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CNN Live Today
Veterans Day Celebration at Arlington National Cemetery; Bush Fights Back
Aired November 11, 2005 - 11:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Vice President Dick Cheney laying the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns. He will now head over to a different part of Arlington National Cemetery, where he will be making some comments. And you will see parts of that live here on CNN.
We'll get back to that in a moment. Right now, let's take a look at what else is happening "Now in the News."
A Web site claims that four Iraqis carried out the hotel bombings in Jordan that killed 57 people. And the site claims that the suicide bombers included a husband and wife team. Jordan's deputy prime minister says he cannot confirm the information.
About 100 firefighters are battling a four-alarm fire in Oakland, California. Authorities say the blaze is in a commercial building that houses a Chinese market. No word on how the fire may have started or whether anyone has been injured.
A warning for users of a popular birth control patch. The FDA says that women use the Ortho Evra Patch are exposed to about 60 percent more estrogen than those taking birth control pills. That could put them at a higher risk for blood clots. About four million women have used the patch since it was introduced in 2002.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today urged Iraqis to reach across sectarian lines in the upcoming elections. Rice's unannounced visit to Iraq is part of her Middle East trip. She arrived in Mosul earlier and met with officials there before traveling on to Baghdad.
Residents of riot-torn suburbs in France staged a demonstration at the Eiffel Tower. They're calling for an end to the violence that has raged across the country for more than two weeks. Police reported fewer skirmishes overnight. The violence has diminished since emergency procedures were put in place on Wednesday.
Good morning. Welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY on this Friday morning, Veterans Day.
Checking the time around the world, about five minutes past 11:00 in Arlington, Virginia, where we were just watching that live ceremony of the laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns; just five minutes after 6:00 p.m. in Amman, Jordan; 7:05 p.m. in Baghdad.
From CNN Center here in Atlanta, Georgia, I'm Daryn Kagan.
We are honoring veterans of past wars and defending the war in Iraq. The Bush administration marks Veterans Day with reverence and resolve.
Vice President Dick Cheney will speak at a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in just a moment. We will bring that to you live.
President Bush is responding to criticism about prewar intelligence on Iraq. Live coverage of his speech in the next hour.
And Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Iraq. More on her surprise visit just ahead.
First up, the White House is launching what it calls -- what a source is calling a campaign-style counter attack today. And the target, Iraq war critics, especially those who claim the president and his team manipulated intelligence. And you can read into that. They're talking about Democrats.
We will have extensive live coverage of the president's speech in the next hour. We will also hear from the critics.
First, our correspondent Andrea Koppel joining us now with a preview.
Andrea, hello.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPT. CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn.
Well, President Bush left the White House a short time ago and is now en route to that speech in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, where is near Scranton, where he plans to address about 2,500 military veterans and their families on this Veterans Day.
In addition to paying tribute to about 25 million veterans of wars in this country, look for Mr. Bush to go on the offense, taking his critics head on, those who allege the Bush administration manipulated intelligence before the war, especially about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction in order to justify the U.S. invasion.
This rhetorical plan of attack was previewed yesterday by the national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, who said that while the broad theme of the president's speech would be the war on terror, he then went on to portray the president's critics, primarily Democrats, as hypocrites, those who two years ago saw the very same intelligence that the Bush administration had and voted for the war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN HADLEY, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Some of the critics today believed themselves in 2002 that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, they stated that belief, and they voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq because they believed Saddam Hussein posed a dangerous threat to the American people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOPPEL: But Democrats would say that this offensive strategy is an indication of just how worried the Bush White House is about the latest polls that have come out showing on the one hand an increase in the number of Americans who now believe that the -- both the Bush White House and the Blair administration in London lied to the American people and to the British people, justifying the war, and an increase in the number of people who also failed to understand why the Bush White House went forward with the war.
That said, the president is also expected to address the violence that took place this week in Amman, Jordan. Look for him to mention and also express continued condolences and condemnation of the terrorists who carried out that attack.
