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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
Elite Iraqi Troops Moving As Another U.S. Carrier Arrives; U.N. Waits to Hear if Saddam Will Destroy Illegal Missiles
Aired February 27, 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.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: WOLF BLITZER REPORTS starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): Showdown: Iraq. Elite Iraqi troops on the move, as another U.S. carrier arrives. Are the battle lines being drawn?
As the U.S. works to line up support for war, the U.N. waits to hear if Saddam Hussein will destroy illegal missiles.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The rockets are just the tip of the iceberg.
BLITZER: The Iraqi leader tells his people to dig in.
Code yellow. The terror threat level is lowered. Are you any safer?
Long before al Qaeda, Hezbollah was killing Americans abroad. Is it ready to strike in the U.S.?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: It's Thursday, February 27, 2003. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.
Closing the noose. Another U.S. aircraft carrier is moving in, to be followed soon by stealth bombers. Iraqi forces are moving back, perhaps to defend Baghdad. As the U.N. debates a war which seems ever closer, the Bush administration looks beyond a war to the rebuilding of a new Iraq.
We'll go live to the White House and the United Nations, but we begin with our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre -- Jamie.
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the U.S. military is putting the final pieces in place for the war plan. Meanwhile, Iraq is giving signs that it is regrouping.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE (voice-over): Deployment orders have been signed for B- 2 stealth bombers to begin moving next week from Whiteman Air Force base in Missouri to a forward base in Diego Garcia. The British base in the Indian Ocean is roughly 3,200 miles from Baghdad, about a six hour flight for the subsonic B-2s.
Pentagon sources say the arrival of the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk in the Persian Gulf this week completes the planned deployment of five carriers called for in the U.S. war plan.
Sources say unlike in the 1991 Gulf War, two carriers will be based in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and will send their warplanes over a northern route, avoiding Syrian and Jordanian airspace by flying and refueling over Turkey, while three other carriers in the Persian Gulf will attack from the south, flying over Kuwait and Saudi airspace.
Meanwhile, Iraqis are girding for war, digging wells, stacking sandbags and buying guns. Pentagon sources say the Iraqi military is digging trenches and filling them with oil, a tactic Saddam Hussein could use to ring Baghdad with smoke and fire.
HUSSAIN AL-SHAHRISTANI, FMR. IRAQI NUCLEAR SCIENTIST: Whenever he decides the time is right, he will try to detonate it so as to entrap the people inside the city and also to hinder the advancement of the troops to the city.
MCINTYRE: While the smoke could thwart laser-guided bombs, it would provide no defense against satellite guided bombs, which are the weapons of choice for the Pentagon. The U.S. is also watching the movement of Iraq's first Adnan mechanized Republican guard division, south from their usual base in Mosul to an area just north of Tikrit, a power base for Saddam Hussein.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE: Now some at the Pentagon think that Iraq might be waiting to see if the U.S. gets the go ahead to put troops in Turkey before moving that Republican guard division farther south to protect Baghdad.
Here's another sign, Wolf, by the way, that the war may be drawing closer. Today at the Pentagon, bureau chiefs of Washington- based news organizations were warned that their reporters in Baghdad will be in far more danger this time than in 1991 because of the devastating attack planned by the U.S. military. And those news organizations, we are told, they can't be guaranteed of getting another warning before any bombs fall -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon, thanks very much.
In response to that warning from the Pentagon, CNN has issued this statement. I'll read it to our viewers. CNN, while being keenly aware of the many dangers in Iraq will continue reporting from there for as long as CNN and its staff on the ground believe it is prudent to do so. The statement goes on to say we are monitoring the situation carefully and we'll keep our options open.
Will a new report from the U.N.'s chief weapons inspector give the U.S. more ammunition in making its case for a new resolution on Iraq?
For that, let's go live to our senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it appears that Hans Blix's next quarterly update is sort of negative in tone regarding Iraq's cooperation.
CNN has obtained excerpts read to us over the telephone from the report, which is not yet officially in the hands of the United Nations Security Council and thus not an official document. The report basically says, from Dr. Blix, that during the period of time covered in this three-month report, "Iraq could have made a greater effort to find remaining prescribed items or credible evidence showing the absence of such items." And Blix goes on to say, "The results in terms of disarmament have been very limited so far."
Blix also adds, "It is hard to understand why a number of the measures which are now being taken could not have been initiated earlier. If they had been taken earlier," the Blix draft says, "they might have borne fruit by now."
Dr. Blix may be the only avenue to resolve a deadlock in the Security Council, which had its first meeting today on the new resolution. But it solved nothing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROTH (voice-over): The Security Council preaches unity as the best way to achieve world peace. After what was described as an intense closed-door meeting the Council was nearly fractured over the need for a new resolution, a virtual authorization for war against Iraq.
Breaking with diplomatic protocol, one of the uncommitted countries on the Council, Chile, pointed fingers at both the U.S. camp and the European-Russian side.
JUAN GABRIEL VALDES, CHILEAN AMB. TO U.N.: This divided Council is, in fact, throwing the decision on the shoulders of the elected members while the permanent members stick to their positions without making efforts to approximate the views.
ROTH: It was the first meeting for the Council as a whole on the resolution. Several diplomats said no nations budged in an effort to close gaps.
The British said, It's time to give up on inspections.
JEREMY GREENSTOCK, BRITISH AMB. TO U.N.: There's no future in the inspectors unless they have the cooperation of Iraq.
ROTH: But the French said inspections are working.
JEAN-MARC DE LA SABLIERE, FRENCH AMB. TO U.N.: In the Council, the majority of the member think that the time has not come to decide to go to war.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROTH: Elsewhere in Council post-meeting buzz, the Chilean deputy ambassador said -- quote -- "Nobody's making any attempts to close the gaps. We're all coming up with innovative ways to defening our own positions with increasing levels of irritation."
One lighter note, the German ambassador gave Russian Ambassador Lavrov a pair of binoculars and said "We are all inspectors now" -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Richard Roth at the U.N., thanks very much for that report.
The United Nations has given Iraq until Saturday to start destroying its Al Samoud 2 missiles.
Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is in Baghdad with today's developments.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No word yet from Iraqi officials whether or not they'll meet the U.N. deadline to begin destroying their Al Samoud 2 missiles.
