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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
Insurgents Target Iraqi Police Recruits; Pakistan Captures Third-Ranking al Qaeda Figure; Australian Woman Faces Indonesian Court
Aired May 04, 2005 - 17:00 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.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now, a dramatic development in the Iraq prison abuse scandal. A U.S. military judge has just thrown out Army PFC Lynndie England's guilty plea and declared a mistrial.
Standby for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Big fish. A U.S. ally says it nabs al Qaeda's number three man.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: His arrest removes a dangerous enemy who is a direct threat to America and for those who love freedom.
BLITZER: Is bin Laden next?
Hundreds of casualties in northern Iraq. A shadowy group gloats over the horror.
Amazing comeback -- silent for a decade after a serious injury, he suddenly started speaking. Now that firefighter's family is speaking out.
LINDA HERBERT, WIFE: To speak to and to be recognized by my husband, their father, after nine and half years was completely overwhelming.
BLITZER: And cheerleaders draw boos from Texas lawmakers who want to ban racy routines. Are they taking the pep out of pep rallies or making the playing field family friendly?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, May 4, 2005.
BLITZER: Thanks for joining us. By all accounts, he's a key figure in al Qaeda, the third in command of the terror network. President Bush calls him a top general for Osama bin Laden. And his capture has the makings of an extraordinary intelligence coup. We begin our coverage with national security correspondent David Ensor -- David.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it is a coup that took both the participation of Americans and Pakistanis to achieve.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ENSOR (voice-over): U.S. Counterterrorism officials say intelligence gathered by the U.S. from human sources was "critical" in finding the hideout of Abu Farraj al-Libbi in northwest Pakistan. The president gave the credit for a difficult, dangerous operation, to Pakistan.
BUSH: I applaud the Pakistani government and President Musharraf for acting on solid intelligence to bring this man to justice.
ENSOR: Al-Libbi was captured Monday after a gun battle, U.S. and Pakistani officials say. But word of it was kept quiet to allow time to round up other terrorists he might know about.
MOHAMMED SADIQ, PAKISTANI EMBASSY: The announcement of his arrest was delayed because an operation was going on. And I believe that there was some useful information obtained from him which helped us in more arrests.
ENSOR: Al-Libbi was the number three men in al Qaeda, under Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri in charge of operations since the capture of his predecessor Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in 2003. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is now in CIA hands. Administration officials are nothing less than thrilled over al-Libbi's capture.
STEVE HADLEY, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: He was not only doing operations, he was a facilitator. He was into finance. He was into administration. This was a real accomplishment.
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: This guy was my number one target. Bin Laden, of course, is much more important symbolically, but in terms of practical, day to day operations, what al Qaeda is doing, how it threatens the United States, how it plans against targets in the United States, this is the guy you want.
ENSOR (on camera): Do you think he knows where Osama bin Laden is?
MCLAUGHLIN: If anyone knows where Osama bin Laden is, this is the man.
ENSOR (voice-over): Since al-Libbi is charged in Pakistan with masterminding two unsuccessful attempts to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf, one of which killed 17 people, Pakistan may want to keep him. But officials stress that has not been decided yet.
SADIQ: But he is a Libyan national. His wife is Libyan. He was found in Pakistan in Maldon (ph). He is wanted in several countries. So we'll see what happens down the line.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ESNOR: As for Osama bin Laden, a former official says, if al- Libbi knew where he was, then by now bin Laden has probably moved -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Even, David, if he stays in Pakistan, given the close relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan right now, I assume U.S. CIA personnel and others would have access to interrogate him?
ENSOR: That's for sure. The relationship is very close now. And my understanding is that, if there's interrogation, probably the presence of individuals from both governments at the time those interrogations go on.
BLITZER: David Ensor, thanks very much. David Ensor reporting.
Pakistan's information minister calls him the most wanted man in Pakistan. Abu Farraj al-Libbi is a Libyan who's believed to use a number of aliases. Intelligence officials say al-Libbi had coded communications last year with al Qaeda cells or operatives in both the United States and Britain.
U.S. Officials believe al-Libbi was responsible for al Qaeda's global operations, including plotting attacks against this country. Al Qaeda's previous operations chief, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has reportedly done a lot of talking since his capture two years ago. That may give us a clue as to what's in store for al-Libbi, as our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson noted earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I've talked to somebody who's had firsthand -- witnessed firsthand how Pakistani interrogation operations can go. And they can be, he says, quite rough affairs that involve more than questioning, that involve a degree of force being used and even psychological -- extreme psychological pressure being placed on people. Very unlikely that al- Libbi, I'm told, is going to get a lot of sleep in the near future. That will be one of the techniques used to extract information from him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Iraq's insurgents today kept up their relentless assault. Police say nine Iraqi soldiers were killed and 17 other people wounded when a car bomb blew up in southern Baghdad. But even that blood bath was dwarfed by an earlier massacre in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil.
CNN's Ryan Chilcote reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The images of the aftermath are all too familiar to Iraqis, the mayhem, the pools of blood, the dead and wounded. This time, the suicide bomber targeted a crowd of 300 young Kurds who had come to sign up for Iraq's police force. Some 60 died, the U.S. military says. Iraq's deadliest attack in more than two months. Around 150 were wounded. The Iraqi militant group, Army of Ansar al-Sunna declared responsibility. The attack, the group claimed on a Web site, was payback for the Kurds. They fought alongside the Americans against our people in Fallujah, Mosul, Baghdad, and other Muslim lands. We promise you that we are preparing more for you. Some analysts say the claim is a sign the insurgents are stepping up their efforts to turn Iraqis against one another and to undercut cooperation between their representatives in the government.
COL. BOB MAGINNIS, U.S. ARMY (RET.): The success of the Iraqi government, especially under Jaafari, who is a Shi'ite, is really dependent upon the Kurds, Shia, Sunni and the few Turkmen, Christians and others getting along. And if they can divide those populations, then they're going to be successful at not only dismantling the government but also perhaps fueling a civil war.
CHILCOTE: The fault lines for further ethnic and religious division are already present. It's taken Iraq's prime minister months to form what he calls a government of national unity. And he has yet to fill several jobs. Sunni Arabs who feel alienated by the larger Shi'ite majority are expected to get at least some of the jobs. So far agreement between Iraq's many groups has eluded them. Since Iraq's incomplete government was announced Thursday, nearly 200 Iraqis have been killed in insurgent attacks.
Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: American and Afghan forces killed as many as 20 insurgents during fighting in Afghanistan. U.S. officials say the fighting took place yesterday near the Pakistani border in Zabul Province. An Afghan police officer was killed, six U.S. service members wounded. U.S. aircraft took part in the battle said to be the bloodiest in several months.
A year ago yesterday, a nationally televised memorial service was held for former NFL player Pat Tillman, who was killed in action in Afghanistan. Now the "Washington Post" reports the army learned within days after his death that Tillman was killed by fellow Army Rangers, but did not inform the family or his public until weeks after that memorial service. The newspaper reviewed 2,000 pages of documents, and said an army investigation showed that top commanders learned quickly that Tillman's death was an act of "gross negligence."
Casting doubt on Lynndie England's -- Lynndie England's guilty plea in connection with the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, the judge declares a mistrial during the sentencing phase of the trial. We'll go live to Ft. Hood, Texas.
Change is in store when you book a flight. Why airlines will be requesting more personal information about you.
Plus this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HERBERT: To speak to and to be recognized by my husband, their father, after nine and half years was completely overwhelming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Reaction from the family of a brain damaged firefighter, now talking after years of silence.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: There has been a major surprise in the court martial of Private First Class Lynndie England, whose image became synonymous with the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal. A military judge has just thrown out her guilty plea and declared a mistrial. Our national correspondent Susan Candiotti is joining us, now, live, from Ft. Hood, Texas. She has details. Susan?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf.
Yes, the case turned on the testimony of one man, Charles Graner, and a decision by the defense to put him on the stand. Lynndie England was in the second day of her penalty phase, after already telling a judge what she did was wrong. She knew it was wrong, and her friends pressured her into it. Well, the defense put on England's ex-boyfriend Charles Graner to try to get England a lighter sentence. He delivers a legal bombshell. Graner testifies about the photo of England holding a detainee by a dog leash to get him out of a cell. Graner calls it a legitimate technique and that he ordered England to do it.
