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9/11 Terror Tape; Foley Fallout; Bob Woodward's New Book Raises Questions for White House; 9/11 Smoking Gun?; Ballplayers Accused; Brazil Plane Crash; Iraq: Time to Go?

Aired October 01, 2006 - 17:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: First to our top stories.
A U.S. official tells CNN the United States new about the terrorist videotape that emerged today in London. The tape shows Mohammed Atta and fellow hijacker Ziad Jarrah. It was apparently shot in Afghanistan, more than a year and a half before 9/11.

Fears of civil war in the West Bank and Gaza. At least nine people were killed and dozens wounded today in clashes between Hamas and Fatah security forces. Part of the problem stems from unpaid wages due to economic sanctions against the Hamas-led Palestinian government.

And earlier today, Israel said the last of its troops had withdrawn from southern Lebanon. Well, later, the Israeli military acknowledged it still controls at least one Lebanese village.

President Bush was shocked by the Mark Foley allegations. That according to White House counselor Dan Bartlett. Foley is accused of sending sexually explicit messages to congressional pages. Bartlett says the White House was unaware of the allegations until Friday, when Foley resigned from the House of Representatives.

First, to the new pre-9/11 videotape. The tape shows two of the terrorists who would pilot hijacked planes on September 11th. Appearing on the tape which emerged today in London, Egyptian Mohammed Atta, seen on the right, and Lebanese terrorist Ziad Jarrah.

The tape was apparently shot in Afghanistan. It's dated more than a year and a half before 9/11, and part of it shows the terrorists apparently reading martyrdom statements.

I spoke about the tape with Peter Bergen, CNN's terrorism analyst.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: This is not the first time we're now seeing videotape of any these terrorists involved in 9/11 before the attack. So, why it is we are seeing these tapes like this resurface?

PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: Well, I'm not really sure of the answer to that question, Fredricka. The way these tapes came -- came into the "Sunday Times" was by Yosri Fuda (ph), who is an Al- Jazeera correspondent who is a very good reporter, who has excellent contacts. In fact, interviewed Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Ramzi bin al-Shibh, the -- the main plotters of the 9/11 attacks.

And the "Sunday Times" says that they got these through a trusted channel. I imagine that Yosri Fuda's (ph) contacts within al Qaeda reached out to him and somehow made this tape available.

I mean, it's of interesting historical value. Certainly, it puts, you know, these two important pilots in the 9/11 plot in Afghanistan, in a tape made by al Qaeda's video production arm.

What's interesting, Fredricka, about these two guys is that two more -- two more different people you could hardly think of, Mohammed Atta, who we see here, a very serious Egyptian student, and Ziad Jarrah, the other guy who we see here, sort of a Lebanese playboy who had a girlfriend, who even may have been his wife, who even drank on occasion. And it sort of raises an interesting question about terrorists in general, because, you know, it's very hard -- you couldn't predict that Ziad Jarrah would be a guy who would fly a plane into what turned out to be a Pennsylvania field.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: A U.S. official tells CNN the United States has known about the video for quite some time. Exactly how long is unclear.

And now to Capitol Hill, where a major political scandal is triggering outrage and putting top Republicans on the offensive. The controversy centers around e-mails and instant message Congressman Mark Foley allegedly sent to congressional pages. Some of the messages sexual in nature.

The House Ethics Committee is investigating. And Foley, a Florida Republican, has resigned.

But Democrats are turning up the heat today. And in a letter to the Ethics Committee, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi wants the investigation to start immediately and not to be limited to Foley's actions.

She also wants to zero in on top Republicans. When did they know about the e-mails, and how did they respond? And she wants them questioned under oath.

Some GOP leaders, including Speaker Dennis Hastert, have given conflicting reports about when they learned about Foley's e-mails. I talked about that timing question earlier today with CNN Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What we know as of now is that three Republican leaders were aware of at least one what they call overly friendly e-mail exchange between Foley and a former intern. And the House speaker is one of those leaders, despite the fact that his top aides told us on Friday that he actually knew nothing about it. He was forced to make a correction of sorts after it was revealed that he actually was informed about this in the spring.

