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CNN Live Sunday

President Bush To Visit Ohio, Michigan; Swiss Enineering Firm Pulls Workers From Saudi Arabia

Aired May 02, 2004 - 16:00   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.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. military says an American civilian contractor is free and well after his second escape from Iraqi captors. Thomas Hamill was recaptured once. Today, he slipped out again and found U.S. troops. More on this story in a moment.
Israel says a building that its helicopter gunships fired on today housed a Hamas radio station used to incite violence. The strike followed a Palestinian attack that killed a pregnant woman and her four children in Gaza.

And the U.S. says a mortar attack in western Iraq has killed 6 American soldiers and wounded 30. It happened near the town of Ramadi. Three U.S. troops were killed in 2 other attacks in Iraq today.

We want to begin now with Thomas Hamill, the U.S. contractor taken hostage in Iraq last month. He's now free, in good health and has quite a story to tell.

A preliminary report says he escaped from his captors by prying open a door and running to a U.S. patrol passing by. Few details had been released about the ambush that lead to his ordeal. Here's what we do know.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN (voice-over): Thomas Hamill was driving a fuel truck for Halliburton's subsidiary KBR on April 9 when gunmen ambushed his convoy near Baghdad.

The father of two had taken the job in Iraq in part to pay for heart surgery for his wife. Arab TV network al Jazeera aired pictures of Hamill in front of the old Iraqi flag.

On the tape, an apparent captor could be heard threatening to kill him unless U.S. troops pulled out of the Fallujah by April 10. That deadline came and went without word of Hamill's fate.

In his hometown of Macon, Mississippi, a prayer vigil began. The community put up yellow ribbons and flew flags in a show of support for Hamill and his worried family. The next week, his wife Kellie mounted a media campaign for his release.

KELLIE HAMILL, THOMAS HAMILL'S WIFE: Hello, my name is Kellie Hamill. I would first like to say to my husband Tommy, we love and miss you very much. We would also like to say to the persons who are holding him captive, our hopes that you will release him unharmed and as soon as possible.

NGUYEN: On April 14, the Hamill family was shaken by news insurgents had killed one of four Italian hostages, four other Halliburton contractors had been found dead. Hope appeared to be fading for Hamill's safe return, but 23 days after his capture, Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt announced Hamill is free and in good health.

BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY: Today, at 10:20 hours, Mr. Tommy Hamill an employee of Kellogg, Brown and Root was recovered by U.S. forces south of Tikrit. He is in good health. He was reported missing after his convoy was ambushed on 9 April.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Hostages still in Iraq include U.S. Private 1st Class Keith Maupin and American civilians Tim Bell and William Bradley, two Canadian businessmen and three Italian security personnel. Also being held, a French reporter, a German embassy security official and a Geordanian businessman.

Well, it has been a day of joy and relief in Macon, Mississippi. Thomas Hamill's hometown is buzzing with excitement at the news of his freedom and, of course, his family is ecstatic.

Our Mike Brooks is in Macon where Hamill's family held a news conference a short time ago. And Mike, I imagine everyone is breathing a big sigh of relief there.

MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That they are, Betty. I spoke to the fire chief here, Charlie Fralie, who actually put up a flag on the Hamill home when they found out that Tom was safe. Actually they call him Tommy, everybody has been calling him Thomas, be he says everyone here in Macon calls him Tommy. They said they had been on pins and needles.

His wife Kellie found out about 5:30 this morning from Kellogg, Brown and Root that he was safe and in U.S. coalition forces hands. We heard from her a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

K. HAMILL: First off, I want to thank y'all for all coming. The family appreciates everything. I want to let you know I have spoke with my husband, he is fine, he's doing well. We have no more information on when he'll be coming home. He said he is doing great, he misses the family.

We also want to thank everybody for their prayers, their support. We're still praying for the families that we have no information on. The soldier that's in captivity, we're going to pray and hope that they get the same good news that we have received.

Oh. But I want to thank everybody for the support they have given us at this time, but he is fine, he's doing real well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROOKS: Kellie said when she spoke to her husband, he told her he heard a convoy go by ran about a half mile down the road, caught up with the convoy and identified himself.

She said the town officials are planning a parade when he gets home. Some of the neighbor kids and neighbors here right after we got here at the house, they were putting up yellow balloons in celebration, but it's kind of bittersweet, Betty, she says they are still praying for the families for the men who have not come back yet -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. Mike brooks, in Macon, Mississippi, we thank you.

Well, one American is out of harm's way. Nine others lost their lives in Iraq today in three separate attacks. The deadliest happened near Ramadi, 6 U.S. soldiers were killed and 30 wounded. CNN's Ben Wedeman has more on Thomas Hamill's return to freedom and the continuing violence.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These were the last pictures of American contractor Thomas Hamill. In a video released by his kidnappers, a voice off camera threatens to kill Hamill if U.S. forces didn't lift their siege of Fallujah within 12 hours. Twenty-two days later, Hamill reappeared near the town of Belek (ph) south of Tikrit.

