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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
Bush Sends Powell to Middle East; What Will U.S. Do With Another American Taliban?; Morning News Mainstay Decides to Stay in Bed
Aired April 04, 2002 - 17:00 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.
KATE SNOW, GUEST HOST: Now, on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS: President Bush steps off the sidelines.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Enough is enough.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: Sending in a heavyweight, the president warns the Palestinians, rips into Yasser Arafat...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: The situation in which he finds himself in today is largely of his own making.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: And flashes a red light to Ariel Sharon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: Halt incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: Israel opens a door in Ramallah, but clamps down everywhere else.
U.S. authorities have another Taliban American on their hands: What will they do with him?
And a morning news mainstay decides to stay in bed.
Hello. I'm Kate Snow in Washington, in for Wolf Blitzer tonight. Topping our news alert, a bold move by President Bush.
Saying the world is at a critical moment with an opportunity to be seized, President Bush today announced he is sending Secretary of State Colin Powell to the Middle East to seek a cease-fire between Israelis and Palestinians, an end to terror and an end to Israel's offensive there.
Israel is letting the United States get a head start on that peace mission, permitting Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni to meet with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who has been besieged in his West Bank compound. Zinni's most recent mission was derailed by a wave of suicide bombings. He and Arafat are set to meet early tomorrow.
Still, there is no letup in Israel's offensive: Fighting rages on in the West Bank's largest city, Nablus, and tanks have now entered Palestinian areas in the divided city of Hebron. In another ancient town, Bethlehem, a standoff continues between Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen, some of whom are holed up in holy places.
Saying there have been enough bombings, burials and tanks in the streets, President Bush has called on Israel to halt its incursions, pull back from West Bank cities, and stop its settlement activities. And, saying suicide bombers are murderers, not martyrs, the president has called on Palestinians to put an end to terrorism, accusing Yasser Arafat of betraying the hopes of his people.
With the president putting his power and prestige to work, the Bush administration seems to have cast aside any reservations about getting mixed up in the Middle East mess. Here is CNN White House correspondent Major Garrett.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Virtually alone on the world stage in sympathizing with Israel's anti- terror raids, the president Thursday joined a global chorus calling for an end to the military assault and new talks to obtain a cease- fire.
BUSH: To lay the foundations of future peace, I ask Israel to halt incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas and begin the withdrawal from those cities it has recently occupied.
GARRETT: The president bowed to other pressures, dispatching Secretary of State Colin Powell to the region.
BUSH: The world finds itself at a critical moment. This is a conflict that can widen or an opportunity we can seize.
GARRETT: But top administration officials concede Powell will bring no new ideas and has no firm agenda. What's more, Powell won't arrive until next week, much later than the European and Arab critics of the Bush policy have been demanding.
As to when Israel should withdraw, the president offered no specifics. Senior officials said Israel should pull back, quote, "as soon as possible," again, a far cry from immediately, which is the Arab and European standard.
Still, there's a sea change in the administration's Middle East policy. No more tacit support for the Israeli military, and no more waiting for presidential envoy General Zinni to negotiate a cease- fire.
LEE HAMILTON, WOODROW WILSON CENTER: The president has held back too long. He now will energize his administration to tackle these tough problems in the Middle East. He's shifting his position on a number of key issues.
GARRETT: What pushed the White House? Many factors, among them protests like these in Jordan and Egypt, Egypt breaking almost all government ties with Israel, fears of a wider war, and an Arab oil boycott.
It all adds up to pressure on Israel. But it didn't spell an end to tough talk about Arafat, still under siege in Ramallah. In fact, the president used some of the harshest language to date to condemn Arafat's failure to stop terror attacks in Israel.
BUSH: The situation in which he finds himself today is largely of his own making. He's missed his opportunities, and thereby betrayed the hopes of the people he's supposed to lead.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GARRETT: The White House still considers Arafat the chief Palestinian representative, but that may change. A senior administration official said that while Powell hopes to meet with Arafat, he will also see other Palestinian officials, a move to build bridges in case the administration has to cope with a post-Arafat era -- Kate.
SNOW: Major Garrett at the White House tonight.
Israel has made one gesture, allowing U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni to meet with Yasser Arafat in his besieged Ramallah compound, but does President Bush's peace appeal have any takers in the region? Let's go live to CNN's Christiane Amanpour in Jerusalem. Any encouraging response there from either side, Christiane?
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, yes, both sides are saying that they welcome President Bush's statement and his speech earlier today. From the Israeli side, there was an official statement put out by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, saying that they welcome President Bush's engagement to get a cease- fire from the Palestinians in order to lay the groundwork for a political process, which is in Israel's basic interests. They also said that they welcome Powell's mission here and they'll do everything possible to make it successful.
Now, from the prime minister's office, Ariel Sharon, word from there that Operation Defensive Shield will continue, he says, until Israel achieves its goal, saying that succumbing to suicide terrorism will only cause it to spread around the world.