Daryn, he's also expected to mention by name Abu Musab al- Zarqawi, of course the very well-known Jordanian who heads the al Qaeda terrorist organization in Iraq. He's also believed to be a prime suspect in the Jordanian attacks -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Andrea Koppel live at the White House.
Andrea, thank you.
The president's speech is coming at a military post in northeastern Pennsylvania. Reporter Kerry Shahen from our affiliate WBRE joins me now this morning. She's at the airport near Scranton, Pennsylvania, where Air force One is due shortly.
A little noisy there, Kerry. But if you can tell us about this area and where the president has picked to give his speech today.
Good morning to you.
KERRY SHAHEN, REPORTER, WBRE: Good morning, Daryn.
You may have a little trouble hearing, but Air Force One just landed a little bit ahead of schedule right behind me. A small crowd right here inside the airport gave -- a huge cheer just went up. There's also a small crowd just outside the gates, where people are trying to get a glimpse of the president, taking pictures as Air Force One just landed here at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.
Now, the president is expected to get off. Once he gets off the plane, he plans to give the President's Volunteer Service Award to a local firefighter here for his service, 22 years of service as a volunteer firefighter in (INAUDIBLE) City.
A lot of excitement here. The mood is absolutely electric. Once the president gets off the plane, he'll be on Marine One and flown to the Tobyhanna Army Depot. That Army depot is actually the largest employer in our area, and it escaped closure twice during the most recent BRAC Commission.
A lot of people up there. Hundreds of people waiting for the president. He's expected to talk about the Iraq war and to honor our veterans and our soldiers currently overseas.
Now, the sight of Air Force One and the president in northeastern Pennsylvania is not as strange as you might think. This was actually his very first stop after the Republican National Convention right here. We were standing in the exact same spot that night.
He came off the plane to a huge crowd at that point. That was actually the first of several stops in our area during the campaign of '04. A lot of people still excited here today.
We're live for CNN. I'm Kerry Shahen -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Kerry, actually, we can hear you very well. I don't know if you can hear me, but I'm going to try...
SHAHEN: I'm having a little -- I'm having a little trouble hearing you, Daryn.
KAGAN: OK. I'll just try and see how we do.
The Tobyhanna Army Depot that you were talking about, that's very interesting that you say that a lot of people expected it would be in the process of closure. There must have been a big fight to save it.
SHAHEN: There was a big fight to save it. In fact, a lot of people were very nervous about it. And in fact, in the end, it worked out where they're actually adding jobs.
I believe the Tobyhanna Army Depot actually employs about 4,000 people locally. It's our biggest employer in this area.
KAGAN: You were mentioning President Bush making a visit to this area, how it's not that unusual. Pennsylvania, of course, was a state that received a lot of attention during the 2004 presidential election.
SHAHEN: We did get a ton of attention. We had several stops.
Like I said, it was his first stop right after the Republican National Convention. Right in this very same place we were standing that night. But a much bigger crowd at that point coming out to see him.
I can't really show you where there are people outside of the airport gates who are standing out there. But there is one thing to note. There aren't any protesters from what we can tell out there right now.
KAGAN: Reporter Kerry Shahen from our affiliate WBRE. Thank you very much.
And we expect to see President Bush any minute. Once again, that speech taking place in about 45 minutes. You'll see it live here on CNN.
The top U.S. diplomat turned up in Iraq this morning, as we're watching two pictures at one time. Of course that's Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the smaller box that you're seeing. She is visiting Mosul and Baghdad. The trip was kept secret for security reasons.
Rice urged minority Sunnis to vote in December's election for a permanent government.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: The Iraqi government that is elected after December will be even more representative. And so the lead on this really ought to be with the Iraqi government. And any people coming out of a period of tyranny as the Iraqis have, and now out of a period of violence, have to find the balance between inclusion and reconciliation and justice.
And that is a process that I'm sure the Iraqis themselves will lead. But justice for those who have died is also very important.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: And that's Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice making a visit to Iraq.
