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The Situation Room
La Nina To Bring Bad Weather; Strong Winds In New Orleans
Aired February 02, 2006 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: To our viewers, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM where new pictures and information are arriving all the time. Standing by, CNN reporters across the United States and around the world to cover the day's top stories. Happing now: Triple threats to America, it's 7:00 p.m. here in Washington. Officials are weighing risks to the nation. We'll talk security and spying with the leading senator, Dianne Feinstein.
Also this hour, in Detroit, a massive show of force before Super Bowl Sunday, in the air, on the water and on the ground. We'll show you what's in store for terrorists if they dared to strike.
And people are calling it outrageous and repulsive, there's no end for the horror of puppies being used to smuggle heroin, new details tonight on the deadly and disturbing plot. I'm Wolf Blitzer, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM
Tonight, national security threats, political threats and a verbal slugfest on Capitol Hill. Senators and the Bush administration's top intelligence officials Wednesday head to head on Iran's nuclear defiance and the president's domestic spying program.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: (voice-over): The most dangerous threats to America ranked and dissected by national Security insiders. Still at the top of the list, Al Qaeda-led terrorists, but National Intelligence direct John Negroponte says nuclear defiance by North Korea and particularly Iran are a close second. Negroponte says the Tehran government probably does not have a nuclear weapon yet, but:
JOHN NEGROPONTE, NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR: The danger that will -- it will acquire a nuclear weapon and the ability to integrate if with ballistic missiles Iran already possesses is a reason for immediate concern.
BLITZER: This is knowing grow Ponte's first public testimony before Congress since taking the intelligence director job. And Senate democrats were eager to grill him about what they see about American's privacy and to their own oversight authority, the president's secret order of domestic wiretaps without court warrants.
SEN. JAY ROCKEFELLER (D), INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: This rationale of withholding information from Congress is flat out unacceptable and nothing more than political smoke.
NEGROPONTE: Those programs are under the strictest possible oversight. They're reviewed, legally, with the greatest of care.
SEN. RON WYDEN (D), INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: We have no way to verify that citizens are being protected the way you have outlined today.
BLITZER: Some republicans on the panel came at the spying controversy from a different angle. They charge the leak of classified information about the surveillance program is a threat in and of itself. CIA director Porter Goss chimed in.
PORTER GOSS, CIA DIRECTOR: And I'm sorry to tell you at that damage has been very severe to our capabilities to carry out our mission.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And look for even more fireworks over spying next week when the Senate Judiciary Committee opens hearings on the legality of the president's program. We're going to speak with Senator Dianne Feinstein momentarily. She's a member of the Judiciary Committee also a member of the Intelligence Committee. We'll go to her in a moment, but first let's go to another shakeup today on Capitol Hill.
Republicans hope it will help them overcome setbacks and distance them from scandal. John Boehner of Ohio now is now the House majority leader replacing the indicted Congressman Tom DeLay. Boehner scored an upset victory today during a closed-door vote. Our congressional correspondent, Ed Henry, has the details -- Ed.
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, in fact within the last couple of hours, President Bush has actually called John Boehner to congratulate on that victory over Blunt, even then he called Blunt. Even though he lost, Blunt is sticking around now as No. 3 in the republican leadership, his previous job. And the president realizes that he needs this new team to work together to get the legislate agenda, here on Capitol Hill, back on track. And republicans up here decided they also need to deal with their political problems. Heading into the midterm elections, they felt that Roy Blunt was too close to Tom DeLay who had been pushed aside amid all of those ethics scandals. Boehner realizes he has a lot to deal with, a lot on his shoulder and he is ready to tackle it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: We came here to do our work on behalf of the American people. I've never came here because I wants to be a Congressman. I came here to help solve the problems that the American people face every day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: But democrats are already charging tonight that Boehner is status quo. He's not really a reformer. They point out he's always been close to lobbyists. He also use to be a member of the republican leadership. He's back again. Hardly an outsider, in that sense. Democrats charging that they believe this is really more of the same, not change at a time when that's what voters are looking for -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right Ed. Thank you very much. Ed Henry on Capitol Hill.
Let's go into a leading democrat now. As I said, on both the Judiciary and Intelligence Committee, Senator Dianne Feinstein of California.
Senator, thanks very much for joining us.
SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D), JUDICIARY AND INTELLIGENCE CMTS: You're welcome.
BLITZER: You were there during those hearings today, were you reassured by what you heard from these intelligence officials that this domestic spying program is legal?
FEINSTEIN: No, I was not. You know, let me begin by saying this, Wolf. Every single one of us believes that there should be the right to wiretap terrorists or people connected to terrorists. There's no question about that. The problem is there is a secret foreign intelligence court that gives out these warrants that makes the tap legal. And the administration has refused to use that process. So they have, many of us believe, violated the law. But the president contends he has the absolute authority to violate that law.
