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John Negroponte Nominated as Intelligence Chief; Interview With Richard Falkenrath, Admiral Stansfield Turner; Iraqi Election Results In
Aired February 17, 2005 - 11:00 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's look at what's happening right "Now in the News."
Just an hour ago, President Bush named John Negroponte as the new director of national intelligence. Actually, his choice for that position. Mr. Bush says the job overseeing the nation's 15 intelligence agencies is straightforward and demanding. We'll have details and reaction to the choice just ahead.
A Georgia company is warning more consumers, they may be victims of identity theft. ChoicePoint is sending warnings to 110,000 people nationwide, in addition to 35,000 people in California. ChoicePoint compiles and sells information on consumers. Authorities say fake companies gained access to their massive database.
Pop star Michael Jackson is back at home in his Neverland ranch this morning recovering from flu-like symptoms. A spokesman says Jackson left the hospital yesterday evening after a one-night stay. The jury selection in his child molestation trial has been put on hold until Tuesday while he recuperates.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visits Capitol Hill. He's in Washington today pushing for more federal dollars for California. Schwarzenegger is also seeking support for a plan to redraw the state's congressional district. But some Republicans are worried the party might actually lose seats in Congress under that plan.
We're watching the clock, and a lot of stories developing around the world. It is just a minute past 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, just past 8:00 a.m. on the West. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rick Sanchez.
His job is to protect you. President Bush named his choice for that person, the director of national intelligence, in the last hour. John Negroponte is a somewhat unexpected choice. He's currently the U.S. ambassador to Iraq. He's a diplomat. He's not an intelligence expert.
CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is going to be joining us now, who not long ago got a chance to stand and question the president. We watched. Suzanne joins us now to tell us what's going on in the White House with reaction to this announcement. SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rick, certainly the White House does not believe that this is an inappropriate choice, because they say, of course, Negroponte has all the diplomatic experience that's necessary to carry this job. But if you look at who they've chosen as well, the deputy, Michael Hayden, he is director of the National Security Agency, of course.
He is the one with much of the intelligence experience. They believe that this team together will do an excellent job. The president has full confidence in Negroponte's ability.
The president also used this announcement, really, to put forward what he thought were many of the threats the United States is facing. Also to defend the U.S. policies. Some say a rather hard-line policy when it comes to these countries and trying to persuade them to give up their nuclear ambitions.
SANCHEZ: Not sure if we're going to be going to some sound that we had here. It sounds like we're not quite -- oh, yes, we do.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The war against terrorists who target innocent civilians and continue to seek weapons of mass murder intelligence is our first line of defense. We're going to stop the terrorists before they strike.
We must ensure that our intelligence agencies work as a single, unified enterprise. And that's why I supported and Congress passed reform legislation creating the job of director of national intelligence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: The president also as well said that he will try to convince European allies, the rest of the world that those intelligence reforms, as well as U.S. policies, are the kinds of policies that the rest of the world can actually trust and count on, and that U.S. credibility will be restored. In his trip to Europe, the president talked about Iran specifically.
As you know France, Germany, as well as Britain, are involved in discussions with Iran to try to get it to give up its nuclear ambitions, perhaps offer economic diplomatic carrots. The United States does not share that view, but the president defended the U.S. position, saying that it's a member of the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency, that it is involved in moving that forward diplomatically.
He also made the comparison, saying that Iran is not like Iraq. Again, trying to reassure countries around the world that the United States is not just a military power, but that very much his diplomacy is going to be tested as well -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: Suzanne Malveaux making us proud this morning at the White House. We thank you for that report. We'll be getting back to you.
Daryn, over to you.
KAGAN: All right. Reaction coming in as this news spreads around the country, around Capitol Hill. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi with this reaction to the selection of John Negroponte for the first director of national intelligence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: He brings to his job experience as a consumer of intelligence. General Hayden brings to his position vast experience in the intelligence community.
I wish them both well. So much of the safety of America is dependent on their success. I look forward to cooperating with them in any way.
It does raise the question of what's going to happen in Iraq. President Bush has said in the past that Ambassador Negroponte has been central to the -- the effort there. So I do wonder now how that centrality will be addressed as Ambassador Negroponte comes home to be the head of the national intelligence...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: All right. That was Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader, giving her reaction, basically wishing John Negroponte well.
He is a career diplomat. John Negroponte, though, has no experience with intelligence gathering. So why is he going to be the first, it would appear, director of national intelligence?
Richard Falkenrath worked as deputy homeland security adviser to President Bush. Just a few days ago, left that post. And he is joining us now.
Good morning. Thanks for being with us.
RICHARD FALKENRATH, FMR. DEPUTY HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISER: Good morning, Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. You're not in the White House. So you can give us your honest opinion on this choice.
FALKENRATH: Well, and I left a few months ago. But I think John Negroponte is a very highly respected diplomat. He's a man of high integrity, of good judgment and discretion. And those are values that really resonate with the president.
His problem is he's really not familiar with the intelligence process. He's never managed an intelligence agency. So he has a lot to learn in that area, and he will find that he's going to have a very ambiguous mandate to implement.
