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American Morning
Deadly Outbreaks Across Iraq; Discussion with Senator Mitch McConnell
Aired April 06, 2004 - 08:00 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
Street to street combat in the slums of Baghdad. U.S. soldiers fighting it out with a radical Shiite militia. As many as 600 -- make that 60 Iraqis -- reported dead in that battle. U.S. Marines fighting their own battle outside Fallujah. How much firepower is needed to break the insurgents there?
And pressure mounting on the president. What's the political price for blood in Iraq?
All ahead this hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: Good morning.
Welcome back.
Eight o'clock here in New York.
Heidi is in for Soledad -- good to have you here in New York --
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you.
HEMMER: ... as we roll on now, the second hour.
COLLINS: Yes, we do.
A lot of stories that we are following, of course, this morning.
We're going deeper into the upcoming testimony of National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, talking to a friend of her from Carnegie Mellon University. We'll look at Rice's preparation for the Commission and how she's dealing with the pressure, which I can imagine is probably a great deal.
HEMMER: Also this hour, Sanjay is back today looking at new research into Alzheimer's. Scientists now focusing on the possibility that low levels of a certain vitamin could bring about the disease.
Sanjay has details on that in a moment here.
COLLINS: For now, Jack Cafferty joins us.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Coming up in the Cafferty File in less than an hour, I've got a story Sanjay may be interested in.
HEMMER: Oh, yes?
CAFFERTY: I'm going to tell you about a woman in Romania who lost 176 pounds in one day. It's a really gross story.
And names that you trust in the news -- they're taping a series of "Jeopardy" programs down in Washington with people in the news media, guys like Tim Russert and Tucker Carlson. Some of them aren't doing so well.
HEMMER: Oh, yes?
CAFFERTY: We'll have that deal for you.
HEMMER: I like that one.
Thanks, Jack.
Top stories again, let's get to Iraq straight away now, where there is word this morning that Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has left a mosque in which he was reportedly hiding there. The latest report we have says he left that mosque. We're not sure of his location. All this according to the Associated Press. U.S. officials issuing an arrest warrant for al-Sadr, blaming him for inciting violence against the coalition. A live report from Baghdad coming up momentarily here.
From Israel, Israel says its forces have now blown up a tunnel between Egypt and Gaza. The Israeli Army reporting a 26 foot tunnel was used by Palestinians to smuggle weapons into southern Gaza. The tunnel had been discovered during routine patrol checks. Israel says this was the seventh such tunnel discover so far this year.
In U.S. politics, Ralph Nader failed to get on the Oregon presidential ballot in November. Election officials say less than 800 people turned out to sign petitions at a gathering in a Portland theater. Nader needed at least 1,000 supporters in one place to sign petitions. Aides say he will return to Oregon to try yet again there.
The power blackout that hit the Northeast part and Canada last August could have been prevented. This according to the task force investigating the blackout, which says power line failures should have contained -- been contained by an Ohio utility company. That outage then cascaded, eventually cutting off electricity to 50 million. The report urges immediate action to make the electric system more reliable. Still searching for answers there. A dark day in New York City and the Northeast last mid-August. So you're up to date now.
COLLINS: That's for sure.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: We want to take you now to Iraq, where for much of the last year, the country has no doubt been a dangerous place for U.S. forces. The more than 600 Americans have died there are a testament to that. Now a recent surge in violence stoked by a radical Shiite Muslim cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr. American forces are finding themselves increasingly in the crosshairs.
For the very latest on some deadly outbreaks across Iraq, we go to Baghdad, where Jim Clancy is standing by -- Jim, good afternoon to you.
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon from Baghdad, Heidi.
I want to talk, you know, there's so much to talk about in terms of the recent conflicts and everything going on. But I think to understand the situation today in Iraq, you have to understand the seriousness and the dimension of this U.S. clash, this stand-off, if you will, with the young Shia Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
Sadr, of course, the son of a prominent Shia religious figure who was assassinated by supposed representatives of Saddam Hussein. He has a hard core militia of about 600 hard core members. But he could bring thousands more out into the streets like this for these kinds of demonstrations, and as we have seen overnight, fighting in the streets with U.S. forces.
This is a dangerous situation because the Shia Muslims are the majority in Iraq. And it is expected that their leadership will be the leadership of this country.
Here's the problem. Muqtada al-Sadr wants to be a part of that leadership, but even Shia Muslims themselves look at him and say he is too young. Some say he's too rash, too impatient and he is not yet ready for leadership.
