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American Morning
Reasons for Heightened Terror Alert Level; Discussion with Mayor Anthony Williams
Aired August 02, 2004 - 08:00 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Three American cities, five buildings -- the new information from al Qaeda sources that names specific targets of interest.
Gauging the success of the Democratic convention this morning, our first poll to look for a bounce.
And some new information in Utah that's causing the family of a missing woman to call off the search on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
COLLINS: Good morning, everybody.
I'm Heidi Collins.
New terrorism warning topping the news this morning. We've got a complete report coming up, looking at where the information is coming from and what it says about New York, Washington and Newark, New Jersey. We'll also talk to Washington Mayor Anthony Williams and find out what's being to protect people there.
Also, in just a few minutes, we'll talk to Jeff Toobin about the Kobe Bryant case, from the judge's apology to a ruling about the alleged victim's sexual history. We'll ask Jeff if he thinks a fair trial is still possible.
Meanwhile, Bill Hemmer is standing by in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
He got quite an interview today.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Heidi, good morning, again.
We are in Grand Rapids. Why you asked, this has really been politics central for the past three days. President Bush had a huge rally here on Friday. John Kerry, the senator from Massachusetts, has two events, one starting in about two hours time here behind me at a firehouse just outside of town.
For the reporters here in Grand Rapids, this is what is awaiting for them outside their hotel when they wake up today. Our plan for America, stronger at home, respected in the world, this is what's being put out by the Kerry-Edwards campaign, divided in three sections, Heidi, security, opportunity and family. If those themes sounds familiar, from another campaign, we'll talk to Ron Brownstein about what that may mean in a couple of minutes here in Grand Rapids.
Senator Kerry will be our guest later this morning, when this event gets under way here. And, also, we are on the bus yet again. Behind me here, the election express rolls on. Reflections of a campaign as it continues to roll across the country, a little more than 90 days and counting, and a lot to talk about yet again today -- Heidi, back to you now in New York.
COLLINS: All right, Bill, thanks so much for that.
Back to me and Mr. Jack, that is.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Bill, are you ever going to come back to work? I mean, you know, a week in Boston, a week in Michigan...
COLLINS: He misses you.
CAFFERTY: Are you going to ever come back to work or are just going to stay on the road this summer riding around in the bus?
HEMMER: I don't think so. I kind of like the road, you know?
CAFFERTY: Yes.
COLLINS: Oh, he likes it so much he's gone.
CAFFERTY: Now I can't hear him anymore.
COLLINS: Poof!
CAFFERTY: Yes.
Coming up in the "Cafferty File," rarer than a spotted owl -- members of Congress actually seen in Washington, D.C. in August. It could be they're getting your message.
And it's a dog's life, and it pays $45,000 a year. We'll explain in a little bit with the "File."
COLLINS: Those are the best teases.
CAFFERTY: I have a quick question.
COLLINS: OK.
CAFFERTY: If the terrorists are planning to attack in these three places and we know that and then we announce to the world we're onto you and we put up all this extra security, might not that cause them to go somewhere else and do their dirty deeds?
COLLINS: Well, they say that they certainly hope that's what will happen. But then, you know, where is the next place? This is true.
CAFFERTY: Well, yes. I mean, I just was wondering, might it not have been better to keep that intelligence secret, go ahead and increase your security at the targets and maybe try to...
COLLINS: That's right. There has been a lot of debate about how much to share with the public and how much to keep confidential. That's true.
CAFFERTY: Yes. The producer is telling me to shut up so you can move on now.
COLLINS: Oh, OK. Well, I would never tell you that, Jack.
Thanks so much.
CAFFERTY: No, but he does.
COLLINS: OK.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
COLLINS: In Washington now, the elevated terror warning names as potential targets the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
Homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve is live at the World Bank now for us this morning -- Jeanne, hello once again.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Of course, we don't know how many, if any, employees are staying home today. But those we have spoken to at the World Bank say they won't let terrorists deter them, although their building is a possible target.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
08010103.v36
(END VIDEO TAPE)
MESERVE: U.S. officials say the new threat information came from the arrest of an al Qaeda operative in Pakistan. Pakistani officials tell CNN that he was a computer operative and his arrest has resulted in what U.S. officials are calling a treasure trove of information -- Heidi, back to you.
COLLINS: Jeanne Meserve, thanks so much for that, live from Washington this morning.
Well, even though only the World Bank and the IMF in Washington, D.C. are named, the nature of the threat and the location of the buildings has led to a much wider security net.
Washington's Mayor Anthony Williams is our guest now from the Washington bureau this morning.
Mr. Mayor, Thanks for being here this morning. MAYOR ANTHONY WILLIAMS, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Good to be with you.
COLLINS: I want to begin with a little bit of sound that we got earlier this morning from Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.
If you'll listen in, we'll get your comment on the back side of this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: The employees at these institutions will probably notice a change in security right away this morning. And the owners of the buildings and the companies and their leadership will be sitting down with the FBI and with our folks at homeland security, as well as local security professionals, to see what additional security measures.
