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CNN Live Sunday

Palestinians March on Parliament; Pope Benedict XVI Finishes Up World Youth Day Appearance

Aired August 21, 2005 - 16:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Unfolding this hour, the future of Iraq. New deadline for drafting a constitution is only hours away. What are the remaining issues? And can they get resolved in time? We'll have a report.
Also in Iraq, they're called improvised explosive devices, or IEDs. They're unpredictable and deadly for U.S. forces in Iraq. So how do they defend against them? We'll take a look.

And his dream is to build a university and a town geared to Catholics. It sounds innocent enough, so why is there some concern? Hello and welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY. I'm Suzanne Malveaux. Those stories ahead, first some other headlines now in the news.

New developments in the investigation of that Cypriot plane crash in Greece. The chief state coroner in Greece says autopsies recovered on the 118 bodies reveal all the victims died on impact. Helios flight 522 crashed a week ago, killing all 121 people on board. Three bodies have not yet been recovered

Republican senators are trading comments today about the war in Iraq. Nebraska senator Chuck Hagel, who's been a persistent critic of the war, says the U.S. needs to develop an exit strategy. He also compared Iraq to Vietnam, but Virginia Senator George Allen says even though Iraq is beset by problems, progress is being made.

The pope is giving Catholic young people something to think about. During his final mass for World Youth Day Festival today. Benedict XVI urged the crowd to think about their freedoms and the choices they made. The pope's trip has been seen as a success, but he is not committed to attending the World Youth next day -- or next year in 2008.

We begin in Iraq, where for the second time in a week, the country's politicians are facing a fast approaching deadline. After a one week extension, Iraq's draft constitution is due Monday, but once again some serious sticking points remain: the role of women, the role of religion and the role of federalism. Our Aneesh Raman sat down with an exclusive interview with the speaker of Iraq's national assembly.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): With just hours to go until another constitutional deadline, no clear sense whether a compromise has been achieved. Earlier, CNN spoke to Iraq's president of the national assembly, Dr. Hachim al-Hassani. He said an agreement had been reached on one issue: the role of Islam.

Sir, thank you so much for your time. The obvious question first, will we see a draft constitution on Monday?

DR. HACHIM AL-HASSANI, IRAQI NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER: We are still hopeful that today we will work out the differences in between different groups. And hopefully we'll come up with a draft tonight probably, presented tomorrow.

RAMAN: We heard these words of hope last week of course, and at last minute an extension was requested. Is there something different about where negotiations are now?

AL-HASSANI: There is something different, you know? We worked out some of the differences in other issues, but there are still, you know, a couple of sticky points left.

RAMAN: Let's deal with the issues, specifically. First, the role of religion. There's been some reports that the constitution will say that Islam will be, quote, the main source of legislation. Has that been agreed upon?

AL-HASSANI: No. What we agreed upon is that Islam would be a main source of legislation, and also anything that contradicts the principle and provisions of Islam, would not be accepted.

RAMAN: So, as the constitution is written now, are you concerned about what it would mean for women's rights?

AL-HASSANI: Absolutely. I'm very concerned that it will affect women's rights in this country.

RAMAN: The other major issue, of course, is federalism. Where do things stand with that?

AL-HASSANI: Federalism, still, there are some issues to be worked out on federalism, especially, issues that relates to the distributing the natural wealth of the country.

Until lately, there was agreement that Kurdistan area, there was any problem to have a federal region over there. The problem is for the rest of the Iraq. Of course, Shias they want to have a federal region. Sunnis they don't want federal regions, the majority of the Sunnis, they don't want to have federal regions in the rest of Iraq. And yesterday as you saw, there were demonstrations from several groups, also they are rejecting federalism. So Sunnis and some of the Shias.

RAMAN: If a draft constitution goes forward, it, of course, has to go to a referendum. Are you worried that the constitution being written could fail that reverend?

AL-HASSANI: The worry is there, definitely, because if, for example, the Sunni Arab come against this constitution, because of the federalism issue, and you add other voices to it from the Shia camp, then, the chance becomes much higher that people -- they will have the ability to defeat this constitution.

