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Senate Poised to Vote on Two Proposals for U.S. Troop Withdrawal From Iraq; Bush Commemorates Hungarian Uprising

Aired June 22, 2006 - 10:30   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR, CNN LIVE TODAY: As long as we're talking houses why don't we talk the "Open House" show. It's coming up on Saturday.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Saturday morning right here on CNN, 9:30 a.m. Eastern. Real estate price fixing and high tech surveillance and Gardening with Lydia, from "Lydia's Table". We've got a lot coming up on the show. If you're not up at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning you can always tune into Headline News in the afternoon. Saturday and Sunday at 5:30 p.m., we reair the show then. There are actually some differences we'll have a little more information, some extra stuff for you to see at that time.

KAGAN: So, true fans should really watch two or three times over the weekend.

WILLIS: That's right, Daryn.

KAGAN: If you're really dedicated. We'll look for that. Gerri, thank you.

WILLIS: Thank you.

KAGAN: Let's go to a story now we saw actually break during this show this time yesterday. The FBI is investigating a deadly shoot out at a federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida. The latest now from the story with Susan Candiotti -- Susan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It was designed to go down quietly inside a federal prison. The plan was to arrest unarmed guards suspected of trading drugs for sex with inmates. But something went very wrong.

MICHAEL FOLMAR, FBI SPEC. AGENT IN CHARGE: It just didn't go down exactly as planned.

CANDIOTTI: Not even close. As white robed investigators combed the grounds for bullet casings a federal agent was already dead. Another federal investigator injured, and a prison guard who allegedly shot at them fatally gunned down. At the time that guard was in the process of being arrested. It's unclear who shot whom, and when.

FOLMAR: This arrest situation was done in a manner to be very controlled; in a situation where nobody would have any weapons. And we could take this down so there wouldn't be any violence.

CANDIOTTI: Authorities say five other guards were taken down without violence. But the sixth used his personal gun. A law enforcement official tells CNN the shooting started inside and ended outside near an exit.

How the guard was able to get an unauthorized gun inside is not known. His lawyer claims guards are not screened at entrances like visitors. The FBI said it did not know whether guards go through metal detectors. All six guards had just been indicted on charges of trading drugs for sex with female inmates; paying off others with money orders to keep their mouths shut; and intimidating still others by threatening to transfer them farther away from families.

The accused guard who was killed knew he was under investigation. The FBI told him so last year. He even gave a saliva sample for a DNA test. But his lawyer says they heard nothing more.

TIMOTHY JANSEN, ATTORNEY: My understanding he denied it from the very beginning and that he didn't give an interview. He denied it.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): And what did he deny?

JANSEN: He denied any inappropriate contact in the investigation.

CANDIOTTI (voice over): A FBI team will investigate the shooting. A law enforcement source says it's also looking into whether the guard who fired his gun was tipped off.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Susan Candiotti joining us live now from Tallahassee.

Susan, what more can you tell us about the federal agent who died in this shoot out?

CANDIOTTI: About the federal agent who died? He was 44 years old, William "Buddy" Sentner. And had been with the Secret Service for 14 years protecting both the president and the vice president. He took this job only within the last couple of years because he told his family he wanted to normalize his life. Normalize his schedule. He got married just last year and had been planning to start a family.

KAGAN: Very sad. The latest from Tallahassee. Susan, thank you.

And we go back to the floor of the U.S. Senate. Senator Carl Levin with another proposal of what would happen to the troops in Iraq. Let's listen in.

(BEGIN LIVE FEED, IN PROGRESS)

SEN. CARL LEVIN (D) MICHIGAN: Our amendment does not order the president, as some on that side have actually put it yesterday. This is a sense of the Senate. This is something where, we, the authors of this amendment, feel that we have a responsibility to use our best effort to give our best advice as to what our policy should be.

It is not a policy of immediately redeploying forces. There is not a precipitous nature to this amendment. It says by the end of this year, in the next six months. Begin the phased redeployment of American forces from Iraq.

