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American Morning
Terror Attack on U.S. Embassy in Damascus; Iran and Iraq Make Overtures of Friendship; Power Play in Space
Aired September 12, 2006 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: A terror attack on the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, Syria this morning. We're live with the very latest.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The leaders of Iraq and Iran meeting right now.
What are those neighbors talking about?
S. O'BRIEN: We're going to take you to the front lines in the war on terror. American troops facing off with an emboldened foe.
M. O'BRIEN: A power play in space -- shuttle astronauts now outside the International Space Station hoping for shocking results.
S. O'BRIEN: And Japan's royal family finally names the new prince. We'll tell you what you can call the baby now, who's third in line to be emperor.
Those stories and much more ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Welcome back, everybody.
I'm Soledad O'Brien.
M. O'BRIEN: And I'm Miles O'Brien.
Good morning to you.
S. O'BRIEN: Let's get right to that developing story of the terror attack against the U.S. Embassy in Syria.
Reports say that armed men rushed the embassy early this morning. A car packed with explosives went off outside the building. Nobody inside was injured, but Syrian security shot and killed at least two of the attackers and took another into custody.
CNN's Andrea Koppel has covered the State Department extensively.
She's in Washington this morning -- Andrea, good morning.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
The attack happened about 3:30 in the morning Eastern Standard time here in the United States and according to the Syrian ambassador to Washington, Imad Mustafa, they believe -- they suspect a group by the name of Jund al-Sham. This is translated as Soldiers of Lebanon. He said it's an offshoot of al Qaeda, a group that he said has claimed responsibility for four or five similar such attacks within Damascus and in Syria over the last couple of years.
Nevertheless, there has been no claim of responsibility.
According to the State Department, this is an embassy that's roughly mid-sized. There are a couple dozen U.S. diplomats who are there, although the U.S. ambassador to Syria has been back in the States since February of 2005, after the assassination of then prime minister to Lebanon, Rafik Hariri.
According to Imad Mustafa, the Syrian embassy provides high security -- excuse me. The Syrian government provides high security to the U.S. Embassy in Damascus. He said that there are a couple dozen plus guards who are there 24-7 guarding the embassy. He said the fact that this attack was foiled is proof of this high level of security.
Nevertheless, there have been several attacks against the U.S. Embassy in recent years -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Now, the embassy itself is not in the diplomatic area -- or is it? I mean is there are reason why that embassy would specifically be targeted?
KOPPEL: It's actually -- there is no diplomatic quarter, I'm told, in Damascus. In fact, this embassy is located in a residential community -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: So, would there be any specific reason why they would focus right now on this embassy?
KOPPEL: I think there are a whole lot of reasons why they would focus on a U.S. -- a U.S. interest, per se in the Middle East. Ever since the war in Iraq, you have -- all you have to do is look at any recent poll that has been done of public opinion in the Middle East among Arabs, anti-American sentiment is at an all time high. In the last couple of months you've had the U.S.-Hezbollah war. You know that the Arab world associates the United States as being in lockstep with Israel.
So there are a number of reasons why the U.S. Embassy would be targeted. In fact, the State Department telling me this morning that they had been bracing for an attack either in Syria or elsewhere in the Middle East for many months now.
S. O'BRIEN: Andrea Koppel for us this morning at the Capitol.
Thanks, Andrea -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: In Iraq, more bloodshed. A car bomb explosion in western Baghdad killing six. It comes a day after a strike on a Shiite mosque northeast of the city. Seven died there in an exchange of mortar and rifle fire.
Iraq and Iran, once bitter enemies, now making overtures of friendship. The Iraq-Iran war in the 1980s left more than one million dead.
But today, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki is visiting Iran.
Why now?
CNN's Cal Perry live from Baghdad with more -- Cal.
CAL PERRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Miles.
Why now?
Simply put, Iraq is full of its own problems. Iraq does not want to get caught between a rift between Iran and the United States.
