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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
White House Concludes Voice is bin Laden's
Aired November 18, 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.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Thanks very much, Judy. The Bush war planners behind closed doors and the gruesome wish they have for Osama bin Laden. Also, new information about the Atkins Diet, but first our news alert.
(NEWSBREAK)
BLITZER: That's a look at our CNN News Alert. WOLF BLITZER REPORTS starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice over): The White House decides it's real so why can't they catch him? Tracking terror suspects, a victory for the government.
JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: The Court of Reviews action revolutionizes our ability to investigate terrorists and prosecute terrorist acts.
BLITZER: But is it a setback for your civil rights? A deadline at airports before the busiest travel time, is it any safer to fly this Thanksgiving?
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR: We have seen the lengths terrorists will go to penetrate airport security.
BLITZER: Back in Baghdad, U.N. inspectors will have more than just their eyes to look for weapons.
HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: We will report objectively. We will do our job professionally.
BLITZER: How they'll see through walls. And, JFK, he was the image of vigor but an examination of this medical records shows the shocking reality.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: It's Monday, November 18, 2002. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. We begin with an acknowledgement by the Bush administration that may have serious implications for the war on terrorism. The White House has concluded that the audiotape of Osama bin Laden broadcast last week by Al-Jazeera is indeed the real thing. CNN National Correspondent Frank Buckley is over at the White House today. He's joining me now live. What are they saying now, Frank? FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, that confirmation came after much analysis by translators and linguists. We're told the technical analysis of the tape is still underway. This is that tape that many people heard last week, as you say, that was broadcast by Al-Jazeera, picked up by many western news agencies that had bin Laden talking about recent terror incidents across the world and also promising more in the future.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OSAMA BIN LADEN (through translator), AL QAEDA LEADER: Now is the time to become equals, just like you kill us, we will kill you.
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, DEPUTY W.H. PRESS SECRETARY.: Intelligence experts do believe that it is -- that the tape is genuine. It can not be stated with 100 percent certainty and it is clear that the tape was made in the last several weeks as well. But again, I emphasize I can't make a 100 percent conclusion there but they do believe that it is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BUCKLEY (on camera): It was a reminder, says Scott McClellan that the U.S. has to continue to go after terrorists who are waging a war against the U.S. It will also be something that critics will undoubtedly use to talk about what they consider the failure of the war on terror, just like last week Senator Tom Daschle quoted the president himself from more than a year ago said he wanted Osama bin Laden dead or alive, and now apparently, at least as of a couple of weeks ago he was alive -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Frank Buckley at the White House, Frank thanks very much. More than a year after September 11, the U.S. Government continues to struggle to find the al Qaeda leader. The cover of the new issue of "Time" Magazine reads like this: "Why Can't We Catch Him?"
Joining me now is the "Time" Magazine Senior Correspondent Michael Weisskopf.
Michael, in the article you talk about four options designed to get bin Laden. I want our viewers to take a look at those.
Option 1, use a Predator drone to spot him and bomb him. Option 2, use electronic surveillance to pinpoint his location and then drop a bomb. Option 3, bribe the locals to give him up, track him down, and then get him. Option 4, persuade someone else to find him and get him.
Of these options, Michael, which one is the Bush administration putting most of its resources into?
WEISSKOPF: On all four of them with limited results. Each one of those approaches has got great limitations. The primary ones are the difficulty in spotting him at the moment we want to hit, and even though Predator drones work pretty quickly in electronic surveillance also, you've got to get him. He is stopped at this point using any kind of electronic transmission, satellite phones, even the Internet because he's savvy to our intelligence.
BLITZER: I want to show our viewers, Michael, a map that's in the new issue of "Time" Magazine. It's an important map. It shows the top leaders of al Qaeda. Let's put it up on the screen, among others Ramzi Binalshibh, one of the plotters of the September 11 attack in Karachi, Abu Zubaydah, bin Laden's operations chief captured just south of Islamabad. Doesn't the U.S. Government believe that bin Laden may be close to any of these locations?
WEISSKOPF: The thinking is that he's not near a major city because it's much harder to remain invisible in a large city and his circumference would be much more limited. The best of intelligence thinking is he's somewhere in the northwestern frontier of Pakistan, populated by about three million clannish tribesmen with great loyalty to bin Laden and his ideology.
BLITZER: The fact that it's now official, virtually official, he is alive, presumably still kicking, certainly making threats, puts an enormous amount of pressure on the Bush administration now to follow through and get the job done.
WEISSKOPF: The timing is exquisite from the bin Laden standpoint because the administration has been focusing for months now on Iraq, and this again sort of reopens in living color the main theater we have to deal with, which is the war on terrorism. Last week, you cited Tom Daschle. Bob Graham as the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee right now was critical of the diversion Iraq creates for the theater in the Afghanistan-Pakistan area.
BLITZER: I was going to say they got the Iraqi situation. They got the war on terror. They got a lot of stuff going on at the same time. The question is can they do all of that at the same time?
WEISSKOPF: Whether or not we're stretched thin and, after all, our FBI intelligence apparatus has already been criticized or, at least, it's been opined that they're shorthanded particularly in this part of the world. We don't have a lot of Arabic speakers and it's a hard nut to crack and with having two areas at the same time, a two- front war so to speak, makes it much more complex. It will open him up much more to criticism as well.
BLITZER: All right, later in this show we're going to have some details, some new details about the search for Osama bin Laden in the new Bob Woodward book, but we'll hold off on that. Michael Weisskopf of "TIME" Magazine thanks as usual. Could a victory for the government infringe on your civil rights? A key decision today makes it easier for the Feds to listen in on phone conversations and read e- mail, all in the name of the war on terror.
CNN Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's a big victory for Attorney General John Ashcroft, a special appeals court has ruled that he hasn't gone too far in interpreting a new law that gives the government expanded powers to listen to phone calls and read e-mails when targeting terrorists and spies.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review assembled in secret at the Justice Department for the first time ever to deal with the issue. It overturned an earlier decision by the so-called Spy Court, which placed limits on the government's use of wiretaps and on how that information is shared between the intelligence community and law enforcement.
ASHCROFT: This will greatly enhance our ability to put pieces together that different agencies have. I believe this is a giant step forward.
ARENA: Critics argued the Bush administration was misinterpreting new powers granted under the Patriot Act passed by Congress in the wake of the September 11 attacks. The American Civil Liberties Union says the government now has a green light to violate basic constitutional rights.
ANN BEESON, SENIOR ATTORNEY, ACLU: Just to be clear, one of the problems is that the government can get one of these wiretaps, one of these special wiretaps without having to show probable cause to believe that anyone has actually committed a crime or is about to commit a crime. That's the standard that the Fourth Amendment requires and that's the standard that the court today rejected.
ARENA: The Appeals Court saw it differently and wrote: "We, therefore, believe firmly that FISA as amended is constitutional because the surveillances it authorizes are reasonable." The attorney general offered this assurance.
ASHCROFT: We have no desire whatever to in any way erode or undermine the constitutional liberties here.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ARENA: Under the law governing the secret court, the ACLU can not appeal the decision. It is, however, exploring other legal avenues. Now experts say that the issue could eventually reach the Supreme Court if a convicted terrorist or spy challenges the way that information was gathered for that conviction -- Wolf.
BLITZER: OK, very important story, Kelli Arena thanks very much for that information. Here's your chance to weigh in on the story.
Our Web question of the day is this: Now that limits on eavesdropping are lifted, do you think the U.S. Government has: a) Too much power; b) The right amount of power; c) Not enough power in the war on terror? We'll have the results later in this broadcast. Vote at cnn.com/wolf.
While you're there, send me your comments, your questions. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also, of course, where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.
The hunt begins in Iraq. Will it prevent an all-out war? Weapons inspectors on the ground, we'll go live to Baghdad when we return. Plus, a new book on the war on terror tells of a president growing impatient and a CIA official wanted bin Laden's head in a box.
Also, a president on prescription drugs, newly-uncovered medical documents show just how much JFK was taking. Did it impair his judgment, a closer look still to come but first a look at some news making headlines around the world.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice over): North Korea's nuclear threat, state-run media in the communist country retracts a controversial report that claimed North Korea does have nuclear weapons. But today's altered version of the initial report said the north is entitled to have nuclear and other strong military weapons.
