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Reconstruction has Made Progress in Iraq; Ceasefire Called in Fallujah; Japan on Edge in Face of Kidnappings; Mortar Fired at Sheraton Hotel in Baghdad

Aired April 09, 2004 - 13:00   ET

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

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


JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And yes, here at the hotel we got a calling card as well, in the form of a 120-millimeter mortar -- that's a pretty big mortar -- that was dropped in on a tennis court at the sporting club that's just adjacent to the Sheraton Ishtar Hotel across the street from where I'm standing right now.
The Palestine Hotel where I am and the Sheraton Hotel, of course, both the centers for journalists here. There's some contract workers staying in the hotels, as well.

That's not the real target. The real target is the media, to get the media's attention to try to stress the point that the insurgents in this country opposed to the occupation by the U.S. and the coalition, are still here and one year, one year after toppling Saddam Hussein that coalition still can't guarantee security.

You look across Iraq, a lot of people are complaining. There are conflicts in Fallujah, to be sure. Although I know there's a cease- fire, at least a unilateral cease-fire tonight.

In the south of Iraq reports of fighting everywhere.

But I think it's important, Kyra, to take a minute, take stock of what's happened in the last year. Look at the good things, too.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLANCY (voice-over): Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi students have returned to refurbished classrooms, where teachers are being paid a living wage. For the first time schools are getting computers.

Electricity has been restored to levels well above those before the coalition invaded Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein. Clean water also widely available, sometimes in rural areas that never had it before the coalition arrived.

Newspapers and the media are flourishing. There are estimated to be around 200 newspapers published, representing views that Iraqis were never able to hear before.

Telephone communications not only restored, but international links available that were never possible before. And there are several major cell phone providers, as well.

Internet access, unheard of under Saddam Hussein, is now open along with dozens of Internet cafes Las Vegas, allowing users without computers to get on the Internet for communication and research.

Iraqi hospitals, they have seen some improvement, although much more is expected on that front in the coming year. The U.S. is preparing to spend more than a billion dollars on new and existing healthcare facilities.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CLANCY: A lot of it isn't attractive to talk about. Who wants to talk about sewer pipes being laid? But it has a lot to do with the health of the Iraqi people. It is important.

The infrastructure has been built up. Tens of thousands of security police, the Iraqi civil defense corps have all been added, Kyra.

But the real question is, will they have the security? Will Iraqis have the security in the coming year to allow them to enjoy some of these things that they now have they didn't before.

Back to you.

KYRA PHILLIPS, ANCHOR: Jim Clancy, thanks so much.

And the number of casualties among U.S. troops in Iraq continues to rise with reports now of at least six more troops killed in action.

With the latest from the Pentagon, we're joined by Barbara Starr now -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Kyra.

Well, the message out of the U.S. military, the Pentagon and the coalition in Baghdad today was that things are coming under control. Still a couple of things they are very concerned about with the insurgency, however.

In Baghdad, the first news that it is possible members of the Badr Brigade, which is another Shia insurgency force, may be fighting against the Mehdi Army, which is the illegal militia of Moqtada al- Sadr. That is one thing they are watching very closely.

Also watching for any continuing signs that any of the Shia insurgents are joining forces with the Sunni insurgents west of Baghdad.

But overall, the message is things are coming under control city by city.

In the southern city of al-Kut, for example, coalition forces say they expect to regain full control of this city after moving in there. Now, revealing that about 1,000 U.S. troops were moved down from Baghdad south to al-Kut a few days ago to undertake action there and regain control of the city.

But back in Fallujah, west of Baghdad, that Sunni stronghold, some key developments today. The coalition announcing a unilateral halt to offensive operations while they let in humanitarian medical assistance, let the people of Fallujah tend to their dead and wounded.

And members of the Iraqi Governing Council attempting to talk to the leaders of Fallujah and try and ratchet down the violence.

Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, though, making it very clear that the coalition will only go so far.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY: It is important to understand that the coalition remains firm that, should these discussions breakdown the coalition military forces are prepared to go back on the offensive operations.

And at no time during the suspension of offensive operations do soldiers forfeit their inherent right of self-defense. If fired upon, they will fire back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: And indeed in the hours after that unilateral halt to offensive operations was declared there was some action. Insurgents apparently attacking a Red Crescent convoy trying to move through Fallujah to deliver some assistance.

Also the U.S. military has, of course, maintained its cordon around the city, all exit and entry points being monitored around Fallujah. Only women and children being allowed out of the city, we are told.

And the U.S. military still poised for a push from both the southwest and northwest directions around the city, ready to take control of Fallujah -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Barbara Starr, live from the Pentagon.

Meanwhile, officials are still trying to figure out how to deal with the hostage situation in Iraq. Three Japanese and two Arab aid workers are still being held by insurgents. The kidnappings have presented the Japanese government with a dilemma.

CNN'S Atika Shubert reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The images play over and over across Japanese television, but there is little that can be done.

