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CNN Live At Daybreak

America Strikes Back: Bush to Swear in Tom Ridge for Homeland Security Position

Aired October 08, 2001 - 07:27   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We heard the president's address yesterday, saying, "We will not waver, we will not fail." And today the White House security is topic A once again.

Major Garrett this morning watching that -- Major, good morning.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

As you said, security is the top agenda item here at the White House this morning. The president will participate in a swearing in ceremony for former Pennsylvania Governor and Republican Tom Ridge, who will now lead the cabinet level department or agency within the White House dedicated to homeland security.

And at that swearing in ceremony, we are told by White House officials that the president will again address lingering concerns many Americans have about the United States' exposure to terrorism now that the military retaliation has begun.

He will try, as he did in his address on Sunday, to reassure Americans that everything is being done at every agency level within the federal government and that state and local governments are also on a very high state of alert to protect them from any act of terrorism.

And as you said, Bill, in his address yesterday from the treaty room in the residence at the White House, the president said these initial round of air strikes will pave the way for a sustained, comprehensive and relentless campaign against terrorists and those within the Taliban regime who support them. In announcing it, he also underscored the breadth and scope of the international coalition supporting those initial strikes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: On my orders, the United States military has begun strikes against the al Qaeda terrorist training camps and military installations of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. These carefully targeted actions are designed to disrupt the use of Afghanistan as a terrorist base of operations and to attack the military capability of the Taliban regime. We are joined in this operation by our staunch friend, Great Britain. Other close friends, including Canada, Australia, Germany and France, have pledged forces as the operation unfolds. More than 40 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and across Asia have granted air transit or landing rights. Many more have shared intelligence.

We are supported by the collective will of the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GARRETT: Bill, the president also urged Americans to be patient, saying in his address that the conflict will be won by the patient accumulation of successes. And as the Pentagon has often pointed out, some of those will be seen, some of them not so easily seen -- Bill.

HEMMER: One can imagine we'll hear those themes constantly, be patient, to America, and also be alert. More coming up later. Major, thank you.

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