His job is really not straightforward, as the president said. The bill is subject to many different interpretations, and confers many responsibilities that he actually doesn't have the authority to implement.
KAGAN: Did you think it was interesting today that the president said in his news conference that John Negroponte will set the budget?
FALKENRATH: Yes. I think it is interesting he said that, because it's unlikely to be completely true.
Many people set the budget, and setting a budget requires a lot of staff to help you with very detailed work. And he simply doesn't have the staff.
The staff will be at the Department of Defense or the CIA or OMB. And until he actually gets a huge budget office to manage that, he has no possibility of actually controlling that budget.
KAGAN: All right. So let's talk about how they get to this choice.
A lot of praise coming from around Capitol Hill and from around Washington today, but isn't John Negroponte actually a compromised selection? That there were others that were approached first, that when they looked at some of the ways that this position was being set up, said, thanks but no thanks?
FALKENRATH: Yes, it's reported that Bob Gates, who is the former DCI, turned the job down. That's the only name I think that had actually been talked about as someone who was approached by the White House for the job.
Clearly, he is a compromised candidate. And the thing that distinguished him from anyone else who was considered is that he was willing to take it. And that's important. It's important for the White House.
I also think the White House is looking for someone who knows that their job is to smooth things over and to make things work and not cause a huge war in the intelligence community by fighting for authority and power. And John Negroponte, as a diplomat, knows how to work through very difficult issues and to get to some level of consensus.
KAGAN: Those diplomacy skills might come in more handy than they ever have in this 40-year long career.
I want to talk about the point Nancy Pelosi brought up, and that is that John Negroponte is leaving a lot of job openings in his wake. The Bush administration still has to name a U.N. ambassador, and now a very important position who takes over as ambassador to Iraq.
FALKENRATH: That's right, and it's a very important job. He's done a very good job in Iraq, and there's still a lot of diplomatic work that needs to be done in Iraq.
In some ways, that job is more important to the president's ultimate legacy than DNI. And so they will look hard for a very skilled diplomat for that job.
KAGAN: All right. Well, we're glad that you had the time to join us. Richard Falkenrath, thanks for your insight today.
FALKENRATH: Thank you, Daryn.
SANCHEZ: We're going to be helped now in trying to get an understanding of all of this by one of our nation's most prominent and distinguished statesman, Admiral Stansfield Turner, who was the CIA director under the Jimmy Carter administration.
Admiral, thanks so much for being with us, sir.
ADM. STANSFIELD TURNER, FMR. CIA DIRECTOR: Happy to be with you.
SANCHEZ: Appreciate it. Let me ask you a question that I think a lot of Americans may be wondering themselves. And as a former CIA guy, why does this nation need a director of national intelligence, where -- when we already have a director of the CIA? Why do we need another one?
TURNER: Because the director of the CIA has no authority over a number of intelligence agencies that are housed at the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the Department of Justice, the Department of Energy, and so on. We have a $40 billion a year operation for intelligence and no chief executive officer. We need somebody to bring it all together and make these people cooperate and talk with each other, which they clearly were not doing before 9/11.
SANCHEZ: Do you think the way the program is written right now that the job proviso will allow Mr. Negroponte to do that?
TURNER: No, it is not cleared up. They put a lot of ambiguities in the law because of objections by largely the Department of Defense, and have thus watered down the authority of the new director of national intelligence.
SANCHEZ: What do they need to do that?
TURNER: They need to give the director of national intelligence full management control of the National Reconnaissance Office, the National Geospatial Agency, and the National Security Agency, all three of which are major agencies for collecting intelligence but are controlled by the Department of Defense and should be controlled by this new director of national intelligence.
SANCHEZ: What's holding that up? Why isn't that happening?
TURNER: Mr. Rumsfeld and the Defense Department would just go ape if you tried to take those away from them. They feel they are absolutely necessary for military operations.
I'm a military officer. They are very important to military operations, but we've reached a point in this country today when defeating terrorism is more important than military operations. And therefore, somebody above the military level should be adjudicating the use of these intelligence resources as to whether they go to terrorism, nuclear proliferation or war.
SANCHEZ: We're talking to Admiral Stansfield Turner, was the CIA director under President Jimmy Carter.
Do you think this president will do, as you suggest he should, and allow John Negroponte, as the director of national intelligence, to essentially override those agencies and those officials in the Pentagon who may possibly get in his way?
TURNER: I hope so, but I am skeptical.
SANCHEZ: Why?
TURNER: Because the record shows that the Defense Department just has a tremendous influence on the president. And we don't know whether he'll be that committed in this case. We certainly have to hope so. I don't believe it will work otherwise.
SANCHEZ: Admiral Stansfield Turner, sir, thanks, sir, for taking time to talk to us on this day.
TURNER: You're very welcome.
SANCHEZ: Appreciate it.
CNN "Security Watch" keeping you up to date on safety. Stay tuned day and night as we try to bring you the most reliable news sources and interviews and information about your security.
KAGAN: We've been pretty much focusing on this story for the last hour and 15 minutes. A lot of other news to get to. We will do that just ahead, including the latest violence in Lebanon. It is rattling nerves around the world.
