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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
Kofi Annan Speaks Out; Ayman Al Zawahiri Releases New Terror Tape
Aired November 29, 2004 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, a United Nations scandal becomes a growing family matter with the secretary-general's son right at the center of the storm. For the first time Kofi Annan is now speaking out. Standby for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): Advice to America. A new terror tape from al Qaeda's number two man.
Colorado crash.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It shot off the right side of the runway and then immediately smoke and flames started rising into the air.
BLITZER: Hopes fade in the ice and snow.
Medical marijuana.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If they side against me, it means that they would be giving me a death sentence.
BLITZER: The Supreme Court weighs in.
Israel's dilemma. Can it ease the Palestinian's plight? What are the risks? I'll ask Israel's vice prime minister, Ehud Olmert.
Was it Botox? A Florida couple is hospitalized after cosmetic injections. Investigators race to find out what happened.
ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Monday, November 29, 2004.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: We begin with words of warning and so-called advice from al Qaeda, which vows to keep fighting against America. It's all in a videotape from Osama bin Laden on's top deputy, Ayman al- Zawahiri. Let's turn to our national security correspondent, David Ensor -- David.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, these tapes are becoming almost routine, but they remain ominous each time they come out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ENSOR (voice-over): On a tape delivered to Al-Jazeera television, apparently made before the November 2nd U.S. election, al Qaeda's number two man offers what he calls final advice to America.
AYMAN AL-ZAWAHIRI, AL QAEDA (through translator): We are telling the American nation, elect whoever you want, Bush, Kerry or even Satan himself, we do not care. What is important to us is to cleanse our land from the aggressors and fight everyone who invades our land and violates our sacred symbols and steals our wealth.
ENSOR: Similar in tone to Osama bin Laden's last tape which was delivered to Al-Jazeera just before the presidential election, the message speaks to Americans telling them the U.S. must change its policies towards the Muslim world.
PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORIST ANALYST: It seems to me it's quite possible these tapes were made at the same time. They both talk about the election as if they don't know the outcome, we don't care if Bush or Kerry wins. They are probably likely either together or traveling, know where each other is. Why not make both of these tapes at the same time.
ENSOR: Last week Pakistan announced it would withdraw federal troops from southern Waziristan, the tribal province bordering Afghanistan where many experts say Zawahiri and bin Laden were last believed to be hiding.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ENSOR: By Bergen's count this is the 28th tape from Zawahiri or bin Laden since the attacks of September 11, 2001. Attacks have followed fewer than half of those tapes. They seem intended in part simply to warn the world that al Qaeda is still in the game -- Wolf.
BLITZER: David Ensor, thanks very much. And we'll have more on this story at the half hour. William Cohen, the former defense secretary, will join us live.
Meanwhile, in Iraq, at least six people were killed, eight more wounded when a car bomber attacked a police station near Ramadi. Local officials say four Iraqi police officers were among the dead. The bombing came shortly after two U.S. soldiers were killed when their vehicle hit an explosive device in Baghdad. A third American soldier was killed today in a vehicle accident.
The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency is calling a new deal on Iran's nuclear program an important milestone. The agency today approved a plan that spells out how it will oversee Iran's agreement to suspend its nuclear program. The plan is part of a deal between Tehran and three European Union countries: Britain, France and Germany. The move though is seen as somewhat of a blow to the United States, U.S. officials contend Iran is working to make nuclear weapons. The U.S. had wanted the matter referred to the U.N. Security Council. As the investigation widens into the United Nations scandal, the plagued Oil-For-Food Program, the secretary-general, Kofi Annan, is taking heat for the actions of his son and he's now speaking out about it for the first time. Let's go live to our senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, there is no official confirmation of any wrongdoing or any criminal charges, but this is the wrong time, wrong place and wrong scandal for a lack of full disclosure by the son of the secretary-general. Kojo Annan, it now turns out, received money for six years more than originally reported for his connection to the Swiss company Cotecna, which was really the main firm handling the inspections of all goods going into Iraq under that Oil-For-Food Program.
I asked the secretary-general today if he was surprised by finding out that Kojo Annan had ties up until this year with that company.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: I had been working under the assumption -- understanding that it ceased in 1998, and I had no expectation that -- I had not suspected that the relationship continued.
ROTH (on camera): Do you understand that perception problem for the U.N.? Do you understand that there's a...
ANNAN: No. I understand the perception problem for the U.N. or the perception of conflict of interest. I understand that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: But Annan said he was disappointed in the actions of his son. He said he spoke to Kojo Annan but declined to reveal what he said. Several people, including William Safire in "The New York Times" today are calling for Annan to resign. Annan walked away when I asked him about that. Annan did say that his son is an independent businessman, a grown man. He doesn't get involved with his business activities and Kojo Annan doesn't get involved in mine, said the secretary-general.
That man, Paul Volcker, is who Annan is staking everything on. He is running the independent U.N.-approved Oil-For-Food probe, and as you know, Wolf, several other investigations down there in Washington with you on Capitol Hill -- Wolf.
BLITZER: So what is the bottom line? How much heat is Kofi Annan personally feeling right now? What are the prospects that he might be forced out?
ROTH: I'd say this is his worst political moment. I think a lot more would have to come out for him to step down. U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Danforth, had a chance to push this further. He just said we need full disclosure, full information on everything. But he did not take the bait when asked for any calls for Annan to resign.
BLITZER: Our senior United Nations correspondent, Richard Roth, reporting, thank you, Richard, very much.
It has echoes of the American election of 2000 with one huge difference. Eight days after Ukraine's balloting ended in an uproar and in the hands of the country's supreme court, there is talk now of a new election.
CNN's Jill Dougherty is on the scene for us in Kiev.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rapidly changing political events here in Ukraine as the supreme court hears the complaints from the opposition. An entire day spent in that court as the opposition tries to prove convincingly that there was massive vote fraud in many areas of Ukraine during that election that took place over a week ago.
Then the other event today, Viktor Yanukovych, who the candidate supported by the government, saying that he could be open to the idea of holding maybe a recount or maybe an -- actually a new election in two regions that had massive questions about that voting turnout and how the votes went.
Finally you have President Leonid Kuchma, the outgoing president, saying that he, too, would welcome some type of recount or perhaps even a revote if it can solve this political dilemma.
Then in the later afternoon, Viktor Yushchenko, the opposition candidate, going back down to that cold Independence Square where there are hundreds of thousands of people still rallying eight days later, they are still in the streets. And he is telling them stay there. You have chose Ukraine in this past week, and keep it up.
Last note, President Kuchma, however, warning that all of this, the people in the streets and the shutdowns of buildings, et cetera, threatened the economic, the financial system of Ukraine.
Jill Dougherty, CNN, Kiev, Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Turmoil in the Middle East, including concern about possible political assassination. I will speak live with Israel's vice prime minister, Ehud Olmert, he's here in Washington.
Also two rare cases of botulism at this Florida hospital. Is there a link to Botox?
A hot medical issue, medical marijuana before the U.S. Supreme Court. We'll hear the arguments from both sides.
Plus the latest on that plane crash involving a top TV executive and his family. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: As Palestinians gear up for an election aimed at finding a successor to the late Yasser Arafat, the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon faces his own political challenges. Sharon today survived no confidence votes in the Knesset but they were symbolic defeats and meantime a crucial coalition partner is threatening to jump ship in a budget dispute that could conceivably bring down Sharon's government and derail plans for an Israeli pullout from Gaza. More on that coming up. Sharon is laying a lot on the line in pursuing his plan to withdraw unilaterally from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. He may also be laying his life on the line, threats from right-wing extremists in Israel are being taken very seriously indeed. Joining us now is Israel's vice prime minister, Ehud Olmert. Welcome to Washington, Mr. Minister.
We heard from Mahmoud Abbas, the new PLO leader, the man running to become the next president of the Palestinian Authority in this interview in "Newsweek" magazine. Among other things he says this, they, referring your government, the Israeli government, should stop the wall. I believe it is uncivilized to build a separation. They should stop all kinds of settlement activity, even what they call natural growth and they should remove the outposts and release prisoners. What will Israel do in advance of the January 9 Palestinian elections to try and facilitate those elections?
