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American Morning
Interview With Terry McAuliffe, Ed Gillespie
Aired April 27, 2004 - 08:00 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
A political slugfest between the vice president and Senator John Kerry. Who wins the battle over wars past and present?
Fierce fighting again today in Iraq. Today it's in the town of Najaf, near the town, anyway, one of the largest coalition enemies now hiding out.
And the military Humvees there in Iraq -- have they become a death trap in modern warfare? The general who thinks he knows a solution, on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: Eight o'clock here in New York.
Good morning.
Good to have you with us today here on AMERICAN MORNING.
A key series of hearings resuming today in Colorado, where the judge in the Kobe Bryant case is deciding what evidence will be allowed into trial. Both sides have a lot to lose in this. We'll go out there live for a report in a moment. The question about the woman's past and her history, etc., all on the line out there in Eagle.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Also this morning, a little bit later, Dr. Sanjay Gupta is going to join us for part two in his series about pregnancy and newborns. And this morning we are talking about losing pregnancy weight and how much weight you should gain. Huh!
HEMMER: I think you look terrific, by the way.
O'BRIEN: Oh, blah, blah, blah. Thank you.
HEMMER: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: Yes, thank you.
HEMMER: You're welcome.
Hey, Jack.
O'BRIEN: Hi, Jack. JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, what?
HEMMER: What's up?
CAFFERTY: Nothing.
HEMMER: We're going to cheer you up before the show is over, my man.
CAFFERTY: Don't bet on it.
Coming up in the Cafferty File today, parents who pay of $100,000 to send their children to one of America's major universities are going to be real thrilled when they find out who's giving the commencement speech.
HEMMER: Ooh.
O'BRIEN: Really?
CAFFERTY: And you will never believe how much the U.S. ambassador pays to rent his place in Moscow. Talk about bargains, wait till you hear it.
HEMMER: Nice.
O'BRIEN: That sounds interesting.
HEMMER: I'll bet you a shoe shine we get you to smile before the show is over. Think about it.
CAFFERTY: I have.
O'BRIEN: I was going to say good morning...
HEMMER: I'm seeing it there.
O'BRIEN: We've got a couple of hours to work on it.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
O'BRIEN: Thanks, Jack.
Let's get to our top stories this morning.
We begin, in fact, in Iraq, where U.S. forces have been engaged in some fierce fighting near the Iraqi holy city of Najaf. A U.S. military spokesman says U.S. troops killed 43 insurgents overnight and destroyed an anti-coalition, anti-aircraft system. The fighting comes as U.S. forces begin taking over control of provinces from Spanish troops. This morning we'll talk with a reporter who's been in Najaf in just a few moments.
Two Wisconsin sisters are deciding whether to return to their National Guard units in Iraq. Rachel and Charity Witmer have the option to be reassigned from the war zone. Their sister Michelle was killed in a convoy ambush in Baghdad earlier this month. The sisters' parents appealed to the military to transfer the women. An announcement, in fact, is expected later today.
Singer Michael Jackson is offering his account on reasons for the shakeup of his legal team. In a statement released yesterday, Jackson thanked lead attorneys, Mark Geragos and Ben Brafman, for their work, but he said his new lawyers must devote their "full attention" to his case. Thomas Mesereau, who also represented actor Robert Blake, will now defend Jackson. The pop star is expected to return to court for a second arraignment on Friday.
And Oscar winning actress Halle Berry's marriage to R&B singer Eric Benet is officially coming to an end. A spokeswoman for the acclaimed actress confirmed that divorce papers have been filed, but declined to further comment. The couple separated in October after about three years of marriage. This is the second divorce for Berry. She was previously married to major league baseball David Justice.
Just in case you're wondering about Halle's personal life, I feel like I've brought you up to speed. So she's single, is what I'm saying guys. Now's the time.
HEMMER: This portion of AMERICAN MORNING brought to you by "Us" weekly.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: The issue of national security front and center on the campaign trail yet again yesterday. The vice president, Dick Cheney, in Missouri attacking Senator John Kerry for voting to cut weapons programs. Part of that speech now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The senator from Massachusetts has given us ample grounds to doubt the judgment and the attitude he brings to bear on vital issues of national security. The contrasts between the candidates this November will be sharper than it has been in many years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Terry McAuliffe is chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Ed Gillespie is chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Gentlemen, welcome back here to AMERICAN MORNING.
TERRY MCAULIFFE, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
ED GILLESPIE, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Thanks, Bill.
HEMMER: Good to have you back here.
Some commercials roll out today hitting John Kerry on his defense record and whether or not he's fit to be commander-in-chief.
To Terry first, I want to get back to this comment from Dick Cheney. He said he doubts the judgment and the attitude he brings -- meaning Senator Kerry -- to bear on vital issues of national security.
You're responding to that how?
