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American Morning

Final Public Hearing in 9/11 Investigation Today; Steroid Scandal

Aired June 17, 2004 - 07:30   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.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome, everybody. Half past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING. Some of the news making headlines right now.
Lots of information is expected this morning in the last of the 9/11 hearings, possibly clearing up some of the mystery over how the military responded to the attacks. Barbara Starr has been following this, and she's going to report for us in just a few moments.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Also this hour, U.S. Olympic champ Marion Jones is stepping up her battle with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. She is demanding a public hearing, and we'll hear about her situation and talk to some of her lawyers in a moment that may keep her out of the games in Athens come mid-August. And those games are shaping up to be a lot of news for a sports event already.

O'BRIEN: Yes, no question.

Also this morning, the National Rifle Association is speaking out this political season, not by purchasing campaign ads, but by starting its own radio show. Is the organization breaking the rules? We'll take a look at that ahead.

HEMMER: Also, some of the more intriguing elements that came out of yesterday's hearing. So many headlines...

O'BRIEN: And there were many.

HEMMER: So many headlines, you're right. One of the original justifications for war in Iraq has been discredited by the 9/11 Commission. The panel investigating the attacks is holding the final public hearing today in Washington.

The commission has not found -- quote -- "credible evidence that Iraq was involved in 9/11." Although Osama bin Laden did reach out to Saddam Hussein at one point, there is no apparent collaborative relationship between the two.

Today, day two, the commission will focus on military readiness in the air, or lack of it back on 9/11.

Barbara Starr is now live in D.C. with more at the Pentagon.

Barbara -- good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.

Well, expect plenty of headlines again today as the commission confronts the question of just how prepared the FAA and the United States were on the morning of September 11.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STARR (voice over): The final day of hearings will focus on the skies. The Federal Aviation Administration stunned by four simultaneous hijackings. The U.S. military struggling to defend the country unprepared to shoot down passenger planes.

The commission will release animations like this, re-creating flight patterns and audio recordings of conversations by FAA officials, showing confusion and uncertainty in the initial moments. The FAA warning to NORAD that something was wrong was just too late. Air Force F-15 and F-16 fighters armed with air-to-air missiles were not able to intercept the hijacked planes.

In the Pentagon's National Military Command Center, officials would get word from Vice President Dick Cheney that the military was authorized to shoot down the hijacked planes, but by that time all four planes had crashed.

There have been improvements. The FAA and NORAD now in constant communication, ready to act on a moment's notice. New classified rules of engagement on who can authorize a shoot down if the president cannot be reached in time.

But General Ralph Eberhart, NORAD's commander will note that on 9/11, the nation's air defense system simply was not prepared to deal with a terrorist attack.

JOHN LEHMAN, 9/11 COMMISSION MEMBER: Obviously, nobody expected an attack like the one that took place, but the FAA and NORAD train and exercise for all sorts of scenarios.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: And, Bill, expect to see the commission get testimony today about new timelines, new information about just how quickly or not the U.S. military was able to respond that morning -- Bill.

HEMMER: And if today is anything like yesterday, it will be another captivating day. We'll watch it. Thanks, Barbara Starr at the Pentagon -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: She's a world champion sprinter, but right now Marion Jones is in a race to clear her name. A steroid scandal could keep her from competing at the summer Olympics in Athens. Jones says she has never used performance-enhancing drugs, and is demanding that any evidence against her be made public.

At a news conference yesterday she delivered a message that those investigating her put up or shut up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARION JONES, OLYMPICS ATHLETE: I'm not going to engage in USADA's secret kangaroo court. I will answer USADA's questions in a public forum that will be open for the entire world to see here and evaluate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Earlier this morning, I spoke with Marion Jones's attorneys, Rich Nichols and Joe Burton, first asking Mr. Nichols in what public forum Marion Jones wants to make her case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICH NICHOLS, ATTORNEY FOR MARION JONES: I guess the most opportune place would be the U.S. Senate now, and we would like to have a public forum that would be tantamount to a judicial proceeding where she could testify under oath and answer all of USADA's questions, now for the third time, under oath in public so that the public can see and hear her answer the questions. And so that the public can also get a chance to look at the lack of information and/or evidence that USADA has as they try to pursue this investigation.

O'BRIEN: Mr. Burton, one of the things that Marion Jones has said is that she has taken 160 drug tests and has never failed a drug test. Isn't the whole point behind the particular substance that they're talking about, THG, that's it's undetectable in drug tests? So isn't that sort of defense of taking and passing 100 drug tests kind of a moot point in this?

