Is al Qaeda Hiding Messages on the Web?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Now on</s>WOLF BLITZER REPORTS: Tonight, CNN investigates. Looking for bin Laden in cyberspace. Is al Qaeda hiding messages on pornographic Web sites? Israel kills a deadly enemy and at least nine children.</s>ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: The president views this as a heavy-handed action that is not consistent with dedication to peace in the Middle East.</s>SERINA GILLIS, MOTHER: I want to tell you, Erica, we love you a lot.</s>BLITZER: Are such crimes on the rise? I'll ask John Walsh, the host of "America's Most Wanted." Defying age and the advice of his aides: Is the pope taking a risk on this transatlantic trip? And back to work, forced out of retirement by a falling stock market at age 85. It's Tuesday, July 23rd, 2002. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. Is al Qaeda's leader alive? U.S. officials still aren't sure, but they're finding some possible clues on the Internet. This evening, CNN investigates. Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has the story.</s>BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): CNN has learned that the trail to Usama bin Laden has gone so cold that U.S. intelligence is now largely reduced to hunting the world's most wanted man in cyberspace. U.S. counterterrorism experts are monitoring a number of Web sites, including this one, and computer servers they believe might contain recent messages from bin Laden himself. Some intelligence officials believe electronic messages containing "markers," or code words, are indications bin Laden is directly trying to signal supporters he is alive. One intelligence official told CNN, "It's either bin Laden or an elaborate cyber-deception campaign by his lieutenants." As CNN reported earlier this year, al Qaeda has surfaced on the Internet before. U.S. intelligence is monitoring this Web site, which keeps changing its address to stay ahead in the cat-and-mouse game with investigators. On this site, al Qaeda posted messages warning of future attacks and sharing details of the 9/11 hijackers. Investigators say al Qaeda is very computer-savvy. They are giving new attention to the idea that senior al Qaeda leaders -- perhaps even bin Laden -- are burying messages inside photographic computer files on pornographic Web sites, that renewed lead from information provided by detainees to U.S. interrogators. CNN has learned that a recently completed counterterrorism analysis concludes -- no surprise -- nobody knows if Usama bin Laden is alive. A top FBI official said he thinks bin Laden is dead, but there are various scenarios being considered. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld confirms bin Laden hasn't been heard from since December. If he is alive, why isn't he letting the world know?</s>DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: One he might be, he's not physically able because he's injured in some way. Another might be because he is afraid if he does it, he'll get caught.</s>STARR: The new intelligence analysis also notes that if bin Laden is alive, he simply may be staying hidden, waiting to emerge when the next attack occurs.</s>BLITZER: And going to these Web sites, can investigators determine what where individuals are logging on from, what countries, perhaps what cities, addresses, in looking for possible leads?</s>STARR: That is the very tough question. That is what they are trying to track down, but there is a cat-and-mouse game going on. Some of these Web sites move from server to server. One official told us that some of these Web sites -- they have seen them internationally on servers abroad in foreign countries, and then they find them popping up in the United States. So it's very hard to find out where these people are logging on and just how these messages are being transmitted.</s>BLITZER: Barbara Starr, good reporting over at the Pentagon. Thank you very much. Meanwhile, Pentagon officials insist the other fugitive, the Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar, was not the target of a July 1st attack in eastern Afghanistan that killed dozens of civilians at a wedding party. "The Washington Post" cites the U.S. commander in Afghanistan as saying the raid was linked to the hunt for Omar, but a senior Pentagon official says there was no specific intelligence that Omar was in the area. Officials say the United States did have indications that, quote, "high-value individuals" were operating in the region at the time. The Justice Department is charging five Muslim guerrillas in the death of an American missionary in the Philippines. The men are alleged leaders of the separatist Abu Sayyaf group. Abu Sayyaf is a top target in President Bush's war on terror. The group kidnapped missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham last year. Martin Burnham was killed in a military rescue mission. Gracia Burnham survived and is now back here in the United States. Israel got the man at the top of its "most wanted" list, a top Hamas commander, but the missile strike in a densely-populated neighborhood killed 14 other people, most of them innocent children. CNN's Mike Hanna reports from Gaza on the aftermath.