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The Situation Room
Iraqi Leaders Put New Pressure on U.S. Government Over Allegations of War Crimes; New Campaign Against Gay Marriage
Aired June 02, 2006 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: To our viewers, you're in the SITUATION ROOM, where new pictures and information are arriving all the time. Standing by, CNN reporters across the United States and around the world to bring you today's top stories.
Happening now, multiple investigations of possible troop misconduct in Iraq. Was the alleged massacre in Haditha just the tip of the iceberg? It's midnight in Iraq, where outraged Iraqi leaders are now putting new pressure on the U.S. government.
Also this hour, a new campaign against gay marriage. President Bush and Republican leaders are rallying behind a ban. It's 4:00 p.m. here in Washington, where this issue is about to re-explode with the fall election in mind.
And the halls of power or a schoolyard play ground? The taunts, the teases, the fighting words, new reminders today that politicians say the darnedest things.
I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in the "SITUATION ROOM."
Confirmation today from the White House that investigations now are under way into allegations of atrocities by U.S. forces in three separate incidents in Iraq. They happened in or near the towns of Ishaqi, Hamandiya and Haditha.
The Iraqi government is launching its own probe into Haditha, which first raised questions about whether U.S. troops have deliberately killed Iraqi civilians.
Military investigators strongly suspect a small number of U.S. Marines went on a rampage and killed 24 people after their comrade was killed in a roadside Bomb.
And now, there's a new uproar over a video from a March raid in Ishaqi. It shows at least five dead children. Local Iraqis charge 11 civilians were killed by U.S. troops.
The U.S. military now is investigating that incident as well as an April incident near Hamandiya. A source familiar with the probe says military prosecutors will likely file murder charges against several Marines now in solitary confinement at Camp Pendleton in California. They are accused in the shooting death of an Iraqi civilian. The Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, is speaking out more forcefully than ever about the allegations of U.S. troop misconduct. He's now calling the Haditha incident, and I'm quoting now, "a horrible crime."
Let's get some more specific details. Our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre, is live at the Pentagon.
Jamie, what's the latest from there?
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, as we reach end of the week here at the Pentagon, Pentagon officials insist they are taking all of this very seriously and they continue to underscore the fact that, A, so far no charges have been filed because the investigations are still open.
And that meanwhile, proactive steps are being taken, including that refresher training given U.S. troops and other step to ensure that incidents in which it's alleged that civilians are killed, are fully investigated.
Raveling in Singapore today, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld insisted those investigations will produce the answers that will answer questions people have about these incidents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: They are trained not to. And I don't know that they did in this instance. The investigation's under way. And I'm in the chain of command and anything I say can conceivably be misconstrued in the press in a way that would be characterized as command influence, and adversely affect the case from any direction. And I simply am not going to talk about it anymore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCINTYRE: Meanwhile, CNN has learned that several members of Kilo Company, that's the unit involved in the Haditha incident, from the 3rd Battalion, First Marine, several members of that unit have already been discussing their future with defense attorneys, bracing for the possibility that they are going to face serious charges in perhaps the weeks to come. -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Jamie, what's the reaction at the Pentagon? U.S. military officials, civilian leaders there, to these very strong words, these biting comments, from the new Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, saying this is going on, these alleged atrocities, almost on a daily basis by U.S. forces?
MCINTYRE: Well, obvious they dispute that. The idea that there's daily atrocities by U.S. forces. And they say that, to the extent there are, there is inappropriate behavior, that it's a very small minority of U.S. forces.
On the other hand, they are also encouraged that Iraq has a strong government in place that can make statements, can challenge the United States and can take part in investigations.
They also say there's an upside to this that it shows that there's a healthy Iraqi Government that's taking charge.
BLITZER: I guess they are looking for some silver lining in those strong comments.
Jamie, thank you very much.
In Iraq today, the House Speaker Dennis Hastert appeared at a news conference with the prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki. Hastert promised that, if U.S. troops are found guilty of atrocities, they will be punished and America, in his words, will offer its deepest apologies.
Hastert is heading a delegation to Iraq right now.
Meantime, in Baghdad today, Police say six more people were killed in two separate bombings, one at a crowded market place, the other, near a Shiite mosque.
Our Zain Verjee is joining us now from Washington with a closer look at some other stories making news, including the latest standoff with Iran.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, one day after the U.S. and other world powers indicated they are willing to return to the bargaining table with Iran, Iran's president is insisting his country has the right to develop nuclear energy.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reportedly said today that pressure by western countries to force Iran to abandon nuclear technology will not get a result.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and foreign ministers from Britain, France, Russia, Germany, China, all preparing to offer incentives to Iran to return to nuclear talks if Tehran suspends uranium enrichment.
