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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Earthquake Hits California; Missiles May Provide Extra Security in Capital; Egyptian Foreign Minister Attacked in Mosque

Aired December 22, 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, HOST: Happening now. California shaken. This is video just coming in to CNN only minutes ago. You can see people digging. They're searching. This comes after a strong, deadly earthquake. It's felt from San Francisco all the way down to Los Angeles and the southern part of the state. We'll have full coverage.
Also happening right now, why surface to air missile may be deployed around a major United States city.

Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Terror chatter. On edge like never before, I'll speak with a man who directed America's electronic eavesdropping.

Vigilant but vulnerable.

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Big celebrations, Times Square, Las Vegas, L.A., football games, you name it.

Diplomat in danger. A shocking attack in a holy place.

Gadhafi speaks out. What's behind his extraordinary turn about? An exclusive interview with the Libyan leader.

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Monday, December 22, 2003.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: We begin with a major news development. An earthquake in California. And CNN has now confirmed three people killed in San Luis Obispo County along the central coast.

We also are just getting in some significant video of other damage. This in the town of Paso Robles, about 30 miles inland from the Yucca Center (ph), along the central California coast.

We're told an historic building has collapsed in this town of about 20,000 people, and there are some people trapped. You can see resource rescuers moving in. They're digging through the rubble right now in an effort to try to reach those people.

Again, this is in the town of Paso Robles. So far, the hardest hit from this 6.5 quake we've seen so far.

We have extensive coverage of what's happening in California coming up. First, let's check in with CNN's Jen Rogers. She's in our San Francisco bureau, where the earthquake was clearly felt -- Jen.

JEN ROGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Wolf.

That's right. We did feel it here at the bureau. It was one of the largest earthquakes to hit California in recent years, and it was definitely felt up and down the coast.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROGERS (voice-over): Even by California standards, where earthquakes are an almost daily occurrence, this was a major event. The quake hit at a quarter past 11 Pacific time with a preliminary magnitude of 6.5.

The epicenter on California's sparsely populated central coast was near the resort town of Cambria and the historic Hearst Castle in nearby San Simeon, which park rangers ordered evacuated.

Residents of the area reported strong shaking. And although officials reported about 40,000 people without power, the damage was limited.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It hit like a shock wave from a bomb blast. Almost knocked us off our feet. And you could hear the sound. It was just a loud, almost like an explosion.

ROGERS: Geologists classified the quake as strong but relatively shallow, hitting not even five miles below the earth's surface. More than 30 aftershocks followed in the first hour alone, the strongest measuring 4.7.

The quake itself was strong enough to be felt in both Los Angeles and San Francisco, each about 200 miles away.

ROSS STEIN, USGS: It's a moderate sized earthquake that caused modest damage in the local area. It's an earthquake that's rare but not particularly rare for the area. We had similar sized earthquakes in 1952, in 1853 and 1906, all in this area.

It's on a fault line, and we don't know as well as we would like. And this earthquake will help us to get to know it better.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROGERS: Now, to give you an idea of what we felt here in San Francisco, the bureau is in the financial district. And we are on the ninth floor. And it sort of felt like, Wolf, we were out of sea. You kind of felt almost dizzy for a second. I felt like my chair was moving. But it was not a strong jolt at all, sort of a rolling motion. And definitely nothing huge by Bay Area standards -- Wolf.

BLITZER: What floor are you on in the bureau over there? How high are you, Jen?

ROGERS: We're here on the ninth floor up here. And certainly, when you're in a high rise you definitely feel it more than when you're at a house.

You know, I called some friends and back to my parents' house here in San Francisco. They said they didn't really feel anything. So being downtown, we certainly get a little bit more of that rolling feeling here.

BLITZER: Any word up in San Francisco -- and we're looking at these live pictures of the area near the epicenter right now -- any words that the after there is shocks could hit your part of California?

ROGERS: Well, you know of course, any time there is a major earthquake, everybody is always concerned about aftershocks. And at this point, obviously, that's concentrated down near the epicenter. But any time this happens, everybody is on, you know, elevated alert, so to speak.

BLITZER: So everybody is ready, even in California, where they sort of live on a daily basis with this fear of earthquakes. But once it happens, people get excited. What's the general mood in San Francisco, which is clearly a few hundred miles away?

ROGERS: Yes, I would say that the distance at this point makes it feel very far away. Because we didn't have sort of violent shaking that we had in 1989.

And when I was here then, that was certainly much different. Obviously, the epicenter was closer. There was much more damage. Just to give you a little bit of context, I mean, there were 63 deaths in 1989. So that was a very stark difference of what we are right now.

You know, looking out right after we felt the shaking here, we saw people just looking around, trying to figure out what's happening. But again, we are over 200 miles away. And obviously, as we reported, there are three deaths down in that area now.

BLITZER: CNN's Jen Rogers is covering the story for us in San Francisco. Jen, thank you very much.

Joining us on the phone now, Richard Jackoway of the "San Luis Obispo Tribune."

How close are you, Richard, to the epicenter?

RICHARD JACKOWAY, "SAN LUIS OBISPO TRIBUNE": About 30 miles away.

BLITZER: Tell us where you were, what you felt when this happened. And as you're talking, we're looking at these live pictures. We can see rescuers, workers digging away. They're clearly trying to remove some of the debris from the area. We see cars covered up, clearly, by some of this debris.

But give us a sense of what you felt and what you saw, Richard.

JACKOWAY: Sure. I was in our San Luis Obispo newsroom when it happened. It was a very strong shake. I've been in California for about 15 years. It was the strongest I have felt.

We got under our desks as you're trained to do in California. It lasted about a half a minute, and then we started hearing the reports. I think what you're seeing is probably Paso Robles. There's been significant damage and at least two people have died there.

BLITZER: We understand three people so far, at least according to CNN's information, have now been confirmed dead.

Was this the kind of earthquake, at least from what you could see, where in a supermarket the shelves would start collapsing and canned goods would start falling down? Was it that kind of violent reaction?

JACKOWAY: Yes, at least. As we now know, some of the wineries -- we have a lot of wineries around here. And barrels fell off the shelves. At least one person was injured from that.

All over the county store shelves were tossed. As you talk to our editor in Cambria, which is the nearest to the epicenter, and the plaques were flying off the shelves there.

BLITZER: Are people in your part of California used to these kind of earthquakes? This is a pretty significant one, 6.5.

JACKOWAY: We've actually been fairly immune. This is, I believe, our first fatal earthquake. We've felt other earthquakes, but we have not had many centered here. Because of that, we have many older buildings. We haven't -- unlike many of the downtowns in California, have not been ravaged by earthquakes.

BLITZER: Have -- Do you have reports now of buildings that have collapsed? These pictures we see, we clearly see some structural damage. But have you actually received reports of buildings that have collapsed?

JACKOWAY: We have reports of second floor that have collapsed in on first floors. The deaths -- some of the deaths, at least, occurred when a clock tower fell in on itself.

BLITZER: And what about power outages?

JACKOWAY: Power outages are spotty around the county. I think there were about 40,000 homes without power last time I looked.

BLITZER: What about the general mood where you are in San Luis Obispo? How are people dealing with this earthquake?

JACKOWAY: It's definitely shaken people a lot. You know, you are used to having earth wakes, but this one hit home harder than others. And people are wary. We have reports, obviously, a lot of people went out into the streets. They didn't want to stay in the homes and buildings. That's particularly true in the Paso Robles area.

BLITZER: I understand that the Hearst Castle, which is a major tourist attraction along the coast, that that was not very far away from the epicenter. Have you heard of any damage there? A lot of our viewers have actually gone there because of the popularity of that attraction.

JACKOWAY: Sure. It is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the state. And it was about five miles from the epicenter. We have been told that there was only minor damage. We have not gotten inside. The castle is up on a hill and we haven't been able to go up the hill but hope to later in the afternoon.

BLITZER: Richard, what are they saying about more aftershocks? What are the likelihood this kind of 6.5 quake will result in additional aftershocks?

JACKOWAY: It certainly will result in additional aftershocks. We've had eight or so of them already, smaller fours and threes. They say there's only about a one in ten chance that it would result in a larger quake.

So we're expecting to have more small quakes. We just had one, I think, half an hour ago or so.

BLITZER: And a lot of our viewers will remember the quake outside of Los Angeles, the one in San Francisco where there was major damage to major highways and roads. Any cracks, as far as you can tell right now, where you were?

JACKOWAY: We've been told that Highway 46 is cracked. That's a road between Cambria and Paso Robles. But I think it's still passable. We've had rockslides that have closed roads, as well.

BLITZER: All right. Well, Richard Jackoway, it was kind of you to spend a few moments with us, updating our viewers on what's going on out in California. Clearly, a significant earthquake, 6.5 out there.

And CNN has now confirmed three fatalities so far. Let's hope it just stays at three. A major earthquake in California, the central part of the state.

We'll continue to have much more coverage on this story. That's coming up later in this hour. We'll bring you all the late-breaking developments.

