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Duke University Lacrosse Coach Resigns; Rudy Giuliani To Testify In Moussaoui Case; Saddam Hussein Cross-Examined For First Time Today; India's Relationship With Iran To Throw Monkey Wrench In That Relationship?; Speculation Running Rampant Whether Hillary Clinton Will Run For President
Aired April 05, 2006 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: And to our viewers, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM, where new pictures and information from around the world 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's 5:00 p.m. in Alexandria, Virginia, where there are new developments in the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui. The judge has just made a critical ruling that could have a major impact on whether he's sentenced to death.
It's 12:30 a.m. Thursday in Tehran, now forming closer ties to India, which just reached a new nuclear deal with Washington. We're going to show you why this complicated relationship is creating new problems for the White House.
And it's 5:00 p.m. in New York, where the patriarch of the conservative movement says Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton might easily become the president of the United States. We'll show you what's behind this seeming blasphemy from a right wing icon.
I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
We'll get to all of that in a moment. But there's news -- new developments just coming into CNN involved the controversy at Duke University and its lacrosse team and accusations of rape.
Let's go straight to CNN's Carol Lin at the CNN Center. She's got details -- Carol.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: That's right, Wolf, accusations that lacrosse team players raped an exotic dancer.
Now, just a few moments ago, CNN has confirmed that the coach of that lacrosse team at Duke, Mike Pressler, has resigned. He resigned shortly after a search warrant was unsealed.
The search warrant was of one of the team's players who apparently or allegedly sent an e-mail which basically described how he wanted to invite more exotic dancers to his dorm room and "kill and skin them." In a statement on Duke's Web site, the president of the university called this sickening and repulsive. Now, the status of the investigation right now is that 46 members of the Duke lacrosse team have -- are having their DNA analyzed. The prosecutor in the case believes that there was a rape that was committed, but he does not expect there to be any charges filed, Wolf, until next week.
BLITZER: We'll continue to watch this story, Carol. Thank you very much.
Carol Lin reporting.
Another story we're watching, within the past hour there have been some potentially critical new developments in the case of the al Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, facing either life in prison or death for his role in the 9/11 terror attacks.
Let's go straight to our justice correspondent, Kelli Arena -- Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, CNN has confirmed that Rudy Giuliani, the mayor who led New York through the September 11th attacks, is expected to be among the first witnesses when the Zacarias Moussaoui trial resumes tomorrow. Now, prosecutors will call Giuliani to show jurors how the attacks disrupted the functions of New York's government and its economy.
Some 40 relatives of attack victims will also testify over the next week. Panicked phone calls to 9/11 emergency operators will be played for the jury, as will calls from passengers and flight attendants on the four hijacked planes.
The judge today also ruled to allow the government to place a cockpit voice recorder from Flight 93. That's the one that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The defense team plans witnesses to question Moussaoui's mental health, to talk about his troubled childhood. Now, you know the jury has already decided that Moussaoui's lies to federal agents who arrested him helped the terror plot succeed. Now it has to decide whether to sentence him to death or life in prison -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you very much, Kelli, for that. We'll continue to watch this story.
Another story we're watching, in Iraq. On the stand today in Baghdad, Saddam Hussein again.
CNN's Aneesh Raman is in the Iraqi capital. He's following the trial for us -- Aneesh.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, Saddam Hussein cross- examined by the prosecution for the first time today. Court today was at times tedious, at times incredibly somber.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) RAMAN (voice over): As Saddam Hussein faced cross-examination for the first time, he faced his past. One by one, names were read. The faces shown of over two dozen children, some as young as 12, allegedly executed by Saddam's regime after a failed assassination attempt against the dictator in 1982. Saddam said it never happened.
"I would never kill a child of Iraq," he said. "That is impossible."
The day was, for the most part, tedious. Document after document put forth by the prosecution as they asked Saddam to verify his signature. But the theatrics that have at times crippled the court soon returned.
The prosecution played a video. In it, Saddam speaks of killing thousands of traitors with no remorse.
The problem is that the video was from years before any part of the case at hand took place. Amid the anger voiced by Saddam's defense attorneys, one of them held up pictures of Iraqi detainees abused by U.S. troops at Abu Ghraib prison, screaming, "America did this!" The outburst was cut from the video feed, as was her forced removal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I raised the photo to tell the judge, did the prosecution try to prosecute the American army for the injustice done to the Iraqi people?
RAMAN: It's been a constant threat to Saddam's defense, that what's happened outside the courtroom in the past three years trumps anything that happened inside Iraq under his control.
