TONIGHT ON "NEWSWATCH," A
TOP al-QAEDA LEADER IN AN
AMERICAN COURT.
WHY THE TERROR CASE AGAINST
OSAMA BIN LADEN'S SON-IN-LAW
IS BEING FOUGHT IN NEW
YORK.
Wendy: PLUS, PREPARING
TO PICK THE POPE.
WE'LL LOOK AT WHEN THE
CONCLAVE TO ELECT THE NEXT
CATHOLIC LEADER WILL BEGIN.
Mark: AND A
BIRD-WATCHER'S PARADISE IN
THE MIDDLE EAST.
WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU
WHERE AND WHY IT HAS BECOME
A HUGE PHENOMENON.
ALL OF THIS AND MORE TONIGHT
ON "NEWSWATCH."
Mark: OSAMA BIN LADEN'S
SON-IN-LAW MAKES HIS FIRST
APPEARANCE IN AN AMERICAN
COURTROOM.
GOOD EVENING, I'M MARK
MARTIN.
Wendy: AND I'M WENDY
GRIFFITH.
SULAIMAN ABU GHAITH WAS
CAPTURED EARLIER THIS YEAR.
HE IS ONE OF al-QAEDA'S
MOST SENIOR LEADERS.
Mark: HE APPEARED TODAY
IN NEW YORK FEDERAL COURT TO
FACE TERROR CHARGES, A MOVE
THAT SOME LAWMAKERS SAY
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
Reporter: IN THIS
VIDEO, SULAIMAN ABU GHAITH,
WHO SERVED AS al-QAEDA'S
SPOKESMAN CELEBRATES THE
9/11 ATTACKS ON THE U.S.
PROSECUTORS SAY HE WARNED
THERE WILL BE MORE.
IN FEDERAL COURT, HE PLEADED
NOT GUILTY TO A CHARGE HE
CONSPIRED TO KILL
AMERICANS.
OFFICIALS TELL ABC NEWS HE
DID NOT HOLD BACK WHEN IT
CAME TO REVEALING KEY
INTELLIGENCE ABOUT
AL-QAEDA'S CURRENT STATUS,
PERSONNEL, AND FINANCES.
ONE U.S. PROSECUTORS SAY
SULAIMAN ABU GHAITH MADE AN
EXTENSIVE STATEMENT THAT
WAS 22 PAGES LONG.
THIS IS A MAN WHO WAS IN
THE INNER CIRCLE OF
al-QAEDA'S OPERATIONS, AND
WE HAVE HIM ALIVE AND HE IS
TALKING.
Reporter: ACCORDING TO
U.S. OFFICIALS, THE C.I.A.
TRACKED HIS MOVEMENT FOR
SEVERAL YEARS, FROM
AFGHANISTAN TO IRAN TO
TURKEY, WHERE HE WAS
ARRESTED IN JANUARY.
ONCE HE LEFT IRANIAN
TERRITORY AND GOT INTO
TURKEY, WITH VERY CLOSE
MONITORING BY U.S.
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, HE
WAS -- HIS DAYS WERE
NUMBERED.
Reporter: THIS IS ONE
OF THE FIRST PROSECUTIONS OF
A SENIOR al-QAEDA LEADER
ON U.S. SOIL.
SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFFICE,
PRESIDENT OBAMA PLEDGED TO
TRY TERROR SUSPECTS LIKE
THIS IN FEDERAL COURT,
INSTEAD OF BEFORE A MILITARY
TRIBUNAL AT GUANTANAMO BAY,
A DECISION THAT BAFFFLES
SOME LAWMAKERS.
WE'RE NOW SETTING A NEW
PRECEDENT THAT WILL COME
BACK TO BITE US.
YOU'RE PUTTING PEOPLE LIKE
THIS INTO FEDERAL COURT,
GIVING THEM THE SAME
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AS AN
AMERICAN CITIZEN.
Reporter: THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION SAYS NATIONAL
SECURITY OFFICIALS
UNANIMOUSLY AGREED TO
PROSECUTE SULAIMAN ABU
GHAITH IN CIVILIAN COURT,
SAYING IT IS THE BEST MOVE
FOR U.S. SECURITY.
NOW, THE JUDGE PLANS TO SET
A TRIAL DATE ON THE NEXT
CONFERENCE ON THE CASE.
THAT CONFERENCE IS SCHEDULED
FOR APRIL 8th.
