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CNN Live Today

Bush Administration Defends Wiretap Program by NSA; Troops Stretched Too Thin?; Palestinians Vote

Aired January 25, 2006 - 10:59   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's take a look at what's happening right "Now in the News."
These pictures from earlier today. A number of boathouse fires, three in a row from Portland, Oregon, catching on fire. This happened -- it broke out at about 6:30 a.m. local time.

It quickly spread from one boathouse to another. A lot of flammable material, like the fiberglass and fuel. And the close proximity of the structure is making it difficult to knock down the flames there along the Columbia River.

Also in the news today, the full Senate debates Samuel Alito's Supreme Court nomination. It's believed that Alito already has enough votes to be confirmed. Republicans want to get him on the bench before President Bush's State of the Union Address on Tuesday.

Two new reports suggest the Army is being stretched way too thin. According to The Associated Press, one of the reports says the Army can't sustain deployments to Iraq long enough to beat the insurgents. It warns of a catastrophic decline in recruitment and reenlistment.

We will talk about this with CNN military analyst, retired Army Brigadier General James Marks in just a moment.

In Massachusetts, a jury is deciding whether an inmate was legally insane, as his lawyers claim, when he killed convicted pedophile John Geoghan. Deliberations began yesterday for Joseph Druce, who admitted strangling Geoghan in his cell in 2003. Geoghan was a central figure in the priest sex abuse scandal.

Police say there are no obvious signs of foul play in the death of actor Chris Penn. His body was found in his California condominium yesterday. Penn was 40. He appeared in such movies as "Mulholland Falls," "Footloose" and "Reservoir Dogs." He was Sean Penn's brother.

Autopsy say -- an autopsy -- well, authorities say an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.

Good morning. And welcome to CNN LIVE TODAY. Let's check some of the time around the world.

Just after 6:00 p.m. in Gaza, where Palestinians are going to the polls, and just after 11:00 a.m. in the nation's capital.

From CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Daryn Kagan. We begin with a very public visit to a once super-secret agency. President Bush heads to the National Security Agency in Fort Meade, Maryland, next hour. It is part of the White House campaign to defend the NSA eavesdropping programming that allows wiretaps without warrants.

More now from National Security Correspondent David Ensor, who is in Washington.

David, hello.

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Well, as you say, President Bush will make a virtue out of necessity today. He must answer critics who charge his authorization of surveillance of Americans by the National Security Agency is illegal.

Today's visit is designed to highlight the administration's argument that the NSA surveillance is only of communications where one side is outside of the United States and where one side is suspected of al Qaeda ties. The visit is part, as you mentioned, of a campaign this week which began with a rare public appearance by the nation's number two intelligence officer, himself a former head of the National Security Agency.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. MICHAEL HAYDEN, DEPUTY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DIR.: This isn't a drift net out there where we're soaking up everyone's communications. We are going after very specific communications that our professional judgment tells us we have reason to believe are those associated with people who want to kill Americans. That's what we're doing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ENSOR: The president will speak to the workforce out at NSA and then briefly to the rest of us. We may hear a similar theme -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ad what are some of the critics saying, David?

ENSOR: Well, looking at the NSA, it's the largest national intelligence agency with vast power to eavesdrop. And the critics are charging the president, by authorizing some surveillance of Americans without a warrant from the special court set up for that purpose 28 years ago, has very simple broken the law.

KAGAN: David Ensor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM BAMFORD, AUTHOR, "BODY OF SECRETS": The NSA is the most powerful and most dangerous agency in the entire country when it comes to privacy. That's why they created a foreign intelligence survey court as a buffer. It's the only buffer, the only firewall between this enormously dangerous and powerful agency and the American public. And if you take that buffer and break down that firewall, then there's no protections.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ENSOR: So this is all part of a powerful argument over how much privacy and how much security Americans want to have -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ad it is an ongoing debate. David, thank you.

Let's get some more insight into the National Security Agency and domestic spying. Patrick Radden Keefe is author of the book "Chatter." And he was a guest on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATRICK RADDEN KEEFE, AUTHOR, "CHATTER": I think it's much more the connections. There's a misconception which is that if you say "bomb" or "jihad" on the phone, the computers at the NSA are going to pick it up right away. But if you think about it, first of all, the NSA is much more sophisticated than that in terms of the way they're going about this. And second, the terrorists are more sophisticated, too.

I mean, they know very well that people are listening. And they know better than to use those words on the phone.

Well, I think it is a cat-and-mouse game. I mean, I think it's very difficult to say on any given day.

