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The Situation Room
Supreme Court Stops Florida Execution, Lethal Cocktail Allegedly Causes Painful Death; Pentagon Warns "Thin Green Line" Of U.S. Military Is Stretched Too Far, Could Snap In A Crisis; Highway Crash In Florida Kills Seven Children, From One Family
Aired January 25, 2006 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR, THE SITUATION ROOM: You're in THE SITUATION ROOM, where new pictures and information are arriving all the time.
Standing by CNN reporters across the United States and around the world to bring you today's top stories happening now.
It is 7 p.m. in Florida where a death row inmate was strapped down and ready to receive a lethal injection when the United States Supreme Court stepped in to stop the execution. We'll tell you what happened.
And it is 7 p.m. in Providence, Rhode Island. He used his wits to win a reality TV contest but this "Survivor" star could not outwit the government when he failed to pay taxes on his winnings. I'll speak live with the commissioner of the IRS.
And it's 7 p.m. in New York, where some emergency workers, who spent long hours at ground zero have now died, others are ailing. Was there something toxic at the scene of the 9/11 attacks?
I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
BLITZER: The situation could hardly have been more dramatic. A convicted cop killer in Florida, seconds away from execution by lethal injection. Clarence Hill was already strapped down with IV lines inserted, when one United States Supreme Court justice stopped everything.
Now, on this day, the entire U.S. Supreme Court is about to take up Hill's claim that execution by lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment. Our national correspondent Susan Candiotti is joining us from Miami with more on this story.
Susan?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT, THE SITUATION ROOM: Hello, Wolf.
It's the lawyer for 48-year-old Clarence Hill said the Supreme Court actions make, quoting here, "a fantastic day." But will all of this lead to a change in Florida's brand of lethal injections? That is not at all certain.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI (voice over): Strapped to a gurney, Clearance Gill was about to put to death. IV needles were inserted into his arms, then U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy temporarily halted the execution.
Hours later, the entire Supreme Court granted a stay. Hill's lawyers argue that Florida's deadly chemical cocktail causes pain, violating a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Florida uses three chemicals. Sodium Pentathal (ph), to make a prisoner unconscious; pan churonium (ph) bromide, which according to court documents causes paralysis; and then potassium chloride, to stop the heart.
Hill's lawyers claim the anesthesia wears off and paralysis prevents the prisoner from crying out in pain.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unfortunately, it's been reported that we were arguing it was supposed to be a pain-free execution. That's not it. The legal standard is whether there's wanton and unnecessary pain.
CANDIOTTI: Despite pro and anti-death penalty protests outside Florida's death row prison, the Supreme Court may never address the validity of Hill's cruel and unusual argument. Instead, the justices are looking at a technical issue, whether Hill waited too long to make his case.
Hill was sentenced to death for the 1982 murder of Pensacola, Florida police officer Steven Taylor. Hill shot him in the back during a bank robbery.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: And the Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments about this in April, but might not make a decision about Hill's case until July. And, Wolf, the question is there's another execution scheduled here in Florida next week, with that inmate making basically the same argument. So it's not clear whether this will have an impact on his execution date.
BLITZER: We'll watch that potential execution as well. Thank you very much. Susan Candiotti in Miami.
Is the U.S. Army all it can be? A new study, ordered by the Pentagon, finds there are not enough troops to carry out the overall missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. It warns that this think green line could actually snap.
The Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld takes issue with the finding. But Democrats have issued a similar study. Let's get all the specific details, our Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre standing by -- Jamie?
JAIMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the Pentagon has long insisted that even though U.S. military troops are under a lot of strain that the force is nowhere near being broken. But today, two reports challenge that assertion.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE: In one report commissioned by the Pentagon, a chapter entitled "The Thin Green Line" argues the Army is overstretched and undersized. The author, a retired military officer, concludes that the Army is in a race against time and could face a catastrophic decline in recruitment and re-enlistment.
A second report, released by Democrats on Capitol Hill, echoed the theme, noting that every available Army combat brigade has served in Iraq or Afghanistan for at least one, one-year tour and many are on second or third deployments.
WILLIAM PERRY, FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY: All Americans can be proud of their service and dedication, but the strain, if not relieved could have highly corrosive and long-term effects on the military.
DONALD RUMSFELD, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: I just can't imagine someone looking at the United States Armed Forces today and suggest that they're close to breaking. That's just not the case.
MCINTYRE: In a Pentagon news conference, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld dismissed the dire warning as either out of date or misdirected. And blamed part of the problem on the organizational structure he inherited from the Clinton administration.
RUMSFELD: I mean, these are the people, basically, who did that report who were here in the '90s. And what we're doing is trying to adjust what was left us, to fit the 21st century.
