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CNN Live Sunday

Target: Terrorism - Finding Osama bin Laden

Aired September 30, 2001 - 17:00   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: Where is Osama bin Laden hiding? Today the Taliban claim they know but are they telling the truth?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: It was just a few days ago that they said they didn't know where he was so I have no reason to believe anything a Taliban representative would say.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Good afternoon from New York I'm Martin Savidge along with Daryn Kagan in Washington and in Atlanta, Leon Harris, with the latest developments on America's New War on terrorism. Leon?

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR All right, let's begin with a quick look at some of the latest developments in the war on terrorism. Afghanistan's ruling Taliban now say that prime terrorist suspect Osama bin Laden is under their control at a secret location inside their country and they have indicated that they are willing to negotiate with the United States. However, the Bush administration says that is something that will not happen.

Attorney General John Ashcroft warns again today that there is a clear and present danger of new terrorist acts against Americans once the U.S. responds to the September 11th attacks.

And White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card says President Bush wants to reopen Reagan National Airport in suburban Washington -- quoting here, "as quickly as we can." Because it's so close to the Pentagon Reagan National is the only passenger airport that is still closed after the attacks on the U.S.

And now finally some updated numbers. New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani says that the number of confirmed deaths in the World Trade Center attacks now stands at 314. More than 5,200 are listed as missing and presumed dead as of this hour. Now to Daryn in Washington.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Leon. We're going to go ahead and pick up with your first point there talking about the White House and response to the Taliban's new statements about where Osama bin Laden is hiding and his status. Let's go to our White House Correspondent Kelly Wallace. Kelly, hello. KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, there, Daryn. Well, the White House responding very quickly saying and I'm repeating a message it has put out there every day that the Bush White House will not be negotiating with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban -- that it won't be turning over any evidence to Taliban leaders.

The message from the administration is that the Taliban know fully well what President Bush's demands are -- to turn over suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden, any other associates of the al Qaeda network and to close down all terrorist training camps in Afghanistan -- that those demands are non-negotiable.

And another thing we heard, Daryn, right at the top of the show -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld questioning any claims coming from the Taliban right now pointing out that just a few days ago the Taliban said that they didn't even know where bin Laden happened to be.

So right now the pressure is on the Taliban. When asked if the Taliban could pay a price if it did not meet the U.S. demands Donald Rumsfeld said, "That should be self-evident at this point." Daryn?

KAGAN: Well, Kelly, let's keep on the topic of the defense department. Soon after the attacks we heard a lot about a lot of deployments now we're not hearing a lot. Any pressure from within the White House they might be feeling from the American people they want to see something done in terms of retaliation and done very soon?

WALLACE: You know, I was asking a senior administration official that question just a short time ago. The official saying no, that there is no worry in the White House, no pressure in the White House. The sense from the administration is that the American people want the president to get it right not to just act quickly.

And they also feel like the message is getting out that this is a different kind of war -- you see the president returning from the presidential retreat at Camp David where he huddled with his advisers over the weekend.

So the feeling is that the president's message -- a message he's really kind of put out almost every day -- that this is going to be a different kind of campaign -- that the military component will be one aspect, that it will also be fought using financial ammunition, diplomatic means.

And, Daryn, you even heard the president on Friday saying there are things that the American people might see on television. They might see parts of this campaign but there are other things that are going to be happening in secret that the American people just won't see. Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: Kelly Wallace at the White House. Kelly, thank you very much.

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