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American Airlines Flight Diverted; U.S. Officials: Progress on Iraqi Benchmarks Mixed; Al Qaeda Resurgence?
Aired July 12, 2007 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Tony Harris.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.
Watch events come into the NEWSROOM live on Thursday morning. It's July 12th.
Here's what's on the rundown.
A White House progress report on the Iraq war headed to Congress today. We've just learned President Bush will talk about the findings next hour.
His news conference live, right here in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: Still unfolding, a Los Angeles to London flight makes an unscheduled stop at New York's JFK.
Security breach in the NEWSROOM.
Unfolding this hour, the White House set to release its report on Iraq. President Bush is set to hold a news conference next hour.
We will get to the White House live in just a few minutes live.
But first, we want to get to a story that is still breaking. American Airlines flight diverted. Security concerns cited.
The plane now on the ground, but the details certainly still up in the air. The passengers and crew are safe at New York's JFK airport, where many are getting ready to leave on another flight now.
Our Alina Cho is there.
Alina, clear some of these details up for us if you can. We've been hearing all kinds of different scenarios here.
What about the status of those passengers and then the one involved in this security breach?
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, let's get to the man in question first, Heidi, because there are a lot of questions about him. American Airlines has just confirmed to CNN a few minutes ago that that man in question is not a flight attendant, not an employee of American Airlines, but rather an executive platinum traveler. So a frequent flier who did purchase a bona fide roundtrip ticket from LAX to London's Heathrow airport on April 19th.
So this was a legitimate ticket holder. The big question is whether that ticket holder, whether that passenger actually got on to an employee shuttle bus at LAX.
According to the TSA, a flight attendant on that flight, 136, from LAX to Heathrow, believed that he or she saw that man in question on the employee shuttle bus, later saw that person on the flight and said, wait a minute, something is wrong here. Questioned that person, then ultimately, the flight was diverted in the overnight hours somewhere over New Finland and landed here at JFK in the early morning hours.
Now, there were 188 passengers in all on that flight. All of them were taken off the flight, re-screened, and they have all been rebooked on other flights leaving for London starting at 9:00 a.m.
So this has been a big hassle, obviously, for these passengers. But one passenger we just spoke to a moment ago said -- you know, because they were told essentially they were landing at JFK because there wasn't enough fuel to get them to London. And this passenger told CNN he thought that was a good idea that the pilot said that instead of worrying all of the passengers on board -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes. It's very difficult oftentimes for them from the cockpit to figure out what to do to keep everyone calm.
Quickly, Alina, did you say where this executive platinum flier, frequent flier is at this time? Where is he now?
CHO: Unclear. Unclear.
What I can tell you is that that man was detained and is being questioned. Still trying to get confirmation whether he is in FBI custody.
COLLINS: OK, very good.
Alina Cho, we know you're still working the story for us. Thanks so much. We'll check back later should anything change.
HARRIS: President Bush's progress report on the Iraq war due any time now. We have just learned the president will hold a news conference next hour.
Let's go live to White House Correspondent Elaine Quijano.
Elaine, good morning to you.
What do we expect President Bush to say in this news conference, I believe scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time? ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Tony.
Well, for days, the White House has been trying to downplay the significance of this report, and in some sense that is certainly what we expect to hear when the president does take part in that news conference just a short time from now.
Officials are calling this interim report a snapshot. They say it is an early progress report. And that really is reflected in the ratings, that each of these 18 benchmarks for the Iraqi government have been given.
Administration officials say that of the political, security and economic benchmarks or goals for the Iraqis to meet, eight get a satisfactory rating. Eight are unsatisfactory. And two are mixed.
Now, yesterday, after a meeting here at the White House with President Bush, Republican Senator John McCain said the report will show some success on the military side, but on the political side, the senator did not mince words. He said, point blank, there is none.
