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THE SITUATION ROOM
North Korea's Arsenal; Interview with Bill Richardson; Ford Recalls 140,000 Cars
Aired April 9, 2012 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: And you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
Happening now, a rocket relaunches U.S. fears about North Korea's nuclear ambitions and the potential -- potential attack on the United States. This hour, CNN gets a rare tour of the launch site. And I'll talk to the former governor, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, the international troubleshooter, Bill Richardson. We experienced nuclear tensions inside North Korea firsthand.
Stand by.
Plus, a big decision in the Trayvon Martin shooting case.
Does it mean that George Zimmerman might be arrested soon?
We have new details on the special prosecutor's latest move.
And a drunken man is savagely beaten. Police get a disturbing lead when video of the attack goes viral.
We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world.
I'm Wolf Blitzer.
You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
Right now, the White House says it's, quote, "very focused on North Korea" and a long-range rocket set to launch this week. The United States fears the operation is simply a cover to test missile technology potentially capable of striking the United States. South Korean officials say the North is secretly planning to follow-up the rocket launch with a new nuclear test -- more fuel for tensions with the West.
But the communist regime says it has nothing to high and gave CNN's Stan Grant rare access to the launch site.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STAN GRANT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is what North Korea has been keeping hidden from the world. Not anymore. A long- range rocket, 30 meters long, or nearly 100 feet, that much of the world suspects will launch the next phase of the reclusive country's missile program. North Korea insists there is nothing to fear, it's not a missile test, but, in fact, a satellite launch for scientific research.
To prove it, they have taken an unprecedented step, opening up the launch site to the eyes of the international media. For Pyongyang, this also represents a propaganda coup. In the year the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Kim Il-sung. "This is a spiritual moment as the North Korean people struggle to open the gate to a prosperous and powerful future," this man says.
But the United States and its allies see it very differently -- a country still technically at war taking yet another step closer to perfecting a missile that experts say could reach American shores.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I am very disturbed.
GRANT (on camera): He can -- he can deny that?
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): If you look for yourselves with your own eyes, then you can judge whether it's a ballistic missile or whether it's a launch of a satellite into orbit. To show that, that -- that's why we have introduced -- we have invited you to this launch site.
GRANT (voice-over): We certainly get the grand tour -- today shown all around the site, the control center, even the actual satellite that will be launched into space on the rocket. One independent European analyst visiting the site says he sees nothing to be concerned about. But...
CHRISTIAN LARDIER, SPACE ANALYST: I don't know what they want to do in the future, but today, what we see is a space launcher.
GRANT: To travel to the site at Punggye-ri is to get an all too rare glimpse through the window of what's been dubbed "the Hermit Kingdom."
(on camera): We're going to get on this train here. We're traveling for about five hours, until we actually get to the satellite launch site itself.
(voice-over): From the carriage of our train, a barren landscape, people scattered working the harsh fields of a country where many people struggle even to eat. Not an issue North Korean officials were keen for me to pursue.
(on camera): Is it more important than food?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sorry, what was the question again?
GRANT: Is space technology more important than feeding -- feeding your people?
We don't want to answer that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will have a chance for appropriate interview.
GRANT (voice-over): To a country obsessed with its self-defense and presenting a strong face to the world, this, they argue, is money well spent. And, anyway, as we are constantly reminded, this is a satellite launch, not a missile test.
(on camera): Despite North Korea's assurances, the skepticism, of course, is going to remain, particularly from the United States, always wary about the intentions of an unpredictable country.
Stan Grant, CNN, Punggye-ri, North Korea.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
BLITZER: Several months ago, my now -- my own national security sources here in Washington suggested that North Korea's new leader might, in fact, try to consolidate his own power by provoking the West in a dangerous way. And it's remarkable to see how North Koreans are falling in line behind Kim Jong Un, the new leader right now, actually with the same kind of pageantry and blind adoration that they showed for his father. Look at these pictures from Pyongyang.
I got to see some of that fawning over Kim Jong-il, the father, firsthand, when I went to North Korea more than a year ago with the former New Mexico governor, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Bill Richardson.
Governor Richardson is joining us from Santa Fe, New Mexico right now.
Governor, thanks very much for coming in.
What are the North Koreans trying to prove right now?
