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The Search for Ralph "Buck" Phillips; ABC 9/11 Miniseries Stirs Controversy; Nagin's 100 Day Report Card; Journalist Salopek to be Released in Sudan

Aired September 08, 2006 - 14:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it's taken New York police five months to get the drop on Ralph "Buck" Phillips. Today, the jail escapee and alleged cop killer may be cornered at last.
CNN's Deb Feyerick has the latest now - Deb.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, he is armed, he is dangerous. He is on foot and police believe that he is surrounded, that he's hiding in an area on the Pennsylvania/New York border. Police have set up a perimeter in that area. They do believe he is surrounded. They are sending in a mobile response team, sort of like a SWAT team to hopefully flush him out into that perimeter. Troopers say they just don't know how he's going to react. Whether he will give up or come out shooting.

Now, this massive hunt, Kyra, began at about 2:00 this morning. Buck Phillips was driving a stolen car. He was seen by a state trooper who tried pulling him over, he abandoned the vehicle and then raced into the woods. He then somehow found a second car and, so, gave chase in that particular car followed by police. He also ditched that vehicle, a New York State trooper with a dog followed him into the woods. Troopers say Phillips turned around and aimed a pistol at the trooper, but did not get a shot off. The trooper then fired several times.

Now a source is telling me that the way Phillips jumped it appeared that he had been hit, however, troopers will not confirm and say, in fact, that there has been no blood trail found. So it is not clear whether in fact, he is wounded.

Now, in one of the cars that was abandoned, police did find a backpack that they believe did belong to Buck Phillips. It had in it a camouflage outfit, camouflage clothing, as well as a wanted poster from the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in which he is featured very, very prominently.

One of the pictures on that poster shows him wearing a hat and a source tells CNN that, in fact, that hat or at least a similar camouflage hat was also found in the backpack.

So, right now, authorities are bringing in a lot more man power to help with this perimeter. They're trying to basically choke him off so that he's not able to slip out of it. There are a lot of different agencies working on this. They are all working together. A lot of the local police have been deputized by the U.S. Marshal Service so they can go back and forth across the Pennsylvania/New York State line. So whoever gets him, they're going to be bringing them in. Kyra?

PHILLIPS: All right, Deb. Thanks so much.

We'll continue to follow it minute by minute. Phillips is suspected of shooting three New York State troopers, one fatally. Speaking to reporters just a short time, a woman who lives near the woods where police believe Phillips is hiding.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EILEEN ANDERSON, NEARBY RESIDENT: I was just standing on my porch and a held the helicopters were flying around here, so, all of a sudden I heard four shots right across right up towards the hill right in front of my house. Right in a row. Four right in a row. And then the helicopters have been flying around that spot ever since. About 45 minutes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you been keeping your doors locked?

ANDERSON: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're not worried?

ANDERSON: No.

I've been watching in front of the house in case, in case he or whoever it is comes out of the woods over here. I've been kind of keeping watch across the road.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Our affiliate WGRZ just spoke with the daughter of the golf course owner who first reported seeing Ralph "Buck" Phillips. Here's what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HEATHER BORTZ, DAUGHTER OF GOLF COURSE OWNER: I did not hear any shots fired but my nephew did hear them and the state troopers, my brother talked to one of them and they said that Bucky did fire off 11 shots. They do know he is in camo and he has a gray sweatshirt tied around his waist. He has four handguns on him and he also has a shotgun.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: We're going to stay on the story working new developments from the newsroom.

To Phoenix and the face of the Baseline suspect. We're getting our first look at 42-year-old construction worker, Mark Goudeau, a parolee arrested in two assaults linked to the baseline serial killer case. He was arrested on Wednesday, but police held up on releasing a mugshot until they ran some lineups.

They say that they linked Goudeau to the two assaults to a DNA sample from his stint in prison. Goudeau spent 13 years behind bars for aggravated assault, robbery and kidnapping. Police have stopped short of linking him to the almost two dozen crimes attributed to the Baseline Killer.

The bloodiest suicide bomb attack since the Taliban was ousted in Afghanistan. Two U.S. troops are dead in Kabul along with at least 11 civilians and the Taliban claims responsibility. For the latest, let's get straight to the Pentagon and Barbara Starr with all the details. Barbara?

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, hello to you.

