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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Security Warnings as Holidays Approach; Persian Gulf Drug Bust Nets al Qaeda Members; Search for Osama Continues

Aired December 19, 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: Happening now. New information surfacing about an attack against a convoy carrying the U.S. administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer.
Also, new concern the American public may not have heard the last word from al Qaeda. Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER (voice-over): Terror threat, on alert for the holidays. As a new tape says, al Qaeda is hunting Americans in their homeland.

Ambush in Iraq. A close call for a top U.S. official.

Making Saddam sweat. A former Army interrogator tells us how it's done.

Kobe Bryant case. They're back in court, and the gloves are off.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Friday, December 19, 2003.

BLITZER: There are new security concerns heading into the holidays. Authorities say there has been an upsurge in intelligence on a possible terror threat, one that may be directed against major American cities.

As the United States steps up the hunt for Osama bin Laden, an audiotape said to be from his top lieutenant claims al Qaeda has America on the run.

And the U.S. Navy seizes a drug boat in the Persian Gulf. But officials say it's not just a drug bust.

We'll go live to CNN's Ash-har Quraishi. He's in Islamabad Pakistan, to Barbara Starr, she's over at the Pentagon.

But we begin with our justice correspondent, Kelli Arena, with the latest on the terror threats -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, homeland security officials say that there has been an upsurge in intelligence and it does have them concerned. But it is very important to keep this all in perspective.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA (voice-over): It's the holiday season. There are more shoppers, more travelers, more threat information coming in about a possible attack against the United States.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: We have remained concerned about the volume of reporting of threats.

ARENA: Counter terrorism officials insist there is no credible or imminent threat information, and if there were, they say it would not be kept secret.

Generally speaking, though, there is intelligence regarding New York City, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles as possible targets. But those cities are often mentioned.

The U.S. has also received information regarding possible suicide bombings like those seen in Israel and persistent reports of attacks on airports.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: Adding to the level of concern, a new audiotape allegedly from al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's number two, with a direct reference to possible strikes on U.S. soil.

Now, at this point there is no plan to raise the national threat level, although it has been discussed. And despite the volume of information concerning the United States, most officials believe there will be an attack overseas before we see one here -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kelli, you talked to these Justice Department officials, homeland security officials all the time. In the scale of these kinds of fears that we hear expressed every few weeks or so, how significant does this one seem to be?

ARENA: Wolf, you know, we saw this when we entered the last holiday season, as well. There is usually an increase in threat information coming in around the holidays and other certain times of year -- before Ramadan, for example.

So to put it in a broader perspective, you know, this is something they've seen before. And, again, nothing credible, nothing suggesting that there's anything imminent.

BLITZER: But just out of an abundance of caution, to be prudent, they want to make sure no one gets surprised.

ARENA: That's right.

BLITZER: Kelli Arena, thanks very much for that.

Call it the al Qaeda connection. The U.S. Navy has seized a boatload of drugs in the Persian Gulf, and the vessel's crewmembers are being tied to Osama bin Laden's terror network.

Let's go live to our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, earlier this week, the U.S. Navy seized two tons of hashish on the high seas of the Persian Gulf, and they say it is a drug ring linked to the al Qaeda.

Now, it was on Monday that the Navy warship, the USS Decatur, intercepted a small 40-foot dhow just inside the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. It's one of those small boats that ply those waters all the time, trade routes, that sort of thing.

But when they intercepted this particular dhow, the boat and the crew did not have proper documentation for either the cargo or the crewmembers. The Navy began to search this dhow, and they found 54 70-pound bags of hashish, a street value of some $8 million to $10 million. But there is even more.

The Navy now says that three of the 12 crew members -- you see the dhow here that they were on -- that three of the four crew members have suspected links to the al Qaeda. And that they do now believe that that drug cargo was an al Qaeda shipment.

All of this taking place on a known al Qaeda drug smuggling route through the Persian Gulf. More monitoring and surveillance of these waters is expected -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Barbara, how much indication are you getting that al Qaeda, the terror network out there, is still basing a lot of their financing on these kinds of drug sales?

STARR: Well, you know, this had been a long-standing view of the U.S. law enforcement and intelligence community, that al Qaeda had used drug operations to finance their work over many, many years.

But if, in fact, this particular shipment is proven, as the Navy believes, to have a very specific link to al Qaeda, it would be one of the very few cases where they've really got it nailed down.

BLITZER: The interception of illegal drugs and terror. Thanks, Barbara Starr, for that at the Pentagon.

Amid continuing concerns about al Qaeda activity, the hunt continues, of course, for Osama bin Laden. He's still believed to be somewhere along the Afghan-Pakistan border.

CNN's Islamabad bureau chief Ash-har Quraishi is joining us now live via videophone. He has more -- Ash-har.

ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Wolf.

Well, it's been over two years since Osama bin Laden escaped from Tora Bora, a battle there. And periodically since then, we've seen audio and videotaped messages from the al Qaeda leader and his top brass, reminding America that its top fugitive is still at large. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

QURAISHI (voice-over): Many believe bin Laden is hiding in the rugged and lawless tribal belt of Pakistan, possibly moving back and forth between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

(on camera) But it's been more than six months since Pakistani forces moved into the previously inaccessible region, and military officials here say there hasn't been much to go on.

MAJ. GEN. SHAUKAY SULTAN, ARMY SPOKESMAN: No specific information has been provided to Pakistan by United States. If one says, yes, we saw so and so in division two months back, that intelligence is of no use.

QURAISHI: Still, the United States is confident that with Saddam in custody, sooner or later, bin Laden, too, will fall into their hands.

MCCLELLAN: I think he can fully expect that he will be brought to justice by this administration.

QURAISHI: But Khalid Khawala, formerly with Pakistan's intelligence agency and a close friend of bin Laden, says no one will ever catch him.

KHALID KHAWALA, FORMER PAKISTAN INTELLIGENCE: Americans will not be able to kill or capture Osama or Mullah. What they will be doing is killing and kidnapping absolutely innocent people, whom they do not even know.

QURAISHI: The problem, a look of human intelligence surrounding bin Laden's whereabouts, despite the $25 million price on his head.

LT. GEN. TALAT MASOOD, DEFENSE ANALYST: He has the advantage of geography, of terror and a society -- a tribal society which will give him cover and which will show him the loyalty. So unless sort of somebody betrays him or by chance he's caught, it may be very difficult.

QURAISHI: Ask about the bottom line in the hunt for bin Laden and you'll get a simple answer from the Pakistani military.

SULTAN: I would say there is nothing new.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QURAISHI: There have been some major catches since 9/11, like the capture of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the suspected architect of the 9/11 attacks, back in March.

But information gleaned from captives like Mohammed has been pretty much unhelpful in trying to locate bin Laden because oftentimes the information is too old.

Officials here say that the key, apparently, is in human intelligence on the ground, which there seems to be a lack of. And analysts also point out that so far, officials and authorities have been unsuccessful in penetrating bin Laden's inner circle -- Wolf.

BLITZER: A lot of so-called experts are surprised the $25 million bounty that's been out there now more for than two years hasn't had an impact. Do you understand why?

QURAISHI: Well, from what we hear from analysts and experts in the field, they say that bin Laden has surrounded himself with a small, very, very loyal faction of his followers.

They travel very discreetly. From what officials believe, they don't travel using any kinds of communication that can be picked up by satellite imagery. And that he's made it very clear, and very -- he's been very careful to keep people in his company that wouldn't give into that temptation and are just very, very loyal to bin Laden in not giving him up -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Ash-har Quraishi, reporting from Islamabad. Ash-har, thanks very much for that report.

And to our viewers, here's your turn to weigh in on this important story. Our Web question of the day is this: "How worried are you about a terror attack over the holidays? Not at all, somewhat, very?"

You can vote right now. Go to CNN.com/Wolf. We'll have the results later in this broadcast.

While you're there, though, I'd love to hear directly from you, our viewers. Send me your comments any time. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also where you can read my daily online column: CNN.com/Wolf.

Saddam Hussein has now been in U.S. custody for almost a week. Interrogators are trying to get him to talk, but what are their tactics? The job that almost killed him.

Also the untold story of how America's top man in Iraq came under attack.

And playing hardball in Colorado. Kobe Bryant's defense team targets the accuser.

All that, much more. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: For the first time, the head of the CDC calls the flu outbreak an epidemic. Hear why. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: The top U.S. official in Iraq today announced he had a very close call recently but then shrugged off his brush with death. Let's go live to Bill Hemmer. He's joining us from Baghdad. Bill, tell us all about it.

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, a close call indeed.

Back on the 6th of December, Paul Bremer was leaving an impromptu meeting at the airport in Baghdad with his convoy, with his armored vehicle.