On Saturday, the latest from Iraqi officials is still that they are studying the letter from U.N. Weapons Chief Hans Blix, demanding that destruction begin Saturday.
Also, a very stark warning for the people of Iraq coming from President Saddam Hussein. That came during a meeting between the Iraqi leader and the governors of the different provinces around Iraq. Those governors telling President Saddam Hussein that their regions were ready and prepared in case there was a war.
The Iraqi leader telling the Iraqi people that if there was bombing, and most people here say the thing that they fear the most is bombing. In case of a war, the Iraqi leader saying the best thing people here could do would be to dig trenches in their gardens, hide in those trenches with their families if the bombing started and that would be the best way that they could survive the bombing. So a very clear indication for the people of Iraq that potential for war could be getting much closer.
Some progress for the U.N. weapons inspectors, going to a site where Iraq said in 1991 it had unilaterally destroyed some biological bombs, the so-called R400 bombs. At this site, Iraqi officials have begun excavating this site. They have dug up some parts and fragments of those bombs. U.N. inspectors have visited that site, however, so far, they have not made a determination what biological agents may have been disposed of at that site.
Iraqi -- U.N. officials, rather, say a team of U.N. experts will arrive into Baghdad this weekend and that will be one of their assignments -- to look at this particular site to try to ascertain whether or not or how much of any biological agent was disposed of there.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: For his part, President Bush says destroying those Al Samoud 2 missiles is by no means enough.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: I noticed today there is some talk about the illegal rockets in Iraq. This is part of his -- the discussion about the rockets is part of his campaign of deception. He'll say, I'm not going to destroy the rocket and then he'll change his mind this weekend and destroy the rockets and say, I've disarmed. The rockets are just the tip of the iceberg.
The only question at hand is total, complete disarmament, which he is refusing to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: The president spoke by phone today with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, but there's no word whether he got assurances that Russia would not veto the U.N. Security Council resolution that's now on the table.
We do know that President Putin has been trying to head off war, most recently dispatching the former premier, Yevgeny Primakov, to Baghdad for a meeting with Saddam Hussein, and since then President Putin has dispatched a high aide of his to Washington for high-level meetings over at the White House and the State Department. We're continuing to follow that Russian element of this story.
In the meantime, President Bush met today with Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai to discuss the rebuilding of that wartorn nation, a test case for what possibly could happen in Iraq.
For that let's go live to CNN's Chris Burns. He's over at the White House -- Chris.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf. Exactly.
President Bush trying to show at least the underlying message of that meeting with Hamid Karzai, was that you can be successful at regime change.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BURNS (voice-over): From a land where the U.S. toppled a terrorist-linked regime, Afghanistan's new leader comes to express his gratitude.
HAMID KARZAI, PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN: I'm also here to ask you to do more for us in making the life of the Afghan people, better, more stable, more peaceful.
BURNS: In other words, it's a costly job that's far from over. Where true democracy is also a far away dream. Nevertheless, President Bush is pushing regime change and nation building in another land.
BUSH: Rebuilding Iraq will require sustained commitment from many nations, including our own. We will remain in Iraq as long as necessary. And not a day more.
BURNS: Quite a change from his days on the campaign trail blasting the Clinton/Gore administration for attempted nation building in Somalia and elsewhere.
BUSH: I worry about the fact I'm run against the man who uses a military and nation building in the same breath.
BURNS: The White House argues it won't be using the military for nation building.
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The military is there for the purpose of providing security.
BURNS: If President Bush sees the toppling of Saddam Hussein as having ripple effects in the Middle East, the last Gulf War has yet to produce a truly Democratic Kuwait.
SHIBLEY TELHAMI, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: The public opinion as has been reflected by some victories of Islamist groups even within Kuwait which is friendly have been less friendly to America than has been the government. And often the U.S. has been very nervous.
BURNS: Kid gloves also required in Iraq with economy minded Kurds and a large Shiite population long frozen out of power.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BURNS: So, President Bush's vision of a post-Saddam middle east aims to prepare the public opinion for what could be a long-term commitment. And to try to persuade that the potential cost, the potential benefits anyway, could outweigh the potential costs and risks -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Chris Burns at the White House.
Chris, thanks very much.
A little snow coming down at the White House, as we can see.
Later in the day I spoke with the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, after he spoke with President Bush. The Afghan left no doubt where he stands where it comes to Saddam Hussein.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KARZAI: We are a friend of the United States. The U.S. Has helped us at a time of the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan. The U.S. has helped us now. We are not going to leave our friends unsupported and helped. We hope there will not be a war in Iraq. We hope things will happen peacefully and that the Iraqi people will gain access to the rights that they have to the resources.
BLITZER: What I hear you saying is you hope there won't be a war, but you hope Saddam Hussein's regime will be removed.
KARZAI: Absolutely. Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: We discussed a wide range of issues and you can see my full interview with Hamid Karzai on CNN's "LATE EDITION." That's Sunday at noon Eastern.
Here's your chance to weigh in on this story. "Our Web Question of the Day" is this, Would a U.S.-led war against Iraq help or hurt the chances for peace in the Middle East?
We'll have the results later in this broadcast. Vote at cnn.com/wolf. While you're there I'd like 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 the program. That's also where you can read my column. cnn.com/wolf.
Looking at other developments now in the showdown with Iraq. Turkey is again put off a final decision on whether U.S. troops may deploy for a possible attack into Northern Iraq. As shapes carrying tanks and troops wait offshore, parliament will wait until the weekend to vote on the matter. The U.S. is offering billions in aid and American envoys have held marathon talks with Turkish officials trying to close the deal.
In Egypt, tens of thousands jammed Cairo's national stadium to protest a possible war against Iraq. Amid tight security, the crowd shouted down with America and waved Palestinian flags. The Egyptian government has called for a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis.
In Beijing, China and Russia agreed that war, quote, "can and should be avoided." During a visit by Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov the two nations pledged to work toward a solution of the Iraq issue. There was no word whether either will move to veto a U.S.- backed Security Council resolution.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar met with pope John Paul II. The pope opposes war with Iraq. He's been urging the Bush administration to be less confrontational with its European critics. In an interview with the "Wall Street Journal", Aznar recent hard- lined comments by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has harmed U.S.- European relations.
