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President Rallies to Support of John Bolton; Leader of Aryan Nation Looking for an Unholy Alliance

Aired April 21, 2005 - 10:30   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Pope Benedict -- actually we have a update of a story that was unfolding during our show on Monday. A second child has now died from injuries suffered in the school bus crash in Arlington, Virginia. The 7-year-old boy also had a stepsister who was injured when the bus collided with the garbage truck. Tomorrow a funeral is planned for the 9-year-old girl who died at the scene.
Pope Benedict XVI is keeping tradition alive and reconfirming cardinals in several leadership positions. Such a moves allow the Vatican to keep operating, but most of those posts are traditionally filled with the pope's own choices over time. It took Pope John Paul II years to install his own handpicked replacements.

The Labor Department says Americans are now seeing the largest one week drop in jobless claims in more than three years. Economists say the numbers are encouraging news, but how encouraging may be open to debate. The calculation had trouble factoring in this year's early Easter.

We are keeping tabs on President Bush today. Less than an hour ago, the president rallied to the support of John Bolton. That is his choice for the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Senate Republicans had delayed a committee vote on Bolton's nomination on charges that he abused his authority at the State Department.

Our Elaine Quijano is at the White House with more on the story.

Elaine, good morning.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

That's right, just minutes into his speech that was supposed to focus largely on Social Security, President Bush very publicly expressed his support for John Bolton, the president's nominee, to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a nomination that did not move forward earlier this week as had been expected. The president was speaking to a group of insurance agents and brokers here in Washington when he urged the Senate to put aside politics and confirm his nominee.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Take John Bolton, the good man I nominated to represent our country at the United Nations. John's distinguished career and service to our nation demonstrates that he is the right man at the right time for this important assignment. I urge the Senate to put aside politics and confirm John Bolton to the United Nations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now the president's comments there echoing what other administration officials have said in recent days about John Bolton, launching into vigorous defenses of him. We heard Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defend John Bolton. Also we've heard other senior administration officials. They have continually done that as well. The White House making quite clear that officials here are standing by the president's nominee.

And when asked about the reservations expressed by Republican Senator George Voinovich, who said on Tuesday he was not prepared to vote, White House officials point out that the senator was not present for Mr. Bolton's testimony. They say that they believe a lot of these questions were answered in testimony, and they are continuing to stand by what they say is their position that these accusations on a larger scale, from a larger perspective, they say are unfounded and unsubstantiated, and when asked though a couple of days ago whether or not the president examined closely the substance of some of these allegations, the White House spokesman Scott McClellan saying that essentially the president continues to stand by John Bolton -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Elaine Quijano at the White House. And while we're listening to Elaine's report, also getting these live picture in from Providence, Rhode Island. This is the funeral reception for detective Sergeant James Allen. That is the officer who was killed in the line of duty last weekend. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of police officers from all over New England attending in honor of the detective. He was killed Sunday when the suspect he was questioning allegedly grabbed his gun and shot him. More from Providence in a little bit. But we did want to share those pictures with you this morning.

We move on to news about your security. Senate debate should begin in just a few minutes over the nomination of John Negroponte to be the director of national intelligence. As first to hold the post, the career diplomat would oversee 15 intelligence agencies. During his confirmation hearing, lawmakers warned Negroponte would have to deal with the turf wars on the job. Debate is expected to take about four hours, with the nomination expected to pass easily.

There is a dispute, however, over how a bomb plotters deal was followed. More than 20 years in prison is at stake. Ahmed Ressam was convicted of planning to bomb Los Angeles International Airport on the eve of the millennium. The Algerian man is set to be sentenced in Seattle in federal court next week. Prosecutors are asking the judge for a 35-year term. They say Ressam stopped cooperating with authorities two years ago, but defense lawyers are arguing for 12 1/2 years. Attorneys say Ressam provided valuable material on terrorist networks.

And FBI divers searching an Atlanta-area river found a gun allegedly belonging to Zaeeb Hajab (ph). The fugitive from Britain has been indicted on federal weapons charges. He was the object of a terror alert earlier this month. Authorities say he tried to have his pilot rating upgraded despite not being qualified. Three years ago Hajab showed up for lessons at a Georgia flying school that had trained some of the 9/11 hijackers. Investigators say he was in the U.S. illegally.

