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Kerry Vows More Urgency In Protecting America From Terrorists; Christian Churches In Iraq Bombed
Aired August 02, 2004 - 14:30 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Police in Salt Lake City say they have arrested a missing Utah woman's husband on suspicion of aggravated murder. Police Chief Rick Dinse announced minutes ago that he had strong evidence Mark Hacking killed his wife Lori. Mark Hacking is in the Salt Lake County Jail under suicide watch. The woman's body remains missing.
President Bush says the government will establish a National Counterterrorism Center, and he's asking Congress to create the position of a national intelligence director.
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux has full details live from the White House straight ahead.
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says President Bush lacks urgency in protecting America from terrorists. Campaigning in Michigan, Kerry called on President Bush to call Congress in to special session immediately to act on the 9/11 Commission's recommendations. Part of today's CNN interview with Kerry coming up.
We're keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.
In Iraq, a spokesperson for radical Shiite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr says U.S. and Iraqi forces are in a shoot-out with Al-Sadr's forces. The Baghdad-based spokesperson says that troops surrounded Al-Sadr's home in Najaf and started shooting. Al-Sadr's spokesperson says the cleric's Mahdi army shot back leading to an ongoing gun battle. The U.S. military is denying that report.
Meanwhile, Turkish truckers union is pulling its drivers out of Iraq. That move comes after the release of a video appearing to show the killing of a kidnapped Turkish trucker. Islamist Web site posted the tape today.
The International Transportation Association of Turkey says that its members will no longer deliver goods for U.S. troops in Iraq because security and stability aren't in place yet.
Christians in Iraq now walk to church in the shadow of death and they do fear evil. CNN's John Vause reports on the reactions to the weekend bombing attacks that killed seven people near five churches.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The day after the carnage, and Christians everywhere across Iraq were asking the same question: Why us?
FATIN HANNA, IRAQI CHRISTIAN (through translator): Who's purpose would this serve? Who would Benefit from this?
VAUSE: The attacks were coordinated, the churches were full, the Iraqi government believes it has all the trademarks of Abu Musab Al- Zarqawi, the Jordanian militant linked to al Qaeda.
CANNON ANDREW WHITE, ANGLICAN CHURCH: I think one of the very sad realities of what we're seeing is an increasing religious dimension in this whole conflict. And sadly the Christians are seen as being party to the West.
VAUSE: The first blast rocked an Assyrian church just as the bells were ringing and mass was ending. Luay Nair saw it all.
LUAY NAIR, IRAQI CHRISTIAN (through translator): I saw two cars approach the church, a mini bus and a sedan. The driver of the mini bus parked next to the church, got in the other car and drove away. The mini bus exploded 10 seconds later.
VAUSE: Over the last 15 months, there were warning signs this small community was in danger. Almost all the liquor stores here are owned by Christians. A few have been burnt to the ground by Islamic extremists enforcing their strict interpretation of the Koran, which outlaws alcohol. And women no longer feel safe in the beauty parlor.
SARA ADAM, BEAUTY PARLOR OWNER (through translator): Customers come into the shop and ask us to finish them really fast because they are scared to be in here.
VAUSE: At one of the churches, tribal and Islamic leaders met with Christian leaders promising to stand together. And leading Muslim clerics were quick to condemn the attacks.
AHMED ABDUL GHAFUR AL SAMIRAL, SUNNI CLERIC (through translator): These killers are like a knife at the throat of all Iraqis.
VAUSE: Iraq's Christian population has halved in a decade, now about 800,000, less than three percent.
FATHER BASHAR WARDA, ST. ELIYA CATHOLIC CHURCH: I will not be surprised that if other people will decide to leave because of the situation.
VAUSE: Those who stay behind will now be met with razor wire at some churches and a reminder that no one is safe. The day after the blast, police here found three sticks of dynamite outside a Baghdad mosque.
(on camera): Iraq's Christians say it has never been this bad even under Saddam, though relatively protected and mostly free to worship. To them, the new Iraq is emerging as a dangerous and intolerant place.
John Vause, CNN, Baghdad. (END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today I'm asking Congress to create the position of a national intelligence director. That person -- the person in that office will be appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate and will serve at the pleasure of the president.
The National Intelligence Director will serve as the president's principle intelligence advisor and will oversee and coordinate the foreign and domestic activities of the intelligence community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: That's President Bush today on the search for a new head of national intelligence. As you know, national security is a heated issue this election year.
