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Several Arrested in Madrid Bombings; Officials Theorize Several Terrorist Groups Might be Cooperating; National Guardsman Goes AWOL to Protest War; Police Name Suspect in Ohio Freeway Shootings

Aired March 16, 2004 - 11:00   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.


DARYN KAGAN, ANCHOR: We are right up at 11 a.m. on the East Coast and 8 a.m. on the West Coast. Good morning once again from CNN Center in Atlanta. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Up first on CNN, the terror investigation in Spain. Police are implicating at least a dozen people now in the attack on Spain's rail network last week. At least one of the men, they say, is linked to al Qaeda.

Let's get latest on the arrest and the search for suspects. Our Brent Sadler on duty today in the Spanish capital -- Brent.

BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Yes, indeed, a growing number of arrests as security sources telling CNN that another suspect was picked up earlier this day in northern Spain by the Basque police.

An Algerian, not been identified, who has been sent to the Spanish capital for questioning in relation to last Thursday's bomb attacks on the rail network here.

Also, reports in Madrid, among leading newspapers here, and security sources telling CNN that as many as six Moroccans, police believe, have been identified now in connection with the rail blast. One of those Moroccans, a 30-year-old, has been in detention since last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Spain's foreign policy seems set for some radical changes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SADLER (voice-over): In Madrid, the government in waiting sets a new political course, after an electoral storm. A bold change in tack from the victorious incoming socialist prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

He's vowing to pull Spanish troops from Iraq unless the United Nations takes control by June 30. And he harshly criticizes the U.S.- led war with a stinging rebuke. It was, he says, quote, "a disaster. The occupation continues to be a great disaster."

And President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair, he says, "will have to reflect in some self-criticism." It's a sea change from the support Washington has enjoyed from outgoing Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. Mr. Aznar stood shoulder to shoulder with America and Britain, but went over the heads of a vast majority of Spaniards to support the invasion.

But after last week's horrific terror attacks on the rail network here, with mounting evidence of al Qaeda involvement, voters turned on the ruling party, booting them out of power.

Spaniards are now being told they'll remain close to Washington, but even closer to traditional allies, like France and Germany, like- minded opponents of the war, popular with university students here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think with the last government, Spain lost many, many relation with the rest of Europe, of Germany and France. Think we will have better.

SADLER: "Europe is a great power," she says. "We don't need the United States for anything."

Not true, says the defeated Popular Party. It could weaken global security.

GUSTAVO ARISTEGUI, POPULAR PARTY: Only with a very strong and solid transatlantic link is Europe going to be able to feel safer, is the United States going to be able to feel safer.

SADLER (on camera): This commuter hub has returned to life. But for each and every passenger making this trip, there are strong reminders, with candlelit vigils, of the pain and suffering that was inflicted here.

There has been political upheaval, with the prime minister in waiting condemning the war on Iraq last year as a big mistake.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SADLER: On the other hand, the Spanish authorities say they remain committed to fighting the war on terror. And to that effect, they'll be hosting a conference of top European Union security experts in Madrid in the next coming days, to pull resources, they say, and exchange information in the wake of last week's attacks -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Brent Sadler with the latest from Madrid. Brent, thank you.

The incoming Spanish prime minister says he will withdraw his country's troops from Iraq unless the U.N. takes control. That does seem unlikely at this point. The attacks are prompting Spain to distance itself from the Bush administration policies.

The Democratic Senator Joe Biden on CNN this morning said it would be a disaster if the rest of Europe also moved into that same direction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. JOE BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: It's fair to say al Qaeda will conclude it had an out and out major victory and it's fair to say that how the rest of Europe reacts to that will be critical for our security, as well as theirs.

And that's why we should be dealing now with France, Germany, England, Portugal, Spain. We should be reaching out and coming up with a common consensus in how to move in Iraq from this moment on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The bombing suggests different terrorist organizations may be teaming up to carry out attacks.

More on that part of the story now from our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr.

Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

Well, as Spanish police continue their investigation, U.S. officials here are now looking at this attack as possibly a watershed event in understanding new terrorist networks.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STARR (voice-over): U.S. officials increasingly believe the train bombings in Spain may have been carried out by a mixture of Islamic fundamentalist operatives with possible al Qaeda connections and other terrorists, joining together for this attack.

But the uncertainty about these connections has U.S. intelligence looking beyond what one source called card-carrying al Qaeda members, executing the direct orders of Osama bin Laden.

M.J. GOHEI, TERRORISM EXPERT: It's been a big mistake to think in terms of terrorism being perpetrated by Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda as if it was one monolithic, single organization, with a central command and control structure. What we're dealing here with is an ideology. It's a global Jihad movement.

STARR: Intelligence officials point to the Moroccan, Jamal Zougam, arrested by the Spanish.

It is now believed he is linked to last May's attacks in Casablanca and to an al Qaeda cell in Spain. No one knows if he has been working with the Basque separatist group ETA.

The always-cautious defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, offered a recent indication of his thinking.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We see growing connections between terrorist organizations. We see a more decentralized terrorist activity in the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: So, Daryn, officials now agree, whether it was al Qaeda, unknown operatives or even, still, possibly, Basque separatists, trying to put a label on a terrorist organization in this situation may say little about who was responsible -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon this morning. Barbara, thank you for that.

Joining us from Washington with some insight on this, security analyst Jeff Beatty. He is founder and president of Total Security Services.

Actually, it looks like we got you stuck in Las Vegas.

JEFF BEATTY, SECURITY ANALYST: Well, there are worst places to be stuck.

KAGAN: There are. Especially since it looks like you have the Eiffel tower in the background. I just want to make clear you're not in Paris.

BEATTY: Not in Paris.

KAGAN: No, you're not.

All right. Let's talk about what has taken place in Spain and some of the information that's come out since we were able to talk to you earlier this week. Any new details about who's been arrested and what they're finding that jump out at you, Jeff?

BEATTY: Well, I think that when we spoke the other day, Daryn, we did talk about the possibility of some sort of splinter Basque group that might be involved with the support of the al Qaeda. How much support, that remains an unanswered question.

You know, I was listening to Barbara's package. And she was talking about, you know, this new set of tactic, et cetera. It reminded me of the situation we saw 15, 20 years ago, when it was suspected that Greek terrorists were actually playing host to Middle Eastern groups and mounting aircraft bombings and the Achille Lauro and everything else out of Greece.

So we have seen this type of thing happen before. All I can say is it's new for al Qaeda, because they have been very, very cautious in who they reach out to, knowing that every time they communicate, it's a way for Americans to detect them and maybe go and find them.

KAGAN: It does have a certain element of exposure.

For the sake of conversation, let's assume it was al Qaeda. Can you consider this an al Qaeda success story, as you heard Joe Biden talking about, that they carried off these series of explosions and also affected an election?

BEATTY: Absolutely. It was a very successful operation, very well timed. It's interesting, you know. We've seen terror can have an effect.

When President Reagan, had an effect on him when we lost our Marine barracks and he pulled out of Lebanon. President Clinton, when we had the disaster in Somalia, we withdrew from Somalia.

And those attacks, those terrorist incidents in all were kind of designed to affect the leadership. What's interesting to me about what we saw in Spain was this attack was designed to affect the electorate, to influence the electorate.

You know, and you can talk bravely. But when you get into the privacy of the voting booth, you know, fear and worry about your own personal safety, it can certainly make a difference, and it did in Spain.

KAGAN: Well, as we look forward, it makes you wonder, does this then make a blueprint for pre-election terror, especially looking forward to November here in this country?

BEATTY: Daryn, think that this is an all too real -- all too real reality, to be redundant. We believe that there is a probability that al Qaeda will try to attack the United States prior to the election.

Whether they're going to be successful or not is another thing. There's an awful lot of good work being done in the United States to protect the transportation sector. We're way better than we were before.

But we believe that they will be learning from this attack in Madrid and that they will try to do the same thing in the United States prior to our election in November.

KAGAN: Jeff Beatty, joining us from Las Vegas, we will track you down. You can run, but you can't hide from us, Jeff. Thank you...

