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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
Saudi's Crown Prince Urges U.S. To Rein in Israel; Can Saudis Lead Way to Peace and Praise Terrorists?; Cardinals Home from Rome
Aired April 25, 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.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF BLITZER, HOST (voice-over): Now on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS: tough talk in Texas.
Saudi Arabia's crown prince calls on the president to rein in Israel and ease up on Yasser Arafat. Will President Bush budge?
Can the Saudis lead the way to Mideast peace when they praise suicide bombers? Where will they stand when push comes to shove?
An explosion in the heart of Manhattan.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We heard a loud bank and I went outside and looked and I saw debris coming out of one of our offices, at the opposite end of the hallway from me.
BLITZER: The cardinals come home from Rome. Did they get it right on abusive priests?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of church people said that this was a wake-up call. I kind of feel that they hit the snooze button on this and went back to sleep.
And was it something he ate? High-protein guru, Dr. Robert Atkins, suffers a cardiac arrest.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(on camera): The world has its eyes on this Texas town, home to a critical meeting between the president and the crown prince.
Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer, reporting tonight from Crawford, Texas, where there has been a very important meeting, a summit meeting between the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah, and President George W. Bush.
We'll have complete details. Stay with us this hour to learn more about this country, why the stakes are so high. You'll discover why Americans cannot afford to ignore Saudi Arabia.
But first, our news alert.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(voice-over): Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah today warned President Bush that the United States that it faces grave consequences if it can't put a lid on Middle East violence.
The Saudis want the United States to press Israel to end its West Bank crackdown. The Bush administration wants the Saudis to stop supporting suicide bombers.
A lot more on this coming up in just a moment.
In New York, dozens of people were hurt when an explosion ripped through adjacent buildings in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.
The blast is being blamed on a work accident involving volatile chemicals. Authorities do not -- do not -- suspect foul play.
A friend and codefendant of former basketball star, Jayson Williams, has struck a deal with prosecutors and will testify against Williams.
Williams is charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of a limo driver at his New Jersey mansion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(on camera):: Now back to our top story: the summit meeting that has just wrapped up between President Bush and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Abdullah.
CNN's White House correspondent, Major Garrett, is here in Crawford. He joins me now live with details -- Major.
MAJOR GARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Wolf.
Well, it went over two hours beyond schedule, and that's a good sign for President Bush, who likes to use these kinds of summit meetings, particularly ones here at his range, to forge a strong personal relationship with world leaders, one he believes will help him later when very tough issues are on the Table.
Well, he didn't have to wait for the tough issues to get on the table today. They're here right in front of him, and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia made it clear that his country does not agree with the United States position in the Middle East, wants the president to lean much more aggressively on the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, to get out of the occupied territories, end the sieges in Bethlehem at the Church of the Nativity and at Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah.
But there are a couple of other key headlines as well, Wolf.
Saudi officials here made it abundantly clear they in no way intend to use their contribution to world's oil supplies as any kind of diplomatic lever. They also said that Iraq remains a concern, but weapons of mass destruction, which is top on the Bush administration agenda as it relates to Iraq, is an arms Control issue, one that must be dealt with in legal channels. What that means is through the United Nations -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Major, as you take a look at this meeting, this is the first time these two men have met face-to-face and it's only, as we all know, the third time the president has received a foreign leader here in Crawford.
What does that say to United States officials, administration officials, you're talking to?
GARRETT: Well, I think the more important question, Wolf, is what does it say to the wider Arab world?
And that's clearly a part of the invitation the United States extended to the crown prince.
Originally, Vice President Cheney delivered the message, the invitation, in person, when he was traveling through the region. And as the two nations talked about it, became clear the Saudis were interested in coming here to the president's Texas ranch, knowing that was a coveted spot, a place where the president really sort of reserved for his closest allies. The Saudi's want to be perceived in exactly that light.
And it's an opportunity for the president to get some one on one time outside of meetings, outside of aides. He drove the crown prince around his ranch, just the two of them in his pickup truck. It's a 16 acre (sic) spread. That's the kind of time that world leaders really don't get very often together, the kind of time to forge a personal relationship, one I know the U.S. government hopes will lead to solid relations between the two nations as they deal not only with the Middle East, but Iraq, world oil prices, and other economic issue -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Major, are we standing by for comments from the president?
GARRETT: We are expecting the president to come out and talk to the White House traveling press pool, to give his assessment of the meeting with Crown Prince Abdullah.
Saudi Arabian officials also are due to come here to the workspace, here at the Crawford Elementary School, to talk to us about their take on the meeting.
So we're going to get a good read out from both sides exactly what happened in that very lengthy and unexpectedly long meeting between the two leaders -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Major Garrett, thank you very much.
We'll, of course, bring you those comments when we get them. Let's move on now. Talk a little about United States -Saudi relations.
Are the two nations even talking on the same terms?
