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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
America Strikes Back
Aired October 11, 2001 - 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, CNN ANCHOR: Terror struck two U.S. cities. Tonight: word of new threats to Americans at home and abroad. Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.
Breaking news this evening: the FBI is warning of more potential attacks against the United States mainland, as well as U.S. interests overseas. In a bulletin on its Web site, the Bureau says attacks could occur over the next few days. For more on this story we turn now to CNN's national security correspondent, David Ensor -- David.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, U.S. officials -- knowledgeable U.S. officials tell me that they have intelligence that suggests to them that there is a high probability that there will be or could be terrorist attacks against U.S. soil or U.S. interests overseas in the next several days.
They are -- the information is not specific, they say. But they do believe that it is credible and they wanted to get the word out. And the FBI specifically wanted to get the word out so that people would be vigilant in case something could come up.
Now, you'll notice that the FBI warning calls on people to immediately notify the FBI and local law enforcement of any unusual or suspicious activity. The FBI is trying to get the help of the American people and other well-meaning people around the world. If they know of anything that seems suspicious that might lead them to think an attack is imminent, that they would let U.S. law enforcement know about it as soon as possible.
BLITZER: David, read precisely the language used by the FBI in issuing this warning.
ENSOR: "Certain information, while not specific as to target, gives the government reason to believe that there may be additional terrorist attacks within the United States and against U.S. interests overseas over the next several days."
It goes on to say the FBI has again alerted all local law enforcement to be on the highest alert and, "we call on all people to immediately notify the FBI and local law enforcement of any unusual or suspicious activity." And again, as I say, U.S. officials telling me that there is information suggesting a "high probability" -- words they choose carefully -- that there may be a terrorist activity against U.S. targets in the next several days. BLITZER: In the next several days. To our viewers out there in the United States, around the world, that sounds very ominous. How unusual is this kind of alert by the FBI?
ENSOR: Well, now, U.S. officials -- and these are not FBI officials -- have been saying ever since September 11th. In fact, well, before September 11th there was a level of threat against U.S. targets that concerned them, a level of threat against U.S. interests. Since September 11th, that threat has obviously been examined under a microscope.
So some of the increased number of threats that they are now knowledgeable about is because they're looking harder. But at the same time, they do believe there are some serious threats. And I should mention one more thing I had forgotten to mention before. These threats are believed to be linked to the Al Qaeda group.
BLITZER: And as all of us remember, of course, David, as you well know, you reported on it last week, there was a report, that one intelligence official, high-ranking, told members of Congress there was a 100 percent certainty of additional terrorist attacks against the United States in the aftermath of the U.S. airstrikes. So that is obviously added to this entire mixture of the developments.
David Ensor, stand by. We're going to have more on this as this program continues.
Meanwhile, President Bush is scheduled to hold his first prime time news conference since taking office tonight. CNN's White House correspondent Kelly Wallace joins us now with some advanced information on what the president may be saying -- Kelly?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, hello there. We are told that President Bush will announce that the White House is calling a major advance in the humanitarian effort, to help the people of Afghanistan and neighboring countries. When asked if this would mean an increase in the already $320 million that President Bush has pledged to the humanitarian effort, one official, senior official, telling CNN -- quote -- "you are on the right track."
We do know from another senior official, Wolf, that President Bush decided this morning that he wanted to have this news conference, that he felt it important, at this one-month mark, post September 11th, to go before the American people and discuss the developments in the war against terrorism.
This of course will be his first prime time news conference of his presidency. It will be in the East room. This official telling me that the president reserves that East room for very important occasions, and certainly felt a news conference during wartime was an appropriate occasion to use that venue.
Now, earlier, Wolf, the president convened a meeting of his cabinet to get an update on this campaign against terrorism. Vice President Cheney was not at that meeting, but he was at the White House for some time this afternoon. He has been staying at an undisclosed location. We do understand he left the White House a short time ago.
Tom Ridge, the new director of the Office of Homeland Security, attending his first cabinet meeting. During this meeting the president saying that he and his team making -- quote -- "substantial progress," particularly when it comes to the financial fight against terrorism.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Want the terrorists to know that we're after them in all kinds of ways. And one good way to make them ineffective is to cut off their money.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: And, following that meeting, Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill reporting that so far $24 million in bank assets linked to Osama bin Laden, his associates and other groups believed to be connected to the Al Qaeda organization, have been frozen by the United States and U.S. allies. The secretary saying so far 62 nations have blocked some assets, expecting cooperation from 102 other countries.
Also, indicating that the White House could be expanding the list. The president put forward a list of 27 names of individuals and groups and charitable organizations a few weeks ago, and we understand that there could be some movement very soon to expand that list.
Wolf, back to you.
BLITZER: Kelly, is there any reaction at the White House to this bulletin from the FBI warning the American public that there could be additional terrorist attacks against U.S. targets here in the United States or against U.S. interests around the world within the next several days?
