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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
America Strikes Back: Government Issues Terrorism Warning
Aired October 30, 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."
Taking the terror threats seriously, what should you be doing?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR: Continue to live your lives, continue to be America. But be aware. Be alert. Be on guard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Vice President Cheney taking another familiar safety step. But the president will be front and center at the World Series.
New cause for alarm over anthrax. Are cases spreading beyond the postal service and news media?
And has the U.S. military campaign stalled? There's criticism, but no sign of a let-up. We'll get a report from Taliban controlled Afghanistan, as "America Strikes Back."
Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting from Washington. How do you help the country return to normal, and at the same time take security seriously? The answer today has the nation's two top leaders going in very different directions: Vice President Cheney to a secure and undisclosed location, and President Bush to the World Series.
In this hour, we'll visit the White House and Yankee Stadium. We'll also report on all of the latest developments in this two-front war at home and in Afghanistan.
But first, let's get a quick check of the headlines this hour. Here's Joie Chen in Atlanta -- Joie.
JOIE CHEN, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, underlining all that, new security steps are being taken after yesterday's warning of the possibility of terrorist attacks ahead. The Federal Aviation Administration is restricting flights in New York, the site of tonight's World Serious game. President Bush is scheduled to attend the game, throw out the first pitch.
The restrictions will also apply to nuclear power plants and energy Department nuclear sites. Meantime, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge says that despite the new terrorist warnings, Americans should go about their normal lives.
Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta is ordering a crackdown on what he calls unacceptable security gaps at the nation's airports. Mineta says that government agents will make sure that passengers and luggage are properly screened. And he warns that agents will empty concourses or whole flights if security is breached.
Health officials confirm the first case of inhalation anthrax in New York City. The victim is a 61-year-old woman who is now in critical condition. She is on a respirator. She's an employee at the Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital. Officials do not know how she contracted the disease.
Anthrax contamination continues to spread in the nation's capital and elsewhere. Trace amounts have been found in a building used by the Capitol police, hazardous devices section. Anthrax also has been found at more postal services facilities in Washington, near Dulles Airport in northeast Virginia, and in West Palm Beach, Florida, as well.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says there are a modest, as he termed it, number of American ground troops in Afghanistan. He says the troops are in both the north and south of the country carrying out liaison work with anti-Taliban forces, helping with the resupply of those forces and pinpointing targets for U.S. war planes.
War planes are continuing heavy bombing in the meantime. The targets inside Afghanistan -- targets including Taliban front lines north of the capital city Kabul, and the southern Taliban stronghold, Kandahar. The commander of the U.S. military operation, General Tommy Franks, says this campaign will continue until Osama bin Laden's terrorist network is destroyed.
We'll continue to watch on all fronts. Now let's go back to Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you very much, Joie.
The day after the new warning of possible terrorist attacks, there is still no word on the nature of the attacks or the targets. The director of homeland security is telling Americans be on guard, but carry on as normal. CNN senior White House correspondent John King is covering all these developments. He joins us now live.
John, those are very difficult instructions, try to be normal but at the same time be on guard. How is the White House encouraging everyone to try to follow that dual path?
JOHN KING, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Governor Ridge saying today, this is America, go about your business. And, Wolf, we will see the president try to do that tonight, but we will see the delicate line he is walking. The president will travel up to Yankee Stadium, the World Series, as part of this country's great tradition in October. But the situation will be anything but routine. Increased security around Yankee Stadium, including the airspace around Yankee Stadium. You see workers outside here preparing to screen all those coming to see the ball game tonight, game three of the World Series up in New York. The president will make that trip, on the one hand, to demonstrate that he is going about his routine as president. But the security there, a reminder of the new alert issued just last night.
We also know the vice president did not come to the White House campus today. That, one of the security precautions being implemented to keep the president and the vice president at separate locations.
As Joie Chen just mentioned, also new restrictions on airspace around nuclear power plants, other nuclear facilities. The government promising even more stringent check-ins at the airport. So on the one hand, new security Americans will see as they go about their everyday business. On the other hand, a line from the administration that, to the degree possible, Americans should stick to their routines.
The president trying to explain all this today to a high school audience here in suburban Washington, telling them they had an eye on history.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You're learning how a strong country responds to a crisis -- by being alert and calm, resolute and patient. And you're the first students who have had to learn the reality that we're having to fight a war on our own land. You're the first generation of students who's ever witnessed a war fought in America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Some criticism today of the administration, including from some members of Congress, who say these alerts are useless and only serve to scare the American people when there is no specific information as to the targets, or to the specific type of attack that might be coming.
But Governor Ridge, the president's point-man on domestic terrorism, saying the administration felt it had a responsibility to share that information, because the judgment of U.S. intelligence sources was that it was credible information. Governor Ridge also saying it is fair to assume that information can be traced back to Osama bin Laden and the Al Qaeda.
