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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
Airport Security Measures Increase; Suspect With Alleged Explosives in Shoes Goes to Court
Aired December 24, 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: Today on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS: Was he acting alone? A day in court for the man suspected of trying to blow up a transatlantic flight with explosives in his shoes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is a functional device. It could have exploded as it was configured.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Now, even tougher security measures and longer lines.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't mind delays. I want to be safe riding and I want everybody else to be safe.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, it doesn't thrill me. But if it's necessary, I'll do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: We'll go live to Bethlehem where Christmas Eve is marked by a political standoff, and to the Vatican where the hope is for peace in a time of war.
And my special with the vice president's wife. Her thoughts about his future.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
Would you be more than happy to see him on the ticket in 2004?
LYNNE CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY'S WIFE: No. I can't even imagine 2004. It seems so far away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: In Bethlehem, it's time for midnight mass, but not without controversy. Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. Thanks for joining us on this Christmas Eve. In just a moment, the dispute over Yasser Arafat's travel plans. Also this hour, the scare aboard the American Airlines flight and how to prevent future incidents. But first, a quick check of the latest developments.
Christmas has come to Afghanistan. Near Kandahar, U.S. Marines filled a cold Christmas Eve with song. Several hours later, some took part in a midnight mass in a makeshift chapel. The U.S. commander, General Tommy Franks, told the fighting men and women they are an inspiration to all Americans.
Midnight mass in Bethlehem, the hallowed Christmas ritual is just beginning at the Church of the Nativity. Yasser Arafat usually attends. He is not there tonight because Israel barred him, that despite pleas on Arafat's behalf from Washington, Europe and the Vatican. We will have more on this story in just a few minutes.
In this country, Christmas Eve has brought heavy snow to parts of the northeast and the upper midwest. In some places, snow is expected to fall through Christmas Day and later into the week.
Checks were mailed this Christmas Eve to some of the thousands of people affected by the terror attacks on New York and Washington. The September 11th Fund has launched its initial mailing, some 18,000 checks totalling $60 million. The funds were raised by the "Tribute to Heroes Telethon" September 21.
And now our top story this hour: the mysterious man being held near Boston and charged with interfering with an airline crew. He is accused of boarding a flight from Paris to Miami with explosives stashed in his shoe and he may have tried to light them. The man has several names and his nationality at this hour still remains unclear. But the biggest questions concern his motivation. And after his court appearance this morning, they also remained unanswered.
CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti is following this story for us. She joins us now live from Miami -- Susan.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Wolf.
So far, authorities have not been able to link Richard Reid to al Qaeda or any other known terrorist groups. But that investigation, as you know, is far from over. The question, who is he and how did he get his hands on those explosives hidden inside his sneakers? He appeared in court today in Boston for the very first time to hear that charge of interference with a flight crew. More charges could follow.
Before that court appearance, a spokesman for the British embassy tells us Reid met with one of their consular officers. Authorities identify him as a 28-year-old British citizen. However, he used other names as well, sources say. His British passport was issued just two weeks ago at the British embassy in Brussels, Belgium. So at this time, authorities say, they are working under the assumption his is name Reid.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MICHAEL SULLIVAN, U.S. ATTORNEY: The investigation is ongoing, the investigation here within the district of Massachusetts as well as reaching out to foreign intelligence agencies, law enforcement agencies in Europe as well. But, at this point in time, the information we have is that the defendant is Richard C. Reid traveling on a British passport.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: At FBI headquarters in Washington, scientists there are trying to identify the explosive materials. Another question, was he acting alone, and where again did he get his hands on those materials?
Also, how did he get aboard that American Airlines flight after several red flags were raised, including his purchase of a one-way ticket and no check-in luggage in Paris?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLES PROUTY, FBI SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE: With respect to what's going on in France right now, I'm not in a position do any finger pointing. I know they are conducting an internal investigation, and I will leave it at that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: Sources tell us there is an effort underway to obtain a court order in order to draw blood from Richard Reid, to draw a blood sample because of concern of the health of the American Airlines flight attendant whom Richard Reid bought while she was trying to subdue him. Also, Richard Reid does have another court appearance scheduled, Wolf, on Friday. That is a bond attention hearing. But at this time, no bond has been issued. Back to you.
BLITZER: Susan, is there any indication if he is cooperating, if he is talking to the investigators right now?
CANDIOTTI: No. We have absolutely no word on that. All we know is that he did have about a 20-minute conversation with that British consulate officer in Boston before the court appearance began. Now what transpired there, British authorities at this time are not saying.
BLITZER: And as far as a court-appointed lawyer or perhaps a British-appointed lawyer, if the British embassy is involved, any word on that front?
