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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Target: Terrorism

Aired October 14, 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, HOST: Tonight on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS: Target Terrorism. As the U.S. steps up its air strikes, we'll go live to CNN's Nic Robertson in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

The Taliban say they're willing to discuss handing over Osama bin Laden.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There's no negotiation, period.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: We'll go to the White House and to Pakistan's scene of violent protests. And we'll talk to the foreign minister of the anti- Taliban rebels northern Afghanistan.

One confirmed death, two confirmed cases, and now more confirmed exposures. What's behind the anthrax scare?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOMMY THOMPSON, SECRETARY OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: It's terrorism, whether or not it's connected to al Qaeda, we can't say conclusively.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: I'll speak with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. And we'll get updates from New York and Florida.

If U.S. troops are dropped to Afghanistan, they'll clear the way. We'll learn about the airborne Pathfinders, as America targets terrorism.

Good evening. Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting from Washington. We'll get to the anthrax investigations here in the United States and my interview with Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson shortly. But first, here are the latest developments in the war on terrorism. A U.S. military official says American war planes have destroyed nearly all the original targets in Afghanistan, including militant training camps and weapons storage areas. Word comes as U.S.-led forces opened a second week of air strikes against the ruling Taliban's military assets.

Neighboring Pakistan was the site of deadly anti-American protests today. A police source tells CNN at least one person was killed during a confrontation between officers and demonstrators headed to an air base.

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have again suggested they're ready to negotiate over Osama bin Laden. CNN's Nic Robertson is in Afghanistan, one of the few Western journalists inside Taliban- controlled territory. He's being escorted by the Taliban, but is free to report as he wishes. Nic Robertson joins us now live via videophone from Jalalabad.

First of all, Nic, tell us about this latest proposal from the Taliban to negotiate over the fate of Osama bin Laden?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this proposal came just a few hours ago from a very senior Taliban official here in Afghanistan. He appeared at a press conference here, though there was a press conference without camera. The Taliban do not believe in television and have banned television here. This was a press conference without cameras.

But he laid it out very clearly, a position the Taliban have had for some time, that if the United States presented evidence directly to the Taliban, linking Osama bin Laden to these attacks, then he said that they would hand over Osama bin Laden to a third Islamic country for trial in that country possibly.

He also said it would be possible for Osama bin Laden to be tried inside Afghanistan, but very clearly saying the United States must come to the Taliban with the evidence and prove to the Taliban that Osama bin Laden was involved, Wolf.

BLITZER: And Nic, tell us about what you've seen since you've returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan. What kind of damage, for example, have you seen from the U.S.-led air strikes?

ROBERTSON: Well, it's a very interesting mixture here, Wolf. On one hand, the streets and the city here of Jalalabad appear fairly normal, as does the countryside, many people out working in the fields in the countryside. Most of the stores here in the city are open. Some are closed. And we have seen a few people going out to the countryside with family possessions.

But the fuel stations all have fuel. There's lots of traffic on the road. And there is food in the stores. And there really is a sense of life as normal. But at the airport, we asked the Taliban to take us there. We knew there had been strikes there. And they showed us where there had been pinpoint precision air strikes. The first night of the air raids, they said, a radar installation of the airport was taken out by a cruise missile. They also said that the commander of the airport also said that the communications of the airport had been taken out, that various sites on the runway had been taken out, and the airport in Jalalabad was no longer operational.

However, the Taliban did bring the journalists into Afghanistan principally to show them sites that they feel are being missed in the coverage of the media of the situation in Afghanistan. And principally, this was one site, one village high in the mountains about 60 miles west of Jalalabad. It was a village that the Taliban said where 200 people, innocent civilians they said, men, women and children had been killed in bombing raids by the United States.

Not what we saw in that village was about a village of about 40 or 50 houses. 90 percent of those houses had been destroyed. The village definitely appeared from our view, a collective view of all the journalists there, to have been one inhabited by civilians. When we talked to people there, we said, "Well, is it possible that this is a place where Osama bin Laden could have been hiding? Is this a place where terrorists could have been?"

It really angered the residents there. They said absolutely no one -- way. One man showed me clothing. He said, "Is this the clothing of Osama bin Laden?" He showed me tools he used in the field. "Are these the tools of terrorists?" he said. So the people in that village very clear in their opinion, that there were no terrorists in that village.

We also visited the hospital here in Jalalabad, where there were a number of injured people. 17 people, we are told, who were brought from that village on the morning of the attack, on Thursday morning, into the hospital. Now there were several children there. We were told who are now orphaned.

We talked to a man who told us they'd lost four of his children. We talked to another man there who'd lost his wife and other relatives. And a number -- and a lot of the people we talked to, who came from that village, either injured in the hospital or in that village of Karu, told us that they have lost perhaps, two, three, four, five members of their family -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Nic Robertson reporting live from inside Afghanistan. Thank you so much for doing that. Be safe over there.

