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American Morning
FBI Task Force Being Created to Deal With Perceived Threat Posed to American Targets Over Next Few Months
Aired May 27, 2004 - 09:00 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's take a look at what's going on. The attorney general say that intelligence shows al Qaeda has plans to, quote, "hit the U.S. hard in the next few months." We're talking about the warnings and the response for the former FBI special agent and terrorism expert.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Also this morning, Senator John Kerry making national security the focus of his campaign over the next 11 days or so. Can he take the upper hand with that issue? We'll talk to political analyst Ron Brownstein ahead.
COOPER: Also a story of fate bringing a family together. We're going to look at one of those amazing coincidences that brought these tow, a sister and her long-lost brother together. We'll talk to them coming up.
O'BRIEN: Jack Cafferty's with us. hello.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: How you doing, Soledad? If he go on a diet and it doesn't work should you be able to sue the diet? There is a story in "The New York Times" about a guy who went on the Atkins diet, didn't like the result and is now taking the diet itself to court. AM@cnn.com if you have thoughts on this topic.
O'BRIEN: Jack, thanks very much.
Here's a question for you: the terrorist threat. A new FBI task force being created to deal specifically with that perceived threat posed to American targets over the next few months. The nation's top law enforcement officials including Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller held a news conference yesterday. They said intelligence does not point to a specific attack plan.
But Ashcroft spoke in tough terms about the challenge being challenged by Osama bin Laden's operatives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Credible intelligence from multiple sources indicates that al Qaeda attempts to plan an attack on the United States in the next few months. This disturbing intelligence indicates al Qaeda's specific intention to hit the United States hard.
(END VIDEO CLIP) O'BRIEN: Officials are seeking the public's help in locating seven people said to be associate to al Qaeda. Six of the seven pictures had been previously released. Ashcroft said all pose a clear and present danger and should be considered armed and dangerous.
So just how much can law enforcement -- how many help can they expect from the public in tracking down suspected al Qaeda operative? Don Clark is a terrorism expert. He's also a former FBI special agent. He joins us from Houston this morning. Mr. Clark, good morning. Nice to see you again and thanks for being with us.
DON CLARK, FRM. FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Good morning, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: These pictures. Why release them now? As we mentioned, six of them really have been released before. And why are they being made public in this particular kind of way?
CLARK: Well, I think, Soledad, the key is right now is that since the information has come out, that there's likely to be a terrorist attack, there's a lot of chatter about a terrorist attack. Then this is just another investigative tool and technique used to try and find and locate all of those people that there are suspicions about.
And I suspect that with these seven people being highlighted so, that there's a tremendous amount of investigation circling around the community that says that there may be some involvement of these people.
O'BRIEN: The photos then, do you think that that means that there's information that they actually are terrorists? Or do you think it's sort of people we want to interview, people we're interested in finding out where they are?
CLARK: If you're on the outside looking in, I'm going to say that probably that these people may be associated with a terrorist in some way. There's information that I know about at least one of the terrorists that's supposedly has a great association with one of the al Qaeda main operatives.
So that, in and of itself, gives an opportunity for great -- for us to achieve, the government to achieve great information about perhaps what al Qaeda is doing and what these people are doing.
O'BRIEN: As you know better than anybody else, a lot of times, the pictures, though, especially since they're old pictures, don't necessarily match the person. I mean you really see that once a suspect is apprehended.
For example, if you take a look at Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the picture that they were showing when they were looking at for him and the picture that they showed when they actually captured him, they didn't look anything alike.
CLARK: You're absolutely right, Soledad. And I always consider putting the pictures out there as almost like playing the lottery. Maybe you'll get a hit.
But I think what people have to realize about these pictures is that hopefully -- and the law enforcement community will realize this -- that hopefully someone who knew that person as they appear on the picture now may recognize that that's a person that I knew five years ago that looked like that. And that might be where they're getting their hit from.
O'BRIEN: The photos were released? And then what happens? Do they go to airports and train stations and things like that so people who are at those crucial check points have can have their memories jogged? I mean is that at all realistic?
CLARK: You know, Soledad, in the old days they really went on the post office wall, and that's about the extent of. Today, there are all types of mediums to put this out. No. 1, the Internet is available. As we log on right now, you're going to find those pictures on the Internet.
And certainly they're going to be at airports, they're going to be out to all of the law enforcement entities. And I suggest that almost every patrol car that's going to be moving around in this country will have a copy of those seven pictures.
So they have a large medium now, much larger than when I was in that they can put these out and broadcast them to the people and to the law enforcement entities who are really going to be the ones that's probably going to put their hands on them.
O'BRIEN: Give me a percentage. What are the chances that those photos are going to be used to capture these guys and women?
CLARK: I think they'll find them. Now, whether or not the photos will be the key to finding them, but I certainly think that getting the photos out and getting more and more information out will assist them in locating these people, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: We will see. Don Clark is a former FBI agent joining us this morning. Nice to see you again. Thanks.
CLARK: Good to see you, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Anderson.
