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CNN Live Saturday

Two Former Ambassadors Discuss Role of Diplomacy in War Against Terrorism

Aired September 29, 2001 - 17:14   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Two former U.S. diplomats are in Atlanta for a special event. It's an American embassy evening and symposium. Well, they're joining us now to give us their insights into this new war on terrorism.

And to talk about the role of diplomacy in this battle, we welcome Wyche Fowler, he is former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia; and Phillip Lader, he's former U.S. ambassador to Great Britain.

Ambassadors, nice to have you join us because I know you're very busy in your schedules. So thanks for taking the time with us.

Ambassador Fowler, let's talk about Saudi Arabia first. How important is this relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia? But how delicate can it be for the Saudis domestically?

WYCHE FOWLER, FMR. AMBASSADOR TO SAUDI ARABIA: Well, I think the importance of the relationship of the two countries is undeniable, ever since we fought and won the Gulf War together, repelling Saddam from Kuwait.

And that, I think it's fair to say that that relationship is only strengthened in peacetime over the last 10 years. Economically, we've exchanged -- we just have a strong relationship.

Delicacy in the Middle East all revolves around the fact that sometimes we forget there's such a thing as Arab public opinion, that monarchs and sometimes even dictators have to listen to the people in the street. And they are...

KELLEY: But in this case...

FOWLER: And there are many, many discordant voices, mainly having to do with whenever you have superpower who has a presence in the region. Beginning with Osama bin Laden, that has been source of tension because he has made it the source of American forces.

KELLEY: And that's what I was going to say. You know, the country, Saudi Arabia kicked Osama bin Laden out of the country. So might that be an easier sell this time. But because of the cells that might remain there from al-Qaeda, that might be more of problem domestically? FOWLER: Well, I think it's just -- you know, we just don't know the extent of these terrorists and where they are. There could be cells in Saudi Arabia, though of all the countries, they have probably been swept out. And most of the terrorists been arrested.

Because as you will recall, we had two bombings against American soldiers in Saudi Arabia. And many Saudis were killed in both of those attacks. So they've been fighting Bin Laden after they took away his citizenship and after they drove him from country for four years.

But it has to be, you've got to fight him in the neighborhood. You've got to fight him with the cooperation of your friends. And all of our Arab friends there will share in the intelligence gathering and the information sharing that if we are to see the extent of the networks and we're going to -- and get at the cells, get at the roots, as the President says, it has to be done collectively and together.

KELLEY: Ambassador Lader, probably not as hard a sell in Britain to get folks on board there. You see Prime Minister Tony Blair in the big box next to Mrs. Bush when the President addressed Congress, you know, a couple of nights ago.

How would you think -- is it military and intelligence that are the strongest points that Britain brings to the table?

PHILLIP LADER, FMR. U.S. AMB. TO BRITAIN: When you consider the two countries, you have to recognize that our histories, our cultures, our economies are irrevocably intertwined. But in deal politics, you can't take anything for granted.

And so, the initiative of this prime minister Tony Blair stepping forward, the support of the leaders of the other parties in the United Kingdom, is so helpful to us.

They'll be helpful in a variety of ways. Some known and some unknown to the general public, but we could not ask for a stronger allies than the leadership of and the people of United Kingdom of Great Britain.

KELLEY: How bad do you think it is, Ambassador Lader, in Britain? They think that maybe the latest attacks were kind of put together and really came from Germany, United Arab Emirates and England. How bad is the problem there and trying to get at who may be living in Britain. How strong will they have to be and how strong is there intelligence there? And can they get them?

LADER: The British are known for very strong intelligence capabilities. And I'd have to say that the -- they are up to the challenge. That being said, the type of terrorism which we have just suffered is nothing new. Certainly on a scale, it eclipses anything that can point to in European recent history.

But we have to recognize that the people of London, the people in capitals around Europe have suffered in the past as well. And so, consequently, there's a heightened sense of security, but a heightened determination. But they know, as the American people need to know as well, and as this president has so ably been telling us, we must have patience as we let the intelligence and military capabilities be mobilized.

KELLEY: Yes, patience and resolve he said.

Ambassador Fowler, are you worried about other terrorist attacks and where they might happen?

FOWLER: Well, I think we've, you know, we've had the most alarming and tragic wake-up call that any nation has probably ever suffered by this magnitude. But I think that, you know, the American people understand, as Ambassador Lader was saying, that we've got to defend ourselves. We're going to have to suffer some inconveniences as security precautions are put into place. But we would not -- no one would be honest to say that it could not happen again.

But just as in my time in Saudi Arabia, you do everything you can. You go on the offensive, as we are doing in trying to find them and root out these cells and arrest these people.

At the same time, we've got to have a long slaw (ph), as the British would say, in putting together our defensive mechanisms to minimize the chance of another terrorist attack. And if does come, to be able to have the people ready to deal with it.

KELLEY: We're glad to have both of you join us today. Thanks very much, ambassador, former Ambassador Wyche Fowler, who is with Saudi Arabia and former Ambassador Phillip Lader to Great Britain. You were the ambassador there. Thank you both very much.

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