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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Iraq Gets Ready to Deliver Weapons Report; New Threat From al Qaeda

Aired December 06, 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.


WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We're standing by. We're awaiting the delivery of some documents that could play a critical role in determining whether the United States goes to war. That plus a new threat from al Qaeda. It's all coming up right now on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Just hours away, Iraq reports to the U.N. Will thousands of pages boil down to this?

MOHAMMED ALDOURI, IRAQI AMB. TO U.N.: We have no more destruction weapons at all.

BLITZER: Could al Qaeda have found a way to get inside the FBI, the Air Force and Congress? The Feds raid a high tech firm with a high profile customer list.

It's the economy, stupid. As the jobless rate jumps, top administration officials join the ranks of the unemployed.

Fire at the gas pump.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have to accept the fact that refueling is dangerous. We can't hide that from the public anymore.

BLITZER: How to stay safe at the service station.

And no free ride for Ryder. Sentenced for shoplifting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is a special edition of WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the Persian Gulf. Reporting from Doha, Qatar, here's Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER: Drama is building in this region, where the waiting game is about to end. It's only a matter of hours before the Iraqi government issues a declaration to U.N. weapons inspectors a declaration that could have critical importance in this part of the world. It's a declaration designed to explain what, if any, weapons of mass destruction the Iraqis have. The Iraqis promised a huge amount of information but insist it's all much ado about nothing.

And as U.S. troops get ready for a war game here in Qatar, an old foe of Baghdad is warning against any attack on Iraq. Iran's supreme allied leader the Ayatollah All Khameini accuses the U.S. of seeking to take over the oil resources of the Islamic world.

The countdown to the weapons declaration is only a few hours away. Let's go straight to Baghdad to get a complete report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): I'm Nic Robertson in Baghdad. The very latest from here. Iraqi officials say journalists should be ready early in the morning Saturday morning to be taken to an undisclosed location to witness Iraq handing over its declaration of its weapons of mass destruction to a U.N. official.

So far in Baghdad, there have been fairly scant details of what this large documentation may contain.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Meanwhile, over at the United Nations, they're anticipating the -- the receival -- the receiving -- their receiving of these documents and they're getting ready for them.

Let's go right to the United Nations. CNN's Michael Okwu is standing by over there -- Michael.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, for more than three weeks now, the Security Council has been waiting -- waiting to find out about this document and to get its hands on it. And now news that they're going to have to wait even longer.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OKWU (voice-over): The U.N. Security Council will not get a chance to review Iraq's declaration of its most dangerous weapons until chief weapons inspector Hans Blix does. And in the words of a key diplomat here, that may take some time.

Referring to the documents' potentially sensitive information, Blix said he did not want to provide a manual for weapons of mass destruction.

HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: I think that all the governments in the Council are aware that they should not have access to anything that anyone else doesn't have access to. So if any parts relate -- would be proliferation prone, none of them would like to have it.

OKWU: Western diplomats tell CNN that Russia, the United States and other countries were concerned that detailed documents on how to manufacture weapons could fall into the wrong hands and giving out such information could violate international weapons treaties.

BLIX: There will be large parts that will be in Arabic. And as we understand it now, it is unlikely that anything will be in CD Roms. So we would have to achieve - -attain that. And that's bit of mechanical work to have it translated. We have a translator standing by.

OKWU: Blix says the document will run some 10, 00 pages. Though council members hope to hear from Blix by Tuesday about when they will get hold of the document, a source says Blix will probably give them an initial assessment the week of the 16th.

RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: The point, does it disclose their programs? Does it name the people? Does it identify the facilities?

OKWU: Iraq is required to include all past and present chemical, biological and nuclear programs as well as programs for long range ballistics missiles.

Blix said he's also expecting to read about new dual use programs for civilian programs in these areas that can be diverted for military use.

Iraq's ambassador said the document will prove Iraq is clean.

ALDOURI: We said, again and again, that we have no more destruction weapons at all. Everything has been destroyed and we have no intention to do that again. So Iraq is clean of any kind of mass destruction weapons.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

OKWU: According to the resolution ,any inaccuracies or omissions in this document would constitute further material breach on the part of the Iraqi government, which of course could trigger later military action -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Michael Okwu at the United Nations. Michael, thanks very much.

And the Iraqi ambassador to the U.N., Mohammed Aldouri, is insisting that the U.N. and the United States have no business interfering in domestic Iraqi matters. Indeed, in an exclusive interview with CNN's Connie Chung earlier today, he dismissed U.S. assertions that the Iraqi government should lead those inspectors to any sites.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALDOURI: If we don't have such sites, how we can lead inspectors to go to sites which we are not -- which we -- which are unknown by us? How? Which would be the case. I cannot understand really what the Americans want. They want the impossible.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: You can see much more of that interview tonight on CNN's "CONNIE CHUNG TONIGHT." That's at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 p.m. Pacific. And with U.S. military action here in the Persian Gulf looking increasingly likely, the USS "Harry S Truman," an aircraft carrier, is now at sea on the way to this part of the world.

Let's get some more details now on what they can expect. CNN National correspondent Bob Franken is standing by -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Wolf, I'm back in Norfolk, Virginia. I have been flown back after spending the first day of the launch of the "Harry S Truman." And one thing that happens in a situation like the departure of a battlegroup is that the action begins almost immediately.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice-over): As all manner of combat planes come screaming under their floating runway, they're catching up with a mission into the unknown.

The "Harry S Truman" battlegroup steams toward the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf.

(on camera): There are about 80 different aircrafts, led by a 12-foot (ph) floatilla, all led by this aircraft carrier.

(voice-over): There are millions of moving parts, including altogether about 8,000 human moving parts facing the possibility of moving against Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm nervous. I guess you could say I'm scared but I'm also excited at the same time.

FRANKEN: Feelings shared on the flight decks above to the hangers below to the tables at the mess. The sailors slip into the routines on board that they'll follow for the next six months. They're already missing the loved ones they left behind.

For some, it's old hat. For others, the first deployment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have never been away from my family this long in my life.

FRANKEN: But with all the angst one might expect, there's also the sense of excitement that many feel when they anticipate being right in the middle of the action.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even though it's uncertain, I feel that I can rely on the training that I have received over the years to go in and do what we need to do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: And there is a general feeling of a combination of feelings on board the ship in the bridge of the ship which is very correct in the mess hall as I said throughout -- combination of feelings. One, there is a job to do but, two, the hope that in six months, when people come back, things haven't changed all that much with the concern with all that's going on in the world, right now, Lou -- Wolf, there could be a lot that's changed -- Wolf.

BLITZER: I know you had some time, Bob, to also speak to their loved ones back on shore. What's the general mood in Norfolk?

FRANKEN: Nervousness. Quite a bit of nervousness. But of course, a lot of people have been through this before and people are hardened just a little bit now.

Of course, we've gone through all the angst and anxiety of September 1. But of course, there is the prospect that this battle group, as it goes out to sea, is going to be right in the middle of the action. And of course, those who can only wait at home and worry, are doing just that.

BLITZER: Bob Franken reporting live from Norfolk. Bob, thanks very much.

Let's turn now to the war on terror in the United States. Some dramatic developments today. A Boston area firm suspected of perhaps getting involved in some terrorism. The situation remains murky to a certain degree but CNN Justice correspondent Kelli Arena has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This Massachusetts software provider is under scrutiny, as federal investigators look into a Saudi businessman and his possible ties to the al Qaeda terrorist network.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sure that in the end they're going to find that there's nothing of interest here.

ARENA: At issue is Ptech's alleged connection to Yasin al-Qadi. He's a Saudi businessman who was among the top 12 individuals named on a U.S. government list of persons accused of financing terrorism, known in law enforcement circles as the dirty dozen.

Sources say al-Qadi is believed to be a partial financer of Ptech, which was launched in 1994. In fact, sources say it was Ptech employees who approached the FBI shortly after the September 11 attacks saying they had been introduced to al-Qadi in Saudi Arabia as one of the company's owners.

In an interview with CNN in October 2001, al-Qadi denied any terror links.

YASI Al-QADI, SAUDI BUSINESSMAN: I have nothing to do whatsoever with bin Laden and his group. And I never finance them by any cent.

ARENA: Ptech said in a statement: "It has been informed by government investigators that neither Ptech nor its officers or employees are targets of the government's investigation." BLAKE BISSON, V.P. Ptech: The company categorically denies having any connection with any terrorist organization.