WALLACE: Well, Wolf, no formal reaction -- White House officials really referring us over to the Justice Department. But a couple of senior U.S. officials pretty much echoing what David Ensor reporting. One official, though, saying that there is a lot of information coming and not just from one agency, but from several agencies. And that this may be a case, again, that there is no specific information out there, but there is this cumulative information that has a lot of people uneasy and concerned.
Again, it might be that all these agencies are being more vigilant and therefore having more information, but felt it definitely important to get this information out. Another official though saying again that the information is not specific, but is substantial, and is related to talk of activities or attacks against individuals, Americans in the United States, or against American interests abroad.
So a lot of concern, but again, no specific threats there -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Kelly Wallace at the White House, thank you very much. And once again, the president's news conference is scheduled tonight, 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 p.m. Pacific. CNN of course will have live coverage.
And let's take a look at some of the other latest developments. For that, we go to Joie Chen in Atlanta -- Joie.
JOIE CHEN, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, we do want to bring our viewers up to date to the hour. This is one month to the day since the attacks on New York and Washington. Lengthy explosions occurred after dark in and around the Afghan capital, that is Kabul. In one location, the blasts appeared to last several hours.
Later, the Pentagon confirmed that it's using a type of missile that burrows into the ground before it explodes. Tell you more about that later in the hour.
Britain's defense chief of staff said the military campaign will continue at least through winter and spring, maybe into next summer.
This afternoon, the Pentagon released the first attack video shot from the cockpit of a U.S. warplane. A spokesman said the attack was against a Taliban airport on Sunday or Monday.
In Islamabad today, the Taliban said that more than 100 civilians have died in the attacks. At a news conference, the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan accused the United States of targeting civilians deliberately. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld disputed that claim and said the strikes are focused on leaders of the Al Qaeda network and the Taliban government.
Also, as Wolf has been telling you, tonight the president will hold his first prime-time news conference. This afternoon Mr. Bush assembled his cabinet for a meeting that also included the new homeland security chief, the former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge.
Bush will meet with reporters again, that is tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, and you'll see it live on CNN.
In Connecticut today, another anthrax scare. Workers evacuated from the state Department of Environmental Protection. Officials say a note about anthrax was found, as well as a white, powdery substance on a desk. At last word, the powder was still being analyzed.
In New York, recovery work halted briefly this morning for a memorial service. There was a moment of silence at 8:48 in the morning, the time at which the first hijacked airliner pierced the north tower of the World Trade Center.
And within the past hour in Washington, Army soldiers removed a giant U.S. flag that has covered part of the Pentagon since the attacks on September 11th.
One other note to make this afternoon, U.S. financial markets had another good day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished with its second straight gain of more than 150 points.
Now back to Washington and Wolf there -- Wolf? BLITZER: Thank you very much, Joie. And there were new details released today about the air campaign in Afghanistan, including the types of weapons the United States is using and the targets American war planners hope to see destroyed.
For that and more, let's go to CNN's Bob Franken. He's live at the Pentagon. Bob, first of all, let's go through some of the bomb damage assessment videotape and still photos that the Pentagon released today. First of all, there was a videotape of one specific attack. Talk to us about that. We'll put it up as you speak.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this was the videotape of the second bombing of a S.A.M. missile site -- that's a surface-to-air missile site -- in the Kandahar area. Kandahar, of course, is the real stronghold of the Taliban. Here you can see the bombs hitting their mark.
Now, their mark was that S.A.M. missile site. What happened is, is on the first day of the attack at that place, they were able to knock out the headquarters building and that kind of thing at that site. But they didn't actually hit the missiles. Now, we have some pictures that so before and after, before the second day's run.
Before, you will see -- if we can show the pictures -- that the missile sites were still intact. You can see them there circling that site. There you go. Right there. Those are the sites of the missiles themselves. So, when we saw the video just a moment ago of those bombs, they were hitting those missile sites. And here was the result.
The result was that the missile sites were just completely wiped out. You can see that they are now history. They missiles were in fact, done away with. So that was just an example of the attack that was done on a couple of days ago in Kandahar at that surface-to-air missile site. One of the things they can find to do is to get rid of all of those. For a while, we were being told by the Pentagon that pretty much they'd been successful in getting rid of it. But now we're told that there still are some S.A.M. sites left.
And of course, that was not the only attack. I should point out, Wolf, that they've been really quite stingy in releasing any pictures of the action that has gone on. You will remember in the Persian Gulf War we were almost inundated daily with video and pictures of the results of the bombing. Here we have had very little -- Wolf?
BLITZER: And I want to also show our viewers the before-and- after of an air field some aircraft that the U.S. attacked. Let's put that up on our screen and I'll go to our telestrator. Here we see -- Bob, why don't you tell us what we're seeing over here, this area that I've circled.
FRANKEN: What we're seeing is a number of aircraft, mainly MiGs, that were lining the Herat airfield. Herat is the western part of the country pretty near the Iran border, and you might recall a of couple days ago, we actually showed video of the bombing runs in Herat. This was the primary target, and this is what it looked like before the bombs were dropped.