And returning to the White House from Camp David today, President Bush flatly rejected this latest offer from the Taliban.

Let's go live to our CNN senior White House correspondent, John King for details -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf. The president was made aware of this latest offer from the Taliban, show us some evidence, perhaps we'll turn over Osama bin Laden. Just before he left Camp David to return the White House, the president stepped off Marine One on his way in. Reporters asked him what he thought about it. The President stopped and in very strong words said "no negotiations." The Taliban must not be listening.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Bring them over bring him over. Turn his cohorts over. Turn any hostage they hold over. Destroy all the terrorist camps. There's no need to negotiate. There's no discussions. I told them exactly what they need to do. And there's no need to discuss innocence or guilt. We know he's guilty. Turn him over. If they be want to us stop our military operations, they've just got to meet my conditions. And when I said no negotiations, I meant no negotiations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Mr. Bush back at the White House tonight. Two major goals from the White House in the week ahead. Number one, reminding the American people now that this is week two of the military strikes, that the President meant it when he said this campaign would go on a long time and will require patience on the American people.

Number two, dealing with the justifiable jitters of people of country because of these anthrax scares, which you will discuss a little bit later in the show. The President wants to make sure that he offers some reassuring words to the American people. Also wants to make sure that the government on two fronts, the investigative side and the public health side is doing all it can to help -- Wolf.

BLITZER: John, set the stage for Secretary of State Colin Powell, who's now on the way to Pakistan and India. What does he hope to achieve on this trip?

KING: He wants to make sure that there is no blow up, if you will, in the long term tensions between India and Pakistan in the middle of this very delicate campaign in Afghanistan. The Bush administration was just preparing a major warming of relations with India before this happened.

And now, of course, it is using Pakistan as a key ally in the war. Those two countries do not get along. There were sanctions imposed by the United States after both New Delhi and Islamabad tested nuclear weapons back in 1998. Mr. Powell will stop in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, then in New Delhi as well, trying to remind these two countries the priority now should be on the international campaign against terrorism, if the United States wants good relations with both, trying to make sure that there's no distractions in the region as the United States focuses on Afghanistan.

BLITZER: And as you know of course, the President himself will be traveling later this week, heading to China. I assume that trip, even though scaled back in terms of the number of days the President will be gone, is still going forward?

KING: Still going forward and still very significant, but now for a different reason. The dominant theme would have been a month plus a few days ago, how do you stop the global economic slowdown? How do you get the economies around the world going? What is role of those countries in Asia that participate mainly in this summit?

Now it will be the war on terrorism, a meeting with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, a meeting with the Chinese President Jiang Zemin, and perhaps just importantly this time around, meetings with the leaders of the Philippines and Indonesia, two countries that have significant pockets of terrorism associated with a network called the Abu Zaeef network that at times, U.S. officials say, is closely aligned with the bin Laden network. The President, even as phase one, is in Afghanistan already talking about an expanded war on terrorism. And he want their help.

BLITZER: John King from inside the White House briefing room. Thank you very much.

Meanwhile, streets are quiet at this hour in northern Nigeria, after two days of violent demonstrations. Authorities in the city of Kano confirm at least 18 people were killed in clashes between police and anti-U.S. protesters. Witnesses, however, tell CNN they had seen hundreds of bodies in the streets and elsewhere. Protesters were reacting to the U.S.-led air strikes against Afghanistan. Some people blame traditional Christian-Muslim rivalries, for some of the fighting.

The U.S. air strikes on Afghanistan of course continue into this second week. Targets include Taliban positions in the mountains outside of Kabul and the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar. In neighboring Pakistan meanwhile, the protests continue.

Lets go live to CNN's John Vause. He's in Islamabad. What's the latest, John, as far as the protests against the U.S. air strikes are concerned inside Pakistan?

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, we're waiting today We're waiting to see what will happen when U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell arrives here in about 12 hours from now. Right now, it's 5:00 in the morning. We're just hearing the call to prayer.

Yesterday, as you said, a violent day, especially in the south of Pakistan, in the city of Jacobabad. That was where word got out that U.S. forces had arrived at a nearby air base. There were demonstrations. They clashed with police. Police used tear gas.

We understand there are a number of demonstrations around that area. Inside the city, 350 people arrested by police. They tried to close off the city. Outside the city, there was another demonstration.

One demonstrator was killed. About a dozen were wounded. Now Pakistan has denied that any launch or any strike against Afghanistan will come from Pakistani soil. They said that these bases will be used purely for logistics and for support. Not enough of those protesters.

Mere word that there was U.S. presence on these air bases was enough to prompt these kinds of demonstrations. Now as I said, a quiet day here so far. Early in the morning, we're waiting to see what happens later today. There has been calls for a national strike to protest the visit here by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell -- Wolf.

BLITZER: John, fascinating poll that's in the new issue of "Newsweek" magazine that has just come out here in the United States, a poll of Pakistanis to get their reaction to what's going on. And we'll put it up on our screen to show our viewers around the world.

