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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Suicide Bomber Strikes Outside Tel Aviv Discotheque, Killing at Least 17

Aired June 01, 2001 - 20:00   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, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, in Israel, an apparent suicide bomber strikes at a disco on Tel Aviv's popular seaside promenade. There are dozens of casualties. We'll have a live report.

Five children remain holed up in their house in the Idaho woods. Can their brother help end a standoff with police? We'll get a live report.

As a former senator claims the FBI hindered his probe of the 1993 Waco siege, FBI records are at the heart of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh's efforts to delay his execution. I'll speak with his victims' outraged relatives.

With the Senate set to change hands Tuesday, the new majority leader, Tom Daschle, plans a weekend visit to the ranch of maverick Republican Senator John McCain. We'll tell you why.

And a president, a would-be president, a former president come together to bid farewell to a popular congressman.

Good evening. I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting tonight from Washington.

It's happened again in Israel. There's late word tonight a Palestinian suicide bomber has struck a crowded Israeli discotheque in Tel Aviv. There are dozens of killed and injured, mostly young people, and the counting continues. And that's our top story.

CNN's Ben Wedeman is in Tel Aviv, and he joins us now live.

Ben, tell us what happened.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf. Israeli police and medical authorities are here picking up the remains of people who were killed in this bombing. At least 17 people, more than 70 injured. Now, earlier, just a little while ago, Raanan Gissin, the spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon came here. He condemned this as a senseless massacre. He said that the Israeli Security Cabinet will be meeting tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock local time, during which they will obviously discuss the situation.

He said that they will take a cool and calculated decision on how to reply to this bombing, and they will target the perpetrators. He also made a point of saying that they would also be aiming for not only the perpetrators themselves, but those who coordinated it, those who facilitated the entire operation.

He said -- he did not say that they would be unilaterally scrapping their policy of restraint, but certainly given the emotions here, the anger, the shock at this bombing, that restraint is under more pressure than ever before -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Tel Aviv, thank you very much. And for further reaction from the Israeli government to this latest deadly bombing, we turn now to Yossi Gall (ph) from the prime minister's office in Jerusalem. He joins us in Jerusalem.

Mr. Gall (ph), what can you tell us about responsibility, if you know who is specifically responsible for this apparent suicide bombing?

YOSSI GALL (ph), ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE: Well, what is responsible and who is responsible is really this continuous wave of incitement on the part of the Palestinian Authority. It is the green light given by the Palestinian Authority to all the different organizations to carry on terror.

BLITZER: That sounds as if you're specifically pinning the blame on the Palestinian Authority president, Yasser Arafat. Are you?

GALL (ph): Well, Wolf, what happened tonight exposed once again this criminal, barbaric nature of Palestinian terrorism. On Friday night, in front of a disco, with so many youngsters, this is a murder in cold blood. And he who gives the green light to terrorism, he who gives the green light to suicide attacks certainly bears responsibility.

BLITZER: What do you know about any potential Israeli reaction in terms of a military retaliation? Normally, there is this pattern, as we all know, those of us who have covered this story for so many years.

GALL (ph): Well, I think that the primary responsibility of every government, the primary responsibility of the Israeli government is to bring security to its citizens, and this is what this government is going to do. Terrorism cannot and will not be tolerated.

And let me just remind you that this terrible, horrendous act happens after 10 days of unilateral cease-fire that Israel declared 10 days ago. In the span of this 10 days, we've seen more than 150 terrorist attacks culminating tonight in this terrible, criminal, barbaric act.

BLITZER: Yossi Gall (ph), from the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, thank you so much for joining us. And of course, CNN will continue to cover the bombing in Tel Aviv. Stay with CNN throughout the evening for continuous coverage.

Here in the United States meanwhile there's a heart-wrenching story that's playing out in a rural Idaho. A group of children have shut themselves in their house: their father recently dead, their mother, described by law enforcement authorities, as mentally ill and now under arrest.

CNN's Lilian Kim. She joins us now from Garfield Bay, Idaho with the latest. What's happening at this hour, Lilian?

