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Pakistan Views Weekend Arrests of 9 Suspected Al Qaeda as Major Development; Bush Travels to Missouri to Tout New Drug Cards

Aired June 14, 2004 - 13:58   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.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: "Under God" stays in. The Supreme Court throws the case out, but the fight over the pledge may not be finished.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Rusty Dornin in Redwood City where Modesto police officers talk more about why they were so suspicious of Scott Peterson that first night. Coming up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My first thought was, I can't believe that he went there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If Larry said it, a whole lot of people are thinking it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: What's former NBA great Larry Bird saying? A controversy in black and white.

O'BRIEN: And making the canine collection. This border collie may have a larger vocabulary than some TV anchors.

From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Miles O'Brien, Kyra Phillips is off today.

NGUYEN: Speak for yourself Miles, and I'm Betty Nguyen. This hour of CNN's LIVE FROM... starts right now.

O'BRIEN: Up first this hour, "under God" off the hook. A banner headline, as it were, from the highest court in the land, 50 years to the day after Congress amended the Pledge of Allegiance and unwittingly set the stage for a constitutional showdown. The stage is still set, but the showdown will wait for a better suited plaintiff. And CNN's impeccably suited Bob Franken has details for us.

Hello, Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the words "under God" can stay in the vocabulary of those citing the Pledge of Allegiance because, as you pointed out, the Supreme Court justices have overturned a lower court ruling not on the grand sweeping questions that normally preoccupy the justices, but on a family court matter. The question was whether the -- Michael Newdow, the atheist who filed the lawsuit saying that his daughter was being damaged by the unconstitutional coercion to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance with the words "under God," whether he had standing, the legal right to sue in court.

And the justices said that under all the circumstances of earlier court rulings, he did not, end of story. No discussion among five of the justices, the majority of the justices, on whether the constitutional questions should be decided. Justice John-Paul Stevens wrote: "The California cases simply do not stand for the proposition that Newdow has a right to dictate to others what they may or may not say to his child respecting religion."

Now three of the other justices, O'Connor, Rehnquist and Thomas, wanted to obviously have the matter decided in favor of keeping "under God" but they wanted it decided on constitutional questions. They said that Newdow did not have a "heckler's veto," that's the language they used, that would in fact impose the extensions of the establishment clause. The establishment clause the first words in the Bill of Rights, against establishing a religion. But they talked about the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance like "In God We Trust" on the coins being ceremonial deism. None of which made Michael Newdow, the plaintiff, very happy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL NEWDOW, PLAINTIFF: Hopefully in one way it will be very good because it will get into the mainstream press, this family law system which is an absolutely horrendous, outrageous system that rips people's children from them based on absolutely nothing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: Well, whatever the words on this Flag Day when children pledge their allegiance to the flags, bottom line on this ruling is they will still include the words "under God," everybody will -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Bob, this whole issue of his standing, why wasn't that settled before he stood before the Supreme Court?

FRANKEN: Well, because the appeals courts ruled he had sufficient standing as the parent to go ahead. The Supreme Court said that the tradition that the highest court follows is to defer to state courts in matters like this.

O'BRIEN: Bob Franken, thank you very much -- Betty.

NGUYEN: This is independence day for hundreds more former inmates of Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq, almost 600 Iraqis left Abu Ghraib by the busload today in-line with coalition promises to shrink the prison population by the end of this month. Back in Baghdad, the pending transfer of power is seen as the driving force for yet another car bombing, the seventeenth so far this month.

CNN's Guy Raz has that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For the second time in 24 hours a devastating suicide car bomb explodes in Baghdad. This time in the heart of a commercial district in the city around Liberation Square. Now that attack happened at 10 minutes past 8:00 this morning local time. It's understood that a three-vehicle convoy of Western electrical workers was the target of that attack. Now among those killed were three employees of General Electric in Iraq to try and restore power to the country. Among those killed were British nationals, Americans, and a Frenchman as well.

Now that blast was so devastating it caused tremendous damage to shops and buildings in the area, burying several Iraqis under rebel and debris. U.S. forces arrived on the scene to evacuate the dead and wounded. An angry Iraqi crowd had gathered at the scene, began to taunt U.S. soldiers and Western journalists who arrived on the scene. Some in the crowd chanting "Death to America" and blaming the United States for this deadly attack.

