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CNN Saturday Morning News

Airline Passengers Getting Used to New Restrictions; Marshall Brain Discusses Liquid Explosives; Lawyer for Terror Suspects Appalled By Their Treatment

Aired August 12, 2006 - 11:27   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Here is what's happening right now in the news. Airline security remains at its highest level in Britain following Thursday's terror arrests, and the U.S. meanwhile, remains on high alert., color code orange.
It is day 32 of Mideast fighting, and the Israeli military strikes into southern Lebanon have intensified. The IDF says it has killed more than 40 Hezbollah militants in the past 24 hours.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush says he welcomes the prospects of a lasting peace plan for the Mideast. Regarding U.N. Resolution 1701, Mr. Bush is urging the international community to, quote, "turn words into action."

U.S. immigration agents are still searching for two students from Egypt who failed to show up for classes at Montana State University. Agents arrested three other Egyptian students last night in Iowa, and six earlier.

Three bombs exploded in two Iraqi cities today. This is video from Basra, where one bomb went off this morning in a market area, killing at least two people. Near Baghdad, two roadside bombs apparently targeting Iraqi police patrols wounded nine more.

NGUYEN: U.S. Homeland Security officials are keeping the security alert at red, or severe, for flights from U.S. to Britain. The alert level is orange or high if you plan to fly inside the United States. Now, Britain is keeping its terror alert at its highest level for the third straight day.

You know, it will probably take longer than ever to get through airport security, and since you can't carry many items that you used to, Gary Nurenberg joins us from Dulles International Airport near Washington with more. But, Gary, from what I understand, now that people are in the know, they're taking the precautions and the lines aren't as bad.

GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You understand it pretty well, at least from what we're seeing here at Dulles International Airport. We're into the fourth day now of these travel restrictions. Word seems to get out there, but as you can see from some videotape we want to show you, some passengers didn't quite get it and found themselves packing their bags in the corridors of Dulles before they approached the security gates so that they could keep the gels and liquids that they were not allowed to take on board. We saw a good number of people repacking their bags today.

Also, if you took a look at some garbage bins around, you would see that bottles of water and toothpaste were thrown in for those who couldn't repack and simply gave up and decided to throw it away rather than try to carry it on, because they knew it would be confiscated.

We talked to people about how their packing habits changed. Mallory Abbot came to us after a 30-hour flight from South Africa.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MALLORY ABBOT, TRAVELER: We left an hour late from Johannesburg because they had to hand search everyone on the way in. We had to repack all of our bags there, and do all the -- take out all the liquids and gels and deodorant, and I barely got in with my contact solution. I don't think I was supposed to still.

But so then we left an hour late and we got here an hour late and it took an hour-and-a-half to get our bags off the carousel and go through customs, and then we found out that instead of taking our 10:00 a.m. flight to Atlanta, we have to wait until 4:30, and we can't check in yet because we can't check in until 1:00 or something, so now we're just hanging out by the check-in counter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NURENBERG: Mallory said that she was going to offer to taste that contact solution but was told by security officials that she really didn't have to. She and her brother bought five rolls of bubble wrap when she was in South Africa, so her 19-year-old brother could bring back liquor, which he was not allowed to carry on. We're happy to report that the bottles they showed us made it safely -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Yes, I saw that video and was kind of wondering why are they bringing so much alcohol back? But, hey, you know, I guess you do what you got to do and they got it through. The main key is if it's liquid, put it in your checked luggage. Gary Nurenberg, thank you very much for that.

HARRIS: Reynolds Wolf is tracking not just the weather for us this morning for air travelers, but, and for the rest of you around the country, but whether the new security measures are impacting flight schedules at airports across the country. Reynolds, good morning.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning. No question about it, certainly some busy times to say the very least in the skies above and of course, the ground below. We're going to take a lock at our flight explorer.

And as we do so, this is just one snapshot we have just south of Washington, DC. Keeping an eye on a couple flights here. This one to just give you an idea this is Northwest Airlines flight 630. Leveling off around 33,000 feet, heading from Memphis going to La Guardia, passing just south of the James River at this time. Just to give you an idea, all airplanes, all images that happen to be shaded in blue, like this Delta Airlines flight 1193, the blue airplanes that are in blue are actually at level flights. The ones you happen to see that are in gray, that is a sign of the plane either descending or ascending, rising or coming in for a landing, so to speak.

Meanwhile, as I pull away for a moment, take a look at just the sheer number of airplanes we have that are in flight at this time. In fact, we are tracking over 6,000 across the nation and moving across the Atlantic at this time. So certainly busy times for them.

