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CNN Sunday Morning

CNN Answers Your E-mails

Aired September 23, 2001 - 08:47   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: We've been talking about the e-mail segment for the past hour, let's get to it now.

With us, John King is in Washington, Carol Lin standing by at the CNN Center in Atlanta, and Marty Savidge outside Yankee Stadium this morning. Good morning, again, everybody.

All right, let's get right to it. The first one coming from India out of Bombay, now known as Mumbai. The question now: "Under the current situation in Pakistan, is the Pakistani nuclear arsenal safely away from the hands of the terrorists and militant Islamists?"

I guess John King wanted to jump on this. We know there was testing three years ago. Do we know how advanced their system is, John?

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The United States government has a pretty good sense, Bill, of how advanced that system is and the United States government views it as relatively advanced. That is why those sanctions were imposed, and there was a great deal of tension or refusal for any direct economic or military assistance from the United States.

As for its safety now, the United States government believes it is safe, although, as we did see in the very defensive nature of President Musharraf's speech to the people, there is a concern in the United States government that as he cooperates, his government come at risk, that there could be domestic instability in Pakistan.

That is one of the reasons the president moved so quickly to waive those sanctions and is now considering an effort to relieve the $30 billion in international debt Pakistan has. The United States government believes it is critical to help the government of Pakistan from an economic standpoint here, to keep the government in relative stability.

HEMMER: And President Musharraf, at this point, on board, at least publicly. That's what we've heard from him out of Islamabad.

Back to the e-mail now, to Chapel Hill. Ted's writing and wondering: "What is Israel's role in our war on terrorism?"

Carol, you're watching the geography from back there in Atlanta... CAROL LIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Watching the geography?

HEMMER: ... why don't you take this one.

LIN: Absolutely, Bill, watching the geography and certainly checking in with our international desk and our bureau in Jerusalem.

Just the other day, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon spoke to CNN and said Israel's resources are the United States' resources. The Israeli intelligence agency, the Mossad, is sharing all of its intelligence on terrorism. Israel clearly offering any military support and guidance that the United States needs.

Several reports, also, that the United States is quietly putting pressure on the Israeli government to back off on any offensive language or offensive maneuvers against the Palestinians. That relationship, between the Israelis and the Palestinians, a key potential flash point for any reaction out of Arab countries to which the United States is now turning for their cooperation.

So, what the United States is looking for right now is to set a tone between the Israelis and the Palestinians and to continue on an even keel there. I think John King might have something to add to this as well. John, what do you think?

KING: That was quite thorough. Obviously, Carol, there are discussions between the U.S. government and Israel and the idea of a cease fire, which was raised last week. Then there was a little bit of violence, but Israeli/Palestinian discussions likely to happen in the week ahead.

The United States, as you mentioned, views that as critical. Islamic fundamentalists rally around any violence in the region, blame not only Israel, but the United States, so calm in the region would go a great ways in helping President Bush build this international coalition.

HEMMER: All right, let's move on. Allison Shepard is wondering and writing at this time on-line at CNN.com: "With everyone coming together the way they have, has the crime rate in New York been affected"?

Marty, you're at Yankee Stadium, but you've been in the city since the very beginning. I heard crime is down. What have you heard?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the issue of crime here in New York has been a brought up a number of times in the news briefings that have been held by Mayor Giuliani. And specifically, he has generally, the specific and generally is canceling each other, but specifically, he has said in a general sort of way, crime is down in the city of New York.

However, that's not unexpected given the fact that many people have stayed home, they have stayed in their places where they live and they haven't ventured out too much for them to become victims of crime. But he also reports that there are increases in what I guess you could call crimes of opportunity, and perhaps those are the most difficult to understand at this particular time.

People who have been out there claiming that they are raising money for the victims when, in fact, most likely that money will never make their way to the victims. And also, there were reports of looting in the initial hours, immediately after the tragedy in the area around the World Trade Center building. That is something that is very disturbing to officials. It is something not happening now with all the law enforcement down there.

So, there is some cases of increased crime, especially the reporting of bomb threats. The mayor has made it quite plain that is a federal offense. Anyone caught doing that could face up to ten years in prison and I believe a fine of $250,000. So, they take is seriously. The good news is, general crime down, Bill.

HEMMER: All right, Marty. Martin Savidge with us at Yankee Stadium. Carol Lin in Atlanta. John King in Washington. Many thanks.

Wish we had more time, but we're out of it for now.

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