BRIG, GEN. MARK KIMMIT: He came out of a building, identified himself to American soldiers. It looked like it was an escape. This is a preliminary reports that we have would indicate that he escaped from the building when he saw the American forces, identified himself and was subsequently recovered.

WEDEMAN: The day of his abduction, his kidnappers showed him off to an Australian television crew. Hamill, a 43-year-old contract worker from Macon, Mississippi, was nabbed following an attack on a fuel convoy outside Baghdad on April 9. At least four contract workers with the Halliburton subsidiary and one U.S. soldier were killed in the attack.

Private Keith Maupin was also kidnapped in the attack and remains in captivity, last seen in a video on al Jazeera, the Arabic satellite news channel.

News of Hamill's return is eclipsed, however, by continued fighting. Over the weekend, at least 11 U.S. troops were killed in attacks around the country. And in Fallujah, a force made up of former members of Saddam Hussein's army, is taking up positions left by the marines. While the men who fought the marines for a month celebrate what they see as a victory.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This victory is a gift to the people of Fallujah and all Iraqis. We, the Mujahedeen of Fallujah, promise the honest Iraqi people, not the governing council, that we will liberate Iraq, starting from Fallujah.

WEDEMAN: The U.S Marines may have something to say about that, while they've pulled back from the edges of Fallujah, they haven't left the area. And have said, repeatedly, they'll go back in if things get out of control

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: In the Middle East, a crucial vote concerning Gaza today overshadowed by gut-wrenching violence in the region.

Israeli helicopters took aim at a Gaza high-rise that's home to a Hamas radio station. Right now it is unclear whether anyone was hurt or killed. That airstrike took place only hours after a pregnant Jewish settler and her four children were gunned down in their car. Today's violence comes as a key vote in Jerusalem could determine Gaza's fate. Paula Hancocks has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The pregnant Israeli woman and her 4 children were on their way to Israel to campaign against Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw their settlements from Gaza, but they didn't make it. Israeli forces say they were killed by two Palestinian gunmen on this main road between the Gush Gate (ph) settlement bloc and Israel.

Four CNN staff came under fire on the same stretch of road just minutes earlier. Two gunmen fired a number of rounds while running towards our cars. No CNN staff were hurt.

Israeli soldiers and ambulances rushed to the scene of the settler shooting. The two Palestinian gunmen were shot dead by Israeli forces.

This road is used solely by settlers to get from their homes in Gaza's biggest settlement to Israel. On many stretches, there are Palestinian houses on both sides of the road. Attacks on cars travelling along this road are not unusual, but the last time someone was killed was a year and a half ago.

After the latest shooting, the road was immediately closed, preventing hundreds of other settlers from traveling to Israel where they too were planning to lobby Likud party members against the Sharon disengagement plan. Paula Hancocks, CNN at the Gush Gate (ph) Settlement, Gaza.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: As for the vote concerning an Israeli pullout from Gaza and parts of the West Bank, exit polls suggest that idea is being rejected. CNN's John Vause joins us with details from Jerusalem. Hi, there. JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Betty. Well, the votes are still being counted across Israel, but the early signs for Ariel Sharon and his disengagement plan are not good. Israeli television Channel 1 showing a huge no vote, 62 percent against the plan, 38 percent for it, other exit polls and other media outlets showing a defeat by a smaller but yet similar margin.

Now today, 200,000 Likud party members were eligible to vote in this referendum, but it appears only about 40 percent turned out. They're voting yes or no, should Israel withdraw troops and settlers from all of the Gaza strip and parts of the West Bank. Ariel Sharon put a lot into this. He made a last-minute plea Likud to party members to support it. He said Israel's very security was at risk. He said a no vote could harm U.S.-Israeli relations and he also said it could bring down his coalition government.

Obviously that did not play well today, the results coming in showing that it is not being support amongst the Likud party membership. Official results are expected in about an hour or so from now, but already the question is being asked here, what will Ariel Sharon do next? Those close to the prime minister say he is still committed to this disengagement plan and that he will find a way to make it happy -- Betty.

NGUYEN: With today's defeat of the referendum, what is Sharon's option now?

VAUSE: Well Betty, he has several options in all this. He can still bring it to cabinet and then present it to the Israeli parliament, where chances are it will be approved. But this was a very low voter turnout, 40 percent, so it gives sharon some wriggle room. He can say this is not representative of all of the Likud party.

