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Spain Elects New Prime Minister as Protest to Previous Administration; White House Willing to Work with New Prime Minister; Protests Mark One-Year Anniversary in Iraq; One Year Later, What's Changed in Iraq?
Aired March 15, 2004 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: A terror attack in Spain may cost America an ally in Iraq. An upset win in Spain's elections means troops may be pulling out.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Miguel Marquez, live in Fresno, California. The investigation continues into the largest mass murder in the city's history. I'll have a live report.
O'BRIEN: Fallout from the felony. Martha Stewart makes a corporate move. Will she be cooking up products behind bars?
And Earth, Mars, Saturn, and now Sedna? Will a new discovery add another planet to our solar system?
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, earthbound, I'm Miles O'Brien. Kyra Phillips is off this Monday, March 15th. CNN's "LIVE FROM" starts right now.
After the bombings, the bombshell. A socialist and die-hard opponent of the war in Iraq is the new prime minister's fame. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero says he represents a government of change dedicated to fighting terrorism and defending democracy, and bringing troops home from Iraq by July. Zapatero's surprise and sweeping victory came three days after those devastating bomb attacks in Madrid, attacks that seem more and more like the work of Islamic radicals.
We get the latest on all of this from CNN's Diana Muriel, who is live in the Spanish capitol -- Diana.
DIANA MURIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles.
Yes, indeed a shock result in Sunday's general election here in Spain. The prime minister-elect, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, will be taking office in the next month.
But he wasted no time in the press conferences he gave earlier Monday, to reinstate some of those election promises that he had made, chief of which of course was, of course, this undertaking to bring back the Spanish troops that are stationed in Iraq.
That had been a very unpopular decision by the former administration. The decision met with street protests, demonstrations here in Spain. And Zapatero had -- his election platform, one of the key elements of that was this undertaking to bring those troops back.
Now this, of course, all taking place against the backdrop of that carnage that we saw here in Madrid last Thursday.
I'm standing at Atocha station, which is in downtown Madrid. And this has only just reopened today. This, of course, was the scene of some of those bombs that exploded on Thursday.
People still bringing flowers and candles, still bringing messages of condolence. But notably a lot of those messages are quite political in nature, blaming the outgoing administration for the bombs. Some messages saying that the bombs that fell in Baghdad, they are now falling in Madrid and holding the former government accountable for the terrorist attack. Of course, the investigation is ongoing into that.
The incoming prime minister has asked to meet with Jose Maria Aznar, the former prime minister, to talk about the security situation, to talk about the activities that are taking place here in Spain with regards to fighting terrorism and the national security.
So far, we have not heard from the prime minister that there will be a meeting, although we expect to have an announcement of that at some stage.
But in the meantime, people here still seeking the answers why and who was behind that terrible terrorist incident that took place in Madrid last week -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Diana, can you give me a sense, to what degree have things returned normal there in Madrid? Are the trains full? Are people going about their business or is it there's still remnants of that incredible outpouring we saw last week?
MURIEL: There is very definitely still a sense here of grief and loss and mourning. The city is decked with flags which are hung with black ribbons, which is the sign of the sense of horror and condolences that people have for the relatives of the victims, indeed, the victims themselves. That black ribbon very much synonymous in Spain with terrorist incidents.
Of course, the people in Spain are used to -- in the past have had various outrages perpetrated on them by the Basque group ETA, from the north of Spain, which has been branded a terrorist organization.
But they are still coming with their flowers, as I say, and their candles and their messages here to this train station. And the -- although the official three days of morning is over -- that ended on Sunday -- there is still here a very great sense of loss in the capital city -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Diana Muriel in Madrid. Thank you very much.
The Bush administration has is at odds today with itself to the extent which last week's attacks can be laid at al Qaeda's doorstep.
On CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson said this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASA HUTCHINSON, HOMELAND SECURITY UNDERSECRETARY: There is a connection to al Qaeda. We have verified that the extent of responsibility and whether any other terrorist organization was involved is yet to be determined.
The investigation continues but at this point there clearly is some link. We're going to continue to see the depth of that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Now, not long after those comments, a homeland security official told CNN, and we quote now, "W e don't have evidence of an al Qaeda role in Madrid. Some suspects may have a connected with fundamental Islamic terrorism," the official says, "but we don't have the facts yet."
Now, on the political front, there's little doubt the White House has lost a faithful ally in Iraq. And CNN's Kathleen Koch is watching that from the White House for us.