We heard from a government spokesman before the trip. He said the prime minister was really going to carry a variety of messages, one of them being they simply did not want to be interested in carrying diplomatic messages between Iran and the United States.
Also, Iraq is basically a staging ground of 130,000 U.S. troops. This is a major concern for Iraq. If the Iranians escalate tensions with the United States, if they decide to hit those troops in Iraq, Iraq will find itself destabilized even further.
So security is the key message that the prime minister carries with him today to Iran -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Cal, tell us about who Mr. Maliki will be meeting while he is in Iran.
PERRY: Well, he's already met with the Iranian president, Ahmadinejad. And, again, the key issue there was security. We've heard a variety of attempts from the Iranians to help train Iraqi security forces. While the meeting was taking place between the Iranian president and the Iraqi prime minister, as you said, a car bomb exploded in downtown Baghdad.
This is the security issue that Iraqis are faced with every day. Security is the key concern.
It's also a bit of a problem for the United States. The Iranians continue to push to train those Iraqi security forces. We've heard President Bush saying when those forces stand up, the Americans can stand down. So it'll be interesting to see what the U.S. diplomatic response is here on the ground, if that offer is made and what the response is from the prime minister -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Cal Perry in Baghdad for us.
Thank you very much -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Happening this morning, the American al Qaeda operative and spokesman faces more charges here in his home country. His name is Adam Gadahn and he's appeared in several al Qaeda videotapes; also already faces a sealed indictment for supporting terrorism. Sources tell us that the FBI may charge him with treason. Primaries today in nine states and in Washington, D.C.
Among the key races, Rhode Island's GOP primary, which pits Senator Lincoln Chaffee against Steve Laffey. That contest is expected to be close.
Japan's newest heir to the throne now has a name. The first boy born into Japan's imperial family was named today in a private ceremony. The name is Hisahito and it means "virtuous, calm and everlasting."
In California, a 16,500-acre wildfire shutting down an interstate that links Los Angeles and San Francisco. Now, some of the lanes reopened this morning. Crews are trying to make sure the fire doesn't jump Interstate 5.
In Bermuda, cleanup is underway after Hurricane Florence skirted right past the island chain on Monday. Florence knocked down some trees and knocked out some power. But authorities say there were only a few injuries and no deaths to report.
That brings us right to the forecast at six minutes past the hour.
Chad's got that -- hello.
Good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Soledad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
M. O'BRIEN: Last night, President Bush again tried to make the case that Iraq is part of the war on terror. But is the strategy really paying off? We'll take a look at that.
The Taliban gaining strength and on the attack in Afghanistan.
Is it shades of Iraq there?
That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: This September 11 marked the end of a journey for a brave young Marine. As for so many of his colleagues, the events of five years ago were a life changing experience.
CNN's Barbara Starr has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Even as the nation paused to remember those killed in the 9/11 attacks, there was another funeral, another family in mourning. At Arlington National Cemetery, a family shattered by its grief as a young Marine is buried. Lance Corporal Colin Wolfe had been in Iraq for less than two months when he was killed August 30th in Anbar Province. The truck he was riding in was hit by a roadside bomb. Colin was 19 years old when he was killed. But as a 14-year-old boy just after and because of the 9/11 attacks, he told his parents he wanted to be a Marine. He died a Marine.
AMY WOLFE, MARINE'S MOTHER: When Colin came home yesterday, yes, you want to cry. You want to cry horribly. But I felt he's a hero and he's a Marine.
STARR: Colin graduated high school just last year. His friends recall his interest in soccer and football and his passion for dance. His parents owned a studio. He appeared in school performances. Here, he is on the left, just weeks before joining the Marines.
MARKE WOLFE, MARINE'S FATHER: Colin knew the risk. He knew what he was getting into. He had a huge sense of serving and sharing.
STARR: A Marine buried five years after the boy decided he wanted to fight for his country.
