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Vietnam-Era Commander Wetmoreland Dies; "American Voices"; Are Minutemen Crossing the Line?

Aired July 19, 2004 - 14:30   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Making news right now, the nation finds out tonight who President Bush wants to put on the Supreme Court. The White House says that President Bush will announce his choice to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. 9:00 p.m. Eastern time, tune to CNN for all the live coverage.
A federal appeals court heard arguments this morning in the case of Jose Padilla. He was originally accused of plotting to detonate a radioactive dirty bomb in the U.S. and has been held without charges for more than three years. They're appealing a February ruling which found that Padilla had to be either charged or released.

Hurricane Emily picking up steam as it heads across the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is on track to make land early tomorrow, somewhere between northeastern Mexico and southern Texas. Forecasters say Emily could have winds topping 110 miles per hour by the time it comes ashore.

Heading for the border. After two years, the U.S. reopens its border to Canadian cattle. Officials say 35 Black Angus cattle made the trip from Ontario yesterday. The shipment comes just days after a federal appeals court ended a ban imposed on Canadian cattle, following that country's first case of mad cow disease.

Now to Britain and key talks at 10 Downing Street. British Prime Minister Tony Blair met with Muslim leaders today to discuss how to respond to the London bombings. Mr. Blair says his government is looking for ways to weed out extremists blamed for radicalizing young Muslims. He's also discussed new anti-terror legislation to be introduced by the end of the year.

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TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We are certainly going to look at how we strengthen the law, both against people coming into our country who are going to preach incitement to hatred and to violence, but also making sure we can deport those people who are doing so. And there are cases, obviously, that are under consideration at the moment. And, I can't, for very obvious reasons, go into those cases.

But let me just make one thing very, very clear. I am against people who advocate suicide bombing, whether it's in London or it's in Afghanistan or it's in Iraq or it's in Palestine or it's Turkey or Kashmir or anywhere. And they've got no place, such people, in our country. ARSHAD CHAWDHRY, LEEDS MUSLIM FORUM: The imams in the most of the mosques are just spineless fuddy-duddies, incapable really of playing any role in current affairs whatsoever. They don't have the ability to communication with the congregation, particularly the younger element. So what basically happens is, you know, the youngsters then basically go outside the mosques and, you know, if a radical or somebody else gives them their ear, that's where they get -- go astray. So, really, it's a bit of a myth that imams and mosques are playing any role, in terms of extremism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Meantime, as far as the investigation to the July 7th bombings, Scotland Yard is extending the detention of a suspect arrested last week in West Yorkshire.

Well, he was the general thousands of U.S. troops looked to for leadership during the Vietnam War. Retired General William Westmoreland died last night. He commanded U.S. forces in Vietnam from 1964 to 1968. A top West Point graduate, he also served in World War II and the Korean conflict. But it was Vietnam and military maneuvers like the Tet Offensive that made him a lightning rod for critics.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEN. WILLIAM C. WESTMORELAND: I knew the offensive was coming. And if I had to do it over again, I would have called a press conference and made known the intelligence we had and alerted the American people.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, the retired general died last night in Charleston, South Carolina, his wife at his side. He was 91 years old.

Retired Brigadier General David Grange served under Westmoreland. He joins us live from Chicago. Good to see you, General.

BRIG. GEN. DAVID GRANGE, U.S. ARMY: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Interesting, talking about the Tet Offensive, saying that if he could do it over again, he would go before the cameras and talk about the intelligence.

GRANGE: Well, in those days, I think the military shied away from the media as often as they could. Lessons learned today, you notice that a lot of the commanding generals in Iraq and elsewhere are a little bit more media savvy.

In other words: They interact, they connect to certain correspondents and that to tell their story. And you know, the Tet Offensive was a victory. I mean the guerrillas, the Vietcong, were destroyed by thousands and that's what forced the North Vietnamese to send conventional forces to South Vietname, because it was such a defeat for the enemy guerrillas.

PHILLIPS: It's interesting because anyone that brings up Vietnam wouldn't think of anything that was successful or victorious in that fight.