RAMAN: Such wording will raise concern among Iraq's secular politicians and among women's groups who have been long championed for Islam to be a source of Iraqi law, one of many to ensure that their rights are kept intact. The U.S. had also been pushing for that, but had softened its stance in recent days hoping for compromise, but pushing that principles of democracy be in the constitution as well.

Now the other issue, that of federalism could be an impasse in these discussions. The Kurds have long had an autonomous region in the country's north. They want nothing less in the new Iraq. But the Sunnis and some Shia are hoping the conversation is either sidelined until a new government comes into office, or are calling for a unified, one Iraq. That could be what derails this process. And as the national assembly confronts yet again the possibility of a further extension or perhaps of a dissolution of this government.

Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Another U.S. soldier has been killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. According to the U.S. military, a member of 20th Engineer Brigade died in an explosion in a village near Tikrit in northern Iraq.

Every day U.S. troops face risks from these hidden explosives. CNN photographers have captured the powerful force these bombs can deliver.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pretty close. Consider myself lucky. Get out! Get out!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Later in this hour, we'll have a dramatic report which shows US -- shows us what U.S. troops are confronted with on a day-to- day basis in Iraq. Also, I'll speak with a security expert about what the U.S. military can do to help its troops confront these dangers.

Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is speaking out in a letter published today in two Jordanian newspapers. In it, he vows to sacrifice his soul for the cause of Palestine and Iraq. He also appears to urge other Arabs to do the same. The International Committee of the Red Cross first took the letter to a friend of Hussein's living in Jordan. He did not want to be identified. A Red Cross spokeswoman says the letter was censored by prison officials before it was delivered.

Now to Israel's almost pull-out from Gaza. The Israeli army says it has now evacuated 20 of the 21 Jewish settlements there. This was the scene today in one of them. About 95 percent of Gaza settlers have left since the mandatory evacuation began last week. It's an exit that's been much faster and smoother than many expected, but now the attention is turning to the Palestinians and what happens next.

CNN's Ben Wedeman has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Street politics, Gaza style: Round up all your buddies with guns, rocket propelled grenades, a few fake rockets, crank up the battle tunes, strut through the streets, let rip a few rounds and head towards parliament. Shake the gates until they let you.

These are gunmen from the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. In theory, loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. They say they helped drive out the Israelis and now want to be rewarded with jobs.

We want to have our say, even if we weren't elected and don't drive around in fancy cars, says one of their leaders, Zaid Awojenda (ph). Palestinian police could do little but watch.

(on camera): After the Israeli pullout, the biggest challenge to the Palestinian authority is going to be to bring under control men and boys like these, who in the past five years, have become a law unto themselves.

(voice-over): Mahmoud, armed with a submachine gun, says he's 17-years-old and isn't quite sure why he's here.

Another gunman didn't have time for Abu Mazen, the nickname for president Mahmoud Abbas.

While fighters run amok in Gaza, troops with the 1st Brigade of Palestinian Security stand guard around the Jewish settlement of Netzarim, soon to be evacuated. Their job, to prevent anything that might impede the Israeli withdrawal.

This area is under complete control, and there have been no violations, says Field Commander Bassam.

Palestinian security officials say with all eyes on the pull-out cracking down on Gaza's militias is not a priority.

GEN. SHAABAN ABU ASAR, PALESTINIAN SECURITY: This is a critical time. We are not concerned to make the clashup. We have to contend with issues that much more is coming.

WEDEMAN: Controlling the Israeli pullout from Gaza may prove far easier than controlling what comes afterwards.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Gaza.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: As feared, militants are stepping up attacks in Afghanistan. Four U.S. soldiers were killed in a massive bomb blast. The military also says three U.S. troops were wounded while trying to pull their fellow soldiers to safety. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a roadside bomb exploded near a convoy of U.S. embassy officials. Two of them were lightly wounded. It happened just outside capital of Kabul. A British journalist working in Afghanistan says the city is fairly protected from militants. But he says they keep trying to cause mayhem.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

TOM COGHLAN, LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH: The authorities have intercepted a large amount explosives. There was an attempt to bring in the best part of a ton of explosives a couple of months ago. That was intercepted on a road coming into Kabul. The authorities really have quite a tight grip on the security around the capital. Now, elsewhere in the country, it's a very different picture.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: U.S. and Afghan officials have warned the violence may get worse ahead of Afghanistan's legislative elections next month.

