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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Is American Prepared For a Terrorist Attack? Will Friday's Security Council Meeting Mean End Game For Iraq?

Aired February 13, 2003 - 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, HOST: The commander-in-chief rallies the troops for a war.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our military will be fighting the oppressors of Iraq. Not the people of Iraq.

BLITZER: A presidential send off as more American forces deploy for the Gulf.

The president's top advisors are grilled. Will American forces have to rule a post-war Iraq and for how long?

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The United States simply has to be willing to stay there as long as is necessary.

BLITZER: Live fire drills in Kuwait. American forces gear up for a first assault. But what if they face chemical or biological weapons?

Tensions over terrorism on both sides of the Atlantic. A man carrying a live grenade grabbed by British police.

In America, what can the public be told about potential terrorist targets?

Our New York and Washington in the cross hairs?

Who may be planning to hit them?

Talking terrorism with Porter Goss and Jane Harman from the House Intelligence Committee.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We the jury find the defendant Clara L. Harris...

BLITZER: And murder with a Mercedes. The jury speaks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: It's Thursday, February 13 2003.

I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. Tomorrow morning we may get the final word on Iraq. Hans Blix, the chief U.N. weapons inspector will tell the world if Iraq is a threat to be dealt with right away or if he needs more time to disarm Saddam Hussein's regime. But even advance of the report, a determined White House is putting troops on notice.

Today, President Bush told forces in Jacksonville, Florida, to get ready for war. The presidents comments come amid criticism that the United States isn't ready for what happens after the dust settles on the battlefield.

We have correspondents covering every angle of this major story here in Washington, from the White House, the Pentagon, and the State Department.

We begin with CNN's Dana Bash at the White House -- Dana.

DANA BASH, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the president went to Florida today, and he had a very clear message. He told the sailors there, get ready.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BASH (voice-over): The commander-in-chief has not yet issued the order, but addressing a sea of sailors, he predicted the outcome.

BUSH: The American armed forces are brave and ready. And in freedom's cause, we will prevail.

BASH: The president's trip to Mayport Naval Base in Florida was designed to rally the troops and with a backdrop of thousands of ready sailors, rally reluctant nations to join him in possible war with Iraq.

BUSH: The decision is this for the United Nations.

When you say something, does it mean anything?

You have to decide if you lay down a resolution, does it mean anything?

The United Nations Security Council can now decide whether or not it has the resolve to enforce its resolutions.

BASH: This naval base, home to 15,000 military men and women, many of whom recently returned from the USS John F. Kennedy, or big John as it's know, fighting on the war in terrorism in Afghanistan.

BUSH: I'm having a peanut butter and jelly.

BASH: Munching on USS Phillipine Sea, the president ate his favorite sandwich in the mess and personally thanked sailors for their service.

But are they ready for the next deployment? RON HIBMA, U.S. NAVY: I have a baby on the way and can be kind of hard to be away from them for so long if we have to go. But that's what I signed up for so if I have to go, then I have to go.

WAYNE FARLEY, U.S. NAVY: Been through a couple of small things, Desert Storm, etcetera. I mean, you just get used to it. I mean, I'm nervous about leaving my family. But other than that, called to do your job. You have to do your job. That's what your doing. You know, serving your nation.

BACH: Back at the White House, talk of war turned to planning for war ,as members of the president's national security team including the top military brass gather for a meeting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: The president also challenged hesitant nations to use courage and backbone in dealing with Iraq. In less than 24 hours before the chief weapons inspectors report back to the U.N., those words could spell confrontation with key members of the Security Council -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Dana Bash at the White House. Thanks, Dana, very much.

The Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says it's impossible to know how much a war with Iraq would cost the United States or how long troops would remain inside Iraq.

Our Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr has word of what the U.S. troops may might be facing -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Until this week, the Bush administration had been very reluctant to talk about a military occupation of post-war Iraq. But now it appears clear the U.S. military will have a vast role in running Iraq after a war.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STARR (voice-over): On Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Colin Powell made it clear. The American military will run Iraq after the shooting stops.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Fact of the matter is, if we have to go with military force, yes, it will be an American commander who will initially be in charge of that.

STARR: How long would a military occupation last?

The administrations best hope is two years. But it is very uncertain.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the job will be to make Iraq a free and secure society. Its liberation, not occupation, he says.

RUMSFELD: It means that the United States simply has to be willing to stay there as long as is necessary to see that that is done, but not one day longer.

STARR: General Tommy Franks, head of the central command, will have immediate responsibility for administering post-war Iraq. A new Pentagon Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance will oversee the effort. In post-war Iraq, the U.S. military will secure and destroy weapons of mass destruction, coordinate relief supplies, secure and operate oil fields until they can be turned over to Iraqis, work with an Iraqi consultant of counsel on legal issues.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: But, Wolf, two key questions remain, tonight.

What will it cost?

How long will it take?

Nobody knows -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Thanks, Barbara, very much.

Other developments in the show down with Iraq. A stunning claim by Iraq, the Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz says Iraq no longer has the means to attack Israel. Iraq fired 39 scud missiles at the Israelis in the Persian Gulf War in 1991. Aziz discussed the issue in an interview with French television. Aziz is in Rome for a meeting with the Pope John Paul II. Tomorrow, earlier, he rejected an U.N. report that the range of an Iraqi missile system exceeds the limits set by the U.N. Security Council.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin is warning that Russia could use the veto in the Security Council to block a vote authorizing the use of force against Iraq. He was quoted in the French media saying, that "at this time, not helpful to debate possible war with Iraq." France and other permanent members of the Security Council has threatened to use it's veto power if necessary.

The German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, today volunteered to prevent war against Iraq. In a speech to the German Parliament, Mr. Schroeder says that a majority of Security Council members agree with him that war should be avoided. Opposition leaders accused him of isolating Germany, dividing Europe, and wrecking NATO.

And the British Prime Minister Tony Blair in a tough letter to European Union leaders demanded that they not rule out military action in their emergency summit next week. Mr. Blair warned that time is running very short for a peaceful solution to the standoff with Iraq.

Strong words today to Iraq carrying a warning this time that time is running out. They come from one of the top weapons inspectors on the eve of the final report to the United Nations.

Our senior correspondent Richard Roth is joining us now live from New York -- Richard. RICHARD ROTH, SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, it may not be the final report. No. 2, Mohamed ElBaradei, director general, International Atomic Energy Agency, and Hans Blix go before the counsel. On interviews on the planes from Vienna to New York and just outside the U.N. to CNN exclusively a short time ago, ElBaradei said Iraq could exonerate itself if it cooperated 100 percent.

MOHAMED ELBARADEI, DIR GENERAL, IAEA: I think we still have a chance if we continue with our work. If Iraq provides full cooperation. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we should be able to avoid the war.

ROTH: A spokesman for Hans Blix said it's going to be a balance reporting will be an open session, and then the Security Council goes behind closed doors for some wrangling, no doubt, for days to come -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Richard Roth with us all day tomorrow as well. Thanks very much.

ROTH: Secretary of State Colin Powell, is scheduled to be in the New York. As the Security Council hears that latest report on Iraq.

Our State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel joins us with a bit of a preview from the State Department.

ANDREA KOPPEL, STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this is a meeting that Secretary Powell not intended to attend, but aides say once he heard that the foreign ministers from Russia, China, France and Germany were going to be there, Powell changed his plans.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL (voice-over): U.S. officials say Secretary of State Powell won't pull any punches telling Security Council skeptics like France and Germany what he told Congress this week.

POWELL: Some suggest, well, just double or triple the number of inspectors. It isn't a lack of inspectors that's causing the problem. It's Iraq noncompliance.

KOPPEL: As proof, Powell hopes to highlight (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Iraq's missile which U.N. experts have just concluded narrowly exceeds a U.N.-imposed range of 93 miles.

POWELL: I wouldn't prejudge what Dr. Blix will say tomorrow but I think this is a serious matter.

KOPPEL: Officials say Powell plans to push Security Council members to choose sides. Still unclear: what exactly chief U.N. Weapons inspector Hans Blix will say.

Earlier this week, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice urged Blix to report just the facts.