The question in the current conflict, "do you sympathize with the Taliban or the United States?" Among Pakistanis, look at this, 83 percent said they sympathize with the Taliban. Only 3 percent said they sympathize with the United States.

The second question, "do you consider Osama bin Laden a holy warrior or a terrorist?" Among Pakistanis, 82 percent say they consider him a holy warrior. Only 6 percent say they consider him a terrorist.

This is a poll, again, of Pakistanis inside Pakistan. It seems to be a mirror image, John, of the impressions of Osama bin Laden and the Taliban here in the United States. Is that the sense you're getting from Pakistanis on the street where you are?

VAUSE: To be perfectly honest, I was very surprised to see those results. But you know, you have to understand that these results are in context. This is -- it'd be to see what that -- if that poll had been taken before air strikes began. But essentially, I guess the main point here, as far as the Taliban goes, there's a very strong Afghan presence in this country that the cultural and the religious ties, more importantly, are very, very strong.

What you're seeing from the Pakistani point of view is an attack on a country, helpless to some extent, a very poor country, being attacked by the most powerful nation in the world.

As far as the other issues going, as far as Osama bin Laden, do you see him as a holy warrior or a terrorist? That comes down to the issue of proof. A lot of Pakistanis, who we speak to here, even the moderate Pakistanis say, "Yes, look, what happened in New York is bad. September 11 and the attack on the Pentagon, we don't agree with that, but where is the proof? How do we know that Osama bin Laden did this? We need to see the evidence. Why won't the White House show us?"

And there's also the issue that Osama bin Laden, for quite some time, is being seen as a hero by these people. Combine that with the anti-U.S. sentiment, which is already here, and I guess that goes somewhere to explain those surprising figures, but this is not good news for President Musharraf.

BLITZER: That's, I would say an understatement. Thank you very much, John Vause reporting from Islamabad. We appreciate it very much. Meanwhile, Afghanistan's Northern Alliance, or so-called United Front, the rebels there have been fighting the Taliban for years. Earlier, I spoke with the coalition's foreign minister, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Dr. Abdullah, thank you very much for joining us. And let me begin with the latest on the battlefield. Have your forces made any in roads against the Taliban since the start of the U.S.-led air strikes?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH, NORTHERN ALLIANCE FOREIGN MINISTER: Of course, in different parts of Afghanistan, especially northern Afghanistan, in northwestern Afghanistan, large districts are being liberated from Taliban forces due to the operations or the offensives by our forces or due to joining of forces previously under Taliban or in the areas under Taliban-controlled, and later undetected towards us. In that program, it's continuing just today. Two districts were liberated in Ghowr province and also another northern province of Afghanistan Samangan.

BLITZER: So how far are your forces right now from the capital of Kabul? And when do you expect to be able to enter the city?

ABDULLAH: We are like 40 kilometers north of Kabul. And the issue of Kabul is one of political, as well as military importance for us, and also as far as the situation in Afghanistan, as a whole is concerned.

Moving towards Kabul will need a political decision, as well as military circumstances. I think right now, our forces in areas north of Kabul are being put for few days since a few days in high alert. And they will be in that position until the circumstances are low, movement of our forces closer to Kabul.

Then getting to the outskirts of Kabul, it will depend on the circumstances whether we will decide to place some security forces in Kabul or just wait for the U.N. to play a role. So there could be difference in areas at that stage.

BLITZER: As you know, the Pakistani government, including its president, President Musharraf, they've made it clear, they do not want the Northern Alliance to go into Kabul first. The question is this, who is making the decision as far as the political circumstances that you talk about, about who will enter Kabul first, assuming the U.S.-led air strikes and potential ground force operations succeeds?

ABDULLAH: In fact, before September 11, Pakistan wanted Taliban to run over the country to rule the whole Afghanistan. Taliban in the terrorist groups, which were associated with the Taliban.

This was Pakistan's recipe for Afghanistan. Later on, of course, the situation has changed. But we don't expect from Pakistan is the repeating of the same mistakes as in the past. Briefly, the present situation is the outcome of the foreign policy of Pakistan. So what is needed at this time to allow the people of Afghanistan to decide about their own destiny and to give the people of Afghanistan the right to self-determination. This decision should be one for the people of Afghanistan, not for the countries, neighboring countries of Afghanistan. That's how the interest of all neighboring countries of Afghanistan could be protected, not imposing a solution from outside.

BLITZER: Is the Northern Alliance, the United Front, your organization, receiving the support military, financial, other support, from the U.S. that you would like to receive?

ABDULLAH: We are in contact with the U.S. authorities. And I shouldn't say that we haven't received any military support from the U.S. There have been humanitarian assistances for the people of Afghanistan in the areas and with central. That's all.

BLITZER: One final question, Dr. Abdullah, the Taliban today issued a statement, saying that any members of the Northern Alliance, your forces who were to defect to the Taliban, in the words of this statement, we will forget our past differences with those who join us now. Are any members of your forces defecting to the other side?

