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CNN Sunday Morning

Members of the Bush National Security Team Speak out Publicly Today

Aired September 23, 2001 - 11:03   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 SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Key members of the Bush national security team speaking out publicly this morning. Secretary of State Colin Powell says he is overwhelmingly satisfied with the efforts underway to build this international coalition to fight terrorism, disputing reports there have been some problems with Saudi Arabia along the way. And the Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, just moments ago, confirming an unmanned U.S. aerial craft shot -- missing, he said, over Afghanistan. The Taliban says it has been shot down. Donald Rumsfeld saying he has no evidence that that is the case.

And what of the president? He is spending the day up at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. Standing by nearby, our Kelly Wallace -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, hello there, John. And as we've been reporting all morning, President Bush presiding over a ceremony to return the American flag, which has been at half-staff since the deadly terrorist attacks to full-staff.

I believe we have some tape that we can our viewers that has come in. It shows a very solemn ceremony. President Bush alongside the First Lady, coming together there, watching as the flag...

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WALLACE: And a powerful moment there at the presidential retreat at Camp David. President Bush, First Lady Laura Bush watching again as the flag, which had been at half-staff, returning to full-staff. All federal buildings around the country following suit. We certainly saw the White House raise its flag to full-staff last night. And other buildings around the Washington area doing that today.

President and Mrs. Bush, we understand, after that ceremony going inside to the chapel for services. The message here, an important message, the president trying to get to the American people to encourage them in some way to try to get on with their lives, to try to return to some sort of normalcy, or course, John, continued attention to all the thousand and thousands of people who have been affected by this tragedy.

The president and the first lady both trying to do that, trying to comfort the nation in pain but at the same, John, as you know, the administration focusing on the military, political, economic and diplomatic planning for this campaign. And so, it's a delicate balancing act. The president encouraging Americans to move on but at the same time preparing the country for what could be a long and costly war -- John.

KING: Kelly Wallace standing by near the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. Thank you for that.

And as Kelly noted, the economy, one of the president's urgent concerns here. He's due back at the White House early this afternoon and in the week ahead, more negotiations with key members of Congress over just what the federal government can do to try to help ease the devastating economic impact of all this.

In Washington this morning, another display of remarkable bipartisan unity. The president, last night, signed a $15 billion emergency bail out for the airline industry, $5 billion in direct cash, $10 billion in loan guarantee. The Senate majority leader, Tom Daschle telling reporters a short time ago, this perhaps just a down payment as Washington mulls other steps that it can take. The Congress working with the president to stabilize and then perhaps invigorate the U.S. economy.

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SEN. TOM DASCHLE (D-SD), MAJORITY LEADER: We recognize that unless people feel secure, they won't travel. And if they don't travel, it has a very serious effect on our economy. So we want them to feel secure and we're going to take whatever measure is necessary to make that happen.

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KING: Now, just before these devastating terrorist attacks, a big debate in Washington was what whether the government would dip into the social security surplus. It is now inevitable that the government indeed will tap into that fund, as it pays for the recovery effort, pays for the ongoing military build up. But the Senate Republican leader, Trent Lott, saying today that is necessary at a time of emergency. And he was trying to make clear to those elderly Americans out there, this will in now way affect those who are dependent on their social security checks.

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SEN. TRENT LOTT (R-MS), MINORITY LEADER: Social security checks are going to go out. There's going to be plenty of money for that. We do have a surplus, which admittedly is going to be reduced by the things we have to do. But in the long term, strengthening the economy and having a growing economy will make sure that social security is protected.

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KING: Now the debate Senator Lott talking, Senator Daschle at his side, the discussions focus on perhaps a new round of government spending to stimulate the economy, a capital gains tax cut as well. That would be welcome on Wall Street, which had, of course, a very difficult week last week. We will continue to follow those discussions between the Democrats and the Republicans and the White House. And the economy is likely to dominate the debate here in Washington in the week ahead.

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