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Bush Talks Homeland Security and Terrorism; Kerry to Address Health Care; Supply and Demand

Aired October 18, 2004 - 14:06   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The president of the United States talking about the fight to the enemy there in Marlton, New Jersey. As you know, the president talking about homeland security and terrorism while in New Jersey. CNN's Bill Schneider and I talking about that just a little while ago.
Pretty interesting what you said, Bill. About 44 percent of those in New Jersey, they see terrorism and homeland security as the most important topic to them.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: That's right. And President Bush would like to make that the most important topics to Americans across the country, not just New Jersey, which, as the president had indicated, was just across the river from ground zero and could see the twin towers burning on September 11.

President Bush wants to cast this entire election essentially through the lens of 9/11. That was the Republican convention in New York was all about, everything is related to 9/11.

At the beginning of his speech, he said domestic issues, health care, education depend on making America safer. And you saw that logo behind the president, "A Safer America."

He wants this to be the 9/11 election. And in his remarks, one of the first things he said, he reminded his listeners and viewers that this is the first presidential election since 9/11; 9/11, the president wants to make sure, is the central focus of this campaign.

PHILLIPS: The president also touting the bill that he signed earlier today, $33 billion for the budget year.

SCHNEIDER: That's right. Yes, he said he signed the homeland security bill. That was the first point he made about fighting the war on terror, protecting homeland security. And he also had a number of points on which he attacked Senator Kerry as a weaker candidate in the war on terror.

Most interestingly, I think, he said he would not fight a preemptive war, he would wait for America to be attacked. Not quite true. Kerry said if there was an imminent threat, he would fight war, he would take preemptive action.

But apparently President Bush believes he would be the stronger candidate and would fight preemptive wars. And he says America will stay on the offensive, as it did in Iraq, going on the offensive against Saddam Hussein.

PHILLIPS: Bill Schneider, thank you so much. Bill Schneider, obviously, following what the president has to say.

Also, Bill and I and others here at CNN monitoring John Kerry. The stage is set right now in Tampa, Florida. You see Senator Kerry up here at the podium getting ready to speak. What we are being told, as the president is focused on terrorism, John Kerry expected to focus on health care.

Also traveling with the senator, our Frank Buckley. He joins us now live outside where this event is take place.

While the president focuses on terrorism, no doubt Senator Kerry will go that way. But the main part of this, health care, right, Frank?

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kyra. But I would say that Senator Kerry will also be talking about Iraq at the beginning of his remarks. You can expect Senator Kerry to speak to some of the things that President Bush just talked about earlier today, and he preemptively -- he preemptively spoke about President Bush's speech today, knowing what President Bush was going to be talking about.

He said that President Bush was going to be misleading people about his own record, Senator Kerry's record. And he made the point that he bled for the United States as a young man and he would defend the country as the president.

And just to pick up on one point that you were talking about, President Bush mentioning that he would -- that Senator Kerry would pull out of Iraq before the job was done, as President Bush said. Senator Kerry has said repeatedly that while there is a goal to pull the U.S. troops out of Iraq, it would certainly be -- not be done before the job is done, as President Bush put it. Senator Kerry virtually every time talking about this issue, saying that we, the United States, has to get the job done first in Iraq.

But the event here focusing on health care. Iraq will be part of it as well. The health care portion, Senator Kerry doing what he has on a number of topics, doing two things.

On the one hand, criticizing President Bush and President Bush's policies on health care. At the same time, he'll be talking about his own proposals for health care. So that's what we're expecting in this speech that's coming up shortly -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And Frank, as we wait for John Kerry to step up to the podium, of course, and take him live, we were talking with Bill Schneider about the president in Marlton, New Jersey, significance of New Jersey, the number of people lost on 9/11 from New Jersey. He was saying 44 percent of the people there, with homeland security and terrorism as the number one issue on their minds.

Let's talk about Florida. Let's talk about why John Kerry is in Florida. Obviously, we've been talking about how voting has started in four states today, that of Florida, an important time. And when you're talking health care, you are talking about a lot of seniors in Florida, of course, a lot of retired people.

BUCKLEY: That's right. Two points today.

The early voting begins. That means that Florida residents can actually begin casting their ballots. They go to pre-designated spots and begin casting their ballots. So that's under way.

Senator Kerry here to encourage that. And, of course, health care, one of the primary issues of interest to the senior citizen population here in Florida. And that's a population that Senator Kerry and President Bush both are trying to appeal to. So that's the point of the health care talk.

But Senator Kerry hitting a number of issues today as he travels up the state, beginning in West Palm Beach this morning. He's here now in Tampa, and later today he'll be in Orlando. Florida, obviously, maybe the key battleground state, and that's why Florida will be a state that both candidates will visit repeatedly between now and Election Day.

PHILLIPS: All right. Frank Buckley, standing by there in Tampa, Florida. Thank you so much.