But there's also important information we want to bring you right now on terrorism and the alert level that's gone up for the holidays.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge says terrorists may be planning strikes, and I'm quoting now, "on a scale even greater than 9/11." Airplanes, he adds, are still their weapon of choice. As travel hubs tighten security around the United States, the U.S. military may soon deploy a ring of missiles around the nation's capitol. That would be here, right here in Washington, D.C.

Just a few minutes ago, the president addressed the situation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you have any words for Americans who are worried about traveling this holiday season?

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My words are these. Our government is doing everything we can to protect our country. We've got a lot of really decent hard-working Americans who will be working over the holiday season to do everything we can to protect Americans from harm. And I want to thank them for their efforts, thank them for their hard work.

American citizens need to go about their lives. But as they do so, they need to know that governments at all levels are working as hard as we possibly can to protect the American citizens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The president was speaking at the White House at a Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony.

CNN's Barbara Starr is standing by over at the Pentagon, and CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is over at the White House, where there's a sense, clearly, as we just heard from the president, that this may be different.

Suzanne, let's begin with you.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, it really is a delicate balancing act for the administration and for this president.

On the one hand they're trying to encourage and reassure Americans to go on with their celebrations for the holiday. On the other hand, they really want to make it very clear that this is a threat like no other.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BUSH: Merry Christmas, Jane.

MALVEAUX (voice-over): President Bush at a children's Christmas party is following his administration's own advice, to go out and enjoy the holidays.

But earlier in the day, Mr. Bush was hunkered down at the White House with his Homeland Security Council, getting briefed on the security plan for the country's heightened state of alert.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge emerged from the meeting to explain how this warning is unlike any before. RIDGE: The general consensus within that community, that all the strategic indicators suggest from the volume -- really, the level and amount of reporting has increased. We've never quite seen it at this level before.

MALVEAUX: The reporting is also considered to be more credible than when the administration raised the threat level to orange back in May.

RIDGE: Our ability to corroborate some of this information, the strategic indicators suggest that it is the most significant threat reporting since 9/11.

MALVEAUX: the administration says there is no information about a specific target or method of attack but that al Qaeda may try to use airplanes as missiles again.

But the White House says Americans are safer than they were several years ago.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: We have captured or eliminated two-thirds of the al Qaeda leadership. So there has been great success. But the war continues.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: And Wolf, the administration officials say with the fall of the Taliban, with the Iraq war and the capture of Saddam Hussein that Americans are safer than they were two years ago, but they say it is very important this holiday season to be vigilant -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's Suzanne Malveaux at the White House. Suzanne, thanks very much.

The U.S. military is boosting its own security measures right now and may soon be taking additional steps to help safeguard the nation's capitol.

Let's go live to CNN's Barbara Starr. She's over at the Pentagon, where they are clearly, Barbara, taking all of these terror alert measures extremely seriously -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are indeed, Wolf. Officials here endorsing the view, this one is different. Those are the words we are also hearing here at the Pentagon.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld now getting regular briefings, updating him on the situation. We are told that there is a plan now to deploy surface-to-air missiles around Washington, D.C., possibly even in New York.

Now, I must tell you, this has been done in the past, of course when the threat warning level has gone to orange. But every indication that that will happen again. Already combat air patrol stepped up over key cities, key metropolitan areas of concern. In addition, the military has raised the protection level at U.S. military bases here in the United States. It's now at something called Condition Bravo. That means more security checks, more perimeter checks, more I.D. checks for people in vehicles entering and exiting U.S. military bases.

Officials here are also describing this warning as specific, reliable, credible. They say they have nothing on when, where, or a method of attack. But a senior official here describing it as a true orange.

The people here know that there have been any number of orange level alerts in the past, that people can become skeptical. They say this is a prudent measure. They are going forward with the military plan as it had been planned out in the past, but they are, indeed, very concerned this time around -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Understandably so. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Thank you very much.

And here's your chance to weigh in on this important story. Our Web question of the day is this. Do you find the terror threat warning system helpful? You can vote right now. Go to CNN.com/Wolf. We'll have the results later in this broadcast.

While you're there, I' love to hear directly from you, our viewers. Send me your comments anytime. 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.

A deadly earthquake rattles central California. Our live coverage of this developing story continues.

Plus this. Mission for peace turns violent. A diplomat is attacked during a trip to the Middle East, and it's all caught on videotape. We're live from Jerusalem.

The Libyan leader. Does his decision to give up weapons of mass destruction represent a new beginning? CNN goes one on one with Moammar Gadhafi. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: You're looking at these pictures of an earthquake, 6.5, that happened just a few hours ago in central California. CNN has now confirmed at least three people are dead from this quake. We'll have extensive coverage coming up this hour.

You can clearly see rescuers working in the rubble. We're told at least some people are trapped in this earthquake.

There's other news, though, that we're following today.

A shocking -- shocking assault at a Jerusalem holy place. It came after Egypt's foreign minister met with Israeli officials, trying to jump start peace talks with the Palestinians. This was not to the liking of some Muslim extremists, who attacked the Egyptian diplomat during prayers at the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

Let's go live to CNN's Chris Burns. He's on the scene for us.

Chris, tell our viewers what happened.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, all that diplomatic action being today being overshadowed by what happened there at tat religious site, which you could actually call the epicenter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Al Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, what the Jews call the Temple Mount, that is the place where Ahmed Maher, the foreign minister of Egypt, went to visit to go to pray.

And as he went to pray, his group was attacked. As he entered the Al Aqsa Mosque, there were chants and shouts of traitor, of collaborator. Someone -- One man screaming at him, "Why? How could you go in here, you who is collaborating with the killers," apparently referring to the Israelis whom he's been talking to earlier.

In this melee there were shoes thrown. That is a very grave insult by the -- in the Arab world. Shoes thrown at this entourage.

Mr. Maher came out rather shaken. He did complain of shortness of breath, of a tightness in his chest. He was quickly escorted out by his entourage and then by Israeli police who were in the surrounding area, taken to a hospital and checked for observation. He has since returned back to Egypt. So he, apparently, is in good condition.

But this overshadowed what had been seen as some very important diplomacy going on today here in Jerusalem, where Mr. Maher made his first visit in two years.

That -- relations had been very difficult over the last couple -- three years because of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. And because of that, his return here to talk to the Israelis about pushing ahead with the U.S. road map for peace was very important and very significant -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Chris Burns with the latest in Jerusalem. Pretty shocking story out there today. Thanks very much, Chris, for that report.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi did not dispute that the U.S. invasion of Iraq may have played a role in his decision to come clean on his weapons of mass destruction.

He sat down for an exclusive interview with our State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel in Tripoli -- just outside Tripoli, that is. Andrea is now back in the Libyan capital. She's joining us live -- Andrea.

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, we spent about an hour with Libyan leader Colonel Moammar Gadhafi.

We drove about a half an hour outside of this city where the colonel feels most comfortable. He's from -- His father was a nomad, and he prefers to do interviews outdoors in a tent.

Now, this is somewhat of a permanent tent. It's built up on a concrete foundation. Nevertheless, that's where we did our interview.

The majority of the interview focused, as you might imagine, on the stunning announcement last week from President Bush and Prime Minister Blair of England that the Libyans had agreed to come clean about their suspected weapons of mass destruction program, and to dismantle them finally.

The International Atomic Agency has met with the Libyans over the weekend, and they'll be coming here perhaps as soon as next week.

I asked the Libyan leader point blank whether or not he had weapons of mass destruction. You'll hear his answer in one moment. You'll hear he makes a very clear distinction between actually having weapons themselves, which he denies, and having a weapons program.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOAMMAR GADHAFI, LIBYAN LEADER: They may be used for these purposes. Anyhow, we have decided to get rid of this mission completely.

(through translator): It will improve relations between our respective countries. Plus, cooperation of technology vis-a-vis the equipment. We wish to come clean and cooperate with us and to use them together for peaceful purposes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: Colonel Gadhafi explaining there what his government now expects from the United States. In a matter of speaking, Wolf, he expects economic sanctions will be lifted at some point in the near future.

And what that will mean is that U.S. and British companies will be coming -- this is what the Libyans want -- back to this country to reinvest in the oil industry and try to regenerate and rejuvenate this economy that has suffered under the last almost 20 years of economic sanctions.

But again, just to underline here, Moammar Gadhafi has told CNN that, while they have a weapons program, they do not have any weapons of mass destruction.

Nevertheless, he says, they're ending everything. They're inviting the international community in.

And he also, Wolf, advised other so-called rogue states, Iran, Syria, and North Korea, to follow the Libyan example -- Wolf. BLITZER: Let's see if they do. CNN's Andrea Koppel doing some terrific reporting for us in Tripoli, Libya. We'll see you back here safe and sound.

Andrea Koppel, our State Department correspondent, goes one on one with Moammar Gadhafi.

And you can see all of Andrea's exclusive interview with the Libyan leader tonight on NEWSNIGHT with Aaron Brown. That's at 10 p.m. Easter, 7 Pacific, only here on CNN.

We have much more to tell you about the deadly California earthquake, what we know so far and the latest on the destruction. More details are coming in right now. We'll have extensive coverage.

