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American Morning
Saudi Ambassador Confronts Woodward on Points in New Book
Aired April 20, 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.
The Saudi ambassador to the U.S. confronts Bob Woodward directly, challenging some of the most controversial points in his new book.
With major events planned for the summer and the fall, the U.S. quietly getting ready for the possibility of a terrorist attack. How ready can the country be and how likely is it?
Leaping out of the record books into reality, the rocket man. This hour here on CNN's "American Morning."
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
Welcome back, everybody.
Other stories that we're following this morning.
In just a few minutes, we're going to talk to former U.S. hostage Terry Anderson. He was held captive for seven years when he was captured in Lebanese. We're going to talk to him this morning about the current U.S. hostages being held in Iraq, what they're going through and what he thinks is being done to free them.
HEMMER: Also, the NHL hockey team that has been stunned by allegations of a murder for hire plot by one of its own players. A complete look at that. Josie Burke has been watching that story for us. We'll have it for you again in a few minutes.
O'BRIEN: Mr. Cafferty's got a look at the Cafferty File this morning -- hello.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A little preview. Coming up in less than an hour in the Cafferty File, we'll tell you about a new day to tell the difference between the brains of Democrats and Republicans. And 300 pound professional football players doing yoga. We have some pictures that we hope you'll find amusing.
HEMMER: A sight to see, huh?
CAFFERTY: Yes.
HEMMER: Is that right side or left side on the Democrats and Republicans? CAFFERTY: Oh, I think.
HEMMER: I'm going to have to stay tuned.
CAFFERTY: That's a very cogent question, however.
HEMMER: Top stories here, eight o'clock here in New York.
Good morning again.
The U.S. Supreme Court hearing appeals today involving detainees in the Guantanamo prison camp in Cuba. The case centers on whether or not nine U.S. citizens held outside the country can use American courts. The Bush administration calls the prisoners enemy combatants and says it has the right to interrogate them for as long as necessary. That case is considered a test of U.S. anti-terror tactics.
Honduras is following Spain's lead, pulling its troops from Iraq. Honduran sources telling CNN that troops will pull out early, but the date there not yet announced. About 350 Honduran forces have been serving in Iraq under Spanish command.
The Bush administration revising its planned overhaul for overtime rules for U.S. workers. Republican officials say the changes would make more white collar, lower income workers newly eligible for overtime. Critics say the reported revisions will disqualify many workers. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao expected to announce the new regulations today.
There's a new warning for adults who have Type 2 Diabetes and high cholesterol. Researchers say these diabetics should be taking statins or cholesterol lower medications. The American College of Physicians issued the new guidelines for diabetics who are at risk for heart disease.
And the rocket man powering his way into the record books. Armed with a rocket backpack, Eric Scott reached a 13-story building in London and hit a new world's record doing it. Here he goes. Scott says the higher he gets up in the air, the freer he feels. I bet. Watch him shoot right for that tower on the right hand side. Not bad.
O'BRIEN: What do you think, he's going from zero to 75 in two seconds. But if watch that, it doesn't -- oh. That's going to come down. It doesn't look like he's going that fast.
HEMMER: I wonder if Elton John was watching this yesterday. He lives in London.
O'BRIEN: Maybe.
HEMMER: Sir Elton, we should say, huh?
Anyway, Eric Scott doing the deal over there in London.
You're up to date right now. 8:02 in New York City.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: The Bush administration giving a generally positive reception to the just released book, "Plan of Attack," by "Washington Post" journalist Bob Woodward. But there are some points that are being contested, including some involving the Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar bin Sultan.
Last night on CNN's "Larry King Live," Woodward was -- talked about a White House meeting to go over plans for the Iraq war with Bandar.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CNN'S "LARRY KING LIVE")
BOB WOODWARD, "WASHINGTON POST," AUTHOR, "PLAN OF ATTACK": January 11, a Saturday, Cheney and Rumsfeld, the defense secretary, called Bandar in with the chairman of the joint chiefs -- who, by the way, has said my account is correct, publicly -- and presented the war plan. And Don Rumsfeld is on the record, if you look on the Pentagon Web site, saying that he said this war plan, you can take it to the bank, it's going to happen.
LARRY KING, HOST: And Bandar was there?
WOODWARD: And Bandar was there. And Cheney then said when we start, not if, but when we start, Saddam is toast. The president confirmed all of this when I interviewed him four or five months ago.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Later, Prince Bandar joined the discussion. He contested Woodward's account a little bit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE BANDAR, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: What he said is accurate. However, there was one sentence that was left out.
