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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Bush Orders Review of Pre-War Intelligence; Will al Qaeda Use Airliners to Carry Toxins Into U.S.?

Aired February 02, 2004 - 17:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Iraq inquiry.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to know all the facts.

BLITZER: President Bush orders a review of pre-war intelligence, as the war goes on.

Flight fears. Will al Qaeda use airliners to carry deadly toxins to U.S. cities?

Court's in session. High-profile hearings, high stakes.

Halftime show. Millions watched Janet Jackson. Now, government watchdogs take a closer look.

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Monday, February 2, 2004.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The hunt for Iraq's arsenal of death has gone cold, and President Bush is feeling the heat. Today he announced an inquiry into what went wrong, but the nature of that investigation is also sparking controversy. Let's go live to our White House correspondent Dana Bash -- Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, with even Republicans saying U.S. credibility is at stake here, the White House made a decision over the weekend. The president announced it today that they were no longer going to resist the idea of a commission but would embrace it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BASH (voice-over): Little more than a week after outgoing weapons inspector David Kay declared weapons of mass destruction likely won't be found in Iraq, President Bush under mounting political pressure now says he'll appoint a commission to find out why.

BLITZER: I'm putting together an independent, bipartisan commission to -- to analyze where we stand, what we can do better, as we fight this war against terror. BASH: Mr. Bush invited Dr. Kay to the White House for a private briefing from the man who declared, quote, "we were all wrong."

The White House is actively assembling a nine-person panel which they compare to the Warren Commission set up after JFK's assassination. The panel will focus not just on intelligence in Iraq, but a broader look at gaps in other crucial areas like North Korea and Iran.

SCOTT REED, GOP CONSULTANT: I think the administration recognized that this issue was starting to get a head of steam with the American people, with the members of Congress. And every once in a while you just (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for what's going to happen.

BASH: The White House officials are informally consulting with some in Congress on the commission's makeup and mandate. It will be appointed only by the president by executive order.

Democrats question whether that is truly independent.

SEN. TOM DASCHLE (D-SD), MINORITY LEADER: We can't have the president or anybody else dictating how that commission is going work, and the nominees who will be involved.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: And another thing boiling Democrats, Wolf, is that the deadline for this commission's report will likely not be until after election day. This makes many Democrats say the announcement of the commission looked like nothing more than a political ploy -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Dana Bash at the White House. Thank you very much.

The controversy over Iraqi intelligence may be taking a toll on President Bush's popularity. A new CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll shows the president's job approval dipping below 50 percent for the first time since he took office. Our senior political analyst Bill Schneider is crunching the numbers as he always does. What are we seeing in the new numbers, Bill?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Whenever a president's job rating hits below 50 percent he's in trouble. And President Bush's job approval rating has taken a tumble over the last month. It's now 49 percent approve, 48 percent disapprove, the first time it's eve dipped below 50. In other words, trouble.

The president's biggest problem, Iraq. The percentage of Americans who believe it was worth going to go in Iraq has fallen sharply since the capture of Saddam Hussein. At the beginning of January it was up to 59 percent, now that is down to 49 percent. Fewer than half feel the war was worthwhile. In fact Americans are divided which may be why the president felt the political pressure to make the concession and organize the commission.

BLITZER: Bill, what do we see on a hypothetical match up right now between the president and John Kerry or John Edwards for that matter. Who wins? Who loses?

BLITZER: Democrats are rallying to their party right now, and so is the country rallying to the Democrats. Right now in a hypothetical match up between John Kerry, if he's the Democratic nominee, and George Bush, Kerry leads bush by a solid 7-point margin.

John Edwards was also doing -- done well in the primaries. He essentially ties Bush. Edwards 49, bush 48. They are the two Democrats who run the strongest against President Bush.

It looks like the hard-fought Democratic primaries have taken a toll, Wolf, but not on the Democrats.

BLITZER: Bill Schneider with those numbers. More coming up later this hour. Thank you very much, Bill, for that.

Homeland Security officials say that as of right now there are no plans to ground any more passenger planes because of terrorist threat. British Airways, Air France and Continental Airlines canceled a total of ten flights over the weekend because of what U.S. officials said were specific and credible terrorist threat.

Joining us with more on this, CNN's Jeanne Meserve watching this story -- Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, U.S. officials say the information came from a credible source and was corroborated by intercepts. It was highly specific, and officials say that allowed them to respond in a targeted way.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE (voice-over): In December, intelligence about threats to airliners canceled flights and put the country on threat level Orange. Why no Orange this time around? For one thing, the aviation sector has remained on a heightened state of alert. For another, the criteria for going to Orange are shifting.

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECY.: The threshold to be raised Orange in the future, based not only on threat but a risk assessment, in time will be higher threshold.

MESERVE: Homeland security officials say the situation facing the country in December was different. Then, there was a significant body of threat reporting indicating a large scale attack might be imminent. There were threats to a number of geographical areas. The holiday period, U.S. officials feared, might pose a tempting time period at holiday gatherings attempting targets.

Those factors were not present this time and the information was specific as to airline, flight number and even date. But one member of Congress theorizes the reasons are less complicated.

REP. JIM TURNER (D), TEXAS: No, I don't think the absence of a change in the color-coded alert indicated anything than perhaps the department is getting the message we've been trying to give them. That is they ought to move away from the color-coded system and just give us the facts.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE: The intelligence that lead to the recent cancellation of flights was not specific as to the method of attack. Government analysts theorize that among the possible scenarios was the use of or transport of biological or radiological weapons on an airliner. But experts outside of government consider those scenarios unlikely because, they say, there are far more efficient way to use those agents and inspire terror.

Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: Jeanne Meserve, thank you very much.

Now to nuclear worries. For years Pakistan has strongly denied transferring nuclear weapons technology abroad. Now Pakistani officials say a nuclear scientist in Pakistan did just that, selling crucial information to Iran, North Korea and Libya. Our chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An extraordinary confession after an unprecedented investigation. Pakistani officials say this man, Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of their nuclear bomb, has given a written account of how he sent nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea.

The investigations began when the IAEA, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog body. alerted Pakistan to the problem after revelation by Iran and later Libya that also exposed an international nuclear black market, a private sector proliferation enterprise.

MOHAMMED ELBARADEI, IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL: Very sophisticated designs are done in one country, manufacturing commission in different countries, shipped to a fourth country, rediverted to a fifth country. So to me it's like organized crime.

AMANPOUR: Iran told the IAEA middle men brought it nuclear technology and spare parts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't know where they have come from. This is the nature of black market. Even we didn't know until recently that Malaysia has been manufacturing this equipments.

AMANPOUR: Diplomats say Malaysia is a major player in the manufacture and assembly of centrifuge parts which can be used to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons. The IAEA will not confirm other countries or companies, but diplomats close to the agency tell CNN of a routing that went like this.

Pakistan's A.Q. Khan would send orders to manufacturers in Malaysia as well as companies in Europe and Africa. The products would then go to a gateway such as Dubai which would then distribute them to end users such as Libya, Iran, and perhaps North Korea. Libya had more than centrifuges, nuclear weapons designs too that have now been removed and stored in the United States. The IAEA won't say where Libya got those designs, but diplomats believe it could be from Pakistan.

But analysts warn against just blaming the black market.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is extremely convenient for the governments involved to say this is all black market, it wasn't anything to do with us officially.

AMANPOUR: Pakistan insists no government or military official knew of A.Q. Khan's activities claiming there was very little scrutiny of their top nuclear scientist. Yet some accounts indicate he could have transferred material by government cargo planes.

Christiane Amanpour, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Simultaneous suicide bombings shatter the calm in northern Iraq. Is al Qaeda behind these deadly attacks? We'll hear from U.S. army Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt. He's in Baghdad.

Fair game -- will Democrats target the president's military record or are they too busy turning on one another?

Overexposure. Regrets over the rip. Did Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson go too far? Now the FCC in Washington taking a closer look at the Super Bowl halftime show. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: U.S. troops averted a potential tragedy today in Iraq. Soldiers guarding a headquarters access road in Tikrit discovered and disarmed a remote control bomb and arrested two suspects just minutes before a U.S. convoy passed through the area.

The convoy was bringing troops back from a memorial for three soldiers who were killed in a highway bombing Saturday. The setting for the tearful farewell, one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces.

