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American Morning

Once Ceasefire is Achieved, How Do You Keep Peace?

Aired April 16, 2002 - 09:20   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: As we've been reporting, Secretary of State Colin Powell is meeting this morning with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. And Powell says he will leave Israel tomorrow after another meeting with Yasser Arafat. Even though Powell hasn't said much to reporters, there are some hopeful signs. Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres says he does see light at the end of tunnel and believes Israelis and Palestinians could begin moving toward a ceasefire in a matter of days.

Now, once this ceasefire is achieved, the question then becomes how do you keep the peace? Should U.S. troops be sent to the Middle East as part of peacekeeping force? Well joining us now from Washington to debate that question, Edward Walker, Former Assistant Secretary of State, now President of the Middle East Institute, and Kenneth Bacon, Former Pentagon Spokesman, now with Refugees International. Good to see both of you. Welcome.

All right, Ken; let's start with you this morning. Why do you think it would be a good idea for the U.S. to consider sending peacekeepers once a ceasefire is enacted?

KENNETH BACON, REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL: My basic view is that Kofi Annan has raised the idea of an international peacekeeping force as a possibility. This possibility should be explored. There's no trust now between the sides and if it were possible for international peacekeepers possibly including U.S. to - to bring about some trust and stability, we should pursue this possibility now.

Whether or not the U.S. participates is up for the U.S. to decide. I believe that some U.S. participation in terms of logistics would be - would be very helpful. I'm not sure the troops; the U.S. troops on the ground would a good idea at this stage.

ZAHN: All right, Edward, what would you think of the idea of including American peacekeepers as part of an international peacekeeping force on the ground some place in the Middle East?

EDWARD WALKER, PRESIDENT, MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE: Well I certainly don't think it would be a good idea to have Americans that make big target in that environment. I'm not even sure it makes sense to have international peacekeepers. Even if you have a ceasefire, you still got organizations groups that are not going to adhere to a ceasefire, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad. You have some problems with the more radical settlers movements. What does this peacekeeping force do when it comes against these various factions and won't the peacekeeping force become a target? I'm not worried about the Israeli government. I'm not worried about the Palestinian authority. It's all these un - control groups that I think could cause even more mistrust between the parties.

ZAHN: Ken, do you acknowledge that Americans making up an international peacekeeping force you know could be sitting ducks?

BACON: Yes. And that's why I say I'm not certain that there should be American forces on the ground. I do think that some American leadership would be required. But we ought to be clear right now. There are two problems. There's no peace to keep and second, the U.N. has no peacekeeping force to deploy.

Now Kofi Annan has suggested, the Secretary General of the U.N., that there be an international coalition of the willing. For instance, if the Germans or the Canadians who have announced an interest in doing this wanted to commit troops, then they could do that and an international force would be put together quickly. There could be some ...

ZAHN: All right. But - I'm sorry to cut you off. But you heard what Edward just said. He doesn't even think peacekeeping forces at all you know might be all that effective.

BACON: I think that right now we have to look for every possible solution. There's been a lot of talk about internationalizing the peace talks. I don't know whether this is going to happen but there's been discussion with Secretary Powell and Prime Minister Sharon about having an international conference such as the Madrid Conference in 1991 that could involve moderate Middle Eastern states. It could involve Europe, it - European countries. This would broaden the peace process; give more people a stake in making peace secure in the Middle East. As part of that, it might make sense to have international monitors or international peacekeeping force. I don't think we can afford to take this off the table right now. I think it has to be part of the mix of possible solutions.

ZAHN: All right, Edward, if you don't think international peacekeeping forces might ultimately be the best answer, what else would you do? What is another option to consider?

WALKER: Well I'm not - I'm not opposed to the concept of monitors, unarmed individuals that watch and call - blow the whistles, sort of umpires out there provided they don't become a part of the fight itself. That they would certainly be less visible and less of a target to some of these groups that basically want to destroy any kind of ceasefire and any possibility of peace.

So we've got to keep that in mind. But monitors, we've done some monitoring ourselves, not necessarily with the military, possibly with state departments, CIA, others and with other countries. That might have some - some bearing on the case.

ZAHN: Ken, do you agree with that? That ...

BACON: Yes. I think monitors certainly ...

ZAHN: ... (INAUDIBLE) of monitors on the ground.

BACON: Absolutely. I think monitors should be part of the mix. The German's have proposed a plan that involves monitors. It has other elements to it as well. I there would be a number of countries that would be willing to participate as monitors and that may be a good first step. It may be better than an international peacekeeping force.

My only point is we can't afford to take options off the table now. We have to leave as many paths for peace open as we can. If an international peacekeeping force, with or without U.S. participation, could help it ought to remain on the table. After all Kofi Annan is a strong moral force. He is gotten more interested in these negotiations in the Middle East and I think that we need to put every single option on the table and pursue it.

ZAHN: Ed Walker, you got about ten seconds left. Do you see ceasefire sometime within the week?

WALKER: Yeah. I see a messy ceasefire as a very real possibility within a two-week period. I think the secretary has done a good job but it's going to take persistence and continuation of his efforts and efforts of his subordinates. But I think we'll get to some kind of a ceasefire.

ZAHN: All right. Well delighted to have you both on the air with us this morning. Edward Walker and Kenneth Bacon thanks for your insights.

BACON: Thanks.

WALKER: Thank you.

ZAHN: Take care.

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