COOPER: Let's talk now about the politics of terror. Today Senator John Kerry kicks off his national security tour with a speech in Seattle. During the next 11 days, Senator Kerry will present his plan for keeping the homeland safe. Yesterday, he blasted the president's handling of the war on terror.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We deserve a president of the United States who doesn't make homeland security a photo opportunity and the rhetoric of a campaign. We deserve a president who makes America safer. (END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Joining us now from Washington to talk about the challenge facing the presumptive Democratic nominee, Ron Brownstein, CNN political analyst and "L.A. Times" correspondent. Good morning, Ron.
RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Anderson.
COOPER: You write a fascinating article today in today's "L.A. Times" in which you say that John Kerry faces, quote, "a stark new challenge in the campaign over Iraq." Basically saying that as President Bush has moved closer to John Kerry's position, some in the Democratic Party are moving away from it. Explain.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes, on Iraq, the central distinction that John Kerry has wanted to draw with President Bush since last fall is Kerry's argument that he would rely more on the U.N. in the political transition in Iraq and that would be the means to trigger more financial and military help from other nations.
What's happened in the last few months, President Bush has moved closer to that position by relying on the U.N. Special Enjoy Lakhdar Brahimi to name the new government, by putting forward a U.N. resolution to authorize the new government that has received generally positive response from Europe. And the basic distinction with John Kerry has been blurred.
At the same time, opinion in the Democratic Party has been moving away from where Kerry is which is maintaining our open-ended commitment in Iraq. We are seeing more Democrats talk about setting a date for withdrawing American troops. A majority of Democrats in one poll this week said that we should pull out now even if it means that civil order is not restored. A leading liberal group today will endorse setting a date.
And in all these ways, Kerry is drifting back to the position that caused them so much trouble during the primaries, Anderson. He is out of sync with where the current Democratic opinion is among his base on Iraq.
COOPER: So far John Kerry has largely stayed on the sidelines, not really putting Iraq in the forefront in terms of what he is speaking about. Even in the next 11 days where hear he's going to be talking on national security and foreign policy, he's apparently not going to be marking down his positions on Iraq. Obviously, it's a conscious strategy. Is it a winning strategy?
BROWNSTEIN: I think it's a reflection of the squeeze that I'm talking about here. President Bush has narrowed the policy difference. You saw in the reaction to the speech on Monday night from Kerry and the other Democrats, they argued not so much that the policy was misguided that the president laid out, but they questioned whether he had the international credibility to pursue it.
They don't want to go to his left on Iraq very far. They believe that in the end the threshold for winning the Oval Office is convincing Americans that you can be as tough as effective as the president in keeping the nation secure. They are reluctant to give in, in effect, to the anti-war sentiment that is developing in the Democratic Party.
But this is going to be the pressure over the rest of the campaign. On the one hand his party is moving toward a more resolute anti-war position. On the other he does not really want to give Bush an opening by going very far in that direction. So I think he's going to be pressured, cross-pressured if you will, all the way through November.
COOPER: Someone who is talking about Iraq, former Vice President Al Gore yesterday making a speech a lot of people are talking about. Let's show part of what he said yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AL GORE, FRM. VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: How dare they subject us to such dishonor and disgrace! How dare they drag the good name of the United States of America through the mud of Saddam Hussein's torture prison!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: It's the new fired up Al Gore. Does that help or hurt John Kerry?
BROWNSTEIN: Is Al Gore becoming the Democratic id? Just sort of walking on -- each one of these speeches is more vitriolic than the last.
I think, first of all, it reflects what is becoming the sentiment in the Democratic Party that Kerry is -- you know, is tugging at Kerry. I think there is an audience among his base voters for a more unequivocal denunciation of President Bush's course in Iraq than Kerry is providing. That will be an issue as we go forward.
I think it probably helps moderate Kerry by comparison in terms of swing voters. And it really is a visible reflection of the path not taken. I mean this is what John Kerry is not doing. No nominee, perhaps, would go as far as Al Gore is going.
But you can see by the contrast the strategy Kerry chosen cannot really move very far to Bush's left on Iraq now as Bush has, in fairness, moved in Kerry's direction over the last six or eight months.
COOPER: Ron Brownstein, thanks for being on the program again. A fascinating article in today's "L.A. Times." Thanks very much, Ron.
BROWNSTEIN: Thank you, Anderson.
O'BRIEN: One of the high-profile events named by officials a as the possible terrorist target is the up coming G-8 Summits. The National Guard now has about 80 air defense around the Sea Island, Georgia area. And that is where President Bush and other world leaders will meet on beginning on June 8. The no-fly zone will be established over the summit site. And the nearby waterways will be closed in the day before the meeting gets underway.
Also we could learn today when Kobe Bryant will go on trial in his sexual assault case. The Los Angeles Lakers star will attend a pretrial hearing this morning in Colorado.
Defense attorneys are expected to seek expert testimony from a veteran detective who could criticize the investigation of the alleged crime scene. That same detective testified in the O.J. Simpson case.
Bryant is expected to be back in L.A. tonight for a playoff game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
COOPER: Soledad, now an incredible story involving family and a twist of fate. Fifty-seven-year-old Kathleen Spence cares for the developmentally disabled in Michigan.
