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Anti-Terror Officials in U.S. Going on the Offense; Fifth Anniversary of Shooting Rampage at Columbine

Aired April 20, 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: All right. Good morning. We are at CNN headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Daryn Kagan. And let's get started with the check of the top stories at this hour.
In Iraq, relative calm in Fallujah, as U.S. officials and local leaders try to broker a peace deal with Iraqi insurgents. Officials want insurgents to lay down their weapons in exchange for a promise not to resume the offensive. The push toward a truce comes after Marines discovered a weapons cache of rockets, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds yesterday.

Back here on the U.S., President Bush -- a live picture there from Buffalo, New York. He is delivering a speech about the Patriot Act. Yesterday, Mr. Bush urged Congress to extend key provisions of that law set to expire next year. Some critics argue parts of the Patriot Act trample on civil liberties but supporters say it's an essential tool in the war on terrorism. Mr. Bush heads to New York City later today to attend a fundraiser.

King Abdullah of Jordan has postponed a planned meeting with Mr. Bush. Abdullah rescheduled the session to May. In a statement, the king expressed reservations about America's commitment to the Arab- Israeli conflict. Last week, President Bush endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan, which would allow Israel to pull out of Gaza and parts of the West Bank, but would keep and expand some settlements in the West Bank.

And federal officials are reviewing a plan that could ease security regulations at airports. If approved, people without tickets could once again be allowed at airport gates. Non-ticketed passengers were barred from secure areas after the September 11 attacks. The Transportation Security Administration is expected to meet with officials from Pittsburgh, from the international airport there today considering that change.

The first hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

The war on terror and a prison camp that's become a legal battleground. Live this hour, the war on terror and a prison camp that's become a legal battleground. This hour, the U.S. Supreme Court considers the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, a detention center that's encircled by razor wire and thorny legal questions as well, over the rights of enemy combatants that are being held there.

First though, the continued fallout of "Plan of Attack," that is the newly published book by Bob Woodward. He appeared last night on CNN's Larry King to soften the charge that Saudi Arabia planned to manipulate oil prices to benefit President Bush's re-election campaign. The scenario involved a longtime friend of the Bush family, Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. Prince Bandar bin Sultan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB WOODWARD, AUTHOR, "PLAN OF ATTACK": What I say in the book is according to Bandar, the Saudis hoped to control oil prices in the 10 months running up to the election, because if they skyrocketed, it would hurt the American economy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The Saudi prince also called into the program to say that Woodward's portrayal was accurate but the mutual interest is not unusual.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRINCE BANDAR BIN SULTAN, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: We hoped that oil prices would stay low because that's good for America's economy. But more important, it's good for our economy and international economy. And this is not -- nothing unusual. President Clinton asked us to keep the prices down in the year 2000. In fact, I can go back to 1979, President Carter asked us to keep the prices down to avoid the malaise. So yes, in our interest and the America's interest to keep the prices down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Another charge disputed by the White House is Woodward's suggestion that Secretary of State Powell was essentially bypassed in the administration's decision to go to war with Iraq, and that he was only told after the Saudi prince was briefed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: The question that has arisen seems to be that Prince Bandar received a briefing on the plan with some suggestion that I hadn't. Of course, I had. I was intimately familiar with the plan and I was aware that the Prince Bandar was briefed on the plan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: You might be surprised to learn that Woodward's book has received generally a positive reception at the White House. In fact, the Bush-Cheney re-election webs site has listed the book as suggested reading.

President Bush is lobbying this morning, as we mentioned, for what he says is an essential weapon in the war on terror, one that redefines the rights U.S. citizens. Mr. Bush is urging Congress to renew and revitalize the federal Patriot Act, which was first passed in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Supporters of the anti-terrorism law say that it allows easier sharing of information between law enforcement and intelligence communities. It also has expanded the use of wiretaps and search warrants. And it allows the government to track e-mail to and from suspected terrorists. President Bush has been taking his Patriot Act support on the road. Here live in Buffalo. Yesterday, he was in Pennsylvania.

Our White House correspondent Dana Bash also on the road, she joins us from our New York bureau.

Dana, good morning.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. And as you just mentioned, this speech today in Buffalo is part of an administration push this week to talk up the Patriot Act. We just went through the key provisions in the act, and as you mentioned, it was passed after 9/11. And you remember earlier this month in the 9/11 Commission hearings, we heard from administration officials and law enforcement officials saying that perhaps if they had some of these tools leading up to September 11, it would have been easier to connect the dots, as they say. Maybe try to figure out some of the ins and outs of the terror plot that led up to 9/11.