Well, the judge said, hold on. Stop everything. He sends the jury out. The judge, clearly angry, stands up and tells the defense, you can't have it both ways. If England is now saying she was just following orders that she thought were correct, the plea is invalid, her guilty plea. And after a recess, the judge officially threw out the guilty plea, threw out the limit on her sentence, threw out her plea deal, that sources said had capped her punishment at a little more than two years, and the judge declared a mistrial.
Now, this does not necessarily mean that everything is over. Certainly, the army could now drop all of the charges if it elected to, but they could also refile a case against Lynndie England, and her defense attorneys could try to renegotiate a plea deal for her. Wolf, back to you.
BLITZER: Susan, what was interesting was -- another thing that was interesting, in addition to this bombshell -- was that she showed up at the court today with her baby. What was that all about?
CANDIOTTI: Yes, she did. Well, remember her mother was also due to testify for her daughter, Lynndie England, and so they came to court this day, presumably to show that, in fact, she was a new mother, an unwed mother, and probably trying to earn the sympathy of the court.
Now, the baby wasn't in court, but mom did carry her into the courthouse this day. BLITZER: Susan Candiotti for us, watching this amazing trial. Thanks very much, Susan, for that. We'll be checking back with you tomorrow.
The U.S. embassy in Bogota confirms that two American soldiers are being detained in Colombia. Police in that country say the Americans were taken into custody during a raid on a house outside the capital. Authorities say they found 22,000 ammunition rounds there, which they suspect were meant for outlawed right-wing paramilitary forces. The detained soldiers haven't been publicly identified.
Requesting more personal information from travelers: find out what you'll soon be asked to do before you book a domestic flight.
A firefighter silenced for nine years by an injury suddenly able to talk, his family speaks out about his recovery.
Also ahead...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCHAPELLE CORBY, DEFENDANT: And I swear, by God as my witness, I did not know marijuana was in my bag.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: A 27-year-old beauty student caught in an international nightmare. Why she's facing life in an Indonesian prison.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: In our CNN "Security Watch," the U.S. government wants to know more about who's flying. So, starting this summer, authorities will be seeking more data on airline passengers. The Transportation Security Administration will require airlines to ask for a traveler's legal name and birth date when they make a reservation. Passengers aren't required to answer, but those who don't are much more likely to face further security checks at the airport.
For more on the new rules, we're joined by the TSA Assistant Administrator Justin Oberman. Thanks very much, Mr. Oberman, for joining us. What's going on here?
JUSTIN OBERMAN, TSA ASS'T. ADMINISTRATOR: We are implementing a key recommendation of the -- made by the 9/11 commission, as well as enacted in the Intelligence Reform Act last December that calls for a new approach to prescreening passengers on domestic flights. Today, we provide the airlines with a list of known and suspected terrorist threats, and they compare the names of those terrorists with the names of people who are flying. 9/11 commission recommended that this function be brought into the government, and so TSA is going to take this over. The program's called "secure flight," and we will be screening the names of every passenger that flies every day in the United States. It's 1.8 million people a day, and, as you said, the program will start later this year. BLITZER: So, right now, you only have to give your last name and first initial. What you'll want is your first name, your middle name, and the last name, complete, as it exists on your birth certificate. Is that right?
OBERMAN: As it exists on the document that you're using -- that you will present at the airport when you go through the security checkpoint, for example, your driver's license. And we're also going to require the date of birth. Main reason we're requiring this information is that it will improve our ability to match against the list and reduce the number of people who are tabbed as near-matches and require further hassle at the airport today. So, it's going to improve the flow of security for the overwhelming majority of travelers.
BLITZER: So, in other words, people who are flagged -- let's say their last name is Mohammed, for example -- they will now have less chance of getting stopped at the airport security if we see their date of birth and this other information, the full name?
OBERMAN: That's right, because we'll have more unique identifiers, in this case, a first name and last name, as well as a date of birth, to distinguish that person from somebody who is, in fact, on the terrorist watch list. And, of course, the opposite is also true. We'll be better able to identify people that are, in fact, on the list because we'll have more complete information, as well as state-of-the-art screening technology to identify matches and take appropriate security action as need.
BLITZER: What are you going to do with all this information, because a lot of Americans are going to say it's no one's business. It's not the TSA's business when I was born, for example.
OBERMAN: We're going to use the information to screen travelers and then we're going to discard it within a few days of the flight. We're not going to keep it for any other reason. It will be done, obviously, to enhance security and improve overall customer convenience.
BLITZER: And this is only for domestic flights. What about for international flights? Why not for international flights?
OBERMAN: International flights are currently the province of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, our sister agency at Homeland Security, and all inbound and outbound flights are screened by customs.
BLITZER: They have -- they get the date of birth through the passport. Is that what you're saying?
OBERMAN: Yes.
So they already do this, in effect?
OBERMAN: That's correct. And we're going to take it over for domestic travel. BLITZER: Is -- and if people refuse to give their full name and their date of birth, they can still buy the ticket, make the reservation, but they're going to be hassled when they get to the airport?
OBERMAN: There's a greater chance they'll be hassled. It will be more difficult for us to resolve those close matches that I mentioned earlier and much easier for us to resolve those matches if we have that information. For example, if someone flies as J. Smith and their first name is Jeff, but there's someone on the watch list whose name is John Smith, we won't be able to resolve that until they get to the airport, go to the ticket counter, and present us with a driver's license to confirm that in fact, their name is Jeff, not John, and they're, in fact, not the person on the list.
BLITZER: But you're still not going to ask for home addresses at the time of the booking?
OBERMAN: Right.
BLITZER: Justin, thanks very much. Justin Oberman of the TSA, helping us better understand, when these rules go into effect, what it means for all of us.
And to our viewers, please stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
There's been a new development in that runaway bride story. Find out when -- if -- she's going to be speaking out. We'll tell you. That's coming up.
Also ahead...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My son Nicholas, who had just turned four at the time of the accident, is just thrilled to have his father call him by name hug him, and speak with him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: A brain-damaged firefighter speaks to his family for the first time in almost a decade. We'll get the reaction from the family. They speak out to his amazing recovery. That's coming up next.
Pentagon spy probe: did a former employee pass along classified information to a pro-Israeli group here in Washington? Not a former employee -- a current Pentagon employee. We'll have details on that.
And racy cheerleading: Texas lawmakers tell school pep squads to sideline the sex.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: From our studios in Washington, once again, Wolf Blitzer.
BLITZER: Welcome back.
What's it like when your husband or your father starts speaking again after almost a decade of silence? Just ahead, we'll hear from the family of a former Buffalo firefighter who's done just that.
First, though, let's get a quick check of some other stories "Now in the News."
Former FBI Agent John Conley (ph) now faces a first degree murder charge. He was indicted today in Miami. The case stems from the 1982 killing of a Boston accountant linked to reputed crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger. Conley already is serving 10 years in a federal prison after a conviction three years ago. He had been charged with tipping off Bulger and a convicted hitman about a racketeering indictment.
Speaking through her attorney, the so-called runaway bride says she regrets the pain she caused. She hopes her experiences will help others in similar circumstances. Jennifer Wilbanks turned up Saturday in New Mexico several days after she was reported missing from Georgia. Wilbanks first said she was kidnapped but later admitted she had the pre-wedding jitters. Authorities in Georgia are considering whether to file charges. We may hear from her tomorrow.
The British prime minister, Tony Blair, is hoping voters will return him to Number 10 Downing Street for a third term. And on this eve of Britain's elections, Mr. Blair is asking the voters to put their misgivings about the war in Iraq behind them. The labor party leader is hoping the country's robust economy will be his trump card.
A followup now to that amazing story we told you about yesterday. Family members of a brain-damaged, former Buffalo, New York, firefighter, have broken their silence and are speaking out after he broke his silence and continues to show some progress. They spoke out today at a press conference in Buffalo. Details from Mary Snow. She's joining us live from New York.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Wolf.
Well, Donald Herbert was said to have spoken for 14 hours on Saturday, this,. after nearly a decade of silence. His family and doctors say he hasn't been able to maintain that level. They do say he's made some progress, but has a long way to go.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW (voice-over): With son Tom at her side, Linda Herbert and her family are still coming to terms with the fact that her brain- damaged husband, a man who had been silent for nearly a decade, has spoken to them.
HERBERT: As you can imagine for us, to speak to and be recognized by my husband, their father, after nine-and-a-half years was completely overwhelming. We are still trying to cope with this incredible experience.
SNOW: Until Saturday, Donald Herbert, seen here in a videotape made several years ago, was barely able to speak or respond after suffering severe brain damage while fighting a fire in 1995. At the time, he was 33. His family and doctors say Herbert thought he was asleep for three months, not nine-and-a-half years, and didn't recognize his youngest son, who was only a toddler at the time. After a 14-hour spurt this weekend, Herbert's speech has slowed.