War jitters have oil prices at a 12-year high, near $40 a barrel. But sources say Saudi Arabia has agreed to step productions if Iraq's oil output is interrupted.
There's been a lot of debate on how a war in Iraq would affect the U.S. economy and how much it would end up costing U.S. taxpayers.
CNN's Kathleen Hays has been looking into that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATHLEEN HAYS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When it comes to paying for a war with Iraq, only one thing seems certain. The United States will not get the help it did in the first Gulf conflict when allies paid most of the cost because this time so many countries oppose a war. But economists say the U.S. could easily pay the bills especially if the war ends upon costing $100 billion as the White House currently projects.
RUDY PENNER, URBAN INSTITUTE: The cost of the war is really even in the bad scenarios is likely to be very much lower relative to GDP than either Vietnam or Korea. So we're talking about a relatively small bump up in our debt burden.
HAYS: A $100 billion war with Iraq would amount of the nation's gross domestic product or GDP according to a Yale University study. World War II cost 130 percent of GDP per year. The Vietnam war, 12 percent of GDP. But no matter what the cost, if Congress doesn't raise taxes or cut back on other kinds of spending, paying for a war will boost an already growing federal budget deficit.
CHARLES PENA, CATO INSTITUTE: All that's money that's not already accounted for and that will push us deeper into deficit. You might be able to get away with that in the short run, but in the long run, it will come back to bite you.
And the real question is what's that going to do to consumer confidence in terms of the economy.
HAYS (on camera): President Bush isn't expected to raise taxes to pay for a war at a time when he's trying to get Congress to agree to big tax cuts. But economists say he's now more likely to compromise especially when it comes to eliminating the trends on stock dividends.
Kathleen Hayes, CNN Financial News, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: We're standing by to go to the Pentagon live, the Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld ready to receive Hamid Karzai, the visiting president of Afghanistan. And we'll have live coverage. That's coming up. You're looking at the podium where both men will emerge.
From Orange to Yellow, the threat drops back down. A closer look at why the government says we're all safer right now.
Plus, Nuclear Korea thumbs its nose at the world. Is it really the bigger threat to peace? .
Also the Robert Blake murder case, new twist in a twisted mystery. We're live in Los Angeles.
Also in Los Angeles, car chases, they've been a staple of local television now. The mayor wants them banned. We'll hear from both sides of this debate.
First, today's "News Quiz."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER (voice-over): Who first coined the term terrorism? Hamas, Ronald Reagan, Symbionese Liberation Army, French Revolutionaries?
The answer, coming up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Twenty days after it was raised to Orange, the U.S. National Terror Alert Level has been lowered back down to Yellow. Our Jeanne Meserve is standing by live with details -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the lowering of the Threat Alert Level a relief to the public and to the government and private industries who've had to bear the costs of increased security.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MESERVE (voice-over): Shrinking security zones at the Dallas- Fort Worth Airport, evidence that the Threat Alert Level has been lowered. The end of the Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, one factor. Intelligence analysis another. One source saying there are worrisome signs, but nothing as loud and detailed as a few weeks ago.
ASA HUTCHINSON, HOMELAND SECURITY DEPT.: We don't want America to say well, there's absolutely no risk. That's not what it means. We're still at a alert status. We should continue to be alert and on guard.
MESERVE: Giving the looming possibility of hostilities with Iraq, some people were frankly surprised at the decision.
SKIP BRANDON, FORMER FBI COUNTERTERRORISM OFFICIAL: We've talked about the possibility of Iraqi agents in the United States, for example, who may commit acts of terrorism. It seems to me that we may be building up to something as opposed to lowering -- instead of lowering the threat level.
MESERVE: Brandon is advising his private security clients to remain on heightened alert despite the lowered threat level. And New York City is remaining on Orange or High alert where it has been since 9/11.
GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: These are very, very dangerous times when you look at the global situation. And we want to make sure that we're extra vigilant.
MESERVE: Questions persist about the Threat Alert System. Broward County, Florida is home to the country's largest petroleum port with a heavy volume cargo and cruise ships as well. But 20 days ago, how did the sheriff find out the country was moving up to Orange?
SHERIFF KEN JENNE, BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA: Our notification really came from CNN, and I think that was true with law enforcement agencies and federal agencies across the nation. So that notification process really didn't work any better this time than it did last time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MESERVE: Despite the lowering of the threat level a senior FBI official describes counterterrorism efforts as continuing as a feverish pace with particular attention being given to the possibility of a strike by a so-called lone wolf. The official adding, he is somewhat shocked that there hasn't been a suicide bombing in this country -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jeanne Meserve, thanks very much for that report.
I want to go back to the United Nations. Our Senior U.N. Correspondent Richard Roth is standing by. Once again has a new development in connection with the Al Samoud missiles. They're supposed to be destroyed starting on Saturday. Richard, what's going on?
ROTH: Another half full, half empty type of correspondence on from the Iraqi government. This one on those Al Samouds, as you mentioned, with a Saturday deadline to start destruction. A request, a demand by the weapons inspectors.
This letter from the Iraqi government, now in the hands of the weapons inspectors, according to a spokesman for the weapons inspectors agency saying they got a letter, but it says it's an unfair request. However they intend, they say, to comply. However, before they start destroying them they want to know how to destroy the Al Samouds. And they want a technical mission as soon as possible. That's what the Iraqi letter is stay saying.
The Iraqis have to do it, says the weapons inspectors agency and the U.N. has to verify it. For them to do proper destruction under supervision, you have to establish a way to do it. Hans Blix, the leading weapons inspector, did not say they all had to go by Saturday, but to start the destruction on Saturday.
So the letter is still being translated but this is the early words. The Iraqi government saying they will intend to cooperate on the Al Samoud destructions, but they need guidance and help on how to do it. They have in no way confirmed that they're going to start on Saturday destroying the missiles -- Wolf.
BLITZER: But at least it's something that Hans Blix wanted to hear, more than the no comment that they've been getting basically over the past several days. ROTH: Yes, Iraq, of course, with many deadlines over the last 13 years has left things rather late. This is almost early word by them, two days ahead of time.
