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CNN Saturday Morning News
Renewed Violence in Israel Halts Road Map
Aired August 23, 2003 - 09:02 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: This week's bombing at the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad and the renewed fighting between the Israelis and Palestinians have triggered questions about the Bush administration's handling of the war on terror.
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux joins us now from Crawford, Texas, where the president is vacationing. Good morning to you, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Well, President Bush is back in Crawford, Texas, after a two-day trip in Oregon and Washington. That's where he did some fund-raising. He highlighted his environmental agenda, talked about the importance of salmon conservation.
But as you know, the big news, of course, is on his foreign policy. It was yesterday that the president quite explicitly came out and said that the administration needs and welcomes additional foreign troops inside of Iraq to help with the reconstruction effort. He also confirmed that the administration is considering another U.N. Security Council resolution to try to attract reluctant countries to contribute troops and aid.
The president even hinted at a possible role for that international force, talking about the need to guard infrastructure that would free up U.S. soldiers, hunter teams, to go after the terrorists.
(audio interrupt)
MALVEAUX: No, I need to -- I can't hear.
COLLINS: Suzanne, I'm sorry. I was trying to figure out what President Bush was saying there. Let me just ask you, what is the situation on the Middle East, as far as him taking action against Hamas?
MALVEAUX: Well, also, Heidi, that was the other big news of the day, is the fact that the president now is holding Hamas's political leaders responsible for that terrorist attack, as you know, in Israel on Tuesday, 20 people killed. Hamas took responsibility for that.
Well, yesterday President Bush announced that he was ordering the Treasury Department to freeze and block the assets of six top Hamas leaders worldwide, also to block the assets of five nongovernmental organizations believed to contribute financially to Hamas.
This really signifies a change in U.S. strategy. It is essentially saying that this administration is not making a distinction between the political leadership and the military wing, the military leadership of Hamas, that the political leaders are just as responsible for these terrorist acts.
The big question, of course, Heidi, is whether or not European leaders and allies will cooperate with this effort to freeze those assets abroad, Heidi.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: This week's bombing at the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad and the renewed fighting between the Israelis and Palestinians have triggered questions about the Bush administration's handling of the war on terror.>
Aired August 23, 2003 - 09:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: This week's bombing at the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad and the renewed fighting between the Israelis and Palestinians have triggered questions about the Bush administration's handling of the war on terror.
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux joins us now from Crawford, Texas, where the president is vacationing. Good morning to you, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Well, President Bush is back in Crawford, Texas, after a two-day trip in Oregon and Washington. That's where he did some fund-raising. He highlighted his environmental agenda, talked about the importance of salmon conservation.
But as you know, the big news, of course, is on his foreign policy. It was yesterday that the president quite explicitly came out and said that the administration needs and welcomes additional foreign troops inside of Iraq to help with the reconstruction effort. He also confirmed that the administration is considering another U.N. Security Council resolution to try to attract reluctant countries to contribute troops and aid.
The president even hinted at a possible role for that international force, talking about the need to guard infrastructure that would free up U.S. soldiers, hunter teams, to go after the terrorists.
(audio interrupt)
MALVEAUX: No, I need to -- I can't hear.
COLLINS: Suzanne, I'm sorry. I was trying to figure out what President Bush was saying there. Let me just ask you, what is the situation on the Middle East, as far as him taking action against Hamas?
MALVEAUX: Well, also, Heidi, that was the other big news of the day, is the fact that the president now is holding Hamas's political leaders responsible for that terrorist attack, as you know, in Israel on Tuesday, 20 people killed. Hamas took responsibility for that.
Well, yesterday President Bush announced that he was ordering the Treasury Department to freeze and block the assets of six top Hamas leaders worldwide, also to block the assets of five nongovernmental organizations believed to contribute financially to Hamas.
This really signifies a change in U.S. strategy. It is essentially saying that this administration is not making a distinction between the political leadership and the military wing, the military leadership of Hamas, that the political leaders are just as responsible for these terrorist acts.
The big question, of course, Heidi, is whether or not European leaders and allies will cooperate with this effort to freeze those assets abroad, Heidi.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: This week's bombing at the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad and the renewed fighting between the Israelis and Palestinians have triggered questions about the Bush administration's handling of the war on terror.>