That convoy, then, was hit close by with an explosion on the side of the road. Gunmen then hopped out and opened up fire on that convoy. They sped away. Bremer was not hurt.

In Basra today Bremer joked that the attack did not succeed. But coalition officials, when asked about this incident that happened two weeks ago, they were asked whether or not this was an assassination attempt. They downplayed that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN SENOR, ADVISER TO PAUL BREMER: Ambassador Bremer was asked if there was an attack on him or his traveling party on December 6 and he just confirmed that it was true, that there was an attack. There was no mention of it being a targeted assassination.

On December 6, I can confirm that there was an attack on Ambassador Bremer's traveling party, as he indicated earlier today. It was on return -- while he was returning from an impromptu meeting. It was a meeting that was not on his schedule. It was arranged at the last moment.

He is fine, unharmed. The same for all those traveling with him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Officials also stress again today that that part of that road is common for attacks.

Bremer, though, continued his tour throughout the country of Iraq. As I mentioned, he was in Basra today. The military, though, investigating what exactly happened there. More on this, perhaps, later in the week.

Meanwhile, more explosions earlier today in Baghdad. When the sun came up about 5 a.m. local time.

The main headquarters of the Shiite political party was hit. A bomb rippled through, destroyed that building completely. One woman was killed; at least eight others were wounded. The military wing of that Shiite party was based there.

In Tikrit, 100 miles north of Baghdad, the 4th I.D., the 4th Infantry Division, continued searching Saddam Hussein's hometown. It's not clear what they found, but they were on the hunt for insurgents. They were on the hunt for weapons. They were searching homes there and, of course, tearing down posters of Saddam Hussein -- Wolf. BLITZER: Bill, are the troops getting ready for Christmas in any special way?

HEMMER: They are building up for that, Wolf. But it really has not been on their minds just yet. We're hearing word through various bases throughout Iraq, especially in the central part, that they will have something special for them.

What exactly, though -- Oftentimes the military likes to keep a bit of a surprise. Back two years ago, I can recall back in Kandahar in Afghanistan, about 300 members of the service were given one box, a white box. It had a can of Coca-Cola, a Snickers bar and a couple of other treats and that was about it then.

This, however, may be a completely different deal because the military, as you well know, well established here in the country of Iraq already, with 130,000 strong -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. We'll be watching closely together with our Bill Hemmer on the scene for us in Baghdad. Bill, thanks very much.

HEMMER: Sure.

BLITZER: Upcoming, we'll take you inside Kobe Bryant's closed- door hearing. Find out what the NBA's defense team wants from his accuser.

And a pricey plunge. A judge orders the man who jumped over Niagara Falls to pay up.

Plus this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's not a very easy thing to call the attorney general of New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: A remarkable story. How a simple telephone call may have changed the entire mutual fund industry. It's a story anyone with a mutual fund -- and that's almost all of us -- needs to see.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Kobe Bryant and his lawyers are trying to get access to the medical and mental health records of the woman who accuses him of rape. That's just one of several motions considered at a pretrial hearing today.

Our national correspondent, Gary Tuchman, is outside the courthouse at Eagle, Colorado. He's joining us with details -- Gary.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, hello to you.

The snow behind me is an apt visual metaphor for the pace of today's motions hearing, glacial.

The court has gotten bogged down in this very major issue. It may be the most important motion before a Kobe Bryant trial, whether the woman's medical records should be released to the defense for use in a trial.

The topic we expected was going to come up today. Instead, it hasn't come up at all. What has come up is whether the hearing should be opened or closed to the news media.

The prosecution and the woman's own personal attorney said the news media should not be allowed inside the room when this topic is discussed. The attorney for the accuser says this particular victim has done her best to avoid TV appearances or interviews. She does not want this publicity.

The news media attorney who represents CNN and other news media outlets says it is a First Amendment right for the news media to be there.

So the judge has said, listen, we're going to hold a in camera hearing right now, "in camera" the Latin word for in chambers. So right now the attorneys are in a private hearing with the judge. The judge wants the defense attorney to say who will you call as witnesses and what will they say if such a hearing is held? And I have to decide whether it's open or closed.

And then he said after this hearing today, I want all the attorneys to submit a report to me by January 9. And I won't announce my decision until January 23.

So it will another month before we decide if, indeed, the hearing is open or closed. And then the hearing will finally be held.

Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: Gary, correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't Kobe Bryant's team, the L.A. Lakers, supposed to play the Denver Nuggets tonight, Denver not very far away from Eagle?

TUCHMAN: Well, that's the coincidence here, Wolf, is that Colorado's basketball team, the Denver Nuggets, is in Los Angeles and Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Laker is here in Colorado. The game starts at 7:30 Pacific time. His coach says that if he makes it in time he'll play.

But it's likely this hearing, this in camera hearing, will last awhile, so unless British Airwaves or Air Frances takes their Concords out of retirement, I don't think Bryant will make it to L.A. in time.

BLITZER: All right. Well, they're supposed to play -- That's very interesting. Gives Denver a chance to win, perhaps. We'll see.

Thanks very much for that, Gary Tuchman.

Weighing the fate of a convicted teenage sniper. That story tops our "Justice Report."

Yesterday at this time jurors had just convicted Lee Boyd Malvo of terrorism and murder for the sniper shooting of Linda Franklin. Today they heard from her husband and six other victims' relatives as the penalty phase got under way.

The options are either life in prison or execution.

A Canadian judge has fined a Michigan man $2,300 for taking a plunge over Niagara Falls in October. Forty-year-old Kirk Jones survived the trip without any protective clothing or gear. He was charged with mischief and illegally performing a stunt.

In addition to the fine, he's also been banned from the falls for a year.

And a federal appeals court says the recording industry cannot force Internet companies to tell them who's swapping music online. The industry is suing hundreds of individual users as part of an anti- piracy campaign to discourage sharing copyrighted music files.

The judges said while they sympathize with the cause, the law does not allow that particular tactic.

A baseball that's become a grim icon for Chicago Cubs fans was sold in an Internet auction today for $106,000. It's the fly ball that a spectator tried to grab during this year's baseball playoffs between the Cubs and the Florida Marlins.

Many Cub fans thinks the spectator's grab prevented the Cubs outfielder from catching the ball, effectively ending the Cubs' bid for their first World Series since 1945.

The winning bidder is a Cubs fan who plans to destroy the ball so no Marlins fan can ever, ever get his hands on it.

A close call after an attack on his convoy in Iraq. Who is Paul Bremer and why was he almost -- almost a potential target for terror? We'll tell you.

Trying for the truth. Is getting Saddam to speak proving much tougher than once thought? We'll examine what's involved in this kind of interrogation.

Revealing secrets and blowing the lid off corporate scandals. A one-on-one with someone exposing the tricks of the trade.

All that and much more still to come.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: We're just getting this in from London. The British prime minister, Tony Blair, speaking only within the past few minutes, making a dramatic announcement -- a dramatic announcement about Libya and Moammar Gadhafi.

I want our viewers to listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Today's announcement, however, shows that we can fight this threat through more than purely military means, that we can defeat it peacefully if countries are prepared, in good faith, to work with the international community to dismantle such weapons.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The British prime minister, Tony Blair, announcing that Libya has agreed to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction program. The prime minister saying Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi confirmed the country tried to develop the weapons in the past but that all efforts will end immediately.

Mr. Blair says that clears the way for Libya -- and I'm quoting now -- "to rejoin the international community."

We're also anticipating momentarily President Bush emerging and meeting with reporters to meet what we're told is a similar declaration on Libya.

You're looking now live at the White House briefing room there with the presidential podium there. The president expected to go there to speak to reporters to announce this policy change -- apparent policy change on the part of Libya and Moammar Gadhafi.

The British prime minister formally making the announcement that Libya has agreed to end all -- all of its weapons of mass destruction program. And also acknowledging that Libya has, in fact, engaged in developing these kinds of weapons of mass destruction.

The president of the United States surprising all of us now, announcing to his staff only a few minutes ago that the president has a statement to make on Libya. And we'll be going into the briefing room in the West Wing of the White House.

Some context first, now. Libya in recent years has been trying to improve its image in the West. Only in the past few months, it has agreed to a huge settlement with victims of Pan Am 103, the Lockerbee bombing in the late 1980's, Christmas around this time exactly, for the victims' families of Pan Am 103.

Libya anxious to rejoin the international community, anxious for United Nations sanctions, economic, diplomatic sanctions to be lifted. And as a result engaging in a major public relations offensive over these many months trying to get restored to some sort of opportunity to have trade, commerce, international transportation going forward wit the president.

We're watching the president's top staff now go into the briefing room. You just saw Condoleezza Rice, the president's national security adviser. You saw Andy Card, the president's White House chief of staff. They're getting ready for the president to be emerging, to come in, to make a statement and presumably answer some reporters' questions on this very, very sensitive diplomatic issue.

