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CNN Live At Daybreak

International News Desk

Aired January 07, 2003 - 05:35   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: And, of course, our international desk is staying on top of developments in Israel, as well as the world's other hot spots.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And here to tell us what the desk is focusing on this morning, senior international editor David Clinch.

DAVID CLINCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Good morning, guys.

Yes, well, Israel, Walt pointing out very simply there that there is a new dynamic that we have to be aware of in our coverage on the Israeli story, and, of course, that's Iraq. Now, also obviously the Israeli elections coming up. Both of those things affect the way the Israelis react to these suicide bombings and the way that we have to cover them. We have to make sure that the audience understands that people in Israel do know and are aware, both the politicians and the people in the street, and, of course, the Palestinians, too, are aware that there's a pending war next door and that their actions are being watched very closely by the United States and others.

COSTELLO: And it's interesting to note, then, when Israel comes out with a statement, sometimes it includes Iraq.

CLINCH: Yes. Well, again, I mean they're aware not only because the U.S. is aware, but because they're right next door. And last time around, they were a target of Iraq in the last Gulf War. So they're not just aware of it because Washington wants them to be, they're aware because they're right there and they know that any action on their part, not just targeted reaction against Palestinians, but an overall heightening of the tension and violence, the cycle of violence in Israel, reflects on the, Washington's desire to carry out, if they do, a military operation, but also their primary desire to keep things, I suppose, relatively calm there.

VAUSE: But what we've seen, though, in the past with Israel, though, very, very supportive of the war with Iraq, and even saying it should go beyond that, take out Iran, as well.

CLINCH: Yes. They have their own axis of evil, you know, desires, too. And certainly they, you know, want to be in the same camp as the United States, if there is going to be military action against Iraq. And, yes, they have their own desires long-term for a reorganization of their local neighborhood to their benefit.

That's a different question, which I think, to be honest, we'll have to wait and get to that one after, if there is a military action against Iraq, you know, deal with what Israel and all the other, of course, the Arab nations, too, have to deal with in the aftermath.

COSTELLO: Let's talk more about North Korea, because North Korean leader Kim Jong Il came out, what, late last night and said that if there are sanctions imposed on North Korea, it will mean war. How concerned should Americans be about that statement?

CLINCH: Well, not particularly, I would say, just based on my experience, and I think the experience of others more experienced than I am in regard to North Korea. That's the kind of rhetoric that comes out all the time. But it is a very interesting statement. There are two words, three words that I think we need to be aware of.

Dialogue, when the North Koreans talk about there should be a dialogue, they mean dialogue, literally, the United States and North Korea, nobody else involved. Their goal here, to put it simply, is the United States sitting down, recognizing North Korea and giving them money, aid, whatever else they need.

War, I'm not sure that we really will see a war, but it's certainly something we need to take extremely seriously and we are and we will stay on that story regardless of what happens in Iraq.

CLINCH: When we look at the dialogue that comes out of North Korea, the rhetoric, they have a history, though, of screaming louder than they really mean. Is that the case?

CLINCH: Well, I don't know, it depends how far you go back. The Korean War was a war, one of the largest seen in that area, and if it happens again, we need to be prepared for it. So we're going to take it seriously no matter what anybody else does.

COSTELLO: David, thanks.

VAUSE: David Clinch, thank you.

CLINCH: OK.

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






Aired January 7, 2003 - 05:35   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And, of course, our international desk is staying on top of developments in Israel, as well as the world's other hot spots.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And here to tell us what the desk is focusing on this morning, senior international editor David Clinch.

DAVID CLINCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Good morning, guys.

Yes, well, Israel, Walt pointing out very simply there that there is a new dynamic that we have to be aware of in our coverage on the Israeli story, and, of course, that's Iraq. Now, also obviously the Israeli elections coming up. Both of those things affect the way the Israelis react to these suicide bombings and the way that we have to cover them. We have to make sure that the audience understands that people in Israel do know and are aware, both the politicians and the people in the street, and, of course, the Palestinians, too, are aware that there's a pending war next door and that their actions are being watched very closely by the United States and others.

COSTELLO: And it's interesting to note, then, when Israel comes out with a statement, sometimes it includes Iraq.

CLINCH: Yes. Well, again, I mean they're aware not only because the U.S. is aware, but because they're right next door. And last time around, they were a target of Iraq in the last Gulf War. So they're not just aware of it because Washington wants them to be, they're aware because they're right there and they know that any action on their part, not just targeted reaction against Palestinians, but an overall heightening of the tension and violence, the cycle of violence in Israel, reflects on the, Washington's desire to carry out, if they do, a military operation, but also their primary desire to keep things, I suppose, relatively calm there.

VAUSE: But what we've seen, though, in the past with Israel, though, very, very supportive of the war with Iraq, and even saying it should go beyond that, take out Iran, as well.

CLINCH: Yes. They have their own axis of evil, you know, desires, too. And certainly they, you know, want to be in the same camp as the United States, if there is going to be military action against Iraq. And, yes, they have their own desires long-term for a reorganization of their local neighborhood to their benefit.

That's a different question, which I think, to be honest, we'll have to wait and get to that one after, if there is a military action against Iraq, you know, deal with what Israel and all the other, of course, the Arab nations, too, have to deal with in the aftermath.

COSTELLO: Let's talk more about North Korea, because North Korean leader Kim Jong Il came out, what, late last night and said that if there are sanctions imposed on North Korea, it will mean war. How concerned should Americans be about that statement?

CLINCH: Well, not particularly, I would say, just based on my experience, and I think the experience of others more experienced than I am in regard to North Korea. That's the kind of rhetoric that comes out all the time. But it is a very interesting statement. There are two words, three words that I think we need to be aware of.

Dialogue, when the North Koreans talk about there should be a dialogue, they mean dialogue, literally, the United States and North Korea, nobody else involved. Their goal here, to put it simply, is the United States sitting down, recognizing North Korea and giving them money, aid, whatever else they need.

War, I'm not sure that we really will see a war, but it's certainly something we need to take extremely seriously and we are and we will stay on that story regardless of what happens in Iraq.

CLINCH: When we look at the dialogue that comes out of North Korea, the rhetoric, they have a history, though, of screaming louder than they really mean. Is that the case?

CLINCH: Well, I don't know, it depends how far you go back. The Korean War was a war, one of the largest seen in that area, and if it happens again, we need to be prepared for it. So we're going to take it seriously no matter what anybody else does.

COSTELLO: David, thanks.

VAUSE: David Clinch, thank you.

CLINCH: OK.

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