You may already see some change in routing around some of these buildings.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Mayor Williams, is this enough for your city?
WILLIAMS: Well, those are the first steps. I think what we have to understand here is that, one, this has to be a network response. When you're talking about the District, you also have to involve the surrounding counties, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Maryland, Virginia, the federal government. You've got to live the private sector and private sector security, as well as multiple layers of security here in our city, from park police, Capitol police, our own metropolitan police.
So all of that has to happen. And I think that the secretary is right, citizens can expect to see some changes in routing from time to time. They can expect some delays if trucks are pulled over for inspection. And certainly they'll see an increased police security presence.
COLLINS: But the Department of Homeland Security has not really officially elevated the alert status for all of Washington, D.C., just the financial sector. Yet you, on your own, have done that. You have alerted the whole city to the next level.
Why?
WILLIAMS: Because I think it's important that our police department, which has elevated its level, and our overall government, which has, in turn, elevated its level, act on a higher state of readiness. We are Washington, D.C. We are one of the continuing ongoing targets, as we fight terrorism. And I think it's important, one, that our government be up to speed and prepared if something happens. Number two, it's important that we let our citizens know that, look, we may be in this for the long haul, remain vigilant, remain alert, practice your family routines or your office routines.
But by all means, knowing that we're prepared, continue to go on about your daily business. And that's so important. It's also important in a city like ours to raise your level because we're fighting two threats here. We're fighting the terrorism threat. And when you're a city like Washington, D.C., like many cities in our country, you're facing also the terror threat of gangs in the neighborhoods. And one of the things we saw on September 11 is that we deployed forces at our major centers here downtown, we lost our police presence in the neighborhoods and I don't want that to happen again.
COLLINS: Understandable.
But, you know, this is different this time. This is something very different as far as the specificity -- we keep hearing that word this morning -- of this particular threat.
How do you tell people in the same breath you need to go about business as usual?
WILLIAMS: We're used to this because you've had ongoing threats to people who are working in the Capitol Hill complex, working around the White House. So we're used, I think, to trying to maintain the balance between an open society and a safe society.
COLLINS: All right, Mayor Anthony Williams, we appreciate your time this morning so much.
WILLIAMS: Thank you.
COLLINS: From Washington, D.C.
And we will continue to follow this story all morning long.
Andy Serwer is checking how the financial markets are reacting to a specific threat against them. We'll hear about the weekend White House staff meetings that led to the raising of the threat level. And at 8:30 Eastern, New Jersey Governor James McGreevey will talk about what he's doing to meet the threat.
Meanwhile, Kelly Wallace is here now with the very latest on all the other news this morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
A busy news morning. And good morning to all of you.
Iraqi officials say insurgents are trying to drive a wedge between Muslims and Christians in the country. At least seven people were killed yesterday in a wave of coordinated attacks targeting the country's Christian population. Iraqi officials blame insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi for the car bombings on churches in Baghdad and Mosul.
In Port Allen, Louisiana, the trial of Derrick Todd Lee is set to get under way. He's charged with killing LSU student Geralyn DeSoto in January 2002. Lee is also suspected in the deaths of seven women and has been indicted in three killings. He's been linked to several of those killings by DNA.
In Utah, the family of Lori Hacking has asked volunteers to stop searching for her. This after police say they've received a tip from her husband Mark and plan on resuming a search of the city's landfill later this week. Police say Mark Hacking remains the primary person of interest in the case.
And finally, bad weather in Florida has forced NASA to temporarily ground its mission to Mercury. The spacecraft Messenger is set to be launched on a 4.9 billion mile journey to orbit the planet nearest the sun. It is the first U.S. mission to Mercury in more than three decades. NASA will try again tomorrow.
That's a look at some of the other news making headlines this hour.
Now back to Bill in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
HEMMER: All right, Kelly.
I'll bet you miss the campaign already, don't you?
WALLACE: I do, Bill. I wish I were there with you.
HEMMER: Listen, there's plenty of time, believe me.
Back here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Senator John Kerry's post- convention bounce may be in the eye of the beholder. The latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll suggesting the presidential race is as close as ever.
CNN political analyst Ron Brownstein of the "L.A. Times" also back with us here in Grand Rapids, Michigan -- good morning to you.
RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: I know you got in late on the bus last night.
On the screen, registered voters asked in this poll give Kerry a three point advantage over Bush, not counting Ralph Nader. Likely voters, though, it flips -- Bush favored by three points.
What's the campaign reacting to? What are they saying about those numbers?
BROWNSTEIN: Well, first of all, one of the hardest things to in polling is figure out who is going to vote, who is a likely voter. And, you know, we're pretty far away from the election and it can be kind of fluid and volatile.