Barbara Starr, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: Anderson Cooper now with a look at what's coming up on his program tonight -- Anderson.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, tonight on "360," we're live from the Pakistan-Afghanistan broader. A "360" exclusive -- on patrol and under fire with the U.S. Army, fighting on the front lines of the war on terror.
That's "360," tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Thanks, Anderson.
Coming up, meet a pair of political candidates who will make history if they win in November. But they're already heroes to millions of blind Americans. Their story is ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Winning this war will require the determined efforts of a unified country. And we must put aside our differences and work together to meet the test that history has given us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
M. O'BRIEN: The president speaking on the fifth anniversary of the terror attacks that changes his presidency and all of our lives, for that matter. It was a speech that addressed the sadness and skepticism American voters feel now, five years into a war that seems to have no end.
Our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, here with a political take on a speech that was billed as non-political.
But, of course, we know, Bill, nothing is non-political, right?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Not in the campaign season.
M. O'BRIEN: Not...
SCHNEIDER: Not this close to a mid-term election.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
SCHNEIDER: No.
M. O'BRIEN: Let's begin with some numbers that struck me. This -- we had a poll that came out a week ago.
Americans were asked if they felt Saddam Hussein had a direct link to the 9/11 attacks.
Forty-three percent of the people we asked said they believe that he was personally involved in 9/11. Now, the president addressed this front on -- head on last night.
Let's listen to him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: I'm often asked why we're in Iraq when Saddam Hussein was not responsible for the 9/11 attacks.
The answer is that the regime of Saddam Hussein was a clear threat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
M. O'BRIEN: So I suppose that clears things up, right?
SCHNEIDER: Not entirely, because critics would argue that the president is treating the enemy in this case as a unified enemy -- Saddam Hussein, al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Iraq, Iran, Syria, the radicals in Iraq. He portrayed a picture of a united America facing a unified enemy.
And a lot of people would quarrel with both sides of that equation. And they would also argue that the threat was made worse by the American invasion of Iraq, that now there's sectarian violence, the threat of instability that could destabilize the Middle East and that al Qaeda, by the president's own acknowledgement, has found a base in Iraq, a cause and some effort to make an even greater regroupment.
So was the threat diminished or increased?
M. O'BRIEN: A similar question we asked, a recent poll, as well. The same poll. The question was is Iraq part of the war on terrorism?
And this is a key point because people are comfortable with the way the administration is handling the war on terrorism. They're not comfortable with the way they're handling the war in Iraq. So if Iraq can be converted into part of the war on terrorism, that's a win for the Republicans.
At this point, it looks like this favors the Democrats, correct?
SCHNEIDER: That is true. The, you know, public opinion has been tending to doubt, in recent months, that Iraq is part of the war on terror. And the whole point of the president's speech was to put them together, to argue that it really is one war. Again, it was a unified argument -- we have a united America facing a unified enemy among -- with the Islamic radicals and Iraq is part of that simple war.
But instead of Iraq boosting the war on -- instead of, rather, the war on terror boosting support for the war in Iraq, what seems to be happening is the opposite -- disillusionment in the public with the war in Iraq seems to be increasing dissatisfaction with the war on terror.
M. O'BRIEN: So it's operating in the opposite direction the president would like at this point?
SCHNEIDER: That's right. At least so far. He's hoping -- he hoped to reverse that with his speech last night. But what we're finding is less satisfaction with the war on terror because of increasing disillusionment with Iraq.
M. O'BRIEN: And I suppose if there's increased disillusionment with the war in Afghanistan, that would play into that momentum in that direction.
SCHNEIDER: Yes, there's never been a big division over the war in Afghanistan. The entire world supported the United States in that war.
What the president was really doing was trying to recreate the mood of the country for the year after 9/11, when there really was a unified America. Even Democrats supported President Bush for a year.
