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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Allies: More Time Needed for U.N. Inspections in Iraq

Aired January 24, 2003 - 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 VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): A CNN exclusive: training for the ground war. U.S. troops say they're ready to fight but are they ready for this: Iraqi oil fields rigged for an inferno?

Does Scott Peterson know more than he's saying about his wife's disappearance?

AMY ROCHA, LACI PETERSON'S SISTER: When facts come out and there's lie, I mean that only makes you suspicious of everything.

BLITZER: John Walsh gives you the very first look at his exclusive interview with Laci's family.

And, the Raiders, the Bucs, the hype, the commercials, we're talking Super Bowl with Pat O'Brien.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: It's Friday, January 24, 2003. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. The State Department weighed in today with an extraordinary warning as President Bush continues to weigh his options. Step-by-step, threat-by-threat, the United States and Iraq appear to be moving closer toward war.

Our White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is standing by with the latest - Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the president has been working on several drafts of his State of the Union speech that he is going to deliver on Tuesday.

A senior administration official gave us a preview saying, and I'm quoting here, "that he's going to emphasize this is the last diplomatic phase with Iraq." He goes on to say as well that the president will talk about the fact, and I'm quoting here, "We are a nation preparing for a potential war."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): At the swearing in of his administration's new secretary of homeland security, President Bush pledges to carry out his most important job, protecting the American people. GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've learned that vast oceans no longer protect us from the dangers of a new era. This government has a responsibility to confront the threat of terror wherever it is found.

MALVEAUX: The biggest threat the White House insists is Iraq as the president approaches his decision whether to use military action to disarm Saddam, meetings with his advisors.

Secretary of State Colin Powell works the allies, aiming to shore up support from Spain and others. U.S. General Tommy Franks on the ground in Kuwait consults with military allies.

The State Department anticipating backlash from any possible military action sends a cable alerting U.S. embassies to possible evacuations, all this as the administration continues to publicly build its case against Saddam.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: President Bush believes that Iraq's refusal to allow Iraqi scientists to submit to private interviews with U.N. inspectors is unacceptable. Under U.N. Resolution 1441, Iraq has an obligation to comply.

MALVEAUX: As the date for weapons inspectors to report their findings fast approaches, the White House is still trying to convince some U.S. allies, most notably France, military action may be necessary. A senior administration official says with the exception of Germany the Bush administration is confident it can turn some around.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you're not involved in a war, you'll have a very small involvement in the peace, and so the French position is actually despite the strident words at the moment, the one that might be turned.

MALVEAUX: A senior administration official also tells us that the president's State of the Union address will not be a declaration of war but rather an opportunity for the president to lay out a broad and detailed case against Saddam Hussein, that official also saying, and I'm quoting here, "why the prospect for war is very real" - Wolf.

BLITZER: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, Suzanne thanks very much.

And, the chief spokesman for the International Atomic Energy Agency is retracting a statement he made earlier today about Iraq. He was quoted as saying that the IAEA will give Iraq satisfactory grades for complying with U.N. inspections when it reports to the Security Council next week.

He said, in fact, that he would give the Iraqis a "B." A new statement says he was speaking off the cuff and his remarks are now being withdrawn. The IAEA says its report still is being finalized, will be made available to the U.N. Security Council on Monday.

If U.S. troops invade Iraq they may be facing a wall of fire. Our Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre has been looking into that - Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, in the latest chapter of the administration's effort to discredit Saddam Hussein, a warning today from the Pentagon that the Iraqi leader is preparing to use oil as a weapon of terror.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE (voice-over): The Pentagon confirmed Friday that its war strategy includes plans for U.S. troops to quickly seize and secure Iraq's 1,500 oil fields to prevent Saddam Hussein's troops from torching them.

As part of the Bush administration campaign to portray the Iraqi leader as an evil dictator, reporters at the Pentagon were given a briefing entitled "Oil as Weapon of Terror" which featured some gruesome images from the 1991 Kuwaiti oil fires.

A senior Pentagon official said U.S. intelligence indicates Saddam has plans to sabotage the Iraqi oil industry and pollute the environment but the briefer admitted the U.S. had no firm evidence preparations for the destruction of oil wells had yet begun.

The U.S. strategy is essentially to take control and protect the oil fields before the sabotage can take place and to urge the Iraqi people not to carry out orders to destroy what could be the economic engine of the rebuilding efforts that would follow any war.

Already some private companies, who work to put out fires in Kuwait in 1991, are making proposals to the Pentagon to offer their firefighting expertise to minimize damage from any sabotage.

VOICE OF RONNIE ROLES, CUDO PRESSURE CONTROL: We proposed immediately to roll with three teams and that would be three six-man teams and then the three complete firefighting packages.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: And, Wolf, this briefing at the Pentagon is the latest. It capped a week of efforts by administration officials from the president on down to make the case that Saddam Hussein is simply not to be trusted - Wolf.

BLITZER: Jamie, the Pentagon also reminded us about 9/11, the destruction that occurred on that day. Tell our viewers about that.

MCINTYRE: Well, there's a very interesting piece of animation that's been put together by a team of engineers that was looking at the structural integrity of the Pentagon and how it may help save lives.

They put together this animation that shows how low the plane came into the Pentagon and they concluded that the very sturdy construction, including this forest of concrete pillars that is the underpinning of the Pentagon, really helped the building stay together and really helped minimize the loss of life. And they're recommending that some of the construction techniques used in the Pentagon, which were used with the idea that it might eventually become a record storage area, be employed in buildings built in the future, that they be built higher than the specifications called for today - Wolf.

BLITZER: A horrible reminder, Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon, thanks Jamie very much.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Americans were also reminded today about September 11 in another way, a terrifying warning from Saddam Hussein's son.

UDAY HUSSEIN, SON OF SADDAM HUSSEIN (through translator): If they come, what they cried about on September 11 and what they saw as a big thing will seem like a picnic to them, a real picnic. They will be hurt and they will pay an unimaginable price.

BLITZER: Chilling words from Saddam Hussein's son Uday who speaks with his trademark swagger.

GRAHAM FULLER, FORMER CIA ANALYST: Uday Hussein is a very scary guy.

BLITZER: Graham Fuller spent years at the CIA studying Iraq. Despite its weapons of mass destruction, Fuller suggests Uday Hussein may be bluffing.

FULLER: If he's talking about striking the American homeland I would have a high degree of skepticism about his capability of doing that. He might get lucky. I don't want to be Pollyanna-ish about it and say nothing's going to happen, but remember this is a high stakes game and I think they are going to try to intimidate us to the maximum degree possible.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And joining us now to talk more about this bold threat from Uday Hussein, Ken Adelman. He's the former director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, also a former deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., and, in New York, Richard Betts of the Council on Foreign Relations. Thanks to both of you for joining us.

Ken, do you take this threat from Uday Hussein seriously?

KEN ADELMAN, FORMER U.S. DEPUTY AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: Well, I think you said it right. He's a man of a lot of swagger right there. I think that the intention of Saddam Hussein and his son are absolutely hostile to the United States and to the civilized world. That's why I think we need to liberate Iraq and get rid of people like that.

But I don't think that their capabilities match their intentions. I think some of what we can do to protect the homeland is important, but some of what we can do to really preempt his desire to - his effectiveness in doing that is also absolutely essential.

BLITZER: Is this the right time to go to war Mr. Betts?

RICHARD BETTS, COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: No. The danger is that if our war succeeds we could bring on exactly what it is we wanted to prevent. We've dealt with hostile regimes before by containment and deterrence and it's not clear that the risks of going to war in this case are lower than the risks from Iraqi retaliation. Hopefully it won't happen, but even if those risks are only say one out of five, that's pretty high.

BLITZER: What about that, Ken Adelman? Why not just contain Saddam Hussein, keep him in his box?

ADELMAN: I think that Richard Betts makes a wonderful argument and has made wonderful argument for what he says is a traditional and historical approach and he does that and he's a great historian and he does it very, very well.

But you know the world changed on September 11th, OK. What we saw now is a combination of two things that is very different from the kind of engagements that Richard Betts studied in the past.

Number one is we now have a proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, so Saddam Hussein has chemical weapons, a biological weapon arsenal that's awesome, can kill millions, and a nuclear weapons program.