HERBERT: Since Saturday, when Don stopped speaking, he has had several infrequent moments of lucidity, which has given us much hope for further recovery.
SNOW: Herbert's recovery was largely engineered by Dr. Jamil Ahmed, who started seeing Herbert two-and-a-half years ago. He said he was amazed by Herbert's response on Saturday.
DR. JAMIL AHMED, DONALD HERBERT'S PHYSICIAN: My goal always is to never give up. This is a bad thing and this is a good thing in me that I always want to try. I always hope for the best, and I always believe in God.
SNOW: Ahmed said three months ago he changed Herbert's medication. It included a drug used to treat attention deficit disorder, a drug used to treat Parkinson's and an antidepressant. Ahmed says, when he first started treating Herbert two years ago, he did not respond.
AHMED: And I tried to pinch him. I tried to stimulate him. There was no response at that time. He was almost like in the persistent vegetative coma state.
SNOW: While Herbert was said to be close to a persistent vegetative state, Terri Schiavo was said to be in one.
Dr. Ahmed will not answer questions about Schiavo, but when it comes to other cases like Herbert's, he says it is hard to know how many might be out there.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: Herbert's doctor says that, at this point, he expects the recovery process to fluctuate. And at this point he's just hoping for the best -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Mary Snow reporting for us. Thanks, Mary, very much.
Dr. Zachary Levine is with the Washington Hospital Center. He's a neurosurgeon. He's joining us now to give us a little bit more insight into what's going on.
You heard the statement from the doctor in Buffalo who's been giving this patient additional medication. What do you make of it?
DR. ZACHARY LEVINE, WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER: I think that this gentleman falls into a category of people who have minimal consciousness, not necessarily a persistent vegetative state. And there are probably a lot more people out there like this, and we now have some public notoriety about some certain cases which have allowed us to bring more attention to this problem.
I do think these medications probably were helpful. They're known to help activate the brain that is asleep, so to speak. When it comes to persistent vegetative state, we, as physicians, are better predicting those who are going to have a poor outcome than we are good at predicting those that are going to have a good outcome that are waking up.
BLITZER: It sounds almost as if the doctor in Buffalo was experimenting with a whole wide range of medication just to see if anything might help this man.
LEVINE: I think experimenting was a strong word. I think he was using neurostimulants, as he said. He was using drugs that either increased the amount of neurotransmitters which cause wakefulness or can stimulate the release of neurotransmitters, or keep more neurotransmitters around to stimulate wakefulness. It's not experimental. We do this quite frequently with people in coma.
BLITZER: How unusual is this case based on the information that you've learned?
LEVINE: I think it's unusual. I think it's very unusual. There have been a number of cases. There was a gentleman in Tennessee, I think he was a policeman who woke up after a few years. There was a gentleman in Arkansas. There was recently another woman right around Terri Schiavo's experience.
There are cases where people do wake up. And the majority of them go back into some sort of state of coma after a prolonged period of conversation and activity.
BLITZER: Is that what could be happening in this particular case? Because he has reverted back to more silence since he spoke for 14 hours.
LEVINE: Exactly. And I think that's really what we're looking at is probably one of these bursts of activity from the brain. And then he will probably be quiescent for quite some time.
Unfortunately, one of the other cases, the gentleman died of a complication of a blood clot so we didn't see any other wakefulness from him. But possibly, this gentleman may have another opportunity to express himself in the future.
BLITZER: I assume neurosurgeons like yourself, and scientists and doctors are going to be studying this case to see what specifically might have caused him to speak after 9 1/2 years of silence.
LEVINE: We've studied a lot of people in coma for one and two years. And we've been able to predict some things about wakefulness and ability to awaken. But ten years out, it's so hard to get a large enough cohort of patients ten years out to really do a meaningful study. And they all have to be kind of similar. He had an anoxic, or a low oxygen brain injury.
BLITZER: For ten minutes he had no oxygen.
LEVINE: Right. Which is a very specific brain injury. And there are certain parts of the brain that are very susceptible to that, and other parts that are not.
BLITZER: You know that people are going to say -- some of the viewers watching right now -- that Terri Schiavo in Florida, the brain damaged woman if she had not been allowed to die the way she was, that maybe she could have received some stimulus, some medication, some treatment that could have caused her to come back out of this -- what was called persistent vegetative state. What do you make of that?
LEVINE: Well I think, yes, people are going to say that. I really don't have the luxury of seeing a lot of information about Terri Schiavo to make a meaningful medical comment. But I can tell you that, as I said before, we're pretty good at predicting those people who will not come out of persistent vegetative state.
And most likely, what we were looking at was somebody truly in a persistent vegetative state. But I really don't have a lot of information on her to make a definitive diagnosis.
BLITZER: Dr. Zachary Levine with the Washington Pain and Spine Institute, director of functional neurosurgery. Thanks very much for coming in.
LEVINE: Thank you.
BLITZER: Just ahead, a new development involving the Freedom Tower in New York. The skyscraper that's supposed to be built on the World Trade Center site. Why the plans are being scrapped right now. We have new information.
And Pentagon spy probe: An analyst appears in a federal court. We'll show you what he's accused of. You might be surprised. Also this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CORBY: I believe seven months which I've already been in prison is enough punishment for not putting locks on my bag.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: She's facing harsh punishment -- really harsh punishment -- for a crime she says she didn't commit. Why her case is generating so much publicity.
Plus, a near disaster. Take a look at this. How this gas station almost went up in flames. We'll tell you what happened.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: This story just coming into CNN. Major changes demanded for the planned Freedom Tower to go on the site of the World Trade Center in New York. The governor George Pataki and the mayor Michael Bloomberg met today with the developer to discuss security concerns that have been raised by police. Afterward, Pataki said in the statement -- and I'm quoting now -- "we believe that a building that meets the NYPD standards can be built consistent with architect Daniel Libeskind's master site plan."
The current plan calls for the Freedom Tower to be the tallest building in the world. We'll watch this story, get more information for you as it becomes available.
Another story we're watching, a Pentagon defense analyst now accused of passing along top secret information. He made his first court appearance today.
CNN's Kimberly Osias joining us now in the latest Pentagon probe.
What's going on, Kimberly.
KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, I know this is a story that you've certainly been following for a while. In fact, it is the culmination of a long investigation, well over a year, in fact, of the Justice Department and the FBI. Well, today another rather significant victory.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OSIAS (voice-over): Lawrence Anthony Franklin, a defense analyst at the Pentagon, today he's formally charged with passing along top secret information to individuals unauthorized to receive it. According to unsealed court documents released today, the 58-year-old allegedly passed along national defense information -- all classified -- about potential attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq. That information was allegedly passed on to two top officials of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, also known as AIPAC, a major pro-Israel lobbying group.
Today Franklin had his first federal court appearance in Alexandria, Virginia. Wearing a blue shirt without a jacket or tie, he stood before a judge for all of four minutes. Franklin didn't say a thing. But according to his attorney, plans to plead not guilty.
JOHN RICHARDS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: We intend to vigorously defend the case, and we expect that the judicial system is going to exonerate him.
OSIAS: The court papers say that in 2003 Franklin joined two AIPAC officials for lunch at an Arlington, Virginia, eatery. Law enforcement officials confirmed those individuals to work for the Pro- Israeli group. Franklin was under surveillance for espionage activities at the time. The criminal complaint alleges it was in that June meeting that Franklin leaked the information. About a year later, Franklin admitted those leaks to the FBI. In recent days AIPAC fired the two employees, but insists the group is not a target of the investigation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
OSIAS: This is what we know about Larry Franklin. He works on the Iran desk in the International Security Affairs Section of the Pentagon. He also holds a doctorate in Asian studies, works in international security affairs, and had access to sensitive information for almost 26 years. Franklin served as a colonel with the United States Air Force Reserves and was about to retire from the Pentagon.
Now, Wolf, if he is found guilty he could face 10 years behind bars. He is also out on $100,000 bond.
BLITZER: All right, good work. Kimberly Osias reporting for us.
We'll get more information on this story as well.
In East Chester, New York, a quick thinking gas station attendant apparently prevented a disaster. Check this out. A motorist apparently forgot to remove the hose from his tank after he pumped gas. When he drove off, he pulled the entire gas pump down triggering a fire. The attendant quickly turned on the fire suppressant foam which put out the flames. Police reportedly are talking to the motorist to find out if he realized what he had done. Got to be careful at those gas stations.
