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Memorial Service for Fort Hood Victims; Charged as Adults; Clemency Denied for John Allen Muhammad

Aired November 10, 2009 - 12:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Time for your top-of-the-hour reset.

I'm Tony Harris in the CNN NEWSROOM.

It is 11:00 a.m. at Fort Hood, Texas, where in two hours, President Obama speaks at a memorial service for shooting victims.

It is noon on Capitol Hill, where Bill Clinton is having lunch with U.S. senators, asking them to please pass a serving of health care reform.

And in Jarrat, Virginia, the D.C. sniper has just nine hours to live, unless the governor stops his execution.

Let's get started.

First this hour, honoring the men and women gunned down at Fort Hood. President and Mrs. Obama are due in Texas in about 25 minutes. They will meet privately with family members and then attend a memorial service.

CNN's Ed Lavandera joins us now live.

And Ed, today's service is thought by many to be a real opportunity for healing, a healing moment here, not just at Fort Hood, but for the entire Killeen community.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The first kind of step to begin this process. You know, many of the people who have been working this tragedy so intensely, since last Thursday, have really been working nonstop, and the work continues here as many of the units that were directly involved in this attack on Thursday are still in the process of being deployed.

So, we've spoken with many soldiers who are having to continue moving on to get over this attack on Thursday, but also with the stress of knowing that they -- in the coming weeks, they will be deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq as well.

One unit in particular, which is the 467th Medical Detachment from Madison, Wisconsin, many soldiers that were in that room where the shooting erupted last Thursday were wounded in that attack. This is a unit directly affected, several of them killed in the attack. And several of them already back at work after being treated for their wounds. We spoke with Colonel Kathy Platoni, who is in that unit. And she was there helping treat the wounded and watching her soldiers come into the room where many of the wounded were brought into on Thursday. And that's when she realized that many of her soldiers had been wounded. She talks -- tells an incredible story about what these soldiers have endured over the last couple days and how they're pulling through it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COL. KATHY PLATONI, U.S. ARMY: The resilience and strength of character of these soldiers is just absolutely extraordinary. I have never seen this in 30 years of military service, how we have bonded together, how we have bolstered each other, how we have held each other's hand, how we have processed the event and we continue to talk about it, and to cry together and to celebrate the memory of our beloved lost soldiers together. It's just extraordinary.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: And Tony, here it's an absolutely gorgeous day in Fort Hood, Texas. Blue skies. The president about to arrive.

The ceremony will take place just kind of near one of the main entrances to the fort here. Several thousand people expected to attend in the audience -- the family members of those that died in Thursday's attack, as well as many of the soldiers that were wounded.

Last count, we were told there's still about eight of them that were still hospitalized, so they won't be able to attend. But really, those will be the main focus of the guests that are at this ceremony today, as well as a great deal of dignitaries from Washington and state government here in Texas as well -- Tony.

HARRIS: Maybe that gets at the next question here. You know, in essence, this is the story of the day. Let's spend a little more time with it.

We've seen all of those steel containers being set up at the memorial site. Maybe you can explain to us what they're there for.

LAVANDERA: Right. We saw those starting to go up on Sunday. And at first it kind of looked like an odd sight.

Essentially, these massive steel containers stacked three high, creating kind of a barrier around what is known as the 3 Corps building here in Fort Hood. It's really where all of the top -- the highest brass here at Fort Hood, where their offices are held.

There's a big courtyard and a flag that has been flying at half- staff since last week, in the wake of this shooting. So that is where that will take place.

The barriers and the concrete -- or the steel crates that were brought in for this essentially, we're told, brought in for two reasons. For security purposes, given that the president and so many dignitaries will be here, but as well as for privacy of the many family members and the several thousand guests that are expected to attend today as well.

HARRIS: All right.

Ed Lavandera for us.

Ed, thank you.

A bit of an update on the investigation now.