BEATTY: Thank you, Daryn.

KAGAN: ... so much.

As we were talking to Jeff, we got this breaking news in from Gaza City, word that three explosions rocked a house today in Gaza City. That is according to Palestinian eyewitnesses. The Israeli military says it is checking that report.

Of course, a series of violent incidents goes on in the West Bank and also in Israel.

And earlier this week, the two prime ministers, Palestinian prime minister and Israeli prime minister, calling off talks that were meant to try to bring peace, or at least take a step toward peace, in that area.

We'll bring you more on what's happening in Gaza City as it becomes available to us here at CNN. A soldier who went AWOL has turned himself into his National Guard unit in the Miami area this morning, saying he could no longer participate in an oil-driven war in Iraq.

Our John Zarrella is in South Florida with the latest on the story.

John, good morning.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Well, Staff Sergeant Camilo Mejia did turn himself in here this morning.

He had served in Iraq for about five months. He'd come back and was supposed to be returning in October. But instead, went underground for a few months and then surfaced and decided he was going to go public with his claim of conscientious objector status.

Now Mejia turned himself in yesterday, originally, in Massachusetts, but was told to return here to Florida and turn himself in to his National Guard unit, which he did about one hour ago.

And during a brief press conference, Mejia did say it was very difficult for him to understand what he was fighting for over in Iraq and that he could not find any justification for the war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STAFF SGT. CAMILIO MEJIA, NATIONAL GUARD: Well, when you come here and then you start realizing all the things that are happening over there and you start thinking about the war, the reasons for the war, you try to find justification for everything that happened over there.

And when you try to find this justification and you think about weapons of mass destruction and you think about terrorism and things like that, all you find is lies and you have no justification.

You need that justification to be able to live with yourself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: It's unclear as to what will happen today to Mejia here, if he will be released again, if he will be taken into custody.

It's also unclear as to what charges he might face. AWOL certainly possible and certainly, he could be charged as a deserter. The folks here, the National Guard say they do not have the jurisdiction for that. It is quite possible that it will be taken up as a U.S. Army matter.

But again, it's still a very fluid situation. Not clear what will happen to Mejia later today.

He did have one soldier who was with him in Iraq come up and talk with us on his behalf, saying that Mejia was a very good soldier and that he, this other soldier did support what Mejia was doing, and that Mejia was claiming his conscientious objector status.

Other soldiers have also come out saying similar thing. But others are saying that, well, they're not so happy with the decision he made. So a lot of mixed emotions here, particularly at this National Guard unit, where Camilio Mejia had served -- Daryn.

KAGAN: John Zarrella, in Florida, thank you for that.

The man at the center of a series of murders in Fresno, California, is about to get his first day in court. The latest on that case is up next.

Also, police say they now know who they're looking for in the freeway shootings in Ohio.

And two ministers are now facing charges for marrying gay couples. You'll hear from them when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We'll tell you about the story we're following out of Gaza City, the West Bank. Three missiles, reports say, fired by Israeli attack helicopters. And we do expect to get pictures very soon.

But basically, getting reports that three missiles were fired by an Israeli attack helicopter, destroying a house in Gaza City today. That is according to Palestinian eyewitnesses.

The Israeli military says it is checking the report of that attack.

This incident, of course, comes after the Israeli cabinet met to discuss Israel's reaction to last weekend's suicide attacks that left ten people dead. That cycle of violence continues in Israel and the West Bank.

Back here in the U.S., arraignment is set for tomorrow in Fresno, California, for mass murder suspect Marcus Wesson. Detectives removed a dozen coffins from inside Wesson's home as they searched for a motive for the deaths of nine family members.

Police believe most, if not all the victims, are Wesson's children, some possibly the product of incest.

The coroner says all the victims have been shot. None of the bodies showed any signs of physical trauma, besides of course being shot.

Police in Ohio's capital city are searching this morning for a man they believe is the long elusive Columbus freeway sniper.

Eric Philips has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's been ten months and 24 shootings.

Now Ohio authorities say they have one suspect: 28-year-old Charles McCoy Jr. of Columbus. They believe McCoy is driving a dark green 1999 Geo Metro with a black hood and Ohio tags.

