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American Morning

North Korea Warned Against Missile Test; Search Continues for Missing U.S. Soldiers; New Book Reveals Alleged al Qaeda Subway Plot; Encouraging Kids to Read During the Summer

Aired June 19, 2006 - 08:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Good morning to all of you.
North Korea being warned against a possible long-range missile test. There are reports that North Korea may have finished fueling the missile for a test flight, and may try to launch within the next month. Relations between North Korea and its neighbors are already tense because of a nuclear stand-off.

CNN's Atika Shubert has more for you from Tokyo.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, all eyes are watching North Korea for this possible missile test. There's been a flurry of diplomatic activity here. Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has said that his country would take stern measures if the tests were conducted.

Japan is threatening to impose sanctions and take its case to the U.N. Security Council. In fact, Japan's foreign minister has said if any part of the missile falls into Japan, it would consider it as an attack.

And the nervousness doesn't end there. It goes further in the region. China and South Korea have both pressed North Korea to reconsider going through with this test. But so far, there's been no response from Pyongyang, which is especially worrying with reports that the missile may have already completed fueling, the final stage before a launch.

Atika Shubert, CNN, Tokyo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(NEWSBREAK)

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: CNN "Security Watch" now. An alleged plot in 2003 to kill New York subway riders. That claim in a new book out this week. It says al Qaeda planned to spread deadly cyanide gas aboard subway cars. The book is called "The One Percent Doctrine: Deep Inside America's Pursuit of its Enemies Since 9/11," written by journalist Ron Suskind.

Here to talk about the allegations in the book is security analyst Pat D'Amuro, who was a former assistant director at the FBI in New York. Welcome, Pat, good morning to you.

PAT D'AMURO, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Good morning.

ROBERTS: You were there at the time when all of this was happening. How credible was this plot? What were the details of it?

D'AMURO: Well, the plot actually started when I was assigned FBI headquarters. And it was a valid threat. The threat came in talking about a gas attack on a New York subway system. So all the motions were put into place with the agency, the CIA, the FBI trying to obtain additional information regarding this particular threat.

ROBERTS: I was just thinking, how urgent was the threat? You said it was viable, but how urgent was it? I mean, where did it fall in the hierarchy of things that you were concerned about?

D'AMURO: Well, at that particular time, there were numerous threats coming into FBI headquarters and numerous threats coming into the New York office. This was one of those threats that raised above the level of normal. That was credible because there were documents found, there were individuals providing some information. The pieces that didn't fit were that were never -- the bureau was never able to identify some of the individuals that they said were in the country, ready to conduct this attack.

ROBERTS: The CIA was so concerned about this that it actually mocked up a device that was described in the al Qaeda documents, and brought it into the Oval Office and showed it to President Bush. I don't know if you saw the actual device, but you at least saw the pictures. Do you think it would have worked?

D'AMURO: I saw the photographs. There was some difference of opinion on the part of the scientists. Some scientists said it would be a viable attack. Other scientists were saying that it would have to be in a contained area, as in a subway car, with the doors closed. And the size of the actual device was somewhat in question, too, as to what size they would need to kill individuals in a...

ROBERTS: Yes, I mean, if it was something the size of a suitcase, could that be something that could be delivered on the New York subway system? I mean, people do get on with suitcases, but you definitely notice them.

D'AMURO: Well, again, when you're talking about a poisonous gas, as it dissipates, it becomes less effective. So in a subway system, a piston effect of the trains would be driving this gas into open areas. If it were in a small contained car, it would have had more of an effect. I think it's important to note, though, that in the subway attack in the U.K., in London, they chose to use more traditional devices as explosive material.

ROBERTS: Right. Yes. You've got to wonder. In 1995, the Japanese cult group Aum Shinrikyo let out sarin gas in a subway, killed 12 people, injured a number and certainly caused panic. If you're a terrorist, are you trying to go for as much bang for the buck, in terms of damage with an explosive? Or trying to, you know, maybe use the idea of fear that anytime you go into the subway, you could be possibly subject to attack? And cyanide gas certainly seems as though it would be one of those type of agents that would cause a lot of fear among a lot of people.