Venezuelan protests, clashes between political factions continue in Venezuela. Opponents of President Hugo Chavez blame his supporters for a fire bomb attack on an opposition television station in the capitol, Caracas, yesterday. There were no reports of injuries.
Oil spill off Spain, workers are fighting to hold off what could become an environmental disaster off northern Spain. A leaking oil tanker has spilled about 3,000 tons of oil since cracking its hull last week. Today, the ship managed to move into calmer waters away from the scenic beaches.
Under water wrecker, a South African scuba diver set a world record after spending ten days under water in a steel tank, and that's our look around the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: A desire to have Osama bin Laden's head in a box, dramatic new details of the Bush war planners at work. That's coming up on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: We turn now to Iraq and the hunt for weapons. It's been four years but U.N. inspectors are now back on the ground in Baghdad beginning a mission of critical importance. CNN's Senior International Correspondent, Nic Robertson, is joining us now live from Baghdad. Day One of this new inspection regime, how's it going Nic?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Day One, 12 hours on the ground, already the early hours of Tuesday morning. The inspectors are very likely in bed already. So far, however, from setting foot on the ground 12 hours ago, so far the day seems to be going pretty well for the team. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON (voice over): Striding across the tarmac at Saddam International Airport with his Iraqi counterpart, Chief U.N. Weapons Inspector Hans Blix begins what could be a long journey.
BLIX: The world wants to have assurances that there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The situation is tense at the moment but there is a new opportunity and we are here to provide inspection which is credible.
ROBERTSON: Part of that process facing questions from international media, not least about what happens next.
MOHAMMED ELBARADEI, IAEA: We've been discussing the program but we do hope to have meeting at the highest level and we hope to be able to come with a full understanding with Iraq on the necessity for full cooperation on the part of Iraq.
ROBERTSON: Cooperation apparently good this day. Antenna and other equipment to be installed by the advance team accompanying Blix swiftly unloaded. Within hours, the same equipment arriving at the inspection team's headquarters, quickly followed by Blix and ElBaradei ending an almost four year absence by U.N. weapons inspection teams from their offices in Iraq.
In another sign perhaps the day going well for the inspectors, within hours the first of the hoped four meetings. At the foreign ministry, face-to-face talks with General Amr Al-Saudi (ph), President Saddam Hussein's top scientific adviser. For the advance team of logistics and communication specialists traveling with Blix, a little over a week to make their preparations before the first inspectors get to work on November 27.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON (on camera): Now, Iraqi newspapers have been calling for the inspectors to be independent, unbiased, and honest, at the same time reminding readers of allegations of spying by previous missions. But it really seems very much that the normal person in Iraq just wants this inspection team to get its work done quickly so that the U.N. sanctions that have been hammering the economy here for the last 12 years can be lifted and people can return to a better life -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Nic, as you well know, it's no secret here in Washington that top Bush administration officials are skeptical that these inspections will work. They're still preparing for a possible war, and one of the things they're counting on is the Iraqi opposition in the north, especially the Kurds helping them. How much of a threat to Saddam Hussein does this opposition force that's gathering some sort of steam in the north perceive this having at least in Baghdad?
ROBERTSON: Baghdad will certainly be aware of whatever's happening in the north. They have a lot of spies and certainly Iraq if one looks at what happened in '95 and '96, the attempted coups against Saddam Hussein here, the government here able to predict them to see them coming to undermine the efforts that were being mounted from the north inside the Kurdish region. So, no reason to doubt that the President Saddam Hussein here, no reason to doubt that he knows what's going on in the north right now.
Does he gauge it accurately? Is he able to say whether this could be an overwhelming charge from the north, an overwhelming force in the north now? He probably has it pretty well measured, and the way he's always dealt with it before is to divide and conquer; that is, to help one group of Iraqi Kurds and we know that these are fractionated groups to deal with one of them against another one and so undermine any international efforts to coalesce the Kurds against the regime in Baghdad -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Nic Robertson, back in Baghdad for us, Nic thanks very much for joining us. The inspectors will have some high-tech help this time around, sophisticated gadgets and monitoring gear they didn't have the last time they were there.
Our National Security Correspondent David Ensor has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Geologist Matthew Turner has a small company in Leesburg, Virginia using ground penetrating radar to find things beneath the surface, technology that is fast improving in the digital age that could be useful in Iraq.
MATTHEW TURNER, GEOLOGIST: This represents the very best technology that's out there. If the soil is very sandy, you could go as deep as 100 feet.
ENSOR: It works by reflecting electromagnetic waves off of an object underground.
TURNER: This image shows three underground storage tanks located underneath a foot of concrete.
ENSOR (on camera): The radar devices can also be used up against a wall to see what's inside a building and there are a number of other useful technologies, some of which have improved dramatically in the year since inspectors were last inside Iraq.
ENSOR (voice over): For example, these handheld devices should help the hunt for biological weapons. Available since last year, they can recognize a microbe by its DNA in about 20 minutes. And the cameras and other sensors they old UNSCOM inspector teams used to put in Iraqi labs to monitor them, all that will be digital now.
DAVID ALBRIGHT, FORMER U.N. INSPECTOR: Processors that are a lot smaller, more powerful, so you can process more data, equipment that's just going to be more reliable in a harsh environment.
ENSOR: Then, too, U.N. inspectors have bought masses of newly- available commercial satellite photos of Iraq, searching for clues like suspicious reconstruction at previously bombed sites. There are also new tools like the Predator unmanned surveillance planes, which the U.S. could make available to the inspectors if it chooses to do so.
ALBRIGHT: If they do have a Predator, they could stand off miles from the place that's actually under surveillance and have a good chance the Iraqis won't know that they're being looked at.
ENSOR: All in all, a toolkit to envy says a former chief inspector.
RICHARD BUTLER, FMR. U.N. CHIEF INSPECTOR: I know they have much more modern equipment than what we had and I know that their ability to conduct surveillance from the sky will be improved on what we had.
ENSOR (on camera): But former arms inspectors will tell you that all the high-tech gadgets in the world are not as good as the human instincts of an arms inspector as he or she tries to gauge whether an Iraqi scientist is telling the truth or is lying.
David Ensor CNN, Leesburg, Virginia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: The war on terror, a frustrated White House, the secret memo, the hunt for bin Laden and much more, a behind-the-scenes look from the veteran journalist Bob Woodward. Plus, federal screeners are on the job but are we any safer now since September 11? And, a diet full of meat to help you lose weight, the latest verdict on the Atkins Diet, but first in case you were out enjoying yourself over the weekend, let's have our Weekend Snapshot right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice over): Protesters mad, more than 90 people were arrested Saturday at Fort Benning, Georgia, among them more than half a dozen nuns. Demonstrators were protesting what was once the Army's School of the Americas. They say the school trains some of the people who have killed six Jesuit priests more than a decade ago in El Salvador. The school was replaced last year by a new institution that has human rights courses.
New England under ice, thousands of people woke up without power today after a big Nor'easter dumped ice and snow on the region. Connecticut suffered some of the worst damage. The storm also caused serious problems in Massachusetts and Maine.
Eroding support, a new poll could spell trouble for Al Gore if he decides on another run for the White House. Only about a third of the Democratic National Committee members polled by the Los Angeles Times said Gore should run again in 2004.
Badge of honor, a Baltimore police officer may be alive today because of his badge. It deflected a bullet fired by an assailant during a struggle. The officer suffered only minor injuries. A champion's reception, Mohammed Ali is getting the star treatment in Afghanistan. The boxing legend is on a second day of his trip to Kabul as a U.N. messenger of peace. His attorney says Ali wants to keep attention focused on the humanitarian needs in Afghanistan.
Box office magic, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is estimated to have pulled in close to $88 million on its opening weekend, the third best film debut ever. The new Harry Potter flick is the second installment in the fantasy series, and that's our Weekend Snapshot.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: A new book by Washington Post investigative reporter Bob Woodward discloses some fascinating revelations about the drama in the White House as the war on terror began. "Bush at War" covers the first weeks after September 11.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice over): The book has surprising new detail about the early stages of the war on terror. Woodward writes that success on the ground in Afghanistan was due in no small measure to the work of CIA teams sent there in the early days after September 11. He writes that one of the first teams in, code name Jawbreaker had been given a clear directive from the CIA's head of counterterrorism.