Now, the other options being thrown out there, he could call a general referendum on this, take this to all Israelis, because polls show that most Israelis support this plan, the majority of the Israeli general public support this disengagement plan, but there's absolutely no question that Ariel Sharon will resign over this, even though he didn't hint at this before the poll, it seems that Ariel Sharon is determined to stay in office, determined to see this plan through.

NGUYEN: John, you mentioned the low voter turnout. Does that have anything to do with the violence that we saw there today?

VAUSE: Certainly the attacks on a pregnant woman and the death of her four daughters in a Gaza settlement today illustrated the no vote if you'd like, saying this withdrawal would increase violence against Israelis. They pointed to that attack as an example of that. But it seems those that were opposed to this plan had more determination to get out there. They were definitely opposed to it, had fire in their belly, if you'd like, whereases those that supported it didn't have the same intensity -- Betty.

NGUYEN: OK, CNN's John Vause in Jerusalem, thank you. President Bush is hitting the road tomorrow on one of his biggest trips of the year. Where is he going and why? A live report from the White House is straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Now for some other news around the world. In Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, foreigners are starting to pack their bags, a subsidiary of the Swiss engineering company ABB is pulling some of its international workers out of the city. A terrorist attack there yesterday killed five of the company's employees, including two Americans.

In Johannesberg, South Africa, Evalyn Mandela, the first wife of Nelson Mandela, has died. She was suffering from a respiratory illness. The two tied the knot in 1944, but in 1955, she gave him an ultimatum choose between her and the African National Congress. He chose the liberation movement. Evelyn Mandela was 82 years-old.

And in Cuba, a living chess legend was awarded Cuba's highest sporting honor. Anatoly Karpov helped Cuba break its own Guiness world record with more than 13,000 people playing chess simultaneously.

Back in the U.S., President Bush hits the road again tomorrow morning, visiting the crucial campaign states of Michigan and Ohio. CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash joins us live with the details. Dana, why these states?

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Betty, greetings from a windy White House. Wel, the president is actually start a bus tour tomorrow morning. He is going to go, as you said, to Michigan and Ohio, these are two vital states for his reelection.

And let's take a look at the numbers and show you exactly why. First of all, Michigan, the state's 17 electoral votes are very important. And look at 2000, the president lost there by four percentage points to Al Gore. And currently, the current polls show that he is neck and neck with Senator Joh Kerry, the Democratic nominee.

Senator Kerry on the latest poll in Michigan has 44 percent, President Bush 43 percent, a large number undecided, 9 percent there. That is absolutely critical to why the president is starting off his first full day of this two-day bus trip in Michigan.

And unlike Michigan, though, where the president actually lost and of course won the White House, Ohio, his next stop on Tuesday is a state that no Republican has lost and gone on to win the White House.

Let's take a look at some of the numbers there. In Ohio, which has 20 electoral votes, the president actually won by four personal points in the year 2000, he got 50 percent to Al Gore's 46 percent.

And again, the current polls he is neck and neck with Senator John Kerry in Ohio. Senator Kerry in the latest poll there has 46 percent, President Bush 44 percent. So it's essentially a statistical dead heat.

Now, political analysts say, although obviously national security is a big issue on the campaign trail at this point, job loss in these two states are still the No. 1 issue for voters. Job loss really has been devastating in both these places since Mr. Bush has taken office.

So that is certainly what he will be talking about. He also will be talking about national security. And his campaign aides say to expect some in arrives if you will on Senator Kerry, talking about perhaps, his record, and some other new points of attack on these 2 issues as he travels on his bus throughout the states.

Certainly people are going to be watching for local coverage. That is what the campaign is hoping for, as the president goes through these two states. His rallies, and of course some unscheduled stops will be what the campaign is hoping to sort of generate some buzz in these two states, because it is neck and neck.

You know, we talk a lot about the fact that the campaign is already very, very hot, and it's only the spring, sometimes it feels like the fall, but it's interesting to note this is really only the second official campaign event that President Bush has engaged in. He's certainly done a lot of traveling, most of that has been on the taxpayer dime, if you will, doing what the White House considers official events. He did one rally in March in Orlando. Aside from that, this will be his first campaign-style event -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Dana, as important as they trips are, is there any indication that he will be doing many more of them?

BASH: He actually going to do one more at the end of the week. He's got one more trip to a very important state, that's Iowa. And he's going to do another bus trip there. That is another state that's neck and neck in the polls, another one that he really has to win.

So, he's going to be hitting this week, essentially, 3 battleground states this week, and going through it in full campaign mode. Certainly these are states that John Kerry has spent a lot of time in. And the president is going to go to try to add to some of local coverage what he has gotten in lots of paid media. He spent millions of dollars in all of those states in paid campaign ads. Now of course, the total has been about $50 million that this campaign has spent over the past month and a half or so.

