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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Al Qaeda Planning Another Attack?; Bush Spreads State of Union Message

Aired January 31, 2002 - 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, HOST: Now on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS: Death threat delayed, but will more time help an American journalist held hostage?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: The demands that the kidnappers have placed are not demands that we can meet or deal with.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: It's been a target before. Do terrorists have their eye on the needle? I'll speak with Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

And President Bush keeps his sights on sponsors of terrorism. You think he was tough at the State of the Union?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They better not try to terrorize America and our friends and allies, or the justice of this nation will be served on them as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. Thanks for joining us.

We begin with breaking news. Is al Qaeda planning another attack involving planes, and, this time, nuclear power plants? CNN Financial News correspondent Steve Young has more with some disturbing evidence.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEVE YOUNG, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT (on camera): CNN has learned that all 103 nuclear power plants in the United States were warned by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission they might be under possible terrorist attack. We obtained a document today, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has no comment, but a source familiar with this one-page document, which went to the power plants operated by the 65 operators in the United States, indicated that this is authentic.

And it says the following: FBI headquarters has provided this information to all field offices during debriefings of an al Qaeda senior operative. He stated there would be a second airline attack in the United States. The attack was already planned. Three individuals were on the ground in the States recruiting non-Arabs to take part in the attack. The plan is to fly a commercial aircraft into a nuclear power plant to be chosen by the team on the ground. The plan includes diverting the mission to any tall building if a military aircraft intercepts the plane. No specific timeline given.

The FBI said at the time of this document that it could not assess the credibility. We'll have more details on this breaking news on MONEYLINE. This is Steve Young, CNNfn, in New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And apparently, nuclear plants were not the only sites targeted. Photographs and other documents recently found in Afghanistan focus on U.S. landmarks, like the Space Needle in Seattle. Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr is looking into that, and she joins us now live with more. Barbara, what have you heard?

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the U.S. military, in searching al Qaeda safe houses across Afghanistan in recent weeks, have indeed found photographs of many U.S. landmarks, including Seattle's famous Space Needle, and all of this is leading the U.S. to conclude that al Qaeda, in fact, had been casing the United States for months looking for potential targets. As one official told us, "these pictures were nobody's vacation photos."

Now, it is important to emphasize, no one knows exactly what the al Qaeda might have planned. But, in fact, a U.S. intelligence report finished in the last couple of weeks now says that the al Qaeda had the intent to launch more strikes against the United States. In fact, this intelligence report notes that drawings of nuclear power plants found in Afghanistan were tied to nuclear power plants in the Pacific Northwest. And the report specifically says that the al Qaeda was thinking about, perhaps planning, but clearly had the intent to strike a nuclear power plant in the Northwest.

It also says that the al Qaeda had the intent to strike another U.S. Navy warship. This following, of course, the October 2000 attack against the USS Cole in Yemen.

Now, officials emphasize that they have no specific knowledge right now out the timing or location of any attack, but that may not be very comforting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: And let there be no doubt in the years ahead it is likely that we will be surprised again by new adversaries who may also strike in unexpected ways. And as they gain access to weapons of increasing power, and let there be no doubt but that they are, these attacks will grow vastly more deadly than those we suffered several months ago.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: And Wolf, earlier today in Washington, FBI director Robert Mueller said he does believe there are terrorist sleeper cells out there with more attacks possibly coming -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Well, as far as the military is concerned, Barbara, the beat that you cover, what kind of alert status are they on, given the fact that the U.S.S Cole there have been other military targets of terrorists in the past?

STARR: Well, overseas almost all U.S. military forces are on the highest state of alert: threat condition delta. That's about as high as you can go. So there isn't a lot more they can do about it, but they are always worried, always concerned and they maintain this very heightened state of alert. The problem is if nothing happens, they won't know if they've diverted something, so all they can do is stay at this heightened state of alert and try and watch for my problems.

BLITZER: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Thank you for that report.

In the next half hour, I will talk live with Seattle's mayor Greg Nickels about the latest alert and the precautions his city is taking.