ARENA: Still, sources say investigators continue to look into whether al-Qadi may have given Ptech money and that some company executives in turn donated to at least one Islamic charity, which may have redirected money to al Qaeda.

Ptech drew some more attention because of its client list, which includes the FBI, the Department of Energy, the Federal Aviation Administration and at least two branches of the military. Investigators were concerned about a possible security breach, but have since ruled it out.

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY DIR.: It has been scrutinized by the best and it poses no strategic threat or operational threat to this country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: Now, no one has been charged and documents relating to the case remain under seal. The investigation continues.

Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: Any word, Kelli, if this is an isolated incident or perhaps part of some bigger plot out there?

ARENA: Wolf, this investigation, according to our sources, is largely focused on Al-Qadi, not necessarily Ptech. Ptech getting caught up in this larger scheme. Sources have told us Al-Qadi is suspected of being involved in a variety terror financing schemes around the globe. Once again, he's never been charged, Wolf.

BLITZER: Kelli Arena with the latest in Washington. Kelli, thanks very much.

Just ahead, we'll speak live to retired U.S. Air Force General Don Shepperd. He'll join me here on the scene in the Persian Gulf. We'll get assessment of what's going on with the U.S. military.

Also just ahead, safety at the gas pump. How static electricity can turn a fill up into an inferno.

And shake-up at the White House. The nation's treasury secretary gone. The Bush economic adviser gone. All that much more.

First today's "News Quiz."

Who is the first person to serve as the U.S. secretary of the treasury? A -- Alexander Hamilton, B -- Benjamin Franklin, C -- Aaron Burr, D -- John Hancock. The answer coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: A fire ball at a gas station. Could you be putting yourself in danger next time you go to fill it up? We'll have details, much more coming up on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Earlier we asked who is the first person to serve as the U.S. secretary of the treasury? The answer, A -- Alexander Hamilton of New York became the nation's first secretary of treasury on September 11, 1789.

With unemployment now reaching an eight year high, two key members of bush's economic team have submitted their resignations. The treasury secretary, Paul O'Neill, and the chief Bush economic adviser, Larry Lindsey. Let's get some details from our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. She's standing by -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, publicly the White House is not admitting that the Bush administration asked for these resignations but privately administration sources confirming that is true. That the president made his decision last night and that the chief of staff, Andy Card, called both of them last night and said that he expected those resignation letters to be prepared for Friday morning.

Now, this was widely rumored for some time expected. The reason that the administration sources are telling us is that both failed to inspire confidence in the markets, to change the economy in a new direction. The resignations coincided with a release of a report that the unemployment rate now 6 percent for November. That is the highest level in some nine years.

Now, O'Neill released a statement earlier today. Part of that statement saying, "I hereby resign my position as secretary of the treasury. It has been a privilege to serve the nation during these challenging times. I thank you for that opportunity. I wish you every success as you provide leadership and inspiration for America and for the world."

Now, O'Neill was known for his kind of outspoken ways, some of his points of view that were counter to the Bush administration. He had questioned the efficacy of the tax cut at some point. Also downplayed the possibility of a recession and called into question a congressional economic stimulus package calling it show business.

Now as for Lindsey, administration sources say that he failed to be an adequate spokesperson. Really the headman for the economic team. But as one administration official told me, he thought Lindsey was, quote, "collateral damage" because of all this mounting criticism because of the sluggish economy -- Wolf.

BLITZER: I know the guessing game has already started who might be replacing these two men. Any inside word?

MALVEAUX: Well, administration says it wants to move on this rather quickly in the next couple of weeks, hopefully by the beginning of next year they'll have some names. They're bantering about some. We're not sure how serious they are about this, but they're talking about the former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. They're talking about the former Texas Senator Phil Gramm and the brokerage giant Charles Schwab as well.

BLITZER: Suzanne Malveaux, all interesting names. We'll see if any of them pan out. Thanks for your report.

With the resignations of Paul O'Neill and Larry Lindsey, the White House has three, repeat three, important economic jobs to fill. In addition to looking for a new secretary treasury and chief economic adviser, the Bush administration is also seeking a replacement for the Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Harvey Pitt. He resigned on Election Day in November.

Here's your chance to weigh in on this story. Our "Web Question of the Day" is this: Do you think that Bush's economic team shake-up will help or hurt the economy? You can also choose have no effect. We'll have the results later in this program. Vote at cnn.com/wolf.

While you're there I'd love to hear from you. Send me your comments. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

Winona Ryder, she learns her fate today. She learns what happens now that she's been convicted of shoplifting. We'll go live to California in just a moment.

And from Manila to the Netherlands and around the world. New developments in the war on terror.

And it's probably the last thing you think about when you're filling your tank. Static electricity sparking a fire ball. What you can do to keep yourself safe. We'll have that.

But first a look at news making "Headlines Around the World."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Venezuela's oil exports slowed to a trickle amid growing political turmoil. Tankers remained anchored off shore as crew members joined a general strike called by opponents of President Hugo Chavez.

Flames over water. One of the many wildfires surrounding Sydney, Australia jumped a river and raced toward the city. Firefighters are house to house in what's being called the worst wildfire crisis in 30 years.

Indonesian investigation. Police in Eastern Indonesia say bombs were responsible for yesterday's explosions at a McDonald's restaurant and at a car dealership. Three people were killed at the restaurant. Authorities have not identified any suspects.

Lebanon blast. A former Lebanese intelligence agent and his nephew were killed when a car bomb destroyed their car on a highway in South Lebanon. Relatives accuse Israel of staging the attack in retaliation with the former agent's work with Hezbollah guerrillas. Celebration. Muslims mark the conclusion of Ramadan with prayers and celebrations. The three-day feast that ends the holy month is called Eid-al-Fitr.

Not so current currency. A year after Germany converted to the Euro a major retail chain there once again is accepting Germany's traditional form of money. Shoppers poured into stores to spend their old unused marks. They had to act quickly, though. This marks madness only lasts a week.

And that's our look "Around the World."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to our continuing coverage. I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting live tonight from the Persian Gulf.

And -- and on this night there are now new threats from al Qaeda on a Web site known to have carried such threats in the past. No target or time frame has been mentioned but this latest message does threaten -- quote -- "death and destruction if America does not learn its lesson." The message is the latest in a flurry of activity this week involving terrorists and people believed to be tied directly to them.

We have updates now from Europe and Asia, but we begin with our national correspondent Mike Boettcher in Atlanta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Mike Boettcher in Atlanta. Islamist Web sites have been active this week carrying claims of responsibility for the attacks against Israelis in Mombasa.

Now, this is al Qaeda's Web site. When a claim of responsibility appears here, you can count on it coming from al Qaeda. The Web site will appear on one place in the web, get taken down and reappear a few days later.

This game of hide and seek on the Web is much like the hunt for Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. Just when you think you've located them in one place, they strike somewhere else.

And again this week on the Web, al Qaeda is warning of more attacks to come.

Mike Boettcher, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Al Qaeda's network in southeast Asia is divided into four territories, called mantikis (ph). This week, the leader of Mantiki One, an Indonesian man named Mukhlas (ph) was arrested by the Indonesian police.

This is significant because Mukhlas (ph) links the full grown foot soldiers who carried out the Bali bombings to al Qaeda senior leaders in the region. According to intelligence documents, Mukhlas reports al Qaeda's main operations in the region, Riduon Isamudien (ph), also known as Hambali (ph). Intelligence sources say Hambali sits on al Qaeda's leadership council.

Also this week, CNN obtained documents from the FBI, the CIA and another Western nation that told about how al Qaeda told its operatives in the region to flee to Thailand to avoid is a terror crackdown in the region. Thailand denies the presence of al Qaeda within its borders. Still, intelligence sources say, like Indonesia before it, Thailand could become a safe haven for al Qaeda.

I'm Maria Ressa in Manila.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GAVEN MORRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Gaven Morris in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. A special Dutch court here tried four men this week over an alleged plot to attack American interests across Europe, including the U.S. embassy in Paris. Dutch prosecutors accused two Algerians. a Dutchman and a Frenchman of links to European al Qaeda cells, uncovered shortly after the 2001 September 11 attacks on the United States.

All four men deny charges ranging from attempted murder to falsifying documents. If found guilty by the judges here on December 18, they face sentences of up to six years in jail.

Gaven Morris, CNN, Rotterdam.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And how much of a threat does al Qaeda pose to this nation of Qatar? We're going to have details. I'll be joined shortly by retired U.S. Air Force General Don Shepperd as well.

But for now, let's go to Atlanta and CNN's Carol Lin for a preview of some other important news developing in the United States -- Carol.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: That's right. Thank you very much, Wolf.