Back in this country, the NFL is dealing with a huge loss today, but it has nothing to do with scores or championships. A player for the San Francisco 49ers is dead after a pregame, preseason game in Denver. Thomas Herrion collapsed in the locker room last night and was later pronounced dead at a hospital. The cause is still a mystery.

This is footage of Herrion during the game against the Denver Broncos. A teammate says no one saw anything wrong with him during play. The 49ers call Harrion's death a colossal tragedy.

Getting ready to fly out on business tomorrow? We'll have an update how the Northwest Airlines strike is impact flights.

Also, what are the add challenges faced by those living in poor neighborhoods when terrorists strike. And what can be done to improve their odds of surviving an attack.

And we'll have reaction to Pope Benedict's weekend in Germany with Catholic youth from around the world.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: A long-awaited home coming for the Space Shuttle Discovery. The shuttle returned to Florida's Kennedy Space Center today, riding on top of a specially fitted Boeing 747. Discovery arrived there from a stopover in Louisiana where it was delayed an extra day because of bad weather. The shuttle's cross country trip began Friday at California's Edwards Air Force Base. That's where it landed August 9 following a two-week mission in space.

Back in the U.s., air travelers are keeping a close watch on how things are going at Northwest Airlines. Northwest mechanics have gone on strike over major job reductions and pay cuts. So, what can you expect if you're flying Northwest this week.

CNN's JJ Ramberg takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JJ RAMBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): It's day two for the striking mechanics at Northwest Airlines. They walked off the job late Friday night when they couldn't come to an agreement with airline management.

JIM YOUNG, UNION NEGOTIATOR: Our members are willing to fight. They would rather see the carrier go into bankruptcy than give into the terms that Northwest Airlines has been asking.

RAMBERG: The airline did experience two complications yesterday. The first was a plane which landed in Detroit and blew out some tires, the second was some smoke in a cabin in a plane that was en route to Pittsburgh and had to return back to Detroit.

The Airline is saying, neither of these have anything to do with the strike. The airline saying they had prepared for the possibility of this strike by hiring a bunch of temporary mechanics and training some management to go ahead and help with the jobs that the striking mechanics were leaving.

Now, airline management saying so far there are not any disruptions.

ANDREA FISCHER NEWMAN, NORTHWEST AIRLINES: Most of the schedule, almost all of it is running on time.

QUESTION: And you're happy with the way things are going. Are there many delays?

NEWMAN: No, there are not many delays. There are very few canceled flights. And we're very happy with the way it's going.

RAMBERG: Northwest is seek $176 million in job cuts from the union, this is part of the $1.1 billion in job cuts that they're seek overall.

So far, we've not heard any reports of any more planned negotiations. Now, this is the first airline strike, or major airline strike since 1998. That also was at Northwest when striking pilots shut that airline down for 20 days.

In this particular case, the pilots and the flight attendants decided not to strike with the mechanics. JJ Ramberg, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: In our "Security Watch" today, preparing for the unthinkable. A terrorist strike against a nuclear or chemical plant in the United States. It is a frightening scenario, particularly for the people who live near those potential terrorist targets.

And while they're living in high risk communities, they are perhaps the least prepared to survive an attack. CNN's Ed Henry explains why.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Leslie Horner, mother of five, lives in fear. Her apartment sits right across from a potential terror target.

LESLIE HORNER, FREDERICK, MARYLAND RESIDENT: A bomb hitting and chemicals getting in the air and not having enough time to get anywhere, basically just dropping like a fly as soon as you go out door.

HENRY: The Horners are among 500 low-income families who live near Ft. Detrick, the U.S. Army's Center for Biodefense Research in Fredrick, Maryland. Poor families across the U.S. are particularly vulnerable to attacks, since they often live near hot spots like train or bus stations or chemical and nuclear plants.

