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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Interview With Jean-Bertrand Aristide; Catholic Bishops Catalogue 50 Years of Sexual Abuse; Securities Fraud Charge Against Stewart Dismissed

Aired February 27, 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.


WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now. You're looking live at the capital of Haiti. Chaos and looting there. In just a few moments I'll speak live with the president of Haiti. Will he step down and leave before more blood is shed? Don't miss my exclusive interview with Jean-Bertrand Aristide. That's coming up. Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: On alert, 2,000 U.S. Marines are standing by as Haiti stands on the brink of disaster.

Predator priests. Catholic bishops catalogue a half century of sex abuse.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The terrible history recorded here today is history.

BLITZER: Charge dismissed. Martha Stewart is off the hook on the most serious count. Is the case unraveling?

Same sex standoff.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I now declare you husband and husband.

BLITZER: A New York village makes it a coast-to-coast controversy.

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Friday, February 27, 2004.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Is a hands-off Haiti policy about to change here in Washington as the violence spins out of control? The United States and its allies are hoping for a political settlement that could clear the way for a multinational force. But an American force already is on standby. Three U.S. Navy ships and more than 2,000 combat-ready United States marines. I'll have an exclusive interview with the one man who may be able to bring an end to the crisis. Haiti's embattled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

We'll also go live to CNN's Lucia Newman. She's in Port-au- Prince, but we begin this hour with our senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: And Wolf, at this hour, Pentagon officials tell CNN that there has been no decision yet to send those marines to Haiti. And even if they do go, they will have a very limited mission.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE (voice-over): With the Haitian capital of Port-au- Prince descending into anarchy, the U.S. remains unwilling to intervene.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're interested in achieving a political settlement and we're still working to that effect.

MCINTYRE: The U.S. is considering a contingency plan to dispatch to Haiti a three-ship task force led by the amphibious assault ship USS Saipan. If approved the ships would leave Norfolk, pick up 2,200 marines from the 24th Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeune and be off the coast of Haiti by sometime next week. Possible missions for the marines include reinforcing or evacuating the U.S. embassy in Port-au- Prince, assisting the Coast Guard in intercepting and repatriating Haitians at sea or providing safe transport for President Aristide should he decide to leave. The U.S. says it opposes any violent overthrow of Aristide but continues to hint he should step aside voluntarily.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Best leaders consider their position and what they can best do for the people of Haiti, if they decide on another course, that's fine.

MCINTYRE: The Coast Guard says it has returned 531 Haitians from Port-au-Prince all from boats intercepted this week. Meanwhile Democrats in Congress accuse the Bush administration of turning a blind eye to a looming humanitarian crisis.

SEN. CHRISTOPHER DODD (D), CONNECTICUT: One way or the other, the United States is going to have to get involved to resolve this mess. We can do it sooner and minimize the loss of life and property, destruction, or we can do it later. But that may mean sending body bags to dispose of the dead.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: The U.S. says it is planning for a multinational force (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for Haiti to provide stability and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid but that would be contingent on the political settlement, and there's no decision whether the U.S. would participate in that international force -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon. Jamie, thank you very much. In Haiti itself, rebels have seized another town and are closing in on the capital right now, where there's already been killing, looting and burning. CNN's Lucia Newman is on the ground in Port-au-Prince, she's joining us live -- Lucia. LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Wolf. Indeed it has been anarchy here today, armed gangs of thugs ransacking, looting, controlling the streets here at will with the police nowhere to be seen.

There have been brutal killings, one man was found murdered, castrated with a machete, others were killed execution style with bullets in their heads, and their hands tied behind their back, Wolf. There has been widespread looting at the port as well with no one to stop it, hundreds of thousands of people taking everything they could get their hands on.

At the airport there were scenes of despair today as hundreds of foreigners tried to get out of this country but couldn't because all but one flight had been canceled. They couldn't even leave the airport because the streets were not safe enough for them to leave. In the meantime President Aristide continues to refuse to step down, but the rebels say that they have, in fact, encircled the capital, that they plan to choke off Port-au-Prince, cut off all access both by land and by sea so no food or fuel supplies can get here. In the words of (UNINTELLIGIBLE), the rebel commander, the idea is to bring desperation, that presumably to bring the president to his knees -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Lucia Newman on the ground for us in Port-au-Prince. Thank you very much, please be careful over there.

The Bush administration appears basically to have given up on him. Rebel groups are vowing to oust him. But Jean-Bertrand Aristide vows to hang on. The embattled Haitian president joins us by telephone from Port-au-Prince. Mr. President, thank you for joining us. In your conversations with United States government officials, what are they saying to you?

JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE, PRESIDENT OF HAITI: Well, the U.S. ambassador to Haiti, Ambassador Foley, told me that the United States was not going to accept a negative answer from the opposition regarding an agreement presented by the international community, which I accepted. Unfortunately, so far, I'm still seeing the so-called opposition supporting terrorists, killers, convicted killers continue to say no to the U.S. and to the world.

BLITZER: Is there an opportunity to avoid further bloodshed, Mr. President, by you deciding on your own to step down?

ARISTIDE: That is not the issue. The issue is when in -- on September 1991, a coup happened, we had killers killing more than 5,000 people, and today, those same killers -- terrorists -- are back, ready to kill thousands and thousands of people in case they can do it. So I have the responsibility as an elected president to stay where I am, protecting the people the way I am, the way I can, asking the U.S. and international community to stand against terrorists and it's possible.

BLITZER: You were elected. You have two more years going in your term. As a Haitian patriot, and you are a great Haitian patriot. Can you see any circumstances under which you would give up power in advance of those two years?

ARISTIDE: Allow me to put it as it is. We are the first black independent country in the world with 200 years of independence. But we also have 32 coup d'etats. If we are rich from the cultural point of view, from an historic point of view, we're, economically speaking, the poorest country of our hemisphere, which is partly the result of those 32 coup d'etats. Now it's time for Haiti to move from an elected government to an elected government, not from one coup d'etat to another coup d'etat.

BLITZER: Are you suggesting, Mr. President, that there are no circumstances on which you would give up power?

ARISTIDE: Are you responsible to say yes to terrorists? To say yes to convicted killers? No. When terrorists went to your country on September 11, 2001, the world said no to them. Today, is it an issue of racism that Haiti cannot find the international community joining Haiti, saying no to convicted killers, members of a well-known organization (UNINTELLIGIBLE) which is the name of that organization who has convicted killers who killed more than 4,000, 5,000 people, now back to kill more people. I think if we are moral, if we are serious, we cannot give up. We can, together, prevent them to kill thousands and thousands of people.

BLITZER: So you will stay in power no matter what, is that right?

ARISTIDE: We have the responsibility to do what is right. When Democrats visit with Republicans they don't need a coup against Republicans. They work in order to go to elections and then try to win. Here when thugs, killers, terrorists want to take over a government just because they want more space to have more money for drug dealings, from drug trafficking, which is, as you saw, provoking a lot of refugees, fleeing terrorism to go to Florida, it's bad. They can lose their life. We want them to stay in Haiti so we have to protect a Democratic system which can help them to stay home instead of fleeing to go Florida.

BLITZER: Mr. President, as you know, there have been suggestions United States that you personally are in trouble, in danger physically yourself, that those who oppose you, the rebels, might go after you and your family. What kind of special precautions have you taken for your family and for yourself in order to deal with this threat?

ARISTIDE: First of all, you call them rebels. I call them by their names. They're killers. They are convicted killers. They are terrorists. Secondly, my life is linked to the life of 8 million people. I have, as an elected president, the responsibility it do all what I can to have the international community joining Haiti to prevent those killers to come to Port-au-Prince where we are and to kill thousands and thousands of people.