Again, though, he said the government had no indications at all as to when or how such an attack might come, but he said the government did believe there was a high risk of such an attack here in the United States, or on U.S. interests abroad, within the next several days to one week -- Wolf.
BLITZER: John, the president's decision to throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium tonight in the World Series -- that decision was made before the threat alert, the intelligence providing a threat alert, was disclosed yesterday. I believe it's been made for the last few days, even though Governor Ridge, the homeland security director, announced it only this morning.
Was there ever any consideration given to canceling the president's visit to New York City?
KING: Well, it was not announced until they made sure they could go forward -- the Secret Service and everybody on board saying it was a secure environment. We are told the president very much wanted to go, though. So to say there was no consideration of canceling it is wrong. Of course, his security environment is considered on a minute- by-minute basis, every movement debated and carefully mapped out.
We are told the president himself was determined to go, knowing full well that if he did not go, once it was out in the New York media, even though not officially announce that he was coming, that if he did not go, very difficult to urge the American people to go about their routines, if you're changing your own.
BLITZER: And that's one message being sent out by the White House. Another message involves the Vice President Dick Cheney, as you point out. He's at an undisclosed secure location, very much not visible to the public. That's a message that the White House is also sending out.
KING: It is a message they have to deal with. They understand some people will ask why -- if they are supposed to go about their routines, why isn't the vice president here on the White House campus? But the White House says they have to do that, according to what are called continuation of government protocols.
And in a security environment like this, it is recommended by the secret service and others that the vice president and the president simply not be at the same location, so that if the White House were a target of a terrorist strike, the president and the vice president would not be at the same location at the same time.
The vice president is, once again, as he has been for quite some time, quite a number of days since that September 11th, at a secure location. We know where he is. We're just simply not providing that information, because of the security risk. He participates in meeting s. He's in frequent contact with the president by telephone, also has secure video conference so that he can participate in National Security Council meetings.
But on the one hand, it does complicate the administration's message to go about your routine, when the vice president is kept away from the president for security concerns.
BLITZER: John King at the White House, thank you very much.
Meanwhile, authorities are still looking for a reason why a New Jersey with no connection to the post office or the news media contracted cutaneous anthrax. The 51-year-old woman lives near Hamilton Township mail facilities, where anthrax was found.
She was treated and released from the hospital yesterday, and is said to be doing just fine. She works for an accounting firm in the same building that houses the district office of Chris Smith. Smith says he does not believe he's been the target of any anthrax-tainted letters.
New York City has its first confirmed case of the much more serious inhalation anthrax. The 61-year-old woman is a hospital worker. CNN's Jason Carroll is covering that story. He joins us now live from New York -- Jason.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, that 61-year-old woman works in the stockroom of the Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. That stockroom located in the basement of the facility, in the same area as a mail room.
Just to give you a little bit of history of what happened here. This woman became sick on Thursday. She complained of having a headache and a fever, but she went to work on Thursday. Went to work again on Friday. Over the weekend, her condition became much, much worse.
Finally on Sunday she checked herself into Lenox Hill hospital. Doctors immediately put her on a respirator. Her condition at that point, critical. One doctor saying today, her condition is -- quote -- "very grave."
Health officials told us today what they're doing to try and find out how this woman contracted this disease.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEAL COHEN, NYC HEALTH COMMISSIONER: We are reconstructing the timeline, with respect to her possible exposures, where she -- how she spends her days, her contacts, her pattern. And we're collecting that information.
We're interviewing a large number of people who know her, work with her, are friends with her, and can provide us with information about her habits.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GLADYS GEORGE, LENOX HILL HOSPITAL: We're working very closely with the office of emergency management, with the city department of health, with CDC, with the Hospital Association, with our union. This is a challenging situation, but we are doing, and will do whatever it takes to ensure that our staff and our patients have the information they need, the treatment they need, and the comfort level they need to continue their jobs, of providing health care to the citizens of our city.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Health officials say all of the employees and patients who spent at least one hour at this hospital since October 11th needs to come in and be tested. They also need to start taking antibiotics. All of that is going to be done at Lenox Hill Hospital. We're talking about at least 2,000 people who are going to have to do that.
Also, investigators have conducted an environmental search of this hospital. They've taken some 40 samples. Ten of those test results have come back, all negative -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jason, Carroll, thank you very much.
And we just mentioned the big question is, how do the new anthrax patients in New Jersey and New York get the infection? Neither person works for the media, the postal service, or is involved in politics. CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has been looking into this. Here is his report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Last week, in order to demonstrate how anthrax spores may have gotten outside an envelope, we took some standard talcum powder, put it inside a standard envelope, sealed it in a standard fashion. And then we tapped on it.
