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CNN Live At Daybreak
Kidnapper's Deadline Draws Near; N.Y. Cop Serves in Kandahar
Aired January 31, 2002 - 06:31 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We told you at the top of the hour about a new appeal from the "Wall Street Journal" to the kidnappers of one of its reporters.
CNN's Ben Wedeman joins us now live from Karachi, Pakistan with more - Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes Carol, it's more than 16 hours since the e-mail containing that 24-hour deadline was received by the "Wall Street Journal". Now in response, Mr. Paul Steiger, he's the managing editor of the "Wall Street Journal", has put out a statement responding to that original e-mail.
In it he says, "neither Danny nor I can change the actions of governments. What we can change is the understanding of each other's cultures and perspectives. I propose that you view Danny as a messenger. With this information Danny can appear before the world when released and can provide your group with the unique and unprecedented opportunity to tell the entire world your point of view. There could be no better way to have your beliefs and your concerns listened to throughout the globe."
He goes on to say that killing Danny "will achieve nothing for you." We also spoke with his wife, Marianne, who is six-months pregnant. She completely dismissed claims that her husband is a spy for anybody. She said that they have come here to Pakistan to work on creating dialogue between different cultures.
Now the Pakistani Ministry of the Interior has taken into custody the man that Mr. Pearl was on his way to interview the day he disappeared. They are also taking into custody three other individuals who have been linked to the kidnapping, but as yet no word since last night from the group that is calling itself The National Movement for the restoration of Pakistani sovereignty by the group that is holding Mr. Pearl - Carol.
COSTELLO: Ben, I don't know if you've heard this, but this just came over the wire from Reuters. Pakistan has said, said on Thursday there was an Indian link to the kidnap of U.S. reporter Daniel Pearl, and this is a quote from a top spokesman of Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf. He says "there is an establishment of an Indian linkage into this kidnapping". Have you heard anything about that?
WEDEMAN: No, we've also heard that statement out of Islamabad, and there's not much more than that. It's worth noting that India and Pakistan whenever events occur in their respective countries, they have a tendency to accuse the other of involvement in that attack. Often times that link is not necessarily proven beyond a reasonable doubt, but obviously when there are tensions and certainly tensions are very high indeed between India and Pakistan, certainly there is a tendency to exchange accusations, and this case is no exception - Carol.
COSTELLO: This group that's taken Daniel Pearl hostage has now threatened other journalists. Why are they targeting journalists?
WEDEMAN: Well certainly journalists are a very prominent sign of the West, of the United States. Obviously there is a certain amount of unhappiness within Pakistan following the military action in Afghanistan and therefore, journalists are seen as symbols and representatives of the West. And certainly there are many journalists in this region at the moment, and it's not surprising that they are becoming the focus of this groups. It's worth noting that during the 1980's in Lebanon, following many years of very brutal and murderous civil war, western journalists became the target there.
Many were kidnapped and held for many years, and it's obviously too early to say if that is going to happen here, but certainly they are an easy target. They are, journalists get around. We have to go out and meet people, and Mr. Pearl was not doing anything that we wouldn't be doing either.
COSTELLO: Well hopefully you're being very careful and have added security around you Ben. He's just nodding. Thank you very much. Ben Wedeman reporting live for us from Karachi, Pakistan this morning.
Our Martin Savidge is covering the U.S. troops based at the airport in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and he's joined by a very interesting guest. Let's check in with him now. Martin, who do you have with you?
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR; Well we'll tell you about that in just a minute Carol. First we want to show you this newest part of our never-ending quest to show you different parts of the Kandahar Airport. This is the main entrance to the Kandahar International Airport, as the sign says. It would be what the passengers would see as they deplane. There aren't many civilian passengers going through here these days. It is all military.
We have some good news to pass along to you. You may remember that CH-46 helicopter that had the hard landing a couple of days ago. Well there were about 16 people injured, eight of those people that were injured will soon be back here at the Kandahar Airport and resuming their duties. Their injuries were not so severe.
Meanwhile the buildup of the 101st Airborne continues to grow. They're renovating the airport now, trying to repair some of the damage from the initial assault. They also plan to extend the runway to about 10,000, maybe 10,500 feet. That would be good because jut about any aircraft could then get in here. They also plan to make improvements to the detainee center.
When the aircraft come in, there is often a security detail that goes out to protect the aircraft and their crews, and their crews, and that brings us to our very special guest. That is Sergeant Victor Tom. He is with the New Jersey International Guard, very good to meet you sir.
The other interesting job he has, he is a New York City police officer.
STAFF SGT. VICTOR TOM, 108th SECURITY FORCE SQUADRON: Yes sir.
SAVIDGE: That gives you very special bearing here. Where were you September 11?
TOM: On that day I was responding to work because there was a city-wide mobilization after the event that happened at the World Trade.
SAVIDGE: Did you ever make it in, make it down to ground zero?
TOM: I made it down to ground zero, not particularly on that day, but day after that. I had an opportunity, an unfortunate opportunity to work down at ground zero, my own time, and on my job time.
SAVIDGE: And then you end up in Afghanistan. How did that happen?
TOM: Well my military unit was activated and they needed good personnel, experienced personnel to go on the mission, and I was one of them that was elected as part of the security group.
SAVIDGE: That is a remarkable story. You go from a place of devastation to a nation where the terrorists are believed to have been headquartered. Have you thought about that a lot in your mind?
TOM: On occasion sir, yes I have.
SAVIDGE: And what is it that you think about regarding that?
TOM: It just brings a lot of different thoughts into my mind.
SAVIDGE: So many of us felt helpless, is what I'm getting at, as Americans. You saw this, there's nothing really you could do, but you are doing something.
TOM: Yes sir, indirectly I feel like that I'm doing something here, maybe to provide force protection for the individuals, the equipment, and the planes that land here.
SAVIDGE: Quickly before you go, show us the helmet that you have with you at all time, and what does it mean?
TOM: I have 9/11 on the front. It's a 9/11, it's a police call for help in New York City, also represents the date that the incident occurred. It says never forgotten for all the people who perished on that particular day. Even though they've been taken away from us, but they're always be with us in spirit.
I also have on the other side is my department and also my show number, 4863.
SAVIDGE: Sergeant Victor Tom, thank you very much for joining us. He is with the New Jersey International Guard, doing a remarkable job in a remarkable place.
One other piece of news to pass along to you. Operation Super Bowl in full swing here at the Kandahar Air Base. They're working very diligently to get satellite communications linked up and television sets prepared so that the troops will be able to watch the big game. The tailgate party is going to have to begin pretty early in the morning. The game itself will be seen here at 5:00 in the morning -- just so you know - Carol.
COSTELLO: Martin, what's a tailgate party like in Kandahar?
SAVIDGE: You know I don't know yet, and I'm really looking forward to it. Maybe we'll do it from the tailgate of a C-130 or a C- 17 or ...
COSTELLO: A big tank.
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: Well you have fun watching the Super Bowl ...
SAVIDGE: Yes that too.
COSTELLO: Exactly. Thank you. Martin Savidge reporting live for us from Afghanistan this morning.
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