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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Blair Prompts British Parliament For Action Against Iraq; Dossier Indicates Saddam Holds Arsenal That Could Launch in Under an Hour

Aired September 24, 2002 - 17:00   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.


(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Now on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, "Showdown Iraq," can Saddam Hussein unleash mass destruction at the drop of a hat? Britain makes the case.

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: He has existing and active military plans for the use of chemical and biological weapons which could be activated within 45 minutes.

LT. GEN. AMIR HAMUD SADI, IRAQI PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER: ...to produce the evidence or shut up.

BLITZER: The terror threat, a change in the color code but no one is sounding the all clear.

Americans in trouble, Special Forces are sent to the rescue in Africa.

Eying Isidore, much of the Gulf Coast is placed under a hurricane watch.

And, club goers call it Sextasy but this drug combination may lead to anything but. I'll speak with addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (on camera): It's Tuesday, September 24, 2002. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. If Saddam Hussein says attack, who would die and how? Today we got details from the British Prime Minister Tony Blair who bases his information on his country's intelligence services, the timetable 45 minutes from order to impact; the weapons, chemical and biological agents that have been unchecked since inspectors left four years ago.

They may include anthrax and nerve gas, the worry that President Hussein is trying to get a hold on nuclear weapons and is actively seeking uranium from Africa. And the reach, Iraq's missiles could strike U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf and U.S. allies like Israel. Critics are saying there is nothing new with any of this. We have correspondents standing by around the world in Washington, Baghdad, and London where we begin with CNN's Christiane Amanpour for the latest -- Christiane.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Big Ben behind me has just struck 10:00 in the evening and that signaled the end of this marathon and extraordinary session of the Parliament.

There was heated debate over this Iraq issue. Earlier in the morning, Prime Minister Tony Blair unveiled a 50-page dossier that he had been compiling along with the intelligence agencies and all the intelligence community here in Britain.

Now perhaps significant was what the document did not contain: no smoking gun. They said they didn't expect to have a smoking gun. No explicit link or even attempt to link Saddam Hussein with global terrorism or al Qaeda and no case for so-called regime change.

However, what Tony Blair did present was a detailed history of what he called Iraq's procurement efforts on weapons of mass destruction, and although there is not the evidence, he said, that they are capable right now of having any nuclear capability he said that this effort has been continuing over a period of 11 years.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLAIR: Iraq has chemical and biological weapons that Saddam has continued to produce them, that he has existing and active military plans for the use of chemical and biological weapons which could be activated within 45 minutes, including against his own sheer population and that he's actively trying to acquire nuclear weapons capability.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: Now also what they did was in terms of weapons capability, the delivery capability, they accuse Iraq of extending their range or trying to extend their range of ballistic missile capability and amongst the latest pieces of intelligence, Prime Minister Blair said that they had evidence that in the last week or so, Iraq was hiding documents and equipment in advance of any U.N. weapons inspectors going to Iraq -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Christiane, briefly how much opposition does the prime minister face within his own party?

AMANPOUR: Well that, of course, was the big question. What appears to have happened is that he has got his cabinet on board. He had a meeting with the cabinet last night and they came out saying that for now as long as this goes through the U.N., they are onboard. There was some significant and very vocal opposition to him but the prime minister's officials believe that the will carry the majority, by far the majority of the Labor Party.

BLITZER: Christiane Amanpour in London thanks very much. Let's continue to get some reaction now to this British report. Let's go to the White House where our Suzanne Malveaux is standing by -- Suzanne. SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Mr. Blair's report was really front and center at President Bush's meeting with his cabinet this morning, the White House calling these findings frightening, but at the same time his aides saying this just really bolsters the case that the president has been making for some time now. First of all that Saddam Hussein is a threat to the world; and secondly, that the United Nations has to force Iraq to disarm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He is willing to use weapons of mass destruction and the prime minister continues to make the case and so will I, and I again call for the United Nations to pass a strong resolution holding this man to account, and if they're unable to do so the United States and our friends will act because we believe in peace. We want to keep the peace and we don't trust this man, and that's what the Blair report showed today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, Mr. Blair was really called short of actually calling for Saddam Hussein's removal. This is a departure from the president's stand, U.S. policy calling for regime change but the White House really downplaying that difference. They emphasize the two leaders have been working very closely together lately trying to craft really tough language that U.N. Security Council resolution to hold Saddam Hussein accountable. They say the real test is going to come in the days to come to see whether or not those permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, Russian, China, and France will get onboard -- Wolf.

BLITZER: The drumbeat continuing at the White House. Suzanne Malveaux thanks very much. Let's take a look now and see how this story is playing in Baghdad. That's where we find our Rula Amin. She's standing by as well. Rula, I take it the reaction there very negative to put it mildly?

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is negative that Iraq is denying all these charges. They say simply it's not true and they say that Tony Blair did not present any solid evidence. Actually, the Iraqis were pretty satisfied with the report because they said after nine months of promising the world of presenting evidence, this was pretty lame.

Now, just a few hours after Britain made its case against Iraq, it was a retired lieutenant general, very close adviser to the Iraqi president who made Iraq's case against these charges. This is what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SADI: His conclusions that Iraq is engaged in the production of weapons of mass destruction are simply not true. His allegations are long, his evidence is short. His evidence is a hodgepodge of half truths, lies, short sighted and naive allegations which will not hold after a brief investigation by competent and independent experts. (END VIDEO CLIP)

AMIN: Now, Baghdad says it wants the weapons inspectors to come here. They say they have nothing to hide and they want the weapons inspectors to come to Baghdad to verify Iraq's part of the story that it doesn't have any weapons of mass destruction. However, the most important part that was said today was that Amir Sadi, when we asked him if the inspectors come, would you give them unfettered access and he said yes, unfettered access, wherever they want to go they can go.

This is the first time that we hear an Iraqi official spell out these words "unfettered access;" however, he did say that Iraq is not willing to deal with any new Security Council resolution that would change the guidelines for the inspectors' work here in Iraq -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Rula Amin reporting from Baghdad thanks very much. And here's your chance to weigh in on this very important story. Our web question of the day: Has the U.K.'s dossier strengthened the case against Saddam Hussein? We'll have the results later in this program. Vote at cnn.com/wolf. While you're there, send me your comments.

We may read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also, of course, where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf. And coming up later this hour, the questions you want the answers to when it comes to the situation in Iraq. E- mail us now: wolf@cnn.com.

U.S. Special Forces are on the way to Africa, ready to help rescue Americans in trouble; more now from CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice over): As violence continues across the Ivory Coast after last week's coup attempt there is growing worry about the fate of 100 American children trapped in a missionary school in Buaque (ph), a city now under rebel control.

RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: We remain gravely concerned about fighting in Buaque near the International Christian Academy.

STARR: The U.S. ambassador made an urgent call for military assistance, requesting troops to get to the region as quickly as possible. Two hundred heavily armed U.S. Special Forces flying in from Europe and other locations to next door Ghana will be poised to move on into the Ivory Coast if ordered to do so. Their first task may be to move those school children away from the crossfire between rebel and government forces.

BOUCHER: At this point, we're not planning an evacuation of official or non-official Americans but we do have these concerns about the safety of American citizens who are in parts of the country or located in areas where there appears to be fighting. STARR: The Pentagon is coordinating with French military forces already in the Ivory Coast. France has sent troops and helicopters to reinforce its 600-man presence in the country. They could help rescue trapped Americans.

STARR (on camera): There are more than 2,000 Americans currently in the Ivory Coast. For now, the Bush administration says it has no plans to evacuate them, but as the situation grows worse, U.S. troops will now be nearby ready to move in and escort those Americans to safety.

Barbara Starr CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Another dangerous mission for U.S. military personnel. We'll continue covering that story as well. Meanwhile, the nation's terror alert status is now back at yellow, the third highest level. President Bush signed off on the move earlier today. For the past two weeks, the level was at orange, the second highest color code. CNN's Jeanne Meserve explains why the president ordered the change right now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): With the anniversary of the September 11 attacks now safely passed, the nation's threat status slipped from orange back to yellow, exactly two weeks after it was elevated.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: This was based on a review of intelligence and an assessment of the threats by the intelligence community.

MESERVE: The administration says in the past two weeks it has deterred and disrupted terrorist attacks with the arrests of six men in suburban Buffalo, the apprehension of al Qaeda operative Ramzi Binalshibh in Pakistan, and the detention of others in Yemen and Singapore. But the attorney general underscored that though the threat has lessened, it has not disappeared.

