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CNN Live Sunday

Video of South Korean Hostage Begging for His Life Appears on Al Jazeera; Saudi Arabian Police Continue Search for Johnson's Body

Aired June 20, 2004 - 18:00   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.


CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: CNN SUNDAY is just ahead, but first, these headlines. Video of a South Korean hostage begging for his life is airing on Al Jazeera. His captors are threatening to behead the man in 24 hours, unless South Korea agrees to remove its troops from Iraq. We are going to have much more on this story coming up.
Police in Saudi Arabia are continuing their search for the body of slain American hostage Paul Johnson. Adel Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Affairs Adviser tells CNN they hope to return the body to the Johnson family. Saudi King Fahd say militants who carry out such attacks will not shake the stability of his country.

Police in Wisconsin are investigating a triple homicide. Three bodies tied together were found washed ashore on Lake Michigan yesterday. They were identified as a 45-year-old man and his two sons, ages three and six. The three had been missing from Chicago since May.

Good evening. I'm Carol Lin of the CNN Center. We begin tonight with a new deadline and new hostage in Iraq. This time Al Jazeera is reporting the man is a South Korean hostage and his captors are threatening to kill him within 24 hours. This warning -- the video you're about to see is very disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please get me out of here. Yes, yes. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Your life is important, but my life, please, is important.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Reuters is reporting the man is being held hostage by an Al Qaeda group. Peter Bergen is our terrorism analyst. He's traveled extensively to Afghanistan, Yemen, Pakistan, and also interviewed Osama bin Laden. He's the author of "Holy War Inc: Inside the Secret World of Osama Bin Laden." Peter, what do you make of this tape?

PETER BERGEN, AUTHOR: Well, unfortunately it's very tragic, because the group of people who have taking this South Korean gentleman is the Zarqawi group, which is known as Tawee (ph) in Arabic, meaning unity group. They are the group that beheaded Nick Berg, the 26-year-old American communications engineer. They have a track record of multiple bombings in addition to these targeted assassinations, as it were. Unfortunately I think given that past track record, it's unlikely that they won't follow through with threats.

The South Koreans do have a presence in Iraq, and have said they're going to send more people to help in the reconstruction in Northern Iraq. I doubt they're going to pull out in 24 hours. So unfortunately I think this is a very grim videotape.

LIN: Peter, the fact of the matter is they groups consistently make unreasonable demands. Demands they simply have to know will never be met. So what is it they really want here?

BERGEN: In Saudi Arabia, they want all foreigners to leave. They want to destabilize the House of Saud. They want to jack up the price of oil. They have been quite successful. Foreigners are leaving. This is destabilizing. The price of oil has gone up 30 percent.

In Iraq, they want sort of some of the same things. They want to create a sort of destabilized situation. They want to get anybody who might be part of the coalition to leave. Think back to the Spanish example with the bomb in Madrid, getting the Spaniards eventually to withdraw troops from Iraq.

So these demands may be unreasonable, but their aims, some of them, are actually happening. Certainly in Saudi Arabia, we're seeing foreigners leaving. And we've already seen in Iraq that members of the coalition have either withdrawn or potential members of the coalition are probably very reluctant to get involved because of the destabilized situation inside the country.

LIN: Are these different cells communicating with one another? In other words, is this group in Iraq communicating with the cell in Saudi Arabia, responsible for the death of Paul Johnson? If so, is there coordination there? Is there cause and effect?

BERGEN: That's an interesting question. I'm not really sure of the answer. I think overall, the overall ideological plan is out there. Osama bin Laden has repeatedly called for a jihad against westerners in Iraq. And also repeatedly called for the fall of the house of Saud.

So generally speaking this overall ideology has been laid out. You don't need a central commander of al Qaeda to say do this or do that. I think most of that is now gone. These people are acting largely independently. It's sort of a social movement as much as an organization.

LIN: All right. A grim picture indeed. Peter Bergen, thank you very much.

Security forces in Saudi Arabia continue their search for the body of Paul Johnson. He is, of course, as you know by now, the American engineer who was kidnapped and beheaded by terrorists last week.

Meanwhile a new leader has emerged from the Al Qaeda cell responsible for Johnson's death. CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson joins us now by telephone from Riyadh. Nick, I know you have been working your sources there. What have you learned?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know that the police operations are continuing in Riyadh. Just a few hours ago, there was an ongoing operation in the same area where the leader of the group that took Mr. Johnson hostage, kidnapped him, and then killed him.

There are police surrounding several houses in that same area this evening. The operation lasted several hours. A lot of police vehicles. A lot of policemen. They stormed the houses. It's still not clear the results of that raid, if they captured any more militants, or killed any more. We're told the raid was initiated by calls from the public to the police tipping them off about something going on in the area.

The police are still involved in the search for Paul Johnson's body. It's not clear why there was confusion at the outset. Initially security forces in Saudi Arabia had said his body was discovered. They changed that, and we're told they're still searching.

But the new head of Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia, Saleh al-Oufi is well known to Saudi authorities. He was number five on Saudi Arabia's most-wanted list in December last year. That list of 26 people -- Now according to Saudi security sources of that list 26, 10 have been killed, eight are being held captured, but many people here are speculating in Saudi Arabia, they really don't feel at this time as if the al Qaeda threat is gone at this time. Carol?

LIN: Nic, have you heard this report that apparently the killers of Paul Johnson had some kind of contact or sympathizer within the Saudi security forces. That's how they were able to obtain police uniforms, as well as the vehicles so they could set up this phony checkpoint and trap him?

ROBERTSON: Certainly a web site that had been used by the head of the group that kidnapped Paul Johnson, the same web site has subsequently claimed that indeed they did have cooperation from security forces. They were able to get police uniforms. And indeed they say they were able to kidnap Paul Johnson by setting up a fake police checkpoint on a highway leading out of Riyadh towards the airport. And from that fake police checkpoint drug him and take him away.

Now, the spokesman adviser for the Crown Prince Abdullah has already said that that is unlikely. That it's not possible that police uniforms are readily available here. And he noted that in a previous attack in Riyadh where police vehicles have been used, these were fake police vehicles that had been spray painted by the attackers themselves. However, there certainly is concern within the international community here that perhaps there are some ties that are not known about between security forces and the militants here. But certainly that is something that government officials here denied very strongly.

LIN: All right. Nic, I know the situation there is obviously making it very difficult for you and many other journalists to move around safely in Saudi Arabia. Thank you very much for reporting in. Nic Robertson in Riyadh.

The State Department is telling all Americans to get out of Saudi Arabia. We tracked down a flight out of the kingdom and met passengers when they landed at Virginia's Dulles Airport. The U.S. government had been advising Americans to leave since Paul Johnson was kidnapped. And his death prompted a more candid appeal. One official says the U.S. is acting to "batten down the hatch, and avoid giving militants an easy target".

Paul Johnson's family is still in seclusion. But our Alina Cho met with their pastor who's comforted the family for the last several days.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SR. PASTOR KYLE HUBER, GREENTREE CHURCH (voice-over): Just praying with them, and talking with them.

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Senior Pastor Kyle Huber spent much of the week counseling the Johnson family. Helping them in their time of need. He says sometimes just being there is a great help.

HUBER: Just loving them, hugging them. Just holding a hand.

CHO: Huber talked of Johnson's son Paul Johnson III, who early on served as a family spokesman.

How is he holding up?

HUBER: He has sought to be a strength to his family. I think they could be very proud of him.

CHO: During Sunday morning service, a prayer was said for the family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to become champions in a world of --

CHO: Many parishioners offered their own prayers. Especially to Johnson's sister Donna who became a member of the Greentree church two weeks ago.

GLENN NIXON, CHURCH MEMBER: It's our job as the church to comfort her, and we will.

CHO: This man, who works for Lockheed Martin, Johnson's employer, sent the family an e-mail.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is horrific. You can't find words to express the anger and grief that you feel for something like this.

CHO: His wife Rose.

ROSE HALL: We have to love our enemies. It's kind of hard when you think about it but, Christ would want us to be like him.

CHO: Huber had this advice for a community that calls itself small-town America -- respect the family's privacy, but keep them close. For the Johnson family, Huber says not to ask why this happened, but what they can do in the future.

HUBER: You can put your hands on what and do something. What I should do is my family'S here and they need me to love them.