Ahead, a major development in the Michael Jackson case. We have details on what's going on.
Then -- insisting she's innocent and pleading for her freedom, a young woman faces life in a foreign prison for a crime she says she didn't commit.
And cool the moves -- Texas law makers pass a bill that would ban certain performances by high school cheerleaders. We'll tell you about that. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: And this story is just coming in to CNN as well. The prosecution in the Michael Jackson molestation trial has rested its case.
CNN's Rusty Dornin is live outside the courthouse in Santa Maria, California -- Rusty.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, after 10 weeks and 80 some witnesses, the prosecution finally rested after a very long day hearing from their final witness Rudy Provencio. He was involved in a business deal with Michael Jackson, and a close adviser Mark Schaffel. He talked about overhearing telephone conversations. He claimed he took copious notes about telephone conversations. That he overheard things like killers. That the killers were stalking the accuser's family, and at one point the family had escaped from Neverland. Now, hearing all these things hinting towards a conspiracy, but as many people here are saying it fell far short of many people's expectations about it being a bombshell, and actually directly linking Michael Jackson. He didn't directly link Michael Jackson to any kind of criminal activity or kind of conspiracy. And of course, then on cross-examination Thomas Mesereau really delved into when exactly did he turn these notes over that he said he took. He said he took notes right away, but apparently he didn't turn them over to police until last month, when he mysterious found them in a storage facility. He claimed he forgot about them. Mesereau kept drilled him, asking him if he'd been planning on writing a book. He says he wasn't planning on writing a book.
But in the end, it was something that looked like, perhaps, again a prosecution witness that was sort of morphed into a defense witness. It wasn't the strong finish perhaps that prosecutors had been hoping for. So, the defense will begin tomorrow. And we're expected to hear from some of the victims that were in the early '90s that the prosecution claims were molested, one of them even Macaulay Culkin -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Rusty Dornin with the latest from the trial. Thanks very much, Rusty, for that.
Other stories we're following, protest, petitions and boycott threats all part of a fallout from a drug smuggling case that is little known in this country, but is drawing huge attention on the other side of the world.
Let's get some details. CNN's Brian Todd joining us -- Brian.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this is a case that has escalated to the top levels of two powerful governments, drawn the attention of a major movie star and seems to be building to a very dramatic conclusion.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice-over): A case that an Australian official compares to the Michael Jackson affair for its sensationalism. The sister of the accused attacks the media.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Leave her alone, all of you!
TODD: The defendant herself faints once outside the courtroom, then inside -- a pattern that has left the judges frustrated. Such is the ordeal of 27-year-old Schappelle Corby, an Australian beauty student arrested last October on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. Customs officials at the airport discovered a nine pound bag of high grade marijuana in her luggage. Corby always maintained it was planted there after she checked her bag through in Sydney.
CORBY: And I swear, by God as my witness, I did not know marijuana was in my bag.
TODD: But Schapelle Corby faces three judges and an Indonesian justice system determined to crack down on drug trafficking. Several death sentences have been handed down to foreign nationals in recent years. Prosecutors have asked for a life sentence for Corby, but the judges could still send her to death by firing squad if they convict.
CORBY: Please, look to your God for guidance in your judgment for me.
TODD: As she pleads for her life, Corby seems to have a keen sense of how this case is playing back home. An Australian official tells CNN this is dominant news every day with popular sentiment favoring Corby's side. Star actor Russell Crowe has joined the fray, telling an Australian radio program the government must apply more pressure.
RUSSELL CROWE, ACTOR: I don't understand, when there is such doubt, how we can, as a country, stand by and let a young lady, as an Australian, rot away in a foreign prison. That is ridiculous.
TODD: Australian officials say the government will seek clemency if a death sentence is imposed. But for now this is a matter for the Indonesian courts, where a young lady appeals for compassion.
CORBY: I believe seven months which i've already been in prison is severe enough punishment for not putting locks on my bag. I don't know how long I can survive in here.
TODD: And at least one judge seems to have heard enough.
JUDGE LINTON SIRAIT, INDONESIA (through translator): We've already 75 percent decided, but I cannot tell you our conclusion.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TODD: A conclusion that could come any day now when the judges announce their verdict and sentence. In the meantime, Australian officials say they're discussing the idea of a prisoner transfer agreement with Indonesia, opening the possibility that, if Schapelle Corby is convicted, she could serve her sentence at home.
Indonesian officials would not return our calls for comment, Wolf.
BLITZER: And tomorrow on this program, I'll be speaking with the Australian foreign minister. I'll ask him about this case.
Brian Todd, you keep us updated as well. Thanks very much.
Let's get a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): Annual remembrance day ceremonies for 6 million Jews who died in the Holocaust are under way. In Israel, the entire country observed a minute of silence today. Events also included a ceremony at the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. Kenya's first lady is accused of storming into the office of the country's biggest newspaper and going on a tirade over coverage of her and her family.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You've got to come here. You've got to take it back.
BLITZER: Reports say she slapped a television cameraman and demanded the arrest of a reporter and an editor. A government spokesman refused to comment on the incident, which happened on world press freedom day.
In India, police officers and villagers worked for hours to rescue a baby elephant that fell into a well after heavy rains.
And in Belgium, a world record is set: More than 4,000 college students took part in a huge pillow fight to help raise money for charity.
And that's our look around the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: This note coming up at the top of the hour, LOU DOBBS TONIGHT, mogul Warren Buffett, Lou's special guest, talking Social Security, the economy and more. It's an exclusive, live interview. Warren Buffett joins Lou right at the top of the hour, 6:00 p.m. Eastern.
Still ahead this hour, are the sidelines getting too racy? Texas law makers trying to ban certain cheerleading moves. We'll have details.
First, though, as part of CNN's anniversary series "Then and Now," we look back at the story of John Glenn.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God speed, John Glenn.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's got the right stuff. The first American to orbit the earth, John Glenn became an instant American hero. Later, inspired by Bobby Kennedy, he ran for political office becoming a U.S. Senator from Ohio. He served for 24 years until 1998. When Glenn left Capitol Hill and the surly bonds of Earth one more time.
At the age of 77, he became the oldest person ever to go into space. Now 83, Glenn is far from retired, dividing his time between Ohio and Washington, where he serves on a NASA advisory board.
JOHN GLENN, FRMR. SENATOR: I don't think retirement would be much fun anyway.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he his wife Annie have founded the John Glenn Institute for Public Service at Ohio State University, where he serves as an adjunct professor. GLENN: The main involves (ph) is letting the students know the value of public service and public participation and politics.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Glenn is also still involved in politics, serving as a delegate at the 2004 Democratic convention.
GLENN: It's been a very active life. And one that I could not have foreseen at all when I was a kid growing up back in New Concord, Iowa.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Banning the bump and grind: It's the target of a Texas bill aimed at toning down high school cheerleading, which some say has gotten too sexy for the sidelines.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): If football is king in Texas, cheerleading is its coveted consort. But in the same state that's home to one of the NFL's sexiest cheerleading squads some legislators want to make sure there's no such cavorting on high school sidelines.
On Tuesday, the State House passed a bill putting the Texas Education Agency in charge of policing quote, "overtly sexually suggestive cheerleading routines." The problem is no one can define exactly what that means, including the bill's author.
AL EDWARD, (D) TEXAS STATE HOUSE: Rather than trying to describe it or make movements, if you're an adult and you've been involved with sex ever in your life, you know it when you see it.
PAM UHR, ACLU: I don't think we do want our kids doing stuff like that. The problem with the bill is that there is no definition of what is sexually suggestive.
BLITZER: And some say the issue should be dealt with locally, not by the state.
TERRY GIBBS, CHEERLEADING COACH: We show everything before we perform. Hopefully, they see it, and if our administrators feel like it's not appropriate, we make the changes.
BLITZER: Others note that what's too wild for Waco, may not be all that audacious for Austin.
JAMIE METHENY, FRISCO HIGH SCHOOL: It's going to be hard to keep tabs on what you consider modest and what you don't. I mean, people have different levels of what they think is modest and what they think is not.
BLITZER: But some cheerleading coaches think the bill is a good idea, with one saying you can still entertain without too much shaking. BARD PAGE, CHEERLEADING INSTRUCTOR: I don't think that provocative dance moves belong on the sidelines, or in front of the crowd. I mean, when you're audience is family oriented, I mean, it's got to be G-rated.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: The bill now goes to the Texas Senate.