MCAULIFFE: I think John Kerry has proven his entire life that he can stand up and be counted when he needs to serve this nation. He'll do a great job as president of the United States. He went to Vietnam. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam, up and down the Mekong Delta. He risked his life to save the lives of others. I was at an event yesterday with 30 veterans with me. That's the kind of courageous leadership that we need.
I find it fascinating that Dick Cheney, who had the opportunity to go to war in Vietnam, chose not to -- that was his own decision -- nor did President Bush go to Vietnam. The issue is will you stand up and fight for America? John Kerry has proven, he did it as a young man, he has continually fought to do that and he has fought for weapons programs. And when Dick Cheney was secretary of defense, he tried to cut 81 weapons programs. And the hypocrisy of him coming out and trying to attack John Kerry yesterday is beyond the pale of anything I've ever seen in politics.
HEMMER: Let me get Ed Gillespie in on this argument.
Why are the Republicans saying they doubt John Kerry's judgment? How would you know at this point?
GILLESPIE: Well, we know by his record in the United States Senate. This is someone who voted to gut our intelligence funding at a time when we most needed it. In 1994, he offered an amendment -- one year after the World Trade Center was attacked the first time -- to gut $6 billion from our intelligence funds. And it would have been $300 million the year before the USS Cole was attacked. A $300 million cut the year before the embassies in East Africa were attacked.
His judgment, when you look at where he voted, in 1991, he voted against the first Gulf War. He said it would be irresponsible to vote against funding for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and then turned around and did exactly that.
His judgment is evident in his record. And I noticed that Terry doesn't want to talk about that. Instead, they attack the vice president and they attack the president. Look, no one questions John Kerry's service in Vietnam. It was admirable. That doesn't mean that he's right on national security policy.
HEMMER: You're saying no one questions John Kerry's service in Vietnam? I want to pull a clip from yesterday and then we'll get to the attacks on Sunday and then again on Monday, raising these very issues. An interview that popped up from 1971, the whole issue of medals and ribbons in Washington, D.C.
Listen here.
(AUDIO GAP)
HEMMER: We apologize for that. Our mistake. If we can get it to roll, we will.
Terry McAuliffe, this is what the Republicans say. They say the story changes year after year, decade after decade, and that's where they hit your candidate, John Kerry.
Your response to that is what?
MCAULIFFE: What a waste of time and debate. He earned five medals, three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star, a Bronze Star. Just talk to the veterans organizations who are behind John Kerry and talk about his courageous leadership.
Dick Cheney, George Bush, you know, they didn't have any medals to throw anywhere, because they didn't earn any medals. John Kerry did it. He proved what a leader he is for this country and right now I think if you want to go to the judgment, we've got the president of the United States, George Bush, who rushed us to war, would not build an international coalition. We went over there with no plan for what to do with our troops after major combat operations were over.
This Saturday is the one year anniversary, where he strutted around in an aircraft carrier and said "mission accomplished." Seven hundred people have died from there. And just yesterday, as you know, the head of the armed forces command in Iraq wrote to the Army chief of staff and said we are over here, we are ill equipped.
GILLESPIE: Bill, may I address some of this...
MCAULIFFE: George Bush has had three years to prepare us for Iraq...
GILLESPIE: Bill...
MCAULIFFE: Our troops are there without the body armor, the Humvees aren't protecting us. George Bush, you want to talk about judgment, we've got troops over there that aren't being protected.
GILLESPIE: Bill, is this a two, are there two -- do I get to participate in this program, as well?
HEMMER: You sure do, Ed.
Yes, go right ahead.
GILLESPIE: OK.
Great.
Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: You know what, actually? Actually, hang on a second here. I'm going to roll this tape if we've got the machine working at this point.
Do we have it?
Let's listen to this clip and then we'll come back and talk about it.
(AUDIO GAP)
HEMMER: That's what we call a bad day, guys.
Sorry about that.
I'm redder than you are.
Ed, go ahead. You have the floor.
GILLESPIE: Well, look, Bill, first of all, look, I said no one questioned the senator's service in Vietnam. In fact, we respect him for it. We said no one questioned it. No one questioned it. What happened was that less than five days ago, the senator said I never implied that I threw away my own medals. And, in fact, it turned out that he did just that and he said just that. And this is part of a pattern you see with John Kerry. He says one thing, does another, constant reversal and shifting of positions. That's not the kind of steady leadership we need in these challenging times.
Look, if you don't like John Kerry's position on an issue, just go to his next event, it'll probably change. This is someone who voted for no child left behind and now campaigns against it. He voted for the Patriot Act and now says it has to be replaced. He voted for the Iraq war and now says he's an anti-war candidate. He said it would be irresponsible to oppose the funding for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and turned around and voted against it. He was in favor of NAFTA, voted for it. Now he's in favor of economic isolationism and says he'd be against it.