LARRY KING, HOST: And that is?
BANDAR: Both Vice President Cheney and Secretary Rumsfeld told me before the briefing that the president has not made a decision yet, but here is the plan and then the rest is accurate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Prince Bandar also termed accurate Woodward's claim that the Saudis hope to keep oil prices low during the period before the election, but he denied it was to influence voting.
Despite a generally positive reception from the White House, some in the Bush administration are disputing, as we mentioned, some of Woodward's points.
For details, let's go to the White House and Elaine Quijano for more on this -- hey, Elaine, good morning.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Well, officials here at the White House are still recommending that people read this book, despite the fact that they do take issue with several of the questions raised and it, as you said. Now, even over the weekend, one of the president's top advisers came out and again trying to knock down one particular assertion made by Bob Woodward, namely that Secretary of State Colin Powell was somehow not kept in the loop when it came to the Iraq war plan, that he was only informed two days after Prince Bandar, the Saudi ambassador, learned of the war plan from Vice President Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Richard Myers.
Now, on Sunday, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice denied that Secretary Powell was unaware of the plan and yesterday the secretary of state himself addressed the issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: The question that has arisen seems to be that Prince Bandar received a briefing on the plan. There was suggestion that I hadn't. Of course, I had. I was intimately familiar with the plan and I was aware that Prince Bandar was being briefed on the plan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: Now, the secretary of state also acknowledged that he was one of the sources for Bob Woodward's book, but he said that he and others spoke with the author on instructions from the White House.
As for the president, today he travels to Buffalo, New York to continue his push for a renewal of provisions in the Patriot Act. Those provisions not set to expire until the end of next year -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Elaine Quijano at the White House for us this morning.
Elaine, thanks.
President Bush doesn't seem to have been hurt politically by the negative news coming out of Iraq or the 9/11 hearings. A survey of likely voters conducted last weekend found that the president has a five point lead over Senator John Kerry in the race for president. That's up two points from the beginning of this month. People Poland by CNN, "USA Today" and Gallup say George Bush would do a better job handling terrorism and Iraq. Most thought that Senator Kerry would handle the economy better. But those polled also said that the economy is the most important factor in their decision on who to send to the White House.
HEMMER: From Iraq, insurgent forces have a new weapon in their fight against the coalition. In the past two weeks, they have taken dozens of hostages.
Terry Anderson survived seven years of captivity at the hands of Islamic militants in Lebanon.
Today he's a Democratic candidate for state senate in Ohio.
And Terry Anderson is our guest in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Nice to talk to you again and good morning.
TERRY ANDERSON, FORMER HOSTAGE: Good morning.
HEMMER: Last week when the videotape came out of the Japanese being held hostage, you wrote a piece in the "Wall Street Journal." You started that piece by saying, and I'm quoting now, "The cruel and shocking video of frightened young Japanese, guns and knives to their throats, surrounded by shouting, threatening, hooded figures, brings back emotions I had hoped never to feel again."
What are those emotions?
ANDERSON: Well, I put myself in their place. I've been in their place. It's terribly frightening. It's confusing. You feel absolutely helpless. There's almost nothing you can do to effect the situation. You can't help yourself. There's nothing you can do. And it's a kind of helplessness that very few adults have felt in their lives. You know that your family is equally frightened and confused and there's nothing you can do about that either.
HEMMER: In the first week, is that the most difficult period? I mean you're a man who was there for seven years. For a guy like Private First Class Maupin right now, being held somewhere in Iraq, is this the toughest period for him? How would you answer that?
ANDERSON: I don't know. It depends on the conditions they're in and what their captors are doing. There seems to be a number of groups taking hostages almost at random and only a few, of course, have Americans, American soldiers. The group that took the soldier, Matt, actually seems to be one of the more restrained groups. They didn't make any terrible threats and they did say that they would treat him in accordance with Islamic precepts, which to me means they'll treat him well and keep him healthy. They won't abuse him.
Some of the other groups are much wilder and more -- and scarier. And, of course, some of them have actually killed their hostages. The Italian was killed the other day.
So, you know, we don't know what's happening to each individual hostage. We can only hope that some of the hostages are together. I can tell you that makes an enormous difference if there are other people there that you can talk to, that you can lean on and support. It makes a huge difference than if you're in solitary confinement. I spent my captivity in solitary confinement. That's hard.
