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Terrorists Might Have Planned to Bomb New York Landmarks; Pakistan Hit Hard by Counter Terror Efforts; Tape Reveals al Qaeda Planning for Riyadh Attack; Four Charged in Xbox Murder
Aired August 09, 2004 - 13:00 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, ANCHOR: At the top of the news today, new information on what al Qaeda might have had in store for New York, New Jersey and Washington.
A trove of data seized in Pakistan apparently lays out some frightening scenarios that al Qaeda was considering commandeering tourist helicopters or limousines to attack New York City landmarks.
CNN homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve joining us live from Washington with the latest on this -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, homeland security officials say there is no evidence that al Qaeda is currently planning to use tourist helicopters to attack sites around New York City, but there is concern because of what law enforcement sources characterize at credible and specific intelligence that al Qaeda looked at the possibility of using helicopters.
One source says they were very deliberate and specific in their casing, exploring how to rent a helicopter and how one might be used in a terrorist attack. And another source says one or more helipads were on a list of sites of concern distributed to law enforcement last week after a so-called treasure trove of material was picked up in raids in Pakistan.
There is enough concern that Friday night an advisory about helicopters went out to law enforcement recommending that passengers on tourist helicopters be thoroughly screened and required to show I.D.s.
It also says that anyone making suspicious inquiries, loitering around helicopter facilities or posing as helicopter personnel be reported.
But the first line of the advisory reads like this, quote, "We have no evidence indicating al Qaeda is planning an aerial attack using helicopters in New York City or the United States."
Miles, back to you.
O'BRIEN: Jeanne, question for you on this. And I know it's hard to get a lot of specificity on this, but a helicopter for sightseeing is a long way from a fully loaded 767.
What do you suppose or did they have any theories on what this attack plot might have been?
MESERVE: I have to tell you, Miles, at this point in time it would be total conjecture for me to tell you what they might have had in mind. Experts have pointed out that, however, helicopters are not easy to maneuver, to pilot, and so some question as to how far this planning might have gone -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Jeanne Meserve in Washington, thank you very much -- Betty.
BETTY NGUYEN, ANCHOR: Pakistani authorities are interrogating three suspected al Qaeda operatives captured this morning in Lahore. They're the latest in a series of terror arrests overseas, something the U.S. sees as a positive development.
But is Pakistan paying the price for the intelligence windfall?
CNN's Maria Ressa reports now from Islamabad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Over the weekend another al Qaeda operative was arrested in Dubai and sent to Pakistan, part of an ongoing global crackdown which led to increased security in the U.S. and U.K.
It was spurred by a treasure trove of information discovered after the July 13 arrest of computer expert Naeem Noor Khan. Authorities here said he was working with them as a mole to help track down other al Qaeda operatives around the world, compromised after the U.S. prematurely released his name last week.
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: High at the -- the Pakistani interior minister actually said maybe if Khan's name hadn't been released it might have led to getting bin Laden himself.
RESSA: But U.S. officials say they had a duty to warn about possible pre-election plots against the U.S.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: The problem is that when you're trying to strike a balance between giving enough information to the public so that they know that you're dealing with a specific, credible, different kind of threat than you've dealt with in the past, you're always weighing that against operational considerations.
RESSA: There are other irritants to the Pakistanis. Last week a U.S. official warned of possible al Qaeda training camps in Pakistan, a charge officials here vehemently deny.
SHEIKH RASHID AHMED, PAKISTANI INFORMATION MINISTER: This is a stupid propaganda, and how it's possible our forces are there from inch to inch of our armed forces are moving in the training camp, no way at all.
RESSA: Since 9/11, Pakistan says it's doing all it can in the war on terror, including sending its armed forces into the tribal areas for the first time ever to hunt for al Qaeda. Pakistan says it has arrested nearly 600 al Qaeda members.
Now, al Qaeda is striking back with increased bombings and targeted attacks. Two assassination attempts against Pakistani's president, Pervez Musharraf and just two weeks ago a suicide bombing attack against his prime minister designate.
(on camera) "Don't question our commitment now," says Pakistan, even as it its cabinet ministers to cut down public appearances while this crackdown continues, as anticipating what al Qaeda can do when it's further pushed against the wall.
Maria Ressa, CNN, Islamabad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: The arrest in Pakistan of an al Qaeda operative Naeem Noor Khan may turn out to be a huge victory in the war on terror. Khan, as we said to you, is a computer expert and apparently the keeper of a lot of al Qaeda secrets. But his arrest raises many questions, as well.
Our terrorism expert Peter Bergen is with us from Washington to give us some insight.
Peter, good to have you with us.
PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: Good to see you, Miles.
O'BRIEN: Let's talk for a moment about this sting operation. It becomes evident as you read closely on this that Khan actually had a fair amount of traffic, a lot of communication between Pakistan and the United States. What does that tell you?
