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CNN Live Today
Many Mourners Blame Syria for the Slaying of Rafik Hariri
Aired February 16, 2005 - 10:00 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: We are out of time. Let's head on down south. Daryn Kagan, Rick Sanchez, they're at the CNN Center and going to take you through the next few hours on CNN LIVE TODAY.
Hey, guys. Good morning.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: We are indeed. Thanks guys.
And we're going to be showing most of our viewers how government works. Because there are interesting committee hearings taking place today with some real top brass being questioned or grilled in some cases in front of them.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Yes. Before peoples' eyes glaze over thinking about hearings and stuff, we're going to put it in context. And tell you why it's interesting and why it's important to you.
Right now, let's look at what's happening now in the news.
We've been following a developing story this hour on a large blast in southwestern Iran, several miles from a nuclear power plant. The cause is not known. Witnesses first claimed a missile had been fired from a passing plane. State television later said the explosion could have been caused by a falling aircraft fuel tank.
In Iraq, insurgents have released a videotape of an Italian video journalist begging for her life. Giuliani Sgrena, a reporter for a Rome based communist newspaper, "Il Manifesto" was snatched off a Baghdad street nearly two weeks ago. The tape release comes as Italy's parliament is to vote today on its deployment of troops in Iraq.
In Lebanon, an outpouring of grief and frustration as thousands converge on the funeral procession of Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister who was assassinated on Monday. Many also unleashed angry accusations against Syria, which expects a very strong political and military influence in Lebanon.
Arthritis drugs get a closer examination today, as two FDA panels scrutinize recent health concerns surrounding popular painkillers. Vioxx has already been pulled from the market. And users of Celebrex and Bextra are urged to use caution and follow instructions. The drugs are in Class Cox-2 inhibitors. And some studies suggest they could raise blood pressure.
Good morning to you on this Wednesday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan. SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez. Two big topics on Capitol Hill this morning and they involve your security and money. Now, this is some important stuff. The venue, Capitol Hill where some of the biggest names in U.S. government are going to be grilled by lawmakers.
First up, CIA director Porter Goss, he's going to be testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee. We've got a shot of that? Yes, we do. Upper right. He's going to be asked about the vacant intelligence position, asked about Iran, asked about Iraq. Expect him to be asked about North Korea.
Then Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is going to be addressing the House Armed Services Committee. He's going to be talking about the Pentagon budget. But as usual with Mr. Rumsfeld, expect a bevy of excitement.
Also, to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is going to be addressing committees in both the House and the Senate. She is there to talk about her budget. Will likely be asked about Syria and some of the developments that have already taken place on that this morning.
And then finally, Fed Chair Alan Greenspan, he's going to address the Senate Finance Committee. Investors are going to want to know about interest rates. And politicians on both sides are going to want to hear what he has to say about the Bush budget and about some of the Social Security reforms that have been proposed.
So here's what we're going to try and do for you this morning. We're going to help you follow these proceedings and look for those moments that are particularly news worthy. And then when necessary we will dip in. In fact, let's do that right now. Let's take you to these live pictures from the hearing room, where Porter Goss, as aforementioned, and some other top intelligence officials are going to be questioned on a number of issues.
Let's start with CNN national security correspondent David Ensor who is going to be following this for us.
David, a couple quick questions. First of all, with developments happening seemingly so fast and furious in Iran and Syria, and in Iraq, do we expect the director to explain some U.S. positions on these already?
DAVID ENSOR, NAT'L. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: He's going to get questioned about those hot spots, Rick. There's no question about that. His aides have said he wants to tell the Congress quite a bit about what the CIA knows. But he wants to do it behind closed doors. In the open session he may not reveal much.
Clearly he'll be talking about the new efforts the CIA is making right now to improve its intelligence on weapons of mass destruction in Iran and Iran generally. There is a debate within the intelligence community over how many nuclear weapons -- nuclear weapons the North Koreans may have. That probably will be gone over. Some suggest as many as 15. And of course, Syria as you mentioned, the CIA like others are trying to figure out who killed former Prime Minister Hariri. So there's a lot of hot spots.
SANCHEZ: Yes. In fact, the question this morning about whether or not the United States needs to be asking Syrians simply just to pull out of that occupation altogether.
Let me ask you about something else because you mentioned the word "debate." There's been some debate about how the United States is handling some of its detainees, especially those who've been sent to third countries for interrogations. Any possibility, as "The New York Times" seems to imply, that there may be a change on U.S. policy on that?
ENSOR: Well, I can tell you that people at the CIA are profoundly uncomfortable with the position they find themselves in. They want to know what the end game is for prisoners, like Khalid Sheik Mohammed, Abu Zubayda, Ramzi bin al Shibh and other senior al Qaeda prisoners who are being held at unknown locations around the world in CIA hands. Clearly, some CIA officials are not comfortable with running a prison operation in an open-ended way.
"The New York Times" reports this morning that CIA lawyers are unhappy that the Bush administration repudiated in August 2002 legal opinion, regarding the use of torture or stress techniques in interrogation. So that's another one to watch, Rick.
SANCHEZ: David Ensor, our CNN security correspondent, is going to be following that for us. And certainly, David, as things progress, we may be checking back with you -- Daryn.
KAGAN: News from the United Nations, a new report from the U.N. suggesting that current efforts to fight terrorist may not be enough. Report says that sanctions against al Qaeda and the Taliban have had limited effect on their operations. And they say it's only a matter of time before an attack happens. The report says al Qaeda still has access to cash and materials for bombs, and that its leaders are even more elusive now than before.
Another new report saying billions of taxpayer money could be saved with changes in airport security. The GAO report calls for removing explosion detection machines in airport lobbies. The machines would then be integrated into baggage conveyor systems. The government report says that will greatly reduce the number of TSA workers needed to screen the checked bags.
SANCHEZ: Here's one of the other things we're going to be checking today, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff heads to his new office today. The Senate voted 98 to nothing Tuesday to confirm the appellate judge. Chertoff was then sworn in at a White House ceremony and his nomination cleared a Senate panel last week. Chertoff led the Justice Department's Criminal Division from 2001 to 2003 and helped create the Patriot Act.
Stay tuned to CNN day and night. Sorry. I was getting some information that we might do something real quick here. Stay tuned to CNN day and night about reliable sources about your security.
KAGAN: And what we're going to do is check in with the White House. The U.S. stopped short of implicating Syria in Rafik Hariri's assassination. But the American ambassador to Syria has been recalled to Washington for what they're calling consultations.
Our Suzanne Malveaux is at the White House this morning.
Suzanne, good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. U.S. officials are telling us that whether or not Syria is responsible for this assassination, it certainly gives the U.S. an opportunity to express its displeasure. It believes, of course, that Syria has been involved in supporting Hamas, as well as providing a safe haven for Iraqi insurgents, and has not been cooperating in Israeli/Palestinian peace processes.