BILL RICHARDSON, FORMER NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR: Well, there are three events going on in North Korea. One, the 100th anniversary of the founder of the country; number two, the accession of more power for Kim Jong Un. He's getting a number of ceremonial party posts; and then, third, this launch.
So it's a -- a big celebration occasion for the North Koreans.
Now, I think what is happening is Kim Jong Un is consolidating his leadership by trying to send a message to two audiences, one, internal, North Korea -- I'm in charge, I'm the guy.
But his most important audience there is the North Korean military, the Korean People's Army, which schedules these launches. And I think it is a cover for a -- a ballistic missile test.
Secondly, to the international community, the fact that he's assembled all of those journalists, he's basically saying, you're going to notice us. We want to be major players in the international community. We have nuclear weapons. And if you want us to get rid of them, we want something substantial in return.
They're scaring people. It's their unpredictability, their unique style of negotiating, which I have seen for 10 years. And it's a little troublesome, because my hope was that the young leader would be a moderate, would get the foreign ministry types that I know want negotiations with the United States...
BLITZER: Right.
RICHARDSON: -- not rely so much on the military leadership.
BLITZER: He may eventually...
RICHARDSON: That's what I think is going on.
BLITZER: He may eventually do that. But I think he's trying to show how strong he is right now, to consolidate his own position. He is, after all, a young guy. He's not even 30 years old right now, Kim Jong Un.
I want you to listen to the State Department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland, speaking today about what's going on in North Korea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VICTORIA NULAND, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN: Our position remains, don't do it. North Korea's launch of a missile would be highly provocative. It would pose a threat to regional security. And it will be inconsistent with its recent undertakings to retre -- refrain from any kind of long-range missile launches.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Now, the North Koreans say this is not a missile, this is a rocket that's launching a satellite that has no military purposes, although you and I and everyone else knows, it's the same technology that would be used for an intercontinental ballistic missile.
But do the North Koreans have a point when they say this is just a satellite, it's not a missile?
RICHARDSON: No, I don't believe so. I think it is a missile. And -- and the fact that they have assembled so many journalists and so much international attention is -- is symbolic of that.
I think what we have to do, Wolf, is we should keep cool. Let's see what eventually happens. There's even reports of a nuclear underground test. Let's see what happens after this thing cools down. And I think the appropriate response should be at the U.N. Security Council, because if it is a cover for a long-range ballistic missile test, it's a violation of those sanctions.
But a lot of it is staging. This is how the North Koreans operate. They try to send these huge, scary messages and then they want the world to react. And I think the U.S. government is correct in -- in keeping its cool, but saying this is negative, this is provocative, this violates a deal that we had in exchange for food aid, you reduce the nuclear weapons that you have, although the North Koreans are saying there's a misunderstanding on that deal.
But whatever it means, it does mean they are back to their old ways of sending very strident, negative messages by these actions.
And right now, with a new leader, with Kim Jong Un trying to consolidate, it gives them a vehicle to make that happen.
BLITZER: I have spoken with some North Korean analysts in the U.S. government and outside of the government who say, you know, these new pictures sprouting up all over Pyongyang and elsewhere in North Korea of the new leader, the new young leader, Kim Jong Un, right next to his father and grandfather, that shows that -- that cult of personality is continuing right now.
But you know what's interesting, they point out that they still haven't heard his voice publicly. He hasn't delivered a speech to the North Korean people on North Korean television. He's spoken to outside visitors to North Korea, but they still haven't heard him speak.
What, if anything, should we make of that?
RICHARDSON: Well, I think what he is trying to do is his most important audience is the North Korean military. Secondly, it's the party leadership. He's trying to show them that he is not going to buckle down from the United States or the six party countries or China, that they're going to proceed with this launch, that they're going to proceed with him taking over the leadership of the country.
He probably, right now, is getting training and briefings. We know very little about him. He's not even 30 years old. He hasn't had leadership or military training. So he's probably undertaking that.
But what he doesn't want to do at this stage of his accession is give concern to the North Korean military the Korean People's Army that runs the show, that he is weak or he is not reliable. So, henceforth, these very provocative actions.