Now, just as he did in Pennsylvania, the president is today, expected to. And is at this hour, talking about the fact that he does not want Congress to let any of the provisions of the Patriot Act expire. But the reality is that none of the provisions is expected to expire until the end of 2005. More than a year and a half from now. And Congress isn't expected to take it up this year.

So you might ask why is the president and the White House making this push? Well, the reality is that Democrats on the campaign trail are already assailing this. This has become a hot, hot topic on the campaign trail. And the Republicans, and the president in particular in his campaign, want to get ahead of this. And his political advisors also say that they understand that this is a key area where it defines differences between the president and his probable opponent, Senator John Kerry. And it's also a way that they think, in the Bush campaign, that they can pinpoint that John Kerry as a flip- flopper. That is the way they've been trying to paint him because he voted for Patriot Act and now he says he wants, at least, to reform it.

Now, this is not a state, the state of New York that the president will necessarily win. His advisors don't think he's necessarily going to win it even though he just said that this might be the year in New York. The reason he is in Buffalo today is because of the so-called Lackawanna 6. That is a terror cell that law enforcement broke up. Six Yemeni-Americans pleaded guilty earlier this year -- excuse me, last year to attending terror training camps and the administration laws enforcement officials point to the Patriot Act and the new tools given to them in the Patriot Act that gave them the ability to break up the terror cell -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Dana Bash in New York City, more with you in the next hour.

The war on terror appears to be an issue that is winning support for President Bush and his re-election efforts. Let's look at the latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll numbers. Sixty-four percent thought that Mr. Bush would do a good job handling terrorism, compared to 43 percent for John Kerry. Thirty-one percent thought that Mr. Bush would not do a good job, while more than half doubted Kerry's ability. And when likely voters were asked their choice for president, 50 percent chose Mr. Bush as opposed to 44 percent for Senator Kerry. Ralph Nader drew 4 percent of support.

More now on the war on terror. And a prison camp that's become a little legal battleground, it's Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, a detention center that is encircled by razor wire and some thorny legal questions over the enemy rights of combatants held there.

Our national correspondent Bob Franken looks at the issues going before the Supreme Court.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Guantanamo Bay is a U.S. naval base but it's on Cuba soil. At issue: does the United States Supreme Court have any authority over the military's control of foreign detainees held in a foreign country?

EUGENE FIDELL, MILITARY LAW ATTORNEY: The core legal issue is one of jurisdiction in the federal courts.

FRANKEN: And not charges that the United States is mistreating more than 600 prisoners inside, what critics say is a black hole called, Camp Delta. While 130 have been released, most have been held indefinitely without charges or access to lawyers. The administration denies mistreatment. Detainees still held there want a chance to be heard in a U.S. court, saying Guantanamo is effectively under U.S. control. The justices will hear arguments in two cases brought by families of 16 Australian, British and Kuwaiti citizens being held in Guantanamo. Military officials have insisted for more than two years imprisoning them is important for interrogation purposes and safety.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: The detainees include dangerous terrorists who committed brutal acts and are sworn to go back to do it again.

FRANKEN (on camera): This is one of thee cases where the Bush administration argues that the war on terror gives the president power over enemy combatants without court limits.

(voice-over): But in this first one, the justices will decide mainly whether Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is off limits to them.

Bob Franken, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Those Guantanamo detainees are a small part of a large group of suspected terrorists being held or rounded up around the world. The latest country to nab suspects, Sweden. Yesterday in police -- police in Malmo and Stockholm arrested four people who they say have ties to Islamic extremists groups outside of Europe. Police would not say whether those arrested were planning attacks. Swedish news reports say the four are suspected of supporting Iraqi rebel attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq.

Anti-terror officials in the U.S. are going on the offense, as they look to the future and future events that could be targets for potential attacks.

For more on that, here is CNN's Jeanne Messerve.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The terrorist bombing of trains in Madrid just before the Spanish elections may have influenced the results and has certainly influenced the thinking of U.S. intelligence analysts. According to an administration official, this summer's political conventions, the election, the inaugural, as well as the G-8 summit in Georgia, which will bring together world leaders are now of more concern to security officials than other large symbolic events like the July 4 celebration on the National Mall. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice says the U.S. election cycle might prove too tempting a target for terrorists to pass up.

