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DiRita Hosts Pentagon Briefing; Debate Buzzes Over O'Connor Replacement

Aired July 05, 2005 - 14:30   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is due to land in Denmark in about an hour from now. A prelude to the main purpose of his third trip to Europe this year, the G-8 Summit. During his brief stay in Copenhagen, Mr. Bush will thank the Danes for supporting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. From Denmark, Mr. Bush heads to Scotland for the meeting with other leaders of the G-8 nations. One thing they can count on, angry protests.
For more on the president's stop in Denmark and the G-8 Summit, CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us live in the Danish capital of Copenhagen. Hello, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Tony.

That's right, President Bush will be expressing his appreciation to the Danish leaders. And just to give you a sense of his itinerary, when he arrives just a short time from now in Denmark, he's going to make his way just outside Copenhagen to Fredensborg Castle. And there he will be received by the queen of Denmark, Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik. Then tomorrow, the president will meet with the prime minister of Denmark, the Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. And then it's off to the G-8 tomorrow.

Now, the president wants to very much deliver a personal thank you to these Danish leaders, thank them for being key allies and backing U.S.-led military efforts, both in Iraq and in Afghanistan. And in fact, in 2003, the Danes were among the so-called coalition of the willing and now 500 Danish troops still remain in Iraq to help stabilize the security situation in that country.

Now, while the Danish people largely support the U.S. efforts there, they are also asking the question, when will their troops be able to leave? President Bush, as he has said before when talking about U.S. forces, says he will not set a timetable because he says that would give the enemy an advantage.

Now meantime here in Denmark, tight security as well. Authorities are seeing thousands of demonstrators. Already there are nine announced protests that authorities are expecting. But the president's time here, quite brief. Again, meeting with Danish leaders tonight and tomorrow before moving on to the G-8 in Scotland, where, of course, the main topics that will be focussed on will be Africa and climate change -- Tony.

HARRIS: CNN's Elaine Quijano in Denmark with the president. Let's go to the Pentagon right now. We've been standing by for a briefing from Pentagon spokesperson Larry DiRita. Let's listen in right now.

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LAWRENCE DIRITA, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN: ... I certainly know that you all appreciate, most of you having covered this department for some time, but there are things that we're just not going to be able to discuss until it's appropriate to discuss them.

And as I said, Central Command and Combined Forces Command Afghanistan have put out such information as can be put out, and we're not going to be able to discuss much more beyond that.

So with that, I'd be happy to answer a few questions on other topics.

QUESTION: Larry, just very briefly, CENTCOM has confirmed that two bodies have been found. And I'm not sure whether they confirmed that you all have rescued one person who had injuries.

QUESTION: Is one person still missing? Or is that part of the release?

DIRITA: It's all in the release. And I would refer you to the release. And what's not in the release is nothing I'm going to be able to discuss. And I do know that you understand that. There is an operation going on. There are lives at risk. And I do not intend to do anything to upset that.

QUESTION: Why the delay on the China military power (INAUDIBLE)? That keeps getting pushed down.

And in conjunction with that, is there anything new on the negotiations with Israel over its military relationship with China? And has the moratorium been lifted on defense cooperation (INAUDIBLE)?

DIRITA: I'm not sure that I'd characterize the China report as delayed. We do owe that report. It's a report that's been in progress for quite some time, as we've tried to make sure that everybody -- it's a Department of Defense report, but it's a report that obviously is going to build on the knowledge of other agencies and departments. So we're trying very hard to make sure that everybody that has a view and that will have to understand that report as well as possible do understand it. That just takes time.

There's no fixed date for release that we have in mind. And I doubt it will be released this week. But we are trying to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to weigh in on it, to understand it. And once we release it, we know it will undergo a great deal of scrutiny. We think we'll be up to that.

