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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
Blizzard Hits Eastern U.S.; U.S., Britain Hammering Out U.N. Resolution Draft
Aired February 17, 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.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: It is Monday, February 17th, 2003. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.
Major developments today in the showdown with Iraq.
Within the past hour, European leaders meeting in Brussels issued a stern warning to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein: You have one last chance to disarm peacefully.
At the same time, the U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, even while calling for a unified international stand against Iraq, insisted any military action needs U.N. backing.
And Iraqi officials reported an American U-2 spy plane made its first flight over Iraq in support of U.N. weapons inspectors.
We'll have complete details of all of these developments coming up.
But first, what history may call the blizzard of '03. A large portion of the U.S., from the mid-Atlantic states to the northeast, is paralyzed today, buried in some cases under two feet of snow.
The blizzard is blamed for at least 18 deaths so far and it's not over with yet.
We have two reports. Daryn Kagan is live in New York City. Patty Davis is live just outside Washington.
Let's begin with Daryn -- Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, I want to say welcome to rush hour in New York City on this Monday afternoon. At this time people are trying to get home from work, not happening today.
The only rush today is to go through Central Park and enjoy the snow. From the last count, 19 inches just here in Central Park. Twenty-three inches, the largest reading across New York City. That's at JFK international.
Causing a lot of problems for the city to stop down here. But not just for New York City. There have been problems up and down the east coast.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) (voice-over) It was a classic nor'easter, moving through the Ohio Valley and the Appalachians and landing with a wallop in major east coast cities.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is very pretty. It is also very inconvenient and very expensive. But we're dealing with it.
KAGAN: Not a bad day for walking the dog. But for trying to get around, a trying day indeed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's cold. Slippery. I can't drive to work. The trains are slow. The buses are slow. I don't know. I hope this end up real quick.
KAGAN: As the storm started, Boston stores were full of shoppers buying last minute storm supplies.
Rhode Island was bracing for up to 20 inches of snow.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation had all 632 of its trucks on snow plow duty, and it also had to call in private contractors to help clear the roads.
Many states were already running over their snow removal budgets. Pennsylvania expects to use a record amount of road salt this winter.
New York City officials said the storm would cost the city $20 million.
The snow was too heavy for an aluminum roof at a job training school in Edison, N.J. The roof collapsed, causing one death and four injuries.
Maryland state troopers were patrolling in Humvees and the governor asked citizens to stay at home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We would ask everybody to really use their discretion, use their good common sense and stay off the roads for the rest of today.
KAGAN: The storm's sting was felt as far south as the Carolinas, where ice and snow made travel dangerous and knocked out power.
And with major northeastern airports closing or severely curtailing operations, the storm had an impact across the entire country. Travelers were stranded as far south as Florida.
In all, it is one of the worst storms to hit the region in years and as the people of New England can tell you, it's still not over.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
You heard that. And in the piece the $20 million tag for New York City. Mayor Bloomberg says the formula is pretty basic, Wolf, $1 million for every inch of snow that falls. That's the cost to the city. It's going to be an expensive one. It is all about accumulation. I'll show you, it just kind of keeps getting deeper and deeper and deeper.
We're trying to have a good time and stay warm here in Central Park. Back to you.
BLITZER: It looks like you're having some fun, Daryn. And Daryn is not short, either. Daryn Kagan, live for us in New York City. Thanks very much.
Let's go to Patty Davis now, also snowed in over at Reagan National Airport here in Washington -- Patty.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, more than 16 inches of snow here in Washington, D.C. Thirty inches in some of the Virginia suburbs. The sixth largest storm ever in the U.S. capital.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) Washington, D.C., virtually paralyzed by the fierce winter storm.
Reagan National Airport closed for the second straight day as crews worked to clear runways. The roads to the airport so bad, some passengers camped out all night to make sure they'd make their flights.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was so hopeful. They're plowing the tarmac, they're washing the planes, I was so hopeful. There were people behind the counter over there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a doctor and I've got a full office of patients tomorrow and I've got make a couple of quick calls, rearrange some things.
DAVIS: A festive atmosphere in Washington's Dupont Circle, where it was quicker to walk than try to drive or take the bus.
So what brings you out in the snow today?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're just crazy. And bored.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we're bored. Getting some coffee.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Getting some exercise.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Getting exercise.
DAVIS: Metro buses were having a tough time making it through the snow.
Lucky for most people, the storm hit on Presidents' Day weekend, Monday a federal holiday. The federal government remains closed Tuesday because of the snow, giving many Washingtonians more time to dig out. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People pay good money to get exercise like this and now they get an opportunity to do it the snow, man against nature!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DAVIS: Man against nature, but man is determined to win this one here in Washington, D.C., Wolf. The big dig out will continue for days. Back to you.
BLITZER: Patty Davis -- and woman against nature, as well. Thanks, Patty, very much.
The blizzard is also taking a huge toll on rail and bus travel. Amtrak has canceled about a quarter of its service in the busy northeast corridor. And Greyhound suspended some or all service in eight states, including the District of Columbia.
For the latest on the storm, let's check in with our own meteorologist, Jacqui Jeras. She's joining us now live from the CNN Center in Atlanta -- Jacqui.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Wolf, we want to start out with the airport closings. We have quite a few. We saw Patty there at Washington National. Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York La Guardia, all of these are closed this evening.
Now there are many delays and these are really starting to stack up. Boston is one of the cities where we have the worst conditions right now.
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Nashville looking at de-icing delays throughout the evening. New York, JFK, Pittsburgh, Washington, Dulles, so expect problems there.
We also have some reports out of Chicago because of the gates being filled there. Of course, not storm related.
Let's show you where the snowfall is at this time. Still coming down quite heavy into New York City.
Washington, D.C., you're OK right now. For the most part, you're done with the storm. But take note, back here, you see this little curlicue back over the Ohio Valley, this is a little upper level low, a little vortex, we call it. That's going to be heading off to the east.
So there is still a chance you could be picking up maybe another inch of snowfall once this band swings through. But certainly, the worst of it is over and done with.
Boston, you're not even into the worst of it yet. Here's a live picture from WHDH-TV. Visibility, a quarter of a mile. Your temperatures, 27 degrees with winds gusting to 33 miles per hour.
We're expecting the worst of the storm to be hitting between 6 p.m. tonight until 2 a.m. tomorrow morning.
When you wake up tomorrow, you're going to start to see some of the sleet move in.
Blizzard warnings continue for New York City across Long Island and the southern parts of Connecticut into New Jersey, at least through the evening hours. The early evening hours.
And then we'll start to watch things improve. The snow bands will become a little bit lesser.
Winter storm warnings have extended to down east Maine, including Portland, expecting about six to 12 inches of snowfall there.
Here are the storm totals that we're going to be expecting overall through tomorrow morning.
The worst of it in the eastern parts of Massachusetts, extending down into northern parts of New Jersey. This is going to be a top ten all time storm from about Washington, D.C., on up towards Boston.
And these are the snowfall amounts that we're expecting just tomorrow, not including what we're having for today, another two to five after 6 a.m. tomorrow in Boston -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jacqui Jeras, our meteorologist, thanks very much.
We know this is a big snowstorm, an unusual snowstorm when they're sending some of the snow removal equipment from my hometown of Buffalo to here in Washington, D.C., and Maryland to help out.
There's much more on this storm coverage on my web site. Go CNN.com/Wolf for the latest pictures. Snowfall amounts, information on closings and a special link that lets you track the storm. It's all at CNN.com/Wolf.
Now the latest on the showdown with Iraq.
The Bush Administration and its key ally, Great Britain, are working on a new resolution they hope to submit to the United Nations Security Council this week.
Our senior White House correspondent, John King, is standing by with details -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESONDENT: And Wolf, of course one of the big questions is will France, China, Russia, one of the permanent members with veto power, use that veto power if the United States and Great Britain introduce a resolution that skeptics and opponents to war in Iraq view as a gateway to war?
That is one of the reasons the administration working in close concert with the British right now on the exact language. Administration officials say they want a relatively straightforward new resolution that declares that Iraq remains in continued material breach of resolution 1441 and previous commitments to the United Nations.
The question is whether that resolution will explicitly talk about force or whether it will simply say it is time for the world to enforce previous resolutions.
That, of course, in the administration's view, would be a gateway to military confrontation.
France continuing to take the lead in saying it would oppose any resolution that it fears as a gateway to war at this moment. Administration officials saying urgent consultations continuing on the draft of the resolution.
Also, an effort to force the weapons inspectors on the ground to quickly test Iraq's commitment by demanding that those medium range missiles that Dr. Hans Blix last week told the council were in violation of Iraq's commitments to the United Nations, the White House wants Dr. Blix to demand that they be destroyed in the days ahead.
They don't believe here at the White House that Saddam Hussein would comply. And they believe a showdown between Saddam and the weapons inspectors could help the climate as the administration tries to push a new resolution through.