We found that the talcum powder, which is about 30 to 40 microns in size, actually came not only through the sides of the envelope, but through the paper itself. That's in comparison to anthrax spores, which are about 1 to 5 microns in size. You can't see them. Those are the ones that cause inhalational anthrax. We also called a few paper companies and found that the pores in most paper are about a hundred microns in size.
The question today is whether an envelope full of anthrax spores, or in this case, fluorescent orange talcum powder, could actually contaminate other envelopes. We filled this one up in our standard envelope, and we're going to throw it inside the mail bin after it's been sealed.
After putting the envelope in this mail bin, we jostled it around, trying to approximate what it might go through in a mail a facility, through a mail sorter. And then we stopped.
Now, with the naked eye we really don't see much. But bringing up this black light, you begin to see some areas of powder on envelopes. For example, this one, which appears to be covered in powder. And this one, which has powder around its edges.
Now, is it possible that anthrax spores -- or in this case, fluorescent orange powder -- could remain on the envelope as it is transported from a postal facility to the mailbox of your home or your business?
Well, we don't know. These are just demonstrations. But it might be a possibility.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Pretty scary stuff. The spread of anthrax to two ordinary people apparently not connected to previous cases raises new concerns and questions. Joining us now to talk about this, CNN bioterrorism analyst, Javed Ali.
Javed, you just saw Dr. Sanjay Gupta's report. That makes it look like delivering the mail, anthrax through the mail, can be a very potent bioterrorist weapon.
JAVED ALI, BIOTERRORISM EXPERT: That certainly is a strong possibility. And sort of the use of the mail as the delivery system, sort of looking at the consequences of that now, it's not clear whether, whoever the sponsors of these incidents are, whether they actually knew this was going to happen, and have this disruptive effect. Knowing this was part of a grand strategy, or this is just unintended consequences.
BLITZER: And that's the anthrax, the very, very finely milled, tiny little anthrax that causes the biggest problem, which is the inhalation anthrax, as opposed to the skin anthrax, which is a lot less serious.
ALI: Right. That finely milled anthrax powder still has to get up into the air to cause the pulmonary form of the disease. So there has to be another energy source, even when it deposits on another piece of mail or letter, to get up in the air and cause infectious doses to be rendered airborne.
BLITZER: In recent days, a week ago or so, we heard Dr. David Satcher, the surgeon general of the United States, acknowledge something that he said the experts didn't realize only the week before -- mainly that you didn't necessarily have to open up an envelope in order to be potentially exposed to those deadly anthrax spores.
ALI: I think we're all -- I mean, a lot of people in this community are learning new events or new wrinkles on this particular threat, on the fly. It's unfortunate, but this is sort of a very dynamic situation right now.
BLITZER: So based on what we know right now, Javed, what are the sort of fingerprints on the samples of the anthrax -- they have a good sample that was delivered to Senator Tom Daschle's office, to Tom Brokaw's office. Based on the samples they have, the anthrax that they found, are there any fingerprints there that could indicate who was responsible, domestic or international terrorists?
ALI: I still don't think there is any definitive fingerprints yet, because there are -- while there are patterns emerging, like you said, Wolf, within each pattern there are sort of opposing dynamics at play. So with the quality of the material in the Daschle letter was very good, but apparently the quality of the material in the -- quality of the material in the "New York Post" was less good. But the strains were all the same. So what does that tell us? Were there two different production runs on the same strain of material? It's hard to say. BLITZER: And supposedly there was an additive included in the letter sent to Senator Daschle which made it even more potent, more virulent, if you will. Whereas that additive, whatever it was, was not included in the letter sent to Tom Brokaw.
ALI: It wouldn't make that material in the Daschle letter more virulent, it would just make it a better aerosol, meaning that it had more of a capacity to get up in the air, and then for people to breath those infectious doses into their lungs.
BLITZER: So just to wrap it up, at this point, the experts cannot determine whether it came from abroad or right here in the United States?
ALI: I think that there is still those unanswered questions.
BLITZER: And there's probably a lot of unanswered questions as well. Javed Ali, our CNN bioterrorism analyst, thank you very much.
And you can find out what's being learned about the anthrax situation and the dilemma facing the White House over the terrorism threat. Just go to my on-line daily column at cnn.com/wolf.
The road to Kandahar. Our Nic Robertson has traveled it, and tells us what he has seen when we come back.
Also, worries about work. Is your job safe? A headhunter joins us to tell us who is at the greatest risk, and what to do if you're among them.
And Yankee Stadium, site of tonight's World Series game. The president is heading there, too, amid a terror alert. We'll be live in the Bronx later, on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back.
A town hit hard by U.S. bombs, now in darkness. The Taliban stronghold of Kandahar has no electricity today, and in many parts no running water. Our Nic Robertson is now just outside the city and gives us a first-hand look via videophone.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Earlier today there were heavy bombardments. Here in the last few hours, we've heard planes circling overhead. We've seen flashes on the horizon and heard the dull explosions of what sound like bombs going off somewhere in the distance.