MCINTYRE: Both reports recommended a permanent increase in the size of the U.S. Army, something the Pentagon insists may not be need some enough desk jobs can be converted to combat roles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE: And, Wolf, one of those reports suggested that while probably nothing would help in the short term unless the Iraqi insurgency went away. It did concede at that Army's long-term plan might work, and relieve the problem, assuming there were no other major problems, like a big war, or terrorist attack on the United States. And that is what they said the risk is, that the force could become broken.
BLITZER: That's a big assumption. Thanks very much, Jamie, for that. Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon.
For Palestinians, it's an electoral earthquake. Their first parliamentary election to offer a serious challenge to the ruling Fatah party that challenge came from the militant Islamic group Hamas, labeled a terror organization by the United States government.
But Hamas campaigned as a clean government party, while Fatah has gained a reputation for corruption. A key exit poll shows Fatah with a bit over 46 percent of the vote, Hamas with almost 40 percent, that's enough to give Hamas potentially a significant share of power.
So what happens now? The former president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, was there, he led an international observer mission.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
JIMMY CARTER, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The U.S. government is prepared to continue dealing with the Palestinian Authority, with Hamas members in the parliament. If Hamas becomes part of the executive branch, that is, holds portfolios, then the American law, the way I understand it, would preclude the United States doing business with the Palestinian Authority. So we don't know what choices will be made by the Palestinians.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Let's go to Ramallah, on the West Bank. CNN's Guy Raz has been watching these elections all day.
First of all, what's the reaction there? And secondly, what's the reaction from the Israelis?
GUY RAZ, CNN INT'L. CORRESPONDENT, THE SITUATION ROOM: Well, Wolf, essentially for Palestinians, this is the beginning of a two- party system, a multi-party system in a sense. After decades of political hegemony, a government dominated by the ruling Fatah party. Most Palestinians want that party and that movement held accountable by a strong opposition party, and they have clearly chosen Hamas to be that opposition party.
Now, the Israeli government, obviously very concerned about the initial results of this election. Israel regards Hamas as a terrorist organization. Neither is Israel nor Hamas are particularly interested in negotiating with the other. And the results of this election could have major ramifications on any future peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority that includes a major Hamas presence, Wolf.
BLITZER: All right. We'll be watching very closely, together with you, Guy. Thank you very much. Guy Raz, on the West Bank.
Palestinians, by the way, took this election very seriously. Officials estimate is that 77.7 percent of eligible voters turned out. By way of contrast, the U.S. Census Bureau says 64 percent eligible American voters turned out for the last presidential election here.
Zain Verjee is standing by now at the CNN Center in Atlanta for a closer look at other news making headlines -- Zain.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN NEWS ANCHOR, THE SITUATION ROOM: Wolf, a horrific traffic accident near Jacksonville, Florida. Seven people are dead after a tractor trailer plowed into a van and pushed it into the back of a school bus.
The van burst into flames killing everyone inside. They were all children. Several children on the school bus are also in the hospital and two of them are in critical condition. Joining us now on the phone is Lieutenant Mike Burroughs with the Florida Highway Patrol.
What you can tell us about the scene now, and what's going on?
LT. MIKE BURROUGHS, FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL: The scene now is starting to calm down somewhat, so that we can actually begin work to do the careful documentation. And also the removal of the bodies from the charred wreckage, and the remains of this crash.
VERJEE: What about the families of the children? They been notified?
BURROUGHS: Yes, they have. That was a process we started right away. They have been notified as a result of this crash. In fact, one of the family members was just led away from the scene, shortly. It's a very sad moment, actually.
VERJEE: Are the children all part of the same family?
BURROUGHS: Yes, what we learned is there were seven family members inside the car, the oldest person inside the car was 15 years of age. And the youngest person was 21 months. I know it doesn't sound correct, but there was no adult person inside the car.
We do not have a law in Florida that actually allows a 15-year- old to drive without an adult in the car. But at this point, we feel that there was -- the age ranges inside the car were from the oldest being 15, to the youngest, 21 months.
VERJEE: Lieutenant Mike Burroughs of the Florida Highway Patrol. Thanks a lot. Wolf?
BLITZER: What a story. Thanks very much, Zain. Heart break, indeed.
Let's go up to New York, Jack Cafferty standing by with the "The Cafferty File."
Jack?>
JACK CAFFERTY: Wolf, a lot of public schools, high schools, around the country are thinking about teaching the Bible as literature. According to "USA Today," a course based on the textbook called "The Bible and Its Influence", it publisher says about 300 school districts are considering the class. Public high schools in California, Oregon and Washington are already offering it. And lawmakers in Alabama and Georgia say they want it.