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: I want to emphasize that we are not saying there is no risk. We still think there is an elevated level of risk. We still believe that al Qaeda is an international network, that it still has the reach that makes it global in scope and nature.

MESERVE: This first de-escalation of the threat level is being applauded by some experts who say it gives the color coded system some credibility and gives the country a needed respite.

RANDY LARSEN, ANSER INSTITUTE: It's important for two reasons; both sustainability. First of all it's the emotional drain on the American people. People say should I go fly? Should I let my family go to this big sports stadium and that and even more importantly though, the overtime bill it's costing our counties and our cities. MESERVE: Some emergency managers complain that an absence of federal guidelines makes the threat level system incoherent, and according to one survey it was virtually ignored in one out of four cities.

MESERVE (on camera): Homeland security officials acknowledge it is a work in progress but say the system did what it was supposed to do. There were no terrorist strikes. Jeanne Meserve CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: A hurricane watch for the Gulf coast, where will Isidore strike next? We'll go live to the National Hurricane Center where they're tracking the eye of the storm. Plus, an exclusive new concern over fuel pumps in some Boeing jets, a safety check underway for thousands of planes around the world.

And Sextasy, a very, very bad mix, Dr. Drew joins us live with the dangers of this nightclub drug combo. But first, today's news quiz. Mixing Ecstasy with Viagra can cause what unintended side effect, body aches, anatomical damage, jail time, all of the above? The answer coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(AUDIO/VIDEO GAP)

MAX MAYFIELD, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: ...the hurricane dissipated and now we have these large rain bands you can see on the satellite imagery behind me here that really cover much of the Gulf. We have a rain band well out to the northeast, another one well down to the southwest, but we don't have that heavy thunderstorm activity near the center, so we don't think that we're going to see any type of rapid intensification.

But we do think as Isidore moves up to the north that it will slowly regain strength and will likely become a Category 1 hurricane before the core of the system moves on shore sometime probably early Thursday morning.

BLITZER: But just to be precise, Mr. Mayfield, even a Category 1 hurricane is nothing to fool around with.

MAYFIELD: Absolutely and we don't want to have people get lulled to sleep here. We often have loss of life, even from a Category 1 hurricane and if we're careful here, there's just really no reason for that to happen. We are very concerned about not just the winds and the rainfall but, in particular, the storm surge flooding near and to the east of where the center crosses the coast and some of those shallow areas there in Louisiana.

BLITZER: Max Mayfield, we'll be staying in touch with you. Once again thanks for joining us.

And from the Florida panhandle to the Texas coast, the waiting and the watching continues. With all of us indeed watching from the Gulf shores, let's get a report from Alabama.

Our Amanda Abbott, she's with our affiliate WALA is joining us now live.

Amanda, it looks like it's getting a little choppy behind you.

AMANDA ABBOTT, WALA CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, in the last few hours it's really picked up here in Gulf Shores, Alabama. We arrived here around one o'clock Central time. It was just drizzling. There really wasn't a lot of wind here. In the last few others, though, it has really, really picked up and I'll let you check it out for yourself. Take a look directly behind me and you can see what the waves are doing right now, huge waves and they're crashing down. These are really big for this area and there is absolutely no one on the beach.

We've seen a few people that have run out of their cars, taken a few pictures, jump back in to their dry cars. And I've covered a few of these storms and usually during these storms you see surfers out here. We haven't even seen surfers today and one of the main reasons, if you look over here, we are under red flag warning, which means basically that it's very dangerous out there and that there are undertows and just not to go out if you can help it.

Once again, it is picking up here in Gulf Shores, Alabama. On the horizon here we have lots of black clouds so we are waiting for it to get a lot worse -- Wolf.

BLITZER: The waiting continues in Alabama. Amanda Abbott thanks for joining us from our affiliate WALA in Mobile.

And this just in, another side note, another tropical storm is indeed building right now in the Caribbean and it is named Lili.

And the U.S. military now says it will move al Qaeda and Taliban prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba shelter into other shelters if necessary, if this new tropical storm should develop and endanger those prisoners, including U.S. troops of course based at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. We're watching that story develop.

In a moment, a CNN exclusive, Boeing issues a safety alert on some of its commercial airliners, a look at why worries over fuel pumps are prompting extra precautions. Should you be worried?

Plus a pinching problem on the road, hundreds of thousands of SUVs are recalled.

Also, you ask the tough questions on Iraq, we'll get some answers. Our viewers sound off still to come. You can e-mail us right now, wolf@cnn.com; but first, a look at news making headlines around the world.

(NEWSBREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER (voice over): Violence marred voting in elections in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir. Just after polls opened in Srinagar, Kashmir's largest city, Indian security forces attacked a building where Muslim militants were holed up. Police say at least one militant was killed. Two police officers were killed in an earlier shootout.

Indian police say at least 30 people were killed and at least 30 wounded when gunmen attacked a crowded Hindu temple. Earlier this year, about 1,000 people were killed in fighting between Hindus and Muslims in Gujarat.

Israeli trooped backed by tanks and helicopter gun ships raided Gaza City, the main power base of the militant Islamic group Hamas. Fighting with Palestinian gunmen erupted in several neighborhoods. Palestinian hospital sources say at least nine Palestinians were killed and 20 wounded. The Israelis say they suffered no casualties and withdrew several hours later.

An explosion in Spain's Basque region killed a policeman and wounded three others. Officials say it happened when the officers were trying to remove a Basque separatist banner that was booby trapped. Hours earlier, officials say two suspected members of the Basque separatist group Enna accidentally blew themselves up in Bilbal.

In Malaysia, a display of biceps and brawn, it's all part of the world's strongest man and strongest woman competition.

In Spain, a unique way to help lonely hearts, a farmer concerned by the high number of single people in a small town bussed in 400 women for a mass blind date, his message don't be sad, sign up if you want to get married.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (on camera): Good luck to those people in Spain. Let's take a look at an important story that could affect everyone who flies Boeing is warning airlines of possible fuel pump problems. Airlines are advised to check the fuel pumps on all new generation 737s as well as 747s and 757s. Let's get some more information on this exclusive report.

Our Kathleen Koch is joining us now live from Reagan National Airport here in Washington. Tell us all about it, Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, what this is is a dramatic broadening of a check that was ordered last month when three fuel pumps on planes at three different airlines were found to have faulty frayed wiring that could cause sparks and a potential center fuel tank explosion. Now this particular set of inspections, as you said covers all Boeing 737s, the Next Generations, the 747s and 757s. Now that's about 1,400 planes in the United States, some 3,200 planes worldwide. Now what happened is that the maker of those original fuel pumps that they had difficulties with in August, Hyrdro Air of Burbank, California, after those incidents looked back at its maintenance records and it found two other instance in which the fuel pump wiring was suspect.

So what has happened now, back in August there were 1,250 pumps that were potentially suspect, potentially problematic. In this case there are 30,000 so this is a much, much bigger check that's going to have to be done. Now airlines are being advised by Boeing to x-ray the fuel pumps in every single one of these aircraft.

It will be a very time consuming process, Wolf, and until then they are being warned to fly with that center fuel tank covered with -- a center fuel tank holding enough fuel to cover the suspect fuel pumps at all times when that plane is taking off, landing, when it's curving, banking, experiencing any sort of turbulence, because if it's covered with fuel, they believe that no sparking can occur.

And, of course, all of this attention to the flammability of center fuel tanks comes after the very deadly 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800, which was caused, Wolf, as we all know by a center fuel tank explosion, back to you.

BLITZER: Will this decision to go ahead and do these thorough checks of these fuel pumps cause any disruption for travelers right now as far as you can tell, Kathleen?

KOCH: Wolf, they aren't causing any disruption as of yet but this is going to be a very time consuming process. These are the work horses of the U.S. air fleet and every single one of them 1,400 here in the United States, will have to be checked. So clearly, the potential for delay is there but as far as safety, Boeing believes as long as the airlines keep some fuel in that center fuel tank, as long as it doesn't go dry, that these aircraft will be safe.

BLITZER: And any idea how long the entire check is going to go on, all the airplanes around the world, how long will it take to make sure all of these planes are safe?

KOCH: That's a good question, Wolf. At this point, the FAA hasn't weighed in on this. We're expecting either by the end of this week or at some point next week that they will issue what's called an air worthiness directive, which will lay out for the airlines exactly how much time they have to accomplish these x-ray checks.

BLITZER: Kathleen Koch, breaking news for us tonight from Reagan National Airport in Washington, thanks very much.