Earlier this month on Mother's Day she learned that one of the men she had been helping for the past six months was actually her half brother. John Devitt actually is one of eight siblings she has scattered across the country. Kathleen discovered that four years ago, after a reunion with her own father who she had been told was dead.
It's an amazing story. Hollywood may soon come calling for this story. Right now, Kathleen Spence and John Devitt are with us from Farmington Hills, Michigan. John and Kathleen, thanks for being a on the program this morning.
KATHLEEN SPENCE, FOUND LONG-LOST BROTHER: Thank you.
JOHN DEVITT, KATHLEEN'S BROTHER: Thank you.
COOPER: Kathleen, you were working as a caregiver to John and several other men for several months. You had no idea he was actually your half brother. What got you suspicious?
SPENCE: When I first read an article that they have on their wall about their work, they work at Farmer Jack's. And I saw his last name, but we kind of joked about it and said maybe we're cousins and just sort of laughed it off.
And then on Mother's Day, I called my stepmom, which is John's mother, and we were talking about the Special Olympics the day before. And when I told her John's name, she said, "That's my son!"
COOPER: Kathleen, how did you break the news to John?
SPENCE: His provider checked with the case worker and stuff to make sure everything was going to be all right. And we went to the Big Boy and sat down and told him. And I showed him the picture of my dad and I that we had taken when I was there four years ago and told him that it was his father, too.
COOPER: Now, John...
SPENCE: He said, "Cool."
COOPER: John, when you saw that photo were you happy?
DEVITT: Yes. I'm very happy.
COOPER: How does it feel to know you have a sister, to know that Kathleen is your sister?
DEVITT: Pretty good.
COOPER: I can imagine it does. Kathleen, what does it mean to you to have not only John but all of these siblings really scattered across the United States?
SPENCE: Well, I always thought it was nice to have them, but the expense of traveling is a little hard. So I didn't actually get to see any of them, except for the sister, Marie, that was -- when we went to see Dad. And to have John just practically be put in my lap was wonderful!
COOPER: Kathleen, you had been told that your father had actually passed away. It was only after your own mom passed away that you learned that he hadn't. You had a reunion, that's how you met, obviously, his wife, your stepmom. But why hasn't John had contact with her?
SPENCE: They didn't know for sure where he was.
COOPER: It's just a remarkable story. Kathleen Spence, John Devitt, thanks very much for being on the program this morning.
SPENCE: Thank you for having us.
DEVITT: You're welcome.
COOPER: OK, thanks very much.
It is about 13 minutes past the hour. Time for a look at some of today's other news with Heidi Collins -- Heidi.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Anderson.
Britain is sending extra troops to Iraq in response to requests from commanders on the ground. The deployment of nearly 400 troops will boost the number of British forces in Iraq to 8,900. The increase in troop strength was announced today by British Foreign Secretary Geoff Hoon. There had been some rumors that as many as 3,000 more reinforcements would be sent to the region.
Controversy surrounds a potential truce offer in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf. Radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr says he'll withdraw his militia in exchange for a pull back in the city. The offer was announced by Iraq's national security adviser, but coalition officials say nothing is agreed upon at this time. Rescue workers still trying to get a handle of the devastation in the flood ravaged Caribbean. According to the Associated Press, about 950 people have died in the floods and up to 1,000 more are missing and feared dead. The mud and landslides triggered from the floods have wiped out villages across Dominican Republic and Haiti.
A handful of Indiana high school students are pushing the boundaries of fuel efficiency. Their car design earned first place in a statewide fuel efficient car contest. It took them about two years to make, but now this car right here goes about 30 miles per hour and gets more than 2,400 miles to the gallon.
And in case you haven't heard it, there's a new "American Idol." Fantasia Barrino was announced as the winner on the Fox TV show last night. The 19-year-old single mom from North Carolina beat Diana DeGarmo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN SEACREST, "AMERICAN IDOL": And the winner of "American Idol" 2004 is Fantasia Barrino.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: I thought she was going to break Diana in half there with that hug. And check out the scene in Fantasia's Hometown of High Point, North Carolina. A psyched up crowd there. Her fans went wild. About 8 thousand of them in fact gathered to cheer her on.
And nobody is talking about this story today, at all! Right?
COOPER: Especially -- well Jack Cafferty, his voice is hoarse. He was screaming...
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: Can you imagine Jack Cafferty watching "American Idol" screaming?
O'BRIEN: She was robbed!
CAFFERTY: No. I can't even imagine that.
O'BRIEN: All right, how about just the "Question of the Day" then?
CAFFERTY: OK, we can do that. Fifty-three-year-old man suing the estate of Dr. Atkins and the company for $28,000. Story in "The New York Times" this morning. Jody Gorran says that after following the Atkins diet for a couple of years, his cholesterol levels went up, his arteries became clogged and he required a procedure to open them.