BLITZER: Yes, I wouldn't be surprised if there's some major, major tension sooner rather than later so he can establish his credentials, if you will, as the new leader of North Korea. But it's going to be a tense time out there on the Korean Peninsula. And let's not forget, there's a million North Korean forces along the demilitarized zone, almost a million South Korean troops, with some 30,000 American troops right in between. So this is potentially a nightmare scenario, with nuclear weapons, obviously, in North Korea.
Governor, thanks very much, as usual, for joining us.
RICHARDSON: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: A new move by the United States military could help set the stage for a possible strike against Iran's nuclear program.
Is the Obama campaign on another subject getting cocky?
We'll talk about the risks that the president's team is feeling overconfident.
And a surprising new twist in the Trayvon Martin case and a lot of debate over what it means for the shooter, George Zimmerman.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Jack Cafferty is here with the "Cafferty File" -- Jack.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Wolf, women may very well hold the key to the next election. In my experience, they hold a key to just about everything else. At least, for now, President Obama is in the driver's seat when it comes to women. In a dozen crucial swing states, the president holds a whopping 18-point lead among women over Mitt Romney.
The Democrats using every chance they get to accuse the GOP of waging a war on women. President Obama hosted a forum on women's issues at the White House touting his administration's achievements on equal pay and work place flexibility, saying, quote, "Women are not an interest group, you shouldn't be treated that way," unquote.
Republicans have almost always faced a gender gap when it comes to women, but this time, it looks like Mitt Romney faces a particularly steep uphill battle. The Obama campaign says Romney's promise to, quote, "end Planned Parenthood" and his stance on contraception and employer healthcare plans will hurt him in the general election.
Some say that Romney missed a golden opportunity to sway women voters by not taking a stand when Rush Limbaugh called a Georgetown law student a slut for her position on birth control. Republicans insist the gender gap will disappear once the contentious GOP primary end. One of the ways Romney might ease the gender gap is by naming a woman as his running mate.
Meanwhile, the battle over women comes as the debate rages on over the refusal of the Augusta national Golf Club to admit women. First, President Obama, then Romney, both called on Augusta to accept women members. Maureen Dowd wrote in her column yesterday that August should, quote, "stop emulating the Saudis," unquote.
She says, "You know you're in trouble when Rick Santorum is urging you to be more progressive on women," unquote.
Here's the question, how can Mitt Romney overcome his huge deficit among women? Go to CNN.com/CaffertyFile and post a comment on my blog or go to our post on the SITUATION ROOM's" Facebook page. Houston, we got a problem.
BLITZER: Yes. A huge problem out there. Thanks very much. Huge problem for Mitt Romney as he seeks the White House. Thanks very much, Jack.
Mitt Romney's next big test comes this week -- this month, I should say, when he faces off with Rick Santorum on Santorum's home turf. We're talking about Pennsylvania. Will the April 24th primary seal Romney's fate or the nomination if it isn't sealed already? Let's bring in our senior political analyst, Ron Brownstein.
Rick Santorum's under enormous pressure right now to call it quits before Pennsylvania. Some of his best supporters suggest, you know what, if you lose your home state, it's going to be very bad looking ahead to 2016. If you have any hopes for 2016, this will be a graceful opportunity to step aside.
RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: And not only losing the (INAUDIBLE) 2016, but you know, polling out today by the Pew Research Center, more Republicans now say the race going on is bad for the party rather than good. Seventy-four percent say they believe Romney will be the nominee.
So, there are a lot of reasons to argue for pulling out now. The other side of the coin is now, if he can win Pennsylvania and re- establish some credibility, the calendar in May is more favorable for him. It states with large portions of evangelical voters where he's done well. So, there is that incentive.
BLITZER: Because in May is Texas, Kentucky, Arkansas, these are states -- so if we can win in Pennsylvania --
BROWNSTEIN: And restore his campaign. He might be able to win a whole bunch of states in May.
BLITZER: But he's not getting to get the 1,144/
BROWNSTEIN: He's probably not going to get to what they originally hoped for. I mean, you know, that -- I think the dream of getting to 1,144 on their own has been gone for awhile. The question has been, could they deny Romney 1,144 and throw this open potentially at the convention.
Now, even that is looking more unlikely now. But, clearly, if Santorum can get this act three in his campaign in May, it will increase his leverage within the party and potentially leading qinning (ph) more states than any non-nominee in the GOP ever.
BLITZER: You know Pennsylvania.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes.
