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Shuttle Crew May Need to Repair Discovery; Bolton Takes Back Way to U.N.; Bombing Suspect Confessions to Involvement; Rafael Palmiero Suspended for Steroids

Aired August 01, 2005 - 13:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, HOST: Dangling outside Discovery, will astronauts have to repair their own spacecraft before returning to Earth?
Alleged terrorist talks. A suspect in the London attacks sings like a canary. The revealing tactics and details straight ahead.

And if you want to live longer, well, check your attitude. How about behaving a little sweeter instead of sweating at the gym? We'll have the details on that.

Stung for steroids. A big league slugger benched for apparently juicing up his game.

From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Kyra Phillips. CNN's LIVE FROM starts right now.

Space walk or sit tight? A week before the planned return of Space Shuttle Discovery, NASA is grappling with a couple of pesky gap fillers that may force an unprecedented repair mission, or not.

The shuttlenauts already have two space walks under their belt. The latest today, a seven-hour gyro replacement job outside the International Space Station.

CNN's John Zarrella sets us straight about that and fills in the gaps on the status of the shuttle.

Hi, John.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

Filling in the gaps, boy, that's the truth. I can tell you right now that it's looking increasingly as if the third of the space walks, which would be coming up on Wednesday, part of that third space walk will be dedicated, it appears, not finalized yet, that that may be the direction NASA's leaning in to having one of the astronauts, perhaps Steve Robinson, go beneath the space shuttle on the robotic arm and pull these gap fillers out.

Now these two gap fillers, and that's exactly what they are, they fill the gaps between the thermal blanket, between the thermal tiles beneath the space shuttle. And those, they -- gap fillers are located near the front nose landing gear. And they protrude an inch, 1.1 inch on one of them to 0.6 to 0.9 inches on the second one. Now, what NASA is planning to do, apparently, it's looking that way, is to go down there and either pull them out or file them down and have one of the astronauts do that.

Now, it is something that is still under discussion. Cindy Bagly, who is in charge of the spacewalks on this mission, saying that there's still a lot the teams are looking at before this final decision can be made.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're, working and concentrating on the scheduled EVAs. They are tagging up with us and getting our opinions on where we're going with things. They're evaluating several methods for removing the gap filler or cutting the gap filler. They're evaluating how to get access to the area, which arm to get on and go down there.

And we have works -- plans in the work for a new EVA time line if we need to do that. So we're getting everything staged and ready to go. We're even going to send some information to the crew so they can be looking at that if we end up going in that direction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: Now, the issue, of course, is that with these gap fillers, they change the way the air flows over the shuttle on re- entry. Instead of a smooth flow along the bottom surface, the heat would build up behind where those gap fillers are. And NASA is not sure how that heat would affect tiles behind those gap fillers on re- entry. So the better course may be to go and remove them or file them down.

Now, they've seen this before on the ground when shuttles have returned. The thing about this is, that they've never seen them in orbit before. But now that they have all of these cameras, they were able to spot these gap fillers. And if it turns out that an EVA is easy enough to accomplish in order to remove them or file them down, that is apparently the direction that they will go. We think we may have an announcement on this later this afternoon.

Now part of today's big events was a space walk by the two astronauts, Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson, where they replaced a gyroscope on board the International Space Station. That's the gyroscope right there. Noguchi has it in his hands. There are four on the International Space Station. They need two operational to keep it properly aligned, the attitude to Earth.

That's him carrying the gyroscope there. It's about the size of a washing machine. And on Earth, it would weigh about 600 pounds, Kyra. But of course, up there in the weightlessness of space, it's feather-like.

So that went well, no problems. They replaced it, put in a new gyroscope. So another completed space walk, the second of three and the third one will definitely be the charm, if they go for this unprecedented space walk, where one of the astronauts, again, will dangle on a robot arm beneath the space shuttle and either yank out these gap fillers or file them down. It's going to be quite a day come Wednesday if that's the decision that NASA takes and decides to do on that third space walk -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. John Zarrella, thank you so much.