Keeping the picture up, there's President Bush arriving in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, aboard Air Force One.
He will make his way there to Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, where he'll be giving a speech today on this Veterans Day on the war on terror.
We are told from White House sources the president will continue to talk about the war on terror, the nature of what he sees as the enemy, what's at stake, the importance of what the president sees as success, and the contribution that the United States is making in Iraq and Afghanistan.
You will see those comments live here on CNN.
And while the president arrives in Pennsylvania, Vice President Dick Cheney arriving at a different part of Arlington National Cemetery just a few moments ago. We saw the vice president lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns on this Veterans Day.
The vice president making remarks also ahead. And you will see that and the president's remarks as they become available.
On to Jordan. The deputy prime minister there says he cannot confirm claims that four Iraqis carried out the deadly hotel bombings in Amman and that the bombers included a husband and wife team.
CNN's Hala Gorani is live in Amman with the latest on how the Jordanians are responding to those attacks.
Hala, hello.
HALA GORANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, hello, Daryn.
I'm joining you from the steps leading to the entrance of the Radisson hotel. There was a quiet candlelight vigil a few minutes ago, and it has turned into a vocal show of support for the relatives of those who were killed.
There was a wedding here 48 years ago. That's when a suicide bomber strapped with explosives blew himself up, killing dozens of people.
I will let you take in some of the sights and sounds of what we're seeing here in front of the Radisson hotel for a few seconds.
You can see there are mainly young people holding up candles, chanting slogans in support of the monarchy, and also saying, when you take them aside and ask them, "Why are you here?" saying that this is a way of showing their support, of sharing the grief of the families of those who lost so much 48 hours ago.
I'm joined now by the daughter of the owner of this hotel, whose family owns the Radisson hotel in Amman, Mary Mazzal.
Thanks so much for being with us.
You were in London when you learned of the bombings. What did you do? You hopped on a plane and immediately came here?
MARY MAZZAL, DAUGHTER OF AMMAN RADISSON OWNER: Oh, definitely. We were so devastated and so shocked and had so many questions that needed to be answered. Our staff were suffering. Everyone just needed help, and we got right here right away.
GORANI: And you lost one member of your staff.
MAZZAL: We did. He was a waiter. He was very sweet, and he wasn't even supposed to have been working at that wedding. But thank god we only lost one -- one young man.
GORANI: What goes through your mind? I mean, when you see the pictures of what happened, when this wedding celebration was torn apart in such a bloody way?
MAZZAL: It's very, very gruesome when you go inside. You're actually in utter, utter shock. I don't really understand the whole thing. It doesn't make too much sense right now.
GORANI: And you're still very effected.
MAZZAL: I think we all are very effected, but I think we're all very strong at the same time. We have proven to be very resilient. And I think the nation is going to come together on this.
GORANI: You've been here all day.
MAZZAL: Yes.
GORANI: I've been seeing you walking in and out of the hotel. What have you been doing two days after the attacks? MAZZAL: I think I've been trying to console some of the staff to show that we are so thankful for all their efforts. But I think everyone's been doing a lot of crying and just trying to get over the whole thing.
GORANI: And the staff as well, and you, all together, just trying to get over this?
MAZZAL: Oh, definitely. I mean, we've all been one family. Not just the staff and our hotel, but Jordan generally. As you can see, people from all walks of life, Palestinians, Jordanians, Christians, Muslims, we've really come together. And I think things will only improve from now.
GORANI: Now, the hotel organized this vigil, but how did the word get out to come here and chant these slogans of support for the victims and the government?
MAZZAL: Well, really, all we had -- we just put out the candles and people naturally flocked here. I think people just want to be with other Jordanians and just experience the whole thing together.
GORANI: Now, as a young Jordanian yourself, living abroad but commuting between Amman and London, what do you make of these terrorist groups who act in the name of religion or politics? And Abu Musab al-Zarqawi -- fits the case that his group did commit this -- is Jordanian-born?
How do you feel?
