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CNN Live Today
Global Threats; Tensions With Syria; Selling Social Security
Aired February 16, 2005 - 10:59 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.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Here's a look at what's happening right "Now in the News."
Iran says that a reconnaissance team is on its way to investigate reports of an explosion in the southern part of the country. But an official with Iran's National Security Council says the explosion was not the result of a missile attack, as some witnesses had claimed.
A tremendous outpouring of grief today for an assassinated leader in Lebanon. Hundreds of thousands of people turned out for the funeral of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. A crush of mourners surrounded the coffin. Hariri was killed Monday by a massive bomb explosion in Beirut.
New video surfaced today of an Italian journalist kidnapped in Baghdad earlier this month. The tape showed Giuliana Sgrena pleading for her life and calling for an end to the foreign occupation of Iraq. It comes on the same day Italian lawmakers are considering whether to extend the country's military mission in Iraq.
And the clock has just run out on a last-ditch attempt to salvage the professional hockey season. We are about a minute past the deadline for the union to accept the league's final offer on a salary cap. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says if the offer is rejected, the season would officially be canceled today.
11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 8:00 a.m. out West. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Rick Sanchez.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Up first this hour, a who's who of top officials on Capitol Hill. They are testifying about money, the military and matters of national security. CIA Director Porter Goss is before the Senate Intelligence Committee, talking about global threats. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are discussing their department's budgets. And Fed chairman Alan Greenspan is giving his take on the economy.
We are keeping our eyes on all of it, as you can see by the screen there. We will keep you updated on progress.
First, we want to focus on matters affecting your security. CIA Director Porter Goss facing questions from lawmakers about global threats and international hotspots. National security correspondent David Ensor is in Washington with the latest. David, good morning.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, as we speak, the director of intelligence for the Department of Homeland Security, Admiral -- Admiral Loy is testifying. We just heard from Porter Goss and from FBI Director Mueller.
I think perhaps the thing we should highlight just at the moment is what the FBI director said. He pointed out that though there hasn't been a major terrorist a tack against the United States homeland since 2001, since September 11, 2001, there is intelligence that causes real concern. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: Relatively low-tech methods will be their most likely approach. We are concerned that they are seeking weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons, so-called dirty bombs, or some form of biological agent such as anthrax.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENSOR: Porter Goss in his testimony took -- took us through the whole horizon of threats that he sees of concern to U.S. national security. He talked about the Iranian nuclear program, told us that the CIA believes that North Korea's Taepo Dong-2 missiles could bring a nuclear-sized package to the U.S. homeland, at least to the western parts, to Hawaii, Alaska, and the West, although he wasn't that specific.
He spoke of that North Korean threat. And he talked about the need for particular attention to the effort to make peace in the Middle East.
Now, there is clearly going to be a sharp exchange coming up in the Q&A between the senators and Mr. Goss. Senator Rockefeller, the ranking Democrat on the committee, made that clear in his opening remarks.
He says that it's way overdue for President Bush to have named a new director of national intelligence. This is the new job that was set up by Congress under legislation two months ago, would be Porter Goss' boss. The president still hasn't named someone. Here's what Senator Rockefeller said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JAY ROCKEFELLER (D), WEST VIRGINIA: Two months have now passed since the bill-signing ceremony. And the position of director of national intelligence remains vacant, not even a person nominated.
To me, this is unacceptable. It's unacceptable the administration has not shown the same urgency in dealing a DNI with that question that the Congress took the trouble to create.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ENSOR: Now, next to him there, you saw the chairman, Senator Pat Roberts. He responded to Rockefeller, saying that the administration, he believes, is trying to wait and see what a particular high-level commission, the Judge Silverman Commission (ph), which is looking into intelligence on weapons of mass destruction and how to make it better.
The administration would like to have that report and that commission's suggestions on perhaps how to strengthen the DNI job before naming someone. But this political pressure is going to be intense. And you might see an announcement from the president in the next couple of weeks, if the pressure continues -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And as you were saying, isn't it a matter -- it's not just a matter of who's going to take it, but what the job's going to be. That one of the problems perhaps securing somebody is that it still doesn't have a clear definition about what that position is.
ENSOR: That's right. We know of at least one candidate who rejected -- who did not want to be considered as a candidate because, in part, he felt that the job was not well defined.
The job has responsibilities. The head of intelligence will take the fall if there's another attack on the U.S. But doesn't have the kinds of power, at least in the view of many, that he would need to stop attacks -- Daryn.
KAGAN: David Ensor monitoring those hearings from Capitol Hill. Thank you.