Our National Security correspondent, David Ensor, has been looking into that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID ENSOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There is no question the 70- year-old friendship between Saudi rulers and American presidents is under severe strain; first and foremost because of the way Israeli forces have conducted their defensive against Palestinians and Yasser Arafat in the West Bank.
And what the Saudi's see as a weak, unbalanced response from President Bush.
GEORGE W. BUSH, U.S. PRESIDENT: I do believe Ariel Sharon is a man of peace.
PRINCE SAUDI AL-FAISAL, : Because to call Ariel Sharon a man of peace -- I don't think even Ariel Sharon believes that.
GEOFFREY KEMP, NIXON CENTER: I'm certain the Saudi message is going to be -- Mr. President, you are the leader of the most powerful country the world has ever seen. Israel is totally dependent upon you. When are you going to show some political skills and use, you know, what you have and put pressure on Mr. Sharon to essentially end this conflict?
ENSOR: But, the United States has real problems with Saudi Arabia, too.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We can take part in jihad by either donating money, or self-sacrifice.
ENSOR: A recent Saudi telethon raised money for Palestinian, quote, martyrs. The Saudis say the funds are not supporting suicide bombers, but the United States wants Riyadh make clear suicide bombers are not martyrs, but murders.
Or, take the fact that Osama bin Laden and 15 of the 19 suicide hijackers of September 11th were Saudis. United States officials want more access to investigate al Qaeda inside the kingdom.
Then, too, President Bush wants Saudi help against Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, for military action, if it comes to that. Yet, Crown Prince Abdullah, in march, offered the kiss of greeting to an Iraqi representative at a summit for the first time since the Gulf War.
ANTHONY CORDESMAN, CSIS: Today, the Saudis basically feel they can contain Saddam. That this is a devil they can live with. ENSOR: Some Saudi officials have said Riyadh is so angry about the United States not reining In Israel that it might use its one great weapon -- withholding the production of the world's number-one oil producer.
But a spokesman said that won't happen and there's a good reason why, say analysts.
KEMP: I don't think there is any way the Saudis will use the oil weapon, because the oil weapon can hurt them as much as it can hurt us.
ENSOR: Saudi and United States officials emphasize in public what they do agree on: the need for stability, the fight against terrorism. But on the specifics, on the Middle East, on Iraq, on the hunt for bin Laden's supporters, are the Saudis with the United States?
The answer, say analysts, is yes and no.
David Ensor, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: So is the United States right to be worried when Saudis pledge money for martyrs?
A short while ago, I with a Saudi official to get that Saudi perspective, the chief foreign policy adviser to Crown Prince Abdullah, Adel al-Jubeir.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Adel al-Jubeir, thanks for joining us.
You see how these talks between the president ask the crown prince are being Described as make-or-break as far as United States- Saudi relations are concerned with enormous ramifications.
How critical are these talks?
ABDEL AL-JUBEIR, SAUDI CHIEF FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER: I wouldn't describe them as make-or-break, i think they're very critical.
The relationship is not breakable, so they can't break it.
BLITZER: Some are suggesting that if there's no resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, the United States doesn't take a more forceful stand, the Saudis, supposed, are thinking of using the oil weapon once again.
AL-JUBEIR: Oh, we have -- oil is not a weapon.
Oil is not to be used for political purposes. We have a responsibility to the global economic system and to insuring adequate and stable supplies of crude Oil. So that's not an issue. BLITZER: So you're speaking for the crown prince, and you're a foreign policy adviser to Crown Prince Abdullah. You can assure the American public right now that oil will not be considered as a potential weapon in this whole diplomatic battle?
AL-JUBEIR: Absolutely. We've said over the past 25 years that Saudi Arabia is committed to insuring stability of supply, keeping supply and demand in balance. That oil is not a political weapon and that that's the end of it.
So we're content to stick to it.
BLITZER: You saw the article in today's "USA Today," referring to a sermon given at the Grand Mosque in Mecca only last Friday.
Sheikh Abdul Rahamn (UNINTELLIGIBLE) called on God to terminate, quote, his words, "terminate the Jews" whom he described as, quote, "the scum of humanity." That's a very prestigious mosque.
AL-JUBEIR: Yes and, the views reflect the anger and the frustration that the sheikh probably felt at the time, when people see images and horrible images of people dying and aggression against the Palestinians. If effects their judgment.
The point that we make to people is that we have to look at the big picture and we have to move the region towards peace so we can avoid having to be in situations where people feel this way, express themselves in this way or act upon their feelings.
And it's very important, both for Arabs and Israelis, to move towards peace, so we can avoid or reduce the tensions or the emotions that are flaring up in various parts of the Muslim world.
BLITZER: Were you surprised by the worldwide, I guess a lot of people would say condemnation of that telethon that was held in Saudi Arabia to generate, to raise millions of dollars for what you described as martyrs. President Bush has said they're not martyrs, they're murderers.
AL-JUBEIR: If in fact the definition of martyr, from our perspective, was what people thought it was, then, yes, I don't blame the world should be outraged.