BERGEN: Well, I think the saving thing, Miles, is that it seemed that he was communicating, according to our reporting, directly with people in the United States, up to half a dozen people right now. I mean in the recent past, which obviously is very worrisome.
Then there's the other component which is if indeed it is the case that U.S. officials were the source of Khan's name, it looks like that sting operation was prematurely aborted.
O'BRIEN: And so it begs the question, were they on the trail of Osama bin Laden perhaps?
BERGEN: I kind of doubt that, because I think that information would be very closely held. Khan is not, you know, somebody, although he was obviously useful to al Qaeda, was a computer expert, he's not somebody who was in the inner circle. He's a younger guy.
I think the number of people who know about bin Laden's exact whereabouts are very limited. Somebody like Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, who was arrested in March of 2003, he knew where bin Laden was, but Khalid Sheikh Muhammad was a military commander of the whole organization. Khan is much further down the totem pole.
O'BRIEN: All right. But the simple fact that there is an active computer communication going on and as you say, ominously, apparent cells in the United States, says a lot about the functionality of al Qaeda right now, doesn't it?
BERGEN: I think that's right, Miles. I mean, you know, when we were talking earlier, you said, you know, that the conventional wisdom is sort of al Qaeda is on the ropes sort of inside the United States. That's Sandy Walls (ph), I think, the conventional wisdom.
The fact that there is contemporaneous communication with this guy, Khan, and other people in the United States, that is something that is very worrisome and indicates that they obviously still have the capacity to do something here.
O'BRIEN: We've been focusing, of course, a lot today on the region of Pakistan, which abuts Afghanistan, where a lot of focus has been of late trying to root out some of these al Qaeda operatives.
You just got from back from Afghanistan, and you have some interesting impressions that the possibility that the Taliban's days may, in fact, be over for real there.
BERGEN: Obviously, you know, the Taliban are trying to stage, you know, attacks, but I -- you know, there are a couple of things that were very interesting when I was over there. There was a lot of polling data now coming out of Afghanistan; 82 percent of Afghans think the situation is better than it was two years ago.
O'BRIEN: That's a big number, 82 percent.
BERGEN: Yes.
O'BRIEN: And do you think that's -- is that a significant poll number, do you think?
BERGEN: Yes. I think the poll -- we got three different polls, all of which are saying that the same kinds of things. Some of them are by reputable polling organizations.
You're looking at people are registering for the elections in, I think, very surprisingly large numbers. Even in Kandahar, which is the home province of the Taliban, 60 percent of the population, based on the last sentence -- last census has registered to vote.
In Mullah Omar's (ph) own province, Oruzgan, 45 percent are registering to vote.
And when you ask -- when you poll on the question about the popularity of Hamid Karzai, Hamid Karzai is beating every other person you talk about in this poll by substantial numbers. Even somebody like Ismail Khan, who's the warlord in Herat, in western Afghanistan, is being beaten in his own province by Hamid Karzai.
So these kind of polling numbers are pretty impressive and I think the election will favor (ph) -- the presidential election in Afghanistan, you know, it's not going to be perfect. Nothing -- Life is not necessarily perfect, but even a partially successful election will be, I think, a -- send a strong signal to the region, which after all Afghanistan is surrounded by a lot of the countries which aren't representative democracies.
And this election, I think, is looking to be a -- one in which a lot of Afghans participate. Obviously, there may be violence around it, but nonetheless I think it's going in the right direction.
Even the security situation in Afghanistan, you know, it's -- you get a lot of reports of people being attacked, aide workers, election workers. That's all true. But the larger picture is the country is making incremental steps towards stability.
O'BRIEN: All right. We'll leave it on that high note. Peter Bergen, thanks as always. Appreciate it.
BERGEN: Thank you, Miles.
O'BRIEN: Betty.
NGUYEN: The meticulous research and years of waiting are typical of al Qaeda. Now a videotape obtained by CNN relating to an attack last year in Saudi Arabia gives us a rare inside look at how the No. 1 terrorist network operates.
Here's CNN's Brian Todd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Surveillance, an al Qaeda staple. This tape showing what's believed to be the al-Muhaya civilian housing compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This is that same neighborhood and the product of that reconnaissance. November of last year, suicide car bombs setting off three explosions, kill at least 17 people at al-Muhaya and wound more than 100.
This type of surveillance now very much in the American public consciousness, as officials ratchet up the terrorism alert, based partly on information about the casing of financial buildings in the U.S. at least three years ago.
RICE: Al Qaeda does meticulous planning over many years.
TODD: On this tape, we learn how the November tack in Riyadh was planned, from the group believed to have carried it out, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
BEN VENZKE, INTELCENTER: And it's the kind of expertise that is frequent and frequently used and trained on by al Qaeda cells around the world.
TODD: CNN obtained this tape from a group called IntelCenter, a consulting firm that works with U.S. government agencies. Experts who we consulted with confirmed the authenticity of the tape.