PROSECUTORS BELIEVE THE
TRIAL WILL LAST ABOUT THREE
WEEKS.
Wendy: ERIC STACKELBACK
JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.
ERIC, PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS
BEEN PUSHING TO HAVE
TERRORISM SUSPECTS TRIED IN
U.S. FEDERAL COURTS SINCE
2009.
WHY DOES HE WANT THIS?
I THINK IT IS A BIG
MISTAKE, WENDY.
HE BELIEVES THAT THIS
SO-CALLED WAR ON TERROR, THE
WAR WITH RADICAL ISLAM, OR
THEIR WAR AGAINST US, SHOULD
BE SETTLED IN FEDERAL COURT
BECAUSE HE BELIEVES, WENDY,
IT IS A CRIMINAL MATTER.
IT IS NOT A WAR.
GUANTANAMO BAY, WHICH HE AND
OTHERS ON THE DEMOCRATIC
SIDE HAVE SAID THEY WANT TO
CLOSE -- LOOK, THEY WANT TO
PUT THESE TERRORISTS IN
FRONT OF MILITARY TRIBUNALS
THERE AND TREAT THEM AS
ENEMY COMBATANTS IN THE
BATTLEFIELD, WHICH IS REALLY
WHAT THEY ARE.
THINK OF GERMANY, 1945, THE
NURENBURG TRIALS, THAT'S
WHAT I BELIEVE WE NEED FOR
al-QAEDA AND THE GLOBAL
JIHADISTS, BUT THE PRESIDENT
AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE
A MUCH DIFFERENT VIEW.
AND THEY WANT THESE GUYS
TRIED WITH COMMON CRIMINALS,
WE HEINOUS MURDERS AND
RAPISTS, BUT THEY'RE NOT ON
THE BATTLEGROUND.
I DON'T THINK IT IS A GOOD
MATCH TO HAVE THEM IN
FEDERAL COURTS, AND IT MAKES
THE FEDERAL COURTS A TARGET
FOR TERRORISTS.
THAT'S THE OTHER DOWNSIDE
FOR HER.
Wendy: THE PRESIDENT
HAS SAID SINCE THE FIRST
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, THAT
HE WANTS TO CLOSE GITMO.
IS HE ANY CLOSER TO DOING
THAT?
IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT
WAY.
I THINK HE WENT IN WITH A
LOT OF GRANDIOSE PLANS, TO
DO AWAY WITH A LOT OF THE
BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S
TACTICS IN THE WAR ON
TERROR.
WELL, WELL, HE IS USING
THOSE SAME TACTICS, EVEN
MORE SO IN THE CASE OF DRONE
STRIKES AGAINST al-QAEDA,
AND HE HAS KEPT GUANTANAMO
BAY OPEN AS WELL, WHICH HAS
ANGERED HIS LEFTIST BASE.
BUT WHERE ELSE IS HE GOING
TO PUT THEM?
IS HE GOING TO PUT THEM IN
FEDERAL PRISONS IN THE
U.S.?
IT IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY
BECAUSE IN THIS SECOND TERM
WE'RE SEEING THAT THE
PRESIDENT FEELS HE HAS NO
RESTRAINRS, SO IT IS A
POSSIBILITY, BUT RIGHT NOW
GUANTANAMO BAY IS GOING TO
STAY OPEN FOR THE
FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
Wendy: IF SULAIMAN ABU
GHAITH WAS CONVICTED, HE
WOULD BE IN A FEDERAL
PRISON?
IT LOOKS THAT WAY.
THERE ARE OTHER al-QAEDA
REPRESENTATIVES IN PRISON,
YOU THINK OF THE BLIND
SHEIKH, HE IS IN THE FEDERAL
PRISON IN NORTH CAROLINA.
SO THERE IS A PRECEDENT
HERE.
AND OTHER al-QAEDA
JIHADISTS ARE IN FEDERAL
PRISONS.
BUT I BELIEVE THE BEST WAY
TO DO THIS, AND THE PENTAGON
AND OUR MILITARY IS SAYING,
THAT MILITARY TRIBUNALS ARE
THE WAY TO GO.
TREAT THESE GUYS AS ENEMY
COMPATANTS IN THE
BATTLEFIELD.
THE BLIND SHAKE SHAC SHEIKH
SHAKE WAS ARRESTED 20 YEARS
AGO.
