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President Bush Continues to Stand by John Bolton
Aired May 12, 2005 - 11:30 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Prime Minister Tony Blair says Britain would back U.S. efforts if Iran restarts its uranium-enrichment activities. The Bush administration threatens to take Iran before the U.N. Security Council if it resumes the work. The U.S. and European Union are worried about Iran developing nuclear weapons.
A sweeping survey out today paints a grim picture of life in war- weary Iraq. Among the findings, almost a quarter of the children between six months and five years suffer from malnutrition, and young people today are more illiterate than preceding generations. The report is based on a survey of nearly 22,000 Iraqi households.
Here in the U.S. New York Governor George Pataki will have an announcement next hour about the 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero. He's expected to put his top aide in charge of construction. The governor may also reveal details about the proposed freedom tower. That project is now stalled over the building's security features
Conservative groups are throwing a high-profile dinner for Tom DeLay. The Capital Hilton Gallery (ph) will give supporters a chance to wrap their arms around the embattled House leader. Conservatives portray ethics allegations against DeLay as a political campaign by his enemies.
Getting back to the nomination and the consideration of a vote on John Bolton as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, we're looking at live pictures from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Critics saying that Bolton's management style is abrasive and his diplomacy hardheaded. That, they say, makes him the wrong person to represent the U.S.
Meanwhile, President Bush saying yes, John Bolton is blunt, but that's what you want at the U.N.
Senior United Nations correspondent Richard Roth joins us now from the U.N.
Richard, what can you tell us about what you've heard so far today in committee?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U N.. CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's too early to say whether the flag of the state of Ohio is going to be raised outside the United Nations building to become the 192nd country here, but no doubt critics in the U.N. headquarters, those who are fearful of John Bolton becoming the next U.N. ambassador, had to be overjoyed to hear Senator Voinovich from Ohio say that he could not support him, and that he was the poster child to not be the new U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
But for the critics, it's a little early to rejoice, because it's clear it's going to be settled on the Senate floor. Diplomats here are professionals. They're used to working with whoever is sent from any capital. One diplomat the other day telling me that, can Bolton reach out? That will be the test. Can he build bridges and work in a cooperative manner?
A lot of people well aware here that the U.S. ambassador gets instructions from Washington. The Chinese ambassador a few weeks ago saying, we know what the big boss' policies are, and Bolton is just going have to follow in line. So they're watching here. They're currently -- the Security Council is meeting on Sudan. They're going to deal with whatever comes. This has been going on for a long time. I've got to tell you, Daryn, that hearing in the Senate is a lot more livelier and filled with a lot of heat more than average Security Council meetings.
KAGAN: Which is one of the reasons we've been dipping in and out of that. That comment by Senator Voinovich that you mentioned, I think we have that on tape. We can listen to that, Richard. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. GEORGE VOINOVICH (R), OHIO: Mr. Chairman, I have to say, after pouring over the hundreds of pages of testimony, and you know, I wasn't here for those hearings, but I did my penance. I read all of it. I believe that John Bolton would have been fired, fired, if he had worked for a major corporation. This is not the behavior of a true leader who upholds the kind of democracy that President Bush is seeking to promote globally. This is not the behavior that should be endorsed as the face of the United States to the world community in the United Nations. Rather Mr. Chairman, it is my opinion that John Bolton is the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be.
I worry about the signal that we're sending to...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: And so that's what you heard from George Voinovich from Ohio. As you were saying, that some people might be considering him a hero. On the other hand, Richard, there's a lot of people, many Americans who have a problem with the way the United Nations is run and thinks that John Bolton is just the kind of guy you need to send up there to represent what a lot of Americans are thinking.
ROTH: And there's also a lot of United Nations officials who have also been accused of misconduct or bad management, so we don't mean to single out John Bolton here. There's the Oil-for-Food scandal, sexual harassment issues of U.N. peacekeepers. There's a whole range of activities. But there are also some important issues, North Korea, Iran, the nuclear affair. Bolton has been involved in those. Critics have said he's tried to go around State Department people and use his own beliefs and opinions on speeches, disregarding intelligence analysts. He would play a major role here in the Security Council should those volatile issues, those two countries come to the Security Council. That would be a real important stage for Bolton, no matter what instructions he might get from Washington.