Now let's take a look at after. You can see the planes no longer exist. Now, they didn't tell us what kind of weapons they used, but it was something that was quite effective. Those planes, according to that picture, were entirely done away with.
Now, again, the Pentagon says that they have not been completely successful in getting rid of all the jets that the Taliban controlled, nor all the helicopters, nor, for that matter, all the missile sites. But this is what they have been able to accomplish, and what little they have shown us so far.
BLITZER: We did hear, Bob, one of the briefers of the Pentagon say that they still believe U.S. intelligence that the Taliban has some missiles, some aircraft, some capability that could obviously endanger U.S. Warplanes.
FRANKEN: And that's a bit of a contrast from what the secretary of defense said a couple days before, when he said that U.S. could pretty much fly and run any missions they wanted to without any real concerns about opposition. But now they've scaled that back a little bit, saying it is still a dangerous sky in Afghanistan.
BLITZER: Bob Franken at the Pentagon once again, thank you very much.
And in his question-and-answer session today with reporters, Secretary Rumsfeld said that if the U.S. strikes are helping the Taliban's military opponents, well, so much the better. And that may be occurring, as reports say Afghanistan's Northern Alliance is making some major gains.
Here with the latest we have from Northern Afghanistan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This Chris Burns reporting in northern Afghanistan. As U.S.-led airstrikes hit Taliban positions between here and the capital, Kabul, Northern Alliance is claiming advances in the north. They say they have seized the city of Chaghcharan -- that is the provincial capital of Gowr province. They say they have advanced in Badghis province, near the Turkmenistan border, and repelled a Taliban attack in Samangan province.
Of course, we can't confirm those reports because it is very difficult to get to those very remote areas. We visited one of the hospitals in this area, near the front line between here and Kabul. It appears that the doctors there have the conditions well in hand. We saw some of the civilian and military war wounded on the Northern Alliance side, where the aid workers say that they have prepositioned a lot of aid within Afghanistan and in the surrounding areas. But they do say that this could be jeopardized by intensified fighting as well as greater flows of refugees, and also the winter.
(END VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: That was Chris Burns reporting to us from northern Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan is providing logistical support to the United States. But the country's officials say no offensive operations are under way from Pakistani soil. CNN's Rebecca MacKinnon joins us now live from Peshawar in Pakistan.
Rebecca, give us the latest. What's going on there?
REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, it's now the wee hours of Friday morning. The bombing campaign in Afghanistan, we understand, still going on. Kabul has been heavily hit this evening. And we also understand, from sources here who have been in contact with their sources in Jalalabad, which is not far over the border from here, that the bombing has also continued in Jalalabad this evening.
Reports from sources there in Jalalabad saying that at least 100 villagers, in a village right outside that city, were killed by U.S. airstrikes. Now, the issue of civilian casualties is a very important one for people here on this side of the border in Pakistan. A lot of people we're speaking to, even those who do support the government's policies, are very worried about too many of their fellow Muslims being killed on the other side of the border.
As far as how the Taliban message is resonating with people here, one must point out that still it seems the majority of the population does support the government and its decision to work with the United States. However, there is a very vocal minority who have been protesting, basically, every day in a number of cities around Pakistan.
There was a fairly sizable demonstration in Islamabad today. There was a very large demonstration two hours north of where I am now, which was attended by many thousands of people, according to eyewitnesses. Now, we're now into Friday. Friday is very critical. Friday is the day of prayer, the day of rest. It's also the day when people come out and demonstrate. It's the first Friday since the airstrikes began, and the level of demonstrations will be a very key litmus test, in terms of how much the population here can tolerate the path that its government has taken -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Rebecca MacKinnon in Peshawar in Pakistan, thank you very much.
And let's talk about Pakistan and the potential use of military facilities there for the U.S. forces. Joining me now is the former NATO supreme allied commander, Retired General Wesley Clark, who is a CNN military analyst.
General Clark, how significant -- and I want to put on the screen as we talk -- how significant is this development, if Pakistan is going to allow some limited use of at least two facilities in Pakistan?
RET. GEN. WESLEY CLARK, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, I think it is significant militarily, because it gives us other options. Of course, it looks like we have bases in Uzbekistan, perhaps Tajikistan. We'll have forces offshore in the Arabian Sea,. But having the option of going into Pakistan for a divert if there is aircraft trouble, perhaps for search-and-rescue basing, perhaps for a base for providing food to refugees, all this is important. It provides options to us.
But, Wolf, this even more significant, politically and strategically in the region, because it shows that President Musharraf is gradually, steadily shifting his support, every more clearly, to the missions of the United States and to alignment with the United States. And this is of vital importance in encircling the Taliban, cutting them off from the system and assuring the correct outcome to this conflict.