"This trial is connected to the Ministry of Interior," Saddam said, "that has killed thousands of people in the street after they tortured them."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RAMAN: Court resumes tomorrow. We are told to expect another defendant, not Saddam Hussein, to reappear for further testimony -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Aneesh Raman in Baghdad.
Thank you very much.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi prime minister, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, says he won't abandon his bid for a second term. Sunni and Kurdish leaders, as well as many Shia, won't accept al-Jaafari, who's a Shiite, and that's deadlocked efforts to form an Iraqi government. We are watching the story for you.
Back here in Washington, Congress versus the commander in chief. Today, the president visited Connecticut to talk about health care, but on Capitol Hill, senators are trying to come up with a plan on immigration reform as soon as possible. Let's go to our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux. She's following the latest -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, really, the administration is in a period of suspended animation, if you will. President Bush is trying to use whatever political capital that he has to push forward his domestic agenda. We're seeing that today when it comes to immigration reform, as well as the health savings accounts.
The president, even before he boarded Marine One to head to Bridgeport, Connecticut, he made the point, pushing members of Congress, that you've got to get legislation that has a guest worker program, that does not support amnesty. And the administration also releasing a statement yesterday, saying, look, we don't believe in an automatic path to citizenship.
There are members on the Senate Judiciary Committee who support that bill, of course, who say, look, we don't support that, either. It's an earned path to citizenship. So there may be some openings, some wiggle for negotiations.
But the big question here, really, Wolf, is just how relevant, how much political capital does the r president have? Speaking to people, congressional sources involved in these negotiations, they say here's the big problem: you've got people in the House, people in the Senate, both of them saying the president supports our plans. He says essentially that when you support everyone, you support no one., that it's not really very helpful -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Suzanne, for that.
Let's go back to New York. Jack Cafferty once again with "The Cafferty File."
Hi, Jack.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Wolf.
Something called the "Pig Book" is out, released by a nonprofit group called Citizens Against Government Waste. It details 375 pork barrel projects coming from our lawmakers in Washington.
These include $13.5 million for the International Fund for Ireland which helped pay for the World Toilet Summit -- I didn't realize they had a World Toilet Summit, but apparently they do -- a million dollars for the Water-Free Urinal Conservation Initiative in Michigan; $500,000 for the Sparta Teapot Museum in Sparta, North Carolina; and $1.3 million for berry research in Alaska.
The report says Congress spent $29 billion on pork projects this year. Up almost $2 billion from last year.
So, here's the question: When it comes to pork on Capitol Hill, are things getting any better?
E-mail us at caffertyfile@CNN.com or go to CNN.com/caffertyfile.
BLITZER: What's pork to one member of Congress is absolutely essential, Jack, as you know, to another member of Congress.
CAFFERTY: It depends on whose district it's in, doesn't it, Wolf?
BLITZER: It certainly does. Thanks, Jack. Appreciate it.
Up ahead, Wal-Mart, often accused of crushing small businesses, reaching out with a helping hand. We are going to show you what the retail giant is planning to do and why.
Also, the Capitol Hill Police chief speaking out on the scuffle between one of his officers and Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. How does his version of the incident differ from hers?
Plus, after months of speculation, Katie Couric making it official, setting in motion a long good-bye from morning TV. Details of her channel change.
All that coming up right here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: A deputy press secretary with the Homeland Security Department is accused of trying seduce what he thought was a 14-year- old girl over the Internet.
Our homeland security correspondent, Jeanne Meserve, is joining us with details -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, Brian Doyle has been suspended from his job as deputy press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security without pay. His security clearance, employee badge and facility access permissions have been suspended. But those are the least of his worries.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MESERVE (voice over): Doyle faces 23 felony counts carrying a possible penalty of 115 years in prison. Doyle was arrested Tuesday night at his Maryland home as he talked online to what he thought was a 14-year-old girl but was, in fact, an undercover detective.
SHERIFF GRADY JUDD, POLK COUNTY SHERIFF: This is the chats, page after page, line after line of chat.
MESERVE: In what are described as "hard-core conversations" with the decoy, Doyle is alleged to have discussed specific sexual acts he wanted to engage in, even sending pornographic movies.
Doyle appeared Wednesday in a Maryland courtroom via closed- circuit television. He has confessed and for now is being held without bond. BARRY HELFAND, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: At some point, I would expect to come back in front of Judge Johnson to ask the judge to allow Mr. Doyle to be released on some minimal bond or personal bond so that he himself can return to Florida.
MESERVE: Doyle divorced in 1987. He has had more than one serious girlfriend since then, friends say.