We spoke to Israel's deputy defense minister a short while ago, and although the president of the United States did not appear to put any conditions on asking Israel to halt its military incursion and begin to withdraw, nor did he put a precise timetable on it. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DALIA RABIN PELOSSOF, ISRAELI DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER: We welcome the mission of Mr. Colin Powell, we will cooperate with him, but our withdrawal is -- won't be automatic and it won't be without any kind of agreement. We have a very bitter experience with one- sided withdrawal from Southern Lebanon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AMANPOUR: Now, with everyone watching and waiting to see what might be any tangible result that comes out of the meeting with Anthony Zinni and Yasser Arafat tomorrow, the Palestinian leadership, at least a senior member, has called President Bush's speech tonight a new and important step. Although Palestinian officials who we've been speaking to and seeking reaction from say that they hope that this military incursion will stop immediately.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANAN ASHRAWI, PALESTINIAN LEGISLATOR: Let's hope they stop this assault, this massive military assault against the defenseless and captive population immediately. This is a real test of American resolve and of Israeli intentions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AMANPOUR: Well, Israel's intentions were the same as they had been for the last week. The military invasion of the West Bank cities continues, and just ahead of President Bush's speech today, the latest town to see Israeli tanks and troops was Hebron on the West Bank. They have also taken over Nablus, that was in the short hours of this morning, and they have reported some gunfire from the Palestinian gunmen who were trying to resist the incursion into Hebron.
But also in Bethlehem, that standoff there continues at the Church of the Nativity between Israeli troops outside and Palestinian gunmen holed up inside -- Kate.
SNOW: Christiane Amanpour in Jerusalem tonight. Thank you.
When it comes to Middle East peace efforts, Clinton administration veterans could certainly say, "been there, done that." The previous president made every effort to bring Israelis and Palestinians to an agreement, and ultimately failed. So, what can President Bush expect?
I'm joined now by Samuel Berger, national security adviser under President Clinton. Thanks for being with us. President Bush took a real risk today, finally coming out, getting involved. You've been in the Oval Office at moments like this. What do you think pushed him over the edge to do that?
SAMUEL BERGER, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Well, I'm glad the president did what he did today, but we're paying an enormous price for not being involved. We're having, in a sense, the worst of both worlds. The situation is getting worse, and we've been perceived as being disengaged.
SNOW: Did he wait too long?
BERGER: I'm glad he acted now. We're now in the game. I think the challenge now is to have a game plan that is likely to break this deadly cycle.
SNOW: He called on Israel specifically to withdraw from those Palestinian towns in the West Bank where they have recently moved in. Will Ariel Sharon listen to that, do you think?
BERGER: Well, I think it is more likely to take place in some sort of coordinated fashion. There are many Palestinians who believe that a strategy of terror can work and is working, and I suspect that Israeli withdrawal is going to come in some kind of coordinated fashion, with Chairman Arafat taking genuine steps to end the violence, and that has to all take place within a different context than we have right now.
SNOW: He didn't go easy on Chairman Arafat either. President Bush saying that he's betrayed the hopes of his people. Do you think that the administration can still deal with Chairman Arafat?
BERGER: I think they can and I think they must, even though, you know, he's difficult to deal with.
SNOW: He's the only guy in town.
BERGER: ... and has been certainly as a very much a part of this problem. But we certainly -- I think it is going to be very difficult for Israel to rout out the terrorists by military action alone. When 18-year-old young girls, as the president referred to, who are A- students engaged to be married, become suicide bombers, it's hard to envision how you root out the terrorists by military action alone.
SNOW: That said, this is such a tricky situation. Is it dangerous or risky for the Bush administration to even try to insert itself?
BERGER: No, the greater -- we have been paying a price for being perceived as not being engaged as the situation has spun out of control, as our strategic interests in the region have become imperiled, as our friends in the region, King Abdullah, the Egyptians and others are facing increasing instability and unrest. We pay a heavy price for not being engaged. I think the president made the judgment today that the risk of not being engaged is greater than the risk of being engaged.
SNOW: If you were back in your old position, Condoleezza Rice's position now, what would you tell Colin Powell to do first? What does he need to do once he gets there on the ground?
BERGER: I think the most important thing here is we have to change the dynamic so that Arafat, in fact, will order and act upon the order of stopping the terror. That's more likely to happen in coordination with the Arabs and the Saudis. And I think we have to say we're prepared to make a major initiative to build on the Saudi initiative, but the Arabs have got to deliver Arafat not only to their vision of peace, but also to create the conditions on the ground that will enable that peace to go forward.
SNOW: Sandy Berger, former national security adviser under President Clinton, thanks very much for your time. Appreciate it.
BERGER: Thank you.
SNOW: One of the holiest sites for the Christian world in the Middle East has turned into a battleground. The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is now the site of a standoff between Israeli Defense Forces and hundreds of Palestinians who are seeking sanctuary inside. Today, Israel denied reports that its military had attacked that holy site. CNN's Ben Wedeman has the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): It is still not clear what exactly has happened at the Church of the Nativity here in Bethlehem this morning. The Palestinians and also people within the church itself are saying that a blast occurred -- several blasts occurred this morning in the area. One of them destroyed one of the church -- or rather one of the doors to the Church of the Nativity, which of course is historically believed to be the site of the birth of Christ.