Now, so far what has happened, the U.S. decided to recall its U.S. ambassador to Syria. Last year, President Bush, of course, imposed sanctions on the country. The next steps that the Bush administration is now considering is imposing additional economic sanctions. Perhaps even including a ban on Syrian exports to the United States. Perhaps even saying that they would withdraw the U.S. ambassador on an indefinite basis.
Now, the U.S. envoy to the Middle East William Burns earlier today met with the Lebanese foreign minister and reiterated the White House position.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILLIAM BURNS, ASSIST. SECRETARY OF STATE, MIDDLE EAST: Mr. Hariri's death should give; in fact, it must give renewed impetus to achieving a free, independent and sovereign Lebanon. And what that means is the immediate and complete implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559. And what that means is the complete and immediate withdrawal by Syria of all of its forces in Lebanon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now of course, the other part of the U.S. strategy is to isolate Syria as much as possible. And that means winning allies. This is somewhat more difficult for the administration. The European Union saying they don't believe that if Syria does not withdraw its troops necessarily, that organization should change the relationship with Syria.
Also the U.N. Security Council, of course, saying very stark terms that they believe they condemn the assassination. And they believe that Lebanon should remain sovereign. But at the same time, not mentioning specifically Syria by name. That a disappointment for the United States, as well, with the French, who are working together on that effort.
Daryn, I can tell you that's one of the top priorities that the president is going to have when he sits down face to face with French President Jacques Chirac next week in his Europe trip -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Something they have in common, the friendship with Hariri. Thank you for that Suzanne Malveaux.
SANCHEZ: Taking you to Lebanon now. A huge outpouring of grief for a legendary political figure there. Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was buried today, two days after being assassinated in a massive bomb blast.
CNN's Ben Wedeman has been covering the funeral. He joins us from Beirut.
I understand hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets this morning, Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF: That's right, Rick. At least 100,000 people converged on this square behind me, Martyr's Square; not only coming from west Beirut but Christian east Beirut as well.
And I can tell you I was here in Lebanon in 1975 when the civil war broke out. And this area was a battleground. It was where most of the fighting or a lot of the fighting took place between Christians and Muslims.
But today, we saw both sides of Beirut coming together to pay their respects for a man who is widely credited with spearheading the reconstruction of this once battered capitol.
And of course, now Beirut is very much come back to life. We have seen major parts of the city have been reconstructed. Reconstructed largely due to the efforts of Rafik al Hariri.
Now, what is significant about this funeral today was the absence of Lebanese government officials. And this was at the wish, the request of the Hariri family. The Lebanese government had in fact, offered to host a state funeral for Hariri.
But the family, angry with what they believe is the inability of the pro-Syrian Lebanese government to maintain security and the suspicion of many people here that Syria was, in fact, behind the killing of Rafik Hariri, for that reason they turned down that request. And held basically a very public but unofficial funeral.
I had a chance to go down in the crowd and speak to many people here. Many of them were chanting for Syria to leave -- Syrian forces to pull out of Lebanon immediately. And of course, that is the same thing that the U.N. Security Council expressed, the same desire expressed by the U.N. Security Council in Resolution 1559, as mentioned by Assistant Secretary of State William Burns.
Now, there's no indication on the ground, however, that Syria has any intention of pulling out or obeying the Security Council resolution. There's still around 14,000 Syrian troops on the ground in Lebanon, in addition to an unknown, but apparently large number of Syrian intelligence operatives-- Rick. SANCHEZ: We'll just have to see how this one plays out. Ben Wedeman, reporting to us from Lebanon. We thank you Ben -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Let's turn to another U.S. concern in the Middle East, Iran. The head of the nuclear watchdog agency says that White House policies on both Iran and North Korea are inconsistent. He gave an interview to "The Washington Post," we are talking about Mohammed el Baradei.
He said without more diplomacy confrontation could increase. "North Korea and Iran are still the two 800-pound gorillas in the room and not much is happening." That is a quote from el Baradei from that article. He tells "The Post" that there are no signs that Iran is working to build a nuclear bomb. He says, quote, "If I look at the big picture, there is no enrichment in Iran. And this is quite satisfactory. And I hope it keeps it this way until we reach an agreement."
SANCHEZ: We're going to be telling you about a murder mystery with several missing piece, and one Kansas television anchor is now trying to link all of these together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Murderers like this don't happen in Wichita, Kansas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Still to come, the BTK killer has apparently been a faithful viewer of this man for years. We're going to tell you why.
KAGAN: plus, it's about that time of year most people dread. But we have tips that might have Uncle Sam owing you. That's a nice change.
SANCHEZ: And you may want to wait before you take another sip of your morning coffee. We're going to tell you what's in that cup of jo.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Sri Lanka, a story that we have been following for you. A reunion nearly two months in the making. The once anonymous Baby 81 now has his parents and his name back. Nine couples had claimed him as their lost child in the chaotic wake of the tsunami. Only one submitted to the DNA test that confirmed their parentage. The infant was found covered with mud on a beach littered with bodies and debris. Now he's back with mom and dad.
KAGAN: Meanwhile, the scientific community may inch towards a system that could guard against a similar tsunami disaster. Representatives from more than 60 nations are taking part in a Global Earth Observation Summit. It's happening in Brussels, Belgium. One item is the launch of a 10-year plan that will create a scientific network intended to predict potential weather disasters, and trends as well. Supporters say harnessing that science could provide the warning that could have saved tens of thousands of lives in the December tsunami.
SANCHEZ: It is hump day. Time to start trying to find out what the rest of the week will bring us. And I guess, what the week -- what the day is bringing us as far as weather.
(WEATHER REPORT)
SANCHEZ: What's in that jolt of java that we drink every morning? Well, apparently more than just cream and sugar.
KAGAN: And in fact, the real benefit may be in the beans. We'll explain.
Coming up next, Gerri Willis is along as well. She's talking about taxes.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, here is a big caffeine buzz kill. It's time to talk taxes. Why you might want to file earlier, when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Well, death and taxes may be the only certainties in life. But let's not forget that hope, too, springs eternal.
And with that in mind CNN's personal finance editor Gerri Willis joins us with her "Top Five Tips" on how to minimize the tax bite this filing season. How lovely. Good morning, Gerri.
WILLIS: Hey, Daryn. Good to see you. Tip No. 1, be an early bird. You know, 80 percent of Americans are going to get some kind of tax refund. Why not get it now instead of waiting? You don't have to file on April 15. That's only the deadline. Keep in mind that you want to do it earlier and you may get the advantage of extra deductions that are out there.
The kinds of people that will benefit is if you gave to tsunami relief efforts in January, for example. But lots of beneficiaries here: military families, hybrid car owners, you definitely want to check it out.
KAGAN: For some help, you might want to go online?
WILLIS: That's right. E-filling is a very big thing. Even better this year than before because more people will be able to e- file for free. You want to go to the IRS's website, irs.gov/efile to find out more. But understand this, if you e-file, you eliminate the possibility of math errors because the software figures it out for you. And the IRS does not make mistakes because they are not manually inputting data. So there is a big advantages to file early.
KAGAN: Something you have not been able to do in 10 years, deduct a big number.