And number two is there is an international terrorist network which we did not know existed, at least I didn't know existed, before September 11 that you can give these weapons of mass destruction to that would be lovely, would really want to take them and to destroy the United States and civilization. Those did not exist before.

BLITZER: All right. Do you buy that Mr. Betts? Mr. Betts, go ahead.

BETTS: Well, the problem is he's had these weapons of mass destruction for a long time and has had good reason to hold back from using them, but if we force him to the wall and he knows he's going down, we leave him with no reason to hold back anymore.

And, it's a little strange to say he's so dangerous because he has these weapons but we really don't have to worry about his using them against us if we leave him with no prospect of survival.

And, if we apply the logic that Ken Adelman is talking about, we have even more reason to do it to North Korea because in many respects North Korea is a more dangerous and reckless regime than Saddam Hussein's but we see the administration thinking quite differently about that case.

BLITZER: All right, go ahead Ken Adelman.

ADELMAN: Yes, he's absolutely right. Richard is absolutely right. We are thinking very different, or the administration is thinking very differently about North Korea, and that's because North Korea has nuclear weapons and has an arsenal of two or three and is building up more.

We don't want to be in a position where the main country in the Middle East becomes Iraq, where the main leader in the Middle East becomes Saddam Hussein, and where he is equipped with nuclear weapons.

BLITZER: All right, Mr. Betts wrap it up for us.

BETTS: Well, he has biological and chemical weapons already and biological weapons may not seem as awful as nuclear weapons but if they're used efficiently they can kill just as many people. So, if he's really that dangerous, we ought to be thinking about ways to give him incentives not to do what we say he has the capabilities to do right now.

BLITZER: All right.

ADELMAN: I think that's a very good argument if it hadn't been over the last 12 years. That has been tried and tried and tried and it has failed. And so, you just have to wake up.

BETTS: Over the last 12 years he has been contained. He has not attacked his neighbors.

ADELMAN: You just have to wake up.

BETTS: He has not used his weapons of mass destruction.

ADELMAN: But that is not true. He has tried to kill, assassinate, an ex-president of the United States. He tried to blow up the World Trade Center in 1993 with a very big conspiracy.

BETTS: True. Regimes as awful as his are do lots of bad things like that and the North Koreans have a record of even more extensive wild and crazy behavior like that. But when it comes to weapons of mass destruction, he has still held them back because he knows he still has a lot to lose.

It's a very different situation once we put him in the position where he knows he has nothing left to lose. He's going to be history, and he might as well go down in a blaze of glory and take as many of us with him as he can. That's a very different situation.

ADELMAN: I think every day you wait he has a bigger arsenal and there is a bigger network to give these weapons of mass destruction. So, as bad as the situation is now, it's a lot worse than it was five years ago, and it will be so much worse in five years time. I believe deterrence and containment as it existed before and succeeded before is now over in the post 9/11 world.

BLITZER: Ken Adelman, Richard Betts, unfortunately we have to leave it right there. Thanks to both of you, a good debate. We'll continue it on another occasion.

And here's your chance to weigh in on this story. Our web question of the day is this. Do you think Iraq can deliver on the threat made by Saddam Hussein's son? We'll have the results later in this broadcast.

Vote at cnn.com/wolf. And while you're there, I'd love to hear from you. Send me your comments. 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.

"America's Most Wanted's" John Walsh, he shares an exclusive interview with us. He spoke with the family of Laci Peterson. Hear why bad blood between the families has now developed since her disappearance Christmas Eve.

And, this reminder, we're standing by for a live news conference from Laci's family at the half hour.

Plus:

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Elizabeth Cohen and I'm in a room where history was made today. Right here they launched the first public smallpox vaccination program in 30 years.

BLITZER: Super Bowl mania, my good friend Pat O'Brien will join me live from San Diego for a preview of the game, the ads and halftime.

But first, today's "News Quiz."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER (voice-over): Which American city has been banned from taking an ad out during the Super Bowl, Tampa, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Oakland, the answer coming up?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: One month to the day after she vanished, still no sign of Laci Peterson. The 27-year-old woman from Modesto, California who's pregnant dropped out of sight on Christmas Eve.

Reminder, we're standing by for a rare news conference by family members this hour. You're looking at a live picture. They should be coming to that microphone at the bottom of the hour, around then.

In the meantime, we'll get a unique perspective from the missing woman's mother, her stepfather and sister. They sat down for an exclusive interview with TV's John Walsh. He's the host of "America's Most Wanted" and the "John Walsh Show."

I spoke with John earlier and I asked him about the rift that's developed between Laci's family and her husband Scott Peterson and about the family's state of mind.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOHN WALSH, HOST, "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED" (via telephone): They're just desperate to find something out. The not knowing is killing them. Her stepfather, Ron, and her mother Sharon, and of course the rift has now been, you know, created between Scott Peterson's family and Laci Peterson's mom and step dad. And, now, you know, the hard feelings and all the innuendo and speculation have started.

RON GRANTSKI, LACI PETERSON'S STEPFATHER: If he wants to be honest with us now's the time. I mean it's bad what he did but all he has to do is be straight with us and I just don't feel he's been straight with us about this or other things.

WALSH: Now he's saying let's, you know, now that my affair has become public, you know, committing adultery is not against the law. My wife is missing and I need to find her.

ROCHA: I feel this crushed us. This is something that we didn't know about. We've been lied to so I mean of course like our feelings changed about how we felt about Scott.

BLITZER: Do you get a sense that Scott Peterson is going to change his strategy because a lot of our viewers, I got tons of e-mail on this case, they don't understand, a) why he's refusing to take a polygraph; and, b) why isn't he doing what you recommended he should do, go on every TV show and simply speak out to keep this case out in the public eye.

WALSH: Well, I finally got a chance to talk to his family and his father said we were so afraid that the focus was too much on him we may have made a mistake. People are not sophisticated at dealing with the media and I really believe that if he now is of the mind that he has to step up there and he has to take the tough questions, he has to bite the bullet, and believe me, you know, when my son was missing I went through 17 hours of police interrogation and the polygraphs.

I would have stood at Times Square naked to get Adam back and I think Scott Peterson realizes now that he has to step up to the plate and be a man. He has to do whatever it takes to focus this investigation onto one fact, Laci Peterson is missing and if he had nothing to do with it, he's going to have to answer the hard questions.

BLITZER: Does her mother, the stepfather, her sister, I know you've spoken with all of them, do they still have hope she's alive?

WALSH: Parents always keep hope and the Petersons are hoping that Laci will somehow surface, but I think the reality is starting to sink in that you don't hide or keep a woman for a month. That's not what, you know, the odds are way against that.

SHARON ROCHA, LACI PETERSON'S MOTHER: Somebody knows where she is and we just hope that they would at least let us know where she is or bring her home to us or send an anonymous note, anything, call the police, take her to a hospital, anything. We want to have Laci home.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: What a heart wrenching story. By the way you can catch the full interview with Laci's family on "America's Most Wanted" this Saturday night and on the "John Walsh Show" during the week.

We should point out that police have not named Scott Peterson as a suspect in his wife's disappearance. Publicly he said very little. Here are some comments, though, that he did make in recent days.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT PETERSON, LACI PETERSON'S HUSBAND: Well, we just all hope she's safe and she'll be back. What else is there to say?

Everyone is still helping look for Laci, so all the volunteer centers are active. Excuse me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where will you open up your center?

PETERSON: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: We attempted to contact Scott Peterson to speak with us for this segment but we were unable to reach him.

And, as we mentioned, the family of Laci Peterson is expected to hold a news conference around the bottom of this hour. You're looking at a live picture where that news conference will take place. When that happens, CNN will bring it to you live from Modesto, California.

The new homeland security chief sworn in but will this new bureaucracy make any of us any safer any time soon? We'll take a closer look.

Plus, vaccination nation, first responders line up to get protection from a disease that hasn't infected people for decades.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: A White House ceremony made it official today. Tom Ridge, the nation's first secretary of the new Department of Homeland Security. The former governor of Pennsylvania didn't shy from the huge task ahead, saying we've got a long way to go. At least one critic agreed.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve is joining us now live - Jeanne.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The swearing in of Secretary Tom Ridge, the first simple step in the complicated process of putting together a big department was an enormous task, protecting the nation from terrorist attack.

BUSH: The American people can be certain that the mission of homeland security will be carried out with focus and resolve with the resources the task requires.

