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CNN Live At Daybreak
What's on Tap for D.C. Today?
Aired August 21, 2002 - 06:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We want to delve deeper into the subject of Iraq by talking about the not-about-Iraq talk going on in Crawford, Texas now.
Joining us now on the phone is our Washington deputy bureau chief, Steve Redisch. He has that and much more.
Good morning -- Steve.
STEVE REDISCH, CNN WASHINGTON DEPUTY BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: So they are talking in Crawford, but not so much about Iraq.
REDISCH: Kind of like the elephant in the room that you're not supposed to talk about or see.
The line out of the White House is that military advisors are coming to Crawford today, Donald Rumsfeld and several others, Condoleezza Rice and other national security advisors, to meet with President Bush about revamping the Pentagon and Pentagon reform, as well as missile defense. Iraq is not on the agenda, but as spokesman Air Fleisher said yesterday, it could come up.
COSTELLO: Well, is it possible they are doing this on purpose to sort of quiet down the rhetoric going on?
REDISCH: Perhaps, but one of the people who will not be in attendance in Crawford is General Tommy Franks, who is the commander -- is the commander in chief of the Central Command, and he is the man who would be directing any kind of attack on Iraq. He is the one who is in charge of the Afghan operation, and Iraq falls under his purview.
COSTELLO: Got you. OK, well, I'm sure we'll follow that today, of course.
Tell us about the Commerce Department and what it's doing today.
REDISCH: The Commerce Department is taking a look at -- is beginning a two-year study on what happened in New York. And their standards division, which does everything from weights and measures to making sure that the gas pump pumps the right amount of gasoline into your car, that a gallon is a gallon. They are taking a look at what happened with the Twin Towers when fire and stress caused it to topple, and then perhaps issue new regulations and new standards for building buildings.
COSTELLO: Interesting. The Airline Pilots Association is meeting, too, in Washington. Why?
REDISCH: It's their annual meeting, and they are going to hear today -- it's basically about safety and terrorism. And they are going to be meeting with the new -- with the designated nominee of the FAA, and they'll also meet with several other anti-terrorism types.
COSTELLO: Got you. Have you heard about the new Eminem video, where the rap star, Eminem, urinates on the White House?
REDISCH: Eminem video? That -- you know, I'm still stuck in the '70s (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: I just wondered if there was any buzz about it in Washington.
REDISCH: Tell me if Buffalo Springfield gets back together again, but...
COSTELLO: Well, we have been getting some viewer response about this video. I just wondered if there was any buzz in Washington, because it's not very respectful towards Washington and the president.
REDISCH: Well, you know, there are not a whole lot of people who are that respectful towards Washington and the president and all of that. But so far, no buzz that I have heard, but I'll keep my ears open.
COSTELLO: OK, thank you, Steve Redisch. We'll get back to you tomorrow.
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