But you mentioned, of course, the big question, what do they do about it?

Now, what Republicans say is they investigate it, because they sent the Republican head of the House Page Board and one other official to talk to Mark Foley at the end of last year when they found about that one e-mail exchange, and they said, "Just stop having any connection with this -- with this young man, and mind your conduct in the future."

But Democrats say that's simply not acceptable. That what they needed to do was be involved.

The Democrat on that page board says he knew nothing about it. And basically what they say is that Republicans were investigating themselves, not appropriate.

Let's listen to what the Democrat who is running for Foley's seat in Florida had to say about this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIM MAHONEY (D), CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: It's now clear from all the press reports that the Republican leadership team knew this was going on and they had to make a choice. They had to do what was right for the children, that they were in the care of the government, or they could try to hold on to a seat. And they decided to try to hold on to a seat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And so, Dana, while now the Ethics Committee is looking into this in the House, this certainly has to dovetail into a criminal investigation, doesn't it?

BASH: Yes. Well, it certainly would seem that it -- that it could.

As of Friday, before it became -- the sexually explicit instant messages became public, there was no indication that there was a criminal investigation going forward on Mark Foley. But now it certainly is clear that federal officials, law enforcement officials are going to have to try to figure out whether any laws were broken.

We don't -- we do know that Mark Foley used a personal e-mail account for these instant messages. We don't know where he was, whether if it was in his Capitol office or his home or somewhere else. But we do know at this point that they've actually sealed off what was his office until Friday in the Capitol.

Capitol Police are standing by, apparently trying to make sure that any evidence, potential evidence, is protected there -- Fred.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash.

As for the future of the page program, Republican leaders say they're creating a hotline so pages can report any improper behavior, and they're considering new rules on communications to prevent this type of incident from happening again.

Gary Nurenberg is also following this developing story. He joins us live from Washington with more details -- Gary.

GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka.

Every picture is worth a thousand words, they say. Let us show you what is happening on Capitol Hill this weekend in the former offices of Republican Congressman Mark Foley.

He left on Friday night, less than 48 hours after his resignation. Those are pictures from Friday -- less than 48 hours after his resignation. His name has been ripped from the wall. And as Dana said a few minutes ago, House Republican leaders say they have ordered Capitol Police to guard that office and protect any evidence that might be used in any criminal probe or any investigation that may happen.

Also this afternoon, a watchdog group told CNN something that leads to an additional question of who knew what when. Melanie Sloan from the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington says that her group forwarded to the FBI an initial set of e-mails from Foley to a 16-year-old page in late June or early July of this summer. And Sloan is not happy with the FBI response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MELANIE SLOAN, CONGRESSIONAL WATCHDOG: They could have investigated it and found there was nothing else to find. But the fact is, now that we're hearing -- we're learning that there were these other instant messages that were much more sexually explicit than the first set of e-mail, we know that the FBI obviously didn't really look at this matter. They didn't start talking to a lot of pages. Because if they had, these instant messages would have come up much sooner.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NURENBERG: Also today, Sloan's group called for an outside council to do the investigation, instead of the ethics investigation that was approved by the House on Friday. And late this afternoon, Senate Minority leader Harry Reid said he wants the attorney general to do the investigation.

Lots of clamoring this weekend, Fredricka, on getting that investigation under way. The question is, by whom and when?

WHITFIELD: Maybe we'll get some of those answers later in the week.

NURENBERG: Maybe. WHITFIELD: All right. Gary Nurenberg, thanks so much, in Washington.

And there's trouble brewing on another front for the White House. Bob Woodward's new book is raising questions about how early intelligence officials tried to warn the Oval Office al Qaeda was poised to strike.