A representative for Atkins Nutritionals told the "Times" they stand by the science of their diet. So we asked this morning should you be able to sue your diet? If you go on a diet, it doesn't work, can you take them to court. Kate in Lakeside, North Carolina says, "There's such a thing as common sense. Anyone with a grain of intelligence should be able to see that eating a diet full of meat and dairy products will cause their cholesterol to rise."
Rick in New York: "I dieted in three weeks by eliminating carbs. I lost 20 pounds and my cholesterol dropped 70 points. I think this guy should review his science before bringing a frivolous lawsuit or maybe he should get a life and take responsibility for it."
Greg writes, "Easy solution. Anyone should be allowed anyone for anything. But if you lose, the lawyer gets shot."
Here, I'll take. There you go. Thank you.
And finally, Guy in Atlanta, Georgia says, "Jack, today's question is pretty lame. I'm going back to sleep unless you host '90- Second Pop.' Now that would be exciting."
O'BRIEN: That would be exciting.
CAFFERTY: Ain't going to happen.
COOPER: We're going to talk to that guy on my program tonight.
(CROSSTALK)
CAFFERTY: "ANDERSON COOPER 360." What time is that show on?
COOPER: 7:00 p.m. Eastern!
CAFFERTY: 7:00 Eastern!
O'BRIEN: He doesn't like to gratuitously plug his show so it's kind of awkward.
CAFFERTY: Well then I'll do. Watch "ANDERSON COOPER 360" at 7:00 Eastern time. It is fine program.
(CROSSTALK)
CAFFERTY: And you got nothing else going on anyway, so tune in and get yourself educated about the situation in the world out there.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Jack.
COOPER: Thank you, Jack.
O'BRIEN: In the Midwest, communities north of Chicago may have seen the worst of recent flooding. The Illinois governor has issued a disaster declaration from flooded communities, but already flood waters are starting to recede and the residents are hoping that some expected good weather will help them. Keith Oppenheim is live for us this morning in Gurnee, Illinois. Hey, Keith. Good morning again.
KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad. And it's going to be a big cleanup as you can see. This is the Gurnee community church with it's sign showing they're taking things in stride. "We got (UNINTELLIGIBLE) like a river." And as we move off here you can see that it is a virtual lake around this church.
Let's go to another live camera and you can see what some of the businesses have done. They've sandbagged. There are about 25 businesses and nearly 40 homes which have been seriously damaged by the floods. The governor of Illinois declared a state emergency for parts of a couple of counties.
As we look on over to another building, you can see that the water line on the concrete on the side of the building shows that the water is receding. And back where I am, although it's not tough to find water to wade in, the good news is that you can go to the street. And yesterday, this spot right here was filled with water. And over here, you can see that the street cleaning crews are already busy at work.
So the process of recovery is beginning. Only problem really now is downstream in Des Plain the water is still going to crest at nine feet tomorrow morning. That's a few feet above flood stage, but it's not as bad as they thought it was going to be.
O'BRIEN: Good to see some improvement there. Keith, thanks a lot.
(WEATHER UPDATE)
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: No, you go ahead!
O'BRIEN: Sorry. Still to come this morning, warnings about a serious story really. Potential terror attacks this summer coming from U.S. officials. Why is the government asking for help? We got details on that just ahead.
COOPER: And I'll go now. Nine weeks after the selection process began, could a jury soon be in place in the Scott Peterson case? That is ahead.
O'BRIEN: Also, after thinking it over, John Kerry decides not to put things off. We'll explain on AMERICAN MORNING. We're back right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Comedian Bill Cosby's remarks about low-income African- Americans failing themselves caused instant outrage when he made them at Howard University last week. But as CNN's Tom Foreman reports, Mr. Cosby is not backing down.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Cosby came to public television to explain why he is speaking out against problems in the black community.
BILL COSBY, COMEDIAN: You can't just blame white people for this, man. You can't. Whether I'm right wing or left, some people are not parenting.
FOREMAN: Back in Washington, D.C., the switchboard is still lighting up at radio station WOL every time they air the speech Cosby made, which started this controversy.
COSBY: Lower economic and lower middle economic people are not holding up to their end in this deal.
FOREMAN: The comedian said those words during a fund-raiser for Howard University and went on to attack African-Americans who waste money, who use improper English, who are single parents.
COSBY: No longer is a person embarrassed because they are pregnant without a husband. No longer is a boy considered an embarrassment if he tries to run away from being the father.
FOREMAN: Cosby's comments were spurred when a 12-year-old Washington girl was injured by a stray bullet from a gun fight. The police chief criticized the culture of violence. Cosby went after the families of young men who wind up being arrested.
COSBY: Where were you when he was 2? Where were you when he was 12? And how come you don't know he had a pistol?
FOREMAN (on camera): Cosby has angered some African-Americans, despite many years of fund-raising and activism in the black community.
(voice over): But if they are waiting for an apology...
COSBY: For God's sake, turn around and let's have some meetings and say, brother, let me explain to you.
FOREMAN: ... he is making it clear they can keep waiting.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Bill Cosby's comments have been the subject of editorials from coast-to-coast.
