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Bush and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah to Come Together on Bush Ranch

Aired April 25, 2002 - 10:20   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: About an hour from now, the Mideast crisis will take center stage, when President Bush and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah come together on the Bush's ranch. Mr. Bush arrived in Texas yesterday.

You might recall that Prince Abdullah proposed a peace initiative earlier this year. Today, is he expected to urge the president to pressure the Israel to free Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, from his compound. White House aides say that Mr. Bush will talk about the Mideast, the war on terrorism, and the president is likely to hear some criticism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL, SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTRY: As you say, there is frustration now in the Middle East in general. And it is a frustration emanating from the actions of Israel. Everybody in the Middle East understands that there is a special relationship between the United States and Israel. They take it as a given. But everybody hopes and indeed the forming of peace in the Middle East is based on this special relationship being used to move Israel towards peace. And if there is any frustration, it is a frustration when they see that this influence is not being used.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: And now, for some insight into the meeting, which we will get to in a moment. First we want to show you these live pictures that we are getting from Waco, Texas. Secretary of State Colin Powell is standing by waiting for Crown Prince Abdullah to arrive at the airport in Waco, and then he will escort him to the Bush ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Now, let's get some insight on that meeting that is going to take place in Crawford, and what role Saudi Arabia plays in the Mideast conflict and the war on terrorism. Let's head to New York and to Richard Murphy, the former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Mr. Ambassador, good morning -- thanks for joining us.

RICHARD MURPHY, FMR. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SAUDI ARABIA: Good morning.

KAGAN: I would imagine if you could be a fly on the wall at this greeting, you would not exactly see a warm Texas barbecue taking place between these two men as they meet, the president and the prince. There are going to be some very tough words on both sides.

MURPHY: I think there will be very direct words. Prince Saud, whom you just had on, the Saudi foreign minister, made it plain that the essential message is, we are not Saudis contesting your relationship with Israel. Keep it, but use it. And he feels that the United States has not been using that relationship for getting to peace in the Middle East.

KAGAN: But, Mr. Ambassador, he is going to say keep it, but he's going to say change it. And I imagine there will be some very blunt words that he wants President Bush to put a lot more pressure on Ariel Sharon, instead of just perhaps looking the other way sometimes in some of these military incursions.

MURPHY: I think it is likely that the crown prince feels the president was made to look foolish by Prime Minister Sharon, when he called for immediate withdrawal and Sharon did not withdraw the troops, and still has not withdrawn from Ramallah and Bethlehem these weeks later.

KAGAN: Well, on that note, won't some people think that perhaps President Bush might look foolish if he invites the crown prince to his own home, to his ranch, and sit there and have to listen to demands from a prince from Saudi Arabia making demands on the president of the United States?

MURPHY: He has got demands of his own to make on the prince. It has been a long relationship and a pretty solid relationship, given the neutral interests in oil supply and Middle East stability. And I think there is a lot for them to talk about. The prince is very direct and very blunt, and certainly the president has that reputation as well. So I don't expect fireworks, but there may well not be a meeting of minds there as to what can be done right now.

MURPHY: And as we continue our conversation, Mr. Ambassador, we do have live pictures coming in from Waco, Texas, where we can see the prince and his entourage has arrived in Waco. And they will make their way from there on over to Crawford, Texas.

Let's look at some of these threats that are kind of floating out there that the Saudis might bring up. First of all, the oil weapon. We have seen Iraq cut off oil supplies for 30 days. What kind of impact could it have if Saudi Arabia goes down that road?

MURPHY: First of all, I don't expect Saudi Arabia to go down that road. That would be a major change in policy for the Saudis. They have, as recently as Monday in a big conference in Washington, spoken through their oil minister, saying we are not going to use the oil weapon. We value stability in the market and security of the global economy too much for that. Now, I don't...

KAGAN: And exactly doesn't it go both ways, Mr. Ambassador? They might cut off oil to make the Americans nervous, but that means that money stops flowing their way as well. MURPHY: It does. And it certainly hits immediately on the economies of the poor third world countries, because global oil has a global price, and we'll be able to afford it. It will hurt if it goes way up, but we will be able to get it. Many countries will not be able to afford it.

KAGAN: And the other threat of perhaps ongoing discussion that's been taking place, the threat of kicking of the Americans off military bases, giving them access to military bases in Saudi Arabia.

MURPHY: Well, there has been diversification of our military positions in Saudi Arabia and in other countries in the Peninsula. I don't think that the Saudis are going to be kicking us out, but I know our own Pentagon has been planning to spread their resources and their supply roots out around the Peninsula.

Now, they have been very useful to the American military, these facilities in Saudi Arabia. I am sure they would hate to lose them, and I don't think it is necessary that they be lost. Both sides are looking for a way to continue to coexist.

KAGAN: And real quickly, the status of the peace initiative that Crown Prince Abdullah first brought up about a month ago. How is it, given after the Arab summit, after what's taken place between the Israelis and Palestinians over the last month?

MURPHY: Well, that cast -- you know, the one ray of light, of hope in the region was that initiative which started with the crown prince and ended up intact at the Arab summit at the end of March.

KAGAN: I guess my question is: Does a light still shine on that?

MURPHY: It does. It is a reminder to the Israelis of everything that they had asked for the last 50 years could be achieved with return of the lands occupied in '67. A very difficult position, but the goal of acceptance and normal relations with the Arab world is a wonderful vision for them.

KAGAN: It is a big carrot to hold out even if it does contain some items that many Israelis believe they could never agree to. Let's hope that that light still does shine. Ambassador, thank you so much for joining us with your insight -- appreciate it.

MURPHY: Thank you.

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