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The Situation Room
Gore Assails Bush Over Domestic Spying Program; Potential Showdown over Iran's Nuclear Program; Production Company Spotlighted for Controversial Subjects; Republican Damage Control; Comparing Wars
Aired January 16, 2006 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, Kyra. And to our viewers, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM right now, where new pictures and information from around the world are arriving all the time. Happening now, a sharp new political attack on the president of the United States and his domestic spying program.
It's almost 4:00 p.m. here in Washington where the former Vice President Al Gore is accusing his former rival of repeatedly and persistently breaking the law. It's Gore vs. Bush all over again.
Emergency talks on Iran. It's 9:00 p.m. in London, almost, where the U.S. and its allies are facing fears of a nuclear showdown. And turning up the heat on the Tehran government.
And movies were the mission. It's 1:00 p.m. in Hollywood, where tonight's Golden Globes will showcase A-list talent and a production company's controversial agenda. I'm Wolf Blitzer and you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
Al Gore is unleashing powerful new accusations against the man who defeated him. The Democrats' 2000 presidential nominee today is accusing President Bush of criminal behavior by authorizing secret domestic spying. And Al Gore is calling for the appointment of a special counsel to review what he calls 'a direct assault on the U.S. Constitution.' Listen to some of what Al Gore said today in a speech right here in Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AL GORE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT: During the period when this eavesdropping was still secret, the president seemed to go out of his way to reassure the American people, on more than one occasion, that, of course, judicial permission is required for any government spying on American citizens and that, of course, these constitutional safeguards were still in place.
But surprisingly, the president's soothing statements turned out to be false. Moreover, as soon as this massive domestic spying program was uncovered by the press, the president not only confirmed the story was true, but in the next breath declared that has no intention of stopping or bringing these wholesale invasions of privacy to an end.
At present, we still have much to learn about the NSA's domestic surveillance. What we do know about this pervasive wiretapping virtually compels the conclusion that the president of the United States has been breaking the law -- repeatedly and insistently. [ applause ]
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Al Gore speaking just a little while ago, right here in Washington. Our correspondents are covering this story: the political motives, the legal fallout, the showdown over spying. Our Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider is standing by and Kelli Arena is here.
Let's go to our White House correspondent, Dana Bash, with reaction that what Al Gore is charging today.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: You're not going to be surprised, I'm sure, to hear that the White House is not receptive to Al Gore's call for an independent investigation into whether the president broke the law, simply because they say they believe that the president did not and is not breaking the law.
A spokesman for the NSC, Frederick Jones, told us today that the president has spoken quite clearly about the program that he believes it is legal and that it is going to continue. Well, over at the Republican National Committee, Wolf, they were a lot more personal. A lot more pointed at Al Gore and at his comments today, a spokeswoman there saying that his comments were laden with inaccuracies and anger.
We actually caught up with the Republican National Committee Chairman, Ken Mehlman, and let's listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEN MEHLMAN, RNC CHAIRMAN: The facts are clear, and in my opinion, the law is clear. This is authority the president does have. It's authority that is consistent with protecting our Constitution and our civil liberties and it's authority that's critical in learning the lessons of 9/11.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Ken Mehlman also said that Al Gore is more interested in getting attention, he said, and will do anything, he said, to misrepresent the law and the facts. It is easy, they understand here at the White House, to chalk up comments from Al Gore as something as political and that is partisan.
But, Wolf, I can tell you that they are paying attention to Republican comments, especially Arlen Specter, the Republican chairman of the Judiciary Committee, speaking out yesterday, saying he does not think that the president has all the legal authority that he says he has to do these wiretaps, even using the I word, impeachment in an interview yesterday.
They understand here that the hearings that Arlen Specter is going to have in just a few weeks are going to be tough, despite the fact that they do believe they have the American people on their side, when they look at the polls on this issue, Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you very much. Dana bash at the White House. The Senate is preparing, as Dana Bash just said, to investigate the president's secret spying program and whether he acted legally.
Our Justice correspondent, Kelli Arena, is joining us with a closer look at what we may be anticipating. Kelli?
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, we expect to hear a lot in the next few weeks about why the administration thinks that its program is legal. The Senate Judiciary Committee says it will hold the hearings that Dana mentioned in early February.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales who was White House counsel at the time the program was started will be testifying. He's already said that he won't get into any operational details, because this program is still classified. But he is expected to argue that the president, as commander in chief, has the authority to wage the war on terror as he sees fit.
He will also argue that the resolution that Congress passed after September 11 to use military force against al Qaeda also granted Bush the Constitutional authority to eavesdrop on Americans. And we got a bit of a preview this weekend about how contentious those hearings may be, as Dana mentioned, Senator Arlen Specter, who is the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, saying that just because he's a Republican, does not mean that he doesn't have some serious questions about the legality of this program, Wolf.