Also, the orange terror alert. What does it mean if you're planning some holiday travel this week, as millions of you are? We'll tell you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. You're looking at these pictures of an earthquake that rocked California just a few hours ago. Three people now confirmed dead in this earthquake, not far from San Luis Obispo. That's right near the epicenter.

Richard Jackoway is joining us once again. He's a reporter for the "San Luis Obispo Tribune."

Richard, what's the latest information that you're getting in the newsroom right now about the devastation from this 6.5 quake?

JACKOWAY: Most of it appears to be focused in Paso Robles. The other areas of the county are experiencing power outages. Water is broken. Some streets buckled, that kind of thing.

But Paso Robles, which is the third largest city in the county and has an older downtown, has seen most of the damage. And apparently three deaths.

BLITZER: What about that property damage? What's the extent of the property damage, as far as you can tell at this very, very early stage?

JACKOWAY: Yes. I don't think anybody is making any real predictions on how bad it's going to be. But certainly, we have homes that are damaged. We have an office in downtown Paso Robles which is uninhabitable and I think we'll find out more as the days go on.

BLITZER: When you say uninhabitable, because of the destruction from the earthquake? Is that what you're saying?

JACKOWAY: That's right. We had a few people in there, and the structure is not safe for them to return at this point. They're fairly near -- that office is fairly near where the clock tower fell, killing at least two people, and some of the other damage you see. BLITZER: Have you actually, Richard, spoken to any of your colleagues in Paso Robles to get a sense of what it felt like right there at the EPICenter?

JACKOWAY: Sure. I'm city editor here so I've been talking to the different reporters. The people who were closest actually were in Cambria. They felt it was a very strong quake, a very violent quake. I know the editor up there said that the plaques were coming off the walls and he thought it might hit them. They saw a lot of things flying around. There's a lot of art galleries in Cambria. It is an artist community. A number of them suffered damage.

BLITZER: Richard Jackoway is the city editor of the "San Luis Obispo Tribune." He's been kind enough to join us, share some information on this day. A 6.5 earthquake in California. Richard, good luck to you, good luck to all your colleagues and friends out there. Good luck to everybody in central California on this earthquake. Much more coverage of it coming up.

Also, on the alert, across the nation, how cities are coping with the new terror threats.

Aiming for answers as the interrogation continues. What, if anything, will the former Iraqi dictator divulge? We'll tell you. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Christmas week travel is beginning across America under the shadow of the orange security alert. We'll get to all of that.

But in the meantime, take a look at these pictures, pictures from an earthquake in California just a few hours ago. Three people confirmed dead. A lot of extensive destruction in central California as well. We'll go back out there live. That's coming up.

In the meantime, orange. That's the second highest security level and tightened security is evident indeed around major airports in the United States. We have a series of reports starting with Frank Buckley in Los Angeles.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Here at curbside at L.A.X., you can see some of the measures that are in place for the added security. This is an explosive trace detection system that's in place. People move their bags through and then they are swabbed to see if there are any traces of explosives. As we look at that, we will introduce Niko Melendez from the TSA. Niko, we're seeing this activity, some of the things we don't see, what can passengers expect here at L.A.X.?

NIKO MELENDEZ, TSA: When passengers come to the airport, they can expect to go through some kind of random vehicle inspection station. They are going to see an added presence of law enforcement officers, we're going to see more dogs, we're going to hear public address system announcements, they're going to see signs. And we are just asking passengers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

BUCKLEY: All right. Niko Melendez from TSA, thanks very much. And it is a very busy L.A.X. 153,000 passengers per day expected through L.A.X. during the holiday period.

I'm Frank Buckley, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICHELLE KING, WSVN CORRESPONDENT: A very busy day today here at Miami International Airport. Heightened security here as well as other airports across the country. And that tight security already netted one arrest. A David McIntyre from West Chester, Pennsylvania arrested this morning.

TSA say that they found two razor blades in his shoes. One of them, a small razor blade, the other one, a small hacksaw blade inside that shoe. That's type of security, they say, is what you can expect to see for the remainder of the week during this heightened terror alert. That is the latest here from Miami International Airport.

Nichelle King.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KRISTINE SOELDNER, DETROIT, MICHIGAN: A very short wait here at the Detroit side of the Ambassador Bridge. Trucks and cars are moving steady. Security is stepped up and also at the Detroit Windsor Tunnel. Truckers are on alert crossing the border, looking for any suspicious activity. Now travelers at the airport tell us that they are feeling comfortable. Detroit mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick says the city is prepared. Reporting live from the Ambassador Bridge at the U.S./Canadian border.

Kristine Soeldner, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Thanks very much. Let's get some perspective now on this heightened terror alert. Joining us, the former director of the National Security Agency, Retired U.S. Army General William Odom. He is now with the Hudson Institute here in Washington. General, thanks very much for joining us. We hear that there is heightened chatter. What does that mean?

LT. GEN. WILLIAM ODOM, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Well, it means you have lots of little intelligence reports, not necessarily single intelligence reports only but human intelligence reports and other not necessarily intelligence but direct observations that give you some sense that al Qaeda or other terrorist groups are moving, preparing to do things. In other words, it says you're suspicious, it's enough to make you suspicious but you really don't know what's going on.

BLITZER: On the basis of that increased chatter, the interceptive communications, the other signs that they are getting. On a Sunday afternoon, the secretary of homeland security comes out and elevates the level from yellow to orange.

ODOM: Yes and if you are asking my reaction to that, I think he could have reacted another way as well. That would have been to have been very discrete in alerting local officials without making a big public issue of it.

BLITZER: But you can't do that. Once you alert 30,000 local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities, word is going to get out.

ODOM: I didn't say alert 30,000. But alert a few. In other words, you really -- I think the best argument you can make for this kind of alert is that it throws the terrorist off. It may cause them, if they have really have something planned, to drop off it.

BLITZER: As a deterrent?

ODOM: As a deterrent. But it also -- the terrorists are learning how we learn. So this game is going on. The more we talk about this publicly and the more this kind of intelligence information is divulged, the less effective our intelligence will become because they will learn how to get around it. And I think, the last several years, we've had vastly too much exposure to how this is done and that's one of the reasons we don't have as good a picture, I think, today.

BLITZER: Well, what kind of capability does al Qaeda -- let's focus simply on this loosely coordinated al Qaeda terror network out there. After 9/11, we haven't seen a major terrorist attack on U.S. soil since then. What kind of capability do you sense they still have?

ODOM: Well, I think, from their behavior, I would have to conclude they have very little. Compared to the IRA capabilities in Britain, I would say they're trivial and the British don't run around creating sustained hysteria over this the way we have.

BLITZER: Well, are you critical of the administration?

ODOM: I'm critical of having a counter terrorism policy which really amounts to little more than sustained hysteria.

BLITZER: But you don't want to be caught off guard if, in fact, they do have information?

And Tom Ridge, who's an honorable man, says the chatter is as high as it's been since 9/11. You want to alert people that there is that possibility to be a little bit more vilagent.

ODOM: What you want to do is catch the terrorist and prevent the thing from happening. Alerting people comes to covering your sense of responsibility without focusing on how you prevent the event. There's a fine line there about judgment as to whether one should say yes, everyone be alert, just in case something happens, and you will be blamed for having been asleep at the switch. There is another good argument that pretending to be asleep at the switch is more effective in preventing these kinds of acts. I can't make that judgment sitting out here. I'm saying analytically from what I've seen in the past and my own experience there is that dilemma from the people in the government to make these calls.

BLITZER: One final note though. But what I sense from Tom Ridge, he is reaching out to the American public, to the millions of people out there. Keep your eyes open and if you see anything suspicious, report it.

ODOM: He's doing that. But I think encouraging that kind of suspicion can cause some very unhappy and undesirable kinds of behavior over a period of time. If we get into the habit of this where we're driving down the highways saying watch around you for suspicious activities, it reminds me of when my time in the Soviet Union, I was being -- I was seeing those signs all over the Soviet Union about spies, people who were enemies, class enemies, this, that, and the other. And I don't think you want to create a permanent sense of that attitude in the United States, or mood of that attitude.

BLITZER: General Odom, thanks very much as usual for joining us.

ODOM: Thank you.

BLITZER: Good perspective.

BLITZER: We're watching what's happening in California. Just a few hours ago, a major earthquake, 6.5 out in California. They're cleaning up, trying to deal with this. Some significant damage, property damage, roads cracked, three people confirmed dead in the California earth wake. We'll go back out there live. That's coming up.

Also, dialogue with a former dictator and trying for the truth. What will it take for Saddam Hussein to tell what he really knows?

We'll assess that. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Let's get some more information now on our top story. The major earthquake in California. It measured 6.5 and it was centered along the central coast near Cambria. As we reported at least three people are confirmed. Unfortunately California is all too familiar with killer quakes.

Jennifer Coggiola is here in Washington, she's joining us with a little bit more on the history. What's going on California -- Jennifer.