Rice says Iran faces a moment of truth.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: The international community needs to know whether negotiation is a real option or not. And the Iranians have been given every reason to make a choice for negotiation. They have said that they have a right to civilian nuclear power. People acknowledge that. But they have to pursue that civil nuclear power in a way that does not have a proliferation risk. In other words, that they cannot hide a nuclear weapons program under the cover of a civil nuclear program.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VERJEE: Secretary Rice made those comments in an interview with CNN's David Ensor. Iran insists that its nuclear program is peaceful. But as you hard there, the U.S., as well as the European Union, all skeptical. The National Intelligence director, John Negroponte, said today that Iran appears determined to make nuclear weapons and could have an atomic bomb as soon as 2010. -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Zain, thank you very much for that.
The Bush White House is facing a barrage of questions today about the Iran nuclear standoff, as well as the allegations of troop atrocities in Iraq.
Let's check in with our White House correspondent Elaine Quijano.
First on Iran, what are they saying at the White House about the possible penalties for Iran if, in fact, they don't accept this deal put forward by these six world powers?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly they are not going into any details just yet, Wolf. But, the White House is saying that Iran has not even received this proposal just yet. European officials are expected to deliver it over the weekend.
White House spokesman Tony Snow says the Iranians will be getting a full presentation on the package of incentives and disincentives. He also says the U.S. believes Iran cannot reject what it has not seen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: There are going to be a lot of statements made right now in advance of actually having seen the proposal. So we take them for what they are. They are statements in advance of a proposal. This is a negotiation. And I would expect people -- I would expect Iran to try to take some negotiating positions in advance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: Now privately U.S. Officials say that they are well aware there are other issues that may be at play here and Driving Iran's very public Rejections so far, Including Iran's own domestic Politics. They say of course that Iran's leaders may not want to appear to be backed into a corner.
So while Iran may be rejecting the proposal for the moment, as one U.S. official put it, Wolf, they can say no at night and yes by morning. -- Wolf?
BLITZER: I assume, Elaine, when it comes to Iraq, officials at the White House, including Tony Snow, the new press secretary, pretty disappointed in the strong comments critical of the U.S. military coming from the Iraqi prime minister.
QUIJANO: Well, it's interesting, Wolf. There was quite a contentious briefing between Tony Snow and the White House Press Corps, still looking for more clarification about those comments. Because what Tony Snow is saying is that there was a misquoting of what, in fact, the Iraqi prime minister said. That, according to the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, we're still trying to sort out the details.
But Tony Snow was peppered with questions about that issue. He wasn't able to, in fact, identify what it was specifically what the Iraqi prime minister might have meant to say. Nevertheless, that has lent itself to a great deal of confusion.
Now, as far as the investigations, according to Snow, the president has been briefed on two of them, on Hamandiya and Haditha. No word on whether he has, yet, been briefed on the third investigation in Ishaqi.
BLITZER: Elaine, thank you very much.
Let's bring in our senior political correspondent Candy Crowley. She is here in the "SITUATION ROOM" with us.
What's the immediate political impact from the Haditha allegation?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: When you talk to politicos across town, regardless of what of this they're on, they tell you a couple of things. First of all, too early, we know too little to really know how this will or might not affect the November elections.
But short-term, the president, you know, just had another government installed in Iraq, under this new guise. And they were hoping to put this out there. But what are we seeing?
We are seeing nothing but stories about Haditha and other atrocities that allegedly have taken place. That's the short-term, domestically. The president is unable to get out anything positive about Iraq.
But more so -- and you can tell this by the president's first comments on this. He's really more worried about the political impact in Iraq and in the Arab world. When he talked his first words were "we have a transparent society and the world will see that as we conduct this investigation."
So it's very important for this administration to try to halt as much as they can the negative political impact from overseas because this is a recruiting tool really, if what we are hearing turns out to be so.
BLITZER: The president's poll numbers -- as you know, as everyone knows -- very low right now. The republican-led congress, poll numbers very low right now. Long-term, look ahead to November, is there any assessment that you're getting, a good one, how this might play out in November?
CROWLEY: There's no -- look, it's not going to help. It adds to you know what is out there.
Iraq, as we know, is the patina that is covering all issues at this point. And it colors them on the downside. So this adds more fuel to those who say get out now. Get out now. You're hearing the troops are overstressed. They're snapping because they are on their third and fourth missions back there. So this is not good any way you play it.
But you will also see that, unlike when we saw in Abu Ghraib, that they have been out there pretty aggressively, the administration, doing some things that they didn't do with Abu Ghraib. So they realize what sort of dynamite this really is. And they are trying to at least take some of the edges off it.
But basically nobody is going to tell you that this is anything but bad news for the administration.
BLITZER: Candy, thank you very much.
Candy Crowley and Elaine Quijano are a part of the best political team on television, CNN, America's Campaign Headquarters.