BLITZER: You know that state well. You know, if Romney and his Super PAC spend, what, $3 million over the next two weeks, two weeks from tomorrow, killing him in effect, you know, really slamming him on television commercials, it's going to be unlikely he can win, because he doesn't have that kind of money to counter that kind of advertising assault.
BROWNSTEIN: And not only that. Not only it is an enormous financial disparity and Romney unleashing this huge barrage of assets (ph). You're right about (INAUDIBLE). But also, the demographics of Pennsylvania, Wolf, if it was not Rick Santorum's home state, you would say it's a state leaning toward Romney.
That big suburban vote outside of Philadelphia are the kind of affluent better educated voters who'll be supporting Romney all the way through. And even in Pennsylvania, there are signs of them moving toward him.
They've never been really part of that very conservative social agenda that in term (ph) has he lost the four suburban counties outside Philadelphia by 175,000 votes in his last election in 2006. So, there is a demographic opportunity as well as a financial advantage for Mitt Romney there.
BLITZER: Yes. He lost to Bob Casey, what, by 17, 18 points back in 2006. Let's talk about the Obama campaign in Chicago.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes.
BLITZER: You've been covering them as well. Some are suggesting, you know what, these guys are getting a little bit cocky right now looking ahead to November. Are they?
BROWNSTEIN: Well, I mean, I think they're kind of little schizophrenic on this. They certainly feel that Mitt Romney, as the almost inevitable nominee now, has done himself damage in these primaries with Hispanics, with college educated women, about your point from before, and then the upper Midwest.
On the other hand, they are very concerned about the potential for the Super PACs on the Republican side to come with an enormous sums of money, potentially ship the battlefield, so they are really trying to prevent the Democratic financial base, which has shown some signs of complacency from believing that Obama has (inaudible).
You look at this approval rating, you look at the job numbers on Friday, it's very hard to imagine him getting into a truly safe zone, even if he is slightly favored today.
BLITZER: That Ed Gillespie/Karl Rove Super PAC, what, they have $200 million ready to unleash against the president and other Democrats?
BROWNSTEIN: And other Democrats, absolutely. And there's enormous disparity --
BLITZER: And the pro-Obama Super PAC has 25 cents.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes. Right. Exactly. There's no comparison on the Super PACs by the Obama side, the campaign itself, tremendous financial success, even if they're not going to meet the billion dollar expectations that some people had, but they are very concerned about this disparity --
BLITZER: The Obama campaign has hundreds of millions of dollars, but the Obama Super PAC doesn't. Why do they have so much trouble raising money for that pro-Obama Super PAC?
BROWNSTEIN: You know, it's a really interesting question. I mean, certainly, Wall Street has moved away from Democrats. They have some money in Hollywood, but they are heavily dependent now on one source for these big checks, and that's Silicon Valley. That's pretty much the one source right now. The Democrats can go to for the very big checks.
And of course, look, there are a lot of big industrial and financial interest that are very unhappy with the regulatory focus of the Obama administration. A lot of that money is flowing out to the Republican side.
BLITZER: Let's see for Warren Buffett or someone like that. He can write a check for a few million dollars --
BROWNSTEIN: Yes.
BLITZER: -- pretty easily if he wants to. Let's see if they're willing to do that. Thanks very much --
BROWNSTEIN: Thanks, Wolf.
BLITZER: -- Ron Brownstein.
A potentially serious problem. A 140,000 cars are being recalled. We're going to tell you what the problem is and if your car is one of them.
And a man at Baltimore punched in the face then completely stripped down and robbed. And the people that could have helped him chose to laugh at it all. Laugh at him instead. It's a horrific story. We're going to share it with you. Stand by.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: A billion dollar purchase by Facebook. Lisa Sylvester is monitoring that and some of the other top stories in the SITUATION ROOM right now. What happened here, Lisa?
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Wolf. A lot of money we're talking about. Well, the Facebook says it is buying the photo sharing network, Instagram for $1 billion in cash and stock. It's Facebook's largest acquisition ever.
The price includes the $30 million people who actively use Instagram which less than add distinctive filatures (ph) and flare to photos they've taken on their smart phones.
Ford is recalling 140,000 2012 Focuses due to faulty windshield wipers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ford says a piece may not have been installed, allowing water to enter the motor and possibly causing the passenger side windshield to fail.