</s>MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Volleys of gunfire ring out in the streets of Gaza City, a gesture of defiance and also a threat. Being buried in the afternoon, more than 10 people. Among them, a number of children, one a baby of less than 3 months. (on camera): The mood of this crowd is grim. There is deep, deep anger, and the word on everyone's lips, "revenge." (voice-over): Crowds gathered at the scene of the Israeli attack throughout the day. This man, who was one of the first on the scene, says it was like a horror movie. "I saw dead people on the ground," he says. "If you saw animals in this state, it would break your heart. So what about when it is human beings?" The stated target of the Israeli attack was the apartment of the leader of the military wing of the Hamas movement, Salah Shehadeh. (on camera): Israel contends Shehadeh was responsible for numerous terror attacks against Israeli civilians and describes this operation as one of self-defense. Palestinian leaders insist that nothing can justify so many Palestinian civilians being killed and wounded. (voice-over): The Israeli prime minister expressed regret about the loss of civilian life, but describes the killing of the Hamas leader as a major success.</s>RA'ANAN GISSIN, ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN: Salah Shehadeh had become a real ticking bomb. He would discharge suicide bombing after suicide bombing. In the past two years, he's responsible for the death and injury of over several hundred Israelis. And it left us with no other choice.</s>HANNA: The question asked here: Why did this come at a time when Palestinian militants, including Hamas, were discussing a possible suspension of attacks against Israeli civilians?</s>YASSER ABED RABBO, PALESTINIAN INFORMATION MINISTER: We believe that such a crime will encourage once again the cycle of violence in the region. And we think that Sharon knows very well that there will be a response, and he wants the continuation of bloodshed because he wants to prevent any possibility of a new political process.</s>HANNA: In the streets of Gaza, the Israeli attack is seen as a challenge. Those burying their dead insisting that blood begets blood. Mike Hanna, CNN, Gaza City.</s>BLITZER: The Israeli missile strike is drawing harsh reaction from around the world, including from Washington. Here's CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux.</s>SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a rare move by the Bush administration, the White House strongly and publicly condemned Israel's attack.</s>FLEISCHER: The president has said repeatedly that Israel needs to be mindful of the consequence of its actions in order to preserve the path to peace in the Middle East. The president views this as a heavy-handed action that is not consistent with dedication to peace in the Middle East.</s>MALVEAUX: Israeli forces flew an F-16 over a crowded residential neighborhood in Gaza City and dropped a 1,000 pound missile on their target, the military leader of Hamas, Salah Shehadeh. They succeeded in killing him but in the process killed at least 14 civilians and injured dozens of others. Israeli officials dismissed the Bush's administration's criticism and called Shehadeh a "ticking bomb," who they say used innocent neighbors as human shields for cover.</s>GISSIN: We were left with no choice last night, and therefore we had to take that action.</s>MALVEAUX: Bush critics say the Israeli raid is no different than U.S. military operations inside Afghanistan, where U.S. attacks on al Qaeda and Taliban sometimes result in civilian casualties. The White House dismissed the comparison.</s>FLEISCHER: It's always important</s>MALVEAUX: Now, the president is engaged in a delicate balancing act here. On the one hand, he's insisting that Israelis have the right to defend themselves, to protect themselves from these suicide, homicide bombers, but at the same time acknowledging that Palestinians are seeking relief, that seven of their eight cities in the West Bank have been reoccupied by Israeli forces over the last month, that the Palestinians have been under a 24-hour curfew and that life for the Palestinians, as well, has become unbearable. Wolf?</s>BLITZER: So the key question is this, Suzanne: What's next for the Bush administration's Middle East policy?