You know, that kind of waffling is just not what we're looking for and not the kind of leadership trait that we need in the United States presidency.
HEMMER: We're going to leave it there.
Gentlemen, I apologize. The machine wasn't working the way we wanted it to. We did not give our viewers a fair opportunity to weigh in on this issue simply because we didn't have the evidence to back up our arguments this morning, going back to 1971 and again yesterday.
But, again, thanks for your time today.
Hope to get you back here.
MCAULIFFE: Thank you.
GILLESPIE: Thank you.
HEMMER: Terry McAuliffe... (AUDIO GAP)
O'BRIEN: ... Bryant returns to court today in Colorado for a pretrial hearing. This week's proceedings could determine some critical issues when the sexual assault case goes to trial.
Adrian Baschuk is covering the case for us in Eagle County -- hey, Adrian, good morning.
ADRIAN BASCHUK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
This is the last round of scheduled hearings before the court. Monday, both sides only got part way through the rape shield issue. Nine people testified, mostly rape trauma experts and expert witnesses. This morning, both sides will be calling more witnesses to take the stand to testify about the accuser's sexual past.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASCHUK (voice-over): Judge Terry Ruckriegle will have to determine how to refer to the accuser in open court. The prosecution calls her the "victim." The defense initiated the debate and argued that she be called the "alleged victim."
Bryant's defense team is looking for a legal victory after the judge ruled last week that the accuser's medical records will remain sealed and confidential.
Still, the defense will be able to call witnesses to testify about her medical and psychological condition.
LARRY POZNER, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: The real battle is are the suicide attempts going to be admissible? They're closely related in time and they show a state of mind, a disturbed state of mind.
BASCHUK: This week's closed door pretrial hearings will determine what portions of the accuser's sexual past will be admitted into the trial as evidence. A defense challenge to the state's rape shield law.
CRAIG SILVERMAN, FORMER DENVER DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: If the prosecution loses the rape shield hearing or the motion to suppress, expect an appeal, which will further delay things in this case.
POZNER: If we're still doing motions in May, there isn't going to be a trial in June. There may be a trial in August.
BASCHUK: Kobe Bryant has yet to enter a plea and must do so before any trial date can be set.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASCHUK: A big question is when will that trial come about? And the judge said yesterday late in the hearings that he does not want to set a trial date until all the DNA evidence is in. Both sides will be presenting their evidence in Wednesday morning's hearing -- Soledad. O'BRIEN: Adrian Baschuk for us this morning in Eagle County.
Adrian, thanks.
HEMMER: In a moment here, Libya's Moammar Qaddafi undergoes a makeover. But is it for real? He's touring Europe now. We'll get to that in a moment.
O'BRIEN: Also -- excuse me for jumping on you there -- are Humvees too vulnerable to protect troops in Iraq? One top general thinks so. But does the Pentagon agree?
HEMMER: Also, our week long series on newborns continues today. Day two, looking at one of the biggest challenges a mother faces after that bundle of joy arrives. You know a thing or two about this.
O'BRIEN: Losing the other 30 pounds is not quite joy.
HEMMER: The emphasis on two, ahead here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERICAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: The latest from Iraq now. News to tell you about from near the city of Najaf and also from the Shi'ite stronghold of Falluja.
First Najaf, where an overnight battle between U.S. forces and Iraqi insurgents resulted in at least 43 Iraqi deaths. Coalition officials are warning insurgents to not store weapons in mosques and in schools in Najaf and they are promising action if those weapons are not removed.
Meanwhile in Falluja, a day after a fierce gun battle with Marines, insurgents are being given more time to turn in their heavy weapons. Joint patrols between Iraqi security forces and Marines have been postponed. Officials say the military is committed to letting the political process work in order to avoid further full-fledged battles.
Our next guest has been to both Najaf and also the outskirts of Falluja.
Jon Lee Anderson of the "New Yorker" magazine joins us this morning from Amman, Jordan.
Nice to see you, Jon.
Thanks for being with us.
Let's start with Falluja this morning, if we can.
A Marine officer who was talking about the insurgents said this to the "New York Times." He said: "This isn't a cease-fire. This is a chance for them to regroup."
Do you think that, in fact, a cease-fire can actually work there? JON LEE ANDERSON, "THE NEW YORKER": Only short-term, as it has been in name only, in essence. Even during the unilateral cease-fire over the last couple of weeks by the Marines, there have been almost daily firefights, if not daily. The insurgents in and around Falluja are men and boys who are determined to fight against the Americans. I don't see them respecting this idea of joint patrols for long.
As you will recall, yesterday there was a huge firefight. It doesn't bode well for American troops and Iraqi troops coming in and patrolling the cities. I think they're in for a lot more fighting. And, indeed, if they are negotiating, it's to rest and recoup for another day.