EHUD OLMERT, ISRAELI VICE PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think I said it in your program, and I will repeat it. Terror built the wall, the end of terror will unbuild it. It's as simple as that. So, we very much look forward to the elections in the Palestine Authority. We will not make any comment about a candidate. We will not give anyone an excuse to say that someone is a collaborator of the Israelis and therefore is not qualified to be elected. So we are very much out of the process. We will do everything that is needed and accepted by the international community to facilitate the elections and not to intervene in any form or manner.
BLITZER: Let's go through a few specifics. Will you let Palestinians living in east Jerusalem vote?
OLMERT: Yes.
BLITZER: Will you ease the checkpoints, the roads so that Palestinians could move around the West Bank and Gaza more freely, let's say so they will be able to get out and campaign?
OLMERT: For the sake of elections, for the election process itself, for the voting itself, we will do everything which is needed in order to facilitate the process. Of course, at the same time, we must make sure no one will sneak in with hand grenades or with weapons for a terrorist action. We have to protect the lives of Israelis and of Palestinians who might become victims of some brutal, cruel and bloody terrorist action as they're doing occasionally.
BLITZER: Is there any chance you could have a prisoner release, a prisoner swap, if you will, including Marwan Barghouti, the Palestinian who is serving a life sentence? OLMERT: Marwan Barghouti was only convicted in an Israeli court for five murders cases. Is it serious to release him? For what. I don't think that anyone seriously can expect Israel to compromise in such a fundamental way when it comes to a murder whose hands are covered with Israeli blood. He was convicted in Israeli court.
BLITZER: How serious do you believe an opportunity to jumpstart, to revive peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians is right now in the aftermath of Yasser Arafat's death?
OLMERT: There is certainly a glimpse of hope. Because Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen was known to be against terror, even when Arafat was alive. This is perhaps one of the reasons why he couldn't get along with Yasser Arafat and had to resign his position as prime minister then. Now he is probably in a leadership position with some others, and we don't want to pass an opinion about who the leader will be. But if they will carry on in this direction, and they will seriously start an effort to stop terror, that can create an entirely new environment for friendly negotiations between us and the Palestinian leadership.
BLITZER: What about with the Syrian president, Bashar Al-Asad? He is going to Egypt. There is speculation that he might be ready to start without any preconditions, reviving peace talks between Israel and Syria. Is your government ready for that?
OLMERT: We are always ready for peace. But let's do it one at a time. It's too complex to deal with one case, two cases, with three cases. It's a little bit too much. Let's continue. I don't want anything to interfere with our commitment to carry on this engagement from the Gaza district and four settlements in the West Bank. If we will do it it will be a historical breakthrough. Everyone understands it, everyone knows it. Sharon is ready to go to the extent that he is risking the majority in parliament, the control of his party and the possible collapse of his government. This is unheard of in the history of democratic countries that a prime minister is ready to go that far in order to achieve a peace process against a background of his former position and the commitments of his own party.
BLITZER: There's a very very politically sensitive picture that has just come out. Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint forcing a Palestinian to play his violin. We are showing it to viewers now. It raises, as you well know in Israel it has caused a lot of concern because during the Holocaust, Nazis used to force some Jewish musicians to play their violins. Explain what's going on here.
OLMERT: The Jews that were forced to play violins were then exterminated and burned to ashes in the concentration camps. We have a problem. You know how many times Palestinians that were coming through the checkpoints in ambulances were found to be terrorists with explosives that killed many innocent people?
BLITZER: So this was a security thing?
OLMERT: It was a security matter.
BLITZER: It wasn't trying to humiliate the Palestinians.
OLMERT: It's very embarrassing, I must say. It's very embarrassing. I feel terrible just as you feel terrible and everyone when he sees the picture, but had he been a terrorist, you wouldn't have seen the picture because the soldier would have been dead and many of the people around him would have been dead. So this is one of the tragedies that were forced on us because of terror of the Palestinians, and we have to find ways and there are no easy solutions.
BLITZER: I was intrigued by this comment that Prime Minister Sharon made in the "Newsweek" magazine interview. He was asked about his concern that Jewish terrorists, Israelis could try to kill him like they killed Yitzhak Rabin ten years ago. And Sharon said this, "I don't worry about my life. Arabs always wanted to act against me but now the Jews are doing this. So, for me, it's a strange situation. As one who has defended Jews all his life, I now have to be secured against Jews." This is a pretty horrible thought when you think about this. Are you personally, as the vice prime minister of Israel, as concerned about your security from Jewish terrorists as you are from Arab terrorists?
OLMERT: There are those who take care of my security and the prime minister's security. But the very fact that we have to be aware of the possibility that a Jew will want to assassinate the prime minister or the deputy prime minister or any of the senior government officials is a living evidence of how far we are prepared to go in order to achieve a breakthrough in the present status quo. Maybe sometimes, not enough people understand the unlimited risk that the prime minister in taking in order to change the status quo. Not just political risk, even personal risk. He is doing it because we, without any regard to the changes within the Palestinian community, are ready to go forward and change things so that a new environment will develop in the Middle East. And that must always be remembered against the background of some of those unpleasant events that take place in checkpoints, in other places, which are an inevitable outcome of the existence of terror.
BLITZER: Ehud Olmert, the vice president of Israel. Good luck to you, good luck to the Palestinians. Let's hope this is an opportunity for peace.
OLMERT: Thank you.
Millions of people have safely undergone the procedure. Now four people are hospitalized right here in the United States. Is there a link to Botox?
Blackhawk down with no survivors. Investigators know how it happened but not why.
And the end of an era leaves a highly influential job opening which leads to our web question of the day -- who do you think should replace William Safire at the "New York Times?" You can go to CNN.com/wolf and weigh in. We are getting hundreds of e-mails from our viewers on this question. Who do you think should replace William Safire at the "New York Times?" He's stepping down next month. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: U.S. army officials now confirm all seven soldiers aboard a blackhawk helicopter were killed when it crashed in heavy fog this morning near Temple, Texas. Reporter Sterling Riggs from CNN affiliate KXAN joins us now live from the county in Texas where it all happened -- Sterling.
STERLING RIGGS, KXAN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, let me take you where it happened. The helicopter crashed about 7:00 this morning in this TV tower. They actually hit the guide wires. Witnesses say they hit the far left guide wire. Let me show you some of the damage. The chopper went down about 7:00 this morning in the open field. The soldiers were en route from Fort Hood to Texarkana. They were actually going to the Red River Depot. The pilots flew through heavy fog, and according to the station that owns that TV tower there were no warning lights when the crash occurred. Now heavy storms apparently knocked out the lights last week. The station did say they notified the FAA about the problem last week. Right now the accident is being investigated by soldiers out of Fort Rutger in Alabama. As of right now they have not released any names. Actually, two Blackhawks landed a couple of minutes ago right behind those trees over there. We are really not sure what they are doing. But we will stay here and keep you updated. Back to you.
BLITZER: Sterling Riggs reporting for us. Sterling, thank you very much, from our affiliate KXAN.
There are now some new developments to tell you about yesterday's crash of a private jet carrying NBC sports chairman Dick Ebersol and his two sons. CNN's David Mattingly reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Photographs taken just moments afterwards show a fiery and violent accident. A large cloud of black smoke marked the spot where the private jet, carrying NBC sports chairman Dick Ebersol and his two sons crashed Sunday morning on takeoff. Witnesses at Colorado's Montrose Regional Airport describe the scene.
CHUCK DISTEL, CRASH WITNESS: Driving by the airport on my way to our office, I looked over to the right, and I could see on the runway there was a plane that had just turned sideways. And it shot off the right side of the runway, and immediately smoke and flames started rising into the air.
MATTINGLY: Traveling at a high rate of speed, the Canadair challenger, according to witnesses, veered to the right of the runway before crashing through an airport fence and bursting into flames. Witnesses say the cockpit was torn away. Both the pilot and co-pilot were killed. Ebersol's younger son, 14-year-old Edward was unaccounted for.
Early searches from the air and on the ground turned up nothing. MATT, SILTS, CORONER: We have done a complete thorough search of the area surrounding the crash site looking for the potential of an ejection. We have been unsuccessful in finding any body. We believe at this time that the boy has probably perished within the crash.