Can a white supremacist group in the U.S. find something in common with Al Qaeda terrorists?

Our Rick Sanchez reports the leader of the Aryan Nation is setting up shop in Florida and looking for an unholy alliance.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): August Kreis is a white supremacist and the leader of a group known as the Aryan Nation, not someone you think would be making common cause with the Islamic terrorists who attacked the U.S. on 9/11.

AUGUST KREIS, ARYAN NATION: You say they're terrorists; I say they're freedom fighters. And I want to instill the same Jihadic feeling that -- in our people's heart, in the Aryan race, that they have for their father, who they Allah.

SANCHEZ: Kreis is trying to build this unholy alliance between Al Qaeda and the Aryan Nation, from, of all places, Florida.

(on camera): I want to show you something that's ironic about this particular story in relation to the state of Florida. This is Palm Beach County Airport, one of the place where's Mohammed Atta, the supposed mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, came to try and learn to fly one of these planes.

And now we're in the orange groves of central Florida. This is where Aryan has now set up shop. And there's more. This is where Aryan Nation's leader is now thanking Al Qaeda and praising those very same hijackers that we just told you about.

You want Americans to appreciate the efforts of the very people who attacked us within 9/11.

KREIS: I don't believe that they were the ones that attacked us. And even if they did, even if you say they did, I don't care. I don't care. We have no say in this country now. We Aryan, the Aryan race, has no say anymore in a country that our forefathers fought and died for.

SANCHEZ: From its compound in Idaho, Aryan Nation used to be one of the most feared extremist groups. Its ideology is violently anti- Semetic mat anti-government. It calls the government "ZOG," which stands for Zionists Occupation Government.

(on camera): What is August Kreis and the Aryan's nations main goal?

KREIS: The end goal would be a white United States, the whole country, white only.

SANCHEZ (voice-over): Which would seem to rule out any sympathy with Arabs or Muslims. So then what connects them? Simply put, a hatred of Jews and the U.S. government.

Aryan Nation's followers have held marches, been convicted of robbing banks, even of shooting children at a Jewish community center in Los Angeles.

But then a civil suit stripped the organization of its headquarters, and its founder, Richard Butler, died.

In steps August Kreis, first from Pennsylvania.

(on camera): In Pennsylvania, there were some officials, one of which called you a village idiot.

KREIS: Well, I don't really care what titles or tags they want to put on me. You know I'm no idiot. You might think I'm radical to the extreme, but you know I'm no idiot.

SANCHEZ (voice-over): Christ, who says he lives on a military disability pension, recently moved to Sebring (ph), Florida where he's been trying to rebuild Aryan Nation by promoting an alliance with the likes of Al Qaeda, especially over the Internet. However, he didn't want us to visit his house, fearing trouble from his neighbors, so he met us at a local park.

(on camera): How many people do you think out there in America agree with your ideology?

KREIS: I have no idea. I have no idea.

SANCHEZ: Give me a guess.

KREIS: I have no idea! How could I have -- I don't want -- if they believe in my philosophy, I don't even really want them to call me or contact me.

SANCHEZ: Why?

KREIS: Puts -- why?

SANCHEZ: Why?

KREIS: Because I don't want them identified. What do you think lone wolf-ism is all about?

SANCHEZ: So this is how it's going work if from now on?

KREIS: This is the way it's going to work from now on.

SANCHEZ (voice-over): Lone wolf-ism is the idea that terrorists can act on their own or in small cells, as in the case of Timothy McVeigh when he bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City 10 years ago. The idea of an alliance between neo-Nazis and Islamic extremists is actually not at all new. It dates back to contacts between Hitler, the Third Reich, and the Muslim Brotherhood, the very genesis of Al Qaeda itself.

We contacted FBI officials, who tell us they're trying to keep an eye out for neo-Nazis trying to make contact with jihadis. But they so far, they've not seen any evidence of it. Those who monitor hate groups call it a dangerous proposition.

MARK POTOK, SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER: The notion of radical Islamists from abroad actually getting together with American neo- Nazis, I think is an absolutely frightening one. It's just that so far we really have no evidence at all to suggest that this is any kind of real collaboration.