GRANGE: Well, I can assure you my dad and I both think that there was a lot of victories in Vietnam, at least at a tactical level. The failure in Vietnam was at the political level. It was at the will of the nation to accomplish something it started out to win and that's where it was let down. The G.I. did a marvelous job.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's talk more about that. No doubt, you know when you came home -- and also your father and many others, were treated very unfairly for just doing what they thought and what they believed was their duty. Of course, any soldier would feel that way. But when you were serving under Westmoreland -- you were in the fight, you were in Vietnam, did you feel like tactically, he had your back?

GRANGE: Well, he -- you know, Westmoreland at that time, the general was the chief of staff. I mean, he was in Washington, D.C., when I got to Vietnam. My father fought under him in Vietnam, but you know, fighting in Vietnam with the chief of staff back in the Pentagon, he was also responsible for your back.

So, you had the commanding general in Vietnam responsible, as well as the leadership in the Pentagon. My -- as a young officer, I didn't know one way or the other, but as I reflect back, I would say it had nothing to do with General Westmoreland having your back. It had to do with the civilian leadership at the time not supporting the military.

PHILLIPS: Well, you disagreed with some of his tactics with regard to warfare -- right?

GRANGE: Well, what I -- not so much tactics, what I disagree with is the emphasis on the body count. How many enemy did you kill each day as a measure of effectiveness on how well you were doing in the war. But that was pushed down by the secretary of defense out of the Department of Defense and the administration through Gen. Westmoreland, to the troops.

You know, when you're the commander, you implement your guidance that you're given by civilian leadership and I -- that was not the right measure of effectiveness. The measure of effectiveness is breaking the will to fight and what that meant was going to places like Laos, Cambodia and North Vietnam with ground troops, which Gen. Westmoreland was not allowed to do and could not go after enemy sanctuaries or the support structure.

PHILLIPS: Well, he was -- talked about -- so many people talk about him as a World War II hero and that here, within his passing, we should remember his battlefield credentials in that realm. Can you talk a little bit to that and also, even in Vietnam, this was someone that was obviously very strong willed and very loyal to what he believed was right. GRANGE: Well, I think that's absolutely correct. Gen. Westmoreland was, "Duty, Honor, Country," and he lived to serve his nation as a soldier. He fought North Africa; fought in the Mediterranean -- other places in the Mediterranean and up through Europe, Normandy.

You know, you can argue how much combat he had or didn't have, but he was there. He had boots on the ground in our nation's wars: World War II, Korea and Vietnam; Vietnam for four years.

Think about being in Iraq four years straight as a commander, seven days a week, fourteen hours a day. Now, that's a pretty tough grind on you, dealing with media, dealing with politicians, coalition and families of G.I.s back home. A tough order.

PHILLIPS: Sure. And even critics that, you know, who went as far as calling him a war criminal -- my final question, do you think this was a honorable man that was robbed of his reputation?

GRANGE: I think: Very honorable. You can disagree with some of his procedures, but very honorable. I am proud to have been a soldier under his leadership as chief of staff of the Army and he probably was robbed somewhat of his recognition that he well deserves.

PHILLIPS: You tell your dad -- next segment with regard to a couple of these wars, we're going to have him on with you. Is that a deal?

GRANGE: Will do.

PHILLIPS: OK. Gen. David Grange, always a pleasure. Thank you.

Well, straight ahead, Americans weigh in on the vacancy on the Supreme Court and even American's choice of beverage. Frank Newport from Gallup with what the nation thinks. Straight ahead on LIVE FROM.

And they say that they're to help: Volunteers patrolling the U.S.-Mexican border, but should they be there and are they putting their lives in danger?

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(WEATHER REPORT)

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PHILLIPS: They call themselves Minutemen. Critics call them vigilantes. Well, they're all volunteers who say that they're determined to help federal border agents protect the U.S. But are they crossing the line? Our Casey Wian takes us to a confrontation on the California/Mexico border.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): About two dozen volunteers from the California Minuteman Project began patrolling a 25-mile stretch of the border east of San Diego this weekend. It's an effort to sustain the momentum created by Arizona's Minuteman Project earlier this year. Though there are fewer illegal aliens crossing the border here, it's a popular route for violent drug smugglers.

MIKE LEFEVE, CALIFORNIA MINUTEMAN: We want to get support for these Border Patrol agents. They're understaffed, they're overworked, and they're doing an unbelievable job out here.

