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CNN Live Today

In Las Vegas, Police Arrest Ohio Sniper Suspect; Hunt for Bin Laden

Aired March 17, 2004 - 10:00   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, HOST: Good morning from CNN headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Daryn Kagan. And let's get started with a check of the headlines at this hour.
Just hours ago police in Las Vegas arrested the Ohio sniper suspect. Police found Charles McCoy Jr. at a motel and detained him without incident. They say he wasn't armed. Police have impounded McCoy's car. The 28 year old is suspected in two-dozen highway shootings around the Columbus area, including one fatal shooting. We'll have the latest in a live report just ahead.

And from Miami this is just in, these live pictures. Crews are battling a fire at a warehouse in Miami-Dade County. There have been several violent explosions on the site, which reportedly contained either propane or oxygen tanks. No injuries reported so far. Of course, we'll bring you more details and more pictures as they come into us here at CNN.

First to Baghdad, the latest military response to the Iraqi insurgency is Operation Iron Promise. U.S. and Iraqi troops today launched the campaign to find rebels and illegal weapons. In the first raids some 500 soldiers, and helicopters, and armored vehicles hit several stores, suspected of supplying weapons to insurgents.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Israeli helicopter missiles fired in Gaza. Palestinians -- sources say, four Palestinians were killed, 11 were injured when the Israelis fired from their helicopters. Israel says the strike was aimed at armed Palestinians who were firing on Israeli troops operating in the area.

Back here in the U.S., as parade goers celebrate St. Patrick's Day, bands of snow continue their march across the northeast. In New Jersey, more snow could fall in today's downfall that dumped up to 8 inches on some parts of the state. More on the late, winter storm just ahead.

The first hour of CNN LIVE TODAY gets started right now.

Live this hour, the war on terror in the air and on the Hill. A House subcommittee gets a progress report on Caps 2. That is the computerized program that would screen airline passengers. While the goal of safer skies has universal appeal, questions of privacy and government intrusion are raising concerns.

From Columbus, Ohio, to Las Vegas, Nevada, both police and the family of Charles McCoy Jr. are expressing relief this morning. The 28-year-old is suspected of two-dozen highway shootings in and around the Ohio capital. He has now been captured at a hotel without incident. Las Vegas police say that a tipster recognized McCoy from news reports.

For the latest, let's bring in our Sean Callebs who is covering this story from Columbus.

Sean, good morning.

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Indeed it is a story that is unfolding. Let me bring you up to date on what we have. Right now, McCoy is being interviewed at an FBI field office in Las Vegas. And here's how the story is unfolding. He apparently left Columbus on Friday to drive to Las Vegas. Now, Mapquest tells us that is a drive of 2,008 miles; it takes 30 hours. Once there, he checked into the Budget Suites and apparently made his way over to the Stardust, where he struck up a conversation with a gentlemen named Conrad Malsom.

Malsom became somewhat suspicious of McCoy after seeing him check out a "USA Today" newspaper article, perhaps reading an article about himself. And then after McCoy left, Malsom had the presence of mind to pick up matches and a drinking class that McCoy had been using, he then called authorities and told him what he had seen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONRAD MALSOM, WITNESS: I saved everything he had touched and handled in the area. Drinking glass and match book and packaging from his deli lunch, the hard plastic containers, knowing that I was going to try to explain that I had seen this person but had no photographs or evidence other than what might be fingerprints on the items. So I had saved those and left the Sport Book and called the Ohio task force.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLEBS: Now, authorities then found McCoy's car. The 1999 green Geo Metro. They staked out that vehicle a short time later. McCoy walked up. That is when he was apprehended without any incident. And that is significant, because the task force had always maintained this is someone who could be very violent. They portrayed him as someone who is suicidal, with perhaps homicidal tendencies. They said that he should be presumed armed and dangerous. Let's remember, he is a suspect in 24 shootings from the highway in and around the south Columbus area. There has been one fatality in that.

Also yesterday, his sister came out and made an emotional plea, urging the 28-year-old to call his family. They clearly wanted to see this end without any incident. And Daryn, as you said, indeed authorities and the people here in Ohio's capital city breathing a sigh of relief, and they would like to see him brought back to find out a bit more about this unfolding story.

It is far from over. What happens to McCoy now?

KAGAN: Well, it is far from over, Sean. What happens to McCoy now?

CALLEBS: Well, extradition is apparently going to be the next step. There could be a hearing as early as today. We've talked to the task force. We don't know if members from Columbus are making their way out to Las Vegas right now. The extradition hearing is what we're waiting for next, to find out when he'll be brought back to Columbus.

KAGAN: Sean Callebs from Columbus, Ohio. Thank you, Sean.

Now to Fresno, California. Prosecutors say they may seek the death penalty against Marcus Wesson. He is to be arraigned today in the murders of nine family members, a 25-year-old woman and eight children. It's the largest mass killing in Fresno's history. Authorities say Wesson apparently fathered children with at least six women, including one or two of his own daughters.

And now the hunt for Osama bin Laden and a CIA videotape that appears to have caught the al Qaeda leader and possibly a missed opportunity. A senior intelligence official has confirmed the authenticity of video shot by an unmanned CIA Predator drone. That was back in August 2000. The videotape first aired on NBC News and it surfaces as the hunt for bin Laden intensifies, even as we speak.

Our national security correspondent David Ensor joins us from Washington with more on the tape and the hunt.

Good morning, David.

DAVID ENSOR, NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. As you say, the tape was taken at many thousands of feet up by a Predator drone -- an unarmed Predator drone aircraft in 2000, over tarmac farms in Afghanistan. This is the kind of aircraft that was used to take the imagery. The imagery shows one man dressed in white who is taller than the others around him. You'll see it in just a moment. And we've -- there's a circle around the highlighting the figures that include the white one, who is supposed to be Osama bin Laden. And in the view of U.S. analysts, that is who it most likely was. Not 100 percent, but very, very likely.