It's presumably been in the works for months, some sort of back and forth between emissaries with Libya, to get Libya off some of those sanctions lists, of some of those punitive actions that the United States have led the way ever since the Lockerbie disaster. Two Libyans were accused of plotting that, working on behalf of the Libyan government. As a result of that Libya has been isolated for all of these years.

But apparently there's about to be a dramatic change that's about to be announced. It's already been announced on the British side of this, the British Prime Minister Tony Blair announcing only a few moments as we just heard here. And now the president.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Good evening. I have called you here today to announce a development of great importance in our continuing effort to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

Today in Tripoli the leader of Libya, Colonel Moammar al-Gadhafi, publicly confirmed his commitment to disclose and dismantle all weapons of mass destruction programs in his country.

He has agreed immediately and unconditionally to allow inspectors from international organizations to enter Libya.

These inspectors will render an accounting of all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and will help oversee their elimination.

BUSH: Colonel Gadhafi's commitment, once it is fulfilled, will make our country more safe and the world more peaceful.

Talks leading to this announcement began about nine months ago when Prime Minister Tony Blair and I were contacted through personal envoys by Colonel Gadhafi. He communicated to us his willingness to make a decisive change in the policy of his government.

At the direction of Colonel Gadhafi himself, Libyan officials have provided American and British intelligence officers with documentation on that country's chemical, biological, nuclear and ballistic missile programs and activities.

Our experts in these fields have met directly with Libyan officials to learn additional details.

Opposing proliferation is one of the highest priorities of the war against terror. The attacks of September the 11th, 2001, brought tragedy to the United States and revealed a future threat of even greater magnitude. Terrorists who kill thousands of innocent people would, if they ever gained weapons of mass destruction, kill hundreds of thousands without hesitation and without mercy.

And this danger is dramatically increased when regimes build or acquire weapons of mass destruction and maintain ties to terrorist groups. The United States and our allies are applying a broad and active strategy to address the challenges of proliferation through diplomacy and through the decisive actions that are sometimes needed.

We have enhanced our intelligence capabilities in order to trace dangerous weapons activities. We've organized a proliferation security initiative to interdict dangerous materials and technologies in transit. We've insisted on multilateral approaches, like that in North Korea, to confront threats.

We are supporting the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency to hold the Iranian regime to its treaty obligations. We obtained an additional United Nations Security Council resolution requiring Saddam Hussein to prove that he had disarmed, and when that resolution was defied we led a coalition to enforce it.

All of these actions by the United States and our allies have sent an unmistakable message to regimes that seek or possess weapons of mass destruction: Those weapons do not bring influence or prestige, they bring isolation and otherwise unwelcomed consequences.

And another message should be equally clear: Leaders who abandon the pursuit of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them will find an open path to better relations with the United States and other free nations.

BUSH: With today's announcement by its leader, Libya has begun the process of rejoining the community of nations.

And Colonel Gadhafi knows the way forward. Libya should carry out the commitments announced today. Libya should also fully engage in the war against terror.

Its government, in response to the United Nations Security Council's Lockerbie demands, has already renounced all acts of terrorism and pledged cooperation in the international fight against terrorism. We expect Libya to meet these commitments as well.

As the Libyan government takes these essential steps and demonstrates its seriousness, its good faith will be returned. Libya can regain a secure and respected place among the nations and over time achieve far better relations with the United States.

The Libyan people are heirs to an ancient and respected culture, and their country lies at the center of a vital region. As Libya becomes a more peaceful nation it can be a source of stability in Africa and the Middle East.

Should Libya pursue internal reform, America would be ready to help its people to build a more free and prosperous country.

Great Britain shares this commitment, and Prime Minister Blair and I welcome today's declaration by Colonel Gadhafi.

Because Libya has a troubled history with America and Britain, we will be vigilant in ensuring its government lives up to all its responsibilities. Yet, as we have found with other nations, old hostilities do not need to go on forever. And I hope that other leaders will find an example in Libya's announcement today.

Our understanding with Libya came about through quiet diplomacy.

BUSH: It is a result, however, of policies and principles declared to all.

Over the last two years, a great coalition of nations has come together to oppose terror and to oppose the spread of weapons of mass destruction. We've been clear in our purposes. We have shown resolve. In word and in action, we have clarified the choices left to potential adversaries.

And when leaders make the wise and responsible choice, when they renounce terror and weapons of mass destruction, as Colonel Gadhafi has now done, they serve the interests of their own people and they add to the security of all nations.

Thank you.

BLITZER: And so the president of the United States surprising all of us by announcing that he is going to take these dramatic steps in the aftermath of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi declaring that he is ready to destroy, to eliminate all of Libya's weapons of mass destruction. Nuclear, biological, chemical, as well as ballistic missile capabilities.

Negotiations behind the scenes, the president said, that have been under way for some nine months involving Britain, the United States, presumably others. Negotiations that now could lead to a dramatic improvement in relations with Libya as a result of this declaration by Colonel Moammar Gadhafi, that he will immediately -- immediately, according to the president, and unconditionally allow international inspectors to come into Libya, to go anywhere they want, to go and destroy all of Libya's chemical, biological, nuclear weapons capabilities as well as ballistic missiles. No definition of ballistics missiles as far as a range that they might be allowed to maintain.

This is a significant development. The president says because it does underscore that those nations that are ready to come clean, he says, will get benefits. But those nations that aren't presumably could face the wrath of the United States. He also made it clear that what the United States -- presumably referring to Iraq and Afghanistan -- what the United States has done has sent a powerful message out there that these countries can do it either the easy way or the hard way in terms of getting rid of their WMD, weapons of mass destruction.

I believe Robin Oakley, our senior European diplomatic correspondent is joining us from London. First word of this surprise, Robin, came from Tony Blair. I take it, it was a huge surprise over there as well.

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN SENIOR EUROPEAN DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Wolf. It was a very big surprise. But we learned that negotiations had been going on, as President Bush was saying there, for some nine months.

And, of course, the British authorities have been in contact with the Libyan authorities for a long time over the Lockerbie bombing and the successful conclusion of negotiations on that had clearly paved the way here for this further step, which Tony Blair described as an historic and courageous action by Colonel Gadhafi.

And, of course, it's an enormous feather in the cap of the U.S.- U.K. coalition after the failure to find any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, in the post-conflict situation there. To have a country voluntarily coming forward here and renouncing weapons of mass destruction because Tony Blair particularly has always made his case for the war in Iraq on the need to avoid the danger of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction coming together.

And Colonel Gadhafi's Libya has a proven record in the past of association with terrorism. Indeed, it has given harbor on occasions to IRA terrorists from Northern Ireland, who have then taken weapons from Libya and training that they've acquired while in Libya to use against British forces in Northern Ireland. So this is a hugely historic step Tony Blair is taking tonight, Wolf.

BLITZER: Robin Oakley, stand by. I want to bring in Professor Shibley Telhami from the University of Maryland, someone who knows the Middle East quite well, has been studying it for years. Give us some perspective, Professor. How significant of a development is this, that Colonel Gadhafi has agreed to destroy, to allow international inspectors to come in to destroy all of Libya's weapons of mass destruction?

Unfortunately, I think we've lost Professor Telhami. Suzanne Malveaux is over at the White House. Our White House correspondent. Like all of us, you were watching the president. I'm sure you were just as surprised as the rest of us.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, this was a development that happened really within the span of five to ten minutes. There was quite a bit of commotion and buzz so we actually heard from a senior administration official who told us that, yes, British Prime Minister Tony Blair was going to be making news very shortly and that it was going to be dramatic news.

And then it was just five minutes later that we were told that the president was going to go out and speak himself on this matter, it was that important. And, of course, as the president had spoke just before, he notified and said this is the administration's indication, this is what they're pursuing. They're sending a clear message to leaders around the world that if they pursue weapons of mass destruction, that it is not in their interest.

However, in the president's words, that if they do give up those programs, that it will find a better path with relations with the United States. The president giving a number of examples, saying that, of course, they're taking a multilateral approach when it comes to North Korea. They're working very closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency when it comes to Iran and that this is just another example of this administration working quietly behind the scenes with Libya to go ahead and convince this country that it is worth it, in their interest to give up the weapons of mass destruction and that that will bear some fruit -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Suzanne, stand by. David Ensor, our national security correspondent, is also here with me in the studio. Last September, as you remember, David, Libya did agree to pay out some $2.7 billion to the families of the 270 victims of Pan Am 103 that blew up over Lockerbie. So I guess they have been taking some steps all along in recent months to try to get themselves off this so-called endangered list.