Muqtada al-Sadr doesn't believe it and the U.S. administrator, Paul Bremer, says what he is doing is trying to bully, intimidate his way into positions of authority all over Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
L. PAUL BREMER, U.S./IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATOR: He's basically tried to take over the country. He has usurped authority in the holy city of Najaf. He has -- he and his colleagues have occupied police stations, government buildings around the country. It's basically an effort to take over the country. It's a fun -- it represents a fundamental challenge to the concept of the rule of law in Iraq and it will not stand.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CLANCY: Now, there are some important symbols that are involved here. One of them is one of the most sacred shrines in all of Shia Islam, and that is the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf. That is precisely where Muqtada al-Sadr has traveled this day, according to his Web site and his aides. He left with a large entourage, a heavy entourage of security. He has moved from a mosque in Kufa, nearby Najaf, to the Imam Ali Mosque.
So in this situation, he is usurping, in a way, the highest authority in Shia Islam and all of Iraq -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Jim, thanks for clearing that up.
We had heard that maybe he had moved from there, so we appreciate that very much.
Jim Clancy live in Baghdad today.
HEMMER: Meanwhile, President Bush holding firm on the plan to transfer power to Iraqis coming on the 30th of June. Again, his comments from yesterday reiterating that.
More from the White House today and Suzanne Malveaux on this front.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush emerged from a meeting with the family of a slain American soldier who served in Iraq to express his resolve to Americans and Iraqis.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will stay the course. The message to the Iraqi citizens is they don't have to fear that America will turn and run.
MALVEAUX: The president singled out the radical Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr as the man responsible for the recent carnage.
BUSH: Al-Sadr, this is one person who is deciding that rather than allow democracy to flourish he's going to exercise force. We just can't let it stand.
MALVEAUX: Mr. Bush insists the deadline for the U.S. and its partners to return power to the Iraqi people is firm.
BUSH: The intention is to make sure the deadline remains the same. I believe we can transfer authority by June 30th.
MALVEAUX: Top Republicans have suggested that the administration consider delaying the deadline due to the dangerous conditions on the ground. Some political analysts believe the power transfer relies more on having a workable governing body in place.
MICHAEL O'HANLON, BROOKINGS INSTITUTE: The big issue is can we find a new kind of governing body or an expanded version of the Iraqi Governing Council that already exists and create it by June 30? If we can do that, we should still transfer sovereignty at that time. If we can't, we'll have to postpone as the date approaches.
MALVEAUX (on camera): The latest violence in Iraq overshadowed a day when the president was talking about jobs and threw out the first pitch for America's favorite pastime. But as the president warns as the days draw near to the deadline for transferring power to the Iraqi people it is likely there will be more days like this.
Suzanne Malveaux CNN, St. Louis, Missouri.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: That's the view from the White House. The president traveling yesterday.
How is the Iraq issue now seen on Capitol Hill?
From D.C. with us, Republican Senator McConnell from Kentucky is our guest now.
Senator, good morning to you.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), SENATE MAJORITY WHIP: Good morning.
HEMMER: We want to take you back to yesterday, Senator Ted Kennedy and his comments on what's happening in Iraq today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TED KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: How do we reestablish the working relationships we need with other countries to win the war on terrorism and advance the ideals we share? And how can we possibly expect President Bush to do that? He's the problem, not the solution. Iraq is George Bush's Vietnam and this country needs a new president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: "Iraq is George Bush's Vietnam."
How do you react to that?
MCCONNELL: Well, Senator Kennedy, as you know, is the second most liberal senator from Massachusetts. The Kennedy-Kerry team apparently believe that the enemy is somehow not al Qaeda and the war on terrorism. I think this criticism is really over the top.
And it's important to step back and remember all the progress that's been made since September the 11th. Fifty million people have been liberated in Afghanistan and Iraq. Surveys indicate the Iraqi people are very optimistic, not only about the present, but about the future. There is a violence problem in Iraq. We know that. We've known it for the last year, in fact, the Iraqi people have known it for the last three decades.
Over 300,000 of their people were murdered by Saddam Hussein during his regime. For the typical Iraqi, it's a lot safer today than it was two years ago.
HEMMER: Yesterday you said of Senator Kennedy those comments are "vicious and outrageous."
Do you stand by that?
MCCONNELL: I do. I think -- I don't -- it's particularly strident. It seems to me that we've lost a good deal of civility here in the Senate. And when one of our colleagues goes to that length, I think it's important to call him on it.
HEMMER: Let's look at some poll numbers from the Pew Research Center. This regarding American views about what's happening in Iraq and how the White House is handling this.
"Does the president have a clear plan?" Fifty-seven percent say he does not have a clear plan regarding Iraq policy. And do they approve of the job and the handling of the situation in Iraq. Fifty- three percent disapprove. It's an election season.
How much of a problem is this becoming for the White House, Senator?
MCCONNELL: Well, in the Gallup poll last week, the president's approval was about 53 percent, which is right where President Reagan was at this point in his reelection and right where President Clinton was at this point in his reelection. There's a lot of robust talk going out there -- going on out there. We're in the middle of an election season.