But still the U.N. will want to verify and the will want confirmation of all of this. And they have an expert, Hans Blix's deputy who has been traveling to Baghdad. Presumably if there are technical talks, he would lead them.
BLITZER: These are critical days right now in the showdown with Iraq. Richard Roth, thanks for that report at the United Nations.
Let's go to the Pentagon where the Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
(INTERRUPTED BY LIVE EVENT)
BLITZER: The Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and the president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, emerging, walking out of the Pentagon Press briefing room.
The big story right now, word from the Iraqi government, a formal letter to the United Nations, suggesting that they have agreed in principle to start destroying the Al Samoud 2 missiles, the missiles that Hans Blix wants destroyed except they say they need help. They don't know how to destroy those missiles. They also want a technical mission to come forward with word, how to help them destroy those missiles. A significant development.
Although you just heard the Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld say I don't see any change in the pattern at all. The Iraqis are not cooperating. They have resisted throughout. They're resisting once again.
And earlier today the president of the United States saying that even if the Iraqis start destroying those missiles, that's only the tip of the iceberg. There's a lot more disarmament they'll have to go through.
We're going to continue to monitor all of these developments. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER (voice-over): We asked, who first coined the term terrorism? The answer, French Revolutionaries. The word terrorism first became popular in the 1790s when the use of the guillotine and the rule of terror were initially viewed as a positive political system. Until well into the 20th century, terror usually referred to state terror.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Even in the midst of the showdown with Iraq, perhaps in the midst of the showdown with Iraq, North Korea cranked up a dormant nuclear plant yesterday an in your face move given that it came after the visit to the region by Secretary of State Colin Powell. We've got the reactor reaction from our State Department Correspondent Andrea Koppel who's standing by now live -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: Wolf, this didn't happen overnight. North Korea has been threatening to do this for months ever since late last year when they forced nuclear weapons inspectors to leave.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KOPPEL (voice-over): One day after confirming North Korea had restarted its five megawatt nuclear reactor, a potentially significant step toward developing more nuclear weapons, the Bush administration still refused to call it a crisis.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We can't simply allow North Korea to make threats, present demands from a position of disobeying the will of the international community.
KOPPEL: The North Korean move came hours after Powell wrapped up a four-day swing through Japan, South Korea and China where he failed to forge a common front to prevent a crisis on the Korean Peninsula from spiraling out of control.
On his way home, Powell justified the U.S. approach and said there was still no reason to panic, telling reporters North Korea had chosen not to start the reactor or the reprocessing facility at Yongbyong where 8,000 spent fuel rods are being stored.
U.S. officials say North Korea's decision to start up the reactor the very next day was pure coincidence.
RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: I wouldn't tie it particularly with the secretary's trip. It takes some time to restart a reactor. It's not a flip of the switch kind of stuff. Probably started -- certainly the preparations would have started before his trip and probably started before he even announced his trip.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOPPEL: Even so, U.S. officials say a far more serious matter would be if North Korea would be to reprocess those 8,000 spent nuclear fuel rods. They could have nuclear weapons. U.S. officials believe in a matter of weeks, Wolf. As things stand right now with a nuclear reactor, we are still a year away before they could build a single nuclear weapon -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Andrea Koppel, thanks, very much.
A potential terror threat in fighting in hiding, Hezbollah. Are they now operating in the United States? Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Long before al Qaeda, was there Hezbollah which until 9/11 had killed far more Americans than any other terror group. A new report suggests the Lebanon-based group is once again a major threat to Americans. This time, perhaps right here in the United States.
Joining me now it Tim Burger, one of the authors of this report in "TIME" Magazine.
Tim, what's the point?
TIM BURGER, "TIME": Basically, a lot of members or sympathizers of Hezbollah are in the United States now. Many of them are literally marshal-trained warriors who actually, you know, went through various training camps in Lebanon with Hezbollah. And now we reported in "Time" that dozens of them are in the United States. And hundreds more potential sympathizers with them are being sort of under surveillance in various activities.
BLITZER: I was going to say, shouldn't they be watched by federal law enforcement authorities.
BURGER: The reason I can say numbers like that is we are told that indeed the FBI is trying to keep an eye on them, and make sure that they don't tab have any active terror plots in progress. If they knew of one specific, they would try to break it up.
BLITZER: The point is most of these people are not necessarily green card holders or legal aliens, if you will, legal residents departments, why aren't they just kicked out?
BURGER: There's a cell that gives you a good example, in North Carolina that was broken up. Two of the ring leaders will be sentenced tomorrow and they'll be given serious hard time. Basicly a lot of the individuals were found to have gotten in and stayed in the United States by marrying U.S. nationals, and engaging in what turned out to be Visa fraud. And what this group in North Carolina was doing was smuggling cigarettes from North Carolina to Michigan, saving on tobacco taxes and sending money allegedly back to Lebanon for Hezbollah.
BLITZER: Based on your reporting, who is a greater threat to the United States right now domestically, Hezbollah or al Qaeda?
BURGER: Basically, Hezbollah is an extremely ruthlessly capable operation. They have not targeted American lives in some time. Al Qaeda has much more recently committed devastation in the United States. But Hezbollah, should they decide to pivot ask go into violent acts has the capability potentially for doing a lot of damage.
BLITZER: Tim Burger of "TIME" magazine, thank you very much. Our sister publication.
Don't forget time is running out for your turn to weigh in on the "Web Question of the Day." Would a U.S.-led war against Iraq help or hurt chances for peace in the Middle East?
Log on to cnn.com/wolf to vote. We'll have the results immediately when we come back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in on "Our Web Question of the Day. Remember, we've been asking you this, Would a U.S.-led war against Iraq help or hurt the chances for peace in the Middle East?
Look at the results, right now, 20 percent of you say it would help the chances for peace in the Middle East, but 80 percent say it would hurt. You can continue to vote and find more on the vote tallies throughout the night. Go to cnn.com/wolf. Remember this, is not a scientific poll.
Let's get to one of your e-mails.
Julie writes this, "Last night's speech by President Bush did more to encourage terrorist recruitment and damage our fragile relationships with our Arab allies than to sway public opinion towards the war on Iraq."
That's all of the time we have right now. 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. Lou Dobbs MONEYLINE is up right now.
