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CNN Live Today
Sense of Frustration, Although Groundwork Being Made
Aired April 15, 2002 - 13:14 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go back to Washington right now, front lawn of the White House, our senior White House correspondent John King has been talking with officials there in Washington all day about the -- about the Secretary of State's trip here.
And, John, I'm curious to know what's the White House saying right now? How are they classifying this trip to this point now well into day three and pushing toward day four for Colin Powell?
JOHN KING, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, still a great sense of frustration. Also, on the other hand, they do believe that some groundwork is being made, if you will, for continued diplomacy. Certainly a sense of frustration, the incursions continue, they don't believe Mr. Arafat has done enough yet. Although as you noted with Andrea, there has been at least a period of relative calm for a couple of days.
President Bush out of -- you see there some of the violence from last week. President Bush out of the White House today, he's gone to Iowa to focus on domestic concerns, but certainly keeping track of it and keeping track, especially of the conversation you were just having with Andrea, about the possibility of some type of regional conference. They don't like to use the term peace conference here at the White House because they believe that would raise expectations too much, but they do believe it could, emphasis on could, no final decisions made, be helpful to try to bring all the parties together.
On the one hand, if you had a regional conference that involved Israel and the Arab nations you could test whether the Arab nations were truly committed as they promised at the recent Arab summit to recognizing Israel and trying to move ahead with some sort of peace negotiations. You could also test the Sharon government's willingness to get involved in a dialogue with Arab nations in the regions about peace and economic cooperation.
The big sticking point right now is that Israel says it will not negotiate with Yasser Arafat. So the idea being kicked about would be a conference at the level of foreign minister. Secretary Powell would be there, the Israelis could send their foreign minister, not the prime minister, the Palestinians could send one of their negotiators or somebody at that level. That could, in the short term, get you around the big issue, the fact that Mr. Sharon and Mr. Arafat won't talk to each other -- Bill HEMMER: Yes, also we have to gauge indeed if all the parties involved would even agree to it themselves. Still awaiting Palestinian reaction to that, John, but hopefully, possibly within the hour when we talk to Saeb Erakat we may get more on that.
Curious to know this, John, a lot of people here in the region are basically hinging the success or failure of this mission based on how long Colin Powell stays. We were told he has maximum flexibility. So one would assume if he wants to stay longer, he could. What are you hearing at the White House about how long they are willing to allow Secretary Powell to stay here on the ground and conduct these meetings?
KING: They believe he should stay and will stay as long as he believes he is making slow and steady progress. On the other hand, they also know that the longer he stays the more focus, if you will, the more the stakes rise for this administration. Secretary Powell so involved on a hand's-on level. Most officials here at the White House believe even if progress is being made, it makes sense at some point to pull the secretary back to Washington, even if only for a few days or so to meet with the president, to have an assessment with other senior officials in the administration. But as to when that might be, they simply cannot say.
Over the weekend, officials were saying perhaps the secretary would stay until midweek, then come back to Washington for a day or two, and if there was some progress, some hope, head right back. They believe a break at some point is helpful for all parties to just stop and think and reconsider where you are as you try to go forward. But ask officials this afternoon if and when that break should be, they say they simply don't know. They're waiting to hear more from Secretary Powell.
HEMMER: OK, John, thank you.
John King, senior White House correspondent there in Washington.
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