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American Morning

America's New War: President Bush Unites People, Pundits and Politicians

Aired September 21, 2001 - 09:08   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Still lots of response to President Bush's address last night to the nation. If you look at the polls overnight, they would show that the American public overwhelmingly supports the president's position right now.

And we go to senior White House correspondent John King for more on that.

The White House has got to be pretty satisfied with the reaction so far, not only from the public, but from that bipartisan display of support last night. Usually you have a little speech from the opposition. We didn't see that last night after the close of the president's speech, did we?

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not a speech outlining any opposition anyway, Paula. Democrats and Republicans joining together to praise the president, to call this a moment of national unity. A remarkable event last night and the sense of urgency conveyed by the president continuing here in Washington.

Tomorrow -- you were just outlining the economic impact of this crisis -- Congress today expected to act quickly on airline bailout package. That was one of the items the president outlined in an urgent tone in his speech last night to the Congress. Mr. Bush trying to rally the country, rally the Congress, and put the world on notice.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(APPLAUSE)

KING (voice-over): A defining moment for a country and its president, the badge of a fallen police officer his reminder to press on.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I will not forget the wound to our country and those who inflicted it. I will not yield. I will not rest. I will not relent in waging the struggle for freedom and security for the American people.

KING: It was a rallying cry to the Congress and the country to wage war against an enemy that has no capital, no conventional army. The president told Afghanistan's ruling Taliban to turn over Osama bin Laden and his associates and to allow the United States access to all his camps.

BUSH: These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: The Taliban must act and act immediately.

KING: Left unsaid in the 34-minute speech was just when the military campaign would begin, but there was no doubt there will be one.

BUSH: Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have ever seen.

KING: Also left unsaid was what it might cost in dollars and in lives. But Mr. Bush said, whatever the price, it had to be paid.

BUSH: And in our grief and anger we have found our mission and our moment. Freedom and fear are at war.

KING: He saluted one steadfast ally, Great Britain, and bluntly framed the fight.

BUSH: Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime.

KING: It was a line designed to put Iran, Iraq, Syria and others on notice. But again, just what he meant was left unsaid, to be defined in the diplomacy still ahead.

This hug of the Senate's top Democrat was just one sign of the remarkable unity of purpose. The absence of the vice president from his traditional seat a security precaution and a sign of how dramatically and suddenly the times have changed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: This obviously a signature moment for the president, and the morning after his urgent diplomacy continues. Mr. Bush sitting down with the Chinese foreign minister trying to win China's public backing for the military, diplomatic and financial campaign still ahead.

In his speech last night the president setting very high expectations. Aides say they acknowledge it will be difficult to keep them winning a war against enemy still undetermined, promising to right an very -- economy in very difficult shape right now. And even as he tried to rally the country, the president acknowledging his goal is that somewhere down the road, perhaps years from now, life would return to, quote, "almost normal" -- Paula. ZAHN: John, you mentioned this diplomatic dance that's going on be going on today between the president and the Chinese. What does the U.S. expect to come out of those meetings? What level of cooperation?

KING: Well, remember, China has a seat on the security council, one of the permanent members of the security council in the United Nations. The administration has served notice it will not follow the United Nations' lead, that it will act unilaterally. But what the administration wants is it does not want a long, protracted debate about any military action. The administration trying to convince the Chinese government, if it won't say so publicly, to at least not dispute any of the administration's moves here.

I'm told you can see behind me a window-washer working on an office building behind me. No cause for alarm there.

But in the diplomatic dance, Paula, China obviously a very important member of the world community. It has said in the past that it thinks the United States should seek permission from the United Nations before military action. Mr. Bush trying to get the Chinese to change their mind.

ZAHN: All right, thanks so much, John.

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