But look for President Bush to emphasize that in his view, it is still very early yet, he wants lawmakers to give the so-called surge strategy, the troop increase plan more time to work. Even though, Tony -- important to point out here -- that U.S. troops began rolling out for this so-called surge back in February. The surge strategy itself announced by President Bush back in January -- Tony.
HARRIS: Our White House correspondent, Elaine Quijano, for us.
Elaine, thank you.
President Bush addresses the Iraq report card. His news conference this morning, 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Live coverage right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: Al Qaeda as strong as it's been since 9/11. That's the unsettling conclusion of a classified intelligence report.
Earlier, on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," the nation's homeland security chief said the bottom line is clear.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: I think the real lesson here, and it's something we saw, for example, during the Cold War, is that we can never rest on our laurels. We have done a lot to secure this country over the last five years, and we have been fortunate, but also we have reaped the harvest of that in that we have not had a successful attack here.
But the enemy is continuing to change and adapt. And we cannot be static. And that's why as we go forward into the next year, I'm really urging people to take a close look at some of the additional security measures we're trying to put into place here. (END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Michael Chertoff raised eyebrows earlier this week saying he had a "gut feeling" the U.S. could be attacked this summer. He is stressing now he does not know of a specific credible threat.
HARRIS: Let's get a quick check of weather now.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: The Iraq progress report landed on Capitol Hill. Our congressional correspondent, Dana Bash, is working her way through it right now.
Dana, good morning.
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony.
And CNN just obtained a copy. This is the summary of this 20- plus page report that is expected to come to Capitol Hill today. And this summary, as we have been reporting, shows very much a mixed review of how the Iraqis are progressing.
Eight of these so-called benchmarks mostly on the military side do show satisfactory progress. Eight show unsatisfactory progress. That's mostly on the political side. And two say that they are too early to assess.
Now, as I said, I just got this, obtained this moments ago. But just at a very early read of this, Tony, a couple of things really -- really strike me.
First of all, on the satisfactory front, as I mentioned, mostly on the military side, but some on the political side. For example, forming a constitutional review committee and then completing the constitutional review. That got satisfactory.
And on the -- on the military side, establishing all of the planned joint security stations in neighborhoods across Baghdad. That also got a satisfactory mark.
But there is something that is going to certainly raise the ire of senators here and congressmen here, for sure, and that is something that got an unsatisfactory remark. And that is, increasing the number of Iraqi security forces units capable of operating independently.
That has been a part of the refrain that we used to hear very much from the White House -- when the Iraqis stand up, we'll stand down. What this is saying is that the number of Iraqi security forces capable of operating independently is so far unsatisfactory.
So we're continuing to read this.
HARRIS: Sure.
BASH: But clearly, a mixed bag, as we've been reporting. HARRIS: Dana, since we know much of what is likely to come in this report, bits and pieces that have been coming out all week, I'm wonder how that report is likely to be viewed on Capitol Hill. And was some of that reaction to some of the findings reflected in the meeting yesterday between Republicans and Stephen Hadley?
BASH: Certainly it was. I mean, the answer to your question on how it's going to be -- how it's going to be accepted here is, essentially, most senators when you talk to them, especially Republicans, they say they pretty much know what to expect, as you said, in this report.
HARRIS: Sure.
BASH: But I've got to tell you, when they see this in black and white, it's definitely going to have an effect on the debate here.
You mentioned this meeting, this private meeting with Stephen Hadley and about a dozen Republican senators. What he was trying to say is, regardless of what is in this, this July report, hold off. Wait until the final report in September.
But what he heard from many Republican senators is, no, we don't want to wait. We know what's coming, we know what's happening, we know what's happening on the ground now. And right now, they told him, is the time to start figuring out a new strategy. Not in September.
HARRIS: Yes.
Our congressional correspondent, Dana Bash, for us this morning.
Dana, thank you.
BASH: Thank you.
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: President Bush addresses the Iraq report card. His news conference this morning at 10:30 Eastern.
We will have it live for you in the NEWSROOM, right here on CNN.