Horner says the London bombings were a wake-up call to her.

HORNER: And now, it's just like, I have to constantly worry, what I going to do for me and my children if something was to happen? I don't have a plan. And I need a plan.

HENRY: In homes where computers are a luxury, they don't have the resources to get ready.

CLARENCE JEWELL, FREDERICK COUNTY FIRE & RESCUE: They're not necessarily online all the time, they're not necessarily watching the news all the time. We need to make the extra effort so they can be prepared.

HENRY: Frederick is one of ten U.S. cities selected by the Department of Homeland Security for federal money to combat the problem.

JEWELL: Can you survive and sustain yourself for 72 hours, for three days? Do you have water? Do you have bottled water? Do you have food? Do you have a flashlight? Do you have a battery powered radio.

HENRY: The program is tested from Maine to Texas, and the early response in Maryland has been positive.

NATHAN PHILLIPS, FREDERICK, MARYLAND RESIDENT: I'm glad you're looking at the fact poor people are people, too. They can die too.

HENRY: A sentiment shared by Leslie Horner.

HORNER: Some people don't have the resources for as far as food, shelter, things in that nature. I know I didn't. And I really -- I still don't have it now, but hopefully getting this training, I will have it.

HENRY (on camera): September is National Preparedness Month so the House plans hearings to educate the public, rich and poor alike about getting ready for a terror attack.

Ed Henry, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: CNN is committed to providing the most reliable coverage of news that affects your security. Stay tuned to CNN for the latest information day and night.

The Catholic Church is reaching out to its youth. Next, you'll see what happened when Pope Benedict interacted with hundreds of thousands of young Catholics in Germany today.

And just ahead, go inside the life of a U.S. marine in Iraq, as insurgents set deadly traps along almost every road.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Johnson keep your eyes down. A. Hunt, look to the left. White bag, or possible shell. Look hard left. I'll look right. Shell, shell, shell. Find me a shell.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Welcome back to CNN LIVE SUNDAY. I'm Suzanne Malveaux. Pope Benedict XVI wrapped up World Youth Day today with a huge open air mass. Some may say he does not have the charisma of his predecessor but can still draw a crowd. Our Alessio Vinci has more on what some are calling the pope's triumphant trip.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Pope Benedict mentioned just about John Paul II in just about every speech during his four day trip to Cologne. The Vatican, in fact, dubbed this World Youth Day, the gathering of two popes.

The magic of John Paul was that by his sheer presence, even without speaking, he could command the attention of all those attending World Youth Day. Pope Benedict is clearly no clone of his predecessor, nor does he want to be. And many in the crowd appeared to appreciate that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's just two different people. That's how it is. Not all people can be alike. We don't want everybody to be like John Paul because that would make John Paul not as special as he was.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love the charismatic side of the church, but at the same time, I like there to be the orthodox side as well where it is a little bit quieter and more subdued. For me, that can be more enticing towards prayer.

VINCI: The sheer number of pilgrims in Cologne suggested the new pope didn't have a problem with assembling the flock. But did he find the right words to connect with them? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE; He seems like a really neat guy. He seems like he can kind of start to interact with people. If he does start to interact with people a little better, it will be easier. But I mean, it will definitely be great. He's a great guy.

VINCI (on camera): Are you disappointed John Paul is not here? After all, you prepared your trip thinking that he was going to be celebrating this vigil tonight.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE; Well, of course, you know, like we're all saddened by it. Like, there's just that initial -- we kind of wanted John Paul to be there, because he is the one who kind of pumped us all up for it and got the youth really involved in religious affairs. But I think it's just fabulous that we got to experience this with the new pope.

VINCI (voice-over): Young kids here clearly didn't come to engage in doctrinal debate. Some may have come for the fun of it. But, for most, it was a way to confirm their faith and, by most accounts, Benedict did that.

(on camera): The new pope didn't even try to be like John Paul II. It was clear from the beginning when he didn't kiss the ground like his predecessor used to do upon arriving so theatrically. Vatican officials say this pontificate will be of one of concepts and words. And so those expecting dramatic gestures may be disappointed. Few of those attending here, however, felt that way.