But the president is in good shape. He's going to be reelected in the fall. And he's particularly in good shape on the whole issue of how to deal with the war on terrorism. The American people have great confidence in the president, the president they saw react properly on 9/11 and to lead us to victory in Afghanistan and Iraq. The American people have a lot of confidence in President Bush when it comes to foreign policy and defense and the war on terrorism.
HEMMER: Ambassador Bremer spoke with me last hour from Baghdad. There is an awful lot to talk about what's happening in Iraq today. He said regarding the transfer of power, and quoting now, "It will be in place well before June 30th."
A number of your own colleagues have questioned whether or not there is a plan and whether or not that plan has been put forward.
Are you comfortable at this point with the hand over happening in late June or early July?
MCCONNELL: Well, let's remember what's being handed over. We're handing over authority over the country. There will still be American troops there. We're still working to get the Iraqi military in shape. General Petreas of the famous 101st Airborne is going back over there to continue the effort to train and expand the Iraqi Army, so they can take over in the near future most of these sensitive security problems.
Yes, I mean this is not -- nobody said this was going to be easy and we know we're going to be there a long time. But the important thing for the troublemakers in Iraq to remember is that we're not leaving. We're not going to cut and run and we will not fail.
HEMMER: Mitch McConnell, the senator from Kentucky, thanks for your time today.
Appreciate it. MCCONNELL: Thank you.
HEMMER: Heidi.
COLLINS: Democrat John Kerry talks tough about his plans to better the American economy. This morning, the presidential candidate will be in the Republican stronghold state of Ohio. Senator Kerry will talk with voters and outline his ideas for revitalizing the economy.
HEMMER: In a moment here, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, two days and counting now before her testimony. Some insight on how that might play out from someone who knows her quite well. In a moment, we'll talk with her live.
COLLINS: There's been a delay in the Jayson Williams trial. Could it help avoid a mistrial? We'll talk about that.
HEMMER: And college hoop's crowning a new champion. It's all about U. Conn. ahead here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice testifies before the 9/11 panel on Thursday. It is a move President Bush initially opposed, but agreed to in the face of strong public criticism.
How do those who know Condoleezza Rice feel she's handling the scrutiny?
Kiron Skinner is an assistant professor of international relations at Carnegie Mellon University and a good friend of the national security adviser.
She's joining us this morning live from San Francisco.
Good morning to you.
Thanks so much for being with us.
We appreciate your time.
KIRON SKINNER, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, COEDITOR, "REAGAN: A LIFE IN LETTERS": Oh, thank you.
SKINNER: I know you last spoke with her just a few days ago. I'm wondering what you think will happen and how she will do under the more than two hours of questioning that is going to come from this Commission?
SKINNER: Given Condi's record -- and I've known her for more than 20 years -- I expect that she will do a fantastic job of both being compassionate to the families of the victims, to the nation and also demonstrating the strength and resolve that this country must put forward as it deals with acts of terror. And I -- so I expect that it will go quite smoothly.
COLLINS: In fact, you describe her to be eager to face the Commission.
Why?
SKINNER: I think she's been speaking all along. If you look at the body of her speeches since September 11, she's talked repeatedly about thwarting future acts of terror. She's given numerous speeches and interviews. And so I think this just builds on the body of work that she has put forth in the last couple of years.
COLLINS: Some would say, though, this is quite a bit of negative attention that she's been receiving and it's unusual for her.
How is she dealing with that?
SKINNER: You know, I've heard that a number of times, that this is the first time she's received negative attention. But you have to really realize that she's been in positions of leadership in this country for a long time and she has faced criticism in the past.
But I think that Condi is so focused, Dr. Rice, on trying to look at the long-term objective of making sure that this country is safe, that the temporary or momentary attention that she is receiving is not a problem for her.
COLLINS: You know, there are other friends out there who have spoken with the news media and they say that it's possible there could be two missteps for Condoleezza Rice. One of them showing and revealing her true anger toward Richard Clarke, and also the possibility that she will maintain that that terror threat, which was handled -- which was possibly handled with not so much urgency -- are the right approach.
Do you see either of these as a potential problem here?
SKINNER: You know, I really don't. Again, I think Condi is not an angry person and she is such a committed and dedicated public servant. And I think that what's most important for her and will trump any of the kind of local politics or atmospherics that surround her testimony on Thursday will be how to secure the country. And so I don't expect that she will demonstrate anger or that she's, in fact, angry at Mr. Clarke.
And on to the other issue about the threats and what was known and who knew it when, I think we should really focus on the fact that changes in strategic doctrine occur typically in American -- throughout American history -- after an external shock has occurred, like the start of a war, like September 11. And so the pieces were being put in place in the '90s, and in some ways even before, during the Reagan years, to deal with terrorism.
But it was the external shock of September 11 that brought everything together. And Condi Rice was a part of and continues to be a part of the revising of U.S. strategic doctrine away from containment and the cold war to deal with new transnational challenges.