But we don't support suicide bombers. The term martyr refers to people who have died innocently.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And our Web question of the day: Is Saudi Arabia a trustworthy United States ally?
While you are there, go to my Web page. Let me know what you're thinking. There's a "click here" icon right on the left side of the page. Send me your comments. I'll read some of them on the air each day.
And that's also, by the way, where you can read my daily on-line column.
For more assessment and more of my interview with Adel al-Jubeir, more assessment on the crown prince visit, to Crawford, Texas for this meeting with President Bush, I'll be back tonight 8 Eastern, 5 Pacific for "Live from the Texas White House.
In the Middle East, meanwhile, a makeshift Palestinian court has convicted four Palestinians of assassinating an Israeli cabinet minister, but Israel says that's not good enough.
CNN'S Jerusalem bureau chief, Mike Hanna, has more.
MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks very much, Wolf.
Well, it was a truly bizarre legal proceeding, taking place in Yasser Arafat's Ramallah compound, surrounded by Israeli forces.
The judge was a security official with no previous legal experience. The defending attorney was a police officer, selected from among those who are holed up in the compound along with Arafat.
The four accused are men held responsible for the murder in October last year of Israel's tourism minister, Rehavam Ze'evi.
The man who the Palestinians say actually carried out the murder received a jail term of 18 years. The man who was his lookout in the incident, says the Palestinians, was given a 12 year sentence.
The driver of the getaway car got an 8 year sentence. And a fourth man, who the Palestinians say knew about the plot but did not inform the Palestinian Authority, was given a one year sentence.
Now, when Israel surrounded Arafat's Ramallah compound at the beginning of December, one of the conditions for lifting the siege was the fact that these four men be brought to trial for the murder of Rehavam Ze'evi.
The Palestinian Authority now believes that they have met their obligations in terms of this.
The Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was quick to dismiss this trial. He says that whatever the legal ramifications of this proceeding, the men will have to be tried twice.
He continues to insist that they must be handed over to Israel for trial before he can consider lifting the siege on Arafat's Ramallah compound.
So once again, as so many times, a difference of opinion between Palestinians and Israelis. The Palestinian Authority says justice has been done. The Israeli government says no, it has not.
Back to you -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you very much, Mike Hanna, reporting from Ramallah. There has also been some movement in the three-week standoff at the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square in Bethlehem.
Several young Palestinians were seen leaving the church. There were also two bodies there were carried out of there was well.
CNN's John Vause has all the late developments.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, more talks, more meetings here, but no end in sight to this siege at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
Both the Israelis and the Palestinians have agreed to another round of discussions. That'll probably happen tomorrow morning, local time.
According to one Palestinian source, the Palestinians and the Israelis now want to go back to their respective leaderships to explain their positions and consult.
The Palestinians have asked the Israelis permission to send at least one delegate to Ramallah to meet with the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. No word back from the Israelis on their position on that request.
All this happening as nine young Palestinians walk from the Church of the Nativity.
Earlier, the Palestinians and the Israelis agreed to release as many as 15 children. Now, these young people, they carried out the bodies of two dead Palestinians which had been inside the church for well over a week now.
They left the bodies in the middle of manger square, and that's where they were collected by a Palestinian ambulance.
These young Palestinians emerged into a smoke-filled square, because the Israeli military had used a smoke machine to try and obscure the view of what was happening from the media, which had gathered nearby.
Now, all nine were fed, bathed. They received medical checkups, and then they were questioned for quite a few hours, but it's understood that none of them are, in fact, on Israel's wanted list -- Wolf.
BLITZER: John Vause, reporting from Bethlehem. Thank you very much.
Israeli troops meanwhile swept through the Hebron area on the West Bank overnight, at times exchanging fire with Palestinians.
One Palestinian policeman was killed, and Israeli troops say they arrested a number of suspected terrorists before they pulled out.
In just a moment chaos in New York City. An explosion rocks lower Manhattan, spraying glass and rubble across a block, injuring dozens. We'll go live to the scene.
The Boston airwaves are on over drive as Cardinal Bernard Law returns from his meeting with the pope and other Catholic church leaders. We'll go live to Boston for reaction on the meeting.
And later, life on the ranch has surely changed for one Crawford household. We'll drop in on President Bush's neighbor to find out what it's like living next door to the commander-in-chief.
But first, today's news quiz.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(voice-over): How big is President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas? 16 acres, 60 acres, or 600 acres, 1,600 acres?
The answer, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. We're live here in Crawford, Texas, where President Bush has just wrapped up a meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah.
We'll continue covering that in just a few moments, but first there are other developments we're following right now, including a breaking story out of Los Angeles where the L.A. District Attorney just announced they will not -- not -- seek the death penalty in connection with the murder charges against Robert Blake.
He's accused of murdering his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley. The district attorney in Los Angeles saying that after a meeting with representatives of the Special Circumstances Commission, they decided to instead seek life without the possibility of parole for Robert Blake if convicted.