I also have to say if last Friday 7, 2004, we had more than one million people in a peaceful demonstration in Port-au-Prince, we did it without violent incident. So once the killers come here and attack us, we may have those people with their hands empty, without weapons in their hands, facing terrorists well armed. We cannot have that. And it is possible to prevent the worst to happen.

BLITZER: One final question, Mr. President, what do you want President Bush to do right now?

ARISTIDE: I'm saying President Bush sent troops to Afghanistan, he has democracy to defend in the United States. Here, we want to defend democracy, we have a common ground. If he can help us to have international police right now in Haiti, increasing the number of those international police who are already in Haiti that can be good signals towards those criminals. We also signed in agreement with the United States on October 17, 1997, to have Haiti and the United States fighting drug dealers together, allowing the U.S. to cross the Haitian water. Right now, we can do more based on that agreement, because we are dealing, we are facing drug dealers.

BLITZER: Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the president of Haiti, thank you very much for joining us.

ARISTIDE: Thank you.

BLITZER: And to our viewers, here's your chance to weigh in on this important story. Our "Web Question of the Day" is this: should the U.S. military do more help end the crisis in Haiti? You can vote right now. Go to cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results later in this broadcast.

Much more news coming up including on the attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: George bush has no comprehensive strategy for victory.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Democratic candidate John Kerry lashing out at President Bush on the key issue of terrorism. We'll get reaction from Republican Senator Norm Coleman.

Charge dismissed. The judge gives Martha Stewart one new reason to smile.

Nightmare scenario. A world at war over water, food and energy. Is catastrophic climate change just a few years away?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: There was a bit of making up in the White House today. President Bush and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder held their first Oval Office meeting in two years. The two leaders had been at odds over Schroeder's fierce opposition to the war in Iraq. But it was all smiles today. The president and the chancellor said they've put their differences behind them and proclaimed, quote, "good relations between the United States and Germany."

One of the men vying for the president's job focused on international affairs today. John Kerry outlined his plan to combat terrorism in a speech in Los Angeles. And he had some harsh words for Mr. Bush.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): A major foreign policy speech, or a campaign stump attacking his likely opponent? However you characterize it, John Kerry spends 53 minutes lambasting President Bush's record in the world arena.

KERRY: Much more would be possible if we had a president who didn't alienate longtime friends and fuel anti-American anger around the world.

BLITZER: In prepared remarks and taking questions before an audience at UCLA, the Democratic front runner broadsides the president for what Kerry believes is a series of missteps in the war on terror, including the failure to take out Osama bin Laden.

KERRY: We had him in our grasp more than two years ago, definitively within our grasp at Tora Bora. But George Bush held U.S. forces back and instead called on Afghan war lords.

BLITZER: Experts say that episode had more to do with decisions by ground commanders in Afghanistan than with the president. Kerry implies President Bush does not grasp the complexities of a global war on terror, saying it's not just a checklist from a deck of cards. Then he gives a checklist of his own.

KERRY: The Mideast peace process, disdained for 14 months by the Bush administration, is paralyzed. North Korea and Iran continue their quest for nuclear weapons. Weapons which, one day, could land in the hands of terrorists.

BLITZER: Kerry promises to appoint an envoy of real stature to the Middle East, and mentions Bill Clinton by name. He proposes the next CIA director be in effect an intelligence czar who would oversee all agencies including those under the Pentagon's umbrella, a development which one expert says would overhaul the intelligence community drastically.

But in line after line, Kerry cannot resist jabbing Mr. Bush's world view, and his associations.

KERRY: The president's budget for the democracy efforts around the world, including the entire Islamic world, is less than 3 percent of what this administration gives Halliburton.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The Bush campaign dismissed the speech as full of defeatist rhetoric and factual inaccuracies. It also criticized Senator Kerry for voting against some increases in defense spending in military weapons programs over the years. For more on the GOP's take on Kerry's speech and more, let's turn to Senator Norm Coleman, a Republican from Minnesota. He's joining us now live from Minneapolis. Senator, thank you for joining us. On one of the most serious charges that Senator Kerry made that the president messed up the capture of Osama bin Laden. What do you make of that?

SEN. NORM COLEMAN (R), MINNESOTA: Well, two observations. First, it's good political rhetoric one could wish the rhetoric's good. But that's all it is Wolf. Two observations and then a response to the question. Senator Kerry is going to be judged on his own record, not his rhetoric. People have to decide that you believe Senator Kerry when he says we have to have strength in intelligence, or do you believe the fact that this guy tried to cut $1.5 billion, $1.5 billion out of intelligence budget right after the first attack on the World Trade Center. So what do you believe?

You believe somebody says we need to strengthen law enforcement or do you believe, Senator Kerry, when he says that he's against the Patriot Act -- which by the way, he voted for the Patriot Act. In terms of putting all the blame and all the negativity on President Bush as you said in the report, some decisions are going to made by ground troops not the president. The bottom line is this president has a clear vision for fighting the war on terrorism and the reality is that Senator Kerry has a terrible record. He shows great passion, by the way, compassion, talking about the families of our troops saying that they have to raise money for (UNINTELLIGIBLE). He voted against the $87 billion supplement appropriations for (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

BLITZER: Senator, let me interrupt. The major thrust, though, of his criticism is that the president has needlessly alienated key U.S. allies in the war on terror because of the unilateral, quote, actions the U.S. took against Iraq, and is making matters worse for the U.S. What do you make of -- what do you say to that specific charge?

COLEMAN: Two things. You say in the report we have today where the Germans are stepping forward and saying they're actually going to let go of some of the debt that Iraq owes them. Secondly, you say that we have a larger coalition in Iraq today than we had in Bosnia. And it's one hand when you talk about building coalitions, he's really insulting our allies, insulting the Japanese, insulting the Spanish, insulting the English and across the board. If you're going to build coalitions you got to recognize that there are folks making contributions.

Again, it's easy to criticize but what's the Kerry vision? And more important, what's the record? And the record is one of voting against the very equipment and tools that our folks are using today. The record is one of attempting to drastically slash the intelligence budget at a time history has simply proven him wrong.

BLITZER: Senator Norm Coleman. Thank you for joining us.

COLEMAN; Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: New marriages and new pulse. A small-town New York mayor gives some same-sex couples the green light to get married. Colorado football scandal. Officials announce a new significant step in the investigation. We'll talk live with Colorado's Governor Bill Owens.

Unsolved murders. Is a serial killer responsible for the deaths of several women across six states? Investigators search for a link.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: There's a new front in the battle over same-sex marriage. A small town in upstate New York led a small number of gay couples today even as President Bush gave more details of his support for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages. CNN's Jennifer Coggiola is joining us now live here with more -- Jennifer.

JENNIFER COGGIOLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, apparently, you know, besides President Bush's support for that constitutional ban, it's just not dissuading couples from trying and succeeding. Well, one New York town today followed the lead in several other cities over the past few weeks who have taken the plunge.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COGGIOLA (voice-over): This couple in New Paltz, New York, a small town just 75 miles outside of New York City...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, so it turned into a total zoo, right?

COGGIOLA: Following the footsteps of gay couples across the U.S. who've walked down the aisle. Last week in New Mexico Sandoval County, 26 same-sex marriages were performed but all were invalidated by the state's attorney general. And in California...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I now pronounce you spouses for life.

COGGIOLA: 3,400 couples over the last two weeks wed in San Francisco. Following the Bay City's lead, Oakland city council considered a resolution to allow same-sex couples to be wed by the county clerk's office. They're expected to approve the measure mid- March. As a result Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Friday ordered the state attorney general to ask their highest court to make a ruling on the issue of gay marriages once and for all, and now on the East Coast, New Paltz's Mayor Jason West on Friday wed a dozen couples, despite the state's domestic relation law that's been interpreted as not allowing licenses for same-sex marriages.

MAYOR JASON WEST, NEW PALTZ, NEW YORK: As far as I'm concerned, I'm upholding the constitution and obeying the laws of the state as I see them.

