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CNN Live Today
Bush Speaks to USAID Workers and NGO Presidents
Aired January 10, 2005 - 11:31 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We go live to Washington D.C. President Bush addressing USAID employees and nongovernmental organizations presidents.
Most of you are members of this great organization, the United States Agency for International Development.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Most of you are members of this great organization, the United States Agency for International Development. Some of you are members of nongovernmental organizations. All of you are playing an important role in that compassionate response. The world has taken notice and the American people are grateful.
Throughout the many affected regions, the loss of life and property is immense. People in nations throughout Asia and around the world are working to ease the suffering brought on by this terrible disaster. The international community has responded with generosity and compassion, and the men and women of USAID have been at the center of that response. And I'm here to thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
I want to thank our secretary of state for his fantastic service to our nation. I want to thank him for recently leading a delegation to the affected areas to express our nation's deepest concerns. I want to thank him for keeping my little brother straight.
(LAUGHTER)
But the secretary, any time he represents America, does so with such dignity and strength.
And, Mr. Secretary, you do so again, and the world better understands our heart as a result of your trip. And I thank you for it.
(APPLAUSE)
And I appreciate Andrew's work.
(APPLAUSE)
Andrew, you should take that as a good sign.
(LAUGHTER)
BUSH: Either that or it's all your close relatives who are here.
(LAUGHTER)
But I really do want to thank Andrew for not only helping to organize effort, but for his travels and his concern and his willingness to put in the long hours necessary to make sure that which we spend works.
And I want to thank you all for working along with Andrew.
I know the response disaster team of USAID is sitting behind me.
Andrew tells me that the response disaster team went into work the minute we heard about the disaster.
And since then, you've been working long hours. I appreciate it very much.
We just finished meeting with a group of representatives and heads of nongovernmental organizations, NGOs, all of which are providing love and compassion and help.
After that meeting, I must tell you, my spirits were raised even higher than they were walking into the meeting.
There is no question in my mind that the NGOs of America provide such vital, vital help in times of disaster.
A little later on, I want to make yet another appeal for people in America to donate money. But I do want to remind our fellow citizens, as you donate money to the tsunami relief effort, make sure you continue to contribute to NGOs, because those groups -- we still have problems in other parts of our country and other parts of the world. It is essential that your contribution not replace the ongoing contributions you're making to help the NGOs of America.
You should view the tsunami relief effort as extra help to help solve the problem so that we don't shortchange the needs for compassion elsewhere in our country and the world.
BUSH: Colin and brother Jeb earlier and Andy came by and reported to me what they have seen. The pictures do not do the devastation justice. They don't tell the whole story of what we've seen on TV, what these people have seen in person.
The devastation was on a scale that none of them had ever experienced. I think Colin referred to Banda Aceh of something equivalent to Hiroshima.
They reported that the efforts are well-coordinated. In other words, there was a huge problem, but the good news is is that the efforts, the compassion, the money, the hope, is well-coordinated, and that your work is making a difference in saving lives and helping people who need help.
That's what you're here to do. And it's working. USAID personnel in the region responded the very day the disaster struck: not only the response get set up, but the people around the world began to move.
Your fellow colleagues and yourselves have been working day and night, 24 hours a day.
And we're grateful. It's not easy. I know, it's hard, particularly in the time of year in which this hit. But you're doing your job. And for that, I'm extremely grateful.
I think the intensity of the effort reflects the enormity of the task. After all, the death toll is estimated at 150,000 people and may climb even higher. Among the dead are thousands of children, and as many as 5 million people are thought to be homeless or without food and clean water.
You're coordinating airlifts of relief supplies to the affected areas. You're arranging for clean water. You're arranging for medical aid. You're arranging for psychological help. And that's important work.
BUSH: USAID has delivered food, temporary shelter, hygiene kits and supplies to help people survive. In other words, we have focused on the relief effort.
Now we're beginning to focus on rehabilitation and rebuilding. And as a result, USAID is arranging small loans for those whose livelihoods have been destroyed.