Coming up, Winona's surprising reaction in court today. And from fill up to flame out. Some surprising danger at the pumps. You will not want to miss this.

WOLF BLITZER REPORTS returns in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Welcome back to CNN. I'm Carol Lin. In a moment, Winona Rider's surprise in court.

But first, let's look at our other stories in this CNN "News Alert."

(NEWS ALERT)

LIN: Court appearances for two struggling stars today. Winona Ryder was sentenced for shoplifting and Robert Blake has a hearing scheduled this hour in his murder case. CNN's Charles Feldman is covering both of them live in Los Angeles. Hi, Charles.

CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol. Well, Winona Ryder, because she didn't pay for some goods that she made off with from Saks Fifth Avenue, will now pay with at least 36 months of supervised probation, some 400 hours of community service, some $9,000 in fines and a court-ordered drug and psychiatric evaluation.

Now, she didn't talk on her own behalf as she was entitled to right before sentencing, but there was an interesting little exchange in court. Here's what happened. Her attorney, prior to sentencing, pointed out that the judge should take into account the fact that his client once put up $1 million of her own money in the case of Polly Klaas. That was the young girl who was kidnapped from her own bedroom about nine years ago here in California and subsequently murdered. Well, the prosecutor took great umbrage to that. Here's what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANN RUNDLE, PROSECUTOR: The fact that Mr. Geragos believes that because Ms. Ryder is a celebrity, that she should be treated differently than any other convicted felon is inappropriate and offensive. What else is offensive to me is for someone to trot out the body of a dead child and in some way say because she supported that (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

MARK GERAGOS, RYDER'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY: That is so outrageous, judge, that really is.

RUNDLE: I've listened to this for a year...

GERAGOS: She hasn't listened to anything for a year. She's only been on this case for four months.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FELDMAN: Now, there are all kinds of celebrities in courts, so if you want to see them in Hollywood, what you need is a map. And we've got one.

Earlier this morning, of course, there was the Winona Ryder case in Beverly Hills. Then if you took a car and got to Van Nuys, as we did, you would find Robert Blake in court. Robert Blake now has a preliminary hearing set for February 26, next week. If you go over to Malibu, you got Nick Nolte, who's going to be arraigned on drunk driving charges, and a week later, Pee Wee Herman will be arraigned in another court in Los Angeles on charges that he had pornographic material involving children.

So if you want to see stars, just follow that road map -- Carol.

LIN: You have a virtual constellation there, Charles. It will keep you busy for quite some time. Thank you so much, Charles Feldman.

Those are the latest headlines from the CNN Center in Atlanta. Now back to Wolf in Doha, Qatar -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Thanks very much, Carol. We'll be getting back to you for some other important news later this hour.

Meanwhile: Al Qaeda. Is it putting its sites on this country, Qatar, now that the U.S. Central Command is making its home away from home in this country?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): For this small Persian Gulf emirate, there are benefits and risks of hosting the United States military. The major benefit: The people of Qatar have the protection of the world's only superpower. That's nothing to sneeze at, given the dangers of this neighborhood, including Iraq and Iran.

But there are also clear risks. First and foremost, terrorism.

(on camera): Osama bin Laden began to direct his brand of terrorism against his native Saudi Arabia after the first Gulf War, inflamed by the presence of U.S. military forces on holy Saudi soil. With the arrival of the U.S. military Central Command in Qatar, there's now fear al Qaeda will direct its attention here.

ROB SOBHANI, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: There's no doubt that al Qaeda will try to do its best to harm U.S. interests in Qatar, but Qatari security is very, very good. The Qataris have a very tight border. The only way to enter into the country, really, is by air, other than the border with Saudi Arabia. So I think all in all, Qatar will be a safe place for American interests.

BLITZER (voice-over): U.S. troops are stationed at two huge bases in Qatar. The As-Saliyah (ph) complex, where U.S. Central Command's General Tommy Franks will lead a simulated war game in the coming days, and the Al-Udeid air base, which boasts the longest runway in the region.

The approximately 4,000 Americans here are taking a very low profile, sensitive to Qatar's fears.

It's almost impossible to get anywhere near those bases without high level authorization -- a direct legacy of the suicide truck bombing that killed 241 U.S. troops outside Beirut in 1983.

Locals certainly recognize the dangers, but generally appear to support the presence of U.S. troops.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and not for people. We are not afraid of the people here.

BLITZER: Still, security throughout the country is understandably tight.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And joining us now to get some insight into exactly what's going on in this part of the world, the retired U.S. Air Force Major General Don Shepperd. General, thanks for joining us.

How concerned should the U.S. military be about security here in the Persian Gulf?

MAJ. GEN. DONALD SHEPPERD (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Very concerned, Wolf. This region is rife with examples of security concerns. In Lebanon, the Marine barracks that we all remember, 241 dead Marines. We've had recent shootings in Kuwait. Continuing unrest in Afghanistan. We've had the Khobar Towers. Anytime you put troops in the field, you better be prepared to protect them. And this is really on General Franks' mind. I can guarantee you that for sure.

BLITZER: Why did General Franks pick Qatar at this time for this temporary headquarters, as opposed to the Prince Sultan air base near Riyadh which was used a dozen years ago?

SHEPPERD: Right. Well, we've got a very good headquarters at Prince Sultan air base in Riyadh. It's been tested. It's been used. It's being used as we speak.

Now, the other thing is that we need a deployable headquarters in case something happened to Prince Sultan. A lot of people are reading a lot into the fact that the Saudis have put up questions about whether we're going to be able to use their bases and their air space. That's another reason to go somewhere else.

But the main reason is, you must have a deployable headquarters for the 25 nations that are in this area of responsibilities of the Central Command. And so this is a test of the new first time headquarters. We haven't had one before that's this robust. So that all of the Tampa Central Command can move to this new headquarters.

There's a message in this exercise -- there is a message to Saddam Hussein, there's a message to the United Nations. There is a message to the world that we're serious. And of course, there's also an underground message to the Saudis as well.

BLITZER: Is this all a coincidence that it's happening right now at this delicate moment, or was this planned a long time ago? Or is it designed deliberately to try to send that message?

SHEPPERD: Some of it was planned and some of it was not planned. What was not planned was the fact that it had to coincide with the December 8 revelation by Iraq of their responsibilities under the U.N. resolution. That was not planned. However, it was planned to hold an exercise. It's been held three times before, Internal Look. It was scheduled previously in Qatar and announced several months ago, the exact timing timed with the U.N. resolutions that were supposed to be declared by Iraq on the 8th of December and now perhaps on the 7th. That's something that happened more recently.

BLITZER: What about the whole Internal Look Operation? I have covered a lot of these war games. Usually they're very exciting. A lot of troops moving around. What are we going to see this week?

SHEPPERD: You're not going to see much. This is not a very exciting exercise. This is a command post exercise of connectivity and communications, testing the new computer hookups to see if General Franks is able to control his forces, communicate with them throughout the area of responsibility and between all of the services.

So this is not real exciting. You don't have combat troops involved, but you do have around 4,000 people connected with just the headquarters part of this exercise. And of course, they can stay if anything kicks off as well, Wolf.

BLITZER: General Shepperd, you're going to be spending a lot of time in that seat with me over the next few days. Thanks for joining us. Always good to have you on the show.

When we come back, President Bush sends a message to the Muslim world. We'll find out what the reaction is among Muslims around the world.

Also, you pull into the gas station, start filling your tank. Then you're engulfed in a ball of flames. Say it never happens? Carol Lin will be back in Atlanta with that story in just a moment. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Stopping at the gas station is one of the most familiar routines of everyday life. Most of us pull up our cars to a pump and fill the tank without even giving it a second thought.

Well, that may be a mistake. CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen fills us in.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They try to forget it now, the day Esperanza (ph) Sierra and her father were at the gas station. He was pumping gas when, suddenly, his pickup truck burst into flames. Esperanza (ph) was caught inside.

IGNACIO SIERRA, GAS PUMP FIRE VICTIM: She started screaming. I knew that when I opened the door, the fumes would start getting inside because there was flame all over.

COHEN: Ignacio Sierra miraculously got Esperanza (ph) out unharmed. His truck was ruined, the gas station burned down. (on camera): The fire started because Ignacio Sierra did something many of us do. While the gas was pumping, he got back into his car to get money. The friction of his body against the seat created static electricity. Then, he got back out of his car, and when he touched the nozzle, the static electricity from his body created a spark which ignited the fumes coming out of the gas tank.

