Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Sunday Morning
President Bush Prepares for a Busy Week Ahead
Aired November 04, 2001 - 10:03 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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush has been holding the administration strategy and focusing on the nation's next move in this new war. He is wrapping up a weekend stay at Camp David.
Our Kelly Wallace is standing by near the presidential retreat with the look at the president's week ahead. Good morning, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Marty.
Well, President Bush spending a few more hours at the presidential retreat before heading to the White House and preparing for a very, very busy week. The administration announcing a public relations offensive to have the president talking about the war against the terrorism overseas and also in the United States.
Marty, as you know, the administration fielding a lot of questions about the progress so far of the military campaign, the fact that Afghanistan's ruling Taliban still in control of Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden still obviously appears to be in hiding, well General Richard Myers, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, appearing on a Sunday talk show this morning. He is defending the military campaign. He said that the Taliban still have a substantial force left but he also sad, they are feeling the heat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GENERAL RICHARD MYERS, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: I think it's going exactly according to our plan. We have taken down the Taliban air defenses. We have disrupted their ability to re-supply their own forces. We took down their transports most of their helicopters, most of their -- excuse me -- most of their communications have been taken down. In fact some of them are communicating now with runners, which is obviously not in Afghanistan -- not the most efficient way to do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: And look for President Bush to talk about the military campaign, but also the other fronts to this war, the financial front and also the fight against terrorism in the United States. In a series of speeches this week, on Tuesday, he will be addressing via satellite conference on combating terrorism gathered in Warsaw, Poland. Thursday, the president will be traveling outside Washington to deliver a prime-time speech to the American people this one focusing on homeland security issues, the nature of the threat and the U.S. response. And then on Saturday, Mr. Bush giving his first speech as president to the United Nations. Marty, the president's facing a number of challenges.
Number one, concern on the part of some Arab and Muslim and even some European nations again about the progress of this campaign so far also about some civilian causalities in Afghanistan. And then in the United States some concerns on the part of the Americans about the federal government's ability to deal with bioterrorism, a "Newsweek" poll yesterday showing less than 50 percent think the federal government has a well thought out plan.
Obviously, there have been some concerns about the administration handling of the issue of anthrax. Mr. Bush is trying to calm and reassure Americans in his radio address yesterday saying the federal government and the postal service taking every step possible to make sure the American people are safe. To look for the president will focus on all of those concerns during this very busy week ahead -- Marty.
SAVIDGE: Kelly, is it just me or -- why is the president is spending so much time at Camp David? What is it that he can accomplish there on the weekends he can't do at the White House in Washington?
WALLACE: Well, this is the president who very much likes to get outside the confines of the White House, like Camp David. He can sort of run on the grounds of Camp David, he can be outside, he can spend some time with friends. He's -- sort of - it helps him really balance the job of president with, you know, just sort of, taking care of himself.
He can talk to his national security council every Saturday. He chairs a video teleconference with his adviser, his National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and his Chief of Staff Andrew Card spent every weekend with him at Camp David. But again this is a way his way his aides' say for the president to sought of keep himself balance to obviously focus on his job as president but to take care of himself so that he is able to make that big decision. So that his why see him he go to Camp David. And pre September 11, we often saw him go at least once a month to his very, very treasured ranch in Crawford, Texas -- Marty.
SAVIDGE: Well, they can't hold him for his desire to want to that, we're all looking for balance. Thank you very much Kelly Wallace -- Jeanne.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