LILIAN KIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the standoff continues, but one of the children is in protective custody, and authorities say so far he's been very cooperative. As for the children's mother, her attorney is hoping to get her out on bail.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KIM (voice-over): Five children, ages 8 to 16, remain holed up in this Idaho home as their mother sits in jail. Seen here in a family photo, Joanne McGuckin is accused of failing to adequately feed and protect her children. Her attorneys are working to bail her out.

BRYCE POWELL, MOTHER'S ATTORNEY: This is north Idaho, where people value their freedom, and if freedom means anything, it means the right to live your life the way you choose and to raise your family the way you choose.

KIM: Deputies originally believed six children were inside the home, but one of them, 15-year-old Benjamin McGuckin, had been roaming the area for days and is now in child protective custody.

PHIL ROBINSON, PROSECUTOR, BONNER COUNTY, IDAHO: We didn't know where he was, of course. We thought he probably was in the house. We're not approaching the house. We're so far back from the perimeter. But yesterday afternoon, probably between 4:00 and 5:00 sometime, he had gone to a neighbor. That neighbor contacted our office -- well, not our office, but law enforcement, and then brought him in.

KIM: The standoff began Tuesday, when the children refused to be taken into protective custody after authorities arrested their mother. For deputies, the task now is to persuade the rest of the brothers and sisters to leave the home. Guns are believed to be inside, and nearly 30 dogs are reportedly roaming the property. Authorities are hoping the older brother can help, along with an older sister, who no longer lives at the house.

ROBINSON: His case will now technically proceed forward, because we now have him in our custody. But hopefully, he's going to be able to provide us some information and maybe some assistance in trying to wind this thing down with the other kids.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KIM: Joanne McGuckin's bail is set at $100,000. A hearing is scheduled for today. A judge will decide whether to reduce that bail amount.

Reporting live from Garfield Bay, Idaho, I'm Lilian Kim. Wolf, back to you. BLITZER: Lilian Kim, thank you very much. And there's more criticism of the FBI tonight. Former Senator John Danforth says he had to threaten the bureau with a search warrant to obtain his evidence for his probe of the 1993 Branch Davidian siege in Waco, Texas. Some 80 cult members died in a massive fire as federal agents stormed their compound. The government investigation led by Danforth cleared the FBI of responsibility for the blaze. But Danforth tells "The Washington Post" that getting information out of the bureau was like, quote, "pulling teeth."

The FBI's mishandling of documents in the Oklahoma City bombing case has led Timothy McVeigh to request a stay of his execution. Government attorneys will spend the weekend preparing their response, with a hearing set for next Wednesday in Denver.

CNN's Gina London is there. She joins us now with the latest on the legal maneuvering.

Gina, this weekend is going to be a busy weekend for the -- all the attorneys involved in this case. Tell us what's happening.

GINA LONDON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Exactly, Wolf. As a matter of fact, both of the sides are preparing their arguments for this motion, a motion that will be heard in federal judge Richard chambers -- Richard Matsch's, rather, chambers behind me, the building that you see.

Now, there's an added pressure on the government, because the prosecution has a Monday deadline in order to file its written response, the petition for McVeigh, who asked for that stay of execution. And of course, as you mentioned, on Wednesday, that's the hearing.

BLITZER: I know, Gina, that you've been talking to attorneys on both sides. What are they predicting to you as far as what Judge Matsch will do?

LONDON: Well, a couple of things in the hearing -- first, of course, the question why or why not to stay the execution. And then it's expected that the defense is actually going to show why it believes the recently returned documents to them from the government, some of it was exculpatory or would have helped McVeigh's case, and why they believe that the government is still holding back.

Now, that's going to help them convince Matsch to try and to -- in their hopes -- to call for another hearing, that one which might force the government to explain itself. And then what the legal community here is saying, Wolf, is that they expect Judge Richard Matsch to go ahead and turn his ruling over very quickly. But it's interesting to note that whether or not he rules to stay or not to stay the execution, either side could appeal.