WILLIS: That's right. So you're a shopping addict maybe? I mean I don't know, Daryn, but some people are. And if you spend a lot of money in sales income tax, you're going to have the option of deducting that instead of the state income tax? It's very important to pay attention to, particularly if you live in a state where there is no state income tax. You'll suddenly be able to deduct that state sales tax instead.
Some states where people will really be impacted here: Florida, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, Washington. Check it out because this could save you a lot of money.
KAGAN: What is the alternative minimum tax? And how does that work?
WILLIS: This is a very scary thing. The alternative minimum tax is an entirely separate tax system from what the IRS does. And you only pay AMT if it's more than your IRS bill. Now, typically an accountant will run the numbers for you. But if you are using the software programs this year, they will also run that calculation as well. You want to make sure you are not having to pay that, because you are in big trouble if you pay the wrong tax.
KAGAN: And also can be in big trouble if you don't pay attention to the details.
WILLIS: Absolutely. You know, Daryn, the big mistakes people make with their filing, they don't sign their return. That's a very big mistake. There are math errors. Maybe you forget to attach your W2. Simple stuff. Make sure you have got all the bases; that you dot your I's, you cross you T's so you can get that refund back fast.
KAGAN: All right. Gerri, with three I's to dot. Thank you so much.
WILLIS: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: We have been monitoring new CIA director Porter Goss. He has been speaking at the Senate Intelligence Committee, where moments ago he said look, we do not make policy at the CIA. We do not wage war at the CIA. And he went on to say, "I'm very emphatic about that." Mr. Goss is going to be fielding questions as well about the intelligence position, Iraq, Iran, North Korea. Some critics are saying that he is politicizing the agency himself too much, by surrounding himself with Republican advisories from years in Congress.
Do we want to take a listen to this? Let's go ahead and dip in then, see where Mr. Goss is at this point in his statement. Let's do that.
PORTER GOSS, CIA DIRECTOR: Our enemies are also tuning in. In open session, I feel that I will and must be very prudent in my remarks as DCI.
Mr. Chairman on the subject of terrorism. Defeating terrorism must remain one of our intelligence community's core objectives and it will. And widely dispersed terrorist networks will present one of the most serious challenges to the U.S. national security interest at home and abroad in the coming year. That's not startling news but it's important.
In the past year aggressive measures by intelligence, law enforcement, defense and Homeland Security communities, along with our key international partners have in fact, dealt serious blows to al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations and individuals. Despite these successes, however, the terrorist threat to the U.S. and the homeland and abroad endures.
I'll make four points: al Qaeda is intent on finding ways to circumvent U.S. security enhancements to strike Americans in the homeland, one; No. 2, it may be only a matter of time before al Qaeda or other group attempts to use chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons. We must focus on that.
Three: al Qaeda is only one facet of the threat from a broader Sunni Jihadist movement. And four: the Iraq conflict, while not a cause of extremism, has become a cause for extremists.
We know from experience that al Qaeda is a patient, persistent, imaginative, adaptive and dangerous opponent. But it is vulnerable and displaced. We and other allies have hit it hard. Jihadists religious leaders preach millennial, aberrational visions of some kind of a fight for Islam's survival. Sometimes they argue that the struggle justifies the indiscriminate killing of civilians, even with chemical biological, radiological and nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, they have a small audience.
Our pursuit of al Qaeda and its most senior leaders, including bin Laden and his deputy al Zarqawi, is intense. However, their capture alone would not be enough to eliminate the terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland or interest overseas. Often influenced by Al Qaeda's ideology, members of a broader movement have an ability to plan and conduct operations. We saw this last March in the railway attacks in Madrid, conducted by local Sunni extremists.
Other regional groups connected to al Qaeda or acting on their own also continue to pose a significant threat. In Pakistan terrorist elements remain committed to attacking U.S. targets. In Saudi Arabia, remnants of the Saudi Al Qaeda networks continue to attack U.S. interests in the region.
In Central Asia, the Islamic Jihad group, a splinter group for the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, has become a more virulent threat to U.S. interests and local government there's. Last spring the group used female operatives in a series of bombings in Uzbekistan, as you know.
In Southeast Asia, the Jemaah Islamiyah continues to pose a threat to U.S. and Western interests in Indonesia and the Philippines, where JI is colluding with the Abu Sayyaf group and possibly the MILF group as well. In Europe, Islamic extremists continue to plan and cause attacks against U.S. and local interests. Some that may cause significant casualties. In 2004, British authorities dismantled an al Qaeda cell, much reported. And in the Netherlands, an extremist brutally killed a prominent Dutch citizen; not as widely reported.
Islamic extremists are exploiting the Iraqi conflict to recruit new anti-U.S. Jihadists. Those Jihadists who survive will leave Iraq experienced and focused on acts of urban terrorism. They represent a potential pool of contacts to build transnational terror cells, groups and networks in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other countries.
Zarqawi has sought to bring about the final victory of Islam over the West in his version of it. And he hopes to establish a safe haven in Iraq from which his group could operate against the, quote, "infidel Western nations" the Apostate Muslim Governments. Other groups spanning
SANCHEZ: Sri Lanka, a story that we have been following for you. A reunion nearly two months in the making. The once anonymous Baby 81 now has his parents and his name back. Nine couples had claimed him as their lost child in the chaotic wake of the tsunami. Only one submitted to the DNA test that confirmed their parentage. The infant was found covered with mud on a beach littered with bodies and debris. Now he's back with mom and dad.
KAGAN: Meanwhile, the scientific community may inch towards a system that could guard against a similar tsunami disaster. Representatives from more than 60 nations are taking part in a Global Earth Observation Summit. It's happening in Brussels, Belgium. One item is the launch of a 10-year plan that will create a scientific network intended to predict potential weather disasters, and trends as well. Supporters say harnessing that science could provide the warning that could have saved tens of thousands of lives in the December tsunami.
SANCHEZ: It is hump day. Time to start trying to find out what the rest of the week will bring us. And I guess, what the week -- what the day is bringing us as far as weather.
(WEATHER REPORT)
SANCHEZ: What's in that jolt of java that we drink every morning? Well, apparently more than just cream and sugar.
KAGAN: And in fact, the real benefit may be in the beans. We'll explain.
Coming up next, Gerri Willis is along as well. She's talking about taxes.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, here is a big caffeine buzz kill. It's time to talk taxes. Why you might want to file earlier, when CNN LIVE TODAY continues. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Well, death and taxes may be the only certainties in life. But let's not forget that hope, too, springs eternal.
And with that in mind CNN's personal finance editor Gerri Willis joins us with her "Top Five Tips" on how to minimize the tax bite this filing season. How lovely. Good morning, Gerri.
WILLIS: Hey, Daryn. Good to see you. Tip No. 1, be an early bird. You know, 80 percent of Americans are going to get some kind of tax refund. Why not get it now instead of waiting? You don't have to file on April 15. That's only the deadline. Keep in mind that you want to do it earlier and you may get the advantage of extra deductions that are out there.