Within the next two weeks, several American cities are playing host to the world. All of them, as you can imagine, are stepping up security.

Hundreds of New York's finest are on duty at a hotel in midtown Manhattan, where the World Economic Forum is underway. They say they are ready for any violent demonstrations, like the ones that have marred other meetings. So far, the protests have been relatively peaceful, with uniformed police on every corner, on street medians and in front of nearby businesses.

If you are headed to New Orleans for this weekend's Super Bowl, pack some patience and comfortable shoes. Everyone and everything will be searched at the gates. And barricades have been set up two blocks around the Superdome. From that point on, everyone is walking, including the NFL commissioner.

Authorities are pulling out all the stops in and around Salt Lake City, Utah. The winter Olympic Games open there a week from tomorrow: 17 days of events that will take place over 900 square miles. Mingling with all the athletes and onlookers will be 18,000 security officials, including federal marshals and FBI agents.

With all of these high profile events and the discoveries of yet more threats, let's bring in terrorism expert Brian Jenkins. He joins me now live from Los Angeles. Brian, this seems like an unprecedented potential threat facing the United States. Is it?

BRIAN JENKINS, TERRORISM EXPERT: Well, I think the latest findings from these latest documents and interrogations coming out of Afghanistan confirm what we had already assumed, and that is al Qaeda is an organization that is determined to attack us given the opportunity to do so, and will mobilize whatever weapons and resources it can to do that.

These diagrams, these photographs, they represent aspirations rather than complete plans, but they are ambitions to do us harm. And that is why as you know, I'm ferocious on this, Wolf, that is why we have to concentrate, focus our energies on dismantling this al Qaeda network.

BLITZER: As you know, the president in the State of the Union Address did specifically cite nuclear power plants and there are a lot of nuclear power plants around the United States. Let's put it up on our screen. If you take a look, most of them based in the northeastern part of the United States, but there are some out in California in the western part of the country as well. How vulnerable are these power plants?

JENKINS: Well, they would be vulnerable to a crashing commercial airliner depending on the size of the airliner, how it hit the actual facility, and certainly security measures are being increased around these facilities, as we have increased security around other potential targets.

Now, the problem we have is that terrorists can attack anything, anywhere, anytime and we don't have the resources to protect everything everywhere all the time, so we can't do it with physical security alone. We have to go after the operatives, after the cells that are carrying out the -- potentially carrying out these attacks.

BLITZER: And as you know, there were some suggestions that the needle in Seattle could be a target. When I was at the White House earlier this week for a high level briefing, a senior administration official said these terrorists are patient, they tend to repeat themselves and go after targets they may have missed in the past. And as we all know, Seattle was a target during the millennium celebrations.

The governor of Washington State, I want you to listen to what he said specifically about the latest alert that may involve his state. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GARY LOCKE, WASHINGTON: I want to reassure people in the state of Washington that we have no creditable information of any threat of a terrorist attack against the space needle or any other facilities in our state of Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Does that kind of statement sound reassuring to you?

JENKINS: It is reassuring in the sense that as I say, these diagrams, these interrogations, they don't indicate plans, they indicate ambitions. So we can take some comfort in the fact that we don't have a specific plan.

On the other hand if we had a specific plan, we'd move immediately to thwart it. But absent a specific plan, the ambitions are still there and that's why we see the unprecedented security for example at the Olympics or at the Super Bowl. Security at the Super Bowl has been months in planning. It will involve multiple layers of security. The personal searches will be unprecedented. Fans had better be prepared to come early and naked. Once they get through security they may be in the most protected spot in America.

BLITZER: There have been some comments that have said that with this unprecedented security surrounding the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics and other high file events like the economic meeting that is underway in New York City right now, a lot of resources are being used up making other targets perhaps more vulnerable.

JENKINS: It is a matter of obviously diverting some resources, but I don't think that other targets are becoming more vulnerable by this diversion. Certainly it would be irresponsible not to take all of the reasonable measures that we can take to protect those things that are highest on the horizon in terms of events or targets.

