Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
Arafat Ready to Implement Cease-Fire; Ashcroft Goes for Death; Should All Americans be Vaccinated Against Small Pox?
Aired March 28, 2002 - 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS: with escalating casualties, a stunning development in the Middle East. Yasser Arafat says he is ready for the violence to end.
Going for death...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: The United States attorneys have filed a notice of intent to seek a sentence of death.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: But does the case against Zacarias Moussaoui fall short?
The e-mail read around the world. Was the sender Osama bin Laden?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Osama bin Laden and his groups recently turned to the net.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And in the war against bioterrorism, one pharmaceutical company uncovers a precious stockpile.
I'm Fredricka Whitfield at CNN center, in for Wolf Blitzer. We begin with a developing story in our news alert. We want to bring you live pictures now of a recovery effort just outside of Seattle there. A four-engine propeller plane, which somehow crashed into Elliott Bay, just west of Seattle. Four people were onboard that plane, but all have been rescued and are uninjured, as we know right now. We'll have more on this developing story later on in this broadcast.
On now to our other developing stories and this news alert. One day after 20 Israelis were killed in a suicide bomb attack, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat says he's ready to work for an immediate cease-fire with Israel. At the same time, more violence erupted in the West Bank. Israeli police say two Palestinian men killed three Israelis in a Jewish settlement near the city of Nablus. The gunmen were killed. We'll have much more on that story in a moment.
A tense time in Boston today, at Logan Airport. One-hundred and eighteen passengers on Delta Airlines flight 2533, were forced to deplane moments before takeoff, when a passenger made a verbal threat. A man onboard reportedly told a flight attendant he had -- quote -- "top secret information" that people would be killed. The plane and luggage were searched for explosives. Nothing was found. The passenger was charged with interfering with a flight crew.
In Afghanistan, an American serviceman was killed today by a land mine. Thirty-five-year-old chief petty officer Matthew Bourgeois was a Navy SEAL from Tallahassee, Florida. Officials say he stepped on the mine near the U.S. military base at Kandahar airport. Another American service member was wounded.
The U.S. government will seek the death penalty against Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person charged in the September 11th terrorist attacks. U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft says the death penalty is warranted if Moussaoui is convicted, because the impact was so widespread.
More now on our top story: Yasser Arafat's announcement that he is ready to implement an unconditional cease-fire with Israel. The move comes one day after 20 Israelis were killed in a Palestinian suicide bomb attack. Arafat announced his decision at his headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah. CNN's Michael Holmes is there -- Michael.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, thanks very much. Yes, Yasser Arafat's words, "I confirm my willingness to work towards an immediate cease-fire." And with those words, Yasser Arafat raised hopes that he was about to declare a cease-fire, but he did go on. And quoting here -- quote -- "We are ready to immediately begin to implement the Tenet work plan without conditions."
Now, essentially what he's doing is, offering a cease-fire under terms already in dispute in ongoing talks between Israeli and Palestinian security officials, and brokered by the U.S. special envoy Anthony Zinni. Now, in the last couple of weeks, General Zinni has been meeting with the two sides and talking about bridging proposals, if you like -- variations on the original plan put forth by CIA director George Tenet.
Now, what Yasser Arafat is doing, in essence here, is trying to tempt Israel into going back full circle to square one, if you like, to the original Tenet plan as put forth. Now, what this means is that he's saying that we will go ahead, we will have a cease-fire, if Israel agrees to that as well.
Israel's response, Fredricka, not warm. They say that Mr. Arafat still needs to do more on the ground to curb militants -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks very much. Michael Holmes from Jerusalem this evening.
Now, Israel has reacted quickly, saying Arafat's statement is not enough, and that the Palestinian leader must do more to stop terror attacks. Meantime, there was more violence today. Israeli police say two Palestinian gunmen killed three people in a Jewish settlement near the West Bank town of Nablus.
And during the past hour, the cabinet of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met to consider its response to yesterday's suicide bombing. Our Jerusalem bureau chief, Mike Hanna, is covering all this for us and he joins us with the latest -- Mike.
MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well, the cabinet meeting is under way at present. It's a full meeting of the cabinet and an announcement is expected within coming hours, as to what steps Israel is going to take in the wake of that terror bomb attack in Netanya, which claimed 20 Israeli lives, injured more than 100.
Well, Israel too has been quick to reject the statement by Yasser Arafat, that he's prepared to agree to an unconditional cease-fire based on the Tenet plan. Israel says that it has heard the statement from Mr. Arafat on many occasions before, saying that they're waiting to see actions on the ground, rather than mere words.