SANCHEZ: It's not clear if August Kreis' alliance exists anywhere other than in his own mind and on the Internet, but he's hoping someone, somewhere in Al Qaeda is listening.

Rick Sanchez, CNN, Sebring, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And that's our security watch segment this hour, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

One man waits in line to tell Jane Fonda exactly what he thinks of her, but he did a lot more than just talking. We're going to tell you, well, about his way of delivering his message.

Plus, it's a story we told you about yesterday, a violin worth $850,000 reportedly stolen from a grocery store parking lot. She left it in the car. The musician, the young woman is going to come on and make a plea for her violin and, well, we're going to see if we can help her find it. That story is just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We're getting more information on the private helicopter crash that took place in Iraq earlier today. Nine people onboard; all nine people killed. We're now hearing from U.S. embassy officials in Baghdad that six aboard were American passengers. All six of those passengers who perished were employees for a company called Black Water Security. There also were three Bulgarian crew members killed in Thursday's chopper crash.

We had seen these pictures a little bit earlier, new information, more information on not identity of who was onboard, but just more about them. Again, six Americans, all employees of a company called Black Water Security, died today in this helicopter crash in Iraq, and the other three victims were Bulgarian crewmembers.

Much on that story ahead. We'll be checking with Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. (STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: Still to come, a thief made off with quite a haul, apparently taking a violin worth $850,000. I'm going to talk to the very distressed musician, coming up next on CNN LIVE TODAY.

And dangling off the side of a hotel staring straight down. Two young girls stuck 900 feet in the air. We'll tell you how this one turned out just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: All right. More to tell you about a story that we first started talking about yesterday. The missing violin and bow valued at $850,000.

20-year-old Lindsay Deutsch says she left the violin in her car when she went inside a grocery store in Southern California. She says she came out about ten minutes later to find her car window pried open, the violin and the bow gone.

Lindsay joining me from Los Angeles with the rest of the story. Lindsay, I want to say good morning, but I know it's not feeling so good to you this morning.

LINDSAY DEUTSCH, MUSICIAN: Well, thanks for having me.

KAGAN: Tell me about the violin and what makes a violin worth $850,000?

DEUTSCH: This violin is a Sanctus Seraphin violin. It was made 300 years ago. It's a priceless piece of art. There's a magical quality to these instruments which were built so long ago, whether it's because of the lack of pollution back then -- the wood just has such an amazing mysterious, deep quality, which can't be recreated today with modern instruments.

And it's the responsibility of artists like me to make sure that we preserve these very rare instruments. There are only 30 of these particular instruments in the world. And I feel that these must be returned for generations to come to play on.

KAGAN: OK, Lindsay, I have to ask you -- because you bring up the word responsibility.

DEUTSCH: Yes.

KAGAN: So I have to say it kind of like a mother would, what were you thinking leaving it on your car seat? It's worth $850,000?

DEUTSCH: Well, the worst part about all this is these aren't mine, they're on loan from Peter Mandell, the Mandell Collection of Southern California. And he has to have so much trust to loan these kinds of things out. And I feel so horribly that I let him down in this huge way. And to answer your question, I wasn't thinking. Just a horrible lapse in judgment. And under ten minutes. That shows how quickly something can go wrong. I mean, I was five yards away from that car and saw the window rolled down and I knew it was gone. He had pried open the window.

KAGAN: I can only imagine that feeling in your stomach at that moment of realization. You can see by looking in your eyes how bad you feel. Now, you think whoever took it, I mean, there's no way they can know, unless they hear about this publicity, they know what they have. They probably think they just have a violin.

DEUTSCH: Right. I believe this person has no idea what they have. If they could please just return it to the local police. I'm offering a $10,000 reward. Please collect this reward and return it to the police. I don't want justice for this person. I just want the items returned. Also, if you don't feel comfortable going to the police, go to any local violin shop, violin store, music store, drop it off.

KAGAN: No questions asked.

DEUTSCH: No questions asked. Absolutely.

KAGAN: And meanwhile, just putting the word out?

DEUTSCH: Meanwhile, we just sit back and wait. I've called everyone that I know. And this is a big help and I appreciate it.

