Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Saudi Women Get Power to Vote; PLO Appeals Membership to UN

Aired September 25, 2011 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, thank you for joining us. I'm Fredricka Whitfield at CNN headquarters in Atlanta. In about half an hour from now, we'll hear live from the two American hikers who spent more than two years in an Iranian jail. Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal are in New York at this hour. They arrived this morning. We'll take you to New York to hear more about this incredible journey.

And on the flight with Fattal and Bauer, CNN chief London photojournalist, Todd Baxter. He'll be joining us soon with details about his conversation with them on the plane.

In Saudi Arabia, a historic decision expanding women's rights. King Abdullah says Saudi women will be able to vote and run for office in future municipal elections, not including elections coming up this Thursday.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I've spoken to many women's rights activists in the past several hours, after this announcement was made. They are elated at the news. They say it is about time. They say it is one thing to be able to vote, but to also be able to nominate themselves as candidates in the future round of elections, even though the date for the elections hasn't been set yet, they say they're over the moon about this. This is a big step forward toward the empowerment of women in Saudi Arabia.

They say that's something much needed in this country, a country where there is a male guardianship system, where women can't drive. They can't open bank accounts. They can't have education unless their male guardian signs off on it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom there. The White House called King Abdullah's decision an important step forward in expanding the rights of women in Saudi Arabia.

Pushing his jobs creations plan, President Barack Obama is on the road in the western part of this country. Right now he is in Seattle, Washington. His first stop before heading for California and then Colorado this week. In addition to talking about the U.S. economy, he will also be raising money for the Democratic Party.

Diana's Nyad's third try at swimming from Havana, Cuba to key west Florida was not the charm. The 62-year-old endurance swimmer was pulled out of the Florida Straits this morning because of painful jellyfish stings and the strong currents. She had made it about two- thirds of the way when she stopped. Nyad is determined. She made a similar attempt in 1978 and then again last month, unclear whether she'll give it another shot later.

All right. Now back to our top story, those freed American hikers and their return to U.S. soil. Again, they will be talking live to reporters in New York, about 25 minutes or so from now.

CNN's chief London photojournalist Todd Baxter joins us from that location in New York. So Todd, You were on the flight from London with Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer. You talked to them. What did they say and how did they look?

TODD BAXTER, CNN CHIEF LONDON PHOTOJOURNALIST: They looked tired. They got on the flight, they looked very, very tired. But it was 8:30 on a Sunday morning. So I think everybody was tired. But they looked tired. I didn't talk to josh, I did talk to Shane as he entered the plane. He came onto the plane carrying a big bouquet of flowers and the VA staff took the flowers, put it in a closet and then I just talked to him briefly, really briefly to confirm that he was who I thought he was and he said, "yes," he was and then he moved on quickly to his seat.

WHITFIELD: And what about other people on the plane? This was a commercial jetliner and a lot of folks may not have recognized them off the bat. Did anyone say anything about the fact that they were on the same plane?

BAXTER: I don't think anybody recognized them, frankly. I think that they - they pretty much were left alone. I think they looked like every other commuter who is trying to get on the plane. I think that they were left alone for that, except the staff clearly knew who they were.

WHITFIELD: Could you get a good look at who was traveling with them?

BAXTER: I'm sorry?

WHITFIELD: Could you get a good look about who was traveling with them?

BAXTER: They had a group of, I don't know, four or five six people with them. I saw one that I imagine was probably one of their dads but I don't really know who they were. When they first entered the plane, Josh was with a few people and Shane was walking by himself. And then when they left, they got moved up early, about 20 minutes before the flight landed, they got moved up to the front of the plane so that they could exit the plane early. And they walked from behind me at that point, but it was about five to six people in the group.

WHITFIELD: All right. Tom Baxter, thanks so much. And, again, Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer will be holding a news conference at 4:30 Eastern time. Todd Baxter will be among the photographers there who will be shooting that. We are going to try and take that press conference live as it happens there in New York as soon as it begins.