BLITZER: And the attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, is going to be making the case, he'll be appearing before this committee, kelly, and making the case on behalf of the president?
ARENA: That's right, Wolf.
BLITZER: Kelli Arena, reporting for us. Thank you very much, here in Washington.
When Al Gore accused President Bush today of a gross and excessive power grab, the former vice president was sending a broader political message to members of his own party, our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, is joining us with now with more on this part of the story. Bill?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Wolf, Democrats heard a voice from the past today, but it's a voice that my be charting a course for the party's future.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): Who speaks for Democrats these days? Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are minority leaders. Howard Dean's job is to represent the broad range of Democratic views. Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and John Edwards may run for president, and they are pretty cautious. So is Bill Clinton who is invested in his wife's political future. Enter Al Gore, giving full throated voice to the outrage that many Democrats feel over the administration's wiretapping of American citizens.
GORE: ... What many believe are serious violations of law by the president.
SCHNEIDER: Violations of law? Exactly.
GORE: ... Into these serious allegations of criminal behavior on the part of the president.
SCHNEIDER: That may be grounds for impeachment. Gore never used the I word, but he did call for ...
GORE: ...The appointment of the special counsel to pursue the criminal issues raised by the warrantless wiretapping of Americans by the president.
SCHNEIDER: A special counsel would have to be appointed by the attorney general, who works for President Bush, and how realistic is it to think about impeachment when Congress is controlled by Republicans? Gore's answer?
GORE: It should be a political issue in any race, regardless of party, section of the country, house of Congress, for anyone who opposes the appointment of a special counsel.
SCHNEIDER: Gore is telling Democrats, let's make this our issue.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(on camera): Gore also invited Republicans to come along. Arlen Specter, the Republican Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has scheduled hearings on the wiretap issue. Just because we're of the same party, Specter said, doesn't mean we're not going to look at this closely. Wolf?
BLITZER: Bill Schneider reporting for us. Bill, thanks very much. And we're going to be speaking with Donna Brazile later this hour. Many of our viewers remember, she was the Gore campaign manager back in 2000.
Meanwhile, CNN's Zain Verjee is back at the CNN headquarters in Atlanta, and she's got more stories making news right now. Zain, how are you?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: Fine, Wolf. The British Foreign Office said three top European powers will formally call for an emergency meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency next month to discuss Iran. Britain France and Germany led failed negotiations with Iran over its nuclear activities. They have since indicated that they want the issue addressed by the International Atomic Energy Agency which can pass the dispute on to the U.N. Security council.
The U.S. military says an American Apache helicopter crashed north of Baghdad today, killing its crew members. This is the third time in ten days that a U.S. chopper has gone down in Iraq. An Islam Web site posted video it claimed was the downing of the helicopter by an insurgent group. CNN cannot independently authenticate where or when the video was shot.
U.S. counterterrorism officials say they still don't know if al Qaeda's number two man was killed in Friday's air strike in Pakistan. The attack targeted Ayman al Zawahiri who was invited to a dinner celebrating the end of a Muslim holiday. U.S. officials couldn't confirm if al Zawahiri actually showed up for the celebration. The attacks blamed for putting fresh strain on U.S./Pakistani relations.
The New York Fire Department says a tanker truck loaded with thousands of gallons of fuel overturned and exploded on the Brooklyn- Queens Expressway today. The driver was able to get out, and no one else was hurt, but the expressway is pretty much off limits for now, and New York's number seven subway line between Queensboro Plaza and Willows Point is suspended for now.
Back to you in THE SITUATION ROOM, Wolf. I enjoyed being in THE SITUATION ROOM. Has Jack ever been invited there?
BLITZER: Not yet. But we'll invite him one of these days. Are you getting ready to make your appearance on the ground in Washington in THE SITUATION ROOM?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: I'm very busy. I doubt I can work that in anytime soon. Very busy.
VERJEE: Will you come to Atlanta, Jack?
CAFFERTY: No, no, very busy here in New York.
That BQE accident you were talking about, Zain, the tanker truck that exploded, if that had happened on a regular workday during the rush hour, it could have hit a passing subway train, packed full of commuters. That piece of roadway is often used by people going from the city out to LaGuardia. On a regular workday, not a holiday like this, it is jammed with traffic.
It is unfortunate it happened, but it is very fortunate it happened on a holiday. It could have been catastrophic.
Stories like this one remind me how old I am getting. I remember when he made this speech, 43 years ago. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made his famous "I have a dream speech."
Almost 38 years ago, he was gunned down by an assassin. Today as we remember Dr. King and the things that he stood for, it's good time to do a little inventory.