The Japanese government does not know where the hostages are or even who is behind the kidnapping, leaving no one to bargain with, no way to get them back home.

There is only the insurgents' demand: Japanese troops must leave Iraq or the hostages will be burned live.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi continues to stand firm, refusing to withdraw troops from Iraq.

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER (through translator): We will not bow to any despicable terrorist threats.

SHUBERT: But the government is running out of options. It has more than 500 troops on the ground, part of a force that will eventually reach more than a thousand, all taking part in non-combat humanitarian missions.

Troops were sent despite the deep misgivings that supporting U.S. policy in Iraq would make Japan a target for terror. Now the country's worst fears have been realized.

Hundreds of angry protesters gathered outside the prime minister's office, demanding Koizumi order the immediate withdrawal of Japanese troops. But the public is still deeply divided. Others worry that giving in now may invite more abductions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): if we give into their demands now it may just get worse and the international community would look down at us.

SHUBERT: That logic is difficult for family members to accept.

MAOKO IMAI, MOTHER OF HOSTAGE (through translator): I want my son to be released and if that means withdrawing the troops I want them to be pulled out. The troops in Iraq will not be safe (ph) if the government ignores the lives of the humanitarian workers.

SHUBERT: For now, they can only watch and wait.

(on camera) Japan is now looking to Prime Minister Koizumi for an explanation: why and how did this happen? Can the government bring them home safely?

For now, the prime minister has no answers.

Atika Shubert, CNN, Tokyo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: The kidnappers are threatening to kill the Japanese hostages if Japan's troops don't pull out of Iraq by Sunday.

Sunday is also the day Vice President Cheney arrives in Japan for a weeklong trip through the region. A big part of Cheney's mission will be to shore up the coalition's Asian contingent by urging Japan and South Korea to hang tough on their troop commitment.

Aside from National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice it was the star of yesterday's 9/11 hearing, the president's daily intelligence briefing from August 6, 2001. The 9/11 commission wants it declassified. Now there's a development regarding that. More from White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. She's in Crawford, Texas -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the White House is trying as quickly as possible to declassify. It's a one and a half page presidential daily brief. They are working with the commission to do that. We expect it to be released at some time.

But what it is is essentially -- it was a memo that was sent to the president -- this was one month before the September 11 attacks -- at his Crawford ranch when he was vacationing.

And what it was, it was a response to an inquiry that the president made. There was a lot of chatter. The country was in a state of high alert for al Qaeda attacking U.S. installations overseas and abroad. The president wanted to know if there was a threat of al Qaeda attacking inside of the United States.

Now, it was the title that was released yesterday that caused some alarm for viewers, as well as some Bush critics. It is called "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States."

It was clear from the questioning from commissioners they felt that this should have raised a red flag to the administration that an attack was imminent. Rice, testifying on numerous occasions, peppered by questions saying that this was not a warning to the administration.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: I believe the title was "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States." Now, the...

RICHARD BEN-VENISTE, 9/11 COMMISSION MEMBER: Thank you.

RICE: ... the PDB. No, Mr. Ben-Veniste, you would...

BEN-VENISTE: I would like to get into...

RICE: I would like to finish my point here.

BEN-VENISTE: I didn't know there was a point.

RICE: You asked me whether or not it warned of attacks.

BEN-VENISTE: I asked you what the title was.

RICE: You said did it not warn of attacks. It did not warn of attacks inside the United States. It was historical information based on old reporting. There was no new threat information.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Also inside that brief was the notion, the idea, the possibility of al Qaeda hijacking planes, U.S. airplanes, but Rice saying that it certainly did not introduce the idea of using those planes as missiles.

We also learned yesterday from her testimony that included 70 different investigations from FBI into al Qaeda cells inside of the United States. Rice testifying that she did not recall telling the president that there was al Qaeda inside of the country.

The bottom line here, Kyra, is the administration wants to get this brief out as quickly as possible. They say if you look at the facts this does not show that there was any kind of detailed information that they could have known that an attack was imminent.

The commissioners want people to take a look at this, because they think that perhaps it does -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne, is the president responding to what took place, the mortar attack in Baghdad today?

MALVEAUX: Well, the president was on the phone making calls to allies. He spoke with the leaders of Poland, Italy and El Salvador. We are told by White House spokesman Scott McClellan that all three of those leaders are committed to Iraq, to the future of Iraq, that they are also committed to fighting what the White House is now calling these extremist elements that seek to use violence, to derail the transition process.

That the president also had a video conference call with his national security team, including Ambassador Bremer and General Abizaid, to get the latest on the military operations. The president is watching very closely and carefully what happens in Iraq -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne Malveaux, live from Crawford. Thank you.

You're never more than a few minutes away from the latest development in Iraq. Right here on LIVE FROM, we'll go in depth on this battle to take down the enemy.