KOCH: You bet.

BLITZER: Tony Blair selling an Iraq attack to the British people but what do Americans have to say? When we return, our viewers sound off. We'll put your questions to the test. E-mail us right now at wolf@cnn.com. Also, Miss Universe loses her crown, find out why the tiara got taken away. And the new drug mix, it's called Sextasy, why young men are going to dangerous extremes for a good time.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN. I'm Wolf Blitzer. Coming up, viewers sound off on Iraq. We'll ask the questions you want the answers to.

Back to Iraq now and the allegations leveled earlier today by the British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Many of them are familiar, but the British report also includes some fresh allegations and fresh evidence.

More now from our national security correspondent, David Ensor.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The British report says not only are some Iraqi chemical and biological weapons ready for use, they are deployable within 45 minutes of an order to use them from Saddam Hussein.

The report says his son, Qusay, is also authorized to give such an order. And the report says, Iraq is continuing to produce more chemical and biological weapons.

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: His weapons of mass destruction program is active, detailed, and growing. The policy of containment is not working.

ENSOR: For example, in recent weeks, U.S. and Israeli officials have said there is evidence Iraq is working covertly to extend the range of its missiles beyond the limit of 150 kilometers set by the United Nations, missiles that could be used to hit U.S. forces in the Gulf region or to hit Israel.

The British report, contains the first public evidence to back that up. This aerial surveillance photo of the Iraqi rocket engine test facility -- "A" marks the new test stand being constructed. The report says -- quote -- "such a facility would not be needed for systems that fall within the U.N. permitted range."

And it says, "The Iraqis have recently taken measures to conceal activities at this site." The British report also says that Iraq has mobile, biological, weapons labs, labs designed to be moved, to evade U.N. arms inspectors.

CHARLES DUELFER, FORMER WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Well, this is a very interesting element of the British presentation because it was on basis of that kind of information, that we had from defectors as far back as 1997, that we conducted some of our most controversial inspections.

ENSOR: In the area of nuclear weapons, there may be a difference of opinion between London and Washington on timing. Vice President Cheney has said Iraq is very close to a nuclear weapon, and a White House document said if Saddam Hussein could get the fissile material on black market, his scientists could make a bomb in two months.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ENSOR: By contrast, the British report says it would take the Iraqis at least five years to produce an indigenous nuclear and one to two years if they could get the fissile material from outside Iraq. Still, London and Washington are in sync on the overall implications. They believe the status quo in Iraq must end. And Wolf, it must end soon.

BLITZER: David Ensor, thanks for that report.

And the first of some 2,000 U.S. Marines are in Kuwait for a joint exercise with Kuwaiti troops near the Iraqi border. The maneuver is one of two involving U.S. forces in the region and has all the makings of a rehearsal for a possible war against Iraq. Our Martin Savidge is in Kuwait City.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the Marines have landed here in Kuwait, the first of what's expected to be a force of about 2,000. U.S. Marines arrived at the northern port of Alshawac (ph) in Kuwait City. They began off-loading their supplies. They are here to take part in a joint military exercise expecting to last about a month with Kuwaiti military forces. They will be training with land, sea, and air assets. On an island that's called Babion (ph). It's located very near the Iraqi border. That exercise just getting under way.

Meanwhile, another long term U.S. Army exercise, that sort of ebbs and flows, is expected to get a new infusion of several thousands U.S. soldiers. Operation Desert Spring will also be taking place very near the Iraqi border. Both of these exercises, U.S. officials say were planned a long time ago, but they certainly fall at a very convenient time, given the friction with Iraq also. And obviously, if necessary, U.S. commanders could decide to hold over those U.S. forces to bolster those already in the country of Kuwait.

The numbers of U.S. forces here said to be about 10,000; 20,000 in the region. It is not just military that is already training, it is also the Civil Defense. Kuwaiti Civil Defense has actively been working around protecting its oil assets. You may remember, at the end of Gulf War, over 700 oil wells were set ablaze. They are training to try to protect them. They don't believe that there's any threat of invasion but clearly if there were military action, Iraq could decide to launch, that is a retaliatory strike, against Kuwaiti oil interests. Kuwait produces about 1.4 million barrels of oil, every single day -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Marty Savidge, he's on the scene in Kuwait for us. Thanks very much, Marty.

And you've been letting me know your thoughts about the Iraq showdown. I've been getting thousands of e-mail. Now, I'd like to share some of them with my guests. They have very strong feelings of their own on the subject. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee -- she's a Texas Democrat -- and Ken Adelman. He's a former director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and a member of the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board.

Thanks for joining us. Let's go right to some of those e-mail questions. This one for you, Ken Adelman. It's from Julie in Denver. "Who is going to pay the bill for this war and the rebuilding of Iraq?"

KEN ADELMAN, FORMER U.S. ARMS CONTROL DIRECTOR: I would say Iraq would. This is not a country like Afghanistan. This is a very wealthy country. The reason it's not wealthy right now is because of Saddam Hussein. They can have -- they do have, the second highest oil reserves of any country known in the world.

BLITZER: So you're saying if it's $60 billion -- let's throw out a number -- that costs the U.S. taxpayers to pay for this war, you say take the money later from the Iraqis?

ADELMAN: No, I think Iraq is going to be a very prosperous country later on. Initially, we will have some of the costs. Other countries around the world will have some of the costs, but Wolf, compare it to the costs of the World Trade Center, compare it to costs of the damage that could be done by American -- to Americans by a weapons of mass destruction explosion here in country. And it pales in comparison. It's a cost well worth paying.

BLITZER: All right, let's have this e-mail question for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Katy from Texas wants to know this -- "Why should President Bush have to ask anyone how to defend his people, and allies?"

REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE (D), TEXAS: Well, you know, Katy, I think it's important to note that the Constitution gives authority to the United States Congress to issue a declaration of war. But more importantly, international law states specifically that preemptive strikes are illegal and that we have joined in with the United Nations under Charter 51 that says that preemptive strikes are illegal.

We can defend ourselves. That's what the resolution was all about. After the September 11 -- 9/11, the Afghan Resolution, that all of us joined in on with comfort and understanding. We were going to unite to go after the terrorists...

BLITZER: Let me interrupt for a second...

JACKSON LEE: ... but this is not case.

BLITZER: But you're saying that if U.S. had advance knowledge that al Qaeda was going to bomb the World Trade Center, it would have been illegal to preemptively attack them?

JACKSON LEE: No, I'm not saying that. Obviously, if we had direct knowledge that we were imminently in danger than that would be an acceptable approach to be able to attack, to protect the American people, and our national security. In this instance, we have no data -- no direct data that suggests that the United States is in imminent danger of being attacked and that's why we should allow the United Nations inspectors to go in.

BLITZER: Ken Adelman...

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Before we get on, let's get to some more e-mails, then we'll continue this discussion. Peter from Knoxville, Tennessee wants to ask you this question -- "Why is all this happening so close to the midterm elections?"

ADELMAN: I think it's just the flow of events. I think it should have been, as you and I discussed many times before -- I was hoping that we go into Iraq months before. I thought that we learned a lesson of September 11. We're not going to be standing there while we know weapons of mass destruction are being developed. We know that people out there want to do enormous damage to the United States. We know what Saddam Hussein has been up to for the last 11 years. I wanted it for last eight months.

BLITZER: Do you think the president is doing this simply for political reasons?

JACKSON LEE: Well, I think that we should never politicize national security. And I'm not going to make a judgment on why the president used this time do it, but I will say this, this requires, much deliberation. First of all, in 1998, I supported a resolution dealing with Iraq and there were three elements...

BLITZER: You supported regime change.

JACKSON LEE: No, let me explain what I supported because that's the mistake that the president and administration is utilizing. That legislation specifically allowed for grant assistance, military devices and training, and as well, humanitarian aid. It did not require or encourage a preemptive strike or unilateral effort. And...

BLITZER: It did -- you didn't have $100 million for opposition forces to overthrow his regime.

JACKSON LEE: It did have...

(CROSSTALK)

JACKSON LEE: ... those dollars. If I might -- it did have those dollars to collaborate with those resistance forces, which we've done before. This is totally different. This is a pronouncement of a foreign policy that has not been accepted in totality...

BLITZER: All right.

JACKSON LEE: ... by Congress and as well, unilateral military attack on another nation.

BLITZER: Ken Adelman, why do you believe Iraq, Saddam Hussein, right now represents an imminent threat to the United States?