There is no indication yet as to exactly what form the Israeli retaliation is going to take. We should be hearing that within hours.
WHITFIELD: And, Mike, the immediate reaction there from the recent violence there, it was already terrible enough. The reaction already pretty strong from yesterday's violence. Then here we go again, all over again, from the Palestinian side again.
HANNA: Well, yes, the Israeli government obviously reacting strongly to all forms of terror attacks taking place against Israelis. As you say, the Netanya bombing was a deeply serious attack, the second-biggest attack in 19 months of ongoing conflict. And now, within hours, the attack on the Jewish settlement, another three Israelis killed by Palestinian gunmen.
Certainly, likely or possibly could sway the opinion of the Sharon cabinet, as it gathers to discuss what steps it's going to take next.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks very much. Mike Hanna reporting tonight. Thank you.
Well, tonight at 8:00 Eastern, CNN takes you live to Netanya, the site of the Passover Massacre. Join Christiane Amanpour for that.
For reaction from the Bush administration, we go to our White House correspondent, Major Garrett, with the president in Texas. Major, what is the White House saying so far about Arafat's promise for a cease-fire?
MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, the White House is trying to walk a very fine line. It doesn't want to sound as if it is in any way echoing the Israeli government's reaction, saying there needs to be actions on the ground from Mr. Arafat, not just words. But at the same time it is in no way describing Mr. Arafat's declaration as a step forward or even incremental progress. What the White House is saying, officially, is that it is analyzing Mr. Arafat's words carefully, it remains in contact with the Israelis and the Palestinians. And will remain so as long as negotiations in pursuit of a cease-fire continue. That's all the White House will say right now.
The best way to sum up the White House reaction is noncommittal. Earlier today, the president traveled from his Crawford ranch to Dallas, to attend a GOP fundraiser. And while there, he said even as violence continues in the region, the United States will remain committed, not only to a peace process, but to achieving a cease-fire between Israelis and Palestinians.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My heart breaks for those who were celebrating Passover in a hotel, when a cold- blooded killer came in and destroyed innocent life, to derail the attempts of peaceful loving people for coming together. But they're not going to stop us as a nation longing for peace and working for peace. And the best way to achieve the peace is to be strong and steadfast against terror.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GARRETT: The bottom line, Fredricka, for the Bush White House is, these are trilateral conversations about a cease-fire. And, as sort of an indicator for everyone in our television audience, how they will know this is serious, is when you see the Israelis, the Palestinians and the U.S.officials all standing together announcing a cease-fire, and exactly how it will be implemented and how it will be carried out. Until then, these are all incremental steps. And on this one, the White House wants to remain, for the moment, noncommittal -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks a lot. Major Garrett, traveling with the president this evening.
A major development at the Arab League Summit in Beirut. For the first time, leaders endorsed a Saudi peace plan for the Middle East. It offers Israel normal relations on two conditions: Israel's full withdrawal from lands occupied in the 1967 Middle East war, and a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Israel has long resisted these demands, but called the proposal a -- quote -- "very interesting development."
More assessment of the crisis in the Middle East and the situation between the United States and Iraq in "THE WAR ROOM" tonight. Join Andrea Koppel at 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 Pacific.
On now to our other breaking story of the hour. The recovery of this four-engine prop plane in Elliott Bay just west of Seattle. We want to bring on the phone now with us, from the Coast Guard, Anthony Juarez. Anthony, if you could tell us. So far we understand that the four people who were on board have been rescued. They are safe. But what else can you tell us about this recovery effort?
ANTHONY JUAREZ, U.S. COAST GUARD: It happened around 1:15. And from station Seattle, a 41 foot utility boat and a 27-foot (UNINTELLIGIBLE) boat. The passengers were on the wing of the aircraft when the Coast Guard arrived. And they were just transported to EMS, and EMS took it from our hands. And now the Coast Guard is just recovering any of the petroleum that's outside of the aircraft.
WHITFIELD: So, Anthony, what's your understanding as to what happened exactly?
JUAREZ: I don't know. There are reports that the aircraft was sputtering as it was going down.
WHITFIELD: Can you tell us more about that area? Is this an area frequented by boaters, by people in the water there?
JUAREZ: That whole area is very touristy. I mean, it's right by the beach, right there across from west Seattle. And it fell into a very popular restaurant, right in front of it. Salty's on Alki Sazerac, and it's a very uppity restaurant.