ABDULLAH: Taliban has been given us and other surprises all the time by issuing the statements as such. We are at a stage that it is the people under Taliban control, which are defecting, because they believe that this is the right time. This is the opportunity to get rid of the Taliban, not vice versa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the foreign minister of the Northern Alliance.

And coming up, anthrax in America. Who's behind it and what should be done about it? I'll ask the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. Also, we'll get anthrax updates from New York and Florida.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Incidents of anthrax being delivered to U.S. groups and companies have put many organizations, as well as the U.S. government, on alert. An editor at "The Boston Globe" was tested for anthrax on Saturday, after handling a suspicious letter. Authorities say more employees at the "Sun" tabloid in Boca Raton, Florida may have been exposed to anthrax. An employee there died from inhalation anthrax, earlier this month.

In New York City, an NBC news employee was exposed to anthrax in a letter mailed to the network, as were three people investigating that incident. And Nevada governor Kenny Guinn says a letter sent from Malaysia to a Microsoft office in Reno tested positive for anthrax spores.

At least four people, as I said, in New York, are now known to have been exposed to anthrax. That, following the delivery of a letter contaminated with the bacteria to NBC News.

CNN's Jason Carroll has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In this mail center in Hamilton, New Jersey, process the letter, health officials say is the source of anthrax that infected an NBC employee. The sealed envelope was postmarked September 18 from nearby Trenton, New Jersey and addressed to NBC anchor Tom Brokaw.

Late Sunday, New York's mayor says the police officer who opened that letter, and the two lab technicians who handled it, were exposed to anthrax spores.

MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI, NEW YORK: The police officer who actually retrieved the envelope upon testing, spores were found in his nose. And he was treated immediately with Cipro. Two of the lab technicians, one actually has -- was found to have only one spore in her nose or it appears to be one. She's being treated. And another lab technician had some on her face. And she's also being treated.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The presence of spores either on in somebody's face or in the nasal passages does not necessarily imply that they were exposed to a sufficient number of spores or that that will ever then lead to any type of disease.

CARROLL: Initially, investigators focused on another letter sent to Brokaw. So far, results from tests on that letter and one sent to "The New York Times" are negative.

To date, the mayor says only one NBC employee, an assistant to Tom Brokaw, has a confirmed case of anthrax. She has a cutaneous form of the disease, a skin infection. A second employee has symptoms which may indicate exposure. Tests are still underway. Both are being treated with antibiotics. Physically, both employees are doing well.

ANDREW LACK, PRESIDENT, NBC NEWS: I feel pretty good that we've worked our way through the health issue, which is my primary concern first, that for my colleagues, they can be assured their health is not at risk.

CARROLL (on camera): There is concern at NBC and in Hamilton, but city officials say it does not appear as if anyone at the mail facility was infected. They say every precaution will be taken here and throughout the system nationwide.

JOHN POTTER, POSTMASTER GENERAL: Since September 11, we've delivered over 15 billion pieces of mail. We have a handful of cases that are being investigated. So the first thing to do is understand that there's an infinitesimally small risk out there. However, let me assure you that even one case is one too many.

CARROLL (voice-over): And while investigators continue to search for the person who sent the anthrax laced letter, hundreds of NBC employees continue to wait for test results, to see if they were exposed.

Jason Carroll, CNN, Hamilton, New Jersey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And for the latest on the anthrax investigation in Florida, let's go to Boca Raton. That's where CNN's John Zarrella is standing by. What's latest on your front, John?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good evening, Wolf. The latest is that throughout the day here, federal law enforcement agents and health workers gathered behind us inside American Media compound, but very little activity. No one went in or out of the building that we saw.

Right now what's going on is a number of federal agents, additional agents, up to 80 additional agents, in town here, interviewing up to 800 people to try -- people that either worked there or visited there from August 1 until the time the building was closed down, to try and get a handle on the investigation, to narrow the focus, see if they can jog anyone's memory.

Now, we're also waiting. Now last week, you remember, lots of hazardous materials, people going in and out, bringing out samples of material out of the building. 78 samples were brought out. And hopefully, sometime tomorrow, we may begin getting results of environmental tests on some of that material that was brought out of building during those hazmat incursions in the last week.

Now, there were reports late yesterday that an additional number of people, perhaps up to five, tested positive in blood tests. That's not quite accurate. What actually happened was the blood tests were give to the 300 employees here, that's in addition to the nasal swabs that were given to 1,000 people.

When those blood tests came back, a few people, perhaps up to five, had higher levels of antibodies. Now those are germ fighters. A second test is going to be given, blood tests, to all 300 workers. That was already planned and scheduled.

It will be given Wednesday or Thursday. The samples will be sent to the CDC and then analyzed. If there are even higher, greater, inflated levels of antibodies, then the CDC says and health officials here say they would be able to determine whether people really did, in fact, have exposure to anthrax.

