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American Captain Rescued From Pirates; U.S.-Cuba Relations Changing?
Aired April 13, 2009 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three shots were fired. And all were fatal.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): How do you take out three pirates simultaneously in an enclosed boat like this one? How do you shoot through it and not miss?
ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: He's staying apprised of the situation.
For four days, the president said nothing about the piracy crisis, no tough talk, no bravado, then action. Was it the right strategy?
Thailand careening out of control, and we're there.
Governor Palin -- quote -- "over her dead body," continuing her public quarrel with her daughter's boyfriend.
From behind a tree, he wins the Masters, one of the most amazing sport finishes, and we have got reaction.
This national conversation begins right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: And hello again, everybody. I'm Rick Sanchez from the world headquarters of CNN.
Pirates have reportedly fired a mortar at a plane with a U.S. congressman leaving Mogadishu Airport, but the headline still remains this. The American ship captain is alive and most of the pirates who held him at gunpoint are dead, taken out by SEAL snipers.
That's the quick version. What you're going to get here is the meat of this amazing story. And you know what? It really is still not a closed case. Look at the smile. Look at the relief. Look at the gratitude. These are the first pictures of Captain Richard Phillips, who was held hostage in an enclosed lifeboat for four days, President Obama, who had made no -- no public comments about the crisis, finally spoke out about it today after the U.S. captain was finally safe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And I am very proud of the efforts of the U.S. military and many other departments and agencies that worked tirelessly to resolve this situation. I share our nation's admiration for Captain Phillips' courage, and leadership, and selfless concern for his crew.
And I want to be very clear that we are resolved to halt the rise of piracy in that region. And to achieve that goal, we're going to have to continue to work with our partners to prevent future attacks. We have to continue to be prepared to confront them when they arise. And we have to ensure that those who commit acts of piracy are held accountable for their crimes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: But this is the part that really mystifies, if not amazes, me, and I'm sure you as well.
How were these SEAL guys able to shoot and kill three men from one ship to another vessel in a rocky ocean in the middle of the night into a lifeboat that had a hard cover on it? Think about all the things that I just mentioned that they had going against them.
I want to Telestrate over this so you can see just what it is that we're talking about. All right, there, you see the ship, right? There's the back part of the ship where they were shooting from, the aft. There is that lifeboat that we have been talking about, and the shots came in that direction. In other words, they would have to shoot through that area.
The destroyer Bainbridge is what we're talking about at the top of your screen. You can see the Navy SEAL snipers had to shoot from the stern of the ship all the way into the bow of the lifeboat. As it's being described today, they apparently shot two guys through one hatch. And one was shot and killed through a window, with one shot.
Joining us now is Dick Couch. He's a former SEAL combat team leader.
Captain, thanks so much for being with us, sir.
CAPTAIN DICK COUCH (RET.), U.S. NAVY: My pleasure, Rick. Happy to be here.
SANCHEZ: Thanks.
How in the world do you shoot three guys in the middle of the night on a rocking boat through a hatch and a window with one shot each?
COUCH: Well, it's -- they are very accomplished. They train for this mission. They have done this before and we will see them do it again, but this is probably the first time that we have witnessed it publicly.
Again, they have very good shooting skills. They practice them. And I don't feel they would have taken those shots or been allowed to take them had they not had a high degree of confidence that they could make those shots.
SANCHEZ: I was curious, and a lot of other people were, too, how did they even get there? I understand that they were dropped from the air on to the Bainbridge. Is that right?
COUCH: Well, they were dropped -- I'm sure they were flown from some -- they had to come a long way. They parachuted into the ocean with their sniper weapons.
They were fished out of the water. Then they had to set up and get ready and make those difficult shots. It's very much like a concert pianist or a concert violinist being -- having to jump with their Stratovarius, fished out on deck, get set them, and then play a perfect concert, and not miss a note.
SANCHEZ: I guess that would be difficult.
You know the part that also kind of amazes me is the fact that they all really had to take the shots in unison. How did they coordinate that?
COUCH: Well, I'm sure the on-scene commander, he was -- they were linked up with headsets. They were talking to each other. He had to know that each of his shooters had a high degree of confidence, felt that they could make the shot that they were assigned to do.
When all reported in that they could make the shot, the on-scene commander had to balance their ability to shoot with the situation on the lifeboat before giving the go-ahead to do that.
And credit him with a lot of courage, because, if it hadn't have worked out, he would have owned that call.
SANCHEZ: Well, you know what's interesting about owning that call, they say, according to our own reports, that twice they called the president of the United States and asked permission to do that, and twice they were given the green light.
How does that work? How do they relay that information, from whom to who?
COUCH: Well, I would think that comes from somebody in the combat control center or the ship control station that is in touch with higher commands there.
I think they're just probably continuing to verify we do have a green light to go ahead when we have a chance. Obviously, everybody at all chains of the command is aware of this, right on down to the shooters on deck to make sure that they still have permission to take that shot.
And, again, as it goes back and forth, I'm sure they were looking for a peaceful resolution, but when things came to a head, that on- scene commander had to make the call and he had to make it with knowing that his shooters could complete their mission.
