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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Holiday Rush Is On; Are Our Skies Safe?; Interview With Tom Sneddon

Aired November 26, 2003 - 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.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, get your motor running. Head out on the highway. The holiday travel rush is officially on.
Stand by for news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE (voice-over): One big rush hour.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's all about beating the traffic. That's the goal of Thanksgiving really.

SAVIDGE: The skies are clear but are they safe? I'll ask the man in charge.

Prosecuting a pop star an exclusive interview with the man taking on Michael Jackson.

THOMAS SNEDDON, DISTRICT ATTORNEY: We didn't go looking for this case.

Americans held hostage, a crash landing leads to a nightmare in the jungle.

And credit card rewards from free miles to free tuition do you end up paying more for the payoff?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, November 26, 2003.

SAVIDGE: Hello, I'm Martin Savidge in for Wolf Blitzer.

If you are traveling this Thanksgiving holiday you are not alone. There are some 36 million people doing the same. Many are on the go right now. Airports are getting busier by the minute but so far good news, few delays security, of course, a major concern.

We'll hear from the man in charge of transportation security in just a moment. The vast majority of holiday travelers, about 31 million of you are going to be hitting the highways and byways.

This advice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, allow plenty of time to get to your destination. And, if you're going by train guess what? Expect crowds, Amtrak predicts 550,000 people will ride the rails and to help meet demand it has added 70 extra trains.

Now, travel information you need for the Thanksgiving holiday period. CNN Meteorologist Orelon Sidney is here at the CNN Center with the latest weather conditions.

CNN's Michael Okwu is at New York's LaGuardia Airport.

And, Travelocity's Rally Caparas joins us with an up to the minute report on airport delays around the country.

First up, though, Orelon Sidney -- Orelon.

(WEATHER REPORT)

SAVIDGE: Orelon, thanks very much.

AAA predicting almost five million Americans will travel by plane this Thanksgiving holiday. One of the busiest airports is New York's LaGuardia and CNN's Michael Okwu is there -- Michael.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Marty it's one of the busiest airports in the country and, in fact, it is among the most congested in the entire country as well. Some 1,200 flights will originate from LaGuardia Airport today, officials saying this is one of the busiest days that they have the entire year.

Yet for the past ten hours this is what has been the scene at least at the American Airlines ticket counter. That is basically passengers checking in, everything working fairly smoothly and, of course, Marty the proof is always in the pudding.

This is the board that I know that I like to check when I'm traveling and all day since about seven o'clock this morning we have seen nothing but flights on time, on time, on time, Nashville, Miami, Portland, Houston. It doesn't matter where you're going at least today things seem to be running fairly smoothly.

But that's not necessarily the case every place in this airport. In fact, as we can show you in these pictures, there is at least one section of this airport that is really congested mainly because there are about two security checkpoints supplying only about five airlines and we imagine that is probably the case in other airports around the country.

Still, here at LaGuardia and specifically at American Airlines and throughout the course of most of the airport things are running very smoothly. We haven't heard from any passengers who have been suffering from any long delays or have been complaining about it.

And, in fact, security officials tell us that they would like people to continue to be mindful of that to try to check in a couple hours, at least two to three hours, before their flight, to make sure that there are no dangerous items in their baggage that would slow them down getting through the security checkpoints and to make sure if you've got those shoes that set off the Magnetometer well definitely take those off. Don't wear them. Maybe you can wear something else tonight.

They say volume will be very, very busy later on this evening so we'll just wait and see whether things get a little bit more difficult for travelers -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: Let's hope not. Things seem to be smooth so far, another reason to give thanks. Michael Okwu at LaGuardia thanks very much.

Well for those of you traveling today CNN is providing updates every 30 minutes on delays and conditions. Joining us for the latest on what is happening right now, Travelocity's Rally Caparas -- Rally.

RALLY CAPARAS, TRAVELOCITY BUSINESS: Martin, it's an amazing thing that we're seeing tonight. There are 7,000 airplanes that are still airborne over the United States and, as you see in the picture behind me, that's a whole bunch of airplanes. Delays have been minimal throughout the day. The efficiency has been amazing but there are delays related to the volume and here's how it's working at this moment.

From Boston to Miami excellent conditions up and down the East Coast. On time schedules should prevail. We will see some peak period delays sometime between now and about nine o'clock tonight. You'll start to see 30 to 45 minute arrival and departure delays as a result of the excess volume at those locations, the bigger airports on the East Coast.

Minneapolis-St. Paul in the upper Midwest we're looking at 45 minute arrival delays right now, heavy column, compacted demand. It will remain that way for the rest of the evening.

Chicago O'Hare also is suffering from a crosswind forcing them into a less than favorable runway configuration, reduced volume but the heavy volume is not allowing for reduced volume so they have to administer delay and there you have 45 to 60 minute arrival delays for the rest of the evening.

Down in Texas, as Orelon told you, we are expected some scattered thunderstorm activity. Limited flight routes into and out of that airport will create 30 to 45 minute arrival and departure delays but the rest of the country has been perfect. It should stay perfect. It's going to be an excellent day for everybody -- Martin, back to you.

SAVIDGE: That's what we want to here, Rally. Thank you very much.

Officials expect this Thanksgiving to be the busiest since the 2001 terrorist attacks and, as we know, millions of people are flying. A short while ago I spoke about this with Asa Hutchinson, the Undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security. I began by asking him if air travelers are safe today. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ASA HUTCHINSON, UNDERSECRETARY, HOMELAND SECURITY DEPT.: Oh, everyone should feel comfortable in flying. We've done a great deal to secure our airways from hardened cockpit doors to inspecting the passengers and the cargo, the passenger bags that go on the plane, thousands of more federal air marshals so we've done a great deal to secure our aviation and thank goodness people are traveling. That's one of the reasons it's busy this coming weekend.

SAVIDGE: It's said or projected to be the heaviest amount of air travel since September 11 and yet at the same time your boss, secretary, or the head of homeland security Tom Ridge is warning that there is sort of new information, new intelligence implying that the threat level could be higher. Are you concerned about that?

HUTCHINSON: Well there is increased threat reporting. That is a concern to us. It's not specific in nature that we would consider raising the threat level from yellow to orange. We're advising people to go about their Thanksgiving holidays but there is increased intensity of a threat reporting.

Obviously when you look at the attack in Istanbul in Turkey, previous to that Riyadh, that indicates that America is still a target but we have taken the steps in law enforcement of additional security. America obviously has to understand that we're still under a threat warning but it's not an elevated threat and they should go about their normal Thanksgiving activities.

SAVIDGE: Are airline passengers going to see a difference in security, any changes as they go to the airplanes these days?

HUTCHINSON: Well, as they go to the airplanes I don't think they will see that much different except I hope we do our jobs better and they will be able to proceed through the checkpoints in a quick fashion but they're going to see us concentrate on doing our job.

You're going to see more people at the airports and we gauge our screening workforce based upon normal traffic flow and this is obviously an increased time of passenger traffic and so they have to be prepared for possibly additional wait times at the airports.

They need to arrive early. They need to help us as they go through the check-in point, taking their items out. That could avoid three minutes in secondary screening where they're wanded and those three minutes add up so there's a lot they can do and we're doing a lot to do the security side but also to move the passengers through.

SAVIDGE: Earlier in the year there were layoffs of screeners. Aren't these exactly the people you need? Why lay them off?

HUTCHINSON: Well, Congress has given us a mandate, a target in which to reduce our screening workforce and so we have pursuant to that congressional mandate reduced about 6,000 over the last year.