Now some in this crowd set a car on fire. Others looted a nearby liquor store and began to beat cars in the area with sticks and others. This is part of what appears to be a wave of attacks that is washing over the country just in the past 24 hours, another devastating suicide blast killed 12 Iraqis in southeastern Baghdad. And coalition officials and Iraqi officials are warning of more to come in the weeks before administrative authority is handed over to an interim Iraqi government.

Guy Raz, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: The U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia says the apparent kidnapping of an American in Riyadh is a terrorist attack. Paul Johnson disappeared Saturday. And an Islamist militant groups claims it has kidnapped him. Johnson's family is keeping vigil in New Jersey. CNN's Alina Cho is there -- Alina.

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, the family is understandably devastated by the news, understandably worried about what they might hear next. We can tell you that CNN has learned in the past hour that Johnson's only son, the man who has essentially been serving as the family's spokesman throughout this ordeal, has arrived in New Jersey from his home in Florida. He was on a Lockheed Martin corporate jet, we are told, and he is on his way to the family home behind me as we speak.

His father Paul Johnson was abducted in Riyadh Saturday, the same week, we should mention, that two other Americans were killed. A group claiming to have links to al Qaeda posted on a Web site a passport-sized photo of Johnson, a driver's license, even a business card. Johnson is an Apache helicopter specialist with Lockheed Martin. He has been living in Saudi Arabia for the past decade or so. Earlier his son told us he hasn't slept in two days.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PAUL JOHNSON III, SON OF KIDNAPPING VICTIM: In a heartbeat with my father, he doesn't deserve this and I plead with you all to please let my father go. He don't deserve it. We all got to do jobs, you know, and he just does not deserve what has happened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHO: Saudi officials are taking the lead in this investigation in the search for Johnson overseas. Of course, they are in very close contact with U.S. officials. Lockheed Martin also issued a statement today saying it is watching the developments. The family, as we mentioned, along with Johnson's son is expected back at the family home behind me at any moment. We are watching that very closely.

And Miles, we will tell you when it happens.

O'BRIEN: Alina Cho, in New Jersey, thank you very much -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Paul Johnson disappeared the same day another American was shot and killed in Riyadh. They are the latest attacks in a wave of violence aimed at people from Western countries. One expert said the attacks show al Qaeda and its affiliates are live and well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID ISBY, DEFENSE & FOREIGN POLICY ANALYST: It's 9/11. If you look where they've been attacking, Bali, Morocco, a synagogue in Tunisia, a bank in Turkey, these are not hard or military or well- defended targets. So they look for soft targets. And indeed, some people are concerned that if they strike the United States before the this election, they'll look for soft targets. They are easier and it allows them to show they're still in the game despite all of their setbacks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Isby also says the Saudi attacks are a deliberate strike against the oil industry which wouldn't function without Western workers -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Here in the U.S., word now of a foiled terror plot to attack an Ohio shopping mall. Attorney General John Ashcroft making that announcement today that Nuradin Abdi, a Somali man indicted in Cincinnati for allegedly supporting terrorism, already being held on immigration charges. Abdi is accused of plotting to blow up a local mall. Justice officials allege Abdi planned the attack with al Qaeda operative Iyman Faris. He is also accused of traveling to terrorist training camp in Ethiopia when he claimed he was going to Somalia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Upon returning to the Columbus, Ohio, area, it is alleged that Abdi, along with admitted al Qaeda operative Faris and other co-conspirators initiated a plot to blow up a Columbus area shopping mall. It is also alleged that in pursuit of this plot, Abdi received bomb-making instructions from one of these -- or those co-conspirators.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Meantime, there's been a big terror sweep in Pakistan with the arrest of nine suspected al Qaeda members announced over the weekend. CNN's Ash-har Quraishi has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Eight of the nine suspects were produced in Karachi's antiterrorism court Monday, with the judge giving police 14 days to interrogate them. Pakistani authorities called the weekend arrests of nine suspected militants a major development. The government says the nine have links to al Qaeda and are tied to a series of deadly attacks in Pakistan, including an assassination attempt on Karachi's top military officer last week.

SHEIKH RASHID AHMED, PAKISTANI INFORMATION MINISTER: They have confessed to the crime. And a large number of equipment in the form of grenades, detonators, MGs, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) have also been recovered.