We drove into Kandahar, some three hours from the border with Pakistan. Now, inside the border of Afghanistan, we saw a refugee camp. About a hundred really tattered-looking tents with people appeared to be cooking their evening food outside those tents.
A little further inside Afghanistan, we saw about a hundred, 150 tents, new white tents, set up in neat rows. And about another mile down the road further into Afghanistan again, we saw about 500 to 1,000 white tents set up, again in neat rows.
And we can see that some people were obviously inside those tents, possibly refugees. There certainly appears to be a refugee camp set up there, but the occupancy does not appear to be high at this time.
Traveling further on the road to Kandahar, we saw a lot of traffic, vehicles taking food. We saw a wheat truck, we saw a vehicle carrying containers of propane, fuel for either heating or for cooking. We saw other empty vehicles heading towards the border. We saw rural traffic.
We did not see a high number of refugees on the road. It mostly seemed to be commercial vehicles that were traveling. We did see one tank by the side of the road, one old looking tank at the side of the road on the way to Kandahar, somewhere outside the city.
We were not able to get into the city of Kandahar this evening. The Taliban say that it is not allowed for foreigners to enter the city at nighttime. The local corps commander has been given those orders, we are told.
However, we are told that tomorrow we will be able to go into the city. For now we're being based at the foreign ministry headquarters, just on the east side of Kandahar, sort of halfway between the city and the airport.
I'm Nic Robertson, CNN, Kandahar, Afghanistan.
BLITZER: And checking more international news. The commander of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan says the campaign will continue for as long as it takes to destroy Osama bin Laden's terrorist network. General Tommy Franks held talks today with the president of Uzbekistan. The central Asian country is allowing the U.S. to use its airspace in the attacks against the Taliban.
Speaking to reporters, General Franks dismissed the notion that the war has bogged down.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. TOMMY FRANKS, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: We want to conduct this operation on our timeline.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE).
FRANKS: And I think we're on that time line, in a position of initiative at this point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is again calling on the United States to stop the military campaign in Afghanistan. He says the fighting is a spark that could -- quote -- "set the world on fire." The Iraqi leader also commented on reports that the anthrax cases in the United States appear to be of domestic origin. He said those reports could be designed to make Americans feel better by letting them think the attacks could be more easily contained. Iraq has denied any link to the spread of anthrax in the United States.
The leader of the radical Palestinian group, Islamic Jihad, says he is willing to discuss the idea of a cease-fire with Israel, if certain conditions are met. Ramadan Shalah tells CNN that could happen if Israel pulls out of what he called "our occupied land" in the West Bank and Gaza. Previously, the group has said that all land, including what is now the entire state of Israel, must be returned to the Palestinians.
It's been more than two decades since the United States has had a dialogue with Iran. Now in the wake of the September 11th attacks, there is some talk among Iranian lawmakers of reopening communication. For more on Iranian-U.S. relations, we go live to Abbas Milani. He's chairman of the department of political science at the College of Notre Dame in California.
He joins us from San Francisco. Dr. Milani, thank you for joining us. How serious is this talk of reestablishing a serious dialogue between the United States and Iran?
ABBAS MILANI, POLITICAL SCIENTIST: I think it's serious, amongst those who suggested it. But fact of the matter is, that the Iranian government does not speak with one voice. Today, in fact, a couple of hours ago, the spiritual leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, gave a very tough speech, basically chastising those members of the house of representatives who had suggested a rapprochement with the United States.
So in a sense, you have two voices speaking for two different kinds of attitudes, two different kinds of politics in Iran. And depending on which one of those you listen to, you get a different answer, in terms of how Iran should behave with the United States and towards this fight against terror.
BLITZER: Professor Milani, I think a lot of Americans are confused. They seem to think the Ayatollah -- of course, who's the supreme leader of Iran -- how is it possible, given the current environment there, for others political officials to speak with a different voice? In effect, to go up against what the Ayatollah himself is suggesting?
MILANI: I think what you have to understand about both the Iranian constitution and Iranian politics is that have you a situation completely split between the spiritual leader, who is unchosen, who is basically basing his legitimacy on divine providence, and the president and the house of representative -- or the equivalent of the house of representative, which represents the voice of the people.
And there is an incongruous mix in the constitution that allows for both of these voices to exist, giving of course, the spiritual leader the upper land. So you have had for the last 22 years, a constant battle in Iran, between the voices of democracy, people who want to have their voices heard, and the spiritual lead, Khomeini, who are oblivious to the voice of the people and make policy by fear.
And this conflict lies, I think, at the core of the inherent instability in Iranian politics over the last 20 years.
BLITZER: One factor that may result in the improvement of U.S.- Iranian relations is the fact that both the United States and Iran fiercely opposed to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Explain to our viewers why Iran is at such odds with the Taliban.
