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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview with Richard Murphy

Aired December 02, 2001 - 10:11   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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is calling on the Palestinian Authority to take action against terrorists following the attacks. But in his meeting today with Prime Minister Sharon, what might the president ask the Israelis?

For some perspective, Richard Murphy joins us now from New York. He is the former U.S. assistant secretary of state. Ambassador Richard, thank very much for being with us this morning.

RICHARD MURPHY, FMR. U.S. ASST. SECRETARY OF STATE: Pleasure.

SAVIDGE: What is likely the United States is going to ask of Israel in light of all of this?

MURPHY: Well, I don't think that the United States, put it in the negative sense, is going to ask for an immediate start to negations, but I think, it's reasonable for the United States to ask, in expressing its total support for Israel against terrorism, to think about what incentives could be put into Chairman Arafat's hands to help him enforce a clampdown further and hopefully, a total clampdown on terrorism.

SAVIDGE: Well, obviously, Mr. Sharon is going to come into this meeting very angry. This is not the circumstances under which this meeting had been hoped to take place, this being the right day. Does the president simply listen, or is there something that he can positively add to this?

MURPHY: Well, it's going to be very difficult for the president, in my opinion, to add strong recommendations for action on Israel's part. Yet, the fact remains against the backdrop of continuing suicide bombings, the apparent easiness of recruiting these bombers. Israel hasn't found the answer just in responding to violence with stronger police measures, with counter-terrorist measures. There's got to be some greater element of political incentives woven into the situation to bring about this end that we're all hoping for.

SAVIDGE: Is the peace process dead at this point?

MURPHY: No, it's -- but it is on hold. It can't proceed against the background of this violence. A deep, deep anger, actually the deep anger on both sides.

SAVIDGE: And what about General Zinni and the mission he was on there. Is that essentially been brought to a sudden end?

MURPHY: He was -- General Zinni was sent out to get that cease fire and to stay there till he gets -- till he achieves that and I don't think there's going to be any change of orders for General Zinni.

SAVIDGE: And as for Chairman Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestinian authority, doesn't this draw into question here his leadership capability?

MURPHY: The Israelis can't make up their mind and perhaps we're having trouble making up our minds about how capable he is. Many Israelis are saying he is irrelevant because he can't or he won't stop the violence. I think, it's probably -- the best way to look at it is he has not yet stopped the violence to the degree that we both want it to stop.

SAVIDGE: And to many Americans, they may look at the Middle East peace process as a side issue to the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. To many in the Muslim world, they are the directly related. Is this a setback no only in the Middle East peace process but could have direct implications, broader?

MURPHY: I think, the implications it has for the United States that the -- in the Arab world they're going be telling us, "Look you've shown you can take vigorous action in Afghanistan in the military nature you're talking about a future political, economic role for the United States. Right now, the disaster on our hands in the Arab world. Please, get more active, get more engaged yourselves."

SAVIDGE: Ambassador Richard Murphy, thank you very much for joining us. He is the former U.S. assistant secretary of state. Again, our thanks -- Kyra.

MURPHY: Thank you.

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