So right now, what we have are just the three confirmed cases, Bob Stevens, who died, and the two mailroom employees who did suffer exposure to anthrax -- Wolf.

BLITZER: John Zarrella, thanks as usual for clarifying all of that. We, of course, appreciate your reporting.

So what exactly is anthrax? How does it infect and sometimes kill?

CNN medical correspondent Rhonda Rowland joins us now from the CNN Center in Atlanta.

Rhonda, first of all, these three separate investigations now underway in New York, Nevada, and Florida, when all is said and done though, it's still pretty hard to contract anthrax, isn't it?

RHONDA ROWLAND, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It really is. And I think that's good reason for people to feel very reassured. We're talking only now about two cases of anthrax in these three states, the one of Florida, the one in New York.

We're also talking about just a few people who have been exposed to anthrax. They're all expected to fully recover. The only people who are really at risk are people who are in the immediate area. So for instance, the case in New York, anybody who has perhaps handled the letter, they could possibly be at risk.

The substance is not contagious. It cannot be spread from person to person. Also, another thing that's very encouraging is if someone thinks that they have touched something that is suspicious, that they're fearful that it may be contaminated with something like anthrax, they need to just leave it alone. And then they can simply go and wash their hands with soap and water.

Washing your hands with soap and water can prevent at least the skin form of anthrax. That's a simple thing to do. If you think you have it on your clothing, remove your clothing. So I think, Wolf, really, all of that is really very reassuring for people.

BLITZER: At what point though, Rhonda, does an individual who thinks he or she may have been exposed to anthrax, at what point should they start staking Cipro or some other antibiotic?

ROWLAND: Well, that is really being left to the health professionals. And we have heard this over and over again from the CDC and other health experts, that if people need them, they will get them. It's up to physicians who are treating them.

So again, people should not be going out there hoarding antibiotics, thinking that maybe they've been exposed. That is not what they need to do. Health officials are top of this. If they know of an exposure, they will make sure anyone at risk will get Cipro or any other appropriate antibiotic.

BLITZER: And there is downside to starting to take an antibiotic Cipro. If you really don't need it, isn't there?

ROWLAND: Oh, absolutely. You should never take antibiotics unless you absolutely need them. And first of all, with some of these courses of antibiotics, you need to take them for 60 days for them to be effective. And a lot of people don't want to commit to that because there could be side effects. Also, it can increase the risk of antibiotic resistance. If you actually are ill, you have another problem. And you may not be getting the treatment that you need. So again, if there's any question, leave it to doctors -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Rhonda Rowland, thanks for excellent advice. We appreciate it.

And earlier in the day, I discussed the anthrax scare, at length, with the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. Our interview was recorded before word came that three more people were exposed to anthrax spores in connection to with the NBC News incident.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Mr. Secretary, welcome back to LATE EDITION. Always good to have you on the program.

We now have cases of anthrax in Florida, New York and Nevada. And the American public, people all over the world are asking, what's going on?

TOMMY THOMPSON, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: Well, basically we only have two cases. We have one case in Florida, two other individuals who have been exposed to anthrax, five other that's are still being tested. We have one case in New York and one other case that's being looked at.

And the one in Nevada -- that has been an envelope that has tested positive the first time, negative the second time, positive the third time. Now, that sample is going on to CDC in Atlanta, and we'll have the analysis done relatively quickly and be able to determine conclusively if it's anthrax.

But basically what's happening are individuals are sending -- individuals or individual -- is sending things through the mail that have anthrax enclosed in there, and as a result of that, individuals have become exposed to it. We have been able to respond both at the local level, the state level and the federal level, and we will continue to do so.

BLITZER: And the distinction obviously between exposed to anthrax and actually contracting anthrax is a significant difference.

THOMPSON: Big difference, because you actually become sick and actually have got anthrax that you have to be treated for.

We're taking precautions and treating a lot of other people that have been associated with those individuals. Even though it's not contagious, they're in the workplace, they might have inhaled it or might have gotten it through the skin, which is called cutaneous.

There are three ways to get anthrax: through the stomach, through eating some contaminated food that has anthrax. Ingestion, which is the worst, and that's -- or inhalation, which is what Mr. Stevens got from Florida and passed away from. And then, of course, cutaneous is through the skin. You have a sore and some of the spores get in there.

BLITZER: So, if you touch an anthrax and you don't have a sore, you don't have an open wound, you're not necessarily going to contract it.

THOMPSON: Hardly, very, very unlikely that you will. You have to have quite a few of the spores. In inhalation, they figure somewhere around 5,000 to 10,000 spores you've got to inhale in order to contract the anthrax disease. And that, of course, is the most serious one.

But it can all be treated, and it's not contagious. We want to make sure people understand that if you come in contact with somebody that has anthrax, you will not get it. You have to have the microbe, the bacteria get into you somehow, either through the skin, through the stomach or breathe it in through the air.