All right Richard Roth at the United Nations, listening in with us. Thank you.
Let's now go to the White House. President Bush has continued to stand by his man, John Bolton, who he does want to see as the next ambassador, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. He has said, he's blunt, but that's the kind of man he wants to send.
Let's bring in Suzanne Malveaux to get more on that -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, as you know, President Bush, as well as the White House has really invested a lot of political capital in this nomination. They are certainly not ready to give up yet. They insist that they're going to move forward. They also insist that they are confident that the committee will move forward with this nomination.
Just earlier this morning, Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary saying, and I'm quoting here, John Bolton brings experience. He is results-oriented, as well as reform-minded. You have to realize here there's quite an extensive relationship with Bolton and this White House. Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove has been close to Bolton for some 30 years. This is someone who really has carried the water for the Republican Party, particularly conservatives, when it comes to foreign policy. The White House has a lot invested in this nomination and they are trying their best to project a great deal of confidence still, despite the fact that it looks like the nomination may be in trouble -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right, and then, Suzanne, let's get back to the topic that was the big topic of yesterday, leading into today, and that is the evacuation of the White House and Capitol Hill. You learned some more in briefing of today's reporters.
MALVEAUX: Well, certainly there were a lot of follow-up questions, really involving President Bush's role yesterday in all of this when the security scare unfolded at the White House. As you know, he was in suburban Maryland, about 16 miles away, riding his bicycle. We learned late yesterday by White House officials that he was not notified about the security scare until after it was all over, after he was riding his bike. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan says that his Secret Service detail that was traveling with him was in contact with others at the White House, with headquarters. They were informed of what was going on.
We also learned that a military aide who was traveling very close with the president was in contact with the White House situation room, who also knew what was going on. But they essentially said, because he wasn't in danger, because things were being handled, protocols in place at the White House, they just did not feel it was necessary to actually give him that information in that 15-minute window. However, having said that, Daryn, McClellan says there is going to be an investigation, certainly a second look at what happened yesterday. It's going to involve the White House, Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Hagin, as well as Secret Service, to go over and to see just what could have been done differently. But he does insist that the president is satisfied with the Secret Service and how they handled yesterday's announcement
O'BRIEN: And so, Suzanne, I'm getting word that within the next couple of minutes we're actually going to see the president coming into the Rose Garden for an event with Central American leaders. But do we expect him to talk about what happened yesterday?
MALVEAUX: I actually asked several aides about that. They've given us guidance they do not expect that he is going to veer from the script. He'll be talking about that free-trade pact involving Central America and the Dominican Republic, but they also gave us a caveat. He may change his mind. He may decide off the cuff that he will talk about the security scare yesterday, and Bolton. But our guidance so far is that he will not veer from the script.
O'BRIEN: Just a little bit more on this event yesterday. As you said, Latin-American leaders, haven't heard a lot from the White House on that recently. And yet as the former governor of Texas, this is an area of the world the president is very interested in.
MALVEAUX: Oh, absolutely. And he is pushing for the free-trade pact, as well as business leaders, and those from Central America and the Dominican Republic. The president, we are told by White House aides, is going to be talking about how he believes that this is good for the U.S. economy. He believes also he'll make the case that this is good for spreading democracy in the region, and for making the United States more competitive globally. There are a lot of opponents to this CAFTA pact as well, though, and it's had a tough time getting through Congress. There are those in labor, the sugar industry, as well as Democrats who all argue, they point to the huge trade deficit, they say, look at the more than $600 billion the United States already has to deal with. Do we really believe that this is going to help with American jobs?
O'BRIEN: And it looks like President Bush is coming out into the Rose Garden, stepping up to the podium, and we will go ahead and listen to the president.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES: Good morning. Thank you for coming. Welcome to the White House, and welcome to the Rose Garden. I want to thank the six presidents who have joined me today. We've just had a constructive dialogue in the Cabinet Room about our mutual interests. Our mutual interests are prosperity for our people and peace in the region. I am honored to be here with six really fine leaders, people who have stood strong for democracy and who care deeply about the people of their nations.