"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now. Lou is standing by with this -- Lou.
END
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 May 4, 2005 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now, a dramatic development in the Iraq prison abuse scandal. A U.S. military judge has just thrown out Army PFC Lynndie England's guilty plea and declared a mistrial.
Standby for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Big fish. A U.S. ally says it nabs al Qaeda's number three man.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: His arrest removes a dangerous enemy who is a direct threat to America and for those who love freedom.
BLITZER: Is bin Laden next?
Hundreds of casualties in northern Iraq. A shadowy group gloats over the horror.
Amazing comeback -- silent for a decade after a serious injury, he suddenly started speaking. Now that firefighter's family is speaking out.
LINDA HERBERT, WIFE: To speak to and to be recognized by my husband, their father, after nine and half years was completely overwhelming.
BLITZER: And cheerleaders draw boos from Texas lawmakers who want to ban racy routines. Are they taking the pep out of pep rallies or making the playing field family friendly?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, May 4, 2005.
BLITZER: Thanks for joining us. By all accounts, he's a key figure in al Qaeda, the third in command of the terror network. President Bush calls him a top general for Osama bin Laden. And his capture has the makings of an extraordinary intelligence coup. We begin our coverage with national security correspondent David Ensor -- David.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it is a coup that took both the participation of Americans and Pakistanis to achieve.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ENSOR (voice-over): U.S. Counterterrorism officials say intelligence gathered by the U.S. from human sources was "critical" in finding the hideout of Abu Farraj al-Libbi in northwest Pakistan. The president gave the credit for a difficult, dangerous operation, to Pakistan.
BUSH: I applaud the Pakistani government and President Musharraf for acting on solid intelligence to bring this man to justice.
ENSOR: Al-Libbi was captured Monday after a gun battle, U.S. and Pakistani officials say. But word of it was kept quiet to allow time to round up other terrorists he might know about.
MOHAMMED SADIQ, PAKISTANI EMBASSY: The announcement of his arrest was delayed because an operation was going on. And I believe that there was some useful information obtained from him which helped us in more arrests.
ENSOR: Al-Libbi was the number three men in al Qaeda, under Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri in charge of operations since the capture of his predecessor Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in 2003. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is now in CIA hands. Administration officials are nothing less than thrilled over al-Libbi's capture.
STEVE HADLEY, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: He was not only doing operations, he was a facilitator. He was into finance. He was into administration. This was a real accomplishment.
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: This guy was my number one target. Bin Laden, of course, is much more important symbolically, but in terms of practical, day to day operations, what al Qaeda is doing, how it threatens the United States, how it plans against targets in the United States, this is the guy you want.
ENSOR (on camera): Do you think he knows where Osama bin Laden is?
MCLAUGHLIN: If anyone knows where Osama bin Laden is, this is the man.
ENSOR (voice-over): Since al-Libbi is charged in Pakistan with masterminding two unsuccessful attempts to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf, one of which killed 17 people, Pakistan may want to keep him. But officials stress that has not been decided yet.
SADIQ: But he is a Libyan national. His wife is Libyan. He was found in Pakistan in Maldon (ph). He is wanted in several countries. So we'll see what happens down the line.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ESNOR: As for Osama bin Laden, a former official says, if al- Libbi knew where he was, then by now bin Laden has probably moved -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Even, David, if he stays in Pakistan, given the close relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan right now, I assume U.S. CIA personnel and others would have access to interrogate him?
ENSOR: That's for sure. The relationship is very close now. And my understanding is that, if there's interrogation, probably the presence of individuals from both governments at the time those interrogations go on.
BLITZER: David Ensor, thanks very much. David Ensor reporting.
Pakistan's information minister calls him the most wanted man in Pakistan. Abu Farraj al-Libbi is a Libyan who's believed to use a number of aliases. Intelligence officials say al-Libbi had coded communications last year with al Qaeda cells or operatives in both the United States and Britain.
U.S. Officials believe al-Libbi was responsible for al Qaeda's global operations, including plotting attacks against this country. Al Qaeda's previous operations chief, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has reportedly done a lot of talking since his capture two years ago. That may give us a clue as to what's in store for al-Libbi, as our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson noted earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I've talked to somebody who's had firsthand -- witnessed firsthand how Pakistani interrogation operations can go. And they can be, he says, quite rough affairs that involve more than questioning, that involve a degree of force being used and even psychological -- extreme psychological pressure being placed on people. Very unlikely that al- Libbi, I'm told, is going to get a lot of sleep in the near future. That will be one of the techniques used to extract information from him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Iraq's insurgents today kept up their relentless assault. Police say nine Iraqi soldiers were killed and 17 other people wounded when a car bomb blew up in southern Baghdad. But even that blood bath was dwarfed by an earlier massacre in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil.
CNN's Ryan Chilcote reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The images of the aftermath are all too familiar to Iraqis, the mayhem, the pools of blood, the dead and wounded. This time, the suicide bomber targeted a crowd of 300 young Kurds who had come to sign up for Iraq's police force. Some 60 died, the U.S. military says. Iraq's deadliest attack in more than two months. Around 150 were wounded. The Iraqi militant group, Army of Ansar al-Sunna declared responsibility. The attack, the group claimed on a Web site, was payback for the Kurds. They fought alongside the Americans against our people in Fallujah, Mosul, Baghdad, and other Muslim lands. We promise you that we are preparing more for you. Some analysts say the claim is a sign the insurgents are stepping up their efforts to turn Iraqis against one another and to undercut cooperation between their representatives in the government.
COL. BOB MAGINNIS, U.S. ARMY (RET.): The success of the Iraqi government, especially under Jaafari, who is a Shi'ite, is really dependent upon the Kurds, Shia, Sunni and the few Turkmen, Christians and others getting along. And if they can divide those populations, then they're going to be successful at not only dismantling the government but also perhaps fueling a civil war.
CHILCOTE: The fault lines for further ethnic and religious division are already present. It's taken Iraq's prime minister months to form what he calls a government of national unity. And he has yet to fill several jobs. Sunni Arabs who feel alienated by the larger Shi'ite majority are expected to get at least some of the jobs. So far agreement between Iraq's many groups has eluded them. Since Iraq's incomplete government was announced Thursday, nearly 200 Iraqis have been killed in insurgent attacks.
Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: American and Afghan forces killed as many as 20 insurgents during fighting in Afghanistan. U.S. officials say the fighting took place yesterday near the Pakistani border in Zabul Province. An Afghan police officer was killed, six U.S. service members wounded. U.S. aircraft took part in the battle said to be the bloodiest in several months.
A year ago yesterday, a nationally televised memorial service was held for former NFL player Pat Tillman, who was killed in action in Afghanistan. Now the "Washington Post" reports the army learned within days after his death that Tillman was killed by fellow Army Rangers, but did not inform the family or his public until weeks after that memorial service. The newspaper reviewed 2,000 pages of documents, and said an army investigation showed that top commanders learned quickly that Tillman's death was an act of "gross negligence."
Casting doubt on Lynndie England's -- Lynndie England's guilty plea in connection with the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, the judge declares a mistrial during the sentencing phase of the trial. We'll go live to Ft. Hood, Texas.
Change is in store when you book a flight. Why airlines will be requesting more personal information about you.
Plus this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HERBERT: To speak to and to be recognized by my husband, their father, after nine and half years was completely overwhelming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Reaction from the family of a brain damaged firefighter, now talking after years of silence.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: There has been a major surprise in the court martial of Private First Class Lynndie England, whose image became synonymous with the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal. A military judge has just thrown out her guilty plea and declared a mistrial. Our national correspondent Susan Candiotti is joining us, now, live, from Ft. Hood, Texas. She has details. Susan?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf.
Yes, the case turned on the testimony of one man, Charles Graner, and a decision by the defense to put him on the stand. Lynndie England was in the second day of her penalty phase, after already telling a judge what she did was wrong. She knew it was wrong, and her friends pressured her into it. Well, the defense put on England's ex-boyfriend Charles Graner to try to get England a lighter sentence. He delivers a legal bombshell. Graner testifies about the photo of England holding a detainee by a dog leash to get him out of a cell. Graner calls it a legitimate technique and that he ordered England to do it.
Well, the judge said, hold on. Stop everything. He sends the jury out. The judge, clearly angry, stands up and tells the defense, you can't have it both ways. If England is now saying she was just following orders that she thought were correct, the plea is invalid, her guilty plea. And after a recess, the judge officially threw out the guilty plea, threw out the limit on her sentence, threw out her plea deal, that sources said had capped her punishment at a little more than two years, and the judge declared a mistrial.