WHITFIELD: And how far away is the nearest airport? Might this have been coming in for a landing? Or might it have been taking off fairly close?
JUAREZ: Boeing's field is around maybe two miles from there. I don't know where it was going, or if it was going there or if it had taken off from there. But it's about two miles from the airfield.
Hello?
WHITFIELD: OK. All right, Anthony. We also have a witness who is on the phone with us, who perhaps can shed some more light on exactly what she saw. Soria, is that you? Can you hear me OK?
SORIA MAM, WITNESS: Yes, I can.
WHITFIELD: What did you see?
MAM: I saw a plane coming in. It was just hovering for a while, and we knew that it was going to come down, because the nose started coming down towards us. When you're facing the scenery, it's on the right -- it would have hit the right corner of our building.
And, yeah, you saw the plane coming down. We really thought it was going to hit. We didn't think there was any chance -- the pilot did a very good job maneuvering away from the building. As the plane was coming down, you could see people. There were four people on board -- get out. They were all hugging each other. And it was very shocking.
WHITFIELD: Before the hugs, when you saw that plane hit the water, how quickly did you see that the passengers were able to react and get on the wing of the plane, before the entire plane started to go down?
MAM: Very quickly. As soon as the plane hit, the people started coming out. A lot of people did not even stay. I mean, as the plane was coming down, everybody pretty much ran. They just did a wonderful job. They just told everybody to get up and go.
WHITFIELD: OK. All right, thanks very much. Soria Mam, a witness to the downing of this four-engine prop plane in Elliott Bay, just west of Seattle. As well as thanks to Anthony Juarez of the Coast Guard, who joined us just a bit earlier.
All right. On now to our other stories of the day. More now on the first man charged in connection with the September 11th terrorist attacks. He could face execution if convicted of conspiracy. Federal prosecutors filed papers this morning announcing their plan to seek the death penalty against Zacarias Moussaoui.
CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti joins us from Washington with the latest developments. Good evening, Susan.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka. One day before a court-imposed deadline, Attorney General John Ashcroft made the announcement.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): The U.S. attorney general says the crime was so horrific, the impact on victims so great, he's giving the go-ahead to seek the ultimate penalty for suspected terrorist, Zacarias Moussaoui.
ASHCROFT: We remain committed not only to carrying out justice in this case, but also to ensuring that the rights of the victims are fully protected.
CANDIOTTI: The government filed this notice of its intentions, saying, "Zacarias Moussaoui committed the offenses in an especially heinous, cruel and depraved manner in that they involved torture and serious physical abuse to the victims."
At the time of the attacks, Moussaoui, a French citizen, was in a Minnesota jail, held on immigration charges, picked up after a flight school called the FBI about its suspicions.
MARILYN LADER, PAN AM INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT ACADEMY: One of the program managers did state, you know, this 747 could -- loaded with fuel, is a bomb. And so that was discussed amongst ourselves.
CANDIOTTI: Some suspect Moussaoui was meant to be the 20th hijacker, charged with six conspiracy counts, including use of a plane as a flying bomb. But defense attorney Michael Tigar, who successfully fought against a death sentence for Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols, says the government's case appears flawed.
MICHAEL TIGAR, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Because, at lest publicly revealed, there's evidence that even the people that did the hijackings were not aware, until very, very late in the game, of what the objective was.
CANDIOTTI: He cites this tape, in which Osama bin Laden brags the hijackers were out of the loop. Others argue just because Moussaoui was jailed does not lessen his alleged guilt.
SCOTT MENDELOFF, FMR. FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: To the extent he advanced the conspiracy, was part of it, he's responsible just the same as if he had been there.
CANDIOTTI: In France, Moussaoui's mother expressed anger.
"My son didn't kill anyone," she says. "My son is a scapegoat. They found an Arab, a poor person."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
The French government, opposed to the death penalty, says it regrets the Justice Department's decision. And the French justice minister went further, saying -- quote -- "under no condition will we hand over documents if they are destined to support the death penalty." Since French investigators are known to have a large file on Moussaoui, lack of cooperation could be a significant handicap to the U.S. government's case -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much. Susan Candiotti, from Washington this evening.
We want to talk more now about the legal issues involved in today's announcement about Moussaoui's case. Joining us from New York, Court TV anchor and former Texas judge, Catherine Crier. Good evening.
CATHERINE CRIER, COURT TV: Good evening, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Well, let's touch on that. Susan brought up a good point. The investigation may run into a couple shortfalls, or at least the prosecutors, because of the lack of cooperation. How much of a hurdle is that in their investigation?