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on a campaign stop, also. But in Michigan today, he criticized President Bush for not moving fast enough to protect America.
Earlier, he sat down with "AMERICAN MORNING's" Bill Hemmer and talked about security.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I called a year ago or so for the creation of a National Director for Intelligence. Finally, this administration is getting around to thinking of doing it.
We called for a Homeland Security Department a year-and-a-half before they put it together. Finally, they got around to putting it together.
We don't need leadership that kind of drags its feet and finally gets there. We need leadership that leads, that knows how to fight an effective war on terror. I can do a better job.
BILL HEMMER, CNN "AMERICAN MORNING" ANCHOR: Yesterday here on CNN, governor Howard Dean suggested that there may be an element of politics in this announcement.
KERRY: Well, I haven't suggested -- I don't care what he said. I haven't suggested that, and I won't suggest that.
HEMMER: Are you dismissing yourself or even distancing yourself from Howard Dean at this point?
KERRY: It's not a question of distance. People have their opinions. Other people are entitled to them. I do not hold that opinion. I do not believe that.
HEMMER: He held the question: Is it politics, or is it real, or is it both?
KERRY: Well, he asked the question. It's not my question.
I believe you take these threats seriously. I take them seriously. I think people of good conscience are working on these issues. I respect the men and women in the threat reduction effort. I respect the people who are in the homeland security department.
I don't question them. I question the leadership. I question why it is that we are struggling to get Arab countries and European countries who have a stake in the outcome of the war on terror to be part of it?
It's a failure of statesmanship and leadership, and I intend to do better.
HEMMER: In Boston, Howard Dean told us -- he speaks to you by telephone about every two weeks. And he said the conversations aren't short, they're actually pretty long in discussion.
KERRY: We've had some good conversations.
HEMMER: And he's a surrogate for your campaign.
KERRY: Yes, he is.
HEMMER: Based on his comments yesterday...
KERRY: I disagree with his comment yesterday. It's very simple.
HEMMER: Will he stay on your campaign?
KERRY: Absolutely. He's done a very, very good job. He has his opinions. I respect those opinions, but I happen to differ with him on this one.
HEMMER: Let's talk about the polling numbers, CNN/"USA TODAY"/Gallup poll came out reflecting on Boston, again. On the screen for our viewers, registered voters give you a slight lead in a two-man race with George Bush, 50 to 47 percent.
Likely voters, though, show you actually trailing 50 to 47 percent.
KERRY: But none of that means anything right now, Bill.
HEMMER: Doesn't mean anything?
KERRY: No, it doesn't mean anything. First of all, it doesn't mean anything because you don't know who the likely voters are. We're registering people, there are countless numbers of new people who are going to come in to the system. All of the polls, I think, are so wacky because frankly they don't know what the political dynamic is this year. That's number one.
Number two, I don't pay attention to polls. If I paid attention to polls I would have stopped getting up in the morning last December. I mean I -- polls are meaningless to me.
What matters to me are the people in Grand Rapids and the people in Michigan and the people in Ohio that I have been talking to who want healthcare. They want jobs. They don't want to see their jobs going overseas and be replaced by a job that pays $9,000 less.
We can do a better job of moving our economy. Just today, I've put out a book -- John Edwards and I put out a book today saying, "Our Plan for America." It's a positive vision of how we can put people back to work. I have a plan for healthcare for all Americans.
The other side has had four years to come up with a plan for healthcare. They don't have a plan. I have a plan to provide healthcare to all Americans, and I show how we're going to pay for it.
What people want to know is, how are you going to make my life better? What are you going to do to help us and to have a government that's as good as the hopes of the American people. I believe we're going to do that.
HEMMER: Back to the question of polling, though, your own campaign.
KERRY: You're incessant. You won't quit on this polling thing.
HEMMER: No, just a follow-up. That's fair.
You spend thousands of dollars trying to figure out which way the wind is blowing in this campaign.
KERRY: No, wrong, wrong. Wrong, wrong.
You go back and look at Tim Russert's interview with me when I announced the formation of a committee to start to run for president over two years ago. What did I say?
I said the issue is security, the security of our nation, job security, wage security, income security, health security, education. And every one of those issues are the issues I have consistently run on. The plans I laid out a year-and-a-half ago are the plans I'm talking about today.
