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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Commander of Greeneville Gets Career-Ending Reprimand; Bush Administration to Defer Sale of Advanced Destroyers to Taiwan

Aired April 23, 2001 - 20:00   ET

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

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight: With civilians sitting at key control positions, his submarine struck and sank a Japanese vessel. Nine people were killed. Now, Commander Scott Waddle learns his fate. We'll go live to Hawaii.

A missionary plane shot down by Peru's air force. What was the U.S. role?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: We'll try to get to the bottom of this matter so that we understand how to make sure this never happens again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: We'll get an update on what went wrong.

Are U.S. drug interdiction efforts going too far? I'll speak with former drug policy chief and former education secretary William Bennett about a range of issues, from vouchers to virtue.

Good evening. I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting tonight from Washington.

It was one of those tragic accidents that occurs at sea with deadly consequences. A U.S. Navy submarine, the USS Greeneville, was engaged in routine training exercises near Hawaii on February 9th when it suddenly surfaced and collided with a Japanese vessel.

For his mistakes, Commander Scott Waddle today received a career ending reprimand and a suspended fine. We're standing by for a news conference in Hawaii for the Navy's explanation of the punishment.

And that's our top story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Commander Waddle got the news at a disciplinary hearing at Pearl Harbor, formally known as an Admiral's Mast. Sources say the decision by Admiral Thomas Fargo, commander of the Pacific Fleet, was based on the finding of a Navy court of inquiry that Waddle was -- quote --"not guilty of criminal intent or willful wrongdoing."

The accident occurred off the Hawaiian coast, when the USS Greeneville, which Waddle was commanding , hit a Japanese fishery- training boat, the Ehime Maru. Nine Japanese were killed, four of them high school students.

The collision happened during an emergency surfacing training exercise that Navy officials say was performed for the benefit of 16 civilian guests on board. The Navy inquiry determined that some of the procedures prior to the drill had been rushed.

Some of those civilians were sitting at key control positions, participating in a distinguished visitors program that has now come under fire. Navy officials have said too many civilians in the sub's control room impeded communication and may have been a factor in the accident.

Waddle has already apologized and taken responsibility for the collision. He plans to travel to Japan to meet with the families of those killed, their bodies never recovered.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: CNN's Rusty Dornin is standing by in Pearl Harbor, but I believe the news conference with Admiral Fargo is about to begin. Let's go to Rusty Dornin just for a quick update.

Rusty, what are you seeing and hearing over there? Is this news conference about to begin?

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, it looks like the conference will be getting under way in just about one minute. At that time, Admiral Thomas Fargo will come and give his prepared statement about the punishment that he meted out to Commander Scott Waddle.

Now we do know from Scott Waddle's statement who, the press, immediately following what known as an admiral's mast, which was that disciplinary hearing -- that Waddle will be fined one half of one month's pay for two months. But that was suspended for reasons that we aware of at this point. It was suspended until his retirement.

He was also given a letter of reprimand, which, in the Navy, is --can amount to a career-ending letter of reprimand. It is something that is put in his permanent file and it would allow him not to have any promotion of any kind. Commander Waddle has already indicated that he will retire as of October 1st.

So we're just standing by right now for Admiral Fargo to come inside and talk a little bit more. Also, we do understand that he will be addressing punishment to the other parties and other officers aboard the Greenville as well, as well as talking about the distinguished visitors program that has been under so much controversy since this incident occurred. There were 16 civilians aboard the aboard the USS Greeneville when it collided on February 9th.

So as I said, we are just waiting out -- here is Admiral Fargo with the press conference.

ADM. THOMAS FARGO, COMMANDER, U.S. PACIFIC FLEET: Good afternoon. I have a rather lengthy statement which I have handed out, and you should all have in your hands right now. I don't intend to read the entire statement. However, there are some key points that I would like to go over in some detail here, and then I'll be happy to answer your questions.

On 13 April, Vice-Admiral Nathman, in a court of inquiry, forwarded to me the court of inquiries report, the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision between the USS Greeneville and Japanese motor vessel, Ehime Maru.

