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Dogfighting Tape; General Pace In Ramadi; Iraq: What Now?; Gerri's Top Tips; Blast-Resistant Vehicles
Aired July 18, 2007 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Tony Harris. Stay informed all day in the CNN NEWSROOM. Here's what's on the run-down.
Fiery disaster. Drainage problems on a runway may have sent a plane careening into a build. Some 200 people killed.
COLLINS: They're called m-rats (ph) and they can hold up against roadside bombs. The defense secretary wants $1 billion to build them for U.S. troops in Iraq.
HARRIS: And questions this morning about a star quarterback's future in the NFL. Michael Vick facing criminal charges on Wednesday, July 18th. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
And at the top this hour, a grim search for victims after a deadly plane crash in Brazil. Rescue workers looking through every part of the still smoldering wreckage this morning. The fire department says at least 200 people died in the crash which happened in a driving rain. Right now investigators asking questions about the length and condition of the runway at Brazil's busiest airport.
For those who lost loved ones, the pain is overwhelming. The head of a support group calls the tragedy an accident waiting to happen. Local officials recently tried to ban big jets from landing at the airport because of the short landing strips. Brazil's president calling for three days of mourning to honor the victims.
COLLINS: Bleary-eyed senators headed for a showdown vote on Iraq. Next hour, the Senate votes on whether to cut off debate and move forward on a troop withdrawal resolution. This follows an all- night debate. It was staged by Senate Democrats.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The administration asks us to be patient. But patience is not a virtue in the face of a manifestly failed policy. And there is no virtue in staying the course when the course you are on is dragging you deeper and deeper into a geopolitical disaster.
SEN. JOHN THUNE, (R) SOUTH DAKOTA: We have to be realistic about the pace and scope of change in Iraq. But mandating timelines for withdrawal or other amendments like re-authorizations of the war are not the answer. We are too eager to declare the surge of failure before it has even been fully implemented.
SEN. OLYMPIA SNOWE, (R) MAINE: The dramatic and fundamental change in our strategy in Iraq is essential. And that Congress must require it based on that reality.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) ARIZONA: Everybody confirmed him. Everybody knew in this body what the mission was, what they intended to do, what the strategy was. And here we are a few months later pulling the plug, or attempting to pull the plug, on what General Petraeus wants to do.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) NEW YORK: Our military has performed not only heroically, but successfully, with courage and determination against odds and enemies from all sides.
SEN. NORM COLEMAN, (R) MINNESOTA: We have to be looking at a range of options. But why now? Why at this point in time? Other than there are -- I presume interest groups on the left who are concerned that the Democrat majority hasn't done what the group (ph) moveon.org wants them to do, which is to, you know, get us out of Iraq.
SEN. JOHN KERRY, (D) MASSACHUSETTS: None of us want to see chaos in the long term. But there is chaos that is growing on a daily basis. Worse and worse as a consequence of our presence. And if we haven't learned that lesson by now, then we've learned precious little at all.
SEN. ORRIN HATCH, (R) UTAH: We can't fight al Qaeda and ignore Baghdad. And we can't walk away from this fight with al Qaeda. For those who want to withdraw without a policy prescription, all I can say is, you may no longer be interested in al Qaeda in Iraq. But al Qaeda is interested in the United States and always has been.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Democrats are expected to come up short on the vote to end the debate. Live coverage coming from Capitol Hill next hour right here in the NEWSROOM.