He is known as a devoted uncle in a large family, a church-going man who was well liked and well regarded by friends and coworkers. Most expressed utter shock at his arrest.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MESERVE: Doyle gave the girl his real name and position, his office and government cell phone numbers, even a photo of himself wearing his DHS I.D. One prominent expert in Internet pedophilia says Doyle was likely hoping to impress his young prey. Instead, he was the one ensnared.
Wolf, back to you.
BLITZER: Jeanne, talk a little bit about Brian Doyle. I understand you knew him from his work as a deputy press secretary over at the Department of Homeland Security.
MESERVE: That's right. I've dealt with him several times a week for the past couple of years, always been extraordinarily professional and very personable. Most others in the press corps viewed him the same way.
Before that, he spent about 26 years with "TIME" magazine before coming into government and working for a variety of departments, eventually landing with the Department of Homeland Security -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jeanne, thank you very much. What a disturbing story that is.
Doyle's arrest came just hours after a teenager testified before a House committee about his seduction into the world of online child pornography. Justin Berry was only 13 when predators compelled him to undress on his Web cam. Soon he was performing sex acts online and he eventually met some of the predators who sexually abused him.
His story raising serious questions about what's being done to protect our children.
Once again, here's our justice correspondent, Kelli Arena. She's covering this story -- Kelli.
ARENA: Wolf, members of Congress will hear from law enforcement officials tomorrow. But we spoke with them today to find out just what it is that they are doing to combat child pornography and molestation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ARENA (voice over): The latest high profile child pornography case highlights the many problems in bringing sexual predators to justice.
JUSTIN BERRY, CHILD PORNOGRAPHY VICTIM: Until recently, I never understood why the child predators always laughed about the government. Now I know that child predators are at least partially right.
ARENA: Justin Berry specifically pointed out the child exploitation and obscenity section at the Justice Department. But it's the FBI and other law enforcement agencies who are on the front lines in this battle, and officials acknowledge there are many hurdles to overcome.
The first priority is to establish reliable evidence in terms of the identities, locations and activities of alleged offenders. In some cases, that can happen quickly.
RAUL ROLDAN, FBI DEPUTY ASSIST. DIRECTOR: If the information is not complete, then we need to accomplish all of the process in order for us to acquire the appropriate legal means to enter somebody's residence or business and then access their computers legally.
ARENA: Even when search warrants are issued, sometimes there is no trace of the evidence. For example, Internet service providers don't keep records very long.
ROLDAN: Each service provider may have a different policy. Some service providers may keep them up to 90 days, others as short as 30 days.
ARENA: In many cases, there is a financial trail that can be followed, but even that is complicated.
ROLDAN: Because, in fact, there is identity theft. So the credit card in itself could be cloned or stolen.
ARENA: Agents say they are just as frustrated by the time it sometimes takes to properly conduct an investigation that will hold up in court. The tragedy they witness is unimaginable.
STACEY BRADLEY, FBI SPECIAL AGENT: I've seen a video where a child is being raped anally and, you know, bleeding. There's obviously some serious damage being done to a child.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ARENA: If investigations aren't conducted properly, cases can be thrown out and perpetrators walk free -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Kelli, thank you very much.
Let's check back with Carol Lin at the CNN Center. She's following some other stories making news -- Carol.
LIN: That's right, Wolf.
In California, the Los Angeles County board of supervisors has given the go-ahead to set up homeless shelters in its suburbs. Now, the board approved a $100 million plan to establish five centers to offer shelter and other social services to transients. The move is aimed at fighting crime and reducing the heavy homeless population in L.A.'s downtown area.
U.S. Customs officials say they have almost two dozen Chinese nationals in custody. Officials say they tried to sneak into the U.S. They say the 18 men and four women apparently let themselves out of a 40-foot cargo container in Seattle, Washington. A spokesman says the group seems to be in good physical condition after about two weeks in that container.
Former Major League Baseball star Dwight Gooden is going to prison. According to court officials in Miami, the 1985 Cy Young Award winner opted for a year and a day behind bars over entering a drug rehab facility. It is his punishment for using cocaine while on probation. Prosecutors say Gooden chose the prison term because he could get five years if he failed his rehab program.
That's all the news from here for now -- Wolf.
BLITZER: We'll be back with you soon, Carol. Thank you very much.
Coming up, can anyone on the political right have anything good to say about Senator Hillary Clinton? Yes. Stay in THE SITUATION ROOM. We'll tell you who it is.
And the story of Cynthia McKinney's Capitol Hill scuffle just won't go away. One reason, she won't say exactly what happened. Details, though, are trickling out. The Capitol Hill Police chief now speaking out openly. We're going to have some new details.
Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: There's an important potential development involving air travel in the United States.
Let's bring in our Ali Velshi. He's joining us with "The Bottom Line."
What's going on, Ali?