COGGIOLA: But New York's Governor George Pataki interprets it another way.

GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: My view has always been, and I believe it is the law in New York state that marriage in New York is between a man and a woman. Period. That's the law, it's been that way for 200 years.

COGGIOLA: West says he is not worried about any possible political backlash on his decision.

WEST: I'm not a Democrat or Republican, I'm a member of the Green Party. I don't have any higher-ups in my organization trying to quash this for their future political careers which leaves me open to follow my conscience and the constitution as I see it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COGGIOLA: For any couples that didn't make it to the altar on Friday in New Paltz, there's a waiting list on the town's website where any couple can sign up -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Jennifer Coggiola with that story. We'll continue to watch it. Thank you very much.

Priests or predators? A shocking new report on sexual abuse in the Catholic church. New report out today. Numbers so high, they're almost too hard to believe.

Savoring the decision, a serious charge is dropped against Martha Stewart. Where does the trial go from here?

And the controversy continuing. Allegations against the University of Colorado prompts state officials to launch a formal investigation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: From our studios in Washington, once again, Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN.

A big break for Martha Stewart, as a judge dismisses a major charge against her. We'll have a live report. We'll get to that.

First, though, a quick check of the latest headlines.

After intense pressure from lawmakers and victims' family member, House Speaker Dennis Hastert has given the independent commission investigating the 9/11 terror attacks a 60-day extension on its deadline. Hastert said he was concerned there might be findings requiring immediate action, but the commission agreed any urgent matters would be acted on immediately.

Investigators from six states met in Oklahoma City to compare notes on why they now fear there could be a serial kill or the loose. They're probing seven similar murders of women over the last two years in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Mississippi.

A California man is under arrest for allegedly threatening to kill the chief prosecutor in the Kobe Bryant case. Investigators say the man indicated he thought Bryant was being set up on rape charges. They say he also threatened Bryant's accuser and family and he threatened to blow up the Colorado courthouse where Bryant's trial is held.

Back now to our top story. As the crisis in Haiti grows worse by the hour, is the Bush administration changing its view of how to handle it? Only within the past few minutes, I spoke with Jean- Bertrand Aristide, the president of Haiti.

Listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARISTIDE: I have the responsibility as an elected president to stay where I am, protecting the people, the way I am, the way I can, asking the U.S., the international community to stand against terrorists. And it's possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Let's go live to our senior White House correspondent, John King.

John, as best as we can determine, what is the Bush administration's position on whether Jean-Bertrand Aristide should stay or go?

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Their position, Wolf, is that it would be best for him to go.

Now, publicly, they have stopped just short of saying that. What the administration is saying, that President Aristide should think long and hard about the situation and to make the decision that is in the best interest of Haiti. The administration is backing an international diplomatic solution, and that solution on paper would let President Aristide stay in power. But the opposition groups will not agree to it.

The administration is concerned the violence will continue and perhaps spiral even upward. So it believes the president has a decision to make and everyone in the Bush administration believes it would be best if he would step aside. But, obviously, they're obviously getting the reports back directly from him, including in that CNN interview, where he simply says he will not do that.

So we are at loggerheads, if you will, when it comes to diplomacy.

BLITZER: And the situation on the ground increasingly chaotic on the ground.

John, thank you very much for that.

Let's move to other news worth following. a legal victory for Martha Stewart today. She's no longer facing a charge that could have landed her in prison for 10 years.

CNN's Allan Chernoff is following the trial in New York. He's joining us now live -- Allan.

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, that charge being securities fraud, and this is a slap against government prosecutors.

The judge, Miriam Cedarbaum, in her opinion, saying there is no way that a reasonable jury could have found Martha Stewart guilty on securities fraud. In fact, the judge had given an indication she was quite skeptical of this charge even before the trial started, when she referred to the charge as novel.

The government had alleged that Martha Stewart tried to defraud investors in her own company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, by trying to prop the stock up when she said she did nothing wrong in selling her ImClone shares. Now, those sales of ImClone stock are still at the heart of other charges Martha Stewart is still facing, and those include obstruction of justice, conspiracy, and two counts of making false statements.

The jury should be getting the case next Wednesday -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Allan Chernoff for us in New York -- thank you, Allan, very much.

We showed you the preliminary findings. Now the final report is out on the priest sexual abuse scandal that is rocking the Catholic Church. And other numbers are simply startling.

CNN's Jason Carroll is here in Washington. He broke the story a while ago. He's following it today.

Jason, this is shocking stuff.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It really, really is.

Catholic bishops even say that the numbers on sexual abuse are a sad reflection on how the clergy abused their sacred position for decades.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL (voice-over): The numbers during the past 50 years are sobering. Researchers from the John Jay College of Criminal justice found 4,392 priests and deacons were found guilty of abuse. That's 4 percent of 110,000 in active ministry. They're accused of molesting 10,667 victims.

BISHOP WILTON GREGORY, PRESIDENT, U.S. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS: On behalf of the bishops and the entire church in the United States, I restate and reaffirm our apologies to all of you who have been harmed by those among us.

CARROLL: Researchers also found, the Catholic Church paid out half a billion dollars in settlements in counseling during the period. A second report detailed reasons why the abuse existed for so long.

ROBERT BENNETT, NATIONAL REVIEW BOARD: First, dioceses and orders simply did not screen candidates for the priesthood properly. As a result, we found that many dysfunctional and psychosexually immature men were admitted into seminaries and orders ordained in the priesthood.

CARROLL: One researcher said church leaders asked more like risk assessment managers, rather than shepherds of their flock. The head of the U.S. Conference of Bishops pledged, the church will do more to screen candidates for priesthood and reach out to victims of abuse.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL: But many victims say it would be naive for them to accept the numbers from the report because researchers relied on information provided to them by bishops. They are calling for an even more comprehensive study -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jason, thank you very much for that -- Jason Carroll here in Washington today.

Controversy in Colorado and allegations of rape and questions over football recruitment, serious charges against a major university in the United States. Now, state officials launching their own investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Countries like the U.S. and Australia would potentially draw inward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: A global warning: Could drastic climate change be just years away and with it a national security threat?

And surf's up, way up. Just how high can they go? We'll get to all of that.

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Shrine fight. Friday prayers ended with clashes at a Jerusalem holy site revered by Jews as the Temple Mount and by Muslims, as Al-Haram al-Sharif. Israeli police used rubber bullets and stun grenade against Palestinians. Police say the Palestinians started the confrontation by throwing stones. Palestinians say the police acted without provocation.

Venezuela clashes. Venezuelan troops used tear gas against tens of thousands of government opponents in Caracas. The protesters were demanding a referendum on recalling Hugo Chavez.

Ferry fire. At least one person is dead and dozens more are missing after a fire on a Philippine ferry. The cause is under investigation. Hundreds were aboard the vessel, but most managed to survive by jumping into Manila Bay or boarding rescue boats.

Guru sentenced. Nine years after a deadly nerve gas attack on a Tokyo subway, the leader of a Japanese doomsday cult has been sentenced to hang. Shoko Asahara was found guilty of masterminding the subway attack and other crimes. His lawyers immediately filed an appeal.

Flour power. The flour war is a 200-year-old tradition in one Greek town. Participants pelt each other with tinted flour. They say it's a lot of fun but it's also a big mess. After it's over, most of them throw away their clothes.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Colorado Governor Bill Owens today directed his state's top law enforcement official to investigate the University of Colorado football program.

The attorney general, Ken Salazar, will act as a special prosecutor looking into charge of recruiting misconduct and sexual assaults. Three women have filed suit against the university, saying they were raped by players at or just after an off-campus party three years ago. A total of six women have now accused Colorado football players of assault since the year 2000. The new investigation was announced less than an hour ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GOV. BILL OWENS (R), COLORADO: It has become to me very clear that one statewide special prosecutor is needed to fully investigate every aspect of these allegations. These charges cross county lines. They cross judicial districts. And the integrity, reputation and public confidence in a statewide institution, the University of Colorado, is at stake.