O'BRIEN: So when the military talks about negotiation...
ANDERSON: I foresee trouble.
O'BRIEN: ... and letting the political process work, are you saying then that you believe that you agree with what this military official said, that the troops are being put at significantly greater risk?
ANDERSON: Yes, I do. I, you know, you have to keep in mind that Falluja has been in a state of unrest and hostility towards the Americans ever since they first went into that town a year ago, almost to the day. I think it was April 28 when a group of American soldiers fired on demonstrators who marched on them just after they arrived in the town. They killed 17 demonstrators and ever since then it's been a tit for tat situation. The only moments when it's been quiet have been when the Americans have actually pulled out of Falluja.
And, of course, Falluja became the spark for the unrest in the Sunni Triangle, which we've seen cause violence up and down the country for all of the past year. And it's kind of coming back home again.
But even if the -- there is some sort of a negotiated settlement in Falluja, my estimation is that the resistance will merely hit back elsewhere. They're not going to go away.
O'BRIEN: Is it possible, do you think, when you look south, to neutralize Muqtada al-Sadr without a military action?
ANDERSON: Well, of course, that's what they're trying to do, because Najaf has a very significant difference to Falluja in that it's the site of the holiest shrine to the Shi'a of Iraq, the Imam Ali Shrine, where Muqtada al-Sadr is holed up. And he is, I think Sadr has counted on the possibility of bloodshed in Najaf roiling the waters and causing even further anti-coalition, anti-American sentiment, a kind of communal sympathy from the rest of the Shi'a community, where, indeed, he has been a rather marginal figure within the Shi'ite community. The mere fact that his people are now fighting Americans and that Americans are seen to be killing Shi'a, who were allies, their allies until quite recently, has aroused many feelings of sympathy and brought out the resentment of many Shi'ites towards the Americans. So I think that is why the Americans are trying to negotiate there. They don't want to go in. They don't want to cause bloodshed. But we'll see what actually happens.
O'BRIEN: Yes, we will.
ANDERSON: I have a feeling that it may not -- sorry, there was honking there.
O'BRIEN: That's all right.
And thank you, Jon Lee Anderson of the "New Yorker" magazine.
We're about to lose our satellite there, so I'm going to say thank you to him and bid him farewell -- Bill.
HEMMER: Just a horn and that is good news.
Soledad, thanks.
The Pentagon is pumping hundreds of millions into speeding newly armored Humvees into Iraq. But now one of the Army's top generals claims Humvees are too vulnerable. He wants more heavily armored vehicles. This plea coming in a memo to the Army chief of staff obtained by CNN.
And from the Pentagon for us today, here's Jamie McIntyre on that story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
04260103.v84
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Another note on this, even if the military does utilize the Vietnam era 113 vehicles with reinforced armor, some experts claim they still will be too vulnerable to attack in Iraq -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, a bloody showdown near the Iraqi city of Najaf ends with dozens of Iraqis dead.
And here in this country, Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force is an issue before the Supreme Court today.
Those stories and much more just ahead here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.
It's time to check in with Jack and the Question of the Day.
CAFFERTY: Thank you, Soledad.
The Supreme Court of the United States will hear arguments today on whether Vice President Dick Cheney should have to come clean on his energy task force meetings. A lower court ordered the vice president to come clean on this stuff two years ago, but it fell on deaf ears. So far he hasn't done it. The solicitor general says the White House should be able to meet confidentially with private citizens. But opponents say those meetings may have been heavily influenced by corporate interests, for example, like Enron.
So the question is should the Supreme Court force the vice president to release information about his energy meetings? And most of you think he should -- they should.
Bob writes: "I've worked in the energy industry for 35 years. While Dick Cheney has the right to have advice from experts, he does not have the right to hide the information from the American public. There shouldn't be anything that's confidential about how this nation is going to meet its earnings requirements over the next decade. I would like to see more pressure from the media for Cheney to disclose his sources."
Hey, we're trying here, Bob, you know what I mean?
Eric: "Yes. The task force on energy policy for this country and if that policy is being set by the oil companies, the people of the United States deserve to know it."
Ron in Tokyo, where we're on in prime time: "With all the talk about democracy, democracy, democracy by the Bush administration, why do they always have to be dragged kicking and screaming to get information out of this most secret group?"
And Mel, Cornwall-On-Hudson, we haven't heard from Mel in a while: "Absolutely. The vice president comes from the energy business. His contacts there may be useful, but they also may be unethically used. The court has the obligation to make sure that government is being conducted legally and ethically."
HEMMER: And we shall know by July apparently.
O'BRIEN: Yes, that's what they said.
CAFFERTY: Be still my beating heart.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Jack.
HEMMER: Always.
CAFFERTY: Most of all.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi and his first trip to Europe in more than a decade -- we're going to tell you why the world is watching this one.
Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired April 27, 2004 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
A political slugfest between the vice president and Senator John Kerry. Who wins the battle over wars past and present?
Fierce fighting again today in Iraq. Today it's in the town of Najaf, near the town, anyway, one of the largest coalition enemies now hiding out.
And the military Humvees there in Iraq -- have they become a death trap in modern warfare? The general who thinks he knows a solution, on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: Eight o'clock here in New York.
Good morning.
Good to have you with us today here on AMERICAN MORNING.
A key series of hearings resuming today in Colorado, where the judge in the Kobe Bryant case is deciding what evidence will be allowed into trial. Both sides have a lot to lose in this. We'll go out there live for a report in a moment. The question about the woman's past and her history, etc., all on the line out there in Eagle.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Also this morning, a little bit later, Dr. Sanjay Gupta is going to join us for part two in his series about pregnancy and newborns. And this morning we are talking about losing pregnancy weight and how much weight you should gain. Huh!
HEMMER: I think you look terrific, by the way.
O'BRIEN: Oh, blah, blah, blah. Thank you.
HEMMER: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: Yes, thank you.
HEMMER: You're welcome.
Hey, Jack.
O'BRIEN: Hi, Jack. JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, what?
HEMMER: What's up?
CAFFERTY: Nothing.
HEMMER: We're going to cheer you up before the show is over, my man.
CAFFERTY: Don't bet on it.
Coming up in the Cafferty File today, parents who pay of $100,000 to send their children to one of America's major universities are going to be real thrilled when they find out who's giving the commencement speech.
HEMMER: Ooh.
O'BRIEN: Really?
CAFFERTY: And you will never believe how much the U.S. ambassador pays to rent his place in Moscow. Talk about bargains, wait till you hear it.
HEMMER: Nice.
O'BRIEN: That sounds interesting.
HEMMER: I'll bet you a shoe shine we get you to smile before the show is over. Think about it.
CAFFERTY: I have.
O'BRIEN: I was going to say good morning...
HEMMER: I'm seeing it there.
O'BRIEN: We've got a couple of hours to work on it.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
O'BRIEN: Thanks, Jack.
Let's get to our top stories this morning.
We begin, in fact, in Iraq, where U.S. forces have been engaged in some fierce fighting near the Iraqi holy city of Najaf. A U.S. military spokesman says U.S. troops killed 43 insurgents overnight and destroyed an anti-coalition, anti-aircraft system. The fighting comes as U.S. forces begin taking over control of provinces from Spanish troops. This morning we'll talk with a reporter who's been in Najaf in just a few moments.
Two Wisconsin sisters are deciding whether to return to their National Guard units in Iraq. Rachel and Charity Witmer have the option to be reassigned from the war zone. Their sister Michelle was killed in a convoy ambush in Baghdad earlier this month. The sisters' parents appealed to the military to transfer the women. An announcement, in fact, is expected later today.
Singer Michael Jackson is offering his account on reasons for the shakeup of his legal team. In a statement released yesterday, Jackson thanked lead attorneys, Mark Geragos and Ben Brafman, for their work, but he said his new lawyers must devote their "full attention" to his case. Thomas Mesereau, who also represented actor Robert Blake, will now defend Jackson. The pop star is expected to return to court for a second arraignment on Friday.
And Oscar winning actress Halle Berry's marriage to R&B singer Eric Benet is officially coming to an end. A spokeswoman for the acclaimed actress confirmed that divorce papers have been filed, but declined to further comment. The couple separated in October after about three years of marriage. This is the second divorce for Berry. She was previously married to major league baseball David Justice.
Just in case you're wondering about Halle's personal life, I feel like I've brought you up to speed. So she's single, is what I'm saying guys. Now's the time.
HEMMER: This portion of AMERICAN MORNING brought to you by "Us" weekly.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: The issue of national security front and center on the campaign trail yet again yesterday. The vice president, Dick Cheney, in Missouri attacking Senator John Kerry for voting to cut weapons programs. Part of that speech now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The senator from Massachusetts has given us ample grounds to doubt the judgment and the attitude he brings to bear on vital issues of national security. The contrasts between the candidates this November will be sharper than it has been in many years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Terry McAuliffe is chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Ed Gillespie is chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Gentlemen, welcome back here to AMERICAN MORNING.
TERRY MCAULIFFE, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
ED GILLESPIE, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Thanks, Bill.
HEMMER: Good to have you back here.
Some commercials roll out today hitting John Kerry on his defense record and whether or not he's fit to be commander-in-chief.
To Terry first, I want to get back to this comment from Dick Cheney. He said he doubts the judgment and the attitude he brings -- meaning Senator Kerry -- to bear on vital issues of national security.
You're responding to that how?