TOM RIDGE, DIRECTOR, DEPT. HOMELAND SECURITY: But this time, we do not obviously have specific threat information around any of these events. But ladies and gentlemen, we do have our common sense. And we don't need a change in the threat level to make us safer and more secure.

MESERVE: To improve the nation's preparation for all of the high profile events on the calendar, Ridge announced a new interagency working group to include his own department, the Department of Justice, Energy, Transportation and others. It will pay particular attention to critical infrastructures, such as chemical plants and the electrical grid. Increasing coordination with state and local governments and the private sector. Some are asking why this wasn't done sooner.

REP. CAROLYN MALONEY (D), NEW YORK: My question is what has he been doing all this time? His job is to protect the American people. I don't see how what he's proposing is any different from what he's been charged with from Day 1.

MESERVE (on camera): That's not to say the potential to attack isn't real. An intelligence intercept led to a warning to law enforcement on April 9 about possible attacks over Easter and Passover. The advisory warned of in place persons posing threats to soft targets, like shopping malls. Though the information was not specific or corroborated, it was another reminder that the nation must prepare.

Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington. (END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: The mother of Kobe Bryant's accuser speaks out. Hear what she has to say about her daughter.

And it's been five years since the massacre at Columbine shocked the nation. Coming up, we look back at what we learned.

Later, going behind the silks and splendor of horse racing. We'll tell you about a new documentary that sheds new light on the dark side of thoroughbred racing.

This is CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: In Littleton, Colorado, there is no class at Columbine High School today, but unforgettable lessons remain. Today is the fifth anniversary of the shooting rampage that left 12 students and a teacher dead, along with the teen-aged gunmen. Earlier on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," we heard from the school's only remaining administrator from that day, the principal who has spent 25 years at Columbine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRANK DEANGELIS, PRINCIPAL, COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL: I think we have policies in place now that we had in place back in '99. We had zero tolerance. But I think the major difference that I see now is we have students and parents and community members that are reporting things that they never reported.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: And now to someone who knows of the terror of that day and the pain that persists, and also how to move on with his life, Tom Mouser. His son Daniel was among those killed at Columbine. His loss has inspired a mission to renew the 1999 ban on assault weapons.

Mr. Mouser, good morning and thank you for being here with us.

TOM MOUSER, VICTIM'S FATHER: You're welcome. Thank you.

KAGAN: Of all the mornings you've had in the last five years to the day when it comes up of the anniversary, does it feel different or is it yet just another day?

MAUSER: Well, certainly there are other days: Mother's Day, Father's Day, my son's birthday, they're difficult days, too. This one, I think is more of a day for other people to remember the tragedy and is a day that we just can't wait to get through.

KAGAN: I'd like to direct people's attention to the internet site that your family has set up in honor of your son, danielmauser.com. I found it very inspirational, also very informative of how your family has dealt with this and the direction that your family has gone. First of all, the focus of the site, of course, being Daniel and celebrating the wonderful 15 years that you did have with him.

MAUSER: Yes, that was really important for us because there is so much focus in cases like this on the killers. And I've had so many people write to us through the web site saying that this really touched them, to see that these weren't just statistics, that they were real lives lost. And it's just been an inspiration for us to be able to tell that story of my son.

KAGAN: You can see a lot of pictures, you can hear a lot about his life and learn about him as a son, as a brother, as a friend. You also celebrate life that has come into your family since your son's death, and that is a new daughter. Tell us about her.

MAUSER: That's right, in 2000, we adopted a baby girl from China. We felt the time that we would have given to Daniel we could give to somebody else, who needed help because she was an abandoned child from China.

KAGAN: And Madeline is 4 years old now?

MAUSER: That's right, she's four years old.

KAGAN: Looks like quite the spitfire in the pictures that you can see on the web site.

MAUSER: Very energetic. One thing that really it was very inspirational for us was the fact that we gave her the name Madeline, and my other daughter gave that name, we're not quite sure why and she isn't sure, she just offered it. And somebody asked us after we made the adoption did you choose the name because of the letters and we didn't know what they were talking about. And they said well, if you scramble the letters in Madeline, it spells Daniel M.

KAGAN: Mm!

MAUSER: It was very eerie for us.

KAGAN: I can appreciate it.

