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CNN Saturday Morning News

Bush to Address Terrorism in Speech to U.N.

Aired November 10, 2001 - 09:10   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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Now we would like to bring in CNN's Richard Roth, because in just a few minutes President Bush will go before the U.N. General Assembly. He is expected to challenge world leaders to stand up and be counted in the war on terrorism.

Richard Roth joins us now with more insight and more thoughts on what the president may have to deliver. Richard?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Martin, first time ever that George Bush will be appearing before the General Assembly, president of the United States. He said, "Good morning, good morning," to various photographers and U.N. aides as he walked into the building just a short time ago. He'll be the second speaker after Brazil.

And it's a big stage for President Bush, who all week has been meeting with leaders from abroad, and now will deliver a speech, a major speech, before 189 countries. Topic number one, of course, terrorism.

President Bush is expected to say the time for sympathy and condolences, while it's been accepted, is now over, it's a time for action. But it's not going to be easy. The countries here are going to be pledging support, but what the U.S. wants is intelligence information, military aid, financial investigations. Some of these countries in the short run may be helpful, but in the long run may be dragging their feet. They may feel they've done enough.

And it's also not as easy as it sounds. In the Middle East, where the U.S. would like to keep its coalition going in the fight against Afghanistan, Lebanon says it is not going to, you know, help in the investigation of the assets, freezing the assets of groups such as Hezbollah, which are opposed to Israel. The U.S. has requested the assets be frozen. The U.S. is not going to get some of the quick assistance it's received elsewhere.

President Bush will meet with the president of Pakistan here also. Pakistan has given hints that it would like the bombing pause for Ramadan. It's not going to be an easy quest, but President Bush is going to make the case here in about 15 minutes.

SAVIDGE: That's Richard Roth, joining us live from the United Nations as we await the president of the United States. Thanks very much, Richard. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com