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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Interview with Romanian Prime Minister; A look at up Coming Democratic Convention in Boston

Aired July 21, 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. Extraordinary precautions. Surveillance by land, sea and air, as Boston battens (ph) down the hatches for the Democratic convention. But the heavy security is stirring up a storm of controversy. Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Convention concerns. Tight security against the terror threat in Boston. But protesters say it's too tight.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's going to violate the fundamental right to privacy.

BLITZER: No guns allowed? Who will protect U.S. athletes at the Olympics?

Truckers targeted. A mysterious group in Iraq takes half a dozen hostages and threatens to behead them one at a time.

Missing jogger.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everyone loves Lori (ph). She just sparkles.

BLITZER: Police step up the search in Salt Lake City.

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, July 21, 2004.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Thanks very much for joining us. We're live today from Boston, where there's very intense security as this city gets ready to host the Democratic National Convention. We'll have full coverage.

But we begin with a developing story right now out of Iraq. They take their lives in their hands each time they take to the road. And now six more foreign truckers have become hostages during a bloody day in Iraq. Let's go straight to CNN's Matthew Chance. He's joining us live from Baghdad -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, thanks. Yet another day of intense violence and insecurity here in Iraq. There have been a number of incidents across the country and here in the capital. The latest in a succession of car bombs ripping through a part of the city at a very busy period.

Also, insurgents firing a rocket-propelled grenade at a hospital here, killing at least two Iraqis. Four were killed in the car bomb attack.

In addition to that, if that weren't enough, another six hostages, a new group of truck drivers, foreigners all of them, were seized by an Iraqi insurgent group and paraded on television to the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHANCE (voice-over): Six hostages, all foreign truck drivers, easy targets with the threat of execution hanging over them.

"We've captured two Kenyans, three Indians and one Egyptian," say the kidnappers. "We tell their company to withdraw and to close their offices in Iraq."

The Philippines pulled its forces from Iraq after a hostage threat. These kidnappers may be hoping for a similar success.

It has been a day of appalling violence in Iraq. The latest in a succession of car bombs ripped through a crowded area of the capital. The dead and injured were Iraqis returning from work. A Baghdad hospital was also was targeted. Two Iraqi patients were killed in a grenade attack.

Iraq's descent into chaos has been the focus of talks with regional foreign ministers. In the Egyptian capital, Iran and Syria have been accused of allowing insurgents to pass through their borders into Iraq. Tougher border controls are among the measures now being discussed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We expect from our neighbors to stand by the Iraqi people, to help us in deed, not words. And to support the efforts of the new Iraqi sovereign government, to establish peaceful, responsible Iraq, friendly to its neighbors.

CHANCE: Officials of the new Iraq know support from the outside may be crucial if this insurgency is to be defeated or even controlled.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHANCE: But the violence and insecurity in Iraq, the insurgency is home grown as well. It's Iraqis themselves who are fighting coalition and government forces, even to some extent taking part in these kidnappings. Getting them to quit will be the toughest battle perhaps -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Matthew Chance reporting from Baghdad. Matthew, thank you very much. There is a happy ending to one hostage ordeal. A day after he was freed by insurgents in Iraq, a Filipino truck driver had a tearful reunion with his wife and brother in the United Arab Emirates. His release came after the Philippine government gave in to the kidnappers' demands that it withdraw a small contingent of troops from Iraq.

On the other hand, there's been a gruesome discovery in Saudi Arabia. Security forces there have found the head of the American hostage Paul Johnson, who was kidnapped and killed last month. Saudi officials say the discovery was made at a home raided last night in Riyadh. Part of the massive operation involving hundreds of troops and police. Two al Qaeda suspects were killed and three were wounded. A large cache of arms was also uncovered.

The independent government commission investigating the 9/11 attacks will release its final report tomorrow. White House officials and congressional leaders already have been briefed on the conclusions. Our White House correspondent Dana Bash is standing by in Washington with more -- Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the president's chief of staff, chief counsel and national security adviser were all briefed today here at the White House by the chair and vice chair of the 9/11 commission. Mr. Bush himself will be briefed by his staff later today and will get a formal presentation of this report when it is made available to the public tomorrow.

According to several congressional sources, though, we can tell you some of what is in the nearly 600-page report.

First of all, on some of the recommendations, they will say that a new national intelligence director is in order, someone who will have budget authority and who would head up a national center, a counterterrorism center, that would make recommendations and operational planning but would not have the ability to execute it.

Essentially the bottom line from this commission will be that there is still too much overlap and not enough coordination. In terms of the findings, what happened in the days, months, years leading up to 9/11, they say that there were ten examples of missed opportunities by Clinton and Bush administration officials but sources says that none of these was necessarily a silver bullet that could have prevented the attacks of 9/11.

And they will say that -- they won't actually state specifically whether or not 9/11 could have been preventable. Sources say the commission will say that both President Clinton and President Bush did not do enough to address the al Qaeda threat but the idea, the fact that the commission won't say that 9/11 was preventable, particularly by this White House certainly is causing a sigh of relief here. And the president addressed the idea of whether or not it was preventable earlier in the Oval Office.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Had we had any inkling whatsoever that terrorists were about to attack our country, we would have moved Heaven and earth to protect America. I'm confident President Clinton would have done the same thing. Any president would. And -- same way, I'm looking forward to the report. I'm glad. They've done a lot of good work and it's going to be very useful for the country to listen to what they have to say.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: The president saying he looks forward to reading the report but aides saying not to expect the White House to endorse any of these proposed recommendations in the near future. They say they're going to read it, look at it, discuss it for a while before they back any one or more of these recommendations -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Dana Bash at the White House with a preview. Big news coming tomorrow from the 9/11 commission. Dana, thanks very much.

A massive security effort is being put in place for next month's summer Olympic games in Athens, Greece. One very sensitive issue on the table is whether foreign security forces will be allowed to carry arms on Greek soil. There's also talk of a possible NATO role. Standing by at the Pentagon with more on this important story, our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: One thing is for sure, Wolf. NATO will have a role in helping provide security at the Olympics even though the Greek government insists that protecting the athletes and the games is its exclusive responsibility. Nevertheless the Greek government has made a request of NATO for various things that could help increase security. Things like AWACS planes, NATO sea patrols outside the territorial waters of Greece and also some special capabilities that NATO has such as chem-bio detection units that are operated by the Czech government.

But this is all coming in a request that's going to be granted by NATO and could include some U.S. specially trained counterterrorism commandos, according to the Pentagon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. RICHARD MYERS, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: The Greek government has made a request of NATO. NATO is evaluating that request. We tried to find out just before we came in here if we had any news on that and we don't have news on if they've made a decision in Brussels or not. Once that decision is made then we'll look at the kind of capabilities that might be required to help.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Involving the U.S. troops?

MYERS: It's all possible, sure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: Again, it's not clear what role those U.S. troops would play. Pentagon officials say if U.S. special operations forces are assigned to increase security at the Olympics, they'll likely stay in the background, possibly not even at the site of the Olympic games but nearby where they could respond in the event of a terrorist attack -- Wolf.

BLITZER: They'll all be getting ready for those Olympics games. Thanks, Jamie McIntyre over at the Pentagon.

Here in Boston, manholes have been sealed and newspaper stands have been removed. What else is Boston doing to prepare for the Democratic National Convention? And why are some people crying foul? We'll have the answers straight ahead.

Also ahead...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why now? And it's not surprising to me that some Republicans would ascribe motives to Mr. Berger. I think there -- we don't need to politicize this investigation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Going on the offensive, Democrats try to turn the tables on those accusing Samuel Berger of a security slip-up. I'll speak with senators from both sides of the aisle.

Plus, from America's founding fathers to this year's Democratic presidential hopeful, we'll take a look back at Massachusetts, the Bay State's historic White House connections. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: When Democrats gather here in Boston next week, it will mark the first national political convention since 9/11. And that's prompted unprecedented security efforts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): ...closely watched convention in history but not by television viewers. Hundreds of surveillance cameras will monitor the Fleet Center as well as a wide area around it. On top of that, the eyes of thousands of local, state and federal law enforcement officials, some on land, others patrolling Boston Harbor. To thwart would be bombers the city tried to eliminate hiding places: sealing manhole covers and removing newspaper stands. With some $50 million spent on security, Boston's mayor is confident.