There are some new poll numbers out that give some reason for optimism, but the news isn't all good. Seventy-eight percent of whites say significant progress has been made toward racial equality. But only 66 percent of blacks feel that way. So here's the question, how much progress has been made toward Dr. King's dream? You can e-mail us your thoughts one that at caffertyfile@CNN.com or you can go to CNN.com/caffertyfile.
It's really a rude awakening, Wolf, when you realize I remember when he made that speech. I was working at a television station in Reno, Nevada, and we had some old film of that stuff that we used on the air.
BLITZER: I'm a little younger, but I remember that speech as well, Jack, and it's an important question on this important day. Thank you very much.
CAFFERTY: You bet.
BLITZER: Coming up, the potential showdown over Iran's nuclear program. How far are the U.S. and its allies willing to go to get Iran to back down? I'll ask a former U.N. representative and arms control expert, Ken Adelman about the threat and the fallout.
Also ahead, cleaning house. Because of the growing influence peddling scandal, are Republicans better off now that another Congressman has given up a prime post?
And later, the Condi Rice for president bandwagon. Laura Bush jumped on it in our exclusive CNN interview last Friday with Zain Verjee. We'll tell you what the secretary of state is now saying about Laura Bush's comments. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back.
Powerful nations and the United Nations Security Council are said to be in agreement today that Iran must fully suspend its nuclear program, but during an emergency meeting in London, Russia and China remained wary about demanding that the issue be taken up by the full U.N. Security Council with the possibility of imposing sanctions.
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, says his nation's position is not that far off from the U.S. and its European allies. European nations are calling for an emergency session of the United Nations nuclear watchdog group next month in Vienna.
The Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says a vote on referring the standoff with Iran to the security council should happen as soon as possible. Iran denies allegations it's trying to build nuclear weapons under the guise of a nuclear energy program.
Joining us now to talk about the possible showdown is Ken Adelman. He's a former deputy U.S. representative to the United Nations, former director of the U.S. arms control and disarmament agency.
Ken, thanks very much for joining us.
KEN ADELMAN, FMR. DIR. ARMS CONTROL AGENCY: You're welcome.
BLITZER: Is there a military option, a viable U.S. military option to go ahead and knock out the Iranian nuclear facilities?
ADELMAN: I don't think we should ever take it off the table, but when you look at the practicalities of knowing what they are doing, knowing where they are doing it and knowing that you can get to those targets, it seems very improbable to me.
BLITZER: Listen to what the president said on this subject last Friday. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The U.N. Security Council is part of a diplomatic process started by Germany, France, and Great Britain representing the interests of a lot of countries like ourself, which made it abundantly clear to the Iranians that the development of the know how and/or a nuclear weapon was unacceptable.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: The president also went on to say, as he often does, he says he hopes this can be resolved diplomatically, but he never takes any option off the table. But if you say, and a lot of other military experts say, that there really is no viable military option to deal with this issue, what is the incentive on the Iranians to stop their nuclear program?
ADELMAN: Well, because, Wolf, they have no legitimacy domestically, OK. Their last election was boycotted by a majority of Iranians. They have -- the people there hate the regime. It's corrupt. It's illegitimate in a fundamental sense. And to deprive them of legitimacy on the international scene would only complicate their problems.
Plus, they have the fear that there's going to be a regime change in Iran. And I hope there is a regime change in Iran. And then it can come about not by military action but that can come about by subverting the regime right there, using the methods of Martin Luther King to tell you the truth, civil disobedience, peaceful, nonviolent techniques.
BLITZER: Well, should the U.S. and its allies be engaged in covert action to try to result in this regime change?
ADELMAN: Sure, we should have been doing that for the last 30 years. And that's part of the spread of freedom the president talks about, but we haven't done enough on that.
And what you can do, very quickly is take the playbook from Poland, from our approach to Poland in the early 1980's with -- from the Carter administration, and then especially the Reagan administration, dealing with solidarity, and just update it. Instead of using money to give for machines, use the Internet. Now instead of walkie-talkies, you now use cell phones. But what you want to do is to help Democratic forces.
BLITZER: So to encourage the dissidents in Iran right now to overthrow the regime.
ADELMAN: Absolutely.
BLITZER: And you think that is a doable option?
ADELMAN: Well, it's certainly doable to give them support, more support than we are doing. Whether they succeed or not, you just don't know, but one thing you can do is to model it after what you had in the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, what you've had in peaceful demonstrations around the world.
BLITZER: Well, I've heard, you know, that scenario, but the U.S. has been trying to do that in Cuba, for example, for decades unsuccessfully to get rid of Fidel Castro. North Korea, the U.S. has been trying to do that for decades to get rid of Kim Jong-il unsuccessfully.
Yes, there was a successful end of the Cold War and all the change, the Democratic reforms in central and eastern Europe, but is Iran, in that model?
ADELMAN: No, Iran is a much more right model. It's more like Poland is at the outset of solidarity. Why is that? Because what we know is the majority of people in Iran, the vast majority, can't stand these corrupt and really awful repressive laws.