Now, because the Predator was unarmed, there was no way to strike. U.S. officials say it would have been three to seven hours to get Cruise missiles or other U.S. bombs on to this site. So it wasn't possible to do so. And of course, you have to remember, this is well before 9/11. Osama bin Laden was a wanted man. And in fact, President Clinton had ordered Cruise missile strikes on another location, where he was known to have been in 1998. But he moved by the time the missiles actually hit that site.

So it was very much a wanted man. It was pre-9/11, and officials were not eager to flatten an entire village and kill a lot of innocents, at the same time as trying to find bin Laden -- Daryn.

KAGAN: So besides this surfacing and the leak, what else does this tell us about bin Laden and the hunt for him -- David? ENSOR: Well, certainly shows that the hunt has been well under way since well back into the Clinton administration. The fact that this tape has been leaked is going to be the subject of an investigation, certainly within the CIA. No word yet on whether it will be referred to the Department of Justice. But this was a highly classified tape and it is routine to conduct an investigation into an unauthorized disclosure like this. It may have something to do with the political year. There are those who suggest that this tape, which raises questions about the Clinton administration's handling of the issue, is an advantageous leak for political purposes -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Out of Washington, you don't say.

ENSOR: Shocking.

KAGAN: Go figure. David Ensor, thank you so much from Washington.

Well, as that U.S.-led forces search for bin Laden and his al Qaeda operatives, Washington's top diplomat met briefly this morning with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Secretary of State Colin Powell praised Afghanistan for its role in the war on terror, its own progress toward democracy, and for the intensified manhunt along the Afghan-Pakistan border.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: If Taliban elements are forced from Pakistan back into Afghanistan as a result of actions on the Pakistan side of the border, I'm sure that our military forces here working with Afghan forces will deal with those elements.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Powell also praised Pakistan for its increasing role in the hunt for bin Laden. Powell will visit Pakistan later today.

Now the latest on the train bombings in Madrid. An Algerian man, detained in the investigation, was whisked into court today under tight security and amid some very disturbing questions. At issue, whether he ominously referred to the attacks two months before they were carried out.

Our Al Goodman joins us. He's at the courthouse in Madrid.

Al, hello.

AL GOODMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Well, this is the first court appearance for any of the six men who have been arrested since last Thursday's bombings. It started with the suspect, the Algerian man Ali Amrous. He's about 29 years old, coming into the court under tight security. Next into the court was the investigating magistrate, Judge Baltasar Garzon, who has been leading the investigation into al Qaeda and other elements here in Spain. Soon after that, they met in the Judge Garzon's chambers in a closed-door hearing. The judge decided to keep him in jail for another 48 hours on suspicion of belonging to al Qaeda.

And as you say, police arrested him after the train bombings at the Atocha train stations, because they remembered that two months ago he had threatened that there would be deaths there. Now under -- in the testimony, according to officials who are familiar with that session, with whom we've spoken, he basically had a different version. He said the police got it all wrong. But the officials are holding on to him anyway.

There will be more court appearances here on Thursday in Madrid and the police continue to look for five Moroccans, who they say put the actual bombs on the train. So the investigation proceeding at a vigorous pace.

And there are other developments, if I may, Daryn. There was a very large demonstration just out of camera range on my left side here, just up the street from the national court, outside the headquarters of the ruling conservative Popular Party. Now, they lost in Sunday's election in this upset victory. Many say that the train attacks really turned the election campaign on its head. They had been expected to win this election handily. But they lost. And so their supporters came out in force today to say what a good job Prime Minister Aznar, who will not be the prime minister anymore, did in supporting President Bush in the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.

At the same time, or a little earlier than that demonstration, the new socialist prime minister-elect of Spain was on a radio program in Madrid this morning, and he again criticized the war, which helped him get elected. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSE LUIS ZAPATERO, PRIME MINISTER-ELECT, SPAIN (through translator): The occupation of Iraq is a fiasco. There have been almost more deaths after the war than during it. The occupying forces have not helped the U.N. stay in control of the situation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOODMAN: So many changes under way here in Spain in a dramatic week -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Al Goodman in Madrid, thank you.

Now we get back to the issue that we talked about at the top of the issue. House subcommittee hearings on new passenger screenings and whether that airline ticket assures you any right to privacy.

Our Jeanne Meserve is in Washington to talk more about this.

Jeanne, good morning.

JEANNE MESERVE, HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn. The program is called Caps 2. It's intended to weed out terrorists. But there are questions about whether it will work, whether it will violate privacy, and the timetable for implementation. The hearing today, now under way, will explore all of those.

Under the proposed system, travelers will be required to provide their full name, their home address and home phone number, their date of birth and some travel information. That data will be checked against commercial and government databases, and the passenger will be given a green, yellow or red risk designation, with yellow or red requiring further screening.

A recent report from the General Accounting Office raised questions about whether the system will work without international cooperation. And it said the Transportation Security Administration, which is setting up Caps 2, has not addressed seven of eight issues raise by Congress. Including the accuracy of the databases it will use and the methods passenger will be able to use to correct inaccurate information. The TSA has said it has not been able to work out many of these issues, because privacy concerns have kept the airlines from providing them with data, which they could then use to test the system.

Privacy advocates are among those who will testify today. They're concerned that the system is overly intrusive and unworkable. And the acting administrator of the TSA, David Stone, will be there too; expect him to get a lot of tough questions.

Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: So what kind of time frame are we talking about here, Jeanne, where we really have to make these changes as travelers?

MESERVE: Well, the time frame is very uncertain at this point in time. There had been deadline set, those have been missed. At last conversation, one of the undersecretaries of the Department of Homeland Security refused to set a new timetable for when things are going to happen, because they are having so much trouble getting that data from the airlines, in large part.

KAGAN: Jeanne Meserve in Washington, thank you.

Irish eyes were probably dreaming of a green St. Patrick' s Day. But now they have a snowy white one instead. At least in the northeast.

Also, it's Cheney versus Kerry, as the vice president and likely Democratic nominee hit the road with competing speeches today. We'll have a preview.