CRIER: Well, I don't think the prosecutors would have gone forward seeking the indictments or pushing for the death penalty unless they were satisfied with the United States case -- they case they had before then.
What you're talking about is icing. I'm sure they would like that information from France, and there may be other political ways to get it, where the French officials are not sort of conceding to the death penalty. We'll have to see on that.
WHITFIELD: And, Catherine, the federal government filed its request one day before the deadline. There are six conspiracy charges, four of which are death penalty qualified. But how difficult really, is this going to be for prosecutors to try to get a death penalty case to stick, when this man was in jail at the time of the September 11 attacks? CRIER: Yeah, but all of the charges are dealing with conspiracy. And as you say, four of the conspiracy charges: conspiracy for air piracy, to commit terrorism across international borders -- these sorts of things -- don't have to have an act that ultimately results.
I think it will be very interesting with an American jury, given the sensitivity of this, because the jury that tried the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, after finding the defendants guilty, did not impose the death penalty. So maybe when it's on our shores, they'll give that harder consideration. But it's a tough question when the guy was sitting in jail.
WHITFIELD: In the case of Terry Nichols though, however, prosecutors wanted the death penalty but they were only able to get a life in prison sentence for him. There are some similarities in these cases, don't you see?
CRIER: Well, there is, and Mike Tigar sort of pointed it out, that it's going to be quite difficult, when there is substantive evidence that these guys didn't know what their ultimate objective was. Moussaoui, that last month being unattached, probably may not have known. They may not be able to prove he knew the ultimate objective was death in this case.
But at the same time, there are various charges, such as conspiracy to commit air piracy, that do not involve the death of any participants. So there are charges a jury could hang the death penalty on, regardless.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much. Catherine Crier from New York this evening. Appreciate it.
CRIER: You bet.
WHITFIELD: Our Web question of the day: do you agree with the U.S. government's decision to seek the death penalty for Zacarias Moussaoui? Vote at cnn.com/wolf. While you're there, let us know what you're thinking. There's a "click here" icon on the left side of Wolf's Web page. Send your comments and we'll read some of them on the air each day.
Is it the work of Osama bin Laden or an imitator? A newspaper editor is taking an e-mail very seriously. We'll take a look.
Later, the surprise about a smallpox vaccine stockpile.
And why is one hospital worried its patients could have HIV?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Reaction now from the Israelis and Palestinians on Yasser Arafat's announcement that he's ready for an unconditional cease-fire with Israel. First, Dore Gold, senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, with us this evening.
Good evening. DORE GOLD, ARIEL SHARON'S ADVISER: Good evening.
WHITFIELD: Well, how suspicious are you of the timing, given the fact the Israeli government had been threatening some sort of response after yesterday's Passover massacre?
GOLD: You know, we've had now 10 cease-fire efforts, most of them under American auspices, with Yasser Arafat. Yasser Arafat has declared repeatedly in the past that he's ready for a cease-fire, ready to negotiate a cease-fire. If Mr. Arafat wanted a cease-fire, he could have declared it in Arabic tonight. He didn't do that. He declared a readiness to work with the Zinni proposals. This isn't very serious for us.
You also have to understand that over the last two weeks, we've had cases where Yasser Arafat's Tanzim organization has been involved in terrorist attacks against Israelis. Dozens have died. And then Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority condemns the very terrorist attacks that the Tanzim initiates.
(CROSSTALK)
GOLD: We've had too much of this double talk.
WHITFIELD: Specifically, what do you need to hear from Arafat?
GOLD: Well, first of all, I can tell you what we need are actions, and not just another empty statement, after which more Israelis die. Yasser Arafat knows what he has to do. He could have made a phone call to Marwan Barghouti to have the Tanzim call off attacks against Israel.
Just this Passover, not only did we have the Passover massacre in Netanya, but we actually had a Tanzim squad headed for the largest mall in Israel in southern Jerusalem, with dynamite strapped to the bodies of one of the suicide bombers.
We had another Tanzim fighter placed inside of a Red Crescent ambulance, heading for Jerusalem from the north. He would have gone in and terrorized and killed many more Israelis.
It's very simple. Give orders to the Tanzim to stop attacking. Send a signal to the entire Palestinian population that the war is over. Don't play the P.R. game on television. Unfortunately, we're not seeing a serious effort.
WHITFIELD: So you're making it very clear, actions speak louder than words. But can you at least give credit to the fact that Arafat is now at least verbally saying that he is willing to come to the table to concede to a cease-fire? Is that encouraging enough?