CHO (on camera): Johnson's family remains in seclusion in the area. They have yet to speak publicly about this, and choose instead to grieve in private.

Alina Cho, CNN, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: The former ambassador to Saudi Arabia told me yesterday that Americans were told that the U.S. war in Iraq would create more terrorists. But the Bush administration insisted Al Qaeda was connected to Saddam Hussein. The 9/11 Committee is about to release their report that concludes that the administration was wrong.

But now some cryptic comments from Vice President Cheney suggest the White House may offer some proof. CNN's Elaine Quijano has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): September 11th Commission members say if Vice President Dick Cheney has more information on the Iraq-al Qaeda link, they would be happy to receive it.

THOMAS KEAN, 9/11 COMMISSION: I don't know if we need to interview him, but obviously if there is any information still and it has to do with the subject of the report, we need it, and we need it pretty fast.

QUIJANO: It was in a television interview Thursday that the Vice President raised questions about what he knows.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you know things that the commission does not know?

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES: Probably.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And do you think the Commission needs to know them?

CHENEY: I don't any -- I don't know what they know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: In a statement Sunday, Cheney's spokesman Kevin Kellems said -- "The administration has cooperated fully with the Commission, and given them unprecedented access to highly classified information. To my knowledge, we have not received a request for additional information of any kind".

The Bush Administration maintained it never directly stated that Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq collaborated with Al Qaeda to carry out the September 11th attacks. Instead, the White House has emphasized numerous contacts between Iraq and Al Qaeda. Both points not in conflict with the September 11th Commission's interim staff report.

LEE HAMILTON, 9/11 COMMISSION'S VICE CHMN: There were contacts between al Qaeda and Iraq prior to September 11th. I don't think there's any dispute about that. There were such contacts. The second assertion that we make is that there was no collaborative relationship. No operational relationship between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO: Now, the September 11th Commission's final report is due out next month. And the Commission's spokesman emphasizes that these staff reports are simply interim documents, snapshots of information on hand at the time, and subject to change as new information warrants. Carol?

LIN: Well, speaking of new information, Elaine, has the Commission officially asked Condoleezza Rice or CIA Director George Tenet to testify?

QUIJANO: We don't know that answer. What I can tell you is a commission spokesman would not name names. Would not say whether or not Condoleezza Rice or George Tenet were being sought for additional information or even more interviews. Now what he will say, the spokesperson will say, is that commissioners, as they have needed more information, they will ask follow up questions.

That they have done that throughout this process. Again though, this commission's spokesperson not naming any specific names. As he put it, the drawbridge is very much still not up yet. They say that this is a work in progress. That final report as I said, not due out until next month.

LIN: Very good. Thanks very much. Elaine Quijano reporting at the White House.

Well in the days leading up to the handover of power, coalition forces warned that there would be even more insurgent attacks. You know that seems prophetic now. Insurgents attacked and killed another prominent Iraqi today. Ezzadine Al-Bayati (ph), a member of Tikrit's city council was shot and killed as he drove from his home.

Now, Iraq's interim prime minister says his country's security force will have one mission.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IYAD ALLAWI, IRAQI INTERIM PRIME MINISTER: Our strategy is simple. We will use all of our strength, energy and determination to bring peace, democracy and prosperity to Iraq. All Iraqi security forces will be brought to bear against the enemies of God (ph).

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Four Iraqis were wounded when a bomb exploded on a sidewalk in Central Baghdad today. Last night, insurgents targeted Iraq's minister of health with another roadside bomb just west of Baghdad. He was not hurt. But seven Iraqi police officers and ten Iraqi civilians were killed in a gun battle that followed.

Still to come on CNN LIVE SUNDAY, a murder mystery in the Midwest. The bodies of a father and two sons bound together are found by Lake Michigan. We have the latest on the investigation in a live report.

Plus, determined to bring a killer to justice. How two sisters helped crack the cold case.

Later, the presidential election is less than five months away. Who is going to take the number two slot on the Kerry ticket? A look at the contenders when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Investigators from Illinois and Wisconsin are looking for clues after three bodies washed ashore from Lake Michigan. Officials just held a news conference and say the bodies are a man and his two sons missing since early May. They were bound together, and weighted down. Reporter Kelly Joyce of Milwaukee affiliate WITI is with us from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Nothing too pleasant about this story. What do you know, and what have you learned so far about who these people are?

KELLY JOYCE, CORRESPONDENT, WITI: Good evening Carol. We know police say 45-year-old Kevin Amde and his two sons were last seen on May 6th. Amde's wife reported them missing on May 11th. So why wait so long to report them missing?

She told police that it was not out of character for him to go on excursions with the kids. The two boys, ages three and six. Sometimes they go to Chicago, sometimes Kenosha, sometimes and the Racine (ph) area where he had family. When Amde's wife said she hadn't heard from her husband in five days, she said she started to worry.

Amde and his sons washed up on the shores of Lake Michigan in Pleasant Prairie here yesterday morning. The bodies tied together with a nylon rope. Each of the kids had on backpacks we're told that had plastic bags full with 48 pounds worth of sand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF BRIAN WAGNER, PLEASANT PRAIRIE POLICE: We consider these deaths to be very suspicious. And this case is being handled by law enforcement as a homicide at this time. As has been reported, the body's were found tethered together with a length of nylon rope. All three were tethered at the waist with the rope through either belt loops, the belt itself, or in as in the case of one of the children, wrapped around the waist.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOYCE: Now we're told that there was no official cause of death in this case for these bodies. And also, they did not see any sort of violent trauma to these bodies. Where they go with that information they're not saying. How they ended up in the water they are not saying. We do know, as I mentioned, that Amde did have family, and does have family, in the Racine (ph) area. Reporting live from Pleasant Prairie, I'm Kelly Joyce. Back to you Carol.

LIN: Kelly, very quickly, do police have any idea how this man and his two sons actually got to Lake Michigan?

JOYCE: They don't even have a car. So that was one of the questions we had. Well how did they get out here? Apparently on these excursions, when he would take the kid out, they would hop on a train or bus and right now they're not saying how they got to this area.

LIN: All right. Don't know yet probably. Kelly Joyce, thank you very much for reporting in.

Well here is some other stories across America. Northwest Airlines isn't saying why a flight headed for Rapid City South Dakota today landed nearby at Ellsworth Air Force Base instead. Passengers were ordered to keep their window shades closed as the crew spent more than three hours under interrogation.

On this father's day, honors in Washington for the dead and missing in war, 1200 roses were placed at the Vietnam War Memorial. Red for soldiers killed in Vietnam. Yellow for MIA's, and white for casualties in Iraq.

A crowd is gathering in the California's Mojave Desert. Hoping to witness the first privately developed manned rocket to space. More on that later tonight in our prime-time show.

The buzz over the Bill Clinton book. Our Bill Schneider is going to join us with his take on whether Clinton's mistakes hurt John Kerry.

Plus the front-runners for V.P. Who would really make a difference on the democratic ticket?

Also, growing up in the White House. How presidential fathers fared in raising their young. We're going to take a look.

But first a story of persistence. How loyalty and commitment amongst sisters helped solve a murder mystery. That story, when I come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Now we want to bring you a story of hope and faith. A 13- year-old girl was raped and murdered. And now 35 years later after nearly everyone on the case gave up, her two sisters say they are about to see the killer behind bars. CNN's Adaora Udoji reports on the mystery in Middletown, New Jersey.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Thirteen-year- old Jane Durrua was beaten, raped, and killed along the railroad tracks in New Jersey's Middle Town Township. She had walked to her sister's house countless times until November 4th, 1968. Now, 35 years later, prosecutors have charged convicted rapist Jerry Lee Bellamy of murdering her. He has not responded to the charges yet. For Jane's family a bittersweet day.

JOAN CONWAY, SISTER OF VICTIM: Every birthday, you just think another year went by, and you just question.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: While he's walking around and she's not.

CONWAY: Right.

UDOJI: Police say preserved DNA samples taken from Jane's underwear linked Bellamy through testing not available back then.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is amazing. It's like a miracle.

UDOJI: The progress came only after her family insisted detectives reopen the case four years ago. Jane's murder was a tragic twist for Durrua family. Their mother had just died of cancer. Their father died a few years before. The six children were orphans.

