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Britain Admits Trespassing Into Iranian Territory; Pet Food Recall; Political Potholes for Bush Administration
Aired March 24, 2007 - 09:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Disputed waters, diplomatic trouble. Iran seizes 15 British marines. And just this morning, new developments.
We are live in Tehran
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL HENDERSON, CEO, MENU FOODS: Our hearts go out to the thousands of pet owners across Canada and the United States for their losses and their worries.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Well, first there were the deaths, then we had the recall, and now the investigation and possible cause. We've got the latest on the massive pet food scare that has hundreds of animals sick
NGUYEN: And want you to take a look at this twister. It is just one of 13 tornadoes that struck overnight. Homes have been destroyed and injuries on the ground.
We'll get you the latest.
Meantime, though, we do want to say good morning, everybody. Thanks for being with us today.
I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: And I'm T.J. Holmes.
And you are in the CNN NEWSROOM. We want to get you up to speed now on what you may have missed.
First up, drama on the high seas setting off a new diplomatic tension this morning. Iran holding 15 British sailors and marines, and reports say the Brits have admitted trespassing into Iranian territory. The incident started in the Persian Gulf near disputed waters that separate Iran and Iraq.
Our Middle East correspondent, Aneesh Raman, joins us now via broadband from Tehran.
Aneesh, get us up to speed.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT: Yes, T.J., good morning.
Word of that confession came this morning, Tehran time, from a top Iranian military official who says the 15 British sailors and marines who are in custody have admitted to, in Iran's words, an act of "blatant aggression" for trespassing into Iranian waters.
We've also learned today that the military personnel are now in Tehran. They had been picked up, of course, in that disputed waterway just south of Basra in Iraq that feeds into the northern part of the Persian Gulf.
The British government today is again demanding the immediate safe return of its personnel and its boat. CNN understands the British government is also putting pressure on regional governments in the Middle East to try and make that happen. The Ministry of Defense out of London also reiterating that in Britain's view, their military personnel were in Iraqi, not in Iranian waters.
Now, just to remind viewers what happened yesterday morning local time that sparked what is emerging as a tense standoff, in what is called Shatt al Arab to the Iraqis -- it's called Arbon Rud (ph) to the Iranians -- in a waterway that feeds in, as I say, to the northern part of the Persian Gulf, British military were out yesterday looking for smuggled goods. It's something they do at the behest of the Iraqi government.
They found a ship, they boarded it, 15 personnel. After they left that ship, some six boats who had Iranian Revolutionary Guardsmen on them came and took them into custody.
It is a disputed piece -- a disputed waterway. It is a border between Iran and Iraq. It's been the source of centuries-long conflicts. It sparked the Iran-Iraq War, and a major rationale for that bloody battle that lasted eight years. And again now it has become a flash point between Iran and the West.
No word from Iran today, T.J., at all, in terms of when these British military personnel may be released.
HOLMES: All right.
Well, our Aneesh Raman, live from Tehran.
Aneesh, thank you so much for staying on top of this story for us.
NGUYEN: A soldier killed by a roadside bomb is the latest U.S. casualties in the war in Iraq. The military says the soldier was on foot in a security patrol south of Baghdad when that bomb exploded yesterday.
Smoke in the distance -- look at this video -- evidence of more bloodshed in Baghdad today. Police say a suicide bomber blew up a truck packed with explosives at an Iraqi police station. At least 20 people were killed and more than two dozen wounded. And we're also getting word of another attack today in northern Iran. According to reports, at least 10 people were killed in a suicide attack at a market
A claim of responsibility today in the assassination attempt against Iraq's deputy prime minister. A terrorist group linked to al Qaeda says it carried out the attack yesterday against Salam al- Zubaie. He was wounded and nine people were killed. And according to reports, al-Zubaie underwent surgery and was moved out of intensive care this morning. He is said to be in stable condition.
HOLMES: He was a football star who turned to be an Army Ranger, and he was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan. You may remember this story. Well, there are now new developments in this story of Pat Tillman.
According to The Associated Press, a Pentagon report will recommend that nine officers be held accountable for mistakes in the aftermath of Tillman's death. That includes up to four generals.