The kinds of people that will benefit is if you gave to tsunami relief efforts in January, for example. But lots of beneficiaries here: military families, hybrid car owners, you definitely want to check it out.
KAGAN: For some help, you might want to go online?
WILLIS: That's right. E-filling is a very big thing. Even better this year than before because more people will be able to e- file for free. You want to go to the IRS's website, irs.gov/efile to find out more. But understand this, if you e-file, you eliminate the possibility of math errors because the software figures it out for you. And the IRS does not make mistakes because they are not manually inputting data. So there is a big advantages to file early.
KAGAN: Something you have not been able to do in 10 years, deduct a big number.
WILLIS: That's right. So you're a shopping addict maybe? I mean I don't know, Daryn, but some people are. And if you spend a lot of money in sales income tax, you're going to have the option of deducting that instead of the state income tax? It's very important to pay attention to, particularly if you live in a state where there is no state income tax. You'll suddenly be able to deduct that state sales tax instead.
Some states where people will really be impacted here: Florida, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, Washington. Check it out because this could save you a lot of money.
KAGAN: What is the alternative minimum tax? And how does that work?
WILLIS: This is a very scary thing. The alternative minimum tax is an entirely separate tax system from what the IRS does. And you only pay AMT if it's more than your IRS bill. Now, typically an accountant will run the numbers for you. But if you are using the software programs this year, they will also run that calculation as well. You want to make sure you are not having to pay that, because you are in big trouble if you pay the wrong tax. KAGAN: And also can be in big trouble if you don't pay attention to the details.
WILLIS: Absolutely. You know, Daryn, the big mistakes people make with their filing, they don't sign their return. That's a very big mistake. There are math errors. Maybe you forget to attach your W2. Simple stuff. Make sure you have got all the bases; that you dot your I's, you cross you T's so you can get that refund back fast.
KAGAN: All right. Gerri, with three I's to dot. Thank you so much.
WILLIS: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: We have been monitoring new CIA director Porter Goss. He has been speaking at the Senate Intelligence Committee, where moments ago he said look, we do not make policy at the CIA. We do not wage war at the CIA. And he went on to say, "I'm very emphatic about that." Mr. Goss is going to be fielding questions as well about the intelligence position, Iraq, Iran, North Korea. Some critics are saying that he is politicizing the agency himself too much, by surrounding himself with Republican advisories from years in Congress.
Do we want to take a listen to this? Let's go ahead and dip in then, see where Mr. Goss is at this point in his statement. Let's do that.
PORTER GOSS, CIA DIRECTOR: Our enemies are also tuning in. In open session, I feel that I will and must be very prudent in my remarks as DCI.
Mr. Chairman on the subject of terrorism. Defeating terrorism must remain one of our intelligence community's core objectives and it will. And widely dispersed terrorist networks will present one of the most serious challenges to the U.S. national security interest at home and abroad in the coming year. That's not startling news but it's important.
In the past year aggressive measures by intelligence, law enforcement, defense and Homeland Security communities, along with our key international partners have in fact, dealt serious blows to al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations and individuals. Despite these successes, however, the terrorist threat to the U.S. and the homeland and abroad endures.
I'll make four points: al Qaeda is intent on finding ways to circumvent U.S. security enhancements to strike Americans in the homeland, one; No. 2, it may be only a matter of time before al Qaeda or other group attempts to use chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons. We must focus on that.
Three: al Qaeda is only one facet of the threat from a broader Sunni Jihadist movement. And four: the Iraq conflict, while not a cause of extremism, has become a cause for extremists.
We know from experience that al Qaeda is a patient, persistent, imaginative, adaptive and dangerous opponent. But it is vulnerable and displaced. We and other allies have hit it hard. Jihadists religious leaders preach millennial, aberrational visions of some kind of a fight for Islam's survival. Sometimes they argue that the struggle justifies the indiscriminate killing of civilians, even with chemical biological, radiological and nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, they have a small audience.
Our pursuit of al Qaeda and its most senior leaders, including bin Laden and his deputy al Zarqawi, is intense. However, their capture alone would not be enough to eliminate the terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland or interest overseas. Often influenced by Al Qaeda's ideology, members of a broader movement have an ability to plan and conduct operations. We saw this last March in the railway attacks in Madrid, conducted by local Sunni extremists.
Other regional groups connected to al Qaeda or acting on their own also continue to pose a significant threat. In Pakistan terrorist elements remain committed to attacking U.S. targets. In Saudi Arabia, remnants of the Saudi Al Qaeda networks continue to attack U.S. interests in the region.
In Central Asia, the Islamic Jihad group, a splinter group for the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, has become a more virulent threat to U.S. interests and local government there's. Last spring the group used female operatives in a series of bombings in Uzbekistan, as you know.
In Southeast Asia, the Jemaah Islamiyah continues to pose a threat to U.S. and Western interests in Indonesia and the Philippines, where JI is colluding with the Abu Sayyaf group and possibly the MILF group as well.
In Europe, Islamic extremists continue to plan and cause attacks against U.S. and local interests. Some that may cause significant casualties. In 2004, British authorities dismantled an al Qaeda cell, much reported. And in the Netherlands, an extremist brutally killed a prominent Dutch citizen; not as widely reported.
Islamic extremists are exploiting the Iraqi conflict to recruit new anti-U.S. Jihadists. Those Jihadists who survive will leave Iraq experienced and focused on acts of urban terrorism. They represent a potential pool of contacts to build transnational terror cells, groups and networks in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other countries.
Zarqawi has sought to bring about the final victory of Islam over the West in his version of it. And he hopes to establish a safe haven in Iraq from which his group could operate against the, quote, "infidel Western nations" the Apostate Muslim Governments. Other groups spanning the globe also pose persistent and serious threats to U.S. and Western interests. Hezbollah's main focus remains Israel, but it could conduct lethal attacks against U.S. interests quickly upon a decision to do so. It has that capability, we estimate.
Palestinian terrorists organizations have apparently refrained from directly targeting U.S. or Western interests in their opposition to Mideast peace initiatives, but they do pose an ongoing risk to U.S. citizens who could be killed or wounded in attacks intended to strike Israeli interests.
Extremist groups in Latin America are still a concern, with the FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Force of Colombia, producing capability and clear intent to threaten U.S. interests in that region. The horn of Africa, the Sahel (ph), the Magreb (ph), the LaVant (ph), the Gulf states are all areas where pop-up terrorist activities can be expected and needs to be monitored and dealt with.
SANCHEZ: Monitored and dealt with says CIA director Porter Goss referring to the threat of terrorism globally. He says even if we did capture Osama bin Laden and his lieutenant, Zawahiri, there would still be a lot of terrorism to contend with because so many organizations have literally become more organized in recent years, and he mentioned Spain and the attack there on the railroad tracks as one of the examples of that.
We'll be dipping in and monitoring Porter Goss and some of the other high-profile names in Washington who are standing before Senate committees today and House Committees as well, for that matter.
