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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

CBS Targeted for Anthrax; House Shuts Down, While Senate Stays Open

Aired October 18, 2001 - 19:00   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 on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS: "Target Terrorism": One more news organization records a case of anthrax.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN RATHER, CBS NEWS ANCHOR: We are resolute; we will not flinch; we will not bend.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: An anthrax case is confirmed in a New Jersey postal worker, as authorities offer a $1 million reward for those behind the anthrax letters.

Amid a search for spores on Capitol Hill, the House shuts down and the Senate stays open.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: These are unusual times.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: I'll speak live with Senator Joe Lieberman about bioterrorism and ask him why he wants to target Saddam Hussein.

Have U.S. bombs killed a senior al Qaeda official? We'll get an update from the Pentagon.

And we'll go live to Shanghai, where President Bush is seeking more support, as America targets terrorism.

Good evening. Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer, reporting tonight from Washington.

We'll get to my interview with Senator Lieberman in just a moment. But first, let's take a look at some of the latest developments.

Vice President Dick Cheney saw the destruction in New York City for himself today. After touring the World Trade Center site, he said television does not convey the sense of destruction.

Elsewhere in New York, three men tied to the al Qaeda terror network were sentenced to life in prison for their roles in the 1998 bombing of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. A fourth man was convicted of plotting to kill Americans.

And a CBS News employee in New York is one of the latest confirmed cases of anthrax. The woman, who's an assistant to anchorman Dan Rather, has tested positive for the skin form of the disease.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RATHER: We are very much concerned about the person that works on my staff who has been terrific through this whole process. And I think the word "heroic" is apt in her case. She has not missed a day of work. She is working today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CNN's Larry King will have an exclusive interview with Dan Rather coming up later tonight, 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

While working around the clock to uncover the source of the anthrax attacks, federal authorities are striving to ease the fears of a jittery public. Joining me now live from our Washington bureau is CNN homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve -- Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, to pry out some new information about the anthrax letters, the administration is trying a new tool.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: A reward of up to $1 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for terrorist acts of mailing anthrax.

MESERVE (voice-over): The announcement came during a press conference which had as much public relations value as news value. Eight government officials from law enforcement and the public health system stood shoulder to shoulder with the director of homeland security in hopes of muting criticism like this, that came today from Capitol Hill.

REP. JANE HARMAN (D-CA), INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: It's important that the same administration do a much better job of communicating what our primary threats are here, and how our country is going to mobilize against those threats.

MESERVE: Ridge and his supporting cast wanted to make several points. One: we are getting along, and we are getting the job done.

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR: On an hourly basis, every single day, there is communication and collaboration between all agencies of government. MESERVE: Another point underlined with a sharp pencil: Don't panic.

RIDGE: Thousands and thousands and thousands of people have been tested for anthrax exposure, and thousands of environmental samples have been taken as well. Yet only five people have tested positive at this time for anthrax.

MESERVE: Now, six have.

The third message: Be vigilant, and here's what you need to know. Government Web sites with anthrax information were promoted, and postal officials said mail rooms and every American household will get instructions on how to identify and handle suspicious mail.

JOHN POTTER, POSTMASTER GENERAL: Don't shake it, don't taste it, don't sniff it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE: The administration has taken some heat for having so many officials say sometimes contradictory things about the anthrax situation. Ridge indicated today that he will now be giving regular briefings. He said it's up to him to make sure that those alleged inconsistencies are few and far between -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jeanne, what did Director Ridge say about another bioterrorist nightmare scenario, namely smallpox?

MESERVE: Wolf, as you know, the government is now obtaining 300 million extra doses of smallpox vaccine. But there's been no decision to start a national vaccination program because people can have very bad reactions to these inoculations. Ridge says once the government has the vaccine in hand, they will do a threat assessment to figure out what the real risk is of a terrorist attack using smallpox. They will weigh the risks, and only then will they make a decision -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jeanne Meserve, thank you very much.

And the two Houses of Congress often approach things differently, and the Capitol Hill anthrax assault is, of course, no exception.

Let's go live to CNN congressional correspondent Jonathan Karl -- Jon.

JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, with all the bickering and second-guessing between the House and the Senate today, it looked for a while as if the old distinctions between Republicans and Democrats have been surpassed, replaced by differences and disputes between House members and senators.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Their office buildings sealed off, senators showed up for work anyway. The opening prayer of the Senate chaplain captured the moment. REV. LLOYD OGILVIE, SENATE CHAPLAIN: Lord, those who have tried to create panic with anthrax letters and threatening phone calls have failed.

KARL: Only senators with some seniority have rooms inside the Capitol Building. Called hideaways, they are usually a small, private place to do a little work between votes. But on this day they were crammed full of staff with no other place to go.

As the Senate moved on with a modest agenda, one vote and a couple of committee hearings, the senators received good news on the anthrax front.

SEN. TOM DASCHLE (D-SD), MAJORITY LEADER: Beyond the 31 positive nasal swabs that I reported yesterday, the results on nasal swabs analyzed to date have all -- and let me emphasize "all" -- come back negative.

KARL: In other words, with preliminary results in from nearly 900 tests, there is no sign of anthrax exposure beyond the immediate area around Senator Daschle's office. Also, still no sign of anthrax in the ventilation system.

But for those who were in the vicinity of Daschle's office, an extraordinary precaution: 60 days worth of antibiotics.

SEN JOHN BREAUX (D), LOUISIANA: We're taking it for a one week regimen, which I think everybody is willing to take. And then this is an extra, extra precaution to say you have to take it for 60 days, even if you haven't tested positive.

KARL: Over on the House side of the Capitol: a ghost town, although health experts couldn't explain why House leaders opted for a shutdown.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) why is the other side of the Capitol closed?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good question; I don't have an answer for that at this time.

KARL: House leaders, stung by criticism, including this booming headline in the "New York Post" shot back hard.

REP. RICHARD GEPHARDT (D-MO), MINORITY LEADER: People have asked me all day, well what message does this send to the terrorists? Well, what message would it send to the terrorists if we stupidly put people back in harm's way to be infected by anthrax? That hardly, to me, is an intelligent response.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KARL: Gephardt also again insisted that the anthrax -- that at least one top bioterrorism expert says that the anthrax that was found in that letter sent to Tom Daschle was, indeed, in his words, weapons- grade anthrax. That's something that folks in the Senate and Senate leaders have said is simply not true -- Wolf.

BLITZER: And Jon, what about the mixed messages about the nature of the anthrax the threat? Yesterday there were all sorts of mixed messages; is there still a mixed message today?

KARL: In some sense, even more mixed, Wolf. Gephardt also that he -- it was his understanding that anthrax spores could have been carried into the Capitol Building on the clothes of staffers, that they could then replicate themselves. He noted anthrax spores can live for 100 years. Painted this very scary question.

But when directly asked about that possibility, the health experts on the Senate side said that this -- at this point did not think that was a threat at all.

BLITZER: Jon Karl on Capitol Hill, thank you very much.

And he says the September 11 attacks and the anthrax incidents have left U.S. lawmakers angry and defiant, but he suggests some of those emotions should be directed toward Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Joining me now, the senator from Connecticut, Joe Lieberman.

Senator Lieberman, thanks for joining us.

LIEBERMAN: Good to be with you , Wolf.

BLITZER: First of all, have you been tested for anthrax?

LIEBERMAN: I have, along with all my staff, because my office is just above where Senator Daschle's is, in the same ventilation shaft of the Hart Senate Office Building. And we were all given a three-day supply of Cipro. So we're going to hear tomorrow.

But as your newscast just indicated, no one beyond the group that was in the immediate Daschle office has tested positive. So I think the chances are remote that we were exposed. If we were exposed, the chances are remote that anybody was infected. And if you're infected, the antibiotic will kill the infection. So there's just nothing to be afraid of right now.

BLITZER: You're going to continue to take the Cipro for more than three days, though?

LIEBERMAN: No, I'm going to finish tonight. And you just reminded me to take the pill when I get home. And presuming that the test comes back tomorrow negative, that's the end of it.

BLITZER: That will be the end of it for you and a lot of your colleagues.

You heard what Congressman Gephardt, the House Democratic leader said, that, in effect, the House is being responsible, it's the Senate that's not being responsible, sending the wrong message out there, that it's business as usual when, indeed, it's not business as usual. LIEBERMAN: You know, I think the House is getting a bit of a bum rap here. I think, although I wasn't there, that they're probably making -- made a practical decision. Both sides decided to close the office buildings to let the inspectors go through it and make sure there was nothing there, particularly around mailrooms.

