, no surprise the White House and the Pentagon both are not commenting, and what is important to point out is what it appears is the "L.A. Times" has obtained a top secret Pentagon report that went to Congress in January. This is a review that is mandated by Congress every six years for the administration to do.
And clearly, the "LA Times" is reporting those seven nations that the U.S. has reportedly directed the Pentagon to prepare contingency plans to use nuclear weapons against. Those countries that are part of President Bush's so-called axis of evil: Iran, Iraq, North Korea, as well as Libya, Syria, Russia and China.
It is important to note, Fredricka, talking to military experts, they say it is no surprise. That it has been going on for years. The U.S. preparing contingency operations in, especially in response to any attack, retaliation for any attack where a country might use chemical, biological or nuclear weapons against the United States.
These experts also say it is important to say that the U.S. publicly and privately really has indicated it has no plans to use such weapons. That most of this is really a deterrent strategy to kind of prevent countries or terrorist groups from using such weapons against the United States.
Still, though, some nuclear arms control advocates are very concerned, saying that just putting such contingency operations together could really have a destabilizing effect in the world and could really encourage some countries to pursue weapons of mass destruction -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Well, Kelly, let's talk now about the economy stimulus plan. Usually a measure such as this that gets much publicity would be usually signed during the week, during a lot of fan fare, et cetera. But instead, President Bush signed it today. Any explanation as to what is significant about today?
WALLACE: Well, two reasons. One is senior administration officials say the president wanted to make sure and Labor Department officials wanted to make sure that there would be no lapse in unemployment benefits for any workers out of the a job. So by signing the bill into law today, that will prevent any worker, who is out of a job, from getting any lapse in those unemployment benefits.
But No. 2, Fredricka, another opportunity really for the president to kind of hail what the officials here are calling a bipartisan victory. You see the president in the Rose Garden. You had Democratic and Republican leaders on hand. The president signing this measure into law, extending unemployment benefits for laid off workers and also about $40 billion in tax breaks to stimulate investment.
What's very interestingly though, Fredricka, mostly a victory though for Democrats, mainly what Democrats were pushing. The president had to compromise. He said that it was important for the government to take action, even at a time when the economy seems to be turning around.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are seeing some encouraging signs in the economy, but we can't stand by and simply hope for continued recovery. We must work for it. We must make sure that our recovery continues and gains momentum. We want a recovery that is broad enough and strong enough to provide jobs for all our citizens.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: And, Fredricka, the president doing a very rare live broadcast of his weekly radio address. He also talked about Monday. That's the six month mark since the September 11 attacks. He said for families who lost loved ones, they have endured six months of sorrow, but when it comes to the war on terror, it has been six months of determined action. And in a big speech on Monday, we understand the president will be talking about moving forward and will, in depth, talk about operations or preparations under way to help countries such as Yemen, the Philippines and the Former Soviet Republic of Georgia route out terrorism in those nations -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks very much, Kelly Wallace from the White House.
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