All right. It remains a top concern for Americans, talking jobs. President Barack Obama wants to drive home that message as he crisscrosses some western states. That and the threat of a partial government shutdown dominated the Sunday morning talk shows today. Here are the highlights.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Would you be open to breaking up this bill for the parts that you know you could get agreement on?

DAVID PLOUFFE, SR. WHITE HOUSE ADVISER: well, the president, Candy, has been very clear. The American jobs act would have a profound impact on our economy right now. It would put a lot more people back to work, put more money in the pockets of workers, construction workers, teachers, veterans, back to work, help small businesses all across the country.

REINCE PREIBUS, CHAIRMAN, RNC: Unemployment is at 9.1 percent. We added $4 trillion to the national deficit with 2.4 million people are unemployed. My question to the chairwoman is, can she point to one economic statistic in this country that Barack Obama has made better?

DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, CHAIRMAN, DNC: That's ludicrous. Yes, I can point to the fact that before Barack Obama was inaugurated, we were bleeding 750,000 jobs a month. Now two and a half years later, we have turned the corner. We're no longer dropping like a rock.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're in danger up on Capitol Hill of letting the government run out of money again. The danger of a shutdown, no continuing resolution.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: The government is not going to shut down because most Americans want us to deal with disasters in front of us and disasters to come. That's why we're trying to start to pay for things that we haven't paid for before.

MARK WARNER (D), VIRGINIA: At one point about, you know, who to blame or not to blame on this current hopefully nonshutdown is that there is a group, and I do believe it is mostly centered in the House in terms of some of these Tea Party Republicans who say on every issue we're going to make this a make or break.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL: Palestinians want a state, but they have to give peace in return. What they're trying to do in the United Nations is to get a state without giving Israel peace or giving Israel peace and security. And I think that's wrong.

HANAN ASHWAWI, PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION: He talks about the two-state solution, talks about talks, but is busy stealing the land. It has stolen over 40 percent of the West Bank and it has annexed Jerusalem, and it has changed the terms of reference and the agenda.

CROWLEY: This is now saying that Pakistani - an arm of the Pakistani government, (INAUDIBLE) Pakistani government supported an attack on the U.S. embassy. Can you let that stand?

PLOUFFE: Well, listen, we obviously continue to engage in a great deal of cooperation with the Pakistani government as it relates to Al Qaeda. But obviously we're going to continue to intensify and make the case that any arm of the Pakistani government that's providing aid and comfort, providing safe havens for the Haqqani network, we can't abide by that.

GRAHAM: Pakistan is terrorism itself. They have made a tremendous miscalculation. The foreign minister said America needs Pakistan. You're right. But not a Pakistan that will help kill American troops.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And for the latest political news you know exactly where to go, cnnpolitics.com.

NBC's "Saturday Night Live" also has its eyes on politics spoofing the GOP's latest presidential debate. Guest host Alec Baldwin portrayed Texas Governor Rick Perry as a less than energized candidate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEC BALDWIN, AS GOV. RICK PERRY: Listen, (INAUDIBLE) I would like to attack Mitt Romney as a flip-flopper.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you sure? It is late in the debate, this is normally when you get tired and confused.

BALDWIN: Not tonight. I'm ready. The Romney city was for - against Obama care, but what about - I mean Mitt Romney care? Was it before he was before?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Uh-oh.

BALDWIN: Was he was - he was before before - border control.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, well, he said no to a presidential race. Well, is he now reconsidering? We hit the political trail next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The political spotlight is on Florida and Michigan this weekend. Earlier today, Mitt Romney won the straw poll at Michigan's Republican conference of 681 votes cast, Romney captured 51 percent and candidate Rick Perry won 16 percent. In the Florida straw poll yesterday, involving the Republican presidential candidates, Herman Cain was the big winner, collecting 37 percent of the votes. Rick Perry came in second. And Michele Bachmann got just one percent. Cain said the win shows he cannot be ignored.

