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Lebanese Cabinet Minister Assassinated; Are Iran, Syria Making Power Play in Iraq?

Aired November 21, 2006 - 19:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you Lou and 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 tonight's top stories.
Happening now, bullets fly near Beirut, a key Lebanese official is gunned down. Was the real target Lebanon's fragile democracy? While fingers point at Syria and Iran, are those two countries make another power play in Iraq.

Could a real estate tycoon add the White House to his holdings? Donald Trump takes on the Bush administration, is he practicing for a presidential run? And like father, like son. How the second President Bush stacks up against the first in the polls and in his war time performance. Wolf Blitzer is off today, I'm John King, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

A hit team struck suddenly with a hail of bullets as he was leaving church. Gunmen today assassinated a Lebanese Christian cabinet minister, an outspoken critic of Syria. Lebanon is now very much on edge. But is it on edge of a new civil war? We turn first to our Beirut bureau chief, Brent Sadler.

BRENT SADLER, CNN BEIRUT BUREAU CHIEF: John, another very serious blow against the U.S.-backed Lebanese government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. The center of downtown Beirut has been deserted in the hours since the killing of one of Siniora's key anti- Syrian ministers. Lebanon now in the group of fear that even greater violence could break out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SADLER (voice-over): It was a highly organized professional assassination. The young Christian Lebanese MP, Pierre Gemayel died in a hail of bullets after his car was rammed, shot at close range, at what's being described by many as a cold-blooded murder, to ignite a political firestorm and topple the western-backed government. Lebanon's national security may now be hanging on a thread in the wake of this latest murder of a leading anti-Syrian Lebanese politician.

FOUAD SINIORA, LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER: This attack against one of the symbols of freedom in Lebanon will make us more determined and committed to the freedom of this country and to the independence and sovereignty of this country. SADLER: Embattled Prime Minister Fouad Siniora pledges to stand firm but his government was already rocked by resignations from his cabinet, mostly by allies of Syria. And facing political assault by a Hezbollah led opposition, threatening street protests to bring down the ruling coalition. Leader of the parliamentary majority, Saad Hariri, was holding a news conference defending Siniora's government when he received a hand-written note alerting him to the deadly attack.

SAAD HARIRI: I've been told that Gemayel has been shot.

SADLER: Clearly shaken, he accused Syria of having a hand in the killing.

HARIRI: I'm afraid that these assassinations will never stop until we have an international tribunal to prosecute the people who killed all those who died last year, and also here.

SADLER: Outside the hospital where the minister died anger and sorrow, with promises from the pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud to hunt down what he called terrorists.

PRES. EMILE LAHOUD, LEBANON: This terrorist attack will not pass unpunished. We will do everything we can to unmask the criminals who carried out this crime against all Lebanese.

SADLER: The western-backed parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri says he fears yet more attacks. But warn the killers that they, too, should fear justice, justice he insists is on the way to an international tribunal that's going through the process of being agreed at the United Nations Security Council. John?

KING: Brent Sadler, our Beirut Bureau Chief. Now, President Bush has been making his way back to Washington from Asia. He got word of this killing in Lebanon during a stop over in Hawaii, and Mr. Bush offered a strong reaction. Let's go live now to our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux. Suzanne?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well John, as you know, President Bush is heading back to Washington after that 10- day trip to Asia, and a quick stop to visit with U.S. troops in Hawaii. And this assassination of this Lebanese leader certainly underscores the tremendous challenge that the administration has, particularly the president who has really made, bringing democracy to the Middle East, the centerpiece of his foreign policy agenda. It also comes at a time when the Lebanese government has been severely weakened by the volume of attacks between Israel and Hezbollah that threatened all-out war over the summer. Today we heard Mr. Bush take a strong stand against the assassination, and also implying that Syria and Iran were involved.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: We support the Siniora government and its democracy, and we support the Lebanese people's desire to live in peace. And we support their efforts to defend their democracy against attempts by Syria, Iran and allies to format instability and violence in that important country. A call for a full investigation of the murder to identify those people and those forces behind the killing.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP) MALVEAUX: John, of course, the president also calling for an international tribunal involving the U.N. Security Council in the investigation of the assassination of the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, Rafiq Hariri. And the question here of course John, is whether or not the president really has the political muscle on the international stage to make any difference at all, considering the fact that he went to Asia without the kind of trade legislation that he wanted from congress regarding Vietnam, and also considering he comes home after his Asia trip without that strong written statement from world leaders regarding North Korea. John?