Supporters say the textbook successfully keeps religion out of public schools. You could argue, I suppose, it's really no different than offering a class on Shakespeare or some other literary work. But critics say it is simply a way around the Supreme Court rulings on religion in public schools. So, here's the question: Is studying the Bible as literature acceptable in the public schools? E-mail your thoughts at caffertyfile@cnn.com. Or go to CNN.com/caffertyfile -- Wolf. BLITZER: Jack, thanks very much. Good question.
Coming up in here in THE SITUATION ROOM, fallout from 9/11, some first responders are coming down with serious illnesses. We'll find out why they have gone back to ground zero today to ask for help.
Plus, he won $1 million on "Survivor" but then got charged with tax evasion. The jury has now given its verdict. Did Richard Hatch's innocence survive.
And Kanye West posing as Jesus Christ. The Grammy award winner steps into controversy, once again. We'll explain. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: 9/11 sickness, police and firemen who were on the scene first are now getting sick. We'll find out why they've gone back to ground zero on this day to ask for help. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Let's some more on that horrible school bus crash in Florida. Scott Johnson of our CNN affiliate WJXT is standing by on the scene.
Based on what you've learned, Scott, piece it together, what happened?
SCOTT JOHNSON, WJXT REPORTER: Wolf, they're still investigating. We can't say with any sort of, you know, full-proof evidence, but what we do know at this point is about a quarter mile behind me, a school bus stopped, letting kids off at this small rural road here.
There's a van with seven people inside, it pulls up behind them. They're stopped and I'm told everyone side this van is under the age of 15. Implying that the driver must have been under 16 as well. Then comes behind them, a semi-truck. Comes up, is not able to stop in time. Slams into the van, killing everyone inside that van. \
Once again, all those people, under the age of 15. The driver of the semi-truck survives, the kids on the school bus survived. There are nine on board. They're all OK. Well, they're all at local hospitals recovering from wounds, but it's those seven young people in this van that passed away in this crash.
Still trying to determine whose fault it was. There was the truck driver, investigators say they did not stop in time. They don't know why he did not stop in time. Those are some of the unanswered questions, they're trying to answer themselves out here.
This rural road that goes through central Florida will probably be shut down overnight as investigators piece together this accident scene. We're live in Union County, Florida, Scott Johnson for CNN.
BLITZER: And -- and -- do you know what the speed limit is on that rural highway is right now?
JOHNSON: Oh, boy, I haven't seen a speed limit sign in a while. I'm guessing it's somewhere between 45 and 50. It's not a high speed. It's not a 65. I'm guessing it is roughly around 45 to 50. So, it's somewhat low, it's also something, when you're dropping kids on a school bus, on a two-lane, somewhat high speed road, there could be dangers involved as well.
BLITZER: I assume you have to be 16 to drive in Florida, is that right?
JOHNSON: Yes, 16, definitely. So that is part of this, but investigators will not say if the fact that the driver was under 16 has anything to do with this. They are still looking into that part, and they were all family, so.
BLITZER: Seven kids from the same family, 15 and under, in that one car, all dead. Scott Johnson of our affiliate WJXT. Thank you, Scott, very much for that report. What a horrible, horrible story.
Moving on to other important news we're watching right now. After the 9/11 attacks was the air around ground zero so bad it made people sick?
In recent months three emergency responder who worked at ground zero have died. Others are now sick. Let's go to CNN's Mary Snow. She's at ground zero right now. She's about to tell us what happened today -- Mary?
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT, THE SITUATION ROOM Well, Wolf, lawmakers here in New York say they are convinced that workers exposed to toxic materials, such as lead and asbestos, here at ground zero following 9/11, they believe this is having lingering health effects.
Those recent deaths have prompted them, they say, to take action asking the federal government to step in. They are asking for the government to appoint a 9/11 health czar.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW (voice over): They are being called the latest victims of 9/11. Three emergency workers who spent weeks, even months at ground zero, who have recently died. Police detective James de Drugo (ph), was the latest to succumb to lung ailments. They're families insist it is because of the hundreds of hours they spent inhaling toxic debris. Now a congressional delegation from New York is calling on the federal government to appoint a 9/11 health czar.
REP. VITO FOSSELLA, (R) NEW YORK: I need to scientist or researcher to tell me that the people who responded to 9/1 four and half years later are suffering.
SNOW: Lawmakers were joined by emergency workers like a former paramedic Marvin Betha (ph), who held up a sign to show the two medications he took before 9/11 and the many he takes now. Vince Forras volunteered several weeks at ground zero and says now he can't go without his inhaler and medications.
VINCENT FORRAS, SUFFERS POST-9/11 HEALTH PROBLEMS: Never had a breathing problem in my life. I used to run two or three miles a day. Now I have trouble walking from the car into my house.