The death toll has been raised in the twin suicide bombings in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil. Coalition officials now say 67 people were killed and almost 250 people were wounded in yesterday's attacks on the headquarters of two Kurdish political parties. Funerals were held today for the victims, who included several top Kurdish officials. Iraq's Kurdish minority has largely supported the U.S.-led invasion and occupation.

Who's behind those devastating bombings in Irbil? Are U.S. troops losing ground in their battle against Iraq's insurgents? Earlier today, I spoke with Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, deputy director for coalition operations in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: General Kimmitt, thank you for joining us. Let's get to several key issues right now. This horrible suicide bombing involving the Kurds in the north. Do you know if Iraqis were responsible for this, or so-called foreign fighters?

BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, COALITION OPERATIONS IN IRAQ: We're still doing the investigation right now, Wolf. We've got both the Iraqi police service and coalition elements up there conducting the investigation. But given the techniques and given the method of the bombing, right now it's indicating that this was probably foreign fighters or foreign terrorist groups rather than Iraqis.

BLITZER: Al Qaeda perhaps?

KIMMITT: That's one of the groups we're looking at, yes.

BLITZER: How much of a problem is al Qaeda and foreign terrorists inside of Iraq outside the Sunni Triangle. We had heard the Sunni Triangle was very dangerous. But now in the north where we thought it was relatively quiet. Is this becoming a bigger problem throughout Iraq?

KIMMITT: If you take a look at overall situation in Iraq, it has become more stable in the past month, month and a half just from the peak time of the attacks we had in November. Nonetheless, we're seeing attacks throughout the country as we have for the last couple of months. These are a little more spectacular than we've seen in the past. Most of the spectacular attacks have been in Baghdad and Fallujah and so on and so forth, but we are concerned about the terrorist activities but by and large, most of the attacks we're seeing inside of Iraq right now, the prisoners that were taken and capturing are Iraqis themselves.

BLITZER: How good is your intelligence in dealing with this terror threat specifically inside Iraq?

KIMMITT: Well, I think if you ask the commanders on the ground, no commander ever has enough intelligence. We're getting better at it. The amount of human intelligence that we're getting both through technical means and through Iraqi sources as well as our own sources is getting better and better every day. It's not good enough but it is getting better every day.

BLITZER: Are you getting any cooperation from your interrogation of Saddam Hussein?

KIMMITT: The military's not in charge of the interrogation, so I'm unaware of that -- of the products that are coming out from there that.

BLITZER: Has he been listed by the military as a P.O.W.?

KIMMITT: He's being treated as an enemy prisoner of war at this time. But that does not prejudged his final status when he comes to court as I understand. BLITZER: And as far as letting the International Red Cross and representatives to meet with him, is that happening?

KIMMITT: I understand it's under discussion, but I don't know if a final decision has been rendered yet?

BLITZER: The bottom line is he's someplace inside Iraq, can you confirm that?

KIMMITT: He is being held by coalition forces in a safe location.

BLITZER: You don't want to say even if it's in Iraq or outside of Iraq?

KIMMITT: He's being held by coalition forces. I don't think it's necessary to disclose his location, that might prompt people to take actions unnecessary to the event.

BLITZER: David Kay said he resigned as the chief of the Iraq survey group looking for weapons of mass destruction in part because the military asked a certain of his resources, troops, be deployed elsewhere where to deal with a security threat as opposed to look for WMDs. Are enough resources being used in the search for WMDs?

KIMMITT: I'm not the person to ask that question, Wolf. The military is not directly involved. That's being handled by the Iraqi survey group.

BLITZER: I wonder, General, if you would comment, there are stories now that morale among U.S. troops in Iraq is not that good, that some are going AWOL, some have committed suicide, as you know, I wonder if you could give our viewers perspective from your vantage point, what's going on?

KIMMITT: Well, first of all, I'd say that America and America's sons and daughters and American families have a lot to be proud of what these soldiers are accomplishing. A very small number have not returned from their leaves, well below historical norms and the number of suicides you referred to are very slightly above norm, but not tremendously above norm. If you were to ask the average soldier on the ground, they're proud of what they're accomplishing, they understand what their mission is, they're well led and they know America supports them, that the military supports them and they know they have the support of the president of the United States.

BLITZER: General Kimmitt, good luck to you and good luck to the men and women you command. Thank you for joining us.

KIMMITT: Thank you, Mr. Blitzer.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Words that sting. Democratic candidate Howard Dean gets tough, let's say gets tougher on his rival John Kerry.

Trying Kobe Bryant. What did the basketball star tell sheriff's deputies before he was arrested and should it be allowed in his trial?

And the case against Martha Stewart. News about a star witness, plus, why Rosie O'Donnell showed up in court today? All the day's legal action, just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: There were developments today in three closely watched court cases, the Martha Stewart trial, the Kobe Bryant case, and the Scott Peterson case. We have three reports. Let's start with Mary Snow of CNN financial news who's covering the trial of Martha Stewart.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: ...trial tried to set the stage and set up the circumstances surrounding the sale of Imclone shares by Martha Stewart on December 27 of 2001. Among those testifying today, Julia Monaghan (ph), an administrative manager at Merrill Lynch. Among other things, she said that Doug Faneuil had received high marks on his review by his then boss Peter Bacanovic.

Also testifying today was the former administrative assistant to Sam Waksal. Waksal was the former CEO of Imclone. He is now serving time in prison on insider trading charges. She testified she received a message from Martha Stewart on December 27 of 2001 and she says she remembers Martha Stewart saying, "get Sam, go find him." The message that she logged was that something is going on with Imclone and she wants to know what.

Star power Rosie O'Donnell showing up to lend her support. She went through her own trial but the government's star witness is expected to testify as early as Tuesday afternoon. Doug Faneuil had been scheduled to testify last week but it had been postponed. Mary Snow, CNN financial news, New York.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kobe Bryant has shown up for all of his court hearings. There are two reasons for that, one, it's prudent because his freedom's on the line, and two, it's required. But the Los Angeles Laker guard was a no show today. We're told he's in the Eagle, Colorado area but he was feeling sick this morning. He told his attorneys, his attorneys asked permission for the judge for Kobe Bryant not to show up. Permission is granted. So the court is carrying on without Kobe Bryant.

Two topics under discussion, the first behind closed doors, the judge not allowing the news media inside. The accuser's medical records. Bryant's attorneys want to use her past medical history in the trial. The judge will ultimately decide probably in a written order. Later today or perhaps tomorrow Kobe Bryant made a statement the day after the alleged rape of the prosecution saying they want to use that statement in the trial, the statement was surreptitiously recorded by police officers. Kobe Bryant's attorneys are saying he wasn't given his rights and therefore the statement shouldn't be allowed. This Gary Tuchman, CNN, Eagle, Colorado.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: When Scott Peterson goes on trial for the murders of his wife Laci and their unborn child, you won't be able to watch it unfold on television. The judge coming down decidedly against having cameras in the court room. He said he wanted to protect the privacy of the jurors, the witnesses and the families in this case. Laci Peterson's family, the Rocha family, afterward agreed this was a good idea.

They said that as they were being mobbed by photographers walking outside the courtroom. Both the prosecution and the defense argued against the cameras, Mark Geragos saying cameras in the courtroom would make this trial a bigger zoo than it already is. There is no doubt there is a lot of media here to cover this trial. If it is a zoo, it is a very slow moving zoo so far.

Scott Peterson's first appearance in court in the surroundings of San Mateo county and before the new judge of Alfred Dellucchi lasted less than an hour today. His attorney, Mark Geragos is involved in another case, and that is slowing things down here. We will return one week from today to find out if his schedule has cleared, and if this trial can now get moving. David Mattingly, CNN, Redwood City, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Pulling no punches and dishing the dirt. With seven crucial states up for grab, tomorrow the race for the presidency turns ugly. The new target, John Kerry.

Absent while on leave? New allegations from the Democratic party against President Bush during his years in the National Guard. Is there any truth to the accusations or is it simply dirty politics?

Sharon's shock. The Israeli prime minister announces a major settlement shake-up in Gaza. Find out what it is and who's affected. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Super Bowl shocker. The Federal Communications Commission in Washington now calling this performance classless, crass and deplorable. Find out how it's taking action. Stay with us.

And that brings us to our web question of the day. "Should the FCC investigate Janet Jackson's Super Bowl breast baring?" You can vote right now, go to CNN.com/wolf, we'll have the results later in this broadcast.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN. I'm Wolf Blitzer at the CNN Center in Atlanta.