Now, to say the very least, we've had some delays inside the terminals going through security checkpoints. But in terms of just air delays at this hour, we're really reporting one. And that would happen to be in Charlotte where we have a 30-minute departure. That is weather-related and caused by some showers and storms we see moving through portions of the Southeast this hour.

We are going to see more of those into the Southeast. However, up in New England it is going to be just a lovely day. Mix of sunshine and clouds and high temperatures in New York going up into the 70s and into the 80s in that region. So it looks like a great day for you into this weekend. That's a look at what's happening in the skies above. And we're going to have more on that forecast coming up for you in just a few moments. So sit tight.

HARRIS: Lovely day.

NGUYEN: It is a lovely day. Especially with few delays, which I'm surprised, after seeing all those planes in the air that really put it in perspective for us. Thank you, Reynolds.

HARRIS: Just another reminder for you. When we are covering breaking news here at CNN, you -- you are our eyes and ears. And actually the eyes and ears of a network. If you capture a great picture or apiece of video on your camera cell phone, send it to us. Log on to CNN.com or punch "I-report" at CNN.com. Get it, "I report for CNN."

NGUYEN: I report for CNN.

HARRIS: At CNN.com on your cell phone and get that to us and we'll get -- there's actually a location where all of the great video is going on CNN.com so the folks at home who haven't sent in video but would like to see what's coming in, get an opportunity to view it.

NGUYEN: People are sending in - if it's worthy to put on the air, many of it is, so if you do got something great, don't hesitate, go to "I-report."

HARRIS: And still to come, it will absolutely scare you to see how easy it would be for terrorists to use liquid explosives to bring down an airplane.

NGUYEN: And in the Middle East, Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters show no signs of letting up despite a UN resolution calling for an end to the hostilities. We're going to hear from a former top Middle East peace negotiator on what to expect next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: All right. Here is what we know at this hour. British police are descending on Internet cafes in and around London as their investigation into the alleged terror plot to bomb U.S.-bound planes from England continues. Meanwhile, President Bush says the arrests are proof that Americans must remain vigilant in the war on terror.

And British and American air travelers deal with a new list of forbidden carryon items. We'll have more on that just ahead.

HARRIS: By now you know that you can't carry liquids on to planes anymore. You might grumble about the inconvenience. But when you hear how easy it would be to make liquid bombs, you may wonder why we didn't ban these liquids years ago.

Marshall Brain is the founder of howstuffworks.com. And he joins us from Raleigh, North Carolina. Hey, good to see you, sir. Thanks for your time. How easy is it with sort of kind of common household items is it to sort of put a concoction together that might be an explosive?

MARSHALL BRAIN, FOUNDER, HOWSTUFFWORKS.COM: Well, there's lots of different chemicals. One that we're familiar with is gasoline, just to start with something that we're all used to using. It's relatively safe. It doesn't explode. So it's easy to carry around.

It would be easy to put in a water bottle. If you had a gallon of gasoline on an airplane and you simply lit it, it would cause a significant problem. And if you had two or three people working together, they could easily bring a couple water bottles each of gasoline and combine it so ...

HARRIS: Not likely to happen even in the old days ...

BRAIN: Right, it's something that, you know, it's there and it's easy and it's something you can bring on a plane. Then if you want to get into chemistry ...

HARRIS: Yes.

BRAIN: There's so many different chemistries you can use. So, for example, nail polish remover is acetone. You can combine acetone with a couple of chemicals and make an explosive out of that. If you've ever heard of nitro-burning funny cars ...

HARRIS: Yes.

BRAIN: That uses something called nitromethane. And nitromethane is commonly used in little airplane engines that hobbyists use. So that's easily purchased at a hobby store. Then you add a sensitizing element to it. And that creates a very powerful explosive. HARRIS: You mentioned chemistry. How much chemistry background would you need to have to assemble the kinds of devices that you just sort of outlined?

BRAIN: Well, a terrorist organization often has specialists in different areas. So what would typically be done is they have with a specialist who would create a kit or recipe. And then, the agents or people out in the field simply follow the instructions. And so the people actually pulling it off don't need that much sophistication. They just need a book or a piece of paper that tells them what to do.

HARRIS: Hey, Marshall, stand by for just a second. We have got to get to a little bit of breaking news. If we have time we'll talk to you a little more on the other side of it, OK? All right, Marshall.

NGUYEN: Let's get right to it, some breaking news on the London terror investigation. We have some exclusive information from a lawyer representing two of the suspects. CNN's Dan Rivers joins us now live from London. Dan, I understand you just spoke with that lawyer. What did she say?

DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, she was highly critical of the way the police have been dealing with these suspects here in London. I'm standing in Walthamstow where many of the men were arrested, including the two men that she's representing.