NGUYEN: OK. CNN's Dana Bash at the White House, thank you.

BASH: Thank you.

NGUYEN: President Bush and Vice President Cheney talked to the 9/11 commission this week. What are we not learning from the commission? Our next guest talks about that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, you may not realize it at the time, but as you flip through the menu of late-night comedy, going from monolog to monolog, you're appearing through the window of the national conscience. That being said, Iraq and the 9/11 hearings is first and foremost on the Americans' mind.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY LENO, COMEDIAN: President Bush told the Iraqi people that we're not going to cut and run while I'm in office. The Iraqi people said yeah, what about next year when you're not in office?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is there a question you want me to ask?

JON STEWART, THE DAILY SHOW: Yes, I've got one. What the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) is wrong with you people?

LENO: Bush said he was glad to speak to the 9/11 commission, and said he would be happy to meet with the 7-11 people, too.

CRAIG KINNEAR, THE LATE, LATE SHOW: President Bush, Dick Cheney appeared before the 9/11 commission, kind of an awkward start. A Senator said how are you, Mr. President? And they both answered fine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What if they ask you about integrating the intelligence-gathering branches of the federal government?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will be reassuring. I will seek to put their minds at ease. I would say, gentlemen, I have good news.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good news?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just saved a lot of money on my car insurance.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Leave it to the comediennes. Seriously now, what kind of legacy can we expect from the 9/11 hearings judging from what we've seen so far. Our next guest is a former CIA operative who has written extensively about U.S.-Saudi relations and the war on terrorism. Robert Bayer joins us now from our Washington bureau. Thanks for being here.

ROBERT BAER, FRM. CIA OPERATIVE: Good afternoon, Betty.

NGUYEN: You've listened. What do you think we have learned from his hearings and the meeting last week with the president and vice president?

BAER: Well, I think what's pretty clear at this point is there wasn't actionable information before 9/11 There wasn't something specific that suggested the president should do something other than he did. It was a bureaucratic failure, lack of coordination among the different agencies, misunderstanding of the threat.

Now, we've covered the past, but what are we going to do in the future? Do we really understand how dangerous things are in the Middle East? Do we understand what's happening in Saudi Arabia today? Are we protected from another attack? That's what concerns me and that's what has not been addressed.

NGUYEN: You sound a bit disappointed. Do you think the right questions are being asked?

BAER: I don't think they're being asked. First of all, there's been no accountability in any agency in this government so far. Nobody's been fired. That sends the wrong message. Yes, I am disappointed.

NGUYEN: So, what do you still want to hear?

BAER: I want to find out where the system broke down, reprimand those people or fire them, correct the system, and move on. It's been a very generic hearing. A lot of good information has come out, but there's been no specific suggestions of what we should do now.

NGUYEN: It sounds like that could be difficult to get that information that you're looking for, the key information in your eyes?

BAER: Well it is. And we're also not hearing -- we've captured a good number of people who that were involved, but we don't know what they're saying. We still don't know the basic outlines of this plot until today, of who was behind it. How the 15 Saudis were recruited for these operations, who provided the cash that went to Dubai and was sent into the ATM machines, those questions have not been answered. And I'd like to see those answers.

NGUYEN: Are people simply holding back, or do you feel what has been answered of that, the truth is coming out?

BAER: It's coming out very slowly, but I think it's extraordinary we've gone all this time since 9/11, and there's still so many questions out there that haven't been anserwed. And I don't understand why, and somebody should explain it to us.

NGUYEN: That being the case, what do you suggest they do?

BAER: I think there should be more disclosure on 9/11. The mastermind of this has been in custody for a long time. I'd like to know what he said, has he identified other people, was it in fact bin Laden who put this together, or were there other people involved? We know this man took refuge in several Arab countries, he took refuge in Pakistan. Did he get any local help or was he alone? How high wide is the network? How compartmented is it? There's a lot of questions that I'd like to see the answers to.

NGUYEN: Let's go back to the meeting with the 9/11 commission and the president and vice president last Thursday, do you think the commission learned a lot from that?

BAER: Not a lot. And we knew exactly what the president knew before 9/11. That was based on the presidential daily brief of 6 August 2001. We know that the president was interested in bin Laden. He wanted to know what the threat was, but at that time we were not able to provide that, the intelligence agencies, neither the FBI nor the CIA nor the Department of the Defense. We didn't know a whole lot about bin Laden. The question is, do we know anything more today.

NGUYEN: Okay. Well, former CIA agent, Robert Baer, we thank you for your information today.

BAER: Thank you.

NGUYEN: Disturbing new allegations about coalition troops abusing Iraqi prisoners.

Also ahead, the best seller that have so upset members of the clergy that some have published their own rebuttals.