Our Kathleen Koch is at the White House with more on that -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fredricka. More disturbing claims from this already controversial book. It has a White House that would rather be focused on the midterm campaigns. Instead, doing major damage control.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH (voice over): The Woodward book has the White House playing offense.

TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The book's sort of like cotton candy. It kind of melts on contact.

KOCH: Biting dismissals, followed Saturday by a detailed rebuttal of claims the president concealed deteriorating conditions in Iraq and ignored early requests for more troops. But the White House has less to say about the revelation that CIA director George Tenet and his counterterrorism chief, Cofer Black, two months before 9/11 requested an emergency meeting with Condoleezza Rice to sound the alarm that intelligence showed al Qaeda would soon attack the United States.

The book claims Rice was "polite, but they felt the brush-off."

DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COUNSELOR: We're puzzled by this. No one has seen these type of quotes before. Each of these participants went before the commission and testified. So Condoleezza is scratching her head because we don't believe that's an accurate account.

KOCH: Democrats want answers about whether the meeting occurred, and, if so, why the 9/11 Commission and the rest of the country ware never told about it.

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: They were obliged to tell the 9/11 Commission when they were investigating of all relevant meetings that took place, relevant to the attack on 9/11. This sure sounds relevant to me. Why did they not do that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I find that stunning. And I think that is as close to a smoking gun that you get.

KOCH: There has already been debate over what impact the book's Iraq revelations would have on voters in the coming midterm elections. SEN. MIKE DEWINE (R), OHIO: Voters understand mistakes have been made. And so I don't know that this book is going to influence their attitude at all.

KOCH: But the possible concealment of an early warning about the 9/11 attacks could be more damaging.

DAVID GERGEN, FMR. PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER: There is a credibility gap in this administration that has now become a canyon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH: Well, President Bush himself has yet to directly address any of these claims that are raised in Bob Woodward's book, though he certainly will have ample opportunity early this week as he leaves tomorrow morning for a three-day campaign swing through the West -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Kathleen Koch, thanks so much.

And, of course, Bob Woodward is going to be joining Larry King on a special edition of "LARRY KING LIVE" this week, as well.

Well, more allegations about baseball players and drugs.

Larry Smith is live with us next.

And later, Arwa Damon from Iraq and life in that country today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The strain of day- to-day life here is taking its toll. Frustration, anger, despair are predominant emotions in the streets of Baghdad. And now more Iraqis are directing it at the Americans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Well, welcome back to the NEWSROOM.

A published report today links some big names in baseball with allegations of using performance-enhancing drugs.

The "Los Angeles Times" report is based on statements former pitcher Jason Grimsley allegedly made to federal agents in late May and early June. The report relies on information from two anonymous sources.

According to the newspaper, Grimsley implicates Houston Astros pitcher Roger Clemens. "The Times" says Grimsley told investigators in an affidavit that Clemens "used athletic performance-enhancing drugs." The paper says other names in the affidavit include Clemens' fellow Astros pitcher Andy Pettitte. The agent for both players, Randy Hendricks, reacted to the report. Regarding Clemens, Hendricks telling The Associated Press, "I've grown weary of having to defend Clemens from innuendo and conjecture about every six months for the last several years when he's complied with all of the rules and regulations."

Regarding Pettitte, the agent says, "Andy is just surprised and stunned and has no knowledge of any such activity."

According to "The Times" report, Grimsley also allegedly told investigators that Baltimore Orioles player Miguel Tejeda used anabolic steroids. Tejada denied the allegations in comments to "The Baltimore Sun." He said, "I know that I've never used that and I know I am clean. I'll get checked out for anybody, any time, any moment -- whenever they want."

Grimsley, the former pitcher who allegedly made the accusations admitted using growth hormone steroids and amphetamines. "The Times" says its report is based on the affidavit investigators used to search Grimsley's house.

Players' names were blacked out when the document was originally made public on May 31st, but the "L.A. Times" says it located an unnamed source with authorized access to an unedited affidavit. The paper was allowed to see an unaltered report briefly The unidentified source read aloud some of what was blacked out in the affidavit, made available to the public.