KING: Suzanne Malveaux at the white house on the many difficult challenges facing the president. Thank you Suzanne. And as Suzanne noted, the president pointing a finger at Syria perhaps and Lebanon. He also has accused both Syria and Iran of meddling in Iraq. A generation ago, the U.S. government decided that the Vietnam War was unwinnable, Henry Kissinger helped put an end to that conflict. So is a victory in Iraq still possible? A bit earlier I put that question to the former secretary of state.

HENRY KISSINGER, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: I don't believe we are winning in Iraq in the sense that we are not -- we do not have a government there whose writ runs across the whole country, at this moment capable of dealing with a civil war and with the insurrection. I do believe we can win in the sense that we can make it unprofitable for radicals and for the Jihadist movements to resort to their methods on a global basis, and to force them into some kind of agreement, not the Jihadist groups, but the surrounding countries, for the stabilization of Iraq.

KING: And how do we force them into that agreement, does it necessitate not only diplomacy and some pretty tough diplomacy, but does it necessitate in the short term in your view more U.S. troops?

KISSINGER: I think we should look at the proposal of Senator McCain. The objective is to bring about -- to undermine the possibilities of the Jihadist movements around the world resorting to the methods and gaining confidence from what is happening in Iraq. The ultimate objective, of course, is a substantial reduction of American forces, and a political stabilization. Our challenge is to bring together the military and the political goals, the relationship to the surrounding countries and the internal relationships of the various forces at work there, and not to focus on just one aspect. Either on diplomacy or on military force. That's the only solution to this problem.

KING: So then has this president not focused enough on the diplomacy part of it? He has steadfastly refused to have high level talks with Syria, steadfastly refused to have high level talks with Iran, the Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad has had some conversations in the past about security issues. How does the United States essentially break out of this terrible situation at the moment? What does it need to do to push through to get a break-through?

KISSINGER: I believe we should be ready to have geopolitical talks with Iran, and with Syria, about the region as a whole. But I also -- but in order for those to be effective, we must have a stabilized military situation. So both of these objectives have to be pursued simultaneously.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE) KING: Developing story happening in Houston, we want to check in with our Carol Costello in New York for the details. Carol?.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Well, John, we have some pretty amazing pictures to show you. A huge fire in Houston, Texas at the Abomoral Plant. Let's take a look at those pictures now they're courtesy of KTRK, our affiliate there. You can see a rail car apparently is on fire. We don't know what that rail car was carrying, but it must have been carrying something very flammable. Apparently no one hurt, at least according to KTRK. Of course, we're going to keep watching this. If we have any more developments we'll pass them along. I'm not sure what this company makes, but I'm looking on the website right now trying to figure that out. These pictures are from KHOU, another of our affiliates and you can see how fiercely this fire is burning. We would say they're spraying water as well as flame retardant on those flames right now. As I said, we'll keep you posted, John.

KING: Keep us posted indeed. Carol Costello, thank you very much.

And also coming up here, Donald Trump uses the B word, the one that rhymes with itch, when referring to Condoleezza Rice. We've got the tape. But he doesn't mean what you think he means. We'll explain.

Plus, father and son, Bush versus Bush. Find out which one most Americans think makes a better president.

And FOX kills O.J. The book and the special are dead. But now the victims' family members say they were offered millions to keep quiet. Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Here's one you won't want to miss. Eager people who pay to learn Donald Trump's secret for making millions, something more than they bargained for as he let lose on the Bush administration. CNN's Mary Snow is live in New York with all the details. Mary?

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well John, Donald Trump had some harsh criticism for outgoing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and suggested Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice isn't tough enough. His words Sunday night here in New York are raising questions about whether he has political ambitions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW: It was billed as a private class with the Donald. Some in the learning annex audience paid up to $500 to hear Donald Trump speak on how to get rich. But the topic soon turned from wealth to politics. From questioning the competence of the Bush administration, starting with Secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. He said she's lovely, but --

DONALD TRUMP, THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION: I wish she was a [ expletive ]. I don't care if she's a lovely woman. I want somebody that can go and make deals. She goes to countries, nothing ever happens. Except sound bytes.