Once again, he will not -- not -- face the death penalty. We'll continue to follow there story as well.
We're also following another story one day after the conclusion of the Vatican conference on sexual abuse in the church.
Boston's Cardinal Bernard Law has returned home amid lots, lots of controversy.
The Boston Archdiocese today turned new documents over to lawyers who are suing the church.
CNN'S Jason Carroll joins us now live. He has more details -- Jason.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And Wolf we do have some more information about those new documents.
They include personal writings from a priest accused of sexual abuse, Father Paul Shanley. They also include warnings about Shanley. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Boston's embattled Cardinal Bernard Law left Rome early Thursday, saying his troubles at home were not a topic of discussion during meetings at the Vatican.
CARDINAL BERNARD LAW, BOST ARCHDIOCESE: You mention my resignation. That never came up.
CARROLL: There have been calls for Law's resignation for his handling of the crisis. Those calls could grow louder in the coming days.
The Archdiocese of Boston has just released some 800 pages of new documents relating to Father Paul Shanley, an accused sex abuser.
Archdiocese officials say they had overlooked the documents.
REV. CHRIS COYNE, ST. JOHN'S SEMINARY: It's terribly embarrassing to come out and say this, that at this late a date they found files like that.
CARROLL: Church officials say the documents include more information about Shanley and his alleged affiliation with NMBLA, the National Man & Boy Love Association.
The Archdiocese turned the files over to attorneys representing alleged victims in a civil suit against Shanley.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The documents like this that are showing up -- the inevitable question is, what else is there?
CARROLL: It was the fallout from the Shanley documents released a few weeks ago that renewed calls for Law's resignation.
Law's supporters had hoped the results of the Vatican meetings might quiet some of those calls, but it's clear here in Boston that it will take more than the Rome meetings to change people's minds.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he has a lot to answer for, and I don't think he should stay.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They may have made mistakes in the past, but he certainly owns up to it, and he's certainly trying to straighten it out now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He really does need to move on, for the good of victims, for the good of the archdiocese, and ultimately I think for his own good.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: Cardinal Law is now headed to Philadelphia for a fundraise. His next public appearance will be this Sunday when he presides over mass -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jason Carroll, reporting live from Boston, thank you very much.
And when we come back, the man behind the controversial diet, Dr. Atkins, suffers cardiac arrest. We'll have details.
Also, where I am, right now, little Crawford, Texas, on the map. How do the locals like the star-studded attention? I'll ask the mayor of Crawford.
And you can learn a lot about a person from his neighbor. We'll visit the ranch next door to the president's home, when we return live from Crawford, Texas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are so proud that he picked Crawford. It's a great community. It's great -- everybody that lives in Crawford is close, and tight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: WOLF BLITZER REPORTS is brought to you by Acura. Experience the performance today at your local Acura dealer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Earlier we asked, how big is President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas. The answer: 1,600 acres. In contrast, the grounds of the White House in Washington are a mere 18 acres.
Welcome back. We are continuing our coverage of President Bush's summit meeting here in Crawford, Texas with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Abdullah.
Abdullah, the crown prince, has already left that meeting, wrapped up two hours longer than originally scheduled.
You are looking at live pictures not far from here in Waco, Texas, where the red carpet is rolled out. The crown prince and his entourage, his delegation, will be leaving, they'll be flying back to Houston, the crown prince spending the weekend -- at least, much of the weekend, in the United States before returning back to Saudi Arabia with a stop over in Morocco, where he has a home. He'll be spending some vacation in Morocco as well.
We'll continue to look into this story here in Crawford, Texas.
But first, CNN's Kate Snow is standing by in Washington with this news alert.
KATE SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, thanks.
Sect. of Def. Donald Rumsfeld expected to pay a visit to his Russian counterpart next week. Rumsfeld will stop in Moscow as part of his trip to Afghanistan and other central Asian countries, where he'll meet with United States troops and discuss the war on terror with regional leaders. The United States may be getting ready for action in Pakistan. CNN has learned United States military forces have been sent there for possible combat against al Qaeda targets.
A Pentagon source says there's a very loose and informal agreement with the Pakistani government to allow the United States troops to take action under appropriate circumstances.
A year-and-a-half after it was ripped open by a bomb in Yemen, the USS Cole is back in its home port of Norfolk, Virginia. It took $250 million to repair the destroyer. The ship now bares a plaque honoring the 17 sailors who were killed in that attack, which has been blamed on al Qaeda.
Abolish the Immigration and Naturalization Service? The U.S. House today overwhelming approved a bill to do just that. The measure would divide the INS into two separate agencies, one to catch illegal immigrants, the other to handle services, like green cards and citizenship. Congress hopes the plan would stop snafus, like when the INS mailed visa approvals for two of the 09-11 hijackers six months after the attack.
Dozens of New Yorkers were hurt this morning when an explosion jolted Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. The blast briefly revived post-September 11th fears, but authorities say now it appears to have been just an accident.
