Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

President Bush Recalls U.S. Envoy to Middle East

Aired December 15, 2001 - 18:18   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: U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni has been called back to Washington. CNN's White House correspondent Kelly Wallace explains why.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Summoned back to Washington, U.S. special envoy Anthony Zinni meets with Egypt's president Saturday before leaving the region empty handed. His departure, a setback for the Bush administration especially since Zinni had pledged to remain in the Middle East until Israel and the Palestinians agreed to a cease-fire. Sensitive to any notion the U.S. is throwing in the towel, the State Department issued a statement Saturday saying -- quote -- "General Zinni will remain engaged and return to the region.

MARC GINSBERG, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO MOROCCO: The United States has to seriously begin asking how do we get ourselves out of the hole we're in.

WALLACE: During Zinni's three-week mission, the violence actually worsened. More than 100 Israelis and Palestinians have been killed with Islamic militants claiming responsibility for a series of suicide bombings against Israelis and Israel striking Palestinian targets it says are involved in terrorism. President Bush, for his part, continues to place the blame squarely on Palestinian authority President Yasser Arafat.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Chairman Arafat has said that he intends to fight terror, bring those to justice who are killing, murderers in the Middle East, and now is his time to perform.

WALLACE: Absent so far have been calls from the United States for Israel to exercise restraint.

ANDREW CARD, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: The Israeli government, I think legitimately is trying to protect itself. But we've got to get to a level of violence that is far reduced from what it is today.

WALLACE: But Arab leaders say the time has come for the Bush administration to put pressure on Israel.

ADEL AL-JUBEIR, SAUDI ADVISER: The U.S. has been critical on the Palestinians. It should be critical on both sides and we believe that the two parties are having a difficult time restoring trust between each other.

WALLACE: U.S. officials say they are telling the Israelis there will be consequences to their actions and that they will eventually need to resume a dialogue with Mr. Arafat whom Israelis call irrelevant.

(on camera): So far now, the Bush administration's first major Middle East peace mission is in tatters. General Zinni and U.S. officials to meet in Washington this week to figure out just what to do next.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com