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CNN Saturday Morning News

Interview with Reed Kramer

Aired July 12, 2003 - 09:13   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: Well, the U.S. is working on a plan that could lead to placing U.S. fighter aircraft in the Horn of Africa. A team spent part of last week at a base in Djibouti to assess what would be needed to accommodate the planes. The U.S. commander in the area says the planes may be required in order to pursue a more aggressive stance against terrorism in the area.
As President Bush wraps up his first trip to Africa, there are plenty of issues about that continent that will follow him back home. At the forefront is the looming decision on whether to send troops to Liberia. To look at some of the issues, from Liberia to the African economy, we're joined by Reed Kramer of allafrica.com.

Good to see you again, Reed.

REED KRAMER, ALLAFRICA.COM: Good morning, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Well, while president, may have you -- you may have heard him just moments ago, made it very clear that Liberia's President Taylor needs to make his way out of the country, Taylor had made it clear he's not leaving until there are peacekeepers. But still no promises coming from the president on when U.S. peacekeepers may be heading there. Is that a mistake?

KRAMER: Well, actually, I think there has been a pretty firm statement by the president and by Secretary Powell that the United States government will assist the West African countries, who are already deeply engaged in peacemaking in Liberia.

The specifics and the particulars, whether there will be, as they say, boots on the ground in Liberia, American boots on the ground, has yet to be made. But they did state repeatedly on this trip that they would help. And that's significant, that's what really...

WHITFIELD: But didn't set a timeline. And given he is in the continent of Africa, it would seem that it would be the most appropriate stage in which to do so.

KRAMER: Well, and a lot of people think he bought time in order to delay the decision. But looking at it from a positive standpoint, and what the African leaders are hoping, is that this assessment team that's been in Liberia, the talks going on there in Akra (ph), Ghana, with the West Africans, will lead to a some kind of decision of American support. Remember, this is not a made-in-America operation that's being discussed for Liberia. Unlike some other parts of the world, there's already a peacekeeping process under way, there are discussions, negotiations going on in Akra, Ghana, next door to Liberia. So it -- what the U.S. is being asked to do is assist here.

WHITFIELD: Yes, well, overall, let's talk about his trip to the five different continent -- different nations on that continent. He's received a lot of skepticism along the way about his intentions. In fact, in a South African Web site, Mail and Guardian Online, it is written that his visit "must be seen for what it is, hard-eyed, self- service, posing as a mercy mission." Is that fair?

KRAMER: Well, I think the African leaders with whom he met really haven't been asking for a mercy mission. They don't want handouts. They've made that really clear. They want a partnership with the United States, and that's the term he's used a lot. I think what's key, from their point of view and from everybody who cares about Africa, is whether the policies come -- that follow will match the promises made on this trip.

WHITFIELD: But, you know, his sincerity is being questioned, particularly because he's not participating in an African summit that's taking place during the very week that he is actually in that nation. He's avoided attending that summit. Should he have made a presence there, to be received as being sincere?

KRAMER: Well, I think the -- whether the African Union wanted him to appear there or not, I don't know. Perhaps that would have been a good gesture. I think the ins -- the scheduling conflict was unfortunate, and perhaps insensitive on the part of the White House. But overall, the African leaders have tried to put a good spin on this and hope that there will be follow-through. That's what they're really looking for.

WHITFIELD: And let's talk about that follow-through. He's made a promise of $15 billion, money that is not getting the support in Congress so far on AIDS. He also made a 100 initiative -- $100 million initiative proposed for security. And on the issue of security, he didn't go to at least two of the nations that are receiving an awful lot of problems security-wise in the form of terrorism, Kenya and Tanzania. Might he be able to follow through on these promises?

KRAMER: Well, there's great disappointment in Kenya that the country was dropped from his itinerary. It was on his January itinerary, before that trip was postponed, and, of course, Kenya's the place that took the largest hit in the al Qaeda strike -- bomb attacks in 1998.

But on the other side, what the Africans are really asking for are a series of measures from the United States government, and other governments. They want fair access to markets in this country, and that comes up against the issue of agricultural subsidies here. They want a share of the private investment that flows to other parts of the world, but basically has bypassed Africa. They want affordable medicine to fight HIV-AIDS and other debilitating diseases. And many of them want to cooperate with the United States on that issue of security.

So they're looking to Washington to see what's next. On the question of funding for HIV-AIDS, he spoke very strongly this morning, appealing to Congress to fund his $15 billion package, but the administration has not been lobbying on the Hill for the increase from $2 billion, which was approved by a committee this week, to $3 billion. So that's what a lot of people are watching.

WHITFIELD: But you think it was at least important that he brought some attention to this continent, because of his high-profile visit?

KRAMER: Well, any time a president visits a continent, there's more attention focused on it, not only by the news media but also by the various branches of government. So generally, it's -- it can be a plus, but, again, I say, the follow-through is what people will be watching for.

WHITFIELD: All right, Reed Kramer of allafrica.com. Thanks very much for joining us again this weekend.