Also up in the air: if and when to introduce a second U.N. resolution. One draft, short and to the point, still circulating between the U.S. and Great Britain, finds Iraq in material breech of 1441 and says it's not cooperating with U.N. inspectors and as a result, must face serious consequences.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: Now part of Powell's mission tomorrow will be to determine how many of those Security Council members would support a second U.N. resolution if it's introduced, perhaps as soon as next week.

State Department officials I've spoken to, Wolf, say that as things stand right now, they believe that 12 out of 15 members would support one with France, Germany and Syria not supporting one. But the big unknown right now is whether or not France would exercise its veto. As you know, it's the only one of those three that's a permanent member of the Security Council -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Andrea Koppel at the State Department. She'll be in New York tomorrow as well. Thanks, Andrea, very much.

And as the Bush administration ramps up its war rhetoric, the prospect of the U.S.-led offensive in Iraq grows stronger. If or when such an offensive commences, how might Iraq respond? That question is no doubt very high in the minds of our next guests -- Republican Congressman Porter Goss of Florida. He's the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. And Representative Jane Harman of California. She's the ranking Democrat on tat committee.

Thanks very much for joining us to both of you.

Mr. Chairman, let me begin with you and specifically, the prospects of Iraq's surprising the U.S. military, perhaps, preempting or getting ready for retaliatory strike with chemical or biological weapons. How much of a concern is that to you?

REP. PORTER GOSS (R), CHMN., INTELLIGENCE CMTE.: Well, obviously, it's a major concern. We are going to have to deal with Iraq sooner or later. Those of us who feel we should take action now feel it would be easier to deal with him sooner.

There's no question that we have the expression of malevolence. We have seen from his track record the kinds of abuses and atrocities he perpetuates on his own people and others. And the theory is that if we can prevent him from being fully armed with weapons of mass destruction now, that we will save ourselves an awful lot of serious bother later.

But if the idea is doing nothing now means that we have a safe haven and a guarantee that Iraq will not bother us because Saddam Hussein will direct the attention elsewhere, that's just a pipe dream, I'm sorry to say.

BLITZER: Congresswoman Harman, are you at all concerned the U.S. is perhaps giving the Iraqis too much time to prepare for a military strike? REP. JANE HARMAN (D), CALIFORNIA: I don't think so, Wolf. I think the presence of the inspectors and the eyes of the world on Iraq are, at least for the very short term, deterring that action.

But let me say two things about your question to Porter Goss. First of all, I thought Saddam Hussein was telling us he didn't have weapons of mass destruction. The irony of his attacking first would be evidence of the world.

Second of all, I think it would mobilize the whole world against him. So I don't think he'll do that. What I worry about is other groups, al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, all these other dangerous terrorist groups with loose affiliates among themselves taking advantage of this opportunity and attacking us in our homeland. And that is why we've gone to higher alerts and it is a very worrisome situation.

BLITZER: Chairman Goss, I know you and Congresswoman Harman and other members of the Intelligence Committee are privy to all sorts of secret information we're not privy to. But based on other information that you have received, is there anything that you've received that would clearly make Secretary Powell, the Bush administration's case much more dramatically that they haven't released public? Obviously, you don't have to tell us what that information is if it's classified.

GOSS: I think they've made a pretty convincing case. I think if you get any further into the kind of details that they could bring out, which are actually very compelling in my view, they -- that it would get into sources and methods that would probably cause us to lose more capability than it would be -- what we would gain in terms of convincing constituency.

I don't think there's any doubt we're dealing with a bad guy. We're dealing with people who want to kill us because we are who we are. And we would like to get away from the kill or be killed formula to the simple prospect of we don't want to be killed, therefore, we're going to disarm you. We are going to stop you before you do something bad to us. That's where the intelligence comes in. We hope we get it right. If we don't, then we need the gates, guns and guards and response mechanisms that we also have in place.

BLTIZER: And briefly to you, Congresswoman Harman. Are you convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that if it comes down to a war, the U.S. will be doing the right thing?

HARMAN: Yes, but I hope that it doesn't come down to a war. I still think that the tougher the action this weekend, or within the next week by the U.N., the more likely there is that there could still be peaceful disarmament. Peaceful disarmament means exile for Saddam Hussein and his nearest and dearest or some kind of internal coup, both of which are slim options at the moment.

But I think that the muzzle has not been to the man's head. He still sees escape patches. He's very artful. He's very deceitful. He's very dangerous. I voted for the House resolution because I felt that with war as a last option, we would maximize the chance for peaceful disarmament through the U.N. and that we would definitely assure the fact that we would disarm a country that's a very dangerous country in the world.

BLITZER: All right. We're going to ask Jane Harman and Porter Goss to stay with us. They'll be joining us later when we talk about terrorism, homeland security right here on U.S. soil.

Stick around. Stay with us.

Here's your chance, by the way, to weigh in on this story. Our Web Question of the Day" is this: "Do you approve of President Bush's handling of the showdown with Iraq?" We'll have the results later in this broadcast. 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, of course, where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

The nation's power centers are under the constant threat of terrorism. We'll go live to New York and here in Washington to find out how people are coping.

Thousands of American troops on their way to the Persian Gulf. Are they ready for combat? We'll go around the country for the big sendoff.

And she ran over her husband on videotape, but was it really murder? Find out the final verdict for Clara Harris.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Thousands more of American troops are gearing up and moving out to the Persian Gulf with possible war with Iraq very much on their minds.

For the latest on our special coverage of this mobilization, let's go to CNN's Kyra Phillips in Atlanta -- Kyra.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Wolf.

CNN has crews monitoring this massive movement of America's military power at three installations. We begin with Patti Davis at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're at U.S. Transportation Command. They're responsible for moving all of the troops, air, land and sea. Now this is the nerve center of the operation right here. Not only troops, but equipment. Now Air Force General John Handy, you are commander of Transcom. Also commander of the Air Mobility Command. How are the deployments going?

GEN. JOHN HANDY, U.S. AIR FORCE: Well, it's fortunately going extremely well. We've got a tremendous number of people here at Transcom. A team of folks literally around the world with out air, land and sea components. And the customers that we support all pulling together to make it happen and it's going extremely well.

DAVIS: Well, and the potential here is that these deployments are even going to pick up faster -- a faster pace and grow now in the coming weeks where there's the potential for war. How you going to handle it?

HANDY: Well, I smile because we're about as busy as we think we could be and we're certainly of the opinion that we can handle anything that comes. But this command is busy 24/7/365, no matter what's going on in the rest of the world, whether it's in Iraq or in Afghanistan or as we talk about in our operation in Antarctica right now. We are really busy and I don't see how it's going to get much busier in the weeks to comes.

DAVIS: That's right. So, no matter if there's a war or not, you still have earthquakes to deal with, you were dealing with the Colombia shuttle break-up.

HANDY: Absolutely. The recovery after the break-up and support through moving teams to the area to help in the post-crisis events.

DAVIS: All right. Thanks, General...

HANDY: Thank you so much.

DAVIS: ... General Handy, here, the commander of Transcom.

Now we go to Dave Mattingly at Fort Campbell.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Assault are very proud of the fact that they fired the first shots in the Gulf War. But today, they're taking some shots of their own. We're talking about vaccinations in progress for some unlucky soldiers. As many as a dozen shots while they're here. Yellow fever to anthrax, and of course now smallpox.

But there's more than just medical issues being addressed here. This entire gymnasium has been converted to what they call a "mobilization station." The purpose is to handle all of the soldiers' personal needs regarding things like insurance, banking, they need to make sure their bills are paid while they're gone. They also need to make sure that the families are taken care of in their absence, financially and legally.

This mobilization station is sort of a one-stop shopping event for about 20,000 troops active and reserve, all of them right now waiting for that order that could come down at any time telling them to get on a plane and head overseas. And of course while they wait, their equipment here is already on the way to port in Jacksonville, Florida, where we find CNN's John Zarrella.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF: When the men and women of the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles arrive at their destination, of course, they're going to want to have their equipment there. Now their equipment is going to get there on a ship just like this, one of these ships.

This is the U.S. Navy ship Dahl. It is 950 feet long, a massive cargo ship capable of carrying 394,000 square feet of cargo. That's some eight football fields worth of cargo on six massive decks. They began loading these ships here yesterday and that loading process is going to continue for a couple days.

