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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Authorities Suspect Osama bin Laden Expanding His Terrorist Network Into Israel

Aired June 25, 2001 - 20:00   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.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight: reports of dangerous new plans by alleged terrorist mastermind, Osama bin Laden. We'll get details from CNN's David Ensor.

The Supreme Court lowers the gavel on two hot-button issues: political fund-raising and affirmative action at America's colleges. We'll have a live report.

And a Houston mother may plead insanity in the killings of her five children. How will it play out in the courts, and among a public still in shock over this horrible crime? We'll speak live with the attorney for Andrea Yates, George Parnham, and with a reporter who's written a graphic account of the killings.

Good evening. I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting tonight from Washington.

In recent years, Osama bin Laden's organization has been linked to several deadly terrorist attacks against U.S. targets, including the 1998 twin embassy bombings in East Africa and last year's bombing of the USS Cole. Now there are indications he may be planning to expand his target list, just as U.S. military forces in the Middle East already are on their highest state of alert.

CNN national security correspondent David Ensor has our top story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID ENSOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): According to U.S. and Israeli officials, there is evidence Osama bin Laden's group is trying to gain a foothold in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Israel's Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer is reported to have said that the bin Laden group is -- quote -- "trying very hard" to penetrate into his country.

U.S. officials tell CNN that in an attempt to take advantage of the recent Intifada by Palestinians, the Al-Qaida group headed by bin Laden is trying to set up their own network, separate from Hezbollah or any of the other groups that have committed terrorism against Israel in the past. In a recruiting tape made public last week, the indicted terrorist leader said -- quote -- "it is a mistake to call the U.S. government an American government. It is a government representing Israel in America."

(on camera): An Arabic satellite television network is reporting that aides to bin Laden said, in the presence of bin Laden in Afghanistan, that a severe blow would be felt by Israeli and American interests within the next two weeks.

(voice-over): U.S. officials say bin Laden's group does appear to be actively looking for a way to commit terrorism. In fact, officials say there is additional evidence of that obtained by U.S. intelligence this weekend. U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf and Middle East have been at Threatcon Delta, their highest state of alert, since late last week -- U.S. officials say because of credible but nonspecific intelligence information suggesting the bin Laden group planned an attack on a U.S. target. That high alert status will be reviewed, officials say, from day to day.

David Ensor, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: In the last week of the current Supreme Court term, justices today handed down opinions on issues ranging from campaign spending to affirmative action on college campuses to copyright rules for freelance writers.

CNN senior Washington correspondent Charles Bierbauer is joining us now to update us on the court's decisions. First, Charles, on campaign spending, what happened?

CHARLES BIERBAUER, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is said against the backdrop of Washington's ongoing debate over campaign finance reform. And while that was not the issue before the court, campaign finance reformers say this will help their cause, whereas opponents say this ruling doesn't matter in that respect.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, POLITICAL AD)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's Randy Forbes doing for our families and our seniors? A lot.

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BIERBAUER: Of course political parties support their candidates. But the Supreme Court ruled that when the parties and candidates coordinate spending, that amounts to a contribution. And contributions, the court has repeatedly found, may be subject to limits.

REP. MARTY MEEHAN (D), MASSACHUSETTS: What the Court made clear was that the integrity of the contribution limits that are presently in the law should be upheld, and Congress can in fact pass legislation to uphold the integrity of those contribution limits. So I think it's a good decision. BIERBAUER: Justice Souter, writing for the Court's five-to-four majority ruling on a Colorado campaign, said: "Donors give to the party with the tacit understanding that the favored candidate will benefit."

Independent expenditures to focus on issues or get out the vote are okay. But Justice Souter added: "If suddenly every dollar of spending could be coordinated with the candidate, the inducement to circumvent would almost certainly intensify."

Campaign limits are a Watergate legacy, designed to curb the corruption potential of unlimited funds and keep the party from being a direct funnel to the candidate. A donor may contribute up to $2,000 to a single candidate in any election cycle, and up to $20,000 to the party in support of the candidate. The Court's dissenters argue there's no proof such limits are necessary to prevent corruption.

Justice Thomas: "If indeed $20,000 is enough to corrupt a candidate, the proper response is to lower the cap."