KAGAN: And if people have information, I think you have an e- mail or a Web site or something that people can get in touch with you?

DEUTSCH: Yes. Lindsaydeutsch.com. Please let us know if you know anything about this. Thanks.

KAGAN: Well, you know, you look in your eyes and my heart breaks, because I know you feel really, really bad and we're helping you put the word out and hopefully you will be making music with the beautiful violin very soon.

DEUTSCH: I hope so.

KAGAN: Lindsay Deutsch, looking for the $850,000 violin. Thanks, Lindsay, good luck.

DEUTSCH: Thank you.

KAGAN: We'll keep the viewers up-to-date on your search.

Meanwhile, let's go ahead and take a look at other stories making news coast to coast.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE SMITH, VIETNAM VETERAN: I had an opportunity to do something that a lot of Vietnam Vets want to do. I did it for them.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KAGAN: That's Michael Smith. He faces a disorderly conduct charge for spitting in Jane Fonda's face and then running way. The actress was signing her new book in a Kansas City bookstore. She remained calm and she continued signing books. Smith is a Vietnam War veteran. He calls Fonda a trader who, he says, spit in our faces for 37 years.

And the Insanity Thrill Ride is back in operation today. The Las Vegas hotel casino ride got stuck. Two girls were onboard. Neither girl was hurt, but they spent more than an hour suspended about 900 feet above Las Vegas Boulevard. A casino spokesman blames high winds for the malfunctions.

Right now it's 10:54 on the East Coast, 7:54 on the West Coast. Stay with us. We're back in moment with a quick check of your morning forecast.

Plus, they offered reality TV before that was a television buzzword. OK, how many of you out there, when you were growing up, watched "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom"? We're going to do a great segment with Jim Fowler and company. You're going to see that tomorrow right here on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: OK, this is a different kind of duck hunting. This is the good kind. Look at baby duckling. The mama duck and her brew, they were stuck under a car in Bakerfield, California. Some good samaritans helped free them and then had to chase the ducklings when they scooted away. Those are some -- oh, get them! Get him! The family was reunited and then they were released into a canal.

(WEATHER REPORT)

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 April 21, 2005 - 10:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Pope Benedict -- actually we have a update of a story that was unfolding during our show on Monday. A second child has now died from injuries suffered in the school bus crash in Arlington, Virginia. The 7-year-old boy also had a stepsister who was injured when the bus collided with the garbage truck. Tomorrow a funeral is planned for the 9-year-old girl who died at the scene.
Pope Benedict XVI is keeping tradition alive and reconfirming cardinals in several leadership positions. Such a moves allow the Vatican to keep operating, but most of those posts are traditionally filled with the pope's own choices over time. It took Pope John Paul II years to install his own handpicked replacements.

The Labor Department says Americans are now seeing the largest one week drop in jobless claims in more than three years. Economists say the numbers are encouraging news, but how encouraging may be open to debate. The calculation had trouble factoring in this year's early Easter.

We are keeping tabs on President Bush today. Less than an hour ago, the president rallied to the support of John Bolton. That is his choice for the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Senate Republicans had delayed a committee vote on Bolton's nomination on charges that he abused his authority at the State Department.

Our Elaine Quijano is at the White House with more on the story.

Elaine, good morning.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

That's right, just minutes into his speech that was supposed to focus largely on Social Security, President Bush very publicly expressed his support for John Bolton, the president's nominee, to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a nomination that did not move forward earlier this week as had been expected. The president was speaking to a group of insurance agents and brokers here in Washington when he urged the Senate to put aside politics and confirm his nominee.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Take John Bolton, the good man I nominated to represent our country at the United Nations. John's distinguished career and service to our nation demonstrates that he is the right man at the right time for this important assignment. I urge the Senate to put aside politics and confirm John Bolton to the United Nations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now the president's comments there echoing what other administration officials have said in recent days about John Bolton, launching into vigorous defenses of him. We heard Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defend John Bolton. Also we've heard other senior administration officials. They have continually done that as well. The White House making quite clear that officials here are standing by the president's nominee.

