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CNN Live At Daybreak

Israeli Airstrike Kills Hamas Founder

Aired March 22, 2004 - 05:00   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: An eruption of anger in the Palestinian territories after an Israeli missile strike hits the heart of Hamas.
Good morning to you. It's Monday, March 22. From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello. Thank you for joining us.

Rage and growing unrest in the Middle East right now. The founder and spiritual leader of the Hamas militant group, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, killed in an Israeli attack. Hamas is promising revenge, and already that has begun.

The White House's former counterterrorism director says President Bush ignored warnings about possible terrorist attacks before 9/11. On Wednesday, Richard Clarke testifies before the 9/11 commission.

Terry Nichols goes on trial this morning. He's already serving a life sentence as a conspirator in the Oklahoma City bombings. If convicted on state charges, he could be put to death.

And in Iraq, two U.S. soldiers die, one the victim of a roadside bombing. Also, a car bomb near a U.S. air base kills two Iraqis and wounds 25 others.

We update our top stories every 15 minutes. The next news update comes your way at 5:15 Eastern.

This morning, the Middle East is tense and dangerous. The assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin has brought lightning-quick threats to Israelis. Thousands of Palestinians have taken to the streets this morning. One group vows an eye for an eye.

Let's take you live to that region and Chris Burns, who's trying to get into Gaza. But it's difficult right now, isn't it?

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very difficult, Carol. The Israeli authorities have really clamped down on the territories, both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Here at the Erez border crossing on the northern end of Gaza with Israel, this is not only the site where thousands of Palestinians cross into Israel to work. They have been cut off today as a result of the tensions with Israel, expecting some kind of response from the militants after the killing. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) over my shoulder, you see some journalists who are trying to get in, but it's a very slow process. The killing of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin this morning, a rocket attack against the quadriplegic 67-year-old spiritual leader of the Hamas militants. That has cause great outrage among the Palestinians in Gaza and in the West Bank. A funeral today is under way, procession in the streets for Mr. Yassin as well as his bodyguards and others killed in that attack. Two of his sons were also injured in the attack.

So the outrage is very palpable. In fact, at some point, you can see smoke rising above Gaza because of all the fires, the bonfires being lit by those protesting. The militants promising all-out war, according to one Hamas official. Hamas leaflets saying to shake Israel like an earthquake. Al Aqsa militants also calling on a war against what they call "the sons of Zion."

The Palestinian Authority condemning the attack, calling it a crazy and dangerous move.

The Israeli government defending it, saying that Hamas was behind suicide attacks and many other attacks against Israel, including just about a week ago, against twin suicide bombings in Ashdod that left 10 people dead and caused the Israeli government to really crack down, to say they would step up both raids inside Gaza as well as these targeted killings, or assassinations.

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: And, Chris, just to explain to our audience what they're seeing to the right-hand of their screen. That is the funeral procession for Sheikh Yassin. His casket being carried through the streets of Gaza to its final resting place. And you can see the thousands and thousands of people who have taken to the streets.

BURNS: That's right.

COSTELLO: Chris, I wanted to ask you another question about Sheikh Yassin.

Israel compares him to Osama bin Laden - the Osama bin Laden that they've been dealing with for some time. But within Gaza, he does some - I don't know. He helps the community; he puts together community groups, because it's a very poor area there.

BURNS: Very poor, one of the poorest parts of the world, the most highly densely populated part of the world - 1.2 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. And yes, Hamas is seen as being very involved in community support and activity.

Sheikh Yassin has a very different image among many Palestinians. He was barely 10 years old when his family was forced to flee from what is now Israel in 1948, when the state of Israel was founded. And Sheikh Yassin, although he became a quadriplegic as a youth, dedicated the rest of his life to fighting for Palestinian rights, and establishing the Hamas militant group in the intifadah uprising of 1987. He has spent in jail - in Israeli jails. Was only released until 1997. So, a lot of emotional bonds between many Palestinians and Mr. Yassin.

COSTELLO: And yet, at the same time, he also has orchestrated suicide attacks.

BURNS: Yes, absolutely. That was seen by Hamas and by quite a few Palestinians as seeing a legit - as a legitimate act in fighting the Israeli occupation of the territories, and by many Palestinians who believe that they really should have a right to return to what is now Israel. So an extremely emotional feeling among Palestinians.