We do have part-time workforce that we're using. We're training them efficiently but we're right sizing our workforce and that's not the reason for any delay that's experienced. You know that is just because we gauge again our screening workforce to the normal flow of traffic and not to these accelerated times.

We're having layoff that's been canceled. We're having mandatory overtime. Our manager workforce is working side-by-side. We're doing all we can to move the people through in a safe fashion.

SAVIDGE: Secretary Hutchinson if you travel we hope yours are safe as we do for everyone. Thanks for being with us.

HUTCHINSON: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: OK, here is your turn to weigh in on this story in light of the recent warnings of possible terrorist attacks. Our web question of the day is this. "Are you changing your holiday travel plans because of the Homeland Security warning"? You can vote right now at cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results later in the broadcast.

Unusual twist, a Chinese-American professor pleads guilty to spying for the country she was once charged with working against.

Al Qaeda connection, is bin Laden's number two man behind recent terror attacks in Turkey? I'll ask terrorism expert Peter Bergen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you keep thinking to yourself I'm going to use these some day but I don't know what for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Pricey payoff, the truth behind credit card rewards but first today's News Quiz.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE (voice-over): In what year was the first credit card issued, 1945, 1951, 1961, 1970, the answer coming up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SNEDDON: It just doesn't make any sense that the sheriff and I would do something that is doomed in the long run to fail.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Prosecuting the King of Pop, the district attorney in the Michael Jackson case says all the pieces are in place. He speaks to CNN in an exclusive interview. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: A scholar and human rights activist, she was convicted of spying in her native China. Freed under U.S. pressure she has now confessed to sending American secrets to China.

Let's go live to our National Security Correspondent David Ensor to explain all of this -- David.

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Martin, to say that official Washington or much of it was caught off guard by today's news is putting it mildly. It's likely that some were actually embarrassed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ENSOR (voice-over): Their appearance at Federal District Court in Virginia charged with illegal exports to China is a surprise twist in the story of Gao Zhan and her husband known until now in the West as critics of human rights in China.

With tears in her eyes Gao Zhan pled guilty to two charges, illegally exporting $1.5 million worth of sensitive electronic components to China and tax evasion. Under federal guidelines the maximum sentence for the first charge is ten years though prosecutors say she's cooperating. They're likely to ask for much less.

MARK HULKOWER, GAO'S ATTORNEY: The parts all have civilian and commercial non-military uses and she believed that was the use to which those parts were going to be put.

ENSOR: It is an extraordinary turn of events for the U.S. resident Chinese citizen who was imprisoned in China for five months on charges of spying for Taiwan. Her son was also held separately for a time prompting official complaints.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We think it is particularly outrageous that the young boy, son, was held away from his parents.

ENSOR: After intense pressure from Washington she was freed to return to her husband and child and to her job as a professor at American University in Washington.

GAO ZHAN: With America standing behind me, with these fine people standing behind me I'm not scared.

ENSOR: Now, the human rights hero lionized in Washington will do jail time in this country for illegally serving as China's agent obtaining microprocessors that can be used in missile guidance systems.

ZHAN: You will have the chance to hear my story, I assure you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know but today they're -- people are going to hear today. I mean they're going to hear today what the government says. ZHAN: No, no, no, they're going to have a lot of time to hear in the future.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ENSOR: Many people are asking today if Gao Zhan was working for China was her arrest in China a ruse designed to fool the U.S. or was it a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing in the Chinese government? That, said one official to us today, is the $2 million question -- Martin.

SAVIDGE: It is still waiting for an answer, David Ensor thank you very much.

Well, the U.S. and Australia have reached a deal on detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. Australian-born David Hicks, an alleged al Qaeda member, will escape the death penalty and will be sent to Australia to serve out any sentence handed down by a U.S. military tribunal. A senior U.S. official says the deal would apply to another detainee also if he turns out to be an Australian citizen.

Stepped up offensive, U.S. forces on the hunt in Iraq net an interesting catch. On the record, a CNN exclusive with the district attorney bringing charges against Michael Jackson. Hear his reason for going ahead with the case.

Hitting the road, maybe the skies, whatever your mode of transportation is this Thanksgiving we have information you need but first, this holiday gift guide.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: U.S. troops have not managed to get their hands on Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri but they have seized one of his wives, a daughter and a family acquaintance. The arrest came a week after the U.S. posted a $10 million reward for the capture of al-Duri, a top ally of Saddam Hussein.

Sources say troops acted on a tip from someone close to the family. After Saddam, al-Duri is now the most wanted man in Iraq. He is believed to be organizing attacks on U.S. forces.

Are Saddam loyalists working hand-in-glove with al Qaeda? Who's behind the attacks in Iraq and for that matter neighboring Turkey? Joining me from Washington is CNN Terrorism Analyst Peter Bergen. Peter good to see you again.

PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: Good to see you.

SAVIDGE: Let's talk about this arrest or at least the hunt for Mr. al-Duri. Do we honestly believe that Saddam loyalists are now working hand-in-glove say with foreign terrorists?

BERGEN: Well, my impression if you think about what the U.S. government, various officials have said about the attacks it's clear to me, it seems to me that they don't really know who exactly is behind these attacks since the story changes fairly often.

But I think it's safe to assume, in my view, that people conducting suicide operations are less likely to be Saddam loyalists than perhaps jihadists in general, either local Iraqis or to some degree foreign fighters.

But clearly there is a wide variety of people behind these attacks but I've yet to see anybody definitively linking one attack to a particular faction. There was an attack against, you may remember, the Italian barracks in Nasiriya or in the police barracks in Nasiriya, Iraq earlier this month. The Italian defense minister said that he believed it was Saddam loyalists and foreign fighter cooperating. So, the picture seems somewhat murky -- Martin.

SAVIDGE: Any idea if there is a percentage or a numeric value that could be placed on the number of say foreign fighters that have come in or tried to come in?

BERGEN: Well, the figure initially that we heard was 3,000, 4,000 fighters. Now we're hearing figures of 200 to 300. Again, those are simply estimates. Certainly people that I've talked to who are familiar with the sort of Saudi jihadist say that quite a large number of Saudis have gone in to Iraq for two reasons.

First of all the Saudis have started really cracking down on al Qaeda and al Qaeda affiliates in Saudi Arabia; and secondly, they're very attracted to all these American soldiers in Iraq as potential targets.

SAVIDGE: And certainly in the area of Turkey there were more arrests, three more people picked up today in the series of bombing attacks that have occurred there. What do you expect to learn from these people that have been brought into custody?

BERGEN: Well, I think the Turkish arrests, it seems to be here that these were king of local guys on the ground. Some of them had actually gone to Pakistan for religious training in which case they may well have hooked up with al Qaeda or its affiliates.

The scale of the attacks, particularly against the British Consulate and the bank in Istanbul these were pretty massive bombs. It seems to me that there must be some al Qaeda influence here.

So, al Qaeda the organization obviously is being very disrupted but al Qaeda the movement or the ideology, these people who will sort of subscribe to al Qaeda's tenets and act in an al Qaeda-like manner I think that's spreading and we've seen in this past three weeks four attacks in Turkey, attacks in Iraq that might be jihadists and also the attacks in Riyadh at the beginning of the month.

So it's unfortunately been a very active month for these people who are acting somewhat either in the name of al Qaeda or have some relationship with al Qaeda or some that seem to be inspired by bin Laden and his directives.

SAVIDGE: Only a few seconds left, Peter, but let me ask you this. Do you expect another major attack before say the end of the year and if so would it be outside of Turkey? Where would you guess?

BERGEN: Well, I don't know the answer to that. I think that inside the United States the level of risk is very low from al Qaeda or its affiliates. Obviously in places like Indonesia, Turkey, Iraq these sorts of places the risk is much higher.

