Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
America Strikes Back
Aired October 12, 2001 - 17:00 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: Today on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, "America Strikes Back."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will not let the terrorists hold us hostage in our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: But the country is jittery. First, that FBI warning about more terror attacks. Now, another case of anthrax, this time in New York.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI (R), NEW YORK: The chances this is contained are very good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: We'll get some medical perspective along with live updates on the latest threats and how American cities are responding.
In Pakistani cities, violent protests against the U.S. assault on Afghanistan, even as the U.S. declares a brief pause in the airstrikes. We'll hear from our correspondents in Washington and in the region as "America Strikes Back."
You're looking at a three-dimensional set of where America's attention is focused these days. CNN will use this new tool to show you how the war on terror is progressing.
But today, the skies over Afghanistan are pretty much quiet, but the news is not quiet here on the home front, especially, once again, in New York City.
Good afternoon. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.
A major shock today for an already nervous nation in this second month since the September 11th terrorist attacks. Some of the people who bring you the news found themselves right in the middle of it today.
Here's Joie Chen in Atlanta with a check of the latest developments -- Joie.
JOIE CHEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening, Wolf.
A network news employee for NBC has been exposed to anthrax. It came from a letter that was sent to the news man Tom Brokaw. Also, today, we learned that "The New York Times" was evacuated today because of an anthrax scare there.
The government says that just like the case in Boca Raton, Florida there is no known link to terrorism. But this afternoon, President Bush, with no direct reference to the anthrax scares, said this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: We can't let terrorists, a few evildoers, hold us hostage. Our government will fight terrorism across the seas. We'll fight it here at home. And the American people need to fight terrorism as well by going to work, going to ball games, getting on airplanes, singing with joy and strength like you all did today. They will not take this country down!
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHEN: We'll get more in a moment on the cases involving anthrax. First, some other of the day's major developments.
There was a shooting today at Fort Dix in New Jersey. Authorities say they are searching for a uniformed man who escaped in a stolen military vehicle. He allegedly shot two National Guardsmen, both of whom are said to be conscious.
This afternoon, President Bush departed the White House to spend some time at Camp David. For the second day in a row, Vice President Cheney arrived at the White House. Cheney has been in seclusion.
In Afghanistan, it has been a quiet evening. The United States pretty much halted air attacks in deference to the Muslim holy day.
Not quiet in Pakistan. Anti-American protests, though, raged in militant Muslim strongholds. At least seven people wounded by police gunfire as authorities vowed to quash violent demonstrations.
Also today, President Bush has added 39 names to a list of groups and individuals whose assets are being frozen in the war on terrorism.
In Arizona, a federal indictment charges a Tempe resident with giving false statements to the FBI in the probe of last month's terror attacks.
And half an hour ago, the U.S. House of Representatives followed the Senate's lead and approved new anti-terrorism measures.
Now back to Wolf in Washington. BLITZER: Thank you very much, Joie.
First, a newspaper company in Florida. Now, a television network and "The New York Times." Anthrax scares at three of the nation's major media outlets.
This afternoon, some of "The New York Times" building was evacuated after a package addressed to a well-known reporter was deemed to be suspicious. Police closed nearby streets, and investigators, they examined the paper's headquarters. Nothing suspicious was found, but a powdery substance contained in the package is being tested at this hour.
At NBC, officials announced that a worker for the network's "Nightly News" has been exposed to anthrax, possibly through a letter. As Joie just reported, the Justice Department says there is no known link to terrorism in general or to the anthrax case in Florida. But the FBI has launched a criminal probe.
We'll begin our coverage in New York with CNN's Michael Okwu. He's outside Rockefeller Center, the home of NBC. Michael, tell us what's going on.
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, good afternoon. Most of the employees in this building found out about the testing positive of anthrax here very, very late this morning. The building was not officially evacuated, but many of the employees here were given the option by their employers to leave the building, and in fact many of them did.
But just as importantly, many of them stayed. Now, I have been on the streets of New York all day, and I can tell you there was a great deal of fear here even before the news of the anthrax broke out. One person here told me that it's like we're living in Israel now. And if that's overstating things a little bit, at least it gives you a sense of what New Yorkers are feeling: the sense that they are much more vigilant than they were before, and yet they have to plod on with their lives.
This is what many of the people walking out of the building here had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It just feels so vulnerable now, because you don't know what's going to happen, where it's going to happen. Like you were saying before, we're in a tall building so that was a fright at first. Now, you have like the anthrax scare.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who knows if this even, you know, the terrorists. It could be like, you know, some copycats. We don't have any information. You know, a lot of people are panicking, but I think it's important to stay calm.
