Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
Is Syria Next in Line for U.S. Attack?
Aired April 14, 2003 - 14:30 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.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: The White House is stepping up the diplomatic pressure on Syria, Iraq's neighbor. And that has some wondering if military pressure on Syria could be on the horizon.
Joining me now from the White House with the latest, CNN White House correspondent, Dana Bash.
Dana, we're hearing from many top administration officials. They have Syria on their minds.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: They sure do, Judy. And over the past few weeks, since the war with Iraq has progressed, we have heard the rhetoric be stepped up from the administration with regard to Syria focusing on the fact that they believe Syria had been helping Iraq in the war effort. Now the focus is on the fact that they believe that Syria is harboring some top officials from Saddam Hussein's regime. But what's interesting to note is the broadening it beyond the war with Iraq. They are talking today about the fact that they believe Syria has chemical weapons. That was first brought up by the president himself yesterday. And they are referring to other things that has been sort of on the record in terms of U.S. policy and feelings towards Syria that they are a rogue state, a terrorist state, and clearly this is -- this very strong language is intended to capitalize on the quick success in toppling Saddam Hussein.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: And we believe, in light of this new environment, they should review their actions, and their behavior, not only with respect to who gets haven in Syria and weapons of mass destruction, but especially the support of terrorist activity. And so we have a new situation in the region, and we hope that all the nations in the region will now review their past practices and behavior.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: But the question is how far is the U.S. willing to go in trying to send this message that they are not happy with Syria's actions. The White House spokesman Ari Fleischer was asked several times in several different ways if he thought that military action was a possibility. He was very clearly vague about that. Let's listen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECY.: We always would leave options on tables but our course of action with Syria is focused on Reminding Syria that this is a good time for them to re-examine their support of terrorism. And a good place to begin is with their harboring of these Iraqis leaders who have fled to Syria. They should not be allowed to find safe haven there.
BASH: Intentionally vague on military action but one thing interesting that the White House spokesman broke up is what Bashar Assad, the son of the long time leader of Syria, he brought up the fact he is a young leader, he is a new leader, clearly trying to indicate that perhaps he is somebody that could take to reforming Syria, and do it without the kind of military action that we have seen in Iraq -- Judy.
WOODRUFF: Dana, we know that -- and we're reminded a few minutes ago from former U.N. weapons inspector David Albright that there is no ban on Syria in terms of having chemical weapons, just as there is no ban on Israel in terms of having nuclear weapons.
Does that fact have any bearing on the administration's thinking?
BASH: Well, what the president himself has said and certainly his aids are saying is you know, the question of legality certainly is one thing but it's also the question of what the U.S. policy is and what they are willing to allow in that region. What they really want to do here is change the region slowly but surely. And what they are hoping is that this war with Iraq, and the brisk way that they were able to topple Saddam Hussein will send a message. And it's of course about weapons of mass destruction. They are talking about that certainly in the administration. But it's also about the idea of harboring terrorists. That was something certainty that is not new in terms of the question of policy. The U.S.'s policy and their understanding of what Syria is doing but it is new of late in terms of their rhetoric, the fact that they're highlighting that. So, that is clearly what they are tying to do in the administration, at least it seems that way -- Judy.
WOODRUFF: It's a message getting attention. All right, Dana Bash at the White House. Thank you, Dana.
Now back to Wolf who is in Doha.
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 April 14, 2003 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: The White House is stepping up the diplomatic pressure on Syria, Iraq's neighbor. And that has some wondering if military pressure on Syria could be on the horizon.
Joining me now from the White House with the latest, CNN White House correspondent, Dana Bash.
Dana, we're hearing from many top administration officials. They have Syria on their minds.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: They sure do, Judy. And over the past few weeks, since the war with Iraq has progressed, we have heard the rhetoric be stepped up from the administration with regard to Syria focusing on the fact that they believe Syria had been helping Iraq in the war effort. Now the focus is on the fact that they believe that Syria is harboring some top officials from Saddam Hussein's regime. But what's interesting to note is the broadening it beyond the war with Iraq. They are talking today about the fact that they believe Syria has chemical weapons. That was first brought up by the president himself yesterday. And they are referring to other things that has been sort of on the record in terms of U.S. policy and feelings towards Syria that they are a rogue state, a terrorist state, and clearly this is -- this very strong language is intended to capitalize on the quick success in toppling Saddam Hussein.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: And we believe, in light of this new environment, they should review their actions, and their behavior, not only with respect to who gets haven in Syria and weapons of mass destruction, but especially the support of terrorist activity. And so we have a new situation in the region, and we hope that all the nations in the region will now review their past practices and behavior.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: But the question is how far is the U.S. willing to go in trying to send this message that they are not happy with Syria's actions. The White House spokesman Ari Fleischer was asked several times in several different ways if he thought that military action was a possibility. He was very clearly vague about that. Let's listen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECY.: We always would leave options on tables but our course of action with Syria is focused on Reminding Syria that this is a good time for them to re-examine their support of terrorism. And a good place to begin is with their harboring of these Iraqis leaders who have fled to Syria. They should not be allowed to find safe haven there.
BASH: Intentionally vague on military action but one thing interesting that the White House spokesman broke up is what Bashar Assad, the son of the long time leader of Syria, he brought up the fact he is a young leader, he is a new leader, clearly trying to indicate that perhaps he is somebody that could take to reforming Syria, and do it without the kind of military action that we have seen in Iraq -- Judy.
WOODRUFF: Dana, we know that -- and we're reminded a few minutes ago from former U.N. weapons inspector David Albright that there is no ban on Syria in terms of having chemical weapons, just as there is no ban on Israel in terms of having nuclear weapons.
Does that fact have any bearing on the administration's thinking?
BASH: Well, what the president himself has said and certainly his aids are saying is you know, the question of legality certainly is one thing but it's also the question of what the U.S. policy is and what they are willing to allow in that region. What they really want to do here is change the region slowly but surely. And what they are hoping is that this war with Iraq, and the brisk way that they were able to topple Saddam Hussein will send a message. And it's of course about weapons of mass destruction. They are talking about that certainly in the administration. But it's also about the idea of harboring terrorists. That was something certainty that is not new in terms of the question of policy. The U.S.'s policy and their understanding of what Syria is doing but it is new of late in terms of their rhetoric, the fact that they're highlighting that. So, that is clearly what they are tying to do in the administration, at least it seems that way -- Judy.
WOODRUFF: It's a message getting attention. All right, Dana Bash at the White House. Thank you, Dana.
Now back to Wolf who is in Doha.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