On to Iran now. That country saying today, yes, indeed, the U.S. is flying unmanned spy planes over its territory. And it's threatening to shoot them down. Iran's spy chief says it's been going on for sometime now. The drones apparently keep an eye on the country's nuclear and military facilities.
The Bush administration accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapon. Iran insists its program is peaceful. "The Washington Post" first reported the spy plane story on Sunday. As you'd expect, the Pentagon would not confirm it.
SANCHEZ: Let's take you to some incredible pictures that have been coming out of Beirut this morning. It's a crowded and emotional funeral today for Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister of Lebanon. He was assassinated Monday in a huge bomb blast which also killed 16 others and left quite a crater on the ground.
Many mourners unleashing angry accusations against Syria, which many experts who follow this say may have had something to do with this, or at least that is what is being suspected there in Lebanon. They also have quite a military influence there.
In fact, the U.S. is now recalling its ambassador from Damascus and demanding that Syria get its troops out of Lebanon. Last count there was some 16,000 of them. Clearly, U.S. relations with Syria are now on a downslope.
So let's pick this conversation up with Jim Walsh. He's in Boston. He's at the Belfer Center at Harvard University.
Help our viewers understand, if you would, Jim, why Syria is suddenly really the bad guys in all of this.
JIM WALSH, BELFER CENTER, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: Well, I know that we haven't talked a lot about Syria. But Syria has been on a couple of lists that the U.S. has, a list of countries that it doesn't like. For example, a list of state-sponsored terrorism or countries that may have chemical or biological weapons programs. But the relationship between Syria and the U.S. has gone back and forth.
Sometimes there's been cooperation and mutual aid. After 9/11 and in the war on -- against al Qaeda, Syria's reportedly been helpful. But at other times, the relationship has gone very badly. And we've had now -- this is the last in a series of attempts by the U.S. to pressure or threaten Syria.
SANCHEZ: Yes, there's obviously no love lost, as you have mentioned, between the United States under any administration and Assad. Certainly since the Iraq war. The United States has charged that they've done everything possible to try and get even more insurgents over there and help in many other ways.
So is this really a linchpin for the United States? An opportunity, if you will, to try and show the rest of the world why we have long said they're the bad guys?
WALSH: Well, it certainly has focused public attention, and it's focused the attention, more importantly, of the people in that country, the Lebanese. But whether this is a moment of regime change in Syria, you know, I wouldn't bet the farm on that.
Remember, the U.S. has several other balls in the air right now. We have the domestic situation in Iraq. We are dealing with Iran. And of course Iran and Syria may have announced a new relationship today.
And we have, you know, continuing issues in Afghanistan. And we're trying to rebuild our European partnership.
So to somehow try to engineer regime change in Syria all at the same time, that would be a big plate. So...
SANCHEZ: Well, let me put the pressure on you here a little bit, Jim. You just mentioned all the different hotspots. As we've been talking about throughout this newscast, you have North Korea, you have Iran, you have Iraq, you have Syria, you have the Middle East. Rate them. Which would you tell the president of the United States is most important?
WALSH: Well, I'd say right now the North Korean relationship is the most important, or the North Korean problem, because that country probably does have nuclear weapons. I think there is a possibility that it could be resolved. I think if both sides are serious, there could be progress there.
The Iranian relationship is also an important issue, but it's more complex and much more difficult. So I would have to say, you know, North Korea, when it comes to nuclear weapons, is probably, along with securing nuclear material in the former Soviet Union, those are the two most important things.
SANCHEZ: Interesting. Jim Walsh, thanks so much for putting this into perspective for us. We hope to talk to you again soon.
A reminder that CNN "Security Watch" keeps you up to date on safety. Stay tuned day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
KAGAN: President Bush hitting the road again this morning to convince Americans that his ideas on Social Security are the way to go. Our Elaine Quijano is with the president in New Hampshire.
Elaine, good morning.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn. That's right, New Hampshire is just the latest stop for President Bush as he continues with a campaign-style push, if you will, to try to win people over to his ideas on changing Social Security.
Now, here in New Hampshire there are some skeptics, as some recent polls have shown. But President Bush is trying to win those people over, and really has a couple of goals here in New Hampshire today. Not only to convince the people that lawmakers need to act soon to keep Social Security solvent down the road, but at the same time, the president is also focusing his attention on members of his own party.
In particular, congressional Republicans like Jeb Bradley of New Hampshire. Mr. Bradley is already on the record as saying a few years ago that privatization was not the answer for Social Security.
Nevertheless, look for the president to echo what he has said before in his State of the Union address, also in the subsequent seven states that he's visited, to try to push his ideas on Social Security. The president will say that lawmakers do need to act now in order to fix Social Security.
