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CNN Live Today

Arab Tensions May Thwart Attacks on Iraq

Aired March 28, 2002 - 12:07   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Today's display, though, as we just saw, comes as the Bush administration planning for possible military action against Baghdad, which might require Saudi backing. More on this with Major Garrett, traveling with the president today in the state of Texas from the ranch in Crawford.

Major -- hello.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill.

Well, this videotape that we just saw has indeed complicated some of the Bush administration's assessment in the Middle East. On the one hand, the Bush administration has excessive praise for the Saudi Arabian peace proposal for the Israelis and the Palestinians adopted at that Arab League summit in Beirut. On the other hand, it really doesn't have much to say about what the world should conclude from this very public embrace of the Saudi crown prince and the presidential envoy from Iraq, Ibraham Izat -- Izat Ibraham, forgive me.

And so what the Bush administration at the senior level has been saying today is Look, our attitude about Iraq is very well known. And we also believe that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and other Arab nations throughout that region also have a very clear understanding of the nature of the regime in Iraq.

It is a regime the Bush administration likes to point out, has in the past. It used poison gas against its own people, has been on a very aggressive pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, has defied United Nations resolutions, bringing weapons inspectors back into that country. A senior administration official telling CNN a few moments ago Iraq was a menace before 9-11, it is a menace after 9-11. Our attitude about that hasn't changed.

But here's one of the complicating factors, Bill. As the Bush administration praises the Saudi Arabian proposal to bring peace in the Middle East -- proposal that is, linked in part to standing U.N. resolutions dealing with Israelis and Palestinians. The Bush administration doesn't know quite what to do with an Arab League talk about making sure Iraq is never attacked. A kind of appraisal that does not in any way take notice of existing U.N. resolutions that call for weapons inspections in that country. A very delicate, diplomatic situation for the Bush White House -- Bill. HEMMER: Yes -- Major, there is going to be a scene there at some point very soon in the spring when the crown prince will be standing there at the ranch with the president. One would think that relationship will continue to grow. What are they saying right now relative to this videotape we saw in Beirut as to how that trip may be effected or impacted in Crawford?

GARRETT: Well, the Bush White House says, Look, when the crown prince comes here to Crawford, it will obviously a moment for the president to extend his most important courtesy to any world leader. Believe me, Bill, there was tremendous competition around the world to get an invitation to the Bush ranch. Leaders around the world have figured out this is the best ticket you can have. If you want to have special time with the president, come to his ranch.

So it will bring the Saudi Arabia and U.S. relationship to a very, very high level, at least as far as it's consumed in video in public. The Bush administration also says that it believes that Saudi Arabia has no illusions about the true nature of the Iraqi regime -- they say the same about Kuwait and other Arab nations -- and really are trying to downplay the importance of this apparent reproachment between Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

HEMMER: That is going to be one heck of a photo op there in Crawford, Texas, at the ranch.

Major, thank you. Major Garrett, traveling with the president today in Texas.

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