MAYOR THOMAS MENINO, BOSTON: We have a well coordinated task force on security, the Secret Service, the state police, the Boston Police, all of them working together.

BLITZER: Not everyone is happy with the precautions, especially protesters, who have been relegated to a fenced area near the Fleet Center that some call a protest pen.

Then there's Boston residents, many of whom face delays and other inconveniences as a result of security measures.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: For more now on the massive security efforts under way here in Boston, I'm joined by Edward Flynn. He's the secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety here in Massachusetts. Mr. Flynn, thanks very much for joining us.

What's the biggest nightmare? What's your biggest concern? I assume it's terrorism.

EDWARD FLYNN, EXEC. OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY: Obviously the biggest concern is the low probably, but high hazard possibility of a terrorist event, certainly. And that's the one that guides much of our planning.

BLITZER: What has the federal government told you that the Department of Homeland Security, the Secret Service, which is obviously in overall charge of security here?

FLYNN: Well, we've been very closely with them and coordinating the latest intelligence with our latest planning efforts. At the current time we don't have specific information that this particular event is the particular target. But we do know that the Democratic processes are a valuable target for international terrorism. We do know there have been generalized threats made against us, so we have to proceed accordingly.

BLITZER: The Secret Service has been designated the lead agency, if you will, the federal agency in charge because this is a national event similar to the Super Bowl, let's say, another national event and could be a target. We had some video that we shot earlier today of the Secret Service compound here where they're coordinating all of this. But how do you divide up the federal, state and local responsibilities?

FLYNN: Well, you raise a very important issue. Our focus, obviously, is security, but our foundation is ineragency collaboration. Certainly United States Secret Service has primary jurisdiction, particularly, regarding the venue, which is the Fleet Center, and the protection of dignitaries.

But the rest of the city needs to be protected which falls to state and local government. So, the Boston Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police have been working very closely to create a venue in which we can have both free exercise of first amendment rights, but also a safe and secure convention.

BLITZER: Who came up with the idea of having protesters basically put in this pen in this area? They're complaining vociferously that their first amendment rights are being violated.

FLYNN: Well, there's a real challenge for us, and I think most people understand we're engaged in a very difficult balancing test between the rights of everyone and also the safety of everyone. What we tried to do was provide an opportunity for demonstrators to have sight and sound access to the Fleet Center and to the delegates, at the same time, given the street configuration, down there, which is extremely narrow and cramped, we have to provide blast zone protection for the demonstrators and the site. That requires us to protect them as well as protect the venues and that creates some restrictions on their movement that I know they resent.

BLITZER: In New York, getting ready for the Republican convention a month from now, there is some suggestion -- the judge has said you can't randomly go ahead and search the briefcases, the bags of individuals without just cause. What's the ground rule here?

FLYNN: Well, we have not applied that standard to our demonstrators. The MBTA police, the transit police, are engaged in a random bag search policy within the confines of the MTBA facilities, mainly the trains. They're concerned, of course, of another Spain- like incident, which obviously effected the election of a democratic society. We see our transit system as a soft target and were trying to harden that target by a combination of both good intelligence, good hard site security and random searches.

BLITZER: Before you came here to Boston you were in Arlington, Virginia, right outside Washington, D.C. And within your jurisdiction was the Pentagon during 9/11 when that plane went into the Pentagon. What -- from that experience, what brings you -- what do you take from that experience in this current mission underway around the Democratic convention?

FLYNN: Well, there's a couple of core lesson that we learned from that event. The first thing we learned, that although terrorists think globally they act locally. When they act locally in the United States it falls to state and local government to respond, not the federal government. So from a first responder capacity, state and local government has to have first rate capability to mitigate incidents and respond rapidly.

The second thing we learned is that, absolutely, there has to be interjurisdictional collaboration. No single jurisdiction in America can handle an event of that magnitude alone, so we have to have strong connections between state and local governments and regional governments to be able to respond.

And the third thing we learned, is that everything that the police and fire departments do at a critical incident arises out of their core mission. And we have to make sure that they're properly trained in the core mission so they can be responsive to an extraordinary event.

BLITZER: Ed Flynn, thanks very much for joining us. Good luck to all of your colleagues. Good luck to you as well.

FLYNN: Thank you.

BLITZER: President Bush spoke with Romania's prime minister today over at the White House. Coming up next, the prime minister of Romania will speak with us.

Also ahead, 3 Americans go on trial in Afghanistan.

And if you don't love Paris in the summer when it sizzles, you can go to the beach in Paris. We'll tell you about that. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Last year Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld created a firestorm when he ridiculed America's traditional western allies as old Europe because they wouldn't help out in Iraq. Instead, he praised the so-called new Europe, the Eastern European countries willing to support the war in Iraq.

Today President Bush welcomed one of the leaders of the new Europe to the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've just had a very good visit. It's the kind of visit that friends would have.

BLITZER (voice-over): It's not hard to figure out why Adrian Nastase (ph) was invited to sit down with President Bush in the Oval Office. The Romanian prime minister speaks the kind of language Mr. Bush likes to hear.

ADRIAN NASTASE, ROMANIAN PRIME MINISTER: I'm very proud to come here to confirm to the president our continued support for fighting together terrorists in the world.

BLITZER: And he backs up those words with action. As a new member of NATO, Romania also has joined ranks with President Bush's coalition of the willing in the fight against terrorism and in the effort to build a Democratic Iraq. There are more than 700 Romanian troops and civilian contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also, the Pentagon has indicated that it may close some U.S. bases in Germany and create smaller ones in former Soviet bloc countries like Romania.

And despite the recent kidnappings and killing of foreigners in Iraq Mr. Nastase advocates a tough stand. He criticized the Philippine government for pulling out its troops in order to secure the freedom of a Filipino held hostage nearly two weeks and advocated the need for a strong stand Tuesday at the United Nations where he held talks with Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And joining us now in our Washington studio, the prime minister of Romanian, Adrian Nastase. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to the United States. Thanks very much for joining us. A few specific questions. God forbid, if a Romanian is taking hostage in Iraq, would you do what the Philippine government did, make concessions to the terrorists? NASTASE: Let me respond in general. I think it is our duty to have a united position on the developments in Iraq. There is now a new momentum. And our message should be we stay together, we stand together against those who want to create disorder and anarchy. I think we should learn from the past that only if we concentrate on the political -- on political action, we can -- we can help the new government in Iraq. The transfer of sovereignty was very important. So we want to continue to help. And I think that it is our duty to try to help the government and the people of Iraq at this time.

BLITZER: Are you prepared to say, Mr. Prime Minister, that you're not going to negotiate with terrorists even if they have a Romanian in their hands?

NASTASE: It is important for us to decide what -- which is our message. And our common message should be that we are not against the people of Iraq. On the contrary, we want to help as much as we can. That's why we are in Iraq. We have sent also some experts on the economic issues, on constitutional issues. There is a process of transition. We have to make everyone understand that once Pandora Box was open we need now a wise political decision based or backed by international consensus. That's why I was very glad that I was in New York yesterday and the Security Council and I send the same message yesterday there.

BLITZER: Well, let me rephrase the question this way. Were you angry that the Philippine government decided to make concessions to the terrorists in order to free their hostage?

NASTASE: Well, I didn't criticize the Philippine government. And I didn't intend to make comments about another government. What I tried to say is that we don't have to give up to those who want to maintain an atmosphere, an environment (UNINTELLIGIBLE). A lot has been done so far. We are approaching the moment when the Iraqi people can take ownership of their own decisions, and we should help them.

BLITZER: Are you prepared -- I'll move on. Are you prepared to see U.S. bases or NATO bases established in Romania, bases that once were in Germany? The old Europe, the new Europe.

NASTASE: We are ready to offer five star strategy location with hospitality and, also, efficiency in terms of the area in which we are. We are already an ally of NATO, so it is our duty, our responsibility to respond as an ally. And we are interested to make the best use of our strategic location to make the best offer. I don't think you can decide -- it's not whether the bases from Germany will be removed. It is a just question of location in general. And I don't want to comment on from where some of those troops who might come to Romania will be from. What I can confirm is that we are ready to offer this strategic location for whatever arrangements which might be needed with the United States and NATO.