But in September '02, the administration began the Iraq rollout, the mid-term election campaign began, America became bitterly divided. The president tried to paper over that division in his speech last night and talk about a united country and the spirit of 9/11, but a lot of things have happened since then.
M. O'BRIEN: All right, here's another little tidbit from that same poll I want to share with you. When you ask people what's most on their mind in this election season, the economy is number one. Number two is Iraq and then number three is terrorism.
Of course, if you lump terrorism and Iraq together, that puts it at the top. And that goes back to what we've just been talking about, whether terrorism and Iraq go hand in hand.
What do you make of that focus on the economy, first of all? How does that help or hurt Republicans as they face this election?
SCHNEIDER: Yes, well, it hurts Republicans because there's a lot of economic anxiety. And here's the critical test. We asked people who mentioned the economy how they planned to vote for Congress. And the answer is they're planning by a big margin to vote Democratic for Congress.
The same with those who mention Iraq.
Terrorism, a different story. They're planning to vote Republican. That's why the president is hoping to merge Iraq and terrorism into the same issue and build up the concern over terrorism to make it the dominant issue in this campaign. That's how Republicans won in 2002 and 2004. They're hoping to do it again in 2006.
M. O'BRIEN: So was it the right speech last night?
SCHNEIDER: Well, it was a bold speech that really packaged the president's argument. But Democrats would argue -- in fact, some of them are very angry about it. They say the president used the opportunity to try to sell the war in Iraq and that was inappropriate for the 9/11 anniversary, in their view, because by the president's own acknowledgement, Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11.
M. O'BRIEN: Thanks very much, Bill Schneider.
SCHNEIDER: Sure.
M. O'BRIEN: More on the war on terror in just a moment.
Had -- well, but first to Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: All right, let's update you on some pictures coming into us just a couple of months ago.
It's primary day here in New York State.
We want to show you some pictures of the former president, Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton, walking in to vote this morning, going into the voting booths there. Hillary Rodham Clinton is on the ballots today. She's up against a little known antiwar candidate, a guy named Jonathan Tasini, who really, in opinion polls, nobody seems to really know who he is, barely registering in some of those polls.
Eliot Spitzer is also up and he is running against Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, expected to beat him handily. And Andrew Cuomo is leading Mark Green in the race for attorney general. Those are some of the Democratic primaries that we're watching. And you're seeing some pictures of the Clintons as they vote this morning.
A short break.
We're back with a look at the top stories ahead.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
M. O'BRIEN (voice-over): Brian Michael Jenkins, with the Rand Corporation, says al Qaeda remains America's biggest threat.
BRIAN MICHAEL JENKINS, RAND CORPORATION: Their ability to communicate, to radicalize, to recruit, has not diminished. We haven't dented their determination.
M. O'BRIEN: There is no doubt they are determined to try something even bigger, more shocking than 9/11. And while they wait and plan, they are fighting a relentless campaign against the U.S. in Iraq, turning that country into a terror training camp.
JENKINS: What you see today in Baghdad is going to be the model of terrorist attacks that we see worldwide in the next five to 10 years.
M. O'BRIEN: So how do we win?
Well, if the objective of terrorists is to scare us, victory may be as simple as living our lives without fear.
JENKINS: Education and engagement will go a long way to reducing the alarm that terrorists hope to create. If we provoke cynicism in our society, then we will weaken and destroy ourselves. I mean no foreign foe can bring this country down.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Good morning.
Welcome back, everybody.
I'm Soledad O'Brien.
M. O'BRIEN: I'm Miles O'Brien.
Thanks for being with us.
In Syria, al Qaeda-inspired terrorists take aim at the U.S. Embassy in a brazen midday attack. The Syrians say members of the so- called Soldiers of Lebanon drove up to the U.S. Embassy in Damascus and started firing outside the walls. Syrian guards returned fire and then the attackers' car exploded. Four attackers, one Syrian guard are dead. No American casualties. Authorities confiscated a second vehicle nearby, also brimming with bombs.