We believe on intelligence; if there's a problem with the law, tell us, we'll fix it. If the law doesn't move fast enough, tell us, we'll fix it. If there aren't enough judges, let us know, we'll fund it. We want to do this, but we want to do it in a way that protects people's rights and is within the law. And that's -- that's the diametric that's going on here.
BLITZER: The -- you're demanding certain documents, giving the legal authorization for the president to go ahead with this plan be made available to your committee, respective committees. I want to you listen to what the attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, told our Kelli Arena earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL: What we're trying to protect is the ability of lawyers within the department and the very open and candid debate about some of these complicated legal issues.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: You understand why they don't want to make those documents available to you?
FEINSTEIN: Well, it is very important that the documents that state the legal basis for the president to do what he's doing, to give the order to do this, and also to give the order -- that was very clearly established today -- not to inform the Intelligence Committees, which is a violation of another law, that that is within his authority as president. Now, there are a whole host of legal authorities, very well-known and respected law professors, who say it is not within his authority. This is a criminal statute. It comes all electronic surveillance within the United States.
BLITZER: But, Senator, have you concluded already at that president of the United States broke the law?
FEINSTEIN: No, there's no conclusions reached. I spent yesterday talking with Mr. Bradberry who is head of the Office of Legal Council trying to ask some questions and get some answer. We had a full day of hearing, today in intelligence opened in the morning, closed in the afternoon and Monday, on the legal points, we will begin hearings in judiciary on the power that the president has, and whether that power is within the law. But, remember, every one of us want him to be able to tap phones of anyone who would commit an act of terror or be connected to it in the United States. But we don't know who else is in that wiretap or what's happening to that information.
BLITZER: As you know, Senator, there are democrats who are already calling for the naming of an independent council, a special prosecutor to investigate. Is that appropriate right now?
FEINSTEIN: Oh, I think it is appropriate. But, I think we should also do our due diligence. Part of the problem is, we can't do this in one hearing, which is the only hearing that scheduled in Judiciary, and the only witness is the attorney general. We need to have those papers. I strongly believe that if possible, a subpoena should be used if necessary to get the necessary papers so that we can see exactly what legal advice the president is operating under.
BLITZER: Senator Dianne Feinstein, we'll be covering those hearings Monday morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee. Thanks very much for joining us.
FEINSTEIN: You're very welcome.
BLITZER: Senator Dianne Feinstein of California.
Let's go up to New York right now. Jack Cafferty is standing by with the "The Cafferty File." Hi Jack.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Hi Wolf. How you doing? The woman who murdered her five children by drowning them in a bathtub left jail this morning. Andrea Yates was convicted of murder in 2002 and sentenced to life in prison. But last year, a state appeals court overturned her conviction and ordered a new trial. Seems an expert witness gave some inaccurate testimony about an episode of "Law and Order," a television show. Presto, new trial for you. Yates was released on $200,000 bond and ordered held in a mental hospital until her new trial. Her lawyer says she is, quote, "Severely mentally ill," unquote. The answer is this: Does Andrea Yates belongs in prison or a mental hospital?
E-mail us at caffertyfile@cnn.com or you can go to cnn.com/caffertyfile. Or you can go to Wolf's house and read the stuff on his computer. BLITZER: If it hasn't crashed. Thanks very much, Jack, for that.
Coming up, patrons at a gay bar attached by a hatchet another shot in the face. We'll have the latest on the search for the teenaged suspect in what police say may have been a hate crime.
Also, super security over at the Super Bowl, a remarkable behind the scenes look at what's being done to keep the game safe from terrorism.
Plus, we'll have new details of a story that has sparked international outrage. Drug smugglers surgically implanting heroin in puppies. We'll hear how this scheme was uncovered. Stay with us.
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BLITZER: Fighting fat with a simple pill. How close is science to a simple weight-loss solution? We'll show you what the future may hold, here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
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BLITZER: Right now in Massachusetts, there's a massive manhunt for a gay-bashing hatchet man. This is an incredible story. CNN's Deborah Feyerick is joining us now live with details -- Deb.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN NEW CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, there's a candlelight vigil going on just behind me at the lounge where that shooting took place. The people there sending a message that hate has no place in New Bedford. There's really a sense of disbelief among many here that something like this could happen, as they learn the details about this shooting.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): It was just before midnight at the "Puzzles Lounge," a small crowded bar, when a man in a black-hooded sweatshirt walked in.
PHILIP, BARTENDER: He had asked me whether or not this was a gay bar and I confirmed with him at that time that, yes, it was a gay bar.