SNOW: And on outgoing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld --

TRUMP: You look at this guy Rumsfeld. Millions of people have been killed. We're spending as a country, I guess up to $900 billion so far, but much more importantly, arms and legs and lives are wasted. Including the Iraqis, by the way.

SNOW: Trump says he was talking about success in general. But one veteran political reporter in New York is skeptical and thinks there may be a political motive.

FREDERIC DICKER, NEW YORK POST STATE EDITOR: He's flirted with the possibility of an independent run for president and I think he's flirting again.

SNOW: Trump wasn't available for an interview, but a friend and former political adviser says he's not betting on Trump having political ambitions.

ROGER STONE, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Why would he want to be president? He's got the greatest job in the world right now.

SNOW: That's similar to what Trump said earlier this year when asked whether he'd run for governor of New York. He points out he has his TV show "The Apprentice", his real estate business and his new family. But Trump did form an exploratory committee for the 2000 elections before deciding not to run for president. The man who advised him to run back then isn't exactly saying it would be a bad idea for 2008.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course, I would love to see him run because he's got a celebrity status that is far beyond a number of people who are thinking about running.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW: Now adding to the guessing game are those who want to draft Trump for president, which Trump's former political adviser points out started as far back as 1988. John?

KING: Mary Snow in New York, Mary a fascinating story. Keep an eye on Donald Trump. Mary thank you very much.

This just into CNN, an altercation in South America involving the Bush daughters. We want to go live to our Carol Costello for the details. Carol?

COSTELLO: Getting a couple of conflicting reports but it's pretty interesting. The first daughter Barbara Bush is in Argentina. She's having dinner at a fancy restaurant in Buenos Aires and according to Channel 9 in Buenos Aires, someone tried to rob her of her cell phone and purse. Now, remember, the secret service is along with her. There was a detail. But apparently only one secret service agent was there. Now, here are the conflicting reports. One said that the secret service agent managed to foil the robber and then he let the robber go. Another said that the secret service agent didn't even notice the robbery was happening. Now, the White House does confirm something did happen in Argentina to the first daughter but they won't go into detail. They are referring to the secret service. And they're really not talking about it either. So we're working on this story, John.

KING: Very interesting. Carol Costello in New York. Carol, thank you very much. We will get more developments, report them as we get them. Carol thank you.

Long before she was secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice served in various positions for the first President Bush. Just one of the many comparisons between the 41st and the 43rd presidents. As our CNN political analyst Bill Schneider is seeing the comparisons do not stop there. Bill?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: John, it's Bush versus Bush in our new poll. And we have a winner.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Fourteen years ago the American public fired the first President Bush. Now it looks like they want him back. Asked which Bush was the better president, the father wins, hands down. The first President Bush was widely criticized for not going into Baghdad after the Persian Gulf War. A few years later, he explained.

BUSH: We could have rolled into Baghdad in 48 hours, and then all hell would have been broken loose and we would have been standing alone.

SCHNEIDER: The son did go into Baghdad and nearly four years later, the U.S. is still there, with no easy way out. What brought the father down was famously, the stupid economy. Having hit nearly 90 percent approval after the gulf war victory, his public support dropped to 34 percent 18 months later when he faced reelection. The economy trumped Iraq. Now, Iraq trumps the economy.

STEPHEN HESS, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: Well, it's sort of like a game of paper covers rock. The paper -- or the rock is just covering the rock of a pretty good economy right now. Well, 1991, '92, it was the other way around.

SCHNEIDER: But Republicans like the current President Bush better than his father. The son has cultivated conservatives who rose up in rebellion when his father raised taxes.

HESS: Bush 41 came out of the Reagan administration, but was in substance really the other end of the Republican Party. This Bush is very much a product of the west and of the Reagan sweep and feeling in the Republican Party.

SCHNEIDER: Having matched his father's high rating after 9/11, the current President Bush dropped to 35 percent approval just before this month's election. About where his father was when the voters fired him.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

SCHNEIDER: The public may get its wish, the father's team led by Former Secretary of State James Baker, is coming out with a report that will try to rescue the son. John?

KING: Bill Schneider, Bill thank you very much.

Still to come here, big brother in the sky. For the first time, surveillance planes fly over the United States of America. What's up with that?