And Jack Cafferty is part of that excellent team as well. He's joining us from New York with the "Cafferty File." -- Jack?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Wolf.
The United States military is the best-trained, most disciplined fighting force in the world. Always has been.
But when you subject even the best-trained soldiers to three and four combat tours in a war zone, once in a while somebody is going to snap.
What does the government do? Do they reassess the status of the mission? Do they pour in reinforcement in sufficient numbers to allow for some reduction in battle fatigue? No. Their answer is to send the rest of the soldiers to school. Make them watch some stupid video the Pentagon will put together about morals, ethics and values.
This is nothing but a cheap P.R. stunt to try to counter the negative publicity from the alleged murders of 24 Iraqi civilians. When in fact, the blame for this tragedy belongs as much to the failed plans and policies created in Washington, D.C. as it does to the few marines who may have committed murder.
Here's the question. Do U.S. military forces need ethical and moral training? E-mail your thoughts to Caffertyfile@cnn.com or go to Cnn.com/caffertyfile. -- Wolf?
BLITZER: You know, I was in Iraq last year. I went to Fallujah and Mosul and Baghdad, Umm Qasr, and the conditions for those U.S. forces, as you point out, Jack, are really, really tough.
It's, by no means, easy living in that constant fear that there's going to be a sniper or a mortar or an improvised explosive device that's going to kill or maim you or your friends. It is a tough situation.
CAFFERTY: Remember the Powell Doctrine? Put enough boots on the ground, a overwhelming force, to win the war and then have a plan for winning the peace.
Whatever happened to Colin Powell?
BLITZER: That Powell Doctrine was rejected by the Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
CAFFERTY: And he's still there?
BLITZER: Yes. Yes, he is.
CAFFERTY: And now, Iraqi civilians are being murdered by overstressed troops. It's working out real well, isn't it?
BLITZER: Jack, thanks very much.
If you want a sneak preview of Jack's questions, plus an early read on the day's political news, what's ahead in the "SITUATION ROOM," sign up for our daily e-mail alert. Go to cnn.com/situationroom.
Coming up, are New York City and the nation's capital at a lower risk for a terrorist attack? That's what the Department of Homeland Security says. And that's got politicians from both cities out raged.
Plus, the battle over gay marriage heats up. And it's smack in the middle of today's culture wars. We'll take a closer look at what's behind a push by republicans to ban same sex unions.
And later, is Arnold Schwarzenegger on the political rebound? We'll take a closer look at the latest poll numbers in California, part of his battle to keep his job.
Stay with us. You're in the SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: In our "Security Watch" this Friday, new wrangling over cuts in anti-terror funding in New York City. The Congressman Peter King, of New York, sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff laying out his concerns.
King is the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. And he may be setting a stage for a hearing on funding priorities.
Adding to the controversy today, the Homeland Security Department's assessment that New York and Washington, D.C. are at a lower risk for a terror attack.
Our national correspondent, Bob Franken, has more on the tough questions for the Homeland Security Department. -- Bob?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, often the war on terror unifies the country. Not this time.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL CHERTOFF, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: The measure of protection for a community is not driven just by whether that community's politicians control the spending of money.
FRANKEN (voice-over): The political leaders of Washington, and particularly New York, are contemplating whatever pressure they can exert to reverse 40 percent cuts in anti-terrorism funds.
What is perhaps most troubling to many New Yorkers was the conclusion by Homeland Security that the city had no national monuments or icons to protect.
REP. CAROL MALONEY, (D) NEW YORK: I mean have they been to Wall Street? Have they been to the financial district? Have they been to the -- all the important museums and national icons that we have in our city?
FRANKEN: Federal funds for the two September 11 targets, New York and Washington, are being cut back this year in favor of smaller cities.
CHERTOFF: Some communities are operating from a low level of preparedness. Those deserve extra weight.
FRANKEN: Communities, like Omaha, Charlotte, Louisville and Orlando, which has a few icons of its own, that have complained they've been overlooked until now.
KEVIN BEARY, SHERIFF, ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: I'm sure glad to be one of those 46 groups that got it. So show me the money.
FRANKEN: But the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee is irate. Peter King, of New York, says he'll try and make someone very sorry.
CHERTOFF: I hope that we don't confuse disappointment with grants with a desire to exact retribution.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: Attacks can happen, says Chertoff, not just in Washington or New York. But that is where he has to worry about that retribution. -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Bob Franken, thank you.
And New York lawmakers are protesting their reduction in Homeland Security funds big time. And there's nothing subtle about their new campaign on-line.
Our Internet reporter, Abbi Tatton, has more. -- Abbi? ABBI TATTON, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, Democratic Senator from New York, Hillary Clinton, and Republican Congressman Pete King, have teamed up to encourage New Yorkers to send post cards of recognizable icons and landmarks to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.