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've been -- all this time we have been watching airlines. Here we have to watch air controllers.
There has been a breakdown in the talks. The talks between the Federal Aviation Administration and the union representing air traffic controllers have broken down. These talks have been under way since July. Now the FAA is saying that they can't get anywhere with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and they are going to ask Congress to look at the proposal they have put forward and see if they can do something about this. That means legislating a solution to this whole thing.
The FAA is saying that it's too expensive, they can't come to a deal. Now, you will remember the last time air traffic controllers in this country took job action was 1981. Ronald Reagan fired 13,000 of them. Most of the 14,500 air traffic controllers on the job now are replacements for those workers, and the union is saying that if the contract is imposed upon them the way the FAA wants it to be, it is not going to be affordable for them to stay on the job.
So we are going to stay on this story and find out what the FAA is planning to do and how Congress might react to a deal or the absence of a deal with the air traffic controllers -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Ali, can they legally go on strike, these air traffic controllers? Because the loss, I believe, stipulates they're not allowed to go on strike.
What is the recourse if they fail to reach an agreement?
VELSHI: Well, you'll recall the last time the recourse was to fire every last one of them who went on strike. You know, these things -- the union says that they have a strike position, a legal strike position. The FAA says no. But as you know, Wolf, this is often the case, and it's something that often has to be decided either by Congress or the courts.
The past experience is that they don't have a right to strike. But they are saying that they could be forced into a situation where they have will have to retire.
They are not talking about striking right now. It's just that the talks have collapsed between both sides.
We'll have to follow up and see whether or not this escalates any further and gets any more serious.
BLITZER: This is a very significant story involving the economy and safety, and lots of other issues as well, Ali.
There's another story I know you are watching involving Wal-Mart. What's happening?
VELSHI: Well, Wal-Mart is making a move to get -- well, at least to get some good press. We're calling it a sort of David and Goliath story.
Wal-Mart's been under fire for a long time because every time they come into a neighborhood they tend to crush the local competition. Wal-Mart now saying it's going to help out the mom and pop shops that are near its urban stores. They are going to give neighborhood stores financial grants, free advertising inside the Wal-Mart stores. And get this: Wal-Mart is going to give them tips on how to survive with a new Wal-Mart in town.
The company is doing this because it is opening 50 stores in poor urban areas. Going into vacant buildings and some distressed malls. And they're going to find out about -- they're going to try and figure out how to best make that work.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
BLITZER: Thank you very much, Ali, for all that information.
Coming up here in THE SITUATION ROOM, Iran's war games may be over, but diplomatic games are still very much in play. We'll examine how Iran's activities might throw a big wrench in U.S. relations with India. This is a crucial issue. We'll explain what's going on.
And later, new details in the case of Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney versus the Capitol Hill Police. We will tell you what they are.
You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre, is getting some exclusive videotape from Iraq over at the Pentagon. He's joining us now live.
Jamie, what are you picking up?
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, we have just been -- obtained from the U.S. Air Force some dramatic video showing how the U.S. is able to use unmanned predator spy planes in their campaign against insurgents who are planning roadside bombs.
This video shot from a predator plane operated by remote control shows how the U.S. military watched for about a half an hour as three men near the Balad air base in Iraq about two weeks ago were seen digging a hole. When the operators of the predator determined that they were implanting an explosive device in the hole and running a wire to the roadside, they decided that these were insurgents who were planting a roadside bomb.
The result was, they fired a Hellfire missile from the predator at the three men, killing them. And again, the U.S. Air Force believes that these were insurgents who were planting a roadside bomb.
This video was released to show the capability that the U.S. Air Force has in using these unmanned spy planes to monitor what's going around -- on around their air bases -- Wolf.
BLITZER: I suppose, if this video is widely seen in Iraq, it might be a deterrent to some others who are going to plan on planting these improvised explosive devices along the roads. Jamie, how did you get this video?
MCINTYRE: Well, actually, this came as a result of a request from our producer Mike Mound (ph), who actually is now on assignment in Baghdad.
But he has been pressing the Air Force here to release some of this video. They have been reluctant to do it, because they don't like to reveal tactics. But, after about a two-week review, this piece of video was declassified and released to CNN, at our request.
BLITZER: It's pretty amazing video. Jamie, thank you very much for bringing it to our attention -- Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon.
As the United States tries to establish a new phase in its relationship with India, how might India's relationship with Iran throw a little bit of monkey wrench in that relationship?
Let's get some details from our national security correspondent, David Ensor -- David.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the administration's problem here is that, from an American political point of view, anything that touches Iran turns radioactive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ENSOR (voice-over): Iran's "Great Prophet" military exercises continue, with Tehran claiming its third test of a new missile type in a week, while U.S. officials say Iran is exaggerating its new military capabilities.