JENNIFER COGGIOLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Earthquakes can happen anywhere, anytime. History has shown they follow a pattern year after year, particularly in three areas of the earth, one of which runs along the edge of the Pacific Ocean, and, as you can guess, California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COGGIOLA (voice-over): Why is the golden state such a target for earthquakes like the one this morning?

A quick lesson in geology.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The earthquake caused only modest damage, but it has lit up for us a fault that's important to understanding how California works.

COGGIOLA: The San Andreas fault, which runs 650 miles long and 10 miles deep is also home to hundreds of smaller faults that branch off like this morning's quake. In fact, California, along with Alaska, has the most earthquakes of any state in the U.S. Historically, California also has had the most damaging. Some of the big ones on the West Coast, most deadly on record is the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire which left 3,000 dead and damage at a reported $524 million. The 1971 San Fernando earthquake killed 65 people and injured more than 2,000.

Perhaps most memorable in people's mind, referred to as the San Francisco earthquake in 1989 was actually in Loma Prieta. It measured 7.1. Sixty-three people died, nearly 4,000 injured and the damage price tag, $6 billion. The most recent deadly California earthquake in 1994 was in Northridge, just west of Los Angeles. Left 57 dead, more 9,000 injured and about $40 billion in property damage. There are several additional natural catastrophic result that is can occur from earthquakes, includes landslides, crevices and tidal waves. Also, aftershocks have been known to cause damage. But what can we expect from today's?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is the possibility, 5 or 10 percent, that one of these aftershock will prove to be larger than the mainshock. A much more likely scenario is, we have seen a large earthquake, a 6.5 certainly large, and what we'll see over the next weeks and months is diminishing in frequency and size of aftershocks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COGGIOLA: Now, earthquakes of today's scale, 6.5, generally happen almost 120 times a year. The biggest earthquake ever in the U.S. Surprisingly it wasn't in California, it was in Alaska in 1964, measuring 9.2. It was the second largest in the world. But the biggest ever, in Chile, measuring a whooping 9.5 -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jennifer Coggiola, with some useful prospective. Thanks very much for that.

Let's go back live to California. Joining us on the phone is Abel Maldonado. He's a councilman. Where exactly are you calling from, Mr. Maldonado? ABEL MALDONADO, STATE ASSEMBLYMAN: Wolf, I'm right here on the corner of Park Street and 12th Street right where the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) building has collapsed. It is a scary situation. I was -- I was going through this situation at the office about 40 miles from here, when the trembler hit. It started very slow, hit very harder, and now I'm seeing the disaster in Paso Robles.

BLITZER: What are you seeing right now in Paso Robles?

MALDONADO: I'm seeing a lot of hard hats just taking bricks out of a building and throwing bricks outside the building. There is a completely demolished black Denali GMC. There's a Miata car completely demolished. And the building next door, Wolf, with the scary (UNINTELLIGIBLE) got's cracks in it. It's an old, old building that's just right across the street, that folks here are saying one aftershock can knock that building also. So, we are trying to secure also the other buildings that are here.

BLITZER: This is an area and we're looking at video just coming in to CNN, Mr. Maldonado. This is an area that is not necessarily prone to these earthquakes, is it?

MALDONADO: Well, we've had some in the past, but very, very light tremblers, earthquakes. Nothing like this one. This one was we are hearing was 6.5, which is very, very big. And I'll tell you, these folks we got to pray -- these workers that are out here trying to see if there's anybody else. We have the holiday season. This is Christmas week. We have more people out there shopping during this week, that's why we're very concerned and the folks are very worried that there's more people inside.

BLITZER: How are people coping? How are people dealing with this emergency?

MALDONADO: Well, Paso Robles is a very small community. Very tight knit. The county of San Luis Obispo is a county that really comes together during tough times and people are just concerned, people are very worried.

You get a wheezy (ph) feeling inside your body when all of a sudden, you're sitting at your desk and it starts to shake and one minute and then -- I'm going to guess it lasted about 20 to 25 seconds. After the first ten seconds, it just started to shake really bad.

I got to be frank with you. About ten minutes later I got a call from Patricia Clarey, the chief of staff of Governor Schwarzenegger making sure everything was okay. So I know that the governor is on top of things and I look forward to seeing what more I can advise them as time goes on.

BLITZER: A member of the state assembly, Abel Maldonado. Good luck to you, good luck to all of your fellow Californians out there. We'll be watching and praying with you. Clearly, a serious, serious earthquake happening in an area not necessarily known for earthquakes in this part of California. We'll continue to monitor what's happening out on the West Coast.

When we come back, Saddam Hussein in the hot seat. How to make him divulge his secrets. That story next on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Two more U.S. soldiers died in Baghdad today along with an Iraqi translator. CNN's Satinder Bindra has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's been more than a week since Saddam Hussein's capture and in this time, some 45 people have been killed in ongoing violence in Iraq. Most of those who have been killed here are Iraqi policemen, indeed, Iraqi insurgents have also been killed.

In this time three U.S. soldiers have also died. Two of them were killed today when their vehicle was blown up by an explosive device. In this incident, one Iraqi interpreter was also killed and two U.S. soldiers were wounded.

Just west of Baghdad today, another explosive device injured a U.S. soldier critically. Now as all this violence continues, the U.S. is launching several anti-insurgent raids just north of here, just north of Baghdad.

U.S. forces claiming they captured a senior figure from the former Saddam Hussein regime. In the past 48 hours, U.S. forces claim they've captured some 200 suspected Iraqi insurgents. Now, in this process on Sunday, U.S. forces say one Iraqi woman was killed on the border with Syria. The U.S. forces say they've launched an investigation. Satinder Bindra, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Saddam Hussein has been in U.S. hands now for more than a week and interrogators have spent much of that time trying to get him to talk. How do they do it?

Joining us from our Boston bureau is Mike Ritz. He's a former U.S. army interrogator. He's now with Team Delta, a private organization that offers military-style programs and training. Mike, thanks very much for joining us. I know Saddam Hussein is not your ordinary POW but if you were given that mission, how would you get him to talk?

MIKE RITZ, FORMER ARMY INTERROGATOR: Well, I think what's really important to realize here is that someone's got to gain some confidence with this man. He's a narcissist and, you know, he's profiled as such. He's going to do anything to save his own skin, I feel like.

So I think gaining confidence with perhaps a senior person, an authority that he can respect, he's going to start talking. A man with an ego this size is going to brag and I think it's real important that we allow him that opportunity to brag as much as he wants and then guide him in the right direction.

BLITZER: So he is breakable if you do it right, if you do it a smart way. Is that what you're saying?

RITZ: I think he's going to talk. If we give him the impression that he can be saved, that this isn't the end of the game, that perhaps, you know, he can last, because this is a man who considers himself a savior and considers himself, you know, a very important person, if we can give him the impression that he can last, he's going to talk as long as we make sure that he cooperates with us. Bragging definitely is going to be a key here.

BLITZER: In other words, you got to give him something that he wants. In effect, what he said -- when he came out of that hole and said, "I'm ready to negotiate," to a certain degree, you have to start negotiating with him. Is that what you're saying?

RITZ: Well, you have to, at least, give him the thought that he can negotiate. If we tell him that this is the end, then there's no point in his cooperating. What good does it do him? He's going to look out for himself in the long run.

I'm quite sure that if we pump him up a little bit, let him know that maybe some admiration. One way it could be used is with an interpreter. There's a tendency for an interpreter to establish a rapport with a source or, at least, that can be done.

It's not supposed to but it's a trick that can be used. That interpreter may be able to have some admiration, he may be able to gain Saddam's confidence enough to actually (UNINTELLIGIBLE). The trick here is trying to prioritize and fill in the gaps. He's got a lot of information and I think he's trying to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) through it. He's going to leave out all that stuff that's incriminating.

BLITZER: Mike Ritz, thanks very much for your perspective.

RITZ: Thank you.

BLITZER: Martha Stewart is talking about the scandal that's plagued her business empire. She's scheduled to go on trial next month on conspiracy, fraud, and obstruction of justice, charges she says it's making for the saddest holiday she's ever had.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, "LARRY KING LIVE": What's the hardest part of this ordeal?

MARTHA STEWART: Well, sort of coming to a screeching halt of having to deal with something extremely unpleasant, something that saddens and disheartens me, and something that is very, very difficult, not only for me, but for everyone I work with, my family, my friends. That's the hard part.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: Martha Stewart is the guest tonight for the entire hour on "Larry King Live," giving her last interview before her trial begins. You can watch it tonight, 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 Pacific. Only here on CNN, an important "Larry King Live."

Tonight, recapping for our viewers, a major earthquake in California, today, 6.5. Three people confirmed dead. Extensive coverage coming up throughout the night here on CNN. Stay with CNN for that.

Here are the results, by the way, of our web question of the day, a reminder that this is not a scientific poll. "Did you find the terror threat warning helpful?" Yes, 33 percent. No, 67 percent.

A reminder. We're here Monday through Friday at both noon and 5:00 p.m. Eastern. I'll see you tomorrow at noon and then at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Thanks very much for watching.

John King's filling in for Lou Dobbs tonight, which starts right now.