(voice-over): It was one of the 129 such fires documented by the Petroleum Equipment Institute since the early 1990s, and these fires make Stephen Fowler furious, because he says they are preventable.

STEPHEN FOWLER, STATIC ELECTRICITY EXPERT: We have to accept the fact that refueling is dangerous. We can't hide that from the public anymore.

COHEN: His solution? Put up stickers that say "Touch here." The sticker is over metal, and when you touch it, you get rid of your static electricity here, rather than at the nozzle.

But Fowler says no gas stations plan to put them up, except for one chain in South Carolina, which has designed this one. The American Petroleum Institute worries the stickers may detract from other warnings about, for example, smoking while pumping gas, which they say is far more dangerous.

DENISE MCCOURT, AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE: And that whole debate is going to go on about what is the right language, and how do we best warn our customers how they can safely refuel.

COHEN: Some stations, like this one, put up a list of warnings which include static fires, but Fowler says that is not nearly enough, the advice gets lost. And he says there is something else gas stations could do to protect consumers that they are not doing. Look at this surveillance tape from a gas station in Oklahoma.

A 32-year-old mother of four lost her life in this fire. It's not known exactly how the fire started, but if she had left the nozzle in the car, engineers say she probably would have lived.

FOWLER: In Oklahoma, the lady reached down to get the nozzle. It was too hot, so she grabbed it back here to pull it out, and when she did, it did a snake routine and sprayed gasoline in all this direction, and she tried to get away, but it was too late.

COHEN: Labels like this one warn, "In case of fire, do not remove nozzle."

But again, Fowler says, only the South Carolina chain plans on using it.

ERIC BAUMHOLSER, SPINX: We've seen the films of the woman that actually died, and we don't want that to happen.

COHEN: But the American Petroleum Institute says reading this label could be dangerous.

MCCOURT: We probably don't want to have people have their face that close to that nozzle.

COHEN: What everyone agrees is that customers need to learn that static gas fires at gas pumps are preventable, that something as simple as touching metal, any metal, before touching a gas nozzle could save your life, and if a fire does break out, don't pull the nozzle out of the tank.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: And Elizabeth Cohen joins us now on set.

Elizabeth, that was amazing video because that's just something you don't think about when you go to the gas pump. So what are the odds, really, that something like this is going to happen?

COHEN: The odds are very low. They're very, very low. I mean, as we said in the piece, in about the past 10 years there have been 129 reported static fires of this type.

Think about the fact that people fuel up at the gas tank 11 billion times a year. That tells you this is very odd. But you don't want to be one of those 129, of course.

LIN: Right, and the fact is we saw the videotape. It's actually happened. So what is it that -- remind us again what people should definitely not do.

COHEN: It's so simple. I mean, the best insurance against having this happen is just don't get back into your car once you put the nozzle into your car. Don't get back into the driver's seat. Don't get money or whatever. Stay outside.

However if you have to get back into your car, then what you should do is when you get out of your car, touch something metal. Touch your car door. Touch the pole that's right thereat the gas station. Touch something metal so you'll get a shock there instead of getting a shock at the nozzle. If you get a shock at the nozzle, you could ignite the fumes there.

And you just have to touch it once very quickly?

LIN: You just touch it and that's it.

COHEN: Yes, because, you know, you often, especially in the winter, you feel that shock when you touch metal.

LIN: Static electricity.

COHEN: Yes. When you feel that shock, that's a good thing.

LIN: All right. Thanks very much, Elizabeth.

COHEN: OK. Thanks.

LIN: Amazing story.

COHEN: Thanks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Good advice.

President Bush speaks out to the Muslim world. When we return, was the Muslim world actually listening? And how did the message go over? WOLF BLITZER REPORTS will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: One of the biggest battles going on in this part of the world as far as the war on terrorism is concerned is winning over the hearts and minds of Muslims. The Bush administration knows that it's not trusted by many Muslims -- that in large segments of the Muslim world, America is suspect.

And so this week, at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, President Bush visited the largest mosque in Washington and sent a message of understanding to Muslims around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Islam affirms God's justice.

BLITZER: We wondered whether the president's words could make a difference, so we sent some of our international camera crews out with small video players to let Muslims hear for themselves President Bush's message to them.

BUSH: I am pleased to join you today in the celebration of Eid, the culmination of the holy month of Ramadan.

BLITZER: It's not a scientific survey, but we did learn something: Words matter.

BUSH: Spirit behind this holiday is a reminder that Islam brings hope and comfort to more than a billion people worldwide.

BLITZER: In Indonesia, home to the largest Muslim population in the entire world, a country where al Qaeda has a foothold, we took a video machine to a park in the capital, Jakarta, filled with families having picnics to celebrate the end of Ramadan. We handed out translations of the Bush address so they could follow along.

Haji Labib (ph), an Islamic teacher and father of four, listened carefully with his family. Mr. Labib was not impressed by the president's remarks, but his 18-year-old son was. "The Bush speech was good," he said, "very good, because President Bush," he said, "does not insult or hurt the feelings of Muslims. He seems to value Islam, and that," says this young Muslim man who wants to go to college but can't afford it, "that made me proud." The president's next audience included a toy vendor. "In the past, says this father of two, America always labeled Islam as terrorists. But after listening to the president's speech," he says, "I see that he understands and cares about Islam. A speech is not enough, though," he added. "America must act to allow the human rights of Muslims."

3,700 miles away, in Afghanistan, our producers took a walk through the bird market in the capital, Kabul. Birds are popular pets in Afghanistan, especially song birds, which used to be outlawed by the Taliban who didn't care for music.

This bird shop owner has 10 children. He says President Bush already won him over by liberating Afghanistan from the Taliban.

Arif Najabi Wardah (ph) is a teacher and a bachelor. He also watched the Bush address with us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When he is remembering this special occasion, we can say that he really respects Muslim people. So I can say to you that we Afghan, just tell him that merry Christmas and happy new year, and we respect them if they respect us.

BLITZER: We respect them, if they respect us. That's the essence of what we heard from many people as Muslims listened to President Bush reach out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Still, clearly the U.S. has a lot of work to do to win over the hearts and minds of the Muslim world. We're following a developing story now not far from here, up the Persian Gulf a bit. But for details, let's go back to the Pentagon. Our senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre is standing by -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, a minor ship collision in the North Arabian Sea involving the U.S. destroyer Paul Hamilton. The destroyer was part -- conducting a maritime intercept operation, trying to inspect an Iranian flagged oil rig service vessel. The two ships apparently collided during the process. The Paul Hamilton has a small two-foot gash above the water line. No one was injured. This is considered to be a minor accident. No harm to anyone, except perhaps to the career of the commander of this ship. The Navy looks -- frowns upon ship collisions at sea -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Good news that no one was hurt. That maritime intercept operation, as far as our viewers who may not be familiar with it, what's it all about?

MCINTYRE: This is essentially enforcing the embargo against Iraq through the Persian Gulf. Iraq has been able to get a lot of oil out of the country until Iran denied it the use of its territorial waters. Now the U.S. basically inspects a lot of the ships there. And of course, they're also looking for possible terrorist suspects. BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre reporting the latest, what's happening in this part of the world from the Pentagon. That's not an unusual development.

Jamie, thanks very much for that report.

We have more coming up, including the results of our Web question of the day. Do you think the Bush economic team shake-up will help or hurt the economy? We'll have the results when we come back. Go to cnn.com/wolf to vote.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Now, here's how you're weighing in on our Web question of the day. Earlier, we asked: Do you think the Bush economic team shake-up will help or hurt the economy? Look at this: 59 percent of you said help, 41 percent of you said hurt. Remember, this is not a scientific poll.

Finally, this thought. After a few days covering this story here in the Persian Gulf, there is an amusement park here in Doha, an amusement park that's been set up to coincide with the Eid el-Fitr festival ending the month long fast of Ramadan.

I couldn't help but notice the name of this one ride. Under normal circumstances, no one would give the name much of a second thought, but these, of course, are not normal times. So the kids here will have their fun at the park, while the adults, at least some of them, will wonder about the bomber.

That's all the time we have today. Please join me again Monday, same time, same place. I'll be here twice a day, noon Eastern for "SHOWDOWN: IRAQ" as well as for WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

Please also join me throughout the weekend for extensive coverage of the Iraqi declaration and what it means. We'll have a special "LATE EDITION" Sunday at noon Eastern. Among my special guests, the outgoing majority leader of the Senate, Tom Daschle.