As you know, the court was directed to look into all aspects of the collision, including the cause of the collision and the responsibility for it, the impact of civilians on board and the embarkation program, the propriety of Greeneville's assigned operating area that particular day, and role of Captain Robert Brandhuber, a senior officer embarked.

In addition, I intend to address the accountability of the commanding officer, Commander Waddle, and other members of the crew. The search-and-rescue and throughout, our actions to preclude incidents like this in the future.

The court of inquiry was unanimous in its findings and conclusions. This is a comprehensive report that we have released today in total to the public. It includes: a summary of the collision itself and a complete graphic reconstruction, and time line of the events. One hundred and nineteen page report of the court inquiry, and a memorandum which details my conclusions and actions after reviewing the report.

And then there's the more than 2000 pages of supporting documentation and testimony that will be available on our Web site. Additionally, you have the statement that I have released today.

Let me start with the collision. There were two fundamental causes for this collision. First was the inadequate acoustic and visual search conducted by USS Greeneville in preparation for surfacing on 9 February.

Second was the failure of the ship's watch team to work together and pass information to each other about the surface contact picture. As you read this report, the reason for these two causes is quite clear.

Commanding Officer USS Greeneville created an artificial sense of urgency in preparation for surfacing his ship, when prudent seamanship, the safety of his submarine, and good judgment dictated otherwise. In doing so, he marginalized key contact management and control room personnel. Cut corners on prescribed operational procedures, and inhibited the proper development of the surface picture.

Greeneville was aware of three surface sonar contacts as she prepared to surface. Managing these contacts was well within the capability of any ship. And ultimately, an adequate periscope search of the proper duration at higher elevation and with due consideration for the white, hazy background would have precluded this accident.

The collision summary I have provided you shows all of this in great detail. Let me be clear. There was no fault or neglect on the part of Ehime Maru's captain or crew. There was no equipment or system failure on board the Ehime Maru that contributed to the collision.

This collision was solely the fault of USS Greeneville. This tragic accident could and should have been avoided by simply following existing Navy standards and procedures in bringing submarines to the surface.

The responsibility of the commanding officer for his ship in this regard is clearly stated in Navy regulations. It is absolute. And it starts with the safe navigation of the ship. Today I found Commander Scott Waddle, the former commanding officer of Greeneville, guilty of committing two violations of the uniform code of military justice at admiral's mast. These were article 92, dereliction of performance of duties, and article 110, negligent hazarding of a vessel.

As punishment, I issued a punitive letter of reprimand and directed him to forfeit one-half his pay for two months, and also directed that action be taken to detach Commander Waddle for cause from his previous duties as commanding officer. I suspended the forfeiture, but these actions will effectively terminate his career.

I determined that admiral's mast to be the proper and appropriate forum for accountability, because the court of inquiries report indicated that Commander Waddle's actions on 9 February represented a serious departure from the high standards expected of officers in command.

At the same time, the court's report did not produce any evidence of criminal intent or deliberate misconduct on Commander Waddle's part. I think this is an important point. Additionally, Commander Waddle upheld the principle and tradition of accountability, and took full responsibility for his actions. And prior to this accident, Commander Waddle's career and record, superior support in the service to his nation, were excellent.

Additionally, I did not refer Commander Waddle's case to a general court martial because the facts related to the cause of the collision are well-understood as a result of the court of inquiry and its comprehensive report. Commander Waddle is responsible for this accident under Navy regulations, and he has publicly accepted that responsibility.

He has been held formally accountable by both this process and my actions at admiral's mast.

BLITZER: Admiral Thomas Fargo, announcing the decision not to go forward with a court-martial of Commander Scott Waddle, but to give him what is, in effect, a career-ending reprimand, for his -- in his words -- "dereliction of duties" in that emergency surfacing exercise that resulted in a collision with a Japanese vessel.

Shortly after Commander Waddle was notified of his punishment, he issued this statement.