COLLINS: All right, Kirin Skinner, we certainly appreciate your time, coming to us from San Francisco this morning.
Thanks so much.
SKINNER: Oh, thank you.
COLLINS: And I want to remind everyone, CNN will be bringing you special coverage of this week's 9/11 Commission hearings. Live coverage of Condoleezza Rice's testimony begins Thursday morning, 9:00 a.m. Eastern.
HEMMER: It appears the Florida professor accused of financing Palestinian terrorism was once an informant for the Feds. Court documents show that this man, Sami Al-Arian, was briefly an FBI informant. This was learned as federal prosecutors responded to a defense attorney's demands of more evidence in this racketeering case. He faces a 50-count indictment and is accused of using an Islamic charity to found the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
We're 20 minutes past the hour here. In a moment, the U.S. operation trying to retake Fallujah and meet the resistance inside there. We'll get an update on Iraq and what's happening there in a moment.
Also, why is Senator Ted Kennedy comparing President Bush to Richard Nixon? Back with Jack on that, in a moment here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: All right, the Question of the Day. And apparently the steam is coming off the pot here.
COLLINS: Yes.
CAFFERTY: The computer is on overload. It's a lot of response.
Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts made this blistering speech yesterday where he compared the war in Iraq to the war in Vietnam and attacked the Bush administration, saying they have a credibility problem rivaling that of former President Richard Nixon, or the late President Nixon.
So that's the question -- do you agree with Senator Kennedy that Iraq is President Bush's Vietnam?
Right out a thousand, eyelash less than 1,000 letters in an hour. Todd in Branford, Connecticut -- There are two issues, whether or not Iraq is like Vietnam, and the other one is the controversy that naturally follows Ted Kennedy around. So we're hearing from people on both of those: "Isn't it nice hearing him preach about being misled about Iraq, like Vietnam? I must be having a senior moment. Who was misleading us about getting into Vietnam? Why, it was another Kennedy. Stick a fork in this joker, he's done." Barbara in Peterborough, New Hampshire: "Ted Kennedy's analogies are self-serving and weak. There is certainly room for debate concerning the war in Iraq, but it should be spoken in complete sentences with some kind of logic behind it. Unfortunately, that would leave Senator Kennedy out of the discussion."
Tony in Japan writes: "It's not another Vietnam. At least communism was a threat. Saddam's Baathists were actually the secular enemies of the Islamic fundamentalists who attacked us on September 11 and our enemies are loving the anti-American and radicalism this unnecessary war is breeding."
Jefferson in Marin County, California: "When I think of Senator Kennedy, the notion of term limit comes to mind. I think the chap ought to quit it."
And Bill Kaye in North Bay, Ontario: "Iraq is more like Ted Kennedy's Chappaquiddick than Bush's Vietnam. The exit strategy may be a bit uncertain, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
HEMMER: All this is stacked up against is.
Is there any supporting him at this point?
CAFFERTY: Yes.
HEMMER: Close to a thousand e-mails.
CAFFERTY: Of course there are.
HEMMER: Oh, we just didn't get to them. There's still time.
CAFFERTY: This is a three hour program.
HEMMER: That's right.
CAFFERTY: Well...
HEMMER: We're only 90 minutes in.
CAFFERTY: AMERICAN MORNING is only half over.
HEMMER: Yes.
COLLINS: It is only half over.
HEMMER: Sorry to bother you.
CAFFERTY: Did you not care for these?
HEMMER: No, it's fine. I'm just querying you as to whether or not there was another side...
CAFFERTY: You could feel free to select the ones for the next segment.
HEMMER: I think...
CAFFERTY: You can go right on your computer there...
HEMMER: I ain't got the time.
CAFFERTY: I mean you're not that busy.
HEMMER: I ain't got the time.
COLLINS: Shhh, gentlemen.
HEMMER: Thanks, Jack.
Sports now for you...
COLLINS: Please.
HEMMER: In Connecticut, the Huskies, college basketball's national champs. They dominated Tech last night, Georgia Tech, won the championship game 82-73 and really from the outset this game was not even close. The final four's most outstanding player, All America center Emeka Okafor, had a terrific night, 24 points, 15 rebounds, played intimidating defense, too.
Celebrating a bit out of hand back in Storrs, Connecticut. What else is new, huh? A dozen fires set, some cars overturned, more than a dozen arrested.
If the U. Conn. women beat Tennessee tonight -- and, again, this should be a great game, too -- U. Conn. will be the first ever school to hold both titles in the same year. It could be a huge night today in Storrs, Connecticut. The women go tonight against the Lady Vols from Tennessee. We'll see where we go then -- now, Heidi.
COLLINS: Still to come this morning, a radical Shiite cleric issues an ultimatum as the violence escalates in Iraq.