BLITZER: And I want to show to our viewers on this map, that obviously, if these bases in Pakistan can be used -- and I'll circle the two that have apparently been given some limited-use permission to use these -- a lot closer than if there is a carrier, let's say, out here in the Indian Ocean. Although the facilities from the north around Uzbekistan, those obviously also could be very significant as well.
CLARK: Exactly. Exactly. These are options. And they are useful, militarily, and even more important, diplomatically and strategically.
BLITZER: And the point that you're making, General Clark, is that you get one foot in the door for the U.S. military forces -- that's obviously significant. But is there anything the U.S. can't do without those facilities?
CLARK: I don't think that there is anything we couldn't do without those facilities, but this makes it easier. It reduces the total size of the force that is required to accomplish the task. It provides a safety outlet and, who knows what can be done next from those bases. And, so I think it's a very important step forward.
BLITZER: There is a downside. Many U.S. officials have said to me that getting too closely involved in the military, within Pakistan, as you know, and as our viewers know, there is a lot of opposition within Pakistan to what the U.S. is doing in Afghanistan. Is there a potential threat to the regime, to the government of President Musharraf, if the public at large in Pakistan sees the Pakistani military getting very close with U.S. military?
CLARK: Well, there is a potential threat. There has been for some time. It is from Islamic fundamentalism, and we know that some of the fundamentalists are inside the armed forces. President Musharraf has made changes in the chain of command, particularly in the northwest frontier province, in Palukistan. He's attempted to remove those officers with fundamentalist loyalties from the chain of command, where they could interfere with his policies. And I think that gradual, slow action, such as giving us limited uses of these bases, will draw out further opposition from within the officer corps or other elements in Pakistani society. And President Musharraf can deal with that.
BLITZER: And I want to go to a wider map of the region right now. We'll put it up on the screen. We have a telestrator over here showing Saudi Arabia, for example, right over here. There are reports, as you well know, General, that the Saudis are being very, very nervous, very careful in how far, publicly, they want to go in the assisting the U.S.
But some of the finest air bases, for example, command-and- control facilities, are right here in Saudi Arabia. How do you interpret the Saudi reaction so far?
CLARK: Well, I think privately the Saudi government is being very supportive, but the Saudis also know how strong the straits of religious fundamentalism are in Saudi Arabia. They basically have a very strong, fundamentalist religious police there and a strong fundamentalist religious movement. So they've got to move very cautiously on this.
But I think that they will be moving, step by step, in closer alignment with the United States, and indeed they must. Because some of the elements of fundamentalism that come from Saudi Arabia are actually the source of the terrorist problem that we are facing. And so an ultimate solution to this problem requires that Saudi Arabia deal with its own internal domestic problems.
BLITZER: General Clark, once again, thank you very much for joining us.
CLARK: Thank you.
BLITZER: And of course, our viewers can get updates on the war against terror via the Internet. Just go to cnn.com, where there are maps that include the latest strikes. Look for this map of Afghanistan, for example. The AOL keyword is "cnn."
And when we return: targeting the Taliban. Hear about the strategy to weaken the military regime.
And later: why the name Northern Alliance may be misleading.
Also, an opportunity for you to get your questions answered about anthrax. What is the true threat? The chat room is now open. Log on to cnn.com/community.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. Parts of the Pakistani border with Afghanistan are teeming with Afghan refugees, many having fled their homeland during the Soviet war in the 1980s. Now the so-called Northern Alliance is turning to these Afghans for help in the fight against the Taliban.
CNN's Amanda Kibel reports from the frontier town of Quetta, in Pakistan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AMANDA KIBEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After five years of fighting, many in the Northern Alliance believe this is their best chance to get the Taliban out. They are bolstering their forces for the end game.
This man, a Northern Alliance commander, arrived in neighboring Pakistan some two weeks ago. He agreed to talk to us, but asked not to reveal his identity. His mission here is, he says, must be kept secret if it is to succeed.
He has come to organize the return to Afghanistan of his fighters and their commanders, many of whom fled Afghanistan when the Taliban captured their bases in the central city of Bomeon (ph) and the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif in 1998.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The Northern Alliance are organizing, and they have plans to fight the Taliban from every side and to get the Taliban out of power. We want to have our freedom.
KIBEL: So far about 350 fighters have gone back to Afghanistan, but now the commander wants to move his entire force in exile back into battle. It will mean gathering them from around Pakistan and moving them to Afghanistan, by a second country.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): At this crucial time they are ready to move. We want to stand with NATO and U.S. forces, and bring peace to Afghanistan.
KIBEL: The commander acknowledges even if the Northern Alliance Republican its numbers and the U.S. continues its attacks, the Taliban could prove a persistent enemy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I don't think Taliban will give up their power easily. America is there they and they could defeat the Taliban, but it will take some time.
KIBEL: This man, a Northern Alliance commander, has been living in Pakistan for three years. He says he is ready to go back and take up the fight under any circumstances.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Before America arrived, we fought the Taliban. And we are still fighting them.