MESERVE: Almost simultaneously, New York's junior Senator was giving a speech saying the nation is not prepared, its approach to homeland security haphazard.

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: We have relied on a myth of homeland security, a myth written in rhetoric, in adequate resources, and a new bureaucracy, instead of relying on good old- fashioned American ingenuity, might, and muscle.

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECY: I read that.

MESERVE: Ridge said Clinton's words were an unfortunate characterization.

RIDGE: It's not a myth that the information sharing between the CIA and the FBI and the Office of Homeland Security gets better every day. It's not a myth that twice a day representatives of the intelligence community through video conferencing consult with one another about either the information they've received, threats that they're monitoring, or situations that they're working on.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE: President Bush has signed an executive order saying that if there is a terrorist attack between now and March 1 when most of the component agencies will be folded into this new department, Secretary Ridge will be in charge of the response. Could that be in anticipation of hostilities with Iraq? Well, Ridge says his department has to be prepared, war or not - Wolf.

BLITZER: Jeanne Meserve thanks very much for that report.

And, for the first time in three decades, people are now lining up for smallpox vaccinations. Let's go to CNN Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen. She's at the University of Connecticut in Farmington - Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, history was made here in Connecticut today. Healthcare workers were poked 15 times in the arm to protect themselves against smallpox.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN (voice-over): A historic doctor, a historic arm, a historic needle. Dr. James Hadler is the first person in 30 years to get a smallpox vaccination in a public vaccination program.

DR. JAMES HADLER, CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH: It's important for the country to begin to be more prepared for smallpox than it was before and this has been the first opportunity to do it and we were ready.

COHEN: Smallpox vaccinations are controversial because statistically for every million people who get the shot, one will die, 14 will get life threatening illnesses, and 48 will become seriously ill. Some say it's worth the risk.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a little bit of risk, tiny bit of risk to taking this vaccination and the black boxes we don't really know what the risk is of smallpox being weaponized.

COHEN: And if Saddam Hussein or anyone else uses smallpox as a bioweapon, the results could be devastating and these doctors and nurses will have to take care of the victims so they must take precautions.

CANDACE PETTIGREW, REGISTERED NURSE: It's my duty as a nurse and as a citizen of the United States to get vaccinated.

COHEN: Some healthcare workers, however, say they don't want to get vaccinated. In fact, many hospitals are choosing not to vaccinate their employees. In fact, the American Nurses Association is urging President Bush to delay the public vaccination program.

DIANE SOSNE, REGISTERED NURSE: Well, I am concerned about the vaccination program right now because I do not believe there are enough safeguards in place to protect healthcare workers who would be - are being asked to volunteer.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN: Now, some people are wondering who - some people who aren't health workers are wondering should I get vaccinated? Well, right now public health experts say no. These vaccinations are just for healthcare workers - Wolf.

BLITZER: Elizabeth Cohen thanks very much for that important report. Thank you very much.

We're standing by for two developments. We're standing by for some new details in that murder trial that's unfolding, a dramatic one in Texas.

Also, the news conference of the family of Laci Peterson, we'll bring it to you live as soon as it happens. Stay with us for that.

Plus, soldiers in the firing line hear what they have to say about a possible war with Iraq.

And, heating costs going through the roof, we'll tell you about a plan to help families make it through the winter.

Finally, Super Bowl ad campaigns, we'll go live to San Diego for a sneak peak at the fun stuff you'll be watching during the Super Bowl. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. I'm Wolf Blitzer. Coming up a pregnant woman missing since Christmas Eve, hear from her family live. That's expected momentarily.

First, let's take a quick look at some other stories making news in our "CNN News Alert."

(NEWS ALERT)

(INTERRUPTED BY CNN COVERAGE OF BREAKING NEWS)

BLITZER: Roger Cossack of Court TV is joining us on the phone now.

I know you have been covering this case, following it. A very interesting case. We have to remind our viewers, Roger. as I am sure you would want us to, Scott Peterson has not been accused of anything. He's not even been cited as being a suspect.

Where did you see this case going?

ROGER COSSACK, COURT TV: Well, you know, Wolf, it's one thing to say that he's not been cited as a suspect and that's absolutely accurate. But there are certainly many questions, and certainly suspicious surroundings that seem in many ways point in his direction. Yet, there is no hard evidence or he would have been arrested.

You know, you cannot hear this story but also not think of Chandra Levy from Modesto, another young woman who disappeared and here in Washington from that exact same area and you see this family crying and pleading, as you point out, and you think about that poor family also that that was doing the same thing from this very small town in central California. It's a very unusual.

BLITZER: I know you don't want to leave our viewers with any sense that there could be a connection between Chandra Levy...

COSSACK: No, no, no, and you are right, Wolf. I didn't mean that, other than geographically for this one town to suffer such tragedies and this town in central California is just unusual.

But again, I think you're right. I think it would be irresponsible for me to point and say that Scott Peterson is a suspect, when he has not been identified as a suspect. But obviously, look, there are there questions on the notion that someone goes and leaves his pregnant wife on Christmas Eve and then turns out to having an affair with another woman. I mean, look, those are questions and those are things that the police will investigate.

Does that add up to an arrest? Not yet. And perhaps it never will.

BLITZER: You heard both of the family members, the mother and the brother appeal to Scott Peterson to cooperate with local law enforcement in this investigation. I assume they're referring to the fact that he's refused to take a polygraph, a lie detector test.

Explain to our viewers the significance or perhaps lack of significance of that fact.

COSSACK: Well, that's really -- I am sure by now that Scott Peterson has retained a lawyer. It's -- you know, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that he's the one that is a strong, if not a suspect in this case -- certainly someone that they're looking into. And a lawyer is going to say to him, things that whether, you know, he's involved or not is going to, then, defend him.

And any lawyer, defense lawyer worth his salt is going to say, Look, at this stage of the game, you can no longer answer questions of the police. You can no longer involve yourselves in lie detector tests and things like that even though they are not admissible in court because you are -- it's clear they are looking at you and that's what a lawyer would do.

And I know that's hard to understand and I know that people think that's a conflict. And if he didn't have anything to do with it, why doesn't he just talk? Well, sometimes it's not quite simple and...

BLITZER: Well, explain to our viewers, Roger, because it is a hard thing for those of us who are not lawyers to understand. His wife is missing. She was eight months pregnant. He loves her. He wants to find her. Why isn't he doing, at least publicly, that a husband as distraught as he may be would normally be doing under these kind of circumstances?

COSSACK: Without trying to defend him in any way because I don't know him and I obviously don't know the evidence the police have, I can only tell you this, if he -- if he went to a defense lawyer, which I am sure he did, the defense lawyer has to take the position that he is a suspect in this case.

And, therefore, must do all of those things that any defense lawyer would do, which would be to invoke your rights under the Fifth Amendment and not cooperate. It's just a question of the fact of saying, Look, you know, whether he did it, didn't do, it the police obviously are suspicious of him. Whether he is -- or whether he is her husband or not.

And it's just one of those things. I mean, I suppose a legitimate question that you're asking, Wolf, is, if you didn't have anything to do with it why aren't you talking? But if the police think he did -- he did it and he says he didn't do it he is then in that position where he has to defend himself.

I am not passing judgment on whether it's a good idea or the right thing to do. I am just trying to explain why he may not be cooperating.

BLITZER: All right, Roger, please stand by for a moment because I want to make a turn. There's another dramatic story we're following right now in Texas, as well. A murder trial that you've been looking into involving Clara Harris.

She's accused of killing her husband by running him down with her Mercedes-Benz, action taken after she found him with another woman. A videotape of that incident was shown in a Houston courtroom earlier today. And I want to show it to our viewers. It's a picture taken from afar. There is no audio. You are just seeing this Mercedes-Benz. Prosecutors are containing that Mrs. Harris ran over her husband, David Harris, after he spurned here when she discovered him with his alleged mistress.

Defense attorneys say Harris lost it and didn't intend to kill he husband. If convicted Clara Harris faces up to life in prison.

Roger Cossack of Court TV, this is pretty dramatic videotape. No one can dispute that she did in fact run over her husband.

COSSACK: Right, no one is disputing that. The defense in this case is clearing not saying that this was an accident or the husband died of a heart attack. There's no question of the fact that she ran him over and ran him over repeatedly.