The president also is promising that there will nobody changes in benefits for those at or near retirement age. And the president, as he has said in the past, remains committed to saying that he's open to all ideas with the exception of raising payroll taxes.
But hundreds of people gathered here now, Daryn. The president expected to speak in about 30 or 40 minutes -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Elaine Quijano from New Hampshire. Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Here's another political note we've been following. Baltimore's mayor says, yes, he should have chosen his words more carefully and he's sorry about it.
Martin O'Malley drew some fire from Republicans, and Democrats alike, when he compared President Bush's budget cuts to the 9/11 attacks. But O'Malley isn't backing away from his criticism of the president's plan to trim billions from the federal spending on the nation's cities like his.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR MARTIN O'MALLEY (D), BALTIMORE: At this particular point in time in our country's history, when all of the president's men are telling us that a second attack is inevitable, that we should be making our cities stronger, not making our cities weaker. And I really wish -- and I'm sorry did I not choose my words more carefully when I said what I said at the press club.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: O'Malley is no doubt a rising Democrat. He's mentioned, in fact, as a possible candidate for the governorship of Maryland in 2006.
KAGAN: Does a new presidential term mean a new approach for Laura Bush? The first lady is changing some things at the White House. What's different? That's coming up next.
SANCHEZ: Also, it was a deadly train accident. But then it became shocking when we learned what had actually caused it. We're going to talk to the defendant's family and find out more on this story.
KAGAN: The baby the world has been watching, how this baby's long journey home is finally over.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: You might call this a situation that became jammed up. No one was seriously injured when an Amtrak train hit a strawberry truck in Oxnard, California. The passenger train's engine separated from the rest of the cars after literally destroying the truck. Now, Amtrak is still investigating how the truck ended up on the tracks in the first place.
KAGAN: Another train accident in southern California getting a lot of attention. A California judge is ordering Juan Alvarez held without bail until a hearing in March.
Alvarez faces 11 murder counts. He pleaded not guilty on Tuesday. Prosecutors say he parked his SUV on a railroad track outside of Los Angeles late last month. A commuter train hit the car, derailed, and slammed another train. Authorities say Alvarez intended to commit suicide but changed his mind at the last minute.
Eric Chase is Juan Alvarez's attorney. Carmelita Alvarez his wife, Beto Alvarez his cousin. They join me now in Los Angeles this morning to talk about this difficult case.
Good morning to all of you, and thank you for being here about us.
CARMELITA ALVAREZ, JUAN ALVAREZ'S WIFE: Good morning. BETO ALVAREZ, JUAN ALVAREZ'S COUSIN: Good morning.
ERIC CHASE, JUAN ALVAREZ'S ATTORNEY: Good morning.
KAGAN: Mr. Chase, first to you, your client has pleaded innocent based on what, since it seems that he told police that he was there and parked his car on the tracks?
CHASE: Well, we always plead innocent at the arraignment. And we have a lot of issues to deal with in this case.
They've, in my opinion, significantly overcharged the case by charging him with first degree murder. They would have to show intent to kill, or if they're using the felony murder statute, intent to derail the train. And I think as we just saw in your opening, with the train that hit the strawberry truck, the expectation should have been that what was going to happen is exactly what happened with that train, is the train did not derail.
KAGAN: One of the big questions still out there, Mr. Chase, is whether prosecutor goes after the death penalty. You've been quoted as saying that people need to calm down a little bit, take a step back and think about the consequences of their actions. I got to tell you, if I am one of the people who lost a family member or who has somebody who was injured I got to think, you've got to be kidding, think about the consequences of your actions.
CHASE: Well, remember, we deal with justice as a society. We don't allow victims to mete out justice. If we did, we'd be back in the middle ages.
We decide things like the death penalty in a very reflective manner in this country. And what I've been saying is, that when we apply the death penalty, it's almost like something clicks in the defendant's head when he decides to do some real harm. We do not have that in this case. There was no clicking sound...
KAGAN: You're saying there was no real harm in this case, 11 people dead?
CHASE: No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is there was no intent to cause that kind of harm.
The intent was to kill himself. And we as a society do not apply the death penalty and never have in those types of situations. And in this case it would be absurd to try to apply the death penalty to somebody whose attempt to commit suicide, although a tragic result, it was still just a suicide attempt.
KAGAN: Mrs. Alvarez, let me bring you in. And I realize this is a very difficult time for your family as well. When did you first realize that your husband was involved in this train situation?
C. ALVAREZ: Well, I didn't realize it at the time. I realized it maybe about 9:00 -- between 9:00 and 10:00 in the morning. I didn't -- I really didn't know what was going on, what was happening. But I do know that he never intended to hurt anybody.