"Go find the al Qaeda and kill them. We're going to eliminate them. Get bin Laden, find him. I want his head in a box. I want to take it down and show the president."
Bin Laden has remained elusive but Woodward writes that CIA operatives made huge gains by paying off local warlords and paying Taliban commanders to defect. He writes about one case where a Taliban commander was offered $50,000 to defect. The commander said he'd think about it. After U.S. Special Forces directed a precision bomb right outside the commander's headquarters, U.S. operatives called back and offered $40,000. The commander accepted.
"Bush at War" illustrates serious doubts among some war planners about the bombing campaign not long after it began in October of last year. Opposition forces were not moving against the Taliban and the Pentagon started to develop plans for a massive ground invasion.
Woodward writes of a president frustrated over the so-called hand wringing of his top aides over war strategy. The president, he says, was preoccupied by media coverage of the war and public perceptions. Woodward writes that Roger Ailes who had been a media adviser to the first President Bush and is now chairman of the Fox News Channel sent a confidential message to the White House.
Woodward writes: "His back channel message: The American public would tolerate waiting and would be patient, but only as long as they were convinced that Bush was using the harshest measures possible." Woodward says Ailes' message had to be confidential because in his position as head of a news network, he was not supposed to be giving political advice.
Ailes has issued this statement: "Bob Woodward's characterization of my memo is incorrect. In the days following 9/11, our country came together in non-partisan support of the president. During that time, I wrote a personal note to a White House staff member as a concerned American, expressing my outrage about the attacks on our country. I did not give up my American citizenship to take on this job."
As for the people paid to give the president advice, Woodward writes of a crucial meeting of the Bush national security team in the early days of the war. "Bush looked at each of his key advisers and asked if they were on board with the war strategy as it was then playing out. Each one said yes and they stayed the course."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (on camera): And, please be sure to catch Bob Woodward tonight on CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE." That's at 9:00 Eastern. And, one additional programming note, Bob Woodward will join me here on this program Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
During our show Friday, we quoted Israeli authorities who said that 12 people were killed when Palestinian militants opened fire on Jewish worshipers returning from Sabbath prayers at the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron in the West Bank. The fact is Israeli officials now tell us that those killed were Israeli police soldiers and security officials and that the shooting broke out after the worshipers had returned to a nearby settlement.
The Feds take over airport screening, so is it all safe, smooth sailing in the skies? A security report card when we come back. Also, homeland pork, find out all about the special perks you, the taxpayer, could be footing for in the bill. And JFK's secret agony, the newly-released medical documents.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: We have an important development coming in now from Capitol Hill regarding the fate of the Homeland Security Bill. Our Congressional correspondent, Jonathan Karl is standing by with details.
Go ahead, John.
JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, we've just learned that Senator John McCain will be voting with the Democrats tomorrow on a key provision that would strip seven items the Democrats are calling "special interest provisions" from the Homeland Security Bill. This makes it much more likely that Democratic amendment will pass and further complicates the possibility of having a quick vote on a Homeland Security Bill. Here's what Senator McCain had to say just a few minutes ago. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I don't approve of a process where the House of Representatives throws a major piece of legislation over to the Senate and says, goodbye. That's the way the process is supposed to be conducted around here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARL: Now, here is the problem, Wolf, the House of Representatives passed that bill last week and then they left town. They have effectively adjourned for the year. Now, if this amendment passes tomorrow, the Senate will effectively pass a different Homeland Security Bill, which means the 435 members of the House will have to come back to town. They will have to work out the differences between the House and the Senate versions and have yet another vote, further delaying this process. Something, by the way, that Senator Phil Graham, who has been with the president on this, says could kill the prospects, could kill a Homeland Security Bill for this year.
BLITZER: Well, why would that happen? Presumably, even if the House came back, they still have the votes to pass this new version that the Senate might pass.
KARL: Well, the question is what happens if the House comes back? Are they going to fight for these provisions? Tom DeLay, the majority leader over there in the House for the Republicans, has been saying that he will fight for these provisions that the Senate is stripping out. So you could have a situation where you have deadlock on homeland security.
BLITZER: Jon, is there a specific piece of pork that McCain hates that got him to come around and go with the Democrats than?
KARL: McCain's objection here is the process. He doesn't like the idea of the House coming in and adding provisions that the Senate has never debated, never discussed. These are provisions that have passed the House in the past, but they are not provisions that have been discussed here on the floor of the United States Senate and that's McCain's objection. It's a process objection. But whatever his objection is, it means the Democrats now have a key Republican vote and probably enough votes to pass their amendment.
BLITZER: All right. Well, we'll soon find out tomorrow. Jonathan Karl standing by. Thanks for that important information.
The Bush administration says it's beaten tomorrow's deadline to have federal screeners in place at all commercial airports in the United States. But will it work? CNN's Patty Davis is over at Reagan National Airport here in the nation's capital. She has some details.
Go ahead, Patty.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, with the holiday travel season, Wolf, right around the corner, the big question is -- are you any safer in the skies? (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you sure you have everything out of your pockets?
DAVIS (voice-over): Raynu Clark says she took the job of federal passenger screener for a reason.
RAYNU CLARK, FEDERAL SCREENER: I feel like I'm doing my part in September 11. We just wouldn't want something like that to happen again.
DAVIS: She's one more of more than 44,000 federal screeners now on the job at more than 400 airports. Officials say they delivered on their promise to get screeners like Clark in place by Tuesday's deadline, making the skies safer against terrorists.
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR: Today is a milestone, but it is not an ending. New and important deadlines loom ahead.
DAVIS: The next big deadline, December 31, to screen all checked bags for terrorist bombs, using these big explosive detection machines. While transportation officials say 100 airports are already screening all checked bags, Congress is considering a one-year deadline extension for others. Bags at those airports would still be screened by hand or even by bomb-sniffing dogs. Not good enough for some critics.
PAUL HUDSON, AVIATION CONSUMER ADVOCATE: They've lost some of their urgency. There has been some bureaucratic confusion. And Congress has taken, as it often does, one step forward and one step back.
DAVIS: Permanent reinforced cockpit doors still not in place, holes in general aviation security and concerns that cargo on commercial flights still goes unchecked.
JIM GILMORE, TERRORISM ADVISORY PANEL: About 22 percent of the cargo that goes into commercial aircraft is unconnected to passengers. So we need to make sure that we enhance that type of inspection, so that if anybody attempts to utilize that source to attack an airplane, that they're going to be caught.
DAVIS: The Transportation Security Administration says cargo is on the top of its list of next priorities.
JAMES LOY, TSA: Cargo and charters and general aviation and the caterers that are at the airport, the workers that are inside the so- called sanitized area of the airport, all of those things deserve our attention and in fact, have gotten an awful lot of attention.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DAVIS: Now, while transportation officials admit there is still work to be done, they say with federal screeners, federal air marshals and other security measures already in place, that passengers should indeed feel safer to fly -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Patty Davis at beautiful Reagan National Airport. Thanks very much, Patty, for that useful information especially as we all get ready to start traveling for Thanksgiving and the holidays.
John F. Kennedy's unbearable pain the public never knew about. Did prescription drugs influence his decisions? A peek at newly released medical documents. And eat meat and lose weight? The controversial Atkins diet gets a new endorsement. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Some new information about the Atkins diet. That's coming up right after this break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: A new book cuts away much of the secrecy around President John F. Kennedy's serious health problems before and during his years in the White House. According to the historian, Robert Dallek, Kennedy suffered from more illnesses and was in far greater pain than the public ever knew about at the time. Professor Dallek's book, "An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy 1917 to 1963" is to be published next year. It is excerpted in the December edition of "The Atlanta Monthly Magazine." Professor Dallek, who teaches at Boston University, is joining us now live from our New York studio.
Excellent work you've done, Professor. Tell us why -- first of all, how sick was John F. Kennedy?
ROBERT DALLEK, HISTORIAN: Well, it's really quite amazing. He had a variety of diseases. He had something called colitis, which he had as a teenage boy. At the age of 17, he was sent to the Mayo Clinic to deal with this. He never got over it. He was still suffering from it in the White House. They apparently began giving him steroids, which first became available in 1937 and the steroids may have caused his back problems. They caused osteoporosis of the lower back. And he suffered from that terribly beginning in 1940. And so, the PT-109 episode exacerbated this, but it wasn't the fundamental cause of it.