So what does the Florida straw poll win mean for Herman Cain's campaign and is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie being pressured to enter the presidential race. Well, earlier today, I spoke with political blogger Danielle Belton about the changing political landscape of the presidential race.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: So, Danielle, leading up to this straw poll, some were willing to say that this was a two-man race between Romney and Perry. Herman Cain's win in Florida, that straw poll, how much of a game changer is this?

DANIELLE BELTON, POLITICAL BLOGGER: Well, you know, as exciting as this probably is for Herman Cain and people who support him this is a poll that people were paid to vote in. You have the most motivated insiders and activists who basically want to send a message to Governor Rick Perry about his poor performance in most recent debates and about some of their other concerns they have about him.

He didn't really campaign as vigorously as Cain did in Florida. Cain did a lot more talking to the folks, people who were going to be participating in the straw poll. I feel really the poll reflects that. It really reflects how insiders feel about the current race, not so much how they feel about Herman.

WHITFIELD: Interesting. So might it also have been, you know, as it pertains to Perry maybe, his comments about social security and it being a ponzi scheme and knowing the audience in Florida that perhaps that back fired for him?

BELTON: I think so. I mean, Perry is a very astute politician, he's very personable. He's really good at winning people over to a certain extent, but he lacks some polish. I mean, the reality is, he rarely had a debate when he was in Texas. He's been the governor for a very long time with little competition. If anything, he's probably a little rusty.

So I feel like a lot of times he's trying to say things that would appeal to his base. He's saying things that would normally would work for him in Texas where everyone already knows how they feel about it, but when you take it out on the national stage, you deal with a national audience, you deal with actual criticism from opponents, it gets a little tough, a little bit nasty at times. I think he struggles with that.

WHITFIELD: OK. All right. The name, you know, Chris Christie, New Jersey's governor, his name is not on any straw poll as far as we can see thus far. However, his name is being floated around as a possible, you know, candidate, who would join the Republican Party in this race. He's already said, though, he's not running for president. So what is going on? Is the Republican Party trying to push him to kind of change his mind? Is that what you're hearing? BELTON: Well, yes, Christie is really popular within the party, within lots of members of the establishment. They want him to run. Because they feel like he's a bit more personable, he's got good experience with running a large state like New Jersey, very influential state, and so he's a little bit more attractive of a candidate for him.

I feel like right now with the exceptions of maybe, you know, Perry and Romney, you basically have a lot of people who I don't feel like are electable in general. They would struggle. They have a lot of different flaws, just a lot of issues with them, either with the base or whether they have trouble appealing to a larger audience. So I feel there is a little wishful thinking, a little hoping that Christie could get in the race.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. You're probably familiar with the "CSI" television series. Well, attorneys in the Michael Jackson death trial worry about the "CSI" effect on jurors. We'll have details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Opening statements are expected Tuesday in the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray. Attorneys worry about a "CSI" effect on the jurors. Here's Ted Rowlands.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jurors in the Conrad Murray case will hear testimony from crime scene investigators and from the coroner. But it won't be like an episode of "CSI." Many attorneys believe that shows like "CSI" can have an effect on real jury trials. They say some jurors who watch the shows expect to be shown the same kind of clear evidence that they see on TV.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's take a look at this.

ROBERT DAVID HALL, ACTOR "CSI": Our show has impacted the culture, I guess you would say, to the point where people expect "CSI" type of evidence.

MARY HONG, SENIOR FORENSIC SCIENTIST: It is really frustration because it is unrealistic.

ROWLANDS: Mary Hong is a senior forensic scientist in Orange County, California. She says the good thing about the "CSI" effect, is that now when she takes the stand in a criminal trial, jurors know what she does and she says they're usually riveted to her testimony. The problem is sometimes they expect too much.

