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CNN Live At Daybreak

Bush Faces Criticism Over Middle East Conflict

Aired April 03, 2002 - 06:01   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Secretary of State Colin Powell is defending the Bush administration's handling of the Middle East crisis. The White House is trying to strike a delicate balance. Still, that has not stopped the criticism.

CNN's White House correspondent, Kelly Wallace, tells us about it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): During a fund raiser in Philadelphia, President Bush touts his vision for the Middle East, Israel and a Palestinian state living side by side.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So that Israeli boys and girls can grow up in a peaceful society. I feel the same thing about the Palestinians. I hope that they can have their own peaceful state at peace with her neighbor, Israel.

WALLACE: Mr. Bush does not address his critics, leaving that to his secretary of state.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: But I can assure you that I am deeply engaged every day, for hours of the day, as are my colleagues in the Bush administration, to include the president.

WALLACE: Yet, there is growing criticism that the president himself has not done enough, including not speaking directly with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, since Israeli tanks stormed into Palestinian areas.

MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, FMR. SECRETARY OF STATE: I regret very much that this administration has not been as fully involved as we were.

WALLACE: The Bush administration has made no secret it believes that President Clinton pushed too hard during the Camp David talks, but some Mideast observers believe Mr. Bush has been too hands-off.

LEE HAMILTON, WOODROW WILSON CENTER: Certainly the impression throughout the Middle East, and I think throughout the world, and now throughout this country, is that the president really has not made a high priority of the Middle East conflict. WALLACE: Even members of the president's own party believe Mr. Bush could do more, including dispatching Powell to the region to negotiate a cease-fire linked to discussions of political issues.

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R), PENNSYLVANIA: We need to elevate it to the level of secretary of state and to have it broader, on an overall settlement, as well as on security.

WALLACE (on camera): For now, U.S. officials don't seem inclined to send Powell to the region, believing the focus should be on Mideast Envoy Anthony Zinni's cease-fire negotiations. U.S. officials, though, are certainly worried about the situation getting worse, but are also concerned that anymore involvement brings with it an added risk of failure.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, Media, Pennsylvania.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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