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CNN SATURDAY MORNING NEWS
Al Qaeda's Military "Brain" Killed; U.S. Teen Killed in Costa Rica; Keeping Kid's Education on Track During a Family Divorce; Victims of Fraud Get Thank-You Note From Thief
Aired June 4, 2011 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: We are just crossing the top of the hour here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
Welcome back to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.
And a breaking story we are following out of Pakistan this morning in America's war on terror. You remember it wasn't long ago we were talking about SEAL Team Six taking out Al Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden. Many people wondering who was going to step up and be the leader of Al Qaeda. One of the names that came up was Ilyas Kashmiri.
Now, word that he has been killed in a drone strike in Pakistan. You might not know his name, you might not know his face but intelligence officials sure do. Considered by many security experts one of the most dangerous men in the world and called Al Qaeda's military brain.
Our Phil Black is on the ground for us in Pakistan.
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a big name in intelligence circles, certainly from a U.S. national security point of view. He was very much on their most wanted list. Among the key targets of U.S. drones flying over the tribal regions of Pakistan and it is now believed that he is, perhaps, one of the victims of a U.S. drone strike in that lawless Pakistani tribal region, particularly in the area of south Waziristan, just overnight.
Nine people were killed by a drone strike. We understand from Pakistani intelligence officials, one of them, according to growing reports, including one report from the local militant organization, he is said to have ruled himself that this man, Ilyas Kashmiri, was one of the victims.
To give you some sense of the context of just how rapidly this man has risen through militant ranks in recent years. He has been discussed in recent weeks as a possible successor to the Al Qaeda leader, former Al Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden. T.J.
HOLMES: Can you help us here as well - we talk about and we see often, these reports of these drone strikes. We usually don't get a whole lot of information about them. But do we have any indication and forgive me if I'm putting you on the spot, this is getting to breaking news to us, if he might have been the intended target or might the intelligence community just have gotten lucky with him being there?
BLACK: It's an interesting question. There is no doubt that he was one of the targets that these drones are regularly hunting for. Whether he was the specific target in this case, is difficult to say. We understand that he normally operates in a region just north of there, north Waziristan. This missile strike took place in south Waziristan. There are some media reports here in Pakistan that indicate he only recently moved into that area of the missile strike, a very short period of time, before that drone actually attacked.
We haven't confirmed that here, but there are many reports here that indicate he only got to the area a short time before the missiles were fired. There is an important point that I should just mention, T.J.
As I say, we had some reports that he was among the victims there, particularly from his own militant group. Pakistani officials, including the Pakistani Intelligence Service, has not yet confirmed this. They say they're still waiting to see his body or hear from their own sources on the ground, that this is, in fact, true.
And it's worth noting because it was suspected in the past, in fact, more than that, it was declared in September of 2009, that United States drones had, in fact, got this man before. A month later that proved not to be the case.
He is a highly elusive figure, as I say, he is a man who has been rising through militant ranks here in recent years, and is now considered by many to be the operational commander of Al Qaeda. So a significant figure and certainly another very big get, very close to the death of Osama Bin Laden. T.J.
HOLMES: One last thing to you, Phil. What do we know about his background in terms of how much and how involved he might have been in attacks over the years on the United States or United States' interests abroad?
BLACK: Well, he started his life, very much a local militant, fighting, cutting his teeth, learning his guerrilla tactic in the conflict over Kashmir with India, fighting Indian forces. He then later also fought with the Afghans against the Soviet occupation there during the '80s.
And then we understand, and we understand this from one of the only media interviews he's ever given, a press interview, back in October of 2010. He had to realize that the only way to make progress in that Kashmiri dispute, to get a Pakistani victory there, was to turn the fight towards the United States and its allies in the region.
And so, he relocated to their border area with Afghanistan in north Waziristan and began directing his efforts, his people, his resources, in the fight against the U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan. It was there that he grew very close to the Afghan Taliban and also to Al Qaeda itself. He has been linked to a great many impressive strikes, both in the south Asian region, India, Pakistan. He was said to have a hand in the Mumbai attack of 2008, and more recently, he has been named as having the ambition and, perhaps, attempting to plan attacks, Mumbai-style, commando-style attacks in Europe as well.
He's been particularly named in an ongoing U.S. court matter as a guiding hand in an effort to attack newspaper offices in Denmark. So the reason why he was of such interest to U.S. officials here, is that he was a man with proven ability, proven motivation. They essentially believed that he is simply one of the most dangerous guerrilla leaders in the world today and one who had increasing ambitions to strike abroad.
For that reason, they considered him to be very dangerous and they wanted to get him as soon as possible. We understand that he was on a list of militants given to the Pakistani government not long after the death of Osama Bin Laden as their most wanted, someone that they wanted either information on or they wanted the Pakistanis themselves to move on very quickly and it looks like they might possibly have a result.
HOLMES: All right. Thanks to our Phil Black this morning.