MILANI: The Taliban are the branch of Islam called the Sunnis. In fact, they are more inclined towards one of the most radical forms of Sunni fundamentalism, called the Wahabis. This is the religion that Osama bin Laden has, this is the religion that most of the Saudis have. And this is historically one of the most radical forms of Sunni fundamentalism.
The Sunnis are the majority of the Muslim world. The minority of the Muslims in the world are Shiites, and Iran happens to be the only country where the Shiites are the absolute majority. And the Sunnis have historically looked at the Shiites -- and specifically, last five or six years, the Taliban have looked at Iran as a potential enemy.
In other words, to make your listeners and audience more in touch with the nature of the hatred, I suggest you remember Ireland, and the hatred that exists between Protestants, for example, and the Catholics. It's inconceivable to someone outside that terrain to understand why their blood runs to hot between them, but it does for historic reasons.
It's the same in Iran. And there are border clashes that exist over the last five or six years. And finally, there is this major problem of drugs. Iran is set with a major catastrophe, in terms of addiction. Heroin, opium has become a serious problem in Iran, for the Iranian youth. And much of this comes to Iran via the Taliban, and it has undermined the very health of Iranian politics. And the government can't seem to stop it.
BLITZER: Professor Milani, a lot of U.S. officials noted with some satisfaction, a gesture that was made by the Iranian government early on, saying that Iranian airspace could be used for search and rescue operations if U.S. pilots are downed flying over Afghanistan. That was a significant gesture on the part of Iran. Was it backed up by the spiritual leader, the Ayatollah?
MILANI: I would doubt that such an important gesture would have been made without the approval of the Ayatollah. But again, one of the things that outside observers have to understand about what the Ayatollah says is that oftentimes, what the Ayatollah says in public for consumption of his fringe, radical following, and what the Ayatollah actually does in private are not necessarily the same thing.
This was true for Ayatollah Khomeini. This was true for Ayatollah Khameini. In other words, there is often a discrepancy with the rhetoric they use in public, and the very pragmatic political considerations they take into account when they are in a private room making deals that they think ensures their survival. They're very good at finding what they need to do to survive.
BLITZER: Professor Milani, thank you so much for your expertise. We appreciate it. Professor Abbas Milani, the College of Notre Dame in California.
And an acknowledgement that U.S. troops are on the ground inside Afghanistan right now. We'll check in with our military analyst when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. We've heard about the air strikes in Afghanistan now for more than three weeks. But today Donald Rumsfeld said there are, quote, "a modest number of troops on the ground."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We do have some military people on the ground. They are -- they are in the north. And we have had others on the ground who have come in and out from the south. But the ones that are there are doing exactly what I said.
They are military -- uniformed military personnel who are assisting with resupply, assisting with communications liaison, assisting with targeting and providing the kind of very specific information which is helpful to the air effort.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: For some perspective, let's bring back CNN's Joie Chen. She is with CNN Military Analyst General Donald Shepperd in Atlanta. Take it away, Joie.
CHEN: Hi, Wolf. We are back in the CNN map room and as we look at the lay of the land and all these things, General, we -- considering what Secretary Rumsfeld was saying today and what he meant by that, the significance on the ground in Afghanistan. In a certain sense what Secretary Rumsfeld said today wasn't much of a surprise to you.
RETIRED MAJOR GENERAL DON SHEPPERD, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: No. It was a confirmation of what has been the obvious. We have people on the ground that are a liaison with the Northern Alliance. You have to have people on the ground. You have to establish communications, trust. You have to find out where the enemy is and you have to set up means of resupply -- not just getting stuff in, but getting it in and to the frontline fighters.
CHEN: So really in to -- in to the Northern Alliance area is a likely...
SHEPPERD: Right. The Northern Alliance has been up in this area. Of course, they are back down between Bagram and Kabul, actions around Mazar-e-Sharif. Again, the air actions you have seen so far have been termed by some as close air support.
It's not close air support yet. It's been interdiction, and we are setting up the means for close air support late -- later. Troops in close contact with ground forward air controllers directing those strikes. We may have had some people directing strikes by pointing out them out with lasers already. Hard to say.
CHEN: Saying this is where to go.
SHEPPERD: Right.
CHEN: There was a comment in a DOD briefing today from Admiral Stufflebeem. It did seem to be something of a fighting word to those of you who are involved in the analysis of all the events, the air campaign as well as whatever is going on, on the ground. We want to hear what Admiral Stufflebeem said today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REAR ADMIRAL JOHN STUFFLEBEEM, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN: There are many different ways to measure this. And there are pundits and retirees who can offer their opinions about how they might see it, which isn't necessarily how General Franks has articulated it to our national command authorities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHEN: We got that word on the retirees, General, which I guess was a comment to those of you who do this. But really what Admiral Stufflebeem was referring to was a sort of sense of frustration that people are looking at this and Monday morning quarterbacking in a sense, and saying, "This isn't moving fast enough."