BLITZER: At this point, the investigation's under way in South Florida, in New York, and in Nevada. Are they connected? Is there some common link between all three?

THOMPSON: We don't know conclusively. Some look suspicious, but we don't know for sure, and we can't speculate. We want to make sure.

And that's why the labs in Atlanta -- that's where CDC -- we have a great organization.

BLITZER: The Centers for Disease Control.

THOMPSON: The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. They're going to be the ultimate individuals as far as testing. Even though we have some wonderful state labs, they want to be corroborated by the federal lab in Atlanta.

And we have some wonderful experts down there working around the clock. We got a hotline, and we got our laboratories open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And these individuals are working overtime in order to turn out these reports and analysis.

But right now we cannot say conclusively that they are connected. We are examining that possibility. And we're also examining to see if there are more than one or if it's just one individual.

BLITZER: But these are the only three investigations, three cases of confirmed exposures that you know of. Are there any others that we don't know about?

THOMPSON: No, to the best of our knowledge, these are the three that show the positive signs of anthrax. We've had a lot of other things that are being sent in that we examine from other states that have shown that they have been negative. But, as far as a positive, it's only been those three states -- Florida, New York and Nevada.

BLITZER: Is it too early to conclude that this is bioterrorism?

THOMPSON: Well, there's no question it's bioterrorism. It's a biological agent. It's terrorism, it's a crime, it's terrorism. But whether or not it's connected to Al Qaeda, we can't say conclusively.

A cynic can say that it looks like it, but there has not been conclusive evidence tying it in to Osama bin Laden or to Al Qaeda. All we know, it's a terrorist act, because anybody that would do this is trying to create terror, trying to create fear in the American public. And that of course is not acceptable.

BLITZER: So you don't know if it's a domestic, home-grown U.S. terrorist or a terrorist organization or an international organization...

THOMPSON: We do not.

BLITZER: ... if it's Osama bin Laden or anyone else.

THOMPSON: We do not know conclusively.

And the FBI is working diligently, trying to find out all of these answers. They're working very closely with CDC, as we are with them. And we're changing information and exchanging the kind of reports, and we're hopeful to be able to give information out as soon as we can come up conclusively.

We don't want to speculate. We want to make sure, when we give you something, Wolf, it's absolutely certain, and it has been tried and confirmed by two labs.

BLITZER: What, if anything, do the postmarks of these letters, the Trenton, New Jersey, postmark, apparently for the letter that was sent to NBC News, the Malaysia -- the Kuala Lumpur postmark sent to Nevada, what, if anything, does that say?

THOMPSON: It really doesn't say anything at this point in time, except that that's where they came from. We can't conclusively say, you know, draw any conclusions from it at this point in time, or the two letters that came in to NBC from Florida. We can't say, you know, anything other than the fact that that's where they came from.

We would advise the public out there, if you see something that is suspicious, if it's got a return address that's different from the postmark, if it's oblong, or if it smells, if it's got powder around it, or if it's got wires sticking out, make sure that they contact 911, or be able to contact the local health department and find out if we can examine it and see if it should be tested.

BLITZER: On October 4, you made a statement that I want to play for you. I want you to listen to what you said on October 4.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THOMPSON: Americans should not be scared and to believe that they need to buy gas masks. And people should not be frightened into hoarding medicine or food. There is nothing that we know of that would warrant such actions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Is that statement still operative?

THOMPSON: Absolutely.

BLITZER: Because, you know, you've been criticized by some for being overly optimistic, Pollyannish. In trying to reassure the American public, some have said, you're misleading them by the nature of the dangers.

THOMPSON: We're not misleading. All we're doing is giving out evidence. We do not have any proof there's going to be an extensive bioterrorism attack on America. It's possible, but we don't have any proof of it.

We can respond. We have 7,000 doctors divided up into 90 medical assistant teams throughout the United States. They're going to be able to move in, help the state health departments, local health departments, help coordinate, develop a plan. And we have 81 labs that are connected to CDC that are able and willing and very capable of doing analysis, and they're on alert 24 hours a day. We have 50 tons in eight different locations, or 400 total tons, that can be moved in within hours of pharmaceutical supplies.

And people purchasing Cipro got to realize they should not take Cipro without a doctor's prescription because it does have some side effects. And if you do take Cipro, you may develop an immunity to it, so if, in fact, you needed it in the future, it wouldn't have the same effectiveness. So, therefore, you shouldn't do it.

And a gas mask, you can't wear a gas mask 24 hours a day.

I don't want to be Pollyannish, but I just want to make sure Americans understand that we can respond. Sure, we have some problems. There's no question about that. But we're going to go into Congress this week. We're going to purchase some more pharmaceuticals, and therefore the Americans citizens doesn't have to because we're going to go in and purchase more. We have enough dosages right now to treat 2 million Americans for 60 days for anthrax. We have fifteen-and-a-half million doses of smallpox vaccine, and we're asking Congress for an extra billion dollars to purchase more.