Stay with us right here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Kamber and May also with us on a Tuesday morning, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired April 6, 2004 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
Street to street combat in the slums of Baghdad. U.S. soldiers fighting it out with a radical Shiite militia. As many as 600 -- make that 60 Iraqis -- reported dead in that battle. U.S. Marines fighting their own battle outside Fallujah. How much firepower is needed to break the insurgents there?
And pressure mounting on the president. What's the political price for blood in Iraq?
All ahead this hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: Good morning.
Welcome back.
Eight o'clock here in New York.
Heidi is in for Soledad -- good to have you here in New York --
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you.
HEMMER: ... as we roll on now, the second hour.
COLLINS: Yes, we do.
A lot of stories that we are following, of course, this morning.
We're going deeper into the upcoming testimony of National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, talking to a friend of her from Carnegie Mellon University. We'll look at Rice's preparation for the Commission and how she's dealing with the pressure, which I can imagine is probably a great deal.
HEMMER: Also this hour, Sanjay is back today looking at new research into Alzheimer's. Scientists now focusing on the possibility that low levels of a certain vitamin could bring about the disease.
Sanjay has details on that in a moment here.
COLLINS: For now, Jack Cafferty joins us.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Coming up in the Cafferty File in less than an hour, I've got a story Sanjay may be interested in.
HEMMER: Oh, yes?
CAFFERTY: I'm going to tell you about a woman in Romania who lost 176 pounds in one day. It's a really gross story.
And names that you trust in the news -- they're taping a series of "Jeopardy" programs down in Washington with people in the news media, guys like Tim Russert and Tucker Carlson. Some of them aren't doing so well.
HEMMER: Oh, yes?
CAFFERTY: We'll have that deal for you.
HEMMER: I like that one.
Thanks, Jack.
Top stories again, let's get to Iraq straight away now, where there is word this morning that Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has left a mosque in which he was reportedly hiding there. The latest report we have says he left that mosque. We're not sure of his location. All this according to the Associated Press. U.S. officials issuing an arrest warrant for al-Sadr, blaming him for inciting violence against the coalition. A live report from Baghdad coming up momentarily here.
From Israel, Israel says its forces have now blown up a tunnel between Egypt and Gaza. The Israeli Army reporting a 26 foot tunnel was used by Palestinians to smuggle weapons into southern Gaza. The tunnel had been discovered during routine patrol checks. Israel says this was the seventh such tunnel discover so far this year.
In U.S. politics, Ralph Nader failed to get on the Oregon presidential ballot in November. Election officials say less than 800 people turned out to sign petitions at a gathering in a Portland theater. Nader needed at least 1,000 supporters in one place to sign petitions. Aides say he will return to Oregon to try yet again there.
The power blackout that hit the Northeast part and Canada last August could have been prevented. This according to the task force investigating the blackout, which says power line failures should have contained -- been contained by an Ohio utility company. That outage then cascaded, eventually cutting off electricity to 50 million. The report urges immediate action to make the electric system more reliable. Still searching for answers there. A dark day in New York City and the Northeast last mid-August. So you're up to date now.
COLLINS: That's for sure.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: We want to take you now to Iraq, where for much of the last year, the country has no doubt been a dangerous place for U.S. forces. The more than 600 Americans have died there are a testament to that. Now a recent surge in violence stoked by a radical Shiite Muslim cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr. American forces are finding themselves increasingly in the crosshairs.
For the very latest on some deadly outbreaks across Iraq, we go to Baghdad, where Jim Clancy is standing by -- Jim, good afternoon to you.
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon from Baghdad, Heidi.
I want to talk, you know, there's so much to talk about in terms of the recent conflicts and everything going on. But I think to understand the situation today in Iraq, you have to understand the seriousness and the dimension of this U.S. clash, this stand-off, if you will, with the young Shia Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
Sadr, of course, the son of a prominent Shia religious figure who was assassinated by supposed representatives of Saddam Hussein. He has a hard core militia of about 600 hard core members. But he could bring thousands more out into the streets like this for these kinds of demonstrations, and as we have seen overnight, fighting in the streets with U.S. forces.
This is a dangerous situation because the Shia Muslims are the majority in Iraq. And it is expected that their leadership will be the leadership of this country.
Here's the problem. Muqtada al-Sadr wants to be a part of that leadership, but even Shia Muslims themselves look at him and say he is too young. Some say he's too rash, too impatient and he is not yet ready for leadership.
