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Bush Takes to Arab Airwaves; Fires Rage in Southern California
Aired May 05, 2004 - 12:59 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.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a serious matter. It's a matter that reflects badly on my country. Our citizens in America are appalled.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Damage control, President Bush on the record with Arab language television. You'll hear the entire interview with Alhurra just ahead.
Cries of protest from angry Iraqis demanding a U.S. apology for alleged mistreatment.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Ted Rowlands, live in Southern California where a change in the weather has firefighters hopeful that they can contain six separate wildfires. We'll have details coming up.
PHILLIPS: Spinning out of control, amazingly, everyone on board lives to tell about it.
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Kyra Phillips. Miles is on assignment. CNN's LIVE FROM... starts right now.
Up first this hour, an appeal, a promise, a pitch from President Bush, aimed directly at an Arab world seething over photos of prison abuse in Iraq. As you know, if you've been watching CNN, Mr. Bush gave separate and lengthy interviews today to the Arab TV network Al- Arabiya and the U.S.-funded Arab language broadcaster Alhurra. He called the apparent mistreatment of Iraqi POWs by U.S. soldiers abhorrent and says that he doesn't know the America what he knows.
He chose not to appear on the much more dominant Arab news outlet, Al Jazeera, which the U.S. has long accused of slanting news coverage against the coalition. And he did not offer any outright apologies. The interview with ran 15 minutes.
And here it is, start to finish.
(INSERT BUSH ALHURRA INTERVIEW)
PHILLIPS: Well, back in Baghdad, the new head of U.S. military police in Iraqi prisons apologized openly today for what he called the small number of leaders and soldiers who have violated policies. But indignant Iraqis spoke out as well. Hundreds came to Abu Ghraib, in part to demonstrate, in part to see whether friends or relatives might be getting released. Among the planned reforms is a huge reduction in the prison population.
CNN's Ben Wedeman has the latest now from the Iraqi capital -- Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, Kyra, well, Major General Geoffrey Miller, the commandant of that prison, Abu Ghraib, made that apology during a rare tour given to journalists of the facility. He took the journalists around and showed them new medical facilities. He showed them the cell block where these instances of abuse took place. He showed them interrogation rooms, clearly trying to implement a new regime of transparency out there.
Obviously this prison for many Iraqis being a site of most upsetting scenes, not only under Saddam's regime, but now with the release of these pictures under the U.S. presence here. He did say that among other changes they will begin to release prisoners from Abu Ghraib. They expect to let 300 out this week, 400 the following week.
He apparently made it clear that he would be -- he would welcome an office or some sort of representative from the Iraqi human rights ministry to be inside Abu Ghraib, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross. So we certainly do have what appears to be a new way of running things out at Abu Ghraib.
But on the outside of the prison today, we saw some very angry Iraqis, several hundred, who have been organized by the Society of Muslim Scholars. They came to present a list of demands to the administration of the prison. Among those demands are free access by human rights organizations and lawyers to the prisoners. They want a larger Iraqi role in the running of that prison. And they also want a variety of other things that would ease the situation of the prisoners inside.
Now, I spoke with one of the Muslim scholars who spoke -- who met with the American officials, gave them those list of demands. He was told that they would try to make good on their promises to change things in Abu Ghraib. But afterwards he told me he thinks, and these are his words, that the Americans are liars.
Now regarding local reaction to President Bush's two interviews on those two Arabic satellite news networks, we did -- we conducted a very unscientific poll in Baghdad, speaking to people in restaurants and on the street. Some people think it simply isn't enough to come out and give interviews, that they really have to do much more to change the situation. One man saying it's a good thing that those who are involved in this incident will be held accountable -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Ben, just real quickly, the protest that took place outside the prison, did it get violent at all, or were Muslim scholars and Marines able to have conversation?
WEDEMAN: Well, it was peaceful by and large. There was a lot of chanting, a lot of shouting. But there seemed to be an understanding on both sides it's a very sensitive situation. The Marines, they did sort of set up a cordon in front of the prison. But they kept a distance. And the protesters kept a distance as well.
And they did have what looked like a fairly civil conversation between these Muslim scholars and the representatives of the prison administration. And they parted amicably. So it was by and large a peaceful demonstration. And there was communications. They got their message across and they received in return some sort of vague promise or pledge that things would be done to improve conditions inside the prison -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Ben Wedeman, thanks so much.
