Suspected al Qaeda Chief in Pakistan Arrested; Erbil Suicide Bomber Kills 47 People; Reservist Lynndie England's Ex-Boyfriend to Testify
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: We have a lot to get started on. Let's do that, take a look at what's happening now in the news. In Iraq, the deadliest insurgent attack in about two months. Forty-seven people were killed today when a suicide bomber struck outside a police recruitment center. The attack occurred in the Kurdish city of Erbil. More than 100 people injured, many of them are in grave condition. More coming up in a live report just minutes from now. An alleged al Qaeda operative is one of almost a dozen terrorist suspects rounded up by Pakistan authorities last week. Abu Faraj al Libbi is accused of plotting two assassination attempts on Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Intelligence officials in Pakistan believe al Libbi had been promoted to al Qaeda's No. 3 figure. Federal agents have joined the campaign to stop freeway shootings in Southern California. Agents have started patrolling during the last week. In case of another shooting, mobile labs are available for forensic testing. Four people have been shot to death on the freeway in the last two months. Congress is asking what is being done to protect your personal information? The House Financial Services Committee is meeting this hour. Among those testifying, officials with ChoicePoint, Lexus Nexus, two firms where consumer data has been compromised. Good morning. I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's get started. New information now on what led to the capture of an alleged al Qaeda terrorist. Our national correspondent David Ensor is live in Washington with new developments. David, good morning.</s>DAVID ENSOR, NAT'L. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. U.S. counter-terrorism officials are telling us that it was U.S. intelligence, human intelligence gathered by the United States that led to the capture of Abu Faraj al Libbi, who officials are calling the No. 3 man in al Qaeda. And there is quiet celebration throughout the U.S. government's national security agencies about the capture of this man. They are saying that he took over for Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, who was the operations chief of al Qaeda, when Khalid Sheikh Mohammad was captured in March of 2003. They are saying that al Libbi was responsible for global operations for al Qaeda that including plotting attacks against the U.S. homeland. And as Pakistani officials have said he was also the mastermind behind two assassination attempts, unsuccessful fortunately, against the president of Pakistan, President Pervez Musharraf. So this they're saying is an extremely important capture of the third most important man. And interestingly, it occurred in the northwest frontier area of Pakistan, north of Peshawar. This was after a shootout with Pakistani police. This, of course, is the area that U.S. intelligence has consistently said is where they believe Osama bin Laden and his top deputy are probably hidden today -- Daryn.</s>KAGAN: Any other details about what led to the capture. Was it a lucky break or good work?</s>ENSOR: We are being told by U.S. counter-terrorism officials that this was an intelligence operation involving human intelligence. They're specific about that. Something they're not often so specific about, suggesting a U.S. agent, someone working for U.S. intelligence was providing information to the CIA presumably. And that that information helped the Pakistani police, who were very aggressively going after this man, partly probably because of his role in the assassination attempts against their president. But that was instrumental in helping them get al Libbi. There's as I said a quiet celebration today here.</s>KAGAN: All right. David Ensor in Washington, thanks for the details on that. We move on now to Iraq. A suicide bomber wading into a crowd. They're calling it one of the most gruesome attacks in months. The attack left dozens dead or wounded in the northern city of Erbil. Police say the suicide bomber somehow slipped into a recruiting center and detonated explosives and hundreds of recruits were injured or killed. Let's get the latest now from our Ryan Chilcote in Baghdad -- Ryan.</s>RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, this was the deadliest attack in Iraq in more than two months. As you said, a suicide bomber targeted a police recruitment center in the Kurdish city of Erbil. That's up in the north of Iraq, a place that up until now had been relatively quiet. A crowd of about 300; mostly young, most unemployed Iraqi men were standing out in front of this recruitment center. Many of them in line waiting for their opportunity to sign up for Iraq's police forces. There had been an ad campaign in the media there, offering these jobs. There's a lot of unemployment, so this was a popular place to be this morning. That's when this suicide bomber either walked right into the line, or at least got close enough to them and detonated the explosives. The governor of the Erbil Province is telling us at least 47 people were killed from that attack. Another 100 wounded, many of them quite severely -- Daryn.