On the trail. With seven contests tomorrow, who feels lucky, really lucky? New poll numbers are out. We'll get to that.

First, though, a quick check of the latest headlines. A search is under way for survivors of a building collapse in central Turkey. At least one person was killed when a 10-story apartment building simply collapsed. Dozens of people are believed to be trapped in the rubble. Right now, investigators trying to determine how the incident happened.

The U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division has sharply cut back a furlough program for its troops in Iraq, as the soldiers get ready to rotate out of Iraq. The furlough program provided for two weeks of R&R for thousands of troops. The cutback also will affect other Army troops getting ready to leave the region. A Pentagon spokesman says the furlough program will be reactivated once replacement troops have been in Iraq for a while.

President Bush's budget for the next fiscal year is now in the hands of the United States Congress. The almost $2.5 trillion spending plan includes big increases for defense and homeland security. With a record deficit this year of more than $500 billion, the Bush budget is sure to stir controversy on Capitol Hill. The president is pledging to cut the deficit in half by 2009.

A new CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll includes some troubling news for President Bush and some encouraging news for two of the leading Democratic candidates. In a head-to-head matchup between the president and John Kerry, 53 percent of likely voters say they would vote for the senator from Massachusetts; 46 percent say they would choose President Bush.

In the poll, Democratic Senator John Edwards also beats President Bush in a head-to-head matchup by one percentage point. And for the first time since his inauguration, President Bush's approval rating has dipped below 50 percent. It's now at 49 percent, a drop of 11 percentage points since a month ago. The margin of error, 3 percent in all of those polls.

The race for the Democratic presidential nomination clearly heating up this month. Seven contests are on tap tomorrow.

Our national correspondent Bob Franken is on the campaign trail in one of the key states, South Carolina.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In John Kerry's best of all worlds, the outcomes would make his ultimate nomination seem inevitable, with no Democratic challenges about campaign contributions and questionable sources or report that, since 1989, he received more money from special interests than any other senator.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you will stand with me, we'll stand up together against those corporations that take the jobs overseas. We'll stand up for civil rights and civil liberties.

FRANKEN: John Edwards is making his favored-son stand here in South Carolina and is staying on message.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The South is not George Bush's backyard. It is my backyard.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

EDWARDS: And I will beat George Bush in my backyard.

FRANKEN: A lot will depend in South Carolina on how much of the state's substantial African-American vote goes to Al Sharpton.

WESLEY CLARK (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm Wes Clark. Sure would like your support tomorrow.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good luck.

CLARK: Thank you. Thank you, sir.

FRANKEN: In Oklahoma, Wesley Clark is sweeping down the plains to what he hopes is the Democratic winner's circle.

CLARK: I will keep this country safe. We will go get Osama bin Laden. But I will get us out of that mess in Iraq.

FRANKEN: Joe Lieberman is also looking for something good somewhere. That somewhere might be Delaware, if anywhere.

As for Howard Dean, he's spending a large amount time dealing with staff problems. And he's not showing well in any of these seven states. Hence, the ongoing staff shakeup.

(on camera): It is a long, hard road ahead, although, for several of these candidates, they will have to prove that it is not a dead-end road.

Bob Franken, CNN, Charleston, South Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The former Democratic front-runner, Howard Dean, came out swinging this past weekend at the current front-runner, John Kerry. Dean attacked Kerry over campaign contributions from lobbyists and accused Kerry of having no credibility when it comes to fighting special interests in Washington.

With us from Chicago, the former Democratic presidential candidate, Carol Moseley Braun, who now supports Howard Dean; and, in Washington, Greg Craig, a senior adviser to the Kerry adviser.

Thanks to both of you for joining us.

The words got pretty tough, sometime pretty ugly. We have a little excerpt of some of the things said over the past couple days.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We cannot beat George Bush by being Bush-light.

The front-runner this race is John Kerry. And I'm not here to say anything bad about him, except that I saw this morning in "The Washington Post" that he accepted more special interest and lobbyist money than any other senator in the last 15 years. We are not going to beat George Bush with a lesser of two evils. We need to stand up and change the Democratic Party fundamentally.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

DEAN: Is that Willie Nelson?

(LAUGHTER)

DEAN: It looks like he had Botox injections, too.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

DEAN: I didn't say who the other person was. I didn't say who the other person was. I didn't.

(LAUGHTER)

KERRY: Governor Dean has, in the course of this campaign, made a number of comments that he's had to apologize to other candidates for. And I would respectfully suggest that that may be just one more of them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Let's begin with Carol Moseley Braun.

Senator, why is your candidate, Howard Dean, now going after John Kerry along these kinds of lines?

CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN (D), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, now, you know, that's the way the campaigns operate.

The fact is that, when he was considered the front-runner, all the other candidates, or many of the other candidates, took potshots at Howard Dean. Now that he's not the front-runner, I guess he figures it's his time to take potshots back. It's unfortunate, but that's what a primary is. You know that old line: I don't belong to no organized group. I'm a Democrat.

The Democrats are all making their case. Howard Dean, I think, has a legitimate case to make about special interests and about his courage in not kowtowing to them and about providing an alternative vision for Democrats. And that's what he's trying to do.

BLITZER: All right, Greg Craig, John Kerry, did, according to these reports, accept more special interest money than any other U.S. senator over the past 15 years or so. That should be fair game by Governor Dean, right? GREG CRAIG, SENIOR KERRY CAMPAIGN ADVISER: Well, of all people in the United States, Senator Braun would know that John Kerry does not kowtow to special interests.

His record as a United States senator for 20 years shows that it's the public interest that he's been serving. He's been independent in his votes on the pro-environment agenda. He's been independent in his votes on pro-patient rights. He's independent in his votes on all issues that, really, the public interest comes to bear.

And it's irresponsible and actually astonishing that people would make this charge against John Kerry. Of course, it's legitimate to have a sharp debate about the issues. But this kind of negativity makes me really doubt Governor Dean's judgment.

BLITZER: Senator Braun, do you really believe that John Kerry is Bush-light?

MOSELEY BRAUN: Well, let me say this at the outset.

I'm afraid that you mistook my remarks. I would never make a point about John Kerry kowtowing to anybody, personally. And that's not what Governor Dean has said either. What Governor Dean's point is that he, Governor Dean, is not enthralled to the special interest, that he, Governor Dean, has a message for the American people that is one of independence and of courageousness, of taking those positions based on principle.

He was, after all, the first of the candidates to come out against the misadventure in Iraq. He came out against the Patriot Act first. He came out against No Child Left Behind first.

(CROSSTALK)

MOSELEY BRAUN: And so he's making a case for himself. I don't think it's a matter of taking potshots. And it's certainly not a matter of taking potshots by referencing something that "The Washington Post" reported.

BLITZER: Greg Craig, what do you say about that?

CRAIG: Well, I respectfully disagree.

I think he is trying to imply that John Kerry has not been serving the public, that John Kerry is in the thrall of special interests. And the record just doesn't support that.

And I think, Senator, you know as well as I do that John Kerry's service in the United States Senate has been a dispassionate and passionate pursuit of the public interest in all these areas. And it does no one any good for Governor Dean to be making these kinds of charges, which have no basis to them.

On the issue of special interests, John Kerry is fully equipped to take on the president of the United States and win hands down on questions of the environment, where he stood as the champion against drilling in Alaska, among other things.

(CROSSTALK)

MOSELEY BRAUN: ... take on this president on the issue of special interests, OK?

BLITZER: Senator, what about Howard Dean making fun of John Kerry, supposedly for take Botox to remove the wrinkles from his forehead? Do you think that's a smart strategy?

MOSELEY BRAUN: Well, I -- look, I wasn't there. And it sounds like he was making a joke.

And, again, we can't just get overly serious about people. You can't lose your sense of humor just because you're running for president. Again, Howard Dean has been there and he's taken the shots from every possible front when he was -- all during the summer. And, frankly, the tables are now turned a bit. And I think it's fair game.

I think candidates have to be ready to get it from wherever it comes when you're in the middle of a campaign.

BLITZER: All right, Greg Craig, very briefly. You'll get the last word. What about making fun of him for the Botox? Senator Kerry, did he ever use Botox?

MOSELEY BRAUN: Well, he has said no. And I think it's unworthy of Governor Dean.