Now, this does not necessarily mean that everything is over. Certainly, the army could now drop all of the charges if it elected to, but they could also refile a case against Lynndie England, and her defense attorneys could try to renegotiate a plea deal for her. Wolf, back to you.
BLITZER: Susan, what was interesting was -- another thing that was interesting, in addition to this bombshell -- was that she showed up at the court today with her baby. What was that all about?
CANDIOTTI: Yes, she did. Well, remember her mother was also due to testify for her daughter, Lynndie England, and so they came to court this day, presumably to show that, in fact, she was a new mother, an unwed mother, and probably trying to earn the sympathy of the court.
Now, the baby wasn't in court, but mom did carry her into the courthouse this day. BLITZER: Susan Candiotti for us, watching this amazing trial. Thanks very much, Susan, for that. We'll be checking back with you tomorrow.
The U.S. embassy in Bogota confirms that two American soldiers are being detained in Colombia. Police in that country say the Americans were taken into custody during a raid on a house outside the capital. Authorities say they found 22,000 ammunition rounds there, which they suspect were meant for outlawed right-wing paramilitary forces. The detained soldiers haven't been publicly identified.
Requesting more personal information from travelers: find out what you'll soon be asked to do before you book a domestic flight.
A firefighter silenced for nine years by an injury suddenly able to talk, his family speaks out about his recovery.
Also ahead...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCHAPELLE CORBY, DEFENDANT: And I swear, by God as my witness, I did not know marijuana was in my bag.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: A 27-year-old beauty student caught in an international nightmare. Why she's facing life in an Indonesian prison.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: In our CNN "Security Watch," the U.S. government wants to know more about who's flying. So, starting this summer, authorities will be seeking more data on airline passengers. The Transportation Security Administration will require airlines to ask for a traveler's legal name and birth date when they make a reservation. Passengers aren't required to answer, but those who don't are much more likely to face further security checks at the airport.
For more on the new rules, we're joined by the TSA Assistant Administrator Justin Oberman. Thanks very much, Mr. Oberman, for joining us. What's going on here?
JUSTIN OBERMAN, TSA ASS'T. ADMINISTRATOR: We are implementing a key recommendation of the -- made by the 9/11 commission, as well as enacted in the Intelligence Reform Act last December that calls for a new approach to prescreening passengers on domestic flights. Today, we provide the airlines with a list of known and suspected terrorist threats, and they compare the names of those terrorists with the names of people who are flying. 9/11 commission recommended that this function be brought into the government, and so TSA is going to take this over. The program's called "secure flight," and we will be screening the names of every passenger that flies every day in the United States. It's 1.8 million people a day, and, as you said, the program will start later this year. BLITZER: So, right now, you only have to give your last name and first initial. What you'll want is your first name, your middle name, and the last name, complete, as it exists on your birth certificate. Is that right?
OBERMAN: As it exists on the document that you're using -- that you will present at the airport when you go through the security checkpoint, for example, your driver's license. And we're also going to require the date of birth. Main reason we're requiring this information is that it will improve our ability to match against the list and reduce the number of people who are tabbed as near-matches and require further hassle at the airport today. So, it's going to improve the flow of security for the overwhelming majority of travelers.
BLITZER: So, in other words, people who are flagged -- let's say their last name is Mohammed, for example -- they will now have less chance of getting stopped at the airport security if we see their date of birth and this other information, the full name?
OBERMAN: That's right, because we'll have more unique identifiers, in this case, a first name and last name, as well as a date of birth, to distinguish that person from somebody who is, in fact, on the terrorist watch list. And, of course, the opposite is also true. We'll be better able to identify people that are, in fact, on the list because we'll have more complete information, as well as state-of-the-art screening technology to identify matches and take appropriate security action as need.
BLITZER: What are you going to do with all this information, because a lot of Americans are going to say it's no one's business. It's not the TSA's business when I was born, for example.
OBERMAN: We're going to use the information to screen travelers and then we're going to discard it within a few days of the flight. We're not going to keep it for any other reason. It will be done, obviously, to enhance security and improve overall customer convenience.
BLITZER: And this is only for domestic flights. What about for international flights? Why not for international flights?
OBERMAN: International flights are currently the province of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, our sister agency at Homeland Security, and all inbound and outbound flights are screened by customs.
BLITZER: They have -- they get the date of birth through the passport. Is that what you're saying?
OBERMAN: Yes.
So they already do this, in effect?
OBERMAN: That's correct. And we're going to take it over for domestic travel. BLITZER: Is -- and if people refuse to give their full name and their date of birth, they can still buy the ticket, make the reservation, but they're going to be hassled when they get to the airport?
OBERMAN: There's a greater chance they'll be hassled. It will be more difficult for us to resolve those close matches that I mentioned earlier and much easier for us to resolve those matches if we have that information. For example, if someone flies as J. Smith and their first name is Jeff, but there's someone on the watch list whose name is John Smith, we won't be able to resolve that until they get to the airport, go to the ticket counter, and present us with a driver's license to confirm that in fact, their name is Jeff, not John, and they're, in fact, not the person on the list.
BLITZER: But you're still not going to ask for home addresses at the time of the booking?
OBERMAN: Right.
BLITZER: Justin, thanks very much. Justin Oberman of the TSA, helping us better understand, when these rules go into effect, what it means for all of us.
And to our viewers, please stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
There's been a new development in that runaway bride story. Find out when -- if -- she's going to be speaking out. We'll tell you. That's coming up.
Also ahead...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My son Nicholas, who had just turned four at the time of the accident, is just thrilled to have his father call him by name hug him, and speak with him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: A brain-damaged firefighter speaks to his family for the first time in almost a decade. We'll get the reaction from the family. They speak out to his amazing recovery. That's coming up next.
Pentagon spy probe: did a former employee pass along classified information to a pro-Israeli group here in Washington? Not a former employee -- a current Pentagon employee. We'll have details on that.
And racy cheerleading: Texas lawmakers tell school pep squads to sideline the sex.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: From our studios in Washington, once again, Wolf Blitzer.
BLITZER: Welcome back.
What's it like when your husband or your father starts speaking again after almost a decade of silence? Just ahead, we'll hear from the family of a former Buffalo firefighter who's done just that.
First, though, let's get a quick check of some other stories "Now in the News."
Former FBI Agent John Conley (ph) now faces a first degree murder charge. He was indicted today in Miami. The case stems from the 1982 killing of a Boston accountant linked to reputed crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger. Conley already is serving 10 years in a federal prison after a conviction three years ago. He had been charged with tipping off Bulger and a convicted hitman about a racketeering indictment.
Speaking through her attorney, the so-called runaway bride says she regrets the pain she caused. She hopes her experiences will help others in similar circumstances. Jennifer Wilbanks turned up Saturday in New Mexico several days after she was reported missing from Georgia. Wilbanks first said she was kidnapped but later admitted she had the pre-wedding jitters. Authorities in Georgia are considering whether to file charges. We may hear from her tomorrow.
The British prime minister, Tony Blair, is hoping voters will return him to Number 10 Downing Street for a third term. And on this eve of Britain's elections, Mr. Blair is asking the voters to put their misgivings about the war in Iraq behind them. The labor party leader is hoping the country's robust economy will be his trump card.
A followup now to that amazing story we told you about yesterday. Family members of a brain-damaged, former Buffalo, New York, firefighter, have broken their silence and are speaking out after he broke his silence and continues to show some progress. They spoke out today at a press conference in Buffalo. Details from Mary Snow. She's joining us live from New York.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Wolf.
Well, Donald Herbert was said to have spoken for 14 hours on Saturday, this,. after nearly a decade of silence. His family and doctors say he hasn't been able to maintain that level. They do say he's made some progress, but has a long way to go.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW (voice-over): With son Tom at her side, Linda Herbert and her family are still coming to terms with the fact that her brain- damaged husband, a man who had been silent for nearly a decade, has spoken to them.
HERBERT: As you can imagine for us, to speak to and be recognized by my husband, their father, after nine-and-a-half years was completely overwhelming. We are still trying to cope with this incredible experience.
SNOW: Until Saturday, Donald Herbert, seen here in a videotape made several years ago, was barely able to speak or respond after suffering severe brain damage while fighting a fire in 1995. At the time, he was 33. His family and doctors say Herbert thought he was asleep for three months, not nine-and-a-half years, and didn't recognize his youngest son, who was only a toddler at the time. After a 14-hour spurt this weekend, Herbert's speech has slowed.