But I don't think that's a diversion issue here. I think there's a longer term diversion issue when it comes to looking at the total amount of resources, men and treasures that we have to invest in security measures. That is a drain on the economy. It's a drain on other things that the government could be doing.

It is also being repeated in the private sector where they've had to increase their security measures. Unfortunately down the line, a lot of other programs and indeed countries needing investment around the world that comes from the United States are going to pay the price for the terrorist attacks carried out by the al Qaeda network.

BLITZER: Brian Jenkins, one of the world's preeminent experts on security and terrorism. Thanks so much for joining us.

JENKINS: Thank you.

BLITZER: President Bush is back in Washington after a three- state southern swing. A short time from now, he meets with German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in the Oval Office. Our White House correspondent, Kelly Wallace joins us now with more on Mr. Bush's day -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, wolf, the president's road trip really a chance for him to take his state of the union message directly to the people. We saw the president calling on Americans to get involved and engage in community service, but, Wolf, we also saw the president send another message to countries around the world.

We saw him in Atlanta, the president talking about how the threat still remains in the United States. He talked about how thousands of people have been trained in Afghanistan training camps. And he said "thousands of ticking time bombs ready to go off." Then the president talking about how he singled out Iran, Iraq, North Korea for building weapons of mass destruction. He said people might not be clear about what he meant. He said he's going to be clear today. He's sending a warning to those countries, if they don't change their behavior, they could face some consequences.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've also sent another message that if you're one of these nations that develops weapons of mass destruction and you're likely to team up with a terrorist group or you're now sponsoring terror or you don't hold the values we hold dear true to your heart, then you too are on our watch list.

People say what does that mean? It means they better get their house in order, is what it means. It means they better respect the rule of law. It mean they better not try to terrorize America and our friends and allies or the justice of this nation will be served on them as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And Wolf, aids continue to say the president is not meaning that military action will not be imminent. They say though, if these countries expect the worst so be it. They say this president is serious that he will use all elements of national power -- political, economic, even possible military means -- to prevent weapons of mass destruction from threatening the United States or any allies around the world -- Wolf.

BLITZER: And Kelly, tell our viewers about the decision, the announcement made by the Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson today involving children, a decision that may cause, as I say, some controversy.

WALLACE: Definitely a controversial move. The Department of Health and Human Services is proposing changing the regulation concerning the state's children's health insurance program, changing the definition of a child. Currently, children after they're born through the age of 19 can be covered. The Department of Health and Human Services wants to change the definition from conception to age 19, to allow pregnant mothers who currently aren't receiving any prenatal care to get that coverage.

Well, you can imagine some abortion rights supporters say this is really a big concern. They say this is another step by this administration to eventually take away a woman's right to choose. So they are fighting this. A definite controversy brewing. The Department of Health and Human Services says it will oppose this new regulation as early as the coming week -- Wolf.

BLITZER: OK. Kelly Wallace at the White House, thank you very much. And up next, the fate of "Wall Street Journal" reporter Daniel Pearl.

Also, how prepared are we for another bioterror attack?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Are you on high alert right now?

TOMMY THOMPSON, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: We're on alert right now. Not high alert, but (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Hear the answer of the Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. He'll be with us at the half-hour.

But next, in search of the worst of the bad guys. How to find Texas killers who are on the loose.

And Al Gore emerges. Can he be the Democrats' next comeback kid?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. And now, to the story of Daniel Pearl, the "Wall Street Journal" correspondent kidnapped in Pakistan. The Islamic group holding Pearl has extended its deadline to kill him by one day. At the same time, "The Wall Street Journal" issued a new appeal to spare Pearl's life. In a statement, the managing editor of the newspaper, Paul Steiger, says this: "Journalists are, by definition, trained messengers. Danny can be your messenger. A freed Danny can explain your cause and your beliefs to the world. A captive or killed Danny cannot speak for you, cannot help you or your cause. Again, please release Danny, or contact us to continue this dialogue."