SNOW: Doctors who are tracking the 9/11 responders say many are getting sick.
DR. JACQUELINE MOLINE, WTC MEDICAL MONITORING PROGRAM: We've seen 16,000 responders. These people are showing problems. They still have respiratory problems, they still have problems with their sinuses, with their throats.
SNOW: Officials say money to monitor them has come from private funds. And they say many are fighting red tape just to get insurance benefits.
REP. CAROLYN MALONEY, (D) NEW YORK: They are calling my office, some of whom tell me they do not even have help with their drugs that they need. Many cannot work. It's a national disgrace. And it's a crises.
SNOW: Lawmakers say there needs be to be a coordinated effort by the federal government to track these illnesses, fearing the number of cases will drastically increase with passing time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: And lawmakers today just sent a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt, the department releasing a statement today, saying it "received the letter. It is "currently reviewing recommendations" and the "health needs resulting from 9/11 are a primary concern to us." -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Mary Snow at ground zero. Thank you very much.
Still to come, here in THE SITUATION ROOM, million-dollar winner Richard Hatch, he took the top prize on "Survivor". Now, he's going to straight to jail for not paying taxes on his winnings. We'll have the story.
Plus, standing by I'll speak live with the commissioner of the IRS.
And Laura Bush, she's more popular than the president. Find out why everybody seems to love the first lady. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: President Bush loves to tell audiences, or anyone else who will listen, that he married well. But if have any doubts that Laura Bush is a political asset, as well as his loving wife, you would only have to check out our new poll, if you had any doubts. Let's bring in our Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley.
Candy, what's going on?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, if it is true that the best politicians are the ones who seen as above politics, then have we got a politician for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: He said nobody else --
CROWLEY: Quiz time, what do Oprah, Tiger Woods and Laura Bush have in common? Answer: They're all way more popular than her husband. In the latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup Poll, 82 percent of Americans gave thumbs up to the way Laura Bush is handling her job.
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: This job is, as Lady Bird Johnson said, that you know has no job description. She said the first lady has a podium if she chooses to use it. And I think that's what I've come to find out.
CROWLEY: She has adhered to the first rule of first ladyship. Do no harm. She has championed non-controversial causes, at-risk boys, reading readiness, women's heart health. But mostly, she is his champion, making talking points look less like politics, more like conversations.
BUSH: I'm actually am very encouraged. I think that things are going to do very well in Iraq.
CROWLEY: Her approval rating is almost 40 points higher than her husband's. Little wonder he trades on her mojo.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: She's a West Texas woman, born and raised in West Texas. I would say she brings common sense, down to earth, no airs, common sense point of view.
CROWLEY: No slouch in the political strategy department, the president fully understands his wife's value and cashes in on it regularly.
G. BUSH: I appreciate very much when she does give me her advice, which, you know, can be too frequent sometimes.
(LAUGHTER)
G. BUSH: Not true, honey.
CROWLEY: She gives him the every man feel, counteracting those critics who call him "King George." And she softens the excesses his critics find troubling.
G. BUSH: Plus, she does. I mean, you know, I said some things, wanted dead or alive. And she said, you might be able to explain that -- express yourself a little better than that, George W.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CROWLEY: Despite that 82 percent approval rating only 40 percent of the Americans say they would like to see Laura Bush run for the Senate, as has been the talk of this town for the past couple of months. The truth is, people like their politicians when they stay outside of politics, and that's when Laura Bush is her husband's best political asset -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Candy. Interesting story, thanks very much for bringing it to our viewers.
Just ahead, "Survivor" winner Richard Hatch, he's about to do serious jail time for not paying tax taxes on this million-dollar prize. Has justice been served? The commissioner of the IRS standing by to answer our questions.
And Kanye West, posing as Jesus, bad cliche? Good publicity? Out of line? All of the above? We're taking a closer look at the magazine cover that's raising eyebrows and blood pressure. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: The verdict is in, in a closely watched tax evasion case against a reality TV star. CNN's Zain Verjee joining us once again, with more on this story -- Zain.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, Richard Hatch gained fame as the first winner of the wildly popular reality TV series "Survivor." More recently, he gained notoriety when he was accused of evading taxes on his winning. Today, he was found guilty of that charge.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE (voice-over): Richard Hatch didn't stop to talk to reporters on his way into the courthouse in Providence, Rhode Island. Moments later, a jury convicted him of failing to pay taxes on the million-dollar prize he collected as winner of the CBS first "Survivor" reality series.
Hatch parlayed that fame into a job on talk radio in Boston. He was also convicted of evading taxes on those earnings, more than $300,000, as well as income from a rental property. Hatch was acquitted of seven charges, including bank, mail and wire fraud.