(END VIDEO CLIP) OKWU: Now authorities have closed off one full floor. They have closed off parts of another floor. There are agents from the FBI as well as the CDC and members of the New York City Health Department who are investigating the scene -- Wolf.
BLITZER: We also have learned Michael that the suspicious letter addressed to NBC News, the "Nightly News" program, was specifically addressed to the anchorman Tom Brokaw. What are they saying over there about that?
OKWU: Wolf, we haven't really had a chance to talk to too many people who can give us specifics about that. I found out about that a little bit more than 10 minutes ago. But obviously, Tom Brokaw is the most recognizable person associated with NBC, and it makes sense that if somebody, if somebody wanted to strike fear here, that he would be the person that it would be addressed to. But we'll find out a little bit more about this -- that later, Wolf, we hope.
BLITZER: We also heard, Michael, that the suspicious package delivered to "The New York Times" was addressed to Judith Miller, a well-known reporter there, the author of a new book entitled "Germ: On Bioterrorism." Have you had a chance to speak with people over at "The New York Times," get a sense of what the mood is over there?
OKWU: I spoke to one person at "The New York Times," and they were very tight-lipped as "The New York Times" tends to be. And you can imagine, in a situation like this, they're not -- they're not very talkative.
But the feeling at "The New York Times," as far as I got, was that they're very concerned that people remain very, very, very calm, and quiet. And again, it's very important to pass on this information, that even though this person seemed to be a very recognizable person, in fact, again as you mentioned, she was the main writer at "The Times" regarding terrorism, that there's absolutely no connection at this point, no evidence at this point, that this had anything do with the September 11 attacks or with anything to do with the cases of anthrax that are currently investigated in Florida. Wolf.
BLITZER: Michael Okwu, in New York, thank you very much. And the FBI has opened up a criminal investigation into this second, perhaps third case of anthrax in New York City. Joining us now, CNN's Eileen O'Connor, who's covering this investigation.
What is the Justice Department, Eileen, saying about all of this?
EILEEN O'CONNOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're at great pains, Wolf, to allay any fears, and what they're saying is that there is no criminal evidence linking -- there's no evidence linking this to terrorism, and it could just be someone taking advantage of the fear that's been incited since September 11th.
They also said, the attorney general went out today, and talked about the warning that they issued yesterday about future attacks, saying that this is all about preparing people, not panicking people. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ASHCROFT, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: We don't want to promote a sense of panic. But we as a nation and as a community and as families and as individuals have to learn how to use information to be prepared, not to be panicked. We should promote caution, not incite paralysis. And I think that we are learning how to do that, and one step at a time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'CONNOR: Now throughout the day, the attorney general held up a poster, some FBI guidelines, of what people should do if they do receive some suspicious mail, and some of the stuff that he's urging people to take is do not open or shake that mail, leave the area of the mail. Also, call local law enforcement and public health authorities: They will know what to do to deal with the mail.
In addition, they say that the warning that was issued yesterday about information that they might have about future attacks, part of that warning was also a call on people to be extra vigilant and to call local law enforcement if they see anything suspicious. The president himself talked about that last night.
This, again, adding to the resources of law enforcement, to try to help them by everyone in this country being the eyes and ears for law enforcement to -- on anything suspicious. That, they say, will help prevent future attacks. Wolf.
BLITZER: As you know, Eileen, there's immediately going to be some suspicion that the case in Florida is probably going to be related to the case in New York, although Justice Department sources are insisting that they don't have that hard and fast yet. They don't necessarily see a link.
O'CONNOR: No, they don't, but they do say that while these criminal investigations right now have begun separately, they're communicating between the investigators. There's a lot of open communication going on. So if there is a link, it will be detected.
Again, I talked to some sources, investigative sources, and they say the fear here is that these are people, perhaps separate people, taking advantage of fear. They also fear again copycat cases in the future.
BLITZER: Eileen O'Connor, thank you very much for joining us, and let's find out what the reaction is over at the White House. Our senior White House correspondent, John King, joins us now live from the White House.
John, the president was informed earlier in the day about these second anthrax scares in New York City, wasn't he?
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He was indeed, Wolf. He was informed early this morning. He went about his regular schedule. But this case, yet another example of the very delicate line the president and the entire administration trying to walk right now. On the one hand, trying to promise the American people the government is doing all it can to help. On the other hand, urging Americans to go about their business. At the same time, it asks them to be on a heightened sense of alert.
As Eileen noted, don't open any suspicious mail, don't shake any suspicious mail if you get it.
The president had an event here at the White House today that in any other time would be viewed as a routine political gathering, a celebration, of Hispanic heritage. You see the president here making his way into the East Room, where he held that news conference last night, but no event is routine these days. Every emotion on the president's face watched not only here, but around the world as well. And the president took time during this speech -- he felt he had to, we are told -- to make note of the case in New York and to try to reassure the American people that the government had a handle on it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: We've got teams on the ground, CDC, Center for Disease Control, the FBI, working closely with local agencies to respond quickly.