HARRIS: Al Qaeda rising? A chilling conclusion from a classified report.
Here to fill us in on it all, CNN Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Despite bombing al Qaeda strongholds and counterterrorism operations around the world, al Qaeda is regrouping and is at its strongest since the war on terror began. U.S. officials say that's the conclusion of a classified government report.
It certainly seems to back up what Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has been saying.
CHERTOFF: We do see some general trends that are concerning. We see the fact that they are training in certain parts of Pakistan. We see the fact that they have now reached into North Africa and they have got an affiliate in North Africa. We have seen over the last year increased activity in Europe.
ARENA: The secretary took a great deal of heat for saying it was a gut feeling that the U.S. was in a particularly vulnerable period.
SEN. JIM WEBB (D), VIRGINIA: I would hope that someone who is the director of Homeland Security would have something else to offer us if he's going to be talking like that.
ARENA: So Chertoff had to spend time explaining what he meant.
CHERTOFF: We don't currently have specific, credible information about a particular threat against the homeland in the near future.
ARENA: Intelligence experts say al Qaeda has been able to find safe haven in the tribal areas of Pakistan.
JOHN KRINGEN, CIA DIR. FOR INTELLIGENCE: We see more training. We see more money. We see more communications. So we see that activity rising.
ARENA: What's more, the volume of messages from al Qaeda leaders has sharply increased.
DANIEL BENJAMIN, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: But what it does tell us is that al Qaeda feels that it's in a pretty safe place for recording messages and distributing them. They certainly don't look like they're on the run.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And Kelli Arena joins us now live.
Good to see you, Kelli.
ARENA: Good to see you, Tony.
HARRIS: Are officials saying we should be -- trying to figure out if you're at home what to make of this. Are they saying that we should be more concerned now? And if so, what's being done to deal with this rising threat?
ARENA: Well, you know, Secretary Chertoff says that basically people just need to be vigilant. He points out that the London attacks, those were uncovered by an alert ambulance driver who saw something that didn't look right, notified authorities, and they were able to head off what could have been a disaster there. And so he says, you know, time and time again we hear about alert citizens that play a very important role in stopping disaster from happening. And he's urging Americans just to keep in mind that if you see something that doesn't seem right, do not hesitate to contact authorities.
Officially, Tony, the FBI has been very busy. They actually set up a special group of agents and analysts that are now combing through intelligence and leads and tips and sometimes old cases to basically supplement work that's already being done in the field just to make sure that they're not missing anything, to make sure that there isn't something that may have looked like nothing before that looks like something now.
HARRIS: Yes.
ARENA: So, on both ends of the spectrum, officially and for the public, you know, it's extra -- it's vigilance, it's alertness, it's being aware.
HARRIS: And one more quick question. When you talk to your sources, and you ask them this question -- I'm curious as to how they respond. Here's the question: Do we have an ally in the war against terror in Pakistan?
ARENA: Oh, Tony. You're not going to do that to me. It is a matter...
HARRIS: I'm sorry.
ARENA: ... of much -- of much debate.
HARRIS: Sure.
ARENA: As you know, President Musharraf is under a great deal of pressure in his country. There have been assassination attempts. You know, he is trying to walk a very fine line between appeasing his populous and also doing what he can for the U.S. But you know that the government in Pakistan has been hands off on those tribal areas for some time now.
HARRIS: Absolutely.
ARENA: And that is a major problem. And the U.S. has been quietly putting pressure on Pakistan to sort of get its act together in those areas, because that is where al Qaeda is regrouping.
They're training there, according to experts, they're raising money there. They are reconstituting, they are getting themselves back, you know, to a place where they haven't been for a long time.
HARRIS: Right.
ARENA: The U.S. did a lot of damage to this organization, you know, in the beginning of the war on terror. We captured, you know, leaders, and, of course, their training bases were bombed. But they are slowly coming back. And it is largely because they have been able to maintain safe haven in that area.
HARRIS: Yes.