We see al Qaeda members displaying rocket propelled grenades and surface-to-air missiles. But the operational part of the tape is perhaps the most chilling.
A diagram is shown of what Intel Center says is the al-Muhaya complex, and a technique which later proved very effective. A vehicle is painted with the markings and insignia of the Saudi security forces. Those vehicles were used to breach the al-Muhaya compound.
We also see a man next to one of the vehicles, later identified as Nasser al-Sayari (ph), an al Qaeda operative killed in that suicide attack.
This tape, produced some months ago, was originally posted on a web site. We asked IntelCenter why al Qaeda would tip off people on their operational techniques.
VENZKE: This is used for instructional material for future recruits, and it's released after attacks to drive fund-raising and as a morale boost for the group.
TODD: Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: In a few minutes, suspects in the brutal beating and stabbing deaths of six people will be in a Florida courtroom. We'll bring that to you, of course. Police say it all centered over an Xbox video game, believe it or not. We'll take you to court when that happens, of course.
And fierce fighting in Iraq: forces loyal to a Muslim cleric taking on American troops in Najaf. We have the latest from there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first thing I thought when I saw the sharks was I wanted to get in the water.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: I don't believe that. That's my first thought -- not -- when I see sharks on a feeding frenzy. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water. Ahead on LIVE FROM, cue the cello music.
ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: This is a live look now. Four men are in a Florida court in an arraignment in a multiple murder case the local sheriff calls indescribable in its brutality.
Authorities say 27-year-old ex-convict Troy Victorino led three other people to beat six people to death in their beds, because he believed his Xbox video game and some clothes had been stolen.
Volusia County sheriff's officers arrested the four in Deltona late last week. Here's another look at the courtroom where the men are supposed to arrive one by one for today's hearings.
CNN's Mike Brooks joins us now. He has been following this case.
And Mike, this was such a brutal killing, which has a lot of people questioning whether it's more than just an Xbox and some clothing. What's the relationship between the victim and the suspects?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Volusia County isn't really saying what the exact relationship between Erin Belanger (ph), who was actually the one who was most brutally beaten. As they said, she was beaten so bad with a metal baseball bat that they couldn't identify her from dental records.
You know, I've worked 26 years in law enforcement, worked a lot of bad cases before, but this: six people killed. There were two couples in the house, apparently. They came in, kicked the door in.
Victor -- Troy Victorino, was the ring leader. He's 27 years old, and he recruited these other three 18-year-olds to go help him.
They kicked the door in, went in with baseball bats, and got knives from inside the house, apparently, and they beat -- brutally beat all people in the house, all six people and the dog and some of them also had been stabbed with the knives that they got from inside the house.
NGUYEN: But what's also as confusing is the fact that these people were killed in this home that's not the same home in which the Xbox and the clothing was discovered or lost or stolen or whatever you want to call it in this case.
BROOKS: Exactly. It sounds like from the investigation that Erin Belanger (ph), who's the woman -- she actually is the granddaughter of the people that owned the big house where these squatters supposedly went all the time.
Well, they called the police and had them kicked out. Well, the squatters got into a squabble. Apparently, Victorino was one of them, got into a squabble with her, and he was overheard saying that he vowed to go and get revenge on her.
Apparently, he left an Xbox and some clothes in this vacant house. They took it, because apparently the Xbox and vacant clothes were found in the house where all six people were killed. That was gone. That had been there, but then they discovered it was gone.
So that's how they actually centered on Victorino as one of the people, as they call it, persons of interest. The other one was Jerome Hunter. When Victorino was stopped, Jerome Hunter was with him. Hunter was interviewed by police, and he basically gave up Victorino, and said that, "Yes, I was involved. So was Troy Victorino and the other two."
NGUYEN: We're looking at the suspects coming into the courtroom right now. Tell us what we know about the suspects. What kind of criminal history do they have?
BROOKS: Well, this is -- who we're seeing right now is Victorino. This is Troy Victorino. He's big. He's a 6'5" guy. He's the first one being arraigned. He has, apparently, a long criminal history. He was in -- he was just in jail in July, at the end of July, for felony battery.
NGUYEN: Mike, we're going to stand by for a moment and we want to listen in to what they're saying right now in this courtroom.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... or at least one is a capital offense, so you're not entitled to have bond set at this proceeding. So you will remain in custody at this point under no bond, none being allowed, no bond being allowed at this point.
And I need to know, first of all for the record, are you Troy Victorino? Are you Mr. Victorino?
TROY VICTORINO, MURDER SUSPECT: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. Do you have any family in the audience here?
VICTORINO: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is there any family on his behalf?
VICTORINO: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is your family hiring an attorney to represent new connection with these this case or these matters?
VICTORINO: I don't know.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not to your knowledge?