Alessio Vinci, CNN, with the pope in Cologne.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Later, a form pizza maker has a vision for a Catholic village in Florida. Find out what he has planned.

And just ahead, life on the frontlines in Iraq means a lot of tense confrontation with local residents.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's your hurry? What's your hurry? Slow down. Slow, slow down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: We'll show you how U.S. soldiers are trying to keep the peace without getting killed.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Here's what's happening now in the news this hour. It's still not clear what caused the death of a San Francisco 49ers lineman Thomas Herrion. The 23-year-old collapse in the locker room after a preseason game in Denver. He was rushed to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Four U.S. soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan. The U.S. military says they died when a bomb exploded earlier today. Three other soldiers were injured as they tried to pull their fellow troops to safety. So far this month, 14 U.S. soldiers have died in Afghanistan.

A sentencing hearing for convicted bomber Eric Rudolph gets under way in Atlanta tomorrow. Under a plea deal Rudolph will get life in prison with no chance of parole for three bombings including one targeting the 1996 Atlantic Olympics. The three blasts killed one person and injured 122 others. Rudolph is already serving life for an Alabama bombing.

They're about 138,000 U.S. troops in Iraq right now. Each day they put themselves in harm's way, risking serious injury and death. Some marines have an especially dangerous task. Their mission is to hunt for hidden roadside bombs. CNN's Alex Quade was embedded with the Dragon platoon, she takes us along.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEX QUADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It begins with breakfast at Abu Ghraib Prison and ends with a -- (EXPLETIVE DELETED)!

This is just another day for the marines of Dragon Platoon, a weapons company from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Son of a -- welcome to frickin' Iraq.

QUADE: Their mission started before dawn. Gunnery Sergeant Jeff Dagenport (ph) and his men hunt IEDs, improvised explosive devices.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Somebody keep their head down.

QUADE: They hit 22 in two weeks but only minor injuries so far.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't frickin' smile, all right? Everybody got me? Frickin' bunch of weirdo's!

QUADE: On patrol, daylight breaks. Gunnery Dagenport (ph) is already suspicious. This is how his marines battle the insurgency, searching for hidden explosives. One car, one person at a time. Next on their beat --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Request permission to enter friendly mines.

QUADE: Abu Ghraib Prison, we go inside the wire, behind glass barriers and under watchtowers. I talk with Dagenport (ph) while his marines go to chow. What is it you're checking for?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The vehicle borne improvised explosive devices.

QUADE: What is that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They pack the wheel wells full of c-4. Tnt. QUADE: The actual vehicle becomes a bomb?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is a bomb. We've run across three here in the last week. Roger, we just left Abu Ghraib. This is where all the bad stuff originates around here.

QUADE: The marines call this area a car bomb factory and say insurgents blend in with the locals.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kalashnikov?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Show me.

QUADE: They search house to house.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Check upstairs.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't show this to anybody, even if they're nice and our tea. You come up on the roof and find 50 weapons.

QUADE: This lady offered tea already.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go into somebody's house and you find pictures of Osama Bin Laden. You're like, OK. Start checking a little bit more.

QUADE: He hopes his platoons presence keeps bombs builders off guard.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On the hood, trunk. Open them up.

QUADE: Without a translator it's voice and gestures.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's your hurry? What's your hurry? Frickin' slowdown. Slow. Slow down.

QUADE: It may seem funny but it's deadly serious. This crater is from an IED, improvised explosive device.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That hit us yesterday, good training, huh.

QUADE: Which is why marines also train Iraqi recruits.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lots of booms lately. Boom! Boom! 22 in two weeks. 22. Language barriers. All good, right?

QUADE: They race to where something has been sited.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fasten your seat belts, gents. Oh, (EXPLETIVE DELETED. Ah! Johnson keep your eyes down. Hunt look to the left. Blue car to left, I'll look right. Shell, shell, shell. Find me the shell.

