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CNN Live Today
White House Says More Negotiations are Needed in Liberia
Aired July 04, 2003 - 11:04 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now watching all of these developments from the White House, including the president, who has just recently left the White House and gone on to Ohio, but our John King is there with some reaction from the White House.
So, already, we're seeing a little bit more detail about some of the demands that Charles Taylor wants, but is the U.S. White House -- are U.S. peacekeepers likely to be that patient with his demands?
JOHN KING, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, no is the short answer, Fredricka, and the White House position is that it appears that more negotiating needs to be done. Still no official reaction at all.
As you noted, the president left the White House a short time ago. He is making his way at this hour to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. There, Mr. Bush will celebrate Independence Day ceremonies with some members of the armed services.
White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer saying he's trying to get more details and that he hopes to speak to reporters traveling with the president on the way out to Ohio. Other officials here at the White House say they simply do not know a lot, and they certainly do not trust the word of President Taylor.
President Taylor, for example, as Jeff was just explaining, says he wants the peacekeepers to come in first before he leaves. President Bush has made crystal clear he believes President Taylor should go first, and then the peacekeepers should go in. So just that one demand alone could hold things up considerably.
It is not inconceivable, administration officials say, that a West African force could go in first, guarantee President Taylor's safe passage, to be followed on by the United States elements of a peacekeeping force. But White House officials say that is pure hypothetical speculation at the moment. They need to hear more from the Nigerians on the apparent deal negotiated with President Taylor.
But this president made crystal clear yesterday he believed the right sequence of events was for President Taylor to leave first, for the rebel groups and other factions to agree to a cease-fire, and then and only then for U.S. peacekeepers to go in to what would then be a relatively calm situation. The president has no interest in sending troops into what could be a hostile situation.
So, Fredricka, a development that could be potentially quite positive, the White House says, but it also it simply needs much more detail before it can react comprehensively.
WHITFIELD: All right. John King from the White House. Thanks very much. Still unclear in which order any of these developments just might come officially. Thanks very much.
KING: Thank you.
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 July 4, 2003 - 11:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now watching all of these developments from the White House, including the president, who has just recently left the White House and gone on to Ohio, but our John King is there with some reaction from the White House.
So, already, we're seeing a little bit more detail about some of the demands that Charles Taylor wants, but is the U.S. White House -- are U.S. peacekeepers likely to be that patient with his demands?
JOHN KING, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, no is the short answer, Fredricka, and the White House position is that it appears that more negotiating needs to be done. Still no official reaction at all.
As you noted, the president left the White House a short time ago. He is making his way at this hour to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. There, Mr. Bush will celebrate Independence Day ceremonies with some members of the armed services.
White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer saying he's trying to get more details and that he hopes to speak to reporters traveling with the president on the way out to Ohio. Other officials here at the White House say they simply do not know a lot, and they certainly do not trust the word of President Taylor.
President Taylor, for example, as Jeff was just explaining, says he wants the peacekeepers to come in first before he leaves. President Bush has made crystal clear he believes President Taylor should go first, and then the peacekeepers should go in. So just that one demand alone could hold things up considerably.
It is not inconceivable, administration officials say, that a West African force could go in first, guarantee President Taylor's safe passage, to be followed on by the United States elements of a peacekeeping force. But White House officials say that is pure hypothetical speculation at the moment. They need to hear more from the Nigerians on the apparent deal negotiated with President Taylor.
But this president made crystal clear yesterday he believed the right sequence of events was for President Taylor to leave first, for the rebel groups and other factions to agree to a cease-fire, and then and only then for U.S. peacekeepers to go in to what would then be a relatively calm situation. The president has no interest in sending troops into what could be a hostile situation.
So, Fredricka, a development that could be potentially quite positive, the White House says, but it also it simply needs much more detail before it can react comprehensively.
WHITFIELD: All right. John King from the White House. Thanks very much. Still unclear in which order any of these developments just might come officially. Thanks very much.
KING: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