ADELMAN: Well, because he is building up -- as Tony Blair's report made clear today, he's building up his weapons of mass destruction more and more and more. And do we want to wait until he gets nuclear weapons? Are we going to be satisfied with -- going into the Gulf at that time or going around, trying to get allies when he has nuclear weapons? To me, it's the worst time in the world to do that. It's the best time in the world to do it soon.

BLITZER: Echoing that, Trisha from Bradford, Pennsylvania asks you, Congresswoman Jackson Lee this question -- "Saddam Hussein cannot be trusted. We should not wait any longer. By waiting, we are giving Saddam all the time he needs to get his army together."

JACKSON LEE: Well, first of all, I think it's important that we got the facts, and the U.N. inspectors should be allowed in unfettered. But more importantly, if we listen to Prime Minister Blair today, we'll hear what he said. What he said is that we should have disarmament. I agree with that. And we should have U.N. inspectors in. And he indicated and qualified any military action.

First of all, to be the single world power still standing, it is imperative that the United States not abandon diplomacy, work with allies, and begin to confront Saddam Hussein directly and immediately, but not on the basis that we in America are going subject to an immediate attack, and therefore need to act unilaterally by attacking them first.

BLITZER: We've got to leave it right there. You had the first word. You had the last one. Thanks to both of you. We'll continue this debate on another occasion.

Sex, drugs and dangerous side effects -- Dr. Drew joins us live to talk about a scary new trend, mixing Ecstasy and Viagra. Find out about the dangerous side effects when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Earlier we asked -- Mixing Ecstasy with Viagra can cause what unintended side effect? The answer, all of the above. The illegal combination could land you in jail with a bad headache and anatomical damage.

Drug abuse specialists in the United States are very concerned about a growing trend, a combination of Viagra and Ecstasy and they're calling it Sextasy. That concern is outlined in an article that appeared in "USA Today." While users say the combination fuels all- night dancing and marathon sex, doctors warn it can cause heart problems and anatomical damage for men. With us now from Los Angeles to talk about this is Dr. Drew Pinsky. He's the co-host of "Loveline," a very popular advice program on the radio.

Dr. Drew, thanks for joining us. And I just want to point out, we spoke to officials of the DEA, the Drug Enforcement Agency, earlier today and they said that there are alarming numbers coming up, especially among gay men and also among those who go to the so-called clubs where rave music is going on. How serious of a problem is this right now?

DR. DREW PINSKY, CO-HOST, "LOVELINE": Well, it's serious in that these are dangerous combinations and this is just yet another incarnation of the club drug phenomenon. People are out there looking for bigger highs, more arousing kinds of experiences and they're getting now into substances that can cause, as in the case of the Viagra stimulant combination, priapism and permanent erectile dysfunction.

Ecstasy, by itself, now is well known to be a neurotoxin and cause permanent brain damage, mood disturbances, panic attacks. And yet, young people still don't seem to pay any attention to this. They're looking more for the arousing experience. They get caught into this cycle of needing arousal in order to fell OK.

They're taught from a young age -- teenagers, today, are taught that if they go to raves and go these extreme activities and maybe take drugs, they'll find happiness, they'll find great fun experiences. And indeed, they do, but they tend to get caught in a cycle where they become independent on this, in order to feel OK. In order to manage the effect, they get involved in drugs that are neurotoxic. And now, they need these things to feel OK. And you have a very, very destructive cycle they get into.

BLITZER: So how addictive is it, this combination of Ecstasy and Viagra?

PINSKY: You know the addiction is not the issue with this combination. This is much more a combination of abuse. MDMA, Ecstasy, does have an addictive potential, but it's relatively uncommon. Adding Viagra does not add a further addictive potential.

Abuse is a much wider and much more substantial problem in terms of the number of people it effects. Addiction affects a subset of the population and no doubt, addicts are getting into this. But it's not creating the kind of preoccupation that addiction -- that defines addiction.

BLITZER: What do you say to the young people who may be watching, may be thinking about doing this or are doing this or their parents or grandparents who may be watching and are alarmed at this prospect?

PINSKY: Yes, it's really a very difficult thing to answer. As a parent, the idea is to survey and be aware of what they're into and monitor their behavior. Maybe you shouldn't be letting your kids go to raves and clubs if this is where they like to go. Maybe you should be discussing with them what it is -- what they do there, why they go there.

If someone is aware that they have a young person who is involved with these sorts of substances, I think it's very important that they get a medical evaluation and be referred immediately. This is not a -- it's not something that should be just sort of let go. It is a serious, serious issue. BLITZER: And if you do have a loved one who may be getting involved in this dangerous combination, are there any outward symptoms that you see, behavioral patterns that they're engaged in that could be a signal to those who love these young kids and want to make sure they're safe?

PINSKY: Again, it's more the Ecstasy that causes these sorts of problems. The typical symptom we see with Ecstasy is someone who is very gregarious and outgoing, all of sudden, doesn't want to go to parties any more, starts isolating, then, starts complaining about panic and anxiety, becomes agoraphobic and then, profoundly depressed. If you see that combination in someone and they're someone who enjoys going to clubs and socializing a lot, watch out for the possibility of Ecstasy.

Viagra has now been thrown in there as an added issue that might add more toxicity and more problems for men particularly. We don't know the long-term consequences. That's the fact now.

BLITZER: Is there a potential, Dr. Drew, for this to be the next drug epidemic in the U.S. right now?

PINSKY: Sextasy itself?

BLITZER: Yes.

PINSKY: No, I don't think so. Again, it's not a drug of addiction. It's not causing preoccupation and persistent use in the adverse consequence. It is just yet another incarnation.

Listen, at clubs, people are combining all sorts of chemicals, ketamine and heroine and LSD and speed. Kids are looking for -- they're alchemists. They're looking for this great combination, the best high. They're stuck. They need this in order to feel OK and they're stuck in the cycle of pursuit. This is just yet another incarnation of trying to find the ultimate experience.

BLITZER: Dr. Drew Pinsky, thanks for your expert advice. We'll continue this conversation, appreciate it very much.

And a new afterlife from the king of rock and roll, a sneak peek at the new Elvis album hitting shelves today. Also, Miss Universe, the crown yanked off her head. Find out why her title was revoked. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Even death isn't putting a stop to a new Elvis record. A new album released today features 30 of the king of rock and roll's number-one hits. Among them, "Heartbreak Hotel," "Jailhouse Rock" and "Return To Sender." They've all been digitally enhanced. The original tapes came from a storage facility in Pennsylvania. Elvis recorded some of the tunes -- get this -- more than 45 years ago.

Let's go to New York now and get a preview of "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE," which of course, begins right at the top of the hour -- Lou.

LOU DOBBS, HOST, "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE": Thanks, Wolf. The Gulf Coast tonight bracing for Isidore. Forecasters warn the tropical storm will return to hurricane status. Isidore is expected to sweep into the Gulf by Thursday. We'll have a live report for you tonight from Louisiana. And British Prime Minister Tony Blair strengthened the case for a U.S. led attack against Iraq today. We'll have reports for you from Washington. Former defense secretary, William Cohen, will join us.

And the major U.S. airlines went to Capitol Hill today asking for more money, another federal bailout. We'll have the latest for you on that and all of the day's news. There's a great deal ahead at the top of the hour. Please join us. Now, let's go back to Wolf Blitzer -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you, Lou. We always do. And time is running out for you to weigh in on our "Web Question of The Day." Has the U.K.'s dossier strengthened the case against Saddam Hussein? Log on to cnn.com/wolf. That's where you could vote. The results, when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Now, here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of The Day." Earlier we asked -- has the U.K.'s dossier strengthened the case against Saddam Hussein? Look at this, 48 percent of you say yes, 52 percent of you say no. You can find the exact vote tally and continue to vote, by the way, on our Web site, cnn.com/wolf. Remember, this is not a scientific poll.

Let's get some more e-mails from you. Nancy writes this -- "Is it possible that war on Iraq is being used as a smokescreen to distract the American public from our failing economy? The administration began advertising the idea of overthrowing Saddam months ago and now election campaigns are using it to their advantage as well."

David strongly disagrees -- "As a nation, we do not have any choice but to go to war with Iraq. The president undoubtedly has information he has and should not give us. Our way of life is at stake and we need to take action before it is too late."

That's all the time we have today. Join me tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. And this important, very important programming note, we have a new program, "SHOWDOWN: IRAQ," every weekday beginning tomorrow, noon Eastern, a one-hour program on a showdown, a possibility, with Iraq. Until then, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" begins right now.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Dossier Indicates Saddam Holds Arsenal That Could Launch in Under an Hour>


Aired September 24, 2002 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Now on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, "Showdown Iraq," can Saddam Hussein unleash mass destruction at the drop of a hat? Britain makes the case.