To, in their words, remind him that these places exist. The lawmakers have a few examples of their own, like this post card here from Shea Stadium.
They write, Dear Secretary Chertoff: "Since its opening, Shea Stadium has attracted more than 73 million fans."
They've got more of them -- the Brooklyn Bridge. They write on the back of that one a few facts about that bridge. "Wish you were here, Hillary and Pete."
Yesterday, in a speech, Secretary Chertoff defended the funding decision. And he said attacks on him personally is not a way to drive funding decisions. -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Abbi, thank you very much.
And remember, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
There's a developing story we're following. Zain Verjee is joining us now with more.
What is going on, Zain?
VERJEE: Wolf, a Lear jet has crashed into waters about half a mile off Groton, Connecticut.
We want to show you some live pictures from our affiliate WFSB.
Officials saying that two people have been killed. Three people have been injured.
The plane was apparently coming from Atlantic City in New Jersey. And it was heading to Groton, New London Airport.
As you can see from the pictures, the Coast Guard is on the scene. They are working on this wreckage and trying to cut away parts of the plane, and get to any possible victims.
The Associated Press, Wolf, reporting that two people are missing. And it appears as though they could be the pilots. A dive team is also there on site. The fire and rescue crew there as well.
But the thing is, Wolf, is that the weather is really bad right now. There are reports of rain and storm in the area. It's also quite foggy and that's a little bit difficult for the situation.
One more thing is the fire department has transported the three people that have been injured to a hospital. Their condition is described as non-threatening. -- Wolf?
BLITZER: All right, Zain. We'll get more information and bring it to our viewers. Thank you.
Other news we're following, in the culture wars, just in time for Gay Pride Week, President Bush and republicans are launching a new campaign against same sex marriage.
The president plans a big White House push on Monday for a constitutional ban on gay marriage before a senate vote on this very hot button issue.
Our congressional correspondent, Dana Bash, is following this story. She is joining us now live from Capitol Hill. -- Dana?
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, senate republican leaders are say a federal ban on same sex marriage is critical because several state laws doing the same are being challenged in court.
But activists on all sides of this issue say what is really motivating the senate debate plan for next week is raw election year politics.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASH (voice-over): Republicans gay rights activists are going door to door on Capitol Hill.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Asking Senator Specter to oppose the marriage amendment.
BASH: Urging senators to vote against a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
PATRICK GUERREIRO, LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS: Good republicans don't believe you should get distracted from cutting taxes and controlling federal spending and winning the war on terrorism by embracing these kinds of socially extremist views.
BASH: To social conservatives, prohibiting same-sex marriage is a top priority. These ads are targeting senators in more than a dozen states.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Homosexual activists don't care if children are deprived of a mom or dad. Only a constitutional amendment can protect marriage from attack.
BASH: The Senate vote is expected to fall far short of the two- thirds majority needed to amendment the constitution.
But to conservative groups, like the Family Research Council, that's beside the point. They say GOP leaders must debate issues, like a gay marriage ban, if they want disillusioned conservatives to vote in November. PETER SPRIGG, FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: We don't have an interest in reelecting a republican congress if they are not willing to fight for pro-familiar issues.
BASH: Social conservatives are frustrated with republicans in Washington and this issue is exhibit A.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The union of a man and woman deserves an honored place in our society.
BASH: In 2004, President Bush and republican congressional leaders talked up a federal ban on gay marriage to galvanize social conservatives in key swing states. Since then the president has been virtually silent. And the rank and file feels abandoned.
RICHARD VIGURIE, CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST: I do. I think it's too little, too late.
BASH: Veteran activist, Richard Vigurie, says voting on same sex marriage now looks insincere.
VIGURIE: If they will try to mollify the conservatives, placate them at the margins, at the edges. They will try to throw a little bone here, a little bone there.
But I just don't see that they really do understand that we are dead serious, that we have been betrayed.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: But even for conservatives, this is issue is not clear cut.
Some, like Senator John McCain, even Congressman Tom DeLay, for that matter, believe that this is the wrong thing to do. They say that the true Republican position, Wolf, is to let states decide issues like this, not the federal government, and certainly not to amend the Constitution.
BLITZER: Dana, very quickly, since it's unlikely to get the two- thirds majority in the Senate, it's clearly not going to go anywhere this year.
What about the counter argument that this could backfire against Republicans, against the president, Bill Frist, by suggesting, at a time where there are so many other pressing issues that need the attention of congress, they're focusing in on this, which really has no chance of getting off the ground. What do they say to that argument that it could be counter-productive politically?
BASH: That is exactly the argument that certainly opponents of this measure are making.
What leaders here say is that this is something that they believe is supported by the issues, the majority of Americans. And what they are hoping, even though they won't get two-thirds, Wolf, is that they will increase the vote.