There's nothing that's shifting in what I'm proposing. I laid out on the Senate floor, when we voted about Saddam Hussein, exactly how you wage a war on terror effectively.
The president chose not to do the things I suggested. And now we're spending billions of dollars, we've lost too many lives because he rushed to war without a plan to win the peace.
I can fight a more effective war on terror, and I'm going to get our troops home faster and more effectively than George Bush is. HEMMER: Over the weekend, George Bush was out on the campaign trail, himself, hitting many of the same stops you are in places like Michigan.
KERRY: Yes, they are sort of following us around. It's kind of interesting.
HEMMER: At one point, you came within 20 miles of one another. He never refers to you by name. He just says my opponent. How do you refer to him?
KERRY: The president. He's the president. I respect the fact that he's the president. But I don't refer to him.
I rarely -- I talk occasionally about his plan or no plan. But I talk about our plans.
I've got too much that I want to talk about that's positive for America. I don't need to talk about George Bush. I want to talk about how we're going to have healthcare for every single American.
We have a plan, and under my plan we roll back -- here's how I mention George Bush. We roll back George Bush's tax cut for the wealthiest Americans, and we invest the money in healthcare and education.
I use that money to help our kids be able to have after school programs and to be able to have the ability to go to college. A lot of kids are having trouble with college loans today's.
I'm going to raise those loans, and we're going to give a $4,000 tuition tax credit to parents to empower them to be able to pay the tuitions.
This is a positive vision, Bill, and I don't need to spend my time on George Bush.
HEMMER: We are almost out of time.
KERRY: There, I mentioned his name again.
HEMMER: Yes, you did, twice I think.
You went two for two in a softball game, rumor has it.
KERRY: I went two for two...
HEMMER: Just yesterday?
KERRY: ... in a couple innings. Yes, we had fun last night.
HEMMER: Are you having fun on this campaign?
I'm having a ball. When I get to play softball, I'm having a ball.
HEMMER: You will be 61 in December. Everyone knows you snowboard in Idaho and you kite surf off...
KERRY: Well, I feel like I'm 35. I feel terrific. I feel -- you know, what you can do and how you feel is in your head. And if you, you know, sort of have fun with life -- and I do -- you just keep going out until your body tells you don't do it.
HEMMER: We appreciate your time. You have two stops today in Grand Rapids and then it's on to Wisconsin, I believe. Is that right?
KERRY: Yes, sir. I think. No, I don't
HEMMER: Thank you for your time.
KERRY: Thanks a lot.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry is trying hard to erode some of President Bush's strongest ground with voters -- his handling of this war on terror.
And as the president comes out in favor of having a National Intelligence Director and a National Counterterrorism Center, Kerry accuses him of lacking urgency in fighting terrorism.
To Washington now and CNN's senior political analyst Bill Schneider.
Let's talk about this hot topic in an election year and who's getting the bounce?
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, it is a hot topic -- the war on terrorism, which has always been an issue that's worked to the advantage of President Bush.
Now, this 9/11 Commission report has come out, and I am really impressed at how much standing this report has, mostly because the families of the 9/11 victims have been so strongly behind it and have insisted they will continue to fight for it.
So, what we're seeing is President Bush and John Kerry competing to say they'll be the first, the fasted and most vigorous in implementing the recommendations of this report.
PHILLIPS: So, Bill, when it comes to Bush and Kerry -- and they are going back and forth on this issue -- is anybody doing better in the polls on this issue than another?
SCHNEIDER: Bush -- when it comes to the war on terrorism, Bush has always been seen as the stronger candidate because he's proved he's strong. He's resolute. He'll fight back. And if Americans get frightened or angry, if they feel threatened, they are likely to vote for President Bush.
Kerry is trying to claim he's just as good on this issue as President Bush is, but so far Bush has the advantage. Kerry has the advantage on other issues, domestic issues, healthcare, the economy and even Iraq where he is seen as just as good as President Bush because a lot of people have serious problems with President Bush's venture into Iraq. But terrorism, that's Bush's domain.
PHILLIPS: Well, timing of the threat level that we have been hearing about today and yesterday. Do you think there's a strategy there with this?
SCHNEIDER: Well, that is what Howard Dean hinted this morning or yesterday morning when he said that he thinks there might have been some politics, as well as, of course, the possibility of a real threat. But he thinks politics may have played some role.
John Kerry was quick to disavow that because the idea that politics was driving the terror threat is frankly monstrous and it's unbelievable that would be the motivation of the administration.