SANCHEZ: Captain, thanks so much for taking us through this.
And you know what? I think most Americans are even listening to this interview with you and shaking their heads and somewhat feeling kind of prideful about the fact that we have got guys who are able to do something like this.
My thanks to you, sir, and your service.
COUCH: And thank you very much.
SANCHEZ: I appreciate it.
On the phone with me now is Captain James Staples. He's at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and was an academy classmate of Captain Richard Phillips.
You know what I want to talk to you about is these lifeboats, where your friend Richard Phillips, spent four days. I mean, and here's what's important about this. And I think this is what the viewers need to take away from this. We're not talking about some little wooden rowboat here. Which would have made this pretty much an easy shot, right?
CAPT. JAMES STAPLES, FRIEND OF CAPTAIN PHILLIPS: Not being a SEAL, I think any shot that they do, that they took, would -- is a difficult shot.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: But here's what I'm trying to say. And maybe I didn't phrase it properly. Look, we're looking at it right now. That is an enclosed vessel. So, you're not shooting in the open. You have to shoot through things. The through things that we're talking in this case about, according to reports received by CNN, are a hatch and a window that they had to shoot through to get these guys.
STAPLES: Well, absolutely.
It's just very, very difficult. And, again, it just shows you the technique that these fine young men have and the talent pool that we have to do something like this, to rescue Captain Richie Phillips.
SANCHEZ: All right, let me have you tell us about this enclosed lifeboat. Where are the hatches?
STAPLES: Well, there will be a hatch up forward and a hatch aft. And that's for replacing the (INAUDIBLE) when the lifeboat is to be brought back aboard.
And then generally, on some boats, you will actually have two hatches on either side of the boat, too.
SANCHEZ: Now, they say they shot them through -- let me make sure I get this right. According to the report, two of the guys stuck their heads out of a hatch, and as they stuck their heads out of the hatch, that's where they each got one bullet and were felled by the snipers.
Do you have any sense as we look at this boat again where that hatch was or how they were able to get their heads out of there? Can you describe it to us?
STAPLES: I would probably say they were in the forward hatch. And there is an aft hatch, generally. But by looking at the way the boat was situated, they might have both stuck their head out of that forward hatch.
SANCHEZ: The forward hatch is that white thing we see at the very front there behind that...
(CROSSTALK)
STAPLES: Yes, that's the hatch. And it's showing you the opening. The docker area is the actually hatch where they're inside.
SANCHEZ: And how about the other guy? Apparently, the third guy, they took him out because he was close enough to a window, they say, that they were able to shoot through the window.
What does that mean? How thick is the window? Take us through that.
STAPLES: Well, if you look back aft just below those green crosshairs, you will see a cockpit area that has two white crosshairs on either side.
And that's a cockpit area where you drive the lifeboat from. And it does have windows 360 degrees around, so the helmsman can look out forward, aft and either side of the boat. I would assume that would be the window that they're talking about.
SANCHEZ: You know, what's interesting is, throughout this ordeal, these guys probably were being very careful. But then, once night fell, maybe they weren't as careful, not knowing that these guys were have nightscope that they would be able to use.
STAPLES: Well, that sounds logical, but not being there on scene, I really couldn't say. I don't know what had happened.
I'm just glad to see that Captain Richard Phillips has been set free and just the excellent job that our Navy did and the SEAL team aboard.
SANCHEZ: Well, I will tell you what. It's been great having you. You have really been able to help us understand exactly what was going on with the actual lifeboat itself, which many of us understood at first to be just a regular lifeboat. That's why this was so different. We appreciate your time.
STAPLES: My pleasure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: We are resolved to halt the rise of piracy in that region. And to achieve that goal, we are going to have to continue to work with our partners to prevent future attacks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: No comment from President Obama until the rescue of a U.S. captain was complete, different strategy from the past. Right strategy?
Also, Alaska's governor continues her very public spat with her daughter's ex-fiance, while some ask, why?
And we're moments away from a White House briefing, where we expect to hear more from this reported mortar attack on a U.S. congressman's plane today.
Oh, and this -- we're following this story. The rules are changing when it comes to U.S.--Cuba relations. And we're on it.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello. This is Kim from Chino Valley, Arizona.
And what I was thinking about regarding the pirate situation is that we should pass a law that makes it a crime, totally prohibits paying any kind of ransom for any kind of U.S. ship or U.S. citizen that's a victim of pirates. And that would stop their incentive to harass our ships and our people.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: And we welcome you back to the world headquarters of CNN.
Kind of an interesting story to follow. And I know a lot of you at home are following it as well. We are getting a lot of your reaction.
So, let's go to one of those right now. Let's go to our Twitter board, as we often do, because, after all, this is a national conversation that involves you.
"Rick, at least we showed those darned pirates that we're not afraid to use any means necessary, hopefully set an example."
You almost get a feel a couple of Americans out there are feeling good about this one so far.