During the two week trial, his attorney argued that Hatch was simply the world's worst bookkeeper. But after deliberating for a little more than a day, jurors rejected that. Hatch could get up to 13 years in prison and face significant fines when he's sentenced in April. Although the judge said he expected a sentence of about three years.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE: Hatch was taken into custody immediately with the judge calling him a flight risk. He says he's concerned because Hatch is married to a man from Argentina whose visa is about to expire. And the judge says that Hatch claims he lost an old copy of his passport -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Zain, thank you very much.
Let's get some more now on the government's case against Richard Hatch. For that, we're joined by the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, Mark Everson.
Commissioner thanks very much for joining us.
MARK EVERSON, IRS COMMISSIONER: Nice to you see again, Wolf.
BLITZER: This case has generated lots of publicity, the IRS, tax evasion. When we spoke last April 15th, you said you wanted to go after these big fish who steal money, in effect, from American taxpayers. Is Richard Hatch one of those big fish?
EVERSON: Well, I think that most Americans would think that anybody who had a million-dollar payday was a pretty big fish. And you're exactly right. Most Americans pay their taxes honestly and accurately, and I think it galls us all when somebody else doesn't. Particularly, though, the wealthy and corporations.
So we've focused a lot of our attention on increasing audits and even criminal investigations in the cases of the well-to-do and the corporations. Because nobody likes to feel you get away with something just because you have more money and you can get a high- priced attorney or an accountant.
BLITZER: So basically, walk us through the process. You must have heard about the million dollars that he collected. He didn't declare it. What happened?
EVERSON: Well, I can't tell you how we developed the case. We don't comment on that other than what's been in the courts. But I think it's safe to say that the lowest incidence of noncompliance that we have in the whole system is when we have third-party reporting, wages and salaries. You get a noncompliance rate of lower than one percent there.
So you're pretty knuckle headed if you don't report a big payday to us when we're going to get third party information from somebody else who paid you.
BLITZER: And everybody who watched that show knew he got a million dollars for doing it. This was the defense, basically, of his attorney, he said, "There has never been a time Richard Hatch didn't want to pay his taxes. Sometimes, it's not dishonesty, it's human error. Rich is not good with numbers. He's good with people."
I suppose you hear that argument all the time?
EVERSON: Everybody has a reason why they don't pay. But when you're in front of that jury, they treat you fairly. We're satisfied with the verdict. As your report points out, he wasn't found guilty on all the charges, but certainly, the jury found that on the tax evasion charge of over a million dollars, he was guilty. The other thing I'd like to draw out here, which is particularly important for us, he used a charity to shelter some of this money, if you will. People are giving him money to do good things to help others. And he wasn't doing that, he was channeling that money to his own personal interest. So that's another element of it that we're particularly concerned about. We're clamping down on abuses of charities, as well.
BLITZER: Usually, correct me if I'm wrong, the IRS tries to work with people who don't pay their taxes or owe back taxes, come up with some sort of formula to get it paid. Did you try with this guy to work out some deal? He must have some money out there.
EVERSON: I think people have already commented on the fact that there was a potential plea arrangement some time ago, and that didn't go forward for whatever reasons. But, yes, of course, we try to work with people. We bring criminal cases or the Justice Department does.
What happens is, we refer matters. We develop the case, and then we refer them to justice. In most instances, if we make the referral, which is only after a lot of internal procedures, they generally accept the case.
Obviously, they did in this instance because this was clear-cut. He had a reputation of being pretty brazen, if will you, when he was on the show, and clearly the jury believed that was the case in how he treated his taxes.
BLITZER: So will justice be served, in your opinion, if he spends time in jail?
EVERSON: Absolutely. We just can't run a country where people don't pay their taxes. His misconduct was blatant, and we can't tolerate that as a society.
BLITZER: And, one final point, when individuals who are supposed to pay taxes don't pay taxes, the burden, in effect, is shifted on the rest of us who do pay taxes.
EVERSON: Well, that's exactly right. As we talked last year, over a quarter trillion dollars a year doesn't come in because others aren't paying. That means you and I and all your viewers, we have to shoulder that burden.
BLITZER: Mark Everson is the commissioner of the IRS.
Thanks for coming into THE SITUATION ROOM.
EVERSON: Nice to be here.
BLITZER: Up next, a Google alert. The popular search engine goes to the other side of the earth, and we're following along the way. We'll go there online.
And is it a map to a new life or a how-to blueprint for breaking the law? A new source of friction in the fight over immigration. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: President Bush says Americans should take Osama bin Laden seriously when he says he's going to attack the United States again. Mr. Bush issued that warning today as part of his campaign to change the debate about a secret spying program, and he did it at the place where the controversial wiretaps are carried out.
Let's bring in our White House correspondent Dana Bash -- Dana.