Now this story, just a tragic one. We are getting out of Costa Rica. It was a trip that should have been a highlight for a Kansas high school student. It ended in tragedy. You're seeing 16-year-old Justin Johnston, shot and killed on his school trip to Costa Rica after a hotel security guard mistakenly thought he was an intruder.
CNN's Martin Savidge with the story.
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MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The news of the 16-year-old's tragic death has left the small town of McLouth, Kansas, shaken and in tears.
JOSH SWANSON, STUDENT: It's heartbreaking. You don't really know what to think right now. He is one of my good friends. He's a very good kid. Always did good, loved sports, just all around a good kid.
SAVIDGE: At the town's school where all grades K through 12 fit under a single roof, officials were in shock.
STEVE SPLICHAL, MCLOUTH SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT: Our thoughts and our prayers are with the Johnston family, as well as the many students and staff and families that are affected by this tragedy.
SAVIDGE: People gathered at a church across the street from the school for a prayer service.
MONICA WISE, TEACHER: He was just a class clown, you know. He loved making everybody laugh. He's one of the guys that all the guys wanted to be and all the girls wanted to be, you know - wanted to date him.
SAVIDGE: Just days before students talked excitedly to a local TV station about the trip. Among those interviewed, a charismatic Justin Johnston.
JUSTIN JOHNSTON, SHOOTING VICTIM: My name is Justin. I like cute girls. My telephone number is 913-704 -
SAVIDGE: A trip is to be the highlight of the summer ended tragically only days after it began.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: The Costa Rican attorney general says a 34-year-old security guard who shot Johnston was not licensed to carry a weapon. The man, who is from Nicaragua, has already been charged with simple murder. That's what you would call manslaughter here in the U.S.
We will turn now to some presidential politics. And Republican presidential contenders hoping to spark interest in their campaigns by appealing today to a key group of social conservatives. The Faith and Freedom Coalition wraps up their conference today with three Republican presidential hopefuls addressing the group, Rick Santorum, Herman Cain as well as Newt Gingrich.
Among those speaking yesterday, Minnesota Representative Michelle Bachmann, who is inching closer to announcing her decision and her possible candidacy. She, of course, went after the president and his health care legislation yesterday.
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REP. MICHELLE BACHMANN (R), MINNESOTA: I will not rest until we repeal Obama care. America will not rest until we repeal Obama care. Take it to the bank, cash the check. It will be done, it will not stand. The American people will not stand.
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HOLMES: Meanwhile, the president is talking about jobs, the economy, and hope this morning. In his weekly address the president made the video message yesterday while visiting a Chrysler assembly line in Toledo, Ohio.
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BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've got a ways to go. Even though our economy has created more than two million private sector jobs over the past 15 months and continues to grow, we're facing some tough head winds. Lately it's high gas prices, the earthquake in Japan, and unease about the European fiscal situation.
It's going to happen from time to time. There are going to be bumps on the road to recovery. We're a people who don't give up. Who do big things, who shape our own destiny, and I'm absolutely confident that if we hold on to that spirit, our best days are still ahead of us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now despite a slowdown in job creation for the month of May, it's over nine percent now, ticked up to 9.1 percent for the month of May, the president's approval rating has inched up. The latest CNN Opinion Research poll has that approval rating at 54 percent, 45 percent of those asked disapprove of the way the president is handling his job.
Well, we are talking some extreme weather again this weekend. But it's not the stuff we have been seeing over the past several weeks and months. The extreme weather this weekend, we are talking about is heat. Reynolds Wolf when we come back.
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REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Welcome back to CNN SATURDAY MORNING, and the top story we've got for you in terms of weather is going to be the amazing heat.
Just remarkable heat that we're seeing across parts of the nation. High temperatures in Kansas City going up to 93 degrees, 97 expected for St. Louis, Dallas, also very warm, three degrees shy from 100. 97 in Houston, New Orleans, in the 90s, in Atlanta, 93, much higher than we normally expect this time of year.
If you look ahead to your forecast not just today but also into Sunday and then into Monday, we expect this heat to last for quite some time. That big ridge of high pressure keeping things warm for us Sunday at Oklahoma City with a high of 98 degrees, 101 in Dallas, Atlanta with 96, and we fast forward if we can into Monday as we do so, 85 in Cincinnati, 100 for Jackson, Atlanta with 94, 97 in New Orleans.
Not expecting a whole lot of warm conditions up in the parts of the Great Lakes region. The reason why is because this area of low pressure, severe storms possible and with that, we may have some heavy rain, flash flooding, maybe even an isolated tornado. T.J., back to you.
HOLMES: All right. I don't like to hear that. Reynolds, we appreciate you as always.
Well, parents getting a house call from our education expert to help them keep one of their sons from failing the ninth grade.
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STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR (voice-over): I want you to meet three teenage brothers. They're involved in a lot of activities, but one of them is struggling.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm looking at three Fs, a C-minus.
PERRY (on camera): Is he in danger of failing ninth grade? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's up in the air.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Three Fs and a C-minus, that's not going to get it done.