BLITZER: Gina London in Denver, thank you very much. And later in our program, we'll get reaction to all of this from two women who lost loved ones in that Oklahoma City bombing. In other news tonight, preparations are under way for next week's change of command in the Senate, triggered by Vermont Senator James Jeffords' defection from the GOP. Eyebrows have been raised by a planned weekend meeting at the Arizona ranch of maverick Republican Senator John McCain. His guest: the incoming majority leader, Tom Daschle. Both sides insist the visit was arranged months ago.

Meanwhile, Daschle has flexed his new political muscle. He's backing Nevada's effort to keep nuclear waste from being stored in a proposed dump at Yucca Mountain.

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SEN. TOM DASCHLE (D-SD), MINORITY LEADER: I think the Yucca Mountain issue is dead. As long as we're in the majority, it's dead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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DASCHLE: Until we can resolve all of the outstanding concerns about safety, that we really don't believe that there is a reason why it should go any further than it is right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: For more on the transition to a new majority and the speculation about another defection, I'm joined here on Capitol Hill by our congressional correspondent, Kate Snow.

Kate, tell us what's happening with this meeting between Tom Daschle and John McCain this weekend.

KATE SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Both offices -- Senator Daschle's office, Senator McCain's office -- both of them say this is nothing more than a friendly meeting. Senator Daschle set to be at the ranch tomorrow, spending the night Saturday night and then leaving on Sunday morning. We're told he's going to be hiking and having some barbecue.

But they did issue a statement to try to clarify things. Senator McCain's office putting out this statement. "It is a strictly social event. Over the years, Senator McCain and his wife, Cindy, have been pleased to invite many friends, Democrats and Republicans, to spend time with them at their weekend home. No one should read anymore into this."

But of course, Wolf, that is the way here in Washington: People will start to read something into this. Democrats have said that they have been trying to talk with McCain for the last several weeks about the potential for him switching. Senator McCain a week ago told CNN that no, he is not going to leave the Republicans for the Democratic Party, and he said at least in the immediate future had no plans to become an independent.

BLITZER: And just to clarify, the Senate comes back on Tuesday. At what point will Tom Daschle be the majority leader of the Senate? SNOW: The way it looks to be working out is it will take effect close of business on Tuesday. Wednesday morning, the Democrats will take their places as the chairmen of all the various committees, and Senator Daschle would then be the majority leader. There's a little bit of wrangling going on about how exactly all of that reorganization will work.

BLITZER: OK, Kate Snow, thanks for joining us.

And Democrats and Republicans came together today to bid farewell to longtime Massachusetts Congressman Joe Moakley. The 74-year-old Democrat was laid to rest today. He died Monday after a battle with leukemia.

President Bush attended the service, as did his former challenger Al Gore and former President Bill Clinton. It was the first time the three men had met since the bitterly contested election.

The wheels of justice are turning very slowly for Oklahoma City survivors and the relatives of the victims. I'll speak with two people who lost children in the bombing. And the Bush twins could run up against a zero tolerance law signed by the last Texas governor. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. 168 people lost their lives when Oklahoma City's federal billing was bombed in April 1995. Survivors and relatives of the victims have been waiting for justice to take its course. Some had planned to witness the execution of Timothy McVeigh. Others just want some sort of closure.

The postponement of that execution and now the request for a stay have produced outrage directed against both McVeigh and the FBI. Joining me now are two relatives of victims. In Washington, Marsha Kight. She lost her daughter, Frankie. And in Las Vegas, Peggy Broxterman. She lost her son, Paul.

Thanks to both of you for joining us, and Marsha, let me begin with you. How are you dealing with the possibility that there could be another delay in the execution of Timothy McVeigh?

MARSHA KIGHT, MOTHER OF VICTIM: I have to take it one day at a time. If I think any further out than that, it drives me crazy. I'm already hearing rumors as far as conspiracy theories, and it's very difficult just dealing with the here and now.

BLITZER: What about you, Peggy? How are you dealing with this?