CHIEF DEPUTY STEVE MARTIN, FRANKIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: Anybody that sees McCoy or his vehicle should contact a 911 operator immediately. We caution the public not to attempt to apprehend or confront McCoy.

PHILIPS: Investigators consider McCoy to be armed and dangerous. They believe he not only has the weapon used in the highway shootings...

MARTIN: We believe he bought another gun.

PHILIPS: The shootings began along the I-270 Columbus beltway last May and appear to be random.

One incident was fatal. Sixty-two-year-old Gail Nicely was killed back in November as she was riding in a car on her way to a doctor's appointment.

The shooter seemed to become more brazen in the most recent attacks, opening fire in broad daylight.

Without going into detail, during an evening press conference, Franklin County Chief Deputy Steve Martin would only say McCoy was identified as a result of evidence collected in the case. Part of the evidence may have been several eyewitnesses who have described the shooter to authorities.

Now officials say they need the public's help to bring McCoy in.

MARTIN: We still think he's local, but we're not absolutely sure on that.

PHILIPS: Ballistics evidence shows bullets collected from nine of the 24 shooting scenes were fired from the same gun. As the search for McCoy continues there's hope that this investigation will soon come to an end.

Eric Philips, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And once again, we want to give you a look at the suspect in the freeway shootings. The nationwide manhunt is underway for 28-year-old Charles McCoy Jr. Police believe he is armed and should not be approached by civilians.

McCoy thought to be driving a dark green 1999 Geo Metro, Ohio plates CGV-7387.

Two ministers are facing criminal charges for marrying 13 same- sex couples in the village of New Paltz, New York. They performed the ceremonies after the mayor stopped officiating because of a court order.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAY GREENLEAF, UNITARIAN MINISTER: Initially, I -- my partner and I went to New Paltz because we wanted to be married by Mayor West.

And since I was there, I told the people that were working with him that if it came to a point where there were too many couples wanting to be married and he needed some help, that I would be willing to volunteer to step in and perform some of the ceremonies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Lawyers for the ministers say that it may be the first time clergy members have been prosecuted for marrying gay couples. Each could spend up to a year in prison and be fined $500.

Once again, we want to go back to Gaza City. We're just getting some pictures in from what Palestinian eyewitnesses say was an attack on a house in Gaza City.

Eyewitnesses there saying that three missiles were fired by Israeli attack helicopters, destroying a house there. This, of course, coming after the Israeli cabinet meeting to discuss Israel's reaction to last weekend's suicide attacks that left ten people dead.

The Israeli military says it is checking on the report that these missiles were fired at the house in Gaza City.

We are at 21 minutes past the hour. Old Man Winter not going away quietly. In fact, not going anywhere, as the folks from the Midwest -- talk about weather, details on what we call pre-spring coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Yes, those are snowflakes. A late winter storm is marching across the Midwest today.

Some cities in Iowa saw their heaviest snow totals of the season. Snow has delayed or closed some 200 schools across Ohio today. Whiteout conditions reported in Dayton and Cincinnati.

The storm will roll into New England late today. Boston may get a half-foot or more. And then there is the West Coast, which somehow messed up its calendar and thinks that it's summer already.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: We're getting more pictures in from Gaza City. And eyewitnesses there are saying that there was an attack by Israeli helicopters firing missiles into a specific house.

Getting some more information, in addition to the new pictures.

Palestinian medical sources saying that ten people were wounded, three of them critically. Witnesses on the scene say that no one actually lived in the house, but they wouldn't rule out that perhaps somebody might have been hiding there.

As the Israeli cabinet had met to discuss Israel's reaction to last weekend's suicide attacks that left ten people dead. And Israeli officials tell CNN the cabinet decided to step up targeted killings of Palestinian militants in Gaza.

There's new pictures and new information coming in from Gaza City.