</s>KAGAN: And Ryan, even though all of Iraq is a dangerous place to be right now, this northern part, in this Kurdish area, on a daily basis has not been as dangerous as, let's say some parts of Baghdad?</s>CHILCOTE: This particular city -- this particular city Erbil has been relatively quiet, as you say. And perhaps that was part of the calculations of the insurgents that were behind this attack. Perhaps they were looking to demonstrate that they are ready and capable of going after recruits for Iraqi security forces, and the security forces themselves wherever they want to in the country. We've seen a pattern of targeting Iraq security forces and recruits. It's a long-standing tactic. The message of these insurgents is don't join Iraq's security forces. You won't be safe. The insurgents have been doing this for quite some time now -- Daryn.</s>KAGAN: Ryan Chilcote, live from Baghdad. Ryan, thank you. New report out today on the combat death of former NFL player Pat Tillman. "The Washington Post" reports that Army officials knew within days that Tillman was the victim of friendly fire in Afghanistan. But with held that information from his family. According to the paper, a new Army report will claim the official determination of gross negligence came four days before a nationally televised memorial service for Tillman. He had turned down a multi- million dollar contract to join the Army after the 9/11 attacks. As civilian and military casualties mount in Iraq, some pollsters are again asking Americans about U.S. military involvement. The latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll said was it worth going to war in Iraq? Forty-one percent say yes, it's worth it. Compare that to three months ago though, nearly half of those polled at that polled said yes, it was. The penalty phase for former Abu Ghraib guard Lynndie England resumes this hour. England's former boyfriend, already convicted for his role in the scandal, might testify today. Our Susan Candiotti is covering the trial from Fort Hood, Texas. Susan, good morning.</s>SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Remember, in Lynndie England's plea, she says that it was her ex- boyfriend, Charles Graner, who told her to pose in all those notorious photographs of naked detainees. He's also said to be the father of Lynndie England's baby, although Charles Graner is now married to another participant in this scandal, Megan Ambuhl. Well, England's baby boy, Carter England born last October, arrived in court today carried by his grandmother, Lynndie England's mother, who removed the baby's hood as she walked past photographers. Lynndie England's role has caused a stir her hometown.</s>CANDIOTTI (voice over): The American flag dots porches and storefronts where Lynndie England grew up. In Port Ashby, West Virginia; a one-stop red light town in where friend do not forget their own.</s>DONALD DAYTON, FORT ASHBY RESIDENT: I think the girl was trained to do what she was doing. If she stepped over the traces a little bit, that could be expected sometimes.</s>CANDIOTTI: In early childhood, a psychology expert says Lynndie England was placed in a learning disabilities program. Her lawyer.</s>RICK HERNANDEZ, DEFENSE LAWYER: It shows she's clearly in a different mental capacity, and different learning disabilities, and neurological issues than any of the other accused.</s>CANDIOTTI: Even so, the expert testified, England rebounded to finish high school with a B-average. Next on the defense witness list, guard Charles Graner, already sent to prison for 10 years. Lynndie England says Graner, her boyfriend at Abu Ghraib, asked her to pose in all those photos of naked detainees. Leaving for the day, Graner handed out a written statement saying he finds Lynndie's guilty plea, quote, "upsetting." But hopes it will bring her an easier sentence. Lynndie England may be the last witness in her own defense, but offering only an un-sworn statement which means she cannot be cross- examined.</s>CANDIOTTI: And Graner's ex-wife, as well as Lynndie England's mother, may also be called as defense witnesses. Then a rebuttal case may be presented. After that, the case could go to the jury as early as today. Back to you.</s>KAGAN: And you'll be tracking it for us. Susan Candiotti in Fort Hood, Texas, thank you. The latest on the runaway bride is ahead. She fooled a lot of people, also sparked lots of conversation. Now some Hispanic groups have a problem with the runaway bride. We will tell you why. Plus, the next time you buy an airline ticket you may have to offer more than just your name. We're going to take a look at what else might be needed. And later, he is a leader and entrepreneur, a spiritual shepherd. He's right here in studio with me. The Bishop T.D. Jakes.