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American Morning

Target: Terrorism - President Bush's Agenda

Aired October 04, 2001 - 09:21   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.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: We should note that $320 million figure up from the $100 million the administration was talking about just a few days ago.

Still, many in the Congress say it will not be enough. Senator Joseph Biden, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, believes that aid package should be as high as $1 billion. he says that is necessary so the United States can send a message to people of Afghanistan and the broader Muslim world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: We must wage a war against the vicious thugs who attacked our nation, but we must not permit this war to be mischaracterized as a battle against the people of Afghanistan or the wider Muslim world.

If we can't make this critical distinction, all our efforts are doomed to failure in my view.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: A cooperative tone though on the debate -- on the debate over humanitarian aid and on the debate over economic stimulus, somewhat more contentious when we turn attention to the debate over airline and airport security.

For latest on that, let's bring in CNN congressional correspondent Kate Snow. Kate?

KATE SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, the Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta was due here just about 20 minutes ago for a meeting this morning with key senators, dealing with transportation issues. But that meeting, we're told has, been canceled. No word yet on why.

Yesterday, the Senate tried to push ahead with an airline security bill supported by the Democratic leadership, but the measure stalled out over one particular issue, and that is security screeners at airports. Should they become federal employees or could the work be done by private contractors?

The White House has a proposal now, a new proposal presented last night by Secretary Mineta. It includes 18 months of a transition period, after 18 months there would be an airport by airport review. And then the Secretary of Transportation would have the option of making each airport have federal employees doing the security screening work, or if he decided that it was warranted, he could ask for a private company, a private contract for employees to do the security screening. In that case, if a private company was doing work, there would still be a federal agent supervising those private employees.

We are told that that part, that piece of this White House proposal, really did not sit well with the senators talking with Mr. Mineta last night, even Republicans like Senator John McCain. They propose a complete federal takeover, if you will. They want federal, at least at the largest airports, they want federal agents to be in charge of security.

And with this meeting this morning canceled, John, it's unclear where things will go from here. The Democrats in the Senate could very well push ahead with bringing up their version of this bill again later today. John?

KING: Kate, as they debate the details, obviously no agreement there. Is there any sense of an agreement on when they have to get this done? This obviously an issue the American people are following closely, as they seek assurance from the government that it is safe to fly again.

SNOW: Right. Both sides saying that there is a matter of urgency. The Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle said yesterday, we have to get this done right now. The Republican Leader Trent Lott agreed, although it is just, as you say, it is the details, and it's what can be attached to this measure.

Senator Lott a little bit worried, and Republicans worried, that Democrats will start throwing a lot of things onto this measure, this bill, that they will start heaping on some other issues like airline worker provision, giving unemployment insurance to workers.

And so that is really the debate, is how can we do this in a quick way that we all agree to? John?

KING: Kate Snow on Capitol Hill following the airport security debate. Thank you very much.

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