HERBERT: Since Saturday, when Don stopped speaking, he has had several infrequent moments of lucidity, which has given us much hope for further recovery.
SNOW: Herbert's recovery was largely engineered by Dr. Jamil Ahmed, who started seeing Herbert two-and-a-half years ago. He said he was amazed by Herbert's response on Saturday.
DR. JAMIL AHMED, DONALD HERBERT'S PHYSICIAN: My goal always is to never give up. This is a bad thing and this is a good thing in me that I always want to try. I always hope for the best, and I always believe in God.
SNOW: Ahmed said three months ago he changed Herbert's medication. It included a drug used to treat attention deficit disorder, a drug used to treat Parkinson's and an antidepressant. Ahmed says, when he first started treating Herbert two years ago, he did not respond.
AHMED: And I tried to pinch him. I tried to stimulate him. There was no response at that time. He was almost like in the persistent vegetative coma state.
SNOW: While Herbert was said to be close to a persistent vegetative state, Terri Schiavo was said to be in one.
Dr. Ahmed will not answer questions about Schiavo, but when it comes to other cases like Herbert's, he says it is hard to know how many might be out there.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: Herbert's doctor says that, at this point, he expects the recovery process to fluctuate. And at this point he's just hoping for the best -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Mary Snow reporting for us. Thanks, Mary, very much.
Dr. Zachary Levine is with the Washington Hospital Center. He's a neurosurgeon. He's joining us now to give us a little bit more insight into what's going on.
You heard the statement from the doctor in Buffalo who's been giving this patient additional medication. What do you make of it?
DR. ZACHARY LEVINE, WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER: I think that this gentleman falls into a category of people who have minimal consciousness, not necessarily a persistent vegetative state. And there are probably a lot more people out there like this, and we now have some public notoriety about some certain cases which have allowed us to bring more attention to this problem.
I do think these medications probably were helpful. They're known to help activate the brain that is asleep, so to speak. When it comes to persistent vegetative state, we, as physicians, are better predicting those who are going to have a poor outcome than we are good at predicting those that are going to have a good outcome that are waking up.
BLITZER: It sounds almost as if the doctor in Buffalo was experimenting with a whole wide range of medication just to see if anything might help this man.
LEVINE: I think experimenting was a strong word. I think he was using neurostimulants, as he said. He was using drugs that either increased the amount of neurotransmitters which cause wakefulness or can stimulate the release of neurotransmitters, or keep more neurotransmitters around to stimulate wakefulness. It's not experimental. We do this quite frequently with people in coma.
BLITZER: How unusual is this case based on the information that you've learned?
LEVINE: I think it's unusual. I think it's very unusual. There have been a number of cases. There was a gentleman in Tennessee, I think he was a policeman who woke up after a few years. There was a gentleman in Arkansas. There was recently another woman right around Terri Schiavo's experience.
There are cases where people do wake up. And the majority of them go back into some sort of state of coma after a prolonged period of conversation and activity.
BLITZER: Is that what could be happening in this particular case? Because he has reverted back to more silence since he spoke for 14 hours.
LEVINE: Exactly. And I think that's really what we're looking at is probably one of these bursts of activity from the brain. And then he will probably be quiescent for quite some time.
Unfortunately, one of the other cases, the gentleman died of a complication of a blood clot so we didn't see any other wakefulness from him. But possibly, this gentleman may have another opportunity to express himself in the future.
BLITZER: I assume neurosurgeons like yourself, and scientists and doctors are going to be studying this case to see what specifically might have caused him to speak after 9 1/2 years of silence.
LEVINE: We've studied a lot of people in coma for one and two years. And we've been able to predict some things about wakefulness and ability to awaken. But ten years out, it's so hard to get a large enough cohort of patients ten years out to really do a meaningful study. And they all have to be kind of similar. He had an anoxic, or a low oxygen brain injury.
BLITZER: For ten minutes he had no oxygen.
LEVINE: Right. Which is a very specific brain injury. And there are certain parts of the brain that are very susceptible to that, and other parts that are not.
BLITZER: You know that people are going to say -- some of the viewers watching right now -- that Terri Schiavo in Florida, the brain damaged woman if she had not been allowed to die the way she was, that maybe she could have received some stimulus, some medication, some treatment that could have caused her to come back out of this -- what was called persistent vegetative state. What do you make of that?
LEVINE: Well I think, yes, people are going to say that. I really don't have the luxury of seeing a lot of information about Terri Schiavo to make a meaningful medical comment. But I can tell you that, as I said before, we're pretty good at predicting those people who will not come out of persistent vegetative state.
And most likely, what we were looking at was somebody truly in a persistent vegetative state. But I really don't have a lot of information on her to make a definitive diagnosis.
BLITZER: Dr. Zachary Levine with the Washington Pain and Spine Institute, director of functional neurosurgery. Thanks very much for coming in.
LEVINE: Thank you.
BLITZER: Just ahead, a new development involving the Freedom Tower in New York. The skyscraper that's supposed to be built on the World Trade Center site. Why the plans are being scrapped right now. We have new information.
And Pentagon spy probe: An analyst appears in a federal court. We'll show you what he's accused of. You might be surprised. Also this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CORBY: I believe seven months which I've already been in prison is enough punishment for not putting locks on my bag.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: She's facing harsh punishment -- really harsh punishment -- for a crime she says she didn't commit. Why her case is generating so much publicity.
Plus, a near disaster. Take a look at this. How this gas station almost went up in flames. We'll tell you what happened.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: This story just coming into CNN. Major changes demanded for the planned Freedom Tower to go on the site of the World Trade Center in New York. The governor George Pataki and the mayor Michael Bloomberg met today with the developer to discuss security concerns that have been raised by police. Afterward, Pataki said in the statement -- and I'm quoting now -- "we believe that a building that meets the NYPD standards can be built consistent with architect Daniel Libeskind's master site plan."
The current plan calls for the Freedom Tower to be the tallest building in the world. We'll watch this story, get more information for you as it becomes available.
Another story we're watching, a Pentagon defense analyst now accused of passing along top secret information. He made his first court appearance today.
CNN's Kimberly Osias joining us now in the latest Pentagon probe.
What's going on, Kimberly.
KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, I know this is a story that you've certainly been following for a while. In fact, it is the culmination of a long investigation, well over a year, in fact, of the Justice Department and the FBI. Well, today another rather significant victory.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OSIAS (voice-over): Lawrence Anthony Franklin, a defense analyst at the Pentagon, today he's formally charged with passing along top secret information to individuals unauthorized to receive it. According to unsealed court documents released today, the 58-year-old allegedly passed along national defense information -- all classified -- about potential attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq. That information was allegedly passed on to two top officials of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, also known as AIPAC, a major pro-Israel lobbying group.
Today Franklin had his first federal court appearance in Alexandria, Virginia. Wearing a blue shirt without a jacket or tie, he stood before a judge for all of four minutes. Franklin didn't say a thing. But according to his attorney, plans to plead not guilty.
JOHN RICHARDS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: We intend to vigorously defend the case, and we expect that the judicial system is going to exonerate him.
OSIAS: The court papers say that in 2003 Franklin joined two AIPAC officials for lunch at an Arlington, Virginia, eatery. Law enforcement officials confirmed those individuals to work for the Pro- Israeli group. Franklin was under surveillance for espionage activities at the time. The criminal complaint alleges it was in that June meeting that Franklin leaked the information. About a year later, Franklin admitted those leaks to the FBI. In recent days AIPAC fired the two employees, but insists the group is not a target of the investigation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
OSIAS: This is what we know about Larry Franklin. He works on the Iran desk in the International Security Affairs Section of the Pentagon. He also holds a doctorate in Asian studies, works in international security affairs, and had access to sensitive information for almost 26 years. Franklin served as a colonel with the United States Air Force Reserves and was about to retire from the Pentagon.
Now, Wolf, if he is found guilty he could face 10 years behind bars. He is also out on $100,000 bond.
BLITZER: All right, good work. Kimberly Osias reporting for us.
We'll get more information on this story as well.
In East Chester, New York, a quick thinking gas station attendant apparently prevented a disaster. Check this out. A motorist apparently forgot to remove the hose from his tank after he pumped gas. When he drove off, he pulled the entire gas pump down triggering a fire. The attendant quickly turned on the fire suppressant foam which put out the flames. Police reportedly are talking to the motorist to find out if he realized what he had done. Got to be careful at those gas stations.
