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CNN Live Saturday

Bush Recalls General Zinni From Middle East

Aired December 15, 2001 - 16:16   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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: As we mentioned earlier, a U.S. diplomat sent to the Middle East has been called home, but political leaders in the region hope he is going to return. Retired U.S. Marine General Anthony Zinni has been trying to jump-start the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. Well, CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The Bush administration is sensitive to any criticism of its decision to have General Zinni come back to Washington, at least temporarily, to talk with President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell. Senior U.S. officials say this move in no way means the U.S. is throwing in the towel and getting out of the Middle East peace process. They say that General Zinni will remain engaged and return to the region at some point in the future.

This, though, a sign of the growing frustration here at the Bush White House when it comes to what's happening in the Middle East. U.S. officials continuing to put the onus on Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat, Mr. Bush saying as recently as Friday that he believes Mr. Arafat needs to do much, much more to arrest and apprehend Islamic militants throughout the region.

At the same time, the Israelis have said that they consider Mr. Arafat irrelevant and that they are taking matters into their own hands, attacking Palestinian targets, targets the Israelis believe are involved in terrorism.

Now, U.S. officials have definitely publicly put the emphasis on the Palestinians, but privately we understand U.S. officials telling the Israelis that they need to realize there will be repercussions and consequences to their actions, and that at some point the Israelis will have to resume a dialogue with the Palestinians to end this cycle of violence.

General Zinni expected to have talks with Mr. Bush and Secretary Powell early this week. Again, the administration determining exactly what to do next.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, reporting at the White House.

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