Now, this sea lift capability that exists today is actually something that came out of the experience in the Gulf War. Back then, it took six months to move all of the heavy equipment needed to preposition to get it in place for the Gulf War.

Now, since then, there are 20 of these ships like the Dahl and now with the capability that they have, they can move the heavy equipment in 60 days, load it in three days, offload it in 28 hours.

This is John Zarrella reporting from the USS Doll.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well for more on the showdown with Iraq check out our in depth coverage at cnn.com. The AOL keyword is CNN. First click on to the "special reports" tab on our main page. Then when you're there, find the "SHOWDOWN: IRAQ" feature. There's a big picture of Saddam Hussein, you can't miss it. Then click on to -- "go to special report." You've now hit the motherload of information about Iraq.

Wolf, back to you in Washington.

BLITZER: Thanks very much, Kyra. Thanks for that useful information from all of our correspondents.

And there are terror threats and there's also terror fatigue. Are all the warnings just wearing people out or are they preparing them to be safer? We'll take a closer look.

Big guns in the Kuwaiti desert. We'll take you to the Udaria (ph) firing range where U.S. troops are getting ready for war.

You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN. I'm Wolf Blitzer. Coming, terror jitters in the big cities. We'll go live to Washington, D.C. and New York where people are living under constant threat.

But first, let's look at some other stories making news right now in our CNN "News Alert."

(NEWSBREAK)

BLITZER: And as a reminder, the national terror threat level remains at Orange, signifying that there's a high risk of terrorist acts.

Sixty thousand American troops are already in Kuwait and thousands more are arriving all the time all geared up for the possibility of war with Iraq. Today Army Howitzers and rocket launchers took part in live-fire exercises in the Kuwaiti desert. CNN's Ryan Chilcote was there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Howitzers fire 100-pound shells, each of them traveling 13 miles over the horizon, to a huge Kuwaiti firing range.

The colonel in charge of the 3rd Infantry Division's artillery tells his men that a live-fire exercise is invaluable preparation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have set that up to simulation late some of the things we may be asked to do to actually, you know, kick off an attack if it comes to that.

CHILCOTE: Inside one of Howitzers (ph), Sergeant Kirkanensis (ph) crew. To the sergeant, this machine of war can ultimately be an instrument of peace.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fire!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the U.N. inspector deal, that's just continuing to prolong the, you know, the agony and the suffering, and it will continue to go on and, you know, and people who want peace overall is you know, they're not really getting peace.

CHILCOTE: Twenty-two-year-old loader private Nicholas Jackson (ph) says he tries not to think about what might come next.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm still young and to be in the situation where I'm at right now, it's kind of a reality check because, you know, we don't know what's going to happen.

CHILCOTE: The third infantry more than the Howitzer (ph) in its arsenal.

(on camera) The most devastating piece of artillery in the U.S. Army is undoubtedly its rocket launcher. Just one of its loads is capable of destroying an area 10 football fields long by 10 football fields wide.

(voice-over): The launchers fire off their rockets at a rate of one every five seconds. They emerge from hiding only briefly to unleash their power and are heavily fortified with shell shutters to protect the crew from the rocket's explosive force.

Specialist Jamie Granite (ph) has wanted to do this job since seeing a recruitment video.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You just feel a light boom and then sort of cab rocking back and forth from the rockets leaving the pods. CHILCOTE: The job of the artillery is protect advancing infantry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we would use artillery to be able to destroy or suppress the enemy before our close combat troops close within direct fire contact with the enemy. And the objective is to, you know, to destroy him through killing him or, you know, scaring him so bad that he throws down his weapons and runs or crawls in a hole.

CHILCOTE: An objective that many in the third infantry division may soon be put to the test.

Ryan Chilcote, CNN, with the U.S. Army in the Kuwaiti desert.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Good report.

America on alert for terrorism. Are the warnings making people safer or more cynical? We'll go live to New York and Washington, D.C.

And a man run over by his wife in a Mercedes. The jury delivers its verdict in the trial of Clara Harris. We're live in Houston for a reaction.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Raising the threat level for the United States is raising the anxiety level among Americans. The two hot spots are still Washington, D.C. and New York City. Our justice correspondent, Kelli Arena, is in the nation's capital.

CNN's Whitney Casey is in New York.

First , let's go to Kelli with a look at how Washington is gearing up -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the increase in security here in D.C. is very visible as the nation's intelligence agencies work around the clock trying to come up with specific leads to help them prevent a terrorist attack.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA (voice-over) At Washington Hospital, D.C.'s busiest trauma center, the staff trains to suit up in the case of a chemical or biological attack.

DR. CHRISTOPHER WUERKER, WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CTR.: Recently we have acquired more antibiotics, more chemical antidotes, more equipment, but this is stuff that was ordered, you know, long ago. We're getting it now. We are more prepared this week than we are last week. We're better prepared this year versus last year. ARENA: Now that the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj, is over (AUDIO/VIDEO GAP) specific intelligence points to a terror attack soon after.

So-called soft targets, like Washington's subway, are under guard.

CHIEF POLLY HANSON, METRO TRANSIT AUTHORITY: We've increased the number of police officers out here. We have folks on fixed post, highly visible assignments. We've increased the checks of our stations by our explosive detection canine.

ARENA: Washington, D.C. and New York City of particular concern. While there is no specific intelligence about targets in either city, both have been mentioned repeatedly by suspected terrorists. Both are home to financial and symbolic structures.

Officials say agents are watching for unusual movement of people under surveillance worldwide. Analysts are tracking at least a dozen money trails and intelligence operatives are pressuring certain informants who could provide specific information.

GEORGE TENET, CIA DIRECTOR: Intelligence communities working directly and in real time with friendly services overseas and with our law enforcement colleagues here at home to disrupt and capture specific individuals who may be part of this plot.

ARENA: Even if the nation gets through the next few days without an attack, officials say the level of concern is still high.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: While al Qaeda leaders may have agreed that this was a good time to hit, terror cells in the field may not be ready and it is, ultimately, up to them to decide when to strike -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kelli Arena with the latest. Thanks, Kelli, very much.

Let's go to New York City now where Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor George Pataki offered assurances today that every precaution is being taken. New Yorkers have been living under an orange, or high alert, since the 9/11 attacks. That's 17 months ago.

Now that it's gone nationwide, they're taking the news with a sizable dose of cynicism.

Here's CNN's Whitney Casey.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(SINGING)

WHITNEY CASEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On talk radio, backed up in security checkpoint bridge and tunnel traffic, this is what New Yorkers woke up to.

(SINGING)

CASEY: And the NYC orange odyssey continues from the street...

(SIREN)

...into the hardware store.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just feel like the government's causing a lot of hysteria now by telling people to go out and buy duct tape.

CASEY: Yet the duct tape continues to fly off Manhattan shelves in addition to ..

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Flashlights, batteries, first aid kit, hard hats....

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you worried about exactly?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not sure anymore.

CASEY: Confusion in a city, in a country that's been told to keep vigilant.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It definitely has panicked me and I also think the media has a small play in all of this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Different officials have indicated on the news that it might be a good idea for people to have these at home.

CASEY: Food with a two-year shelf life?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They have a really wonderful cookie and they have condiments and they have dessert.

CASEY: And down the street a few blocks, Craig Grace (ph) at his terror supply store.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And this is basically what you're going to look like.

CASEY: Donning a NATO (ph) gas mask, an especially engineered nuclear, biological, chemical suit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We packed everything in that preparedness kit that we've gone over in a portable, lightweight bag.

CASEY: Some sort of reassurance from above.

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (R), NEW YORK: You should go about your business. I don't know how many times I've got to tell you so that you can get the message.

CASEY: And below.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Since 9/11, everything changed from you know, simply even going to even a building. So much security and, you know, it's too much. It's too much. Can't take it sometimes.

(SINGING)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY: Now despite that increased police presence that we do see on the streets here in New York, has been on orange alert for 17 months now. And as you saw from my piece, many New Yorkers feel a bit nonplused about that. Despite that, as you saw at the beginning, Wolf, said Mayor Bloomberg Governor Pataki held those press conferences today in hopes of assuaging some fears, if there are any fears out there.

