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Illinois Senate Pick Arrives in Washington; 111th Congress Sworn In

Aired January 06, 2009 - 15:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Making news right now: The circus comes to town.

QUESTION: Sir, what is your expectation?

SANCHEZ: Roland Burris getting exactly what he wants and other senators don't want him to have, all the attention.

Then he's turned away.

Inside the war in Gaza -- a disturbing look through the eyes of its innocent victims.

And we ask, whose side, if any, is God on?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Americans can't do it.

SANCHEZ: This former CIA man says the Bush administration manipulated the CIA. Will Obama's pick be different? We will ask him.

And how did Twitter get hacked or cracked? Whitney, Obama, and me, and you.

It's lunchtime in Seattle, 3:00 p. in Jacksonville. Our national conversation begins right now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: And hello again, everybody. I'm Rick Sanchez from the world headquarters of CNN.

If you believe in seeing democracy in action, this is your day, and this is your newscast. What you are about to see is the process, raw, as it works out. Look at this. We have got four videos there. The one on the top left that you're looking at right now, you're going to be seeing the House being sworn in today, as in the House of Representatives, the 111th Congress.

Now, you look to your right, and you will see the Senate earlier today also being sworn in. And, you know, interesting bedfellows in this one, because it was Dick Cheney, who was -- you see the back of his head there, who was doing the swearing-in. Also today, a crazy day in Washington, D.C. We see two groups of people, as I just showed you, who were being sworn in, and then you see one, lower third there, on your left, as you look at the screen. Roland Burris wanted to be sworn in, but nobody would let him be sworn in. In fact, he was turned away today.

One of our correspondents called it a madhouse, all of this taking place. And we are going to show it to you.

And, of course, one of the most important scenes today was Barack Obama again meeting with his economic advisers. That was in that fourth video that we were showing you there that you had up just moments ago. And there it is right now, this video coming in moments ago. We're going to be sharing it with you. We're going to let you see what he had to say.

Taking us through this, our own Brianna Keilar and Mark Preston, who is good enough to join us as well. They have been watching this drama unfold throughout the day.

Let's start with what's going on right now. And that is, the 111th Congress, the House in this case, being sworn in.

Dan, I think you might have some pictures of that that we can put up. According to my list of what is going to be taking place here, I think it's going to start, interestingly enough, and I know I don't see them in this video enough, but it was supposed to start with Patrick Kennedy. And he was going to be there with Ted Kennedy.

And this is an important part of the story, isn't it, Mark? Ted Kennedy said, I will be back when Congress begins. And he's there.

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: And he is there.

And later this week as well, Rick, he will be chairing the hearing that will look into the nomination of his former colleague Tom Daschle to be the next HHS secretary. Ted Kennedy, of course, gave quite a rousing speech at the DNC Convention. A lot of people thought it would be the last time he would take the stage. He is very ill with cancer, but he seems to have fought back. He was there in the Senate today and we're told that he will be in the House as well.

SANCHEZ: Let's take a look at this real quick. Hey, Dan, is there any sound on this? It would just be -- as a citizen, it's interesting to see what happens on the day of swearing-in.

Let's take a listen.

So, take us through this here, if you would, Mark. What -- or Brianna. What is Nancy Pelosi's role here? What is she doing?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is actually a ceremonial -- or this is the ceremonial swearing-in. They have actually already done the actual swearing-in of the House. And this is sort of a bit of a show. As you can see, it's sort of informal. You have got little kids there. It's sort of a family event, whereas the actual swearing-in is a little more formal.

Not only did the House do this, but also we saw the Senate do this. And it's just sort of a fun event. This is what's going on here today on the Hill. Of course, the swearing-in, the welcoming, all of that, is very important. But a lot of it is pomp and circumstance. There's a lot of receptions, lunches that have been going on and just people kind of celebrating what's really tantamount to the first day of school.

SANCHEZ: I want to show you some video now from earlier today, because what we're looking at now with Nancy Pelosi overseeing this is the House earlier today, the same thing, or a similar process, I should say, happen in the Senate.

And there, the person doing the swearing-in was none other than president of the Senate and Vice President of the United States Dick Cheney. Let's take a look at that video, and then I will get your reaction on the back side.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD B. CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Senate will come to order. The Senate will be in order, please.

If the senators to be sworn in will now present themselves to the desk in groups of four, as their names are called, in alphabetical order, the chair will administer their oaths of office.

Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which you're about to enter, so help you God?

UNIDENTIFIED SENATORS: I do.

CHENEY: Congratulations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: As you look at this, you wonder as Dick Cheney is overseeing this whether some of those people there may have muttered something to themselves or to him.

This last Congress has been a divided Congress, has it not, guys?