Americans take terror threats very seriously. But look, remember, this is an election year. It's a very closely fought election year with a very divided and polarized electorate. Everything, including the terror threat, is going to be seen, to some extent, in a political light.
PHILLIPS: CNN's senior political editor Bill Schneider. Thanks, Bill.
Got a wallet full of credit cards? Now there's a new way to tell them all apart. Find out when we check Wall Street straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, it's the first workday since the morning, and it's virtually impossible for anyone who isn't supposed to be there to get inside New York's financial centers.
How it's impacting the markets and why these are even declared targets -- CNN contributor Andy Serwer has been keeping an eye on all this. And Andy, New York Stock Exchange is probably the safest place to go to work today.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: That's what some people downtown are saying, Kyra. You know security there has been incredibly tight, obviously, since 9/11, very much stepped up today.
And people down there that I have spoken with are distraught. They are not terribly happy, but they are going about their business. And of course, the market has been trading up over the past couple of hours.
PHILLIPS: I think looking at NYSE we can kind of understand why that would be a target. Obviously it would disrupt the whole economy, when it comes to the United States and overseas.
But let's talk about World Bank and IMF, first of all, World Bank. For those who may not understand what the World Bank is and what it does, let's talk about it as a lending institution. SERWER: Right. Right.
PHILLIPS: And the relation to countries overseas.
SERWER: Right. First of all, let me just step back with the NYSE, Kyra. They do have an incredible backup system where they guarantee it will be up and running after any sort of catastrophic event, 24 hours. So that's the NYSE.
Talking about the World Bank and the IMF. The IMF is actually a part of the United Nations. It lends monies to countries overseas to aid and development.
The World Bank is a very similar institution. It's owned by member nations, 127 nations. These are independent entities not controlled by the United States. However, many critics abroad see them being in lockstep with the U.S. government, and that's because, Kyra, the United States provides much of the funding.
So critics say, well, these entities just do the bidding of the U.S. government. And that's why they are, perhaps, targets.
PHILLIPS: And we know that, of course, there's a lot of protesting that goes on when we talk about the World Bank and IMF. But if, indeed, these two buildings were struck, that terrorists were able to drive a car bomb into these institutions, how would that affect -- would it be more the U.S. or would it affect more, or affect countries overseas more?
SERWER: Well, it's interesting. I think it would strike at the heart of the nation's capital, number one, obviously creating all sorts of fear and possibly panic there.
But interestingly in terms of the actual day-to-day business of the IMF or the World Bank, you know, it's really hard to understand how it would impact, say, an aid program to Thailand, whether it would disrupt that or not.
Obviously, a lot of the transfers of funds go about electronically. And it's hard to see how a terrorist act would disrupt that for a prolonged period of time.
PHILLIPS: Real quickly, Citigroup, largest shareholder -- very interesting tie here that no one's talked about.
SERWER: Yes, very interesting. Prince Alwaleed of the Saudi Royal Family a pro-western billionaire is the largest single shareholders of Citigroup. And he's bought into this bank and made himself a lot of money.
I think it's probably coincidental, Kyra, that they are targeting the bank perhaps and that he is a shareholder. Citigroup is the largest financial institution in the world, has a presence around the globe, has a large presence in the Middle East as well as in Saudi Arabia. So, you know, when you get something this big, there are all sorts of ties and links to various entities, people and companies and countries.
PHILLIPS: Andy Serwer our financial guru. Serwer, guru -- a little tongue twister there.
SERWER: Right.
PHILLIPS: Andy, thanks so much.
SERWER: You're welcome.
PHILLIPS: All right, more on Wall Street. Let's go to CNN's Darby Mullany for more -- Darby?
DARBY MULLANY, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the market is really resilient today, pretty much shrugging off the new threat warnings. I took a walk around the floor of the New York Stock Exchange a little bit earlier and talked to some traders. And they say, look, they have heard these terror threats before.
While this most recent one is certainly more specific and more stark, it doesn't exactly come as a surprise. So they are taking it in stride. And it really seems to be business as usual on Wall Street.
Also, higher corporate profits, retreating oil prices and some better than expected news on the manufacturing front are also offsetting any jitters investors might have.
Taking a look at the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Right now it is in positive territory up almost 20 points at 10,159. The Nasdaq is off just about a quarter of one percent.
