Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Bush Swings from 'Withdrawal Without Delay' to 'Timetable OK'

Aired April 18, 2002 - 14:17   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: About three hours ago we did hear from the White House. For the first time President Bush did meet face to face with Secretary of State Colin Powell after his nine-day mission to the region. Want to get to the White House straightaway now.

Here's Major Garrett tracking that for us. Major, good afternoon.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Bill. And the headline -- there are actually a couple of them here from the Bush White House.

First and foremost, the president of the United States making it clear that even though on April 4th, several days ago, he said Israel should withdraw. And couple of days later said it should withdraw without delay, he is now, generally speaking, all right with the pace of Israeli withdrawals from the West Bank. He made that clear when he sat down in the Oval Office with the secretary of state.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Israel started withdrawing quickly after our call from smaller cities on the West Bank. History will show that they -- they've responded. And as the prime minister said, he told me he gave me a timetable and he's met the timetable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GARRETT: There are a good number of questions, as you might well expect, Bill, at the White House briefing today. Several reporters saying, listen, the president said "now," and "without delay." Now he's saying Israel met the timetable.

White House press secretary Ari Fleischer repeated that, in fact, the president had been reassured by the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that the withdrawals would continue. And except for very difficult situations in Ramallah and in Bethlehem at the Church of the Nativity, the White House expects those withdrawals to continue and wrap up by this weekend.

But on the question of Ramallah, another interesting development here at the White House, Bill. One day after the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat specifically appealed to President Bush to lift the siege of Ramallah, the president said today he understood the underlying reason for it. That is, Israeli demands that those Palestinians implicated in the assassination of an Israeli cabinet minister have to be dealt with. Here's is what the president said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: I can understand why the prime minister wants them brought to justice. They should be brought to justice if they killed this man in cold blood. And so -- I can -- the situation in Ramallah is based upon than particular part of the problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GARRETT: Many reporters asked the White House press secretary if in fact that was a tacit endorsement of the continued siege of Ramallah, the continued siege of the Palestinian leader. Ari Fleischer said no, just the president understands Israel has a legitimate concern to bring those to justice. Ari Fleischer said that would be the case even if there wasn't a siege at Ramallah.

And senior administration officials tell CNN that officials went back to the president, asked him directly, are you endorsing this particular siege of Ramallah? The president said no, just that he understands while Israel is doing it -- Bill.

HEMMER: Major, quickly, the defense minister in Israel today indicated a possibility that George Tenet, the CIA director, may be back here Monday. Do you have anything on that, or is he ahead of the game at this point?

GARRETT: He might be ahead of the game. The White House is not denying that it is actively contemplating sending the CIA director George Tenet, who is the author of a security plan that both sides have committed to, back to the region.

The key we keep hearing here at the White House is when there are definitive signals, most likely conveyed privately, that both sides are willing to reengage very directly and very specifically on those kinds security talks. Mr. Tenet will be back in the region, but no official word here yet -- Bill.

HEMMER: OK, Major, thanks. Major Garrett at the White House.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com