A visit by Iranian training ships to an Indian port last month has created a more serious headache for the Bush administration. At a hearing where Secretary of State Rice argued for a new treaty to sell civilian nuclear fuel to India, one senator waved a press report, saying the port visit included Indian military training of Iranian sailors.
SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D), CALIFORNIA: You are saying, on the one hand we're going to allow fuel, nuclear fuel, to go from this country to their country, and they've got Iranian ships in port?
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: Senator, there are...
(CROSSTALK)
BOXER: So have you made this part of the deal?
RICE: There have been and probably will be Iranian port calls in a number of countries in the world.
BOXER: No, no, this isn't port calls. This is training of their military. Did you make this part of the deal, yes or no?
RICE: Well, Senator... BOXER: Because the reason I'm asking is, I think some of us would like to make it a condition.
RICE: There are port calls that have taken place between Iran and India, yes. The Indians say that they do not train Iranian sailors and soldiers.
ENSOR: India's foreign secretary, Shyam Saran, said, the suggestion there was training during the port call is -- quote -- "completely misleading." He called the Iranian port call a normal courtesy visit.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ENSOR: Though India's warming relationship could complicate things, and though critics charge, the India nuclear deal rewards a nation that has stayed out of non-proliferation treaties, the treaty also got a significant boost from some prominent Democrats. Senator Joe Biden and John Kerry said they will probably vote for it -- Wolf.
BLITZER: David, thank you very much.
Why does the Bush administration want to share nuclear technology with nuclear-armed India in one of the most dangerous corners of the world?
Joining us now, a key member of CNN's Security Council, our world affairs analyst, the former Defense Secretary William Cohen. He's chairman and CEO of The Cohen Group here in Washington.
Why is this such a good deal, Mr. Secretary, you believe, for the American people?
WILLIAM COHEN, CNN WORLD AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well, it sets forth a strategic arrangement with India, the largest democracy in the world, that now wants to have a much wider relationship with the United States.
It has tremendous energy needs. In the event that this deal does not go forward, this agreement that has been structured by the administration, then India may be forced to either seek that technology from other countries, who would be less friendly to the United States, or, to burn coal, which is harmful to the environment.
So, there are very good reasons, strategic, in terms of welcoming India into the new relationship, taking advantage of it by broadening that strategic relationship, and, at the same time, encouraging India to support the United States and Western European countries from providing any kind of assistance to Iran in the field of nuclear technology.
And this is something that we pointed out. It was just mentioned that India has a warming relationship with Iran. They have had a relationship with Iran, because they have had a tremendous need for the energy coming out of Iran. What the Indians have done, however, is side with Great Britain, France, Germany, and the United States in condemning, really, what Iran is seeking to do in developing nuclear weapons. So, we have an opportunity now to have a much more robust strategic relationship that was begun under President Clinton, now extended under President Bush's initiative, and one that we ought to be willing to really adopt.
BLITZER: There are plenty of influential members of Congress, though, who don't agree with you...
COHEN: Right.
BLITZER: ... including Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin.
A lot of them were concerned that the administration had no advance consultations with members of Congress on this sensitive issue, which they would have to weigh in and on -- weigh in on and approve.
Listen to Senator Feingold.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. RUSS FEINGOLD (D), WISCONSIN: The proliferation of nuclear technology, know-how, and material may be the top national security threat we face. And I fear that this deal could end up making our world less safe, rather than more safe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: What do you say to Senator Feingold?
COHEN: Well, first, I would agree that I think the administration wasn't as forthcoming with the Congress as it should have been early on.
But, secondly, the notion that India is not a contributor to the non-proliferation is simply not correct. They have not shared technology, nuclear technology, with other countries. They are committed not to share that with other countries. So, I think...
BLITZER: And you believe them?
COHEN: I look at the record so far, and I believe that they are committed to trying to stabilize the world. They have voted with the United States on the IAEA, the atomic energy commission, in really seeking to stop Iran from going forward. So, I think the record is pretty clear. They are not a proliferator.
The notion that they would be compared to either Iran or North Korea, I think, all comparisons said to be odious, in this particular case, no comparison. They have not proliferated. I believe they will not in the future.
BLITZER: I want you to weigh in on another issue: Iraq. Senator John Kerry, a man you know quite well, wrote in today's "Washington Post." He wrote this: "Iraqi politicians should be told that they have until May 15" -- a little bit more than a month from now -- "to put together an effective unity government, or we will immediately withdraw our military."
Is that a smart strategy?