MAZZAL: Really, I don't think I can even comment, because things are so unclear at this present time. And the whole situation is so difficult, I really don't think I can comment accurately.
GORANI: All right. The future? A quick word, what now for you and your staff?
MAZZAL: The only way is up, as we say. I think things will only get better.
GORANI: All right.
MAZZAL: Thank you.
GORANI: All right. On that note, Mary Mazzal, thanks so much for joining us.
There you have it, optimism, resolve, anger in some cases. But Jordanians saying that they want to stand together in condemning these terrorist attacks -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Hala Gorani live from Amman, Jordan.
Hala, thank you.
Back to two live pictures from here in the states. That's President Bush arriving on the left part of your screen in Wilkes- Barre, Pennsylvania. He's on his way to Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, where he will be giving a speech in the next hour.
On the right side of your screen, Arlington National Cemetery. That is where Vice President Dick Cheney is. We expect to hear remarks from him as well in the next few minutes.
All that's ahead here on CNN LIVE TODAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Live pictures from Washington, D.C. That is where the top presidential adviser's future with team Bush remains clouded. Nonetheless, Karl Rove stepping back into the spotlight. We'll get to Karl Rove's story in just a moment.
It's Veterans Day, and here is the Vietnam War Memorial. A number of people paying their respects there, as well as at other memorials around Washington, D.C. Also Arlington National Cemetery, where we expect to hear from Vice President Dick Cheney in just a few moments.
Let's talk Karl Rove now. He has kept a low public profile since he became a focus of the CIA leak prosecutor. Mr. Rove didn't mention his possible legal troubles last night, but he lashed out at what he called judicial imperialism, judges who, as Rove says, legislate from the bench.
Rove was preaching to the choir last night. His speech was before the conservative Federalist Society.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KARL ROVE, DEPUTY WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: But the judicial activism about which Americans feel most deeply is to be found in our federal courts. For decades, the American people have seen decision after decision after decision that strikes them as fundamentally out of touch with our Constitution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Rove remains under investigation in the CIA leak case. He has denied leaking the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame.
Another central figure in the CIA saga is speaking out today at the National Press Club. Former "New York Times" reporter Judith Miller is talking about her summer in jail.
She had refused to identify her source in the leak case. Miller gave her first TV interview since leaving the paper this week, and she talked to our Larry King last night. In that interview, she discusses her reporting on the Iraq -- on Iraq in the run-up to the war, also reporting that turned out to be largely incorrect.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JUDITH MILLER, REPORTER, "NEW YORK TIMES": I think the job of the journalist is to try to tell the reader or the viewer to the greatest extent possible where the information is coming from, and why that information is being given to you, and also to try and vet that information with outside sources and other people who may not have an axe to grind or may have a different axe to grind.
And then you present it. And you know what? If it's wrong, you go back and you say it was wrong, and you do a second story and a third story until you get as close to the truth as you can get.
It's not sexy journalism. But it's the way I think it ought to be done, and it's the way I tried to do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Miller says both Republicans and Democrats were sources for her stories about Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction. And though the premise of her reporting was wrong, Miller did not believe she had been deliberately misled by those sources.
Larry's back again tonight. He'll be talking with country singer Mindy McCready. That's 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 p.m. Pacific.
February 2003, Secretary of State Colin Powell linking al Qaeda and Iraq. He tells the U.N. that al Qaeda sent operatives to Iraq on a mission to acquire chemical and biological weapons.
Now a CIA document dated January 2003, weeks before the Powell presentation, shows the agency doubted that al Qaeda was involved with Iraq. The claim had been made by a captured al Qaeda suspect, but the memo says the detainee was not in a position to know anything about his claim and that he may have been intentionally misleading the U.S.
He recanted a year later.
And a year earlier, Powell called that detainee a solid source who gave the U.S. facts.
Well, the fact is, we're waiting for Vice President Dick Cheney. He is at Arlington National Cemetery, where he participated in the ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
There's the vice president in the bottom part of your screen. He will be making some remarks soon. You will hear those live here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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