BLITZER: A total of six women have accused Colorado University football players of rape since 2000, including former kicker Katie Hnida, the only woman who has ever played C.U. Football. Head football coach Gary Barnett denied knowing about any rapes, but his comments about Hnida's athletic abilities added to the furor.

GARY BARNETT, HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO: Just new, different. You know, it's just -- you know, it's a guy's sport. And they felt like Katie was forced on her -- you know, on them. Well, it was obvious Katie was not very good. She was awful, OK? So, you know what guys do? They respect your ability. I mean, you could be 90 years old, but if you can go out and play, they respect you. And what was -- Katie was a girl. And not only was she a girl. She was terrible, OK? And there's no other way to say it. She couldn't kick the ball through the uprights.

BLITZER: University President Betsy Hoffman suspended Barnett and hired a special assistant to oversee C.U. athletics. And an independent panel is supposed to report to the C.U. board of regents, but that apparently wasn't enough to dissuade state officials them from launching their own investigation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And joining us now to discuss the state's investigation, the Colorado governor, Bill Owens.

Governor, thanks very much for joining us.

Why did you decide to go this step potentially with a criminal investigation?

OWENS: Because it's a very complicated series of allegations that really crossed county lines here in Colorado, crossed judicial districts. There were a lot of factors that made it clear to me and to the attorney general, better to centralize the focus, centralize the investigation, get to the bottom of these allegations as quickly as possible for the good of the institution, the good of the people who are under investigation, as well as Colorado.

BLITZER: How long do you believe this investigation will go on for?

OWENS: You know, I think it will be premature to speculate. The attorney general was asked that question at our press conference, and he -- he declined to speculate it.

It depends on what evidence we find it. It depends what allegations are supportable. It depends on the cooperation we receive from a lot of the entities involved.

BLITZER: Should it be business as usual at the University of Colorado while this investigation goes on?

OWENS: You know, Wolf, I can tell you as somebody who's been in Colorado for the last month that -- since these allegations first surfaced, it certainly hasn't been business as usual one day since those allegations first surfaced.

The president of the university has taken action. The football coach has been suspended. An investigatory panel has been impaneled. We now have a statewide prosecutor. We take this very seriously in Colorado. It's a fine institution and it's up to all of us to do everything we can to get to the bottom of these allegations, bring to prosecution, if there were crimes committed, those who committed those crimes, and clear those who might have been accused who actually are innocent.

BLITZER: Governor, I remember when coach Gary Barnett came to the University of Colorado from Northwestern University, where he revitalized the football program there. There were such great hopes. What do you make of this coach?

OWENS: Well, I don't know Gary Barnett, but I want to give him every benefit of the doubt. He clearly misspoke on that earlier segment, which resulted in his being put on -- taken off the team while the investigation continues.

In this country, everybody is innocent until proven guilty. What we've done is set in place the process that will get to the bottom of these allegations. So it's premature for me to comment on Gary Barnett, other than to say, again, he's innocent until something is proven against him.

BLITZER: What would you say to Katie Hnida, the female football player who left the University of Colorado, is now in New Mexico, given what she says she went through there?

OWENS: Well, I think that it's very clear that there were problems with the way the team dealt with Katie, and I think that that's one issue that the attorney general will be looking at, in case there's criminal involvement in her allegations.

We want to be a state and a university which is open to everybody. We're proud of this university and our state, and we're sorry for anybody who feels they've been mistreated at this university or within the state of Colorado.

BLITZER: Governor Owens, good luck to you. Good luck to everyone in Colorado in dealing with this situation.

OWENS: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: Thanks very much for joining us.

OWENS: Thanks.

BLITZER: More news coming up, including global warming. Could drastic climate change be just years away? A special report from a group contracted by the Pentagon says there's a nightmare scenario that national security officials should consider.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: What if the world's weather suddenly goes haywire, bringing floods and famine, mass migration and bloody conflict? Most experts say it's very, very unlikely, but a report drawn up for the Pentagon turns global warming into a chilling scenario.

CNN's Brian Todd reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A potential nightmare, not a catastrophic terrorist attack, not an apocalyptic war, but a change in the weather.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a potentially very extreme scenario. TODD: A recent study commissioned by the Pentagon links global warming of all things to the possibility of massive world instability and a threat to U.S. national security.

PETER SCHWARTZ, REPORT CO-AUTHOR: What we're now seeing is potential conflict that arises out of the need to get access to food, water and energy.

TODD: It would work like this. The Earth continues to get warmer. Then, something that's already occurred in part, some polar glaciers melt, dumping huge amounts of fresh water into the North Atlantic. That forces the Gulf Stream, the ocean currents that move warm air north, to slow or possibly shut down, bringing temperatures in North America and Europe down dramatically, four to 10 degrees Fahrenheit within a decade or two. The study's authors call it the abrupt change scenario.

The result, North America becomes colder, drier, windier, dust bowls, wildfires commonplace, the same report for Europe, the report says, making it more like Siberia. In developing countries, the scenario is worse, severe drought in some places, massive storms, flooding in others. Crops can't be sustained. Food supplies dwindle. Then the danger really begins, skirmishes, battle, wars, masses of refugees. Those countries that can survive become fortresses.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Countries like the U.S. and Australia would potentially draw inward.

TODD: Could all this happen? Even the authors give disclaimers everywhere.

SCHWARTZ: Most climatologists would not agree that this is the most likely scenario. They think it will take longer to develop and might not be as global in its impact or as severe.

TODD: Others in the scientific community less kind.

FRED SINGER, SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY PROJECT: It's junk science of the highest order, because it's written in inflammatory style. It's based on data that don't exist. It distorts data that do exist.

TODD (on camera): Even within the halls of the Pentagon, CNN is told, this study is regarded not as science, but science fiction, military officials disappointed with what they got for their money. This was cheap, as government studies go, only about $100,000. But why spend even that to stretch the imagination and scare the living daylights out of people?

JEREMY SYMONS, FORMER EPA OFFICIAL; But even if this particular threat doesn't emerge, there's a number of threats that global warming has for food scarcity, for scarcity of water resources that are going to clearly make hot spots around the world even hotter.

TODD: The authors also counter, saying the science is worthy, drawing from research at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution some universities. They were asked to do this, they say, by Pentagon officials whose job it is to plan for worst-case scenarios, however unlikely.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Big waves, big competition. An extreme contest makes its return to a legendary surf spot. We'll get that.

Also, our hot "Web Question of the Day" is this: Should the U.S. military do more to help end the crisis in Haiti? You can still vote.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Surf's up in our picture of the day.

It's the Mavericks Surf Contest, named for the legendary surf spot near Northern California's Half Moon Bay. About two dozen surfers took on waves as high as 20 feet high today, marking the return of the competition after a two-year hiatus. The winner walked away with a $5,000 prize. Good surf.

Here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of the Day": Should the U.S. military do more to help end the crisis in Haiti? Thirty-two percent say yes; 68 percent say no. Remember, this is not a scientific poll.

Let's get to some of your e-mails. Zacharie writes this: "If Mr. Aristide doesn't stay until his term is over, I am afraid the rebels will keep the same process to overthrow any Haitian government in power in the future."

Carl writes: "The fact that people are dying and many suffering only a few miles away off our Florida coast seems not to be our major concern. I expect that if there was oil in Haiti, we would find it."

A reminder, we're on weekdays 5:00 p.m. Eastern, as well as noon Eastern. Remember, "LATE EDITION" this Sunday, the last word in Sunday talk. Among my guests, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards. That's Sunday at noon Eastern.