QURAISHI: Among the suspects in custody, Mussad Aruchi, a man officials describe as the nephew and close associate of suspected 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed who was captured last year in Rawalpindi. The arrests come as the Pakistani military wrapped up five days of fierce fighting near Wana (ph) in Pakistan's lawless tribal areas where authorities say hundreds of al Qaeda fugitives are believed to be hiding. Military officials say they destroyed the suspected al Qaeda infrastructure there, killing 55 militants, 17 government troops died in those clashes. Authorities say some of the suspects captured over the weekend are linked to that unrest.

AHMED: They have a direct linkage to the situation which is erupting in Wana and in Shikite (ph). They have been trained there. They have got weapons from that area.

QURAISHI (on camera): It is the first time officials have been able to connect the ongoing military operations in the tribal areas with terrorist attack in other parts of the country, something they say illustrates the wide reach of the terrorist network and the difficulty in eliminating it.

Ash-har Quraishi, CNN, Islamabad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Portrait of a power couple. Bill and Hillary Clinton back at it at the White House and happy about their new public image.

And beating the heat. Why you won't need to turn up the A.C. with these cool threads.

And when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's Cassini. Some out of this world new images of the sexiest planet, we think, in the solar system. They're orbiting LIVE FROM... just ahead after a quick de-orbit burn.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: The Clintons captured on canvas. The official portraits of President Bill Clinton and former fist lady Hillary Rodham Clinton were unveiled today. President Bush spoke at the event filled with fond memories and laughter at the White House. CNN's Elaine Quijano was there and she joins us with more.

Hello, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles, presidents 43 and 42 exchanged some warm words today at that ceremony, as President Bush welcomed back to the White House former President Bill Clinton and his family for that unveiling of the presidential portrait.

Now it was a notable homecoming. The ceremony taking place in the East Room. The ceremony also included members -- or rather -- in the audience, rather, were members of the current Clinton staffs as well as former Clinton staffers as well.

Now the ceremony also showed the unveiling of Hillary Clinton's portrait that you see there. These paintings take on added significance because they're the first of their kind to be painted by an African-American artist. Simmie Knox is that artist, a self-taught painter born to an Alabama sharecropping family in the midst of the Great Depression. A remarkable story on its own, but also noteworthy the overall tone of the ceremony which included profuse compliments and it was dotted with humor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He won his first statewide office at age 30. Sworn in as governor at 32. He was five--time governor of Arkansas, the first man from that state to become the president. He's also the first man in his party since Franklin Roosevelt to win a second term in the White House. And I could tell you more of the story, but it's coming out in fine book stores all over America.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: The president there of course referring to Bill Clinton's memoir which is due out next week in book stores. Now for his part, the 42nd president offered President Bush some praise as well as praise for the American government.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL CLINTON, 42ND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The president, by his generous words to Hillary and me today, has proved once again that in the end, we are held together by this grand system of ours that permits us to debate and struggle and fight for what we believe is right. And because it's free, because it is a system of majority rule and minority rights, we're still around here after over 200 years. And most of the time we get it right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now just a short time ago President Bush left the White House en route to Missouri, a key battleground state. There he will push the new Medicare prescription drug discount cards that the president believes will help insure seniors have access to affordable medicine. Now Democrats have argued that the cards are confusing and will not result in big savings. But the president now is turning his attention to the campaign trail. That trip to Missouri, by the way, the president's eighteenth visit to that state -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: All right. Thank you very much, Elaine Quijano at the White House.

Simmie Knox will talk about his history-making portraits of the Clintons right here on CNN. He's a guest on "PAULA ZAHN NOW," that's tonight 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific.

NGUYEN: The Detroit Pistons took a commanding 3-1 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals last night. Recently, though, a retired basketball superstar brought his perspective to a long simmering issue in the game, and that's one that focuses on race. CNN's Larry Smith looks at the colors of the game.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Larry Bird retired 12 years ago. And as the NBA's last bona fide white superstar. As a player he never backed down from a challenge. As a former player he never backs down from a question.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORT: Does the NBA lack enough white superstars, in your opinion?

LARRY BIRD, FMR. NBA STAR: Well, I think so. I mean, you know, when I played we had me and Kevin and some others throughout the league. I think it's good for a fan base because, you know, as we all know the majority of the fans are white America and if you just had a couple white guys in there, they might get them a little excited. But it is a black man's game and it will be forever.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think it's a racial or anything like that. And also, you ask Larry Bird a question, he's going to answer it, and he's going to answer it truthfully.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What it demonstrates -- illustrates to me is that if Larry said it, a whole lot of people are thinking it.