"As the commanding officer, I was and am responsible and accountable for my actions and the actions of my crew that led to the terrible accident at sea on 9 February 2001. While I regret that my Navy career has ended in this way, I know that I am one of the lucky ones because I survived the accident. My heart aches for the losses suffered by the families of those killed aboard the M.V. Ehime Maru. To those families, I again offer my most sincere apology."

In other news tonight, CNN has learned President Bush has decided on whether or not to sell an advanced weapon system to Taiwan. Let's get the latest from our senior White House correspondent, John King -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, administration officials telling CNN the president decided to defer but not outright deny Taiwan's request for four of those Arleigh Burke class destroyers with the state-of-the-art Aegis radar system.

Instead, we're told the president will sell to Taiwan, if Taiwan wants to purchase them, four Kidd-class destroyers -- those are 1970s vintage, but they will have an upgraded radar system installed -- 12 P3 sub-hunting surveillance planes, and up to eight diesel-powered submarines.

Now, White House officials making clear the president told senior aides he wants to revisit the Aegis issue in a year or two and will factor into that decision whether China continues to add to the 300 intermediate- and short-range ballistic missiles it now has pointed at Taiwan.

White House officials say other military technology will be made available to Taiwan as well, but they are insisting that there's nothing for China to fear, and characterizing this as a measured approach. We know, though, that China considers submarines to be offensive weapons and is likely to object to that.

They're also monitoring closely here at the White House reaction from conservatives who favor the Aegis sale to Taiwan. Right now, so far, the reaction appears to be muted: Most say they'll go along with this as long as the president makes clear he reserves the right to revisit the issue in the near future -- Wolf.

BLITZER: John King at the White House, thank you very much.

The United States is suspending its drug interdiction flights in Peru after an American women and her baby died in Friday's downing of a missionary plane. More now from CNN national security correspondent David Ensor.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID ENSOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The missionary plane was spotted crossing into northern Peru by a U.S. surveillance aircraft, part of a U.S.-Peruvian joint effort to stop drug runners. The Pentagon-owned Cessna Citation had a three-man American crew, contractors for the CIA, and a Peruvian lieutenant colonel who, with ground commanders, U.S. officials say, called in a Peruvian fighter to shoot down the plane.

The CIA contractors, say officials, tried to talk him out of it, arguing the plane's tail number should first be checked.

RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: Our folks did raise questions and were trying to hold the Peruvians back from action, but again, all these things will be looked at very thoroughly so that we and the Peruvians both understand what happened.

ENSOR: Peruvian cocoa production and drug exports have been cut by about 65 percent, say U.S. officials, in part because of the Joint Air Interdiction Program, which has shot down or forced down at least 30 planes in the last six years, without killing any innocents, officials say, until the death Friday of an American missionary and her baby daughter.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Drug trafficking in Peru has dropped markedly since the program began, so it's a question of balancing. And obviously, anytime a life is lost it's a tragedy. Also in fighting the war against drugs, many lives have been saved as a result of the steps that have been taken by the United States government.

ENSOR: U.S. officials are saying there will be no more planes shot down in the region while Peru and the U.S. investigate the tragedy. One Senate Republican says that investigation should be done on an urgent basis.

SEN. JON KYL (R), ARIZONA: I think there should be a very quick review to learn exactly what happened, how it can be prevented in the future, and then resume the flights, so that the bad guys don't think they can get away with these illicit drug flights.

ENSOR (on camera): In fact, U.S. officials say an interagency task force is now being assembled to work with Peruvian investigators.

David Ensor, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Up next: When a missionary plane gets shot down, has the war on drugs gone wrong? I'll speak with former drug policy chief and conservative commentator William Bennett about Peru, China, and a subject very close to his heart, education.

And later, the Mississippi River is looking to muscle its way into Davenport, Iowa. Will the dikes hold? Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. He's been the nation's point man on education and drug policy. He's also been called one of its most influential men. A political and social philosopher, and conservative commentator, he finds value in virtue.

I'm joined now by William Bennett. He's in our Washington studio.

Mr. Bennett, thanks for joining us.