Hello, Kathleen.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, it is obviously a difficult day here at the White House. They are doing their best to put a good face on a bad situation, though.
First of all, White House spokesman Scott McClellan clarifying the administration position on what you just mentioned, the question of responsibility for the Madrid bombings, McClellan insisting that the U.S. does not know who is responsible.
The U.S. has offered whatever help it can to Spain in this. However, McClellan again says, quote, "No firm conclusions can be drawn about who is responsible."
Now President Bush made some calls to the leaders of Spain this morning. First of all, the outgoing prime minister, Jose Maria Aznar, thanking him for his support over the years, his friendship and his strong leadership.
And McClellan wished him well -- excuse me, Bush wished Aznar well as he leaves office.
Now Aznar, obviously, both before, during and after the war, a very staunch supporter of the U.S., taking his country to war there, making it a member of the coalition, despite the opposition of some 90 percent of the population.
The president also immediately afterwards was careful to call the incoming socialist leader, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Those two men spoke for five or ten minutes, President Bush congratulating him, reiterating the solidarity with the Spanish people at this difficult time. The two men, though, we're told on the phone promised to work together on the shared commitment to combat terrorism, though the two, McClellan says, did not discuss Zapatero's promise to pull out those 1,300 Spanish troops right now in Iraq.
McClellan insisted, however, that this is not going to hurt the U.S.-led coalition, McClellan saying that it remains strong.
Though he would not take any questions on whether or not this vote in Spain now makes other U.S. allies in the coalition more vulnerable to potential terrorism. Terrorists who would also like to equally influence democratic election process and other places.
The administration, though, very careful this morning to try to put a positive spin on what has happened. But clearly, it is looking like it is going to lose an ally, certainly in the coalition.
And as we speak, the president is very soon going to be leaving the White House. He's heading to a battleground state, Pennsylvania, a state that President Bush lost back in 2000, where he'll be having a conversation on homeownership with some the citizens in a Philadelphia suburb -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Kathleen Koch at the White House. Thank you very much.
Don't forget, you can follow all the Spanish politics and police work any time, anywhere on CNN.com.
The war in Iraq started one year ago this week and Iraq war protests have already started.
Here's CNN's Elaine Quijano in Washington.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: About 60 to 75 protesters turned out here outside the gates of Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Their purpose, according to organizers, to protest against the continued U.S. military presence in Iraq, also to honor the dead and draw attention to the wounded.
That is why organizers say they chose to demonstrate here. Walter Reed is the hospital where many war wounded are brought for rehabilitation. From here, the protesters are making their way through the streets of Washington, about a six-mile march, to Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House.
There, the protestors plan to read the names of those killed in Iraq, not only U.S. Forces but also coalition troops and Iraqis.
Now family members say they have many messages they want to send though the American people and the Bush administration, one of peace, they say, also for the safe return of U.S. troops from Iraq and finally, they hope the American people will not forget the sacrifices of their loved ones.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Things have got to change. We can't continue to support this war in any way. Most of all, we don't want people to come back maimed, hurt. And not only our own people. We also want to make sure the Iraqi people aren't being hurt in any way, because the war does not seem to be justified in any way.
QUIJANO: Organizers say they're also planning demonstrations later this week. It is all timed to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the start of the Iraqi conflict.
Elaine Quijano, CNN, Washington.
O'BRIEN: Later this hour, we'll look back at the war from a tactical standpoint with CNN military analyst David Grange.
Across America this hour.
A gracious good-bye. The founder and figurehead of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia quit her own board of directors today, saying she's heartsick about her personal legal situation and deeply sorry for the difficulties it's caused. Stewart is widely expected to spend a year or so in prison for lying to investigators about her ImClone stock sale.
Dennis Kozlowski's lawyer says he's not a thief. Closing arguments, again, are under the way in the fraud trial of former Tyco CEO and co-defendant Mark Schwartz. The two are charged with taking Tyco to the cleaners to the tune of $600 million in dubious loans, unearned bonuses and fraudulent stock sales.
The case could go to the jury as early as Wednesday, some five and a half months after it all began.
And divers are back at Baltimore Harbor today, looking for the fifth and last victim of that water taxi accident a week ago Saturday. Two bodies were pulled up yesterday: a 6-year-old boy and the fiance of the woman who is still unaccounted for. The child was the brother of an 8-year-old girl who remains in critical condition today.
Now to Fresno, California, where authorities are only beginning to sort out the biggest mass killing in that city's history.