And it's a tradition older than the electric light. For the 134th year, the president and First Lady took part in the White House Easter egg roll. It started way back in 1878, but our guest says the actual race hasn't really changed much.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CHEERING)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We got a winner over here!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SYLVESTER: Looks like they're having a great time there. Well, the event also included tennis and basketball and has gotten so popular, the White House says, it expected more than 35,000 people to attend, Wolf.
That looks like a good time. I didn't go this year, but I have gone in previous years, Wolf. I've taken my kids, and I've got to say, it is a blast. Always good to see kids having fun there, Wolf.
BLITZER: A lot of fun, indeed. All right. Thanks very much, Lisa.
An announcement by the special prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin case raising eyebrows right now. Could the arrest of the shooter, George Zimmerman, be next?
And Baba Mania. We're taking a closer look at the surprised winner of the Masters tournament and the secret of his success.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: A major new development today in the Trayvon Martin shooting case. The special prosecutor says she's decided not, repeat, not to use a grand jury to investigate the Florida teenager's death. So, what does that mean for the possible arrest of the shooter, George Zimmerman?
Let's go to Sanford, Florida right now. David Mattingly is standing by with the very latest. David, explain what happened and what's likely to happen?
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, we have known all along that Angela Corey, the special prosecute never this case had three options, she could file charges, arrest and prosecute George Zimmerman, she could drop the case entirely or she could go to the grand jury and see what the grand jury would decide about how to handle the case.
Well now, she says there, she is not going to go to a grand jury. She indicated early on that she may go this route. She says she is not going to go to a grand jury. It will be her decision and her decision alone about whether or not George Zimmerman gets prosecuted in this indication. So, right now, she's clearly putting herself in the hot seat and getting praised from both sides because of it. We got a comment from the attorney representing George Zimmerman. This is from Hal Uhrig. He said that he's not surprised. He doesn't know what the decision from that department will eventually be, but he called that decision for her to take this out of the hands of a grand jury, he called it courageous.
We also heard from Benjamin Crump, who is representing the family of Trayvon Martin. He says - his hop in all of this is one step closer for what the family has been wanting all along.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN CRUMP, MARTIN FAMILY ATTORNEY: We were anticipating that there will be no grand jury because the family has always been hopeful that they would just is simply be an arrest. We believe from day one that they had enough evidence to arrest the killer of Trayvon Martin. And now, as that the evidence has continued to unfold, we think there has been a platter are of evidence to simply affect probable cause to do an arrest. Not for any conviction, but for an arrest.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTINGLY: Earlier today, there was a group of student who is had hiked 40 miles into Sanford. They emerged here at the Sanford police department here behind me. A small group of them did block the doors to the Sanford police department in protest. The department was prepared for this. They had actually shut down operations here today and were directing people to go to city hall if they need any business with the police.
But their demonstrations went on. Angela Corey, actually speaking to some of the students via telephone, commending them for their actions, thanking them for their perseverance in being here today, but she would not tell them one way or the other about how this case might go in the future. In fact, when she put out the release today saying she was not going to go to a grand jury, Corey said, be sure not to read anything into this. She's not giving any indication whatsoever of what the future might hold, Wolf, for George Zimmerman.
BLITZER: Is she giving any indication at all when she will make her decision?
MATTINGLY: A timetable is also out the window right here. If she was going to a grand jury that might indicate that when she was going to make the next step, but by taking it out of the hands of the grand jury, she is now back completely in control, again, clearly and very comfortably it seems, in the hot seat on making this decision when she's ready to make it.
BLITZER: David Mattingly on the scene for us. Thank you.
Let's dig a little bit deeper right now about this new twist in the Trayvon Martin case with legal analyst and former federal prosecutor, Sunny Hostin.
Sunny, what's your reaction? What's your take? You've been spending a lot of time looking into this story.
SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: You know, I'm not surprised by the news today that show would not be using a grand jury and using the April 10 date because we know that April 10 date, the grand jury was set by her predecessor, by the former state attorney who is no longer part of this case. So, that in another self-search told me that she probably wouldn't be using the former state attorney's timeline.