Bellamy is in a New Jersey maximum-security facility for sex offenders. After two separate convictions, one for rape, and one for sexual assault, he's been in prison for the better part of nine years. The state labeled him a sexual predator, ordering him held indefinitely.

But the State Supreme Court recently overturned that decision. Bellamy was days away from release. Prosecutors moved fast, acknowledging their case right now is based only on DNA. But it's a big start for a family who's waited three-and-a -half decades to find the road toward justice. They pray this is it.

Adaora Udoji, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE) LIN: Jane Durrua's sisters, Dolores Ramirez and Joan Conway talked with me from our New York bureau. Joan Conway told of how her suspicions five years ago led to the reopening of the case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CONWAY: Well, I was reading about a Robert Czerwinski (ph) who killed a girl six months after my sister's death.

LIN: You had a gut feeling, didn't you?

CONWAY: Yes. I read about that she had severe head injury, like my sister. And the weapon was a hammer, and I was pretty convinced at the time that since the time frame was only six months, that he could possibly be the person that we had been looking for.

LIN: But it turns out he wasn't, right?

CONWAY: No.

LIN: Because some testing proved he was not the murderer of your sister. But you still pressed forward. This case seemed to give you new hope?

CONWAY: Yes. Well, I have to thank the two detectives that have been working on it, that I originally went to. Detective Sites (ph) and Detective Jeffrey Barner (ph). They have gone everywhere. They have gone to Washington, D.C., Connecticut. They have really been the ones who have pressed on. My sister -- they found the DNA.

LIN: They matched the DNA from her underwear. They reopened the case. They matched the DNA at a famous DNA testing lab in major crimes case to the man who is now in prison. I'm wondering, Dolores, does it give you a sense of relief, a sense of resolution? How do you feel today, knowing this man may remain behind bars because of the work that you have done?

DOLORES RAMIREZ, VICTIM'S SISTER: It's wonderful. I'm just hoping they can keep him behind there. And we're here so we can get his face on CNN. Somebody had to see him before. He's had a rape again. He's been raping since he was 17 years old, so we're hoping somebody else comes forward to help us, seen him somewhere in Kingsburg. And we're looking to anybody to help us get a younger picture of him.

LIN: Because he would have been 17 years old at the time of the crime.

RAMIREZ: Yes, 17, and he's 53 now, and he's in jail for rape. Two rapes.

LIN: Joan, why did you never give up? Thirty-five years, that is a long time to actually believe that there could be some justice for your sister.

CONWAY: Well, we were so close in age that I basically lost my best friend. And when we were younger my sister always stuck up for me and fought my battles, to say. And I just felt that I had to do this for her. I owed it to her to not give up.

LIN: Are you both willing to testify if this goes to trial?

RAMIREZ: Yes.

CONWAY: We have to, for her.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Suspect Jerry Bellamy is charged as a juvenile because he was 17 when Jane Durrua was killed. Authorities are seeking to have him tried as an adult.

We have more information coming in on our top story now. The South Korean hostage in Iraq. Terrorists are threatening to behead him within 24 hours if South Korean forces don't full out of the country. Our Sohn Jie-ae has just called in from Seoul, South Korea with developments in this story. Sohn Jie-ae, have officials confirmed the identity of the hostage?

SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they have. The South Korean Foreign Ministry Spokesman Choi Young-jin has just confirmed that a 33-year-old Kim Sun-il who works for the Kanha (ph) trading company operating in Iraq has indeed, South Korean officials believe, been taken hostages by Iraqi militants.

Now they have not yet confirmed how or when he was taken hostage, but the South Korean Foreign Ministry is going to hold an emergency meeting in about 30 minutes to talk about the South Korean official reaction, as well as measures that South Korean government must take in order to try to get Mr. Kim out as safely as soon as possible. But at this point, South Korean officials are scrambling to confirm as much as possible, and try to come up with measures they did tell the South Korean public.

LIN: What is their policy of negotiating with terrorists?

SOHN: They don't really have much. The South Koreans at this point have not negotiated with -- in hostage situations previously. When South Korean missionaries as well as aid workers were taken by Iraqi militants previously. So this is probably one of the things they will have to talk about in their meeting in about 30 minutes.

LIN: How would they likely weigh this? If their policy was not to negotiate in past cases, do you have a sense they might break form at this time?

SOHN: At this point, there is no sense they will break form. The South Korean government is very set on its course to send more troops to Iraq. And in the past, they have not really negotiated with -- in any type of hostage situation. At this point, they will probably follow the past course.

LIN: What about any family in South Korea? SOHN: They have not come forth yet. They have not made any reaction as of this moment. But we will probably see them becoming very upset, as well as many of the South Koreans who have been bracing for this over the weekend.

LIN: Thank you very much, Sohn Jie-Ae, for working your sources. It is the middle of the night there. We appreciate it, and I know you are going to be working hard on this story. We'll talk to you later.

We've got much more news ahead. So please, stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Bill Clinton says he still supports President Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq. In a "Time" magazine interview due out tomorrow, Clinton suggests the possibility that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and posed a real threat. But he says President Bush made a mistake by not waiting until U.N. inspectors completed their work.

In part, Clinton says, and I'm quoting here. "I thought the president had an absolute responsibility to go to the U.N. and say look guys, after 9/11 you have got to demand that Saddam Hussein let us finish the inspection process. You couldn't responsibly ignore the possibility that a tyrant have these stocks".

President Clinton is making the rounds in a carefully orchestrated publicity tour. He's on for example, CBS's "60 Minutes" tonight. This is what Dan Rather told our Howard Kurtz about what it was like talking to the Former President about his sex life.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN RATHER, CBS: It was uncomfortable asking these questions. These are not my favorite kinds of questions. I would prefer not to have ask these questions, but in an interview such as this, that was my job. Was he uncomfortable? Yes, I think he was uncomfortable. He understood from the beginning the questions were going to be asked about what he has called the darker aspects of his personality and his personal life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Political insiders wonder what in fact Clinton's book may actually have on this year's presidential campaign. Could it for example, steal the spotlight from John Kerry, or will it impact President Bush's campaign strategy? Our senior political analyst Bill Schneider is keeping track of all of it in Washington. Though he just got off the plane from Paris. Bill, you're an international guy. Glad we can turn to you for domestic politics.

All right. What do you make of what Bill Clinton is saying, and what effect it may actually have on John Kerry?

BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think he's agreeing with Kerry about Iraq. That surprises a lot of Democrats who are very anti-war. They thought maybe Clinton will make a strong anti-war statement. But essentially he's endorsing Kerry's position, which was the war wasn't the wrong thing to do, we just did it the wrong way.

Under President Bush, we went to war as a first resort, not a last resort. We did it too unilaterally. We didn't let the U.N. finish the inspection process. So on that issue, he really is lining up with Senator Kerry. And that I think that's pretty good for Kerry.

LIN: That is a good thing then. So Clinton's mistakes don't necessarily reflect on the next Democratic candidate?

SCHNEIDER: No, and I think Kerry welcomes the fact that Clinton is out there, because it will remind a lot of voters that things were pretty good under Bill Clinton. Kerry says that when asked. Do you think it's good for you to have this spotlight on Bill Clinton? And look, don't make any mistake about it; the spot light will be on Bill Clinton for at least a week or two.

Kerry says he welcomes it, because it reminds voters things were good. You were making a lot of money under Bill Clinton. If I'm president, we're going to go back there, that's what going to happen. But there's a risk. The risk is Clinton was an extremely divisive president.

So is Bush. The voters hate it. Bush promised to be a uniter, not a divider. And by bringing Clinton out there, and putting him in the spotlight, voters may say, wait a minute, do we want trade a president who's dividing the country as Bush is for another Democrat who divided the country the way Clinton did? Maybe not.

LIN: John Kerry could also make his headlines with his vice presidential choice. Who are the prospects?

SCHNEIDER: Of course, there remains the great fantasy candidate, the ticket of Kerry/McCain.

LIN: He says no way.

SCHNEIDER: McCain says no way. And to put an exclamation point on that no means no, he campaigned for President Bush. He's President Bush's cochairman in his own state of Arizona. He is making it perfectly clear he's not going to run on the ticket. But it remains a fantasy. And there's a reason for that.

Remember what I said voters want this your is someone who will unify the country. who will deliver what Bush promised? To be a uniter, not a divider, and failed to deliver. What could be a greater symbol of unity than to have a Democratic president with a Republican running mate? How would that be? That's why Democrats fantasize about it. Because I will guarantee you, it would electrify the campaign, and I think it would elect John Kerry in an instant. The election would be over.

