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American Morning

Interview of Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-IL)

Aired April 11, 2002 - 08:22   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: And we're quickly going to go to Washington, where we catch up with House Speaker Dennis Hastert after he has just had breakfast with the president and other congressional leaders.

Good morning. Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING.

REP. DENNIS HASTERT (R-IL), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Good morning, Paula.

ZAHN: What did the president talk about this morning?

HASTERT: Well, we talked, we had a discussion, an open discussion. We talked, obviously, about our situation in Afghanistan and the great progress that we've made there and the problems that still remain. We talked about the situation in the Middle East and we also talked about the domestic agenda, what the Congress has to do in the next seven weeks, which is a long work period for us, and how we need to cooperate and try to get things done.

ZAHN: Speaker Hastert, let's go back to the issue of the Middle East for a moment. The "Washington Post" reported this morning that there are folks within Bush's inner circle that are losing faith in Ariel Sharon and they might not think he's the guy who's going to eventually deliver peace to Israel. Did anybody broach that subject?

HASTERT: Well, we talked about the whole situation in the Middle East. One of the things that we pointed out that this morning Israel withdrew from six cities that we asked them to withdraw from. I think there's strong support for Israel and the Israeli government in this White House and at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. I think we stand very much in solidarity with Israel.

We also understand that we have to have peace in the neighborhood so that we can't put other countries in jeopardy. Israel, as well as Israel, we have Jordan and Egypt and Saudi Arabia and other countries that we need to make sure that there's peace there, as well.

ZAHN: So you didn't see the president make any distinction this morning between support for Israel separate from being support for Ariel Sharon, the leader of its government?

HASTERT: Absolutely not. ZAHN: And were you surprised to see a story like this this morning that would suggest there really is some discord in terms of where American policy should go next and how much confidence to have in Ariel Sharon?

HASTERT: Well, you know, we do have Secretary Powell in the Middle East. Condoleezza Rice has briefed Congress. They're very much engaged. I think there's a strong view of where they should be. I think they're following that pursuit and, of course, there's always speculation around the edges on what should happen. But I think this administration has a view, it has a plan and it's following that plan.

They want to make sure that almost on a dual basis that they can get people talking and at the same time cool down not only the rhetoric, but the hostilities in the area.

ZAHN: And including we are hearing that there are a number of conservatives who don't think it's such a good idea for Secretary of State Colin Powell to talk directly with Yasser Arafat. Where do you stand on that?

HASTERT: Well, I think Colin Powell is talking to a lot of people. He's talking to the folks in the area. Our focus, of course, is Israel, and if you don't talk to Arafat right now, who do you talk to? Our focus is on trying to get peace in Israel, trying to de- escalate the suicide bombings and certainly there is terror. We understand. And we certainly sympathize with the Israeli people, the terror that they've faced. But you've got to stop the process and what's going on and you have to get people talking together, whoever it may be, before you can get that understanding.

ZAHN: House Speaker Hastert, again, thanks for letting us grab you on the fly as you came out of that breakfast this morning.

HASTERT: My pleasure. Thank you.

ZAHN: Good to see you again.

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