MCAULIFFE: I think John Kerry has proven his entire life that he can stand up and be counted when he needs to serve this nation. He'll do a great job as president of the United States. He went to Vietnam. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam, up and down the Mekong Delta. He risked his life to save the lives of others. I was at an event yesterday with 30 veterans with me. That's the kind of courageous leadership that we need.
I find it fascinating that Dick Cheney, who had the opportunity to go to war in Vietnam, chose not to -- that was his own decision -- nor did President Bush go to Vietnam. The issue is will you stand up and fight for America? John Kerry has proven, he did it as a young man, he has continually fought to do that and he has fought for weapons programs. And when Dick Cheney was secretary of defense, he tried to cut 81 weapons programs. And the hypocrisy of him coming out and trying to attack John Kerry yesterday is beyond the pale of anything I've ever seen in politics.
HEMMER: Let me get Ed Gillespie in on this argument.
Why are the Republicans saying they doubt John Kerry's judgment? How would you know at this point?
GILLESPIE: Well, we know by his record in the United States Senate. This is someone who voted to gut our intelligence funding at a time when we most needed it. In 1994, he offered an amendment -- one year after the World Trade Center was attacked the first time -- to gut $6 billion from our intelligence funds. And it would have been $300 million the year before the USS Cole was attacked. A $300 million cut the year before the embassies in East Africa were attacked.
His judgment, when you look at where he voted, in 1991, he voted against the first Gulf War. He said it would be irresponsible to vote against funding for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and then turned around and did exactly that.
His judgment is evident in his record. And I noticed that Terry doesn't want to talk about that. Instead, they attack the vice president and they attack the president. Look, no one questions John Kerry's service in Vietnam. It was admirable. That doesn't mean that he's right on national security policy.
HEMMER: You're saying no one questions John Kerry's service in Vietnam? I want to pull a clip from yesterday and then we'll get to the attacks on Sunday and then again on Monday, raising these very issues. An interview that popped up from 1971, the whole issue of medals and ribbons in Washington, D.C.
Listen here.
(AUDIO GAP)
HEMMER: We apologize for that. Our mistake. If we can get it to roll, we will.
Terry McAuliffe, this is what the Republicans say. They say the story changes year after year, decade after decade, and that's where they hit your candidate, John Kerry.
Your response to that is what?
MCAULIFFE: What a waste of time and debate. He earned five medals, three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star, a Bronze Star. Just talk to the veterans organizations who are behind John Kerry and talk about his courageous leadership.
Dick Cheney, George Bush, you know, they didn't have any medals to throw anywhere, because they didn't earn any medals. John Kerry did it. He proved what a leader he is for this country and right now I think if you want to go to the judgment, we've got the president of the United States, George Bush, who rushed us to war, would not build an international coalition. We went over there with no plan for what to do with our troops after major combat operations were over.
This Saturday is the one year anniversary, where he strutted around in an aircraft carrier and said "mission accomplished." Seven hundred people have died from there. And just yesterday, as you know, the head of the armed forces command in Iraq wrote to the Army chief of staff and said we are over here, we are ill equipped.
GILLESPIE: Bill, may I address some of this...
MCAULIFFE: George Bush has had three years to prepare us for Iraq...
GILLESPIE: Bill...
MCAULIFFE: Our troops are there without the body armor, the Humvees aren't protecting us. George Bush, you want to talk about judgment, we've got troops over there that aren't being protected.
GILLESPIE: Bill, is this a two, are there two -- do I get to participate in this program, as well?
HEMMER: You sure do, Ed.
Yes, go right ahead.
GILLESPIE: OK.
Great.
Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: You know what, actually? Actually, hang on a second here. I'm going to roll this tape if we've got the machine working at this point.
Do we have it?
Let's listen to this clip and then we'll come back and talk about it.
(AUDIO GAP)
HEMMER: That's what we call a bad day, guys.
Sorry about that.
I'm redder than you are.
Ed, go ahead. You have the floor.
GILLESPIE: Well, look, Bill, first of all, look, I said no one questioned the senator's service in Vietnam. In fact, we respect him for it. We said no one questioned it. No one questioned it. What happened was that less than five days ago, the senator said I never implied that I threw away my own medals. And, in fact, it turned out that he did just that and he said just that. And this is part of a pattern you see with John Kerry. He says one thing, does another, constant reversal and shifting of positions. That's not the kind of steady leadership we need in these challenging times.
Look, if you don't like John Kerry's position on an issue, just go to his next event, it'll probably change. This is someone who voted for no child left behind and now campaigns against it. He voted for the Patriot Act and now says it has to be replaced. He voted for the Iraq war and now says he's an anti-war candidate. He said it would be irresponsible to oppose the funding for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and turned around and voted against it. He was in favor of NAFTA, voted for it. Now he's in favor of economic isolationism and says he'd be against it.