And we had in these new records, X-rays and my medical friend who came with me, Dr. Jeffrey Calman (ph), he brought a view box and studied these X-rays and saw these compression fractures and concluded that the man was in awful pain, had to be on painkillers, as many as eight medications a day that he was taking.
BLITZER: And he was mixing all these various medications, maybe even randomly that could have caused even further problems, especially since he had what was called Addison's disease.
DALLEK: Yes. Well, of course, he was closely supervised by a variety of physicians. But, you know, Wolf, the bottom line to all of this is what's amazing is how well he functioned. The man was really quite heroic and quite stoic because I charted his work in the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Bay of Pigs operation, and I looked at the medical records that kind of ran alongside of these episodes. And he was very much on top of things, lucid and thoughtful, very much in command. And I think, in fact, without the medicines, he never could have functioned as effectively as he did.
BLITZER: But some of the drugs were what some might call "psychotic drug" that could have had an enormous impact on his decision-making process.
DALLEK: Well, there was an anti-psychotic, but it was used in those days as a kind of anti-depressant, you see. And he was only on this medication for two days. So one should not exaggerate or none of us should exaggerate the impact of this on him.
But there was sleeping medications he took and there were tranquilizers. But, again, what I found in studying the record so closely was that he was able to function quite effectively and reign in the Addison's disease and reign in his back problems and reduce the pain and deal with this variety of afflictions that he suffered from most of his life.
BLITZER: How he did manage to keep all of this secret and how did his family manage to keep all this secret for so many years, 40 years?
DALLEK: Well, Wolf, what's amazing is how few people really knew. The people closest to him in the White House, that's how stoic and effective he was. I think his wife, of course, knew. Bobby Kennedy knew. His father knew and the physicians knew. But Ted Kennedy released a statement in which he said he did not know the extent of his brother's illnesses.
Now, how did they keep it so quiet? Well, these records have been locked up at the Kennedy Library ever since, I believe, 1965. We know they're there. Other historians, other biographers knew they were there. They requested access and they were denied. Now, why did they let me in? I'm not sure except that I would like to think -- to flatter myself -- that they saw me as a responsible scholar who would not sensationalize things.
Also, they had the materials vetted or reviewed by a physician in Boston and he apparently advised them to let a serious historian in because he said he thought it would make Kennedy look heroic. It would expand our understanding of his character. Plus, there's been so much debunking about him in relation to his womanizing and I don't deny that for a minute, but yet this is another side to the man's character and it enlarges our view of it, I think.
BLITZER: An amazing side. I read the article. I'm looking forward to the book. Thanks very much, Professor Dallek, for joining us. And this footnote, as Professor Dallek just pointed out, Ted Kennedy did issue a statement. Let me read it to you, so that you'll get the full context of what his brother said. He said, "While not aware of the exact details of my brother's medical condition, I did see the great courage he exhibited throughout his life in triumphing over illness and pain." Senator Ted Kennedy issuing that statement. On another medical issue, the high fat, low carbohydrate Atkins diet. Converts, of course, swear by it. Many researchers and doctors have long contended it's a recipe for disaster. Now, some of the diet's harshest critics are taking a second guarded look at the diet. Our medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen is joining me now live from Atlanta.
You've been looking at this latest study. Tell us about it, Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know what happened, Wolf, is that in the -- when you look at the Atkins diet marketing, they give the impression that the Atkins diet doesn't just help you lose weight, it helps lower your cholesterol. So the Atkins diet folks paid for a study to be done at Duke University that shows that really that's not completely true.
Let's take a look at the results. They found that when folks were on the Atkins diet for six months, it did not decrease bad cholesterol. You want to decrease bad cholesterol, but this diet did not. It increased good cholesterol slightly by six points and it decreased triglycerides. Triglycerides are another kind of body fat that you want decreased. And in the Atkins study, the folks who were on the diet, it did decrease.
But there's an interesting note here that I think people ought to know about. The folks who were on this Atkins study diet were not just on the diet; they were taking a supplement that included fish oil. Fish Oil is known to decrease triglycerides and its known to increase good cholesterol. So some critics who we talked to said, "Well, it wasn't the Atkins diet that did those good things, it was the fish oil supplement that the people were taking in addition" -- Wolf.
BLITZER: And just to point out, Elizabeth, this latest study was funded at least in part by the Atkins Foundation, is that right?
COHEN: It was funded completely by the Atkins Foundation. That's right.
BLITZER: So what does that say about the worthiness of this whole study?
COHEN: Well, some people would say that it definitely calls into question the worthiness of it, but since it also found some things that don't put the Atkins diet in a completely good light, that makes you think that maybe it was a balanced study done by balanced people. So you have to keep that in mind too.
BLITZER: All right. Give our viewers very quickly the $64,000 answer. What diet do experts most recommend?
COHEN: What diets recommend for heart health, which is what we're talking about here today, is still the low fat diet, in other words, the polar opposite of the Atkins diet. They're discussing more and more whether or not Atkins has some good points or not and that will continue to be discussed. But still the bottom line is that most experts will tell you do a low fat diet. Do not do the Atkins diet for a healthy heart.
BLITZER: All right. Elizabeth Cohen with useful information as she always has. Thanks very much.
A police pursuit out of control. The big bang that ended this car chase. Look at this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: We're following another important story over the Pentagon. Let's go right to Barbara Starr. She's standing by -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, we've just learned it within the last three hours. U.S. and coalition warplanes have dropped bombs again today in Southern Iraq after being targeted by the Iraqis. We are told that coalition aircraft dropped precision- guided bombs against two Iraqi air defense communications facilities and an Iraqi radar site.
Now, this was the second time today that U.S. and coalition warplanes saw action over Iraq earlier today. They dropped weapons in Northern Iraq, in the northern no-fly zone after being targeted there. It's an indication that Saddam Hussein clearly doesn't plan to give up his shooting war in the no-fly zones.
The White House, today, of course, expressing a lot of frustration about all of this, saying this type of continued activity by the Iraqis could be a violation that could lead to a material breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions, but saying it will still be up to the U.N. Security Council to make that decision. So the shooting war over the no-fly zones continues today, Wolf.
BLITZER: And just to be precise, Barbara, this has been going on for years and years and years. But tell our viewers why it's different now. What's happened over the past few days that makes this so important?
STARR: Well, the stakes have certainly been raised on both sides. Since the U.N. Security Council passed the resolution sending inspectors back into Iraq, the burden is on Iraq, according to United Nations, to comply not be in breach of any of the promises it has made and not target coalition aircraft, which are patrolling the no-fly zones in support of other U.N. Resolutions. The Pentagon says this is a violation of what Iraq has promised the U.N. it would not do.
BLITZER: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. She's watching that important development. Thanks very much, Barbara.
STARR: Certainly.
BLITZER: And this correction on some words we had written on our screen during our congressional correspondent, Jonathan Karl's report just a few minutes ago. Senator John McCain -- let's be precise -- is in favor of the Homeland Security Bill but is opposed to some of the provisions added by the House of Representatives and -- never debated in the Senate. Just want to make that very, very clear.
Time is running out on your turn to weigh in on our "Web Question of The Day." It's this -- now that limits on eavesdropping are lifted, do you think the U.S. government has too much power, the right amount of power, or not enough power in the war on terror? Log on to CNN.com/Wolf. That's where you can vote. We'll have the results immediately had we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Some motorists who ventured out in Los Angeles early this morning faced a dangerous situation, a high-speed chase. Reports say police gave chase to a suspected car thief who led them from Sunset Boulevard through downtown and into South L.A. The chase lasted about eight miles. It ended when the suspect slammed in a tree. You can see that picture.
Here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of The Day." Look at this, 68 percent of you think the U.S. government has too much power now that limits of eavesdropping are lifted in the war on terror. Twelve percent of you say they have just the right amount of power. Twenty percent of you say not enough power. Remember, this is not, repeat, not a scientific poll.
That's all the time we have for today. Please join me again tomorrow, 5:00 p.m. Eastern. And please join us weekdays at noon Eastern for "SHOWDOWN IRAQ." Until then, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" is up next.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 18, 2002 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Thanks very much, Judy. The Bush war planners behind closed doors and the gruesome wish they have for Osama bin Laden. Also, new information about the Atkins Diet, but first our news alert.