Chief national correspondent John King live at the State Department with more -- hello, John.
JOHN KING, CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Miles.
State Department and White House officials are not sure what to make of this Syrian claim that it was an al Qaeda-affiliated or an al Qaeda-associated group involving in these attacks. But they are publicly thanking the Syrian security forces.
Miles, one White House official says he is now hearing there were three car bombs involved in what he says could have been a "potentially very serious attack." They are thanking the Syrian forces, security forces on the screen, for thwarting this attack. They say the information coming in is quite sketchy from the White House and the State Department view. The bottom line is no Americans were hurt.
This is a medium sized embassy. That means 40 to 60 U.S. employees likely to be in this embassy. It's worth noting there is no U.S. ambassador at this embassy. The ambassador was withdrawn back in 2004 because the United States government believes the Syrian government was complicit in the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister, Mr. Hariri.
So very tense relations between the United States and Syria. Neither side trusts the other side, if you will. But on this day, the White House and the State Department saying thank you to the Syrian government for thwarting what could have been a potentially serious attack. Conflicting information. Again, some skepticism about this Syrian government saying it is an al Qaeda-affiliated group involved. They are trying to get more information about exactly what happened.
But, again, Miles, the bottom line here at the State Department is they are welcoming the Syrian security forces for doing what they say was an exceptional job here and they are happy no Americans hurt in this attack -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Of course, we all know, John, that United States Marines are responsible for embassy security.
There were no Marines in harm's way this morning?
KING: We are told no Marines were injured at all.
U.S. Marines are responsible for security on the grounds of the building, of course, and at the complex itself. But when you're in a situation like Damascus -- and this has happened -- every couple of years or so there is a serious demonstration, sometimes some violence outside the embassy. Remember, the U.S. image in the Middle East -- across the Middle East -- is in pretty rough shape right now. There has been tension in Syria because of U.S. claims that Syria is supporting the Iraqi insurgency; tensions in recent days because the United States and Israel have said that during the standoff with Hezbollah, Syria was allowing weapons to go in, to continue to re-arm Hezbollah.
So these are two countries, the United States and Syria, that don't trust each other right now.
So in addition to the U.S. Marines on the screen because of what they believe to be a constant threat of anti-American attacks, there's a significant Syrian security force. And the Syrian security force is the outer layer, if you will, of the security at that site.
M. O'BRIEN: All right, John King at the State Department.
Thank you very much.
... tension in Syria because of U.S. claims that Syria is supporting the Iraqi insurgency, tensions in recent days because the United States and Israel have said that during the standoff with Hezbollah, Syria was allowing weapons to go in to continue to rearm Hezbollah. So these are two countries, the United States and Syria, that don't trust each other right now.
So in addition to the U.S. marines on the scene, because what they believe to be a constant threat of anti-American attacks, there's a significant Syrian security force. And the Syrian security force is the outer layer, if you will, of the security at that site.
M. O'BRIEN: All right, John King at the State Department, thank you very much.
(NEWSBREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
M. O'BRIEN: Let's go into space, shall we? Two hundred and 12 miles above us,traveling around the Earth at 17,100 miles an hour, give or take, circling the Earth every 90 minutes, a couple of Space Shuttle Atlantis astronauts in the midst of a six-and-half hour space walk, or so it is timelined.
Take a look at that. That's Joe Tanner on his sixth space walk, working on a solar array truss combination. And that's Heide Piper, space rookie, on her first space walk, as they get to work on preparing for the pieces of that solar array to fold out. That's where you see them there. Kind of folds out like a blind would, kind of like that. They will be out for about six-and-a-half hours as they continue connecting that truss, which is kind of like an erector set, and a solar array combination.
This is the 70th space walk to help build the International Space Station and the first since the loss of Columbia. Take a look at the launch. Let's go back to the launch. In that (INAUDIBLE) screen, I think you can see there a couple of pieces of debris that fall off the foam external fuel tank. And, of course, this goes back to Columbia, the concerns -- there you see them, right in there.