HEMMER: Yes, you know, Mr. Anderson, I'm wondering also, with the amount of attention that this country gives these hostages, if you just look at Batavia, Ohio and see the hundreds, if not thousands of people, who poured out in the streets of that town on Friday evening, does that -- when the insurgents hear of that news, does it fortify their position? Does it make them feel justified for what they're doing, because they're getting that amount of attention?
ANDERSON: None of that support is saying that -- is for the hostage takers of the action. It's all for the hostage. And that's right. You know, I hope that Matt has access to news, a newspaper or a television once in a while and that he knows what's happening in his hometown, he knows the kind of support that he's getting, because that will be very, very important for him.
You know, people ask all the time, is that kind of attention supporting the kidnappers or giving them power? No. I mean I don't believe that that's true at all. These people are doing this because they want to strike at the United States or at the West in general. They are terrorists in the true sense of the word. They want to create terror.
When we show our support for the hostages, we're not giving them power. We are telling them that you'd better be careful, we care about these people and we care about how they're treated.
HEMMER: Terry Anderson from Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Thanks for being with us today.
Appreciate it.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, five years after the worst school shooting in American history, what is the community of Columbine doing today? A look at that is just ahead.
HEMMER: Also, the troubled life of an NHL player embroiled in a murder for hire allegation. What's the latest today? We'll check that story out in a moment.
O'BRIEN: And a glamorous film star turns the spotlight on helping abused children. Her story ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: With the approach of the political conventions and ultimately the election itself, U.S. officials are growing increasingly concerned that such high profile events could become tempting targets for terrorists.
CNN's Jeanne Meserve looks at the steps that top security chiefs are taking to prevent any attacks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
04190003.v84
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: The Homeland Security Department's counter-terrorism network is promising to deliver secure, real time information. The computer network will be expanded to all 50 states. HEMMER: The mother of Kobe Bryant's accuser attended a rally for victim's rights legislation yesterday. Bryant's charged with sexual assault in Colorado. The new law was proposed, in part, because a woman was misidentified as the accuser in the Bryant case.
The real accuser's mother spoke about her pride in her daughter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to thank my daughter for teaching me about courage. I'm proud to be her mom. Keep fighting. Keep trying. Keep supporting victims' rights.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: The 19-year-old accuser was not at that rally. Her father did not speak, either. Her parents were not identified during introductions and we are not reporting their names. It is CNN's policy not to report information that would reveal the names of alleged sexual assault victims -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Secretary of State Colin Powell says reports about him in Bob Woodward's new book are all wrong.
And the plight of those nearly 600 enemy combatants being held at Guantanamo goes before the Supreme Court. Just what are their rights? Jack's going to take a look at that as AMERICAN MORNING continues right after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: There's a major legal argument taking place today at the Supreme Court involving the first legal challenge to arise from the war on terror. It could go a long way in deciding how that war may be prosecuted in the future.
Bob Franken outside the court today, taking us through the steps there -- Bob, good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
And you can tell by the long lines behind me and you can tell by the fact that the justices are going to allow the release immediately after arguments of the audiotapes of those arguments, something that they're starting to do now when a particular case is fundamentally important.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN (voice-over): Guantanamo Bay is a U.S. naval base, but it's on Cuban soil. At issue -- does the United States Supreme Court have any authority over the military's control of foreign detainees held in a foreign country?
EUGENE FIDELL, MILITARY LAW ATTORNEY: The core legal issue is one of jurisdiction in the federal courts.
FRANKEN: And not charges that the United States is mistreating more than 600 prisoners inside what critics say is a black hole called Camp Delta. While 130 have been released, most have been held indefinitely without charges or access to lawyers. The administration denies mistreatment. Detainees still held there want a chance to be heard in a U.S. court, saying Guantanamo is effectively under U.S. control.
The justices will hear arguments in two cases brought by families of 16 Australian, British and Kuwaiti citizens being held in Guantanamo. Military officials have insisted for more than two years imprisoning them is important for interrogation purposes and safety.
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: The detainees include dangerous terrorists who committed brutal acts and are sworn to go back to do it again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: This is the first of three cases relating to terror. And the next terrorism, the next two are going to be argued next week. They're all basically about whether when it comes to enemy combatants, the president has unlimited control. But this first one is about whether the courts have control that extends to foreign lands -- Bill.
