Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Saturday
Debate Surrounding NSA's Use of Americans' Phone Records Heats Up; Seniors Face a Monday Deadline to Enroll in Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Plan; Florida Wildlife Officials Kill Alligator Responsible for Deadly Attack on a Woman; A Look Inside A Baghdad Combat Hospital's Emergency Room
Aired May 13, 2006 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: On the defensive. President Bush says secretive NSA activities he authorized are necessary to track terrorists and are legal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are not trolling through the personal lives of millions of innocent Americans. Our efforts are focused on links to Al Qaeda terrorists and its affiliates who want to harm the American people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Well we have a quick programming note. Our in-depth coverage of Monday's presidential address on immigration gets started with a special edition of "The Situation Room" at 7:00 p.m. eastern, and then with "Lou Dobbs" he's going to break it down for you at 8:30 eastern, followed by "Larry King Live" at 9:00. And then at 10:00 p.m. eastern join Anderson Cooper for a special report on illegal immigration reform. It's all on CNN Monday night.
Zacarias Moussaoui took what is likely the last plane ride of his life this morning. The convicted 9/11 co-conspirator entered a Colorado maximum security prison. That's where he's going to serve a life sentence in solitary confinement.
Tick tock, there is not much time left for seniors who haven't elected for the new Medicare drug prescription program. An estimated 6 million eligible people haven't signed up yet and the deadline is Monday at midnight.
And Indonesia's Mount Merapi, angrier today than in recent memory. Thousands of locals are leaving their homes for safer view, that's because volcano experts expect that there is going to be a major eruption.
And in South Florida, the killer gator is dead. At least they think it's the one. A 28-year-old woman was killed by an alligator several days ago. The animal destroyed today had human body parts in its stomach.
Those are the headlines. But more on our top story now. President Bush renews his pledge to the nation, the government is not snooping on average Americans and their telephone calls. And it's a huge legal debate that now may involve three telecom giants. CNN's Elaine Quijano has more of that story from the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Bush says the government is not listening in on Americans' domestic phone calls unless officials have court approval to do so. In his weekly radio address, the president responded to renewed questions about the National Security Agency's spy activities. Questions prompted by a recent report in "USA Today" saying the government is collecting the phone records of tens of millions of Americans.
BUSH: This week new claims have been made about other ways we are tracking down Al Qaeda to prevent attacks on America. It is important for Americans to understand that our activities strictly target Al Qaeda and its known affiliates.
QUIJANO: The paper reported that three companies, Verizon, AT&T and BellSouth all provided data to the NSA. Friday two lawyers filed a class action lawsuit against Verizon claiming the company violated privacy laws.
CARL MEYER, ATTORNEY: The constitution is very clear. The supreme court is consistently upheld the right of privacy for Americans. It consistently held that the fourth amendment prevents unlawful searches and seizures which we believe this to be.
QUIJANO: But former deputy homeland security adviser Richard Falkenrath now a CNN analyst disagrees. He doesn't have official knowledge of the program but he says if names, addresses and other identifying information were removed before turning over the phone records as has been reported, that should be legal under a 1979 supreme court ruling.
RICHARD FALKENRATH, CNN ANALYST: Which said that phone records strict of personal identifying information are not covered by the fourth amendment. That is they're not personal information, they are business records. That can be provided to the federal government with no protections for the individual.
QUIJANO: In an op-ed piece in "The Washington Post" Falkenrath says if the database report is true, the person who created it deserves a medal. Falkenrath presumes that person was the president's nominee for CIA chief, the former director of the NSA General Michael Hayden.
FALKENRATH: In fact NSA set this program up under his leadership, I think that shows quite a bit of initiative on his part. It shows I think that NSA was acting under the law and within the limits of the law, but in a very creative way.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUIJANO: Now despite the renewed debate over the NSA's activities, the White House is not expressing serious concern about General Hayden's confirmation chances. Officials here believe they have the public support to carry out surveillance they feel is necessary to prevent another attack. Carol?
QUIJANO: Elaine, thank you very much. So the NSA, in your phone records. What exactly does that agency do? Here's a CNN fact check.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: The National Security Agency, or NSA, was created in 1952 by President Harry Truman. Its mission is twofold. To protect U.S. information systems and to produce intelligence by intercepting and translating foreign communications. Or more simply put, code making and code breaking. NSA predecessors such as the native American code talkers of World War II proved to the American military community the value of cryptology.