And also, what's the future U.S. role in Iraq? Insights from the co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group. Democrat Lee Hamilton live this hour in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: A star football player facing federal charges and accusations of horrific brutality. NFL quarterback Michael Vick and three others accused of running a dogfighting operation out of his Virginia property. A judge is expected to set a hearing date this afternoon. Among the gruesome accusations, Vick took part in killing dogs that weren't ferocious enough. Methods of execution, drowning, hanging, even electrocution. Vick could face prison and possibly an end to his record shattering career. NFL's spokesman Brian McCarthy had this to say. "The activities alleged are cruel, degrading, and illegal. Michael Vick's guilt has not yet been proven, and we believe that all concerned should allow the legal process to determine the facts." COLLINS: You're about to see a glimpse into the sordid brutal world of dogfighting. Home movies lead to arrests in Texas. But we do warn you, they also contain some graphic images. The details from reporter Brad Woodard of CNN Houston affiliate KHOU.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRAD WOODARD, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Barely a stone's throw from the Qudi (ph) homes housing project, just a few miles from the heart of downtown Houston, thick brush gives way to a clearing which, until now, has harbored something you've probably heard about but have never seen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, two, one.
WOODARD: Something, which in all likelihood, you will hope to never see again.
BELINDA SMITH, HARRIS CO., TEXAS, PROSECUTOR: It just is so disturbing to me that young people think that this kind of activity is entertaining.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, two, one.
SMITH: They have no regard for life.
WOODARD: This videotape, seized by the Harris County Sheriff's Department, investigated by the Precinct Six Constables Office, and now being prosecuted by the district attorneys office.
SMITH: Truly, the first time I tried to look at it, I left after about a minute. It was so disturbing.
WOODARD: Some of the dogs had no desire to fight.
SMITH: There are instances in the videotape where the dogs are licking each other. They don't -- they release them and they lick each other. They don't want to fight. Yet, the handlers bring them back and get them pumped up to fight. It's not natural.
WOODARD: Unnatural but quite common.
In the last month alone, the Harris County D.A.'s office has filed charges in four dogfighting cases. Three years ago, it wasn't filing any. Authorities say street level dog fighting, like the fighting we're showing you in this report, has reached epidemic levels in some neighborhoods.
and it has as much to do with the quality of life in those neighborhoods as animal cruelty.
LT. MARK TIMMERS, ANIMAL CRUELTY INVESTIGATOR: We go out and interview neighbors and stuff, they want to talk to us but they're scared. They're fearful because they see the violence is going on, they see the dogfighting and they tell them, you know, we'll hurt you if you tell people about this. (END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Chad has to -- Chad, you've got to bring us back a little bit. That was -- boy, that was horrific.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: And new information this morning to share with you out of Iraq. The U.S. military announced the arrest of a senior leader of al Qaeda in Iraq. He's described as a key link between the terrorist groups Iraq network and senior al Qaeda leaders, including Osama bin Laden. He was arrested earlier this month in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIG. GEN. KEVIN J. BERGNER, SPOKESMAN, MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE- IRAQ: On the Fourth of July, coalition forces captured a terrorist named Khalid Abdul Fatah Da'ud Mahmud Al Mashadani, also known as Adu Shahed (ph). Mashadani is believed to be the most senior Iraqi in the al Qaeda and Iraq network. He is a close associate of Abu Ayyub al- Masri, the Egyptian-born head of al Qaeda in Iraq.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Officials say al Mashadani has shed light on al Qaeda's operations in Iraq. He remained in coalition custody.
HARRIS: Roadside bombs explode and mortars rain down on Baghdad. At least four people were killed when back-to-back bombs exploded near a gas station. Officials say seven others were wounded.
And another attack. A pair of mortars landed in southwestern Baghdad. At least two people were killed in that attack. A mortar round also landed on a hospital in central Baghdad wounding seven more people.
COLLINS: In the war zone, Joint Chief Chairman General Peter Pace on what's described as his last combat foot patrol before retiring. Our Barbara Starr has a TV exclusive now from the Iraqi city of Ramadi.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just three months ago, this was a battleground for U.S. troops here in Ramadi. Over the years, hundreds of U.S. troops have fought and died on these streets.
But now things are better here. It's relatively peaceful. U.S. commanders say that working with the Iraqi security forces they have chased al Qaeda from much of the city.