President Bush is facing a tough political challenge. Up next, the talks about Spain's change of government and change of direction.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Several Terrorist Groups Might be Cooperating; National Guardsman Goes AWOL to Protest War; Police Name Suspect in Ohio Freeway Shootings>


Aired March 16, 2004 - 11:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, ANCHOR: We are right up at 11 a.m. on the East Coast and 8 a.m. on the West Coast. Good morning once again from CNN Center in Atlanta. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Up first on CNN, the terror investigation in Spain. Police are implicating at least a dozen people now in the attack on Spain's rail network last week. At least one of the men, they say, is linked to al Qaeda.

Let's get latest on the arrest and the search for suspects. Our Brent Sadler on duty today in the Spanish capital -- Brent.

BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Yes, indeed, a growing number of arrests as security sources telling CNN that another suspect was picked up earlier this day in northern Spain by the Basque police.

An Algerian, not been identified, who has been sent to the Spanish capital for questioning in relation to last Thursday's bomb attacks on the rail network here.

Also, reports in Madrid, among leading newspapers here, and security sources telling CNN that as many as six Moroccans, police believe, have been identified now in connection with the rail blast. One of those Moroccans, a 30-year-old, has been in detention since last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Spain's foreign policy seems set for some radical changes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SADLER (voice-over): In Madrid, the government in waiting sets a new political course, after an electoral storm. A bold change in tack from the victorious incoming socialist prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

He's vowing to pull Spanish troops from Iraq unless the United Nations takes control by June 30. And he harshly criticizes the U.S.- led war with a stinging rebuke. It was, he says, quote, "a disaster. The occupation continues to be a great disaster."

And President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair, he says, "will have to reflect in some self-criticism." It's a sea change from the support Washington has enjoyed from outgoing Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. Mr. Aznar stood shoulder to shoulder with America and Britain, but went over the heads of a vast majority of Spaniards to support the invasion.

But after last week's horrific terror attacks on the rail network here, with mounting evidence of al Qaeda involvement, voters turned on the ruling party, booting them out of power.

Spaniards are now being told they'll remain close to Washington, but even closer to traditional allies, like France and Germany, like- minded opponents of the war, popular with university students here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think with the last government, Spain lost many, many relation with the rest of Europe, of Germany and France. Think we will have better.

SADLER: "Europe is a great power," she says. "We don't need the United States for anything."

Not true, says the defeated Popular Party. It could weaken global security.

GUSTAVO ARISTEGUI, POPULAR PARTY: Only with a very strong and solid transatlantic link is Europe going to be able to feel safer, is the United States going to be able to feel safer.

SADLER (on camera): This commuter hub has returned to life. But for each and every passenger making this trip, there are strong reminders, with candlelit vigils, of the pain and suffering that was inflicted here.

There has been political upheaval, with the prime minister in waiting condemning the war on Iraq last year as a big mistake.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SADLER: On the other hand, the Spanish authorities say they remain committed to fighting the war on terror. And to that effect, they'll be hosting a conference of top European Union security experts in Madrid in the next coming days, to pull resources, they say, and exchange information in the wake of last week's attacks -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Brent Sadler with the latest from Madrid. Brent, thank you.

The incoming Spanish prime minister says he will withdraw his country's troops from Iraq unless the U.N. takes control. That does seem unlikely at this point. The attacks are prompting Spain to distance itself from the Bush administration policies.

The Democratic Senator Joe Biden on CNN this morning said it would be a disaster if the rest of Europe also moved into that same direction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. JOE BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: It's fair to say al Qaeda will conclude it had an out and out major victory and it's fair to say that how the rest of Europe reacts to that will be critical for our security, as well as theirs.

And that's why we should be dealing now with France, Germany, England, Portugal, Spain. We should be reaching out and coming up with a common consensus in how to move in Iraq from this moment on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The bombing suggests different terrorist organizations may be teaming up to carry out attacks.

More on that part of the story now from our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr.

Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

Well, as Spanish police continue their investigation, U.S. officials here are now looking at this attack as possibly a watershed event in understanding new terrorist networks.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STARR (voice-over): U.S. officials increasingly believe the train bombings in Spain may have been carried out by a mixture of Islamic fundamentalist operatives with possible al Qaeda connections and other terrorists, joining together for this attack.

