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The Situation Room
Passenger Ship Sinks With Little Warning; Cartoon Outrage Across Muslim World
Aired February 03, 2006 - 16:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: It's just before 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, it's early Saturday morning in the Red Sea, where an aging passenger vessel sinks with 1,400 people on board, most still unaccounted for.
Across the Muslim world, angry protests and chilling threats over the publication of cartoons showing the Prophet Mohammed. Is it a matter of free speech or is it blasphemy?
And it's 5:00 p.m. in Detroit. There are divers and dog teams, camouflaged agents and cameras, heavy surveillance and tight security in the Super Bowl city.
I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
We begin with a developing story and a huge tragedy that grows by the hour. An Egyptian passenger boat loaded nearly to capacity went down with little warning in deep waters of the Red Sea between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The ship was carrying 1,400 people.
Let's go live to CNN's Ben Wedeman. He's on the scene for us in Safaga. That's the Egyptian port.
What is the latest information we're getting, Ben?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF: Well, the information is coming in, in dribs and drabs, Wolf. The latest is -- according to the Egyptian transport minister -- 263 survivors. Other Egyptian officials saying more than 100 body have been pulled from the water.
Here outside this port of Safaga, there are thousands of people, some onlookers, others angry relatives, looking, waiting for some sort of information about their loved ones who were on that ship. Most of the people, the passengers, we're told, were Egyptian laborers returning from Saudi Arabia, in addition to 100 Saudi nationals.
In fact, just a few minutes ago, actually right behind me, behind this crowd that is here, are riot police. The riot police were stormed by some angry women looking for information, demanding information of their loved ones.
So it's a very tense atmosphere with riot police not only around the port, but also the Safaga hospital right up -- right up the street from where I am. Egyptian officials have been trying to get out as much information as possible, but here, right outside the port, it's very chaotic and very difficult to communicate with the crowd.
Wolf, just a little while ago, there was an official from the Saalaam Maritime Company which owns the Al-Saalaam Boccaccio 98, the ship that went down. There was an official who was reading a list of the passengers on that ship, but he was an able to tell the very angry crowd who survived and who didn't -- Wolf.
BLITZER: But there are massive, I assume, search and rescue operations still under way right now. Or have they been suspended because it's the middle of the night?
WEDEMAN: Well, Egyptian officials say that those rescue -- search and rescue operations will be ongoing around the clock. Now, we do know that the Egyptian navy has deployed several of its ships in this area, as well as helicopters and other aircraft.
Obviously in the night, in these conditions, it's very difficult to carry out such operations. So it will probably intensify when the sun goes up again in about six hours' time -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Ben Wedeman. We're going to be checking back with you throughout the hour, throughout the night here on CNN.
Ben Wedeman is on the scene for us in Egypt, in the port.
I want to update our viewers on the latest numbers we're getting thanks to The Associated Press. Quoting an Egyptian transportation ministry spokesman, 314 passengers have been rescued, more than 1,400 were on board, about 1,300 passengers, about 100 crew members, 314 have now been rescued. That means more than 1,000 people still unaccountable.
We're picking up new details about this ship online. For that, let's go to our Internet reporter, Jacki Schechner -- Jacki.
JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, a good photo of the ship from CNN.com. But we're learning more information from the Al Saalaam Maritime Company's Web site.
You can take a look here at the specification of the ship. For example, about half of it is used for passengers, cargo, storage, that sort of thing. This is like a ferry-type ship.
The other thing we wanted to show you were the accommodations. We say it holds close to 1,400 people. And essentially, we're saying that it is at capacity or at least close to it -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jacki, thank you very much.
A Danish newspaper says if it had known what the consequences would be, it would not have published editorial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. Those cartoons were first published in September but were reprinted this week in newspapers across Europe, sparking violent protest worldwide.
In Basra, Iraq, 4,500 Muslims demonstrated after Friday prayers, burning the Danish flag.
In London, hundreds marched on the Danish embassy, chanting, "Kill. Kill, Denmark." One banner read, "Europe, your 9/11 will come."
In Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, thousands more took the to the streets protesting what they see as blasphemy.
In Tehran, Iranians demanded that those behind the cartoons be prosecuted.
You may have noticed that we're pixelating pictures of the cartoons in our reporting. We would like to note that any likeness of the Prophet Mohammed is considered sacrilegious in the Muslim world. So in telling this story, we're trying to respect that.
Palestinians have been on the forefront of the protest by the tends of thousands.
CNN's John Vause is in Jerusalem -- John.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the outrage across the Islamic world escalated today after some fiery sermons in many mosques. In Gaza, one Muslim cleric reportedly called for the severing of heads of those responsible for the cartoons.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE (voice over): After Friday prayers came a flag-burning frenzy. Across the Islamic world, the protests have been angry, at times violent, and the message the same: Mohammed the prophet has suffered the ultimate insult, and the West is to blame.