The real issue in this case is that she knew he was having an affair with another woman, his office manager. They had had conversations regarding a breakup. She had apparently asked him, and he had agreed not break up and allegedly was meeting the office manager that day, as he told his wife to break it off. And apparently he didn't do that and he went it a hotel.

The wife had a private investigator following him. She received information that he was at the hotel. She and his step daughter then and went and confronted him. A huge battle ensued into the lobby of the hotel where the two women into the got into a fight. She then jumped into her car. He was standing with the mistress and she then ran him over.

The question here, and the only question is, did she go to that hotel with the intent to kill him or did she go to that hotel with the intent to confront him and then in the heat of passion lose control of herself and run him over? That is what the jury will decide. If they decide she went there with the intent to kill him, it's first degree murder. She's looking at, I think, 30 to life.

If it's not, if it's something less than that, if they believe that she went there and suddenly snapped, then there is a statute or a defense in Texas in the heat of passion, she would be looking at something substantially less than the sentence I just said.

BLITZER: Roger Cossack of Court TV, one of our favorite, thanks for joining us on both of these stories and giving us your legal expertise, which we always appreciate. Two important stories that we're going to be following in the days and weeks to come, presumably.

Men and women preparing to head to the front line in Iraq, if, if war breaks out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Death is definitely I think everyone of us thinks about.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: Hear from the young lieutenants who may be sacrificing their lives on the battlefields. We'll have a special report. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: With the United States and Iraq moving closer to war, the men and women who will put their lives on the line are being prepared for what they'll face. CNN investigative correspondent Art Harris went to Fort Knox, Kentucky, to get a firsthand look at attack training. Here is his exclusive report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ART HARRIS, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For the first time in more than a decade, these young tank lieutenants are training in the shadow of a possible American ground war.

2ND LT. KELLY LEVERETT, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS: I work for the people, and if the people say go, then I go.

HARRIS: At Fort Knox, Kentucky, they learn to drive a monster machine that gets a half mile to the gallon.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not too many people can actually say they've really gone off roading with a 70-ton vehicle.

HARRIS: Or fire a tank's 120 millimeter canon. That can hit a target more than two miles away.

2ND LT. JOSHUA JOPLING, CAMDEN, ARKANSAS: Just awesome. It's unbelievable experience. Had the tank rock back and dust start flying in the turret.

HARRIS: And to feel invincible.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With big red "S" on our chest.

HARRIS (on camera): What's that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Superman.

HARRIS (voice-over): As big as the Abrams Tank is, the driver, the gunner, the loader, the commander, all are jammed into a tiny space. They sleep sitting up about.

(on camera): Four guys, living, working in these very tight spaces, what's that like?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You get to know each other real well, sir.

HARRIS (voice-over): A call to prayer at morning's light. Young lieutenants facing a mock battle in a make-believe Mideast village.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fire.

(GUNFIRE)

HARRIS: The tanks bring up the rear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two casualties.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go.

HARRIS: In urban combat, foot soldiers bear the brunt of battle.

(on camera): In a city, tanks can lose their edge. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) survivability. Maneuverability. Got to watch for land mines, snipers, the enemy can try to slow you down and put big obstacles in your path, like cars.

(voice-over): That's when America's monster does the monster mash. But for all its might, the tank is (UNINTELLIGIBLE) by the city. It can't see around corners. It's periscope won't reach rooftops. It's armor skin may seem tough.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Safest place to be on the battlefield. Nothing else can reach out touch you. Some people call it an iron coffin. I believe it is our iron sanctuary. You know?

HARRIS: Yet less than a minute (UNINTELLIGIBLE) his tank plowed its way up the village street, it was taken out by a rooftop grenade.

It is left the infantry to go with a tank cannot.

(on camera): Is there any fear?

2nd LT. CHRIS GEBBIA, READING PENNSYLVANIA: Oh, yes, sir. I mean, this is not a 9:00 to 5:00 job, sir. This is not a job where you work, you know, and you decide to take the day off, you take the day off. You can't do that here.

HARRIS: A tank gunner from the first Gulf War tells these students he made out his will.

2nd LT. NATHAN NELSON, HARXER HEIGHTS, TEXAS: Death is definitely something that I think every one of us think about.

2nd LT. JOSHUA JOPLING, CAMDEN ARKANSAS: I think about it a lot, sir.

HARRIS (on camera): How? What goes through your head.

JOPLIN: Just that I lived a good life and I have no regrets.

It's in the back of your mind, but when the going gets tough, you know, you have to put it behind you and just keep driving on with the mission.

HARRIS (voice-over): These soldier son the ground are played by green tank lieutenants. In their second week of training, learning to fight together for the group.

In urban warfare, fear of harming civilians could keep tanks firing their most powerful weapon.

The important lesson to be learned: when to shoot and when not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's every time you pull that trigger, you hope you did the right thing.

HARRIS: his was just a rehearsal. All too soon, it could be very real and very dangerous.

Art Harris, CNN, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: It's a pretty chilling report. Thank you very much, Art Harris.

When we come back, we will shift gears. Super Bowl mania in San Diego. But half the fun is on tape. The countdown to the monster ad campaign, and, oh, yeah, some football, too.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER (voice-over): Earlier, we asked: "Which American city has been banned from taking an ad out during the Super Bowl?" The answer" Las Vegas.

NFL has refused to air the ad in an effort to distance the league from gambling. The city's fighting back. It says the ad has no reference to sports betting and it's threatening to sue.

(on camera): Super security, super expensive television ads and if we're really lucky, a super Super Bowl football game.

One thing for certain: security will be extremely tight. In fact, 4,000 security personnel are now on duty in San Diego. Backing them up: a 52-camera surveillance system that will allow guards to keep track of every corner of Qualcomm Stadium. We hope to hear from former CBS anchor sports anchor Pat O'Brien but for reasons beyond our control, we're unable to do that.

But joining us now live on the phone from San Diego to talk about Sunday's game, between the Oakland Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is John Kelley, the weekend co-anchor of the nationally syndicated television show "Extra."

John, thanks so much for joining us.

I want our viewers to see two ads at least in part that are going to be running during the Super Bowl. We'll give them a preview right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, AD)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want you to be a spokesperson for Smoothie (ph) Shaving Cream. You can make huge money.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's not about the money. This is Willey Nelson.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Willie, we got a small problem. You made a little mistake on your taxes. You owe $30 million.

WILLEY NELSON, SINGER: I what?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Action!

NELSON: This play calls for a Smoothie.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cut!

NELSON: So have a Smooth.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cut! Willey, make a smooth move. Action!

NELSON: My face is burning.

ANNOUNCER: Don't get bad advice. Let H&R Block....

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, AD)

(MUSIC)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Hey, John, I don't know if you've had a chance to see these ads, but a lot of people just watch the Super Bowl to see these ads, don't they?

JOHN KELLEY, CO-ANCHOR, "EXTRA": Exactly. I mean, it's a classic time. It's a huge showcase and these celebrities love it because they know they're getting maximum exposure.

And when you check out Willey Nelson -- I mean, come on. Self- deprecating humor like that? Busting his own chops on old tax problems? That's good stuff.

And you're right. Many times, you know, the ironic part about it, people don't always remember what they're advertising but they always remember the ad.

BLITZER: Give us a little flavor, John. How exciting is it in San Diego right now?

KELLEY: Super Bowls attract everybody. You get the sports fan, you get the nonsports fan, you get the celebrity chasers, you get all the celebrities. So the city is jumping. And it's Friday right now, so they're starting to hit the midstride here and the big parties are going off this weekend.

So, you can really feel the energy in the city.

BLITZER: Who is going to win the game? KELLEY: You know, that's a good question. I'm like you; I just pray it's going to be a big game, because when you come out here, and if the commercials are better than the game, that's disappointing. But I'm going to go with the silver and black.

I'm going Raiders, 24-21.

BLITZER: I'm going with the Raiders, 24-10. You heard it right here.

John Kelley, let's talk again on another occasion.

KELLEY: Absolutely.

BLITZER: Thanks very much. We'll all have fun on Sunday.

We'll be right back with the results of our Web question of the day. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Well, just -- here are the results of the "Web Question of the Day." Forty percent of you say, Yes, you think Iraq can deliver on the threat made by Saddam Hussein's son, 60 percent say no.

That's all the time we have. Jan Hopkins is standing by for "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE." That's up next.