WILLIAM BENNETT, FORMER DRUG POLICY DIRECTOR: You're welcome, Wolf.

BLITZER: The whole notion of this war on drugs, some are suggesting in the aftermath of this tragic shootdown of this missionary plane that it's run amok, it's gone too far. Has it?

BENNETT: No. I think it's not been focused in the last few years. But there are tremendous successes to be attributed to this effort, particularly from 1985 to 1991. Just one number: From 1985 to the present time, we've seen a decrease in drug use in the United States by 45 percent.

Those numbers have gone up in the last five or six years, but I think that's been because of lack of effort. The numbers have gone down. If the drug numbers have gone down approximately at the same level as the number of welfare cases have gone down -- and welfare is a great success -- why don't we declare this effort against drugs at least a moderate success?

BLITZER: So, despite this tragedy, you say, go ahead, help the Peruvians, help other countries in South America deal with the issue of supply.

BENNETT: This is an effort that involves a lot of hands, a lot of players, a lot of countries. And as I understand the facts, though I'm not privy to confidential information, our government, CIA representative, recommended against shooting down this plane until identification could take place.

This is a very familiar issue. You know, we had the question all the time of people flying into this country from Mexico and other countries carrying drugs, and how do you identify those folks as opposed to the dentist from Albuquerque who's taking a weekend. And you need to be very careful about it.

But the Peruvian program has been overall successful, though, it has not been, I think, as strong as it should be over the last few years, frankly, because the last administration, despite a good guy, General McCaffrey, did not have this as a very high priority. So I hope it reaffirms its place in the nation's priorities as one of the top priorities with the new drug czar.

BLITZER: What do you make of the Bush administration's decision tonight not to go forward with the sale of these Aegis class radar systems that the Taiwanese said they badly wanted?

BENNETT: Well, I have enormous regard not only for George W. Bush but Don Rumsfeld. I think he's one of the ablest people around.

I would have been in favor of sale -- of the sale of the Aegis missiles to the Taiwanese. So let's wait and see.

I mean, these are smart people who are obviously committed to the defense of Taiwan. I think that you may see other equipment that is just as good or just as effective.

I think it's very important after China, obviously -- and you've seen, Wolf, and you've commented on some of the conservative criticism of the administration on China. I think they handled the situation pretty well. But it remains to be seen whether a clear and unequivocal message will be sent to China abut what we will tolerate and what we will not stand for.

BLITZER: A week ago exactly on this program, Pat Robertson was on and I asked him how he balances his support for strong U.S. trade relations with China with China's policy of the so-called forced abortion.

Listen to what Pat Robertson said a week ago today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAT ROBERTSON, CHRISTIAN COALITION: I don't agree with it, but at the same time, they've got 1.2 billion people, and they don't know what to do. If every family over there was allowed to have three or four children, the population would be completely unsustainable. So, I think that right now they're doing what they have to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: He's subsequently issued a statement insisting he does strongly, of course, oppose abortions, whether forced or not forced. But he still supports closer U.S. trade relations with China?

BENNETT: Well, I don't, and I have been an opponent of it for a long time. I part with many of my conservative colleagues and partners on this issue and this administration, which I admire very much. I think China is a tyrannical state. I think its abuse of human beings, its violation of human rights puts it outside the pale.

We read today about the persecution of Catholic in China, and this is just what other states do that we don't trade with except that they're not so big and represent quite as lucrative a market. I'm a conservative, Wolf, as you know. I believe in commerce, I believe in capitalism, but I think some things are more important than that, such as the preservation of human rights, and I would not trade with China, and I would not give them PNTR and i would not give them any other privilege in the world of nations until they start behaving like a civilized country.

BLITZER: Let's talk about education. As you know, the Senate tomorrow takes up the education legislation. It doesn't look like the campaign commitment that President Bush made to include school vouchers, a proposal you strongly support, is going to be part of this legislation, too controversial. Has the president let you down on this front?