It's a tragic tangle of victims and relationships. Nine members of one family shot to death. The family patriarch jailed on nine counts of murder.
CNN'S Miguel Marquez joins us with the latest on what is a bizarre -- Bizarre is an overused term but it does fit here, doesn't it Miguel?
MARQUEZ: It doesn't fit easily into any sort of box there, Miles. And patriarch may be the best way to describe the main and only suspect so far, 57-year-old Marcus Wesson in the killing of nine people, most of them children.
The police chief for Fresno had said that all the victims were killed in a consistent and unique manner. We're finding out more about that consistency. The Fresno coroner saying all six victims so far, they've determined, were shot to death.
Three other autopsies are ongoing. Forensic testing is also going on with those victims. And they're also checking them for residue, gunfire residue to figure out who may have -- to make sure, figure out who may have fired what shots, if there was more than one gun involved in this case.
Police basically saying that they are closing no avenues of investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF JERRY DYER, FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, POLICE: We believe that Marcus Wesson is the person responsible for the nine murders. That doesn't mean that, as an agency we have ruled out the possibility any other subjects may be involved. We don't want to become too narrowly focused in our investigation to exclude anyone.
But we do believe absolutely that he is responsible for the murder of all nine victims.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: Of those victims, most of them were children. Two of them, police believe, may have been both the grandchildren and the children of it. Mr. Wesson fathered children by his own daughters on at least two occasions.
And they also believe that because of that sort of relationship, it makes it very difficult, one to inform family members and to make sure that they've informed all the family members and also to sort out exactly what the relationships were between all these people.
Police believe he may have consorted with as many as four people. CNN has talked to another gentleman who believes that there may have been five women in Mr. Wesson's life. So it's very difficult.
The superior court here in Fresno says that they believe that a complaint may be filed today, which would mean he would be arraigned on at least nine counts of murder as early as tomorrow -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Miguel Marquez, watching things for us in Fresno. Thank you very much.
A convicted child molester behind bars for years may get a new trial after some of his accusers take back their stories. We'll have a live report on that.
The war in Iraq, one year later, what lessons have military forces learned from the heat of battle?
How's that for a meltdown? A glacier collapse gives tourists a thrill. We'll tumble for you later on LIVE FROM. Stay with us.
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O'BRIEN: Friday marks one year since American troops went to war in Iraq. As the anniversary approaches, the U.S. is faced with continuing challenges in Iraq. And with continuing assessment of the war, what worked and what lessons did the U.S. military learned.
Here to talk a little bit about that is retired U.S. Army General David Grange.
David Grange, good to have you back with us.
RET. DAVID GRANGE, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Thank you, Miles.
O'BRIEN: First of all, let's talk a bit about the role of U.S. troops in an urban setting.
How, in general, do you think the troops were prepared for this, and are they continuing to do a fairly good job on a long-term basis? It's a rather difficult kind of -- the term is asymmetrical, a difficult kind of battle to fight, isn't it?
GRANGE: Urban warfare is very difficult. Historically, it's been tough for all nations.
Personally knowing many of the commanders that were responsible for getting troops ready for this fight, did extensive work on urban warfare. But it takes a lot of time. It's probably the hardest training scenario that I can think of from my experiences, and it's very difficult. And sometimes, though, even though you prepare as well as you can, you relearn some lessons you that shouldn't have to.
O'BRIEN: All right. Now one of the lessons I think perhaps the U.S. learned through all of this is perhaps the limited utility of the way the conventional ground force is structured around heavy armor and so forth.
Let's look for example, we'll talk about the M1-A1 main battle tank. As it went across the open desert, as it were, those shots we saw at the outset of the war, it was in its perfect turf, if you will. As it got into the cities, it was not as useful, was it?
GRANGE: Well, it's useful in the fact it can deflect enemy fire quite well. It's very intimidating, but it's also has limited observation.
It's good for speed and shock through a city. But when you man a stationary checkpoint or have to respond to, let's say, a crowd of people, where you may have a few insurgents amongst that crowd, it's difficult to use that piece of equipment in that scenario.
O'BRIEN: And the classic tank battles that saw in the first Persian Gulf War didn't play out, did they?
GRANGE: They didn't. But they -- These tanks did take out enemy armored equipment and positions on their way to Baghdad, and some of the thunder runs through the city, they did quite well.
But for sustained counter guerrilla operations, it's not the optimum vehicle.