That's what the Iraqis say their policy is. That is what they are security advisor says their policy is. Their own security advisor, Mr. Rubott (ph) in "The Washington Post" two days ago, said that we envision the U.S. troop presence by year's end -- by year's end -- to be under 100,000. That is a redeployment of 30,000 troops.

Our amendment tells the Iraqis, stay with that. Stick to that policy. It is the right policy. You must take over your own nation and make it work and make it happen.

And then Mr. Rubott (ph) -- again, this is a national security advisor of Iraq -- in a written document presented to the American people through our newspapers, says that the removal of coalition troops from Iraqi streets will help the Iraqis who now see foreign troops as occupiers rather than liberators. And he says the removal of foreign troops will legitimize Iraq's government in the eyes of its people.

Our amendment urging the president to end an open-ended commitment of our troops to Iraq and to begin the redeployment by year's end is a way of implementing what the Iraqis themselves have said.

(END LIVE FEED, IN PROGRESS)

KAGAN: So, you have been listening in a bit to Senator Carl Levin, a Democrat of Michigan. He is one of the people presenting one of two Democratic proposals before the Senate. With this one the proposal it will be a phased redeployment of U.S. forces by year's end, but there would be no set deadline.

The other, by Senator John Kerry and Senator Feingold would call for all U.S. troops to be withdrawn from Iraq by July of next year. A vote on those are expected later today. More coverage from the U.S. Senate as the days go on.

Other military matters, Marines and a sailor charged with murder. They are accused of killing an Iraqi civilian. Ahead on LIVE TODAY we go to Camp Pendleton in California.

He's one of the most powerful men in America. This morning Vice President Dick Cheney sits down with our John King, and no one else. Vice President's Dick Cheney's candid thoughts coming up on CNN.

As for the president, he's in Budapest, Hungary today. We expect him to speak very soon, you'll see parts of that speech here live on CNN. You are watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: President Bush speaking right now in Budapest, Hungary. He's marking the 50th anniversary of Hungary's revolution against Soviet rule. We'll go back and listen to the president, in a moment.

First though, focusing on the president's vice president. Dick Cheney holding more power than perhaps any vice president in any recent memory. His words carry weight on everything from energy policy to the war in Iraq. Just moments ago Chief National Correspondent John King talked one-on-one with the vice president.

John is here with headlines from his exclusive. So, John, he talked to you, and then the vice president said that's it. Only John King today.

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Only John King today, Daryn. The vice president has a busy schedule.

We talked about the issue you were just showing a bit, in the show. You showed Senator Carl Levin on the floor of the United States Senate. He's one of the authors of the two competing Democratic proposals, both of which cal for at least the beginning of a pull-out from Iraq, the vice president weighing in on that at great length.

He says he views these Democratic proposals as a recipe for defeat and disaster in Iraq. He repeatedly said that he believes setting any public timetable, at all, would essentially allowing the terrorists to declare victory. Allowing them to lay in wait for the American troops to pull out. Then he suggested they would topple not only the new government in Iraq, but perhaps to go on to topple the regimes in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as well.

Quite grave words from the vice president, as he again, said these Democratic proposals are not only a mistake when it comes to Iraq, but he says if the United States pulls out of Iraq the terrorists, the vice president said, will follow us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If we pull out they will follow us. It doesn't matter where we go. This is a global conflict. We've seen them attack in London, and Madrid, and Casablanca, and Istanbul and in Mombassa, and East Africa. They have been on a global basis involved in this conflict, and it will continue whether we complete the job or not in Iraq only it will get worse. Iraq will become a safe haven for terrorists. They will use it in order to launch attacks against our friends and allies in that part of the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: A very disciplined messenger, the vice president is. I read him a number of the polling data suggesting the American people don't think this president has a plan. That 54 percent say the war is a mistake.