Last time, around 48 senators voted for it. This time they believe they will get at least a majority. They think they will prove their point at least symbolically that most Americans -- at least certainly most of the Senate, even though it won't be a supermajority -- do believe banning same-sex marriage is important.
BLITZER: Dana, thank you very much.
And Dana will be covering the story for us Monday. We'll have extensive coverage here in the "SITUATION ROOM." The debate over same-sex marriage heating up here in Washington.
Up next, much more in our top story. Will the multiple investigations over U.S. troop misconduct in Iraq affect politics back here? Bill Press and Terry Jeffrey, they're standing by to join us live in today's "Strategy Session."
And later, Congressman James Sensenbrenner sticks to his guns and comes out a winner. Does he? We'll explain. Sick around. You're in the "SITUATION ROOM."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back to the "SITUATION ROOM". I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.
Today in our "Strategy Session," Iraq's prime minister is now calling into question the conduct of U.S. troops in Iraq. What does this mean for the overall U.S. mission there?
Joining us are Democratic analyst and radio talk show hosts Bill Press, and Terry Jeffrey, the editor of Human Events.
Terry, I will start with you.
The new prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, says this: "This is a phenomenon that has become common among many of the multinational forces, no respect for citizens, smashing civilian cars, and killing on a suspicion off a hunch. It's unacceptable" -- this from the leader of the country that supposedly a close ally of the United States.
TERRY JEFFREY, EDITOR, "HUMAN EVENTS": Wolf, this...
BLITZER: These are strong words.
JEFFREY: This is an outrageous statement from the prime minister of Iraq.
You know, almost all the casualties the United States are taking in Iraq now are either in Baghdad or out in the Sunni Triangle. Almost all of them are inflicted on our troops by Sunni insurgents, who basically did not want Mr. Maliki's government to come into force, because it's a Shia-dominated government. This is man who I have noted on this show has said, by the end of this year, he thinks that he can secure 16 of the 18 provinces, not counting Baghdad and Anbar.
Anbar is where Haditha is. He claims, by next year, he can do Anbar and Baghdad.
What I would say to Mr. Maliki, and I hope our government would say, is, Mr. Maliki, we expect you to be good to your word. If you don't like the way U.S. troops are patrolling those areas, you better get your troops in shape, so they can patrol those areas, so our boys can come home.
BLITZER: You would -- you would think he would at least say, given all the blood that the United States has sacrificed in Iraq, the treasure, hundreds of billions of dollars, he -- he might have said, you know what? This is a tiny, tiny example. There's always a few rotten apples, but 99.9 percent of the troops were grateful to them.
You -- I would -- I would have thought you would hear that, more than this.
BILL PRESS, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Sure. We liberated the country, and this is the thanks we get, right? And you would he would say, first, thank you, but...
But, you know, Terry, we are in no position to preach to the prime minister of -- of Iraq. If we do, it's senseless anyhow. He is speaking for himself. He's speaking for his people. He's the head of the country. I think this tells us something, and we ought to be listening to him.
It tells us, no matter what we have done for these people, that we are still considered a hostile occupation force. We can't force democracy on them. We can't force them to love us. I would say it says, you know, we better redeploy our troops and get out, before he tells us to get out.
BLITZER: You agree with him?
JEFFREY: Well, a little bit.
First of all, this guy is the democratically leader of Iraq. But he's got one big problem. The Sunnis don't want to really come into the government until the constitution has been adapted to fit some of their needs. Where is the oil revenue going to go? How much power are they going to have?
So, far they don't have a Defense and Interior Ministry. Maliki needs our troops there to solve those political problems. But we need him to solve those political problems, so our troops can come home. All Americans have an interest in having a stable Iraq.
PRESS: I would...
(CROSSTALK)
JEFFREY: That's the bottom line. PRESS: I would suggest we're the ones that have the problem. This is the new government. The president said this is another turning point; we have reached another milestone in Iraq.
Yet, the violence keeps getting worse. They don't have an interior minister. They don't have an defense minister. They're clearly not able to control the country. And now he's criticizing the U.S. troops.
BLITZER: Here's what a -- a U.S. military spokesman, in a briefing for Pentagon reporters from Baghdad, said earlier today. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGADIER GENERAL DONALD CAMPBELL, MULTINATIONAL CORPS IN IRAQ: The credibility of our coalition forces is too valuable a commodity to squander needlessly. And every incident and allegation, no matter how small, strikes a blow against that credibility.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: You know, it's a tough job these military forces have, 130,000, 135,000 U.S. troops, another 15,000 or so other coalition forces. They are so scared. They are always in potential danger. And, sometimes, that split-second decision, that hesitation, could cost them their lives.
JEFFREY: Yes, no question.