But the uncertainty about these connections has U.S. intelligence looking beyond what one source called card-carrying al Qaeda members, executing the direct orders of Osama bin Laden.

M.J. GOHEI, TERRORISM EXPERT: It's been a big mistake to think in terms of terrorism being perpetrated by Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda as if it was one monolithic, single organization, with a central command and control structure. What we're dealing here with is an ideology. It's a global Jihad movement.

STARR: Intelligence officials point to the Moroccan, Jamal Zougam, arrested by the Spanish.

It is now believed he is linked to last May's attacks in Casablanca and to an al Qaeda cell in Spain. No one knows if he has been working with the Basque separatist group ETA.

The always-cautious defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, offered a recent indication of his thinking.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We see growing connections between terrorist organizations. We see a more decentralized terrorist activity in the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: So, Daryn, officials now agree, whether it was al Qaeda, unknown operatives or even, still, possibly, Basque separatists, trying to put a label on a terrorist organization in this situation may say little about who was responsible -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon this morning. Barbara, thank you for that.

Joining us from Washington with some insight on this, security analyst Jeff Beatty. He is founder and president of Total Security Services.

Actually, it looks like we got you stuck in Las Vegas.

JEFF BEATTY, SECURITY ANALYST: Well, there are worst places to be stuck.

KAGAN: There are. Especially since it looks like you have the Eiffel tower in the background. I just want to make clear you're not in Paris.

BEATTY: Not in Paris.

KAGAN: No, you're not.

All right. Let's talk about what has taken place in Spain and some of the information that's come out since we were able to talk to you earlier this week. Any new details about who's been arrested and what they're finding that jump out at you, Jeff?

BEATTY: Well, I think that when we spoke the other day, Daryn, we did talk about the possibility of some sort of splinter Basque group that might be involved with the support of the al Qaeda. How much support, that remains an unanswered question.

You know, I was listening to Barbara's package. And she was talking about, you know, this new set of tactic, et cetera. It reminded me of the situation we saw 15, 20 years ago, when it was suspected that Greek terrorists were actually playing host to Middle Eastern groups and mounting aircraft bombings and the Achille Lauro and everything else out of Greece.

So we have seen this type of thing happen before. All I can say is it's new for al Qaeda, because they have been very, very cautious in who they reach out to, knowing that every time they communicate, it's a way for Americans to detect them and maybe go and find them.

KAGAN: It does have a certain element of exposure.

For the sake of conversation, let's assume it was al Qaeda. Can you consider this an al Qaeda success story, as you heard Joe Biden talking about, that they carried off these series of explosions and also affected an election?

BEATTY: Absolutely. It was a very successful operation, very well timed. It's interesting, you know. We've seen terror can have an effect.

When President Reagan, had an effect on him when we lost our Marine barracks and he pulled out of Lebanon. President Clinton, when we had the disaster in Somalia, we withdrew from Somalia.

And those attacks, those terrorist incidents in all were kind of designed to affect the leadership. What's interesting to me about what we saw in Spain was this attack was designed to affect the electorate, to influence the electorate.

You know, and you can talk bravely. But when you get into the privacy of the voting booth, you know, fear and worry about your own personal safety, it can certainly make a difference, and it did in Spain.

KAGAN: Well, as we look forward, it makes you wonder, does this then make a blueprint for pre-election terror, especially looking forward to November here in this country?

BEATTY: Daryn, think that this is an all too real -- all too real reality, to be redundant. We believe that there is a probability that al Qaeda will try to attack the United States prior to the election.

Whether they're going to be successful or not is another thing. There's an awful lot of good work being done in the United States to protect the transportation sector. We're way better than we were before.

But we believe that they will be learning from this attack in Madrid and that they will try to do the same thing in the United States prior to our election in November.

KAGAN: Jeff Beatty, joining us from Las Vegas, we will track you down. You can run, but you can't hide from us, Jeff. Thank you...

BEATTY: Thank you, Daryn.

KAGAN: ... so much.

As we were talking to Jeff, we got this breaking news in from Gaza City, word that three explosions rocked a house today in Gaza City. That is according to Palestinian eyewitnesses. The Israeli military says it is checking that report.