Today the NSA is one of 15 federal agencies included in the U.S. intelligence community. Because of the NSA's demand for vast data and information storage, the agency has long-been associated with computer and technological development. NSA clients include the White House, executive agencies, the joint chiefs of staff and the U.S. military and its allies. The NSA is headquartered in Ft. George G. Meade, Maryland. Its budget and workforce figures are classified. But according to the NSA, its staff is approximately half military, half civilian. Employing specialized analysts, linguists, scientists, and researchers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: So let's get a poll on what the average American thinks. We have a new poll here that shows that most Americans don't like the idea. 53 percent told a "Newsweek" survey the reported program goes too far. Still a fairly strong minority. 41 percent said the collection of calls within the U.S. is necessary to fight the war on terror. Now CNN is going to continue to follow this story and you can also keep track of new developments by clicking your way to our website, cnn.com.
In the meantime, the clock is ticking for the nation's seniors. They face a Monday deadline to sign up for the Medicare drug benefit plan. CNN's Christy Feig has some helpful information that you may need to know.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTY FEIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In many ways, Edna Boyd is a typical senior. At 80 years old, she has a handful of prescriptions which are covered in part by her former employer.
EDNA BOYD, MEDICARE RECIPIENT: If I get all four prescriptions and two medications, if I get it all at one time, it's about $118 and something.
FEIG: And for her, that's a lot of money every three months. So she's weighing her options through the new Medicare plan to see if there's a better deal. Edna says she finds all the options confusing.
BOYD: I think they should give you a plan. I don't think you should have to choose from ten different ones.
FEIG: So Edna turned to a group in Washington, D.C. for help.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These are the two plans that I think are going to make the most sense for you.
FEIG: Experts at the AARP say the web is the best way to sign up because on medicare.gov you can narrow your options down based on the three Cs. Cost, coverage, whether your drug is included, and convenience, whether the plan is accepted at your local pharmacy.
CHERL MATHEIS, AARP: So if you put your decision making into those three areas, those three buckets, it will actually narrow your choices from the huge array that you see initially to a handful that you can choose among.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: We're taking this very seriously. And we're going to get you more answers in 30 minutes from the head honcho of Medicare. I'm going to talk with Dr. Mark McClellan about the deadline and the easiest way to enroll if you're lost or you really need help.
In the meantime, Senator John McCain once called Jerry Falwell an agent of intolerance. Well today the two men stood side by side. McCain spoke to graduates of Falwell's Liberty University and some political insiders say McCain learned a valuable lesson in 2000 about angering the religious right. And that he should court them if he hopes to win the White House.
Some more political star power at once water-logged Tulane University. Former President Bush and former President Clinton spoke at the school's graduation and they used the university's hurricane recovery as a metaphor for life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE NITD STATES: If you look at Katrina and the enormous response it provoked, from all around the world, it is a positive manifestation of the most important fact of your lives. The inner-dependence of human beings on this planet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: And did you hear that Ellen Degeneres attended that graduation ceremony? There was a slight wardrobe malfunction, though.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN: They told me everybody would be wearing robes. Anybody staying at The (INAUDIBLE), can you return this for me, that'd be great. I was in town and whenever I get a chance to speak after presidents, I say get me in there. And this is the closest I'll ever come to graduating so I thought I would join you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: And if you couldn't tell, she was wearing a bathrobe. And America's favorite dad Bill Cosby speaks to Spellman College and to us tomorrow. Hear what he has to say, that controversial guy in his words of wisdom, tomorrow night at 10:00 eastern.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
It's very uncommon. As a matter of fact, since 1948 that we've been keeping records. There's only been 18 fatal human attacks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: We're trying to figure out if a woman was eaten by an alligator. So investigators are tracking a four-legged predator in the Everglades. Up next new details on a Florida woman's grisly death.
And you've heard of drilling for oil. Now vandals have found a new place to drill for fuel. But the cops are not impressed. And later, inside the mind of the paparazzi. Go along for the ride as photographers chase down one of the biggest prizes out there. Angelina Jolie. You're watching CNN LIVE SATURDAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: This video just in. You are looking at new pictures of an alligator that may have killed a Florida woman. We're going to have the complete story when we return in just 60 seconds.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Checking the most popular stories online. This is what you're voting for. General Motors is pulling the plug on its monster SUV the original Hummer. 2006 is the last year the big gas-guzzling H-1 model is going to be made. And in North Carolina lawyers for the Duke lacrosse players accused of rape say a second round of DNA tests is good news for them. There is no genetic material that has been conclusively linked to the accused lacrosse players.