D'AMURO: It would cause fear. You have to remember what al Qaeda hopes to accomplish. And they want to attack the United States both economically, through the financial centers; they wanted to attack the United States through transportation modes. But most of all, they want to kill Americans. And was this called off by Zawahiri because he felt it was not that significant of an effect, and he wanted more headlines, more of a bigger explosion than this would have delivered? Or was it called off in favor of a larger attack?

ROBERTS: On that point, was it called off by Zawahiri?

D'AMURO: Well, there was some intelligence to indicate that Zawahiri wanted to postpone or put this particular situation off. Exactly why, it's still unclear.

ROBERTS: Because the body count may not have been high enough and might not have been the sort of spectacular attack that would have followed 9/11?

D'AMURO: That's one of the theories. It's one of the theories, that it would not have been successful as they hoped it would be. We knew from the training camps in Afghanistan -- the FBI, the CIA, the military knew from obtaining intelligence from some of the camps that were raided that they would almost give out homework assignments to individuals attending these terrorism camps to go home and come up with ideas and acts that would kill Americans.

ROBERTS: And certainly we saw the videotape of them testing poison gas against animals.

D'AMURO: That's right.

ROBERTS: And I remember the fear that that caused here in the United States. There were reports that the cell was in the U.S., was active, was ready to go, 45 days away from pulling the trigger. Anything to confirm that the cell actually was here, and if they were here, what happened to them?

D'AMURO: Those were the pieces that weren't confirmed. We could not confirm that individuals were here, in place, ready to conduct this particular act. You have to also realize that I think at times, al Qaeda may put out disinformation to try to draw intelligence and law enforcement authorities away from the actual act.

ROBERTS: All right. And I'm wondering, too -- this coming out now, how much of this might be attached to the cut in funding the DHS enacted on on New York City? This may be terrorism money.

D'AMURO: This actually started breaking -- this was in the media, in the written media, about a year or so ago, two years ago. So it actually started breaking out before. It's coming back up in Suskind's book now. ROBERTS: All right. Thanks very much. Pat D'Amuro, always good to see you.

D'AMURO: Take care.

ROBERTS: Soledad?

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, thanks a lot.

One of the two missing soldiers in Iraq is PFC Thomas Lowell Tucker of Madras, Oregon. His family was informed last night.

Let's get right to CNN's Dan Simon. He's live for us in Madras this morning. Hey, Dan, good morning.

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad. Well, we rolled into here just a short time ago, so we really haven't had much of an opportunity to speak to local folks yet. Plus, it's still early here on the West Coast. But when people in Madras do wake up this morning, they will find their local newspaper, "The Bulletin," and a big headline here: "U.S. Troops Search for Missing Madras Soldier." It really has a nice profile of the young man, 25-year-old Thomas Tucker.

This is somebody, according to the former mayor, who has an extremely strong spirit. The former mayor says that he used to work for him at a gas station. The young man, when he was in high school, had a part-time job. And he said that this is the kind of guy, if he's over there and he's captured, that this is the kind of guy who has the spirit to really endure this type of tragedy, this type of captivity.

And Soledad, the way the family found out about this is just heartbreaking. They were on a camping trip over the weekend, and when they got home, they were basically greeted by a member from the Oregon National Guard who told them about their son. Of course, Private First Class Tucker is a member of the 101st Airborne, but the Oregon National Guard is serving as a liaison between the army and the family.

And of course, everybody here in this community is rallying around this young man. And at this point, the family is not talking, but we are told that they may have some sort of statement a bit later on today -- Soledad, back to you.

O'BRIEN: Brutal, brutal time for the family. Dan Simon for us this morning. Dan, thanks.