It is the headline of the day. American captain is free. Pirates are dead. Good news, right? But today there was also a mortar attack on a U.S. congressman's plane. It was Congressman Payne, by the way. He was leaving Mogadishu Airport. Don't think that didn't get the State Department's attention now for one minute.
And then there's this. These are the words of a Somali quoted by the Associated Press. "From now on, if we capture foreign ships and their respective countries try to attack us, we will kill the hostages" -- kind of an ominous threat there.
By the way, he goes on. Listen to this: "U.S. forces have become our enemy number one" -- all this in the wake of the news that we were just sharing with you.
Let's bring in Jim Clancy now from our CNN international desk.
Jim, already today, we hear about this mortar attack on a U.S. congressman's plane. What have you got on that?
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Donald Payne was trying to get away, if you will.
He had a joint press conference there with the Somali prime minister of a government that can barely defend four square blocks. Fortunately, they can defend most of the airport. That is one of the only vital economic links going into the country there in Mogadishu. It's a very decrepit runway. He got his plane off the ground. Conflicting reports -- some say that it was slightly damaged.
SANCHEZ: Really?
CLANCY: It seems unlikely. Really. I don't believe those reports.
SANCHEZ: But does this thing escalate this situation with the piracy now, this bold move by the SEALs to take these three guys out?
CLANCY: It does, in a sense, Rick, because we know that if they were to take an American hostage, they're going to be holding him. They're going to wanting more, demanding more.
Will they kill a hostage? I don't think so. I don't think they will make good on that threat, because...
SANCHEZ: They haven't in the past, right?
CLANCY: No.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: It's always been about money.
(CROSSTALK)
CLANCY: It's always been about money. It will remain to be all about money. These people are not politically motivated. The people who fired those mortar rounds may be politically motivated, want to see some reason to bring together Somalis under one cause. Anti-Americanism can always be one.
SANCHEZ: Will they take revenge, though? That's what we hear them saying. From now on, if it's an American ship...
(CROSSTALK)
CLANCY: It's a risk. It's a real risk. You can't ignore it.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
CLANCY: It's there, Rick.
SANCHEZ: What about the fact that we could perhaps have to boost our military patrols there? I think we understand
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: As I understand it, we have about five Navy ships there now?
CLANCY: Yes, you're not going to boost them enough to stop this piracy. They're well-connected. Somebody is giving them the information.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: Why is it so hard?
(CROSSTALK)
CLANCY: They have got the ships already with all the great radar. They're looking at where the vessels are. They can zero in on them, and then send the smaller vessels out to get them. This problem isn't going away easily. There's going to be a lot more fights like this one.
SANCHEZ: All right, Jim, stick around. We're going to be talking to you hopefully a little bit more as this situation develops.
And we understand we're going to some statements on this from Robert Gibbs at the press briefing he's going to have in just a little bit.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: And this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: I want to take a moment to say how pleased I am about the rescue of Captain Phillips and his safe return to the USS Boxer this weekend.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: The happy day for this president. It seemed to work out. The politics of crisis management, President Obama's politics, it was a non-bravado strategy, non-bravado. Different. Effective? We will let you decide and we will have a conversation about it.
And then from behind a tree -- really, from behind a tree, he wins the Masters? We're on it. What a story to watch.
Also, pirates now threatening to kill American hostages. Does this thing continue to escalate? We're going to keep our eye on it. And does a new Cuba policy in Havana mean more people will soon be able to go to Cuba? We're going to have former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan joining us to talk about the new White House.
We will be right back.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, Rick, this is Mike from Wisconsin.
I'm just wondering why these ships off Somalia don't have security on board. It seems like a simple deterrent. What's the deal?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: By the way, we're just getting more information now that we're going to be hearing from Press Secretary -- I was going to say Press Secretary Scott McClellan -- Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. I will explain that in a minute to you, by the way. Hang tight, folks. We're going to be hearing from Robert Gibbs in a minute.
And among the things he's also going to be talking about, not just the piracy issue, is perhaps a new Cuba policy, a new U.S.-Cuba policy. And a lot of Americans are interested in it.
But before we do anything else, let's go over and get some reaction from you.
Jay Clem is on MySpace -- Facebook -- pardon me -- Jay says: "I like the way President Obama presented himself through this, speak softly, but carry a big stick. What is more intimidating, the guy who threatens and grandstands or the guy who simply warns and then acts?"
And then it's an interesting tweet that we are getting over here. This one says: "Hey, if you thought that 'Black Hawk Down' was good" -- that's the movie, I guess, he means -- "wait until you put that pirate story on the big screen."
My thanks to both of you. Let's do this now. During this hour last week, we raised the question as to why President Obama wasn't even mentioning this piracy crisis. It seemed odd, didn't it? I got a lot of heat from those of you on the left, especially those of you who are ardent Barack Obama supporters, for even raising this question as to why the president wasn't saying anything.
The president seemed not willing to address the safety of an American citizen. And given strong language used by the previous administration, the previous president, it did seem odd, if not at least different. You will give me that, right?