Until then, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in the Persian Gulf. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" is coming up.

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




al Qaeda>


Aired December 6, 2002 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We're standing by. We're awaiting the delivery of some documents that could play a critical role in determining whether the United States goes to war. That plus a new threat from al Qaeda. It's all coming up right now on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Just hours away, Iraq reports to the U.N. Will thousands of pages boil down to this?

MOHAMMED ALDOURI, IRAQI AMB. TO U.N.: We have no more destruction weapons at all.

BLITZER: Could al Qaeda have found a way to get inside the FBI, the Air Force and Congress? The Feds raid a high tech firm with a high profile customer list.

It's the economy, stupid. As the jobless rate jumps, top administration officials join the ranks of the unemployed.

Fire at the gas pump.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have to accept the fact that refueling is dangerous. We can't hide that from the public anymore.

BLITZER: How to stay safe at the service station.

And no free ride for Ryder. Sentenced for shoplifting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is a special edition of WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the Persian Gulf. Reporting from Doha, Qatar, here's Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER: Drama is building in this region, where the waiting game is about to end. It's only a matter of hours before the Iraqi government issues a declaration to U.N. weapons inspectors a declaration that could have critical importance in this part of the world. It's a declaration designed to explain what, if any, weapons of mass destruction the Iraqis have. The Iraqis promised a huge amount of information but insist it's all much ado about nothing.

And as U.S. troops get ready for a war game here in Qatar, an old foe of Baghdad is warning against any attack on Iraq. Iran's supreme allied leader the Ayatollah All Khameini accuses the U.S. of seeking to take over the oil resources of the Islamic world.

The countdown to the weapons declaration is only a few hours away. Let's go straight to Baghdad to get a complete report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): I'm Nic Robertson in Baghdad. The very latest from here. Iraqi officials say journalists should be ready early in the morning Saturday morning to be taken to an undisclosed location to witness Iraq handing over its declaration of its weapons of mass destruction to a U.N. official.

So far in Baghdad, there have been fairly scant details of what this large documentation may contain.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Meanwhile, over at the United Nations, they're anticipating the -- the receival -- the receiving -- their receiving of these documents and they're getting ready for them.

Let's go right to the United Nations. CNN's Michael Okwu is standing by over there -- Michael.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, for more than three weeks now, the Security Council has been waiting -- waiting to find out about this document and to get its hands on it. And now news that they're going to have to wait even longer.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OKWU (voice-over): The U.N. Security Council will not get a chance to review Iraq's declaration of its most dangerous weapons until chief weapons inspector Hans Blix does. And in the words of a key diplomat here, that may take some time.

Referring to the documents' potentially sensitive information, Blix said he did not want to provide a manual for weapons of mass destruction.

HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: I think that all the governments in the Council are aware that they should not have access to anything that anyone else doesn't have access to. So if any parts relate -- would be proliferation prone, none of them would like to have it.

OKWU: Western diplomats tell CNN that Russia, the United States and other countries were concerned that detailed documents on how to manufacture weapons could fall into the wrong hands and giving out such information could violate international weapons treaties.

BLIX: There will be large parts that will be in Arabic. And as we understand it now, it is unlikely that anything will be in CD Roms. So we would have to achieve - -attain that. And that's bit of mechanical work to have it translated. We have a translator standing by.

OKWU: Blix says the document will run some 10, 00 pages. Though council members hope to hear from Blix by Tuesday about when they will get hold of the document, a source says Blix will probably give them an initial assessment the week of the 16th.

RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: The point, does it disclose their programs? Does it name the people? Does it identify the facilities?

OKWU: Iraq is required to include all past and present chemical, biological and nuclear programs as well as programs for long range ballistics missiles.

Blix said he's also expecting to read about new dual use programs for civilian programs in these areas that can be diverted for military use.

Iraq's ambassador said the document will prove Iraq is clean.

ALDOURI: We said, again and again, that we have no more destruction weapons at all. Everything has been destroyed and we have no intention to do that again. So Iraq is clean of any kind of mass destruction weapons.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

OKWU: According to the resolution ,any inaccuracies or omissions in this document would constitute further material breach on the part of the Iraqi government, which of course could trigger later military action -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Michael Okwu at the United Nations. Michael, thanks very much.

And the Iraqi ambassador to the U.N., Mohammed Aldouri, is insisting that the U.N. and the United States have no business interfering in domestic Iraqi matters. Indeed, in an exclusive interview with CNN's Connie Chung earlier today, he dismissed U.S. assertions that the Iraqi government should lead those inspectors to any sites.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALDOURI: If we don't have such sites, how we can lead inspectors to go to sites which we are not -- which we -- which are unknown by us? How? Which would be the case. I cannot understand really what the Americans want. They want the impossible.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: You can see much more of that interview tonight on CNN's "CONNIE CHUNG TONIGHT." That's at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 p.m. Pacific. And with U.S. military action here in the Persian Gulf looking increasingly likely, the USS "Harry S Truman," an aircraft carrier, is now at sea on the way to this part of the world.

Let's get some more details now on what they can expect. CNN National correspondent Bob Franken is standing by -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Wolf, I'm back in Norfolk, Virginia. I have been flown back after spending the first day of the launch of the "Harry S Truman." And one thing that happens in a situation like the departure of a battlegroup is that the action begins almost immediately.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice-over): As all manner of combat planes come screaming under their floating runway, they're catching up with a mission into the unknown.

The "Harry S Truman" battlegroup steams toward the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf.

(on camera): There are about 80 different aircrafts, led by a 12-foot (ph) floatilla, all led by this aircraft carrier.

(voice-over): There are millions of moving parts, including altogether about 8,000 human moving parts facing the possibility of moving against Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm nervous. I guess you could say I'm scared but I'm also excited at the same time.

FRANKEN: Feelings shared on the flight decks above to the hangers below to the tables at the mess. The sailors slip into the routines on board that they'll follow for the next six months. They're already missing the loved ones they left behind.

For some, it's old hat. For others, the first deployment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have never been away from my family this long in my life.

FRANKEN: But with all the angst one might expect, there's also the sense of excitement that many feel when they anticipate being right in the middle of the action.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even though it's uncertain, I feel that I can rely on the training that I have received over the years to go in and do what we need to do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: And there is a general feeling of a combination of feelings on board the ship in the bridge of the ship which is very correct in the mess hall as I said throughout -- combination of feelings. One, there is a job to do but, two, the hope that in six months, when people come back, things haven't changed all that much with the concern with all that's going on in the world, right now, Lou -- Wolf, there could be a lot that's changed -- Wolf.

BLITZER: I know you had some time, Bob, to also speak to their loved ones back on shore. What's the general mood in Norfolk?

FRANKEN: Nervousness. Quite a bit of nervousness. But of course, a lot of people have been through this before and people are hardened just a little bit now.

Of course, we've gone through all the angst and anxiety of September 1. But of course, there is the prospect that this battle group, as it goes out to sea, is going to be right in the middle of the action. And of course, those who can only wait at home and worry, are doing just that.

BLITZER: Bob Franken reporting live from Norfolk. Bob, thanks very much.

Let's turn now to the war on terror in the United States. Some dramatic developments today. A Boston area firm suspected of perhaps getting involved in some terrorism. The situation remains murky to a certain degree but CNN Justice correspondent Kelli Arena has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This Massachusetts software provider is under scrutiny, as federal investigators look into a Saudi businessman and his possible ties to the al Qaeda terrorist network.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sure that in the end they're going to find that there's nothing of interest here.

ARENA: At issue is Ptech's alleged connection to Yasin al-Qadi. He's a Saudi businessman who was among the top 12 individuals named on a U.S. government list of persons accused of financing terrorism, known in law enforcement circles as the dirty dozen.

Sources say al-Qadi is believed to be a partial financer of Ptech, which was launched in 1994. In fact, sources say it was Ptech employees who approached the FBI shortly after the September 11 attacks saying they had been introduced to al-Qadi in Saudi Arabia as one of the company's owners.

In an interview with CNN in October 2001, al-Qadi denied any terror links.

YASI Al-QADI, SAUDI BUSINESSMAN: I have nothing to do whatsoever with bin Laden and his group. And I never finance them by any cent.

ARENA: Ptech said in a statement: "It has been informed by government investigators that neither Ptech nor its officers or employees are targets of the government's investigation." BLAKE BISSON, V.P. Ptech: The company categorically denies having any connection with any terrorist organization.

ARENA: Still, sources say investigators continue to look into whether al-Qadi may have given Ptech money and that some company executives in turn donated to at least one Islamic charity, which may have redirected money to al Qaeda.