And when asked about the reservations expressed by Republican Senator George Voinovich, who said on Tuesday he was not prepared to vote, White House officials point out that the senator was not present for Mr. Bolton's testimony. They say that they believe a lot of these questions were answered in testimony, and they are continuing to stand by what they say is their position that these accusations on a larger scale, from a larger perspective, they say are unfounded and unsubstantiated, and when asked though a couple of days ago whether or not the president examined closely the substance of some of these allegations, the White House spokesman Scott McClellan saying that essentially the president continues to stand by John Bolton -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Elaine Quijano at the White House. And while we're listening to Elaine's report, also getting these live picture in from Providence, Rhode Island. This is the funeral reception for detective Sergeant James Allen. That is the officer who was killed in the line of duty last weekend. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of police officers from all over New England attending in honor of the detective. He was killed Sunday when the suspect he was questioning allegedly grabbed his gun and shot him. More from Providence in a little bit. But we did want to share those pictures with you this morning.

We move on to news about your security. Senate debate should begin in just a few minutes over the nomination of John Negroponte to be the director of national intelligence. As first to hold the post, the career diplomat would oversee 15 intelligence agencies. During his confirmation hearing, lawmakers warned Negroponte would have to deal with the turf wars on the job. Debate is expected to take about four hours, with the nomination expected to pass easily.

There is a dispute, however, over how a bomb plotters deal was followed. More than 20 years in prison is at stake. Ahmed Ressam was convicted of planning to bomb Los Angeles International Airport on the eve of the millennium. The Algerian man is set to be sentenced in Seattle in federal court next week. Prosecutors are asking the judge for a 35-year term. They say Ressam stopped cooperating with authorities two years ago, but defense lawyers are arguing for 12 1/2 years. Attorneys say Ressam provided valuable material on terrorist networks.

And FBI divers searching an Atlanta-area river found a gun allegedly belonging to Zaeeb Hajab (ph). The fugitive from Britain has been indicted on federal weapons charges. He was the object of a terror alert earlier this month. Authorities say he tried to have his pilot rating upgraded despite not being qualified. Three years ago Hajab showed up for lessons at a Georgia flying school that had trained some of the 9/11 hijackers. Investigators say he was in the U.S. illegally.

Can a white supremacist group in the U.S. find something in common with Al Qaeda terrorists?

Our Rick Sanchez reports the leader of the Aryan Nation is setting up shop in Florida and looking for an unholy alliance.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): August Kreis is a white supremacist and the leader of a group known as the Aryan Nation, not someone you think would be making common cause with the Islamic terrorists who attacked the U.S. on 9/11.

AUGUST KREIS, ARYAN NATION: You say they're terrorists; I say they're freedom fighters. And I want to instill the same Jihadic feeling that -- in our people's heart, in the Aryan race, that they have for their father, who they Allah.

SANCHEZ: Kreis is trying to build this unholy alliance between Al Qaeda and the Aryan Nation, from, of all places, Florida.

(on camera): I want to show you something that's ironic about this particular story in relation to the state of Florida. This is Palm Beach County Airport, one of the place where's Mohammed Atta, the supposed mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, came to try and learn to fly one of these planes.

And now we're in the orange groves of central Florida. This is where Aryan has now set up shop. And there's more. This is where Aryan Nation's leader is now thanking Al Qaeda and praising those very same hijackers that we just told you about.

You want Americans to appreciate the efforts of the very people who attacked us within 9/11.

KREIS: I don't believe that they were the ones that attacked us. And even if they did, even if you say they did, I don't care. I don't care. We have no say in this country now. We Aryan, the Aryan race, has no say anymore in a country that our forefathers fought and died for.

SANCHEZ: From its compound in Idaho, Aryan Nation used to be one of the most feared extremist groups. Its ideology is violently anti- Semetic mat anti-government. It calls the government "ZOG," which stands for Zionists Occupation Government.

(on camera): What is August Kreis and the Aryan's nations main goal?

KREIS: The end goal would be a white United States, the whole country, white only.

SANCHEZ (voice-over): Which would seem to rule out any sympathy with Arabs or Muslims. So then what connects them? Simply put, a hatred of Jews and the U.S. government.

Aryan Nation's followers have held marches, been convicted of robbing banks, even of shooting children at a Jewish community center in Los Angeles.