And Americans are giving higher marks to former President Clinton than the current oval office occupant. A new poll the public views Clinton's performance in handling the economy, foreign affairs, taxes, and natural disasters better than President Bush. They also say Mr. Bush did more to divide the country.
An update now on a story that we followed much of the last week. An alligator killed in southern Florida today is believed to be the one that killed a woman on Tuesday. It was 9 1/2 feet long. And after wildlife officials destroyed it, they found two arms inside. They are testing the body further. More now on that story from CNN's Susan Candiotti.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A family feels the pain of losing a loved one in an especially gruesome way. An autopsy found the alligator's victim quickly bled to death when both of her arms were lost in the attack. How uncommon is this attack?
JORGE PINO, FLORIDA WILDLIFE COMMISSION: Well it's very uncommon. As a matter of fact, since 1948 that we've been keeping records, there's only been 18 fatal human attacks by an alligator.
CANDIOTTI: The death of Yovy Jimenez a first by an alligator in highly populated Broward county. Jimenez went for a jog around 7:00 Tuesday night. The path runs along a canal. With a drop-off in some spots that goes down around 15 feet. Some witnesses say they think they saw a woman with her feet near the water. Whether or not that was Jimenez, her family says she did call home and told them she was depressed. Her sister who did not want to appear on camera told a local TV station her mother offered to pick up Jimenez.
VICTIM'S UNIDENTIFIED SISTER: She said no, no, no, you're not going to find me. And then the communication got caught off. From there on we never heard from her again. We kept calling and calling and calling, nobody would answer. So I guess that's when that happened.
CANDIOTTI: Traps baited with hog lungs cover a 500-yard stretch of canal along a busy highway. Canals attract alligators in search of food. When water levels are low in the everglades. The tail end of dry season when homeowners have been known to find unwelcome visitors in their driveways. And alligators find themselves in territory that used to belong exclusively to them. Susan Candiotti, CNN, Davie, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Now we want to share some video just in. This is the alligator which is now dead. But inside when they did an autopsy, they found two human arms. They haven't concluded that this is the alligator that attacked that woman, but you would think it's pretty likely. We understand that alligators actually can move very quickly just in case you're wondering why this woman wouldn't be able to outrun it. They can run up to 60 miles per hour. Fast moving. Wanted to show the video just as it got in.
Wrapping up some other news from around the world tonight. Thousands of South Koreans protested a U.S. plan to relocate some of its military bases in the country. Demonstrators feared the plan would help Americans get their troops to the region a lot faster.
In Rome, a statue of the Virgin Mary is flown over St. Peter's Square. Embedded in the crown, one of the bullets that struck Pope John Paul II 25 years ago. As you know the Pope survived the assassination attempt and he later forgave the gunman.
The Nigerian government plans to beef up security around its petroleum pipeline. This after a deadly explosion near Lagos killed as many as 200 people yesterday. Thieves are suspected of sparking the explosion trying to steal gas.
And in Kenya, gunmen fire bomb a Christian radio station after fatally shooting an employee. Two others were injured in the assault on Hope FM. The radio was broadcasting a comparison between biblical teachings and those of the Koran at the time.
An angry mountain on the pacific rim and it could blow its top at any time. By the thousands people are leaving the slopes of an Indonesian volcano and they're getting out of dodge. And they only have to look upward for motivation. CNN's Anand Naidoo has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANAND NAIDOO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thousands of people live and work in the shadow of the volcano. Many of them villagers who have so far refused to heed warning signs from the notorious volcano. Experts now say an eruption appears imminent and officials are not taking any chances calling for mandatory evacuations. Women, children and the elderly are being moved to shelters in schools and government buildings elsewhere in the province of Yogyakarta.
SRI SULTAN HAMENGKU BUWONO X, GOVERNOR OF YOGYAKARTA (translation): I have ordered the people who live within six kilometers away from Mount Merapi to be evacuated.
NAIDOO: But many thousands of people remain in harms way and some of them say they'll never leave their land and livestock. Merapi has been relatively quiet in recent years. Last time it erupted some 12 years ago at least 66 people were killed, many of them died after coming into contact with scorching volcanic gases. About a month ago Merapi began rumbling and belching out smoke. But scientists didn't raise the alert status to its highest level until they noticed the formation of a lava dome and increasing tremors. Signs that the crater is about to blow. Anand Naidoo, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: We're watching that one very carefully. In the meantime, we want to bring you this great story. We're going to take you behind the scenes inside a Baghdad E.R. Up next you're going to go on the front lines with medical units in the green zone.