He did -- I guess he wanted to take his own life, but he never thought that train would derail, you know? I mean, then again, who would? He was never the type of person that could -- that would hurt anybody.
KAGAN: And yet you had -- and I realize this is a very difficult time for you, so I thank you for being with us. You say he was never anybody who would hurt anybody. And yet didn't you have a restraining order against him, to keep him away from you and your children?
C. ALVAREZ: Yes, I did. I had a restraining order against him. But the whole reason behind that restraining order was that he was so mentally disabled and emotionally disabled that I didn't want that for my kids.
I wanted him to get better for my kids. That was whole reason I put the restraining order. Maybe a judge could grant him to get some kind of help, but it wasn't because I was like scared of him or anything.
KAGAN: Beto, let's bring you in. Your cousin, whether it's a restraining order or what we've seen unfold in the last couple of weeks, this is a man who has clearly been struggling for a long time.
B. ALVAREZ: Yes, he has. He's had -- ever since he left his wife, he had a hard time dealing with it. Not being able to be with his children every day really bothered him.
KAGAN: Have either you, Carmelita, or Beto, have you had a chance to talk with him since this all took place?
B. ALVAREZ: Yes, I had a chance to talk to him last Monday.
KAGAN: And what does he have to say about everything that's taken place and the people whose lives have been lost and the people who have been injured?
B. ALVAREZ: He's -- real remorse. He says he prays for everybody. He tells us to pray for them and that he's sorry for everything that's happened. He never meant for anybody to get hurt.
KAGAN: And Carmelita, as what happened before the restraining order, before the train incident, you think ultimately your estranged husband needs help?
C. ALVAREZ: Yes, he does.
KAGAN: All right. Well, we thank you for your time. And as I said, I realize this is a difficult time for your family as well, to face everything that's taken place.
Mr. Chase, thank you for your time...
CHASE: Thank you.
KAGAN: ... as well, and talking about what happened in Glendale. Thank you.
B. ALVAREZ: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Well, it's a makeover or possibly just a tweak? Laura Bush is doing things a little differently in this new term. We've got a first lady profile that's going to be coming your way.
KAGAN: And you thought you'd heard the last about the investigation into Princess Diana's death? Well, we're hear to tell you have not. The latest on the story is coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Our mission now is to let you know what's going to go on in your neighborhood weather-wise.
KAGAN: And Jacqui Jeras is doing that.
(WEATHER REPORT)
SANCHEZ: Well, here's a story that seems to be raising a few eyebrows. The first lady is letting it be known the early to bed Bushes are going to be staying up a little bit later. She is cleaning house at the White House. The whisper around Washington, that Laura Bush is declaring a second-term mandate to entertain more.
Here's CNN's national correspondent Kelly Wallace.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Laura Bush's East Wing shuffle. In, a new social secretary and chief of staff. Out, the chef, who has been at the White House since 1994. Mrs. Bush gave him the axe.
ANN GERHART, "WASHINGTON POST": We don't usually think of Laura Bush as firing anybody. She's just as loyal as anybody else in the Bush family. So I think it is very unusual.
WALLACE: Was it a clash of personalities or something else? We posed those questions to longtime Washington style expert Sally Quinn.
SALLY QUINN, WASHINGTON STYLE EXPERT: I suspect that she and the chef didn't see eye to eye. And that's the kind of thing that happens. I mean, so much of this is chemistry and personality. And so I'm sure they'll get another chef and I'm sure the food will be fine.
WALLACE: Quinn says it's also a sign of the first lady feeling more comfortable in this, the second term. A time when Mrs. Bush says she and her husband plan to do a whole lot more entertaining.
They hosted only four state dinners during the first four years. The same number the elder Bushes hosted during their first six months in the White House.
GERHART: This is how she's spending her capital. She's saying, look, I know you don't want to stay up really late, but darn it, every once in a while I want to have some fun people around.
WALLACE: And as she takes on her first official policy role with her husband's administration, overseeing a new program to help troubled boys, there is something else you notice.
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: My role probably hadn't changed as much as I've changed and...
WALLACE: She has become much more candid with the press. Quinn says that's no surprise.
QUINN: She, I'm sure, is partially responsible for him being re- elected. And I think that she knows that. Everybody knows that. I think she really gets an A+, and I think that's given her an enormous amount of confidence.
WALLACE (on camera): The first lady's words and actions also perhaps a reflection of her sky-high approval rating, numbers any politician would dream of, which means that just about anything Laura Bush does over the next four years will likely be more than all right with the American people.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Charmed, I'm sure.
KAGAN: Yes.