And then there's this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: First month, everybody was there. They were all helping and then they all go away. And you're going, wow. It's just a lonely feeling.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KAGAN: It's a year after losing her husband in Iraq. One Marine widow learns to cope and helps others, too. Her story is coming up a bit later.

This is CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Check the calendar. Spring is just days away. This, of course, news to folks in the northeast; a check of the blustery St. Patrick's Day forecast is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We want to get back to our top story. And that is the apprehension of the top suspect in the sniper shootings out of Ohio. McCoy Jr. was picked up in Las Vegas.

For more on that, let's bring in Jeff Yeager. He is a reporter with one of our affiliates, KVBC and he joins us from Las Vegas this morning.

Good morning.

JEFF YEAGER, KVBC CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Yes, Charles McCoy Jr. was picked up right around midnight this morning from, right behind me, the Budget Suites Inn here. It's near the Stardust Hotel, and that's where one witness told us he met up with McCoy. Actually stumbled upon him, noticed McCoy after reading the "USA Today" earlier yesterday morning. Now, they all met around noon yesterday and the informant -- the police informant tells us that he was having pizza. He had some leftover; noticed McCoy; figured he'd offer some pizza to McCoy, start up some sort of dialogue, some sort of conversation to get extra information from McCoy. Well, that information led to the arrest of McCoy at the motel right behind me.

Now, police tell us that the informant decided to do a little investigating on his own. He got some extra information from Ohio detectives. He then drove through the parking lot, and by complete luck and circumstance, he stumbled upon McCoy's car. That's when the police got involved; the FBI got involved as well. Now, police have McCoy in custody. It's not sure whether or not McCoy will be served a federal warrant or a state warrant. If he served a state warrant he will then be extradited back to Ohio. If he's served a federal warrant he'll stay within FBI custody.

According live, Jeff Yeager for CNN. Back to you in the studio.

KAGAN: Yes, Jeff, before we let you go, tell me this. Up until the point that he was apprehended, is there any indication he might have been in Vegas? Was there any kind of announcement, any APB to keep a lookout for him in the Las Vegas area?

YEAGER: No. To our knowledge, it was just sheer circumstance that someone happened to recognize McCoy, that he happened to be here in Las Vegas as well. There was no APBs issued. There was no sort of extra information from local police that McCoy was, in fact, in the area. I was told some people actually thought that he was headed to Florida. There was also information that McCoy has relatives here in Las Vegas. But he wasn't staying with relatives, as we know. He was staying here at this motel. So again, no extra information that police knew that McCoy was actually in fact here in Las Vegas.

KAGAN: A very alert civilian doing some good work there.

Thank you so much, Jeff Yeager with our affiliate KVBC.

An unwelcomed guest will put a damper on a New York St. Patrick's Day parade, literally. Forecasters saying bands of snow from the late, winter storm blasting the northeast will continue to march across the region.

Our Maria Hinojosa is in Boston, home to one of the other big parades and joins us with the latest.

Maria, you're all bundled up there, my friend.

(LAUGHTER)

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's no other way to do this, Daryn. There's no other way to be bundled up. But the good news here, at least for St. Patrick's Day in Boston, is that the parade is not today. It's over the weekend. So they don't have to worry about that.

But a lot of people, you know, making their way around. The streets are pretty clear as you can see around me. This is Copley Square, a lot of people just kind of making their ways, but you know, I don't get how they do it without wearing a hat. Of course, I'm only out here for just a minute or so, which is how I do it. But here's something of a winter wonderland here in Copley Square.

Earlier today, believe it or not, there was a woman who sat right in front of us, right there in that huge patch of snow for an hour and meditated. Then there were a bunch of kids who came out and did that fabulous thing, throwing snowballs at each other; which we all wonder how they do and enjoy. Still, pretty much people making their way through to work. You know, it's not so much that it's been difficult.

Seven inches at Logan Airport; the airport is still open, though. And just some delays and delays across the area, in terms of other airports. The Boston public schools are open. We had heard about some delays, though, in terms of school openings.

Now, in the Midwest, though, which is where this wonderful storm started, thank you so much to the Midwest for that. More problems there, anywhere from 10 to 18 inches around Ohio. And police are investigating whether or not three deaths there were in fact due to weather-related car accidents. Also in Pennsylvania, another two deaths, possibly weather related.

The good news for everyone is, though, oh, no, the snow doesn't stop today. It's going to continue like this, maybe another inch and more on Friday. Just what we want to look forward to.

KAGAN: And just because you are the kind of reporter that likes to follow-through on her stories, I know you'll be fighting to stay on that snow beat -- Maria.

HINOJOSA: No. Actually, I'll be in Harrisburg on Friday. Sorry.

KAGAN: Already spoken for. OK. Maria Hinojosa, thanks for braving the cold and snowflakes for us this morning. We appreciate it.

CNN's Larry King lands an exclusive interview. He speaks with Martha Stewart's daughter Alexis. Hear part of that conversation in just a few minutes.

And Gerri Willis will share some tips that you don't want to miss. There's our Gerri.

Good morning.

GERRI WILLIS, CNNFN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, Daryn. Good Morning. Well, you know, the stock market has been acting like a yo- yo. Up 100 points one day, down 100 the next. Should you think about selling stock? We'll have some great ideas for you, when we're up next on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Investing in the stock market can seem a little bit dicey these days, with the blue chips looking fairly anemic over the past few months. On one hand, it could be a great opportunity to pad your portfolio with some value stocks at a discount. On the other hand though, you might be tempted to cut your losses and just bail.

So, what to do in a down market is the subject of today's "Top Five Tips." Gerri Willis is our personal finance correspondent, and she is here to walk us through.

Good morning, Gerri.

WILLIS: Hey, Daryn. Well, you know, first of all, don't panic, because the action we've seen in the market it's not unusual. Markets always go up and down. And as a matter of fact, it's not even enough change to really affect your portfolio strategy. There are a couple...

KAGAN: Gerri.