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: He has existing and active military plans for the use of chemical and biological weapons which could be activated within 45 minutes.

LT. GEN. AMIR HAMUD SADI, IRAQI PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER: ...to produce the evidence or shut up.

BLITZER: The terror threat, a change in the color code but no one is sounding the all clear.

Americans in trouble, Special Forces are sent to the rescue in Africa.

Eying Isidore, much of the Gulf Coast is placed under a hurricane watch.

And, club goers call it Sextasy but this drug combination may lead to anything but. I'll speak with addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (on camera): It's Tuesday, September 24, 2002. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. If Saddam Hussein says attack, who would die and how? Today we got details from the British Prime Minister Tony Blair who bases his information on his country's intelligence services, the timetable 45 minutes from order to impact; the weapons, chemical and biological agents that have been unchecked since inspectors left four years ago.

They may include anthrax and nerve gas, the worry that President Hussein is trying to get a hold on nuclear weapons and is actively seeking uranium from Africa. And the reach, Iraq's missiles could strike U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf and U.S. allies like Israel. Critics are saying there is nothing new with any of this. We have correspondents standing by around the world in Washington, Baghdad, and London where we begin with CNN's Christiane Amanpour for the latest -- Christiane.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Big Ben behind me has just struck 10:00 in the evening and that signaled the end of this marathon and extraordinary session of the Parliament.

There was heated debate over this Iraq issue. Earlier in the morning, Prime Minister Tony Blair unveiled a 50-page dossier that he had been compiling along with the intelligence agencies and all the intelligence community here in Britain.

Now perhaps significant was what the document did not contain: no smoking gun. They said they didn't expect to have a smoking gun. No explicit link or even attempt to link Saddam Hussein with global terrorism or al Qaeda and no case for so-called regime change.

However, what Tony Blair did present was a detailed history of what he called Iraq's procurement efforts on weapons of mass destruction, and although there is not the evidence, he said, that they are capable right now of having any nuclear capability he said that this effort has been continuing over a period of 11 years.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLAIR: Iraq has chemical and biological weapons that Saddam has continued to produce them, that he has existing and active military plans for the use of chemical and biological weapons which could be activated within 45 minutes, including against his own sheer population and that he's actively trying to acquire nuclear weapons capability.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: Now also what they did was in terms of weapons capability, the delivery capability, they accuse Iraq of extending their range or trying to extend their range of ballistic missile capability and amongst the latest pieces of intelligence, Prime Minister Blair said that they had evidence that in the last week or so, Iraq was hiding documents and equipment in advance of any U.N. weapons inspectors going to Iraq -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Christiane, briefly how much opposition does the prime minister face within his own party?

AMANPOUR: Well that, of course, was the big question. What appears to have happened is that he has got his cabinet on board. He had a meeting with the cabinet last night and they came out saying that for now as long as this goes through the U.N., they are onboard. There was some significant and very vocal opposition to him but the prime minister's officials believe that the will carry the majority, by far the majority of the Labor Party.

BLITZER: Christiane Amanpour in London thanks very much. Let's continue to get some reaction now to this British report. Let's go to the White House where our Suzanne Malveaux is standing by -- Suzanne. SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Mr. Blair's report was really front and center at President Bush's meeting with his cabinet this morning, the White House calling these findings frightening, but at the same time his aides saying this just really bolsters the case that the president has been making for some time now. First of all that Saddam Hussein is a threat to the world; and secondly, that the United Nations has to force Iraq to disarm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He is willing to use weapons of mass destruction and the prime minister continues to make the case and so will I, and I again call for the United Nations to pass a strong resolution holding this man to account, and if they're unable to do so the United States and our friends will act because we believe in peace. We want to keep the peace and we don't trust this man, and that's what the Blair report showed today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, Mr. Blair was really called short of actually calling for Saddam Hussein's removal. This is a departure from the president's stand, U.S. policy calling for regime change but the White House really downplaying that difference. They emphasize the two leaders have been working very closely together lately trying to craft really tough language that U.N. Security Council resolution to hold Saddam Hussein accountable. They say the real test is going to come in the days to come to see whether or not those permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, Russian, China, and France will get onboard -- Wolf.

BLITZER: The drumbeat continuing at the White House. Suzanne Malveaux thanks very much. Let's take a look now and see how this story is playing in Baghdad. That's where we find our Rula Amin. She's standing by as well. Rula, I take it the reaction there very negative to put it mildly?

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is negative that Iraq is denying all these charges. They say simply it's not true and they say that Tony Blair did not present any solid evidence. Actually, the Iraqis were pretty satisfied with the report because they said after nine months of promising the world of presenting evidence, this was pretty lame.

Now, just a few hours after Britain made its case against Iraq, it was a retired lieutenant general, very close adviser to the Iraqi president who made Iraq's case against these charges. This is what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SADI: His conclusions that Iraq is engaged in the production of weapons of mass destruction are simply not true. His allegations are long, his evidence is short. His evidence is a hodgepodge of half truths, lies, short sighted and naive allegations which will not hold after a brief investigation by competent and independent experts. (END VIDEO CLIP)

AMIN: Now, Baghdad says it wants the weapons inspectors to come here. They say they have nothing to hide and they want the weapons inspectors to come to Baghdad to verify Iraq's part of the story that it doesn't have any weapons of mass destruction. However, the most important part that was said today was that Amir Sadi, when we asked him if the inspectors come, would you give them unfettered access and he said yes, unfettered access, wherever they want to go they can go.

This is the first time that we hear an Iraqi official spell out these words "unfettered access;" however, he did say that Iraq is not willing to deal with any new Security Council resolution that would change the guidelines for the inspectors' work here in Iraq -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Rula Amin reporting from Baghdad thanks very much. And here's your chance to weigh in on this very important story. Our web question of the day: Has the U.K.'s dossier strengthened the case against Saddam Hussein? We'll have the results later in this program. Vote at cnn.com/wolf. While you're there, send me your comments.

We may read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also, of course, where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf. And coming up later this hour, the questions you want the answers to when it comes to the situation in Iraq. E- mail us now: wolf@cnn.com.

U.S. Special Forces are on the way to Africa, ready to help rescue Americans in trouble; more now from CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice over): As violence continues across the Ivory Coast after last week's coup attempt there is growing worry about the fate of 100 American children trapped in a missionary school in Buaque (ph), a city now under rebel control.

RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: We remain gravely concerned about fighting in Buaque near the International Christian Academy.

STARR: The U.S. ambassador made an urgent call for military assistance, requesting troops to get to the region as quickly as possible. Two hundred heavily armed U.S. Special Forces flying in from Europe and other locations to next door Ghana will be poised to move on into the Ivory Coast if ordered to do so. Their first task may be to move those school children away from the crossfire between rebel and government forces.

BOUCHER: At this point, we're not planning an evacuation of official or non-official Americans but we do have these concerns about the safety of American citizens who are in parts of the country or located in areas where there appears to be fighting. STARR: The Pentagon is coordinating with French military forces already in the Ivory Coast. France has sent troops and helicopters to reinforce its 600-man presence in the country. They could help rescue trapped Americans.

STARR (on camera): There are more than 2,000 Americans currently in the Ivory Coast. For now, the Bush administration says it has no plans to evacuate them, but as the situation grows worse, U.S. troops will now be nearby ready to move in and escort those Americans to safety.

Barbara Starr CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Another dangerous mission for U.S. military personnel. We'll continue covering that story as well. Meanwhile, the nation's terror alert status is now back at yellow, the third highest level. President Bush signed off on the move earlier today. For the past two weeks, the level was at orange, the second highest color code. CNN's Jeanne Meserve explains why the president ordered the change right now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): With the anniversary of the September 11 attacks now safely passed, the nation's threat status slipped from orange back to yellow, exactly two weeks after it was elevated.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: This was based on a review of intelligence and an assessment of the threats by the intelligence community.

MESERVE: The administration says in the past two weeks it has deterred and disrupted terrorist attacks with the arrests of six men in suburban Buffalo, the apprehension of al Qaeda operative Ramzi Binalshibh in Pakistan, and the detention of others in Yemen and Singapore. But the attorney general underscored that though the threat has lessened, it has not disappeared.