We're talking about the NGOs who have been working along with USAID. I think Ruth mentioned the fact that her agency has now provided a fishing boat. In other words, we're beginning to help rebuild lives and help people get back on their feet.
The NGOs, including our faith-based organizations, have been working in these regions for decades. As the head of the NGO or the representative of the NGO who spoke said, "Well, Mr. President, we have been there for 30 or 40 years." And as a result of having been there, there's an infrastructure in place, which is good news for those who need help.
Not only are these people, the NGOs, expressing the world's concern, the cooperation between our government and the NGOs has been superb, and that's important. It's important because we don't want to have a duplication of effort. We want to make sure that we assess the needs and make sure that our contributions, whether they be from the public sector or the private sector, are spent wisely.
And having listened carefully to Colin and Andrew and the NGO heads, I can say to the American people that to the best extent possible we're coordinating our efforts. We're not only coordinating our efforts here at home, we're also doing a better job of coordinating our efforts with other governments and international NGOs. We've made an initial commitment of $350 million for relief efforts. That's the commitment from the federal government. And the NGOs, in turn, are using some of those funds effectively to meet the needs of the people on the ground.
In other words, what we have done is we've made a commitment at the federal level. We said, "How best to spend that money?" And the best way to spend that money is to actually spend it with people who know what they're doing on the ground. We don't need to try -- now is not the time to try to come up with a new way of solving old problems. Now is a way to use people who have been solving problems in an effective way to help people on the ground. And that's exactly what we're doing.
Our military is doing a fantastic job, by the way. I want to thank our commanders on the ground, and I want to thank our troops who are representing the best of America.
BUSH: Navy vessels, including the USS Abraham Lincoln, have moved into the region and they're providing food and medical supplies and clean water.
Helicopters and military aircraft are meeting critical needs by airlifting supplies directly to the victims. After all, many of the victims have lived in remote areas.
Like in so many other places, those who wear our uniform are showing the great decency of America and I thank them for that.
I can't tell you how much our government and the people of America appreciate the good work our military is doing to help relieve the suffering from this crisis.
(APPLAUSE)
The NGOs with which I met tell me about the incredible outpouring of generosity here at home.
And I want to thank all those who have contributed to the NGOs. I particularly want to thank two former presidents, 41 and 42, Dad and Bill...
(LAUGHTER)
... for stepping up and helping to raise money.
It's important that Presidents Clinton and Bush do what they have done. And I can't thank them enough for taking time out of their busy schedules to send out an appeal to the citizens of our country.
Listen, people want to help. I repeat, make sure that this help doesn't take the place of other help you're giving. But if you do want to continue to help and I ask you to do so, please go to usafreedomcorps.gov on the Web page.
BUSH: And that shows you where to send your money to make sure it's properly used.
And as well, hopefully the legislation I signed that will allow taxpayers to deduct this month's contribution for tsunami relief from your 2004 tax returns is further incentive: kind of a little kick to the heart.
(APPLAUSE)
The United States government and the NGOs that have worked so hard for so long in the region are committed to this area of the world for a long time.
This is one of these projects that's not going to happen over night. The intense scrutiny may dissipate, and it probably will, but our focus has got to stay on this part of the world.
I mean, we have a duty. We have made a commitment. And our commitment is a long-term commitment to help these good folks in the part of the world that got affected get back on their feet.
Well after the immediate danger passes, USAID is still going to be in the hard-hit areas. And I thank you for that.
See, you're going to be helping the people improve their schools and develop health services and mitigate conflict, reinvigorate local economies and help build institutions of democracy so people can live in peace and freedom.
As our government's leader in relief and reconstruction, USAID and its predecessors have done this kind of work before. You have done big jobs in the past, such as the Marshall Plan.