JOE BURTON, ATTORNEY FOR MARION JONES: No, I don't think it's moot at all. It shows that she's never failed a test. We've asked USADA to find any test that they can, any sample from Marion Jones that they can, and test it. They certainly have the ability now to detect THG. And Marion, being open as she has in this process, said, go find any sample of mine that you can find in life and test it, and test it for THG. And she's not concerned about that, because she knows that she has never taken a performance-enhancing drug, in any test of any sample that she's ever done is going to be positive.

So, I don't think it's moot, and it shows that she is willing to put herself out there, to open herself up, to have this whole process be transparent and have the world judge her as being drug-free.

O'BRIEN: Originally, Marion Jones said that she had just a few conversations, I think is the actual quote, with BALCO executives, and later on she actually admitted to a more extensive relationship with the company. Again, some of her critics are pointing to that kind of inconsistency as maybe that there is more to the story than what Marion Jones is saying. How do you explain that?

BURTON: What I think is that sort of minuscule, as you would call it, inconsistency that means nothing. It seems to me people focus on that, and some people particularly USADA and others, as some sort of way to try to try to pin something on Marion Jones. There are a lot of consistencies that people never talk about. For example, the fact that she has never failed a drug test, the fact that her performance on the track has been consistent throughout her entire career, the fact that her physical appearance has never changed. Those are all small consistencies that people never want to talk about or mention when some small so-called inconsistency, as you just said, is mentioned.

I don't think it means anything. I think if you look at all of the facts of this case, you will see that there is no evidence that Marion has ever used performance-enhancing drugs. And that's what she has been saying all along.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Attorneys Joe Burton and Rich Nichols joining us a little bit earlier this morning.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency issued a statement after Marion Jones spoke yesterday, reading in part: "USADA treats the content of its investigations confidentiality, because this is required by the USADA protocol. Athletes are not constrained by this requirement, and this means that any athlete, including Ms. Jones, is free to share all correspondence, documents and information requests that they receive from USADA with the public."

HEMMER: Let's get a break here. In a moment on AMERICAN MORNING, for Tiger Woods they call it a slump. No major championship in about two years. Setting the bar oh so high yet again starting today.

O'BRIEN: Also this morning, the NRA has been fighting for Second Amendment rights for years, but its latest venture could be a challenge to the First Amendment rights. Ahead on AMERICAN MORNING, that story. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: The Olympic torch is visiting the U.S., and check out who had a turn at it yesterday: Tom Cruise. He carried in to Dodger's Stadium, that torch, packed with people inside who came to see the flame.

O'BRIEN: And Tom Cruise.

HEMMER: L.A. hosted the games back in 1932 and back in 1984 and very soon coming to Atlanta, Georgia.

(WEATHER BREAK)

HEMMER: You want to see a tough way to start a day? Check out on the sidewalk out here.

O'BRIEN: Changing your tire on Sixth Avenue.

HEMMER: Poor guy came up with a flat already at 7:45 in the morning.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: It's going to get worse. That's a no-parking zone, and the cops will be along to either ticket him or tow his car here shortly.

HEMMER: Oh, my.

CAFFERTY: No heart in the big city.

HEMMER: What's happening?

CAFFERTY: Well, we've got this ruling out in Colorado. They've changed the rules that apply to criminal trials. Colorado is now the first state in the union where members of the jury can actually question witnesses in a criminal case, not the defendant, unless, of course, the defendant is on the stand. But, you know, anybody who is a witness in a criminal case can now be questioned by members of the jury. The judge will have to decide what questions are appropriate, because otherwise we'll get all kinds of monkey business that has no place in the courtroom or in a civilized society.

But the question we're asking this morning is: If you were a juror in the Kobe Bryant case, what questions would you ask?

John in Quitman, Georgia, says: "No is a pretty simple word. Kobe, what part of no do you not understand?"

Kevin in New Jersey: "Unfortunately I have a feeling some people will be asking for an autograph."

Kevin in Naples, Florida: "You have an incredibly hot wife and a multimillion dollar a year career. What were you thinking?"

And Doug in Stony Creek, Ontario: "Kobe, if you don't make the last-second shot in game two, do the Pistons sweep the series?"

Doug's not taking the trial seriously enough.

O'BRIEN: That's why the judge would be involved in seeing the questions.

CAFFERTY: That would be why the judge -- yes. Doug would not get to ask that question.

O'BRIEN: He'd ask, it just would never through.