QUESTION: While the report just covers military issues, does the release of the report, not necessarily the formation of it, but does the release of the report include such economic and political issues as the floating of the yuan and stuff like that. Or is this strictly... DIRITA: This is strictly a report regarding China's military activities. The secretary discussed it to some degree when he was at the Shangri-La conference in Singapore. It will just discuss what's known and what can be discussed publicly about what we understand China's military activities are.

QUESTION: And Israel?

DIRITA: As we've discussed before, we do have long-standing concerns regarding technology transfers. We are working closely with the Israeli government on this. There are some types of technology and information that we're not comfortable at sharing at the moment, but we are working closely with the Israeli government.

There's been no recent developments in this that I'm aware of.

DIRITA: And when we've worked through these things to such degree that we're able to, we'll announce all that.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) agreed to let the United States peruse/go over any agreement with China in advance? Any military agreements...

DIRITA: I wouldn't want to characterize what Israel's going to do to try and make sure that we are comfortable with their activities. But as I said, when we're able to conclude such work as needs to be done, we'll do our best to make sure that that's public...

QUESTION: Just one more: Have they assured the United States that they want to come to an agreement on this or is there still some kind of barrier on...

DIRITA: I would say that they've assured the United States that they understand this is a serious concern of the United States, and we're working closely with them.

QUESTION: Taking you back to Afghanistan and a different aspect about the same matter -- the air strike -- can you lay out what you know about the result of that air strike in terms of civilians being killed?

DIRITA: Well, I'm not sure that the Combined Forces Command or CENTCOM have put out numbers yet. They have acknowledged some number of civilians that were killed in that strike.

It's obviously a very unfortunate situation. It was in the context of counterterrorist operations. And they're investigating it to understand exactly what happened and to make sure that we can try and avoid these things in the future. But I don't believe that they've been able to confirm specific numbers yet -- we have not been able to.

QUESTION: There have been numbers put out by the...

DIRITA: There have been numbers. It's not numbers -- to the best of my knowledge, not numbers that have been put out by the Combined Forces Command. QUESTION: Are they valid? I mean, the 17...

DIRITA: No, those are the numbers I've seen. I'm not in a position to say whether they're accurate or not.

We expect that when they can provide a refined number of their own, they'll put it out. CFC will put it out.

QUESTION: But you are acknowledging that a certain number of civilians were killed?

DIRITA: We have acknowledged that. CENTCOM has acknowledged it and they've acknowledged, obviously, the great regret that we have that that occurred. We take great strides to be precise in our military activities. I think we've been very precise. But these things do occur and we obviously regret when they do. And we'll investigate to be able to determine what may have happened and how it can be avoided in the future.

QUESTION: Can I ask about the Navy SEAL who was rescued? Do you know if he's going to be brought back to the United States or will he stay in Afghanistan?

DIRITA: CENTCOM's release, first of all, does not identify who that individual is, but does acknowledge that there's one individual who's been recovered alive, and he's in Afghanistan. And what his future disposition is, I just don't know.

QUESTION: Will his name ever be made public?

DIRITA: When we are able to announce those things we will. But, at the moment, we've not made any announcement like that.

QUESTION: Is there a policy against identifying members of the special forces...

DIRITA: I don't have anything more for you, Jamie.

QUESTION: Iraq: Zarqawi's group, Al Qaeda in Iraq, is now taking responsibility for the kidnapping of the Egyptian ambassador and several other envoys apparently attacked in Iraq.

What does this now really say to the United States about the security situation in Iraq, the ability of other countries -- including the U.S. -- to conduct diplomatic relations inside that country, the ability of private business to exist there when this type of thing goes on?

DIRITA: Well, we've acknowledged that there are ongoing insurgent activities in Iraq. I think what it says more -- if, in fact, it's true, which I've heard the reports just as you have -- I can't validate them.

But if, in fact, it is true that Al Qaeda has snatched this diplomat, I think it suggests what we know to be the case: that Al Qaeda has targeted those countries that are trying to cooperate in the success of Iraq's emerging democracy.