FEYERICK: The bartender asked that we call him "Philip" and said something about the guy didn't seem right.
PHILIP: He showed no emotion. It was a stone cold look on his face the whole time.
FEYERICK: The bartender's instincts were correct, a night out ending in bloodshed and an all-out manhunt for an 18-year-old, identified by police, as Jacob Robida.
CAPT. RICHARD SPIRLET, NEW BEDFORD POLICE: He's definitely considered armed and dangerous and he has extreme violent tendencies. FEYERICK: Police and witnesses Robida approached two men playing pool in the back of the bar. After watching them for a few minutes he reached into his jacket and pulled out a hatchet.
PHILIP: He went after one of the customers that was playing pool.
FEYERICK: Police say Robida struck a second man in the face with a hatchet then dropped it after a customer tackled him. That's when police say he pulled out the gun.
SPIRLET: One of the individuals was shot in the back and another individual was shot in the chest.
FEYERICK: They survived and are in critical condition. A third man also shot is in good condition. The district attorney is investigating whether the shooter knew any of his victims.
PAUL WALSH, DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Whether it was personal, we don't know or whether it was just sexual orientation, we don't know that either.
FEYERICK: Robida lives with his mother in a modest home on a quiet street. Upstairs neighbor Laura DeCosta has known Jacob Robida since he was a child says he sleeps most of the day, going out mostly at night.
LAURA DECOSTA, NEIGHBOR: He stays to himself and he has the room -- all swastika (ph) and then and that, you know. And he belongs to -- he walks with a clique, you know, he doesn't -- he doesn't like anybody.
FEYERICK: New Bedford is the same town where in 1983, a woman was gang raped in a pool table while bar-goers watched. The crime became the movie "The Accuses." And though the town does have a high crime rate, Mayor Scott Lang says the attack on the "Puzzles Lounge" is highly unusual.
MAYOR SCOTT LANG, NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS: People get along here very well. We're not going to be able -- obviously, we don't tolerate this. We won't. I know the D.A. will prosecute this to the fullest extent of the law.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FEYERICK: Now, the manhunt is on. Robida is described as being extremely violent and possibly suicidal. He did suffer an injury during this attack. Police thought that he might seek out medical attention. The district attorney says that once caught, he does plan to charge him with three counts of assault and attempted murder, and of course, if this is found to a hate crime, he would get an additional 10 years above whatever sentence he receives -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Deb Feyerick reporting for us. Thanks very much. But he's still on the loose. Still to come her on THE SITUATION ROOM ,it's America's biggest sporting event and a prime target for terrorists, potentially. We'll show you how U.S. and Canadian officials are preparing for a worst- case scenario.
Plus, fresh on the heels of a devastating record hurricane season, there's news now of a weather phenomenon, get this, that could make this year even worse. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
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BLITZER: In our "Security Watch" tonight, a stadium packed with spectators, a national television audience. Is Al Qaeda eying the Super Bowl as I possible target? There is some concern. As a result, a massive security operation is now underway to protect America's biggest game and all that goes with it this weekend. Let's go live to Detroit. CNN's Brian Todd is standing by. He's had extraordinary access -- Brian.
BRIAN TODD, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, that's right. Just two weeks after Osama bin Laden's latest threat to attack America, I've witnessed an extraordinary force here, that U.S. and Canadians officials hope they never have to use as they gear up to protect America's most watched sporting event.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice-over): When's the last time you saw a helicopter try to steer away a plane in mid flight? Or one speed boat nearly collide with another on the border of U.S. and Canada? This is what awaits terrorists should they attempt to target Super Bowl XL in Detroit.
(on camera): This will give you an idea of the huge security concerns for the Super Bowl. Look how close Ford Field is to the Detroit River. The border of U.S. border to Canada runs right up the middle of that river and then hundreds of miles north to adjoining rivers and lakes.
(voice-over): We flew in joint airspace along with Commander Bob Makowski of the U.S. Coast Guard who explained his challenge heading off pilots who violate airspace.
CMDR. BOB MAKOWSKI, U.S. COAST GUARD: An unfamiliar pilot, we don't know what they're going to do. They don't really know what we're going to do.
TODD: This year, U.S. security officials have partners, coordinating like never before with the Canadian counterparts. Both countries are under North American Aerospace Defense Command, NORAD, that will have fighter jets and helicopters enforcing a 30-mile fright restriction on Super Sunday.
On the water, just for this event, heavily armed American boats can cross into waters. American officers can board Canadian vessels to chase suspects. The Canadians can do the same. BOATSWAIN 1ST CLASS, CURTIS TAFT, U.S. COAST GUARD: You look for anything out of the usual, such as small vessels traveling at a high rate of speed that don't appear to be, you know, acknowledging that have you a zone in place.