She said that she was appalled with the way they've been treated. One man had not been given food or water for 26 hours. She said that they didn't have enough warm clothing. They were being kept in cold cells. There were requests for blankets to keep them warm and that had been refused.

She said also that they had had very limited contact themselves as lawyers with their clients. They had barely been able to talk to them, only for a few minutes. They hadn't been able to brief them on what was happening to them, to explain to them the court process that was going on.

And I asked her what are these people like as young men? The men she's representing are 22 and 23 years old. She said they were ordinary people, who were very shocked at what's happened to them. She said they were very concerned for their family, their families had been moved out of the family homes they live in here in this area of London and put into hotels.

These detainees have not been able to place a phone call to their parents to say they're OK. And generally, she was just incredibly critical of the way the police were dealing with this, saying that the police were being very unreasonable with the lawyers who were representing them and hadn't given the detainees the right to have a phone call home.

NGUYEN: Well, Dan did she talk at all about these two suspects and their role in this alleged plot? Did she say anything about that at all? RIVERS: She didn't. She has not even had the opportunity herself as the lawyer representing themselves to even ask them any questions about the allegations that had been put to them.

All she was allowed to do was to go in for some five minutes and try and get some food and water for these guys to try and get them some warmer clothing and just to make sure, physically that they were okay. One of them had alleged that he'd been pushed by the police and that he'd been racially abused by the police. That hasn't been confirmed by the police. Obviously.

But her basic main role yesterday when she saw them was just to try and secure their physical welfare. She hasn't had a chance to even talk to them about the allegations against them.

NGUYEN: Moving on to the investigation as a whole, Dan what do you know about that one suspect who was released overnight?

RIVERS: Well, she told me that this suspect who was released overnight was completely innocent bystander who just happened to be in this area of London. Saw all the police turn up and raiding one of the houses. And went over to have a look see what was going on and the police just grabbed him, thought he looked suspicious, and allegedly, you know, arrested him on suspicion of terrorism, got him back to the police station and then released he was nothing to do with any of the houses that they raided and they released him.

So it seems he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. If I can give you an idea of what's happening now, you might be able to see a couple of policeman down the road in their black uniforms outside one of the houses. That's allegedly the house of Waheed Arafat Khan (ph), one of the men arrested.

Over the road we have the mosque here where it's alleged some of the men worshiped. To give you a picture of this area of London, it's a fairly quiet suburb. Not a particularly affluent area of East London, kind of middle income area, lots of smaller terraced houses. A big population of Asians here, of Muslims here, a strong Muslim community here.

And the people we've talked to were shocked and completely can't comprehend that people in their midst could be accused of such heinous crimes as they've been arrested for.

NGUYEN: Well, as you give us the lay of the land and talk about the community, you're telling us not one person you've come in contact says that they believe these people were indeed part of a larger terror plot, that they showed any signs of being part of this?

RIVERS: Well, certainly, the lawyer we talked to, that was the first time she's talked to anyone. She just hasn't had the chance to talk to these guys about the allegations. The people we've had a brief chat to around here, certainly a guy at a mosque nearby was -- knew these guys, knew them from when they were kids, and said he didn't think they could have been involved with anything like this. He said they were all nice young men, polite. A lot of them had got jobs. He's known them for a long time.

He said he couldn't understand why they'd been arrested or could believe they had anything to do with this plot. And certainly, the lawyer was at pains to point out that in a lot of these raids in the past, a lot of people have been arrested and then, you know, maybe sometimes up to half the people who are arrested actually end up being released, and they're nothing to do with it.

Often, you know, in the confusion of these, the police go in, large numbers, they arrest anyone who's anywhere near the scene. And only later when they realize that perhaps some of the people they've arrested are nothing to do with this alleged conspiracy.

NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Dan Rivers joining us live from London with the latest on this terror investigation. Dan, we thank you for that insight. A lot of good information there. You're watching CNN SATURDAY. We'll be right back after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: We do continue to update two major developing stories for you. Here is what we know right now. The Lebanese cabinet is meeting to discuss a plan to end the Mideast conflict. Cabinet members are expected to approve the resolution approved by the UN Security Council yesterday.

And in a new televised appearance today, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said his organization will abide by the UN resolution. But he complained that it should have condemned Israel. British police, they continue their investigation into the alleged plot to bomb transatlantic airliners. They've released one suspect, but 23 others remain in custody.

HARRIS: CNN LIVE SATURDAY coming up at the top of the hour. Fredricka Whitfield here ...

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Carrying on the baton.

HARRIS: How about that. Good morning ...