In addition to that, many people say they continue to hear Mayor Bloomberg say that if you see something suspicious, that all you can do is call 911 and leave the investigation up to the professional.

But, Wolf, I can tell you a bit about the atmosphere. The other night, I was at a dinner party with a lot of young people and a man sitting next to me turned to give me his card and showed that he had some radiation pills in the wallet -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Whitney Casey in New York City, thanks very much for that report.

So, how likely is a terrorist attack on U.S. soil any time soon and what can you do to protect yourself?

I'll ask two people uniquely capable of answering those questions. The chairman a ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Porter Goss and Jane Harman.

Plus, a wife accused of killing her husband with a Mercedes Benz. The final verdict for Clara Harris.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. We have examined the readiness of Washington D.C. and New York City in the event of another terrorist attack here in the United States. We want to bring back the earlier Capitol Hill guests to talk about how prepared they believe all of us are right now.

Joining us once again, Representative Jane Harman she is the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. And Republican Representative Porter Goss of Florida, he of course, the chairman of that panel.

Mr. Chairman, how worried, how nervous should our viewers be right now?

GOSS: What I would say, worried is not a good word. What I would suggest, aware, alert. Those kinds of words are more relevant. We have got a awful lot of rumor going on out there. We have to avoid the hype, and the rumor mongering going on. We're hearing lots of things and deflects questions on it. There is just no information at all to substantiate the rumors about bad things to happen. We're at warning level orange which is high.

Our citizens are helping us by keeping their eyes open. They're phoning things in to the law enforcement people which is what they should be doing. We need patience. We need common sense. I hope this alert is going to be lowered as soon as it is feasible to do that. I expect it will but I don't think anybody should forget that the war of terrorism is going to take sometime. And we're all going to have to get accustomed to the fact that we have to go about our lives looking out for ourselves a little bit more carefully than we might have before 9/11. Because there's an announced enemy out there saying they want to do everything in the power to hurt us. The federal government is doing everything to protect our citizens at home and abroad.

We put out these alerts. They are a deterrent to the enemy. We have disrupted the enemy a number of times. And the fact they know we're aware is a deterrent to the enemy from doing something. So, It helps.

BLITZER: All right.

Congressman Harman, the government had said, the Department of Homeland Security last week when they raised the level to orange that with the end of Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, that could be a time for a terrorist strike here which, of course, would be now or in the coming day.

Do you believe the government is doing a good job to tell us what we need to do?

HARMAM: No. I think the threat level is justified. I've seen the intelligence, just as Porter Goss has seen it. I think the threat level is justified by the threat warning system needs a lot of work. It's easy to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) as the folks in New York are doing. And the problem is that citizens need information about what to look for and what to do. And the first responders and that part what's missing.

And, what I worry about, and I know a lot of people are worrying about this, is what we might call the cry wolf syndrome. I know you're listening to this name, but the problem is people will just tune out and then when the real problem comes, they won't be alert. And so, what I would recommend is that we refine the system that Tom Ridge become the national messenger provide specific as information as possible, and that the list of items to purchase and looking out for get reviewed. Duct tape is not an add adequate answer. I don't even think it's particularly useful.

Food and supplies and perhaps if necessary, some of this head gear to protect us is useful. And the other thing I'd recommend more money for first responders. This morning, at 6:00 a.m., Congress finally agreed on a budget for the fiscal year 2003, which started last October 1. We're going to pass it in the House any minute. It will pass the Senate tomorrow. The president will sign it, but takes months for money to transfer. I would urge the administration as it ramps up for war, a possible war in Iraq. That it remembers part of the war theater is here at home. And that our citizens are under attack.

BLITZER: And very briefly Mr. Chairman, the biggest threat you fear right now?

GOSS: The biggest threat we fear is we'll not handle well the challenge in front of us as a people because of misinformation. So, I would urge people to work on the basis of solid information. We are trying to do our very best to make sure that our intelligence is flowing to our decision makers at a timely way. Everybody's working hard. We are engaged. But it's very hard to defeat rumor and rumor, of course, is a weapon of the terrorists and we don't want to fall victim to it.

BLITZER: OK. Two of the smartest members of the House of Representatives. Thanks very much, Porter Goss and Jane Harman.

HARMAN: Thank you.

BLITZER: And thanks for your patience for sticking with us.

Did she murder her husband or accidentally run over him several times? The jury decides the fate of Clara Harris. We'll go live to Houston, stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: They found her guilty of murder just hours ago. Now a nine woman, three man jury is deciding the punishment for Clara Harris, the Houston dentist convicted of repeatedly and fatally running over her husband with her Mercedes-Benz.

CNN's Art Harris is tracking the emotional trial in Houston.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ART HARRIS, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Only an hour after Clara Harris hurried up the steps into a Houston courthouse today, a jury of nine women and three men came back with its verdict. The trial judge read the result.

JUDGE CAROL DAVIES, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS: We the jury find the defendant Clara L. Harris guilty of murder as charged in the indictment. And that is signed by the presiding juror.

HARRIS: The jury said she used her $70,000 Mercedes as a deadly weapon when she caught her cheating husband with another woman and ran him down.

As the judge polled the jury, a tear ran down the cheek of Clara Harris and squeezed her eyes shut. She could face up to life in prison.

The first witness called to testify in the sentencing phase, her stepdaughter Lindsey Harris who was in the car when her father was killed. "I never got to say good-bye," said Lindsey. When Lindsey testified she later slit the wrists twice in suicide attempts, Clara Harris began sobbing and said, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Lindsey."

The judge warned Clara if there was another outburst, she'd be removed from the courtroom.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Clara Harris was taken into custody during lunch and ate her first meal in jail where she's expected to spend the first night after being convicted of murder -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Art Harris with the latest in Houston. Art, thanks very much.

Don't forget, time is running out for you to answer "Our Web Question of the Day." Do you approve of President Bush's handling of the showdown with Iraq? Log on to cnn.com/wolf. That's where you can vote. We'll have the results coming up.

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Warning from Tokyo. North Korea's recent militant threats have drawn a response from Japan. The Japanese defense minister says his country would launch a strike if there's evidence North Korea is planning a missile attack.

Philippine fighting. Government troops are keeping up the renewed assault against Muslim rebels. The government says more than 100 rebels have been killed in three days of fighting while four government soldiers have died.

Bolivian battle. At least 14 people have died in violence between Bolivian government troops and striking police officers joined by other dissidents. Several government buildings were set on fire.

Bloody brawl. A prison riot in Guatemala left at least six inmates dead including a former military officer convicted in the 1998 assassination of a Catholic bishop. The riots started was a fight among prisoners.

Double trouble. Heavy rain overwhelmed Buenos Aires, Argentina, flooding streets, closing roads and washing away bridges. In two days, the city endured twice as much rain as it usually receives during the entire month of February.

Smoked out. Britain is consigning cigarette ads to the ashtray of history. After a television ban in the 1960s, Britain will extend the ban starting tomorrow to cover tobacco ads in newspapers and magazines and bill boards. About the only place you'll see a British cigarette, in a British smoker's mouth.

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

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: This just in from our Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr following up on a story she reported for us last week. After a lengthy policy review, the Pentagon has now decided against authorizing cremation as a means of disposing of the remains of U.S. troops who may be killed as a result of chemical or biological attack. No cremation for U.S. troops.

Let's get to the results of "Our Web Question of the Day." Remember, we've been asking you this question: do you approve of President Bush's handling of the showdown with Iraq? Look at this, 36 percent of you say yes, 64 percent of you say no. Remember, this is not a scientific poll.

"Our Picture of the Day" comes from Jon Stewart and Comedy Central's "The Daily Show." It may look somewhat familiar, not necessarily entirely.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW": Networks would also face the high cost of covering the war. Hardest hit would of course be CNN, which has already spent $200,000 on a custom-fit Kevlar beard sling for Wolf Blitzer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: OK. That's all the time, unfortunately, we have today. Please join me again tomorrow 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Don't forget "SHOWDOWN: IRAQ" weekdays at noon Eastern. Until then, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.