Well, it is partially the location where this attack that occurred that is getting an awful lot of attention. This was a part of Kabul quite close to the U.S. embassy, to NATO military headquarters and U.S. military headquarters. This suicide car bomb attack going off in a location known as Masoud Circle (ph), named after one of Afghanistan's most revered resistance leaders. An area of the city that is very heavily traveled where there is a good deal of Western security, but, yet, a suicide car bomber getting through, as you say.

This is the latest in a series of suicide attacks that have plagued the country for a good portion of this year. In fact, the just military noting that so far this year, Kyra, 125 Afghan civilians and seven U.S. service members killed in suicide car bomb attacks.

Of course, that getting attention because it is quite similar to the tactics that have been seen for so long now in Iraq. U.S. military commanders saying, unfortunately, none of this is really a surprise to them. They had expected the Taliban to mount these types of attacks. Of course, as it gets closer to the 9/11 anniversary and they have seen these throughout the year, another indicator of the resurgence of the Taliban, if you will.

That the Taliban fueled by drug money, by the poppy crop still have the funds, the organization and the capability to mount organized attacks. Challenging NATO and challenging the U.S. military and, of course challenging the very fragile Afghan government. Kyra?

PHILLIPS: We're going to go live to Afghanistan coming up this hour. Barbara Starr, thanks so much.

Even before today's brazen attack, NATO was warning it need reinforcements against a resurgent Taliban. More on that now from CNN's senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): NATO's top general says his troops in Afghanistan are being tested by a stubborn Taliban resistance, which is showing us surprising willingness to stand and fight, instead of taking shots and running away as NATO expected.

GEN. JAMES JONES, SUPREME NATO COMMANDER: Certainly the tenacity of the resistance is a little bit of a surprise and the southern region has turned out to be more than we expected, but certainly by no means unmanageable.

MCINTYRE: Jones says NATO knew it would stir up a hornet's nest when it began its southern offensive this summer, but the Taliban, flushed with drug cash from a bumper harvest of opium are well armed at inflicting heavy casualties. At least 35 British and Canadian troops have died in the past five weeks and a town in the south has fallen to Taliban control.

Meanwhile, NATO commanders have only 85 percent of the troops and equipment they were promised. NATO has failed to come up with a squadron of attack helicopters and several C-130 transport planes that General Jones says his ground commander needs for additional flexibility on the battlefield.

Currently there about 19,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan, of which about 1,000 are American and 6,000 are in the south. In addition, the U.S. has another 20,000 troops under American command. General Jones says the need for reinforcements is urgent, but not dire.

JONES: So, it's not a reinforcement, a reinforcement in the desperate sense, but it is prudent military advice that adds certain measure of guarantee and cushion to the forces that are already performing very well on the scene.

MCINTYRE (on camera): General Jones says he did not use the word reinforcements because connotes a sense of panic and desperation he says is uncalled for. He insists NATO troops will prevail and called Afghanistan, in his words, "a success story in the making." Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: An evil call to arms in Iraq is said to be from Iraq's al Qaeda leader urging followers to kill at least one American in the next two weeks. Get more now from CNN's Michael Holmes. He is in Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was a chilling message from the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, urging his followers to kill at least one American in the next two weeks using a sniper rifle, explosive or, in his words, whatever the battle may require.

That is according to a audiotape aired on Thursday on al Jazeera. Al Jazeera identifying the man on the tape as Abu Hamza al Muhajer a pseudonym adopted by Abu Ayyub al Masri, an Egyptian militant believed to be an expert at making car bombs and the man who took over for Abu Musab al Zarqawi who was killed by the Americans in June.

Part of the tape says this. "Do not let your souls or your enemies rest until each one of you kills one American within a period that does not exceed 15 days with a sniper's gunshot or incendiary device or Molotov cocktail or suicide car bomb. Whatever the battle may require."

As we said, a chilling message there from the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, a man who is still the subject of an intense manhunt. Michael Holmes, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Following a developing story. The search for fugitive Ralph "Buck" Phillips. The jail escapee and alleged cop killer may be cornered at last. We're on that story.

Plus, campaigns and chromosomes. Coming up, how much clout will women wield at the ballot box this year. Stick around, we never strip the issues here from the newsroom.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Henrik Jensen plays big roles in a list full of A-list movies. But it's unlikely you've ever seen his face.

HENRIK WANN JENSEN, ASSOC. PROF., UCSD: In "Jurassic Park" we have dinosaurs, humans haven't really seen before, so, when you see the computer graphics techniques, it's OK if they sort of don't look exactly right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The new technique focuses on a much more difficult task. Animating things we see every day such as human faces or even glasses of milk. But Jensen's not limited to fantasy worlds.