We're told Major Nidal Hasan has refused to talk with investigators from his hospital bed. Authorities say he will be tried in military, not civilian court. Hasan has hired a lawyer who is a former military judge and retired Army colonel.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COL. JOHN GALLIGAN, NIDAL HASAN'S ATTORNEY: The only thing I would say on that is it's still a guarded (ph) position. There's still a lot to be done on the medical side. Like anybody facing criminal charges in the military arena, he's entitled to (INAUDIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: CNN special live coverage of the "Memorial at Fort Hood" begins today at 1:30 Eastern, including remarks from President Obama. If you're away from your television, watch the full memorial coverage on CNN.com/live.

And let's do this -- let's check the wire and the day's other big stories.

A memorial service also being held today for seven soldiers killed in Afghanistan. Vice President Joe Biden will speak at the ceremony at Fort Lewis, Washington. The Stryker Brigade soldiers were killed two weeks ago when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

The governor of Virginia has just denied clemency for the D.C. sniper. John Allen Muhammad is set to die tonight by lethal injection for a shooting spree that left 10 people dead. His ex-wife says she struggled with guilt because she believes she was the ultimate target.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MILDRED MUHAMMAD, EX-WIFE OF JOHN ALLEN MUHAMMAD: I felt that way initially, because I had done everything that I knew how to do in order to bring attention to how dangerous John was for me. I had no idea that his anger would extend beyond me to include other people in his killings.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: And tonight on "LARRY KING LIVE," hear from the families of Muhammad's victims, live from the prison where he is scheduled to be executed. That's at 9:00 Eastern, right here on CNN. And new details about a gunman who allegedly held a high school principal hostage this morning. It happened at Stissing Mountain High School. That's in Pine Plains, New York. That's about two hours north of New York City.

Officials say the gunman's son is a student who was recently suspended for unknown reasons. The standoff lasted an hour better the gunman surrendered to police. No shots fired, no one hurt. Officials have not yet disclosed the gunman's identity or his demands.

Senate Democrats get some perspective on health care reform from a veteran of the last big battle. Sources say former President Bill Clinton is attending the Democrats' weekly caucus luncheon today. Clinton's failed attempt to overhaul health care contributed to the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994. His visit comes as the Senate faces a tough fight over health reform legislation.

Federal funding for abortion could tip the balance in the health care debate. As you know, Saturday, the House passed health care reform which includes a ban on federal money being used to pay for abortions.

Would you like to see a similar ban in the Senate health care bill? Here's what you do. You just go to our blog, CNN.com/Tony, leave us a comment, and we will share a few of them later this hour.

In court this morning, three teenagers who are facing adult charges for allegedly setting a 15-year-old boy on fire.

Our John Zarrella is covering this story for us from our Miami bureau.

And John, what happened in court today?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, Tony, look at this way first. These kids were best friends at one time, they did sleepovers together. Now one of them is fighting for his life, he could die at any time, and three of the other five have now been charge as adults with second-degree attempted murder in the case, in this burning case.

They appeared in court this morning, in bond court in Fort Lauderdale. There you see the three of them. You have Denver Jarvis, Matthew Bent, Jesus Mendez.

Again, those charges coming down last night in Broward County here. The three of them -- there they are -- appearing this morning in bond court -- Matthew Bent, Jesus Mendez and Denver Jarvis. The judge saying that based on the horrific allegations, that they turned the child into a human torch, and for the sake of the community they were going to be held without bond.

Now, all of them, the three there -- and there were two other juveniles who have not yet been charged as adults, but the state is saying they could charge them as adults. It's the case of Michael Brewer. Now, as you remember, the three now charged, charged with -- that they lit him on fire back on October 12th with a -- poured alcohol on him, then took a lighter and lit him on fire -- Tony.

HARRIS: Boy. John, a couple of other quick ones here.

You mentioned the five teenagers who were involved in this case. I'm wondering, have any of these young people confessed to their involvement in this?

ZARRELLA: Yes, one of them -- one of the teenagers has said that, yes, in fact they were involved, and they did it. But none of the others have said anything yet.

HARRIS: OK. And what is the latest on Michael Brewer's condition?