We're here today, as well, because the best way to achieve peace and prosperity for our hemisphere is by strengthening democracy and continuing the economic transformation of Central America and the Dominican Republic. And all of us agree that the Central American and Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement presents us with an historic opportunity to advance our common goals in an important part of our neighborhood.
CAFTA brings benefits to all sides. For the newly emerging democracies of Central America, CAFTA would bring new investment that means good jobs and higher labor standards for their workers. Central American consumers would have better access to more U.S. goods at better prices. And by passing this agreement, we would signal that the world's leading trading nation was committed to a closer partnership with countries in our own backyard, countries which share our values.
For American farmers, businesses, and workers, CAFTA would create a more level playing field. Under existing rules, most of Central America's exports already enter the United States duty free. But our products still face hefty tariffs there. By passing CAFTA, we would open up a market of 44 million consumers who already import more of our goods and services than Australia or Brazil. And we would create incentives for factories to stay in Central America and use American materials rather than relocate to Asia where they are more likely to use Asian materials.
Finally, for the Western hemisphere, CAFTA would bring the stability and security that can only come from freedom. Today a part of the world that was once characterized by oppression and military dictatorship now sees its future in free elections and free trade. And we must not take these gains for granted. These are small nations, but they're making big and brave commitments, and America needs to continue to support them as they walk down the road of openness and accountability. By transforming our hemisphere into a powerful free trade area, we will promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic liberty for everyone.
The United States was built on freedom -- and the more of it we have in our backyard, the freer and safer and more prosperous all of the Americas will be. I applaud these leaders for their vision. I thank them for working with members of Congress from both political parties to persuade those members about the importance of this piece of legislation. I assured them I will join in the efforts to get this bill passed. This bill is good for Central American countries, it is good for America.
I want to thank you all for being here. Que dios les bendiga.
KAGAN: President Bush meeting with leaders of Costa Rica, The Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, talking about pact that's known as CAFTA, a trade agreement between those countries and the United States. President Bush pushing this through, believing that the Central America Free Trade Agreement would be a good thing for the U.S. There are, not surprisingly, because these things can be controversial, people bringing up opposition to it with issues like labor rights and sugar and textiles, not in favor of this agreement.
So, this one not entirely smooth sailing, but President Bush welcoming the leaders of those countries today at the White House.
Much more ahead on John Bolton as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting right now on Capitol Hill. We'll have more on that ahead, as well as other news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Let's find out what's coming up in mere moments. "NEWS FROM CNN" with Wolf Blitzer at the top of the hour. Hi, Wolf.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Daryn. Thanks very much.
A very busy hour ahead on "NEWS FROM CNN." The fate of John Bolton as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. It's being debated right now before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. As our viewers have just seen live here on CNN, there have been some surprising and dramatic developments. We'll go live to Capitol Hill. We'll watch to see how all this unfolds.
Also, the day after the White House and the U.S. Capital were evacuated, new questions now why the president wasn't told about what's going on until it was well over.
And drama unfolding on live TV. A high-speed police chase, a fleeing suspect and gunfire. The results, deadly.
We'll watch for those stories and much more. All that coming up at the top of the hour on "NEWS FROM CNN". Daryn, in the meantime, back to you.
KAGAN: All right. Thank you, Wolf. Looking forward to it.
Talking about your health? When it comes to your health, you know what you know can hurt you. And a best-selling new book tells most of us know very little about how our own bodies work. The book is called "You -- The Owner's Manual." It's an insider's guide to the body that will make you healthier and younger. The authors and the doctors are with us this morning. Dr. Michael Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz are with us from New York with our "Daily Dose." And boy do we need this, of health news.
Doctors, good morning.
DR. MICHAEL ROIZEN, AUTHOR: Good morning, Daryn.
DR. MEHMET OZ, AUTHOR: Good morning, Daryn.
KAGAN: Let me ask you this: Does it shock you how little we know about how our bodies work?