BLITZER: One final question. What was the basic -- the most important message that President Bush gave you in the Oval Office today? NASTASE: In our discussion today, the president confirmed the intention to consolidate the strategic partnership between the United States and Romania. And I'm very proud that I met today the president. I consider it is the right time for Romania to be in Washington as a new ally, as an ally by treaty not by action. We have more than 2,000 troops around the world. We try to do our job, but of course we would like to expand, to develop, to consolidate the strategic partnership both in political and also in economic terms.

BLITZER: How the world has changed. It wasn't that long ago that Romania was a key member of the Warsaw Pact, the Soviet Bloc, now a key ally of the United States. Adrian Nastase, the prime minister of Romania. Once again, thank you very much for joining us.

NASTASE: Thank you very much for inviting me.

BLITZER: And they're still talking about Samuel Berger back in Washington.

Is it a criminal case or is it just partisan politics?

We'll talk about the stakes, what's involved. Two senators, Republican Saxby Chambliss, Democrat Ron Wyden, they'll join me live.

Also ahead...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's a wonderful young women, she's bright. As you can see by the picture she's beautiful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The desperate search in Salt Lake City for a pregnant women who went jogging and never came back.

Plus, heading for history. We'll tell you how Lance Armstrong did today with only four stages remaining in the Tour de France.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

The battle heats up over an ex-official's handling or mishandling of classified papers. He calls it an honest mistake. We'll have an honest debate.

First, though, a quick check of the stories now in the news.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is calling on the government of Sudan to do more to help end the humanitarian crisis. Arab militias in the country's Darfur region are blamed for serious crimes and human rights abuses against the black population. Annan says Sudan must follow through on pledges to disarm the militias. Human rights groups accuse the Sudan's Islamic government of aiding the militia groups.

The battle against big wildfires goes on in Southern California. One of the blazes in Los Angeles County grew by almost 2,000 acres overnight. And higher winds are expected to fan the flames.

Lance Armstrong is cementing his lead in the Tour de France. With today's action taking place in the Alps, the American cyclist added almost 2:30 to his overall lead. He's trying to win a record sixth straight Tour de France title. The world's most famous bike race ends in Paris on Sunday.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

As the 9/11 investigators get set to release a report which may have some far-reaching implications for America's battle against terrorism, Washington is preoccupied with a political battle over a former national security adviser's handling of secret documents.

Let's go live to our national correspondent Bob Franken. He's covering the story in Washington -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, of course, it's serious business, but there's always some circus attached to it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice-over): Sandy Berger has never been known as fastidious.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), KENTUCKY: Sandy walked out of the National Archives with some PBDs in his BVDs and some classified docs in his socks.

FRANKEN: The Democrats argue there may be bad rhyme, but no reason to the Republican efforts to turn this into archive-gate. The president is publicly keeping his distance.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Look, I'm not going to comment on this matter. This is a serious matter and it's -- it will be fully investigated by the Justice Department.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: I think I would look to the executive branch to say why the administration would leak this at a time when the 9/11 Commission is coming out.

FRANKEN: The White House won't admit that, but does concede it was aware of the Berger matter.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Some officials in our counsel's office were contacted as part of the investigation.

FRANKEN: When? Where? Democratic Chairman Terry McAuliffe has filed a Freedom of Information demand for all communications and the Kerry campaign is screaming that Republican Chairman Ed Gillespie and Vice President Cheney coached GOP senators at their Tuesday luncheon, presenting a menu that featured political red meat, a Sandy Berger. SEN. GORDON SMITH (R), OREGON: He has now been charged with taking highly classified documents, stuffing them in his trousers, using them for the Kerry campaign.

LANNY BREUER, ATTORNEY FOR SANDY BERGER: The Kerry campaign has absolutely no connection whatsoever to this.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: Right now, there are campaign connections to just about everything, except maybe the voters -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Bob Franken in Washington for us -- thanks, Bob, very much.

As we just heard, President Bush is calling it a serious matter. Are there real security concerns in this case or is it just politics as usual?

Joining us now from Capitol Hill, two key members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, the Georgia Republican Saxby Chambliss and the Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden.

Senator Chambliss, let me begin with you.

Your colleague, Senator Smith, just said Sandy Berger has been charged with certain things. As far as I can tell, he hasn't been charged with anything yet, has he?

SEN. SAXBY CHAMBLISS (R), GEORGIA: Well, I think Gordon was probably using that term a little loosely, but certainly it's been indicated and I think he's even admitted, Wolf, that he did, under whatever circumstances, remove classified documents from the Archives building.

And I don't know that there's any crime that was committed or one that's been -- he's been charged with. But certainly it is a very, very serious national security offense.

BLITZER: Well, what is your worst fear, Senator Chambliss, that what, what happened? Because these were copies -- these were copies of top secret documents. The originals, of course, remain in the National Archives.

CHAMBLISS: Well, I understand that he went back two times after the original time he was there and apparently took the same document, for whatever reason. I don't know what his intent was. Nobody knows that but Sandy Berger, who I have great respect for and have admired. He's been a good public servant, did a good job I thought as national security adviser.

But he was the top national security adviser in the United States. He knows how sensitive classified documents are. And for him to remove certain documents that he knew to be classified, return some of them and then say, well, the dog ate the rest of them or something else happened to the rest of them is really inexcusable. Now, whether that constitutes a crime or not, that's what the investigation is all about right now. It all to be flushed out. And then we can decide whether he ought to be charged. But certainly it's a very serious breach of national security.

BLITZER: Senator Wyden, his attorney, Lanny Breuer, was on my program 24 hours ago and he acknowledges that notes that should have been reviewed by the staff of the National Archives before he took those notes out, he took them deliberately, knowing he was violating national security regulations, the Archive regulations.

But he says the classified documents that he took out were inadvertent. They got tied up in some other papers in his briefcase and it was simply sloppiness, an innocent mistake. Do you accept that?

SEN. RON WYDEN (D), OREGON: Mr. Berger has already made it clear that what he did was a mistake. There's an independent inquiry. And, at this point, allegations are swirling around Washington, D.C., about Mr. Berger like they're confetti in the wind.

Let's let the independent inquiry go forward. To me, the bottom line is, the 9/11 Commission has indicated that they were able to get all the information they needed. So it's hard to see how any of this is going to discredit the work of the 9/11 Commission. What I want to do is get serious about bipartisan efforts to improve intelligence. That's what I'm going to be working on and not something that may end up being a distraction.

BLITZER: Well, when you say a distraction, what is your suspicion? So many of your Democratic colleagues are accusing the Republicans, the Justice Department, or at least Republicans in the Justice Department or elsewhere in the administration, of deliberately timing the leak of this to embarrass John Kerry because Sandy Berger is a former adviser to him or embarrass the Democrats on the eve of their own convention and deflect attention from the 9/11 report that's coming out tomorrow. What's your concern?

WYDEN: Nobody is oblivious to the fact that we are moving into the fall of an even-numbered year and everything is going to be seen through a political filter.

But I come back to the bottom line. The 9/11 Commission has indicated they were able to get everything they need. That's a bipartisan commission. They've made it clear now they were able to do their work. So it's hard to see how any of this, and particularly some of these far-fetched ideas, are going to discredit their work. We ought to be bipartisan. Senator Lott and I introduced a significant bill last week, for example, to deal with the fact that the CIA would have kept 50 percent of the report that our committee came out with last week.

They would have blacked out 50 percent of it. Those are the kinds of things we need to change. We ought to do it in a bipartisan way.

BLITZER: Senator Chambliss, I assume you've been briefed on this matter to a certain degree. The documents that Sandy Berger himself says were lost, that he discarded them, how high was that classification? And worst-case scenario, if it got into the wrong hands, how much damage, if any, significant damage would there really be to U.S. national security?

CHAMBLISS: Actually, Wolf, I have not been briefed on this. I don't know what the document was. It's now been reported that it relates to the 1999 millennium incident. And if that's the case, if it details how we were able to figure out the gentleman that was crossing the border, the terrorist that was crossing the border with intentions of blowing up LAX and reveal sources and methods, it could be very damaging.