PEGGY BROXTERMAN, MOTHER OF VICTIM: I'm very disturbed by it all, that they're postponing it at all. I don't think it's necessary. I don't think they're going to find anything, and I just don't believe it should be postponed any longer.

BLITZER: Peggy, had you planned on going to Terre Haute or to eyewitnessing the execution via closed-circuit television? BROXTERMAN: Yes, I was going to go and I was going to be one of the witnesses.

BLITZER: And the reason you wanted to do that was what?

BROXTERMAN: It's -- it's for my son. For my son and the other 167 people that were killed.

BLITZER: Marsha, were you planning on going?

KIGHT: No, I was not.

BLITZER: And the reason you didn't want to go?

KIGHT: Watching McVeigh die even 168 times would not have brought my daughter back, and I -- it's just something that I didn't care to see.

BLITZER: How angry are you, Marsha, if you are at all, at the FBI for failing to provide some 4,500 pages of documents to the defense attorneys before the trial?

KIGHT: Well, I hope to God that's not the case. McVeigh was judge, jury and executioner on April 19th, 1995. And now McVeigh and his attorneys are hoping there is (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in these newly revealed document. But it's beyond my comprehension if there was something withheld intentionally. I -- I just can't even fathom my feelings, what my feelings would be, but I hope appropriate actions would be taken against these people.

BLITZER: Peggy, are you angry at the FBI?

BROXTERMAN: No, I'm not. I believe that they've done everything that they could. I believe they've turned over all the necessary evidence. McVeigh is guilty and he's to die, and there's nothing in those papers.

BLITZER: Peggy, yesterday, after Robert Nigh, one of the defense attorneys for Timothy McVeigh, spent two hours in the prison in Terre Haute with him, he emerged, Robert Nigh, and spoke to reporters and issued this statement on behalf of his client, Timothy McVeigh. I want you to listen to what Mr. Nigh said.

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ROBERT NIGH, ATTORNEY FOR TIMOTHY MCVEIGH: Mr. McVeigh has asked us to say that he understands and recognizes the impact that his decision may have upon his family, the victims in Oklahoma City bombing case, the community of Terre Haute, and others. His decision in no way stems from a desire to cause these people any additional pain or trauma.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: When you hear that, what guess through your mind?

BROXTERMAN: That he didn't say it. That's from his attorneys' mouths, because I don't think McVeigh even thinks that deep.

BLITZER: Do you agree, Marsha, that Timothy McVeigh is not really expressing remorse, because he appeared now for the first time really in that statement from his attorney to be expressing some remorse?

KIGHT: I think it's absolutely untrue.

BLITZER: Why do you think that?

KIGHT: Well, McVeigh already says he called the children collateral damage and said he had no remorse for what he did in Oklahoma City. So why should he now?

BLITZER: So just to button it up, both of you are hoping that on June 11th the execution will go forward? First to you, Marsha.

KIGHT: Yes, I think the execution should go ahead. I don't think there's anything in these documents that will show -- shed any light on innocence to Timothy McVeigh. I think he is guilty without a doubt.

BLITZER: Peggy?

BROXTERMAN: I believe that he should go ahead, because I don't think there's anything to hold it up. I think Judge Matsch heard it all. He saw it all. And I think that it just should go ahead.

BLITZER: Peggy Broxterman and Marsha Kight, I want to thank both of you for joining us, and of course, our deepest condolences to both for the losses, the very painful losses, of course, that you have suffered in Oklahoma City. Thank you so much.

BROXTERMAN: Thank you.

KIGHT: Thank you.

BLITZER: And still ahead, the latest on the Tel Aviv discotheque bombing. We'll go live to Israel. Plus, the Bush twins could face stiff penalties over their latest run-in with the law. The story when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. In other news tonight, the Bush twins could face victim -- could fall victim to a tough zero-tolerance law signed by their father while Texas governor. Jenna Bush was cited this week for using someone else's identification to buy alcohol. Barbara was ticketed for possession of alcohol by a minor. Under the law, Jenna could lose her license for 60 days while Barbara could lose hers for 30.