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U.N. Waits to Hear if Saddam Will Destroy Illegal Missiles>
Aired February 27, 2003 - 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: WOLF BLITZER REPORTS starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): Showdown: Iraq. Elite Iraqi troops on the move, as another U.S. carrier arrives. Are the battle lines being drawn?
As the U.S. works to line up support for war, the U.N. waits to hear if Saddam Hussein will destroy illegal missiles.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The rockets are just the tip of the iceberg.
BLITZER: The Iraqi leader tells his people to dig in.
Code yellow. The terror threat level is lowered. Are you any safer?
Long before al Qaeda, Hezbollah was killing Americans abroad. Is it ready to strike in the U.S.?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: It's Thursday, February 27, 2003. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.
Closing the noose. Another U.S. aircraft carrier is moving in, to be followed soon by stealth bombers. Iraqi forces are moving back, perhaps to defend Baghdad. As the U.N. debates a war which seems ever closer, the Bush administration looks beyond a war to the rebuilding of a new Iraq.
We'll go live to the White House and the United Nations, but we begin with our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre -- Jamie.
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the U.S. military is putting the final pieces in place for the war plan. Meanwhile, Iraq is giving signs that it is regrouping.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE (voice-over): Deployment orders have been signed for B- 2 stealth bombers to begin moving next week from Whiteman Air Force base in Missouri to a forward base in Diego Garcia. The British base in the Indian Ocean is roughly 3,200 miles from Baghdad, about a six hour flight for the subsonic B-2s.
Pentagon sources say the arrival of the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk in the Persian Gulf this week completes the planned deployment of five carriers called for in the U.S. war plan.
Sources say unlike in the 1991 Gulf War, two carriers will be based in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and will send their warplanes over a northern route, avoiding Syrian and Jordanian airspace by flying and refueling over Turkey, while three other carriers in the Persian Gulf will attack from the south, flying over Kuwait and Saudi airspace.
Meanwhile, Iraqis are girding for war, digging wells, stacking sandbags and buying guns. Pentagon sources say the Iraqi military is digging trenches and filling them with oil, a tactic Saddam Hussein could use to ring Baghdad with smoke and fire.
HUSSAIN AL-SHAHRISTANI, FMR. IRAQI NUCLEAR SCIENTIST: Whenever he decides the time is right, he will try to detonate it so as to entrap the people inside the city and also to hinder the advancement of the troops to the city.
MCINTYRE: While the smoke could thwart laser-guided bombs, it would provide no defense against satellite guided bombs, which are the weapons of choice for the Pentagon. The U.S. is also watching the movement of Iraq's first Adnan mechanized Republican guard division, south from their usual base in Mosul to an area just north of Tikrit, a power base for Saddam Hussein.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE: Now some at the Pentagon think that Iraq might be waiting to see if the U.S. gets the go ahead to put troops in Turkey before moving that Republican guard division farther south to protect Baghdad.
Here's another sign, Wolf, by the way, that the war may be drawing closer. Today at the Pentagon, bureau chiefs of Washington- based news organizations were warned that their reporters in Baghdad will be in far more danger this time than in 1991 because of the devastating attack planned by the U.S. military. And those news organizations, we are told, they can't be guaranteed of getting another warning before any bombs fall -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon, thanks very much.
In response to that warning from the Pentagon, CNN has issued this statement. I'll read it to our viewers. CNN, while being keenly aware of the many dangers in Iraq will continue reporting from there for as long as CNN and its staff on the ground believe it is prudent to do so. The statement goes on to say we are monitoring the situation carefully and we'll keep our options open.
Will a new report from the U.N.'s chief weapons inspector give the U.S. more ammunition in making its case for a new resolution on Iraq?
For that, let's go live to our senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it appears that Hans Blix's next quarterly update is sort of negative in tone regarding Iraq's cooperation.
CNN has obtained excerpts read to us over the telephone from the report, which is not yet officially in the hands of the United Nations Security Council and thus not an official document. The report basically says, from Dr. Blix, that during the period of time covered in this three-month report, "Iraq could have made a greater effort to find remaining prescribed items or credible evidence showing the absence of such items." And Blix goes on to say, "The results in terms of disarmament have been very limited so far."
Blix also adds, "It is hard to understand why a number of the measures which are now being taken could not have been initiated earlier. If they had been taken earlier," the Blix draft says, "they might have borne fruit by now."
Dr. Blix may be the only avenue to resolve a deadlock in the Security Council, which had its first meeting today on the new resolution. But it solved nothing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROTH (voice-over): The Security Council preaches unity as the best way to achieve world peace. After what was described as an intense closed-door meeting the Council was nearly fractured over the need for a new resolution, a virtual authorization for war against Iraq.
Breaking with diplomatic protocol, one of the uncommitted countries on the Council, Chile, pointed fingers at both the U.S. camp and the European-Russian side.
JUAN GABRIEL VALDES, CHILEAN AMB. TO U.N.: This divided Council is, in fact, throwing the decision on the shoulders of the elected members while the permanent members stick to their positions without making efforts to approximate the views.
ROTH: It was the first meeting for the Council as a whole on the resolution. Several diplomats said no nations budged in an effort to close gaps.
The British said, It's time to give up on inspections.
JEREMY GREENSTOCK, BRITISH AMB. TO U.N.: There's no future in the inspectors unless they have the cooperation of Iraq.
ROTH: But the French said inspections are working.
JEAN-MARC DE LA SABLIERE, FRENCH AMB. TO U.N.: In the Council, the majority of the member think that the time has not come to decide to go to war.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROTH: Elsewhere in Council post-meeting buzz, the Chilean deputy ambassador said -- quote -- "Nobody's making any attempts to close the gaps. We're all coming up with innovative ways to defening our own positions with increasing levels of irritation."
One lighter note, the German ambassador gave Russian Ambassador Lavrov a pair of binoculars and said "We are all inspectors now" -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Richard Roth at the U.N., thanks very much for that report.
The United Nations has given Iraq until Saturday to start destroying its Al Samoud 2 missiles.
Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is in Baghdad with today's developments.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No word yet from Iraqi officials whether or not they'll meet the U.N. deadline to begin destroying their Al Samoud 2 missiles.