That's why it's so sensitive. That's why it's classified and that's why you don't release it. Now, that's not being partisan. That's being factual. And I think Ron and I can agree that, if there were sensitive sources of materials, information in there, and they were taken out by Sandy Berger, that's not sloppiness. There's more to it than that.

And it's not being political. I don't care whether he's a Republican or Democrat. If you take classified documents, you take classified documents, and you know better than to do that.

(CROSSTALK)

WYDEN: The only thing I would add is that there is nothing in Sandy Berger's history that he would compromise this country's security. Certainly, you can differ with his political views. And I have over the years. But there's nothing in his history that he would sacrifice the well-being and the national security of our country for politics.

CHAMBLISS: And with that, I would agree. Sandy was a good public servant and did a good job. That's why this is so odd and so bizarre. I really wish he'd come forward and tell the truth about it and let's put it to rest.

But that just simply hadn't been done. And I have no idea whether the Kerry campaign was in any way involved. I certainly don't think that Senator Kerry would be involved in anything like this. So let's make that clear, too. But he was his national security adviser.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Senator Chambliss, why do you think he's not telling the truth? His lawyer told us yesterday he's been fully cooperating with the Justice Department investigators. He's more than happy to go and do whatever they basically want. Why do you suspect he's not telling the truth?

CHAMBLISS: Well, it is -- undoubtedly, there is a criminal investigation ongoing. And I'm sure there's some hesitancy on their part to come forward.

But that would be the easiest way to put this to rest in a hurry. If they would just come forward and say, look, this is what happened, I was wrong and here's what I did, you know, we could move ahead and the criminal investigation could proceed or it would be dropped or whatever. But to this point, they haven't done that, for whatever reason.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: All right, Senator Wyden, we only have 10 seconds, Senator Wyden, so go ahead. I'll give you the last word.

WYDEN: The 9/11 Commission indicated we missed a lot of signals. Some of those were missed on the Bush watch. Some of them were missed on the Clinton watch. Let's work in a bipartisan way to deal with that and not something that may end up being a significant distraction.

BLITZER: All right, Senator Wyden, unfortunately, we have to leave it there, Senator Chambliss. Thanks to both of you for joining us, both members of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

To our viewers, here's your chance to weigh in on this important story. Our Web question of the day is this: Are the findings in the 9/11 report likely to affect your vote for president, that report coming out tomorrow? You can vote right now. Go to CNN.com/Wolf. We'll have the results for you later in this broadcast.

A pregnant woman disappears and the search begins. This time, the mystery is in Utah. Up next, we'll have the latest on a jogger who simply vanished.

Also, marking history. The convention may be a first for Boston, but presidential politics certainly are not -- a look back at the magnitude of Massachusetts. 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): Three Americans accused of acting as freelance vigilantes are on trial in Afghanistan. They're charged with torturing Afghans in a jail they set up at a house in Kabul. Authorities say the three traveled to Afghanistan on a counterterrorism mission without official U.S. backing. The suspects deny the charges and say they had the full support of U.S. authorities.

Two nuclear rivals are making a new effort to get along. The foreign ministers of Pakistan and India sat down in Islamabad to talk about ways to speed the pace of peace talks.

There's no need for Parisians to head to the Riviera to beat the summer heat. Once again, city officials have created a beach along the Seine in the French capital.

For only the second time in his life, Prince Charles has taken a ride in a taxi. The heir to the British throne took a spin in one of London's traditional cabs as part of a tribute to taxi drivers for their charity work.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

An American chess champion wants asylum overseas. That story tops our "Justice Report."

Bobby Fischer is fighting extradition from Japan to the United States. He's wanted here for illegally playing in a chess competition in Yugoslavia in 1992, when the U.S. barred travel there. Japanese authorities detained Fischer last week, saying his passport was invalid. They're in the process of deporting him. A friend says Fischer hopes for asylum in a third country.

In the Scott Peterson case, a police detective testified that a prostitute stole checks from Scott Peterson's workplace mailbox. Peterson's attorney noted the woman had recently miscarried and portrayed it as another example of police failing to pursue leads and focusing in only on Scott Peterson.

Echoes of the Laci Peterson case in Utah, where police are now searching for a pregnant woman who disappeared when she went for a jog.

CNN's Kimberly Osias has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Twenty-seven- year-old Lori Hacking, and her husband, Mark, just found out they're going to be first-time parents. The couple was also preparing to move to North Carolina, where Mark had plans to start medical school. But now all that is on hold as the family waits, worries and searches for Lori.

THELMA SOARES, MOTHER OF LORI HACKING: Everyone loves Lori. She just sparkles. We want her back.

OSIAS: Salt Lake SWAT team members have combed Memory Grove Park and the steep eight-mile City Creek Canyon near downtown Salt Lake City. Hacking was seen Monday just before dawn as she was stretching for a run. More than 1,000 volunteers and teams of six have joined in the extensive rescue efforts, fanning out over the area surrounding Memory Grove Park.

DET. DWAYNE BAIRD, SALT LAKE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT: We have leads and we're following up on those, but nothing concrete. And we haven't been notified as to where she may be. OSIAS: They looked by horse and by air. And now police are going door to door. Family members say the couple was extremely close and had been married for five years.

DOUGLAS HACKING, FATHER-IN-LAW: I wasn't aware of any arguments in our presence. There has been no leaving or stomping off or conflicts that I'm even aware of. They tend to do everything together.

OSIAS: Detectives have questioned Mark Hacking, impounded his car and scoured the couple's home looking for clues, all routine procedures they say at this early stage of the investigation.

Kimberly Osias, CNN, Seattle.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: He's a favorite son of the Bay State, but John Kerry is certainly not the first person from Massachusetts to set his sights on the Oval Office. Just ahead, a closer look at Massachusetts and its historic role in the presidential contest.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Believe it or not, this will be the first time Boston has ever hosted a presidential nominating convention. But Massachusetts has a long, if not always successful, presidential history.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): From the Boston Tea Party to Paul Revere's ride to the battles of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts helped give birth to America's independence. So it's probably not surprising that two of the first six U.S. presidents were from Massachusetts, John and John Quincy Adams, the only father and son presidents until George and George W. Bush.

But after John Quincy Adams left office in 1829, there was a bit of a drought. There was one vice president, Henry Wilson, who served all of two years until he died in his chambers at the U.S. Capitol in 1875. And Calvin Coolidge, who was born in Vermont, was governor of Massachusetts before he became president. But it wasn't until 1961 that another Massachusetts native became president.

JOHN F. KENNEDY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am the Democratic Party's candidate for president.

BLITZER: There was no mistaking John F. Kennedy's Massachusetts background. His Boston accent was an inspiration for comedians and mimics. There was talk for a time of a Kennedy dynasty.

ROBERT KENNEDY, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We have a special, not only responsibility, but a special opportunity.

BLITZER: Robert Kennedy challenged incumbent President Lyndon Johnson for the Democratic nomination in 1968, but was assassinated after winning the California primary.

Edward Kennedy also challenged an incumbent for the Democratic presidential nomination, but his attempt to unseat Jimmy Carter in 1980 ended in defeat. It wasn't until 1988 that Massachusetts again became a player in the presidential sweepstakes. But in that year, both major-party candidates had Massachusetts roots.

George Bush and Michael Dukakis were both born in the Bay State just a few miles from each other. Bush, who had long since moved to Texas, of course won the election. Dukakis, who had remained in Massachusetts, lost. The late Senator Paul Tsongas made an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992, but he lost to Bill Clinton.

This year, as Boston gets ready to host its first presidential nominating convention ever, Massachusetts is getting another chance to put a favorite son in the White House. The convention is scheduled to conclude with the nomination of Senator John Kerry.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And that would be a week from tomorrow, Thursday night, right here in Boston. I'll be reporting throughout this entire period from here in Boston and the Democratic National Convention.

Our picture of the day, that's just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: The results of our Web question of the day. Take a look at this. Remember, it's not a scientific poll.

Getting ready for the grand finale, it's our picture of the day. The Democratic Convention hasn't even begun here in Boston, but everything almost in place for the end. Look at these balloons. They're going to be dropped at some point.