MATTINGLY: A person who works at the airport providing de-icing services says the jet was not de-iced, a procedure left up to the discretion of the airlines and the pilots. Airport officials say later flights that day were de-iced. Ebersol, his older son, Charles, and a member of the flight crew were hospitalized. The crew member is reportedly in critical condition.
In January 2002, a Canadair jet in a similar series also crashed on takeoff according to the Aviation Safety Network, which is a private organization that keeps records of plane crashes. The investigation into that crash found that a failure to de-ice properly was a major factor in that crash -- Wolf.
BLITZER: David Mattingly reporting for us, thank you very much.
It's an issue that stirs passions across the United States. Should federal law trump state laws when it comes to legalizing medical marijuana? The U.S. Supreme Court gets set to weigh in.
The new warning from Osama bin Laden's right-hand man. What does it really mean? We will hear from our world affairs analyst, the former defense secretary William Cohen.
And mass beaching. Park rangers and volunteers work to save over 100 whales and dolphins. That story and more in our look around the world. All that coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back.
So-called words of warning for Americans, al Qaeda's No. 2 man with some so-called advice for the United States in a new videotape the out. The former Defense Secretary William Cohen standing by to weigh in. We'll get to that.
First, though, a quick check of some other stories now in the news.
More changes in store for President Bush's Cabinet in his second term. The president has picked Carlos Gutierrez to become his commerce secretary. Gutierrez, who was born in Cuba, rose from truck driver to chief executive officer of Kellogg. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he will replace Don Evans, who resigned right after the presidential election.
In a blow to some conservative groups, the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to step into the fight over gay marriages in Massachusetts. The state legitimized same-sex marriage last year. The Supreme Court, without comment, declined to overturn the decision.
The high court did hear arguments today in a case that could decide the future of legalized medical marijuana.
Our national correspondent Bob Franken joins us now live with details -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And as we are finding out again, Wolf, so often, the social and political issues of the day, by the time they get to the court, are really described in terms that are quite different.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN (voice-over): For Angel Raich, it's not about the sweeping issues her cases places before the justices. For her, its her brain tumor and what she says is her need her help from marijuana.
ANGEL RAICH, MEDICINAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATE: I need to use cannabis every two hours. If I don't medicate every two hours, I become debilitated.
FRANKEN: Her home state of California is one of 11 that permit private use of marijuana for medical purposes. But federal law prohibits virtually any use. So the Supreme Court was again hearing arguments over the constitutional power of the federal government to override state laws.
Was the medical individual use of homegrown marijuana interstate commerce? Yes, said Paul Clement, the administration's acting solicitor general, because the garden patch weed would effect overall production. Randy Barnett, who argued the other side, called any connection hypothetical, since its privately grown, not bought or sold. Many argue that there is little evidence that marijuana has medical value.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a handful of people who want to see not just marijuana, but all drugs legalized.
FRANKEN: Inside, the justices peppered both sides.
Ginsburg: "Nobody is buying anything. Nobody is selling anything." But Justice Breyer argued a preference for medicine by regulation as opposed to medicine by referendum.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: The referendum in these cases will now involve the nine justices, including Chief Justice Rehnquist, who, Wolf, was not present again as he fights his own medical affliction -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Bob Franken, thanks very much for that report.
Let's get back now to our top story, the latest videotape from al Qaeda and the -- quote -- "advice" to America offered up by Osama bin Laden's right-handyman, Ayman al-Zawahiri.
For that, let's bring in our world affairs analyst, the former Defense Secretary William Cohen. Mr. Secretary, as usual, thanks very much.
A new tape coming out. We don't know exactly when it was made. But the basic message is there to the Americans, get out of the Middle East.
WILLIAM COHEN, CNN WORLD AFFAIRS ANALYST: Right.
The message is the same. And it's unlikely to change. It's not only that particular recommendation or advice that's being given, but basically get out of Iraq and get out of the Middle East and stop supporting Israel. And, by the way, they want to charge higher prices for oil once we leave. That is the culmination of the demands that are being made by bin Laden.
So it's not new. And it's a question as to whether or not the United States coalition forces and the entire industrialized world would like to see that take place. I think the answer is not.
BLITZER: Yes, of course.
Over the weekend, we heard the Pakistani government saying they are going to suspend their military operations in some of those so- called tribal areas in Pakistan looking for Osama bin Laden and al- Zawahiri. What do you make of that?
COHEN: Well, perhaps if they are tight on their forces as well, that they have not been very productive -- they look in the area, can't find him and want to redeploy them. That's the best case to put on it.
It could be that they have decided that they don't want to pursue bin Laden or his associates. And that would be certainly a negative as far as the United States is concerned. But we won't know. It's unlikely we are going to be finding him in the near future. And I think that we are going to have to just live with that reality. He is going to be difficult to track down, has been, and unlikely to be found in the future.
BLITZER: But the question is, as unlikely as it is to find him -- and if he's living in a cave or someplace else, obviously, we don't know. But the question is, can al Qaeda still undertake a massive terror attack against the U.S. or U.S. interests?
COHEN: I think al Qaeda can undertake an attack.
I think they are very detailed and very patient in their planning. And no doubt they have plans under way as we speak. They have demonstrated how long they are prepared to wait and to look for vulnerabilities, opportunities to strike the United States. So the fact that they have been disrupted, the Taliban has been disrupted and defeated for the most part in Afghanistan, does not mean that al Qaeda has been significantly diminished in its capacity to plan such an attack in the United States.
BLITZER: Which leads me to the follow-up question on the legislation, the 9/11 intelligence reform legislation. And members of the House and Senate coming back next week to see if they can work out some sort of compromise. It seems both sides pretty much dug in now. What do you think? Can they reach an agreement over the next few days?
COHEN: Well, certainly, Duncan Hunter and others have a legitimate point, to say, we don't want to see any interference in terms of tactical intelligence going directly to the war fighter. If they need that overhead capability of locating enemy combatants and whatever, that's important that they have direct access to that intelligence and getting the direction from the secretary of defense.
But if the legislation takes that into account, then I think it's up to the president, if he really wants this to pass, then he has to bring in Duncan Hunter, bring in the other members who are raising questions about this on the immigration issue and cards, driver's license, bring them in the same room with the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff and saying, let's work this out.
The two objections that are being raised, Mr. Sensenbrenner and also Mr. Hunter, bring the two of them into the White House, if necessary, have the president go to Capitol Hill. He has the power as commander in chief to say, I would like to have this resolved. I think it's in the overall interests of the United States. Let's make it happen. If he does not do that, then the chances are, it will be very difficult to reach an agreement.
BLITZER: Well, you speak with unique perspective as a former defense secretary in charge of that chain of command, if you will, and as a former member of the Senate and the House. You were on the Intelligence Committee.
Who is right in this matter? Should the secretary of defense control where those satellites go to provide tactical intelligence to troops on the ground or should this new national intelligence director have overall charge of that?
COHEN: I think the secretary of defense should obviously have control over tactical intelligence to make sure that the war fighter gets that information as quickly, real time, as possible.
But the overall intelligence has to be really run through the new national intelligence director. There has to be some coordination. What the commission found was, the stove pipes, the inability to communicate information across various agencies, Intelligence, Immigration, Customs, other agencies. And so there has to be a responsible compromise taking into account the need for the intelligence to go directly to that war fighter when it's required in real time.
So, I think a compromise can be worked out. It is going to require the president of the United States to bring the parties together, again, his secretary of defense, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, to make sure that there's no question about whether that information will get to the war fighter in time. BLITZER: We will see if the president takes that step in the coming days.
Thanks very much, William Cohen.
COHEN: Pleasure.
BLITZER: An influential conservative stepping down from his post, sparking speculation who will succeed William Safire over at "The New York Times" on the op-ed page?
Plus, investigators probing a possible link to Botox after four people are hospitalized. We will get to all of that.
First, though, a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): One hundred forty-one people still are missing after an explosion at a mine in central China. More than two dozen miners are confirmed dead and toxic fumes were delaying rescue and recovery efforts.
Deadly protests. Security guards opened fire on a group of protesters in eastern Afghanistan, killing a 12-year-old boy and injuring a man, according to police. They were part of a crowd demonstrating against the detention of an Afghan woman by U.S. forces.