And it makes it that much clearer -- as if we need any further clarification -- of what kind of an insurgency we're dealing with here. We're dealing with an insurgency that does not have Iraq's democratic future in mind. It has something much bleaker and much darker.

There are countries that are trying to establish diplomatic presences in Iraq. That is a measure of some success of the democratic transition in Iraq. And, to the extent that Al Qaeda is targeting that demonstration of continued transition and success, it tells us that they do not have the interests of the Iraqi people at heart, obviously.

QUESTION: Are you trying to encourage these countries to maintain their diplomatic relations inside Iraq?

QUESTION: Or are you understanding of some of them having the desire to pull out, go back to Jordan perhaps?

DIRITA: Well, we do not try and speak on behalf of other countries. Countries will make decisions on their own. There's a lot of economic activity taking place in Iraq, including outside investment. There's a lot of other countries that are establishing diplomatic presences inside of Iraq. And each of those entities, whether it is private sector or government, make their own determinations.

QUESTION: Have you noticed any increase or decrease in the amount of intelligence cooperation you've gotten from those countries who have had their diplomats kidnapped in the last few days since?

DIRITA: I'm not aware of any linkage.

QUESTION: The two recovered SEALs, was there any evidence that they had been kidnapped or executed as the Taliban initially claimed?

DIRITA: When we've got more to say, we'll say it. I really don't have anything for you. There are people who are right now conducting an operation and their lives are at risk and there's just nothing -- and I think you guys all understand that there's nothing we can do to help the situation. Thank you.

QUESTION: Larry, today, The New York Times reported that the department is coming to a decision to get away from the ability to fight two wars at one time. Can you enlighten us on what's the process ongoing and maybe your reaction tot that article today?

DIRITA: First of all, and far be it from me to defend The New York Times, but I don't think they said we're coming to a decision. I think what the article described, for better or worse, is that we are in the middle of something called the Quadrennial Defense Review. It's a requirement that the Congress imposed on the Department of Defense to every four years analyze the range of activities of the department and make sure that we're arranged in the way that makes the most sense for the current situation. We did one of these in 2001. We have learned a lot since then. In 2001, we made some adjustments to the way we organized, the way that we -- our military strategy, the way that we size our forces, determine how large our forces need to be based on the anticipation of the kinds of capabilities that we expect to face in the future and the capabilities that we expect to have. For example, in the 2001 QDR, one of the things that we highlighted, and this was pre-9/11, was the growing importance of the homeland defense mission.

But, obviously, a lot has happened since the last quadrennial defense review.

The senior leadership of this department has established terms of reference for the ongoing Quadrennial Defense Review to look at a lot of activities, try and learn from what has happened since the last quadrennial defense review, try and analyze various options and come to some conclusions about how we're organized.

DIRITA: You're going to be hearing a lot of this, because people are going to have sporadic reports coming out of the process. This process involves probably thousands, but certainly hundreds of people at various levels in the department trying to do the analysis that's needed for these kinds of recommendations.

It's months away. The thing is not due until February of next year, so it would be premature to jump on one aspect of proposals that are being analyzed.

And I wouldn't even say that there have been -- in fact, I think it is accurate to say there haven't been sort of recommendations made and then go off and test the recommendations. What the process is designed to do is set sort of a left and right limit of analysis and then determine somewhere between those boundaries how we come out.

And I think what the article in today's paper was doing was describing one aspect of one set of discussions in a range of possibilities. So it would really be premature to conclude from...

HARRIS: You've been watching a Pentagon briefing from Pentagon spokesperson Larry DiRita. It started out with a string of questions about a pending Pentagon report on China's military activities.

And then it moved on to Afghanistan. And we were very curious to know if we would learn much new information about the operations in Afghanistan over the last week. We did learn that it was confirmed again by the Pentagon, by Larry DiRita, that one Navy SEAL has been recovered alive from that operation in Afghanistan of last week that started with the downing of a Chinook helicopter, while that Chinook helicopter was coming to the aid of special operations forces on the ground in Afghanistan. And the loss of 16 lives that resulted from that helicopter crash.