SAVIDGE: CNN Terrorism Analyst Peter Bergen thanks very much for talking to us. It won't be the last time. I'm sure of that. Thank you.

Sifting through snow and combing for clues, it is a desperate search as they try to find answers into the disappearance of a 22- year-old student. Will tips clue investigators in or is time running out?

Captured in Colombia, is a rescue possible for this American? I'll speak to his mother.

And later true bonus or tricky bait, credit cards and their rewards. We'll catch you up on the facts before you're caught up in these.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: Real time delays, real time problems, we'll tell you what airports are experiencing trouble right now.

Plus how the weather could affect your plans, the news you need this holiday season right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: Welcome back to CNN.

Caught on tape: comments from the mother of Michael Jackson's accuser about the pop star. And the D.A. in the case speaking to CNN exclusively.

But first, though, a quick check of the latest headlines.

The search goes on for a missing University of North Dakota student, Dru Sjodin, disappeared Saturday from a mall in Grand Forks. Police say they're getting hundreds of tips in the case. Yesterday, hundreds of volunteers joined that search for the missing 22-year-old woman. Today, police are searching without volunteer help.

Police in Columbus, Ohio trying to determine whether a deadly shooting on Interstate 270 is linked to eight other shootings along the southern leg (ph) of the highway. A woman was shot to death yesterday as she rode in the car on the highway. Hours later, shots were fired at a truck. Most of the shootings have happened since the middle of last month.

If you are watching our newscast, at least you're not stuck in traffic. This day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year. Americans are putting the pedal to the metal as they head out for the holiday. AAA says about 36 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles from home this Thanksgiving. Most of them 31 million, are going by car.

A new tape has surfaced in the Michael Jackson story, and it is probably one you haven't heard about before. Kimberly Guilfoyle Newsom, a CNN legal contributor, says a person close to Jackson's defense team played an audiotape for her that allegedly contains the voices of the mother and boy who have now accused Jackson of molestation. Newsom says they praised Jackson on the tape, that they refer to him as a father figure, and that the alleged victim says that Jackson, "never acted inappropriately." Newsom says she was told that the pair also signed an affidavit saying that Jackson never abused the child.

And on the other side of the legal battle, we have Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon. He was viewed by some as acting inappropriately in his news conference last week when he announced an arrest warrant had been issued for Jackson in the case. Sneddon made jokes and didn't appear to take things very seriously.

Now, in an exclusive interview with CNN's Art Harris, Sneddon admits that some of the criticism directed at him was justified.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ART HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon appeared to be joking around last week during a news conference where he announced child molestation charges against Michael Jackson.

THOMAS SNEDDON, D.A., SANTA BARBARA COUNTY: Like the sheriff and I are really into that kind of music. But...

HARRIS: But now in an exclusive interview with CNN, he concedes it was unprofessional and wants to apologize.

SNEDDON: I think the criticism was valid. I think that, to some extent, it was inappropriate. I feel bad about it.

I feel bad about it because I think I should have known better. I feel bad about it because somebody would assume that I'm making light of a thing where I know there's a serious crime, and that there are victims that have been hurt.

HARRIS: He says there was no personal vendetta against Jackson, even after he was unable to bring charges when is an alleged victim, a 13-year-old boy, declined to testify in 1993. Before filing charges this time, he says, he wanted to make sure the pieces were in place.

SNEDDON: It just doesn't make any sense that the sheriff and I would do something that is doomed in the long run to fail. We have a responsibility. We didn't go looking for this case.

It came to us. It came to them first. They brought it to me after they had done some investigation.

HARRIS: His staff prosecutors reviewed it, too.

SNEDDON: From our perspective, it was an investigation that was specifically related to something that was criminal activity.

HARRIS (on camera): An actual complaint?

SNEDDON: Correct.

HARRIS: A child harmed?

SNEDDON: Correct.

HARRIS (voice-over): Charges that Michael Jackson denies, calling them a, "big lie." But Sneddon says this time, unlike 1993, there's a victim with courage to stay the course and willing to testify.

SNEDDON: I would not have filed the charges had we not had a victim we felt was cooperative and supportive.

HARRIS: A victim now in hiding and under protective custody, sources say. A victim of an alleged sex crime, says Sneddon, which is never easy to prove, even in the best of circumstances. And serious.

SNEDDON: The more corroboration that you have for your child victim, the better off you usually do. And whether that's this case or any case -- and we'll leave that for the jury and the courtroom. And we're going to keep focused.

HARRIS: And serious.

Art Harris, CNN, Santa Barbara, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: Topping our justice report, you might remember this picture. CNN broadcast it last week as we covered flooding in West Virginia. But the woman being rescued in the video probably wishes at least one person hadn't seen it on television.

A sheriff's deputy recognized 37-year-old Christy Walker (ph) as someone who had her driver's license revoked for a DUI conviction. He arrested her. She pleaded guilty in court on Monday and is facing possible jail time.

And country music singer Glen Campbell is apologizing to his fans and family after being arrested for drunken driving and leaving the scene of the accident. Campbell says that, even at his age -- he is 67 -- he has learned a valuable lesson. Campbell says he accidentally mixed alcohol and a prescription drug. Campbell's blood alcohol level was .20, and that is 2.5 times the limit in Arizona.

Held hostage. The Colombian government says it knows where an American is being held should a rescue be attempted. I'll talk with the mother of hostage Mark Gonsalves.

Eye on the prize. Do credit card rewards really benefit you? What you need to know before you say "charge."

And a basketball fan gets a big surprise. You'll get a big laugh.

But first, a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE (voice-over): Condemnation for Iran. The United Nations nuclear watchdog agency is condemning Iran's nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency's governing board approved the resolution today in Vienna. The head of the agency says the resolution deplores Iran's undeclared nuclear activities and it makes it clear that Iran should cooperate fully and in a very transparent way in the weeks and months to come. But it also welcomes what it calls Iran's recent offer of active cooperation and openness.

Life-saving mood. In a bid to cope with suicide bombings, Israel is installing first aid boxes on street corners around the country. The first one is in place at Jerusalem Central Bus Station. In the last three years, bombings have killed more than 800 Israelis.

Pivotal elections. The future of the peace process in northern Ireland may be at stake as voters in the British province cast their ballots in parliamentary elections. Hard-line Catholic and Protestant parties are expected to gain ground.

Supporters of the peace plan are hoping a high turnout will be a catalyst for a deal on reviving the power sharing assembly set up by a peace agreement five years ago. The assembly has been suspended since last year.

Firebrand for president. The man who helped push Eduard Shevardnadze from power in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia will run for president of the country in January's elections. Mikhail Saakashvili led the wave of protest that forced Shevardnadze to resign.

The British agenda. In London, Queen Elizabeth made her annual address to parliament, layings out Tony Blair's agenda for the next year. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) problems over his support for President Bush in the war on Iraq. The prime minister is expected to have a tough time ahead in parliament. After the queen's speech, Mr. Blair pledged his continued commitment to peace, stability and democracy in Iraq.

And that is our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: Remains believed to be those of the brother of democratic presidential Howard Dean arrived in Hawaii today. Civilians Charles Dean and Australian Neil Sharman were traveling in Laos during the Vietnam War when they were killed in 1974. Dean and family members were on hand at Hickam Air Force Base when the caskets were unloaded from an Air Force plane.

An anti-drug mission over Colombian cocoa fields ended with a crash in the jungle that put three Americans in the hands of FARC guerrillas, and nine months later they're still being held hostage.