MAUSER: It clearly was life coming out of my son's tragedy.

KAGAN: And yet, you're very clear when you talk about your family story on the website and share your daughter's picture. Madeline is not a replacement for Daniel?

MAUSER: That's right. It certainly was helpful to have the adoption be a girl rather than a boy so that we didn't have any feelings of making comparison. This is a different child. But certainly our love for her really is there because it's a way to honor Daniel.

KAGAN: And finally, you have what happened five years ago today turned you into a political activist in fighting for gun control laws. That has had some successes and some frustrations for you. MAUSER: That's right. Certainly I think we need to do much more in this country. You see that when in 2000, we put on the ballot a measure to close the gun show loophole in Colorado. And it passed when it went to a vote of the people by a vote of 70 percent to 30 percent in a conservative pro-gun western state. I really think that when you put reasonable measures out there people support them. But we haven't seen legislators and we haven't seen Congress do that. And I sure hope we see that happen this year, because otherwise the assault weapons ban will expire in September. We need Congress and President Bush to extend that ban.

KAGAN: And Mr. Mauser, what do you say to people who respect your grief, would never doubt that and take anything away from what your family has been through. But say that's one thing and people who are responsible gun owners taking away, what they believe is their gun right, is a separate issue?

MAUSER: Yes, I realize what they're saying. But I think we all have to make sacrifices. And in fact, I don't think the things that are being proposed are a great sacrifice. I have yet to have a gun owner tell me what useful purpose there is to an assault weapon. I fail to see where the great sacrifice, with the terrible inconvenience it is to go through a background check. If you're a law-abiding citizen, how are we going to know that unless we go -- unless we have people go through a background check? I don't think that's asking too much of people.

KAGAN: Will you and your family be going to the memorial service tonight at Columbine?

MAUSER: Most likely, my daughter will be. My wife and I will not. It would just be too difficult a time.

KAGAN: Well, on this very difficult day, and I know there are many, our thoughts and those of our viewers are with you and your family.

MAUSER: Oh, thank you. I appreciate it, Daryn.

KAGAN: Thank you so much. And once again, the web site, danielmauser.com if you want to see a life celebrated. Appreciate your time.

MAUSER: Thanks. You're welcome.

KAGAN: And we'll take a break. We'll be back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired April 20, 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: All right. Good morning. We are at CNN headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Daryn Kagan. And let's get started with the check of the top stories at this hour.
In Iraq, relative calm in Fallujah, as U.S. officials and local leaders try to broker a peace deal with Iraqi insurgents. Officials want insurgents to lay down their weapons in exchange for a promise not to resume the offensive. The push toward a truce comes after Marines discovered a weapons cache of rockets, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds yesterday.

Back here on the U.S., President Bush -- a live picture there from Buffalo, New York. He is delivering a speech about the Patriot Act. Yesterday, Mr. Bush urged Congress to extend key provisions of that law set to expire next year. Some critics argue parts of the Patriot Act trample on civil liberties but supporters say it's an essential tool in the war on terrorism. Mr. Bush heads to New York City later today to attend a fundraiser.

King Abdullah of Jordan has postponed a planned meeting with Mr. Bush. Abdullah rescheduled the session to May. In a statement, the king expressed reservations about America's commitment to the Arab- Israeli conflict. Last week, President Bush endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan, which would allow Israel to pull out of Gaza and parts of the West Bank, but would keep and expand some settlements in the West Bank.

And federal officials are reviewing a plan that could ease security regulations at airports. If approved, people without tickets could once again be allowed at airport gates. Non-ticketed passengers were barred from secure areas after the September 11 attacks. The Transportation Security Administration is expected to meet with officials from Pittsburgh, from the international airport there today considering that change.

The first hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

The war on terror and a prison camp that's become a legal battleground. Live this hour, the war on terror and a prison camp that's become a legal battleground. This hour, the U.S. Supreme Court considers the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, a detention center that's encircled by razor wire and thorny legal questions as well, over the rights of enemy combatants that are being held there.