JENSEN: The medical industry is the next big frontier. We're trying to help them with sort of computer science technology and faster methods for precise simulation of light and how it interacts with the skin in order to treat various diseases. That's an area with a lot of potential.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, now, Miss Scarlet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Whoa, Scarlet O'Hara distant when it was civil and now her modern day sisters are souring on Iraq. A new poll says that even southern women, who have been some of the president's biggest fans are starting to lose that loving feeling for Mr. Bush and his policies.

We're going to let a couple pundits loose on this and other political topics. Radio talk show host Martha Zoller joins me here from Atlanta. Arianna Huffington of huffingtonpost.com and author of "On Becoming Fearless." She's in Culver City, California. Great to have you both.

So here's the quote, "Ladies, that got us talking about this. I think history will show him to be the worst president since Ulysses S. Grant," said Barbara Knight, a self-described Republican since birth and mother of three. "He has been an embarrassment." What is going on, Martha?

MARTHA ZOLLER, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: I'm one of the southern women that drives the car pool and is going to the football game tonight and go to church on Sunday. And I've got to tell you, a lot of people are talking about this because women have been sort of the swing vote. Probably since Barry Goldwater there have been the married women especially, not so much older women and younger women, but married women, especially, have been a little less loyal, shall we say to their party affiliation.

PHILLIPS: Arianna, southern women have that big an impact on politics?

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, HUFFINGTONPOST.COM: They do, Kyra. In 2004 they actually gave the election to George W. Bush because they deserted Democrats and John Kerry in larger numbers than expected. Fifty-five percent of them voted for George Bush. And that has now changed, 34 percent of women in the South are now supporting Bush. Twenty eight percent nationwide. So, something very significant has happened and Iraq is at the center of it because the reason women in the South and other married women, especially, have gone for Bush was the kind of fear factor. The fact that they believe that Bush would protect them, keep the country safer and what's happening ask in Iraq has really changed the dynamic dramatically.

ZOLLER: But I have to say that we say it's changed. We don't know yet. We won't know yet until November 7th and what the president has done this week in giving lots of specifics about what has been thwarted and how they have been protected. You know, some women will buy it and some women will not. But this is exactly what Republicans have to do because, in general, women want to believe that Republicans are going to protect them more than Democrats do and that's how the elections have fallen.

Now we have got 60 days to go and we don't know how they're actually going to vote. But it doesn't look strong right now.

PHILLIPS: And we've heard the term soccer moms and NASCAR dads. Arianna, you were talking about security moms. Is that the new term now?

HUFFINGTON: Well, in 2004 soccer moms were supplemented and in many cases were replaced by security moms by concern about our national security and I would have to disagree with Martha that the president's pr offensive this week with all the speeches about terror has not really changed that.

Because, unfortunately, the truth is that every day we have more bad news from Iraq. As we saw on your program here and from Afghanistan, increasingly. So, the facts on the ground, unfortunately, for the Republicans, mitigating against whatever P.R. offensive they have out there.

ZOLLER: The biggest problem honestly is, yes, Republicans have a hole in their policy right now that is big enough to drive a Mack truck through. But Democrats are not saying what they're going to do other than the fact they don't like George Bush. And the fact of the matter is George Bush will never be on a ballot again. So, Democrats have an opportunity. I'll acknowledge that. They have an opportunity here, but if they don't have a policy they put forth that's understandable, then, you're not going to see it at the polls in 60 days.

HUFFINGTON: I actually agree with that. I think they have an opportunity and it depends on what they do, but there's another issue that (inaudible) raised today, the mortgage mom, not just the security mom, but the mortgage mom who is particularly worried about the growing amount of debt. You know, credit card debt, mortgage debt. At the same time, flat wages. So, all those economic concerns could be compounding the security concerns.

PHILLIPS: Are we missing another title. We have security moms, mortgage moms ....

ZOLLER: I tell you what, when most of the houses were financed with no down payment, that maybe mortgage moms or not, but that was bad financing advice by whoever decided to do that. I don't know if that is a man or women decision, but if you buy a house and you don't make a down payment, when economics go up and down, you're going to be in trouble.

PHILLIPS: Let me ask you both what you think. We started off by talking about the impact of southern women and what we're hearing here in the South, but if the president had to concentrate on a certain area or region or certain states, would it be the South Arianna?