And you'll meet some of the best known and loved dogs in America, they're not just pets, they're firefighter's 4-legged helpers.

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Aired May 2, 2004 - 16:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. military says an American civilian contractor is free and well after his second escape from Iraqi captors. Thomas Hamill was recaptured once. Today, he slipped out again and found U.S. troops. More on this story in a moment.
Israel says a building that its helicopter gunships fired on today housed a Hamas radio station used to incite violence. The strike followed a Palestinian attack that killed a pregnant woman and her four children in Gaza.

And the U.S. says a mortar attack in western Iraq has killed 6 American soldiers and wounded 30. It happened near the town of Ramadi. Three U.S. troops were killed in 2 other attacks in Iraq today.

We want to begin now with Thomas Hamill, the U.S. contractor taken hostage in Iraq last month. He's now free, in good health and has quite a story to tell.

A preliminary report says he escaped from his captors by prying open a door and running to a U.S. patrol passing by. Few details had been released about the ambush that lead to his ordeal. Here's what we do know.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN (voice-over): Thomas Hamill was driving a fuel truck for Halliburton's subsidiary KBR on April 9 when gunmen ambushed his convoy near Baghdad.

The father of two had taken the job in Iraq in part to pay for heart surgery for his wife. Arab TV network al Jazeera aired pictures of Hamill in front of the old Iraqi flag.

On the tape, an apparent captor could be heard threatening to kill him unless U.S. troops pulled out of the Fallujah by April 10. That deadline came and went without word of Hamill's fate.

In his hometown of Macon, Mississippi, a prayer vigil began. The community put up yellow ribbons and flew flags in a show of support for Hamill and his worried family. The next week, his wife Kellie mounted a media campaign for his release.

KELLIE HAMILL, THOMAS HAMILL'S WIFE: Hello, my name is Kellie Hamill. I would first like to say to my husband Tommy, we love and miss you very much. We would also like to say to the persons who are holding him captive, our hopes that you will release him unharmed and as soon as possible.

NGUYEN: On April 14, the Hamill family was shaken by news insurgents had killed one of four Italian hostages, four other Halliburton contractors had been found dead. Hope appeared to be fading for Hamill's safe return, but 23 days after his capture, Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt announced Hamill is free and in good health.

BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY: Today, at 10:20 hours, Mr. Tommy Hamill an employee of Kellogg, Brown and Root was recovered by U.S. forces south of Tikrit. He is in good health. He was reported missing after his convoy was ambushed on 9 April.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Hostages still in Iraq include U.S. Private 1st Class Keith Maupin and American civilians Tim Bell and William Bradley, two Canadian businessmen and three Italian security personnel. Also being held, a French reporter, a German embassy security official and a Geordanian businessman.

Well, it has been a day of joy and relief in Macon, Mississippi. Thomas Hamill's hometown is buzzing with excitement at the news of his freedom and, of course, his family is ecstatic.

Our Mike Brooks is in Macon where Hamill's family held a news conference a short time ago. And Mike, I imagine everyone is breathing a big sigh of relief there.

MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That they are, Betty. I spoke to the fire chief here, Charlie Fralie, who actually put up a flag on the Hamill home when they found out that Tom was safe. Actually they call him Tommy, everybody has been calling him Thomas, be he says everyone here in Macon calls him Tommy. They said they had been on pins and needles.

His wife Kellie found out about 5:30 this morning from Kellogg, Brown and Root that he was safe and in U.S. coalition forces hands. We heard from her a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

K. HAMILL: First off, I want to thank y'all for all coming. The family appreciates everything. I want to let you know I have spoke with my husband, he is fine, he's doing well. We have no more information on when he'll be coming home. He said he is doing great, he misses the family.

We also want to thank everybody for their prayers, their support. We're still praying for the families that we have no information on. The soldier that's in captivity, we're going to pray and hope that they get the same good news that we have received.

Oh. But I want to thank everybody for the support they have given us at this time, but he is fine, he's doing real well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROOKS: Kellie said when she spoke to her husband, he told her he heard a convoy go by ran about a half mile down the road, caught up with the convoy and identified himself.

She said the town officials are planning a parade when he gets home. Some of the neighbor kids and neighbors here right after we got here at the house, they were putting up yellow balloons in celebration, but it's kind of bittersweet, Betty, she says they are still praying for the families for the men who have not come back yet -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. Mike brooks, in Macon, Mississippi, we thank you.

Well, one American is out of harm's way. Nine others lost their lives in Iraq today in three separate attacks. The deadliest happened near Ramadi, 6 U.S. soldiers were killed and 30 wounded. CNN's Ben Wedeman has more on Thomas Hamill's return to freedom and the continuing violence.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These were the last pictures of American contractor Thomas Hamill. In a video released by his kidnappers, a voice off camera threatens to kill Hamill if U.S. forces didn't lift their siege of Fallujah within 12 hours. Twenty-two days later, Hamill reappeared near the town of Belek (ph) south of Tikrit.

