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American Morning

America's New War: Talk with New Yorker Governor George Pataki

Aired September 20, 2001 - 11:19   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: The governor just arriving here, set to go on another tour today.

I want to know if you can clarify some things that we're getting reports on. Below the street surface, what are you hearing about structural issues that may or may not be more precarious and more dangerous?

GOV. GEORGE PATAKI, NEW YORK: I was just talking with Richard Sharis (ph) the head of the city's OEM. He was saying, they've done a thorough analysis, and they're very, very confident that whatever needs to be done has been done. So that the process can go forward, and they don't see -- obviously it's a dangerous situation just because of the nature of it, but they don't see any structural problems looming right now.

HEMMER: What about the wall that keeps the water out?

PATAKI: He says they did an examination. It looks fine after an attack, and they are confident of it.

HEMMER: Sounds like good news, and we have not much of that today. Tell us this, when this operation at some point moves from a rescue mission to a recovery mission. Just to define that, rescue, in other words, means still looking for the possibility of human life. When it moves out of that phase to recovery, what's the consideration given for how you will make that decision?

PATAKI: That's being made by the professionals who are on the site and examining it, and it's also made by those who understand the sensitive nature of any decision like that. So long as there is the thin strand of hope that something -- that a miracle might happen, people do not want to take that possibility of hope away. It will be made -- it is being evaluated on ongoing basis by the professionals that are there, and they will advice when they think the change is necessary.

HEMMER: There are close to 50 members of Congress here today. How critical is it for leaders like yourself, we heard from the White House as well, to get people in position to come here to New York and see it firsthand?

PATAKI: I think it's important that people, not just congressional leaders, but we've had prime ministers and people from around the world -- Kofi Annan toured with the mayor and myself just a day or two ago. I think important that they actually see it, because the pictures don't convey the real sense of horror you get when up close to the site. And we're going to need everyone pulling together. Members of Congress. The world community standing with President Bush, and I think as people get a chance to see this, and let the horror sink in, it gives our resolve that much greater motivation to stand with the president and to work to rebuild, and we are going to do that.

HEMMER: Quickly, governor, before we let you go here, there is increasingly the chance of the grim reality at some point, where there will be possibly no signs of human life. How do you prepare the families who are waiting for word for that reality?

PATAKI: I'll tell you, the mayor and his team have done an excellent job at the Family Resource Center, and I've been to many, many emotional meetings with families of firefighters and families of police officers, where they are given the most up-to-date information possible. They're given a realistic appraisal as to what the likelihood of finding someone is, and it's going to be very difficult for them when that decision ultimately is made, but we are aware of that, and we're doing everything we can to try to make sure they are prepared for that.

HEMMER: On a much different note, you went for a jog this morning.

PATAKI: I love just going out in the woods and running a little bit. This was the first time since September 11th, and that's what we all have to do is -- this is a horrible situation, but we'll get through it.

HEMMER: Thank you, governor. Governor George Pataki of the state of New York.

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