TODD: With the sheer mileage of the open border space on the water, we asked Coast Guard Admiral Robert Papp, coordinator of all U.S. Homeland Security Agencies for the Super Bowl, where the vulnerabilities are.
REAR ADM. ROBERT PAPP, U.S. COAST GUARD: These are the places, though, where you have the biggest challenge, where you have virtually just a couple hundred yards. A boat can get across in five minutes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TODD: Now, that potential threat is why Homeland Security officials have set up a very tight security zone along the Detroit waterfront. Now, that does not cover hundreds of square miles of borders area in adjacent rivers and lake that stretch way up into Canada. But, as of right now, we have to tell you, Canadian and U.S. security officials tell us there is no specific credible threat, at the moment, that they know of, to Super Bowl XL -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Let's hope it stays that way. Brian Todd in Detroit. He's going to have a lot more for us tomorrow. Good work, Brian.
Speaking of the Super Bowl, we want to, first of all, make sure you stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security. Speaking of the Super Bowl some truckers want Coca- Cola to pull its Super Bowl ad. Ali Velshi's here with the "Bottom Line."
What's going on, Ali?
ALI VELSHI, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Now Wolf, you're -- you work a lot, you stand a lot. You take those energy drinks ever?
BLITZER: No.
VELSHI: All right, well this is about the energy drinks. The controversy, right now, with two days to go to the Super Bowl, is over an ad that Coca-Cola has placed and it's for their product called "Full Throttle."
Now, "Full Throttle" is competitor to "Red Bull." Right? These are these highly caffeinated energy drinks. And what it shows in the ad that you're watching right now, is a truck that's pulling a big "Full Throttle" can, running a smaller vehicle off the road. The smaller vehicle, believe it or not is adorned with an ad of "Red Bull." The idea is -- I think the slogan is, "get your mad out -- let your mad out," I think it was. Now, the American Trucking Association is a little annoyed by this whole thing because they're saying that it reinforcing negative stereotypes of truckers as unsafe on the road.
Coke has responded to CNN by saying that the ad they were looking at, that they were commenting on was a rough cut of the ad and the ad that's actually going to air during the Super Bowl is a different one altogether. It will be the last 30-second spot running during the Super Bowl. Coke is not buying an ad during the game itself. Pepsi is buying an ad for a lot of money -- Wolf.
BLITZER: I'm sure they are. Thanks very much, Ali, for that. Ali Velshi with the "Bottom Line."
Let's check in with CNN's Anderson Cooper for a preview of what's coming up on his program later tonight -- Anderson.
ANDERSON COOPER, "ANDERSON COOPER 360": Hey, Wolf, yeah. Tonight at 10:00 p.m. Eastern on "360," the Entwistle murders, a mother and her baby girl killed in their Massachusetts home. One day after their funerals, no sign of the husband in England, but police here in the U.S. have seized his SUV, it was left at Logan Airport and they are searching it. They're also still searching for the murder weapon. They aren't calling the husband a suspect, but say he's a person of interest. We'll have the latest on the investigation.
Plus, danger lurking in your home. Wait till you see what could be hiding in your pillows and make you sick. That and more on "360" tonight at 10:00 Easter -- Wolf.
BLITZER: We'll be watching, Anderson. Thanks very much. Anderson Cooper.
Just ahead in, New Orleans, residents are asking, what else can happen? Two tornadoes -- get this -- tear through places already devastated by Hurricane Katrina. We'll show you the damage. And ABC anchor, Bob Woodruff, and his photographer, Doug Vogt, we'll explore the critical treatment they got just after they were wounded in Iraq. Our senior medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta has been speaking to the doctors on the scene. Sanjay is standing by to join us.
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BLITZER: A danger to dogs, how they're being victimized in the drug wars. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM, we're going to have new details of what has happened.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back to THE SITUATION ROOM, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. We're learning that this coming hurricane season -- get this -- could be even worse than last year's disastrous record season. The reason? La Nina. CNN's Tom Foreman is here in THE SITUATION ROOM, he's got some details. What is going on?
TOM FOREMAN, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: You know, it's one of those -- if it's not one thing it's the other. Well all know about El Nino, that's the thing that we've seen so many times and talked about. Where it gets very warm up in the North, it gets very wet down below. What we're talking about now, though, is a La Nina condition, and look at the mess this makes of things. And that may be what we're headed for. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FOREMAN (voice-over): Wildfires, floods and hurricanes -- we've seen them all in recent months, and we could see more of them in months to come.
ED OLENIC, NOAA: Anytime there's a La Nina, this kind of thing tends to happen.
FOREMAN: Based on cooler than normal temperatures in the Pacific off of South America, government weather experts say we're now in a La Nina cycle. That means we can look for wetter than normal weather in the Pacific, bad news for Seattle which already saw nearly 30 straight days of rain this winter.