What the campaign is saying is that you've got to put any single poll in context. There are going to be a lot of numbers out in the next few days. Obviously, we've had a "Newsweek" poll over the weekend that showed Kerry ahead right now, even with Nader in the race, and gaining some ground. In the CNN poll, there's some internal cross tensions, because most of the attributes, the way people judge Kerry, were improving and the horse race deteriorated for him.
I guess I think we should say wait and see over the next 48 hours. We'll get a lot of other numbers out and we'll sort of put it all together then see where we are.
HEMMER: David Wade, who helps run this campaign at the very top, highest of levels, called it an aberration.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes, well...
HEMMER: Is that spin? Is that dismissing it? Or is that the truth?
BROWNSTEIN: You know, we don't know. I mean, the answer is you may, the CNN poll may be onto something important here, which is that the Bush base is very solid. I think we know that. But we'll have to wait another, I think, day or two when we have a whole bunch of other numbers coming out.
One thing I think you can say from this poll is that it reaffirms what people thought going into this convention. The race has been going on for a longer time than usual before the convention. The parties are more polarized than usual. And that suggests there's probably less give in the electorate. There are fewer people out there who are truly floating around. You may not see the kind of big movements that we've seen in the past at some of the conventions.
HEMMER: This is the news today, our plan for America. It'll be unveiled about 10:00 local time here in Grand Rapids. You had a copy laying on your carpet outside of your hotel this morning.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes, I did. I did, indeed.
HEMMER: Three sections, Ron -- security, opportunity and family. At first glance, that appears to be very Republican in its message.
BROWNSTEIN: Sure. And we talked about this on Friday. I mean, one of the things we're seeing very clearly from Kerry is trying to challenge Bush on Republican turf, both from a message point of view -- and, by the way, on this bus trip -- from a geographic point of view. The whole Democratic convention focused on security, values, integrity, attributes that President Bush, I think, has believed belonged to him.
This is reminiscent of opportunity, responsibility and community, the three pillars of Bill Clinton's 1992 book. The terrain that they -- the itinerary they followed this weekend sent the same message. Most of the counties we've been in, or many of them, have been counties that President Bush won.
HEMMER: Also, though, you reflected on Bill Clinton. He did a similar thing 12 years ago in 1992. He also moved to the center. It appears that John Kerry is trying to do a similar thing in this campaign early.
BROWNSTEIN: Since winning the primary, most of the moves he's made, whether it's on education, talking about accountability for teachers, increasing the size of the military, doubling the size of the special forces, all of these ways he has tried to center himself, look, what's left in this electorate is in the center, by and large. And both sides have to appeal to it.
HEMMER: Just about 95 days and counting.
Ron Brownstein, thanks again.
BROWNSTEIN: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: We expect Senator Kerry, our guest a bit later this morning, here live in Grand Rapids. And we'll bring that to you a bit later this morning.
Back to Heidi now yet again in New York -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Bill, thanks.
Still to come this morning, the first tropical storm of the season is looming off the East Coast. We'll let you know who's in the path.
Also ahead, a sort of pacemaker to treat depression. Dr. Sanjay Gupta stops by to explain.
And a courtroom rarity -- the judge in the Kobe Bryant case says he's sorry. We'll talk to senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin about that ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: The judge in the Kobe Bryant case has apologized to the family of Bryant's accuser after the court once again mistakenly revealed her name and other confidential documents on its Web site.
CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin joining us now to talk a little bit more about this unusual turn of events.
This is incredibly rare, isn't it?
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: It is unusual for judges to apologize. It's partly a cultural thing. Judges just have a certain, I think it's safe to say, inbred arrogance. They don't generally apologize. But there have been so many just simple mistakes of releasing this accuser's name, now for the third time, unintentionally, that an apology, I think, was very much called for and I think appreciated.
Look, judges and court systems make mistakes. This was one. This was three.
COLLINS: OK, and then to admit it is another.
Now, some of the women's advocates would say this whole system that was designed to protect the victim in the first place has failed.
What is the impact of these leaks?
TOOBIN: Well, I think, you have to draw a distinction here. It was clearly wrong to have these mistaken releases of her name. But it's also worth mentioning that by and large, the news media, with the exception of a single supermarket tabloid, has not released her name. So I think the damage has been somewhat limited.
As for the rulings on the evidence, look, there are two concepts in tension here. One is the idea behind the rape shield law not punishing women who make these accusations. But Kobe Bryant has to have a right to a fair trial. And I think the judge drew a fair balance here. Limiting the evidence about her sexual past to the 72 hours before and after gives Kobe Bryant the chance to say look, these injuries were not caused by me, they were caused by other people. I think he has a right to do that.
So in that respect, I don't think the -- if there are women's rights advocates criticizing the decision -- and I don't think there are many -- I don't think they're on the ball.
COLLINS: All right, well, let's talk about the prosecution then, for a moment. You already brought up the Colorado rape shield laws and the sexual history, some of that being allowed.
How will that affect the prosecution's case?