HONG: I think they understand we don't have fancy cars to go out to the crime scene and that we can't solve a case within hours, but I think a lot of people feel like what they see on TV is realistic.

ROWLANDS: The "CSI" effect usually works to a defendant's advantage. Jurors are reluctant to convict without some clear scientific evidence. One of the jurors from the Casey Anthony trial said there wasn't enough physical evidence to find her guilty.

JENNIFER FORD, CASEY ANTHONY JUROR: There was no solid evidence that there was a crime.

ROWLANDS: On the juror questionnaire, potential jurors in the Dr. Conrad Murray case were asked if they watched "CSI." The prosecution case against Murray will include crime scene evidence taken from Michael Jackson's bedroom, but jurors aren't expected to get any of that "CSI" type of a-ha evidence that clearly shows exactly what caused Jackson's death.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And here is a good chance that you watched the season premiere of "CSI" New York Friday. It focused on 9/11, the episode was inspired by after Gary Sinise. Since 2004, he has been on the CBS hit show "CSI New York" and when not filming for the series, Sinise is on the road with his Lieutenant Dan Band. It's named for his character in the movie "Forest Gump" and that band performs at military bases around the world and right here at home. Well, this week I asked him about the troops and the family members that he meets.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GARY SINISE, ACTOR: These families are resilient. They try to stay strong through the difficult times. We have, you know, considered the 101st Airborne who last year lost a lot of soldiers in their deployment to Afghanistan. If you consider a military base to be like a small town, and it is like a small town, you could have 60,000 people, you know, soldiers and family members on this particular base.

And if you have a base that loses 130 people, killed in action, and many more wounded throughout that year, that's a lot to ask of a small town. Just kind of use that comparison and you'll understand just how difficult it can be for some of these military families to get through. But they, you know, I met extraordinary, extraordinary people that are staying strong through the difficult times, knowing that people care is important.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Gary Sinise set up a foundation and is also supporting the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. You can learn all about them by going to my blog, my Facebook or check me out on Twitter.

All right. A church in New Jersey passed the offering plate today and then told people to help themselves, take the money. That sounds pretty backwards doesn't it? We'll explain why in a minute.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories right now. In Saudi Arabia, a historic decision expanding women's right. King Abdullah says Saudi women will be able to vote and run for office in future municipal elections. It doesn't include elections coming up this Thursday. A prominent women's rights advocate in Saudi Arabia is celebrating the decision. She says women's voices will finally be heard.

The U.N. Security Council meets tomorrow to discuss a controversial request from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He wants full U.N. membership for the Palestinian authority. Abbas made the request in person on Friday at the U.N. general assembly. He got a warm welcome when he returned to the West Bank today.

And people who attended services at one New Jersey Church today left with more money than they actually came with. The Liquid Church passed the offering plate, but insisted people actually take the money out. Help themselves instead of putting money in. The church pastor was on CNN earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REV. TIM LUCAS, PASTOR, LIQUID CHURCH: Our typical Sunday, people give about $30,000 in cash into our Sunday offering. And so today we're going to do just the opposite, they're going to reach in and pull out unmarked enveloped that we have packed with 10s, 20s and 50s. People are acting like they're going to be struck by lightning. They're typically - you know, a lot of people are cynical about religion and they come to church expecting to be shaken down.

What we're saying, "You know what? It is really all god's money. He trusts you." You know, every bill in the U.S. economy says in god we trust. And we're going to put that to the test.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Pastor Lucas isn't just throwing cash around, he's urging his flock to use the money to help people in need. He calls it a spiritual stimulus.

Let's check in with our weather picture and see if it is raining, probably not dollar bills, but maybe raining a little sunshine, a little rain drops somewhere across the map.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Yes. Indeed. All right. Thanks so much, Jacqui. Appreciate that.

All right, also in that New York area, it's also raining a lot of smiles, particularly over near JFK because there people are celebrating the arrival of the American hikers, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal. In fact, they are actually at a hotel near JFK and they are getting ready to enter a room where there will be a number of reporters and photographers all ready and poised to take these live statements coming from Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer. Right now live pictures of the room where people are waiting.