CANDIOTTI: British embassy tells us they have absolutely no information for us on that. We do know, according to the magistrate, that because he had no attorney present in court today, one will be appointed for him when he shows up in court on Friday.
BLITZER: Susan Candiotti, thank you very much for your reporting. And to hear the passengers tell it, it was quite a struggle aboard American Airlines Flight 63 and quite a scare as well. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There was this smell -- we all smelled something that was -- it smelled not like smoke. It smelled like rubber burning or something strange.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was sitting in my seat and then I heard the flight attendant screaming for help.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then, all of the sudden, there was a lot of commotion and screaming and...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I looked up and she was struggling with a man, trying to take matches out of his hand, I think.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then we heard that the stewardess had, I don't know, found that this man was lighting matches.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And then I got up and went closer. And then like three other men were trying to subdue him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And he had caught the side board on fire. So that's what we thought it was.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And then I saw smoke coming out of his hand. And then, they took out -- they took the matches from his hand. I think they were matches.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We didn't think he was a terrorist. We thought he was a drug addict.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And then from then on, they just held him down and tied him up with whatever they could.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Somebody else asked him what was the motive. He just said, we will see. You will all see. It wasn't over until I got away from that plane 200 feet, or more than that, because after those statements, you always felt like something else was going to happen. Who else is on the plane?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The whole fire doesn't really hit me until just a few moments ago about really, you know, what the other outcome of the whole situation could have been.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was searched multiple times. I mean, you know, I don't know what else they could have done except run my body physically through the scanner, you know. That's probably the scariest part, quite frankly, is that I don't know how else they could do things in terms of protecting the passengers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Those the impressions of some of the people aboard American Airlines Flight 63.
French officials, meanwhile, are reviewing airport security measures today. They are trying to explain how a man who was barred from the flight only the previous day could have boarded the plane with explosives. In this country, there's new inconvenience at U.S. airports. Some air travelers are being asked to remove their shoes to be inspected by security.
Our Chicago bureau chief, Jeff Flock, has been watching operations today. He is over at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Tell us what's going on over there, Jeff.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, as you are pointing out, there is a directive out, but it's not a specific directive, so it doesn't tell security officials to do anything particular, just to be more vigilant. It is all taking place just beyond me out here. You can see, that is back where the magnetometers are.
We have been listening today outside this security checkpoint. This is where people often come out, meet their loved ones. You can see people standing over there, waiting. And these are people that are coming out who have been through security today. And I want to -- I have been trying to get a sense for how much tighter this is.
I'm joined by a gentleman as -- perhaps you saw there also, Wolf, lines, not too tough today. So it hasn't been too much of a hardship. But you were through what airport?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Durango.
FLOCK: Durango in Colorado. How tight was it there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a lot tighter than it has ever been there before.
FLOCK: Tell me how?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every person going through the checkpoint had to take off their shoes. The pilot and the crew were standing behind me. They all had to take their shoes off, put them up on the...
FLOCK: So you had to pull -- and Rick, perhaps you can see that -- maybe not have been an easy thing. You a pretty good -- clodhoppers, my grandfather used to call them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are pretty easy. They slip off pretty easy. It wasn't that bad.
FLOCK: And what did they do? Did they go through the X-ray machine with those shoes?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, everything through the X-ray machines and then every single passenger got the wand.
FLOCK: That may be the tightest security that we have heard today. Sir, I appreciate it. I'm going to let you get your -- I know you have got a big bag there. We're going to let you get off to your destination. Thank you so much. I have heard a lot of different stories out here today, Wolf. In fact, one guy that went through security at Logan today said they made him take his shoes off, and someone actually peered inside the shoes and looked around at it.
He said, I don't think that guy knew what the heck he was looking for, but he was definitely looking.
So, a lot of different things going on across the country today, but clearly, a heightened level of security, particularly to do with the shoes.
That's the latest from O'Hare. Back to you.
BLITZER: Jeff, I'm seeing the airport behind you. Correct me if I'm wrong. It looks pretty empty at O'Hare today. Is that just the shot that we have? Or is -- it looks pretty -- or is it lighter than usual on a Christmas Eve?
FLOCK: You are right on the money. Obviously, a lot of people having traveled over the course of the weekend, perhaps. But that is an unheard of line at this hour. It's 4:10.
And even on Christmas Eve, very, very small lines. And that has made this increased security a lot easier to deal with.
BLITZER: I know that at some airports here in the Washington area, Baltimore-Washington International, they've been having huge long lines to get through those metal detectors.
Doesn't look like that's a problem at O'Hare. Is that right, Jeff?