"They put a time bomb on the head gear of our prophet Mohammed by which they want to establish that our prophet was a terrorist," says this Islamic leader in Bangladesh.
Pakistan's parliament unanimously condemned the Danish cartoons while thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in cities and towns, chanting, "Friends of Christians are traitors."
"The people of the West must take serious notice of this issue," says this religious leader. "They should realize the feelings of Muslims have been hurt. Muslims everywhere are very furious."
Some of the biggest protests have been in Gaza. Thousands holding up the Koran, chanting, "God is great." One Muslim cleric reportedly called for the severing of heads of those responsible for the cartoons.
Earlier, diplomats, international aid workers and news crews headed for Israel after a warning from gunmen they would be targets for kidnap if they didn't leave. SARAH DE JONG, INTERNATIONAL NEWS SAFETY INST.: It's a bit tense. You get the sense that people are upset, they're angry.
VAUSE: In Jerusalem's Old City, Israeli border police clashed with Muslim worshipers. Men under 45 were banned from praying at the Al Aqsa Mosque because of fears they planned to protest. Stun grenades were used to clear the crowd.
One of the few voices of calm, though, came from the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai.
HAMID KARZAI, AFGHAN PRESIDENT: As much as we condemn this, we must have as Muslims the courage to forgive and not make it an issue of dispute between religions or cultures.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Eventually, the anger and outrage will most likely pass. But until then, this clash of religion and culture will do even more harm to the already strained relations between the Islamic world and the West -- Wolf.
BLITZER: John Vause reporting for us.
John, thank you very much.
Are cartoons cause for violent protests and dire threats? Is it a case of blasphemy or free speech? We're going to take a look at both sides of this. That's coming up here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
But right now coming up is "The Cafferty File." That means we go back to Jack -- Jack.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Wolf.
In Alabama, you can take your driver's license test in any of the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Thai, or Vietnamese. Oh yes, you can also take it in English.
Did I mention we're talking about Alabama here? And a judge says giving the test in multiple languages is perfectly fine.
A lawsuit was filed by a nonprofit group called Pro English. The group said it violates Alabama's constitution and puts all drivers at risk. They lost.
English is Alabama's official language. The state argued giving the test only in English would violate federal anti-bias laws.
This is the kind of stuff we need more of tying up our court system.
Here's the question: Should state governments have to pay for foreign language driving tests?
E-mail us at CaffertyFile@CNN.com -- Wolf.
BLITZER: How many e-mails do you usually get when you ask a question?
CAFFERTY: It depends on the question. You know, it can go anywhere from a couple of hundred, to the day I got all carried away about the lack of response to Katrina and we got, like, 20,000. So...
BLITZER: I think you're going to get a lot on this one.
CAFFERTY: Do you?
BLITZER: Yes.
CAFFERTY: How do you feel about that, Wolf?
BLITZER: Well, you'll let me know. We'll talk about it later.
Jack Cafferty.
Up ahead, cartoons are usually drawn for laughs, but these cartoons are drawing violent rage and protests. Should they have been published in the first place, or should they be protected under freedom of speech?
We're going to have a debate on this subject.
And Detroit is like a city on lockdown. Super Bowl Sunday will have fun and games, but not for those trying to keep the game safe. We'll show you how tight security is. Our Brian Todd is on the scene.
And minutes from now, a cosmic collaboration, Russians and Americans in space. We'll show you what's happening.
You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Right now in Alabama, apparent cases of arson. Police want to know who's burning the churches. A few have been charred near Birmingham.
Details now from CNN's David Mattingly. He's joining us from Centerville.
What is going in Alabama, David?
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, investigators have a real mystery on their hands. All they know, publicly, at least, that they're telling us, that they have five churches that were burning at the same time in rural Bibb County, Alabama.
This all happening in an three-hour period after midnight last night. All of the churches Baptist, they tell us. But beyond that, they say they're not willing to share whether or not they have come up with any evidence suggesting beyond the obvious suspicions here that this is truly a case of arson or that any of these churches are truly linked. Also, they say they're not willing yet to call this a hate crime because only one of five churches has a predominantly black congregation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have been working with the U.S. Attorney's Office and the different agencies. And we want to assure the public that the perpetrators of this cowardly act will be brought to justice.
Whoever committed these crimes are going to be sent to prison. So the public can be rest assured that when this thing is solved and somebody's put in jail, they're going to be sent off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTINGLY: In spite of the lack of public information right now from investigators, it's clear they're taking this case very seriously. There are literally dozens of ATF agents on the ground here, as well as FBI agents.