It turns out NASA is not concerned about those debris strikes. They happened much higher in the ascent to orbit, in excess of 300,000 foot. The atmosphere there is so thin that the relative velocity between the pieces of foam and the shuttle would not be what you saw, say, in October of 2002, mission of Discovery, when a piece struck the solid rocket boosters or, of course, in Columbia in February of 2003.
Here's -- we do have a couple of pictures, though, to tell you a little bit about what they know about the potential damage to the heat shield. First of all, this shows you right here where some of the foam, at least, came off from that external fuel tank. Still picture taken by the crew just after they got to space.
And here's one area that they haven't quite cleared yet. While they say so far the heat shield looks great and is intact and they don't need another day of inspection, there are a few of these -- remember the gap fillers on that first return to flight mission a year ago this July. Little pieces of insulation which go between those heat-protecting tiles, some of them are sticking out. And why that's a problem is as the flow of the air comes across them, it can create a little hotspot on the downstream side.
So NASA will try to -- we'll get out the slide rules -- well, of course, they don't use slide rules anymore. But the computer is -- run some simulations and make sure that that little piece of gap filler -- and there are a couple of places where it's sticking out -- will not cause hotspots, which cause -- could cause some breach of that heat shield. We'll keep you posted on that, as well.
As we say, three hours into the space walk, they've got about another three hours to go. And we'll watch it every step of the way -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Well, NATO's top commander is calling for help. General James Jones says there's unexpectedly fierce fighting with Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan, and he wants NATO troops to provide more troops -- NATO nations, rather, to provide more troops and more equipment to battle the Taliban resurgents.
CNN's Anderson Cooper is embedded with U.S. troops near the Afghan/Pakistan border, and we spoke with him just a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: One day after the commemorations of 9/11, the fight here continues. It was a day unlike, really -- or just like just about every other one. I went out on a patrol, as we did yesterday. The focus of these patrols really is interdiction. They're trying to stop foreign fighters, Taliban and militants, from crossing over the border in Pakistan.
As you know, Soledad, Pakistan has signed a cease-fire agreement with Taliban militants in the border regions on the Pakistan side of the border. These militants, frankly, don't even recognize the border as a legitimate border. They see no difference between that part of Waziristan in Pakistan and this part of eastern Afghanistan.
So what the soldiers here are very concerned about and intelligence sources we talked to are concerned about is an uptick in fighting and an uptick in cross-border incursions. And they are being very vigilant now in monitoring any cross-border incursions that they see. They will then tell the Pakistan military exactly when people are crossing, who is crossing and they will wait and see what the Pakistan military can do about it.
But it's a frustrating situation. They can't pursue al Qaeda fighters or Taliban militants across the border into Pakistan. Pakistan has made it very clear they will not allow U.S. troops to operate in their sovereign territory. It makes the fight here all the more difficult, and that is something we see every day.
When you go out on patrol, Soledad, the enemy is around. You can see markings of them. I can't go into too many details of how you know they are there, but it is very startling when you go on patrol just how close these fighters get and how many of the enemy there are in this whole region -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Anderson, a quick question for you. When you were on our air yesterday, there was some kind of rocket attack, and as everybody started running in, basically, you started going in.
Is something going on behind you? It's all right.
COOPER: Yes, I should have...
S. O'BRIEN: OK.
COOPER: It's odd that you say this. We're fine. What is happening is they have received some intelligence of some movement of foreign fighters or Taliban militants, I can't say exactly where, but they have a sense that they are on the move. They're receiving some intelligence.
So this Howitzer unit -- it's a 105 millimeter Howitzer. There you see they're loading the 105 millimeter shell. This kind of thing happens, frankly, several times throughout the day as the intelligence comes in. They're going to get ready to fire this. And we won't actually see the impact zone. The range on this Howitzer is about 12 miles, so it can fire their shell a great distance. They'll also then wait to hear if it's had the desired impact that they want.