COOPER: Still to come, John Kerry has a decision about what's going to happen at the convention this summer. We'll have that. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
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Aired May 27, 2004 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's take a look at what's going on. The attorney general say that intelligence shows al Qaeda has plans to, quote, "hit the U.S. hard in the next few months." We're talking about the warnings and the response for the former FBI special agent and terrorism expert.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Also this morning, Senator John Kerry making national security the focus of his campaign over the next 11 days or so. Can he take the upper hand with that issue? We'll talk to political analyst Ron Brownstein ahead.
COOPER: Also a story of fate bringing a family together. We're going to look at one of those amazing coincidences that brought these tow, a sister and her long-lost brother together. We'll talk to them coming up.
O'BRIEN: Jack Cafferty's with us. hello.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: How you doing, Soledad? If he go on a diet and it doesn't work should you be able to sue the diet? There is a story in "The New York Times" about a guy who went on the Atkins diet, didn't like the result and is now taking the diet itself to court. AM@cnn.com if you have thoughts on this topic.
O'BRIEN: Jack, thanks very much.
Here's a question for you: the terrorist threat. A new FBI task force being created to deal specifically with that perceived threat posed to American targets over the next few months. The nation's top law enforcement officials including Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller held a news conference yesterday. They said intelligence does not point to a specific attack plan.
But Ashcroft spoke in tough terms about the challenge being challenged by Osama bin Laden's operatives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Credible intelligence from multiple sources indicates that al Qaeda attempts to plan an attack on the United States in the next few months. This disturbing intelligence indicates al Qaeda's specific intention to hit the United States hard.
(END VIDEO CLIP) O'BRIEN: Officials are seeking the public's help in locating seven people said to be associate to al Qaeda. Six of the seven pictures had been previously released. Ashcroft said all pose a clear and present danger and should be considered armed and dangerous.
So just how much can law enforcement -- how many help can they expect from the public in tracking down suspected al Qaeda operative? Don Clark is a terrorism expert. He's also a former FBI special agent. He joins us from Houston this morning. Mr. Clark, good morning. Nice to see you again and thanks for being with us.
DON CLARK, FRM. FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Good morning, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: These pictures. Why release them now? As we mentioned, six of them really have been released before. And why are they being made public in this particular kind of way?
CLARK: Well, I think, Soledad, the key is right now is that since the information has come out, that there's likely to be a terrorist attack, there's a lot of chatter about a terrorist attack. Then this is just another investigative tool and technique used to try and find and locate all of those people that there are suspicions about.
And I suspect that with these seven people being highlighted so, that there's a tremendous amount of investigation circling around the community that says that there may be some involvement of these people.
O'BRIEN: The photos then, do you think that that means that there's information that they actually are terrorists? Or do you think it's sort of people we want to interview, people we're interested in finding out where they are?
CLARK: If you're on the outside looking in, I'm going to say that probably that these people may be associated with a terrorist in some way. There's information that I know about at least one of the terrorists that's supposedly has a great association with one of the al Qaeda main operatives.
So that, in and of itself, gives an opportunity for great -- for us to achieve, the government to achieve great information about perhaps what al Qaeda is doing and what these people are doing.
O'BRIEN: As you know better than anybody else, a lot of times, the pictures, though, especially since they're old pictures, don't necessarily match the person. I mean you really see that once a suspect is apprehended.
For example, if you take a look at Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the picture that they were showing when they were looking at for him and the picture that they showed when they actually captured him, they didn't look anything alike.
CLARK: You're absolutely right, Soledad. And I always consider putting the pictures out there as almost like playing the lottery. Maybe you'll get a hit.
But I think what people have to realize about these pictures is that hopefully -- and the law enforcement community will realize this -- that hopefully someone who knew that person as they appear on the picture now may recognize that that's a person that I knew five years ago that looked like that. And that might be where they're getting their hit from.
O'BRIEN: The photos were released? And then what happens? Do they go to airports and train stations and things like that so people who are at those crucial check points have can have their memories jogged? I mean is that at all realistic?
CLARK: You know, Soledad, in the old days they really went on the post office wall, and that's about the extent of. Today, there are all types of mediums to put this out. No. 1, the Internet is available. As we log on right now, you're going to find those pictures on the Internet.
And certainly they're going to be at airports, they're going to be out to all of the law enforcement entities. And I suggest that almost every patrol car that's going to be moving around in this country will have a copy of those seven pictures.
So they have a large medium now, much larger than when I was in that they can put these out and broadcast them to the people and to the law enforcement entities who are really going to be the ones that's probably going to put their hands on them.
O'BRIEN: Give me a percentage. What are the chances that those photos are going to be used to capture these guys and women?
CLARK: I think they'll find them. Now, whether or not the photos will be the key to finding them, but I certainly think that getting the photos out and getting more and more information out will assist them in locating these people, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: We will see. Don Clark is a former FBI agent joining us this morning. Nice to see you again. Thanks.
CLARK: Good to see you, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Anderson.