And so you have the conditions, it's a far more educated population. It's a far more open population. It's a far more open country than others. So that you can really go in there and these kind of techniques that you had in Poland, and you in the Ukraine, and you had in Georgia.
I mean, this is a proven technique. Now, it's not proven everywhere, and it doesn't work everywhere, but it's not going to work unless you help it.
BLITZER: I've heard top administration officials say that the goals should be to delay Iran's development of a nuclear weapon for as long as possible, with the hope that perhaps in the interim there could be regime change.
ADELMAN: That's fine. I would agree with that.
BLITZER: The question is how long is it going to take them to develop, to get beyond the point of no return?
ADELMAN: Yes, the point of no return often does have a return. I mean, we have been by and large very successful since the early 60's in non-proliferation. You have to worry now about India and Pakistan leading the way, you have to worry about Iran and North Korea on the verge.
But overall, it's remarkable, Wolf, when you think of a 1963, I believe it was, Kennedy -- President Kennedy gave a speech in which he predicted by the 1970s, that there would be 25 nuclear nations, nuclear-armed nations around the world.
Well, you know, in the 1970s there were probably seven or eight. There weren't 25. And here we are in 2006, and there are not 25. So we've done much better than expected, and I think if we do Iran right -- really concentrate on regime change through nonviolent means, through peaceful means, through Martin Luther King means -- I think we can make some progress.
BLITZER: Ken Adelman, thanks very much for joining us.
ADELMAN: You're welcome.
BLITZER: Still ahead, more fallout in the Jack Abramoff scandal. A powerful Republican committee chairman forced to give up the gavel because he was implicated in the growing scandal. We're going to have the latest.
And movies with a message: with the Golden Globes set to air tonight, one production company is in the spotlight for films it says carry serious, perhaps controversial, subject matter that could also sell tickets. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: In the culture wars, movies with a message. With the Golden Globe Awards to be handed out just a few hours from now, the spotlight is on some films with politically-charged plot lines. Our entertainment correspondent Brooke Anderson is joining us now from the Golden Globes in L.A. Brooke, what do you got?
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Jeff Skoll is his name. He's a young, successful billionaire who co- founded eBay. He then retired from technology, and he said, "My next step in life, this is what I want to do, is to make a difference in Hollywood."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF SKOLL, CEO, PARTICIPANT PRODUCTIONS: My dream all along was to be able to tell stories, to reach people in a compelling, entertaining way and make the difference.
ANDERSON: Skoll moved to Hollywood and created Participant Productions, a film company with a goal of making movies that bring awareness to topical social issues. A noble idea, but one that came with warnings from skeptical industry veterans.
SKOLL: People from outside the business come to town with money and they try to make films, and their carcasses are littered across the streets of Hollywood. ANDERSON: But Skoll was undeterred. From Edward R. Murrow's fight for freedom of the press in "Good Night, and Good Luck," to sexual harassment in the workplace in "North Country" and U.S. dependency on foreign oil in "Syriana," Participant has hit its target of creating movies with a message, while managing to attract audiences in the process, with the help of some A-list talent, including George Clooney and Charlize Theron.
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR/DIRECTOR: They are films that you want to do and you believe in.
CHARLIZE THERON, ACTRESS: And I think films like this really kind of spark that new train of thought.
ANDERSON: Sparking thoughts and hopefully action. Through its Web site, participate.net, the company offers suggestions for how to become involved with the issues raised in Participant's films. An exciting time for an idealistic group that Skoll says Participant productions is not partisan.
Before thinking of him as just another Hollywood liberal...
SKOLL: ... Our goal is to present these issues in as fair and even fashion as we can, and then bring together the tools, the partners to help people actually get involved, and make change.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And it appears this newcomer to movie-making is on the path to do just that. Now, Wolf, Participant Productions is just two years old, and already the films emerging from this company are not only garnering critical acclaim, but also provoking that conversation about hot-button issues. Back to you.
BLITZER: I liked "Syriana," I liked "Good Night, and Good Luck." I didn't see the other film, but I'm sure it's very good as well.
ANDERSON: "North Country" was also very thoughtful and compelling as well.
BLITZER: I'll go take a look at that. Thanks very much, Brooke, for that -- Brooke Anderson out in Los Angeles.
And up next, our SITUATION ROOM "Strategy Session." Al Gore sounding off at everything from the government's domestic spying program to the Iraq war. He blasts the Bush administration for what he calls, quote, "An excessive power grab."
And a female first in Africa, Liberia installs its first female president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. The first lady of the United States Laura Bush and the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice both attend the ceremony. We're going to have details.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: On Capitol Hill today, another damage-control assessment in the wake of the growing influence-peddling scandal. Republicans are hoping they put some distance between themselves and the controversy, now that Congressman Bob Ney has stepped down as chairman of the influential House Administration Committee. Let's check in with our congressional correspondent, Ed Henry.