Will there be more bloodshed to come? We'll talk with someone who knows the region to give us some insight.
SANCHEZ: Also ahead, an explosive lesson in chemistry. Students say their teacher showed them how to build a bomb. A closer look at a troubling case. That's coming just ahead.
KAGAN: And so much for the hockey season. NHL is kaput. We will hear from some disappointed fans. And also, we're going to ask the question, will the NHL come back and when?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: And the final certified results from the Iraqi election are in. They were announced today.
More than 8.4 million votes were cast in the election to set up a 275-member national assembly. The deadline to file complaints about the election results has passed. Here is a breakdown.
The Shiite-dominated United Iraqi Alliance won 48 percent of the vote and will get 140 seats. The Kurdish alliance was second and will get 75 seats, followed by interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's List, which earned 40 seats.
Now the attention turns to choosing a new prime minister. Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, joins us from Baghdad with the latest.
Hello.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, these new certified results don't really change very much from what we heard at the weekend. The percent -- overall percentages haven't changed.
The religious Shia alliance has just over half the seats. The Kurds, just about a quarter of the seats. Between the pair of them, if they choose to form an alliance, which we're told they probably will, then can get the two-thirds vote to pass any motion in the new national assembly.
But what the results really do now is absolutely solidify and set in stone exactly how many seats the parties have. This can toughen their negotiating positions as they try and trade political blows between parties to determine who's going to be the new prime minister. It will also let them know that perhaps they will have to concede on certain issues that they didn't want to concede on.
The front-runner right now for prime minister appears to be Ibrahim al-Jaafari. He's from that United Iraqi Alliance, the strong religious Shia Muslim party that's done so well. Another name in the running, Ahmed Chalabi, was a strong favorite of the United States, particularly when he was supplying intelligence before -- before the war. Right now, though, he is not seen as the leading candidate.
Jaafari is seen perhaps the most likely to become prime minister because he is a unifier, somebody, we're told, who can work with all parties. And the Iraqis we're talking to say they want this to be agreed quickly so that the government can get into -- get into its proper job of providing security and other basic services for the people here -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Another big job, to form a constitution. The Sunnis, of course, well known of not participating fully in this election. How will they be included so that they feel that they are part of the future Iraq?
ROBERTSON: Well, Ibrahim al-Jaafari has been very clear that he said he wants to include the Sunnis in the process. They certainly are very under-represented proportionately, compared to their share in the population. Just five seats for the Sunni party. They will pick up other seats as part of that big Shia Muslim alliance.
What we're hearing from one of the main Sunni parties, the Iraqi Islamic Party, is that they do want to be involved in drafting the constitution. They are engaged in talks with that end.
They're also saying that they want Sunnis to get involved in the political process later in the year. There will likely be more elections, and they are holding out the hope that Sunnis will engage in the process then.
But at the moment they are marginalized, they -- some of them do want to get involved. But at the moment, it's really anybody's guess on who's going to have the real influence for those key jobs of prime minister and defense minister and interior minister -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Nic Robertson joining us live from Baghdad. Nic, thank you.
SANCHEZ: Let's go to another -- another place not far from there. Lebanon closes out a three-day period today for its former leader, Rafik Hariri, a story that we've been focusing on now for several days.
Hariri's three sons are calling for an international investigation, something you heard the president talking about not too long ago right here on CNN. They want to know what happened with that bomb blast that killed their father, the former prime minister. Monday's attack left 16 others dead.
There is speculation that Syria had a hand in this assassination. Damascus, though, is thus far denying it. Others point to possible al Qaeda involvement or militants inside Lebanon's various religious factions.
This assassination is no doubt sending some serious shock waves through parts of the Middle East. It's also raising worries that Lebanon could again descend into a civil war.
Let's talk about this with former diplomat Edward Walker. He was a U.S. ambassador to Israel and Egypt, and is currently the president of the Middle East Institute.
Mr. Walker, thanks so much for joining us. And let's start there, the possibility that there could be another civil war in Lebanon and what it could possibly mean.
EDWARD WALKER, MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE: Well, it is a possibility. At the moment we're seeing a unifying element in Lebanon as the people come together, both in mourning of Rafik Hariri, but also in their opposition to Syrian control over Lebanon. If that trend continues, then the real problem is going to be Syria, and it will not be inside Lebanon.
SANCHEZ: What kind of problem can Assad and Syria pose not only in Lebanon, but also, for example, in some of the places where things are finally looking positive? Like in the Middle East, with the negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians?
WALKER: Yes, this is one of the areas that they Syrians have always felt they had leverage because of their linkage to Iran and their linkage to Hezbollah and the ability to influence terrorist groups inside the Palestinian areas, like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The United States...
SANCHEZ: So let me just stop you there. WALKER: Yes.
SANCHEZ: I think what I just heard you say is that they can work against Mahmoud Abbas?
WALKER: That is correct. And they have not bought into the current process.
The Egyptians have tried to convince them to support this process. The Americans have tried to convince them of doing this. So far they haven't been responsive.