The Senate -- most of us have offices in the Capitol, so we can meet there as we did today. Most members of the House do not. So, practically, it was hard for them to do.

Although, I will tell you, at the meeting we had yesterday, Democratic and Republican senators, when we were told that our Senate office buildings were going to be closed for a couple days, the presumption was that the Senate would go out of session. And we rose up, as in one voice, and said let's not do it, let's stay in. We've got some work to do. We've got a military construction bill to pass. And let's make the point.

And it is a reflection of what you referred to earlier. I think a lot us are just plain angry now. And we are not going to let the terrorists create the kind of fear that deprives us of appreciating how strong we are.

BLITZER: You know, you chaired a very important hearing this week, a bioterrorism hearing. What's your worst fear, your nightmare scenario right now?

LIEBERMAN: Well, the good news from that hearing is that all the warnings that we have received over the last decade about chemical and biological attacks being possible, actually, we did something about them.

There are a lot programs out there. And we are not unprepared. I think we maybe underprepared and underorganized. So the most important thing I came away from yesterday is that we got to have one person at the top. It should be Tom Ridge. And as the bill Senator Specter and I have put in, he should have more authority than the president has yet given him to decide budgets, and, basically, in an urgent time, to have the power tell people was do.

So I don't have a specific worst fear. We're plugging a gap that I might have worried about, which is what happens if there is a smallpox problem. We're buying back vaccines. So we'll be ready for that, if necessary. I think we're ready. And people...

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Your colleague, Senator Levin, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, told me on Sunday that that's what keeps him awake at night: the fear of smallpox.

LIEBERMAN: Well, there's a specific reason for that, as you probably heard. A few think tanks and others in town last June did a simulated biological war game called "Dark Winter." And it featured the spread of smallpox. And, you know, it showed some shortcomings in our system. But we're closing those now. And we're ready. Let's hope to God it doesn't happen, but the unimaginable has begun to happen. So I want to reassure the American people, we're ready.

BLITZER: You know, a lot of people think it's more than a coincidence that these anthrax attacks have followed the September 11 terrorist attacks. And they are looking at Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. Do you think that they are suspects?

LIEBERMAN: Well, I start with that presumption because of the timeframe here. If the evidence leads to somebody else -- and, you know, there are a whole group of people who are experts on this, but the truth is we are all speculating -- who say: No, bin Laden prefers the big shocking act of destruction. He wouldn't do things like this. This must be people copycatting or getting on with own agenda.

I don't know. I think -- what it is doing -- and what bin Laden wanted to do -- is to make people uneasy and afraid. And I just think we've got to fight that. And honestly, Roosevelt was right: The only fear we have is fear itself. Otherwise, we're much stronger than our enemies.

BLITZER: A lot of people, including many of our viewers, though, are agreeing with you. There was a headline, you saw it in the "USA Today," on Monday. Lieberman says U.S. should oust Saddam. You've been the source of some controversy for those tough remarks you made.

On our WOLF BLITZER REPORTS Web site, we have been asking our viewers if Saddam Hussein should be the next target. And so far -- very unscientific poll --- 82 percent agree with you. But what evidence, if any, is there at all right now that Saddam Hussein may have been involved in either September 11 or the anthrax attacks?

LIEBERMAN: Fair question, Wolf.

Look, the first thing to say is that was half-a-sentence, literally, in a speech I gave supporting President Bush's war on terrorism and highlighting some of the areas where I thought we should go forward. I think the focus is right now on bin Laden, the Taliban, getting them out of Afghanistan.

But if we go beyond that and we build on what we experienced -- the horror we experienced on September 11, and the anthrax since -- and you look, "Who around world has the intention to do us that kind of harm and the capability, because he's been developing chemical and biological weapons?" We know that. It is Saddam Hussein. So I'm saying, let's finally support the Iraqi opposition to Saddam Hussein.

Let's give them the kind of support that they have been begging us for. And let's be ready to support them militarily as is appropriate, because, as long as Saddam is in power, he's not just going to be a threat, a thorn in our side; he's going to be a threat to our lives.