We certainly have heard that this particular program has in some cases provided information that has averted disaster. So, for instance, there was the operation on the Brooklyn Bridge which was supposedly averted because of information gained from this particular wiretapping program.

But having said that, there's all of those false leads the FBI is chasing down. So it's difficult to say on any given day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: And that interview was from "AMERICAN MORNING," which airs weekdays from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

New questions this morning about military readiness and the strain from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Two reports paint a picture of an Army stretched to the breaking point. One was written by a retired army officer under a Pentagon contract.

According to The Associated Press, his report says the Army has become a thin green line that could snap unless there is relief soon. That report also suggests that an overextended Army is part of the reason for reducing U.S. forces in Iraq. And it points to the Army's 2005 recruiting slump as evidence. The other report was released just a short time ago by Senate Democrats. They were joined by former secretary of state Madeleine Albright.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, FMR. SECRETARY OF STATE: I do think we have the best military in the world that is fully capable. But as this report says, it is under strain, and it is that strain and that strain going forward that is of concern to me because it will make it much more complicated for us to fulfill our responsibilities and also, frankly, to work with our allies in a variety of places so that we can take care of many of these problems with their help.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Top Pentagon brass deny that the Army is near the breaking point. Last week, the Army secretary called today's troops the most capable, best trained and most experienced in over a decade.

Joining us from Washington to share his perspective is CNN military analyst retired Army Brigadier General James "Spider" Marks.

General, good morning. Thanks for being here.

BRIG. GEN. JAMES MARKS, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Good morning, Daryn. How are you?

KAGAN: I'm doing good. The bigger question is, how is the Army doing? Is it near the breaking point?

MARKS: Well, it's not near a breaking point, but truly it is stretched very, very thin. The study that Andy Krepinevich did for the Pentagon indicates that the military, with its deployments and with the requirements that are on the plate right now, is reaching a point where not only is it stretched thin, but you have to start making some real calculations in terms of when you think it might break.

Now, there are a bunch of indicators that lead you to that kind of a conclusion that it's -- that it might be inevitable. It's not inevitable, and the Army is taking on an effort to ensure that it doesn't break. But, in fact, it is stretched very thin.

What you have is soldiers with multiple deployments back to Iraq and Afghanistan. How long can they sustain that? How long can their families sign up for that type of a deployment posture?

So the real question is, how -- if this is true, and it is stretched thin, what are the signs that it might break? And then, what can you do to ameliorate it? What can you do to fix it?

What does the recruiting look like, and what does the end strength of the Army look like? And frankly, the Army is on a path to increase temporarily -- I'm not sure exactly what that means -- but temporarily up to 30 additional thousand soldiers. The real thing is, can you sustain that number over the hump of the requirements that exist right now? And how long do they last?

KAGAN: Or more specifically, General, can the Army keep going long enough to outrun the insurgency in Iraq?

MARKS: Well, here's the definition. That's exactly the case. The definition of an insurgency, generally they are normalized, which means they either achieve their goals or they are irrelevant after about nine years. Just look at history and that's what it tells you.

We have been at -- we have been at this fight for three years. Now, it doesn't mean that the U.S. is going to exclusively be the lead agent in a fight specifically in Iraq for the next six years. There's a great effort to grab coalition partners and try to normalize it through the growth of the Iraqi security forces. That's the key question, what part of this are the Iraqis going to be able to take on in the long term so that the U.S. can down size?

KAGAN: Two quick questions for you. General, if you were still in the Army, would we be able to have an honest conversation, or would you have a different spin?

MARKS: I think there would -- well, of course you would have an honest conversation. Look at what you hear from George Casey and what you hear from John Abizaid, the two leaders that are taking on the effort in Iraq very specifically. They will tell you where they are stretched thin, and they are not bashful about saying what needs to be done and how it needs to be done in terms of making the fixes.

KAGAN: And finally, as a military man, do you think this kind of debate is healthy to talk about this in public or it undermines support for the troops?

MARKS: No, I think it is very healthy. You've got to have a public debate.

I mean, the military absolutely understands that. And they know who their bosses are, too. I mean, it's civilian-led -- civilian leadership of the military.

It is important. And I've got to tell you, you know, the troops at the very lowest levels, those that are doing the heavy lifting and making the sacrifices, frankly are not affected by this. They have a job to do and they'll get about doing it.

KAGAN: Retired Army Brigadier General James "Spider" Marks.

General, thank you for your time this morning.

MARKS: Thanks, Daryn.

KAGAN: We do expect to hear the Pentagon's response to these reports about the strain on the military later today. We will have live coverage of the Pentagon briefing 1:30 p.m. Eastern, live right here on CNN. Right now, though, we want to head to the Middle East.