ZARRELLA: Well, as I mentioned, Tony, it is -- it's tough. It's touch-and-go.

He's got burns, as the doctor told me yesterday when we talked with him down at Jackson/Memorial Hospital, the burn center, he has burns over 65 percent of the body. And the doctor said Hollywood has not dreamt up the horrible, horrible images of what they see every day down there with Michael Brewer. And here's some of what the doctor told us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. NICHOLAS NAMIAS, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI/JACKSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL: We can come in each day or get a phone call at any time that things are getting a lot worse or getting a tiny bit better. People get sick real fast, they get better slowly. And right now with him, we're getting a tiny bit better every day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: You know, and all of this, Tony, if our viewers recall back to October 12th, was over an incident where these other five accused Brewer of being a snitch because they say that Brewer told police that one of the other teens had stolen Brewer's father's bicycle because Brewer didn't give them $40 for a video game -- that's all according to police -- that he owed them. So all of this horrible tragedy, all of these kids in such serious trouble, and one fighting for his life over a $40 video game and a bicycle.

HARRIS: Boy, you know, you've really got to think about that for a second. That is unbelievable.

John Zarrella for us from Miami.

John, appreciate it. Thank you.

Well, Ida is no longer a hurricane, but it is still causing plenty of trouble. We will get the latest from Chad in our Severe Weather Center.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: This will be a freshwater flood, where there was some saltwater flooding. We call that storm surge down across the South.

But our Rob Marciano is down there.

And Rob, I've only heard about maybe a two-or-three-foot surge in any one area. What did you see last night?

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Right, Chad. Maybe a little more along the Alabama coastline, and certainly eastern parts of Louisiana, but nothing more than that. As a matter of fact, I'm standing right about where the high water mark is with this storm here on Pensacola Beach.

Now, you know the Florida panhandle coastline. It does get very tight in spots. And Pensacola has done a very good job of keeping sand back in and keeping it here, but beach erosion, always, always an issue.

The tide has since receded, so we've got a couple of things working against each other. One, our winds have turned onshore. That would typically push the water up, but the tides have receded offshore with the moon, so that has pushed the water back.

It also brought the kids out. It's also brought the storm watchers, because the winds have died down, also. So that's the good news. But the waves having certainly been battering the coastline some 10, 15, in some cases 20-footers.

Let's pan over here, John, if we could.

This guy -- finally see some action as far as some water sports. A guy kiteboarding here with the winds finally dying down enough to where it's actually safe out there. But that's about all we've seen.

So, not only is there a threat for beach erosion with the water being taken away, but also, the winds pushing the sand up and over barriers onto the city streets. So they've actually set up not only walls, but what looked to me like snow fences, which lets the sand actually build up here so they don't lose the sand on the other side of the boardwalk also.

So, those are the two things that have happened here. Coming onshore, the tropical storm. Obviously, the wind's not terribly big. There have been some sporadic power outages, a couple of roads have seen some overwalks (ph) with both sand and water, but most roads are open. And certainly all bridges are open.

The Coast Guard is keeping the ports closed until this storm begins to die down, which this, actually, Chad, in the last hour or two, we're finally starting to see things begin to sincerely improve, as this storm transitions into its next stage of life. Certainly a remarkable one this late in the season, isn't it, my friend?

MYERS: Yes, it certainly is. And it looks like you're going to get sunshine here pretty soon, from what I can tell from the site.

I'm looking at this snow fence. Is that permanent or did they just put that up?

MARCIANO: This looks to be something that they resurrected for this storm. It looks pretty new. It's certainly not permanent. Yes, I assume they'll take it down when this storm is over.

MYERS: All right. Very good, Rob. I don't even have to tell you to be safe out there. Just maybe get some sunscreen out there.

(LAUGHTER)

MARCIANO: Piece of cake, man. A piece of cake.

MYERS: I know.

Compared to some of them, Tony, I'll tell you what, Tony, this really was what we expected as this storm got into much colder water. It didn't really have a chance to be a 105-mile-per-hour storm like it was 48 hours ago.