And so when General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, came here today, he came out on the streets. He toured. He walked through the markets. Yes, there was a lot of security for General Pace. But he talked to ordinary Iraqis,. He stopped at a vegetable market. Children came up to him. Pictures were taken.
And one of the questions now is whether Ramadi can become an example for the rest of Iraq. Commanders say they've learned their lesson. They're working with the tribal leaders in this area.
GEN. PETER PACE, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: Exactly. It really is a remarkable turnaround. And, you know, there's lots of posted weapons around me, but I don't have one. And I don't feel one bit concerned about that. This is just a very -- it's a remarkable turnaround.
STARR: So just how much better are things in Ramadi? Well, it was last February. That was the last time an IED exploded in the streets of this city.
Barbara Starr, CNN, Ramadi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Investigating a frightening crash in Washington state this morning. A recreational vehicle leaving Olympic National Park slams into several other vehicles, then plows through a railing -- look at this scene -- and down an embankment. A Port Angeles city spokeswoman reports 12 people injured, including two adults and five children in the RV.
COLLINS: Adding up Barack Obama's record-breaking fund-raising campaign, one very small donor at a time.
HARRIS: On the move in Oklahoma. FEMA trailers for flood victims. This time some folks will actually get to use them.
COLLINS: A highly trained marksman fell by affairs of the heart.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He broke. The heart controls everything. The heart controls the mind of the best people in the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Why some snipers snap.
HARRIS: And look out, dog in the road. Oh, we don't have the picture. Doggone it. We're going to show you a pretty scary scene and a pretty frightening crash at the Tour de France right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And welcome back, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris. Good morning to you.
The debate over a troop pullout. U.S. policy in Iraq. The co- chairman of the Iraq Study Group weighs in. Congressman Lee Hamilton, there he is, he joins us next in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Democrats pushing for a troop pullout in Iraq. The debate over the U.S. policy and concern over the resurgence of al Qaeda. Joining us from Washington to talk about all of this, Lee Hamilton, co-chair of the Iraq Study Group.
Congressman, great to talk to you. Thanks for your time.
LEE HAMILTON, IRAQ STUDY GROUP CO-CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
HARRIS: A lot of discussion, as you know, over the National Intelligence Estimate yesterday. Al Qaeda in Iraq. That's discussion, boy, pretty contentious at times yesterday. Let me ask you the question, the al Qaeda operating in Iraq right now, is it this notion of a franchise operation of al Qaeda central or are we talking about al Qaeda centrals sending agents into Iraq to causes all kinds of problems, maybe a bit of both, and what difference does it really make?
HAMILTON: I think the operation in Iraq by al Qaeda is pretty much an autonomous group. They may have some connections with other al Qaeda units.
But there isn't any doubt that al Qaeda, as the report said, is resurgent. It is putting itself together again, redefining its leadership. And certainly represents the principle threat to the United States.
Al Qaeda in Iraq, of course, is principally involved in Iraq itself. And I think that, although it's one element, it's only one element of the violence in that country.
I know some of the statements from the administration recently have focused very heavily on Iraq. But the sources of violence in Iraq are multi-sided, it's a very complex, it's an evolving picture. There are probably 20, 30, maybe 40 or more insurgent groups, four or five main ones. There's just a lot of plain criminality. There's a lot of militias involved. Al Qaeda probably represents not more than 15 or 20 percent of the violence.
HARRIS: What can we really hope to accomplish against that scenario that you just described of the multi-fronts, the battling and communities, militia groups, and gang activity? What can we honestly, in your estimation, hope to accomplish?
HAMILTON: Well, I do not want to see U.S. forces interposed into sectarian conflict in Iraq. And I don't think that should be our purpose.
HARRIS: Is that happening now?
HAMILTON: Yes, it is. I do think that we need to look at al Qaeda. Al Qaeda in Iraq does represent a national security interest to the United States. We have to have the combat forces to go after al Qaeda before or after any kind of redeployment or downsizing of American military. It represents a real threat to us. But I don't think that we can solve that sectarian violence by the insertion of American military forces there. And, of course, it's a very high-risk business for us.