Our Ben Wedeman is covering the story. He's in Karachi, Pakistan, where Pearl went missing last week.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The kidnappers holding "Wall Street Journal" reporter Daniel Pearl have extended their deadline by just one day. They say if their demands are not met, however, they will go ahead with their threat to kill the "Wall Street Journal" reporter.

This came in an e-mail received by a Karachi newspaper. In that e-mail, there was also a statement. It said: "Don't think this will be the end. It is the beginning, and it is a real war on Americans. Americans will get a taste of the death and destruction that we got in Afghanistan and Pakistan."

This comes after two very urgent appeals, one from the managing editor of the "Wall Street Journal," who said that in this life there are things that we can change, and things we cannot. Neither Danny nor I can change the actions of governments. What we can change is the understanding of each other's cultures and perspectives. The managing editor went on to say that killing Danny will achieve nothing for you.

Also, there was an appeal from his wife Marianne, a freelance French journalist, six months pregnant. She denied any allegations that her husband has worked for any intelligence service, saying that he is a bona fide journalist, and he has come here to Pakistan with his wife to bridge gaps between difficult cultures.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani authorities say they are doing their utmost to find Mr. Pearl.

SYED KAMAL SHAH, PAKISTANI INSPECTOR GENERAL: We are working at a very, very fast pace to find the clue to his disappearance, clue to the people who are involved in this as soon as possible. And we certainly don't want any harm to come to him. We are endeavoring to recover him alive, safe, as soon as possible.

WEDEMAN: The extension of the deadline a relief, but only a temporary one for Mr. Pearl's wife and friends.

I'm Ben Wedeman, CNN, reporting from Karachi, Pakistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Secretary of State Colin Powell, asked about Pearl's fate earlier today, said the United States will not negotiate with the kidnappers. But he stressed the U.S. is doing its best to win Pearl's freedom.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We're doing everything we can to try to locate him and rescue him. I have spoken to President Musharraf in Pakistan about this situation, and I know that he is doing everything he can.

The demands that the kidnappers have placed are not demands that we can meet or deal with, or get into a negotiation about. The detainees at Guantanamo are being treated humanely. People have been down there from various countries and various organizes to see them, and can provide witness to this fact.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: In the latter part of the secretary's comments just now, he was referring to one of the kidnappers' demands, the release of Pakistanis being held by the U.S. as a result of the war on terrorism.

And please join me tonight at 7 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 Pacific, for a special edition of WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, an October 2001 interview with Osama bin Laden obtained by CNN and until tonight not seen by the public.

From Texas to Alaska, the manhunt continues for four Texas prison escapees. All are said to be armed and very dangerous. Joshua Bagwell and Curtis Gambill were serving life terms for killing a teenage girl. Chrystal Soto and Charles Jordan were awaiting trial on charges of killing an elderly couple.

We are joined now by Danny Defenbaugh, he's special agent in charge of the Dallas FBI office. Thanks so much for joining us. Give us an update. What's the latest as far as you can tell us about these escapees?

DANNY DEFENBAUGH, SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, DALLAS, FBI: We've actually notified every one of our FBI field offices now. We're taking and giving out fliers, and trying to get the public as interested as possible with regard to any of the news media outlets, so that the more you advertise their faces, the better the chances are that someone will recognize them and we'll be able to identify them and apprehend them.

BLITZER: Is there a specific geographic area within which you think that they still might be hiding?

DEFENBAUGH: No, actually, I think, Wolf, that this is kind of unique, because the four different individuals, as you said before, all the way from Texas to Alaska, we know that they've had associations in Oklahoma, Missouri, Washington and Oregon, so it's literally a national effort.

BLITZER: So this is an effort to also on the part of the public, you're appealing for help. If they spot anyone, what should they do?

DEFENBAUGH: If you remember about a year ago when we had the Connally seven, who killed Aubrey Hawkins on last Christmas Eve a year ago, I think it is actually because of the media and the media attention that allowed us to have the public to be able to assist us in identifying where they're located.