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: I want to emphasize that we are not saying there is no risk. We still think there is an elevated level of risk. We still believe that al Qaeda is an international network, that it still has the reach that makes it global in scope and nature.

MESERVE: This first de-escalation of the threat level is being applauded by some experts who say it gives the color coded system some credibility and gives the country a needed respite.

RANDY LARSEN, ANSER INSTITUTE: It's important for two reasons; both sustainability. First of all it's the emotional drain on the American people. People say should I go fly? Should I let my family go to this big sports stadium and that and even more importantly though, the overtime bill it's costing our counties and our cities. MESERVE: Some emergency managers complain that an absence of federal guidelines makes the threat level system incoherent, and according to one survey it was virtually ignored in one out of four cities.

MESERVE (on camera): Homeland security officials acknowledge it is a work in progress but say the system did what it was supposed to do. There were no terrorist strikes. Jeanne Meserve CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: A hurricane watch for the Gulf coast, where will Isidore strike next? We'll go live to the National Hurricane Center where they're tracking the eye of the storm. Plus, an exclusive new concern over fuel pumps in some Boeing jets, a safety check underway for thousands of planes around the world.

And Sextasy, a very, very bad mix, Dr. Drew joins us live with the dangers of this nightclub drug combo. But first, today's news quiz. Mixing Ecstasy with Viagra can cause what unintended side effect, body aches, anatomical damage, jail time, all of the above? The answer coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(AUDIO/VIDEO GAP)

MAX MAYFIELD, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: ...the hurricane dissipated and now we have these large rain bands you can see on the satellite imagery behind me here that really cover much of the Gulf. We have a rain band well out to the northeast, another one well down to the southwest, but we don't have that heavy thunderstorm activity near the center, so we don't think that we're going to see any type of rapid intensification.

But we do think as Isidore moves up to the north that it will slowly regain strength and will likely become a Category 1 hurricane before the core of the system moves on shore sometime probably early Thursday morning.

BLITZER: But just to be precise, Mr. Mayfield, even a Category 1 hurricane is nothing to fool around with.

MAYFIELD: Absolutely and we don't want to have people get lulled to sleep here. We often have loss of life, even from a Category 1 hurricane and if we're careful here, there's just really no reason for that to happen. We are very concerned about not just the winds and the rainfall but, in particular, the storm surge flooding near and to the east of where the center crosses the coast and some of those shallow areas there in Louisiana.

BLITZER: Max Mayfield, we'll be staying in touch with you. Once again thanks for joining us.

And from the Florida panhandle to the Texas coast, the waiting and the watching continues. With all of us indeed watching from the Gulf shores, let's get a report from Alabama.

Our Amanda Abbott, she's with our affiliate WALA is joining us now live.

Amanda, it looks like it's getting a little choppy behind you.

AMANDA ABBOTT, WALA CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, in the last few hours it's really picked up here in Gulf Shores, Alabama. We arrived here around one o'clock Central time. It was just drizzling. There really wasn't a lot of wind here. In the last few others, though, it has really, really picked up and I'll let you check it out for yourself. Take a look directly behind me and you can see what the waves are doing right now, huge waves and they're crashing down. These are really big for this area and there is absolutely no one on the beach.

We've seen a few people that have run out of their cars, taken a few pictures, jump back in to their dry cars. And I've covered a few of these storms and usually during these storms you see surfers out here. We haven't even seen surfers today and one of the main reasons, if you look over here, we are under red flag warning, which means basically that it's very dangerous out there and that there are undertows and just not to go out if you can help it.

Once again, it is picking up here in Gulf Shores, Alabama. On the horizon here we have lots of black clouds so we are waiting for it to get a lot worse -- Wolf.

BLITZER: The waiting continues in Alabama. Amanda Abbott thanks for joining us from our affiliate WALA in Mobile.

And this just in, another side note, another tropical storm is indeed building right now in the Caribbean and it is named Lili.

And the U.S. military now says it will move al Qaeda and Taliban prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba shelter into other shelters if necessary, if this new tropical storm should develop and endanger those prisoners, including U.S. troops of course based at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. We're watching that story develop.

In a moment, a CNN exclusive, Boeing issues a safety alert on some of its commercial airliners, a look at why worries over fuel pumps are prompting extra precautions. Should you be worried?

Plus a pinching problem on the road, hundreds of thousands of SUVs are recalled.

Also, you ask the tough questions on Iraq, we'll get some answers. Our viewers sound off still to come. You can e-mail us right now, wolf@cnn.com; but first, a look at news making headlines around the world.

(NEWSBREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER (voice over): Violence marred voting in elections in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir. Just after polls opened in Srinagar, Kashmir's largest city, Indian security forces attacked a building where Muslim militants were holed up. Police say at least one militant was killed. Two police officers were killed in an earlier shootout.

Indian police say at least 30 people were killed and at least 30 wounded when gunmen attacked a crowded Hindu temple. Earlier this year, about 1,000 people were killed in fighting between Hindus and Muslims in Gujarat.

Israeli trooped backed by tanks and helicopter gun ships raided Gaza City, the main power base of the militant Islamic group Hamas. Fighting with Palestinian gunmen erupted in several neighborhoods. Palestinian hospital sources say at least nine Palestinians were killed and 20 wounded. The Israelis say they suffered no casualties and withdrew several hours later.

An explosion in Spain's Basque region killed a policeman and wounded three others. Officials say it happened when the officers were trying to remove a Basque separatist banner that was booby trapped. Hours earlier, officials say two suspected members of the Basque separatist group Enna accidentally blew themselves up in Bilbal.

In Malaysia, a display of biceps and brawn, it's all part of the world's strongest man and strongest woman competition.

In Spain, a unique way to help lonely hearts, a farmer concerned by the high number of single people in a small town bussed in 400 women for a mass blind date, his message don't be sad, sign up if you want to get married.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (on camera): Good luck to those people in Spain. Let's take a look at an important story that could affect everyone who flies Boeing is warning airlines of possible fuel pump problems. Airlines are advised to check the fuel pumps on all new generation 737s as well as 747s and 757s. Let's get some more information on this exclusive report.

Our Kathleen Koch is joining us now live from Reagan National Airport here in Washington. Tell us all about it, Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, what this is is a dramatic broadening of a check that was ordered last month when three fuel pumps on planes at three different airlines were found to have faulty frayed wiring that could cause sparks and a potential center fuel tank explosion. Now this particular set of inspections, as you said covers all Boeing 737s, the Next Generations, the 747s and 757s. Now that's about 1,400 planes in the United States, some 3,200 planes worldwide. Now what happened is that the maker of those original fuel pumps that they had difficulties with in August, Hyrdro Air of Burbank, California, after those incidents looked back at its maintenance records and it found two other instance in which the fuel pump wiring was suspect.

So what has happened now, back in August there were 1,250 pumps that were potentially suspect, potentially problematic. In this case there are 30,000 so this is a much, much bigger check that's going to have to be done. Now airlines are being advised by Boeing to x-ray the fuel pumps in every single one of these aircraft.

It will be a very time consuming process, Wolf, and until then they are being warned to fly with that center fuel tank covered with -- a center fuel tank holding enough fuel to cover the suspect fuel pumps at all times when that plane is taking off, landing, when it's curving, banking, experiencing any sort of turbulence, because if it's covered with fuel, they believe that no sparking can occur.

And, of course, all of this attention to the flammability of center fuel tanks comes after the very deadly 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800, which was caused, Wolf, as we all know by a center fuel tank explosion, back to you.

BLITZER: Will this decision to go ahead and do these thorough checks of these fuel pumps cause any disruption for travelers right now as far as you can tell, Kathleen?

KOCH: Wolf, they aren't causing any disruption as of yet but this is going to be a very time consuming process. These are the work horses of the U.S. air fleet and every single one of them 1,400 here in the United States, will have to be checked. So clearly, the potential for delay is there but as far as safety, Boeing believes as long as the airlines keep some fuel in that center fuel tank, as long as it doesn't go dry, that these aircraft will be safe.

BLITZER: And any idea how long the entire check is going to go on, all the airplanes around the world, how long will it take to make sure all of these planes are safe?

KOCH: That's a good question, Wolf. At this point, the FAA hasn't weighed in on this. We're expecting either by the end of this week or at some point next week that they will issue what's called an air worthiness directive, which will lay out for the airlines exactly how much time they have to accomplish these x-ray checks.

BLITZER: Kathleen Koch, breaking news for us tonight from Reagan National Airport in Washington, thanks very much.

KOCH: You bet.