BRIG, GEN. MARK KIMMIT: He came out of a building, identified himself to American soldiers. It looked like it was an escape. This is a preliminary reports that we have would indicate that he escaped from the building when he saw the American forces, identified himself and was subsequently recovered.

WEDEMAN: The day of his abduction, his kidnappers showed him off to an Australian television crew. Hamill, a 43-year-old contract worker from Macon, Mississippi, was nabbed following an attack on a fuel convoy outside Baghdad on April 9. At least four contract workers with the Halliburton subsidiary and one U.S. soldier were killed in the attack.

Private Keith Maupin was also kidnapped in the attack and remains in captivity, last seen in a video on al Jazeera, the Arabic satellite news channel.

News of Hamill's return is eclipsed, however, by continued fighting. Over the weekend, at least 11 U.S. troops were killed in attacks around the country. And in Fallujah, a force made up of former members of Saddam Hussein's army, is taking up positions left by the marines. While the men who fought the marines for a month celebrate what they see as a victory.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This victory is a gift to the people of Fallujah and all Iraqis. We, the Mujahedeen of Fallujah, promise the honest Iraqi people, not the governing council, that we will liberate Iraq, starting from Fallujah.

WEDEMAN: The U.S Marines may have something to say about that, while they've pulled back from the edges of Fallujah, they haven't left the area. And have said, repeatedly, they'll go back in if things get out of control

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: In the Middle East, a crucial vote concerning Gaza today overshadowed by gut-wrenching violence in the region.

Israeli helicopters took aim at a Gaza high-rise that's home to a Hamas radio station. Right now it is unclear whether anyone was hurt or killed. That airstrike took place only hours after a pregnant Jewish settler and her four children were gunned down in their car. Today's violence comes as a key vote in Jerusalem could determine Gaza's fate. Paula Hancocks has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The pregnant Israeli woman and her 4 children were on their way to Israel to campaign against Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw their settlements from Gaza, but they didn't make it. Israeli forces say they were killed by two Palestinian gunmen on this main road between the Gush Gate (ph) settlement bloc and Israel.

Four CNN staff came under fire on the same stretch of road just minutes earlier. Two gunmen fired a number of rounds while running towards our cars. No CNN staff were hurt.

Israeli soldiers and ambulances rushed to the scene of the settler shooting. The two Palestinian gunmen were shot dead by Israeli forces.

This road is used solely by settlers to get from their homes in Gaza's biggest settlement to Israel. On many stretches, there are Palestinian houses on both sides of the road. Attacks on cars travelling along this road are not unusual, but the last time someone was killed was a year and a half ago.

After the latest shooting, the road was immediately closed, preventing hundreds of other settlers from traveling to Israel where they too were planning to lobby Likud party members against the Sharon disengagement plan. Paula Hancocks, CNN at the Gush Gate (ph) Settlement, Gaza.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: As for the vote concerning an Israeli pullout from Gaza and parts of the West Bank, exit polls suggest that idea is being rejected. CNN's John Vause joins us with details from Jerusalem. Hi, there. JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Betty. Well, the votes are still being counted across Israel, but the early signs for Ariel Sharon and his disengagement plan are not good. Israeli television Channel 1 showing a huge no vote, 62 percent against the plan, 38 percent for it, other exit polls and other media outlets showing a defeat by a smaller but yet similar margin.

Now today, 200,000 Likud party members were eligible to vote in this referendum, but it appears only about 40 percent turned out. They're voting yes or no, should Israel withdraw troops and settlers from all of the Gaza strip and parts of the West Bank. Ariel Sharon put a lot into this. He made a last-minute plea Likud to party members to support it. He said Israel's very security was at risk. He said a no vote could harm U.S.-Israeli relations and he also said it could bring down his coalition government.

Obviously that did not play well today, the results coming in showing that it is not being support amongst the Likud party membership. Official results are expected in about an hour or so from now, but already the question is being asked here, what will Ariel Sharon do next? Those close to the prime minister say he is still committed to this disengagement plan and that he will find a way to make it happy -- Betty.

NGUYEN: With today's defeat of the referendum, what is Sharon's option now?

VAUSE: Well Betty, he has several options in all this. He can still bring it to cabinet and then present it to the Israeli parliament, where chances are it will be approved. But this was a very low voter turnout, 40 percent, so it gives sharon some wriggle room. He can say this is not representative of all of the Likud party.

Now, the other options being thrown out there, he could call a general referendum on this, take this to all Israelis, because polls show that most Israelis support this plan, the majority of the Israeli general public support this disengagement plan, but there's absolutely no question that Ariel Sharon will resign over this, even though he didn't hint at this before the poll, it seems that Ariel Sharon is determined to stay in office, determined to see this plan through.