KIBEL (on camera): The commanders say they have about 2,000 of their fighters ready to go into Afghanistan, when logistics allow. They say after that there are plenty more here who would be willing to do the same.
(voice-over): Amanda Kibel, CNN, Quetta, Pakistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: The Northern Alliance of opposition forces claimed today it captured a key province after heavy fighting with Taliban forces. There is no way to confirm that report. And it is important to remember that the Northern Alliance is made up of several rival groups who have fought each other in the past, and who are despised by many other Afghans.
Joining me now for his insight on all of this is Professor Rob Sobhani, Georgetown University. Thanks, professor, for joining us. We have a map over here -- and I want to put it up on our screen -- showing the various ethnic groups, the tribes in Afghanistan: the Pashtun, the Tajik, the Uzbek, the Hazara.
How divided is this Northern Alliance right now?
ROB SOBHANI, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: The Northern Alliance is indeed divided along both ethnic lines, cultural lines, and also petty rivalries, which is why it's absolutely imperative that when the United States looks at the post-Taliban government, we look to a unifying force that includes all these ethnic groups, all the military leaders, under one umbrella under the leadership of the former monarch, Mohammad Zaher Shah. He's the only one that the Afghan people trust at this point.
BLITZER: And just to point out to our viewers, the Northern Alliance basically only controls a relatively small area here in the northern part of Afghanistan. The rest of the country, by and large, certainly the Pashtun area, the red area around here, is all Taliban- controlled.
SOBHANI: Which is where the former monarch is from. He is from the majority Pashtun ethnic group, and as a result he carries weight.
BLITZER: Now, if we also look at who the Northern Alliance is getting support from: neighboring Iran is a player in all of this. Is that right?
SOBHANI: Absolutely, and that's why it's very critical that we look carefully at who we back, within that Northern Alliance. There are elements within the Northern Alliance, such as the former prime minister of the Northern Alliance, who is a very unsavory character, maybe a shade better than the Taliban. So it is very important for the United States to be careful who we deal with.
BLITZER: And not only are the Iranians supporting at least some elements of the Northern Alliance, the Russians are providing weapons to the Northern Alliance.
SOBHANI: Absolutely. Once again, that is why the Russians have their proxies, the Iranians have their proxies. And by the way, the Pakistanis have their proxies. That's why I go back to the point. We need to find a unifying character, and that person can only be the former king, Mohammad Zaher Shah. But that has enormous implications for the Iranians, and the Pakistanis and the Russians.
BLITZER: And the Pakistanis, of course, have made no secret of their disdain, their dislike, their distrust of the Northern Alliance, the so-called united front.
SOBHANI: Absolutely, but I think the Pakistanis have now indicated they might go along with the former monarch as a unifying role. I think the Iranians are very nervous about any role for the former monarch, because it creates a comparison within Iran of their former monarchy. And that's what really is making the people in Iran very nervous, the Teheran government.
BLITZER: Are you suggesting, though, that all these strange bedfellows, if you will, that we see engaged now in helping, assisting the Northern Alliance, that the exiled king, who's been in exile fore more than two decades in Rome. He can come in and unify these groups, assuming the U.S. gets its way and overthrows the Taliban regime eradicates the Al Qaeda network?
PROFESSOR ROB SOBHANI, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: I think he will, if we pose the issue as liberating Afghanistan. Mohammad Zaher Shah was monarch from 1973 to 1973. 40 years of peace and relative prosperity, and the people of Afghanistan remember that. To the extent that there is an institutional memory, he has very good chance, with our assistance. But there needs to be a Marshall Plan attached to that. There needs to be nation building. If we fail on the nation building, we will have failed ourselves and the people of Afghanistan.
BLITZER: And that is precisely what happened after the Soviets were defeated there. Professor Sobhani of Georgetown University, I want to thank you very much for educating us a little bit about the Northern Alliance.
SOBHANI: Thank you very much. Thank you for having me.
BLITZER: We appreciate it. Tonight at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, we will have a debate on this very issue: Is the Northern Alliance the right group for the U.S. to be backing? That's at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
Up next: Our next stop is the Florida building sealed off by health officials. Our John Zarrella is standing by for a live update on the anthrax investigation. And later, some rumor control: we may not know where he is, but we do know where he isn't. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. We'll get the latest on the anthrax scare in Florida in just a moment. But first, let's get a check of the latest developments with Joie Chen in Atlanta. Joie?
CHEN: Thanks, Wolf. We want to update our viewers now. U.S. warplanes pounded targets in Afghanistan in round-the-clock attacks today. Targets in and around the capitol, Kabul, were hit hard, as were sites elsewhere in country. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said targets included what remains of the Taliban's air defense capabilities, troops and command bunkers, though Taliban missiles and antiaircraft fire continue to pose a threat to U.S. planes. He strongly dismissed a Taliban report that civilians are being targeted, saying the United States does not target civilians.