BLITZER: Tony Blair selling an Iraq attack to the British people but what do Americans have to say? When we return, our viewers sound off. We'll put your questions to the test. E-mail us right now at wolf@cnn.com. Also, Miss Universe loses her crown, find out why the tiara got taken away. And the new drug mix, it's called Sextasy, why young men are going to dangerous extremes for a good time.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN. I'm Wolf Blitzer. Coming up, viewers sound off on Iraq. We'll ask the questions you want the answers to.

Back to Iraq now and the allegations leveled earlier today by the British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Many of them are familiar, but the British report also includes some fresh allegations and fresh evidence.

More now from our national security correspondent, David Ensor.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The British report says not only are some Iraqi chemical and biological weapons ready for use, they are deployable within 45 minutes of an order to use them from Saddam Hussein.

The report says his son, Qusay, is also authorized to give such an order. And the report says, Iraq is continuing to produce more chemical and biological weapons.

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: His weapons of mass destruction program is active, detailed, and growing. The policy of containment is not working.

ENSOR: For example, in recent weeks, U.S. and Israeli officials have said there is evidence Iraq is working covertly to extend the range of its missiles beyond the limit of 150 kilometers set by the United Nations, missiles that could be used to hit U.S. forces in the Gulf region or to hit Israel.

The British report, contains the first public evidence to back that up. This aerial surveillance photo of the Iraqi rocket engine test facility -- "A" marks the new test stand being constructed. The report says -- quote -- "such a facility would not be needed for systems that fall within the U.N. permitted range."

And it says, "The Iraqis have recently taken measures to conceal activities at this site." The British report also says that Iraq has mobile, biological, weapons labs, labs designed to be moved, to evade U.N. arms inspectors.

CHARLES DUELFER, FORMER WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Well, this is a very interesting element of the British presentation because it was on basis of that kind of information, that we had from defectors as far back as 1997, that we conducted some of our most controversial inspections.

ENSOR: In the area of nuclear weapons, there may be a difference of opinion between London and Washington on timing. Vice President Cheney has said Iraq is very close to a nuclear weapon, and a White House document said if Saddam Hussein could get the fissile material on black market, his scientists could make a bomb in two months.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ENSOR: By contrast, the British report says it would take the Iraqis at least five years to produce an indigenous nuclear and one to two years if they could get the fissile material from outside Iraq. Still, London and Washington are in sync on the overall implications. They believe the status quo in Iraq must end. And Wolf, it must end soon.

BLITZER: David Ensor, thanks for that report.

And the first of some 2,000 U.S. Marines are in Kuwait for a joint exercise with Kuwaiti troops near the Iraqi border. The maneuver is one of two involving U.S. forces in the region and has all the makings of a rehearsal for a possible war against Iraq. Our Martin Savidge is in Kuwait City.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the Marines have landed here in Kuwait, the first of what's expected to be a force of about 2,000. U.S. Marines arrived at the northern port of Alshawac (ph) in Kuwait City. They began off-loading their supplies. They are here to take part in a joint military exercise expecting to last about a month with Kuwaiti military forces. They will be training with land, sea, and air assets. On an island that's called Babion (ph). It's located very near the Iraqi border. That exercise just getting under way.

Meanwhile, another long term U.S. Army exercise, that sort of ebbs and flows, is expected to get a new infusion of several thousands U.S. soldiers. Operation Desert Spring will also be taking place very near the Iraqi border. Both of these exercises, U.S. officials say were planned a long time ago, but they certainly fall at a very convenient time, given the friction with Iraq also. And obviously, if necessary, U.S. commanders could decide to hold over those U.S. forces to bolster those already in the country of Kuwait.

The numbers of U.S. forces here said to be about 10,000; 20,000 in the region. It is not just military that is already training, it is also the Civil Defense. Kuwaiti Civil Defense has actively been working around protecting its oil assets. You may remember, at the end of Gulf War, over 700 oil wells were set ablaze. They are training to try to protect them. They don't believe that there's any threat of invasion but clearly if there were military action, Iraq could decide to launch, that is a retaliatory strike, against Kuwaiti oil interests. Kuwait produces about 1.4 million barrels of oil, every single day -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Marty Savidge, he's on the scene in Kuwait for us. Thanks very much, Marty.

And you've been letting me know your thoughts about the Iraq showdown. I've been getting thousands of e-mail. Now, I'd like to share some of them with my guests. They have very strong feelings of their own on the subject. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee -- she's a Texas Democrat -- and Ken Adelman. He's a former director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and a member of the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board.

Thanks for joining us. Let's go right to some of those e-mail questions. This one for you, Ken Adelman. It's from Julie in Denver. "Who is going to pay the bill for this war and the rebuilding of Iraq?"

KEN ADELMAN, FORMER U.S. ARMS CONTROL DIRECTOR: I would say Iraq would. This is not a country like Afghanistan. This is a very wealthy country. The reason it's not wealthy right now is because of Saddam Hussein. They can have -- they do have, the second highest oil reserves of any country known in the world.

BLITZER: So you're saying if it's $60 billion -- let's throw out a number -- that costs the U.S. taxpayers to pay for this war, you say take the money later from the Iraqis?

ADELMAN: No, I think Iraq is going to be a very prosperous country later on. Initially, we will have some of the costs. Other countries around the world will have some of the costs, but Wolf, compare it to the costs of the World Trade Center, compare it to costs of the damage that could be done by American -- to Americans by a weapons of mass destruction explosion here in country. And it pales in comparison. It's a cost well worth paying.

BLITZER: All right, let's have this e-mail question for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Katy from Texas wants to know this -- "Why should President Bush have to ask anyone how to defend his people, and allies?"

REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE (D), TEXAS: Well, you know, Katy, I think it's important to note that the Constitution gives authority to the United States Congress to issue a declaration of war. But more importantly, international law states specifically that preemptive strikes are illegal and that we have joined in with the United Nations under Charter 51 that says that preemptive strikes are illegal.

We can defend ourselves. That's what the resolution was all about. After the September 11 -- 9/11, the Afghan Resolution, that all of us joined in on with comfort and understanding. We were going to unite to go after the terrorists...

BLITZER: Let me interrupt for a second...

JACKSON LEE: ... but this is not case.

BLITZER: But you're saying that if U.S. had advance knowledge that al Qaeda was going to bomb the World Trade Center, it would have been illegal to preemptively attack them?

JACKSON LEE: No, I'm not saying that. Obviously, if we had direct knowledge that we were imminently in danger than that would be an acceptable approach to be able to attack, to protect the American people, and our national security. In this instance, we have no data -- no direct data that suggests that the United States is in imminent danger of being attacked and that's why we should allow the United Nations inspectors to go in.

BLITZER: Ken Adelman...

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Before we get on, let's get to some more e-mails, then we'll continue this discussion. Peter from Knoxville, Tennessee wants to ask you this question -- "Why is all this happening so close to the midterm elections?"

ADELMAN: I think it's just the flow of events. I think it should have been, as you and I discussed many times before -- I was hoping that we go into Iraq months before. I thought that we learned a lesson of September 11. We're not going to be standing there while we know weapons of mass destruction are being developed. We know that people out there want to do enormous damage to the United States. We know what Saddam Hussein has been up to for the last 11 years. I wanted it for last eight months.

BLITZER: Do you think the president is doing this simply for political reasons?

JACKSON LEE: Well, I think that we should never politicize national security. And I'm not going to make a judgment on why the president used this time do it, but I will say this, this requires, much deliberation. First of all, in 1998, I supported a resolution dealing with Iraq and there were three elements...

BLITZER: You supported regime change.

JACKSON LEE: No, let me explain what I supported because that's the mistake that the president and administration is utilizing. That legislation specifically allowed for grant assistance, military devices and training, and as well, humanitarian aid. It did not require or encourage a preemptive strike or unilateral effort. And...

BLITZER: It did -- you didn't have $100 million for opposition forces to overthrow his regime.

JACKSON LEE: It did have...

(CROSSTALK)

JACKSON LEE: ... those dollars. If I might -- it did have those dollars to collaborate with those resistance forces, which we've done before. This is totally different. This is a pronouncement of a foreign policy that has not been accepted in totality...

BLITZER: All right.

JACKSON LEE: ... by Congress and as well, unilateral military attack on another nation.

BLITZER: Ken Adelman, why do you believe Iraq, Saddam Hussein, right now represents an imminent threat to the United States?