TREAT THESE ONES NOW AS WAR
IN THE UNITED STATES, JUST
AS THE NAZIS WERE TREATED IN
1945.
Wendy: ALL RIGHT, ERICK
STAKLEBECK, WE ALWAYS
APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHTS.
Mark: NORTH KOREA'S
GOVERNMENT IS VOWING TO END
ALL NON-AGGRESSION PACKS
WITH THE SOUTH.
THEY SAY BEGINNING ON
MONDAY, A NORTH-SOUTH HOT
LINE WILL BE CUT OFF.
THIS LATEST THREAT IS IN
RESPONSE TO NEW UNITED
NATIONS' SANCTIONS OVER LAST
MONTH'S NUCLEAR TEST IN
NORTH KOREA.
IT COMES JUST ONE DAY AFTER
PYONGYANG WARNED IT WOULD
MAKE A PREEMPTIVE NUCLEAR
STRIKE AGAINST THE U.S.
Wendy: THE VATICAN SAS
THE CONCLAVE TO ELECT A NEW
POPE WILL BEGIN NEXT
TUESDAY.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME TODAY
AFTER THE LAST CARDINAL
ELECT ARRIVED LAST NIGHT.
IN THE PAST, IT HAS LASTED
NO MORE THAN FIVE DAYS, BUT
WITH NO CLEAR FRONT-RUNNER,
THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE
THIS TIME AROUND.
THAT MEANS THE PEOPLE
WELL-KNOWN IN ROME.
THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE
ITALIANS.
Wendy: MANY
VATICAN-BASED CARDINALS HAVE
BEEN PUSHING FOR A
QUICK-DECISION-MAKING
PROCESS, BUT THAT MAY BE TO
LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF DIRTY
LAUNDRY BEING AIRED.
Mark: THE FORMER STATE
FUNERAL OF HUGO CHAVEZ WAS
HELD IN THE COUNTRY OF
CARACUS.
LEADERS FROM FIVE CONTINENTS
WERE ON HAND FOR THE
CEREMONY.
COUNTRIES FROM CHINA TO IRAN
HAVE UNCHARACTERISTICALLY
DECLARED DAYS OF NATIONAL
MOURNING FOR THE LATE
LEADER.
Wendy: HERE AT HOME,
FORMER PRESIDENT BILL
CLINTON SAYS THE SUPREME
COURT SHOULD OVER TURN THE
DEFENSIVE MARRIAGE ACT
CALLED DOMA.
HE SIGNED THAT LAW IN 1996,
WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT, AND
IT SAYS THAT MARRIAGE IS
BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE
WOMAN.
IT SAYS A STATE WHERE IT IS
ILLEGAL DOESN'T HAVE TO
RECOGNIZE A MARRIAGE FROM
ANOTHER STATE.
IT MEANS GAY MARRIAGE
PARTNERS DO NOT BELIEVE THE
BENEFITS.
BUT HE WRITES HE NOW
BELIEVES THE LAW
DISCRIMINATES AGAINST
SAME-SEX COUPLES AND CALLS
IT UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
SUPERIOR COURT WILL HEAR
CASES, INCLUDING DOMA, ON
MARCH 1st.
Mark: THE UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE WAS REDUCED TO 7.7%,
THE LOWEST RATE IN FOUR
YEARS.
THE AUTO SALES AND HOUSING
ARE SPURRING MORE HIRING.
Wendy: THE SENATE PANEL
APPROVES THE NEW GUN
LEGISLATION SINCE THE DEADLY
SHOOTING IN JANUARY.
IT'S WHEN PEOPLELY LEGALLY
BUY GUNS FOR OTHERS WHO ARE
BARRED FROM DOING SO, SUCH
AS CRIMINALS.
THE PANEL ALSO DEBATED BILLS
BANNING ASSAULT WEAPONS AND
HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES, BUT
THEY RECESSED BEFORE VOTING
ON ANYMORE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION.
WELL, WHILE MANY OF US TEND
TO THINK OF GUNS AS A GUY
THING, IT MAY SURPRISE YOU
TO LEARN WOMEN ACTUALLY MAKE
UP THE FASTEST GROWING
SEGMENT OF U.S. GUN OWNERS.
Mark: GUN STORES AND
SHOOTING RANGES ARE CASHING
IN ON THE TREND BY OFFERING
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE
LADIES.
ANDREW NEGARRET HAS THE
STORY.
