Barack Obama Criticizes Hillary Clinton; Turkish Government Pulls Ambassador From U.S.; Military Secrets Up for Grabs on Black Market
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, Barack Obama sharpening his criticism of Hillary Clinton, what he calls her flawed judgment. This hour, the Democratic presidential candidate talks to me about Senator Clinton, the war and the next phase of his campaign. Also, why white men won't jump. Do they keep voting Republican because they've been neglected by Democrats? And the conservative commentators Ann Coulter stirring up a new hornet's nest after some stunning comments about Jews and America. I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM. Tonight, Democrat Barack Obama admitting he needs to do a better job explaining how he would be different as president than Hillary Clinton. So he's reminding voters of what happened exactly five years ago today. That's when Clinton and 76 other U.S. senators voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq. Listen to this from my one-on-one interview with Senator Obama.</s>SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think her judgment was flawed on this issue. And I know that she was not the only one who voted for this authorization. John Edwards, for example, has acknowledged it was a mistake. I do think that Senator Clinton has tried to massage the past a little bit, suggesting that it was a vote for inspectors. I think everybody at the time, including you and the media and the American people, understood this was a vote for war. You can't give this president a blank check and then be surprised when he cashes it.</s>BLITZER: Senator Obama also suggests Senator Clinton is making another mistake again by supporting a resolution that could give President Bush what Obama calls a new blank check for military action against Iran. We're going to have the interview with Senator Barack Obama, the interview here in THE SITUATION ROOM. That's coming up this hour. Meanwhile, a strong reaction tonight from an angry U.S. ally. The Turkish government is actually pulling, recalling, withdrawing its ambassador from the United States -- something that has not happened in recent history. No one can seem to remember a time when any NATO ally has withdrawn its ambassador from the United States. The tough action coming after a House committee passed a resolution saying Turkey committed genocide during World War I. The fallout could get worse and the enormous ramifications for the United States are out there. Our State Department correspondent Zain Verjee is following this developing story. Zain?</s>ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, at the State Department today, diplomats are doing a little damage control. They're worried that Turkey, who is a friend, could turn into an enemy.</s>VERJEE (voice-over): Turks take to the streets, tired of supporting the U.S. and having little to show for it. Turkish officials say they just don't trust the U.S., which they thought was their closest ally. They feel betrayed by a Congressional committee vote calling the killing of Armenians by Turks in World War I genocide. Turkey warned of consequences and now it's making good on its threat, recalling its ambassador the U.S. for consultations.</s>TOM CASEY, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: That is their decision. I think that it certainly will not do anything to limit our efforts to continue on reach out to Turkish officials.</s>VERJEE: Turkey is threatening more action if the resolution passes the full House.</s>EGEMAN BAGIS, FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER TO TURKISH PRIME MINISTER: Despite our warnings, the U.S. Congress wants to play hardball. We know how to play hardball, as well.</s>VERJEE: Like cutting off its air space the U.S. military, like it did with France and Canada, who passed similar measures. It could also end access to Incirlik Air Base, which the U.S. military uses to transport critical cargo and fuel supplies to Iraq.</s>CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: The passage of the resolution at this time would, indeed, be very problematic for everything that we are trying to do in the Middle East.</s>VERJEE: And might open a dangerous new front in the Iraq War. Turkey wants to destroy Kurdish rebels, called the PKK, that have launched cross border attacks from Northern Iraq, killing Turks.</s>BAGIS: PKK for us is what Al Qaeda is to you.</s>VERJEE: And Turkish officials say if the U.S. won't go off after the PKK, Turkey will. Turkish helicopters crossed into Iraqi aerospace Thursday and troops are dangerously poised along the border.</s>VERJEE: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has spoken to the Turkish foreign minister. She is waiting to speak to the Turkish president and the Turkish prime minister. The message, Wolf, that she is going to have for all of them is that the administration regrets the resolution, opposes it, and is going to do everything it can to make sure it does not pass the full house. Wolf?</s>BLITZER: Zain, thank you very much. Let's get some more now on the history in question. In April 1915, the Ottoman Empire that encompassed the general area of what is now Turkey, but it was disintegrating in World War I. Its Armenian population wanted independence. Russia encouraged it. Ottoman Turks considered the Armenian/Russian alliance a huge threat and targeted Armenians. Between 1915 and 1923, Armenian leaders were rounded up and executed. Villagers were either driven out or killed. Independent historians over the years have put the death toll at anywhere between 600,000 and a million, some suggesting even more. The Turkish government says no more than 300,000 people perished and that Armenians shouldn't count themselves as the only victims. High-tech military secrets up for grabs on a booming black market by communist governments and some of America's sworn enemies. The Justice Department now saying it's a very serious threat, one it's about to try to crack down on. Our Justice correspondent Kelli Arena has details how big this problem is. Kelli?