Well, of course, the Israelis saying this man was behind so many suicide attacks that they had to kill him.

COSTELLO: All right. Chris Burns, reporting live near Gaza this morning.

Yassin was said to be the only person who could control Hamas. Now, with his death, the U.S.-backed road map to peace just may be at a dead end.

Our Paula Hancocks tells us more about the founder of Hamas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The founder and spiritual leader of Hamas, a group that has always sworn to destroy Israel, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was himself killed by an Israeli airstrike, as he left a mosque near his home in Gaza City early Monday.

The paraplegic, partially blind, 67-year-old cleric had been confined to a wheelchair most of his life, paralyzed in an accident as a child.

Parts of that wheelchair littered the street at the site of the attack, Gaza residents holding up shreds of his bloody clothing and calling for revenge.

Only Sunday, Israel's cabinet vowed a -quote - "war on Hamas," calling the organization a strategic enemy.

Israel has now pursued a policy of so-called targeted assassinations of the Hamas leadership in reaction to the group's suicide bombing attacks on Israeli civilian and military targets. Confirming it had targeted Yassin, Israel said he was part of the Hamas terror framework, actively supporting such attacks by his followers, and was thus - quote - "marked for death."

An Israeli court sentenced Sheikh Yassin to life in prison in 1989, but he was freed in 1997 under the terms of a deal brokered by King Hussein of Jordan.

He escaped a previous Israeli attack in September 2003 with a light injury. The most recent suicide bombings in the Israeli port city of Ashdod were carried out by Palestinians coming from Gaza, and Israel has made it clear that it will continue to hit back at those that dispatch or inspire the attacks that have left nearly a thousand dead in the last few years.

Yassin founded Hamas in 1987, during the first Palestinian intifadah, and he had always angrily Israel that the attacks on Israel would continue, despite its policy of targeted killings.

His comments late last year now echo with added meaning. Jihad will continue, and the resistance will continue until we have victory, or we will be martyrs.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HANCOCKS: The funeral procession is on its way through Gaza City as we speak. There are mourners jostling to try and touch the body of Sheikh Yassin, and also women throwing flowers on his body.

Thousands of Palestinians taking to the streets, many of them extremely angry. Tensions are very high there. There are people firing into the air. Also, there are some Palestinians burning tires. So you can see thick, black smoke across the horizon of Gaza City.

The Palestinians Authority President Yasser Arafat has called for three days of mourning, saying that the Israelis have crossed - quote - "all red lines with this cheap and dirty crime." But the Israeli officials are insisting that Yassin was behind many suicide bombings, and they had warned that this could happen - Carol.

COSTELLO: Paula Hancocks, reporting live for us this morning.

It's not just the Muslim world that's condemning the attack. The British foreign secretary, Jack Straw, had this to say just about 30 minutes ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACK STRAW, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: All of us understand Israel's need to defend itself, and it is fully entitled to do that against the terrorism which affects it, within international law. But it is not entitled to go and forth (ph) this kind of unlawful killing. And we therefore condemn it. It is unacceptable, it is unjustified and it is very unlikely to achieve its objectives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Just before the half hour, we'll get the Israeli position on the killing of Yassin from an Israeli cabinet member.

Back in this country, a scathing new book charges that President Bush ignored the al Qaeda threat well before September 11. The claim comes from the president's own former counterterrorism adviser.

The story now from CNN's Suzanne Malveaux. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A scathing new book accuses President Bush of ignoring terrorist threats before September 11, unjustly linking that attack to Iraq and failing miserably in the war on terror today.

The author is not a Democratic opponent, but Richard Clarke, former chief counterterrorism to Presidents Bush and Clinton, who makes his case not only on paper, but on "60 Minutes."

In the interview, Clarke says, "I think the way he's responded to al Qaeda, both before 9/11, by doing nothing, and by what he's done after 9/11, has made us less safe. I find it outrageous that the president is running for re-election on the grounds that he's done such great things about terrorism. He ignored it. Maybe we could have done something to stop 9/11."

DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: The president has made the right decision in every case.

MALVEAUX: The White House, so taken aback by Clarke's accusations, put outs its communications director on a Sunday to discredit Clarke's story.

