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CNN Live Today

Bush on Iraq; Drowning Death of Marine Recruit Deemed 'Preventable'; Profiling a Killer

Aired June 28, 2005 - 10:59   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And with Independence Day less than a week away, a demonstration now into frightening you into practicing fireworks safety. You will want to see it.
Also, a massive live reenactment of one of the greatest naval battles of all times. We take you there live.

The second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

Here's a look at what's happening "Now in the News."

President Bush responds to growing public concern about the war in Iraq. The president addresses the nation from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, tonight, and we go live to the White House for a preview in just a minute.

Within the last hour, the Senate approved a sweeping energy bill by a vote of 82-12. It includes billions of dollars in tax breaks and an expanded use of ethanol. The Senate vote sets the stage for a battle with House lawmakers. Their version of the legislation is more favorable to the energy industry.

A Tennessee teenager is in critical, but stable, condition, a day after he was attacked by a shark off the Gulf Coast of Florida. Doctors had to amputate his right leg. Yesterday the attack happened about 95 miles from where a shark killed a 14-year-old girl over the weekend.

And live to the English shore. The queen is there. The French even showed up for the party.

Britain is mashing 200 years since the Battle of Trafalgar. The famous naval fight of 1805 led to British dominance of the seas and helped doom Napoleon's dream of empire.

And today, right now, on CNN.com, it is offering a whole new way to get the headlines. Just log on to our Web site, and click on "Watch" to check out the most popular stories, everything from politics to sports to entertainment. It's free on CNN.com.

We begin this hour, first off, with a good morning and welcome to the show. It's 11:00 a.m. in Washington, D.C.; 4:00 p.m. in Portsmouth, England; 7:00 p.m. in Baghdad.

From the CNN Center right here in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen, in for Daryn Kagan. Now to our top story, the battles on the front lines and growing concern on the home front. President Bush speaks to the nation in prime time tonight to try and shore up support and ease doubts about the U.S. mission in Iraq. His speech comes on the one-year anniversary of Iraq's return to sovereignty.

And CNN's David Ensor is at the White House with a preview of what we can expect from the president.

So, David, what can we expect?

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, the White House spokesman is calling it a very significant speech by the commander-in-chief at a critical time in the war on terror. Look for the president to speak of the need for resolve and patience.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ENSOR (voice-over): This president has long favored speaking before military audiences, with their high level of respect for the commander-in-chief. But this speech is aimed at the nation as a whole at a time when support for the Iraq war and for the president are slipping.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president recognizes one of his most important responsibilities during a time of war is to keep the American people informed about the situation.

ENSOR: The latest CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup poll shows 53 percent of those questioned now say it was a mistake to have gone to war in the first place. Fifty-one percent say the U.S. should set a timetable for withdrawal.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Why would you say to the enemy, you know, here's the timetable, just go ahead and wait us out? It doesn't make any sense to have a timetable.

ENSOR: As for Mr. Bush himself, his approval rating is down to 45 percent, and only 37 percent think he has a clear plan for Iraq. With the insurgency exacting a high price in blood, it is time, aides concede, for the administration to do some plain speaking on the war.

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Setbacks are inevitable, and important victories are seldom won without risk, sacrifice and patience.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ENSOR: And after a breakfast meeting with the president, one of the leaders of the Democratic Party, the opposition party, had this to say about how she thinks the president should frame things tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: It's important for the president to tell the American people -- to give them a strategy for success. We simply haven't had that.

As I have said, the president wanted to go into Iraq in the worst possible way. And he did. The fact is it's time for us now to have, as Congress has called for, a strategy for success, a plan for the Iraq-itizing of this effort to turn the security over to the Iraqi military, and to do it in a way that makes America safer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ENSOR: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. CNN's David Ensor at the White House. Thank you, David.

And we do have this just in that we want to tell you about dealing with new information into the investigation of a Marine recruit death. We want to go now to CNN's Barbara Starr at the Pentagon who has the latest on this.

Barbara, what do you know?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, the Marine Corps has now completed an investigation into the death of 19- year-old Jason Tharp, a young Marine recruit who died, drowned in a Marine Corps swimming pool last February at Parris Island, South Carolina. This death came one day after Jason Tharp was seen at that same area being shoved by a Marine Corps drill instructor.

The Marine Corps has now concluded that the drowning death of Jason Tharp -- you see that video here -- that this drowning death of this young man was perhaps accidental but preventable. And that violations of procedures by several Marines led to this tragedy. Here is what they have found.

One, a water survival instructor failed to recognize that Jason Tharp was either too tired or unable to complete his swimming exercises that day, that the Marine Corps instructor should have seen that. He did not. And now that Marine Corps instructor is going to face an Article 32 hearing, the equivalent of a grand jury proceeding. He may eventually go to trial by court-martial, the Marines tell us.

Another water survival instructor violated procedure by telling Jason Tharp he would be thrown into the pool if he didn't get in under his own steam. That's a violation of procedure. This instructor will also face disciplinary action.