WILLIS: Yes.

KAGAN: Hold the thought. Hold that thought and that green jacket, because we're going to go to the White House. President Bush has the Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern on hand. The annual Shamrock Ceremony. Let's listen in. BERTIE AHERN, IRISH TAOISEACH: Mr. President and First Lady, on behalf of the government and the people of Ireland, I'd like to extend our best wishes to you and to all of the distinguished guests gathered here for St. Patrick's Day.

I'm delighted to be here with you on the 17th of March, the actual day when millions of people of Irish descent across the globe unite to honor their native land and their common heritage.

Today we are reminded in a special way of the close and abiding friendship that has existed between our two nations for so many centuries.

The United States has been a stalwart supporter of Ireland in good times and in bad. And during the darkest days of our history, America provided the promise of a new future for the millions of Irish compelled to leave their native homes because of famine and of poverty.

In building a better future for ourselves in this country, Irish immigrants and their children were given the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to their new communities and to become vital and valued members of American society.

The United States, Mr. President, has been unfailing in its encouragements to our efforts to find a lasting and peaceful settlement in Northern Ireland.

We thank you, Mr. President, for your continued and strong commitment to the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. We appreciate the support and encouragement that we have consistently received from your administration, from our friends on both sides of the aisle in Congress, and from so many ordinary Americans who wish to see us succeed.

When I signed the Good Friday Agreement some six years ago, I believed that we had the potential to transform relationships on the islet of Ireland. Today, based on the progress that we have seen first hand, I am more convinced than ever of this. The priority now is to overcome the remaining challenges and finish the job once and for all.

Prime Minister Blair and I are therefore redoubling our efforts to resolve those issues that remain outstanding so that the promise and potential of the agreement can be fully realized. We've invested enormous effort in building our peace process and we intend to protect and preserve it together.

Mr. President, the United States has been a key partner in the significant economic development that Ireland has enjoyed in recent years. America is Ireland's biggest foreign investor, and we share a common approach to the values of enterprise and we work well with each other. Because of this partnership, Ireland's future looks brighter and more prosperous than ever.

The opportunities that Irish immigrants once sought abroad are now to be found in Ireland.

AHERN: And for the first time in over 150 years, the number of emigrating from our country has slowed to little more than a trickle.

Mr. President, Ireland is proud to hold the presidency of the European Union at this time. I look forward to welcoming you to Ireland for the E.U.-U.S. summit at the end of June.

And during our presidency, we will see 10 new countries, eight of them from Eastern Europe, join the union on May 1. Like Ireland, many of these accession states already have historic ties with the United States and have large immigrant communities living here. The enlargement of the European Union will serve to strengthen the strong ties that already exist between Europe and the United States.

Mr. President, Europe and the United States share a common determination to overcome the evils of terrorism. Last week, we witnessed the willful destruction of human life in Madrid. Many were reminded of the horrors of 9/11.

Terrorism is an affront to our democracies. It strikes at the heart of all the values of which the United States and European Union are founded. And we're determined to ensure that our peoples are protected from this despicable scourge.

As we celebrate here today, our thoughts and our prayers are also with the people of Spain.

Mr. President, St. Patrick used the symbol of the shamrock to explain the basic principle of Christianity to the people of Ireland. More recently, we have come to regard it as a symbol of unity, conveying a powerful image of how people of diverse traditions and backgrounds can come together in the pursuit of a common cause. It's an emblem that Irish people, and indeed friends of Ireland, wear with great pride on this special day.

I present this gift of shamrock to you, Mr. President, at this morning as a token of our friendship and an acknowledgement of the special bond that exists between our two countries.

Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, Taoiseach, thank you very much.

Thanks for the lovely gift of shamrocks. It is a beautiful symbol of a beautiful land.

Laura and I welcome you back to the White House. We are honored to have you join us to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

This day is always a happy one for Americans. In some places Americans get a little too happy.

(LAUGHTER)

Today we reaffirm the bonds of friendship between our countries. We remember a courageous man who preached a gospel of peace. We celebrate a heritage that is claimed by millions of my countrymen.

There's an Irish saying that there is luck in sharing. For more than two centuries your country and mine have shared responsibilities, we've shared aspirations and we have shared values.

From my nation's earliest days, Americans of Irish decent have helped to establish and define America's most cherished principles. They've helped to defend the liberty of their adopted homeland.

Today the people of the United States and the people of Ireland continue to share so much. Our economies are more closely linked than ever. Together we're fighting terrorism, a danger that has brought destruction and grief to Americans and Irish alike and to the world.

I join the taoiseach in sending condolences to the people of Spain as they remembered their murdered countrymen.

I thank you for your strong support in our common struggle.

Our nations are also standing for peace and justice in places like the Balkans and Afghanistan and beyond.

We share a common vision for Northern Ireland. We seek a lasting peace for the people of Northern Ireland; peace that will allow people to live free of terror and intimidation. We seek a region that is stable and prosperous and tolerant and locally governed.

I commend Prime Minister Ahern and Prime Minister Blair and all those who are working so hard to implement the Good Friday Agreement. I call for a permanent end to all political violence. There's no place for paramilitaries in a democratic society.

The partnership of America and Ireland is close, it is lasting and it is important to the peace of the world. I look forward to this summer to visiting Ireland for the E.U. and U.S. summit to strengthen the essential partnership between the United States and Europe.

Taoiseach, may the friendship between your people and mine prove as strong in the years to come as it has in the centuries past.

May all the people in our nations have a happy St. Patrick's Day. We ask God's blessings on the people of Ireland, and may God continue to bless the United States.

Welcome.

(APPLAUSE)

KAGAN: There you see Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern paying a visit to President Bush and Mrs. Bush on this St. Patrick's Day with the annual presentation of the shamrocks. President Bush taking the opportunity to make a few political comments as well. Our apology to Gerri Willis who we had to cut her segment short. Her top five tips about what to do about stock trading during the down market. You can find her tips on Money.com. And of course we'll see Gerri again on Friday.