The number of homosexual soldiers discharged from the Army more than doubled last year. In all branches of the military, the Pentagon reports more than 1,200 troops were discharged for alleged homosexual conduct last year or stating their homosexuality. That's a 17 percent increase, pushing it to the highest total since the "don't ask don't tell policy" went into effect seven years ago.

The king and queen of Nepal have been assassinated in a shooing shooting at the royal palace. Officials say Nepal's crown prince opened fire today, killing his parents and five other members of the royal family before turning the gun on himself. Initial reports state the shooting was caused by a dispute over the woman the crown prince was to marry.

Tonight on "The Leading Edge," as early as tomorrow, NASA plans to test an experimental rocket engine that could revolutionize space and air travel. Instead of rocket power, the SCRAM jet relies on air- breathing engines to travel at up to three times the speed of sound. The unmanned aircraft will drop from a plane, then fly on its own before crashing into the Pacific Ocean.

Problems with the International Space Station's robotic arm are forcing the crew to stay an extra month. The crew on board the outpost will try to repair the newly installed arm before Space Shuttle Atlantis picks them up in August.

Up next, a live update from Israel on the deadly bombing of a Tel Aviv discotheque. Stay with us.

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BLITZER: Welcome back. An update now on our top story. Let's go back to Tel Aviv for the latest on the suicide bombing there. Joining us once again live is CNN's Ben Wedeman -- Ben.

WEDEMAN: Yes, Wolf, it's been several hours since that bomb went off, but the shock is still being felt throughout the country. Now with me is Raanan Gissin. He's the spokesman for the prime minister, Ariel Sharon.

Mr. Gissin, you've had a policy of 10 days of cease-fire, unilateral cease-fire. How much longer can you maintain that?

RAANAN GISSIN, SPOKESMAN FOR PRIME MINISTER ARIEL SHARON: We are committed to the cease-fire, we are committed to peace. But there is no doubt that we are reaching the limit after this horrendous attack.

I think the pictures here speak more than a thousand words of who is the victim and who is the aggressor and who has actually conducted this event. And the world can judge by itself.

We are still committed to peace, and we are willing to make compromises for peace. But the prime minister, with which I talked just two hours ago, reiterated in my ears once again there is one thing that this government and this prime minister will never make any compromises on, and that's the safety and security of the citizens of Israel, like any other government would do under those conditions.

And you can rest assured that those who perpetrated the act and the Palestinian Authority, which is fully responsible for these acts, will pay the full price. We'll decide on the time and place and the method to -- to bring about an end to this cycle of hostilities. WEDEMAN: Now, you seem fairly certain that the Palestinian Authority is responsible for this bombing. What is it that makes you say that?

GISSIN: Because this has been the case for the past eight months and for the past two months. The Palestinian Authority and its security organs were actively engaged in that 417, Fatah. All these organizations which are loyal to Arafat, they are the ones who instigate those actions. They are the ones who support, who allow the terrorists, who should have been behind bars, to conduct these suicide bombings or the shooting or any other incident. There's no difference. Terror is terror! And it is instigated by the Palestinian Authority.

Either they want to be partners for peace or they are instigators of terror. Arafat must make the decision and the international community should put the pressure on him to make it as soon as possible.

WEDEMAN: All right. Thank you very much. That was Raanan Gissin, the spokesman for the prime minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you very much, Ben Wedeman, in Tel Aviv, and thank Colonel Gissin for us as well.

Meanwhile this evening, from his weekend retreat at Camp David, Maryland, President Bush issued a statement on the suicide bombing. He says this: "I condemn in the strongest terms the heinous terrorist attack in Tel Aviv this Sabbath evening. There is no justification for senseless attacks against innocent civilians."

The president goes on to say, "This illustrates the urgent need for an immediate, unconditional cessation of violence." He adds: "I call upon Chairman Arafat to condemn this act and to call for an immediate cease-fire. My deepest condolences and those of the American people," the president adds, "go out to the victims and their families."

That's all the time we have tonight. Thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. "THE POINT WITH GRETA VAN SUSTEREN" begins right now.

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