FLOCK: We had it earlier today on the morning rush. But since the morning rush, it really hasn't been much of anything.
If you look through -- the magnetometer's off that way, Rick, take a look off in the distance there -- is almost no line at all to go through the magnetometers. So there you go.
BLITZER: OK, Jeff Flock at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Thank you very much.
And joining us now from Houston, the head of a leading airliner security firm. He's Issy Boim, president of Air Security International. He's also done extensive security work for the Israeli national airline, El Al.
And Mr. Boim, thanks so much for joining us. Give us some history, the problems with shoes -- explosives and shoes.
Until this weekend, I had never heard of it, had you?
ISSY BOIM, PRESIDENT, AIR SECURITY INTERNATIONAL: First, good evening, and -- yeah, I did hear about this. Not necessarily for travelers, for flight travelers. But terrorists before did use the shoes as places or, to hide some most likely detonators or some kind of components, but not explosives.
BLITZER: So this would be the first time in your memory that someone actually tried to smuggle explosives inside a pair of shoes going aboard an airliner.
Is that your sense?
BOIM: That -- this is correct. However, it's not surprise that somebody will try, to bypass, actually, what we do have, all the security measures.
And actually, explosives, it doesn't contain any components for -- metal components -- could not be detect by our metal detectors, and our, even sometime the x-ray machines.
BLITZER: Those metal detectors that we're all very familiar with, the machines we go through at airport security checkpoints -- are they fully accurate as far as metal is concerned, from top to bottom of an individual?
Every little inch at the bottom of the shoe sole, as opposed -- all the way up to the top of our hair?
BOIM: Yeah, I don't think that they would be sufficient -- will not be sufficient. And if I may, I think every -- but we are talking about all the technical side that we should implement today, tomorrow, and day after tomorrow.
I think we need to go backward and again focus on the passengers. And believe me, the only solution to this threat will be to focus on the passengers, and to start our security profiling.
BLITZER: Well, when you say security profiling, that means extensive questioning of passengers, as El Al does at Ben-Gurion Airport, at other airports around the world.
But here in the United States when you have millions of people traveling, you can't go through a whole checklist of questions for every passenger. That would require passengers to show up many hours in advance of a flight.
BOIM: No, to my experience, actually, the percentage that need to be go -- need to go through this special security questioning, will be much less than we expected, because the majority of the passengers does not, or they do not present any threat to the flights.
BLITZER: Well, when you say profiling, of course that raises all sorts of alarm bells.
What specifically do you mean? What should airlines be profiling passengers for?
BOIM: Let's take the last case. And I don't have much information about the case. But we said, somebody that look weird, that look very strange, that his behavior is suspicious. And we can define what suspicious mean, first needs to be, this suspicion sign needs to be resolved.
The second is, what this guy is going to do in the States, or even to go to Antigua, where is his ticket, and let's ask him a little bit about the fact that he is going to Antigua, and he doesn't have any belongings.
So, you have to resolve it before you go to the next step, which is the security check.
BLITZER: What about bomb-sniffing dogs at security checkpoints? How reliable are they? And can they be made available at all these various airports out there?
BOIM: I saw a nice show between the kind of a presentation, something that has been developed in the, in United Kingdom airports, which the dogs are playing a major role.
And it's look as a part of the solution for this case, in order to sniff and to find out explosive which the machines and the human body cannot find it.
BLITZER: OK, Issy Boim, thank you so much for joining us tonight from Houston. Have a happy holiday, as well, and a happy new year to you.
And if you have questions, our viewers out there, or concerns about airline safety, log on to flightrisk@cnn.com. Among the information, learn how much money U.S. airlines have paid in security related fines since 1998.
The AOL keyword, of course, is CNN.
Christmas has arrived in the land where Jesus was born. But tonight's observations in Bethlehem seem unusually short on hope because of all the recent violence.
For the first time in seven years, Israel has barred Yasser Arafat from taking part in Christmas celebrations. From Ramallah, the city to which he's confined, Arafat responded tonight, calling Israel's action a crime.
Israel says the action was taken because Arafat has not arrested the Palestinians wanted in connection with the killing of Israel's tourism minister.
In Manger Square, it was a small crowd that gathered tonight, mostly locals. The city seems devoid of international guests.
CNN's Chris Burns is in the Holy Land. He joins us now with more. Chris, tell us what's happening.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm not sure I -- well, Wolf, we're here in Manger Square, just a few, perhaps a couple hundred people left here in the square, although a very moving scene inside the Church of the Nativity on the other side of the square, which is filled with worshipers and clerics from around the world. In there, of course is -- under which, of course -- is the grotto where the Bible says that Mary gave birth to Christ.