At the White House today, as you know, the president met with the president of Latvia. She is one of ten eastern European leaders who issued statements giving strong backing to President Bush's tough stance on Iraq. That, some comfort to the administration at a time it continues to feud with traditional European allies, chief among them right now France and Germany -- Wolf.
BLITZER: And we'll be speaking with her shortly in this program. John King at the White House, thanks very much for that report.
At an emergency summit in Brussels today, members of the European union joined forces behind a strongly worded declaration.
It affirms solidarity with the United States and warns Iraq it has one last chance to disarm peacefully. But the declaration says war should be a last resort.
With us now from Brussels, CNN's senior European political correspondent, Robin Oakley. Robin, give us the details.
ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, this is one of those documents, really a lowest common denominator document with something in it for everybody.
As you say, there's a declaration of support of a kind for the U.S. There's a final warning to Saddam Hussein that he must disarm or face the consequences.
But there's also clear evidence here that these European union leaders have been listening to the people who've been Marching in the streets, because they put the emphasis, really, in a way that helps the people who are saying there should be a go slow, there should be more time for the inspectors to do their work in Iraq and that nobody should be rushing into war.
They say the union's objective for Iraq remains full and effective disarmament, that we want to achieve this peacefully. It is clear that's what the people of Europe wants, says the document. War is not inevitable. Force should be used only as a last resort.
And, of course, while they have agreed in -- on a document in these general terms, you were talking to John King there about the second resolution and the U.N. Security Council.
Well, Jacques Chirac, the president of France, came here and said as he arrived there was no need for a second U.N. Security Council resolution at this stage and if there were one, then France would oppose it.
Not the news that Tony Blair, the U.K. prime minister, wanted to hear. He's backing George Bush. But his public doesn't like his attitude. His own party doesn't like his attitude. He's been desperate for that second U.N. Security Council to give him political cover.
Jacques Chirac's going to stop him getting it. There are still plenty of divisions in Europe yet, Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Robin Oakley for us in Brussels tonight. Robin, thanks very much for that report.
And we'll have much more on the showdown with Iraq coming later this hour.
Here's your chance to weigh in on this story. Our Web question of the day is this: "Do you think anti-war protests should influence President Bush's policy on Iraq?" We'll have the results later in this broadcast. Vote right now at CNN.com/Wolf.
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.
Coming up, a CNN exclusive, a breaking story about credit cards and why your private information may not necessarily be safe.
And a Chicago nightclub turns into a death trap. What triggered the stampede that left 21 people dead? We'll take a closer look at how a holiday weekend turned into a nightmare.
Plus, anti-war protests around the world. But are these voices of dissent falling on deaf ears?
And the military buildup, a day in the life of a smart bomb crew. We'll take you on board the USS Constellation.
You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: We have a breaking news story now that could impact millions of Americans whose credit card accounts may have been accessed by a hacker.
CNN's Fred Katayama is joining us now live from New York with this exclusive report -- Fred.
FRED KATAYAMA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, CNN has learned that a hacker has gained access to possibly several million Visa and Mastercard accounts.
Spokesman for the two companies said they promptly notified the affected banks that issued the cards. As many as 2.2 million card holders may be affected.
And today a bank serving the northeast, Citizens Bank, said it shut down the accounts of 8,800 customers whose card numbers had been accessed. A bank spokesman says all those accounts were safe.
Mastercard and Visa wouldn't disclose how many banks they've notified, nor would they say whether this was a regional or national problem.
The number of cards that may be affected make up less than half of a percent of the 560 million Visa and Mastercards in the United States.
Mastercard and Visa said the hacker had breached the security system of a company that processes credit card transactions on behalf of merchants. A Visa official says none of the compromised cards have been used fraudulently.
We attempted to reach the largest card issuers but only one, First USA Bank, returned our calls. It said it was not affected and not aware of any security problems affecting its customers.
Mastercard says it is working with authorities, including the FBI, to help identify the culprit -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Fred, if any of our viewers think they may have been affected by this, what should they do?
KATAYAMA: Well, Wolf, they should contact the bank that issued the card, not Mastercard and Visa, but the bank that issued the card.
The card companies have what's called zero liability policies. Now that means if your card has been used fraudulently and you had reported the incident to the issuer, you are not held responsible for any of those charges -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Fred Katayama with a very disturbing story. Thanks very much, Fred, for that report. We'll continue to watch it.
Let's go Chicago now, where survivors are telling stories of horror after a stampede at a nightclub killed at least 21 people.
Our bureau chief there, Jeff Flock, is covering this horrible story.
Jeff, tell us about it.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it sounds like something that happened perhaps in some country far away, but in fact, it happened in Chicago, back here on the nightclub of the second floor of the Epitome Restaurant you see back there behind me.
And now, about 14 hours after it happened, authorities still not completely sure exactly how it unfolded.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) A Chicago Fire Department ambulance responds to a report of a pregnant woman down outside the popular E2 nightclub on Chicago's south side. What they find is like a war zone.
People just keep coming, some carried by friends and relatives, some lifeless.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It started off as a little fight, security trying to break it up. So they start spraying mace on everybody. They just spraying mace through the whole club.
FLOCK: Authorities aren't sure what happened and the club has made no comment. But whatever happened led to a stampede down a steep stairway from the second floor club to the ground.
For a time, the front door is blocked by a mass of bodies.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People throwing up everywhere. Throwing up everywhere. You cannot get out -- you can't breathe, you're choking.
FLOCK: By this time there are people lying in the street everywhere.
More ambulances arrive, stretchers rush out to meet still more people carrying bodies.
Firefighters, seeing the pileup at front door, look for another way in or out.
JAMES JOYCE, CHICAGO FIRE COMMISSIONER: Our hook and ladder companies went around the back, found some locked doors, used sledgehammers and pry bars to pry those doors open.
At one door in the rear near a kitchen, they found four victims in cardiac arrest.
FLOCK: At a prayer service at Operation Push, family members, sobbing, begging authorities to find out what happened.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please, God, give us answers.
FLOCK: Even people who were inside the club can't say for sure.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some people was like, it's been...
FLOCK: Lakisha Blackwell (ph) tells us she saw the fight and either mace or pepper spray, but others didn't and just panicked, not sure what was happening.
REV. JESSE JACKSON, RAINBOW PUSH COALITION: Somebody said poison gas, somebody said terror, when that happened, poison gas and terror, people began to go for it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FLOCK: So, Wolf, they're going to be looking at those locked entrances. Also, the notion of maybe there with too many people inside that club, looking at that, as well.
And then, of course, this whole notion of perhaps the nation being on hair trigger and panic being set off perhaps too easily.
Back to you.
BLITZER: Thanks, Jeff Flock. What a tragedy. We'll be continuing to monitor the fallout. Thanks very much, Jeff.
Here's a little bit more information on pepper spray. When used, it can burn your eyes, nasal passages, your mouth, your throat. It could give you the sensation of suffocating when exposed.
Earlier we contacted Gary Hankins (ph), formerly with the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, to get his opinion on how a crowd would react to pepper spray.
He told us with all the terror threats and people's nerves on edge right now, he could easily see how a panic situation could break out in this kind of development.
Millions hit the street to protest against a war with Iraq. But will it make any difference?
We'll go live to New York and London, where demonstrators are planning their next moves.
Plus, we'll ask the president of one European country that supports military action why she does support President Bush so strongly.
Also, terror alert at orange. Did the government jump the gun on the latest warnings? We'll take a closer look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: A war in mid-March? Saddam Hussein removed from power quickly? Coming up, predictions on the showdown with Iraq from an experienced commander. That's coming up on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS. We're back in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: As the United States and Britain press ahead with plans for the possibility of war with Iraq, they face growing voices of dissent. Over the weekend, millions of people and in dozens of countries took part in rallies and Marches.
With us now to talk more about those protests and their possible impact are CNN's Maria Hinojosa in New York and Matthew Chance in London.
Maria, let's begin with you and the protests here in the United States -- Maria.
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, organizers here are saying that this weekend's protests were the largest ever international mobilizations for a war that has not even been declared.
Not too long ago, the anti-war movement had been seen as small, voiceless and unimportant with little media coverage. This weekend seems to have changed that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) Several million people calling for peace around the globe, including in more than 300 U.S. cities.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No war!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No war!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No war!
HINOJOSA: More than 100,000 in New York. More than 200,000 in San Francisco. Tens of thousands in Los Angeles and more. A surprise to some that so many were ready to speak out against a possible war with Iraq.
Organizers say the challenge now is to keep the momentum up. They'll focus on the Cities for Peace movement. So far over 90 city councils have passed anti-war resolutions, including Chicago, Atlanta, Baltimore and Cleveland.
Large numbers of people willing to voice anti-war opinions, but how do you harness that?
LESLIE CAGAN, ANTI-WAR ACTIVIST: I think we're mostly effective or our power is felt when automatic kinds of tactics are being used. When people are lobbying, when people are pressuring their local media to put different points of view into the press, into print media, broadcast media, when people are demonstrating.