In fact, here's the first comment, not even by the president, last Thursday, but rather, by his spokesman, Robert Gibbs. And look how nonthreatening the answer is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GIBBS: At this point, he's staying apprised of the situation. And obviously, the -- the interagency maritime group has been -- has had a number of meetings and conference calls about this.
Obviously, the Navy and the FBI are to some degree on the scene with -- with their resources. And so the resources of our government are deployed in ensuring the safety and security of the captain and the crew.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: You see? Almost deadpan, no threats, no ultimatums, no bravado, not even the acknowledgment that an American captain's life was at risk.
Joining me now from Washington is well-known author former Bush White House spokesperson Scott McClellan.
Scott, thanks so much for being with us.
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Glad to be here, Rick.
And I don't want to be press secretary again, so thanks for making that clear. Once is enough.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: Tough job, my friend.
What did you think of the president's handling of this? And, really, you know what? It's marked contrast to your boss' more brazen style in situations like this.
MCCLELLAN: Well, that's right.
What people remember of President Bush, of course, is mission accomplished and the bravado that you talked about earlier. As for any presidency, the president is going to be judged by his policies and what the end result is.
And the end result here was a great success story. President Obama was quietly managing the situation behind the scenes. You know, he was receiving criticism in the 24/7 news cycle that has to look for instant results and instant gratification.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
MCCLELLAN: But all the while, he was sitting there behind the scenes giving the orders to go ahead with deadly force, if necessary, to rescue Captain Phillips, and not really negotiating with these pirates or terrorists, whatever you want to call them.
And it's a great success story. And, so, he is to be praised or given credit for that success.
SANCHEZ: Let's talk about the difference in style, though, because your boss, President Bush, was much more full of bluster.
Look, he talked about crusades. He talked about good vs. evil. He talked about the axis of evil. He said dead or alive at one point. And then there was this. July 2, 2003, when asked about the insurgency, he said this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, JULY 2, 2003)
GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Anybody who wants to harm American troops will be found and brought to justice. There are some who feel like that, if they attack us, that we may decide to leave prematurely.
They don't understand what they're talking about, if that's the case. Let me finish. There are some who feel like that the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is, bring them on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Bring them on.
When you heard that, what did you think?
MCCLELLAN: I immediately cringed.
That was kind of an ad lib. And the president has since come to say he regretted making those comments. There are some others that he didn't take back that he maybe should have as well, but that was one he clearly regretted saying, because it sent the wrong message.
You know, you go back to something that was very similar, though, with the Bush presidency was the EP-3 spy incidents or this surveillance plane that went down almost the exact same time as this ship was being pirated or taken over by pirates in -- early in the Bush presidency.
It was the first real foreign policy crisis for the Bush presidency,. And, at the time, he was praised. This was the pre-9/11 Bush, praised for the way he handled it, quietly, behind the scenes, ended it with release of those crew members of the EP-3 surveillance plane.
SANCHEZ: Right.
MCCLELLAN: And he received a lot of praise for implementing what he said he was going to do, which was bring about a humble foreign policy.
Now, the contrast was, post-9/11, it was a very different presidency.
SANCHEZ: You know what's interesting, as I have this conversation with you? Man, and you were there. You were in the room where those decisions were made. And I know it's tough.
I mean, let me read to you something we are getting now from one of our responders here in social media. This is MySpace.
"Rick, President Obama's handling of the pirate hostage situation was very presidential. Unlike our previous CIC, he did not swagger into the spotlight and spout nonsense like bring it on. And he handled this crisis perfectly."
OK. And that's all good and well. I appreciate somebody sharing that with us.
But there was a Rooseveltian quality -- and by this, I mean the big stick theory of Teddy Roosevelt, walk softly, carry a big stick -- that Obama was able to use. But isn't it sometimes tempting, isn't it easy to have the spotlight like this and go out there and say, like perhaps you and I would, I know I probably would from time to time, by golly, we're going to get these guys; how dare they hold an American hostage?
There's nothing wrong with doing that, right?
MCCLELLAN: Well, it depends on the situation, but not necessarily, no.
In this incident, President Obama did not allow himself or his policies or decisions and actions to be driven by that need for instant results and instant gratification from the 24/7 news cycle that goes on in this country.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
MCCLELLAN: Instead, he handled -- he did handle it in a very presidential way.
SANCHEZ: But is it tough to not get sucked in by that? When you guys were sitting around saying -- and I don't know if it was Karl Rove or the vice president or somebody who would call you aside and say tell these guys we are going to get these guys, we're all over them? Is it hard not do that? Because you don't want to seem weak.
(CROSSTALK)
MCCLELLAN: Yes. And sometimes it was even the president's own gut instinct of his initial reaction is, this is what he wanted to say, and he didn't temper it, when he should have.
And you clearly played one of those incidents when he said bring it on and later came to regret that. But, yes, President Obama was very presidential. He handled this very well. He deserves credit for it.
In the overall scheme of things, though, because this was a success, a success that all Americans should enjoy, it probably won't matter to his presidency and how it's defined in the long run. It's going to be defined by much bigger issues and the results he achieves on those, like the economy and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
SANCHEZ: Sure.