I think -- look, I think if Americans are of one mind on anything, whether we agreed with the war or disagree, whether we want to stay or bring our troops home, is that we honor and respect the service of the brave Americans who are over there right now on the ground putting their lives at risk.
I think Americans also are going to be of one mind, Wolf, that we want due process and rule of law for our guys. We want to find out the truth about what happened in Haditha. We want justice. But we want it to be done according to our standards of rule or law. We don't want anybody railroaded.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Briefly, briefly...
PRESS: Yes.
BLITZER: ... let's talk about Iran for a moment.
Are you ready to give Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice credit for a diplomatic triumph yesterday, in getting these six powers , including China and Russia, on board, at least as far as the strategy of pressuring Iran to suspend its uranium-enrichment program?
PRESS: I would say one hand clapping. I think it is progress. It was a good move, a great move, actually, to get those countries together, and to say, we all together will sit down with the same set of talking points when we sit down with Iran.
I think, however, putting the condition to say, you have got to drop all your nuclear stuff before we talk about it, is sort of like saying, when a couple wants to get a divorce, you agree to give me all the money, and then we will sit down and talk about how much money you're going to give me.
BLITZER: But they agreed to that earlier. That was what they -- they were supposed to suspend their uranium enrichment.
PRESS: Well, I -- I know, but they didn't. And there's a still a lot to talk about.
All I'm saying is, I think, start the talks without any precondition, and, with that, I would give her both hands clapping.
BLITZER: You clapping with both hands?
JEFFREY: Brilliant maneuver by Condoleezza Rice.
And why it's brilliant is because she got the Chinese and the Russians on board in insisting that the Iranians suspend nuclear enrichment, or there aren't any talks. We have all five members of the Security Council with a veto on board to put the pressure on Iran, brilliant move by Condoleezza Rice.
BLITZER: We will leave it there.
PRESS: Diplomacy works.
BLITZER: Condoleezza Rice, by the way, will be joining me on "LATE EDITION" this Sunday. She's coming back from Vienna.
Guys, thanks very much.
PRESS: All right. Thanks, Wolf.
And it's Friday. And that means it's time for our "Political Play of the Week." Our Bill Schneider awards the winner. That's coming up next.
And, in the next hour, new claims about an old story -- Did Republicans in Ohio block tens of thousands of Democrats from voting during the last presidential election? That's a claim coming from Robert Kennedy Jr. He's going to join us live here in THE SITUATION ROOM. And Terry Holt, who worked for the campaign, the Republican campaign, will debate him.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. On Capitol Hill this week, we saw some new developments in two significant showdowns, one over immigration, the other over a raid on a congressman's office.
And that brings us to our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider -- Bill.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Wolf, when the Bush administration pushes Congress, one member of Congress pushes back, and he's not even a Democrat. But he get this week's "Political Play of the Week."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Next week, when the House and Senate start working on an immigration compromise, the chief House negotiator will be Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner.
REP. JAMES SENSENBRENNER (R), WISCONSIN: The Senate and the House started miles apart.
SCHNEIDER: And now?
SENSENBRENNER: Miles have become moons apart or oceans apart.
SCHNEIDER: Sensenbrenner is dead set against the provision in the Senate bill that would allow illegal aliens to become citizens.
SENSENBRENNER: And calling it a pathway to citizenship or earned legalization is not honest, because it is amnesty.
SCHNEIDER: Sensenbrenner's taking on the president, who called his approach:
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Wrong and unrealistic.
SCHNEIDER: This week, Sensenbrenner confronted the administration over the Justice Department's search of a congressman's office.
ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL: ... and investigating criminal wrongdoing. And we have an obligation to the American people to pursue the evidence where it exists.
SCHNEIDER: Not on our turf, said Sensenbrenner.
SENSENBRENNER: The materials taken very likely include communications created in the course of legitimate legislative process.
SCHNEIDER: A lot of people wonder, is Sensenbrenner doing this to protect Republicans who could be targets of investigations? Sensenbrenner is not worried about what they think or what the attorney general or the president thinks. When it comes to immigration, he is worried about something else. SENSENBRENNER: When I'm old and crabby -- and I'm not old and crabby now -- everybody knows that.
(LAUGHTER)
SENSENBRENNER: When I'm old and crabby and sitting on my front porch, I don't have people come up to say, you made the biggest mistake of your career in signing off on a bill that ended up making the problem worse.
SCHNEIDER: That day may be a way off. But, right now, Sensenbrenner gets the "Political Play of the Week."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER: Actually, polls show most Americans support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants. But opponents like Sensenbrenner feel more strongly about the issue. Forty-three percent of those who oppose a path to citizenship say that illegal immigration will be extremely important in their vote for Congress.
Only 24 percent of those who favor a path to citizenship care that much about the issue -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Bill Schneider, I think Congressman Sensenbrenner is going to be happy you gave him the "Political Play of the Week." Thank you, Bill, for that.