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: They clearly want to be off that list, Wolf. We understand now that there have been negotiations on this issue as well as that one going on for nine months, as the president said. I gather that representatives of the Central Intelligence Agency and the British intelligence, MI6, have played a key role in this. And they have been in and out of Tripoli a number of times.

They are going to play a key role now in making sure that the Libyan leader does keep his promises and dismantles these weapons. It appears that the programs have been fairly extensive at one time or another in Libya, so there is a fair amount of work to do and a lot verification to do before these promises are kept.

BLITZER: I think it's fair to say the Libyans were responding both to what might be called the carrot and the stick. The carrot, better relations with Britain, the United States, the rest of the world, trade relations, transportation, communications. But the stick as well, having witnessed what's gone on in Iraq and Afghanistan over these past months, and couple of years, the Libyans presumably saying to themselves, this is a president that might mean what he says.

ENSOR: Well, and they've had a little of a stick from past presidents as well. It's been some years now that Moammar Gadhafi has been at least talking the talk, if not walking the walk, in terms of moving to a more pro-western and more, shall we say, civilized position in the view of the West, at least. He's not got there yet, this is probably the most important step he could be making, however.

Of course, Libya is another one of these oil countries. And they have sweet, light crude, which is very easy to turn into gasoline, very desirable to the oil companies. It will be good news if -- for the oil companies and for the world's energy supplies if Libya is allowed to rejoin the markets and supply its very high quality oil.

BLITZER: All right. Stand by, David. I want to continue our coverage of this breaking news story. The president of the United States, the prime minister of Britain both announcing today that Libya's Moammar Gadhafi has agreed to destroy all of his weapons of mass destruction -- chemical, biological, nuclear, as well as ballistic missiles, allowing a team of international inspectors to go into Libya, to look wherever they want and to destroy basically whatever they want, another signal that may have come that we missed presumably in the events leading up to this only a few months ago.

Our own Judy Woodruff interviewed the son of Moammar Gadhafi, an interview seen here on CNN, extensively reported all around the world in which he made all sorts of statements suggesting that Libya was ready to try to regain the mainstream of the international community. We'll try to get some sound from that interview, bring it to our viewers. Much more coverage of this breaking news right when we come back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Leaders who abandon the pursuit of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them will find an open path to better relations with the United States and other free nations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. We're following a very important story. Breaking news. The United States and Britain announcing that Libya's Moammar Gadhafi has agreed to eliminate, to destroy all of Libya's weapons of mass destruction, chemical, biological, nuclear, as well as long-range ballistic missiles, including intermediate range ballistic missiles.

Let's get some perspective on this historic announcement that resulted, the president of the United States says, following nine months of secret negotiations. Professor Shibley Telhami is joining us. He's a professor of Middle East studies at the University of Maryland, also affiliated with the Saban Center at the Brookings Institution here in Washington. Shibley give us some perspective, how important is this news?

SHIBLEY TELHAMI, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: This is extremely important because it obviously shows you can get results through diplomacy. Clearly, this is one of the things that not only the State Department has been working on for a while, but Tony Blair has been very, very interested in seeing results here that would demonstrate that it's possible through diplomacy. And, yes, through the carrot and the stick approach, but ultimately without having to go to war. You can get a result like this.

And I think it will be very important to, as a precedent, in negotiating with other countries in the future.

BLITZER: The question, though, historians will debate, I'm sure, Shibley, is whether the U.S. invasion of Iraq, toppling the Saddam Hussein regime, encouraged Moammar Gadhafi, A, in September, to go ahead with that nearly $3 billion in reparations in payment to the families of the 270 victims of Pan Am 103? Yes, the diplomacy was important but the pressure, the fear perhaps also significant? TELHAMI: Well, Wolf, there is no question, I think, that a lot of governments in the region were nervous after that, no doubt. But you have to put that in perspective a little bit. I think very few people now think that an American threat is imminent toward any of them because Iraq hasn't done as well as anybody had expected.

So if there was a pressure immediately after because, yes, these regimes are very, very insecure, I think very few people believe that the U.S. has the ability at this time, or the willingness to engage in another adventure.

So I think the reality of it is this has been ongoing. In the 1980s, if you recall, the Reagan administration did put pressure on Gadhafi and actually mounted a military attack that ultimately killed an adopted daughter of his. And that didn't seem to work, actually, during that particular time.

I think the key here is, yes, there is pressure. And I think that's important. It's a lever that the U.S. and international community has. But it's important that there would be put on the table a way out for a regime, a carrot, a diplomatic approach. I think that's a victory for diplomacy really.

BLITZER: One final question, Shibley. What message does Gadhafi's announcement -- Gadhafi's willingness to let these inspectors come in and destroy WMD in Libya, what message does that send, let's say, to Syria, Iran, other countries in the region suspected by the U.S. also of engaging in covert weapons of mass destruction programs?

TELHAMI: Well, every country has a different set of priorities. Remember, Libya really isn't now in a state of war against anybody. I mean, they really -- it's hard to believe that they need such weapons. And, in fact, most countries in -- around the world don't need such weapons and most countries that have acquired them have actually paid a heavy price and didn't reap the benefits of these weapons.

They've wasted their country's finances. They've put a lot of effort into it. They've gotten more blame for it than assets. So in a way, hopefully, a lot of other countries would follow suit for their own interests, even without external pressure.

But the reality of it is Iran and Syria have different sort of authorities because they still see themselves at least in the short to intermediate term, still in situations of conflict. And that issue clearly will weigh in in their calculations.

BLITZER: Shibley Telhami from the University of Maryland and the Brookings Institution, thanks as usual, Shibley, for viewing us.

For viewers who are just tuning in, who aren't aware of what's happened in the past half hour or so, very dramatic news, historic news. The president of the United States and the prime minister of Britain announcing Moammar Gadhafi has agreed to destroy his weapons of mass destruction. Let's hear excerpts from both speeches.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Libya can regain a secure and respected place among the nations. And over time achieve far better relations with the United States.

BLAIR: And today's decisions show that recent events and political determination are opening up possibilities which just a few years ago would have been unthinkable. We must work now to create new partnerships across geographical and cultural divides backed by tough international rules and actions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Former President Bill Clinton's national security adviser was Samuel Berger. Samuel Berger is joining us now on the phone. What's your immediate reaction, Mr. Berger?

SAMUEL BERGER, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: I think this is a very positive development, Wolf. I think that when the country -- and in this case, the United Nations and the United States imposed sanctions on a country like Libya, it's important that when the conditions of those sanctions are met, those countries understand that the sanctions will be lifted otherwise, the effect of the sanctions are greatly diminished. So I think this is a very positive development.

BLITZER: Is it a precursor of other events to follow, similar events involving so-called other rogue nations.

BERGER: Well, I hope it's a precursor to a new willingness to engage the North Koreans in the same kind of direct negotiations here with carrots and sticks. North Korea, of course, is far -- much farther along than Libya in its nuclear weapons program, perhaps six months away from producing six nuclear weapons. We've been unwilling to have direct negotiations with the North Koreans.

It seems to me, based on this precedent, we ought now be able to sit down with the North Koreans, be very clear about what we expect, dismantlement of the nuclear program, intrusive nationwide inspections, in exchange for the kind of reengagement within the international community that is taking place here.

BLITZER: During your eight years in the White House, there were indications Gadhafi also was seeking to improve relations with the rest, with the United States. Nothing apparently came of it. But were there overtures from him towards you?

BERGER: There were continuing overtures, Wolf, over the eight years. The three conditions that the U.N. Security Council laid down for sanctions were turning over the suspects of the Lockerbie crash, an acknowledgement of responsibility on the part of Libya, and paying compensation to the victims.

The Libyans met all three of those conditions. The U.N. lifted sanctions. We then added another condition, which was dismantlement of their weapons of mass destruction program, which has been the subject of conversations, obviously, over the last nearly a year.

But Gadhafi, I think, decided some time ago that he wanted to reconnect with the international community, that his isolation really was serving no useful purpose.

BLITZER: One final question, Mr. Berger. What kind of WMD capability does Libya have, based on what you know?

BERGER: I think it is more in the chemical and biological area, particularly chemical than in the nuclear area. But, as I understand, this agreement will have inspectors on the ground and full opportunity to determine what he has and supervise its dismantlement.

BLITZER: Samuel Berger, the former national security adviser to former president Bill Clinton, thanks for joining us. Once again Moammar Gadhafi agreeing to destroy his weapons of mass destruction. An important story. Much more coming up throughout the night here on CNN.