You know, that kind of waffling is just not what we're looking for and not the kind of leadership trait that we need in the United States presidency.
HEMMER: We're going to leave it there.
Gentlemen, I apologize. The machine wasn't working the way we wanted it to. We did not give our viewers a fair opportunity to weigh in on this issue simply because we didn't have the evidence to back up our arguments this morning, going back to 1971 and again yesterday.
But, again, thanks for your time today.
Hope to get you back here.
MCAULIFFE: Thank you.
GILLESPIE: Thank you.
HEMMER: Terry McAuliffe... (AUDIO GAP)
O'BRIEN: ... Bryant returns to court today in Colorado for a pretrial hearing. This week's proceedings could determine some critical issues when the sexual assault case goes to trial.
Adrian Baschuk is covering the case for us in Eagle County -- hey, Adrian, good morning.
ADRIAN BASCHUK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
This is the last round of scheduled hearings before the court. Monday, both sides only got part way through the rape shield issue. Nine people testified, mostly rape trauma experts and expert witnesses. This morning, both sides will be calling more witnesses to take the stand to testify about the accuser's sexual past.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASCHUK (voice-over): Judge Terry Ruckriegle will have to determine how to refer to the accuser in open court. The prosecution calls her the "victim." The defense initiated the debate and argued that she be called the "alleged victim."
Bryant's defense team is looking for a legal victory after the judge ruled last week that the accuser's medical records will remain sealed and confidential.
Still, the defense will be able to call witnesses to testify about her medical and psychological condition.
LARRY POZNER, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: The real battle is are the suicide attempts going to be admissible? They're closely related in time and they show a state of mind, a disturbed state of mind.
BASCHUK: This week's closed door pretrial hearings will determine what portions of the accuser's sexual past will be admitted into the trial as evidence. A defense challenge to the state's rape shield law.
CRAIG SILVERMAN, FORMER DENVER DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: If the prosecution loses the rape shield hearing or the motion to suppress, expect an appeal, which will further delay things in this case.
POZNER: If we're still doing motions in May, there isn't going to be a trial in June. There may be a trial in August.
BASCHUK: Kobe Bryant has yet to enter a plea and must do so before any trial date can be set.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASCHUK: A big question is when will that trial come about? And the judge said yesterday late in the hearings that he does not want to set a trial date until all the DNA evidence is in. Both sides will be presenting their evidence in Wednesday morning's hearing -- Soledad. O'BRIEN: Adrian Baschuk for us this morning in Eagle County.
Adrian, thanks.
HEMMER: In a moment here, Libya's Moammar Qaddafi undergoes a makeover. But is it for real? He's touring Europe now. We'll get to that in a moment.
O'BRIEN: Also -- excuse me for jumping on you there -- are Humvees too vulnerable to protect troops in Iraq? One top general thinks so. But does the Pentagon agree?
HEMMER: Also, our week long series on newborns continues today. Day two, looking at one of the biggest challenges a mother faces after that bundle of joy arrives. You know a thing or two about this.
O'BRIEN: Losing the other 30 pounds is not quite joy.
HEMMER: The emphasis on two, ahead here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERICAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: The latest from Iraq now. News to tell you about from near the city of Najaf and also from the Shi'ite stronghold of Falluja.
First Najaf, where an overnight battle between U.S. forces and Iraqi insurgents resulted in at least 43 Iraqi deaths. Coalition officials are warning insurgents to not store weapons in mosques and in schools in Najaf and they are promising action if those weapons are not removed.
Meanwhile in Falluja, a day after a fierce gun battle with Marines, insurgents are being given more time to turn in their heavy weapons. Joint patrols between Iraqi security forces and Marines have been postponed. Officials say the military is committed to letting the political process work in order to avoid further full-fledged battles.
Our next guest has been to both Najaf and also the outskirts of Falluja.
Jon Lee Anderson of the "New Yorker" magazine joins us this morning from Amman, Jordan.
Nice to see you, Jon.
Thanks for being with us.
Let's start with Falluja this morning, if we can.
A Marine officer who was talking about the insurgents said this to the "New York Times." He said: "This isn't a cease-fire. This is a chance for them to regroup."
Do you think that, in fact, a cease-fire can actually work there? JON LEE ANDERSON, "THE NEW YORKER": Only short-term, as it has been in name only, in essence. Even during the unilateral cease-fire over the last couple of weeks by the Marines, there have been almost daily firefights, if not daily. The insurgents in and around Falluja are men and boys who are determined to fight against the Americans. I don't see them respecting this idea of joint patrols for long.
As you will recall, yesterday there was a huge firefight. It doesn't bode well for American troops and Iraqi troops coming in and patrolling the cities. I think they're in for a lot more fighting. And, indeed, if they are negotiating, it's to rest and recoup for another day.
