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CNN Sunday Morning

Fight Against Terrorism May Include Strikes Against Taliban

Aired September 30, 2001 - 07:06   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.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: It has become evident that the war against terrorism is not going to be aimed just against Osama bin Laden and his organization, but also against Afghanistan's Taliban rulers. More from Major Garrett at Camp David.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Another videoconference with the president's War Cabinet from Camp David. Meanwhile, the first solid evidence, the Bush White House seeks an end to Afghanistan's Taliban regime. Even though Mr. Bush takes a dim view of rebuilding shattered nations, a position he restated earlier this week, a new memo shows more clearly than ever that the Bush White House considers the Taliban an illegitimate government and will directly aid those who seek to topple it.

"The Taliban do not represent the Afghan people, who never elected or chose the Taliban faction. We do not want to choose who rules Afghanistan, but we will assist those who seek a peaceful, economically developing Afghanistan, free of terrorism."

The memo prepared by senior State Department and National Security Council Officials goes farther than Mr. Bush did in his weekly radio address.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The United States respects the people of Afghanistan and we are their largest provider of humanitarian aid, but we condemn the Taliban and welcome the support of other nations in isolating that regime.

GARRETT: But administration officials say the goal is broader than isolation and it's one the number two Democrat in the Senate applauds.

SEN. HARRY REID (D), NEVADA: We would be doing the world a favor if the Taliban government was toppled in any way. They have destabilized that whole part of the world. It's just something that needs to be taken care of and as far as I'm concerned, the sooner the better.

GARRETT: But who will gain U.S. support? The armed Northern Alliance? The exiled, former Afghan king or so-called moderate members of the Taliban or a combination of all three? For now, the administration is exploring all options but has settled on none. Whatever the choice, experts say the U.S. must not be seen as the one imposing a new order.

JIM STEINBERG, FORMER DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: It's right for the United States to think about legitimate ways to support a better, more representative affair government in Afghanistan, but it has to be done with great care.

GARRETT (on-camera): And care is exactly what officials say the president is using. Building a coalition against terror gradually, expanding its aims only after winning assurances that the coalition will remain supportive.

Major Garrett, CNN, Hagerstown, Maryland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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