CNN's Larry Smith is with us now to give us more perspective on this.

Already some reaction from a lot of other players.

LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. I was down at the stadium today, with the Astros playing the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field here in Atlanta. The Astros tried to put a little bit of tunnel vision, because first things first.

They needed to get a win today to keep their playoff hopes alive. They failed at that, losing 3-1 to Atlanta. So those hopes are dashed.

But to a man, they defended their teammates and said they were stunned by these allegations. Let's first start with the accused themselves, Clemens and Pettitte, talking to reporters first thing this morning, long before the game.

Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner as the top pitcher in his league and a first ballot hall-of-famer. When he finally does decide to retire for good -- he's 44 years old. He said, "I've been tested plenty of times. My physicals I've taken, they have taken my blood work. I have passed every test. Again, I find it amazing that you can throw anybody out there."

Pettitte's response, "I've never used any drugs to enhance my performance in baseball. I don't know what else to say except to say it's embarrassing my name would be out there."

And again, Astros teammates offered their thoughts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I read the report. I don't -- I really don't put any stock in it. I've played with these guys for three years, and at no point has it even crossed my mind they might be taking something.

LANCE BERKMAN, HOUSTON ASTROS: I just feel bad for Andy and for Roger, because, you know, it's one of the situations where, I mean, I could say, well, so and so, I know for a fact took steroids. And even if I was lying of, you know, didn't know what I was talking about, well, his reputation would always have a cloud of suspicion around it just because I threw that accusation out there.

PHIL GARNER, ASTROS MANAGER: Our guys have been tested through the Major League Baseball program. Rocket was tested in the World Baseball Classic program. Both guys have been clean. There's no reason for us or anybody else to think that they've been doing anything.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: Well, a spokesman for Major League Baseball said that the league has no information on how the affidavit was obtained or even its accuracy. Certainly, there is a libel issue that could come into play as well, and clemens said today if one of his sponsors should drop him as a result of these allegations, then certainly his lawyers would then get involved.

So, Fredricka, it's a thing, an issue. It's been quiet for several months, but now you know it's (INAUDIBLE) again because this report will be a major hot-button topic in the off-season.

WHITFIELD: Yes, them are fighting words, "I'm going to stick my lawyer on you".

All right.

Larry Smith, thanks so much.

SMITH: OK.

WHITFIELD: All right.

Well, indeed, a big storm is brewing in the Atlantic. And its name, Isaac.

Let's check in with Jacqui Jeras for more on this.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Well, new clashes in the Middle East. This time, between rival Palestinian security forces. It happened during a demonstration by workers.

Then Frank Sesno takes a look at the U.S. man of war, Donald Rumsfeld.

And later in the show, she's the very first female on any U.S. military fighter team. We've got her story.

You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Brazil's president calls for three days of mourning to honor the victims of a deadly plane crash. Today, rescuers cleared the thick jungle around the wreckage deep in the Amazon rainforest.

CNN's Sarah Sultoon reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARAH SULTOON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Deep inside the dense jungle of the Amazon basin, the first glimpse of the worst air disaster in Brazilian history. Jungle so thick that it's taken almost 24 hours since the crash for rescue workers to arrive on the scene, leaving little hope of finding any survivors.

This is the heart of the biggest rainforest in the world. Near impenetrable jungle covering most evidence of the crash and making the rescue effort painfully slow.

Helicopters are using rope to lower rescue crews to the forest floor, clearing patches of vegetation from the air in order to get close to the crash site. Rescue workers even said to be enlisting the help of local Indian tribes people living nearby in this dense Amazonian jungle.

The Gol airlines plane vanished late on Friday after leaving the jungle city of Manas (ph) for the capital, Brasilia.

"My work colleagues saw the plane falling out of the sky," she says. "My colleague saw, I just heard a massive explosion."

The jet may have clipped another smaller plane before crashing. That plane making a safe emergency landing nearby.