CAFFERTY: That's true.

O'BRIEN: Interesting. All right, Jack, thanks.

CAFFERTY: Sure.

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, just how much more devastating could the 9/11 attacks could have been? Some new and scary details come out of the 9/11 hearings. Details on that just ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Almost 48 minutes past the hour. Time to take a look at some of the other stories that are making headlines today with Heidi Collins.

Good morning.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, guys. And good morning to, everybody.

The final round of testimony in the 9/11 hearings are taking place in Washington this morning. The panel announced yesterday al Qaeda originally planned a broader attack for September 11, plotting to hijack 10 planes and to use them on both U.S. coasts. Today, the commission will talk more about whether military jets could have shot down the hijacked planes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN LEHMAN, 9/11 COMMISSION MEMBER: Would it have saved lives? I think that's -- I think had they been better trained and organized to cooperate that it is possible that 77 might have been intercepted, but it was a very -- it would have been a very, very close call, even in the best of cooperation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: The commission's final report is due at the end of July.

With a deadline looming, friends of kidnapped American Paul Johnson reportedly plan a candlelight vigil for him tonight. Johnson's captors have given Saudi officials until tomorrow to release al Qaeda prisoners. Johnson's family has issued an emotional plea for his safe return. A senator calls the situation grim.

A Somali man linked to plans for a terrorist attack in Ohio is being ordered to go to psychiatric facility. Nuradin Adbi is charged with providing material support to al Qaeda. At a court appearance yesterday, he was ordered to undergo tests to determine if he is competent to stand trial.

And in sports, Tiger Woods is still the No. 1 golf player in the rankings. But can he hit it out of the rough for good and end his recent dry spell at a major tournament? Well, the U.S. Open is getting under way this morning in Shinnecock Hills, Long Island. Tiger Woods getting in a few practice strokes yesterday. The outcome of the U.S. Open could determine whether Tiger will keep his No. 1 spot. A lot of people are talking about that; a lot of other golfers, I'm sure.

HEMMER: Yes. The course is in great shape. It's going to be a great four days of gold. So don't miss a minute.

O'BRIEN: Yes.

HEMMER: Thanks, Heidi.

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, the NRA moves from gun rights to free speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I made a promise to our members that we would not be silenced.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: One of the nation's biggest lobbying groups takes its fight to a new forum. We'll explain ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: The nation's most powerful gun lobby is getting a voice today. NRA News, a three-hour program, makes its satellite radio debut. And as is often case, when the National Rifle Association makes news, controversy rides shotgun.

Here's Kelly Wallace this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's 35 after the hour here at NRANews.com.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Move over Rush Limbaugh and Al Franken.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live in Sirius Satellite Radio.

WALLACE: The National Rifle Association is taking its daily Internet program to satellite radio later today.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I made a promise to our members that we would not be silenced under the campaign finance law speech gag, and this is in keeping with that promise I made to our members.

WALLACE (on camera): It appears to be an unprecedented challenge to campaign finance laws, which prevents organizations from using unlimited contributions to directly support or attack a candidate in ads in the 60 days before the general election.

(voice over): But media organizations and their news programs are not bound by those laws.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We believe that we have every bit as much a right to provide news as General Electric does through NBC, as Disney through does ABC and as Time Warner does through CNN.

WALLACE: Campaign finance experts say the move is likely to lead to a debate over exactly what is a news program.

LARRY NOBLE, CENTER FOR RESPONSIBLE POLITICS: If the NRA can do this in such a way that it looks like a normal radio show, then they can do it. On the other hand, if what the NRA is really doing is just an extended campaign commercial, an extended discussion of the candidates using corporate money and that it really doesn't have the trappings of a media-type event, then they're going to have problems.

WALLACE: Gun control advocates say they are not worried.

JOSHUA HORWITZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COALITION TO STOP GUN VIOLENCE: And this is saying, wow, we were really not very effective in Congress this year. What can we do to show our allies that we matter? And if this is the best they can do, I'm comfortable with that.

WALLACE: But if NRA News is successful...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of that and a lot more coming up.

WALLACE: ... campaign finance watchers say, look out. Many more groups may soon flood the airwaves.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: More on this next hour, "Political Pop" will take a shot at this today. Also you can hear NRA News weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sirius Satellite Radio -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Ahead in our next hour of AMERICAN MORNING, taking on the so-called vast right-wing conspiracy. A new documentary says it's uncovered a 10-year campaign to destroy Bill Clinton. We'll talk to the filmmakers who are no strangers to the former president. That's ahead. Stay with us.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.