PRESTON: Yes, no question, Rick. It has been a divided Congress. But it's always a divided Congress.

And there are moments like this when we see Democrats and Republicans get together and they seem to put politics aside, even if it is for a few moments. But I think our banner is absolutely correct. This is the changing of the guard. And one interesting tidbit is that Joe Biden, who is going to be Barack Obama's vice president, was sworn in today to a new term. And he's going to go on an official Senate trip over to Afghanistan and Pakistan. He says he wants to get a feeling of what's going on, on the ground, and he's going to report back. So, even though Joe Biden himself will be outside during the swearing-in ceremony for Barack Obama, just in a couple of weeks, he was in the Senate chamber today as well.

SANCHEZ: Roland Burris, now, there's part of the story that gets extremely interesting.

If you were watching CNN earlier today, Roland Burris, former attorney general from Illinois, named by Rod Blagojevich to be the replacement for the vacancy left by Barack Obama, shows up today, hoping to be able to begin his first day of work.

Instead, he's told by the secretary of the Senate, sorry, we ain't confirming you and we ain't letting you in.

Ain't may be the right word, but I'll tell you what. There were many other words used. We took some of this video and put it together. We want to show you as it happened. By the way, there's a stellar role in here by Brianna Keilar, the reporter, as well. And we will get her reaction on the other side.

Let's go ahead and use that now, Dan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: Sir, what is your expectation? What is your expectation, sir?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No questions. No questions.

QUESTION: What do you think about all this, sir?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are no statements or questions.

DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm watching Roland Burris come in the door. He's actually coming in the appointments desk, as -- towards the appointment desk, I should say, as we had anticipated.

As we're speaking, we're getting word that perhaps Roland Burris is making his way out to the area outside the Capitol where he's having his press conference.

KEILAR: I'm actually across the street from the Capitol. And we do believe that there's -- we do that Roland Burris is head our way.

BASH: I'm standing here with -- Roland Burris is actually signing a picture of himself that is -- was just presented to him. It was (INAUDIBLE) by a man in a wheelchair. He's walking with us over to the cameras. So, we're going to probably hear him speak in a matter of seconds probably. ROLAND BURRIS, FORMER ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL: Members of the media, my name is Roland Burris, the junior senator from the state of Illinois. I have presented my credentials to the secretary of the Senate, and advised that my credentials were not in order.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Brianna Keilar, you were there. You watched this unfold. It was really, if not unbelievable journalism, certainly unbelievable television.

What is he missing? Why are they saying that this man, who would, by the way, would be the only African-American in the Senate, is being denied entry?

KEILAR: Well, what it really comes down to is that Democrats don't want to seat someone appointed by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who is accused of selling this Senate seat.

But what they're saying is that there's this rule in the Senate. It's called the standing rule of the Senate, Rick. And what it says is that when senators come with either their certificate of appointment or their certificate of election, if it's a standard election, it has to be signed by the secretary of state from their state, and it has to be signed by the governor.

Well, in Burris' case, it's signed by the governor. It is not signed by Jesse White, who is the Illinois secretary of state. He is refusing to sign it, on the grounds that Governor Blagojevich is the person who appointed Burris.

And, so, at this point, the way it plays out, is Burris has actually filed a motion, so basically filed suit in a court of law, asking the Illinois Supreme Court to step in and basically force White's hand to make him sign it.

But, at this point, there is no signature, so Senate Democrats are saying, you're not allowed. It's nothing against you, but you don't have the proper paperwork.

But what it comes down is that judgment against Governor Blagojevich -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: What is the expectation, guys, of this 111th Congress? Because many people will look at it and wonder if it's, well, predominantly Democratic this time. Does that mean they're going to be a bunch of Berkeley liberals or are they going to be moderates or somewhere in the middle? And you read just about everything.

What is the consensus expectation that you have surmised thus far?

Mark, we will begin with you.

PRESTON: Well, Rick, clearly, it's going to be defined by Barack Obama and what issues that he wants to put to the forefront. We know right off the bat they are going to be dealing with the economy. He spoke about the stimulus plan just a few hours ago.

And from there on, I think Barack Obama is going to be very careful not to try to fast-track a lot of different issues at the same time. I spoke to a Democratic aide today. They told me they realize they have to go very slow.

I spoke to a Republican aide today, as well, and they said they understand that Barack Obama is coming in with an approval rating that is skyrocketing over 70 percent.

KEILAR: Well, certainly.

And, Rick, when it comes to the economy, this is an area where you have heard Senate Democrats and president-elect Obama say they want broad bipartisan support. If they wanted to just push something through Congress, you know, they could probably do that. But they're saying that's not what they want to do. They want this broad support that they got with that economic stimulus package earlier on last year.