So you can stay tuned to CNN day and night for reliable stories as well about your security.
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Aired February 16, 2005 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: We are out of time. Let's head on down south. Daryn Kagan, Rick Sanchez, they're at the CNN Center and going to take you through the next few hours on CNN LIVE TODAY.
Hey, guys. Good morning.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: We are indeed. Thanks guys.
And we're going to be showing most of our viewers how government works. Because there are interesting committee hearings taking place today with some real top brass being questioned or grilled in some cases in front of them.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Yes. Before peoples' eyes glaze over thinking about hearings and stuff, we're going to put it in context. And tell you why it's interesting and why it's important to you.
Right now, let's look at what's happening now in the news.
We've been following a developing story this hour on a large blast in southwestern Iran, several miles from a nuclear power plant. The cause is not known. Witnesses first claimed a missile had been fired from a passing plane. State television later said the explosion could have been caused by a falling aircraft fuel tank.
In Iraq, insurgents have released a videotape of an Italian video journalist begging for her life. Giuliani Sgrena, a reporter for a Rome based communist newspaper, "Il Manifesto" was snatched off a Baghdad street nearly two weeks ago. The tape release comes as Italy's parliament is to vote today on its deployment of troops in Iraq.
In Lebanon, an outpouring of grief and frustration as thousands converge on the funeral procession of Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister who was assassinated on Monday. Many also unleashed angry accusations against Syria, which expects a very strong political and military influence in Lebanon.
Arthritis drugs get a closer examination today, as two FDA panels scrutinize recent health concerns surrounding popular painkillers. Vioxx has already been pulled from the market. And users of Celebrex and Bextra are urged to use caution and follow instructions. The drugs are in Class Cox-2 inhibitors. And some studies suggest they could raise blood pressure.
Good morning to you on this Wednesday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan. SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez. Two big topics on Capitol Hill this morning and they involve your security and money. Now, this is some important stuff. The venue, Capitol Hill where some of the biggest names in U.S. government are going to be grilled by lawmakers.
First up, CIA director Porter Goss, he's going to be testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee. We've got a shot of that? Yes, we do. Upper right. He's going to be asked about the vacant intelligence position, asked about Iran, asked about Iraq. Expect him to be asked about North Korea.
Then Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is going to be addressing the House Armed Services Committee. He's going to be talking about the Pentagon budget. But as usual with Mr. Rumsfeld, expect a bevy of excitement.
Also, to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is going to be addressing committees in both the House and the Senate. She is there to talk about her budget. Will likely be asked about Syria and some of the developments that have already taken place on that this morning.
And then finally, Fed Chair Alan Greenspan, he's going to address the Senate Finance Committee. Investors are going to want to know about interest rates. And politicians on both sides are going to want to hear what he has to say about the Bush budget and about some of the Social Security reforms that have been proposed.
So here's what we're going to try and do for you this morning. We're going to help you follow these proceedings and look for those moments that are particularly news worthy. And then when necessary we will dip in. In fact, let's do that right now. Let's take you to these live pictures from the hearing room, where Porter Goss, as aforementioned, and some other top intelligence officials are going to be questioned on a number of issues.
Let's start with CNN national security correspondent David Ensor who is going to be following this for us.
David, a couple quick questions. First of all, with developments happening seemingly so fast and furious in Iran and Syria, and in Iraq, do we expect the director to explain some U.S. positions on these already?
DAVID ENSOR, NAT'L. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: He's going to get questioned about those hot spots, Rick. There's no question about that. His aides have said he wants to tell the Congress quite a bit about what the CIA knows. But he wants to do it behind closed doors. In the open session he may not reveal much.
Clearly he'll be talking about the new efforts the CIA is making right now to improve its intelligence on weapons of mass destruction in Iran and Iran generally. There is a debate within the intelligence community over how many nuclear weapons -- nuclear weapons the North Koreans may have. That probably will be gone over. Some suggest as many as 15. And of course, Syria as you mentioned, the CIA like others are trying to figure out who killed former Prime Minister Hariri. So there's a lot of hot spots.
SANCHEZ: Yes. In fact, the question this morning about whether or not the United States needs to be asking Syrians simply just to pull out of that occupation altogether.
Let me ask you about something else because you mentioned the word "debate." There's been some debate about how the United States is handling some of its detainees, especially those who've been sent to third countries for interrogations. Any possibility, as "The New York Times" seems to imply, that there may be a change on U.S. policy on that?
ENSOR: Well, I can tell you that people at the CIA are profoundly uncomfortable with the position they find themselves in. They want to know what the end game is for prisoners, like Khalid Sheik Mohammed, Abu Zubayda, Ramzi bin al Shibh and other senior al Qaeda prisoners who are being held at unknown locations around the world in CIA hands. Clearly, some CIA officials are not comfortable with running a prison operation in an open-ended way.
"The New York Times" reports this morning that CIA lawyers are unhappy that the Bush administration repudiated in August 2002 legal opinion, regarding the use of torture or stress techniques in interrogation. So that's another one to watch, Rick.
SANCHEZ: David Ensor, our CNN security correspondent, is going to be following that for us. And certainly, David, as things progress, we may be checking back with you -- Daryn.
KAGAN: News from the United Nations, a new report from the U.N. suggesting that current efforts to fight terrorist may not be enough. Report says that sanctions against al Qaeda and the Taliban have had limited effect on their operations. And they say it's only a matter of time before an attack happens. The report says al Qaeda still has access to cash and materials for bombs, and that its leaders are even more elusive now than before.
Another new report saying billions of taxpayer money could be saved with changes in airport security. The GAO report calls for removing explosion detection machines in airport lobbies. The machines would then be integrated into baggage conveyor systems. The government report says that will greatly reduce the number of TSA workers needed to screen the checked bags.
SANCHEZ: Here's one of the other things we're going to be checking today, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff heads to his new office today. The Senate voted 98 to nothing Tuesday to confirm the appellate judge. Chertoff was then sworn in at a White House ceremony and his nomination cleared a Senate panel last week. Chertoff led the Justice Department's Criminal Division from 2001 to 2003 and helped create the Patriot Act.
Stay tuned to CNN day and night. Sorry. I was getting some information that we might do something real quick here. Stay tuned to CNN day and night about reliable sources about your security.
KAGAN: And what we're going to do is check in with the White House. The U.S. stopped short of implicating Syria in Rafik Hariri's assassination. But the American ambassador to Syria has been recalled to Washington for what they're calling consultations.
Our Suzanne Malveaux is at the White House this morning.
Suzanne, good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. U.S. officials are telling us that whether or not Syria is responsible for this assassination, it certainly gives the U.S. an opportunity to express its displeasure. It believes, of course, that Syria has been involved in supporting Hamas, as well as providing a safe haven for Iraqi insurgents, and has not been cooperating in Israeli/Palestinian peace processes.
Now, so far what has happened, the U.S. decided to recall its U.S. ambassador to Syria. Last year, President Bush, of course, imposed sanctions on the country. The next steps that the Bush administration is now considering is imposing additional economic sanctions. Perhaps even including a ban on Syrian exports to the United States. Perhaps even saying that they would withdraw the U.S. ambassador on an indefinite basis.