I'm Wolf Blitzer in Boston.

"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


Aired July 21, 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. Extraordinary precautions. Surveillance by land, sea and air, as Boston battens (ph) down the hatches for the Democratic convention. But the heavy security is stirring up a storm of controversy. Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Convention concerns. Tight security against the terror threat in Boston. But protesters say it's too tight.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's going to violate the fundamental right to privacy.

BLITZER: No guns allowed? Who will protect U.S. athletes at the Olympics?

Truckers targeted. A mysterious group in Iraq takes half a dozen hostages and threatens to behead them one at a time.

Missing jogger.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everyone loves Lori (ph). She just sparkles.

BLITZER: Police step up the search in Salt Lake City.

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, July 21, 2004.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Thanks very much for joining us. We're live today from Boston, where there's very intense security as this city gets ready to host the Democratic National Convention. We'll have full coverage.

But we begin with a developing story right now out of Iraq. They take their lives in their hands each time they take to the road. And now six more foreign truckers have become hostages during a bloody day in Iraq. Let's go straight to CNN's Matthew Chance. He's joining us live from Baghdad -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, thanks. Yet another day of intense violence and insecurity here in Iraq. There have been a number of incidents across the country and here in the capital. The latest in a succession of car bombs ripping through a part of the city at a very busy period.

Also, insurgents firing a rocket-propelled grenade at a hospital here, killing at least two Iraqis. Four were killed in the car bomb attack.

In addition to that, if that weren't enough, another six hostages, a new group of truck drivers, foreigners all of them, were seized by an Iraqi insurgent group and paraded on television to the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHANCE (voice-over): Six hostages, all foreign truck drivers, easy targets with the threat of execution hanging over them.

"We've captured two Kenyans, three Indians and one Egyptian," say the kidnappers. "We tell their company to withdraw and to close their offices in Iraq."

The Philippines pulled its forces from Iraq after a hostage threat. These kidnappers may be hoping for a similar success.

It has been a day of appalling violence in Iraq. The latest in a succession of car bombs ripped through a crowded area of the capital. The dead and injured were Iraqis returning from work. A Baghdad hospital was also was targeted. Two Iraqi patients were killed in a grenade attack.

Iraq's descent into chaos has been the focus of talks with regional foreign ministers. In the Egyptian capital, Iran and Syria have been accused of allowing insurgents to pass through their borders into Iraq. Tougher border controls are among the measures now being discussed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We expect from our neighbors to stand by the Iraqi people, to help us in deed, not words. And to support the efforts of the new Iraqi sovereign government, to establish peaceful, responsible Iraq, friendly to its neighbors.

CHANCE: Officials of the new Iraq know support from the outside may be crucial if this insurgency is to be defeated or even controlled.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHANCE: But the violence and insecurity in Iraq, the insurgency is home grown as well. It's Iraqis themselves who are fighting coalition and government forces, even to some extent taking part in these kidnappings. Getting them to quit will be the toughest battle perhaps -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Matthew Chance reporting from Baghdad. Matthew, thank you very much. There is a happy ending to one hostage ordeal. A day after he was freed by insurgents in Iraq, a Filipino truck driver had a tearful reunion with his wife and brother in the United Arab Emirates. His release came after the Philippine government gave in to the kidnappers' demands that it withdraw a small contingent of troops from Iraq.

On the other hand, there's been a gruesome discovery in Saudi Arabia. Security forces there have found the head of the American hostage Paul Johnson, who was kidnapped and killed last month. Saudi officials say the discovery was made at a home raided last night in Riyadh. Part of the massive operation involving hundreds of troops and police. Two al Qaeda suspects were killed and three were wounded. A large cache of arms was also uncovered.

The independent government commission investigating the 9/11 attacks will release its final report tomorrow. White House officials and congressional leaders already have been briefed on the conclusions. Our White House correspondent Dana Bash is standing by in Washington with more -- Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the president's chief of staff, chief counsel and national security adviser were all briefed today here at the White House by the chair and vice chair of the 9/11 commission. Mr. Bush himself will be briefed by his staff later today and will get a formal presentation of this report when it is made available to the public tomorrow.

According to several congressional sources, though, we can tell you some of what is in the nearly 600-page report.

First of all, on some of the recommendations, they will say that a new national intelligence director is in order, someone who will have budget authority and who would head up a national center, a counterterrorism center, that would make recommendations and operational planning but would not have the ability to execute it.

Essentially the bottom line from this commission will be that there is still too much overlap and not enough coordination. In terms of the findings, what happened in the days, months, years leading up to 9/11, they say that there were ten examples of missed opportunities by Clinton and Bush administration officials but sources says that none of these was necessarily a silver bullet that could have prevented the attacks of 9/11.

And they will say that -- they won't actually state specifically whether or not 9/11 could have been preventable. Sources say the commission will say that both President Clinton and President Bush did not do enough to address the al Qaeda threat but the idea, the fact that the commission won't say that 9/11 was preventable, particularly by this White House certainly is causing a sigh of relief here. And the president addressed the idea of whether or not it was preventable earlier in the Oval Office.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Had we had any inkling whatsoever that terrorists were about to attack our country, we would have moved Heaven and earth to protect America. I'm confident President Clinton would have done the same thing. Any president would. And -- same way, I'm looking forward to the report. I'm glad. They've done a lot of good work and it's going to be very useful for the country to listen to what they have to say.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: The president saying he looks forward to reading the report but aides saying not to expect the White House to endorse any of these proposed recommendations in the near future. They say they're going to read it, look at it, discuss it for a while before they back any one or more of these recommendations -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Dana Bash at the White House with a preview. Big news coming tomorrow from the 9/11 commission. Dana, thanks very much.

A massive security effort is being put in place for next month's summer Olympic games in Athens, Greece. One very sensitive issue on the table is whether foreign security forces will be allowed to carry arms on Greek soil. There's also talk of a possible NATO role. Standing by at the Pentagon with more on this important story, our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: One thing is for sure, Wolf. NATO will have a role in helping provide security at the Olympics even though the Greek government insists that protecting the athletes and the games is its exclusive responsibility. Nevertheless the Greek government has made a request of NATO for various things that could help increase security. Things like AWACS planes, NATO sea patrols outside the territorial waters of Greece and also some special capabilities that NATO has such as chem-bio detection units that are operated by the Czech government.

But this is all coming in a request that's going to be granted by NATO and could include some U.S. specially trained counterterrorism commandos, according to the Pentagon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. RICHARD MYERS, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: The Greek government has made a request of NATO. NATO is evaluating that request. We tried to find out just before we came in here if we had any news on that and we don't have news on if they've made a decision in Brussels or not. Once that decision is made then we'll look at the kind of capabilities that might be required to help.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Involving the U.S. troops?

MYERS: It's all possible, sure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: Again, it's not clear what role those U.S. troops would play. Pentagon officials say if U.S. special operations forces are assigned to increase security at the Olympics, they'll likely stay in the background, possibly not even at the site of the Olympic games but nearby where they could respond in the event of a terrorist attack -- Wolf.

BLITZER: They'll all be getting ready for those Olympics games. Thanks, Jamie McIntyre over at the Pentagon.

Here in Boston, manholes have been sealed and newspaper stands have been removed. What else is Boston doing to prepare for the Democratic National Convention? And why are some people crying foul? We'll have the answers straight ahead.

Also ahead...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why now? And it's not surprising to me that some Republicans would ascribe motives to Mr. Berger. I think there -- we don't need to politicize this investigation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Going on the offensive, Democrats try to turn the tables on those accusing Samuel Berger of a security slip-up. I'll speak with senators from both sides of the aisle.

Plus, from America's founding fathers to this year's Democratic presidential hopeful, we'll take a look back at Massachusetts, the Bay State's historic White House connections. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: When Democrats gather here in Boston next week, it will mark the first national political convention since 9/11. And that's prompted unprecedented security efforts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): ...closely watched convention in history but not by television viewers. Hundreds of surveillance cameras will monitor the Fleet Center as well as a wide area around it. On top of that, the eyes of thousands of local, state and federal law enforcement officials, some on land, others patrolling Boston Harbor. To thwart would be bombers the city tried to eliminate hiding places: sealing manhole covers and removing newspaper stands. With some $50 million spent on security, Boston's mayor is confident.