First though, the continued fallout of "Plan of Attack," that is the newly published book by Bob Woodward. He appeared last night on CNN's Larry King to soften the charge that Saudi Arabia planned to manipulate oil prices to benefit President Bush's re-election campaign. The scenario involved a longtime friend of the Bush family, Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. Prince Bandar bin Sultan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB WOODWARD, AUTHOR, "PLAN OF ATTACK": What I say in the book is according to Bandar, the Saudis hoped to control oil prices in the 10 months running up to the election, because if they skyrocketed, it would hurt the American economy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The Saudi prince also called into the program to say that Woodward's portrayal was accurate but the mutual interest is not unusual.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRINCE BANDAR BIN SULTAN, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: We hoped that oil prices would stay low because that's good for America's economy. But more important, it's good for our economy and international economy. And this is not -- nothing unusual. President Clinton asked us to keep the prices down in the year 2000. In fact, I can go back to 1979, President Carter asked us to keep the prices down to avoid the malaise. So yes, in our interest and the America's interest to keep the prices down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Another charge disputed by the White House is Woodward's suggestion that Secretary of State Powell was essentially bypassed in the administration's decision to go to war with Iraq, and that he was only told after the Saudi prince was briefed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: The question that has arisen seems to be that Prince Bandar received a briefing on the plan with some suggestion that I hadn't. Of course, I had. I was intimately familiar with the plan and I was aware that the Prince Bandar was briefed on the plan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: You might be surprised to learn that Woodward's book has received generally a positive reception at the White House. In fact, the Bush-Cheney re-election webs site has listed the book as suggested reading.

President Bush is lobbying this morning, as we mentioned, for what he says is an essential weapon in the war on terror, one that redefines the rights U.S. citizens. Mr. Bush is urging Congress to renew and revitalize the federal Patriot Act, which was first passed in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Supporters of the anti-terrorism law say that it allows easier sharing of information between law enforcement and intelligence communities. It also has expanded the use of wiretaps and search warrants. And it allows the government to track e-mail to and from suspected terrorists. President Bush has been taking his Patriot Act support on the road. Here live in Buffalo. Yesterday, he was in Pennsylvania.

Our White House correspondent Dana Bash also on the road, she joins us from our New York bureau.

Dana, good morning.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. And as you just mentioned, this speech today in Buffalo is part of an administration push this week to talk up the Patriot Act. We just went through the key provisions in the act, and as you mentioned, it was passed after 9/11. And you remember earlier this month in the 9/11 Commission hearings, we heard from administration officials and law enforcement officials saying that perhaps if they had some of these tools leading up to September 11, it would have been easier to connect the dots, as they say. Maybe try to figure out some of the ins and outs of the terror plot that led up to 9/11.

Now, just as he did in Pennsylvania, the president is today, expected to. And is at this hour, talking about the fact that he does not want Congress to let any of the provisions of the Patriot Act expire. But the reality is that none of the provisions is expected to expire until the end of 2005. More than a year and a half from now. And Congress isn't expected to take it up this year.

So you might ask why is the president and the White House making this push? Well, the reality is that Democrats on the campaign trail are already assailing this. This has become a hot, hot topic on the campaign trail. And the Republicans, and the president in particular in his campaign, want to get ahead of this. And his political advisors also say that they understand that this is a key area where it defines differences between the president and his probable opponent, Senator John Kerry. And it's also a way that they think, in the Bush campaign, that they can pinpoint that John Kerry as a flip- flopper. That is the way they've been trying to paint him because he voted for Patriot Act and now he says he wants, at least, to reform it.

Now, this is not a state, the state of New York that the president will necessarily win. His advisors don't think he's necessarily going to win it even though he just said that this might be the year in New York. The reason he is in Buffalo today is because of the so-called Lackawanna 6. That is a terror cell that law enforcement broke up. Six Yemeni-Americans pleaded guilty earlier this year -- excuse me, last year to attending terror training camps and the administration laws enforcement officials point to the Patriot Act and the new tools given to them in the Patriot Act that gave them the ability to break up the terror cell -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Dana Bash in New York City, more with you in the next hour.

The war on terror appears to be an issue that is winning support for President Bush and his re-election efforts. Let's look at the latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll numbers. Sixty-four percent thought that Mr. Bush would do a good job handling terrorism, compared to 43 percent for John Kerry. Thirty-one percent thought that Mr. Bush would not do a good job, while more than half doubted Kerry's ability. And when likely voters were asked their choice for president, 50 percent chose Mr. Bush as opposed to 44 percent for Senator Kerry. Ralph Nader drew 4 percent of support.

More now on the war on terror. And a prison camp that's become a little legal battleground, it's Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, a detention center that is encircled by razor wire and some thorny legal questions over the enemy rights of combatants held there.