SHEPPERD: Admiral Stufflebeem is a good guy in a tough position. He's on with the world...
CHEN: So those weren't fighting words for you.
SHEPPERD: No, no. He's -- he's in a very difficult position. He is the military face, so far, of this war, stuck on every day to talk to the world. One of the comments that he made that was re- examined throughout the world was that he was surprised at the tenacity of Taliban.
I'm sure he like other people who appear on TV go home at night and look at it, sand say "Gee, if I had that to say over again, I probably would use a different term." He's doing a really good job. I admire him very much.
CHEN: But on -- but on the particular sense that there is a sense of frustration and what he is getting from -- from the reporters and what we are seeing in some of the op-ed pieces as well -- Secretary Rumsfeld spoke to that -- this sort of sense that maybe there's not as great -- as much public confidence that the campaign is going as it should. SHEPPERD: Yes, and that's normal in warfare. This is frustrating. War is frustrating, especially to the military commanders who would like to see it happen. It's very important that we do not through public opinion stampede ourselves into unwise military moves.
I remember General Johnny Jumper, the present chief of staff of the Air Force. During the Kosovo campaign, was he -- he was in charge of the United States air forces in Europe, saying -- someone was interviewing him and said, "What -- if you had one thing that you don't have right now, what would it be?" And he says, "Patience."
That's what this is going to take. It is not easy. This is a very tough area to fight and we don't want to do anything stupid. We don't want to put troops in, risk their lives, until we're ready to do it. General Franks has all the pieces. He will decide when he is ready and he will do it when he is ready. On our timetable -- they are reacting to our timetable, not us to them.
CHEN: General Don Shepperd. A little bit of analysis and not taking it personally from that comment about the retirees. Thanks very much. Wolf, back to you.
BLITZER: Thank you, Joie. Thank you General Shepperd, as well. I always learn something from those discussions. In the next edition, by the way, of Wolf BLITZER REPORTS -- that's at 7:00 p.m. Eastern -- join me and three experts for the war room.
We'll discuss and evaluate the U.S. military strategy in Afghanistan. We'll also be taking e-mail questions. If you go to CNN.com, find the "Retaliation" section on the main page and click on "Send questions." We will use them at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 Pacific -- about an hour and 20 minutes from now.
We will check today's late developments right after the break. Also, an economic reality check post -- post September 11. And inside information on how safe is your job.
Later: Number 23 returns to the basketball court. The inside word on Michael Jordan's first regular season game in over three years.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: The impact of the America's on the -- of the war on your economy -- on the economy as well as your job. That's coming up. First, let's go back to Joie Chen in Atlanta with a quick check of the latest developments. Joie.
CHEN: Good afternoon again, Wolf. For those who are just joining us, here's a look at what is happening this afternoon. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says there are a modest number of American ground troops in Afghanistan.
He says the troops are in both the north and south of the country, carrying out liaison work with anti-Taliban forces, helping with the resupply of those forces and pinpointing targets for U.S. warplanes.
U.S. warplanes are meantime continuing heavy bombing of targets inside Afghanistan. Targets included Taliban frontlines north of the capital city Kabul and the southern Taliban stronghold of Kandahar. The commander of the U.S. military operation, General Tommy Franks, says the campaign will continue until Osama Bin Laden's terrorist network is destroyed.
CHEN: The Federal Aviation Administration is restricting flights in New York, site of tonight's World Series game. President Bush is scheduled to attend. The restrictions also apply to nuclear power plants and energy department nuclear sites.
Meantime, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge says that despite the new terrorist warning, Americans should go about their normal lives.
Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta is ordering a crackdown on what he calls "unacceptable security gaps" at the nation's airports. Mineta says government agents will make sure passengers and luggage are properly screened. And he warns that agents will empty concourses or hold flights if security is breached.
Health officials confirm the first case of inhalation anthrax in New York City. The victim is a 61-year-old woman who is in critical condition now. She is on a respirator. She is an employee at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat hospital. Officials do not know how this woman contracted the disease. And that's a look at latest developments. Now we go back to Wolf in Washington.
BLITZER: Thanks, Joie. The financial markets and those who follow them are bracing for a jolt. Figures and other information coming out this week will show just how badly the U.S. economy was hurt by the September 11th terrorist attacks. CNN senior correspondent Brooks Jackson has this preview.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKS JACKSON, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): That the terrorists caused economic devastation, we knew. Exactly how bad the damage has been, we find out, finally, this week.
ALLEN SINAI, CEO, PRIMARK DECISION ECONOMICS: These data are the first data that are going to tell us for sure we are in a recession, a real recession. We are not just flirting with one. We are not just guessing whether we are in one. We were in one, and it is getting worse.