Mass beaching. More than 100 whales and dolphins beached themselves on a remote island off southern Australia. Park rangers and volunteers worked throughout the night to try to get the animals back to sea, but they only managed to save a few.
And that's our look around the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: For three decades, he's been the conservative voice at "The New York Times." But now the race is on to find the successor to William Safire, who is ending his Pulitzer Prize-winning column in January.
CNN's Mary Snow is in New York with a closer look at some possible contenders -- Mary.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Wolf.
You know, ever since William Safire said he was retiring earlier this month, the speculation has been growing about who will take his place. His column is considered prime real estate. And his departure is just the latest change in the news business.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SNOW (voice-over): This week, Tom Brokaw leaves NBC's anchor desk. In March, it will be Dan Rather's turn at CBS.
But there is a change in the guard at "The New York Times" that is not getting as much press. Yet it's a coveted and influential spot. And that is William Safire's departure from the op-ed page in January. After 31 years, he is stepping aside as the conservative corner of "The Times," ending what many view as a must-read column.
ALEX JONES, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: His shoes are going to be very big shoes to fill. He is an iconic figure. He has a following, especially a following on the right, especially a following of people who are very strongly supportive of Israel. He is a man, I think, who is widely respected on both sides of the political spectrum because he gives a lot of information.
SNOW: The 74-year-old Safire, a former Nixon speechwriter, is praised not just for his columns, but for his journalism.
In 1978, he won a Pulitzer for exposing questionable financial dealings of President Carter's budget director, Bert Lance. In the Reagan administration, he was outspoken about Nancy Reagan's role in her husband's administration, viewing it as inappropriate. In the Clinton years, he once called Hillary Clinton a congenital liar for her role in the Whitewater scandal.
RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Rush Limbaugh, half my brain tied behind my...
SNOW: In 2004, "The New York Times" remains the target of steady criticism from conservatives like Rush Limbaugh for being too liberal. And Safire's replacement is sure to be watched.
KEN AULETTA, "THE NEW YORKER": I think it's important for "The Times" to have a conservative to follow Safire to protect the image of "The New York Times" as a newspaper that reports without fear or favor and does not have a liberal bias. I think it would be unfair to "The New York Times" if they choose someone other than a conservative to fill that slot or they decide not to fill that slot.
SNOW: "The New York Times" says it has not named a successor. One media analyst thinks it might not and keep op-ed columnist David Brooks as its conservative voice. "Times" writer John Tierney, seen more as a moderate conservative, is said to be a potential candidate.
Pulitzer Prize winner Charles Krauthammer of "The Washington Post" is another name mentioned. So is David Frum, who is wrote speeches for George W. Bush and is most known for coining the axis of evil phrase.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: Media analysts say that "The Times" will look for someone who is not predictable -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Mary Snow, reporting for us, thanks very much.
And to our viewers, here is your chance to weigh in on this story. Our Web question of the day is this: Who do you think should replace William Safire at "The New York Times"? You can e-mail me directly at Wolf@CNN.com or go to our Web page, CNN.com/Wolf. We are getting swamped, hundreds, if not thousands, of e-mail recommendations. We are going to make them available to the publisher of "The New York Times." So go ahead and let us know what you think right now. We will read some of those e-mails later in this hour.
Four people in two states hospitalized, why officials are looking into a possible link to a popular cosmetic procedure.
Plus, the call of the wild in our picture of the day. All that coming up.
Let's take a quick look, though, at some other stories that made headlines this past weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): An official in Pennsylvania says it could take weeks, maybe months, to clean up all of the damage from an oil spill in the Delaware River. A Greek-owned tanker spilled 30,000 gallons of crude oil into the river over the weekend. The spill created a 20-mile-long oil slick.
Hundreds of air travelers heading home from the Thanksgiving holiday spent part of the weekend stuck at Reno, Nevada's airport. Up to six inches of snow and equipment problems at the airport delayed or canceled dozens of flights.
After moving east, the storm walloped parts of Colorado, dumping nearly three feet of snow on some areas. New Mexico and Nebraska were also hit hard by the storm.
And check out this scene at Boston's Franklin Park Zoo. Saturday was the debut of the zoo's newest celebrity resident, a newborn Western lowland gorilla.
And that's our weekend snapshot.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: It's one of the most popular cosmetic procedures and, up until now, regarded as among the safest. But now there's some new concern about Botox after four people were hospitalized.
CNN's Brian Todd is here with the story -- Brian.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, those four people are now fighting for their lives. And they are at the center of an investigation involving health officials from two states and the federal government. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One, two, three.
TODD (voice-over): For millions of Americans each year, it's the treatment of choice for getting rid of wrinkles and furrows.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You OK?
TODD: Now health officials in Florida and New Jersey tell CNN they are investigating whether four people hospitalized in those two states may have gotten botulism from Botox injections. Two of them are being treated at this medical center in Palm Beach County, Florida.
DR. CHARLES SCHALLOP, NEUROLOGIST: This is very serious. These are two, young, healthy individuals who are now critically ill.
TODD: Officials at the Florida hospital say the two patients there do have botulism and that both recently received Botox injections. But state health officials in Florida and New Jersey tell CNN only that they are looking into those possibilities.
Florida officials say they are investigating whether all four patients were injected at the same time at the same clinic in Fort Lauderdale. Botulism is severe, potentially fatal poisoning caused by bacteria. Symptoms include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing and dry mouth and muscle weakness. A doctor involved in the treatment of the Florida patients spoke to a CNN affiliate on Sunday.
SCHALLOP: They had a very dry throat. They had difficulty swallowing. They had a raspy voice. They had significant weakness in eyelids.
TODD: Drooping eyelids are also a side effect of Botox, but officials stress they don't know if all four patients were injected with that popular drug. Two prominent doctors who administer Botox tell CNN it contains minuscule and very diluted doses of the botulinum toxin.
Dr. Tina Alster does thousands of Botox treatments a year.
DR. TINA ALSTER, DERMATOLOGIC LASER SURGEON: Well, Botox is extraordinarily safe. There's literally been millions of people treated with Botox for cosmetic purposes over the past decade. We know that there's never been a case of botulism as a result of Botox injections.
TODD: Officials at Allergan, the company that manufactures Botox, cite an extensive safety report and exhaustive clinical trials. Company officials tell CNN they're cooperating with the Florida/New Jersey investigation.
(END VIDEOTAPE) TODD: But Allergan and the doctors who administer Botox say the label warns that people with preexisting conditions, like neuromuscular disorders, could risk making those conditions worse with Botox. And they add that there are counterfeit drugs and other knockoffs of Botox being used out there which contain more concentrated amounts of the botulinum toxin -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Brian Todd, an important story. Thanks very much, Brian, for that.
We are going to take a quick break. The results of our Web question of the day, that is coming up next. Remember, we have been asking you this: Who do you think should replace William Safire at "The New York Times"? E-mail me at Wolf@CNN.com or go to our Web page, CNN.com/Wolf. We would love to hear directly from you. We are going to make those comments available to the publisher of "The New York Times."
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Here's how you are weighing in on our Web question of the day. We have been asking you this question all day: Who do you think should replace William Safire at "The New York Times"?
Let's read some of your e-mail. We're getting hundreds of e-mail responses.
Gerard writes this: "Would they have the guts to employ Ann Coulter? That would be a nice balance against the hysterical Maureen Dowd."
Kaye writes this: "Rush Limbaugh should replace William Safire."
But this from Bryan: "I think Michael Moore would be an excellent choice to replace Mr. Safire."
Peter says: "How about someone who is smart, informed and without an agenda? How about Jon Stewart?"
This from Betty (ph), someone I don't know. "I nominate Wolf Blitzer." Not interested, but thanks, Betty, for that nomination.
Remember, you can e-mail us all night. We are going to continue to collect these e-mails, hand them over to "The New York Times" at some point. We're getting hundreds, if not thousands, of responses.
Let's move on, though. In our picture of the day, a get-together that always ruffles some feathers. The town of Stuttgart, Arkansas, put on its annual world championship duck calling contest over the Thanksgiving weekend. Lovely. And when it was over, an Iowa man quacked his way to the top prize of $15,000. It's the fifth time in six years the champion has come from Iowa. A woman from Arkansas won the woman's title. Congratulations to all concerned.
A reminder, we're on weekdays 5:00 p.m. Eastern, also noon Eastern. See you tomorrow.