Clarke says the day after September 11, the president took him aside and privately began pressuring him to link Iraq to the attack. The conversation going:

Bush: Go back over everything. Everything. See if Saddam did this. See if he's linked in any way. Clarke: But Mr. President, al Qaeda did this.

Bush: I know. But see if Saddam was involved. Just look. I want to know any shred.

Clarke: Absolutely. We will look again. But, you know, we've looked several times for state sponsorship of al Qaeda, and not found any real linkages to Iraq.

Bush: Look into Iraq. Saddam.

The White House vehemently denies the conversation, and that there was pressure to go after Hussein.

BARTLETT: I think everybody in America would expect, in 24 hours after one of the worst attacks on our country, that the president of the United States was asking his counterterrorism officials, Tell me everything. Tell me any possible link to this attack. I want to know everything.

MALVEAUX: These new accusations come at a time when the White House is already under incredible scrutiny about the war on terror. This week, top officials from the Bush and Clinton administrations will publicly testify before the 9/11 commission about what they knew prior to the attacks. Clarke's account of events are fueling the debate.

SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Nuclear weapons, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) al Qaeda. That's the distortion. That's the misrepresentation. That's the lie.

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R), PENNSYLVANIA: I think that the inquires of the 9/11 commission will show that there's a lot of blame on all sides.

MALVEAUX (on camera): The White House suggests that Clarke's accusations are politically motivated because of his close ties to Senator Kerry's foreign policy adviser, who was also a member of Bush's counterterrorism team before quitting over policy differences.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice will respond to Richard Clarke's charges on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING." Of course, that begins at 7 Eastern Time.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Still to come: you're fired! You've heard that phrase before. I hope you haven't. But if you have, you'll hear how it all started. Donald Trump in 10 minutes.

Plus, civil rights versus security. Should you be forced to show I.D. to a police officer when he asks your name?

Also, working two jobs, making ends meet, never having enough spaces. All complaints of many single moms. Well, now there's a new way to help. We'll tell you all about it.

And, al Qaeda's No. 2: where is he, and why haven't Pakistani forces found him? New information for you this morning from the heart of the search.

It's Monday, March 22. You are watching DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: 5:16 Eastern Time. Time to take a quick look at the top stories now.

In the Middle East, vows of revenge for the Israeli missile attack in Gaza that killed Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Yassin's funeral is scheduled to begin in about 15 minutes.

The murder trial of Terry Nichols gets under way today. Nichols is charged with 160 counts of first-degree murder, stemming from the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

And President Bush's former counterterrorism adviser Richard Clarke accuses the president of ignoring early warnings about al Qaeda. Clarke is scheduled to testify before the 9/11 commission on Wednesday.

We update our top stories every 15 minutes. The next update comes your way at 5:30 Eastern.

(MARKET UPDATE)

COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK this morning:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, REAL ESTATE MOGUL: You're fired.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Ah, words no one wants to hear, especially from Donald Trump. Actually, I don't want to hear those words from anyone.

Anyway, hear what the New York tycoon has to say about that hot catch phrase.

This is DAYBREAK for a Monday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: You've probably heard Donald Trump wants to trademark his signature statement from "The Apprentice." But you may be surprised at how it came to be part of the TV show in the first place.

Here's Trump on, "You're fired!"

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: It's really, essentially, like live television. You can't do much about it. It's just, as far as I'm concerned, reality. I don't want double takes. I don't want any of this. And I came out and said, you are fired.

And everyone went crazy. I mean, the whole place went crazy. The - all of the folks at NBC - they were in the back, because this was the first session. And, you know, they spent a lot of money on the show, over $2 million an episode. And they had a lot of NBC executives in the control room watching.

And they heard the words "you're fired," and everybody started jumping up and applauding and they thought it was great. So it was a little bit by accident that the term, "you're fired," came about. But when you think about it, it's a very precise, very beautiful two words.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: He thinks that's creative? He really does? I've heard it before from bosses.

Anyway, not beautiful, of course, if words are directed at you. That is, you're fired. But if could be financially beautiful for the Donald in the end. He wants to own the rights to the phrase so he can put it on clothes, games and items in his casinos to make even more money.

We've got lots more to tell you about in the next half of DAYBREAK.

Moviegoers had a big appetite for zombies. We'll tell you if the appetite was big enough to dethrone "The Passion" at the box office.

Plus:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This case isn't just about me. This is about all Americans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: A Nevada cowboy is taking his case all the way to the Supreme Court. Who does the law protect more: you or the police?