Until then, thanks for joining us.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Catalogue 50 Years of Sexual Abuse; Securities Fraud Charge Against Stewart Dismissed>


Aired February 27, 2004 - 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. You're looking live at the capital of Haiti. Chaos and looting there. In just a few moments I'll speak live with the president of Haiti. Will he step down and leave before more blood is shed? Don't miss my exclusive interview with Jean-Bertrand Aristide. That's coming up. Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: On alert, 2,000 U.S. Marines are standing by as Haiti stands on the brink of disaster.

Predator priests. Catholic bishops catalogue a half century of sex abuse.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The terrible history recorded here today is history.

BLITZER: Charge dismissed. Martha Stewart is off the hook on the most serious count. Is the case unraveling?

Same sex standoff.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I now declare you husband and husband.

BLITZER: A New York village makes it a coast-to-coast controversy.

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Friday, February 27, 2004.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Is a hands-off Haiti policy about to change here in Washington as the violence spins out of control? The United States and its allies are hoping for a political settlement that could clear the way for a multinational force. But an American force already is on standby. Three U.S. Navy ships and more than 2,000 combat-ready United States marines. I'll have an exclusive interview with the one man who may be able to bring an end to the crisis. Haiti's embattled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

We'll also go live to CNN's Lucia Newman. She's in Port-au- Prince, but we begin this hour with our senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: And Wolf, at this hour, Pentagon officials tell CNN that there has been no decision yet to send those marines to Haiti. And even if they do go, they will have a very limited mission.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE (voice-over): With the Haitian capital of Port-au- Prince descending into anarchy, the U.S. remains unwilling to intervene.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're interested in achieving a political settlement and we're still working to that effect.

MCINTYRE: The U.S. is considering a contingency plan to dispatch to Haiti a three-ship task force led by the amphibious assault ship USS Saipan. If approved the ships would leave Norfolk, pick up 2,200 marines from the 24th Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeune and be off the coast of Haiti by sometime next week. Possible missions for the marines include reinforcing or evacuating the U.S. embassy in Port-au- Prince, assisting the Coast Guard in intercepting and repatriating Haitians at sea or providing safe transport for President Aristide should he decide to leave. The U.S. says it opposes any violent overthrow of Aristide but continues to hint he should step aside voluntarily.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Best leaders consider their position and what they can best do for the people of Haiti, if they decide on another course, that's fine.

MCINTYRE: The Coast Guard says it has returned 531 Haitians from Port-au-Prince all from boats intercepted this week. Meanwhile Democrats in Congress accuse the Bush administration of turning a blind eye to a looming humanitarian crisis.

SEN. CHRISTOPHER DODD (D), CONNECTICUT: One way or the other, the United States is going to have to get involved to resolve this mess. We can do it sooner and minimize the loss of life and property, destruction, or we can do it later. But that may mean sending body bags to dispose of the dead.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: The U.S. says it is planning for a multinational force (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for Haiti to provide stability and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid but that would be contingent on the political settlement, and there's no decision whether the U.S. would participate in that international force -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon. Jamie, thank you very much. In Haiti itself, rebels have seized another town and are closing in on the capital right now, where there's already been killing, looting and burning. CNN's Lucia Newman is on the ground in Port-au-Prince, she's joining us live -- Lucia. LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Wolf. Indeed it has been anarchy here today, armed gangs of thugs ransacking, looting, controlling the streets here at will with the police nowhere to be seen.

There have been brutal killings, one man was found murdered, castrated with a machete, others were killed execution style with bullets in their heads, and their hands tied behind their back, Wolf. There has been widespread looting at the port as well with no one to stop it, hundreds of thousands of people taking everything they could get their hands on.

At the airport there were scenes of despair today as hundreds of foreigners tried to get out of this country but couldn't because all but one flight had been canceled. They couldn't even leave the airport because the streets were not safe enough for them to leave. In the meantime President Aristide continues to refuse to step down, but the rebels say that they have, in fact, encircled the capital, that they plan to choke off Port-au-Prince, cut off all access both by land and by sea so no food or fuel supplies can get here. In the words of (UNINTELLIGIBLE), the rebel commander, the idea is to bring desperation, that presumably to bring the president to his knees -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Lucia Newman on the ground for us in Port-au-Prince. Thank you very much, please be careful over there.

The Bush administration appears basically to have given up on him. Rebel groups are vowing to oust him. But Jean-Bertrand Aristide vows to hang on. The embattled Haitian president joins us by telephone from Port-au-Prince. Mr. President, thank you for joining us. In your conversations with United States government officials, what are they saying to you?

JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE, PRESIDENT OF HAITI: Well, the U.S. ambassador to Haiti, Ambassador Foley, told me that the United States was not going to accept a negative answer from the opposition regarding an agreement presented by the international community, which I accepted. Unfortunately, so far, I'm still seeing the so-called opposition supporting terrorists, killers, convicted killers continue to say no to the U.S. and to the world.

BLITZER: Is there an opportunity to avoid further bloodshed, Mr. President, by you deciding on your own to step down?

ARISTIDE: That is not the issue. The issue is when in -- on September 1991, a coup happened, we had killers killing more than 5,000 people, and today, those same killers -- terrorists -- are back, ready to kill thousands and thousands of people in case they can do it. So I have the responsibility as an elected president to stay where I am, protecting the people the way I am, the way I can, asking the U.S. and international community to stand against terrorists and it's possible.

BLITZER: You were elected. You have two more years going in your term. As a Haitian patriot, and you are a great Haitian patriot. Can you see any circumstances under which you would give up power in advance of those two years?

ARISTIDE: Allow me to put it as it is. We are the first black independent country in the world with 200 years of independence. But we also have 32 coup d'etats. If we are rich from the cultural point of view, from an historic point of view, we're, economically speaking, the poorest country of our hemisphere, which is partly the result of those 32 coup d'etats. Now it's time for Haiti to move from an elected government to an elected government, not from one coup d'etat to another coup d'etat.

BLITZER: Are you suggesting, Mr. President, that there are no circumstances on which you would give up power?

ARISTIDE: Are you responsible to say yes to terrorists? To say yes to convicted killers? No. When terrorists went to your country on September 11, 2001, the world said no to them. Today, is it an issue of racism that Haiti cannot find the international community joining Haiti, saying no to convicted killers, members of a well-known organization (UNINTELLIGIBLE) which is the name of that organization who has convicted killers who killed more than 4,000, 5,000 people, now back to kill more people. I think if we are moral, if we are serious, we cannot give up. We can, together, prevent them to kill thousands and thousands of people.

BLITZER: So you will stay in power no matter what, is that right?

ARISTIDE: We have the responsibility to do what is right. When Democrats visit with Republicans they don't need a coup against Republicans. They work in order to go to elections and then try to win. Here when thugs, killers, terrorists want to take over a government just because they want more space to have more money for drug dealings, from drug trafficking, which is, as you saw, provoking a lot of refugees, fleeing terrorism to go to Florida, it's bad. They can lose their life. We want them to stay in Haiti so we have to protect a Democratic system which can help them to stay home instead of fleeing to go Florida.

BLITZER: Mr. President, as you know, there have been suggestions United States that you personally are in trouble, in danger physically yourself, that those who oppose you, the rebels, might go after you and your family. What kind of special precautions have you taken for your family and for yourself in order to deal with this threat?

ARISTIDE: First of all, you call them rebels. I call them by their names. They're killers. They are convicted killers. They are terrorists. Secondly, my life is linked to the life of 8 million people. I have, as an elected president, the responsibility it do all what I can to have the international community joining Haiti to prevent those killers to come to Port-au-Prince where we are and to kill thousands and thousands of people.

I also have to say if last Friday 7, 2004, we had more than one million people in a peaceful demonstration in Port-au-Prince, we did it without violent incident. So once the killers come here and attack us, we may have those people with their hands empty, without weapons in their hands, facing terrorists well armed. We cannot have that. And it is possible to prevent the worst to happen.