And racist rant, is saying sorry enough for the "Seinfeld" comic who went way off the deep end. Stay with us here in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: It's one of the U.S. military's most high-tech tools and a critical part of the war on terror. Now the global hawk is taking to the skies over this country for the first time. Let's fly up to New York, Carol Costello live with our "Welcome to the Future" report. Carol?

COSTELLO: Pretty cool, John. The global hawk is one of a new breed of unmanned aircraft that's giving the U.S. an eye in the skies over Iraq and Afghanistan. It's never flown a mission over the United States until now. But it's not for spying, it's for training.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO (voice-over): It's an odd-looking plane with a swayed back and a bulbous nose. But the Air Force's global hawk is playing an increasingly important role helping the U.S. military hunt down terrorist threats. Now, for the first time, its flying over American skies, taking off today from Northern California's Beale Air Force Base. But the purpose of this mission isn't surveillance, its training. Beale base crews consisting of four people each, are already controlling missions over the Middle East. The plan is to have seven global hawks for training, based at Beale by 2009.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The Air Force plans to call for a worldwide fleet of 54 global hawks at a cost of get this... $80 million, apiece. John? KING: Cool looking plane, Carol, a little pricey. Carol Costello, thank you very much.

Just in to CNN. The White House announcing that the president of the United States who is now on his way back to Washington, will travel to Jordan next week to meet with Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki. The White House saying those discussions will take place January 29th and 30th. November 29th and 30th, I'm sorry. The president of the United States traveling to Jordan at a critical time obviously as he prepares for new reports suggesting major strategy changes for the Bush administration. The president also will be traveling to Jordan to meet Iraq's prime minister just after Iraq's president travels to Iran for talks the White House is watching quite closely. More on this story as we get it.

Just ahead here in THE SITUATION ROOM, a political assassination and finger pointing. We're joined by the Syrian ambassador to the United States. I'll ask him if his government had anything to do with it.

First daughter Barbara Bush robbed in Buenos Aires. We're working the story. Stay right here, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: To our viewers, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM where new pictures and information are arriving all the time. Happening now, the White House says President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki will meet in Jordan at the end of this month, that will happen on November 29th and 30th.

Also a bold assassination and an angry outcry. Lebanon's industry minister is dead. The country's government in crisis and many are suggesting that perhaps Syria was involved. Coming up, I'll ask the Syrian ambassador to the United States if that's true.

We've learned that one of the president's daughters was robbed. CNN affiliate channel 9 in Argentina reports Barbara Bush had her purse and cell phone stolen while in Argentina, even though she was being guarded by the secret service.

Wolf Blitzer's off today. I'm John King, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

The question being asked around the world tonight, what impact will today's bold assassination of Lebanon's industry minister have on Lebanon's government. It's a question many are asking because Pierre Gemayel was gunned down today near Beirut. Some also are raising questions about the possibility of Syrian involvement. Joining me now is Imad Moustapha, the Syrian ambassador to the United States. Mr. Ambassador, thank you for joining us so quickly on an important day like this. Let me just ask you, yes or no simply, is Syria involved in this political killing in any way, shape or form?

IMAD MOUSTAPHA, SYRIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: Categorically not. It is actually a series of assassinations that are causing more and more harm and damage to Syria, while the enemies of Syria are capitalizing on those crimes and trying to point fingers at Syria.

KING: When President Bush says today there should be a full investigation and everyone involved or anyone asked to participate should fully cooperate and be transparent, do you have a point of agreement with the president of the United States? Will Syria do that?

MOUSTAPHA: Yes, but we need to point out how everybody in the administration was trying to capitalize today on this crime, on this assassination, and trying to blame Syria, without even having any sort of evidence or clue about who did this crime.

This is not good, actually, because it is hiding the truth about who killed Pierre Gemayel and who killed everybody else. It is not constructive.

We advocate an investigation that would reveal the truth about this assassination and will exonerate Syria.

KING: Former Secretary of State Baker and his commission are trying to come up with new strategic options in Iraq. Mr. Baker has met with officials of your government. Many believe he will recommend to this president of the United States more high-level engagement with Syria.

Give us your best assessment of the conversations with Secretary Baker and your take. You believe that this now will set that back, this assassination will create a climate where people say no?

MOUSTAPHA: Of course. Not only Mr. Baker was advocating this. Top senators from the Republican and the Democratic sides of the Congress were advocating re-engagement with Syria. Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday praised Syria's engagement on Iraq and what we were trying to do there.