And then of course, there was the U.S. air strike in that same general area on Friday, and conflicting reports about how many civilian causalities. The folks on the ground, officials in Afghanistan saying, as many as 17 civilians were killed. And that number not confirmed in the briefing today.

And there was a bit of a conversation about the new report today that al Qaeda in Iraq, the group headed by Abu Musab al Zarqawi, has claimed responsibility for the weekend kidnapping of Egypt's top diplomat in Iraq, Ihab al Sharif. And Larry DiRita going on to say that al Qaeda is determined to challenge anyone working in support of the emerging democracy in Iraq.

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HARRIS: More LIVE FROM in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, we won't have a Supreme Court nominee to debate for several more days, but the public is already buzzing about the importance of the candidate who would replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Donnor.

Gallup editor-in-chief Frank Newport is listening to what they're saying. Frank, just how is the debate kind of playing out among average Americans?

FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP: Well, Tony, we've been spending a lot of time looking at our CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll results.

First of all, does it matter to you? What I've grabbed for you is the percent of Americans who says whoever is nominated matters a great deal to them. First point, over half of America says it does not matter, won't matter. But look at the difference politically. None. 50 percent of Republicans, 50 percent of Democrats. So we don't have disproportionality in concern there.

We went looking in the data, Tony, to see, well, who does care? Interestingly, church-goers. Look at the difference there. If you go to church weekly, almost six out of ten of you say it really matters a great deal who the next nominee will be. You can see how that goes down the list. This, of course, is what we're seeing now. A lot of the evangelical rite, in particular, vitally concerned about this nomination process -- Tony.

HARRIS: Frank, the compromise over judicial filibusters could actually fall apart if Democrats tried to block the Supreme Court nomination. Will the public be likely to support a Democratic-led filibuster?

NEWPORT: Well, you know, we don't know for sure. We do know earlier this year, Tony, that a lot of Americans were fed up. I think that's fair to say, based on my analysis of the data, with all the filibuster wrangling that was going on.

Question we've asked now is, do you think the Democrats will block a nomination filibuster for inappropriate reasons? That's the key word. Of course, predictably, about seven out of 10 Republicans said of course they will. But what's interesting to us is over half of Democrats say that their own leaders may inappropriately use the filibuster rule. So I would think leaders may be in trouble if there's a lot of filibustering going on.

HARRIS: Yes, Frank, one of the possible nominees whose ideological leanings are already being debated is Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Where does he stand?

NEWPORT: Well, this is very -- it's interesting, because it's actually, as you know, some conservatives and Republicans who have said we are opposed to Gonzales as a possible nominee because he's not conservative enough. So we went looking at the data. We have a favorable/unfavorable opinion of the attorney general. A lot of Americans haven't heard of him.

But we wondered, would Republicans already be unfavorably predisposed just in general to Attorney General Gonzales? Not so. Look at the left. Huge, 44 to five margin favorable/unfavorable. This is very predictable. Democrats on the right there, more negative towards him. So so far, no signs that rank and file Republicans and conservatives are in any way negatively predisposed to Gonzales in general.

HARRIS: Gallup editor-in-chief Frank Newport. Frank, thank you.

NEWPORT: You bet.

HARRIS: We'll take a break, come back with more LIVE FROM with Bob Barr, get his take on the nomination process ahead. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, the battle over filling Justice O'Connor's seat on the U.S. supreme Court is already shaping up to be one of the more public and costly fights on record. Campaign ads from special interest groups are already on the air and there are predictions the ideological fight could run a tab approaching, believe this, $100 million? Will it be money well spent?

Joining me to talk about is CNN contributor and former U.S. Representative Bob Barr of Georgia. Bob, good to see you.

BOB BARR, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Thank you, Tony.

HARRIS: $100 million. Give us a sense of how crazy this campaign could get, once the president names a name.