More from CNN State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Mark Gonsalves in happier times, before the now 31-year-old former imagery specialist for the U.S. Air Force disappeared into the jungles of Colombia. On February 13, the single engine Cessna carrying Gonsalves, three other Americans, and a Colombian army sergeant crash landed in rebel territory in southern Colombia.

Gonsalves and his American colleagues were all Pentagon contractors working for a subsidiary of U.S. defense giant Northrop Grumman, and were preparing to take reconnaissance pictures of cocoa fields to help in future eradication. The FARC, a Marxist guerrilla group-labeled terrorist by the U.S., allegedly executed the Colombian and the American pilot and took Gonsalves and the others hostage.

ADAM ERELI, STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: This is something that hundreds of people are working on every day and want to see resolved in a way that spares their lives.

KOPPEL: U.S. officials say the FARC had never demanded a ransom, while the Colombian government says it has proposed a possible large- scale swap of prisoners with the FARC.

LUIS ALBERTO MORENO, COLOMBIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: The government is ready to sit down, but it's been the FARC who has left the table or has never come to the table on this.

KOPPEL: In a statement, Northrop Grumman said it "... continues to cooperate closely with various agencies and departments of the U.S. government..." to secure the release of its employees.

(on camera): The State Department says it can't rescue the hostages because it doesn't know where they are, and is preparing to offer a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of those responsible.

Andrea Koppel, CNN at the State Department.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: If the government says it can't rescue the hostages, and it won't negotiate with the terrorists, what can be done? Joining me now from Hartford, Connecticut is Jo Rosano, mother of hostage Mark Gonsalves.

Thank you very much for being with us.

JO ROSANO, MOTHER OF HOSTAGE: You're welcome. SAVIDGE: Let's talk about the fact that the Colombian government says it knows where these hostages are being held. Do you think then that a rescue mission should be tried?

ROSANO: No, no, because I don't want to see them dead.

SAVIDGE: And you think that would be the end result if they tried anything?

ROSANO: Yes. They've been told that if there was a search and rescue, they would pay by death.

SAVIDGE: So that leaves negotiation. And yet we seem to have a lackluster attempt on the part of the FARC. I mean, is that holding any hope for you?

ROSANO: No, because I've been told over and over by the State Department that the U.S. will never pressure President Uribe into negotiating with the FARC. So it's just got to be a miracle for them to come home.

SAVIDGE: Well, the U.S. says it's offering a $5 million reward leading to any information and to the arrest of the hostage takers. Do you think that helps or do you think that hurts your son?

ROSANO: It certainly doesn't help. You know? I believe -- this is my belief. I believe, this way, if something happens to the hostages, this country will say, oh, well, we did what we could.

But if the foot was on the other shoe, or whatever, and it was one of Bush's daughters, I'm sure the policy would change in a flash. This is my son, and I want him back home. There's no reason why it should take this long when they have intelligence, CIA, FBI.

What are they doing? Nothing.

SAVIDGE: So you think that the government, either Colombia or in the United States, is not really concerned about the welfare of your son?

ROSANO: Exactly. Because Uribe comes to this country. As a matter of fact, he was here a couple months ago asking for more aid, which he got. And why can't Bush say, get these men out of there and then you'll get your money, just like he did for some agreement that Mr. Uribe didn't sign? Bush held back on the aid until Uribe signed it.

SAVIDGE: What was the most recent information that you have learned about your son, and where did you get that from?

ROSANO: I don't get any information. Anything I learn is from the Internet. The State Department calls me twice a week and tells me no new info.

And this is why my faith in this government, forget it. There isn't any. I mean, we're going on 10 months now that these men have been captured. And I think it's too long.

SAVIDGE: You did receive a proof of life tape, if that's the right way to put it? How did that strike you?

ROSANO: Yes, I did.

SAVIDGE: I mean, what was the impact of that?

ROSANO: It was wonderful. It was sad to see my son and his colleagues crying and pleading for their lives. But I was very glad to see that they're still alive. And my son seemed a little -- he was positive about that he will get out some day. And he'll never give up.

SAVIDGE: Jo Rosano, I'm sorry we leave it there. But we will continue to follow the story and, hopefully, one day be bringing a happy ending. Thank you very much for talking to us.

ROSANO: Oh, thank you. Thank you.

SAVIDGE: The mother of hostage Mark Gonsalves. Thank you very much.

Credit card craze.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Groceries, gas, cars, automobiles. Everything we can.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Companies offering you rewards for your spending. But at what price? The fine print you need to know next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE (voice-over): Earlier, we asked you, which year was the first credit card issued? The answer, 1951. That year, Diner's Club issued its card to 200 people who could use it at 27 New York restaurants. But it wasn't until the magnetic strip came around in 1970 that the credit card came of age.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: It is almost like collecting the old S&H green stamps. Remember? Well, maybe you do.

We're talking about credit card companies and their point rewards for spending. Buy something, anything, and collect the points and use the points to buy something else.

CNN's Ceci Rodgers has what you need to know about all of this from Chicago. What do you know?

CECI RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, hi, Martin. This is Michigan Avenue, ground zero for the holiday shopping season here in Chicago. And this year, well over half of the people who pay with a credit card will get a reward.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RODGERS (voice-over): From airline tickets to free hotel stays, consumers are hooked on their credit card rewards.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've used United for a free trip to Boston and actually getting ready to use another one to go to Jamaica.

RODGERS: Card users have come up with some twists of their own. Paul Kiepura used Diner's Club points to pay his son, Michael's, college tuition as part of a personalized rewards program.

PAUL KIEPURA, DINER'S CLUB CARDHOLDER: Every month that statement comes and you see the points amassing. And you keep thinking to yourself, I'm going to use these someday, but I don't know for what.

RODGERS: The latest splash is the Dueto (ph) visa card. For every dollar spent, Bank One will contribute one cent to a prepaid Starbucks account. Bank One has partnered with nearly 1,000 companies, including Disney and Volkswagen to entice new customers.

TOM O'DONNELL, BANK ONE CARD SERVICES: We see a real fundamental shift in how people are using their cards. In the last four years, the number of people who had a rewards-based card has more than doubled. And that's a significant change given the number of cards that are in the marketplace.

RODGERS: Purchases on credit and debit cards were up nearly 10 percent last year. They're projected to rise another eight percent this year, for the first time surpassing $2 trillion.

MARK SACHER, AURIEMMA CONSULTING GROUP: The reward cards are a great way to drive growth because their incenting behavior. So they actually change a consumer's behavior and generate a lot more spending volume. In that regard, they're successful.

RODGERS: Just ask Loretta Warnstrom (ph). She looks for ways to use her credit card to earn free flights.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Groceries, gas, cars, automobiles. Everything we can.

RODGERS: But credit analysts warn that consumers need to be careful about the fine print on reward cards. Some carry no annual fee, but others, especially airline cards, charge as much as $50 a year. Reward cards are more competitive these days on the rates they charge, but those charges can quickly wipe out the rewards.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RODGERS: Increasingly, reward cards have become a way of life for many Americans, and experts say they can be a good deal, as long as you don't buy more than you would have otherwise and you pay off those balances every month -- Martin.

SAVIDGE: Ceci Rodgers, thanks very much. We appreciate it.

Well, taking one for the team. An NBA mascot makes a special delivery and gives one fan the surprise of her life.

Plus, the result of our Web Question of the Day when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: Not much of a surprise there. Well, let's move along now and show you our Picture of the Day. It was a special delivery surprise.

Basically, a fan, a basketball game, a birthday, a cake, a mascot -- oops, there it is, a mess. That's what you call a real slam dunk.