I have a great admiration and affection for Howard Dean, and I think this is not the way he should be trying to lead the Democratic Party. I hope he will make great contributions in the future. And that's not the way to do it.

BLITZER: Greg Craig, Carol Moseley Braun, two good surrogates for two candidates, thanks very much for joining us.

MOSELEY BRAUN: Thank you.

BLITZER: Heated allegations, the head of Democratic Party taking on the president's record in the Air National Guard.

Flash dance. Janet Jackson loses her clothing and the FCC now loses its patience, the fallout from last night's Super Bowl performance.

And Punxsutawney's prediction, Pennsylvania residents gather around the groundhog. Did he see his shadow? We'll tell you later.

First, though, a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Israeli settlements. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stunned his Likud Party with the news he plans to dismantle all Jewish settlements in Gaza. A Likud official says, no timetable was mentioned. The 17 Gaza settlements are home to about 7,500 people. A spokesman for a settlers' group condemned the plan, saying it gives a prize to terrorism.

Election boycott. Iran's largest pro-reform party says it will not take part in this month's parliamentary election. The party's leader and brother of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami says the elections will not be free and fair. He cited a move by an unelected group run by religious hard-liners which declared more than 2,000 potential candidates as being unfit to run for office.

Protests in Haiti. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Port-Au-Prince, demanding the resignation of Haiti President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The peaceful demonstration came after the president met with Caribbean leaders and then withdrew restrictions on street protests.

Train ride to Oz. It's all aboard for the first passenger train to roll through Australia's Outback from the Southern coastal city of Adelaide to the northern port city of Darwin. Passenger service from Adelaide to the halfway point of Alice Springs has been available since the late 1920s. Thanks to a new 800-mile extension, you can now go all the way to Darwin.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: The head of the Democratic National Committee is taking the gloves off, accusing President Bush of being absent without leave during his service in the Air National Guard. Republicans are denouncing the remarks as simply slanderous.

CNN's Jennifer Coggiola is joining us now from Washington with more on this controversy -- Jennifer.

JENNIFER COGGIOLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it was a chunk of time in 1972 and 1973 that has been at the center of this controversy and criticism for President Bush. Well, it's now resurfacing just in time for an election.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COGGIOLA (voice-over): While the Democratic hopefuls campaigned across the South this weekend, Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe made it clear that Democrats are prepared to make President Bush's military record an issue.

TERRY MCAULIFFE, DNC CHAIRMAN: I look forward to that debate, when making John Kerry, a war hero with a chest full of medals, is standing next to George Bush, a man who was AWOL in the Alabama National Guard.

COGGIOLA: Here's what's known about President Bush's military service.

After George W. Bush graduated from Yale in 1968, he joined the Texas National Guard as a fighter pilot and, over the next four years, based in Houston, served the equivalent of 21 months on active duty. Then, in 1972, Bush moved to Alabama to work on a Senate campaign, where he says he continued to fulfill his Guard service on the weekends.

There have been conflicting reports about a period of time, May 1972 to April 1973. Military records obtained by "The Boston Globe" and other media in 2000 indicated that there was a one-year gap in his military service, that Bush did not fly at all during that time and that there are no records that he showed up for his drills required to maintain his obligation.

Other reports went to say that, though his service days were irregular, he did accrue enough service days required for his ultimate honorable discharge. At the time, Bush's spokesperson said he made up for his missed service by performing nonflying duties. President Bush also stood by his record at an Independence Day parade July 4, 1999.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think that's politics. I flew fighters, F-102 aircraft. I met the qualifications. I met the training. And I served my country. And I'm proud of what I did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COGGIOLA: In recent weeks, Bush's record catapulted once again to the spotlight when filmmaker and Wesley Clark supporter Michael Moore blasted the president's record.

MICHAEL MOORE, FILMMAKER/AUTHOR: The general vs. the deserter. That's the debate!

ED GILLESPIE, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: The Democrats throw these charges out there. They are just completely inaccurate. And it's unfortunate that they stoop to this kind of politics.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COGGIOLA: According to military code, President Bush can't technically be labeled AWOL or a deserter. Only active-duty soldiers in the U.S. military who don't appear for 30 days qualify for that -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jennifer Coggiola, thanks very much for that report. Asked about the controversy over President Bush's military service record, Democratic front-runner John Kerry today distanced himself from some of the controversial comments.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KERRY: I've not suggested to any of them that they do so. And I spoke out against the use of the word deserter, which I thought was inappropriate, wrong, over the top.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The issue apparently isn't having much of an impact on Americans when it comes to the issue of patriotism. In the latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup, almost half of the people asked said they think President Bush is more patriotic than Senator Kerry.

Down to the wire. A last-second kick seals the deal, but a different play is the talk of the game, shocking display, two networks in the hot seat, lots of people talking, and now an FCC investigation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: For those of who you may have been away this weekend, here's a look at some of the stories you may have missed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Hostage freed. A 15-day hostage standoff ended peacefully when two inmates at an Arizona prison released a female guard and surrendered. The guard was taken to a hospital for medical examinations, but is believed to be in good condition.

Hajj stampede. The Muslim observance of hajj was marred by tragedy. More than 250 pilgrims who had journeyed to Saudi Arabia's plains of Mina for the stoning-of-the-devil ritual died in a stampede. It was the deadliest hajj incident since 1987, when a fire killed 340 pilgrims.

Super game. The New England Patriots edged the Carolina Panthers to win the NFL championship in what's being described as one of the most exciting Super Bowl contests ever. The outcome wasn't decided until New England kicked a field goal with just four seconds left, giving the Patriots a 32-29 victory.

And that's our "Weekend Snapshot."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: It wasn't just the Super Bowl's game that caused a stir. The halftime show ended with Justin Timberlake tearing off part of Janet Jackson's costume, exposing one of her breasts. Timberlake says it was an accident. And CBS has apologized. But the FCC has now launched a formal investigation.

CNN's Brian Todd has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): No one can dispute what happened at halftime of Super Bowl XXXVIII. Justin Timberlake practically gave it away moments before. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, SINGER (singing): I'm going to have you naked by the end of this song.

TODD: From the moment Janet Jackson's breast was exposed, the outrage was palpable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My opinion on it, they should have slapped cuffs on both of them, because that was lewd and indecent exposure.

TODD: CBS quickly cut away from the shot, but not in time to save the network from a government investigation. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell promises to hold CBS and MTV, who produced the halftime show, accountable.

MICHAEL POWELL, FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION CHAIRMAN: I thought it was outrageous. And I was deeply disappointed as I sat there with my two children. And I knew immediately this would cause outrage among the American people, which it did. The law allows to you reach many of the different parties. CBS is a licensee, owns and operates stations. So it does have responsibility here, as do all of those who were part of the production.

TODD: Two networks are now on the defensive, CBS and MTV both apologizing, both claiming they had no idea what would happen beforehand. Many observers say, that's hard to believe, especially given this news release from MTV last Thursday, the headline: "Janet Jackson's Super Bowl Show Promises Shocking Moments."

ROBBIE VORHAUS, MEDIA STRATEGIST: They knew it. Some people knew it more than others. This was -- they can apologize all they want, but this was wrong. And heads are going to fall.

TODD: Others cast serious doubt as to whether this investigation will be more than an attempt to rough up the two networks in the court of public opinion.

HOWARD KURTZ, "RELIABLE SOURCES": The FCC could issue a fine for indecency, but that would required proving that CBS executives knew in advance that Janet Jackson would be busting out all over. So, I'd say the odds of a major fine are about the same as someone kicking a 90- yard field goal.

TODD: One thing many agree on, we're not likely to see this type of display or what Justin Timberlake called a wardrobe malfunction in future halftime shows.

Brian Todd, CNN, Atlanta.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: And now to a bizarre incident following a pretrial hearing for actor Robert Blake in California.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT BLAKE, DEFENDANT: Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Blake was leaving the courthouse when a man handed him a guitar and asked him to play something. The former "Baretta" star responded by singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Blake is accused of murdering his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley.

The results of our "Web Question of the Day," that's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of the Day," remembering, of course, this is not a scientific poll.

Let's take a look at our picture of the day. Today is February 2, so you may be able to guess what that picture is. This is Groundhog Day, the day residents of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, gather around the home of Punxsutawney Phil for a prediction of how long winter will last. Witnesses say the groundhog saw his shadow, which means six more weeks of winter.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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Use Airliners to Carry Toxins Into U.S.?>


Aired February 2, 2004 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Iraq inquiry.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to know all the facts.

