White House Wake-Up: Graduation Day
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: While Secretary Powell is headed overseas President Bush is going back to school, sort of. Suzanne Malveaux is live at the White House this morning with more. It's a graduation day of sorts, and the speaker is somebody who many people will recognize. Suzanne -- good morning.</s>SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Well, President Bush is going to take center stage at the University of South Carolina later this afternoon. It is going to be the theme of peace around the world, but particularly Middle East peace, the president's vision, his broad vision of Palestinians and Israelis living together side by side, two states by the year 2005 he is going to be emphasizing. Also reportedly expecting to talk about a call for a free trade zone that would offer Middle Eastern countries trading opportunities with the United States in exchange for governmental reform, as well as fighting terrorism and corruption. The U.S. would also take steps to help those countries become members of the World Trade Organization and help with other treaties. The U.S. already has trade agreements with Israel and Jordan. And as you mentioned before, Daryn, all of this on the eve of a historical trip by Secretary of State Colin Powell, who leaves this evening to the region. He is going to be meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, as well as the new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas. Now, in light of the fact that Saddam Hussein's regime has been destroyed, as well as this new Palestinian leadership, the Bush administration feels that this is the ideal time, it is the right time, the climate is good, the momentum is strong to move forward in this Middle East peace, this road map. It is also a critical test for the U.S. credibility when it comes to European as well as Arab allies -- Daryn.</s>KAGAN: And so the president is heading to what they call USC in the south. That's the University of South Carolina; where I grew up in California, that's the University of Southern California. Just a little regional university information for you, if you need it later today, Suzanne. Thank you so much.</s>MALVEAUX: OK. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.