What's the latest on Chairman Ney, Ed?
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Ney has agreed to step aside, as you say. He was under heavy pressure from the speaker of the House. And that's because Ney is at the center of the corruption investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
He allegedly took a slew of gifts, including a lavish golf trip to Scotland, in exchange for official acts.
Ney is only doing this temporarily. He insists he'll be exonerated. But sources have told CNN that he is one of a half-dozen lawmakers and staffers who could face criminal charges. This shake-up is a sign the Republicans up here are very worried other shoes may drop and they want to clean house -- Wolf?
BLITZER: What about the Republican leadership that's surrendering this chairmanship right now? Do they think this is going to actually cleanse them of this Abramoff scandal?
HENRY: They feel it's one piece of several-part plan. They also pushed aside Tom DeLay, you'll remember, two weekends ago. And the other big piece of this is Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, as early as tomorrow, may go public with a lobbying reform plan. They think that will inoculate themselves politically.
And they were very nervous that Bob Ney, as chairman of that committee, would have been overseeing the hearings and crafting the lobbying legislation. The late-night comics would have had a field day with that, given his own problems. So you're hearing Hastert move forward on lobbying reform without Ney. We're hearing the three candidates for House majority leader to permanently replace Tom DeLay focusing on lobbying reform, as well. But the problem is if other shoes in this investigation drop, it may be too little, too late -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Ed Henry reporting. Thank you, Ed.
Today in our "Strategy Session," former Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore takes direct aim at the president over the wiretapping of U.S. citizens without warrants. Will the administration be able to answer charges that the president broke the law? Could the attacks actually backfire, though, on Democrats?
Plus, the leadership race is heating up, as we just heard, for the House majority leader. Should you expect changes in the way Washington really does business?
Joining us, our CNN political analyst, Democratic strategist Donna Brazile, and Bay Buchanan, the president of American Cause.
Let's listen to a little excerpt of what Al Gore said today. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORE: At present, we still have much to learn about the NSA's domestic surveillance. What we do know about this pervasive wiretapping virtually compels the conclusion that the president of the United States has been breaking the law, repeatedly and insistently.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: All right, Donna, you were the campaign manager for Al Gore. What's he up to right now?
DONNA BRAZILE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: There's no question that Al Gore today, in this event, sponsored bipartisanship with the Liberty Coalition, the American Constitution Society, Al Gore wanted to take center stage today on explaining why excessive executive powers must be checked, must be curtailed.
It was a very impassioned speech. I thought it was very well- reasoned. He talked about the president undermining the rule of law and called for a special counsel and also called on Congress to hold special oversight hearings right away.
BLITZER: You were there.
BRAZILE: Absolutely. Sitting on the second row. I wouldn't miss it.
BLITZER: Is this the beginning of an effort by the former vice president to make a political comeback?
BRAZILE: I don't think he's trying to make a comeback. He's giving leadership in an area that he has a lot of information.
Look, he's a former vice president. He's really strong on national security. He even said in his speech that he agreed that terrorism is a threat and that we must use, you know, real careful diligence in protecting our constitutional safeguards and fighting terrorism.
BLITZER: You know, there were conservative Republicans there, as well, including former Congressman Bob Barr of Georgia, who's a outspoken critic of the president when it comes to these warrantless wiretaps. So it's not just Al Gore who is deeply concerned about the potential infringement on liberties.
BAY BUCHANAN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, you know, and Bob Barr, you mentioned him. We know he's against the Patriot Act. There's a libertarian strain there. And there's libertarian Republicans and very good conservatives who questioned some of this.
But what Al Gore said, Wolf, is inexcusable. First of all, he comes across as very angry. And it was an assault. It was a rant against the president on many counts.
But he says we have much to learn about the wiretaps, and that's why I would agree we need to investigate. And then he goes on to say: But what we do know is he violated the law. That is a real stretch. That's an outrageous statement to make against the president of the United States.
BLITZER: Well, you want to think about outrageous statements, some were already suggesting that what Arlen Specter, the Republican chairman of the Judiciary Committee -- which will hold hearings on all of this early next month -- listen to what he said yesterday on ABC.
BUCHANAN: All right.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R-PA), CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: I'm not suggesting remotely that there's any basis. But you're asking, really, theory, what's the remedy? Impeachment is a remedy. After impeachment, you could have a criminal prosecution. But the principal remedy, George, under our society is to pay a political price.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Now, he's very precise. As you know, Arlen Specter is always very -- he says I'm not suggesting remotely that there's any basis, but then he did say, if he broke the law, impeachment might be a remedy.