BLITZER: And on the Cipro, which is the antibiotic that works in the case of anthrax, the 2 million doses that you say...

THOMPSON: It's more than 2 million. It's to treat 2 million Americans for 60...

BLITZER: But the CDC says they would like to increase it to 10 million.

THOMPSON: That is the goal. And we're hopeful we'll be able, if Congress appropriates the money -- we're confident they will on a bipartisan basis. We will then be able to increase purchase from 2 million up to 12 million, be able to treat 12 million.

But you got to realize there is not -- this is not contagious. And while we're treating Americans, if we needed to, we can purchase more. So we are able to supplant and to be able to increase that supply any time we need to.

BLITZER: And you say you're going to go to Congress and seek the funding as early as this week, this coming week, to increase up to 12 million Americans that would be eligible for the...

THOMPSON: And OMB has already agreed to that. The vice president, the president have just been passionate about increasing our supplies. We're very fortunate that we have that kind of leadership and they're willing to do so, and I'm very appreciative of their support.

BLITZER: How long will the pharmaceutical companies need to increase the level from 2 million Americans to 12 million?

THOMPSON: We're going to be contacting them right away this week, and we just got the approval from OMB, and Congress, I'm sure, will give their quick support. So, it should be relatively soon.

But I just want to make sure to every American that we have enough right now to be able to respond.

BLITZER: There's been criticism, though, that there's not enough vaccination to prevent anthrax. Military personnel routinely get the vaccination. There's one firm in Lansing, Michigan, that manufactures the vaccination.

THOMPSON: BioPort.

BLITZER: But there's not enough for the public at large.

THOMPSON: But the therapy for treating anthrax is the antibiotics, it's not a vaccine. I want people to understand that the anthrax that we have tested so far react very favorably to our antibiotics. And it's not only ciproflaxin, it's doxycycline and its penicillin. All of these antibiotics have been very effective against anthrax strains that we have seen so far.

BLITZER: Is there enough treatment vaccinations or drugs to deal with other potential sources of bioterrorism like smallpox, bubonic plague? Because anthrax we're hearing about now, but potentially there are other agents out there as well.

THOMPSON: We have the recommended therapies within our push packs. I want to reiterate that we have eight of these push packs strategically located. And each of those push packages contain 50 tons of pharmaceutical supplies to meet with bioterrorism, chemical spills, chemical discharges, whatsoever. And they are distributed throughout America in eight different locations.

And we are able to move those within hours. In the case of New York, we moved 50 tons of medical supplies into the city of New York within seven hours after the terrorist attack on September 11.

And so we are very, very efficient, and we will be able to respond very effectively. And that's why Americans should feel secure. And they should continue to do their routine businesses or ordinary way of living and not be afraid, because, you know, I know people are afraid but I want to reassure them that the federal government, working with the state and local governments, are able to respond. BLITZER: What's your worst fear right now?

THOMPSON: My worst fear is that a lot of people, copycat people, you know, people that want to carry out a grudge, a lot of individual false alarms that over burden our laboratories and don't allow to us get to the immediate cases of anthrax, a lot of idle rumors and accusations out there that we have to follow up because some of them may be credible. But they take our time and spread us more than I would like.

BLITZER: And overwhelm the system.

THOMPSON: And overwhelm the system. And that's what the terrorists want to see happen. And so we have to be very vigilant. If you see something suspicious, contact your local officials, and we'll make a determination if it has to be analyzed.

BLITZER: Did you ever think in your wildest dreams when you were the governor of Wisconsin...

(LAUGHTER)

THOMPSON: Never.

BLITZER: ... when President Bush asked to you come to Washington to be the secretary of health and human services, that atop your agenda, right now, within the first year, would be the issue of anthrax and biological terrorism?

THOMPSON: No, it certainly wasn't. And I don't think anybody could have ever anticipated, ever expected this kind of events, chain of events in America.

And, as you indicated when we talked before your show, I mean, it's a very exciting time to be in government, very interesting and some of the biggest issues facing this country ever are coming to the forefront right now.

So I didn't expect it, I don't think anybody did. And I'm very happy that I did have some training back being a governor on bioterrorism because I was able to build upon that as secretary now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Tommy Thompson, the secretary of health and human services earlier today.

And how many Americans approve of the U.S. military action against Afghanistan? How many people in this country are truly concerned about bioterrorism in the middle of an anthrax scare? Some survey results when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. As the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan moves steadily forward and the investigations into possible anthrax exposure widen, we now take a few minutes to consider how Americans are reacting to all that's going on. A new CNN-"TIME" magazine poll offers some insights.

Joining us now to help us sort it out, as he always does, is CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider. Bill, first of all, how does the American public think President Bush is doing?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Wolf, just fine, thank you. Take a look at this. Some 90 percent, over 90 percent of the public approves of the way the president is responding to terrorist attacks. Can't do much better than that. But here is something really impressive. Take a look at how President Bush's natural enemies assess his performance -- 90 percent of Democrats give the president high marks for his handling of the crisis.