A reminder, you can always catch WOLF BLITZER REPORTS weekdays, 5:00 pm Eastern. I'll see you Sunday on "LATE EDITION," the last word in Sunday talk. Among my guests, the join chiefs chairman, Richard Myers, just back from Baghdad and Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

Until then, thanks very much for joining us. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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Bust Nets al Qaeda Members; Search for Osama Continues>


Aired December 19, 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: Happening now. New information surfacing about an attack against a convoy carrying the U.S. administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer.
Also, new concern the American public may not have heard the last word from al Qaeda. Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER (voice-over): Terror threat, on alert for the holidays. As a new tape says, al Qaeda is hunting Americans in their homeland.

Ambush in Iraq. A close call for a top U.S. official.

Making Saddam sweat. A former Army interrogator tells us how it's done.

Kobe Bryant case. They're back in court, and the gloves are off.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Friday, December 19, 2003.

BLITZER: There are new security concerns heading into the holidays. Authorities say there has been an upsurge in intelligence on a possible terror threat, one that may be directed against major American cities.

As the United States steps up the hunt for Osama bin Laden, an audiotape said to be from his top lieutenant claims al Qaeda has America on the run.

And the U.S. Navy seizes a drug boat in the Persian Gulf. But officials say it's not just a drug bust.

We'll go live to CNN's Ash-har Quraishi. He's in Islamabad Pakistan, to Barbara Starr, she's over at the Pentagon.

But we begin with our justice correspondent, Kelli Arena, with the latest on the terror threats -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, homeland security officials say that there has been an upsurge in intelligence and it does have them concerned. But it is very important to keep this all in perspective.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA (voice-over): It's the holiday season. There are more shoppers, more travelers, more threat information coming in about a possible attack against the United States.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: We have remained concerned about the volume of reporting of threats.

ARENA: Counter terrorism officials insist there is no credible or imminent threat information, and if there were, they say it would not be kept secret.

Generally speaking, though, there is intelligence regarding New York City, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles as possible targets. But those cities are often mentioned.

The U.S. has also received information regarding possible suicide bombings like those seen in Israel and persistent reports of attacks on airports.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: Adding to the level of concern, a new audiotape allegedly from al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's number two, with a direct reference to possible strikes on U.S. soil.

Now, at this point there is no plan to raise the national threat level, although it has been discussed. And despite the volume of information concerning the United States, most officials believe there will be an attack overseas before we see one here -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kelli, you talked to these Justice Department officials, homeland security officials all the time. In the scale of these kinds of fears that we hear expressed every few weeks or so, how significant does this one seem to be?

ARENA: Wolf, you know, we saw this when we entered the last holiday season, as well. There is usually an increase in threat information coming in around the holidays and other certain times of year -- before Ramadan, for example.

So to put it in a broader perspective, you know, this is something they've seen before. And, again, nothing credible, nothing suggesting that there's anything imminent.

BLITZER: But just out of an abundance of caution, to be prudent, they want to make sure no one gets surprised.

ARENA: That's right.

BLITZER: Kelli Arena, thanks very much for that.

Call it the al Qaeda connection. The U.S. Navy has seized a boatload of drugs in the Persian Gulf, and the vessel's crewmembers are being tied to Osama bin Laden's terror network.

Let's go live to our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, earlier this week, the U.S. Navy seized two tons of hashish on the high seas of the Persian Gulf, and they say it is a drug ring linked to the al Qaeda.

Now, it was on Monday that the Navy warship, the USS Decatur, intercepted a small 40-foot dhow just inside the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. It's one of those small boats that ply those waters all the time, trade routes, that sort of thing.

But when they intercepted this particular dhow, the boat and the crew did not have proper documentation for either the cargo or the crewmembers. The Navy began to search this dhow, and they found 54 70-pound bags of hashish, a street value of some $8 million to $10 million. But there is even more.

The Navy now says that three of the 12 crew members -- you see the dhow here that they were on -- that three of the four crew members have suspected links to the al Qaeda. And that they do now believe that that drug cargo was an al Qaeda shipment.

All of this taking place on a known al Qaeda drug smuggling route through the Persian Gulf. More monitoring and surveillance of these waters is expected -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Barbara, how much indication are you getting that al Qaeda, the terror network out there, is still basing a lot of their financing on these kinds of drug sales?

STARR: Well, you know, this had been a long-standing view of the U.S. law enforcement and intelligence community, that al Qaeda had used drug operations to finance their work over many, many years.

But if, in fact, this particular shipment is proven, as the Navy believes, to have a very specific link to al Qaeda, it would be one of the very few cases where they've really got it nailed down.

BLITZER: The interception of illegal drugs and terror. Thanks, Barbara Starr, for that at the Pentagon.

Amid continuing concerns about al Qaeda activity, the hunt continues, of course, for Osama bin Laden. He's still believed to be somewhere along the Afghan-Pakistan border.

CNN's Islamabad bureau chief Ash-har Quraishi is joining us now live via videophone. He has more -- Ash-har.

ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Wolf.

Well, it's been over two years since Osama bin Laden escaped from Tora Bora, a battle there. And periodically since then, we've seen audio and videotaped messages from the al Qaeda leader and his top brass, reminding America that its top fugitive is still at large. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

QURAISHI (voice-over): Many believe bin Laden is hiding in the rugged and lawless tribal belt of Pakistan, possibly moving back and forth between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

(on camera) But it's been more than six months since Pakistani forces moved into the previously inaccessible region, and military officials here say there hasn't been much to go on.

MAJ. GEN. SHAUKAY SULTAN, ARMY SPOKESMAN: No specific information has been provided to Pakistan by United States. If one says, yes, we saw so and so in division two months back, that intelligence is of no use.

QURAISHI: Still, the United States is confident that with Saddam in custody, sooner or later, bin Laden, too, will fall into their hands.

MCCLELLAN: I think he can fully expect that he will be brought to justice by this administration.

QURAISHI: But Khalid Khawala, formerly with Pakistan's intelligence agency and a close friend of bin Laden, says no one will ever catch him.

KHALID KHAWALA, FORMER PAKISTAN INTELLIGENCE: Americans will not be able to kill or capture Osama or Mullah. What they will be doing is killing and kidnapping absolutely innocent people, whom they do not even know.

QURAISHI: The problem, a look of human intelligence surrounding bin Laden's whereabouts, despite the $25 million price on his head.

LT. GEN. TALAT MASOOD, DEFENSE ANALYST: He has the advantage of geography, of terror and a society -- a tribal society which will give him cover and which will show him the loyalty. So unless sort of somebody betrays him or by chance he's caught, it may be very difficult.

QURAISHI: Ask about the bottom line in the hunt for bin Laden and you'll get a simple answer from the Pakistani military.

SULTAN: I would say there is nothing new.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QURAISHI: There have been some major catches since 9/11, like the capture of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the suspected architect of the 9/11 attacks, back in March.

But information gleaned from captives like Mohammed has been pretty much unhelpful in trying to locate bin Laden because oftentimes the information is too old.

Officials here say that the key, apparently, is in human intelligence on the ground, which there seems to be a lack of. And analysts also point out that so far, officials and authorities have been unsuccessful in penetrating bin Laden's inner circle -- Wolf.

BLITZER: A lot of so-called experts are surprised the $25 million bounty that's been out there now more for than two years hasn't had an impact. Do you understand why?

QURAISHI: Well, from what we hear from analysts and experts in the field, they say that bin Laden has surrounded himself with a small, very, very loyal faction of his followers.

They travel very discreetly. From what officials believe, they don't travel using any kinds of communication that can be picked up by satellite imagery. And that he's made it very clear, and very -- he's been very careful to keep people in his company that wouldn't give into that temptation and are just very, very loyal to bin Laden in not giving him up -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Ash-har Quraishi, reporting from Islamabad. Ash-har, thanks very much for that report.

And to our viewers, here's your turn to weigh in on this important story. Our Web question of the day is this: "How worried are you about a terror attack over the holidays? Not at all, somewhat, very?"

You can vote right now. Go to CNN.com/Wolf. We'll have the results later in this broadcast.

While you're there, though, I'd love to hear directly from you, our viewers. Send me your comments any time. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also where you can read my daily online column: CNN.com/Wolf.

Saddam Hussein has now been in U.S. custody for almost a week. Interrogators are trying to get him to talk, but what are their tactics? The job that almost killed him.

Also the untold story of how America's top man in Iraq came under attack.

And playing hardball in Colorado. Kobe Bryant's defense team targets the accuser.

All that, much more. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: For the first time, the head of the CDC calls the flu outbreak an epidemic. Hear why. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: The top U.S. official in Iraq today announced he had a very close call recently but then shrugged off his brush with death. Let's go live to Bill Hemmer. He's joining us from Baghdad. Bill, tell us all about it.

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, a close call indeed.

Back on the 6th of December, Paul Bremer was leaving an impromptu meeting at the airport in Baghdad with his convoy, with his armored vehicle.