For weeks after Pat Tillman's death, almost three years ago, the Army told his family he was killed in an ambush by enemies. But dozen of soldiers knew within minutes, even hours, that his death was, in fact, the result of friendly fire
NGUYEN: There is no information concerning the pet food recall that has a lot of you pet owners very upset. A chemical used in rat poison has been found in the recalled food that killed several animals and sickened hundreds of others. Now, there's no word yet on how it got there, but yesterday Menu Foods expanded the recall to include all brands of its cuts and gravy style pet food.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HENDERSON: Our primary concern at this time is in regard to the product recall associated with that and the continued investigation to find out how these products got into our system. The issue of the litigation will have to -- will follow up in due course. Our principal concern is pet safety, and that's where we're focusing our time and attention.
QUESTION: But do you admit there have been negligence on your part?
HENDERSON: No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: OK. So let's go to CNN's Veronica De La Cruz with a look at how this recall is really generating a lot of buzz on the Web -- Veronica.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN PIPELINE ANCHOR: Yes, it is, Betty.
I wanted to mention, first of all, you can find a complete list of all the pet foods involved in this recall at CNN.com. I've received a lot of e-mails, people wondering where they can get that list. Ninety-five different brands have been affected.
Now, we've also been keeping an eye on the blogs, and this is what I found at petconnection.com. Lots of heartbreaking stories, as you can imagine. This is petconnection.com there, and I wanted to read this story sent in by a woman named Lindsey Glass (ph) talking about her dog Jack.
She says, "I fed Jack said I fed jack a pack of food at 4:00 p.m. on March 19th, and I noticed soon after that he began to drool profusely, like nothing I had ever seen him do before." She goes on to describe the horrors and the illness that her dog Jack was faced with.
Now, so far, Menu Foods has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog. And some of the symptoms that you do want to look out for, does your cat or dog suddenly lose its appetite? Is your pet always tired, vomiting or frequently urinating?
Now, if you'd like more information into this recall, again, like I said, you can go to CNN.com. Also, you can call this number. It's an 866 number. It's 866-895-2708. And like I mentioned before, there is more information at CNN.com.
We've been asking you all morning, will the pet food recall affect the way you feed your animals? E-mail us at weekends@cnn.com.
And here is how some of you have responded so far.
Derrick writes in, "We already lost a pet to kidney failure just over a month ago. In the future, we will be very careful what we are feeding our other dog. Losing one pet is hard enough, let alone the potential to lose another one."
Pam in Centerport, New York, says, "Absolutely. I have taken serious precautions on food for my pets. I've been feeding them human food or cooking for them. They are family. Wouldn't you do the same for your family? The list was so long with names of pet foods, it is easier and safer to feed them when I eat."
And lastly, Ingrid says, "I have done exhaustive research on my own and have begun feeding my pet a natural raw food diet. This diet mimics the way the animals eat in the wild. I've seen such a remarkable improvement in my pet's health, coat and energy level, I suggest people look into this for themselves."
And again, that was from Ingrid.
We thank all of you who have written in. If you would like to e- mail us your thoughts, you can do so at weekends@cnn.com.
NGUYEN: Yes, those are some really interesting suggestions coming in from our viewers today.
Veronica, thank you. HOLMES: Tornadoes, one after the other, hitting eastern New Mexico. For five hours on Friday, a string of twisters touched down. The weather service says tornadoes are common there but usually don't begin until after April.
Take a look at some of this damage now. The worst of it is hitting in towns in Logan and Clovis, both near the Texas border. More than two dozen homes and buildings were destroyed, and at least 16 people were injured. Five of those hurt are in critical condition
NGUYEN: Well, the storm system that spawned all of those twisters is heading east. So, let's check in now with CNN meteorologist Bonnie Schneider to find out what states are in this storm's path.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: So, what did he know and when did he know it? We've got new details this morning about Alberto Gonzales' possible role in that firing of several U.S. attorneys. Details in just three minutes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's the price of a life? My opinion is, is how important this is. We do not want to leave anybody behind.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: When an American falls behind enemy lines, they go in. At the bottom of the hour, an exclusive look at special op warriors
NGUYEN: And leaders in one Florida city make a final decision about the city manager who wanted a sex change and his job back. We're going to tell you if he was shown the door.
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HOLMES: New questions, new controversy in the firing of those federal prosecutors. A late-night revelation once again puts embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in the spotlight. The Justice Department reveals Gonzales discussed the dismissals in a meeting held in late November. That could contradict his claim he was out of the loop on the firings.