Gol's president says the stricken plane was brand new, with only some 200 hours of flying time behind it. Little comfort, meanwhile, for the families of the 155 victims as the investigation begins in earnest.

Sarah Sultoon, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Now other stories making news around the world.

Thailand's interim prime minister says he hopes to return unity to the country. The retired army general says another priority is to end a Muslim insurgency in the south. The new prime minister came to power after a military coup toppled Thailand's unpopular civilian government.

At least nine people were killed today in the Gaza Strip as rival Palestinian security forces opened fire on each other. The gun battles erupted as thousand of Palestinians took to the streets. They are protesting against the Hamas-led government which hasn't paid workers in months.

The U.S. military reported today that two U.S. soldiers have been killed by small arms fire in Iraq. It happened Saturday in Anbar province, west of Baghdad. The soldiers were assigned to the 13th Sustainment Command based at Ft. Hood, Texas.

Well, like him or loathe him? Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has become a lightning rod for the Bush administration's war in Iraq. This weekend, "CNN PRESENTS" takes a closer look at the controversial defense secretary.

Here's Frank Sesno with a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK SESNO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Even before Tora Bora, President Bush told Rumsfeld to have his generals start looking at Iraq. Rumsfeld had a long history with the place, as Reagan's envoy, he went there, shook Saddam's hand when Saddam was at war with Iran, America's archenemy.

But after Saddam's invasion of Kuwait, and the first Gulf War, Rumsfeld signed on to a new line of neoconservative thought that America should actively promote democracy in Iraq and oust Saddam Hussein.

At the end of 2001, Rumsfeld ordered Tommy Franks to throw out the existing Iraq war plan, which called for more than 400,000 troops.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: It didn't reflect any of the lessons from Afghanistan, that it didn't reflect the current state of affairs in Iraq.

SESNO: Rumsfeld was adamant, leaning hard on General Tommy Franks, who was putting together the war plan.

THOMAS RICKS, WASHINGTON POST MILITARY CORRESPONDENT: There was quite a lot of friction. Fairly harsh tone. Franks would fly up to Washington and show it to him and Rumsfeld would say, fewer troops, faster, cut it down, pare it down.

SESNO: Rumsfeld was thinking transformation and asking tough questions.

GEN. JACK KEANE (RET.), U.S. ARMY: The question sort of goes like this: listen, Saddam Hussein's army today is half the size it used to be. Why do we have to attack the same size force we did back then? Isn't it reasonable to do with less? Well, that's a very good question and it deserves to be asked.

SESNO: The U.S. would attack with fewer than 150,000 troops, though more were available, if needed. Rumsfeld's vision had prevailed. It was about to be tested again, but on a very different battlefield.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, that's just part of "CNN PRESENTS," "Rumsfeld: Man of War". See the whole documentary tonight at 800 p.m. Eastern.

Well, do the Iraqis still support U.S. troops in their country? Arwa Damon reports from the streets of Baghdad. We'll tell you what Iraqis are saying.

And this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This was the 3rd Battalion 8th Marine Regiment's war, 600-plus men ordered to go head- to-head with al Qaeda's suicidal jihadis in downtown Ramadi.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Another view out of Iraq. This time from the front lines.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Here's what's happening right "Now in the News."

New videotape surfaces. These are images of two of the alleged 9/11 terrorists nearly two years before the World Trade Center tragedy. It was obtained by a British newspaper and shows alleged hijackers Mohammed Atta and Ziad Jarrah in an Afghanistan hideout.

Israeli troops remain in south Lebanon, despite early reports that it had pulled out. Israel confirmed U.N. reports that it was still operating in a Lebanese border village.

And here in the U.S., Democrats are calling for investigations following the resignation of Florida congressman Mark Foley. Foley quit late Friday in light of sexually suggestive e-mails he allegedly sent to a 16-year-old boy.

A criminal probe of Foley is expected, but Democrats want an additional House Ethics investigation. They allege at least one Republican lawmaker knew what was going on and did nothing about it.