OZ: You know, it's always amazing -- I'm a heart surgeon and Mike is an anaesthesiologist and internist -- how often we sit in front of patients who are, you know, very bright people, and they have basic misperceptions about how their body works. In fact, you mentioned kindly that the book is doing well. I think one of the reasons for that is, we've tried to demystify medicine. And at the same time, we poke fun at ourselves in the medical profession and at patients, because we don't really get the message about how we should be telling people how to take care of themselves
KAGAN: Well, Dr. Roizen, let me ask you this: You say, we get to choose how long we live. Really?
ROIZEN: Well, 70 percent of how long and well you live are your choices. When you're young, it's your genes. But by the age of 50, 80 percent of how long and how well you live are your choices. And they're easy choices. I brought two of them here using a blood pressure cuff and knowing that the ideal blood pressure is 115 over 75. So one of the messages when we talk about heart health is pumping your heart and also knowing your numbers. The most important number isn't your cholesterol, it's your blood pressure.
Another, to improve your mind's health and sexual function, some walnuts, because they improve --
KAGAN: Walnuts?
ROIZEN: Yes.
KAGAN: Haven't heard that one.
ROIZEN: I mean, any nut is good, but in fact walnuts. And we tell you why. The anatomy of aging is simple. The causes of aging are simple. And the preventions are simple and easy things, just like this.
KAGAN: Let's get back -- I want to pick up on the blood pressure, because you guys talk a lot about that in the book, that blood pressure is kind of the overlooked key to how your health is doing.
OZ: Well, one of the ways of making this clear, and we try to do it in the book, is to explain why the blood pressure is important.
KAGAN: Yes, why?
OZ: Well, if you think of your artery as a teflon covered pan, what causes hardening of the arteries is first damage to that nice, smooth lining followed by repair of that damage by, for example, the body's plaster, which is cholesterol. So we're all fixated on cholesterol. But if you don't damage the artery, you don't need to fix it, so you don't need to worry about the cholesterol. What damages arteries? High blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes. So these are more than just risk factors. We can bring it alive.
KAGAN: I want to get back to some other foods that are on the list. When I looked in the back of the book about the diet and different foods you suggest, you guys are really big on tomatoes
ROIZEN: Right. I mean, we think aspirin should be -- have a small railroad station or at least a big railroad station named after it. Well, tomatoes should have a whole country KAGAN: Really?
ROIZEN: They decrease...
KAGAN: A love letter to tomatoes.
ROIZEN: They decrease prostate cancer, decrease breast cancer and there are five studies showing they're the most powerful agent at keeping your arteries young. We don't know why in these cases, but we do know they're effective. And it's pretty easy. You want cooked tomatoes. Takes 165 raw tomatoes to make the amount of good stuff in ten tablespoons of tomato sauce. So you want tomato sauce eaten with little healthy fat like olives.
KAGAN: You also talk about alcohol, that it could be a good thing.
ROIZEN: Right. Alcohol, whether it's beer, wine or spirits, all of it is good to keep your arteries younger. Ages your immune system, so the net benefit is one to two drinks a day for men, half to one for women. Seven on Friday night is not the same as one every day. But you want to have a little. Red wine has a little extra substance in it, resveritrol (ph), which helps benefit and prevent cancer or protect you from cancer, so there's a little extra benefit in the red wine. But the main beneficial agent is a little alcohol.
KAGAN: Well, here's to you on that. We're out of time. I wanted to talk to you about desserts, because a sweet tooth is my thing. And I got to tell you, a chocolate soy sundae smoothie, not my idea of a great reason for living longer.
ROIZEN: Well, taste it. It is a great dessert.
KAGAN: OK, I'll give it that. I will test-taste it. We'll have you back and we'll learn more about "You: The Owner's Manual." Doctors, thank you for your time today.
ROIZEN: Thank you.
MEHMET: Thank you.
KAGAN: Good to have you on.
To get your "Daily Dose" of health news online, you can go to the cnn.com/health. You'll find the latest medical news, a health library and information on diet and fitness.