QUADE: Between here and the cars may be an IED.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Find me a green bag, keep your head down. I don't see (EXPLETIVE DELETED. No hole dug, nothing. The triggerman is to the right here. I see a car; have the gunner scan to the right until we see a triggerman.

QUADE: They see something between the traffic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a dude standing where that supposed IED is. Can you tell if he's got anything on him? What's the hole, there Smith? Can you see it? What's in his gut? Watch him. Watch him.

QUADE: Dagenport (ph) zeros in on him. See how he's holding his frickin' shirt.

His finger on the trigger.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, he is.

QUADE: Turns out to be just a Shepard.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A guy playing Shepard over here with some sheep and he standing where the supposed IED is.

QUADE: This typical day is only halfway through. The gunnery sergeant and marines hit 22 IEDs improvised explosives devices in two weeks.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I took shrapnel in the leg, and thank god for gear took apiece here in my holster, and then I got shrapnel across my leg, it is healing up now. It's all good. You can see the helmet and my eyes here.

QUADE: Good thing you had these on?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, oh, yeah.

QUADE: Some of his platoon bought extra protection on the road.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is not playing around. Sappy here, sappy here.

QUADE: Everything helps since the daily mission is hunting for bombs.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You get used to -- as we first got here it was paranoid, where is the holes. And now it's like if it's going to happen, it's going to happen.

QUADE: It does on the important main supply route between Fallujah and Baghdad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got some (EXPLETIVE DELETED here. Abandoned vehicle, I don't know how one missed this. Pull the hoopa- loopa on this (EXPLETIVE DELETED. No license plate.

QUADE: Dagenport (ph) marines secure the area.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are looking for trunks that are ajar. Windows that may have been shot. Doors welded shut. Keyholes that are taken out, ignition wires that are ripped apart. Wiring coming out of the vehicle.

QUADE: They don't see anything.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want to go check it? I don't know, boom! I don't know.

QUADE: They decide to push it off the convoy route with an up armored Humvee when it happens.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED get out! Get out! Get out! Get your ass back!

QUADE: This is what the military calls a vehicle board IED, translation, and car bomb. Someone watching and waiting the right moment, marines say, detonated it remotely.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Son of a -- welcome to frickin' Iraq.

QUADE: Amazingly no one was seriously hurt.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Leave it there! Hey! That's .50 cal ammo and everything is going to start cooking.

QUADE: Ammunition could blow causing causalities. Or be salvaged by insurgents.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ammo! Ammo!

QUADE: Dagenport (ph) worries there may be a second bomb trying to target recovery.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to have a secondary if we don't get the (EXPLETIVE DELETED out of here.

QUADE: Humvee driver Lance Corporal Jason Hunt tells me he thought he was going to die. Then walks by me to pull security while his platoon deals with the situation. Gunnery Dagenport (ph) says it is just another day hunting for bombs and bomb builders.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to eventually kill them. This is a little piece of the pie. I don't know how we're going to get them but we're going to get them. I'd rather have a vehicle blown up than a marine.

QUADE: Alex Quade, CNN, near Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Just ahead, what can be done to help protect U.S. troops as they confront insurgents in Iraq? We will take a look at what options are out there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: They're in the headlines every day, improvised explosive devices, and the Iraqi insurgents' weapon of choice. And while these homemade bombs are relatively crude, they're extremely deadly, killing hundreds of U.S. troops and wounding many more. So how can the troops be better protected against IED attacks.

Joining us now to talk about that is CNN Military Intelligence Analyst Ken Robinson. Ken thanks for joining us. You and I were talking in the break and we were taking a look at Alex's piece, very, very powerful. Clearly, you had mentioned there were some possible missteps and some lessons learned. Talk about that if you will?

KEN ROBINSON, CNN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Well one of the biggest lessons learned is that the enemy gets to choose the time and the place that they explode a weapon like. So one of the tactics that's been used in Afghanistan that's very effective is the use of grappling hooks. I observed these when I was there in 2003, 2002. And what you do is fire a grappling hook into the vehicle with a rope, and from a distance you drag the vehicle away from the road, you don't simply get so close up on it that you place the life of a marine in danger like this. These tactics and techniques and procedures need to be promulgated and sent out through out the entire force because that could have been a huge loss of preventable life.