LIN: All right. So who are the options then? SCHNEIDER: The options are, of course, a lot of Democrats. And here are some of the names -- John Edwards is at the top of the list. Because he ran, he acquitted himself very well. Ran a positive campaign. Sam Nunn of Georgia appears to be on the list. Dick Gephardt of course ran. Didn't do so well this time. But has a big constituency, particularly in the Midwest which is where the battle ground states are.

Edwards I should point out is very popular among southerners. Because they are worries that with Kerry as Massachusetts liberal Democrat at the top of the ticket, Democrats may be sunk in the South. And they're hoping they'll put Edwards on the ticket to help save Democrats in the South.

There are a few others, Tom Vilsack, the governor of Iowa, another Catholic. Also good in the Midwest, Wesley Clark, who of course has a lot of international experience. And one of the more interesting candidates, Governor Bill Richardson, who was a U.N. ambassador, has dealt with dictators, and would be the first Latino on a national ticket. That could have a lot of impact. We just don't know.

LIN: All right. Lots to look forward to. Thanks Bill. And welcome back.

Will Bill Clinton's life story be a page-turner or a case of bad timing? Well, our Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley compares the reviews tonight on our prime-time show at 10:00 p.m. So stay tuned.

Also, home just in time for Father's Day. Coming up next, one soldier's strong desire to reunite with his family on this special day. I'm going to be talking to his family live.

Plus, a live report on who's on the upswing at the U.S. Open.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Father's Day is taking on new meaning for military families with loved ones in Iraq. Hundreds of U.S. troops are now on if you furlough for the holiday. That's a special joy for the Simmons family of Athens, Georgia. Army Major Jonathan Rex Simmons has spent the last six months in Iraq. But he and his family are here with me today. And what a joy it is to see you guys. I'm going to call you Rex because that's what you said I should call you.

MAJOR JONATHAN REX SIMMONS, U.S. ARMY: That's fine.

LIN: How did you get the break? Was this just a mater of timing? You were scheduled to leave?

R. SIMMONS: We were scheduled to. We have a window which our headquarters, that we can take an R&R. I have soldiers under me. And the soldiers scheduled theirs. I let them schedule theirs. And then mine was scheduled in the opening. It just fell on Father's Day. LIN: We call it a holiday, as well it should be. Well-deserved, all the hard work. Tanya, when Rex was talking to our people, I think he called you his sweetheart. You knew this day was coming, then? And you made the long drive to the airport. You were there almost two hours early to meet him?

TONYA SIMMONS, WIFE: Yes I was. We left the girls with my mother so we could have some quiet time alone as soon as we saw one another. We have never been apart this long. And he's not just my husband, he's my best friend, so having him back home for a while has just been wonderful.

LIN: How did the christening go today?

T. SIMMONS: It was great.

LIN: That's Brook Lynn (ph) and Katie. We want to introduce your daughters. What did he get for Father's Day?

T. SIMMONS: We had him an afghan made that had Major Rex Simmons on there with the United States Army on it, and some socks, of course.

LIN: To stay warm in the summertime in Iraq.

T. SIMMONS: That's right. And a toiletry bag that he wanted. And we took him out for dinner.

LIN: That must have been -- what an event. What were the first words that you want to each other?

T. SIMMONS: I love you.

REX SIMMONS: I love you, I think. Happy to be home.

LIN: It makes a big difference to say it in person. What does Brook Lynn (ph) have here? She has a button.

T. SIMMONS: She's got your button.

LIN: Oh, CNN button. I thought it was something from the military. Katie, what did you think when your dad came home? When you first laid eyes on him? Because it was a surprise for you guys.

KATIE SIMMONS, DAUGHTER: I was glad that he was here, and I thought that this was one of the best -- it was one of the most precious times in my life.

LIN: Do you say good night to your daddy every night when he's away? Do you find a way?

K. SIMMONS: I'm usually the last one to sleep. So (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

LIN: What did you give your dad for a Father's Day?

K. SIMMONS: For Father's Day I didn't give him anything. What I did was I got baptized.

LIN: And that is a blessing, indeed. You've got to go back July 2. How are you guys going to spend the time?

R. SIMMONS: We have a place up on one of the lakes here in Georgia. And what we do, we go up there and we tube, and ski. Just the water. I don't see a lot of water where I'm stationed at. So I told my wife I want to be waterlogged before I go back over. So that's what we plan on doing. Just spend a lot of family time together.

LIN: It is a blessing to have you all together. We just had some breaking news today. You guys might have heard that a South Korean man has been taken hostage by the insurgents. That is a story that's unfolding as we speak. How do you deal with the stress, Tonya, of not knowing day to day exactly what he's doing, whether he's safe, when he's coming home again?

T. SIMMONS: All from the grace of God. We just have faith that God's taking care of him. Whether he gets to come home or not, we know he's going to be taken care of. So we just get through that day- by-day. And we e-mail and send letters as much as we can, and just try to keep the lines of communication open, and know that, regardless, it's going to be OK.

LIN: Rex, do you think -- you're going to be returning to Iraq after the handover of authority to the new Iraqi government. Do you think the situation on the ground is going to change after that?

R. SIMMONS: I can't really say whether -- I'll actually be returned to Kuwait, so I can't really say. But we're there to do a mission and continue to do the mission over there. If it gets worse, we're prepared for it. If it gets better, we're prepared for that also. The soldiers are doing the best job in the world over there. So we're going to take care of that once we get back over there.

LIN: How do you explain this war to your kids?

R. SIMMONS: Basically my children -- mostly Katie. Brook Lynn (ph) is really too young. But Katie is just -- I talked with her a lot, try to be as honest as I can, and tell her what I can tell her. To her, whether it be this war, or anything else, you know, Daddy's away from home and you just try to comfort her and talk, and so she can understand. She now has to take on a lot of responsibilities with her mother and family and stuff.

LIN: You have to grow up fast in this world. Well, congratulations to you that you made it home. I hope you have a wonderful time together. It's going to be a brief time, but a really rich time. It's nice to meet you, Katie. Brook Lynn (ph) took off, being a three-year-old. So we welcome you to CNN.

T. SIMMONS: Thank you.

R. SIMMONS: Thank you.

LIN: You are welcome. We'll be right back with some more news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: This afternoon, a gauntlet of a golf course on Long Island is bringing some of the world's best players to their knees. CNN sports reporter Josie Burke joins us from Shinnecock Hills with the very latest from there. Josie, what's up?

JOSIE BURKE, CNN SPORTS REPORTER: For the early part of the day, the golf course was the story here on Southampton. It was incredibly tough for most of the golfers. But the latter half of the day has brought much more drama.

There was a battle between Phil Mickelson who's been the fan favorite, and Retief Goosen and the South African who entered the final round with the lead. These two were going back and forth on the back nine. It was just in the last ten minutes a dramatic turn of events.

Phil Mickelson had actually taken the lead by one stroke. He took that lead to the 17th green. When we walked to the 17th tee actually. When we walked off the 17th green, he trailed Goosen by two shots. That's because he made double bogey on 17, and Goosen made birdie. So right now, it looks Retief Goosen will win the U.S. Open for the second time in his career barring any more drama.

LIN: All right. And drama's what we like here. Thanks so much. Josie Burke.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: After five days of fabulous food and fantastic flicks, the fifth annual Maui Film Festival ends today. Or Sibila Vargas joins us with a last look at what is going on. Sibila? The assignment of a lifetime there.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It sure is. Aloha, Carol. We've gotten to see some wonderful films at the Maui Film Festival. But it's not just about the films. It's also about the music, the sounds, the birds chirping, and this wonderful group. Thanks for joining us. This is Barry Flanagan (ph), a founding member, and you're also from New Jersey.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right, interestingly enough. It was the music that brought me here.

VARGAS: What is it about the music?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hawaiian music is from the heart. I think that crosses and transcends all nationality.

VARGAS: Yes. Well thank you so much. Carol, I'm going to throw it back to you. Would you like us to give you a flavor of Hawaii?

LIN: Not only would I love to get a flavor of Hawaii, but why don't you have your folks play us to break.

VARGAS: I'd love it. Thank you. They want you to play us to break. Would you do that for us?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure we can.