That's it for us. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts 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

Tom Sneddon>

Aired November 26, 2003 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, get your motor running. Head out on the highway. The holiday travel rush is officially on.
Stand by for news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE (voice-over): One big rush hour.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's all about beating the traffic. That's the goal of Thanksgiving really.

SAVIDGE: The skies are clear but are they safe? I'll ask the man in charge.

Prosecuting a pop star an exclusive interview with the man taking on Michael Jackson.

THOMAS SNEDDON, DISTRICT ATTORNEY: We didn't go looking for this case.

Americans held hostage, a crash landing leads to a nightmare in the jungle.

And credit card rewards from free miles to free tuition do you end up paying more for the payoff?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, November 26, 2003.

SAVIDGE: Hello, I'm Martin Savidge in for Wolf Blitzer.

If you are traveling this Thanksgiving holiday you are not alone. There are some 36 million people doing the same. Many are on the go right now. Airports are getting busier by the minute but so far good news, few delays security, of course, a major concern.

We'll hear from the man in charge of transportation security in just a moment. The vast majority of holiday travelers, about 31 million of you are going to be hitting the highways and byways.

This advice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, allow plenty of time to get to your destination. And, if you're going by train guess what? Expect crowds, Amtrak predicts 550,000 people will ride the rails and to help meet demand it has added 70 extra trains.

Now, travel information you need for the Thanksgiving holiday period. CNN Meteorologist Orelon Sidney is here at the CNN Center with the latest weather conditions.

CNN's Michael Okwu is at New York's LaGuardia Airport.

And, Travelocity's Rally Caparas joins us with an up to the minute report on airport delays around the country.

First up, though, Orelon Sidney -- Orelon.

(WEATHER REPORT)

SAVIDGE: Orelon, thanks very much.

AAA predicting almost five million Americans will travel by plane this Thanksgiving holiday. One of the busiest airports is New York's LaGuardia and CNN's Michael Okwu is there -- Michael.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Marty it's one of the busiest airports in the country and, in fact, it is among the most congested in the entire country as well. Some 1,200 flights will originate from LaGuardia Airport today, officials saying this is one of the busiest days that they have the entire year.

Yet for the past ten hours this is what has been the scene at least at the American Airlines ticket counter. That is basically passengers checking in, everything working fairly smoothly and, of course, Marty the proof is always in the pudding.

This is the board that I know that I like to check when I'm traveling and all day since about seven o'clock this morning we have seen nothing but flights on time, on time, on time, Nashville, Miami, Portland, Houston. It doesn't matter where you're going at least today things seem to be running fairly smoothly.

But that's not necessarily the case every place in this airport. In fact, as we can show you in these pictures, there is at least one section of this airport that is really congested mainly because there are about two security checkpoints supplying only about five airlines and we imagine that is probably the case in other airports around the country.

Still, here at LaGuardia and specifically at American Airlines and throughout the course of most of the airport things are running very smoothly. We haven't heard from any passengers who have been suffering from any long delays or have been complaining about it.

And, in fact, security officials tell us that they would like people to continue to be mindful of that to try to check in a couple hours, at least two to three hours, before their flight, to make sure that there are no dangerous items in their baggage that would slow them down getting through the security checkpoints and to make sure if you've got those shoes that set off the Magnetometer well definitely take those off. Don't wear them. Maybe you can wear something else tonight.

They say volume will be very, very busy later on this evening so we'll just wait and see whether things get a little bit more difficult for travelers -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: Let's hope not. Things seem to be smooth so far, another reason to give thanks. Michael Okwu at LaGuardia thanks very much.

Well for those of you traveling today CNN is providing updates every 30 minutes on delays and conditions. Joining us for the latest on what is happening right now, Travelocity's Rally Caparas -- Rally.

RALLY CAPARAS, TRAVELOCITY BUSINESS: Martin, it's an amazing thing that we're seeing tonight. There are 7,000 airplanes that are still airborne over the United States and, as you see in the picture behind me, that's a whole bunch of airplanes. Delays have been minimal throughout the day. The efficiency has been amazing but there are delays related to the volume and here's how it's working at this moment.

From Boston to Miami excellent conditions up and down the East Coast. On time schedules should prevail. We will see some peak period delays sometime between now and about nine o'clock tonight. You'll start to see 30 to 45 minute arrival and departure delays as a result of the excess volume at those locations, the bigger airports on the East Coast.

Minneapolis-St. Paul in the upper Midwest we're looking at 45 minute arrival delays right now, heavy column, compacted demand. It will remain that way for the rest of the evening.

Chicago O'Hare also is suffering from a crosswind forcing them into a less than favorable runway configuration, reduced volume but the heavy volume is not allowing for reduced volume so they have to administer delay and there you have 45 to 60 minute arrival delays for the rest of the evening.

Down in Texas, as Orelon told you, we are expected some scattered thunderstorm activity. Limited flight routes into and out of that airport will create 30 to 45 minute arrival and departure delays but the rest of the country has been perfect. It should stay perfect. It's going to be an excellent day for everybody -- Martin, back to you.

SAVIDGE: That's what we want to here, Rally. Thank you very much.

Officials expect this Thanksgiving to be the busiest since the 2001 terrorist attacks and, as we know, millions of people are flying. A short while ago I spoke about this with Asa Hutchinson, the Undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security. I began by asking him if air travelers are safe today. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ASA HUTCHINSON, UNDERSECRETARY, HOMELAND SECURITY DEPT.: Oh, everyone should feel comfortable in flying. We've done a great deal to secure our airways from hardened cockpit doors to inspecting the passengers and the cargo, the passenger bags that go on the plane, thousands of more federal air marshals so we've done a great deal to secure our aviation and thank goodness people are traveling. That's one of the reasons it's busy this coming weekend.

SAVIDGE: It's said or projected to be the heaviest amount of air travel since September 11 and yet at the same time your boss, secretary, or the head of homeland security Tom Ridge is warning that there is sort of new information, new intelligence implying that the threat level could be higher. Are you concerned about that?

HUTCHINSON: Well there is increased threat reporting. That is a concern to us. It's not specific in nature that we would consider raising the threat level from yellow to orange. We're advising people to go about their Thanksgiving holidays but there is increased intensity of a threat reporting.

Obviously when you look at the attack in Istanbul in Turkey, previous to that Riyadh, that indicates that America is still a target but we have taken the steps in law enforcement of additional security. America obviously has to understand that we're still under a threat warning but it's not an elevated threat and they should go about their normal Thanksgiving activities.

SAVIDGE: Are airline passengers going to see a difference in security, any changes as they go to the airplanes these days?

HUTCHINSON: Well, as they go to the airplanes I don't think they will see that much different except I hope we do our jobs better and they will be able to proceed through the checkpoints in a quick fashion but they're going to see us concentrate on doing our job.

You're going to see more people at the airports and we gauge our screening workforce based upon normal traffic flow and this is obviously an increased time of passenger traffic and so they have to be prepared for possibly additional wait times at the airports.

They need to arrive early. They need to help us as they go through the check-in point, taking their items out. That could avoid three minutes in secondary screening where they're wanded and those three minutes add up so there's a lot they can do and we're doing a lot to do the security side but also to move the passengers through.

SAVIDGE: Earlier in the year there were layoffs of screeners. Aren't these exactly the people you need? Why lay them off?

HUTCHINSON: Well, Congress has given us a mandate, a target in which to reduce our screening workforce and so we have pursuant to that congressional mandate reduced about 6,000 over the last year.

We do have part-time workforce that we're using. We're training them efficiently but we're right sizing our workforce and that's not the reason for any delay that's experienced. You know that is just because we gauge again our screening workforce to the normal flow of traffic and not to these accelerated times.