(NEWSBREAK)
BLITZER: That's a look at our CNN News Alert. WOLF BLITZER REPORTS starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice over): The White House decides it's real so why can't they catch him? Tracking terror suspects, a victory for the government.
JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: The Court of Reviews action revolutionizes our ability to investigate terrorists and prosecute terrorist acts.
BLITZER: But is it a setback for your civil rights? A deadline at airports before the busiest travel time, is it any safer to fly this Thanksgiving?
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR: We have seen the lengths terrorists will go to penetrate airport security.
BLITZER: Back in Baghdad, U.N. inspectors will have more than just their eyes to look for weapons.
HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: We will report objectively. We will do our job professionally.
BLITZER: How they'll see through walls. And, JFK, he was the image of vigor but an examination of this medical records shows the shocking reality.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: It's Monday, November 18, 2002. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. We begin with an acknowledgement by the Bush administration that may have serious implications for the war on terrorism. The White House has concluded that the audiotape of Osama bin Laden broadcast last week by Al-Jazeera is indeed the real thing. CNN National Correspondent Frank Buckley is over at the White House today. He's joining me now live. What are they saying now, Frank? FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, that confirmation came after much analysis by translators and linguists. We're told the technical analysis of the tape is still underway. This is that tape that many people heard last week, as you say, that was broadcast by Al-Jazeera, picked up by many western news agencies that had bin Laden talking about recent terror incidents across the world and also promising more in the future.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OSAMA BIN LADEN (through translator), AL QAEDA LEADER: Now is the time to become equals, just like you kill us, we will kill you.
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, DEPUTY W.H. PRESS SECRETARY.: Intelligence experts do believe that it is -- that the tape is genuine. It can not be stated with 100 percent certainty and it is clear that the tape was made in the last several weeks as well. But again, I emphasize I can't make a 100 percent conclusion there but they do believe that it is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BUCKLEY (on camera): It was a reminder, says Scott McClellan that the U.S. has to continue to go after terrorists who are waging a war against the U.S. It will also be something that critics will undoubtedly use to talk about what they consider the failure of the war on terror, just like last week Senator Tom Daschle quoted the president himself from more than a year ago said he wanted Osama bin Laden dead or alive, and now apparently, at least as of a couple of weeks ago he was alive -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Frank Buckley at the White House, Frank thanks very much. More than a year after September 11, the U.S. Government continues to struggle to find the al Qaeda leader. The cover of the new issue of "Time" Magazine reads like this: "Why Can't We Catch Him?"
Joining me now is the "Time" Magazine Senior Correspondent Michael Weisskopf.
Michael, in the article you talk about four options designed to get bin Laden. I want our viewers to take a look at those.
Option 1, use a Predator drone to spot him and bomb him. Option 2, use electronic surveillance to pinpoint his location and then drop a bomb. Option 3, bribe the locals to give him up, track him down, and then get him. Option 4, persuade someone else to find him and get him.
Of these options, Michael, which one is the Bush administration putting most of its resources into?
WEISSKOPF: On all four of them with limited results. Each one of those approaches has got great limitations. The primary ones are the difficulty in spotting him at the moment we want to hit, and even though Predator drones work pretty quickly in electronic surveillance also, you've got to get him. He is stopped at this point using any kind of electronic transmission, satellite phones, even the Internet because he's savvy to our intelligence.
BLITZER: I want to show our viewers, Michael, a map that's in the new issue of "Time" Magazine. It's an important map. It shows the top leaders of al Qaeda. Let's put it up on the screen, among others Ramzi Binalshibh, one of the plotters of the September 11 attack in Karachi, Abu Zubaydah, bin Laden's operations chief captured just south of Islamabad. Doesn't the U.S. Government believe that bin Laden may be close to any of these locations?
WEISSKOPF: The thinking is that he's not near a major city because it's much harder to remain invisible in a large city and his circumference would be much more limited. The best of intelligence thinking is he's somewhere in the northwestern frontier of Pakistan, populated by about three million clannish tribesmen with great loyalty to bin Laden and his ideology.
BLITZER: The fact that it's now official, virtually official, he is alive, presumably still kicking, certainly making threats, puts an enormous amount of pressure on the Bush administration now to follow through and get the job done.
WEISSKOPF: The timing is exquisite from the bin Laden standpoint because the administration has been focusing for months now on Iraq, and this again sort of reopens in living color the main theater we have to deal with, which is the war on terrorism. Last week, you cited Tom Daschle. Bob Graham as the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee right now was critical of the diversion Iraq creates for the theater in the Afghanistan-Pakistan area.
BLITZER: I was going to say they got the Iraqi situation. They got the war on terror. They got a lot of stuff going on at the same time. The question is can they do all of that at the same time?
WEISSKOPF: Whether or not we're stretched thin and, after all, our FBI intelligence apparatus has already been criticized or, at least, it's been opined that they're shorthanded particularly in this part of the world. We don't have a lot of Arabic speakers and it's a hard nut to crack and with having two areas at the same time, a two- front war so to speak, makes it much more complex. It will open him up much more to criticism as well.
BLITZER: All right, later in this show we're going to have some details, some new details about the search for Osama bin Laden in the new Bob Woodward book, but we'll hold off on that. Michael Weisskopf of "TIME" Magazine thanks as usual. Could a victory for the government infringe on your civil rights? A key decision today makes it easier for the Feds to listen in on phone conversations and read e- mail, all in the name of the war on terror.
CNN Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's a big victory for Attorney General John Ashcroft, a special appeals court has ruled that he hasn't gone too far in interpreting a new law that gives the government expanded powers to listen to phone calls and read e-mails when targeting terrorists and spies.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review assembled in secret at the Justice Department for the first time ever to deal with the issue. It overturned an earlier decision by the so-called Spy Court, which placed limits on the government's use of wiretaps and on how that information is shared between the intelligence community and law enforcement.
ASHCROFT: This will greatly enhance our ability to put pieces together that different agencies have. I believe this is a giant step forward.
ARENA: Critics argued the Bush administration was misinterpreting new powers granted under the Patriot Act passed by Congress in the wake of the September 11 attacks. The American Civil Liberties Union says the government now has a green light to violate basic constitutional rights.
ANN BEESON, SENIOR ATTORNEY, ACLU: Just to be clear, one of the problems is that the government can get one of these wiretaps, one of these special wiretaps without having to show probable cause to believe that anyone has actually committed a crime or is about to commit a crime. That's the standard that the Fourth Amendment requires and that's the standard that the court today rejected.
ARENA: The Appeals Court saw it differently and wrote: "We, therefore, believe firmly that FISA as amended is constitutional because the surveillances it authorizes are reasonable." The attorney general offered this assurance.
ASHCROFT: We have no desire whatever to in any way erode or undermine the constitutional liberties here.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ARENA: Under the law governing the secret court, the ACLU can not appeal the decision. It is, however, exploring other legal avenues. Now experts say that the issue could eventually reach the Supreme Court if a convicted terrorist or spy challenges the way that information was gathered for that conviction -- Wolf.
BLITZER: OK, very important story, Kelli Arena thanks very much for that information. Here's your chance to weigh in on the story.
Our Web question of the day is this: Now that limits on eavesdropping are lifted, do you think the U.S. Government has: a) Too much power; b) The right amount of power; c) Not enough power in the war on terror? We'll have the results later in this broadcast. Vote at cnn.com/wolf.
While you're there, send me your comments, your questions. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also, of course, where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.
The hunt begins in Iraq. Will it prevent an all-out war? Weapons inspectors on the ground, we'll go live to Baghdad when we return. Plus, a new book on the war on terror tells of a president growing impatient and a CIA official wanted bin Laden's head in a box.
Also, a president on prescription drugs, newly-uncovered medical documents show just how much JFK was taking. Did it impair his judgment, a closer look still to come but first a look at some news making headlines around the world.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice over): North Korea's nuclear threat, state-run media in the communist country retracts a controversial report that claimed North Korea does have nuclear weapons. But today's altered version of the initial report said the north is entitled to have nuclear and other strong military weapons.