"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 29, 2004 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, a United Nations scandal becomes a growing family matter with the secretary-general's son right at the center of the storm. For the first time Kofi Annan is now speaking out. Standby for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): Advice to America. A new terror tape from al Qaeda's number two man.
Colorado crash.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It shot off the right side of the runway and then immediately smoke and flames started rising into the air.
BLITZER: Hopes fade in the ice and snow.
Medical marijuana.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If they side against me, it means that they would be giving me a death sentence.
BLITZER: The Supreme Court weighs in.
Israel's dilemma. Can it ease the Palestinian's plight? What are the risks? I'll ask Israel's vice prime minister, Ehud Olmert.
Was it Botox? A Florida couple is hospitalized after cosmetic injections. Investigators race to find out what happened.
ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Monday, November 29, 2004.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: We begin with words of warning and so-called advice from al Qaeda, which vows to keep fighting against America. It's all in a videotape from Osama bin Laden on's top deputy, Ayman al- Zawahiri. Let's turn to our national security correspondent, David Ensor -- David.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, these tapes are becoming almost routine, but they remain ominous each time they come out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ENSOR (voice-over): On a tape delivered to Al-Jazeera television, apparently made before the November 2nd U.S. election, al Qaeda's number two man offers what he calls final advice to America.
AYMAN AL-ZAWAHIRI, AL QAEDA (through translator): We are telling the American nation, elect whoever you want, Bush, Kerry or even Satan himself, we do not care. What is important to us is to cleanse our land from the aggressors and fight everyone who invades our land and violates our sacred symbols and steals our wealth.
ENSOR: Similar in tone to Osama bin Laden's last tape which was delivered to Al-Jazeera just before the presidential election, the message speaks to Americans telling them the U.S. must change its policies towards the Muslim world.
PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORIST ANALYST: It seems to me it's quite possible these tapes were made at the same time. They both talk about the election as if they don't know the outcome, we don't care if Bush or Kerry wins. They are probably likely either together or traveling, know where each other is. Why not make both of these tapes at the same time.
ENSOR: Last week Pakistan announced it would withdraw federal troops from southern Waziristan, the tribal province bordering Afghanistan where many experts say Zawahiri and bin Laden were last believed to be hiding.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ENSOR: By Bergen's count this is the 28th tape from Zawahiri or bin Laden since the attacks of September 11, 2001. Attacks have followed fewer than half of those tapes. They seem intended in part simply to warn the world that al Qaeda is still in the game -- Wolf.
BLITZER: David Ensor, thanks very much. And we'll have more on this story at the half hour. William Cohen, the former defense secretary, will join us live.
Meanwhile, in Iraq, at least six people were killed, eight more wounded when a car bomber attacked a police station near Ramadi. Local officials say four Iraqi police officers were among the dead. The bombing came shortly after two U.S. soldiers were killed when their vehicle hit an explosive device in Baghdad. A third American soldier was killed today in a vehicle accident.
The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency is calling a new deal on Iran's nuclear program an important milestone. The agency today approved a plan that spells out how it will oversee Iran's agreement to suspend its nuclear program. The plan is part of a deal between Tehran and three European Union countries: Britain, France and Germany. The move though is seen as somewhat of a blow to the United States, U.S. officials contend Iran is working to make nuclear weapons. The U.S. had wanted the matter referred to the U.N. Security Council. As the investigation widens into the United Nations scandal, the plagued Oil-For-Food Program, the secretary-general, Kofi Annan, is taking heat for the actions of his son and he's now speaking out about it for the first time. Let's go live to our senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, there is no official confirmation of any wrongdoing or any criminal charges, but this is the wrong time, wrong place and wrong scandal for a lack of full disclosure by the son of the secretary-general. Kojo Annan, it now turns out, received money for six years more than originally reported for his connection to the Swiss company Cotecna, which was really the main firm handling the inspections of all goods going into Iraq under that Oil-For-Food Program.
I asked the secretary-general today if he was surprised by finding out that Kojo Annan had ties up until this year with that company.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: I had been working under the assumption -- understanding that it ceased in 1998, and I had no expectation that -- I had not suspected that the relationship continued.
ROTH (on camera): Do you understand that perception problem for the U.N.? Do you understand that there's a...
ANNAN: No. I understand the perception problem for the U.N. or the perception of conflict of interest. I understand that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: But Annan said he was disappointed in the actions of his son. He said he spoke to Kojo Annan but declined to reveal what he said. Several people, including William Safire in "The New York Times" today are calling for Annan to resign. Annan walked away when I asked him about that. Annan did say that his son is an independent businessman, a grown man. He doesn't get involved with his business activities and Kojo Annan doesn't get involved in mine, said the secretary-general.
That man, Paul Volcker, is who Annan is staking everything on. He is running the independent U.N.-approved Oil-For-Food probe, and as you know, Wolf, several other investigations down there in Washington with you on Capitol Hill -- Wolf.
BLITZER: So what is the bottom line? How much heat is Kofi Annan personally feeling right now? What are the prospects that he might be forced out?
ROTH: I'd say this is his worst political moment. I think a lot more would have to come out for him to step down. U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Danforth, had a chance to push this further. He just said we need full disclosure, full information on everything. But he did not take the bait when asked for any calls for Annan to resign.
BLITZER: Our senior United Nations correspondent, Richard Roth, reporting, thank you, Richard, very much.
It has echoes of the American election of 2000 with one huge difference. Eight days after Ukraine's balloting ended in an uproar and in the hands of the country's supreme court, there is talk now of a new election.
CNN's Jill Dougherty is on the scene for us in Kiev.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rapidly changing political events here in Ukraine as the supreme court hears the complaints from the opposition. An entire day spent in that court as the opposition tries to prove convincingly that there was massive vote fraud in many areas of Ukraine during that election that took place over a week ago.
Then the other event today, Viktor Yanukovych, who the candidate supported by the government, saying that he could be open to the idea of holding maybe a recount or maybe an -- actually a new election in two regions that had massive questions about that voting turnout and how the votes went.
Finally you have President Leonid Kuchma, the outgoing president, saying that he, too, would welcome some type of recount or perhaps even a revote if it can solve this political dilemma.
Then in the later afternoon, Viktor Yushchenko, the opposition candidate, going back down to that cold Independence Square where there are hundreds of thousands of people still rallying eight days later, they are still in the streets. And he is telling them stay there. You have chose Ukraine in this past week, and keep it up.
Last note, President Kuchma, however, warning that all of this, the people in the streets and the shutdowns of buildings, et cetera, threatened the economic, the financial system of Ukraine.
Jill Dougherty, CNN, Kiev, Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Turmoil in the Middle East, including concern about possible political assassination. I will speak live with Israel's vice prime minister, Ehud Olmert, he's here in Washington.
Also two rare cases of botulism at this Florida hospital. Is there a link to Botox?
A hot medical issue, medical marijuana before the U.S. Supreme Court. We'll hear the arguments from both sides.
Plus the latest on that plane crash involving a top TV executive and his family. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: As Palestinians gear up for an election aimed at finding a successor to the late Yasser Arafat, the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon faces his own political challenges. Sharon today survived no confidence votes in the Knesset but they were symbolic defeats and meantime a crucial coalition partner is threatening to jump ship in a budget dispute that could conceivably bring down Sharon's government and derail plans for an Israeli pullout from Gaza. More on that coming up. Sharon is laying a lot on the line in pursuing his plan to withdraw unilaterally from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. He may also be laying his life on the line, threats from right-wing extremists in Israel are being taken very seriously indeed. Joining us now is Israel's vice prime minister, Ehud Olmert. Welcome to Washington, Mr. Minister.
We heard from Mahmoud Abbas, the new PLO leader, the man running to become the next president of the Palestinian Authority in this interview in "Newsweek" magazine. Among other things he says this, they, referring your government, the Israeli government, should stop the wall. I believe it is uncivilized to build a separation. They should stop all kinds of settlement activity, even what they call natural growth and they should remove the outposts and release prisoners. What will Israel do in advance of the January 9 Palestinian elections to try and facilitate those elections?