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





Security in Capital; Egyptian Foreign Minister Attacked in Mosque>


Aired December 22, 2003 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now. California shaken. This is video just coming in to CNN only minutes ago. You can see people digging. They're searching. This comes after a strong, deadly earthquake. It's felt from San Francisco all the way down to Los Angeles and the southern part of the state. We'll have full coverage.
Also happening right now, why surface to air missile may be deployed around a major United States city.

Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Terror chatter. On edge like never before, I'll speak with a man who directed America's electronic eavesdropping.

Vigilant but vulnerable.

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Big celebrations, Times Square, Las Vegas, L.A., football games, you name it.

Diplomat in danger. A shocking attack in a holy place.

Gadhafi speaks out. What's behind his extraordinary turn about? An exclusive interview with the Libyan leader.

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Monday, December 22, 2003.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: We begin with a major news development. An earthquake in California. And CNN has now confirmed three people killed in San Luis Obispo County along the central coast.

We also are just getting in some significant video of other damage. This in the town of Paso Robles, about 30 miles inland from the Yucca Center (ph), along the central California coast.

We're told an historic building has collapsed in this town of about 20,000 people, and there are some people trapped. You can see resource rescuers moving in. They're digging through the rubble right now in an effort to try to reach those people.

Again, this is in the town of Paso Robles. So far, the hardest hit from this 6.5 quake we've seen so far.

We have extensive coverage of what's happening in California coming up. First, let's check in with CNN's Jen Rogers. She's in our San Francisco bureau, where the earthquake was clearly felt -- Jen.

JEN ROGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Wolf.

That's right. We did feel it here at the bureau. It was one of the largest earthquakes to hit California in recent years, and it was definitely felt up and down the coast.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROGERS (voice-over): Even by California standards, where earthquakes are an almost daily occurrence, this was a major event. The quake hit at a quarter past 11 Pacific time with a preliminary magnitude of 6.5.

The epicenter on California's sparsely populated central coast was near the resort town of Cambria and the historic Hearst Castle in nearby San Simeon, which park rangers ordered evacuated.

Residents of the area reported strong shaking. And although officials reported about 40,000 people without power, the damage was limited.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It hit like a shock wave from a bomb blast. Almost knocked us off our feet. And you could hear the sound. It was just a loud, almost like an explosion.

ROGERS: Geologists classified the quake as strong but relatively shallow, hitting not even five miles below the earth's surface. More than 30 aftershocks followed in the first hour alone, the strongest measuring 4.7.

The quake itself was strong enough to be felt in both Los Angeles and San Francisco, each about 200 miles away.

ROSS STEIN, USGS: It's a moderate sized earthquake that caused modest damage in the local area. It's an earthquake that's rare but not particularly rare for the area. We had similar sized earthquakes in 1952, in 1853 and 1906, all in this area.

It's on a fault line, and we don't know as well as we would like. And this earthquake will help us to get to know it better.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROGERS: Now, to give you an idea of what we felt here in San Francisco, the bureau is in the financial district. And we are on the ninth floor. And it sort of felt like, Wolf, we were out of sea. You kind of felt almost dizzy for a second. I felt like my chair was moving. But it was not a strong jolt at all, sort of a rolling motion. And definitely nothing huge by Bay Area standards -- Wolf.

BLITZER: What floor are you on in the bureau over there? How high are you, Jen?

ROGERS: We're here on the ninth floor up here. And certainly, when you're in a high rise you definitely feel it more than when you're at a house.

You know, I called some friends and back to my parents' house here in San Francisco. They said they didn't really feel anything. So being downtown, we certainly get a little bit more of that rolling feeling here.

BLITZER: Any word up in San Francisco -- and we're looking at these live pictures of the area near the epicenter right now -- any words that the after there is shocks could hit your part of California?

ROGERS: Well, you know of course, any time there is a major earthquake, everybody is always concerned about aftershocks. And at this point, obviously, that's concentrated down near the epicenter. But any time this happens, everybody is on, you know, elevated alert, so to speak.

BLITZER: So everybody is ready, even in California, where they sort of live on a daily basis with this fear of earthquakes. But once it happens, people get excited. What's the general mood in San Francisco, which is clearly a few hundred miles away?

ROGERS: Yes, I would say that the distance at this point makes it feel very far away. Because we didn't have sort of violent shaking that we had in 1989.

And when I was here then, that was certainly much different. Obviously, the epicenter was closer. There was much more damage. Just to give you a little bit of context, I mean, there were 63 deaths in 1989. So that was a very stark difference of what we are right now.

You know, looking out right after we felt the shaking here, we saw people just looking around, trying to figure out what's happening. But again, we are over 200 miles away. And obviously, as we reported, there are three deaths down in that area now.

BLITZER: CNN's Jen Rogers is covering the story for us in San Francisco. Jen, thank you very much.

Joining us on the phone now, Richard Jackoway of the "San Luis Obispo Tribune."

How close are you, Richard, to the epicenter?

RICHARD JACKOWAY, "SAN LUIS OBISPO TRIBUNE": About 30 miles away.

BLITZER: Tell us where you were, what you felt when this happened. And as you're talking, we're looking at these live pictures. We can see rescuers, workers digging away. They're clearly trying to remove some of the debris from the area. We see cars covered up, clearly, by some of this debris.

But give us a sense of what you felt and what you saw, Richard.

JACKOWAY: Sure. I was in our San Luis Obispo newsroom when it happened. It was a very strong shake. I've been in California for about 15 years. It was the strongest I have felt.

We got under our desks as you're trained to do in California. It lasted about a half a minute, and then we started hearing the reports. I think what you're seeing is probably Paso Robles. There's been significant damage and at least two people have died there.

BLITZER: We understand three people so far, at least according to CNN's information, have now been confirmed dead.

Was this the kind of earthquake, at least from what you could see, where in a supermarket the shelves would start collapsing and canned goods would start falling down? Was it that kind of violent reaction?

JACKOWAY: Yes, at least. As we now know, some of the wineries -- we have a lot of wineries around here. And barrels fell off the shelves. At least one person was injured from that.

All over the county store shelves were tossed. As you talk to our editor in Cambria, which is the nearest to the epicenter, and the plaques were flying off the shelves there.

BLITZER: Are people in your part of California used to these kind of earthquakes? This is a pretty significant one, 6.5.

JACKOWAY: We've actually been fairly immune. This is, I believe, our first fatal earthquake. We've felt other earthquakes, but we have not had many centered here. Because of that, we have many older buildings. We haven't -- unlike many of the downtowns in California, have not been ravaged by earthquakes.

BLITZER: Have -- Do you have reports now of buildings that have collapsed? These pictures we see, we clearly see some structural damage. But have you actually received reports of buildings that have collapsed?

JACKOWAY: We have reports of second floor that have collapsed in on first floors. The deaths -- some of the deaths, at least, occurred when a clock tower fell in on itself.

BLITZER: And what about power outages?

JACKOWAY: Power outages are spotty around the county. I think there were about 40,000 homes without power last time I looked.

BLITZER: What about the general mood where you are in San Luis Obispo? How are people dealing with this earthquake?

JACKOWAY: It's definitely shaken people a lot. You know, you are used to having earth wakes, but this one hit home harder than others. And people are wary. We have reports, obviously, a lot of people went out into the streets. They didn't want to stay in the homes and buildings. That's particularly true in the Paso Robles area.

BLITZER: I understand that the Hearst Castle, which is a major tourist attraction along the coast, that that was not very far away from the epicenter. Have you heard of any damage there? A lot of our viewers have actually gone there because of the popularity of that attraction.

JACKOWAY: Sure. It is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the state. And it was about five miles from the epicenter. We have been told that there was only minor damage. We have not gotten inside. The castle is up on a hill and we haven't been able to go up the hill but hope to later in the afternoon.

BLITZER: Richard, what are they saying about more aftershocks? What are the likelihood this kind of 6.5 quake will result in additional aftershocks?

JACKOWAY: It certainly will result in additional aftershocks. We've had eight or so of them already, smaller fours and threes. They say there's only about a one in ten chance that it would result in a larger quake.

So we're expecting to have more small quakes. We just had one, I think, half an hour ago or so.

BLITZER: And a lot of our viewers will remember the quake outside of Los Angeles, the one in San Francisco where there was major damage to major highways and roads. Any cracks, as far as you can tell right now, where you were?

JACKOWAY: We've been told that Highway 46 is cracked. That's a road between Cambria and Paso Robles. But I think it's still passable. We've had rockslides that have closed roads, as well.

BLITZER: All right. Well, Richard Jackoway, it was kind of you to spend a few moments with us, updating our viewers on what's going on out in California. Clearly, a significant earthquake, 6.5 out there.

And CNN has now confirmed three fatalities so far. Let's hope it just stays at three. A major earthquake in California, the central part of the state.

We'll continue to have much more coverage on this story. That's coming up later in this hour. We'll bring you all the late-breaking developments.