BLITZER: But, as you know, many people are fearful that, if the U.S. were to target Saddam Hussein directly, the coalition would crumble, not only Arab partners, members of the Islamic world, but also some allies in Europe. I want you to listen to what a former U.S. diplomat, Ed Peck, a former U.S. ambassador to Iraq, said on "CROSSFIRE." Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EDWARD PECK, FORMER U.S. DIPLOMAT: Yes, he's not a nice guy, Saddam Hussein. But I think that the costs to our nation and its interests of taking him out are probably vastly exceeding anything we would gain by doing it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: He was the chief of mission to the U.S. -- U.S. chief of mission in Baghdad. There was no ambassador at that time.

LIEBERMAN: Yes. I disagree.

Again, bin Laden, the Taliban are phase one. Phase two, we really want to protect ourselves from a repeat of what happened on September 11. We have got to work with people in Iraq who oppose Saddam to get him out, because just look at what he's done to his own people. Look at what he did using chemical weapons against the Iranians during his war with them. He will do -- he will create death and destruction unless we bring him down.

Yes, we may lose some coalition partners, but, you know, we are talking here about the security of the people of the United States of America. And when we got a declared enemy with the capacity to do us that kind of harm, we have a right, a kind of national right of self- defense to go after him, and frankly to challenge those who say they are allies, "Stand with us," because, honestly, they are going to be next after he comes after us. And so, I think, in their own interest, they should stand with us and work to bring down Saddam after we bring down bin Laden.

BLITZER: Senator Joe Lieberman, thanks for joining us.

LIEBERMAN: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Appreciate it.

And for more on anthrax, see my column, my daily column, indeed, at CNN.com/wolf.

And turning now to the air war in Afghanistan: More heavy bombing is reported in the capital, Kabul. Targets are said to have included a military base and air defenses, but the Qatar-based Al Jazeera television reports damage to civilian areas. In the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, the CNN workplace, shared with Al Jazeera, suffered major damage during an airstrike. There were no injuries.

And, as U.S. warplanes spent another day pounding Afghanistan, targeting Taliban forces on the front lines, the Pentagon signaled a willingness to give more direct aid to Taliban foes: the Northern Alliance.

CNN military affairs correspondent Jamie McIntyre reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A U.S. smart bomb hits a Taliban headquarters building in Kabul. Another destroys an armored vehicle at a barracks in Kandahar. And in a so-called engagement zone in Southern Afghanistan, a dug-in tank is spotted and then taken out with a single bomb.

The war is going well, according to the Pentagon, which believes at least one top lieutenant to Osama bin Laden has been killed in the relentless bombing.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Do I know it of certain knowledge? No, I've not been on the ground. But if, it would be a good thing for the world.

MCINTYRE: Pentagon sources say more than 100 strikes on day 12 have again concentrated on Taliban forces on the frontlines with opposition militias. And for the first time, the United States said it would be willing to arm and feed the Taliban's foes.

RUMSFELD: They're going to have some help in food. They're going to have some help in ammunition.

MCINTYRE: With U.S. special forces and their helicopters poised for action off the deck of the U.S. aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, the Pentagon could launch commando raids at any time. For this war, there is no prohibition against sending in ground troops.

GEN. RICHARD MYERS, U.S. JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: I firmly believe that this is the most important task that the U.S. military has been handed since the Second World War. And what's at stake here is no less than our freedom to exist as an American people.

MCINTYRE: Meanwhile, Pentagon planners have been asked to look at what military action the U.S. might carry out in other countries, such as Somalia, where Osama bin Laden is suspected of having a hand in the 1993 firefight in Mogadishu that killed 18 Army Rangers.

RUMSFELD: There is no question but that al Qaeda is still involved in Somalia. And we don't discuss future operations.

MCINTYRE (on camera): The Pentagon admits that it doesn't have a clear picture of what's happening on the ground, but cites snippets of intelligence indicating some Taliban troops are defecting and some al Qaeda forces have been hit while they're on the move.

Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: An effort to drum up more support for the war on terrorism coming up. President Bush will meet with his host at the Asia-Pacific summit in Shanghai. We'll go live to China.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: Welcome back. President Bush is in Shanghai, China, for the annual APEC summit, where this year terrorism is high on the agenda. In just a couple of hours, Mr. Bush is scheduled to meet for the first time with the Chinese president, Jiang Zemin.

CNN White House correspondent Major Garrett is traveling with the president and joins us live from Shanghai, where it's already Friday morning.