They're considered armed and extremely dangerous. What they need to do is notify immediately their local FBI office or their nearest law enforcement agency and not try to take anything into their own hands as far as action is concerned.

BLITZER: As you know, as a result of these latest escapees, there's increased discussion about the situation in Texas prisons to begin with. I'll put up on the screen some numbers from last year showing our viewers that this is not necessarily an isolated incident.

If you take a look at this, last year there were, what, 142 total escapees; 85 prisoners simply walked from their jail or walked out of jail or work camps; 56 overpowered guards or tunneled their way out, this according to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.

How much of a problem is this in Texas?

DEFENBAUGH: We're working together with the Texas Department of Corrections and Criminal Justice. I'm probably the wrong person to ask for that. The FBI, as you probably well know, assists with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and confinement.

We're actually working with the Texas Rangers and with the local authorities to hunt these individuals down and assist them with bringing them back into justice. As far as the security system for the jail systems, that is a state problem. Sorry.

BLITZER: And what about the other situation that has come out, the Montague County jail, which was decertified by the state last October because it didn't fit into the requirement that there be only one guard -- that there be at least one guard for every 48 inmates? How much of a problem is that? DEFENBAUGH: Again, Wolf, I'm sorry. You're probably going to have to ask Sheriff Hamilton that. We're just assisting him. I know that it's a cooperative effort amongst all of us to at least conduct the fugitive investigation.

BLITZER: OK, Agent Defenbaugh, thanks so much for joining us. Appreciate your answers, even the answers that you can't answer. But it was good of you to spend some time with us. And good luck in your effort.

DEFENBAUGH: Thank you. I appreciate your advertisement for it.

BLITZER: Thank you very much.

And she is running for the Florida's governor office, but last night she ran out of steam. Coming up: how Janet Reno is holding up. And later: Are we ready for the next biological scare? CNN goes one on one with the health and human services secretary, Tommy Thompson.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Going on the offensive against bioterrorism: a new and expanded role for health and human services secretary, Tommy Thompson. That's just ahead.

But first, this "News Alert": a new warning of possible terror attacks against the United States. A Nuclear Regulatory Commission document warns of an al Qaeda plan to crash a commercial jetliner into a nuclear power plant. The FBI says it has not been able to assess the credibility of the threat.

Documents found in Afghanistan indicate al Qaeda is planning more attacks in the United States, possibly including the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington. And the FBI director, Robert Mueller, says he believes there are terrorists now in the United States preparing to carry out attacks. But he says the agency is unaware of any specific threat.

And, in Eastern Afghanistan, a fragile peace is rocked by heavy fighting between rival warlords in the key town of Gardez. Dozens of people of have been killed. The fighting draws focus to Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai's appeal for expanding an international security force outside the capital, Kabul. And it could -- could -- pose serious problems for U.S. military forces in the region.

The Department of Health and Human Services today is making a move to bolster the battle against any bioterrorism threat that might develop in the United States. It's handing out millions of dollars to state and local governments to help them develop plans to counter any such threat. The department is now the bioterrorism response unit for the entire country.

Our Deborah Feyerick gives us at look at the HHH conference room turned into a command center.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Are you on high alert right now?

TOMMY THOMPSON, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: Yes, we are on alert right now, not high alert, because we haven't had any incidents. But we will be on high alert during the Olympics and during the Super Bowl and this weekend because of the World Economic Forum up in New York, where we are expecting some problems. So we will be on high alert from now on until the end of the Olympics.

FEYERICK: So where are we now? Tell me exactly where we are here.

THOMPSON: This was just a conference room.

And I wanted something that I could set up and come in and be able to be instantly involved in what was going on. So we set this up as a command headquarters in which we get information from CIA, FBI. The NSA comes in here.

FEYERICK: OK. They call you and this is the place where all the information comes in.

THOMPSON: All the information comes in here.

FEYERICK: And then you are able to deal with the state and the local governments.

