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CNN Live Today

Eco-terrorism Indictments; Miners Trapped in West Virginia; Concerns Growing for American Journalist Jill Carroll

Aired January 20, 2006 - 10:59   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's take a look at what's happening right "Now in the News."
Another West Virginia community waits and prays today as rescue crews search for two missing coal miners. They were trapped inside the mine in Melville, West Virginia, following a fire. This comes -- this latest emergency comes less than three weeks after the Sago Mine disaster.

We'll have a live report just ahead.

In about an hour and a half, the Justice Department is expected to announce indictments of nearly a dozen people accused of eco- terrorism. Now, these indictments are linked to two groups, the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front. The groups have claimed responsibility for a number of attacks across the country.

A fire broke out early this morning at a Chicago restaurant. Officials believe the fire started around 5:15 at the Red Basket restaurant and then spread to other businesses in the single-story building. One firefighter was slightly injured and taken to the hospital.

Michael Fortier is getting out of prison today. He served 10 and a half years for his role in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Fortier said he knew what Timothy McVeigh was planning but didn't tell anyone. He pleaded guilty and testified against McVeigh in a deal with prosecutors.

And an odd sight in the heart of London today. Now, this just looks like the River Thames, but -- and it's a live picture. But if it was in closer, you might be able to see a whale.

This is drawing sightseers and television cameras. It's the northern bottle-nosed type of whale. It tried to beach itself twice.

There you go. You can see the blowhole in the middle of your screen. That has led to speculation the whale could be sick. Others aren't so sure. One expert said the animal simply could have gotten lost after chasing fish.

And good morning, and welcome to CNN LIVE TODAY, our second hour. Let's check some of the time around the world.

Just after 11:00 a.m. in Logan County, West Virginia; just after 7:00 p.m. in Baghdad. We're at CNN Center in Atlanta. Happy Friday, everyone. I'm Daryn Kagan.

Our top story this hour, eco-terrorism. Federal law enforcement officials plan to hold a news conference in the next hour. We're told they'll announce the indictments of 11 people allegedly tied to two groups that have claimed responsibility for a number of attacks across the country.

Our Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena tells us more -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, you know, we're so used to hearing about al Qaeda, right, these days. Well, this involves the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front. And later on we're going to hear the results of an ATF and FBI investigation that dates back to 1996, so these are some -- some long- standing sort of cold cases that took years to solve.

Apparently, there was an informant from within the group, according to several sources, who -- who really was quite helpful in leading to these indictments. As you said, there will be 11 people indicted, but three of those people are fugitives. And we expect to have photos released of those individuals later.

The charges are coming out of Oregon but they involve incidents in six states, including Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado. And this cell, it's about 20 people -- it involves about 20 people that have been involved in at least -- in dozens of incidents.

As a matter of fact, ELF and ALF have been involved in 1,200 incidents from 1994 to 2004. Some of the things that will be brought up in this indictment are in 1996, burning down some ranger stations in Oregon; a 1998 attack on an upscale ski resort in Vail, Colorado; some horse corals; lumber companies; car dealerships, so on.

So, pretty big indictment. We expect to hear from all the parties involved, as you said, about 12:30 this afternoon.

KAGAN: Yes. Kelli, you're pointing out that these are some pretty old crimes. Any idea what the break in the case could have been?

ARENA: Well, it was this -- this informant. They got an informant to work with them from within this organization. These are highly-secretive organizations.

They don't use telephones. They use walkie-talkies. They have code names, they have a code language when they communicate with each other. Typically, very, very closed-mouthed, not easy to flip, which is -- you know, if they get taken into custody, they don't necessarily provide any information about anyone else.

But there was, we're told by several sources, an informant who was very helpful, was able to lead them back, lead investigators back, you know, through some history. And yes, all the way back to 1996 -- Daryn.

KAGAN: It looks like they've cast a pretty big net.

Thank you, Kelli Arena.

ARENA: You're welcome.

KAGAN: We'll look for that news conference.

Other news today, an urgent search and an anxious wait at a rescue mission as it unfolds in another West Virginia coal mine. Rescue teams are searching for two miners missing after a fire inside the mine in Melville, West Virginia. Twelve miners were at work when a monitor went off indicating a fire.

Officials say the fire is about 10,000 feet inside the mine, and they're trying to get it under control. Ten of the crew members managed to make it out of the mine, but the other two are still missing.

Our national correspondent, Bob Franken, joins us live now from Melville, West Virginia, with the latest on the rescue effort.

Bob, hello.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And Daryn, that is a bit of a change -- we just had a briefing a short time ago -- a bit of a change. What the decision had been before was to just keep the fire contained while the searchers did their efforts.