Third and fourth, the drill instructor that you see in that videotape shoving Jason Tharp, striking him, he will face disciplinary action, as will another Marine, a training instructor that was standing nearby, saw that entire shoving incident and failed to report it.

So the Marines moving very strictly against these four. One of these Marines now facing an Article 32 proceeding, could eventually go to court-martial depending on the charges that emerge -- Betty.

NGUYEN: So Barbara, to be clear, this death was accidental, but preventable, right?

STARR: That is what the Marines have found. There was no criminal activity in the drowning death of this young Marine.

It was accidental. No criminal intent. But several Marines now violating procedure, and that means the Marines say the death might have been preventable. If they had recognized what was going on, if they reported it, if they did not violate Marine Corps procedure, it might have been preventable.

So they are going to take all of this through the Marine Corps legal judicial process, see how it sorts out. But one Marine now facing an Article 32, the equivalent of a military grand jury proceeding in this death -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Thank you for that update.

Well, the violence is eroding public support for the war. And that continued today in Iraq.

A U.S. soldier was killed by a suicide car bomb attack near Balad, which is north of Baghdad. A member of Iraq's Transitional National Assembly died when a suicide car bomb attacked his convoy. Now, he is the second assembly member killed since the January elections.

And also in Baghdad today, seven people were killed in a wave of drive-by shootings. And a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the main entrance of a general hospital there. A police officer was killed and 17 people were wounded in that attack. So a very violent day in Iraq.

The first year of Iraq's return to sovereignty has taken its toll on U.S. forces battling the insurgency. Look at these numbers. Eight hundred eighty-one American troops died in the year since the handover from June 28 of last year to June 27 of this year. That is an average of more than two per day.

You'll want to tune in to CNN for comprehensive coverage of President Bush's address to the nation on Iraq tonight. It begins with a preview on "ANDERSON COOPER 360." That is at 7:00 Eastern, followed by the speech and response at 8:00 Eastern during "PAULA ZAHN NOW."

And "LARRY KING LIVE" will have analysis and reaction. That takes place at 9:00 Eastern.

The president will be speaking from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It is home to the 82nd Airborne and Special Forces. Nearly 15,000 Fort Bragg troops are deployed in the war on terror. Fort Bragg and neighboring Pope Air Force Base have suffered at least 87 deaths since the start of the war on terror.

CNN "Security Watch" now. Some former members of the 9/11 Commission are holding a discussion this morning on homeland security. This particular session is moderated by commission member and former senator, Bob Kerrey. The commissioner set up the 9/11 Public Discourse Project last summer after they issued their findings on the 2001 terror attacks. Now, they hope to educate the public on terrorism, as well as find ways to make the country safer.

And a pair of suspects go to federal court in New York late today for arraignment. U.S. citizens Rafiq Sabir and Tarik Shah face one count indictment. They're accused of providing support to al Qaeda. And federal agents say they caught the men in a sting. They also add that they taped many of the suspects' conversations. Defense lawyers call the case manufactured.

CNN "Security Watch" keeps you up to date on safety. So you'll want to stay tune both day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

After the confession. The BTK killer had his say in court. We will talk with a criminal profiler about the mind of a serial killer.

And is this deja vu? The French and British go to war. An historic battle with a today twist is coming up a little later in the show.

And doesn't this video make you just want to pinch her cheeks? Look at those. You will be so surprised at this baby's age, and, more importantly, her size. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

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NGUYEN: Here is some proof that some crooks, well, they just can't cut it. An off-duty cop jumped a would-be robber at a Brooklyn doughnut shop. His heroics were captured by a security camera, which you see here.

Officer Vincent Schiavarelli, on the force just two years, was stabbed during the scuffle, but we understand that he will be just fine. The robber, though, lost his loot during his hurry to get away, and police think that he needed the cash to buy gas to get to court to face a gun charge.

Well, because of all of this, he, of course, never showed up. But quite an amazing story there.

Also, in Kansas today, there is uncontrollable anger and inconsolable grief. This after Monday's confession from Dennis Rader to being the BTK killer. In a chillingly calm detail, the former church and scout leader admitted first killing Julie and Joseph Otero and two of their children in 1974. In all, Rader admitted killing 10 people over some 20 years, and we must warn you, Rader's confession is disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENNIS RADER, BTK KILLER: First of all, Mr. Otero was strangled -- or a bag put over his head and strangled. Then I thought he was going down. Then I went over and strangled Mrs. Otero. And I thought she was down.

Then I strangled Josephine, thought she was down. And then I went over to junior and put the bag on his head.

After that, Mrs. Otero woke back up and, you know, she was pretty upset, "What's going on?" So I came back, and at that point in time strangled her for the death strangle at that time.

JUDGE GREGORY WALLER: With your hands or what?

RADER: No. With a cord. With a rope.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Now, Charlie Otero, the couple's son, told CNN's Larry King that for all of Rader's answers, he believed -- he believes the confession raises many more questions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": What do you think? You think other people were involved?

CHARLIER OTERO, FAMILY MURDERED: I -- there is no way. He didn't explain how he dealt with my dog.