We're having layoff that's been canceled. We're having mandatory overtime. Our manager workforce is working side-by-side. We're doing all we can to move the people through in a safe fashion.

SAVIDGE: Secretary Hutchinson if you travel we hope yours are safe as we do for everyone. Thanks for being with us.

HUTCHINSON: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: OK, here is your turn to weigh in on this story in light of the recent warnings of possible terrorist attacks. Our web question of the day is this. "Are you changing your holiday travel plans because of the Homeland Security warning"? You can vote right now at cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results later in the broadcast.

Unusual twist, a Chinese-American professor pleads guilty to spying for the country she was once charged with working against.

Al Qaeda connection, is bin Laden's number two man behind recent terror attacks in Turkey? I'll ask terrorism expert Peter Bergen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you keep thinking to yourself I'm going to use these some day but I don't know what for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Pricey payoff, the truth behind credit card rewards but first today's News Quiz.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE (voice-over): In what year was the first credit card issued, 1945, 1951, 1961, 1970, the answer coming up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SNEDDON: It just doesn't make any sense that the sheriff and I would do something that is doomed in the long run to fail.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Prosecuting the King of Pop, the district attorney in the Michael Jackson case says all the pieces are in place. He speaks to CNN in an exclusive interview. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: A scholar and human rights activist, she was convicted of spying in her native China. Freed under U.S. pressure she has now confessed to sending American secrets to China.

Let's go live to our National Security Correspondent David Ensor to explain all of this -- David.

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Martin, to say that official Washington or much of it was caught off guard by today's news is putting it mildly. It's likely that some were actually embarrassed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ENSOR (voice-over): Their appearance at Federal District Court in Virginia charged with illegal exports to China is a surprise twist in the story of Gao Zhan and her husband known until now in the West as critics of human rights in China.

With tears in her eyes Gao Zhan pled guilty to two charges, illegally exporting $1.5 million worth of sensitive electronic components to China and tax evasion. Under federal guidelines the maximum sentence for the first charge is ten years though prosecutors say she's cooperating. They're likely to ask for much less.

MARK HULKOWER, GAO'S ATTORNEY: The parts all have civilian and commercial non-military uses and she believed that was the use to which those parts were going to be put.

ENSOR: It is an extraordinary turn of events for the U.S. resident Chinese citizen who was imprisoned in China for five months on charges of spying for Taiwan. Her son was also held separately for a time prompting official complaints.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We think it is particularly outrageous that the young boy, son, was held away from his parents.

ENSOR: After intense pressure from Washington she was freed to return to her husband and child and to her job as a professor at American University in Washington.

GAO ZHAN: With America standing behind me, with these fine people standing behind me I'm not scared.

ENSOR: Now, the human rights hero lionized in Washington will do jail time in this country for illegally serving as China's agent obtaining microprocessors that can be used in missile guidance systems.

ZHAN: You will have the chance to hear my story, I assure you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know but today they're -- people are going to hear today. I mean they're going to hear today what the government says. ZHAN: No, no, no, they're going to have a lot of time to hear in the future.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ENSOR: Many people are asking today if Gao Zhan was working for China was her arrest in China a ruse designed to fool the U.S. or was it a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing in the Chinese government? That, said one official to us today, is the $2 million question -- Martin.

SAVIDGE: It is still waiting for an answer, David Ensor thank you very much.

Well, the U.S. and Australia have reached a deal on detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. Australian-born David Hicks, an alleged al Qaeda member, will escape the death penalty and will be sent to Australia to serve out any sentence handed down by a U.S. military tribunal. A senior U.S. official says the deal would apply to another detainee also if he turns out to be an Australian citizen.

Stepped up offensive, U.S. forces on the hunt in Iraq net an interesting catch. On the record, a CNN exclusive with the district attorney bringing charges against Michael Jackson. Hear his reason for going ahead with the case.

Hitting the road, maybe the skies, whatever your mode of transportation is this Thanksgiving we have information you need but first, this holiday gift guide.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: U.S. troops have not managed to get their hands on Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri but they have seized one of his wives, a daughter and a family acquaintance. The arrest came a week after the U.S. posted a $10 million reward for the capture of al-Duri, a top ally of Saddam Hussein.

Sources say troops acted on a tip from someone close to the family. After Saddam, al-Duri is now the most wanted man in Iraq. He is believed to be organizing attacks on U.S. forces.

Are Saddam loyalists working hand-in-glove with al Qaeda? Who's behind the attacks in Iraq and for that matter neighboring Turkey? Joining me from Washington is CNN Terrorism Analyst Peter Bergen. Peter good to see you again.

PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: Good to see you.

SAVIDGE: Let's talk about this arrest or at least the hunt for Mr. al-Duri. Do we honestly believe that Saddam loyalists are now working hand-in-glove say with foreign terrorists?

BERGEN: Well, my impression if you think about what the U.S. government, various officials have said about the attacks it's clear to me, it seems to me that they don't really know who exactly is behind these attacks since the story changes fairly often.

But I think it's safe to assume, in my view, that people conducting suicide operations are less likely to be Saddam loyalists than perhaps jihadists in general, either local Iraqis or to some degree foreign fighters.

But clearly there is a wide variety of people behind these attacks but I've yet to see anybody definitively linking one attack to a particular faction. There was an attack against, you may remember, the Italian barracks in Nasiriya or in the police barracks in Nasiriya, Iraq earlier this month. The Italian defense minister said that he believed it was Saddam loyalists and foreign fighter cooperating. So, the picture seems somewhat murky -- Martin.

SAVIDGE: Any idea if there is a percentage or a numeric value that could be placed on the number of say foreign fighters that have come in or tried to come in?

BERGEN: Well, the figure initially that we heard was 3,000, 4,000 fighters. Now we're hearing figures of 200 to 300. Again, those are simply estimates. Certainly people that I've talked to who are familiar with the sort of Saudi jihadist say that quite a large number of Saudis have gone in to Iraq for two reasons.

First of all the Saudis have started really cracking down on al Qaeda and al Qaeda affiliates in Saudi Arabia; and secondly, they're very attracted to all these American soldiers in Iraq as potential targets.

SAVIDGE: And certainly in the area of Turkey there were more arrests, three more people picked up today in the series of bombing attacks that have occurred there. What do you expect to learn from these people that have been brought into custody?

BERGEN: Well, I think the Turkish arrests, it seems to be here that these were king of local guys on the ground. Some of them had actually gone to Pakistan for religious training in which case they may well have hooked up with al Qaeda or its affiliates.

The scale of the attacks, particularly against the British Consulate and the bank in Istanbul these were pretty massive bombs. It seems to me that there must be some al Qaeda influence here.

So, al Qaeda the organization obviously is being very disrupted but al Qaeda the movement or the ideology, these people who will sort of subscribe to al Qaeda's tenets and act in an al Qaeda-like manner I think that's spreading and we've seen in this past three weeks four attacks in Turkey, attacks in Iraq that might be jihadists and also the attacks in Riyadh at the beginning of the month.

So it's unfortunately been a very active month for these people who are acting somewhat either in the name of al Qaeda or have some relationship with al Qaeda or some that seem to be inspired by bin Laden and his directives.

SAVIDGE: Only a few seconds left, Peter, but let me ask you this. Do you expect another major attack before say the end of the year and if so would it be outside of Turkey? Where would you guess?

BERGEN: Well, I don't know the answer to that. I think that inside the United States the level of risk is very low from al Qaeda or its affiliates. Obviously in places like Indonesia, Turkey, Iraq these sorts of places the risk is much higher.