But there's also important information we want to bring you right now on terrorism and the alert level that's gone up for the holidays.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge says terrorists may be planning strikes, and I'm quoting now, "on a scale even greater than 9/11." Airplanes, he adds, are still their weapon of choice. As travel hubs tighten security around the United States, the U.S. military may soon deploy a ring of missiles around the nation's capitol. That would be here, right here in Washington, D.C.

Just a few minutes ago, the president addressed the situation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you have any words for Americans who are worried about traveling this holiday season?

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My words are these. Our government is doing everything we can to protect our country. We've got a lot of really decent hard-working Americans who will be working over the holiday season to do everything we can to protect Americans from harm. And I want to thank them for their efforts, thank them for their hard work.

American citizens need to go about their lives. But as they do so, they need to know that governments at all levels are working as hard as we possibly can to protect the American citizens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The president was speaking at the White House at a Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony.

CNN's Barbara Starr is standing by over at the Pentagon, and CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is over at the White House, where there's a sense, clearly, as we just heard from the president, that this may be different.

Suzanne, let's begin with you.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, it really is a delicate balancing act for the administration and for this president.

On the one hand they're trying to encourage and reassure Americans to go on with their celebrations for the holiday. On the other hand, they really want to make it very clear that this is a threat like no other.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BUSH: Merry Christmas, Jane.

MALVEAUX (voice-over): President Bush at a children's Christmas party is following his administration's own advice, to go out and enjoy the holidays.

But earlier in the day, Mr. Bush was hunkered down at the White House with his Homeland Security Council, getting briefed on the security plan for the country's heightened state of alert.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge emerged from the meeting to explain how this warning is unlike any before. RIDGE: The general consensus within that community, that all the strategic indicators suggest from the volume -- really, the level and amount of reporting has increased. We've never quite seen it at this level before.

MALVEAUX: The reporting is also considered to be more credible than when the administration raised the threat level to orange back in May.

RIDGE: Our ability to corroborate some of this information, the strategic indicators suggest that it is the most significant threat reporting since 9/11.

MALVEAUX: the administration says there is no information about a specific target or method of attack but that al Qaeda may try to use airplanes as missiles again.

But the White House says Americans are safer than they were several years ago.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: We have captured or eliminated two-thirds of the al Qaeda leadership. So there has been great success. But the war continues.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: And Wolf, the administration officials say with the fall of the Taliban, with the Iraq war and the capture of Saddam Hussein that Americans are safer than they were two years ago, but they say it is very important this holiday season to be vigilant -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's Suzanne Malveaux at the White House. Suzanne, thanks very much.

The U.S. military is boosting its own security measures right now and may soon be taking additional steps to help safeguard the nation's capitol.

Let's go live to CNN's Barbara Starr. She's over at the Pentagon, where they are clearly, Barbara, taking all of these terror alert measures extremely seriously -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are indeed, Wolf. Officials here endorsing the view, this one is different. Those are the words we are also hearing here at the Pentagon.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld now getting regular briefings, updating him on the situation. We are told that there is a plan now to deploy surface-to-air missiles around Washington, D.C., possibly even in New York.

Now, I must tell you, this has been done in the past, of course when the threat warning level has gone to orange. But every indication that that will happen again. Already combat air patrol stepped up over key cities, key metropolitan areas of concern. In addition, the military has raised the protection level at U.S. military bases here in the United States. It's now at something called Condition Bravo. That means more security checks, more perimeter checks, more I.D. checks for people in vehicles entering and exiting U.S. military bases.

Officials here are also describing this warning as specific, reliable, credible. They say they have nothing on when, where, or a method of attack. But a senior official here describing it as a true orange.

The people here know that there have been any number of orange level alerts in the past, that people can become skeptical. They say this is a prudent measure. They are going forward with the military plan as it had been planned out in the past, but they are, indeed, very concerned this time around -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Understandably so. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Thank you very much.

And here's your chance to weigh in on this important story. Our Web question of the day is this. Do you find the terror threat warning system helpful? You can vote right now. Go to CNN.com/Wolf. We'll have the results later in this broadcast.

While you're there, I' love to hear directly from you, our viewers. Send me your comments anytime. 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.

A deadly earthquake rattles central California. Our live coverage of this developing story continues.

Plus this. Mission for peace turns violent. A diplomat is attacked during a trip to the Middle East, and it's all caught on videotape. We're live from Jerusalem.

The Libyan leader. Does his decision to give up weapons of mass destruction represent a new beginning? CNN goes one on one with Moammar Gadhafi. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: You're looking at these pictures of an earthquake, 6.5, that happened just a few hours ago in central California. CNN has now confirmed at least three people are dead from this quake. We'll have extensive coverage coming up this hour.

You can clearly see rescuers working in the rubble. We're told at least some people are trapped in this earthquake.

There's other news, though, that we're following today.

A shocking -- shocking assault at a Jerusalem holy place. It came after Egypt's foreign minister met with Israeli officials, trying to jump start peace talks with the Palestinians. This was not to the liking of some Muslim extremists, who attacked the Egyptian diplomat during prayers at the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

Let's go live to CNN's Chris Burns. He's on the scene for us.

Chris, tell our viewers what happened.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, all that diplomatic action being today being overshadowed by what happened there at tat religious site, which you could actually call the epicenter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Al Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, what the Jews call the Temple Mount, that is the place where Ahmed Maher, the foreign minister of Egypt, went to visit to go to pray.

And as he went to pray, his group was attacked. As he entered the Al Aqsa Mosque, there were chants and shouts of traitor, of collaborator. Someone -- One man screaming at him, "Why? How could you go in here, you who is collaborating with the killers," apparently referring to the Israelis whom he's been talking to earlier.

In this melee there were shoes thrown. That is a very grave insult by the -- in the Arab world. Shoes thrown at this entourage.

Mr. Maher came out rather shaken. He did complain of shortness of breath, of a tightness in his chest. He was quickly escorted out by his entourage and then by Israeli police who were in the surrounding area, taken to a hospital and checked for observation. He has since returned back to Egypt. So he, apparently, is in good condition.

But this overshadowed what had been seen as some very important diplomacy going on today here in Jerusalem, where Mr. Maher made his first visit in two years.

That -- relations had been very difficult over the last couple -- three years because of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. And because of that, his return here to talk to the Israelis about pushing ahead with the U.S. road map for peace was very important and very significant -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Chris Burns with the latest in Jerusalem. Pretty shocking story out there today. Thanks very much, Chris, for that report.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi did not dispute that the U.S. invasion of Iraq may have played a role in his decision to come clean on his weapons of mass destruction.

He sat down for an exclusive interview with our State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel in Tripoli -- just outside Tripoli, that is. Andrea is now back in the Libyan capital. She's joining us live -- Andrea.

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, we spent about an hour with Libyan leader Colonel Moammar Gadhafi.

We drove about a half an hour outside of this city where the colonel feels most comfortable. He's from -- His father was a nomad, and he prefers to do interviews outdoors in a tent.

Now, this is somewhat of a permanent tent. It's built up on a concrete foundation. Nevertheless, that's where we did our interview.

The majority of the interview focused, as you might imagine, on the stunning announcement last week from President Bush and Prime Minister Blair of England that the Libyans had agreed to come clean about their suspected weapons of mass destruction program, and to dismantle them finally.

The International Atomic Agency has met with the Libyans over the weekend, and they'll be coming here perhaps as soon as next week.

I asked the Libyan leader point blank whether or not he had weapons of mass destruction. You'll hear his answer in one moment. You'll hear he makes a very clear distinction between actually having weapons themselves, which he denies, and having a weapons program.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOAMMAR GADHAFI, LIBYAN LEADER: They may be used for these purposes. Anyhow, we have decided to get rid of this mission completely.

(through translator): It will improve relations between our respective countries. Plus, cooperation of technology vis-a-vis the equipment. We wish to come clean and cooperate with us and to use them together for peaceful purposes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: Colonel Gadhafi explaining there what his government now expects from the United States. In a matter of speaking, Wolf, he expects economic sanctions will be lifted at some point in the near future.

And what that will mean is that U.S. and British companies will be coming -- this is what the Libyans want -- back to this country to reinvest in the oil industry and try to regenerate and rejuvenate this economy that has suffered under the last almost 20 years of economic sanctions.

But again, just to underline here, Moammar Gadhafi has told CNN that, while they have a weapons program, they do not have any weapons of mass destruction.

Nevertheless, he says, they're ending everything. They're inviting the international community in.

And he also, Wolf, advised other so-called rogue states, Iran, Syria, and North Korea, to follow the Libyan example -- Wolf. BLITZER: Let's see if they do. CNN's Andrea Koppel doing some terrific reporting for us in Tripoli, Libya. We'll see you back here safe and sound.

Andrea Koppel, our State Department correspondent, goes one on one with Moammar Gadhafi.

And you can see all of Andrea's exclusive interview with the Libyan leader tonight on NEWSNIGHT with Aaron Brown. That's at 10 p.m. Easter, 7 Pacific, only here on CNN.

We have much more to tell you about the deadly California earthquake, what we know so far and the latest on the destruction. More details are coming in right now. We'll have extensive coverage.