HARRIS: Yes. Tough in some other spots, but thankfully for us not too bad.

MYERS: There he goes.

HARRIS: There he is, yes.

MYERS: There he is. He's going to go get some surf now.

HARRIS: See you, Rob.

MARCIANO: Yes. You know, the water is calling, baby, let me tell you.

HARRIS: Yes, it is.

All right, gentlemen. Thank you.

MYERS: All right. See you.

HARRIS: And just a short time ago, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine denied clemency for John Allen Muhammad. That means the state can execute Muhammad tonight by lethal injection.

The D.C. sniper terrorized the Washington area in 2002 and is blamed for at least 10 deaths. Former Washington police chief Charles Ramsey discussed the case on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: I know you probably got very little sleep during that time. I still remember how terrified everyone was and how hard it was for investigators as you guys were trying to get to the bottom of this. So, as we get close to the hour where John Allen Muhammad will be executed, what are you feeling today?

CHARLES RAMSEY, FMR. D.C. METROPOLITAN POLICE CHIEF: Well, it's bringing something to closure. I think the punishment is appropriate. I think that Mr. Muhammad, certainly the kinds of crimes that he committed, the fear that he instilled upon everybody who was associated with that, that lived in the region, across the country, for that matter, certainly I'm glad we were able to finally apprehend him. But he certainly deserves to die tonight.

CHETRY: Apparently it is going to happen, unless Virginia Governor Tim Kaine gives him either a stay, or delays, or commutes the sentence. And there are some who say that perhaps he shouldn't be put to death.

What is your reaction to that? Do you think this execution is very likely to take place tonight?

RAMSEY: Well, I mean, first of all, I disagree with them. I think if anybody should receive the death penalty, it's John Allen Muhammad. So I feel absolutely no regrets about that whatsoever. In fact, if I was there, I would push the button.

CHETRY: Wow. Well, a number of victims were killed or wounded, as we know, by Muhammad and his accomplice, Malvo, as they were driving across the country before reaching the Washington area. You know, some investigators have linked them perhaps to some of these earlier shootings, but they've never stood trial. Evidence hard to come by.

Do you feel confident that this investigation is closed completely?

RAMSEY: Well, I mean, there may be some more homicides that they're responsible for, but we know for a fact that they're responsible for the 10 homicides in the Washington, D.C., area and the 13 shootings in total. This was a very, very vicious crime. I've been a policeman 40 years, and this was the most intense period I ever experienced during that 40-year period.

CHETRY: Understandably so. My family hails from that area, and I remember just the confusion, the fear.

You know, and a lot of criticism actually lobbed at your department in the days during this investigation. Earlier, they were chasing tips that apparently led to nowhere. People thought they were looking for two Caucasians in a white van. As it turned out, they were looking for two African-Americans in a blue car.

Do you feel confident that everything was done the best way that it could be done in terms of finally tracking them down?

RAMSEY: Yes, there's no question about that. I mean, with the different shooting scenes, we had witnesses. They said it was a white van, they described people.

And when you look around, I mean, white vans are the most common color that you have on the roadway. And people were simply mistaken. But the evidence did lead us eventually to John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo.

We have the right two people. We have the car in custody. We have the weapon in custody. Ballistics evidence. We've got everything that was needed in order to get a conviction.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: CNN tonight at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time, they lost loved ones in the 2002 shooting spree masterminded by D.C. sniper John Allen Muhammad. Now hear from victims' families live from the prison on "LARRY KING LIVE," on CNN tonight at 9:00 Eastern, and on "ANDERSON COOPER 360" at 10:00 Eastern. Part two of a special "AC 360" report takes you back through the D.C. snipers' timeline of terror. Hear from people who lived through the ordeal.

Plus, a look back at the investigation that led to the arrest of John Allen Muhammad. A "360" special investigation, CNN, tonight at 10:00 Eastern.

Let's get you caught up on our top stories now.