HUFFINGTON: Actually, Kyra, I think what the president has to acknowledge a mistake and change course. You know, we, women, are much more forgiving when someone acknowledges a mistake. And we're much less forgiving when a politician or a man in our lives kind of follows a cause that is taking us over the cliff. And a lot of women and men, too, are beginning to feel that that's what is happening in Iraq.

ZOLLER: But I think, overall, he's got to focus on security issues at home and while women are not necessarily border security folks the way maybe some men are they do see the effect of illegal immigration and schools and healthcare, which are two issues women are very concerned about. So there's a lot to be done in the next 60 days. I don't agree that it was a mistake to go to extend the global war on terror into Iraq and the president has to continue to make that case and, you know, there are women, we are debating this all the time.

It's not just here on CNN, it's when we're picking our kids up in car pool. It's when we're talking about it at the diner and getting together.

PHILLIPS: Is it mostly Iraq or are you debating other issues?

ZOLLER: Iraq and immigration are the biggest two things people are talking about. You agree with that, Arianna?

PHILLIPS: Immigration. You agree with that, Arianna?

HUFFINGTON: I would say Iraq and debt. Iraq in terms of the security issue and the growing debt, mortgage debt, credit card debt in terms of domestic issues and the fact that more and more women no longer see the war in Iraq as being part of the war on terror. These two things are no longer connected in many women's minds. The president has tried to reconnect them this week, but according to all the polls, without any success.

PHILLIPS: Arianna Huffington, Martha Zoller, thank you - you have a final thought?

ZOLLER: No, no.

PHILLIPS: It's good?

ZOLLER: No. It's good.

PHILLIPS: All right. Good. I know we'll be talking again. Ladies, thank you so much.

HUFFINGTON: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Well, a mini series, but a major critic.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT: I think they ought to tell the truth. Particularly, if they're going to claim it's based on the 9/11 Commission Reportm they shouldn't have scenes which are directly contradicted by the facts and findings of the 9/11 Commission.

PHILLIPS: The "Path to 9/11." Will dramatic license it lead viewers down the wrong road?

Plus, first the air and now the sea. Israel ends another blockade of Lebanon. Details straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: One of the country's best-known companies is embroiled in a scandal involving corporate spying and media leaks. Susan Lisovicz joins us from the New York Stock Exchange with all the latest developments at Hewlett-Packard. Susan what is the scoop?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The scoop is, Kyra, that it could be a very big weekend, a pivotal weekend for Hewlett-Packard which right now has no comment on a "Newsweek" report for an emergency board meeting scheduled this weekend to discuss the developing scandal. It all started because HP was upset over media links about the firing over its CEO, Carly Fiorino. But the probe the company launched into the leaks not only made things worse, it may have been criminal.

California's attorney general says HP obtained personal phone records of the company's directors illegally. HP hired private investigators that posed as company officials and journalists to get the information, a practice known as pre-texting. HP admits that pre- texting was used but said it was done without the company's knowledge. Think we'll be hearing a lot more about pre-texting in the future.

Kyra?

PHILLIPS: No doubt. What kind of fallout do you think we can expect from the scandal?

LISOVICZ: Far-reaching consequences for some companies, including criminal or civil charges. The company now confirms that Patricia Dunn, HP's chairman will resign if the company's board asks her to. Although she has no plans to do so yet. Dunn was the one who authorized the probe into the initial leaks but her fate will likely depend on whether she knew about the tactics being used.

And this story can develop into one that goes way beyond corporate intrigue at HP. We're going to find out in coming days and weeks if other companies used pre-texting and if all of us are potential victims how easy it is for someone to simply claim an identity and then get hold of those records. It's kind of a scary thought, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: We all do it, right? We text, we e-mail. We all take the risk. How are shares of HP holding up?

LISOVICZ: That's one of the ironic stories here, Kyra. HP had been making a comeback under the CEO who replaced Carly Fiorino, Mark Hurt, and its shares right now are up 3.75 percent, less than a dollar from their 52 week high.

So, we'll see how much more we learn about this and what effect if any, it will have on company shares. In the meantime, the market is higher, too. Down Industrials right now 59 points or half a percent, the NASDAQ Composite, meanwhile, gaining 10 points, also 0.5 percent. A nice end to the trading week after two days of losses. That is the latest from here, Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right, Susan, thanks so much.

Time is up for New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin. One hundred days into his 100 day recovery plan. We're going to get a progress report ahead from the newsroom.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Fredricka Whitfield, what are you working for us there in the newsroom?