So where do Iraqis turn for news and information? There, too, TV is the dominant medium, and a CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup Poll shows Al Iraqiya is king of the ratings by far, that Pentagon-funded news and entertainment channel is viewed by three Iraqis in four, even though only two in 10 consider it objective. Al-Arabiya and Al Jazeera run neck and neck in the ratings race, followed by a Kurdish channel, and Abu Dhabi satellite. Alhurra draws only 6 percent of Iraqis though it trumps CNN with 3 percent.
Straight ahead, California firefighters are hoping better weather will help them win the battle against raging wildfires. We'll take you there live.
JEN ROGERS, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: I'm Jen Rogers outside the Walt Disney studios in Burbank, California. Coming up, I'll tell you what President Bush, Michael Eisner, Mickey Mouse, and Michael Moore, have to do with each other.
PHILLIPS: And are we going from hanging chads to broken bytes? Testing the security of e-voting, every vote counts right here on LIVE FROM...
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: It may be spring to you, but in parts of Southern California, it's already fire season. Almost 20,000 acres have gone up so far this week, leaving firefighter afraid to even imagine what August might be like. CNN's Ted Rowlands has the latest now from Riverside County, in the town of Corona -- Ted.
ROWLANDS: We have actually moved near Temecula, where one two fires that are centered in Riverside county are getting most of the attention by firefighters. There are six total fires. You can see the aftermath of one of the fires that ripped through here earlier, destroying 14 homes that are scattered along in this hillside area.
There was great news last night, because the winds, or the temperatures, went down, and the humidity went up markedly. It gave firefighters a chance to get around all of these fires in Southern California. Now the problem is the wind, which is just picking up, and has been in the last half hour or so. That is what is causing the most concern.
In all, there have been no fatalities. A lot of acreage has gone down. As I mentioned, 14 homes and a lot of outbuildings have also been destroyed from these fires.
The two fires, the one near Cerritos -- near Corona, is called the Cerritos fire. It is about 30 percent contained. In all about 15,000 acres were lost in that one. Last night, firefighters were able to save a large cluster of homes in that area. The Eagle fire, the one we're at now, near the city of Temecula, took out 14 homes. But it is now 60 percent contained because of the help that Mother Nature provided yesterday.
As you mentioned, Kyra, the big problem is not only this round of fires but the fact that fire season has started this early in this region. There's grave concern that it could be replicated -- or last year could be replicated.
We all remember last October, when 3600 homes were lost and 24 people lost their lives because of wildfires. There's a lot of dry brush in this area. There's also a problem with downed trees that have been killed by a beetle infestation which has plagued Southern California, meaning there's lots of dry tinder out there for fires. And the CDF is out in force, urging people to be very, very careful. The good news, at least at this point, it looks like they do have a handle on these six fires that are burning now -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, Ted, let me ask you, you say you've moved from Corona toward Temecula. I remember Temecula being pretty well-known for its wineries. I'm curious from a business aspect as well as the home front, are folks getting ready for August? Are they preparing or doing anything right now, sort of to be as a precautionary move, to prepare for August?
ROWLANDS: Well, yes, they're -- people are cutting down all the brush around their homes and their properties. You mentioned the wineries, they, of course, are always on alert for situations like this. This fire did not directly affect any of the wineries. The city of Temecula felt it, of course, because 14 people did lose their homes. And of course the smog factor, as air quality is terrible in this area, at least right now. But people are prepared and they have to be because with all the brush here, there's real concern that this could be a horrible fire season out in California.
PHILLIPS: Ted Rowlands, thanks so much.
Straight ahead, may I take your order please? A big push to get your cable channels a la cart, instead of having to buy package deals.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Evel Knievel of the alimentary canal...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Pass the butter, you're going to witness Popcorn Man's greatest stunt. A double feature later on LIVE FROM...
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: Martha Stewart's options may be running out, six weeks before her sentencing, the judge turns down Stewart's request for a new trial. Her lawyers contend her trial was compromised because a juror lied on his questionnaire. Stewart is expected to receive at least 10 months in prison.
Rebuilding at ground zero, groundbreaking at the World Trade Center site will be July 4, Independence Day. The new skyscraper will climb more than 2000 feet, making it the world's tallest building.
Witnesses say they heard a sputtering sound before this news helicopter spun out of control. It clipped a building and broke apart in Brooklyn. It was all caught on tape as you can see. And amazingly, the reporter and two pilots walked away without any serious injury. They had been covering a shooting.