It has been four months in the making. Finally, one of the smallest victims of the tsunami tragedy is back where he belongs. The heartwarming homecoming is coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired February 16, 2005 - 10:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Here's a look at what's happening right "Now in the News."
Iran says that a reconnaissance team is on its way to investigate reports of an explosion in the southern part of the country. But an official with Iran's National Security Council says the explosion was not the result of a missile attack, as some witnesses had claimed.
A tremendous outpouring of grief today for an assassinated leader in Lebanon. Hundreds of thousands of people turned out for the funeral of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. A crush of mourners surrounded the coffin. Hariri was killed Monday by a massive bomb explosion in Beirut.
New video surfaced today of an Italian journalist kidnapped in Baghdad earlier this month. The tape showed Giuliana Sgrena pleading for her life and calling for an end to the foreign occupation of Iraq. It comes on the same day Italian lawmakers are considering whether to extend the country's military mission in Iraq.
And the clock has just run out on a last-ditch attempt to salvage the professional hockey season. We are about a minute past the deadline for the union to accept the league's final offer on a salary cap. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says if the offer is rejected, the season would officially be canceled today.
11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 8:00 a.m. out West. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Rick Sanchez.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Up first this hour, a who's who of top officials on Capitol Hill. They are testifying about money, the military and matters of national security. CIA Director Porter Goss is before the Senate Intelligence Committee, talking about global threats. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are discussing their department's budgets. And Fed chairman Alan Greenspan is giving his take on the economy.
We are keeping our eyes on all of it, as you can see by the screen there. We will keep you updated on progress.
First, we want to focus on matters affecting your security. CIA Director Porter Goss facing questions from lawmakers about global threats and international hotspots. National security correspondent David Ensor is in Washington with the latest. David, good morning.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, as we speak, the director of intelligence for the Department of Homeland Security, Admiral -- Admiral Loy is testifying. We just heard from Porter Goss and from FBI Director Mueller.
I think perhaps the thing we should highlight just at the moment is what the FBI director said. He pointed out that though there hasn't been a major terrorist a tack against the United States homeland since 2001, since September 11, 2001, there is intelligence that causes real concern. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: Relatively low-tech methods will be their most likely approach. We are concerned that they are seeking weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons, so-called dirty bombs, or some form of biological agent such as anthrax.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENSOR: Porter Goss in his testimony took -- took us through the whole horizon of threats that he sees of concern to U.S. national security. He talked about the Iranian nuclear program, told us that the CIA believes that North Korea's Taepo Dong-2 missiles could bring a nuclear-sized package to the U.S. homeland, at least to the western parts, to Hawaii, Alaska, and the West, although he wasn't that specific.
He spoke of that North Korean threat. And he talked about the need for particular attention to the effort to make peace in the Middle East.
Now, there is clearly going to be a sharp exchange coming up in the Q&A between the senators and Mr. Goss. Senator Rockefeller, the ranking Democrat on the committee, made that clear in his opening remarks.
He says that it's way overdue for President Bush to have named a new director of national intelligence. This is the new job that was set up by Congress under legislation two months ago, would be Porter Goss' boss. The president still hasn't named someone. Here's what Senator Rockefeller said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JAY ROCKEFELLER (D), WEST VIRGINIA: Two months have now passed since the bill-signing ceremony. And the position of director of national intelligence remains vacant, not even a person nominated.
To me, this is unacceptable. It's unacceptable the administration has not shown the same urgency in dealing a DNI with that question that the Congress took the trouble to create.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ENSOR: Now, next to him there, you saw the chairman, Senator Pat Roberts. He responded to Rockefeller, saying that the administration, he believes, is trying to wait and see what a particular high-level commission, the Judge Silverman Commission (ph), which is looking into intelligence on weapons of mass destruction and how to make it better.
The administration would like to have that report and that commission's suggestions on perhaps how to strengthen the DNI job before naming someone. But this political pressure is going to be intense. And you might see an announcement from the president in the next couple of weeks, if the pressure continues -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And as you were saying, isn't it a matter -- it's not just a matter of who's going to take it, but what the job's going to be. That one of the problems perhaps securing somebody is that it still doesn't have a clear definition about what that position is.
ENSOR: That's right. We know of at least one candidate who rejected -- who did not want to be considered as a candidate because, in part, he felt that the job was not well defined.
The job has responsibilities. The head of intelligence will take the fall if there's another attack on the U.S. But doesn't have the kinds of power, at least in the view of many, that he would need to stop attacks -- Daryn.
KAGAN: David Ensor monitoring those hearings from Capitol Hill. Thank you.
On to Iran now. That country saying today, yes, indeed, the U.S. is flying unmanned spy planes over its territory. And it's threatening to shoot them down. Iran's spy chief says it's been going on for sometime now. The drones apparently keep an eye on the country's nuclear and military facilities.