And we're committed to not only solving this problem, but we're committed to the work that goes on year round in nearly 100 countries; countries that include Iraq and Afghanistan, where you're helping to bring a better future to millions of people who have been newly liberated, and the regions in the world like Darfur and the Sudan, where you're helping to reduce deaths and violence in that troubled region.
BUSH: The efforts of USAID is essential for the foreign policy of the United States of America.
Your efforts and the efforts of others, especially to create jobs, promote markets, improve health, fight HIV/AIDS and help democracy take root, are instrumental to making the world a better place and to protecting the American people.
From Sudan to Sumatra, the world has seen America at its best in the work you do.
Sometimes you don't get thanked enough.
I don't know how many times the president has been by to say, "Thanks," but...
(APPLAUSE)
... I'll tell you this: It's my distinct honor to come by and say thanks.
(APPLAUSE)
I appreciate your compassion. I appreciate you love for your fellow human being. And thank you for the work you do.
May God bless you all.
(APPLAUSE)
We've been listening in to President Bush as he addresses USAID employees, also presidents of NGOs, non-governmental organizations, doing their work across the world and through much of the tsunami region as well. President Bush praising both those groups and how well they are working together in trying to get aid to the most needed places and the most needed people.
We're just a couple weeks into the year, not too soon to talk about getting away, I don't think.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: I've got a list of some hot -- this is a piece of paper.
KAGAN: It's there.
HARRIS: It's there somewhere.
A list of hotspots that will really entice you. And we'll run it all down for you in just a minute when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: A developing story from North Carolina. Look at these pictures. That is a tanker truck on fire. I-95 shut down near Selma, North Carolina, because of this tanker truck which overturned and burst into flames. We'll keep an eye on it and bring you the latest as it becomes available. I-95 shut down near Selma. Well, right there, you can see the city limits -- Selma, North Carolina.
HARRIS: You know, It's not too soon to start making travel plans for 2005. And this morning, we're taking a look at some desirable destinations. The January issue of "Travel & Leisure" magazine highlights trends and hotspots for the year ahead.
Senior editor Milou Motamed joins us from New York.
Good morning, Milou.
MILOU MOTAMED, SR. EDITOR, "TRAVEL & LEISURE": Good morning, Tony.
All right, we're Going start with trends, right?
MOTAMED: Absolutely. This is 2005. We looked in our crystal balls and came up with the trends, the hot trends of the year.
HARRIS: Milou, talk about a spot you found in Botswana.
MOTAMED: Well, you know, one thing we're really seeing it that people don't want to just go to resorts and you know, sit around and be removed from their environment. What they really want is authentic travel. And that's what we called it. In Botswana, there is a actually a camp that -- called the Good Deedwa (ph) -- and I probably butchered that -- Camp. And what's amazing you really live the way that the people there live, which means you will actually be sleeping in grass huts. There are western bathrooms, which I'm happy about.
But you will be roughing it and you'll really be experiencing what these people go through day by day, which I think people find very valuable. You want to have an experience that really touches you. This is not that place. What we're seeing right now is actually in Phoenix.
HARRIS: No, no, no, I don't want to go there yet. I don't want to go there yet.
MOTAMED: You showed the picture.
HARRIS: Right, right. I don't know why that happened. It just popped up there and it shouldn't have. But Nilou, I wanted to go back to that place in Botswana because the president was talking about and giving praise and thanks to the presidents of NGOs. And this place in Botswana, I understand, was actually set up in part by an NGO, conservative international, helped to develop that camp. And you're right, you got to rough it a little bit, but...
MOTAMED: What's great about it is that you're supporting the way of life for these people. You're not going in, you're not making them into a cliche, you're not making them have to put on grass skirts as in the old days when you went to Honolulu. What you're seeing is the way they live and they allow you to enter into their homes.
HARRIS: OK, now let's take a look at this place in Phoenix, Arizona. And this is the Sheridan Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa.
MOTAMED: Say that three times fast.
HARRIS: I don't want to. Tell us about it.