Our national correspondent Bob Franken looks at the issues going before the Supreme Court.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Guantanamo Bay is a U.S. naval base but it's on Cuba soil. At issue: does the United States Supreme Court have any authority over the military's control of foreign detainees held in a foreign country?

EUGENE FIDELL, MILITARY LAW ATTORNEY: The core legal issue is one of jurisdiction in the federal courts.

FRANKEN: And not charges that the United States is mistreating more than 600 prisoners inside, what critics say is a black hole called, Camp Delta. While 130 have been released, most have been held indefinitely without charges or access to lawyers. The administration denies mistreatment. Detainees still held there want a chance to be heard in a U.S. court, saying Guantanamo is effectively under U.S. control. The justices will hear arguments in two cases brought by families of 16 Australian, British and Kuwaiti citizens being held in Guantanamo. Military officials have insisted for more than two years imprisoning them is important for interrogation purposes and safety.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: The detainees include dangerous terrorists who committed brutal acts and are sworn to go back to do it again.

FRANKEN (on camera): This is one of thee cases where the Bush administration argues that the war on terror gives the president power over enemy combatants without court limits.

(voice-over): But in this first one, the justices will decide mainly whether Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is off limits to them.

Bob Franken, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Those Guantanamo detainees are a small part of a large group of suspected terrorists being held or rounded up around the world. The latest country to nab suspects, Sweden. Yesterday in police -- police in Malmo and Stockholm arrested four people who they say have ties to Islamic extremists groups outside of Europe. Police would not say whether those arrested were planning attacks. Swedish news reports say the four are suspected of supporting Iraqi rebel attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq.

Anti-terror officials in the U.S. are going on the offense, as they look to the future and future events that could be targets for potential attacks.

For more on that, here is CNN's Jeanne Messerve.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The terrorist bombing of trains in Madrid just before the Spanish elections may have influenced the results and has certainly influenced the thinking of U.S. intelligence analysts. According to an administration official, this summer's political conventions, the election, the inaugural, as well as the G-8 summit in Georgia, which will bring together world leaders are now of more concern to security officials than other large symbolic events like the July 4 celebration on the National Mall. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice says the U.S. election cycle might prove too tempting a target for terrorists to pass up.

TOM RIDGE, DIRECTOR, DEPT. HOMELAND SECURITY: But this time, we do not obviously have specific threat information around any of these events. But ladies and gentlemen, we do have our common sense. And we don't need a change in the threat level to make us safer and more secure.

MESERVE: To improve the nation's preparation for all of the high profile events on the calendar, Ridge announced a new interagency working group to include his own department, the Department of Justice, Energy, Transportation and others. It will pay particular attention to critical infrastructures, such as chemical plants and the electrical grid. Increasing coordination with state and local governments and the private sector. Some are asking why this wasn't done sooner.

REP. CAROLYN MALONEY (D), NEW YORK: My question is what has he been doing all this time? His job is to protect the American people. I don't see how what he's proposing is any different from what he's been charged with from Day 1.

MESERVE (on camera): That's not to say the potential to attack isn't real. An intelligence intercept led to a warning to law enforcement on April 9 about possible attacks over Easter and Passover. The advisory warned of in place persons posing threats to soft targets, like shopping malls. Though the information was not specific or corroborated, it was another reminder that the nation must prepare.

Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington. (END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: The mother of Kobe Bryant's accuser speaks out. Hear what she has to say about her daughter.

And it's been five years since the massacre at Columbine shocked the nation. Coming up, we look back at what we learned.

Later, going behind the silks and splendor of horse racing. We'll tell you about a new documentary that sheds new light on the dark side of thoroughbred racing.

This is CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: In Littleton, Colorado, there is no class at Columbine High School today, but unforgettable lessons remain. Today is the fifth anniversary of the shooting rampage that left 12 students and a teacher dead, along with the teen-aged gunmen. Earlier on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," we heard from the school's only remaining administrator from that day, the principal who has spent 25 years at Columbine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRANK DEANGELIS, PRINCIPAL, COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL: I think we have policies in place now that we had in place back in '99. We had zero tolerance. But I think the major difference that I see now is we have students and parents and community members that are reporting things that they never reported.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: And now to someone who knows of the terror of that day and the pain that persists, and also how to move on with his life, Tom Mouser. His son Daniel was among those killed at Columbine. His loss has inspired a mission to renew the 1999 ban on assault weapons.