Aired June 17, 2004 - 07:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome, everybody. Half past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING. Some of the news making headlines right now.
Lots of information is expected this morning in the last of the 9/11 hearings, possibly clearing up some of the mystery over how the military responded to the attacks. Barbara Starr has been following this, and she's going to report for us in just a few moments.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Also this hour, U.S. Olympic champ Marion Jones is stepping up her battle with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. She is demanding a public hearing, and we'll hear about her situation and talk to some of her lawyers in a moment that may keep her out of the games in Athens come mid-August. And those games are shaping up to be a lot of news for a sports event already.

O'BRIEN: Yes, no question.

Also this morning, the National Rifle Association is speaking out this political season, not by purchasing campaign ads, but by starting its own radio show. Is the organization breaking the rules? We'll take a look at that ahead.

HEMMER: Also, some of the more intriguing elements that came out of yesterday's hearing. So many headlines...

O'BRIEN: And there were many.

HEMMER: So many headlines, you're right. One of the original justifications for war in Iraq has been discredited by the 9/11 Commission. The panel investigating the attacks is holding the final public hearing today in Washington.

The commission has not found -- quote -- "credible evidence that Iraq was involved in 9/11." Although Osama bin Laden did reach out to Saddam Hussein at one point, there is no apparent collaborative relationship between the two.

Today, day two, the commission will focus on military readiness in the air, or lack of it back on 9/11.

Barbara Starr is now live in D.C. with more at the Pentagon.

Barbara -- good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.

Well, expect plenty of headlines again today as the commission confronts the question of just how prepared the FAA and the United States were on the morning of September 11.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STARR (voice over): The final day of hearings will focus on the skies. The Federal Aviation Administration stunned by four simultaneous hijackings. The U.S. military struggling to defend the country unprepared to shoot down passenger planes.

The commission will release animations like this, re-creating flight patterns and audio recordings of conversations by FAA officials, showing confusion and uncertainty in the initial moments. The FAA warning to NORAD that something was wrong was just too late. Air Force F-15 and F-16 fighters armed with air-to-air missiles were not able to intercept the hijacked planes.

In the Pentagon's National Military Command Center, officials would get word from Vice President Dick Cheney that the military was authorized to shoot down the hijacked planes, but by that time all four planes had crashed.

There have been improvements. The FAA and NORAD now in constant communication, ready to act on a moment's notice. New classified rules of engagement on who can authorize a shoot down if the president cannot be reached in time.

But General Ralph Eberhart, NORAD's commander will note that on 9/11, the nation's air defense system simply was not prepared to deal with a terrorist attack.

JOHN LEHMAN, 9/11 COMMISSION MEMBER: Obviously, nobody expected an attack like the one that took place, but the FAA and NORAD train and exercise for all sorts of scenarios.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: And, Bill, expect to see the commission get testimony today about new timelines, new information about just how quickly or not the U.S. military was able to respond that morning -- Bill.

HEMMER: And if today is anything like yesterday, it will be another captivating day. We'll watch it. Thanks, Barbara Starr at the Pentagon -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: She's a world champion sprinter, but right now Marion Jones is in a race to clear her name. A steroid scandal could keep her from competing at the summer Olympics in Athens. Jones says she has never used performance-enhancing drugs, and is demanding that any evidence against her be made public.

At a news conference yesterday she delivered a message that those investigating her put up or shut up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARION JONES, OLYMPICS ATHLETE: I'm not going to engage in USADA's secret kangaroo court. I will answer USADA's questions in a public forum that will be open for the entire world to see here and evaluate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Earlier this morning, I spoke with Marion Jones's attorneys, Rich Nichols and Joe Burton, first asking Mr. Nichols in what public forum Marion Jones wants to make her case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICH NICHOLS, ATTORNEY FOR MARION JONES: I guess the most opportune place would be the U.S. Senate now, and we would like to have a public forum that would be tantamount to a judicial proceeding where she could testify under oath and answer all of USADA's questions, now for the third time, under oath in public so that the public can see and hear her answer the questions. And so that the public can also get a chance to look at the lack of information and/or evidence that USADA has as they try to pursue this investigation.

O'BRIEN: Mr. Burton, one of the things that Marion Jones has said is that she has taken 160 drug tests and has never failed a drug test. Isn't the whole point behind the particular substance that they're talking about, THG, that's it's undetectable in drug tests? So isn't that sort of defense of taking and passing 100 drug tests kind of a moot point in this?

