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Al Qaeda Claims to Have Kidnapped Two U.S. Troops; Book Reveals al Qaeda Plot to Gas Subways; Japan Threatens Action if North Korea Enacts Missile Test; U.S., Iraqi Troops Establish Security Presence in Ramadi; Mother Sues Over Discrimination

Aired June 19, 2006 - 09:00   ET

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

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. New details emerging about that Friday attack that left one soldier dead and two missing. Up next.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Deborah Feyerick in New York City. New details of a plot against New York City subways. What was al Qaeda planning, and why did they call it off back in 2003? I'll have that for you, coming up.

JOHN ROBERTS, CO-HOST: Is North Korea aiming at America? A chorus of concern this morning over a possible long-range missile test.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: And hundreds of people in Arizona forced to escape a fast-moving wildfire. Firefighters are now battling to keep those flames away from dozens of homes. Those stories are all ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.

Good morning. Welcome back, everybody. I'm Soledad O'Brien.

ROBERTS: And I'm John Roberts, in for Miles O'Brien this Monday morning. The start of a brand new week.

O'BRIEN: Yes, it is. Monday morning. Welcome, everybody.

A short time ago al Qaeda in Iraq said they captured the two missing soldiers who are now missing in Iraq. CNN cannot confirm that. The group's offered no proof. Eyewitnesses, though, have said that 25-year-old Private Thomas Tucker of Madras, Oregon, and 23-year- old Private Christian Menchaca of Houston, Texas, were captured by insurgents after a fire fight. Twenty-five-year-old Specialist David Babineau was killed in that fight.

Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joins us now with some details of this attack on Friday night.

Barbara, good morning.

STARR: Good morning to you, Soledad. Well, the U.S. military still saying that it classifies these two men as duty status, whereabouts unknown. There is no proof yet about their fate or what may have happened to them. But now more details coming to light.

The military says they have interviewed some farmers in the area, some Iraqis, and those Iraqis have told them that they saw these two soldiers being taken away by perhaps as many as eight or nine men. Eight or nine Iraqi insurgents. Of course, that is a first report. All of that will remain to be absolutely confirmed by the military when they get resolution in this matter. But that is now the working assumption, that the two soldiers were taken away by the group of eight to nine insurgents.

And also soldiers, U.S. troops that were in the area when this firefight broke out on Friday night, are saying that they were diverted away, perhaps, by some sort of diversionary tactic by the insurgents.

Again, first reports all remaining to be confirmed. But that appears now to be the working assumption. And all of this now leads the military to believe this was a very well planned, very coordinated attack that may have been in the works for some time.

Earlier this morning Major General Bill Caldwell, the spokesman in Baghdad, spoke about the military's resolve in this matter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM CALDWELL, MULTINATIONAL FORCE, IRAQ: We are using all available assets, coalition and Iraqi, to find our soldiers and will not stop looking until we find them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: So now we know a good deal more about the determination against this very well-planned coordinated attack. General Caldwell going on to reveal in some of the search operations they have been conducting since Friday night, at least seven U.S. troops already have been wounded in the search effort -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: We started, Barbara, by talking about this claim from al Qaeda in Iraq that, in fact, they were the ones that have kidnapped these two men. What do we know about this web site statement?

STARR: You know, there are an awful lot of web sites out there that make -- have made claims about insurgent activity in Iraq over the years. Some are reliable. Some unfortunately, have proven to be very reliable. And the military and the U.S. Intelligence community certainly looking at each and every claim that emerges.

This appears, Soledad, appears at this point, to be the first claim of responsibility but let's be very realistic, what everyone is waiting for is to see if some video emerges, because the feeling here inside the Pentagon is that if insurgents took two U.S. troops and they are still alive, that they will be -- the insurgents will try and exploit that through some sort of video, some sort of proof of life. And so there is a lot of serious concern here about what may be coming in the hours ahead.

STARR: Barbara Starr, thanks for the update.

The family of missing Private First Class Thomas Tucker was told of his situation last night at their home in Madras, Oregon. CNN's Dan Simon has our report from there this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

We are in the small town of Madras, Oregon, which is just southeast of Portland. And this is the hometown for one of the missing soldier in Iraq, 25-year-old Thomas Tucker.

You can only imagine what his family is going through. You can't help but be struck in the terms of the way they found out about their son.

We are told that they were on a camping trip over the weekend, and when they got home they were greeted by a member from the Oregon National Guard, who told them about their son.