And suddenly, this ugly crime takes place today in Lebanon, and the U.S. administration would feel that this would give them the opportunity not to engage with Syria because it will provide them with a pretext not to engage. This proves to you that despite our sincere and serious efforts to try to help stabilize the situation in Iraq, support the political process, there are very important, very influential political figures here in the United States who fiercely oppose such an engagement.

KING: As you know, there are those two disagree. You say Syria is trying to be helpful in Iraq. There are those in the Bush administration who profoundly disagree. I want you to listen to Nick Burns, number two at the State Department, speaking a little bit earlier today on the whole question of Syria's, what he considers to be, harmful meddling in Iraq. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICHOLAS BURNS, U.S. UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE: Right now the Syrian government permits people, insurgent fighters, to cross its border to go into Iraq to kill American soldiers and to kill Iraqis. That ought to stop.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOUSTAPHA: These accusations are totally untrue. What they want to tell the American public opinion is that it's not their failed policies in Iraq causing death and destruction in Iraq. It's not the invasion and occupation of Iraq. It's Syria who is responsible for what is happening there in Iraq.

It's a true fact that within the past three years, we tried time and again to tell the Pentagon and the State Department that Syria is willing to do whatever it takes to cooperate with them on securing those borders in Iraq.

It was the United States who was categorically refusing any Syrian engagement. Had they had any doubts that Syria was allowing insurgents to go into Iraq, then they would have cooperated with us. We helped them before on al Qaeda. They cooperated with us before on al Qaeda and on other issues.

What they are trying to say is it's not a purely Iraqi resistance to our presence in Iraq. Our occupation in Iraq is not creating those conditions that are causing this disaster, disastrous situation in Iraq. It is Syria who is responsible for this.

They should stop blaming everybody else about what is happening in Iraq and start to accept the fact that they need to reconsider their policies in Iraq. They need to engage everybody, everybody without a single exception, in trying to find a solution.

What we really want is to stabilize the situation in Iraq and support the political process. Of course, they will say this is untrue, Syria is not doing this, Syria is not doing that. We are trying to bypass the American role in Iraq and talk directly to the Iraqis, telling them it is in your own national interest, as well as our own national interest, to work together towards a more stable Iraq.

KING: You obviously disagree with what the United States says about your government. Do you agree with the United States about what it says is Iran -- the United States says Iran is meddling in Iraq, that Iran is supporting the militias that are killing American troops and trying to destabilize the political environment. Is that true?

MOUSTAPHA: This is extraordinary and preposterous. What is happening in Iraq is happening because of the failed policies of the United States in Iraq.

You control Iraq. You have your troops in Iraq. The American embassy in Baghdad has the upper hand on whatever goes in Iraq politically, and yet it's everybody else to blame but not accept accountability, being accountable for what is happening in Iraq.

Let me say it as clearly as possible -- the failed policies of the United States in Iraq are responsible for whatever is happening today in Iraq. Stop blaming everybody else. The only thing we want is to help Iraq emerge from the current situation it is in right now.

KING: Imad Moustapha, the Syrian ambassador to the United States. Sir, thank you for your time today here in THE SITUATION ROOM.

MOUSTAPHA: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: President Bush is in the air at this hour, returning from the annual Asian economic summit in Vietnam this year. The president made little progress on his top international priorities, including efforts to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

North Korea is front and center at "Time" magazine, as our sister publication prepares to announce its annual person of the year. All week, we're looking at some of the candidates. Tonight, North Korea's president, Kim Jong Il.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): The atom blast heard around the world. North Korea stunned the international community by testing its first nuclear device. North Korea's Kim Jong Il is a candidate for "Time" magazine's person of the year.

ROMESH RATNESAR, WORLD EDITOR, "TIME": The testing of a nuclear weapon by North Korea in some ways was the biggest single news event, if you can point to just one event. Because not only is that a major disruption of the balance of power in Asia, but it also, I think, has kind of crystallized this larger danger that the world faces from nuclear proliferation.

The real concern with Kim Jong Il is not so much that he would ever use a nuclear weapon, but that as the head of a really desperate, poor, starving country, he will be tempted to sell some of the technology needed to develop a weapon to other states that are interested, or even to terrorist groups.