Venezuelan protests, clashes between political factions continue in Venezuela. Opponents of President Hugo Chavez blame his supporters for a fire bomb attack on an opposition television station in the capitol, Caracas, yesterday. There were no reports of injuries.
Oil spill off Spain, workers are fighting to hold off what could become an environmental disaster off northern Spain. A leaking oil tanker has spilled about 3,000 tons of oil since cracking its hull last week. Today, the ship managed to move into calmer waters away from the scenic beaches.
Under water wrecker, a South African scuba diver set a world record after spending ten days under water in a steel tank, and that's our look around the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: A desire to have Osama bin Laden's head in a box, dramatic new details of the Bush war planners at work. That's coming up on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: We turn now to Iraq and the hunt for weapons. It's been four years but U.N. inspectors are now back on the ground in Baghdad beginning a mission of critical importance. CNN's Senior International Correspondent, Nic Robertson, is joining us now live from Baghdad. Day One of this new inspection regime, how's it going Nic?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Day One, 12 hours on the ground, already the early hours of Tuesday morning. The inspectors are very likely in bed already. So far, however, from setting foot on the ground 12 hours ago, so far the day seems to be going pretty well for the team. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON (voice over): Striding across the tarmac at Saddam International Airport with his Iraqi counterpart, Chief U.N. Weapons Inspector Hans Blix begins what could be a long journey.
BLIX: The world wants to have assurances that there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The situation is tense at the moment but there is a new opportunity and we are here to provide inspection which is credible.
ROBERTSON: Part of that process facing questions from international media, not least about what happens next.
MOHAMMED ELBARADEI, IAEA: We've been discussing the program but we do hope to have meeting at the highest level and we hope to be able to come with a full understanding with Iraq on the necessity for full cooperation on the part of Iraq.
ROBERTSON: Cooperation apparently good this day. Antenna and other equipment to be installed by the advance team accompanying Blix swiftly unloaded. Within hours, the same equipment arriving at the inspection team's headquarters, quickly followed by Blix and ElBaradei ending an almost four year absence by U.N. weapons inspection teams from their offices in Iraq.
In another sign perhaps the day going well for the inspectors, within hours the first of the hoped four meetings. At the foreign ministry, face-to-face talks with General Amr Al-Saudi (ph), President Saddam Hussein's top scientific adviser. For the advance team of logistics and communication specialists traveling with Blix, a little over a week to make their preparations before the first inspectors get to work on November 27.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON (on camera): Now, Iraqi newspapers have been calling for the inspectors to be independent, unbiased, and honest, at the same time reminding readers of allegations of spying by previous missions. But it really seems very much that the normal person in Iraq just wants this inspection team to get its work done quickly so that the U.N. sanctions that have been hammering the economy here for the last 12 years can be lifted and people can return to a better life -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Nic, as you well know, it's no secret here in Washington that top Bush administration officials are skeptical that these inspections will work. They're still preparing for a possible war, and one of the things they're counting on is the Iraqi opposition in the north, especially the Kurds helping them. How much of a threat to Saddam Hussein does this opposition force that's gathering some sort of steam in the north perceive this having at least in Baghdad?
ROBERTSON: Baghdad will certainly be aware of whatever's happening in the north. They have a lot of spies and certainly Iraq if one looks at what happened in '95 and '96, the attempted coups against Saddam Hussein here, the government here able to predict them to see them coming to undermine the efforts that were being mounted from the north inside the Kurdish region. So, no reason to doubt that the President Saddam Hussein here, no reason to doubt that he knows what's going on in the north right now.
Does he gauge it accurately? Is he able to say whether this could be an overwhelming charge from the north, an overwhelming force in the north now? He probably has it pretty well measured, and the way he's always dealt with it before is to divide and conquer; that is, to help one group of Iraqi Kurds and we know that these are fractionated groups to deal with one of them against another one and so undermine any international efforts to coalesce the Kurds against the regime in Baghdad -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Nic Robertson, back in Baghdad for us, Nic thanks very much for joining us. The inspectors will have some high-tech help this time around, sophisticated gadgets and monitoring gear they didn't have the last time they were there.
Our National Security Correspondent David Ensor has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Geologist Matthew Turner has a small company in Leesburg, Virginia using ground penetrating radar to find things beneath the surface, technology that is fast improving in the digital age that could be useful in Iraq.
MATTHEW TURNER, GEOLOGIST: This represents the very best technology that's out there. If the soil is very sandy, you could go as deep as 100 feet.
ENSOR: It works by reflecting electromagnetic waves off of an object underground.
TURNER: This image shows three underground storage tanks located underneath a foot of concrete.
ENSOR (on camera): The radar devices can also be used up against a wall to see what's inside a building and there are a number of other useful technologies, some of which have improved dramatically in the year since inspectors were last inside Iraq.
ENSOR (voice over): For example, these handheld devices should help the hunt for biological weapons. Available since last year, they can recognize a microbe by its DNA in about 20 minutes. And the cameras and other sensors they old UNSCOM inspector teams used to put in Iraqi labs to monitor them, all that will be digital now.
DAVID ALBRIGHT, FORMER U.N. INSPECTOR: Processors that are a lot smaller, more powerful, so you can process more data, equipment that's just going to be more reliable in a harsh environment.
ENSOR: Then, too, U.N. inspectors have bought masses of newly- available commercial satellite photos of Iraq, searching for clues like suspicious reconstruction at previously bombed sites. There are also new tools like the Predator unmanned surveillance planes, which the U.S. could make available to the inspectors if it chooses to do so.
ALBRIGHT: If they do have a Predator, they could stand off miles from the place that's actually under surveillance and have a good chance the Iraqis won't know that they're being looked at.
ENSOR: All in all, a toolkit to envy says a former chief inspector.
RICHARD BUTLER, FMR. U.N. CHIEF INSPECTOR: I know they have much more modern equipment than what we had and I know that their ability to conduct surveillance from the sky will be improved on what we had.
ENSOR (on camera): But former arms inspectors will tell you that all the high-tech gadgets in the world are not as good as the human instincts of an arms inspector as he or she tries to gauge whether an Iraqi scientist is telling the truth or is lying.
David Ensor CNN, Leesburg, Virginia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: The war on terror, a frustrated White House, the secret memo, the hunt for bin Laden and much more, a behind-the-scenes look from the veteran journalist Bob Woodward. Plus, federal screeners are on the job but are we any safer now since September 11? And, a diet full of meat to help you lose weight, the latest verdict on the Atkins Diet, but first in case you were out enjoying yourself over the weekend, let's have our Weekend Snapshot right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice over): Protesters mad, more than 90 people were arrested Saturday at Fort Benning, Georgia, among them more than half a dozen nuns. Demonstrators were protesting what was once the Army's School of the Americas. They say the school trains some of the people who have killed six Jesuit priests more than a decade ago in El Salvador. The school was replaced last year by a new institution that has human rights courses.
New England under ice, thousands of people woke up without power today after a big Nor'easter dumped ice and snow on the region. Connecticut suffered some of the worst damage. The storm also caused serious problems in Massachusetts and Maine.
Eroding support, a new poll could spell trouble for Al Gore if he decides on another run for the White House. Only about a third of the Democratic National Committee members polled by the Los Angeles Times said Gore should run again in 2004.
Badge of honor, a Baltimore police officer may be alive today because of his badge. It deflected a bullet fired by an assailant during a struggle. The officer suffered only minor injuries. A champion's reception, Mohammed Ali is getting the star treatment in Afghanistan. The boxing legend is on a second day of his trip to Kabul as a U.N. messenger of peace. His attorney says Ali wants to keep attention focused on the humanitarian needs in Afghanistan.
Box office magic, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is estimated to have pulled in close to $88 million on its opening weekend, the third best film debut ever. The new Harry Potter flick is the second installment in the fantasy series, and that's our Weekend Snapshot.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: A new book by Washington Post investigative reporter Bob Woodward discloses some fascinating revelations about the drama in the White House as the war on terror began. "Bush at War" covers the first weeks after September 11.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice over): The book has surprising new detail about the early stages of the war on terror. Woodward writes that success on the ground in Afghanistan was due in no small measure to the work of CIA teams sent there in the early days after September 11. He writes that one of the first teams in, code name Jawbreaker had been given a clear directive from the CIA's head of counterterrorism.