Muqtada al-Sadr doesn't believe it and the U.S. administrator, Paul Bremer, says what he is doing is trying to bully, intimidate his way into positions of authority all over Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
L. PAUL BREMER, U.S./IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATOR: He's basically tried to take over the country. He has usurped authority in the holy city of Najaf. He has -- he and his colleagues have occupied police stations, government buildings around the country. It's basically an effort to take over the country. It's a fun -- it represents a fundamental challenge to the concept of the rule of law in Iraq and it will not stand.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CLANCY: Now, there are some important symbols that are involved here. One of them is one of the most sacred shrines in all of Shia Islam, and that is the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf. That is precisely where Muqtada al-Sadr has traveled this day, according to his Web site and his aides. He left with a large entourage, a heavy entourage of security. He has moved from a mosque in Kufa, nearby Najaf, to the Imam Ali Mosque.
So in this situation, he is usurping, in a way, the highest authority in Shia Islam and all of Iraq -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Jim, thanks for clearing that up.
We had heard that maybe he had moved from there, so we appreciate that very much.
Jim Clancy live in Baghdad today.
HEMMER: Meanwhile, President Bush holding firm on the plan to transfer power to Iraqis coming on the 30th of June. Again, his comments from yesterday reiterating that.
More from the White House today and Suzanne Malveaux on this front.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush emerged from a meeting with the family of a slain American soldier who served in Iraq to express his resolve to Americans and Iraqis.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will stay the course. The message to the Iraqi citizens is they don't have to fear that America will turn and run.
MALVEAUX: The president singled out the radical Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr as the man responsible for the recent carnage.
BUSH: Al-Sadr, this is one person who is deciding that rather than allow democracy to flourish he's going to exercise force. We just can't let it stand.
MALVEAUX: Mr. Bush insists the deadline for the U.S. and its partners to return power to the Iraqi people is firm.
BUSH: The intention is to make sure the deadline remains the same. I believe we can transfer authority by June 30th.
MALVEAUX: Top Republicans have suggested that the administration consider delaying the deadline due to the dangerous conditions on the ground. Some political analysts believe the power transfer relies more on having a workable governing body in place.
MICHAEL O'HANLON, BROOKINGS INSTITUTE: The big issue is can we find a new kind of governing body or an expanded version of the Iraqi Governing Council that already exists and create it by June 30? If we can do that, we should still transfer sovereignty at that time. If we can't, we'll have to postpone as the date approaches.
MALVEAUX (on camera): The latest violence in Iraq overshadowed a day when the president was talking about jobs and threw out the first pitch for America's favorite pastime. But as the president warns as the days draw near to the deadline for transferring power to the Iraqi people it is likely there will be more days like this.
Suzanne Malveaux CNN, St. Louis, Missouri.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: That's the view from the White House. The president traveling yesterday.
How is the Iraq issue now seen on Capitol Hill?
From D.C. with us, Republican Senator McConnell from Kentucky is our guest now.
Senator, good morning to you.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), SENATE MAJORITY WHIP: Good morning.
HEMMER: We want to take you back to yesterday, Senator Ted Kennedy and his comments on what's happening in Iraq today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TED KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: How do we reestablish the working relationships we need with other countries to win the war on terrorism and advance the ideals we share? And how can we possibly expect President Bush to do that? He's the problem, not the solution. Iraq is George Bush's Vietnam and this country needs a new president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: "Iraq is George Bush's Vietnam."
How do you react to that?
MCCONNELL: Well, Senator Kennedy, as you know, is the second most liberal senator from Massachusetts. The Kennedy-Kerry team apparently believe that the enemy is somehow not al Qaeda and the war on terrorism. I think this criticism is really over the top.
And it's important to step back and remember all the progress that's been made since September the 11th. Fifty million people have been liberated in Afghanistan and Iraq. Surveys indicate the Iraqi people are very optimistic, not only about the present, but about the future. There is a violence problem in Iraq. We know that. We've known it for the last year, in fact, the Iraqi people have known it for the last three decades.
Over 300,000 of their people were murdered by Saddam Hussein during his regime. For the typical Iraqi, it's a lot safer today than it was two years ago.
HEMMER: Yesterday you said of Senator Kennedy those comments are "vicious and outrageous."
Do you stand by that?
MCCONNELL: I do. I think -- I don't -- it's particularly strident. It seems to me that we've lost a good deal of civility here in the Senate. And when one of our colleagues goes to that length, I think it's important to call him on it.
HEMMER: Let's look at some poll numbers from the Pew Research Center. This regarding American views about what's happening in Iraq and how the White House is handling this.
"Does the president have a clear plan?" Fifty-seven percent say he does not have a clear plan regarding Iraq policy. And do they approve of the job and the handling of the situation in Iraq. Fifty- three percent disapprove. It's an election season.
How much of a problem is this becoming for the White House, Senator?
MCCONNELL: Well, in the Gallup poll last week, the president's approval was about 53 percent, which is right where President Reagan was at this point in his reelection and right where President Clinton was at this point in his reelection. There's a lot of robust talk going out there -- going on out there. We're in the middle of an election season.