The other thing, Wolf, is that, many seasoned prosecutors will tell you that they are comfortable making those tough judgment calls, those hard charging decisions and letting the burden rest on their own shoulders. They look at the evidence in a case. They look at the thoroughness of an investigation. They speak to witnesses. They speak to their investigators and they make those charging decisions.
As a former prosecutor, I will tell you often times I made my own charging decisions, so that doesn't surprise me.
I think what I also think is interesting is that in Florida; a grand jury consists of not less than 15 and not more than 21 grand jurors. And you need concessions of at least 12 grand jurors to indict. So, strategically, this was also very smart by Angela Corey, because when you're talking about a "Stand Your Ground" law, and a justifiable homicide defense. Those are very difficult legal issues for lay people to grapple with and it would be possible not to get an indictment in a case like this.
So strategically it is smart to allow the lawyer to make the determination as to whether or not there's probable cause to make an arrest.
BLITZER: Yes, a tough decision for a prosecutor. Because a prosecutor never wants to file charges and lose the case. And I spoke with a lot of criminal defense attorneys who says you know what, they could in fact acquit him if in fact they are charges. This is by no means a slam dunk. What do you think?
HOSTIN: I think that's right. I mean, this is a tough case especially in the face of "Stand Your Ground" because, you know, when you're talking about a justifiable homicide, you're talking about evidence, you're talking about things that are fact specific. And so, I think it's certainly possible that a jury would determine that self- defense or Zimmerman standing his ground would be appropriate.
In that sense, Wolf, I think it's also important that if charges are brought, that this case not be overcharged. You're hearing people discussing first-degree murder and second-degree murder. That - those are very difficult cases to prove. Manslaughter in the case like this, facts that I know of, that would be the most appropriate charge in this case.
BLITZER: Good point, Sunny. As usual, thanks very much, we'll check back with you tomorrow. Meanwhile, the NBA legend Magic Johnson is also giving his take on the Trayvon Martin case. He spoke a little while ago with CNN Zoraida Sambolin. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAGIC JOHNSON, NBA HALL OF FAMER: -- is very unfortunate because also, a lot of us have son, sons who is wear hoodies and, you know, caps turned backwards. They're not doing anything, that's the fashion of today. And so it could really happen to our sons. That's what the NBA players, I'm sure are thinking, that's what I'm thinking.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: You can watch Zoraida's interview with the Magic Johnson tomorrow morning on early start beginning at 5:00 a.m. Eastern, only on CNN.
The U.S. is sending a message to Iran. It's ready to fight if it needs to, how and why the military is flexing its muscles.
And can you believe this guy just won the masters?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: The U.S. military is ready to fight Iran, at least that's the message it wants to send to the Iranian government, part of the strategy, putting a fully loaded Navy warship right nearby.
Our Pentagon corporate Barbara Starr is following this story for us. Barbara, why now? What's going on?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know Wolf, the navy, the Pentagon is calling it a routine deployment, but it's coming at a time when the region is steaming up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice-over): The aircraft carrier USS "enterprise" says the fighter pilots are ready to go. The navy's oldest warship on one last tour duty, this time in the Middle East, part of the signal to Iran that U.S. firepower is ready if President Obama orders military action against Iran's nuclear program.
The U.S. is heavily spying on Iran, using drones, satellites and eavesdropping to find out how close Iran really is to a nuclear bomb. But for now, the pressure of economic sanctions, and the threat of more, had been the biggest stick to convince Iran to change course away from what many believe is Tehran temper to make a nuclear bomb.
JON ALTERMAN, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: The Iranians are feeling squeezed but they don't really want to solve the problem so much that they want to move it to where they can play it in a more advantageous way.
STARR: Iran and fixed wolf powers will sit down this week. ALTERMAN: I think the Iranians are looking to split off the Russians and Chinese to try to break apart what has been a very impressive growing international consensus, but not do it so effectively as to invite an Israeli strike.
STARR: Iran is offering a concession, reducing the amount of uranium it is enriching at the 20 percent letter. It's an east step to further process the uranium to weapons grade, once 20 percent is achieved. Israel won't beat the talks but already defense minister, Ehud Barak, laying out his country's position.