SANCHEZ: Any indication that they're doing it thus far? I mean, you said they can do it, but are they doing it?
WALKER: Not at -- yes, not at this point. But certainly the administration feels that they haven't been very forthcoming on this issue, they haven't been forthcoming on the Iraq issue. And now there is this unanswered question about their role in Lebanon.
SANCHEZ: What does the United States need to do in this region to try and deal with these problems that we're having right now? And let me ask you directly about these states that we may lose credibility with, like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, for example?
WALKER: Well, I think what we need to do, and what I'm hoping the administration is doing, is start to solidify support within the region. First, for getting Syria out of Lebanon. Also, to isolate Syria if it is not prepared to cooperate with the rest of the world, and particularly with the Arab world o n the Palestinian issue. And then, also, apply the same kind of tourniquet to Iran so that the two of them cannot create the kind of problems that we fear.
SANCHEZ: Thank you so much, Ambassador Edward Walker, for taking time to talk to us today and talking about that area which seems to be oh so important. We appreciate it.
WALKER: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Daryn.
KAGAN: Medical news just ahead. We're talking about pain. How much pain is too much pain? As the FDA holds more hearing on painkillers today, we're going to look into how effectively you can measure one's physical distress.
SANCHEZ: Also, the hockey season. The NHL, yes, remember them?
KAGAN: It's on ice.
SANCHEZ: Gone. Canceled. "On ice" may be a better way to put it.
Is it the beginning or the end for the league entirely? We'll look into it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Here's one you don't want to put in the trophy case. For the first time ever, a major professional sports league will lose an entire season due to a labor dispute. The National Hockey League is pulling the plug. It was not able to reach a deal with players on a salary cap.
Here now, CNN sports correspondent Larry Smith.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "WILL & GRACE)
LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Eight months after the Tampa Bay Lightning lifted the Stanley Cup, we already know their chances of repeating: none. Commissioner Gary Bettman's announcement that the season was canceled meant the cup would not be awarded for the first time since 1919. There was plenty of blame to go around.
GARY BETTMAN, NHL COMMISSIONER: Everyone associated with the National Hockey League owes our fans an apology for the situation in which we find ourselves.
CHRIS DRAPER, DETROIT RED WINGS: It's his fault. I don't think the players can take any blame. I think we've given a lot. I think we've tried to get a deal done. And this is on Bettman's plate.
BETTMAN: I hope when it's over from their sake they think it was worth it, because I don't see how it plays out that way, and I think that's a tragedy.
KEITH PRIMEAU, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: My honest opinion is that we probably won't see hockey in 2005, 2006. And that's just the reality of it.
SMITH: As the door closes on this season, the real challenge begins for the NHL, getting back the fans who have been hurt by the lockout.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dejection, disappointment, frustration, all of the above. I mean, it's very devastating. It's very hurtful.
WAYNE GRETZKY, NHL HALL OF FAMER: Only time will tell how we're going to win all of those people back over, and that's a tough road ahead of us.
SMITH: Bettman said hockey will be played next season, although no one knows what form it will take.
MICHAEL FARBER, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED" WRITER: When it comes back, it's going to look different. I'm sure there'll be rule changes. I'm sure the sweaters are going to be different. I'm sure the NHL is going to re-launch. But at this point you have to wonder if that's not just lipstick on a pig.
JOHN DAVIDSON, NHL ANALYST: Well, what's going to happen when they come back? Will it be better? It's going to have to be better. Because if not, it's not worth this.
BETTMAN: We will be back, and we will be back better than ever. And hopefully as soon as possible. Don't give up on the game. It's too good.
SMITH: Larry Smith, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: All right. So here's how it goes: hockey is history, but basketball is jamming. That's right.
As we approach the NBA's all-star weekend -- enjoyed saying that word. I'll say it again, jamming. Get up to speed with the inside scoop now from CNN.com desk.
Here is Veronica De La Cruz.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN ANCHOR: SI.com takes you courtside with our coverage of the NBA all-star weekend. Now, to get the ball rolling, "SI's" Jack McCallum gives his top five NBA all-star moments from the 5'7" (UNINTELLIGIBLE) winning the slam dunk contest in 1986 to the infamous Kobe Bryant getting booed off the court in 2002.
And the countdown is on. The trade deadline is February 24. Marty Burns gives you a wrap on the top six teams he says will make a splash before the big day.
New York Knicks president Isiah Thomas made two huge moves last year, acquiring Stephon Marbury (ph) and then Tim Thomas and Nazr Mohammed. What type of move will the Knicks make this year to stay in the game?
Finally, from the cover of "Sports Illustrated" to the court this weekend, all eyes are on Lebron James. The now 20-year-old phenom made the leap from high school to the pros and from no name to brand name when Nike paid James a whopping $90 million before he ever set foot on an NBA court.
For the inside scoop on NBA all-star weekend, you can log on to SI.com/NBA. From the dot-com news desk in Atlanta, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.
SANCHEZ: More than a month now since that tsunami disaster in south Asia. The region still struggling to try and deal with all the devastation.