On Saturday, the latest from Iraqi officials is still that they are studying the letter from U.N. Weapons Chief Hans Blix, demanding that destruction begin Saturday.
Also, a very stark warning for the people of Iraq coming from President Saddam Hussein. That came during a meeting between the Iraqi leader and the governors of the different provinces around Iraq. Those governors telling President Saddam Hussein that their regions were ready and prepared in case there was a war.
The Iraqi leader telling the Iraqi people that if there was bombing, and most people here say the thing that they fear the most is bombing. In case of a war, the Iraqi leader saying the best thing people here could do would be to dig trenches in their gardens, hide in those trenches with their families if the bombing started and that would be the best way that they could survive the bombing. So a very clear indication for the people of Iraq that potential for war could be getting much closer.
Some progress for the U.N. weapons inspectors, going to a site where Iraq said in 1991 it had unilaterally destroyed some biological bombs, the so-called R400 bombs. At this site, Iraqi officials have begun excavating this site. They have dug up some parts and fragments of those bombs. U.N. inspectors have visited that site, however, so far, they have not made a determination what biological agents may have been disposed of at that site.
Iraqi -- U.N. officials, rather, say a team of U.N. experts will arrive into Baghdad this weekend and that will be one of their assignments -- to look at this particular site to try to ascertain whether or not or how much of any biological agent was disposed of there.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: For his part, President Bush says destroying those Al Samoud 2 missiles is by no means enough.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: I noticed today there is some talk about the illegal rockets in Iraq. This is part of his -- the discussion about the rockets is part of his campaign of deception. He'll say, I'm not going to destroy the rocket and then he'll change his mind this weekend and destroy the rockets and say, I've disarmed. The rockets are just the tip of the iceberg.
The only question at hand is total, complete disarmament, which he is refusing to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: The president spoke by phone today with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, but there's no word whether he got assurances that Russia would not veto the U.N. Security Council resolution that's now on the table.
We do know that President Putin has been trying to head off war, most recently dispatching the former premier, Yevgeny Primakov, to Baghdad for a meeting with Saddam Hussein, and since then President Putin has dispatched a high aide of his to Washington for high-level meetings over at the White House and the State Department. We're continuing to follow that Russian element of this story.
In the meantime, President Bush met today with Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai to discuss the rebuilding of that wartorn nation, a test case for what possibly could happen in Iraq.
For that let's go live to CNN's Chris Burns. He's over at the White House -- Chris.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf. Exactly.
President Bush trying to show at least the underlying message of that meeting with Hamid Karzai, was that you can be successful at regime change.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BURNS (voice-over): From a land where the U.S. toppled a terrorist-linked regime, Afghanistan's new leader comes to express his gratitude.
HAMID KARZAI, PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN: I'm also here to ask you to do more for us in making the life of the Afghan people, better, more stable, more peaceful.
BURNS: In other words, it's a costly job that's far from over. Where true democracy is also a far away dream. Nevertheless, President Bush is pushing regime change and nation building in another land.
BUSH: Rebuilding Iraq will require sustained commitment from many nations, including our own. We will remain in Iraq as long as necessary. And not a day more.
BURNS: Quite a change from his days on the campaign trail blasting the Clinton/Gore administration for attempted nation building in Somalia and elsewhere.
BUSH: I worry about the fact I'm run against the man who uses a military and nation building in the same breath.
BURNS: The White House argues it won't be using the military for nation building.
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The military is there for the purpose of providing security.
BURNS: If President Bush sees the toppling of Saddam Hussein as having ripple effects in the Middle East, the last Gulf War has yet to produce a truly Democratic Kuwait.
SHIBLEY TELHAMI, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: The public opinion as has been reflected by some victories of Islamist groups even within Kuwait which is friendly have been less friendly to America than has been the government. And often the U.S. has been very nervous.
BURNS: Kid gloves also required in Iraq with economy minded Kurds and a large Shiite population long frozen out of power.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BURNS: So, President Bush's vision of a post-Saddam middle east aims to prepare the public opinion for what could be a long-term commitment. And to try to persuade that the potential cost, the potential benefits anyway, could outweigh the potential costs and risks -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Chris Burns at the White House.
Chris, thanks very much.
A little snow coming down at the White House, as we can see.
Later in the day I spoke with the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, after he spoke with President Bush. The Afghan left no doubt where he stands where it comes to Saddam Hussein.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KARZAI: We are a friend of the United States. The U.S. Has helped us at a time of the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan. The U.S. has helped us now. We are not going to leave our friends unsupported and helped. We hope there will not be a war in Iraq. We hope things will happen peacefully and that the Iraqi people will gain access to the rights that they have to the resources.
BLITZER: What I hear you saying is you hope there won't be a war, but you hope Saddam Hussein's regime will be removed.
KARZAI: Absolutely. Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: We discussed a wide range of issues and you can see my full interview with Hamid Karzai on CNN's "LATE EDITION." That's Sunday at noon Eastern.
Here's your chance to weigh in on this story. "Our Web Question of the Day" is this, Would a U.S.-led war against Iraq help or hurt the chances for peace in the Middle East?
We'll have the results later in this broadcast. Vote at cnn.com/wolf. While you're there I'd like 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 the program. That's also where you can read my column. cnn.com/wolf.
Looking at other developments now in the showdown with Iraq. Turkey is again put off a final decision on whether U.S. troops may deploy for a possible attack into Northern Iraq. As shapes carrying tanks and troops wait offshore, parliament will wait until the weekend to vote on the matter. The U.S. is offering billions in aid and American envoys have held marathon talks with Turkish officials trying to close the deal.
In Egypt, tens of thousands jammed Cairo's national stadium to protest a possible war against Iraq. Amid tight security, the crowd shouted down with America and waved Palestinian flags. The Egyptian government has called for a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis.
In Beijing, China and Russia agreed that war, quote, "can and should be avoided." During a visit by Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov the two nations pledged to work toward a solution of the Iraq issue. There was no word whether either will move to veto a U.S.- backed Security Council resolution.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar met with pope John Paul II. The pope opposes war with Iraq. He's been urging the Bush administration to be less confrontational with its European critics. In an interview with the "Wall Street Journal", Aznar recent hard- lined comments by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has harmed U.S.- European relations.
