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American Morning

Now That U.S. Has Accomplished Some Major Goals in Afghanistan, How Prepared Is It For Next Phase of War?

Aired December 18, 2001 - 07:18   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: From the beginning, the administration has made it clear that the war on terror is not a sprint, but a marathon. Well, now that the U.S. has accomplished some major goals in Afghanistan, how prepared is it for the next phase of the war?

Well, late today a Senate subcommittee on terrorism will be looking for answers.

Senator Barbara Boxer of California chairs that subcommittee. She joins me now from Capitol Hill with a preview. Glad to have you with us. Welcome.

SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D-CF), TERRORISM SUBCOMMITTEE: Thank you, Paula.

ZAHN: What is your chief concern about the United States' state of readiness right now? We've endured a series of attacks back in September. Are we ready for a next one?

BOXER: I think we're ready for anything, Paula. I think the question is exactly where do we go from here and we still have to finish up what we're about right now. We don't have Osama bin Laden. We all know that's very crucial. And we don't have complete control of Afghanistan, although it's remarkable the job they've done.

But for me it is really looking ahead. We were struck literally out of the blue on 9-11. Who is this enemy? We've been trying to learn. You've been helping us.

Today I will be talking to the State Department. This is a map that shows the world. The countries in red, including America, that's where al Qaeda is.

So what is this reach? How deep is this reach in all of these places? We'll be talking to FBI counterintelligence people, counter- terrorism people. We'll be talking to someone who was in the State Department counter-terrorism division. We'll be talking to a think tank person who's very astute on this.

We need to know more. We've been almost responding in 30 second sound bites because it hit us so fast. I think we need to take our time, look at the training manual, read every line. Americans need to know who this enemy is, and from what I can tell so far, it is a chilling enemy.

ZAHN: Well, it's interesting that you bring up what the next likely targets might be. I want to put up on the screen now the most recent CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll, which explores how the public feel about where the military campaign should go here. And the way the question was phrased, "Should it end once the U.S. military captures or kills bin Laden?" Well, 67 percent of the population said no, that the U.S. military campaign should not stop there.

Clearly that's very important for the administration to know they have the support of the public at this juncture. Will they continue to have the support, let's say, for example, if the United States and its allies go into Iraq?

BOXER: I see tremendous support for this campaign against terrorism wherever the road may lead. And the reason is we were attacked, Paula, as we all know. We will never, ever forget, no matter how long each of us lives, really no matter almost how old we are, that moment in time. I mean I certainly recall that I was in the Capitol. We had to run -- I mean looking at the images that are in our minds now.

So that will stay with us. It's different than other, you know, things where we understand it intellectually, but we don't get it emotionally. These images will stay. The people who died will not have died in vain and we will continue this.

The thing I want to do today is really find out what we're up against in, you know, more than a quick look, really, an in depth look and ask the people who really know this better than anyone else. For example, we're going to talk to the FBI about two defectors from the Taliban who have, who are in the government witness protection program and what have they said. And everything has been cleared. I have cleared it with the attorney general's office so it can be put on the record.

I think we're going to get a lot of information. It is not going to be pleasant, but it is going to speak to the issue you raised and it was raised in the poll, do we have the stomach for this campaign, for this war? And I think that we do. I think we're united as never before.

I've been in politics for many, many, many years. I've never seen such unity on this front.

ZAHN: I know, Senator, you said, you know, it's not clear at this point, obviously, where this war on terrorism is going to take us. But I want you to explore this second whole question that was asked of folks and basically here is the question. "Will the U.S. be as successful in a war against Iraq?" Well, there again, 66 percent of the population believe that the United States would be successful in a military strike against Iraq.

We know that there is a debate raging within the administration about not necessarily if but when Iraq could be struck. Are you of the mind to believe that Iraq is a likely target? BOXER: I believe there's a tremendous amount of circumstantial evidence that points to Iraq. There's also a lot of direct evidence that points to other countries and other places. And I think the administration is right in at least the public statements that we're not going to talk and name where we're going next. But we are saying we're going to go where the road leads us.

Now, do I think that we will win? I believe we will win wherever we go. We don't have any other option. We are the strongest country in the world. And most important, our people were hit for no reason whatsoever and therefore we are committed to this.

ZAHN: Senator Boxer, thank you for the preview of what is going to unfold later today on Capitol Hill. We will be watching those hearings from here and again, thank you for your time this morning.

BOXER: Sure. Thank you.

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