Now, the Israeli army denies that any such event has occurred. We spoke to an Israeli army spokeswoman, who said that it is purely Palestinian propaganda. We spoke to soldiers on the scene who denied it as well. They say that they have no interest in going inside the church, and that they want to resolve the standoff peacefully.
However, when we tried to get to the church, we were told by the Israeli soldiers on the scene and also by a spokesman that we would not be allowed there. That it is dangerous, which it is. That it is a closed military area, and we were told to leave. So the controversy remains. No independent verification at this point what happened at the church.
Here in Bethlehem itself, it as ghost town, nobody out in the streets. It is the scene of some destruction, and you just heard that blast go off nearby. It sounded like a concussion grenade, another one going off as well. So, as you can tell, there's still some fighting, some danger here in Bethlehem, and that's where I am going to end it and leave this area.
I am Ben Wedeman, CNN, reporting from Bethlehem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: For more perspective on what's going on in Bethlehem, I spoke by phone a short while ago with the city's mayor, Hanna Nasser.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
Mayor Hanna Nasser, thank you for joining us at a difficult time.
HANNA NASSER, MAYOR, BETHLEHEM: Oh, it's all right.
SNOW: Tell us what is happening right now at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem.
NASSER: You know, in general, relatively it is now calm in the city of Bethlehem, besides the Israeli troops all over the city searching from one house to the other.
SNOW: There have been reports, sir, about the church that there are any number of people holed up inside. Is that still the case?
NASSER: You know, yesterday they (UNINTELLIGIBLE) municipality, which is really adjacent to the Church of Nativity. And, as you know, there are now few Palestinians inside the Church of Nativity. And yesterday, there were some efforts to give them some food and all that they need. And today, the Israeli troops -- Israeli army has blasted one of the side doors of the Greek Orthodox church at the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) street. But they didn't succeed in getting into the church so far. The Church of Nativity is besieged all together.
SNOW: The Israelis say, sir, that there are several, at least several armed people, they call them terrorists inside the church. They also say they're holding hostages. Is there any truth to that?
NASSER: You know, they are not holding any hostages. There are some gunmen and there are some others civilians inside. I don't know how many there are. But, you know, traditionally, the citizens felt safe and secure. They seek refuge into the church. This is what happened in 1967. Myself and my family in 1967 when this city was occupied by Israel army, we sought refuge in the Church of Nativity. So it is out of stress that we went to the church. Of course, I don't deny that there are some gunmen there, but the problem is now how to deal with that problem. The head of churches in Jerusalem headed by the (UNINTELLIGIBLE). They are now trying to find a way how to sort this problem.
SNOW: Is there anything that you can do, Mr. Mayor, to try to get them out of there? Are you negotiating with the Israelis, for example?
NASSER: You know, I am getting in touch every day with the delegate Apostolic of the Vatican, the ambassador of the Vatican in Jerusalem. Even this evening, I had a talk with him. He said they are negotiating now. There are some solutions to solve this problem. But, of course, I don't know the days, I don't know the offers, I don't know if they make anything of this.
SNOW: Mr. Mayor, I'm afraid we have to leave it at that. But I appreciate your time very much. Wish you the best of luck there in Bethlehem.
NASSER: Thank you. Thank you.
SNOW: Hanna Nasser, the mayor of Bethlehem. Thank you. (END VIDEOTAPE)
For more analysis on the crisis in the Middle East, you can tune in to a special one-hour edition of LIVE FROM JERUSALEM with Christiane Amanpour. That's tonight at 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific.
Our Web question of the day: Do you think Colin Powell's Middle East trip can bring an end to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict? You can vote at cnn.com/wolf. And while you're there, let us know what you are thinking. There's a "click here" icon on the left side of Wolf's Web page. Send your comments and we'll read some of them on the air.
The Pentagon says one of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay is being moved to the United States because of evidence he has U.S. citizenship. The 22-year-old man, identified as Yasser Esam Hamdi, apparently was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. CNN's Kathleen Koch is following the story -- Kathleen.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kate, Pentagon sources had told CNN earlier today that U.S. military aircraft would be on the ground at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba at 4:00 p.m. today, ready to bring Hamdi to the United States. However now, this hour, it appears that the prospect of that immediate transfer is much less certain, but this is a quickly developing story. There are, though, a few things that we do know for certain about the so-called second American Taliban.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): It was after the prison uprising at Mazar-e Sharif in late November that Yasser Esam Hamdi was taken into U.S. military custody in Afghanistan. Military sources say that from the start, he claimed to be a U.S. citizen. The Pentagon says it has taken while to sift through the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.
VICTORIA CLARKE, PENTAGON SPOKESWOMAN: I don't know about the claims, but I do know it's been very hard with a lot of these detainees to determine their actual identification. Many of these people who were with the Taliban and al Qaeda were trained to resist interrogation.
KOCH: The justice department has a birth certificate showing Hamdi is 22 years old and was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Pentagon says his Saudi parents worked there, but returned to Saudi Arabia when Hamdi was a toddler. It is unclear whether he speaks English or if Hamdi ever returned to the United States.