So, in order to do that, they have to play nice. And, also, you know, Barack Obama has made these campaign promises about post- partisan politics. You have seen him make some moves certainly in the rhetoric where he's trying to bring Republicans in. Republicans have been encouraged that they have been brought into these discussions about the economic stimulus package. Republicans are encouraged about what they see as Barack Obama's picks in his Cabinet.

But a lot of this has to play out. He has made these promises and people are wondering, can he deliver on them?

SANCHEZ: Brianna Keilar and Mark Preston, interesting day in our nation's capital, as democracy was certainly evident and in action.

By the way, another huge story coming out of Washington today having to do with the new CIA director, or at least the one who's proposed to be the new CIA director. There he is. The question is, is he the right man for the job, and can he fix the agency? Fix means there's a problem. We will get into that with a CIA man.

And then take a look at this picture. Caught on camera, a police officer shoots a man. There are lots of questions being raised about whether he was actually trying to reach for his gun or a stun gun. And the shooting may be accidental. You will see it for yourself.

Stay with us. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA: I have the utmost respect for Leon Panetta. I think that he is one of the finest public servants that we have. He brings extraordinary management skills, great political savvy, an impeccable record of integrity. As chief of staff, he is somebody who -- to the president -- he's somebody who obviously was fully versed in international affairs, crisis management, and had to evaluate intelligence consistently on a day-to-day basis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez. We're following the 111th Congress being sworn in on this day. And from time to time, we're going to show you -- we're going to be dipping in to show you exactly how it's taking place. There it is now, Nancy Pelosi obviously having her picture taken with a whole lot of people on this day.

And, as it happens, you will see it. But the story to get to now is what Barack Obama was just mentioning, the possible appointment of Leon Panetta. It does look at this point like it's going to be a sure thing, barring, of course, any problems with confirmation.

Joining us now is Bob Baer. He wrote "The Devil We Know." He's an experienced CIA man, warned about al Qaeda many years before anybody took it seriously enough. He's here now to join us. And he has just written at least one essay that says that even though Leon Panetta doesn't have intelligence background, appointing him shows that Obama understands the CIA's problems.

Now, that's an interesting comment. Let me ask you, what are the CIA's problems?

ROBERT BAER, FORMER CIA OFFICER: Oh, it's demoralized. It has been pinned for the Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, missing 9/11.

You have got contractors are overwhelming the place. It's an agency on the ropes. It needs fixing. But, more than fixing, it needs a protector, Rick. It needs somebody with clout. Because there's two people who are going to be looking at the CIA to pick it clean. And that's Bob Gates at the Pentagon and Hillary Clinton at State. You need Panetta to stand up for the place, if that is what he intends to do.

SANCHEZ: Sometimes, the only way to solve a problem is to get to the root of it and say, look, that's actually what happened.

And you mentioned something else I was reading that you had just written that was sent to me by my researchers. You say, "He understands the CIA was a victim of political manipulation by the Bush administration."

Why is that important?

BAER: Well, I mean, if you blame Iraq on the CIA, and if you take the common view it was the CIA's fault, rather than Dick Cheney cherry-picking the intelligence, which is what happened, I mean, Leon Panetta of all people should know what it means to have an intelligence agency politicized, like the CIA was.

And if he wants to fix it or get things right, he will make sure to keep politics out of it.

SANCHEZ: Well, Bush and Cheney and some of those will tell you that what you're saying isn't true, that in fact they got bad intel and that's why they made some improper decisions. Are you saying they're lying?

(CROSSTALK)

BAER: Rick, that's utter nonsense. This famous guy Curveball, which the CIA never met, this information was passed to the CIA indirectly, ends up in the U.N., ends up with the president talking about it. The CIA rules are never take intelligence from somebody you don't meet, you can't polygraph, vet, and the rest of it.

This information was clearly cherry-picked. Look, George Tenet, the director at the time, was complicitous in cherry-picking the intelligence, but he was a politician, in a sense. He was a guy that knew intelligence, by the way, and should have known better. So, he was complicit.

But what I'm talking about is the rank and file, the people who were evaluating this. My colleagues, former friends I still talk to, know it was cherry-picked by the White House.

SANCHEZ: Right.

Bob Baer, one of the few guys who can tell us about the CIA and this situation from the inside -- thank you, Bob, for taking time to talk to us today.

BAER: Thanks, Rick.

SANCHEZ: Christiane Amanpour reporting from inside what's going on in Israel and Gaza, reporting in video that is going to be tough for you to watch. It's graphic. It's about the littlest victims.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: I'm Rick Sanchez. Welcome back.

Obviously, we're following a lot of breaking news, the situation that is going on now still in Gaza. Also, the 111th Congress is being sworn in. We will be sharing some of those pictures with you, and this. The Senate was also sworn in today. As a matter of fact, there were some pictures that we showed you earlier. And we're already getting comments on them.