Jan, tell us what you have.

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 January 24, 2003 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): A CNN exclusive: training for the ground war. U.S. troops say they're ready to fight but are they ready for this: Iraqi oil fields rigged for an inferno?

Does Scott Peterson know more than he's saying about his wife's disappearance?

AMY ROCHA, LACI PETERSON'S SISTER: When facts come out and there's lie, I mean that only makes you suspicious of everything.

BLITZER: John Walsh gives you the very first look at his exclusive interview with Laci's family.

And, the Raiders, the Bucs, the hype, the commercials, we're talking Super Bowl with Pat O'Brien.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: It's Friday, January 24, 2003. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. The State Department weighed in today with an extraordinary warning as President Bush continues to weigh his options. Step-by-step, threat-by-threat, the United States and Iraq appear to be moving closer toward war.

Our White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is standing by with the latest - Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the president has been working on several drafts of his State of the Union speech that he is going to deliver on Tuesday.

A senior administration official gave us a preview saying, and I'm quoting here, "that he's going to emphasize this is the last diplomatic phase with Iraq." He goes on to say as well that the president will talk about the fact, and I'm quoting here, "We are a nation preparing for a potential war."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): At the swearing in of his administration's new secretary of homeland security, President Bush pledges to carry out his most important job, protecting the American people. GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've learned that vast oceans no longer protect us from the dangers of a new era. This government has a responsibility to confront the threat of terror wherever it is found.

MALVEAUX: The biggest threat the White House insists is Iraq as the president approaches his decision whether to use military action to disarm Saddam, meetings with his advisors.

Secretary of State Colin Powell works the allies, aiming to shore up support from Spain and others. U.S. General Tommy Franks on the ground in Kuwait consults with military allies.

The State Department anticipating backlash from any possible military action sends a cable alerting U.S. embassies to possible evacuations, all this as the administration continues to publicly build its case against Saddam.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: President Bush believes that Iraq's refusal to allow Iraqi scientists to submit to private interviews with U.N. inspectors is unacceptable. Under U.N. Resolution 1441, Iraq has an obligation to comply.

MALVEAUX: As the date for weapons inspectors to report their findings fast approaches, the White House is still trying to convince some U.S. allies, most notably France, military action may be necessary. A senior administration official says with the exception of Germany the Bush administration is confident it can turn some around.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you're not involved in a war, you'll have a very small involvement in the peace, and so the French position is actually despite the strident words at the moment, the one that might be turned.

MALVEAUX: A senior administration official also tells us that the president's State of the Union address will not be a declaration of war but rather an opportunity for the president to lay out a broad and detailed case against Saddam Hussein, that official also saying, and I'm quoting here, "why the prospect for war is very real" - Wolf.

BLITZER: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, Suzanne thanks very much.

And, the chief spokesman for the International Atomic Energy Agency is retracting a statement he made earlier today about Iraq. He was quoted as saying that the IAEA will give Iraq satisfactory grades for complying with U.N. inspections when it reports to the Security Council next week.

He said, in fact, that he would give the Iraqis a "B." A new statement says he was speaking off the cuff and his remarks are now being withdrawn. The IAEA says its report still is being finalized, will be made available to the U.N. Security Council on Monday.

If U.S. troops invade Iraq they may be facing a wall of fire. Our Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre has been looking into that - Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, in the latest chapter of the administration's effort to discredit Saddam Hussein, a warning today from the Pentagon that the Iraqi leader is preparing to use oil as a weapon of terror.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE (voice-over): The Pentagon confirmed Friday that its war strategy includes plans for U.S. troops to quickly seize and secure Iraq's 1,500 oil fields to prevent Saddam Hussein's troops from torching them.

As part of the Bush administration campaign to portray the Iraqi leader as an evil dictator, reporters at the Pentagon were given a briefing entitled "Oil as Weapon of Terror" which featured some gruesome images from the 1991 Kuwaiti oil fires.

A senior Pentagon official said U.S. intelligence indicates Saddam has plans to sabotage the Iraqi oil industry and pollute the environment but the briefer admitted the U.S. had no firm evidence preparations for the destruction of oil wells had yet begun.

The U.S. strategy is essentially to take control and protect the oil fields before the sabotage can take place and to urge the Iraqi people not to carry out orders to destroy what could be the economic engine of the rebuilding efforts that would follow any war.

Already some private companies, who work to put out fires in Kuwait in 1991, are making proposals to the Pentagon to offer their firefighting expertise to minimize damage from any sabotage.

VOICE OF RONNIE ROLES, CUDO PRESSURE CONTROL: We proposed immediately to roll with three teams and that would be three six-man teams and then the three complete firefighting packages.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: And, Wolf, this briefing at the Pentagon is the latest. It capped a week of efforts by administration officials from the president on down to make the case that Saddam Hussein is simply not to be trusted - Wolf.

BLITZER: Jamie, the Pentagon also reminded us about 9/11, the destruction that occurred on that day. Tell our viewers about that.

MCINTYRE: Well, there's a very interesting piece of animation that's been put together by a team of engineers that was looking at the structural integrity of the Pentagon and how it may help save lives.

They put together this animation that shows how low the plane came into the Pentagon and they concluded that the very sturdy construction, including this forest of concrete pillars that is the underpinning of the Pentagon, really helped the building stay together and really helped minimize the loss of life. And they're recommending that some of the construction techniques used in the Pentagon, which were used with the idea that it might eventually become a record storage area, be employed in buildings built in the future, that they be built higher than the specifications called for today - Wolf.

BLITZER: A horrible reminder, Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon, thanks Jamie very much.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Americans were also reminded today about September 11 in another way, a terrifying warning from Saddam Hussein's son.

UDAY HUSSEIN, SON OF SADDAM HUSSEIN (through translator): If they come, what they cried about on September 11 and what they saw as a big thing will seem like a picnic to them, a real picnic. They will be hurt and they will pay an unimaginable price.

BLITZER: Chilling words from Saddam Hussein's son Uday who speaks with his trademark swagger.

GRAHAM FULLER, FORMER CIA ANALYST: Uday Hussein is a very scary guy.

BLITZER: Graham Fuller spent years at the CIA studying Iraq. Despite its weapons of mass destruction, Fuller suggests Uday Hussein may be bluffing.

FULLER: If he's talking about striking the American homeland I would have a high degree of skepticism about his capability of doing that. He might get lucky. I don't want to be Pollyanna-ish about it and say nothing's going to happen, but remember this is a high stakes game and I think they are going to try to intimidate us to the maximum degree possible.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And joining us now to talk more about this bold threat from Uday Hussein, Ken Adelman. He's the former director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, also a former deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., and, in New York, Richard Betts of the Council on Foreign Relations. Thanks to both of you for joining us.

Ken, do you take this threat from Uday Hussein seriously?

KEN ADELMAN, FORMER U.S. DEPUTY AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: Well, I think you said it right. He's a man of a lot of swagger right there. I think that the intention of Saddam Hussein and his son are absolutely hostile to the United States and to the civilized world. That's why I think we need to liberate Iraq and get rid of people like that.

But I don't think that their capabilities match their intentions. I think some of what we can do to protect the homeland is important, but some of what we can do to really preempt his desire to - his effectiveness in doing that is also absolutely essential.

BLITZER: Is this the right time to go to war Mr. Betts?

RICHARD BETTS, COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: No. The danger is that if our war succeeds we could bring on exactly what it is we wanted to prevent. We've dealt with hostile regimes before by containment and deterrence and it's not clear that the risks of going to war in this case are lower than the risks from Iraqi retaliation. Hopefully it won't happen, but even if those risks are only say one out of five, that's pretty high.

BLITZER: What about that, Ken Adelman? Why not just contain Saddam Hussein, keep him in his box?

ADELMAN: I think that Richard Betts makes a wonderful argument and has made wonderful argument for what he says is a traditional and historical approach and he does that and he's a great historian and he does it very, very well.

But you know the world changed on September 11th, OK. What we saw now is a combination of two things that is very different from the kind of engagements that Richard Betts studied in the past.

Number one is we now have a proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, so Saddam Hussein has chemical weapons, a biological weapon arsenal that's awesome, can kill millions, and a nuclear weapons program.

And number two is there is an international terrorist network which we did not know existed, at least I didn't know existed, before September 11 that you can give these weapons of mass destruction to that would be lovely, would really want to take them and to destroy the United States and civilization. Those did not exist before.