President and Mrs. Obama are due to arrive in Texas any minute now. They will meet with survivors of last week's shooting rampage at Fort Hood and attend a memorial service for those killed. Our live coverage of the ceremony begins in about an hour.

Former astronaut Lisa Nowak is due in an Orlando court next hour. Her attorneys will focus on a plea offer from prosecutors. Nowak is accused of stalking and attacking Air Force Captain Colleen Shipman in February 2007, because Shipman was dating Nowak's ex-boyfriend, who is also a former astronaut.

One of basketball's greatest says he is battling a rare time of blood cancer. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia last December. He says many patients are able to control the disease with medication and stop its progression.

Another check of our top stories in 20 minutes.

Giving comfort to the victims. Live pictures now of Air Force One, on the ground at the Robert Gray Army Airfield.

President Obama, the first lady, Mrs. Obama, military leaders and a host of lawmakers gathering now to attend today's memorial service for the 13 victims slain in last week's shooting rampage at the Fort Hood Army Base.

Air Force One taxiing in. We will show you pictures of the president and the first lady deplaning shortly.

We will hear from the chaplain at Fort Hood who is trying to help those affected by this horrible shooting.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: We are about an hour away from our coverage of the memorial service at Fort Hood, Texas, honoring the 13 people killed in that shooting rampage.

The job of comforting the wounded and their families is a main responsibility for the chaplain based at Fort Hood. He spoke with Heidi Collins earlier in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHAPLAIN MICHAEL SPIKES, U.S. ARMY: It just comes as a shock for all of us. It's a tragedy, but we're pulling together and we're healing.

COLLINS: How do you go about providing comfort in a situation like this? I mean, this is so different from something that happens on the battlefield. What are you able to tell them?

SPIKES: Well, you're right, it is different than what happens on the battlefield. But we go through a lot of training to get us ready for these types of events.

You know, we never want anything like this to happen, but when it does, we're ready. And what we try and do is we try to get the soldiers to talk about it. As a chaplain, one of the things that we try and do is get them to connect spiritually and process this through a spiritual lens, based on their own foundation of faith and the spiritual aspects that are important to them.

COLLINS: Yes. And you know, people may not be very familiar with the role of a chaplain at an Army post or at an Air Force Base. It's a very significant role. You spend a lot of time talking with soldiers.

When they see you come into the room, is there an obvious sense of appreciation, of comfort?

SPIKES: I think there is. It seems to be that way.

Whenever we're with our soldiers, they do seem to take a certain measure of comfort in knowing that we're there with them, because whenever they deploy, we deploy. If they're in the motor pool turning wrenches or working on their vehicles, we're there with them. So wherever they're at, we try to be there as well.

COLLINS: Absolutely. We know that the president is coming for the memorial service today. What is that going to mean for the injured and for the families of these victims?

SPIKES: I think it's going to be incredibly encouraging to see our commander in chief coming here to spend time with them and to visit with the families and to encourage them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Wow. And as if on cue, let's take the pictures of the president and the first lady. There we go. That's better. The president and the first lady, as if on cue, at the moment. The chaplain at Fort Hood mentioned the importance and the significance of the president and the first lady being at the post today. There they were deplaning Air Force One. Now in the presidential limousine for the trip to Fort Hood.

The president will be making comments, remarks at the memorial service today. He will, of course, be joined by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, Army Chief of Staff General George Casey. Several lawmakers will be on hand as well. Some of the names that we're hearing, Senators John McCain, Carl Levin, Richard Burr, James Inhofe, John Cornyn, Lamar Alexander, Al Franken, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Jack Reed.

The president and the motorcade now heading for the memorial service at Fort Hood, Texas. And the president will first meet with families of the victims. CNN's special coverage of the memorial at Fort Hood begins today at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, including remarks from President Obama. And, once again, if you're away from your television set, you can watch the full memorial coverage on cnn.com/live.