Again, Soledad, this kind of thing happens really throughout the day. Usually as they get incoming rockets -- usually as they get incoming rocket fire, they coordinate the exact position of the rocket battery and then they return fire. In this case, again, it was not incoming, they just got some intelligence that they are responding to. So, Soledad, it is an every day occurrence.
And that 9/11 commemoration, which you saw yesterday, which was interrupted by incoming fire, a total of six rockets and mortars were fired at this forward operating base. They did, in the end, in the evening decide to continue with the commemoration ceremony. Despite the danger, all the soldiers still gathered here in this exact spot and they had a very simple, but a very somber and emotional service indeed.
It looks like they're going to be repositioning the Howitzer, Soledad, and they'll probably be firing yet again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: Anderson Cooper reporting for us this morning from the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. You can watch "ANDERSON COOPER 360" weeknights at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
Ahead this morning, a pair of candidates who could make history come November. They haven't won yet, but to blind people across the country, they're already heroes. That story's ahead, on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Polls are now open this morning in several states. Primaries are held in nine states, and the District of Columbia as well. And here are the races that bear a closer look this morning. In Rhode Island, Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee is facing a tough battle in his own party's primary. Chafee angered some Republicans with his opposition to John Bolton's nomination as U.N. ambassador.
In New York, Senator Hillary Clinton already voting this morning. These pictures a few moments ago. She's running in the Democratic primary against antiwar candidate Jonathan Tasini. Also in New York, well-known Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is the front-runner for the Democratic nomination for governor. Many people are also watching the lieutenant governor's race in New York, and that same race in Maryland. It's because the front-runners in both of those races are known as much more than just politicians. They're also inspirations.
CNN's Brian Todd has our story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love you. Seniors love you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, thank you.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): David Paterson sometimes needs help navigating the campaign trail, but he always gets warm greetings. Voters have become use to the fact that he's blind.
DAVID PATERSON, CANDIDATE, N.Y. LT. GOV.: I suffer from optic atrophy, which is scarred tissue that lies between the retina and the optic nerve. TODD: Kristen Cox is blind, too, but she is also accustomed to life in the public eye.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When I was growing up, a lot of times, I'd say, you know what, when grow up, I want to be -- but I'm blind.
TODD: Both are poised to become the nation's first blind state officials in modern history, and issue of their sight is sight unseen.
KRISTEN COX, CANDIDATE, MD. LT. GOV.: Folks really realize now more than ever before in decades past that disability doesn't need to be a litmus test for somebody's competency or ability to run for elected office.
TODD: Republican Kristen Cox is running to be Maryland's lieutenant governor on a ticket with incumbent Governor Robert Ehrlich.
COX: For me, blindness is no more than an inconvenience that sometimes I have to work around. There's really no limitations.
TODD: Democrat David Paterson is running in New York on a ticket with gubernatorial candidate Eliot Spitzer.
PATERSON: I think when you have a visual impairment, you feel that it's affecting every aspect of your life, and it invariably does.
TODD: While the seeing public has not taken note of the limitations of these two candidates, the blind public has. David Paterson once studied at the Hellen Keller School.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whatever they can accomplish in life and knowing that some day my daughter may be able to do something like that is very important.
TODD: Cox is a big draw for disabled teens.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She motivates you to do things that you either don't want to do or you don't think at that second that you have the confidence.
TODD: Both candidates say their blindness imposes some limits on their work, but opens so many other doors.
PATERSON: Our ability that most frightens, in other words, it's the light, not the dark that makes us so afraid. It's just sometimes even with the ability, we just worry if we can live up to those expectations.
TODD: Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: Kristen Cox and Governor Robert Ehrlich already know that they're going to move on in November. Their Republican ticket is running unopposed today -- Miles. M. O'BRIEN: Up next, Andy, "Minding Your Business." Hello, Andy.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Hello, Miles. When is boxy foxy? Well, some young car buyers are looking like that is the way of the future in Detroit. We'll tell you about that.