Bill Schneider is part of the best political team on television -- CNN, America's campaign headquarters.
Coming up, he was down in the polls, but is Schwarzenegger making a comeback as he battles for reelection out in California? Find out in today's "Political Radar."
Plus, Laura Bush has a message for the world to hear. We will tell you what the first lady was speaking about when she was at the United Nations earlier today.
Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Zain is here in Washington for a closer look at some other stories making news -- Zain.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, a major settlement for a former government nuclear scientist.
The federal government has agreed to pay Wen Ho Lee $895,000 to drop his privacy lawsuit. The money reportedly will go to pay attorneys' fees. Lee had accused the government of leaking information in 1999 that he was under investigation as a spy for China. He was later cleared. Lee also reached a separate settlement with five reporters. They were sued for refusing to give up confidential sources. More storms are soaking parts of New Hampshire less than a month after the region saw massive flooding. Up to four inches of rain has fallen in some areas since yesterday. That's washed out roads, knocked out power, and caused some schools to close. In New York state, flash flooding killed two people.
Police in Indianapolis are searching for several suspects in yesterday's brutal murders of seven family members. The youngest of the victims, three young children, were found huddled together in a bed. And they had been shot to death. Authorities think it was a home robbery that just turned deadly. They have identified one suspect as Desmond Turner. Police say they are also looking for at least three more suspects.
Fire crews in northern Arizona are trying to make sure a 1,500- acre wildfire doesn't engulf a nearby residential community. About 30 homes south of Sedona remain unoccupied since the fire erupted yesterday. Flames destroyed five buildings, including two houses. But the blaze has now moved past most of the area -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Zain, thank you very much.
And, on our "Political Radar" this Friday, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger may -- may be making some new headway in his uphill reelection battle. A new Field poll shows him with a slim advantage over his two leading Democratic challengers. He has a two- point edge over State Comptroller Steve Westly. And he has a seven- point lead over State Treasurer Phil Angelides.
The last most recent survey showed Schwarzenegger tied with both Democrats.
In New York today, the first lady, Laura Bush, spoke to the United Nations General Assembly -- the subject, the global fight against AIDS and HIV. She told delegates to a conference on AIDS that no country could ignore the crisis. And she praised her husband's $15 billion five-year plan to fight AIDS in Africa.
Rob Portman was sworn in today as the president's new budget director. The former congressman and U.S. trade representative vows to put the federal budget on what he calls a diet. And President Bush says he has given Portman a clear agenda to pursue pro-growth economic policies.
The president may be scoring points today in the politically important state of Pennsylvania. He hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers over at the White House. And he praised the Super Bowl champs as one of the really great franchises in football history. That is true.
Up next: Is the stress of returning for repeated combat tours in Iraq taking a dangerous toll on U.S. troops? And, if -- and, if so, is having American forces get ethical retraining enough of a solution? Jack Cafferty is standing by with your answers.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: We're just getting this in from our Jamie McIntyre, our senior Pentagon correspondent. And we're going to him momentarily.
But there is word now from U.S. Defense Department officials that an investigation has cleared U.S. troops of misconduct in the deaths of Iraqi civilians at Ishaqi on March 15. Jamie is going to be coming up momentarily with all the specific details. But at least as far as this investigation is concerned, U.S. troops have been cleared. Apparently, they did nothing wrong.
But we will go to Jamie momentarily.
In the meantime, let's bring in Jack Cafferty. He has got "The Cafferty File" on a very related sub -- very related subject -- Jack.
CAFFERTY: The question is: Do U.S. military forces need ethical and moral training?
T. in New Orleans writes: "Training? No. I am in the military. What needs to be done is to get the troops out. The enemy fights with no rules. We have a million rules. How many of your friends would you have to see die in front of you before you snap?"
Jeff in Kissimmee, Florida: "No, our troops have morals and values. The ones that need to acquire them are the three branches of government."
Fred in Fayetteville, New York: "This is like deciding to teach someone to read after they have graduated high school. They should have had these skills when they completed basic training."
Max in New York: "Ethical and moral training should be emphasized on a constant basis in all military training. As a lawyer, I'm required to take ethics courses every year. Much more should be required of the military, whose conduct can cause death and destruction."
David in Chestertown, Maryland: "There are always going to be civilian casualties in war, although U.S. -- obviously, U.S. Marines do need to be reminded not to shoot babies in their cribs. But ethical and values training is needed much more in the White House and the Pentagon."
And Larry in San Diego, California: "As I was on my way home from Austria after the war ended in 1945, we were subjected to classes that taught us such things as, at the dinner table, do not say, 'Pass the f-ing butter.' We needed that training about as much as troops today need training in ethics and morality. You're dead on, Jack, in your assessment of where the blame lies for this and how to prevent future occurrences."