DANA BASH, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf.
Well, this visit by the president to the place that you just mentioned, the National Security Agency, was something that is certainly quite rare, and it gave Americans a little bit of a glimpse into the super secret agency, but that certainly wasn't the point of the visit.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASH (voice-over): In a rare visit to the super-secret National Security Agency, the president defended his controversial spying program by invoking public enemy number one and last week's threatening tape.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Listen to the words of Osama bin Laden and take him seriously. When he says he's going to hurt the American people again or try to, he means it.
BASH: The NSA is carrying out the surveillance program. This visit is aimed at boosting their morale and bolstering his arguments for ordering them to spy without warrants, a case the White House hopes is helped by bin Laden's new threats.
BUSH: I'm going to continue with everything I can within my legal authority to stop him and so are the good people here at NSA.
BASH: This event capped a White House effort to make a virtue out of a vulnerability, banking on Mr. Bush's ability to get the upper hand in any political debate about fighting terrorism.
P.J. CROWLEY, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS: From their standpoint, at least they're talking about the president taking action, as opposed to talking about Iraq.
BASH: Most Democrats call the surveillance program illegal and say if expanding spying is necessary to fight al Qaeda, the solution is asking Congress to get new powers.
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MINORITY LEADER: Tell us what needs to be changed, let's do it legally. But for some reason, the president doesn't want to do that.
BASH: As in any campaign, changing rhetoric says a lot about strategy. Mr. Bush's pitch is refined to answer concerns about civil liberties, narrowly tailored, he insists, to known bad guys.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: And that refined pitch, Wolf, is the label that the White House is using for this program, calling it the terrorist surveillance program. And, in fact, the White House is even going so far as to publicly try to pressure others, including the press, to adopt their label for this program, Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Dana. Dana is at the White House. Thank you very much for that.
Google is debuting a new Chinese version of its widely popular search engine, but the site will be censoring itself. To tell us how it works, we're joined in THE SITUATION ROOM by our Internet reporter, Jacki Schechner -- Jacki.
JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, this is the Google that we're used to seeing here in the United States. Now, if you take a look at he version that was just released in China, not much of a difference on the surface. It's when you start searching for terms that you see the real discrepancy.
Take a look at the Google here. This is Tiananmen Square. I plugged this in because it's a phrase that the Chinese government is likely to censor. On the U.S. version, two million hits. And the image results come up first. You can take a look at some of the photographs there of the Tiananmen Square protests. All of the first few entries are encyclopedia entries, Wikipedia entries, about the actual Tiananmen Square protest.
Now let's go to the Chinese Google site. Same search terms, but you get considerably less results, closer to 14,000, rather than those two million. These are entries that end up being travel sites, tourist sites, you can an organization based in Tiananmen Square. Certainly not the same thing.
Now, Google does have a disclaimer at the bottom of its Chinese search engine. This is the disclaimer right here, and translated from Chinese, this means "some search results were not displayed according to local laws and policies." As you might imagine, Wolf, this is generating some controversy.
BLITZER: I assume it is. Thanks very much, Jacki, for that.
Some say it's potentially life-saving information. Others call it a brazen attempt to help people break the law. Brian Todd is standing by in the news room with a controversial map that's being released. Brian, tell our viewers what's going on.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a map that's being printed for the possibility of crossing into the U.S., Wolf, illegally, telling you where to go, where the safest areas are. It's the biggest controversy or the latest controversy, we should say, in the tug of war between the U.S. and Mexico over immigration, even more sensitive also when you consider who's printing these maps. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice-over): The safest routes into Arizona, danger points where people have died, water stations, rescue beacons, all important features on new maps being given to tens of thousands of potential illegal Mexican immigrants before they make the trek into the United States, maps distributed by a U.S.-based immigrant aid group, but printed by Mexico's National Human Rights Commission, a group that was part of the country's Interior Ministry and is now funded in part by the Mexican legislature.
MAURICIO FARAH, MEXICAN NATL. HUMAN RIGHTS COMM.: They should have information available to discourage them from crossing. Also, if their life is endangered, they should at least know where they can walk to or where they can find water to save their lives.
TODD: By Mexican and U.S. government estimates, more than 400 Mexican immigrants died last year in border areas. But one group seeking to curb immigration is outraged at the new maps, saying they'll do more than increase a migrant's chances for a safer, illegal crossing.
MARK KRIKORIAN, CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIES: There are drug dealers. There are alien smugglers. There are terrorists and others, and this is essentially a road map for bad guys.
TODD: The maps also cause division in the top echelons of Mexican politics. The administration of President Vicente fox distancing itself from a project underwritten by Mexico's Congress.
