Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

President Bush to Reveal Missile Defense Plan

Aired May 01, 2001 - 11:07   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: Building a U.S. missile defense system, but at the same time, cutting the nation's nuclear arsenal. Those are two major parts of President Bush's plan to revamp U.S. national security; a plan the president is expected to sell later today in a speech.

Let's got to White House correspondent, CNN correspondent Major Garrett. Major, hello.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. How are you?

KAGAN: I'm doing just fine. Apparently, the president before giving his speech today wanted to give a heads up to some world leaders. What can you tell us about that?

GARRETT: Well, a key U.S. ally, and one where there has been considerable disagreement on the question of deployment by the United States of a missile defense system, that being the country of Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin. President Bush called President Putin this morning. The two talked for about 12 minutes. White House press secretary Ari Fleischer would not describe the details of that conversation, but did say that Mr. Putin quote, "very appreciative" the U.S. president reached out and called.

Of course, a key issue between the two countries is the fate of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the cornerstone of arms control during the Cold War. In a speech later on today, President Bush is expected to say what he said during the campaign, that the Cold War not only is over, but it's time to end Cold War thinking about arms control, time to move the U.S. posture from offense, rather, to defense.

And he will talk about his plans over the long term to reduce the nuclear stockpile, now at about 7,000 warheads, and also move to a system of missile defense that would cover the United States and other key U.S. allies. But he wants to consult with all important U.S. allies, the Russians, he consulted with several European leaders yesterday by telephone.

The administration concedes long-term process. There's a lot to go through in Congress, but the president wants to use this speech to not only bring the American people along with him on this proposal, but also make sure there is less discord about this policy in Europe and in Moscow -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And Major, not just the Russians who are expected to have concern about this, but the Chinese, as well.

GARRETT: Absolutely. One of the things that is now being reappraised as the administration looks to dealing with its nuclear policy, as it deals with weaponry, is the targeting. One of the things the Pentagon discussing is reducing several of the targets now in Russia and adding a few in China. There are to be consultations with the Chinese government about a missile defense system.

It's also a big issue there. They're concerned about it, particularly as it relates to security throughout Asia and possibly Taiwan. The administration will be consulting with them as well. No specifics have been released on that to date -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Major, on any of these moves, either building the missile defense or cutting the nuclear arsenal, is the president expected to give time frame?

GARRETT: No, the White House is saying that what the president will do in the speech is basically lay out a process, a sort of an outline, if you will, of his thinking about all of these issues, but no specifics about money. Deployment of a national missile defense system will be very expensive. One estimate for a land-base system only is $60 billion alone.

The president is expected today to say he will at least be open to a sea-based and air-based system, and also it could take many, many, many years, not only for the technology itself to be developed and then for it to be deployed after that.

So, there are a lot of unanswered questions, and on many of the specifics, the president is not going to address them today, but try to put out his outline for the American public and allies around the world -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Major Garrett at the White House, thank you very much.

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