EHUD BARAK, ISRAEL'S DEFENSE MINISTER: Always enriched 20 percent material out of the country tour neighborhood trusted country. Then, all the material to enrich to 3.5 percent for the accept for few hundred kilograms should we take it out of the country, once again into a neighborhood trusted company.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: Israel still insist its program is for peaceful scientific and research purposes. But even if the United States was to agree to accept a civilian Iranian nuclear program, there's no guarantee that Israel would also agree -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Good point, Barbara. Thank you.
A tourist beaten after a day of drinking, police get an important lead when video of his acts shows up on the internet. The images may shock you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Some internet videos posted make you laugh, some make you cry, some make you down right furious. That's how you may feel when you see this clip from the streets of Baltimore, Maryland.
Lisa Sylvester is following the story for us in the video that is simply, simply outrageous. A lot of people are asking why.
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is very true, Wolf. You know, what's disturbing about this video is that they beat this man, they robbed him, they stripped him naked and then they posted the video on you tube.
The video has gone viral sparking outrage with some suggesting the attack had racial undertones. The victim is white. These assaulters are black.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SYLVESTER (voice-over): It's 2:00 in the morning in downtown Baltimore the day after St. Patrick's Day. Parties are winding down. Watch what happened to the guy in the green shirt. Police say he has been drinking and he appears as little dazed.
A rowdy crowd gathers. Women start dancing around him suggestively, people messing with him, then someone notices his watch.
You see someone grab something from his pocket, he goes get it back. But it doesn't stop there, this is a second tape, someone else is also recording the incident, the man who's been identified as a 31- year-old Arlington, Virginia resident is kicked and punched and then stripped off his clothes. And the bystanders do nothing but laugh. We showed the video to several people in Baltimore. The reaction, outrage and disgust.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's very sad.
SYLVESTER: Why? Tell me why?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, obviously he didn't do anything to anybody. They just got up on him and started beating up on him.
SYLVESTER: What about the people watching?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think that's even worse, you would think they would intervene and try to help. But, I guess not everyone has that mindset.
SYLVESTER: The victim managed to make is back to his hotel room. When he woke up, he had no memory of what had happened. But he had a black eyes, sprains and bruises all over his body. And he was missing a few things.
According to the police report, taken from him, a tag heuer watch valued at $1300, an Iphone valued at $500 and the key to an Audi valued at $300.
Detective Nicole Monroe says police are now asking for the public's help identifying the people in the video.
DETECTIVE NICOLE MONROE, BALTIMORE POLICE: What they did to him just aren't on the level of humanity. It makes him question the motives of those individuals. Not only did they rob him, but they attempted to strip him of his dignity, they tore his clothes off, they mocked him. That behavior just will not be tolerated.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SYLVESTER: And Baltimore police identified one suspect, he's not in custody yet, authorities are trying to identify more people in the video and they could face charges for assault and robbery.
BLITZER: I know this has caused outrage there in Baltimore. And the police there, they're going to arrest folks in the video. They're going the find them and charge them with serious crimes.
SYLVESTER: Yes. You know, it's one of the reason why the police are hoping that his video gets out there is because they hope that someone out there, they have received hundreds and hundreds of calls so far, but they want to receive more calls, more tips to try figure out all of those people involved tonight. Some of them, you can clearly see and others you can't. But they are focusing their attention in trying to get all of them.
BLITZER: Once they arrest one or two they will talk in order to reduce whatever punishment they might get and the whole group potentially could be rounded up and some could even wind up in jail.
SYLVESTER: Yes. The other thing about this, keep in mind they posted this video on you tube. And there was at least one individual who tweeted about this video. So, these are all potential leads now. I mean the fact that this video is out there, it is not good for this individual but it is a very strong lead that they can now try to work backwards and figure out whose account it was.
BLITZER: Some of those people involved, they should go to the police and say they did it. That might help them in the long run.
SYLVESTER: Exactly.
BLITZER: I suspect they won't. Thanks very much.
And now, to another brutal attack, stand by. We'll have much more on this coming up right after this.
Jack Cafferty is back. Unfortunately, Jack, we have confusing signals from the control room. Not unusual. This is live television. But --
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is extremely unusual. I have been doing this show for seven years and this happened maybe once before. It is very unusual and it doesn't look very nice, either. We're supposed to be more professional.
BLITZER: Stuff happens. You know what, I got confused. They got confused and now we have Jack. So, go ahead.
CAFFERTY: Sure. Don't put it in my lap when things go to hell. It's all right. I can handle it.