Yes. Like Grenada didn't exactly make Reagan either. It was other things as well.
(CROSSTALK)
MCCLELLAN: That's right.
Now, we would be having a very different conversation if things had gone badly. And then maybe it would help define the presidency.
SANCHEZ: You're 100 percent right. Jimmy Carter may have the best intentions when he tried to rescue those hostages with those helicopters, but on that day there was a sandstorm and on goes history.
Scott McClellan, great talking to you. We will do it again.
MCCLELLAN: Great.
SANCHEZ: We have got to make room because the guy who's got your job now is going to be holding a news conference in a minute. We are going to get to it.
(CROSSTALK)
MCCLELLAN: Glad to turn it over to him. Thanks, Rick.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: All right.
Who is attacking who? After all, the polar bear didn't jump into her living room. Did you see this picture? This is incredible.
And then, his English, not so good. His golf? Priceless. And, again, we're going to be getting to the White House briefing in just a little bit. There they are, getting ready. It was interesting talking to Scott McClellan just before this.
And, yes, there is going to be some news out of a U.S.-Cuba policy. We will share, as well as the very latest on the piracy situation, maybe the very first description. We will be right back. Stay with us.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, Rick. My name is Isabel (ph). I'm calling from Thornhill, Ontario, Canada.
Love your show. You're tough, but fair. I love the way you're not afraid to ask the hard questions. Keep up the good work. Thanks so much.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: All right, first of all, I was just given a note that says the White House is going to have Dan Restrepo -- if you're not familiar with Dan Restrepo, he's a foreign policy adviser for Latin American affairs. He's going to make some remarks in Spanish, as a matter of fact, when he joins Robert Gibbs.
This is what part of that's going to be about. We confirmed this. The White House did confirm today many of the Cuba restrictions in place for more than half a century will be lifted. In fact, we expect them to talk about this now.
Let's take them live.
Here's Robert Gibbs.
GIBBS: Before we do our regularly scheduled programming, I've got a short announcement. And I'm joined for the bilingual portion of this announcement by Dan Restrepo, a special assistant to the president and a senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs at the National Security Council.
Today, President Obama has directed that a series of steps be taken to reach out to the Cuban people to support their desire to enjoy basic human rights and to freely determine their country's future.
The president has directed the secretaries of State, Treasury and Commerce to carry out the actions necessary to lift all restrictions on the ability of individuals to visit family members in Cuba and to send them remittances.
He's further directed that steps be taken to enable the freer flow of information among the Cuban people and between those in Cuba and the rest of the world, as well as to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian items directly to the Cuban people.
In taking these steps to help bridge the gap among divided Cuban families and to promote increased flow -- to promote the increased flow of information and humanitarian items to the Cuban people, President Obama is working to fulfill the goals he identified both during his presidential campaign and since taking office.
All who embrace core democratic values long for a Cuba that respects the basic human, political and economic rights of all of its citizens. President Obama believes the measure he has taken today will help make that goal a reality. He encourages all who share it to continue their steadfast support for the Cuban people. Dan?
DAN RESTREPO, FOREIGN POLICY ADVISOR FOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS: Thanks, Robert. Buenos tardes.
SANCHEZ (translating): Today, the president of the United States has ordered to lend a hand to the Cuban people with respect to human rights so they can self-determine their destiny and the destiny of their country.
The president has ordered the secretary of State to eliminate -- to give them the orders to eliminate all restrictions so that the Cubans in the United States can visit their families on the island. He also is going to take steps to allow the free flow of information not only with Cuba, but with the rest of the world. And he also is going to allow the direct mailing of humanitarian goods to the people of Cuba.
This is a way of separating that divide between the people of Cuba and the Cuban-Americans in the United States. President Obama is simply trying to do what he promised in his campaign he would do. He hopes to create a type of Cuba that will, in the future, respect human rights. And President Obama says these new initiatives will move Cuba in that direction. And this shows his firm commitment to the people of Cuba.
GIBBS: While we have Dan here, if there are some specific questions on -- on this, we'll be happy to take them.
QUESTION: Is this a first step toward diplomatic -- diplomatic recognition?
RESTREPO: This is a step to extend a hand to the Cuban people in support of their desire to determine their own future. It's very important to help open up space so the Cuban people can work on the kind of grassroots democracy that is necessary to move Cuba to a better future.
The president promised during the campaign and he is making good on that promise today to extend his hand to the Cuban people, to ensure that they have more independence from the regime and the ability to start working down the path that we all want to see them succeed on.
QUESTION: Well, does that mean between the two countries that you would have (INAUDIBLE)?
RESTREPO: This is a -- this is reaching out to the Cuban people.
QUESTION: So the answer is what?
GIBBS: I'm sorry, what was the...
QUESTION: I'm trying to find out if this is a movement toward the two countries getting together and having a diplomatic (INAUDIBLE)?
GIBBS: Well, I think, in many ways, that depends on the actions of -- of the Cuban government. The action that the president took today is one that allows -- one that -- one that allows families to visit families, one that allows families to send back some of their hard-earned money to help their family members. And I think maybe the best way to sum this up is the way the president summed this up last year, to say that there are no better ambassadors for freedom than Cuban-Americans.
