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CNN Saturday Morning News

Cheney to Discuss Mideast Conflict With Saudi Leaders

Aired March 16, 2002 - 09:56   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Vice President Cheney is in Saudi Arabia today as part of his 12-nation tour. Cheney is expected to discuss the Mideast conflict with Saudi leaders.

Joining us now by phone for more on Cheney's visit, CNN senior White House correspondent John King.

Hi, John.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Kyra, good morning, good afternoon, from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

One quick sign of the standing Dick Cheney has here in Saudi Arabia, he had a courtesy call today on King Fahd, the ailing Saudi monarch who is not seen in public very much because of his illnesses. But remember, Dick Cheney held in very high regard here because of his role as defense secretary in the first Bush administration when he led the U.S. military campaign to kick Saddam Hussein's army out of Kuwait.

That courtesy call over, the vice president now in the much more difficult and sensitive negotiations and conversations with Crown Prince Abdullah. It is the crown prince who runs the day-to-day affairs of this country now. One tough subject, the tough U.S. posture toward Iraq. Another tough subject, of course, the Israeli- Palestinian violence. And on that subject, the two leaders hoping to find some common ground.

Cheney says the United States is pushing for that cease-fire you were just discussing with Michael and Kelly, and also embracing a broader peace initiative by the Saudi crown prince. No one in the United States delegation believes that peace proposal can be discussed in a serious negotiating posture right now, but they do view it as an opening for a political dialogue, and a way to say to the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, Look, the Arab world is unifying around a peace initiative. If you don't agree with the specifics of this proposal, fine, what is your counterproposal?

So to use the Saudi initiative as a way to force a political dialogue. The big question first, though, is the most urgent goal not only of the Cheney mission but the Zinni mission for the Middle East, first things first, they need to negotiate a cease-fire -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, our John King, traveling with the vice president, thank you so much.

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