BUCHANAN: Well, and, indeed, I think he should not have made that remark, because I think he knows -- he's also a smart politician. He knows what people are going to conclude.
But clearly here we have the attorney general of the United States going to be testifying, defending the president of the United States. We have another attorney general who signed and approved these wiretaps.
So the president is not out there by himself. He has really good, strong legal basis for what he did. And so we should see and hear that first before we accuse anyone of violating the law.
BLITZER: The former president did not use the "i" word today.
BRAZILE: No, he didn't. He stopped short of using it, but he did call upon both leaders and both political branches to, in essence, appoint a special counsel. And he said this should be an issue in the 2006 election. And if Democrats knew about this information and were silent, they, too, should pay a political price.
I thought the speech, again, was well-balanced and reasoned. He was not angry. He was thoughtful and analytical.
And what he tried to convey to the American people is that we, the people, also have a stake in this debate and in figuring out why the president is going out of his way to use policies that Congress has not authorized.
BUCHANAN: But, Wolf, the real problem is, is you take a look at the other side. What are the American people seeing here? But Democrat after Democrat suggesting that, if it's a tough call, we have to look at whether should we listen to those al Qaeda terrorists talking to Americans or maybe we should be hesitant to do so?
Democrats come across as real hesitant. In my opinion, Americans want somebody who's very aggressive and assertive when it comes to our safety here. And you have known terrorists talking to Americans. We want them to listen.
BLITZER: You say the attorney general signed off on it. That would be -- that would have been John Ashcroft...
BUCHANAN: Ashcroft. It certainly would.
BLITZER: ... who signed off on it in his hospital bedroom, at George Washington University Hospital, after the acting attorney general, James Comey, at that point, the deputy attorney general, didn't want to do it.
BUCHANAN: But he did sign off on it. You're suggesting that he was...
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: They brought him the papers in the hospital room and they said, "Sign off on this."
(CROSSTALK)
BUCHANAN: ... he was recovering from an operation. It doesn't mean he wasn't of sound mind...
(CROSSTALK)
BRAZILE: ... suspend this program for a while to even look at it to see if it was being abused. But, Bay, there's nothing -- and the Congress just ordered a report from the Congressional Research Service, a bipartisan service, which stated that Congress did not authorize the president to go around the FISA courts and do these eavesdropping and wiretapping.
BUCHANAN: I think it's...
BRAZILE: So this is very important. And the American people deserve honest, straight answers. This is not partisanship. This is about the Constitution of the United States.
BUCHANAN: But the perception for Democrats is they're going to come off as security wimps, when you tell us that you would not listen to Al Qaeda terrorists talking to Americans. I say give them...
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: That's not exactly what they say. They say, listen, but get a warrant.
BUCHANAN: Yes, but sometimes you have to move ahead quickly, and there's reasons why the president did not go that route. We should listen to the reasons.
BLITZER: All right. All right.
BRAZILE: And the president's going to have to justify why he went around...
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Is Al Gore going to run for president in 2008?
BRAZILE: I don't know. But after listening to him today, I would put him on my short list of someone who should consider it. Look, Al Gore is very experienced. He knows this country very well. What I saw today was a Al Gore that I wish would have appeared so many times in 2000. He was right on the money on this issue today.
BUCHANAN: Sounds like a great primary to me.
BLITZER: It could be fun.
(LAUGHTER)
Thanks very much. Maybe Al Gore against Hillary Clinton. That could be a good, little primary.
BUCHANAN: We would love it.
BRAZILE: Bring on it.
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Donna and Bay.
Coming up next, the first lady, Laura Bush, attends the swearing- in of the first elected female head of state in Africa. And she already has some ideas about who should run here in the United States.
And later, Jack Cafferty's question of the hour: Have we made progress towards realizing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, dream? You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. The first lady, Laura Bush, is heading up a high-level delegation to Liberia to celebrate a first for that African nation that's still just a dream in the United States, namely a female president. Our Africa correspondent, Jeff Koinange, joining us now with more -- Jeff?
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it's being described as a truly historic event. Former President-elect Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf became President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the country's 23rd president since independence in 1847. Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf also went on to make a little history of her own by becoming the country's and the continent's first woman to be elected president.
Now, on hand to witness this historic event, among others, U.S. First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Also here to witness the event, African heads of state from Nigeria to South Africa.
Now, in her inaugural speech, President Johnson-Sirleaf pledged to, among other things, restore electricity in the capital of Monrovia in her first 150 days in office. She also pledged to unify warring factions and revamp an economy all but devastated by a 14-year civil war that claimed upwards of 200,000 lives.
Now, no doubt, the expectations are high, and President Johnson- Sirleaf, no doubt, has her work cut out for her. But with her impressive credentials as a Harvard graduate and having worked for such institutions as the World Bank, Citibank, and the United Nations Development Program, she insists she's up to the task.