BLITZER: President Bush orders a review of pre-war intelligence, as the war goes on.

Flight fears. Will al Qaeda use airliners to carry deadly toxins to U.S. cities?

Court's in session. High-profile hearings, high stakes.

Halftime show. Millions watched Janet Jackson. Now, government watchdogs take a closer look.

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Monday, February 2, 2004.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The hunt for Iraq's arsenal of death has gone cold, and President Bush is feeling the heat. Today he announced an inquiry into what went wrong, but the nature of that investigation is also sparking controversy. Let's go live to our White House correspondent Dana Bash -- Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, with even Republicans saying U.S. credibility is at stake here, the White House made a decision over the weekend. The president announced it today that they were no longer going to resist the idea of a commission but would embrace it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BASH (voice-over): Little more than a week after outgoing weapons inspector David Kay declared weapons of mass destruction likely won't be found in Iraq, President Bush under mounting political pressure now says he'll appoint a commission to find out why.

BLITZER: I'm putting together an independent, bipartisan commission to -- to analyze where we stand, what we can do better, as we fight this war against terror. BASH: Mr. Bush invited Dr. Kay to the White House for a private briefing from the man who declared, quote, "we were all wrong."

The White House is actively assembling a nine-person panel which they compare to the Warren Commission set up after JFK's assassination. The panel will focus not just on intelligence in Iraq, but a broader look at gaps in other crucial areas like North Korea and Iran.

SCOTT REED, GOP CONSULTANT: I think the administration recognized that this issue was starting to get a head of steam with the American people, with the members of Congress. And every once in a while you just (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for what's going to happen.

BASH: The White House officials are informally consulting with some in Congress on the commission's makeup and mandate. It will be appointed only by the president by executive order.

Democrats question whether that is truly independent.

SEN. TOM DASCHLE (D-SD), MINORITY LEADER: We can't have the president or anybody else dictating how that commission is going work, and the nominees who will be involved.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: And another thing boiling Democrats, Wolf, is that the deadline for this commission's report will likely not be until after election day. This makes many Democrats say the announcement of the commission looked like nothing more than a political ploy -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Dana Bash at the White House. Thank you very much.

The controversy over Iraqi intelligence may be taking a toll on President Bush's popularity. A new CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll shows the president's job approval dipping below 50 percent for the first time since he took office. Our senior political analyst Bill Schneider is crunching the numbers as he always does. What are we seeing in the new numbers, Bill?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Whenever a president's job rating hits below 50 percent he's in trouble. And President Bush's job approval rating has taken a tumble over the last month. It's now 49 percent approve, 48 percent disapprove, the first time it's eve dipped below 50. In other words, trouble.

The president's biggest problem, Iraq. The percentage of Americans who believe it was worth going to go in Iraq has fallen sharply since the capture of Saddam Hussein. At the beginning of January it was up to 59 percent, now that is down to 49 percent. Fewer than half feel the war was worthwhile. In fact Americans are divided which may be why the president felt the political pressure to make the concession and organize the commission.

BLITZER: Bill, what do we see on a hypothetical match up right now between the president and John Kerry or John Edwards for that matter. Who wins? Who loses?

BLITZER: Democrats are rallying to their party right now, and so is the country rallying to the Democrats. Right now in a hypothetical match up between John Kerry, if he's the Democratic nominee, and George Bush, Kerry leads bush by a solid 7-point margin.

John Edwards was also doing -- done well in the primaries. He essentially ties Bush. Edwards 49, bush 48. They are the two Democrats who run the strongest against President Bush.

It looks like the hard-fought Democratic primaries have taken a toll, Wolf, but not on the Democrats.

BLITZER: Bill Schneider with those numbers. More coming up later this hour. Thank you very much, Bill, for that.

Homeland Security officials say that as of right now there are no plans to ground any more passenger planes because of terrorist threat. British Airways, Air France and Continental Airlines canceled a total of ten flights over the weekend because of what U.S. officials said were specific and credible terrorist threat.

Joining us with more on this, CNN's Jeanne Meserve watching this story -- Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, U.S. officials say the information came from a credible source and was corroborated by intercepts. It was highly specific, and officials say that allowed them to respond in a targeted way.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE (voice-over): In December, intelligence about threats to airliners canceled flights and put the country on threat level Orange. Why no Orange this time around? For one thing, the aviation sector has remained on a heightened state of alert. For another, the criteria for going to Orange are shifting.

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECY.: The threshold to be raised Orange in the future, based not only on threat but a risk assessment, in time will be higher threshold.

MESERVE: Homeland security officials say the situation facing the country in December was different. Then, there was a significant body of threat reporting indicating a large scale attack might be imminent. There were threats to a number of geographical areas. The holiday period, U.S. officials feared, might pose a tempting time period at holiday gatherings attempting targets.

Those factors were not present this time and the information was specific as to airline, flight number and even date. But one member of Congress theorizes the reasons are less complicated.

REP. JIM TURNER (D), TEXAS: No, I don't think the absence of a change in the color-coded alert indicated anything than perhaps the department is getting the message we've been trying to give them. That is they ought to move away from the color-coded system and just give us the facts.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE: The intelligence that lead to the recent cancellation of flights was not specific as to the method of attack. Government analysts theorize that among the possible scenarios was the use of or transport of biological or radiological weapons on an airliner. But experts outside of government consider those scenarios unlikely because, they say, there are far more efficient way to use those agents and inspire terror.

Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: Jeanne Meserve, thank you very much.

Now to nuclear worries. For years Pakistan has strongly denied transferring nuclear weapons technology abroad. Now Pakistani officials say a nuclear scientist in Pakistan did just that, selling crucial information to Iran, North Korea and Libya. Our chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An extraordinary confession after an unprecedented investigation. Pakistani officials say this man, Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of their nuclear bomb, has given a written account of how he sent nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea.

The investigations began when the IAEA, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog body. alerted Pakistan to the problem after revelation by Iran and later Libya that also exposed an international nuclear black market, a private sector proliferation enterprise.

MOHAMMED ELBARADEI, IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL: Very sophisticated designs are done in one country, manufacturing commission in different countries, shipped to a fourth country, rediverted to a fifth country. So to me it's like organized crime.

AMANPOUR: Iran told the IAEA middle men brought it nuclear technology and spare parts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't know where they have come from. This is the nature of black market. Even we didn't know until recently that Malaysia has been manufacturing this equipments.

AMANPOUR: Diplomats say Malaysia is a major player in the manufacture and assembly of centrifuge parts which can be used to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons. The IAEA will not confirm other countries or companies, but diplomats close to the agency tell CNN of a routing that went like this.

Pakistan's A.Q. Khan would send orders to manufacturers in Malaysia as well as companies in Europe and Africa. The products would then go to a gateway such as Dubai which would then distribute them to end users such as Libya, Iran, and perhaps North Korea. Libya had more than centrifuges, nuclear weapons designs too that have now been removed and stored in the United States. The IAEA won't say where Libya got those designs, but diplomats believe it could be from Pakistan.

But analysts warn against just blaming the black market.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is extremely convenient for the governments involved to say this is all black market, it wasn't anything to do with us officially.

AMANPOUR: Pakistan insists no government or military official knew of A.Q. Khan's activities claiming there was very little scrutiny of their top nuclear scientist. Yet some accounts indicate he could have transferred material by government cargo planes.

Christiane Amanpour, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Simultaneous suicide bombings shatter the calm in northern Iraq. Is al Qaeda behind these deadly attacks? We'll hear from U.S. army Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt. He's in Baghdad.

Fair game -- will Democrats target the president's military record or are they too busy turning on one another?

Overexposure. Regrets over the rip. Did Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson go too far? Now the FCC in Washington taking a closer look at the Super Bowl halftime show. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: U.S. troops averted a potential tragedy today in Iraq. Soldiers guarding a headquarters access road in Tikrit discovered and disarmed a remote control bomb and arrested two suspects just minutes before a U.S. convoy passed through the area.

The convoy was bringing troops back from a memorial for three soldiers who were killed in a highway bombing Saturday. The setting for the tearful farewell, one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces.