NGUYEN: John, you mentioned the low voter turnout. Does that have anything to do with the violence that we saw there today?

VAUSE: Certainly the attacks on a pregnant woman and the death of her four daughters in a Gaza settlement today illustrated the no vote if you'd like, saying this withdrawal would increase violence against Israelis. They pointed to that attack as an example of that. But it seems those that were opposed to this plan had more determination to get out there. They were definitely opposed to it, had fire in their belly, if you'd like, whereases those that supported it didn't have the same intensity -- Betty.

NGUYEN: OK, CNN's John Vause in Jerusalem, thank you. President Bush is hitting the road tomorrow on one of his biggest trips of the year. Where is he going and why? A live report from the White House is straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Now for some other news around the world. In Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, foreigners are starting to pack their bags, a subsidiary of the Swiss engineering company ABB is pulling some of its international workers out of the city. A terrorist attack there yesterday killed five of the company's employees, including two Americans.

In Johannesberg, South Africa, Evalyn Mandela, the first wife of Nelson Mandela, has died. She was suffering from a respiratory illness. The two tied the knot in 1944, but in 1955, she gave him an ultimatum choose between her and the African National Congress. He chose the liberation movement. Evelyn Mandela was 82 years-old.

And in Cuba, a living chess legend was awarded Cuba's highest sporting honor. Anatoly Karpov helped Cuba break its own Guiness world record with more than 13,000 people playing chess simultaneously.

Back in the U.S., President Bush hits the road again tomorrow morning, visiting the crucial campaign states of Michigan and Ohio. CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash joins us live with the details. Dana, why these states?

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Betty, greetings from a windy White House. Wel, the president is actually start a bus tour tomorrow morning. He is going to go, as you said, to Michigan and Ohio, these are two vital states for his reelection.

And let's take a look at the numbers and show you exactly why. First of all, Michigan, the state's 17 electoral votes are very important. And look at 2000, the president lost there by four percentage points to Al Gore. And currently, the current polls show that he is neck and neck with Senator Joh Kerry, the Democratic nominee.

Senator Kerry on the latest poll in Michigan has 44 percent, President Bush 43 percent, a large number undecided, 9 percent there. That is absolutely critical to why the president is starting off his first full day of this two-day bus trip in Michigan.

And unlike Michigan, though, where the president actually lost and of course won the White House, Ohio, his next stop on Tuesday is a state that no Republican has lost and gone on to win the White House.

Let's take a look at some of the numbers there. In Ohio, which has 20 electoral votes, the president actually won by four personal points in the year 2000, he got 50 percent to Al Gore's 46 percent.

And again, the current polls he is neck and neck with Senator John Kerry in Ohio. Senator Kerry in the latest poll there has 46 percent, President Bush 44 percent. So it's essentially a statistical dead heat.

Now, political analysts say, although obviously national security is a big issue on the campaign trail at this point, job loss in these two states are still the No. 1 issue for voters. Job loss really has been devastating in both these places since Mr. Bush has taken office.

So that is certainly what he will be talking about. He also will be talking about national security. And his campaign aides say to expect some in arrives if you will on Senator Kerry, talking about perhaps, his record, and some other new points of attack on these 2 issues as he travels on his bus throughout the states.

Certainly people are going to be watching for local coverage. That is what the campaign is hoping for, as the president goes through these two states. His rallies, and of course some unscheduled stops will be what the campaign is hoping to sort of generate some buzz in these two states, because it is neck and neck.

You know, we talk a lot about the fact that the campaign is already very, very hot, and it's only the spring, sometimes it feels like the fall, but it's interesting to note this is really only the second official campaign event that President Bush has engaged in. He's certainly done a lot of traveling, most of that has been on the taxpayer dime, if you will, doing what the White House considers official events. He did one rally in March in Orlando. Aside from that, this will be his first campaign-style event -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Dana, as important as they trips are, is there any indication that he will be doing many more of them?

BASH: He actually going to do one more at the end of the week. He's got one more trip to a very important state, that's Iowa. And he's going to do another bus trip there. That is another state that's neck and neck in the polls, another one that he really has to win.

So, he's going to be hitting this week, essentially, 3 battleground states this week, and going through it in full campaign mode. Certainly these are states that John Kerry has spent a lot of time in. And the president is going to go to try to add to some of local coverage what he has gotten in lots of paid media. He spent millions of dollars in all of those states in paid campaign ads. Now of course, the total has been about $50 million that this campaign has spent over the past month and a half or so.

NGUYEN: OK. CNN's Dana Bash at the White House, thank you.

BASH: Thank you.

