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CNN Sunday Morning
Bush Administration Vows to Stay Course for Road Map
Aired June 22, 2003 - 10:37 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: When it comes to the road map to peace, the Bush administration vows to stay the course. White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux joins us with more, and we heard that underscored, Suzanne, by Secretary Powell, who says it is a hard road ahead, but it's only going to be made easier with other members of the Middle East quartet.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, absolutely, Fred. And really, the White House is very frustrated with the situation. The Bush administration has been saying that all long Hamas is the problem. We heard from Secretary of State Colin Powell with the members of the so-called quartet, representatives from the European Union, United Nations and Russia reiterating that point this morning, but also the White House has been condemning Israel's policy of assassinating Hamas leaders, these targeted killings. It did so last week with the assassination of Rantissi.
Also this morning we heard Secretary Powell rebuking Israel for the assassination of Kawasma (ph). And while Israel has pledged that it is only going after these ticking bombs, what they say people who are involved in these type of planning imminent attacks, Secretary Powell this morning would not even get into that distinction. Why? It simply underscores the administration's frustration. It feels that both sides are responsible for the roadblock to peace.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I regret the continued loss of life. I regret the fact that as we are moving into this new period, where a road map has been put in place that shows us how we can get forward, how we can get to the political objective that we all desire, we still see this kind of activity on both sides, which is, essentially, the cycle that has been going on for a long period of time. It has led nowhere. It has not led to peace. It has not led to security. It has not led to the prospect of two states living side by side in peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Secretary Powell also talked about the need, the sense of urgency, this window of opportunity to bring both sides together, and he talked about the situation in Iraq, the fact that Saddam Hussein's regime essentially has crumbled, that the Iraqi people have been liberated. All of this contributes to the kind of political climate that's necessary for these two sides to move forward in this road map. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POWELL: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) outlines of the new Middle East, its (ph) people are free to look to the future, with hope (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and dream about what could be. (UNINTELLIGIBLE). All can now see it, we recoil (ph), we recoil (ph) (UNINTELLIGIBLE) mass graves (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And again, Secretary Powell also reiterating the president's commitment to the road map, to his moving this whole process forward, again saying National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice will follow up with Powell's trip in the region to move forward, to push both parties for a peaceful resolution -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, Suzanne Malveaux, thanks very much from the White House.
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 June 22, 2003 - 10:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: When it comes to the road map to peace, the Bush administration vows to stay the course. White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux joins us with more, and we heard that underscored, Suzanne, by Secretary Powell, who says it is a hard road ahead, but it's only going to be made easier with other members of the Middle East quartet.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, absolutely, Fred. And really, the White House is very frustrated with the situation. The Bush administration has been saying that all long Hamas is the problem. We heard from Secretary of State Colin Powell with the members of the so-called quartet, representatives from the European Union, United Nations and Russia reiterating that point this morning, but also the White House has been condemning Israel's policy of assassinating Hamas leaders, these targeted killings. It did so last week with the assassination of Rantissi.
Also this morning we heard Secretary Powell rebuking Israel for the assassination of Kawasma (ph). And while Israel has pledged that it is only going after these ticking bombs, what they say people who are involved in these type of planning imminent attacks, Secretary Powell this morning would not even get into that distinction. Why? It simply underscores the administration's frustration. It feels that both sides are responsible for the roadblock to peace.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I regret the continued loss of life. I regret the fact that as we are moving into this new period, where a road map has been put in place that shows us how we can get forward, how we can get to the political objective that we all desire, we still see this kind of activity on both sides, which is, essentially, the cycle that has been going on for a long period of time. It has led nowhere. It has not led to peace. It has not led to security. It has not led to the prospect of two states living side by side in peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Secretary Powell also talked about the need, the sense of urgency, this window of opportunity to bring both sides together, and he talked about the situation in Iraq, the fact that Saddam Hussein's regime essentially has crumbled, that the Iraqi people have been liberated. All of this contributes to the kind of political climate that's necessary for these two sides to move forward in this road map. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POWELL: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) outlines of the new Middle East, its (ph) people are free to look to the future, with hope (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and dream about what could be. (UNINTELLIGIBLE). All can now see it, we recoil (ph), we recoil (ph) (UNINTELLIGIBLE) mass graves (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And again, Secretary Powell also reiterating the president's commitment to the road map, to his moving this whole process forward, again saying National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice will follow up with Powell's trip in the region to move forward, to push both parties for a peaceful resolution -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, Suzanne Malveaux, thanks very much from the White House.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