The death toll has been raised in the twin suicide bombings in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil. Coalition officials now say 67 people were killed and almost 250 people were wounded in yesterday's attacks on the headquarters of two Kurdish political parties. Funerals were held today for the victims, who included several top Kurdish officials. Iraq's Kurdish minority has largely supported the U.S.-led invasion and occupation.

Who's behind those devastating bombings in Irbil? Are U.S. troops losing ground in their battle against Iraq's insurgents? Earlier today, I spoke with Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, deputy director for coalition operations in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: General Kimmitt, thank you for joining us. Let's get to several key issues right now. This horrible suicide bombing involving the Kurds in the north. Do you know if Iraqis were responsible for this, or so-called foreign fighters?

BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, COALITION OPERATIONS IN IRAQ: We're still doing the investigation right now, Wolf. We've got both the Iraqi police service and coalition elements up there conducting the investigation. But given the techniques and given the method of the bombing, right now it's indicating that this was probably foreign fighters or foreign terrorist groups rather than Iraqis.

BLITZER: Al Qaeda perhaps?

KIMMITT: That's one of the groups we're looking at, yes.

BLITZER: How much of a problem is al Qaeda and foreign terrorists inside of Iraq outside the Sunni Triangle. We had heard the Sunni Triangle was very dangerous. But now in the north where we thought it was relatively quiet. Is this becoming a bigger problem throughout Iraq?

KIMMITT: If you take a look at overall situation in Iraq, it has become more stable in the past month, month and a half just from the peak time of the attacks we had in November. Nonetheless, we're seeing attacks throughout the country as we have for the last couple of months. These are a little more spectacular than we've seen in the past. Most of the spectacular attacks have been in Baghdad and Fallujah and so on and so forth, but we are concerned about the terrorist activities but by and large, most of the attacks we're seeing inside of Iraq right now, the prisoners that were taken and capturing are Iraqis themselves.

BLITZER: How good is your intelligence in dealing with this terror threat specifically inside Iraq?

KIMMITT: Well, I think if you ask the commanders on the ground, no commander ever has enough intelligence. We're getting better at it. The amount of human intelligence that we're getting both through technical means and through Iraqi sources as well as our own sources is getting better and better every day. It's not good enough but it is getting better every day.

BLITZER: Are you getting any cooperation from your interrogation of Saddam Hussein?

KIMMITT: The military's not in charge of the interrogation, so I'm unaware of that -- of the products that are coming out from there that.

BLITZER: Has he been listed by the military as a P.O.W.?

KIMMITT: He's being treated as an enemy prisoner of war at this time. But that does not prejudged his final status when he comes to court as I understand. BLITZER: And as far as letting the International Red Cross and representatives to meet with him, is that happening?

KIMMITT: I understand it's under discussion, but I don't know if a final decision has been rendered yet?

BLITZER: The bottom line is he's someplace inside Iraq, can you confirm that?

KIMMITT: He is being held by coalition forces in a safe location.

BLITZER: You don't want to say even if it's in Iraq or outside of Iraq?

KIMMITT: He's being held by coalition forces. I don't think it's necessary to disclose his location, that might prompt people to take actions unnecessary to the event.

BLITZER: David Kay said he resigned as the chief of the Iraq survey group looking for weapons of mass destruction in part because the military asked a certain of his resources, troops, be deployed elsewhere where to deal with a security threat as opposed to look for WMDs. Are enough resources being used in the search for WMDs?

KIMMITT: I'm not the person to ask that question, Wolf. The military is not directly involved. That's being handled by the Iraqi survey group.

BLITZER: I wonder, General, if you would comment, there are stories now that morale among U.S. troops in Iraq is not that good, that some are going AWOL, some have committed suicide, as you know, I wonder if you could give our viewers perspective from your vantage point, what's going on?

KIMMITT: Well, first of all, I'd say that America and America's sons and daughters and American families have a lot to be proud of what these soldiers are accomplishing. A very small number have not returned from their leaves, well below historical norms and the number of suicides you referred to are very slightly above norm, but not tremendously above norm. If you were to ask the average soldier on the ground, they're proud of what they're accomplishing, they understand what their mission is, they're well led and they know America supports them, that the military supports them and they know they have the support of the president of the United States.

BLITZER: General Kimmitt, good luck to you and good luck to the men and women you command. Thank you for joining us.

KIMMITT: Thank you, Mr. Blitzer.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Words that sting. Democratic candidate Howard Dean gets tough, let's say gets tougher on his rival John Kerry.

Trying Kobe Bryant. What did the basketball star tell sheriff's deputies before he was arrested and should it be allowed in his trial?

And the case against Martha Stewart. News about a star witness, plus, why Rosie O'Donnell showed up in court today? All the day's legal action, just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: There were developments today in three closely watched court cases, the Martha Stewart trial, the Kobe Bryant case, and the Scott Peterson case. We have three reports. Let's start with Mary Snow of CNN financial news who's covering the trial of Martha Stewart.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: ...trial tried to set the stage and set up the circumstances surrounding the sale of Imclone shares by Martha Stewart on December 27 of 2001. Among those testifying today, Julia Monaghan (ph), an administrative manager at Merrill Lynch. Among other things, she said that Doug Faneuil had received high marks on his review by his then boss Peter Bacanovic.

Also testifying today was the former administrative assistant to Sam Waksal. Waksal was the former CEO of Imclone. He is now serving time in prison on insider trading charges. She testified she received a message from Martha Stewart on December 27 of 2001 and she says she remembers Martha Stewart saying, "get Sam, go find him." The message that she logged was that something is going on with Imclone and she wants to know what.

Star power Rosie O'Donnell showing up to lend her support. She went through her own trial but the government's star witness is expected to testify as early as Tuesday afternoon. Doug Faneuil had been scheduled to testify last week but it had been postponed. Mary Snow, CNN financial news, New York.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kobe Bryant has shown up for all of his court hearings. There are two reasons for that, one, it's prudent because his freedom's on the line, and two, it's required. But the Los Angeles Laker guard was a no show today. We're told he's in the Eagle, Colorado area but he was feeling sick this morning. He told his attorneys, his attorneys asked permission for the judge for Kobe Bryant not to show up. Permission is granted. So the court is carrying on without Kobe Bryant.

Two topics under discussion, the first behind closed doors, the judge not allowing the news media inside. The accuser's medical records. Bryant's attorneys want to use her past medical history in the trial. The judge will ultimately decide probably in a written order. Later today or perhaps tomorrow Kobe Bryant made a statement the day after the alleged rape of the prosecution saying they want to use that statement in the trial, the statement was surreptitiously recorded by police officers. Kobe Bryant's attorneys are saying he wasn't given his rights and therefore the statement shouldn't be allowed. This Gary Tuchman, CNN, Eagle, Colorado.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: When Scott Peterson goes on trial for the murders of his wife Laci and their unborn child, you won't be able to watch it unfold on television. The judge coming down decidedly against having cameras in the court room. He said he wanted to protect the privacy of the jurors, the witnesses and the families in this case. Laci Peterson's family, the Rocha family, afterward agreed this was a good idea.

They said that as they were being mobbed by photographers walking outside the courtroom. Both the prosecution and the defense argued against the cameras, Mark Geragos saying cameras in the courtroom would make this trial a bigger zoo than it already is. There is no doubt there is a lot of media here to cover this trial. If it is a zoo, it is a very slow moving zoo so far.

Scott Peterson's first appearance in court in the surroundings of San Mateo county and before the new judge of Alfred Dellucchi lasted less than an hour today. His attorney, Mark Geragos is involved in another case, and that is slowing things down here. We will return one week from today to find out if his schedule has cleared, and if this trial can now get moving. David Mattingly, CNN, Redwood City, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Pulling no punches and dishing the dirt. With seven crucial states up for grab, tomorrow the race for the presidency turns ugly. The new target, John Kerry.

Absent while on leave? New allegations from the Democratic party against President Bush during his years in the National Guard. Is there any truth to the accusations or is it simply dirty politics?

Sharon's shock. The Israeli prime minister announces a major settlement shake-up in Gaza. Find out what it is and who's affected. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Super Bowl shocker. The Federal Communications Commission in Washington now calling this performance classless, crass and deplorable. Find out how it's taking action. Stay with us.

And that brings us to our web question of the day. "Should the FCC investigate Janet Jackson's Super Bowl breast baring?" You can vote right now, go to CNN.com/wolf, we'll have the results later in this broadcast.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN. I'm Wolf Blitzer at the CNN Center in Atlanta.