Polls are set to close in less than an hour in the West Bank and Gaza. Palestinians are voting in their first parliamentary in a decade, and the results could bring Islamic militants into the political mainstream.

CNN's Ben Wedeman reports from Gaza.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): They voted early. Many came directly from dawn prayers at the mosque, supporters of the militant Islamic group Hamas. Well organized, many eager to cast a protest vote against the ruling mainstream Fatah faction.

Waiting to vote, these women were keen to see Fatah cut down to size.

"Fatah hasn't done anything for us, for our children," she says. "Fatah only helps itself," complains another. "We want to see what Hamas can do for us."

Some had to raise their veils to prove their identity.

While outside the polling stations, campaign workers, green for Hamas, yellow for Fatah, stand ready to make one last pitch.

Nila Ayesh (ph) her husband Jamal (ph) are worried about the message Hamas is sending to Palestinians.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The things that they told the woman -- they told the woman, if you'll not vote for Hamas, it means that at the end god will punish you.

WEDEMAN: Nila (ph) was the only woman at this voting station in the Shate (Ph) refugee camp who didn't wear a headscarf. She and her husband cast their ballots for the Third Way (ph), a secular pro- reform anti-corruption party. The days when Fatah called the shots, Jamal (ph) believes, are over.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think Fatah will not be the only ruling party. Monopolizing (ph) of the political system is finished.

WEDEMAN: Also voting early, Fatah chairman and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. A top Hamas man in Gaza, Mahmoud (INAUDIBLE). Both bracing, along with millions of Palestinians, for what could be a monumental change in Palestinian politics.

(on camera): Regardless of who actually wins this election, Fatah, Hamas, whoever, what is clear is that Palestinians of all ages take their democracy seriously.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Shate (ph) refugee camp, Gaza.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And now to a story that shows the lengths that some people will go just to cast their vote.

One Palestinian woman says she walked for almost an hour to get to her polling station. She walked along the controversial separation barrier built by Israel. She says she had to climb over a portion of the barrier and then through a small passage. Many others had to take the same route.

Elsewhere in the Mideast today, doctors for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met with representatives from a long-term care facility. The hospital won't say if there are plans to move Mr. Sharon anytime soon. He has been hospitalized in a coma since suffering a massive stroke on January 4.

Still to come, he has toured the world, sending out an SOS, putting a message in a bottle and walking on the moon, but there is more to Stewart Copeland than his path with the Police. The famous drummer is now also a filmmaker.

We'll talk to him live from the Sundance Film Festival in just a few minutes.

And later, communist China welcomes Google, but it's a very different Web site than the one we know here in the states.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Well, here is an interesting match-up for you. It is round one for the colonel and none for actress Pamela Anderson.

A bust of Colonel Sanders will keep its place in the Kentucky state capitol. Governor Ernie Fletcher maintains the KFC legacy has been good for the state and calls Sanders a Kentucky icon.

Anderson is involved with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and she says that Sanders' chief legacy is a company that mutilates god's creatures.

So there you have it. A bust will remain of the colonel. Good stuff.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: Talking Google today. Do you Google? Well, of course you do, but Googling in China will turn up much different results than Googling here in the U.S.

Coming up, CNN's Mike Chinoy gives us a look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Pretty picture of Park City, Utah, site of the Sundance Film Festival. Stars and film executives and fancy people showing up and looking at some of the new movies from now through Sunday. It doesn't look like there's too much snow on the ground there in Park City, but Jacqui Jeras, you're looking at Portland, Maine. They've got plenty of the white stuff coming down, don't they?

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, then do.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: And we are talking about Durham. Jacqui knew her stuff. How much do you know about Durham, North Carolina?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would venture to say it's the diet capital of the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The diet capital of the world. Coming up, we'll explain why so many overweight people are saying destination Durham.

And coming up right after the break, he is a prolific percussionist-turned-documentary filmmaker. My guest, Stewart Copeland of the Police.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART COPELAND, "EVERYONE STARES": So, in the summer of 1979, we're back in Europe to do the summer festivals on TV. We're pretty low down on the bill at these big shows, so get the afternoon slots. Big bands get to play under a light show. New bands play in daylight

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: And that's the voice of Stewart Copeland, drummer of one of the biggest rock bands ever, The Police. He just debuted a film made of home movies that he himself took during the band's early days.

The film is called "Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out."

Stewart Copeland is my guest today from the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

Stewart, good morning. Thanks for being here with us.

COPELAND: It's a pleasure, Daryn, nice to see you.

