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CNN Live Today

Bush Administration Criticized for Lack of Support in Middle East

Aired April 02, 2002 - 14:05   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: Now there's also a lot of talk about whether or not Colin Powell would be helpful if indeed he made a visit to the Middle East. The criticism is rising against the White House. And for more on that, traveling with the president in Philadelphia, here's Kelly Wallace to update us on the administration's position right now.

Kelly, good afternoon to you, back in Philly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good afternoon to you, Bill, from Pennsylvania. As you said, lots and lots of criticism, really mounting criticism, of the Bush White House. Calls from Capitol Hill, from Arab allies, from Clinton administration officials, for the administration to get more engaged right now to try and resolve the situation in the Middle East.

As you said, there are calls for some sort of diplomatic overture. For Secretary of State Colin Powell, perhaps, to travel to the region. As for President Bush, he is at this hour here in Pennsylvania. He arrived here a short time ago just outside Philadelphia.

His focus here will be on early childhood education, some initiatives to strengthen the head start program. But clearly, Bill, his focus also on the situation in the Middle East. In fact, right now the president doing a round table with education experts. He's likely to get some questions from reporters. No doubt one topic to be covered: the Middle East.

Secretary Powell appearing on CNN earlier on this day, saying he is willing to go to the region if it would serve a useful purpose. But right now, no trip planned, according to U.S. officials. And the secretary tried to make two things very, very clear in that interview on CNN earlier on this day.

No. 1, he said those Israeli defense forces will not be in the Palestinian territories indefinitely. And No. 2, he wanted to be very, very clear that this White House is very much engaged in trying to resolve the situation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: In due course, the Israeli defense forces will finish the military actions they have under way. They're trying to uproot terrorist infrastructure, seize weapons, things of that nature. That will come to an end. They have no intention of staying in those occupied areas. It's not something they can do over time.

And when they withdraw, we will find that we're going to need a political process to move forward. And that process is there waiting. It is the Tenet work plan. It is the Mitchell peace process, which gives the political solution, or route to a political solution.

And the United States will be engaged. General Zinni will be engaged. I will be engaged. And when it is useful for people to travel, such as the vice president did two weeks ago, we will travel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And, Bill, somewhat a defensive posture, really, from the secretary of state -- also even from President Bush yesterday, when reporters asked him inside the Oval Office if the United States should be more engaged. The president responding, saying those who question whether or not I am engaged perhaps weren't with him on his ranch at Crawford, when he was working the phones.

So clearly, some defensiveness coming from this White House. Though growing calls for the administration to get more involved. And, Bill, something we're hearing, really, from almost everyone, is that the administration also needs to consider perhaps a new approach or a new vision, somehow linking the cease-fire negotiations with a broader political solution to get the Palestinians to engage. Because almost everyone believes the current approach isn't working -- Bill.

HEMMER: Kelly, thanks. Kelly Wallace in Pennsylvania again, traveling with the president.

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