Also, the orange terror alert. What does it mean if you're planning some holiday travel this week, as millions of you are? We'll tell you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. You're looking at these pictures of an earthquake that rocked California just a few hours ago. Three people now confirmed dead in this earthquake, not far from San Luis Obispo. That's right near the epicenter.

Richard Jackoway is joining us once again. He's a reporter for the "San Luis Obispo Tribune."

Richard, what's the latest information that you're getting in the newsroom right now about the devastation from this 6.5 quake?

JACKOWAY: Most of it appears to be focused in Paso Robles. The other areas of the county are experiencing power outages. Water is broken. Some streets buckled, that kind of thing.

But Paso Robles, which is the third largest city in the county and has an older downtown, has seen most of the damage. And apparently three deaths.

BLITZER: What about that property damage? What's the extent of the property damage, as far as you can tell at this very, very early stage?

JACKOWAY: Yes. I don't think anybody is making any real predictions on how bad it's going to be. But certainly, we have homes that are damaged. We have an office in downtown Paso Robles which is uninhabitable and I think we'll find out more as the days go on.

BLITZER: When you say uninhabitable, because of the destruction from the earthquake? Is that what you're saying?

JACKOWAY: That's right. We had a few people in there, and the structure is not safe for them to return at this point. They're fairly near -- that office is fairly near where the clock tower fell, killing at least two people, and some of the other damage you see. BLITZER: Have you actually, Richard, spoken to any of your colleagues in Paso Robles to get a sense of what it felt like right there at the EPICenter?

JACKOWAY: Sure. I'm city editor here so I've been talking to the different reporters. The people who were closest actually were in Cambria. They felt it was a very strong quake, a very violent quake. I know the editor up there said that the plaques were coming off the walls and he thought it might hit them. They saw a lot of things flying around. There's a lot of art galleries in Cambria. It is an artist community. A number of them suffered damage.

BLITZER: Richard Jackoway is the city editor of the "San Luis Obispo Tribune." He's been kind enough to join us, share some information on this day. A 6.5 earthquake in California. Richard, good luck to you, good luck to all your colleagues and friends out there. Good luck to everybody in central California on this earthquake. Much more coverage of it coming up.

Also, on the alert, across the nation, how cities are coping with the new terror threats.

Aiming for answers as the interrogation continues. What, if anything, will the former Iraqi dictator divulge? We'll tell you. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Christmas week travel is beginning across America under the shadow of the orange security alert. We'll get to all of that.

But in the meantime, take a look at these pictures, pictures from an earthquake in California just a few hours ago. Three people confirmed dead. A lot of extensive destruction in central California as well. We'll go back out there live. That's coming up.

In the meantime, orange. That's the second highest security level and tightened security is evident indeed around major airports in the United States. We have a series of reports starting with Frank Buckley in Los Angeles.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Here at curbside at L.A.X., you can see some of the measures that are in place for the added security. This is an explosive trace detection system that's in place. People move their bags through and then they are swabbed to see if there are any traces of explosives. As we look at that, we will introduce Niko Melendez from the TSA. Niko, we're seeing this activity, some of the things we don't see, what can passengers expect here at L.A.X.?

NIKO MELENDEZ, TSA: When passengers come to the airport, they can expect to go through some kind of random vehicle inspection station. They are going to see an added presence of law enforcement officers, we're going to see more dogs, we're going to hear public address system announcements, they're going to see signs. And we are just asking passengers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

BUCKLEY: All right. Niko Melendez from TSA, thanks very much. And it is a very busy L.A.X. 153,000 passengers per day expected through L.A.X. during the holiday period.

I'm Frank Buckley, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICHELLE KING, WSVN CORRESPONDENT: A very busy day today here at Miami International Airport. Heightened security here as well as other airports across the country. And that tight security already netted one arrest. A David McIntyre from West Chester, Pennsylvania arrested this morning.

TSA say that they found two razor blades in his shoes. One of them, a small razor blade, the other one, a small hacksaw blade inside that shoe. That's type of security, they say, is what you can expect to see for the remainder of the week during this heightened terror alert. That is the latest here from Miami International Airport.

Nichelle King.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KRISTINE SOELDNER, DETROIT, MICHIGAN: A very short wait here at the Detroit side of the Ambassador Bridge. Trucks and cars are moving steady. Security is stepped up and also at the Detroit Windsor Tunnel. Truckers are on alert crossing the border, looking for any suspicious activity. Now travelers at the airport tell us that they are feeling comfortable. Detroit mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick says the city is prepared. Reporting live from the Ambassador Bridge at the U.S./Canadian border.

Kristine Soeldner, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Thanks very much. Let's get some perspective now on this heightened terror alert. Joining us, the former director of the National Security Agency, Retired U.S. Army General William Odom. He is now with the Hudson Institute here in Washington. General, thanks very much for joining us. We hear that there is heightened chatter. What does that mean?

LT. GEN. WILLIAM ODOM, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Well, it means you have lots of little intelligence reports, not necessarily single intelligence reports only but human intelligence reports and other not necessarily intelligence but direct observations that give you some sense that al Qaeda or other terrorist groups are moving, preparing to do things. In other words, it says you're suspicious, it's enough to make you suspicious but you really don't know what's going on.

BLITZER: On the basis of that increased chatter, the interceptive communications, the other signs that they are getting. On a Sunday afternoon, the secretary of homeland security comes out and elevates the level from yellow to orange.

ODOM: Yes and if you are asking my reaction to that, I think he could have reacted another way as well. That would have been to have been very discrete in alerting local officials without making a big public issue of it.

BLITZER: But you can't do that. Once you alert 30,000 local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities, word is going to get out.

ODOM: I didn't say alert 30,000. But alert a few. In other words, you really -- I think the best argument you can make for this kind of alert is that it throws the terrorist off. It may cause them, if they have really have something planned, to drop off it.

BLITZER: As a deterrent?

ODOM: As a deterrent. But it also -- the terrorists are learning how we learn. So this game is going on. The more we talk about this publicly and the more this kind of intelligence information is divulged, the less effective our intelligence will become because they will learn how to get around it. And I think, the last several years, we've had vastly too much exposure to how this is done and that's one of the reasons we don't have as good a picture, I think, today.

BLITZER: Well, what kind of capability does al Qaeda -- let's focus simply on this loosely coordinated al Qaeda terror network out there. After 9/11, we haven't seen a major terrorist attack on U.S. soil since then. What kind of capability do you sense they still have?

ODOM: Well, I think, from their behavior, I would have to conclude they have very little. Compared to the IRA capabilities in Britain, I would say they're trivial and the British don't run around creating sustained hysteria over this the way we have.

BLITZER: Well, are you critical of the administration?

ODOM: I'm critical of having a counter terrorism policy which really amounts to little more than sustained hysteria.

BLITZER: But you don't want to be caught off guard if, in fact, they do have information?

And Tom Ridge, who's an honorable man, says the chatter is as high as it's been since 9/11. You want to alert people that there is that possibility to be a little bit more vilagent.

ODOM: What you want to do is catch the terrorist and prevent the thing from happening. Alerting people comes to covering your sense of responsibility without focusing on how you prevent the event. There's a fine line there about judgment as to whether one should say yes, everyone be alert, just in case something happens, and you will be blamed for having been asleep at the switch. There is another good argument that pretending to be asleep at the switch is more effective in preventing these kinds of acts. I can't make that judgment sitting out here. I'm saying analytically from what I've seen in the past and my own experience there is that dilemma from the people in the government to make these calls.

BLITZER: One final note though. But what I sense from Tom Ridge, he is reaching out to the American public, to the millions of people out there. Keep your eyes open and if you see anything suspicious, report it.

ODOM: He's doing that. But I think encouraging that kind of suspicion can cause some very unhappy and undesirable kinds of behavior over a period of time. If we get into the habit of this where we're driving down the highways saying watch around you for suspicious activities, it reminds me of when my time in the Soviet Union, I was being -- I was seeing those signs all over the Soviet Union about spies, people who were enemies, class enemies, this, that, and the other. And I don't think you want to create a permanent sense of that attitude in the United States, or mood of that attitude.

BLITZER: General Odom, thanks very much as usual for joining us.

ODOM: Thank you.

BLITZER: Good perspective.

BLITZER: We're watching what's happening in California. Just a few hours ago, a major earthquake, 6.5 out in California. They're cleaning up, trying to deal with this. Some significant damage, property damage, roads cracked, three people confirmed dead in the California earth wake. We'll go back out there live. That's coming up.

Also, dialogue with a former dictator and trying for the truth. What will it take for Saddam Hussein to tell what he really knows?

We'll assess that. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Let's get some more information now on our top story. The major earthquake in California. It measured 6.5 and it was centered along the central coast near Cambria. As we reported at least three people are confirmed. Unfortunately California is all too familiar with killer quakes.

Jennifer Coggiola is here in Washington, she's joining us with a little bit more on the history. What's going on California -- Jennifer.

JENNIFER COGGIOLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Earthquakes can happen anywhere, anytime. History has shown they follow a pattern year after year, particularly in three areas of the earth, one of which runs along the edge of the Pacific Ocean, and, as you can guess, California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COGGIOLA (voice-over): Why is the golden state such a target for earthquakes like the one this morning?