But the Southwest, already plagued by dry conditions and grass fires, will likely see less rain than normal. Those dry conditions are forecast to stretched through the Gulf Coast all the way to Florida.
La Nina is expected to bring warmer temperature to the Mid- Atlantic region, too, and increased precipitation to the Ohio River Valley.
The phenomenon is also known to fuel Atlantic hurricanes, ominous in light of last year's record season.
OLENIC: There's a fairly strong relationship between La Nina and an enhancement in the number and strength of hurricanes and tropical storms that occur in the Atlantic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His majesty, King Philip!
FOREMAN: But for now, Punxsutawney Phil says we'll have to bundle up for a bit longer. He saw his shadow on this Groundhog Day and predicted six more weeks of winter.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOREMAN: Well, groundhogs aside, the concern for people, particularly on places like the Gulf coast, is the science behind this. If this is what is coming, that's why they're pounding on the table and saying to the federal government, hey, get serious about this rebuilding of the levees and fast because the time is coming.
BLITZER: The hurricane season is coming up. It's not that far away.
FOREMAN: Too soon. Too soon.
BLITZER: Tom Foreman, thank you very much.
And just when New Orleans' residents may have thought they had seen nature's worse, another blow to the devastated city. Strong winds and possible tornadoes ripping through neighborhoods already badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Our Gulf Coast correspondent Susan Roesgen is live in New Orleans with the latest -- Susan.
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN GULF COAST CORRESPONDENT: Oh, Wolf, what's happened here today is a real setback for some people who were just on the verge of trying to make a go of it again.
Now, the damage was not widespread. It was limited to just a couple areas, a few blocks around Kenner, Louisiana around the airport, and a few blocks in the Lakeview section of New Orleans. But this is where it's so heartbreaking.
I talked to a man in this area who just last night had finished repairing the roof on his house after Hurricane Katrina, and then early this morning, a really strong wind, possibly a tornado -- the National Weather Service doesn't know for certain yet.
Something came roaring through this area, tore the roof right off this man's house and let the rain come in, soaking the few possessions that he had left. But, you know, people are resilient. This guys says he has lived in this area 40 years and he's going to try to rebuild.
Wolf, no reports of any serious injuries, and unlike the response after Hurricane Katrina, the cleanup crews were able to come out right away and start clearing the debris. And the power company had the guys up in the buckets trying to restore the power as quickly as they can -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Susan Roesgen reporting for us. Thank you, Susan, very much.
Meanwhile, Congress is being asked to dig deeper for hurricane relief. Sources familiar with the figure say the Bush administration wants another $18 billion for Gulf Coast reconstruction, bringing the total so far to well over $100 billion.
And the Bush administration plans to ask Congress for another $70 billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Iraq alone, the battle against the insurgents is costing the U.S. military an estimated $1 billion a week. So far, according to the Pentagon, the U.S. has already spent some $250 billion in Iraq.
We're learning more about the injuries that ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt suffered in Iraq over the weekend. They were seriously wounded by a roadside bomb while on assignment.
Both are now being treated at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center, near Washington, D.C. Woodruff's wife Lee credits the military doctors who first treated them with saving the men's lives.
Our Senior medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, spoke with some of the doctors earlier. He's joining us now live from the CNN Center. Sanjay, what did they say?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, a really remarkable story. First of all, some details coming out. Thirty-seven minutes after the time of their injury to the time that they got to this hospital, and were able at that point to get CAT scans and the decision was made as to whether or not to take them to surgery.
I talked to them a lot about that, and specifically talked about the types of surgeries that were performed in this case. Here's what they said.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAJ. BRETT SCHLIFKA, NEUROSURGEON, U.S. ARMY: What we do with a decompressive craniectomy is either unilateral or bilateral to counteract the swelling of the brain, because not only do we have to deal with the penetrating injuries, but the kinetic energy that's transferred that causes the brain to swell.
And since these patients sometimes have to go to undergo transports back to Landstuhl, and back the states, it's one of the safer ways to protect them against malignant intracranial hypertension.
GUPTA: Is that a poor prognosis though, if you have to do that sort of procedure? Is that a bad sign?
SCHLIFKA: No, sir. We err on the side of caution. And we probably are overly aggressive with craniectomies, but we've been very pleased with our outcomes and so we found no need to change.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: So remarkable there. He's even saying that they're pretty aggressive -- they're very aggressive actually out there in the middle of Iraq with doing these operations.
The procedure that they're talking about, Wolf, is actually removing a part of the skull and leaving that bone off, the thought being, the idea being, you allow the brain to go ahead and swell into that area and then when the swelling subsides, you put the bone back. This is an operation they do quite commonly out there, Wolf.