I don't think it's any one approach that does it.
HINOJOSA: But does taking to the streets play into a dictator's hands?
CAGAN: We do not support the Iraqi government and the regime of Saddam Hussein.
But we don't think the way to deal with those problems or to actually get rid of weapons of mass destruction is by escalating into a military confrontation where such weapons may actually be used.
HINOJOSA: What's next?
One anti-war group is planning a virtual March on Washington on February 26. On that day, a phone call to every Senate office, every minute of the day from an anti-war constituent.
If war breaks out, organizers say they're planning emergency actions.
But will those be civil disobedience by people willing to get arrested, like the Code Pink women who chained themselves to the United Nations gate?
And will more people be willing to join street protests, giving the anti-war movement enough momentum to prevent a war?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Now, the next big action, street action, Wolf, is planned for March 5, a nationwide student strike and walkout for high schools and universities.
Organizers say they're exhilarated because they now know they're part of an international peace movement.
They feel like they made history over the weekend. But some admit it doesn't mean that they've reversed the pace towards war with Iraq -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Maria Hinojosa in New York. Thanks, Maria, very much.
Saturday's rally in London is said to be Britain's biggest peacetime protest ever. It was one of the many anti-war demonstrations across Europe and other continents, including Antarctica.
CNN Matthew Chance is joining us now live from London with more -- Matthew.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Wolf.
And divisions on the political level in Europe and around the world about what their stance should be on the issue of Iraq.
On streets, though, the situation very different. Millions of people coming out around the world and on the European continent to voice their opposition to any Iraqi war.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) In the capitals of Washington's most long-standing allies, millions deliver a powerful message of dissent.
Few have stood firmer than Britain with the U.S. over Iraq, but in London, police say more than 750,000 people turned out, the biggest peacetime protest this country has ever seen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's very important for what goes on in the whole region. And we just feel the United States is simply not listening. I mean, I'm very fond of Americans. I've worked over there for three years, but I just can't tolerate this.
I'm not a natural marcher, believe you me. It has taken me a lot to get me out on a cold day. I feel passionately about this.
CHANCE: In Rome, the crowds were even bigger, more than a million, say police, on the streets of the Eternal City.
The government of Silvio Berlusconi supports the U.S. position over Iraq, but as in Britain, this is a country where divisions are increasingly wide between policy and the opinions of the general public.
There were huge protests in Spain, too, but it was only in Paris and here in Berlin that marchers and the government beat the same drum.
Like his French counterpart, the German chancellor, Gerhard Schroder, rules out support for war. But in a stance that is set even more at odds with the U.S., Germany says it will never support a conflict, even with a further U.N. Security Council resolution.
Bankers and students like Miriam (ph) marched together.
Around the world, as far as Australia, mass protests and countries allied with Washington have united public misgivings about war.
The U.S. strive towards conflict may not have been stopped, but the hope of so many is that the U.S. and their own governments will at least listen.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Well, whether or not the U.S. and Britain do listen to these millions of people that have come out to voice their protests still very much remains to be seen.
We understand from diplomats that a new U.N. resolution is being prepared that would specifically authorize the use of force against Iraq.
With so many people, though, coming out on the streets around the world, it may be a hard sell for many politicians in the region -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Matthew Chance in London for us tonight. Matthew, thanks very much. And here's your chance once again to weigh in on this story. Our Web question of the day is this: "Do you think anti-war protests should influence President Bush's policy on Iraq?" Vote right now at CNN.com/Wolf.
And as we told you at the top of this newscast, President Bush is getting key support for his tough stance on Iraq from the former Soviet bloc in eastern Europe. Latvia's president, Vaira Vike- Freiberga, met today with President Bush in the Oval Office.
And she sat down with me shortly after that meeting.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
Welcome to the United States. You just came from a meeting with President Bush. What kind of mood do you see him in? Is he determined to go to war against Iraq?
VAIRA VIKE-FREIBERGER, PRESIDENT OF LATVIA: He's determined to do what needs to be done to disarm Iraq and Saddam Hussein. He's quite determined about that. Of course, he would prefer for it to be done peacefully, if possible. He also would prefer for it to be done with a swell of support from his allies.
BLITZER: Is that still possible to do it without the use of force? Do you think Saddam Hussein will disarm?
VIKE-FREIBERGA: He has a chance and it's his very last chance. And I think in many ways the disagreements about what is expected of him have lessened the resolve of the coalition against him and have given him maybe the idea that he could somehow squeeze through and not comply.
BLITZER: Because some of your European allies, the French, the Germans and others are very much opposed to military force, but you've been a strong supporter of President Bush. Why?
VIKE-FREIBERGA: Because we feel that a united front against Saddam Hussein in insisting on the fulfillment of the requirements of United Nations Resolution 1441 is what gives us the last ultimate hope of him actually carrying through what's supposed to be doing and that is to give evidence of having disarmed and complying in every way with international inspectors. We're not playing a cat and mouse game. And it's not clear how long he is to be given. And the thing is being dragged out. And I think what we need is a clear resolve, a clear deadline, a clear requirement, as to what he has to comply with. And he has a chance.
BLITZER: When you say deadline, how much time should he be given?
VIKE-FREIBERGA: Well, that's what the -- that's up for debate now. And this is where it would help to have agreement. I think if a firm deadline were set and ultimatum presented and then I think it would be a much higher likelihood of him actually taking this seriously and taking some steps and we could prevent war by his taking the ultimatum seriously. But so far if we're talking very vaguely about continuing inspecting, debating what -- how many inspectors are doing the job, in a way it's a signal to Saddam Hussein to just carry on as usual and to do nothing.
BLITZER: To stretch is out and delay. It's interesting, as Don Rumsfeld, the secretary of defense, has pointed out; there is a new Europe and an old Europe. You're part, he says, of the new Europe, the former Soviet republics, the eastern European bloc of the Communist nations like Latvia, Estonia, and Hungary and Bulgaria. You support the president of the United States strongly, but France and Germany, he says the old Europe, doesn't. Why do you feel this new Europe, as he describes it, is so interested, so anxious to support President Bush?
VIKE-FREIBERGA: Because we have had experience of loss of liberty. We have experienced tyranny and we know that the Second World War and its sequels were new and large part to not containing, for instance Hitler's ambitions, when there was still time. Mind you, Stalin's ambitions had a lot to do with it, too, and he was something much more difficult to contain. But in fact, these two tyrants were allowed to run rampant over a large part of Europe. And this part of Europe was cut off from the rest of it and knew exactly what it means to live under tyranny and the price of appeasement. We paid it. We paid it.
BLITZER: Some of your critics though -- and you've heard this criticism -- say that it's all U.S. aid, that you want U.S. aid, money from the United States as a result of your supporting President Bush.
VIKE-FREIBERGA: I don't know that we have been getting that much aid from the U.S. We have been working very hard on rejoining the free world. We have had aid from the nations of the European Union. Our economy is doing well. And we are certainly not dependent on the United States for our survival unlike many other countries, which have received considerable amounts of aid and still are not able to stand on their feet.
BLITZER: Well, Madame President, on that note, let's leave it and thank you very much for joining us.
VIKE-FREIBERGA: It's been a pleasure talking to you.
BLITZER: Good luck to you and good luck to Latvia.
VIKE-FREIBERGA: Thank you very much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: So is war with Iraq inevitable despite worldwide protests? Coming up, a timetable for battle. We'll ask the former supreme allied commander of NATO, retired General Wesley Clark. Also, struck dead at 23, dreams of stardom dashed at spring training. And bombs away in the Persian Gulf. Take a ride on the USS Constellation where troops are preparing for the worst-case scenario.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN. I'm Wolf Blitzer. Coming up, prospects for war. Can a showdown with Iraq be avoided? I'll ask the former NATO supreme allied commander, General Wesley Clark.
(NEWSBREAK)
BLITZER: The first U-2 surveillance flight to aid U.N. weapons inspections has taken place over Iraq. Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is in Baghdad with details on that and other fresh developments there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The U-2 surveillance flights are one of key demands of the U.N. weapons chiefs, Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei. According to Iraq's foreign ministry, from 11:55 a.m. until 6:15, that's quarter after 4:00 in the afternoon Monday, a U-2 surveillance aircraft patrolled Iraq's skies for four hours and 20 minutes in support of the U.N. mission on the ground. According to U.N. spokesmen, they had given Iraq advanced warning that this flight would take place. That was one of the conditions Iraqi authorities are calling for. They called for 48 hours of advance notice and a way to communicate with the aircraft.
One of the reasons that Iraq says that it had been unable to give permission until late last week for the U-2 aircraft to fly was because they said they couldn't guarantee its safety. The reason for that, they say, allied aircraft patrol the northern and southern no fly zones. They say their ground defense systems fire at those aircraft. If they fired at the U-2 aircraft, they said that they, therefore, may not be able to guarantee its safety. That now seems to have changed. U.N. officials in New York said they had been expecting this flight to take place possibly Monday, possibly Tuesday. Iraq's foreign ministry confirming now it flew for four hours and 20 minutes on Monday.