O'BRIEN: All right. Let's talk about helicopters for just a moment. Helicopters, this wasn't their best conflict, was it? We had the -- of course, the loss of a couple of Apaches in the midst of the thrust towards Baghdad, some prisoners of war taken.
And then, as the occupation has continued, some real vulnerabilities, Black Hawks and other helicopters, to rocket propelled grenades.
Are there some lessons being learned about how to defend helicopters, tactics, that kind of thing?
GRANGE: I think so. If you take, or instance, the Apache helicopter. A great attack helicopter, but it's used to go in at night deep, behind enemy lines, take out armored columns of enemy tanks and fighting vehicles.
And a lot of times, when they're, for instance, in what they call a hovering or masking position, trying to fire from a distance, they may hover over an enemy element in the ground, fox holes or buildings which fires AK-47s and RPGs at that helicopter.
And that's really what took most of them down, not enemy air defense systems.
So helicopters are great for three-dimensional warfare. I would want them in any kind of fight but you have to be very careful how they're deployed in these type of environments. Somalia is another great example.
O'BRIEN: So perhaps a change of tactics is in order, or perhaps a change in the way they're defended: different kinds of armament, that kind of thing?
GRANGE: Mainly, Miles, tactics and techniques, procedures on the battlefield. You have an array of targets that are heavy armored. But at the same time, you have the individual soldier that can be quite a threat in the urban area.
If your helicopter is moving slow or low in this environment, they're susceptible to small arms fire that will bring them down.
MILES: By their very nature I guess they're always going to be a certain degree of -- they're going to be vulnerable in a certain sense.
Let's talk about Special Forces here. This was probably the most integrated use of Special Forces in any U.S. campaign ever. Did it work?
GRANGE: Miles, it worked quite well. The integration of heavy units, light units, special operating units from all services, Special Forces, Rangers, SEAL's, air commandos as an example, they worked something extremely well. And there was tailored task forces in Afghanistan, in Iraq, throughout the battlefield through a duration of the campaign and ongoing still today.
A very good use of it. Not just talk but actually implementing this coordinated use.
O'BRIEN: As we look at it now, a year later, with the U.S. still bogged down in Iraq, no end in sight, are there lessons to be learned how to wage peace, if that's the correct term?
GRANGE: Well, what happens is you're focused on the fight up front. And my feeling is dropping the bombs, firing the weapons is always the easy part of any operation. The tough part is the second, third order effects from that fight.
In other words, when you transition to stability and support operations to nation building. One, you have to do it immediately. You cannot lose the momentum. And you must have the forces and the resources to surge that capability right away in the transition.
That may have been underestimated a bit in this particular fight.
And it's going to take a long time. It's not a hundred yard dash. This is a marathon commitment that takes awhile to do it right. And if you try to cut it short, then you live with any consequences of the thing not taking hold.
O'BRIEN: And just briefly, how long do you think the U.S. will be there now?
GRANGE: Well, I believe for several more years, Miles. And keep in mind, there's still an unresolved mission that has to be complete in Afghanistan.
So these things take time. Resources should be put there for the long haul. Because we shouldn't have started it if we don't finish it correctly, and I believe that we have the resolve to do that. And hopefully, it will continue.
O'BRIEN: General David Grange, who a year ago was here with us, spending a lot of time on TV. Good to see you again. Thank you for your analysis one year later. Appreciate it.
GRANGE: My pleasure, Miles. Thank you.
O'BRIEN: U.S. forces in Afghanistan swoop down on a cave hideout. It's a part of a new offensive against al Qaeda. We're live from Kabul with more on the movies in just a few moments.
And what's fueling the record high gas prices? We'll check out what's up at the pump.
And Martha Stewart, as we said, resigning from her company's board. But she'll still have a job despite her conviction. We'll show you what she'll be doing. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: This just in to CNN, the mother accused of murder for allegedly refusing a cesarean section in Salt Lake City, Utah, has pleaded not guilty. It happened just a little while ago.
You remember the story, we told you about it last week. Twenty- eight-year-old Melissa Ann Rowland appeared via videoconference from her jail cell, and her attorney entered that innocent plea on behalf to one count of criminal homicide.
According to prosecutors, she ignored multiple recommendations to get the C-section which would have saved that lives of her twin, according to her doctors at the time.
One of the babies, a boy, was stillborn. The surviving girl has been adopted. Once again, Melissa Ann Rowland, who refused that C- section, allegedly, has pleaded not guilty to a count of homicide.