BENNETT: Well, it's very interesting. First of all, the good news from my perspective, Wolf, this is a Republican president who has education as his number one domestic priority, which is great. And he's sincere about it, he absolutely believes it, he wants to do it, that's how he spends his time, and he has a very impressive track record from Texas.

Second, he's appointed an excellent secretary of education, Rod Paige, and a great team there, Bill Hansen and Gene Hickok and other people. It's really an excellent senior group. The difficulty is, this may sound too much like Beltway talk, but his initiatives are all hinged to legislation, and in order to get legislation, you've got to get Democrats to go along with you.

As a result they're dealing with Ted Kennedy and other Democrats, and the heart and soul of the proposals is starting to be attenuated. I think school choice is very important. I think that's probably gone. I think testing is very important, and here I part with some of the my friends in the right.

I think you have to have national assessments, otherwise you don't know how our kids are doing. I don't think that assessment has to intrusive or politically correct. I think you can assess a sample of kids on whether they can read and write and count and if parents object to that assessment, they don't have to participate. But you have to take a sample to find out how our kids are going, and I fear the testing provision is going, too.

So, the question is not the president's interest in education, but is the president interested in fighting for his education proposals, and that's I think some of us would like to see, that's he's serious about it, that he's committed in an intellectual way and his heart right. Now, I think some expenditure of political capital would be something that would encourage me.

BLITZER: Bill Bennett, I know there's so much more to talk about. Unfortunately, we're going to have to leave it for another, but I want to thank you for joining us tonight.

BENNETT: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you, and when we come back: They go with warm weather like ice cream or lemonade, rising gasoline prices. We'll tell you why you're paying more at the pump. And it could get even worse. We'll show you live pictures of major gasoline refinery burnings as we speak. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. The price at the pump has jumped during the past two weeks. Accord to the Lundberg survey, a gallon of self- serve regular gasoline is now up, nationwide, at an average of $1.63 and in some places, it's already over $2. Experts say the problem starts at the refineries: A drop in capacity, maintenance shut-downs and a seasonal change-over to summer blends of gasses one of the problems.

We're looking, by the way, not at a refinery that's burning in Carson, California. It's the Tosco refinery. California, of course, already has enough energy headaches. If there's production problems at this refinery, obviously, that will exasperate the problems for at least parts of California.

In other news, it's going to be restless night in Davenport, Iowa, where residents are bracing for the Mississippi River to crest as early as tomorrow at near-record levels. Davenport is the only major city along the Mississippi without a flood wall. Rising waters are inundating much of the town, forcing some people to flee their homes.

Questions are resurfacing over an Israeli attack on a U.S. surveillance ship some 34 years ago. A new book called "Body of Secrets" quotes U.S. officials at the time of the incident stating the attack on the USS Liberty was not an accident, as Israel has always claimed, but a deliberate effort to prevent the United States from eavesdropping on their military activities. Thirty-four Americans were killed in the assault during Israel's Six Day War. Israel strongly maintains the allegations are untrue.

And please stay with CNN throughout the night. Dyan Cannon is Larry King's guest at the top of the hour.

Up next, Greta Van Susteren. She's standing by to tell us what she has -- Greta.

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, HOST, CNN'S "THE POINT": Wolf, a dead mother and a dead child, a plane shot down; the United States fighting the war on drugs in Peru. Should the United States be in Peru fighting that war or should it stay to its own borders -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Greta, one quick question before I let you go. Legally, is the United States going to be held -- the United States government going to be held responsible for that?

VAN SUSTEREN: Apparently not, Wolf. In 1994, Congress passed a law which enabled the United States to engage in this war on drugs. But I can tell you, there's going to be lot of debate about whether or not the United States should be doing or whether the United States was wrong in sort of tipping the hand to the Peruvian air force, which resulted in the plane being shot down.

BLITZER: Greta Van Susteren, we'll be watching your program. Sounds good, thank you very much.

And tomorrow night, I'll have an exclusive interview with Lebanon's Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri. He's in Washington for meetings with President Bush.

Until then, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. "THE POINT WITH GRETA VAN SUSTEREN" begins right now.

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