EHUD OLMERT, ISRAELI VICE PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think I said it in your program, and I will repeat it. Terror built the wall, the end of terror will unbuild it. It's as simple as that. So, we very much look forward to the elections in the Palestine Authority. We will not make any comment about a candidate. We will not give anyone an excuse to say that someone is a collaborator of the Israelis and therefore is not qualified to be elected. So we are very much out of the process. We will do everything that is needed and accepted by the international community to facilitate the elections and not to intervene in any form or manner.
BLITZER: Let's go through a few specifics. Will you let Palestinians living in east Jerusalem vote?
OLMERT: Yes.
BLITZER: Will you ease the checkpoints, the roads so that Palestinians could move around the West Bank and Gaza more freely, let's say so they will be able to get out and campaign?
OLMERT: For the sake of elections, for the election process itself, for the voting itself, we will do everything which is needed in order to facilitate the process. Of course, at the same time, we must make sure no one will sneak in with hand grenades or with weapons for a terrorist action. We have to protect the lives of Israelis and of Palestinians who might become victims of some brutal, cruel and bloody terrorist action as they're doing occasionally.
BLITZER: Is there any chance you could have a prisoner release, a prisoner swap, if you will, including Marwan Barghouti, the Palestinian who is serving a life sentence? OLMERT: Marwan Barghouti was only convicted in an Israeli court for five murders cases. Is it serious to release him? For what. I don't think that anyone seriously can expect Israel to compromise in such a fundamental way when it comes to a murder whose hands are covered with Israeli blood. He was convicted in Israeli court.
BLITZER: How serious do you believe an opportunity to jumpstart, to revive peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians is right now in the aftermath of Yasser Arafat's death?
OLMERT: There is certainly a glimpse of hope. Because Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen was known to be against terror, even when Arafat was alive. This is perhaps one of the reasons why he couldn't get along with Yasser Arafat and had to resign his position as prime minister then. Now he is probably in a leadership position with some others, and we don't want to pass an opinion about who the leader will be. But if they will carry on in this direction, and they will seriously start an effort to stop terror, that can create an entirely new environment for friendly negotiations between us and the Palestinian leadership.
BLITZER: What about with the Syrian president, Bashar Al-Asad? He is going to Egypt. There is speculation that he might be ready to start without any preconditions, reviving peace talks between Israel and Syria. Is your government ready for that?
OLMERT: We are always ready for peace. But let's do it one at a time. It's too complex to deal with one case, two cases, with three cases. It's a little bit too much. Let's continue. I don't want anything to interfere with our commitment to carry on this engagement from the Gaza district and four settlements in the West Bank. If we will do it it will be a historical breakthrough. Everyone understands it, everyone knows it. Sharon is ready to go to the extent that he is risking the majority in parliament, the control of his party and the possible collapse of his government. This is unheard of in the history of democratic countries that a prime minister is ready to go that far in order to achieve a peace process against a background of his former position and the commitments of his own party.
BLITZER: There's a very very politically sensitive picture that has just come out. Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint forcing a Palestinian to play his violin. We are showing it to viewers now. It raises, as you well know in Israel it has caused a lot of concern because during the Holocaust, Nazis used to force some Jewish musicians to play their violins. Explain what's going on here.
OLMERT: The Jews that were forced to play violins were then exterminated and burned to ashes in the concentration camps. We have a problem. You know how many times Palestinians that were coming through the checkpoints in ambulances were found to be terrorists with explosives that killed many innocent people?
BLITZER: So this was a security thing?
OLMERT: It was a security matter.
BLITZER: It wasn't trying to humiliate the Palestinians.
OLMERT: It's very embarrassing, I must say. It's very embarrassing. I feel terrible just as you feel terrible and everyone when he sees the picture, but had he been a terrorist, you wouldn't have seen the picture because the soldier would have been dead and many of the people around him would have been dead. So this is one of the tragedies that were forced on us because of terror of the Palestinians, and we have to find ways and there are no easy solutions.
BLITZER: I was intrigued by this comment that Prime Minister Sharon made in the "Newsweek" magazine interview. He was asked about his concern that Jewish terrorists, Israelis could try to kill him like they killed Yitzhak Rabin ten years ago. And Sharon said this, "I don't worry about my life. Arabs always wanted to act against me but now the Jews are doing this. So, for me, it's a strange situation. As one who has defended Jews all his life, I now have to be secured against Jews." This is a pretty horrible thought when you think about this. Are you personally, as the vice prime minister of Israel, as concerned about your security from Jewish terrorists as you are from Arab terrorists?
OLMERT: There are those who take care of my security and the prime minister's security. But the very fact that we have to be aware of the possibility that a Jew will want to assassinate the prime minister or the deputy prime minister or any of the senior government officials is a living evidence of how far we are prepared to go in order to achieve a breakthrough in the present status quo. Maybe sometimes, not enough people understand the unlimited risk that the prime minister in taking in order to change the status quo. Not just political risk, even personal risk. He is doing it because we, without any regard to the changes within the Palestinian community, are ready to go forward and change things so that a new environment will develop in the Middle East. And that must always be remembered against the background of some of those unpleasant events that take place in checkpoints, in other places, which are an inevitable outcome of the existence of terror.
BLITZER: Ehud Olmert, the vice president of Israel. Good luck to you, good luck to the Palestinians. Let's hope this is an opportunity for peace.
OLMERT: Thank you.
Millions of people have safely undergone the procedure. Now four people are hospitalized right here in the United States. Is there a link to Botox?
Blackhawk down with no survivors. Investigators know how it happened but not why.
And the end of an era leaves a highly influential job opening which leads to our web question of the day -- who do you think should replace William Safire at the "New York Times?" You can go to CNN.com/wolf and weigh in. We are getting hundreds of e-mails from our viewers on this question. Who do you think should replace William Safire at the "New York Times?" He's stepping down next month. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: U.S. army officials now confirm all seven soldiers aboard a blackhawk helicopter were killed when it crashed in heavy fog this morning near Temple, Texas. Reporter Sterling Riggs from CNN affiliate KXAN joins us now live from the county in Texas where it all happened -- Sterling.
STERLING RIGGS, KXAN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, let me take you where it happened. The helicopter crashed about 7:00 this morning in this TV tower. They actually hit the guide wires. Witnesses say they hit the far left guide wire. Let me show you some of the damage. The chopper went down about 7:00 this morning in the open field. The soldiers were en route from Fort Hood to Texarkana. They were actually going to the Red River Depot. The pilots flew through heavy fog, and according to the station that owns that TV tower there were no warning lights when the crash occurred. Now heavy storms apparently knocked out the lights last week. The station did say they notified the FAA about the problem last week. Right now the accident is being investigated by soldiers out of Fort Rutger in Alabama. As of right now they have not released any names. Actually, two Blackhawks landed a couple of minutes ago right behind those trees over there. We are really not sure what they are doing. But we will stay here and keep you updated. Back to you.
BLITZER: Sterling Riggs reporting for us. Sterling, thank you very much, from our affiliate KXAN.
There are now some new developments to tell you about yesterday's crash of a private jet carrying NBC sports chairman Dick Ebersol and his two sons. CNN's David Mattingly reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Photographs taken just moments afterwards show a fiery and violent accident. A large cloud of black smoke marked the spot where the private jet, carrying NBC sports chairman Dick Ebersol and his two sons crashed Sunday morning on takeoff. Witnesses at Colorado's Montrose Regional Airport describe the scene.
CHUCK DISTEL, CRASH WITNESS: Driving by the airport on my way to our office, I looked over to the right, and I could see on the runway there was a plane that had just turned sideways. And it shot off the right side of the runway, and immediately smoke and flames started rising into the air.
MATTINGLY: Traveling at a high rate of speed, the Canadair challenger, according to witnesses, veered to the right of the runway before crashing through an airport fence and bursting into flames. Witnesses say the cockpit was torn away. Both the pilot and co-pilot were killed. Ebersol's younger son, 14-year-old Edward was unaccounted for.
Early searches from the air and on the ground turned up nothing. MATT, SILTS, CORONER: We have done a complete thorough search of the area surrounding the crash site looking for the potential of an ejection. We have been unsuccessful in finding any body. We believe at this time that the boy has probably perished within the crash.