A preview of an important CNN special "EDUCATION MAKEOVER." Steve Perry here with me, next.
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HOLMES: All right. It's 20 minutes past the hour on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
So your child is struggling to keep from flunking out of high school. Well, compound that with complications from dealing with a divorce. What do you do here?
Education contributor Steve Perry met with a family that is going through that nightmare. Here now a preview of his weekend special "Education Make-over."
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PERRY (voice-over): What goes on in a child's home is critical.
(on camera): Steve Perry.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jacob.
JACOB: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you have homework?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll ask you again, how do you know she didn't give you a test today?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So you didn't do any homework from the time you got out of school. Guess who doesn't get any down time?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How can a vegan flunk health?
PERRY: I want you to meet three teenage brothers. They're involved in a lot of activities, but one of them is struggling.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What I'm looking at three Fs, a C-minus.
PERRY (on camera): Is he in danger of failing ninth grade?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's up in the air.
PERRY: And then their divorced parents.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So had you been able to be there in the beginning more often -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you keep saying that it's like you're punishing me today about it.
PERRY: What can we do to cut down on some of the communication breakdowns? Challenge really is power. That seems to be the issue.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: We'll have more of Steve's interaction with that family this afternoon on this special "EDUCATION MAKEOVER" at 2:30 Eastern time.
And to our viewers, I want to let you know here, on full disclosure that Steve Perry was scheduled to be a guest here with us. There's a technical issue, we were working and still working to get it worked out. We might. We don't know if we'll be able to get him by the end of the bottom of the hour. But we apologize. We did plan on having a good conversation here with him this morning, always enjoy that. But the technical issue is keeping us from doing it right now. Sorry about that.
Also a couple in Seattle, now they ended up being victims of on- line fraud but they say it was what arrived at their home after their account was hacked that added insult to injury.
Lindsay Cohen of our CNN affiliate, KOMO, in Seattle has this one.
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LINDSAY COHEN, KOMO REPORTER (voice-over): When the long black box arrived on the doorstep of the Maple Valley home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I haven't been sleeping well the last couple nights because it is very violating.
COHEN: Little did the York family know what was inside would slice their sense of safety in two.
JENELLE YORK, IDENTITY THEFT VICTIM: I mean you hear about it, it seems kind of like a common thing these days but you never think it's going to happen to you.
COHEN: Detectives believe it probably happened when Dave York bought something with his debit card on-line. The couple then went shopping this week and their card was declined. The bank spotted charges overseas and flagged the account for fraud.
DAVE YORK, IDENTITY THEFT FRAUD: I was starting to get a little bit concerned, like how far is this going to go?
COHEN: And just when they thought it couldn't go any further, it did. Charges to a jewelry web site, to Netflix, even on-line florist FTD.com.
And on Thursday, the black box arrived at their house addressed to Dave. Inside, a single pink rose and a note reading "Thank you."
Detectives believe the person who sent the rose is no bachelor, but the actual thief.
SGT. JOHN URQUHART, KING COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Here's the suspect who uses the victim's credit card or debit card, to send them flowers. I mean, it's like sticking a finger in their eye, adding insult to injury, any cliche you can think about.
COHEN: It was enough to send the deputy to the house to investigate where now the flower sits in a vase, the "thank you" note nearby, the sign of a thief a bit polite, a bit brazen with this rose, a thorn in the sides of the victims.
JENELLE YORK: My husband says, at least they were a polite thief. Got to find some humor somewhere. But yes, that was the most upsetting part.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now deputies say the thief used an e-mail address to open a Netflix streaming account but they say it is highly unlikely that the thief will ever be caught.
We're getting close to the bottom of the hour now. Breaking story we are getting out of Pakistan, a face and a name you may not know, but he is a big deal. The alleged military brain of Al Qaeda reportedly dead. That story when I come back.
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HOLMES: Well, taking a look at some of the stories making headlines. Breaking story we're getting this morning out of Pakistan where a terror group is confirming the death of Ilyas Kashmiri.
You might not know the name or the face but he is considered by some as the military brain of Al Qaeda. The group says Kashmiri was killed in a drone attack on Friday. Right now, Pakistani officials have not confirmed the death. U.S. officials not confirming it yet either.
Also, Yemen's embattled leader says gangsters were behind an attack on his presidential palace. President Saleh was slightly injured when two missiles were fired at the mosque there yesterday. At least four people were killed.
Also the capital murder trial of Casey Anthony resuming today. You're seeing live pictures here. Yesterday jurors watched taped jailhouse conversations between the defendant and her parents. Tapes that may damage Anthony's defense that her two-year-old daughter Caylee drowned in the family's pool almost three years ago. We are monitoring this, but again they are having court today on a Saturday. So a live picture right now at attorneys as you see presenting evidence and again a camera fixed on Anthony herself.
I'll be back at the top of the hour with more live news. Right now "YOUR BOTTOM LINE."