Government sources say the department of justice is grappling with several legal issues, including the fact that he is accused of fighting for a foreign entity. Hamdi's situation has rapidly become a tug-of-war between the Pentagon and justice department, the Pentagon eager to turn him over to federal law enforcement because the military has no authority to charge U.S. citizens, and the justice department reluctant to take quick custody without knowing exactly what to charge Hamdi with. CLARKE: The U.S. citizenship does make it a different case and a different kind of treatment. So they're working through those issues and saying, OK, based on these factors, what are we going to do with him and where does he go?
KOCH: Though Hamdi has been interrogated, it is unclear what he has told military officials. And the Pentagon says it is too soon to speculate what charges, if any, he may face.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(on camera): Sources tell CNN that when Hamdi is eventually moved, at least this is our best information, that he would be first brought to Dulles Airport in northern Virginia. That for jurisdictional reasons, so that he could then face trial in the same federal court in Alexandria, Virginia where the other American Taliban, John Walker Lindh, will be facing charges.
After that then, sources tell us that Hamdi will go to the naval base in Norfolk, Virginia and remain at least for now in military custody -- Kate.
SNOW: Pardon me, Kathleen. Thanks. We were getting word of some breaking news coming in. Thank you to Kathleen Koch.
Some breaking news coming in, and I believe we have Saeb Erakat, the chief Palestinian negotiator on the phone now to give us some response from Yasser Arafat directly to President Bush's statement from earlier today. Are you there Mr. Erakat?
SAEB ERAKAT, CHIEF PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR: Yes.
SNOW: Can you tell me what the response has been from Yasser Arafat?
ERAKAT: Well, just now, he just was with me on the phone answering me the following statement, that President Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian leadership are committed to the peace process and committed to the immediate implementation of security council resolution 1402. And we repeat our commitment to implement the George Tenet understanding and the Mitchell Report and also the Oslo Accords, which we signed with our late partner, Yitzhak Rabin.
We are also committed to the statement of President Bush without condition and also to Prince Abdullah, his Royal High Excellence Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, which became now an Arab initiative. We should not be blamed for facing this Israeli aggression on our people, our towns and our refugee camps and defending our people.
Once again, we welcome to the declaration of President Bush to stop the Israeli military incursion into the Palestinian land and to have a full cessation of settlement activities and to immediately end the closures and siege and immediate withdrawal from the Palestinian territories, which were reoccupied without any condition, and to stop the aggression against the holy Christian and Muslim places, especially what's going on against the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem at this particular time, and also to stop all actions of the Israeli army.
SNOW: Mr. Erakat, can you tell us more about where Mr. Arafat is at this point? I assume he's still in the compound. How is he doing?
ERAKAT: Well, he is besieged in his compound. There are barbed- wires around his compound. We managed today after the intervention of the Americans, actually General Zinni and the consul general and others to get some bread, some water, some medical supplies to him. The situation is very, very difficult. The situation is very, very dangerous. And the other parts of the West Bank now, there are a, you know, very serious situation in Bethlehem, in Jenin, in Nablus and Israeli tanks have begun an incursion of some parts of Hebron, not all of Hebron yet.
SNOW: And does he want to meet with Mr. Powell, with Secretary Powell when he's there tomorrow?
ERAKAT: Absolutely. President Arafat said that he welcomes Secretary Powell and he is willing to meet with him and to put the mechanisms to implement all what was specified in President Bush's speech, including resolution 1402, the Tenet understanding, the George Mitchell Report and the meaningful negotiation that would lead to ending the Israeli occupation and to the establishment of a Palestinian state next to the state of Israel.
SNOW: Saeb Erakat, chief Palestinian negotiator, on the phone with us, appreciate your time. He called in to tell us about Yasser Arafat's statement, reaction to President Bush. Mr. Arafat saying that he welcomes President Bush's words, that he is onboard, fully wants to cooperate and try to push for peace, is willing to meet with Colin Powell, Secretary Powell, on his way to the region. We expect to hear more on this as the night progresses, but that's the reaction, at least initially, of Yasser Arafat, still holed up in his compound in Ramallah.
A plot to kill: Afghan officials uncover a plan to murder Afghan leaders and American troops.
A missed opportunity for U.S. authorities. Why did a warning from the Russian government about spy Robert Hanssen get disregarded?
And Bryant Gumbel says good bye to the "CBS Early Show." We'll have the inside scoop on that. First, today's "News Quiz."
Who was Bryant Gumbel's first morning show co-host: Barbara Walters, Jane Pauley, Katie Couric or Diane Sawyer? We'll have the answer when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SNOW: Yasser Arafat, just a few moments ago, through a statement through his chief Palestinian negotiator telling CNN that he accepts what President Bush said earlier today, that he is willing to work with the president, willing to meet with Colin Powell, we're told, and wants to work toward peace. We're getting more information on that as things progress here tonight. In the meantime, going back to another story, the interim government of Afghanistan says it has uncovered a plot to kill interim leader Hamid Karzai, former king Zahir Shah, American troops and international peacekeepers. CNN senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers has the details from Kabul.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The Afghans originally arrested about 300 or 350 men suspected of plotting against the government here. They are supporters of the renegade warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (ph).