BLITZER: One final question, Mr. President, what do you want President Bush to do right now?

ARISTIDE: I'm saying President Bush sent troops to Afghanistan, he has democracy to defend in the United States. Here, we want to defend democracy, we have a common ground. If he can help us to have international police right now in Haiti, increasing the number of those international police who are already in Haiti that can be good signals towards those criminals. We also signed in agreement with the United States on October 17, 1997, to have Haiti and the United States fighting drug dealers together, allowing the U.S. to cross the Haitian water. Right now, we can do more based on that agreement, because we are dealing, we are facing drug dealers.

BLITZER: Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the president of Haiti, thank you very much for joining us.

ARISTIDE: Thank you.

BLITZER: And to our viewers, here's your chance to weigh in on this important story. Our "Web Question of the Day" is this: should the U.S. military do more help end the crisis in Haiti? You can vote right now. Go to cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results later in this broadcast.

Much more news coming up including on the attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: George bush has no comprehensive strategy for victory.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Democratic candidate John Kerry lashing out at President Bush on the key issue of terrorism. We'll get reaction from Republican Senator Norm Coleman.

Charge dismissed. The judge gives Martha Stewart one new reason to smile.

Nightmare scenario. A world at war over water, food and energy. Is catastrophic climate change just a few years away?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: There was a bit of making up in the White House today. President Bush and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder held their first Oval Office meeting in two years. The two leaders had been at odds over Schroeder's fierce opposition to the war in Iraq. But it was all smiles today. The president and the chancellor said they've put their differences behind them and proclaimed, quote, "good relations between the United States and Germany."

One of the men vying for the president's job focused on international affairs today. John Kerry outlined his plan to combat terrorism in a speech in Los Angeles. And he had some harsh words for Mr. Bush.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): A major foreign policy speech, or a campaign stump attacking his likely opponent? However you characterize it, John Kerry spends 53 minutes lambasting President Bush's record in the world arena.

KERRY: Much more would be possible if we had a president who didn't alienate longtime friends and fuel anti-American anger around the world.

BLITZER: In prepared remarks and taking questions before an audience at UCLA, the Democratic front runner broadsides the president for what Kerry believes is a series of missteps in the war on terror, including the failure to take out Osama bin Laden.

KERRY: We had him in our grasp more than two years ago, definitively within our grasp at Tora Bora. But George Bush held U.S. forces back and instead called on Afghan war lords.

BLITZER: Experts say that episode had more to do with decisions by ground commanders in Afghanistan than with the president. Kerry implies President Bush does not grasp the complexities of a global war on terror, saying it's not just a checklist from a deck of cards. Then he gives a checklist of his own.

KERRY: The Mideast peace process, disdained for 14 months by the Bush administration, is paralyzed. North Korea and Iran continue their quest for nuclear weapons. Weapons which, one day, could land in the hands of terrorists.

BLITZER: Kerry promises to appoint an envoy of real stature to the Middle East, and mentions Bill Clinton by name. He proposes the next CIA director be in effect an intelligence czar who would oversee all agencies including those under the Pentagon's umbrella, a development which one expert says would overhaul the intelligence community drastically.

But in line after line, Kerry cannot resist jabbing Mr. Bush's world view, and his associations.

KERRY: The president's budget for the democracy efforts around the world, including the entire Islamic world, is less than 3 percent of what this administration gives Halliburton.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The Bush campaign dismissed the speech as full of defeatist rhetoric and factual inaccuracies. It also criticized Senator Kerry for voting against some increases in defense spending in military weapons programs over the years. For more on the GOP's take on Kerry's speech and more, let's turn to Senator Norm Coleman, a Republican from Minnesota. He's joining us now live from Minneapolis. Senator, thank you for joining us. On one of the most serious charges that Senator Kerry made that the president messed up the capture of Osama bin Laden. What do you make of that?

SEN. NORM COLEMAN (R), MINNESOTA: Well, two observations. First, it's good political rhetoric one could wish the rhetoric's good. But that's all it is Wolf. Two observations and then a response to the question. Senator Kerry is going to be judged on his own record, not his rhetoric. People have to decide that you believe Senator Kerry when he says we have to have strength in intelligence, or do you believe the fact that this guy tried to cut $1.5 billion, $1.5 billion out of intelligence budget right after the first attack on the World Trade Center. So what do you believe?

You believe somebody says we need to strengthen law enforcement or do you believe, Senator Kerry, when he says that he's against the Patriot Act -- which by the way, he voted for the Patriot Act. In terms of putting all the blame and all the negativity on President Bush as you said in the report, some decisions are going to made by ground troops not the president. The bottom line is this president has a clear vision for fighting the war on terrorism and the reality is that Senator Kerry has a terrible record. He shows great passion, by the way, compassion, talking about the families of our troops saying that they have to raise money for (UNINTELLIGIBLE). He voted against the $87 billion supplement appropriations for (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

BLITZER: Senator, let me interrupt. The major thrust, though, of his criticism is that the president has needlessly alienated key U.S. allies in the war on terror because of the unilateral, quote, actions the U.S. took against Iraq, and is making matters worse for the U.S. What do you make of -- what do you say to that specific charge?

COLEMAN: Two things. You say in the report we have today where the Germans are stepping forward and saying they're actually going to let go of some of the debt that Iraq owes them. Secondly, you say that we have a larger coalition in Iraq today than we had in Bosnia. And it's one hand when you talk about building coalitions, he's really insulting our allies, insulting the Japanese, insulting the Spanish, insulting the English and across the board. If you're going to build coalitions you got to recognize that there are folks making contributions.

Again, it's easy to criticize but what's the Kerry vision? And more important, what's the record? And the record is one of voting against the very equipment and tools that our folks are using today. The record is one of attempting to drastically slash the intelligence budget at a time history has simply proven him wrong.

BLITZER: Senator Norm Coleman. Thank you for joining us.

COLEMAN; Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: New marriages and new pulse. A small-town New York mayor gives some same-sex couples the green light to get married. Colorado football scandal. Officials announce a new significant step in the investigation. We'll talk live with Colorado's Governor Bill Owens.

Unsolved murders. Is a serial killer responsible for the deaths of several women across six states? Investigators search for a link.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: There's a new front in the battle over same-sex marriage. A small town in upstate New York led a small number of gay couples today even as President Bush gave more details of his support for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages. CNN's Jennifer Coggiola is joining us now live here with more -- Jennifer.

JENNIFER COGGIOLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, apparently, you know, besides President Bush's support for that constitutional ban, it's just not dissuading couples from trying and succeeding. Well, one New York town today followed the lead in several other cities over the past few weeks who have taken the plunge.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COGGIOLA (voice-over): This couple in New Paltz, New York, a small town just 75 miles outside of New York City...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, so it turned into a total zoo, right?

COGGIOLA: Following the footsteps of gay couples across the U.S. who've walked down the aisle. Last week in New Mexico Sandoval County, 26 same-sex marriages were performed but all were invalidated by the state's attorney general. And in California...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I now pronounce you spouses for life.

COGGIOLA: 3,400 couples over the last two weeks wed in San Francisco. Following the Bay City's lead, Oakland city council considered a resolution to allow same-sex couples to be wed by the county clerk's office. They're expected to approve the measure mid- March. As a result Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Friday ordered the state attorney general to ask their highest court to make a ruling on the issue of gay marriages once and for all, and now on the East Coast, New Paltz's Mayor Jason West on Friday wed a dozen couples, despite the state's domestic relation law that's been interpreted as not allowing licenses for same-sex marriages.

MAYOR JASON WEST, NEW PALTZ, NEW YORK: As far as I'm concerned, I'm upholding the constitution and obeying the laws of the state as I see them.

COGGIOLA: But New York's Governor George Pataki interprets it another way.

GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: My view has always been, and I believe it is the law in New York state that marriage in New York is between a man and a woman. Period. That's the law, it's been that way for 200 years.

COGGIOLA: West says he is not worried about any possible political backlash on his decision.

WEST: I'm not a Democrat or Republican, I'm a member of the Green Party. I don't have any higher-ups in my organization trying to quash this for their future political careers which leaves me open to follow my conscience and the constitution as I see it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COGGIOLA: For any couples that didn't make it to the altar on Friday in New Paltz, there's a waiting list on the town's website where any couple can sign up -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Jennifer Coggiola with that story. We'll continue to watch it. Thank you very much.

Priests or predators? A shocking new report on sexual abuse in the Catholic church. New report out today. Numbers so high, they're almost too hard to believe.

Savoring the decision, a serious charge is dropped against Martha Stewart. Where does the trial go from here?

And the controversy continuing. Allegations against the University of Colorado prompts state officials to launch a formal investigation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: From our studios in Washington, once again, Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN.

A big break for Martha Stewart, as a judge dismisses a major charge against her. We'll have a live report. We'll get to that.

First, though, a quick check of the latest headlines.

After intense pressure from lawmakers and victims' family member, House Speaker Dennis Hastert has given the independent commission investigating the 9/11 terror attacks a 60-day extension on its deadline. Hastert said he was concerned there might be findings requiring immediate action, but the commission agreed any urgent matters would be acted on immediately.

Investigators from six states met in Oklahoma City to compare notes on why they now fear there could be a serial kill or the loose. They're probing seven similar murders of women over the last two years in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Mississippi.

A California man is under arrest for allegedly threatening to kill the chief prosecutor in the Kobe Bryant case. Investigators say the man indicated he thought Bryant was being set up on rape charges. They say he also threatened Bryant's accuser and family and he threatened to blow up the Colorado courthouse where Bryant's trial is held.

Back now to our top story. As the crisis in Haiti grows worse by the hour, is the Bush administration changing its view of how to handle it? Only within the past few minutes, I spoke with Jean- Bertrand Aristide, the president of Haiti.

Listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARISTIDE: I have the responsibility as an elected president to stay where I am, protecting the people, the way I am, the way I can, asking the U.S., the international community to stand against terrorists. And it's possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Let's go live to our senior White House correspondent, John King.

John, as best as we can determine, what is the Bush administration's position on whether Jean-Bertrand Aristide should stay or go?

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Their position, Wolf, is that it would be best for him to go.

Now, publicly, they have stopped just short of saying that. What the administration is saying, that President Aristide should think long and hard about the situation and to make the decision that is in the best interest of Haiti. The administration is backing an international diplomatic solution, and that solution on paper would let President Aristide stay in power. But the opposition groups will not agree to it.

The administration is concerned the violence will continue and perhaps spiral even upward. So it believes the president has a decision to make and everyone in the Bush administration believes it would be best if he would step aside. But, obviously, they're obviously getting the reports back directly from him, including in that CNN interview, where he simply says he will not do that.

So we are at loggerheads, if you will, when it comes to diplomacy.

BLITZER: And the situation on the ground increasingly chaotic on the ground.

John, thank you very much for that.

Let's move to other news worth following. a legal victory for Martha Stewart today. She's no longer facing a charge that could have landed her in prison for 10 years.

CNN's Allan Chernoff is following the trial in New York. He's joining us now live -- Allan.

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, that charge being securities fraud, and this is a slap against government prosecutors.

The judge, Miriam Cedarbaum, in her opinion, saying there is no way that a reasonable jury could have found Martha Stewart guilty on securities fraud. In fact, the judge had given an indication she was quite skeptical of this charge even before the trial started, when she referred to the charge as novel.

The government had alleged that Martha Stewart tried to defraud investors in her own company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, by trying to prop the stock up when she said she did nothing wrong in selling her ImClone shares. Now, those sales of ImClone stock are still at the heart of other charges Martha Stewart is still facing, and those include obstruction of justice, conspiracy, and two counts of making false statements.

The jury should be getting the case next Wednesday -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Allan Chernoff for us in New York -- thank you, Allan, very much.

We showed you the preliminary findings. Now the final report is out on the priest sexual abuse scandal that is rocking the Catholic Church. And other numbers are simply startling.

CNN's Jason Carroll is here in Washington. He broke the story a while ago. He's following it today.

Jason, this is shocking stuff.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It really, really is.

Catholic bishops even say that the numbers on sexual abuse are a sad reflection on how the clergy abused their sacred position for decades.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL (voice-over): The numbers during the past 50 years are sobering. Researchers from the John Jay College of Criminal justice found 4,392 priests and deacons were found guilty of abuse. That's 4 percent of 110,000 in active ministry. They're accused of molesting 10,667 victims.

BISHOP WILTON GREGORY, PRESIDENT, U.S. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS: On behalf of the bishops and the entire church in the United States, I restate and reaffirm our apologies to all of you who have been harmed by those among us.

CARROLL: Researchers also found, the Catholic Church paid out half a billion dollars in settlements in counseling during the period. A second report detailed reasons why the abuse existed for so long.

ROBERT BENNETT, NATIONAL REVIEW BOARD: First, dioceses and orders simply did not screen candidates for the priesthood properly. As a result, we found that many dysfunctional and psychosexually immature men were admitted into seminaries and orders ordained in the priesthood.

CARROLL: One researcher said church leaders asked more like risk assessment managers, rather than shepherds of their flock. The head of the U.S. Conference of Bishops pledged, the church will do more to screen candidates for priesthood and reach out to victims of abuse.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL: But many victims say it would be naive for them to accept the numbers from the report because researchers relied on information provided to them by bishops. They are calling for an even more comprehensive study -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jason, thank you very much for that -- Jason Carroll here in Washington today.

Controversy in Colorado and allegations of rape and questions over football recruitment, serious charges against a major university in the United States. Now, state officials launching their own investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Countries like the U.S. and Australia would potentially draw inward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: A global warning: Could drastic climate change be just years away and with it a national security threat?

And surf's up, way up. Just how high can they go? We'll get to all of that.

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Shrine fight. Friday prayers ended with clashes at a Jerusalem holy site revered by Jews as the Temple Mount and by Muslims, as Al-Haram al-Sharif. Israeli police used rubber bullets and stun grenade against Palestinians. Police say the Palestinians started the confrontation by throwing stones. Palestinians say the police acted without provocation.

Venezuela clashes. Venezuelan troops used tear gas against tens of thousands of government opponents in Caracas. The protesters were demanding a referendum on recalling Hugo Chavez.

Ferry fire. At least one person is dead and dozens more are missing after a fire on a Philippine ferry. The cause is under investigation. Hundreds were aboard the vessel, but most managed to survive by jumping into Manila Bay or boarding rescue boats.

Guru sentenced. Nine years after a deadly nerve gas attack on a Tokyo subway, the leader of a Japanese doomsday cult has been sentenced to hang. Shoko Asahara was found guilty of masterminding the subway attack and other crimes. His lawyers immediately filed an appeal.

Flour power. The flour war is a 200-year-old tradition in one Greek town. Participants pelt each other with tinted flour. They say it's a lot of fun but it's also a big mess. After it's over, most of them throw away their clothes.

And that's our look around the world.

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BLITZER: Colorado Governor Bill Owens today directed his state's top law enforcement official to investigate the University of Colorado football program.

The attorney general, Ken Salazar, will act as a special prosecutor looking into charge of recruiting misconduct and sexual assaults. Three women have filed suit against the university, saying they were raped by players at or just after an off-campus party three years ago. A total of six women have now accused Colorado football players of assault since the year 2000. The new investigation was announced less than an hour ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GOV. BILL OWENS (R), COLORADO: It has become to me very clear that one statewide special prosecutor is needed to fully investigate every aspect of these allegations. These charges cross county lines. They cross judicial districts. And the integrity, reputation and public confidence in a statewide institution, the University of Colorado, is at stake.