So, in a very moving scene, a very moving place for billions of Christians around the world, that and also there's an empty chair there inside the church with a keffiyeh, the trademark keffiyeh of Yasser Arafat, a poignant point being made that his absence is very well -- is very much remarked by those there.
Outside, of course, as well, those -- the crowds that had been here in years past were not, even though Mr. Arafat gave the speech that was televised and was broadcast here inside the square, to those who were here, who also cheered his speech.
However, there's a very, very subdued atmosphere compared to years past, along the arcades here where there were gift shops that were brimming and bustling with tourists before, they're now closed and they're plastered with posters showing the number of Palestinians who were killed in recent weeks in the violence, as Israel cracked down on Palestinian militants after dozens of Israelis were killed in suicide attacks and other militant attacks.
So, a very, very somber atmosphere here, and very little hope at the moment that the peace process can get started again, Wolf.
BLITZER: Chris, I've been to Bethlehem on Christmas Eve over the years. Even in recent years, there have been some hearty Christian pilgrims who have come to Bethlehem from the United States, from around the world.
What kind of numbers as far as pilgrims, tourists, from around the world are you seeing in Bethlehem tonight?
BURNS: Very, very, very few. We've seen just a, just a few -- just a smattering, really. You see a couple that will walk by speaking English or German or some other foreign language.
But really most everybody is local. They were here to turn out as they had traditionally.
So, very, very few and the hotels are hurting. They're just renting out just very few rooms right now, and some of them are closed.
Some of them have been destroyed in the fighting, and the gift shops are closed. So it's a very, very somber scene, where a very, very few -- we did speak to some tourists who came, some pilgrims who came, and said that they were -- they had been worried about the fighting that had been going on in recent weeks.
And, however, those -- they're the brave ones. They managed to show up and they're -- they insisted on coming nevertheless.
But as you can see, most people have not come. This violence has scared thousands of would-be pilgrims away, Wolf.
BLITZER: Chris Burns in Bethlehem, on this Christmas Eve. Thank you very much for joining us.
And later this hour, we'll take you to the Vatican, where midnight mass will be just getting underway.
Also ahead, the Philippines, how it could be a new front in America's war on terror. I'll ask the Philippine ambassador to the United States, what's next as far as fighting terrorists in his country.
Also, New York's top cop on his boss, his job and the city's future. Q&A with New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik -- when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Workers will continue to sift through the rubble at New York's ground zero through the Christmas holiday. Shifts will be staffed by volunteers.
The outgoing mayor, Rudy Giuliani, says "Time" magazine's choice of him as Person of the Year really honors the incomparable spirit of New Yorkers.
"Time" announced its selection of Giuliani on Sunday. He talked about it with CNN this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUDY GIULIANI, MAYOR, NEW YORK CITY: I got a call about midnight on Saturday, going into Sunday from my communications director, Sunny Mindel, and she told me that I had been selected as Person of the Year by "Time" magazine.
And I was, you know, frankly stunned for a short period of time, and then I said, wow, and was able to put it in the context of this honor being an honor for the people of the City of New York, and the way they responded so heroically to this worst attack on America in our history.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: One of those New Yorkers Giuliani might well have been thinking of when he made that statement is with us now. He's New York City's Police Commissioner, Bernard Kerik.
Commissioner Kerik, thank you for joining us. And I guess I should say congratulations to you, because the Mayor says, that honor that "Time" magazine gave him is an honor for all New Yorkers, especially the police officers, the firefighters -- all those who were engaged.
What's your feeling right now as you look back on these past few months?
BERNARD B. KERIK, POLICE COMMISSIONER, NEW YORK CITY: Honestly, Wolf, it's been a tremendously hard and difficult time for the members of the Police Department. We lost 23 members. It's been a hard time for the city.
But we've taken -- we've taken our darkest day in the city -- and probably this country -- and for the members of the uniformed forces, it turned out to be one of our best.
We achieved probably the greatest rescue mission in the history of our country -- 20 to 25,000 people were saved on that day. And, basically, all of the credit goes to the men and women of the uniformed forces -- the Fire Department, the Port Authority police, and the NYPD.
And to lead the NYPD at a time like this, it's been a tremendous -- it's just been tremendous for me.
BLITZER: Commissioner Kerik, the Mayor says that he realized the war against terrorism, against Osama bin Laden would be won that first day, September 11th, because of the spirit that he saw at ground zero, the spirit of New Yorkers.
Did you realize it immediately? Or did it take you longer to come to that realization?
KERIK: No, I think within the, within the first hours, you could see the spirit of New York. You could see the support, the resources, the -- just the outpouring of support and resources by people in this city, by the uniformed members.