There are about -- well, there are five rescue teams that they rotate in and out. That means that there are about 25 to 30 people in the mine working on trying to find the two who are missing.

But the fire has become a problem. In particular, the smoke has become a problem.

So, as we heard in the briefing just a moment ago, there's been something of a change of strategy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOUG CONAWAY, WEST VIRGINIA OFFICE OF MINERS HEALTH: Where we're at now is we've moved our -- concentrated our efforts on fighting the fire. We feel it's necessary at this point to try to contain the fire. And then once we do that, maybe the condition will clear a little bit better with the smoke and make traveling much easier on up -- on up in -- on to this section.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: This has really inhibited the search because the rescuers, the potential rescuers, have not been able to see what it is they're doing, in addition to which they have to spend time putting foam on the fires, as opposed to dropping in such equipment such as what they call geophones. That is something that they set up so they can try and hear if there's anybody there.

This is obviously a very precarious situation. It is part of the culture here, Daryn. Up the road about 100 yards or so is the Free Will Baptist Church where the families are gathering, waiting, hoping. Hoping that the worst doesn't happen -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Yes, it was kind of disturbing to hear in this news conference that they don't even know where these miners are. They know where they aren't.

FRANKEN: Well, they don't -- no, they -- what they -- they really don't. They know where they're not, at least in a couple of places. They've been able to look into two areas, but this is a very sprawling mine.

As a matter of fact, the entrances are about a half-mile away. But it literally goes under where we're standing right now.

And all they can do is search the areas. That means that it is a very difficult job. But at the same token, it also means there's a greater potential for them to be places where those two men can breathe.

KAGAN: Bob Franken live from West Virginia.

Thank you. We'll check back with you for the latest on these rescue efforts.

Now the latest on the Osama bin Laden tape. We focused a lot on this yesterday during these hours. Now the government, the U.S. government, says it does believe the voice on the newly released audiotape is believed to be that of the al Qaeda leader.

U.S. counterterrorism officials say the tape may have been made, they think, maybe in December. Officials say there are no immediate plans to raise the nation's terror alert level, despite bin Laden's threat of another attack on the U.S.

The father of John Walker Lindh -- remember him? The father is now breaking a long silence about his son, the young man known as the Taliban-American.

He is asking President Bush to grant clemency to his son. Frank Lindh says his son is a decent and honorable person, not a traitor or a killer. He's emphatic that his son was not fighting against the U.S. Rather, he says, the young Lindh took place in Afghanistan's domestic conflict.

U.S. troops captured John Walker Lindh in Afghanistan in 2001. Frank Lindh claims his son was tortured after he was taken prisoner, bound with duct tape and held naked in a metal container for two days.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRANK LINDH, JOHN WALKER LINDH'S FATHER: I think I would say, President Bush, as one father to another, I would ask that you please let my son out of prison and apologize for what happened here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: John Walker Lindh avoided a possible life sentence with a guilty plea. He is serving a 20-year sentence.

Concerns are growing by the hour for an American journalist being held hostage in Iraq. The family of Jill Carroll is holding out hope and pleading again for her safe return. Carroll's kidnapers issued a statement Tuesday threatening to kill her unless the U.S. releases Iraqi female prisoners within 72 hours.

Today Carroll's father went on Arab language television to appeal to her abductors. He urged them not to sacrifice an innocent soul.

CNN's Michael Holmes is following the story. He has the latest from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There has been almost unprecedented support in Iraq and in the Mideast in general for Jill Carroll and her predicament. As we know, her father, Jim Carroll, addressing her captors on Al-Jazeera, television, saying in part that he wanted to speak directly to the men holding his daughter because, as he put it, "They may be fathers, like me."

He said, "My daughter does not have the ability to free anyone. She is a reporter and an innocent person."

Now, as I say, Iraqis united about this. Prominent Sunni politician Abdel al-Dulaimi (ph), who Jill was going to meet the day she was kidnapped, held a news conference calling for her release, saying that she was a woman who defended Iraqis and condemned the war in Iraq.

We have been out speaking to Iraqis in the street, including a Sunni imam at a mosque. Everyone saying that the taking of Jill Carroll was a mistake and she should be released.

Michael Holmes, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: All right. Think of how many times you Googled a name or a subject this past week. Does it matter to you if the government knows what you were looking for?

Coming up, the latest legal showdown over privacy.

And a decade after the bombing, one man connected to the Oklahoma City case is released from prison. Hear what the victims' families have to say about Michael Fortier on his day of freedom.

And a history lesson taught by puppets. Anne Frank's story retold in a unique way. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Another absolutely vital requirement in the war on terror is that we use whatever means are appropriate to try to find out the intentions of the enemy. To this end, in the days following 9/11, the president authorized the National Security Agency to intercept a certain category of terrorist-linked international communications.