It was a year ago, around this time, when the third hiker was released and by very similar fashion, arrive at JFK and then hours later, not far from the hotel, from the airport that is, at a hotel and then addressed reporters just in the same fashion that we're expecting to see today with Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer.

There they are. At the time, it was Sarah Shourd. And there she is in the background. It seems like -- maybe she's about to take a seat as Josh and Shane then take to the microphones there.

We're going to listen in to what they have to say and how much, in fact -- there's Sarah Shourd as well there in the periphery -- to see exactly what Josh and Shane are about to say. Let's listen in.

So once again, if you're just now joining us, Shane and Josh just arrived this morning in New York after their travels by way of London and Oman. They were released last Wednesday from the Iranian prison where they had been, for the last two years, convicted of spying after the three of them crossed into the border from Iraq into Iran.

So once again, let's listen in.

JOSH FATTAL, FORMER IRANIAN PRISONER: Good afternoon. Thank you for coming here today. My name is Josh Fattal.

After 781 days in prison, Shane and I are now free men. Last Wednesday we had just finished our brief daily exercise in the open air room at Evin Prison where something totally unexpected happened.

After 781 days in prison Shane and I are now free men. Last Wednesday we had just finished our brief daily exercise in the open air room at Evin Prison where something totally unexpected happened.

On any other day we would have been blindfolded and led down the hallway back to our eight foot by 13 foot cell. But on that day, the guards took us downstairs, they fingerprinted us and they gave us street clothes. They didn't tell us where we were going. Instead they took us to another part of the prison where we saw Dr. Salem Al Ismaily, the envoy of his majesty, His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos of Oman. And the first thing Salem said when we got to him -- he looked at us and he said, let's go home.

What followed was the most incredible experience of our lives. We were held in captivity, in almost complete isolation for more than two years. But for the past few precious days, we have been experiencing free life anew with our families in Muscat.

In all the time we spent in detention, we had a total of 15 minutes of telephone calls with our families and one short visit from our mother -- our mothers. We had to go on hunger strikes repeatedly just to receive letters from our loved ones. Many times, too many times, we heard the screams of other prisoners being beaten and there was nothing we could do to help them.

Solitary confinement was the worst experience of all of our lives. It was a nightmare that Sarah had to endure for 14 months. Sarah's strength during the one-hour meetings that we were allowed with her lifted our spirits daily.

One year ago, when Sarah was released, our world shrank. In prison, we lived in a world of lies and false hope. The investigators lied that Ambassador Leu from the Swiss embassy in Tehran did not want to see us. They told us, again falsely, that they we would be given due process and access to our lawyer, the courageous and persistent Mr. Masud Shafiee. The most infuriating -- most infuriatingly, they told us that our families stopped writing us letters.

Releasing us is a good gesture and no positive step should go unnoticed. We applaud the Iranian authorities for finally making the right decision regarding our case. But we want to be clear. They do not deserve undue credit for ending what they had no right and no justification to start in the first place.

From the very start, the only reason we have been held -- from the very start, the only reason we have been held hostage is because we are American. Sarah was held for 410 days. The two of us were held for 781 days. It's far too long and it's far longer than the American hostages at the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979.

It was clear to us from the very beginning that we were hostages. Hostage is the most accurate term because despite certain knowledge of our innocence, the Iranian government has tied our case to its political disputes with the U.S.

Thank you.

I would like to hand now over to Shane. He helped me through the worst days of my life. And I cannot imagine how I would have made it through these two years without him.

SHANE BAUER, FORMER IRANIAN PRISONER: Thank you, Josh. And thank you, everyone, for being here.

We will always regret the grief and anxiety that fateful our hiking trip led to, above all for our families. But we would like to be very clear, this was never about crossing the unmarked border between Iran and Iraq. We were held because of our nationality. Indeed, there are many other cases of unauthorized entry to Iran in which people are simply fined or deported after a short time.