Now, the U.S. envoy to the Middle East William Burns earlier today met with the Lebanese foreign minister and reiterated the White House position.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILLIAM BURNS, ASSIST. SECRETARY OF STATE, MIDDLE EAST: Mr. Hariri's death should give; in fact, it must give renewed impetus to achieving a free, independent and sovereign Lebanon. And what that means is the immediate and complete implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559. And what that means is the complete and immediate withdrawal by Syria of all of its forces in Lebanon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now of course, the other part of the U.S. strategy is to isolate Syria as much as possible. And that means winning allies. This is somewhat more difficult for the administration. The European Union saying they don't believe that if Syria does not withdraw its troops necessarily, that organization should change the relationship with Syria.
Also the U.N. Security Council, of course, saying very stark terms that they believe they condemn the assassination. And they believe that Lebanon should remain sovereign. But at the same time, not mentioning specifically Syria by name. That a disappointment for the United States, as well, with the French, who are working together on that effort.
Daryn, I can tell you that's one of the top priorities that the president is going to have when he sits down face to face with French President Jacques Chirac next week in his Europe trip -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Something they have in common, the friendship with Hariri. Thank you for that Suzanne Malveaux.
SANCHEZ: Taking you to Lebanon now. A huge outpouring of grief for a legendary political figure there. Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was buried today, two days after being assassinated in a massive bomb blast.
CNN's Ben Wedeman has been covering the funeral. He joins us from Beirut.
I understand hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets this morning, Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF: That's right, Rick. At least 100,000 people converged on this square behind me, Martyr's Square; not only coming from west Beirut but Christian east Beirut as well.
And I can tell you I was here in Lebanon in 1975 when the civil war broke out. And this area was a battleground. It was where most of the fighting or a lot of the fighting took place between Christians and Muslims.
But today, we saw both sides of Beirut coming together to pay their respects for a man who is widely credited with spearheading the reconstruction of this once battered capitol.
And of course, now Beirut is very much come back to life. We have seen major parts of the city have been reconstructed. Reconstructed largely due to the efforts of Rafik al Hariri.
Now, what is significant about this funeral today was the absence of Lebanese government officials. And this was at the wish, the request of the Hariri family. The Lebanese government had in fact, offered to host a state funeral for Hariri.
But the family, angry with what they believe is the inability of the pro-Syrian Lebanese government to maintain security and the suspicion of many people here that Syria was, in fact, behind the killing of Rafik Hariri, for that reason they turned down that request. And held basically a very public but unofficial funeral.
I had a chance to go down in the crowd and speak to many people here. Many of them were chanting for Syria to leave -- Syrian forces to pull out of Lebanon immediately. And of course, that is the same thing that the U.N. Security Council expressed, the same desire expressed by the U.N. Security Council in Resolution 1559, as mentioned by Assistant Secretary of State William Burns.
Now, there's no indication on the ground, however, that Syria has any intention of pulling out or obeying the Security Council resolution. There's still around 14,000 Syrian troops on the ground in Lebanon, in addition to an unknown, but apparently large number of Syrian intelligence operatives-- Rick. SANCHEZ: We'll just have to see how this one plays out. Ben Wedeman, reporting to us from Lebanon. We thank you Ben -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Let's turn to another U.S. concern in the Middle East, Iran. The head of the nuclear watchdog agency says that White House policies on both Iran and North Korea are inconsistent. He gave an interview to "The Washington Post," we are talking about Mohammed el Baradei.
He said without more diplomacy confrontation could increase. "North Korea and Iran are still the two 800-pound gorillas in the room and not much is happening." That is a quote from el Baradei from that article. He tells "The Post" that there are no signs that Iran is working to build a nuclear bomb. He says, quote, "If I look at the big picture, there is no enrichment in Iran. And this is quite satisfactory. And I hope it keeps it this way until we reach an agreement."
SANCHEZ: We're going to be telling you about a murder mystery with several missing piece, and one Kansas television anchor is now trying to link all of these together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Murderers like this don't happen in Wichita, Kansas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Still to come, the BTK killer has apparently been a faithful viewer of this man for years. We're going to tell you why.
KAGAN: plus, it's about that time of year most people dread. But we have tips that might have Uncle Sam owing you. That's a nice change.
SANCHEZ: And you may want to wait before you take another sip of your morning coffee. We're going to tell you what's in that cup of jo.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Sri Lanka, a story that we have been following for you. A reunion nearly two months in the making. The once anonymous Baby 81 now has his parents and his name back. Nine couples had claimed him as their lost child in the chaotic wake of the tsunami. Only one submitted to the DNA test that confirmed their parentage. The infant was found covered with mud on a beach littered with bodies and debris. Now he's back with mom and dad.
KAGAN: Meanwhile, the scientific community may inch towards a system that could guard against a similar tsunami disaster. Representatives from more than 60 nations are taking part in a Global Earth Observation Summit. It's happening in Brussels, Belgium. One item is the launch of a 10-year plan that will create a scientific network intended to predict potential weather disasters, and trends as well. Supporters say harnessing that science could provide the warning that could have saved tens of thousands of lives in the December tsunami.
SANCHEZ: It is hump day. Time to start trying to find out what the rest of the week will bring us. And I guess, what the week -- what the day is bringing us as far as weather.
(WEATHER REPORT)
SANCHEZ: What's in that jolt of java that we drink every morning? Well, apparently more than just cream and sugar.
KAGAN: And in fact, the real benefit may be in the beans. We'll explain.
Coming up next, Gerri Willis is along as well. She's talking about taxes.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, here is a big caffeine buzz kill. It's time to talk taxes. Why you might want to file earlier, when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Well, death and taxes may be the only certainties in life. But let's not forget that hope, too, springs eternal.
And with that in mind CNN's personal finance editor Gerri Willis joins us with her "Top Five Tips" on how to minimize the tax bite this filing season. How lovely. Good morning, Gerri.
WILLIS: Hey, Daryn. Good to see you. Tip No. 1, be an early bird. You know, 80 percent of Americans are going to get some kind of tax refund. Why not get it now instead of waiting? You don't have to file on April 15. That's only the deadline. Keep in mind that you want to do it earlier and you may get the advantage of extra deductions that are out there.
The kinds of people that will benefit is if you gave to tsunami relief efforts in January, for example. But lots of beneficiaries here: military families, hybrid car owners, you definitely want to check it out.
KAGAN: For some help, you might want to go online?
WILLIS: That's right. E-filling is a very big thing. Even better this year than before because more people will be able to e- file for free. You want to go to the IRS's website, irs.gov/efile to find out more. But understand this, if you e-file, you eliminate the possibility of math errors because the software figures it out for you. And the IRS does not make mistakes because they are not manually inputting data. So there is a big advantages to file early.
KAGAN: Something you have not been able to do in 10 years, deduct a big number.
