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CNN Live At Daybreak
President Bush Condemns Latest Middle East Violence
Aired June 12, 2003 - 06:31 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We know President Bush has condemned this latest violence.
Let's head live to the White House now and John King.
So, what's next for the president -- John?
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, next for the president, of the entire administration team, Carol, is urgent diplomacy, and let's just be frank. They are hoping for a break here. They are hoping that there is a break in the cycle of violence for at least 24 hours, and at that point they can convince the parties to take a deep breath and get back on what the president just a week ago was very hopeful in saying the early steps on the road map to peace.
But with all of this rhetoric, Prime Minister Sharon and his top deputy saying they will hunt down Hamas and its leaders. With pictures like this being shown in the region of the deadly suicide bombing, the White House concedes it is a very difficult and challenging moment for the president's peace initiative.
The president's special envoy arrives in the region in the next few days. Top Bush aides are working the phones here at the White House.
One thing we are hearing increasingly is you had the criticism of the Israeli government two days. Now increasingly we are hearing that they must see more results from the Palestinian leadership, and Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas in his promise to crack down on terrorist groups and to keep them from attacking Israel, Prime Minister Abbas has said he would like to negotiate, but officials here at the White House say negotiation is no substitution for dismantling terror organizations.
So, as you see the president with the Palestinian prime minister here, Mr. Bush says Mr. Abbas is a man committed to peace and a man he believes he can work with. But here at the White House, Carol, they are saying they need to see results. They need to see an end to the attacks, so that the president can get on the phone with Prime Minister Sharon and say there is an end to the attacks, stop the military response, let's get back into the peace process.
COSTELLO: You know, John, Senator Warner suggested that a NATO force be sent over there. Would the president be in favor of something like that?
KING: There have been discussions from time to time about a U.S. force in a buffer zone, if you will, a NATO force or some form of international peacekeeping force. The White House has resisted calls in the past for any U.S.-only force, but it has said it would keep an open mind to some form of an international force. The preference in both this administration and the previous administration was for an Arab force, at least along the Palestinian areas, to help out. Israel wants a U.S. force if there is such a force.
That is an ongoing debate that the administration says will be considered down the road. Right now, they say they just simply need to stop the violence.
COSTELLO: John King live from the White House this morning, many thanks.
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 June 12, 2003 - 06:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We know President Bush has condemned this latest violence.
Let's head live to the White House now and John King.
So, what's next for the president -- John?
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, next for the president, of the entire administration team, Carol, is urgent diplomacy, and let's just be frank. They are hoping for a break here. They are hoping that there is a break in the cycle of violence for at least 24 hours, and at that point they can convince the parties to take a deep breath and get back on what the president just a week ago was very hopeful in saying the early steps on the road map to peace.
But with all of this rhetoric, Prime Minister Sharon and his top deputy saying they will hunt down Hamas and its leaders. With pictures like this being shown in the region of the deadly suicide bombing, the White House concedes it is a very difficult and challenging moment for the president's peace initiative.
The president's special envoy arrives in the region in the next few days. Top Bush aides are working the phones here at the White House.
One thing we are hearing increasingly is you had the criticism of the Israeli government two days. Now increasingly we are hearing that they must see more results from the Palestinian leadership, and Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas in his promise to crack down on terrorist groups and to keep them from attacking Israel, Prime Minister Abbas has said he would like to negotiate, but officials here at the White House say negotiation is no substitution for dismantling terror organizations.
So, as you see the president with the Palestinian prime minister here, Mr. Bush says Mr. Abbas is a man committed to peace and a man he believes he can work with. But here at the White House, Carol, they are saying they need to see results. They need to see an end to the attacks, so that the president can get on the phone with Prime Minister Sharon and say there is an end to the attacks, stop the military response, let's get back into the peace process.
COSTELLO: You know, John, Senator Warner suggested that a NATO force be sent over there. Would the president be in favor of something like that?
KING: There have been discussions from time to time about a U.S. force in a buffer zone, if you will, a NATO force or some form of international peacekeeping force. The White House has resisted calls in the past for any U.S.-only force, but it has said it would keep an open mind to some form of an international force. The preference in both this administration and the previous administration was for an Arab force, at least along the Palestinian areas, to help out. Israel wants a U.S. force if there is such a force.
That is an ongoing debate that the administration says will be considered down the road. Right now, they say they just simply need to stop the violence.
COSTELLO: John King live from the White House this morning, many thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