Stay tuned. More LIVE FROM continues in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired August 2, 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: Police in Salt Lake City say they have arrested a missing Utah woman's husband on suspicion of aggravated murder. Police Chief Rick Dinse announced minutes ago that he had strong evidence Mark Hacking killed his wife Lori. Mark Hacking is in the Salt Lake County Jail under suicide watch. The woman's body remains missing.
President Bush says the government will establish a National Counterterrorism Center, and he's asking Congress to create the position of a national intelligence director.
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux has full details live from the White House straight ahead.
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says President Bush lacks urgency in protecting America from terrorists. Campaigning in Michigan, Kerry called on President Bush to call Congress in to special session immediately to act on the 9/11 Commission's recommendations. Part of today's CNN interview with Kerry coming up.
We're keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.
In Iraq, a spokesperson for radical Shiite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr says U.S. and Iraqi forces are in a shoot-out with Al-Sadr's forces. The Baghdad-based spokesperson says that troops surrounded Al-Sadr's home in Najaf and started shooting. Al-Sadr's spokesperson says the cleric's Mahdi army shot back leading to an ongoing gun battle. The U.S. military is denying that report.
Meanwhile, Turkish truckers union is pulling its drivers out of Iraq. That move comes after the release of a video appearing to show the killing of a kidnapped Turkish trucker. Islamist Web site posted the tape today.
The International Transportation Association of Turkey says that its members will no longer deliver goods for U.S. troops in Iraq because security and stability aren't in place yet.
Christians in Iraq now walk to church in the shadow of death and they do fear evil. CNN's John Vause reports on the reactions to the weekend bombing attacks that killed seven people near five churches.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The day after the carnage, and Christians everywhere across Iraq were asking the same question: Why us?
FATIN HANNA, IRAQI CHRISTIAN (through translator): Who's purpose would this serve? Who would Benefit from this?
VAUSE: The attacks were coordinated, the churches were full, the Iraqi government believes it has all the trademarks of Abu Musab Al- Zarqawi, the Jordanian militant linked to al Qaeda.
CANNON ANDREW WHITE, ANGLICAN CHURCH: I think one of the very sad realities of what we're seeing is an increasing religious dimension in this whole conflict. And sadly the Christians are seen as being party to the West.
VAUSE: The first blast rocked an Assyrian church just as the bells were ringing and mass was ending. Luay Nair saw it all.
LUAY NAIR, IRAQI CHRISTIAN (through translator): I saw two cars approach the church, a mini bus and a sedan. The driver of the mini bus parked next to the church, got in the other car and drove away. The mini bus exploded 10 seconds later.
VAUSE: Over the last 15 months, there were warning signs this small community was in danger. Almost all the liquor stores here are owned by Christians. A few have been burnt to the ground by Islamic extremists enforcing their strict interpretation of the Koran, which outlaws alcohol. And women no longer feel safe in the beauty parlor.
SARA ADAM, BEAUTY PARLOR OWNER (through translator): Customers come into the shop and ask us to finish them really fast because they are scared to be in here.
VAUSE: At one of the churches, tribal and Islamic leaders met with Christian leaders promising to stand together. And leading Muslim clerics were quick to condemn the attacks.
AHMED ABDUL GHAFUR AL SAMIRAL, SUNNI CLERIC (through translator): These killers are like a knife at the throat of all Iraqis.
VAUSE: Iraq's Christian population has halved in a decade, now about 800,000, less than three percent.
FATHER BASHAR WARDA, ST. ELIYA CATHOLIC CHURCH: I will not be surprised that if other people will decide to leave because of the situation.
VAUSE: Those who stay behind will now be met with razor wire at some churches and a reminder that no one is safe. The day after the blast, police here found three sticks of dynamite outside a Baghdad mosque.
(on camera): Iraq's Christians say it has never been this bad even under Saddam, though relatively protected and mostly free to worship. To them, the new Iraq is emerging as a dangerous and intolerant place.
John Vause, CNN, Baghdad. (END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today I'm asking Congress to create the position of a national intelligence director. That person -- the person in that office will be appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate and will serve at the pleasure of the president.
The National Intelligence Director will serve as the president's principle intelligence advisor and will oversee and coordinate the foreign and domestic activities of the intelligence community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: That's President Bush today on the search for a new head of national intelligence. As you know, national security is a heated issue this election year.