The court has not addressed the unlimited soft money that may be given to political parties, and that is the keystone of campaign finance reform efforts.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), KENTUCKY: This bill doesn't deal with hard money at all. It has no impact on what you can give to candidates directly, parties directly. It's apples and oranges.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BIERBAUER: Nor has the court addressed the issue of soft money. And soft money -- money given to the parties without any strings attached and no limitations on its spending -- is the core of campaign finance reform, which still has to find its way through Congress. But what the Supreme Court ruling shows is the justices clearly are sympathetic to the notion that too much money can be corrupting, and even the free speech argument does not outweigh that in their minds -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Charles, the Supreme Court also allowed a lower court ruling on affirmative action in college campuses to stand. What does that mean?

BIERBAUER: Well, sometimes what the court does not do makes the headlines. In this case, the court denied an appeal by the University of Texas to overturn a ruling in the lower courts which squashed the affirmative action program down at the University of Texas -- did not allow it to stand.

This was a case which was brought by a group of white students, aspiring students at the University Texas law school, who contended that there was reverse discrimination against them because of programs which favored minorities, and so those programs were thrown out in the lower courts.

The court has not taken this case, and all that means is that this is not the case that they want to hear. A lot of people think that what the court might be waiting for is a pair of cases coming our of the University of Michigan, which also raised the question of when affirmative action may or may not be acceptable. Those cases are still in the lower courts, so we'll just have to wait and see what the Supreme Court wants to do about affirmative action -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Charles Bierbauer in Washington, thank you very much.

Meanwhile, President Bush is promoting his faith-based initiative among the nation's mayors. The U.S. Conference of Mayors has endorsed the plan, which would let religious groups vie for federal money to provide social services. The president insists his initiative will get more people involved in the process of helping others.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In the 21st century, we should bring government back to the people who have a powerful sense of missionism and idealism. Back to people who know the needs of neighbors, back to people committed to rebuilding their communities from the inside out. These committed men and women take the side of hope and compassion, and we must take their side. We must help those in need, and we must encourage people to be good citizens instead of bystanders.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: CNN senior White House correspondent John King joins us now live.

John, the president is meeting some stiff resistance, as you know, from Congress. How determined does he appear to be to push forward with his legislation any time soon?

JOHN KING, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, senior officials say very determined, at least for now. The key test, though, will be in the next day or so, as they count the votes to see whether this dramatic appeal before a largely Democratic group, the mayors, brings them any votes.

This initiative has been criticized by both the left and the right. On the left, the criticism largely along the lines that it would blur the lines between church and state. So Mr. Bush today, courting the mayors, a Democratic group. Specifically, he and Congressional supporters of this legislation courting several African- American mayors. And the president also rolling out an endorsement today from a heroine of the civil rights movement, Rosa Parks. This attempt by the administration to try to win support from the Congressional black caucus. Administration officials say that is critical.

The president had hoped a House committee would act on this last week. The Republican chairman told him: "The votes aren't there, Mr. President," so the administration hoping by this outright political appeal today, and by tinkering with the legislation a little bit, they will get some progress. We'll know by the end of the week whether or not enough has been done to get this through the House.

BLITZER: John, also, by the end of this week, the Senate is trying to wrap up its debate on HMO reform, what's called a Patients' Bill of Rights. Is there any evidence that a compromise appears to be in the works, something the president would support?

KING: No evidence of a compromise being struck yet. The White House continues to be in negotiations with key senators, including supporters of the McCain-Kennedy bill, the leading proposal before the Congress right now. No breakthrough in those talks. Administration officials say there may not be one. There are some votes on amendments scheduled beginning tomorrow. The administration says those votes will test the climate in the Senate.

But they also note the president went through this once as governor of Texas. He vetoed a Patients' Bill of Rights then, and a second version became law without his signature. There, no matter what comes out of the Senate, there would still have to be a House debate. Still, this a very sensitive issue. The president has threatened to veto McCain-Kennedy as it now stands. The White House understands that could be a tough political fight ahead, so the president, we're told, will add at least two public events to his schedule later this week to make sure his voice is heard in this very intense debate.