TOOBIN: It's going to make it a lot tougher because, you know, if Kobe Bryant's lawyers can plausibly say look, the injuries here were caused by someone else and, of course, as we know, there's no eyewitness to the alleged incident, it's just going to be hard to make this case. This is not an easy case for the prosecution.
COLLINS: Yes, I guess we knew that from the beginning, huh?
Jeff Toobin...
TOOBIN: But it's only gotten more difficult as the evidence has come out.
COLLINS: This is true.
All right, senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, thanks so much this morning.
TOOBIN: OK, Heidi.
COLLINS: And now we're going to check on the weather and tropical storms threatening the East Coast now.
Chad Myers is standing by at the CNN Center with the very latest on this.
So this thing grew overnight, but not necessarily got more fierce?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, it's now 60 miles per hour. The hurricane hunter aircraft was just in the storm and all night the Weather Service was at 40 to 45 miles per hour. So they did find a 62 knot wind in the storm when they were flying through it. You do the multiplication, that's about 70, 71 miles per hour.
They don't think that's all the way down to the ocean level, because obviously the plane's not flying down at ocean level. But about 60 miles per hour now is the new number from the Hurricane Center. And you can really begin to see the center of the storm. When you see a center like that and a little hole in the center, you start to get that center, you start working on that eye. We're not calling it an eye yet, but certainly a circulation center for this storm and it's traveling now to the north-northeast, maybe five, a little bit less than that, miles per hour.
It moved a little bit offshore overnight, but it's still drifting on, right up toward about Wilmington. We think it's still going to move offshore, not affect North Carolina right per se, but certainly even if the thing's 10, 15 miles offshore, with 70 mile per hour winds, you're going to get some damage there. So we're going to have to keep watching it. That's why tropical storm warnings are in effect and I suspect in the next, probably the next update, Heidi, that'll be in three hours, we'll probably get some hurricane watches -- back to you.
COLLINS: All right, Chad, glad you're watching that for us.
We will check back should things change.
Thanks so much.
MYERS: All right.
COLLINS: We want to take you now to the New York Stock Exchange. Obviously been in the news all morning as one of the possible targets, one of the reasons the terror threat level has been raised. We are waiting for a press conference from Senator Chuck Schumer. You see him way back behind there. We're also going to be hearing from the head of the New York Stock Exchange, CEO John Thain. So stand by for that.
We'll be back in just a few moments.
In the meanwhile, the very latest on that heightened terror alert in three U.S. cities now. What exactly is being done to protect the apparent targets?
We'll also talk to the governor of one of the states affected.
It'll all happen here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: We're going to check in with Jack now and the Question of the Day.
CAFFERTY: A presidential campaign unlike any in recent history, Heidi. Terrorism very much the wild card in the race. We're asking this morning who will keep America safer, President Bush or John Kerry? Jim writes: "I wish both parties would address the threats to America and stop accusing each other of not being the best for the job. We're Americans first, Democrats and Republicans second."
Gregg in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania: "A terrorist attack in New York or anywhere would keep George Bush in the White House. This is obvious to everyone, including the terrorists. These threats show that the terrorists prefer George Bush at the head of anti-terrorism rather than John Kerry."
Jim in Miramar Beach: "If Mr. Kerry can get the cooperation of foreign allies that he claims he can, we should be safer both here and abroad. I, for one, don't like the go it alone idea." And Peter in Houston writes: "Let me put it this way, one guy has a record of protecting us that's three years old. He's had that much experience in confronting terrorism. The other guy has 20 years of talk with no record, no achievements, no experience. Anyone who wants to change leaders at this point doesn't need to vote, they need a shrink."
Thank you, Peter, for your analysis of the situation.
COLLINS: All right, Jack, thanks so much.
We're going to turn it back over to Bill now, standing by outside the election bus there in Grand Rapids -- hey, Bill.
HEMMER: Yes, Heidi, listening to you and Jack talk there, "Newsweek" did a poll. They released it over the weekend. They found the number one concern among those surveyed was terrorism, quickly followed by the economy, then shortly after that Iraq. All three bunched together, but in order it was terrorism, one; economy, tomorrow; and Iraq, three.
And I think, Jack, for those who are not familiar with the commute to New York City, you come into Manhattan every morning. It is a significant thing when they close the eastbound lane coming into Manhattan of the Holland Tunnel to commercial traffic. I don't know if you remember, Jack, I can't remember the last time that happened going back to the events of 9/11 almost three years ago.
So we'll get more reaction on that as we push forward here in the morning.
Also, a live update from the White House in a moment and the latest on the heightened terror alert involving financial centers in three different U.S. cities.
Our coverage continues back in New York and also here on the campaign trail. Grand Rapids, Michigan our stop today.
Back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Get the latest news every morning in your e-mail. Just sign up for AMERICAN MORNING Quick News at cnn.com/am.
Still to come this morning, a new development regarding the identity leak of an undercover CIA operative. And the secretary of state is involved. We'll tell you about that on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired August 2, 2004 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Three American cities, five buildings -- the new information from al Qaeda sources that names specific targets of interest.