NGUYEN: President Bush and Vice President Cheney talked to the 9/11 commission this week. What are we not learning from the commission? Our next guest talks about that.

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NGUYEN: Well, you may not realize it at the time, but as you flip through the menu of late-night comedy, going from monolog to monolog, you're appearing through the window of the national conscience. That being said, Iraq and the 9/11 hearings is first and foremost on the Americans' mind.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY LENO, COMEDIAN: President Bush told the Iraqi people that we're not going to cut and run while I'm in office. The Iraqi people said yeah, what about next year when you're not in office?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is there a question you want me to ask?

JON STEWART, THE DAILY SHOW: Yes, I've got one. What the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) is wrong with you people?

LENO: Bush said he was glad to speak to the 9/11 commission, and said he would be happy to meet with the 7-11 people, too.

CRAIG KINNEAR, THE LATE, LATE SHOW: President Bush, Dick Cheney appeared before the 9/11 commission, kind of an awkward start. A Senator said how are you, Mr. President? And they both answered fine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What if they ask you about integrating the intelligence-gathering branches of the federal government?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will be reassuring. I will seek to put their minds at ease. I would say, gentlemen, I have good news.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good news?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just saved a lot of money on my car insurance.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Leave it to the comediennes. Seriously now, what kind of legacy can we expect from the 9/11 hearings judging from what we've seen so far. Our next guest is a former CIA operative who has written extensively about U.S.-Saudi relations and the war on terrorism. Robert Bayer joins us now from our Washington bureau. Thanks for being here.

ROBERT BAER, FRM. CIA OPERATIVE: Good afternoon, Betty.

NGUYEN: You've listened. What do you think we have learned from his hearings and the meeting last week with the president and vice president?

BAER: Well, I think what's pretty clear at this point is there wasn't actionable information before 9/11 There wasn't something specific that suggested the president should do something other than he did. It was a bureaucratic failure, lack of coordination among the different agencies, misunderstanding of the threat.

Now, we've covered the past, but what are we going to do in the future? Do we really understand how dangerous things are in the Middle East? Do we understand what's happening in Saudi Arabia today? Are we protected from another attack? That's what concerns me and that's what has not been addressed.

NGUYEN: You sound a bit disappointed. Do you think the right questions are being asked?

BAER: I don't think they're being asked. First of all, there's been no accountability in any agency in this government so far. Nobody's been fired. That sends the wrong message. Yes, I am disappointed.

NGUYEN: So, what do you still want to hear?

BAER: I want to find out where the system broke down, reprimand those people or fire them, correct the system, and move on. It's been a very generic hearing. A lot of good information has come out, but there's been no specific suggestions of what we should do now.

NGUYEN: It sounds like that could be difficult to get that information that you're looking for, the key information in your eyes?

BAER: Well it is. And we're also not hearing -- we've captured a good number of people who that were involved, but we don't know what they're saying. We still don't know the basic outlines of this plot until today, of who was behind it. How the 15 Saudis were recruited for these operations, who provided the cash that went to Dubai and was sent into the ATM machines, those questions have not been answered. And I'd like to see those answers.

NGUYEN: Are people simply holding back, or do you feel what has been answered of that, the truth is coming out?

BAER: It's coming out very slowly, but I think it's extraordinary we've gone all this time since 9/11, and there's still so many questions out there that haven't been anserwed. And I don't understand why, and somebody should explain it to us.

NGUYEN: That being the case, what do you suggest they do?

BAER: I think there should be more disclosure on 9/11. The mastermind of this has been in custody for a long time. I'd like to know what he said, has he identified other people, was it in fact bin Laden who put this together, or were there other people involved? We know this man took refuge in several Arab countries, he took refuge in Pakistan. Did he get any local help or was he alone? How high wide is the network? How compartmented is it? There's a lot of questions that I'd like to see the answers to.

NGUYEN: Let's go back to the meeting with the 9/11 commission and the president and vice president last Thursday, do you think the commission learned a lot from that?

BAER: Not a lot. And we knew exactly what the president knew before 9/11. That was based on the presidential daily brief of 6 August 2001. We know that the president was interested in bin Laden. He wanted to know what the threat was, but at that time we were not able to provide that, the intelligence agencies, neither the FBI nor the CIA nor the Department of the Defense. We didn't know a whole lot about bin Laden. The question is, do we know anything more today.

NGUYEN: Okay. Well, former CIA agent, Robert Baer, we thank you for your information today.

BAER: Thank you.

NGUYEN: Disturbing new allegations about coalition troops abusing Iraqi prisoners.

Also ahead, the best seller that have so upset members of the clergy that some have published their own rebuttals.

And you'll meet some of the best known and loved dogs in America, they're not just pets, they're firefighter's 4-legged helpers.

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