KRAMER: My pleasure.

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 July 12, 2003 - 09:13   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the U.S. is working on a plan that could lead to placing U.S. fighter aircraft in the Horn of Africa. A team spent part of last week at a base in Djibouti to assess what would be needed to accommodate the planes. The U.S. commander in the area says the planes may be required in order to pursue a more aggressive stance against terrorism in the area.
As President Bush wraps up his first trip to Africa, there are plenty of issues about that continent that will follow him back home. At the forefront is the looming decision on whether to send troops to Liberia. To look at some of the issues, from Liberia to the African economy, we're joined by Reed Kramer of allafrica.com.

Good to see you again, Reed.

REED KRAMER, ALLAFRICA.COM: Good morning, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Well, while president, may have you -- you may have heard him just moments ago, made it very clear that Liberia's President Taylor needs to make his way out of the country, Taylor had made it clear he's not leaving until there are peacekeepers. But still no promises coming from the president on when U.S. peacekeepers may be heading there. Is that a mistake?

KRAMER: Well, actually, I think there has been a pretty firm statement by the president and by Secretary Powell that the United States government will assist the West African countries, who are already deeply engaged in peacemaking in Liberia.

The specifics and the particulars, whether there will be, as they say, boots on the ground in Liberia, American boots on the ground, has yet to be made. But they did state repeatedly on this trip that they would help. And that's significant, that's what really...

WHITFIELD: But didn't set a timeline. And given he is in the continent of Africa, it would seem that it would be the most appropriate stage in which to do so.

KRAMER: Well, and a lot of people think he bought time in order to delay the decision. But looking at it from a positive standpoint, and what the African leaders are hoping, is that this assessment team that's been in Liberia, the talks going on there in Akra (ph), Ghana, with the West Africans, will lead to a some kind of decision of American support. Remember, this is not a made-in-America operation that's being discussed for Liberia. Unlike some other parts of the world, there's already a peacekeeping process under way, there are discussions, negotiations going on in Akra, Ghana, next door to Liberia. So it -- what the U.S. is being asked to do is assist here.

WHITFIELD: Yes, well, overall, let's talk about his trip to the five different continent -- different nations on that continent. He's received a lot of skepticism along the way about his intentions. In fact, in a South African Web site, Mail and Guardian Online, it is written that his visit "must be seen for what it is, hard-eyed, self- service, posing as a mercy mission." Is that fair?

KRAMER: Well, I think the African leaders with whom he met really haven't been asking for a mercy mission. They don't want handouts. They've made that really clear. They want a partnership with the United States, and that's the term he's used a lot. I think what's key, from their point of view and from everybody who cares about Africa, is whether the policies come -- that follow will match the promises made on this trip.

WHITFIELD: But, you know, his sincerity is being questioned, particularly because he's not participating in an African summit that's taking place during the very week that he is actually in that nation. He's avoided attending that summit. Should he have made a presence there, to be received as being sincere?

KRAMER: Well, I think the -- whether the African Union wanted him to appear there or not, I don't know. Perhaps that would have been a good gesture. I think the ins -- the scheduling conflict was unfortunate, and perhaps insensitive on the part of the White House. But overall, the African leaders have tried to put a good spin on this and hope that there will be follow-through. That's what they're really looking for.

WHITFIELD: And let's talk about that follow-through. He's made a promise of $15 billion, money that is not getting the support in Congress so far on AIDS. He also made a 100 initiative -- $100 million initiative proposed for security. And on the issue of security, he didn't go to at least two of the nations that are receiving an awful lot of problems security-wise in the form of terrorism, Kenya and Tanzania. Might he be able to follow through on these promises?

KRAMER: Well, there's great disappointment in Kenya that the country was dropped from his itinerary. It was on his January itinerary, before that trip was postponed, and, of course, Kenya's the place that took the largest hit in the al Qaeda strike -- bomb attacks in 1998.

But on the other side, what the Africans are really asking for are a series of measures from the United States government, and other governments. They want fair access to markets in this country, and that comes up against the issue of agricultural subsidies here. They want a share of the private investment that flows to other parts of the world, but basically has bypassed Africa. They want affordable medicine to fight HIV-AIDS and other debilitating diseases. And many of them want to cooperate with the United States on that issue of security.

So they're looking to Washington to see what's next. On the question of funding for HIV-AIDS, he spoke very strongly this morning, appealing to Congress to fund his $15 billion package, but the administration has not been lobbying on the Hill for the increase from $2 billion, which was approved by a committee this week, to $3 billion. So that's what a lot of people are watching.

WHITFIELD: But you think it was at least important that he brought some attention to this continent, because of his high-profile visit?

KRAMER: Well, any time a president visits a continent, there's more attention focused on it, not only by the news media but also by the various branches of government. So generally, it's -- it can be a plus, but, again, I say, the follow-through is what people will be watching for.

WHITFIELD: All right, Reed Kramer of allafrica.com. Thanks very much for joining us again this weekend.

KRAMER: My pleasure.

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