Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Interview with Rob Sobhani

Aired April 25, 2002 - 14:31   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We just mentioned Crawford, Texas, with President Bush going one on one with today with Saudi's Crown Prince Abdullah. Professor Rob Sobhani is now going one on one with us, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, specializing in U.S.- Mideast relations.

Good to see you again. How are you?

ROB SOBHANI, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Good afternoon. Thank you.

HEMMER: Good. I just wanted to point out we're talking about Arab issues here. I know you're Persian, of Iranian descent, so we'll make that clear from the outset. But certainly interested to get your take on what's happening here.

You were just in the region. You visited three different areas, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. What did you hear, relative to the U.S. interests right now?

SOBHANI: Bill, what I heard was that the United States' credibility and prestige is very much on the line. That the Arab world, the moderate countries, are with us in the war against terror, are with us in our campaign against Afghanistan. But they want the United States to do more as it concerns the Arab-Israeli process.

And here, I didn't detect so much hatred, as I detected frustration with U.S. diplomacy.

HEMMER: What should the U.S. response be to that? I mean, clearly the ear is being lent, in a way, especially in Crawford, Texas. What does the U.S. then take away from these, I don't want to call them small players in the Middle East situation, but it's certainly not an Egypt, a Jordan or a Saudi Arabia.

SOBHANI: Well, certainly the key country here is Saudi Arabia. Because the Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has now really become the leader of the Arab world, in the sense that he has now put a peace proposal on the table. He has now overshadowed Mubarak of Egypt.

And the Arab world is now looking to Crown Prince Abdullah to deliver a peace process to become the leader of the Arab world. And this is what makes Abdullah so critical in this process, because he is one leader in the Arab world, particularly of Saudi Arabia, that is considered by many to be pious. He's not corrupt and he has a straight talk. He's a straight talker.

And that, Bill, is what gives Abdullah credibility to make this happen or not. And that's why it's critical that Bush and Abdullah come up with a solution during their meetings.

HEMMER: Before we get to a solution, what do you think the image does in the Arab world? You've seen the crown prince now, getting off the plane in Waco, later going to Crawford, Texas. How is that likely to be felt halfway around the world?

SOBHANI: I think to the extent that the Arab media are going to play on this, the Al-Jazeeras of the world, the Middle East broadcasting corporations of the world, it lends once again enormous credibility to Crown Prince Abdullah. It makes him a player on the world stage.

He comes to Crawford, Texas, in actual matter of fact, not just with parity to President Bush, but actually with some more leverage over President Bush. And that is why all eyes are on Abdullah and Bush in Crawford, Texas.

HEMMER: Conversely though, what does it do to the U.S. image in the Arab world, knowing that they see the pictures that we were just watching here?

SOBHANI: It really puts U.S. prestige and credibility, as I mentioned earlier, on the line. The Arab world is now telling the United States, we want you to succeed. We want you to be able to bring about this peace. We cannot do it alone. We need the United States.

But they are running out of options. They are becoming increasingly frustrated. And unfortunately, that frustration is pouring into the streets. When I was visiting some of the countries, there were anti-American demonstrations and some were very violent.

HEMMER: Does it also tell the Arab world that the U.S. is engaged and this is a White House that cares to find a solution here?

SOBHANI: I think they understand that we want to be engaged, but they want us to do more. And here, of course, we've all been talking about it. They want us to put more pressure on our friend and ally, Israel. And that's the message they are sending.

I got the same message from the foreign minister of Oman, whom I visited, from the crown prince of Bahrain, whom I visited. They all were telling me one message: we're with you. We want you to put more pressure on Israel.

HEMMER: Thank you, sir. Rob Sobhani, professor at Georgetown University. We'll talk again, OK?

SOBHANI: Thank you very much.

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