A quick lesson in geology.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The earthquake caused only modest damage, but it has lit up for us a fault that's important to understanding how California works.

COGGIOLA: The San Andreas fault, which runs 650 miles long and 10 miles deep is also home to hundreds of smaller faults that branch off like this morning's quake. In fact, California, along with Alaska, has the most earthquakes of any state in the U.S. Historically, California also has had the most damaging. Some of the big ones on the West Coast, most deadly on record is the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire which left 3,000 dead and damage at a reported $524 million. The 1971 San Fernando earthquake killed 65 people and injured more than 2,000.

Perhaps most memorable in people's mind, referred to as the San Francisco earthquake in 1989 was actually in Loma Prieta. It measured 7.1. Sixty-three people died, nearly 4,000 injured and the damage price tag, $6 billion. The most recent deadly California earthquake in 1994 was in Northridge, just west of Los Angeles. Left 57 dead, more 9,000 injured and about $40 billion in property damage. There are several additional natural catastrophic result that is can occur from earthquakes, includes landslides, crevices and tidal waves. Also, aftershocks have been known to cause damage. But what can we expect from today's?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is the possibility, 5 or 10 percent, that one of these aftershock will prove to be larger than the mainshock. A much more likely scenario is, we have seen a large earthquake, a 6.5 certainly large, and what we'll see over the next weeks and months is diminishing in frequency and size of aftershocks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COGGIOLA: Now, earthquakes of today's scale, 6.5, generally happen almost 120 times a year. The biggest earthquake ever in the U.S. Surprisingly it wasn't in California, it was in Alaska in 1964, measuring 9.2. It was the second largest in the world. But the biggest ever, in Chile, measuring a whooping 9.5 -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jennifer Coggiola, with some useful prospective. Thanks very much for that.

Let's go back live to California. Joining us on the phone is Abel Maldonado. He's a councilman. Where exactly are you calling from, Mr. Maldonado? ABEL MALDONADO, STATE ASSEMBLYMAN: Wolf, I'm right here on the corner of Park Street and 12th Street right where the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) building has collapsed. It is a scary situation. I was -- I was going through this situation at the office about 40 miles from here, when the trembler hit. It started very slow, hit very harder, and now I'm seeing the disaster in Paso Robles.

BLITZER: What are you seeing right now in Paso Robles?

MALDONADO: I'm seeing a lot of hard hats just taking bricks out of a building and throwing bricks outside the building. There is a completely demolished black Denali GMC. There's a Miata car completely demolished. And the building next door, Wolf, with the scary (UNINTELLIGIBLE) got's cracks in it. It's an old, old building that's just right across the street, that folks here are saying one aftershock can knock that building also. So, we are trying to secure also the other buildings that are here.

BLITZER: This is an area and we're looking at video just coming in to CNN, Mr. Maldonado. This is an area that is not necessarily prone to these earthquakes, is it?

MALDONADO: Well, we've had some in the past, but very, very light tremblers, earthquakes. Nothing like this one. This one was we are hearing was 6.5, which is very, very big. And I'll tell you, these folks we got to pray -- these workers that are out here trying to see if there's anybody else. We have the holiday season. This is Christmas week. We have more people out there shopping during this week, that's why we're very concerned and the folks are very worried that there's more people inside.

BLITZER: How are people coping? How are people dealing with this emergency?

MALDONADO: Well, Paso Robles is a very small community. Very tight knit. The county of San Luis Obispo is a county that really comes together during tough times and people are just concerned, people are very worried.

You get a wheezy (ph) feeling inside your body when all of a sudden, you're sitting at your desk and it starts to shake and one minute and then -- I'm going to guess it lasted about 20 to 25 seconds. After the first ten seconds, it just started to shake really bad.

I got to be frank with you. About ten minutes later I got a call from Patricia Clarey, the chief of staff of Governor Schwarzenegger making sure everything was okay. So I know that the governor is on top of things and I look forward to seeing what more I can advise them as time goes on.

BLITZER: A member of the state assembly, Abel Maldonado. Good luck to you, good luck to all of your fellow Californians out there. We'll be watching and praying with you. Clearly, a serious, serious earthquake happening in an area not necessarily known for earthquakes in this part of California. We'll continue to monitor what's happening out on the West Coast.

When we come back, Saddam Hussein in the hot seat. How to make him divulge his secrets. That story next on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Two more U.S. soldiers died in Baghdad today along with an Iraqi translator. CNN's Satinder Bindra has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's been more than a week since Saddam Hussein's capture and in this time, some 45 people have been killed in ongoing violence in Iraq. Most of those who have been killed here are Iraqi policemen, indeed, Iraqi insurgents have also been killed.

In this time three U.S. soldiers have also died. Two of them were killed today when their vehicle was blown up by an explosive device. In this incident, one Iraqi interpreter was also killed and two U.S. soldiers were wounded.

Just west of Baghdad today, another explosive device injured a U.S. soldier critically. Now as all this violence continues, the U.S. is launching several anti-insurgent raids just north of here, just north of Baghdad.

U.S. forces claiming they captured a senior figure from the former Saddam Hussein regime. In the past 48 hours, U.S. forces claim they've captured some 200 suspected Iraqi insurgents. Now, in this process on Sunday, U.S. forces say one Iraqi woman was killed on the border with Syria. The U.S. forces say they've launched an investigation. Satinder Bindra, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Saddam Hussein has been in U.S. hands now for more than a week and interrogators have spent much of that time trying to get him to talk. How do they do it?

Joining us from our Boston bureau is Mike Ritz. He's a former U.S. army interrogator. He's now with Team Delta, a private organization that offers military-style programs and training. Mike, thanks very much for joining us. I know Saddam Hussein is not your ordinary POW but if you were given that mission, how would you get him to talk?

MIKE RITZ, FORMER ARMY INTERROGATOR: Well, I think what's really important to realize here is that someone's got to gain some confidence with this man. He's a narcissist and, you know, he's profiled as such. He's going to do anything to save his own skin, I feel like.

So I think gaining confidence with perhaps a senior person, an authority that he can respect, he's going to start talking. A man with an ego this size is going to brag and I think it's real important that we allow him that opportunity to brag as much as he wants and then guide him in the right direction.

BLITZER: So he is breakable if you do it right, if you do it a smart way. Is that what you're saying?

RITZ: I think he's going to talk. If we give him the impression that he can be saved, that this isn't the end of the game, that perhaps, you know, he can last, because this is a man who considers himself a savior and considers himself, you know, a very important person, if we can give him the impression that he can last, he's going to talk as long as we make sure that he cooperates with us. Bragging definitely is going to be a key here.

BLITZER: In other words, you got to give him something that he wants. In effect, what he said -- when he came out of that hole and said, "I'm ready to negotiate," to a certain degree, you have to start negotiating with him. Is that what you're saying?

RITZ: Well, you have to, at least, give him the thought that he can negotiate. If we tell him that this is the end, then there's no point in his cooperating. What good does it do him? He's going to look out for himself in the long run.

I'm quite sure that if we pump him up a little bit, let him know that maybe some admiration. One way it could be used is with an interpreter. There's a tendency for an interpreter to establish a rapport with a source or, at least, that can be done.

It's not supposed to but it's a trick that can be used. That interpreter may be able to have some admiration, he may be able to gain Saddam's confidence enough to actually (UNINTELLIGIBLE). The trick here is trying to prioritize and fill in the gaps. He's got a lot of information and I think he's trying to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) through it. He's going to leave out all that stuff that's incriminating.

BLITZER: Mike Ritz, thanks very much for your perspective.

RITZ: Thank you.

BLITZER: Martha Stewart is talking about the scandal that's plagued her business empire. She's scheduled to go on trial next month on conspiracy, fraud, and obstruction of justice, charges she says it's making for the saddest holiday she's ever had.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, "LARRY KING LIVE": What's the hardest part of this ordeal?

MARTHA STEWART: Well, sort of coming to a screeching halt of having to deal with something extremely unpleasant, something that saddens and disheartens me, and something that is very, very difficult, not only for me, but for everyone I work with, my family, my friends. That's the hard part.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: Martha Stewart is the guest tonight for the entire hour on "Larry King Live," giving her last interview before her trial begins. You can watch it tonight, 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 Pacific. Only here on CNN, an important "Larry King Live."

Tonight, recapping for our viewers, a major earthquake in California, today, 6.5. Three people confirmed dead. Extensive coverage coming up throughout the night here on CNN. Stay with CNN for that.

Here are the results, by the way, of our web question of the day, a reminder that this is not a scientific poll. "Did you find the terror threat warning helpful?" Yes, 33 percent. No, 67 percent.

A reminder. We're here Monday through Friday at both noon and 5:00 p.m. Eastern. I'll see you tomorrow at noon and then at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Thanks very much for watching.

John King's filling in for Lou Dobbs tonight, which starts right now.

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Security in Capital; Egyptian Foreign Minister Attacked in Mosque>