SMITH: What Bird was thinking is open to different interpretations. Bird himself has refused further comment on the subject.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My first thought was I can't believe that he went there because it's just the kind of argument that -- I think it was racial but it was really not racist.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's not talking about taking the job, of giving that job to someone who isn't as good as maybe an African- American is, he just wanted to see that there be more -- he wished there were more white superstars.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I respect Larry for making the comment and I support his right to do so, because I think the issue needs to go on the table.

SMITH: The NBA does not keep statistics on race. Instead it categorizes players by their nationality. Roughly 75 percent of the players in the league are black. The NBA appeals to its predominantly white fan base by marketing its superstars. These players are all black.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our fans connect with our players, not because of any certain colors but it's about how hard they work and what they give and what they leave on the floor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the NBA cares about great players doing great things and that transcends not just on the court but off the court as well. I think that's what the NBA is concerned about and really what fans are concerned about.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By and large where the NBA cities are, I don't think it matters. I think people embrace their superstars whether they're black or white.

SMITH: Larry Smith, CNN, Auburn Hills, Michigan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: What could be key for victory in the race for the White House? California's current governor may hold it. Why Democrats and Republicans may need to search for their inner Arnold to come out on top.

And a billionaire's wild ride, a record-breaking attempt at giving James Bond a run for his money.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: The name is Branson, Richard Branson. The British tycoon, in a dinner jacket and bowtie, martinis shaken, not stirred, or is it stirred, not shaken? I always get that messed. But he shouldn't be doing that, he's driving or is it boating? Or is it "briving," "briving"?

Anyway, he had a little James Bond moment, breaking a record for crossing the English Channel on an amphibious vessel. He's obviously culling the Guinness Book of World Records as he goes to the pub, trying to find something left. Anyway, of course, he has other records, to his. Ballooning being among them. He completed this voyage of 22 miles in a Gibbs Aquada amphibious craft and broke the six-hour French-held record by about four hours and 20 minutes. Branson also set a trans-Atlantic speed boat record in 1986. Clearly, lots of money, lots of time.

NGUYEN: And that amphibious boat, it's only $100,000. That's all, Miles. You can get one of those.

O'BRIEN: He wiped the change off of his dresser, and there it was the 100 K.

NGUYEN: There was enough for it.

(MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired June 14, 2004 - 13:58   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: "Under God" stays in. The Supreme Court throws the case out, but the fight over the pledge may not be finished.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Rusty Dornin in Redwood City where Modesto police officers talk more about why they were so suspicious of Scott Peterson that first night. Coming up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My first thought was, I can't believe that he went there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If Larry said it, a whole lot of people are thinking it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: What's former NBA great Larry Bird saying? A controversy in black and white.

O'BRIEN: And making the canine collection. This border collie may have a larger vocabulary than some TV anchors.

From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Miles O'Brien, Kyra Phillips is off today.

NGUYEN: Speak for yourself Miles, and I'm Betty Nguyen. This hour of CNN's LIVE FROM... starts right now.

O'BRIEN: Up first this hour, "under God" off the hook. A banner headline, as it were, from the highest court in the land, 50 years to the day after Congress amended the Pledge of Allegiance and unwittingly set the stage for a constitutional showdown. The stage is still set, but the showdown will wait for a better suited plaintiff. And CNN's impeccably suited Bob Franken has details for us.

Hello, Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the words "under God" can stay in the vocabulary of those citing the Pledge of Allegiance because, as you pointed out, the Supreme Court justices have overturned a lower court ruling not on the grand sweeping questions that normally preoccupy the justices, but on a family court matter. The question was whether the -- Michael Newdow, the atheist who filed the lawsuit saying that his daughter was being damaged by the unconstitutional coercion to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance with the words "under God," whether he had standing, the legal right to sue in court.

And the justices said that under all the circumstances of earlier court rulings, he did not, end of story. No discussion among five of the justices, the majority of the justices, on whether the constitutional questions should be decided. Justice John-Paul Stevens wrote: "The California cases simply do not stand for the proposition that Newdow has a right to dictate to others what they may or may not say to his child respecting religion."

