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CNN Saturday Morning News

Bush Expected to Outline Challenges for 2002 in Radio Address

Aired December 29, 2001 - 09:09   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: Well, there's no crystal ball, but in his weekly radio address, President Bush is expected to make some predictions about the challenges for 2002.

CNN's Major Garrett joins us now live from Crawford, Texas, where the president is vacationing.

I hope you're getting some R&R too, Major.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not much while I'm here covering the president, Kyra.

But as you said, in the radio address, the president will try to look ahead a little bit, predict some success, continuing success, in the war on terror, also talk about beefing up homeland security, but also talking about unfinished legislative business. Among the unfinished legislative business, a patients' bill of rights, Medicare reform, Social Security reform, and continuing on with education reforms.

But Kyra, one thing I can tell you, when you cover the White House, you learn that presidential imagery is a premeditated art form. And I can tell you there's no accident that yesterday in this year of domestic terrorist attacks in the war in Afghanistan, the last image Americans will see of their president in the year 2001 was this, the president standing with the commanding general of the war in Afghanistan, Tommy Franks, on his ranch here in Crawford, Texas, talking about the war, the pace of the war, and reminding Americans that there's much work left to be done now and in the future.

And he said he has hopes that 2002 will be a year of peace, but he's realistic that Osama bin Laden and the al Qaeda terrorist network continue to pose real threats.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I hope 2002 is a year of peace, but I'm also realistic, and I know full well that bin Laden and his cronies would like to harm America again. Bin Laden and his cronies would like to harm our allies. How do I know that? I'm -- I receive intelligence reports on a daily basis that -- that -- that indicates that that's his desires. And therefore, the United States must be vigilant, must make sure we continue to focus on our homeland security measures, must disrupt, must use our intelligence- gathering network to prevent the enemy from attacking.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GARRETT: And Kyra, the president in those question and answer session yesterday also said that he was very proud of that American Airlines flight attendant who intervened, and the passengers aboard that airline jet, who stopped a suicide bomb mission from actually being carried out by Richard Reid, accused of having a bomb in his tennis shoes. President said that's clear evidence that Americans now are on a high state of alert and will intervene to protect themselves and others, evidence, the president said, that America's commitment and resolve to defeat terror is stronger than ever -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, you're right, Major, I think we all agree that flight attendant is quite a hero. Major Garrett, Crawford, Texas, thanks so much.

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