ARENA: So, you know, we are going to hear a lot more about that, Tony. And it's going to get even sketchier as we go forward on the diplomatic front.
HARRIS: We ask you because we know you are asking the officials.
Kelli Arena.
Great to see you, Kelli. Thank you.
ARENA: Good to see you.
HARRIS: CNN "Security Watch" keeps you up to date on security. Stay tuned day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
COLLINS: Republican support for the Iraq war slipping. What to make of it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think what you have is -- I don't know. I really don't.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Is the White House in denial?
HARRIS: Kids can be cruel. We know that. But one form of schoolyard bullying may be especially damaging. News every parent should hear in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Making fun of the heavy kids, making fun of the kids with freckles. All too common. That kind of schoolyard bullying, though, can have serious and lasting effects.
We want to talk about it today with our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Is it true that this type of bullying -- I mean, I assume that it depends on what exactly is being said and maybe for how long it lasts, but could it have a lasting effect?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You know, and I think it's probably no surprise people watching this that says it can have some sort of effect. What surprised us, I think, was how long it lasts and how severe some of those effects can be.
There was a four-decade study, Heidi, actually looking at the impact of being teased and taunted about your weight and what that does to someone psychologically in the long run. There was a study that came out several years ago that this study looked at. Basically, it showed pictures of a kid who was in a wheelchair, a kid who was an amputee, a kid who had a facial disfigurement, and an overweight child, and universally children picked the overweight child last to be their friend, and it gave you a sense of just how profound this impact could be.
There are all sorts of teasing and tauntings that go on, whether it's just -- whether it be physical abuse, whether it be some sort of jibe, whether it be an exclusion. What they find, it does seem to have a lasting impact.
It seems to cause eating disorders later on, it seems to cause depression. It can cause hypertension even in very young people, and this can translate to, you know, less hiring practices, lower wages, even sometimes being taunted by health care professionals, as well, which is certainly I think surprising to a lot of people, but this is happening out there.
And remember, by the year 2010, they think 50 percent of children in the country may be overweight.
COLLINS: Oh, it's just unbelievable, and never mind all of the self-esteem issues, I'm sure.
GUPTA: Absolutely.
COLLINS: Is there a difference in how heavy a person or child would be before they would be taunted or bullied like this?
GUPTA: Well, it is interesting. It seems to.
People who are the heaviest seem to get taunted the most. But what was interesting as part of the study, they also found that people who just have the perception of being heavy, someone who may just be called chubby, but, in fact, really isn't chubby, but just has that look of being chubby, they also get taunted very significantly, as well.
COLLINS: Any difference between boys and girls?
GUPTA: It seems to, as well. With girls, on one hand, they seem to have a much more significant body image issue, so it can be a problem. But the types of taunting seem to change.
Whereas with girls, it might be more excluding from certain social organizations. With boys, it could actually get down to physical abuse much more so.
COLLINS: You have to wonder certainly as a parent what you can do about it. I'm sure you have seen some of the documentaries where people have worn fat suits and have gone and traveled just throughout everyday life to see what it really feels like.
So other than that and trying to experience it, I'm not quite sure what you can do. GUPTA: Well, there is an obesity epidemic in this country. That -- that goes without saying. You and I have talked about it a lot, and that obviously needs to be addressed. But I think education about this sort of discrimination at a very early age.
COLLINS: Right.
GUPTA: You and I both have young children. Early in school. Probably about not just gender discrimination, not just certain discriminations, but also weight discrimination probably needs to take place at a young age and continue on into adulthood.
This is going to become a growing problem, the psychological manifestations of obesity, in addition to the obesity problem itself.
COLLINS: Yes. Oh, it breaks your heart, too.
GUPTA: Yes.
COLLINS: All right. Sanjay Gupta, thanks so much.
GUPTA: Thank you.
HARRIS: Security breach or simply a misunderstanding? An American Airlines flight diverted due to a crew member's concern.