Ptech drew some more attention because of its client list, which includes the FBI, the Department of Energy, the Federal Aviation Administration and at least two branches of the military. Investigators were concerned about a possible security breach, but have since ruled it out.

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY DIR.: It has been scrutinized by the best and it poses no strategic threat or operational threat to this country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: Now, no one has been charged and documents relating to the case remain under seal. The investigation continues.

Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: Any word, Kelli, if this is an isolated incident or perhaps part of some bigger plot out there?

ARENA: Wolf, this investigation, according to our sources, is largely focused on Al-Qadi, not necessarily Ptech. Ptech getting caught up in this larger scheme. Sources have told us Al-Qadi is suspected of being involved in a variety terror financing schemes around the globe. Once again, he's never been charged, Wolf.

BLITZER: Kelli Arena with the latest in Washington. Kelli, thanks very much.

Just ahead, we'll speak live to retired U.S. Air Force General Don Shepperd. He'll join me here on the scene in the Persian Gulf. We'll get assessment of what's going on with the U.S. military.

Also just ahead, safety at the gas pump. How static electricity can turn a fill up into an inferno.

And shake-up at the White House. The nation's treasury secretary gone. The Bush economic adviser gone. All that much more.

First today's "News Quiz."

Who is the first person to serve as the U.S. secretary of the treasury? A -- Alexander Hamilton, B -- Benjamin Franklin, C -- Aaron Burr, D -- John Hancock. The answer coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: A fire ball at a gas station. Could you be putting yourself in danger next time you go to fill it up? We'll have details, much more coming up on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Earlier we asked who is the first person to serve as the U.S. secretary of the treasury? The answer, A -- Alexander Hamilton of New York became the nation's first secretary of treasury on September 11, 1789.

With unemployment now reaching an eight year high, two key members of bush's economic team have submitted their resignations. The treasury secretary, Paul O'Neill, and the chief Bush economic adviser, Larry Lindsey. Let's get some details from our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. She's standing by -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, publicly the White House is not admitting that the Bush administration asked for these resignations but privately administration sources confirming that is true. That the president made his decision last night and that the chief of staff, Andy Card, called both of them last night and said that he expected those resignation letters to be prepared for Friday morning.

Now, this was widely rumored for some time expected. The reason that the administration sources are telling us is that both failed to inspire confidence in the markets, to change the economy in a new direction. The resignations coincided with a release of a report that the unemployment rate now 6 percent for November. That is the highest level in some nine years.

Now, O'Neill released a statement earlier today. Part of that statement saying, "I hereby resign my position as secretary of the treasury. It has been a privilege to serve the nation during these challenging times. I thank you for that opportunity. I wish you every success as you provide leadership and inspiration for America and for the world."

Now, O'Neill was known for his kind of outspoken ways, some of his points of view that were counter to the Bush administration. He had questioned the efficacy of the tax cut at some point. Also downplayed the possibility of a recession and called into question a congressional economic stimulus package calling it show business.

Now as for Lindsey, administration sources say that he failed to be an adequate spokesperson. Really the headman for the economic team. But as one administration official told me, he thought Lindsey was, quote, "collateral damage" because of all this mounting criticism because of the sluggish economy -- Wolf.

BLITZER: I know the guessing game has already started who might be replacing these two men. Any inside word?

MALVEAUX: Well, administration says it wants to move on this rather quickly in the next couple of weeks, hopefully by the beginning of next year they'll have some names. They're bantering about some. We're not sure how serious they are about this, but they're talking about the former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. They're talking about the former Texas Senator Phil Gramm and the brokerage giant Charles Schwab as well.

BLITZER: Suzanne Malveaux, all interesting names. We'll see if any of them pan out. Thanks for your report.

With the resignations of Paul O'Neill and Larry Lindsey, the White House has three, repeat three, important economic jobs to fill. In addition to looking for a new secretary treasury and chief economic adviser, the Bush administration is also seeking a replacement for the Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Harvey Pitt. He resigned on Election Day in November.

Here's your chance to weigh in on this story. Our "Web Question of the Day" is this: Do you think that Bush's economic team shake-up will help or hurt the economy? You can also choose have no effect. We'll have the results later in this program. Vote at cnn.com/wolf.

While you're there I'd love to hear from you. Send me your comments. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

Winona Ryder, she learns her fate today. She learns what happens now that she's been convicted of shoplifting. We'll go live to California in just a moment.

And from Manila to the Netherlands and around the world. New developments in the war on terror.

And it's probably the last thing you think about when you're filling your tank. Static electricity sparking a fire ball. What you can do to keep yourself safe. We'll have that.

But first a look at news making "Headlines Around the World."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Venezuela's oil exports slowed to a trickle amid growing political turmoil. Tankers remained anchored off shore as crew members joined a general strike called by opponents of President Hugo Chavez.

Flames over water. One of the many wildfires surrounding Sydney, Australia jumped a river and raced toward the city. Firefighters are house to house in what's being called the worst wildfire crisis in 30 years.

Indonesian investigation. Police in Eastern Indonesia say bombs were responsible for yesterday's explosions at a McDonald's restaurant and at a car dealership. Three people were killed at the restaurant. Authorities have not identified any suspects.

Lebanon blast. A former Lebanese intelligence agent and his nephew were killed when a car bomb destroyed their car on a highway in South Lebanon. Relatives accuse Israel of staging the attack in retaliation with the former agent's work with Hezbollah guerrillas. Celebration. Muslims mark the conclusion of Ramadan with prayers and celebrations. The three-day feast that ends the holy month is called Eid-al-Fitr.

Not so current currency. A year after Germany converted to the Euro a major retail chain there once again is accepting Germany's traditional form of money. Shoppers poured into stores to spend their old unused marks. They had to act quickly, though. This marks madness only lasts a week.

And that's our look "Around the World."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to our continuing coverage. I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting live tonight from the Persian Gulf.

And -- and on this night there are now new threats from al Qaeda on a Web site known to have carried such threats in the past. No target or time frame has been mentioned but this latest message does threaten -- quote -- "death and destruction if America does not learn its lesson." The message is the latest in a flurry of activity this week involving terrorists and people believed to be tied directly to them.

We have updates now from Europe and Asia, but we begin with our national correspondent Mike Boettcher in Atlanta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Mike Boettcher in Atlanta. Islamist Web sites have been active this week carrying claims of responsibility for the attacks against Israelis in Mombasa.

Now, this is al Qaeda's Web site. When a claim of responsibility appears here, you can count on it coming from al Qaeda. The Web site will appear on one place in the web, get taken down and reappear a few days later.

This game of hide and seek on the Web is much like the hunt for Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. Just when you think you've located them in one place, they strike somewhere else.

And again this week on the Web, al Qaeda is warning of more attacks to come.

Mike Boettcher, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Al Qaeda's network in southeast Asia is divided into four territories, called mantikis (ph). This week, the leader of Mantiki One, an Indonesian man named Mukhlas (ph) was arrested by the Indonesian police.

This is significant because Mukhlas (ph) links the full grown foot soldiers who carried out the Bali bombings to al Qaeda senior leaders in the region. According to intelligence documents, Mukhlas reports al Qaeda's main operations in the region, Riduon Isamudien (ph), also known as Hambali (ph). Intelligence sources say Hambali sits on al Qaeda's leadership council.

Also this week, CNN obtained documents from the FBI, the CIA and another Western nation that told about how al Qaeda told its operatives in the region to flee to Thailand to avoid is a terror crackdown in the region. Thailand denies the presence of al Qaeda within its borders. Still, intelligence sources say, like Indonesia before it, Thailand could become a safe haven for al Qaeda.

I'm Maria Ressa in Manila.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GAVEN MORRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Gaven Morris in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. A special Dutch court here tried four men this week over an alleged plot to attack American interests across Europe, including the U.S. embassy in Paris. Dutch prosecutors accused two Algerians. a Dutchman and a Frenchman of links to European al Qaeda cells, uncovered shortly after the 2001 September 11 attacks on the United States.

All four men deny charges ranging from attempted murder to falsifying documents. If found guilty by the judges here on December 18, they face sentences of up to six years in jail.

Gaven Morris, CNN, Rotterdam.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And how much of a threat does al Qaeda pose to this nation of Qatar? We're going to have details. I'll be joined shortly by retired U.S. Air Force General Don Shepperd as well.

But for now, let's go to Atlanta and CNN's Carol Lin for a preview of some other important news developing in the United States -- Carol.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: That's right. Thank you very much, Wolf.