And shock and disbelief and anger in the streets of Gaza. We'll have an update on the assassination of the leader of one of the notorious Islamic militant groups.

This is DAYBREAK for a Monday.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PETER DE SAVARY, ENTREPRENEUR: The people you meet on the way up will be the very people you meet on the way down. So treat everybody the way you'd like them to treat you when the boot is on the other foot.

ANNOUNCER: Millionaire entrepreneur Peter De Savary uses that philosophy in all of his endeavors, whether it's trading oil in the Middle East or sailing in the America's Cup race. His current passion is building extravagant international resorts, exotic indulgences like falconry are a specialty at his exclusive Carnegie Clubs.

De Savary his greatest asset as a businessman is taking responsibility when things go awry.

DE SAVARY: Don't make excuses. Don't run for cover. Face it and be very honorable. And that gives you the chance to live and fight another day.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Good morning. Welcome back to DAYBREAK. I'm Carol Costello. It is Monday, March 22. Thank you for joining us.

Here's what's happening at this hour.

The Middle East is seething right now. Hamas followers are burying spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. He and his bodyguards were killed this morning by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.

In Kosovo, security is high for the funerals of two ethnic Albanian boys. Their drowning deaths sparked clashes with Serbians that killed and injured hundreds. Serbs allegedly chased the boys into a river that separates their communities.

In New York, arraignment set today for two Unitarians ministers. They're charged with marrying 13 gay couples without a license.

In Washington, the U.S. Supreme Court hears a case involving an arrest and conviction for not producing an I.D. when demanded by police. The violation of privacy case challenges a Nevada law.

We update our top stories every 15 minutes. The next update comes your way at 5:45 Eastern.

Militant groups are promising revenge against Israel for today's killing of Hamas founder and spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Yassin.

CNN's Paula Hancocks live in Jerusalem with the latest developments.

Bring us up to date, Paula.

HANCOCKS: Well, Carol, what we can tell you at the moment is that Palestinians are burying the founder and spiritual leader of Hamas, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who was assassinated by Israeli forces earlier this Monday morning. Three missiles from

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Aired March 22, 2004 - 05:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: An eruption of anger in the Palestinian territories after an Israeli missile strike hits the heart of Hamas.
Good morning to you. It's Monday, March 22. From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello. Thank you for joining us.

Rage and growing unrest in the Middle East right now. The founder and spiritual leader of the Hamas militant group, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, killed in an Israeli attack. Hamas is promising revenge, and already that has begun.

The White House's former counterterrorism director says President Bush ignored warnings about possible terrorist attacks before 9/11. On Wednesday, Richard Clarke testifies before the 9/11 commission.

Terry Nichols goes on trial this morning. He's already serving a life sentence as a conspirator in the Oklahoma City bombings. If convicted on state charges, he could be put to death.

And in Iraq, two U.S. soldiers die, one the victim of a roadside bombing. Also, a car bomb near a U.S. air base kills two Iraqis and wounds 25 others.

We update our top stories every 15 minutes. The next news update comes your way at 5:15 Eastern.

This morning, the Middle East is tense and dangerous. The assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin has brought lightning-quick threats to Israelis. Thousands of Palestinians have taken to the streets this morning. One group vows an eye for an eye.

Let's take you live to that region and Chris Burns, who's trying to get into Gaza. But it's difficult right now, isn't it?

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very difficult, Carol. The Israeli authorities have really clamped down on the territories, both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Here at the Erez border crossing on the northern end of Gaza with Israel, this is not only the site where thousands of Palestinians cross into Israel to work. They have been cut off today as a result of the tensions with Israel, expecting some kind of response from the militants after the killing. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) over my shoulder, you see some journalists who are trying to get in, but it's a very slow process. The killing of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin this morning, a rocket attack against the quadriplegic 67-year-old spiritual leader of the Hamas militants. That has cause great outrage among the Palestinians in Gaza and in the West Bank. A funeral today is under way, procession in the streets for Mr. Yassin as well as his bodyguards and others killed in that attack. Two of his sons were also injured in the attack.

So the outrage is very palpable. In fact, at some point, you can see smoke rising above Gaza because of all the fires, the bonfires being lit by those protesting. The militants promising all-out war, according to one Hamas official. Hamas leaflets saying to shake Israel like an earthquake. Al Aqsa militants also calling on a war against what they call "the sons of Zion."