Mr. Mouser, good morning and thank you for being here with us.

TOM MOUSER, VICTIM'S FATHER: You're welcome. Thank you.

KAGAN: Of all the mornings you've had in the last five years to the day when it comes up of the anniversary, does it feel different or is it yet just another day?

MAUSER: Well, certainly there are other days: Mother's Day, Father's Day, my son's birthday, they're difficult days, too. This one, I think is more of a day for other people to remember the tragedy and is a day that we just can't wait to get through.

KAGAN: I'd like to direct people's attention to the internet site that your family has set up in honor of your son, danielmauser.com. I found it very inspirational, also very informative of how your family has dealt with this and the direction that your family has gone. First of all, the focus of the site, of course, being Daniel and celebrating the wonderful 15 years that you did have with him.

MAUSER: Yes, that was really important for us because there is so much focus in cases like this on the killers. And I've had so many people write to us through the web site saying that this really touched them, to see that these weren't just statistics, that they were real lives lost. And it's just been an inspiration for us to be able to tell that story of my son.

KAGAN: You can see a lot of pictures, you can hear a lot about his life and learn about him as a son, as a brother, as a friend. You also celebrate life that has come into your family since your son's death, and that is a new daughter. Tell us about her.

MAUSER: That's right, in 2000, we adopted a baby girl from China. We felt the time that we would have given to Daniel we could give to somebody else, who needed help because she was an abandoned child from China.

KAGAN: And Madeline is 4 years old now?

MAUSER: That's right, she's four years old.

KAGAN: Looks like quite the spitfire in the pictures that you can see on the web site.

MAUSER: Very energetic. One thing that really it was very inspirational for us was the fact that we gave her the name Madeline, and my other daughter gave that name, we're not quite sure why and she isn't sure, she just offered it. And somebody asked us after we made the adoption did you choose the name because of the letters and we didn't know what they were talking about. And they said well, if you scramble the letters in Madeline, it spells Daniel M.

KAGAN: Mm!

MAUSER: It was very eerie for us.

KAGAN: I can appreciate it.

MAUSER: It clearly was life coming out of my son's tragedy.

KAGAN: And yet, you're very clear when you talk about your family story on the website and share your daughter's picture. Madeline is not a replacement for Daniel?

MAUSER: That's right. It certainly was helpful to have the adoption be a girl rather than a boy so that we didn't have any feelings of making comparison. This is a different child. But certainly our love for her really is there because it's a way to honor Daniel.

KAGAN: And finally, you have what happened five years ago today turned you into a political activist in fighting for gun control laws. That has had some successes and some frustrations for you. MAUSER: That's right. Certainly I think we need to do much more in this country. You see that when in 2000, we put on the ballot a measure to close the gun show loophole in Colorado. And it passed when it went to a vote of the people by a vote of 70 percent to 30 percent in a conservative pro-gun western state. I really think that when you put reasonable measures out there people support them. But we haven't seen legislators and we haven't seen Congress do that. And I sure hope we see that happen this year, because otherwise the assault weapons ban will expire in September. We need Congress and President Bush to extend that ban.

KAGAN: And Mr. Mauser, what do you say to people who respect your grief, would never doubt that and take anything away from what your family has been through. But say that's one thing and people who are responsible gun owners taking away, what they believe is their gun right, is a separate issue?

MAUSER: Yes, I realize what they're saying. But I think we all have to make sacrifices. And in fact, I don't think the things that are being proposed are a great sacrifice. I have yet to have a gun owner tell me what useful purpose there is to an assault weapon. I fail to see where the great sacrifice, with the terrible inconvenience it is to go through a background check. If you're a law-abiding citizen, how are we going to know that unless we go -- unless we have people go through a background check? I don't think that's asking too much of people.

KAGAN: Will you and your family be going to the memorial service tonight at Columbine?

MAUSER: Most likely, my daughter will be. My wife and I will not. It would just be too difficult a time.

KAGAN: Well, on this very difficult day, and I know there are many, our thoughts and those of our viewers are with you and your family.

MAUSER: Oh, thank you. I appreciate it, Daryn.

KAGAN: Thank you so much. And once again, the web site, danielmauser.com if you want to see a life celebrated. Appreciate your time.

MAUSER: Thanks. You're welcome.

KAGAN: And we'll take a break. We'll be back after this.

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