Now three of the other justices, O'Connor, Rehnquist and Thomas, wanted to obviously have the matter decided in favor of keeping "under God" but they wanted it decided on constitutional questions. They said that Newdow did not have a "heckler's veto," that's the language they used, that would in fact impose the extensions of the establishment clause. The establishment clause the first words in the Bill of Rights, against establishing a religion. But they talked about the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance like "In God We Trust" on the coins being ceremonial deism. None of which made Michael Newdow, the plaintiff, very happy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL NEWDOW, PLAINTIFF: Hopefully in one way it will be very good because it will get into the mainstream press, this family law system which is an absolutely horrendous, outrageous system that rips people's children from them based on absolutely nothing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: Well, whatever the words on this Flag Day when children pledge their allegiance to the flags, bottom line on this ruling is they will still include the words "under God," everybody will -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Bob, this whole issue of his standing, why wasn't that settled before he stood before the Supreme Court?

FRANKEN: Well, because the appeals courts ruled he had sufficient standing as the parent to go ahead. The Supreme Court said that the tradition that the highest court follows is to defer to state courts in matters like this.

O'BRIEN: Bob Franken, thank you very much -- Betty.

NGUYEN: This is independence day for hundreds more former inmates of Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq, almost 600 Iraqis left Abu Ghraib by the busload today in-line with coalition promises to shrink the prison population by the end of this month. Back in Baghdad, the pending transfer of power is seen as the driving force for yet another car bombing, the seventeenth so far this month.

CNN's Guy Raz has that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For the second time in 24 hours a devastating suicide car bomb explodes in Baghdad. This time in the heart of a commercial district in the city around Liberation Square. Now that attack happened at 10 minutes past 8:00 this morning local time. It's understood that a three-vehicle convoy of Western electrical workers was the target of that attack. Now among those killed were three employees of General Electric in Iraq to try and restore power to the country. Among those killed were British nationals, Americans, and a Frenchman as well.

Now that blast was so devastating it caused tremendous damage to shops and buildings in the area, burying several Iraqis under rebel and debris. U.S. forces arrived on the scene to evacuate the dead and wounded. An angry Iraqi crowd had gathered at the scene, began to taunt U.S. soldiers and Western journalists who arrived on the scene. Some in the crowd chanting "Death to America" and blaming the United States for this deadly attack.

Now some in this crowd set a car on fire. Others looted a nearby liquor store and began to beat cars in the area with sticks and others. This is part of what appears to be a wave of attacks that is washing over the country just in the past 24 hours, another devastating suicide blast killed 12 Iraqis in southeastern Baghdad. And coalition officials and Iraqi officials are warning of more to come in the weeks before administrative authority is handed over to an interim Iraqi government.

Guy Raz, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: The U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia says the apparent kidnapping of an American in Riyadh is a terrorist attack. Paul Johnson disappeared Saturday. And an Islamist militant groups claims it has kidnapped him. Johnson's family is keeping vigil in New Jersey. CNN's Alina Cho is there -- Alina.

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, the family is understandably devastated by the news, understandably worried about what they might hear next. We can tell you that CNN has learned in the past hour that Johnson's only son, the man who has essentially been serving as the family's spokesman throughout this ordeal, has arrived in New Jersey from his home in Florida. He was on a Lockheed Martin corporate jet, we are told, and he is on his way to the family home behind me as we speak.

His father Paul Johnson was abducted in Riyadh Saturday, the same week, we should mention, that two other Americans were killed. A group claiming to have links to al Qaeda posted on a Web site a passport-sized photo of Johnson, a driver's license, even a business card. Johnson is an Apache helicopter specialist with Lockheed Martin. He has been living in Saudi Arabia for the past decade or so. Earlier his son told us he hasn't slept in two days.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PAUL JOHNSON III, SON OF KIDNAPPING VICTIM: In a heartbeat with my father, he doesn't deserve this and I plead with you all to please let my father go. He don't deserve it. We all got to do jobs, you know, and he just does not deserve what has happened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHO: Saudi officials are taking the lead in this investigation in the search for Johnson overseas. Of course, they are in very close contact with U.S. officials. Lockheed Martin also issued a statement today saying it is watching the developments. The family, as we mentioned, along with Johnson's son is expected back at the family home behind me at any moment. We are watching that very closely.

And Miles, we will tell you when it happens.