MOTAMED: Well, what's great about this resort is that it is owned and run and designed by American Indians. There are two tribes there, which I think are concerned about whether gambling laws are going to be changed and have basically put this into effect as a way to hedge their bets and make sure they will have resources and that their resources won't be drying up.
But it actually was built with gambling revenue. What's great about it is, I mean, I think everyone has a fantasy of playing cowboys and Indians and going out into the desert with an actual tribesman as your guide and going riding and, again, having the one-on-one experience where when you go to a place, you really get to learn about the culture. And the concierge is a tribesman and will really teach you about -- and your kids especially -- I think this would be great for a kids' trip.
HARRIS: OK, Nilou, let's move along because I want to get to this travel trend where you're talking to us about outer space. Who does that? We don't get to play in outer space yet, or do we?
MOTAMED: You know what? We do. We absolutely do. I mean, it's incredible. Dennis Pinto (ph) -- I mean, who was that man's name? Dennis something, who went into space last year, went and became a Russian cosmonaut.
We now have zero gravity flights and suborbital flights that are available with Space Adventures. And Space Adventures in 2007 will be doing the first tourist suborbital flight. They already have 100 requests. Each person has put in a deposit of $10,000 and the whole trip will cost $100,000. So if you're feeling a little flush in 2005...
HARRIS: All right, Nilou.
MOTAMED: ... you might want to book your seat.
HARRIS: All right. Well, that sounds good. We'll get you back and talk about Miami, which is hot again. But good to see you as always.
MOTAMED: Thank you so much.
HARRIS: We'll take break and we'll come back with more of CNN LIVE TODAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: And that's going to do it for us for today. You coming back tomorrow?
HARRIS: Yes, yes, if you'll have me back.
KAGAN: I will.
HARRIS: You're such a great host, but I'm so sloppy up here. If you'll have me back, I'll be back.
KAGAN: Live and learn.
HARRIS: OK.
KAGAN: There you go. Love to have you back. For Tony Harris, I'm Daryn Kagan. Another break and then Wolf Blitzer has all your news at the top of the hour. We'll see you tomorrow.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired January 10, 2005 - 11:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We go live to Washington D.C. President Bush addressing USAID employees and nongovernmental organizations presidents.
Most of you are members of this great organization, the United States Agency for International Development.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Most of you are members of this great organization, the United States Agency for International Development. Some of you are members of nongovernmental organizations. All of you are playing an important role in that compassionate response. The world has taken notice and the American people are grateful.
Throughout the many affected regions, the loss of life and property is immense. People in nations throughout Asia and around the world are working to ease the suffering brought on by this terrible disaster. The international community has responded with generosity and compassion, and the men and women of USAID have been at the center of that response. And I'm here to thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
I want to thank our secretary of state for his fantastic service to our nation. I want to thank him for recently leading a delegation to the affected areas to express our nation's deepest concerns. I want to thank him for keeping my little brother straight.
(LAUGHTER)
But the secretary, any time he represents America, does so with such dignity and strength.
And, Mr. Secretary, you do so again, and the world better understands our heart as a result of your trip. And I thank you for it.
(APPLAUSE)
And I appreciate Andrew's work.
(APPLAUSE)
Andrew, you should take that as a good sign.
(LAUGHTER)
BUSH: Either that or it's all your close relatives who are here.
(LAUGHTER)
But I really do want to thank Andrew for not only helping to organize effort, but for his travels and his concern and his willingness to put in the long hours necessary to make sure that which we spend works.
And I want to thank you all for working along with Andrew.
I know the response disaster team of USAID is sitting behind me.
Andrew tells me that the response disaster team went into work the minute we heard about the disaster.
And since then, you've been working long hours. I appreciate it very much.
We just finished meeting with a group of representatives and heads of nongovernmental organizations, NGOs, all of which are providing love and compassion and help.
After that meeting, I must tell you, my spirits were raised even higher than they were walking into the meeting.
There is no question in my mind that the NGOs of America provide such vital, vital help in times of disaster.