A check of weather. That's owner's manual, coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET)
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: In fact, that's going to wrap it up for us for the next couple hours. I'm Daryn Kagan. We'll be right back here tomorrow morning. Wolf Blitzer is with you at the top of the hour after this quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired May 12, 2005 - 11:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Prime Minister Tony Blair says Britain would back U.S. efforts if Iran restarts its uranium-enrichment activities. The Bush administration threatens to take Iran before the U.N. Security Council if it resumes the work. The U.S. and European Union are worried about Iran developing nuclear weapons.
A sweeping survey out today paints a grim picture of life in war- weary Iraq. Among the findings, almost a quarter of the children between six months and five years suffer from malnutrition, and young people today are more illiterate than preceding generations. The report is based on a survey of nearly 22,000 Iraqi households.
Here in the U.S. New York Governor George Pataki will have an announcement next hour about the 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero. He's expected to put his top aide in charge of construction. The governor may also reveal details about the proposed freedom tower. That project is now stalled over the building's security features
Conservative groups are throwing a high-profile dinner for Tom DeLay. The Capital Hilton Gallery (ph) will give supporters a chance to wrap their arms around the embattled House leader. Conservatives portray ethics allegations against DeLay as a political campaign by his enemies.
Getting back to the nomination and the consideration of a vote on John Bolton as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, we're looking at live pictures from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Critics saying that Bolton's management style is abrasive and his diplomacy hardheaded. That, they say, makes him the wrong person to represent the U.S.
Meanwhile, President Bush saying yes, John Bolton is blunt, but that's what you want at the U.N.
Senior United Nations correspondent Richard Roth joins us now from the U.N.
Richard, what can you tell us about what you've heard so far today in committee?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U N.. CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's too early to say whether the flag of the state of Ohio is going to be raised outside the United Nations building to become the 192nd country here, but no doubt critics in the U.N. headquarters, those who are fearful of John Bolton becoming the next U.N. ambassador, had to be overjoyed to hear Senator Voinovich from Ohio say that he could not support him, and that he was the poster child to not be the new U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
But for the critics, it's a little early to rejoice, because it's clear it's going to be settled on the Senate floor. Diplomats here are professionals. They're used to working with whoever is sent from any capital. One diplomat the other day telling me that, can Bolton reach out? That will be the test. Can he build bridges and work in a cooperative manner?
A lot of people well aware here that the U.S. ambassador gets instructions from Washington. The Chinese ambassador a few weeks ago saying, we know what the big boss' policies are, and Bolton is just going have to follow in line. So they're watching here. They're currently -- the Security Council is meeting on Sudan. They're going to deal with whatever comes. This has been going on for a long time. I've got to tell you, Daryn, that hearing in the Senate is a lot more livelier and filled with a lot of heat more than average Security Council meetings.
KAGAN: Which is one of the reasons we've been dipping in and out of that. That comment by Senator Voinovich that you mentioned, I think we have that on tape. We can listen to that, Richard. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. GEORGE VOINOVICH (R), OHIO: Mr. Chairman, I have to say, after pouring over the hundreds of pages of testimony, and you know, I wasn't here for those hearings, but I did my penance. I read all of it. I believe that John Bolton would have been fired, fired, if he had worked for a major corporation. This is not the behavior of a true leader who upholds the kind of democracy that President Bush is seeking to promote globally. This is not the behavior that should be endorsed as the face of the United States to the world community in the United Nations. Rather Mr. Chairman, it is my opinion that John Bolton is the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be.
I worry about the signal that we're sending to...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: And so that's what you heard from George Voinovich from Ohio. As you were saying, that some people might be considering him a hero. On the other hand, Richard, there's a lot of people, many Americans who have a problem with the way the United Nations is run and thinks that John Bolton is just the kind of guy you need to send up there to represent what a lot of Americans are thinking.
ROTH: And there's also a lot of United Nations officials who have also been accused of misconduct or bad management, so we don't mean to single out John Bolton here. There's the Oil-for-Food scandal, sexual harassment issues of U.N. peacekeepers. There's a whole range of activities. But there are also some important issues, North Korea, Iran, the nuclear affair. Bolton has been involved in those. Critics have said he's tried to go around State Department people and use his own beliefs and opinions on speeches, disregarding intelligence analysts. He would play a major role here in the Security Council should those volatile issues, those two countries come to the Security Council. That would be a real important stage for Bolton, no matter what instructions he might get from Washington.