And equal number say it is going badly; 53 percent of the American people support a timetable. I said Mr. Vice President a majority of the American people don't think the administration has a plan. Daryn, he said quite simply, quote, "they are wrong".

The vice president again also refusing to apologize for statements he made or pull back from statements made that have contributed to this political debate about Iraq. His early statement the United States troops would be greeted as liberators. His more recent statement the insurgency was in its final throes. The vice president standing by both of those. And most emphatically of all, Daryn again, as the Senate prepares to vote on these Democratic proposals. Saying that he views them as a recipe for defeat and disaster, not only for Iraq but the broader global war on terrorism.

KAGAN: Sounds like a fascinating conversation -- and you got to walk the dogs, as well. You got the full -

KING: Gabe (ph) and Jackson.

KAGAN: There you go. Thank you. Thank you, John.

You can see all of John King's exclusive interview with the vice president later, on CNN's "The Situation Room." Tune at 7 p.m. Eastern, 4 p.m. Pacific.

Let's go back to Budapest and listen in to what President Bush is saying.

(BEGIN LIVE FEED, IN PROGRESS)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Which supports democratic reformers, independent journalists, women's groups, and human rights advocates throughout the Middle East. Hungary is making a difference in our world. And I thank you for your leadership in freedom's cause.

Hungary is also showing courage in freedom's cause. In Kosovo, Hungarian soldiers are helping to secure the peace. You work is aiding the rise of democracy in a region that has endured violence and tyranny for many decades. By your efforts you're helping the people of the Balkans establish free and democratic societies. You're paving the way for the membership in the institutions of a united Europe.

Hungarian troops are also defending freedom's cause in the war on terror. In Afghanistan, your soldiers have rebuilt schools and a medical center. They have helped train Afghan police to enforce the rule of law, to protect the Afghan people. In Iraq Hungarian troops played a vital role in operation Iraqi freedom by providing security and delivering food and medical supplies to coalition forces.

Today Hungarian soldiers are helping to train Iraqi security forces. This is important work. By supporting these two young democracies you are strengthening two new allies in the war on terror and you're bringing hope to millions of people in a vital region of the world.

Last week I traveled to Baghdad. I was impressed by what I saw. Americans, and Hungarians, and other coalition partners can be proud of what we have achieved in partnership with the Iraqi people. I met with Iraq's new prime minister and was able to see firsthand his strong character. His commitment to freedom, and his determination to succeed. Hungarians will recognize the spirit.

The Prime Minister Maliki is committed to the democratic ideals that also inspired Hungarian patriots in 1956 and 1989. He has a sound plan to improve security, to unify his people and to deliver a better life for the citizens of Iraq. The success of the new Iraqi government is vital to the security of all nations. So it deserves the support of the international community. We will continue to help the Iraqi government establish free institutions to achieve its goals. And we will continue to help Iraq take its rightful place along side of America and Hungary as beacons of liberty in our world.

Iraq's young democracy still faces determined enemies; people who will use violence and brutality to stop the march of freedom. Defeating these enemies will require sacrifice and continued patience. The kind of patience the good people of Hungary displayed after 1956. We will help them rebuild a country destroyed by a tyrant. We will help the Iraqis defeat the enemies of freedom. Our commitment is certain, our objective is clear, the new Iraqi government will show the world the promise of a thriving democracy in the heart of the Middle East.

The Hungarian people know well the promise of freedom. Many of you lived through the nightmare of fascism or Communism, or both. Yet you never lost hope. You kept faith in freedom. And 50 years after you watched Soviet tanks invade your beloved city, you now watch your grandchildren play in the streets of a free Hungary.

The lesson of the Hungarian experience is clear, liberty can be delayed, but it cannot be denied. The desire for liberty is universal because it is written by our Creator into the hearts of every man, woman, and child on this Earth. And takes people across the world step forward to claim their own freedom, they will take inspiration from your example and draw hope from your success.