VICTORINO: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Then the public defender is appointed to represent you. As you probably know, you have three codefendants, and if none of them are able to hire counsel the public defender's office will be appointed.
However, if they have a conflict in representing all of you, the court to whom your case is assigned will decide whether to appoint private counsel to represent you. But you are entitled to court appointed counsel to represent new connection with this matter. You're also here under a bond surrender. You had posted bond in connection with another felony battery case. The bonding agency, which is A-1 Howard (ph), has surrendered that bond. So you're now back in custody on the felony battery charge stemming from, I think a July 29 arrest.
And again, I'll note in that case, the public defender is appointed, and if they have a conflict, private counsel can be appointed to represent new that case as well.
Do you have any questions?
VICTORINO: Can I use the phone?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't help you out on that. Mr. Ford?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, your honor, my understanding, we spoke with Jim...
NGUYEN: And here's another live look at this arraignment there in Florida. They are bringing in the suspects in one by one.
And as they do, Mike, talk to me about the other three suspects. These are teenagers. What kind of criminal history do they have, or do they have one?
BROOKS: The sheriff's department spokesperson I spoke to earlier today, Gary Davidson, said that he didn't know of any criminal history that the other three had.
Again, Troy Victorino, who's 27 years old has a fairly -- very extensive criminal background. We just heard that he was on bond for a July 29 felony battery. Again, someone else...
NGUYEN: He just recently gotten out of jail.
BROOKS: Yes. And he was also -- When they stopped him, he was wanted on -- for violation of probation for another charge. So he had a warrant for him for violation of probation. He was on bond for the July 29, you know, felony battery charge. Just -- he's just pure evil is when it comes down to it.
NGUYEN: Of course, all of this centers around the evidence. And what kind of evidence do they have in this case?
BROOKS: Right now, they will not talk exactly. The investigators will not say what kind of -- won't talk to the evidence at all.
I asked them. I said, "Do you have the baseball bats?" There were supposed to be aluminum baseball bats...
NGUYEN: And knives.
BROOKS: ... and knives. "Do you have them?" They said, "We're not going to discuss any evidence in the case, because the investigation is still ongoing." And they're looking to see what the exact relationship was with Erin Belanger and Tony Victorino.
NGUYEN: That could be very key to this case.
BROOKS: It could be very key.
NGUYEN: There are a lot of questions surrounding that.
BROOKS: Absolutely. Because right now it looks like there was just a squabble between the two over this Xbox and the clothing that was left in this vacant house that belonged to Belanger's grandparents.
And I also ask the question, well, how did they know which house to go to to find these people?
NGUYEN: To find them.
BROOKS: Right. And -- Because the house is about a mile and a half to two miles away from where this squatter's house, if you will, is. And they said that they really didn't know yet; they were still looking into that.
NGUYEN: All right. Thank you very much, Mike Brooks. A lot of questions and we will be following it, thank you -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Betty. Apparently, it is rocket science to launch a man into space. There you see what happens when things go wrong. One American's man attempt to do what only NASA has done goes up in smoke, and in a splash, too.
And 2-year-old twins recovering from an intense operation. Their mom gives us -- gives us an update on how they're doing just ahead. She's quite happy they're in two beds.
Later, how does a gorilla let everyone knows he has a toothache? She tells them, everyone. Coco's cry for help, a little later on LIVE FROM. I'll tell you about the time I met her as well.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Congratulations in order. Doctors in New York say the Filipino twins who were conjoined -- note the past tense there -- at the head are recovering well after last week's operation separating them.
Two-year-old Carl and Clarence Aquirre underwent a 17-hour operation at Children's Hospital in the Bronx. They still face some follow-up surgeries, as you can imagine, but their mother is already watching them become normal kids.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ARLENE AGUIRRE, TWINS' MOTHER: It's still amazing for me and I cannot believe that I can see one room. There is two beds lying side by side. So this really is two children now.
So a few days, they're already awake. They're moving their arms and legs, and they know, they really notice that I'm in the room because every time I speak, one of the boys is opening his eyes, and moving his arms and legs.
So, "Oh, so you know that I'm here," and they're really recognizing my voice. So for me, it's very unbelievable, because it's just only one day, two days before -- after the surgery, but they're really recognizing me. So still...
DR. JAMES GOODRICH, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT MONTEFIORE: Just a follow-up on that. One of the weirdest moments for me during the surgery is, well, during the separation, but after we had gotten them separated, I walked out of the room because Dr. Staffenberg came in to do his work.
Walking back in the room and seeing two separate tables and two separate heads, I have to say was one of the most incredible sights. And I can't -- there's not words to describe it. It is an amazing impact to see.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: What a fantastic success story there.
Well, the big question on Wall Street and Main Street, will the Federal Reserve raise interest rates tomorrow?
Darby Mullany joins us now live from the New York Stock Exchange with a look at the latest best guess from economists.