Since then, however, the Afghans have released all but 160 of those alleged conspirators. Those men, however, are suspected of plotting the assassination of interim Afghan leader Hamid Karzai and of the exiled king Zahir Shah. Now, the interior ministry here says it has recovered documents and explosives all pointing to terrorism, sabotage, kidnapping and abductions.
And it was not just Afghan government officials who were targeted in this by these renegade Islamic forces. It was also Americans here in Afghanistan and the international peacekeepers here. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is himself still on the loose. It is believed he's hiding somewhere west of Herat along the border with Iran. He has an extremely bloody reputation in this part of the world as a meddler and a spoiler in Afghan politics. Again, he is a wanted man here in Afghanistan.
But the investigation is just beginning into this conspiracy. One of the questions that is certainly going to be asked was, was there any foreign involvement in the attempt to overthrow the Karzai government here in Kabul.
Walter Rodgers, CNN, Kabul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: There's another strange twist in the case of Robert Hanssen. Years before the FBI agent was arrested on charges of spying for Moscow, turns out the United States may have received a warning about his activities from the Russian government. CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In his 25- year service with the FBI, Robert Hanssen did more damage to U.S. intelligence than any other spy. A new report says his main motivation was money, but it also says the agency he betrayed shares the blame for the security breach.
The report, by former FBI and CIA director William Webster, includes shocking new details. For example: Eight years before Hanssen was arrested for espionage, Russia lodged a formal complaint with U.S. officials that an FBI agent tried to sell secrets to a Russian intelligence officer.
ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: There isn't an agent or an analyst or a support person in the FBI that isn't as sickened and horrified by Hanssen.
ARENA: The report concludes Hanssen slipped under the radar because of a serious lack of internal security, antiquated computers and a fractured management system. Webster told CNN, quote, "in every area of security, the FBI's system was lacking." But, he says the report is not meant to be accusatorial, but rather to, quote, "be helpful and identify where the FBI fell behind." The FBI has made some changes post-Hanssen, including a $400 million computer system upgrade.
MUELLER: We have a polygraph program, which will be expanded. We have audit procedures for our current investigative programs that have been upgraded. We are doing reinvestigations on a schedule. We are hiring security officers.
ARENA: But the Webster report says it needs to do even more. While the FBI has already polygraphed 700 employees and plans on expanding the program, the report suggests testing employees every five years, an idea the FBI has yet to embrace. The report suggests aggressive financial auditing of agents. FBI Director Robert Mueller says he will consider that carefully.
It also proposes limiting the number of agents with top-secret clearance, a move the director says would get in the way of fighting crime. It's not the first time the FBI has heard many of these recommendations.
DAVID MAJOR, FORMER FBI COUNTERINTELLIGENCE AGENT: The bureau has been studying almost everything in the Webster Commission for years.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ARENA: We just got a copy of the Webster report.
To give you an idea of the seriousness of the problem, the Webster report describes a -- quote -- "pervasive inattention to the security, which has, at best, been a low priority." And, in a statement just issued, Attorney General John Ashcroft says that the report presents an opportunity to make substantial improvements." Now, as for Robert Hanssen, he was interviewed for the report. He even offered some suggestions.
And, Kate, he faces sentencing next month.
SNOW: Kelli Arena, thanks.
Tackling a taboo subject: cousins marrying cousins. The result of a new study may surprise you. A major change at Chicago's Wrigley Field will affect the way many Cubs fans view their team this baseball season. And later, trapped in a tree: a rescue story you won't want to miss. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SNOW: Does the latest U.S. peace initiative to the Mideast really stand a chance?
Joining us to discuss today's developments are Hassan Abdel Rahman, the chief Palestinian representative to the United States; and Ra'anan Gissin, senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Gentlemen, let me start by recapping something that we just learned a few moments ago: a statement out of Yasser Arafat saying that Mr. Arafat and the Palestinian leadership are committed to the peace process as laid out today by President Bush. He says they are committed to the statement of President Bush without conditions.
Mr. Rahman, can you interpret that for us a little bit? What does Mr. Arafat mean by, "We're committed, but without conditions"?
HASSAN ABDEL RAHMAN, CHIEF PALESTINIAN REPRESENTATIVE TO UNITED STATES: Well, President Bush spoke of the Resolution 1402, the implementation of that resolution, which calls on Israel immediately to halt its aggression against the Palestinians and withdrawal troops from the Palestinians' towns and villages, and then move to implement the Tenet understandings and the Mitchell report, leading to a political horizon, a political agreement, political negotiations.
That is what President Arafat is saying. We accept that without any amendments or modifications.
SNOW: But he is not renouncing terrorism, which is, essentially, what the president asked him to do today.
RAHMAN: Well, Yasser Arafat has in the past, continues to oppose any act of violence that targets civilians.
Yasser Arafat -- today, the Palestinian people are a subject of a very serious, widespread, overall aggression by Israel in the Palestinian territories. No one can tell the Palestinian people today, as long as the Israeli tanks and the Israeli army is invading Palestinian towns, killing Palestinian people, destroying Palestinian homes, to not defend themselves.