John?

(WEATHER REPORT)

ROBERTS: This just into CNN. Apparently al Qaeda in Iraq is trying to make a claim of responsibility for the kidnapping of those two American soldiers, Private First Class Thomas Lowell Tucker of Madras, Oregon, as well Private First Class Kristian Menchaca of Houston, Texas. They put that information on an al Qaeda-affiliated Web site. However, there is nothing to confirm that at this point. In fact, the Web site does not even have the names of the two missing American soldiers listed. So it's an initial claim of responsibility. Yet, nothing at this point to confirm it -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Anderson Cooper has a look what's coming up on his program tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Soledad, tonight a special preview of my exclusive interview with Angelina Jolie only four days after she and Brad returned from Namibia with their baby girl. Our conversation about her family, Africa and refugees. That's tonight on "360," 10:00 p.m. Eastern -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: It is all part of World Refugee Day, which takes place on Tuesday. CNN is going to provide coverage all day and we're going to kick it off right here on AMERICAN MORNING, beginning at 6:00 a.m. Eastern time -- John.

ROBERTS: Still to come, if you want to keep your kid's brain sharp over the summer time, you can do a lot more than just give them a book to read or have them do a book report due at the end of the summer. We'll have tips how to stop summer brain drain.

O'BRIEN: And later, the silent ring tone. A ring tone that only grownups cannot hear it, but kids can. We'll explain how it works. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Reading is fundamental, they say, particularly when school's out for the summer. According to a new national study by Scholastic, 40 percent of kids between five and eight read every day, but just 29 percent of kids age 9 to 11 do so. And the percentage continues to drop all the way through age 17. So what's a parent to do to prevent the so-called summer slide, when your kid's brains sort of turn to mush, in part because they're not reading?

This morning we talk to Francie Alexander. She's the chief academic officer at Scholastic. Nice to see you. How are you?

FRANCIE ALEXANDER, CHIEF ACADEMIC OFC., SCHOLASTIC: It's good to be here, and I'm good.

O'BRIEN: Thank you. You know, is it just that there are other things to do, other options? So as your kids get into the nine to 11 range, and then as they get older and older, you're suddenly competing with TV and computer games and all the other stuff that gets their attention?

ALEXANDER: They have so many choices. Plus they spend a lot of time just IMing and keeping up with friends. So there's lots of distractions, lots going on. So you have to sort of think, how can I make reading as fun and attractive as everything else? O'BRIEN: Because when they're little -- and my kids are really little -- when they're really little, they love books. They love just looking at the pictures. They love sitting in your lap. And then as they get older, sort of the appeal seems to diminish. How do you make it fun for a 9, 10, 11, 15, 17-year-old?

ALEXANDER: Actually, it's harder, but in a way it's more fun because you can read with your child, not to your child. So think about from the time you were little all the books that have been written. So sometimes it's really a good idea -- share those books with your children. Say, you know, here's something that was my favorite when I was little. But here's something I haven't read at all. Let's read it together.

O'BRIEN: So as a parent, you start doing the same -- you read the book as they're reading the book and then you talk about it?

ALEXANDER: Exactly. And sometimes even literally read it together. You take a chapter, they take a chapter. You take a page, they take a page.

O'BRIEN: Is there a difference between how boys and girls -- the percentage of boys and girls who read during the summer? Do more girls read during the summer than boys?

ALEXANDER: In general, girls read more than boys. And so then they just get that much ahead by reading a little bit more over the summer. So boys, you really have to make it fun, make it interesting, kind of meet them where they are like.

O'BRIEN: What do you mean?

ALEXANDER: Technology. They like technology. So give them the opportunity to -- if they want a new computer game, read the directions so that they can learn the strategy for getting a better score. Let them do things like fact books. And one thing -- you can never go wrong with humor and a boy. Joke books, riddle books. They're short, they're fun. I have "Captain Underpants" with me. And I always say you give me a...