(STOCK REPORT)
NGUYEN: Darby Mullany, thank you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired August 9, 2004 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, ANCHOR: At the top of the news today, new information on what al Qaeda might have had in store for New York, New Jersey and Washington.
A trove of data seized in Pakistan apparently lays out some frightening scenarios that al Qaeda was considering commandeering tourist helicopters or limousines to attack New York City landmarks.
CNN homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve joining us live from Washington with the latest on this -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, homeland security officials say there is no evidence that al Qaeda is currently planning to use tourist helicopters to attack sites around New York City, but there is concern because of what law enforcement sources characterize at credible and specific intelligence that al Qaeda looked at the possibility of using helicopters.
One source says they were very deliberate and specific in their casing, exploring how to rent a helicopter and how one might be used in a terrorist attack. And another source says one or more helipads were on a list of sites of concern distributed to law enforcement last week after a so-called treasure trove of material was picked up in raids in Pakistan.
There is enough concern that Friday night an advisory about helicopters went out to law enforcement recommending that passengers on tourist helicopters be thoroughly screened and required to show I.D.s.
It also says that anyone making suspicious inquiries, loitering around helicopter facilities or posing as helicopter personnel be reported.
But the first line of the advisory reads like this, quote, "We have no evidence indicating al Qaeda is planning an aerial attack using helicopters in New York City or the United States."
Miles, back to you.
O'BRIEN: Jeanne, question for you on this. And I know it's hard to get a lot of specificity on this, but a helicopter for sightseeing is a long way from a fully loaded 767.
What do you suppose or did they have any theories on what this attack plot might have been?
MESERVE: I have to tell you, Miles, at this point in time it would be total conjecture for me to tell you what they might have had in mind. Experts have pointed out that, however, helicopters are not easy to maneuver, to pilot, and so some question as to how far this planning might have gone -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Jeanne Meserve in Washington, thank you very much -- Betty.
BETTY NGUYEN, ANCHOR: Pakistani authorities are interrogating three suspected al Qaeda operatives captured this morning in Lahore. They're the latest in a series of terror arrests overseas, something the U.S. sees as a positive development.
But is Pakistan paying the price for the intelligence windfall?
CNN's Maria Ressa reports now from Islamabad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Over the weekend another al Qaeda operative was arrested in Dubai and sent to Pakistan, part of an ongoing global crackdown which led to increased security in the U.S. and U.K.
It was spurred by a treasure trove of information discovered after the July 13 arrest of computer expert Naeem Noor Khan. Authorities here said he was working with them as a mole to help track down other al Qaeda operatives around the world, compromised after the U.S. prematurely released his name last week.
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: High at the -- the Pakistani interior minister actually said maybe if Khan's name hadn't been released it might have led to getting bin Laden himself.
RESSA: But U.S. officials say they had a duty to warn about possible pre-election plots against the U.S.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: The problem is that when you're trying to strike a balance between giving enough information to the public so that they know that you're dealing with a specific, credible, different kind of threat than you've dealt with in the past, you're always weighing that against operational considerations.
RESSA: There are other irritants to the Pakistanis. Last week a U.S. official warned of possible al Qaeda training camps in Pakistan, a charge officials here vehemently deny.
SHEIKH RASHID AHMED, PAKISTANI INFORMATION MINISTER: This is a stupid propaganda, and how it's possible our forces are there from inch to inch of our armed forces are moving in the training camp, no way at all.
RESSA: Since 9/11, Pakistan says it's doing all it can in the war on terror, including sending its armed forces into the tribal areas for the first time ever to hunt for al Qaeda. Pakistan says it has arrested nearly 600 al Qaeda members.
Now, al Qaeda is striking back with increased bombings and targeted attacks. Two assassination attempts against Pakistani's president, Pervez Musharraf and just two weeks ago a suicide bombing attack against his prime minister designate.
(on camera) "Don't question our commitment now," says Pakistan, even as it its cabinet ministers to cut down public appearances while this crackdown continues, as anticipating what al Qaeda can do when it's further pushed against the wall.
Maria Ressa, CNN, Islamabad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: The arrest in Pakistan of an al Qaeda operative Naeem Noor Khan may turn out to be a huge victory in the war on terror. Khan, as we said to you, is a computer expert and apparently the keeper of a lot of al Qaeda secrets. But his arrest raises many questions, as well.
Our terrorism expert Peter Bergen is with us from Washington to give us some insight.
Peter, good to have you with us.
PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: Good to see you, Miles.
O'BRIEN: Let's talk for a moment about this sting operation. It becomes evident as you read closely on this that Khan actually had a fair amount of traffic, a lot of communication between Pakistan and the United States. What does that tell you?
BERGEN: Well, I think the saving thing, Miles, is that it seemed that he was communicating, according to our reporting, directly with people in the United States, up to half a dozen people right now. I mean in the recent past, which obviously is very worrisome.