All right Richard Roth at the United Nations, listening in with us. Thank you.
Let's now go to the White House. President Bush has continued to stand by his man, John Bolton, who he does want to see as the next ambassador, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. He has said, he's blunt, but that's the kind of man he wants to send.
Let's bring in Suzanne Malveaux to get more on that -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, as you know, President Bush, as well as the White House has really invested a lot of political capital in this nomination. They are certainly not ready to give up yet. They insist that they're going to move forward. They also insist that they are confident that the committee will move forward with this nomination.
Just earlier this morning, Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary saying, and I'm quoting here, John Bolton brings experience. He is results-oriented, as well as reform-minded. You have to realize here there's quite an extensive relationship with Bolton and this White House. Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove has been close to Bolton for some 30 years. This is someone who really has carried the water for the Republican Party, particularly conservatives, when it comes to foreign policy. The White House has a lot invested in this nomination and they are trying their best to project a great deal of confidence still, despite the fact that it looks like the nomination may be in trouble -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right, and then, Suzanne, let's get back to the topic that was the big topic of yesterday, leading into today, and that is the evacuation of the White House and Capitol Hill. You learned some more in briefing of today's reporters.
MALVEAUX: Well, certainly there were a lot of follow-up questions, really involving President Bush's role yesterday in all of this when the security scare unfolded at the White House. As you know, he was in suburban Maryland, about 16 miles away, riding his bicycle. We learned late yesterday by White House officials that he was not notified about the security scare until after it was all over, after he was riding his bike. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan says that his Secret Service detail that was traveling with him was in contact with others at the White House, with headquarters. They were informed of what was going on.
We also learned that a military aide who was traveling very close with the president was in contact with the White House situation room, who also knew what was going on. But they essentially said, because he wasn't in danger, because things were being handled, protocols in place at the White House, they just did not feel it was necessary to actually give him that information in that 15-minute window. However, having said that, Daryn, McClellan says there is going to be an investigation, certainly a second look at what happened yesterday. It's going to involve the White House, Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Hagin, as well as Secret Service, to go over and to see just what could have been done differently. But he does insist that the president is satisfied with the Secret Service and how they handled yesterday's announcement
O'BRIEN: And so, Suzanne, I'm getting word that within the next couple of minutes we're actually going to see the president coming into the Rose Garden for an event with Central American leaders. But do we expect him to talk about what happened yesterday?
MALVEAUX: I actually asked several aides about that. They've given us guidance they do not expect that he is going to veer from the script. He'll be talking about that free-trade pact involving Central America and the Dominican Republic, but they also gave us a caveat. He may change his mind. He may decide off the cuff that he will talk about the security scare yesterday, and Bolton. But our guidance so far is that he will not veer from the script.
O'BRIEN: Just a little bit more on this event yesterday. As you said, Latin-American leaders, haven't heard a lot from the White House on that recently. And yet as the former governor of Texas, this is an area of the world the president is very interested in.
MALVEAUX: Oh, absolutely. And he is pushing for the free-trade pact, as well as business leaders, and those from Central America and the Dominican Republic. The president, we are told by White House aides, is going to be talking about how he believes that this is good for the U.S. economy. He believes also he'll make the case that this is good for spreading democracy in the region, and for making the United States more competitive globally. There are a lot of opponents to this CAFTA pact as well, though, and it's had a tough time getting through Congress. There are those in labor, the sugar industry, as well as Democrats who all argue, they point to the huge trade deficit, they say, look at the more than $600 billion the United States already has to deal with. Do we really believe that this is going to help with American jobs?
O'BRIEN: And it looks like President Bush is coming out into the Rose Garden, stepping up to the podium, and we will go ahead and listen to the president.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES: Good morning. Thank you for coming. Welcome to the White House, and welcome to the Rose Garden. I want to thank the six presidents who have joined me today. We've just had a constructive dialogue in the Cabinet Room about our mutual interests. Our mutual interests are prosperity for our people and peace in the region. I am honored to be here with six really fine leaders, people who have stood strong for democracy and who care deeply about the people of their nations.