O'BRIEN: So when the military talks about negotiation...
ANDERSON: I foresee trouble.
O'BRIEN: ... and letting the political process work, are you saying then that you believe that you agree with what this military official said, that the troops are being put at significantly greater risk?
ANDERSON: Yes, I do. I, you know, you have to keep in mind that Falluja has been in a state of unrest and hostility towards the Americans ever since they first went into that town a year ago, almost to the day. I think it was April 28 when a group of American soldiers fired on demonstrators who marched on them just after they arrived in the town. They killed 17 demonstrators and ever since then it's been a tit for tat situation. The only moments when it's been quiet have been when the Americans have actually pulled out of Falluja.
And, of course, Falluja became the spark for the unrest in the Sunni Triangle, which we've seen cause violence up and down the country for all of the past year. And it's kind of coming back home again.
But even if the -- there is some sort of a negotiated settlement in Falluja, my estimation is that the resistance will merely hit back elsewhere. They're not going to go away.
O'BRIEN: Is it possible, do you think, when you look south, to neutralize Muqtada al-Sadr without a military action?
ANDERSON: Well, of course, that's what they're trying to do, because Najaf has a very significant difference to Falluja in that it's the site of the holiest shrine to the Shi'a of Iraq, the Imam Ali Shrine, where Muqtada al-Sadr is holed up. And he is, I think Sadr has counted on the possibility of bloodshed in Najaf roiling the waters and causing even further anti-coalition, anti-American sentiment, a kind of communal sympathy from the rest of the Shi'a community, where, indeed, he has been a rather marginal figure within the Shi'ite community. The mere fact that his people are now fighting Americans and that Americans are seen to be killing Shi'a, who were allies, their allies until quite recently, has aroused many feelings of sympathy and brought out the resentment of many Shi'ites towards the Americans. So I think that is why the Americans are trying to negotiate there. They don't want to go in. They don't want to cause bloodshed. But we'll see what actually happens.
O'BRIEN: Yes, we will.
ANDERSON: I have a feeling that it may not -- sorry, there was honking there.
O'BRIEN: That's all right.
And thank you, Jon Lee Anderson of the "New Yorker" magazine.
We're about to lose our satellite there, so I'm going to say thank you to him and bid him farewell -- Bill.
HEMMER: Just a horn and that is good news.
Soledad, thanks.
The Pentagon is pumping hundreds of millions into speeding newly armored Humvees into Iraq. But now one of the Army's top generals claims Humvees are too vulnerable. He wants more heavily armored vehicles. This plea coming in a memo to the Army chief of staff obtained by CNN.
And from the Pentagon for us today, here's Jamie McIntyre on that story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
04260103.v84
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Another note on this, even if the military does utilize the Vietnam era 113 vehicles with reinforced armor, some experts claim they still will be too vulnerable to attack in Iraq -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, a bloody showdown near the Iraqi city of Najaf ends with dozens of Iraqis dead.
And here in this country, Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force is an issue before the Supreme Court today.
Those stories and much more just ahead here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.
It's time to check in with Jack and the Question of the Day.
CAFFERTY: Thank you, Soledad.
The Supreme Court of the United States will hear arguments today on whether Vice President Dick Cheney should have to come clean on his energy task force meetings. A lower court ordered the vice president to come clean on this stuff two years ago, but it fell on deaf ears. So far he hasn't done it. The solicitor general says the White House should be able to meet confidentially with private citizens. But opponents say those meetings may have been heavily influenced by corporate interests, for example, like Enron.
So the question is should the Supreme Court force the vice president to release information about his energy meetings? And most of you think he should -- they should.
Bob writes: "I've worked in the energy industry for 35 years. While Dick Cheney has the right to have advice from experts, he does not have the right to hide the information from the American public. There shouldn't be anything that's confidential about how this nation is going to meet its earnings requirements over the next decade. I would like to see more pressure from the media for Cheney to disclose his sources."
Hey, we're trying here, Bob, you know what I mean?
Eric: "Yes. The task force on energy policy for this country and if that policy is being set by the oil companies, the people of the United States deserve to know it."
Ron in Tokyo, where we're on in prime time: "With all the talk about democracy, democracy, democracy by the Bush administration, why do they always have to be dragged kicking and screaming to get information out of this most secret group?"
And Mel, Cornwall-On-Hudson, we haven't heard from Mel in a while: "Absolutely. The vice president comes from the energy business. His contacts there may be useful, but they also may be unethically used. The court has the obligation to make sure that government is being conducted legally and ethically."
HEMMER: And we shall know by July apparently.
O'BRIEN: Yes, that's what they said.
CAFFERTY: Be still my beating heart.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Jack.
HEMMER: Always.
CAFFERTY: Most of all.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi and his first trip to Europe in more than a decade -- we're going to tell you why the world is watching this one.
Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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