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on a campaign stop, also. But in Michigan today, he criticized President Bush for not moving fast enough to protect America.
Earlier, he sat down with "AMERICAN MORNING's" Bill Hemmer and talked about security.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I called a year ago or so for the creation of a National Director for Intelligence. Finally, this administration is getting around to thinking of doing it.
We called for a Homeland Security Department a year-and-a-half before they put it together. Finally, they got around to putting it together.
We don't need leadership that kind of drags its feet and finally gets there. We need leadership that leads, that knows how to fight an effective war on terror. I can do a better job.
BILL HEMMER, CNN "AMERICAN MORNING" ANCHOR: Yesterday here on CNN, governor Howard Dean suggested that there may be an element of politics in this announcement.
KERRY: Well, I haven't suggested -- I don't care what he said. I haven't suggested that, and I won't suggest that.
HEMMER: Are you dismissing yourself or even distancing yourself from Howard Dean at this point?
KERRY: It's not a question of distance. People have their opinions. Other people are entitled to them. I do not hold that opinion. I do not believe that.
HEMMER: He held the question: Is it politics, or is it real, or is it both?
KERRY: Well, he asked the question. It's not my question.
I believe you take these threats seriously. I take them seriously. I think people of good conscience are working on these issues. I respect the men and women in the threat reduction effort. I respect the people who are in the homeland security department.
I don't question them. I question the leadership. I question why it is that we are struggling to get Arab countries and European countries who have a stake in the outcome of the war on terror to be part of it?
It's a failure of statesmanship and leadership, and I intend to do better.
HEMMER: In Boston, Howard Dean told us -- he speaks to you by telephone about every two weeks. And he said the conversations aren't short, they're actually pretty long in discussion.
KERRY: We've had some good conversations.
HEMMER: And he's a surrogate for your campaign.
KERRY: Yes, he is.
HEMMER: Based on his comments yesterday...
KERRY: I disagree with his comment yesterday. It's very simple.
HEMMER: Will he stay on your campaign?
KERRY: Absolutely. He's done a very, very good job. He has his opinions. I respect those opinions, but I happen to differ with him on this one.
HEMMER: Let's talk about the polling numbers, CNN/"USA TODAY"/Gallup poll came out reflecting on Boston, again. On the screen for our viewers, registered voters give you a slight lead in a two-man race with George Bush, 50 to 47 percent.
Likely voters, though, show you actually trailing 50 to 47 percent.
KERRY: But none of that means anything right now, Bill.
HEMMER: Doesn't mean anything?
KERRY: No, it doesn't mean anything. First of all, it doesn't mean anything because you don't know who the likely voters are. We're registering people, there are countless numbers of new people who are going to come in to the system. All of the polls, I think, are so wacky because frankly they don't know what the political dynamic is this year. That's number one.
Number two, I don't pay attention to polls. If I paid attention to polls I would have stopped getting up in the morning last December. I mean I -- polls are meaningless to me.
What matters to me are the people in Grand Rapids and the people in Michigan and the people in Ohio that I have been talking to who want healthcare. They want jobs. They don't want to see their jobs going overseas and be replaced by a job that pays $9,000 less.
We can do a better job of moving our economy. Just today, I've put out a book -- John Edwards and I put out a book today saying, "Our Plan for America." It's a positive vision of how we can put people back to work. I have a plan for healthcare for all Americans.
The other side has had four years to come up with a plan for healthcare. They don't have a plan. I have a plan to provide healthcare to all Americans, and I show how we're going to pay for it.
What people want to know is, how are you going to make my life better? What are you going to do to help us and to have a government that's as good as the hopes of the American people. I believe we're going to do that.
HEMMER: Back to the question of polling, though, your own campaign.
KERRY: You're incessant. You won't quit on this polling thing.
HEMMER: No, just a follow-up. That's fair.
You spend thousands of dollars trying to figure out which way the wind is blowing in this campaign.
KERRY: No, wrong, wrong. Wrong, wrong.
You go back and look at Tim Russert's interview with me when I announced the formation of a committee to start to run for president over two years ago. What did I say?
I said the issue is security, the security of our nation, job security, wage security, income security, health security, education. And every one of those issues are the issues I have consistently run on. The plans I laid out a year-and-a-half ago are the plans I'm talking about today.
There's nothing that's shifting in what I'm proposing. I laid out on the Senate floor, when we voted about Saddam Hussein, exactly how you wage a war on terror effectively.