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Administration; White House Willing to Work with New Prime Minister; Protests Mark One-Year Anniversary in Iraq; One Year Later, What's Changed in Iraq?>
Aired March 15, 2004 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: A terror attack in Spain may cost America an ally in Iraq. An upset win in Spain's elections means troops may be pulling out.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Miguel Marquez, live in Fresno, California. The investigation continues into the largest mass murder in the city's history. I'll have a live report.
O'BRIEN: Fallout from the felony. Martha Stewart makes a corporate move. Will she be cooking up products behind bars?
And Earth, Mars, Saturn, and now Sedna? Will a new discovery add another planet to our solar system?
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, earthbound, I'm Miles O'Brien. Kyra Phillips is off this Monday, March 15th. CNN's "LIVE FROM" starts right now.
After the bombings, the bombshell. A socialist and die-hard opponent of the war in Iraq is the new prime minister's fame. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero says he represents a government of change dedicated to fighting terrorism and defending democracy, and bringing troops home from Iraq by July. Zapatero's surprise and sweeping victory came three days after those devastating bomb attacks in Madrid, attacks that seem more and more like the work of Islamic radicals.
We get the latest on all of this from CNN's Diana Muriel, who is live in the Spanish capitol -- Diana.
DIANA MURIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles.
Yes, indeed a shock result in Sunday's general election here in Spain. The prime minister-elect, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, will be taking office in the next month.
But he wasted no time in the press conferences he gave earlier Monday, to reinstate some of those election promises that he had made, chief of which of course was, of course, this undertaking to bring back the Spanish troops that are stationed in Iraq.
That had been a very unpopular decision by the former administration. The decision met with street protests, demonstrations here in Spain. And Zapatero had -- his election platform, one of the key elements of that was this undertaking to bring those troops back.
Now this, of course, all taking place against the backdrop of that carnage that we saw here in Madrid last Thursday.
I'm standing at Atocha station, which is in downtown Madrid. And this has only just reopened today. This, of course, was the scene of some of those bombs that exploded on Thursday.
People still bringing flowers and candles, still bringing messages of condolence. But notably a lot of those messages are quite political in nature, blaming the outgoing administration for the bombs. Some messages saying that the bombs that fell in Baghdad, they are now falling in Madrid and holding the former government accountable for the terrorist attack. Of course, the investigation is ongoing into that.
The incoming prime minister has asked to meet with Jose Maria Aznar, the former prime minister, to talk about the security situation, to talk about the activities that are taking place here in Spain with regards to fighting terrorism and the national security.
So far, we have not heard from the prime minister that there will be a meeting, although we expect to have an announcement of that at some stage.
But in the meantime, people here still seeking the answers why and who was behind that terrible terrorist incident that took place in Madrid last week -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Diana, can you give me a sense, to what degree have things returned normal there in Madrid? Are the trains full? Are people going about their business or is it there's still remnants of that incredible outpouring we saw last week?
MURIEL: There is very definitely still a sense here of grief and loss and mourning. The city is decked with flags which are hung with black ribbons, which is the sign of the sense of horror and condolences that people have for the relatives of the victims, indeed, the victims themselves. That black ribbon very much synonymous in Spain with terrorist incidents.
Of course, the people in Spain are used to -- in the past have had various outrages perpetrated on them by the Basque group ETA, from the north of Spain, which has been branded a terrorist organization.
But they are still coming with their flowers, as I say, and their candles and their messages here to this train station. And the -- although the official three days of morning is over -- that ended on Sunday -- there is still here a very great sense of loss in the capital city -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Diana Muriel in Madrid. Thank you very much.
The Bush administration has is at odds today with itself to the extent which last week's attacks can be laid at al Qaeda's doorstep.
On CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson said this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASA HUTCHINSON, HOMELAND SECURITY UNDERSECRETARY: There is a connection to al Qaeda. We have verified that the extent of responsibility and whether any other terrorist organization was involved is yet to be determined.
The investigation continues but at this point there clearly is some link. We're going to continue to see the depth of that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Now, not long after those comments, a homeland security official told CNN, and we quote now, "W e don't have evidence of an al Qaeda role in Madrid. Some suspects may have a connected with fundamental Islamic terrorism," the official says, "but we don't have the facts yet."
Now, on the political front, there's little doubt the White House has lost a faithful ally in Iraq. And CNN's Kathleen Koch is watching that from the White House for us.