Our nation is still in danger, but the government is doing everything in our power to protect our citizenry. We need each other more than ever.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Camp David for the president shortly after that event. He will be up there for the weekend, but in constant touch with his national security team. This anthrax case in New York a reminder 8,300 federal facilities under the control of the General Services Administration. All 8,300 have been told to screen the mail much more carefully since September 11th.
Here on the grounds at the White House, Wolf, and in the president's' motorcade these days, a new edition: HazMat trucks, trucks with special antenna and sniffer devices designed to detect chemicals in the air, new security precautions at the Capitol as well. So as we focus our attention on the investigation in New York, a reminder of the extraordinary security precautions: just one legacy of the events of September 11th. Wolf.
BLITZER: And John, how do you -- you touched on this -- but how do they try to balance the need to inform the public of potential terrorist threats out there while at the same time the president wants everybody to go about their daily lives, get back in airplanes, go about their work as if it's business as usual? But obviously, much of the American public is pretty scared right now.
KING: It is a daily struggle and a tug-of-war at times between the president's and among the president's advisers. This is the latest case. The same thing when the president decided to call up the National Guard. On the one hand, an armed uniform presence at airports might convince people it's safer to fly. On the other hand, you might ask, well, if they have the military here, they must be worried about something.
The president, we are told, debates this every day. In the case of that FBI advisory and in the case of other steps the government has taken, the president's basic rule, we are told, is this: If there is enough information, credible information that there might be an attack, even if it's not solid information that there will be an attack, but if the government is convinced there might be, possibly could be an attack, then it has a responsibility to alert the American people, even if one result of that might to alarm them a little bit.
BLITZER: John King at the White House, thank you very much. And this afternoon, we received an update on the anthrax case in Florida. Repeating: That is the case in which one man has died and two people have been exposed to anthrax spores, all in a media company in Boca Raton.
For the latest, let's go to CNN's John Zarrella. He's on the scene once again -- John.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, just about two hours ago, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI spokesman, along with a representative from the Centers for Disease Control, representative for the United States Postal Service and the local mayor held a news conference here to brief us on the latest.
And a couple of significant developments coming in. One of them is that again they continue to reiterate that there is no evidence that there is any anthrax outside of the building, that it remains contained in the building behind me. Another significant development: They said that there is, this particular strain, shows no indications of genetic modification. It doesn't mean it hasn't been modified, but that's significant, because to weaponize anthrax, to make it lethal, really lethal, it has to be weaponized. And it does not appear that that's the case in this particular anthrax.
And also, a bit of good news. Of the 1,000 cases there, where they've done the nasal swabs of the people that either worked there or people who visited there from August 1st until the time the FBI shut the building down, the results have come in, almost all of them, and they are good.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HECTOR PESQUERA, FBI SPECIAL AGENT: More than a thousand individuals have been tested for possible exposure, and as of today, we are very happy, extremely happy to report that 965 of those results are back, and we only have one exposure. And that is the case that you are already aware of, of Stephanie Dailey.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZARRELLA: They're only about 35 more test results to come in. But they are also asking those 300 people, the actual workers, the 300 workers, that they want them to have blood tests. They did say that what they've done is they've isolated it to what the FBI calls five locations: the mail room inside here. Ernesto Blanco, who picked up the mail. Stephanie Dailey, who also worked in the mail room. On the keyboard that belonged to Bob Stevens, and he is the one man who died, also a worker here, who died a week ago Friday, just about 25 hours ago.
Now, more security around the building: Just a little while ago, we saw signs go up on the building talking, that are plastered on the walls there. And in the building, we see, as we push in on that shot saying "hazardous materials," "contaminated area," as well as a fence that they have now put up around the entire perimeter of the building here, American Media. And that presumably to keep anyone out who would be foolish enough to want to go inside that building at this particular point in time.
So, again, waiting for the results of about 35 more tests or so on the people who either were in that building or worked there. But the very good news that only that one additional case, Stephanie Dailey, whom we saw yesterday, a 35-year-old woman who worked there in the mail room also, testing positive for exposure to anthrax.
And so the FBI continuing its investigation: do not really have any clues, Wolf, as to where it will lead them at this point. Wolf.
BLITZER: John Zarrella, in South Florida, once again, thank you very much. And there are still many questions about the individual cases involving anthrax. And now more than a week since the first reports out of Florida, there remain many questions about anthrax in general. So we turn once again to CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Dr. Gupta, thanks for joining us.