A little later on, I want to make yet another appeal for people in America to donate money. But I do want to remind our fellow citizens, as you donate money to the tsunami relief effort, make sure you continue to contribute to NGOs, because those groups -- we still have problems in other parts of our country and other parts of the world. It is essential that your contribution not replace the ongoing contributions you're making to help the NGOs of America.
You should view the tsunami relief effort as extra help to help solve the problem so that we don't shortchange the needs for compassion elsewhere in our country and the world.
BUSH: Colin and brother Jeb earlier and Andy came by and reported to me what they have seen. The pictures do not do the devastation justice. They don't tell the whole story of what we've seen on TV, what these people have seen in person.
The devastation was on a scale that none of them had ever experienced. I think Colin referred to Banda Aceh of something equivalent to Hiroshima.
They reported that the efforts are well-coordinated. In other words, there was a huge problem, but the good news is is that the efforts, the compassion, the money, the hope, is well-coordinated, and that your work is making a difference in saving lives and helping people who need help.
That's what you're here to do. And it's working. USAID personnel in the region responded the very day the disaster struck: not only the response get set up, but the people around the world began to move.
Your fellow colleagues and yourselves have been working day and night, 24 hours a day.
And we're grateful. It's not easy. I know, it's hard, particularly in the time of year in which this hit. But you're doing your job. And for that, I'm extremely grateful.
I think the intensity of the effort reflects the enormity of the task. After all, the death toll is estimated at 150,000 people and may climb even higher. Among the dead are thousands of children, and as many as 5 million people are thought to be homeless or without food and clean water.
You're coordinating airlifts of relief supplies to the affected areas. You're arranging for clean water. You're arranging for medical aid. You're arranging for psychological help. And that's important work.
BUSH: USAID has delivered food, temporary shelter, hygiene kits and supplies to help people survive. In other words, we have focused on the relief effort.
Now we're beginning to focus on rehabilitation and rebuilding. And as a result, USAID is arranging small loans for those whose livelihoods have been destroyed.
We're talking about the NGOs who have been working along with USAID. I think Ruth mentioned the fact that her agency has now provided a fishing boat. In other words, we're beginning to help rebuild lives and help people get back on their feet.
The NGOs, including our faith-based organizations, have been working in these regions for decades. As the head of the NGO or the representative of the NGO who spoke said, "Well, Mr. President, we have been there for 30 or 40 years." And as a result of having been there, there's an infrastructure in place, which is good news for those who need help.
Not only are these people, the NGOs, expressing the world's concern, the cooperation between our government and the NGOs has been superb, and that's important. It's important because we don't want to have a duplication of effort. We want to make sure that we assess the needs and make sure that our contributions, whether they be from the public sector or the private sector, are spent wisely.
And having listened carefully to Colin and Andrew and the NGO heads, I can say to the American people that to the best extent possible we're coordinating our efforts. We're not only coordinating our efforts here at home, we're also doing a better job of coordinating our efforts with other governments and international NGOs. We've made an initial commitment of $350 million for relief efforts. That's the commitment from the federal government. And the NGOs, in turn, are using some of those funds effectively to meet the needs of the people on the ground.
In other words, what we have done is we've made a commitment at the federal level. We said, "How best to spend that money?" And the best way to spend that money is to actually spend it with people who know what they're doing on the ground. We don't need to try -- now is not the time to try to come up with a new way of solving old problems. Now is a way to use people who have been solving problems in an effective way to help people on the ground. And that's exactly what we're doing.
Our military is doing a fantastic job, by the way. I want to thank our commanders on the ground, and I want to thank our troops who are representing the best of America.
BUSH: Navy vessels, including the USS Abraham Lincoln, have moved into the region and they're providing food and medical supplies and clean water.
Helicopters and military aircraft are meeting critical needs by airlifting supplies directly to the victims. After all, many of the victims have lived in remote areas.
Like in so many other places, those who wear our uniform are showing the great decency of America and I thank them for that.