Then there's the other component which is if indeed it is the case that U.S. officials were the source of Khan's name, it looks like that sting operation was prematurely aborted.
O'BRIEN: And so it begs the question, were they on the trail of Osama bin Laden perhaps?
BERGEN: I kind of doubt that, because I think that information would be very closely held. Khan is not, you know, somebody, although he was obviously useful to al Qaeda, was a computer expert, he's not somebody who was in the inner circle. He's a younger guy.
I think the number of people who know about bin Laden's exact whereabouts are very limited. Somebody like Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, who was arrested in March of 2003, he knew where bin Laden was, but Khalid Sheikh Muhammad was a military commander of the whole organization. Khan is much further down the totem pole.
O'BRIEN: All right. But the simple fact that there is an active computer communication going on and as you say, ominously, apparent cells in the United States, says a lot about the functionality of al Qaeda right now, doesn't it?
BERGEN: I think that's right, Miles. I mean, you know, when we were talking earlier, you said, you know, that the conventional wisdom is sort of al Qaeda is on the ropes sort of inside the United States. That's Sandy Walls (ph), I think, the conventional wisdom.
The fact that there is contemporaneous communication with this guy, Khan, and other people in the United States, that is something that is very worrisome and indicates that they obviously still have the capacity to do something here.
O'BRIEN: We've been focusing, of course, a lot today on the region of Pakistan, which abuts Afghanistan, where a lot of focus has been of late trying to root out some of these al Qaeda operatives.
You just got from back from Afghanistan, and you have some interesting impressions that the possibility that the Taliban's days may, in fact, be over for real there.
BERGEN: Obviously, you know, the Taliban are trying to stage, you know, attacks, but I -- you know, there are a couple of things that were very interesting when I was over there. There was a lot of polling data now coming out of Afghanistan; 82 percent of Afghans think the situation is better than it was two years ago.
O'BRIEN: That's a big number, 82 percent.
BERGEN: Yes.
O'BRIEN: And do you think that's -- is that a significant poll number, do you think?
BERGEN: Yes. I think the poll -- we got three different polls, all of which are saying that the same kinds of things. Some of them are by reputable polling organizations.
You're looking at people are registering for the elections in, I think, very surprisingly large numbers. Even in Kandahar, which is the home province of the Taliban, 60 percent of the population, based on the last sentence -- last census has registered to vote.
In Mullah Omar's (ph) own province, Oruzgan, 45 percent are registering to vote.
And when you ask -- when you poll on the question about the popularity of Hamid Karzai, Hamid Karzai is beating every other person you talk about in this poll by substantial numbers. Even somebody like Ismail Khan, who's the warlord in Herat, in western Afghanistan, is being beaten in his own province by Hamid Karzai.
So these kind of polling numbers are pretty impressive and I think the election will favor (ph) -- the presidential election in Afghanistan, you know, it's not going to be perfect. Nothing -- Life is not necessarily perfect, but even a partially successful election will be, I think, a -- send a strong signal to the region, which after all Afghanistan is surrounded by a lot of the countries which aren't representative democracies.
And this election, I think, is looking to be a -- one in which a lot of Afghans participate. Obviously, there may be violence around it, but nonetheless I think it's going in the right direction.
Even the security situation in Afghanistan, you know, it's -- you get a lot of reports of people being attacked, aide workers, election workers. That's all true. But the larger picture is the country is making incremental steps towards stability.
O'BRIEN: All right. We'll leave it on that high note. Peter Bergen, thanks as always. Appreciate it.
BERGEN: Thank you, Miles.
O'BRIEN: Betty.
NGUYEN: The meticulous research and years of waiting are typical of al Qaeda. Now a videotape obtained by CNN relating to an attack last year in Saudi Arabia gives us a rare inside look at how the No. 1 terrorist network operates.
Here's CNN's Brian Todd.
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BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Surveillance, an al Qaeda staple. This tape showing what's believed to be the al-Muhaya civilian housing compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This is that same neighborhood and the product of that reconnaissance. November of last year, suicide car bombs setting off three explosions, kill at least 17 people at al-Muhaya and wound more than 100.
This type of surveillance now very much in the American public consciousness, as officials ratchet up the terrorism alert, based partly on information about the casing of financial buildings in the U.S. at least three years ago.
RICE: Al Qaeda does meticulous planning over many years.
TODD: On this tape, we learn how the November tack in Riyadh was planned, from the group believed to have carried it out, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
BEN VENZKE, INTELCENTER: And it's the kind of expertise that is frequent and frequently used and trained on by al Qaeda cells around the world.
TODD: CNN obtained this tape from a group called IntelCenter, a consulting firm that works with U.S. government agencies. Experts who we consulted with confirmed the authenticity of the tape.
We see al Qaeda members displaying rocket propelled grenades and surface-to-air missiles. But the operational part of the tape is perhaps the most chilling.