Good morning to you, Major. Give us the sense what is on the president's agenda this morning.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Wolf. Top of the president's agenda is this first, face-to-face meeting with the Chinese President Jiang Zemin. And the president told Asian editors he met with in the Oval Office before coming to China, this is a very important meeting for him because he wants to take the measure of the Chinese president and he wants the Chinese president to take the measure of him.

You might recall, Wolf, when President Bush first met Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two described making a very strong personal bond with one another. At the time, President Bush was somewhat criticized for over personalizing that relationship. But in the perspective of the White House, that personalization has helped bring the United States and Russia closer and that's been crucial at this time of coalition building after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Similarly President Bush would like to create a strong personal bond with Jiang Zemin. That is really the Focus of this very first meeting -- Wolf.

BLITZER: But Major, the U.S.-Chinese relationship has gone through some rocky moments. Are Bush Administration officials pleased with the way the Chinese have reacted to the events of September 11 and since?

GARRETT: The word they are using is "encouraged," not very encouraged, not markedly encouraged, but simply encouraged. It's sort of a low-level endorsement of what China has done so far. It has offered to provide intelligence assistance to the United States in its war against global terrorism.

Also it has been cooperative with the United Nations Security Council. The United States is encouraged about that. But administration officials have also made it very clear that they are not going to let their pursuit of china's cooperation in the war against terrorism subvert the president's other agenda with China, meaning talk to the Chinese leader very directly and very frankly about U.S. concerns about religious and human rights in China, but also talk about something that binds the two nations: strong economic ties.

China is due to reach WTO ascension very soon. The United States is very encouraged by that. So economic, regional issues, religious, human rights issues will come up. But clearly the United States wants a strong signal from China that it will continue to endorse a campaign against global terrorism. They believe that that endorsement is forthcoming. It could have a very salutary effect throughout Asia, particularly with nations who have been less than enthusiastic about the campaign so far, specifically Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia -- Wolf.

BLITZER: On that point, Major, the foreign ministers of the APEC nations have been trying to come up with a statement in support, if you will, of the U.S.-led airstrikes. But some of the Muslim nations like Malaysia and the Indonesia that have huge Muslim populations, they have been resisting. Is the U.S. frustrated on that foreign ministerial level?

GARRETT: They are encouraged that there will be a statement from APEC. And let's remind ourselves, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit has always been dedicated to issues of economics. It has never stepped into the world of geopolitics. When this statement comes against terrorism, it will be the first time APEC has ever made a declaration like that that spreads beyond the realm of economics.

The United States is encouraged by that. They understand there are concerns with some of the nations you mentioned, but this statement will be very strong we are told by U.S. officials, strong enough for the United States to consider it at least for now, a credible endorsement of the campaign against terrorism -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Major Garrett from Shanghai getting ready for a busy day. We will checking in with you throughout the day here on CNN and CNN International. Thank you very much.

And for our viewers in North America, "CROSSFIRE" begins at the bottom of the hour. Bill Press joins us now with a preview -- Bill.

BILL PRESS, CO-HOST, "CROSSFIRE": That is right, Wolf. And as you know, Saudi Arabia has been one of America's strongest allies in the Middle East, but the Saudi kingdom is also the source of money and manpower for Osama bin Laden who used to be a Saudi citizen.

We will taking a look at the evidence and debating the issue: Saudi Arabia, friend or foe? That is starting in just a couple minutes on "CROSSFIRE" -- Wolf.

BLITZER: OK, we will be watching, Bill, as we always do. Thank you very much.

And guidelines from the postal service are now going out to all U.S. homes. That and other late developments when we come back. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here are some the latest developments we're following this hour: The postmaster general says postcards will be mailed to all U.S. households telling people what to look out for and how to handle potentially contaminated mail.

The postal service and the FBI have jointly announced a one- million dollar reward in the anthrax mail attacks. And an assistant to CBS anchorman Dan Rather has tested positive for the skin form of anthrax. No word yet where she came into contact with the bacteria. And this note, Dan Rather will join "LARRY KING LIVE" for an exclusive interview tonight, 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 p.m. Pacific.

That's all the time we have tonight. Please join me again tomorrow twice at both 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Eastern, as America targets terrorism. My guest at this hour tomorrow, former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Until then, thanks very much for watching.

I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.

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