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Kyra, we've been following the story of an American journalist being jailed in Sudan since last month. Well, now we're learning from the Associated Press that New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson says that the Sudanese president has agreed to release Paul Salopek, that man right there in the center, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who recently was working as a freelancer for the "National Geographic". He and two others were being jailed since last month, charged with espionage and, quote, "writing false news".

Well now, the Associated Press is reporting that the former U.S. ambassador and now New Mexico governor Bill Richardson has helped negotiate with the president of Sudan to win the release of Salopek as well the two others who have been held. You know Richardson as a former ambassador who has helped to negotiate the negotiate the release of others who have gotten in trouble in North Korea, as well as in Cuba and now Sudan. So this news being reported from the Associated Press -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Fred, thanks so much.

Well this may just be Friday to you, but not for the thousands of New Orleanians who have been counting on Mayor Ray Nagin's the 100 day recovery plan to come to fruition. Today is the 100th day. How far has the city come? CNN's Gulf Coast correspondent Sean Callebs is there. Sean, what do you think?

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, he actually announced this right after he was re-elected, a way to energize this city, to take steps towards long-term housing, get rid of debris, cut down on crime, and on this 100th day, a lot of New Orleanians may have been waiting to see the progress report.

Well, they won't get it from the mayor today. He's in Washington, D.C. Now, a lot of residents in this city are convinced if there is going to be change the people have to roll up their sleeves and they can't count on city hall.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAYOR RAY NAGIN (D), NEW ORLEANS: Today is a new beginning.

CALLEBS (voice-over): After a hard-fought re-election, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin in June promised things would soon get better for weary residents. He announced an ambitious 100 day plan to be overseen by movers and shakers in New Orleans to tackle the city's biggest problems.

NAGIN: And we'll examine everything from implementing improved methods for crime-fighting, debris removal, garbage collection and accelerated short-term and long-term housing.

CALLEBS: But many in still horribly devastated neighborhoods like Lisa Grillot, are giving up on promises as Nagin's first 100 days of this term draw to a close.

LISA GRILLOT, LAKEVIEW RESIDENT: I don't see that any politician can do anything in particular for anybody. If a person doesn't do it themselves, it's not going to get done.

CALLEBS: The mayor's office didn't return CNN's repeated calls, but critics say the city has no plan on how to rebuild in badly flooded areas and has developed no way to bring hundreds of thousands who fled Katrina back to the city they called home.

It's not just citizens voicing their disappointment. Businesses like owners of the Savvy Gourmet say they can't wait for city hall. They're risking their own money with no assurance that people will come back.

PETER MENGE, CO-OWNER, SAVVY GOURMET: It feels kind of like the wild, wild west. You're just kind of trying to make it happen. You're trying to carve out your own thing. There isn't, there's just very little top-down leadership.

CALLEBS: There are positives the mayor can point to. New Orleans is ridding itself of mounds of debris and trash pickup has resumed in many areas. But rebuilding remains the key stumbling block. The president of city council says he understands citizen angst.

OLIVER THOMAS, PRES. NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL: I think what people seem to be saying they're getting mixed messages about what to expect or not to expect, what we can do, what we can't do. And I think it's real frustrating to people, not knowing when we say something if it's really going to happen or not.

GRILLOT: I'm not going to wait. I'm not waiting. I'm not waiting for someone to help me, I'm not waiting for the road home money. I'm not waiting. I'm not waiting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS: You get the point. She is not waiting, as she said.

Well, we have a crew that caught up with Mayor Nagin in Washington, D.C., today and he says he's comfortable with the objectives of the 100 day plan. But we'd like to tell you what they are, but he has not publicly stated them.

He says that the 100 day deadline was kind of a soft deadline and he plans on holding a news conference on September 12th, here in his words, "So people can have time and recognize the tragedy from September 11th and then focus on this city".

PHILLIPS: But, still, a lot of the focus on the city goes back to crime. And a lot of local residents confused and frustrated with that. The National Guard being called back in because of Mayor Ray Nagin calling for them. What's the deal?

CALLEBS: There are so many questions. And we talked to Oliver Thomas, the city council president, about the crime issue, because the mayor contends it's going down. But there have been a number of murders over the past four months, well above the national average. And as Thomas says, there were 12 shootings in this city over the Labor Day holiday. He says, when you have something like that, you can tell people until you're blue in the face that crime is down, but people will be scared, they're going to be concerned if their loved ones can't walk to the car safely and walk through the park. So crime is a big concern of the residents, even if the mayor says the rate is going down.

PHILLIPS: Sean Callebs, thanks so much.