O'BRIEN: What age is this for? "Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman."

ALEXANDER: I mean, you can't -- see, you laugh when you read it. I cannot -- you give me any boy out on the street, and I will show you a survey. They will all pick up this book and did what you did and laugh at it and they'll want to read it.

O'BRIEN: They like any sort of gross humor, too. If the parents read -- more likely, then, the kids are going to read. I mean, if the parents are sort of casual readers for fun, not just for work, kids are going to read?

ALEXANDER: Absolutely. It was amazing in the study. That was one of the biggest findings, that kids who are what we call high frequency readers, so are their parents. They saw their parents reading and using reading. And like when they go to the beach, saying I can't wait to take this great book with me. And the kid thinks, oh, that's a fun thing to do. Get to take a book to the beach.

O'BRIEN: As in everything. Whatever you do as a parent, the kids mimic it, don't they?

ALEXANDER: That's right. They want to be like you.

O'BRIEN: Yes, they -- you've got some great tips. And I love them, so I want to go through them one at a time. First you say, you know, alternatives to reading sort of like reading. Take a field trip.

ALEXANDER: That's right.

O'BRIEN: How does that help with reading?

ALEXANDER: Well, they -- actually just reading signs, planning,, looking at it. But you know what? Learning is part of reading. Learning about the world. Anything you find out, when you read a book later, you've built background. You're smarter. You'll do a better job.

O'BRIEN: Play word games. Soduku is so popular now. Does that help, you think, with learning?

ALEXANDER: Yes. It helps with reasoning, problem solving, focusing on a task. Things like Scrabble. And a really fun one in the car is say let's go for an hour without saying a single word with an M in it. It's so hard and gets them to thinking.

O'BRIEN: Unless it gets too bad.

ALEXANDER: I know. It makes you think all the time. Words, words, what can I say? And it just gives you this whole attitude about words are fun.

O'BRIEN: Finally, you say, think about cooking as an alternative to reading?

ALEXANDER: Cooking is a big trend with kids who are older than eight. They like looking at cookbooks, boys and girls. You know, they sort of aspire to make things. So let them read recipes, let them pick out recipes and let them have a good time with it.

O'BRIEN: I used to do book reports over the summer. That was such a drag. But I like this. And if I would do cooking, I think I would have really enjoyed that.

ALEXANDER: That would be more fun, and then you would have something to write about for what I did on summer vacation.

O'BRIEN: Exactly, exactly. Francie Alexander, nice to see you. Thanks for talking with us. These are terrific ideas. Appreciate it. She's, of course, the chief academic officer at Scholastic.

John?

ROBERTS: And now we know whose parents ordered their child to do a book report during the summer.

O'BRIEN: I turned out just fine.

ROBERTS: You turned out just fine. Up next, Andy is "Minding Your Business." He turned out just fine. What do you got for us?

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" COLUMNIST: Thanks, John. The U.S. Mint introduces a new gold coin. Get ready for that. Plus, you think you have a big TV? Try 30 feet by 70 feet, and it floats 1,000 feet in the air. We'll get to that riddle -- John.

ROBERTS: It's got to be at Bill Gates' house, right?

SERWER: Right.

ROBERTS: All right, thanks, Andy.

Also ahead, the sounds of silence. It's a ring tone that it's said only kids can hear. We'll show you how it works, and how some high-tech savvy kids could use it to their advantage, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

O'BRIEN: Coming up in just a moment, a look at the top stories, including the military's search for two U.S. soldiers who have been missing since an attack on their checkpoint. We're live in Baghdad this morning.

Then, prosecutors ask for the death penalty at the Saddam Hussein trial.

A new book details a planned al Qaeda attack on the New York subway system.

New fears that North Korea is ready to test a long-range missile that could reach the U.S.

And the U.S. Episcopal Church elects its first-ever female presiding bishop. A look at those stories and much more, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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