COHEN: I think Secretary Rice has made the right approach, and that is to go, to visit with the Iraqi leadership, to indicate to them that time is running out, that patience is running out, and that -- to encourage them to resolve their differences as soon as possible.
I think that is the better approach, under the circumstances, and I think the Senator Kerry, obviously, by putting a deadline, is intensifying it, but I think that Secretary Rice has taken the right approach.
BLITZER: Because a lot of people fear, if you keep it open- ended, the Iraqi politicians, the Shia, the Kurd, the Sunni, they are going to be arguing for who knows how long, before they can -- they are forced to put their -- but -- get their act together.
COHEN: I think the message has gone forth very -- in a very strong fashion they have to take action, patience may be a virtue, but it's not eternal, and that the American people are certainly watching this very closely, and it will have a major impact on how we structure our forces or keep them there in the future. So, I think the message has been delivered.
BLITZER: We have to leave it right there. Mr. Secretary, as usual, thanks for joining us.
COHEN: Great to be here.
BLITZER: Still to come here in THE SITUATION ROOM, why is the father of contemporary conservatism -- excuse me -- in the United States calling the woman conservatives love to hate, at least many of them, a phenomenon, Hillary Clinton, that is? In our 7:00 p.m. Eastern hour, we will have details.
Also, tomorrow, "Today" -- talking about "The Today Show" -- the host, Katie Couric, ending the betting, the nail-biting over whether she's about to leave NBC. She has decided. And I'm sure you know by now what she's planning to do. We're going to tell you, in any case.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back.
Speculation running rampant whether Hillary Clinton will run for president or not. And, if she runs, what kind of a candidate would she be? Now one unlikely voice has some surprising comments about a potential Clinton run. Let's bring in our Mary Snow. She's joining us with more -- Mary.
SNOW: Well, Wolf, that voice is William F. Buckley, who some refer to the gold-plated name of the conservative movement. In a recent TV interview, the 80-year-old Buckley said he doesn't see a strong candidate for 2008 among Republicans just yet, but, among Democrats, he sees Hillary Rodham Clinton making the cut.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY JR., FOUNDER, "NATIONAL REVIEW": Well, Hillary Clinton is primarily, I think, a political phenomenon.
SNOW (voice-over): Yes, you heard that correctly: William F. Buckley, the bastion of conservatives, founder of "National Review," praising the nemesis of the Republican Party, Senator Hillary Clinton.
In an interview with Bloomberg Television, he called Clinton a consequential woman.
BUCKLEY: I think she's primarily interested -- interesting as being a phenomenon, a woman candidate who might easily be president -- become president.
SNOW: Buckley has had his share of political influence. President Bush honored him in October.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And he formed a magazine that helped moved conservatism from the margins of American society into the Oval Office.
SNOW: Ronald Reagan was also influenced by Buckley.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any Republican since the mid-'60s would have had some Buckley-ism in their -- in their soul.
SNOW: So, what it is about Hillary Clinton that strikes Buckley?
BUCKLEY: Her thought is kind of woozy left, not, in my judgment, threatening. So, she's -- I think she's primarily interested -- interesting as being a phenomenon.
LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA CENTER FOR POLITICS: Certainly, Hillary Clinton has been trying to moderate. And having William F. Buckley praise her, even as a candidate, is significant.
SNOW: But has Senator Clinton, who has teamed up recently on various issues with Republicans, moved too far to the center? Hollywood seems to be cooling to Hillary Clinton, who was once seen as a liberal darling.
Susan Sarandon, for one, told "More" magazine Clinton was a disappointment. And George Clooney recently criticized Democratic leaders who voted in support of the war, and that includes Hillary Clinton.
SABATO: Many of the liberals in the Democratic Party have started to turn off to Hillary Clinton. And seeing praise from William F. Buckley just confirms their worst fears.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: So, who is the Hollywood favorite of late for 2008? Political observers say, for the moment, it's a Democrat who says he's not even running: Al Gore -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Mary, good piece. Thank you very much.
And, to our viewers, remember, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM, where political news is arriving all the time -- CNN, America's campaign headquarters.
Lou Dobbs getting ready for his program -- that begins right at the top of the hour. And he's joining us with a preview -- Lou.
LOU DOBBS, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, thank you very much.
Coming up at 6:00 here on CNN, tonight, we will be reporting on the impasse in the Senate over so-called immigration reform. Is the president's guest-worker program, his plan for what he calls comprehensive immigration reform, headed for defeat? We will have a special report.
Also tonight, business groups and special interests say, illegal aliens contribute mightily to this country's economic prosperity, even though illegal aliens actually drive American wages lower. My guest tonight is the head of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. We will be talking about business and economics and comprehensive immigration reform.