Fact, fiction or a fusion of the two? ABC is under fire for a mini-series that claims to trace the path to the 9/11 attacks. Among the protesters, former president Bill Clinton.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think they ought to tell the truth, particularly if they're going to claim it's based on the 9/11 Commission Report, they shouldn't have scenes which are directly contradicted by the facts and findings of the 9/11 Commission. That's all. I just want people to tell the truth and not, you know, pretend it's something it's not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The network tells the "Washington Post" it plans some minor changes before the program airs.

More now from CNN's Brian Todd.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bill Clinton's former national security team taking ABC to task over the network's dramatic mini-series "The Path to 9/11".

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No one is taking the terrorism seriously.

TODD: A letter sent from Clinton's attorney and his former aide Bruce Lindsey to Robert Iger, the CEO of ABC's parent company, the Walt Disney Corporation, reads, quote, "ABC has gotten it terribly wrong... It is unconscionable to mislead the American public about one of the most horrendous tragedies our country has ever known".

Former Clinton aides say, although they have not seen the film, ABC should revise or remove part of it before it airs next week. Among the proposed scenes upsetting them, a portrayal of a 1988 CIA- led operation in Afghanistan. In the scene, CIA operatives have CIA operatives have Osama bin Laden cornered, and are poised to capture or kill him until National Security Adviser Samuel Berger refuses to give the go ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are ready to load the package. Repeat. Do we have clearance to load the package?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stand by. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our officers are in place, sir. They're in danger.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look, I understand that, Patricia, but I don't have that authority.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TODD: Berger, other top Clinton security aides and members of the 9/11 Commission say none of that ever happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIM ROEMER, 9/11 COMMISSION MEMBER: There were plans, not an operation in place. Secondly, Osama bin Laden was never in somebody's sights. Thirdly, on page 114 of our report, we say George Tenet took responsibility for pulling the plug on that particular Tarmac Farms (ph) operation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TODD: In his own letter to Robert Iger, Berger writes the scene, quote, "flagrantly misrepresents my personal actions". It is unclear at this point whether this scene or a different version of it will be in the final cut. ABC representatives did not specifically respond to our questions, but in a statement, ABC Entertainment says,"'The Path to 9/11' is not a documentary of the events leading to 9/11. It is a dramatization, drawn from a variety of sources including the 9/11 Commission Report, other published materials and personal interviews. As such, for dramatic and narrative purposes, the movie contains fictionalized scenes, composite and representative characters and dialogue, and time compression. No one has seen the final version of the film, because the editing process is not yet complete..."

Still, observers ABC is taking a chance by using the real names of those key players.

HOWARD KURTZ, CNN'S RELIABLE SOURCES: A lot of people watching that are going to think that that is reality, when in fact, it is just, you know, Oliver Stone-type fiction.

TODD: Another controversy, ABC enlisting 9/11 Commission Chairman Tom Kean, a Republican, as an unpaid consultant with a production title. Jean tells CNN he had seen the script and informed ABC the scene depicting Berger hanging up the phone on a CIA agent who had Osama bin Laden in his sights was inaccurate.

Kean says ABC responded that it would revisit the scene.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: Kean tells me he believes the writers and producers did their best to depict everyone fairly. And he urges President Clinton and his former aides to watch the movie. It is, in his words, "an effective piece of work". ABC did not consult a Democratic member of the commission for this film. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

PHILLIPS: Brian Todd is part of the team covering the war for the "SITUATION ROOM." Join Wolf Blitzer weekdays at 4:00 Eastern and again in primetime at 7:00.

A day of infamy for most Americans, a day of festivities for a family in Virginia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The playground or McDonald's or wherever I am, that, you know, Spencer was born on 9/11/01, not just 9/11/01, but the hour.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: A baby comes into a world that will never be the same from that day forward. That story straight ahead from the NEWSROOM.

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PHILLIPS: Well, she's one of our favorites. Emmy, Grammy, now Oscar. Ellen DeGeneres achieves the triple crown of celebrity hosting gigs as she's tapped to preside over the Academy Awards next February. DeGeneres, who hosts a popular TV talk show, says that she's thrilled to be asked to do this, and why not? Apart from Whoopi Goldberg, she's the only woman ever asked to solo host on Hollywood's big night, and we know she's going to do awesome.

