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CNN Sunday Morning

Bush Rejects bin Laden's Capability of Weaponizing Nuclear Weapons

Aired November 11, 2001 - 07:07   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: The Bush administration does not believe that bin Laden claimed to have nuclear weapons, which came as President Bush was in New York. He's still there. Two months since the terror attacks and on this Veteran's Day, President Bush's agenda today reflects both events.

White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is in the Big Apple with the president -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Jeanne.

A little noisy here on the streets of New York City. I am sorry for that. As you noted, President Bush wrapping up his second day here in New York. He'll be paying tribute to America's veterans and then he will be attending what is likely to be a very, very solemn and poignant ceremony down at the site of the World Trade Center disaster. The names of the some 80 countries who've lost citizens in that disaster will be read aloud. Each country's flag will be raised and lowered to give you a sense of the magnitude again of the tragedy.

Mr. Bush saying yesterday, in his speech to the United Nations, if someone happened to read the names of every person who lost their life in that September 11 tragedy, it would take more than three hours.

Jeanne, as you noted also, Mr. Bush on Saturday, had a number of meetings with world leaders. The final meeting, late in the day, with Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf. The two men also enjoying dinner together Saturday night. It was during that news conference there when President Bush was asked about Osama bin Laden's claim that he currently has chemical and nuclear weapons. Mr. Bush saying he really did not know what to think other than to say that bin Laden's words could send a very, very strong message to the international community.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The only thing I know certain about him is that he is evil. And you know I don't know what to believe about him except that he wants to hurt Americans. I suspect he now wants to hurt people in Pakistan and we're not going to let him. We will do everything we can to stop him here at home. And we're doing everything we can to hunt him down and bring him to justice.

Those kinds of statements he utters, reinforces the coalition's efforts to bring him to justice. And that's exactly what's going to happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And Jeanne, we also heard President Bush say, in his speech to the United Nations, that he believes Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda would use chemical, biological and nuclear weapons the moment they were capable of doing so. He also said that every nation could be a potential target, again, a way to try to spur action on the part of some countries, Mr. Bush believes, might be, at this point, turning a blind eye to terrorism.

Two other important developments yesterday, Jeanne. The president rewarding Pakistan for its help in the war against terror and trying to appease the strong opposition in Musharraf's country by announcing more than $1 billion in economic aid to Pakistan. Five hundred million of that will be direct economic assistance to the country.

And then also, Jeanne, as you know, President Bush and President Musharraf agreeing -- sending a message to the Northern Alliance rebels that they should not try and capture Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul. The president saying a power sharing arrangement needs to be in place in the capital city, that that would be the best way for stability and peace in the country of Afghanistan once the Taliban is ousted.

Jeanne back to you.

MESERVE: Kelly, another big meeting with another important world leader. Coming up this week, Vladimir Putin will be meeting with the president. What are the outlook and expectations for that meeting?

WALLACE: Very interesting, Jeanne. The Russian president Vladimir Putin telling reporters, I believe, in Russia, on Saturday, he's somewhat optimistic that there could be some type of agreement, which would allow the U.S. to move forward with its missile defense plans.

We were getting, from U.S. officials, not to expect any significant, major breakthrough. The message from the Bush administration is don't expect any deal at any time. Obviously, the big sticking point is that 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty, which currently prevents the United States from moving forward with any missile defense shield.

The president has said that treaty should be scrapped, that it's outdated, outmoded, that they need to come up with some other agreement. So we're getting the message from U.S. officials not to expect any major deal, but the Russian president seeming to be more optimistic. So we'll have to see what happens.

The Russian president, Jeanne, arriving in Washington Monday night for a whole day of meetings Tuesday at the White House and then the Putin's will travel to Crawford, Texas to meet with the Bush's at their ranch.

Back to you, Jeanne.

MESERVE: Kelly Wallace up in New York, thanks.

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