And is it time to replace our welfare state? I will be talking with the author of a bold new study to end entitlement programs forever. And everyone in this plan, he says, will benefit.
We hope you will join us for that and a great deal more coming up at the top of the hour -- back to you, Wolf.
BLITZER: Only about 15 minutes away. Lou, thanks very much for that.
The New York attorney general, Eliot Spitzer, has set his sights on another Internet company. The government hopeful says the New York company illegally installed what he says were millions of secret programs that can be used to track your online activities.
Our Internet reporter, Jacki Schechner, is following the story -- Jacki.
JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, according to the attorney general, this company engaged in something called drive-by downloads. Basically, you click on a piece of software. And, when you do, it installs a program on your computer that then gives you pop-up ads, depending on where you surf on the Internet. It conducted an investigate, 29 separate investigations, it says. And here's what they found.
For example, you get a piece of software like this. It says it's 100 percent free. It is going to protect your privacy. And you click on this, and it puts all of these other little programs on your computer.
As for terms of agreement, well, you get fine print, but you get 188 screens of print like this. And it's not until the 131st screen is there any mention of these additional programs. It doesn't specify what they are.
Now, the company, Direct Revenue, has fought on its Web site with a full statement, calls these claims baseless, says it is legal and appropriate, what they are doing, and they say they will prevail in court -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you very much, Jacki, for that.
Up ahead, the congressional "Pig Book" -- that's what it's called. And our Jack Cafferty hashing over pork-barrel spending. Jack's question of the hour: When it comes to pork on Capitol Hill, are things getting any better?
And, later, in our 7:00 p.m. Eastern hour here in THE SITUATION ROOM, the fallout from last week's immigration demonstrations -- why you won't see Mexican or any other, including American, flags in at least one public school in California. A California school district says, no flags, including no American flags.
You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: There has been a decision in a major court case.
Ali Velshi is following this story for us.
Ali, what is the latest.
VELSHI: Wolf, Merck has been found responsible for the death of -- for the heart attack -- I'm sorry -- not the death -- for the heart attack of one of two men who have been suing the company in a New Jersey court -- this just out of Atlantic City now.
The company has been found liable, that Merck -- that Vioxx was substantial in the heart attack of the claimant McDarby, but not in the case of the second claim. Merck has been found responsible for concealing the risk of Vioxx to both of these patients, or to their doctors, and for misrepresenting the risks of Vioxx.
More of this is coming out. This is one of very many cases, but it's substantial, because both of these two claimants had been taking Vioxx for more than 18 months. And that is the -- the subset of the population for whom a study found Vioxx to be dangerous.
So, Merck has been found responsible -- as far as we know right now, $4.5 million in damages being awarded -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, thank you very much, Ali, for that.
Let's go back to the CNN Center.
Carol Lin following some other stories making news -- Carol.
LIN: Wolf, in Los Angeles today, prayers for lawmakers and a fast in solidarity with illegal immigrants, both led by Cardinal Roger Mahony. The leader of five million Catholics in the country's largest archdiocese is calling for -- quote -- "just and humane immigration laws."
Last month, he sharply criticized a House bill that would make it a crime to give aid to any of the nation's 12 million illegal immigrants.
Residents along the Red River in Minnesota and North Dakota are keeping an anxious eye on rising water. The river is about 20 feet above flood stage. People have been relying on sandbags and levees and pumps to stay dry.
Now, as you can see there, high water is causing some problems, but officials say the water is about as high as it's going to go. And, so far, the flooding has not been disastrous.
Well, even Katie Couric calls her move to CBS the worst-kept secret in America. The co-host of NBC's "Today Show" announced this morning that she will, indeed, join "The CBS Evening News" and "60 Minutes."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATIE COURIC, CO-HOST, "THE TODAY SHOW": Sometimes, I think change is a good thing. Although it may be terrifying to get out of your comfort zone, it's also very exciting to start a new chapter in your life. So, for now, it's not goodbye, at least not yet, but a heartfelt thank you for 15 great years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Well, Katie Couric will leave "The Today Show" at the end of May. And CBS says she will become the anchor and managing editor of its flagship newscast beginning in September.
Wolf, do you know her?
(CROSSTALK)
LIN: Is she a nice lady?
BLITZER: She's very nice. I have known her for many years.
And congratulations to Katie Couric. We wish her only, only the best.
Thank you, Carol, very much.
LIN: You bet.
BLITZER: Up next -- a pig was the guest of honor at a Washington news conference today to introduce this year's congressional "Pig Book" on pork-barrel spending.
Jack Cafferty wants to know, when it comes to pork on Capitol Hill, are things getting any better?