Reporter: IN
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO,
THIS SHOOTING CENTER HAS
SEEN A 40% SURGE IN FEMALE
COSTUMERS IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS.
IT IS EMPOWERING FOR A
FEMALE TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT
HERSELF WITH THIS PARTICULAR
TOOL.
Reporter: LINDSAY IS A
FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR AT CAL
BERS CALIBERS, AND SHE
TEACHES A LADIES-ONLY
CLASS.
WE STICK WITH HANDGUNS.
Reporter: IT IS A TREND
REFLECTED ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
IN 2005, JUST 13% OF U.S.
GUN OWNERS WERE WOMEN.
TODAY THAT NUMBER IS 23%, A
77% INCREASE IN THE LAST
SEVEN YEARS.
WHILE WOMEN ARE SHOWING MORE
INTEREST IN SHOOTING SPORTS
THESE DAYS, MOST WOMEN WILL
TELL YOU THEY'RE BUYING A
GUN FOR ANOTHER REASON:
SELF-DEFENSE.
SHE SAYS MANY OF HER
STUDENTS ARE SINGLE WOMEN,
AS WELL AS SINGLE MOMS, WHO
DIDN'T THINK PEPPERSPRAY OR
WHISTLES OFFER ENOUGH
PROTECTION.
ESPECIALLY THE SINGLE
MOTHERS WHO ARE BY
THEMSELVES.
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY
CAN HANDLE WHATEVER THEY
NEED TO HANDLE.
IT IS JUST A FACT FOR ME,
IF I NEEDED IT, IT WOULD BE
THERE AS A LAST RESORT.
Reporter: ANDREA
GARRETT, CBN NEWS.
Wendy: PRESIDENT OBAMA
IS COURTING EVANGELICALS TO
HELP HIM PASS IMMIGRATION
REFORMS.
HE MET TODAY WITH A DOZEN
FAITH LEADERS AT THE WHITE
HOUSE.
HE IS URGING THEM TO MAKE
REFORM A PRIORITY.
THE HISPANIC ASSOCIATION'S
REVEREND SAMUEL RODRIGUEZ
SAYS, QUOTE,"TODAY'S MEETING
INVIGORATED ME WITH HOPE AND
OPTIMISM."
IT FACILITATES THE
PRESCRIPTION FOR A
COMPREHENSIVE REVOLUTION.
"I AM CONVINCED WITH PRAYER
AND PROPHETIC ACTIVISM, WE
WILL LIVE OUT MATTHEW 25 AND
WELCOME THE STRANGER IN THE
NAME OF JESUS."
I'MGRATION REFORIMMIGRATION
REFORM IS ONE OF PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S TOP PRIORITIES.
Mark: BECAUSE OF
ANTI-AMERICAN AND
ANTI-SCHEMIC COMMENTS POSTED
ON HER TWITTER ACCOUNTS --
SHE WAS GOING TO BE ONE OF
10 RECIPIENTS OF THE
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF
COURAGE AWARD, BUT THEY
FOUND THAT SHE SUPPORTED THE
ATTACK ON THE U.S. CON SLATE
CONSULATE.
SHE SUPPORTED A BUS ATTACK
THAT KILLED FIVE ISRAELIS,
AND SHE ATTRIBUTED ALL
CRIMES AGAINST SIGH TO
JEWS.
SHE DENIES WRITING THE
MESSAGES AND CLAIMS HER
TWITTER ACCOUNT WAS HACKED.
ILLINOIS SENATOR MARK KIRK
CALLS THAT CLAIM DUBIOUS,
AND SHE REFUSES TO APOLOGIZE
FOR HER ANTI ANTI-ZIONIST
STATEMENTS.
Wendy: THEY CAN'T GET A
BREAK IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
THE POWER STORM IS SET TO
HIT NEW ENGLAND.
IT IS EXPECTED TO BRING
STRONG SNOW AND WINDS AND
WATER TO THE COASTAL
REGION.
COASTAL TOWNS IN
MASSACHUSETTS ARE BRACING
FOR SOME DANGEROUS WAVES.
ONCE THESE SEAS BUILD,
THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP
BUILDING.
TWO HOURS AFTER HIGH
TIDE, AND IT IS JUST STILL
COMING IN.
SO THE NEXT THREE TIDE
CYCLES, I'LL TAKE WATER ON
IN THE BASEMENT.