Of course, a series of violent incidents goes on in the West Bank and also in Israel.

And earlier this week, the two prime ministers, Palestinian prime minister and Israeli prime minister, calling off talks that were meant to try to bring peace, or at least take a step toward peace, in that area.

We'll bring you more on what's happening in Gaza City as it becomes available to us here at CNN. A soldier who went AWOL has turned himself into his National Guard unit in the Miami area this morning, saying he could no longer participate in an oil-driven war in Iraq.

Our John Zarrella is in South Florida with the latest on the story.

John, good morning.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Well, Staff Sergeant Camilo Mejia did turn himself in here this morning.

He had served in Iraq for about five months. He'd come back and was supposed to be returning in October. But instead, went underground for a few months and then surfaced and decided he was going to go public with his claim of conscientious objector status.

Now Mejia turned himself in yesterday, originally, in Massachusetts, but was told to return here to Florida and turn himself in to his National Guard unit, which he did about one hour ago.

And during a brief press conference, Mejia did say it was very difficult for him to understand what he was fighting for over in Iraq and that he could not find any justification for the war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STAFF SGT. CAMILIO MEJIA, NATIONAL GUARD: Well, when you come here and then you start realizing all the things that are happening over there and you start thinking about the war, the reasons for the war, you try to find justification for everything that happened over there.

And when you try to find this justification and you think about weapons of mass destruction and you think about terrorism and things like that, all you find is lies and you have no justification.

You need that justification to be able to live with yourself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: It's unclear as to what will happen today to Mejia here, if he will be released again, if he will be taken into custody.

It's also unclear as to what charges he might face. AWOL certainly possible and certainly, he could be charged as a deserter. The folks here, the National Guard say they do not have the jurisdiction for that. It is quite possible that it will be taken up as a U.S. Army matter.

But again, it's still a very fluid situation. Not clear what will happen to Mejia later today.

He did have one soldier who was with him in Iraq come up and talk with us on his behalf, saying that Mejia was a very good soldier and that he, this other soldier did support what Mejia was doing, and that Mejia was claiming his conscientious objector status.

Other soldiers have also come out saying similar thing. But others are saying that, well, they're not so happy with the decision he made. So a lot of mixed emotions here, particularly at this National Guard unit, where Camilio Mejia had served -- Daryn.

KAGAN: John Zarrella, in Florida, thank you for that.

The man at the center of a series of murders in Fresno, California, is about to get his first day in court. The latest on that case is up next.

Also, police say they now know who they're looking for in the freeway shootings in Ohio.

And two ministers are now facing charges for marrying gay couples. You'll hear from them when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

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(STOCK REPORT)

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KAGAN: We'll tell you about the story we're following out of Gaza City, the West Bank. Three missiles, reports say, fired by Israeli attack helicopters. And we do expect to get pictures very soon.

But basically, getting reports that three missiles were fired by an Israeli attack helicopter, destroying a house in Gaza City today. That is according to Palestinian eyewitnesses.

The Israeli military says it is checking the report of that attack.

This incident, of course, comes after the Israeli cabinet met to discuss Israel's reaction to last weekend's suicide attacks that left ten people dead. That cycle of violence continues in Israel and the West Bank.

Back here in the U.S., arraignment is set for tomorrow in Fresno, California, for mass murder suspect Marcus Wesson. Detectives removed a dozen coffins from inside Wesson's home as they searched for a motive for the deaths of nine family members.

Police believe most, if not all the victims, are Wesson's children, some possibly the product of incest.

The coroner says all the victims have been shot. None of the bodies showed any signs of physical trauma, besides of course being shot.

Police in Ohio's capital city are searching this morning for a man they believe is the long elusive Columbus freeway sniper.

Eric Philips has the latest.

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ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's been ten months and 24 shootings.

Now Ohio authorities say they have one suspect: 28-year-old Charles McCoy Jr. of Columbus. They believe McCoy is driving a dark green 1999 Geo Metro with a black hood and Ohio tags.