M. O'BRIEN: All right, thank you, Andy. Also ahead in the program, a long shot pays off. Find out why the outcome of one NFL game meant hundreds of thousands of dollars in free recliners and other furniture for folks. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: How do you make a bunch of Chicago Bears fans even more fanatical than they already are? Offer them free furniture. Dane Placko from our affiliate in Chicago, WFLB, explains how a risky business move turned into a big win for 206 lucky customers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDY GONIGAM, OWNER, WORLD FURNITURE MALL: Bears fan through and through.
DANE PLACKO, WFLB REPORTER (voice-over): Not only is Randy Gonigam a huge Bears fan, he also happens to own a huge furniture store in far west suburban Plano. So after reading about the vaunted bears defense a few weeks ago, he got an idea to drum up business over the Labor Day weekend.
GONIGAM: I thought, here's something that would be fun. I knew the Bears were playing the Packers in the first game of the season up at Lambeau, and I thought, you know what, let's put that on the line.
PLACKO: So Gonigam sent out 30,000 direct-mail pieces, promising that any furniture sold over the Labor Day weekend would be free if the Bears shut out the Packers. Mind you Brett Favre has never been shut out in his 15 years as Packers quarterback.
The sales pitch must have worked, because Gonigam sold $300,000 worth of furniture to more than 200 customers.
(on camera): Of course you know what happened, the Packers folded like this lovely brown leather Berkline (ph) recliner, only $799 dollars, but could have been yours free if you believed in the Bears.
(voice-over): Final score, Bears 26, Packers 0.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Congratulations.
PLACKO: Nadia Stanford was napping when the game ended.
DOTTIE STANFORD, FURNITURE WINNER: My husband was standing at the door and he's going five, four, three, two, one! And I thought he was nuts, nuts. So then he told me, and I didn't believe it. PLACKO: Bears fans Doug and Kathy Cress bought $5,000 worth of furniture.
(on camera): Anything you want to say to the Bears defense?
KATHY CRESS, FURNITURE WINNER: I just think they're wonders. I always have.
PLACKO (voice-over): Luck for Randy, he did buy insurance to cover some of his losses.
GONIGAM: The first thing I did was I went to my online bank account and made sure that the check for the premium on the insurance had cleared.
PLACKO: It had, so he avoided yet another sack by the Monsters of the Midway.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: That was Dane Placko from our Chicago affiliate WFLD reporting for us. Coming up at 9:00, we're going to talk to the owner of the store and one lucky customer who made off with thousands of dollars of now free furniture.
(BUSINESS HEADLINES)
M. O'BRIEN: All right, we'll have the top stories, as well. And we're going to check in on the space walk, approaching the four-hour mark. There you see mid -- right in the dead center of your screen, that, I believe, is Joe Tanner (ph )as he continues the process of getting ready to unfurl those big solar arrays, which is the front and center part of this mission to space. We'll bring you up to date on what's going on 212 miles above us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Parents take aim at the U.S. embassy in Damascus, Syria. Four gunmen open fire, but are stopped. An update on the very latest from there.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I'm Elaine Quijano live at the White House. After a day of collective mourning, the partisanship is back on full display here in Washington. The topic, national security and Iraq. I'll have a report coming up.
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta in New York. Bariatic surgery, or gastric bypass surgery, has become increasingly popular. But as the numbers go on up, has something troubling started to emerge? Are people swapping addictions? That's coming up.
M. O'BRIEN: And good morning, L.A. commuters. You better get moving or you can just roll over. A fast moving wildfire slows Interstate 5, just north of L.A. S. O'BRIEN: And a weekend furniture giveaway to tell you about. When the Bears win, so do some lucky shoppers. Those stories and much more on this AMERICAN MORNING.
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