There's Dick Cheney, Dick Cheney with Joe Biden and several other Democrats. And we mentioned earlier, I wonder what they were thinking?

Well, one of you thought the same thing.

Lissa's watching this newscast right now. Go ahead, Robert. Let's go to the Twitter board, if we can. Or, in this case, it's Johnny B. Goode. "Oh, I -- oh, to have heard what Joe Biden whispered to Cheney, caught on videotape. Where is that fly on the wall potion?"

Interesting comment, I think what a lot of Americans were thinking.

Speaking of Twittering, something else to take note of right now. It's a conversation I began this weekend from home with all of the 60,000 of us on Twitter and Facebook and MySpace. It's about God and the assertion raised by some of my most trusted followers on this Twitter and MySpace and Facebook on this show that somehow we need to choose sides in the Gaza conflict based on God's preference. God is on the side of Jews. God is on the side of Palestinians.

I know I'm getting into an area here that's often seen as a no-go zone. I understand. But just think about this for a little bit, because we should be able to have these conversations, right?

When you use God to justify killing, violence, and/or war, you're aligning yourself with some of the worst in history. History is replete with crazies who were convinced that they had to kill to do God's will.

So, when you begin the argument to justify violence with the Bible says or the Koran says or the Torah says, you're not alone. Let me give you an example.

When you get a chance, go and Google Torquemada. For those of you who have a tough time with names not featured on "American Idol," let me help you. It's spelled T-O-R-Q-U-E-M-A-D-A. He was the embodiment of the Inquisition. I mean, this guy believed that he was the ultimate arbiter of godliness, and, therefore, he could torture those who weren't godly enough. He tortured and he killed in the name of God, Jews, Muslims, and a host of other so-called heretics and nonbelievers.

You know who else thought it was cool to torture and kill because he thought he had God's will? Hitler. Here's a direct quote. This is from "Mein Kampf," by the way. "I'm acting in accordance with the will of the almighty creator by defending myself against the Jew. I am fighting for the work of the lord," he went on to say.

Now, how sick is that?

Look, this isn't to say that self-defense is bad or sometimes unavoidable. There are reasonable justifications for it. It's just worth cautioning those who choose to use God, the Bible or religion as their main justification for war that they're hanging in a pretty nasty crowd.

That's certainly not to say there's anything wrong with religion or the Bible or reading it. I'm a Christian. It's just something to think about.

So, let me know what you think and let me know at CNN.com/ricksanchez. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: It's interesting. Moments after sharing that with you, and trying to illicit response, we're getting plenty of it.

Let me just read you a couple of them, because they're coming in fast and furious.

Sindia is watching the show. She said: "God is on the side of peace and love, not violence and killing, no matter what the religions profess." That's one.

Let's go down to the next one after that, if we can, Robert. "The embodiment of the Inquisition. Wow. I was writing that right when you said it."

Interesting thoughts. We thank you for sharing.

And, by the way, disagree? Please share your perspective as well. We would like to share it with the rest of us.

When -- as we continue, I want to show you now, speaking of war and the situation in the Gaza, this report. It's prepared by Christiane Amanpour for us. What you're going to see now is something that might be a bit troubling for you. It's graphic. And it details the suffering of some of the littlest victims.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ambulances pull up round the clock at Gaza's main Shifa Hospital, off loading their casualties. Today and over the weekend, many of them have been the very young.

Norwegian Dr. Eric Fosse, who is volunteering at Shifa, says that in the past 24 hours, he has seen more women and children among the casualties than on any other day since the Israeli offensive began. He says most of the injured men he is seeing are civilians.

"We were hit with a rocket. Here's my brother," says this little boy, as his brother wanders dazed and nursing an injury to his ear. Another child sheds tears nearby.

A Palestinian doctor at Shifa Hospital says that when the Israeli airstrikes began last week, the first casualties they saw were fighters in military uniforms. But after that day, until this day, he says, "We didn't receive any men from the resistance or anyone in the military. All of them were civilians."

It's not clear whether Hamas dead and wounded are being taken to a different hospital. The Israeli government claims that Hamas are hiding fighters and weapons in hospitals. But on this day, here at Shifa's emergency ward, the images are heartbreaking.

A young girl moans for her mother as she lies in pain. Doctors trying to treat her injured limb.

While a woman wails, "Where are our leaders? Can they have mercy on our children?" all the dead are just lying around. This injured mother weeps for her 6-month-old baby. She says that he died after four days without food or water. A nurse, trying to set up an IV in another ward says that they're treating five people from one family alone.

Amid the chaos and the confusion, and the shortages of medicine, electricity and water, the stench of death hovers. The morgue is overflowing. Two bodies now crammed into each drawer.