The Bush administration accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapon. Iran insists its program is peaceful. "The Washington Post" first reported the spy plane story on Sunday. As you'd expect, the Pentagon would not confirm it.
SANCHEZ: Let's take you to some incredible pictures that have been coming out of Beirut this morning. It's a crowded and emotional funeral today for Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister of Lebanon. He was assassinated Monday in a huge bomb blast which also killed 16 others and left quite a crater on the ground.
Many mourners unleashing angry accusations against Syria, which many experts who follow this say may have had something to do with this, or at least that is what is being suspected there in Lebanon. They also have quite a military influence there.
In fact, the U.S. is now recalling its ambassador from Damascus and demanding that Syria get its troops out of Lebanon. Last count there was some 16,000 of them. Clearly, U.S. relations with Syria are now on a downslope.
So let's pick this conversation up with Jim Walsh. He's in Boston. He's at the Belfer Center at Harvard University.
Help our viewers understand, if you would, Jim, why Syria is suddenly really the bad guys in all of this.
JIM WALSH, BELFER CENTER, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: Well, I know that we haven't talked a lot about Syria. But Syria has been on a couple of lists that the U.S. has, a list of countries that it doesn't like. For example, a list of state-sponsored terrorism or countries that may have chemical or biological weapons programs. But the relationship between Syria and the U.S. has gone back and forth.
Sometimes there's been cooperation and mutual aid. After 9/11 and in the war on -- against al Qaeda, Syria's reportedly been helpful. But at other times, the relationship has gone very badly. And we've had now -- this is the last in a series of attempts by the U.S. to pressure or threaten Syria.
SANCHEZ: Yes, there's obviously no love lost, as you have mentioned, between the United States under any administration and Assad. Certainly since the Iraq war. The United States has charged that they've done everything possible to try and get even more insurgents over there and help in many other ways.
So is this really a linchpin for the United States? An opportunity, if you will, to try and show the rest of the world why we have long said they're the bad guys?
WALSH: Well, it certainly has focused public attention, and it's focused the attention, more importantly, of the people in that country, the Lebanese. But whether this is a moment of regime change in Syria, you know, I wouldn't bet the farm on that.
Remember, the U.S. has several other balls in the air right now. We have the domestic situation in Iraq. We are dealing with Iran. And of course Iran and Syria may have announced a new relationship today.
And we have, you know, continuing issues in Afghanistan. And we're trying to rebuild our European partnership.
So to somehow try to engineer regime change in Syria all at the same time, that would be a big plate. So...
SANCHEZ: Well, let me put the pressure on you here a little bit, Jim. You just mentioned all the different hotspots. As we've been talking about throughout this newscast, you have North Korea, you have Iran, you have Iraq, you have Syria, you have the Middle East. Rate them. Which would you tell the president of the United States is most important?
WALSH: Well, I'd say right now the North Korean relationship is the most important, or the North Korean problem, because that country probably does have nuclear weapons. I think there is a possibility that it could be resolved. I think if both sides are serious, there could be progress there.
The Iranian relationship is also an important issue, but it's more complex and much more difficult. So I would have to say, you know, North Korea, when it comes to nuclear weapons, is probably, along with securing nuclear material in the former Soviet Union, those are the two most important things.
SANCHEZ: Interesting. Jim Walsh, thanks so much for putting this into perspective for us. We hope to talk to you again soon.
A reminder that CNN "Security Watch" keeps you up to date on safety. Stay tuned day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
KAGAN: President Bush hitting the road again this morning to convince Americans that his ideas on Social Security are the way to go. Our Elaine Quijano is with the president in New Hampshire.
Elaine, good morning.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn. That's right, New Hampshire is just the latest stop for President Bush as he continues with a campaign-style push, if you will, to try to win people over to his ideas on changing Social Security.
Now, here in New Hampshire there are some skeptics, as some recent polls have shown. But President Bush is trying to win those people over, and really has a couple of goals here in New Hampshire today. Not only to convince the people that lawmakers need to act soon to keep Social Security solvent down the road, but at the same time, the president is also focusing his attention on members of his own party.
In particular, congressional Republicans like Jeb Bradley of New Hampshire. Mr. Bradley is already on the record as saying a few years ago that privatization was not the answer for Social Security.
Nevertheless, look for the president to echo what he has said before in his State of the Union address, also in the subsequent seven states that he's visited, to try to push his ideas on Social Security. The president will say that lawmakers do need to act now in order to fix Social Security.
The president also is promising that there will nobody changes in benefits for those at or near retirement age. And the president, as he has said in the past, remains committed to saying that he's open to all ideas with the exception of raising payroll taxes.