So far, the feeling on the ground is that President Johnson- Sirleaf is talking the talk. It remains to be seen in the coming weeks and months whether she'll be walking the walk -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Jeff Koinange in Monrovia, Liberia, for us. Jeff, thank you very much.
The secretary of state is speaking out again today about her presidential prospects, just days after Laura Bush, right here on CNN, encouraged her to run. Our Zain Verjee is joining us now with a follow-up to her exclusive interview with the first lady -- Zain?
VERJEE: Wolf, with Condoleezza Rice and Laura Bush traveling together in Liberia today, the subject of a woman in the White House was bound to come up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE (voice-over): Liberia's new president isn't the only woman getting political words of encouragement from Laura Bush. As the first lady was preparing to leave for Liberia, I asked her if the time was right here in the United States for a female commander-in- chief.
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: I think it'll happen, for sure.
VERJEE (on-screen): Who would you like to see?
L. BUSH: Well, of course, a Republican woman.
(LAUGHTER)
L. BUSH: Maybe Dr. Rice.
VERJEE: Yes?
(CROSSTALK)
L. BUSH: And she says she definitely is not running.
VERJEE: But you would like to see her run?
L. BUSH: Sure, I'd love to see her run.
VERJEE (voice-over): Mrs. Bush is hardly the first Republican to promote Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a presidential hopeful, but her virtual endorsement was music to the ears of Draft Condi campaigners, who have a Web site and even an unofficial campaign theme song.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Condoleezza will lead us children.
VERJEE: Dr. Rice, however, hasn't changed her tune. On the plane to Liberia, a reporter asked her if Mrs. Bush hadn't all but nominated her for president.
Her response: "You know, obviously, it's flattering when people say things. And the first lady is not only a terrific person, she's my friend. And I'm -- you know, I was honored that she said it, of course."
Perhaps, the reporter joked, Mrs. Bush was angling for a job as Rice's campaign manager. The secretary remained firm, saying, "You know, I've spoken on this. I know what I'm good at. I know what I want to do, and that's not it."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE: The persistent reporter kept pressing maybe Rice would consider running for vice president? No deal. Rice laughed and just moved on. The nation's top diplomat, Wolf, staying diplomatic.
BLITZER: Appropriately enough. Zain, thank you very much. And once again, excellent interview on Friday with the first lady.
Coming up, two presidents, two wars, different seasons. Our Bruce Morton looks at the Presidents Bush, both presidents, and their Gulf wars, both Gulf wars. Is it a case of like father, like son?
Also ahead, a follow-up, you and your cell phone. Who's listening in? Who's protected? Who's not? We'll check the situation online. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Now, a quick update on that story we told you about on Friday. For sale online a record of every call you've made and every call you've received on your cell phone. But now some cell phone providers are fighting back. Are you among the protected, though? Our Internet reporter, Jacki Schechner, has been investigating. She's joining us live -- Jacki? JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, I've spoken to each of the four top cell phone providers. Here's what we know so far.
Verizon Wireless has two lawsuits against some of these companies that say that they can provide your cell phone records online. So does Cingular Wireless. They also now have a temporary restraining order. They say, if that is violated by one of these companies, it'll be up to the court to decide what to do.
As for T-Mobile, they tell me they have sent cease-and-desist orders to several of these companies. And Sprint, by the way, is investigating our investigation into how we bought one of our producer's cell phone records with nothing but a cell phone and $110.
As for government officials, here's where we stand. Senator Reid has sent a letter to the FCC asking for more investigation into this issue. He joins Congressman Markey, who sent a letter to the FCC and the FTC back in November over the summer. EPIC, which is the Electronic Privacy Information Center, had petitioned both those organizations in July.
And we're also now taking a look at Senator Schumer's office, which tomorrow is going to introduce federal legislation that will make it illegal to pretend to be somebody else to get these records and a federal crime in order to sell these records to somebody. So if you work for a cell phone company and you're thinking about selling these records, that's going to be a crime, hopefully -- Wolf?
BLITZER: All right, Jacki, thanks very much. And Jacki and our entire Internet, we're going to stay on top of this story and not let it go away.
They are different wars incited by the same man, yet prosecuted by different presidents with the same last name. The First Gulf War under the first President Bush and the current Iraq War, under that president's son. Our Bruce Morton is joining us now to examine the similarities and the differences -- Bruce?
BRUCE MORTON, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the First Gulf War started 15 years ago today. Two very different wars, fought by two very different presidents, even though they are father and son.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: His aggression against Kuwait will not stand.
MORTON (voice-over): The First Gulf War started when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. The first President Bush said the U.S. and its allies would make him give it back.