SAVIDGE: CNN Terrorism Analyst Peter Bergen thanks very much for talking to us. It won't be the last time. I'm sure of that. Thank you.

Sifting through snow and combing for clues, it is a desperate search as they try to find answers into the disappearance of a 22- year-old student. Will tips clue investigators in or is time running out?

Captured in Colombia, is a rescue possible for this American? I'll speak to his mother.

And later true bonus or tricky bait, credit cards and their rewards. We'll catch you up on the facts before you're caught up in these.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: Real time delays, real time problems, we'll tell you what airports are experiencing trouble right now.

Plus how the weather could affect your plans, the news you need this holiday season right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: Welcome back to CNN.

Caught on tape: comments from the mother of Michael Jackson's accuser about the pop star. And the D.A. in the case speaking to CNN exclusively.

But first, though, a quick check of the latest headlines.

The search goes on for a missing University of North Dakota student, Dru Sjodin, disappeared Saturday from a mall in Grand Forks. Police say they're getting hundreds of tips in the case. Yesterday, hundreds of volunteers joined that search for the missing 22-year-old woman. Today, police are searching without volunteer help.

Police in Columbus, Ohio trying to determine whether a deadly shooting on Interstate 270 is linked to eight other shootings along the southern leg (ph) of the highway. A woman was shot to death yesterday as she rode in the car on the highway. Hours later, shots were fired at a truck. Most of the shootings have happened since the middle of last month.

If you are watching our newscast, at least you're not stuck in traffic. This day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year. Americans are putting the pedal to the metal as they head out for the holiday. AAA says about 36 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles from home this Thanksgiving. Most of them 31 million, are going by car.

A new tape has surfaced in the Michael Jackson story, and it is probably one you haven't heard about before. Kimberly Guilfoyle Newsom, a CNN legal contributor, says a person close to Jackson's defense team played an audiotape for her that allegedly contains the voices of the mother and boy who have now accused Jackson of molestation. Newsom says they praised Jackson on the tape, that they refer to him as a father figure, and that the alleged victim says that Jackson, "never acted inappropriately." Newsom says she was told that the pair also signed an affidavit saying that Jackson never abused the child.

And on the other side of the legal battle, we have Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon. He was viewed by some as acting inappropriately in his news conference last week when he announced an arrest warrant had been issued for Jackson in the case. Sneddon made jokes and didn't appear to take things very seriously.

Now, in an exclusive interview with CNN's Art Harris, Sneddon admits that some of the criticism directed at him was justified.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ART HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon appeared to be joking around last week during a news conference where he announced child molestation charges against Michael Jackson.

THOMAS SNEDDON, D.A., SANTA BARBARA COUNTY: Like the sheriff and I are really into that kind of music. But...

HARRIS: But now in an exclusive interview with CNN, he concedes it was unprofessional and wants to apologize.

SNEDDON: I think the criticism was valid. I think that, to some extent, it was inappropriate. I feel bad about it.

I feel bad about it because I think I should have known better. I feel bad about it because somebody would assume that I'm making light of a thing where I know there's a serious crime, and that there are victims that have been hurt.

HARRIS: He says there was no personal vendetta against Jackson, even after he was unable to bring charges when is an alleged victim, a 13-year-old boy, declined to testify in 1993. Before filing charges this time, he says, he wanted to make sure the pieces were in place.

SNEDDON: It just doesn't make any sense that the sheriff and I would do something that is doomed in the long run to fail. We have a responsibility. We didn't go looking for this case.

It came to us. It came to them first. They brought it to me after they had done some investigation.

HARRIS: His staff prosecutors reviewed it, too.

SNEDDON: From our perspective, it was an investigation that was specifically related to something that was criminal activity.

HARRIS (on camera): An actual complaint?

SNEDDON: Correct.

HARRIS: A child harmed?

SNEDDON: Correct.

HARRIS (voice-over): Charges that Michael Jackson denies, calling them a, "big lie." But Sneddon says this time, unlike 1993, there's a victim with courage to stay the course and willing to testify.

SNEDDON: I would not have filed the charges had we not had a victim we felt was cooperative and supportive.

HARRIS: A victim now in hiding and under protective custody, sources say. A victim of an alleged sex crime, says Sneddon, which is never easy to prove, even in the best of circumstances. And serious.

SNEDDON: The more corroboration that you have for your child victim, the better off you usually do. And whether that's this case or any case -- and we'll leave that for the jury and the courtroom. And we're going to keep focused.

HARRIS: And serious.

Art Harris, CNN, Santa Barbara, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: Topping our justice report, you might remember this picture. CNN broadcast it last week as we covered flooding in West Virginia. But the woman being rescued in the video probably wishes at least one person hadn't seen it on television.

A sheriff's deputy recognized 37-year-old Christy Walker (ph) as someone who had her driver's license revoked for a DUI conviction. He arrested her. She pleaded guilty in court on Monday and is facing possible jail time.

And country music singer Glen Campbell is apologizing to his fans and family after being arrested for drunken driving and leaving the scene of the accident. Campbell says that, even at his age -- he is 67 -- he has learned a valuable lesson. Campbell says he accidentally mixed alcohol and a prescription drug. Campbell's blood alcohol level was .20, and that is 2.5 times the limit in Arizona.

Held hostage. The Colombian government says it knows where an American is being held should a rescue be attempted. I'll talk with the mother of hostage Mark Gonsalves.

Eye on the prize. Do credit card rewards really benefit you? What you need to know before you say "charge."

And a basketball fan gets a big surprise. You'll get a big laugh.

But first, a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE (voice-over): Condemnation for Iran. The United Nations nuclear watchdog agency is condemning Iran's nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency's governing board approved the resolution today in Vienna. The head of the agency says the resolution deplores Iran's undeclared nuclear activities and it makes it clear that Iran should cooperate fully and in a very transparent way in the weeks and months to come. But it also welcomes what it calls Iran's recent offer of active cooperation and openness.

Life-saving mood. In a bid to cope with suicide bombings, Israel is installing first aid boxes on street corners around the country. The first one is in place at Jerusalem Central Bus Station. In the last three years, bombings have killed more than 800 Israelis.

Pivotal elections. The future of the peace process in northern Ireland may be at stake as voters in the British province cast their ballots in parliamentary elections. Hard-line Catholic and Protestant parties are expected to gain ground.

Supporters of the peace plan are hoping a high turnout will be a catalyst for a deal on reviving the power sharing assembly set up by a peace agreement five years ago. The assembly has been suspended since last year.

Firebrand for president. The man who helped push Eduard Shevardnadze from power in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia will run for president of the country in January's elections. Mikhail Saakashvili led the wave of protest that forced Shevardnadze to resign.

The British agenda. In London, Queen Elizabeth made her annual address to parliament, layings out Tony Blair's agenda for the next year. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) problems over his support for President Bush in the war on Iraq. The prime minister is expected to have a tough time ahead in parliament. After the queen's speech, Mr. Blair pledged his continued commitment to peace, stability and democracy in Iraq.

And that is our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: Remains believed to be those of the brother of democratic presidential Howard Dean arrived in Hawaii today. Civilians Charles Dean and Australian Neil Sharman were traveling in Laos during the Vietnam War when they were killed in 1974. Dean and family members were on hand at Hickam Air Force Base when the caskets were unloaded from an Air Force plane.

An anti-drug mission over Colombian cocoa fields ended with a crash in the jungle that put three Americans in the hands of FARC guerrillas, and nine months later they're still being held hostage.

More from CNN State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Mark Gonsalves in happier times, before the now 31-year-old former imagery specialist for the U.S. Air Force disappeared into the jungles of Colombia. On February 13, the single engine Cessna carrying Gonsalves, three other Americans, and a Colombian army sergeant crash landed in rebel territory in southern Colombia.