Critics from both parties have called for Gonzales to either resign or be fired. They say the federal prosecutors' firings were motivated by partisan politics.
NGUYEN: Another challenge for the Bush administration from Democrats in the House. They used their narrow majority yesterday to push through a landmark bill. It is the first binding measure that calls for U.S. troops to leave Iraq.
The bill provides $124 billion to fund the war, but here's the catch: U.S. combat forces must leave Iraq by September of next year. The bill faces major changes in the Senate, and President Bush vows to veto it if it reaches his desk.
High stakes, high drama for the Bush administration as it deals with political potholes. And this week we saw flashes of anger from the president.
So let's get the view now from the White House and CNN's Elaine Quijano.
It's been an interesting week, Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It really has. Good morning to you, Betty.
President Bush, first of all, says that he regrets that the story of the dismissals of those U.S. prosecutors has turned into what he is calling a public spectacle. But he's not showing any signs of backing away from his embattled attorney general, Alberto Gonzales. In his weekly radio address, President Bush said that he strongly supports Gonzales' decision to replace those prosecutors.
Now, the president also had a message for Democratic lawmakers who are threatening to subpoena aides, including Karl Rove, to find out more about the White House's role in the firings. President Bush essentially said those Democrats should back off and accept the White House's offer to make those aides available for interviews instead of having them formally testify under oath as Democrats want.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Members of Congress now face a choice -- whether they will waste time and provoke an unnecessary confrontation, or whether they will join us in working to do the people's business.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
QUIJANO: Now, at the same time, the president, in his radio address, blasted Democrats on another topic, Iraq, and specifically the issue of funding U.S. troops fighting in Iraq. The president said that the House approval yesterday of a spending bill for a -- a war spending bill that included a troop withdrawal date, well, he said that that would hurt the troops.
How? The president says that it would delay much-needed resources for the U.S. military as the legislation winds its way on Capitol Hill and possibly to his desk. The president says flat out that if that should happen, he will, indeed, veto the measure.
Nevertheless, Democrats are continuing to push forward on this particular issue. They believe that the midterm elections gave them a mandate to do what they can to end the Iraq war.
So, what we saw today, Betty, an unusual dual-pronged pushback, if you will, from the president in his radio address. A sign certainly of the political battles to come -- Betty.
NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Elaine Quijano at the White House.
Elaine, we thank you.
HOLMES: You could call it the political shock of the week. Presidential hopeful John Edwards announces his wife's cancer is back, but despite that, he's staying on the campaign trail. The potential fallout coming up next
NGUYEN: And coming up in 20 minutes, why O.J. Simpson's controversial book, "If I Did It," is being given a second chance for publication.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Any time, any place that I need to be with Elizabeth, I will be there, period. It doesn't matter what's happening in the campaign.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Yes. That's presidential candidate John Edwards speaking Thursday, moments after announcing that his wife's cancer had returned and that he was continuing his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Well, exactly how will this impact the 2008 race?
We're joined now by CNN political editor Mark Preston, who's in Washington.
Mark, good to see you again.
Tell us -- of course, not a good thing and nothing anybody would wish upon them to have this kind of news, but is there some kind of a political, at least, upside to John Edwards' name being out there in the news cycle more so than it would have been right about now?
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Yes, no question, T.J. Right now, you know, John Edwards' name recognition has soared.
He's kind of been quiet since he was on the Democratic ticket in 2004. He's been quietly campaigning around the country. But certainly this was more than a political story we saw earlier this week. This was a human story.
He was on the front page of every newspaper, he was on every television station. You know, clearly, their decision to move forward with the campaign is the biggest story right now of the 2008 presidential race.
HOLMES: Now, aside from just his name being out there a little more, and in that news cycle, does it also help in that people are seeing this family and this couple go through something that a lot of Americans can relate to? PRESTON: Yes, no question. It humanizes the Edwardses at this point. And it also shows that Elizabeth Edwards -- there's an argument to be made anyway that the Edwardses are putting themselves above it for the country.
They decided to go on with the campaign. Elizabeth Edwards said, look, you know, do we have it bad? Yes. But I've been on the campaign trail, I've been out in America, and people have it worse.
So there's no question that there is -- sadly to say, but there is a political upside for the Edwardses.
HOLMES: Now, is there a political downside, as well, if some begin to hear this? And there's debate, and you've probably heard just -- you know, just friends and whatnot around the office talking about, you know, "The first time I heard this, your wife is going through this, why continue to campaign?"