HEMMER: Bob Franken, thanks, outside the Supreme Court there in D.C.
Audiotapes later today, as he reported. Kind of interesting, going back to the election recall count of Florida in late 2000. We'll see.
O'BRIEN: And, of course, Bob's topic is also Jack's Question of the Day.
CAFFERTY: Indeed. The viewers are weighing in on whether or not these detainees should have access to American courts.
Hazel in Ontario writes: "The suspected terrorists have been detained without official charges and representation of any kind. Try doing that to an American in another country and listen to the cry about their civil and human rights being stepped on and how they have a right to representation and a fair and speedy trial. Americans should practice what they love to preach."
Peter in Houston, a different view: "Giving these people access to courts to what end? They're prisoners of war, taken captive on the battlefield, trying to kill American soldiers. They deserve humane treatment, but absolutely nothing more. In addition, they are Islamic fighters who vowed to kill us in the name of god. To release them ever is an act of suicide."
Richard in New York says: "We've pointed the human rights finger at Fidel Castro and his regime for decades for incarcerating political prisoners and holding them ad inifinitim without representation. Here we are doing the same thing in Guantanamo, Cuba. How audaciously hypocritical is that?"
And Greg in Baker, Louisiana: "No, these people are not U.S. citizens. It should not be in criminal court. Military tribunals are what they have earned and what they deserve."
Am@cnn.com is the...
O'BRIEN: How is the e-mail coming down, would you say, 50-50, on either side?
CAFFERTY: Yes, probably. I haven't really done the math. But it's -- yes, a little of this, a little of that.
HEMMER: If the White House loses this argument, that's a big blow in terms of the war on terror. Certainly, there's an appeals process that we're -- well, they will try to fight it on other battles here. But if the Supreme Court shuts them down, you wonder what happens. Guantanamo -- do you send them all home? And, if so, are they going to Pakistan? Are they going to Afghanistan, Jack?
CAFFERTY: Yes. I, well, you know, I'm not sure that the Supreme Court is going to come out with a fiat that says you have to release them like next Tuesday and put them on planes back to their homeland. I'm not sure it's that simple.
HEMMER: We'll see.
Hey, we mentioned the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, right, last hour? Joe Johns looking into the whole issue of transfer of power in Iraq. There are questions for the senators on Capitol Hill and Jon Stewart has some questions, too, in "The Daily Show."
A sample from last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART," COURTESY COMEDY CENTRAL)
JON STEWART, HOST: President Bush has remained resolute in his vow to transfer power to the Iraqis by the June 30 deadline. So, that issue is pretty much wrapped up, although it does bring up kind of an interesting question.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And Mr. President, who would we be handing the Iraqi government over to on June 30?
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You'll find that out soon.
STEWART: Ooh! Soon! Yes! The suspense is killing me!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Jon Stewart from last night.
Maybe some answers today. The first of three days of hearings for that Senate committee in D.C. about the hand over plan -- now to Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Bob Woodward's controversial book on the Bush war plan. We're going to hear a debate on the fallout from both sides of the political aisle. That's ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: The latest news every morning in your e-mail. Sign up for AMERICAN MORNING Quick News, cnn.com/am.
In a moment here, an NHL player awaits extradition as some details on an alleged murder for hire plot now becoming clearer. Details next here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Good morning.
Welcome back, everybody.
Just about half past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Was Secretary of State Colin Powell out of the loop in the decision to go to war with Iraq? Does it even matter? In a few minutes, we're going to get some political perspective on some of the claims made in Bob Woodward's new book from Kamber and May.
HEMMER: Also, when it comes to living a longer life, you know there are a lot of foods you should avoid. Sanjay tells us maybe you should just avoid everything? A look at the science behind drastic reductions in calories in a few moments here. Sanjay is standing by.
O'BRIEN: We begin with our top stories, though, first this morning.
A shaky cease-fire remains in Falluja, Iraq. But there are reports of a brief skirmish this morning. According to wire reports, gunmen opened fire on a Marine patrol overnight. No American casualties were reported.
Military sources also say U.S. Marines have uncovered a large weapons cache near Falluja. According to a statement, all the munitions found were destroyed by coalition forces.
Colorado's Columbine High School is closed today. It is the fifth anniversary of the worst school shooting in U.S. history. Two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, killed 12 students and a teacher that day, then they shot themselves. A memorial, including a candlelight vigil, is planned for this evening.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 20, 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.