That convoy, then, was hit close by with an explosion on the side of the road. Gunmen then hopped out and opened up fire on that convoy. They sped away. Bremer was not hurt.

In Basra today Bremer joked that the attack did not succeed. But coalition officials, when asked about this incident that happened two weeks ago, they were asked whether or not this was an assassination attempt. They downplayed that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN SENOR, ADVISER TO PAUL BREMER: Ambassador Bremer was asked if there was an attack on him or his traveling party on December 6 and he just confirmed that it was true, that there was an attack. There was no mention of it being a targeted assassination.

On December 6, I can confirm that there was an attack on Ambassador Bremer's traveling party, as he indicated earlier today. It was on return -- while he was returning from an impromptu meeting. It was a meeting that was not on his schedule. It was arranged at the last moment.

He is fine, unharmed. The same for all those traveling with him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Officials also stress again today that that part of that road is common for attacks.

Bremer, though, continued his tour throughout the country of Iraq. As I mentioned, he was in Basra today. The military, though, investigating what exactly happened there. More on this, perhaps, later in the week.

Meanwhile, more explosions earlier today in Baghdad. When the sun came up about 5 a.m. local time.

The main headquarters of the Shiite political party was hit. A bomb rippled through, destroyed that building completely. One woman was killed; at least eight others were wounded. The military wing of that Shiite party was based there.

In Tikrit, 100 miles north of Baghdad, the 4th I.D., the 4th Infantry Division, continued searching Saddam Hussein's hometown. It's not clear what they found, but they were on the hunt for insurgents. They were on the hunt for weapons. They were searching homes there and, of course, tearing down posters of Saddam Hussein -- Wolf. BLITZER: Bill, are the troops getting ready for Christmas in any special way?

HEMMER: They are building up for that, Wolf. But it really has not been on their minds just yet. We're hearing word through various bases throughout Iraq, especially in the central part, that they will have something special for them.

What exactly, though -- Oftentimes the military likes to keep a bit of a surprise. Back two years ago, I can recall back in Kandahar in Afghanistan, about 300 members of the service were given one box, a white box. It had a can of Coca-Cola, a Snickers bar and a couple of other treats and that was about it then.

This, however, may be a completely different deal because the military, as you well know, well established here in the country of Iraq already, with 130,000 strong -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. We'll be watching closely together with our Bill Hemmer on the scene for us in Baghdad. Bill, thanks very much.

HEMMER: Sure.

BLITZER: Upcoming, we'll take you inside Kobe Bryant's closed- door hearing. Find out what the NBA's defense team wants from his accuser.

And a pricey plunge. A judge orders the man who jumped over Niagara Falls to pay up.

Plus this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's not a very easy thing to call the attorney general of New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: A remarkable story. How a simple telephone call may have changed the entire mutual fund industry. It's a story anyone with a mutual fund -- and that's almost all of us -- needs to see.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Kobe Bryant and his lawyers are trying to get access to the medical and mental health records of the woman who accuses him of rape. That's just one of several motions considered at a pretrial hearing today.

Our national correspondent, Gary Tuchman, is outside the courthouse at Eagle, Colorado. He's joining us with details -- Gary.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, hello to you.

The snow behind me is an apt visual metaphor for the pace of today's motions hearing, glacial.

The court has gotten bogged down in this very major issue. It may be the most important motion before a Kobe Bryant trial, whether the woman's medical records should be released to the defense for use in a trial.

The topic we expected was going to come up today. Instead, it hasn't come up at all. What has come up is whether the hearing should be opened or closed to the news media.

The prosecution and the woman's own personal attorney said the news media should not be allowed inside the room when this topic is discussed. The attorney for the accuser says this particular victim has done her best to avoid TV appearances or interviews. She does not want this publicity.

The news media attorney who represents CNN and other news media outlets says it is a First Amendment right for the news media to be there.

So the judge has said, listen, we're going to hold a in camera hearing right now, "in camera" the Latin word for in chambers. So right now the attorneys are in a private hearing with the judge. The judge wants the defense attorney to say who will you call as witnesses and what will they say if such a hearing is held? And I have to decide whether it's open or closed.

And then he said after this hearing today, I want all the attorneys to submit a report to me by January 9. And I won't announce my decision until January 23.

So it will another month before we decide if, indeed, the hearing is open or closed. And then the hearing will finally be held.

Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: Gary, correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't Kobe Bryant's team, the L.A. Lakers, supposed to play the Denver Nuggets tonight, Denver not very far away from Eagle?

TUCHMAN: Well, that's the coincidence here, Wolf, is that Colorado's basketball team, the Denver Nuggets, is in Los Angeles and Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Laker is here in Colorado. The game starts at 7:30 Pacific time. His coach says that if he makes it in time he'll play.

But it's likely this hearing, this in camera hearing, will last awhile, so unless British Airwaves or Air Frances takes their Concords out of retirement, I don't think Bryant will make it to L.A. in time.

BLITZER: All right. Well, they're supposed to play -- That's very interesting. Gives Denver a chance to win, perhaps. We'll see.

Thanks very much for that, Gary Tuchman.

Weighing the fate of a convicted teenage sniper. That story tops our "Justice Report."

Yesterday at this time jurors had just convicted Lee Boyd Malvo of terrorism and murder for the sniper shooting of Linda Franklin. Today they heard from her husband and six other victims' relatives as the penalty phase got under way.

The options are either life in prison or execution.

A Canadian judge has fined a Michigan man $2,300 for taking a plunge over Niagara Falls in October. Forty-year-old Kirk Jones survived the trip without any protective clothing or gear. He was charged with mischief and illegally performing a stunt.

In addition to the fine, he's also been banned from the falls for a year.

And a federal appeals court says the recording industry cannot force Internet companies to tell them who's swapping music online. The industry is suing hundreds of individual users as part of an anti- piracy campaign to discourage sharing copyrighted music files.

The judges said while they sympathize with the cause, the law does not allow that particular tactic.

A baseball that's become a grim icon for Chicago Cubs fans was sold in an Internet auction today for $106,000. It's the fly ball that a spectator tried to grab during this year's baseball playoffs between the Cubs and the Florida Marlins.

Many Cub fans thinks the spectator's grab prevented the Cubs outfielder from catching the ball, effectively ending the Cubs' bid for their first World Series since 1945.

The winning bidder is a Cubs fan who plans to destroy the ball so no Marlins fan can ever, ever get his hands on it.

A close call after an attack on his convoy in Iraq. Who is Paul Bremer and why was he almost -- almost a potential target for terror? We'll tell you.

Trying for the truth. Is getting Saddam to speak proving much tougher than once thought? We'll examine what's involved in this kind of interrogation.

Revealing secrets and blowing the lid off corporate scandals. A one-on-one with someone exposing the tricks of the trade.

All that and much more still to come.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: We're just getting this in from London. The British prime minister, Tony Blair, speaking only within the past few minutes, making a dramatic announcement -- a dramatic announcement about Libya and Moammar Gadhafi.

I want our viewers to listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Today's announcement, however, shows that we can fight this threat through more than purely military means, that we can defeat it peacefully if countries are prepared, in good faith, to work with the international community to dismantle such weapons.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The British prime minister, Tony Blair, announcing that Libya has agreed to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction program. The prime minister saying Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi confirmed the country tried to develop the weapons in the past but that all efforts will end immediately.

Mr. Blair says that clears the way for Libya -- and I'm quoting now -- "to rejoin the international community."

We're also anticipating momentarily President Bush emerging and meeting with reporters to meet what we're told is a similar declaration on Libya.

You're looking now live at the White House briefing room there with the presidential podium there. The president expected to go there to speak to reporters to announce this policy change -- apparent policy change on the part of Libya and Moammar Gadhafi.

The British prime minister formally making the announcement that Libya has agreed to end all -- all of its weapons of mass destruction program. And also acknowledging that Libya has, in fact, engaged in developing these kinds of weapons of mass destruction.

The president of the United States surprising all of us now, announcing to his staff only a few minutes ago that the president has a statement to make on Libya. And we'll be going into the briefing room in the West Wing of the White House.

Some context first, now. Libya in recent years has been trying to improve its image in the West. Only in the past few months, it has agreed to a huge settlement with victims of Pan Am 103, the Lockerbee bombing in the late 1980's, Christmas around this time exactly, for the victims' families of Pan Am 103.

Libya anxious to rejoin the international community, anxious for United Nations sanctions, economic, diplomatic sanctions to be lifted. And as a result engaging in a major public relations offensive over these many months trying to get restored to some sort of opportunity to have trade, commerce, international transportation going forward wit the president.

We're watching the president's top staff now go into the briefing room. You just saw Condoleezza Rice, the president's national security adviser. You saw Andy Card, the president's White House chief of staff. They're getting ready for the president to be emerging, to come in, to make a statement and presumably answer some reporters' questions on this very, very sensitive diplomatic issue.