MAYOR THOMAS MENINO, BOSTON: We have a well coordinated task force on security, the Secret Service, the state police, the Boston Police, all of them working together.

BLITZER: Not everyone is happy with the precautions, especially protesters, who have been relegated to a fenced area near the Fleet Center that some call a protest pen.

Then there's Boston residents, many of whom face delays and other inconveniences as a result of security measures.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: For more now on the massive security efforts under way here in Boston, I'm joined by Edward Flynn. He's the secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety here in Massachusetts. Mr. Flynn, thanks very much for joining us.

What's the biggest nightmare? What's your biggest concern? I assume it's terrorism.

EDWARD FLYNN, EXEC. OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY: Obviously the biggest concern is the low probably, but high hazard possibility of a terrorist event, certainly. And that's the one that guides much of our planning.

BLITZER: What has the federal government told you that the Department of Homeland Security, the Secret Service, which is obviously in overall charge of security here?

FLYNN: Well, we've been very closely with them and coordinating the latest intelligence with our latest planning efforts. At the current time we don't have specific information that this particular event is the particular target. But we do know that the Democratic processes are a valuable target for international terrorism. We do know there have been generalized threats made against us, so we have to proceed accordingly.

BLITZER: The Secret Service has been designated the lead agency, if you will, the federal agency in charge because this is a national event similar to the Super Bowl, let's say, another national event and could be a target. We had some video that we shot earlier today of the Secret Service compound here where they're coordinating all of this. But how do you divide up the federal, state and local responsibilities?

FLYNN: Well, you raise a very important issue. Our focus, obviously, is security, but our foundation is ineragency collaboration. Certainly United States Secret Service has primary jurisdiction, particularly, regarding the venue, which is the Fleet Center, and the protection of dignitaries.

But the rest of the city needs to be protected which falls to state and local government. So, the Boston Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police have been working very closely to create a venue in which we can have both free exercise of first amendment rights, but also a safe and secure convention.

BLITZER: Who came up with the idea of having protesters basically put in this pen in this area? They're complaining vociferously that their first amendment rights are being violated.

FLYNN: Well, there's a real challenge for us, and I think most people understand we're engaged in a very difficult balancing test between the rights of everyone and also the safety of everyone. What we tried to do was provide an opportunity for demonstrators to have sight and sound access to the Fleet Center and to the delegates, at the same time, given the street configuration, down there, which is extremely narrow and cramped, we have to provide blast zone protection for the demonstrators and the site. That requires us to protect them as well as protect the venues and that creates some restrictions on their movement that I know they resent.

BLITZER: In New York, getting ready for the Republican convention a month from now, there is some suggestion -- the judge has said you can't randomly go ahead and search the briefcases, the bags of individuals without just cause. What's the ground rule here?

FLYNN: Well, we have not applied that standard to our demonstrators. The MBTA police, the transit police, are engaged in a random bag search policy within the confines of the MTBA facilities, mainly the trains. They're concerned, of course, of another Spain- like incident, which obviously effected the election of a democratic society. We see our transit system as a soft target and were trying to harden that target by a combination of both good intelligence, good hard site security and random searches.

BLITZER: Before you came here to Boston you were in Arlington, Virginia, right outside Washington, D.C. And within your jurisdiction was the Pentagon during 9/11 when that plane went into the Pentagon. What -- from that experience, what brings you -- what do you take from that experience in this current mission underway around the Democratic convention?

FLYNN: Well, there's a couple of core lesson that we learned from that event. The first thing we learned, that although terrorists think globally they act locally. When they act locally in the United States it falls to state and local government to respond, not the federal government. So from a first responder capacity, state and local government has to have first rate capability to mitigate incidents and respond rapidly.

The second thing we learned is that, absolutely, there has to be interjurisdictional collaboration. No single jurisdiction in America can handle an event of that magnitude alone, so we have to have strong connections between state and local governments and regional governments to be able to respond.

And the third thing we learned, is that everything that the police and fire departments do at a critical incident arises out of their core mission. And we have to make sure that they're properly trained in the core mission so they can be responsive to an extraordinary event.

BLITZER: Ed Flynn, thanks very much for joining us. Good luck to all of your colleagues. Good luck to you as well.

FLYNN: Thank you.

BLITZER: President Bush spoke with Romania's prime minister today over at the White House. Coming up next, the prime minister of Romania will speak with us.

Also ahead, 3 Americans go on trial in Afghanistan.

And if you don't love Paris in the summer when it sizzles, you can go to the beach in Paris. We'll tell you about that. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Last year Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld created a firestorm when he ridiculed America's traditional western allies as old Europe because they wouldn't help out in Iraq. Instead, he praised the so-called new Europe, the Eastern European countries willing to support the war in Iraq.

Today President Bush welcomed one of the leaders of the new Europe to the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've just had a very good visit. It's the kind of visit that friends would have.

BLITZER (voice-over): It's not hard to figure out why Adrian Nastase (ph) was invited to sit down with President Bush in the Oval Office. The Romanian prime minister speaks the kind of language Mr. Bush likes to hear.

ADRIAN NASTASE, ROMANIAN PRIME MINISTER: I'm very proud to come here to confirm to the president our continued support for fighting together terrorists in the world.

BLITZER: And he backs up those words with action. As a new member of NATO, Romania also has joined ranks with President Bush's coalition of the willing in the fight against terrorism and in the effort to build a Democratic Iraq. There are more than 700 Romanian troops and civilian contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also, the Pentagon has indicated that it may close some U.S. bases in Germany and create smaller ones in former Soviet bloc countries like Romania.

And despite the recent kidnappings and killing of foreigners in Iraq Mr. Nastase advocates a tough stand. He criticized the Philippine government for pulling out its troops in order to secure the freedom of a Filipino held hostage nearly two weeks and advocated the need for a strong stand Tuesday at the United Nations where he held talks with Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And joining us now in our Washington studio, the prime minister of Romanian, Adrian Nastase. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to the United States. Thanks very much for joining us. A few specific questions. God forbid, if a Romanian is taking hostage in Iraq, would you do what the Philippine government did, make concessions to the terrorists? NASTASE: Let me respond in general. I think it is our duty to have a united position on the developments in Iraq. There is now a new momentum. And our message should be we stay together, we stand together against those who want to create disorder and anarchy. I think we should learn from the past that only if we concentrate on the political -- on political action, we can -- we can help the new government in Iraq. The transfer of sovereignty was very important. So we want to continue to help. And I think that it is our duty to try to help the government and the people of Iraq at this time.

BLITZER: Are you prepared to say, Mr. Prime Minister, that you're not going to negotiate with terrorists even if they have a Romanian in their hands?

NASTASE: It is important for us to decide what -- which is our message. And our common message should be that we are not against the people of Iraq. On the contrary, we want to help as much as we can. That's why we are in Iraq. We have sent also some experts on the economic issues, on constitutional issues. There is a process of transition. We have to make everyone understand that once Pandora Box was open we need now a wise political decision based or backed by international consensus. That's why I was very glad that I was in New York yesterday and the Security Council and I send the same message yesterday there.

BLITZER: Well, let me rephrase the question this way. Were you angry that the Philippine government decided to make concessions to the terrorists in order to free their hostage?

NASTASE: Well, I didn't criticize the Philippine government. And I didn't intend to make comments about another government. What I tried to say is that we don't have to give up to those who want to maintain an atmosphere, an environment (UNINTELLIGIBLE). A lot has been done so far. We are approaching the moment when the Iraqi people can take ownership of their own decisions, and we should help them.

BLITZER: Are you prepared -- I'll move on. Are you prepared to see U.S. bases or NATO bases established in Romania, bases that once were in Germany? The old Europe, the new Europe.

NASTASE: We are ready to offer five star strategy location with hospitality and, also, efficiency in terms of the area in which we are. We are already an ally of NATO, so it is our duty, our responsibility to respond as an ally. And we are interested to make the best use of our strategic location to make the best offer. I don't think you can decide -- it's not whether the bases from Germany will be removed. It is a just question of location in general. And I don't want to comment on from where some of those troops who might come to Romania will be from. What I can confirm is that we are ready to offer this strategic location for whatever arrangements which might be needed with the United States and NATO.