War jitters have oil prices at a 12-year high, near $40 a barrel. But sources say Saudi Arabia has agreed to step productions if Iraq's oil output is interrupted.
There's been a lot of debate on how a war in Iraq would affect the U.S. economy and how much it would end up costing U.S. taxpayers.
CNN's Kathleen Hays has been looking into that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATHLEEN HAYS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When it comes to paying for a war with Iraq, only one thing seems certain. The United States will not get the help it did in the first Gulf conflict when allies paid most of the cost because this time so many countries oppose a war. But economists say the U.S. could easily pay the bills especially if the war ends upon costing $100 billion as the White House currently projects.
RUDY PENNER, URBAN INSTITUTE: The cost of the war is really even in the bad scenarios is likely to be very much lower relative to GDP than either Vietnam or Korea. So we're talking about a relatively small bump up in our debt burden.
HAYS: A $100 billion war with Iraq would amount of the nation's gross domestic product or GDP according to a Yale University study. World War II cost 130 percent of GDP per year. The Vietnam war, 12 percent of GDP. But no matter what the cost, if Congress doesn't raise taxes or cut back on other kinds of spending, paying for a war will boost an already growing federal budget deficit.
CHARLES PENA, CATO INSTITUTE: All that's money that's not already accounted for and that will push us deeper into deficit. You might be able to get away with that in the short run, but in the long run, it will come back to bite you.
And the real question is what's that going to do to consumer confidence in terms of the economy.
HAYS (on camera): President Bush isn't expected to raise taxes to pay for a war at a time when he's trying to get Congress to agree to big tax cuts. But economists say he's now more likely to compromise especially when it comes to eliminating the trends on stock dividends.
Kathleen Hayes, CNN Financial News, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: We're standing by to go to the Pentagon live, the Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld ready to receive Hamid Karzai, the visiting president of Afghanistan. And we'll have live coverage. That's coming up. You're looking at the podium where both men will emerge.
From Orange to Yellow, the threat drops back down. A closer look at why the government says we're all safer right now.
Plus, Nuclear Korea thumbs its nose at the world. Is it really the bigger threat to peace? .
Also the Robert Blake murder case, new twist in a twisted mystery. We're live in Los Angeles.
Also in Los Angeles, car chases, they've been a staple of local television now. The mayor wants them banned. We'll hear from both sides of this debate.
First, today's "News Quiz."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER (voice-over): Who first coined the term terrorism? Hamas, Ronald Reagan, Symbionese Liberation Army, French Revolutionaries?
The answer, coming up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Twenty days after it was raised to Orange, the U.S. National Terror Alert Level has been lowered back down to Yellow. Our Jeanne Meserve is standing by live with details -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the lowering of the Threat Alert Level a relief to the public and to the government and private industries who've had to bear the costs of increased security.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MESERVE (voice-over): Shrinking security zones at the Dallas- Fort Worth Airport, evidence that the Threat Alert Level has been lowered. The end of the Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, one factor. Intelligence analysis another. One source saying there are worrisome signs, but nothing as loud and detailed as a few weeks ago.
ASA HUTCHINSON, HOMELAND SECURITY DEPT.: We don't want America to say well, there's absolutely no risk. That's not what it means. We're still at a alert status. We should continue to be alert and on guard.
MESERVE: Giving the looming possibility of hostilities with Iraq, some people were frankly surprised at the decision.
SKIP BRANDON, FORMER FBI COUNTERTERRORISM OFFICIAL: We've talked about the possibility of Iraqi agents in the United States, for example, who may commit acts of terrorism. It seems to me that we may be building up to something as opposed to lowering -- instead of lowering the threat level.
MESERVE: Brandon is advising his private security clients to remain on heightened alert despite the lowered threat level. And New York City is remaining on Orange or High alert where it has been since 9/11.
GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: These are very, very dangerous times when you look at the global situation. And we want to make sure that we're extra vigilant.
MESERVE: Questions persist about the Threat Alert System. Broward County, Florida is home to the country's largest petroleum port with a heavy volume cargo and cruise ships as well. But 20 days ago, how did the sheriff find out the country was moving up to Orange?
SHERIFF KEN JENNE, BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA: Our notification really came from CNN, and I think that was true with law enforcement agencies and federal agencies across the nation. So that notification process really didn't work any better this time than it did last time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MESERVE: Despite the lowering of the threat level a senior FBI official describes counterterrorism efforts as continuing as a feverish pace with particular attention being given to the possibility of a strike by a so-called lone wolf. The official adding, he is somewhat shocked that there hasn't been a suicide bombing in this country -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jeanne Meserve, thanks very much for that report.
I want to go back to the United Nations. Our Senior U.N. Correspondent Richard Roth is standing by. Once again has a new development in connection with the Al Samoud missiles. They're supposed to be destroyed starting on Saturday. Richard, what's going on?
ROTH: Another half full, half empty type of correspondence on from the Iraqi government. This one on those Al Samouds, as you mentioned, with a Saturday deadline to start destruction. A request, a demand by the weapons inspectors.
This letter from the Iraqi government, now in the hands of the weapons inspectors, according to a spokesman for the weapons inspectors agency saying they got a letter, but it says it's an unfair request. However they intend, they say, to comply. However, before they start destroying them they want to know how to destroy the Al Samouds. And they want a technical mission as soon as possible. That's what the Iraqi letter is stay saying.
The Iraqis have to do it, says the weapons inspectors agency and the U.N. has to verify it. For them to do proper destruction under supervision, you have to establish a way to do it. Hans Blix, the leading weapons inspector, did not say they all had to go by Saturday, but to start the destruction on Saturday.
So the letter is still being translated but this is the early words. The Iraqi government saying they will intend to cooperate on the Al Samoud destructions, but they need guidance and help on how to do it. They have in no way confirmed that they're going to start on Saturday destroying the missiles -- Wolf.
BLITZER: But at least it's something that Hans Blix wanted to hear, more than the no comment that they've been getting basically over the past several days. ROTH: Yes, Iraq, of course, with many deadlines over the last 13 years has left things rather late. This is almost early word by them, two days ahead of time.
But still the U.N. will want to verify and the will want confirmation of all of this. And they have an expert, Hans Blix's deputy who has been traveling to Baghdad. Presumably if there are technical talks, he would lead them.