And Iraq making some progress. That new White House assessment heads to Congress today. The president talks about it shortly, 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time, live right here in the NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: A congressman from California earmarking money for a park in Washington. Is he just looking out for his adopted hometown or the value of his home nearby?
CNN investigates after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Good morning, 9:30 Eastern time. I'm Heidi Collins.
HARRIS: I'm Tony Harris
Welcome back everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM.
Assessing Iraq's progress -- a much anticipated White House report being released as we speak and a presidential news conference next hour.
CNN has learned the report states of 18 benchmarks set by the U.S. Congress, the Iraqi government has made satisfactory progress on eight, unsatisfactory progress on eight and mixed progress on two benchmarks.
Senator John McCain says the report will show some success on the military side, but added, on the political side, there is none.
For President Bush, that's a pretty stark assessment.
President Bush addresses the Iraq report card. His news conference this morning, 10:30 a.m. Eastern time live right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: The White House trying to stay the course on Iraq despite growing Republican discontent.
Here now, CNN's Ed Henry.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over): At his first on camera session in the new White House briefing room, Tony Snow repeatedly dodged when asked if Republican support for the war is slipping.
TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: And I think what -- I think public apprehension -- I think what you have is -- well, I don't know. I really don't.
HENRY: But just a few feet outside the briefing room, Senator John McCain admitted the obvious when asked if there's Republican erosion.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Yes.
HENRY: And after meeting with President Bush about his recent trip to Iraq, McCain said he knows why Republicans are defecting.
MCCAIN: I think they are concerned about the upcoming election.
HENRY: The type of candor that's not coming from a White House still trying to redefine what victory in Iraq will be.
SNOW: You don't define victory as keeping troops there. Victory is defeating al Qaeda.
HENRY: When asked if Al Qaeda in Iraq and the Al Qaeda run by Osama bin Laden are the same, Snow wasn't sure.
SNOW: That's a good -- that I'm not competent to tell you.
HENRY: But on Tuesday, the president sounded much more confident.
GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The same people that attacked us on September the 11th, the crowd that is now bombing people, killing innocent men, women and children.
HENRY: Snow is also trying to buy time by claiming the so-called surge has only been in place for two weeks, even though the president has been sending more troops to Iraq since February.
(on camera): Why are you saying that the surge troops have only been in place for two weeks?
SNOW: No, I said fully operational --
HENRY: Because President Bush --
SNOW: I said fully operational.
HENRY: (on camera): As early as Thursday, the president will release a preliminary report on whether the Iraqi government is meeting key benchmarks. It will be a mixed bag -- some progress on the military side but little, if any, progress on the political side -- more trouble for a White House already on the defensive.
Ed Henry, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COLLINS: Happening on the ground now in New York, flight diverted.
Security breach or just a misunderstanding?
Questions remain in this changing story this morning. American Airlines Flight 136 was en route to London from Los Angeles. The pilot diverted the plane to New York's JFK Airport overnight. A crew member had expressed concern about a passenger. That passenger traveling on an employee only bus from a parking lot to the airport. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff tried to clear up the situation earlier on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING".
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING")
MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: I have gotten a report that the individual in question was, in fact, an employee who was traveling in a private capacity. I think the good news here, of course, is an alert crew sees something that's animals or seems a little bit questionable and they take action.
It may very well turn out this was nothing more than a misunderstanding with an employee who used an employee bus to get on a plane for a private flight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: But American Airlines tells CNN the man is not one of its employees. Now there's this from a homeland security official. He says the airline identified the man as an executive platinum traveler with American Airlines. He had purchased a ticket for the flight. Now, he's being questioned. The other passengers have been rebooked on other flights.
HARRIS: Al Qaeda as strong as it's been since 9/11?
That is the unsettling conclusion of a classified intelligence report.