Will some see this as just something he shouldn't be doing if his wife is going through this?
PRESTON: Yes, there's no question that there is some -- some thought that John Edwards should have stepped out of the race. Some people, you know, suggested that maybe that would have been the right thing to do.
However, I can tell you, I'm pretty confident in this now, that this decision wasn't made by John Edwards. This decision was made by John and Elizabeth Edwards.
She was very, very much a key player in his 2004 presidential run. She was very much a key player in his 1998 run for the Senate. And I can tell you that this presidential race is not about John Edwards.
This is a John Edwards-Elizabeth Edwards presidential race. So, I think in the short term, they do OK. But it will be a balancing act, T.J. If her condition does deteriorate, there will be some questions about Mr. Edwards getting off the campaign trail and going home to tend to her.
HOLMES: Well, we certainly wish her the best, but we continue now to talk about this race and politics. And let's talk about these primaries. And Super Tuesday might be super early this time around.
Just explain to the folks, get us caught up on why everybody wants to move their primary up and who is this going to really hurt and help?
PRESTON: Sure. I mean, it really comes down to one word. It's called relevant.
What we saw in the past, historically, we had candidates spend a lot of times in Iowa and New Hampshire, two small states. And basically, that would be the kickoff of the presidential race, and in many cases, that would be the end of the presidential race. If somebody were to go into Iowa, someone like John Kerry did back in 2004, win, go into New Hampshire and win, he basically won the Democratic nomination.
What you're hearing now from a lot of states is that they want to be involved in helping pick the next nominee for each party. So you have states such as California, Michigan, even Florida, who will move up before February 5th, it looks like, that want to be involved in the process.
We saw Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in California this week complain about that. That's why he signed legislation into law to make California go on February 5th.
HOLMES: Who is going to benefit if we see those big states like California and New York get into the game that early? What candidates does that potentially help?
PRESTON: Well, there's no question it's going to help Senator Clinton, because she is from New York, and Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is also from New York. It will also help Barack Obama if Illinois moves up. It looks like they will on February 5th.
These are big states, they have a lot of electoral votes, and they basically will go into the pocket of those candidates, it looks like.
HOLMES: All right. Well, Mark Preston, wanted to hit a couple other things with you. Certainly Alberto Gonzales. We'll try to get you next time on that one. But we appreciate your time and your expertise, as always.
Again, CNN political editor, Mark Preston.
Thank you so much, Mark.
PRESTON: Thanks, T.J.
HOLMES: Well, you'll hear from one of the leading candidates in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination tonight at 9:00 Eastern. That's Larry King. He's going to speak with Senator Barack Obama
NGUYEN: Well, he is seeking a sex change, but will this city manager also be looking for new employment? Coming up in 20 minutes, city commissioners determine whether he goes or he stays.
HOLMES: Also, in New Mexico, more than a dozen twisters like that one spotted. Find out where this storm system is heading today
NGUYEN: And next, a story you will only see on CNN. We're going to give you an exclusive look at the dangerous lives of combat rescue teams.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll put our own lives on the line. You know, we'll live up to our motto that others may live.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wherever people can go, we can get there to get them out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Someone's having their worst day, we need to be having our best day.
ALEX QUAID, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Combat search and rescue men, so that others may live.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The bottom line is...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Just a couple minutes away, an exclusive look at the men who go behind enemy lines to save American lives.
NGUYEN: And later, a judge's ruling that could put O.J. Simpson's controversial book on store shelves.
Welcome back, everybody. Good morning.
I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: And I'm T.J. Holmes.
We've got some new development this morning in the massive pet food recall. At least 15 cats and a dog have died, and a lot others got sick. Well, the cause, apparently, rat poisoning, according to scientists who tested samples of the pet food.
CNN's Mary Snow asked the question we all want to know.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): How did rat poison wind up in pet food? That is still uncertain. But investigators in New York say what they do know is that they found a toxin called aminopterin in samples of pet food suspected of being tainted. The toxin is not a legal pesticide in the U.S. Doctors say it can be found in some forms of cancer treatments.
PATRICK HOOKER, NEW YORK STATE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER: This is one step in a long process that will lead all of us to know what has happened.