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






Friday's Security Council Meeting Mean End Game For Iraq?>


Aired February 13, 2003 - 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, HOST: The commander-in-chief rallies the troops for a war.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our military will be fighting the oppressors of Iraq. Not the people of Iraq.

BLITZER: A presidential send off as more American forces deploy for the Gulf.

The president's top advisors are grilled. Will American forces have to rule a post-war Iraq and for how long?

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The United States simply has to be willing to stay there as long as is necessary.

BLITZER: Live fire drills in Kuwait. American forces gear up for a first assault. But what if they face chemical or biological weapons?

Tensions over terrorism on both sides of the Atlantic. A man carrying a live grenade grabbed by British police.

In America, what can the public be told about potential terrorist targets?

Our New York and Washington in the cross hairs?

Who may be planning to hit them?

Talking terrorism with Porter Goss and Jane Harman from the House Intelligence Committee.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We the jury find the defendant Clara L. Harris...

BLITZER: And murder with a Mercedes. The jury speaks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: It's Thursday, February 13 2003.

I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. Tomorrow morning we may get the final word on Iraq. Hans Blix, the chief U.N. weapons inspector will tell the world if Iraq is a threat to be dealt with right away or if he needs more time to disarm Saddam Hussein's regime. But even advance of the report, a determined White House is putting troops on notice.

Today, President Bush told forces in Jacksonville, Florida, to get ready for war. The presidents comments come amid criticism that the United States isn't ready for what happens after the dust settles on the battlefield.

We have correspondents covering every angle of this major story here in Washington, from the White House, the Pentagon, and the State Department.

We begin with CNN's Dana Bash at the White House -- Dana.

DANA BASH, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the president went to Florida today, and he had a very clear message. He told the sailors there, get ready.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BASH (voice-over): The commander-in-chief has not yet issued the order, but addressing a sea of sailors, he predicted the outcome.

BUSH: The American armed forces are brave and ready. And in freedom's cause, we will prevail.

BASH: The president's trip to Mayport Naval Base in Florida was designed to rally the troops and with a backdrop of thousands of ready sailors, rally reluctant nations to join him in possible war with Iraq.

BUSH: The decision is this for the United Nations.

When you say something, does it mean anything?

You have to decide if you lay down a resolution, does it mean anything?

The United Nations Security Council can now decide whether or not it has the resolve to enforce its resolutions.

BASH: This naval base, home to 15,000 military men and women, many of whom recently returned from the USS John F. Kennedy, or big John as it's know, fighting on the war in terrorism in Afghanistan.

BUSH: I'm having a peanut butter and jelly.

BASH: Munching on USS Phillipine Sea, the president ate his favorite sandwich in the mess and personally thanked sailors for their service.

But are they ready for the next deployment? RON HIBMA, U.S. NAVY: I have a baby on the way and can be kind of hard to be away from them for so long if we have to go. But that's what I signed up for so if I have to go, then I have to go.

WAYNE FARLEY, U.S. NAVY: Been through a couple of small things, Desert Storm, etcetera. I mean, you just get used to it. I mean, I'm nervous about leaving my family. But other than that, called to do your job. You have to do your job. That's what your doing. You know, serving your nation.

BACH: Back at the White House, talk of war turned to planning for war ,as members of the president's national security team including the top military brass gather for a meeting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: The president also challenged hesitant nations to use courage and backbone in dealing with Iraq. In less than 24 hours before the chief weapons inspectors report back to the U.N., those words could spell confrontation with key members of the Security Council -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Dana Bash at the White House. Thanks, Dana, very much.

The Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says it's impossible to know how much a war with Iraq would cost the United States or how long troops would remain inside Iraq.

Our Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr has word of what the U.S. troops may might be facing -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Until this week, the Bush administration had been very reluctant to talk about a military occupation of post-war Iraq. But now it appears clear the U.S. military will have a vast role in running Iraq after a war.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STARR (voice-over): On Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Colin Powell made it clear. The American military will run Iraq after the shooting stops.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Fact of the matter is, if we have to go with military force, yes, it will be an American commander who will initially be in charge of that.

STARR: How long would a military occupation last?

The administrations best hope is two years. But it is very uncertain.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the job will be to make Iraq a free and secure society. Its liberation, not occupation, he says.

RUMSFELD: It means that the United States simply has to be willing to stay there as long as is necessary to see that that is done, but not one day longer.

STARR: General Tommy Franks, head of the central command, will have immediate responsibility for administering post-war Iraq. A new Pentagon Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance will oversee the effort. In post-war Iraq, the U.S. military will secure and destroy weapons of mass destruction, coordinate relief supplies, secure and operate oil fields until they can be turned over to Iraqis, work with an Iraqi consultant of counsel on legal issues.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: But, Wolf, two key questions remain, tonight.

What will it cost?

How long will it take?

Nobody knows -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Thanks, Barbara, very much.

Other developments in the show down with Iraq. A stunning claim by Iraq, the Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz says Iraq no longer has the means to attack Israel. Iraq fired 39 scud missiles at the Israelis in the Persian Gulf War in 1991. Aziz discussed the issue in an interview with French television. Aziz is in Rome for a meeting with the Pope John Paul II. Tomorrow, earlier, he rejected an U.N. report that the range of an Iraqi missile system exceeds the limits set by the U.N. Security Council.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin is warning that Russia could use the veto in the Security Council to block a vote authorizing the use of force against Iraq. He was quoted in the French media saying, that "at this time, not helpful to debate possible war with Iraq." France and other permanent members of the Security Council has threatened to use it's veto power if necessary.

The German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, today volunteered to prevent war against Iraq. In a speech to the German Parliament, Mr. Schroeder says that a majority of Security Council members agree with him that war should be avoided. Opposition leaders accused him of isolating Germany, dividing Europe, and wrecking NATO.

And the British Prime Minister Tony Blair in a tough letter to European Union leaders demanded that they not rule out military action in their emergency summit next week. Mr. Blair warned that time is running very short for a peaceful solution to the standoff with Iraq.

Strong words today to Iraq carrying a warning this time that time is running out. They come from one of the top weapons inspectors on the eve of the final report to the United Nations.

Our senior correspondent Richard Roth is joining us now live from New York -- Richard. RICHARD ROTH, SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, it may not be the final report. No. 2, Mohamed ElBaradei, director general, International Atomic Energy Agency, and Hans Blix go before the counsel. On interviews on the planes from Vienna to New York and just outside the U.N. to CNN exclusively a short time ago, ElBaradei said Iraq could exonerate itself if it cooperated 100 percent.

MOHAMED ELBARADEI, DIR GENERAL, IAEA: I think we still have a chance if we continue with our work. If Iraq provides full cooperation. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we should be able to avoid the war.

ROTH: A spokesman for Hans Blix said it's going to be a balance reporting will be an open session, and then the Security Council goes behind closed doors for some wrangling, no doubt, for days to come -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Richard Roth with us all day tomorrow as well. Thanks very much.

ROTH: Secretary of State Colin Powell, is scheduled to be in the New York. As the Security Council hears that latest report on Iraq.

Our State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel joins us with a bit of a preview from the State Department.

ANDREA KOPPEL, STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this is a meeting that Secretary Powell not intended to attend, but aides say once he heard that the foreign ministers from Russia, China, France and Germany were going to be there, Powell changed his plans.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL (voice-over): U.S. officials say Secretary of State Powell won't pull any punches telling Security Council skeptics like France and Germany what he told Congress this week.

POWELL: Some suggest, well, just double or triple the number of inspectors. It isn't a lack of inspectors that's causing the problem. It's Iraq noncompliance.

KOPPEL: As proof, Powell hopes to highlight (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Iraq's missile which U.N. experts have just concluded narrowly exceeds a U.N.-imposed range of 93 miles.

POWELL: I wouldn't prejudge what Dr. Blix will say tomorrow but I think this is a serious matter.

KOPPEL: Officials say Powell plans to push Security Council members to choose sides. Still unclear: what exactly chief U.N. Weapons inspector Hans Blix will say.

Earlier this week, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice urged Blix to report just the facts.