HARRIS: Congressman, let me sort of -- just one more quick question on al Qaeda. But let's set it up. I hope you can still hear me. Let's set it up with some comments from the president last week in his news conference.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Al Qaeda is strong today, but they're not nearly as strong as they were prior to September the 11th, 2001. And the reason why is, is because we've been working with the world to keep the pressure on, to stay on the offense, to bring them to justice so that they won't hurt us again. To beat them where we find them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Would you agree that the trend line, in terms of the growing strength of al Qaeda, well, the trend line is going in the wrong direction. First, would you agree with that? And I guess the next question is, did the Iraq War, in your opinion, distract us from eradicating al Qaeda?
HAMILTON: Well, on the latter question, yes. I think the answer is, yes. We had Osama bin Laden on the run in the mountains of Afghanistan. We were distracted from that. We went into Iraq. And I think we lost an opportunity to get him there.
Incidentally, I think it's also time for us to go back in to Pakistan, with American forces. This has to be carefully calibrated. Worked out with the Pakistanis.
But I am very concerned that you have a safe haven in Pakistan today where they can regroup, rethink, and get ready for more attacks. If there's anything we should have learned, it is that we must not let al Qaeda have a sanctuary, which they certainly do in Pakistan today.
I think the president's comments suggest to me that while al Qaeda certainly is an element of the violence in Iraq, it is not the totality of violence and we have to be able to define the enemy with a greater precision, I think, than just to say it's all al Qaeda.
HARRIS: So, congressman, just one quick point. Just to wrap this last point you just made. Do you believe that it is time for some kind of a coordinated effort militarily with the Pakistani military, to go into the tribal regions, North Waziristan and those areas, into these tribal areas, and launch an attack on al Qaeda and al Qaeda elements in those areas.
HAMILTON: Well, I believe we have to go in. Now Pakistan, so far, has kept us out. I know Musharraf is described as a great alley of the United States. He's been helpful in some ways. But the fact that he has kept us away from going after these sanctuaries, I find unacceptable. And I think we have to find ways and means, perhaps it's use of covert operations, perhaps it's use of special operations, perhaps it's the pursuit of the Taliban when they're in Afghanistan to let us go after them as they move back in to Pakistan. Whatever it is. I do not find acceptable a sanctuary for al Qaeda in Pakistan. We have to be able to go after it.
HARRIS: Congressman Hamilton, thanks for your time this morning.
HAMILTON: Thank you.
HARRIS: We appreciate it.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Gerri Willis.
If your money isn't working hard enough for you, well, hold on. We're going to give you some of the best online tools. That's next on "Top Tips" in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: So just about an hour into the trading day here. Let's check out the numbers on the big board. The New York Stock Exchange, well, you know, there were predictions that the stocks would probably tumble a bit today.
You know, Heidi, earnings are starting to roll in, in the tech sector and so far not so good. Early numbers. So the Dow down 41 points. Nasdaq down 22. What does Ben Bernanke, the Fed chairman, going to say to Congress? He starts two days of hearings today. We're following it all with Susan Lisovicz right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: The stock market surging. If this hasn't inspired you to re-evaluate your investments, we'll show you the best online tools. Could be some pretty big help there. Here's CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis.
Hi there to you, Gerri.
WILLIS: Hi, Heidi.
COLLINS: We were above 1400 a couple of times yesterday. Now we're down a bit, as Tony was just talking about that. But, still, when you talk about investing personally, lots of things you can do. The first one I think you have here is tweaking your budget a bit.
WILLIS: That's right. You've got to take the time to crunch the numbers when it comes to your household budget. Check out cgi.money.com/tools and look for Ideal Budget. Now this calculator breaks down where your paycheck goes and what your ideal budget allocations should be.