SNOW: The CEO of Menu Foods, the company that recalled over 90 brands of dog and cat food, says he's both relieved and happy investigators found the problem during what he called an unprecedented search. HENDERSON: Our hearts go out to the thousands of pet owners across Canada and the United States for their losses and their worries.
SNOW: But the CEO says he is at a loss to explain where the toxin came from, and he says the campaign will test raw products to trace the origin.
Veterinarian Dr. Ann Hohenhaus says knowing that rat poison is involved can prevent animals from dying if they are suffering from kidney failure.
DR. ANN HOHENHAUS, NEW YORK ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER: Sounds to me like giving fluids intravenously or maybe by other routes is going to be key to trying to prevent or fix this problem.
SNOW: But, she adds, there are a new set of worries.
HOHENHAUS: We don't know what the long-term effects are on their kidney function, and only time is going to answer that question.
SNOW (on camera): Another question being posed, what about compensation for pet owners who lost a pet? The CEO of Menu Foods says the company will take financial responsibility if it's proven that medical problems were linked to the food.
Mary Snow, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, you can get more on this story at cnn.com from a list of the affected products to signs of illness in your pet.
Also want to tell you that it looks like a single contaminated field is to blame for last year's deadly spinach E. coli outbreak. Investigators have now traced the E. coli-laced spinach to a crop- growing field in central California. They don't know, however, if tainted water or animal waste caused that contamination. Last summer's outbreak killed three people, more than 200 people in 26 states got sick.
NGUYEN: Well, he gave up a pro football career to fight in Afghanistan and was killed by friendly fire. And this morning we are following new developments in the Pat Tillman story. According to the Associated Press, a Pentagon investigation will recommend that nine officers be held accountable for mistakes following Tillman's death, and that includes up to four generals. For weeks the Army told Tillman's family he died in an ambush in April of 2004, but dozens of soldiers knew he was killed by friendly fire
HOLMES: Were they in Iraq or Iran? That's the heart of a diplomatic dispute playing out this morning. Iran is detaining 15 British sailors and marines. An Iranian news reports say the Brits have admitted to trespassing into Iranian territory. Britain has insisted they were in Iraqi waters when they were seized yesterday. NGUYEN: Smoke in the distance, evidence of more bloodshed in Baghdad today. Police say suicide bomber -- hope to have that video for you here in just a second. But police say a suicide bomber blew up a truck packed with explosives at an Iraqi police station. At least 20 people were killed and more than two dozen wounded.
And we're getting word of an attack today in northern Iraq. According to reports, at least 10 people were killed in a suicide attack in a market in Tal Afar.
Also a soldier killed by a roadside bomb was among the latest U.S. casualties in Iraq. The military says the soldier was on foot in a security patrol south of Baghdad when a bomb exploded yesterday. That brings now the death toll for U.S. military personnel in the Iraq War to 3,234.
NGUYEN: We want to take you inside an elite team with a crucial mission. Special Ops Forces that go behind enemy lines to rescue downed forces and trapped U.S. troops, Air Force Combat Search and Rescue crews literally putting their lives on the line. CNN's Alex Quaid has this exclusive story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEX Quaid, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Combat Search and Rescue.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can roll into anything, because we train in so many different scenarios.
QUAID: Each based on real war zone events. Urban rescues...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rescue, rescue.
QUAID: ... water rescues...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone is willing to, you know, give their life and the ultimate sacrifice to go try to save someone else's life.
QUAID: ... ground rescues...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Those two aircraft coming in to pick us up, that was one of the best sights I've ever seen in my life.
QUAID: ... and special covert missions.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Troops in a tree line.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of this is geared towards getting back one person.
QUAID: Like A-10 pilot call sign Chocks. His head's up display or cockpit video seen now for the first time.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There is some breaking news out of CENTCOM. CHARLES MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: An A-10 Warthog or tankbuster, the one that was seen or like it over the skies of Baghdad this morning, has crashed.
QUAID: Chocks, hit by a (INAUDIBLE) surface-to-air missile during shock and awe.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was, pow! I mean, it hit. It was like a big hand was out in the sky and just swatted the airplane.
QUAID: His wingman, Dono (ph)...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've never seen an airplane do this before, but he's actually flying sideways, the airplane rolling over inverted, straight into the ground. And makes a big explosion.
MINTIER: CENTCOM saying that the pilot did eject from the plane before it crashed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's wow, you know. You pull the handles and, you know, it's gone. The canopy pops off, there's a big pop, and then the rocket motor ignites, and you are out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn't know if he was alive or dead.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You hit the ground, pow! You know, hard.