Again, neither agency willing at this point to say that this is a hate crime. But they are, again, very interested to see what the arson investigation turns up -- Wolf.
BLITZER: David Mattingly on the scene for us.
David, we'll check back with you for updates. Thank you very much.
Coming up, the cartoon igniting protests around the world. Is it a matter of free speech or insult? Professor and scholar Shibley Telhami and CNN contributor Bill Bennett, they're standing by.
And in Detroit, big brother is watching. With the Super Bowl just two days away, cops are on the ground, cameras are in the air.
And are you watching just for those Super Bowl ads? Millions say the event is really about the commercials with a little game in between.
You don't have to wait until see all of ads until Sunday. See some of the best Super Bowl commercials. You'll see them right here on THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back.
Around the world it's become a burning issue. Muslims in the streets protesting editorial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. Even the State Department, the Bush administration's State Department, suggesting there should be limits to freedom of the press and freedom of expression.
Is it a case of free speech or blasphemy? Joining us here, Professor Shibley Telhami. He's with the University of Maryland and the Brookings Institution.
And from Watertown, Massachusetts, CNN contributor and radio talk show host Bill Bennett.
Shibley, explain to our viewers who aren't familiar with Islam and the traditions of images of the Prophet Mohammed why this is so outrageous.
PROF. SHIBLEY TELHAMI, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: Well, first of all, pictures of the Prophet Mohammed are not made available. They've never been made available. And in this case there's more to it than that.
He's really painted as a terrorist. And many in the Muslim world have seen the war on terrorism, and this has been part of their frustration, as a war on Islam and a direct correctiveness (ph).
So it's both. And I frankly think that, while this is about this issue that touches a cord in Muslim identity across Arab and Muslim countries, it is a reflection of a broader sentiment. It's tapping into a reservoir of resentment that is there that is a function of the recent deterioration of the perception of the West linked to the war on terrorism, linked to the Iraq war, and it's being exploited by politicians across the board.
BLITZER: This is what the State Department said today. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's State Department said, "These cartoons are indeed offense to the belief of Muslims. We all fully recognize and respect freedom of the press and expression, but it must be coupled with press responsibility. Inciting religious or ethnic hatreds in this manner is not acceptable."
Bill Bennett, what do you think?
WILLIAM BENNETT, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I don't agree with that, frankly. And the exquisite sensitivity here shown by many in the Muslim world, I wish they had such sensitivity toward cartoons portraying Jews that have been around for a long time.
You know, the long-nosed, the hang-nosed Jew, the -- Sharon as Hitler, the blood libels which have been going on. You know, I mean, this has been going on for a very long time. Christians have been taking it on the chin in this country and elsewhere.
But the Danish newspapers run these cartoons. And you've got jihad, for Pete's sakes.
Look, it just turns out that there are people who are acting in world, cutting people's heads off, putting jetliners into buildings and saying they're doing so in the name of Allah. You know, this is what people say as they get out enflamed.
They're saying they're doing this because of the Koran, because of the prophet. Now others argue it is a distortion of that. Fine. Let that debate commence. But I take it that's one point of the Danish newspaper cartoons, is to say this is being done in the name of Islam.
Religion is not off limits when it comes to -- when it comes to a free press. Religion is -- despite the fact that our State Department may wish want to deny it, is very much embedded in this current war against radical Islam.
BLITZER: There have been, Shibley -- you well know because you study the Arab media.
TELHAMI: Sure.
BLITZER: There have been pretty disgusting cartoons about Jews in Christians in the Muslim world as well.
TELHAMI: And we should condemn these absolutely. And I disagree with Bill on this. Two wrongs don't make a right.
Anti-Semitic cartoons are wrong whether they're in the Arab media or Muslim media, or here, and they should be opposed and there should be a campaign against them just as anti-Muslim cartoons are wrong.
I think there's a difference. You know, I fully am 100 percent behind the freedom of speech. I don't think we should have laws that prohibit offensive speech.
I think offensive speech should be legal. But Mr. Bennett is actually very strong in making the differentiation between what is moral responsibility, what is ethical responsibility, what is professional responsibility, and what is legal.
It should be legal. But we -- in any profession, when you are in a position of power, as an editor of a newspaper, as a journalist, as a professor, as a political figure, you have a responsibility to know what the consequences of your speech are. And you do not go -- if we had had an anti-Semitic cartoon in "The New York Times" or "The Washington Post," of course we won't. But if we did, you aren't going to have anger.
You wouldn't have -- what we need to focus on is really not the freedom of the speech, but the reaction that is different in the Arab world, which is unacceptable. The anger is understandable.