MATTINGLY: A person who works at the airport providing de-icing services says the jet was not de-iced, a procedure left up to the discretion of the airlines and the pilots. Airport officials say later flights that day were de-iced. Ebersol, his older son, Charles, and a member of the flight crew were hospitalized. The crew member is reportedly in critical condition.
In January 2002, a Canadair jet in a similar series also crashed on takeoff according to the Aviation Safety Network, which is a private organization that keeps records of plane crashes. The investigation into that crash found that a failure to de-ice properly was a major factor in that crash -- Wolf.
BLITZER: David Mattingly reporting for us, thank you very much.
It's an issue that stirs passions across the United States. Should federal law trump state laws when it comes to legalizing medical marijuana? The U.S. Supreme Court gets set to weigh in.
The new warning from Osama bin Laden's right-hand man. What does it really mean? We will hear from our world affairs analyst, the former defense secretary William Cohen.
And mass beaching. Park rangers and volunteers work to save over 100 whales and dolphins. That story and more in our look around the world. All that coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back.
So-called words of warning for Americans, al Qaeda's No. 2 man with some so-called advice for the United States in a new videotape the out. The former Defense Secretary William Cohen standing by to weigh in. We'll get to that.
First, though, a quick check of some other stories now in the news.
More changes in store for President Bush's Cabinet in his second term. The president has picked Carlos Gutierrez to become his commerce secretary. Gutierrez, who was born in Cuba, rose from truck driver to chief executive officer of Kellogg. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he will replace Don Evans, who resigned right after the presidential election.
In a blow to some conservative groups, the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to step into the fight over gay marriages in Massachusetts. The state legitimized same-sex marriage last year. The Supreme Court, without comment, declined to overturn the decision.
The high court did hear arguments today in a case that could decide the future of legalized medical marijuana.
Our national correspondent Bob Franken joins us now live with details -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And as we are finding out again, Wolf, so often, the social and political issues of the day, by the time they get to the court, are really described in terms that are quite different.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN (voice-over): For Angel Raich, it's not about the sweeping issues her cases places before the justices. For her, its her brain tumor and what she says is her need her help from marijuana.
ANGEL RAICH, MEDICINAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATE: I need to use cannabis every two hours. If I don't medicate every two hours, I become debilitated.
FRANKEN: Her home state of California is one of 11 that permit private use of marijuana for medical purposes. But federal law prohibits virtually any use. So the Supreme Court was again hearing arguments over the constitutional power of the federal government to override state laws.
Was the medical individual use of homegrown marijuana interstate commerce? Yes, said Paul Clement, the administration's acting solicitor general, because the garden patch weed would effect overall production. Randy Barnett, who argued the other side, called any connection hypothetical, since its privately grown, not bought or sold. Many argue that there is little evidence that marijuana has medical value.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a handful of people who want to see not just marijuana, but all drugs legalized.
FRANKEN: Inside, the justices peppered both sides.
Ginsburg: "Nobody is buying anything. Nobody is selling anything." But Justice Breyer argued a preference for medicine by regulation as opposed to medicine by referendum.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: The referendum in these cases will now involve the nine justices, including Chief Justice Rehnquist, who, Wolf, was not present again as he fights his own medical affliction -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Bob Franken, thanks very much for that report.
Let's get back now to our top story, the latest videotape from al Qaeda and the -- quote -- "advice" to America offered up by Osama bin Laden's right-handyman, Ayman al-Zawahiri.
For that, let's bring in our world affairs analyst, the former Defense Secretary William Cohen. Mr. Secretary, as usual, thanks very much.
A new tape coming out. We don't know exactly when it was made. But the basic message is there to the Americans, get out of the Middle East.
WILLIAM COHEN, CNN WORLD AFFAIRS ANALYST: Right.
The message is the same. And it's unlikely to change. It's not only that particular recommendation or advice that's being given, but basically get out of Iraq and get out of the Middle East and stop supporting Israel. And, by the way, they want to charge higher prices for oil once we leave. That is the culmination of the demands that are being made by bin Laden.
So it's not new. And it's a question as to whether or not the United States coalition forces and the entire industrialized world would like to see that take place. I think the answer is not.
BLITZER: Yes, of course.
Over the weekend, we heard the Pakistani government saying they are going to suspend their military operations in some of those so- called tribal areas in Pakistan looking for Osama bin Laden and al- Zawahiri. What do you make of that?
COHEN: Well, perhaps if they are tight on their forces as well, that they have not been very productive -- they look in the area, can't find him and want to redeploy them. That's the best case to put on it.
It could be that they have decided that they don't want to pursue bin Laden or his associates. And that would be certainly a negative as far as the United States is concerned. But we won't know. It's unlikely we are going to be finding him in the near future. And I think that we are going to have to just live with that reality. He is going to be difficult to track down, has been, and unlikely to be found in the future.
BLITZER: But the question is, as unlikely as it is to find him -- and if he's living in a cave or someplace else, obviously, we don't know. But the question is, can al Qaeda still undertake a massive terror attack against the U.S. or U.S. interests?
COHEN: I think al Qaeda can undertake an attack.
I think they are very detailed and very patient in their planning. And no doubt they have plans under way as we speak. They have demonstrated how long they are prepared to wait and to look for vulnerabilities, opportunities to strike the United States. So the fact that they have been disrupted, the Taliban has been disrupted and defeated for the most part in Afghanistan, does not mean that al Qaeda has been significantly diminished in its capacity to plan such an attack in the United States.
BLITZER: Which leads me to the follow-up question on the legislation, the 9/11 intelligence reform legislation. And members of the House and Senate coming back next week to see if they can work out some sort of compromise. It seems both sides pretty much dug in now. What do you think? Can they reach an agreement over the next few days?
COHEN: Well, certainly, Duncan Hunter and others have a legitimate point, to say, we don't want to see any interference in terms of tactical intelligence going directly to the war fighter. If they need that overhead capability of locating enemy combatants and whatever, that's important that they have direct access to that intelligence and getting the direction from the secretary of defense.
But if the legislation takes that into account, then I think it's up to the president, if he really wants this to pass, then he has to bring in Duncan Hunter, bring in the other members who are raising questions about this on the immigration issue and cards, driver's license, bring them in the same room with the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff and saying, let's work this out.
The two objections that are being raised, Mr. Sensenbrenner and also Mr. Hunter, bring the two of them into the White House, if necessary, have the president go to Capitol Hill. He has the power as commander in chief to say, I would like to have this resolved. I think it's in the overall interests of the United States. Let's make it happen. If he does not do that, then the chances are, it will be very difficult to reach an agreement.
BLITZER: Well, you speak with unique perspective as a former defense secretary in charge of that chain of command, if you will, and as a former member of the Senate and the House. You were on the Intelligence Committee.
Who is right in this matter? Should the secretary of defense control where those satellites go to provide tactical intelligence to troops on the ground or should this new national intelligence director have overall charge of that?
COHEN: I think the secretary of defense should obviously have control over tactical intelligence to make sure that the war fighter gets that information as quickly, real time, as possible.
But the overall intelligence has to be really run through the new national intelligence director. There has to be some coordination. What the commission found was, the stove pipes, the inability to communicate information across various agencies, Intelligence, Immigration, Customs, other agencies. And so there has to be a responsible compromise taking into account the need for the intelligence to go directly to that war fighter when it's required in real time.
So, I think a compromise can be worked out. It is going to require the president of the United States to bring the parties together, again, his secretary of defense, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, to make sure that there's no question about whether that information will get to the war fighter in time. BLITZER: We will see if the president takes that step in the coming days.
Thanks very much, William Cohen.
COHEN: Pleasure.
BLITZER: An influential conservative stepping down from his post, sparking speculation who will succeed William Safire over at "The New York Times" on the op-ed page?
Plus, investigators probing a possible link to Botox after four people are hospitalized. We will get to all of that.
First, though, a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): One hundred forty-one people still are missing after an explosion at a mine in central China. More than two dozen miners are confirmed dead and toxic fumes were delaying rescue and recovery efforts.
Deadly protests. Security guards opened fire on a group of protesters in eastern Afghanistan, killing a 12-year-old boy and injuring a man, according to police. They were part of a crowd demonstrating against the detention of an Afghan woman by U.S. forces.
Mass beaching. More than 100 whales and dolphins beached themselves on a remote island off southern Australia. Park rangers and volunteers worked throughout the night to try to get the animals back to sea, but they only managed to save a few.