VARGAS: Thank you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS" is in in just a moment.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired June 20, 2004 - 18:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: CNN SUNDAY is just ahead, but first, these headlines. Video of a South Korean hostage begging for his life is airing on Al Jazeera. His captors are threatening to behead the man in 24 hours, unless South Korea agrees to remove its troops from Iraq. We are going to have much more on this story coming up.
Police in Saudi Arabia are continuing their search for the body of slain American hostage Paul Johnson. Adel Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Affairs Adviser tells CNN they hope to return the body to the Johnson family. Saudi King Fahd say militants who carry out such attacks will not shake the stability of his country.

Police in Wisconsin are investigating a triple homicide. Three bodies tied together were found washed ashore on Lake Michigan yesterday. They were identified as a 45-year-old man and his two sons, ages three and six. The three had been missing from Chicago since May.

Good evening. I'm Carol Lin of the CNN Center. We begin tonight with a new deadline and new hostage in Iraq. This time Al Jazeera is reporting the man is a South Korean hostage and his captors are threatening to kill him within 24 hours. This warning -- the video you're about to see is very disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please get me out of here. Yes, yes. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Your life is important, but my life, please, is important.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Reuters is reporting the man is being held hostage by an Al Qaeda group. Peter Bergen is our terrorism analyst. He's traveled extensively to Afghanistan, Yemen, Pakistan, and also interviewed Osama bin Laden. He's the author of "Holy War Inc: Inside the Secret World of Osama Bin Laden." Peter, what do you make of this tape?

PETER BERGEN, AUTHOR: Well, unfortunately it's very tragic, because the group of people who have taking this South Korean gentleman is the Zarqawi group, which is known as Tawee (ph) in Arabic, meaning unity group. They are the group that beheaded Nick Berg, the 26-year-old American communications engineer. They have a track record of multiple bombings in addition to these targeted assassinations, as it were. Unfortunately I think given that past track record, it's unlikely that they won't follow through with threats.

The South Koreans do have a presence in Iraq, and have said they're going to send more people to help in the reconstruction in Northern Iraq. I doubt they're going to pull out in 24 hours. So unfortunately I think this is a very grim videotape.

LIN: Peter, the fact of the matter is they groups consistently make unreasonable demands. Demands they simply have to know will never be met. So what is it they really want here?

BERGEN: In Saudi Arabia, they want all foreigners to leave. They want to destabilize the House of Saud. They want to jack up the price of oil. They have been quite successful. Foreigners are leaving. This is destabilizing. The price of oil has gone up 30 percent.

In Iraq, they want sort of some of the same things. They want to create a sort of destabilized situation. They want to get anybody who might be part of the coalition to leave. Think back to the Spanish example with the bomb in Madrid, getting the Spaniards eventually to withdraw troops from Iraq.

So these demands may be unreasonable, but their aims, some of them, are actually happening. Certainly in Saudi Arabia, we're seeing foreigners leaving. And we've already seen in Iraq that members of the coalition have either withdrawn or potential members of the coalition are probably very reluctant to get involved because of the destabilized situation inside the country.

LIN: Are these different cells communicating with one another? In other words, is this group in Iraq communicating with the cell in Saudi Arabia, responsible for the death of Paul Johnson? If so, is there coordination there? Is there cause and effect?

BERGEN: That's an interesting question. I'm not really sure of the answer. I think overall, the overall ideological plan is out there. Osama bin Laden has repeatedly called for a jihad against westerners in Iraq. And also repeatedly called for the fall of the house of Saud.

So generally speaking this overall ideology has been laid out. You don't need a central commander of al Qaeda to say do this or do that. I think most of that is now gone. These people are acting largely independently. It's sort of a social movement as much as an organization.

LIN: All right. A grim picture indeed. Peter Bergen, thank you very much.

Security forces in Saudi Arabia continue their search for the body of Paul Johnson. He is, of course, as you know by now, the American engineer who was kidnapped and beheaded by terrorists last week.

Meanwhile a new leader has emerged from the Al Qaeda cell responsible for Johnson's death. CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson joins us now by telephone from Riyadh. Nick, I know you have been working your sources there. What have you learned?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know that the police operations are continuing in Riyadh. Just a few hours ago, there was an ongoing operation in the same area where the leader of the group that took Mr. Johnson hostage, kidnapped him, and then killed him.

There are police surrounding several houses in that same area this evening. The operation lasted several hours. A lot of police vehicles. A lot of policemen. They stormed the houses. It's still not clear the results of that raid, if they captured any more militants, or killed any more. We're told the raid was initiated by calls from the public to the police tipping them off about something going on in the area.

The police are still involved in the search for Paul Johnson's body. It's not clear why there was confusion at the outset. Initially security forces in Saudi Arabia had said his body was discovered. They changed that, and we're told they're still searching.

But the new head of Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia, Saleh al-Oufi is well known to Saudi authorities. He was number five on Saudi Arabia's most-wanted list in December last year. That list of 26 people -- Now according to Saudi security sources of that list 26, 10 have been killed, eight are being held captured, but many people here are speculating in Saudi Arabia, they really don't feel at this time as if the al Qaeda threat is gone at this time. Carol?

LIN: Nic, have you heard this report that apparently the killers of Paul Johnson had some kind of contact or sympathizer within the Saudi security forces. That's how they were able to obtain police uniforms, as well as the vehicles so they could set up this phony checkpoint and trap him?

ROBERTSON: Certainly a web site that had been used by the head of the group that kidnapped Paul Johnson, the same web site has subsequently claimed that indeed they did have cooperation from security forces. They were able to get police uniforms. And indeed they say they were able to kidnap Paul Johnson by setting up a fake police checkpoint on a highway leading out of Riyadh towards the airport. And from that fake police checkpoint drug him and take him away.

Now, the spokesman adviser for the Crown Prince Abdullah has already said that that is unlikely. That it's not possible that police uniforms are readily available here. And he noted that in a previous attack in Riyadh where police vehicles have been used, these were fake police vehicles that had been spray painted by the attackers themselves. However, there certainly is concern within the international community here that perhaps there are some ties that are not known about between security forces and the militants here. But certainly that is something that government officials here denied very strongly.

LIN: All right. Nic, I know the situation there is obviously making it very difficult for you and many other journalists to move around safely in Saudi Arabia. Thank you very much for reporting in. Nic Robertson in Riyadh.

The State Department is telling all Americans to get out of Saudi Arabia. We tracked down a flight out of the kingdom and met passengers when they landed at Virginia's Dulles Airport. The U.S. government had been advising Americans to leave since Paul Johnson was kidnapped. And his death prompted a more candid appeal. One official says the U.S. is acting to "batten down the hatch, and avoid giving militants an easy target".

Paul Johnson's family is still in seclusion. But our Alina Cho met with their pastor who's comforted the family for the last several days.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SR. PASTOR KYLE HUBER, GREENTREE CHURCH (voice-over): Just praying with them, and talking with them.

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Senior Pastor Kyle Huber spent much of the week counseling the Johnson family. Helping them in their time of need. He says sometimes just being there is a great help.

HUBER: Just loving them, hugging them. Just holding a hand.

CHO: Huber talked of Johnson's son Paul Johnson III, who early on served as a family spokesman.

How is he holding up?

HUBER: He has sought to be a strength to his family. I think they could be very proud of him.

CHO: During Sunday morning service, a prayer was said for the family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to become champions in a world of --

CHO: Many parishioners offered their own prayers. Especially to Johnson's sister Donna who became a member of the Greentree church two weeks ago.

GLENN NIXON, CHURCH MEMBER: It's our job as the church to comfort her, and we will.

CHO: This man, who works for Lockheed Martin, Johnson's employer, sent the family an e-mail.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is horrific. You can't find words to express the anger and grief that you feel for something like this.

CHO: His wife Rose.

ROSE HALL: We have to love our enemies. It's kind of hard when you think about it but, Christ would want us to be like him.

CHO: Huber had this advice for a community that calls itself small-town America -- respect the family's privacy, but keep them close. For the Johnson family, Huber says not to ask why this happened, but what they can do in the future.

HUBER: You can put your hands on what and do something. What I should do is my family'S here and they need me to love them.

CHO (on camera): Johnson's family remains in seclusion in the area. They have yet to speak publicly about this, and choose instead to grieve in private.