Meanwhile, those negotiations will continue behind the scenes. You get a mixed sense when you ask administration officials if they think they can broker a compromise before this gets through the Senate. Most think no.

BLITZER: John King at the White House, thank you very much.

A Texas mother is accused of killing her children. The state could seek the death penalty. When we come back, we'll be joined live by her lawyer and a "Newsweek" correspondent who has written about the crime.

And tonight's protesters storm a European parliament building, we'll have the latest.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. The Houston woman accused of killing her five children is on a 24-hour suicide watch in a Texas jail. Her lawyer says Andrea Yates is in a very deep psychosis. Police say Yates told them she drowned the children last week.

She's been charged with one count of capital murder, and more could follow. As for what may be next, we're joined now by her attorney, George Parnham. He is in Houston. And in Chicago, Dirk Johnson. Johnson is a writer for "Newsweek". He was the lead reporter on the magazine's cover story on the incident.

Thanks to both of you for joining us. And first of all, to you, Mr. Parnham. As far as her plea, it's been widely reported she will plead not guilty, resulting from insanity. Is that in fact the case? GEORGE PARNHAM, ANDREA YATES' ATTORNEY: Wolf, I have not made a definitive decision relative to this plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, but we are pointed in that direction. It's obvious from the fact situation that we've developed to include information obtained through the media that there is a history here that would certainly support and suggest that there is credible evidence to enter a plea.

I'm always aware of the consequences of entering a plea of insanity for a defendant and how that's accepted in the community under normal circumstances, so I want to kind of withhold a final decision until everything is in, but that's certainly where we are headed.

BLITZER: As far as the issue of her suffering from postpartum psychosis, as has been widely reported -- a forensic psychiatrist was on "Burden of Proof" here on CNN earlier today, and he argued that in and of itself might not be enough to justify an insanity plea. Listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. MICHAEL WELNER, FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST: The key thing is that postpartum psychosis occurs probably about once in every 500 births, a much smaller percentage, and -- perhaps more importantly to this case -- postpartum psychosis is typically associated as occurring beginning and ending within days of giving birth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Postpartum psychosis being the most severe form of postpartum depression. Would than argument, postpartum psychosis?

PARNHAM: It's my understanding from the literature, as well as conversation with the experts in the field, that postpartum psychosis is one of three most dangerous mental states that a woman can have. It also seems to me that we're not necessarily dealing, obviously, with a situation in a complete vacuum, in that one day she does -- does not just decide after the husband goes to work to go and drown the kids in the tub.

I believe that the evidence will suggest that there is a progression, from a simple baby blues depression that apparently 70 percent of women experience after child birth, to a gradual slippage into a depression, ending up with a psychotic episode that basically took her out of the real world. I think at least that's where the evidence is pointing, Wolf.

BLITZER: Dirk, let me bring you into this. You helped contribute to this fascinating cover story in "Newsweek". One of the things that you and your team did get was some quotes from the mother of Andrea Yates. Among other things, she said this to "Newsweek," she said: "She was the most compassionate of my children, always thinking of other people, never herself. She was always trying to take care of everybody."

She was high school valedictorian. The picture that you paint of her before her depression set in, seems of almost a perfect young woman?

DIRK JOHNSON, "NEWSWEEK": Well, certainly it sounds like a woman that was trying to be perfect. And the mother's description was corroborated by some of the neighbors who said that she tried to care for other people at times almost to absurd levels.

There was a neighbor that recalled her coming to the house with kids in toe, heavily pregnant, climbing up on the ladder to decorate the tree at Christmas, running around -- literally running around in the kitchen to feed her parents, as well as her kids, her own plate growing cold, and then sometimes running next door to help a neighbor.

BLITZER: There was one intriguing -- a lot of intriguing aspects of the article. One I found especially intriguing, when you spoke with the brother of Andrea Yates, Brian Kennedy, and asked him about the husband, Rusty Yates, and he said, the brother, Brian, said this to "Newsweek," he said: "You should ask our lawyer that question. I'd like to say something, but the truth will eventually come out." What was he referring to?

JOHNSON: Well, it's hard to know. Sorry.

PARNHAM: Oh, that's all right. Was that directed to me, Wolf?