There was some initial speculation earlier today that the suspicious case in New York, the case in Florida, two different ways of contracting anthrax. What are you hearing about that?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, a lot of the results are pretty preliminary still at this time, Wolf. What we're hearing is that there are ways to actually identify the origin of where these strains came from originally. It doesn't mean that these strains weren't moved at some point. And there are only a few strains really in the world, since this is such a primitive bacteria.
So what we're trying to find out is where the strains may have been grown at some point originally, but not sure exactly what to do with that information at this point. It will still be a few days before we get that information.
BLITZER: And it's possible, as some of our viewers probably know by now, to get anthrax, to get that bacteria either by inhaling it or through some skin, through an opening in the skin. What's the difference in these two types of -- two types of ways to get anthrax?
GUPTA: Right. It's the same bacteria. The bacteria is called bacillus anthracis. It can enter your body in three different ways. Inhaling is the one that we've heard so much about recently. That's the one that most likely will lead to death 90 to 100 percent of the time.
Getting it through the skin is the most common way. About 95 percent of the cases are through the skin, and very easy to treat, Wolf. These are very easy to treat. Even the ones that aren't treated oftentimes will recover on their own. But antibiotics in these cases will work just fine.
Very different ends of the spectrum, but the same bacteria.
BLITZER: We had heard earlier also, Sanjay, that the initial tests of the powdery substance, the suspicious powdery substance at NBC tested negative, yet the individual, the woman, later tested positive for the spores. How does that happen?
GUPTA: Well, I was talking to a few people about this, Wolf. It is a bit of a mystery. Three things. One is that maybe she got it from somewhere else and it wasn't this powder. That seems rather unlikely given everything we know.
Two is that there are actually spores, these spores are actually pretty dormant. The way you actually test for it is you try and grow the powder in some sort of petri dish. And if the spores are actually in a dormant state, meaning that they're not growing, they may not grow, and thus their presence wouldn't be detected.
And finally, another way would be a way that actually the spores, just a few of them, amidst another sort of powder. And if you only take a small sample of the powder, you may actually miss the spores and thus never find it and will report it as negative.
BLITZER: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, once again thank you very much. And i was only yesterday that the FBI warned the United States and U.S. interests overseas could be at a heightened state of risk for terror attacks over the next several days. We wondered to what extent the message got out and what precautions people are taking. So we take look now at three U.S. cities, beginning with CNN's Eric Horng in Los Angeles.
ERIC HORNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, a busy Friday afternoon here at Los Angeles International Airport: passengers arriving for their weekend flights, and in many cases finding extremely long lines. Here in terminal one, a number of folks telling me they have been waiting for a good two hours to get to the ticket counter. But if you think the scene in here is bad, take a look at the scene outside: lines wrapped around the curb.
Keep in mind, this is the line not for curbside check-in, but to get into the terminal. This, of course, all necessary, according to officials, to keep the skies safe. Officials, however, telling me they have not taken any additional measures as a result of the FBI warning that was issued yesterday. They say they have a detailed security plan already in place, and they feel that that is sufficient at this time. That seems to be the case throughout the city. Today, we contacted about a dozen government, law enforcement and public health agencies, and all of them told us that they have been pretty much in a heightened state of alert since September 11 and do not feel that they need to raise that -- to take additional measures as a result of the FBI warning. They will of course look at that and change that if circumstances change.
The LAPD still on tactical alert and will remain that way until further notice.
Eric Horng, CNN, reporting live in Los Angeles.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LILIAN KIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Lilian Kim, live near Seattle, where corporations like Boeing continue to be on a heightened state of alert. Security is always tight for the aircraft manufacturer and defense contractor. But since September 11th, the company has beefed up patrols and increased screenings at their work sites.
Now throughout the Seattle area, extra security measures are in place, at government buildings and landmarks, like the Space Needle. All visitors' bags entering the tourist attraction are searched, and supply and deliveries are screened.
Seattle is only hours away from the Canadian border, and employees there also continue to be on high alert. They are working 12-hour shifts, physically inspecting each vehicle coming into the U.S., and the automated inspection lanes remain closed.
This isn't the first time that the Seattle area has dealt with terrorism concerns. Almost two years ago, the city canceled millennium celebrations due to fear of a terrorist attack. And that's the story from Seattle.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Gary Tuchman at Turner Field in Atlanta, where the baseball playoffs are taking place: the Atlanta Braves against the Houston Astros right now. The game has been going on an hour. And when it comes to security, going to a Major League ballpark these days is like going to an airport. But this is even tougher. At least at the airport you can bring a carry- on bag on the plane. Major League Baseball has mandated that all stadiums holding playoffs -- and that's eight stadiums right now -- no bags are allowed past the gate.