BARR: It's absolutely bizarre. When you think back though, we haven't had a Supreme Court nominee opportunity for a president in almost a dozen years. So, there's a lot of pent-up emotion. We're just coming off of two very, very emotional decisions on private property rights and on Ten Commandments.

HARRIS: Yes, yes. BARR: And really, I think you have to keep in mind, Tony, that one of the reasons there's so much fever pitch here, there's so much money, because this is a campaign of ideas. It really has very little, ultimately, to do with influencing the president. He's going to do what he's going to decide to do anyway.

HARRIS: He's going to make his decision and you don't think he's going to be influenced one iota by all of this noise?

BARR: I don't think so. The president, this president, is really in the cat bird seat. He's in his second term, he's a lame duck, although not very lame, so far, since he's still in the first half of his second term.

But he really doesn't have the to listen to that. What's going to play itself out in the public arena with all of this money and all of this publicity is an effort by each side to motivate their base for the coming election cycle.

HARRIS: Hey! Might he choose a different candidate today than he might have chosen say, a year ago: We would be coming off the handing over of sovereignty to Iraq, poll numbers were high for the president. And now, you mention the word lame duck, he's in his second term, might he choose a different person now, than he might have a year ago?

BARR: I think you're absolutely correct. I think that what we'll see this time is the president's personal choice. I think he feels he has an opportunity here to make his personal choice and put his personal stamp on the Supreme Court and not so much what an interest group wants.

HARRIS: Well, if the president is going to make this a very personal choice, then that would lead folks to believe it's going to be Attorney General Alberto Gonzales

BARR: I think, if I were a betting man, and I'm not, but if I were a betting man, that's where I would put my money. Not because he'd be my choice or the choice of a lot of us concerned about civil liberties, but because he has the president's heart and soul and vice versa.

HARRIS: Yes. Yes. Here's what the president says about this notion of pressure over this choice, "I feel no pressure except the pressure to put somebody on the bench who will bring dignity to the office, somebody who's got the intellect necessary to do the job, somebody of great integrity and somebody who will faithfully interpret the Constitution and laws of the country.

But -- and you believe that? You believe he's going to make a choice...

BARR: Well, I mean, that's rhetoric that every president has to say. I mean, that means absolutely nothing. The president, I believe, is predisposed to put Mr. Gonzalez forward, the attorney general, because he knows him personally. They have a very long relationship and I think he probably feels, and although presidents have been burned on this before, that he knows this man well enough to know that he will cue to whatever choice the president wants.

HARRIS: A choice before -- quickly, a choice before the August recess?

BARR: I think so.

HARRIS: You think so.

BARR: Yes.

HARRIS: OK. Bob, as always, thank you.

BARR: Thank you, Tony.

HARRIS: Let's get a check of the markets now. To New York and Allan Chernoff -- Allan?

(MARKET UPDATE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: "Now in the News."

A federal prosecutor is demanding that a "Time" magazine reporter testify before a grand jury about the leak of a CIA officer's identity. This despite the fact "Time" has handed over Matthew Cooper's e-mail and documents related to the case. A judge has found Cooper and Judith Miller of the "New York Times," in contempt for refusing to reveal their sources. Both could be jailed as early as tomorrow.

Federal agents are joining the investigation into what is being called a suspicious fire at a Florida clinic that performs abortions. The blaze broke out in West Palm Beach late yesterday. There were no injuries.

The use of methamphetamine is a growing problem that is filling up jails and touching communities large and small across the country. That's the stern conclusion of surveys by the National Association of Counties. One survey of more than 500 counties, found 87 percent have seen an increase in meth-related arrests in the past three years. The group is urging Congress to pass a comprehensive methamphetamine bill.

And Tropical Storm Cindy strengthened today in the Gulf of Mexico and is barring down on land. Cindy has sustained winds of around 60 miles per hour. Officials say Cindy could grow stronger before it hits land late today or tomorrow, but is not expected to become a hurricane. A tropical storm warning is in effect from Intercoastal City, Louisiana, to Destin, Florida.

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