Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Sunday Morning

Bush Issues Strong Words on Middle Eastern Bloodshed

Aired August 04, 2002 - 10:04   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush issued some strong words on the bloodshed in the Middle East this morning, while vacationing in Kennebunkport, Maine. And CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace, of course, traveling with the president, joining us now with the latest.

Hello, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Catherine.

Well, it was an angry President Bush speaking out early this morning before a round of golf. He said he was distressed to learn about this latest bombing. But then he issued a call for everyone who believes in peace, in the Middle East, in the Arab world, throughout Europe, to join together to stop these attacks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There are a few killers who want to stop the peace process we have started. And we must not let them. For the sake of humanity, for the sake of the Palestinians who suffer, for the sake of the Israelis who are under attack, we must stop the terror. I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: This, though, the latest blow to an already fragile Middle East peace process. We saw the president in the Oval Office on Thursday with King Abdullah of Jordan. He said he was furious to learn that five Americans, among the seven victims in Wednesday's bombing at Hebrew University. The militant wing Hamas claiming responsibility for that bombing.

The president was asked then if the U.S. would respond in any way. The president said the U.S. is already responding throughout the ongoing war on terror and that U.S. officials would work with Israeli officials to find those responsible.

One prominent Democratic senator speaking out believes the administration needs to put more pressure on allies, including Saudi Arabia, to stop money flowing from those countries to groups like Hamas. Here is senator Joe Lieberman appearing on a Sunday interview program. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: I'm saying that there is very ample evidence that from Saudi Arabia, Hamas, and other terrorist groups claiming credit for bombings such as those that occurred this week, including those that killed five Americans, have sent money from Saudi Arabia to these terrorists groups. That can't go on anymore.

WALLACE: Meantime, the diplomacy continues. Palestinian officials scheduled to come to Washington this week to meet with Secretary of State Colin Powell, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will not there be. This will be the highest level meeting between the Bush administration and Palestinian officials since president bush made clear at the end of June he believes there needs to be new Palestinian leadership in order for there, one day, to be a Palestinian state -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: All right. Thank you, Kelly.

Kelly Wallace in Maine this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com