ADI IGNATIUS, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, "TIME": He has continually tied pretty much every other nation in the world in knots, as countries from the U.S., to China, to Japan, to South Korea, try to figure out how to contain the North Korean threat.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: Up ahead tonight, first daughter Barbara Bush robbed in Buenos Aires. We're working the story.

And Fox kills O.J. The book and the special are dead, but now the victims' family members say they were offered millions. Why are they upset? New developments tonight. We'll bring them to you just ahead in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KING: More now on a developing story tonight we told you about a bit earlier. In a critical moment for Bush administration Iraq policy, the White House announcing the president will travel to Jordan next week for meetings with Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Let's get the latest details from our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Well, John, not really a complete surprise to us, perhaps to our viewers. But we've been getting some guidance from administration officials early in the evening that the president would be making an additional stop while traveling after the Thanksgiving holiday, of course, going to Estonia and Latvia for the NATO Summit, but then to an undisclosed location in the Middle East.

Well, Tony Snow, the press secretary, aboard Air Force One, just within the last 15 minutes or so, confirmed where that would be. It is in Jordan, we are told. That is where the president is going to be meeting with al-Maliki, of course, the leader of Iraq.

And this comes really at a very important time for this president, as you know, many people who look at this situation and say the military option is not a solution, that there's a political option, must be one that is exercised, that this is not a winnable situation, using military only, so the president is going to stress a couple of things.

He is going to stress to Maliki the need to crack down on these militias. He's going to talk about the need to move forward when it comes to training the Iraqi forces, and also, of course, the reconciliation between various groups inside of the country. Those are the three things that the president is going to be emphasizing.

This is very important and it comes at a critical time, before that Iraq Study Group releases its report in the next couple of weeks or so, at a time when the administration itself has its own internal investigation and, of course, when the Pentagon has been going over various options in terms of what to go to next.

A lot of pressure on this president and this administration to turn things around in Iraq. And, of course, that is what the president is hoping to do with that trip, face-to-face with Maliki in just a couple of weeks -- John.

KING: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House. Suzanne, thank you very much.

There are new developments tonight in the controversy over O.J. Simpson's canceled book and Fox TV special about what he says is a hypothetical account of the murders of his former wife and her friend Ron Goldman. Simpson's former sister-in-law is now alleging her family was offered hush money to keep quiet about this project.

CNN's Carol Costello live in New York with the details -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Oh, and you thought it was over. Well, not quite. Denise Brown was on the "Today Show" this morning and she was hot.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO (voice-over): Ugly from the start, it just got uglier. Today, charges of hush money to keep the Browns from saying anything bad about the Simpson project. Denise Brown, Nicole Brown Simpson's sister, told NBC's "Today Show" Fox News Corp. had contacted her family in the past week. She said, and I quote, "They wanted to offer us millions of dollars, millions of dollars for, like, I'm sorry money, but they were still going to air the show."

I just talked with News Corp. Andrew Butcher told me News Corp. did talk with the Browns and Goldmans over the past week and did offer them all of the profits from the TV special and the book, "If I Did It." Butcher said there were no strings attached to our offer.

Shortly after News Corps.' offer, its chief, Rupert Murdoch, famous for scandalous headlines that often decorate the tabloid the "New York Post," pulled the plug on both the TV special and the book, which may or may not mean O.J. Simpson lost any profit he was to make on the project. The publisher, Judith Regan, said any profit will go into an education fund for the Simpson children.

But Brown believes it's a ploy and Simpson will be the one using the money. She said, "when the offer from News Corp. came to us, we just thought what they're trying to do is keep us quiet. Try to make this like hush money, trying to go around the civil verdict, giving us this money to keep our mouths shut."

News Corp. spokesman Andrew Butcher tells me he knows of no money paid to Simpson. The Goldmans say they don't believe it and plan to take legal action. Their only comfort now, that O.J. Simpson, who says he's indifferent to his failed TV gig and book, is that Simpson won't get a chance to be a star.

FRED GOLDMAN, RON GOLDMAN'S FATHER: He missed his chance to be on television and shoot his mouth off. He missed his chance to be in the public view which is incredibly important to him. I don't believe for a minute he's indifferent.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And if you're wondering where all those books, "If I Did It" will end up, well, some were shipped to retailers. The publisher is asking for them back, but if one or two end up on eBay, News Corp. says if you're the seller or a buyer on eBay, it's on your conscious.