The Saudi ambassador to the U.S. confronts Bob Woodward directly, challenging some of the most controversial points in his new book.
With major events planned for the summer and the fall, the U.S. quietly getting ready for the possibility of a terrorist attack. How ready can the country be and how likely is it?
Leaping out of the record books into reality, the rocket man. This hour here on CNN's "American Morning."
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
Welcome back, everybody.
Other stories that we're following this morning.
In just a few minutes, we're going to talk to former U.S. hostage Terry Anderson. He was held captive for seven years when he was captured in Lebanese. We're going to talk to him this morning about the current U.S. hostages being held in Iraq, what they're going through and what he thinks is being done to free them.
HEMMER: Also, the NHL hockey team that has been stunned by allegations of a murder for hire plot by one of its own players. A complete look at that. Josie Burke has been watching that story for us. We'll have it for you again in a few minutes.
O'BRIEN: Mr. Cafferty's got a look at the Cafferty File this morning -- hello.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A little preview. Coming up in less than an hour in the Cafferty File, we'll tell you about a new day to tell the difference between the brains of Democrats and Republicans. And 300 pound professional football players doing yoga. We have some pictures that we hope you'll find amusing.
HEMMER: A sight to see, huh?
CAFFERTY: Yes.
HEMMER: Is that right side or left side on the Democrats and Republicans? CAFFERTY: Oh, I think.
HEMMER: I'm going to have to stay tuned.
CAFFERTY: That's a very cogent question, however.
HEMMER: Top stories here, eight o'clock here in New York.
Good morning again.
The U.S. Supreme Court hearing appeals today involving detainees in the Guantanamo prison camp in Cuba. The case centers on whether or not nine U.S. citizens held outside the country can use American courts. The Bush administration calls the prisoners enemy combatants and says it has the right to interrogate them for as long as necessary. That case is considered a test of U.S. anti-terror tactics.
Honduras is following Spain's lead, pulling its troops from Iraq. Honduran sources telling CNN that troops will pull out early, but the date there not yet announced. About 350 Honduran forces have been serving in Iraq under Spanish command.
The Bush administration revising its planned overhaul for overtime rules for U.S. workers. Republican officials say the changes would make more white collar, lower income workers newly eligible for overtime. Critics say the reported revisions will disqualify many workers. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao expected to announce the new regulations today.
There's a new warning for adults who have Type 2 Diabetes and high cholesterol. Researchers say these diabetics should be taking statins or cholesterol lower medications. The American College of Physicians issued the new guidelines for diabetics who are at risk for heart disease.
And the rocket man powering his way into the record books. Armed with a rocket backpack, Eric Scott reached a 13-story building in London and hit a new world's record doing it. Here he goes. Scott says the higher he gets up in the air, the freer he feels. I bet. Watch him shoot right for that tower on the right hand side. Not bad.
O'BRIEN: What do you think, he's going from zero to 75 in two seconds. But if watch that, it doesn't -- oh. That's going to come down. It doesn't look like he's going that fast.
HEMMER: I wonder if Elton John was watching this yesterday. He lives in London.
O'BRIEN: Maybe.
HEMMER: Sir Elton, we should say, huh?
Anyway, Eric Scott doing the deal over there in London.
You're up to date right now. 8:02 in New York City.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: The Bush administration giving a generally positive reception to the just released book, "Plan of Attack," by "Washington Post" journalist Bob Woodward. But there are some points that are being contested, including some involving the Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar bin Sultan.
Last night on CNN's "Larry King Live," Woodward was -- talked about a White House meeting to go over plans for the Iraq war with Bandar.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CNN'S "LARRY KING LIVE")
BOB WOODWARD, "WASHINGTON POST," AUTHOR, "PLAN OF ATTACK": January 11, a Saturday, Cheney and Rumsfeld, the defense secretary, called Bandar in with the chairman of the joint chiefs -- who, by the way, has said my account is correct, publicly -- and presented the war plan. And Don Rumsfeld is on the record, if you look on the Pentagon Web site, saying that he said this war plan, you can take it to the bank, it's going to happen.
LARRY KING, HOST: And Bandar was there?
WOODWARD: And Bandar was there. And Cheney then said when we start, not if, but when we start, Saddam is toast. The president confirmed all of this when I interviewed him four or five months ago.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Later, Prince Bandar joined the discussion. He contested Woodward's account a little bit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE BANDAR, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: What he said is accurate. However, there was one sentence that was left out.