BLITZER: No, that was first to Dirk, but then I want, George, you to come in right afterward and explain what you know about this.

PARNHAM: Sure. All right.

JOHNSON: That was all that he said. Though it was noteworthy, it seemed to me that he did not simply say "yes, he has our support."

BLITZER: Because obviously, it raised a lot of questions, at least in my mind. What do you know about that, George?

PARNHAM: I know nothing about the -- any basis for suggesting the remark was anything other than basically following the directions that I attempted to put into place with media, pardon me -- with members of the family.

I do know, from my observation of the father, that he is supportive, he loves his wife, he is in the middle of a tremendous turmoil at this time. He's planning the funeral arrangements for his five -- his five children, and he is, together with her family, in supporting the efforts to defend her against these allegation. Beyond that, I know nothing that would suggest anything otherwise.

BLITZER: All right, George Parnham, I want to thank you very much for joining us. Dirk Johnson, thank you as well. Unfortunately, we have to leave it right there.

And this note: tomorrow night, I'll speak with the prosecutor in the case, Joe Owmby.

Up next: one state moves closer to hanging up on drivers who use cell phones. We'll have the latest on efforts to make chatting in the fast lane illegal.

And America's biggest defense contractors compete for a multi billion-dollar prize.

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BLITZER: Welcome back. Time now to check our other top stories. The Navy tells CNN the dismantled sections of a U.S. reconnaissance plane should leave China the next three weeks. The plane has been grounded on Hainan Island since colliding with a Chinese fighter jet April 1. China has refused to allow the U.S. plane to leave on its own power. Instead, the plane's parts will leave aboard chartered cargo jets.

A special three-day session of the U.N. General Assembly kicked off today to consider how to combat the spread of AIDS. The day included a look at a patch-work quilt honoring the millions killed by the disease. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has been especially vigilant this year, pushing for a global trust fund to battle AIDS. Annan has secured only $528 million for the trust fund, out of the $7 billion to $10 billion he's requested.

The president of Macedonia and other top lawmakers were evacuated from parliament tonight, after 5,000 demonstrators stormed the building. Once inside, they smashed windows and began looting. No immediate word on the president's whereabouts. The protesters are angry with the government's handling of a cease-fire with ethnic Albanian rebels.

Tonight on "The Leading Edge": updating a story we told you about Friday. Tonight, the New York Assembly is expected to pass a bill making New York the first state to ban cell phones while driving. Governor George Pataki has already said he'll sign the measure.

A big weekend in aviation in a bicoastal test of the nation's top aircraft makers. In Maryland, Boeing showed off its version of the joint strike fighter, a supersonic jet that takes off vertically. And in California, Lockheed Martin pulled off a similar test. The companies are competing for a lucrative contract to build 3,000 jets. The winner will be announced in October.

Up next, I'll open our mailbag. Should Andrea Yates face the death penalty if convicted of killing her children? Our viewers speak out. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Time now to open our mailbag. We received lots of very sharp reaction to the drowning of those five children in Houston. This from Victoria in Ohio: "I suffered a severe postpartum depression after the birth of my first child. My father, too, had just died. I felt that I was a failure at being a mother. I look at Mrs. Yates on the news and feel blessed to have come through that dark period intact."

Shirley, from Fort Worth, Texas: "It seems to me that Mr. Yates was partially to blame for his wife's desperation: five children, home-schooling, no hired help, and she was already mentally disturbed."

Pauline from Lisbon, Maine: "I can't for the life of me understand how it can be reasoned that Andrea Yates should be prosecuted. She belongs in an institution, not jail."

But this from Sam from Biloxi, Mississippi: "When are we going to stop making excuses for these people and their heinous crimes? That woman in Houston should pay for her crime.

And Debbie from Knoxville, Tennessee: "She is a murderer and should be put to death. The world tolerates too much."

Remember, I want to hear from you. Please e-mail me at wolf@cnn.com. And you can read my daily online column and sign up for my e-mail previewing our nightly programs by going to my Web site, cnn.com/wolf.

That's all the time we have tonight. Thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. "THE POINT WITH GRETA VAN SUSTEREN" begins right now.

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