O'BRIEN: Alina Cho, in New Jersey, thank you very much -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Paul Johnson disappeared the same day another American was shot and killed in Riyadh. They are the latest attacks in a wave of violence aimed at people from Western countries. One expert said the attacks show al Qaeda and its affiliates are live and well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID ISBY, DEFENSE & FOREIGN POLICY ANALYST: It's 9/11. If you look where they've been attacking, Bali, Morocco, a synagogue in Tunisia, a bank in Turkey, these are not hard or military or well- defended targets. So they look for soft targets. And indeed, some people are concerned that if they strike the United States before the this election, they'll look for soft targets. They are easier and it allows them to show they're still in the game despite all of their setbacks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Isby also says the Saudi attacks are a deliberate strike against the oil industry which wouldn't function without Western workers -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Here in the U.S., word now of a foiled terror plot to attack an Ohio shopping mall. Attorney General John Ashcroft making that announcement today that Nuradin Abdi, a Somali man indicted in Cincinnati for allegedly supporting terrorism, already being held on immigration charges. Abdi is accused of plotting to blow up a local mall. Justice officials allege Abdi planned the attack with al Qaeda operative Iyman Faris. He is also accused of traveling to terrorist training camp in Ethiopia when he claimed he was going to Somalia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Upon returning to the Columbus, Ohio, area, it is alleged that Abdi, along with admitted al Qaeda operative Faris and other co-conspirators initiated a plot to blow up a Columbus area shopping mall. It is also alleged that in pursuit of this plot, Abdi received bomb-making instructions from one of these -- or those co-conspirators.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Meantime, there's been a big terror sweep in Pakistan with the arrest of nine suspected al Qaeda members announced over the weekend. CNN's Ash-har Quraishi has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Eight of the nine suspects were produced in Karachi's antiterrorism court Monday, with the judge giving police 14 days to interrogate them. Pakistani authorities called the weekend arrests of nine suspected militants a major development. The government says the nine have links to al Qaeda and are tied to a series of deadly attacks in Pakistan, including an assassination attempt on Karachi's top military officer last week.

SHEIKH RASHID AHMED, PAKISTANI INFORMATION MINISTER: They have confessed to the crime. And a large number of equipment in the form of grenades, detonators, MGs, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) have also been recovered.

QURAISHI: Among the suspects in custody, Mussad Aruchi, a man officials describe as the nephew and close associate of suspected 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed who was captured last year in Rawalpindi. The arrests come as the Pakistani military wrapped up five days of fierce fighting near Wana (ph) in Pakistan's lawless tribal areas where authorities say hundreds of al Qaeda fugitives are believed to be hiding. Military officials say they destroyed the suspected al Qaeda infrastructure there, killing 55 militants, 17 government troops died in those clashes. Authorities say some of the suspects captured over the weekend are linked to that unrest.

AHMED: They have a direct linkage to the situation which is erupting in Wana and in Shikite (ph). They have been trained there. They have got weapons from that area.

QURAISHI (on camera): It is the first time officials have been able to connect the ongoing military operations in the tribal areas with terrorist attack in other parts of the country, something they say illustrates the wide reach of the terrorist network and the difficulty in eliminating it.

Ash-har Quraishi, CNN, Islamabad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Portrait of a power couple. Bill and Hillary Clinton back at it at the White House and happy about their new public image.

And beating the heat. Why you won't need to turn up the A.C. with these cool threads.

And when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's Cassini. Some out of this world new images of the sexiest planet, we think, in the solar system. They're orbiting LIVE FROM... just ahead after a quick de-orbit burn.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: The Clintons captured on canvas. The official portraits of President Bill Clinton and former fist lady Hillary Rodham Clinton were unveiled today. President Bush spoke at the event filled with fond memories and laughter at the White House. CNN's Elaine Quijano was there and she joins us with more.

Hello, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles, presidents 43 and 42 exchanged some warm words today at that ceremony, as President Bush welcomed back to the White House former President Bill Clinton and his family for that unveiling of the presidential portrait.

Now it was a notable homecoming. The ceremony taking place in the East Room. The ceremony also included members -- or rather -- in the audience, rather, were members of the current Clinton staffs as well as former Clinton staffers as well.

Now the ceremony also showed the unveiling of Hillary Clinton's portrait that you see there. These paintings take on added significance because they're the first of their kind to be painted by an African-American artist. Simmie Knox is that artist, a self-taught painter born to an Alabama sharecropping family in the midst of the Great Depression. A remarkable story on its own, but also noteworthy the overall tone of the ceremony which included profuse compliments and it was dotted with humor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He won his first statewide office at age 30. Sworn in as governor at 32. He was five--time governor of Arkansas, the first man from that state to become the president. He's also the first man in his party since Franklin Roosevelt to win a second term in the White House. And I could tell you more of the story, but it's coming out in fine book stores all over America.