Let me emphasize that, because you frequently hear this called a "domestic surveillance program." It is not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: But it did target Americans, and now the Bush administration is again raising eyebrows as it tries to find out more about Americans' Internet habits. It wants Google -- you know Google -- to hand over information about its customers' search requests, saying the data will help protect children from Internet porn sites.

With that story, here's CNN's technology correspondent, Daniel Sieberg.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The Bush administration wants to know what millions of people have been looking for on Google, the world's biggest search engine. But Google says no way.

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in California demanding that Google turn over data it says will help the government ultimately keep children from accessing pornography on the Web. But critics worry that this could lead to government spying on all types of Internet searches.

The government is seeking Google's search records over a random one-week time period that could mean tens of millions of search requests. It claims they won't be tied to a person's identity. It also wants a random sampling of one million Web sites in Google's database.

In the past few years, Google has become a massive clearinghouse for everything from satellite images to library documents to driving directions. Privacy advocates have routinely been scrutinizing the company's behavior. But this time, many of them are in Google's camp.

When Google went public last year, its motto was "Do no evil." In this case, Google says it won't comply with the government's request, arguing that it can expose the identities of some users. It also worries the information would be highly valuable to its competitors.

Google says it plans to "vigorously fight the lawsuit."

(on camera): All of this comes in light of news about the National Security Agency's program to monitor U.S. citizens. But it's also the latest chapter in a long-running debate over whether there needs to be more laws to protect children online.

Daniel Sieberg, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: So why are privacy advocates so concerned about this case and the government's domestic eavesdropping program?

Joining us now with some answers, Sherwin Siy. He works as a counsel for the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington.

Sherwin, good morning. Thank you.

SHERWIN SIY, ELECTRONIC PRIVACY INFORMATION CENTER: Good morning. No problem.

KAGAN: Let's talk about Google here. It's kind of hard to be in favor of children being able to see pornography on the Internet.

SIY: Well, that's true. That's very true.

KAGAN: Right. So, once you get past that, how do you -- how do you have concerns with what the government wants to see?

SIY: Well, there's a couple of different reasons that we can be concerned about this. First of all, the law that the government is trying to -- is trying to bring back is one that was struck down by the Supreme Court as being over-broad. It actually restricts people's ability to use the Internet.

Another reason to be really concerned is their tactics in this case. What they've done is engaged in basically a fishing expedition.

It's important to remember that there's no prosecution going on here. They're not looking for any criminals. They're not looking for any pornographers. They're not trying to enforce any particular action. They're trying to make a policy statement by engaging in this data fishing expedition.

KAGAN: Help us understand a little bit more exactly the thing that they want to see. So Google has this information. Google keeps information about what people have Googled on their site? They're doing that for their own research purposes?

SIY: That's right. For whatever purposes, Google is keeping track of people's search histories. All of the things that you type in are associated with a cookie, a little file that's kept on your computer. These cookies also can keep track of whether you use a g- mail account and that identity as well. KAGAN: So you should know that, first of all. You should know that every time you just go on to Google, that's just not a forgotten moment.

SIY: No, a lot of data that -- pretty much everything that you can type in can be stored, and can be later apparently retrieved by the government.

KAGAN: And so Google has a few reasons for not wanting to be part of this. One, just the idea that it doesn't want to cooperate with the government and hand over privacy information.

SIY: Sure.

KAGAN: But it can also hurt Google as a business?

SIY: Well, that's what they're saying. And it seems this information can be very, very valuable to companies. And that's why they keep it, despite the fact that I think users generally don't want their privacy to be invaded in this way.

So, while we commend Google and we're very grateful that they're going to be fighting this, we're a little concerned that they're keeping this information in the first place. This really wouldn't be a problem if they didn't have it in the first place.

KAGAN: It is an interesting world indeed. Sherin Siy, thank you.

SIY: No problem.

KAGAN: Well, his name might be not as familiar to Americans as Timothy McVeigh's, but for the families who lost loved ones in the Oklahoma City in the bombing, Michael Fortier's release from prison brings a lot of emotion to the surface. We will hear from them live from Oklahoma City coming up next.

And a sight to see right in the heart of London. You see that? That's a whale in the River Thames swimming right past Big Ben. It's drawing crowds but also concern for the whale.

We'll have a live report just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Oh, yes, we say yes. It is...

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Come on, Christian (ph).

KAGAN: It is a big birthday. That's the boss man.

But we got you anyway. Christian (ph), our executive producer, his birthday tomorrow.

But we don't just have one birthday today.

JERAS: Two for the price of one.

KAGAN: We have two!

Sarah (ph), you're not getting off easy.

JERAS: I saw her eating cake earlier.