JOE BURTON, ATTORNEY FOR MARION JONES: No, I don't think it's moot at all. It shows that she's never failed a test. We've asked USADA to find any test that they can, any sample from Marion Jones that they can, and test it. They certainly have the ability now to detect THG. And Marion, being open as she has in this process, said, go find any sample of mine that you can find in life and test it, and test it for THG. And she's not concerned about that, because she knows that she has never taken a performance-enhancing drug, in any test of any sample that she's ever done is going to be positive.

So, I don't think it's moot, and it shows that she is willing to put herself out there, to open herself up, to have this whole process be transparent and have the world judge her as being drug-free.

O'BRIEN: Originally, Marion Jones said that she had just a few conversations, I think is the actual quote, with BALCO executives, and later on she actually admitted to a more extensive relationship with the company. Again, some of her critics are pointing to that kind of inconsistency as maybe that there is more to the story than what Marion Jones is saying. How do you explain that?

BURTON: What I think is that sort of minuscule, as you would call it, inconsistency that means nothing. It seems to me people focus on that, and some people particularly USADA and others, as some sort of way to try to try to pin something on Marion Jones. There are a lot of consistencies that people never talk about. For example, the fact that she has never failed a drug test, the fact that her performance on the track has been consistent throughout her entire career, the fact that her physical appearance has never changed. Those are all small consistencies that people never want to talk about or mention when some small so-called inconsistency, as you just said, is mentioned.

I don't think it means anything. I think if you look at all of the facts of this case, you will see that there is no evidence that Marion has ever used performance-enhancing drugs. And that's what she has been saying all along.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Attorneys Joe Burton and Rich Nichols joining us a little bit earlier this morning.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency issued a statement after Marion Jones spoke yesterday, reading in part: "USADA treats the content of its investigations confidentiality, because this is required by the USADA protocol. Athletes are not constrained by this requirement, and this means that any athlete, including Ms. Jones, is free to share all correspondence, documents and information requests that they receive from USADA with the public."

HEMMER: Let's get a break here. In a moment on AMERICAN MORNING, for Tiger Woods they call it a slump. No major championship in about two years. Setting the bar oh so high yet again starting today.

O'BRIEN: Also this morning, the NRA has been fighting for Second Amendment rights for years, but its latest venture could be a challenge to the First Amendment rights. Ahead on AMERICAN MORNING, that story. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: The Olympic torch is visiting the U.S., and check out who had a turn at it yesterday: Tom Cruise. He carried in to Dodger's Stadium, that torch, packed with people inside who came to see the flame.

O'BRIEN: And Tom Cruise.

HEMMER: L.A. hosted the games back in 1932 and back in 1984 and very soon coming to Atlanta, Georgia.

(WEATHER BREAK)

HEMMER: You want to see a tough way to start a day? Check out on the sidewalk out here.

O'BRIEN: Changing your tire on Sixth Avenue.

HEMMER: Poor guy came up with a flat already at 7:45 in the morning.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: It's going to get worse. That's a no-parking zone, and the cops will be along to either ticket him or tow his car here shortly.

HEMMER: Oh, my.

CAFFERTY: No heart in the big city.

HEMMER: What's happening?

CAFFERTY: Well, we've got this ruling out in Colorado. They've changed the rules that apply to criminal trials. Colorado is now the first state in the union where members of the jury can actually question witnesses in a criminal case, not the defendant, unless, of course, the defendant is on the stand. But, you know, anybody who is a witness in a criminal case can now be questioned by members of the jury. The judge will have to decide what questions are appropriate, because otherwise we'll get all kinds of monkey business that has no place in the courtroom or in a civilized society.

But the question we're asking this morning is: If you were a juror in the Kobe Bryant case, what questions would you ask?

John in Quitman, Georgia, says: "No is a pretty simple word. Kobe, what part of no do you not understand?"

Kevin in New Jersey: "Unfortunately I have a feeling some people will be asking for an autograph."

Kevin in Naples, Florida: "You have an incredibly hot wife and a multimillion dollar a year career. What were you thinking?"

And Doug in Stony Creek, Ontario: "Kobe, if you don't make the last-second shot in game two, do the Pistons sweep the series?"

Doug's not taking the trial seriously enough.

O'BRIEN: That's why the judge would be involved in seeing the questions.

CAFFERTY: That would be why the judge -- yes. Doug would not get to ask that question.

O'BRIEN: He'd ask, it just would never through.

CAFFERTY: That's true.