And Mayor Ray Nagin says New Orleans is ready to get everyone out in case of another hurricane. But is that really true? We're going to separate fact from fiction when CNN LIVE SATURDAY comes back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Every week we like to bring you the personal stories from the front lines. And this one is personal, but it is graphic. But we want you to invest the next three minutes and 33 seconds because we think it's important to show you how people are saving lives and limbs inside a combat hospital in Iraq. CNN's Ryan Chilcote has this story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Baghdad's combat support hospital is about to get busy. Information on the incoming is scant, nuances, important.
DR. DAVID STEINBRUNNER, U.S. ARMY: Two are urgent and it sounded like there was some nervousness in the voice of the people calling it in originally.
CHILCOTE: Colonel David Steinbrunner is the on-duty doctor.
STEINBRUTER: We won't really know until they get to the door.
CHILCOTE: And in a war zone, even the most seasoned doctor can be surprised at what comes through that door.
Holy crap.
CHILCOTE: The triage begins. The walking wounded goes to a nurse.
I don't have a medic.
CHILCOTE: Next door, in the E.R., Steinbrunner is beginning his initial check on the soldier brought in on the stretcher. At first glance, things aren't looking good.
STEINBRUNNER: He's real pale guys.
CHILCOTE: Through an oxygen mask though, the soldier manages to mumble a message. Doctor relays it to the team.
STEINBRUNNER: He said please don't let me die.
CHILCOTE: In return, he gets the doctor's word.
STEINBRUNNER: I promise, I wouldn't lie to you. Don't you dare try to die on me okay? I didn't give you permission.
CHILCOTE: He's just as honest when the soldier asks if he can save his leg.
STEINBRUNNER: I don't know. That I don't know, okay? We'll try to save it if we can, okay? I just don't know. I can't give you an answer right now.
CHILCOTE: Also at the soldier's side, a chaplain. The anesthesia is administered, but the soldier still stirs.
STEINBRUNNER: We have to put him down you guys. Poor guy's waking up through all of this.
CHILCOTE: Then another call rings out -- more are on the way.
Two more inbound. Two minutes.
CHILCOTE: But for this soldier, it's too late. They've been doing CPR on him for a half hour. Five minutes later, he's pronounced dead. In all, four soldiers were brought to the hospital after a bomb hit their vehicle. Private First Class Victor Vicente was behind the wheel. He's on the phone home. He doesn't tell his wife what happened to the others, that's the military's job.
VICTOR VICENTE, PRIVATE 1ST CLASS: I have a cut on my head. But it's not a big problem.
CHILCOTE: But, he won't be going home.
STEINBRUNNER: Hey, I hate to tell you this but basically you're RTD -- returned to duty.
CHILCOTE: The casualties are separated only by curtains. There's little privacy.
That guy over there's getting a needle in his back.
CHILCOTE: Take this day and turn it into every day, you have Dr. Steinbrunner's routine since he arrived in Iraq.
STEINBRUNNER: It seems like it's been a long time but it's only been six or seven months.
CHILCOTE: With this system of medical care, U.S. servicemen and women are now twice as likely to survive wounds that would have killed in Vietnam. Today, that soldier is in the E.R. the x-rays are back. And they are looking good.
Sweet.
CHILCOTE: He's stabilized and ready for the operating room. Dr. Steinbrunner's job is finished for now.
STEINBRUNNER: He may lose an arm or a leg. He may save it, I don't know.
CHILCOTE: But Steinbrunner kept his promise.
STEINBRUNNER: He lost a lot of blood in the field. But he's a young healthy guy, so he was compensating and that's why he could talk and maintain and everything like that. But you could see the color of his skin, I mean he was pale, he was definitely looking very, very sick. So, now I'm going to take care of his buddy next to him.
CHILCOTE: Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: That seriously wounded soldier has been transferred to a military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany. And doctors there say it appears the Iraqi doctors were able to save his arm and his leg.
Much more to come this hour. Trains, planes, buses, New Orleans has a plan to get people out if another hurricane hits, but it might get derailed. And we're going to show you why. Also, seniors scramble to meet a key Medicare deadline. But it's giving them a big headache.
Links to success. How teeing off is bringing these kids up to par in the game of life. You're watching CNN LIVE SATURDAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Now in the news. President Bush tried to reassure Americans that the government is not snooping on their personal phone calls. But a published report says the feds are keeping close tabs on phone records to fight terrorism. And immigration is taking center stage on Capitol Hill and the White House on Monday.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