Bush assembled a coalition, including traditional allies like France. The he objective was limited: liberate Kuwait. The force was overwhelming. And what Saddam said would be the mother of all battles was, in fact, a rout. U.S. casualties were modest, 147 battle deaths, 151 non-battle. Bush did not pursue Saddam, did not march on Baghdad. That would, he said, have shattered his coalition.
This President Bush's objectives are much grander.
BUSH: Victory will be achieved when the terrorists and Saddamists can no longer threaten Iraq's democracy.
MORTON: Originally, Saddam was said to threaten the U.S. He didn't. He didn't have the weapons, it turned out. He was said to be an ally of Al Qaeda. Experts still argue about that, but establish a democracy? That was a clear goal, even if the road toward it was uncertain.
In the beginning, many thought the Iraqis would welcome the occupiers. But instead, the insurgency was born to resist us. The number of allies has shrunk. The number of casualties is much greater this time.
The insurgency, which Vice President Cheney said months ago was in its last throes, continues. Iraq held elections in December, a good sign. But we still don't know who won them.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MORTON: Desert Storm set one modest goal and achieved it. This war's goals are much broader. And whether this president will achieve them is still a question -- Wolf?
BLITZER: It's hard to believe it's been 15 years ago tonight, Bruce, since that First Gulf War started and our colleagues, Bernie Shaw -- remember those famous words -- "The skies over Baghdad have been illuminated." I remember covering that war. And it's hard to believe 15 years have gone by.
Bruce, thank you very much for that.
Still to come, Jack Cafferty has your e-mail. How much progress have we made toward achieving Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, dream?
And the judge in the Saddam Hussein trial says he wants out. The chief judge has offered his resignation, but will it be accepted? We're going to go live to Baghdad. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. Let's go to New York. Jack Cafferty standing by with the "Cafferty File" -- Jack?
CAFFERTY: All right, thanks, Wolf.
On the 20th celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, the question is this: How much progress has been made toward Martin Luther King's dream?
Some of the e-mails are as follows. Terrence in Newport, Rhode Island, writes, "Some progress has been made, but more is needed. I'm a black man living in New England. But I'm from North Carolina. And when I go home, it doesn't take long to realize I'm not in New England."
Michele in Hamilton, New Jersey, writes, "Unfortunately, I think King's dream has turned into quotas that have to be met by businesses, states, et cetera, instead of the ability to hire the best-qualified, regardless of color. Opportunities are available today to anyone who wants to take advantage of them. And that, I believe, is what Dr. King's dream is all about, not quotas or advantages based on color."
Frank in Vestal, New York: "One has only to look at the situation in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina to see the lack of progress in some sectors of the black community. Has there been progress since Dr. King's death? Yes. But there remains a ways to go before equality among the races is finally achieved."
Bob in Richmond, Indiana, writes, "Sure, progress has been made. Bull Connor and the KKK have been replaced by more subtle forms of discrimination. The good old boy network finding no opening for a black that applies for a job and then hiring a white applicant when they think no one is looking."
And finally, Mark in Endicott, New York, sums it up this way: "We'll know when we've made enough advancement in civil rights when we can finally stop asking this question" -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Good point, Jack. Thanks very much.
CAFFERTY: You bet.
BLITZER: Let's check back with Zain Verjee at the CNN Headquarters in Atlanta for another quick look at some other stories making news right now -- Zain?
VERJEE: Wolf, a judge has ordered one of two teenagers suspected of beating homeless men in south Florida held without bond. At a hearing today, the judge also ordered a psychological evaluation for 17-year-old Thomas Daugherty. A hearing for 18-year-old Brian Hooks will be held tomorrow. Both face murder charges for the beating of one man. The beating of another man was caught on surveillance videotape earlier on Thursday. The two young men are facing aggravated assault charges for that attack.
For now, there's no such thing as a day at the beach along miles of Southern California coastline. A sewage spill has forced the closure of normally pristine beaches to swimmers and surfers. Officials say as much as 2 million gallons of raw sewage contaminated the shoreline from Manhattan Beach south to the Palos Verdes peninsula due to a failed pumping station. The beaches will be closed until at least midweek.
It's a dream match-up without the intensity of a title match. Twelve players from long-time rivals Duke and the University of North Carolina are trying to set a record for the world's longest basketball game by playing for nearly 2 1/2 days straight. Not many fast breaks, but they do have to pace themselves. To break the record, they have to play through this evening. And all the proceeds go to charity.
You're a big basketball fan, aren't you, Wolf?
BLITZER: I certainly am. And it's nice that they're doing that, Zain. Thank you very much.
To our viewers, it's coming up on 5:00 p.m. here in Washington. And you're in THE SITUATION ROOM, where news and information from around the world arrive at one place at the same time.
Happening now, a trail of smoke causes a trail of suspicion. What caused the downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter in Iraq today that killed two U.S. soldiers? There's no official explanation yet, but one group says it's responsible.
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