But the president is in good shape. He's going to be reelected in the fall. And he's particularly in good shape on the whole issue of how to deal with the war on terrorism. The American people have great confidence in the president, the president they saw react properly on 9/11 and to lead us to victory in Afghanistan and Iraq. The American people have a lot of confidence in President Bush when it comes to foreign policy and defense and the war on terrorism.
HEMMER: Ambassador Bremer spoke with me last hour from Baghdad. There is an awful lot to talk about what's happening in Iraq today. He said regarding the transfer of power, and quoting now, "It will be in place well before June 30th."
A number of your own colleagues have questioned whether or not there is a plan and whether or not that plan has been put forward.
Are you comfortable at this point with the hand over happening in late June or early July?
MCCONNELL: Well, let's remember what's being handed over. We're handing over authority over the country. There will still be American troops there. We're still working to get the Iraqi military in shape. General Petreas of the famous 101st Airborne is going back over there to continue the effort to train and expand the Iraqi Army, so they can take over in the near future most of these sensitive security problems.
Yes, I mean this is not -- nobody said this was going to be easy and we know we're going to be there a long time. But the important thing for the troublemakers in Iraq to remember is that we're not leaving. We're not going to cut and run and we will not fail.
HEMMER: Mitch McConnell, the senator from Kentucky, thanks for your time today.
Appreciate it. MCCONNELL: Thank you.
HEMMER: Heidi.
COLLINS: Democrat John Kerry talks tough about his plans to better the American economy. This morning, the presidential candidate will be in the Republican stronghold state of Ohio. Senator Kerry will talk with voters and outline his ideas for revitalizing the economy.
HEMMER: In a moment here, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, two days and counting now before her testimony. Some insight on how that might play out from someone who knows her quite well. In a moment, we'll talk with her live.
COLLINS: There's been a delay in the Jayson Williams trial. Could it help avoid a mistrial? We'll talk about that.
HEMMER: And college hoop's crowning a new champion. It's all about U. Conn. ahead here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice testifies before the 9/11 panel on Thursday. It is a move President Bush initially opposed, but agreed to in the face of strong public criticism.
How do those who know Condoleezza Rice feel she's handling the scrutiny?
Kiron Skinner is an assistant professor of international relations at Carnegie Mellon University and a good friend of the national security adviser.
She's joining us this morning live from San Francisco.
Good morning to you.
Thanks so much for being with us.
We appreciate your time.
KIRON SKINNER, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, COEDITOR, "REAGAN: A LIFE IN LETTERS": Oh, thank you.
SKINNER: I know you last spoke with her just a few days ago. I'm wondering what you think will happen and how she will do under the more than two hours of questioning that is going to come from this Commission?
SKINNER: Given Condi's record -- and I've known her for more than 20 years -- I expect that she will do a fantastic job of both being compassionate to the families of the victims, to the nation and also demonstrating the strength and resolve that this country must put forward as it deals with acts of terror. And I -- so I expect that it will go quite smoothly.
COLLINS: In fact, you describe her to be eager to face the Commission.
Why?
SKINNER: I think she's been speaking all along. If you look at the body of her speeches since September 11, she's talked repeatedly about thwarting future acts of terror. She's given numerous speeches and interviews. And so I think this just builds on the body of work that she has put forth in the last couple of years.
COLLINS: Some would say, though, this is quite a bit of negative attention that she's been receiving and it's unusual for her.
How is she dealing with that?
SKINNER: You know, I've heard that a number of times, that this is the first time she's received negative attention. But you have to really realize that she's been in positions of leadership in this country for a long time and she has faced criticism in the past.
But I think that Condi is so focused, Dr. Rice, on trying to look at the long-term objective of making sure that this country is safe, that the temporary or momentary attention that she is receiving is not a problem for her.
COLLINS: You know, there are other friends out there who have spoken with the news media and they say that it's possible there could be two missteps for Condoleezza Rice. One of them showing and revealing her true anger toward Richard Clarke, and also the possibility that she will maintain that that terror threat, which was handled -- which was possibly handled with not so much urgency -- are the right approach.
Do you see either of these as a potential problem here?
SKINNER: You know, I really don't. Again, I think Condi is not an angry person and she is such a committed and dedicated public servant. And I think that what's most important for her and will trump any of the kind of local politics or atmospherics that surround her testimony on Thursday will be how to secure the country. And so I don't expect that she will demonstrate anger or that she's, in fact, angry at Mr. Clarke.
And on to the other issue about the threats and what was known and who knew it when, I think we should really focus on the fact that changes in strategic doctrine occur typically in American -- throughout American history -- after an external shock has occurred, like the start of a war, like September 11. And so the pieces were being put in place in the '90s, and in some ways even before, during the Reagan years, to deal with terrorism.
But it was the external shock of September 11 that brought everything together. And Condi Rice was a part of and continues to be a part of the revising of U.S. strategic doctrine away from containment and the cold war to deal with new transnational challenges.