Gauging the success of the Democratic convention this morning, our first poll to look for a bounce.
And some new information in Utah that's causing the family of a missing woman to call off the search on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
COLLINS: Good morning, everybody.
I'm Heidi Collins.
New terrorism warning topping the news this morning. We've got a complete report coming up, looking at where the information is coming from and what it says about New York, Washington and Newark, New Jersey. We'll also talk to Washington Mayor Anthony Williams and find out what's being to protect people there.
Also, in just a few minutes, we'll talk to Jeff Toobin about the Kobe Bryant case, from the judge's apology to a ruling about the alleged victim's sexual history. We'll ask Jeff if he thinks a fair trial is still possible.
Meanwhile, Bill Hemmer is standing by in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
He got quite an interview today.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Heidi, good morning, again.
We are in Grand Rapids. Why you asked, this has really been politics central for the past three days. President Bush had a huge rally here on Friday. John Kerry, the senator from Massachusetts, has two events, one starting in about two hours time here behind me at a firehouse just outside of town.
For the reporters here in Grand Rapids, this is what is awaiting for them outside their hotel when they wake up today. Our plan for America, stronger at home, respected in the world, this is what's being put out by the Kerry-Edwards campaign, divided in three sections, Heidi, security, opportunity and family. If those themes sounds familiar, from another campaign, we'll talk to Ron Brownstein about what that may mean in a couple of minutes here in Grand Rapids.
Senator Kerry will be our guest later this morning, when this event gets under way here. And, also, we are on the bus yet again. Behind me here, the election express rolls on. Reflections of a campaign as it continues to roll across the country, a little more than 90 days and counting, and a lot to talk about yet again today -- Heidi, back to you now in New York.
COLLINS: All right, Bill, thanks so much for that.
Back to me and Mr. Jack, that is.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Bill, are you ever going to come back to work? I mean, you know, a week in Boston, a week in Michigan...
COLLINS: He misses you.
CAFFERTY: Are you going to ever come back to work or are just going to stay on the road this summer riding around in the bus?
HEMMER: I don't think so. I kind of like the road, you know?
CAFFERTY: Yes.
COLLINS: Oh, he likes it so much he's gone.
CAFFERTY: Now I can't hear him anymore.
COLLINS: Poof!
CAFFERTY: Yes.
Coming up in the "Cafferty File," rarer than a spotted owl -- members of Congress actually seen in Washington, D.C. in August. It could be they're getting your message.
And it's a dog's life, and it pays $45,000 a year. We'll explain in a little bit with the "File."
COLLINS: Those are the best teases.
CAFFERTY: I have a quick question.
COLLINS: OK.
CAFFERTY: If the terrorists are planning to attack in these three places and we know that and then we announce to the world we're onto you and we put up all this extra security, might not that cause them to go somewhere else and do their dirty deeds?
COLLINS: Well, they say that they certainly hope that's what will happen. But then, you know, where is the next place? This is true.
CAFFERTY: Well, yes. I mean, I just was wondering, might it not have been better to keep that intelligence secret, go ahead and increase your security at the targets and maybe try to...
COLLINS: That's right. There has been a lot of debate about how much to share with the public and how much to keep confidential. That's true.
CAFFERTY: Yes. The producer is telling me to shut up so you can move on now.
COLLINS: Oh, OK. Well, I would never tell you that, Jack.
Thanks so much.
CAFFERTY: No, but he does.
COLLINS: OK.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
COLLINS: In Washington now, the elevated terror warning names as potential targets the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
Homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve is live at the World Bank now for us this morning -- Jeanne, hello once again.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Of course, we don't know how many, if any, employees are staying home today. But those we have spoken to at the World Bank say they won't let terrorists deter them, although their building is a possible target.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
08010103.v36
(END VIDEO TAPE)
MESERVE: U.S. officials say the new threat information came from the arrest of an al Qaeda operative in Pakistan. Pakistani officials tell CNN that he was a computer operative and his arrest has resulted in what U.S. officials are calling a treasure trove of information -- Heidi, back to you.
COLLINS: Jeanne Meserve, thanks so much for that, live from Washington this morning.
Well, even though only the World Bank and the IMF in Washington, D.C. are named, the nature of the threat and the location of the buildings has led to a much wider security net.
Washington's Mayor Anthony Williams is our guest now from the Washington bureau this morning.
Mr. Mayor, Thanks for being here this morning. MAYOR ANTHONY WILLIAMS, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Good to be with you.
COLLINS: I want to begin with a little bit of sound that we got earlier this morning from Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.
If you'll listen in, we'll get your comment on the back side of this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: The employees at these institutions will probably notice a change in security right away this morning. And the owners of the buildings and the companies and their leadership will be sitting down with the FBI and with our folks at homeland security, as well as local security professionals, to see what additional security measures.