BLITZER: One final question. What was the basic -- the most important message that President Bush gave you in the Oval Office today? NASTASE: In our discussion today, the president confirmed the intention to consolidate the strategic partnership between the United States and Romania. And I'm very proud that I met today the president. I consider it is the right time for Romania to be in Washington as a new ally, as an ally by treaty not by action. We have more than 2,000 troops around the world. We try to do our job, but of course we would like to expand, to develop, to consolidate the strategic partnership both in political and also in economic terms.

BLITZER: How the world has changed. It wasn't that long ago that Romania was a key member of the Warsaw Pact, the Soviet Bloc, now a key ally of the United States. Adrian Nastase, the prime minister of Romania. Once again, thank you very much for joining us.

NASTASE: Thank you very much for inviting me.

BLITZER: And they're still talking about Samuel Berger back in Washington.

Is it a criminal case or is it just partisan politics?

We'll talk about the stakes, what's involved. Two senators, Republican Saxby Chambliss, Democrat Ron Wyden, they'll join me live.

Also ahead...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's a wonderful young women, she's bright. As you can see by the picture she's beautiful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The desperate search in Salt Lake City for a pregnant women who went jogging and never came back.

Plus, heading for history. We'll tell you how Lance Armstrong did today with only four stages remaining in the Tour de France.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

The battle heats up over an ex-official's handling or mishandling of classified papers. He calls it an honest mistake. We'll have an honest debate.

First, though, a quick check of the stories now in the news.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is calling on the government of Sudan to do more to help end the humanitarian crisis. Arab militias in the country's Darfur region are blamed for serious crimes and human rights abuses against the black population. Annan says Sudan must follow through on pledges to disarm the militias. Human rights groups accuse the Sudan's Islamic government of aiding the militia groups.

The battle against big wildfires goes on in Southern California. One of the blazes in Los Angeles County grew by almost 2,000 acres overnight. And higher winds are expected to fan the flames.

Lance Armstrong is cementing his lead in the Tour de France. With today's action taking place in the Alps, the American cyclist added almost 2:30 to his overall lead. He's trying to win a record sixth straight Tour de France title. The world's most famous bike race ends in Paris on Sunday.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

As the 9/11 investigators get set to release a report which may have some far-reaching implications for America's battle against terrorism, Washington is preoccupied with a political battle over a former national security adviser's handling of secret documents.

Let's go live to our national correspondent Bob Franken. He's covering the story in Washington -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, of course, it's serious business, but there's always some circus attached to it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice-over): Sandy Berger has never been known as fastidious.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), KENTUCKY: Sandy walked out of the National Archives with some PBDs in his BVDs and some classified docs in his socks.

FRANKEN: The Democrats argue there may be bad rhyme, but no reason to the Republican efforts to turn this into archive-gate. The president is publicly keeping his distance.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Look, I'm not going to comment on this matter. This is a serious matter and it's -- it will be fully investigated by the Justice Department.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: I think I would look to the executive branch to say why the administration would leak this at a time when the 9/11 Commission is coming out.

FRANKEN: The White House won't admit that, but does concede it was aware of the Berger matter.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Some officials in our counsel's office were contacted as part of the investigation.

FRANKEN: When? Where? Democratic Chairman Terry McAuliffe has filed a Freedom of Information demand for all communications and the Kerry campaign is screaming that Republican Chairman Ed Gillespie and Vice President Cheney coached GOP senators at their Tuesday luncheon, presenting a menu that featured political red meat, a Sandy Berger. SEN. GORDON SMITH (R), OREGON: He has now been charged with taking highly classified documents, stuffing them in his trousers, using them for the Kerry campaign.

LANNY BREUER, ATTORNEY FOR SANDY BERGER: The Kerry campaign has absolutely no connection whatsoever to this.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: Right now, there are campaign connections to just about everything, except maybe the voters -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Bob Franken in Washington for us -- thanks, Bob, very much.

As we just heard, President Bush is calling it a serious matter. Are there real security concerns in this case or is it just politics as usual?

Joining us now from Capitol Hill, two key members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, the Georgia Republican Saxby Chambliss and the Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden.

Senator Chambliss, let me begin with you.

Your colleague, Senator Smith, just said Sandy Berger has been charged with certain things. As far as I can tell, he hasn't been charged with anything yet, has he?

SEN. SAXBY CHAMBLISS (R), GEORGIA: Well, I think Gordon was probably using that term a little loosely, but certainly it's been indicated and I think he's even admitted, Wolf, that he did, under whatever circumstances, remove classified documents from the Archives building.

And I don't know that there's any crime that was committed or one that's been -- he's been charged with. But certainly it is a very, very serious national security offense.

BLITZER: Well, what is your worst fear, Senator Chambliss, that what, what happened? Because these were copies -- these were copies of top secret documents. The originals, of course, remain in the National Archives.

CHAMBLISS: Well, I understand that he went back two times after the original time he was there and apparently took the same document, for whatever reason. I don't know what his intent was. Nobody knows that but Sandy Berger, who I have great respect for and have admired. He's been a good public servant, did a good job I thought as national security adviser.

But he was the top national security adviser in the United States. He knows how sensitive classified documents are. And for him to remove certain documents that he knew to be classified, return some of them and then say, well, the dog ate the rest of them or something else happened to the rest of them is really inexcusable. Now, whether that constitutes a crime or not, that's what the investigation is all about right now. It all to be flushed out. And then we can decide whether he ought to be charged. But certainly it's a very serious breach of national security.

BLITZER: Senator Wyden, his attorney, Lanny Breuer, was on my program 24 hours ago and he acknowledges that notes that should have been reviewed by the staff of the National Archives before he took those notes out, he took them deliberately, knowing he was violating national security regulations, the Archive regulations.

But he says the classified documents that he took out were inadvertent. They got tied up in some other papers in his briefcase and it was simply sloppiness, an innocent mistake. Do you accept that?

SEN. RON WYDEN (D), OREGON: Mr. Berger has already made it clear that what he did was a mistake. There's an independent inquiry. And, at this point, allegations are swirling around Washington, D.C., about Mr. Berger like they're confetti in the wind.

Let's let the independent inquiry go forward. To me, the bottom line is, the 9/11 Commission has indicated that they were able to get all the information they needed. So it's hard to see how any of this is going to discredit the work of the 9/11 Commission. What I want to do is get serious about bipartisan efforts to improve intelligence. That's what I'm going to be working on and not something that may end up being a distraction.

BLITZER: Well, when you say a distraction, what is your suspicion? So many of your Democratic colleagues are accusing the Republicans, the Justice Department, or at least Republicans in the Justice Department or elsewhere in the administration, of deliberately timing the leak of this to embarrass John Kerry because Sandy Berger is a former adviser to him or embarrass the Democrats on the eve of their own convention and deflect attention from the 9/11 report that's coming out tomorrow. What's your concern?

WYDEN: Nobody is oblivious to the fact that we are moving into the fall of an even-numbered year and everything is going to be seen through a political filter.

But I come back to the bottom line. The 9/11 Commission has indicated they were able to get everything they need. That's a bipartisan commission. They've made it clear now they were able to do their work. So it's hard to see how any of this, and particularly some of these far-fetched ideas, are going to discredit their work. We ought to be bipartisan. Senator Lott and I introduced a significant bill last week, for example, to deal with the fact that the CIA would have kept 50 percent of the report that our committee came out with last week.

They would have blacked out 50 percent of it. Those are the kinds of things we need to change. We ought to do it in a bipartisan way.

BLITZER: Senator Chambliss, I assume you've been briefed on this matter to a certain degree. The documents that Sandy Berger himself says were lost, that he discarded them, how high was that classification? And worst-case scenario, if it got into the wrong hands, how much damage, if any, significant damage would there really be to U.S. national security?

CHAMBLISS: Actually, Wolf, I have not been briefed on this. I don't know what the document was. It's now been reported that it relates to the 1999 millennium incident. And if that's the case, if it details how we were able to figure out the gentleman that was crossing the border, the terrorist that was crossing the border with intentions of blowing up LAX and reveal sources and methods, it could be very damaging.