The Palestinian Authority condemning the attack, calling it a crazy and dangerous move.

The Israeli government defending it, saying that Hamas was behind suicide attacks and many other attacks against Israel, including just about a week ago, against twin suicide bombings in Ashdod that left 10 people dead and caused the Israeli government to really crack down, to say they would step up both raids inside Gaza as well as these targeted killings, or assassinations.

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: And, Chris, just to explain to our audience what they're seeing to the right-hand of their screen. That is the funeral procession for Sheikh Yassin. His casket being carried through the streets of Gaza to its final resting place. And you can see the thousands and thousands of people who have taken to the streets.

BURNS: That's right.

COSTELLO: Chris, I wanted to ask you another question about Sheikh Yassin.

Israel compares him to Osama bin Laden - the Osama bin Laden that they've been dealing with for some time. But within Gaza, he does some - I don't know. He helps the community; he puts together community groups, because it's a very poor area there.

BURNS: Very poor, one of the poorest parts of the world, the most highly densely populated part of the world - 1.2 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. And yes, Hamas is seen as being very involved in community support and activity.

Sheikh Yassin has a very different image among many Palestinians. He was barely 10 years old when his family was forced to flee from what is now Israel in 1948, when the state of Israel was founded. And Sheikh Yassin, although he became a quadriplegic as a youth, dedicated the rest of his life to fighting for Palestinian rights, and establishing the Hamas militant group in the intifadah uprising of 1987. He has spent in jail - in Israeli jails. Was only released until 1997. So, a lot of emotional bonds between many Palestinians and Mr. Yassin.

COSTELLO: And yet, at the same time, he also has orchestrated suicide attacks.

BURNS: Yes, absolutely. That was seen by Hamas and by quite a few Palestinians as seeing a legit - as a legitimate act in fighting the Israeli occupation of the territories, and by many Palestinians who believe that they really should have a right to return to what is now Israel. So an extremely emotional feeling among Palestinians.

Well, of course, the Israelis saying this man was behind so many suicide attacks that they had to kill him.

COSTELLO: All right. Chris Burns, reporting live near Gaza this morning.

Yassin was said to be the only person who could control Hamas. Now, with his death, the U.S.-backed road map to peace just may be at a dead end.

Our Paula Hancocks tells us more about the founder of Hamas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The founder and spiritual leader of Hamas, a group that has always sworn to destroy Israel, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was himself killed by an Israeli airstrike, as he left a mosque near his home in Gaza City early Monday.

The paraplegic, partially blind, 67-year-old cleric had been confined to a wheelchair most of his life, paralyzed in an accident as a child.

Parts of that wheelchair littered the street at the site of the attack, Gaza residents holding up shreds of his bloody clothing and calling for revenge.

Only Sunday, Israel's cabinet vowed a -quote - "war on Hamas," calling the organization a strategic enemy.

Israel has now pursued a policy of so-called targeted assassinations of the Hamas leadership in reaction to the group's suicide bombing attacks on Israeli civilian and military targets. Confirming it had targeted Yassin, Israel said he was part of the Hamas terror framework, actively supporting such attacks by his followers, and was thus - quote - "marked for death."

An Israeli court sentenced Sheikh Yassin to life in prison in 1989, but he was freed in 1997 under the terms of a deal brokered by King Hussein of Jordan.

He escaped a previous Israeli attack in September 2003 with a light injury. The most recent suicide bombings in the Israeli port city of Ashdod were carried out by Palestinians coming from Gaza, and Israel has made it clear that it will continue to hit back at those that dispatch or inspire the attacks that have left nearly a thousand dead in the last few years.

Yassin founded Hamas in 1987, during the first Palestinian intifadah, and he had always angrily Israel that the attacks on Israel would continue, despite its policy of targeted killings.

His comments late last year now echo with added meaning. Jihad will continue, and the resistance will continue until we have victory, or we will be martyrs.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HANCOCKS: The funeral procession is on its way through Gaza City as we speak. There are mourners jostling to try and touch the body of Sheikh Yassin, and also women throwing flowers on his body.

Thousands of Palestinians taking to the streets, many of them extremely angry. Tensions are very high there. There are people firing into the air. Also, there are some Palestinians burning tires. So you can see thick, black smoke across the horizon of Gaza City.