Wendy: CENTRAL
IMAGINATION AND PARTS OF
RHODE ISLAND COULD SEE
ANYWHERE FROM EIGHT TO
12 INCHES OF SNOW.
IN CONNECTICUT, THEY'RE
EXPECTING ABOUT SIX INCHES.
Mark: COMING UP, WHAT
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE MADI.
JOEL ROSENBERG REVEALS ALL
IN HIS END-TIMES THRILLER.
Wendy: JOEL ROSENBERG,
HE WRITES BOOKS THAT NOT
ONLY ENTERTAINING, THEY'RE
OFTEN PROPHETIC.
Mark: AND HE HAS DONE
IT AGAIN IN HIS NEW
BACK, "DAMASCUS
COUNTSDOWN."
Reporter: IT IS AN
ADRENALIN-CHARGED THRILLER,
RIPPED FROM NEW YORK
HEADLINES.
HE OFFERS THE THIRD AND
FINAL INSTALLMENT IN THE
12th IMAM SERIES.
ALL EYES ARE ON THE MIDDLE
EAST, AS ISRAEL LAUNCHES AN
ATTACK ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR
SITES.
IRAN'S 12th IMAM ORDERS A
FULL RETALIATION.
C.I.A. OPERATIVE DAVID
SHERATTI IS ON A MISSION TO
HUNT DOWN IRAN'S TWO YEE
REMAINING WARHEADS AIMED AT
ISRAEL.
CAN HE PREVENT A NUCLEAR
HOLOCAUST AS SYRIA ENTERS
THE PICTURE, AND IRAN PLANS
A GENOCIDAL RETALIATION.
Mark: JOEL ROSENBERG
HAS A KNACK FOR WRITING.
HERE I HAVE A COPY OF THE
BOOK.
IT STARTS WITH ISRAEL
LAUNCHING A PREEMPTIVE
STRIKE AGAINST IRAN'S
NUCLEAR FACILITIES.
WOULD YOU SAY THAT'S A VERY
LIKELY POSSIBILITY?
I THINK WE'RE GETTING
INTO THE END GAME NOW.
AND THAT MEANS A STRIKE
COULD COME IN THE NEXT FEW
WEEKS, MONTHS.
IT'S HARD TO SAY.
BUT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT
2013 AS THE YEAR OF THE END
GAME.
Mark: IF PUSH COMES TO
SHOVE, DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WOULD
SUPPORT ISRAEL, OR DO YOU
THINK THEY WOULD DISTANCE
THEMSELVES IF A PREEMPTIVE
STRIKE HAPPENS?
THE PRESIDENT'S HAS BEEN
CLEAR SO FAR HE DOES NOT
WANT TO SEE A PREEMPTIVE
STRIKE BY ISRAEL, AND HE
DOES NOT PLAN ONE HIMSELF.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER HE
WOULD GIVE A GREEN LIGHT TO
ISRAEL TO TAKE THAT STRIKE,
OR WOULD HE SAY, IF YOU DO
THAT, I WILL CUT OFF FUNDING
OR SOME TYPE OF BREAK WOULD
HAPPEN IN OUR RELATIONSHIP.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT
IS CLEAR RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S WHAT CONCERNS THE
ISRAELIS.
THEY WANT CLARITY AS IRAN
GETS CLOSER TO THE RED LINE
THAT NETANYAHU HAS SAID IF
THEY CROSS IT, WE'RE GOING
TO WAR.
Mark: LET'S TALK A
LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT
CONFUSION AND RELATE IT TO
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
IT SAYS IT SUPPORTS ISRAEL,
BUT DO THE ACTIONS BACK UP
THE RHETORIC?
IT IS A MIXED BAG.
I DON'T THINK IT IS FAIR TO
SAY THAT THE PRESIDENT IS
ANTI-ISRAEL, AND MANY
PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY MANY
CHRISTIANS, BELIEVE THAT,
BUT THE PRESIDENT HAS
SUPPORTED FUNDING FOR THE
MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM
CALLED THE ARROW, IN
ISRAEL.
AND HE HAS SUPPORTED FUNDING
FOR THE ROCKET DEFENSE
SYSTEM CALLED THE IRON
DOME.
THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T CONDEMN
ISRAEL WHEN IT HAD TO GO TO
WAR AGAINST HAMAS TERRORIST
ORGANIZATION IN GAZA.
BUT THE PRESIDENT WANTS
NETANYAHU TO DIVIDE
JERUSALEM.