That's why it's so sensitive. That's why it's classified and that's why you don't release it. Now, that's not being partisan. That's being factual. And I think Ron and I can agree that, if there were sensitive sources of materials, information in there, and they were taken out by Sandy Berger, that's not sloppiness. There's more to it than that.

And it's not being political. I don't care whether he's a Republican or Democrat. If you take classified documents, you take classified documents, and you know better than to do that.

(CROSSTALK)

WYDEN: The only thing I would add is that there is nothing in Sandy Berger's history that he would compromise this country's security. Certainly, you can differ with his political views. And I have over the years. But there's nothing in his history that he would sacrifice the well-being and the national security of our country for politics.

CHAMBLISS: And with that, I would agree. Sandy was a good public servant and did a good job. That's why this is so odd and so bizarre. I really wish he'd come forward and tell the truth about it and let's put it to rest.

But that just simply hadn't been done. And I have no idea whether the Kerry campaign was in any way involved. I certainly don't think that Senator Kerry would be involved in anything like this. So let's make that clear, too. But he was his national security adviser.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Senator Chambliss, why do you think he's not telling the truth? His lawyer told us yesterday he's been fully cooperating with the Justice Department investigators. He's more than happy to go and do whatever they basically want. Why do you suspect he's not telling the truth?

CHAMBLISS: Well, it is -- undoubtedly, there is a criminal investigation ongoing. And I'm sure there's some hesitancy on their part to come forward.

But that would be the easiest way to put this to rest in a hurry. If they would just come forward and say, look, this is what happened, I was wrong and here's what I did, you know, we could move ahead and the criminal investigation could proceed or it would be dropped or whatever. But to this point, they haven't done that, for whatever reason.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: All right, Senator Wyden, we only have 10 seconds, Senator Wyden, so go ahead. I'll give you the last word.

WYDEN: The 9/11 Commission indicated we missed a lot of signals. Some of those were missed on the Bush watch. Some of them were missed on the Clinton watch. Let's work in a bipartisan way to deal with that and not something that may end up being a significant distraction.

BLITZER: All right, Senator Wyden, unfortunately, we have to leave it there, Senator Chambliss. Thanks to both of you for joining us, both members of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

To our viewers, here's your chance to weigh in on this important story. Our Web question of the day is this: Are the findings in the 9/11 report likely to affect your vote for president, that report coming out tomorrow? You can vote right now. Go to CNN.com/Wolf. We'll have the results for you later in this broadcast.

A pregnant woman disappears and the search begins. This time, the mystery is in Utah. Up next, we'll have the latest on a jogger who simply vanished.

Also, marking history. The convention may be a first for Boston, but presidential politics certainly are not -- a look back at the magnitude of Massachusetts. 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): Three Americans accused of acting as freelance vigilantes are on trial in Afghanistan. They're charged with torturing Afghans in a jail they set up at a house in Kabul. Authorities say the three traveled to Afghanistan on a counterterrorism mission without official U.S. backing. The suspects deny the charges and say they had the full support of U.S. authorities.

Two nuclear rivals are making a new effort to get along. The foreign ministers of Pakistan and India sat down in Islamabad to talk about ways to speed the pace of peace talks.

There's no need for Parisians to head to the Riviera to beat the summer heat. Once again, city officials have created a beach along the Seine in the French capital.

For only the second time in his life, Prince Charles has taken a ride in a taxi. The heir to the British throne took a spin in one of London's traditional cabs as part of a tribute to taxi drivers for their charity work.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

An American chess champion wants asylum overseas. That story tops our "Justice Report."

Bobby Fischer is fighting extradition from Japan to the United States. He's wanted here for illegally playing in a chess competition in Yugoslavia in 1992, when the U.S. barred travel there. Japanese authorities detained Fischer last week, saying his passport was invalid. They're in the process of deporting him. A friend says Fischer hopes for asylum in a third country.

In the Scott Peterson case, a police detective testified that a prostitute stole checks from Scott Peterson's workplace mailbox. Peterson's attorney noted the woman had recently miscarried and portrayed it as another example of police failing to pursue leads and focusing in only on Scott Peterson.

Echoes of the Laci Peterson case in Utah, where police are now searching for a pregnant woman who disappeared when she went for a jog.

CNN's Kimberly Osias has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Twenty-seven- year-old Lori Hacking, and her husband, Mark, just found out they're going to be first-time parents. The couple was also preparing to move to North Carolina, where Mark had plans to start medical school. But now all that is on hold as the family waits, worries and searches for Lori.

THELMA SOARES, MOTHER OF LORI HACKING: Everyone loves Lori. She just sparkles. We want her back.

OSIAS: Salt Lake SWAT team members have combed Memory Grove Park and the steep eight-mile City Creek Canyon near downtown Salt Lake City. Hacking was seen Monday just before dawn as she was stretching for a run. More than 1,000 volunteers and teams of six have joined in the extensive rescue efforts, fanning out over the area surrounding Memory Grove Park.

DET. DWAYNE BAIRD, SALT LAKE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT: We have leads and we're following up on those, but nothing concrete. And we haven't been notified as to where she may be. OSIAS: They looked by horse and by air. And now police are going door to door. Family members say the couple was extremely close and had been married for five years.

DOUGLAS HACKING, FATHER-IN-LAW: I wasn't aware of any arguments in our presence. There has been no leaving or stomping off or conflicts that I'm even aware of. They tend to do everything together.

OSIAS: Detectives have questioned Mark Hacking, impounded his car and scoured the couple's home looking for clues, all routine procedures they say at this early stage of the investigation.

Kimberly Osias, CNN, Seattle.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: He's a favorite son of the Bay State, but John Kerry is certainly not the first person from Massachusetts to set his sights on the Oval Office. Just ahead, a closer look at Massachusetts and its historic role in the presidential contest.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Believe it or not, this will be the first time Boston has ever hosted a presidential nominating convention. But Massachusetts has a long, if not always successful, presidential history.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): From the Boston Tea Party to Paul Revere's ride to the battles of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts helped give birth to America's independence. So it's probably not surprising that two of the first six U.S. presidents were from Massachusetts, John and John Quincy Adams, the only father and son presidents until George and George W. Bush.

But after John Quincy Adams left office in 1829, there was a bit of a drought. There was one vice president, Henry Wilson, who served all of two years until he died in his chambers at the U.S. Capitol in 1875. And Calvin Coolidge, who was born in Vermont, was governor of Massachusetts before he became president. But it wasn't until 1961 that another Massachusetts native became president.

JOHN F. KENNEDY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am the Democratic Party's candidate for president.

BLITZER: There was no mistaking John F. Kennedy's Massachusetts background. His Boston accent was an inspiration for comedians and mimics. There was talk for a time of a Kennedy dynasty.

ROBERT KENNEDY, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We have a special, not only responsibility, but a special opportunity.

BLITZER: Robert Kennedy challenged incumbent President Lyndon Johnson for the Democratic nomination in 1968, but was assassinated after winning the California primary.

Edward Kennedy also challenged an incumbent for the Democratic presidential nomination, but his attempt to unseat Jimmy Carter in 1980 ended in defeat. It wasn't until 1988 that Massachusetts again became a player in the presidential sweepstakes. But in that year, both major-party candidates had Massachusetts roots.

George Bush and Michael Dukakis were both born in the Bay State just a few miles from each other. Bush, who had long since moved to Texas, of course won the election. Dukakis, who had remained in Massachusetts, lost. The late Senator Paul Tsongas made an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992, but he lost to Bill Clinton.

This year, as Boston gets ready to host its first presidential nominating convention ever, Massachusetts is getting another chance to put a favorite son in the White House. The convention is scheduled to conclude with the nomination of Senator John Kerry.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And that would be a week from tomorrow, Thursday night, right here in Boston. I'll be reporting throughout this entire period from here in Boston and the Democratic National Convention.

Our picture of the day, that's just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: The results of our Web question of the day. Take a look at this. Remember, it's not a scientific poll.

Getting ready for the grand finale, it's our picture of the day. The Democratic Convention hasn't even begun here in Boston, but everything almost in place for the end. Look at these balloons. They're going to be dropped at some point.

I'm Wolf Blitzer in Boston.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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