BLITZER: These are critical days right now in the showdown with Iraq. Richard Roth, thanks for that report at the United Nations.
Let's go to the Pentagon where the Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
(INTERRUPTED BY LIVE EVENT)
BLITZER: The Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and the president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, emerging, walking out of the Pentagon Press briefing room.
The big story right now, word from the Iraqi government, a formal letter to the United Nations, suggesting that they have agreed in principle to start destroying the Al Samoud 2 missiles, the missiles that Hans Blix wants destroyed except they say they need help. They don't know how to destroy those missiles. They also want a technical mission to come forward with word, how to help them destroy those missiles. A significant development.
Although you just heard the Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld say I don't see any change in the pattern at all. The Iraqis are not cooperating. They have resisted throughout. They're resisting once again.
And earlier today the president of the United States saying that even if the Iraqis start destroying those missiles, that's only the tip of the iceberg. There's a lot more disarmament they'll have to go through.
We're going to continue to monitor all of these developments. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER (voice-over): We asked, who first coined the term terrorism? The answer, French Revolutionaries. The word terrorism first became popular in the 1790s when the use of the guillotine and the rule of terror were initially viewed as a positive political system. Until well into the 20th century, terror usually referred to state terror.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Even in the midst of the showdown with Iraq, perhaps in the midst of the showdown with Iraq, North Korea cranked up a dormant nuclear plant yesterday an in your face move given that it came after the visit to the region by Secretary of State Colin Powell. We've got the reactor reaction from our State Department Correspondent Andrea Koppel who's standing by now live -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: Wolf, this didn't happen overnight. North Korea has been threatening to do this for months ever since late last year when they forced nuclear weapons inspectors to leave.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KOPPEL (voice-over): One day after confirming North Korea had restarted its five megawatt nuclear reactor, a potentially significant step toward developing more nuclear weapons, the Bush administration still refused to call it a crisis.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We can't simply allow North Korea to make threats, present demands from a position of disobeying the will of the international community.
KOPPEL: The North Korean move came hours after Powell wrapped up a four-day swing through Japan, South Korea and China where he failed to forge a common front to prevent a crisis on the Korean Peninsula from spiraling out of control.
On his way home, Powell justified the U.S. approach and said there was still no reason to panic, telling reporters North Korea had chosen not to start the reactor or the reprocessing facility at Yongbyong where 8,000 spent fuel rods are being stored.
U.S. officials say North Korea's decision to start up the reactor the very next day was pure coincidence.
RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: I wouldn't tie it particularly with the secretary's trip. It takes some time to restart a reactor. It's not a flip of the switch kind of stuff. Probably started -- certainly the preparations would have started before his trip and probably started before he even announced his trip.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOPPEL: Even so, U.S. officials say a far more serious matter would be if North Korea would be to reprocess those 8,000 spent nuclear fuel rods. They could have nuclear weapons. U.S. officials believe in a matter of weeks, Wolf. As things stand right now with a nuclear reactor, we are still a year away before they could build a single nuclear weapon -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Andrea Koppel, thanks, very much.
A potential terror threat in fighting in hiding, Hezbollah. Are they now operating in the United States? Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Long before al Qaeda, was there Hezbollah which until 9/11 had killed far more Americans than any other terror group. A new report suggests the Lebanon-based group is once again a major threat to Americans. This time, perhaps right here in the United States.
Joining me now it Tim Burger, one of the authors of this report in "TIME" Magazine.
Tim, what's the point?
TIM BURGER, "TIME": Basically, a lot of members or sympathizers of Hezbollah are in the United States now. Many of them are literally marshal-trained warriors who actually, you know, went through various training camps in Lebanon with Hezbollah. And now we reported in "Time" that dozens of them are in the United States. And hundreds more potential sympathizers with them are being sort of under surveillance in various activities.
BLITZER: I was going to say, shouldn't they be watched by federal law enforcement authorities.
BURGER: The reason I can say numbers like that is we are told that indeed the FBI is trying to keep an eye on them, and make sure that they don't tab have any active terror plots in progress. If they knew of one specific, they would try to break it up.
BLITZER: The point is most of these people are not necessarily green card holders or legal aliens, if you will, legal residents departments, why aren't they just kicked out?
BURGER: There's a cell that gives you a good example, in North Carolina that was broken up. Two of the ring leaders will be sentenced tomorrow and they'll be given serious hard time. Basicly a lot of the individuals were found to have gotten in and stayed in the United States by marrying U.S. nationals, and engaging in what turned out to be Visa fraud. And what this group in North Carolina was doing was smuggling cigarettes from North Carolina to Michigan, saving on tobacco taxes and sending money allegedly back to Lebanon for Hezbollah.
BLITZER: Based on your reporting, who is a greater threat to the United States right now domestically, Hezbollah or al Qaeda?
BURGER: Basically, Hezbollah is an extremely ruthlessly capable operation. They have not targeted American lives in some time. Al Qaeda has much more recently committed devastation in the United States. But Hezbollah, should they decide to pivot ask go into violent acts has the capability potentially for doing a lot of damage.
BLITZER: Tim Burger of "TIME" magazine, thank you very much. Our sister publication.
Don't forget time is running out for your turn to weigh in on the "Web Question of the Day." Would a U.S.-led war against Iraq help or hurt chances for peace in the Middle East?
Log on to cnn.com/wolf to vote. We'll have the results immediately when we come back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in on "Our Web Question of the Day. Remember, we've been asking you this, Would a U.S.-led war against Iraq help or hurt the chances for peace in the Middle East?
Look at the results, right now, 20 percent of you say it would help the chances for peace in the Middle East, but 80 percent say it would hurt. You can continue to vote and find more on the vote tallies throughout the night. Go to cnn.com/wolf. Remember this, is not a scientific poll.
Let's get to one of your e-mails.
Julie writes this, "Last night's speech by President Bush did more to encourage terrorist recruitment and damage our fragile relationships with our Arab allies than to sway public opinion towards the war on Iraq."
That's all of the time we have right now. 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. Lou Dobbs MONEYLINE is up right now.
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U.N. Waits to Hear if Saddam Will Destroy Illegal Missiles>