GOLD: Well, we've been here before. You don't have to be a historian of the Middle East to remember that after the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) attack in August 2001, Yasser Arafat, with the German foreign minister standing behind him, came out and said that he was ready for a cease-fire. Well, how many more Israelis have died since then? How many more Israelis are supposed to die in these type of massacres?
The people of Israel and the government of Israel have said one thing: enough of the terrorism. Stop the terrorism. We have a right to defend ourselves.
WHITFIELD: All right. Senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Dore Gold. Thanks for joining us.
Well, joining us on the phone now from Jericho, the chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erakat. Can you hear me OK?
SAEB ERAKAT, CHIEF PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR: Yes, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: OK. Well, you heard from Dore Gold. He said that actions speak louder than words. They need something a little bit more concrete. What can you offer to the Israeli government to let them know that PLO leader Yasser Arafat is serious?
ERAKAT: Well, what Mr. Gold declined to say is that we've been having General Anthony Zinni with us for the past two weeks. And that we have been engaged in a very, very serious and intensive effort in order to reach a point of initiating the Tenet implementation of the cease-fire.
And let me tell you, Fredricka, that we have made significant progress with General Zinni. And I think Arafat tonight made it very clear of our appreciation of Zinni's efforts. He made it very clear of our condemnation to the killing of innocent Israeli civilians at the hand of those who want to sabotage our efforts to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the peace efforts back on track.
And then, Mr. Gold fails to tell you that there have been 31 Palestinians, including sometimes, like 4-year-old girls, that were killed at the hands of the Israelis. But at the same time, what do you say? Now, I'm speaking to you, Fredricka, there is a heavy concentration of Israeli tanks surrounding Palestinian towns, villages, refugee camps, especially in Ramallah and Nablus.
I think there is an imminent attack being planned against these towns. An imminent resumption of the occupation. I want to ask Mr. Gold...
WHITFIELD: Well, let's talk about that then. Do you believe that the timing, then, of the announcement from Arafat, that he's willing to concede to unconditional cease-fire, because of the Israeli threat of a response to yesterday's attack, as well as earlier today?
ERAKAT: No, it was in a response to Mr. Zinni's efforts. It was a response to the historic, significant initiative that came from the Arab countries today, for the first time in our 54-year-old conflict between Israelis and Arabs.
WHITFIELD: Then can you talk specifically about what the conditions are that you've agreed to with Zinni?
ERAKAT: General Zinni, when he came here, President Bush said that General Zinni is in the region to implement Tenet. And to implement Mitchell, and then to have a vertical horizon. Now what we've said tonight, we are fully committed, 100 percent, to begin the implementation of the Tenet proposal, as they were was written, immediately, with no condition, including a declaration on a cease- fire.
Now, if the Israeli government can reciprocate, if we can both ensure that we give this to General Zinni and ensure his success, I believe this will provide a shorter way to security and peace for Palestinians and Israelis, than an anticipated attack by tanks, which will only complicate matters, which will only add fuel to the fire, which will make us not know where the action and reaction, retaliation, and what retaliation.
This must stop, and the only way to stop it is that we have General Zinni in town. And this man is there, our full support to assure the success of his mission...
WHITFIELD: Is one of the obstacles -- sorry to interrupt. If one of the obstacles is getting the message to the militant groups who are carrying out or being blamed for, or accepting responsibility for a number of the recent attacks, how do you actually convey to them, or make promise that they are going to adhere to a cease-fire?
ERAKAT: Yes, that's part of Tenet, actually. We have an obligation there on this point. Because once we begin the implementation of Tenet, General Zinni said to us there will be monitors to watch what they are doing and what the Israelis are doing. And we said, as President Arafat said, we are fully committed to carry out all our obligations in the meeting from the Tenet war plan.
But I'm afraid that tonight, the language of the tanks and the guns and the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and the anger by the Israelis will really sabotage things, and sabotage everything that we've been building in the last two weeks, with the very, very serious progress that was made through the operatives of General Anthony Zinni.
WHITFIELD: OK. Well, the world is watching. Chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erakat, thank you very much for joining us by the phone from Jericho tonight.
And just when you thought there was a smallpox vaccine shortage, a company stumbles on a surprising find.
Later: an unexpected e-mail. Could it be from Osama bin Laden? We'll tell you whether it may be.
And, memories of Uncle Miltie. Sid Caesar will be joining us.
And a big catch: why the octopus is making Ripley's.