Also, weapons inspectors continuing to follow up on tagging, that is identifying prescribed al Samud-II (ph) missiles. Also, some newly prescribed missile engines that Iraq had purchased recently, some 380- missile engines. Also, weapons inspectors following up on the destruction of some mustard gas munitions. One of the things they've been doing in that process is to destroy the mustard gas. They've been going back and following up, doing chemical analysis to ensure that that mustard gas has been properly disposed of.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And Turkey is frustrating the White House by continuing to delay a decision on allowing U.S. troops on Turkish soil in case of war with Iraq. The government today put off a parliamentary session scheduled for tomorrow on the matter. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) says it has economic, political and military issues to work out with Washington.
Earlier today, I talked with the former NATO supreme allied commander, retired General Wesley Clark, on what's likely to happen between the U.S. and Iraq and when. The general had some startling answers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: General Clark, is war inevitable?
RET. GEN. WELSEY CLARK, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: War is almost inevitable, Wolf. I think there is two things that could stop it -- obviously, if something happens in Iraq and Saddam Hussein is overthrown, flees the country, or whatever reason that could stop it. If there is a way that someone could construct an international process that would put people on the ground, who could find the weapons of mass destruction and remove Saddam Hussein without war, then I think that would be a success.
But the United States believes in its intelligence. We're not going to say, we made a mistake. We haven't found anything. OK, we give up. And there is a momentum behind this and people recognize that if you're ever going to do anything to deal with this problem, you to take advantage of this momentum. It may not be tomorrow or maybe even next month, but sometime now with this deployment of troops, with this urgency in the international community, Saddam's going to give up those weapons or he's going to go.
BLITZER: Whether the prospects of assassination or coup or...
CLARK: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
BLITZER: ... very low. OK, let's move on. When do you think this will unfold, a timetable if you will?
CLARK: Best guess, right now, mid-March. But here's three factors you have to worry about -- number one is when will the troops be ready? Well, the troops are pouring in. The plans constantly changing depending on what ports are open and which countries are saying yes. But I wouldn't think that given the flow that everybody is on board ready, unpacked and ready to go until mid-March. Secondly, it's a question of the diplomacy and have you taken enough time to bring in all the people you can? And I hope the administration will do this and really work the diplomacy down to the very last drop of hopefulness because the broader coalition, the greater the chances for success, not only in the fighting but afterwards.
Third factor, and this is the least controllable, you got a lot of strong opposition inside Iraq. You got a lot of people who are sort of pounding their chests and saying let us at Saddam. You know we got a few special forces troops here. Maybe these Americans are going to help us if we get it started, the Americans can't back out again. We'll make it happen. It's possible this thing could be triggered by an uprising, by the Shi'as or the Kurds.
BLITZER: If there is a war -- we don't know if there will be -- but if there is a war, how long do you think, based on what you know, it will last? CLARK: Two weeks. Two weeks because it's going to take a few days for the forces to get out of Kuwait and up into the Baghdad area. You got to allow a few days for the fighting up there and just the maneuvering and occupation of that country. I don't think more than two weeks.
BLITZER: If it does come down to that war, finding Saddam Hussein or killing him, is going to be another Osama bin Laden on the loose?
CLARK: Well, no one in the administration has said we have to find Saddam Hussein. And I think the logic of this is you don't really care what happens to Saddam Hussein. He's out of power. He's out of the government. He's not cult figure. He's dismissed in much of the Arab world today. I think when it is over for him, it's over. And he's lost his throne and that's it.
BLITZER: General Clark, thanks very much.
CLARK: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Is the terror threat to the United States not so imminent after all? Find out why orange may soon turn back to yellow, but first a look at other news making headlines around the world.
Oil pressured, with world oil prices already souring because of the strike in Venezuela and Gulf War jitters, there is word Nigeria's oil output is in jeopardy too. Nigerian oil workers have gone on strike over wages and working conditions. Replacement workers are being used in a bid to keep the oil flowing.
Vow of revenge, a mass funeral was held in Gaza for six Palestinian militants killed in an explosion. Hamas leaders are blaming Israel and vowing retaliation.
Cyprus setback, a U.N. plan to reunify Cyprus suffered a setback as Greek seriates elected a new president who takes a harder line. The president-elect says he will push for concessions before he agrees to a plan that would reunify the Greek and Turkish sections of the divided Mediterranean islands.
Columbia crash, investigations hauled away the wreckage of the U.S. plane that crashed in the Columbian jungle during an intelligence-gathering mission last week. It now appears that that leftist gorillas executed an American and a Colombian who were on the plane, then took the three other Americans who were on the plane hostage.
Jakarta jubilation, Indonesians of Chinese dissent held a colorful parade in Jakarta at the annual Ethogese (ph) of the God celebration. It's held on the 15th day of the first lunar month. For decades the Indonesian government banned this ethnic celebration, but this year it became a national holiday. And that's our look around the world. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: They are the closest look you'll get without getting hurt, bombs that could be used against Iraq. Join the crew of the aircraft carrier, USS Constellation. That's coming up on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS. We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Millions of Americans have been on edge since the government raised the terrorism threat level from elevated to high more than a week ago that could soon change. Our national security correspondent, David Ensor, shows us why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over): Unless there is more intelligence in the immediate future indicating additional danger, U.S. officials say current code orange threat advisory may soon be lowered again back to yellow. The decision could be made, Homeland Security Secretary, Tom Ridge, said Sunday on CNN's "LATE EDITION" on short notice.
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR: We review the information in our intelligence on a day-to-day basis. We maintain it at the orange level but that could change within 24 to 48 hours.
ENSOR: The annual period of the Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimages to Mecca is over. Some intelligence had suggested attacks might occur during or immediately after it. U.S. officials say the additional security measures taken because the nation went to threat level orange could have made those attacks more difficult to achieve. The intelligence officials say they have information that this man, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a senior operations official for al Qaeda, was behind some of the plots apparently unsuccessful that led the U.S. to go to threat level orange.
(on camera): Knowledgeable officials say one specific piece of information from an informant who volunteered it overseas, a story that a Jewish conference in Virginia Beach was going to be attacked, turned out to be false. The man failed a polygraph test, officials say, and then admitted he lied about that. But the nation went to orange threat level because of a wide variety of specific intelligence about plots, officials say, not including the false Virginia Beach story.
David Ensor, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Building bombs in the Persian Gulf. Go on board the USS Constellation where part of the American war machine is being prepared for action right now. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: A beautiful night in Washington despite all the snow that has gathered.
This week, we're taking a special look at the U.S. military buildup for the possible war with Iraq. Our series, "A Day in The Life," begins with a visit to an aircraft carrier where sailors are loading deadly cargo.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BECKY DIAMOND, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This chunk of iron is about half the weight of a car and can take one out miles away.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's interesting. You load it, sometimes they drop them, sometimes they don't. They practice a lot. And every day, it's new. You never know what's going to happen.
DIAMOND: It's early morning on the USS Constellation in the Persian Gulf and 100,000-pound smart bombs are being loaded onto jets bound for no-fly zone missions in Southern Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have to build a quality product and send a quality product to the aircraft knowing that these pilots are going out and risking their lives.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Check.
DIAMOND: Petty Officer Duncan Clayton (ph) is a quality supervisor than aircraft carrier and his assembly line products aren't designed for a long shelf life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every bomb we build, we pretty much assume that they're not going to come back. It's an electrical telefuse that provides the explosive charge for the bomb. This fin here has GPS, global positioning system. Once it's hooked to the bomb body and once the bomb is released, it steers itself.
DIAMOND: Devastating to its target, while reducing the risk of injury to civilians, these smart bombs mean more combat pilots will come home alive because they can drop the bombs from higher and safer altitudes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think about who it's going to affect and what it's destroying because I just feel terrorism itself in a whole they don't care about the people that they killed in 2001 and beyond and from here on out so...
DIAMOND: While Iraq insists they have no connection with al Qaeda or September 11, many here aren't drawing any distinctions. These bombs are headed up to a holding area on the flight deck, known as the bomb farm.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't want to go to war. I don't think the American people want to go to war. But we're here for a reason. So if the commander-in-chief says go to war, well, there you go we're going to war.
DIAMOND: Duncan Clayton (ph), like the bombs he and his crew assemble, wait for their orders.
Becky Diamond, CNN, on the USS Constellation in the Persian Gulf.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Tomorrow, we'll take you up close with American troops as they prepare for the unthinkable, a chemical or biological attack.
Don't forget, time is running out for your turn to weigh in on our "Web Question of The Day." Do you think anti-war protests should influence President Bush's policy on Iraq? Log onto CNN.com/Wolf. That's where you can vote right now and we'll have the results immediately when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of The Day." We've been asking you -- do you think anti-war protests should influence President Bush's policy on Iraq? Fifty-nine percent of you say yes, 41 percent say no. This is not a scientific poll.