More death and bloodshed in and around Baghdad this weekend. Police found 50 bullet-riddled bodies in the Iraqi capital. Some with signs of torture.

Also, a car bomb detonated in front of a Baghdad television station killed two civilians and wounded five employees. There were four other bombings in Baghdad today, but no casualties.

In other incidents, officials say gunmen masquerading as police kidnapped 26 people from a meat packing plant this afternoon. And south of Baghdad, gunmen assassinated a Shiite sheikh aligned with Iraq's leading political party.

All that amid a tough vehicle and pedestrian curfew that was lifted just before dawn this morning in Baghdad. It was hoped the weekend curfew would lessen sectarian violence during the holy month of Ramadan.

Iraqis want the United States out of their country. That's the finding of a new poll.

CNN's Arwa Damon looks at the reasons behind such sentiments.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The strain of day- to-day life here is taking its toll. Frustration, anger, despair are predominant emotions in the streets of Baghdad. And now more Iraqis are directing it at the Americans.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We want to leave today. Not tomorrow. From the day they arrived, they ruined the country.

DAMON: U.S. forces have struggled to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people, who from the start were wary of American intentions in their country.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): It's not just me. All Iraqis want the Americans out, because they are harming, not benefiting the people. They made a lot of promises and they turned out to be lies.

DAMON: The February bombing of the holy Shia shrine in Samarra catapulted ethnic tensions in Iraq, leading to a near all-out civil war. U.S. troops were viewed as being a stabilizing force, but as secretary killing continued to increase, public opinion shifted once again.

ZAKI CHENAB, IRAQ POLITICAL ANALYST: Not a single neighborhood in Iraq is safe. Not a single main road which connects the capital with (INAUDIBLE) is safe. They are scared of killing which is taking place in Iraq, especially the last two months, beyond imagination. To hear of another attack every -- every -- every 15 minutes in Iraq happening, this is beyond imagination.

DAMON (on camera): The Iraqis have been living the unimaginable for over three years now. They are simply tired of the violence and ready for the Americans to leave. More than ready for this war to be over. The question is, what kind of life awaits them if the Americans leave now?

Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Now, we often report on the big picture in Iraq, but spending time with an individual unit can give you a more vivid understanding of exactly what's going on.

Our Michael Ware introduces us to the Marines of 38. Their duty is almost done, and they discussed their time in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LANCE CPL. BEAMER DIAZ, U.S. MARINE CORPS.: Most people over here are willing to die for each other, so pretty much it happens over here.

WARE (voice over): And happen it did. This is Ramadi, the worst of the Iraq front line. This day in May, Marines closing around a fallen comrade, shielding him from fire.

It begins as a patrol. Two teams watching al Qaeda-held streets. An insurgent sniper holding one of them, until they all push 150 meters on (ph), the U.S. Marine outpost.

And they're hit, caught in a killing zone, fire from two directions. Somehow, only Lance Corporal Phillip Tussey (ph) was hit.

DIAZ: It gets pretty crazy. It's -- a lot of times you're just sitting around and nothing's going on, and all of a sudden, two seconds later, you are in a big firefight, just fighting, trying to stay alive.

WARE: This was the 3d Battalion 8th Marine Regiment's war -- 600-plus men ordered to go head-to-head with al Qaeda suicidal jihadis in downtown Ramadi, in a battle their general admits he does not have enough troops to win. And to what their commanders call a meat grinder.

CPL. DONALD BRIER, U.S. MARINE CORPS.: Definitely that. I lost one good friend, and -- but I've talked to his wife, I've talked to his family, and they're all coping well, so I know I can cope well. If they can, I can, so...

WARE: These Marines fought day in, day out, repelling al Qaeda assaults from their outpost.

BRIER: Part of me says it will. A bigger part of me says I think I'll be fine.

I've got a lot of support back home. People have told me, "We expect you to be different," things like that. But I think I'll be fine. I think a lot of these guys will be fine. It's just a lot of people think it will change you here.