LARRY KING, HOST: And that is?
BANDAR: Both Vice President Cheney and Secretary Rumsfeld told me before the briefing that the president has not made a decision yet, but here is the plan and then the rest is accurate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Prince Bandar also termed accurate Woodward's claim that the Saudis hope to keep oil prices low during the period before the election, but he denied it was to influence voting.
Despite a generally positive reception from the White House, some in the Bush administration are disputing, as we mentioned, some of Woodward's points.
For details, let's go to the White House and Elaine Quijano for more on this -- hey, Elaine, good morning.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Well, officials here at the White House are still recommending that people read this book, despite the fact that they do take issue with several of the questions raised and it, as you said. Now, even over the weekend, one of the president's top advisers came out and again trying to knock down one particular assertion made by Bob Woodward, namely that Secretary of State Colin Powell was somehow not kept in the loop when it came to the Iraq war plan, that he was only informed two days after Prince Bandar, the Saudi ambassador, learned of the war plan from Vice President Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Richard Myers.
Now, on Sunday, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice denied that Secretary Powell was unaware of the plan and yesterday the secretary of state himself addressed the issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: The question that has arisen seems to be that Prince Bandar received a briefing on the plan. There was suggestion that I hadn't. Of course, I had. I was intimately familiar with the plan and I was aware that Prince Bandar was being briefed on the plan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: Now, the secretary of state also acknowledged that he was one of the sources for Bob Woodward's book, but he said that he and others spoke with the author on instructions from the White House.
As for the president, today he travels to Buffalo, New York to continue his push for a renewal of provisions in the Patriot Act. Those provisions not set to expire until the end of next year -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Elaine Quijano at the White House for us this morning.
Elaine, thanks.
President Bush doesn't seem to have been hurt politically by the negative news coming out of Iraq or the 9/11 hearings. A survey of likely voters conducted last weekend found that the president has a five point lead over Senator John Kerry in the race for president. That's up two points from the beginning of this month. People Poland by CNN, "USA Today" and Gallup say George Bush would do a better job handling terrorism and Iraq. Most thought that Senator Kerry would handle the economy better. But those polled also said that the economy is the most important factor in their decision on who to send to the White House.
HEMMER: From Iraq, insurgent forces have a new weapon in their fight against the coalition. In the past two weeks, they have taken dozens of hostages.
Terry Anderson survived seven years of captivity at the hands of Islamic militants in Lebanon.
Today he's a Democratic candidate for state senate in Ohio.
And Terry Anderson is our guest in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Nice to talk to you again and good morning.
TERRY ANDERSON, FORMER HOSTAGE: Good morning.
HEMMER: Last week when the videotape came out of the Japanese being held hostage, you wrote a piece in the "Wall Street Journal." You started that piece by saying, and I'm quoting now, "The cruel and shocking video of frightened young Japanese, guns and knives to their throats, surrounded by shouting, threatening, hooded figures, brings back emotions I had hoped never to feel again."
What are those emotions?
ANDERSON: Well, I put myself in their place. I've been in their place. It's terribly frightening. It's confusing. You feel absolutely helpless. There's almost nothing you can do to effect the situation. You can't help yourself. There's nothing you can do. And it's a kind of helplessness that very few adults have felt in their lives. You know that your family is equally frightened and confused and there's nothing you can do about that either.
HEMMER: In the first week, is that the most difficult period? I mean you're a man who was there for seven years. For a guy like Private First Class Maupin right now, being held somewhere in Iraq, is this the toughest period for him? How would you answer that?
ANDERSON: I don't know. It depends on the conditions they're in and what their captors are doing. There seems to be a number of groups taking hostages almost at random and only a few, of course, have Americans, American soldiers. The group that took the soldier, Matt, actually seems to be one of the more restrained groups. They didn't make any terrible threats and they did say that they would treat him in accordance with Islamic precepts, which to me means they'll treat him well and keep him healthy. They won't abuse him.
Some of the other groups are much wilder and more -- and scarier. And, of course, some of them have actually killed their hostages. The Italian was killed the other day.
So, you know, we don't know what's happening to each individual hostage. We can only hope that some of the hostages are together. I can tell you that makes an enormous difference if there are other people there that you can talk to, that you can lean on and support. It makes a huge difference than if you're in solitary confinement. I spent my captivity in solitary confinement. That's hard.