It was a -- it was something I had never experienced before. And I truly understand what the Mayor meant when he said that it was, it was a lot about the people of this city.
There wasn't chaos. There wasn't confusion. It was just a very organized way of getting the people away from those buildings, getting them to safety. And the men and women in the Fire Department and Police Department, they did their job.
But the people of this city did their job, as well.
BLITZER: Commissioner, talk about the Mayor. A lot of Americans got to know him, obviously, after September 11. You've known him for a long time.
This has been an incredibly difficult period for him, and of course, the year leading up to September 11 was personally very difficult with the prostate cancer, a divorce, the tabloids all over him in New York.
Did he change after September 11?
KERIK: I don't think he changed. I think people got to see him differently, because there was much more focus on him.
Rudy Giuliani has never changed in the eight years I've known him. He has a tremendous heart. He has -- he's a man of compassion, humanity. But he's also a no-nonsense manager, and he's ruled this city in that way, in that tradition. And that's why the city has changed. Crime in the city is down 63 percent. Homicide's down almost 70. Tourism was at its highest in many, many years, when -- before September 11, and it's coming back now.
That's all a result of the management and leadership of Rudy Giuliani, and I understand why "Time" picked him as the Person of the Year.
BLITZER: And as far as the police officers, the men and women under your command are concerned, I guess, I'm just assuming, there must be a much greater respect that all New Yorkers care -- have -- for the -- have for New York's finest right now.
KERIK: Well I think, I think a lot of it had to do with the leadership of the Mayor. But it also had to do with people. What people saw on the 11th and afterward, you know, to watch those buildings collapse, to watch the response, to see the devastation and the destruction, and just get to see the men and women of the Police Department responding -- they absolutely knew the dangers they were involved in, and they still responded.
And for 23 of them, 22 men and one woman, it cost them their life. But nobody thought a thing of it. They didn't run away. They did their job. They did it the best.
And they proved to the entire nation that the New York City Police Department is one of the greatest in the world.
BLITZER: Commissioner Kerik, as you know, the federal government's high alert has remained in effect through January 2nd at a minimum, through Christmas and New Year's. A lot of people will be spending New Year's Eve, I assume, at Times Square.
How concerned are you about potential terrorist threats that still may be out there?
KERIK: Well, honestly, Wolf, you know, it's always a concern, and it's been sort of a heightened concern since the 11th.
But we take, you know, this is an event, one of our largest events of the year. We've had the millennium celebration. We do Times Square every year, where hundreds of thousands, millions of people come to the city.
We're very good at our job. This year we will have a heightened alert in the square, in and around Times Square. But, you know, people should come to New York. They should come to Times Square, especially on New Year's Eve. It's a great night.
And it's one of the biggest parties of the year, so they should come and have a great time.
BLITZER: Bernard Kerik, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, thank you so much for joining us. Good luck to you. I know you're getting ready to move on, and merry Christmas. Happy New Year.
Thank all the men and women of the Police Department of New York on our behalf.
KERIK: Wolf, thank you, and thanks for your support.
BLITZER: Thank you very much.
And when we come back, he may be the calm at the center of the storm, but the Vice President ever get angry?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHENEY: You know, if Dick gets angry, you do know it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: A portion of my interview with Lynn Cheney is coming up.
And later, Christmas in Kandahar. How some Marines reached out ...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) was 21 inches. We just got her ears pierced. She's really, really looking forward to seeing you. Just take care of yourself, we're waiting for you. Bye.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back.
And let's go to Afghanistan now where the latest move by the country's leader both unifies that fractious nation and lends more credibility to the Afghanistan army.
CNN's Harris Whitbeck is in Kabul with the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The chairman of Afghanistan's interim government, Hamid Karzai, took steps today to consolidate the unity of his new government. He named one of the country's most powerful warlords to the post of deputy minister of defense. General Abdul Rashid Dostum controlled a vast part of northern Afghanistan during the fight against the Taliban, and his taking of the strategic city of Mazar-e Sharif was instrumental in the Northern Alliance's defeat of the Taliban.
The minister of defense, General Mohammed Fahim (ph), said that he was glad to have General Dostum aboard. The fact that both of these men are together and occupying the top post at the ministry of defense seems to indicate that the interim government is taking the first steps towards the creation of a unified professional army in Afghanistan.
Chairman Karzai had said in his swearing-in ceremony that Afghanistan needed one unified army, and he had said that he was going to request the help of the United Nations to achieve that.
Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Kabul, Afghanistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Speaking with me yesterday on CNN's LATE EDITION, Hamid Karzai said as long as terrorists are hiding out in Afghanistan, U.S. forces can stay to fight them. To that end, U.S. military officials say B-52 bombers struck caves and ammunition dumps yesterday north of Kandahar. Those officials also say movement of Marines to comb the caves of Tora Bora is imminent.
From his retreat at Camp David, Maryland, President Bush telephoned nine members of the U.S. armed forces who are on the front lines of America's new war. He expressed his gratitude for their service to the country.
Some of those who are serving in Operation Enduring Freedom got a chance today to send and receive family holiday greetings here on CNN with our own Bill Hemmer, who's in Kandahar.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CPL. DANIEL RIDINGS: I really don't mind being away at the holidays. I'm kind of known as the Scrooge around home, so...
STEVEN RIDINGS, CPL. RIDINGS' FATHER: Merry Christmas, Daniel. We just -- I guess you wanted to get out of singing the Christmas carols with the guys, so you decided to have an interview with us.
DANIEL RIDINGS: Well, they didn't invite me to do the Christmas carols, but I'm kind of glad they didn't. But thanks, Dad, it's nice to hear from you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Corporal Derek Futrell (ph), Ontario, California. I miss you, Laura Lee. I love you. Miss you, Dylan, Mom, Dad, Brian, Jeff, Chris. And happy holidays, and I'll be home soon.
HEMMER: Tell them who Dylan is.
FUTRELL: Dylan's my son. I'll be home soon, son. I know that you're walking now, and I'll be ready to play ball soon.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm very proud of what he's doing, and I'm glad that he could be a part of it. It's hard being away from him this time of year, but at least he's out there doing something good for the country.
Say, "I miss you."
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I miss you. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Show him your teeth.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's see those teeth.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Show -- smile, show everybody your teeth. Come on, baby.
Marissa lost another one of her teeth.
Smile, come on, smile. (UNINTELLIGIBLE), come on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, Micole (ph), this is your dad. I'm here, and I'm thinking about you. This is my best Christmas present this year. Take care of yourself, Micole. And I'm thinking about you all the time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And here's your chance to send online holiday wishes to our troops overseas. Log onto cnn.com and click the E-Mail Our Troops link. You'll be connected to OperationDearAbby.net. The conventional letter-writing campaign started by Abigail Van Buren in 1967 was canceled this year due to the anthrax scare.
And a confrontation in the waters near Japan coming up. Japan says why its coast guard fired on a foreign boat.
And later, why the Philippines may be the next battleground in the war on terrorists.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back.
Let's take a look at some other international news.
Japan is defending its decision to sink a suspected North Korean spy boat near Japan. Two bodies have been recovered from the weekend incident and about a dozen other North Korean crew members are missing. Japan has released video of the shooting and says its coast guard opened fire after they were attacked.
The new president of Argentina will appeal to the United States and Spain for financial aid to help this country overcome its economic crisis. Adolfo Rodriguez Sah (ph) has been confirmed as the caretaker president until new elections are held in March. He replaces Fernando de la Rua, who resigned last week in the wake of anti-government riots.
Australia has issued a general warning about terrorism and is increasing its security level. The government says it has received information about possible terrorist threats against U.S. and British targets in Australia. The government says the threat is credible but not specific. Some experts believe America's long-time ally, the Philippines, may become one of the next fronts in the war on terrorism. A militant Islamic group founded by a brother-in-law of Osama bin Laden is active there.
Joining us now is the Philippines' ambassador to the United States, Albert del Rosario. Ambassador, thank you so much for joining us.
The Abu Sayyaf group, militant Islamic group, in the Philippines, is it connected to al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden?
ALBERT DEL ROSARIO, PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES: There is a historical link in terms of Abu Dakar (ph). Janja Lani (ph), who used to be in Afghanistan and trained there with bin Laden, he came to the Philippines and started the Abu Sayyaf. He, of course, was killed in a firefight in 1998. But before that, he also was very active in terms of terrorist activities.
BLITZER: So how powerful is this Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines?
DEL ROSARIO: Well, the Abu Sayyaf is -- they've engaged in many terroristic activities confined in the southern Philippines, basically in three islands. They are about 1,200 strong. That's how they started. But right now they've been reduced to less than 100.
BLITZER: So what do you anticipate in this war on terrorism your government, the government of the Philippines, doing, and what role is there for the United States in dealing with this terrorist organization?
DEL ROSARIO: Well, we -- let me tell you about the way that we've been fighting this war. It's a difficult battle, because of the terrain, and it's also a difficult battle because we do not have -- we're deficient in terms of equipment. We're deficient in terms of mobility.
BLITZER: So you're looking to the United States for help.