Also up in the air: if and when to introduce a second U.N. resolution. One draft, short and to the point, still circulating between the U.S. and Great Britain, finds Iraq in material breech of 1441 and says it's not cooperating with U.N. inspectors and as a result, must face serious consequences.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: Now part of Powell's mission tomorrow will be to determine how many of those Security Council members would support a second U.N. resolution if it's introduced, perhaps as soon as next week.

State Department officials I've spoken to, Wolf, say that as things stand right now, they believe that 12 out of 15 members would support one with France, Germany and Syria not supporting one. But the big unknown right now is whether or not France would exercise its veto. As you know, it's the only one of those three that's a permanent member of the Security Council -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Andrea Koppel at the State Department. She'll be in New York tomorrow as well. Thanks, Andrea, very much.

And as the Bush administration ramps up its war rhetoric, the prospect of the U.S.-led offensive in Iraq grows stronger. If or when such an offensive commences, how might Iraq respond? That question is no doubt very high in the minds of our next guests -- Republican Congressman Porter Goss of Florida. He's the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. And Representative Jane Harman of California. She's the ranking Democrat on tat committee.

Thanks very much for joining us to both of you.

Mr. Chairman, let me begin with you and specifically, the prospects of Iraq's surprising the U.S. military, perhaps, preempting or getting ready for retaliatory strike with chemical or biological weapons. How much of a concern is that to you?

REP. PORTER GOSS (R), CHMN., INTELLIGENCE CMTE.: Well, obviously, it's a major concern. We are going to have to deal with Iraq sooner or later. Those of us who feel we should take action now feel it would be easier to deal with him sooner.

There's no question that we have the expression of malevolence. We have seen from his track record the kinds of abuses and atrocities he perpetuates on his own people and others. And the theory is that if we can prevent him from being fully armed with weapons of mass destruction now, that we will save ourselves an awful lot of serious bother later.

But if the idea is doing nothing now means that we have a safe haven and a guarantee that Iraq will not bother us because Saddam Hussein will direct the attention elsewhere, that's just a pipe dream, I'm sorry to say.

BLITZER: Congresswoman Harman, are you at all concerned the U.S. is perhaps giving the Iraqis too much time to prepare for a military strike? REP. JANE HARMAN (D), CALIFORNIA: I don't think so, Wolf. I think the presence of the inspectors and the eyes of the world on Iraq are, at least for the very short term, deterring that action.

But let me say two things about your question to Porter Goss. First of all, I thought Saddam Hussein was telling us he didn't have weapons of mass destruction. The irony of his attacking first would be evidence of the world.

Second of all, I think it would mobilize the whole world against him. So I don't think he'll do that. What I worry about is other groups, al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, all these other dangerous terrorist groups with loose affiliates among themselves taking advantage of this opportunity and attacking us in our homeland. And that is why we've gone to higher alerts and it is a very worrisome situation.

BLITZER: Chairman Goss, I know you and Congresswoman Harman and other members of the Intelligence Committee are privy to all sorts of secret information we're not privy to. But based on other information that you have received, is there anything that you've received that would clearly make Secretary Powell, the Bush administration's case much more dramatically that they haven't released public? Obviously, you don't have to tell us what that information is if it's classified.

GOSS: I think they've made a pretty convincing case. I think if you get any further into the kind of details that they could bring out, which are actually very compelling in my view, they -- that it would get into sources and methods that would probably cause us to lose more capability than it would be -- what we would gain in terms of convincing constituency.

I don't think there's any doubt we're dealing with a bad guy. We're dealing with people who want to kill us because we are who we are. And we would like to get away from the kill or be killed formula to the simple prospect of we don't want to be killed, therefore, we're going to disarm you. We are going to stop you before you do something bad to us. That's where the intelligence comes in. We hope we get it right. If we don't, then we need the gates, guns and guards and response mechanisms that we also have in place.

BLTIZER: And briefly to you, Congresswoman Harman. Are you convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that if it comes down to a war, the U.S. will be doing the right thing?

HARMAN: Yes, but I hope that it doesn't come down to a war. I still think that the tougher the action this weekend, or within the next week by the U.N., the more likely there is that there could still be peaceful disarmament. Peaceful disarmament means exile for Saddam Hussein and his nearest and dearest or some kind of internal coup, both of which are slim options at the moment.

But I think that the muzzle has not been to the man's head. He still sees escape patches. He's very artful. He's very deceitful. He's very dangerous. I voted for the House resolution because I felt that with war as a last option, we would maximize the chance for peaceful disarmament through the U.N. and that we would definitely assure the fact that we would disarm a country that's a very dangerous country in the world.

BLITZER: All right. We're going to ask Jane Harman and Porter Goss to stay with us. They'll be joining us later when we talk about terrorism, homeland security right here on U.S. soil.

Stick around. Stay with us.

Here's your chance, by the way, to weigh in on this story. Our Web Question of the Day" is this: "Do you approve of President Bush's handling of the showdown with Iraq?" We'll have the results later in this broadcast. 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, of course, where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

The nation's power centers are under the constant threat of terrorism. We'll go live to New York and here in Washington to find out how people are coping.

Thousands of American troops on their way to the Persian Gulf. Are they ready for combat? We'll go around the country for the big sendoff.

And she ran over her husband on videotape, but was it really murder? Find out the final verdict for Clara Harris.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Thousands more of American troops are gearing up and moving out to the Persian Gulf with possible war with Iraq very much on their minds.

For the latest on our special coverage of this mobilization, let's go to CNN's Kyra Phillips in Atlanta -- Kyra.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Wolf.

CNN has crews monitoring this massive movement of America's military power at three installations. We begin with Patti Davis at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're at U.S. Transportation Command. They're responsible for moving all of the troops, air, land and sea. Now this is the nerve center of the operation right here. Not only troops, but equipment. Now Air Force General John Handy, you are commander of Transcom. Also commander of the Air Mobility Command. How are the deployments going?

GEN. JOHN HANDY, U.S. AIR FORCE: Well, it's fortunately going extremely well. We've got a tremendous number of people here at Transcom. A team of folks literally around the world with out air, land and sea components. And the customers that we support all pulling together to make it happen and it's going extremely well.

DAVIS: Well, and the potential here is that these deployments are even going to pick up faster -- a faster pace and grow now in the coming weeks where there's the potential for war. How you going to handle it?

HANDY: Well, I smile because we're about as busy as we think we could be and we're certainly of the opinion that we can handle anything that comes. But this command is busy 24/7/365, no matter what's going on in the rest of the world, whether it's in Iraq or in Afghanistan or as we talk about in our operation in Antarctica right now. We are really busy and I don't see how it's going to get much busier in the weeks to comes.

DAVIS: That's right. So, no matter if there's a war or not, you still have earthquakes to deal with, you were dealing with the Colombia shuttle break-up.

HANDY: Absolutely. The recovery after the break-up and support through moving teams to the area to help in the post-crisis events.

DAVIS: All right. Thanks, General...

HANDY: Thank you so much.

DAVIS: ... General Handy, here, the commander of Transcom.

Now we go to Dave Mattingly at Fort Campbell.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Assault are very proud of the fact that they fired the first shots in the Gulf War. But today, they're taking some shots of their own. We're talking about vaccinations in progress for some unlucky soldiers. As many as a dozen shots while they're here. Yellow fever to anthrax, and of course now smallpox.

But there's more than just medical issues being addressed here. This entire gymnasium has been converted to what they call a "mobilization station." The purpose is to handle all of the soldiers' personal needs regarding things like insurance, banking, they need to make sure their bills are paid while they're gone. They also need to make sure that the families are taken care of in their absence, financially and legally.

This mobilization station is sort of a one-stop shopping event for about 20,000 troops active and reserve, all of them right now waiting for that order that could come down at any time telling them to get on a plane and head overseas. And of course while they wait, their equipment here is already on the way to port in Jacksonville, Florida, where we find CNN's John Zarrella.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF: When the men and women of the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles arrive at their destination, of course, they're going to want to have their equipment there. Now their equipment is going to get there on a ship just like this, one of these ships.

This is the U.S. Navy ship Dahl. It is 950 feet long, a massive cargo ship capable of carrying 394,000 square feet of cargo. That's some eight football fields worth of cargo on six massive decks. They began loading these ships here yesterday and that loading process is going to continue for a couple days.