Well, how do you get to the U.S. ambassador's office at U.N. headquarters? Well, if you're John Bolton, you go right around the U.S. Senate. Having watched his nomination sputter and stall over a litany of controversies, the State Department's former arms control chief today became a recess appointee.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about U.N. reform. So today, I've used my constitutional authority to appoint John Bolton to serve as America's ambassador to the United Nations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Joining us, the fallout and the major Middle Eastern milestones, CNN's Bob Franken at the White House. There's been a lot of talk about John Bolton, whether this is the right fit for him, Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the talk hasn't abated one bit. You heard the president say that he has complete confidence, in response to Democratic charges that this recess appointment would undermine Bolton's credibility.

That has not stopped the Democrats one bit. Senator Edward Kennedy was scathing as any of his fellow party members by saying that this recess appointment is a devious maneuver, to use his words, that evades the constitutional requirement of Senate consent and only further darkens the cloud over Mr. Bolton's credibility at the U.N.

John Bolton certainly has a reputation for being hard charging. A question to White House press secretary Scott McClellan, the delicate atmosphere of the U.N., would he be changing his ways.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Ambassador Bolton is someone who has sometimes used a blunt style, but he is someone who brings passion and experience and a results oriented approach to the position. That's exactly the kind of person we need at the United Nations during this time of war and time of reform.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: So you asked earlier, Kyra, how somebody gets to the United Nations. I thought it was a straight line, where the answer would be practice. In this case, the answer is a recess appointment. PHILLIPS: Bob, you know, I've got to ask you, not to -- not that we're not paying attention to this story. Of course we are, but while I have you, King Fahd, and reaction from the White House. You were there. You've been talking to a number of people. Is that, obviously, a hot topic of conversation today?

FRANKEN: It is. We're waiting to find out who is going to be in the delegation that goes to the funeral in Saudi Arabia tomorrow. We're told it certainly will not include the president. He's going to Crawford, Texas.

We've just gotten from the White House two statements, one in which the president expresses his, quote, deep sadness at the death of King Fahd, and the other one about the coronation of King Abdullah, now King Abdullah, whom the president met as recently as April. The president said that he has offered his congratulations. And going on, he goes to say, "I have spoken today with the new king, and the United States looks forward to continuing the close partnership between our two countries" -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Bob Franken, thank you so much.

I want to talk more about the individual that Bob was talking about, and that, of course, was John Bolton. Our State Department correspondent, Andrea Koppel, takes a closer look at him now and what he believes and why some senators are a bit concerned.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): John Bolton has been downright demonized by Democrats.

SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D), CALIFORNIA: And I think Mr. Bolton needs anger management

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bolton has a reputation for being abusive.

SEN. JOE BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: I'm concerned it will be more like sending a bull into a china shop.

KOPPEL: But just who is the man behind the mustache?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was pleasant. He was always laughing. John was a very energetic, very active, very intelligent, very participatory person in the class.

KOPPEL: Joe Cobol (ph) knew Bolton before the mustache, before peach fuzz, even, when they were both enrolled in Maryland's prestigious McDonough School in the mid-1960s, then an all-boys military academy.

For the brilliant son of a Baltimore City firefighter who devoured books at the public library, a full scholarship to McDonough was Bolton's ticket to a white collar job. His senior yearbook said it all, "Future: foreign service officer." UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From the first week I met him, he was talking about national issues and public policy issues. And it was his milk. It's what he did.

BARRY GOLDWATER, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.

KOPPEL: Bolton led the Students for Barry Goldwater campaign for president in 1964 as a high school sophomore. His passion for Republican politics influenced by his parents.

As associate editor of the school's newspaper, he took on the hottest issues of his time. By his senior year, one editor at the paper wrote that Bolton had "attacked his duties with the fervor of a political fanatic."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of us had political interests. I mean, everybody in the class would talk about it. But what made John unique was that he was very deeply involved in the Republican way of thinking.

KOPPEL: A core belief which seemed to grow more profound during the tumultuous years of the Vietnam War, when Bolton was enrolled at Yale University and Yale Law School.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a perfect example of an individual who started with modest means and became a very successful lawyer, a very talented lawyer.