We do not know if we crossed the border. We will probably never know. But even if we did enter Iran that has never been the reason why the Iranian authorities kept us in prison for so long. The only explanation for our prolonged detention is the 32 years of mutual hostility between America and Iran. The irony is that Sarah, Josh and I oppose U.S. policies towards Iran which perpetuate this hostility.

We were convicted of espionage because we are American. It's that simple. No evidence was ever presented against us. That is because there is no evidence and because we are completely innocent. The two court sessions we attended were a total sham. They were made up of ridiculous lies that depicted us as being involved in an elaborate American-Israeli conspiracy to undermine Iran.

Sarah, Josh and I have experienced a taste of the Iranian regime's brutality. We have been held in almost total isolation from the world and everything we love, stripped of our rights and freedom.

You may ask us, now that you are free, can you forgive the Iranian government for what it has done to you? Our answer is this. How can we forgive the Iranian government when it continues to imprison so many other innocent people and prisoners of conscience?

It is the Iranian people who bear the brunt of this government's cruelty and disregard for human rights. These -- there are people in Iran who are imprisoned for years, simply for attending a protest, for writing a pro-democracy blog, or for, worse, being an unpopular faith.

Journalists remain behind bars and innocent people have been executed. If the Iranian government wants to change its image in the world, and ease international pressure, it should release all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience immediately. They deserve their freedom just as much as we do.

In prison, every time we complained about our conditions, the guards would immediately remind us of comparable conditions at Guantanamo Bay. They would remind us of CIA prisons in other parts of the world and the conditions that Iranians and others experience in prisons in the U.S.

We do not believe that such human rights violations on the part of our government justify what has been done to us. Not for a moment. However, we do believe that these actions on the part of the U.S. -- however, we do believe that these actions on the part of the U.S. provide an excuse for other governments including the governments of Iran to act in kind.

Thank you. Josh and I now want to express our thanks to everyone that helped make today happen.

FATTAL: When our mothers were allowed to visit us in May of 2010, they told us about the campaign. The campaign to win our freedom. We owe a lifelong debt of gratitude to so many people. Their efforts mean we are free and we will never be able to thank them enough.

Our thanks go first and foremost to our wonderful families who have done more for us than we can ever repay. This has been their ordeal as much as it has been our ordeal. And they have sacrificed so much for us to be here today.

That includes Sarah, who joined them as soon as -- as soon as she was free and their tireless work to achieve our freedom. We owe all of them a great debt and our love for you is unqualified and eternal. They include all our friends here at home and overseas. Like our families, many of our friends put their own lives on hold to fight for our freedom. Like our families, they did so while coping with their own pain about our detention.

You are our true -- you are our true friends and you always will be.

And they include tens of thousands of people in America and all over the world, including Iran. They've expressed their support for us, donated to Free the Hikers campaign. They paid for us, each in his and her own way.

We will never know most of these people, but we want them to know that we love them and we always will. We thank you for all the energy -- we thank you for all the energy and comfort you sent to us while were dealing with our darkest hours.

Our lawyer, Mr. Masud Shafiee took on our case at the end of 2009 and he's been a determined and brave advocate ever since. He was never allowed to represent us properly, but he never gave up. We will always stand by him as he stood by us for so long.

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos of Oman and his envoy Dr. Salem Al Ismaily worked ceaselessly to bring us home. We -- we are humbled by their humanity and their unswerving commitment to justice. We're eternally grateful for their hospitality that they and the people of Oman showed us -- showed to us and to our families.

The Swiss ambassador to Iran, Livia Leu Agosti and her colleagues never stopped trying to get consular access and also to try to resolve our case.

We were denied -- we were denied our rights to visit -- to their visit, but we know that Livia and her colleagues would show up time and again, time and again at Evin Prison to try to see us.