DEL ROSARIO: That's correct, that's correct. And the United States has been providing us with welcome assistance in terms of technical assistance as well as training.
BLITZER: And military, U.S. military personnel and other law enforcement experts are already on the ground working together with you?
DEL ROSARIO: We have technical advisers from the United States at this point in time advising and providing training for a light reaction training, a light reaction company, this is the second one that the United States will train for being active with the Abu Sayyaf campaign.
BLITZER: One of the problems you touched on is the huge number of islands around the Philippines where people can sort of just disappear, very hard to find some of these terrorists out there, isn't it?
DEL ROSARIO: Well, the Philippines is 7,000 islands. But the Abu Sayyaf have been operating basically in three small islands. And right now, they're confined in Basila (ph), which -- and they are into this very dense jungle, very rugged terrain...
BLITZER: Why is it, why is it so hard for you to find them and arrest them?
DEL ROSARIO: Well, the United States itself, the advisers there, are in agreement that it's a very difficult terrain, number one. Number two, they're able to assimilate into -- with the citizens -- citizenry there, so it's difficult. And thirdly, we don't have real- time intelligence information. And this is an area where the United States is helping us out also.
BLITZER: Sounds like there'll be extensive cooperation between the U.S. and the Philippines. Ambassador del Rosario, thank you so much for joining us. We hope you'll be back. And welcome to Washington. You've only been here a few weeks now.
DEL ROSARIO: Yes, thank you, thank you.
BLITZER: Thank you very much, and enjoy this holiday season as well.
DEL ROSARIO: Thank you very much.
BLITZER: Thank you.
And you can get an in-depth look at the Philippines as the next possible target in the war on terror, tonight on "LIVE FROM AFGHANISTAN WITH NIC ROBERTSON." That's at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 Pacific.
When it comes to snow, one U.S. city had a lot of catching up to do. In a moment, a change of scenery just in time for Christmas.
Also, are those deals at the pump about to dry up?
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BLITZER: Welcome back.
The FBI is investigating the discovery of a bullet that prompted Fort Lauderdale Airport to shut down a concourse for two hours today. The bureau says a passenger discovered the small-caliber bullet this morning outside a gate leading to a Spirit Airlines flight bound for New York. The incident caused some flights to run about three years late.
Gas prices are still declining, but they may go back -- may go up again soon. The Lundberg Survey says prices at the pump dropped more than 3 cents in the past two weeks to an average $1.08 a gallon.
But meanwhile, lots of gasoline and crude oil are drying up. Much of America can only dream of a white Christmas this year, but upstate New York is not one of those places. A lake effect storm that has hit the Buffalo area could dump a foot of snow by midnight and several more inches tomorrow.
In downtown Buffalo, reporter Justin Kramer of our affiliate WKBW is in the thick of it, and he joins us now live -- Justin.
JUSTIN KRAMER, WKBW, BUFFALO, NEW YORK: Wolf, so far this season, Buffalo has definitely not been living up to its national reputation. That's all kind of changing right now. A major snowstorm moving through the area, good news for western New Yorkers, who've been dreaming of a white Christmas.
Now, as I said, a big band of snowfall just north of the city right now. Let's get a look now at some of that video that we shot earlier today. You can see that's some video from the northern suburbs of Buffalo. They've already got 14 inches of snow on the ground. In some spots, they could see as much as two feet blanketing the area by Christmas morning.
Now, it has been a very mild season so far in the Buffalo area. In November, for the first time in the city's history, we had no snow at all. So far this December, just an inch and a half of snow. Already today about 2 inches of snow in the Buffalo area, and we are expecting at least in the city to get another half foot of snow here and about two feet in the northern areas. That snow system kind of parked right north of the city, and slowly moving south.
Wolf, back to you.
BLITZER: All right, Justin, you may know the -- this, and maybe some of our viewers know it, I'm originally from Buffalo, New York, myself, a little familiar with snow. Usually the big snow is outside of Buffalo, either south of Buffalo or even to the north of Buffalo, but rarely does the city get as much as some of the outlying areas.
What's happening right now?
KRAMER: Well, in the city of Buffalo, that's absolutely correct, Wolf. We've only got a little bit more than two inches of snow right now and expecting about eight inches of snow. Up in the northern suburbs where you're from, Kenmore, Tonawanda, those areas already 14 inches of snow on the ground, as much as two feet of snow expected by tomorrow morning in those areas. And this snow system planning on moving from the northern suburbs through the city into the southern parts of Erie County, and those areas expected also to get pretty hard before Christmas Eve is over with.
BLITZER: Justin, just correct me if I'm wrong, I know there's not going to be school tomorrow because it's Christmas. But if it weren't Christmas, would there be school tomorrow in the Buffalo area?