Stand by. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Here's a look at some of the "Hot Shots" coming in from our friends over at the Associated Press, pictures likely to be in your hometown papers tomorrow.
Baghdad: Saddam Hussein sits alone in the defendant's cage during his cross-examination.
Moscow: Radicals nationalists protest in front of parliament. They're demanding the incorporation of ex-Soviet territories into Russia.
El Salvador: Police line up alleged gang members on the streets.
And, in outer space -- check this out -- supernova explosion. This artist's rendering provided by NASA shows a dead star surrounded by rubble. Those are some of today's "Hot Shots," pictures often worth 1,000 words.
Let's go back to New York -- Jack Cafferty standing by with "The Cafferty File" -- Jack.
CAFFERTY: Wolf, the congressional "Pig Book" is out, detailing 375 pork-barrel projects coming from our lawmakers in Washington.
The report shows Congress spending $29 billion on pork projects this year. That's up almost $2 billion from last year. The question is: When it comes to pork on Capitol Hill, are things getting any better?
Rick in Colton, California: "Only for those receiving the pork. As the nation's debt keeps growing, so does the size of the barrels that Congress uses to deal in this pork. Our borders could be secure and immigration not a problem if this pork were turned back into the nation's budget to deal with the things the federal government is supposed the deal with."
Earl in Shawanee, Tennessee: "It's getting worse, Jack, because we keep voting the same old idiots back into office. It's time to vote a clean sweep of both parties."
Jon in West Virginia: "I'm a small-city mayor in West Virginia. I cannot obtain a federal grant to repair some of our bridges crossing our rivers and streams that are used by school buses carrying our children every day. Now I see why. We are studying berries in Alaska. Give me a break."
Allan writes: "Congress keeps bringing home the bacon and eating high on the hog. They're all a bunch of hams. I'm tired of them being pigs with my tax dollars. I think that they all might be squealing, though after the next election."
And Heather writes: "Oink, oink. The government needs a citizens' advisory board to oversee spending. If you air this, send me a copy of Lou Dobbs' book."
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: He does that on his show. If he reads -- if he reads one of the e-mail that a viewer has sent in...
CAFFERTY: Oh.
BLITZER: ... he sends them a copy of his book.
CAFFERTY: Oh. All right. Well...
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: If you wrote a book, Jack -- if you write a book, Jack, we will send copies of your books to individuals whose e-mail you read.
(LAUGHTER)
CAFFERTY: Well...
BLITZER: What do you think about that?
CAFFERTY: Fine.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: We could...
CAFFERTY: That would be just fine.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: Go ahead and write a book. I think America wants to read Jack Cafferty's...
CAFFERTY: Oh, I'm sure.
BLITZER: Call it "The Cafferty File."
CAFFERTY: Yes. The public is crying out. I'm -- I'm sure they can hardly wait.
BLITZER: I think you are going to get some calls from publishers very soon.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: Jack, thanks.
You will be back in one hour here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
It's a Chevrolet experiment gone awry, or is it? The carmaker is giving the public a chance to produce a 30-second commercial for its new Chevy Tahoe online. But not all of the user-suggested advertisements are necessarily flattering.
Let's bring in our Internet reporter, Abbi Tatton -- Abbi.
ABBI TATTON, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, that's the idea, to let the public, to let you and I, create our commercial for the new Chevy Tahoe.
Look. Look at this. I'm doing one right now. I pick the video that I want to show. And I can play it for you right here. I then add a soundtrack to it. I can even add my own text to it, anything I want to say about SUVs. And that's why it started getting a little bit out of control for some people. People were putting their own opinions in here.
Let's look at some of them that have shown up online right here. If you can drag that, then we can show that -- a little bit hard to show that one right there. There we go. This is one of them that showed up online. There's a whole list at RocketBoom.com. This one says: "The flowers are dead. The water is polluted" -- just one person's opinions here about SUVs.
We talked to a spokesman for Chevrolet, who said: We knew that there would be some creative types out there who would take over a mechanism like this."
But they stress that 85 percent of these entries -- and there have been 23,000 of them -- 85 percent of them have been positive -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you very much, Abbi, for that. See you back here in an hour as well.
And, to our viewers, remember, we're here in THE SITUATION ROOM weekday afternoons, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Eastern.
We are back at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. That's coming up an hour from now. Among the latest, we will have more on the fallout from last week's immigration demonstrations. We will show you why one school district in Los Angeles is refusing to let anyone show any flags, including the American flag, in that school district. That's coming up, 7:00 p.m. Eastern, an hour from now in THE SITUATION ROOM.
Until then, thanks very much for joining us. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.
"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now -- Lou.
DOBBS: Wolf, thank you.
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