QUAID: Behind enemy lines, Chocks hears gunfire and yelling.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Initially, they're going to go to that plane. But now they're going to see the footprints across the field. And I just thought to myself, oh, (expletive deleted), because now they are going to know where to come looking for me.
QUAID: His SERE, survival, evasion, resistance and escape training, kicks in, and what to do should he come under fire. More on his story later.
His training, and that of the PJs, or para-rescue men, is the key to survivors coming home. PJ Will takes us along on immediate action drill, translation, enemy contact.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When we did take fire, and you know, we had to hit the ground, take cover as quickly as possible and then break contact. I'm just screaming and yelling commands saying go left, go right, go straight, go back, and throw smoke, engage.
QUAID: Something PJ Mark has seen for real, which I asked him about while his PJs keep training..
(on camera): How important is that feeling that if things get really bad, you're watching each others' backs?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it helps you get a little bit closer to the edge, knowing that there's someone waiting, dedicated just to recover you when things go wrong, I think it allows you to move forward just a little bit more.
QUAID: Which brings us back to A-10 pilot Chocks, hiding, waiting for extraction.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The guy just ejected. We've got to go.
QUAID: Rescue helicopter pilot call sign T.C.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Somebody came over the radio and said that others may live. And we're like, that's it, we're going. Rock on. We're out of here.
QUAID: U.S. soldiers fighting nearby found Chocks and alerted T.C.'s team.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I told PJs, if you have to, you take him by force.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He came busting in. He's like, we are out of here. He almost grabbed. He was looking, I was like, well, hold on a second. He's like, no! We've got to go! Seeing the PJ, it's literally a relief, that vulnerability, you know, oh God, I'm going to get tortured, exploited, you know, it evaporates.
MINTIER: CENTCOM saying the pilot has been safely rescued.
QUAID: But not before getting shot at again. This time in T.C.'s rescue helicopter, or Jolly (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of a sudden, you know, beep, beep, beep, beep, and boom, things start flying off the airplane. And you're jinking (ph) and jiving again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, the battle doesn't end just because you get to sit down in the Jolly (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He told me -- he says, the only thing that was going through my mind was, Oh, lord, everything that happened to me today, I'm going to die in the back of this helicopter with these guys.'"
QUAID: Chocks' wingman, Dono...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When he got off the helicopter, I was just so happy to see him. Just to see my best friend come back was amazing.
QUAID: Chocks and others alive today because of Combat Search and Rescue teams like these soldiers whose Chinook crashed in a sandstorm Iraq. The cousin of former U.S. Vice President Al Gore who convoy was attacked.
In Afghanistan, a Navy Seal hiding in a village after an ambush and shootout killed his team. And British paratroopers in a mine field, limbs missing, all critical.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's the price of a life? My opinion is how important this is, we do not want to leave anybody behind.
QUAID: Including their own.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The search and rescue operation is under way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A Chinook helicopter crashes in rocky terrain. The U.S. military reports eight American soldiers dead, 14 wounded.
QUAID: Among them, one PJ killed, Air Force Tech Sergeant Scott Duffman (ph). And two PJs critically injured, PJ Dan (ph), training for Afghanistan, was one of those hurt.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll put our own lives on the line. We'll live up to our motto "that others may live."
QUAID: While Dan is recovering, his fellow warriors are on alert everywhere U.S. troops are fighting. And they are ready to help back home from Hurricane Katrina to Mt. Hood.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our rescue effort is under way as we speak for three climbers.
QUAID: To standing by for every NASA shuttle mission to rescue or recover astronauts.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wherever people can go, we can get there to get them out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Someone's having their worst day, we need to be having our best day.
QUAID: Combat Search and Rescue men, so "that others may live."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The bottom line is, they're coming home.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: It is fascinating and important work. Alex Quaid joins us this morning with more on this. Want to really kind of get inside your head and find out how you were able to get such access to these really anonymous, elite groups.
QUAID: That's really the thing that these guys, they are not in it for the publicity. They are not in it to be on camera. They even say they're not in it for the thank yous from these survivors that they take care of. So it took a little persuading, it took spending months with them, trying to get these folks to open up a bit, to share these stories that we have never heard.