It's presumably been in the works for months, some sort of back and forth between emissaries with Libya, to get Libya off some of those sanctions lists, of some of those punitive actions that the United States have led the way ever since the Lockerbie disaster. Two Libyans were accused of plotting that, working on behalf of the Libyan government. As a result of that Libya has been isolated for all of these years.

But apparently there's about to be a dramatic change that's about to be announced. It's already been announced on the British side of this, the British Prime Minister Tony Blair announcing only a few moments as we just heard here. And now the president.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Good evening. I have called you here today to announce a development of great importance in our continuing effort to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

Today in Tripoli the leader of Libya, Colonel Moammar al-Gadhafi, publicly confirmed his commitment to disclose and dismantle all weapons of mass destruction programs in his country.

He has agreed immediately and unconditionally to allow inspectors from international organizations to enter Libya.

These inspectors will render an accounting of all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and will help oversee their elimination.

BUSH: Colonel Gadhafi's commitment, once it is fulfilled, will make our country more safe and the world more peaceful.

Talks leading to this announcement began about nine months ago when Prime Minister Tony Blair and I were contacted through personal envoys by Colonel Gadhafi. He communicated to us his willingness to make a decisive change in the policy of his government.

At the direction of Colonel Gadhafi himself, Libyan officials have provided American and British intelligence officers with documentation on that country's chemical, biological, nuclear and ballistic missile programs and activities.

Our experts in these fields have met directly with Libyan officials to learn additional details.

Opposing proliferation is one of the highest priorities of the war against terror. The attacks of September the 11th, 2001, brought tragedy to the United States and revealed a future threat of even greater magnitude. Terrorists who kill thousands of innocent people would, if they ever gained weapons of mass destruction, kill hundreds of thousands without hesitation and without mercy.

And this danger is dramatically increased when regimes build or acquire weapons of mass destruction and maintain ties to terrorist groups. The United States and our allies are applying a broad and active strategy to address the challenges of proliferation through diplomacy and through the decisive actions that are sometimes needed.

We have enhanced our intelligence capabilities in order to trace dangerous weapons activities. We've organized a proliferation security initiative to interdict dangerous materials and technologies in transit. We've insisted on multilateral approaches, like that in North Korea, to confront threats.

We are supporting the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency to hold the Iranian regime to its treaty obligations. We obtained an additional United Nations Security Council resolution requiring Saddam Hussein to prove that he had disarmed, and when that resolution was defied we led a coalition to enforce it.

All of these actions by the United States and our allies have sent an unmistakable message to regimes that seek or possess weapons of mass destruction: Those weapons do not bring influence or prestige, they bring isolation and otherwise unwelcomed consequences.

And another message should be equally clear: Leaders who abandon the pursuit of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them will find an open path to better relations with the United States and other free nations.

BUSH: With today's announcement by its leader, Libya has begun the process of rejoining the community of nations.

And Colonel Gadhafi knows the way forward. Libya should carry out the commitments announced today. Libya should also fully engage in the war against terror.

Its government, in response to the United Nations Security Council's Lockerbie demands, has already renounced all acts of terrorism and pledged cooperation in the international fight against terrorism. We expect Libya to meet these commitments as well.

As the Libyan government takes these essential steps and demonstrates its seriousness, its good faith will be returned. Libya can regain a secure and respected place among the nations and over time achieve far better relations with the United States.

The Libyan people are heirs to an ancient and respected culture, and their country lies at the center of a vital region. As Libya becomes a more peaceful nation it can be a source of stability in Africa and the Middle East.

Should Libya pursue internal reform, America would be ready to help its people to build a more free and prosperous country.

Great Britain shares this commitment, and Prime Minister Blair and I welcome today's declaration by Colonel Gadhafi.

Because Libya has a troubled history with America and Britain, we will be vigilant in ensuring its government lives up to all its responsibilities. Yet, as we have found with other nations, old hostilities do not need to go on forever. And I hope that other leaders will find an example in Libya's announcement today.

Our understanding with Libya came about through quiet diplomacy.

BUSH: It is a result, however, of policies and principles declared to all.

Over the last two years, a great coalition of nations has come together to oppose terror and to oppose the spread of weapons of mass destruction. We've been clear in our purposes. We have shown resolve. In word and in action, we have clarified the choices left to potential adversaries.

And when leaders make the wise and responsible choice, when they renounce terror and weapons of mass destruction, as Colonel Gadhafi has now done, they serve the interests of their own people and they add to the security of all nations.

Thank you.

BLITZER: And so the president of the United States surprising all of us by announcing that he is going to take these dramatic steps in the aftermath of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi declaring that he is ready to destroy, to eliminate all of Libya's weapons of mass destruction. Nuclear, biological, chemical, as well as ballistic missile capabilities.

Negotiations behind the scenes, the president said, that have been under way for some nine months involving Britain, the United States, presumably others. Negotiations that now could lead to a dramatic improvement in relations with Libya as a result of this declaration by Colonel Moammar Gadhafi, that he will immediately -- immediately, according to the president, and unconditionally allow international inspectors to come into Libya, to go anywhere they want, to go and destroy all of Libya's chemical, biological, nuclear weapons capabilities as well as ballistic missiles. No definition of ballistics missiles as far as a range that they might be allowed to maintain.

This is a significant development. The president says because it does underscore that those nations that are ready to come clean, he says, will get benefits. But those nations that aren't presumably could face the wrath of the United States. He also made it clear that what the United States -- presumably referring to Iraq and Afghanistan -- what the United States has done has sent a powerful message out there that these countries can do it either the easy way or the hard way in terms of getting rid of their WMD, weapons of mass destruction.

I believe Robin Oakley, our senior European diplomatic correspondent is joining us from London. First word of this surprise, Robin, came from Tony Blair. I take it, it was a huge surprise over there as well.

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN SENIOR EUROPEAN DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Wolf. It was a very big surprise. But we learned that negotiations had been going on, as President Bush was saying there, for some nine months.

And, of course, the British authorities have been in contact with the Libyan authorities for a long time over the Lockerbie bombing and the successful conclusion of negotiations on that had clearly paved the way here for this further step, which Tony Blair described as an historic and courageous action by Colonel Gadhafi.

And, of course, it's an enormous feather in the cap of the U.S.- U.K. coalition after the failure to find any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, in the post-conflict situation there. To have a country voluntarily coming forward here and renouncing weapons of mass destruction because Tony Blair particularly has always made his case for the war in Iraq on the need to avoid the danger of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction coming together.

And Colonel Gadhafi's Libya has a proven record in the past of association with terrorism. Indeed, it has given harbor on occasions to IRA terrorists from Northern Ireland, who have then taken weapons from Libya and training that they've acquired while in Libya to use against British forces in Northern Ireland. So this is a hugely historic step Tony Blair is taking tonight, Wolf.

BLITZER: Robin Oakley, stand by. I want to bring in Professor Shibley Telhami from the University of Maryland, someone who knows the Middle East quite well, has been studying it for years. Give us some perspective, Professor. How significant of a development is this, that Colonel Gadhafi has agreed to destroy, to allow international inspectors to come in to destroy all of Libya's weapons of mass destruction?

Unfortunately, I think we've lost Professor Telhami. Suzanne Malveaux is over at the White House. Our White House correspondent. Like all of us, you were watching the president. I'm sure you were just as surprised as the rest of us.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, this was a development that happened really within the span of five to ten minutes. There was quite a bit of commotion and buzz so we actually heard from a senior administration official who told us that, yes, British Prime Minister Tony Blair was going to be making news very shortly and that it was going to be dramatic news.

And then it was just five minutes later that we were told that the president was going to go out and speak himself on this matter, it was that important. And, of course, as the president had spoke just before, he notified and said this is the administration's indication, this is what they're pursuing. They're sending a clear message to leaders around the world that if they pursue weapons of mass destruction, that it is not in their interest.

However, in the president's words, that if they do give up those programs, that it will find a better path with relations with the United States. The president giving a number of examples, saying that, of course, they're taking a multilateral approach when it comes to North Korea. They're working very closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency when it comes to Iran and that this is just another example of this administration working quietly behind the scenes with Libya to go ahead and convince this country that it is worth it, in their interest to give up the weapons of mass destruction and that that will bear some fruit -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Suzanne, stand by. David Ensor, our national security correspondent, is also here with me in the studio. Last September, as you remember, David, Libya did agree to pay out some $2.7 billion to the families of the 270 victims of Pan Am 103 that blew up over Lockerbie. So I guess they have been taking some steps all along in recent months to try to get themselves off this so-called endangered list.