Alina Cho, CNN, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: The former ambassador to Saudi Arabia told me yesterday that Americans were told that the U.S. war in Iraq would create more terrorists. But the Bush administration insisted Al Qaeda was connected to Saddam Hussein. The 9/11 Committee is about to release their report that concludes that the administration was wrong.

But now some cryptic comments from Vice President Cheney suggest the White House may offer some proof. CNN's Elaine Quijano has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): September 11th Commission members say if Vice President Dick Cheney has more information on the Iraq-al Qaeda link, they would be happy to receive it.

THOMAS KEAN, 9/11 COMMISSION: I don't know if we need to interview him, but obviously if there is any information still and it has to do with the subject of the report, we need it, and we need it pretty fast.

QUIJANO: It was in a television interview Thursday that the Vice President raised questions about what he knows.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you know things that the commission does not know?

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES: Probably.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And do you think the Commission needs to know them?

CHENEY: I don't any -- I don't know what they know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: In a statement Sunday, Cheney's spokesman Kevin Kellems said -- "The administration has cooperated fully with the Commission, and given them unprecedented access to highly classified information. To my knowledge, we have not received a request for additional information of any kind".

The Bush Administration maintained it never directly stated that Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq collaborated with Al Qaeda to carry out the September 11th attacks. Instead, the White House has emphasized numerous contacts between Iraq and Al Qaeda. Both points not in conflict with the September 11th Commission's interim staff report.

LEE HAMILTON, 9/11 COMMISSION'S VICE CHMN: There were contacts between al Qaeda and Iraq prior to September 11th. I don't think there's any dispute about that. There were such contacts. The second assertion that we make is that there was no collaborative relationship. No operational relationship between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO: Now, the September 11th Commission's final report is due out next month. And the Commission's spokesman emphasizes that these staff reports are simply interim documents, snapshots of information on hand at the time, and subject to change as new information warrants. Carol?

LIN: Well, speaking of new information, Elaine, has the Commission officially asked Condoleezza Rice or CIA Director George Tenet to testify?

QUIJANO: We don't know that answer. What I can tell you is a commission spokesman would not name names. Would not say whether or not Condoleezza Rice or George Tenet were being sought for additional information or even more interviews. Now what he will say, the spokesperson will say, is that commissioners, as they have needed more information, they will ask follow up questions.

That they have done that throughout this process. Again though, this commission's spokesperson not naming any specific names. As he put it, the drawbridge is very much still not up yet. They say that this is a work in progress. That final report as I said, not due out until next month.

LIN: Very good. Thanks very much. Elaine Quijano reporting at the White House.

Well in the days leading up to the handover of power, coalition forces warned that there would be even more insurgent attacks. You know that seems prophetic now. Insurgents attacked and killed another prominent Iraqi today. Ezzadine Al-Bayati (ph), a member of Tikrit's city council was shot and killed as he drove from his home.

Now, Iraq's interim prime minister says his country's security force will have one mission.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IYAD ALLAWI, IRAQI INTERIM PRIME MINISTER: Our strategy is simple. We will use all of our strength, energy and determination to bring peace, democracy and prosperity to Iraq. All Iraqi security forces will be brought to bear against the enemies of God (ph).

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Four Iraqis were wounded when a bomb exploded on a sidewalk in Central Baghdad today. Last night, insurgents targeted Iraq's minister of health with another roadside bomb just west of Baghdad. He was not hurt. But seven Iraqi police officers and ten Iraqi civilians were killed in a gun battle that followed.

Still to come on CNN LIVE SUNDAY, a murder mystery in the Midwest. The bodies of a father and two sons bound together are found by Lake Michigan. We have the latest on the investigation in a live report.

Plus, determined to bring a killer to justice. How two sisters helped crack the cold case.

Later, the presidential election is less than five months away. Who is going to take the number two slot on the Kerry ticket? A look at the contenders when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Investigators from Illinois and Wisconsin are looking for clues after three bodies washed ashore from Lake Michigan. Officials just held a news conference and say the bodies are a man and his two sons missing since early May. They were bound together, and weighted down. Reporter Kelly Joyce of Milwaukee affiliate WITI is with us from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Nothing too pleasant about this story. What do you know, and what have you learned so far about who these people are?

KELLY JOYCE, CORRESPONDENT, WITI: Good evening Carol. We know police say 45-year-old Kevin Amde and his two sons were last seen on May 6th. Amde's wife reported them missing on May 11th. So why wait so long to report them missing?

She told police that it was not out of character for him to go on excursions with the kids. The two boys, ages three and six. Sometimes they go to Chicago, sometimes Kenosha, sometimes and the Racine (ph) area where he had family. When Amde's wife said she hadn't heard from her husband in five days, she said she started to worry.

Amde and his sons washed up on the shores of Lake Michigan in Pleasant Prairie here yesterday morning. The bodies tied together with a nylon rope. Each of the kids had on backpacks we're told that had plastic bags full with 48 pounds worth of sand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF BRIAN WAGNER, PLEASANT PRAIRIE POLICE: We consider these deaths to be very suspicious. And this case is being handled by law enforcement as a homicide at this time. As has been reported, the body's were found tethered together with a length of nylon rope. All three were tethered at the waist with the rope through either belt loops, the belt itself, or in as in the case of one of the children, wrapped around the waist.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOYCE: Now we're told that there was no official cause of death in this case for these bodies. And also, they did not see any sort of violent trauma to these bodies. Where they go with that information they're not saying. How they ended up in the water they are not saying. We do know, as I mentioned, that Amde did have family, and does have family, in the Racine (ph) area. Reporting live from Pleasant Prairie, I'm Kelly Joyce. Back to you Carol.

LIN: Kelly, very quickly, do police have any idea how this man and his two sons actually got to Lake Michigan?

JOYCE: They don't even have a car. So that was one of the questions we had. Well how did they get out here? Apparently on these excursions, when he would take the kid out, they would hop on a train or bus and right now they're not saying how they got to this area.

LIN: All right. Don't know yet probably. Kelly Joyce, thank you very much for reporting in.

Well here is some other stories across America. Northwest Airlines isn't saying why a flight headed for Rapid City South Dakota today landed nearby at Ellsworth Air Force Base instead. Passengers were ordered to keep their window shades closed as the crew spent more than three hours under interrogation.

On this father's day, honors in Washington for the dead and missing in war, 1200 roses were placed at the Vietnam War Memorial. Red for soldiers killed in Vietnam. Yellow for MIA's, and white for casualties in Iraq.

A crowd is gathering in the California's Mojave Desert. Hoping to witness the first privately developed manned rocket to space. More on that later tonight in our prime-time show.

The buzz over the Bill Clinton book. Our Bill Schneider is going to join us with his take on whether Clinton's mistakes hurt John Kerry.

Plus the front-runners for V.P. Who would really make a difference on the democratic ticket?

Also, growing up in the White House. How presidential fathers fared in raising their young. We're going to take a look.

But first a story of persistence. How loyalty and commitment amongst sisters helped solve a murder mystery. That story, when I come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Now we want to bring you a story of hope and faith. A 13- year-old girl was raped and murdered. And now 35 years later after nearly everyone on the case gave up, her two sisters say they are about to see the killer behind bars. CNN's Adaora Udoji reports on the mystery in Middletown, New Jersey.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Thirteen-year- old Jane Durrua was beaten, raped, and killed along the railroad tracks in New Jersey's Middle Town Township. She had walked to her sister's house countless times until November 4th, 1968. Now, 35 years later, prosecutors have charged convicted rapist Jerry Lee Bellamy of murdering her. He has not responded to the charges yet. For Jane's family a bittersweet day.

JOAN CONWAY, SISTER OF VICTIM: Every birthday, you just think another year went by, and you just question.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: While he's walking around and she's not.

CONWAY: Right.

UDOJI: Police say preserved DNA samples taken from Jane's underwear linked Bellamy through testing not available back then.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is amazing. It's like a miracle.

UDOJI: The progress came only after her family insisted detectives reopen the case four years ago. Jane's murder was a tragic twist for Durrua family. Their mother had just died of cancer. Their father died a few years before. The six children were orphans.

Bellamy is in a New Jersey maximum-security facility for sex offenders. After two separate convictions, one for rape, and one for sexual assault, he's been in prison for the better part of nine years. The state labeled him a sexual predator, ordering him held indefinitely.

