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CNN Live At Daybreak
Saudi Cooperation
Aired May 15, 2003 - 07:04 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: I want to get back to our lead story again today, America's ambassador in Saudi Arabia. His name is Robert Jordan. He says the Saudis failed to act on U.S. concerns about security in Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia's ambassador, Prince Bandar Bin Sultan, says his government did not think action was needed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE BANDAR BIN SULTAN, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: When he made the request, our security agencies took the request seriously, assessed the situation and decided the measures were adequate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: The White House being cautious about criticizing the Saudis.
Straight away to the Front Lawn, and our senior White House correspondent, John King, is standing by for more from there.
John -- good morning.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.
The White House reluctant to criticize the Saudis, but this new evidence available to us, this secret mission to Saudi Arabia by a top presidential aide raising new questions not only about Saudi cooperation, but about the credibility of White House statements that the Saudis are and have been fully cooperating in the war on terrorism.
We learned last night that Steve Hadley -- he's the No. 2, Condoleezza Rice's deputy as the national security advisor to this president -- traveled to Saudi Arabia just this past weekend, and presented what we are told was detailed U.S. intelligence suggesting that terrorists were prepared to strike residential compounds in the Riyadh area that housed Americans and other Western citizens. We are told that one of the compounds that actually was bombed on Tuesday was on the list that Steve Hadley presented to Saudi officials.
We are told he appealed for a much more physical and visible robust security presence is how it was described to us by our sources. Steve Hadley returned to Washington. That request was denied by the Saudi government. Tuesday's bombings, of course, left 34 people dead, including a number of Americans.
Now, despite this trip by one of the president's top aides, Ari Fleischer throughout the day yesterday here at the White House was saying Saudi Arabia is fully cooperating and is a full partner in the war on terrorism.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We want to continue to work with Saudi Arabia. But make no mistake, Saudi Arabia continues to cooperate with us, and we will continue to push Saudi Arabia for additional cooperation as we work together. But the people who carried this attack out are the ones the president is focused on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: No doubt there will be new questions here at the White House today about how the White House can say the Saudis have been fully cooperating when this specific detailed request was denied.
Also, Bill, look for this debate to carry on up to Capitol Hill. A number of critics of Saudi Arabia in the Congress have been saying for some time in the wake of the September 11 attacks that this administration is too quick to praise a government that some in Congress believe is not doing enough in the war on terrorism. This debate is not about to go away -- Bill.
HEMMER: John King from the White House this morning.
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 May 15, 2003 - 07:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: I want to get back to our lead story again today, America's ambassador in Saudi Arabia. His name is Robert Jordan. He says the Saudis failed to act on U.S. concerns about security in Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia's ambassador, Prince Bandar Bin Sultan, says his government did not think action was needed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE BANDAR BIN SULTAN, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: When he made the request, our security agencies took the request seriously, assessed the situation and decided the measures were adequate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: The White House being cautious about criticizing the Saudis.
Straight away to the Front Lawn, and our senior White House correspondent, John King, is standing by for more from there.
John -- good morning.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.
The White House reluctant to criticize the Saudis, but this new evidence available to us, this secret mission to Saudi Arabia by a top presidential aide raising new questions not only about Saudi cooperation, but about the credibility of White House statements that the Saudis are and have been fully cooperating in the war on terrorism.
We learned last night that Steve Hadley -- he's the No. 2, Condoleezza Rice's deputy as the national security advisor to this president -- traveled to Saudi Arabia just this past weekend, and presented what we are told was detailed U.S. intelligence suggesting that terrorists were prepared to strike residential compounds in the Riyadh area that housed Americans and other Western citizens. We are told that one of the compounds that actually was bombed on Tuesday was on the list that Steve Hadley presented to Saudi officials.
We are told he appealed for a much more physical and visible robust security presence is how it was described to us by our sources. Steve Hadley returned to Washington. That request was denied by the Saudi government. Tuesday's bombings, of course, left 34 people dead, including a number of Americans.
Now, despite this trip by one of the president's top aides, Ari Fleischer throughout the day yesterday here at the White House was saying Saudi Arabia is fully cooperating and is a full partner in the war on terrorism.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We want to continue to work with Saudi Arabia. But make no mistake, Saudi Arabia continues to cooperate with us, and we will continue to push Saudi Arabia for additional cooperation as we work together. But the people who carried this attack out are the ones the president is focused on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: No doubt there will be new questions here at the White House today about how the White House can say the Saudis have been fully cooperating when this specific detailed request was denied.
Also, Bill, look for this debate to carry on up to Capitol Hill. A number of critics of Saudi Arabia in the Congress have been saying for some time in the wake of the September 11 attacks that this administration is too quick to praise a government that some in Congress believe is not doing enough in the war on terrorism. This debate is not about to go away -- Bill.
HEMMER: John King from the White House this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