BLITZER: All right. Do you buy that Mr. Betts? Mr. Betts, go ahead.

BETTS: Well, the problem is he's had these weapons of mass destruction for a long time and has had good reason to hold back from using them, but if we force him to the wall and he knows he's going down, we leave him with no reason to hold back anymore.

And, it's a little strange to say he's so dangerous because he has these weapons but we really don't have to worry about his using them against us if we leave him with no prospect of survival.

And, if we apply the logic that Ken Adelman is talking about, we have even more reason to do it to North Korea because in many respects North Korea is a more dangerous and reckless regime than Saddam Hussein's but we see the administration thinking quite differently about that case.

BLITZER: All right, go ahead Ken Adelman.

ADELMAN: Yes, he's absolutely right. Richard is absolutely right. We are thinking very different, or the administration is thinking very differently about North Korea, and that's because North Korea has nuclear weapons and has an arsenal of two or three and is building up more.

We don't want to be in a position where the main country in the Middle East becomes Iraq, where the main leader in the Middle East becomes Saddam Hussein, and where he is equipped with nuclear weapons.

BLITZER: All right, Mr. Betts wrap it up for us.

BETTS: Well, he has biological and chemical weapons already and biological weapons may not seem as awful as nuclear weapons but if they're used efficiently they can kill just as many people. So, if he's really that dangerous, we ought to be thinking about ways to give him incentives not to do what we say he has the capabilities to do right now.

BLITZER: All right.

ADELMAN: I think that's a very good argument if it hadn't been over the last 12 years. That has been tried and tried and tried and it has failed. And so, you just have to wake up.

BETTS: Over the last 12 years he has been contained. He has not attacked his neighbors.

ADELMAN: You just have to wake up.

BETTS: He has not used his weapons of mass destruction.

ADELMAN: But that is not true. He has tried to kill, assassinate, an ex-president of the United States. He tried to blow up the World Trade Center in 1993 with a very big conspiracy.

BETTS: True. Regimes as awful as his are do lots of bad things like that and the North Koreans have a record of even more extensive wild and crazy behavior like that. But when it comes to weapons of mass destruction, he has still held them back because he knows he still has a lot to lose.

It's a very different situation once we put him in the position where he knows he has nothing left to lose. He's going to be history, and he might as well go down in a blaze of glory and take as many of us with him as he can. That's a very different situation.

ADELMAN: I think every day you wait he has a bigger arsenal and there is a bigger network to give these weapons of mass destruction. So, as bad as the situation is now, it's a lot worse than it was five years ago, and it will be so much worse in five years time. I believe deterrence and containment as it existed before and succeeded before is now over in the post 9/11 world.

BLITZER: Ken Adelman, Richard Betts, unfortunately we have to leave it right there. Thanks to both of you, a good debate. We'll continue it on another occasion.

And here's your chance to weigh in on this story. Our web question of the day is this. Do you think Iraq can deliver on the threat made by Saddam Hussein's son? We'll have the results later in this broadcast.

Vote at cnn.com/wolf. And while you're there, I'd love to hear from you. Send me your comments. 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.

"America's Most Wanted's" John Walsh, he shares an exclusive interview with us. He spoke with the family of Laci Peterson. Hear why bad blood between the families has now developed since her disappearance Christmas Eve.

And, this reminder, we're standing by for a live news conference from Laci's family at the half hour.

Plus:

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Elizabeth Cohen and I'm in a room where history was made today. Right here they launched the first public smallpox vaccination program in 30 years.

BLITZER: Super Bowl mania, my good friend Pat O'Brien will join me live from San Diego for a preview of the game, the ads and halftime.

But first, today's "News Quiz."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER (voice-over): Which American city has been banned from taking an ad out during the Super Bowl, Tampa, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Oakland, the answer coming up?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: One month to the day after she vanished, still no sign of Laci Peterson. The 27-year-old woman from Modesto, California who's pregnant dropped out of sight on Christmas Eve.

Reminder, we're standing by for a rare news conference by family members this hour. You're looking at a live picture. They should be coming to that microphone at the bottom of the hour, around then.

In the meantime, we'll get a unique perspective from the missing woman's mother, her stepfather and sister. They sat down for an exclusive interview with TV's John Walsh. He's the host of "America's Most Wanted" and the "John Walsh Show."

I spoke with John earlier and I asked him about the rift that's developed between Laci's family and her husband Scott Peterson and about the family's state of mind.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOHN WALSH, HOST, "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED" (via telephone): They're just desperate to find something out. The not knowing is killing them. Her stepfather, Ron, and her mother Sharon, and of course the rift has now been, you know, created between Scott Peterson's family and Laci Peterson's mom and step dad. And, now, you know, the hard feelings and all the innuendo and speculation have started.

RON GRANTSKI, LACI PETERSON'S STEPFATHER: If he wants to be honest with us now's the time. I mean it's bad what he did but all he has to do is be straight with us and I just don't feel he's been straight with us about this or other things.

WALSH: Now he's saying let's, you know, now that my affair has become public, you know, committing adultery is not against the law. My wife is missing and I need to find her.

ROCHA: I feel this crushed us. This is something that we didn't know about. We've been lied to so I mean of course like our feelings changed about how we felt about Scott.

BLITZER: Do you get a sense that Scott Peterson is going to change his strategy because a lot of our viewers, I got tons of e-mail on this case, they don't understand, a) why he's refusing to take a polygraph; and, b) why isn't he doing what you recommended he should do, go on every TV show and simply speak out to keep this case out in the public eye.

WALSH: Well, I finally got a chance to talk to his family and his father said we were so afraid that the focus was too much on him we may have made a mistake. People are not sophisticated at dealing with the media and I really believe that if he now is of the mind that he has to step up there and he has to take the tough questions, he has to bite the bullet, and believe me, you know, when my son was missing I went through 17 hours of police interrogation and the polygraphs.

I would have stood at Times Square naked to get Adam back and I think Scott Peterson realizes now that he has to step up to the plate and be a man. He has to do whatever it takes to focus this investigation onto one fact, Laci Peterson is missing and if he had nothing to do with it, he's going to have to answer the hard questions.

BLITZER: Does her mother, the stepfather, her sister, I know you've spoken with all of them, do they still have hope she's alive?

WALSH: Parents always keep hope and the Petersons are hoping that Laci will somehow surface, but I think the reality is starting to sink in that you don't hide or keep a woman for a month. That's not what, you know, the odds are way against that.

SHARON ROCHA, LACI PETERSON'S MOTHER: Somebody knows where she is and we just hope that they would at least let us know where she is or bring her home to us or send an anonymous note, anything, call the police, take her to a hospital, anything. We want to have Laci home.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: What a heart wrenching story. By the way you can catch the full interview with Laci's family on "America's Most Wanted" this Saturday night and on the "John Walsh Show" during the week.

We should point out that police have not named Scott Peterson as a suspect in his wife's disappearance. Publicly he said very little. Here are some comments, though, that he did make in recent days.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT PETERSON, LACI PETERSON'S HUSBAND: Well, we just all hope she's safe and she'll be back. What else is there to say?

Everyone is still helping look for Laci, so all the volunteer centers are active. Excuse me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where will you open up your center?

PETERSON: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: We attempted to contact Scott Peterson to speak with us for this segment but we were unable to reach him.

And, as we mentioned, the family of Laci Peterson is expected to hold a news conference around the bottom of this hour. You're looking at a live picture where that news conference will take place. When that happens, CNN will bring it to you live from Modesto, California.

The new homeland security chief sworn in but will this new bureaucracy make any of us any safer any time soon? We'll take a closer look.

Plus, vaccination nation, first responders line up to get protection from a disease that hasn't infected people for decades.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: A White House ceremony made it official today. Tom Ridge, the nation's first secretary of the new Department of Homeland Security. The former governor of Pennsylvania didn't shy from the huge task ahead, saying we've got a long way to go. At least one critic agreed.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve is joining us now live - Jeanne.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The swearing in of Secretary Tom Ridge, the first simple step in the complicated process of putting together a big department was an enormous task, protecting the nation from terrorist attack.

BUSH: The American people can be certain that the mission of homeland security will be carried out with focus and resolve with the resources the task requires.

