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American Morning

Senator Lott Discusses President's Congressional Leadership Breakfast

Aired May 01, 2002 - 08:14   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: Senators Trent Lott and Tom Daschle attended a congressional leadership breakfast this morning with President Bush.

And Senator Trent Lott now joins us to let us know what was discussed at this breakfast meeting.

Good morning. Good to see you again, sir.

TRENT LOTT (R-MI), MAJORITY LEADER: Good morning, Paula.

ZAHN: What was at the top of the agenda?

LOTT: Well, of course, the president always begins the breakfast by giving us a report of what's happening in the war on terrorism. He talked about the situation in Afghanistan. We obviously spent time talking about the Middle East. And then we get over into domestic issues. We spent a good bit of time this morning talking about our legislative agenda, how we get the supplemental appropriations to pay for the defense costs that have already been spent in many areas, also the budget for the year for Congress and the trade issue, which is now pending before the Senate.

It was a good meeting and it really helps us to understand, you know, what the president is seeking and what's happening in foreign policy and what our role in that whole situation may be.

ZAHN: Let's come back to the Middle East for a moment. Did the president comment at all on the report in the "New York Times" this morning that there is a distinct Saudi Arabian-U.S. plan whereby the Saudis would pretty much follow Yasser Arafat and his track and it would be up to the U.S. to priest on Mr. Sharon to withdraw his troops from the occupied territories?

LOTT: The president didn't put it in exactly that language. But clearly that's where I think we're headed. The president gave us a report on his meeting with Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The Saudis have the ability, we think, to provide leadership if they will assume it. There's no question that the so-called moderate Arab leaders have got to exert pressure on Arafat and the Palestinians to stop the violence, to stop the terrorism, the suicide bombs. And they're in a position to have that kind of input. Obviously the United States has to be able to communicate with all sides, but this is something we can't do alone. The Israelis, the Palestinians, the Arabs, the world has got to be involved in trying to help us find a way to reduce the violence and move to a secure and peaceful solution in the Middle East.

ZAHN: Senator Lott, I'm just getting new information out of Matthew Chance in Ramallah that Saeb Erakat, the Palestinian negotiator, is confirming that a deal now has been struck. They expect Yasser Arafat potentially to be released from his compound within the next two hours in exchange for the release of these six prisoners that the Israelis really want to get their hands on to interrogate.

Are you satisfied that this, in the end, will be a deal that will lead to peace in the region?

LOTT: It's what we have to do, Paula, and that's get this moving forward step by step. Secretary Colin Powell briefed senators for a full hour late last week and he made that point, that to get this whole process moving, there's got to be some solution to the problem at the Church of the Nativity, where you have some Palestinians that have been surrounded by Israeli troops. These had some very tough people included in them and there had to be some resolution of how to handle them. Also, you had to get some arrangement to end the situation where Arafat was basically restricted to his headquarters.

They viewed those as two initial steps and then we would go from there to try to see what can happen in terms of, you know, further negotiations to get peace and then eventually secure states between the Israeli people and the Palestinian people.

ZAHN: There's been a lot of debate about what role President Bush should play in all this and if this "New York Times" report is true, the administration will continue to play a key role in the region with the Saudis. There's also much debate about what potentially U.S. military involvement might be. Right now they are starting with these unarmed monitors that will be trying to keep the peace there. Do you see a time when we'll see armed U.S. soldiers in place in Israel?

LOTT: First, I might say, Paula, that 11 Palestinians have tried to find a way to bring peace to the region, a secure Israel, a Palestinian state. This is very difficult work that we're involved in here. President Bush and the United States has to provide leadership. We are in the unique role that nobody else in the world can fill.

We wish they could just do it themselves, that they would stop the violence, stop the killing, because they want to stop it. But we have to continue to be involved and push things toward a solution.

As far as, you know, what would happen once they get some additional agreements, who would police it, I have not seen a proposal that would involve U.S. troops. Perhaps some sort of international coalition. I think Secretary Powell suggested maybe civilian observers at some point might be considered. But that's clearly jumping the gun. I don't think we're to that point.

For instance, though, I understand that if they got an agreement with regard to some of these prisoners, these Palestinians that have been alleged to be guilty of killing Israelis, they're going to be guarded by British and Irish soldiers in some facility. That type of arrangement may have to take place and a lot of different arrangements and places before you get to a final peace arrangement.

ZAHN: Senator Trent Lott, thanks for letting us take a place at the breakfast table with you this morning.

LOTT: Are you there?

ZAHN: Since we weren't invited by the president. Good to see you again and thanks for bringing us up to speed on what the president had to say.

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