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CNN Saturday Morning News

Terror Plot Suspects Given Go Ahead: "Do Your Attacks Now"; Situation in U.S. Airports; Little Letup in Mideast Violence Despite Possible U.N. Resolution; George Mitchell Interview

Aired August 12, 2006 - 09:00   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well good morning, everybody.
Now in the news, first to the Middle East. Israel's assault against Hezbollah in south Lebanon goes on despite a U.N. cease-fire resolution. Israel's military says troops killed more than 40 Hezbollah terrorists in the past 24 hours. Lebanon says one Israeli air strike killed 15 people.

Meanwhile the Lebanese cabinet is set to vote today on the U.N. approved resolution. The cabinet includes two members of Hezbollah. Now the resolution calls for a full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah and a date though still has to be hammered out. Israel's cabinet is expected to take up this measure tomorrow.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The terror may have been just days, just days away. More details today about the alleged plot to blow up U.S. bound planes. A security memo reveals the suspects have been given the go ahead to "do your attacks now." Airports in the U.S. and the U.K. remain on high alert today.

Federal authorities continue searching for two missing Egyptian college students. They belong to a group of exchange students that failed to show up for classes at Montana State University. Three of them were located and taken into custody last night in Iowa; six others were picked up earlier in the week.

B.P. says the western half of its Prudhoe Bay oil field in Alaska will remain open while the corroded pipes in the eastern half are replaced. The company planned to shut down both oil fields but later determined the western half could operate safely while repairs are made.

NGUYEN: A wind-driven brush fire near Reno, Nevada, has exploded to cover more than eight miles and threatening two subdivisions. Take a look at it, a fire department spokesman says about 800 homes are in the area. There are at least 65 active large fires burning around the western U.S.

Now let's get to Reynolds Wolf for a quick check of the weather outside. So many fires. We need some rain to put those out Reynolds.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: All right. Thank you Reynolds.

Well we do want to update the top stories every 15 minutes on CNN SATURDAY MORNING. So your next up date is coming up at 9:15 Eastern.

HARRIS: It may have been a frustrating week for airline passengers but are things finally getting back to normal for America's airports? Details in five minutes. From the CNN Center in Atlanta I'm Tony Harris. Welcome everyone to CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: Good morning, Tony.

HARRIS: Good morning.

NGUYEN: Good morning everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen. I want to thank you for being with us today.

Well we are just learning today how close an alleged airline terror plot came to being carried out. A security memo says the suspects had been given the signal to go ahead with the attacks and the plan to blow up U.S. bound planes may have been just days away. Passengers in the U.K. and here in the U.S. face another day of tighter airport security.

The new restrictions at U.S. airports could remain in place for several weeks. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says there is no evidence of terror activity in this country but the investigation is ongoing. Twenty-three suspects are in custody in Britain and no one or at least one we should say has been released.

HARRIS: So what is happening this morning at airports? Delays, confusion or are people getting used to the new rules? CNN's Gary Nurenberg is at Dulles International Airport just outside of Washington, D.C. and he joins us live this morning. Gary good morning.

GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, your question delays, confusion or are people getting used to the new rules? Yes to all three. The delays and confusions do not appear today to be as awkward and confusing as they were in the last couple of days as the word has gotten out about the restrictions for the liquids and gels that you can no longer put in carry on luggage. We're told by people who work at Dulles every day that this is a relatively typical Saturday morning perhaps the lines and security just a little bit longer than normal.

People we talked to here in the airport today said they made advance preparations and they carried more checked baggage than they did before. Carrying those liquids and gels into checked baggage instead of carrying them on the planes with them. Nonetheless as you look around the airport crash cans, you can see plenty of containers of bottled water and shampoo and perfume for those who didn't get the word.