I think people would be angry when they see hate speech. The question that we should focus on, why this kind of reaction, which is different from the way people would be having...
BLITZER: All right. Let me let Bill Bennett respond to that.
Go ahead, Bill.
BENNETT: I think it touches a deep cord. And I think it touches, to some extent, on people who are using Islam to advance some of the worst ideas possible in our time. And I have to tell you, Wolf, I work for CNN now, like you do. Not as much as you do, but I work for CNN. I don't think you should have pixelated those cartoons.
I don't know why CNN decided to do it. I guess -- I mean, the reason you gave was because of the sensibilities of Muslims.
But later in the evening two nights ago I watched Paula Zahn show the cartoons from "The Washington Post" of the multiple amputee. I mean, whatever you say about Islam, its culpability, what is the culpability of a multiply-amputated soldier lying in a hospital bed, that cartoon which offended many, many military families?
But CNN had no difficulty running that cartoon, but had exquisite concern for the sensibilities of Muslims and not -- so pixelated the cartoons from the Danish paper.
BLITZER: You see a difference, Shibley, between those cartoons?
TELHAMI: Well, sure. I mean, one is clearly -- you know, we can argue whether the one in "The Washington Post" is offensive or not, but it is certainly not a racist cartoon and it's not aimed specifically at a people.
I think, you know, it's politically -- may be politically incorrect. I have seen it. One can pass a judgment.
I think here you have a profoundly -- it's like having an anti- Semitic cartoon. That's what it is. It's the equivalent of having an anti-Semitic cartoon.
Now, the reaction, I mean, I've got to tell you, the reaction I find unacceptable in -- to it. And I think that reaction isn't just a reaction to the cartoon.
I mean, some people didn't even know about this cartoon. The first cartoon took place several months ago.
I think what you have here is, you have political leaders, aspiring ones, particularly opposing governments, who are using this because it touches a cord to rally people behind. And then you have governments who are seeing this momentum, this public opinion going against them. They're watching the elections and they're leading the rallies instead of applying the breaks.
BLITZER: I gave -- we're almost out of time. Shibley, I gave you the first word, so let me give Bill Bennett the last word.
Go ahead, Bill.
BENNETT: Maybe this just might promote that debate inside Islam that everybody has been saying should be had but what seems to me has not yet been had loud enough or strongly enough. It still seems to me that the wrong guys are running Islam, or at least they're the loudest voices. If there are people who think this is distortion, a horrible distortion of the prophet's teachings, for god's sakes, will they please speak up?
BLITZER: Bill Bennett and Shibley Telhami, thanks to both of you for joining us.
An important discussion. A discussion that's not going to go away anytime soon.
Appreciate it very much.
Coming up, some people tune in just turn in for commercials. The Super Bowl ads feature big names, but they cost big bucks. Are they worth it?
And in our 7:00 p.m. Eastern hour here on THE SITUATION ROOM, they can chase you for hundreds of yards and they mean business. We're talking about killer bees finding a home right now in Florida. Is there any way for you to fight back?
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: The Bush administration now calls it the long war, referring to the overall battle against terrorism, including the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Officials concede it could last for decades.
What does that to do the concept of an exit strategy?
Joining us now, Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt. He's the deputy director for plans and strategy for the U.S. military's Central Command, former deputy chief of operations for the U.S. Army in Iraq.
General, thanks very much for joining us.
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY: Thanks for having me.
BLITZER: Let me play for you what the secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld, said on Wednesday.
Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: As the president said last night, our own generation is in a long war against a determined enemy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: You have to implement. You have to -- you have to plan for this. What are you planning for? KIMMMIT: Well, first of all, the president's exactly right and the secretary of defense is exactly right. It will be a long war. It's a fight against al Qaeda and it's associated movements.
Whether it's bin Laden, Zarqawi, or other these affiliated movements, such as a Salafist group for preaching in combat, AI (ph) and AI (ph) in Somalia, these are groups that simply want to turn the clock back to the 7th century Khalif.
How do we fight that? It's quite simple. We fight it internationally. We fight it interagency. And we fight it with persistence. And we fight it with patience. And it's going to take a long time.
BLITZER: I think the American public expects the war on terrorism against al Qaeda and other terrorists to go on for a long, long time. What the American public didn't necessarily expect was the -- that the war in Iraq would go on as long as it has, cost as much as it has, and have the casualty rate as high as it -- as it -- as it has become.
Did the U.S. military expect it to go on like this?
KIMMITT: Well, you know, again, I think history will tell what was actually determined beforehand and what we found out since we got on the ground.
The fact is that we have got troops in contact right now, making progress every day. And the progress being made by the Iraqi security forces is the best measure of our progress over there and, certainly, the way that we are going to hand over this fight one day to them.