"Go find the al Qaeda and kill them. We're going to eliminate them. Get bin Laden, find him. I want his head in a box. I want to take it down and show the president."
Bin Laden has remained elusive but Woodward writes that CIA operatives made huge gains by paying off local warlords and paying Taliban commanders to defect. He writes about one case where a Taliban commander was offered $50,000 to defect. The commander said he'd think about it. After U.S. Special Forces directed a precision bomb right outside the commander's headquarters, U.S. operatives called back and offered $40,000. The commander accepted.
"Bush at War" illustrates serious doubts among some war planners about the bombing campaign not long after it began in October of last year. Opposition forces were not moving against the Taliban and the Pentagon started to develop plans for a massive ground invasion.
Woodward writes of a president frustrated over the so-called hand wringing of his top aides over war strategy. The president, he says, was preoccupied by media coverage of the war and public perceptions. Woodward writes that Roger Ailes who had been a media adviser to the first President Bush and is now chairman of the Fox News Channel sent a confidential message to the White House.
Woodward writes: "His back channel message: The American public would tolerate waiting and would be patient, but only as long as they were convinced that Bush was using the harshest measures possible." Woodward says Ailes' message had to be confidential because in his position as head of a news network, he was not supposed to be giving political advice.
Ailes has issued this statement: "Bob Woodward's characterization of my memo is incorrect. In the days following 9/11, our country came together in non-partisan support of the president. During that time, I wrote a personal note to a White House staff member as a concerned American, expressing my outrage about the attacks on our country. I did not give up my American citizenship to take on this job."
As for the people paid to give the president advice, Woodward writes of a crucial meeting of the Bush national security team in the early days of the war. "Bush looked at each of his key advisers and asked if they were on board with the war strategy as it was then playing out. Each one said yes and they stayed the course."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (on camera): And, please be sure to catch Bob Woodward tonight on CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE." That's at 9:00 Eastern. And, one additional programming note, Bob Woodward will join me here on this program Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
During our show Friday, we quoted Israeli authorities who said that 12 people were killed when Palestinian militants opened fire on Jewish worshipers returning from Sabbath prayers at the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron in the West Bank. The fact is Israeli officials now tell us that those killed were Israeli police soldiers and security officials and that the shooting broke out after the worshipers had returned to a nearby settlement.
The Feds take over airport screening, so is it all safe, smooth sailing in the skies? A security report card when we come back. Also, homeland pork, find out all about the special perks you, the taxpayer, could be footing for in the bill. And JFK's secret agony, the newly-released medical documents.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: We have an important development coming in now from Capitol Hill regarding the fate of the Homeland Security Bill. Our Congressional correspondent, Jonathan Karl is standing by with details.
Go ahead, John.
JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, we've just learned that Senator John McCain will be voting with the Democrats tomorrow on a key provision that would strip seven items the Democrats are calling "special interest provisions" from the Homeland Security Bill. This makes it much more likely that Democratic amendment will pass and further complicates the possibility of having a quick vote on a Homeland Security Bill. Here's what Senator McCain had to say just a few minutes ago. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I don't approve of a process where the House of Representatives throws a major piece of legislation over to the Senate and says, goodbye. That's the way the process is supposed to be conducted around here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARL: Now, here is the problem, Wolf, the House of Representatives passed that bill last week and then they left town. They have effectively adjourned for the year. Now, if this amendment passes tomorrow, the Senate will effectively pass a different Homeland Security Bill, which means the 435 members of the House will have to come back to town. They will have to work out the differences between the House and the Senate versions and have yet another vote, further delaying this process. Something, by the way, that Senator Phil Graham, who has been with the president on this, says could kill the prospects, could kill a Homeland Security Bill for this year.
BLITZER: Well, why would that happen? Presumably, even if the House came back, they still have the votes to pass this new version that the Senate might pass.
KARL: Well, the question is what happens if the House comes back? Are they going to fight for these provisions? Tom DeLay, the majority leader over there in the House for the Republicans, has been saying that he will fight for these provisions that the Senate is stripping out. So you could have a situation where you have deadlock on homeland security.
BLITZER: Jon, is there a specific piece of pork that McCain hates that got him to come around and go with the Democrats than?
KARL: McCain's objection here is the process. He doesn't like the idea of the House coming in and adding provisions that the Senate has never debated, never discussed. These are provisions that have passed the House in the past, but they are not provisions that have been discussed here on the floor of the United States Senate and that's McCain's objection. It's a process objection. But whatever his objection is, it means the Democrats now have a key Republican vote and probably enough votes to pass their amendment.
BLITZER: All right. Well, we'll soon find out tomorrow. Jonathan Karl standing by. Thanks for that important information.
The Bush administration says it's beaten tomorrow's deadline to have federal screeners in place at all commercial airports in the United States. But will it work? CNN's Patty Davis is over at Reagan National Airport here in the nation's capital. She has some details.
Go ahead, Patty.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, with the holiday travel season, Wolf, right around the corner, the big question is -- are you any safer in the skies? (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you sure you have everything out of your pockets?
DAVIS (voice-over): Raynu Clark says she took the job of federal passenger screener for a reason.
RAYNU CLARK, FEDERAL SCREENER: I feel like I'm doing my part in September 11. We just wouldn't want something like that to happen again.
DAVIS: She's one more of more than 44,000 federal screeners now on the job at more than 400 airports. Officials say they delivered on their promise to get screeners like Clark in place by Tuesday's deadline, making the skies safer against terrorists.
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR: Today is a milestone, but it is not an ending. New and important deadlines loom ahead.
DAVIS: The next big deadline, December 31, to screen all checked bags for terrorist bombs, using these big explosive detection machines. While transportation officials say 100 airports are already screening all checked bags, Congress is considering a one-year deadline extension for others. Bags at those airports would still be screened by hand or even by bomb-sniffing dogs. Not good enough for some critics.
PAUL HUDSON, AVIATION CONSUMER ADVOCATE: They've lost some of their urgency. There has been some bureaucratic confusion. And Congress has taken, as it often does, one step forward and one step back.
DAVIS: Permanent reinforced cockpit doors still not in place, holes in general aviation security and concerns that cargo on commercial flights still goes unchecked.
JIM GILMORE, TERRORISM ADVISORY PANEL: About 22 percent of the cargo that goes into commercial aircraft is unconnected to passengers. So we need to make sure that we enhance that type of inspection, so that if anybody attempts to utilize that source to attack an airplane, that they're going to be caught.
DAVIS: The Transportation Security Administration says cargo is on the top of its list of next priorities.
JAMES LOY, TSA: Cargo and charters and general aviation and the caterers that are at the airport, the workers that are inside the so- called sanitized area of the airport, all of those things deserve our attention and in fact, have gotten an awful lot of attention.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DAVIS: Now, while transportation officials admit there is still work to be done, they say with federal screeners, federal air marshals and other security measures already in place, that passengers should indeed feel safer to fly -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Patty Davis at beautiful Reagan National Airport. Thanks very much, Patty, for that useful information especially as we all get ready to start traveling for Thanksgiving and the holidays.
John F. Kennedy's unbearable pain the public never knew about. Did prescription drugs influence his decisions? A peek at newly released medical documents. And eat meat and lose weight? The controversial Atkins diet gets a new endorsement. Stay with us.
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BLITZER: Some new information about the Atkins diet. That's coming up right after this break.
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BLITZER: A new book cuts away much of the secrecy around President John F. Kennedy's serious health problems before and during his years in the White House. According to the historian, Robert Dallek, Kennedy suffered from more illnesses and was in far greater pain than the public ever knew about at the time. Professor Dallek's book, "An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy 1917 to 1963" is to be published next year. It is excerpted in the December edition of "The Atlanta Monthly Magazine." Professor Dallek, who teaches at Boston University, is joining us now live from our New York studio.
Excellent work you've done, Professor. Tell us why -- first of all, how sick was John F. Kennedy?
ROBERT DALLEK, HISTORIAN: Well, it's really quite amazing. He had a variety of diseases. He had something called colitis, which he had as a teenage boy. At the age of 17, he was sent to the Mayo Clinic to deal with this. He never got over it. He was still suffering from it in the White House. They apparently began giving him steroids, which first became available in 1937 and the steroids may have caused his back problems. They caused osteoporosis of the lower back. And he suffered from that terribly beginning in 1940. And so, the PT-109 episode exacerbated this, but it wasn't the fundamental cause of it.
