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U.S.: Saudis Were Warned by U.S. Envoy of Potential Plot
Aired May 15, 2003 - 13:05 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A top Saudi official is defending his government's actions. Prince Bandar Bin Sultan is the Saudi ambassador to Washington. He spoke to CNN from Riyadh.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE BANDAR BIN SULTAN, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: Ambassador Jordan was right, he did ask for help to put more security on this compound. Ambassador Jordan is a good friend of mine, and he's my colleague, and America should be proud of him. Our security agencies took matters -- when they investigated this place, they found it had adequate security. The proof of that is when the attack took place on that compound only -- unfortunately, sadly -- the two guards -- one Saudi Air Force guard and one civilian -- were killed. But the physical barrier stopped the attack to hurt people inside.
So, I go through the same thing in Washington. Sometimes we have some threats, and I talk to my American friends in the security agencies. Sometimes they do something visible, sometimes invisible. But it doesn't mean they are not concerned. And we did in this case.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, as some of our viewers know, Prince Bandar is a longtime friend of the Bushes.
For the president's view on all of this, we turn to CNN's John King. He's at the White House.
John -- what do you make of all of this?
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the White House is walking a delicate line here. They do not want to rupture relations with a country the Bush White House insists has been and is now a good partner in the war on terrorism. But there certainly is behind the scenes some dissatisfaction that the Saudis did not act more urgently and appropriately, some would say, when Steve Hadley, the president's No. 2 man on national security matters, traveled to Riyadh to say, hey, we have evidence that these bombings are imminent; we want you to put up a more robust, a more visible security presence.
But, the White House is saying it is time to look forward, that the Saudis have publicly acknowledged that they perhaps could have done more in this incident and in the broader fight against al Qaeda and terrorism. So, the Bush White House is saying, yes, perhaps some tension here, yes, perhaps some mistakes here. But they continue to say that Saudi Arabia is a trusted ally in the war on terrorism, and that they expect, and at least so far are receiving full cooperation in this investigation.
PHILLIPS: So, John, if Steve Hadley had this information, why not warn the Americans or the people living in this compound?
KING: Well, the State Department had put out a warning days before that, saying -- it's a travel advisory, saying people should not go there because of the threat of terrorist attacks. And there are routinely communications among the expatriate community overseas, just as there are communications here in the United States. The embassy puts out communications. It knows how to reach Americans, especially in those compounds, because 40,000 Americans live in Saudi Arabia because of the businesses there.
So, there are communications, and there was an advisory from the State Department specifically warning about the possibility of attacks and specifically warning exactly where they would come. So, the government believes it did its job of publicly putting out the notion that it had evidence there were attacks coming. And then, of course, they went to the Saudis and asked for more help, and they didn't get it.
PHILLIPS: So, John, no doubt this is going to change the face of security. Things have to change, right?
KING: Well, one would certainly assume that. Now, Don Rumsfeld, the defense secretary, was asked today if there would be any military role in trying to improve -- U.S. military role in trying to improve security around those compounds. Obviously, this is sovereign territory of the government of Saudi Arabia.
So, the United States will press the Saudis in the wake of this to do more to make that security not only more visible, but perhaps higher gates, perhaps reinforced steel in the gates, much like you see around the Capital Building or the White House here in Washington. The White House says those conversations are just beginning. Of course, the most urgent focus right now is on gathering clues and evidence and, as the president has said repeatedly, trying to bring those responsible to justice.
PHILLIPS: Our John King live from the White House. Thanks, John.
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 May 15, 2003 - 13:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A top Saudi official is defending his government's actions. Prince Bandar Bin Sultan is the Saudi ambassador to Washington. He spoke to CNN from Riyadh.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE BANDAR BIN SULTAN, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: Ambassador Jordan was right, he did ask for help to put more security on this compound. Ambassador Jordan is a good friend of mine, and he's my colleague, and America should be proud of him. Our security agencies took matters -- when they investigated this place, they found it had adequate security. The proof of that is when the attack took place on that compound only -- unfortunately, sadly -- the two guards -- one Saudi Air Force guard and one civilian -- were killed. But the physical barrier stopped the attack to hurt people inside.
So, I go through the same thing in Washington. Sometimes we have some threats, and I talk to my American friends in the security agencies. Sometimes they do something visible, sometimes invisible. But it doesn't mean they are not concerned. And we did in this case.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, as some of our viewers know, Prince Bandar is a longtime friend of the Bushes.
For the president's view on all of this, we turn to CNN's John King. He's at the White House.
John -- what do you make of all of this?
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the White House is walking a delicate line here. They do not want to rupture relations with a country the Bush White House insists has been and is now a good partner in the war on terrorism. But there certainly is behind the scenes some dissatisfaction that the Saudis did not act more urgently and appropriately, some would say, when Steve Hadley, the president's No. 2 man on national security matters, traveled to Riyadh to say, hey, we have evidence that these bombings are imminent; we want you to put up a more robust, a more visible security presence.
But, the White House is saying it is time to look forward, that the Saudis have publicly acknowledged that they perhaps could have done more in this incident and in the broader fight against al Qaeda and terrorism. So, the Bush White House is saying, yes, perhaps some tension here, yes, perhaps some mistakes here. But they continue to say that Saudi Arabia is a trusted ally in the war on terrorism, and that they expect, and at least so far are receiving full cooperation in this investigation.
PHILLIPS: So, John, if Steve Hadley had this information, why not warn the Americans or the people living in this compound?
KING: Well, the State Department had put out a warning days before that, saying -- it's a travel advisory, saying people should not go there because of the threat of terrorist attacks. And there are routinely communications among the expatriate community overseas, just as there are communications here in the United States. The embassy puts out communications. It knows how to reach Americans, especially in those compounds, because 40,000 Americans live in Saudi Arabia because of the businesses there.
So, there are communications, and there was an advisory from the State Department specifically warning about the possibility of attacks and specifically warning exactly where they would come. So, the government believes it did its job of publicly putting out the notion that it had evidence there were attacks coming. And then, of course, they went to the Saudis and asked for more help, and they didn't get it.
PHILLIPS: So, John, no doubt this is going to change the face of security. Things have to change, right?
KING: Well, one would certainly assume that. Now, Don Rumsfeld, the defense secretary, was asked today if there would be any military role in trying to improve -- U.S. military role in trying to improve security around those compounds. Obviously, this is sovereign territory of the government of Saudi Arabia.
So, the United States will press the Saudis in the wake of this to do more to make that security not only more visible, but perhaps higher gates, perhaps reinforced steel in the gates, much like you see around the Capital Building or the White House here in Washington. The White House says those conversations are just beginning. Of course, the most urgent focus right now is on gathering clues and evidence and, as the president has said repeatedly, trying to bring those responsible to justice.
PHILLIPS: Our John King live from the White House. Thanks, John.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