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: They clearly want to be off that list, Wolf. We understand now that there have been negotiations on this issue as well as that one going on for nine months, as the president said. I gather that representatives of the Central Intelligence Agency and the British intelligence, MI6, have played a key role in this. And they have been in and out of Tripoli a number of times.

They are going to play a key role now in making sure that the Libyan leader does keep his promises and dismantles these weapons. It appears that the programs have been fairly extensive at one time or another in Libya, so there is a fair amount of work to do and a lot verification to do before these promises are kept.

BLITZER: I think it's fair to say the Libyans were responding both to what might be called the carrot and the stick. The carrot, better relations with Britain, the United States, the rest of the world, trade relations, transportation, communications. But the stick as well, having witnessed what's gone on in Iraq and Afghanistan over these past months, and couple of years, the Libyans presumably saying to themselves, this is a president that might mean what he says.

ENSOR: Well, and they've had a little of a stick from past presidents as well. It's been some years now that Moammar Gadhafi has been at least talking the talk, if not walking the walk, in terms of moving to a more pro-western and more, shall we say, civilized position in the view of the West, at least. He's not got there yet, this is probably the most important step he could be making, however.

Of course, Libya is another one of these oil countries. And they have sweet, light crude, which is very easy to turn into gasoline, very desirable to the oil companies. It will be good news if -- for the oil companies and for the world's energy supplies if Libya is allowed to rejoin the markets and supply its very high quality oil.

BLITZER: All right. Stand by, David. I want to continue our coverage of this breaking news story. The president of the United States, the prime minister of Britain both announcing today that Libya's Moammar Gadhafi has agreed to destroy all of his weapons of mass destruction -- chemical, biological, nuclear, as well as ballistic missiles, allowing a team of international inspectors to go into Libya, to look wherever they want and to destroy basically whatever they want, another signal that may have come that we missed presumably in the events leading up to this only a few months ago.

Our own Judy Woodruff interviewed the son of Moammar Gadhafi, an interview seen here on CNN, extensively reported all around the world in which he made all sorts of statements suggesting that Libya was ready to try to regain the mainstream of the international community. We'll try to get some sound from that interview, bring it to our viewers. Much more coverage of this breaking news right when we come back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Leaders who abandon the pursuit of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them will find an open path to better relations with the United States and other free nations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. We're following a very important story. Breaking news. The United States and Britain announcing that Libya's Moammar Gadhafi has agreed to eliminate, to destroy all of Libya's weapons of mass destruction, chemical, biological, nuclear, as well as long-range ballistic missiles, including intermediate range ballistic missiles.

Let's get some perspective on this historic announcement that resulted, the president of the United States says, following nine months of secret negotiations. Professor Shibley Telhami is joining us. He's a professor of Middle East studies at the University of Maryland, also affiliated with the Saban Center at the Brookings Institution here in Washington. Shibley give us some perspective, how important is this news?

SHIBLEY TELHAMI, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: This is extremely important because it obviously shows you can get results through diplomacy. Clearly, this is one of the things that not only the State Department has been working on for a while, but Tony Blair has been very, very interested in seeing results here that would demonstrate that it's possible through diplomacy. And, yes, through the carrot and the stick approach, but ultimately without having to go to war. You can get a result like this.

And I think it will be very important to, as a precedent, in negotiating with other countries in the future.

BLITZER: The question, though, historians will debate, I'm sure, Shibley, is whether the U.S. invasion of Iraq, toppling the Saddam Hussein regime, encouraged Moammar Gadhafi, A, in September, to go ahead with that nearly $3 billion in reparations in payment to the families of the 270 victims of Pan Am 103? Yes, the diplomacy was important but the pressure, the fear perhaps also significant? TELHAMI: Well, Wolf, there is no question, I think, that a lot of governments in the region were nervous after that, no doubt. But you have to put that in perspective a little bit. I think very few people now think that an American threat is imminent toward any of them because Iraq hasn't done as well as anybody had expected.

So if there was a pressure immediately after because, yes, these regimes are very, very insecure, I think very few people believe that the U.S. has the ability at this time, or the willingness to engage in another adventure.

So I think the reality of it is this has been ongoing. In the 1980s, if you recall, the Reagan administration did put pressure on Gadhafi and actually mounted a military attack that ultimately killed an adopted daughter of his. And that didn't seem to work, actually, during that particular time.

I think the key here is, yes, there is pressure. And I think that's important. It's a lever that the U.S. and international community has. But it's important that there would be put on the table a way out for a regime, a carrot, a diplomatic approach. I think that's a victory for diplomacy really.

BLITZER: One final question, Shibley. What message does Gadhafi's announcement -- Gadhafi's willingness to let these inspectors come in and destroy WMD in Libya, what message does that send, let's say, to Syria, Iran, other countries in the region suspected by the U.S. also of engaging in covert weapons of mass destruction programs?

TELHAMI: Well, every country has a different set of priorities. Remember, Libya really isn't now in a state of war against anybody. I mean, they really -- it's hard to believe that they need such weapons. And, in fact, most countries in -- around the world don't need such weapons and most countries that have acquired them have actually paid a heavy price and didn't reap the benefits of these weapons.

They've wasted their country's finances. They've put a lot of effort into it. They've gotten more blame for it than assets. So in a way, hopefully, a lot of other countries would follow suit for their own interests, even without external pressure.

But the reality of it is Iran and Syria have different sort of authorities because they still see themselves at least in the short to intermediate term, still in situations of conflict. And that issue clearly will weigh in in their calculations.

BLITZER: Shibley Telhami from the University of Maryland and the Brookings Institution, thanks as usual, Shibley, for viewing us.

For viewers who are just tuning in, who aren't aware of what's happened in the past half hour or so, very dramatic news, historic news. The president of the United States and the prime minister of Britain announcing Moammar Gadhafi has agreed to destroy his weapons of mass destruction. Let's hear excerpts from both speeches.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Libya can regain a secure and respected place among the nations. And over time achieve far better relations with the United States.

BLAIR: And today's decisions show that recent events and political determination are opening up possibilities which just a few years ago would have been unthinkable. We must work now to create new partnerships across geographical and cultural divides backed by tough international rules and actions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Former President Bill Clinton's national security adviser was Samuel Berger. Samuel Berger is joining us now on the phone. What's your immediate reaction, Mr. Berger?

SAMUEL BERGER, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: I think this is a very positive development, Wolf. I think that when the country -- and in this case, the United Nations and the United States imposed sanctions on a country like Libya, it's important that when the conditions of those sanctions are met, those countries understand that the sanctions will be lifted otherwise, the effect of the sanctions are greatly diminished. So I think this is a very positive development.

BLITZER: Is it a precursor of other events to follow, similar events involving so-called other rogue nations.

BERGER: Well, I hope it's a precursor to a new willingness to engage the North Koreans in the same kind of direct negotiations here with carrots and sticks. North Korea, of course, is far -- much farther along than Libya in its nuclear weapons program, perhaps six months away from producing six nuclear weapons. We've been unwilling to have direct negotiations with the North Koreans.

It seems to me, based on this precedent, we ought now be able to sit down with the North Koreans, be very clear about what we expect, dismantlement of the nuclear program, intrusive nationwide inspections, in exchange for the kind of reengagement within the international community that is taking place here.

BLITZER: During your eight years in the White House, there were indications Gadhafi also was seeking to improve relations with the rest, with the United States. Nothing apparently came of it. But were there overtures from him towards you?

BERGER: There were continuing overtures, Wolf, over the eight years. The three conditions that the U.N. Security Council laid down for sanctions were turning over the suspects of the Lockerbie crash, an acknowledgement of responsibility on the part of Libya, and paying compensation to the victims.

The Libyans met all three of those conditions. The U.N. lifted sanctions. We then added another condition, which was dismantlement of their weapons of mass destruction program, which has been the subject of conversations, obviously, over the last nearly a year.

But Gadhafi, I think, decided some time ago that he wanted to reconnect with the international community, that his isolation really was serving no useful purpose.

BLITZER: One final question, Mr. Berger. What kind of WMD capability does Libya have, based on what you know?

BERGER: I think it is more in the chemical and biological area, particularly chemical than in the nuclear area. But, as I understand, this agreement will have inspectors on the ground and full opportunity to determine what he has and supervise its dismantlement.

BLITZER: Samuel Berger, the former national security adviser to former president Bill Clinton, thanks for joining us. Once again Moammar Gadhafi agreeing to destroy his weapons of mass destruction. An important story. Much more coming up throughout the night here on CNN.

A reminder, you can always catch WOLF BLITZER REPORTS weekdays, 5:00 pm Eastern. I'll see you Sunday on "LATE EDITION," the last word in Sunday talk. Among my guests, the join chiefs chairman, Richard Myers, just back from Baghdad and Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

Until then, thanks very much for joining us. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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