CNN The Situation Room - Transcript

CNN THE SITUATION ROOM - Transcript

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BLITZER: Jacki, thanks very much.

We want to talk to a United States congressman, now, from California, who has just been here in Jerusalem with a delegation from the House Intelligence Committee.

Republican Congressman Darrell Issa brings a very unique perspective to this Middle East crisis. He grew up in a Lebanese Christian family, in a Jewish neighborhood in Ohio.

Congressman Issa is joining us now from Cambridge in England.

I know you were here yesterday in Israel, meeting with top Israeli officials and Palestinians. You went up to the north. Did you leave here more or less encouraged about the prospects of some stability in this part of the world?

REP. DARRELL ISSA (R), CALIFORNIA: Well, I -- I must say that I -- I see a lot of good coming out of this. The dismantling of major capabilities of Hezbollah is a good thing for Lebanon.

Where I have some concerns is that I -- I'm not sure Israel has an end game yet. This is part of what Secretary of State Rice has to do, is be part of bringing an end game.

We know that, in 18 years, Israel was unable to completely defeat Hezbollah. So, whether it's 18 weeks or 18 days, we know that they won't eliminate it.

So, a political solution is obviously important. I am thrilled to have Secretary Rice first in -- in Beirut, to get a first-hand look at what the other end of this war looks like, and then to come to Israel to help them recognize that there has to be a political solution. They have to be willing to engage in a way as necessary to make that happen.

But, Wolf, make no mistake. Hezbollah is a cancer on Lebanon. And, as much as the Lebanese people are suffering, they are also benefiting by the reduction in Hezbollah's power on the streets in Beirut.

BLITZER: I know you -- you represent a lot of the views of Lebanese- Americans right now. Give us a little flavor of how you think the American-Lebanese community is reacting to what's happening here.

In other words, are they angry at Israel for doing what they are doing? Are they angry at Hezbollah? Are they angry at both?

ISSA: They're angry at both.

Certainly denouncing, as all four Lebanese-Americans in the House of Representatives, both parties, made it clear that Hezbollah is a problem, Hezbollah preempted this, and Hezbollah is to blame, obviously, what we see, we see attacks that went beyond what should have been the very minimal targets to hit. The -- the hits on the -- the -- the fuel tanks at the airport, there was no military basis in defeating Hezbollah by attacking those fuel tanks. This was a day after they had disabled the airport.

So, there have been some mistakes made by the Israelis. I'm list -- listing one, but, of course, there were plenty in war.

Having said that, the mistakes made in war, certainly, and the -- the people that are being punished, that's a mistake. But Hezbollah has been a problem, an internal problem of the Lebanese, one that comes from Syria and from Iran, that has to be dealt with.

And I know that, when Secretary Rice met with Prime Minister Siniora, he had to say: Help me engage to help my country finish the Cedar Revolution that we began a year ago, in the -- the aftermath of the assassination, a year ago, February, of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Lebanon has done all it can do without Western help.

BLITZER: Is it -- what is your position, Congressman, on a cease-fire, an immediate cease-fire? The Lebanese prime minister, Fuad Siniora, begging for one, when I spoke with him yesterday -- I assume that's what he told the secretary of state today as well.

She's rejecting any immediate cease-fire that she says doesn't deal with the root problems, which is, namely, Hezbollah's military danger toward Israel.

How do you feel about a cease-fire?

ISSA: Well, Wolf, I think that both people are talking past each other. An immediate cease-fire doesn't deal with the resupply of Hezbollah through the Syrian border. It doesn't deal with the fact that -- that, today, Hezbollah is still shelling Haifa and other areas in the north of -- of Israel.

However, a green line -- sections that are no-fire zones, concentrating on specific areas in the south where those weapons are originating, and along the border, if there is any attempt to resupply -- is an in-between that I am hoping Secretary Rice can reach.

I don't believe we're going to get a cease-fire, but a cessation of -- of areas. If you will, right now, Lebanon is a free-fire zone. They have hit as far north as Tripoli. There has to be some -- some areas of comparative safety. And there has to be an area that, if you know you exit it, you know you exit the combat zone.

This is something that I hope Secretary Rice -- I know she can negotiate it. I talked to the Israelis when they were there. Obviously, it's difficult for them to do, but it is possible for them to get between these two requests.

BLITZER: Darrell Issa is a Republican congressman from California. He was here in Jerusalem yesterday with a delegation from the House Intelligence Committee. Congressman, have a safe trip back to the United States. Thanks very much for joining us.

BLITZER: And...

ISSA: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: ... when we come back...

ISSA: Thank you.

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