THE PRESIDENT WANTS ISRAEL
TO WITHDRAW TO THE 1967
BORDERS AND CREATE A
SOVEREIGN PALESTINIAN
STATE.
EVEN THOSE '67 BORDERS ARE
NOT DEFENSIBLE.
AND THE PRESIDENT HAS
PRESSURED ISRAEL NOT TO GO
TO WAR WITH IRAN, TO WAIT,
KEEP WAITING, EVEN THOUGH
ISRAEL FACES THE POTENTIAL
OF A NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST.
SO THAT IS A MIXED BAG:
POSITIVE IN SOME AREAS, BUT
VERY PROBLEMATIC IN OTHERS.
Mark: QUICKLY, WHAT DO
YOU THINK IS THE VERY NEXT
STEP ISRAEL MAY TAKE?
THE MAIN THING ISRAEL
WILL DO NEXT IS WAIT TO HEAR
FROM THE PRESIDENT, WHERE
ARE YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, ON
AN IRAN STRIKE?
AND ALSO DEALING WITH THE
MELTDOWN OF SYRIA, WHICH HAS
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL
WEAPONS, WHICH WOULD COULD
FALL INTO THE HANDS OF IRAN
OR OTHER ENEMIES OF ISRAEL.
SO THE NEXT FEW WEEKS THE
WHOLE WORLD IS GOING TO BE
TALKING ABOUT ISRAEL, IRAN,
AND SYRIA, BECAUSE THE
PRESIDENT IS GOING TO MAKE
THAT FRONT AND CENTER.
I THINK DAMASCUS
COUNTDOWNDOWCOUNTDOWN IS
ONE FICTIONAL SCENARIO OF
HOW IT COULD PLAY OUT.
I HOPE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN
THAT WAY.
WE NEED TO PRAY FOR ISRAEL.
Mark: AMEN.
THE BOOK IS "DAMASCUS
COUNTDOWN," BY JOEL
ROSENBERG.
JOEL, IT IS ALWAYS A
PLEASURE.
THANK YOU, MARK.
ALWAYS APPRECIATE IT.
Wendy: UP NEXT,
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF
BIRDS STOP IN ISRAEL.
WE'LL TELL YOU WHY THEY'RE
FLOCKING TO THE HOLL HOLLY
LAND.
HOHOL LY LAND.
Mark: MOST NEWS OUT OF
THE MIDDLE EAST DEALS WITH
VIOLENCE AND UNREST, BUT IT
IS ALSO A PLACE OF GREAT
BEAUTY AND NATURAL WONDERS.
Wendy: SURE IS, AND
EVERY YEAR ABOUT A HALF A
BILLION BIRDS MAG GRITE
MIGRATE THROUGH ISRAEL.
Reporter: THE HULA
VALLEY HOSTS MILLIONS OF
BIRDS AND THOUSANDS OF
VISITORS EACH YEAR.
THIS IS ONE OF THE
RICHEST SITES IN THE WORLD
FOR BIRD-WATCHING.
ISRAEL SORT OF IS A
JUNCTION BETWEEN THREE
CONTINENTS, AND BIRDS THAT
ARE ESSENTIALLY TRYING TO
AVOID HIGH MOUNTAINS AND
GREAT EXPANS EXPANSES OF
WATER, THEY FLY THROUGH
SPECIFIC FLYWAYS.
Reporter: SOME OF THE
BIRDS FLY 2,000 MILES IN
THREE TO FIVE DAYS WITHOUT A
MEAL.
THEY FLY FROM EUROPE TO ASIA
TO AFRICA.
FOR MANY, ISRAEL IS THE HALF
WAY POINT.
THAT POINT IS THE HULA
VALLEY, PART OF A 3,500-MILE
STRETCH FROM SYRIA TO
MOZAMBIQUE.
THE BIBLE MENTIONS THE BIRD
MIGRATION AS A METAPHOR.
EVEN THE STORK AND THE SKY
KNOW THE SEASON, AND THEY
OBSERVE THE TIME OF THEIR
MIGRATION.
SOME 400 SPECIES OF BIRDS
STOP FOR REFUELING, AND A
FRACTION EVEN WINTERS HERE,
INCLUDING 30,000 TO 45,000
CRANES.
LESSONING TO THEM TALK, ONE
CAN UNDERSTAND WHY KING
HEZAKIAH SAYS HE CHATTERED
LIKE A CRANE.