Hello, Kathleen.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, it is obviously a difficult day here at the White House. They are doing their best to put a good face on a bad situation, though.
First of all, White House spokesman Scott McClellan clarifying the administration position on what you just mentioned, the question of responsibility for the Madrid bombings, McClellan insisting that the U.S. does not know who is responsible.
The U.S. has offered whatever help it can to Spain in this. However, McClellan again says, quote, "No firm conclusions can be drawn about who is responsible."
Now President Bush made some calls to the leaders of Spain this morning. First of all, the outgoing prime minister, Jose Maria Aznar, thanking him for his support over the years, his friendship and his strong leadership.
And McClellan wished him well -- excuse me, Bush wished Aznar well as he leaves office.
Now Aznar, obviously, both before, during and after the war, a very staunch supporter of the U.S., taking his country to war there, making it a member of the coalition, despite the opposition of some 90 percent of the population.
The president also immediately afterwards was careful to call the incoming socialist leader, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Those two men spoke for five or ten minutes, President Bush congratulating him, reiterating the solidarity with the Spanish people at this difficult time. The two men, though, we're told on the phone promised to work together on the shared commitment to combat terrorism, though the two, McClellan says, did not discuss Zapatero's promise to pull out those 1,300 Spanish troops right now in Iraq.
McClellan insisted, however, that this is not going to hurt the U.S.-led coalition, McClellan saying that it remains strong.
Though he would not take any questions on whether or not this vote in Spain now makes other U.S. allies in the coalition more vulnerable to potential terrorism. Terrorists who would also like to equally influence democratic election process and other places.
The administration, though, very careful this morning to try to put a positive spin on what has happened. But clearly, it is looking like it is going to lose an ally, certainly in the coalition.
And as we speak, the president is very soon going to be leaving the White House. He's heading to a battleground state, Pennsylvania, a state that President Bush lost back in 2000, where he'll be having a conversation on homeownership with some the citizens in a Philadelphia suburb -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Kathleen Koch at the White House. Thank you very much.
Don't forget, you can follow all the Spanish politics and police work any time, anywhere on CNN.com.
The war in Iraq started one year ago this week and Iraq war protests have already started.
Here's CNN's Elaine Quijano in Washington.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: About 60 to 75 protesters turned out here outside the gates of Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Their purpose, according to organizers, to protest against the continued U.S. military presence in Iraq, also to honor the dead and draw attention to the wounded.
That is why organizers say they chose to demonstrate here. Walter Reed is the hospital where many war wounded are brought for rehabilitation. From here, the protesters are making their way through the streets of Washington, about a six-mile march, to Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House.
There, the protestors plan to read the names of those killed in Iraq, not only U.S. Forces but also coalition troops and Iraqis.
Now family members say they have many messages they want to send though the American people and the Bush administration, one of peace, they say, also for the safe return of U.S. troops from Iraq and finally, they hope the American people will not forget the sacrifices of their loved ones.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Things have got to change. We can't continue to support this war in any way. Most of all, we don't want people to come back maimed, hurt. And not only our own people. We also want to make sure the Iraqi people aren't being hurt in any way, because the war does not seem to be justified in any way.
QUIJANO: Organizers say they're also planning demonstrations later this week. It is all timed to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the start of the Iraqi conflict.
Elaine Quijano, CNN, Washington.
O'BRIEN: Later this hour, we'll look back at the war from a tactical standpoint with CNN military analyst David Grange.
Across America this hour.
A gracious good-bye. The founder and figurehead of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia quit her own board of directors today, saying she's heartsick about her personal legal situation and deeply sorry for the difficulties it's caused. Stewart is widely expected to spend a year or so in prison for lying to investigators about her ImClone stock sale.
Dennis Kozlowski's lawyer says he's not a thief. Closing arguments, again, are under the way in the fraud trial of former Tyco CEO and co-defendant Mark Schwartz. The two are charged with taking Tyco to the cleaners to the tune of $600 million in dubious loans, unearned bonuses and fraudulent stock sales.
The case could go to the jury as early as Wednesday, some five and a half months after it all began.
And divers are back at Baltimore Harbor today, looking for the fifth and last victim of that water taxi accident a week ago Saturday. Two bodies were pulled up yesterday: a 6-year-old boy and the fiance of the woman who is still unaccounted for. The child was the brother of an 8-year-old girl who remains in critical condition today.
Now to Fresno, California, where authorities are only beginning to sort out the biggest mass killing in that city's history.
