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CNN Live At Daybreak
International Wrap, Eye on World
Aired May 20, 2003 - 06:06 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: We're going to be following several international stories throughout the day here on CNN.
David Clinch is here for his regular segment, and we're talking about the tolerance level of terrorist attacks in Israel...
DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Right.
COSTELLO: ... and in Saudi Arabia.
CLINCH: Absolutely, Carol. As we continue to look at the investigation into the terror attack in Saudi Arabia, it's interesting to think on that instance, where we're looking at the issue of whether the U.S. political institutions and whether the U.S. public have a tolerance level for terrorist attacks. And comparing that to Israel, where we've seen a series of attacks over the last few days, it's interesting to compare the two different countries, the two different issues.
Israelis, obviously, have a very high tolerance level. I'm not talking about acceptance, accepting that terrorism happens. That's a different thing. But a tolerance level for terrorism in Israel is higher just because they're more used to it. But on the other hand, we're watching and waiting. There is undoubtedly a tolerance level politically for Ariel Sharon on what he can accept in terms of terrorism before abandoning completely...
COSTELLO: So, where do you think his tolerance level is now, since there have been five attacks in the last four days?
CLINCH: I think it really boils down to the fact that if those five attacks had been more deadly and killed as many people as those terrorists had wanted to kill, you probably would have seen that ending already, or at least there being a more radical move on the part of the Israelis. I mean, I'm not going to tell you where their line is. I don't know. We don't know. We know they're under huge pressure from the United States to stay in the process.
On the other hand when you look at the attacks in Saudi Arabia, the American public, not having a very high tolerance for terrorism here in the United States -- obviously, September the 11th changed everything. But nevertheless, Americans still are not used to the idea that they are targets for terrorism.
On the other hand, you look at an attack in Saudi Arabia. It's against an American or a Western target. And people in the United States do feel something needs to be done. It's just interesting to think what the different tolerance level is for the public here in the United States and for the government, for the Bush administration, if those attacks happen again here in the United States, as the Saudis, as others, as intelligence community people are saying they undoubtedly will at some point.
In other words, in Saudi Arabia, and wherever else these attacks happen out in the world, you see the investigations, you see the Americans determined to investigate. But here, in the U.S., if there's an attack, it won't be a question of investigation.
COSTELLO: No.
CLINCH: It will be a question of retaliation.
COSTELLO: Retaliation.
CLINCH: As it has been in the past. And it's very interesting to think about those two different dynamics: in Israel and here in the United States.
COSTELLO: Food for thought this morning.
CLINCH: Absolutely.
COSTELLO: David Clinch, many thanks. Join us later?
CLINCH: OK, yes.
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 20, 2003 - 06:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to be following several international stories throughout the day here on CNN.
David Clinch is here for his regular segment, and we're talking about the tolerance level of terrorist attacks in Israel...
DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Right.
COSTELLO: ... and in Saudi Arabia.
CLINCH: Absolutely, Carol. As we continue to look at the investigation into the terror attack in Saudi Arabia, it's interesting to think on that instance, where we're looking at the issue of whether the U.S. political institutions and whether the U.S. public have a tolerance level for terrorist attacks. And comparing that to Israel, where we've seen a series of attacks over the last few days, it's interesting to compare the two different countries, the two different issues.
Israelis, obviously, have a very high tolerance level. I'm not talking about acceptance, accepting that terrorism happens. That's a different thing. But a tolerance level for terrorism in Israel is higher just because they're more used to it. But on the other hand, we're watching and waiting. There is undoubtedly a tolerance level politically for Ariel Sharon on what he can accept in terms of terrorism before abandoning completely...
COSTELLO: So, where do you think his tolerance level is now, since there have been five attacks in the last four days?
CLINCH: I think it really boils down to the fact that if those five attacks had been more deadly and killed as many people as those terrorists had wanted to kill, you probably would have seen that ending already, or at least there being a more radical move on the part of the Israelis. I mean, I'm not going to tell you where their line is. I don't know. We don't know. We know they're under huge pressure from the United States to stay in the process.
On the other hand when you look at the attacks in Saudi Arabia, the American public, not having a very high tolerance for terrorism here in the United States -- obviously, September the 11th changed everything. But nevertheless, Americans still are not used to the idea that they are targets for terrorism.
On the other hand, you look at an attack in Saudi Arabia. It's against an American or a Western target. And people in the United States do feel something needs to be done. It's just interesting to think what the different tolerance level is for the public here in the United States and for the government, for the Bush administration, if those attacks happen again here in the United States, as the Saudis, as others, as intelligence community people are saying they undoubtedly will at some point.
In other words, in Saudi Arabia, and wherever else these attacks happen out in the world, you see the investigations, you see the Americans determined to investigate. But here, in the U.S., if there's an attack, it won't be a question of investigation.
COSTELLO: No.
CLINCH: It will be a question of retaliation.
COSTELLO: Retaliation.
CLINCH: As it has been in the past. And it's very interesting to think about those two different dynamics: in Israel and here in the United States.
COSTELLO: Food for thought this morning.
CLINCH: Absolutely.
COSTELLO: David Clinch, many thanks. Join us later?
CLINCH: OK, yes.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