But then a civil suit stripped the organization of its headquarters, and its founder, Richard Butler, died.

In steps August Kreis, first from Pennsylvania.

(on camera): In Pennsylvania, there were some officials, one of which called you a village idiot.

KREIS: Well, I don't really care what titles or tags they want to put on me. You know I'm no idiot. You might think I'm radical to the extreme, but you know I'm no idiot.

SANCHEZ (voice-over): Christ, who says he lives on a military disability pension, recently moved to Sebring (ph), Florida where he's been trying to rebuild Aryan Nation by promoting an alliance with the likes of Al Qaeda, especially over the Internet. However, he didn't want us to visit his house, fearing trouble from his neighbors, so he met us at a local park.

(on camera): How many people do you think out there in America agree with your ideology?

KREIS: I have no idea. I have no idea.

SANCHEZ: Give me a guess.

KREIS: I have no idea! How could I have -- I don't want -- if they believe in my philosophy, I don't even really want them to call me or contact me.

SANCHEZ: Why?

KREIS: Puts -- why?

SANCHEZ: Why?

KREIS: Because I don't want them identified. What do you think lone wolf-ism is all about?

SANCHEZ: So this is how it's going work if from now on?

KREIS: This is the way it's going to work from now on.

SANCHEZ (voice-over): Lone wolf-ism is the idea that terrorists can act on their own or in small cells, as in the case of Timothy McVeigh when he bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City 10 years ago. The idea of an alliance between neo-Nazis and Islamic extremists is actually not at all new. It dates back to contacts between Hitler, the Third Reich, and the Muslim Brotherhood, the very genesis of Al Qaeda itself.

We contacted FBI officials, who tell us they're trying to keep an eye out for neo-Nazis trying to make contact with jihadis. But they so far, they've not seen any evidence of it. Those who monitor hate groups call it a dangerous proposition.

MARK POTOK, SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER: The notion of radical Islamists from abroad actually getting together with American neo- Nazis, I think is an absolutely frightening one. It's just that so far we really have no evidence at all to suggest that this is any kind of real collaboration.

SANCHEZ: It's not clear if August Kreis' alliance exists anywhere other than in his own mind and on the Internet, but he's hoping someone, somewhere in Al Qaeda is listening.

Rick Sanchez, CNN, Sebring, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And that's our security watch segment this hour, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

One man waits in line to tell Jane Fonda exactly what he thinks of her, but he did a lot more than just talking. We're going to tell you, well, about his way of delivering his message.

Plus, it's a story we told you about yesterday, a violin worth $850,000 reportedly stolen from a grocery store parking lot. She left it in the car. The musician, the young woman is going to come on and make a plea for her violin and, well, we're going to see if we can help her find it. That story is just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We're getting more information on the private helicopter crash that took place in Iraq earlier today. Nine people onboard; all nine people killed. We're now hearing from U.S. embassy officials in Baghdad that six aboard were American passengers. All six of those passengers who perished were employees for a company called Black Water Security. There also were three Bulgarian crew members killed in Thursday's chopper crash.

We had seen these pictures a little bit earlier, new information, more information on not identity of who was onboard, but just more about them. Again, six Americans, all employees of a company called Black Water Security, died today in this helicopter crash in Iraq, and the other three victims were Bulgarian crewmembers.

Much on that story ahead. We'll be checking with Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. (STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: Still to come, a thief made off with quite a haul, apparently taking a violin worth $850,000. I'm going to talk to the very distressed musician, coming up next on CNN LIVE TODAY.

And dangling off the side of a hotel staring straight down. Two young girls stuck 900 feet in the air. We'll tell you how this one turned out just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: All right. More to tell you about a story that we first started talking about yesterday. The missing violin and bow valued at $850,000.

20-year-old Lindsay Deutsch says she left the violin in her car when she went inside a grocery store in Southern California. She says she came out about ten minutes later to find her car window pried open, the violin and the bow gone.

Lindsay joining me from Los Angeles with the rest of the story. Lindsay, I want to say good morning, but I know it's not feeling so good to you this morning.

LINDSAY DEUTSCH, MUSICIAN: Well, thanks for having me.