That's all the time we have today. Please join me again tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" begins right now.
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U.N. Resolution Draft>
Aired February 17, 2003 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: It is Monday, February 17th, 2003. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.
Major developments today in the showdown with Iraq.
Within the past hour, European leaders meeting in Brussels issued a stern warning to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein: You have one last chance to disarm peacefully.
At the same time, the U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, even while calling for a unified international stand against Iraq, insisted any military action needs U.N. backing.
And Iraqi officials reported an American U-2 spy plane made its first flight over Iraq in support of U.N. weapons inspectors.
We'll have complete details of all of these developments coming up.
But first, what history may call the blizzard of '03. A large portion of the U.S., from the mid-Atlantic states to the northeast, is paralyzed today, buried in some cases under two feet of snow.
The blizzard is blamed for at least 18 deaths so far and it's not over with yet.
We have two reports. Daryn Kagan is live in New York City. Patty Davis is live just outside Washington.
Let's begin with Daryn -- Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, I want to say welcome to rush hour in New York City on this Monday afternoon. At this time people are trying to get home from work, not happening today.
The only rush today is to go through Central Park and enjoy the snow. From the last count, 19 inches just here in Central Park. Twenty-three inches, the largest reading across New York City. That's at JFK international.
Causing a lot of problems for the city to stop down here. But not just for New York City. There have been problems up and down the east coast.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) (voice-over) It was a classic nor'easter, moving through the Ohio Valley and the Appalachians and landing with a wallop in major east coast cities.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is very pretty. It is also very inconvenient and very expensive. But we're dealing with it.
KAGAN: Not a bad day for walking the dog. But for trying to get around, a trying day indeed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's cold. Slippery. I can't drive to work. The trains are slow. The buses are slow. I don't know. I hope this end up real quick.
KAGAN: As the storm started, Boston stores were full of shoppers buying last minute storm supplies.
Rhode Island was bracing for up to 20 inches of snow.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation had all 632 of its trucks on snow plow duty, and it also had to call in private contractors to help clear the roads.
Many states were already running over their snow removal budgets. Pennsylvania expects to use a record amount of road salt this winter.
New York City officials said the storm would cost the city $20 million.
The snow was too heavy for an aluminum roof at a job training school in Edison, N.J. The roof collapsed, causing one death and four injuries.
Maryland state troopers were patrolling in Humvees and the governor asked citizens to stay at home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We would ask everybody to really use their discretion, use their good common sense and stay off the roads for the rest of today.
KAGAN: The storm's sting was felt as far south as the Carolinas, where ice and snow made travel dangerous and knocked out power.
And with major northeastern airports closing or severely curtailing operations, the storm had an impact across the entire country. Travelers were stranded as far south as Florida.
In all, it is one of the worst storms to hit the region in years and as the people of New England can tell you, it's still not over.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
You heard that. And in the piece the $20 million tag for New York City. Mayor Bloomberg says the formula is pretty basic, Wolf, $1 million for every inch of snow that falls. That's the cost to the city. It's going to be an expensive one. It is all about accumulation. I'll show you, it just kind of keeps getting deeper and deeper and deeper.
We're trying to have a good time and stay warm here in Central Park. Back to you.
BLITZER: It looks like you're having some fun, Daryn. And Daryn is not short, either. Daryn Kagan, live for us in New York City. Thanks very much.
Let's go to Patty Davis now, also snowed in over at Reagan National Airport here in Washington -- Patty.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, more than 16 inches of snow here in Washington, D.C. Thirty inches in some of the Virginia suburbs. The sixth largest storm ever in the U.S. capital.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) Washington, D.C., virtually paralyzed by the fierce winter storm.
Reagan National Airport closed for the second straight day as crews worked to clear runways. The roads to the airport so bad, some passengers camped out all night to make sure they'd make their flights.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was so hopeful. They're plowing the tarmac, they're washing the planes, I was so hopeful. There were people behind the counter over there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a doctor and I've got a full office of patients tomorrow and I've got make a couple of quick calls, rearrange some things.
DAVIS: A festive atmosphere in Washington's Dupont Circle, where it was quicker to walk than try to drive or take the bus.
So what brings you out in the snow today?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're just crazy. And bored.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we're bored. Getting some coffee.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Getting some exercise.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Getting exercise.
DAVIS: Metro buses were having a tough time making it through the snow.
Lucky for most people, the storm hit on Presidents' Day weekend, Monday a federal holiday. The federal government remains closed Tuesday because of the snow, giving many Washingtonians more time to dig out. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People pay good money to get exercise like this and now they get an opportunity to do it the snow, man against nature!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DAVIS: Man against nature, but man is determined to win this one here in Washington, D.C., Wolf. The big dig out will continue for days. Back to you.
BLITZER: Patty Davis -- and woman against nature, as well. Thanks, Patty, very much.
The blizzard is also taking a huge toll on rail and bus travel. Amtrak has canceled about a quarter of its service in the busy northeast corridor. And Greyhound suspended some or all service in eight states, including the District of Columbia.
For the latest on the storm, let's check in with our own meteorologist, Jacqui Jeras. She's joining us now live from the CNN Center in Atlanta -- Jacqui.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Wolf, we want to start out with the airport closings. We have quite a few. We saw Patty there at Washington National. Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York La Guardia, all of these are closed this evening.
Now there are many delays and these are really starting to stack up. Boston is one of the cities where we have the worst conditions right now.
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Nashville looking at de-icing delays throughout the evening. New York, JFK, Pittsburgh, Washington, Dulles, so expect problems there.
We also have some reports out of Chicago because of the gates being filled there. Of course, not storm related.
Let's show you where the snowfall is at this time. Still coming down quite heavy into New York City.
Washington, D.C., you're OK right now. For the most part, you're done with the storm. But take note, back here, you see this little curlicue back over the Ohio Valley, this is a little upper level low, a little vortex, we call it. That's going to be heading off to the east.
So there is still a chance you could be picking up maybe another inch of snowfall once this band swings through. But certainly, the worst of it is over and done with.
Boston, you're not even into the worst of it yet. Here's a live picture from WHDH-TV. Visibility, a quarter of a mile. Your temperatures, 27 degrees with winds gusting to 33 miles per hour.
We're expecting the worst of the storm to be hitting between 6 p.m. tonight until 2 a.m. tomorrow morning.
When you wake up tomorrow, you're going to start to see some of the sleet move in.
Blizzard warnings continue for New York City across Long Island and the southern parts of Connecticut into New Jersey, at least through the evening hours. The early evening hours.
And then we'll start to watch things improve. The snow bands will become a little bit lesser.
Winter storm warnings have extended to down east Maine, including Portland, expecting about six to 12 inches of snowfall there.
Here are the storm totals that we're going to be expecting overall through tomorrow morning.
The worst of it in the eastern parts of Massachusetts, extending down into northern parts of New Jersey. This is going to be a top ten all time storm from about Washington, D.C., on up towards Boston.
And these are the snowfall amounts that we're expecting just tomorrow, not including what we're having for today, another two to five after 6 a.m. tomorrow in Boston -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jacqui Jeras, our meteorologist, thanks very much.
We know this is a big snowstorm, an unusual snowstorm when they're sending some of the snow removal equipment from my hometown of Buffalo to here in Washington, D.C., and Maryland to help out.
There's much more on this storm coverage on my web site. Go CNN.com/Wolf for the latest pictures. Snowfall amounts, information on closings and a special link that lets you track the storm. It's all at CNN.com/Wolf.
Now the latest on the showdown with Iraq.
The Bush Administration and its key ally, Great Britain, are working on a new resolution they hope to submit to the United Nations Security Council this week.
Our senior White House correspondent, John King, is standing by with details -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESONDENT: And Wolf, of course one of the big questions is will France, China, Russia, one of the permanent members with veto power, use that veto power if the United States and Great Britain introduce a resolution that skeptics and opponents to war in Iraq view as a gateway to war?
That is one of the reasons the administration working in close concert with the British right now on the exact language. Administration officials say they want a relatively straightforward new resolution that declares that Iraq remains in continued material breach of resolution 1441 and previous commitments to the United Nations.
The question is whether that resolution will explicitly talk about force or whether it will simply say it is time for the world to enforce previous resolutions.
That, of course, in the administration's view, would be a gateway to military confrontation.
France continuing to take the lead in saying it would oppose any resolution that it fears as a gateway to war at this moment. Administration officials saying urgent consultations continuing on the draft of the resolution.
Also, an effort to force the weapons inspectors on the ground to quickly test Iraq's commitment by demanding that those medium range missiles that Dr. Hans Blix last week told the council were in violation of Iraq's commitments to the United Nations, the White House wants Dr. Blix to demand that they be destroyed in the days ahead.
They don't believe here at the White House that Saddam Hussein would comply. And they believe a showdown between Saddam and the weapons inspectors could help the climate as the administration tries to push a new resolution through.