Twenty-five-year-old Tucker is a member of the 101st Airborne Division. The reason why the Oregon National Guard is involved is they are acting as a liaison between the Army and the family. They're keeping the family apprised of all the developments.

And in terms of this young man, we are told by the former mayor of this town that he's somebody who is a hard worker. He worked in high school at a gas station, and he was just beloved by everybody, somebody who has a can-do spirit. And the way the mayor describes him, the former mayor, that if anybody can survive this ordeal, it is Thomas Tucker.

Now, in terms of the family, they're not really making any statements at this point. They say they want their privacy. But we are told that perhaps sometime today they might make a statement about their son.

Dan Simon, reporting in Madras, Oregon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTS: Reports this morning that North Korea has a long range missile fueled up and may soon be ready to launch it. Several nations, including the U.S. and Japan, are warning North Korea that any launch would lead to serious consequences.

Earlier this morning the missile was mentioned for the first time on North Korean state TV.

A "CNN Security Watch" now. "TIME" magazine hits the newsstand today with excerpts from a new book. It claims al Qaeda planned to release poison cyanide gas inside the New York City subway system.

CNN's Deborah Feyerick is live at the Columbus Circle stop in Manhattan right now. Good morning, Deborah.

FEYERICK: Good morning, John.

Well, the FBI's top guy in New York at the time says the subway plot was one of several that they were seriously investigating at the time. However, the talk amongst the intelligence community was whether, in fact, such a chemical attack could actually succeed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: In 2003, two years after 9/11, al Qaeda was reportedly within weeks of carrying out a cyanide gas attack in New York City subways. Details of the 2003 plot are revealed in a new book, "The One Percent Doctrine", by journalist Ron Suskind.

According to excerpts in this week's "TIME" magazine, al Qaeda planned to use devices including mason jars to release deadly hydrogen cyanide gas on subway trains. Suskind says quote, "There would be several placed in subway cars and other strategic locations and activated remotely. This was well past conception and early planning. The group was operational. They were 45 days from zero hour."

CNN security analyst John McLaughlin is a former acting chief of the CIA. He says the subway plot was taken very seriously but says the book overstates the gravity of the terror threat.

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: This was important, but it wasn't the center of our universe at this point. When you saw heightened security alerts they were as a result of a variety of threats, a variety of reports. This was just one of many. This was what you see in this excerpt are a few frames from a much larger and more complex movie.

FEYERICK: The subway attack was called off allegedly by Osama bin Laden's second in command, Ayman Zawahiri. That prompted fears another 9/11 style attack might be in the works.

MCLAUGHLIN: As important as such an attack would have been, it wouldn't have been the spectacular kind of attack that I think al Qaeda is looking for.

FEYERICK: subways have been terror targets before. In 1995, 12 people died in the Tokyo subway after a sarin nerve gas attack by members of a doomsday cult.

Conventional explosives were used in deadly train attacks in Madrid in 2004.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For your safety, please start moving down.

FEYERICK: And last year in London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: Now the Port Authority (ph) in New York says that agents were never able to actually confirm whether, in fact, the alleged terrorists had made it into the United States or whether they had set themselves up in New York City.

He says that on a scale of one to ten, this particular plot was rated more as a six or a seven. However they did take it very seriously, of course, concern that al Qaeda may get their hands on chemicals, which could be used against the U.S. -- John.

ROBERTS: And regardless of how seriously they took it still a pretty frightening thing to think about it. Deb, thanks very much. And she'll be following the story all day. And we'll have an update tonight at 8 Eastern on "PAULA ZAHN NOW." Be sure to stay with CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: We are watching severe weather across the country this morning. Overnight downpours causing flash floods in the Houston area, a nightmare for commuters, as you can imagine. The National Weather Service says nearly six inches of rain fell in a little more than an hour. The rain is continuing this morning.

People in Hartford, Wisconsin, have been cleaning up damage from a tornado. The twister touched down on Sunday, ripped apart buildings and rooftops. About 50 homes and ten businesses had significant damage, but only one person, thankfully, was injured.

And Arizona now, fire officials are planning another aerial assault on a raging wild fire in Sedona. White smoke -- you can see it right there -- blanketing much of the area. About 400 homes and hotels and businesses and summer cabins have been ordered to evacuate.

Time to get a look at what's happening weather wise across the country with Chad Myers of the CNN center -- Chad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

ROBERTS: Chad, thanks very much.