But the State Supreme Court recently overturned that decision. Bellamy was days away from release. Prosecutors moved fast, acknowledging their case right now is based only on DNA. But it's a big start for a family who's waited three-and-a -half decades to find the road toward justice. They pray this is it.

Adaora Udoji, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE) LIN: Jane Durrua's sisters, Dolores Ramirez and Joan Conway talked with me from our New York bureau. Joan Conway told of how her suspicions five years ago led to the reopening of the case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CONWAY: Well, I was reading about a Robert Czerwinski (ph) who killed a girl six months after my sister's death.

LIN: You had a gut feeling, didn't you?

CONWAY: Yes. I read about that she had severe head injury, like my sister. And the weapon was a hammer, and I was pretty convinced at the time that since the time frame was only six months, that he could possibly be the person that we had been looking for.

LIN: But it turns out he wasn't, right?

CONWAY: No.

LIN: Because some testing proved he was not the murderer of your sister. But you still pressed forward. This case seemed to give you new hope?

CONWAY: Yes. Well, I have to thank the two detectives that have been working on it, that I originally went to. Detective Sites (ph) and Detective Jeffrey Barner (ph). They have gone everywhere. They have gone to Washington, D.C., Connecticut. They have really been the ones who have pressed on. My sister -- they found the DNA.

LIN: They matched the DNA from her underwear. They reopened the case. They matched the DNA at a famous DNA testing lab in major crimes case to the man who is now in prison. I'm wondering, Dolores, does it give you a sense of relief, a sense of resolution? How do you feel today, knowing this man may remain behind bars because of the work that you have done?

DOLORES RAMIREZ, VICTIM'S SISTER: It's wonderful. I'm just hoping they can keep him behind there. And we're here so we can get his face on CNN. Somebody had to see him before. He's had a rape again. He's been raping since he was 17 years old, so we're hoping somebody else comes forward to help us, seen him somewhere in Kingsburg. And we're looking to anybody to help us get a younger picture of him.

LIN: Because he would have been 17 years old at the time of the crime.

RAMIREZ: Yes, 17, and he's 53 now, and he's in jail for rape. Two rapes.

LIN: Joan, why did you never give up? Thirty-five years, that is a long time to actually believe that there could be some justice for your sister.

CONWAY: Well, we were so close in age that I basically lost my best friend. And when we were younger my sister always stuck up for me and fought my battles, to say. And I just felt that I had to do this for her. I owed it to her to not give up.

LIN: Are you both willing to testify if this goes to trial?

RAMIREZ: Yes.

CONWAY: We have to, for her.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Suspect Jerry Bellamy is charged as a juvenile because he was 17 when Jane Durrua was killed. Authorities are seeking to have him tried as an adult.

We have more information coming in on our top story now. The South Korean hostage in Iraq. Terrorists are threatening to behead him within 24 hours if South Korean forces don't full out of the country. Our Sohn Jie-ae has just called in from Seoul, South Korea with developments in this story. Sohn Jie-ae, have officials confirmed the identity of the hostage?

SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they have. The South Korean Foreign Ministry Spokesman Choi Young-jin has just confirmed that a 33-year-old Kim Sun-il who works for the Kanha (ph) trading company operating in Iraq has indeed, South Korean officials believe, been taken hostages by Iraqi militants.

Now they have not yet confirmed how or when he was taken hostage, but the South Korean Foreign Ministry is going to hold an emergency meeting in about 30 minutes to talk about the South Korean official reaction, as well as measures that South Korean government must take in order to try to get Mr. Kim out as safely as soon as possible. But at this point, South Korean officials are scrambling to confirm as much as possible, and try to come up with measures they did tell the South Korean public.

LIN: What is their policy of negotiating with terrorists?

SOHN: They don't really have much. The South Koreans at this point have not negotiated with -- in hostage situations previously. When South Korean missionaries as well as aid workers were taken by Iraqi militants previously. So this is probably one of the things they will have to talk about in their meeting in about 30 minutes.

LIN: How would they likely weigh this? If their policy was not to negotiate in past cases, do you have a sense they might break form at this time?

SOHN: At this point, there is no sense they will break form. The South Korean government is very set on its course to send more troops to Iraq. And in the past, they have not really negotiated with -- in any type of hostage situation. At this point, they will probably follow the past course.

LIN: What about any family in South Korea? SOHN: They have not come forth yet. They have not made any reaction as of this moment. But we will probably see them becoming very upset, as well as many of the South Koreans who have been bracing for this over the weekend.

LIN: Thank you very much, Sohn Jie-Ae, for working your sources. It is the middle of the night there. We appreciate it, and I know you are going to be working hard on this story. We'll talk to you later.

We've got much more news ahead. So please, stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Bill Clinton says he still supports President Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq. In a "Time" magazine interview due out tomorrow, Clinton suggests the possibility that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and posed a real threat. But he says President Bush made a mistake by not waiting until U.N. inspectors completed their work.

In part, Clinton says, and I'm quoting here. "I thought the president had an absolute responsibility to go to the U.N. and say look guys, after 9/11 you have got to demand that Saddam Hussein let us finish the inspection process. You couldn't responsibly ignore the possibility that a tyrant have these stocks".

President Clinton is making the rounds in a carefully orchestrated publicity tour. He's on for example, CBS's "60 Minutes" tonight. This is what Dan Rather told our Howard Kurtz about what it was like talking to the Former President about his sex life.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN RATHER, CBS: It was uncomfortable asking these questions. These are not my favorite kinds of questions. I would prefer not to have ask these questions, but in an interview such as this, that was my job. Was he uncomfortable? Yes, I think he was uncomfortable. He understood from the beginning the questions were going to be asked about what he has called the darker aspects of his personality and his personal life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Political insiders wonder what in fact Clinton's book may actually have on this year's presidential campaign. Could it for example, steal the spotlight from John Kerry, or will it impact President Bush's campaign strategy? Our senior political analyst Bill Schneider is keeping track of all of it in Washington. Though he just got off the plane from Paris. Bill, you're an international guy. Glad we can turn to you for domestic politics.

All right. What do you make of what Bill Clinton is saying, and what effect it may actually have on John Kerry?

BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think he's agreeing with Kerry about Iraq. That surprises a lot of Democrats who are very anti-war. They thought maybe Clinton will make a strong anti-war statement. But essentially he's endorsing Kerry's position, which was the war wasn't the wrong thing to do, we just did it the wrong way.

Under President Bush, we went to war as a first resort, not a last resort. We did it too unilaterally. We didn't let the U.N. finish the inspection process. So on that issue, he really is lining up with Senator Kerry. And that I think that's pretty good for Kerry.

LIN: That is a good thing then. So Clinton's mistakes don't necessarily reflect on the next Democratic candidate?

SCHNEIDER: No, and I think Kerry welcomes the fact that Clinton is out there, because it will remind a lot of voters that things were pretty good under Bill Clinton. Kerry says that when asked. Do you think it's good for you to have this spotlight on Bill Clinton? And look, don't make any mistake about it; the spot light will be on Bill Clinton for at least a week or two.

Kerry says he welcomes it, because it reminds voters things were good. You were making a lot of money under Bill Clinton. If I'm president, we're going to go back there, that's what going to happen. But there's a risk. The risk is Clinton was an extremely divisive president.

So is Bush. The voters hate it. Bush promised to be a uniter, not a divider. And by bringing Clinton out there, and putting him in the spotlight, voters may say, wait a minute, do we want trade a president who's dividing the country as Bush is for another Democrat who divided the country the way Clinton did? Maybe not.

LIN: John Kerry could also make his headlines with his vice presidential choice. Who are the prospects?

SCHNEIDER: Of course, there remains the great fantasy candidate, the ticket of Kerry/McCain.

LIN: He says no way.

SCHNEIDER: McCain says no way. And to put an exclamation point on that no means no, he campaigned for President Bush. He's President Bush's cochairman in his own state of Arizona. He is making it perfectly clear he's not going to run on the ticket. But it remains a fantasy. And there's a reason for that.

Remember what I said voters want this your is someone who will unify the country. who will deliver what Bush promised? To be a uniter, not a divider, and failed to deliver. What could be a greater symbol of unity than to have a Democratic president with a Republican running mate? How would that be? That's why Democrats fantasize about it. Because I will guarantee you, it would electrify the campaign, and I think it would elect John Kerry in an instant. The election would be over.