But hundreds of people gathered here now, Daryn. The president expected to speak in about 30 or 40 minutes -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Elaine Quijano from New Hampshire. Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Here's another political note we've been following. Baltimore's mayor says, yes, he should have chosen his words more carefully and he's sorry about it.
Martin O'Malley drew some fire from Republicans, and Democrats alike, when he compared President Bush's budget cuts to the 9/11 attacks. But O'Malley isn't backing away from his criticism of the president's plan to trim billions from the federal spending on the nation's cities like his.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR MARTIN O'MALLEY (D), BALTIMORE: At this particular point in time in our country's history, when all of the president's men are telling us that a second attack is inevitable, that we should be making our cities stronger, not making our cities weaker. And I really wish -- and I'm sorry did I not choose my words more carefully when I said what I said at the press club.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: O'Malley is no doubt a rising Democrat. He's mentioned, in fact, as a possible candidate for the governorship of Maryland in 2006.
KAGAN: Does a new presidential term mean a new approach for Laura Bush? The first lady is changing some things at the White House. What's different? That's coming up next.
SANCHEZ: Also, it was a deadly train accident. But then it became shocking when we learned what had actually caused it. We're going to talk to the defendant's family and find out more on this story.
KAGAN: The baby the world has been watching, how this baby's long journey home is finally over.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: You might call this a situation that became jammed up. No one was seriously injured when an Amtrak train hit a strawberry truck in Oxnard, California. The passenger train's engine separated from the rest of the cars after literally destroying the truck. Now, Amtrak is still investigating how the truck ended up on the tracks in the first place.
KAGAN: Another train accident in southern California getting a lot of attention. A California judge is ordering Juan Alvarez held without bail until a hearing in March.
Alvarez faces 11 murder counts. He pleaded not guilty on Tuesday. Prosecutors say he parked his SUV on a railroad track outside of Los Angeles late last month. A commuter train hit the car, derailed, and slammed another train. Authorities say Alvarez intended to commit suicide but changed his mind at the last minute.
Eric Chase is Juan Alvarez's attorney. Carmelita Alvarez his wife, Beto Alvarez his cousin. They join me now in Los Angeles this morning to talk about this difficult case.
Good morning to all of you, and thank you for being here about us.
CARMELITA ALVAREZ, JUAN ALVAREZ'S WIFE: Good morning. BETO ALVAREZ, JUAN ALVAREZ'S COUSIN: Good morning.
ERIC CHASE, JUAN ALVAREZ'S ATTORNEY: Good morning.
KAGAN: Mr. Chase, first to you, your client has pleaded innocent based on what, since it seems that he told police that he was there and parked his car on the tracks?
CHASE: Well, we always plead innocent at the arraignment. And we have a lot of issues to deal with in this case.
They've, in my opinion, significantly overcharged the case by charging him with first degree murder. They would have to show intent to kill, or if they're using the felony murder statute, intent to derail the train. And I think as we just saw in your opening, with the train that hit the strawberry truck, the expectation should have been that what was going to happen is exactly what happened with that train, is the train did not derail.
KAGAN: One of the big questions still out there, Mr. Chase, is whether prosecutor goes after the death penalty. You've been quoted as saying that people need to calm down a little bit, take a step back and think about the consequences of their actions. I got to tell you, if I am one of the people who lost a family member or who has somebody who was injured I got to think, you've got to be kidding, think about the consequences of your actions.
CHASE: Well, remember, we deal with justice as a society. We don't allow victims to mete out justice. If we did, we'd be back in the middle ages.
We decide things like the death penalty in a very reflective manner in this country. And what I've been saying is, that when we apply the death penalty, it's almost like something clicks in the defendant's head when he decides to do some real harm. We do not have that in this case. There was no clicking sound...
KAGAN: You're saying there was no real harm in this case, 11 people dead?
CHASE: No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is there was no intent to cause that kind of harm.
The intent was to kill himself. And we as a society do not apply the death penalty and never have in those types of situations. And in this case it would be absurd to try to apply the death penalty to somebody whose attempt to commit suicide, although a tragic result, it was still just a suicide attempt.
KAGAN: Mrs. Alvarez, let me bring you in. And I realize this is a very difficult time for your family as well. When did you first realize that your husband was involved in this train situation?
C. ALVAREZ: Well, I didn't realize it at the time. I realized it maybe about 9:00 -- between 9:00 and 10:00 in the morning. I didn't -- I really didn't know what was going on, what was happening. But I do know that he never intended to hurt anybody.
He did -- I guess he wanted to take his own life, but he never thought that train would derail, you know? I mean, then again, who would? He was never the type of person that could -- that would hurt anybody.