First, the news quiz. The world's largest invertebrate is not the octopus. It's the giant squid. How big was the largest one ever found? 20 feet, 40 feet, 60 feet or 100 feet? The answer coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: In recent months, only relatives have come forward to say they have heard from Osama bin Laden. Now an Arabic-language newspaper reports it has received correspondence over the Internet. And the newspaper's editors say they believe the e-mail is from bin Laden.
CNN national correspondent Mike Boettcher with more now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This was the e-mail's intended audience: Arab leaders meeting in Beirut.
If Osama bin Laden was the author, he had a clear message: The Saudi peace plan adopted Thursday morning at the Arab summit betrays the Arab world. "In light of the bloody events that our nation is going through," the e-mail said, "everybody is required to take up jihad. And grassroots leaderships have to move to end this roaring bloodshed and to expose the treacheries."
The message was sent to "Al-Quds," an Arabic-language newspaper in London.
Abdel Bari Atwan is "Al-Quds"' editor.
ABDEL BARI ATWAN, EDITOR, "AL-QUDS": It coincides with the Arab summit. And he knows, or his group knows, actually, now all the attention is concentrated on Beirut, where the Arab leaders are discussing the Saudi peace plan. So would he like just to denounce this peace plan.
BOETTCHER: Atwan interviewed Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan in 1996. He believes the e-mail is authentic.
ATWAN: I think this is same language he used. He supported the suicidal attacks against the Israelis. He wants to distance himself from the Arab leaders, from the Saudi peace initiative. He considers Prince Abdullah, who presented it to the summit, as a traitor.
BOETTCHER: In Beirut, Arab leaders have not reacted to the alleged bin Laden message.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BOETTCHER: Again, there is no way to verify that the message was sent by Osama bin Laden. But Mr. Atwan, who knows al Qaeda pretty well, says it sure sounds like bin Laden -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much, Mike Boettcher, on that.
So, how can we know for sure who sent the e-mail? Joining us from New York is Bill Daly, a former FBI investigator who specialized in counterterrorism. He is now with the international security firm Control Risks Group.
Thanks for joining us this evening. BILL DALY, CONTROL RISKS GROUP: Hi, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: So, what are the red flags? What do you look for in order to determine the authenticity of this e-mail?
DALY: Well, there are several things you do.
Typically, when you start to look at text documents, you start to look at linguistic comparisons. Do we have things that perhaps he's written in the past. In what's written now, do we have language that lines up?.
Now, that be sometimes be misleading, because people who may study him may also know what his writing patterns are. And if it is a short enough message, they could perhaps try to imitate it. The other would be to look at information that is buried within the e-mail message itself. It is hidden data. It is data that is only transmitted between the service providers, the communications companies. That might give us a lead as to what geographic area, if not actually what location, transmitted that e-mail.
WHITFIELD: So, isn't it fair to say that is likely there are an awful lot of people out there who would imitate being Osama bin Laden in such correspondence? Isn't it that much more suspicious when it comes in the form of an e-mail?
DALY: It certainly is very suspicious. And what I would also say is that, as much investigation as you want to put into this -- and I have worked on several investigations that have traced e-mails that purport to be from individuals or from companies, and they turn out to be from students in some university someplace -- is that you always have to be aware that, even when you go through these rigors, at the end of the day, you may not know who actually hit those keys, who made those keystrokes and created that message.
So, all it may do is give you some idea as to where it came from. Perhaps you can interview people, who they saw at that particular time at that location. And does that provide you any more evidence to suggest that he is still alive?
WHITFIELD: Well, how would this go, the investigation? Obviously, the U.S. is leading the war on terrorism. But Great Britain is of course an ally. This newspaper being in London, would the U.S. be seeking the cooperation from intelligence in Great Britain first before jumping in itself to investigate whether this is authentic or not?
DALY: I believe that would be the protocol that they would go to, particularly working very closely with Great Britain on the actual military action in Afghanistan and other measures we are taking. So, I believe that we have that spirit of cooperation. So, that wouldn't be very difficult. That certainly would be the first step.
But we would need to actually get ahold of the electronic version of that document in order to start looking at those hidden files and to find out, as I call it, the hidden travelogue of these messages. Where did it come from? What portals did it pass through? And can we then take it back to a place that potentially could be investigated? And could someone have seen someone there at that time? And who were they?
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much, Bill Daly, former FBI agent. Thanks for joining us this evening.