Purses are allowed, small clear bags are allowed. The backpacks and gym bags that people bring are not allowed.
In addition, people are being patted down when they go in. Their cell phones and their beepers are being checked. And there are many more police than normal around the stadium, in plainclothes and in uniform.
I can also tell you during big games like this we're used to seeing terrorists blimps above the stadium and the planes with the banners: They're not allowed either. And by the way, in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Braves are leading the Astros 3-to-nothing.
Wolf, back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Thank you very much, Gary, Lilian and Eric, for those excellent reports. And up next, perspective on the threats facing the United States and what could be done to present them from being carried out. And later, security in the air. Are bags being inspected well enough? You may be surprised at the answer.
Also ahead, the view overseas. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. President Bush said it last night at his White House news conference and he said it again today: The United States is still in danger from future terrorist attacks. That being the case, what then can the nation do, if anything, to root out the terrorists before they launch their attacks?
Joining us now with his insight on this, a former FBI counterintelligence specialist, William Turner. He's the author of the book "Rearview Mirror: Looking Back at the FBI, CIA and Other Tails."
Mr. Turner, thanks for joining us. And first of all, what's your take on the development of this second anthrax scare in New York City? There was one, of course, in Florida earlier.
WILLIAM TURNER, FORMER FBI AGENT: Well, there has been some talk about the second anthrax scare being a copycat operation. But I would note that the latency period for anthrax is at least two weeks, so I don't think that's the case. The FBI is investigating it as if there was criminal intent, and I think that's the correct thing to do.
BLITZER: At this point, it's obviously impossible to know if it was a criminal act or if it was a terrorist act. There's a distinction, right?
TURNER: There's a distinction, and in view of the fact, the timing, I would suspect that the FBI is considering that it was a terrorist act very seriously. I note the targets, NBC, and I note that -- that...
BLITZER: The target in Florida was American Media, which publishes supermarket tabloids, and maybe even "The New York Times" as well. So the point is the American news media may be a target. Is that what you're suggesting?
TURNER: Well, I'm suggesting that the American news media may be a target, and especially those who have been specially strong against bin Laden, although all of them have. That's what it looks like to me.
BLITZER: Is it your sense that there's any correlation to these latest developments, these very dramatic, extraordinary developments today, and the warning that the FBI released yesterday, suggesting that there was a good chance that there would be additional terrorist attacks against U.S. Targets within the next several days?
TURNER: Well, the FBI has been repeating -- and I should point out that they have charge of domestic security and the CIA operates overseas. But the CIA has passed on in the past few years indications that something was about to happen, although it was nonspecific, as in this case. It was nothing about where, nothing about what organization, nothing about when.
BLITZER: To our viewers who are watching out there, Mr. Turner, how concerned should they be in hearing all of these warnings and seeing these developments involving anthrax right now?
TURNER: Well, I don't think they can heighten their awareness any more than it's been raised: report suspicious things to your local police or the FBI, dial 911, and I think that the American people have to go about their business -- I agree with the president there -- without fear. There is always the possibility of some terrorist act engulfing them, but I think that the only course of action is to go straight ahead with the daily routine.
BLITZER: William Turner, thank you very much for joining us.
And after six days of virtual round-the-clock airstrikes in Afghanistan, U.S. warplanes eased off a bit today. The first Muslim prayer day since the military campaign began. Pentagon officials today say said the bombing campaign is hurting Taliban, and opening the way for gains by Afghan forces fighting the Taliban.
Forces of one Afghan warlord are claiming to have captured a major town on the main road from the capital, Kabul, to the western city of Herat. Pentagon officials also say there's reason to believe claims that some 400 Taliban troops have defected to forces of the Northern Alliance. Those defections may be due, at least in part, to the U.S. airstrikes.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld touched off on that at a Pentagon briefing earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: The plan this past week has been to attempt to target Al Qaeda and Taliban military targets. In some instances, those military targets are in reasonably close proximity to ground forces that oppose Al Qaeda, and/or oppose Taliban. Needless to say, we would not have wanted ground forces that are opposed to Taliban and Al Qaeda to be moving into areas where we are targeting the Taliban and Al Qaeda military targets.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: We have two reports now in repercussions of the U.S. air war from inside and outside Afghanistan. CNN's Christiane Amanpour is in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, but first, CNN correspondent Chris Burns is with the forces of the Northern Alliance in northern Afghanistan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Northern Alliance is claiming to make more advances on the battle front. They say that in the province of Baghlan, they say they have taken two more districts -- that's in the in north. They say they also plan on launching attacks in Taloqan province. That is in the northeast. It includes a very key supply line they hope get ahold of before the winter sets in.