Not even the very youngest are immune. Shoved into refrigerated storage until they can be claimed and buried.

Christiane Amanpour, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: Joining us now is Aaron Cohen.

He's a former IDF Special Forces. And he can share with us the inside story of what soldiers have to deal with when coping with situations like this. You probably saw some of that report, coupled with the report coming out today that a school inside Gaza had been hit.

What's your reaction when you hear that?

AARON COHEN, FORMER ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES MEMBER: Rick, my reaction is that Hamas is using these schools and these hospitals, these children, these women as human shields in order to fight the Israeli Defense Forces. (INAUDIBLE) before.

SANCHEZ: Let me break in for just a moment, because -- by the way, I believe you're right. I checked on that.

Human Rights Watch confirms what you just said -- that Hamas has a record of firing from populated areas. It still begs the question, though, just because you know that they're doing that, do you return fire into an area where you know that you might hit civilians -- and even worse, children?

COHEN: Listen, Rick, not only do we return fire, but we also spend 20 months of our training time getting beaten as soldiers to make sure that we don't hit these innocent children and these women. We're trained in how to fight into crowds. In fact, we have special dogs that we deploy when we're operating in the West Bank and Ramallah and Sderot and Gaza. These dogs are trained specifically to be able to lead our forces to the smells, the sounds, the materials that are used in these Kassam rockets in order to bring us to the shortest distance, avoiding these civilians.

So we take such great exception to being able to avoid, you know, getting into confrontations involving large groups of crowds. But at the end of the day, this is what Hamas wants. This is what they've forced us to have to go into.

SANCHEZ: You told our researcher that many Americans don't understand the Israeli way -- the IDF way of fighting -- the Israeli Defense Forces. And then you went on to use the word pressure cooker -- that that's the way of the operation.

What do you mean by that and what should we take from it?

COHEN: It's a good question.

A pressure cooker or sirlakhat (ph) in Hebrew, is a tactic that was developed and refined in the '70s when the Israelis performed the Entebbe hostage rescue at the old terminal in Uganda.

The pressure cooker is when you take a highly group of trained individuals and they surround combatants from 360 degrees, forcing them to move into the center of the fight. And that pressure creates a vacuum. So that if they flee -- which they do -- nine times out of 10, they're going to run to another heavily civilian populated area to either fire rockets or continue to engage.

I mean, these guys, Rick, will take innocent civilians and put them physically in front of themselves if they're being engaged by the IDF.

So that pressure cooker creates a vacuum. And what it does is it leads those Hamas fighters to other groups of secure areas where IDF soldiers can capture them. Remember, we want them alive. We want the information. We want the intelligence. Our goal isn't to kill these guys, it's to capture them so we can find out where the rockets are and where the next terror attack is going to be launched from.

SANCHEZ: Aaron Comer -- Aaron Cohen, former IDF Special Forces.

Thanks for being our guest.

We appreciate it.

COHEN: Thanks, Rick.

SANCHEZ: Hey, when we come back, how long will Obama deal with the Middle East before creating political controversy of his own?

We'll talk to a man who can answer that question because he's been there and done it.

Be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: I'm going to be joined now by somebody who knows what it's like to be in the trenches when making decisions on foreign policy and specifically the Middle East -- Israel and the Palestinian conflict.

Here now, Barack Obama first, when he was asked today by reporters what he was going to do about the Middle East.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: As I said before, when it comes to foreign policy, I think we need to adhere to one president at a time. It is particularly important. In domestic policy, Democrats and Republicans, we can have arguments back and forth about what tax policies are going to be. When it comes to international affairs, other countries are looking to see who speaks for America. Right now, President George Bush, as president of the United States, speaks on behalf of the U.S. government and the American people, when it comes to international affairs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: One of the few times the United States has been able to intervene successfully between the Arabs and Israelis was during the Camp David Accords. As a matter of fact, there was a truce that came out of that.

One of the men who negotiated that or was involved in the process was the national security adviser at the time, Zbigniew Brzezinski, who is good enough to join us now -- this time not just on the phone, but actually, I think, in person, is that right?

Oh, he is on the phone. Sorry about that.

Hey, let me ask you, because I was reading some of the comments that you've given to reporters recently and you've said that the Bush administration discredited America as a whole and that we need radical change in foreign policy.

What do you mean by radical change, sir?

ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: I think we have to realize that the last eight years have produced a massive anti-American wave in a huge region of the world ranging from east of Suez to west of India. And that, in large measure, is the consequence of some of the things that we have done and, also, some things that we should have done that we didn't do. And as a consequence, I think the United States will have to rethink very seriously the overall strategy they ought to be pursuing.