We talked to one security agent, one baggage claim agent rather, who said surprising to him there were a large number of foreign travelers who had not been watching television the last several days and did not know there were restrictions. That caused some delays for them, as they had to repack in the corridors of Dulles Airport this morning. Three British Airway flights due to arrive at Dulles; of the three that remain today two have been canceled. British Airway has canceled ten long haul air trips from London, 21 short haul trips. A total of 31 flights have been canceled by British Air as a result of the confusion and the extra delays at Heathrow this morning. But we haven't seen a large impact here at Dulles, Tony. In fact people seem to be making adjustments and it seems to be going much more smoothly than it has in the last couple of days.

HARRIS: Gary, are you kidding me? I got to tell you something. Are you telling me there is no frustration? I had some problems last night getting my bags back off the plane and on the carousel and into my hands getting in from New York yesterday and that was a bit frustrating but your experience this morning is that folks are taking it all in stride? No problems to report?

NURENBERG: I didn't say there was no frustration. I didn't say there aren't any cranky anchors this morning complaining about the circumstance. I'm saying that people got advance word and seem to be dealing with it either happily or crankily depending on their point of view.

HARRIS: That's good.

NGUYEN: Pipe down Tony is what he's saying.

HARRIS: Will you put a sock in it? All right. Gary Nurenberg for us from Dulles International Airport just outside of Washington. Gary thanks.

NGUYEN: Well a full cessation of hostility between Israel and Hezbollah that is what is called for in the U.N. Security Council resolution. Lebanese and Israeli officials take up the measure this weekend. So here are the details. Resolution 1701 calls for increasing the number of U.N. troops in south Lebanon from 2,000 to 15,000.

They will be assigned to help Lebanese government troops secure the area. It also calls for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. Now that is supposed to coincide with the deployment of the Lebanese army to the area and the measure also calls for the unconditional release of two Israeli soldiers kidnapped on July 12. It was their capture by Hezbollah that sparked the current conflict. For now, though, war rages on in the Middle East.

CNN's Ben Wedeman is in Tyre, Lebanon. He has the latest developments there. What are you seeing so far today Ben?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, we have seen a steady bombardment from the air and also from artillery in this area to the south and to the east of Tyre. Really no let up at all despite the news from New York that the United Nations has passed that U.N. Security Council resolution.

What we have seen, for instance, is overnight Israeli forces have advanced about seven miles north of the border reaching the village that is the deepest they have gotten so far. We understand that they are meeting stiff resistance from Hezbollah.

Overnight there were more raids in southern Lebanon, air raids on Tyre and Sidon the two major towns in the southern part of the country. Several electrical facilities have been knocked out. There is no power at the moment in much of southern Lebanon. We also saw that according to Lebanese security sources at least 15 people were killed in Israeli air raid on a village of Rashaf. We're told most of them if not all were civilians.

Also today the international committee of the Red Cross was able to bring a ship into the port of Tyre, bringing urgently need supplies 200 tons of food, medicine, and other relief supplies. But of course the problem is not so much getting it to places like Tyre, but getting those relief supplies to the villages and towns of southern Lebanon which are for all intents and purposes cut off -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Ben, you talk about all the fighting going on, the shelling back and forth. I have to ask you we spoke with the Israeli government spokesperson a little earlier today. He said there is no escalation in the movement by Israel. Despite of the fact this resolution has been passed and the window perhaps is closing, but are you seeing otherwise?

WEDEMAN: No, really we are not seeing intensification. If anything, it's more of the same in terms of the artillery bombardment and the air strikes. In fact, today, if anything, it's somewhat less than some of the peeks we have seen in the last week. What is new, of course, this Israeli presence, commando presence in Rondorea (ph) this town seven miles north of the border but overall we do not detect here on the ground in Tyre any major or dramatic intensification of Israeli military operations in south Lebanon.

NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Ben Wedeman in Tyre, Lebanon. Ben we thank you for that.

Well this man helped bring peace to northern Ireland so what does former Senator George Mitchell think about the brand new U.N. resolution to the Middle East? I'll speak with him in just five minutes.

HARRIS: Smart man and at the bottom of the hour making the most of your most important investment, your home. Gerri Willis and "Open House" begins at 8:30 Eastern this morning.