WHITFIELD: You guys have had a busy morning. And I anticipate we'll have a busy day now. So we know British authorities have thwarted this airline attack. Well what can U.S. anti-terror authorities learn from how this attack was thwarted with the help of British authorities as well as a citizen?

We're going to talk to a former counsel of the 9/11 commission. And months ago, she was the target of a terror attack in Lebanon. She was inside her car, bomb goes off. These days, she's on the mend and now she's back in the anchor chair. She's a very popular famous television broadcaster in Lebanon. And you're going to get an idea of just what exactly she's been through.

HARRIS: She's terrific.

WHITFIELD: Yes, she really is. HARRIS: Yes, she's terrific.

WHITFIELD: Take a listen to her right now.

HARRIS: OK.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAY CHIDIAC, LEBANESE TV ANCHORWOMAN: I heard a blast. And I felt it at the same time. I was still awake. I saw like a black snow falling over me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So why was she a target? She says because of being outspoken. Just how outspoken is she now post this terror attack? May Chidiac, my conversation with her. You'll see it in the noon hour.

HARRIS: Oh, great. That's going to be super.

WHITFIELD: She's pretty remarkable.

HARRIS: Can't wait, Fred, thanks.

NGUYEN: Good stuff, thank you, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Thanks.

HARRIS: A human expression, unedited as it gets. From air travelers blogging for us.

NGUYEN: Watch out.

HARRIS: We'll have that for you coming up.

NGUYEN: Hear what they had to say on the banned liquids after this break. You are watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Just do it wouldn't be part of our vocabulary without Phil Knight. He co-founded Nike and eventually became CEO. Knight started out by selling shoes out of the back of his station wagon. And his career has been running ever since.

PHIL KNIGHT, CHAIRMAN, NIKE, INC.: I think that the whole retail and consumer products business is very, very competitive. If you do recognize it as an old business professor said to me, the only time you must not fail is the last time you try.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Knight's passion helped make Nike the world's number one shoemaker. In 2004, Knight stepped down as CEO, but continues on as chairman.

KNIGHT: I think hard work matters. I think having a passion for what you do matters. And I think you need at least those two ingredients and maybe a little luck too.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Surprise, no big surprise.

NGUYEN: No, not at all.

HARRIS: Many people pretty have upset over the new carry-on rules at airports.

NGUYEN: And here with more is our Shanon Cook from CNN.com desk. Hi, Shanon.

SHANON COOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there. Greetings.

And of course what better way to vent your frustrations than online on the blogs? We all know that along the security lines and tight restrictions can be a real hassle. But some bloggers are actually choosing to have a bit of a sense of humor about things. One blogger woman called Cindy Lane (ph) shares details about various liquids she was able to get on board in the confusion of the early stages of the ban. As you probably know by now, no liquids are allowed on boards flights in your carry-on.

But she managed to get on a bottle of sweet and sour mix, two bottles of cocktail sauce, three bottles of Bath & Body Works anti- bacterial soap, Kama Sutra body lotion, apparently for a bachelorette party gift or something, a bottle of A-1 steak sauce and bottle of liquid smoke, which Cindy describes as a Texas thing at some type of barbecue marinade.

Well, she managed to get some liquids on board. Another blogger who goes by the name Defekto questions just how wise it is not to be able to take toothpaste on flights. He says, "I can't get through most work days without wanting to brush my teeth, let alone the duration of a transcontinental flight in which time your personal hygiene becomes the business of the people sitting next to you."

All right. Now a blogger on the site Security Journal was reluctant to give up deodorant on a recent flight. That blogger writes, "When my stick deodorant was set aside and the plea of another passenger that his young daughter's asthma medication was needed on their vacation was rejected, DHS, the Department of Homeland Security, had gone too far. It is summer, hot and confiscating my deodorant was not about to happen."

Of course many travelers are concerned these new airline restrictions being imposed are going to become permanent. V (ph) on the blog, democracyfrontline.org writes, "Chalk up another great victory for the terrorists. More freedoms have vanished probably forever." As usual, a groundswell of opinion reflected on the blogs, as passengers continue to adjust. Back to you guys.

NGUYEN: I just have to laugh because some of those items are way out there. The -- shall we say sensual body lotion, along with the liquid smoke ...

HARRIS: Is that what that was, Betty?

NGUYEN: If she's not suspect, I don't know what is.

COOK: She was planning a good time in Belgium, I think.

NGUYEN: Apparently. I'm almost afraid to think about it.

HARRIS: I'm sorry, I'm uncomfortable in this moment. CNN LIVE SATURDAY with Fredricka Whitfield is up next right after this short break.

NGUYEN: Have a great day.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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