CNN's Brian Palmer joins us now with the latest -- Brian.
BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Kate.
12 people critically injured, possibly another 32 more injured, taken to local area hospitals in this explosion in the Chelsea section of Manhattan.
We just spoke to a supervising fire marshal who was going into the building. The other members of the fire department are making sure the area is safe so they can go in and try and figure out what happened.
The theory that they're working with now is that volatile chemicals that one of the companies inside the building was working with combusted, causing that explosion.
Now, one of the first officials on the scene was Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who had this to say about the explosion.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: There is absolutely no reason at this point to believe there is anything suspicious about this explosion. There were volatile chemicals in the building. There was a sign company that was using some of these chemicals.
There were reports of work being done on boilers, but it turns out those boilers have been inactive for many years, and this certainly was not a boiler explosion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PALMER: The mayor also saying that the building at this point is structural sound. There is still some activity going on here. You can probably see a little bit of it behind me. We also spoke to the superintendent of that building. He happened to be in the basement when the explosion happened. He was knocked unconscious, and he gave us an idea of what the damage looked like.
QUESTION: How bad was the damage that you saw.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was bad, bad. It took out three elevators and five floors. I don't know if the structure is sound. That's what my engineer is going to take a look and see.
PALMER: Now our cameraman is focusing on the activity that is going on in the corner of 19th street and 7th avenue in Chelsea. There are some cleanup going on in the area just west of the building where the explosion happened. We just happen to have some trucks from the environmental agencies on the scene, along with the fire department and police department. They are going to play a role in the clean up. They are also going to determine whether this building is safe or when it will be safe again to go back in. Kate.
SNOW: Brian, so now we know it looks like nothing more than an accident. But I imagine people were pretty shaken up earlier today at not knowing what it was.
PALMER: Exactly, Kate. We were talking to passerby's who were concerned when they heard the explosion. I was talking to one man in the deli who said it sounded like lightening struck. And there were more people who thought that this was maybe a more suspicious sort of incident. That it was not an accident. But it turned out that it was. Kate
SNOW: Brian Palmer in New York, thank you so much. Now lets go back to Wolf Blittzer in Crawford, Texas. Wolf.
BLITZER: Than you very much Kate. Let's recap our top story. The meeting between the Presidents of the United States and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. That meeting is now wrapped up. President Bush is expected to be speaking shortly. When he does speak we will be bringing you his remarks. The President and the Saudi Crown Prince had some blunt words. We are told the Crown Prince warning President Bush about the direction of the US policy in the Middle East, widely perceived in the Arab world has being biased and favored of Israel. Abdullah's Foreign Policy advisor (UNINTELLIGIBLE), says the Saudi government would never use oil as a weapon to force a change in US policy.
Lets get a little bit different perspective right now of what's the mood here in Crawford Texas. You have heard of the first family, you have heard of the first lady, the first daughters. What about the first neighbor? Earlier today, I took a walk and spoke with a man named Bill Johnson. He is a neighbor of President. In fact, his ranch borders right up to the President's ranch.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Bill, what's it like having the President of the United States as your next-door neighbor?
BILL JOHNSON, RANCH OWNER: It's pretty quiet, you know. You got a lot of times when you want to make sure you let him alone so he can do his job. But we have had a good relationship with them, and they are nice people.
BLITZER: You have how many acres here?
JOHNSON: I have only got 120 here on this place.
BLITZER: But he's got a lot more over there?
JOHNSON: It think he has about 1,600. Yes sir.
BLITZER: Do you ever see him? How close can you get?
JOHNSON: Well, they have some horses of ours over there. So we know them. We have met them a couple of times.
BLITZER: The security must be pretty tight over there, when he's here?
JOHNSON: Oh yes, its very tight. I have done some roofing. I am in the roofing business. So I roof on some of the buildings over there.
BLITZER: His place is right over that area over there?
JOHNSON: Yes sir, right on the other side of this barn is the yellow house that you will see in just a minute. That is where they stayed until the new house got built.
BLITZER: The new house is how old?
JOHNSON: Well, I guess less than a year. You know they just built it.
BLITZER: It seems nice enough now, but in the summer it gets pretty hot here, doesn't yet.
JOHNSON: It gets very hot.
BLITZER: So what's the attraction?
JOHNSON: Well, of course I have long horn cattle and raise Appaloosa horses. We just enjoy ranching. We don't lose too much money that way.
BLITZER: Well a lot of people complain though that summers gets hot, and it is pretty dry, not much water.
JOHNSON: It's hot in Texas, I'll tell you, it its hot in Texas.
BLITZER: What does he raise over there on his farm?
JOHNSON: Well, they've got cattle. I understand they are planting some trees. In fact they will be planting some oak trees. They've got several hundred on the front of the building on the property they're building on right now.
BLITZER: The attraction, it's in your blood, it's in your roots is that what you are saying?
JOHNSON: Yes sir.