BLITZER: There has been a lot of talk of an exit strategy. I remember, when Colin Powell was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff, he used to say, don't go into a war unless you have an exit strategy.
Listen to what Congressman John Murtha, Democrat of Pennsylvania, said to me the other day here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, THE SITUATION ROOM)
REP. JOHN MURTHA (D), PENNSYLVANIA: The longer we're there, the more we become the enemies, the more our troops are the targets.
Every time I go to the hospitals, every time I see the -- the wounded, I realize the targets that our troops are. There's no question in my mind, Iraqis have to take care of this themselves. They have to have an incentive. The incentive is an exit strategy.
His policy is an open-ended strategy with no exit strategy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: You have to plan. You have to implement this military posture in Iraq. Is there an exit strategy? KIMMITT: That's not what we call it. What we call it is a strategy for victory, a strategy for success, continue to train the Iraqi security forces, pass more and more control over to the Iraqi security forces, don't leave them in the lurch, don't leave the job undone.
Let's make sure that we are over there, that we're going pass the mission off to well-trained, competent Iraqi security forces. That's the best way to succeed over there. And that's the way we will succeed over there.
BLITZER: When I was in -- in -- in Iraq in March and April of last year, I spent some time with Lieutenant General John Vines. You know who he is, the commander, Multi-National Corps. He was at -- at least until recently.
He's quoted as saying this. He says, "Some Iraqis do view the coalition presence as a reason to conduct violence against them. That is without question."
In other words, the U.S. military presence, in and of itself, the footprint, if you will, is -- is generating that kind of violent, angry reaction from insurgents and others. What -- what does he mean by that?
KIMMITT: Well, again, I used to work for John Vines.
And -- and he knows that situation as well as anybody else. He's right. We understand that we cannot be seen as a force of permanent occupation over there. We understand that we have got to be there as long as we are needed. But we have got to stay in there long enough to make sure that, when we do hand off, we hand off to competent forces and not just run for the doors before the job is done.
BLITZER: Are the U.S. military personnel on the ground in Iraq right now, General Kimmitt, fully prepared, in terms of body armor? Do they have the equipment for their vehicles and for their own -- their own persons, if you will, that they need? Or could you be doing better?
KIMMITT: Well, I think we can always do better.
But I think that the soldiers on the ground feel confident in the equipment they have. They feel confident in the weapons systems they have been issued, and they feel confident that the armor they -- have been protected.
But we can't rest on our laurels. What we want to do, any time we see an advance, we see a development, we see a new piece of equipment come out, the American taxpayers want that equipment to go to the troops. And we are going to get it to the troops.
BLITZER: There was a Pentagon-commissioned study that came out in recent days that concluded with this, called the "Thin Green Line" report: "Vigorous efforts should be made to enable a substantial drawdown in U.S. force levels. The Army cannot sustain the force levels desired to sustain the momentum needed to break the back of insurgent movement."
And, then, a few days later, General George Casey, the U.S. commander in Iraq, said this: "The forces are stretched. And I don't think there is any question of that."
How stretched are the U.S. military forces in Iraq and overall right now?
KIMMITT: Well, first of all, it's important to understand that General Casey later came back and said, when he talked about the stretching, it was not for the forces in Iraq, but for the U.S. force levels around the world.
He feels he has enough forces in Iraq. And he feels he has enough to get the job done. With regards to the number of forces in the U.S. military, my own service, the Army, is taking very, very aggressive measures to expand the number of brigade combat teams, getting rid of those types of units that may not be as relevant to the future and getting them into units to add to the fight that we have.
But, again, this is about getting the job done in Iraq. It may be -- take the forces that we got on the ground just a little bit longer than we may have wanted. But we're going to be successful. The forces have what they need. And all the soldiers on the ground want to get the job done over there.
BLITZER: Let's hope it works out well. General Kimmitt, thanks for joining us, as usual.
KIMMITT: Thanks for having us.
BLITZER: Still to come, Super Bowl super surveillance. Our Brian Todd will show all of us just how super all the surveillance will be for this weekend's big game.
And if you could care less about the game, you might care about the Super Bowl ads. Our Ali Velshi will have the "Bottom line" on the best commercials.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: In our CNN "Security Watch," an extraordinary effort is under way right now to safeguard the Super Bowl and the city hosting it.
CNN's Brian Todd is joining us now live from Detroit with more -- Brian.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this city is seemingly on lockdown. Security forces are everywhere. Roads are closed. But a huge part of the security component here is surveillance.
Law enforcement officials tell us hundreds of new surveillance cameras have been brought in just for this event. Now, just to test their efficiency, so to speak, we asked federal agents to tail me on one of those surveillance cameras.