KOPPEL: Thomas Boyd served as Bolton's deputy at the Justice Department during the Reagan years and considers Bolton a friend.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Republican Party, at least in his view, I suspect, is a party that encourages individual mobility and rewards it. And I think he identifies with that.

KOPPEL: Boyd says the Bolton he knew set high standard but was never a bully.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You had to have your argument together. And if you didn't, he wouldn't lose his temper. At least I never saw any of that, but rather you wouldn't be invited back to engage in another discussion.

KOPPEL: A workaholic known to send e-mails at 4 a.m., Bolton's blue collar roots and hard-working parents taught him to strive for perfection. His recess appointment to the United Nations, where he'll only serve for 18 months, a bittersweet victory.

Andrea Koppel, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Next on LIVE FROM, is America red for a bioterror attack? After the drills and the billions of dollars, critics say we're coming up short.

Also ahead, the new reality for Londoners in the aftermath of terror.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you are now safe for 15 minutes.

PHILLIPS: Survival kits.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I might be a bit more vigilant.

PHILLIPS: And staying alert.

And if you want to live longer, and better, your attitude may be more important than diet and exercise. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta has details.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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PHILLIPS: Fake game, phony claim, failed scheme? Real trouble. Authorities in Rome say that this man, Hamdi Adus Issac, an Ethiopian who lived in Italy before he moved to Britain, claiming to be a Somali refugee named Hussain Osman. Well, there -- it's there that he and at least three other men are believed to have carried out the July 21 attacks that police say could have been as damaging as the bombs of 7/7, had the latter bombs detonated properly.

Britain is requesting extradition now. But Italy has just charged Issac, as well.

CNN's Alessio Vinci has the latest details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The man arrested in Italy and suspected of being one of the four would-be London bombers has been charged in connection with international terrorism and with possessing false documents.

The suspect's lawyer has confirmed to CNN that her client told investigators that he was involved in the July 21 failed attacks, but he claimed the strike was meant to grab attention and not to harm anyone.

Italian police say they arrested a suspect in Rome after tracing calls he made from a cell phone, monitored initially by Scotland Yard, calls he made from Britain to Italy and, police say, to Saudi Arabia. At least one intercept was recorded, and when Italian police compared it to a voice recording provided by British police, they knew they had found the man they wanted.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): we could immediately verify that the voice of the fugitive was compatible with the phone model sent to us by the Metropolitan Police. We were almost completely sure we were in front of the attacker. VINCI: Italian officials say the suspect falsified his name and nationality when he applied for political asylum in Britain years ago. He was born in Ethiopia as Hamdi Issac. But when he arrived in Britain, he used the alias Osman Hussain, claiming to be from Somalia.

Before moving to England, investigators say Hamdi Issac lived in Italy, where two of his brothers still remain. Italian police have detained both of them. One is accused of destroying or hiding documents sought by investigators, but the charge does not involve terrorism.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): we find ourselves confronted with the element that very probably he seems to be part of an impromptu group rather than part of a structured group which is operating on an international scale.

KOPPEL: The court-appointed lawyer defending the would-be London bomber tells CNN his client wants to remain in Italy and will fight extradition on the grounds he will not get a fair trial in Britain.

(on camera) Last week, Italy adopted the so-called European arrest warrant, introduced by the European Union to facilitate the extradition of suspects wanted for serious crimes. This means that Hamdi Issac could be sent to London within the next three months.

Alessio Vinci, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, a lot of developing stories here today. Back at home, we're talking about a baseball superstar, now under suspicion.

Rafael Palmiero, who has sworn under oath that he's never used steroids, is now found in violation of baseball's doping policy.

CNN's Steve Overmyer on the story. And of course, e just found out about this within the past few minutes.

STEVE OVERMYER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Surprising. I mean, there were hints of it, because Jose Canseco mentioned Rafael in his book.

OVERMYER: When Canseco released the book, and he had a few names of players that used steroids, when he dropped the name Rafael Palmiero, that was the name we all kind of scoffed at.

Rafael Palmiero is a guy who's never hit more than 47 home runs, though he's trying to get his 15th straight season of at least 20 home runs. Never been physically a powerful looking guy. He's never been the prototypical steroid user if you look at his arms, you look at his shape and likewise.