The Palestinians Authority President Yasser Arafat has called for three days of mourning, saying that the Israelis have crossed - quote - "all red lines with this cheap and dirty crime." But the Israeli officials are insisting that Yassin was behind many suicide bombings, and they had warned that this could happen - Carol.

COSTELLO: Paula Hancocks, reporting live for us this morning.

It's not just the Muslim world that's condemning the attack. The British foreign secretary, Jack Straw, had this to say just about 30 minutes ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACK STRAW, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: All of us understand Israel's need to defend itself, and it is fully entitled to do that against the terrorism which affects it, within international law. But it is not entitled to go and forth (ph) this kind of unlawful killing. And we therefore condemn it. It is unacceptable, it is unjustified and it is very unlikely to achieve its objectives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Just before the half hour, we'll get the Israeli position on the killing of Yassin from an Israeli cabinet member.

Back in this country, a scathing new book charges that President Bush ignored the al Qaeda threat well before September 11. The claim comes from the president's own former counterterrorism adviser.

The story now from CNN's Suzanne Malveaux. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A scathing new book accuses President Bush of ignoring terrorist threats before September 11, unjustly linking that attack to Iraq and failing miserably in the war on terror today.

The author is not a Democratic opponent, but Richard Clarke, former chief counterterrorism to Presidents Bush and Clinton, who makes his case not only on paper, but on "60 Minutes."

In the interview, Clarke says, "I think the way he's responded to al Qaeda, both before 9/11, by doing nothing, and by what he's done after 9/11, has made us less safe. I find it outrageous that the president is running for re-election on the grounds that he's done such great things about terrorism. He ignored it. Maybe we could have done something to stop 9/11."

DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: The president has made the right decision in every case.

MALVEAUX: The White House, so taken aback by Clarke's accusations, put outs its communications director on a Sunday to discredit Clarke's story.

Clarke says the day after September 11, the president took him aside and privately began pressuring him to link Iraq to the attack. The conversation going:

Bush: Go back over everything. Everything. See if Saddam did this. See if he's linked in any way. Clarke: But Mr. President, al Qaeda did this.

Bush: I know. But see if Saddam was involved. Just look. I want to know any shred.

Clarke: Absolutely. We will look again. But, you know, we've looked several times for state sponsorship of al Qaeda, and not found any real linkages to Iraq.

Bush: Look into Iraq. Saddam.

The White House vehemently denies the conversation, and that there was pressure to go after Hussein.

BARTLETT: I think everybody in America would expect, in 24 hours after one of the worst attacks on our country, that the president of the United States was asking his counterterrorism officials, Tell me everything. Tell me any possible link to this attack. I want to know everything.

MALVEAUX: These new accusations come at a time when the White House is already under incredible scrutiny about the war on terror. This week, top officials from the Bush and Clinton administrations will publicly testify before the 9/11 commission about what they knew prior to the attacks. Clarke's account of events are fueling the debate.

SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Nuclear weapons, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) al Qaeda. That's the distortion. That's the misrepresentation. That's the lie.

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R), PENNSYLVANIA: I think that the inquires of the 9/11 commission will show that there's a lot of blame on all sides.

MALVEAUX (on camera): The White House suggests that Clarke's accusations are politically motivated because of his close ties to Senator Kerry's foreign policy adviser, who was also a member of Bush's counterterrorism team before quitting over policy differences.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice will respond to Richard Clarke's charges on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING." Of course, that begins at 7 Eastern Time.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Still to come: you're fired! You've heard that phrase before. I hope you haven't. But if you have, you'll hear how it all started. Donald Trump in 10 minutes.

Plus, civil rights versus security. Should you be forced to show I.D. to a police officer when he asks your name?

Also, working two jobs, making ends meet, never having enough spaces. All complaints of many single moms. Well, now there's a new way to help. We'll tell you all about it.

And, al Qaeda's No. 2: where is he, and why haven't Pakistani forces found him? New information for you this morning from the heart of the search.

It's Monday, March 22. You are watching DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: 5:16 Eastern Time. Time to take a quick look at the top stories now.

In the Middle East, vows of revenge for the Israeli missile attack in Gaza that killed Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Yassin's funeral is scheduled to begin in about 15 minutes.