The pentagon has released more before and after pictures of bomb damage. Targets shown in the photos included a Taliban regiment headquarters in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, a radio station near Kabul and airfield near the western city of Herat. Memorials were held at the Pentagon and in New York on this, the one month anniversary of the September 11th attacks. President Bush joined thousands at the Pentagon in paying tribute to the 189 people who died there.
In New York, the cleanup of rubble from world trade center was stopped for the brief service.
The FBI is again warning all law enforcement to be on the highest alert for a possible terror attack. The bureau says there may be more terrorist attacks in United States or abroad over the next several days. It says its information does not identify specific targets. U.S. military officials report the first American fatality of operation enduring freedom. Air Force Sergeant Evander Andrews was killed in a forklift accident at Qatar, in the Northern Arabian Peninsula.
He hasn't been seen in public since the U.S. bombing campaign began on Sunday, but Vice President Dick Cheney showed up today at the White House. Officials say he has been staying at a secure location, as a precaution. More now from Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you very much, Joie.
A third case of anthrax has been discovered in Florida in what has now become a criminal investigation. One of the three people exposed to anthrax died last week. The other two show no symptoms. CNN's John Zarrella is in Palm Beach County, covering the story. And he joins us now live with the latest. John, what's going on today?
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, it was that third case of anthrax exposure that prompted the FBI and health officials, centers for disease control health officials, to go back into the building, American Media, during the last 24 hours and begin searching again for any more evidence of anthrax, any more anthrax spores. Law enforcement officials are telling CNN at this hour that they have concluded, completed that second inspection of the building.
We cannot report whether or not they have found any additional anthrax spores -- what they have found, if anything. But we do understand they have completed. You can see there. That was earlier today, as health officials, FBI and Centers for Disease Control investigators, began going in and out of the building in those white bunny suits inspecting, looking again for any clues, anything that could further sort of bring this case closer together, try to hone in on exactly where the anthrax came from.
What we know, again, of the investigation itself, just the three victims. Attorney General John Ashcroft told CNN earlier in the day today that they do believe -- they insist -- that it is isolated to this building -- which is what health officials have been saying all along -- and that there is no danger to the surrounding community. The third additional victim, the woman -- 35-year-old woman, unidentified beyond that, who has shown anthrax exposure. She tested positive with one of the nasal swabs. So far 700 of the 1,000 people tested -- the results are in on those 700. So far we know of just the one additional case. Now, still awaiting results on the other 300 people who were tested. So in all, over a thousand people tested, people who either worked in the building or spent time in the building since August 1st. This is John Zarrella reporting live from Boca Raton, Florida. Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you very much, John, let's now go back to Joie Chen in Atlanta. She has a guest. Joie.
CHEN: Wolf, we want to follow up on John's report. We have an interactive chat underway at our web site CNN.com/community, where you can pose your questions on the anthrax issue to our medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who is here in the studio with us. Sanjay, we've got questions already from the web chat audience. Let's get right to those. This question from Seattle, Washington. "Is anthrax deadly when airborne?"
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that has been real concern, Joie. In fact, what we are talking about is anthrax that gets out into the air and then is inhaled. It has to be a very, very specific size -- usually about one to five microns in size -- for it to actually be airborne and subsequently be able to be breathed in. People talk about 90 to 100 percent fatality rates if in fact that happens.
CHEN: Another question from the web chat audience here, Sanjay. From Chicago, Illinois: "How long does anthrax survive once it is released into the air?"
GUPTA: That is a great question. And let me be real specific here. We are talking about anthrax, the bacteria that causes it and the spores that come from that bacteria. So the bacteria and the spores. The spores can last a long time if they are not exposed to sunlight directly. They can survive in the soil for decades. Sunlight will tend to deactivate the spores themselves, so a lot of exposure to sunlight will eventually make these bacteria not as problematic as they were. But the spores can last for quite a while. We find them in the soil even decades later.
CHEN: Another question from the web chat audience, Sanjay, this one from California. "Can one fully recover from anthrax?"
GUPTA: There are three types of anthrax. There is a cutaneous or skin anthrax, there is an anthrax that you swallow, and then the inhaled anthrax. In a nutshell, the cutaneous, the skin one is 95 percent of the cases. In all of them, including the inhaled cases, if you take treatment before symptoms start, you have a much better chance of surviving or actually getting over the infection; before the symptoms start like in the two exposures that we have down in Florida. No symptoms in those two people. The antibiotics hopefully will get them through that period with no trouble.
CHEN: One more final question here, and we do need a quick answer from you, Sanjay. "How can we tell if it is not a cold or flu?" That's from Colorado. GUPTA: There's a very simple test. You can actually find out if you have been exposed to anthrax. Have a nasal swab or a throat swab. Find out if there are spores. That will be your first clue. Get your blood checked to see if there are antibodies. That will confirm that an exposure has taken place.