You may already see some change in routing around some of these buildings.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Mayor Williams, is this enough for your city?
WILLIAMS: Well, those are the first steps. I think what we have to understand here is that, one, this has to be a network response. When you're talking about the District, you also have to involve the surrounding counties, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Maryland, Virginia, the federal government. You've got to live the private sector and private sector security, as well as multiple layers of security here in our city, from park police, Capitol police, our own metropolitan police.
So all of that has to happen. And I think that the secretary is right, citizens can expect to see some changes in routing from time to time. They can expect some delays if trucks are pulled over for inspection. And certainly they'll see an increased police security presence.
COLLINS: But the Department of Homeland Security has not really officially elevated the alert status for all of Washington, D.C., just the financial sector. Yet you, on your own, have done that. You have alerted the whole city to the next level.
Why?
WILLIAMS: Because I think it's important that our police department, which has elevated its level, and our overall government, which has, in turn, elevated its level, act on a higher state of readiness. We are Washington, D.C. We are one of the continuing ongoing targets, as we fight terrorism. And I think it's important, one, that our government be up to speed and prepared if something happens. Number two, it's important that we let our citizens know that, look, we may be in this for the long haul, remain vigilant, remain alert, practice your family routines or your office routines.
But by all means, knowing that we're prepared, continue to go on about your daily business. And that's so important. It's also important in a city like ours to raise your level because we're fighting two threats here. We're fighting the terrorism threat. And when you're a city like Washington, D.C., like many cities in our country, you're facing also the terror threat of gangs in the neighborhoods. And one of the things we saw on September 11 is that we deployed forces at our major centers here downtown, we lost our police presence in the neighborhoods and I don't want that to happen again.
COLLINS: Understandable.
But, you know, this is different this time. This is something very different as far as the specificity -- we keep hearing that word this morning -- of this particular threat.
How do you tell people in the same breath you need to go about business as usual?
WILLIAMS: We're used to this because you've had ongoing threats to people who are working in the Capitol Hill complex, working around the White House. So we're used, I think, to trying to maintain the balance between an open society and a safe society.
COLLINS: All right, Mayor Anthony Williams, we appreciate your time this morning so much.
WILLIAMS: Thank you.
COLLINS: From Washington, D.C.
And we will continue to follow this story all morning long.
Andy Serwer is checking how the financial markets are reacting to a specific threat against them. We'll hear about the weekend White House staff meetings that led to the raising of the threat level. And at 8:30 Eastern, New Jersey Governor James McGreevey will talk about what he's doing to meet the threat.
Meanwhile, Kelly Wallace is here now with the very latest on all the other news this morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
A busy news morning. And good morning to all of you.
Iraqi officials say insurgents are trying to drive a wedge between Muslims and Christians in the country. At least seven people were killed yesterday in a wave of coordinated attacks targeting the country's Christian population. Iraqi officials blame insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi for the car bombings on churches in Baghdad and Mosul.
In Port Allen, Louisiana, the trial of Derrick Todd Lee is set to get under way. He's charged with killing LSU student Geralyn DeSoto in January 2002. Lee is also suspected in the deaths of seven women and has been indicted in three killings. He's been linked to several of those killings by DNA.
In Utah, the family of Lori Hacking has asked volunteers to stop searching for her. This after police say they've received a tip from her husband Mark and plan on resuming a search of the city's landfill later this week. Police say Mark Hacking remains the primary person of interest in the case.
And finally, bad weather in Florida has forced NASA to temporarily ground its mission to Mercury. The spacecraft Messenger is set to be launched on a 4.9 billion mile journey to orbit the planet nearest the sun. It is the first U.S. mission to Mercury in more than three decades. NASA will try again tomorrow.
That's a look at some of the other news making headlines this hour.
Now back to Bill in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
HEMMER: All right, Kelly.
I'll bet you miss the campaign already, don't you?
WALLACE: I do, Bill. I wish I were there with you.
HEMMER: Listen, there's plenty of time, believe me.
Back here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Senator John Kerry's post- convention bounce may be in the eye of the beholder. The latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll suggesting the presidential race is as close as ever.
CNN political analyst Ron Brownstein of the "L.A. Times" also back with us here in Grand Rapids, Michigan -- good morning to you.
RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: I know you got in late on the bus last night.
On the screen, registered voters asked in this poll give Kerry a three point advantage over Bush, not counting Ralph Nader. Likely voters, though, it flips -- Bush favored by three points.
What's the campaign reacting to? What are they saying about those numbers?
BROWNSTEIN: Well, first of all, one of the hardest things to in polling is figure out who is going to vote, who is a likely voter. And, you know, we're pretty far away from the election and it can be kind of fluid and volatile.
What the campaign is saying is that you've got to put any single poll in context. There are going to be a lot of numbers out in the next few days. Obviously, we've had a "Newsweek" poll over the weekend that showed Kerry ahead right now, even with Nader in the race, and gaining some ground. In the CNN poll, there's some internal cross tensions, because most of the attributes, the way people judge Kerry, were improving and the horse race deteriorated for him.