KAGAN: Coming up, moving pictures. A firsthand account of life after the tsunami. How are people rebounding?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired February 17, 2005 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's look at what's happening right "Now in the News."
Just an hour ago, President Bush named John Negroponte as the new director of national intelligence. Actually, his choice for that position. Mr. Bush says the job overseeing the nation's 15 intelligence agencies is straightforward and demanding. We'll have details and reaction to the choice just ahead.
A Georgia company is warning more consumers, they may be victims of identity theft. ChoicePoint is sending warnings to 110,000 people nationwide, in addition to 35,000 people in California. ChoicePoint compiles and sells information on consumers. Authorities say fake companies gained access to their massive database.
Pop star Michael Jackson is back at home in his Neverland ranch this morning recovering from flu-like symptoms. A spokesman says Jackson left the hospital yesterday evening after a one-night stay. The jury selection in his child molestation trial has been put on hold until Tuesday while he recuperates.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visits Capitol Hill. He's in Washington today pushing for more federal dollars for California. Schwarzenegger is also seeking support for a plan to redraw the state's congressional district. But some Republicans are worried the party might actually lose seats in Congress under that plan.
We're watching the clock, and a lot of stories developing around the world. It is just a minute past 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, just past 8:00 a.m. on the West. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rick Sanchez.
His job is to protect you. President Bush named his choice for that person, the director of national intelligence, in the last hour. John Negroponte is a somewhat unexpected choice. He's currently the U.S. ambassador to Iraq. He's a diplomat. He's not an intelligence expert.
CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is going to be joining us now, who not long ago got a chance to stand and question the president. We watched. Suzanne joins us now to tell us what's going on in the White House with reaction to this announcement. SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rick, certainly the White House does not believe that this is an inappropriate choice, because they say, of course, Negroponte has all the diplomatic experience that's necessary to carry this job. But if you look at who they've chosen as well, the deputy, Michael Hayden, he is director of the National Security Agency, of course.
He is the one with much of the intelligence experience. They believe that this team together will do an excellent job. The president has full confidence in Negroponte's ability.
The president also used this announcement, really, to put forward what he thought were many of the threats the United States is facing. Also to defend the U.S. policies. Some say a rather hard-line policy when it comes to these countries and trying to persuade them to give up their nuclear ambitions.
SANCHEZ: Not sure if we're going to be going to some sound that we had here. It sounds like we're not quite -- oh, yes, we do.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The war against terrorists who target innocent civilians and continue to seek weapons of mass murder intelligence is our first line of defense. We're going to stop the terrorists before they strike.
We must ensure that our intelligence agencies work as a single, unified enterprise. And that's why I supported and Congress passed reform legislation creating the job of director of national intelligence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: The president also as well said that he will try to convince European allies, the rest of the world that those intelligence reforms, as well as U.S. policies, are the kinds of policies that the rest of the world can actually trust and count on, and that U.S. credibility will be restored. In his trip to Europe, the president talked about Iran specifically.
As you know France, Germany, as well as Britain, are involved in discussions with Iran to try to get it to give up its nuclear ambitions, perhaps offer economic diplomatic carrots. The United States does not share that view, but the president defended the U.S. position, saying that it's a member of the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency, that it is involved in moving that forward diplomatically.
He also made the comparison, saying that Iran is not like Iraq. Again, trying to reassure countries around the world that the United States is not just a military power, but that very much his diplomacy is going to be tested as well -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: Suzanne Malveaux making us proud this morning at the White House. We thank you for that report. We'll be getting back to you.
Daryn, over to you.
KAGAN: All right. Reaction coming in as this news spreads around the country, around Capitol Hill. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi with this reaction to the selection of John Negroponte for the first director of national intelligence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: He brings to his job experience as a consumer of intelligence. General Hayden brings to his position vast experience in the intelligence community.
I wish them both well. So much of the safety of America is dependent on their success. I look forward to cooperating with them in any way.
It does raise the question of what's going to happen in Iraq. President Bush has said in the past that Ambassador Negroponte has been central to the -- the effort there. So I do wonder now how that centrality will be addressed as Ambassador Negroponte comes home to be the head of the national intelligence...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: All right. That was Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader, giving her reaction, basically wishing John Negroponte well.
He is a career diplomat. John Negroponte, though, has no experience with intelligence gathering. So why is he going to be the first, it would appear, director of national intelligence?
Richard Falkenrath worked as deputy homeland security adviser to President Bush. Just a few days ago, left that post. And he is joining us now.
Good morning. Thanks for being with us.
RICHARD FALKENRATH, FMR. DEPUTY HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISER: Good morning, Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. You're not in the White House. So you can give us your honest opinion on this choice.
FALKENRATH: Well, and I left a few months ago. But I think John Negroponte is a very highly respected diplomat. He's a man of high integrity, of good judgment and discretion. And those are values that really resonate with the president.
His problem is he's really not familiar with the intelligence process. He's never managed an intelligence agency. So he has a lot to learn in that area, and he will find that he's going to have a very ambiguous mandate to implement.