WARE: Dangled like bait in the streets, luring out al Qaeda (INAUDIBLE). A few blocks down, the men draw ambush in another street. The fight leads to a rooftop. In seven months, this battalion suffered 17 killed in action, more than many brigades of 5,000 in Iraq lose in a year.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to leave the blood and the lives of several Marines, the memory of their lives here. We won't forget them, but all of us will leave something here.

WARE: Their presence made a dent in al Qaeda.

MAJ. EDWARD NEGLOVSKI, U.S. MARINE CORPS.: How dangerous the mission is, we've stopped a lot of attacks. We stop them cold in their tracks. Never really took any great pride in, you know, how many people we've stopped. I have no idea.

WARE: But listening to them, from the kids in the gun pits to those who lead them, you hear in their own words how the price for this war is being paid.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You get nervous when you come over, but once you're here, you're nervous, aren't you? Of course you're nervous. You're coming into a combat zone.

CAPT. ANDREW DELGAUDIO, U.S. MARINE CORPS.: It's a hell of a thing to come to grips with, but yes, we -- that's what we are. You know? That's the meaning of who we are as Marines, is, be prepared to do that if necessary. And in my perspective, in my mind, there was no greater calling.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's still -- still not reality for me, even though I'm here. I see everything that goes on, I've seen things, you know, but you don't -- because you're here, your mind state isn't -- isn't what's going on here. You just -- it's day by day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're taking fire.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who are we taking fire from?

DELGAUDIO: When I think of my men when I first brought them out here, before we came out here, you know, you can see the young -- the young faces, you know, naive to the world, and, you know, just grasping for an understanding of exactly what they're about to get themselves into.

NEGLOVSKI: I don't think you can come here to a place like this and not forget it. You'd want to forget it, but you're not going to. It's just not going to happen.

DELGAUDIO: The blood that we've shed here, we'll certainly never, you know, forget the pain, the suffering, all the emotions, the bleeding, the crying, the sweat, the tears. None of that will -- it's never going to leave us. And we'll never leave it because that's the legacy of our fallen comrades.

We'll do what has to be done. We'll do it. You know? And whatever -- whatever it takes. We'll keep doing it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not easy.

WARE: Michael Ware, CNN, Ramadi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Now that's a powerful view.

And a very different view of the military a little bit later on in this show. She is the first and only female Thunderbird pilot. We'll go on a ride with her.

You're watching CNN. You're in the NEWSROOM.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Nice view of San Francisco. But that's not where the attention should be focused right now with a hurricane out in the Atlantic.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Well, news "Across America" now.

A South Carolina man behind bars, charged with killing an entire family. Police say Michael Simmons shot a mother and her four children in their mobile home yesterday. The suspect reportedly lived there, as well. The nature of his relationship with the victims still is not clear.

In Lake George, New York, a tragedy remembered. It's been one year since an overcrowded tourist boat capsized there, killing 20 people. Most of them senior citizens. Today family and survivors held a memorial service near the accident site and dedicated a monument to the victims.

A scuffle broke out in the streets of National City, California, after the town proclaimed it will be a sanctuary for illegal immigrants. Supporters clashed with protesters angry over illegal immigration. And as a result of the declaration, city funds will not be used to enforce federal immigration laws.

Coming up...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEX QUAID, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The F-16 fighter jock who gets the girls' attention at air shows.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stand by! QUAID: ... is a fighter, Jill.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: She just goes and goes. She says she never even thought about a glass ceiling.

A first straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A story now about a woman who regularly breaks the sound barrier, and throughout her career as an Air Force fighter pilot has broke an number of other barriers, as well.

CNN's Alex Quaid went to great heights to tell us all about her.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

QUAID: The F-16 fighter jock who gets the girls' attention at air shows.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stand by!

QUAID: ... is a fighter, Jill. Major Nicole Malachowski, Air Force Thunderbird number three, right wing.