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: Racists go home! Racists go home!

WIAN: Outnumbering the minutemen, a group of aggressive protesters who tried to drive the civilian volunteers away. They included anarchists, communists and advocates of returning the southwest to Mexico.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was stolen by the United States government and we're going to take it back. We're going to smash the border.

WIAN: This local rancher had to be rescued by sheriff's deputies after protesters surrounded his motorcycle. One minuteman did leave his post, but most others stood their ground. This state senator was also harassed by the mob while touring the minuteman outposts.

BILL MORROW, CALIFORNIA STATE Senate: I would respectfully disagree with my president's characterization using the word "vigilante." It's not taking the law into your own hands when you're simply being a good citizen and reporting what is a crime.

WIAN: This California minuteman traveled a thousand miles from Colorado.

JIM HAAS, CALIFORNIA MINUTEMAN: We want to get President Bush and Congress to do their job.

WIAN: James Chase organized this group of minutemen. Only a few of his Arizona counterparts carried weapons. Most of these minutemen are armed.

JAMES CHASE, FOUNDER, CALIFORNIA MINUTEMEN: We're not going to fire first on anyone. But we do reserve the right to stay alive. And that's not all those guns are there for.

WIAN: Chase says federal agents have told him Mexican drug dealers have put a $15,000 bounty on the heads of minutemen.

SEAN ISHAM, U.S. BORDER PATROL: I've heard those reports in the past. This area is very dangerous. There's a lot of narcotics smuggling that does go on here, as well as human trafficking.

The smugglers are ruthless out there. They will do anything to get their cargo through.

(on camera): The California Minutemen say they've had several dozen volunteers watching the border, mostly at night, since Saturday. The border patrol says there've been no apprehensions of illegal aliens as a result of the volunteers so far. Casey Wian, CNN, Campo, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Now, from the U.S. president to the boy wizard of Hogwart's. A veritable hodge podge of stories in our "American Voices" segment today. Gallup editor-in-chief, Frank Newport, crunching all the new poll numbers.

Frank, President Bush, just completed his 18th quarter in office. How's he doing with the public?

FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Well, on a relative comparative perspective, not all that well. His 47 percent job approval rating now is essentially the lowest of any quarter out of those 18. About the same as it was last year in his 14th quarter.

Historically, against other presidents who have had 18 quarters, well, Eisenhower had the highest at 64. Reagan, his 18, 59. Clinton, that would have been in 1997, 53. Then comes Bush. Nixon, in his 18th, was lower than Bush. Not surprisingly, Kyra, that was 1973. Nixon was right in the middle of Watergate in his 18th quarter. But George W. Bush down a relative perspective.

Now Frank, most Americans think naming a woman or a Hispanic to the Supreme Court would be a good idea. But they won't be disappointed if Bush doesn't do that. What are you hearing?

NEWPORT: Well, I think that's a good characterization. Different people have looked at our poll results and some have said, look, a majority want a woman. But we phrased it and gave Americans a choice, should Bush appoint a woman -- essential? Was that essential or is it a good idea? Only 13 percent said essential, that Sandra Day O'Connor be replaced by a woman. Rumored it will be a woman tonight. We'll see. 65 percent say good idea. So I don't think the public, as you say, Kyra, will probably be upset if it's not a woman. They would welcome it if is a woman.

PHILLIPS: About Saddam Hussein. Now has been formally indicted by an Iraqi tribunal. There's been some concern in some quarters about the slow pace of Iraqi justice. Is that bothering Americans?

NEWPORT: I think Americans are waiting for something to happen. He was captured, Saddam Hussein, in late 2003. Finally, there seems to be some action. Our CNN/"USA Today" poll found 57 percent of Americans, things moving too slowly. Also, what about the death penalty for Saddam Hussein, if convicted? While a majority of Americans favored domestically in cases of murder, three to one ratio, Americans say yes to the death penalty, if convicted, for Saddam Hussein.

PHILLIPS: Now what's this new Gallup data this week on the drinking habits of Americans? What did you find out and why did you pursue this?