COLLINS: All right, Kirin Skinner, we certainly appreciate your time, coming to us from San Francisco this morning.
Thanks so much.
SKINNER: Oh, thank you.
COLLINS: And I want to remind everyone, CNN will be bringing you special coverage of this week's 9/11 Commission hearings. Live coverage of Condoleezza Rice's testimony begins Thursday morning, 9:00 a.m. Eastern.
HEMMER: It appears the Florida professor accused of financing Palestinian terrorism was once an informant for the Feds. Court documents show that this man, Sami Al-Arian, was briefly an FBI informant. This was learned as federal prosecutors responded to a defense attorney's demands of more evidence in this racketeering case. He faces a 50-count indictment and is accused of using an Islamic charity to found the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
We're 20 minutes past the hour here. In a moment, the U.S. operation trying to retake Fallujah and meet the resistance inside there. We'll get an update on Iraq and what's happening there in a moment.
Also, why is Senator Ted Kennedy comparing President Bush to Richard Nixon? Back with Jack on that, in a moment here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: All right, the Question of the Day. And apparently the steam is coming off the pot here.
COLLINS: Yes.
CAFFERTY: The computer is on overload. It's a lot of response.
Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts made this blistering speech yesterday where he compared the war in Iraq to the war in Vietnam and attacked the Bush administration, saying they have a credibility problem rivaling that of former President Richard Nixon, or the late President Nixon.
So that's the question -- do you agree with Senator Kennedy that Iraq is President Bush's Vietnam?
Right out a thousand, eyelash less than 1,000 letters in an hour. Todd in Branford, Connecticut -- There are two issues, whether or not Iraq is like Vietnam, and the other one is the controversy that naturally follows Ted Kennedy around. So we're hearing from people on both of those: "Isn't it nice hearing him preach about being misled about Iraq, like Vietnam? I must be having a senior moment. Who was misleading us about getting into Vietnam? Why, it was another Kennedy. Stick a fork in this joker, he's done." Barbara in Peterborough, New Hampshire: "Ted Kennedy's analogies are self-serving and weak. There is certainly room for debate concerning the war in Iraq, but it should be spoken in complete sentences with some kind of logic behind it. Unfortunately, that would leave Senator Kennedy out of the discussion."
Tony in Japan writes: "It's not another Vietnam. At least communism was a threat. Saddam's Baathists were actually the secular enemies of the Islamic fundamentalists who attacked us on September 11 and our enemies are loving the anti-American and radicalism this unnecessary war is breeding."
Jefferson in Marin County, California: "When I think of Senator Kennedy, the notion of term limit comes to mind. I think the chap ought to quit it."
And Bill Kaye in North Bay, Ontario: "Iraq is more like Ted Kennedy's Chappaquiddick than Bush's Vietnam. The exit strategy may be a bit uncertain, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
HEMMER: All this is stacked up against is.
Is there any supporting him at this point?
CAFFERTY: Yes.
HEMMER: Close to a thousand e-mails.
CAFFERTY: Of course there are.
HEMMER: Oh, we just didn't get to them. There's still time.
CAFFERTY: This is a three hour program.
HEMMER: That's right.
CAFFERTY: Well...
HEMMER: We're only 90 minutes in.
CAFFERTY: AMERICAN MORNING is only half over.
HEMMER: Yes.
COLLINS: It is only half over.
HEMMER: Sorry to bother you.
CAFFERTY: Did you not care for these?
HEMMER: No, it's fine. I'm just querying you as to whether or not there was another side...
CAFFERTY: You could feel free to select the ones for the next segment.
HEMMER: I think...
CAFFERTY: You can go right on your computer there...
HEMMER: I ain't got the time.
CAFFERTY: I mean you're not that busy.
HEMMER: I ain't got the time.
COLLINS: Shhh, gentlemen.
HEMMER: Thanks, Jack.
Sports now for you...
COLLINS: Please.
HEMMER: In Connecticut, the Huskies, college basketball's national champs. They dominated Tech last night, Georgia Tech, won the championship game 82-73 and really from the outset this game was not even close. The final four's most outstanding player, All America center Emeka Okafor, had a terrific night, 24 points, 15 rebounds, played intimidating defense, too.
Celebrating a bit out of hand back in Storrs, Connecticut. What else is new, huh? A dozen fires set, some cars overturned, more than a dozen arrested.
If the U. Conn. women beat Tennessee tonight -- and, again, this should be a great game, too -- U. Conn. will be the first ever school to hold both titles in the same year. It could be a huge night today in Storrs, Connecticut. The women go tonight against the Lady Vols from Tennessee. We'll see where we go then -- now, Heidi.
COLLINS: Still to come this morning, a radical Shiite cleric issues an ultimatum as the violence escalates in Iraq.
Stay with us right here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Kamber and May also with us on a Tuesday morning, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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