(LAUGHTER)

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QUIJANO: The president there of course referring to Bill Clinton's memoir which is due out next week in book stores. Now for his part, the 42nd president offered President Bush some praise as well as praise for the American government.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL CLINTON, 42ND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The president, by his generous words to Hillary and me today, has proved once again that in the end, we are held together by this grand system of ours that permits us to debate and struggle and fight for what we believe is right. And because it's free, because it is a system of majority rule and minority rights, we're still around here after over 200 years. And most of the time we get it right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now just a short time ago President Bush left the White House en route to Missouri, a key battleground state. There he will push the new Medicare prescription drug discount cards that the president believes will help insure seniors have access to affordable medicine. Now Democrats have argued that the cards are confusing and will not result in big savings. But the president now is turning his attention to the campaign trail. That trip to Missouri, by the way, the president's eighteenth visit to that state -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: All right. Thank you very much, Elaine Quijano at the White House.

Simmie Knox will talk about his history-making portraits of the Clintons right here on CNN. He's a guest on "PAULA ZAHN NOW," that's tonight 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific.

NGUYEN: The Detroit Pistons took a commanding 3-1 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals last night. Recently, though, a retired basketball superstar brought his perspective to a long simmering issue in the game, and that's one that focuses on race. CNN's Larry Smith looks at the colors of the game.

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LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Larry Bird retired 12 years ago. And as the NBA's last bona fide white superstar. As a player he never backed down from a challenge. As a former player he never backs down from a question.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORT: Does the NBA lack enough white superstars, in your opinion?

LARRY BIRD, FMR. NBA STAR: Well, I think so. I mean, you know, when I played we had me and Kevin and some others throughout the league. I think it's good for a fan base because, you know, as we all know the majority of the fans are white America and if you just had a couple white guys in there, they might get them a little excited. But it is a black man's game and it will be forever.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think it's a racial or anything like that. And also, you ask Larry Bird a question, he's going to answer it, and he's going to answer it truthfully.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What it demonstrates -- illustrates to me is that if Larry said it, a whole lot of people are thinking it.

SMITH: What Bird was thinking is open to different interpretations. Bird himself has refused further comment on the subject.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My first thought was I can't believe that he went there because it's just the kind of argument that -- I think it was racial but it was really not racist.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's not talking about taking the job, of giving that job to someone who isn't as good as maybe an African- American is, he just wanted to see that there be more -- he wished there were more white superstars.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I respect Larry for making the comment and I support his right to do so, because I think the issue needs to go on the table.

SMITH: The NBA does not keep statistics on race. Instead it categorizes players by their nationality. Roughly 75 percent of the players in the league are black. The NBA appeals to its predominantly white fan base by marketing its superstars. These players are all black.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our fans connect with our players, not because of any certain colors but it's about how hard they work and what they give and what they leave on the floor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the NBA cares about great players doing great things and that transcends not just on the court but off the court as well. I think that's what the NBA is concerned about and really what fans are concerned about.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By and large where the NBA cities are, I don't think it matters. I think people embrace their superstars whether they're black or white.

SMITH: Larry Smith, CNN, Auburn Hills, Michigan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: What could be key for victory in the race for the White House? California's current governor may hold it. Why Democrats and Republicans may need to search for their inner Arnold to come out on top.

And a billionaire's wild ride, a record-breaking attempt at giving James Bond a run for his money.

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O'BRIEN: The name is Branson, Richard Branson. The British tycoon, in a dinner jacket and bowtie, martinis shaken, not stirred, or is it stirred, not shaken? I always get that messed. But he shouldn't be doing that, he's driving or is it boating? Or is it "briving," "briving"?

Anyway, he had a little James Bond moment, breaking a record for crossing the English Channel on an amphibious vessel. He's obviously culling the Guinness Book of World Records as he goes to the pub, trying to find something left. Anyway, of course, he has other records, to his. Ballooning being among them. He completed this voyage of 22 miles in a Gibbs Aquada amphibious craft and broke the six-hour French-held record by about four hours and 20 minutes. Branson also set a trans-Atlantic speed boat record in 1986. Clearly, lots of money, lots of time.

NGUYEN: And that amphibious boat, it's only $100,000. That's all, Miles. You can get one of those.

O'BRIEN: He wiped the change off of his dresser, and there it was the 100 K.

NGUYEN: There was enough for it.

(MARKET REPORT)

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