NEWPORT: We have been asking this question for many, many years. It's not a new thing. We first of all say -- by the way, Kyra, this is interesting. 63 percent of Americans drink alcohol at all. About a third or total abstainers. How's that? But here's the interesting question. Of those who drink, we say what's your favorite beverage, wine, beer, or liquor?

I left liquor off here. It's about constant at about, oh, 20, 25 percent. But look at the change we've seen. It's beer that's been dropping. And this year, for the first time by just smidgen, three percentage points, more Americans say they're drinking wine than beer. And that's been driven by a real push to wine, in particular by women.

PHILLIPS: All right. It's a more sophisticated drink, I guess. All right. Are you beer or wine? Do I dare ask you, Frank, what you prefer?

NEWPORT: Well, it's a good question. I generally stay away from any kind of alcoholic beverages in general.

PHILLIPS: Very -- all right. Very good. I commend you highly. All right, well, let's talk about kids and others burying their noses in that new "Harry Potter" book. I guess seven million copies sold in the first weekend. But books like this enough to pull kids away from the Internet for a while, maybe?

NEWPORT: Well, this is fascinating. Our youth survey that we do here at Gallup just a month or two ago -- first of all, this the interesting factor, is 82 percent of kids, teenagers, say that they're reading the book for pleasure, Kyra, not just for school, for pleasure. And then we said, all right, what are you reading? And sure enough, the "Harry Potter" series was at the top of the list, way more than the others. "Lord of the Rings," the "Lemony Snicket" series.

What I thought was interesting is some kids told us "The Da Vinci Code." That's pretty sophisticated, on a relative basis, their reading. And then the Bible. So pretty varied perspective, but it's good news, I think, if we really do have eight out of 10 kids who are reading for pleasure at this point.

PHILLIPS: All right. Thank you so much, Frank. We'll talk to you again.

Well, straight ahead, Jude Law makes a public apology for a private indiscretion. And the tapes that Colin Farrell is fighting to keep the public from seeing. Sibila Vargas with those stories and a whole lot more, just ahead on LIVE FROM.

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PHILLIPS: Well, move over, Paris Hilton. Now actor Colin Farrell is fuming over a new release showing him in some very compromising positions.

And a big-screen named "Sexiest Man Alive" by "People" magazine is evidently not the most faithful guy in Hollywood. That and more in today's entertainment report. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I'm Sibila Vargas with today's entertainment news. First it was Pamela Anderson, then it was Paris Hilton. Now it's "Alexander" star Colin Farrell, who's claiming to have fallen victim to the exploitation of a sex tape. Farrell is suing his ex-girlfriend, a former "Playboy" playmate, for allegedly trying to capitalize on a videotape which shows him having sex with her. The actor, who is currently shooting a remake of "Miami Vice" with Jamie Foxx, says the video, which was shot more than two years, was supposed to be kept private. He is seeking general and compensatory damages, and a temporary restraining order, which would prohibit the videotape from being sold and distributed..

Well, he played a naughty gigolo in "Alfie" and now Jude Law is coming clean about his real-life naughty behavior. The British actor is publicly apologizing to his "Alfie" co-star and fiancee Sienna Miller for having sex with his 26-year-old nanny. In a statement released to the British press, the actor says, "I am deeply ashamed and upset that I hurt Sienna, and there is no defense for my action." No word yet on whether Miller will accept his apology. Law was previously married actress Sadie Frost, with whom he had three children.

Well, Jude and Colin aren't the only ones singing the blues today. So is Paramount Pictures. The studio has bought the rights to the vintage cartoon series, "The Smurfs."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAINTER SMURF: We haven't painted them yet?

VANITY SMURF: No, but I am. If I stand in the sun in much longer, I'll be done to a trizz (ph).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS: Based on a Belgium comic strip, the Smurfs first appeared on U.S. television back in 1981. It spawned 256 episodes and won multiple Emmy awards. Now, Paramount plans to turn the beloved children's program into a 3-D CGI trilogy. You'll be able to catch Papa, Vanity, Smurfette, and the rest of the gang in theaters, starting in 2008.

That's your entertainment news from Hollywood. I'm Sibila Vargas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And straight ahead, it's one of the most important decisions of his presidency and we're just hours away from finding out who Mr. Bush will nominate to the land's highest court. We'll have continuous live coverage of this historic development, when CNN's LIVE FROM continues.

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