HEMMER: Yes, you know, Mr. Anderson, I'm wondering also, with the amount of attention that this country gives these hostages, if you just look at Batavia, Ohio and see the hundreds, if not thousands of people, who poured out in the streets of that town on Friday evening, does that -- when the insurgents hear of that news, does it fortify their position? Does it make them feel justified for what they're doing, because they're getting that amount of attention?
ANDERSON: None of that support is saying that -- is for the hostage takers of the action. It's all for the hostage. And that's right. You know, I hope that Matt has access to news, a newspaper or a television once in a while and that he knows what's happening in his hometown, he knows the kind of support that he's getting, because that will be very, very important for him.
You know, people ask all the time, is that kind of attention supporting the kidnappers or giving them power? No. I mean I don't believe that that's true at all. These people are doing this because they want to strike at the United States or at the West in general. They are terrorists in the true sense of the word. They want to create terror.
When we show our support for the hostages, we're not giving them power. We are telling them that you'd better be careful, we care about these people and we care about how they're treated.
HEMMER: Terry Anderson from Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Thanks for being with us today.
Appreciate it.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, five years after the worst school shooting in American history, what is the community of Columbine doing today? A look at that is just ahead.
HEMMER: Also, the troubled life of an NHL player embroiled in a murder for hire allegation. What's the latest today? We'll check that story out in a moment.
O'BRIEN: And a glamorous film star turns the spotlight on helping abused children. Her story ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
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O'BRIEN: With the approach of the political conventions and ultimately the election itself, U.S. officials are growing increasingly concerned that such high profile events could become tempting targets for terrorists.
CNN's Jeanne Meserve looks at the steps that top security chiefs are taking to prevent any attacks.
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O'BRIEN: The Homeland Security Department's counter-terrorism network is promising to deliver secure, real time information. The computer network will be expanded to all 50 states. HEMMER: The mother of Kobe Bryant's accuser attended a rally for victim's rights legislation yesterday. Bryant's charged with sexual assault in Colorado. The new law was proposed, in part, because a woman was misidentified as the accuser in the Bryant case.
The real accuser's mother spoke about her pride in her daughter.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to thank my daughter for teaching me about courage. I'm proud to be her mom. Keep fighting. Keep trying. Keep supporting victims' rights.
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HEMMER: The 19-year-old accuser was not at that rally. Her father did not speak, either. Her parents were not identified during introductions and we are not reporting their names. It is CNN's policy not to report information that would reveal the names of alleged sexual assault victims -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Secretary of State Colin Powell says reports about him in Bob Woodward's new book are all wrong.
And the plight of those nearly 600 enemy combatants being held at Guantanamo goes before the Supreme Court. Just what are their rights? Jack's going to take a look at that as AMERICAN MORNING continues right after this short break.
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HEMMER: There's a major legal argument taking place today at the Supreme Court involving the first legal challenge to arise from the war on terror. It could go a long way in deciding how that war may be prosecuted in the future.
Bob Franken outside the court today, taking us through the steps there -- Bob, good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
And you can tell by the long lines behind me and you can tell by the fact that the justices are going to allow the release immediately after arguments of the audiotapes of those arguments, something that they're starting to do now when a particular case is fundamentally important.
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FRANKEN (voice-over): Guantanamo Bay is a U.S. naval base, but it's on Cuban soil. At issue -- does the United States Supreme Court have any authority over the military's control of foreign detainees held in a foreign country?
EUGENE FIDELL, MILITARY LAW ATTORNEY: The core legal issue is one of jurisdiction in the federal courts.
FRANKEN: And not charges that the United States is mistreating more than 600 prisoners inside what critics say is a black hole called Camp Delta. While 130 have been released, most have been held indefinitely without charges or access to lawyers. The administration denies mistreatment. Detainees still held there want a chance to be heard in a U.S. court, saying Guantanamo is effectively under U.S. control.
The justices will hear arguments in two cases brought by families of 16 Australian, British and Kuwaiti citizens being held in Guantanamo. Military officials have insisted for more than two years imprisoning them is important for interrogation purposes and safety.
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: The detainees include dangerous terrorists who committed brutal acts and are sworn to go back to do it again.
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FRANKEN: This is the first of three cases relating to terror. And the next terrorism, the next two are going to be argued next week. They're all basically about whether when it comes to enemy combatants, the president has unlimited control. But this first one is about whether the courts have control that extends to foreign lands -- Bill.