BLITZER: I am sure it in his as well.
JOHNSON: Well, my dad was a rancher. He loves horses and long horn cattle, and just the land you know. This old place has a lot of history. This is the old Newman place. There were two brothers that lived right over here. This was their grandfather's place. They were both raised here. It came up for sale, and I bought it.
BLITZER: You know the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah is here today?
JOHNSON: Well, I guess that is who we saw pass earlier. We had some Arabian horses out there, and it was some of the same blood line that he breeds.
BLITZER: So your Arabian horses are real Saudi Arabian horses?
JOHNSON: Well, actually I raise Appaloosa horses. That was (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Arabian horse that were out there.
BLITZER: You know the President of Russia's been here, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
JOHNSON: Yes sir.
BLITZER: Prime Minister of Britain, Tony Blair.
JOHNSON: Yes sir.
BLITZER: You get to see those guys when they show up.
JOHNSON: No, I didn't go see them. I just stayed out of the way.
BLITZER: Do your own thing.
JOHNSON: Do my thing.
BLITZER: Thanks a lot Bill.
JOHNSON: You're welcome, sir.
BLITZER: You have a lovely place here. JOHNSON: I appreciate it sir.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Let's get some additional perspective on Crawford. We are joined by Mayor of Crawford, Texas, Robert Campbell. Mr. Mayor, thank you for joining us. First of all, how long have you been mayor?
ROBERT CAMPBELL, MAYOR OF CRAWFORD, TEXAS: Since 1999. I am starting my second term now.
BLITZER: That is exactly when Bush bought that ranch here.
CAMPBELL: Yes, Yes.
BLITZER: What's it like having the first family be residents of your community.
CAMPBELL: Well, its picked things up quite a bit here in Crawford. Before, we were just a spot where most folks didn't know existed. Since he's been out, we have got a lot of publicity, a lot of people are visiting. I think they are gaining a perspective of Crawford that they never realized was out here. The beauty, the serenity, it's just a nice place to be. So I think it has helped us a lot.
BLITZER: As their been any down side though.
CAMPBELL: The down side would be that notoriety, because we're not used to having a lot of traffic, really our infrastructure is not built for a lot of traffic. To that degree, we do have some down side. But over all the people has appreciated his presence and it has helped us some.
BLITZER: You have got 705 residences, at least that's what sign says when you drive into town. One traffic light. So what happens when the Crown Prince arrives, Putin of Russia, or Tony Blair? What do you do?
CAMPBELL: We call in all of our police officers.
BLITZER: About how big is your local police department?
CAMPBELL: One full time, one part-time, and about 13 auxiliaries.
BLITZER: It's like Andy of Mayberry isn't it?
CAMPBELL: Right, but it's better than that. We have a very good police chief who is capable of handling the situation. He does a outstanding job when they do come in. We are really proud of what he does. Everyone works together in the city to handle the situation as smoothly as possible.
BLITZER: Have you met with the President?
CAMPBELL: Not since he's been elected. I have met with him when he was governor, but not since he's been in the White House.
BLITZER: When he bought here, did he tell you why he decided to pick this area, what it is about? Two hour drive from Dallas, from Houston. About 20 miles from Waco.
CAMPBELL: He bought it just to get away. He was still governor. At first nobody knew who was buying. I think he just bought as a place to get a way, so he could get some peace. I think in retrospect that is the reason he comes here. To get away from the hustle and Bustle of DC of a lot of the things that happen there. It gives him an opportunity to relax. He just like everyone else, he just wants to get away from it all, every now and then
BLITZER: Have real estate prices gone up, since he bought the ranch?
CAMPBELL: They certainly have. Real estate prices have really gone up since he has bought out there. We have been able to attract some smaller businesses out here. So basically it has been beneficial to the community as a whole.
BLITZER: Okay, Mayor thanks for joining us.
CAMPBELL: Thank you.
BLITZER: We appreciate it very much. Good to have you on our program.
CAMPBELL: Thank you.
BLITZER: and thanks for the hospitality. Okay, let's go at some pictures we just got in only a few minutes ago from Tampa, Florida. Take a look at these pictures. A small plane made an emergency landing. One of its landing gears obviously didn't go down, but take a look. It made that landing. Let's watch it a little bit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A nice slow speed. Rick, if you can just push in one last time. You can see it, because that left mirror is down. He's doing a spinning turn. Excellent maneuver, excellent maneuver. One of the best landings I have ever seen. Excellent. Ricky if you come to my right, you can see the fire trucks rushing to him, right now. Right into the right. Single Pilot on board. There was only one passenger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Now there it is. Let's go to President Bush. He spoke only a few minutes ago to reporters here in Texas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is very special for me. In a place where I welcome special guests to our country. The Crown Prince and I had a very cordial meeting that confirmed a strong relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States of America. Our partnerships is important to both our nations, and it is important to the cause of peace and stability in the Middle East and the world. We discussed the critical importance of the war on terror.