Coming up, Winona's surprising reaction in court today. And from fill up to flame out. Some surprising danger at the pumps. You will not want to miss this.

WOLF BLITZER REPORTS returns in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Welcome back to CNN. I'm Carol Lin. In a moment, Winona Rider's surprise in court.

But first, let's look at our other stories in this CNN "News Alert."

(NEWS ALERT)

LIN: Court appearances for two struggling stars today. Winona Ryder was sentenced for shoplifting and Robert Blake has a hearing scheduled this hour in his murder case. CNN's Charles Feldman is covering both of them live in Los Angeles. Hi, Charles.

CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol. Well, Winona Ryder, because she didn't pay for some goods that she made off with from Saks Fifth Avenue, will now pay with at least 36 months of supervised probation, some 400 hours of community service, some $9,000 in fines and a court-ordered drug and psychiatric evaluation.

Now, she didn't talk on her own behalf as she was entitled to right before sentencing, but there was an interesting little exchange in court. Here's what happened. Her attorney, prior to sentencing, pointed out that the judge should take into account the fact that his client once put up $1 million of her own money in the case of Polly Klaas. That was the young girl who was kidnapped from her own bedroom about nine years ago here in California and subsequently murdered. Well, the prosecutor took great umbrage to that. Here's what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANN RUNDLE, PROSECUTOR: The fact that Mr. Geragos believes that because Ms. Ryder is a celebrity, that she should be treated differently than any other convicted felon is inappropriate and offensive. What else is offensive to me is for someone to trot out the body of a dead child and in some way say because she supported that (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

MARK GERAGOS, RYDER'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY: That is so outrageous, judge, that really is.

RUNDLE: I've listened to this for a year...

GERAGOS: She hasn't listened to anything for a year. She's only been on this case for four months.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FELDMAN: Now, there are all kinds of celebrities in courts, so if you want to see them in Hollywood, what you need is a map. And we've got one.

Earlier this morning, of course, there was the Winona Ryder case in Beverly Hills. Then if you took a car and got to Van Nuys, as we did, you would find Robert Blake in court. Robert Blake now has a preliminary hearing set for February 26, next week. If you go over to Malibu, you got Nick Nolte, who's going to be arraigned on drunk driving charges, and a week later, Pee Wee Herman will be arraigned in another court in Los Angeles on charges that he had pornographic material involving children.

So if you want to see stars, just follow that road map -- Carol.

LIN: You have a virtual constellation there, Charles. It will keep you busy for quite some time. Thank you so much, Charles Feldman.

Those are the latest headlines from the CNN Center in Atlanta. Now back to Wolf in Doha, Qatar -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Thanks very much, Carol. We'll be getting back to you for some other important news later this hour.

Meanwhile: Al Qaeda. Is it putting its sites on this country, Qatar, now that the U.S. Central Command is making its home away from home in this country?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): For this small Persian Gulf emirate, there are benefits and risks of hosting the United States military. The major benefit: The people of Qatar have the protection of the world's only superpower. That's nothing to sneeze at, given the dangers of this neighborhood, including Iraq and Iran.

But there are also clear risks. First and foremost, terrorism.

(on camera): Osama bin Laden began to direct his brand of terrorism against his native Saudi Arabia after the first Gulf War, inflamed by the presence of U.S. military forces on holy Saudi soil. With the arrival of the U.S. military Central Command in Qatar, there's now fear al Qaeda will direct its attention here.

ROB SOBHANI, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: There's no doubt that al Qaeda will try to do its best to harm U.S. interests in Qatar, but Qatari security is very, very good. The Qataris have a very tight border. The only way to enter into the country, really, is by air, other than the border with Saudi Arabia. So I think all in all, Qatar will be a safe place for American interests.

BLITZER (voice-over): U.S. troops are stationed at two huge bases in Qatar. The As-Saliyah (ph) complex, where U.S. Central Command's General Tommy Franks will lead a simulated war game in the coming days, and the Al-Udeid air base, which boasts the longest runway in the region.

The approximately 4,000 Americans here are taking a very low profile, sensitive to Qatar's fears.

It's almost impossible to get anywhere near those bases without high level authorization -- a direct legacy of the suicide truck bombing that killed 241 U.S. troops outside Beirut in 1983.

Locals certainly recognize the dangers, but generally appear to support the presence of U.S. troops.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and not for people. We are not afraid of the people here.

BLITZER: Still, security throughout the country is understandably tight.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And joining us now to get some insight into exactly what's going on in this part of the world, the retired U.S. Air Force Major General Don Shepperd. General, thanks for joining us.

How concerned should the U.S. military be about security here in the Persian Gulf?

MAJ. GEN. DONALD SHEPPERD (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Very concerned, Wolf. This region is rife with examples of security concerns. In Lebanon, the Marine barracks that we all remember, 241 dead Marines. We've had recent shootings in Kuwait. Continuing unrest in Afghanistan. We've had the Khobar Towers. Anytime you put troops in the field, you better be prepared to protect them. And this is really on General Franks' mind. I can guarantee you that for sure.

BLITZER: Why did General Franks pick Qatar at this time for this temporary headquarters, as opposed to the Prince Sultan air base near Riyadh which was used a dozen years ago?

SHEPPERD: Right. Well, we've got a very good headquarters at Prince Sultan air base in Riyadh. It's been tested. It's been used. It's being used as we speak.

Now, the other thing is that we need a deployable headquarters in case something happened to Prince Sultan. A lot of people are reading a lot into the fact that the Saudis have put up questions about whether we're going to be able to use their bases and their air space. That's another reason to go somewhere else.

But the main reason is, you must have a deployable headquarters for the 25 nations that are in this area of responsibilities of the Central Command. And so this is a test of the new first time headquarters. We haven't had one before that's this robust. So that all of the Tampa Central Command can move to this new headquarters.

There's a message in this exercise -- there is a message to Saddam Hussein, there's a message to the United Nations. There is a message to the world that we're serious. And of course, there's also an underground message to the Saudis as well.

BLITZER: Is this all a coincidence that it's happening right now at this delicate moment, or was this planned a long time ago? Or is it designed deliberately to try to send that message?

SHEPPERD: Some of it was planned and some of it was not planned. What was not planned was the fact that it had to coincide with the December 8 revelation by Iraq of their responsibilities under the U.N. resolution. That was not planned. However, it was planned to hold an exercise. It's been held three times before, Internal Look. It was scheduled previously in Qatar and announced several months ago, the exact timing timed with the U.N. resolutions that were supposed to be declared by Iraq on the 8th of December and now perhaps on the 7th. That's something that happened more recently.

BLITZER: What about the whole Internal Look Operation? I have covered a lot of these war games. Usually they're very exciting. A lot of troops moving around. What are we going to see this week?

SHEPPERD: You're not going to see much. This is not a very exciting exercise. This is a command post exercise of connectivity and communications, testing the new computer hookups to see if General Franks is able to control his forces, communicate with them throughout the area of responsibility and between all of the services.

So this is not real exciting. You don't have combat troops involved, but you do have around 4,000 people connected with just the headquarters part of this exercise. And of course, they can stay if anything kicks off as well, Wolf.

BLITZER: General Shepperd, you're going to be spending a lot of time in that seat with me over the next few days. Thanks for joining us. Always good to have you on the show.

When we come back, President Bush sends a message to the Muslim world. We'll find out what the reaction is among Muslims around the world.

Also, you pull into the gas station, start filling your tank. Then you're engulfed in a ball of flames. Say it never happens? Carol Lin will be back in Atlanta with that story in just a moment. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Stopping at the gas station is one of the most familiar routines of everyday life. Most of us pull up our cars to a pump and fill the tank without even giving it a second thought.

Well, that may be a mistake. CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen fills us in.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They try to forget it now, the day Esperanza (ph) Sierra and her father were at the gas station. He was pumping gas when, suddenly, his pickup truck burst into flames. Esperanza (ph) was caught inside.

IGNACIO SIERRA, GAS PUMP FIRE VICTIM: She started screaming. I knew that when I opened the door, the fumes would start getting inside because there was flame all over.

COHEN: Ignacio Sierra miraculously got Esperanza (ph) out unharmed. His truck was ruined, the gas station burned down. (on camera): The fire started because Ignacio Sierra did something many of us do. While the gas was pumping, he got back into his car to get money. The friction of his body against the seat created static electricity. Then, he got back out of his car, and when he touched the nozzle, the static electricity from his body created a spark which ignited the fumes coming out of the gas tank.