NGUYEN: And he beat out thousands to win $12 million in the world series of poker. Look at that guy. That's one rich man this morning. Why were blueberries of all things part of his pre- tournament game plan? Well you are going to find out next hour. CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: As promised you it is now in the news. In the air and on the ground Israel's ascent against Hezbollah continues despite a U.N. cease-fire resolution. The Israeli military says its troops killed more than 40 Hezbollah militants in the past 24 hours. Israeli air strike also knocked out power stations in Sidon and Tyre.

Well the Lebanese cabinet is set to vote today on the U.N. approved resolution. The cabinet includes two members of Hezbollah. Now the resolution calls for a full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah but it has set no date.

HARRIS: Israel's cabinet is expected to take up the U.N. measure tomorrow. Israeli officials say Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will recommend its acceptance by the Israeli government.

New information coming out about the alleged airline terror plot, authorities say the suspects may have been days away from carrying out the plan to blow up U.S. bound planes. A security memo reveals that they had been given the go ahead to "do your attacks now." Britain's Heathrow International Airport remains on its highest terror alert level. Delays and cancellations are expected to continue. They won't be as severe as yesterday. Officials say operations should be back to nearly normal by the end of today.

We update the top stories every 15 minutes here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Your next update is coming up at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

NGUYEN: It is day 32 of the conflict in the Middle East. The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a six-page draft resolution to put an end to the violence. Today the Lebanese cabinet will meet to either approve or amend it.

Former senate majority leader George Mitchell knows all too well the process of war and peace. He is revered for his skill and patience in chairing the Northern Ireland peace talk leading to the Good Friday agreement back in 1998. He is also the author of "Making Peace, the Behind the Scenes In-depth Story of a Northern Ireland Peace Accord." George Mitchell joins us now by phone. Good morning to you.

GEORGE MITCHELL, AUTHOR, "MAKING PEACE" (via telephone): Good morning.

NGUYEN: Senator Mitchell, let me ask you how optimistic are you about this new U.N. resolution to end the crises in the Middle East?

MITCHELL: I think this is a very significant development and the fact that the U.S. has been in close contact with Israel and I presume the French and close contact with Lebanese should all go well for it being approved over the weekend.

NGUYEN: Well get back to the U.S. involvement in just a minute but the Qatar foreign minister who sits on the U.N. Security Council says this resolution lacks balance and did not raise the issue of Lebanese, detainees in Israeli prisons. Will a permanent cease-fire negotiation, will that include, do you think, a prisoner swap deep?

MITCHELL: I don't know whether it will be included in the resolution but the history of the region suggests that it will occur, whether by a stated plan or just implicitly. If you recall, there have been several kidnappings and followed by prisoner exchanges, not simultaneously in some cases but it does seem to occur regularly. I would expect it would occur this time whether it's within or without a resolution I done know.

NGUYEN: The latest resolution does call for the unconditional return of the kidnapped Israeli soldiers. But when we look at the big picture. Let me ask you this. The U.N. Resolution 1559 has not been successful in disarming Hezbollah. Can this new resolution stop the crises?

MITCHELL: I think it can because it's quite clear that Israel understandably will not tolerate a Hezbollah-rocket armed presence in the south of Lebanon with the capacity to fire these rockets into Israel. And so I think that you have now a situation that is quite different from what existed prior to the outbreak of this conflict. I think that there will be at the very least the prevention of these rockets being fired into Israel from southern Lebanon.

NGUYEN: Well, you have helped broker the Northern Ireland peace deal. You're a main guy playing in that deal. What is it going to take in your view to create this sense of peace, this guaranteed peace in the Middle East?

MITCHELL: I think the first thing is a reduction in the level of violence. It's almost impossible for a political leader in any form of government, any system, to take the necessary steps including compromises to bring about a peace or resolution while people are dying and bombs are falling.

That's too much devastation, too much emotion, too much in the way of demands for revenge and retaliation. So I think this is a very significant step in that direction. The second is, I think, the growing realization that neither side can achieve its objective through the use of force alone.