MALVEAUX: Now these devises are the number one killer now and maimer of U.S. troops, I assume that they're continually changing and evolving. How do you fight something like that, that you can't readily identify. Something that's changing?

ROBINSON: The U.S. military has done a remarkable job in trying to adapt. What they recognized was is that the makers of these devices are receiving support from what looks to be a nation state because of the complexity and the intricate nature in which they used the electromagnetic spectrum. To initiate the devices, using cell phones, using garage door openers, using key care locks. And what the military has done is they devised jammers to able to prevent that. But every time they've made a change, this enemy has adapted to the change, and it's up to the ante and up to the amount of explosive. One of the key things now is the greatest people that are being hurt by these devices are really Iraqi civilians and Iraqi security forces. Third in that group are U.S. military.

MALVEAUX: How do they possibly combat that? How do the Iraqis deal with something as complex as this?

ROBINSON: Well they have procedures like you saw where they continually do road reconnaissance, looking for places where there are devices, bags, unattended vehicles, and then trying to remove them from an area. The other is they pick and choose the routes which they do key convoys and move logistics, but more importantly they try to identify the cells. The locations where these bombs are produced and they have dismantled an enormous amount of these cells in both the north, the central and the southern part of the country. But every time they take one down another seems to prop up because this technology is flowing in across the borders and the weapons themselves are all throughout Iraq.

MALVEAUX: We noticed in one of the piece as well. That one of the soldiers was talking about the armor. And we know that part of the fight against these devices of course is supplying body armor to the troops, and there has been much evidence that the U.S. soldiers were not properly equipped when the war began with proper armor. What is the situation now?

ROBINSON: The situation today is there are approximately 500,000 sets of new armor issued to individual soldiers. The improved body armor has been brought out. We're seeing some of it here on this screen has been brought out at tune of about 20,000 a month. The issue is the production lines getting them to go faster to get them into the force. Additionally they've been up armoring their soft skinned vehicles to make them more capable. As soon as they start up armoring these vehicles, the enemy started moving toward what is known as a shape charge, a very intricate device where the explosive charge is shaped and funneled like a fist it can punch a hole through a large amount steel which. Is countering the up armor changes we're making.

MALVEAUX: Ken unfortunately we're running out of time. I know that they use dogs; they use robots and unmanned vehicles, things like that to help the soldiers protect themselves. But also Alex's piece shows a certain degree of sophistication with these improvised devices. Does this show that this is not just the work of insurgents but perhaps they're getting support by nation states?

ROBINSON: Yes, it does, it shows that the problem is larger than Iraq itself and so several things have to happen. One the political motivations for insurgents, former regime loyalists the fight need to be taken away by this ratification of the constitution and the borders need to be secured by the improvement of Iraqi military police and then the withdrawal of U.S. forces at the proper time so as not create a power vacuum.

MALVEAUX: Ken Robinson, thanks again for your analysis, appreciate it.

ROBINSON: Thank you.

MALVEAUX: A catholic entrepreneur has a dream, he wants to build a city that reflects the values of the Catholic Church and he wants to build that city in Florida. Stay tuned for a look what he's got in mind.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hello everyone. I'm Jacqui Jeras in the CNN Weather Center with today's allergy forecast. High levels of pollen across parts of the west, the southwest and the great basin. We are starting to see higher numbers of ragweed, also the elms producing quite a bit of pollen across California. As we head into the plains states, sagebrush continues to be a problem. Across the northeast and also into the Great Lakes we'll see some higher counts here, this will be a problem with the grass but looking good across the Ohio, Tennessee River Valleys and into the deep south. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Ground is being broken in southwest Florida for a permanent campus for the Catholic college Ave Maria University. Well it's not just a school that is under construction, Ava Marie's multimillionaire founder has set his sights on building an entire town where he wants conservative Christian values to flourish. CNN's Susan Candiotti reports.

