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CNN Sunday Morning

Bush to Attend WTC Memorial Event

Aired November 11, 2001 - 08:24   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: President Bush remains in New York this morning. CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is there, and she joins us with details of the president's busy day there -- Kelly.

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

Another busy day, indeed. President Bush has just arrived at the armory here in New York City, and just moments from now he will be paying tribute to America's veterans on this Veterans Day. He'll obviously talk about people who lost their lives in past wars. But, of course, also talk about the people on the front lines in the war against terrorism overseas, and also here in the United States.

Jeanne, joining the president, a host of New York's dignitaries: New York's governor, the cardinal, as well as New York city's Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and New York city's Mayor-elect Michael Bloomberg, who will have the honors of introducing the president today.

Then, Jeanne, it's more coalition building. The president has meetings with the leaders of South African, Argentina and Columbia.

And then, what is likely to be an especially powerful ceremony down at the site of the World Trade Center disaster. As you noted a short time ago, this the two-month anniversary of the Trade Center attack, the attack on the Pentagon and, of course, the tragedy in Pennsylvania. We are told the names of the some 80 countries who lost citizens in the September 11 attacks will be read aloud down at the site of the World Trade Center. Also, every country's flag who lost citizens, again, will be represented.

One senior administration official saying a particular challenge for the Bush administration has been trying to show that this is not just America's fight, that it is a worldwide fight. And, Jeanne, this official saying nothing does that better than the pictures we are likely to see down at that site today.

And, again, as you noted, this will be the president's first time back since early September -- September 14, just days after the tragedy -- when he visited the site, looked at the wreckage. And, again, as you noted, he was down there, that very memorable moment where he grabbed the megaphone and was trying to pump up the spirits of the firefighters and the rescue workers. And many believe that moment definitely lifted the spirits of the president as he faced very big challenges in the weeks after that moment -- Jeanne.

MESERVE: And Kelly, the week ahead, it's a big one for the president, isn't it?

WALLACE: Another busy week. This, of course, the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He arrives Monday night for a day of meetings at the White House on Tuesday. And then the Putins will head to President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas from Wednesday to Thursday.

The big focus, Jeanne, is whether there could be some type of agreement that would allow the U.S. to move forward with its missile defense plans without violating that 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which prevents any country with (sic) moving forward with a missile defense system.

Now, U.S. officials in advance have sort of been downplaying any expectations of any major breakthrough. They said we should get out of the idea of having any major deal at any time. This is sort of an ongoing dialogue; a new relationship between the two countries. Again, though, the Russian president has indicated it may be possible to keep the treaty in place, but to have some adjustments to allow the U.S. to move forward with its plans. Both countries also talking about reductions in their offensive weapons.

So looking like we should get some progress. Not clear, though, if there will be this breakthrough that everybody appears to be looking for.

Jeanne, back to you.

MESERVE: Kelly Wallace in New York, thanks.

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