But this is what has really shocked the world of baseball, is that Rafael Palmiero has tested, according to Major League Baseball, positive for steroids and will get a 10-day suspension because of it. Now, in retort to that, in remarks prepared for a press conference, Palmiero said he accepts his punishment and could not explain how the steroids got into his body.

He was so convincing, though, Kyra, when he went in front of the congressional hearing on March 17 and said, "I have never used steroids." And that really is -- I think that's why it seems such a surprise today.

PHILLIPS: We actually pulled that tape. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAFAEL PALMIERO, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER: I'll be brief in my remarks today. Let me start by telling you this. I have never used steroids, period. I do not know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never. The reference to me in Mr. Canseco's book is absolutely false. I am against the use of steroids. I don't think athletes should use steroids.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: All right. Now how he can come forward now and say, "I don't know how steroids got into my system"?

OVERMYER: That's a tough way to go. I mean, and right now, a lot of people are wondering exactly what does the future hold for Raphael Palmiero, who by many accounts should be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

I mean, he's had 3,000 hits in his career, which is a benchmark. That is almost a lock to get into the Hall of Fame. As a matter of fact, of the 25 guys who are in the Hall of Fame, all of them that are -- I should say 25 guys that have hit at least 3,000 hits, all of them who have been eligible for the Hall of Fame, got into the Hall of Fame.

Five hundred home run club, as well. All 20 of those guys who are eligible for the Hall of Fame have made it to the Hall of Fame. He's hit 3,000 hits and had 500 home runs, one of only four guys to do it.

So he's clearly in an elite class when it comes to on-field numbers. Now you really have to wonder whether or not his Hall of Fame status and how -- how damaging this is going to be to his Hall of Fame status.

PHILLIPS: So a couple things. Yes, you think of even Barry Bonds being under scrutiny. And what was it, his home run ball was up for a couple hundred thousand dollars. Now it sold for, like, $85,000. I mean, there are records now that will be in question. How talented are these athletes truly?

OVERMYER: Sure. Sure.

PHILLIPS: Now here's my next question. Jose Canseco got a lot of grief for his book. A lot of people say, "I don't know why I was mentioned, why he would say these things. He's a traitor." But now it's interesting to see that some of these names, well, some of this information might be proving true.

OVERMYER: I think a lot of the reason that people were upset at Jose Canseco was not actually -- was the fact that he revealed them, not that it wasn't true. I think there might have been a lot of people that believed that some of these players did use steroids.

But the reason there was such disdain towards Jose Canseco was the fact that -- I guess he opened the doors to the clubhouse and revealed the dirty little secret about baseball or about some players, at least, in baseball.

PHILLIPS: Well, it will be interesting to see if any other names come forward and also how tough MLB will take it.

OVERMYER: So far this is the highest profile. We'll just have to see whether or not, you know, some more high profile players will be out there.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Steve.

OVERMYER: Sure.

PHILLIPS: All right. From sports to weather, perfect transition.

Jacqui Jeras, what's the latest?

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: All right, Jacqui. Thank you.

Straight ahead, London's new reality after the terror bombings. What steps Brits are taking to stay safe after two attacks. Straight ahead on LIVE FROM.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Now in the news, using his presidential power, Mr. Bush makes John Bolton U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Bolton's nomination had been struck in the Senate -- stuck in the Senate, rather, for nearly five months. More on the Bolton appointment in our next hour.

Back in business, perhaps. Iran warns it plans to resume its nuclear activities unless the European Union comes up with a trade and security incentive. Iran, which suspended its program nine months ago, has given the E.U. until the end of today. E.U. officials want another week.

A voice silenced. The Incomparable Hildegarde, who entertained European kings and New York's elite, has died at the age of '99. Liberace once called her perhaps the most famous supper club entertainer who ever lived.

And a TV home page for the Internet generation. That's how former presidential candidate Al Gore envisions his latest enterprise, Current TV. Debuting today, it relies heavily on viewer participation. Gore and his investors see it as a sounding board for young people.

(STOCK REPORT)

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