CHIEF DEPUTY STEVE MARTIN, FRANKIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: Anybody that sees McCoy or his vehicle should contact a 911 operator immediately. We caution the public not to attempt to apprehend or confront McCoy.

PHILIPS: Investigators consider McCoy to be armed and dangerous. They believe he not only has the weapon used in the highway shootings...

MARTIN: We believe he bought another gun.

PHILIPS: The shootings began along the I-270 Columbus beltway last May and appear to be random.

One incident was fatal. Sixty-two-year-old Gail Nicely was killed back in November as she was riding in a car on her way to a doctor's appointment.

The shooter seemed to become more brazen in the most recent attacks, opening fire in broad daylight.

Without going into detail, during an evening press conference, Franklin County Chief Deputy Steve Martin would only say McCoy was identified as a result of evidence collected in the case. Part of the evidence may have been several eyewitnesses who have described the shooter to authorities.

Now officials say they need the public's help to bring McCoy in.

MARTIN: We still think he's local, but we're not absolutely sure on that.

PHILIPS: Ballistics evidence shows bullets collected from nine of the 24 shooting scenes were fired from the same gun. As the search for McCoy continues there's hope that this investigation will soon come to an end.

Eric Philips, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And once again, we want to give you a look at the suspect in the freeway shootings. The nationwide manhunt is underway for 28-year-old Charles McCoy Jr. Police believe he is armed and should not be approached by civilians.

McCoy thought to be driving a dark green 1999 Geo Metro, Ohio plates CGV-7387.

Two ministers are facing criminal charges for marrying 13 same- sex couples in the village of New Paltz, New York. They performed the ceremonies after the mayor stopped officiating because of a court order.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAY GREENLEAF, UNITARIAN MINISTER: Initially, I -- my partner and I went to New Paltz because we wanted to be married by Mayor West.

And since I was there, I told the people that were working with him that if it came to a point where there were too many couples wanting to be married and he needed some help, that I would be willing to volunteer to step in and perform some of the ceremonies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Lawyers for the ministers say that it may be the first time clergy members have been prosecuted for marrying gay couples. Each could spend up to a year in prison and be fined $500.

Once again, we want to go back to Gaza City. We're just getting some pictures in from what Palestinian eyewitnesses say was an attack on a house in Gaza City.

Eyewitnesses there saying that three missiles were fired by Israeli attack helicopters, destroying a house there. This, of course, coming after the Israeli cabinet meeting to discuss Israel's reaction to last weekend's suicide attacks that left ten people dead.

The Israeli military says it is checking on the report that these missiles were fired at the house in Gaza City.

We are at 21 minutes past the hour. Old Man Winter not going away quietly. In fact, not going anywhere, as the folks from the Midwest -- talk about weather, details on what we call pre-spring coming up.

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KAGAN: Yes, those are snowflakes. A late winter storm is marching across the Midwest today.

Some cities in Iowa saw their heaviest snow totals of the season. Snow has delayed or closed some 200 schools across Ohio today. Whiteout conditions reported in Dayton and Cincinnati.

The storm will roll into New England late today. Boston may get a half-foot or more. And then there is the West Coast, which somehow messed up its calendar and thinks that it's summer already.

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KAGAN: We're getting more pictures in from Gaza City. And eyewitnesses there are saying that there was an attack by Israeli helicopters firing missiles into a specific house.

Getting some more information, in addition to the new pictures.

Palestinian medical sources saying that ten people were wounded, three of them critically. Witnesses on the scene say that no one actually lived in the house, but they wouldn't rule out that perhaps somebody might have been hiding there.

As the Israeli cabinet had met to discuss Israel's reaction to last weekend's suicide attacks that left ten people dead. And Israeli officials tell CNN the cabinet decided to step up targeted killings of Palestinian militants in Gaza.

There's new pictures and new information coming in from Gaza City.

President Bush is facing a tough political challenge. Up next, the talks about Spain's change of government and change of direction.

We're back in a moment.

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Several Terrorist Groups Might be Cooperating; National Guardsman Goes AWOL to Protest War; Police Name Suspect in Ohio Freeway Shootings>