At the White House today, as you know, the president met with the president of Latvia. She is one of ten eastern European leaders who issued statements giving strong backing to President Bush's tough stance on Iraq. That, some comfort to the administration at a time it continues to feud with traditional European allies, chief among them right now France and Germany -- Wolf.
BLITZER: And we'll be speaking with her shortly in this program. John King at the White House, thanks very much for that report.
At an emergency summit in Brussels today, members of the European union joined forces behind a strongly worded declaration.
It affirms solidarity with the United States and warns Iraq it has one last chance to disarm peacefully. But the declaration says war should be a last resort.
With us now from Brussels, CNN's senior European political correspondent, Robin Oakley. Robin, give us the details.
ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, this is one of those documents, really a lowest common denominator document with something in it for everybody.
As you say, there's a declaration of support of a kind for the U.S. There's a final warning to Saddam Hussein that he must disarm or face the consequences.
But there's also clear evidence here that these European union leaders have been listening to the people who've been Marching in the streets, because they put the emphasis, really, in a way that helps the people who are saying there should be a go slow, there should be more time for the inspectors to do their work in Iraq and that nobody should be rushing into war.
They say the union's objective for Iraq remains full and effective disarmament, that we want to achieve this peacefully. It is clear that's what the people of Europe wants, says the document. War is not inevitable. Force should be used only as a last resort.
And, of course, while they have agreed in -- on a document in these general terms, you were talking to John King there about the second resolution and the U.N. Security Council.
Well, Jacques Chirac, the president of France, came here and said as he arrived there was no need for a second U.N. Security Council resolution at this stage and if there were one, then France would oppose it.
Not the news that Tony Blair, the U.K. prime minister, wanted to hear. He's backing George Bush. But his public doesn't like his attitude. His own party doesn't like his attitude. He's been desperate for that second U.N. Security Council to give him political cover.
Jacques Chirac's going to stop him getting it. There are still plenty of divisions in Europe yet, Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Robin Oakley for us in Brussels tonight. Robin, thanks very much for that report.
And we'll have much more on the showdown with Iraq coming later this hour.
Here's your chance to weigh in on this story. Our Web question of the day is this: "Do you think anti-war protests should influence President Bush's policy on Iraq?" We'll have the results later in this broadcast. Vote right now at CNN.com/Wolf.
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.
Coming up, a CNN exclusive, a breaking story about credit cards and why your private information may not necessarily be safe.
And a Chicago nightclub turns into a death trap. What triggered the stampede that left 21 people dead? We'll take a closer look at how a holiday weekend turned into a nightmare.
Plus, anti-war protests around the world. But are these voices of dissent falling on deaf ears?
And the military buildup, a day in the life of a smart bomb crew. We'll take you on board the USS Constellation.
You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: We have a breaking news story now that could impact millions of Americans whose credit card accounts may have been accessed by a hacker.
CNN's Fred Katayama is joining us now live from New York with this exclusive report -- Fred.
FRED KATAYAMA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, CNN has learned that a hacker has gained access to possibly several million Visa and Mastercard accounts.
Spokesman for the two companies said they promptly notified the affected banks that issued the cards. As many as 2.2 million card holders may be affected.
And today a bank serving the northeast, Citizens Bank, said it shut down the accounts of 8,800 customers whose card numbers had been accessed. A bank spokesman says all those accounts were safe.
Mastercard and Visa wouldn't disclose how many banks they've notified, nor would they say whether this was a regional or national problem.
The number of cards that may be affected make up less than half of a percent of the 560 million Visa and Mastercards in the United States.
Mastercard and Visa said the hacker had breached the security system of a company that processes credit card transactions on behalf of merchants. A Visa official says none of the compromised cards have been used fraudulently.
We attempted to reach the largest card issuers but only one, First USA Bank, returned our calls. It said it was not affected and not aware of any security problems affecting its customers.
Mastercard says it is working with authorities, including the FBI, to help identify the culprit -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Fred, if any of our viewers think they may have been affected by this, what should they do?
KATAYAMA: Well, Wolf, they should contact the bank that issued the card, not Mastercard and Visa, but the bank that issued the card.
The card companies have what's called zero liability policies. Now that means if your card has been used fraudulently and you had reported the incident to the issuer, you are not held responsible for any of those charges -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Fred Katayama with a very disturbing story. Thanks very much, Fred, for that report. We'll continue to watch it.
Let's go Chicago now, where survivors are telling stories of horror after a stampede at a nightclub killed at least 21 people.
Our bureau chief there, Jeff Flock, is covering this horrible story.
Jeff, tell us about it.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it sounds like something that happened perhaps in some country far away, but in fact, it happened in Chicago, back here on the nightclub of the second floor of the Epitome Restaurant you see back there behind me.
And now, about 14 hours after it happened, authorities still not completely sure exactly how it unfolded.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) A Chicago Fire Department ambulance responds to a report of a pregnant woman down outside the popular E2 nightclub on Chicago's south side. What they find is like a war zone.
People just keep coming, some carried by friends and relatives, some lifeless.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It started off as a little fight, security trying to break it up. So they start spraying mace on everybody. They just spraying mace through the whole club.
FLOCK: Authorities aren't sure what happened and the club has made no comment. But whatever happened led to a stampede down a steep stairway from the second floor club to the ground.
For a time, the front door is blocked by a mass of bodies.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People throwing up everywhere. Throwing up everywhere. You cannot get out -- you can't breathe, you're choking.
FLOCK: By this time there are people lying in the street everywhere.
More ambulances arrive, stretchers rush out to meet still more people carrying bodies.
Firefighters, seeing the pileup at front door, look for another way in or out.
JAMES JOYCE, CHICAGO FIRE COMMISSIONER: Our hook and ladder companies went around the back, found some locked doors, used sledgehammers and pry bars to pry those doors open.
At one door in the rear near a kitchen, they found four victims in cardiac arrest.
FLOCK: At a prayer service at Operation Push, family members, sobbing, begging authorities to find out what happened.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please, God, give us answers.
FLOCK: Even people who were inside the club can't say for sure.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some people was like, it's been...
FLOCK: Lakisha Blackwell (ph) tells us she saw the fight and either mace or pepper spray, but others didn't and just panicked, not sure what was happening.
REV. JESSE JACKSON, RAINBOW PUSH COALITION: Somebody said poison gas, somebody said terror, when that happened, poison gas and terror, people began to go for it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FLOCK: So, Wolf, they're going to be looking at those locked entrances. Also, the notion of maybe there with too many people inside that club, looking at that, as well.
And then, of course, this whole notion of perhaps the nation being on hair trigger and panic being set off perhaps too easily.
Back to you.
BLITZER: Thanks, Jeff Flock. What a tragedy. We'll be continuing to monitor the fallout. Thanks very much, Jeff.
Here's a little bit more information on pepper spray. When used, it can burn your eyes, nasal passages, your mouth, your throat. It could give you the sensation of suffocating when exposed.
Earlier we contacted Gary Hankins (ph), formerly with the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, to get his opinion on how a crowd would react to pepper spray.
He told us with all the terror threats and people's nerves on edge right now, he could easily see how a panic situation could break out in this kind of development.
Millions hit the street to protest against a war with Iraq. But will it make any difference?
We'll go live to New York and London, where demonstrators are planning their next moves.
Plus, we'll ask the president of one European country that supports military action why she does support President Bush so strongly.
Also, terror alert at orange. Did the government jump the gun on the latest warnings? We'll take a closer look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: A war in mid-March? Saddam Hussein removed from power quickly? Coming up, predictions on the showdown with Iraq from an experienced commander. That's coming up on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS. We're back in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: As the United States and Britain press ahead with plans for the possibility of war with Iraq, they face growing voices of dissent. Over the weekend, millions of people and in dozens of countries took part in rallies and Marches.
With us now to talk more about those protests and their possible impact are CNN's Maria Hinojosa in New York and Matthew Chance in London.
Maria, let's begin with you and the protests here in the United States -- Maria.
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, organizers here are saying that this weekend's protests were the largest ever international mobilizations for a war that has not even been declared.
Not too long ago, the anti-war movement had been seen as small, voiceless and unimportant with little media coverage. This weekend seems to have changed that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) Several million people calling for peace around the globe, including in more than 300 U.S. cities.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No war!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No war!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No war!
HINOJOSA: More than 100,000 in New York. More than 200,000 in San Francisco. Tens of thousands in Los Angeles and more. A surprise to some that so many were ready to speak out against a possible war with Iraq.
Organizers say the challenge now is to keep the momentum up. They'll focus on the Cities for Peace movement. So far over 90 city councils have passed anti-war resolutions, including Chicago, Atlanta, Baltimore and Cleveland.
Large numbers of people willing to voice anti-war opinions, but how do you harness that?
LESLIE CAGAN, ANTI-WAR ACTIVIST: I think we're mostly effective or our power is felt when automatic kinds of tactics are being used. When people are lobbying, when people are pressuring their local media to put different points of view into the press, into print media, broadcast media, when people are demonstrating.
I don't think it's any one approach that does it.
