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American Morning
White House in Tough Position
Aired October 06, 2003 - 07:32 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. is now urging restraint by all parties, after Israel's attack inside of Syria. The airstrike yesterday targeted what Israel called a terror camp. Israel says it was in retaliation for Saturday's deadly suicide bombing in Haifa, which killed 19 people. And now, the White House finds itself in a delicate position.
CNN's White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is at the White House for us this morning.
Suzanne -- good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
You're absolutely right. This White House recognizes it's a dangerous and delicate situation here. It was yesterday the president called Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to offer his condolences, but we are also told that the two leaders agreed and discussed they have their own war on terror, but that also they have to exercise some restraint in this very difficult time.
But the United States made it very clear yesterday, through the ambassador to the U.N., John Negroponte, in an emergency meeting that was called with the U.N. Security Council by Syria that it would not support a resolution condemning the Israeli airstrike, unless it actually supported a resolution that said this terrorist attack against Israel was also unacceptable.
Now, Negroponte expressed his frustration with the relationship with Syria, as well as other lawmakers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: The United States believes that Syria is on the wrong side of the war on terrorism.
SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R), PENNSYLVANIA: Self-defense is recognized under Article 51 of the United Nation's charter. And I believe that where Israel has just cause, and I'm sure they had adequate evidence before going into Syria, I think it's entirely appropriate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, President Bush has expressed his frustration on numerous times, saying that Syria harbors al Qaeda, as well as Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and it also allows these terrorist groups, these organizations to pass through their border to Iraq.
Now, the president, as well as the administration, is saying, of course these leaders will go back to their countries with this U.N. Security Council resolution. So far, the United States has not threatened to veto that resolution, but they don't see that they're going to support it either, unless there is some condemnation against the terrorist attack against Israel on Saturday -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, CNN's Suzanne Malveaux at the White House for us this morning. Suzanne, thanks.
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 October 6, 2003 - 07:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. is now urging restraint by all parties, after Israel's attack inside of Syria. The airstrike yesterday targeted what Israel called a terror camp. Israel says it was in retaliation for Saturday's deadly suicide bombing in Haifa, which killed 19 people. And now, the White House finds itself in a delicate position.
CNN's White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is at the White House for us this morning.
Suzanne -- good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
You're absolutely right. This White House recognizes it's a dangerous and delicate situation here. It was yesterday the president called Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to offer his condolences, but we are also told that the two leaders agreed and discussed they have their own war on terror, but that also they have to exercise some restraint in this very difficult time.
But the United States made it very clear yesterday, through the ambassador to the U.N., John Negroponte, in an emergency meeting that was called with the U.N. Security Council by Syria that it would not support a resolution condemning the Israeli airstrike, unless it actually supported a resolution that said this terrorist attack against Israel was also unacceptable.
Now, Negroponte expressed his frustration with the relationship with Syria, as well as other lawmakers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: The United States believes that Syria is on the wrong side of the war on terrorism.
SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R), PENNSYLVANIA: Self-defense is recognized under Article 51 of the United Nation's charter. And I believe that where Israel has just cause, and I'm sure they had adequate evidence before going into Syria, I think it's entirely appropriate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, President Bush has expressed his frustration on numerous times, saying that Syria harbors al Qaeda, as well as Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and it also allows these terrorist groups, these organizations to pass through their border to Iraq.
Now, the president, as well as the administration, is saying, of course these leaders will go back to their countries with this U.N. Security Council resolution. So far, the United States has not threatened to veto that resolution, but they don't see that they're going to support it either, unless there is some condemnation against the terrorist attack against Israel on Saturday -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, CNN's Suzanne Malveaux at the White House for us this morning. Suzanne, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