We're here today, as well, because the best way to achieve peace and prosperity for our hemisphere is by strengthening democracy and continuing the economic transformation of Central America and the Dominican Republic. And all of us agree that the Central American and Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement presents us with an historic opportunity to advance our common goals in an important part of our neighborhood.
CAFTA brings benefits to all sides. For the newly emerging democracies of Central America, CAFTA would bring new investment that means good jobs and higher labor standards for their workers. Central American consumers would have better access to more U.S. goods at better prices. And by passing this agreement, we would signal that the world's leading trading nation was committed to a closer partnership with countries in our own backyard, countries which share our values.
For American farmers, businesses, and workers, CAFTA would create a more level playing field. Under existing rules, most of Central America's exports already enter the United States duty free. But our products still face hefty tariffs there. By passing CAFTA, we would open up a market of 44 million consumers who already import more of our goods and services than Australia or Brazil. And we would create incentives for factories to stay in Central America and use American materials rather than relocate to Asia where they are more likely to use Asian materials.
Finally, for the Western hemisphere, CAFTA would bring the stability and security that can only come from freedom. Today a part of the world that was once characterized by oppression and military dictatorship now sees its future in free elections and free trade. And we must not take these gains for granted. These are small nations, but they're making big and brave commitments, and America needs to continue to support them as they walk down the road of openness and accountability. By transforming our hemisphere into a powerful free trade area, we will promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic liberty for everyone.
The United States was built on freedom -- and the more of it we have in our backyard, the freer and safer and more prosperous all of the Americas will be. I applaud these leaders for their vision. I thank them for working with members of Congress from both political parties to persuade those members about the importance of this piece of legislation. I assured them I will join in the efforts to get this bill passed. This bill is good for Central American countries, it is good for America.
I want to thank you all for being here. Que dios les bendiga.
KAGAN: President Bush meeting with leaders of Costa Rica, The Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, talking about pact that's known as CAFTA, a trade agreement between those countries and the United States. President Bush pushing this through, believing that the Central America Free Trade Agreement would be a good thing for the U.S. There are, not surprisingly, because these things can be controversial, people bringing up opposition to it with issues like labor rights and sugar and textiles, not in favor of this agreement.
So, this one not entirely smooth sailing, but President Bush welcoming the leaders of those countries today at the White House.
Much more ahead on John Bolton as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting right now on Capitol Hill. We'll have more on that ahead, as well as other news.
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KAGAN: Let's find out what's coming up in mere moments. "NEWS FROM CNN" with Wolf Blitzer at the top of the hour. Hi, Wolf.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Daryn. Thanks very much.
A very busy hour ahead on "NEWS FROM CNN." The fate of John Bolton as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. It's being debated right now before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. As our viewers have just seen live here on CNN, there have been some surprising and dramatic developments. We'll go live to Capitol Hill. We'll watch to see how all this unfolds.
Also, the day after the White House and the U.S. Capital were evacuated, new questions now why the president wasn't told about what's going on until it was well over.
And drama unfolding on live TV. A high-speed police chase, a fleeing suspect and gunfire. The results, deadly.
We'll watch for those stories and much more. All that coming up at the top of the hour on "NEWS FROM CNN". Daryn, in the meantime, back to you.
KAGAN: All right. Thank you, Wolf. Looking forward to it.
Talking about your health? When it comes to your health, you know what you know can hurt you. And a best-selling new book tells most of us know very little about how our own bodies work. The book is called "You -- The Owner's Manual." It's an insider's guide to the body that will make you healthier and younger. The authors and the doctors are with us this morning. Dr. Michael Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz are with us from New York with our "Daily Dose." And boy do we need this, of health news.
Doctors, good morning.
DR. MICHAEL ROIZEN, AUTHOR: Good morning, Daryn.
DR. MEHMET OZ, AUTHOR: Good morning, Daryn.
KAGAN: Let me ask you this: Does it shock you how little we know about how our bodies work?