WILLIS: That's right. So you're a shopping addict maybe? I mean I don't know, Daryn, but some people are. And if you spend a lot of money in sales income tax, you're going to have the option of deducting that instead of the state income tax? It's very important to pay attention to, particularly if you live in a state where there is no state income tax. You'll suddenly be able to deduct that state sales tax instead.
Some states where people will really be impacted here: Florida, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, Washington. Check it out because this could save you a lot of money.
KAGAN: What is the alternative minimum tax? And how does that work?
WILLIS: This is a very scary thing. The alternative minimum tax is an entirely separate tax system from what the IRS does. And you only pay AMT if it's more than your IRS bill. Now, typically an accountant will run the numbers for you. But if you are using the software programs this year, they will also run that calculation as well. You want to make sure you are not having to pay that, because you are in big trouble if you pay the wrong tax.
KAGAN: And also can be in big trouble if you don't pay attention to the details.
WILLIS: Absolutely. You know, Daryn, the big mistakes people make with their filing, they don't sign their return. That's a very big mistake. There are math errors. Maybe you forget to attach your W2. Simple stuff. Make sure you have got all the bases; that you dot your I's, you cross you T's so you can get that refund back fast.
KAGAN: All right. Gerri, with three I's to dot. Thank you so much.
WILLIS: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: We have been monitoring new CIA director Porter Goss. He has been speaking at the Senate Intelligence Committee, where moments ago he said look, we do not make policy at the CIA. We do not wage war at the CIA. And he went on to say, "I'm very emphatic about that." Mr. Goss is going to be fielding questions as well about the intelligence position, Iraq, Iran, North Korea. Some critics are saying that he is politicizing the agency himself too much, by surrounding himself with Republican advisories from years in Congress.
Do we want to take a listen to this? Let's go ahead and dip in then, see where Mr. Goss is at this point in his statement. Let's do that.
PORTER GOSS, CIA DIRECTOR: Our enemies are also tuning in. In open session, I feel that I will and must be very prudent in my remarks as DCI.
Mr. Chairman on the subject of terrorism. Defeating terrorism must remain one of our intelligence community's core objectives and it will. And widely dispersed terrorist networks will present one of the most serious challenges to the U.S. national security interest at home and abroad in the coming year. That's not startling news but it's important.
In the past year aggressive measures by intelligence, law enforcement, defense and Homeland Security communities, along with our key international partners have in fact, dealt serious blows to al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations and individuals. Despite these successes, however, the terrorist threat to the U.S. and the homeland and abroad endures.
I'll make four points: al Qaeda is intent on finding ways to circumvent U.S. security enhancements to strike Americans in the homeland, one; No. 2, it may be only a matter of time before al Qaeda or other group attempts to use chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons. We must focus on that.
Three: al Qaeda is only one facet of the threat from a broader Sunni Jihadist movement. And four: the Iraq conflict, while not a cause of extremism, has become a cause for extremists.
We know from experience that al Qaeda is a patient, persistent, imaginative, adaptive and dangerous opponent. But it is vulnerable and displaced. We and other allies have hit it hard. Jihadists religious leaders preach millennial, aberrational visions of some kind of a fight for Islam's survival. Sometimes they argue that the struggle justifies the indiscriminate killing of civilians, even with chemical biological, radiological and nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, they have a small audience.
Our pursuit of al Qaeda and its most senior leaders, including bin Laden and his deputy al Zarqawi, is intense. However, their capture alone would not be enough to eliminate the terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland or interest overseas. Often influenced by Al Qaeda's ideology, members of a broader movement have an ability to plan and conduct operations. We saw this last March in the railway attacks in Madrid, conducted by local Sunni extremists.
Other regional groups connected to al Qaeda or acting on their own also continue to pose a significant threat. In Pakistan terrorist elements remain committed to attacking U.S. targets. In Saudi Arabia, remnants of the Saudi Al Qaeda networks continue to attack U.S. interests in the region.
In Central Asia, the Islamic Jihad group, a splinter group for the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, has become a more virulent threat to U.S. interests and local government there's. Last spring the group used female operatives in a series of bombings in Uzbekistan, as you know.
In Southeast Asia, the Jemaah Islamiyah continues to pose a threat to U.S. and Western interests in Indonesia and the Philippines, where JI is colluding with the Abu Sayyaf group and possibly the MILF group as well. In Europe, Islamic extremists continue to plan and cause attacks against U.S. and local interests. Some that may cause significant casualties. In 2004, British authorities dismantled an al Qaeda cell, much reported. And in the Netherlands, an extremist brutally killed a prominent Dutch citizen; not as widely reported.
Islamic extremists are exploiting the Iraqi conflict to recruit new anti-U.S. Jihadists. Those Jihadists who survive will leave Iraq experienced and focused on acts of urban terrorism. They represent a potential pool of contacts to build transnational terror cells, groups and networks in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other countries.
Zarqawi has sought to bring about the final victory of Islam over the West in his version of it. And he hopes to establish a safe haven in Iraq from which his group could operate against the, quote, "infidel Western nations" the Apostate Muslim Governments. Other groups spanning
SANCHEZ: Sri Lanka, a story that we have been following for you. A reunion nearly two months in the making. The once anonymous Baby 81 now has his parents and his name back. Nine couples had claimed him as their lost child in the chaotic wake of the tsunami. Only one submitted to the DNA test that confirmed their parentage. The infant was found covered with mud on a beach littered with bodies and debris. Now he's back with mom and dad.
KAGAN: Meanwhile, the scientific community may inch towards a system that could guard against a similar tsunami disaster. Representatives from more than 60 nations are taking part in a Global Earth Observation Summit. It's happening in Brussels, Belgium. One item is the launch of a 10-year plan that will create a scientific network intended to predict potential weather disasters, and trends as well. Supporters say harnessing that science could provide the warning that could have saved tens of thousands of lives in the December tsunami.
SANCHEZ: It is hump day. Time to start trying to find out what the rest of the week will bring us. And I guess, what the week -- what the day is bringing us as far as weather.
(WEATHER REPORT)
SANCHEZ: What's in that jolt of java that we drink every morning? Well, apparently more than just cream and sugar.
KAGAN: And in fact, the real benefit may be in the beans. We'll explain.
Coming up next, Gerri Willis is along as well. She's talking about taxes.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, here is a big caffeine buzz kill. It's time to talk taxes. Why you might want to file earlier, when CNN LIVE TODAY continues. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Well, death and taxes may be the only certainties in life. But let's not forget that hope, too, springs eternal.
And with that in mind CNN's personal finance editor Gerri Willis joins us with her "Top Five Tips" on how to minimize the tax bite this filing season. How lovely. Good morning, Gerri.
WILLIS: Hey, Daryn. Good to see you. Tip No. 1, be an early bird. You know, 80 percent of Americans are going to get some kind of tax refund. Why not get it now instead of waiting? You don't have to file on April 15. That's only the deadline. Keep in mind that you want to do it earlier and you may get the advantage of extra deductions that are out there.