You can always count on filmmaker Michael Moore to create controversy. His latest project is no exception. Moore says that he will premiere "Fahrenheit 911" at the Cannes Film Festival next month. But its debut in the U.S. has become tangled in an internal dispute at Disney. Jen Rogers has the story now from L.A.
What's going on, Jen?
ROGERS: Hi there, Kyra.
Well, as you said, Michael Moore definitely has almost made a career out of courting controversy, very good at pushing those hot- button issues. And he is at it again. Right now he's putting the finishing touches on that new film, "Fahrenheit 911." This film is said to be sharply critical of President Bush.
Now what is in the film exactly? Well, reports are that the movie investigates ties between Bush and prominent Saudis, including the family of Osama bin Laden. Now that topic seems too hot for The Walt Disney Company to touch. While the company has not returned calls for comment, Michael Moore has come out with a statement on his Web site this morning, saying that The Walt Disney Company is blocking distribution of his film through its subsidiary, Miramax.
Now, again, Disney not commenting, nor do we have comment from Miramax at this point. But Michael Moore coming out with a letter on his Web site, in that letter he says: "The whole story behind this and other attempts to kill our movie will be told in more detail as the days and weeks go on. For nearly a year this struggle has been a lesson in just how difficult it is in this country to create a piece of art that might upset those in charge. Well, OK, sorry, it will upset them big time. Did I mention it's a comedy?"
Well, comedy or not, this is certainly becoming a drama for the Walt Disney Company during this presidential election year -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jen, clarification, is it "Fahrenheit 9/11" or "Fahrenheit 911?"
ROGERS: Well, Kyra, if we could get a callback from Michael Moore, we would definitely know from the horse's point. At this point, we are going with "Fahrenheit 911," along the lines of "Fahrenheit 451." But on the Web site, it does say 9/11, so maybe you could be right, either way, until we hear from Michael Moore.
We are still waiting to hear from plenty of people on this story to get some more movement on it and see what's actually going to happen and when it might be hitting theaters.
PHILLIPS: There we go, Jen, public plea on national television.
Michael, give us a call.
Thanks, Jen.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 5, 2004 - 12:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a serious matter. It's a matter that reflects badly on my country. Our citizens in America are appalled.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Damage control, President Bush on the record with Arab language television. You'll hear the entire interview with Alhurra just ahead.
Cries of protest from angry Iraqis demanding a U.S. apology for alleged mistreatment.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Ted Rowlands, live in Southern California where a change in the weather has firefighters hopeful that they can contain six separate wildfires. We'll have details coming up.
PHILLIPS: Spinning out of control, amazingly, everyone on board lives to tell about it.
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Kyra Phillips. Miles is on assignment. CNN's LIVE FROM... starts right now.
Up first this hour, an appeal, a promise, a pitch from President Bush, aimed directly at an Arab world seething over photos of prison abuse in Iraq. As you know, if you've been watching CNN, Mr. Bush gave separate and lengthy interviews today to the Arab TV network Al- Arabiya and the U.S.-funded Arab language broadcaster Alhurra. He called the apparent mistreatment of Iraqi POWs by U.S. soldiers abhorrent and says that he doesn't know the America what he knows.
He chose not to appear on the much more dominant Arab news outlet, Al Jazeera, which the U.S. has long accused of slanting news coverage against the coalition. And he did not offer any outright apologies. The interview with ran 15 minutes.
And here it is, start to finish.
(INSERT BUSH ALHURRA INTERVIEW)
PHILLIPS: Well, back in Baghdad, the new head of U.S. military police in Iraqi prisons apologized openly today for what he called the small number of leaders and soldiers who have violated policies. But indignant Iraqis spoke out as well. Hundreds came to Abu Ghraib, in part to demonstrate, in part to see whether friends or relatives might be getting released. Among the planned reforms is a huge reduction in the prison population.
CNN's Ben Wedeman has the latest now from the Iraqi capital -- Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, Kyra, well, Major General Geoffrey Miller, the commandant of that prison, Abu Ghraib, made that apology during a rare tour given to journalists of the facility. He took the journalists around and showed them new medical facilities. He showed them the cell block where these instances of abuse took place. He showed them interrogation rooms, clearly trying to implement a new regime of transparency out there.