O'BRIEN: Interesting. All right, Jack, thanks.

CAFFERTY: Sure.

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, just how much more devastating could the 9/11 attacks could have been? Some new and scary details come out of the 9/11 hearings. Details on that just ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Almost 48 minutes past the hour. Time to take a look at some of the other stories that are making headlines today with Heidi Collins.

Good morning.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, guys. And good morning to, everybody.

The final round of testimony in the 9/11 hearings are taking place in Washington this morning. The panel announced yesterday al Qaeda originally planned a broader attack for September 11, plotting to hijack 10 planes and to use them on both U.S. coasts. Today, the commission will talk more about whether military jets could have shot down the hijacked planes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN LEHMAN, 9/11 COMMISSION MEMBER: Would it have saved lives? I think that's -- I think had they been better trained and organized to cooperate that it is possible that 77 might have been intercepted, but it was a very -- it would have been a very, very close call, even in the best of cooperation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: The commission's final report is due at the end of July.

With a deadline looming, friends of kidnapped American Paul Johnson reportedly plan a candlelight vigil for him tonight. Johnson's captors have given Saudi officials until tomorrow to release al Qaeda prisoners. Johnson's family has issued an emotional plea for his safe return. A senator calls the situation grim.

A Somali man linked to plans for a terrorist attack in Ohio is being ordered to go to psychiatric facility. Nuradin Adbi is charged with providing material support to al Qaeda. At a court appearance yesterday, he was ordered to undergo tests to determine if he is competent to stand trial.

And in sports, Tiger Woods is still the No. 1 golf player in the rankings. But can he hit it out of the rough for good and end his recent dry spell at a major tournament? Well, the U.S. Open is getting under way this morning in Shinnecock Hills, Long Island. Tiger Woods getting in a few practice strokes yesterday. The outcome of the U.S. Open could determine whether Tiger will keep his No. 1 spot. A lot of people are talking about that; a lot of other golfers, I'm sure.

HEMMER: Yes. The course is in great shape. It's going to be a great four days of gold. So don't miss a minute.

O'BRIEN: Yes.

HEMMER: Thanks, Heidi.

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, the NRA moves from gun rights to free speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I made a promise to our members that we would not be silenced.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: One of the nation's biggest lobbying groups takes its fight to a new forum. We'll explain ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: The nation's most powerful gun lobby is getting a voice today. NRA News, a three-hour program, makes its satellite radio debut. And as is often case, when the National Rifle Association makes news, controversy rides shotgun.

Here's Kelly Wallace this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's 35 after the hour here at NRANews.com.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Move over Rush Limbaugh and Al Franken.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live in Sirius Satellite Radio.

WALLACE: The National Rifle Association is taking its daily Internet program to satellite radio later today.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I made a promise to our members that we would not be silenced under the campaign finance law speech gag, and this is in keeping with that promise I made to our members.

WALLACE (on camera): It appears to be an unprecedented challenge to campaign finance laws, which prevents organizations from using unlimited contributions to directly support or attack a candidate in ads in the 60 days before the general election.

(voice over): But media organizations and their news programs are not bound by those laws.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We believe that we have every bit as much a right to provide news as General Electric does through NBC, as Disney through does ABC and as Time Warner does through CNN.

WALLACE: Campaign finance experts say the move is likely to lead to a debate over exactly what is a news program.

LARRY NOBLE, CENTER FOR RESPONSIBLE POLITICS: If the NRA can do this in such a way that it looks like a normal radio show, then they can do it. On the other hand, if what the NRA is really doing is just an extended campaign commercial, an extended discussion of the candidates using corporate money and that it really doesn't have the trappings of a media-type event, then they're going to have problems.

WALLACE: Gun control advocates say they are not worried.

JOSHUA HORWITZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COALITION TO STOP GUN VIOLENCE: And this is saying, wow, we were really not very effective in Congress this year. What can we do to show our allies that we matter? And if this is the best they can do, I'm comfortable with that.

WALLACE: But if NRA News is successful...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of that and a lot more coming up.

WALLACE: ... campaign finance watchers say, look out. Many more groups may soon flood the airwaves.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: More on this next hour, "Political Pop" will take a shot at this today. Also you can hear NRA News weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sirius Satellite Radio -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Ahead in our next hour of AMERICAN MORNING, taking on the so-called vast right-wing conspiracy. A new documentary says it's uncovered a 10-year campaign to destroy Bill Clinton. We'll talk to the filmmakers who are no strangers to the former president. That's ahead. Stay with us.

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