Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

U.S. Strikes al Qaeda Convoy; Evidence Against Lindh Compelling

Aired February 07, 2002 - 06:06   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: U.S. Special Operations forces are trying to find out just who has been killed in a missile attack on a convoy that may have included some of the top al Qaeda leadership. The question this morning, was Osama bin Laden in that convoy? Well we don't know.

CNN's Martin Savidge is at the Army base in Kandahar. Martin, can you tell us more about this?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're still waiting to hear, Carol, the results of apparently a mission to try to insert U.S. military forces on the ground in the Tora Bora region, which is where this attack allegedly occurred on Monday. We have seen a number of helicopters. We have seen a number of troops. There were some that landed a couple of hours ago off loading troops, but no one will let us know if that was part of the operation or not.

Here is what we know about what happened on Monday. The CIA had a Predator aircraft that was up there, an unmanned aircraft, not an unarmed aircraft. And that aircraft apparently spotted a convoy of vehicles on the move, and for reasons we're not clear on yet, apparently suspected with strong reasons that there were al Qaeda leaders in that convoy. They called for an airstrike from conventional aircraft, but apparently none were available in the area.

Instead, the Predator was armed with a Hellfire missile. That is a laser-guided missile, usually used in anti-tank operations. It was launched against the convoy and apparently hit something and blew it up, and they have reason to believe that a number of people were killed, that is, including al Qaeda leaders. We don't know who. We don't know how high up in the chain they are. And we don't really know what was left when they got there because it happened on Monday, there has been four days now that has elapsed.

They couldn't get the troops in sooner than that because of bad weather in the area, so we still wait for some sort of official report -- Carol.

COSTELLO: But an official did say that Osama bin Laden could have been in that convoy. What makes them think that?

SAVIDGE: It's interesting. I don't know why the comments seemed to be so strongly asserting that there are al Qaeda leaders. Perhaps, and I think it was estimated, about a 10 to 15 percent chance that Osama bin Laden might have been there. One thing that is interesting about the Hellfire missile, it is carried on Apache helicopters, it's obviously carried on the Predator. It can be fired and follows a laser beam. The laser beam can be aimed from the aircraft or can be designated from someone on the ground. So perhaps the CIA had people on the ground in the area, which is why they feel more confident about their assertions -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, of course, we'll keep following this one. Martin Savidge reporting live for us from Kandahar. Thank you very much.

Let's get to John Walker Lindh now, shall we, the American caught in Afghanistan, you know with the Taliban. He is still in a jail cell this morning. He appeared before a judge yesterday where his attorneys asked that he be released on bail.

CNN's Susan Candiotti tells us what happened and why.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In refusing to set John Walker Lindh free, a federal magistrate came down hard saying any suggestion the fighter is a loyal American is contradicted by the evidence. Part of that evidence includes newly revealed e-mails allegedly sent by the 20-year old Californian from overseas to his parents back home.

In one dated February 2000, he encourages his mother to move to England adding, "I really don't know what your big attachment to America is all about. What has America done for anybody"? In December of that year, he refers to the election of George W. Bush as "your new president" and adds -- quote -- "I'm glad he's not mine".

In another e-mail dated last February, he considers settling in Yemen and says, "I don't really want to see America again". Months later the U.S. government argues Walker Lindh met with bin Laden, received al Qaeda terrorist training, and swore allegiance to jihad after learning bin Laden sent 50 people on suicide missions against the U.S. and Israel.

The defense tried to downplay the government's growing case, calling it overkill.

JAMES BROSNAHAN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: In my view, they have brought up the cannon to shoot the mouse.

JOHN ASHCROFT, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL: The American people can be confident that Walker Lindh will receive every protection under the constitution in our courtrooms, and that justice will be served.

CANDIOTTI: In court Walker Lindh's lawyers argued he never fought with al Qaeda, never had anything to do with terrorist activity, that he was only fighting against the Northern Alliance, not the United States. In court documents, the government revealed part of what Walker Lindh allegedly told military interrogators. He wanted to be a martyr. When questioned about the attack on the USS Cole, and September 11, his alleged response, "incidents like these happen in war". The defense will try to get all of Walker Lindh's statements to investigators thrown out, saving that battle for another day.

BROSNAHAN: Maybe this is the year of the underdog. Maybe this is the year where all the commentators and everybody have to wait and see what happens in the court.

CANDIOTTI: Until then, prosecutors say, the charges speak volumes. As they put it, John Walker Lindh walked the walk and talked the talk of a terrorist.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com