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CNN Sunday Morning
Bush Condemns Attacks in Israel, Iraq
Aired August 24, 2003 - 08:07 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the battered peace effort in the Middle East. Israeli troops have stepped up sweeps in the West Bank following Tuesday's suicide bus bombing in Jerusalem. White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is outside the president's ranch now in Texas this morning.
Hello to you, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, we just heard from the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Richard Myers, just moments ago, as you heard, saying we're a nation at war. This weekend, President Bush condemned those twin attacks in Israel, as well as Iraq, saying that the administration would not be deterred. One of the groups that Mr. Bush is going after is Hamas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice-over): In the aftermath of Tuesday's deadly terrorist attack in Israel, President Bush is vowing to go after Hamas in his weekly radio address.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A Palestinian state will never be built on a foundation of violence.
MALVEAUX: The president's strategy now is to shut down Hamas by cutting off its funding. Friday, he directed the Treasury Department to freeze the assets of six top Hamas leaders and of five charities outside the U.S. that give men to the organization. Mr. Bush is encouraging others to dry up the outfit.
BUSH: I will continue to work with leaders in the neighborhood to encourage them to cut off the money and the aid and the help that goes to these terrorist organizations, all of which aim to destroy any hope for peace.
MALVEAUX: The Bush administration is no longer making a distinction between Hamas' political and military wings, seemingly falling into step with Israel's thinking. Treasury Secretary John Snow said of Tuesday's bombing, "Hamas' leaders and those who provide their funding again have the blood of innocence on their hands. Empty words cannot wash them clean." Another senior Treasury official called Hamas a terrorist organization through and through.
Two days after the bombing, Israel retaliated by killing a political powerhouse of Hamas, Ismail Abu Shanab. All six of Hamas's leaders the United States is going after financially are also political players, including Hamas' spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin; his subordinate, Abdel Aziz Montisi (ph), and Moussa Abu- Marzuk, based in Syria. While Treasury officials say the blocked assets will be rather small, the move is more significant politically, since the U.S. is depending upon European allies to freeze funding.
AARON DAVID MILLER, FMR. U.S. PEACE ENVOY: That may well be an aspect of the question that cuts to the core of our relationship with the Europeans.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Now Treasury officials say that they are talking with the European Union to gauge their response. The administration also risks alienating the Palestinian, as well as Arab allies, who see Hamas as a legitimate social services organization -- Heidi.
COLLINS: White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux this morning from Crawford, Texas. Thanks, Suzanne.
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 August 24, 2003 - 08:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the battered peace effort in the Middle East. Israeli troops have stepped up sweeps in the West Bank following Tuesday's suicide bus bombing in Jerusalem. White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is outside the president's ranch now in Texas this morning.
Hello to you, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, we just heard from the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Richard Myers, just moments ago, as you heard, saying we're a nation at war. This weekend, President Bush condemned those twin attacks in Israel, as well as Iraq, saying that the administration would not be deterred. One of the groups that Mr. Bush is going after is Hamas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice-over): In the aftermath of Tuesday's deadly terrorist attack in Israel, President Bush is vowing to go after Hamas in his weekly radio address.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A Palestinian state will never be built on a foundation of violence.
MALVEAUX: The president's strategy now is to shut down Hamas by cutting off its funding. Friday, he directed the Treasury Department to freeze the assets of six top Hamas leaders and of five charities outside the U.S. that give men to the organization. Mr. Bush is encouraging others to dry up the outfit.
BUSH: I will continue to work with leaders in the neighborhood to encourage them to cut off the money and the aid and the help that goes to these terrorist organizations, all of which aim to destroy any hope for peace.
MALVEAUX: The Bush administration is no longer making a distinction between Hamas' political and military wings, seemingly falling into step with Israel's thinking. Treasury Secretary John Snow said of Tuesday's bombing, "Hamas' leaders and those who provide their funding again have the blood of innocence on their hands. Empty words cannot wash them clean." Another senior Treasury official called Hamas a terrorist organization through and through.
Two days after the bombing, Israel retaliated by killing a political powerhouse of Hamas, Ismail Abu Shanab. All six of Hamas's leaders the United States is going after financially are also political players, including Hamas' spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin; his subordinate, Abdel Aziz Montisi (ph), and Moussa Abu- Marzuk, based in Syria. While Treasury officials say the blocked assets will be rather small, the move is more significant politically, since the U.S. is depending upon European allies to freeze funding.
AARON DAVID MILLER, FMR. U.S. PEACE ENVOY: That may well be an aspect of the question that cuts to the core of our relationship with the Europeans.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Now Treasury officials say that they are talking with the European Union to gauge their response. The administration also risks alienating the Palestinian, as well as Arab allies, who see Hamas as a legitimate social services organization -- Heidi.
COLLINS: White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux this morning from Crawford, Texas. Thanks, Suzanne.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