CHEN: Dr. Sanjay Gupta from our medical unit, we thank you. As well, Wolf, we thank our visitors at CNN.com/community, those folks getting questions to Sanjay today. Wolf/
BLITZER: Thank you, Joie. As usual, good questions and very good answers. Up next, we will ask a key insider on Capitol Hill about the FBI's latest bulletin warning of potential additional terrorist attacks against U.S. targets in the coming days. Richard Lugar, a member of the Senate intelligence and foreign relations committee, up next.
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BLITZER: Welcome back. Even the president has said it: the strike back may force the terrorists, in Mr. Bush's words, to "burrow deeper into caves and other hiding places." And there are plenty of places to hide in a place like Afghanistan. But how to flush them out? Joie Chen rejoins us now once again with some potential answers. Joie.
CHEN: Wolf, thanks. One thing that may help in the military operation is the GBU 28. In the military they call this a bunker buster. it was used for the first time in Afghanistan sometime yesterday. We haven't gotten a report from the Pentagon yet on a bomb assessment there. But you see it there, it's quickly moving through that animation.
This how is the thing works. It is dropped out of the sky, goes through each of the layers of a bunker. It can essentially see where it is inside the bunker, see if it has gone down far enough, and pass through each layer and explode at a pre-set point underground, so even if the quarry is hidden down deep inside a bunker it can get down there and get to the point where it needs to be. Now, there have been a number of tests on this thing to see how well it works. A sled test -- we see there it sliding along a sled and blasts through 20 feet of concrete. They also have done it in a flight test, dropping down through a hundred feet of dirt before exploding. Quite effective there, Wolf.
The GBU 28 has a very interesting place in history. It was first built for the Gulf War. Record time -- just one month to build this thing from start to finish. It was built out of surplus artillery tubes. The military realized it needed this once it got into Iraq and realized that some of the quarry was down deep in bunkers underground. They dropped two of them during Operation Desert Storm, and they have video of one of them. They were able to see how quickly it moved through the bunker position. Within six seconds, Wolf, they said they could see the smoke coming back from this thing. They knew it had been effective there. Wolf. BLITZER: Joie Chen, thank you very much. I remember vividly when that GBU, that 5,000-pound laser bomb was released. I was covering the Gulf War over at the Pentagon. Joining us now, a member of the Senate foreign relations as well as intelligence committees: Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, one of the most knowledgeable members of the Senate when it comes to international affairs. Senator Lugar, first of all, tell us your reaction to the FBI releasing this warning, within the past hour or so, that there could be additional terrorist attacks against U.S. targets within several days. What is your reaction to that?
SEN. RICHARD LUGAR (R), INDIANA: Well undoubtedly the FBI has some information they have uncovered. They have given similar warnings six times since September 11th. That has not diminished for a moment the importance of this one, and each agency that is on alert really needs to take the FBI seriously, stay closely in touch with them.
BLITZER: Is it your sense, though, that this could sort of panic the public out there, when they hear these kinds of bulletins? Or should the public know what the FBI knows?
LUGAR: The public should hear what the FBI has to say. But at the same time, the public must continue go to work, go to school, continue the work of America. We are all alert. We all understand the dangers, but we are Americans who must make our economy and our society function as we did before.
BLITZER: I know, Senator Lugar, because I have covered you for a long time. You have been sounding the alarm bells about these potential terrorist attacks -- chemical, biological, even nuclear attacks, terrorism for many years. In fact, 96 when you ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination, here is an excerpt of a commercial that you were airing during those days. I want to listen to it.
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QUESTION: A rogue terrorist group has threatened to explode three nuclear bombs in the United States. A nuclear explosion can be created with as little as two and a half pounds plutonium.
LUGAR: Nobody wants to talk about nuclear terrorism, but hiding from it won't make it go away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Senator Lugar, how real of a threat is nuclear terrorism in this day and age?
LUGAR: Well, the threat has been with us in terms of ICBMs for a long time. The problem now is to make sure that the terrorists do not intersect, do not gain possession of weapons or materials of mass destruction. That really has to be the basis of the war that we are fighting. We may never diminish terrorism to a situation in which there is no one operating that way throughout the world. What we have to make sure that is terrorist cells, whoever they are, do not appropriate nuclear or chemical or biological weapons, and with expertise to deliver them. That is the critical item. And I think we have a very good chance of making that separation. But it requires working with Russia, China, now of course with India and Pakistan and the hard cases of Iran and Iraq.
BLITZER: But is it in your opinion, realistic to assume one of these terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda or some of the other groups could get hands on very primitive but deadly nuclear device?
LUGAR: They could. But they must not. The devices are different from materials. Devices are tactical weapons that are in Russia under guard with the United States and Russians taking a lot of security situations there. Materials might be siphoned out from laboratories or concocted. But the delivery of those is very difficult, and probably impossible without having the type of vehicle or the mass that is required.
So we still have time, but it will require extraordinary vigilance at this particular moment of the total world community. It puts pressure on those that have these materials or programs to make sure that they are inspected and that we all know where they are.
BLITZER: As you well know, Senator Lugar, the Bush administration is making no secret of its hope to either capture or kill Osama Bin Laden. How will the American public know when that objective has been achieved.