It's a tragic tangle of victims and relationships. Nine members of one family shot to death. The family patriarch jailed on nine counts of murder.
CNN'S Miguel Marquez joins us with the latest on what is a bizarre -- Bizarre is an overused term but it does fit here, doesn't it Miguel?
MARQUEZ: It doesn't fit easily into any sort of box there, Miles. And patriarch may be the best way to describe the main and only suspect so far, 57-year-old Marcus Wesson in the killing of nine people, most of them children.
The police chief for Fresno had said that all the victims were killed in a consistent and unique manner. We're finding out more about that consistency. The Fresno coroner saying all six victims so far, they've determined, were shot to death.
Three other autopsies are ongoing. Forensic testing is also going on with those victims. And they're also checking them for residue, gunfire residue to figure out who may have -- to make sure, figure out who may have fired what shots, if there was more than one gun involved in this case.
Police basically saying that they are closing no avenues of investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF JERRY DYER, FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, POLICE: We believe that Marcus Wesson is the person responsible for the nine murders. That doesn't mean that, as an agency we have ruled out the possibility any other subjects may be involved. We don't want to become too narrowly focused in our investigation to exclude anyone.
But we do believe absolutely that he is responsible for the murder of all nine victims.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: Of those victims, most of them were children. Two of them, police believe, may have been both the grandchildren and the children of it. Mr. Wesson fathered children by his own daughters on at least two occasions.
And they also believe that because of that sort of relationship, it makes it very difficult, one to inform family members and to make sure that they've informed all the family members and also to sort out exactly what the relationships were between all these people.
Police believe he may have consorted with as many as four people. CNN has talked to another gentleman who believes that there may have been five women in Mr. Wesson's life. So it's very difficult.
The superior court here in Fresno says that they believe that a complaint may be filed today, which would mean he would be arraigned on at least nine counts of murder as early as tomorrow -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Miguel Marquez, watching things for us in Fresno. Thank you very much.
A convicted child molester behind bars for years may get a new trial after some of his accusers take back their stories. We'll have a live report on that.
The war in Iraq, one year later, what lessons have military forces learned from the heat of battle?
How's that for a meltdown? A glacier collapse gives tourists a thrill. We'll tumble for you later on LIVE FROM. Stay with us.
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O'BRIEN: Friday marks one year since American troops went to war in Iraq. As the anniversary approaches, the U.S. is faced with continuing challenges in Iraq. And with continuing assessment of the war, what worked and what lessons did the U.S. military learned.
Here to talk a little bit about that is retired U.S. Army General David Grange.
David Grange, good to have you back with us.
RET. DAVID GRANGE, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Thank you, Miles.
O'BRIEN: First of all, let's talk a bit about the role of U.S. troops in an urban setting.
How, in general, do you think the troops were prepared for this, and are they continuing to do a fairly good job on a long-term basis? It's a rather difficult kind of -- the term is asymmetrical, a difficult kind of battle to fight, isn't it?
GRANGE: Urban warfare is very difficult. Historically, it's been tough for all nations.
Personally knowing many of the commanders that were responsible for getting troops ready for this fight, did extensive work on urban warfare. But it takes a lot of time. It's probably the hardest training scenario that I can think of from my experiences, and it's very difficult. And sometimes, though, even though you prepare as well as you can, you relearn some lessons you that shouldn't have to.
O'BRIEN: All right. Now one of the lessons I think perhaps the U.S. learned through all of this is perhaps the limited utility of the way the conventional ground force is structured around heavy armor and so forth.
Let's look for example, we'll talk about the M1-A1 main battle tank. As it went across the open desert, as it were, those shots we saw at the outset of the war, it was in its perfect turf, if you will. As it got into the cities, it was not as useful, was it?
GRANGE: Well, it's useful in the fact it can deflect enemy fire quite well. It's very intimidating, but it's also has limited observation.
It's good for speed and shock through a city. But when you man a stationary checkpoint or have to respond to, let's say, a crowd of people, where you may have a few insurgents amongst that crowd, it's difficult to use that piece of equipment in that scenario.
O'BRIEN: And the classic tank battles that saw in the first Persian Gulf War didn't play out, did they?
GRANGE: They didn't. But they -- These tanks did take out enemy armored equipment and positions on their way to Baghdad, and some of the thunder runs through the city, they did quite well.
But for sustained counter guerrilla operations, it's not the optimum vehicle.