You'll see us again in just a a moment. Right now, a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Bin Laden>


Aired March 17, 2004 - 10:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, HOST: Good morning from CNN headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Daryn Kagan. And let's get started with a check of the headlines at this hour.
Just hours ago police in Las Vegas arrested the Ohio sniper suspect. Police found Charles McCoy Jr. at a motel and detained him without incident. They say he wasn't armed. Police have impounded McCoy's car. The 28 year old is suspected in two-dozen highway shootings around the Columbus area, including one fatal shooting. We'll have the latest in a live report just ahead.

And from Miami this is just in, these live pictures. Crews are battling a fire at a warehouse in Miami-Dade County. There have been several violent explosions on the site, which reportedly contained either propane or oxygen tanks. No injuries reported so far. Of course, we'll bring you more details and more pictures as they come into us here at CNN.

First to Baghdad, the latest military response to the Iraqi insurgency is Operation Iron Promise. U.S. and Iraqi troops today launched the campaign to find rebels and illegal weapons. In the first raids some 500 soldiers, and helicopters, and armored vehicles hit several stores, suspected of supplying weapons to insurgents.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Israeli helicopter missiles fired in Gaza. Palestinians -- sources say, four Palestinians were killed, 11 were injured when the Israelis fired from their helicopters. Israel says the strike was aimed at armed Palestinians who were firing on Israeli troops operating in the area.

Back here in the U.S., as parade goers celebrate St. Patrick's Day, bands of snow continue their march across the northeast. In New Jersey, more snow could fall in today's downfall that dumped up to 8 inches on some parts of the state. More on the late, winter storm just ahead.

The first hour of CNN LIVE TODAY gets started right now.

Live this hour, the war on terror in the air and on the Hill. A House subcommittee gets a progress report on Caps 2. That is the computerized program that would screen airline passengers. While the goal of safer skies has universal appeal, questions of privacy and government intrusion are raising concerns.

From Columbus, Ohio, to Las Vegas, Nevada, both police and the family of Charles McCoy Jr. are expressing relief this morning. The 28-year-old is suspected of two-dozen highway shootings in and around the Ohio capital. He has now been captured at a hotel without incident. Las Vegas police say that a tipster recognized McCoy from news reports.

For the latest, let's bring in our Sean Callebs who is covering this story from Columbus.

Sean, good morning.

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Indeed it is a story that is unfolding. Let me bring you up to date on what we have. Right now, McCoy is being interviewed at an FBI field office in Las Vegas. And here's how the story is unfolding. He apparently left Columbus on Friday to drive to Las Vegas. Now, Mapquest tells us that is a drive of 2,008 miles; it takes 30 hours. Once there, he checked into the Budget Suites and apparently made his way over to the Stardust, where he struck up a conversation with a gentlemen named Conrad Malsom.

Malsom became somewhat suspicious of McCoy after seeing him check out a "USA Today" newspaper article, perhaps reading an article about himself. And then after McCoy left, Malsom had the presence of mind to pick up matches and a drinking class that McCoy had been using, he then called authorities and told him what he had seen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONRAD MALSOM, WITNESS: I saved everything he had touched and handled in the area. Drinking glass and match book and packaging from his deli lunch, the hard plastic containers, knowing that I was going to try to explain that I had seen this person but had no photographs or evidence other than what might be fingerprints on the items. So I had saved those and left the Sport Book and called the Ohio task force.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLEBS: Now, authorities then found McCoy's car. The 1999 green Geo Metro. They staked out that vehicle a short time later. McCoy walked up. That is when he was apprehended without any incident. And that is significant, because the task force had always maintained this is someone who could be very violent. They portrayed him as someone who is suicidal, with perhaps homicidal tendencies. They said that he should be presumed armed and dangerous. Let's remember, he is a suspect in 24 shootings from the highway in and around the south Columbus area. There has been one fatality in that.

Also yesterday, his sister came out and made an emotional plea, urging the 28-year-old to call his family. They clearly wanted to see this end without any incident. And Daryn, as you said, indeed authorities and the people here in Ohio's capital city breathing a sigh of relief, and they would like to see him brought back to find out a bit more about this unfolding story.

It is far from over. What happens to McCoy now?

KAGAN: Well, it is far from over, Sean. What happens to McCoy now?

CALLEBS: Well, extradition is apparently going to be the next step. There could be a hearing as early as today. We've talked to the task force. We don't know if members from Columbus are making their way out to Las Vegas right now. The extradition hearing is what we're waiting for next, to find out when he'll be brought back to Columbus.

KAGAN: Sean Callebs from Columbus, Ohio. Thank you, Sean.

Now to Fresno, California. Prosecutors say they may seek the death penalty against Marcus Wesson. He is to be arraigned today in the murders of nine family members, a 25-year-old woman and eight children. It's the largest mass killing in Fresno's history. Authorities say Wesson apparently fathered children with at least six women, including one or two of his own daughters.

And now the hunt for Osama bin Laden and a CIA videotape that appears to have caught the al Qaeda leader and possibly a missed opportunity. A senior intelligence official has confirmed the authenticity of video shot by an unmanned CIA Predator drone. That was back in August 2000. The videotape first aired on NBC News and it surfaces as the hunt for bin Laden intensifies, even as we speak.

Our national security correspondent David Ensor joins us from Washington with more on the tape and the hunt.

Good morning, David.

DAVID ENSOR, NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. As you say, the tape was taken at many thousands of feet up by a Predator drone -- an unarmed Predator drone aircraft in 2000, over tarmac farms in Afghanistan. This is the kind of aircraft that was used to take the imagery. The imagery shows one man dressed in white who is taller than the others around him. You'll see it in just a moment. And we've -- there's a circle around the highlighting the figures that include the white one, who is supposed to be Osama bin Laden. And in the view of U.S. analysts, that is who it most likely was. Not 100 percent, but very, very likely.