A diagram is shown of what Intel Center says is the al-Muhaya complex, and a technique which later proved very effective. A vehicle is painted with the markings and insignia of the Saudi security forces. Those vehicles were used to breach the al-Muhaya compound.
We also see a man next to one of the vehicles, later identified as Nasser al-Sayari (ph), an al Qaeda operative killed in that suicide attack.
This tape, produced some months ago, was originally posted on a web site. We asked IntelCenter why al Qaeda would tip off people on their operational techniques.
VENZKE: This is used for instructional material for future recruits, and it's released after attacks to drive fund-raising and as a morale boost for the group.
TODD: Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: In a few minutes, suspects in the brutal beating and stabbing deaths of six people will be in a Florida courtroom. We'll bring that to you, of course. Police say it all centered over an Xbox video game, believe it or not. We'll take you to court when that happens, of course.
And fierce fighting in Iraq: forces loyal to a Muslim cleric taking on American troops in Najaf. We have the latest from there.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first thing I thought when I saw the sharks was I wanted to get in the water.
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O'BRIEN: I don't believe that. That's my first thought -- not -- when I see sharks on a feeding frenzy. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water. Ahead on LIVE FROM, cue the cello music.
ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.
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NGUYEN: This is a live look now. Four men are in a Florida court in an arraignment in a multiple murder case the local sheriff calls indescribable in its brutality.
Authorities say 27-year-old ex-convict Troy Victorino led three other people to beat six people to death in their beds, because he believed his Xbox video game and some clothes had been stolen.
Volusia County sheriff's officers arrested the four in Deltona late last week. Here's another look at the courtroom where the men are supposed to arrive one by one for today's hearings.
CNN's Mike Brooks joins us now. He has been following this case.
And Mike, this was such a brutal killing, which has a lot of people questioning whether it's more than just an Xbox and some clothing. What's the relationship between the victim and the suspects?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Volusia County isn't really saying what the exact relationship between Erin Belanger (ph), who was actually the one who was most brutally beaten. As they said, she was beaten so bad with a metal baseball bat that they couldn't identify her from dental records.
You know, I've worked 26 years in law enforcement, worked a lot of bad cases before, but this: six people killed. There were two couples in the house, apparently. They came in, kicked the door in.
Victor -- Troy Victorino, was the ring leader. He's 27 years old, and he recruited these other three 18-year-olds to go help him.
They kicked the door in, went in with baseball bats, and got knives from inside the house, apparently, and they beat -- brutally beat all people in the house, all six people and the dog and some of them also had been stabbed with the knives that they got from inside the house.
NGUYEN: But what's also as confusing is the fact that these people were killed in this home that's not the same home in which the Xbox and the clothing was discovered or lost or stolen or whatever you want to call it in this case.
BROOKS: Exactly. It sounds like from the investigation that Erin Belanger (ph), who's the woman -- she actually is the granddaughter of the people that owned the big house where these squatters supposedly went all the time.
Well, they called the police and had them kicked out. Well, the squatters got into a squabble. Apparently, Victorino was one of them, got into a squabble with her, and he was overheard saying that he vowed to go and get revenge on her.
Apparently, he left an Xbox and some clothes in this vacant house. They took it, because apparently the Xbox and vacant clothes were found in the house where all six people were killed. That was gone. That had been there, but then they discovered it was gone.
So that's how they actually centered on Victorino as one of the people, as they call it, persons of interest. The other one was Jerome Hunter. When Victorino was stopped, Jerome Hunter was with him. Hunter was interviewed by police, and he basically gave up Victorino, and said that, "Yes, I was involved. So was Troy Victorino and the other two."
NGUYEN: We're looking at the suspects coming into the courtroom right now. Tell us what we know about the suspects. What kind of criminal history do they have?
BROOKS: Well, this is -- who we're seeing right now is Victorino. This is Troy Victorino. He's big. He's a 6'5" guy. He's the first one being arraigned. He has, apparently, a long criminal history. He was in -- he was just in jail in July, at the end of July, for felony battery.
NGUYEN: Mike, we're going to stand by for a moment and we want to listen in to what they're saying right now in this courtroom.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... or at least one is a capital offense, so you're not entitled to have bond set at this proceeding. So you will remain in custody at this point under no bond, none being allowed, no bond being allowed at this point.
And I need to know, first of all for the record, are you Troy Victorino? Are you Mr. Victorino?
TROY VICTORINO, MURDER SUSPECT: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. Do you have any family in the audience here?
VICTORINO: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is there any family on his behalf?
VICTORINO: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is your family hiring an attorney to represent new connection with these this case or these matters?
VICTORINO: I don't know.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not to your knowledge?
VICTORINO: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Then the public defender is appointed to represent you. As you probably know, you have three codefendants, and if none of them are able to hire counsel the public defender's office will be appointed.