Also check out fool.com and click on calculator. Now at this site you'll be able to calculate what it will cost you each month to pay off your credit card debt. You can even estimate the cost of raising a child. And, you know, that's an expensive one.
Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, I know that can be an expensive one. And I think I might have just said 1,400. I meant 14,000, obviously, with the Dow Jones Industrial average.
WILLIS: Oh, I'm glad you corrected that, yes.
COLLINS: Yes. You could have corrected me.
Hey, tip number two, focus on retirement. We always hear it's never ever to early to do that.
WILLIS: I'm telling you, you have to make sure you're saving enough for retirement. Check out CNN Money's retirement planner. Now that website is cnnmoney.com/tools. This will show you how likely it is you'll be able to reach retirement goals. You should also check out T. Rowe Price's calculator and AARP also has a great retirement calculator too.
COLLINS: OK. Very good. And what about checking your nest egg?
WILLIS: It's all about asset allocation, I've got to tell you. What do you own? How much do you own? To find out what's in your portfolio, go to morningstar.com, click on the tools button and go to instant x-ray. You'll be able to view what companies you hold, what size these companies are and projected earnings growth and earnings. Don't forget about all those mutual fund fees. Those can really add up. It eats into your savings. To make sure you're not paying to much, go to NASD.com and click on the mutual fund expense analyzer.
Heidi.
COLLINS: And we've already kind of mentioned how expensive children can be at times. And then when we talk about college, that really gets expensive.
WILLIS: I know. It's so much money. Check out collegeboard.com. Now this website will estimate how much your family will be expected to pay and whether you're on track to save enough for college. Also check out finaid.org. Now this site has a link where you can do calculations like, how much should you borrow and what the real value of loan discounts (INAUDIBLE) what they really are. If you want to compare 529 plans throughout the country, check out savingforcollege.com and click on compare 529 plans.
Now if you missed any of these websites, don't worry. Just check out our homepage at cnnmoney.com/toptips.
Heidi.
COLLINS: Some really great help there. Didn't realize all that stuff was on the Internet. Have to go clicking around a little bit better.
WILLIS: There you go. There's always help to be had.
Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Gerri, thank you.
WILLIS: You're welcome.
ANNOUNCER: Live in the CNN NEWSROOM, Heidi Collins and Tony Harris.
COLLINS: Good morning once again, everybody. 10:30 Eastern Time. I'm Heidi Collins.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Welcome back to the CNN NEWSROOM.
A roadside bomb. So deadly for U.S. troops in Iraq. The military says this vehicle could actually save lives. Why aren't more on the front lines? Senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): This video from a test last year at the Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground shows just how mine resistant these mine-resistant vehicles are. But commanders overseeing the current surge in Iraq are still waiting for them to show up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have none now. What I'm working with are up the up armored Humvees.
MCINTYRE: The Humvees are death traps compared to the MRAP, short for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The tragedy -- the tragedy is the number of wounded and the number who died who could have lived. And they say that 70 percent of the soldiers that died in Iraq had to do with IEDs and Humvees. That's hard to live with.
MCINTYRE: One problem -- a single company, Force Protection, Inc. was awarded a series of non-competitive contracts and then fell behind schedule. The company says it did its best to meet an overly ambitious schedule and pay penalties for late deliveries. And it insists its lie of MRAPs, including one model called the Cougar, is delivering on the key promise -- to save lives.
(on camera): Are the taxpayers getting their money's worth for these expensive armored vehicles?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely. And -- but what I told people in the Pentagon is, since you've increased servicemen's group life insurance to $250,000 per soldier and Marine, you count up my eight seats in the vehicle, the taxpayer is getting a great bargain because everybody is coming home alive in (INAUDIBLE).
(on camera): The Pentagon will be asking Congress to shift $1.3 billion in funds to buy 7,700 MRAPs ASAP. But first officials will be facing a House subcommittee that wants answers about what's taking so long.
Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: A daylight view of disaster. Runway problems. The focus this morning in Brazil. An airliner skidding into a building and bursting into flames.
One of the NFL's brightest stars eclipsed by the dark details in a federal indictment -- the government versus Michael Vick.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Michael Vick, one of the biggest names in sports, certainly the most prominent in a federal indictment. The NFL star accused of sponsoring a brutal dogfighting operation.
Details now from Patrick Chupstra (ph) of CNN's Virginia affiliate WVEC.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATRICK CHUPSTRA (ph), WVEC REPORTER (voice-over): The indictment lays out an 18-page case against Vick, dog by dog, fight by fight often bet by bet. It accuses Vick and three others of transporting dogs for fighting from six states and Virginia in an operation called Bad News Kennels.
According to the charges it all began in the summer of 2001 at Vick's home in Suri (ph), purposefully designed as stage for dogfighting.
In April, the investigators confiscated what they said was ample evidence of dogfighting. The indictment says that's where dogs were trained and sometimes killed by hanging, drowning, and slamming at least one dog's body to the ground. The charges include four witnesses who accuse Vick of bankrolling dogs and going to fights at his home and other sites all from the beginning. The indictment says one witness was, quote, "was criticized" for having yelled Vick's name in front of the crowd during a fight.
Commonwealth's attorney Gerald Poindexter allowed his son to comment on what the federal charges mean for the parallel local investigation.
JOHN POINDEXTER, PROSECUTOR'S SON: The indictments today really have no bearing on his case.
CHUPSTRA: So in other words the case continues on a local level.
POINDEXTER: The case continues on a local level.
(END VIDEOTAPE) COLLINS: This afternoon a judge is expected to set a hearing date for Vick.
(NEWSBREAK)
HARRIS: Manhunt over -- suspect found dead. The search for a military -trained marksman ends in a rugged area of Wyoming. David Munis was wanted in the sniper shooting of his wife. Police say he shot her from the parking lot of a Cheyenne restaurant. She was singing with her band inside. Three days later a tip led authorities to David Munis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF JIM POND, ALBANY COUNTY, WYOMING: A ranch hand had discovered him in a real small trailer house on a remote area of a ranch, north of Laramie, called the sheriff's office. Those officers were responding to meet with him and arrest him to get to him. Before they could get to him he'd shot himself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: David and Robin Munis had been separate ad few weeks. In addition to her singing career, Robin Munis had started a program to help people with developmental disabilities and brain injuries. She leaves four children behind.
COLLINS: The hear rules the hunter -- one expert's opinion on why some snipers snap.
CNN's Chris Lawrence reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Military snipers are intensely screened, to see if they have a psychological strength to lie in wait for hours without moving a muscle.
BOB BURNETT, FMR. MARINE CORPS MARKSMAN: To be able to withdraw from your mindset and forget the pain, the aggravation you are going through -- sweating, bugs, pain.
LAWRENCE: Bob Burnett is a former Marine Crops marksman, and contributing editor to "Soldier if Fortune" magazine. He speculated why some snipers can snap.
Wyoming police say David Munis threatened his estranged wife, and then fired one shot into a bar at night through a window that shattered her skull.
(on camera): Someone who is trained to block out pain, so highly disciplined, wouldn't they be immune to those kind of emotions?
BURNETT: He broke. The heart controls everything. The heart controls the mind of the best people in the world. But can you imagine sitting in that position, laying in that position as long as he did to kill the mother of his child?
LAWRENCE (voice-over): Burnett has an idea why Robin Munis was shot from a distance, and not close range.
BURNETT: It was more than just killing her; it was an acquisition, proving a point, proving that he is good, or worth a damn, in his own mind, of course.
LAWRENCE: It rarely happens, but five years ago, this Army expert marksman shot and killed three people at the University of Arizona and then killed himself. Another expert marksman, John Alan Mohammed, the so-called D.C. sniper. Neither was as proficient as Munis, a fully trained sniper.