SANCHEZ: You know, we -- some could argue, effectively that President Clinton came close and with a few things done differently, they may have been able to work something out. But still, they didn't, for whatever reason people want to use.

Why has it been so difficult for any administration -- since Jimmy Carter's administration -- to get both sides to sit down and reasonably coming up -- come up with some kind of compromise?

BRZEZINSKI: Because the abyss between the two sides is so deep, the memories literally are so painful, that neither side is prepared to take the first decisive steps toward a compromise. And this is why a country like the United States, which has a major stake in the region, which is a very close friend of Israel, which is also close to the Palestinians, has, I think, the moral and political responsibility to take an active role.

You are quite right in saying that in Camp David One, the president of the United States was really the initiator of the process that led not only to a truce, but to an actual peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.

SANCHEZ: But it comes with so many pitfalls. I mean, look -- I mean let's be honest about this -- the last thing you want to do is alienate a country that we call one of our greatest allies in the world, not to mention all of its supporters here in the United States who vote and are very powerful.

BRZEZINSKI: I think one has to be guided by a sense of responsibility toward one's own national interests, first of all. But second of all, to the longer-range interest of that country itself and the region in which it has to survive.

And if the United States is driven out of the region, what do you think are the chances for the long-term future of Israel?

So an active American policy for the sake of peace is a policy that, in the long run, is truly helpful to Israel, as well. And it, of course, reduces the scope, the extent and the depth of the human suffering that is so present in the absence of peace.

SANCHEZ: And it sounds like it also would involve some political risk taking. But maybe that's what profiles in courage is all about.

BRZEZINSKI: Absolutely. And, you know, one has to ask oneself very seriously that if there is not a substantial movement toward peace, what is likely to happen in that region in the foreseeable future and what are the longer range implications of what is likely to happen?

We're dealing with a human tragedy right now. But that human tragedy is minor compared to the kind of situations that can develop if we remain passive.

SANCHEZ: Well, Zbigniew Brzezinski, we thank you, sir, for taking the time to talk to us and take us through this explanation from someone who's, like I said, been there.

We'll talk to you again.

BRZEZINSKI: Thank you.

Bye-bye.

SANCHEZ: Farewell to the military from President Bush -- pretty unbelievable pictures. We're going to show them to you, when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back.

There's so much going on in Washington on this day. One Congress in, one Congress out and the president saying goodbye at Arlington National Cemetery to his military.

(VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president's deep regard and affection for our service members and their families has played out in ways big and small -- surprise visits to Iraq and Afghanistan to shake hands and high five and personal phone calls to those deployed over Thanksgiving; even the occasional chest bump to unwary cadets.

He leaves a legacy of a sound national defense, ensuring the continued strength and safety of the United States and its citizens. The United States is increasingly safe and free of the violent forces of terrorism and the principles of democracy and individual freedom have been upheld and advanced abroad.

As commander-in-chief, his courageous leadership, vision and loyalty to the men and women of the armed forces gravely enhanced their quality of life and helped create the most modern and highly trained fighting force in history.

(VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The military brought me to Washington eight years ago and on January the 20th, the military is taking me home. We'll take with us many fond memories that we will cherish for the rest of our lives.

We will always remember that you answered the call to serve when your nation needed you most. We will always remember that you did your duty with honor and dignity. And we will always remember a debt of gratitude that each of us who lives in freedom owes to each of you who has protected it. May God bless you and may God always bless the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: By the way, let me just correct myself. I had said that was at Arlington National Cemetery. It was in Arlington, Virginia, but it was at Fort Myer, just to clear that up.

When we come back, take a look at this picture. This is incredible. It's the Bay Area police. They're in the Oakland and San Francisco area. And you'll see a police officer who comes upon someone, he's breaking up a fight. But suddenly he takes out his gun -- bang, it goes off and the consequences are tragic. Lots of explanations. We've got our law enforcement expert sitting next to me right here, Mike Brooks, and he's going to join us when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Unbelievable pictures. We're going to try and put it together for you. What we're going to do is we've gotten these pictures out of the area around Oakland and San Francisco. We've got our telestrator ready to go right here next to me. Johnny B. Goode is trying to fix it. I don't know, this wire came loose or something, right?

We'll get it right.

In the meantime, we'll take you through this video and we'll show you what the officer is doing or trying to do. And our law enforcement expert, Mike Brooks, sitting next to me, will give you his explanation.

We'll take -- we'll have that for you in just a little bit.

Stay with us.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: This is a story that relies as much on body language, impression and experiences in the way you possibly are able to tell it. It's a story about a police officer in the San Francisco/Oakland area. He's a Bay Area patrolman and he comes upon a fight.

Now let me let you watch this video. You'll see the officer here as he comes across the scene. He tries to subdue one man. They have him on the ground. The other officer is near him.