</s>MALVEAUX: Well, certainly, the president says that this is not going to get in the way of moving forward. He's going to be meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan in a couple weeks. We have also been told of the mid-level meetings among State Department officials, as well as Arab allies. But clearly, the administration saying today that this was a setback in moving forward. Wolf?</s>BLITZER: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thanks very much. And meanwhile, Pope John Paul II arrived in Canada today, beginning an 11-day North American trip that will include visits to Guatemala and Mexico. Despite concerns about his stamina, he did walk down a long stairway from his plane to the tarmac. CNN's Frank Buckley joins us now live from Toronto. He's following the pope's visit. Frank, it was a pretty exciting afternoon there.</s>FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It really was, Wolf. Quite surprising to see the pope moving down that stairway, considering the concerns about the pope's health, the 82-year-old pontiff suffering from the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. We're told by church officials to not expect this moment. We were told that the pope would, in fact, deplane from behind the aircraft, would come down a scissors (ph) truck and would then eventually appear at the front of the aircraft, on the platform on which he is wheeled into the hanger. Instead, he came down those stairs on his own power, surprising everyone here. He then later spoke to a group of about 500 hundred guests at a hanger at the international airport, a group that included the prime minister, Jean Chretien.</s>POPE JOHN PAUL II: Too many lives begin and end without joy, without hope. That is one of the principal reasons for the World Youth Day.</s>BUCKLEY: After making his remarks, the pope then boarded a helicopter to be helicoptered to Strawberry Island, the retreat that is in the "cottage country" (ph) area of just north of Ontario. We're told that he actually requested a flyover of the location we're at, Exhibition Place. He, in fact, did do that and is now enjoying his vacation. Wolf?</s>BLITZER: Frank Buckley in beautiful Toronto, Canada. Thanks for joining us. Pope John Paul is the most traveled pope in history. He's completed 96 trips to more than 100 countries, including Cuba, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. He's circled the world at least 27 times, racking up a mileage total that would surpass a round trip from the earth to the moon. The pope is 82 years old, and his health problems are prompting speculation his traveling days may be nearing an end. Joining us now from Atlanta is CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. I know, Sanjay, that when you saw the pope walk down those stairs at the airport, you got a little nervous. Why?</s>DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'll tell you. Certainly, I think everyone was holding their breath as he was walking down the stairs. Certainly, we know the pope has fallen in the past, had some significant falls, one time broke his femur, which is his leg, and one time dislocated his shoulder. So he has fallen in the past. He also has strong symptoms of Parkinson's disease, as you can see, Wolf, and we've seen in the past, certainly with the tremor, with the rigidity, with the slowness, all these sorts of things. He also has a very stooped-over -- you can see it really good there, Wolf -- stooped-over gait, stooped over -- he -- in part, due to Parkinson's, in part due to significant arthritis -- all those things. Certainly, I was concerned, walking down that many steps, he might have some significant trouble. He obviously has a lot of help, but I think, like I said, Wolf, everyone was sort of holding their breath a bit during that.</s>BLITZER: I know I was. I'm sure all our viewers were watching it live here on CNN. But what does the pope risk at his age, with his health problems, 82 years old, undertaking these kinds of worldwide trips?</s>GUPTA: Right. Well, certainly, a -- you know, these long plane rides and this extensive schedule at anybody's age, especially 82, can be a big -- a big challenge. Certainly, the long plane ride, he risks having clots in his legs that could potentially go to his -- his lungs. We've heard of those DVT (ph). Even Vice President Al Gore got those when he was vice president, so certainly, someone at 82 even at more risk. When you're in a plane like that, you don't -- just don't have the access, the incredible access to medical facilities if something bad were to happen. When you have Parkinson's disease, you also have usually problems with blood pressure, sometimes problems with your heart, as well. And certainly, at that age, I think most doctors would probably be a little bit concerned about all that.