I can't tell you how much our government and the people of America appreciate the good work our military is doing to help relieve the suffering from this crisis.
(APPLAUSE)
The NGOs with which I met tell me about the incredible outpouring of generosity here at home.
And I want to thank all those who have contributed to the NGOs. I particularly want to thank two former presidents, 41 and 42, Dad and Bill...
(LAUGHTER)
... for stepping up and helping to raise money.
It's important that Presidents Clinton and Bush do what they have done. And I can't thank them enough for taking time out of their busy schedules to send out an appeal to the citizens of our country.
Listen, people want to help. I repeat, make sure that this help doesn't take the place of other help you're giving. But if you do want to continue to help and I ask you to do so, please go to usafreedomcorps.gov on the Web page.
BUSH: And that shows you where to send your money to make sure it's properly used.
And as well, hopefully the legislation I signed that will allow taxpayers to deduct this month's contribution for tsunami relief from your 2004 tax returns is further incentive: kind of a little kick to the heart.
(APPLAUSE)
The United States government and the NGOs that have worked so hard for so long in the region are committed to this area of the world for a long time.
This is one of these projects that's not going to happen over night. The intense scrutiny may dissipate, and it probably will, but our focus has got to stay on this part of the world.
I mean, we have a duty. We have made a commitment. And our commitment is a long-term commitment to help these good folks in the part of the world that got affected get back on their feet.
Well after the immediate danger passes, USAID is still going to be in the hard-hit areas. And I thank you for that.
See, you're going to be helping the people improve their schools and develop health services and mitigate conflict, reinvigorate local economies and help build institutions of democracy so people can live in peace and freedom.
As our government's leader in relief and reconstruction, USAID and its predecessors have done this kind of work before. You have done big jobs in the past, such as the Marshall Plan.
And we're committed to not only solving this problem, but we're committed to the work that goes on year round in nearly 100 countries; countries that include Iraq and Afghanistan, where you're helping to bring a better future to millions of people who have been newly liberated, and the regions in the world like Darfur and the Sudan, where you're helping to reduce deaths and violence in that troubled region.
BUSH: The efforts of USAID is essential for the foreign policy of the United States of America.
Your efforts and the efforts of others, especially to create jobs, promote markets, improve health, fight HIV/AIDS and help democracy take root, are instrumental to making the world a better place and to protecting the American people.
From Sudan to Sumatra, the world has seen America at its best in the work you do.
Sometimes you don't get thanked enough.
I don't know how many times the president has been by to say, "Thanks," but...
(APPLAUSE)
... I'll tell you this: It's my distinct honor to come by and say thanks.
(APPLAUSE)
I appreciate your compassion. I appreciate you love for your fellow human being. And thank you for the work you do.
May God bless you all.
(APPLAUSE)
We've been listening in to President Bush as he addresses USAID employees, also presidents of NGOs, non-governmental organizations, doing their work across the world and through much of the tsunami region as well. President Bush praising both those groups and how well they are working together in trying to get aid to the most needed places and the most needed people.
We're just a couple weeks into the year, not too soon to talk about getting away, I don't think.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: I've got a list of some hot -- this is a piece of paper.
KAGAN: It's there.
HARRIS: It's there somewhere.
A list of hotspots that will really entice you. And we'll run it all down for you in just a minute when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: A developing story from North Carolina. Look at these pictures. That is a tanker truck on fire. I-95 shut down near Selma, North Carolina, because of this tanker truck which overturned and burst into flames. We'll keep an eye on it and bring you the latest as it becomes available. I-95 shut down near Selma. Well, right there, you can see the city limits -- Selma, North Carolina.
HARRIS: You know, It's not too soon to start making travel plans for 2005. And this morning, we're taking a look at some desirable destinations. The January issue of "Travel & Leisure" magazine highlights trends and hotspots for the year ahead.
Senior editor Milou Motamed joins us from New York.
Good morning, Milou.