O'BRIEN: All right. Let's talk about helicopters for just a moment. Helicopters, this wasn't their best conflict, was it? We had the -- of course, the loss of a couple of Apaches in the midst of the thrust towards Baghdad, some prisoners of war taken.
And then, as the occupation has continued, some real vulnerabilities, Black Hawks and other helicopters, to rocket propelled grenades.
Are there some lessons being learned about how to defend helicopters, tactics, that kind of thing?
GRANGE: I think so. If you take, or instance, the Apache helicopter. A great attack helicopter, but it's used to go in at night deep, behind enemy lines, take out armored columns of enemy tanks and fighting vehicles.
And a lot of times, when they're, for instance, in what they call a hovering or masking position, trying to fire from a distance, they may hover over an enemy element in the ground, fox holes or buildings which fires AK-47s and RPGs at that helicopter.
And that's really what took most of them down, not enemy air defense systems.
So helicopters are great for three-dimensional warfare. I would want them in any kind of fight but you have to be very careful how they're deployed in these type of environments. Somalia is another great example.
O'BRIEN: So perhaps a change of tactics is in order, or perhaps a change in the way they're defended: different kinds of armament, that kind of thing?
GRANGE: Mainly, Miles, tactics and techniques, procedures on the battlefield. You have an array of targets that are heavy armored. But at the same time, you have the individual soldier that can be quite a threat in the urban area.
If your helicopter is moving slow or low in this environment, they're susceptible to small arms fire that will bring them down.
MILES: By their very nature I guess they're always going to be a certain degree of -- they're going to be vulnerable in a certain sense.
Let's talk about Special Forces here. This was probably the most integrated use of Special Forces in any U.S. campaign ever. Did it work?
GRANGE: Miles, it worked quite well. The integration of heavy units, light units, special operating units from all services, Special Forces, Rangers, SEAL's, air commandos as an example, they worked something extremely well. And there was tailored task forces in Afghanistan, in Iraq, throughout the battlefield through a duration of the campaign and ongoing still today.
A very good use of it. Not just talk but actually implementing this coordinated use.
O'BRIEN: As we look at it now, a year later, with the U.S. still bogged down in Iraq, no end in sight, are there lessons to be learned how to wage peace, if that's the correct term?
GRANGE: Well, what happens is you're focused on the fight up front. And my feeling is dropping the bombs, firing the weapons is always the easy part of any operation. The tough part is the second, third order effects from that fight.
In other words, when you transition to stability and support operations to nation building. One, you have to do it immediately. You cannot lose the momentum. And you must have the forces and the resources to surge that capability right away in the transition.
That may have been underestimated a bit in this particular fight.
And it's going to take a long time. It's not a hundred yard dash. This is a marathon commitment that takes awhile to do it right. And if you try to cut it short, then you live with any consequences of the thing not taking hold.
O'BRIEN: And just briefly, how long do you think the U.S. will be there now?
GRANGE: Well, I believe for several more years, Miles. And keep in mind, there's still an unresolved mission that has to be complete in Afghanistan.
So these things take time. Resources should be put there for the long haul. Because we shouldn't have started it if we don't finish it correctly, and I believe that we have the resolve to do that. And hopefully, it will continue.
O'BRIEN: General David Grange, who a year ago was here with us, spending a lot of time on TV. Good to see you again. Thank you for your analysis one year later. Appreciate it.
GRANGE: My pleasure, Miles. Thank you.
O'BRIEN: U.S. forces in Afghanistan swoop down on a cave hideout. It's a part of a new offensive against al Qaeda. We're live from Kabul with more on the movies in just a few moments.
And what's fueling the record high gas prices? We'll check out what's up at the pump.
And Martha Stewart, as we said, resigning from her company's board. But she'll still have a job despite her conviction. We'll show you what she'll be doing. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: This just in to CNN, the mother accused of murder for allegedly refusing a cesarean section in Salt Lake City, Utah, has pleaded not guilty. It happened just a little while ago.
You remember the story, we told you about it last week. Twenty- eight-year-old Melissa Ann Rowland appeared via videoconference from her jail cell, and her attorney entered that innocent plea on behalf to one count of criminal homicide.
According to prosecutors, she ignored multiple recommendations to get the C-section which would have saved that lives of her twin, according to her doctors at the time.
One of the babies, a boy, was stillborn. The surviving girl has been adopted. Once again, Melissa Ann Rowland, who refused that C- section, allegedly, has pleaded not guilty to a count of homicide.
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