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American Morning
America's New War: Reaction to Prime Minister Tony Blair's Speech
Aired October 02, 2001 - 10:10 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: I want to take you across the Atlantic now for more on what Tony Blair said and what world heard as well.
For that, we turn to CNN European editor Robin Oakley, who is live in Brussells with us.
Any reaction thusfar, Robin?
ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN EUROPEAN EDITOR: Well, we have not had time to gather must reaction yet, Bill, but that was a multifaceted speech from Tony Blair. That message to the American people of great solidarity, but he had a message for many other people as well. First of all, a very strong message for the Taliban: Hand over Osama bin Laden and the terrorists, or we will kick you out of power, the strongest kind of language we have heard against the Taliban yet.
He had a message for the wider Muslim community, saying that What happened on September 11th was not a blow for Islam, that innocent Muslims died that day.
And he had a wider message for the world that's now coming together in the coalition against terrorism, saying that they were developing a sense of community, and that can lead on to something good out of this terrible tragedy, that people can get in a problem- solving mode, hopefully bringing peace in the Middle East, hopefully tackling the problems of Africa and other long-standing problems in the world -- Bill.
HEMMER: Robin, you are also watching there in Brussels. NATO headquarters there. Talk today about the evidence that has been given out by the U.S. to several specific allies at this point. What was the reaction there on that front, Robin?
OAKLEY: Well, indeed, I think there is some pleasure in NATO circles. The ambassadors at the NATO meeting today being told by the State Department a little more of the evidence against Osama bin Laden and the terrorist network of Al Qaeda, because there was a feeling that after Paul Wolfowitz, the deputy defense secretary, had been to NATO a week before, and people wanted more evidence, and the more evidence that is given to European leaders and others, the wider the coalition will be that is built against terrorism.
They were told at a classified meeting this morning, at which few details have emerged. They were given more evidence against the Al Qaeda network. The result of that was that George Robertson, the NATO secretary general, came out and said, there were no ifs or butts about it. Article five of NATO constitution now applies fully, that the attack on the United States was an attack by Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network against the United States, and will be deemed to be an attack against all 19 NATO nations. The other 18 NATO nations will now give their full support to the United States in the action that follows against the terrorists.
It doesn't mean that every one of them will be involved in military action, but all of them are giving their full support to the United States, and clearly, what remaining doubts they have now been dispelled -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Robin Oakley, lives from Brussels, watching the view from Europe for us.
Robin, thanks to you.
Back here if the U.S. now, in Washington, to the White House and CNN's Major Garrett.
Major, you heard the speech from Tony Blair. Wondering reaction there in Washington. Anything he said not expected today?
MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPODNENT: No, I think all of it was within the parameters of what the White House expected the prime minister to say. First with the solidarity with the United States, on to some of the points that Robin pointed out about the broader benefits of a world coalition not only dealing with world terrorism, but also dealing with some of the underlying root causes of poverty that possesses some to think of actions that could become terrorist actions. The administration looking at all of those potential remedies in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
But most especially, Tony Blair foreshadowed military action in Afghanistan, which in all likelihood, the British will join the United States in participating in. At one point saying, the actions that we'll be taking will be proportionate and targeted. And Tony Blair also gave a very strong signal that time was running out for the Taliban regime. Earlier when the president was meeting with reporters, following a breakfast with congressional leaders, he did not appear to go that far.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There is no timetable for the Taliban, just like there are no negotiations. I have said that the Taliban must turn over Al Qaeda organization living within Afghanistan, and must destroy the terrorist camps, and they must do so. Otherwise there will a consequence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GARRETT: And also, Bill, raised at that meeting with congressional leaders was the subject of this new potential initiative on the behalf of the Bush administration to accelerate a peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The president was asked explicitly if he would support the nation, the idea, the concept of a Palestinian state, as a part of accelerating what have been bogged dogging down negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
Here is what he had to say:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: The idea of a Palestinian state has always been in -- a part of a vision, so long as the right to Israel to exist is respected. But first things first, when it comes to Middle East, and we have got to get to Mitchell.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GARRETT: Now, Bill, that is a very specific reference to a very specific point of view the administration has long had about dealing with the Middle East, urging the Palestinians and the Israelis to stick with the guidelines outlined in the Mitchell report. That Mitchell report Calls for first a permanent cease-fire, and then a series of confidence building measures that lead to an ultimate negotiations about all of these issues. So when the president says, the first thing we've got to do is stick with Mitchell, he's sending a very clear signal to Palestinians and Israelis this concept of a Palestinian state.
Though very much on the minds of administration officials, it's not something he is prepared to state so publicly -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Major, another busy day there at the White house.
We'll see the president a bit later this morning when he heads out to Reagan National. Major, thanks to you.
On the military front now, as we mentioned a few moments ago, there are at least four aircraft carriers either in the region of Afghanistan or headed that way.
To the Pentagon and CNN's Bob Franken, watching developments from the military front.
Bob, good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
And supplementing that, of course, is the reserve call-up. Day after day, we get word of new Reserve and National Guard units being called up. Over 2,000 were mentioned yesterday. Over 3400, actually, excuse me. And that takes us up to about 20,000 of the 35, 000 who are expected to supplement the active military forces, who are fanning out around the globe.
As you pointed out, a fourth aircraft carrier is on its way to points unknown, pretty much considered a sure thing that it's going to be in the Arabian Sea area. IT's the Kitty Hawk, which left Japan yesterday with a rather unusual role compared to the others. Instead of carrying its full compliment of aircraft, in fact, it's going to have a lot of empty space on that massive aircraft carrier deck, which the Defense Department sources say could be used it place troops on there to in fact put an entire attack contingent, and the kind of helicopters that might be used and the type of warfare that might be commenced against Afghanistan or some country in the region.
This is the same use that an aircraft carrier was put to when the planned Haiti invasion occurred. Of course that one did not occur. But there is little doubt in the United States that there is going to be some sort of military action. The question always is asked, when will that occur? Pentagon officials will not say when it will. But there is indication by the statements that is being made by various heads of state that they are getting much closer, and the Pentagon always said what it is doing when it fans its ships around the world, is to be in position for whatever decisions are made -- Bill.
HEMMER: And, Bob, just to follow up on that, is there any concern expressed to the Pentagon at any point. When they hear leaders like Tony Blair talk about military action, and they hear the Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf yesterday talking about the possibility of imminent strikes? Are there any reservations there expressed that maybe some people are going -- are saying too much at a certain time?
FRANKEN: I think to the opposite. This is a very carefully orchestrated campaign, in the view of just about everybody here at the Pentagon. When somebody says that there is no more negotiations, and the time for that is past, and action is imminent, there a view here that that is just maybe a final negotiating tactic before in fact the inevitability of a military operation begins.
HEMMER: Bob Franken, at the Pentagon. Bob, thanks. We'll be back in touch later this morning.
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