And that's our look around the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: For three decades, he's been the conservative voice at "The New York Times." But now the race is on to find the successor to William Safire, who is ending his Pulitzer Prize-winning column in January.
CNN's Mary Snow is in New York with a closer look at some possible contenders -- Mary.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Wolf.
You know, ever since William Safire said he was retiring earlier this month, the speculation has been growing about who will take his place. His column is considered prime real estate. And his departure is just the latest change in the news business.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SNOW (voice-over): This week, Tom Brokaw leaves NBC's anchor desk. In March, it will be Dan Rather's turn at CBS.
But there is a change in the guard at "The New York Times" that is not getting as much press. Yet it's a coveted and influential spot. And that is William Safire's departure from the op-ed page in January. After 31 years, he is stepping aside as the conservative corner of "The Times," ending what many view as a must-read column.
ALEX JONES, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: His shoes are going to be very big shoes to fill. He is an iconic figure. He has a following, especially a following on the right, especially a following of people who are very strongly supportive of Israel. He is a man, I think, who is widely respected on both sides of the political spectrum because he gives a lot of information.
SNOW: The 74-year-old Safire, a former Nixon speechwriter, is praised not just for his columns, but for his journalism.
In 1978, he won a Pulitzer for exposing questionable financial dealings of President Carter's budget director, Bert Lance. In the Reagan administration, he was outspoken about Nancy Reagan's role in her husband's administration, viewing it as inappropriate. In the Clinton years, he once called Hillary Clinton a congenital liar for her role in the Whitewater scandal.
RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Rush Limbaugh, half my brain tied behind my...
SNOW: In 2004, "The New York Times" remains the target of steady criticism from conservatives like Rush Limbaugh for being too liberal. And Safire's replacement is sure to be watched.
KEN AULETTA, "THE NEW YORKER": I think it's important for "The Times" to have a conservative to follow Safire to protect the image of "The New York Times" as a newspaper that reports without fear or favor and does not have a liberal bias. I think it would be unfair to "The New York Times" if they choose someone other than a conservative to fill that slot or they decide not to fill that slot.
SNOW: "The New York Times" says it has not named a successor. One media analyst thinks it might not and keep op-ed columnist David Brooks as its conservative voice. "Times" writer John Tierney, seen more as a moderate conservative, is said to be a potential candidate.
Pulitzer Prize winner Charles Krauthammer of "The Washington Post" is another name mentioned. So is David Frum, who is wrote speeches for George W. Bush and is most known for coining the axis of evil phrase.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: Media analysts say that "The Times" will look for someone who is not predictable -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Mary Snow, reporting for us, thanks very much.
And to our viewers, here is your chance to weigh in on this story. Our Web question of the day is this: Who do you think should replace William Safire at "The New York Times"? You can e-mail me directly at Wolf@CNN.com or go to our Web page, CNN.com/Wolf. We are getting swamped, hundreds, if not thousands, of e-mail recommendations. We are going to make them available to the publisher of "The New York Times." So go ahead and let us know what you think right now. We will read some of those e-mails later in this hour.
Four people in two states hospitalized, why officials are looking into a possible link to a popular cosmetic procedure.
Plus, the call of the wild in our picture of the day. All that coming up.
Let's take a quick look, though, at some other stories that made headlines this past weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): An official in Pennsylvania says it could take weeks, maybe months, to clean up all of the damage from an oil spill in the Delaware River. A Greek-owned tanker spilled 30,000 gallons of crude oil into the river over the weekend. The spill created a 20-mile-long oil slick.
Hundreds of air travelers heading home from the Thanksgiving holiday spent part of the weekend stuck at Reno, Nevada's airport. Up to six inches of snow and equipment problems at the airport delayed or canceled dozens of flights.
After moving east, the storm walloped parts of Colorado, dumping nearly three feet of snow on some areas. New Mexico and Nebraska were also hit hard by the storm.
And check out this scene at Boston's Franklin Park Zoo. Saturday was the debut of the zoo's newest celebrity resident, a newborn Western lowland gorilla.
And that's our weekend snapshot.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: It's one of the most popular cosmetic procedures and, up until now, regarded as among the safest. But now there's some new concern about Botox after four people were hospitalized.
CNN's Brian Todd is here with the story -- Brian.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, those four people are now fighting for their lives. And they are at the center of an investigation involving health officials from two states and the federal government. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One, two, three.
TODD (voice-over): For millions of Americans each year, it's the treatment of choice for getting rid of wrinkles and furrows.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You OK?
TODD: Now health officials in Florida and New Jersey tell CNN they are investigating whether four people hospitalized in those two states may have gotten botulism from Botox injections. Two of them are being treated at this medical center in Palm Beach County, Florida.
DR. CHARLES SCHALLOP, NEUROLOGIST: This is very serious. These are two, young, healthy individuals who are now critically ill.
TODD: Officials at the Florida hospital say the two patients there do have botulism and that both recently received Botox injections. But state health officials in Florida and New Jersey tell CNN only that they are looking into those possibilities.
Florida officials say they are investigating whether all four patients were injected at the same time at the same clinic in Fort Lauderdale. Botulism is severe, potentially fatal poisoning caused by bacteria. Symptoms include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing and dry mouth and muscle weakness. A doctor involved in the treatment of the Florida patients spoke to a CNN affiliate on Sunday.
SCHALLOP: They had a very dry throat. They had difficulty swallowing. They had a raspy voice. They had significant weakness in eyelids.
TODD: Drooping eyelids are also a side effect of Botox, but officials stress they don't know if all four patients were injected with that popular drug. Two prominent doctors who administer Botox tell CNN it contains minuscule and very diluted doses of the botulinum toxin.
Dr. Tina Alster does thousands of Botox treatments a year.
DR. TINA ALSTER, DERMATOLOGIC LASER SURGEON: Well, Botox is extraordinarily safe. There's literally been millions of people treated with Botox for cosmetic purposes over the past decade. We know that there's never been a case of botulism as a result of Botox injections.
TODD: Officials at Allergan, the company that manufactures Botox, cite an extensive safety report and exhaustive clinical trials. Company officials tell CNN they're cooperating with the Florida/New Jersey investigation.
(END VIDEOTAPE) TODD: But Allergan and the doctors who administer Botox say the label warns that people with preexisting conditions, like neuromuscular disorders, could risk making those conditions worse with Botox. And they add that there are counterfeit drugs and other knockoffs of Botox being used out there which contain more concentrated amounts of the botulinum toxin -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Brian Todd, an important story. Thanks very much, Brian, for that.
We are going to take a quick break. The results of our Web question of the day, that is coming up next. Remember, we have been asking you this: Who do you think should replace William Safire at "The New York Times"? E-mail me at Wolf@CNN.com or go to our Web page, CNN.com/Wolf. We would love to hear directly from you. We are going to make those comments available to the publisher of "The New York Times."
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Here's how you are weighing in on our Web question of the day. We have been asking you this question all day: Who do you think should replace William Safire at "The New York Times"?
Let's read some of your e-mail. We're getting hundreds of e-mail responses.
Gerard writes this: "Would they have the guts to employ Ann Coulter? That would be a nice balance against the hysterical Maureen Dowd."
Kaye writes this: "Rush Limbaugh should replace William Safire."
But this from Bryan: "I think Michael Moore would be an excellent choice to replace Mr. Safire."
Peter says: "How about someone who is smart, informed and without an agenda? How about Jon Stewart?"
This from Betty (ph), someone I don't know. "I nominate Wolf Blitzer." Not interested, but thanks, Betty, for that nomination.
Remember, you can e-mail us all night. We are going to continue to collect these e-mails, hand them over to "The New York Times" at some point. We're getting hundreds, if not thousands, of responses.
Let's move on, though. In our picture of the day, a get-together that always ruffles some feathers. The town of Stuttgart, Arkansas, put on its annual world championship duck calling contest over the Thanksgiving weekend. Lovely. And when it was over, an Iowa man quacked his way to the top prize of $15,000. It's the fifth time in six years the champion has come from Iowa. A woman from Arkansas won the woman's title. Congratulations to all concerned.
A reminder, we're on weekdays 5:00 p.m. Eastern, also noon Eastern. See you tomorrow.
"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.
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