LIN: All right. So who are the options then? SCHNEIDER: The options are, of course, a lot of Democrats. And here are some of the names -- John Edwards is at the top of the list. Because he ran, he acquitted himself very well. Ran a positive campaign. Sam Nunn of Georgia appears to be on the list. Dick Gephardt of course ran. Didn't do so well this time. But has a big constituency, particularly in the Midwest which is where the battle ground states are.

Edwards I should point out is very popular among southerners. Because they are worries that with Kerry as Massachusetts liberal Democrat at the top of the ticket, Democrats may be sunk in the South. And they're hoping they'll put Edwards on the ticket to help save Democrats in the South.

There are a few others, Tom Vilsack, the governor of Iowa, another Catholic. Also good in the Midwest, Wesley Clark, who of course has a lot of international experience. And one of the more interesting candidates, Governor Bill Richardson, who was a U.N. ambassador, has dealt with dictators, and would be the first Latino on a national ticket. That could have a lot of impact. We just don't know.

LIN: All right. Lots to look forward to. Thanks Bill. And welcome back.

Will Bill Clinton's life story be a page-turner or a case of bad timing? Well, our Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley compares the reviews tonight on our prime-time show at 10:00 p.m. So stay tuned.

Also, home just in time for Father's Day. Coming up next, one soldier's strong desire to reunite with his family on this special day. I'm going to be talking to his family live.

Plus, a live report on who's on the upswing at the U.S. Open.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Father's Day is taking on new meaning for military families with loved ones in Iraq. Hundreds of U.S. troops are now on if you furlough for the holiday. That's a special joy for the Simmons family of Athens, Georgia. Army Major Jonathan Rex Simmons has spent the last six months in Iraq. But he and his family are here with me today. And what a joy it is to see you guys. I'm going to call you Rex because that's what you said I should call you.

MAJOR JONATHAN REX SIMMONS, U.S. ARMY: That's fine.

LIN: How did you get the break? Was this just a mater of timing? You were scheduled to leave?

R. SIMMONS: We were scheduled to. We have a window which our headquarters, that we can take an R&R. I have soldiers under me. And the soldiers scheduled theirs. I let them schedule theirs. And then mine was scheduled in the opening. It just fell on Father's Day. LIN: We call it a holiday, as well it should be. Well-deserved, all the hard work. Tanya, when Rex was talking to our people, I think he called you his sweetheart. You knew this day was coming, then? And you made the long drive to the airport. You were there almost two hours early to meet him?

TONYA SIMMONS, WIFE: Yes I was. We left the girls with my mother so we could have some quiet time alone as soon as we saw one another. We have never been apart this long. And he's not just my husband, he's my best friend, so having him back home for a while has just been wonderful.

LIN: How did the christening go today?

T. SIMMONS: It was great.

LIN: That's Brook Lynn (ph) and Katie. We want to introduce your daughters. What did he get for Father's Day?

T. SIMMONS: We had him an afghan made that had Major Rex Simmons on there with the United States Army on it, and some socks, of course.

LIN: To stay warm in the summertime in Iraq.

T. SIMMONS: That's right. And a toiletry bag that he wanted. And we took him out for dinner.

LIN: That must have been -- what an event. What were the first words that you want to each other?

T. SIMMONS: I love you.

REX SIMMONS: I love you, I think. Happy to be home.

LIN: It makes a big difference to say it in person. What does Brook Lynn (ph) have here? She has a button.

T. SIMMONS: She's got your button.

LIN: Oh, CNN button. I thought it was something from the military. Katie, what did you think when your dad came home? When you first laid eyes on him? Because it was a surprise for you guys.

KATIE SIMMONS, DAUGHTER: I was glad that he was here, and I thought that this was one of the best -- it was one of the most precious times in my life.

LIN: Do you say good night to your daddy every night when he's away? Do you find a way?

K. SIMMONS: I'm usually the last one to sleep. So (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

LIN: What did you give your dad for a Father's Day?

K. SIMMONS: For Father's Day I didn't give him anything. What I did was I got baptized.

LIN: And that is a blessing, indeed. You've got to go back July 2. How are you guys going to spend the time?

R. SIMMONS: We have a place up on one of the lakes here in Georgia. And what we do, we go up there and we tube, and ski. Just the water. I don't see a lot of water where I'm stationed at. So I told my wife I want to be waterlogged before I go back over. So that's what we plan on doing. Just spend a lot of family time together.

LIN: It is a blessing to have you all together. We just had some breaking news today. You guys might have heard that a South Korean man has been taken hostage by the insurgents. That is a story that's unfolding as we speak. How do you deal with the stress, Tonya, of not knowing day to day exactly what he's doing, whether he's safe, when he's coming home again?

T. SIMMONS: All from the grace of God. We just have faith that God's taking care of him. Whether he gets to come home or not, we know he's going to be taken care of. So we just get through that day- by-day. And we e-mail and send letters as much as we can, and just try to keep the lines of communication open, and know that, regardless, it's going to be OK.

LIN: Rex, do you think -- you're going to be returning to Iraq after the handover of authority to the new Iraqi government. Do you think the situation on the ground is going to change after that?

R. SIMMONS: I can't really say whether -- I'll actually be returned to Kuwait, so I can't really say. But we're there to do a mission and continue to do the mission over there. If it gets worse, we're prepared for it. If it gets better, we're prepared for that also. The soldiers are doing the best job in the world over there. So we're going to take care of that once we get back over there.

LIN: How do you explain this war to your kids?

R. SIMMONS: Basically my children -- mostly Katie. Brook Lynn (ph) is really too young. But Katie is just -- I talked with her a lot, try to be as honest as I can, and tell her what I can tell her. To her, whether it be this war, or anything else, you know, Daddy's away from home and you just try to comfort her and talk, and so she can understand. She now has to take on a lot of responsibilities with her mother and family and stuff.

LIN: You have to grow up fast in this world. Well, congratulations to you that you made it home. I hope you have a wonderful time together. It's going to be a brief time, but a really rich time. It's nice to meet you, Katie. Brook Lynn (ph) took off, being a three-year-old. So we welcome you to CNN.

T. SIMMONS: Thank you.

R. SIMMONS: Thank you.

LIN: You are welcome. We'll be right back with some more news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: This afternoon, a gauntlet of a golf course on Long Island is bringing some of the world's best players to their knees. CNN sports reporter Josie Burke joins us from Shinnecock Hills with the very latest from there. Josie, what's up?

JOSIE BURKE, CNN SPORTS REPORTER: For the early part of the day, the golf course was the story here on Southampton. It was incredibly tough for most of the golfers. But the latter half of the day has brought much more drama.

There was a battle between Phil Mickelson who's been the fan favorite, and Retief Goosen and the South African who entered the final round with the lead. These two were going back and forth on the back nine. It was just in the last ten minutes a dramatic turn of events.

Phil Mickelson had actually taken the lead by one stroke. He took that lead to the 17th green. When we walked to the 17th tee actually. When we walked off the 17th green, he trailed Goosen by two shots. That's because he made double bogey on 17, and Goosen made birdie. So right now, it looks Retief Goosen will win the U.S. Open for the second time in his career barring any more drama.

LIN: All right. And drama's what we like here. Thanks so much. Josie Burke.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: After five days of fabulous food and fantastic flicks, the fifth annual Maui Film Festival ends today. Or Sibila Vargas joins us with a last look at what is going on. Sibila? The assignment of a lifetime there.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It sure is. Aloha, Carol. We've gotten to see some wonderful films at the Maui Film Festival. But it's not just about the films. It's also about the music, the sounds, the birds chirping, and this wonderful group. Thanks for joining us. This is Barry Flanagan (ph), a founding member, and you're also from New Jersey.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right, interestingly enough. It was the music that brought me here.

VARGAS: What is it about the music?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hawaiian music is from the heart. I think that crosses and transcends all nationality.

VARGAS: Yes. Well thank you so much. Carol, I'm going to throw it back to you. Would you like us to give you a flavor of Hawaii?

LIN: Not only would I love to get a flavor of Hawaii, but why don't you have your folks play us to break.

VARGAS: I'd love it. Thank you. They want you to play us to break. Would you do that for us?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure we can.

VARGAS: Thank you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS" is in in just a moment.

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