He said -- and I quote: "It's time to let Cuban-Americans see their mothers and fathers, their sisters and brothers. It's time to let Cuban-American money make their families less dependent on the Castro regime.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Would the president like to see an improvement of relations, where you actually have (INAUDIBLE)?
GIBBS: The president would like to see the -- would like to see greater freedom for the Cuban people. There are actions that he can and has taken today to open up the flow of information to provide some important steps to help that. But he's not the only person in this equation.
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Several Republicans from Florida are charging today that this is a mistake, because they think it's going to -- they're claiming that it will mean something like hundreds of millions of dollars in money that winds up in the hands of the dictatorship.
How do you answer that charge?
And is there a way that you can specifically structure this so that you make it more likely that the money, the gifts, actually get in the hands of the Cuban people and not the dictatorship?
RESTREPO: There's two answers. One is that we think the positive benefits here will way outweigh any negative effects that there may have, that creating independence -- creating space for the Cuban people to operate freely from their regime is the kind of space they need to start the process toward a more democratic Cuba.
And, also, the president is very clear that we're getting the United States out of the business of regulating the relationship between Cuban families. The Cuban government should get out of the business of regulating the relationship between Cuban families. It should stop charging the usurious fees that it does on these remittances. The call is very clear that that be done, in addition to what we are doing.
But we are getting ourselves out. The Cuban government should get itself out of the way and allow Cuban families to support Cuban families. And it creates the kind of space, in our view, that is necessary to move Cuba forward to a free and democratic Cuba.
GIBBS: Jennifer?
JENNIFER: Yes. I have one on this and one on pirates. So I don't know how you want to do that.
GIBBS: Let's do this and we'll save pirates for the second...
JENNIFER: OK.
GIBBS: ...the matinee...
(CROSSTALK)
GIBBS: ...after the intermission. Right.
QUESTION: No, I'm not going there.
In that same speech in Miami that you referenced, the president, as a candidate, said he would talk directly to the Cuban government without preconditions. But with a clear agenda. But he's also said that he's not going to lift the trade embargo because there are certain steps he wants the government to take that, you know, not give up that leverage first.
So it kind of sounds like he's saying two things. First, it's talk about preconditions, then setting conditions in order for relations to move forward.
GIBBS: The -- you may have some comments, too. But I think that -- I think the president has made clear that he is willing to talk to our adversaries. I think, at the same time, the president has said repeatedly that that is not talk for talk's sake, whether that's with -- well, whether that -- despite what adversary that might be.
But I think that the actions that were taken today are intended to, as I said, open up the flow of information, to facilitate that information from getting directly to the -- facilitate it getting directly to the Cuban people and to set up a system whereby we see some results. And I think that the president is willing to do that.
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) are there conditions before he will engage the government directly or not?
GIBBS: Well, I -- I...
(CROSSTALK) GIBBS: Well, I do think there are -- are steps that we would -- that the Cuban government can and must take. And I think, as Dan said, the actions that the government undertakes regarding remittances should -- should stop immediately.
Do you have anything you want to add to that?
Yes, sir.
QUESTION: Why -- why are you and Dan making this announcement and not the president?
I mean he's here, right?
GIBBS: He is.
QUESTION: He's in the building.
GIBBS: He's -- yes, I think he's in his office. Yes.
QUESTION: He's probably hearing the vibrations from the (INAUDIBLE).
GIBBS: I was going to say, hearing the dance music, not unlike I am.
QUESTION: Yes.
So why isn't he making the announcement?
Why -- I mean it looks like as if you were trying to avoid...
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: ...having his voice and picture...
GIBBS: I'll try not to take any of that -- of that personally.
(LAUGHTER)
GIBBS: And I noticed the music stopped when I was...
(CROSSTALK)
GIBBS: But, no, I mean, Chuck, I -- a few people showed up at today's briefing. I don't...
QUESTION: This isn't a small (INAUDIBLE).
QUESTION: But this isn't a small change of policy...
GIBBS: No, I don't...
QUESTION: ...so having the president...
GIBBS: I don't... QUESTION: ...not talk to the camera about it seems a little...
(CROSSTALK)
GIBBS: No. No. I -- again, I'm standing in the White House Briefing Room as the spokesperson for the president of the United States. I assume that when you ask me questions when we get to pirates or anything else, that my answer won't seem less than what any president would make.
As I undertake that task, the president is doing today what the president promised he would do, not only on camera, but in Florida many months ago. So I think this is less about the so-called choreography of some announcement and more has to do with the fact that the president is taking some concrete steps today to bring about some much needed change that will benefit the people of Cuba, to increase the freedom that they have and, more importantly, to allow Cuban-Americans to see their families and to send them money.
QUESTION: But (INAUDIBLE) do you know, is the Cuban government going to be represented at the Summit of the Americas?
GIBBS: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It will not be.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It will not be.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
GIBBS: Yes, sir?