SNOW: Let me give Mr. Gissin a chance to respond to that.
And, also, Mr. Gissin, will Israel respond to President Bush by withdrawing its troops?
RA'ANAN GISSIN, SENIOR SHARON ADVISER: Well, first of all, let me say that, while Arafat says that he is committed to peace, why not, for a change -- he has said that many times. And every time he said that, there was another wave of terrorist activity.
Why not turn to his own people and tell them to stop committing suicide, to stop sending those suicide bombers, which he incites, and, by the way, which is financed by Iraqi money, but the checks are signed by Yasser Arafat? I have a document here that we captured at the Mukatai (ph) in his headquarters, which shows exactly that Yasser Arafat signed those checks that goes to those martyrs or to their families or to those who support them.
The man ran a terrorist organization. So, the least that he can do is turn to his people right now, if he is really committed, and say, "Stop the violence; stop terrorism," and he himself stop the incitement.
SNOW: But isn't it at least a positive step that Mr. Arafat is saying, I embrace what President Bush has offered up here; I want to make peace"? Isn't that a positive step?
GISSIN: You know how times he has said that? And what did we get in return? Wave after wave of terrorist activity.
We are sick and tired of words. He initiated this campaign 18 months ago. If there is anyone to be blamed, if the Palestinians want to point a finger at anyone who is to be blamed for their predicament today, it is Yasser Arafat; 18 months ago, they were an inch away from a state.
The prime minister of Israel, el-Barak, offered them the kind of concessions and the kind of compromise for a state that no other prime minister ever offered, and I think no one will offer them again because of this murderous attack that they are launching. And now Yasser Arafat comes and, instead of turning to his people in his own language and calling for a cessation of violence, of terrorism, turns around and says, "Yes, I'm committed to peace, but the Palestinians," he said, "have a right to resist occupation."
We did not occupy those areas 18 months ago. How come our tanks are in Ramallah and in Nablus? Why are we there? Did anyone stop and ask themself?
SNOW: Mr. Rahman, the president today was very hard -- President Bush was very hard on Mr. Arafat. He had some strong language. Do you think that there is trust there? Do you think President Bush and the Americans trust Mr. Arafat? Or do you maybe need to get someone else to speak for Palestinians?
RAHMAN: Well, first of all, let me just make a few remarks about what Mr. Gissin just said.
Remember, Mr. Gissin, that this occupation, which is in itself a perpetual act of terror against the Palestinians, is lasting the longest military occupation in modern history; 35 years the Palestinian people are living under your terror. You are terrorizing our people, stealing our land, humiliating our people for 36 years.
In the last 18 years, you intensified your crimes against the Palestinian people. You killed 1,500 Palestinians; 450 of them are children under the age of 16, 80 women. And you continue to do it every day.
Tell me, how is your security served, Mr. Gissin, by not allowing the Palestinians to bury their dead, and bury them in mass graves? Remember when the last time mass graves were used? They were used in Kosovo. And Milosevic today is tried as a war criminal. Mr. Sharon is doing exactly the same thing.
How can you speak about terrorism when the Palestinian people today, 3.5 million children, women sick, cannot even move out of their homes? You are telling us that we brought this, us, on to ourselves because we did not accept the generous proposal made by Mr. Barak to us. The challenge to you today is, there is a plan put forward by President Bush. Are you going to accept it or not? This is the challenge.
SNOW: Let's give him a chance to respond. Let's give him a chance to respond.
And, Mr. Gissin, I want to get one last question to you also. Will you allow Yasser Arafat to meet with Secretary Powell when he is in the Middle East?
GISSIN: Look, I want to make it very clear. And let's set the historical record straight; 35 years of so-called occupation were preceded by 120 years of Palestinian-Arab terrorism against Jews in this land, in their ancestral homeland.
And the reason is because Mr. Abdel Rahman and the rest of the Palestinian people don't accept the fact that the Jews have a right to this land, the same as the Palestinians have. They never accepted it. They said "We recognize Israel" because of its might.
Now, with regard to Yasser Arafat, I can assure you one thing. He will remain confined to his quarter as long as terrorism continues to reign. When terrorism does not reign any longer, when we have eradicated the terrorist infrastructure, arrested those who conduct terrorist activity -- something that the representative of Abdel Rahman should have done by themselves, because they pledged to do it -- then we can consider changing his status.
SNOW: Sir, does that mean that Colin Powell can't go into the compound and meet with him? You won't allow that?
GISSIN: Who said that Colin Powell wants to go in and meet with him? First ask Colin Powell whether he wants to meet with him under those conditions, when Arafat violates every agreement he signed.
First of all, before there is going to be any meeting, Arafat has to prove himself, don't you think so?
SNOW: Ra'anan Gissin, a senior Sharon adviser, and also Hassan Abdel Rahman, chief Palestinian representative to the United States, I thank you both for being with us.
RAHMAN: Thank you.