MESERVE: Almost simultaneously, New York's junior Senator was giving a speech saying the nation is not prepared, its approach to homeland security haphazard.

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: We have relied on a myth of homeland security, a myth written in rhetoric, in adequate resources, and a new bureaucracy, instead of relying on good old- fashioned American ingenuity, might, and muscle.

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECY: I read that.

MESERVE: Ridge said Clinton's words were an unfortunate characterization.

RIDGE: It's not a myth that the information sharing between the CIA and the FBI and the Office of Homeland Security gets better every day. It's not a myth that twice a day representatives of the intelligence community through video conferencing consult with one another about either the information they've received, threats that they're monitoring, or situations that they're working on.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE: President Bush has signed an executive order saying that if there is a terrorist attack between now and March 1 when most of the component agencies will be folded into this new department, Secretary Ridge will be in charge of the response. Could that be in anticipation of hostilities with Iraq? Well, Ridge says his department has to be prepared, war or not - Wolf.

BLITZER: Jeanne Meserve thanks very much for that report.

And, for the first time in three decades, people are now lining up for smallpox vaccinations. Let's go to CNN Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen. She's at the University of Connecticut in Farmington - Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, history was made here in Connecticut today. Healthcare workers were poked 15 times in the arm to protect themselves against smallpox.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN (voice-over): A historic doctor, a historic arm, a historic needle. Dr. James Hadler is the first person in 30 years to get a smallpox vaccination in a public vaccination program.

DR. JAMES HADLER, CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH: It's important for the country to begin to be more prepared for smallpox than it was before and this has been the first opportunity to do it and we were ready.

COHEN: Smallpox vaccinations are controversial because statistically for every million people who get the shot, one will die, 14 will get life threatening illnesses, and 48 will become seriously ill. Some say it's worth the risk.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a little bit of risk, tiny bit of risk to taking this vaccination and the black boxes we don't really know what the risk is of smallpox being weaponized.

COHEN: And if Saddam Hussein or anyone else uses smallpox as a bioweapon, the results could be devastating and these doctors and nurses will have to take care of the victims so they must take precautions.

CANDACE PETTIGREW, REGISTERED NURSE: It's my duty as a nurse and as a citizen of the United States to get vaccinated.

COHEN: Some healthcare workers, however, say they don't want to get vaccinated. In fact, many hospitals are choosing not to vaccinate their employees. In fact, the American Nurses Association is urging President Bush to delay the public vaccination program.

DIANE SOSNE, REGISTERED NURSE: Well, I am concerned about the vaccination program right now because I do not believe there are enough safeguards in place to protect healthcare workers who would be - are being asked to volunteer.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN: Now, some people are wondering who - some people who aren't health workers are wondering should I get vaccinated? Well, right now public health experts say no. These vaccinations are just for healthcare workers - Wolf.

BLITZER: Elizabeth Cohen thanks very much for that important report. Thank you very much.

We're standing by for two developments. We're standing by for some new details in that murder trial that's unfolding, a dramatic one in Texas.

Also, the news conference of the family of Laci Peterson, we'll bring it to you live as soon as it happens. Stay with us for that.

Plus, soldiers in the firing line hear what they have to say about a possible war with Iraq.

And, heating costs going through the roof, we'll tell you about a plan to help families make it through the winter.

Finally, Super Bowl ad campaigns, we'll go live to San Diego for a sneak peak at the fun stuff you'll be watching during the Super Bowl. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. I'm Wolf Blitzer. Coming up a pregnant woman missing since Christmas Eve, hear from her family live. That's expected momentarily.

First, let's take a quick look at some other stories making news in our "CNN News Alert."

(NEWS ALERT)

(INTERRUPTED BY CNN COVERAGE OF BREAKING NEWS)

BLITZER: Roger Cossack of Court TV is joining us on the phone now.

I know you have been covering this case, following it. A very interesting case. We have to remind our viewers, Roger. as I am sure you would want us to, Scott Peterson has not been accused of anything. He's not even been cited as being a suspect.

Where did you see this case going?

ROGER COSSACK, COURT TV: Well, you know, Wolf, it's one thing to say that he's not been cited as a suspect and that's absolutely accurate. But there are certainly many questions, and certainly suspicious surroundings that seem in many ways point in his direction. Yet, there is no hard evidence or he would have been arrested.

You know, you cannot hear this story but also not think of Chandra Levy from Modesto, another young woman who disappeared and here in Washington from that exact same area and you see this family crying and pleading, as you point out, and you think about that poor family also that that was doing the same thing from this very small town in central California. It's a very unusual.

BLITZER: I know you don't want to leave our viewers with any sense that there could be a connection between Chandra Levy...

COSSACK: No, no, no, and you are right, Wolf. I didn't mean that, other than geographically for this one town to suffer such tragedies and this town in central California is just unusual.

But again, I think you're right. I think it would be irresponsible for me to point and say that Scott Peterson is a suspect, when he has not been identified as a suspect. But obviously, look, there are there questions on the notion that someone goes and leaves his pregnant wife on Christmas Eve and then turns out to having an affair with another woman. I mean, look, those are questions and those are things that the police will investigate.

Does that add up to an arrest? Not yet. And perhaps it never will.

BLITZER: You heard both of the family members, the mother and the brother appeal to Scott Peterson to cooperate with local law enforcement in this investigation. I assume they're referring to the fact that he's refused to take a polygraph, a lie detector test.

Explain to our viewers the significance or perhaps lack of significance of that fact.

COSSACK: Well, that's really -- I am sure by now that Scott Peterson has retained a lawyer. It's -- you know, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that he's the one that is a strong, if not a suspect in this case -- certainly someone that they're looking into. And a lawyer is going to say to him, things that whether, you know, he's involved or not is going to, then, defend him.

And any lawyer, defense lawyer worth his salt is going to say, Look, at this stage of the game, you can no longer answer questions of the police. You can no longer involve yourselves in lie detector tests and things like that even though they are not admissible in court because you are -- it's clear they are looking at you and that's what a lawyer would do.

And I know that's hard to understand and I know that people think that's a conflict. And if he didn't have anything to do with it, why doesn't he just talk? Well, sometimes it's not quite simple and...

BLITZER: Well, explain to our viewers, Roger, because it is a hard thing for those of us who are not lawyers to understand. His wife is missing. She was eight months pregnant. He loves her. He wants to find her. Why isn't he doing, at least publicly, that a husband as distraught as he may be would normally be doing under these kind of circumstances?

COSSACK: Without trying to defend him in any way because I don't know him and I obviously don't know the evidence the police have, I can only tell you this, if he -- if he went to a defense lawyer, which I am sure he did, the defense lawyer has to take the position that he is a suspect in this case.

And, therefore, must do all of those things that any defense lawyer would do, which would be to invoke your rights under the Fifth Amendment and not cooperate. It's just a question of the fact of saying, Look, you know, whether he did it, didn't do, it the police obviously are suspicious of him. Whether he is -- or whether he is her husband or not.

And it's just one of those things. I mean, I suppose a legitimate question that you're asking, Wolf, is, if you didn't have anything to do with it why aren't you talking? But if the police think he did -- he did it and he says he didn't do it he is then in that position where he has to defend himself.

I am not passing judgment on whether it's a good idea or the right thing to do. I am just trying to explain why he may not be cooperating.

BLITZER: All right, Roger, please stand by for a moment because I want to make a turn. There's another dramatic story we're following right now in Texas, as well. A murder trial that you've been looking into involving Clara Harris.

She's accused of killing her husband by running him down with her Mercedes-Benz, action taken after she found him with another woman. A videotape of that incident was shown in a Houston courtroom earlier today. And I want to show it to our viewers. It's a picture taken from afar. There is no audio. You are just seeing this Mercedes-Benz. Prosecutors are containing that Mrs. Harris ran over her husband, David Harris, after he spurned here when she discovered him with his alleged mistress.

Defense attorneys say Harris lost it and didn't intend to kill he husband. If convicted Clara Harris faces up to life in prison.

Roger Cossack of Court TV, this is pretty dramatic videotape. No one can dispute that she did in fact run over her husband.

COSSACK: Right, no one is disputing that. The defense in this case is clearing not saying that this was an accident or the husband died of a heart attack. There's no question of the fact that she ran him over and ran him over repeatedly.