CARLOS DE ICAZA, MEXICAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S: We do not encourage undocumented or unauthorized immigration to the U.S. This is an independent body, an independent organization, funded by Congress, but it's not part of the government.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TODD: The Mexican ambassador would not comment when I asked if the Fox administration would take any action to stop the printing and distribution of the maps. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff late this afternoon issued a statement opposing the publication of the maps, quote, "in the strongest terms."
He says it's a bad idea to encourage migrants to undertake what he calls "a dangerous and futile effort," one that he says will lead to more deaths and the strengthening of human trafficking rings -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Brian Todd reporting for us. Thank you, Brian, very much.
Up next, critics take aim at a controversial magazine cover featuring rap star Kanye West as Jesus. We'll tell you what both sides are saying.
Plus, is studying the Bible as literature acceptable in public schools? It's our question of the hour. Jack Cafferty is standing by with your e-mail.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Last year, the rapper Kanye West won a Grammy for his hit song "Jesus Walks." Now, it appears the outspoken West feels he's walking in Jesus' shoes. Depending on how you look at it, his latest act is either a heavenly honor or an appalling P.R. stunt. Chris Lawrence standing by in Los Angeles with more -- Chris.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the latest issue of "Rolling Stone" just came out a few hours ago here in Los Angeles, with a headline that reads "The Passion of Kanye West." It's an obvious play on "The Passion of the Christ." Now inside, he talks about everything from pornography to politics, but it's this image that's causing all the controversy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE (voice-over): On the cover of "Rolling Stone," Kanye West wears a crown of thorns and some say makes a mockery of the crucifixion.
BILL DONOHUE, CATHOLIC LEAGUE PRESIDENT: Why are these guys ripping off Catholic iconography to make a cheap point?
LAWRENCE: Catholic League president Bill Donohue calls it cheap because it's been done before by other artists. He says, for someone so creative, West went the easy route with "Rolling Stone."
DONOHUE: They take Christ imagery to sell and hawk their own services or product.
LAWRENCE: "Rolling Stone" editor Joe Levy defends the cover, and Kanye.
(MUSIC)
JOE LEVY, ROLLING STONE EDITOR: One of his biggest and greatest songs is "Jesus Walks." The song is specifically about the constrictions he felt as being a rapper, not being entitled and encouraged to address religion, to talk with God in his music.
LAWRENCE: Levy says West sees himself as someone persecuted for speaking his mind.
LEVY: So he is a spiritual man and that's certainly something that's reflected on this cover.
LAWRENCE: West came under fire last year after the criticized the president at a Hurricane Katrina benefit.
KANYE WEST, RAPPER: George Bush doesn't care about black people.
LAWRENCE: He took flack when he talked about his gay cousin and demanded that hip hop stop spreading homophobia. LEVY: He's one of the first people, if not the very first, to do this. Probably the first major rapper to stand up and say, it's not OK.
LAWRENCE: But it's Kanye as Christ that make some say the magazine went too far.
DONOHUE: The fact of the matter is this wasn't meant to be reverential.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE: Now "Rolling Stone" says this cover is meant to be an artistic expression. It was never meant to offend any religious group. But in a day of age where you've got "Vibe," "Spin," "Blender," "Billboard," all these other music magazines, a little controversy certainly sells more copies -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right Chris thanks very much. Chris Lawrence in L.A. for us.
On this note, we invited Kanye West to come on this program tonight. His publicist declined our request.
Scientists are trying to predict how a flu pandemic might spread. And the answer may be in how we travel and where we spend our money. In the study to be released tomorrow in the journal "Nature," scientists used a popular web site to trace the whereabouts of nearly half a million dollar bills.
Here's our Internet reporter Jacki Schechner to tell us what they came up with -- Jacki.
SCHECHNER: Wolf, it's a fascinating concept. Could the answer to how flu spreads be in where this guy goes when he leaves my hands? More about him in a minute.
But take a look at the map that the scientists have put together of how they trace those half a million dollar bills. You can see how they cross the country. Now they used this web site whereisgeorge.com. All you do is go online, and you register your bill. It is all free.
The most popular bill online right now has been in circulation for a little more than three years. It has gone a little more than 4,000 miles.
It started in Dayton, Ohio, where somebody wrote in. They worked at a Sonic restaurant got it as a tip. I'll tell you that it did at one point end up in Dallas, Texas, and was found on the floor of a strip club. It's now residing in Rudyard, Michigan, where the person says this bill is getting old.
Now this particular bill, I've have in my hand, I've gone online. I registered it. And, Wolf, you'll be happy to know while it has no history, it is certain to have a future. Because I put this notation in, this bill was featured on CNN's THE SITUATION ROOM hosted by Wolf Blitzer. So after I spend it on dinner, we'll see what happens to it.