LUGAR: I presume the president or the Secretary of Defense or State will announce it. And they probably will not do so until they are certain first of all, it has been achieved and secondly that there are not Americans at risk by making a premature announcement.
BLITZER: Senator Richard Lugar, always good to speak with you. Thanks so much for joining us.
LUGAR: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: Time stopped for a moment earlier today in both New York and Washington, as those cities paused to remember the attacks that occurred exactly one month ago. Our reports are coming up.
And looking now at some other stories on the news wire. Convicted New York mob boss John Gotti is in stable condition after undergoing treatment for a blood clot. Gotti, who is in the advanced stages of cancer, is serving a life sentence on murder and racketeering charges.
And doctors in Denver say the prognosis is good for conjoined twin girls who were separated on Tuesday after 15-hour procedure. Five doctors took part in the operation. The seven-month-old twins were born in March, attached at the lower back and pelvis.
It isn't every day you hear about someone turning down $10 million. That's what New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is doing. The money was a donation for disaster relief from a Saudi Arabian prince. But after the prince said the U.S. policies in Middle East were a factor leading to the September 11th attacks, Mayor Giuliani said the city will not accept the money. The prince will be among the guests tonight on CNN's "MONEYLINE WITH LOU DOBBS." That's at 6:00 p.m. Eastern right at the top of the hour.
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BLITZER: Throughout this day, especially in New York and Washington, the promise was made again and again: "W will always remember." In both cities, memorial services marked the passing of one month since September 11th.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At this time I ask that we join together for a moment of silence to remember those who may not be with us, but certainly are within us. In the name of all of those that we lost here: our heroes, the firefighters, the police officers, the emergency workers, the citizens who were going about their lives, trying to pursue in their way the American dream, all of whom are heroes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We remember the dead. We call them heroes. Not because they died, but because they lived in service to the greater good.
In targeting this place and those who worked here, the attackers, the evildoers correctly sensed that the opposite of all they were and stood for resided here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: I can assure you, you are not alone if you think the past month is only a blur of days and emotions. While our attention was riveted by the terrorist attacks and the global response, a lot has indeed happened.
CNN's Garrick Utley helps us catch up.
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GARRICK UTLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In any other month, the nation's a attention would have been riveted on the tragedy in Texas September 15, when a tug pushing four barges brought down the Queen Isabella Causeway. Eight people died when their cars plunged into the water.
In any other month, the explosion of petrochemical plant in Toulouse, France would have dominated television screens: 29 people died, 3,000 were injured and thousands of homes surrounding this "ground zero" were destroyed. Officials say it was probably an accident.
And in any other month, the raising of the Kursk and the recovery of the Russians who died in it would have touched our emotions even more deeply. But then, this has not been any other month. Still, much has happened in our world that has had nothing to do with terrorism or new wars. Perhaps we have noted some events in passing, while other events have merely passed. What is news at a time like this?
Did you hear the news announced on September 19th of the first operation performed totally by remote control? The surgeons in New York City successfully removed the gall bladder of a patient in Strasbourg, France. In the future, patients anywhere may have access to the world's top surgeons.
If our attention this past month has been on this man with a gun and a beard and a dislike of American power, he is not the first. Fidel Castro has grown from young revolutionary to old revolutionary. And this past month it was discovered that one of his top spies was working for the Defense Department as its top intelligence analyst on Cuba. At any other time, Castro's spy would have been a major story. But this month, the Pentagon and the nation had other concerns.
In China, the world changed this past month not with a bang, but with one goal. China, for the first time, qualified for soccer's World Cup. There was great joy in China.
And then there is the story of 62-year-old Nenad Belic, a cardiologist from Chicago with a wife and children. His dream was to row across the Atlantic Ocean alone. On Sunday, his emergency beacon was activated 230 miles short of the Irish coast. A search has found no sign of Nenad Belic.
Since September 11th, just about everyone, understandably, has been searching for ways to cope with the tragedy and honor its victims, included the U.S. Postal Service. It will soon issue this new, commemorative, first-class stamp with the American flag and the words, "united we stand". The Postal Service also announced that it would request a three-cent increase in the price of first-class postage, to 37 cents. You didn't hear about that? That's because the announcement was made on September 11th.
One month later, there is a deep desire for life to return to as normal as possible. But return to what? To following every move of Congressman Gary Condit and wondering about what did happen to Chandra Levy? And what are we to make of the fact that the one-month anniversary of this national tragedy will be marked by, among other things, the debut of the latest "Survivor" series? Cultural commentators will offer their views, as will television viewers. Perhaps we should just let the timing speak for itself, as this still speaks to us one month later.
Garrick Utley, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: Thank you, Garrick. That's all the time we have. I'll be back in one hour. Until then, thanks very much for watching. Don't forget, President Bush's news conference 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 Pacific here on CNN. That's in two hours. For Joie Chen, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.
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