HINOJOSA: But does taking to the streets play into a dictator's hands?
CAGAN: We do not support the Iraqi government and the regime of Saddam Hussein.
But we don't think the way to deal with those problems or to actually get rid of weapons of mass destruction is by escalating into a military confrontation where such weapons may actually be used.
HINOJOSA: What's next?
One anti-war group is planning a virtual March on Washington on February 26. On that day, a phone call to every Senate office, every minute of the day from an anti-war constituent.
If war breaks out, organizers say they're planning emergency actions.
But will those be civil disobedience by people willing to get arrested, like the Code Pink women who chained themselves to the United Nations gate?
And will more people be willing to join street protests, giving the anti-war movement enough momentum to prevent a war?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Now, the next big action, street action, Wolf, is planned for March 5, a nationwide student strike and walkout for high schools and universities.
Organizers say they're exhilarated because they now know they're part of an international peace movement.
They feel like they made history over the weekend. But some admit it doesn't mean that they've reversed the pace towards war with Iraq -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Maria Hinojosa in New York. Thanks, Maria, very much.
Saturday's rally in London is said to be Britain's biggest peacetime protest ever. It was one of the many anti-war demonstrations across Europe and other continents, including Antarctica.
CNN Matthew Chance is joining us now live from London with more -- Matthew.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Wolf.
And divisions on the political level in Europe and around the world about what their stance should be on the issue of Iraq.
On streets, though, the situation very different. Millions of people coming out around the world and on the European continent to voice their opposition to any Iraqi war.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) In the capitals of Washington's most long-standing allies, millions deliver a powerful message of dissent.
Few have stood firmer than Britain with the U.S. over Iraq, but in London, police say more than 750,000 people turned out, the biggest peacetime protest this country has ever seen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's very important for what goes on in the whole region. And we just feel the United States is simply not listening. I mean, I'm very fond of Americans. I've worked over there for three years, but I just can't tolerate this.
I'm not a natural marcher, believe you me. It has taken me a lot to get me out on a cold day. I feel passionately about this.
CHANCE: In Rome, the crowds were even bigger, more than a million, say police, on the streets of the Eternal City.
The government of Silvio Berlusconi supports the U.S. position over Iraq, but as in Britain, this is a country where divisions are increasingly wide between policy and the opinions of the general public.
There were huge protests in Spain, too, but it was only in Paris and here in Berlin that marchers and the government beat the same drum.
Like his French counterpart, the German chancellor, Gerhard Schroder, rules out support for war. But in a stance that is set even more at odds with the U.S., Germany says it will never support a conflict, even with a further U.N. Security Council resolution.
Bankers and students like Miriam (ph) marched together.
Around the world, as far as Australia, mass protests and countries allied with Washington have united public misgivings about war.
The U.S. strive towards conflict may not have been stopped, but the hope of so many is that the U.S. and their own governments will at least listen.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Well, whether or not the U.S. and Britain do listen to these millions of people that have come out to voice their protests still very much remains to be seen.
We understand from diplomats that a new U.N. resolution is being prepared that would specifically authorize the use of force against Iraq.
With so many people, though, coming out on the streets around the world, it may be a hard sell for many politicians in the region -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Matthew Chance in London for us tonight. Matthew, thanks very much. And here's your chance once again to weigh in on this story. Our Web question of the day is this: "Do you think anti-war protests should influence President Bush's policy on Iraq?" Vote right now at CNN.com/Wolf.
And as we told you at the top of this newscast, President Bush is getting key support for his tough stance on Iraq from the former Soviet bloc in eastern Europe. Latvia's president, Vaira Vike- Freiberga, met today with President Bush in the Oval Office.
And she sat down with me shortly after that meeting.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
Welcome to the United States. You just came from a meeting with President Bush. What kind of mood do you see him in? Is he determined to go to war against Iraq?
VAIRA VIKE-FREIBERGER, PRESIDENT OF LATVIA: He's determined to do what needs to be done to disarm Iraq and Saddam Hussein. He's quite determined about that. Of course, he would prefer for it to be done peacefully, if possible. He also would prefer for it to be done with a swell of support from his allies.
BLITZER: Is that still possible to do it without the use of force? Do you think Saddam Hussein will disarm?
VIKE-FREIBERGA: He has a chance and it's his very last chance. And I think in many ways the disagreements about what is expected of him have lessened the resolve of the coalition against him and have given him maybe the idea that he could somehow squeeze through and not comply.
BLITZER: Because some of your European allies, the French, the Germans and others are very much opposed to military force, but you've been a strong supporter of President Bush. Why?
VIKE-FREIBERGA: Because we feel that a united front against Saddam Hussein in insisting on the fulfillment of the requirements of United Nations Resolution 1441 is what gives us the last ultimate hope of him actually carrying through what's supposed to be doing and that is to give evidence of having disarmed and complying in every way with international inspectors. We're not playing a cat and mouse game. And it's not clear how long he is to be given. And the thing is being dragged out. And I think what we need is a clear resolve, a clear deadline, a clear requirement, as to what he has to comply with. And he has a chance.
BLITZER: When you say deadline, how much time should he be given?
VIKE-FREIBERGA: Well, that's what the -- that's up for debate now. And this is where it would help to have agreement. I think if a firm deadline were set and ultimatum presented and then I think it would be a much higher likelihood of him actually taking this seriously and taking some steps and we could prevent war by his taking the ultimatum seriously. But so far if we're talking very vaguely about continuing inspecting, debating what -- how many inspectors are doing the job, in a way it's a signal to Saddam Hussein to just carry on as usual and to do nothing.
BLITZER: To stretch is out and delay. It's interesting, as Don Rumsfeld, the secretary of defense, has pointed out; there is a new Europe and an old Europe. You're part, he says, of the new Europe, the former Soviet republics, the eastern European bloc of the Communist nations like Latvia, Estonia, and Hungary and Bulgaria. You support the president of the United States strongly, but France and Germany, he says the old Europe, doesn't. Why do you feel this new Europe, as he describes it, is so interested, so anxious to support President Bush?
VIKE-FREIBERGA: Because we have had experience of loss of liberty. We have experienced tyranny and we know that the Second World War and its sequels were new and large part to not containing, for instance Hitler's ambitions, when there was still time. Mind you, Stalin's ambitions had a lot to do with it, too, and he was something much more difficult to contain. But in fact, these two tyrants were allowed to run rampant over a large part of Europe. And this part of Europe was cut off from the rest of it and knew exactly what it means to live under tyranny and the price of appeasement. We paid it. We paid it.
BLITZER: Some of your critics though -- and you've heard this criticism -- say that it's all U.S. aid, that you want U.S. aid, money from the United States as a result of your supporting President Bush.
VIKE-FREIBERGA: I don't know that we have been getting that much aid from the U.S. We have been working very hard on rejoining the free world. We have had aid from the nations of the European Union. Our economy is doing well. And we are certainly not dependent on the United States for our survival unlike many other countries, which have received considerable amounts of aid and still are not able to stand on their feet.
BLITZER: Well, Madame President, on that note, let's leave it and thank you very much for joining us.
VIKE-FREIBERGA: It's been a pleasure talking to you.
BLITZER: Good luck to you and good luck to Latvia.
VIKE-FREIBERGA: Thank you very much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: So is war with Iraq inevitable despite worldwide protests? Coming up, a timetable for battle. We'll ask the former supreme allied commander of NATO, retired General Wesley Clark. Also, struck dead at 23, dreams of stardom dashed at spring training. And bombs away in the Persian Gulf. Take a ride on the USS Constellation where troops are preparing for the worst-case scenario.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN. I'm Wolf Blitzer. Coming up, prospects for war. Can a showdown with Iraq be avoided? I'll ask the former NATO supreme allied commander, General Wesley Clark.
(NEWSBREAK)
BLITZER: The first U-2 surveillance flight to aid U.N. weapons inspections has taken place over Iraq. Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is in Baghdad with details on that and other fresh developments there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The U-2 surveillance flights are one of key demands of the U.N. weapons chiefs, Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei. According to Iraq's foreign ministry, from 11:55 a.m. until 6:15, that's quarter after 4:00 in the afternoon Monday, a U-2 surveillance aircraft patrolled Iraq's skies for four hours and 20 minutes in support of the U.N. mission on the ground. According to U.N. spokesmen, they had given Iraq advanced warning that this flight would take place. That was one of the conditions Iraqi authorities are calling for. They called for 48 hours of advance notice and a way to communicate with the aircraft.
One of the reasons that Iraq says that it had been unable to give permission until late last week for the U-2 aircraft to fly was because they said they couldn't guarantee its safety. The reason for that, they say, allied aircraft patrol the northern and southern no fly zones. They say their ground defense systems fire at those aircraft. If they fired at the U-2 aircraft, they said that they, therefore, may not be able to guarantee its safety. That now seems to have changed. U.N. officials in New York said they had been expecting this flight to take place possibly Monday, possibly Tuesday. Iraq's foreign ministry confirming now it flew for four hours and 20 minutes on Monday.