I walked a couple hundreds yards down a Detroit street. Then I turned a corner. I was picked up by three different surveillance cams. That's just a typical scene on a Detroit scene and corner. These cameras are seemingly everywhere, on the streets, in the stadium.
And, in that general area, undercover agents are going to be wearing hidden cameras, where they will be able to send back images in real time to command centers of suspects. And then they can match profiles.
In with my interview with the -- the Detroit police chief, she said that's not all they will have.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLA BULLY-CUMMINGS, DETROIT POLICE CHIEF: We're tapped into the cameras covering our freeways. So, we have eyes in the sky, where we wouldn't have an individual. And it allows us, in many instances, to zoom in to pick up something as small as a license plate.
It allows us the capability to go back and take a look at something which may have given us some cause for concern, to review it, and see whether or not we need to deploy, you know, a team out there to do some follow-up investigation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TODD: Those technologies are going to do more than just try to preempt attacks.
One top law enforcement tells us, they have these devices around the stadium and in the city here. They can't give us much detail about these devices. But they say, they can detect any abnormalities in air quality. If something goes off, if the air quality has been tampered with, these -- they can -- these devices can kind of sniff it out, send back signals to these command centers. And officials will be able to respond, or not respond, depending on the signal that they get. A lot of this technology in place, Wolf, it's pretty amazing to watch it.
We are going to have a lot more of this in the 7:00 hour of THE SITUATION ROOM -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Brian, good work. Thanks very much, Brian Todd, in Detroit for us.
And to our viewers, please stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
Can't wait to see all those new Super Bowl commercials? You don't necessarily have to wait.
That's because Ali Velshi is here. He's got the "Bottom Line" on some of the best ads. Ali, share some of those with our viewers.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're the best because they cost the most money, about 200 -- 2 -- $2.5 million for 30 seconds.
One of the biggest things you're going to be -- had pushed at you is the idea of pizza. There are got be a lot of pizzas sold. Let's start off with that and take a look at what some of the ads look like.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VELSHI (voice-over): Big budgets and big stars are back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, AD)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: So, you want to make a record with my client, Diet Pepsi?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: He's fresh. He's new. The ladies love him. I got to have him signed to the label.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: But new this year, a message for the unlikely viewer, young girls.
First-time Super Bowl advertiser Dove unveils an ad with a message about self-esteem for girls aged 8 to 14. The ad features girls who are having trouble accepting themselves. Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" plays in the background, performed by a Girl Scouts choir.
Ford and General Motors are both struggling companies. GM is using the game to highlight the 2007 Cadillac Escalade. But with gas prices where they are, Ford's ads are going green, really green.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, FORD AD)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Of course, it's -- it's not quite being green like I'm green. If I could get one thing out of doing this ad, it would be that we take care of -- of these beautiful woods and -- and this beautiful world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: Real animals are back, too. Perennial Super Bowl advertiser Anheuser-Busch is using the inspirational Clydesdales again.
This time, a young Clydesdale dreams of pulling the Budweiser hitch.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VELSHI: Clearly, I have been looking at too many ads, Wolf, because there really weren't any pizza ads in there. I just am a little bit hungry. But there are going to be pizza ads on the Super Bowl.
BLITZER: We will be eating a lot of pizza on Sunday.
VELSHI: Yes.
BLITZER: All right, Ali...
VELSHI: Millions of pies.
BLITZER: ... you have got more of these ads coming, 7:00 p.m. Eastern...
VELSHI: Yes.
BLITZER: ... tonight here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
Ali Velshi with the "Bottom Line."
Much more on those Super Bowl commercials.
The Internet is not only giving us a preview of Sunday's ads. But it's also giving us a glimpse into the commercials that you will never see on the air.
Jacki Schechner once again joining us -- Jacki.
JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, take a look at this.
MacGyver is back. This time, he's doing it for MasterCard. And you can see this online, one of many Super Bowl commercials that you can catch on the Internet before Sunday's big game. For example, United is putting its new ad up online.
Also, GoDaddy.com, it's a domain Web hosting site, they actually chronicled their quest to get their ad on the air. They have got all of the ones that aren't going to make it, storyboards for ads you have never seen. You can actually see the ad that is going to be available on Sunday.
Other Web sites are doing what they call previews, introducing you to the cast of characters, like CareerBuilder.com -- Emerald Nuts doing the same thing, showing you last years's big ad from the 2005 Super Bowl.
There's a lot of anticipation over the new Burger King ad. That's going to be available after you see it at the Super Bowl online at this Web site, whopperettes.com.
And, then, the NFL is also saying it's going to be put all of the ads that you see on Sunday on its Web site for the following week after the Super Bowl. So, if you miss anything or if you're lucky enough to actually be at the game, and didn't get to see the ad, you will be able to see them all online -- Wolf. BLITZER: All right, Jacki, thank you very much.