However, if they have a conflict in representing all of you, the court to whom your case is assigned will decide whether to appoint private counsel to represent you. But you are entitled to court appointed counsel to represent new connection with this matter. You're also here under a bond surrender. You had posted bond in connection with another felony battery case. The bonding agency, which is A-1 Howard (ph), has surrendered that bond. So you're now back in custody on the felony battery charge stemming from, I think a July 29 arrest.
And again, I'll note in that case, the public defender is appointed, and if they have a conflict, private counsel can be appointed to represent new that case as well.
Do you have any questions?
VICTORINO: Can I use the phone?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't help you out on that. Mr. Ford?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, your honor, my understanding, we spoke with Jim...
NGUYEN: And here's another live look at this arraignment there in Florida. They are bringing in the suspects in one by one.
And as they do, Mike, talk to me about the other three suspects. These are teenagers. What kind of criminal history do they have, or do they have one?
BROOKS: The sheriff's department spokesperson I spoke to earlier today, Gary Davidson, said that he didn't know of any criminal history that the other three had.
Again, Troy Victorino, who's 27 years old has a fairly -- very extensive criminal background. We just heard that he was on bond for a July 29 felony battery. Again, someone else...
NGUYEN: He just recently gotten out of jail.
BROOKS: Yes. And he was also -- When they stopped him, he was wanted on -- for violation of probation for another charge. So he had a warrant for him for violation of probation. He was on bond for the July 29, you know, felony battery charge. Just -- he's just pure evil is when it comes down to it.
NGUYEN: Of course, all of this centers around the evidence. And what kind of evidence do they have in this case?
BROOKS: Right now, they will not talk exactly. The investigators will not say what kind of -- won't talk to the evidence at all.
I asked them. I said, "Do you have the baseball bats?" There were supposed to be aluminum baseball bats...
NGUYEN: And knives.
BROOKS: ... and knives. "Do you have them?" They said, "We're not going to discuss any evidence in the case, because the investigation is still ongoing." And they're looking to see what the exact relationship was with Erin Belanger and Tony Victorino.
NGUYEN: That could be very key to this case.
BROOKS: It could be very key.
NGUYEN: There are a lot of questions surrounding that.
BROOKS: Absolutely. Because right now it looks like there was just a squabble between the two over this Xbox and the clothing that was left in this vacant house that belonged to Belanger's grandparents.
And I also ask the question, well, how did they know which house to go to to find these people?
NGUYEN: To find them.
BROOKS: Right. And -- Because the house is about a mile and a half to two miles away from where this squatter's house, if you will, is. And they said that they really didn't know yet; they were still looking into that.
NGUYEN: All right. Thank you very much, Mike Brooks. A lot of questions and we will be following it, thank you -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Betty. Apparently, it is rocket science to launch a man into space. There you see what happens when things go wrong. One American's man attempt to do what only NASA has done goes up in smoke, and in a splash, too.
And 2-year-old twins recovering from an intense operation. Their mom gives us -- gives us an update on how they're doing just ahead. She's quite happy they're in two beds.
Later, how does a gorilla let everyone knows he has a toothache? She tells them, everyone. Coco's cry for help, a little later on LIVE FROM. I'll tell you about the time I met her as well.
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O'BRIEN: Congratulations in order. Doctors in New York say the Filipino twins who were conjoined -- note the past tense there -- at the head are recovering well after last week's operation separating them.
Two-year-old Carl and Clarence Aquirre underwent a 17-hour operation at Children's Hospital in the Bronx. They still face some follow-up surgeries, as you can imagine, but their mother is already watching them become normal kids.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ARLENE AGUIRRE, TWINS' MOTHER: It's still amazing for me and I cannot believe that I can see one room. There is two beds lying side by side. So this really is two children now.
So a few days, they're already awake. They're moving their arms and legs, and they know, they really notice that I'm in the room because every time I speak, one of the boys is opening his eyes, and moving his arms and legs.
So, "Oh, so you know that I'm here," and they're really recognizing my voice. So for me, it's very unbelievable, because it's just only one day, two days before -- after the surgery, but they're really recognizing me. So still...
DR. JAMES GOODRICH, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT MONTEFIORE: Just a follow-up on that. One of the weirdest moments for me during the surgery is, well, during the separation, but after we had gotten them separated, I walked out of the room because Dr. Staffenberg came in to do his work.
Walking back in the room and seeing two separate tables and two separate heads, I have to say was one of the most incredible sights. And I can't -- there's not words to describe it. It is an amazing impact to see.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: What a fantastic success story there.
Well, the big question on Wall Street and Main Street, will the Federal Reserve raise interest rates tomorrow?
Darby Mullany joins us now live from the New York Stock Exchange with a look at the latest best guess from economists.
(STOCK REPORT)
NGUYEN: Darby Mullany, thank you.
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