On the trail. With seven contests tomorrow, who feels lucky, really lucky? New poll numbers are out. We'll get to that.

First, though, a quick check of the latest headlines. A search is under way for survivors of a building collapse in central Turkey. At least one person was killed when a 10-story apartment building simply collapsed. Dozens of people are believed to be trapped in the rubble. Right now, investigators trying to determine how the incident happened.

The U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division has sharply cut back a furlough program for its troops in Iraq, as the soldiers get ready to rotate out of Iraq. The furlough program provided for two weeks of R&R for thousands of troops. The cutback also will affect other Army troops getting ready to leave the region. A Pentagon spokesman says the furlough program will be reactivated once replacement troops have been in Iraq for a while.

President Bush's budget for the next fiscal year is now in the hands of the United States Congress. The almost $2.5 trillion spending plan includes big increases for defense and homeland security. With a record deficit this year of more than $500 billion, the Bush budget is sure to stir controversy on Capitol Hill. The president is pledging to cut the deficit in half by 2009.

A new CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll includes some troubling news for President Bush and some encouraging news for two of the leading Democratic candidates. In a head-to-head matchup between the president and John Kerry, 53 percent of likely voters say they would vote for the senator from Massachusetts; 46 percent say they would choose President Bush.

In the poll, Democratic Senator John Edwards also beats President Bush in a head-to-head matchup by one percentage point. And for the first time since his inauguration, President Bush's approval rating has dipped below 50 percent. It's now at 49 percent, a drop of 11 percentage points since a month ago. The margin of error, 3 percent in all of those polls.

The race for the Democratic presidential nomination clearly heating up this month. Seven contests are on tap tomorrow.

Our national correspondent Bob Franken is on the campaign trail in one of the key states, South Carolina.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In John Kerry's best of all worlds, the outcomes would make his ultimate nomination seem inevitable, with no Democratic challenges about campaign contributions and questionable sources or report that, since 1989, he received more money from special interests than any other senator.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you will stand with me, we'll stand up together against those corporations that take the jobs overseas. We'll stand up for civil rights and civil liberties.

FRANKEN: John Edwards is making his favored-son stand here in South Carolina and is staying on message.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The South is not George Bush's backyard. It is my backyard.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

EDWARDS: And I will beat George Bush in my backyard.

FRANKEN: A lot will depend in South Carolina on how much of the state's substantial African-American vote goes to Al Sharpton.

WESLEY CLARK (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm Wes Clark. Sure would like your support tomorrow.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good luck.

CLARK: Thank you. Thank you, sir.

FRANKEN: In Oklahoma, Wesley Clark is sweeping down the plains to what he hopes is the Democratic winner's circle.

CLARK: I will keep this country safe. We will go get Osama bin Laden. But I will get us out of that mess in Iraq.

FRANKEN: Joe Lieberman is also looking for something good somewhere. That somewhere might be Delaware, if anywhere.

As for Howard Dean, he's spending a large amount time dealing with staff problems. And he's not showing well in any of these seven states. Hence, the ongoing staff shakeup.

(on camera): It is a long, hard road ahead, although, for several of these candidates, they will have to prove that it is not a dead-end road.

Bob Franken, CNN, Charleston, South Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The former Democratic front-runner, Howard Dean, came out swinging this past weekend at the current front-runner, John Kerry. Dean attacked Kerry over campaign contributions from lobbyists and accused Kerry of having no credibility when it comes to fighting special interests in Washington.

With us from Chicago, the former Democratic presidential candidate, Carol Moseley Braun, who now supports Howard Dean; and, in Washington, Greg Craig, a senior adviser to the Kerry adviser.

Thanks to both of you for joining us.

The words got pretty tough, sometime pretty ugly. We have a little excerpt of some of the things said over the past couple days.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We cannot beat George Bush by being Bush-light.

The front-runner this race is John Kerry. And I'm not here to say anything bad about him, except that I saw this morning in "The Washington Post" that he accepted more special interest and lobbyist money than any other senator in the last 15 years. We are not going to beat George Bush with a lesser of two evils. We need to stand up and change the Democratic Party fundamentally.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

DEAN: Is that Willie Nelson?

(LAUGHTER)

DEAN: It looks like he had Botox injections, too.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

DEAN: I didn't say who the other person was. I didn't say who the other person was. I didn't.

(LAUGHTER)

KERRY: Governor Dean has, in the course of this campaign, made a number of comments that he's had to apologize to other candidates for. And I would respectfully suggest that that may be just one more of them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Let's begin with Carol Moseley Braun.

Senator, why is your candidate, Howard Dean, now going after John Kerry along these kinds of lines?

CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN (D), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, now, you know, that's the way the campaigns operate.

The fact is that, when he was considered the front-runner, all the other candidates, or many of the other candidates, took potshots at Howard Dean. Now that he's not the front-runner, I guess he figures it's his time to take potshots back. It's unfortunate, but that's what a primary is. You know that old line: I don't belong to no organized group. I'm a Democrat.

The Democrats are all making their case. Howard Dean, I think, has a legitimate case to make about special interests and about his courage in not kowtowing to them and about providing an alternative vision for Democrats. And that's what he's trying to do.

BLITZER: All right, Greg Craig, John Kerry, did, according to these reports, accept more special interest money than any other U.S. senator over the past 15 years or so. That should be fair game by Governor Dean, right? GREG CRAIG, SENIOR KERRY CAMPAIGN ADVISER: Well, of all people in the United States, Senator Braun would know that John Kerry does not kowtow to special interests.

His record as a United States senator for 20 years shows that it's the public interest that he's been serving. He's been independent in his votes on the pro-environment agenda. He's been independent in his votes on pro-patient rights. He's independent in his votes on all issues that, really, the public interest comes to bear.

And it's irresponsible and actually astonishing that people would make this charge against John Kerry. Of course, it's legitimate to have a sharp debate about the issues. But this kind of negativity makes me really doubt Governor Dean's judgment.

BLITZER: Senator Braun, do you really believe that John Kerry is Bush-light?

MOSELEY BRAUN: Well, let me say this at the outset.

I'm afraid that you mistook my remarks. I would never make a point about John Kerry kowtowing to anybody, personally. And that's not what Governor Dean has said either. What Governor Dean's point is that he, Governor Dean, is not enthralled to the special interest, that he, Governor Dean, has a message for the American people that is one of independence and of courageousness, of taking those positions based on principle.

He was, after all, the first of the candidates to come out against the misadventure in Iraq. He came out against the Patriot Act first. He came out against No Child Left Behind first.

(CROSSTALK)

MOSELEY BRAUN: And so he's making a case for himself. I don't think it's a matter of taking potshots. And it's certainly not a matter of taking potshots by referencing something that "The Washington Post" reported.

BLITZER: Greg Craig, what do you say about that?

CRAIG: Well, I respectfully disagree.

I think he is trying to imply that John Kerry has not been serving the public, that John Kerry is in the thrall of special interests. And the record just doesn't support that.

And I think, Senator, you know as well as I do that John Kerry's service in the United States Senate has been a dispassionate and passionate pursuit of the public interest in all these areas. And it does no one any good for Governor Dean to be making these kinds of charges, which have no basis to them.

On the issue of special interests, John Kerry is fully equipped to take on the president of the United States and win hands down on questions of the environment, where he stood as the champion against drilling in Alaska, among other things.

(CROSSTALK)

MOSELEY BRAUN: ... take on this president on the issue of special interests, OK?

BLITZER: Senator, what about Howard Dean making fun of John Kerry, supposedly for take Botox to remove the wrinkles from his forehead? Do you think that's a smart strategy?

MOSELEY BRAUN: Well, I -- look, I wasn't there. And it sounds like he was making a joke.

And, again, we can't just get overly serious about people. You can't lose your sense of humor just because you're running for president. Again, Howard Dean has been there and he's taken the shots from every possible front when he was -- all during the summer. And, frankly, the tables are now turned a bit. And I think it's fair game.

I think candidates have to be ready to get it from wherever it comes when you're in the middle of a campaign.

BLITZER: All right, Greg Craig, very briefly. You'll get the last word. What about making fun of him for the Botox? Senator Kerry, did he ever use Botox?

MOSELEY BRAUN: Well, he has said no. And I think it's unworthy of Governor Dean.