Earlier today Laura and I laid a bouquet of flowers at the 1956 memorial monument across the river. It was our privilege to do so. It was a moving moment for us. Kossuth Square is named for the father of Hungarian democracy. And honors more than a century and a half of Hungarian sacrifice in freedom's cause. A bust of this great leader stands in the United States Capitol. It affirms that those who fight for liberty are heroes not only in their own land but of all free nations. All who love liberty are linked together across the generations, and across the world.

Your great poet, Petofi said this, "Here is the time, now or never. Shall we be slaves or free? This is the question. Answer, by the God of the Hungarians, we swear, we swear to be slaves no more."

These words were addressed to the Hungarian people yet they speak to all people and in all times. This is the spirit that we honor today. I appreciate the opportunity to come to this great country. And to celebrate the Hungarian example, the courage, the sacrifice, the perseverance that is led to the democracy. On behalf of all Americans, Kosunum (ph), may God bless you all. Thank you very much.

(END LIVE FEED, IN PROGRESS)

KAGAN: President Bush in Budapest, Hungary, today. He's commemorating the 50th anniversary of Hungary's revolution of Soviet rule. And taking the opportunity to make comparison's to the push for freedom and democracy in Iraq.

We will take a break and we're back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid on the floor of the U.S. Senate. We expect in about in 15 minutes the first of two votes on some Democratic proposals concerning the level of U.S. troops in Iraq. The first one to get voted on the Kerry-Feingold proposal, which calls for all troops to be withdrawn from Iraq by July of next year. We'll watch that vote take place live here on CNN.

If you have ever swiped supplies from the office, come on, we can talk, right? Well, guess what, you're not alone. Stephanie Elam -- no, she's not doing it, but she's telling us about it. You're not doing it, are you, Stephanie?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not right this minute.

KAGAN: OK. Good. But there's a new survey out about it?

ELAM: There is, Daryn. A new survey that came out from Spireon Workplace (ph) and it finds that nearly one in five workers have actually admitted to taking office supplies from their job for their own personal use.

And the study's author says that in reality that number is probably a lot higher. That's because when asked many people don't own up to stealing, because they don't actually believe taking a pen or a folder here or there should actually qualify as theft. Others say they see their boss doing it all the time, so what's the big deal, Daryn?

KAGAN: Well, there go. As they go, we go. What about the ages of people who admit stealing from work?

ELAM: Well actually the younger you are the greater the chances are you're dipping your hand into the office supply cabinets. So, I guess you're doing that a whole lot, Daryn.

KAGAN: Oh, you're calling me young -- a thief -- but young.

ELAM: A young thief.

KAGAN: I'll take it.

ELAM: Yeah, take it.

But in the survey nearly a quarter of 18 to 29 years old, actually admitted to stealing from the office, and that compares with just 13 percent of those the ages of 50 and older.

KAGAN: Now on to other information about a group of workers who have no need to steal from the office because they make so much money.

ELAM: That's true. It's no surprise that the top dogs at larger companies make big, big bucks. But listen to this, the average CEO earns more in one workday than the average worker brought him home in an entire year.

According to a study by the Economic Policy Institute, the average CEO made almost $11 million in 2005. While the typical worker made just under $42,000. Executive compensation has been a hot issue with shareholders amid countless stories about chief executives being awarded multimillion dollar pay packages even as the company stock price has fallen.

Now, speaking of falling stock prices stocks are reversing yesterday's gain. Inflation worries are back to the spotlight as investors look ahead to next week's Federal Reserve meeting on interest rates.

Taking the latest numbers, right now, the Dow Jones industrials on the downside by 32 points. That is off about a third of a percent. And the Nasdaq is off by 15.5 points. That's the latest from Wall Street. Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: All right, thank you.

Pulling troops out of Iraq. Democrats say let's put tote a vote and the Senate is about to do just that. The vote is expected minutes from now. Live coverage just ahead.

And the military investigation leads to murder charges. Seven Marines and a sailor stand accused. The case against them ahead on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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