And we had in these new records, X-rays and my medical friend who came with me, Dr. Jeffrey Calman (ph), he brought a view box and studied these X-rays and saw these compression fractures and concluded that the man was in awful pain, had to be on painkillers, as many as eight medications a day that he was taking.
BLITZER: And he was mixing all these various medications, maybe even randomly that could have caused even further problems, especially since he had what was called Addison's disease.
DALLEK: Yes. Well, of course, he was closely supervised by a variety of physicians. But, you know, Wolf, the bottom line to all of this is what's amazing is how well he functioned. The man was really quite heroic and quite stoic because I charted his work in the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Bay of Pigs operation, and I looked at the medical records that kind of ran alongside of these episodes. And he was very much on top of things, lucid and thoughtful, very much in command. And I think, in fact, without the medicines, he never could have functioned as effectively as he did.
BLITZER: But some of the drugs were what some might call "psychotic drug" that could have had an enormous impact on his decision-making process.
DALLEK: Well, there was an anti-psychotic, but it was used in those days as a kind of anti-depressant, you see. And he was only on this medication for two days. So one should not exaggerate or none of us should exaggerate the impact of this on him.
But there was sleeping medications he took and there were tranquilizers. But, again, what I found in studying the record so closely was that he was able to function quite effectively and reign in the Addison's disease and reign in his back problems and reduce the pain and deal with this variety of afflictions that he suffered from most of his life.
BLITZER: How he did manage to keep all of this secret and how did his family manage to keep all this secret for so many years, 40 years?
DALLEK: Well, Wolf, what's amazing is how few people really knew. The people closest to him in the White House, that's how stoic and effective he was. I think his wife, of course, knew. Bobby Kennedy knew. His father knew and the physicians knew. But Ted Kennedy released a statement in which he said he did not know the extent of his brother's illnesses.
Now, how did they keep it so quiet? Well, these records have been locked up at the Kennedy Library ever since, I believe, 1965. We know they're there. Other historians, other biographers knew they were there. They requested access and they were denied. Now, why did they let me in? I'm not sure except that I would like to think -- to flatter myself -- that they saw me as a responsible scholar who would not sensationalize things.
Also, they had the materials vetted or reviewed by a physician in Boston and he apparently advised them to let a serious historian in because he said he thought it would make Kennedy look heroic. It would expand our understanding of his character. Plus, there's been so much debunking about him in relation to his womanizing and I don't deny that for a minute, but yet this is another side to the man's character and it enlarges our view of it, I think.
BLITZER: An amazing side. I read the article. I'm looking forward to the book. Thanks very much, Professor Dallek, for joining us. And this footnote, as Professor Dallek just pointed out, Ted Kennedy did issue a statement. Let me read it to you, so that you'll get the full context of what his brother said. He said, "While not aware of the exact details of my brother's medical condition, I did see the great courage he exhibited throughout his life in triumphing over illness and pain." Senator Ted Kennedy issuing that statement. On another medical issue, the high fat, low carbohydrate Atkins diet. Converts, of course, swear by it. Many researchers and doctors have long contended it's a recipe for disaster. Now, some of the diet's harshest critics are taking a second guarded look at the diet. Our medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen is joining me now live from Atlanta.
You've been looking at this latest study. Tell us about it, Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know what happened, Wolf, is that in the -- when you look at the Atkins diet marketing, they give the impression that the Atkins diet doesn't just help you lose weight, it helps lower your cholesterol. So the Atkins diet folks paid for a study to be done at Duke University that shows that really that's not completely true.
Let's take a look at the results. They found that when folks were on the Atkins diet for six months, it did not decrease bad cholesterol. You want to decrease bad cholesterol, but this diet did not. It increased good cholesterol slightly by six points and it decreased triglycerides. Triglycerides are another kind of body fat that you want decreased. And in the Atkins study, the folks who were on the diet, it did decrease.
But there's an interesting note here that I think people ought to know about. The folks who were on this Atkins study diet were not just on the diet; they were taking a supplement that included fish oil. Fish Oil is known to decrease triglycerides and its known to increase good cholesterol. So some critics who we talked to said, "Well, it wasn't the Atkins diet that did those good things, it was the fish oil supplement that the people were taking in addition" -- Wolf.
BLITZER: And just to point out, Elizabeth, this latest study was funded at least in part by the Atkins Foundation, is that right?
COHEN: It was funded completely by the Atkins Foundation. That's right.
BLITZER: So what does that say about the worthiness of this whole study?
COHEN: Well, some people would say that it definitely calls into question the worthiness of it, but since it also found some things that don't put the Atkins diet in a completely good light, that makes you think that maybe it was a balanced study done by balanced people. So you have to keep that in mind too.
BLITZER: All right. Give our viewers very quickly the $64,000 answer. What diet do experts most recommend?
COHEN: What diets recommend for heart health, which is what we're talking about here today, is still the low fat diet, in other words, the polar opposite of the Atkins diet. They're discussing more and more whether or not Atkins has some good points or not and that will continue to be discussed. But still the bottom line is that most experts will tell you do a low fat diet. Do not do the Atkins diet for a healthy heart.
BLITZER: All right. Elizabeth Cohen with useful information as she always has. Thanks very much.
A police pursuit out of control. The big bang that ended this car chase. Look at this.
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BLITZER: We're following another important story over the Pentagon. Let's go right to Barbara Starr. She's standing by -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, we've just learned it within the last three hours. U.S. and coalition warplanes have dropped bombs again today in Southern Iraq after being targeted by the Iraqis. We are told that coalition aircraft dropped precision- guided bombs against two Iraqi air defense communications facilities and an Iraqi radar site.
Now, this was the second time today that U.S. and coalition warplanes saw action over Iraq earlier today. They dropped weapons in Northern Iraq, in the northern no-fly zone after being targeted there. It's an indication that Saddam Hussein clearly doesn't plan to give up his shooting war in the no-fly zones.
The White House, today, of course, expressing a lot of frustration about all of this, saying this type of continued activity by the Iraqis could be a violation that could lead to a material breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions, but saying it will still be up to the U.N. Security Council to make that decision. So the shooting war over the no-fly zones continues today, Wolf.
BLITZER: And just to be precise, Barbara, this has been going on for years and years and years. But tell our viewers why it's different now. What's happened over the past few days that makes this so important?
STARR: Well, the stakes have certainly been raised on both sides. Since the U.N. Security Council passed the resolution sending inspectors back into Iraq, the burden is on Iraq, according to United Nations, to comply not be in breach of any of the promises it has made and not target coalition aircraft, which are patrolling the no-fly zones in support of other U.N. Resolutions. The Pentagon says this is a violation of what Iraq has promised the U.N. it would not do.
BLITZER: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. She's watching that important development. Thanks very much, Barbara.
STARR: Certainly.
BLITZER: And this correction on some words we had written on our screen during our congressional correspondent, Jonathan Karl's report just a few minutes ago. Senator John McCain -- let's be precise -- is in favor of the Homeland Security Bill but is opposed to some of the provisions added by the House of Representatives and -- never debated in the Senate. Just want to make that very, very clear.
Time is running out on your turn to weigh in on our "Web Question of The Day." It's this -- now that limits on eavesdropping are lifted, do you think the U.S. government has too much power, the right amount of power, or not enough power in the war on terror? Log on to CNN.com/Wolf. That's where you can vote. We'll have the results immediately had we come back.
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BLITZER: Some motorists who ventured out in Los Angeles early this morning faced a dangerous situation, a high-speed chase. Reports say police gave chase to a suspected car thief who led them from Sunset Boulevard through downtown and into South L.A. The chase lasted about eight miles. It ended when the suspect slammed in a tree. You can see that picture.
Here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of The Day." Look at this, 68 percent of you think the U.S. government has too much power now that limits of eavesdropping are lifted in the war on terror. Twelve percent of you say they have just the right amount of power. Twenty percent of you say not enough power. Remember, this is not, repeat, not a scientific poll.
That's all the time we have for today. Please join me again tomorrow, 5:00 p.m. Eastern. And please join us weekdays at noon Eastern for "SHOWDOWN IRAQ." Until then, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" is up next.
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