Gonsalves and his American colleagues were all Pentagon contractors working for a subsidiary of U.S. defense giant Northrop Grumman, and were preparing to take reconnaissance pictures of cocoa fields to help in future eradication. The FARC, a Marxist guerrilla group-labeled terrorist by the U.S., allegedly executed the Colombian and the American pilot and took Gonsalves and the others hostage.

ADAM ERELI, STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: This is something that hundreds of people are working on every day and want to see resolved in a way that spares their lives.

KOPPEL: U.S. officials say the FARC had never demanded a ransom, while the Colombian government says it has proposed a possible large- scale swap of prisoners with the FARC.

LUIS ALBERTO MORENO, COLOMBIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: The government is ready to sit down, but it's been the FARC who has left the table or has never come to the table on this.

KOPPEL: In a statement, Northrop Grumman said it "... continues to cooperate closely with various agencies and departments of the U.S. government..." to secure the release of its employees.

(on camera): The State Department says it can't rescue the hostages because it doesn't know where they are, and is preparing to offer a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of those responsible.

Andrea Koppel, CNN at the State Department.

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SAVIDGE: If the government says it can't rescue the hostages, and it won't negotiate with the terrorists, what can be done? Joining me now from Hartford, Connecticut is Jo Rosano, mother of hostage Mark Gonsalves.

Thank you very much for being with us.

JO ROSANO, MOTHER OF HOSTAGE: You're welcome. SAVIDGE: Let's talk about the fact that the Colombian government says it knows where these hostages are being held. Do you think then that a rescue mission should be tried?

ROSANO: No, no, because I don't want to see them dead.

SAVIDGE: And you think that would be the end result if they tried anything?

ROSANO: Yes. They've been told that if there was a search and rescue, they would pay by death.

SAVIDGE: So that leaves negotiation. And yet we seem to have a lackluster attempt on the part of the FARC. I mean, is that holding any hope for you?

ROSANO: No, because I've been told over and over by the State Department that the U.S. will never pressure President Uribe into negotiating with the FARC. So it's just got to be a miracle for them to come home.

SAVIDGE: Well, the U.S. says it's offering a $5 million reward leading to any information and to the arrest of the hostage takers. Do you think that helps or do you think that hurts your son?

ROSANO: It certainly doesn't help. You know? I believe -- this is my belief. I believe, this way, if something happens to the hostages, this country will say, oh, well, we did what we could.

But if the foot was on the other shoe, or whatever, and it was one of Bush's daughters, I'm sure the policy would change in a flash. This is my son, and I want him back home. There's no reason why it should take this long when they have intelligence, CIA, FBI.

What are they doing? Nothing.

SAVIDGE: So you think that the government, either Colombia or in the United States, is not really concerned about the welfare of your son?

ROSANO: Exactly. Because Uribe comes to this country. As a matter of fact, he was here a couple months ago asking for more aid, which he got. And why can't Bush say, get these men out of there and then you'll get your money, just like he did for some agreement that Mr. Uribe didn't sign? Bush held back on the aid until Uribe signed it.

SAVIDGE: What was the most recent information that you have learned about your son, and where did you get that from?

ROSANO: I don't get any information. Anything I learn is from the Internet. The State Department calls me twice a week and tells me no new info.

And this is why my faith in this government, forget it. There isn't any. I mean, we're going on 10 months now that these men have been captured. And I think it's too long.

SAVIDGE: You did receive a proof of life tape, if that's the right way to put it? How did that strike you?

ROSANO: Yes, I did.

SAVIDGE: I mean, what was the impact of that?

ROSANO: It was wonderful. It was sad to see my son and his colleagues crying and pleading for their lives. But I was very glad to see that they're still alive. And my son seemed a little -- he was positive about that he will get out some day. And he'll never give up.

SAVIDGE: Jo Rosano, I'm sorry we leave it there. But we will continue to follow the story and, hopefully, one day be bringing a happy ending. Thank you very much for talking to us.

ROSANO: Oh, thank you. Thank you.

SAVIDGE: The mother of hostage Mark Gonsalves. Thank you very much.

Credit card craze.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Groceries, gas, cars, automobiles. Everything we can.

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SAVIDGE: Companies offering you rewards for your spending. But at what price? The fine print you need to know next.

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SAVIDGE (voice-over): Earlier, we asked you, which year was the first credit card issued? The answer, 1951. That year, Diner's Club issued its card to 200 people who could use it at 27 New York restaurants. But it wasn't until the magnetic strip came around in 1970 that the credit card came of age.

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SAVIDGE: It is almost like collecting the old S&H green stamps. Remember? Well, maybe you do.

We're talking about credit card companies and their point rewards for spending. Buy something, anything, and collect the points and use the points to buy something else.

CNN's Ceci Rodgers has what you need to know about all of this from Chicago. What do you know?

CECI RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, hi, Martin. This is Michigan Avenue, ground zero for the holiday shopping season here in Chicago. And this year, well over half of the people who pay with a credit card will get a reward.

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RODGERS (voice-over): From airline tickets to free hotel stays, consumers are hooked on their credit card rewards.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've used United for a free trip to Boston and actually getting ready to use another one to go to Jamaica.

RODGERS: Card users have come up with some twists of their own. Paul Kiepura used Diner's Club points to pay his son, Michael's, college tuition as part of a personalized rewards program.

PAUL KIEPURA, DINER'S CLUB CARDHOLDER: Every month that statement comes and you see the points amassing. And you keep thinking to yourself, I'm going to use these someday, but I don't know for what.

RODGERS: The latest splash is the Dueto (ph) visa card. For every dollar spent, Bank One will contribute one cent to a prepaid Starbucks account. Bank One has partnered with nearly 1,000 companies, including Disney and Volkswagen to entice new customers.

TOM O'DONNELL, BANK ONE CARD SERVICES: We see a real fundamental shift in how people are using their cards. In the last four years, the number of people who had a rewards-based card has more than doubled. And that's a significant change given the number of cards that are in the marketplace.

RODGERS: Purchases on credit and debit cards were up nearly 10 percent last year. They're projected to rise another eight percent this year, for the first time surpassing $2 trillion.

MARK SACHER, AURIEMMA CONSULTING GROUP: The reward cards are a great way to drive growth because their incenting behavior. So they actually change a consumer's behavior and generate a lot more spending volume. In that regard, they're successful.

RODGERS: Just ask Loretta Warnstrom (ph). She looks for ways to use her credit card to earn free flights.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Groceries, gas, cars, automobiles. Everything we can.

RODGERS: But credit analysts warn that consumers need to be careful about the fine print on reward cards. Some carry no annual fee, but others, especially airline cards, charge as much as $50 a year. Reward cards are more competitive these days on the rates they charge, but those charges can quickly wipe out the rewards.

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RODGERS: Increasingly, reward cards have become a way of life for many Americans, and experts say they can be a good deal, as long as you don't buy more than you would have otherwise and you pay off those balances every month -- Martin.

SAVIDGE: Ceci Rodgers, thanks very much. We appreciate it.

Well, taking one for the team. An NBA mascot makes a special delivery and gives one fan the surprise of her life.

Plus, the result of our Web Question of the Day when we return.

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SAVIDGE: Not much of a surprise there. Well, let's move along now and show you our Picture of the Day. It was a special delivery surprise.

Basically, a fan, a basketball game, a birthday, a cake, a mascot -- oops, there it is, a mess. That's what you call a real slam dunk.

That's it for us. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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Tom Sneddon>