BLITZER: A total of six women have accused Colorado University football players of rape since 2000, including former kicker Katie Hnida, the only woman who has ever played C.U. Football. Head football coach Gary Barnett denied knowing about any rapes, but his comments about Hnida's athletic abilities added to the furor.

GARY BARNETT, HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO: Just new, different. You know, it's just -- you know, it's a guy's sport. And they felt like Katie was forced on her -- you know, on them. Well, it was obvious Katie was not very good. She was awful, OK? So, you know what guys do? They respect your ability. I mean, you could be 90 years old, but if you can go out and play, they respect you. And what was -- Katie was a girl. And not only was she a girl. She was terrible, OK? And there's no other way to say it. She couldn't kick the ball through the uprights.

BLITZER: University President Betsy Hoffman suspended Barnett and hired a special assistant to oversee C.U. athletics. And an independent panel is supposed to report to the C.U. board of regents, but that apparently wasn't enough to dissuade state officials them from launching their own investigation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And joining us now to discuss the state's investigation, the Colorado governor, Bill Owens.

Governor, thanks very much for joining us.

Why did you decide to go this step potentially with a criminal investigation?

OWENS: Because it's a very complicated series of allegations that really crossed county lines here in Colorado, crossed judicial districts. There were a lot of factors that made it clear to me and to the attorney general, better to centralize the focus, centralize the investigation, get to the bottom of these allegations as quickly as possible for the good of the institution, the good of the people who are under investigation, as well as Colorado.

BLITZER: How long do you believe this investigation will go on for?

OWENS: You know, I think it will be premature to speculate. The attorney general was asked that question at our press conference, and he -- he declined to speculate it.

It depends on what evidence we find it. It depends what allegations are supportable. It depends on the cooperation we receive from a lot of the entities involved.

BLITZER: Should it be business as usual at the University of Colorado while this investigation goes on?

OWENS: You know, Wolf, I can tell you as somebody who's been in Colorado for the last month that -- since these allegations first surfaced, it certainly hasn't been business as usual one day since those allegations first surfaced.

The president of the university has taken action. The football coach has been suspended. An investigatory panel has been impaneled. We now have a statewide prosecutor. We take this very seriously in Colorado. It's a fine institution and it's up to all of us to do everything we can to get to the bottom of these allegations, bring to prosecution, if there were crimes committed, those who committed those crimes, and clear those who might have been accused who actually are innocent.

BLITZER: Governor, I remember when coach Gary Barnett came to the University of Colorado from Northwestern University, where he revitalized the football program there. There were such great hopes. What do you make of this coach?

OWENS: Well, I don't know Gary Barnett, but I want to give him every benefit of the doubt. He clearly misspoke on that earlier segment, which resulted in his being put on -- taken off the team while the investigation continues.

In this country, everybody is innocent until proven guilty. What we've done is set in place the process that will get to the bottom of these allegations. So it's premature for me to comment on Gary Barnett, other than to say, again, he's innocent until something is proven against him.

BLITZER: What would you say to Katie Hnida, the female football player who left the University of Colorado, is now in New Mexico, given what she says she went through there?

OWENS: Well, I think that it's very clear that there were problems with the way the team dealt with Katie, and I think that that's one issue that the attorney general will be looking at, in case there's criminal involvement in her allegations.

We want to be a state and a university which is open to everybody. We're proud of this university and our state, and we're sorry for anybody who feels they've been mistreated at this university or within the state of Colorado.

BLITZER: Governor Owens, good luck to you. Good luck to everyone in Colorado in dealing with this situation.

OWENS: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: Thanks very much for joining us.

OWENS: Thanks.

BLITZER: More news coming up, including global warming. Could drastic climate change be just years away? A special report from a group contracted by the Pentagon says there's a nightmare scenario that national security officials should consider.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: What if the world's weather suddenly goes haywire, bringing floods and famine, mass migration and bloody conflict? Most experts say it's very, very unlikely, but a report drawn up for the Pentagon turns global warming into a chilling scenario.

CNN's Brian Todd reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A potential nightmare, not a catastrophic terrorist attack, not an apocalyptic war, but a change in the weather.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a potentially very extreme scenario. TODD: A recent study commissioned by the Pentagon links global warming of all things to the possibility of massive world instability and a threat to U.S. national security.

PETER SCHWARTZ, REPORT CO-AUTHOR: What we're now seeing is potential conflict that arises out of the need to get access to food, water and energy.

TODD: It would work like this. The Earth continues to get warmer. Then, something that's already occurred in part, some polar glaciers melt, dumping huge amounts of fresh water into the North Atlantic. That forces the Gulf Stream, the ocean currents that move warm air north, to slow or possibly shut down, bringing temperatures in North America and Europe down dramatically, four to 10 degrees Fahrenheit within a decade or two. The study's authors call it the abrupt change scenario.

The result, North America becomes colder, drier, windier, dust bowls, wildfires commonplace, the same report for Europe, the report says, making it more like Siberia. In developing countries, the scenario is worse, severe drought in some places, massive storms, flooding in others. Crops can't be sustained. Food supplies dwindle. Then the danger really begins, skirmishes, battle, wars, masses of refugees. Those countries that can survive become fortresses.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Countries like the U.S. and Australia would potentially draw inward.

TODD: Could all this happen? Even the authors give disclaimers everywhere.

SCHWARTZ: Most climatologists would not agree that this is the most likely scenario. They think it will take longer to develop and might not be as global in its impact or as severe.

TODD: Others in the scientific community less kind.

FRED SINGER, SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY PROJECT: It's junk science of the highest order, because it's written in inflammatory style. It's based on data that don't exist. It distorts data that do exist.

TODD (on camera): Even within the halls of the Pentagon, CNN is told, this study is regarded not as science, but science fiction, military officials disappointed with what they got for their money. This was cheap, as government studies go, only about $100,000. But why spend even that to stretch the imagination and scare the living daylights out of people?

JEREMY SYMONS, FORMER EPA OFFICIAL; But even if this particular threat doesn't emerge, there's a number of threats that global warming has for food scarcity, for scarcity of water resources that are going to clearly make hot spots around the world even hotter.

TODD: The authors also counter, saying the science is worthy, drawing from research at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution some universities. They were asked to do this, they say, by Pentagon officials whose job it is to plan for worst-case scenarios, however unlikely.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Big waves, big competition. An extreme contest makes its return to a legendary surf spot. We'll get that.

Also, our hot "Web Question of the Day" is this: Should the U.S. military do more to help end the crisis in Haiti? You can still vote.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Surf's up in our picture of the day.

It's the Mavericks Surf Contest, named for the legendary surf spot near Northern California's Half Moon Bay. About two dozen surfers took on waves as high as 20 feet high today, marking the return of the competition after a two-year hiatus. The winner walked away with a $5,000 prize. Good surf.

Here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of the Day": Should the U.S. military do more to help end the crisis in Haiti? Thirty-two percent say yes; 68 percent say no. Remember, this is not a scientific poll.

Let's get to some of your e-mails. Zacharie writes this: "If Mr. Aristide doesn't stay until his term is over, I am afraid the rebels will keep the same process to overthrow any Haitian government in power in the future."

Carl writes: "The fact that people are dying and many suffering only a few miles away off our Florida coast seems not to be our major concern. I expect that if there was oil in Haiti, we would find it."

A reminder, we're on weekdays 5:00 p.m. Eastern, as well as noon Eastern. Remember, "LATE EDITION" this Sunday, the last word in Sunday talk. Among my guests, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards. That's Sunday at noon Eastern.

Until then, thanks for joining us.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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Catalogue 50 Years of Sexual Abuse; Securities Fraud Charge Against Stewart Dismissed>