Interview on NBC's Today Show With Matt Lauer

QUESTION: Let me start by talking about something David just mentioned in his piece, that obviously, the goal of getting these parties, these 44 or 48 nations and organizations together in Annapolis is to restart the peace process, but that a major motivating factor is this common denominator of a fear of Iran. Would you comment on that?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I do think that everyone in that room had something in common, which is that these are responsible states that understand that there is, in fact, a battle underway for the future of the Middle East, a battle between extremism and those who believe that the world is one in which peace and tolerance and prosperity for people is the vision that is appropriate. And clearly, that was a dividing line. The states in that region are not those that support extremism.

QUESTION: Well, let me ask you the blunt question that I know you've heard before, Madame Secretary, and that is why now; why did the Administration wait seven years to get back behind this peace process? And can you blame critics who say the Bush Administration is simply looking for some kind of a face-saving gesture as they walk out the door in 2008?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, Matt, there are certainly easier things to do for a legacy than to try and succeed on bringing Israelis and Palestinians together to the creation of a two-state solution. But this President began almost at the infancy of his presidency, at the beginning of his presidency talking about the need for a Palestinian state, talking about the need for the election of democratic leaders in the Palestinian territories who would lead their people to peace and who would not be tempted by terrorism, talking about the need for Israelis to accept the need for a two-state solution.

And over this period of time, step by step, people have come to that place where you do have democratic leaders in the Palestinian territories untainted by terrorism, where you do have Israelis united behind the vision now of a two-state solution. And yesterday, it was remarkable to see the support that that vision got. Now it's going to be hard, but you had support in that room that you have not had from the Arab states in the past.

QUESTION: But can these two guys get it done and make it meaningful, Madame Secretary? You've got Prime Minister Olmert who has got problems at home with scandals; he fought an unpopular war with Lebanon this summer. You've got Mr. Abbas who doesn't even control all of the Palestinian territories, you know, Gaza controlled by Hamas. He's been called a traitor by some of his own people. So if they forge some kind of an agreement, will it be an agreement between nations or just two men?

SECRETARY RICE: It will be an agreement between peoples because the great majority of Palestinians and Israelis want to live in peace. They do not want to live with the constant threat of terrorism. They do not want to live with the daily humiliations that come from the continued occupation there. I heard the Foreign Minister say yesterday that she hoped -- the Foreign Minister of Israel -- that she hoped that the day was coming when the image that Palestinian children have of Israelis is not just of Israeli soldiers. That is really what is at stake here. And yes, there are always difficulties in the Middle East. But the President said it and Prime Minister Olmert said it and President Abbas said it: Now is the time; there is never a perfect time in the Middle East, and so we have to deal with the times that we've been dealt.

QUESTION: I can't let you leave without asking you about Pakistan. President Musharraf gave up his command of the military today. He still has that country under a state of emergency. Can you break some news for me here? Have you been given assurances by President Musharraf that he will end that state of emergency in the next couple of days?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, let me say first that this is a good step, a good first step in President Musharraf carrying out his obligation, indeed his promise, to take off his uniform. We do continue to expect that Pakistan needs to end the state of emergency because free and --

QUESTION: Has he told you he will?

SECRETARY RICE: Free and fair elections need to take place. Look, we are talking with the Pakistanis about this. I'm not going to talk about the details of those conversations. But it is extremely important that Pakistan get back on a road to democracy, a road that, by the way, President Musharraf himself has helped and aided with a freer press and with civil society. But the decision now needs to be taken to end the state of emergency, to allow free and fair elections to take place. That will be the way for true stability for Pakistan.

QUESTION: All right. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Madame Secretary, again, thanks for your time this morning.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you.

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