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: If you guys could just explain a little bit more about the part of today's announcement that deals with telecommunications firms being allowed to (INAUDIBLE)?
RESTREPO: We want to increase the flow of information among Cubans and between Cubans and the outside world. And one of the ways we can do that, under U.S. -- existing United States law -- back to the Cuban Democracy Act, is to allow U.S. telecommunications companies to put -- to seek to provide services on the island.
The licensing process has nev -- never really went forward. We're allowing that process. The president is directing that that licensing process go forward and directing that a -- the regulation system be put into place to allow U.S. persons to pay for cell coverage that already exists on the island -- again, so Cubans can talk to Cubans and Cubans can talk to the outside world without having to go through the filter that is the Cuban government.
QUESTION: So it's just cell phones, is what this is talking about, right?
RESTREPO: This is cell phones, satellite television, satellite radio. This is forms of -- modern forms of telecommunication to increase the flow of information to the Cuban people so that if anyone is standing in the way of the Cuban people getting information, it is the Cuban government and it is not some outside technical problem that can be pointed to. Taking away those excuses and putting -- and trying to create the conditions for greater information flows among the Cuban people and to and from the Cuban people.
QUESTION: So tell us on that (INAUDIBLE) -- so if this happens as it's intended to happen, is the idea that a U.S. company would be providing sort of U.S. television programming, beaming it on to the island?
Is that the idea?
RESTREPO: The idea is to increase the flow of information, be it what we see here in the United States -- the global marketplace of television and radio, to make that -- to make that a possibility for the Cuban people and to ensure that the United States government is not standing in the way of that, to make clear that more -- we stand on the side of having more information rather than less information reach the Cuban people and for them to be able to communicate among themselves.
QUESTION: So but the Cuban government would have to allow it to go forward.
I mean they could stop this if they wanted to, I assume?
RESTREPO: The Cuban government could stop this and they -- it could stop part of this. Part of the providing -- allowing U.S. persons to pay for cell coverage and ongoing services on the island today is something that the Cuban government would have a very hard time getting in the middle of.
In terms of allowing -- allowing or disallowing U.S. companies to provide services on the island, it's something that would clearly require participation of those entities that control information on the island.
SANCHEZ: Somewhat of a revolutionary move being announced by the press secretary of the president of the United States. And I've got to tell you, just to be totally transparent about this, I was born in Cuba, raised in Miami at a time when just a discussion about this kind of approach with the Castro government would have seemed like heresy.
So the perfect guest to talk right now is a fellow standing by in Miami who's joining us. His name is Joe Garcia.
When I say the perfect guest, it's because Joe Garcia is a director of the Cuban-American National Foundation. Those of you familiar with the Cuban-American National Foundation know that for many, many years, the Cuban-American National Foundation has been staunchly, staunchly opposed to any dialogue with Fidel Castro. And this seems to be moving in that direction.
But oh, how things have changed. We're going to go to Joe in just a moment.
I'm being told now that Barbara Starr is standing by and Barbara has some news that we have not yet heard -- new information coming out about the confrontation between the USS Bainbridge and that -- and that vessel that had the four pirates and the U.S. captain on board.
What do you know -- Barbara?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rick, earlier today, we went to talk to Vice Admiral William Gortney at Fifth Fleet headquarters here in Bahrain.
He gave us new details about the confrontation. Perhaps the most stunning, on Saturday, the Bainbridge actually rammed the lifeboat in which the pirates were holding Captain Phillips hostage. They rammed it to keep it from going back to shore into Somalia. They were observing the boat at all times and they believed at that point the lifeboat was trying to make its way back to the shore of Somalia, where the pirates might have then, of course, held Captain Phillips hostage in a country that the U.S. has no ready access to. Getting him out of there would have been a huge problem.
That is one of the details that Admiral Gortney told us.
We'll be bringing our viewers most of that interview in a short while on "THE SITUATION ROOM" -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: You know what?
It makes perfect sense. It makes perfect sense. I understand they were about 10 to 20 miles, when last I checked this weekend, from the Somalian shore line. And you're absolutely right. Anybody who looks at this situation would say once that captain would have gotten on Somali territory, it would have been very difficult to effect any kind of operation.
Barbara Starr, as usual, all over that story.
And, Joe, are you there, by the way?
Joe Garcia, are you there?
All right. Joe, we're going to be reaching out to you in just a moment to find out what the Cuban-American National Foundation's position is on this announcement by the White House just moments ago.
Stand by.
We'll have that for you in just a little bit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Here we go. Interestingly enough, everyone seems to be interested in both stories.
We're going to have more on the pirate situation in just a little bit.
Now let's talk about what's going on with Cuba.
moments ago, I told you that there seems to be a real tectonic shift in relations with Cuba. This is something that's been coming for, well, may decades now.
Joining us now is Joe Garcia with the Cuban-American National Foundation in South Florida.
Joe, I was just sharing with viewers, you and I both grew up, really, in an environment where even just discussion about something like this in the past would have been considered heresy.
What sayeth you now about this decision -- this announcement from the White House?