DALY: Thanks, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Hollywood is once again in mourning. A famous moviemaker passed. Also, remembering Milton Berle: Comedian Sid Caesar will be joining us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A hospital in Jourdanton, Texas is urging patients, hundreds of patients, to be tested for AIDS because a nurse may have contaminated drug vials. The nurse is HIV positive. And authorities say she admitted to stealing drugs from the hospital's dispensary. And she may have tried to hide her alleged thefts by refilling the vials with saline, using the same syringe she used to inject herself.
HMOs in California will have to pay for morning-after pills for women. The order comes from Governor Gray Davis, who says providing the emergency contraception will strengthen women's family planning rights. Abortion rights groups call the law a step forward in women's health. Abortion opponents say it is a crass attempt by Davis to get the pro-abortion vote in his bid for reelection.
A couple of new developments should ease concerns about a smallpox attack on the United States. First, there may be a greater amount of smallpox vaccine than previously thought. And the U.S. government is trying to buy millions of doses just discovered in a drug company's freezer.
CNN medical correspondent Rhonda Rowland has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RHONDA ROWLAND, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In early November, in this small room at St. Louis University, America began to confront its biggest security nightmare: the unlikely but terrifying possibility of smallpox attack. Healthy volunteers agreed to be inoculated with the country's old stock of smallpox vaccine.
DR. SHARON FREY, ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY: I'm one who had hoped and didn't expect to have to dust off the vaccine vials.
ROWLAND: Only 15 million doses existed, we were told, not nearly enough to protect the nation, unless, unless the vaccine could somehow be stretched. So, scientists diluted it to as little as one-tenth of its normal strength and began inoculating.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are going to dip this in the vaccine.
ROWLAND: After following the volunteers, nearly 700 of them, and watching for the telltale skin lesion to develop, researchers got the good news.
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: What we did find was that, in fact, the dilutional studies were successful.
ROWLAND: That means these 15 million doses could now be diluted to cover 150 million Americans, about half the U.S. population.
But what about the other half? Coincidentally, government sources now say a long-forgotten supply of at least 70 million vaccine doses made in the 1950s was recently discovered in a pharmaceutical company's freezer, which means there may be enough vaccine to inoculate every single American, raising the question: Should we all get vaccinated?
FAUCI: People will be questioning, say, "Gee, now that you have enough vaccine, why aren't you vaccinating everyone just in case?"
ROWLAND (on camera): Right now, if you wanted to get the smallpox vaccine, you can't get it. The responsibility for determining who should get it and when rests with the CDC here in Atlanta.
The agency currently recommends ring vaccination -- that is, identifying and quarantining those exposed to the virus and vaccinating their contacts.
(voice-over): That approach, which was very effective in eradicating smallpox, is now being called into question by some health experts, who say, if used in a terrorist attack, millions could die since the outbreak could outrun the vaccinators.
The downside for voluntary vaccinations is, about 200 people could die from the vaccine itself.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROWLAND: An important question for those of us over age 32 who are vaccinated as children is whether or not we are still protected. And a study should begin on Monday at St. Louis University to get that answer for us -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot, Rhonda Rowland. Appreciate it.
A record-setting catch in the waters off New Zealand: Seeing it believing. And we will have the pictures for you straight ahead. And a look at the incredible career of a man who helped bring television into millions of homes: remembering Milton Berle. We will talk with Sid Caesar when we return.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "SOME LIKE IT HOT")
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Oh, I'll tell you my dear, this is the only way to travel. (END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: "Some Like It Hot," just one of Billy Wilder's many classics. Today, word came that legendary filmmaker had died at the age of 95. During his four-decade career, he earned 20 Oscar nominations, winning six times. Along the way, Wilder worked with a veritable who's-who in Hollywood, including Ginger Rogers, Marilyn Monroe, Bing Crosby, and Jack Lemmon.
Hollywood is also mourning the death of a man known as Mr. Television and Uncle Miltie. Comedian Milton Berle died yesterday at his home in Beverly Hills at the age of 93. Actor Sid Caesar is among those remembering Milton Berle. And he joins us now from Los Angeles.
Good evening.
SID CAESAR, COMEDIAN: Good evening.
WHITFIELD: Well, Sid, what are some of your lasting memories of Uncle Miltie, as many of us like to call him? What do you suppose -- ow would you encapsulate his legacy?
CAESAR: Well, Milton Berle was one that proved to the networks -- see, the network executives weren't too sure about television, because they were just with radio. In radio, you just stand up with a mike and read. That's all had to do.
But, in television, you got to have costumes. You've got to have makeup. You've got to have scenery. You got to have this. You've got to have that. You have got to have props. It's a whole different thing. So they wanted to know if one man could put on 39 shows, because that was the season in those days, 39 shows a year, one man to do a show.
