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CNN Live Sunday

President Bush Considers Cutting Ties to Arafat

Aired January 27, 2002 - 17:05   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: President Bush is picking up bipartisan support for the stern words he has directed at Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. CNN's White House correspondent Major Garrett joins us now. Hi there, Major.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka.

Stern words and, within the confines of the Bush White House, a very stirring and a very intense debate as to what this Bush White House will do next with Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat. Will the Bush administration cut all ties with Mr. Arafat? That is a live question now for the first time since President Bush took office.

And why? Well, the precipitating factor is not only the continuing violence between Palestinians and Israelis, violence that many in the administration say is being propagated by terrorist cells within the Palestinian movement, but the discovery of an arms shipment, some 50 tons of arms, from Iran to the Palestinian Authority. It was intercepted by the Israeli government, and the Israeli government contends, and the U.S. government agrees, those weapons were destined for the Palestinian Authority and to be used in attacks against Israeli civilians.

Earlier today on one of the Sunday talk shows, Vice President Cheney said this connection between the Palestinian Authority, Iran and Hezbollah is very disturbing indeed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I know where he acquired the weapons. He did acquire the weapons from Iran, and the really disturbing part of this, of course, is that there are a lot of places he could go in the Arab world if he were looking for support and sustenance or for help in moving the peace process forward. Clearly, he hasn't done that. What he has done is gone to a terrorist organization, Hezbollah, and a state that supports and promotes terrorism and is dedicated to ending the peace process, Iran, and done business with them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GARRETT: On this issue, Fredricka, there are some hawkish voices talking to the president; among them, Vice President Cheney, saying, look, we have now evidence that suggests the Palestinian leader is aiding and working with known and recognized terrorist organizations. And for the Bush doctrine on terrorism, meaning if you aid a terrorist you are yourself a terrorist, if that's going to have any credibility, U.S. has got to change policy with Mr. Arafat.

Some other more cautious voices are saying, if you get rid of Arafat, who do you deal with next? There isn't really a good explanation on that point. That's why the debate continues, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And lots of options on the table, include closing the PLO office. Any word -- any more word on whether that is indeed a possibility that they are exploring?

GARRETT: There are a range of possibilities: Closing the Palestinian Authorities offices one of them; imposing some sort of sanctions is another. Making sure that the retired Marine General Anthony Zinni who is the president's envoy in the region does not go back until there are solid and observable moves by the Palestinian Authority to close down some of these terrorist cells, all of those are options. Also, the most extreme, the toughest option of all, cutting off all ties to Mr. Arafat, and for the first time since Mr. Bush took office that is a very much a live option -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. We'll be watching. Thanks very much. Major Garrett from the White House.

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