Up next, a Russian cosmonaut and an American astronaut take a walk, really, on the wild side -- that would be in outer space -- and launch a satellite like no other. We are going to go live to the scene and have a live report.
And, in our 7:00 p.m. Eastern hour, inside the mind of suicide bombers -- we are going to show you what they think about their merciless missions, show you some stunning images on how they plan their work. Mary Snow has got a great report. You are going to want to stick around, 7:00 p.m. Eastern, tonight, here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Let's check back with Jack in New York. We call it "The Cafferty File."
You remember why we call it "The Cafferty File."
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, I do.
What was that bump shot they just used?
BLITZER: It was a bump shot.
CAFFERTY: No, but you -- didn't see it. It was a picture of me.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: You're...
CAFFERTY: I -- I notice these things.
BLITZER: You're the star.
CAFFERTY: Oh, no, no. Now, don't do that.
An Alabama judge says giving the state's driver's license test in 12 languages is fine. Fine. A lawsuit filed by a nonprofit group called ProEnglish said it violates Alabama's Constitution, puts all drivers at risk. It lost.
The question is, should state governments have to pay for 12 different language versions of the driver's license tests?
Ron in Granbury, Texas: "Excuse me. If these people can't read the test questions, how are they going to read the road signs?"
Lane in Albany, Georgia: "As harsh as it may sound, neither the state, nor the federal government, should have to pay for foreign- language driving tests. The people who enter this country, either legally or illegally, should have to take the same tests that the natural citizens take."
Dot in Montgomery writes: "I live in Alabama. While I appreciate there are quite a few non-English speakers in the state, I still feel that, when a person comes to a country where other than his or her native language is spoken, that person should learn the language of that country. Of course, in Alabama, you would have to learn the standard English, and also you-might-be-a-redneck version."
Ben in Saint Augustine, Florida: "Yes, they should. It's unfair for a state to limit driving privileges based on language. The ability to speak English is not a requirement for getting a driver's license."
Joseph in Parkersburg, West Virginia: "I feel sorry for the policeman in Alabama who stops a speeding car, only to find out he has to ask the driver questions in Farsi. It only demonstrates how out of touch our courts can be at times."
And Lizzie in Stamford, Connecticut, writes: "Jack, I think you're spending too much time hanging out with Lou Dobbs."
This weekend, on "IN THE MONEY," that tidy little business show we do on CNN, Super Bowl weekend, the NFL's time to show off, we're going to look at how the healthiest league in all of pro sports got to be that way. A hint: It's about the teams, not just about the individual stars.
"IN THE MONEY," tomorrow at 1:00, Sunday at 3:00 Eastern. We would appreciate it if you would tune in. I have some more tuition to pay to Tulane University.
(LAUGHTER)
CAFFERTY: And I don't know.
You know, their reputation may put to the test, Wolf. You got Seattle playing Pittsburgh in Detroit. I mean, that's a tough sell.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: Pittsburgh -- I'm going with Pittsburgh. What about you?
CAFFERTY: Yes, I think Pittsburgh. I hope so, because the -- the Bus. I want to see the Bus win the Super Bowl in his -- in his hometown, and then retire. It would be a nice end to a great career.
BLITZER: If the Buffalo Bills can't be in the Super Bowl, or the Washington Redskins, I go -- I go with the AFC.
CAFFERTY: Have -- have the Buffalo Bills ever been in the Super Bowl?
BLITZER: Four times. We lost four times...
CAFFERTY: Did they ever win... (CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: ... four times in a row.
CAFFERTY: Let me rephrase the question. Did they ever win the Super Bowl?
BLITZER: No. The answer is never won. But we got close in the first one.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: Thanks very much.
CAFFERTY: See you later.
BLITZER: Up next, a stroll in space -- an astronaut and cosmonaut team up outside the International Space Station, launching a very special satellite. It's happening right now. And we're going to live to Moscow and to the International Space Station for a live report. That's coming up in a moment.
And what if a person who is paralyzed could get a way to move things? Amazing new medical techniques that allow somehow who is immobilized to turn thoughts into action -- it may sound futuristic, but, as we will show you, the future is now.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: CNN is starting a new series this week called "Welcome to the Future." Today, we look at a breakthrough in brain power and what it might mean to the paralyzed.
Here's CNN's Miles O'Brien.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was one of the people that whenever anybody did something nice for me, I would send them a thank-you card, just the sort of things, just writing what's going on in our lives. And I can't do that anymore.