The question this hour is how can Mitt Romney overcome his huge deficit among women?
Carolyn in California, "Spin, that's how. Security trumps all in the female vote by dialing up his jobs and improved health care plans and dialing back his promise to nicks support and funding for Planned Parenthood, he will soon clear his screen of this sketchy issue and get more back than he's lost."
Connie in Indiana writes. "Romney keeps referring questions about women to his wife. She drives two Cadillacs. I don't. They won't even let me sit in one. I had three kids and they used birth control. She had five kids and rails again birth control. She doesn't know me. Who does he think is running, him or his wife?"
Brian in San Diego, "the only shot he has left is takes a stand against the far right elements of his party and say clearly this is the wrong approach. I am not going to blindly follow this doctrine as president. Unfortunately for him he moved so far to the right already trying to win those voters that by repudiating them he would be seen as making another flip-flop."
Ken in Seattle writes. "Romney can't seem to relate to anyone who isn't just like him. That's everyone who is not one percent of the one percent and not male. He has shown repeatedly by his own actions and words that he just doesn't care. He is further hampered by a Republican party which cares even less about the rest of us than he does."
Andy on facebook writes. "Announce a female vice presidential running mate besides Sarah Palin."
And Frank in L.A. writes. "I can't think of anything short of ending his quest for the White House and opting instead for a shot on dancing with stars. Other than that, anything he does to overcome this deficit with women voters will assuredly be seen as nothing more than smoke and mirrors."
If you want to read more about this, go to my blog cnn.com/caffertyfiles or throw a post on "the situation room's" facebook page. Back to you, Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Jack. Thanks very, very much. And you're right, it doesn't often happen, sometimes it does. It's a live television.
There are a lot of things you probably don't know about the winner of the Masters Golf Tournament including Bubba Watson's connection, yes, to Justin Bieber.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Finally in this hour, pro golfers are often have a reputation to be uptight. But you can probably tell by his longer hair or better yet even his pink driver that masters winner Bubba Watson is a rare breed.
Here is CNN's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If you think golf is a snobby sport, meet the latest star, Bubba Watson may have blubbered when he won the masters. He is a master of not taking the sport or himself too seriously.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bubba Watson here.
MOOS: He has been teeing off from a top discount tires and whacking cakes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're welcome.
MOOS: Welcome to the whacky world of Bubba's you tube videos.
BUBBA WATSON, MASTERS GOLF CHAMPION 2012: You got lettuce and the 08d wooden stick. See which wins. MOOS: The old wooden stick always wins. The amazing hook shot out of the rough that helped Bubba win the Masters was a distant relative to his hot tub trick shot.
WATSON: Under the porch, over the roof, into the hot tub. Let's see if I can do it.
MOOS: Here is how he celebrated that shot.
BUBBA: (SHOUTING)
MOOS: The water works at the Masters all came from his eyes. He is a Christian and winning on Easter tweeted to God be the glory. His wife reads the bible to the newly adopted infant son. Bubba may have been wearing a half a million dollars watch from one of the sponsor but he wore the masters green jacket modestly.
BUBBA: Thanks. I look like you now.
MOOS: Probably the best known fact about Bubba is that he has never had an actual golf lesson. If you can't beat me, how can you teach me, he says?
BUBBA: Never had a lesson, so it's just me out there beating plastic balls.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bubba here.
MOOS: Bubba is the polar opposite of cool, Tiger Woods. His father nicknamed him after the football player and actor Bubba Smith.
Bubba may be famous for his long, powerful drives, but it is what he drives that is actually one-of-a-kind.
It was his dream car known as General Lee show, the Dukes of Hazzard. There are actually dozens and dozens of dodge chargers used in the series, Bubba bought one of the originals for $110,000.
This is a guy that plays golf with Justin Bieber.
JUSTIN BEIBER, SINGER: Bubba says I'm terrible.
MOOS: Bubba appeared along with other PGA golfers in a mock boy band video, the golf boys.
His game may be golf, but for Bubba, any ball will do.
BUBBA: Play me.
Pumpkin me.
Ball me.
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: Pretty good, Bubba Watson. Congratulations. Excellent masters tournament.
Thanks very much for joining us. I am Wolf Blitzer in "the SITUATION ROOM." The news continues next on CNN.