THOMPSON: I'm able to do it. And I'm right across the hall. And so I can come over here any time during the day and get an update.

FEYERICK: Let's look at the bioterrorism plan as a 20-story building.

THOMPSON: OK.

FEYERICK: Where are we right now? Are we at the foundation? Have we gone up to the first floor right now?

THOMPSON: Well, the foundation has been laid. And now we are going to really start massive construction. And I would say that it's one of those kind of things that the research has been done and the foundation has been dug. The basement has been completed. And we are working very quickly on the remaining 20 floors. And, hopefully, we will be able to have a wonderful season of construction.

FEYERICK: It sounds on some levels that what was in place before was woefully inadequate.

THOMPSON: It was.

FEYERICK: So all of the sudden, you have the September 11 attacks and then you are starting from basically -- you're starting with nothing.

THOMPSON: Well, basically, that's true. We didn't have the resources. And then 9/11 came along. And now we have individuals that are saying: Wow, we have not been adequately prepared for these kind of disasters, these kind of calamities that may take place.

FEYERICK: What happens if the country is attacked in two cities at one time?

THOMPSON: We have expected that. And we would anticipate that, if that ever happened, we would be ready to go with our demat teams. We have 90 medical assistant teams on call that we can call up immediately. We have eight push packages, which has 400 tons of medical supplies and antibiotics that we can move into communities.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The United States of America will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons.

FEYERICK: If there were an attack today right now, you and I sitting here, what would happen? How ready are we at this moment right now?

THOMPSON: We would declare a public health emergency. We would dispatch as many of the medical assistant teams as we needed. We have 7,000 individuals on call. We have got at least 5,000 backup that would be able to go any place that this particular incident took place.

FEYERICK: Let's talk about the budget. How much money are we talking about and how is it going to be divided up?

THOMPSON: We are going to get a huge amount of new money for bioterrorism. We just received $2.9 billion in regards to bioterrorism and protecting the American public. And we are going to get an additional $1.7 billion in this budget to improve bioterrorism security.

NIH is going to get hundreds of millions of dollars to develop new vaccines for anthrax, for smallpox, for the hemorrhagic viruses, for the plague, and all of these things, you know, that may happen in the future. Hopefully, they will not, but we want to be prepared for that.

FEYERICK: When is it truly going to ready?

THOMPSON: Every day we are getting stronger. We are putting together new programs. And, hopefully, we will have a lot of pieces in place that are not there now, will be able to up and running within the next nine to 12 months. That's what the new dollars are for.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: That report from our Deborah Feyerick.

Now let's check stories on today's "Newswire": Janet Reno says she feels just fine after her fainting spell last night. The former attorney general, who has Parkinson's Disease, collapsed while giving a speech at the University of Rochester in New York state. She was released from a hospital after tests found no new medical problems. Reno, who is hoping to unseat the Florida governor, Jeb Bush, blamed her collapse on the heat. And she says she does not expect it to affect her campaign.

The transportation Secretary, Norman Mineta, is said to be doing just fine following hip-replacement surgery this morning. His spokesman says Mineta has two or three weeks of rehabilitation ahead of him before he can return to the office. He will be kept informed through daily briefings.

The powerful winter storm that walloped the Midwest is moving into the Northeast. The storm dumped freezing rain, sleet and boot- high snow from Nevada to Michigan. At least 10 deaths are blamed on the slick roads and the freezing temperatures.

It's the most recognizable landmark in Seattle's skyline, but did a terrorist in Afghanistan have an eye on the Needle? We will ask the Seattle mayor, Greg Nickels, next. And later: Al Gore's return to politics, but is it a return to a presidential race?

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: This just in to CNN: A U.S. Air Force MC-130H special operations plane was hit by small-arms fire while flying in a mountainous region of the Philippine island of Luzon. The Pentagon says the incident happened yesterday as the plane was taking part in an exercise with the Philippine military. The plane was hit twice by small-arms fire. The crew was unhurt. We will have more information on this as it becomes available.