BLITZER: So after speaking with these doctors, Sanjay, do you have a better sense of Bob Woodruff's prognosis?
GUPTA: You know, it is hard to say, and they were trying to be, obviously, very respectful, as was I, of their condition. You know, the fact that he had some pressures in his brain measured both before and after the operation. After the operation, the pressures in his brain were quite low, according to the doctors who took care of him.
And that's certainly a good sign here. But it's certainly hard -- I think the question a lot of people are asking, it's certainly hard to figure out just how cognitive he's -- how well his cognition is going to return, in terms of his memory, his ability to speak and all that. It's just far too early to tell. That's sort of measured in weeks and months, Wolf. BLITZER: Well, we wish them both a speedy recovery. Sanjay, thank you very much for that. Sanjay is going to have much more on the story also coming up later tonight on "ANDERSON COOPER 360."
Up next, puppies implanted with heroin as part of a smuggling scheme. We're learning how officials uncovered this plot. Plus what became of the dogs? We have new details. You're going to be learning of those shortly.
Also a dangerous e-mail worm set to activate just hours from now. Are your computer files safe? Our Internet reporters are on the story. They're standing by with the information you need to have. Stay with us.
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BLITZER: Dog owners use their dogs for all sorts of things, but some anti-drug officials said they've never heard of this, never seen anything like this. Clever drug smugglers using Labrador Retrievers to carry their drugs into the United States.
CNN's Mary Snow is in New York, she has details -- Mary?
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Wolf, this is a story that has disturbed even hardened drug agents. We're finding out more today about just what happened to those dogs in Colombia that we learned about yesterday. They were targeted to carry heroin into the U.S. after traffickers surgically implanted heroine packets in them.
Some of the dogs didn't survive, others were spared.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW (voice-over): It's a story that has sparked outrage. Puppies being used to smuggle drugs. A top law enforcement official is getting new details on how the scheme was uncovered that led police to find six pure-bred puppies with three kilos of liquid heroin packets inserted in their stomachs. That's more than a pound of the drug in each small dog. He says the plot unraveled when a tip to Colombian police led officers to a farm in Medellin.
JOHN GILBRIDE, DEA SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE: At the farm, they found a veterinary clinic, a make-shift veterinary clinic. And they observed the 10 dogs. Upon inspecting the dogs, they found that the dogs had incisions in their bellies. And upon further inspection, they found that the dogs had in fact heroin packets implanted in their bellies.
SNOW: Of the six puppies with heroin inside of them, three later died from infections. In Colombia, 22 people were arrested following a two-year investigation. The dogs were part of that plot and were discovered a year ago, but officers say they couldn't go public until the probe was complete.
Details and media coverage have sparked outrage, even among hardened veterans who've seen a lot in their careers. GILBRIDE: The use of puppies is just repulsive, it's outrageous, they're small, they're innocent, and they are being smuggled with heroin inside of their bodies.
SNOW: Law enforcement officials say they have heard of dogs being used in the past as drug couriers but not so many at one time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: Now the dogs never left Colombia. Four were found before heroin was put into their stomach. We told those that survived were adopted. The DEA's office saying that the dogs were taken in by families of Colombian police officers. Wolf?
BLITZER: What a story, Mary, thank you very much -- Mary Snow reporting. Let's talk a little bit more about this very, very awful case of puppies and dogs being used to smuggle drugs into the United States.
Joining us here in THE SITUATION ROOM is Dr. Dondi Dahlgaard. She's with the South Paws Veterinary Center here in Virginia, a vet, herself. Have you ever heard, in all your years of being a vet, Dondi, have you ever heard anything like this?
DR. DONDI DAHLGAARD, VETERINARIAN: I haven't. It's just horrible to think that something like this could be subjected to torture.
BLITZER: Now this is Avenue?
DAHLGAARD: This is Avenue.
BLITZER: This little puppy is similar to the Labrador Retrievers, the puppies, that were used in this scheme?
DAHLGAARD: Exactly. They were using Labs and Rottweilers, from what I understand.
BLITZER: And just think, you take a look at this sweet little puppy, how would they do that? What would they do?
DAHLGAARD: Well they would have to have anesthetized them and then made an incision in the abdomen to put that bag of heroin in there. From what I understand, the facility that he found was filthy and was basically a make-shift clinic. So, I mean, don't listen -- what they had to have been subjected to must have been awful.
BLITZER: And three of those little puppies died from the infections?
DAHLGAARD: Three puppies died from infections. It wasn't a clean facility, let alone sterile. When we do surgery, we do it in a sterile environment. The puppies or dogs are put under general anesthesia and they're given pain control afterwards. I can't imagine that these puppies had any of those benefits. BLITZER: So basically, if in fact these puppies had gone on a plane to fly to the United States with these surgically implanted heroin packets, almost certainly, they would not have survived?