(voice-over): It was one of the 129 such fires documented by the Petroleum Equipment Institute since the early 1990s, and these fires make Stephen Fowler furious, because he says they are preventable.

STEPHEN FOWLER, STATIC ELECTRICITY EXPERT: We have to accept the fact that refueling is dangerous. We can't hide that from the public anymore.

COHEN: His solution? Put up stickers that say "Touch here." The sticker is over metal, and when you touch it, you get rid of your static electricity here, rather than at the nozzle.

But Fowler says no gas stations plan to put them up, except for one chain in South Carolina, which has designed this one. The American Petroleum Institute worries the stickers may detract from other warnings about, for example, smoking while pumping gas, which they say is far more dangerous.

DENISE MCCOURT, AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE: And that whole debate is going to go on about what is the right language, and how do we best warn our customers how they can safely refuel.

COHEN: Some stations, like this one, put up a list of warnings which include static fires, but Fowler says that is not nearly enough, the advice gets lost. And he says there is something else gas stations could do to protect consumers that they are not doing. Look at this surveillance tape from a gas station in Oklahoma.

A 32-year-old mother of four lost her life in this fire. It's not known exactly how the fire started, but if she had left the nozzle in the car, engineers say she probably would have lived.

FOWLER: In Oklahoma, the lady reached down to get the nozzle. It was too hot, so she grabbed it back here to pull it out, and when she did, it did a snake routine and sprayed gasoline in all this direction, and she tried to get away, but it was too late.

COHEN: Labels like this one warn, "In case of fire, do not remove nozzle."

But again, Fowler says, only the South Carolina chain plans on using it.

ERIC BAUMHOLSER, SPINX: We've seen the films of the woman that actually died, and we don't want that to happen.

COHEN: But the American Petroleum Institute says reading this label could be dangerous.

MCCOURT: We probably don't want to have people have their face that close to that nozzle.

COHEN: What everyone agrees is that customers need to learn that static gas fires at gas pumps are preventable, that something as simple as touching metal, any metal, before touching a gas nozzle could save your life, and if a fire does break out, don't pull the nozzle out of the tank.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: And Elizabeth Cohen joins us now on set.

Elizabeth, that was amazing video because that's just something you don't think about when you go to the gas pump. So what are the odds, really, that something like this is going to happen?

COHEN: The odds are very low. They're very, very low. I mean, as we said in the piece, in about the past 10 years there have been 129 reported static fires of this type.

Think about the fact that people fuel up at the gas tank 11 billion times a year. That tells you this is very odd. But you don't want to be one of those 129, of course.

LIN: Right, and the fact is we saw the videotape. It's actually happened. So what is it that -- remind us again what people should definitely not do.

COHEN: It's so simple. I mean, the best insurance against having this happen is just don't get back into your car once you put the nozzle into your car. Don't get back into the driver's seat. Don't get money or whatever. Stay outside.

However if you have to get back into your car, then what you should do is when you get out of your car, touch something metal. Touch your car door. Touch the pole that's right thereat the gas station. Touch something metal so you'll get a shock there instead of getting a shock at the nozzle. If you get a shock at the nozzle, you could ignite the fumes there.

And you just have to touch it once very quickly?

LIN: You just touch it and that's it.

COHEN: Yes, because, you know, you often, especially in the winter, you feel that shock when you touch metal.

LIN: Static electricity.

COHEN: Yes. When you feel that shock, that's a good thing.

LIN: All right. Thanks very much, Elizabeth.

COHEN: OK. Thanks.

LIN: Amazing story.

COHEN: Thanks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Good advice.

President Bush speaks out to the Muslim world. When we return, was the Muslim world actually listening? And how did the message go over? WOLF BLITZER REPORTS will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: One of the biggest battles going on in this part of the world as far as the war on terrorism is concerned is winning over the hearts and minds of Muslims. The Bush administration knows that it's not trusted by many Muslims -- that in large segments of the Muslim world, America is suspect.

And so this week, at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, President Bush visited the largest mosque in Washington and sent a message of understanding to Muslims around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Islam affirms God's justice.

BLITZER: We wondered whether the president's words could make a difference, so we sent some of our international camera crews out with small video players to let Muslims hear for themselves President Bush's message to them.

BUSH: I am pleased to join you today in the celebration of Eid, the culmination of the holy month of Ramadan.

BLITZER: It's not a scientific survey, but we did learn something: Words matter.

BUSH: Spirit behind this holiday is a reminder that Islam brings hope and comfort to more than a billion people worldwide.

BLITZER: In Indonesia, home to the largest Muslim population in the entire world, a country where al Qaeda has a foothold, we took a video machine to a park in the capital, Jakarta, filled with families having picnics to celebrate the end of Ramadan. We handed out translations of the Bush address so they could follow along.

Haji Labib (ph), an Islamic teacher and father of four, listened carefully with his family. Mr. Labib was not impressed by the president's remarks, but his 18-year-old son was. "The Bush speech was good," he said, "very good, because President Bush," he said, "does not insult or hurt the feelings of Muslims. He seems to value Islam, and that," says this young Muslim man who wants to go to college but can't afford it, "that made me proud." The president's next audience included a toy vendor. "In the past, says this father of two, America always labeled Islam as terrorists. But after listening to the president's speech," he says, "I see that he understands and cares about Islam. A speech is not enough, though," he added. "America must act to allow the human rights of Muslims."

3,700 miles away, in Afghanistan, our producers took a walk through the bird market in the capital, Kabul. Birds are popular pets in Afghanistan, especially song birds, which used to be outlawed by the Taliban who didn't care for music.

This bird shop owner has 10 children. He says President Bush already won him over by liberating Afghanistan from the Taliban.

Arif Najabi Wardah (ph) is a teacher and a bachelor. He also watched the Bush address with us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When he is remembering this special occasion, we can say that he really respects Muslim people. So I can say to you that we Afghan, just tell him that merry Christmas and happy new year, and we respect them if they respect us.

BLITZER: We respect them, if they respect us. That's the essence of what we heard from many people as Muslims listened to President Bush reach out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Still, clearly the U.S. has a lot of work to do to win over the hearts and minds of the Muslim world. We're following a developing story now not far from here, up the Persian Gulf a bit. But for details, let's go back to the Pentagon. Our senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre is standing by -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, a minor ship collision in the North Arabian Sea involving the U.S. destroyer Paul Hamilton. The destroyer was part -- conducting a maritime intercept operation, trying to inspect an Iranian flagged oil rig service vessel. The two ships apparently collided during the process. The Paul Hamilton has a small two-foot gash above the water line. No one was injured. This is considered to be a minor accident. No harm to anyone, except perhaps to the career of the commander of this ship. The Navy looks -- frowns upon ship collisions at sea -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Good news that no one was hurt. That maritime intercept operation, as far as our viewers who may not be familiar with it, what's it all about?

MCINTYRE: This is essentially enforcing the embargo against Iraq through the Persian Gulf. Iraq has been able to get a lot of oil out of the country until Iran denied it the use of its territorial waters. Now the U.S. basically inspects a lot of the ships there. And of course, they're also looking for possible terrorist suspects. BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre reporting the latest, what's happening in this part of the world from the Pentagon. That's not an unusual development.

Jamie, thanks very much for that report.

We have more coming up, including the results of our Web question of the day. Do you think the Bush economic team shake-up will help or hurt the economy? We'll have the results when we come back. Go to cnn.com/wolf to vote.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Now, here's how you're weighing in on our Web question of the day. Earlier, we asked: Do you think the Bush economic team shake-up will help or hurt the economy? Look at this: 59 percent of you said help, 41 percent of you said hurt. Remember, this is not a scientific poll.

Finally, this thought. After a few days covering this story here in the Persian Gulf, there is an amusement park here in Doha, an amusement park that's been set up to coincide with the Eid el-Fitr festival ending the month long fast of Ramadan.

I couldn't help but notice the name of this one ride. Under normal circumstances, no one would give the name much of a second thought, but these, of course, are not normal times. So the kids here will have their fun at the park, while the adults, at least some of them, will wonder about the bomber.

That's all the time we have today. Please join me again Monday, same time, same place. I'll be here twice a day, noon Eastern for "SHOWDOWN: IRAQ" as well as for WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

Please also join me throughout the weekend for extensive coverage of the Iraqi declaration and what it means. We'll have a special "LATE EDITION" Sunday at noon Eastern. Among my special guests, the outgoing majority leader of the Senate, Tom Daschle.

Until then, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in the Persian Gulf. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" is coming up.

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