Now, the commanders along the front line here between here and Kabul say that they are counting on U.S. airstrikes to soften up Taliban positions, however that has not yet come. There are some reports that the U.S. is hold back on attacking the front line, out of hopes there could be first a coalition government formed, one that could replace the Taliban regime, in Kabul. The Northern Alliance says that they are willing to consider that, However, their priority, they say, is toppling the Taliban, and then finding a political solution.
Refugees continue to stream out of Kabul and other cities. We see more streaming up here in the north, where it is becoming increasingly cold. The aid workers say that it is going to become a rising and increasing humanitarian crisis, especially as hundreds of thousands of people are expected to run out of food in very mountainous remote areas in coming days and weeks.
Chris Burns, CNN, in northern Afghanistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Christiane Amanpour in Islamabad. Every Friday, the government here takes the pulse of public opinion, and today was the first Friday since the airstrikes began. Protesters were out on the streets again, but again, there was not the same mass uprising that the organizers had called for or hoped for.
There were demonstrations around Pakistan. Some of them got a little bit out of hand and some people had to be dispersed with tear gas. There was some effigies being burned, there was the usual ritual burning of the American flag and anti-American pro-Taliban slogans. But in general, this is a country of 140 million people, and one more time, this country was mostly quiet and calm.
On the other hand, since these airstrikes have begun, already-raw sensibilities in the Islamic world have been further impassioned, and therefore, in other parts of the Islamic world there were demonstrations today. In Iran, thousands of people turned out. In the West Bank, in Yemen. Also in Jordan and Egypt, there were demonstrations. Most of those were peaceful.
In mosques, preachers came out and gave fairly emotional and fiery sermons, but overall, there has not been the sort of mass uprising or general standstill that many of the Islamic hard-line political leaders had hoped for.
I'm Christiane Amanpour, CNN, reporting from Islamabad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Massive, violent anti-American demonstrations also erupted in Pakistan's largest city, Karachi. Demonstrators set fire to a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant and several cars. Police opened fire, wounding at least five people. At least 60 Afghans taking part in the protest were arrested and officials said they would be sent back to Afghanistan.
In Istanbul, Turkey, some 2,000 people took to the streets after prayers to condemn the U.S. military attacks in Afghanistan. Protesters shouted "down with America" and "long live bin Laden." Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. About 60 people were detained.
According to a published report, Tajikistan has agreed to let U.S. forces use an air base outside the capital, Dushanbe. The former Soviet republic shares a long border with Afghanistan. "USA Today" quotes a U.S. official saying the base could be used as a gateway to northern Afghanistan and allow U.S. planes to scope out Taliban troop movements.
Airport security: has it gotten better? Should more be done? We'll look at that and the latest developments when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: We're going to check on airport security in just a moment. But Joie Chen is in Atlanta, and she's checking the latest developments -- Joie?
CHEN: Good afternoon again, Wolf.
So far, the FBI says there is no link between the World Trade Center attacks and the latest anthrax case in New York, or the anthrax cases in Florida. NBC announced today that an employee of its nightly news program in New York had tested positive for anthrax.
The investigation is focusing on a package the patient received more than two weeks ago. NBC says the woman is in good condition and is expected to recover. The FBI has lunched a criminal investigation.
And some employees at "The New York Times" were evacuated today after a letter containing a powdery white substance was found there. The paper says reporter Judith Miller had received a suspicious envelope. Miller is the coauthor of a book about bioterrorism. The substance is now being tested.
A pause today in U.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan, in recognition of the Muslim holy day, the first one since the bombing campaign started last Sunday. U.S. officials would not say if the pause would apply to other Muslim holidays.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the Taliban are being punished. Targets include Taliban troops and commanders, air defense systems and terrorist training camps. Rumsfeld also says the Taliban air defense is still a threat to U.S. warplanes.
President Bush is spending at least part of the weekend at Camp David. Earlier Mr. Bush vowed that the American people won't be held hostage by fear. Speaking in the White House, observant to Hispanic Heritage month, Mr. Bush said the latest case of anthrax is cause for concern. He stressed that Americans cannot let the terrorists lock our country down.
Two National Guardsmen were shot and wounded today at Fort Dix Army base in New Jersey. The gunman was wearing a uniform and escaped in a stolen Defense Department police vehicle.
And air marshals armed with stun guns may be placed on British Airways flights. The proposal is reported in the latest issue of the airline's in-house magazine.
The Canadian government says immigrants to the country will get new plastic photo ID cards. Immigration officials also will have broader power to detain and deport anyone trying to enter the country illegally.
Now we return to Washington and to Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you very much, Joie.
Amid today's developments about anthrax, and yesterday's FBI terrorist alert: more concern about airport security. Despite Thursday's unanimous vote in the Senate to federalize airport security personnel, the House of Representatives is divided over the matter, with Democrats opposed to President Bush's position that security workers need not be on the government payroll.