Now, because the Predator was unarmed, there was no way to strike. U.S. officials say it would have been three to seven hours to get Cruise missiles or other U.S. bombs on to this site. So it wasn't possible to do so. And of course, you have to remember, this is well before 9/11. Osama bin Laden was a wanted man. And in fact, President Clinton had ordered Cruise missile strikes on another location, where he was known to have been in 1998. But he moved by the time the missiles actually hit that site.

So it was very much a wanted man. It was pre-9/11, and officials were not eager to flatten an entire village and kill a lot of innocents, at the same time as trying to find bin Laden -- Daryn.

KAGAN: So besides this surfacing and the leak, what else does this tell us about bin Laden and the hunt for him -- David? ENSOR: Well, certainly shows that the hunt has been well under way since well back into the Clinton administration. The fact that this tape has been leaked is going to be the subject of an investigation, certainly within the CIA. No word yet on whether it will be referred to the Department of Justice. But this was a highly classified tape and it is routine to conduct an investigation into an unauthorized disclosure like this. It may have something to do with the political year. There are those who suggest that this tape, which raises questions about the Clinton administration's handling of the issue, is an advantageous leak for political purposes -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Out of Washington, you don't say.

ENSOR: Shocking.

KAGAN: Go figure. David Ensor, thank you so much from Washington.

Well, as that U.S.-led forces search for bin Laden and his al Qaeda operatives, Washington's top diplomat met briefly this morning with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Secretary of State Colin Powell praised Afghanistan for its role in the war on terror, its own progress toward democracy, and for the intensified manhunt along the Afghan-Pakistan border.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: If Taliban elements are forced from Pakistan back into Afghanistan as a result of actions on the Pakistan side of the border, I'm sure that our military forces here working with Afghan forces will deal with those elements.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Powell also praised Pakistan for its increasing role in the hunt for bin Laden. Powell will visit Pakistan later today.

Now the latest on the train bombings in Madrid. An Algerian man, detained in the investigation, was whisked into court today under tight security and amid some very disturbing questions. At issue, whether he ominously referred to the attacks two months before they were carried out.

Our Al Goodman joins us. He's at the courthouse in Madrid.

Al, hello.

AL GOODMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Well, this is the first court appearance for any of the six men who have been arrested since last Thursday's bombings. It started with the suspect, the Algerian man Ali Amrous. He's about 29 years old, coming into the court under tight security. Next into the court was the investigating magistrate, Judge Baltasar Garzon, who has been leading the investigation into al Qaeda and other elements here in Spain. Soon after that, they met in the Judge Garzon's chambers in a closed-door hearing. The judge decided to keep him in jail for another 48 hours on suspicion of belonging to al Qaeda.

And as you say, police arrested him after the train bombings at the Atocha train stations, because they remembered that two months ago he had threatened that there would be deaths there. Now under -- in the testimony, according to officials who are familiar with that session, with whom we've spoken, he basically had a different version. He said the police got it all wrong. But the officials are holding on to him anyway.

There will be more court appearances here on Thursday in Madrid and the police continue to look for five Moroccans, who they say put the actual bombs on the train. So the investigation proceeding at a vigorous pace.

And there are other developments, if I may, Daryn. There was a very large demonstration just out of camera range on my left side here, just up the street from the national court, outside the headquarters of the ruling conservative Popular Party. Now, they lost in Sunday's election in this upset victory. Many say that the train attacks really turned the election campaign on its head. They had been expected to win this election handily. But they lost. And so their supporters came out in force today to say what a good job Prime Minister Aznar, who will not be the prime minister anymore, did in supporting President Bush in the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.

At the same time, or a little earlier than that demonstration, the new socialist prime minister-elect of Spain was on a radio program in Madrid this morning, and he again criticized the war, which helped him get elected. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSE LUIS ZAPATERO, PRIME MINISTER-ELECT, SPAIN (through translator): The occupation of Iraq is a fiasco. There have been almost more deaths after the war than during it. The occupying forces have not helped the U.N. stay in control of the situation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOODMAN: So many changes under way here in Spain in a dramatic week -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Al Goodman in Madrid, thank you.

Now we get back to the issue that we talked about at the top of the issue. House subcommittee hearings on new passenger screenings and whether that airline ticket assures you any right to privacy.

Our Jeanne Meserve is in Washington to talk more about this.

Jeanne, good morning.

JEANNE MESERVE, HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn. The program is called Caps 2. It's intended to weed out terrorists. But there are questions about whether it will work, whether it will violate privacy, and the timetable for implementation. The hearing today, now under way, will explore all of those.

Under the proposed system, travelers will be required to provide their full name, their home address and home phone number, their date of birth and some travel information. That data will be checked against commercial and government databases, and the passenger will be given a green, yellow or red risk designation, with yellow or red requiring further screening.

A recent report from the General Accounting Office raised questions about whether the system will work without international cooperation. And it said the Transportation Security Administration, which is setting up Caps 2, has not addressed seven of eight issues raise by Congress. Including the accuracy of the databases it will use and the methods passenger will be able to use to correct inaccurate information. The TSA has said it has not been able to work out many of these issues, because privacy concerns have kept the airlines from providing them with data, which they could then use to test the system.

Privacy advocates are among those who will testify today. They're concerned that the system is overly intrusive and unworkable. And the acting administrator of the TSA, David Stone, will be there too; expect him to get a lot of tough questions.

Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: So what kind of time frame are we talking about here, Jeanne, where we really have to make these changes as travelers?

MESERVE: Well, the time frame is very uncertain at this point in time. There had been deadline set, those have been missed. At last conversation, one of the undersecretaries of the Department of Homeland Security refused to set a new timetable for when things are going to happen, because they are having so much trouble getting that data from the airlines, in large part.

KAGAN: Jeanne Meserve in Washington, thank you.

Irish eyes were probably dreaming of a green St. Patrick' s Day. But now they have a snowy white one instead. At least in the northeast.

Also, it's Cheney versus Kerry, as the vice president and likely Democratic nominee hit the road with competing speeches today. We'll have a preview.