COOPER: Let's talk now about the politics of terror. Today Senator John Kerry kicks off his national security tour with a speech in Seattle. During the next 11 days, Senator Kerry will present his plan for keeping the homeland safe. Yesterday, he blasted the president's handling of the war on terror.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We deserve a president of the United States who doesn't make homeland security a photo opportunity and the rhetoric of a campaign. We deserve a president who makes America safer. (END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Joining us now from Washington to talk about the challenge facing the presumptive Democratic nominee, Ron Brownstein, CNN political analyst and "L.A. Times" correspondent. Good morning, Ron.
RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Anderson.
COOPER: You write a fascinating article today in today's "L.A. Times" in which you say that John Kerry faces, quote, "a stark new challenge in the campaign over Iraq." Basically saying that as President Bush has moved closer to John Kerry's position, some in the Democratic Party are moving away from it. Explain.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes, on Iraq, the central distinction that John Kerry has wanted to draw with President Bush since last fall is Kerry's argument that he would rely more on the U.N. in the political transition in Iraq and that would be the means to trigger more financial and military help from other nations.
What's happened in the last few months, President Bush has moved closer to that position by relying on the U.N. Special Enjoy Lakhdar Brahimi to name the new government, by putting forward a U.N. resolution to authorize the new government that has received generally positive response from Europe. And the basic distinction with John Kerry has been blurred.
At the same time, opinion in the Democratic Party has been moving away from where Kerry is which is maintaining our open-ended commitment in Iraq. We are seeing more Democrats talk about setting a date for withdrawing American troops. A majority of Democrats in one poll this week said that we should pull out now even if it means that civil order is not restored. A leading liberal group today will endorse setting a date.
And in all these ways, Kerry is drifting back to the position that caused them so much trouble during the primaries, Anderson. He is out of sync with where the current Democratic opinion is among his base on Iraq.
COOPER: So far John Kerry has largely stayed on the sidelines, not really putting Iraq in the forefront in terms of what he is speaking about. Even in the next 11 days where hear he's going to be talking on national security and foreign policy, he's apparently not going to be marking down his positions on Iraq. Obviously, it's a conscious strategy. Is it a winning strategy?
BROWNSTEIN: I think it's a reflection of the squeeze that I'm talking about here. President Bush has narrowed the policy difference. You saw in the reaction to the speech on Monday night from Kerry and the other Democrats, they argued not so much that the policy was misguided that the president laid out, but they questioned whether he had the international credibility to pursue it.
They don't want to go to his left on Iraq very far. They believe that in the end the threshold for winning the Oval Office is convincing Americans that you can be as tough as effective as the president in keeping the nation secure. They are reluctant to give in, in effect, to the anti-war sentiment that is developing in the Democratic Party.
But this is going to be the pressure over the rest of the campaign. On the one hand his party is moving toward a more resolute anti-war position. On the other he does not really want to give Bush an opening by going very far in that direction. So I think he's going to be pressured, cross-pressured if you will, all the way through November.
COOPER: Someone who is talking about Iraq, former Vice President Al Gore yesterday making a speech a lot of people are talking about. Let's show part of what he said yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AL GORE, FRM. VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: How dare they subject us to such dishonor and disgrace! How dare they drag the good name of the United States of America through the mud of Saddam Hussein's torture prison!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: It's the new fired up Al Gore. Does that help or hurt John Kerry?
BROWNSTEIN: Is Al Gore becoming the Democratic id? Just sort of walking on -- each one of these speeches is more vitriolic than the last.
I think, first of all, it reflects what is becoming the sentiment in the Democratic Party that Kerry is -- you know, is tugging at Kerry. I think there is an audience among his base voters for a more unequivocal denunciation of President Bush's course in Iraq than Kerry is providing. That will be an issue as we go forward.
I think it probably helps moderate Kerry by comparison in terms of swing voters. And it really is a visible reflection of the path not taken. I mean this is what John Kerry is not doing. No nominee, perhaps, would go as far as Al Gore is going.
But you can see by the contrast the strategy Kerry chosen cannot really move very far to Bush's left on Iraq now as Bush has, in fairness, moved in Kerry's direction over the last six or eight months.
COOPER: Ron Brownstein, thanks for being on the program again. A fascinating article in today's "L.A. Times." Thanks very much, Ron.
BROWNSTEIN: Thank you, Anderson.
O'BRIEN: One of the high-profile events named by officials a as the possible terrorist target is the up coming G-8 Summits. The National Guard now has about 80 air defense around the Sea Island, Georgia area. And that is where President Bush and other world leaders will meet on beginning on June 8. The no-fly zone will be established over the summit site. And the nearby waterways will be closed in the day before the meeting gets underway.
Also we could learn today when Kobe Bryant will go on trial in his sexual assault case. The Los Angeles Lakers star will attend a pretrial hearing this morning in Colorado.
Defense attorneys are expected to seek expert testimony from a veteran detective who could criticize the investigation of the alleged crime scene. That same detective testified in the O.J. Simpson case.
Bryant is expected to be back in L.A. tonight for a playoff game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
COOPER: Soledad, now an incredible story involving family and a twist of fate. Fifty-seven-year-old Kathleen Spence cares for the developmentally disabled in Michigan.