We are monitoring media reports from around the world on this day of the memorial, as we also pay tribute to those who have fallen.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: CNN's live coverage of the memorial service at Fort Hood, Texas, begins at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time. President and Mrs. Obama plan to meet with family members privately before the service. The president will honor the dead at the memorial service at 2:00 Eastern. Thirteen people were killed in the shooting spree. Mourners will also hear from the Army's chiefs of staff, General George W. Casey, as well as the top commander at Fort Hood.

Federal officials say they had shooting suspect Nidal Hasan on their radar. They intercepted his messages to an extremist imam in Yemen, but they say there were never any hints Hasan was plotting an attack on U.S. soldiers. CNN's special investigation unit has been digging on this story. Here's correspondent Drew Griffin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE UNIT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was inside this suburban Washington mosque that Nidal Hasan may have first heard radical anti-American views. It is a mosque identified in this, the 9/11 Commission report, on the attacks of the morning of September 11, 2001. Now, eight years on, the FBI is looking at whose paths may have crossed here at the Dar al Hijrah Islamic Center. It was in early 2001 a cleric named Anwar al Awlaki, a U.S. citizen, arrives at the mosque. He'd already been the subject of several terrorism investigations but was never arrested or charged. By April of that year, the 9/11 Commission reports two of the 9/11 hijackers were attending services here. And just weeks later, Nidal Hasan chose to hold his mother's funeral service at this same mosque.

There is no evidence Nidal Hasan attended the mosque regularly at that time, nor that he ever met with or was influenced by the cleric al Awlaki, who left the United States a year later. Now al Awlaki is thought to be in Yemen, where he is on the most wanted terror list. Al Awlaki has applauded the Fort Hood attacks on his website, calling Nidal Hasan a hero. The mosque authorities denounced both the attacks on Fort Hood and their former imam, and they dismissed any link between Hasan and the 9/11 plotters.

SHAKER ELSAYED, IMAM: To say that he was here when they were here, as if they converged on a place, which is not the case. We know better now.

GRIFFIN: Meanwhile, in Texas, authorities are trying to track down six people Hasan Nidal had dinner with, the very night before the shootings. This man was there, a local imam, who said the gathering was for a fellow worshiper about to make a pilgrimage. Hasan was not the focus, but he is now. And all six names of the diners have been turned over to the FBI.

SAYED AHMED ALI, IMAM: On Wednesday night, there was a party, dinner, I think six, seven people are invited. In that party, Nidal also there. So he asked me who person -- can you give me the names? So I give the names to the FBI.

GRIFFIN: The FBI is also poring over Nidal Hasan's computers. Computers he used or had contact with, trying to find out if the accused killer visited extreme jihadist websites or even tried to make contact with dedicated terror groups.

FRANK CILLUFFO, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: It's obviously very troubling to think that a mass murderer has attended some of our events.

GRIFFIN: Frank Cilluffo met Nidal Hasan here at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where Cilluffo heads the Homeland Security Institute. It turns out Hasan was a frequent attendee at counterterrorism conferences here, including this one in January, where Hasan is seen sitting in the second row, in uniform, taking notes and attracting little attention.

CILLUFFO: You're going to have folks who aren't necessarily on anyone's radar screens, who are coming up with their ideas on their own and then acting on some of those ideas. So there is no conspiracy. There's nowhere to pull the thread on the investigative chain. So clearly that is a concern.

GRIFFIN: A concern there are more out there, lone wolves waiting to strike and no clear way just yet how to find them. Drew Griffin, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And this just in to CNN. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says President Obama has narrowed his decision for an Afghanistan strategy to four options. Speaking aboard Air Force One a short time ago, Gibbs said the president will discuss the options with his national security team tomorrow. When pressed for a time frame, Gibbs said the president's decision on troop deployment is still weeks away.

A hostage standoff at a New York high school is over. The suspect has apparently surrendered to police after allegedly holding the principal hostage for more than an hour this morning. Police say the gunmen is the father of a student who was recently suspended. No shots were fired and no one was hurt.