And, as we reported earlier, al Qaeda members apparently have been casing the United States for possible targets of future attacks, that word today from United States officials. They base their comments on photos and drawings found inside Afghanistan. A photo of Seattle's Space Needle was among the pictures found in an al Qaeda safe house as well as in al Qaeda caves. Also found: drawings related to nuclear power facilities in the United States.

Washington's governor has said the federal government assures him his state is safe. Nonetheless, Seattle authorities have been alerted to the discovery of the photos in Afghanistan.

Joining us now from Seattle is a man whose job it is to try to make sure that city remains safe. He has only been on the job, though, for three weeks. He is Mayor Greg Nickels.

First of all, congratulations to you, Mayor, for taking office. Maybe it's not necessarily congratulations. How worried are the people of Seattle right now that that Needle might -- might -- be a target?

GREG NICKELS, MAYOR OF SEATTLE: Well, Wolf, we have had, over the last couple of years, a number of different warnings, if you will. Our millennium celebration was canceled because a bomb was discovered being smuggled across the U.S.-Canada border. We also had an experience with the World Trade Organization here. So we are very vigilant. And this latest incident gives us just more cause to make sure that we are prepared, that our guard is up.

BLITZER: Well, what have you done differently, if you can tell us, as a result of this latest information?

NICKELS: Well, we are in constant contact with the federal agencies and our state government to make sure that, whatever information has been uncovered, as it is being analyzed and we can determine what potential targets were being looked at, that we are just prepared, that we are at a constant state of readiness. And that is something that we are prepared to carry on long term.

BLITZER: When were you alerted by federal authorities that they did find these diagrams, these photos of the Seattle Needle in al Qaeda houses in Afghanistan?

NICKELS: As I understand, we first received word in the last few days. And because there was nothing very specific or imminent about it, it was considered a relatively routine transmittal of information. In the last 24 to 48 hours, we have gotten additional information and clarification. And so that's -- it's become public in the last 24 hours or so.

BLITZER: As you know, there is a pattern that some of these terrorists have to go after targets they have gone after in the past, the World Trade Center in 1993 and obviously last year. When I was at the White House earlier this week, a senior administration official did mention the word -- a word you probably don't want to hear -- he did mention the word Seattle.

NICKELS: You bet.

BLITZER: A target that they went after in the past that they might go after again. That obviously must raise some deep concerns.

NICKELS: Well, I think we are all concerned.

I spent Saturday with 150 mayors at ground zero in New York. And that was a very somber experience. But I also, as I looked around at my fellow mayors, got an overwhelming sense that we are all in this together, that any one of us could be made a target at any given time. We need to plan together. We need to work together. We need to come together as a nation.

And then each of us in our individual jurisdictions need to make sure we are as ready and prepared as possible for a direct attack or to help our neighbors if they should be hurt.

BLITZER: Mayor Greg Nickels, once again, congratulations to you.

NICKELS: Thank you.

BLITZER: Good luck to you. Good luck to all our friends in Seattle as well.

NICKELS: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you.

And he lost in an election cliffhanger. Now there is new suspense involving Al Gore. Is he plotting a comeback? And how has the competition changed?

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

Al Gore, remember him? The former vice president has largely been out of the public eye since his bitter loss to President Bush in the 2000 election. But now Gore is jumping back on the political bandwagon in a big way. Today he announced the formation of a political action committee to raise money for Democrats running for office in this year's elections. But the move also raises this question: Is Gore considering another run for the White House?

Joining us now to talk about this: the Democratic strategist Bob Beckel.

Is he?

BOB BECKEL, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Is he? Wolf, I don't think he knows whether he is or not, but he has got to keep his options open. And if you are going to keep your options open, any presidential candidate has got to go out and campaign for his party's nominees for the House and the Senate. So I'm not at all surprised by it.

But people who say they know or don't know whether he is going to run, I have heard nothing that he is going to run and everything about him at least getting it teed up in case he decides to run.