JACKSON: Tuesday's consumer confidence figures were bad enough. The conference board's indicator dropped to the lowest in more than seven years. But brace yourself. Wednesday's report of economic growth for July, August and September -- the third quarter of the year -- doesn't look good.
DAVID WYSS, CHIEF ECONOMIST, STANDARD AND POOR'S: We're looking for 1.2 percent. It's going to be a negative number. This is the start of the recession. And my guess is we'll probably have an even bigger negative number for the fourth quarter.
JACKSON: That would mean the first real, no-fooling recession in more than a decade: a shrinking economy, sagging incomes and lots more people out of work. Then the October unemployment report arrives Friday morning.
DIANE SWONK, CHIEF ECONOMIST, BANK ONE: I think we're -- we've got to brace ourselves for a very sharp increase in unemployment. It could be as much as a half percent in a month.
JACKSON: That will show the true impact of September 11th. The Labor Department's previous report was based on a survey covering the week the attacks took place, so Friday's report should tell us exactly how many jobs have gone since then.
SINAIR: We are projecting a loss of 400,000 jobs. It could be as good as the loss of 275,000 jobs and as bad as 500,000 or so.
JACKSON: And all agree more jobs are going, perhaps another million to two million thrown out of work in months to come.
SWONK: I think we're going to be in a very rocky road for the next couple months as the reality of the aftermath, the afterquake, the ripple effects of September 11th go through the economy and show up in the economic data, because it's not going to be pretty. Things are going to get much worse before they get better.
JACKSON: So this week we get an ugly reality check, and economist expect it will be months before positive news arrives. Brooks Jackson, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And joining us now to look at the employment landscape is James Boone, he's president for -- of the Americas for Korn Ferry International, an executive search firm. Mr. Boone, thanks for joining us. Another million or two million people losing their jobs in the not-too-distant future. Who's most at risk?
JAMES BOONE, KORN FERRY INTERNATIONAL: Well, I think the -- if you look at the individuals today and the economy, clearly the people that are at most risk are people the furthest away from revenue production.
As companies look at their employees, they are going to decide who best can help them meet the numbers they have to deliver either in the public forum or privately. And the further away you are from being able to measure yourself against that revenue production, the more likely it is that you would be cut.
BLITZER: So we -- we spoke to you earlier. Revenue producers being those who are not necessarily at risk, there, being relatively safe, but the support staff. They are the people most at risk. What do you mean by the support staff?
BOONE: These would be ancillary position like advertising, public relations, support staff -- people further away from the actual revenue production. They are at risk, whereas on the other hand, the closer you are to being measured, the more that you can equate your job to the success of the company in a measurable, quantifiable way, the better enhanced probabilities you have for not being downsized.
BLITZER: Let's review, for those of our viewers who may be losing their jobs in next several months, some steps that you recommend taking, that they should be taking right away. For example: One step. Assess skills and abilities. What do you mean by that?
BOONE: Yeah, I think you have to be pragmatic and really do a frank assessment of just what are my strengths, what are my weaknesses. And then obviously capitalize on those strengths and be realistic when you're out in the marketplace networking with other individuals or companies.
BLITZER: Well, that leads to us to your second recommendation. Networking. A lot of people think that's critical in trying to find a job if you are laid off.
BOONE: Yes. I can't overemphasize networking, networking, networking: friends, relatives, neighbors, that you have a support structure there that can definitely help you through these times. Also, of course, there are job post -- job posting services. There's executive search firms that certainly welcome people's resumes. There's a lot of avenues that you have to get your qualifications out into the marketplace.
BLITZER: Another recommendation you make is: Assess the state of your industry and your geographic area. What do you mean by that?
BOONE: Yeah. Certain people are more transient than others. If for instance you are in sales or marketing or certain engineering positions, they can move from industry to industry.
For instance, if you are in technology, you could move to biotechnology, which is still very hot today. Geographically, for instance, the northwest has been hit probably the hardest -- Seattle in particular because that was the epicenter for the dot-com Internet phenomena.
If you move further the south or further eastward, geographically, you are probably better off because there is a greater diversity of jobs and opportunities in those regional -- in those regions of the country.
BLITZER: All right. Mr. Boone, I want to thank you very much for joining us.
BOONE: My pleasure.
BLITZER: I think we have a picture of the president. He is leaving the White House. He is quickly exchanging at least a brief word with reporters as he's walking on the South Lawn of the White House to Marine One. You will see it in a second, the helicopter, that will take him presumably to Andrews Air Force Base. From there he'll be going up to New York City to throw out the opening pitch in tonight's World Series game, the third game of the World Series. The Yankees behind 2-0.
Yankee fans of course in New York be anxious to try to catch up in tonight's game. The president will be flying to Yankee Stadium, flying to New York.