MAJOR NICOLE MALACHOWSKI, AIR FORCE: When we're flying here in this really close formation I am focused on one thing and one thing only, and that's the lead aircraft's (INAUDIBLE).

QUAID: She's the first female on any U.S. military fighter jet team in history.

MALACHOWSKI: People talk about glass ceilings or breaking barriers, et cetera. I don't even, like, understand those concepts. Those words have actually never existed in my life since I was 5 years old when I decided to be a fighter pilot.

Is everything going OK for you guys?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, ma'am.

LT. COL. KEVIN ROBBINS, U.S. AIR FORCE: She's proven herself. And that's why she's here. And it really has nothing to do about whether or not she's female or not.

QUAID: Malachowski has flown nearly 200 hours in combat...

MALACHOWSKI: Pull straight back.

QUAID: ...providing close air support for U.S. soldiers and Marines in Iraq...

MALACHOWSKI: Three, two, one...

QUAID: ... making her presence noun.

MALACHOWSKI: It was enough to get the enemy to disengage from our American troops.

QUAID: She led the first fighter jet team providing security for Iraq's historic election. She's also flown Mach-2. That's twice the speed of sound.

MALACHOWSKI: You're like, "Wow, I'm faster than the speed of sound." That's kind of cool.

QUAID: To really see her moves, I suit up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And roll upside down. Now.

QUAID: And Major Tad Clark (ph) shows me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And here we go. There's one. Two. Three. And four.

QUAID: Then...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Looking down at the ground to the left and looking at the sky up at the right.

QUAID: ... a move Malachowski used in combat.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at the ground. Roll up the jet, look down. Visually pick up a particular target, perhaps, put a bomb on there, or visually identify troops in contact. Maybe people on the ground that need help.

QUAID (on camera): So, for close air support?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Close air support, exactly.

QUAID: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Exactly. Some of the maneuvers that Nicole does when she's 18 inches from another aircraft.

QUAID (voice over): Malachowski now uses the skills of aerial combat for aerial acrobatics.

MALACHOWSKI: I don't think it's a big deal, you know, to be -- to be a female fighter pilot. Again, there's a lot like me and a lot that came before me.

QUAID: The Air Force now has 4,400 male fighter pilots. A mere 85 female fighter pilots. But only one female Thunderbird.

MALACHOWSKI: To me, it's really just me doing my job. There is no way that any one person can do this job alone. It is an absolute team effort.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's fun stuff right here. Woo! MALACHOWSKI: You're here to look at the man and the woman to your left and to your right, to applaud their strengths, to work together to get a single mission done.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not she's the best female officer out there, she's the best officer out there for this job.

MALACHOWSKI: I'm so glad that I live in a country where at 5 years old I can say, I'm going to grow up and be a fighter pilot, and here it is. It's true. And it's pretty cool.

It is neat, isn't it?

QUAID: Which is why Major Nicole Malachowski goes out of her way to inspire future fighter pilots.

MALACHOWSKI: I think you'd be really good pilot some day.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes?

MALACHOWSKI: To be considered a role model, and just to see the twinkle in their eyes when they look at you, it is extremely rewarding.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Got you guys.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. Thank you very much.

MALACHOWSKI: It's also extremely humbling.

Hey, maybe some day you'd be a great Thunderbird and I'll get your autograph.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.

QUAID: Alex Quaid, CNN...

MALACHOWSKI: Good luck. Give me five.

QUAID: ... Wichita, Kansas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, that's some dream, and a great reality.

Still much more ahead on CNN.

Housing prices, they're falling. Just another sign that the bubble could be bursting.

That's coming up with Carol Lin with more in the NEWSROOM.

I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

Have a good night.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: You're in the NEWSROOM. I'm Carol Lin.

And straight ahead in this hour, smiles and jokes from terrorists. Two al Qaeda pilots before 9/11, details in our "Security Watch".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There should be a thorough investigation of members of Congress who may have some knowledge about this in leadership.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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