I guess I think we should say wait and see over the next 48 hours. We'll get a lot of other numbers out and we'll sort of put it all together then see where we are.
HEMMER: David Wade, who helps run this campaign at the very top, highest of levels, called it an aberration.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes, well...
HEMMER: Is that spin? Is that dismissing it? Or is that the truth?
BROWNSTEIN: You know, we don't know. I mean, the answer is you may, the CNN poll may be onto something important here, which is that the Bush base is very solid. I think we know that. But we'll have to wait another, I think, day or two when we have a whole bunch of other numbers coming out.
One thing I think you can say from this poll is that it reaffirms what people thought going into this convention. The race has been going on for a longer time than usual before the convention. The parties are more polarized than usual. And that suggests there's probably less give in the electorate. There are fewer people out there who are truly floating around. You may not see the kind of big movements that we've seen in the past at some of the conventions.
HEMMER: This is the news today, our plan for America. It'll be unveiled about 10:00 local time here in Grand Rapids. You had a copy laying on your carpet outside of your hotel this morning.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes, I did. I did, indeed.
HEMMER: Three sections, Ron -- security, opportunity and family. At first glance, that appears to be very Republican in its message.
BROWNSTEIN: Sure. And we talked about this on Friday. I mean, one of the things we're seeing very clearly from Kerry is trying to challenge Bush on Republican turf, both from a message point of view -- and, by the way, on this bus trip -- from a geographic point of view. The whole Democratic convention focused on security, values, integrity, attributes that President Bush, I think, has believed belonged to him.
This is reminiscent of opportunity, responsibility and community, the three pillars of Bill Clinton's 1992 book. The terrain that they -- the itinerary they followed this weekend sent the same message. Most of the counties we've been in, or many of them, have been counties that President Bush won.
HEMMER: Also, though, you reflected on Bill Clinton. He did a similar thing 12 years ago in 1992. He also moved to the center. It appears that John Kerry is trying to do a similar thing in this campaign early.
BROWNSTEIN: Since winning the primary, most of the moves he's made, whether it's on education, talking about accountability for teachers, increasing the size of the military, doubling the size of the special forces, all of these ways he has tried to center himself, look, what's left in this electorate is in the center, by and large. And both sides have to appeal to it.
HEMMER: Just about 95 days and counting.
Ron Brownstein, thanks again.
BROWNSTEIN: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: We expect Senator Kerry, our guest a bit later this morning, here live in Grand Rapids. And we'll bring that to you a bit later this morning.
Back to Heidi now yet again in New York -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Bill, thanks.
Still to come this morning, the first tropical storm of the season is looming off the East Coast. We'll let you know who's in the path.
Also ahead, a sort of pacemaker to treat depression. Dr. Sanjay Gupta stops by to explain.
And a courtroom rarity -- the judge in the Kobe Bryant case says he's sorry. We'll talk to senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin about that ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
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COLLINS: The judge in the Kobe Bryant case has apologized to the family of Bryant's accuser after the court once again mistakenly revealed her name and other confidential documents on its Web site.
CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin joining us now to talk a little bit more about this unusual turn of events.
This is incredibly rare, isn't it?
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: It is unusual for judges to apologize. It's partly a cultural thing. Judges just have a certain, I think it's safe to say, inbred arrogance. They don't generally apologize. But there have been so many just simple mistakes of releasing this accuser's name, now for the third time, unintentionally, that an apology, I think, was very much called for and I think appreciated.
Look, judges and court systems make mistakes. This was one. This was three.
COLLINS: OK, and then to admit it is another.
Now, some of the women's advocates would say this whole system that was designed to protect the victim in the first place has failed.
What is the impact of these leaks?
TOOBIN: Well, I think, you have to draw a distinction here. It was clearly wrong to have these mistaken releases of her name. But it's also worth mentioning that by and large, the news media, with the exception of a single supermarket tabloid, has not released her name. So I think the damage has been somewhat limited.
As for the rulings on the evidence, look, there are two concepts in tension here. One is the idea behind the rape shield law not punishing women who make these accusations. But Kobe Bryant has to have a right to a fair trial. And I think the judge drew a fair balance here. Limiting the evidence about her sexual past to the 72 hours before and after gives Kobe Bryant the chance to say look, these injuries were not caused by me, they were caused by other people. I think he has a right to do that.
So in that respect, I don't think the -- if there are women's rights advocates criticizing the decision -- and I don't think there are many -- I don't think they're on the ball.
COLLINS: All right, well, let's talk about the prosecution then, for a moment. You already brought up the Colorado rape shield laws and the sexual history, some of that being allowed.
How will that affect the prosecution's case?
TOOBIN: It's going to make it a lot tougher because, you know, if Kobe Bryant's lawyers can plausibly say look, the injuries here were caused by someone else and, of course, as we know, there's no eyewitness to the alleged incident, it's just going to be hard to make this case. This is not an easy case for the prosecution.