But then he pulls out what appears to be a gun and it discharges. As a result, the man is dead. You'll be watching this as it unfolds. And as you watch this -- and we'll show you a couple of times. Let me tell you that we have just gotten information over the last couple of minutes that the attorney for this man has just filed a $25 million suit. He calls this shooting, this death "unconscionable" as a result of what he's seeing here. It was on New Year's Eve.

We've brought in our own Mike Brooks now to take us through this.

All right, we're looking at the video there. You see the man.

I'm going to circle this for the viewers out there.

MIKE BROOKS, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Yes.

SANCHEZ: And you'll be able to see when -- look closely -- when he reaches back. There he is right there, right?

BROOKS: Right. And he...

SANCHEZ: He reaches back. And right there -- he's reaching for something and he ends up getting a gun.

Do you think that's what he intended to get? BROOKS: Rick, the first time I saw this, I knew there was a deadly force. This is not a deadly force situation, in my opinion. But the first time I saw this, it looked like he was reaching for a taser to use to control the subject.

SANCHEZ: Well, would officers keep the taser on one side and the gun on the other side so they can get confused?

BROOKS: I'm left-handed, OK?

SANCHEZ: Right.

BROOKS: So I would keep my weapon -- my pistol, my side arm -- on my left hand side.

But what you would do with the taser, you would take and you would put it in a holster, cross draw on the other side of your body. So you would have to go across your body to pull the taser, as opposed to going back and pulling your weapon.

SANCHEZ: Show that again. Dan, come out to Mike if you possibly could. So you can show viewers what you're talking about. This is a advertiser. X 26, just like they use the BART Police -- Bay Area Rapid Transit Police.

I'm left-handed. I'd keep my gun on the left side and the taser would normally be on the opposite side so you'd have to cross draw it. So you wouldn't just reach around right by your gun. You would have it on the opposite side of your body.

SANCHEZ: And when you look at his body language, it -- first of all, it looks like he was stunned by what had just happened.

BROOKS: Oh, exactly. You know, you see him go back and you saw that other officer.

SANCHEZ: And he almost looked nonchalant in preparation, as well.

BROOKS: Right. You see this officer here, right here...

SANCHEZ: Right.

BROOKS: You see him just kind of step back, if you will. So did he mean to pull his taser. And during the struggle did he reach back and pull his gun instead?

SANCHEZ: Yes.

BROOKS: Because, as you said, he looked totally stunned. He looked at the other officer as to, oh, my God, what just happened?

SANCHEZ: So your guess is -- from your experience looking at this is he didn't mean to kill him?

BROOKS: I don't think he meant it...

SANCHEZ: And he probably reached for the wrong weapon?

BROOKS: That's pure speculation on my part. But from my training and experience and knowing the taser...

SANCHEZ: Well, are we going to see...

BROOKS: ...I would say, that's a good possibility.

SANCHEZ: Are we going to see more of this now, with so many police departments going to -- giving the officer an option -- you know, tear on the left and stun gun on the right -- or vice versa?

BROOKS: Rick, this is the first time -- this is the first time I have heard of anything like this happening. I spoke with -- I was talking to the folks at Taser Day and they can't recall any other incidents like this. And, again, it's pure speculation on my part. But I've spoken to other law enforcement experts today...

SANCHEZ: Wow!

BROOKS: ...and that's -- and that's what they're thinking, also.

SANCHEZ: Let's go to Wolf Blitzer now.

Thanks so much, Mike.

BROOKS: Sure, Rick.

SANCHEZ: We appreciate it.

An interesting story.

We're going to stay on top of this.

BROOKS: It is.

SANCHEZ: Let's go to Wolf Blitzer.

He's going to join us now with what's coming up today on ""THE SITUATION ROOM"" -- Wolf, what do you?

WOLF BLITZER, HOST, ""THE SITUATION ROOM"": Lots of developments unfolding, Rick, right now.

Roland Burris, as you know, he makes his Capitol Hill arrival, but is not necessarily greeted with open arms by the Senate Democratic leadership. We'll have full details on that.

And the president-elect reaching out to make nice with fellow Democrats about his pick for CIA director. There are new developments on that front, as well.

We've got a full three hours of ""THE SITUATION ROOM,"" Rick, coming up right at the top of the hour.

SANCHEZ: All right, hey, thanks so much. We appreciate it, Wolf.

We'll have a lot more news. In fact, we've got some interesting information on what might some revealing news, when I come back. I have it right here in front of me.

Stay with us. We'll share that with you in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: And we welcome you back.

Yesterday, what a day. We told you about the hacking of several Twitter accounts -- not just mine, but also Barack Obama's and Britney Spears' and Fox News.

What a day.

Here now, Josh Levs putting it all together for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSHUA LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It hit the incoming leader of the free world.