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SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Here in the tomato fields of Collier County, Florida. Tom Monaghan hopes to find a home for his conservative catholic university and build a new town for like-minded Catholics.

Is this your dream?

TOM MONAGHAN: Yes. I've been this about this for many, many years.

CANDIOTTI: His dream is a university and a town he's calling Ave Maria. Latin for hail Mary. What kind of Catholic would want to live in this town?

MONAGHAN: I think a strong Catholic where faith means a lot to them. There will be masses available all day long. Confession available all day long.

CANDIOTTI: On the interim campus in Naples, Florida, some students applaud Monaghan's vision.

KRISTEN HARR, STUDENT, AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY: It's very exciting to think about having a town where we know that the morals on the television will be according to Christian values and the stores will sell things according to Christian values.

CANDIOTTI: In Ave Maria, Monaghan would like to ban the sale of contraceptives, condemned by the church and routinely ignored by the Catholics.

MONAGHAN: We would do what we could to prohibit merchants from doing that, because we then own all the commercial real estate, we would be able to do that.

CANDIOTTI: Ave Maria's developers admit it's an unusual approach.

BLAKE GABLE, BARON COLLIER COMPANIES: This is one of those items that we know it's important to Tom. We've broached the idea with retailers and candidly this is something they've never been asked to do before.

CANDIOTTI: 11,000 homes are expected to go up on the 5,000 acres; we are talking about 500 miles of pipes and another couple hundred miles of sidewalks and trails, with the church being the main focus, standing about 30 feet taller than any other building. Around the church, shops and homes. For Monaghan the university will be the big draw.

MONAGHAN: We're trying to create people that are going to change the world. That's exactly what we're trying to do with Ave Maria is to change the world.

CANDIOTTI: In Monaghan's view, most Catholic universities have become too liberal.

MONAGHAN: We won't give honorary degrees. We won't have a particular play -- I won't mention the name of it, shown on many Catholic universities?

CANDIOTTI: That would be the vagina monologues. And a gay film festival?

MONAGHAN: That won't happen here.

PROF. MARIA ROCA, FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIV: UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My beliefs are very different than Mr. Monaghan's are.

CANDIOTTI: Some Catholics question those kinds of restrictions.

ROCA: Even though I'm a divot Catholic. I think there are a lot of other possibilities we should be teaching at the university level. Are skills to ask questions, really good questions, and tough questions and not to accept blindly that there is one truth?

CANDIOTTI: Monaghan grew up in an orphanage and was kicked out of a seminary over a pillow fight. A life time later the Domino's Pizza mega millionaire who never finished college is pouring $200 million of his fortune into the university and the town.

MONAGHAN: Didn't do anything to have 20,000 pizza shops and be worth $30 billion. You can't take it with you.

CANDIOTTI: What are we looking at here?

MONAGHAN: Right now we walked into the front door of the church.

CANDIOTTI: Monaghan hopes to turn out Catholic educators who he says will take a less watered down version of the Catholic faith. He prefers a faculty that's mostly Catholic, and in his words, not mediocre. How do you define a mediocre Catholic?

MONAGHAN: A cafeteria Catholic that says they are Catholic who go to church on Easter and Palm Sunday, and probably oftentimes are pro-abortion.

CANDIOTTI: Some are uneasy with Monaghan's approach.

PETER STEINFELS, FORDHAM UNIVERSITY: My concern is that they criticize all the other models of going about this as though they were the only ones that met the test of genuine religious Catholic commitment and orthodoxy, and I think that's a grave error and a disservice to other people in Catholic higher education.

CANDIOTTI: Monaghan sees it more simply.

MONAGHAN: The biggest impact I can have for what I want to do, the results I want to have with what God's given me, and that is to help as many people as possible get to heaven. That's the best way I know how to do it.

CANDIOTTI: And Ave Maria in Monaghan's view could be heaven's stepping-stone. Susan Candiotti, on the future's site of Ave Maria, Florida.

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MALVEAUX: Ahead in the next hour of CNN LIVE SUNDAY, methamphetamine takes a toll on America's young, some children are even forced to live inside meth labs. Find out what's being done to fight the problem?

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