KRAMER: It's tough to say, I'm not exactly sure. In the city of Buffalo, they've got a very good handle on the situation, because crews have been out all day long getting ready for this in the city. Not too bad in those northern suburbs. Yes, I would say probably two feet of snow would be enough to cancel school for the day. They are working their best, though, at making sure all those streets stay clean for folks getting out and about for the holidays.
BLITZER: OK, Justin Kramer in Buffalo, I got to tell you, when I grew up in Kenmore, they never closed school no matter how much snow. We had excellent snow removal equipment, unfortunately for those of us who would have loved to see school closed.
Thank you very much, Justin Kramer, from our affiliate WKBW, Channel 7, in Buffalo.
And in just a moment, the vice president's wife speaks about the day of the September 11 attacks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LYNNE CHENEY: There was no sense in that room of, you know, Oh, my gosh, they're going to hit us, though of course that was a possibility.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Let's go to New York now and get a preview of "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE." That begins, of course, at the top of the hour. Jan Hopkins is filling in tonight for Lou -- Jan.
JAN HOPKINS, GUEST HOST, "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE": Good evening, Wolf.
Another look on MONEYLINE at airline security. We'll have the latest on the man authorities say wanted to blow up an airliner this weekend. We'll also tell you how troops celebrated Christmas Eve in Afghanistan, and why Yasser Arafat was not in Bethlehem.
And if you don't have your Christmas shopping done by now, well, you may be in trouble, but what about the nation's retailers? We'll tell you how they're doing and what that could show us about the state of the economy.
All that in more at the top of the hour.
Back to you, Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you very much, Jan.
In our program, later this evening at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, we'll include an in-depth interview with Lynne Cheney, the wife of the vice president, Dick Cheney. Among other things, Mrs. Cheney recalls September 11, when the news of the attacks on New York's World Trade Center first broke.
Here's an excerpt from the interview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
What was your worst fear at that moment?
CHENEY: Well, I -- it wasn't a fear exactly, but people said that there were 20,000 souls in each tower, and so, you know, I just started counting up how many people could have been killed. And horrible as it is that there were 3,000, I think is the number of fatalities we're kind of closing in on, my goodness, at first we thought it would be 10 times.
BLITZER: But did -- at one point there was a real fear that U.S. intelligence, law enforcement had, Secret Service, that that other plane that eventually wound up at the Pentagon or in Pennsylvania was heading towards the White House.
CHENEY: Well, there were many reports of planes unaccounted for, and indeed, the reports coming in said that they had on the signal that indicated they had been hijacked. So there were probably 10 reports like that. There were two specific reports about planes heading for the White House.
But it's curious, it's almost as though you become a little detached from any sort of personal concern under those circumstances. You know, you're just trying to deal with the situation and work through it. There was no sense in that room of, you know, Oh, my gosh, they're going to hit us, though of course that was a possibility. Or at least we thought it was.
BLITZER: Have you noticed any discernible change in the vice president since September 11?
CHENEY: You know, I heard Don Rumsfeld say the other day that he gets -- the vice president gets calmer as the situation becomes ever more perilous. And that may be true. But Dick has -- you know, operates on such a level of calm anyway, it's hard to imagine that he's even more calm now.
BLITZER: But that he holds it in? Is there something underneath that's really making him angry?
CHENEY: No. You know, if Dick gets angry, you do know it. I remember there was one instance in -- when we were down in the presidential emergency operations center when we couldn't both get the TV from CNN simultaneously with the communications to the other important places of government. And, you know, when he gets mad, he says something sort of in a deep growling voice, like, "Fix it," you know, and you know he's mad.
But he's just not mad most of the time.
BLITZER: Having covered him for a few years, I know that when he gets mad -- it's not often, but you feel the wrath.
CHENEY: It's impressive.
BLITZER: When he was on "Meet the Press" the other day, he said that if -- you know, he -- if the president wants him to, he'd be more than happy to be on the ticket in 2004. Would you be more than happy to see him on the ticket in 2004?
CHENEY: You know, I can't even imagine 2004. It seems so far away. What is that, three years away? And...
BLITZER: In Washington, it's never too early to talk about presidential politics.
CHENEY: Well, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that too, but, you know, you and I were just talking about the remarkable changes that the past year has seen. So I -- honestly, Wolf, I'm not thinking about 2004.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: And you can see my entire interview with Lynne Cheney in one hour on a special edition of "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS," 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 Pacific.
Until then, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.
"LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" is next, but we'd like to close out this hour with live pictures from the midnight mass at the Vatican as midnight approaches.
Have a merry Christmas.
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