His job is really not straightforward, as the president said. The bill is subject to many different interpretations, and confers many responsibilities that he actually doesn't have the authority to implement.
KAGAN: Did you think it was interesting today that the president said in his news conference that John Negroponte will set the budget?
FALKENRATH: Yes. I think it is interesting he said that, because it's unlikely to be completely true.
Many people set the budget, and setting a budget requires a lot of staff to help you with very detailed work. And he simply doesn't have the staff.
The staff will be at the Department of Defense or the CIA or OMB. And until he actually gets a huge budget office to manage that, he has no possibility of actually controlling that budget.
KAGAN: All right. So let's talk about how they get to this choice.
A lot of praise coming from around Capitol Hill and from around Washington today, but isn't John Negroponte actually a compromised selection? That there were others that were approached first, that when they looked at some of the ways that this position was being set up, said, thanks but no thanks?
FALKENRATH: Yes, it's reported that Bob Gates, who is the former DCI, turned the job down. That's the only name I think that had actually been talked about as someone who was approached by the White House for the job.
Clearly, he is a compromised candidate. And the thing that distinguished him from anyone else who was considered is that he was willing to take it. And that's important. It's important for the White House.
I also think the White House is looking for someone who knows that their job is to smooth things over and to make things work and not cause a huge war in the intelligence community by fighting for authority and power. And John Negroponte, as a diplomat, knows how to work through very difficult issues and to get to some level of consensus.
KAGAN: Those diplomacy skills might come in more handy than they ever have in this 40-year long career.
I want to talk about the point Nancy Pelosi brought up, and that is that John Negroponte is leaving a lot of job openings in his wake. The Bush administration still has to name a U.N. ambassador, and now a very important position who takes over as ambassador to Iraq.
FALKENRATH: That's right, and it's a very important job. He's done a very good job in Iraq, and there's still a lot of diplomatic work that needs to be done in Iraq.
In some ways, that job is more important to the president's ultimate legacy than DNI. And so they will look hard for a very skilled diplomat for that job.
KAGAN: All right. Well, we're glad that you had the time to join us. Richard Falkenrath, thanks for your insight today.
FALKENRATH: Thank you, Daryn.
SANCHEZ: We're going to be helped now in trying to get an understanding of all of this by one of our nation's most prominent and distinguished statesman, Admiral Stansfield Turner, who was the CIA director under the Jimmy Carter administration.
Admiral, thanks so much for being with us, sir.
ADM. STANSFIELD TURNER, FMR. CIA DIRECTOR: Happy to be with you.
SANCHEZ: Appreciate it. Let me ask you a question that I think a lot of Americans may be wondering themselves. And as a former CIA guy, why does this nation need a director of national intelligence, where -- when we already have a director of the CIA? Why do we need another one?
TURNER: Because the director of the CIA has no authority over a number of intelligence agencies that are housed at the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the Department of Justice, the Department of Energy, and so on. We have a $40 billion a year operation for intelligence and no chief executive officer. We need somebody to bring it all together and make these people cooperate and talk with each other, which they clearly were not doing before 9/11.
SANCHEZ: Do you think the way the program is written right now that the job proviso will allow Mr. Negroponte to do that?
TURNER: No, it is not cleared up. They put a lot of ambiguities in the law because of objections by largely the Department of Defense, and have thus watered down the authority of the new director of national intelligence.
SANCHEZ: What do they need to do that?
TURNER: They need to give the director of national intelligence full management control of the National Reconnaissance Office, the National Geospatial Agency, and the National Security Agency, all three of which are major agencies for collecting intelligence but are controlled by the Department of Defense and should be controlled by this new director of national intelligence.
SANCHEZ: What's holding that up? Why isn't that happening?
TURNER: Mr. Rumsfeld and the Defense Department would just go ape if you tried to take those away from them. They feel they are absolutely necessary for military operations.
I'm a military officer. They are very important to military operations, but we've reached a point in this country today when defeating terrorism is more important than military operations. And therefore, somebody above the military level should be adjudicating the use of these intelligence resources as to whether they go to terrorism, nuclear proliferation or war.
SANCHEZ: We're talking to Admiral Stansfield Turner, was the CIA director under President Jimmy Carter.
Do you think this president will do, as you suggest he should, and allow John Negroponte, as the director of national intelligence, to essentially override those agencies and those officials in the Pentagon who may possibly get in his way?
TURNER: I hope so, but I am skeptical.
SANCHEZ: Why?
TURNER: Because the record shows that the Defense Department just has a tremendous influence on the president. And we don't know whether he'll be that committed in this case. We certainly have to hope so. I don't believe it will work otherwise.
SANCHEZ: Admiral Stansfield Turner, sir, thanks, sir, for taking time to talk to us on this day.
TURNER: You're very welcome.
SANCHEZ: Appreciate it.
CNN "Security Watch" keeping you up to date on safety. Stay tuned day and night as we try to bring you the most reliable news sources and interviews and information about your security.
KAGAN: We've been pretty much focusing on this story for the last hour and 15 minutes. A lot of other news to get to. We will do that just ahead, including the latest violence in Lebanon. It is rattling nerves around the world.