Obviously this prison for many Iraqis being a site of most upsetting scenes, not only under Saddam's regime, but now with the release of these pictures under the U.S. presence here. He did say that among other changes they will begin to release prisoners from Abu Ghraib. They expect to let 300 out this week, 400 the following week.
He apparently made it clear that he would be -- he would welcome an office or some sort of representative from the Iraqi human rights ministry to be inside Abu Ghraib, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross. So we certainly do have what appears to be a new way of running things out at Abu Ghraib.
But on the outside of the prison today, we saw some very angry Iraqis, several hundred, who have been organized by the Society of Muslim Scholars. They came to present a list of demands to the administration of the prison. Among those demands are free access by human rights organizations and lawyers to the prisoners. They want a larger Iraqi role in the running of that prison. And they also want a variety of other things that would ease the situation of the prisoners inside.
Now, I spoke with one of the Muslim scholars who spoke -- who met with the American officials, gave them those list of demands. He was told that they would try to make good on their promises to change things in Abu Ghraib. But afterwards he told me he thinks, and these are his words, that the Americans are liars.
Now regarding local reaction to President Bush's two interviews on those two Arabic satellite news networks, we did -- we conducted a very unscientific poll in Baghdad, speaking to people in restaurants and on the street. Some people think it simply isn't enough to come out and give interviews, that they really have to do much more to change the situation. One man saying it's a good thing that those who are involved in this incident will be held accountable -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Ben, just real quickly, the protest that took place outside the prison, did it get violent at all, or were Muslim scholars and Marines able to have conversation?
WEDEMAN: Well, it was peaceful by and large. There was a lot of chanting, a lot of shouting. But there seemed to be an understanding on both sides it's a very sensitive situation. The Marines, they did sort of set up a cordon in front of the prison. But they kept a distance. And the protesters kept a distance as well.
And they did have what looked like a fairly civil conversation between these Muslim scholars and the representatives of the prison administration. And they parted amicably. So it was by and large a peaceful demonstration. And there was communications. They got their message across and they received in return some sort of vague promise or pledge that things would be done to improve conditions inside the prison -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Ben Wedeman, thanks so much.
So where do Iraqis turn for news and information? There, too, TV is the dominant medium, and a CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup Poll shows Al Iraqiya is king of the ratings by far, that Pentagon-funded news and entertainment channel is viewed by three Iraqis in four, even though only two in 10 consider it objective. Al-Arabiya and Al Jazeera run neck and neck in the ratings race, followed by a Kurdish channel, and Abu Dhabi satellite. Alhurra draws only 6 percent of Iraqis though it trumps CNN with 3 percent.
Straight ahead, California firefighters are hoping better weather will help them win the battle against raging wildfires. We'll take you there live.
JEN ROGERS, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: I'm Jen Rogers outside the Walt Disney studios in Burbank, California. Coming up, I'll tell you what President Bush, Michael Eisner, Mickey Mouse, and Michael Moore, have to do with each other.
PHILLIPS: And are we going from hanging chads to broken bytes? Testing the security of e-voting, every vote counts right here on LIVE FROM...
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: It may be spring to you, but in parts of Southern California, it's already fire season. Almost 20,000 acres have gone up so far this week, leaving firefighter afraid to even imagine what August might be like. CNN's Ted Rowlands has the latest now from Riverside County, in the town of Corona -- Ted.
ROWLANDS: We have actually moved near Temecula, where one two fires that are centered in Riverside county are getting most of the attention by firefighters. There are six total fires. You can see the aftermath of one of the fires that ripped through here earlier, destroying 14 homes that are scattered along in this hillside area.
There was great news last night, because the winds, or the temperatures, went down, and the humidity went up markedly. It gave firefighters a chance to get around all of these fires in Southern California. Now the problem is the wind, which is just picking up, and has been in the last half hour or so. That is what is causing the most concern.
In all, there have been no fatalities. A lot of acreage has gone down. As I mentioned, 14 homes and a lot of outbuildings have also been destroyed from these fires.
The two fires, the one near Cerritos -- near Corona, is called the Cerritos fire. It is about 30 percent contained. In all about 15,000 acres were lost in that one. Last night, firefighters were able to save a large cluster of homes in that area. The Eagle fire, the one we're at now, near the city of Temecula, took out 14 homes. But it is now 60 percent contained because of the help that Mother Nature provided yesterday.