In movies like "Shooter," the sniper on the run targets the true bad guys. But in reality, a sniper wanted for murder can become suicidal.
BURNETT: He's Violated our country's codes. He's not saving any soldiers lives or Marines lives, and he killed a loved one.
LAWRENCE: Chris Lawrence, CNN, Santa Barbara, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE: ...can become suicidal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's violated our country's codes. He's not saving any soldiers' lives and marines' lives and he killed a loved one.
LAWRENCE: Chris Lawrence, CNN, Santa Barbara, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And still to come, seven sought freedom, only two made it. A story about defectors North Korea doesn't want you to see.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange. When NEWSROOM returns, I'll tell you which automaker may be abandoning plans to build a large luxury sedan. The challenge of combining luxury and fuel efficiency next. (
You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: On Wall Street, stocks are taking a bit of a breather after four straight records for the DOW.
Susan Lisovicz, where is she? Let me see, let me see her -- oh, there she is, at the New York Stock Exchange to tell us what's derailing the rally a bit (ph) today?
Good morning, Susan.
(BUSINESS HEADLINES)
COLLINS: Barack Obama is breaking campaign fund-raising records. Why are some people questioning his numbers?
CNN's Tom Foreman reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D-IL) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We've got people who've been giving $5 and $10 and $25.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a record- breaking announcement.
OBAMA: Yes, that's why we've got 258,000 donors. Twice -- we have more donors than all of the Republican donors combined.
FOREMAN: Barack Obama winning the money race big, both in contributions and the number of donors.
JOHN DICKERSON, AMER. MORNING POLITICAL ANALYST: You get these stories of people who come to these Obama events and say I haven't much been interested in politics, but here, I'll give you the money out of my handbag. That gives a sense of momentum, it gives a sense of movement.
FOREMAN: What's creating the fuss is the simple fact that the senator from Illinois is growing his supporter list in a non- traditional way. People who buy Obama Campaign hats, buttons and bumper stickers are all being counted as part of that record-breaking number of contributors.
At least four other presidential candidates do the same thing. John McCain, Tom Tancredo, Duncan Hunter, and Dennis Kucinich. Unlike most of his opponents, Obama sells his campaign merchandise directly instead of outsourcing it. The people who have bought campaign merchandise only count for about one percent of all the donors who have given Obama money.
OBAMA: The reason that they're listed as donors is because if they purchase it through the campaign and it goes into the campaign coffers, it would be a violation of campaign laws if we did not list that. So, all we're doing is abiding by the law.
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: There's a whispering (ph) campaign that Obama's trying to inflate his donor numbers.
FOREMAN: Obama dismissed those charges.
OBAMA: We're so far ahead everybody else in terms of number of donations that we don't need to be playing with the numbers.
FOREMAN: And he may actually be on to a successful fund-raising venture.
PRESTON: The campaign spokesman tells me, though, that they've raised several hundred thousand dollars through this process. It is a pretty novel way not only to raise money but also to grow the campaign small donor mass.
FOREMAN: Tom Foreman, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: So, what would you ask the presidential candidates if you could? Well, you can and you have. CNN is teaming up with YouTube for the upcoming presidential debates. And we've been collecting your questions for the candidates. Here's a sampling.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, my name is Ian (ph) from Las Vegas, Nevada.
And I'd like to talk about domestic concerns that hasn't been talked about in the debate so far. Between the years 2000, 2005 there have been 256,306 deaths due to vehicle collisions. And in the -- under 60 years of military deaths overseas, that's still less than half of six years of car fatalities. By the year 2010, another 4 million people might die if nothing's done. As president, would you support a major overhaul in the design of vehicles or the transportation system to reduce this fatality rate or is this beyond our control?
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, my name is Christian (ph), and I'm a student in D.C.
