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CNN Saturday Morning News

Interview With Noelia Rodriguez

Aired November 17, 2001 - 11:14   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: The administration today is unleashing a two-part blast against the Taliban's treatment of women and children. In a nine-page report, the State Department criticizes what it calls appalling and systematic repression, including forcing women away from education and out of their jobs.

First lady Laura Bush took to the airwaves today, attacking the Taliban record of human rights, especially the rights of women.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: The plight of women and children in Afghanistan is a matter of deliberate human cruelty, carried out by those who seek to intimidate and control.

Civilized people throughout the world are speaking out in horror, not only because our hearts break for the women and children in Afghanistan, but also because in Afghanistan we see the world the terrorists would like to impose on the rest of us.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: This is the first time a first lady has delivered the president's weekly radio address in its entirety.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: And joining us now from Austin to talk about the first lady's radio address is her press secretary, Noelia Rodriguez.

Good morning to you Ms. Rodriguez. Thank you for being with us.

NOELIA RODRIGUEZ, LAURA BUSH'S PRESS SECRETARY: Good morning, I'm happy to be with you.

SAVIDGE: Tell us, whose idea was this? Was this the first lady herself, said I want to have an active say, an active role in this issue?

RODRIGUEZ: Well, Mrs. Bush has a very passionate and compassionate attitude towards the rights of women and children, as she's demonstrated here in the United States during the course of this year in the White House.

And since September the 11th, she's become acutely aware of the things that have gone on in Afghanistan for the last several years, under the regime of the Taliban.

And she has a tremendous opportunity to educate the American people, and people around the world, for that matter, about the oppressive regime that exists in Afghanistan, and how it is really important for all of us to become aware of what's going on there so that we can be supportive of the efforts that are going on to liberate the people of Afghanistan.

SAVIDGE: And why the radio address on Saturday morning? Usually it is reserved for the president of the United States; why this particular genre?

RODRIGUEZ: Well, we're very fortunate to have a first lady in Laura Bush who is making history. This is the second time in two weeks that she's done a first for a first lady.

She was speaking before the National Press Club just about 10 days ago on life in American post-September the 11th. And today she broadcast the first radio address in the -- entirely broadcast by a first lady of the United States.

So Laura Bush is very passionate about this subject, and she wanted to be able to use what she has in her arsenal, and that is the bully pulpit, to educate Americans about what is going on in Afghanistan.

SAVIDGE: This seems to be an event, or a story where I guess events have moved faster than many of us have thought, including the demise, or at least the retreat of the Taliban. Did this force a reshaping of the message -- perhaps broadening it somewhat?

RODRIGUEZ: Well, I think it's important to focus on the fact that even a week ago women in Afghanistan would not have been able to walk outside their front door with their faces exposed or unescorted by a male family relative, or children couldn't do something as simple as fly a kite, things that here in America we take so for granted.

And so it really shows that the coalition is working collaboratively to fight terrorism and the evil deeds that are being done by people whose mission in life is to make the lives of women and children and other people oppressive. It is just not acceptable.

And so it's important for all of us to continue working collaboratively; education is so powerful; and supporting the troops that are overseas, making sure that this regime is ousted from Afghanistan and other parts of the world.

SAVIDGE: There are other regimes, some of which are very friendly to the United States, where women are oppressed. Saudi Arabia is one. There are even questions about the role of women in Pakistan. Is Mrs. Bush going to come forward and speak out against them?

RODRIGUEZ: Well, today's radio address is the first step. And it's the first step in a PR effort to expose the al Qaeda network for what they do, and that is oppress women and children around -- in different parts of the world.

And so it's a first step. We're very proud of Mrs. Bush for having done this. She's made history; and we hope that Americans all over the world will listen to her message and become informed and involved in any way possible to fight the terrorist network.

SAVIDGE: OK, we'll look forward to hearing more. Noelia Rodriguez, thank you very much for joining us from Austin this morning -- the press secretary to the first lady. Thank you.

RODRIGUEZ: Thank you.

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