Much of our discussion centered on the Middle East, and how to diffuse the current situation so we can get back on the path of peace. Our two nations share a vision of two states. Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. I reiterated that all parties have responsibilities to help achieve that vision. The Palestinian authority must do more to stop terror. Israel must finish its withdraw including resolution of standoffs in Ramallah and Bethlehem in a non-violent way. We discussed a need of Arab states, to condemn terror, to stop excitement of violence, and as part of a long-term peace to accept Israel as a nation and a neighbor. We also agree that the world must join in offering humanitarian aid to the many innocent Palestinians who are suffering. I told the Crown Prince how much I appreciated his vision for a peaceful and integrated middle east. I appreciated his leadership in helping rallying the Arab world toward that vision. I also appreciated the Crown Prince assurance that Saudi Arabia condemns terror. Crown Prince is going to be in America for several more days. Officials from both of our governments will be continuing our discussions with the hope that our efforts can help return us to the path of peace, a lasting peace. I will answer a couple of questions now.
QUESTION: Mr. President, Saudi officials has taken strong issue to your characterization of Prime Minister Sharon as a man of peace, and say your tolerance of what he's doing risk damage to US Arab relations. Were you and the Crown Prince able to bridge issues over that issue and find ways to fix the Arab fragile support?
BUSH: Well, first of all, one of the really positive things about this meeting is that the Crown Prince and I established a strong personal bond. We spent a lot of time alone, discussing our respected visions, talking about our families. I was most interested in learning about how he thought about things. I am convinced that the stronger our personal bond is the more likely relations between our countries will be stronger. I made it clear to him that I expected Israel to withdraw, just like I made it clear to Israel, and we expect them to be finished. He knows my position, and he also knows that I will work for peace, that I will bring parties along. I think he recognizes that America cannot do it alone, that it is going to require a unified effort. One of the main things about this visit was to solidify that effort. He's a man with enormous influence in the Middle East. I respect that a lot and I am confident that we can work together to achieve that peace.
QUESTION: Did the Crown Prince raise the prospect of Saudi support for Iraq's oil in bargo, and are you concerned that our nations will try to use oil as a bargaining chip in the Middle East Crisis?
BUSH: Saudi Arabia has made it clear, and has made it clear publicly that they would not use oil as a weapon. I appreciate that. I respect that. I expect that to be the case. QUESTION: Mr. President do you feel you made some personal headway meeting with Crown Prince in reassuring him of the United States belief that all parties in the region must work harder to achieve peace? Do you feel like you need to convey this message perhaps in a stronger way by sending somebody to the region to meet with other Arab leaders who are raising concerns along those lines?
BUSH: Well Stretch (ph), we just sent somebody to the region. That somebody has just returned from the region, and that somebody is Colin Powell. We are exploring all options. A lot of our discussion with the Saudi delegation was how to get back on the path to peace. Clearly, there must be things to done on the short run. Finish the withdrawal by Israel, or for the Palestinian authority to clamp down on terror. We discussed that in very plain and straightforward terms. As to where we head for now, I think its important for the Crown Prince to have heard is we're interested in his advice. We're interested in his counsel. We share a vision. I reminded him how much I appreciated his statement toward Israel. I thought that was a breakthrough moment. We saw that in Beirut. I appreciated that as well. So there's a shared vision, and as to how to achieve that vision is something we must consult with our friends, and that's what this meeting was all about. It went on quite a while, because there was a lot to discuss. Plus, I want you to know I had the honor of showing him my ranch. He's a man who got a farm, and he understands the land. I took great delight in driving him around in my pick-up truck, and showing him my trees, my favorite spots, and we saw a wild turkey, which was good. We had a very good discussion, and I am honored that he came to visit. Last question.
QUESTION: Mr. President, do you believe, you said the Crown Prince is against terror. Do you think the Crown Prince will speak out, did he make any promises about speaking out, and should he speak out? Secondarily, in Saudi Arabia do you believe the leadership are doing enough to deal with their own problems with terrorism that comes out of their own country. 15 out of the 19 hijackers came from out of their country.
BUSH: Yes, the Crown Prince has been very strong in condemning the murder of US citizens. He had been very strong about condemning those who committed those murders. I appreciate that a lot. Right after the 9/11, he was one of the strongest voices of condemnation. He understands how devious Osama bin Laden has been. He knows that anybody, strategy by some who would split the United States and Saudi Arabia, such a strong and important friendship. I know that, he knows that. We're not going to let that happen. So he's been very strong in the condemnation of terror for which I am grateful. We are constantly working with him and his government on Intelligent Sharing, and cutting off money. We're reminding him on occasion where we find money flows. The government has been acting. Right now, we are working on border issues with Yemen to make sure Yemen doesn't became a haven for the al Qaeda killers. I appreciate his cooperation on that matter as well. It's in his interest that we route out killers. Listen, thank you all very much.