SNOW: The Middle East conflict, of course, thousands of miles away, but with every act of violence and every cry of despair, America is being drawn more deeply into the search for a solution. It is not the first time the country has been down this road. CNN's Garrick Utley takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARRICK UTLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is about people, the conflict and carnage we have been witness to, the dead, the wounded, the frightened.
And now, as the United States tries to stop the violence, the focus will be on two particular people, the leaders who have fallen short or gone too far: Yasser Arafat, who George Bush blames for failing to stop the suicide bombings; and Ariel Sharon, who, in the words of the president, has gone too far in humiliating the Palestinians.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I expect better leadership. And I expect results.
UTLEY (on camera): A sharp rebuke from the president, and right on target, for the job of leaders, of course, is to control the passions and the anger of their people, however justified, and lead, to make a bad situation better. It is that asking for too much in the Middle East?
(voice-over): We remember this hopeful moment, when leaders worked for peace and shook hands and Nobel Prizes were handed out. And there was that earlier image, as Israel and Egypt agreed to make peace. But they needed special help from the United States.
Following the Middle East war in 1973 and the Camp David agreement, a demilitarized Sinai Peninsula was returned to Egypt. And American troops were placed in the middle to guarantee the peace between the two countries. They are still there more than 20 years later.
Placing American troops between Palestinians and Israelis is the last thing the Bush administration wants to do. They would become targets for extremists on both sides. But security for Israelis and Palestinians is now issue one. The idea of an international force, including Americans, to separate the two sides is being heard more frequently, if not yet from the president.
BUSH: The world finds itself at a critical moment. This is a conflict that can widen. America is committed to ending this conflict and beginning an era of peace.
UTLEY (on camera): Which raises the question: How committed is the United States to ending the violence between Israelis an Palestinians? How far is George Bush prepared to go in his leadership? Would he commit American troops to guarantee a peace if both sides agreed to it?
(voice-over): For decades, that has been the unthinkable. We may be getting to the point where it is the unavoidable.
Garrick Utley, CNN. (END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: In many states, first cousins marrying each other is illegal. But is it harmful to their children? Wait until you hear what the research says. Later, the face you may soon miss waking up to: Why is Bryant Gumbel leaving? And a picture that gives new meaning to the phrase "camping out in the forest."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SNOW: Earlier we asked: "Who was Bryant Gumbel's first morning show co-host?" The answer is Jane Pauley. Gumbel took over as co- host of NBC's "Today Show" in 1982, when Tom Brokaw became the anchor of the "NBC Nightly News." Bryant hosted "The Today Show" for 15 years before signing on with CBS.
After more than two years of co-hosting "The Early Show" on CBS, Bryant Gumbel says, of course, it is time for him to move on. Today, he announced he will be leaving the network to pursue other interests.
Joining us now to talk about the impact of Gumbel's departure is Max Robins, the senior editor of the "TV Guide."
What is the story behind him leaving?
MAX ROBINS, SENIOR EDITOR, "TV GUIDE": Well, it depends on who you talk to, Kate.
One side -- and this is more coming out of CBS -- is that Gumbel wanted too much money in order to stay and to keep getting up early in the morning. From the Gumbel camp, you're hearing that CBS wanted a long-term commitment, at least three years, and Gumbel, at this stage in his life, just didn't want to give them that kind of commitment. My guess is, the truth lies somewhere in between.
SNOW: As usual.
Is he going to be missed, do you think?
ROBINS: Bryant has been a fixture of morning television for a long time. But the fact is that, while ratings did improve a little bit while he was there, the CBS show remains a distant third. And, I don't know. I mean, he is not going to be that missed. It is not as if Diane Sawyer left "GMA" or Katie Couric decided it was time to leave "The Today Show."
SNOW: He has a reputation, doesn't he, for being a little bit difficult to work with? I don't know if that is deserved or not.
ROBINS: Well, I think anybody in those jobs who has been doing it for a long time, they can be demanding. I think they all have that red light disease, when that little light in front of the camera goes on.
But Gumbel is a professional. And, look, he has another gig over at HBO doing "Real Sports." I guess he just decided, if they weren't willing to really increase his salary, it wasn't worth it to him to keep getting up so early in the morning for the No. 3 show.
SNOW: Right. Who do you think will be their new star, then? Do they go after another male, or what do they do?
ROBINS: Come on, Kate. I have got a column I have to fill myself.
(LAUGHTER)
ROBINS: But some names that have been bandied about include John Roberts, who fills in for Dan Rather on the evening news. I've heard the name Jack Ford, who has on the bench at ABC, who has done morning show duties at "GMA" and "The Today Show." Those are a couple names you are hearing. I'm not convinced it is going to be either one of those.
SNOW: Max Robins, senior editor with "TV Guide," thanks for giving us a little insight on Bryant Gumbel's departure.
ROBINS: Thanks, Kate.
SNOW: Sure.
A story that is very taboo coming up: cousins marrying cousins. A controversial story reaches a surprising conclusion. Later: stuck in a tree like you've never seen before -- and news of an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SNOW: On our "Newswire": Chicago Cubs fans will notice a change at Wrigley Field this year. Black wind screens have gone up in the back of the outfield bleachers. Team officials say it is a security measure, but critics suggest maybe it's an attempt obscure the view of nonpaying spectators that sit on nearby rooftops.