The real issue in this case is that she knew he was having an affair with another woman, his office manager. They had had conversations regarding a breakup. She had apparently asked him, and he had agreed not break up and allegedly was meeting the office manager that day, as he told his wife to break it off. And apparently he didn't do that and he went it a hotel.

The wife had a private investigator following him. She received information that he was at the hotel. She and his step daughter then and went and confronted him. A huge battle ensued into the lobby of the hotel where the two women into the got into a fight. She then jumped into her car. He was standing with the mistress and she then ran him over.

The question here, and the only question is, did she go to that hotel with the intent to kill him or did she go to that hotel with the intent to confront him and then in the heat of passion lose control of herself and run him over? That is what the jury will decide. If they decide she went there with the intent to kill him, it's first degree murder. She's looking at, I think, 30 to life.

If it's not, if it's something less than that, if they believe that she went there and suddenly snapped, then there is a statute or a defense in Texas in the heat of passion, she would be looking at something substantially less than the sentence I just said.

BLITZER: Roger Cossack of Court TV, one of our favorite, thanks for joining us on both of these stories and giving us your legal expertise, which we always appreciate. Two important stories that we're going to be following in the days and weeks to come, presumably.

Men and women preparing to head to the front line in Iraq, if, if war breaks out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Death is definitely I think everyone of us thinks about.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: Hear from the young lieutenants who may be sacrificing their lives on the battlefields. We'll have a special report. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: With the United States and Iraq moving closer to war, the men and women who will put their lives on the line are being prepared for what they'll face. CNN investigative correspondent Art Harris went to Fort Knox, Kentucky, to get a firsthand look at attack training. Here is his exclusive report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ART HARRIS, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For the first time in more than a decade, these young tank lieutenants are training in the shadow of a possible American ground war.

2ND LT. KELLY LEVERETT, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS: I work for the people, and if the people say go, then I go.

HARRIS: At Fort Knox, Kentucky, they learn to drive a monster machine that gets a half mile to the gallon.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not too many people can actually say they've really gone off roading with a 70-ton vehicle.

HARRIS: Or fire a tank's 120 millimeter canon. That can hit a target more than two miles away.

2ND LT. JOSHUA JOPLING, CAMDEN, ARKANSAS: Just awesome. It's unbelievable experience. Had the tank rock back and dust start flying in the turret.

HARRIS: And to feel invincible.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With big red "S" on our chest.

HARRIS (on camera): What's that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Superman.

HARRIS (voice-over): As big as the Abrams Tank is, the driver, the gunner, the loader, the commander, all are jammed into a tiny space. They sleep sitting up about.

(on camera): Four guys, living, working in these very tight spaces, what's that like?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You get to know each other real well, sir.

HARRIS (voice-over): A call to prayer at morning's light. Young lieutenants facing a mock battle in a make-believe Mideast village.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fire.

(GUNFIRE)

HARRIS: The tanks bring up the rear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two casualties.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go.

HARRIS: In urban combat, foot soldiers bear the brunt of battle.

(on camera): In a city, tanks can lose their edge. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) survivability. Maneuverability. Got to watch for land mines, snipers, the enemy can try to slow you down and put big obstacles in your path, like cars.

(voice-over): That's when America's monster does the monster mash. But for all its might, the tank is (UNINTELLIGIBLE) by the city. It can't see around corners. It's periscope won't reach rooftops. It's armor skin may seem tough.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Safest place to be on the battlefield. Nothing else can reach out touch you. Some people call it an iron coffin. I believe it is our iron sanctuary. You know?

HARRIS: Yet less than a minute (UNINTELLIGIBLE) his tank plowed its way up the village street, it was taken out by a rooftop grenade.

It is left the infantry to go with a tank cannot.

(on camera): Is there any fear?

2nd LT. CHRIS GEBBIA, READING PENNSYLVANIA: Oh, yes, sir. I mean, this is not a 9:00 to 5:00 job, sir. This is not a job where you work, you know, and you decide to take the day off, you take the day off. You can't do that here.

HARRIS: A tank gunner from the first Gulf War tells these students he made out his will.

2nd LT. NATHAN NELSON, HARXER HEIGHTS, TEXAS: Death is definitely something that I think every one of us think about.

2nd LT. JOSHUA JOPLING, CAMDEN ARKANSAS: I think about it a lot, sir.

HARRIS (on camera): How? What goes through your head.

JOPLIN: Just that I lived a good life and I have no regrets.

It's in the back of your mind, but when the going gets tough, you know, you have to put it behind you and just keep driving on with the mission.

HARRIS (voice-over): These soldier son the ground are played by green tank lieutenants. In their second week of training, learning to fight together for the group.

In urban warfare, fear of harming civilians could keep tanks firing their most powerful weapon.

The important lesson to be learned: when to shoot and when not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's every time you pull that trigger, you hope you did the right thing.

HARRIS: his was just a rehearsal. All too soon, it could be very real and very dangerous.

Art Harris, CNN, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: It's a pretty chilling report. Thank you very much, Art Harris.

When we come back, we will shift gears. Super Bowl mania in San Diego. But half the fun is on tape. The countdown to the monster ad campaign, and, oh, yeah, some football, too.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER (voice-over): Earlier, we asked: "Which American city has been banned from taking an ad out during the Super Bowl?" The answer" Las Vegas.

NFL has refused to air the ad in an effort to distance the league from gambling. The city's fighting back. It says the ad has no reference to sports betting and it's threatening to sue.

(on camera): Super security, super expensive television ads and if we're really lucky, a super Super Bowl football game.

One thing for certain: security will be extremely tight. In fact, 4,000 security personnel are now on duty in San Diego. Backing them up: a 52-camera surveillance system that will allow guards to keep track of every corner of Qualcomm Stadium. We hope to hear from former CBS anchor sports anchor Pat O'Brien but for reasons beyond our control, we're unable to do that.

But joining us now live on the phone from San Diego to talk about Sunday's game, between the Oakland Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is John Kelley, the weekend co-anchor of the nationally syndicated television show "Extra."

John, thanks so much for joining us.

I want our viewers to see two ads at least in part that are going to be running during the Super Bowl. We'll give them a preview right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, AD)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want you to be a spokesperson for Smoothie (ph) Shaving Cream. You can make huge money.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's not about the money. This is Willey Nelson.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Willie, we got a small problem. You made a little mistake on your taxes. You owe $30 million.

WILLEY NELSON, SINGER: I what?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Action!

NELSON: This play calls for a Smoothie.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cut!

NELSON: So have a Smooth.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cut! Willey, make a smooth move. Action!

NELSON: My face is burning.

ANNOUNCER: Don't get bad advice. Let H&R Block....

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, AD)

(MUSIC)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Hey, John, I don't know if you've had a chance to see these ads, but a lot of people just watch the Super Bowl to see these ads, don't they?

JOHN KELLEY, CO-ANCHOR, "EXTRA": Exactly. I mean, it's a classic time. It's a huge showcase and these celebrities love it because they know they're getting maximum exposure.

And when you check out Willey Nelson -- I mean, come on. Self- deprecating humor like that? Busting his own chops on old tax problems? That's good stuff.

And you're right. Many times, you know, the ironic part about it, people don't always remember what they're advertising but they always remember the ad.

BLITZER: Give us a little flavor, John. How exciting is it in San Diego right now?

KELLEY: Super Bowls attract everybody. You get the sports fan, you get the nonsports fan, you get the celebrity chasers, you get all the celebrities. So the city is jumping. And it's Friday right now, so they're starting to hit the midstride here and the big parties are going off this weekend.

So, you can really feel the energy in the city.

BLITZER: Who is going to win the game? KELLEY: You know, that's a good question. I'm like you; I just pray it's going to be a big game, because when you come out here, and if the commercials are better than the game, that's disappointing. But I'm going to go with the silver and black.

I'm going Raiders, 24-21.

BLITZER: I'm going with the Raiders, 24-10. You heard it right here.

John Kelley, let's talk again on another occasion.

KELLEY: Absolutely.

BLITZER: Thanks very much. We'll all have fun on Sunday.

We'll be right back with the results of our Web question of the day. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Well, just -- here are the results of the "Web Question of the Day." Forty percent of you say, Yes, you think Iraq can deliver on the threat made by Saddam Hussein's son, 60 percent say no.

That's all the time we have. Jan Hopkins is standing by for "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE." That's up next.

Jan, tell us what you have.

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