Back to you, John.

KING: On your conscious. Carol Costello in New York. Carol, thank you.

New developments also tonight in the wake of that racist rant by former "Seinfeld" star Michael Richards at an L.A. comedy club. He's already apologized and promised to make amends, but is it enough for those he offended?

CNN's Brooke Anderson live in Los Angeles with the story -- Brooke.

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: John, the apology Michael Richards made on the "Late Show with David Letterman" has done little to quell the anger caused by those hurtful words. Many are asking whether the venue he chose for this public apology was appropriate and if the remorse is sincere.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL RICHARDS, COMEDIAN: For me to be on a comedy club and flip out and say this crap, you know, I'm deeply, deeply sorry.

ANDERSON (voice-over): Actor and stand-up comic Michael Richards making a public apology on the "Late Show with David Letterman."

RICHARDS: I got heckled and I took it badly and went into a rage and said some pretty nasty things to some Afro-Americans, a lot of trash talk.

ANDERSON: Richards is attempting to make amends for the angry, racist vitriol he spewed from the stage at the Laugh Factory Friday night in reaction to some unruly audience members.

RICHARDS: Throw his ass out. He's a (EXPLETIVE DELETED). He's a (EXPLETIVE DELETED). He's a (EXPLETIVE DELETED).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my god.

RICHARDS: (EXPLETIVE DELETED).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's uncalled for.

(CROSSTALK)

RICHARDS: (EXPLETIVE DELETED).

ANDERSON: Comedian Sinbad was in the audience Friday night and witnessed Richard's rage. He says the apology on "Letterman" was unacceptable.

SINBAD, COMEDIAN: That was the worst apology I've ever seen. That apology, it was a piece of trash. You can't go on "Letterman." I said, that's the punk way out. You can't go to "Letterman." You've got to go to the heart of the people. You've got to go to the club. You have to go up there on black night. Sunday night is chocolate city night at the comedy club. You've got to walk up there, you've got to face that audience.

ANDERSON: Richards himself second-guessed his decision to appear on the late night talk show.

RICHARDS: Hearing your audience laugh, you know, and it's -- I'm not even sure that this is where I should be addressing the situation. I'm really busted up over this, and I'm very, very sorry to those people in the audience.

ANDERSON: A number of black leaders have condemned Richards, and after watching his mea culpa...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't see that as an apology.

ANDERSON: They too want more.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He needs to come apologize to the community and come back to the scene of the crime.

ANDERSON: We need to be able to then enter into some dialogue, and perhaps then determine where his sincerity is.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want him to get help. He needs help.

ANDERSON: Whether he gets help or not, Sinbad maintains in Hollywood, nothing is unforgivable.

SINBAD: There's always a chance to come back. He has to make amends the right way.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Reverend Al Sharpton isn't satisfied with the apology. He told CNN today, quote, "In all due respect to David Letterman, it seems strange that one would insult African-Americans in a long tirade and then go on a white television show with a mostly white audience, white studio and viewing audience, to make a statement of apology."

So, John, many folks don't think Richards has properly made amends.

KING: This one's not over. Brooke Anderson for us in Los Angeles tonight. Thank you very much, Brooke.

And up ahead here, one of President Bush's daughters has been robbed. We'll tell you what happened in Argentina.

And with Thanksgiving just around the corner, Jeanne Moos talks turkey with a new twist. Stay right here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We've learned tonight that one of President Bush's daughters was robbed while in Argentina. Barbara Bush reportedly had her purse and cell phone stolen while she was in a restaurant, guarded by the Secret Service. CNN has gotten new information in just the last few minutes. Let's get the latest from our Carol Costello in New York -- Carol.

COSTELLO: A lot of conflicting stories rolling around out there, John. This has been confirmed through Channel 9 in Buenos Aires. Apparently, Barbara Bush, along with her sister Jenna, were having dinner at a restaurant in Buenos Aires when someone went up and attempted to steal Barbara Bush's purse and her cell phone. Apparently, got close enough to her to try to do that -- and keep in mind that a Secret Service detail is supposed to be protecting these twins. There are eight in all there. Apparently, only one Secret Service officer was there at the time.

There's one report that says that he managed to foil the robbery. And there is another report that said he didn't even notice and the robbery went through unimpeded. We don't know what the real story is, because the Secret Service isn't talking.