OBAMA: Good morning.

LEVS: The world's most downloaded pop star and right here at CNN.

SANCHEZ: There is news out there that our Twitter account was either hacked or phished. We're not quite sure yet.

LEVS: Twitter -- the online system millions use to communicate and to get the latest messages from their favorite stars or broadcasters -- had been hacked. The hacker got into 33 accounts, including those of Britney Spears, Rick Sanchez and Barack Obama, who doesn't use his anymore. The hacker posted fake messages, include some that were very inappropriate -- even disturbing.

Twitter acted quickly and posted a message online.

SANCHEZ: We immediately locked down the accounts and investigated the issue. Rick, Barack and others are now back in control of their accounts.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

SANCHEZ: Apparently, there was also a phishing scam going on, right?

LEVS: There was.

Yes. There was a phishing scam...

SANCHEZ: What was that?

LEVS: There's been so much going on with all this all at once, right?

SANCHEZ: Yes.

LEVS: So we've got a couple of things. Well, let's talk about, first of all, what they said happened here -- it happened to you, it happened to Britney, right?

It happened to (INAUDIBLE)...

SANCHEZ: It wasn't my fault, was it?

(LAUGHTER)

LEVS: Well I -- no. Actually, this was not your fault.

SANCHEZ: Oh. OK. But one time...

LEVS: Why?

Are you used to things being your fault?

(LAUGHTER)

LEVS: I want to do due diligence for them. Let's go to this graphic. They did put out a statement saying what they've done about it since then, if I could show everyone that.

They said that what happened here was one person -- they said that it was the result of one person who managed to hack their way in.

Now let's go to what we're looking at here, which is this phishing scam you were just asking me about, right?

SANCHEZ: Yes, but wait. The person who hacked their way into the Twitter network...

LEVS: Yes. They hacked their way into the Twitter network...

SANCHEZ: Not into Obama's or mine or Britney's or?

LEVS: No. Right. I think we have a quote but whatever. It's OK.

So, basically what happened was they got into Twitter.

And Twitter has this programs that they used to help people. Let's say you use Twitter, you're stuck and forgot your password or the e-mail address associated with it, right?

SANCHEZ: Right.

SANCHEZ: They're there to help you. So someone managed to get into that thing and then got your password through that or managed to access your account through that -- and Britney and Barack Obama's and several others.

SANCHEZ: And phishing is different. LEVS: Yes.

SANCHEZ: And, by the way, it's phishing -- P-H.

LEVS: With a P-H. Yes.

SANCHEZ: Right.

LEVS: I think we should see it on the screen there. Yes, phishing with a P-H. This is something else. I mean people are messing with Twitter right now. So this is something that happened to people over the weekend.

And what happened there was these people were asked -- this is normal Twitter users, not necessarily celebrities like you.

SANCHEZ: Right.

LEVS: But they were asked what they thought was a legitimate Twitter site. Hey, you have a message, come check this out. They provided their password. Boom -- someone managed to get access to their Twitter account and they ended up using it against them -- sending out messages and they could get other information if you ever put it in Twitter.

So this is what Twitter is doing now. Let's click there -- fraud.org. They're taking you over here and they're saying watch out for these things. Watch out for any e-mail that looks remotely suspicious.

If you get an e-mail saying hey, we need your password, it's probably not legit.

SANCHEZ: Good.

LEVS: Don't click on links in there. And, also, check out that one more word I'm going to tell you -- pharming.

SANCHEZ: Don't -- don't -- in other words, don't go to their URLs and click them and open them that way, because somebody might be sending you something other than what you think you're getting.

LEVS: Exactly.

SANCHEZ: Let me stop you...

LEVS: (INAUDIBLE).

SANCHEZ: Let me stop you for a moment. LEVS: Yes, sir, you can.

SANCHEZ: We've got something that we're really proud to say here.

Are you ready for this?

LEVS: I am psyched for this piece of news, yes. And I guess it's not shocking, but we didn't (INAUDIBLE)...

SANCHEZ: CNN medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, has been approached by the Obama administration as possibly becoming the next surgeon general of the United States of America.

You go, Sanjay.

Now, if Sanjay were here, he would tell you it's an absolute honor just to be mentioned, right?

But we're not saying that he's been confirmed in that capacity, only that he has been approached by those inside the Barack Obama administration for possible consideration for this post.

LEVS: And we think he'd be good at it.

SANCHEZ: He fixed my knee last week.

LEVS: Not (INAUDIBLE) here all the time.

SANCHEZ: Hey...

LEVS: He fixes a lot of things.

SANCHEZ: Wolf Blitzer standing by now.

Here now, "THE SITUATION ROOM."

BLITZER: Thanks very much, Rick.