OZ: You know, it's always amazing -- I'm a heart surgeon and Mike is an anaesthesiologist and internist -- how often we sit in front of patients who are, you know, very bright people, and they have basic misperceptions about how their body works. In fact, you mentioned kindly that the book is doing well. I think one of the reasons for that is, we've tried to demystify medicine. And at the same time, we poke fun at ourselves in the medical profession and at patients, because we don't really get the message about how we should be telling people how to take care of themselves
KAGAN: Well, Dr. Roizen, let me ask you this: You say, we get to choose how long we live. Really?
ROIZEN: Well, 70 percent of how long and well you live are your choices. When you're young, it's your genes. But by the age of 50, 80 percent of how long and how well you live are your choices. And they're easy choices. I brought two of them here using a blood pressure cuff and knowing that the ideal blood pressure is 115 over 75. So one of the messages when we talk about heart health is pumping your heart and also knowing your numbers. The most important number isn't your cholesterol, it's your blood pressure.
Another, to improve your mind's health and sexual function, some walnuts, because they improve --
KAGAN: Walnuts?
ROIZEN: Yes.
KAGAN: Haven't heard that one.
ROIZEN: I mean, any nut is good, but in fact walnuts. And we tell you why. The anatomy of aging is simple. The causes of aging are simple. And the preventions are simple and easy things, just like this.
KAGAN: Let's get back -- I want to pick up on the blood pressure, because you guys talk a lot about that in the book, that blood pressure is kind of the overlooked key to how your health is doing.
OZ: Well, one of the ways of making this clear, and we try to do it in the book, is to explain why the blood pressure is important.
KAGAN: Yes, why?
OZ: Well, if you think of your artery as a teflon covered pan, what causes hardening of the arteries is first damage to that nice, smooth lining followed by repair of that damage by, for example, the body's plaster, which is cholesterol. So we're all fixated on cholesterol. But if you don't damage the artery, you don't need to fix it, so you don't need to worry about the cholesterol. What damages arteries? High blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes. So these are more than just risk factors. We can bring it alive.
KAGAN: I want to get back to some other foods that are on the list. When I looked in the back of the book about the diet and different foods you suggest, you guys are really big on tomatoes
ROIZEN: Right. I mean, we think aspirin should be -- have a small railroad station or at least a big railroad station named after it. Well, tomatoes should have a whole country KAGAN: Really?
ROIZEN: They decrease...
KAGAN: A love letter to tomatoes.
ROIZEN: They decrease prostate cancer, decrease breast cancer and there are five studies showing they're the most powerful agent at keeping your arteries young. We don't know why in these cases, but we do know they're effective. And it's pretty easy. You want cooked tomatoes. Takes 165 raw tomatoes to make the amount of good stuff in ten tablespoons of tomato sauce. So you want tomato sauce eaten with little healthy fat like olives.
KAGAN: You also talk about alcohol, that it could be a good thing.
ROIZEN: Right. Alcohol, whether it's beer, wine or spirits, all of it is good to keep your arteries younger. Ages your immune system, so the net benefit is one to two drinks a day for men, half to one for women. Seven on Friday night is not the same as one every day. But you want to have a little. Red wine has a little extra substance in it, resveritrol (ph), which helps benefit and prevent cancer or protect you from cancer, so there's a little extra benefit in the red wine. But the main beneficial agent is a little alcohol.
KAGAN: Well, here's to you on that. We're out of time. I wanted to talk to you about desserts, because a sweet tooth is my thing. And I got to tell you, a chocolate soy sundae smoothie, not my idea of a great reason for living longer.
ROIZEN: Well, taste it. It is a great dessert.
KAGAN: OK, I'll give it that. I will test-taste it. We'll have you back and we'll learn more about "You: The Owner's Manual." Doctors, thank you for your time today.
ROIZEN: Thank you.
MEHMET: Thank you.
KAGAN: Good to have you on.
To get your "Daily Dose" of health news online, you can go to the cnn.com/health. You'll find the latest medical news, a health library and information on diet and fitness.
A check of weather. That's owner's manual, coming up next.
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KAGAN: In fact, that's going to wrap it up for us for the next couple hours. I'm Daryn Kagan. We'll be right back here tomorrow morning. Wolf Blitzer is with you at the top of the hour after this quick break.
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