I believe wholeheartedly that my father was forewarned that something was wrong, that he knew something was going on. And I don't think we've heard the full story from Dennis Rader. He is a murderer and a liar.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: So there you have it. And there are other questions as well raised by Rader's confession, like why did he do it? And how did he avoid being caught for so long?

Deborah Schurman-Kauflin is an FBI-trained criminal profiler who studied serial killers for nearly 20 years now, including Dennis Rader. And she joins us today to talk about this.

We just heard Charlie Otero saying that he thinks that Rader is a liar. Is he a liar?

DEBORAH SCHURMAN-KAUFLIN, CRIMINAL PROFILER: Oh, he's definitely a liar. I mean, this is a professional con man who was able to be president -- president of his church congregation, and lead this double life as the BTK strangler.

NGUYEN: So can we believe any of what he said yesterday?

SCHURMAN-KAUFLIN: We can believe some of what he said yesterday, because he was simply going through what he did to his victims. And that, to him, he wouldn't feel the need to lie about. And it's verifiable, too.

NGUYEN: Well, what do you make of the matter of fact, very calm way that he described these killings? I think it was shocking to most people who watched it.

SCHURMAN-KAUFLIN: It was shocking to most people who watched it, but I've interviewed 25 of these killers on death row. That's exactly how they behave. They're very calm, very detached from their crimes, because they view people as objects.

You might note that when he spoke about killing the victims, he kept saying that he "put them down." Remember, he was an animal control officer, and you euthanize animals, you put them down. So he saw them no better than the victims, no better than any animal.

NGUYEN: Well, he also talked about how he stalked these victims, and he carried this kit with him. And describing those victims as his projects. I mean is this a man who sounds like he's boasting about what he has done?

SCHURMAN-KAUFLIN: Oh, he's certainly boasting about what he's done. I really believe that the BTK killer wanted to be this god amongst serial killers. And he was able to get away with these crimes for so long, while taunting police, which is unusual.

And so, yes, of course he was bragging, and it's ironic that he was in court yesterday talking about his crimes, but saying, "I'm not bragging about it." But he sure was.

NGUYEN: Yes, which is a question I think a lot of people were thinking, too, is the way that he talked about it. And just the fact that he came out and gave such graphic detail. Is this his way of saying, you know what, I am the BTK killer and I'm going to go down in history as this man?

SCHURMAN-KAUFLIN: That's exactly right. I think he could not stand the thought that somebody else might get credit for his crimes. So he wanted to go through them step by step, in detail.

It was a way for hip to relive the murders. And it was a way for him to hurt the victims' families again.

NGUYEN: So do you think had it not been for these letters that he had sent to different members of the media, would he have been caught?

SCHURMAN-KAUFLIN: Had he not resurfaced? I think there is a very good chance he would not have been apprehended.

NGUYEN: Now why is that? Because you did a profile on him back in 2000, where a lot of what you found in your profile really fits who he is.

SCHURMAN-KAUFLIN: Right. And again, he really paid attention to what the media was saying about him, because he had read that, taking my profile, renamed it his because it hit him so accurately, and sent it in to police.

So he basically again was bragging, saying, hey, I'm right here under your noses. This profiler hit me on the nose. Why aren't you coming to get me?

NGUYEN: My last question to you, you've been doing this for some 20 years now.

SCHURMAN-KAUFLIN: That's right.

NGUYEN: What is the motivation? He mentioned yesterday about these sexual fantasies. Is that the motivation behind these killings?

SCHURMAN-KAUFLIN: These killers pair sex and violence at a very young age. And as they go through life, they want to act out these fantasies.

You know, all our fantasies are very -- fantasies are perfect. We all have them so that we can handle everyday life. But for the serial killer, they want to make their deviant fantasies into a reality, and it does drive their behaviors. They want to make the crime scene match the pictures in their heads.

NGUYEN: Very, very disturbing. Deborah Schurman-Kauflin, a criminal profiler. Thank you for that insight.

SCHURMAN-KAUFLIN: Thank you.

NGUYEN: Well, the upcoming Live 8 concerts are aimed at helping the poor in Africa. But has anything changed since the last Live Aid concert in 1985? After the break, we will look at some questions about the plan. Could the money be better spent in other ways? We'll tackle that.

And the queen of England is off to see a battle between her homeland and France. But, no worries. It's all friendly this time around.

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NGUYEN: In Utah this morning, new fires are reported near the Nevada border, while fire crews are beating back blazes in other parts of the state. Near St. George, the west side complex fire, well, that stretches over 68,000 acres. And officials say it's expected to be fully contained by tonight.

In New Harmony, a fire has grown to nearly 15,000 acres. Hundreds of residents are under evacuation orders. Crews did manage though to beat back the blaze and save nearby homes.

WE want to get a check of the weather. Maybe Mother Nature will be helping out some time today. Jill Brown is in the weather center for that.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well, they just can't get along. The French and British are at it again, duking it out. Later today, why is this battle -- why does it have a friendlier tone? A live report from Portsmouth, England, is coming up.

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