And as we heard our John King, our senior White House correspondent, report earlier, the president wanting to go forward with this trip to send a signal to the country that business should go on as usual despite the alert that was issued only yesterday by the Justice Department and the FBI warning of a potential terrorist threat against U.S. interests in the United States and around the world over the next week or so. The president determined to try to get on business as usual.
We will be doing that as he -- be seen by millions in the United States and indeed around the world at Yankee Stadium, where he will throw out the opening pitch, the first pitch in the game tonight. Marine One getting ready to leave the South Lawn of the White House, literally in the shadow of the Washington Monument, to fly over to Andrews Air Force Base where the president will board Air Force One and fly to New York City. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: You are looking at live picture of Marine One carrying President Bush from the South Lawn of the White House over to Andrews Air Force Base outside of Washington, D.C., in Maryland. There he will board Air Force One, fly to Yankee Stadium, fly to New York City for tonight's World Series game.
Despite all the crisis and the uncertainty, baseball of course will continue to be played. President Bush will be at Yankee Stadium tonight for game three of the World Series. CNN National Correspondent Gary Tuchman is already in New York. He has a look at the scene right now -- Gary.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, no stadium has hosted more World Series games than Yankee Stadium. But this is a night like -- unlike any other: the tightest security they have ever had at a baseball game.
As we speak fans are entering the stadium and going through metal detectors. For the first time ever, everyone who goes in has to go through a metal detector. It is like an airport here. Everywhere you look police officials, many of them plainclothes officials.
We are told at least 1,000 police officials are here. There are pat-downs when you go in. There are electronic wands being used. No bags allowed whatsoever in the stadium.
One of the reasons for the elaborate security: the attorney general's warning. Another important reason is you've just been talking about. The former owner of the Texas Rangers is coming to the game today, a fellow by the name of George W. Bush. His job after that, president of the United States.
He is expected to arrive here in a little bit. He will come to the game, throw out the first pitch, and that's one of the reasons for the elaborate security. With us right now, two of the fans who are going to the game, James and Donna Mattera. If you could come over here.
The Matteras are brothers -- brother and sister. But one of reasons we have them is because James Mattera is a firefighter with the Sarasota County Fire Department in Florida. He was in the northeast September 11th. He came to New York City. He was at ground zero for five days. How do you feel about being at the game tonight?
JAMES MATTERA: I'm happy as all get out. It's definitely go Yankees. I wouldn't miss it for anything.
TUCHMAN: Are you worried at all? You heard the warning yesterday. Are you concerned at all being in such a famous place, 60,000 people. Does it worry you at all?
MATTERA: I just can't believe I'm standing here in the Bronx, about to see the World Series game three. That's all I'm really thinking about, honestly.
TUCHMAN: Not concerned.
MATTERA: Personally, no.
TUCHMAN: Sister, are you concerned at all?
DONNA MATTERA: I'm just happy to have my brother here to share it with.
TUCHMAN: OK. It's nice talking to both of you. I wish you the best.
MATTERA: Thanks.
TUCHMAN: This isn't just a big sporting event in New York. It's also a patriotic event. Wolf, back to you.
BLITZER: Gary Tuchman, good assignment. Thanks for joining us. When we come back, we will head from the Bronx to Manhattan. Another big game tonight, this time involving Michael Jordan. We'll have a preview when we get back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: The World Series is not the only hot sports ticket in New York tonight. Michael Jordan returns to the NBA. CNN's Sports Illustrated Josie Karp has more.
JOSIE KARP, CNN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Other than Chicago, where Michael Jordan won six NBA titles -- or Washington, where he now makes his basketball home -- there is probably no more appropriate place for the 38-year-old to start his third stint in the league than right here in Madison Square Garden.
Many people call Jordan the best basketball player who ever lived. And he had some of his best basketball games right here. That included a game in 1995 when he first started -- his first comeback -- when he scored 55 points against Knicks.
That answered a lot of questions in many peoples' minds about whether could be the same basketball player. Tonight, the search begins for the answer to the same question.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL JORDAN, BASKETBALL PLAYER: I know the expectations are high, which is normal. You know, coming to New York, they want me to score 60 but they want their team to win. I know that. But I have to stay focused with, you know, my agenda. And, you know, I have come to enjoy the game but play it hard as I can and let the chips fall where they may.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARP: Jordan is in the starting lineup, of course. And as for how much he will actually play, Wizards coach Doug Collins said he would like to limit him as much as possible. He said he will start, try to get him on the bench for the last four minutes of the first quarter. Start him again in the second quarter. But Collins went on to say, that's the plan. It could change depending on how the start of the game goes. From New York, I'm Josie Karp.
BLITZER: And I will be back in one hour with much more coverage, including a panel discussion on the conduct of the war. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. CNN's coverage of America's new war continues with "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE." That begins right now.
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