KAGAN: And yet you had -- and I realize this is a very difficult time for you, so I thank you for being with us. You say he was never anybody who would hurt anybody. And yet didn't you have a restraining order against him, to keep him away from you and your children?
C. ALVAREZ: Yes, I did. I had a restraining order against him. But the whole reason behind that restraining order was that he was so mentally disabled and emotionally disabled that I didn't want that for my kids.
I wanted him to get better for my kids. That was whole reason I put the restraining order. Maybe a judge could grant him to get some kind of help, but it wasn't because I was like scared of him or anything.
KAGAN: Beto, let's bring you in. Your cousin, whether it's a restraining order or what we've seen unfold in the last couple of weeks, this is a man who has clearly been struggling for a long time.
B. ALVAREZ: Yes, he has. He's had -- ever since he left his wife, he had a hard time dealing with it. Not being able to be with his children every day really bothered him.
KAGAN: Have either you, Carmelita, or Beto, have you had a chance to talk with him since this all took place?
B. ALVAREZ: Yes, I had a chance to talk to him last Monday.
KAGAN: And what does he have to say about everything that's taken place and the people whose lives have been lost and the people who have been injured?
B. ALVAREZ: He's -- real remorse. He says he prays for everybody. He tells us to pray for them and that he's sorry for everything that's happened. He never meant for anybody to get hurt.
KAGAN: And Carmelita, as what happened before the restraining order, before the train incident, you think ultimately your estranged husband needs help?
C. ALVAREZ: Yes, he does.
KAGAN: All right. Well, we thank you for your time. And as I said, I realize this is a difficult time for your family as well, to face everything that's taken place.
Mr. Chase, thank you for your time...
CHASE: Thank you.
KAGAN: ... as well, and talking about what happened in Glendale. Thank you.
B. ALVAREZ: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Well, it's a makeover or possibly just a tweak? Laura Bush is doing things a little differently in this new term. We've got a first lady profile that's going to be coming your way.
KAGAN: And you thought you'd heard the last about the investigation into Princess Diana's death? Well, we're hear to tell you have not. The latest on the story is coming up next.
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SANCHEZ: Our mission now is to let you know what's going to go on in your neighborhood weather-wise.
KAGAN: And Jacqui Jeras is doing that.
(WEATHER REPORT)
SANCHEZ: Well, here's a story that seems to be raising a few eyebrows. The first lady is letting it be known the early to bed Bushes are going to be staying up a little bit later. She is cleaning house at the White House. The whisper around Washington, that Laura Bush is declaring a second-term mandate to entertain more.
Here's CNN's national correspondent Kelly Wallace.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Laura Bush's East Wing shuffle. In, a new social secretary and chief of staff. Out, the chef, who has been at the White House since 1994. Mrs. Bush gave him the axe.
ANN GERHART, "WASHINGTON POST": We don't usually think of Laura Bush as firing anybody. She's just as loyal as anybody else in the Bush family. So I think it is very unusual.
WALLACE: Was it a clash of personalities or something else? We posed those questions to longtime Washington style expert Sally Quinn.
SALLY QUINN, WASHINGTON STYLE EXPERT: I suspect that she and the chef didn't see eye to eye. And that's the kind of thing that happens. I mean, so much of this is chemistry and personality. And so I'm sure they'll get another chef and I'm sure the food will be fine.
WALLACE: Quinn says it's also a sign of the first lady feeling more comfortable in this, the second term. A time when Mrs. Bush says she and her husband plan to do a whole lot more entertaining.
They hosted only four state dinners during the first four years. The same number the elder Bushes hosted during their first six months in the White House.
GERHART: This is how she's spending her capital. She's saying, look, I know you don't want to stay up really late, but darn it, every once in a while I want to have some fun people around.
WALLACE: And as she takes on her first official policy role with her husband's administration, overseeing a new program to help troubled boys, there is something else you notice.
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: My role probably hadn't changed as much as I've changed and...
WALLACE: She has become much more candid with the press. Quinn says that's no surprise.
QUINN: She, I'm sure, is partially responsible for him being re- elected. And I think that she knows that. Everybody knows that. I think she really gets an A+, and I think that's given her an enormous amount of confidence.
WALLACE (on camera): The first lady's words and actions also perhaps a reflection of her sky-high approval rating, numbers any politician would dream of, which means that just about anything Laura Bush does over the next four years will likely be more than all right with the American people.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Charmed, I'm sure.
KAGAN: Yes.
It has been four months in the making. Finally, one of the smallest victims of the tsunami tragedy is back where he belongs. The heartwarming homecoming is coming up.
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