And then there's this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: First month, everybody was there. They were all helping and then they all go away. And you're going, wow. It's just a lonely feeling.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KAGAN: It's a year after losing her husband in Iraq. One Marine widow learns to cope and helps others, too. Her story is coming up a bit later.

This is CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Check the calendar. Spring is just days away. This, of course, news to folks in the northeast; a check of the blustery St. Patrick's Day forecast is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We want to get back to our top story. And that is the apprehension of the top suspect in the sniper shootings out of Ohio. McCoy Jr. was picked up in Las Vegas.

For more on that, let's bring in Jeff Yeager. He is a reporter with one of our affiliates, KVBC and he joins us from Las Vegas this morning.

Good morning.

JEFF YEAGER, KVBC CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Yes, Charles McCoy Jr. was picked up right around midnight this morning from, right behind me, the Budget Suites Inn here. It's near the Stardust Hotel, and that's where one witness told us he met up with McCoy. Actually stumbled upon him, noticed McCoy after reading the "USA Today" earlier yesterday morning. Now, they all met around noon yesterday and the informant -- the police informant tells us that he was having pizza. He had some leftover; noticed McCoy; figured he'd offer some pizza to McCoy, start up some sort of dialogue, some sort of conversation to get extra information from McCoy. Well, that information led to the arrest of McCoy at the motel right behind me.

Now, police tell us that the informant decided to do a little investigating on his own. He got some extra information from Ohio detectives. He then drove through the parking lot, and by complete luck and circumstance, he stumbled upon McCoy's car. That's when the police got involved; the FBI got involved as well. Now, police have McCoy in custody. It's not sure whether or not McCoy will be served a federal warrant or a state warrant. If he served a state warrant he will then be extradited back to Ohio. If he's served a federal warrant he'll stay within FBI custody.

According live, Jeff Yeager for CNN. Back to you in the studio.

KAGAN: Yes, Jeff, before we let you go, tell me this. Up until the point that he was apprehended, is there any indication he might have been in Vegas? Was there any kind of announcement, any APB to keep a lookout for him in the Las Vegas area?

YEAGER: No. To our knowledge, it was just sheer circumstance that someone happened to recognize McCoy, that he happened to be here in Las Vegas as well. There was no APBs issued. There was no sort of extra information from local police that McCoy was, in fact, in the area. I was told some people actually thought that he was headed to Florida. There was also information that McCoy has relatives here in Las Vegas. But he wasn't staying with relatives, as we know. He was staying here at this motel. So again, no extra information that police knew that McCoy was actually in fact here in Las Vegas.

KAGAN: A very alert civilian doing some good work there.

Thank you so much, Jeff Yeager with our affiliate KVBC.

An unwelcomed guest will put a damper on a New York St. Patrick's Day parade, literally. Forecasters saying bands of snow from the late, winter storm blasting the northeast will continue to march across the region.

Our Maria Hinojosa is in Boston, home to one of the other big parades and joins us with the latest.

Maria, you're all bundled up there, my friend.

(LAUGHTER)

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's no other way to do this, Daryn. There's no other way to be bundled up. But the good news here, at least for St. Patrick's Day in Boston, is that the parade is not today. It's over the weekend. So they don't have to worry about that.

But a lot of people, you know, making their way around. The streets are pretty clear as you can see around me. This is Copley Square, a lot of people just kind of making their ways, but you know, I don't get how they do it without wearing a hat. Of course, I'm only out here for just a minute or so, which is how I do it. But here's something of a winter wonderland here in Copley Square.

Earlier today, believe it or not, there was a woman who sat right in front of us, right there in that huge patch of snow for an hour and meditated. Then there were a bunch of kids who came out and did that fabulous thing, throwing snowballs at each other; which we all wonder how they do and enjoy. Still, pretty much people making their way through to work. You know, it's not so much that it's been difficult.

Seven inches at Logan Airport; the airport is still open, though. And just some delays and delays across the area, in terms of other airports. The Boston public schools are open. We had heard about some delays, though, in terms of school openings.

Now, in the Midwest, though, which is where this wonderful storm started, thank you so much to the Midwest for that. More problems there, anywhere from 10 to 18 inches around Ohio. And police are investigating whether or not three deaths there were in fact due to weather-related car accidents. Also in Pennsylvania, another two deaths, possibly weather related.

The good news for everyone is, though, oh, no, the snow doesn't stop today. It's going to continue like this, maybe another inch and more on Friday. Just what we want to look forward to.

KAGAN: And just because you are the kind of reporter that likes to follow-through on her stories, I know you'll be fighting to stay on that snow beat -- Maria.

HINOJOSA: No. Actually, I'll be in Harrisburg on Friday. Sorry.

KAGAN: Already spoken for. OK. Maria Hinojosa, thanks for braving the cold and snowflakes for us this morning. We appreciate it.

CNN's Larry King lands an exclusive interview. He speaks with Martha Stewart's daughter Alexis. Hear part of that conversation in just a few minutes.

And Gerri Willis will share some tips that you don't want to miss. There's our Gerri.

Good morning.

GERRI WILLIS, CNNFN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, Daryn. Good Morning. Well, you know, the stock market has been acting like a yo- yo. Up 100 points one day, down 100 the next. Should you think about selling stock? We'll have some great ideas for you, when we're up next on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Investing in the stock market can seem a little bit dicey these days, with the blue chips looking fairly anemic over the past few months. On one hand, it could be a great opportunity to pad your portfolio with some value stocks at a discount. On the other hand though, you might be tempted to cut your losses and just bail.

So, what to do in a down market is the subject of today's "Top Five Tips." Gerri Willis is our personal finance correspondent, and she is here to walk us through.

Good morning, Gerri.

WILLIS: Hey, Daryn. Well, you know, first of all, don't panic, because the action we've seen in the market it's not unusual. Markets always go up and down. And as a matter of fact, it's not even enough change to really affect your portfolio strategy. There are a couple...

KAGAN: Gerri.

WILLIS: Yes.