HEMMER: Bob Franken, thanks, outside the Supreme Court there in D.C.
Audiotapes later today, as he reported. Kind of interesting, going back to the election recall count of Florida in late 2000. We'll see.
O'BRIEN: And, of course, Bob's topic is also Jack's Question of the Day.
CAFFERTY: Indeed. The viewers are weighing in on whether or not these detainees should have access to American courts.
Hazel in Ontario writes: "The suspected terrorists have been detained without official charges and representation of any kind. Try doing that to an American in another country and listen to the cry about their civil and human rights being stepped on and how they have a right to representation and a fair and speedy trial. Americans should practice what they love to preach."
Peter in Houston, a different view: "Giving these people access to courts to what end? They're prisoners of war, taken captive on the battlefield, trying to kill American soldiers. They deserve humane treatment, but absolutely nothing more. In addition, they are Islamic fighters who vowed to kill us in the name of god. To release them ever is an act of suicide."
Richard in New York says: "We've pointed the human rights finger at Fidel Castro and his regime for decades for incarcerating political prisoners and holding them ad inifinitim without representation. Here we are doing the same thing in Guantanamo, Cuba. How audaciously hypocritical is that?"
And Greg in Baker, Louisiana: "No, these people are not U.S. citizens. It should not be in criminal court. Military tribunals are what they have earned and what they deserve."
Am@cnn.com is the...
O'BRIEN: How is the e-mail coming down, would you say, 50-50, on either side?
CAFFERTY: Yes, probably. I haven't really done the math. But it's -- yes, a little of this, a little of that.
HEMMER: If the White House loses this argument, that's a big blow in terms of the war on terror. Certainly, there's an appeals process that we're -- well, they will try to fight it on other battles here. But if the Supreme Court shuts them down, you wonder what happens. Guantanamo -- do you send them all home? And, if so, are they going to Pakistan? Are they going to Afghanistan, Jack?
CAFFERTY: Yes. I, well, you know, I'm not sure that the Supreme Court is going to come out with a fiat that says you have to release them like next Tuesday and put them on planes back to their homeland. I'm not sure it's that simple.
HEMMER: We'll see.
Hey, we mentioned the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, right, last hour? Joe Johns looking into the whole issue of transfer of power in Iraq. There are questions for the senators on Capitol Hill and Jon Stewart has some questions, too, in "The Daily Show."
A sample from last night.
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JON STEWART, HOST: President Bush has remained resolute in his vow to transfer power to the Iraqis by the June 30 deadline. So, that issue is pretty much wrapped up, although it does bring up kind of an interesting question.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And Mr. President, who would we be handing the Iraqi government over to on June 30?
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You'll find that out soon.
STEWART: Ooh! Soon! Yes! The suspense is killing me!
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HEMMER: Jon Stewart from last night.
Maybe some answers today. The first of three days of hearings for that Senate committee in D.C. about the hand over plan -- now to Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Bob Woodward's controversial book on the Bush war plan. We're going to hear a debate on the fallout from both sides of the political aisle. That's ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues.
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HEMMER: The latest news every morning in your e-mail. Sign up for AMERICAN MORNING Quick News, cnn.com/am.
In a moment here, an NHL player awaits extradition as some details on an alleged murder for hire plot now becoming clearer. Details next here on AMERICAN MORNING.
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O'BRIEN: Good morning.
Welcome back, everybody.
Just about half past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Was Secretary of State Colin Powell out of the loop in the decision to go to war with Iraq? Does it even matter? In a few minutes, we're going to get some political perspective on some of the claims made in Bob Woodward's new book from Kamber and May.
HEMMER: Also, when it comes to living a longer life, you know there are a lot of foods you should avoid. Sanjay tells us maybe you should just avoid everything? A look at the science behind drastic reductions in calories in a few moments here. Sanjay is standing by.
O'BRIEN: We begin with our top stories, though, first this morning.
A shaky cease-fire remains in Falluja, Iraq. But there are reports of a brief skirmish this morning. According to wire reports, gunmen opened fire on a Marine patrol overnight. No American casualties were reported.
Military sources also say U.S. Marines have uncovered a large weapons cache near Falluja. According to a statement, all the munitions found were destroyed by coalition forces.
Colorado's Columbine High School is closed today. It is the fifth anniversary of the worst school shooting in U.S. history. Two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, killed 12 students and a teacher that day, then they shot themselves. A memorial, including a candlelight vigil, is planned for this evening.
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