BLITZER: President Bush speaking only a few minutes ago, here in Crawford, Texas following hours of talks he had earlier in the day with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah. Among other things, the President praising what he called the strong relationship between United States and the Saudi Arabia. Praising the role the Saudis have been playing. He reiterated much of his recently annunciated policy towards the Middle East. The one nugget perhaps nuisance all parties to adhere to what he's been putting forward. He specifically said in his words, Israel must finish its withdrawal from the West Bank, including the standoffs, resolving the standoffs in Ramallah around Yasser Arafat's headquarters, as well as in Bethlehem, the church of the Nativity in what as he said a non-violent way.
The President also said he urged the Saudis and others in the Arab world to stop inciting violence. One important note, the President said he did receive a commitment, from Saudi Arabia that Oil, Saudi oil would not be used as a weapon, in trying to influence the policy of the United States towards the Middle East. President of the United States speaking about his about his meeting with the Crown Prince Abdullah. We are going to take a quick break. When we come back, we'll talk about a Los Angeles Times Report that suggests that the United States has to worry about a new attack, potentially in Cyber space. But the attacker may not be who you think it is. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
A live picture from here in Crawford Texas, where we are reporting on the meetings between the President and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. The Los Angeles Times meanwhile is reporting that the United States Intelligence is gearing up potentially for a strike from Cyber Space, not from known terrorists, this time from Chinese Military Hackers from Taiwanese computer systems. Let's get some perspective on this.. Patrick Gray joins us from Internet Security Systems. He joins us from Atlanta. What do you make of this LA Times story Mr. Gray?
PATRICK GRAY, INTERNET SECURITY SYSTEMS: We've seen this before Wolf, especially last year, when we had the incident with the aircraft the China, when it went down. Maybe 1,200 websites were defaced. They certainly do have the capability to continue this kind of behavior.
BLITZER: How alarmed should the United States be China might be potentially capable of hacking US computer systems.
GRAY: I think all businesses in government entities that have a web present, always need to be viligent to these kinds of situations. We have these things going on all the time. The simple solution for the most part is that companies need to make sure that their systems is running the updated software, that they get the patches they need, that they have anti-virus, and that they are diligent to what's going on in their own systems.
BLITZER: The LA times story quoted some Chinese officials are saying they have no intention of hacking US computer systems. But their engaged in research to learn about this in order to protect their own computer systems from potential outside interference. Does that make sense to you? GRAY: It would make sense if they would look at their systems to found out if they are vulnerable, run assessments on their own. But I would think that it would be untoward folks to go and assess other people's systems around the world. Definitely bad behavior.
BLITZER: Where is the greatest threat in Cyber Space as far the United States is concerned? Where does that greatest threat come from?
GRAY: Right now we are seeing a lot of attacks web based attacks coming out South America, and from the Pacific Realm. We tell companies if you are doing business on the internet and your not doing business on the Pacific Realm or any other geographical location, block those IP addresses and stop that kind of traffic in your systems.
BLITZER: What are those hackers from South America and the Pacific Realm trying to prove or achieve?
GRAY: Some have their own message. If they have Save the Jungle or Save the World from something. Others just do it because they can, they're malicious. If you can do business over the Interned, you can do malicious business on the Internet.
BLITZER: Unfortunately an issue that we all need to be focusing on increasingly in the years to come. Patrick Gray of Internet Security systems thanks for joining us giving us some insight on this important issue.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. You're looking at some live pictures from Waco, Texas, the airport where the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Abdullah has wrapped up his meetings with President Bush. Here in Crawford, Texas, about 20 miles away, he's gearing up, he is going through a receiving line, red carpet treatment for Crown Prince Abdullah, the effective ruler of Saudi Arabia. He will be flying to Houston shortly to spend much of this weekend before returning home.
Let's get our web question of the day. Is Saudi Arabia a trustworthy U.S. ally? Look at the results. The results so far, my webpage. 26 percent of you said yes. 74 percent of you said no. Remember, this is not a scientific poll.
Time now to hear directly from you. We have got some email. Ray writes this. "I can't believe that after two days of discussion, these cardinals have recommended a national policy to dismiss a priest only after he has become a notorious offender. That is like waiting to punish murderers only after they have killed more than one person. I find this so offensive that even as a life-long Catholic, I vow never to set foot in a church for the rest of my life."
: Bear agrees. "From the Vatican comes the curious pronouncement that child molesters in clerical garb get the first kid free. If they make a habit of it, though, the church will instruct them to cut it out. What interesting times we live in." But Brutus asks, "Why is all the responsibility to report this abuse placed on the church? Where were the parents of these children, why didn't they go to the police?"
Remember, you can always get you -- we always try to read your e- mail. Try to read some of it every day at the end of this show. We got very little, if any, e-mail supporting the Catholic church. That's all the time we have here in Crawford, Texas. I will be back in two hours for a special live from the Texas White House. Please join me at 8:00 Eastern. Until then, thanks for watching. "Lou Dobbs Moneyline" begins right now.
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