BLITZER: All right. We'll watch. Thanks very much, Jacki, for that.
Let's find out what's coming up right at the top of the hour. Paula Zahn is standing by.
Hi Paula.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Wolf, do you like my situation room all behind me tonight?
BLITZER:: I like it very much. And I know you're going to be here in THE SITUATION ROOM with me next Tuesday night for the State of the Union Address.
ZAHN: Yes, we are doing a two-hour special leading up that address. Look forward to it, Wolf, thanks.
Coming up in about eight minutes from now, a mystery in small town in Maine. Five young athletes, all of them superstars, all from the same team, all have committed suicide. And now, a community wonders what's behind these tragic deaths. We'll take a look at that mystery tonight.
Also, our "Eye-Opener," a woman who spent 18 months disguised as a man hanging out the with the boys. You're not going to believe the secrets she uncovered about what men are really like, what you guys really want. I think we could all learn a lot from listening to Norah a little bit later on this evening, who went by the name Ned to all the male groups that she was introduced to.
BLITZER: Well, you got my attention, Paula. I will be watching.
ZAHN: You watch. You will learn.
BLITZER: I'm sure a lot of our viewers will be. Thank you very much. Paula Zahn coming up in a few minutes, "PAULA ZAHN NOW."
Still ahead, the Bible in public schools, is it teaching the gospel or teaching literature? Jack Cafferty goes by the book. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Let's go to Jack in New York with "The Cafferty File"-- Jack.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Wolf.
A lot of public high schools in the country are thinking about teaching the Bible as literature. It's an elective course based on a textbook called, "The Bible and Its Influence." Critics say it is nothing more than a slick way around the Supreme Court's ruling on religion in schools. The question is this, is studying the Bible as literature acceptable in the public schools? Here's some of what you've written us.
Judy in Saint Augustine, Florida, "If you want to learn about the Bible, go to your local house of worship or to a private school, but not on my tax dollars."
Tony in Oceano, California, "Certainly the Bible would be of immense value to be studied at school, as long as it is part of a comparative religion study. The Koran and the teachings of Buddha should be studied at the same time."
Beverly in Natchez, Mississippi, "Only as an elective like P.E., band or chorus. When children can't read, write, or handle math, chemistry, biology and a second language as well as other countries, they need to concentrate more on those areas."
Maxine in Atlanta, Georgia, "Old Testament and New Testament as literature were staples in the English curriculum at Georgia Tech until the charismatic movement in the late 1970's brought students who disrupted every class with proof texts and refused to consider the Bible except as the literal word of Christ."
C.B. in Sacramento, California, "In college, an English professor told us, all texts refer back to three essential texts: Shakespeare, Milton and the Bible. You can't understand literature without understanding those three texts. I'm not religious and that professor was right."
And Allan in Tanner, West Virginia, "Teaching the Bible as literature is about the same as teaching "Debbie Does Dallas" as filmmaking. The Bible is literature, and "Debbie Does Dallas" is a film, neither belongs in a public school classroom"--Wolf.
BLITZER: All right. Strong views. Thanks, Jack. See you tomorrow here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
Let's check back with Zain. A final check of some other headlines making news around the world--Zain.
VERJEE: Wolf, a federal appeals court says the U.S. can prosecute Americans who engage in child prostitution abroad. The three judge panel ruled that the constitution's commerce clause allows the government to charge a 71-year-old American man. He admits paying as many as 50 boys for sex during the five-year period when he was living in Cambodia.
Freezing weather that has gripped eastern Europe is moving south into Turkey and Greece today bringing snow to Athens and closing it to tourists. The bitter cold has been blamed for more than 100 deaths since it set in last week sending temperatures plunging way below zero.
Pope Benedict XVI has issued his first encyclicals. That's basically a letter to the bishops of the church. It's titled, "God is Love." And in it, the pope covers everything from charity, to politics, to sex and love. Among other things, the pope writes that the church can't lead the political battle for a just society, but also can't just stand on the sidelines.
And, Jack, I really want you to take a look at this. OK. Tell me what you think. In Bahrain, beneath this veil and in traditional women's clothing there, this is none other than Michael Jackson with his kids after a trip to the mall. He was apparently going shoe shopping, Jack. He has taken refuge in Bahrain since he was cleared of child molestation charges.
What do you think?
CAFFERTY: I wonder if his nose has fallen off yet.
VERJEE: I don't know about that. You can't tell with this veil, but he gave himself away because his shoes were peeping out, and everyone recognized him anyway. And everyone said--all the photographers crammed in and started taking pictures. He said, no, no, no. But he was discovered in Bahrain.
BLITZER: We have got to leave it there guys. That's it for us. Paula Zahn standing by in New York--Paula.
ZAHN: Wolf, appreciate it.
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