Military

DATE=11/06/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH TERROR NUKES (L)

NUMBER=2-282773

BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

///// UPDATES CR 2-282756, BUSH BIOTERRORISM /////

INTRO: President Bush is vowing to keep relentless military pressure on Osama bin Laden and his supporters in Afghanistan. As V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports, the president says it is essential to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists.

TEXT: President Bush is stepping up his accusations against the bin Laden al-Qaida terrorist organization and Afghanistan's Taleban.

In a speech delivered via satellite to an anti-terrorism conference in Poland, Mr. Bush said al-Qaida is seeking nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. He said that is why the United States must act now.

/// BUSH ACT ///

We will not wait for more innocent deaths. We will not wait for the authors of mass murder to gain weapons of mass destruction.

/// END ACT ///

Administration officials have talked before about terrorist efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction. But this was the first time the President brought up the matter of nuclear arms.

Later, he told reporters that he based his comments on Osama bin Laden's own words.

/// BUSH ACT TWO ///

He announced that this was his intention. And I believe we need to take him seriously.

/// END ACT ///

During an appearance at the White House with French President Jacques Chirac, Mr. Bush acknowledged he did not know for sure if Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida have such weapons. But he said he would not be surprised to learn they are trying to acquire nuclear arms and the means to deliver them.

/// BUSH ACT THREE ///

This is an evil man we are dealing with and I would not put it past him to develop evil weapons to try to harm civilization as we know it.

/// END ACT ///

President Bush said America will hunt down Osama bin Laden and his deputies and bring them to justice.

/// BUSH ACT FOUR ///

That is why I work hard to keep our coalition bound together. And that is why we are going to keep relentless military pressure on him in Afghanistan.

/// END ACT ///

The President said he told the French leader during their talks that he has no doubts America will prevail and win.

Others coming to the White House this week include leaders of Great Britain, Ireland, Morocco, Kuwait, Brazil, and India. Mr. Bush heads to New York on Saturday to address the United Nations and hold more meetings, including his first face-to-face conversation with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. (SIGNED)

NEB/PW/RAE