And as a student, I feel like I'm always having to take standardized tests, and that's all my school cares about. Now, if you were to be elected, what would you do to take all the fuss away from standardized testing so we can have more time for actual learning?
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HARRIS: See that, those are good questions. Those are good questions. The wackier ones we'll save for our podcast later today. Join Paula Zahn with more of your video questions as we countdown to the debate, that's tonight and every night this week, 8:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.
COLLINS: First, Iraq and now, Afghanistan.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I went to the Afghan consulate in New York, and told them I wanted to visit Afghanistan for educational purposes. And they gave me a Visa.
(END VIDEO CLIP) COLLINS: And Farris Asan (ph) was headed back to a war zone. Details of his latest adventures straight ahead.
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COLLINS: Thanks for watching the show from 9:00 a.m. until noon Eastern, everybody. But we also just want to remind you about this little thing that we record afterwards to go on this fantastic podcast. Pretty cool, you can take us with you anywhere you go. CNN NEWSROOM podcast available 24/7. If you wake up in the middle of the night, you want to hear some news ...
HARRIS: Great, right there (ph).
COLLINS: ...it's right there on your iPod.
HARRIS: That's what I'm talking about.
Seven would-be North Korean defectors, largely forgotten by the world, their chilling stories told by one who finally got out.
CNN's Sohn Jie-ae reports.
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SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In 1999, seven asylum-seeking North Koreans who'd entered Russia illegally from China were caught by Russian police, and later interviewed by Russian TV.
"We will die if we are sent back," says one.
Despite appeals from human rights groups and the United Nations, Russia sent the seven back to China and China returned them to North Korea.
(on camera): In the ensuing international outrage, North Korea told the United Nations they do not punish asylum seekers. Of the seven North Korea said, two have been sentenced to correctional labor for other crimes. But the rest were back at work or in school.
(voice-over): With this, the seven were largely forgotten by the rest of the world -- until now.
Kim Eun-Chul was 19 at the time of his repatriation, has defected to South Korea. His story sheds crucial light on what really happened to the seven. He says almost all ended up in Udoc (ph), North Korea's infamous political prison camp, number 15. Kim says Kim Guan-Ho (ph) was moved to a highly restricted area for lifetime detention and is presumed dead. Kim and others too (ph) served approximately three years at Udoc and were released.
The 13-year-old Kim Song-Ure (ph) was sent to a juvenile detention center, but later managed to escape and made it to South Korea. Husband and wife, Pai Yong-Uel (ph) and Pang Yong-Chur (ph) were also at Udoc he says. But Pang was brought into Udoc on a stretcher after months of interrogation and never recovered. "I helped bury her," says Kim, "Her husband was so devoted to her. When we buried her, we buried her in the only clothes she had -- the red sweater."
Barely 160 centimeters, or 5'2", Kim also bears the scars of six months of interrogation. He says North Korean guards made him kneel for hours, day after day on a hot plate. He says he still has nightmares and screams out in his sleep. Despite his ordeal, Kim says he has no regrets. But he still doesn't understand why, after all the publicity, the world didn't try harder to save seven people who just wanted to be free.
Sohn Jie-Ae, CNN, Seoul.
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COLLINS: Word of a top al Qaeda leader captured in Iraq. Find out who he is and why the U.S. says he's linked to Osama bin Laden.
HARRIS: Man and beast. A frightening collision on the road to Paris, oh!
COLLINS: Oh!
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh dear, look at that wheel collapse, and the dog didn't seem to know what was going on. But I hope he's all right. He seems to be OK.
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HARRIS: Yes, yes, the dog's just fine. Everything -- everyone's fine, everything -- well, the bike wheel, Heidi, is a little jacked up.
COLLINS: Do we have to show it again?
HARRIS: Of course ...
COLLINS: Come on, oh ...
HARRIS: ...because that's what we do.
COLLINS: He's a yellow lab.
HARRIS: Yes.
COLLINS: I think that's my dog.
HARRIS: No! No, no, no.
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