Will there be more bloodshed to come? We'll talk with someone who knows the region to give us some insight.
SANCHEZ: Also ahead, an explosive lesson in chemistry. Students say their teacher showed them how to build a bomb. A closer look at a troubling case. That's coming just ahead.
KAGAN: And so much for the hockey season. NHL is kaput. We will hear from some disappointed fans. And also, we're going to ask the question, will the NHL come back and when?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: And the final certified results from the Iraqi election are in. They were announced today.
More than 8.4 million votes were cast in the election to set up a 275-member national assembly. The deadline to file complaints about the election results has passed. Here is a breakdown.
The Shiite-dominated United Iraqi Alliance won 48 percent of the vote and will get 140 seats. The Kurdish alliance was second and will get 75 seats, followed by interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's List, which earned 40 seats.
Now the attention turns to choosing a new prime minister. Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, joins us from Baghdad with the latest.
Hello.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, these new certified results don't really change very much from what we heard at the weekend. The percent -- overall percentages haven't changed.
The religious Shia alliance has just over half the seats. The Kurds, just about a quarter of the seats. Between the pair of them, if they choose to form an alliance, which we're told they probably will, then can get the two-thirds vote to pass any motion in the new national assembly.
But what the results really do now is absolutely solidify and set in stone exactly how many seats the parties have. This can toughen their negotiating positions as they try and trade political blows between parties to determine who's going to be the new prime minister. It will also let them know that perhaps they will have to concede on certain issues that they didn't want to concede on.
The front-runner right now for prime minister appears to be Ibrahim al-Jaafari. He's from that United Iraqi Alliance, the strong religious Shia Muslim party that's done so well. Another name in the running, Ahmed Chalabi, was a strong favorite of the United States, particularly when he was supplying intelligence before -- before the war. Right now, though, he is not seen as the leading candidate.
Jaafari is seen perhaps the most likely to become prime minister because he is a unifier, somebody, we're told, who can work with all parties. And the Iraqis we're talking to say they want this to be agreed quickly so that the government can get into -- get into its proper job of providing security and other basic services for the people here -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Another big job, to form a constitution. The Sunnis, of course, well known of not participating fully in this election. How will they be included so that they feel that they are part of the future Iraq?
ROBERTSON: Well, Ibrahim al-Jaafari has been very clear that he said he wants to include the Sunnis in the process. They certainly are very under-represented proportionately, compared to their share in the population. Just five seats for the Sunni party. They will pick up other seats as part of that big Shia Muslim alliance.
What we're hearing from one of the main Sunni parties, the Iraqi Islamic Party, is that they do want to be involved in drafting the constitution. They are engaged in talks with that end.
They're also saying that they want Sunnis to get involved in the political process later in the year. There will likely be more elections, and they are holding out the hope that Sunnis will engage in the process then.
But at the moment they are marginalized, they -- some of them do want to get involved. But at the moment, it's really anybody's guess on who's going to have the real influence for those key jobs of prime minister and defense minister and interior minister -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Nic Robertson joining us live from Baghdad. Nic, thank you.
SANCHEZ: Let's go to another -- another place not far from there. Lebanon closes out a three-day period today for its former leader, Rafik Hariri, a story that we've been focusing on now for several days.
Hariri's three sons are calling for an international investigation, something you heard the president talking about not too long ago right here on CNN. They want to know what happened with that bomb blast that killed their father, the former prime minister. Monday's attack left 16 others dead.
There is speculation that Syria had a hand in this assassination. Damascus, though, is thus far denying it. Others point to possible al Qaeda involvement or militants inside Lebanon's various religious factions.
This assassination is no doubt sending some serious shock waves through parts of the Middle East. It's also raising worries that Lebanon could again descend into a civil war.
Let's talk about this with former diplomat Edward Walker. He was a U.S. ambassador to Israel and Egypt, and is currently the president of the Middle East Institute.
Mr. Walker, thanks so much for joining us. And let's start there, the possibility that there could be another civil war in Lebanon and what it could possibly mean.
EDWARD WALKER, MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE: Well, it is a possibility. At the moment we're seeing a unifying element in Lebanon as the people come together, both in mourning of Rafik Hariri, but also in their opposition to Syrian control over Lebanon. If that trend continues, then the real problem is going to be Syria, and it will not be inside Lebanon.
SANCHEZ: What kind of problem can Assad and Syria pose not only in Lebanon, but also, for example, in some of the places where things are finally looking positive? Like in the Middle East, with the negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians?
WALKER: Yes, this is one of the areas that they Syrians have always felt they had leverage because of their linkage to Iran and their linkage to Hezbollah and the ability to influence terrorist groups inside the Palestinian areas, like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The United States...
SANCHEZ: So let me just stop you there. WALKER: Yes.
SANCHEZ: I think what I just heard you say is that they can work against Mahmoud Abbas?
WALKER: That is correct. And they have not bought into the current process.
The Egyptians have tried to convince them to support this process. The Americans have tried to convince them of doing this. So far they haven't been responsive.
SANCHEZ: Any indication that they're doing it thus far? I mean, you said they can do it, but are they doing it?