Earlier on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," the nation's homeland security chief said the bottom line is clear. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING")
CHERTOFF: I think the real lesson here, and it's something we saw, for example, during the cold war, is that we can never rest on our laurels. We have done a lot to secure this country over the last five years and we've been fortunate, but also we've reaped the harvest of that in that we have not had a successful attack here.
But the enemy is continuing to change and adapt and we cannot be static. And that's why, as we go forward in this next year, I'm really urging people to take a close look at some of the additional security measures we're trying to put into place here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Michael Chertoff raised eyebrows earlier this week when he said he had a gut feeling the U.S. could be attacked this summer. He is stressing now he doesn't know of a specific credible, specific threat.
Al Qaeda -- how imminent is its threat?
That question drawing two very different responses from an Al Qaeda expert and a former homeland security official.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "PAULA ZAHN NOW")
PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: There's no doubt it's regrouping.
But does that mean that there is a direct threat to the United States over the course of this summer?
I'm quite skeptical of that idea, you know, counter-terrorism
PAULA ZAHN, HOST: Why?
BERGEN: Well, because Al Qaeda, you know, when they -- when they tried to bring down 10 American airliners in the summer of 2006, they did it in the United Kingdom. They don't -- I don't believe that there are Al Qaeda sleeper cells in the United States waiting to strike. If they exist, they're so sleep they're effectively dead.
CLARKE KENT ERVIN, FORMER DHS INSPECTOR GENERAL: Precisely because terrorists have been coming from outside, I think that puts a premium on people who are already in this country. It's marginally harder to get into the United States than it was before 9/11, so there's a premium on homegrown terrorism, which we're increasingly seeing in Britain and throughout the rest of the world. No reason to think that that doesn't exist also here in the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: CNN's Security Watch keeps you up to date on safety. Stay tuned day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
HARRIS: environmentalists tried as terrorists.
Was justice served?
A closer look at a controversial case.
COLLINS: Some kids are bubbly, real chatter boxes. Well, that got one talkative tot bounced right off an airplane.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE PENLAND, KICKED OFF PLANE: As soon as we started taxiing, he started saying "Bye-bye, plane." She leaned over the gentleman beside me and said, "It's not funny anymore. You need to shut your baby up."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: a lot of baby talk coming your way in just a few moments.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Just another reminder for you, President Bush addresses the Iraq report card. His news conference this morning at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time live right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: Admitted to arson, tried as terrorists -- members of a radical environmental group are facing stiff sentences.
CNN's Ted Rowlands explains.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over): Chelsea Gerlach doesn't think it's fair, but in the eyes of the federal government and the law, she is a convicted terrorist.
CHELSEA GERLACH, CONVICTED OF ARSON: To lump us in with mass murderers just -- it's ridiculous.
ROWLANDS: Gerlach and nine other defendants were members of the Earth and Animal Liberation Fronts. Each took part in setting one or more of a series of destructive fires in five Western states. The fires caused more than $40 million in damage, including a development project in Vail, Colorado; a car dealership in Eugene, Oregon; a meat processing business; office buildings; and other targets.
In most cases, they left messages taking responsibility and warning of more attacks.
GERLACH: We were defending life by destroying property -- so defending animals, defending ecosystems and people who need a healthy environment.
ROWLANDS: But the federal government classified the attacks specifically as terrorism, which Attorney General Alberto Gonzales echoed two years ago while announcing an indictment in the case.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM JANUARY 2006)
ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES: Today's indictment is a significant step in bringing these terrorists to justice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: And as such, Chelsea Gerlach and the other defendants face sentences much longer than if they weren't classified as terrorists. Plus, they could be sent to maximum security prisons, putting their actions almost on the same level as the bombings of the 1993 World Trade Center, Atlanta's Olympic Park and Oklahoma City's federal building.
CRAIG WEINERMAN, FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER: The Ramsey Yousefs, the Eric Rudolphs, the Timothy McVeighs -- that's what the term is determined to cover, not people that intend to damage property.