The murder trial of Terry Nichols gets under way today. Nichols is charged with 160 counts of first-degree murder, stemming from the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

And President Bush's former counterterrorism adviser Richard Clarke accuses the president of ignoring early warnings about al Qaeda. Clarke is scheduled to testify before the 9/11 commission on Wednesday.

We update our top stories every 15 minutes. The next update comes your way at 5:30 Eastern.

(MARKET UPDATE)

COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK this morning:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, REAL ESTATE MOGUL: You're fired.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Ah, words no one wants to hear, especially from Donald Trump. Actually, I don't want to hear those words from anyone.

Anyway, hear what the New York tycoon has to say about that hot catch phrase.

This is DAYBREAK for a Monday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: You've probably heard Donald Trump wants to trademark his signature statement from "The Apprentice." But you may be surprised at how it came to be part of the TV show in the first place.

Here's Trump on, "You're fired!"

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TRUMP: It's really, essentially, like live television. You can't do much about it. It's just, as far as I'm concerned, reality. I don't want double takes. I don't want any of this. And I came out and said, you are fired.

And everyone went crazy. I mean, the whole place went crazy. The - all of the folks at NBC - they were in the back, because this was the first session. And, you know, they spent a lot of money on the show, over $2 million an episode. And they had a lot of NBC executives in the control room watching.

And they heard the words "you're fired," and everybody started jumping up and applauding and they thought it was great. So it was a little bit by accident that the term, "you're fired," came about. But when you think about it, it's a very precise, very beautiful two words.

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COSTELLO: He thinks that's creative? He really does? I've heard it before from bosses.

Anyway, not beautiful, of course, if words are directed at you. That is, you're fired. But if could be financially beautiful for the Donald in the end. He wants to own the rights to the phrase so he can put it on clothes, games and items in his casinos to make even more money.

We've got lots more to tell you about in the next half of DAYBREAK.

Moviegoers had a big appetite for zombies. We'll tell you if the appetite was big enough to dethrone "The Passion" at the box office.

Plus:

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This case isn't just about me. This is about all Americans.

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COSTELLO: A Nevada cowboy is taking his case all the way to the Supreme Court. Who does the law protect more: you or the police?

And shock and disbelief and anger in the streets of Gaza. We'll have an update on the assassination of the leader of one of the notorious Islamic militant groups.

This is DAYBREAK for a Monday.

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PETER DE SAVARY, ENTREPRENEUR: The people you meet on the way up will be the very people you meet on the way down. So treat everybody the way you'd like them to treat you when the boot is on the other foot.

ANNOUNCER: Millionaire entrepreneur Peter De Savary uses that philosophy in all of his endeavors, whether it's trading oil in the Middle East or sailing in the America's Cup race. His current passion is building extravagant international resorts, exotic indulgences like falconry are a specialty at his exclusive Carnegie Clubs.

De Savary his greatest asset as a businessman is taking responsibility when things go awry.

DE SAVARY: Don't make excuses. Don't run for cover. Face it and be very honorable. And that gives you the chance to live and fight another day.

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COSTELLO: Good morning. Welcome back to DAYBREAK. I'm Carol Costello. It is Monday, March 22. Thank you for joining us.

Here's what's happening at this hour.

The Middle East is seething right now. Hamas followers are burying spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. He and his bodyguards were killed this morning by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.

In Kosovo, security is high for the funerals of two ethnic Albanian boys. Their drowning deaths sparked clashes with Serbians that killed and injured hundreds. Serbs allegedly chased the boys into a river that separates their communities.

In New York, arraignment set today for two Unitarians ministers. They're charged with marrying 13 gay couples without a license.

In Washington, the U.S. Supreme Court hears a case involving an arrest and conviction for not producing an I.D. when demanded by police. The violation of privacy case challenges a Nevada law.

We update our top stories every 15 minutes. The next update comes your way at 5:45 Eastern.

Militant groups are promising revenge against Israel for today's killing of Hamas founder and spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Yassin.

CNN's Paula Hancocks live in Jerusalem with the latest developments.

Bring us up to date, Paula.

HANCOCKS: Well, Carol, what we can tell you at the moment is that Palestinians are burying the founder and spiritual leader of Hamas, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who was assassinated by Israeli forces earlier this Monday morning. Three missiles from

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