COLLINS: Yes, I guess we knew that from the beginning, huh?
Jeff Toobin...
TOOBIN: But it's only gotten more difficult as the evidence has come out.
COLLINS: This is true.
All right, senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, thanks so much this morning.
TOOBIN: OK, Heidi.
COLLINS: And now we're going to check on the weather and tropical storms threatening the East Coast now.
Chad Myers is standing by at the CNN Center with the very latest on this.
So this thing grew overnight, but not necessarily got more fierce?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, it's now 60 miles per hour. The hurricane hunter aircraft was just in the storm and all night the Weather Service was at 40 to 45 miles per hour. So they did find a 62 knot wind in the storm when they were flying through it. You do the multiplication, that's about 70, 71 miles per hour.
They don't think that's all the way down to the ocean level, because obviously the plane's not flying down at ocean level. But about 60 miles per hour now is the new number from the Hurricane Center. And you can really begin to see the center of the storm. When you see a center like that and a little hole in the center, you start to get that center, you start working on that eye. We're not calling it an eye yet, but certainly a circulation center for this storm and it's traveling now to the north-northeast, maybe five, a little bit less than that, miles per hour.
It moved a little bit offshore overnight, but it's still drifting on, right up toward about Wilmington. We think it's still going to move offshore, not affect North Carolina right per se, but certainly even if the thing's 10, 15 miles offshore, with 70 mile per hour winds, you're going to get some damage there. So we're going to have to keep watching it. That's why tropical storm warnings are in effect and I suspect in the next, probably the next update, Heidi, that'll be in three hours, we'll probably get some hurricane watches -- back to you.
COLLINS: All right, Chad, glad you're watching that for us.
We will check back should things change.
Thanks so much.
MYERS: All right.
COLLINS: We want to take you now to the New York Stock Exchange. Obviously been in the news all morning as one of the possible targets, one of the reasons the terror threat level has been raised. We are waiting for a press conference from Senator Chuck Schumer. You see him way back behind there. We're also going to be hearing from the head of the New York Stock Exchange, CEO John Thain. So stand by for that.
We'll be back in just a few moments.
In the meanwhile, the very latest on that heightened terror alert in three U.S. cities now. What exactly is being done to protect the apparent targets?
We'll also talk to the governor of one of the states affected.
It'll all happen here on AMERICAN MORNING.
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COLLINS: We're going to check in with Jack now and the Question of the Day.
CAFFERTY: A presidential campaign unlike any in recent history, Heidi. Terrorism very much the wild card in the race. We're asking this morning who will keep America safer, President Bush or John Kerry? Jim writes: "I wish both parties would address the threats to America and stop accusing each other of not being the best for the job. We're Americans first, Democrats and Republicans second."
Gregg in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania: "A terrorist attack in New York or anywhere would keep George Bush in the White House. This is obvious to everyone, including the terrorists. These threats show that the terrorists prefer George Bush at the head of anti-terrorism rather than John Kerry."
Jim in Miramar Beach: "If Mr. Kerry can get the cooperation of foreign allies that he claims he can, we should be safer both here and abroad. I, for one, don't like the go it alone idea." And Peter in Houston writes: "Let me put it this way, one guy has a record of protecting us that's three years old. He's had that much experience in confronting terrorism. The other guy has 20 years of talk with no record, no achievements, no experience. Anyone who wants to change leaders at this point doesn't need to vote, they need a shrink."
Thank you, Peter, for your analysis of the situation.
COLLINS: All right, Jack, thanks so much.
We're going to turn it back over to Bill now, standing by outside the election bus there in Grand Rapids -- hey, Bill.
HEMMER: Yes, Heidi, listening to you and Jack talk there, "Newsweek" did a poll. They released it over the weekend. They found the number one concern among those surveyed was terrorism, quickly followed by the economy, then shortly after that Iraq. All three bunched together, but in order it was terrorism, one; economy, tomorrow; and Iraq, three.
And I think, Jack, for those who are not familiar with the commute to New York City, you come into Manhattan every morning. It is a significant thing when they close the eastbound lane coming into Manhattan of the Holland Tunnel to commercial traffic. I don't know if you remember, Jack, I can't remember the last time that happened going back to the events of 9/11 almost three years ago.
So we'll get more reaction on that as we push forward here in the morning.
Also, a live update from the White House in a moment and the latest on the heightened terror alert involving financial centers in three different U.S. cities.
Our coverage continues back in New York and also here on the campaign trail. Grand Rapids, Michigan our stop today.
Back in a moment.
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COLLINS: Get the latest news every morning in your e-mail. Just sign up for AMERICAN MORNING Quick News at cnn.com/am.
Still to come this morning, a new development regarding the identity leak of an undercover CIA operative. And the secretary of state is involved. We'll tell you about that on AMERICAN MORNING.
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