That's a necessary component when you're attacked but it also can't achieve the ultimate objective. In this case what the Israelis want and security and acceptance in the region, what the Palestinians want is an independent state. I think both can be attained but only through negotiation now.

NGUYEN: But in the meantime many Americans are growing very tired of the U.S. involvement overseas. Take the war in Iraq, for example, so why do you think it is important at the same time that the U.S. be involved in negotiating a peace deal in the Middle East?

MITCHELL: Well, there are a lot of factors. One is, of course, our close and historic relationship with Israel but also it's very much in our economic interest. The fact is that our economy runs on oil, as do the economies of most of the developed world and a vast amount of the world's proven oil reserves lie under the Middle East. A very politically volatile but resource rich region, so it is in our economic interest to make certain that there is stability in the region, that's been our policy for many, many years and will be for a long time to come.

And I think we have to do what we can there. I don't think people should confuse this with Iraq. That's one of the problems I think the Bush administration made. They took the eye off the ball, let the Israeli-Palestinian conflict fester, drew resources away from chasing al Qaeda in Afghanistan and concentrated on Iraq. But the fact is there won't be stability in that region until the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is resolved no matter what happens in Iraq.

NGUYEN: The focus is on the Mideast right now. Senator George Mitchell, we really appreciate your time this morning. Thanks for spending a little bit of it with us.

MITCHELL: Thanks for having me.

HARRIS: We have been waiting for the reaction for the passage of the U.N. resolution from President Bush. Now we have it. Let's get you to White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux with the president in Crawford, Texas. Suzanne good morning.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony. We just got a statement from the president here in Crawford, Texas, essentially praising this resolution saying I welcome the resolution adopted yesterday by the United Nations Security Council which is designed to bring an immediate end to the fighting sparked last night by an unprovoked terrorist attack on Israel by Hezbollah, a terrorist group supported by Iran and Syria.

Now, Tony, I'm not going to read the whole thing because it is rather lengthy, the conclusion of the statement the president says the loss of innocent life in both Lebanon and Israel has been a great tragedy. Hezbollah and its Iranian and Syrian sponsors brought an unwanted war to the people of Lebanon and Israel and millions have suffered as a result.

I now urge the international community to turn words and into action and make every effort to bring lasting peace to the region. And, of course, this is important to the administration trying to push both sides over the weekend. The Israeli's and Lebanese to sign off on this agreement, after the approval of the U.N. Security Council.

Should also let you know, as well, Tony just yesterday that President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert spoke for the first time since this conflict began some 30 something days ago. That, of course, was by design.

The back story is that both were engaged in a delicate dance of diplomacy and politics and the U.S. had said all along it supported Israel's effort to support itself it did not want to appear to be colluding with Israel or acting in concert with Israel's coordinating military campaign so the two leaders, the two administrations thought they would speak at the appropriate time and the time had come yesterday when this resolution was passed -- Tony.

HARRIS: OK. So White House reaction is in and Suzanne will be joining us again next hour. Can't wait to see you then.

MALVEAUX: You bet. HARRIS: For in depth coverage a look at the developments in the Middle East region be sure to join us tonight at 7:00 Eastern for "This Week at War" hosted by John Roberts.

NGUYEN: The public perception of this week's terror raids and airport alert. We're going to tell you what the blogs have to say about the full court press.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: You know, Reynolds I am not going to complain because things have not been as hot here in Atlanta, when it comes to the wild fire things are heating up in many areas and they need some rain.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Take a moment and take that in for a second. Is that beautiful?

NGUYEN: That's the way to wake up right there. Thank you Reynolds.

"OPEN HOUSE" straight ahead. Gerri Willis tells you how to protect your most important investment.

HARRIS: Next hour the world series of poker crowns the new champion and hands out a $12 million payday. Find out what the power of the blueberry has to do with this win.

NGUYEN: Give me some blueberries.

HARRIS: A check of the headlines is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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