As we wait for John Kerry to step up to the podium -- we've already heard from the president -- we'll take Kerry live as soon as it happens. A quick break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, it's a case of supply and demand from the former top U.S. commander in Iraq. Army Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez last year demanded change, citing a lack of critical supplies for troops in Iraq. Sanchez wrote a letter to Army units in Iraq on December 4, criticizing the equipment shortage. It has now been leaked to the media.

CNN Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, following that story.

Barbara, what's the Army saying about the memo?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, what Army officials are reminding us of, this memo is now some 10 months old, written in December 2003. Indeed, the situation in Iraq quite different back then. The insurgency had unfolded, and the Army was hoping to keep up, if you will.

General Sanchez's memo noting that there was a shortage of spare parts, that repair times were taking quite a while, and that they were using the equipment at that point because of the insurgency much more than they had expected to. That made something called readiness rates, the availability of the equipment fall substantially. It was not as available as it should have been. General Sanchez writing a memo to Washington saying that this problem had to get fixed. Well, of course, all of this is something that the Army monitors continuously, spare parts readiness, availability, that sort of thing. They indeed had already been monitoring it, as General Sanchez already knew and expected, as he was pointing this problem out.

What officials tell us, in the last 10 months, much of this has actually been resolved. That spare parts are now flowing to the region much more quickly, repairs are taking less time, and those availability rates are back up to where they should be. But still, it's very interesting to note, the Army is using its equipment at very heavy rates in Iraq, five times more than they had expected. So this is going to be something they will continue to work on -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: It's sort of interesting the timing, Barbara. You look at this memo, then we backtrack a number of days to the fuel platoon of the 343rd Cores Master Company. Apparently soldiers refusing to take on this dangerous mission. It definitely raises the question of, do soldiers have what they need?

STARR: Well, what the Army says is, yes. You know, they're not denying that there may be individual situations where they can do better.

In fact, in relation to that fuel convoy last Wednesday, the commanding general himself says he's going to take another look at all of that and make sure those vehicles have the armor, the steel plating that they need. But that convoy situation somewhat different.

The Army now saying that a handful of the soldiers who did directly refuse their orders may have been a disciplinary problem, had disciplinary issues in the past. Some of those soldiers now moved to another unit.

The convoy situation is one that they take very seriously. They say those soldiers had some valid concerns but expressed them inappropriately. So, nonetheless, while they move ahead with that investigation, they are looking to make sure those vehicles have the armor plating they need as well -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Barbara Starr, live from the Pentagon. Thanks so much.

We want to take you now live to Tampa, Florida, where John Kerry now addressing a group of supporters there at another campaign rally.

(INTERRUPTED BY LIVE EVENT)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired October 18, 2004 - 14:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The president of the United States talking about the fight to the enemy there in Marlton, New Jersey. As you know, the president talking about homeland security and terrorism while in New Jersey. CNN's Bill Schneider and I talking about that just a little while ago.
Pretty interesting what you said, Bill. About 44 percent of those in New Jersey, they see terrorism and homeland security as the most important topic to them.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: That's right. And President Bush would like to make that the most important topics to Americans across the country, not just New Jersey, which, as the president had indicated, was just across the river from ground zero and could see the twin towers burning on September 11.

President Bush wants to cast this entire election essentially through the lens of 9/11. That was the Republican convention in New York was all about, everything is related to 9/11.

At the beginning of his speech, he said domestic issues, health care, education depend on making America safer. And you saw that logo behind the president, "A Safer America."

He wants this to be the 9/11 election. And in his remarks, one of the first things he said, he reminded his listeners and viewers that this is the first presidential election since 9/11; 9/11, the president wants to make sure, is the central focus of this campaign.

PHILLIPS: The president also touting the bill that he signed earlier today, $33 billion for the budget year.

SCHNEIDER: That's right. Yes, he said he signed the homeland security bill. That was the first point he made about fighting the war on terror, protecting homeland security. And he also had a number of points on which he attacked Senator Kerry as a weaker candidate in the war on terror.

Most interestingly, I think, he said he would not fight a preemptive war, he would wait for America to be attacked. Not quite true. Kerry said if there was an imminent threat, he would fight war, he would take preemptive action.

But apparently President Bush believes he would be the stronger candidate and would fight preemptive wars. And he says America will stay on the offensive, as it did in Iraq, going on the offensive against Saddam Hussein.

PHILLIPS: Bill Schneider, thank you so much. Bill Schneider, obviously, following what the president has to say.

Also, Bill and I and others here at CNN monitoring John Kerry. The stage is set right now in Tampa, Florida. You see Senator Kerry up here at the podium getting ready to speak. What we are being told, as the president is focused on terrorism, John Kerry expected to focus on health care.

Also traveling with the senator, our Frank Buckley. He joins us now live outside where this event is take place.

While the president focuses on terrorism, no doubt Senator Kerry will go that way. But the main part of this, health care, right, Frank?

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kyra. But I would say that Senator Kerry will also be talking about Iraq at the beginning of his remarks. You can expect Senator Kerry to speak to some of the things that President Bush just talked about earlier today, and he preemptively -- he preemptively spoke about President Bush's speech today, knowing what President Bush was going to be talking about.