KAGAN: Well, take us back to those days, the climbing heydays of the police. How does it turn out that you are running around with a super eight camera? Was the idea to record this for prosperity or just for kicks?

COPELAND: Well, it was for kicks, primarily. Buying the camera -- you know, when bands are on the road, they rape and pillage. KAGAN: So I've heard.

COPELAND: But the modern version of that is shopping. The modern version is shopping. And so I bought this camera.

And of course the minute I raised it up, I felt like Cecil B. DeMille. But it kind of coincided -- the day I got the camera was the day that the rocket ship ignited and we started to go up

KAGAN: Really. And what a ride it was.

COPELAND: Oh, yes.

KAGAN: Starting small. We see that in the movie, until just about the height of the band.

COPELAND: Well, it went from the very bottom, the bitty bottom, to the tippy top. You know, I've got the classic shot of Sting with a bass in one hand and a Samsonite in the other hand kicking open the door of his hotel. You know, that's something you don't see anymore.

KAGAN: But -- so it shows that and the rides, but not so much the coming down part, where things weren't quite as pretty and as happy in the final two years.

Why not?

COPELAND: Well, you know, I don't have any footage of the band arguing or anything that's not cheerful. All the footage -- what surprised me when I dug this film out of the shoeboxes where it had been sitting for 20 years was how happy we were.

We actually enjoyed the ride. We enjoyed each other's company. And there's this myth that we fought all the time, The Police is always fighting.

I sort of believed it myself. Except when I look at this footage, I realize that we actually were very -- you know, were very fond of each other and enjoyed each other's company. The ride was a lot of goofs. We spent most of the time goofing off.

KAGAN: So it must have been fun to go back 20 years later and look through all this film. How, though, did it go from that to making a debut at Sundance, one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world?

COPELAND: Well, it was interesting. You know, this film was shot by a 25-year-old rock star, and it was edited by a 50-something- year-old guy, you know, father of many.

And it really should have been a home movie. I made it for Sting and Andy, really, just, you know, a collection of shots, hey, guys, rember this.

And on the off chance, I sent it to Sundance, paid my 35 bucks and sent it to festival, and then forgot about it. You know, I'm a film composer by trade these days, and I was working on a score, which is what I do. And I was struggling when the phone rings just the day before Thanksgiving and it's Trevor Groth from the Sundance Film Festival.

Oh my god. And it's -- my life has been a nuclear explosion since that day.

KAGAN: Well, we're part -- we're glad that we are part of that explosion.

What did Sting and Andy Summers think once they saw the film?

COPELAND: Well, they both -- they both are very supportive. And Andy is particularly -- when we showed the movie here, Andy got a standing ovation from the audience at the Eccles Theater here at Sundance. That made me...

KAGAN: And for those of us that -- go ahead.

COPELAND: That made me feel very good because Andy kind of steals the movie. He is the star of this movie. Just, he has a -- he has a hit. You know, he lights up the camera

KAGAN: And for those of us that grew up with The Police, got to ask, any chance of a reunion?

COPELAND: You had to ask that.

KAGAN: I did.

COPELAND: You're paid to ask that.

KAGAN: Absolutely. That's my day job.

COPELAND: And I wish I could give you the answer that a lot of people want to hear. But no, I don't see it happening.

You know, if someone invites all three of us to a wedding and if there's enough champagne, we might get up and play "Roxanne" or something. That's what happened at the last wedding we were all at.

So we do -- so now we just do weddings and bar mitzvahs.

KAGAN: OK. If I can come up with either one, I'll give you a call.

COPELAND: All right.

KAGAN: All right.

Thank you so much. Stewart Copeland, good luck with the movie.

COPELAND: Thanks, Daryn.

KAGAN: And thanks for sharing the memories as well. Stewart Copeland, formerly of The Police, now his day job, as you heard, scoring movies and putting together his old films in this movie about "The Police Inside Out."

Let's go ahead and take a look at what's happening "Now in the News."

The full Senate has started debating Samuel Alito's Supreme Court nomination. Live pictures from Capitol Hill.

You see Senator Ted Kennedy, who has been very vocal in his disapproval of Samuel Alito. But Alito did win approval from the Judiciary Committee on a party line vote yesterday. You saw that live here on CNN.

Republicans say the conservative judge already has enough commitments from senators to be confirmed, which will or could likely tilt the high court to the right.

Disturbing new warnings about U.S. military readiness. The Associated Press says a report for the Pentagon finds that the Army has been stretched too thin by frequent rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan. And the Democrats have just released a report warning of the strain and risks facing the military.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will likely address some of this during a Pentagon briefing two hours from now. CNN will bring that to you live.

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