WALKER: Not at -- yes, not at this point. But certainly the administration feels that they haven't been very forthcoming on this issue, they haven't been forthcoming on the Iraq issue. And now there is this unanswered question about their role in Lebanon.
SANCHEZ: What does the United States need to do in this region to try and deal with these problems that we're having right now? And let me ask you directly about these states that we may lose credibility with, like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, for example?
WALKER: Well, I think what we need to do, and what I'm hoping the administration is doing, is start to solidify support within the region. First, for getting Syria out of Lebanon. Also, to isolate Syria if it is not prepared to cooperate with the rest of the world, and particularly with the Arab world o n the Palestinian issue. And then, also, apply the same kind of tourniquet to Iran so that the two of them cannot create the kind of problems that we fear.
SANCHEZ: Thank you so much, Ambassador Edward Walker, for taking time to talk to us today and talking about that area which seems to be oh so important. We appreciate it.
WALKER: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Daryn.
KAGAN: Medical news just ahead. We're talking about pain. How much pain is too much pain? As the FDA holds more hearing on painkillers today, we're going to look into how effectively you can measure one's physical distress.
SANCHEZ: Also, the hockey season. The NHL, yes, remember them?
KAGAN: It's on ice.
SANCHEZ: Gone. Canceled. "On ice" may be a better way to put it.
Is it the beginning or the end for the league entirely? We'll look into it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Here's one you don't want to put in the trophy case. For the first time ever, a major professional sports league will lose an entire season due to a labor dispute. The National Hockey League is pulling the plug. It was not able to reach a deal with players on a salary cap.
Here now, CNN sports correspondent Larry Smith.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "WILL & GRACE)
LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Eight months after the Tampa Bay Lightning lifted the Stanley Cup, we already know their chances of repeating: none. Commissioner Gary Bettman's announcement that the season was canceled meant the cup would not be awarded for the first time since 1919. There was plenty of blame to go around.
GARY BETTMAN, NHL COMMISSIONER: Everyone associated with the National Hockey League owes our fans an apology for the situation in which we find ourselves.
CHRIS DRAPER, DETROIT RED WINGS: It's his fault. I don't think the players can take any blame. I think we've given a lot. I think we've tried to get a deal done. And this is on Bettman's plate.
BETTMAN: I hope when it's over from their sake they think it was worth it, because I don't see how it plays out that way, and I think that's a tragedy.
KEITH PRIMEAU, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: My honest opinion is that we probably won't see hockey in 2005, 2006. And that's just the reality of it.
SMITH: As the door closes on this season, the real challenge begins for the NHL, getting back the fans who have been hurt by the lockout.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dejection, disappointment, frustration, all of the above. I mean, it's very devastating. It's very hurtful.
WAYNE GRETZKY, NHL HALL OF FAMER: Only time will tell how we're going to win all of those people back over, and that's a tough road ahead of us.
SMITH: Bettman said hockey will be played next season, although no one knows what form it will take.
MICHAEL FARBER, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED" WRITER: When it comes back, it's going to look different. I'm sure there'll be rule changes. I'm sure the sweaters are going to be different. I'm sure the NHL is going to re-launch. But at this point you have to wonder if that's not just lipstick on a pig.
JOHN DAVIDSON, NHL ANALYST: Well, what's going to happen when they come back? Will it be better? It's going to have to be better. Because if not, it's not worth this.
BETTMAN: We will be back, and we will be back better than ever. And hopefully as soon as possible. Don't give up on the game. It's too good.
SMITH: Larry Smith, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: All right. So here's how it goes: hockey is history, but basketball is jamming. That's right.
As we approach the NBA's all-star weekend -- enjoyed saying that word. I'll say it again, jamming. Get up to speed with the inside scoop now from CNN.com desk.
Here is Veronica De La Cruz.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN ANCHOR: SI.com takes you courtside with our coverage of the NBA all-star weekend. Now, to get the ball rolling, "SI's" Jack McCallum gives his top five NBA all-star moments from the 5'7" (UNINTELLIGIBLE) winning the slam dunk contest in 1986 to the infamous Kobe Bryant getting booed off the court in 2002.
And the countdown is on. The trade deadline is February 24. Marty Burns gives you a wrap on the top six teams he says will make a splash before the big day.
New York Knicks president Isiah Thomas made two huge moves last year, acquiring Stephon Marbury (ph) and then Tim Thomas and Nazr Mohammed. What type of move will the Knicks make this year to stay in the game?
Finally, from the cover of "Sports Illustrated" to the court this weekend, all eyes are on Lebron James. The now 20-year-old phenom made the leap from high school to the pros and from no name to brand name when Nike paid James a whopping $90 million before he ever set foot on an NBA court.
For the inside scoop on NBA all-star weekend, you can log on to SI.com/NBA. From the dot-com news desk in Atlanta, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.
SANCHEZ: More than a month now since that tsunami disaster in south Asia. The region still struggling to try and deal with all the devastation.
KAGAN: Coming up, moving pictures. A firsthand account of life after the tsunami. How are people rebounding?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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