Happening in America this morning. A first for the Episcopal Church in the United States. A woman has been named presiding bishop. But some delegates fear the election of Katharine Jefferts Schori could cause a serious divide in the church. She is the first woman to lead any arm of the Anglican Church. It was just three years ago that the Episcopalians ordained their first openly gay bishop.

A Marine stationed in Iraq is the proud papa of a new daughter this morning. Even though Corporal Terrence Lambert is a half a world away he witnessed Katherine Annalee's birth in Alabama on Father's Day through a satellite hook-up. Corporal Lambert returns home this fall.

In Washington, firefighters quickly put out a fire in a part of the White House complex. The fire started on the fourth floor of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. That's the building right adjacent to the White House. There was no real damage to the building, though. After all, it's made out of stone.

The odds going up for Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. It's been a month since Barbaro shattered his back right leg. New photographs show the colt in his intensive care stall at the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania. He's been fitted with a new Fiberglas cast and a special shoe to help distribute his weight more evenly. And five show dogs, they're luckily back with their owners this morning. The Gold Retrievers were in the back of a van that was stolen from a hotel in Renton, Washington. One of the dogs won best in sporting group and was a finalist for best in show at the Westminster Dog Show. All five dogs were found in their crates in an apartment complex parking lot.

An Australian golfer, Geoff Ogilvy, is celebrating his U.S. Open win, worth $1,225,000. But the big shocker is the collapse of master's champion Phil Mickelson. He held a one shot lead in the final hole but folded up like a cheap suitcase, making mistake after mistake until he double bogeyed, ending up with a three-way tie for second place. Back to the old ways, Phil.

O'BRIEN: That's one way to put it. I'm sure he appreciated that.

ROBERTS: Another way to put it is...

O'BRIEN: Choked a little. I feel sorry for him.

ROBERTS: You know, he used to do that all the time and then he got out of it. And obviously...

O'BRIEN: How is your golf same?

ROBERTS: It sucks. I don't make any pretense to the fact that it's any good.

O'BRIEN: Just checking.

Still to come this morning.

ROBERTS: It used to be much better than it is now.

O'BRIEN: Coalition troops are on the offensive in Iraq. CNN is on the ground with them as they prepare to take back an insurgent stronghold.

ROBERTS: Also ahead, allegation of sexual discrimination at a Wisconsin college. A professor says she was penalized simply because she was pregnant.

O'BRIEN: Then later a ring tone the kids can hear but grown-ups can't. We'll show you how it works just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Serious consequences is what the U.S. and some of the allies are promising if North Korea goes ahead with a major missile test. North Korea has a missile on the launch pad right now that could possibly reach the United States.

CNN's Atika Shubert has more from Tokyo this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All eyes are on North Korea, watching for possible missile tests. There's been a flurry of diplomatic activity, and Japan seems to have taken the diplomatic lead in trying to dissuade North Korea from going through with this.

Japan, of course, is particularly concerned since it would be in the path of this missile test. Here is what Japan's prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, had to say.

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER (through translator): If it does not listen to us and fires a missile, we have to consult with the United States and take stern measures.

SHUBERT: Of those measures, Japan is threatening possible sanctions. Also saying it will bring this case before the U.N. Security Council.

Japan's foreign minister went further to say that if any part of the missile falls into Japan the country will consider it as an attack.

That nervousness goes across the region. South Korea also urging Pyongyang not to go through with this test. So far, however, there's been no response, and there is increasing tension, especially amid reports that the fueling of the missile may have already been completed. The final stage before launch.

Atika Shubert, CNN, Tokyo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTS: American and Iraqi troops are making a major push against insurgents today. They have gone deeper into Ramadi to set up command and control posts in the capital of the dangerous Anbar Province. CNN senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is embedded with the troops in Ramadi.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Overnight U.S. troops from the 1st Battalion of the 506 Infantry Regiment moved into the east of the city. They only moved a few miles from their base. It took a long time.

The reason was they discovered a lot of roadside bombs, IEDs, in their path. At least ten roadside bombs had to be dealt with before they could get into the area of the city where they wanted to set up new command observation posts. These posts will be manned by Iraqi army troops and U.S. military forces. It is intended to put security, a permanent security base into parts of Ramadi where there hasn't been such a security presence, permanent security presence before.

In these areas the insurgents have had a relatively free hand. U.S. air commanders here say to intimidate the population they have been able to place many roadside bombs with regularity in and around here. And right in the area we're standing in now this morning, several weapons caches were discovered, one containing material capable of making over 100 roadside bombs. U.S. commanders here say the roadside bomb technology is not complex. Often what -- often what the insurgents do is they just refill the hole of the last bomb with another bomb, leave that in place.

