This sounds a little early, and a little ominous. He states "which I hope is the Bush administration",... seems a little unsure.

Is this a subtle message?? or Warning to someone?? A terrorist/agent provocator attack may be in our near future.

Just seems like he is jumping the gun (so to speak) on looking presidential and addressing national security issues.

Bush Warns Terrorists
By Tom Raum
Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2000; 3:44 p.m. EST

AUSTIN, Texas –– George W. Bush warned would-be international adversaries Wednesday not to see this period of election uncertainty as an opportunity to attack U.S. interests abroad.

"I have all the confidence in the world that the Clinton administration and the next administration, which I hope is the Bush administration, would do whatever it takes to send a chilling signal to terrorists that we'll protect our property and our people," he said.

Bush issued the warning from the living room of the governor's mansion as he sat alongside his presumptive national security adviser, Stanford University administrator Condoleezza Rice.

"The warning ought to be that, as we decide this election, people ought not to take advantage of our nation," he said.

Bush commented after receiving his second regular intelligence briefing from the CIA. He did not mention any specific threats.

The Texas governor also said he's about settled on a White House staff and, although he's not ready to make any announcements, Rice is "on my list."

With the incoming Congress to be near-evenly divided among Republicans and Democrats, Bush said it was "a very unique moment in American history to promote a foreign policy that is bipartisan."

He said he is optimistic that court battles over the unsettled presidential election may soon be over. "I hope we can get this over with quickly. There's a lot of work to be done," Bush said.

The meeting with Rice was the latest session intended to portray him as busy forming a new government and to showcase its would-be leading members. Bush met last week with retired Gen. Colin Powell, his near-certain choice as secretary of state.

"I could name a few folks pretty quickly, if I so choose to do so," he said.

There had been plans to announce White House staff selections this week, before potential Cabinet nominees, but Bush's advisers feared they would have looked overly confident had they done so during continued legal wrangling over the election. Announcements are now expected next week.

In another sign that Bush's team is trying to dial back its confidence, advisers quietly signaled Florida legislative leaders that they would prefer a go-slow approach on the prospect of calling a special legislative session to name presidential electors. They feared the move was looking too heavyhanded.

Some advisers raised the possibility that Bush might wait and announce multiple Cabinet selections at once, possibly during a trip to Washington if he gets a decisive court verdict or a concession from Al Gore. Such a trip also might include a courtesy call on President Clinton and a visit with congressional leaders of both parties, the advisers said.

Bush indicated he was further along in picking a White House staff than a Cabinet.

"When it comes to a White House staff, I've pretty well made up my mind on who should serve," Bush told reporters. "I've spoken fairly directly to people about possible service in the White House. And there will be an appropriate moment to name those people, and Condi Rice is on the list."

Rice, 45, was a Russia expert on the National Security Council for two years during Bush's father's presidency and was candidate Bush's top foreign policy adviser.

Bush already has named Andrew Card as his prospective White House chief of staff.

Economist Lawrence Lindsey was believed to be in line for a top White House economic job – either chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers or the chairman of the National Economic Council. He also is a possible candidate for treasury secretary, some aides suggested.

However, Bush was believed to be looking elsewhere for the Treasury assignment, perhaps to Wall Street. Among those most frequently mentioned by Republicans close to the process were Jack Hennessey, former CEO of Credit Suisse First Boston, and Walter Shipley, the retired chairman of Chase Manhattan Corp.

Rep. Bill Archer, the retiring chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, is also a possibility, as is Donald Marron, chairman of PaineWebber Inc., though other GOP operatives have minimized his chances.

Those close to the process said Bush was near final decisions on some White House staff jobs.

– Karl Rove, the Bush campaign's chief political strategist, was said to be in line either for a top White House strategy post or a similar berth at the Republican National Committee. The most likely scenario, officials said, was for him to have a White House role combining policy and politics.

– Karen Hughes, Bush's spokeswoman and longtime adviser, seemed more likely to receive a title such as "counselor to the president," instead of becoming White House press secretary or communications director, aides said.

– Ari Fleischer, a campaign spokesman who now handles media for the Bush-Cheney transition office in McLean, Va., was viewed by colleagues as most likely to become press secretary, with the daily responsibility for briefing the White House press corps.

– Mindy Tucker, another campaign spokeswoman now assigned to Florida, was likely to be offered a top communications job in a potential Bush administration, aides suggested.

© Copyright 2000 The Associated Press