ADELMAN: Well, because he is building up -- as Tony Blair's report made clear today, he's building up his weapons of mass destruction more and more and more. And do we want to wait until he gets nuclear weapons? Are we going to be satisfied with -- going into the Gulf at that time or going around, trying to get allies when he has nuclear weapons? To me, it's the worst time in the world to do that. It's the best time in the world to do it soon.

BLITZER: Echoing that, Trisha from Bradford, Pennsylvania asks you, Congresswoman Jackson Lee this question -- "Saddam Hussein cannot be trusted. We should not wait any longer. By waiting, we are giving Saddam all the time he needs to get his army together."

JACKSON LEE: Well, first of all, I think it's important that we got the facts, and the U.N. inspectors should be allowed in unfettered. But more importantly, if we listen to Prime Minister Blair today, we'll hear what he said. What he said is that we should have disarmament. I agree with that. And we should have U.N. inspectors in. And he indicated and qualified any military action.

First of all, to be the single world power still standing, it is imperative that the United States not abandon diplomacy, work with allies, and begin to confront Saddam Hussein directly and immediately, but not on the basis that we in America are going subject to an immediate attack, and therefore need to act unilaterally by attacking them first.

BLITZER: We've got to leave it right there. You had the first word. You had the last one. Thanks to both of you. We'll continue this debate on another occasion.

Sex, drugs and dangerous side effects -- Dr. Drew joins us live to talk about a scary new trend, mixing Ecstasy and Viagra. Find out about the dangerous side effects when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Earlier we asked -- Mixing Ecstasy with Viagra can cause what unintended side effect? The answer, all of the above. The illegal combination could land you in jail with a bad headache and anatomical damage.

Drug abuse specialists in the United States are very concerned about a growing trend, a combination of Viagra and Ecstasy and they're calling it Sextasy. That concern is outlined in an article that appeared in "USA Today." While users say the combination fuels all- night dancing and marathon sex, doctors warn it can cause heart problems and anatomical damage for men. With us now from Los Angeles to talk about this is Dr. Drew Pinsky. He's the co-host of "Loveline," a very popular advice program on the radio.

Dr. Drew, thanks for joining us. And I just want to point out, we spoke to officials of the DEA, the Drug Enforcement Agency, earlier today and they said that there are alarming numbers coming up, especially among gay men and also among those who go to the so-called clubs where rave music is going on. How serious of a problem is this right now?

DR. DREW PINSKY, CO-HOST, "LOVELINE": Well, it's serious in that these are dangerous combinations and this is just yet another incarnation of the club drug phenomenon. People are out there looking for bigger highs, more arousing kinds of experiences and they're getting now into substances that can cause, as in the case of the Viagra stimulant combination, priapism and permanent erectile dysfunction.

Ecstasy, by itself, now is well known to be a neurotoxin and cause permanent brain damage, mood disturbances, panic attacks. And yet, young people still don't seem to pay any attention to this. They're looking more for the arousing experience. They get caught into this cycle of needing arousal in order to fell OK.

They're taught from a young age -- teenagers, today, are taught that if they go to raves and go these extreme activities and maybe take drugs, they'll find happiness, they'll find great fun experiences. And indeed, they do, but they tend to get caught in a cycle where they become independent on this, in order to feel OK. In order to manage the effect, they get involved in drugs that are neurotoxic. And now, they need these things to feel OK. And you have a very, very destructive cycle they get into.

BLITZER: So how addictive is it, this combination of Ecstasy and Viagra?

PINSKY: You know the addiction is not the issue with this combination. This is much more a combination of abuse. MDMA, Ecstasy, does have an addictive potential, but it's relatively uncommon. Adding Viagra does not add a further addictive potential.

Abuse is a much wider and much more substantial problem in terms of the number of people it effects. Addiction affects a subset of the population and no doubt, addicts are getting into this. But it's not creating the kind of preoccupation that addiction -- that defines addiction.

BLITZER: What do you say to the young people who may be watching, may be thinking about doing this or are doing this or their parents or grandparents who may be watching and are alarmed at this prospect?

PINSKY: Yes, it's really a very difficult thing to answer. As a parent, the idea is to survey and be aware of what they're into and monitor their behavior. Maybe you shouldn't be letting your kids go to raves and clubs if this is where they like to go. Maybe you should be discussing with them what it is -- what they do there, why they go there.

If someone is aware that they have a young person who is involved with these sorts of substances, I think it's very important that they get a medical evaluation and be referred immediately. This is not a -- it's not something that should be just sort of let go. It is a serious, serious issue. BLITZER: And if you do have a loved one who may be getting involved in this dangerous combination, are there any outward symptoms that you see, behavioral patterns that they're engaged in that could be a signal to those who love these young kids and want to make sure they're safe?

PINSKY: Again, it's more the Ecstasy that causes these sorts of problems. The typical symptom we see with Ecstasy is someone who is very gregarious and outgoing, all of sudden, doesn't want to go to parties any more, starts isolating, then, starts complaining about panic and anxiety, becomes agoraphobic and then, profoundly depressed. If you see that combination in someone and they're someone who enjoys going to clubs and socializing a lot, watch out for the possibility of Ecstasy.

Viagra has now been thrown in there as an added issue that might add more toxicity and more problems for men particularly. We don't know the long-term consequences. That's the fact now.

BLITZER: Is there a potential, Dr. Drew, for this to be the next drug epidemic in the U.S. right now?

PINSKY: Sextasy itself?

BLITZER: Yes.

PINSKY: No, I don't think so. Again, it's not a drug of addiction. It's not causing preoccupation and persistent use in the adverse consequence. It is just yet another incarnation.

Listen, at clubs, people are combining all sorts of chemicals, ketamine and heroine and LSD and speed. Kids are looking for -- they're alchemists. They're looking for this great combination, the best high. They're stuck. They need this in order to feel OK and they're stuck in the cycle of pursuit. This is just yet another incarnation of trying to find the ultimate experience.

BLITZER: Dr. Drew Pinsky, thanks for your expert advice. We'll continue this conversation, appreciate it very much.

And a new afterlife from the king of rock and roll, a sneak peek at the new Elvis album hitting shelves today. Also, Miss Universe, the crown yanked off her head. Find out why her title was revoked. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Even death isn't putting a stop to a new Elvis record. A new album released today features 30 of the king of rock and roll's number-one hits. Among them, "Heartbreak Hotel," "Jailhouse Rock" and "Return To Sender." They've all been digitally enhanced. The original tapes came from a storage facility in Pennsylvania. Elvis recorded some of the tunes -- get this -- more than 45 years ago.

Let's go to New York now and get a preview of "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE," which of course, begins right at the top of the hour -- Lou.

LOU DOBBS, HOST, "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE": Thanks, Wolf. The Gulf Coast tonight bracing for Isidore. Forecasters warn the tropical storm will return to hurricane status. Isidore is expected to sweep into the Gulf by Thursday. We'll have a live report for you tonight from Louisiana. And British Prime Minister Tony Blair strengthened the case for a U.S. led attack against Iraq today. We'll have reports for you from Washington. Former defense secretary, William Cohen, will join us.

And the major U.S. airlines went to Capitol Hill today asking for more money, another federal bailout. We'll have the latest for you on that and all of the day's news. There's a great deal ahead at the top of the hour. Please join us. Now, let's go back to Wolf Blitzer -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you, Lou. We always do. And time is running out for you to weigh in on our "Web Question of The Day." Has the U.K.'s dossier strengthened the case against Saddam Hussein? Log on to cnn.com/wolf. That's where you could vote. The results, when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Now, here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of The Day." Earlier we asked -- has the U.K.'s dossier strengthened the case against Saddam Hussein? Look at this, 48 percent of you say yes, 52 percent of you say no. You can find the exact vote tally and continue to vote, by the way, on our Web site, cnn.com/wolf. Remember, this is not a scientific poll.

Let's get some more e-mails from you. Nancy writes this -- "Is it possible that war on Iraq is being used as a smokescreen to distract the American public from our failing economy? The administration began advertising the idea of overthrowing Saddam months ago and now election campaigns are using it to their advantage as well."

David strongly disagrees -- "As a nation, we do not have any choice but to go to war with Iraq. The president undoubtedly has information he has and should not give us. Our way of life is at stake and we need to take action before it is too late."

That's all the time we have today. Join me tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. And this important, very important programming note, we have a new program, "SHOWDOWN: IRAQ," every weekday beginning tomorrow, noon Eastern, a one-hour program on a showdown, a possibility, with Iraq. Until then, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" begins right now.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Dossier Indicates Saddam Holds Arsenal That Could Launch in Under an Hour>