NGUYEN: Well, are you surprised at all that these guys are Air Force? Because we hear about the Green Berets, the Delta Force, all of these other groups. You don't hear a lot about these guys.
QUAID: That -- they also say that's the point as well. They want to be able to do their jobs in enemy territory, in hostile territory. So you've heard about the Navy Seals. There are 2,500 Navy Seals, but folks don't realize that the Air Force has these elite Combat Search and Rescue units. And there are only about 270 of these para-rescue men, these PJs.
NGUYEN: That's it?
QUAID: Only 270. But again, they are part of this grander Combat Search and Rescue team.
NGUYEN: And they use some really amazing equipment. Talk to us a little bit about the aircraft that they use in these search and rescue missions.
QUAID: It is really specialized. It takes an entire wing of aircraft just to get a couple of these guys on the ground to save one person. They have -- you saw the Jolly helicopters, which are souped- up high-tech helicopters specifically for these rescue missions.
They also have A-10s, these are called Sandies (ph). And they fly over head. They are there to provide support, to make sure if the gun muscle is needed, that they are there. They have reconnaissance aircraft. They have refuelers. It's an entire wing that's flying overhead just to get one guy out of hostile territory.
NGUYEN: Which is so critical, and time is of the essence. Talk to us about these special missions if you would and some of the things that they undergo and they have to do to get this, to save their fellow comrades.
QUAID: Well, you've seen, I mean, when the call happens, for instance, with Chocks, with the A-10 pilot, that call happened and within 10 minutes of them hearing that the ejection had happened, they were already out there. They had launched. And they're out there searching for this guy on the ground. And you've got all of this support going on just trying to get these guys out.
NGUYEN: You know, and there's a lot of danger involved in that. There's time involved in trying to get there before the enemy gets to the person who was been lost or trapped or ejected from a plane, but obviously the danger involved in trying to get to these folks.
They don't talk a lot -- as we talked at the beginning of this, a lot about those missions. And I want you to talk just a little bit more about some of the things that they deal with and why don't we hear more about them?
QUAID: Well, again, they just want to be able to do their job and they don't want to be compromised. They want to stay as anonymous as possible. They want to be able to go into these dangerous places and not feel that they are under additional threat. So this was a very, very important thing that we were able to get this access and that they did open up to us.
NGUYEN: Which I was really surprised. Because you saw their faces. We heard some of their names. This is really quite remarkable that we were able to get such access.
QUAID: Well -- and what we did, we did promise that we would just use their call signs, their nicknames and such. And these were folks, they said that yes, you know, after a while, as they got used to us that they would let us show them on camera, they would share their stories, they would share their photos and their video that they took from the front line mission.
So I mean, it was -- it has really been a very, very special thing that we've been able to do and share with the American people.
NGUYEN: Absolutely. Very good work by some very courageous men with important jobs out there. Men and women, too?
QUAID: There are women who -- there are not men (sic) in the para rescue unit, but there are women in the entire Air Force wing that are supporting these guys that go in there.
NGUYEN: All right. Alex Quaid, thank you. Very good work, as always.
QUAID: Thank you.
NGUYEN: We appreciate it.
And we do want to tell you about a powerful storm that is spawning more than a dozen tornadoes. Up next, we're going to show you where that system is heading today.
HOLMES: Also, he announced his plans for a sex change and was then suspended from his city job. Well, in five minutes, find out what happened when city commissioners voted on the matter last night. Stay here.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've heard a couple of people who have used the phrase "bait and switch." I don't think we're doing that.
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HOLMES: So what exactly are you doing with a billboard advertising the Web site mycrappysexlife.com? Coming up in tomorrow's of all things, "Faces of Faith," yes, we'll tell you how some churches are talking about sex as part of God's plan.
Meanwhile, we turn to some weather now and a rip-roaring day for tornadoes across eastern New Mexico Friday. A string of twisters descended on Logan and Clovis near the Texas border. This was going on for five straight hours. At least 16 people were injured and more than two dozen homes and buildings were destroyed. The weather service says tornadoes are common along the New Mexico border with Texas, but usually just not this early.
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HOLMES: And folks, if you see breaking news in your neighborhood, sometimes it's breaking weather news, we want to see it, send us your photos and video to cnn.com/ireports.
Well, got something new to tell you about this morning about that Florida city manager who wanted to have a sex change. Well, just after midnight, city commissioners there in Largo, Florida, voted to move ahead with firing that man, Steve Stanton. Last month he announced he plans to have a sex change operation, and last night he pleaded for his job.
