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CNN Saturday Morning News

Bush Discusses Anthrax in Radio Address

Aired November 03, 2001 - 11:10   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Anthrax is the key focal point of President Bush's radio address today. White House correspondent Kelly Wallace joins us now with more on the president's remarks and other developments.

Hi, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra.

Well, President Bush really delivering his lengthiest comments to date on the issue of anthrax in that radio address you were talking about. This, after the administration definitely coming under some criticism for different agencies at times releasing different information, and also whether the federal government was too slow to respond to the threat.

As you'll recall, a central mail facility in the District of Columbia was found to be contaminated with anthrax; two postal workers at that facility dying of inhalation anthrax.

In his radio address today, Mr. Bush saying that the federal government is learning new information every day. He said, in fact, health experts in the beginning did not believe that anthrax spores could be released from a sealed envelope.

The president in that address also making it clear that at this point in time law enforcement officials do not know the person or persons responsible for producing the anthrax or sending it in the mail; that issue still somewhat of a mystery.

Here's Mr. Bush.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We do not yet know who sent the anthrax, whether it was the same terrorist who committed the attacks on September the 11th, or whether it was the other international or domestic terrorists.

We do know that anyone who would try to infect other people with anthrax is guilty of an act of terror.

(END AUDIO CLIP) WALLACE: In fact, Mr. Bush calling these letters laced with anthrax a, quote, "second wave of terrorist attacks upon the United States."

In that address, the president also trying to reassure and calm Americans, saying that anthrax is not contagious, that the federal government and the postal service taking lots of precautionary steps to make sure that the mail is safe.

Kyra, obviously this is an important message for Mr. Bush to get out after this week when we did see, of course, a woman in New York dying from inhalation anthrax. And right now authorities, as you know Kyra, have no idea exactly how she contracted that disease.

Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: Kelly Wallace, thanks so much.

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