As you mentioned, Kyra, the big problem is not only this round of fires but the fact that fire season has started this early in this region. There's grave concern that it could be replicated -- or last year could be replicated.
We all remember last October, when 3600 homes were lost and 24 people lost their lives because of wildfires. There's a lot of dry brush in this area. There's also a problem with downed trees that have been killed by a beetle infestation which has plagued Southern California, meaning there's lots of dry tinder out there for fires. And the CDF is out in force, urging people to be very, very careful. The good news, at least at this point, it looks like they do have a handle on these six fires that are burning now -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, Ted, let me ask you, you say you've moved from Corona toward Temecula. I remember Temecula being pretty well-known for its wineries. I'm curious from a business aspect as well as the home front, are folks getting ready for August? Are they preparing or doing anything right now, sort of to be as a precautionary move, to prepare for August?
ROWLANDS: Well, yes, they're -- people are cutting down all the brush around their homes and their properties. You mentioned the wineries, they, of course, are always on alert for situations like this. This fire did not directly affect any of the wineries. The city of Temecula felt it, of course, because 14 people did lose their homes. And of course the smog factor, as air quality is terrible in this area, at least right now. But people are prepared and they have to be because with all the brush here, there's real concern that this could be a horrible fire season out in California.
PHILLIPS: Ted Rowlands, thanks so much.
Straight ahead, may I take your order please? A big push to get your cable channels a la cart, instead of having to buy package deals.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Evel Knievel of the alimentary canal...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Pass the butter, you're going to witness Popcorn Man's greatest stunt. A double feature later on LIVE FROM...
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: Martha Stewart's options may be running out, six weeks before her sentencing, the judge turns down Stewart's request for a new trial. Her lawyers contend her trial was compromised because a juror lied on his questionnaire. Stewart is expected to receive at least 10 months in prison.
Rebuilding at ground zero, groundbreaking at the World Trade Center site will be July 4, Independence Day. The new skyscraper will climb more than 2000 feet, making it the world's tallest building.
Witnesses say they heard a sputtering sound before this news helicopter spun out of control. It clipped a building and broke apart in Brooklyn. It was all caught on tape as you can see. And amazingly, the reporter and two pilots walked away without any serious injury. They had been covering a shooting.
You can always count on filmmaker Michael Moore to create controversy. His latest project is no exception. Moore says that he will premiere "Fahrenheit 911" at the Cannes Film Festival next month. But its debut in the U.S. has become tangled in an internal dispute at Disney. Jen Rogers has the story now from L.A.
What's going on, Jen?
ROGERS: Hi there, Kyra.
Well, as you said, Michael Moore definitely has almost made a career out of courting controversy, very good at pushing those hot- button issues. And he is at it again. Right now he's putting the finishing touches on that new film, "Fahrenheit 911." This film is said to be sharply critical of President Bush.
Now what is in the film exactly? Well, reports are that the movie investigates ties between Bush and prominent Saudis, including the family of Osama bin Laden. Now that topic seems too hot for The Walt Disney Company to touch. While the company has not returned calls for comment, Michael Moore has come out with a statement on his Web site this morning, saying that The Walt Disney Company is blocking distribution of his film through its subsidiary, Miramax.
Now, again, Disney not commenting, nor do we have comment from Miramax at this point. But Michael Moore coming out with a letter on his Web site, in that letter he says: "The whole story behind this and other attempts to kill our movie will be told in more detail as the days and weeks go on. For nearly a year this struggle has been a lesson in just how difficult it is in this country to create a piece of art that might upset those in charge. Well, OK, sorry, it will upset them big time. Did I mention it's a comedy?"
Well, comedy or not, this is certainly becoming a drama for the Walt Disney Company during this presidential election year -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jen, clarification, is it "Fahrenheit 9/11" or "Fahrenheit 911?"
ROGERS: Well, Kyra, if we could get a callback from Michael Moore, we would definitely know from the horse's point. At this point, we are going with "Fahrenheit 911," along the lines of "Fahrenheit 451." But on the Web site, it does say 9/11, so maybe you could be right, either way, until we hear from Michael Moore.
We are still waiting to hear from plenty of people on this story to get some more movement on it and see what's actually going to happen and when it might be hitting theaters.
PHILLIPS: There we go, Jen, public plea on national television.
Michael, give us a call.
Thanks, Jen.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