Also, weapons inspectors continuing to follow up on tagging, that is identifying prescribed al Samud-II (ph) missiles. Also, some newly prescribed missile engines that Iraq had purchased recently, some 380- missile engines. Also, weapons inspectors following up on the destruction of some mustard gas munitions. One of the things they've been doing in that process is to destroy the mustard gas. They've been going back and following up, doing chemical analysis to ensure that that mustard gas has been properly disposed of.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And Turkey is frustrating the White House by continuing to delay a decision on allowing U.S. troops on Turkish soil in case of war with Iraq. The government today put off a parliamentary session scheduled for tomorrow on the matter. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) says it has economic, political and military issues to work out with Washington.
Earlier today, I talked with the former NATO supreme allied commander, retired General Wesley Clark, on what's likely to happen between the U.S. and Iraq and when. The general had some startling answers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: General Clark, is war inevitable?
RET. GEN. WELSEY CLARK, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: War is almost inevitable, Wolf. I think there is two things that could stop it -- obviously, if something happens in Iraq and Saddam Hussein is overthrown, flees the country, or whatever reason that could stop it. If there is a way that someone could construct an international process that would put people on the ground, who could find the weapons of mass destruction and remove Saddam Hussein without war, then I think that would be a success.
But the United States believes in its intelligence. We're not going to say, we made a mistake. We haven't found anything. OK, we give up. And there is a momentum behind this and people recognize that if you're ever going to do anything to deal with this problem, you to take advantage of this momentum. It may not be tomorrow or maybe even next month, but sometime now with this deployment of troops, with this urgency in the international community, Saddam's going to give up those weapons or he's going to go.
BLITZER: Whether the prospects of assassination or coup or...
CLARK: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
BLITZER: ... very low. OK, let's move on. When do you think this will unfold, a timetable if you will?
CLARK: Best guess, right now, mid-March. But here's three factors you have to worry about -- number one is when will the troops be ready? Well, the troops are pouring in. The plans constantly changing depending on what ports are open and which countries are saying yes. But I wouldn't think that given the flow that everybody is on board ready, unpacked and ready to go until mid-March. Secondly, it's a question of the diplomacy and have you taken enough time to bring in all the people you can? And I hope the administration will do this and really work the diplomacy down to the very last drop of hopefulness because the broader coalition, the greater the chances for success, not only in the fighting but afterwards.
Third factor, and this is the least controllable, you got a lot of strong opposition inside Iraq. You got a lot of people who are sort of pounding their chests and saying let us at Saddam. You know we got a few special forces troops here. Maybe these Americans are going to help us if we get it started, the Americans can't back out again. We'll make it happen. It's possible this thing could be triggered by an uprising, by the Shi'as or the Kurds.
BLITZER: If there is a war -- we don't know if there will be -- but if there is a war, how long do you think, based on what you know, it will last? CLARK: Two weeks. Two weeks because it's going to take a few days for the forces to get out of Kuwait and up into the Baghdad area. You got to allow a few days for the fighting up there and just the maneuvering and occupation of that country. I don't think more than two weeks.
BLITZER: If it does come down to that war, finding Saddam Hussein or killing him, is going to be another Osama bin Laden on the loose?
CLARK: Well, no one in the administration has said we have to find Saddam Hussein. And I think the logic of this is you don't really care what happens to Saddam Hussein. He's out of power. He's out of the government. He's not cult figure. He's dismissed in much of the Arab world today. I think when it is over for him, it's over. And he's lost his throne and that's it.
BLITZER: General Clark, thanks very much.
CLARK: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Is the terror threat to the United States not so imminent after all? Find out why orange may soon turn back to yellow, but first a look at other news making headlines around the world.
Oil pressured, with world oil prices already souring because of the strike in Venezuela and Gulf War jitters, there is word Nigeria's oil output is in jeopardy too. Nigerian oil workers have gone on strike over wages and working conditions. Replacement workers are being used in a bid to keep the oil flowing.
Vow of revenge, a mass funeral was held in Gaza for six Palestinian militants killed in an explosion. Hamas leaders are blaming Israel and vowing retaliation.
Cyprus setback, a U.N. plan to reunify Cyprus suffered a setback as Greek seriates elected a new president who takes a harder line. The president-elect says he will push for concessions before he agrees to a plan that would reunify the Greek and Turkish sections of the divided Mediterranean islands.
Columbia crash, investigations hauled away the wreckage of the U.S. plane that crashed in the Columbian jungle during an intelligence-gathering mission last week. It now appears that that leftist gorillas executed an American and a Colombian who were on the plane, then took the three other Americans who were on the plane hostage.
Jakarta jubilation, Indonesians of Chinese dissent held a colorful parade in Jakarta at the annual Ethogese (ph) of the God celebration. It's held on the 15th day of the first lunar month. For decades the Indonesian government banned this ethnic celebration, but this year it became a national holiday. And that's our look around the world. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: They are the closest look you'll get without getting hurt, bombs that could be used against Iraq. Join the crew of the aircraft carrier, USS Constellation. That's coming up on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS. We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Millions of Americans have been on edge since the government raised the terrorism threat level from elevated to high more than a week ago that could soon change. Our national security correspondent, David Ensor, shows us why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over): Unless there is more intelligence in the immediate future indicating additional danger, U.S. officials say current code orange threat advisory may soon be lowered again back to yellow. The decision could be made, Homeland Security Secretary, Tom Ridge, said Sunday on CNN's "LATE EDITION" on short notice.
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR: We review the information in our intelligence on a day-to-day basis. We maintain it at the orange level but that could change within 24 to 48 hours.
ENSOR: The annual period of the Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimages to Mecca is over. Some intelligence had suggested attacks might occur during or immediately after it. U.S. officials say the additional security measures taken because the nation went to threat level orange could have made those attacks more difficult to achieve. The intelligence officials say they have information that this man, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a senior operations official for al Qaeda, was behind some of the plots apparently unsuccessful that led the U.S. to go to threat level orange.
(on camera): Knowledgeable officials say one specific piece of information from an informant who volunteered it overseas, a story that a Jewish conference in Virginia Beach was going to be attacked, turned out to be false. The man failed a polygraph test, officials say, and then admitted he lied about that. But the nation went to orange threat level because of a wide variety of specific intelligence about plots, officials say, not including the false Virginia Beach story.
David Ensor, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Building bombs in the Persian Gulf. Go on board the USS Constellation where part of the American war machine is being prepared for action right now. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: A beautiful night in Washington despite all the snow that has gathered.
This week, we're taking a special look at the U.S. military buildup for the possible war with Iraq. Our series, "A Day in The Life," begins with a visit to an aircraft carrier where sailors are loading deadly cargo.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BECKY DIAMOND, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This chunk of iron is about half the weight of a car and can take one out miles away.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's interesting. You load it, sometimes they drop them, sometimes they don't. They practice a lot. And every day, it's new. You never know what's going to happen.
DIAMOND: It's early morning on the USS Constellation in the Persian Gulf and 100,000-pound smart bombs are being loaded onto jets bound for no-fly zone missions in Southern Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have to build a quality product and send a quality product to the aircraft knowing that these pilots are going out and risking their lives.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Check.
DIAMOND: Petty Officer Duncan Clayton (ph) is a quality supervisor than aircraft carrier and his assembly line products aren't designed for a long shelf life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every bomb we build, we pretty much assume that they're not going to come back. It's an electrical telefuse that provides the explosive charge for the bomb. This fin here has GPS, global positioning system. Once it's hooked to the bomb body and once the bomb is released, it steers itself.
DIAMOND: Devastating to its target, while reducing the risk of injury to civilians, these smart bombs mean more combat pilots will come home alive because they can drop the bombs from higher and safer altitudes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think about who it's going to affect and what it's destroying because I just feel terrorism itself in a whole they don't care about the people that they killed in 2001 and beyond and from here on out so...
DIAMOND: While Iraq insists they have no connection with al Qaeda or September 11, many here aren't drawing any distinctions. These bombs are headed up to a holding area on the flight deck, known as the bomb farm.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't want to go to war. I don't think the American people want to go to war. But we're here for a reason. So if the commander-in-chief says go to war, well, there you go we're going to war.
DIAMOND: Duncan Clayton (ph), like the bombs he and his crew assemble, wait for their orders.
Becky Diamond, CNN, on the USS Constellation in the Persian Gulf.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Tomorrow, we'll take you up close with American troops as they prepare for the unthinkable, a chemical or biological attack.
Don't forget, time is running out for your turn to weigh in on our "Web Question of The Day." Do you think anti-war protests should influence President Bush's policy on Iraq? Log onto CNN.com/Wolf. That's where you can vote right now and we'll have the results immediately when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of The Day." We've been asking you -- do you think anti-war protests should influence President Bush's policy on Iraq? Fifty-nine percent of you say yes, 41 percent say no. This is not a scientific poll.
That's all the time we have today. Please join me again tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" begins right now.
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