JOE GARCIA, CUBAN-AMERICAN NATIONAL FEDERATION: Look, I think -- I think it's about pragmatic politics. During the cold war, this was one of the -- one of the surrogate nations in the world and so we had to have a different policy to met -- meet those needs.
In today, a globalized world, a multi-polar world, I think it makes a lot of sense. And to be quite honest, Rick...
SANCHEZ: So the Cuban...
GARCIA: ...you and I both know that sort of this fear about what Cuba could be or might be or what they might do, I think -- I think has moved away. There is no question this is a human rights violator and we have to do our best to try to bring change to Cuba. But as the president said less than a year ago, the best ambassadors for freedom are the Cuban people.
And so I think Obama has opened that opportunity and we're very glad that he took our advice on this, as well as many others in the Cuban-American community.
SANCHEZ: So the Cuban-American community is behind this, at least from those that you speak.
Are there still the hard-liners, though, who will -- who will criticize this, as they have in the past?
GARCIA: Yes, I think they will. And there are people who, you know, are going to say no touching, no talking, no nothing.
But what you've got to understand, Rick, is that 72 percent of all Cubans on Earth were five years old or younger when Fidel Castro came to power. And so they have family, they have friends, they have needs in Cuba. And I think this is one of those cases where they are going to be able to do more -- more to change Cuba by traveling and seeing their families than, you know, someone on right-wing radio screaming about it in South Florida, where, obviously, last year -- the last eight years were a total and abject failure toward bringing any -- about any change in Cuba. SANCHEZ: Well, you know what's interesting, the American people seem to be favoring in that direction well -- as well. I don't know if we have the actual -- if we actually have the graph that we can show our viewers. But I think 64 percent of the American people are now saying yes, they're for easing travel restrictions. And something like 71 are saying -- 71 percent are now saying that they think it's a good idea that the embargo even be lifted or that we establish relations with the Castro government.
Do you see this thing heading in that direction?
GARCIA: Well, we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. We're still dealing with a -- with a regime that has a pretty bad human rights record. We're seeing a regime that, you know, any time that the United States does something, this -- this regime sort of us against us. And they have fomented a lot of problems for -- for American foreign policy in the world.
But what we should see this as an opportunity to -- to explore. Look, it's -- the ball is in the Cuban court now. What, clearly, we should get out of the business of doing is regulating what families do with each other. I think that was a bad idea. In fact, it imitated many of the policies of the Castro regime.
You know that old phrase, when you choose an enemy, choose him carefully because, in the end, you'll end up acting like him more than anyone else. And perhaps the United States and perhaps some of the elements in the Cuban-American community probably didn't -- didn't see the long game here.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
GARCIA: Half a century of failed policy requires us to rethink.
SANCHEZ: That's a long time.
Joe Garcia, a great guest.
Once again, talking to us about something that's certainly important across over the country, if not certainly in South Florida.
My thanks again.
GARCIA: Thank you, Rick.
Thank you for what you do.
SANCHEZ: All right. We're going to be doing more on this situation that we've been following.
Here are the latest pictures. One of our correspondents call up in the mayhem that's going on right now in Thailand. Wait until you see this story play out.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: If you look at parts of Thailand, you'd think parts of that country were out of control -- with rebels clashing against the government. Here's Dan Rivers, who is truly in the thick of it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After hours of taunting, finally the patience of the Thai military was exhausted. Volleys of gunfire over the heads of demonstrators -- entire magazines empties into the sky. And these were live rounds.
It sent the anti-government Red Shirts running for cover -- but not for long. They responded by sending buses careening down the road -- driverless and out of control.
Others were set ablaze. Parts of Bangkok, the tourist gateway of Thailand, were a battlefield. And we were caught in the middle of it.
(on camera): The army are now continuing to fire and move forward. Most of the shots are being directed in the air. But certainly, very scary. Molotov cocktails and bricks are coming back the other way. And I don't think we're going to get much closer than this, because it's obviously very dangerous down there.
But you can -- you can hear it's a real pitched battle going on.
(voice-over): The Red Shirts are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. He's already declared a state of emergency in the city, as the government struggles to maintain order.
The Red Shirts want the ousted premier, Thaksin Shinawatra, to be allowed to come back. Thaksin was deposed in a coup in 2006 and has been living in exile since, having been found guilty of corruption.
All last year, yellow-shirted protesters took to the streets to try and dislodge Thaksin's allies, who are in power. That government collapsed after a court ruled they rigged the election.
Now, the Red Shirts are battling it out with the army -- hoping to bring Thaksin back, as the power struggle that has gripped Thailand for two-and-a-half years continues to worsen.
Dan Rivers, CNN, Bangkok.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: The wife of the rescued captain is speaking for one of the first times.
Let's take that live, if we can.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. So Andrea wrote this statement herself this afternoon.
"Good afternoon and thank you all for coming. I have agreed to meet with you today to thank everyone not only in my local community, but also across the nation, for their overwhelming concern for my -- my husband's safety.
The constant outpouring of support, prayers and yellow ribbons have provided me and my family with the strength to be strong for Richard.