But they hope now, with putting a permanent security presence into this part of Ramadi, that it will help defeat the insurgency and they say return Ramadi to the city's residents.

Nic Robertson, CNN, on the east of Ramadi, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Coming up this morning, a college professor's tearful allegations of sexual discrimination.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLENE MCMAHON, FILED LAWSUIT AGAINST EMPLOYER: Expect that you're going to be treated fairly, that if you work hard and do a good job you're going to be treated fairly, and I wasn't.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Going to take a look at why she says her bosses discriminated against her just because she's pregnant.

And later, a ring tone that only kids can hear. We'll show you how it works and show you how some tech savvy kids could use it to their advantage.

Those stories ahead. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A woman who was denied tenure just because she got pregnant. After the break in three, two, one. (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: A female professor in Wisconsin says she was denied tenure because she's pregnant. Now she's filed a lawsuit against her employer.

CNN's Randi Kaye has been investigating the case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At Carroll College near Milwaukee, two men and one woman applied for tenure. The woman, many suggested, were better qualified, but in the end the two men got the job. (on camera) So you think that your pregnancy and the fact you're a woman definitely played a major role, a key role, in the fact you didn't get tenure?

MCMAHON: The only role. I believe that if I wasn't a married woman with children I believe that I would have been tenured.

KAYE (voice-over): Three years ago Charlene McMahon was a chemistry professor at Carroll College. She was also pregnant with her second child. McMahon and her husband, also a chemistry professor at the school, applied for tenure.

(on camera) What do you remember about the day that it all ended?

MCMAHON: I remember saying, I can't believe they did this to me.

KAYE (voice-over): What Carroll College did was deny McMahon a piece of her dream, tenure. Why the school denied her tenure is the subject after lawsuit.

MCMAHON: I want my little office back. I want my classes back. I want that chalk in my hand. And I want to teach my students.

KAYE: In fact, the college's entire review committee agreed. They recommended her for tenure, and when she didn't get it, they resigned in protest.

(on camera) Did McMahon's pregnancy have anything to do with what happened? That's still unclear. But this is clear. She was looking to join an elite group of women professors. While more women are entering the profession, according to the American Association of University Professors, the number receiving tenure has actually declined in recent years. As for Charlene McMahon's field, only 10 percent of fully tenured professors in science and engineering are female.

(voice-over) The school tenured McMahon's husband, Kevin, and another male professor, then decided to make a third position non- tenure. Court records show McMahon had received glowing student evaluations, solid reviews, and was teaching more students than her male colleagues.

MCMAHON: I fulfilled those criteria for tenure, yet I wasn't granted tenure.

KAYE: In the end it seems this man, Carroll College president Frank Falcone, had the final vote on McMahon, and he said no. This is his taped court deposition obtained by CNN.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On what facts was the denial of tenure for Charlene McMahon based?

FRANK FALCONE, PRESIDENT, CARROLL COLLEGE: It was made on a -- on a determination that we did not want to grant tenure to all of the people in the chemistry department.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it your position that tenure can be denied arbitrarily?

FALCONE: I don't know what you mean by arbitrarily. Can someone make a judgment? Absolutely someone can make a judgment.

KAYE: Here's one more piece of the puzzle. Just days before the tenure decision, McMahon told this woman, college vice president Lynn Bernier, she was pregnant. According to McMahon, Bernier responded with a suggestion that perhaps she should instead consider a non- tenure position. This is how Bernier remembers it in her taped deposition.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you ever say to Doctor McMahon, "You can have a non-tenure track position if you want it?"

LYNN BERNIER, VICE PRESIDENT, CARROLL COLLEGE: I don't recall saying that.

KAYE: The school turned down our repeated requests for an interview but issued this statement: "The college vigorously denies that it discriminated against Doctor McMahon or otherwise violated her legal rights." The statement went on to point that, of 33 faculty given recent tenure, 20 are women.

MCMAHON: Expect that you're going to be treated fairly, that if you work hard, you do a good job, you're going to be treated fairly, and I wasn't. I was treated in a way different from my male colleagues.

KAYE: Today, McMahon is teaching chemistry at a technical college in Milwaukee. It is a non-tenure position.

Randi Kaye, CNN, Milwaukee.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTS: Coming up, new developments on those two U.S. soldiers missing in Iraq after an attack at a checkpoint. We'll go live to Baghdad for that.

And later the effort online and on the radio to save a critical source of news for Iraqi women. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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