Former President Bill Clinton pushes Senate Democrats to pass health care reform. Sources say he is attending their weekly caucus luncheon today. Clinton's failed attempt to overhaul health care contributed to the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994. His visit comes as the Senate faces a tough fight over reform legislation.

Three Americans are being accused of spying in Iran. We will show you what the U.S. government and their families are doing to try to get them freed.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is calling for the release of three Americans who are being held in Iran. They are facing charges of spying after allegedly crossing into the country illegally. Here's CNN'S Jill Dougherty.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a video shot just days before they were arrested at Iran's border, the three American hikers look like anything but spies. Held for more than 100 days, now apparently accused of espionage. Once again, Americans appear to be bargaining chips for Iran, even as the Obama administration tries to engage with Tehran to stop its nuclear program.

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: We believe strongly that there is no evidence to support any charge whatsoever and we would renew our request on behalf of these three young people and their families that the Iranian government exercise compassion and release them so they can return home.

DOUGHERTY: But beyond asking for compassion, the U.S. has virtually no leverage. Washington has no diplomatic relations with Iran. The hikers have been visited in a Tehran prison twice by a Swiss diplomat. In a statement Monday, the families admit the hikers apparently strayed into Iran by accident, but say "the allegation that our loved ones may have been engaged in espionage is untrue." The families are trying to use public pressure, a website, and rallies for Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd, and Josh Fattal across the U.S. and in eight countries.

Monday, Iran's president insisted the Americans broke the law by crossing the border, but said he had no opinion on any charges of espionage. The mother of one of the hikers says . . .

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's way too long and we're anxious to get them home.

DOUGHERTY (on camera): No one either in the U.S. or Iran is making a direct link between the hikers' case and negotiations on Iran's nuclear program. But both issues are at a delicate stage. And U.S. officials say this also could be the Iranian government playing the anti-American card to shore up domestic support.

Jill Dougherty, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: You know, a lot of investors are going for the gold right now. Will the price keep rising? It's insane right now. We are breaking it down with our CNN Money team.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Take a look at these live pictures now. Fort Hood Army Base. As people -- boy, we've been given estimates of several thousand people could actually be in attendance today for -- man, look at that shot -- for today's memorial for the 13 victims slain at last week's shooting rampage at that Army post, and for the others wounded.

Our Ed Lavandera -- oh, get out of the way -- our Ed Lavandera telling us just moments ago that -- and that was just to balance the camera. It's the white T-shirt used to get the proper color on the camera. That's what that was about. I shouldn't have said, get out of the way. Was actually doing some work there.

The president arriving within the last 30 minutes or so, along with the first lady. And there we go, a live pictures once again. The president will deliver a speech. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is there. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen there. Army Chief of Staff General George Casey there, as well.

Again, let's take a moment to look at these pictures here. Fort Hood, Texas. Just moments from the start. Well, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Our coverage here at CNN begins at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The memorial service to begin we believe promptly at 2:00 p.m.

Let's get "The Breakdown." You know, every day, for the past week, the price of gold has hit a new record high. What is going on here? Cnnmoney.com's Poppy Harlow is in New York with "The Breakdown."

And, Poppy, I can't think of another way to ask it, but what's going on with gold right now?

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: I know. What's going on is, I didn't invest in it and I missed out on a pretty good investment right now.

HARRIS: You and me both.

HARLOW: Take a look at the chart. Exactly. Look at the chart here, folks. Gold prices up 23 percent this year. Yesterday we hit a record high of over $1,100 an ounce for gold. We're just around that today. What Merrill Lynch came out with this week, they said gold's going to go to $1,500 an ounce in the next 18 months. Some investors say it will go even higher. They're predicting $2,000 an ounce. But if you head out to the street, at least here in New York, and you ask folks what they think is going on, they actually have no idea. Here's what they told us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's way up, correct?

HARLOW: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's what I've been following about it. Seems like a good investment. I'm not sure of much else though.

HARLOW: Any idea why gold prices would be going higher?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Probably because of the economy. I don't know. Everyone's trying to sell their gold and make money.

HARLOW: That's true.

