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CNN Live Today

Bush: 'I Mean What I Say'

Aired April 08, 2002 - 14:07   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Strong words today from President Bush, for both sides in the Mideast conflict. Mr. Bush spoke while attending a volunteerism event in Tennessee. CNN's Major Garrett is traveling with the president. He joins us now live with the details from that. Hi again, Major.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Kyra. And welcome to a blustery Knoxville, Tennessee. As you said, the president dealing with the Middle East, even as he tries to talk about one of his favorite subjects, community service, as it relates to the homeland defense and the war on terrorism.

And let's try to answer that question that Jerrold Kessel laid out at the top of his live report. What is it that's happening between the United States and Israel right now? Is it a rift? Is it a confrontation? Is it a fundamental disagreement about what constitutes necessary Israeli action to protect itself?

Well, administration officials I've spoken with here, traveling with the president, use much softer words. The words of one, "our stars are just not in alignment right now." Basically the administration believes that Israel is not acting in its own best self-interest right now. That the longer these Israeli defense forces activities continues in the West Bank, the more Israel jeopardizes itself, not only in the eyes of the world, but its own internal security.

Clearly, the Israeli government doesn't believe that. But the president took time here today, talking to reporters before delivering his speech here in Knoxville on community service, that it was time for Israel to withdraw. He meant what he said on Saturday. The time has come for Israel to begin to withdraw from the West Bank. Here's what the president said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There is a mutual responsibility to achieve peace. And it's going to require leadership on both sides. And the United States is firmly committed to achieving peace. And is firmly committed, I am firmly committed, to what I expect from both parties. I repeat, I meant what I said about withdrawal without delay. And I mean what I say when I call upon the Arab world to strongly condemn and act against terrorist activities.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GARRETT: This goes to the deeper question, Kyra, of exactly what the Bush administration would do if Israeli government continues to defy its call for withdraw. And there really are no solid answers from administration officials. There would be no sanctions. The United States wouldn't, in any way, reduce its diplomatic contacts with Israel. The Israeli-U.S. relationship is described by one senior administration official here as "fundamental," and that's not going to change even though there's this disagreement, now becoming ever more public, between the Bush administration and the Sharon government, about how to best protect Israel in terms of defending itself against Palestinian acts of terrorism.

Clearly the Israeli government believes there's more work to do on the ground. But equally so, the Bush administration believes that work on the ground not only jeopardizes its future immediately, but over the long-term. So there's great concern from the Bush administration that as this conflict wears on, it could spread across the borders. Lebanon, Syria, other issues like that become at the top of the Bush administration's list of concerns.

That's why they're telling Israel, for your good, for our good, for the good of everyone concerned, begin that withdrawal sooner rather than later -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: CNN's Major Garrett traveling with the president. Thanks again, Major.

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