This weekend, on "IN THE MONEY," why Fort Lauderdale is getting $67 per person in anti-terror funding, and New York is getting $16.
And if you're planning on flying this summer, pack a carry-on bag full of patience. It's going to be rough out there -- "IN THE MONEY," CNN tomorrow at 1:00, Sunday at 3:00 -- Wolf.
BLITZER: That would be 1:00 p.m. Eastern on Saturday...
CAFFERTY: That's correct.
BLITZER: ... 3:00 p.m. Eastern on Sunday...
CAFFERTY: That's correct.
BLITZER: ... Jack's excellent weekend program.
Jack, thank you very much.
Let's go to Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon. He's new -- he's got new details on what happened involving that investigation at Ishaqi in Iraq, an investigation of an incident of March 15 -- Jamie.
MCINTYRE: Well, Wolf, Pentagon sources are now telling us that a military investigation looked into this incident and concluded that U.S. troops did nothing wrong.
They said they used escalating force as they approached a target, when they suspected al Qaeda fighters were -- were involved, and that they received fire from that location, and that they followed proper procedures. They say this incident, in which it is alleged 11 civilians were shot, was already thoroughly investigated. And they see no reason for a further investigation.
It involved both U.S. Army ground troops and an airstrike from above, which caused the building to collapse. At the time, the U.S. military said that the deaths were caused by the combined effects of the ground campaign and the airstrike. Later, some local Iraqis claimed that the people involved had been shot. And they complained to the Iraqi police, who passed those complaints along to the U.S. military.
Again, though, the -- an investigation concluded that U.S. troops followed all normal procedures in escalating the level of violence as they came under attack. And the Army's Criminal Investigation Division has looked into this, and decided that there's no further reason to probe it further -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Jamie, thanks very much. Stick around. I want to come back to you momentarily. We're going to continue to follow this developing story.
U.S. troops cleared of any misconduct at Ishaqi in Iraq on March 15.
Let's take a quick break -- much more on this breaking news right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: It may be an occupational hazard for politicians. Some of them just can't seem to help stop opening their mouths, even without worrying so much about the consequences, at least at times.
Let's bring in our senior analyst, Jeff Greenfield.
You're smiling already, Jeff.
JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SENIOR ANALYST: Well, Wolf, it's an old schoolyard chant from childhood: Sticks and bones may break my bones, but words can never harm me.
Well, you would get a pretty good argument on that from politicians and political partisans, left and right, who often seem determined to employ the most incendiary language they can find.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GREENFIELD (voice-over): Latest case in point, New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who gave a commencement address yesterday, in which he was trying to praise Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer for standing up to President Bush.
What Hevesi said was that Schumer would -- quote -- "put a bullet between the president's eyes, if he could get away with it" -- unquote.
Hevesi quickly summoned the press and issued a full-court mea culpa.
ALAN HEVESI, NEW YORK STATE COMPTROLLER: A remarkably stupid, incredibly moronic, totally offensive statement.
GREENFIELD: But there are plenty of cases where angry words have been cheerfully, eagerly aimed at those in power, often by those with political power. The Nazis seem to be a favorite analogy.
Democratic Senator Robert Byrd in 2005 on the idea of abolishing judicial filibusters:
SEN. ROBERT BYRD (D), WEST VIRGINIA: Hitler never abandoned the cloak of legality. Instead, he turned the law inside out, and made it -- made this illegality legal. And that is what the nuclear option seeks to do.
GREENFIELD: Republican Senator Rick Santorum in 2005 on the filibuster debate:
SEN. RICK SANTORUM (R), PENNSYLVANIA: And the audacity of some members stand up and say: How dare you break this rule? It's the equivalent of Adolf Hitler in 1942 saying: I'm in Paris. How dare you invade me? How dare you bomb my city? It's mine.
GREENFIELD: And there was Democratic Senator Richard Durbin comparing Abu Ghraib to Nazi and Soviet practices, or former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay calling the Environmental Protection Agency gestapo government.
And when Newt Gingrich began his campaign to capture the Congress for Republicans, his political team produced a series of words to be aimed at Democrats, words like anti-child, anti-flag, betray, cheat, traitors.
It almost make this is comment by Senator Robert Dole in his 1996 acceptance speech about President Clinton seem quaint.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, 1996)
BOB DOLE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And he is my opponent, not my enemy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GREENFIELD: So, maybe it tells us something about where we are now that an important elected official looking to compliment a colleague decided that an impulse to kill could be seen, humorously, as an admirable trait, or that, during the last administration, important elected officials and commentators could hint that President Clinton was responsible for having his political foes murdered -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jeff, thank you very much.
And, to our viewers, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM, where new pictures and information are arriving all the time.
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