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American Morning
Terrorism Topic in Arab World
Aired May 28, 2003 - 05:39 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: Terrorism is again the topic in the Arab world. Iran's president is talking about it and Saudi Arabia is taking action.
Our senior international editor David Clinch is here.
Let's start with Iran.
DAVID CLINCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes, well, it's very interesting. You know, we're covering the reported arrests of suspects in the attacks in Saudi Arabia. Today, we're still covering the violence going on in, between the Israelis and the Palestinians. And we're reporting on the U.S. pressure on Iran. And the man who's sort of in the middle of all of this, President Khatami of Iran, has set himself up over the last two years, since 9/11, really, as a potential figure trying to bridge the gap between what he sees as the Muslim world, the moderate Muslim world, and the United States.
Today, addressing the Islamic Conference in Teheran, he made a very interesting reference to terrorism, basically saying that terrorism in the name of Islam could not be tolerated. But neither, in his words, could be the reaction of the United States to terrorism, which he calls unilateralist, he calls unfair and he called it biased against the Muslim world.
In his view, the U.S. reaction to terrorism, whether it's in 9/11 here in the United States or to terrorism in, what he would call terrorism by Israel against the Palestinians or even in pursuit of al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else, is being done in such a way that it makes the world a more dangerous place.
And interestingly, later today, we're going to be covering an Amnesty International report on human rights, not on terrorism. But Amnesty International reportedly -- we'll get the details later today -- apparently agreeing with President Khatami and indicating that in their view, the actions taken by the United States since 9/11 and most recently in the war on terror have, in effect, in their view, made the world a more dangerous place, not a less dangerous place.
COSTELLO: Well, it makes you wonder, and I don't know the timing about this, but the U.S. government has now backed away from its claim that it's trying to destabilize the Iranian government. It says it's not trying to do that any.
CLINCH: Yes, absolutely. Well, I think they're, it's a game, I think, being played on both sides. I mean we've reported that there are two Iranian governments, Khatami's, the moderate government, and then the clerics, who are more conservative. There are some people who think there are two U.S. governments, the straightforward front face of the Bush administration and behind-the-scenes some hawks who are trying to be more aggressive about Iran and other things. And occasionally newspaper reports and our own reporting is influenced by stories put out by those hawks, which may, in effect, end up being the headline for a day and then officially shut down the next day by the Bush administration officially saying they put pressure on Iran on terrorism, but they're not interested in destabilizing it.
COSTELLO: Understand.
David Clinch, many thanks. We appreciate it.
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 May 28, 2003 - 05:39 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Terrorism is again the topic in the Arab world. Iran's president is talking about it and Saudi Arabia is taking action.
Our senior international editor David Clinch is here.
Let's start with Iran.
DAVID CLINCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes, well, it's very interesting. You know, we're covering the reported arrests of suspects in the attacks in Saudi Arabia. Today, we're still covering the violence going on in, between the Israelis and the Palestinians. And we're reporting on the U.S. pressure on Iran. And the man who's sort of in the middle of all of this, President Khatami of Iran, has set himself up over the last two years, since 9/11, really, as a potential figure trying to bridge the gap between what he sees as the Muslim world, the moderate Muslim world, and the United States.
Today, addressing the Islamic Conference in Teheran, he made a very interesting reference to terrorism, basically saying that terrorism in the name of Islam could not be tolerated. But neither, in his words, could be the reaction of the United States to terrorism, which he calls unilateralist, he calls unfair and he called it biased against the Muslim world.
In his view, the U.S. reaction to terrorism, whether it's in 9/11 here in the United States or to terrorism in, what he would call terrorism by Israel against the Palestinians or even in pursuit of al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else, is being done in such a way that it makes the world a more dangerous place.
And interestingly, later today, we're going to be covering an Amnesty International report on human rights, not on terrorism. But Amnesty International reportedly -- we'll get the details later today -- apparently agreeing with President Khatami and indicating that in their view, the actions taken by the United States since 9/11 and most recently in the war on terror have, in effect, in their view, made the world a more dangerous place, not a less dangerous place.
COSTELLO: Well, it makes you wonder, and I don't know the timing about this, but the U.S. government has now backed away from its claim that it's trying to destabilize the Iranian government. It says it's not trying to do that any.
CLINCH: Yes, absolutely. Well, I think they're, it's a game, I think, being played on both sides. I mean we've reported that there are two Iranian governments, Khatami's, the moderate government, and then the clerics, who are more conservative. There are some people who think there are two U.S. governments, the straightforward front face of the Bush administration and behind-the-scenes some hawks who are trying to be more aggressive about Iran and other things. And occasionally newspaper reports and our own reporting is influenced by stories put out by those hawks, which may, in effect, end up being the headline for a day and then officially shut down the next day by the Bush administration officially saying they put pressure on Iran on terrorism, but they're not interested in destabilizing it.
COSTELLO: Understand.
David Clinch, many thanks. We appreciate it.
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