Ahead, a major development in the Michael Jackson case. We have details on what's going on.
Then -- insisting she's innocent and pleading for her freedom, a young woman faces life in a foreign prison for a crime she says she didn't commit.
And cool the moves -- Texas law makers pass a bill that would ban certain performances by high school cheerleaders. We'll tell you about that. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: And this story is just coming in to CNN as well. The prosecution in the Michael Jackson molestation trial has rested its case.
CNN's Rusty Dornin is live outside the courthouse in Santa Maria, California -- Rusty.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, after 10 weeks and 80 some witnesses, the prosecution finally rested after a very long day hearing from their final witness Rudy Provencio. He was involved in a business deal with Michael Jackson, and a close adviser Mark Schaffel. He talked about overhearing telephone conversations. He claimed he took copious notes about telephone conversations. That he overheard things like killers. That the killers were stalking the accuser's family, and at one point the family had escaped from Neverland. Now, hearing all these things hinting towards a conspiracy, but as many people here are saying it fell far short of many people's expectations about it being a bombshell, and actually directly linking Michael Jackson. He didn't directly link Michael Jackson to any kind of criminal activity or kind of conspiracy. And of course, then on cross-examination Thomas Mesereau really delved into when exactly did he turn these notes over that he said he took. He said he took notes right away, but apparently he didn't turn them over to police until last month, when he mysterious found them in a storage facility. He claimed he forgot about them. Mesereau kept drilled him, asking him if he'd been planning on writing a book. He says he wasn't planning on writing a book.
But in the end, it was something that looked like, perhaps, again a prosecution witness that was sort of morphed into a defense witness. It wasn't the strong finish perhaps that prosecutors had been hoping for. So, the defense will begin tomorrow. And we're expected to hear from some of the victims that were in the early '90s that the prosecution claims were molested, one of them even Macaulay Culkin -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Rusty Dornin with the latest from the trial. Thanks very much, Rusty, for that.
Other stories we're following, protest, petitions and boycott threats all part of a fallout from a drug smuggling case that is little known in this country, but is drawing huge attention on the other side of the world.
Let's get some details. CNN's Brian Todd joining us -- Brian.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this is a case that has escalated to the top levels of two powerful governments, drawn the attention of a major movie star and seems to be building to a very dramatic conclusion.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice-over): A case that an Australian official compares to the Michael Jackson affair for its sensationalism. The sister of the accused attacks the media.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Leave her alone, all of you!
TODD: The defendant herself faints once outside the courtroom, then inside -- a pattern that has left the judges frustrated. Such is the ordeal of 27-year-old Schappelle Corby, an Australian beauty student arrested last October on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. Customs officials at the airport discovered a nine pound bag of high grade marijuana in her luggage. Corby always maintained it was planted there after she checked her bag through in Sydney.
CORBY: And I swear, by God as my witness, I did not know marijuana was in my bag.
TODD: But Schapelle Corby faces three judges and an Indonesian justice system determined to crack down on drug trafficking. Several death sentences have been handed down to foreign nationals in recent years. Prosecutors have asked for a life sentence for Corby, but the judges could still send her to death by firing squad if they convict.
CORBY: Please, look to your God for guidance in your judgment for me.
TODD: As she pleads for her life, Corby seems to have a keen sense of how this case is playing back home. An Australian official tells CNN this is dominant news every day with popular sentiment favoring Corby's side. Star actor Russell Crowe has joined the fray, telling an Australian radio program the government must apply more pressure.
RUSSELL CROWE, ACTOR: I don't understand, when there is such doubt, how we can, as a country, stand by and let a young lady, as an Australian, rot away in a foreign prison. That is ridiculous.
TODD: Australian officials say the government will seek clemency if a death sentence is imposed. But for now this is a matter for the Indonesian courts, where a young lady appeals for compassion.
CORBY: I believe seven months which i've already been in prison is severe enough punishment for not putting locks on my bag. I don't know how long I can survive in here.
TODD: And at least one judge seems to have heard enough.
JUDGE LINTON SIRAIT, INDONESIA (through translator): We've already 75 percent decided, but I cannot tell you our conclusion.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TODD: A conclusion that could come any day now when the judges announce their verdict and sentence. In the meantime, Australian officials say they're discussing the idea of a prisoner transfer agreement with Indonesia, opening the possibility that, if Schapelle Corby is convicted, she could serve her sentence at home.
Indonesian officials would not return our calls for comment, Wolf.
BLITZER: And tomorrow on this program, I'll be speaking with the Australian foreign minister. I'll ask him about this case.
Brian Todd, you keep us updated as well. Thanks very much.
Let's get a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): Annual remembrance day ceremonies for 6 million Jews who died in the Holocaust are under way. In Israel, the entire country observed a minute of silence today. Events also included a ceremony at the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. Kenya's first lady is accused of storming into the office of the country's biggest newspaper and going on a tirade over coverage of her and her family.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You've got to come here. You've got to take it back.
BLITZER: Reports say she slapped a television cameraman and demanded the arrest of a reporter and an editor. A government spokesman refused to comment on the incident, which happened on world press freedom day.
In India, police officers and villagers worked for hours to rescue a baby elephant that fell into a well after heavy rains.
And in Belgium, a world record is set: More than 4,000 college students took part in a huge pillow fight to help raise money for charity.
And that's our look around the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: This note coming up at the top of the hour, LOU DOBBS TONIGHT, mogul Warren Buffett, Lou's special guest, talking Social Security, the economy and more. It's an exclusive, live interview. Warren Buffett joins Lou right at the top of the hour, 6:00 p.m. Eastern.
Still ahead this hour, are the sidelines getting too racy? Texas law makers trying to ban certain cheerleading moves. We'll have details.
First, though, as part of CNN's anniversary series "Then and Now," we look back at the story of John Glenn.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God speed, John Glenn.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's got the right stuff. The first American to orbit the earth, John Glenn became an instant American hero. Later, inspired by Bobby Kennedy, he ran for political office becoming a U.S. Senator from Ohio. He served for 24 years until 1998. When Glenn left Capitol Hill and the surly bonds of Earth one more time.
At the age of 77, he became the oldest person ever to go into space. Now 83, Glenn is far from retired, dividing his time between Ohio and Washington, where he serves on a NASA advisory board.
JOHN GLENN, FRMR. SENATOR: I don't think retirement would be much fun anyway.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he his wife Annie have founded the John Glenn Institute for Public Service at Ohio State University, where he serves as an adjunct professor. GLENN: The main involves (ph) is letting the students know the value of public service and public participation and politics.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Glenn is also still involved in politics, serving as a delegate at the 2004 Democratic convention.
GLENN: It's been a very active life. And one that I could not have foreseen at all when I was a kid growing up back in New Concord, Iowa.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Banning the bump and grind: It's the target of a Texas bill aimed at toning down high school cheerleading, which some say has gotten too sexy for the sidelines.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): If football is king in Texas, cheerleading is its coveted consort. But in the same state that's home to one of the NFL's sexiest cheerleading squads some legislators want to make sure there's no such cavorting on high school sidelines.
On Tuesday, the State House passed a bill putting the Texas Education Agency in charge of policing quote, "overtly sexually suggestive cheerleading routines." The problem is no one can define exactly what that means, including the bill's author.
AL EDWARD, (D) TEXAS STATE HOUSE: Rather than trying to describe it or make movements, if you're an adult and you've been involved with sex ever in your life, you know it when you see it.
PAM UHR, ACLU: I don't think we do want our kids doing stuff like that. The problem with the bill is that there is no definition of what is sexually suggestive.
BLITZER: And some say the issue should be dealt with locally, not by the state.
TERRY GIBBS, CHEERLEADING COACH: We show everything before we perform. Hopefully, they see it, and if our administrators feel like it's not appropriate, we make the changes.
BLITZER: Others note that what's too wild for Waco, may not be all that audacious for Austin.
JAMIE METHENY, FRISCO HIGH SCHOOL: It's going to be hard to keep tabs on what you consider modest and what you don't. I mean, people have different levels of what they think is modest and what they think is not.
BLITZER: But some cheerleading coaches think the bill is a good idea, with one saying you can still entertain without too much shaking. BARD PAGE, CHEERLEADING INSTRUCTOR: I don't think that provocative dance moves belong on the sidelines, or in front of the crowd. I mean, when you're audience is family oriented, I mean, it's got to be G-rated.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: The bill now goes to the Texas Senate.
"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now. Lou is standing by with this -- Lou.
END
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