He said that President Bush was going to be misleading people about his own record, Senator Kerry's record. And he made the point that he bled for the United States as a young man and he would defend the country as the president.

And just to pick up on one point that you were talking about, President Bush mentioning that he would -- that Senator Kerry would pull out of Iraq before the job was done, as President Bush said. Senator Kerry has said repeatedly that while there is a goal to pull the U.S. troops out of Iraq, it would certainly be -- not be done before the job is done, as President Bush put it. Senator Kerry virtually every time talking about this issue, saying that we, the United States, has to get the job done first in Iraq.

But the event here focusing on health care. Iraq will be part of it as well. The health care portion, Senator Kerry doing what he has on a number of topics, doing two things.

On the one hand, criticizing President Bush and President Bush's policies on health care. At the same time, he'll be talking about his own proposals for health care. So that's what we're expecting in this speech that's coming up shortly -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And Frank, as we wait for John Kerry to step up to the podium, of course, and take him live, we were talking with Bill Schneider about the president in Marlton, New Jersey, significance of New Jersey, the number of people lost on 9/11 from New Jersey. He was saying 44 percent of the people there, with homeland security and terrorism as the number one issue on their minds.

Let's talk about Florida. Let's talk about why John Kerry is in Florida. Obviously, we've been talking about how voting has started in four states today, that of Florida, an important time. And when you're talking health care, you are talking about a lot of seniors in Florida, of course, a lot of retired people.

BUCKLEY: That's right. Two points today.

The early voting begins. That means that Florida residents can actually begin casting their ballots. They go to pre-designated spots and begin casting their ballots. So that's under way.

Senator Kerry here to encourage that. And, of course, health care, one of the primary issues of interest to the senior citizen population here in Florida. And that's a population that Senator Kerry and President Bush both are trying to appeal to. So that's the point of the health care talk.

But Senator Kerry hitting a number of issues today as he travels up the state, beginning in West Palm Beach this morning. He's here now in Tampa, and later today he'll be in Orlando. Florida, obviously, maybe the key battleground state, and that's why Florida will be a state that both candidates will visit repeatedly between now and Election Day.

PHILLIPS: All right. Frank Buckley, standing by there in Tampa, Florida. Thank you so much.

As we wait for John Kerry to step up to the podium -- we've already heard from the president -- we'll take Kerry live as soon as it happens. A quick break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, it's a case of supply and demand from the former top U.S. commander in Iraq. Army Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez last year demanded change, citing a lack of critical supplies for troops in Iraq. Sanchez wrote a letter to Army units in Iraq on December 4, criticizing the equipment shortage. It has now been leaked to the media.

CNN Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, following that story.

Barbara, what's the Army saying about the memo?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, what Army officials are reminding us of, this memo is now some 10 months old, written in December 2003. Indeed, the situation in Iraq quite different back then. The insurgency had unfolded, and the Army was hoping to keep up, if you will.

General Sanchez's memo noting that there was a shortage of spare parts, that repair times were taking quite a while, and that they were using the equipment at that point because of the insurgency much more than they had expected to. That made something called readiness rates, the availability of the equipment fall substantially. It was not as available as it should have been. General Sanchez writing a memo to Washington saying that this problem had to get fixed. Well, of course, all of this is something that the Army monitors continuously, spare parts readiness, availability, that sort of thing. They indeed had already been monitoring it, as General Sanchez already knew and expected, as he was pointing this problem out.

What officials tell us, in the last 10 months, much of this has actually been resolved. That spare parts are now flowing to the region much more quickly, repairs are taking less time, and those availability rates are back up to where they should be. But still, it's very interesting to note, the Army is using its equipment at very heavy rates in Iraq, five times more than they had expected. So this is going to be something they will continue to work on -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: It's sort of interesting the timing, Barbara. You look at this memo, then we backtrack a number of days to the fuel platoon of the 343rd Cores Master Company. Apparently soldiers refusing to take on this dangerous mission. It definitely raises the question of, do soldiers have what they need?

STARR: Well, what the Army says is, yes. You know, they're not denying that there may be individual situations where they can do better.

In fact, in relation to that fuel convoy last Wednesday, the commanding general himself says he's going to take another look at all of that and make sure those vehicles have the armor, the steel plating that they need. But that convoy situation somewhat different.

The Army now saying that a handful of the soldiers who did directly refuse their orders may have been a disciplinary problem, had disciplinary issues in the past. Some of those soldiers now moved to another unit.

The convoy situation is one that they take very seriously. They say those soldiers had some valid concerns but expressed them inappropriately. So, nonetheless, while they move ahead with that investigation, they are looking to make sure those vehicles have the armor plating they need as well -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Barbara Starr, live from the Pentagon. Thanks so much.

We want to take you now live to Tampa, Florida, where John Kerry now addressing a group of supporters there at another campaign rally.

(INTERRUPTED BY LIVE EVENT)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com