ROWLANDS: Craig Weinerman is the public defender representing Chelsea Gerlach. He argues that terrorism implies an intent to kill or harm, and this group of mainly 20 something environmentalists, never meant to hurt anyone. Even though nobody was injured in any of the fires, Weinerman lost his argument in court, that terrorism should not apply in this case.
WEINERMAN: The punishment should fit the crime in the end. And labeling them terrorists, increasing their sentences significantly, throwing them away in these gulag type of terrorism prisons, it's just not the appropriate way to treat people whose misguided effort was to make a political statement by damaging property.
ROWLANDS: (on camera): Do you think that they are terrorists?
HANK HOGSTROM, CHILDERS MEAT COMPANY CONTROLLER: Definitely, they're terrorists.
ROWLANDS: (voice-over): Hank Hogstrom was called out of bed on Mother's Day when the family meat business was torched by Chelsea Gerlach and four of her friends. After the fire, which caused more than a million dollars in damage, the Animal Liberation Front left a note which promised more attacks as long as, "companies continue to operate and profit off of Mother Earth."
HOGSTROM: And we're afraid of them because we don't want them to harm not only us, but we don't want them to harm our employees or firemen that might be involved in suppressing their damage. So, yes, they -- they should be -- they should be terrorists. And they should be treated as such.
GERLACH: It was never our intention to frighten anyone. ROWLANDS: Chelsea Gerlach apologized for her role in the fires as part of a guilty plea. She maintains that she's not a terrorist, in part, because she and the others went to great lengths, she says, to make sure nobody was hurt in any of the fires.
GERLACH: Yes, we did. And I think our record speaks for itself on that. There's been over 1,200 ELA/ELF factions and no one never has been injured.
HOGSTROM: They were just lucky in our case that nobody was injured or nobody was killed. But they -- they -- but they didn't know. The building could have been filled with people. They had no idea.
ROWLANDS: In an agreement with the government for reduced sentences, all 10 of the defendants pleaded guilty. Their sentences range from three to 13 years.
Chelsea Gerlach received nine years for her part in seven fires. She may be sent to a maximum security prison because, no matter what she thinks, in the eyes of the government, she is a convicted terrorist.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Eugene, Oregon.
COLLINS: Former President Richard Nixon -- candid, uncut and cursing opponents. We'll play some revealing newly released recordings for you coming up.
HARRIS: Security breach or a misunderstanding?
An American Airlines flight diverted due to a crew member's concern.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Now, you see, every morning I tell you about the work that is going on to put together the pod cast.
Let me show you right now -- you're looking at one of the rooms where it is all coming together. This is the editorial production incoming content area of CNN. This is where feeds from all over the world come into the CNN Center. Eventually it's all turned around in that room. It finds the way into the CNN NEWSROOM from 9:00 until 12:00 Eastern time. And, also, that's where the work goes on to put together the information for the pod cast, which you can find by going to cnn.com. Download the CNN daily pod cast, which is available to you 24/7 -- Christopher, good to see you.
Right there on your iPod.
Are you with me now?
Do you get it?
Thank you. I get a little excited, don't I?
In the meantime, what steps can you take in your 30s and 40s to avoid a facelift -- huh -- in your 50s?
Here's CNN's Elizabeth Cohen.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When I look in the mirror now, I see a different person.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over): If you do by television, "Extreme Makeover," "The Swan," "Dr. 90210" -- you'd think everyone is getting a makeover.
According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, it may not be everyone, but the number of cosmetic procedures has gone up over 400 percent in less than 10 years.
Nine out of 10 were women, and nearly half the people having these procedures were between 35 and 50.
The most popular procedures for women are liposuction, breast implants and eyelid surgery.
At every age, the battle to beat the clock is most often fought in the face. You can't fight your genes, the number one factor dictates aging, but there are things you can do even at age 30 to slow down the aging process.
Avoid the sun and use sunscreen. Don't smoke. Eat a healthy diet. Drink a lot of water and use face creams with antioxidants.