The president chose not to do the things I suggested. And now we're spending billions of dollars, we've lost too many lives because he rushed to war without a plan to win the peace.
I can fight a more effective war on terror, and I'm going to get our troops home faster and more effectively than George Bush is. HEMMER: Over the weekend, George Bush was out on the campaign trail, himself, hitting many of the same stops you are in places like Michigan.
KERRY: Yes, they are sort of following us around. It's kind of interesting.
HEMMER: At one point, you came within 20 miles of one another. He never refers to you by name. He just says my opponent. How do you refer to him?
KERRY: The president. He's the president. I respect the fact that he's the president. But I don't refer to him.
I rarely -- I talk occasionally about his plan or no plan. But I talk about our plans.
I've got too much that I want to talk about that's positive for America. I don't need to talk about George Bush. I want to talk about how we're going to have healthcare for every single American.
We have a plan, and under my plan we roll back -- here's how I mention George Bush. We roll back George Bush's tax cut for the wealthiest Americans, and we invest the money in healthcare and education.
I use that money to help our kids be able to have after school programs and to be able to have the ability to go to college. A lot of kids are having trouble with college loans today's.
I'm going to raise those loans, and we're going to give a $4,000 tuition tax credit to parents to empower them to be able to pay the tuitions.
This is a positive vision, Bill, and I don't need to spend my time on George Bush.
HEMMER: We are almost out of time.
KERRY: There, I mentioned his name again.
HEMMER: Yes, you did, twice I think.
You went two for two in a softball game, rumor has it.
KERRY: I went two for two...
HEMMER: Just yesterday?
KERRY: ... in a couple innings. Yes, we had fun last night.
HEMMER: Are you having fun on this campaign?
I'm having a ball. When I get to play softball, I'm having a ball.
HEMMER: You will be 61 in December. Everyone knows you snowboard in Idaho and you kite surf off...
KERRY: Well, I feel like I'm 35. I feel terrific. I feel -- you know, what you can do and how you feel is in your head. And if you, you know, sort of have fun with life -- and I do -- you just keep going out until your body tells you don't do it.
HEMMER: We appreciate your time. You have two stops today in Grand Rapids and then it's on to Wisconsin, I believe. Is that right?
KERRY: Yes, sir. I think. No, I don't
HEMMER: Thank you for your time.
KERRY: Thanks a lot.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry is trying hard to erode some of President Bush's strongest ground with voters -- his handling of this war on terror.
And as the president comes out in favor of having a National Intelligence Director and a National Counterterrorism Center, Kerry accuses him of lacking urgency in fighting terrorism.
To Washington now and CNN's senior political analyst Bill Schneider.
Let's talk about this hot topic in an election year and who's getting the bounce?
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, it is a hot topic -- the war on terrorism, which has always been an issue that's worked to the advantage of President Bush.
Now, this 9/11 Commission report has come out, and I am really impressed at how much standing this report has, mostly because the families of the 9/11 victims have been so strongly behind it and have insisted they will continue to fight for it.
So, what we're seeing is President Bush and John Kerry competing to say they'll be the first, the fasted and most vigorous in implementing the recommendations of this report.
PHILLIPS: So, Bill, when it comes to Bush and Kerry -- and they are going back and forth on this issue -- is anybody doing better in the polls on this issue than another?
SCHNEIDER: Bush -- when it comes to the war on terrorism, Bush has always been seen as the stronger candidate because he's proved he's strong. He's resolute. He'll fight back. And if Americans get frightened or angry, if they feel threatened, they are likely to vote for President Bush.
Kerry is trying to claim he's just as good on this issue as President Bush is, but so far Bush has the advantage. Kerry has the advantage on other issues, domestic issues, healthcare, the economy and even Iraq where he is seen as just as good as President Bush because a lot of people have serious problems with President Bush's venture into Iraq. But terrorism, that's Bush's domain.
PHILLIPS: Well, timing of the threat level that we have been hearing about today and yesterday. Do you think there's a strategy there with this?
SCHNEIDER: Well, that is what Howard Dean hinted this morning or yesterday morning when he said that he thinks there might have been some politics, as well as, of course, the possibility of a real threat. But he thinks politics may have played some role.
John Kerry was quick to disavow that because the idea that politics was driving the terror threat is frankly monstrous and it's unbelievable that would be the motivation of the administration.