Thank you for your unstinting dedication.

BAUER: We also want to express our great thanks to the many world leaders and individuals who championed our cause. They include the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, President Jaleel Talabani of Iraq and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, and the governments of Turkey and Brazil.

They were certain of our innocence and their certainty made a difference. They include the actor Sean Penn, the great Muhammad Ali, Noam Chamsky, the singer Yusuf Islam, Cindy Sheehan and Noble Laureates, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mairead Maguire.

We will always remember that you stood by us.

There were also U.S. government officials who worked for our release. And some of them found creative ways to try and lessen the tension between the U.S. and Iran. Consular officials at the State Department supported our families throughout. Our members of Congress spoke up for us publicly and privately.

Ambassador Richard Schmierer, his wife Sandy and the staff of the U.S. embassy in Oman were most gracious with their time and hospitality -- twice now. They have our gratitude for their support and kindness. The sympathy and support of many Muslim and other religious leaders in America, the Iranian people and elements within the Iranian government that worked for our freedom were also all invaluable. Thank you.

Finally, we want to thank the media in the United States and around the world for keeping our case in the public eye. It means a lot to us. And now that we are home, we know you will give us the time we need to reconnect with our families and rebuild our lives.

When Sarah was about to walk out of Evin Prison last year, we vowed to each other that none of us would be free entirely until all of us were free. That moment has now thankfully come.

Sarah, Josh and I can now finally leave prison behind us. We want more than anything to begin our lives anew, and with a new appreciation for the sweet taste of freedom.

Thank you, everyone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, everyone. That concludes the first part of this event. Can I please ask everyone to remain seated so that Shane and Josh can leave the room calmly with some of their family members?

We will then move on to Q&A.

WHITFIELD: All right, you're seeing now the three American hikers who were all at one time held in captivity together in Iran and now all reunited together again here on U.S. soil.

You heard Shane Bauer underscoring there that when Sarah Shourd was released last year about this time, they all vowed that none of us is free until all of us are free. Well, now all of them are free.

Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer now on U.S. soil after making their journey back to the U.S., after being released from Iranian prison on Wednesday.

You heard them both give great detail and now, as I continue to talk, you're seeing the family members of all three of those once detained hikers. Sarah Shourd now taking to the microphone.

I think we're going to go ahead and listen to Sarah Shourd briefly.

SARAH SHOURD, FORMER IRANIAN PRISON: -- for a few days and there is a huge burden lifted off of all of our chests, so much joy. And when I walked off the plane over a year ago, I walked down those same stairs, very slowly, because I was being pulled back and forward at the same time.

I felt a lot of anxiety and a lot of fear and I felt that it was very wrong to be walking off that plane alone. But we all saw Shane and Josh run down those stairs, nothing was holding them back. They were ready and so eager to re-enter the world. So I am excited and I'm watching just like the rest of us to see what's next. I know that Shane and Josh are more determined to do the good work in the world, to fight and work towards a more just world for everyone.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE)

SHOURD: Well, what Shane and Josh said I agree with, that we regret that we didn't know more about that area, but our detention had nothing to do with crossing a border because we'll never know if we actually did cross a border. It's entirely unmarked.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: CBS News. Describe the last couple of days. You all have been together in Oman, the last couple of days.

SHOURD: Our joy knows no bounds. I've never felt as free as I feel today. And I think that's true for all of us. And we have really just been listening to Shane and Josh and catching up and there's so much to talk about and so many joys to be had, and we really have only scratched the surface.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE)

SHOURD: We don't have any definite plans yet.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: No definite plans.

SHOURD: No.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: When you were released, obviously worried about their fate, were there things that you didn't want to discuss that you're free to discuss now, what were your conditions and the political situation, what you witnessed in jail, what are things that you are now free to talk about that you wouldn't talk about in last year?