Well, a million little payouts, maybe more, in the historic settlement of the fabrication flap involving the best-selling pseudo- memoir "A Million Little Pieces." The book's author, James Frey, and publisher Random House are offering to give disgruntled readers their money back. But the claimants have to sign sworn statements that they thought the book was a true accounting of Frey's troubled life. The court still has to sign off on this.

Andre Agassi's anguished farewell. The tennis legend ended a 21- year career at the U.S. Open this week. And in the first interview of his retirement, Agassi spoke to CNN's Larry King about his final moments on the center court.

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LARRY KING, CNN ANCHOR: What was going through your mind right there?

ANDRE AGASSI, WON 60 CAREER SINGLES TITLES: The mind was very confused. The heart was feeling it. It was a lot of years coming to that one moment there.

KING: As a competitor, were you first down over losing the match?

AGASSI: No. No. I've been criticized for not having perspective in the past, and I blame that -- thought of that of myself many times. But not there.

KING: So you accepted that?

AGASSI: Oh, yes, that was -- it wasn't about tennis. It wasn't about tennis for me. It was coming to that moment there that was worth -- that was worth the difficulty of the last few hours.

KING: Were you at all surprised by what took place?

AGASSI: Very much so. You know, the last few months since I announced the U.S. Open was going it be my last tournament, I've been very unprepared sort of emotionally and, you know, for the feeling that I would have to deal with, you know, when it would hit me, how it would hit me, the tears, the many tears. And it all sort of ended here and this was -- this was crazy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: You can join Larry tonight, 9:00 p.m. Eastern. His guest, among the most prominent of the 9/11 widows, Kristen Breitweiser.

Well, if you've been watching CNN, it's a story that we've been following for weeks. And now we are getting word -- good news for "Chicago Tribune" reporter Paul Salopek. You remember when we first reported that he had been jailed in Sudan on charges of espionage. We had talked to the editor of the paper to try to find out what exactly had happened, if he was being held in this area, treated well by the government there that was holding him in a jail cell. And we've been keeping up with his story week by week.

Well, we're just getting word now that the governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, has been able to secure a deal to release Salopek. And I'm told we have the governor on the phone.

Governor Richardson, thanks so much for joining us.

And just to give a little context to our viewers, Salopek is from New Mexico, correct? And his wife called you?

GOV. BILL RICHARDSON, NEW MEXICO: That's right. Paul Salopek lives in Columbus, New Mexico, near the border. His wife Linda and the editor of the "Chicago Tribune," Ann Marie Lipinski, asked me to get involved. I had previously been able to get a release of several other hostages years ago in the Sudan. So I knew the Sudanese. I'm in the Sudan right now and I just finished a meeting with President Bashir and he's agreed to release Paul Salopek to me and the two Chadian journalists that were with him.

I have to go to El Fasha (ph), where he is being detained, some two hours from Khartoum. I will pick him up in the morning and bring him home. And I made this appeal on the basis of humanitarian grounds. We didn't -- I'm not here on a political visit, I'm here as a governor who has a constituent who believes in freedom of the press.

But the great news is that he's going to be released tomorrow and hopefully we'll bring him home to New Mexico tomorrow.

PHILLIPS: Governor, how did you strike the deal? Tell me about the conversation and the details of how you were able to finally talk the president into working this out?

RICHARDSON: Well, ten years ago, I'd met the president when I was able to get three Red Cross workers, including a New Mexican, out of jail in the Sudan. And President Bashir had actually helped me secure their release, because they had been detained by a number of rebel groups. And his ambassador in Washington, the Sudanese ambassador, had happened to be my translator.

So when I was asked to intervene -- I don't intervene in these cases unless I'm asked. I asked the ambassador to, please, find the way that we can secure the release of Salopek. So I was then invited by President Bashir, who remembered me from ten years ago. And we just finished the meeting, and 45-minute meeting where he told me he would let me take Paul Salopek and the two Chadians out of -- he would pardon them, in essence, because he had been charged with espionage and -- on humanitarian grounds.

And I'm very happy. I'm here with his wife, with Paul Salopek's wife, with his boss. They came with me to the Sudan. And tomorrow morning -- it's about 10:00 at night here in the Sudan -- we're going to go to El Fasha, where he's being detained some two hours from Khartoum, and hopefully we'll bring him home.

But it's, I think, an important humanitarian gesture. Apart from all the political differences the United States and the world has with Sudan, this is a humanitarian gesture. This is a journalist who was doing his job who not a spy. He was charged with being a spy. And now he's coming home, and that's great news.