The kinds of people that will benefit is if you gave to tsunami relief efforts in January, for example. But lots of beneficiaries here: military families, hybrid car owners, you definitely want to check it out.
KAGAN: For some help, you might want to go online?
WILLIS: That's right. E-filling is a very big thing. Even better this year than before because more people will be able to e- file for free. You want to go to the IRS's website, irs.gov/efile to find out more. But understand this, if you e-file, you eliminate the possibility of math errors because the software figures it out for you. And the IRS does not make mistakes because they are not manually inputting data. So there is a big advantages to file early.
KAGAN: Something you have not been able to do in 10 years, deduct a big number.
WILLIS: That's right. So you're a shopping addict maybe? I mean I don't know, Daryn, but some people are. And if you spend a lot of money in sales income tax, you're going to have the option of deducting that instead of the state income tax? It's very important to pay attention to, particularly if you live in a state where there is no state income tax. You'll suddenly be able to deduct that state sales tax instead.
Some states where people will really be impacted here: Florida, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, Washington. Check it out because this could save you a lot of money.
KAGAN: What is the alternative minimum tax? And how does that work?
WILLIS: This is a very scary thing. The alternative minimum tax is an entirely separate tax system from what the IRS does. And you only pay AMT if it's more than your IRS bill. Now, typically an accountant will run the numbers for you. But if you are using the software programs this year, they will also run that calculation as well. You want to make sure you are not having to pay that, because you are in big trouble if you pay the wrong tax. KAGAN: And also can be in big trouble if you don't pay attention to the details.
WILLIS: Absolutely. You know, Daryn, the big mistakes people make with their filing, they don't sign their return. That's a very big mistake. There are math errors. Maybe you forget to attach your W2. Simple stuff. Make sure you have got all the bases; that you dot your I's, you cross you T's so you can get that refund back fast.
KAGAN: All right. Gerri, with three I's to dot. Thank you so much.
WILLIS: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: We have been monitoring new CIA director Porter Goss. He has been speaking at the Senate Intelligence Committee, where moments ago he said look, we do not make policy at the CIA. We do not wage war at the CIA. And he went on to say, "I'm very emphatic about that." Mr. Goss is going to be fielding questions as well about the intelligence position, Iraq, Iran, North Korea. Some critics are saying that he is politicizing the agency himself too much, by surrounding himself with Republican advisories from years in Congress.
Do we want to take a listen to this? Let's go ahead and dip in then, see where Mr. Goss is at this point in his statement. Let's do that.
PORTER GOSS, CIA DIRECTOR: Our enemies are also tuning in. In open session, I feel that I will and must be very prudent in my remarks as DCI.
Mr. Chairman on the subject of terrorism. Defeating terrorism must remain one of our intelligence community's core objectives and it will. And widely dispersed terrorist networks will present one of the most serious challenges to the U.S. national security interest at home and abroad in the coming year. That's not startling news but it's important.
In the past year aggressive measures by intelligence, law enforcement, defense and Homeland Security communities, along with our key international partners have in fact, dealt serious blows to al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations and individuals. Despite these successes, however, the terrorist threat to the U.S. and the homeland and abroad endures.
I'll make four points: al Qaeda is intent on finding ways to circumvent U.S. security enhancements to strike Americans in the homeland, one; No. 2, it may be only a matter of time before al Qaeda or other group attempts to use chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons. We must focus on that.
Three: al Qaeda is only one facet of the threat from a broader Sunni Jihadist movement. And four: the Iraq conflict, while not a cause of extremism, has become a cause for extremists.
We know from experience that al Qaeda is a patient, persistent, imaginative, adaptive and dangerous opponent. But it is vulnerable and displaced. We and other allies have hit it hard. Jihadists religious leaders preach millennial, aberrational visions of some kind of a fight for Islam's survival. Sometimes they argue that the struggle justifies the indiscriminate killing of civilians, even with chemical biological, radiological and nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, they have a small audience.
Our pursuit of al Qaeda and its most senior leaders, including bin Laden and his deputy al Zarqawi, is intense. However, their capture alone would not be enough to eliminate the terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland or interest overseas. Often influenced by Al Qaeda's ideology, members of a broader movement have an ability to plan and conduct operations. We saw this last March in the railway attacks in Madrid, conducted by local Sunni extremists.
Other regional groups connected to al Qaeda or acting on their own also continue to pose a significant threat. In Pakistan terrorist elements remain committed to attacking U.S. targets. In Saudi Arabia, remnants of the Saudi Al Qaeda networks continue to attack U.S. interests in the region.
In Central Asia, the Islamic Jihad group, a splinter group for the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, has become a more virulent threat to U.S. interests and local government there's. Last spring the group used female operatives in a series of bombings in Uzbekistan, as you know.
In Southeast Asia, the Jemaah Islamiyah continues to pose a threat to U.S. and Western interests in Indonesia and the Philippines, where JI is colluding with the Abu Sayyaf group and possibly the MILF group as well.
In Europe, Islamic extremists continue to plan and cause attacks against U.S. and local interests. Some that may cause significant casualties. In 2004, British authorities dismantled an al Qaeda cell, much reported. And in the Netherlands, an extremist brutally killed a prominent Dutch citizen; not as widely reported.
Islamic extremists are exploiting the Iraqi conflict to recruit new anti-U.S. Jihadists. Those Jihadists who survive will leave Iraq experienced and focused on acts of urban terrorism. They represent a potential pool of contacts to build transnational terror cells, groups and networks in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other countries.
Zarqawi has sought to bring about the final victory of Islam over the West in his version of it. And he hopes to establish a safe haven in Iraq from which his group could operate against the, quote, "infidel Western nations" the Apostate Muslim Governments. Other groups spanning the globe also pose persistent and serious threats to U.S. and Western interests. Hezbollah's main focus remains Israel, but it could conduct lethal attacks against U.S. interests quickly upon a decision to do so. It has that capability, we estimate.
Palestinian terrorists organizations have apparently refrained from directly targeting U.S. or Western interests in their opposition to Mideast peace initiatives, but they do pose an ongoing risk to U.S. citizens who could be killed or wounded in attacks intended to strike Israeli interests.
Extremist groups in Latin America are still a concern, with the FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Force of Colombia, producing capability and clear intent to threaten U.S. interests in that region. The horn of Africa, the Sahel (ph), the Magreb (ph), the LaVant (ph), the Gulf states are all areas where pop-up terrorist activities can be expected and needs to be monitored and dealt with.
SANCHEZ: Monitored and dealt with says CIA director Porter Goss referring to the threat of terrorism globally. He says even if we did capture Osama bin Laden and his lieutenant, Zawahiri, there would still be a lot of terrorism to contend with because so many organizations have literally become more organized in recent years, and he mentioned Spain and the attack there on the railroad tracks as one of the examples of that.
We'll be dipping in and monitoring Porter Goss and some of the other high-profile names in Washington who are standing before Senate committees today and House Committees as well, for that matter.
So you can stay tuned to CNN day and night for reliable stories as well about your security.
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