BLITZER: He's starting a little late already. Isn't it late in the process given the fact that John Kerry and Joe Lieberman and Joe Biden, others, have already been out there trying to test the waters?

BECKEL: Yes, but if you put all those guys' name recognition together, then Gore has probably got them matched. No, it's not too late for somebody like Gore who has made the run. The question is, you know, there's only been one politician in modern presidential history that has come back after losing a presidential race and won. And that was Richard Nixon. But he waited eight years.

I don't remember anybody who decided to do it four years later. But the idea -- and you hear it around here. The conventional wisdom is: Gore can't win in 2004. You know, that's the kind of amateur analysis that always drives me nuts. It's three years between now and then. And who knows what is going to happen? But things are sort of -- the climate is actually pretty good for him right now. BLITZER: But isn't there a lot of bitterness residue within the Democratic Party toward Al Gore for missing out, not even being able to carry Tennessee last time around?

BECKEL: I would say that there is probably some people who would say that this was not the best run campaign that they have ever seen in presidential politics. Yes, there's bitterness about something that should have been won, but, you know, let's remember that Gore, as a candidate, was not the kind of candidate that people -- he talked the populist game, but he didn't look like a populist. And there was a lot of things about that campaign that didn't go right.

But the fact is, he won more popular votes than Bush did. With that, you have got to think, well, the guy has got a reasonable base out there to work with.

BLITZER: You think that the Democrats, when all is said and done, could still nominate him to be their candidate?

BECKEL: Oh, sure. I remember in 1991. I was on television. And somebody said George Bush -- this is Desert Storm -- George Bush is going to win the nomination -- I mean beat whoever runs against him. And I said, by the time they go to the polls, Desert Storm is going to be a distant memory -- the same thing with the war on terrorism. I don't think anybody is going to vote on the war on terrorism in 2004.

Do the Democrats want somebody else? Probably. But who are the Democrats? People around this town who support one of the other presidential candidates.

The one thing I will say, though, is that Gore, despite himself, two things have happened. One, jobs has become a big issue. Now, I'm advising a fellow named Alan Blinken in Idaho, where the recession is really a recession. He grabbed this jobs issue four months early. And now George Bush discovered it last Tuesday night. Gore is in a good position on that.

BLITZER: All right, does he have to shave his beard?

BECKEL: Wolf, I think if he does, you do.

(LAUGHTER)

BLITZER: Bob Beckel -- I'm not running for anything, though -- thanks for joining us.

BECKEL: Thank God.

BLITZER: Let's go to New York now and get a preview of "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE." That, of course, begins at the top of the hour.

Lou, you'll be happy to know I am not shaving my beard.

(LAUGHTER)

LOU DOBBS, "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE": Well, good for you, Wolf. I think you should be you.

Coming up tonight here on the top the hour, we will have the latest for you on the newest terrorist threat against this country. And Enron employees lost millions of dollars with their 401(k)s. Now Congress wants to change the rules. Former Senator George Mitchell will be joining us tonight. He is overseeing the distribution of those Red Cross donations to the families of victims of the September 11 attacks. And we will be able to tell you tonight about another big rally on Wall Street -- all of that and more at the top of hour.

Please join us -- now back to Wolf Blitzer, beard and all.

BLITZER: All right, thank you very much, Lou.

And calculations had it burning up over water, but a falling satellite had other plans. Learn about its return to Earth when we return. But, first: "Fortune"'s look at the top companies to work for. This name not only made the cut; it may have made it into your kitchen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEON HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: With a name like Smucker's, it has to be good. And employees agree. The century-old company may not provide lots of fancy incentives to workers, but instead employees say they get something better, a positive work environment and mutual respect. The turnover rate is low at Smucker: 41 percent of employees have worked there more than 10 years, many of them working alongside parents, husbands and wives. Smucker has stuck to "Fortune"'s list each year. And this year, they rank No. 24.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: I will be back in one hour for a special edition of "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS." See and hear an October 21 interview with Osama bin Laden.

Until then, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" begins right now.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com