Within the past two hours, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced one of the nation's largest airport security firms, Argenbright Holdings, committed violations at 13 U.S. airports by hiring security screeners who have disqualifying criminal backgrounds. Argenbright paid more than $1.5 million in fines last year for similar violations.
And in a related development: Tougher screening for carry-on baggage does not apply to checked baggage. Some members of Congress and relatives of victims of Pan Am 103 want to change that. CNN's Patty Davis reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A crackdown on carry-on baggage -- heightened screening, no cutting instruments allowed, a new one-bag carry-on limit.
But it's a different story, and some say glaring deficiency, when it comes to checked bags.
REP. JAY INSLEE (D), WASHINGTON: Right now we do not have adequate measures to assure the flying public of safety, because 90 to 95 percent of those bags are unscreened, in the belly of an airplane.
DAVIS: The FAA won't say how many checked bags are screened, but says the number has increased since the September 11th terrorist attacks. A House bill would require all baggage, mail and cargo carried in an aircraft to be screened by bomb screening machines such as this one. It's a fix families of those who died when Pan Am 103 was brought down by a terrorist bomb hidden in a piece of checked luggage have been pushing for years.
Victoria Cummock lost her husband, John.
VICTORIA CUMMOCK, WIFE OF PAN AM VICTIM: We're leaving the back door unlocked and wide open, if we're not looking at what's being checked.
DAVIS: Right now, the FAA and airlines rely on random screening and computer-assisted passenger screening to decide which bags should be screened, based on a profile of suspicious behavior. But Cummock says terrorists can get around that.
CUMMOCK: Profiling is done on the basis of the identification that you give when you check in your bags. So you are relying on the honesty of the passenger to identify themselves as a potential risk.
DAVIS: She also worries bags aren't being matched to their owners on domestic flights, as they are internationally, meaning unaccompanied bags find their way onto U.S. flights.
The airline industry doesn't advocate either bag matching or 100 percent checked bag screening, saying it would slow air travel down and wouldn't have stopped the recent terrorism.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DAVIS: The FAA says it's long-term goal is to screen 100 percent of those passenger bags that go into the belly of the aircraft, but that is still years away. The Department of Transportation's inspector general says CTX bomb detection machines are being woefully underused at airports, screening just, on average, 350 a day, where they could be screening 150 bags per hour.
Nineteen still sitting in storage, not even being used at all. And, Wolf, the FAA administrator Jane Garvey says she is going to get those out of mothballs and get those on track and in airports within 90 days.
BLITZER: I'm sure that's going to cause a lot of alarm bells to go off.
You're also hearing some news about these private -- the so- called general aviation planes and pilots. FAA coming out with some new announcements on that?
DAVIS: Well, we do expect that. What we are hearing is that -- you know, you would expect when the airports got reopened that everybody is back up in the air, but general aviators are not back up in the air, the small guys who fly the small planes. They have been restricted from flying around the largest airports, about the 30 largest airports across the nation.
What we're hearing is that the FAA plans to reduce those restrictions, perhaps half of those areas, and let these smaller plane pilots put private planes back up into the air. Phase that in, perhaps early sometime next week.
BLITZER: And getting back to your report, that there's this clamor now to make sure that all checked luggage goes through some sort of x-ray device, some sort of metal detector, bomb detection. Where does that stand, in terms of Congress? Will Congress have to enact legislation, or will the FAA simply do it?
DAVIS: Well, that's a good question. Congress and the FAA, certainly, are -- you know, there's pressure on that, since September 11th, to move in that direction. The FAA says that it definitely wants to move there, but on its own timetable and it's own -- if you look back at what it's been saying, it doesn't plan to do that until 2009. So hopefully, something will be done before that time -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Patty Davis, thanks for the good reporting.
And up next: Who's got what weapons of mass destruction in which country? We'll show you through our new map room, giving you a new perspective on the region. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back.
Could the war on terrorism be expanded to targets outside Afghanistan? What countries and what ties to terrorism most concern the experts?
Joie Chen, once again, has been looking into that and rejoins us right now -- Joie.
CHEN: Wolf, we want, of course, to give our viewers a good look at a new element to our coverage, here on CNN, in the war against terrorism. Take a look around here. We have devoted an entire room to this map, so that we can help our viewers understand, not only where Afghanistan is, but locate it next to other countries in the region. As well, giving you some perspective of the size and dynamics of this entire region.
Now, of course, the war on terrorism has focused all of our attention on Afghanistan. But as we talk with experts, particularly our own CNN military experts, and putting together some information from experts at the Center for Non-Proliferation Studies -- that's out in California, a think tank out there -- we have looked into the weapons capability, particularly for those weapons that could kill lots and lots of people -- those weapons of mass destruction.