KAGAN: Lovely, young Sarah Rudolph (ph).

Happy birthday to both of you tomorrow.

JERAS: And that song, Daryn, right from the year when Christian (ph) was born. Oh, and there's "Postman" for Sarah (ph).

KAGAN: Yes. And we won't say the years. So that will be our little present. Although, they both are looking lovely and young and fabulous.

JERAS: Yes, they do.

KAGAN: And, of course, Jacqui, we're all geeked up on birthday cake here today.

JERAS: I know. I'm trying to stay away.

KAGAN: Oh, you can't. I brought it in.

JERAS: Well, at least to 12:00. You know?

KAGAN: White chocolate birthday cake.

JERAS: Ooh, that sounds quite tempting.

KAGAN: It's really good, like, 12 layers, 10 layers of icing.

JERAS: Got to stick to the new year's resolution. It's only been how many days?

KAGAN: Come on down. Come on down.

JERAS: Maybe after lunch.

KAGAN: Any delicious weather out there for us?

JERAS: Well, if you like snow, yes.

KAGAN: To visit.

JERAS: Yes. It is nice, and it will be a nice, quick-moving system, so you'll get a little bit of snow. It won't get you out of school early today, unfortunately, but it will make for nice snowmen and sledding for tomorrow. It will be out of there by Sunday, so kind of a quick mover here.

We've got the snow coming down across parts of Kansas, into Nebraska, into Iowa and northern parts of Missouri. A little bit of trouble in Kansas City at this hour. You can see all the pink there that's been pushing into the region. We're going to see a little bit of a mix, reporting some ice pellets and freezing rain at this hour. It should be changing over to some snow we think in the next couple.

Accumulations mostly on the north side of town. You should be pretty OK into Overland Park.

Omaha, north side of town here, too, getting just a little bit of snow. Snowfall amounts a little bit less into eastern Nebraska, picking up a quick one to two inches there.

Des Moines, you're doing OK right now as we head east along I-80. But we are expecting the snow to be arriving and picking up maybe two to three inches there. And we'll head also farther east along I-80 into Chicago.

Looking at some nice, dry conditions right now. So get outside, run your errands, get your movie for tonight, because you're going to want to hunker down and stay inside. We've got the winter storm warning -- or heavy snow warning, rather -- in effect here, expecting to see three to seven inches of snowfall when all is said and done.

We'll show you what you can expect for snow in the next 24 hours. And there you can see some of those heavier bands from the northeastern parts of Missouri, extending on up towards Chicagoland. North side of town getting hit the hardest, and it looks like Milwaukee is going to miss out on the heavy snow, too. So kind of a real confined area.

Across the East, beautiful weather here. Start your weekend early if you can. Temperatures unbelievably warm and getting close to records in New York City. Boston up to 55, 63 in D.C.

Temperatures in the West a little bit cooler here, but we've got some great news for you by the weekend. Tomorrow, the Pacific Northwest still getting a little bit wet here. However, by your Sunday, finally a nice stretch of some very dry weather.

Daryn, a few places in the West are way too dry. We're going to talk a little bit more about that coming up in the next hour.

But we want to tell you -- yes, I hate this part of the show. The cold and flu report, it's never my favorite, but I've got to tell you about it because it's getting closer and closer.

Flu becoming much more widespread across parts of the West. Now we've got seven states reporting widespread flu. And only two left, Louisiana and Vermont, both not reporting activity. Starting to pick up a little bit, here, too, in the Ohio Valley and also into the Deep South.

So, yes, sneeze -- when you sneeze, Daryn, like this.

KAGAN: Really?

JERAS: Into the elbow. You see everybody sneezing into their hands.

KAGAN: Yes.

JERAS: And then they touch the door on the hand.

KAGAN: Yes, but you do this, and then you got the boogies all over your sleeve.

JERAS: Well, hopefully it's a drier sneeze. But that way you're not getting other people sick. Or get a tissue.

KAGAN: How about a nice Kleenex? Yes.

JERAS: Get a tissue.

KAGAN: A little tissue.

JERAS: If you don't have one, though, elbow.

KAGAN: Thank you.

Not a good look.

OK. When we come back, we're going to have a good look at some whale watching. Londoners don't have to go very far to go whale watching. Just go to the banks of the River Thames.

We're going there live in a few minutes. We're going to be seeing what they're going to do to find this whale that kind of lost its way.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan. We're coming up on the half-hour. Here's a look at what's happening right "Now in the News."

About an hour from now, the Justice Department expected to announce the indictments of 11 people accused of eco-terrorism. Government sources say the suspects are connected to two groups, the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front. The groups have claimed responsibility for a number of attacks across the country.

We'll have live coverage of the Justice Department news conference at 12:30 Eastern.

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