SHOURD: That's definitely true. The statements that Shane and Josh made today, they made on behalf of all three of us. All of us agree to their criticism of obviously the Iranian government, not only their treatment of us, but their treatment of other political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. And the call that Shane and Josh just made saying that if Iran would like to improve its image in the world and decrease pressure, they should release all political prisoners and all prisoners of conscience.

That's something that all three of us are going to stand by very strongly in the time to come.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Sarah Shourd there. She was the first of the three hikers to be released. She was released last year but you just heard her say now she feels a greater sense of freedom knowing now that Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer had made their way to safety, back to the U.S.

A bit earlier we heard for the first time from Josh and Shane giving great detail about what being in solitary confinement in Iran was like for two years and also calling the judicial system there, calling it, in their words, a sham, and saying that they don't forgive the Iranian government for putting all three of them through all that they endured.

We are going to, of course, continue to follow the developments and try to dissect a little bit further all that we heard from Shane and Josh and as well right now as Sarah.

Our Susan Candiotti is there in New York and she'll be joining us momentarily. We're going to take a short break right now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: You've heard how more American families are living below the poverty line. Well, one professional golfer is trying to make sure that those children get what they need for school.

Phil Mickelson has this week's "Impact Your World."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHIL MICKELSON, PHIL AND AMY MICKELSON FOUNDATION: Hi, I'm Phil Mickelson. And we can make an impact on children in need.

Start Smart is designed to get self-esteem into the kids as they go into school so they feel good and they're ready to learn. They meet at their school where the principals and teachers get them on buses, take them down here so they're able to receive five shirts, three pants, two pairs of shoes, backpacks, school supplies.

They get to pick out when they want. Integrating them into that experience what I think makes it so much fun.

Join the movement, "Impact Your World." CNN.com/impact.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And you can learn more about the Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation by logging on to CNN.com/impact.

And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Indiana fever forward Tamika Catchings is the season's WNBA Most Valuable Player. She's also a two-time Olympic medalist and has done all of that while overcoming a hearing impairment. Yesterday I sat down with her.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TAMIKA CATCHINGS, 2011 WNBA MVP: I was born with a hearing problem. I was born with a hearing problem, had to wear hearing aids, speech problem. The whole nine yards. And for me it was just kind of like I always wanted to fit in. And you know I remember countless days going to school, coming home, crying, all the kids were making fun of me and telling my mom and dad, I don't want to go back. Please don't make me come back.

And you know they just kind of brushed my tears off and pushed me back out there. And I think just the determination from that has helped me with my basketball.

WHITFIELD: But it sounds like -- I mean you made a conscientious effort where you said to yourself, OK, I have this impairment but I'm not going to allow it to stop me, I'm not allowing it to handicap me. So you found this love in basketball and said, you know what, I'm going to be the best at it.

CATCHINGS: Yes. Definitely. You know I think I was just so passionate and one of the things was, I always tell the kids that I talk to, find something that you're passionate about. Sports was my thing. I started with soccer. Went from soccer, basketball, volleyball, ran track and field. I mean we did a little bit of everything.

And basketball was the one thing that kind of stood out at the end. But you know it was something for me, that I knew, OK, you can make fun of me for looking different, for being different, but when we get out on the basketball court, I'm going to work my tail off to be better than you. And that -- that was it.

WHITFIELD: Did I read correctly that you have said, you know, in the end this has really become the gift. This has become that thing that made you want to be, you know, head and shoulders above everybody else?

CATCHINGS: Yes. Definitely. You know I think God blessed me with the talent to be on this platform that I'm on. And you know I started the Catch the Stars Foundation in 2004 that had allowed me to use a platform for (INAUDIBLE) to reach out to all these young boys and girls. And I think there was so many people in my life that helped me, coaches, teammates, friends, you know, other family members.

I mean people helped me get to where I'm at today. And I want to be that same example for all these young boys and girls.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Tamika Catchings and her Indiana Fever teammates are playing the Atlanta Dream right now. A win by the Fever would advance them to the WNBA Finals.