Two men spent the night trapped above ground after their single- engine Cessna crashed into a tree in California's Cleveland National Forest. The men were unhurt, but it took a sling lowered from a helicopter to get them off that plane and back on the ground.
A half-mile-wide asteroid is heading toward the Earth, but it may be a little premature to review your life insurance. Scientists say there is only one chance in 300 that it would even hit the Earth. And, even if it did, it is not due for another 878 years.
We have all heard the crude jokes. We have all heard the warnings. But a new study indicates first cousins who marry do not run a big risk of having children with birth defects.
CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joins us from CNN Center in Atlanta.
Elizabeth, so the deal is here that first cousins who have a child together are not putting that child at risk? ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Kate, the bottom line is that they are putting them at a slightly, slightly higher risk, but that it is very slight. And the reason why I think so many of us have a hard time believing it is that there is a big sort of "ick" factor in this story, for want of a better word. It just seems so unbelievable.
But let's take a look at what hard science tells us in a new study that has just come out. And that is that, when people who are not related have a child, they have a 3-4 percent chance of that child having some form of a birth defect. However, when two first cousins have a child, that risk is indeed, increased, but it increases to 5-7 percent.
So, yes, is that an increase? Sure, it is an increase, but what the genetic counselors are saying in this story is: "You know what? The increase isn't that huge. And so we shouldn't be telling first cousins not to marry. Instead, we should be saying, you know what? Go seek a genetic counselor and ask them for help. But why should we be barring people just because of this slight increase?"
SNOW: It is illegal in some states, though. So, why would researchers even look into this in the first place?
COHEN: Well, what the genetic counselors are saying is: "You know what? Maybe we are being unfair to people by saying don't get married just because you are first cousins."
Let's take a look. We have a map of the United States that shows where it is illegal. It is illegal to marry your first cousin in those blue states. And that's 31 states. So, obviously, most states have decided this. The genetic counselors are saying maybe that's really unfair, because some people want to marry their first cousins. And why are we telling them not to when maybe there is no good, hard science that says not to?
SNOW: Do we have any idea how many good cousin couples there are in the United States?
COHEN: You know what, Kate? There aren't good statistics. And one of the reasons is that people believe that sometimes first cousins -- or a lot of times first cousins marry and they just don't tell anyone that they're first cousins, so we really don't know.
However, we thought is was very interesting that there is Web site called cousincouples.com. And so they offer -- here is the Web site right here. And this is a Web site that offers support to first cousins who want to marry. So, there is obviously a grassroots movement here. They also have proposed legislation to make it legal in those 31 states.
And, in some countries, actually 20 percent of the population is married to a first cousin. So, this is probably practiced more than we think.
SNOW: OK, Elizabeth Cohen, interesting stuff. Thanks. In a moment, your chance to be heard. Do you think Colin Powell's Middle East trip can bring an end to Israeli-Palestinian conflict? And living with terror in Israel: a viewer comment from that country coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SNOW: Let's go to New York now and get a preview of "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE," which begins at the top of the hour -- Lou.
LOU DOBBS, "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE": Kate, thank you.
Coming up: President Bush breaks his silence, today speaking out against the violence in the Middle East. We will be going live to the White House, Jerusalem. And I will be joined by former Defense Secretary William Cohen. And tough talk also coming from the Justice Department, this time in the case against Andersen. We will tell you about new prospects for the possibility of a settlement of a criminal indictment against the firm. And strong nowhere, weak everywhere: That's the assessment of an important military historian who is our guest tonight. And a late-date rally on Wall Street despite a warning from Bristol-Myers Squibb that makes it vulnerable in nearly every aspect.
All that, a lot more coming up at the top of the hour -- please join us -- now back to you, Kate.
SNOW: Thanks, Lou.
Recapping some breaking news from earlier this hour, reaction out of Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah: Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian leadership saying -- quote -- they are "committed to the peace process" and are -- quote -- "committed to the statement of President Bush earlier today without conditions." The Palestinian Authority president said that in a statement. The statement was read on the phone earlier in this broadcast by chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. The statement did not denounce terrorism, something the United States had called on Arafat to do.
Our "Web Question of the Day" asked: "Do you think Secretary Colin Powell's Middle East trip can bring an end to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict?" Seventeen percent of you said yes, while the majority, 83 percent, said no. Remember, this poll is not scientific.
Time now to hear from you.
Niv writes to us from Haifa, Israel: "I'm an Israeli teenager. A few days ago, a whole family from my street in Haifa was killed. Until now, I had thought I was safe. Those feelings are gone, and so is the ron family."
In response to our segment on the treatment of priests who are pedophiles, Keith says: "These people do not need treatment. They have committed a felony equivalent to rape or murder. What they need is the death penalty." And regarding the story on rudeness in America, Troy writes: "I try to treat everyone with kindness and respect. And guess what? Other people being rude to me is rarely a problem." Kill 'em with kindness.
I'm Kate Snow, in for Wolf Blitzer in Washington. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" begins right now.
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