But some people want more than that. And a new trend is to start getting anti-aging treatments young. Some plastic surgeons are actually suggesting botox at 30.
Dr. Marc Yune says botox can keep you from getting wrinkles in the first place.
DR. MARC YUNE, FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON: With botox, we're actually relaxing the muscles of facial expression to prevent wrinkling.
COHEN: Some other procedures plastic surgeons recommend in your 30s --
YUNE: Some skin treatments, such as microdermabrasion and light chemical peels.
COHEN: And once some women start, they have a hard time stopping.
In their 40s, many women start getting much more invasive treatments.
YUNE: The first sought after procedure in the facial work is eyelid surgery. That's because it's the first part that ages on the face noticeably.
COHEN: And as women approach their 50s and menopause, the aging process accelerates. So some women decide it's time for more surgery.
YUNE: We call it one of our most common aging face procedures -- our promoblopoplasty facelift (ph), lips and smile lines. That's just how the face ages.
COHEN: But even plastic surgeons admit there are risks and side effects for all of these procedures and you don't need any of them.
YUNE: Nobody needs me. If they come in to see me, it's simply because they want to address something.
COHEN: You could just decide to age naturally.
Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: So where's the beef?
You won't believe what they're using to make a popular hamburger- like snack in China.
HARRIS: Out of the mouths of babes then, you know, you've got to get off the plane. A toddler's chatter prompts a plane's turnaround. Mom and baby booted.
COLLINS: Iraq making some progress -- that new White House assessment heads to Congress today. The president talks about it shortly, 10:30 Eastern, live right here in THE NEWSROOM.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: (voice-over): Across the United States this week, people were feeling the heat, as temperatures in many cities reached the triple digits.
I-Reporter Scott Sureki (ph) reported a 118 degree temperature in his Las Vegas backyard during what he said was not even the hottest part of the day. Other Vegas residents like Ted Lanes (ph) and his daughter Jackie O. (ph) say well, the only way to keep cool is to get in the pool.
Sharon Dunton (ph) caught this camper emptying a water bottle on his head to keep cool in Indianapolis.
And I-Reporter Elana Van Joseph (ph) sent these images of her daughter trying to beat the heat at a water park in Sterling, Massachusetts.
And you can show us how you're battling the heat by sending us your pictures. Just point your browser to cnn.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COLLINS: Security threat or talkative toddler?
HARRIS: Well, it seems a little boy's a chatter leads to a plane turning around.
We get the story from Rachel Kim of CNN affiliate WSB in Atlanta.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
RACHEL KIM, WSB CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over): Kate Penland thinks her 19-month-old son Garin (ph) has a bubbly personality. But Kate says when they were aboard a Continental Express plane headed to Oklahoma City from Houston, a flight attendant became annoyed by Garin's personality when he kept saying three words.
PENLAND: As soon as we started taxiing, he started saying "Bye- bye, plane." And at the end of her speech, she learned over the gentleman beside me and said, "It's not funny anymore. You need to shut your baby up."
KIM: In disbelief, Kate asked the woman if she was kidding. It was then, Kate says, the flight attendant went too far.
PENLAND: And she then said, you know, it's called Baby Benadryl and did the little, you know --
And I said well, I'm not going to drug my child so you have a pleasant flight, you know?
KIM: Kate says when the other passengers began speaking up on her behalf, the flight attendant got angrier and soon announced that they were turning around and that Kate and Garin were being taken off the plane.
PENLAND: I was crying. I was upset. You know, I just -- I kept thinking what am I going to do? I don't have anything with me, you know? I don't have any more diapers for the baby, no juice, no milk.
KIM: The young mother says she later learned the flight attendant had told the pilot that she had threatened her, which Kate says never happened.
ExpressJet Airlines released this statement to us regarding Kate's complaints: "We received Miss. Penland's letter expressing her concerns and intend to investigate its contents."
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HARRIS: OK. Reporter Rachel Kim spoke to another passenger on the plane.
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