Military

DATE=11-14-02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CONGRESS TERRORISM (L-UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-296464

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// EDS: Update CR 2-296456 w/change in introduction ///

INTRO: The Senate's top Democrat is questioning the success of the Bush administration's war on terrorism.

Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

TEXT: In a meeting with reporters Thursday, Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle said the Bush administration is not doing enough to fight terrorism.

He cited the United States's failure to capture Osama bin Laden, leader of the al-Qaeda terrorist network who is suspected of being behind last year's September 11th attacks on New York and Washington.

/// DASCHLE ACTUALITY ///

I think we have to question whether we are winning the war. We have not found bin Laden, we have not made any real progress in any of the other areas involving the key elements of al-Qaeda. They continue to be as great a threat today as they were a year and a half ago. So by what measure can we say this has been successful so far?

/// END ACT ///

At the White House, spokesman Scott McClellan said the war on terrorism has in his words always been about more than one man, and he was quick to defend administration efforts:

/// MCCLELLAN ACTUALITY ///

We are making tremendous progress. There is a global coalition of more than 90 countries in this war on terrorism, working to find and hunt down and bring those terrorists to justice wherever they are.

/// END ACT ///

In a separate matter, the Senate unanimously (95-0) gave final approval to a bill to improve security at the nation's ports and boost efforts to investigate suspicious cargo. Senate Republican leader Trent Lott:

/// LOTT ACTUALITY ///

The challenge before us is to find ways to find out what is on those ships, what is in that cargo? We need to look at the port of debarkation, how do we deal with them on the high seas? How do we make sure a threat is looked into or assessed. What do we do once they are on the ports? So this is important legislation.

/// END ACT ///

The bill, expected to be approved by the House, will have to be signed by President Bush before becoming law. (signed)

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