</s>BLITZER: Sanjay, Let's take a look and show our viewers some of the other health problems the pope has had in recent years. In 1992, he had a tumor removed from his colon. In '93, he dislocated his shoulder. He had hip replacement surgery in '94. He had his appendix removed in 1996. As you mentioned, he's got Parkinson's. He's got severe arthritis. If he were your patient, what would you be advising him?</s>GUPTA: Well, I think, certainly, with all those things, really, again, at any age, I probably would not be advising him to be taking such extensive tours. I'd probably be telling him to -- to be getting rest. No question, the pope is unlike most 82-year-olds. He does have a -- a -- literally, an army of people to help him out and get him from place to place. But still, I think that just -- that's an extensive toll on somebody, on their heart, on their bones, with his arthritis, with the Parkinson's disease. I probably would not be telling him to engage in such a tour that he's got planned, all these countries.</s>BLITZER: He's a very independent-minded thinker, though, and his doctors may be giving him the same advice, but he's doing what he wants to do. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks for your advice, as always. And here's your chance to weigh in on this story. Our Web question of the day is this: Given Pope John Paul's health, should he have made this trip? Go to my Web page, cnn.com/wolf. That's where you can vote. While you're there, let me know what you're thinking. Send me your comments. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also, by the way, where you can read my daily on-line column, cnn.com/wolf. In Detroit, Michigan, a human rights group is calling for a federal investigation into anti-Islamic graffiti. The group says the slurs were the work of federal agents who searched the home of a man charged with trying to the enter the United States with some $12 million in phony cashier's checks. The man's brother says he found the words, "Islam is evil" and "Christ is king," written on a Muslim prayer calendar on the refrigerator. If you're a non-citizen but living legally in the United States, you need to know this. The Justice Department is cracking down. Non- citizens who don't register their addresses, as the law has long required, face possible deportation. Up to 11 million U.S. residents could be affected, and some are outraged. CNN national correspondent Gary Tuchman has one man's story.</s>GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Chang Kim is living the American dream. He moved to Atlanta 11 years ago from South Korea and is now a legal U.S. resident who owns seven clothing stores. But he is not yet a U.S. citizen. (on camera): So that's the article right there.</s>CHANG KIM, BUSINESS OWNER: Yeah. Uh-huh. This one here.</s>TUCHMAN (voice-over): So when he read this article in a Korean- American newspaper that mentioned non-citizens and "cracking down," in the same sentence, he was taken aback.</s>KIM: I'm really angry and that's -- that's not just -- we don't have freedom.</s>TUCHMAN: The U.S. Justice Department says it will now tighten enforcement of a mostly ignored law that all non-citizens, no matter how long they've been in the U.S., must register their address and all address changes. The goal, to help prevent terrorism. Chang Kim says he's upset because he's a taxpayer who works seven days a week, who is now being treated like a terrorist. (on camera): You think it's fair?</s>KIM: Not fair. Not fair.</s>TUCHMAN (voice-over): Many non-citizens are concerned it will be held against them that they haven't registered their address before. The government says that's not the case, but adds, in this post-9/11 world, legal immigrants could be deported if they don't do so now. Some immigration attorneys say the law is not unfair, but...</s>DALE SCHWARTZ, IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY: If this is an attempt to thwart terrorism in some way, it's pretty obvious that real terrorists are not going to bother to notify the government of their address changes.</s>TUCHMAN (on camera): So how can the overburdened INS possibly keep track of all the addresses that will likely start rolling in now? Well, we don't know because, if there's a plan, it hasn't been announced yet. (voice-over): There's also the matter of informing INS employees of this new enforcement. At the Atlanta INS office, workers were not aware of it until we told them. Gary Tuchman, CNN, Atlanta.</s>BLITZER: Ransom demands are being made for a 7-year-old girl snatched by two men. We'll go live to Philadelphia for the latest in the search for Erica Pratt. Plus, crime fighter John Walsh explains how to keep your kids safe. Also, forced back to work after a sunny retirement. Seniors hit hard by the tanking markets. And meet the love of your life on line. The national push to boost adoption. Stay with us. Which of the following moms are adoptive parents? Connie Chung, Jamie Lee Curtis, Rosie O'Donnell, Judy Woodruff? The answer coming up.