We want to take a look now at a few countries that particularly concern expects, one of them being Iraq, which of course, our viewers are quite familiar with Iraq. But since 1998, when the U.N. weapons inspectors were forced out of Iraq, it's been very hard to get very full and accurate information.
Nonetheless, they know that a great deal of preliminary work has been done. And some experts tell us that if Iraq were now able to get, say, from the black market, enough uranium or plutonium, this is a country that would be able to put together a nuclear weapon.
Also, they may have the right munitions available right now to deliver smallpox or a number of other biological agents that they may have put together. In addition, they are believed to have enough chemical weapons at this point in Iraq to make hundreds of tons of mustard, VX and nerve gas. In fact, they think they've already used some of those chemical agents against Kurds in northern Iraq.
Now, moving from Iraq next door to Iran. Now, of course, you're also familiar with Iran, and the United States and Israel have been watching Iran very carefully. The experts do think that Iran has been trying to get ahold of some nuclear weapons capability. But it's got fully into the chemical weapons business back in the 1980s.
In fact, they believe that Iran, in the course of its war with Iraq, was able to acquire some of Iraq's chemical weapons and use them in the war against Iraq. Then they went on to develop some additional ones as well. About biological weapons here in Iran, they are thought to have a laboratory. They may have produced and weaponized a small amount of material on the biological front.
We want to move from there all the way over to Syria, by the Mediterranean over here. It doesn't have any evidence of any nuclear or biological weapons capability to this point, but it does have the biggest, most advanced chemical weapons capability in all of the Mideast, the experts tell us. Sarin, VX and mustard gas, all in the stockpile. Hundreds -- hundreds of tons in the stockpile for Syria.
I also want to mention Libya. Now, it has been said to use mustard gas since back in 1987, against troops from Chad. Produced more than 100 tons of nerve and blister agents, and that concerns experts, as well.
Now, as we talk about all these countries in the region, we don't want to say that any action has been planned or considered against any of these states. But these are certainly ones that the experts are paying very close attention to. And we know that there are other nations as well that have at least sought to try to get capability in chemical and biological spheres, as well as nuclear weapons. But right now, the war on terrorism continues to focus all of our attention on Afghanistan, on the Taliban, and of course, on Osama bin Laden -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Joie, very impressive map. I can't wait to get to Atlanta to join you on that. Thank you so much.
Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan says he was humbled to hear he and the United Nations have won the Nobel Peace Prize. The chairman of the Nobel committee said the award was -- quote -- "for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world." It was the first time the U.N. won the prize, and the second time a U.N. secretary-general has done so.
Still ahead, a nationwide pledge by the nation's children. But first, other stories making our news wire today.
Off Honolulu today, the Navy began lifting the Japanese fishing vessel accidentally sunk eight months ago by a U.S. submarine. An oil-rigging ship is hoisting the Ehime Maru up from 2,000 feet below the surface. Nine Japanese men and boys died when the Ehime Maru sank after being rammed by the USS Greeneville.
Americans are still puffing away, and that's got health officials fuming. A newly-released study by the Centers for Disease Control says the percentage of smokers has stayed about the same for the past several years. About one in four American adults, or about 46 million people, are regular smokers.
A sellout crowd in Michigan welcomed the legendary Michael Jordan back to the courts last night. Playing for the Washington Wizards for the first time, the 38-year-old made his long-awaited comeback. But Jordan was benched for the second half of the preseason game against the Detroit Pistons. In the end, the Pistons topped the Wizards, 95- 85.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. Only moments ago, Vice President Dick Cheney was interviewed by Jim Lehrer on the "News Hour" on PBS. He was asked about the investigations into the anthrax scares in Florida and New York. Here's the vice president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You start to piece it all together. Again, we have not completed the investigation, and maybe it's coincidence, but I must say I'm a skeptic. I think the only responsible thing for us to do is to proceed on the basis that it could be linked. And obviously, that means you've got to spend time as well, as we've known now for some time, focusing on other types of attacks besides the one that we experienced on September 11th.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: And the complete interview with the vice president will air on the "News Hour" with Jim Lehrer at the top of the hour, on many PBS stations. Now we continue.
Now we continue: A display of patriotism today by the younger generation. Led by President Bush at the White House, many schools nationwide paused this afternoon for what is usually a morning routine: reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please join with us now for the Pledge of Allegiance.
STUDENTS: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: That's all the time we have. I'll be back in an hour with the latest on the anthrax investigations across the country.
Until then, thanks very much for watching. For Joie Chen, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. We're standing by for an interview with New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. CNN's coverage of "America's New War" continues next with "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE."
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