Now, this sea lift capability that exists today is actually something that came out of the experience in the Gulf War. Back then, it took six months to move all of the heavy equipment needed to preposition to get it in place for the Gulf War.

Now, since then, there are 20 of these ships like the Dahl and now with the capability that they have, they can move the heavy equipment in 60 days, load it in three days, offload it in 28 hours.

This is John Zarrella reporting from the USS Doll.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well for more on the showdown with Iraq check out our in depth coverage at cnn.com. The AOL keyword is CNN. First click on to the "special reports" tab on our main page. Then when you're there, find the "SHOWDOWN: IRAQ" feature. There's a big picture of Saddam Hussein, you can't miss it. Then click on to -- "go to special report." You've now hit the motherload of information about Iraq.

Wolf, back to you in Washington.

BLITZER: Thanks very much, Kyra. Thanks for that useful information from all of our correspondents.

And there are terror threats and there's also terror fatigue. Are all the warnings just wearing people out or are they preparing them to be safer? We'll take a closer look.

Big guns in the Kuwaiti desert. We'll take you to the Udaria (ph) firing range where U.S. troops are getting ready for war.

You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN. I'm Wolf Blitzer. Coming, terror jitters in the big cities. We'll go live to Washington, D.C. and New York where people are living under constant threat.

But first, let's look at some other stories making news right now in our CNN "News Alert."

(NEWSBREAK)

BLITZER: And as a reminder, the national terror threat level remains at Orange, signifying that there's a high risk of terrorist acts.

Sixty thousand American troops are already in Kuwait and thousands more are arriving all the time all geared up for the possibility of war with Iraq. Today Army Howitzers and rocket launchers took part in live-fire exercises in the Kuwaiti desert. CNN's Ryan Chilcote was there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Howitzers fire 100-pound shells, each of them traveling 13 miles over the horizon, to a huge Kuwaiti firing range.

The colonel in charge of the 3rd Infantry Division's artillery tells his men that a live-fire exercise is invaluable preparation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have set that up to simulation late some of the things we may be asked to do to actually, you know, kick off an attack if it comes to that.

CHILCOTE: Inside one of Howitzers (ph), Sergeant Kirkanensis (ph) crew. To the sergeant, this machine of war can ultimately be an instrument of peace.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fire!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the U.N. inspector deal, that's just continuing to prolong the, you know, the agony and the suffering, and it will continue to go on and, you know, and people who want peace overall is you know, they're not really getting peace.

CHILCOTE: Twenty-two-year-old loader private Nicholas Jackson (ph) says he tries not to think about what might come next.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm still young and to be in the situation where I'm at right now, it's kind of a reality check because, you know, we don't know what's going to happen.

CHILCOTE: The third infantry more than the Howitzer (ph) in its arsenal.

(on camera) The most devastating piece of artillery in the U.S. Army is undoubtedly its rocket launcher. Just one of its loads is capable of destroying an area 10 football fields long by 10 football fields wide.

(voice-over): The launchers fire off their rockets at a rate of one every five seconds. They emerge from hiding only briefly to unleash their power and are heavily fortified with shell shutters to protect the crew from the rocket's explosive force.

Specialist Jamie Granite (ph) has wanted to do this job since seeing a recruitment video.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You just feel a light boom and then sort of cab rocking back and forth from the rockets leaving the pods. CHILCOTE: The job of the artillery is protect advancing infantry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we would use artillery to be able to destroy or suppress the enemy before our close combat troops close within direct fire contact with the enemy. And the objective is to, you know, to destroy him through killing him or, you know, scaring him so bad that he throws down his weapons and runs or crawls in a hole.

CHILCOTE: An objective that many in the third infantry division may soon be put to the test.

Ryan Chilcote, CNN, with the U.S. Army in the Kuwaiti desert.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Good report.

America on alert for terrorism. Are the warnings making people safer or more cynical? We'll go live to New York and Washington, D.C.

And a man run over by his wife in a Mercedes. The jury delivers its verdict in the trial of Clara Harris. We're live in Houston for a reaction.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Raising the threat level for the United States is raising the anxiety level among Americans. The two hot spots are still Washington, D.C. and New York City. Our justice correspondent, Kelli Arena, is in the nation's capital.

CNN's Whitney Casey is in New York.

First , let's go to Kelli with a look at how Washington is gearing up -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the increase in security here in D.C. is very visible as the nation's intelligence agencies work around the clock trying to come up with specific leads to help them prevent a terrorist attack.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA (voice-over) At Washington Hospital, D.C.'s busiest trauma center, the staff trains to suit up in the case of a chemical or biological attack.

DR. CHRISTOPHER WUERKER, WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CTR.: Recently we have acquired more antibiotics, more chemical antidotes, more equipment, but this is stuff that was ordered, you know, long ago. We're getting it now. We are more prepared this week than we are last week. We're better prepared this year versus last year. ARENA: Now that the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj, is over (AUDIO/VIDEO GAP) specific intelligence points to a terror attack soon after.

So-called soft targets, like Washington's subway, are under guard.

CHIEF POLLY HANSON, METRO TRANSIT AUTHORITY: We've increased the number of police officers out here. We have folks on fixed post, highly visible assignments. We've increased the checks of our stations by our explosive detection canine.

ARENA: Washington, D.C. and New York City of particular concern. While there is no specific intelligence about targets in either city, both have been mentioned repeatedly by suspected terrorists. Both are home to financial and symbolic structures.

Officials say agents are watching for unusual movement of people under surveillance worldwide. Analysts are tracking at least a dozen money trails and intelligence operatives are pressuring certain informants who could provide specific information.

GEORGE TENET, CIA DIRECTOR: Intelligence communities working directly and in real time with friendly services overseas and with our law enforcement colleagues here at home to disrupt and capture specific individuals who may be part of this plot.

ARENA: Even if the nation gets through the next few days without an attack, officials say the level of concern is still high.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: While al Qaeda leaders may have agreed that this was a good time to hit, terror cells in the field may not be ready and it is, ultimately, up to them to decide when to strike -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kelli Arena with the latest. Thanks, Kelli, very much.

Let's go to New York City now where Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor George Pataki offered assurances today that every precaution is being taken. New Yorkers have been living under an orange, or high alert, since the 9/11 attacks. That's 17 months ago.

Now that it's gone nationwide, they're taking the news with a sizable dose of cynicism.

Here's CNN's Whitney Casey.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(SINGING)

WHITNEY CASEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On talk radio, backed up in security checkpoint bridge and tunnel traffic, this is what New Yorkers woke up to.

(SINGING)

CASEY: And the NYC orange odyssey continues from the street...

(SIREN)

...into the hardware store.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just feel like the government's causing a lot of hysteria now by telling people to go out and buy duct tape.

CASEY: Yet the duct tape continues to fly off Manhattan shelves in addition to ..

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Flashlights, batteries, first aid kit, hard hats....

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you worried about exactly?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not sure anymore.

CASEY: Confusion in a city, in a country that's been told to keep vigilant.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It definitely has panicked me and I also think the media has a small play in all of this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Different officials have indicated on the news that it might be a good idea for people to have these at home.

CASEY: Food with a two-year shelf life?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They have a really wonderful cookie and they have condiments and they have dessert.

CASEY: And down the street a few blocks, Craig Grace (ph) at his terror supply store.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And this is basically what you're going to look like.

CASEY: Donning a NATO (ph) gas mask, an especially engineered nuclear, biological, chemical suit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We packed everything in that preparedness kit that we've gone over in a portable, lightweight bag.

CASEY: Some sort of reassurance from above.

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (R), NEW YORK: You should go about your business. I don't know how many times I've got to tell you so that you can get the message.

CASEY: And below.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Since 9/11, everything changed from you know, simply even going to even a building. So much security and, you know, it's too much. It's too much. Can't take it sometimes.

(SINGING)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY: Now despite that increased police presence that we do see on the streets here in New York, has been on orange alert for 17 months now. And as you saw from my piece, many New Yorkers feel a bit nonplused about that. Despite that, as you saw at the beginning, Wolf, said Mayor Bloomberg Governor Pataki held those press conferences today in hopes of assuaging some fears, if there are any fears out there.