PHILLIPS: And at any time, did you have a conversation of what Paul Salopek may come back to the United States and write about? As you know, the stories that continue, the humanitarian crisis that takes place in this part of the region, the reports of genocide and just the unrest that continues to exist in this area. Did that come up at all about what Paul has been investigating or reporting on, and what he may come back here and write about and tell the United States what's happening, truly, in that country?

RICHARDSON: Well, there were no deals discussed. I stressed to the president that Paul Salopek is a respected journalist, that he calls it as it is. But he had been charged with being a spy. And I said, he's not a spy, he's an investigative journalist. He did make the mistake -- because he came into Sudan without a visa. And having said that, the president responded to the fact that -- because of our previous personal relationship, because it's a humanitarian gesture; Linda, his wife was here -- but he felt it was important to take this humanitarian step.

Now I did raise other issues, like the U.N. presence, the peacekeeping force. He was concerned, too, the president, about the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo, Sudanese detainees. And I promised I'd pass it on. But I'm not an envoy. I'm not here officially, I'm here as the citizen, the governor of New Mexico, trying to get my constituent out of jail and we've managed to do that. So, we're understandably excited and tomorrow morning, hopefully, we'll bring him home back to New Mexico and he'll continue his career as a journalist.

PHILLIPS: And, governor, I do want to ask you, because you're there in the region and you're seeing firsthand a lot of things that we are not able to see back here in the United States, are you concerned about what's happening in that part of the region?

As you know, there's been worldwide coverage on the humanitarian crisis, on the genocide, and what's happening to the people there. Is it on your mind and on your heart as you are trying to win back Paul Salopek and bring him back home?

RICHARDSON: Well, of course it is. I am very concerned about the human rights situation, but my assignment here is very narrow and that's to secure the release of Paul Salopek. And I've been working with the State Department, the American ambassador, Cameron Hume, accompanying at my meetings with me. I'll try to be helpful in that area, but now that I've accomplished the mission, the humanitarian mission, I'm satisfied.

But, obviously, I did raise the issue of the U.N. peacekeeping force that would deal with some of these problems that occur in Darfur, and I'll get a chance tomorrow to go to southern Sudan where Paul Salopek is being detained, and get a better reading for myself.

But my assignment was very narrow: release Paul Salopek, humanitarian grounds. He's my constituent. He is a journalist who respects the freedom of the press. And we achieved that. So I'm very pleased with that.

PHILLIPS: Governor bill Richardson, always a pleasure to talk to you. Congratulations.

RICHARDSON: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: We hope to talk to you and Paul once you get back to the states.

RICHARDSON: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Well, bright, cheerful and born in the shadow of a national tragedy. One family's reason to celebrate on September 11th, a he symbol of hope named Spencer. Details from the NEWSROOM.

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PHILLIPS: Well, if she's tried right away, convicted, and sentenced to the maximum, an alleged Chicago bank robber will be 99 when she gets out of prison. Police say a 79-year-old grandmother was carrying a toy gun -- and, by the way, wearing a visor that said "princess" -- when she walked up to a teller on Tuesday and asked for 30 grand. Dane Placko of CNN affiliate WFLD has the latest.

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DANE PLACKO, WFLD REPORTER (voice-over): 79-year-old Melvena Cooke is shielded by her daughter as she leaves federal court. Cooke is charged with robbing the Bank of America branch at Dearborn and Washington on Tuesday. The FBI says surveillance photos inside the bank show Cooke approached a teller. They say she demanded $30,000 cash and opened a plastic bag to reveal what looked like a gun.

The teller sounded a silent alarm, then walked away from her station, prompting Cooke to walk out of the bank. Employees flagged down a police officer who found Cooke inside a nearby Walgreen's. Inside her bag, they say, was a plastic toy gun.

Cooke lives with her daughter in the Hyde Park neighborhood and was reportedly behind on her rent. In a very unusual move for a bank robbery charge, the federal judge allowed Cooke to be released on a signature bond, meaning she didn't have to post any money, indicating she is not considered a threat.

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PHILLIPS: Well, that was Dane Placko of WFLD in Chicago. The FBI has gone through its records. Agents say Cooke will be the oldest bank robber in Chicago history if she's convicted.

His words launched countless whispers and a costly federal investigation. We're going to have more on the man behind one of the most talked about leaks in Washington history.

Real life heroism brought to the big screen. Ahead from the NEWSROOM, reliving 9/11. I'll talk with a 911 rescuers and the actor who plays him in the movie "World Trade Center." A gripping and courageous story you won't want to miss.

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