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CNN Saturday Morning News

Bush: `Time for Action' Against Terrorism

Aired November 10, 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: President George W. Bush this morning made his first address to the 189 countries that make up the United Nations General Assembly. Topic No. 1, of course: terrorism.

We get the latest from CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace, who's in New York with the president.

Hi, Kelly.

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

Well, at this hour President Bush expected to be meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. This after, as you noted, Mr. Bush delivering his first speech as president to the United Nations. The president using this speech to deliver a number of tough messages to the international community. The president saying for every regime that sponsors or harbors terrorism, there is a price to be paid, and it will be paid.

But then the president sending another message to countries around the world; Mr. Bush making it clear that at this point in time, two months after the September 11 terrorist attack, the president saying rhetorical support is simply not enough.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In this war of terror, each of us must answer for what we have done, or what we have left undone. After tragedy, there is a time for sympathy and condolence, and my country has been very grateful for both. The memorials and vigils around the world will not be forgotten.

But the time for sympathy has now passed. The time for action has now arrived.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Now the president did not name names of countries he's looking to see more actions from; he was not expected to name names. But U.S. officials have made it clear, they're looking to see more from countries such as Syria, Lebanon and Iran.

Now the president sending another message to the international community, basically saying every nation has a lot at stake in this campaign against terrorism.

He talked about Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, saying that network would use chemical, biological and nuclear weapons the minute it has access to those weapons. And he also pointed to bin Laden's statement last weekend, when he condemned Arab countries belonging to the United Nations. Mr. Bush saying very pointedly that every nation could be a potential target.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Last week, anticipating this meeting of the general assembly, they denounced the United Nations. They called our Secretary-General a criminal, and condemned all Arab nations here as traitors to Islam. Few countries meet their exacting standards of brutality and oppression. Every other country is a potential target.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Again, also the president pointing out how not just the United States targeted on that day of September 11, how dozens of countries lost citizens in the attacks on the World Trade Center. The president saying Muslims lost their lives as well. Again making the case this is not a campaign against Islam, not a campaign against Muslims -- again, a campaign against terrorists and those who harbor them.

Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: Turning to a different subject just for a moment Kelly, I understand you have some information with regard to this -- but the World Trade Organization, I understand, has been meeting, and China has recently been voted in. Has the White House reacted to that?

WALLACE: Well, no surprise, Kyra, because the White House has been working very hard, a strong, supporter of China's entry into the world trading body; so the U.S. very pleased. Obviously, the U.S. trade representative participating in those ministerial talks going on right now in Qatar. The United States saying, look, it is basically focusing this relationship with China, trying to work in areas where the two sides can agree.

Certainly, the U.S. believing that trade benefits the United States, benefits China. The more China is connected to the world community, the better the U.S. believes its economy will be, the better for religious rights, for human rights, religious freedoms. And then, of course, they will work on areas of disagreement: non- proliferation, human rights.

So again, they see these as different channels. But the U.S. very, very pleased; thinks this will benefit China and benefit the international community as well -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: CNN White House correspondent Wallace, thanks.

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