KAGAN: Tell me about the violin and what makes a violin worth $850,000?

DEUTSCH: This violin is a Sanctus Seraphin violin. It was made 300 years ago. It's a priceless piece of art. There's a magical quality to these instruments which were built so long ago, whether it's because of the lack of pollution back then -- the wood just has such an amazing mysterious, deep quality, which can't be recreated today with modern instruments.

And it's the responsibility of artists like me to make sure that we preserve these very rare instruments. There are only 30 of these particular instruments in the world. And I feel that these must be returned for generations to come to play on.

KAGAN: OK, Lindsay, I have to ask you -- because you bring up the word responsibility.

DEUTSCH: Yes.

KAGAN: So I have to say it kind of like a mother would, what were you thinking leaving it on your car seat? It's worth $850,000?

DEUTSCH: Well, the worst part about all this is these aren't mine, they're on loan from Peter Mandell, the Mandell Collection of Southern California. And he has to have so much trust to loan these kinds of things out. And I feel so horribly that I let him down in this huge way. And to answer your question, I wasn't thinking. Just a horrible lapse in judgment. And under ten minutes. That shows how quickly something can go wrong. I mean, I was five yards away from that car and saw the window rolled down and I knew it was gone. He had pried open the window.

KAGAN: I can only imagine that feeling in your stomach at that moment of realization. You can see by looking in your eyes how bad you feel. Now, you think whoever took it, I mean, there's no way they can know, unless they hear about this publicity, they know what they have. They probably think they just have a violin.

DEUTSCH: Right. I believe this person has no idea what they have. If they could please just return it to the local police. I'm offering a $10,000 reward. Please collect this reward and return it to the police. I don't want justice for this person. I just want the items returned. Also, if you don't feel comfortable going to the police, go to any local violin shop, violin store, music store, drop it off.

KAGAN: No questions asked.

DEUTSCH: No questions asked. Absolutely.

KAGAN: And meanwhile, just putting the word out?

DEUTSCH: Meanwhile, we just sit back and wait. I've called everyone that I know. And this is a big help and I appreciate it.

KAGAN: And if people have information, I think you have an e- mail or a Web site or something that people can get in touch with you?

DEUTSCH: Yes. Lindsaydeutsch.com. Please let us know if you know anything about this. Thanks.

KAGAN: Well, you know, you look in your eyes and my heart breaks, because I know you feel really, really bad and we're helping you put the word out and hopefully you will be making music with the beautiful violin very soon.

DEUTSCH: I hope so.

KAGAN: Lindsay Deutsch, looking for the $850,000 violin. Thanks, Lindsay, good luck.

DEUTSCH: Thank you.

KAGAN: We'll keep the viewers up-to-date on your search.

Meanwhile, let's go ahead and take a look at other stories making news coast to coast.

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MIKE SMITH, VIETNAM VETERAN: I had an opportunity to do something that a lot of Vietnam Vets want to do. I did it for them.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KAGAN: That's Michael Smith. He faces a disorderly conduct charge for spitting in Jane Fonda's face and then running way. The actress was signing her new book in a Kansas City bookstore. She remained calm and she continued signing books. Smith is a Vietnam War veteran. He calls Fonda a trader who, he says, spit in our faces for 37 years.

And the Insanity Thrill Ride is back in operation today. The Las Vegas hotel casino ride got stuck. Two girls were onboard. Neither girl was hurt, but they spent more than an hour suspended about 900 feet above Las Vegas Boulevard. A casino spokesman blames high winds for the malfunctions.

Right now it's 10:54 on the East Coast, 7:54 on the West Coast. Stay with us. We're back in moment with a quick check of your morning forecast.

Plus, they offered reality TV before that was a television buzzword. OK, how many of you out there, when you were growing up, watched "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom"? We're going to do a great segment with Jim Fowler and company. You're going to see that tomorrow right here on CNN LIVE TODAY.

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KAGAN: OK, this is a different kind of duck hunting. This is the good kind. Look at baby duckling. The mama duck and her brew, they were stuck under a car in Bakerfield, California. Some good samaritans helped free them and then had to chase the ducklings when they scooted away. Those are some -- oh, get them! Get him! The family was reunited and then they were released into a canal.

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