In addition to that, many people say they continue to hear Mayor Bloomberg say that if you see something suspicious, that all you can do is call 911 and leave the investigation up to the professional.

But, Wolf, I can tell you a bit about the atmosphere. The other night, I was at a dinner party with a lot of young people and a man sitting next to me turned to give me his card and showed that he had some radiation pills in the wallet -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Whitney Casey in New York City, thanks very much for that report.

So, how likely is a terrorist attack on U.S. soil any time soon and what can you do to protect yourself?

I'll ask two people uniquely capable of answering those questions. The chairman a ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Porter Goss and Jane Harman.

Plus, a wife accused of killing her husband with a Mercedes Benz. The final verdict for Clara Harris.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. We have examined the readiness of Washington D.C. and New York City in the event of another terrorist attack here in the United States. We want to bring back the earlier Capitol Hill guests to talk about how prepared they believe all of us are right now.

Joining us once again, Representative Jane Harman she is the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. And Republican Representative Porter Goss of Florida, he of course, the chairman of that panel.

Mr. Chairman, how worried, how nervous should our viewers be right now?

GOSS: What I would say, worried is not a good word. What I would suggest, aware, alert. Those kinds of words are more relevant. We have got a awful lot of rumor going on out there. We have to avoid the hype, and the rumor mongering going on. We're hearing lots of things and deflects questions on it. There is just no information at all to substantiate the rumors about bad things to happen. We're at warning level orange which is high.

Our citizens are helping us by keeping their eyes open. They're phoning things in to the law enforcement people which is what they should be doing. We need patience. We need common sense. I hope this alert is going to be lowered as soon as it is feasible to do that. I expect it will but I don't think anybody should forget that the war of terrorism is going to take sometime. And we're all going to have to get accustomed to the fact that we have to go about our lives looking out for ourselves a little bit more carefully than we might have before 9/11. Because there's an announced enemy out there saying they want to do everything in the power to hurt us. The federal government is doing everything to protect our citizens at home and abroad.

We put out these alerts. They are a deterrent to the enemy. We have disrupted the enemy a number of times. And the fact they know we're aware is a deterrent to the enemy from doing something. So, It helps.

BLITZER: All right.

Congressman Harman, the government had said, the Department of Homeland Security last week when they raised the level to orange that with the end of Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, that could be a time for a terrorist strike here which, of course, would be now or in the coming day.

Do you believe the government is doing a good job to tell us what we need to do?

HARMAM: No. I think the threat level is justified. I've seen the intelligence, just as Porter Goss has seen it. I think the threat level is justified by the threat warning system needs a lot of work. It's easy to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) as the folks in New York are doing. And the problem is that citizens need information about what to look for and what to do. And the first responders and that part what's missing.

And, what I worry about, and I know a lot of people are worrying about this, is what we might call the cry wolf syndrome. I know you're listening to this name, but the problem is people will just tune out and then when the real problem comes, they won't be alert. And so, what I would recommend is that we refine the system that Tom Ridge become the national messenger provide specific as information as possible, and that the list of items to purchase and looking out for get reviewed. Duct tape is not an add adequate answer. I don't even think it's particularly useful.

Food and supplies and perhaps if necessary, some of this head gear to protect us is useful. And the other thing I'd recommend more money for first responders. This morning, at 6:00 a.m., Congress finally agreed on a budget for the fiscal year 2003, which started last October 1. We're going to pass it in the House any minute. It will pass the Senate tomorrow. The president will sign it, but takes months for money to transfer. I would urge the administration as it ramps up for war, a possible war in Iraq. That it remembers part of the war theater is here at home. And that our citizens are under attack.

BLITZER: And very briefly Mr. Chairman, the biggest threat you fear right now?

GOSS: The biggest threat we fear is we'll not handle well the challenge in front of us as a people because of misinformation. So, I would urge people to work on the basis of solid information. We are trying to do our very best to make sure that our intelligence is flowing to our decision makers at a timely way. Everybody's working hard. We are engaged. But it's very hard to defeat rumor and rumor, of course, is a weapon of the terrorists and we don't want to fall victim to it.

BLITZER: OK. Two of the smartest members of the House of Representatives. Thanks very much, Porter Goss and Jane Harman.

HARMAN: Thank you.

BLITZER: And thanks for your patience for sticking with us.

Did she murder her husband or accidentally run over him several times? The jury decides the fate of Clara Harris. We'll go live to Houston, stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: They found her guilty of murder just hours ago. Now a nine woman, three man jury is deciding the punishment for Clara Harris, the Houston dentist convicted of repeatedly and fatally running over her husband with her Mercedes-Benz.

CNN's Art Harris is tracking the emotional trial in Houston.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ART HARRIS, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Only an hour after Clara Harris hurried up the steps into a Houston courthouse today, a jury of nine women and three men came back with its verdict. The trial judge read the result.

JUDGE CAROL DAVIES, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS: We the jury find the defendant Clara L. Harris guilty of murder as charged in the indictment. And that is signed by the presiding juror.

HARRIS: The jury said she used her $70,000 Mercedes as a deadly weapon when she caught her cheating husband with another woman and ran him down.

As the judge polled the jury, a tear ran down the cheek of Clara Harris and squeezed her eyes shut. She could face up to life in prison.

The first witness called to testify in the sentencing phase, her stepdaughter Lindsey Harris who was in the car when her father was killed. "I never got to say good-bye," said Lindsey. When Lindsey testified she later slit the wrists twice in suicide attempts, Clara Harris began sobbing and said, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Lindsey."

The judge warned Clara if there was another outburst, she'd be removed from the courtroom.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Clara Harris was taken into custody during lunch and ate her first meal in jail where she's expected to spend the first night after being convicted of murder -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Art Harris with the latest in Houston. Art, thanks very much.

Don't forget, time is running out for you to answer "Our Web Question of the Day." Do you approve of President Bush's handling of the showdown with Iraq? Log on to cnn.com/wolf. That's where you can vote. We'll have the results coming up.

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Warning from Tokyo. North Korea's recent militant threats have drawn a response from Japan. The Japanese defense minister says his country would launch a strike if there's evidence North Korea is planning a missile attack.

Philippine fighting. Government troops are keeping up the renewed assault against Muslim rebels. The government says more than 100 rebels have been killed in three days of fighting while four government soldiers have died.

Bolivian battle. At least 14 people have died in violence between Bolivian government troops and striking police officers joined by other dissidents. Several government buildings were set on fire.

Bloody brawl. A prison riot in Guatemala left at least six inmates dead including a former military officer convicted in the 1998 assassination of a Catholic bishop. The riots started was a fight among prisoners.

Double trouble. Heavy rain overwhelmed Buenos Aires, Argentina, flooding streets, closing roads and washing away bridges. In two days, the city endured twice as much rain as it usually receives during the entire month of February.

Smoked out. Britain is consigning cigarette ads to the ashtray of history. After a television ban in the 1960s, Britain will extend the ban starting tomorrow to cover tobacco ads in newspapers and magazines and bill boards. About the only place you'll see a British cigarette, in a British smoker's mouth.

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

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: This just in from our Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr following up on a story she reported for us last week. After a lengthy policy review, the Pentagon has now decided against authorizing cremation as a means of disposing of the remains of U.S. troops who may be killed as a result of chemical or biological attack. No cremation for U.S. troops.

Let's get to the results of "Our Web Question of the Day." Remember, we've been asking you this question: do you approve of President Bush's handling of the showdown with Iraq? Look at this, 36 percent of you say yes, 64 percent of you say no. Remember, this is not a scientific poll.

"Our Picture of the Day" comes from Jon Stewart and Comedy Central's "The Daily Show." It may look somewhat familiar, not necessarily entirely.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW": Networks would also face the high cost of covering the war. Hardest hit would of course be CNN, which has already spent $200,000 on a custom-fit Kevlar beard sling for Wolf Blitzer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: OK. That's all the time, unfortunately, we have today. Please join me again tomorrow 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Don't forget "SHOWDOWN: IRAQ" weekdays at noon Eastern. Until then, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.

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Friday's Security Council Meeting Mean End Game For Iraq?>