</s>KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE DEPARTMENT: It's a big problem, Wolf and it has been for awhile and it's growing. Officials say that the United States is target number one for technology theft. The Justice Department says that China and Iran pose particular concerns, but they're certainly not alone.</s>ARENA (voice-over): Night vision equipment, missile and nuclear technology, fighter jet parts -- officials say China, Iran and entities in at least 106 other countries are trying to steal U.S. secrets.</s>KENNETH WAINSTEIN, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: It's a threat that's carried out in the shadows and does not raise the same level of alarm as the violence of a terrorist attack or the sword rattling of a belligerent rogue state. But it is a very serious threat nonetheless.</s>ARENA: Just last week a case involving the illegal export of F- 14 fighter jet parts widely sought by Iran. And another involving missile and nuclear reactor equipment illegally sent to Pakistan. The Justice Department is creating task forces to crack down on these black market networks.</s>DARRYL JACKSON, ASST. COMMERCE SECRETARY: Our enemy has openly and plainly stated that they seek weapons of mass destruction and there's no doubt that if they gain access to them, they'll use them.</s>ARENA: The first step, train prosecutors who either don't want or don't know how to pursue such complex cases. Gary Milhollin, an arms proliferation expert calls it long overdue.</s>GARY MILHOLLIN, ARMS PROLIFERATION EXPERT: We have seen a lot of cases where U.S. firms or U.S. citizens have illegally exported things to Iran, to China. And basically we see the slap on the wrist or very little attention or no prosecution at all.</s>ARENA: Next, tighten restrictions on technology that can be used for multiple purposes like this. It's a triggered spark gap which can be used to blast kidney stones or trigger nuclear weapons.</s>ARENA: But one big problem may be the U.S. government itself. A recent congressional probe found that agencies had difficulty coordinating investigations and agreeing on how to proceed. Now this new initiative is designed to correct that and with so much at stake, let's hope it works, Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Kelli, thanks very much. In Iraq, this word just coming in. The U.S. military now reporting 15 Iraqi civilians were killed by coalition forces during a raid targeting al Qaeda in Iraq. Six were women, nine were children, and it happened northwest of Baghdad. It's one of the heaviest civilian death tolls in a U.S. military operation in recent months. The U.S. military spokesman saying al Qaeda terrorists chose to deliberately place Iraqi women and children in danger by their actions. We're watching the story. We'll get you more information as we get it. Let's go to Jack Cafferty. He's in New York with "The Cafferty File." Jack?</s>JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Hillary Clinton is invoking some unlikely names on the campaign trail in New Hampshire, the names of Republican presidents: Dwight Eisenhower, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt. The "New York Sun" reports Clinton's references to that popular Republican trio could be a sign much how she plans to defeat more left-leaning rivals like Barack Obama and John Edwards. It could also be an attempt to build support with Independents and moderate Republicans that she would need to win a general election. In talking about some of her initiatives, Clinton said they were in line with bipartisan efforts of earlier presidents. Quote, "I like to think about President Lincoln. In the middle of a civil war, he supported the construction of the first transcontinental railroad and the creation of land grant colleges. Theodore Roosevelt stepped in and made the economy safe for competition again by busting up the big trusts that were forcing small guys out of business and trying to monopolize the markets. President Eisenhower challenged our nation to respond to the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik," unquote. The Republicans, understandably, don't seem too thrilled with Clinton citing some of their own. The RNC says Clinton's lesson, quote, "conveniently ignores the fact that great leaders have made necessary and tough decisions to protect America, character traits she has failed to demonstrate," unquote. Nevertheless, a recent poll in New Hampshire shows Hillary with a lead over Obama by a margin by more than 2-1. So the question this hour is this. Hillary Clinton's invoking Republican presidents like Eisenhower, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt on the campaign trail. Will that help her? E-mail your thoughts to CaffertyFile@CNN.com or go to CNN.com/CaffertyFile. Wolf?</s>BLITZER: Jack, thank you. You're about to see a very different Barack Obama. He's getting ready to step up attacks against his rivals, especially Hillary Clinton. Barack Obama here in THE SITUATION ROOM. The interview coming up. Also one man says if you're a white male, the Democratic Party is apparently not for you. Could white men cost Democrats the White House? And why would Ann Coulter say she wants quote, "Jews to be perfected?" There's outrage over her latest comments. Stay with us, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.