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CNN Live At Daybreak

White House May Be Shifting Policy

Aired April 19, 2002 - 05:31   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: A policy shift may be in the works in Washington, as the Bush administration struggles to resolve the Middle East crisis. Secretary of State Colin Powell's frustrating attempt at peacemaking may be instrumental to that policy change.

Our White House Correspondent Major Garrett has details for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Well the president took pains to support his top diplomat, implying that Powell wasn't the first top U.S. official to return from a Middle East peace mission virtually empty handed.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a part of the world where killing had been going on for a long, long time. And one trip by the secretary of state is not going to prevent that from happening.

GARRETT: And 10 days after saying Israel had to withdraw from Palestinian territories without delay, the president now says he believes Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is keeping to a timetable.

BUSH: Well he gave me a timetable and he's met the timetable.

GARRETT: The president also said he, quote, "understands Israel's continued siege of Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah," implying it might continue until Arafat hands over the alleged killers of the Israeli tourism minister hiding in the compound. Top U.S. aides say that's not an endorsement, but concede many Palestinians might night see it that way.

And Powell's trip could change U.S. policy in the Middle East. Senior advisers tell CNN the White House is debating whether to move beyond the Tenet security plan and Mitchell political plan and present a U.S.-backed peace plan designed to break the stalemate. Powell hinted at that possible policy shift.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: ... we wanted to move forward with negotiations as early as possible, and looking at different ways to do that once security has been established.

GARRETT: And the White House is also considering increasing U.S. aid as part of a global effort to rebuild Palestinian cities and refugee camps.

POWELL: There will be a great need for humanitarian relief, for reconstruction efforts, and all of that has to be part of an integrated strategy.

GARRETT: Top Middle East analysts say it's time for boldness.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think this is a time for the big leap. The question is, Is the U.S. ready for the big leap? Is the president ready for the big leap? That's a decision that is going to have to be made. And I think the next few days and weeks are going to be critical.

GARRETT (on camera): Top aides say if the president shakes up his policy, he won't do it alone. And they say key meetings with Morocco's King Mohammed on Tuesday and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah on Thursday, at the president's Texas ranch, could be a part of wide- ranging discussions that yield a revamped U.S. policy in the Middle East.

Major Garrett, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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