MILOU MOTAMED, SR. EDITOR, "TRAVEL & LEISURE": Good morning, Tony.
All right, we're Going start with trends, right?
MOTAMED: Absolutely. This is 2005. We looked in our crystal balls and came up with the trends, the hot trends of the year.
HARRIS: Milou, talk about a spot you found in Botswana.
MOTAMED: Well, you know, one thing we're really seeing it that people don't want to just go to resorts and you know, sit around and be removed from their environment. What they really want is authentic travel. And that's what we called it. In Botswana, there is a actually a camp that -- called the Good Deedwa (ph) -- and I probably butchered that -- Camp. And what's amazing you really live the way that the people there live, which means you will actually be sleeping in grass huts. There are western bathrooms, which I'm happy about.
But you will be roughing it and you'll really be experiencing what these people go through day by day, which I think people find very valuable. You want to have an experience that really touches you. This is not that place. What we're seeing right now is actually in Phoenix.
HARRIS: No, no, no, I don't want to go there yet. I don't want to go there yet.
MOTAMED: You showed the picture.
HARRIS: Right, right. I don't know why that happened. It just popped up there and it shouldn't have. But Nilou, I wanted to go back to that place in Botswana because the president was talking about and giving praise and thanks to the presidents of NGOs. And this place in Botswana, I understand, was actually set up in part by an NGO, conservative international, helped to develop that camp. And you're right, you got to rough it a little bit, but...
MOTAMED: What's great about it is that you're supporting the way of life for these people. You're not going in, you're not making them into a cliche, you're not making them have to put on grass skirts as in the old days when you went to Honolulu. What you're seeing is the way they live and they allow you to enter into their homes.
HARRIS: OK, now let's take a look at this place in Phoenix, Arizona. And this is the Sheridan Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa.
MOTAMED: Say that three times fast.
HARRIS: I don't want to. Tell us about it.
MOTAMED: Well, what's great about this resort is that it is owned and run and designed by American Indians. There are two tribes there, which I think are concerned about whether gambling laws are going to be changed and have basically put this into effect as a way to hedge their bets and make sure they will have resources and that their resources won't be drying up.
But it actually was built with gambling revenue. What's great about it is, I mean, I think everyone has a fantasy of playing cowboys and Indians and going out into the desert with an actual tribesman as your guide and going riding and, again, having the one-on-one experience where when you go to a place, you really get to learn about the culture. And the concierge is a tribesman and will really teach you about -- and your kids especially -- I think this would be great for a kids' trip.
HARRIS: OK, Nilou, let's move along because I want to get to this travel trend where you're talking to us about outer space. Who does that? We don't get to play in outer space yet, or do we?
MOTAMED: You know what? We do. We absolutely do. I mean, it's incredible. Dennis Pinto (ph) -- I mean, who was that man's name? Dennis something, who went into space last year, went and became a Russian cosmonaut.
We now have zero gravity flights and suborbital flights that are available with Space Adventures. And Space Adventures in 2007 will be doing the first tourist suborbital flight. They already have 100 requests. Each person has put in a deposit of $10,000 and the whole trip will cost $100,000. So if you're feeling a little flush in 2005...
HARRIS: All right, Nilou.
MOTAMED: ... you might want to book your seat.
HARRIS: All right. Well, that sounds good. We'll get you back and talk about Miami, which is hot again. But good to see you as always.
MOTAMED: Thank you so much.
HARRIS: We'll take break and we'll come back with more of CNN LIVE TODAY.
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KAGAN: And that's going to do it for us for today. You coming back tomorrow?
HARRIS: Yes, yes, if you'll have me back.
KAGAN: I will.
HARRIS: You're such a great host, but I'm so sloppy up here. If you'll have me back, I'll be back.
KAGAN: Live and learn.
HARRIS: OK.
KAGAN: There you go. Love to have you back. For Tony Harris, I'm Daryn Kagan. Another break and then Wolf Blitzer has all your news at the top of the hour. We'll see you tomorrow.
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