Americans take terror threats very seriously. But look, remember, this is an election year. It's a very closely fought election year with a very divided and polarized electorate. Everything, including the terror threat, is going to be seen, to some extent, in a political light.
PHILLIPS: CNN's senior political editor Bill Schneider. Thanks, Bill.
Got a wallet full of credit cards? Now there's a new way to tell them all apart. Find out when we check Wall Street straight ahead.
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PHILLIPS: Well, it's the first workday since the morning, and it's virtually impossible for anyone who isn't supposed to be there to get inside New York's financial centers.
How it's impacting the markets and why these are even declared targets -- CNN contributor Andy Serwer has been keeping an eye on all this. And Andy, New York Stock Exchange is probably the safest place to go to work today.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: That's what some people downtown are saying, Kyra. You know security there has been incredibly tight, obviously, since 9/11, very much stepped up today.
And people down there that I have spoken with are distraught. They are not terribly happy, but they are going about their business. And of course, the market has been trading up over the past couple of hours.
PHILLIPS: I think looking at NYSE we can kind of understand why that would be a target. Obviously it would disrupt the whole economy, when it comes to the United States and overseas.
But let's talk about World Bank and IMF, first of all, World Bank. For those who may not understand what the World Bank is and what it does, let's talk about it as a lending institution. SERWER: Right. Right.
PHILLIPS: And the relation to countries overseas.
SERWER: Right. First of all, let me just step back with the NYSE, Kyra. They do have an incredible backup system where they guarantee it will be up and running after any sort of catastrophic event, 24 hours. So that's the NYSE.
Talking about the World Bank and the IMF. The IMF is actually a part of the United Nations. It lends monies to countries overseas to aid and development.
The World Bank is a very similar institution. It's owned by member nations, 127 nations. These are independent entities not controlled by the United States. However, many critics abroad see them being in lockstep with the U.S. government, and that's because, Kyra, the United States provides much of the funding.
So critics say, well, these entities just do the bidding of the U.S. government. And that's why they are, perhaps, targets.
PHILLIPS: And we know that, of course, there's a lot of protesting that goes on when we talk about the World Bank and IMF. But if, indeed, these two buildings were struck, that terrorists were able to drive a car bomb into these institutions, how would that affect -- would it be more the U.S. or would it affect more, or affect countries overseas more?
SERWER: Well, it's interesting. I think it would strike at the heart of the nation's capital, number one, obviously creating all sorts of fear and possibly panic there.
But interestingly in terms of the actual day-to-day business of the IMF or the World Bank, you know, it's really hard to understand how it would impact, say, an aid program to Thailand, whether it would disrupt that or not.
Obviously, a lot of the transfers of funds go about electronically. And it's hard to see how a terrorist act would disrupt that for a prolonged period of time.
PHILLIPS: Real quickly, Citigroup, largest shareholder -- very interesting tie here that no one's talked about.
SERWER: Yes, very interesting. Prince Alwaleed of the Saudi Royal Family a pro-western billionaire is the largest single shareholders of Citigroup. And he's bought into this bank and made himself a lot of money.
I think it's probably coincidental, Kyra, that they are targeting the bank perhaps and that he is a shareholder. Citigroup is the largest financial institution in the world, has a presence around the globe, has a large presence in the Middle East as well as in Saudi Arabia. So, you know, when you get something this big, there are all sorts of ties and links to various entities, people and companies and countries.
PHILLIPS: Andy Serwer our financial guru. Serwer, guru -- a little tongue twister there.
SERWER: Right.
PHILLIPS: Andy, thanks so much.
SERWER: You're welcome.
PHILLIPS: All right, more on Wall Street. Let's go to CNN's Darby Mullany for more -- Darby?
DARBY MULLANY, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the market is really resilient today, pretty much shrugging off the new threat warnings. I took a walk around the floor of the New York Stock Exchange a little bit earlier and talked to some traders. And they say, look, they have heard these terror threats before.
While this most recent one is certainly more specific and more stark, it doesn't exactly come as a surprise. So they are taking it in stride. And it really seems to be business as usual on Wall Street.
Also, higher corporate profits, retreating oil prices and some better than expected news on the manufacturing front are also offsetting any jitters investors might have.
Taking a look at the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Right now it is in positive territory up almost 20 points at 10,159. The Nasdaq is off just about a quarter of one percent.
Stay tuned. More LIVE FROM continues in just a moment.
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