In fact, his ratings among Democrats have been steadily improving over the past month. That means the Democrats have no real problem with the way the president is handling this militarily.

BLITZER: But as you dig deeper into these new numbers and the polls, are there any potential pitfalls down the road for the president?

SCHNEIDER: Well, think about it this way. We have three targets, the U.S. has three targets in this military action -- Osama bin Laden himself, the al Qaeda terrorist network and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Now, the American public is very clear about one thing: And that is that the U.S. cannot claim victory if it does not get rid of Osama bin Laden himself. And that's very important, because the enemy in this case has been intensely personalized. You see it there, two to one, it would not be a victory if we do not eliminate bin Laden.

It may be easier for the U.S. to bring down the entire Taliban regime than to get one man.

BLITZER: And bill, how is the American public reacting to all the latest warnings from the FBI that there potentially could be more terrorist acts against the United States?

SCHNEIDER: Wolf, Americans are certainly worried but they are not panicked. Take a look. About a third say they are personally worried about terrorism when they are in a public place. Now, that's a lot of people, but twice as many say they are not worried. And that level of concern has not really changed over the past month.

The public is also taking the anthrax stories in stride. Only about 15 percent say they are personally very concerned about exposure to anthrax. What do they make about all the anthrax stories that they are hearing about around the country? We asked people, "what is yours best guess? Do you think Osama bin Laden is behind the anthrax scare?"

Well, the public is split. They are not sure. And I would call that the correct answer. It's what Secretary Thompson told you just a few minutes ago, we are not sure. Americans are behaving rationally, they are not panicking and they are listening to what the government is telling them.

BLITZER: Bill Schneider, always educating us, thanks for joining us. Appreciate it.

And up next, meet the pathfinders. They're first on the ground for airborne operations, and their training is intense. We'll show you how these covert commandos learn to hit the ground running, when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. There's an elite force that plays a crucial role in U.S. airborne military operations, and their name says it all, Pathfinders. They pave the way for aviation advances on the ground, often in hostile territory. CNN's Catherine Callaway goes behind the scenes at a Pathfinder training school.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They are the first in and the last out of any military airborne operation: The Pathfinder. Their mission -- to covertly drop into hostile environments and set up landing, pickup and drop zones for aircraft.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, here's what we did, Pathfinders. We walked over 300 meters to offset our PI, correct?

CALLAWAY: They come to Fort Benning, Georgia from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, and from armed forces around the world to attend the only Pathfinder school in the Department of Defense.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Raven 6-9, this is Delta 3-6 with one jumper.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Execute, execute, execute.

CALLAWAY: In a matter of weeks, they must learn the capabilities and limitations of all military aircraft. And in stealth fashion hit the ground, scope, identify, and mark zones for aircraft, in essence speak the language of aviators.

CAPT. RONALD FRANKLIN, PATHFINDER COMMANDANT: He will control those aircraft by being a liaison between the ground and the air and guide those parachutists, or that equipment, or those helicopters into the drop zone, pickup zone, or landing zone safely.

CALLAWAY: For most of the Pathfinders, dropping 1,500 feet out of a Blackhawk helicopter is the easy part. Memorizing the technical information they will need on the ground is the hard part.

SGT. JOHN VOTOVICH, U.S. ARMY PARATROOPERS: Very mentally challenging. A lot of facts and figures. First week, of course, is pretty much hands on. Also very challenging. Blew out some cobwebs, got the mind-set back. CALLAWAY: On average, 15 percent of the students don't complete the course. And for the students from other nations, language problems add to the difficulties.

SGT. JOHAN VAN DE RYT, DUTCH ARMY: A lot of study and a lot of stuff they give you, a lot of information, a lot of practical information as well. So, that gives us a very good feeling in here. It's pretty rough.

CALLAWAY (on camera): Approximately 500 Pathfinder students are trained here every year. And they will leave this school for their various units and serve as Pathfinder leaders around the world.

Catherine Callaway, CNN, Fort Benning, Georgia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And LARRY KING LIVE is up next. But first, let's check the latest developments as the United States targets terrorism.

U.S.-led fores have unleashed bombs on military and terrorist targets in Afghanistan for an eighth day. Locations north of the capital city Kabul and within the city of Kandahar were hit.

Pro-Taliban, anti-U.S. protesters have again taken to the streets of Pakistan, most recently in Pashawar. Children were involved in demonstrations today by the student wing of a hard-line Islamic group.

And top U.S. officials blame bioterrorists for sending anthrax- tainted letters to locations across the country. Hundreds of people are being tested for exposure. A tabloid newspaper employee in Florida has already died.

That's all the time we have tonight. Please join me again tomorrow, twice, at both 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Eastern for more coverage of the war on terrorism. Until then, thanks very much for watching.

I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. "LARRY KING LIVE" is next.

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