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STEVE STANTON, FIRED CITY MANAGER: Dealing with Susan is going to be no different than it has been dealing with Steven.
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HOLMES: Well, after six hours of discussion, the Largo commissioners took a vote and the decision was, he got to go.
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MARY GRAY BLACK, LARGO CITY COMMISSIONER: I support the removal of the city manager from office because I find it to be in the best interest of the residents of our City of Largo to do so.
MAYOR PAT GERARD, LARGO, FLORIDA: I'm hoping that there will come a time soon when our gay, lesbian and transgendered staff can feel like valued members of our community and feel like they're safe in their jobs because that is not the case right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The commissioners say Stanton was actually fired because they lost confidence in him, not because he wants to be a woman.
Well, you may remember that O.J. Simpson book. There's the cover there, "If I Did It." Well, it caused quite an uproar. Never published. A California judge has now ordered that the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department set a date to auction off the book's rights. In that book, "If I Did It," Simpson speculates how he might have killed his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman. Auction proceeds will then go to the Goldman family. They are trying to collect on a $33.5 million civil settlement against Simpson.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first runner-up is Rhode Island!
Our Miss USA 2007 is Tennessee!
(CHEERING & APPLAUSE)
HOLMES: There she is, Miss USA.
NGUYEN: you should see the smile on T.J.'s face right now.
HOLMES: Well, I'm happy because we have a new one in and we have a controversy over the last.
NGUYEN: Oh, is that what it is?
HOLMES: We have got a clean slate now. You'll remember the former Miss USA, Tara Connor, her reign, her tumultuous reign, Betty.
NGUYEN: Oh remember the teary news conference.
HOLMES: Yes, with the Donald and the whole thing. Well, last night she handed over the crown and she handed over the title to the new lady, Rachel Smith, who was the reigning Miss Tennessee, who is out Clarksville, Tennessee, a 21-year-old journalism graduate.
NGUYEN: Yes? Is she?
HOLMES: Yes.
NGUYEN: Apparently you've done some research.
HOLMES: I just wanted to give the people more details. It's what we do here at CNN, Betty.
NGUYEN: Is that what it is? Yes, I saw you Googling, whatever.
HOLMES: It's what we do here.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: Well, from the NEWSROOM to the operating room.
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DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Trauma is not something you want to make up as you go along.
Give Jess the marking pen.
Jess has already got the head position. Lou shaves the head. Jess makes the marks. Jess is scrubbing his hands already while Lou is finishing up. Then Lou scrubs his hands. It's all just -- it's an orchestrated dance.
NGUYEN: Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes us inside "Grady's Anatomy." That is coming up at 11 Eastern.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you don't want to miss that one. And it has been four years since the war in Iraq began. And CNN is saluting the troops through our i-Report initiative. The touching story of two brothers in battle when the CNN NEWSROOM continues.
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HOLMES: Well, it has been four years now, of course, since the Iraq War began. And CNN has been asking you to help us salute the troops.
NGUYEN: Veronica De La Cruz from our cnn.com Desk joins us now with one family's story.
Hi, there, Veronica.
DE LA CRUZ: Hey, guys, I've got a great story to share with you. We've received an i-Report from a woman named Leah (ph) in Wisconsin who says her cousins, twin brothers Jonah and Jordan Burrfield (ph) are both fighting in Iraq together.
They were deployed at different times, and they didn't know where the other one was. They finally found each other after being separated though for six months. They managed to discover each other's whereabouts even though they didn't have an address or phone number. And here's their reunion. The first time the 26-year-old twins see each other again after six months of searching.
And there is more good news, Jonah and Jordan Burrfield both are being promoted to captain. They hope to reunite again to celebrate.
And here's another i-Report which shows the two of them at Saddam Hussein's palace after Hussein's capture. The brothers unfortunately are stationed in different parts of the country.
And you can help us salute the troops sending us your i-Reports at cnn.com/exchange. And it really is a terrific story -- T.J. and Betty.
HOLMES: All right. Veronica, thank you so much.
Meanwhile, folks, we have got new development to tell you about this morning involving Iran's detention of 15 British sailors and marines.
NGUYEN: Find out what Iran claims the sailors and marines are confessing to. We have a live report from Tehran, that is in three minutes.
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