Earlier this month on Mother's Day she learned that one of the men she had been helping for the past six months was actually her half brother. John Devitt actually is one of eight siblings she has scattered across the country. Kathleen discovered that four years ago, after a reunion with her own father who she had been told was dead.
It's an amazing story. Hollywood may soon come calling for this story. Right now, Kathleen Spence and John Devitt are with us from Farmington Hills, Michigan. John and Kathleen, thanks for being a on the program this morning.
KATHLEEN SPENCE, FOUND LONG-LOST BROTHER: Thank you.
JOHN DEVITT, KATHLEEN'S BROTHER: Thank you.
COOPER: Kathleen, you were working as a caregiver to John and several other men for several months. You had no idea he was actually your half brother. What got you suspicious?
SPENCE: When I first read an article that they have on their wall about their work, they work at Farmer Jack's. And I saw his last name, but we kind of joked about it and said maybe we're cousins and just sort of laughed it off.
And then on Mother's Day, I called my stepmom, which is John's mother, and we were talking about the Special Olympics the day before. And when I told her John's name, she said, "That's my son!"
COOPER: Kathleen, how did you break the news to John?
SPENCE: His provider checked with the case worker and stuff to make sure everything was going to be all right. And we went to the Big Boy and sat down and told him. And I showed him the picture of my dad and I that we had taken when I was there four years ago and told him that it was his father, too.
COOPER: Now, John...
SPENCE: He said, "Cool."
COOPER: John, when you saw that photo were you happy?
DEVITT: Yes. I'm very happy.
COOPER: How does it feel to know you have a sister, to know that Kathleen is your sister?
DEVITT: Pretty good.
COOPER: I can imagine it does. Kathleen, what does it mean to you to have not only John but all of these siblings really scattered across the United States?
SPENCE: Well, I always thought it was nice to have them, but the expense of traveling is a little hard. So I didn't actually get to see any of them, except for the sister, Marie, that was -- when we went to see Dad. And to have John just practically be put in my lap was wonderful!
COOPER: Kathleen, you had been told that your father had actually passed away. It was only after your own mom passed away that you learned that he hadn't. You had a reunion, that's how you met, obviously, his wife, your stepmom. But why hasn't John had contact with her?
SPENCE: They didn't know for sure where he was.
COOPER: It's just a remarkable story. Kathleen Spence, John Devitt, thanks very much for being on the program this morning.
SPENCE: Thank you for having us.
DEVITT: You're welcome.
COOPER: OK, thanks very much.
It is about 13 minutes past the hour. Time for a look at some of today's other news with Heidi Collins -- Heidi.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Anderson.
Britain is sending extra troops to Iraq in response to requests from commanders on the ground. The deployment of nearly 400 troops will boost the number of British forces in Iraq to 8,900. The increase in troop strength was announced today by British Foreign Secretary Geoff Hoon. There had been some rumors that as many as 3,000 more reinforcements would be sent to the region.
Controversy surrounds a potential truce offer in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf. Radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr says he'll withdraw his militia in exchange for a pull back in the city. The offer was announced by Iraq's national security adviser, but coalition officials say nothing is agreed upon at this time. Rescue workers still trying to get a handle of the devastation in the flood ravaged Caribbean. According to the Associated Press, about 950 people have died in the floods and up to 1,000 more are missing and feared dead. The mud and landslides triggered from the floods have wiped out villages across Dominican Republic and Haiti.
A handful of Indiana high school students are pushing the boundaries of fuel efficiency. Their car design earned first place in a statewide fuel efficient car contest. It took them about two years to make, but now this car right here goes about 30 miles per hour and gets more than 2,400 miles to the gallon.
And in case you haven't heard it, there's a new "American Idol." Fantasia Barrino was announced as the winner on the Fox TV show last night. The 19-year-old single mom from North Carolina beat Diana DeGarmo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN SEACREST, "AMERICAN IDOL": And the winner of "American Idol" 2004 is Fantasia Barrino.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: I thought she was going to break Diana in half there with that hug. And check out the scene in Fantasia's Hometown of High Point, North Carolina. A psyched up crowd there. Her fans went wild. About 8 thousand of them in fact gathered to cheer her on.
And nobody is talking about this story today, at all! Right?
COOPER: Especially -- well Jack Cafferty, his voice is hoarse. He was screaming...
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: Can you imagine Jack Cafferty watching "American Idol" screaming?
O'BRIEN: She was robbed!
CAFFERTY: No. I can't even imagine that.
O'BRIEN: All right, how about just the "Question of the Day" then?
CAFFERTY: OK, we can do that. Fifty-three-year-old man suing the estate of Dr. Atkins and the company for $28,000. Story in "The New York Times" this morning. Jody Gorran says that after following the Atkins diet for a couple of years, his cholesterol levels went up, his arteries became clogged and he required a procedure to open them.