And he was the one who proved, who took the skepticism out of the executives' minds and showed them that you could do a show every week with the same man. All he would have do to is get different acts.
WHITFIELD: And, in so doing, he so galvanized the television industry.
CAESAR: Yes.
WHITFIELD: At the time, you were lucky to see one television set in a whole block. And then, once he started making airwaves, there was a television per household and mostly inspired to watch him.
CAESAR: Right, and because he was the biggest thing on television.
Then, the next year, when we came in, then we were the first competition. But doing it live, doing it live is a different animal. When you do television live, there are no cue cards. There are no teleprompters, because they weren't invented by then. The cards were.
But we used no cards. But you had to perform. You had a chance to perform because, you know, today, the editor is -- he can make your performance short, small, or tall, or whatever he wants do with you.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: Sorry to interrupt you.
Did you have sort of a favorite moment? Or was there a favorite character that he portrayed?
CAESAR: Well, he had several characters which were very, very funny. He killed you a million times. He had a new costume on for every show, which was great.
And he was a certain kind of knock-around comedian, which was wonderful. And the people enjoyed him. He was the top show on television. So, he was Mr. Television. And he did a tremendous amount of selling sets. Then, when we came on, we took it a step higher. We made it a Broadway show. So, in an hour and a half, 39 hour-and-a-halfs a year, that's a lot of shows.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: That sure is. And he really did show the versatility. He was able to span so much, everything from being with Charlie Chaplin at one moment and then, eventually, later on in his career, reaching out to "Saturday Night Live." What was the secret to his versatility?
CAESAR: Longevity.
WHITFIELD: Yes, and that too.
(LAUGHTER)
CAESAR: No, no, he was really a great comedian. I have lost the piece. All right. Well, I will put it back in.
Hello?
WHITFIELD: Yes, I can hear you. Can you hear me OK?
CAESAR: Yes. It fell out of my ear.
WHITFIELD: It happens.
CAESAR: Yes.
And I just wanted to say that Milton was the man that showed it. He was the first one who showed that you could do a show every week, because it was a different medium. It was an entirely different medium, because you had to have props and this and that, as I said before. But it opened up a whole new field of -- you could use your face. In radio, you couldn't use your face.
Sometimes, in radio, you would hear the people laugh, the audience laugh. But the radio people didn't know because he made a face at the studio. So now -- and Milton is great at making faces, and so am I. And I think he showed them first that he was Mr. Television.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: Yes. Well, Sid Caesar, thanks so much. Thank you so much for joining us this evening and helping us to remember always funny man Milton Berle.
CAESAR: Oh, he was the best.
WHITFIELD: All right, thank you very much. Appreciate it.
Well, a feline now that fights crime? You heard it here. Coming up: how it clawed its way to celebrity.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Earlier, we mentioned the world's largest invertebrate is not the octopus. It's the giant squid. So how big was the largest one ever found: 20 feet, 40 feet, 60 feet or 100 feet? The answer: almost 60 feet. The eyes of giant squids are the size of volleyballs. Scientists have never been able to find one alive.
Checking stories now on our "Newswire," a record-setting catch off New Zealand: Scientists say they believe this is the largest octopus ever seen. It measures 13 feet. Octopi are among the most diverse creatures on Earth, with several hundred species around the world.
Police in Lansing, Michigan are crediting a 7-year-old girl's pet cat with saving her from an attempted sexual assault. Investigators say a man snatched a child and dragged her into a house, when the cat sprang into action. And that gave the girl time to break free and escape. The suspect is charged with child enticement and kidnapping.
Let's go now to New York to get you a preview of "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE," which begins at the top of the hour -- Lou.
LOU DOBBS, "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE": Fredricka, thank you very much.
Coming up on "MONEYLINE," a historic moment in Middle East conflict: Arab countries agree to a peace proposal that would recognize Israel. And, just back from the Middle East, former Defense Secretary Bill Cohen, he'll be here. And the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce comes to the defense of Andersen and its innocent employees. We will have an exclusive interview with the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Tom Donohue -- all of that and more straight ahead at the top of the hour.
Please join us -- now back to you, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot, Lou.
And, of course, we'll have the answer to our Web question when we come right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Our "Web Question of Day": "Do you agree with the U.S. government's decision to seek the death penalty for Zacarias Moussaoui?" Most of you said yes, 74 percent.
That is it for this evening. "MONEYLINE" is next.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