KAGAN: Hold the thought. Hold that thought and that green jacket, because we're going to go to the White House. President Bush has the Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern on hand. The annual Shamrock Ceremony. Let's listen in. BERTIE AHERN, IRISH TAOISEACH: Mr. President and First Lady, on behalf of the government and the people of Ireland, I'd like to extend our best wishes to you and to all of the distinguished guests gathered here for St. Patrick's Day.

I'm delighted to be here with you on the 17th of March, the actual day when millions of people of Irish descent across the globe unite to honor their native land and their common heritage.

Today we are reminded in a special way of the close and abiding friendship that has existed between our two nations for so many centuries.

The United States has been a stalwart supporter of Ireland in good times and in bad. And during the darkest days of our history, America provided the promise of a new future for the millions of Irish compelled to leave their native homes because of famine and of poverty.

In building a better future for ourselves in this country, Irish immigrants and their children were given the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to their new communities and to become vital and valued members of American society.

The United States, Mr. President, has been unfailing in its encouragements to our efforts to find a lasting and peaceful settlement in Northern Ireland.

We thank you, Mr. President, for your continued and strong commitment to the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. We appreciate the support and encouragement that we have consistently received from your administration, from our friends on both sides of the aisle in Congress, and from so many ordinary Americans who wish to see us succeed.

When I signed the Good Friday Agreement some six years ago, I believed that we had the potential to transform relationships on the islet of Ireland. Today, based on the progress that we have seen first hand, I am more convinced than ever of this. The priority now is to overcome the remaining challenges and finish the job once and for all.

Prime Minister Blair and I are therefore redoubling our efforts to resolve those issues that remain outstanding so that the promise and potential of the agreement can be fully realized. We've invested enormous effort in building our peace process and we intend to protect and preserve it together.

Mr. President, the United States has been a key partner in the significant economic development that Ireland has enjoyed in recent years. America is Ireland's biggest foreign investor, and we share a common approach to the values of enterprise and we work well with each other. Because of this partnership, Ireland's future looks brighter and more prosperous than ever.

The opportunities that Irish immigrants once sought abroad are now to be found in Ireland.

AHERN: And for the first time in over 150 years, the number of emigrating from our country has slowed to little more than a trickle.

Mr. President, Ireland is proud to hold the presidency of the European Union at this time. I look forward to welcoming you to Ireland for the E.U.-U.S. summit at the end of June.

And during our presidency, we will see 10 new countries, eight of them from Eastern Europe, join the union on May 1. Like Ireland, many of these accession states already have historic ties with the United States and have large immigrant communities living here. The enlargement of the European Union will serve to strengthen the strong ties that already exist between Europe and the United States.

Mr. President, Europe and the United States share a common determination to overcome the evils of terrorism. Last week, we witnessed the willful destruction of human life in Madrid. Many were reminded of the horrors of 9/11.

Terrorism is an affront to our democracies. It strikes at the heart of all the values of which the United States and European Union are founded. And we're determined to ensure that our peoples are protected from this despicable scourge.

As we celebrate here today, our thoughts and our prayers are also with the people of Spain.

Mr. President, St. Patrick used the symbol of the shamrock to explain the basic principle of Christianity to the people of Ireland. More recently, we have come to regard it as a symbol of unity, conveying a powerful image of how people of diverse traditions and backgrounds can come together in the pursuit of a common cause. It's an emblem that Irish people, and indeed friends of Ireland, wear with great pride on this special day.

I present this gift of shamrock to you, Mr. President, at this morning as a token of our friendship and an acknowledgement of the special bond that exists between our two countries.

Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, Taoiseach, thank you very much.

Thanks for the lovely gift of shamrocks. It is a beautiful symbol of a beautiful land.

Laura and I welcome you back to the White House. We are honored to have you join us to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

This day is always a happy one for Americans. In some places Americans get a little too happy.

(LAUGHTER)

Today we reaffirm the bonds of friendship between our countries. We remember a courageous man who preached a gospel of peace. We celebrate a heritage that is claimed by millions of my countrymen.

There's an Irish saying that there is luck in sharing. For more than two centuries your country and mine have shared responsibilities, we've shared aspirations and we have shared values.

From my nation's earliest days, Americans of Irish decent have helped to establish and define America's most cherished principles. They've helped to defend the liberty of their adopted homeland.

Today the people of the United States and the people of Ireland continue to share so much. Our economies are more closely linked than ever. Together we're fighting terrorism, a danger that has brought destruction and grief to Americans and Irish alike and to the world.

I join the taoiseach in sending condolences to the people of Spain as they remembered their murdered countrymen.

I thank you for your strong support in our common struggle.

Our nations are also standing for peace and justice in places like the Balkans and Afghanistan and beyond.

We share a common vision for Northern Ireland. We seek a lasting peace for the people of Northern Ireland; peace that will allow people to live free of terror and intimidation. We seek a region that is stable and prosperous and tolerant and locally governed.

I commend Prime Minister Ahern and Prime Minister Blair and all those who are working so hard to implement the Good Friday Agreement. I call for a permanent end to all political violence. There's no place for paramilitaries in a democratic society.

The partnership of America and Ireland is close, it is lasting and it is important to the peace of the world. I look forward to this summer to visiting Ireland for the E.U. and U.S. summit to strengthen the essential partnership between the United States and Europe.

Taoiseach, may the friendship between your people and mine prove as strong in the years to come as it has in the centuries past.

May all the people in our nations have a happy St. Patrick's Day. We ask God's blessings on the people of Ireland, and may God continue to bless the United States.

Welcome.

(APPLAUSE)

KAGAN: There you see Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern paying a visit to President Bush and Mrs. Bush on this St. Patrick's Day with the annual presentation of the shamrocks. President Bush taking the opportunity to make a few political comments as well. Our apology to Gerri Willis who we had to cut her segment short. Her top five tips about what to do about stock trading during the down market. You can find her tips on Money.com. And of course we'll see Gerri again on Friday.

You'll see us again in just a a moment. Right now, a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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