A senior Bush administration official did tell CNN something did happen in Argentina, but would not specify what. In fact, that administration official referred everything to the Secret Service. And as I said, the Secret Service isn't talking about this.

So we're still trying to get all the details. But we do know one thing for sure: Barbara Bush was having dinner in Buenos Aires and someone stole her purse and cell phone. So we're still working the story, John.

KING: And we'll keep trying. The White House is very sensitive about information involving the Bush twins. Carol Costello, thank you very much.

Thanksgiving, if you haven't noticed, is almost here, along with all its usual traditions. Among them, tomorrow at the White House, President Bush will conduct the annual pardon of the White House birds who would otherwise end up as Thursday's main course. All of it has our own Jeanne Moos talking turkey.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's time to play "name that turkey." Every year, it's the same routine, except for the year the turkey pecked at the president. But even if the bird attacks, it gets pardoned. Unlike millions of others, it will survive.

And while we're pardoning the turkey, pardon the jokes.

DAVID LETTERMAN, TALK SHOW HOST: President Bush will pardon the turkey, and today Dick Cheney spent all day torturing it.

MOOS: The vice president is the butt of many a tortured turkey joke on the Web.

And speaking of turkeys, after the comedian who played Kramer yelled at an African-American heckler saying, "we would have had you upside down with a fork up your expletive, this showed up on "The Huffington Post."

There's a new flock of turkey commercials this year.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Honey! The turkey's thawed.

MOOS: This one is for a frozen turkey you can just pop in the oven. The Web ads are exaggerations of things real customers have done. For instance, this one is based on the story of a lady who dropped her turkey on the floor, but ate it anyway.

As for the national turkey and the alternate that serves as a backup, every year there's a naming contest on the White House Web site. Click on your favorite.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Flyer and Fryer.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think I like Plymouth and Rock.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Corn and Copio.

MOOS (on camera): Copia. Cornicopia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah. I don't really care.

MOOS (voice-over): No leftovers for him.

The leading choice in our survey...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ben and Franklin.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ben and Franklin.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I like Ben and Franklin. Reminds me of money.

MOOS: But if they allowed write-ins...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would name the turkey Bush and Cheney. And then I wouldn't give them a pardon.

MOOS: Whatever their names are, United is flying them first class from Washington to L.A. to be the honorary grand marshals in Disneyland's Thanksgiving parade. The two cages will take up four seats in first class. Sure beats the way most turkeys are treated. The White House turkeys get to thrive, not just survive.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: Glad I'm not on that flight. And vegetarian Thanksgiving is looking pretty good to me.

Let's find out what's coming up in the next hour on "PAULA ZAHN NOW." Hi, Paula.

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: You say that, but I didn't know if you would go through with that.

KING: We'll see.

ZAHN: Thanks, John.

Before you head to the airport on your Thanksgiving holiday, you need to see tonight's top consumer story. Consumer reporter Greg Hunter will show us the worst airlines and airports for losing luggage.

And we'll also take a look at why six Muslim clerics ended up being thrown off a jet. Were they targeted because of their ethnicity, their religion, their skin color? All that and more coming up just about four and a half minutes from now, John.

KING: We'll be right back to you, Paula. Thank you very much.

And still ahead here, crash tests reveal some of the safest cars on the road. Are any of them made here in the U.S. of A.? That's next in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Thirteen vehicles have been named top safety picks for 2007 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, but not one, not one American-made vehicle was deemed safe enough for the list. Abbi Tatton has the details -- Abbi.

ABBI TATTON, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: John, that list of 13 vehicles, online at CNN.com -- no small cars made the list. No American-made cars either. But included for the first time, seven SUVs. SUVs in the past not considered top safety choices, because of high instances of rollover crashes. Safety improvements by manufacturers are changing that.

Now, this year, not only do the cars have to fare well in crash tests, they also have to be equipped with electronic stability control. This is where sensors detect that the car is spinning out of control, and take over, as shown from this animation by manufacturer Continental. Currently about 40 percent of new cars have that feature. The Department of Transportation says if this becomes standard on all vehicles, that could save about 10,000 lives per year -- John.

KING: Thank you, Abbi. And thank you for joining us. Hope you come back tomorrow.

I'm John King in Washington. Up next, "PAULA ZAHN NOW."

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