I have a great admiration and affection for Howard Dean, and I think this is not the way he should be trying to lead the Democratic Party. I hope he will make great contributions in the future. And that's not the way to do it.

BLITZER: Greg Craig, Carol Moseley Braun, two good surrogates for two candidates, thanks very much for joining us.

MOSELEY BRAUN: Thank you.

BLITZER: Heated allegations, the head of Democratic Party taking on the president's record in the Air National Guard.

Flash dance. Janet Jackson loses her clothing and the FCC now loses its patience, the fallout from last night's Super Bowl performance.

And Punxsutawney's prediction, Pennsylvania residents gather around the groundhog. Did he see his shadow? We'll tell you later.

First, though, a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Israeli settlements. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stunned his Likud Party with the news he plans to dismantle all Jewish settlements in Gaza. A Likud official says, no timetable was mentioned. The 17 Gaza settlements are home to about 7,500 people. A spokesman for a settlers' group condemned the plan, saying it gives a prize to terrorism.

Election boycott. Iran's largest pro-reform party says it will not take part in this month's parliamentary election. The party's leader and brother of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami says the elections will not be free and fair. He cited a move by an unelected group run by religious hard-liners which declared more than 2,000 potential candidates as being unfit to run for office.

Protests in Haiti. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Port-Au-Prince, demanding the resignation of Haiti President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The peaceful demonstration came after the president met with Caribbean leaders and then withdrew restrictions on street protests.

Train ride to Oz. It's all aboard for the first passenger train to roll through Australia's Outback from the Southern coastal city of Adelaide to the northern port city of Darwin. Passenger service from Adelaide to the halfway point of Alice Springs has been available since the late 1920s. Thanks to a new 800-mile extension, you can now go all the way to Darwin.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: The head of the Democratic National Committee is taking the gloves off, accusing President Bush of being absent without leave during his service in the Air National Guard. Republicans are denouncing the remarks as simply slanderous.

CNN's Jennifer Coggiola is joining us now from Washington with more on this controversy -- Jennifer.

JENNIFER COGGIOLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it was a chunk of time in 1972 and 1973 that has been at the center of this controversy and criticism for President Bush. Well, it's now resurfacing just in time for an election.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COGGIOLA (voice-over): While the Democratic hopefuls campaigned across the South this weekend, Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe made it clear that Democrats are prepared to make President Bush's military record an issue.

TERRY MCAULIFFE, DNC CHAIRMAN: I look forward to that debate, when making John Kerry, a war hero with a chest full of medals, is standing next to George Bush, a man who was AWOL in the Alabama National Guard.

COGGIOLA: Here's what's known about President Bush's military service.

After George W. Bush graduated from Yale in 1968, he joined the Texas National Guard as a fighter pilot and, over the next four years, based in Houston, served the equivalent of 21 months on active duty. Then, in 1972, Bush moved to Alabama to work on a Senate campaign, where he says he continued to fulfill his Guard service on the weekends.

There have been conflicting reports about a period of time, May 1972 to April 1973. Military records obtained by "The Boston Globe" and other media in 2000 indicated that there was a one-year gap in his military service, that Bush did not fly at all during that time and that there are no records that he showed up for his drills required to maintain his obligation.

Other reports went to say that, though his service days were irregular, he did accrue enough service days required for his ultimate honorable discharge. At the time, Bush's spokesperson said he made up for his missed service by performing nonflying duties. President Bush also stood by his record at an Independence Day parade July 4, 1999.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think that's politics. I flew fighters, F-102 aircraft. I met the qualifications. I met the training. And I served my country. And I'm proud of what I did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COGGIOLA: In recent weeks, Bush's record catapulted once again to the spotlight when filmmaker and Wesley Clark supporter Michael Moore blasted the president's record.

MICHAEL MOORE, FILMMAKER/AUTHOR: The general vs. the deserter. That's the debate!

ED GILLESPIE, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: The Democrats throw these charges out there. They are just completely inaccurate. And it's unfortunate that they stoop to this kind of politics.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COGGIOLA: According to military code, President Bush can't technically be labeled AWOL or a deserter. Only active-duty soldiers in the U.S. military who don't appear for 30 days qualify for that -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jennifer Coggiola, thanks very much for that report. Asked about the controversy over President Bush's military service record, Democratic front-runner John Kerry today distanced himself from some of the controversial comments.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KERRY: I've not suggested to any of them that they do so. And I spoke out against the use of the word deserter, which I thought was inappropriate, wrong, over the top.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The issue apparently isn't having much of an impact on Americans when it comes to the issue of patriotism. In the latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup, almost half of the people asked said they think President Bush is more patriotic than Senator Kerry.

Down to the wire. A last-second kick seals the deal, but a different play is the talk of the game, shocking display, two networks in the hot seat, lots of people talking, and now an FCC investigation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: For those of who you may have been away this weekend, here's a look at some of the stories you may have missed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Hostage freed. A 15-day hostage standoff ended peacefully when two inmates at an Arizona prison released a female guard and surrendered. The guard was taken to a hospital for medical examinations, but is believed to be in good condition.

Hajj stampede. The Muslim observance of hajj was marred by tragedy. More than 250 pilgrims who had journeyed to Saudi Arabia's plains of Mina for the stoning-of-the-devil ritual died in a stampede. It was the deadliest hajj incident since 1987, when a fire killed 340 pilgrims.

Super game. The New England Patriots edged the Carolina Panthers to win the NFL championship in what's being described as one of the most exciting Super Bowl contests ever. The outcome wasn't decided until New England kicked a field goal with just four seconds left, giving the Patriots a 32-29 victory.

And that's our "Weekend Snapshot."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: It wasn't just the Super Bowl's game that caused a stir. The halftime show ended with Justin Timberlake tearing off part of Janet Jackson's costume, exposing one of her breasts. Timberlake says it was an accident. And CBS has apologized. But the FCC has now launched a formal investigation.

CNN's Brian Todd has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): No one can dispute what happened at halftime of Super Bowl XXXVIII. Justin Timberlake practically gave it away moments before. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, SINGER (singing): I'm going to have you naked by the end of this song.

TODD: From the moment Janet Jackson's breast was exposed, the outrage was palpable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My opinion on it, they should have slapped cuffs on both of them, because that was lewd and indecent exposure.

TODD: CBS quickly cut away from the shot, but not in time to save the network from a government investigation. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell promises to hold CBS and MTV, who produced the halftime show, accountable.

MICHAEL POWELL, FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION CHAIRMAN: I thought it was outrageous. And I was deeply disappointed as I sat there with my two children. And I knew immediately this would cause outrage among the American people, which it did. The law allows to you reach many of the different parties. CBS is a licensee, owns and operates stations. So it does have responsibility here, as do all of those who were part of the production.

TODD: Two networks are now on the defensive, CBS and MTV both apologizing, both claiming they had no idea what would happen beforehand. Many observers say, that's hard to believe, especially given this news release from MTV last Thursday, the headline: "Janet Jackson's Super Bowl Show Promises Shocking Moments."

ROBBIE VORHAUS, MEDIA STRATEGIST: They knew it. Some people knew it more than others. This was -- they can apologize all they want, but this was wrong. And heads are going to fall.

TODD: Others cast serious doubt as to whether this investigation will be more than an attempt to rough up the two networks in the court of public opinion.

HOWARD KURTZ, "RELIABLE SOURCES": The FCC could issue a fine for indecency, but that would required proving that CBS executives knew in advance that Janet Jackson would be busting out all over. So, I'd say the odds of a major fine are about the same as someone kicking a 90- yard field goal.

TODD: One thing many agree on, we're not likely to see this type of display or what Justin Timberlake called a wardrobe malfunction in future halftime shows.

Brian Todd, CNN, Atlanta.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: And now to a bizarre incident following a pretrial hearing for actor Robert Blake in California.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT BLAKE, DEFENDANT: Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Blake was leaving the courthouse when a man handed him a guitar and asked him to play something. The former "Baretta" star responded by singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Blake is accused of murdering his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley.

The results of our "Web Question of the Day," that's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of the Day," remembering, of course, this is not a scientific poll.

Let's take a look at our picture of the day. Today is February 2, so you may be able to guess what that picture is. This is Groundhog Day, the day residents of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, gather around the home of Punxsutawney Phil for a prediction of how long winter will last. Witnesses say the groundhog saw his shadow, which means six more weeks of winter.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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