IN FACT, IT IS NOT JUST
NOISE.
EXPERTS SAY CRANE PARENTS
AND CHICKS CAN ACTUALLY
RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER'S
VOICES.
20 YEARS AGO, THEY WERE
HARDLY ANY CRANES HERE
BECAUSE THE NATURAL SWAMPS
WOULD DRAIN FOR FARMLAND.
THE GROUND DIDN'T WORK FOR
AGRICULTURE, HOWEVER, SO THE
EXPERTS RESTORED PART OF THE
LAKE.
THE ANSWER WAS TO
ESSENTIALLY GIVE IT BACK TO
NATURE.
SO THE PROJECT HAS GONE SORT
OF IN A CIRCLE.
AND WE'RE BACK TO TRYING TO
RENOVATE, TRYING TO SORT OF
REPRODUCE WHAT EXISTED HERE
IN THE PAST.
Reporter: THAT AND A
SPECIAL FEEDING PROJECT
BROUGHT THE CRANES BACK,
ALONG WITH THE VISITORS.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT BIRDS,
ABOUT NATURE, AND I THINK
THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A
BIRD-LOVER WHEN YOU ARE
COMING HERE, BUT YOU ARE
DEFINITELY A BIRD-LOVER WHEN
YOU ARE GOING OUT OF THIS
SITE.
Reporter: VISITORS FROM
THE RESERVE CAN RIDE THE
SAFARI WAGON INTO THE MIDST
OF THE CRANES.
GUIDES SAY THERE IS NO PLACE
ELSE IN THE WORLD TO SEE SO
MANY CRANES IN SUCH A SMALL
AREA.
AND BIRD-WATCHERS COME FROM
ALL OVER TO SEE THE
PHENOMENON.
I DON'T EVEN CARE IF YOU
LIKE BIRDS.
YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS
AND COME AND SEE THOUSANDS
AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS
OF CRANES.
IF YOU'RE A BIRDER, I
DON'T THINK YOU COULD FIND A
BETTER PLACE TO COME TO SEE
THE VARIETY OF SPECIES, AS
WELL AS THE ATMOSPHERE AND
THE BEAUTY OF THE PLACE.
IT IS JUST UNRIVALLED IN ANY
PLACE IN THE WORLD.
Reporter: FOR NOW,
THESE CRANES ARE GETTING
READY FOR THE LONG FLIGHT
BACK TO RUSSIA OR FINLAND
FOR THE SUMMER, BUT THEY'LL
BE BACK NEXT YEAR, ALONG
WITH THE BIRD-LOVERS.
CHRIS MITCHELL, CBN NEWS,
AGAMAN, HULA.
Wendy: UP NEXT, THEY
MAY BE JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO
YOUNG TO WED, BUT AS ONE
ELEMENTARY TEACHER PUTS IT,
THEY'RE NEVER TOO YOUNG TO
LEARN THEIR ALPHABET.
Mark: A KANSAS TEACHER
IS THINKING OUTSIDE THE
BOX.
Wendy: AND GIVING
STUDENTS A LESSON ON THE
ALPHABET THEY WILL NEVER
FORGET.
I LIKE TO THINK OUTSIDE
THE BOX, AND CREATIVITY IS
PROBABLY ONE OF MY BIGGEST
STRENGTHS.
WE DO A LETTER A WEEK.
I KNOW TWO OF YOU GO
TOGETHER, SO THEY'VE GOT TO
GET MARRIED.
Wendy: THE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL TEACHER, NICKY MEYER,
PLANNED A WEDDING FOR HER
CLASS ALL TO CELEBRATE THE
SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
THE LETTERS "Q" AND "U" IN
THE ALPHABET.
STUDENTS DRESSED UP, AND
SOME WERE IN THE MOCK BRIDAL
PARTY, AND FAMILY AND
FRIENDS WERE INVITED FROM
THE RECEPTION TO THE CAKE
AND THE PUNCH.
MYERS SAYS THE HARDEST PART
OF THE DAY WAS FINDING A
KINDERGARTEN BOY TO PLAY THE
GROOM.
HE LOOKED MORE LIKE A
PILGRIM, BUT HE WAS WEARING
THE "Q."
I GET IT.
Mark: I'M GLAD IT
WASN'T "Q" AND "Q," I'M GLAD
IT WAS "Q" AND "U".
Wendy: LET'S KEEP