DAHLGAARD: Well it's hard to imagine that they could have. But I seen a lot of amazing things. And there's no way to know how many puppies had already been shipped over as mules.
BLITZER: Because a lot of the puppies that are bought here in the United States, they come from around the world.
DAHLGAARD: Sure.
BLITZER: And as a result, customs agents or whatever wouldn't necessarily suspect that there could be packets of heroin inside?
DAHLGAARD: No, you wouldn't know unless you were to look on their tummies and see an incision that had healed.
BLITZER: The dogs would have to be really sedated, presumably they're in pain when this kind of thing is going on.
DAHLGAARD: Oh, just like I said, I can't imagine what they were going through.
BLITZER: This is a sweet little dog. What's his name?
DAHLGAARD: Her name is Avenue. She's one of four puppies at the Washington Animal Rescue League who are going to be up for adoption soon.
BLITZER: I know you're involved. You try to help them. Talk a little bit about what they do there.
DAHLGAARD: The Washington Animal Rescue League is wonderful, they serve as kind of a halfway house for animals who are in need of homes. They do health screenings and temperament screenings and help to partner these guys with families who they match up with.
BLITZER: Such a sweet little dog. Avenue is available for adoption. And three of Avenue's relatives, brothers and sisters, we have them in the hall right there, as well. Asterisk, Abigail and Adril (ph), all four of them. And if people are interested, they can certainly make a call.
Let me tell our viewers what they can do if they'd like to adopt one of these little puppies. Here's the information you need to know. You can call the Washington Animal Rescue League, phone number 1-202- 726-2556 or visit their Internet Web site, www.warl.org.
Dondi Dahlgaard, thanks very much for joining us. Let's hope we never hear of these stories again. I know you're very sensitive when it comes to these little puppies. All of us are.
Up next, a fat-fighting pill that really works? Is science finally on the verge of a breakthrough? We're going to show you what the future might hold.
Plus, it's called the Kama Sutra, but there's nothing sexy what about this worm might do about your computer. We'll show you what you can do to protect yourself. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Jack's in New York, with "The Cafferty File." Sweet little puppies, aren't they?
CAFFERTY: You should adopt one of those. Do you have a dog?
BLITZER: I had a dog my whole life as a kid growing up. I was really attached, so I'm afraid to do it because I know how attached I would get.
CAFFERTY: You'd become very attached, and then the little guy would be a Wolfhound.
BLITZER: Something like that.
CAFFERTY: Sorry I said that.
BLITZER: Sweet little dog.
CAFFERTY: They are, they're great. I have a dog and five cats, or I'd adopt one of them.
The woman who murdered her five children and was convicted of drowning them in a bathtub got out of jail this morning. Andrea Yates released on $200,000 bond, ordered held in a mental hospital until her new trial. She was ordered to stand trial again. Her first conviction overturned on some bad testimony. Her lawyer says she's severely mentally ill. The question is, does Andrea Yates belong in prison or in a mental hospital?
Grace in Springfield, Virginia: Andrea Yates belongs in prison for the rest of her life. No wonder there's so much crime in this country. The criminals get all the justice; the victims just keep suffering."
Joanne, Mill Valley, California: "This woman is obviously a tormented, damaged, abused and sick soul. She should be in a mental hospital, and her husband should be in jail. What a pig not to notice that this was a robotic woman, depressed beyond rational behavior."
Ivory in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ivory: "It's laughable Andrea Yates was released at all, but for me the most ridiculous thing is that she was being held in prison instead of a mental hospital in the first place. This woman had no malicious intent when killing her children, which is a surefire sign of pure insanity."
Kathe in Manitoba, Canada: "I think Andrea Yates should be on Texas' death row, never mind in some mental hospital. I don't care what some of these experts say about her mental state, now or at the time of the murders of her children. This woman still knew right from wrong."
Gabriella, Brookline, Massachusetts: "When you understand what can go wrong hormonally for women before, during and after pregnancy, there will be more compassion for Andrea Yates. She belongs in a hospital, not in prison."
Maggie writes from Downers Grove, Illinois: "Neither. She belongs in the Church of Scientology under the care of Dr. Tom Cruise. After all, he is an expert on postpartum depression and psychosis, and he's made it clear that no one is as informed about it as himself."
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: Good luck. Thanks very much, Jack, for that.
CAFFERTY: You're welcome.
BLITZER: A serious subject coming up. The clock is ticking. A danger e-worm, e-mail worm is on the loose right now, and it could erase all of your most precious files at midnight tonight. Our Internet reporter Jacki Schechner has the latest on what's called the Kama Sutra worm. And what you need to do to stop it -- Jacki.
JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: It's call the Kama Sutra worm because of subject lines like these. You take a look at your inbox, and they're kind of sexually explicit lines. These were some of the tamer ones that we were able to copy and show you.
But the idea is that if you or someone in your family has downloaded something from these e-mails, you might have released one of these viruses onto your computer. It's hit the United States, we're a high-tech country, that's to be expected. Also, India, Turkey and Peru, among some of the others that have been hit.
Now, this is what happens. You've got these word files, things you've written perhaps, a story pitch or something, and you end up going into it after midnight tonight. If you've got the worm, instead, you get the data error. It's going to wipe out your Excel files, your PowerPoint presentations, your PDFs.
The good news is there is still time. You can go to sites like F-Secure, Symantec, or Trend Micro. They will clean your computer, Wolf, and this will get rid of it. Do it before midnight, though. That's the deadline.
BLITZER: You better do it right now. Thanks very much, Jacki, for that.
Let's find out what's coming up in a few minutes on "PAULA ZAHN NOW" -- Paula.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Wolf. Coming up in about six minutes from now, the story of a woman who took on a big corporation and won. So why is she now walking away from thousands of dollars? Would you do the same thing if you were in her place? You can debate that after you see the story. And you may remember these absolutely incredible pictures. What was the gunman thinking here, or the man he was chasing? Well, tonight, they'll both tell us. The man with the gun has never talked on camera before. You might be surprised by his explanation of what went so terribly wrong that day. Please join us at the top of the hour, Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Paula, sounds good. Thanks very much, "PAULA ZAHN NOW," starting very soon.
Still ahead, the future of fighting fat. It could be as simple as taking a pill. We're going to show you what scientists are working on right now. Stay with us.
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BLITZER: You're back in THE SITUATION ROOM. Let's take a look at some of the hot shots coming in from our friends over at the Associated Press, pictures likely to be in your hometown newspapers tomorrow.
Baghdad, flames rise behind a gas station after a car bomb explosion. Two people are killed in the attack. Bulgaria, it's rooster's day. A man prepares to sacrifice a rooster in his yard. It's a tradition meant to bring good health to small boys.
Northern Iraq, chicken chasing. Iraqis round up birds to stop the spread of the deadly bird flu.
Washington, D.C. A protester is removed from the National Press Club after heckling Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Some of today's hot shots, pictures often worth a thousand words.
This week, CNN is starting a new series, looking at breakthroughs that could be just around the corner. Today, how close are we to a better weight loss pill? Here's CNN's Miles O'Brien.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My name is Inez Arneferia (ph). I'm 59 years old. It's been a constant struggle for the last 30 years.
I started seeing doctors because of other medical problems. I have high blood pressure, as well as high cholesterol. And I learned that these health issues were linked to my weight.
My ideal weight would be 145. If there was a magic potion, it would be possible to reach that weight. But right now, all of the things that are out on the market do not seem to be geared towards middle-aged women like myself.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Inez isn't really expecting a quick fix, but she does have reason to worry. Three out of 10 adult Americans are categorized as obese, with an increased risk for type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. If diet and exercise aren't enough, can science provide the solution?
(voice-over): Dr. Louis Aronne is an obesity expert at the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.
DR. LOUIS ARONNE, WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL COLLEGE: This is not just a lack of willpower, as many people think.
O'BRIEN: The key, he says, is our growing understanding of a complex body mechanism that makes it virtually impossible for the obese to lose weight and keep it off.
ARONNE: These are mechanisms that have evolved over eons to try to prevent you from starving to death. What I mean is, you cut down on your food intake, and your body tries to make you hungry.
O'BRIEN: And no matter how much willpower you've got, it's a battle that's hard to win.
ARONNE: Your brain, in a sense, loses control of your weight. It's an actual physical barrier.
O'BRIEN: A barrier science is beginning to overcome. While fat- blocking pills like Xenical have been around for years, another drug in the pipeline controls appetite a whole different way. It target the same receptors in the brain that cause marijuana smokers to get the munchies. The FDA may rule on that one by spring.
There are literally 100 other drugs in development to treat obesity. Within the next decade, says Aronne, one might be the big breakthrough.
ARONNE: We know what is controlling these processes now, and now that we understand that, I think that we're going to be able to control body weight completely.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I hit my goal weight, my life would be much better, because I would be healthier, and I would be on the road to having a very long life.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Tomorrow in our series "Welcome to the Future," breakthroughs in brain power and what it might mean to the paralyzed, the people who have lost their ability to move. Tomorrow here on "THE SITUATION ROOM."
Let's go to Paula in New York. She'll pick up our coverage -- Paula.
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