A representative for Atkins Nutritionals told the "Times" they stand by the science of their diet. So we asked this morning should you be able to sue your diet? If you go on a diet, it doesn't work, can you take them to court. Kate in Lakeside, North Carolina says, "There's such a thing as common sense. Anyone with a grain of intelligence should be able to see that eating a diet full of meat and dairy products will cause their cholesterol to rise."
Rick in New York: "I dieted in three weeks by eliminating carbs. I lost 20 pounds and my cholesterol dropped 70 points. I think this guy should review his science before bringing a frivolous lawsuit or maybe he should get a life and take responsibility for it."
Greg writes, "Easy solution. Anyone should be allowed anyone for anything. But if you lose, the lawyer gets shot."
Here, I'll take. There you go. Thank you.
And finally, Guy in Atlanta, Georgia says, "Jack, today's question is pretty lame. I'm going back to sleep unless you host '90- Second Pop.' Now that would be exciting."
O'BRIEN: That would be exciting.
CAFFERTY: Ain't going to happen.
COOPER: We're going to talk to that guy on my program tonight.
(CROSSTALK)
CAFFERTY: "ANDERSON COOPER 360." What time is that show on?
COOPER: 7:00 p.m. Eastern!
CAFFERTY: 7:00 Eastern!
O'BRIEN: He doesn't like to gratuitously plug his show so it's kind of awkward.
CAFFERTY: Well then I'll do. Watch "ANDERSON COOPER 360" at 7:00 Eastern time. It is fine program.
(CROSSTALK)
CAFFERTY: And you got nothing else going on anyway, so tune in and get yourself educated about the situation in the world out there.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Jack.
COOPER: Thank you, Jack.
O'BRIEN: In the Midwest, communities north of Chicago may have seen the worst of recent flooding. The Illinois governor has issued a disaster declaration from flooded communities, but already flood waters are starting to recede and the residents are hoping that some expected good weather will help them. Keith Oppenheim is live for us this morning in Gurnee, Illinois. Hey, Keith. Good morning again.
KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad. And it's going to be a big cleanup as you can see. This is the Gurnee community church with it's sign showing they're taking things in stride. "We got (UNINTELLIGIBLE) like a river." And as we move off here you can see that it is a virtual lake around this church.
Let's go to another live camera and you can see what some of the businesses have done. They've sandbagged. There are about 25 businesses and nearly 40 homes which have been seriously damaged by the floods. The governor of Illinois declared a state emergency for parts of a couple of counties.
As we look on over to another building, you can see that the water line on the concrete on the side of the building shows that the water is receding. And back where I am, although it's not tough to find water to wade in, the good news is that you can go to the street. And yesterday, this spot right here was filled with water. And over here, you can see that the street cleaning crews are already busy at work.
So the process of recovery is beginning. Only problem really now is downstream in Des Plain the water is still going to crest at nine feet tomorrow morning. That's a few feet above flood stage, but it's not as bad as they thought it was going to be.
O'BRIEN: Good to see some improvement there. Keith, thanks a lot.
(WEATHER UPDATE)
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: No, you go ahead!
O'BRIEN: Sorry. Still to come this morning, warnings about a serious story really. Potential terror attacks this summer coming from U.S. officials. Why is the government asking for help? We got details on that just ahead.
COOPER: And I'll go now. Nine weeks after the selection process began, could a jury soon be in place in the Scott Peterson case? That is ahead.
O'BRIEN: Also, after thinking it over, John Kerry decides not to put things off. We'll explain on AMERICAN MORNING. We're back right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Comedian Bill Cosby's remarks about low-income African- Americans failing themselves caused instant outrage when he made them at Howard University last week. But as CNN's Tom Foreman reports, Mr. Cosby is not backing down.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Cosby came to public television to explain why he is speaking out against problems in the black community.
BILL COSBY, COMEDIAN: You can't just blame white people for this, man. You can't. Whether I'm right wing or left, some people are not parenting.
FOREMAN: Back in Washington, D.C., the switchboard is still lighting up at radio station WOL every time they air the speech Cosby made, which started this controversy.
COSBY: Lower economic and lower middle economic people are not holding up to their end in this deal.
FOREMAN: The comedian said those words during a fund-raiser for Howard University and went on to attack African-Americans who waste money, who use improper English, who are single parents.
COSBY: No longer is a person embarrassed because they are pregnant without a husband. No longer is a boy considered an embarrassment if he tries to run away from being the father.
FOREMAN: Cosby's comments were spurred when a 12-year-old Washington girl was injured by a stray bullet from a gun fight. The police chief criticized the culture of violence. Cosby went after the families of young men who wind up being arrested.
COSBY: Where were you when he was 2? Where were you when he was 12? And how come you don't know he had a pistol?
FOREMAN (on camera): Cosby has angered some African-Americans, despite many years of fund-raising and activism in the black community.
(voice over): But if they are waiting for an apology...
COSBY: For God's sake, turn around and let's have some meetings and say, brother, let me explain to you.
FOREMAN: ... he is making it clear they can keep waiting.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Bill Cosby's comments have been the subject of editorials from coast-to-coast.
COOPER: Still to come, John Kerry has a decision about what's going to happen at the convention this summer. We'll have that. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
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