What do you think?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have no idea.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a dangerous sign.

HARLOW: It's a dangerous sign? Why?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because usually when gold goes up, it means that there is something broken in the system.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And there's been a lot of talk, obviously, in the last couple of months about the dollar not being the standard for financial trading around the world. And that -- yes, there's a lot of concern, I think. I mean we're in -- I think we're in a c-change (ph) right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Well, certainly a c-change. But, Tony, here's what's going on. What we see is this is a safe investment, a lot of folks think, in uncertain economic times. You've got a very weak U.S. dollar. It makes gold and other commodities that are priced in dollars a pretty big bargain for investors around the world.

It's also, as you know, Tony, a hedge against inflation. And what we're seeing that I think is so interesting is central banks around the world, like India, buying up record amounts of gold instead, Tony, of buying U.S. debt. That puts in question or economic recovery.

You can see more about that story on cnnmoney.com. But it's interesting to follow. Gold just surging this week.

HARRIS: Yes, it really is.

All right, Poppy, appreciate it. Thanks for "The Breakdown".

You know, the first minutes after the shooting at Fort Hood were crucial. We will bring you the story of those who played a key role as we continue to pay tribute to the victims.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: All right. Live pictures now. We are just about an hour away from the start of the memorial service at Fort Hood, Texas. The president on hand, meeting with family members right now. Our coverage begins at the bottom of the hour.

So the call comes over the radio, shots fired. This time the scene was the country's largest military post. CNN's Ed Lavandera talks with the fire chief who was a first responder to the tragedy at Fort Hood.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The sound and images of what Billy Rhoads experienced in the aftermath of the Fort Hood shootings is just now sinking in.

CHIEF BILLY RHOADS, FORT HOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT: I feel like my memory card is full. That I can't take nothing else in right now.

LAVANDERA: At 1:30 last Thursday, the Fort Hood fire chief was standing in this office planning schedules with a few co-workers.

RHOADS: The next thing we heard over the radio was, "shots fired, officer down."

LAVANDERA: Rhoads raced to his office, grabbed a radio and a bulletproof vest, jumped in his vehicle and rushed to the scene. The radio sounds were chaotic and intense.

LAVANDERA (on camera): Could you tell, based on what you were hearing, that you were about to confront such a horrifying scene? RHOADS: Not to the magnitude that it ended up being. I assumed that we would have some -- maybe, you know, several victims. But I had no idea -- no -- just could not fathom what we were going to encounter.

I think when I pulled up on the scene and looked over and seen the police uniform laying on the ground, injured, I think that was probably one of the most vivid things I would see.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): The officer was Kimberly Munley, the woman whose actions are credited with ending the shooting spree. Two soldiers were treating a serious leg wound.

RHOADS: I got over to her, began trying to talk to her and keep her, you know, keep in contact with me, staying conscious with us. The soldiers had done a great job. I credit them probably for saving her life. And there were soldiers everywhere taking care of their buddies, the wounded on the ground. The soldiers, the civilian workers, everybody was doing everything they could to provide care to the injured. It was a remarkable scene to see.

LAVANDERA: The only scene Billy Rhoads can't fully describe is what was going on inside the room where the shooting erupted.

LAVANDERA (on camera): Can you describe what it looks like -- what it looked like in there?

RHOADS: I really -- I didn't see it. I just seen victims. All's I know that I was -- I was listening to people hollering for help and trying to get to -- in there to see, you know, exactly what we had.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): It wasn't until nearly two hours later, after all the wounded had been helped, that Billy Rhodes (ph) realized that this moment would stay with him forever.

RHOADS: It's very emotional for everybody when we -- when we lose our soldiers, but when we, I guess, have to lose them here at home like this, it -- it just puts it -- takes it to a different level.

LAVANDERA (on camera): Fort Hood officials estimate that there are some 600 people involved in last week's massacre that share similar stories and experiences to that of chief Billy Rhodes. And they vow to get all of those people the help they need through the healings process.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Fort Hood, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Kyra Phillips.