My family thought I was nuts, but I used to love going out and shoveling snow. It was just invigorating. And I do miss that. I like to blog, because I'm able to write my feelings down. Most times, I have to use my left hand to move my right hand that's on the mouse. One of my concerns for the future is that I'm not going to be able to write my blog, because I won't have the functioning at all for my hands.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rose Marie (ph) was diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease, about two years ago. Rapidly, she is losing the ability to move or even speak. But there's nothing wrong with her mind. What if she had the ability to write her blog, to control her computer, simply by thinking about it?
(voice-over): This man believes the future is now. Dr. Leigh Hochberg of Massachusetts General Hospital is one of the nation's top neurologists. His focus -- a mind-boggling clinical study is called BrainGate.
DR. LEIGH HOCHBERG, MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL: The goal of the BrainGate neural interface system is to determine whether someone with paralysis is able to use their own thought or their own intention to move to at first control a computer cursor on a screen.
O'BRIEN: It all begins with this tiny chip. Attached to the part of the brain that controls movement, it detects electrical activity and sends those signals to an external device, a process which then interprets the brain waves and feeds them into a computer, literally turning thought into action.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi there.
O'BRIEN: Twenty-six-year-old Matthew Nagel (ph) was the first person to participate in the BrainGate clinical trial. Paralyzed from the neck down, watch what he accomplished purely through the power of his mind.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Next, we're going to turn on my television.
HOCHBERG: He was able to use his computer cursor to change channels on a television set, read simulated e-mail, even open and close a prosthetic hand just by thinking about it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Close.
HOCHBERG: I'm very hopeful that these technologies will be able to help people with paralysis in the future control their environment more directly and, I hope, one day, to be able to move again.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: After diagnosis, some people live 10 years. There are some that live 20 years, which I plan on being one of those people.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And it's a world journey. It's happening right now in outer space. A U.S. commander and a Russian flight engineer are on a six-hour space walk at the International Space Station.
CNN's Ryan Chilcote is joining us now live from Moscow with more.
Ryan, explain what's going on.
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sure, Wolf.
Well, U.S. astronaut Bill McArthur and Russian cosmonaut Valery Tokarev are in open space right now. They began their space walk about 13 minutes ago. They are on a ladder attached to the station right now. And they are dragging an old Russian spacesuit with them that, pretty soon, in the next couple of minutes, they're actually going to let go.
Maybe we will even get lucky and get some live picture of that. Right -- what you're seeing right now are some recorded pictures from the station. They can only give us pictures when they're basically within line of sight of ground stations. This letting go of this spacesuit, it's part of an educational project that is called SuitSat.
This spacesuit has been stuffed with old clothes and a radio transmitter, which will allow ham radio operators around the world, and a lot of students, to track this space suit as it floats around in open space, until it reenters the Earth's atmosphere, thanks to gravity, in an expected 90 hours.
Now, like you said, they're going out there for -- it look likes we might be getting some more picture. It looks like they're going to -- they're going to be out there for about six hours. They're going to be doing some maintenance work as well. They're going to be working on a cable that is attached to the robotic arm, trying to make sure that it's in good shape.
They will also be moving around on the exterior of the station quite a bit, which is a bit job in itself, just keep in mind, the station itself is about -- it's about three swimming pools long by two swimming pools wide.
But this -- yes, we're getting some live pictures right now. This space walk began about 15 minutes ago, Wolf -- a U.S. astronaut, a Russian cosmonaut out there. This is the second space walk that they have done since they went up to the International Space Station. And they're -- everything's looking good at this point -- Wolf.
BLITZER: They have been rehearsing. They have been practicing this, this U.S.-Russian collaboration. It's been going on, I assume, for some time.
CHILCOTE: Absolutely.
I mean, space walks are rehearsed to the, you know, most minor details. Every single minute that they have outside the station is -- is planned to the detail -- in fact, even before they go up to the International Space Station, they start rehearsing these -- these space walks.
They go into swimming pools, usually. They have got one at the Johnson Space Center. They have got one here in Moscow, where, by the way, this mission is being controlled from at this point.
And they rehearse absolutely every single step, because, of course, they don't get a whole lot of time -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Ryan Chilcote, thank you very much, in Moscow.
Jacki Schechner, very briefly, what are you picking up online?
SCHECHNER: Just want to show you real quickly, this is the transmitter that we have been talking about. These are the components that you see here.
You can pick it up on your ham radio or a police scanner. And, then, what you can do is go to this Web site, and you can hear these things after they're picked up -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Jacki, thank you very much.
We are here 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Eastern weekdays, back in one hour, 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
Until then, I'm wolf Blitzer here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now -- Kitty Pilgrim filling in for Lou -- Kitty.
KITTY PILGRIM, GUEST HOST, "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT": Thanks, Wolf.
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