Also ahead, recreating the passion, a Good Friday show of a demotion of a man following in the steps of Jesus to keep a promise.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Pope John Paul II leads an afternoon mass at the Vatican in observance of Good Friday. Today marks the day that Christians believe Jesus was crucified.

The 83-year-old pontiff later presides over the Way of the Cross procession at the Coliseum under exceptional security. The weeklong Easter observances end Sunday with a mass celebration in St. Peter's Square. Well, every year a group of brave and devout Filipinos reenact Jesus' last hours in a real-life passion. This year's reenactment was very symbolic on the heels of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."

A warning to viewers, though, just like the movie some of the scenes in this report may make you a little squeamish and might not be suitable for some adults and children.

Here's CNN's Maria Ressa.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the 17th year he has been nailed to the cross, says Ruben Enaje.

In 1989, he says he miraculously survived a three-story fall with no injuries. To thank God he vowed to relive the suffering and death of Jesus Christ for the next 20 years.

He says he gets scared a day before when he begins imagining the nails biting into his skin, and the memory won't end until he is again on the cross.

RUBEN ENAJE, RELIVES JESUS' FINAL HOURS (through translator): When they drive the nail in the only thought in my head is Jesus Christ. He will be with me through everything, help me through the suffering.

RESS: Suffering to atone, to purify. That is why these men go through this, many of them repeating it year after year.

(on camera) This wooden paddle is studded with sharpened glass. As part of the spectacle of Good Friday here it will be used to break the flesh on this man's back, paving the way for the procession of the cross.

(voice-over) This year the suffering of the Christ has become more real for the residents here. Weeks before, they gathered together to watch the screening of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ".

ENAJE (through translator): The movie made me want to live a purer life, a better life, because it showed me how much he really suffered to get rid of our sins.

RESSA: Enaje says he has three years of crucifixions left to fulfill his vow. And although the Catholic Church discourages this annual ritual, Enaje says he knows this is the reason why God answers his prayers.

Maria Ressa, CNN, Pamponga (ph), the Philippines.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Other news around the world, an ominous warning. The suspected terrorists killed in an apparent blast in Spain promised to inflict blood for blood unless Spanish troops are pulled out of Iraq and Afghanistan. That warning was left on videotape just before the suspects died last week. All were wanted in connection with the Madrid train bombing.

Sri Lanka's fragile cease-fire appears in jeopardy. Two Tamil Tiger factions exchanged fire today in the worst armed clashes since the 2002 truce halted the 19-year civil war. At least nine people were killed.

The Iraq war under protest by Palestinians. Thousands of Palestinians called on Iraqis to rise up against the U.S. in a holy war. Some set fire to U.S. and Israeli flags. Others burned epogies of President Bush.

Casualties of war. Ahead on LIVE FROM: how a military base particularly hit hard by recent troop deaths is dealing with a huge loss.

And shock jock Howard Stern, yanked off the air. He says he's the victim of a witch-hunt. Dial that one in later on LIVE FROM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, the anniversary of the fall of Baghdad has been marked by a fathom of vicious and bloody attacks across Iraq this week. How is the military battling the insurgents?

Joining me now, retired U.S. Air Force General George Harrison.

Great to see you, sir. Here we are back at the map.

GEN. GEORGE HARRISON, U.S. AIR FORCE (RET.): That's right.

PHILLIPS: Once again, a general overview of where all the -- I guess the fighting is taking place specifically right now, the hotbed in the Fallujah area?

HARRISON: That's right. The Sunni Triangle has been remarkably quiet over the last week or so. Right now, Karbala, Najaf, some activity in Kut is causing problems.

The northern half of the country is very quiet, very stable without any particular problems.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's get right to the keyhole, because we've got these satellite images of Baghdad.

First, as we move into Baghdad, this is sort of an overall look of what it looks like. And then as we move in closer, General, let's talk about the Green Zone, again, this area right here. Define to our viewers exactly what that means. And then we'll talk about the mortar attack that happened.

HARRISON: OK. The Green Zone is the area that is -- that is most involved with coalition provisional authority, with the emerging Iraqi government and the headquarters of most of the coalition forces.

That's the area that's most intensely secured. It's isolated. You can't go in and out without the right kinds of searches and clearances and all those kinds of things.

However, it is not protected from longer-range activity such as mortars, the things that we're going to discuss in a minute or two.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's talk about that. So going back and taking a look where the Green Zone was. And then we're going to take our next shot here of actually where Firdos Square, where the statue used to be of Saddam Hussein.

This is sort of a closer -- That is where the statue was right there. And then up here the Palestinian hotel. And then right -- not far from there the Sheraton. And this is where the mortar attack happened in this area.

Now, a year later, since the statue fell, what do you think? Was this mortar to be aimed at the area where the statue fell, or could it have been one of these hotels where journalists and civilians are staying?

HARRISON: Well, it's hard to tell. There's about a tenth of a mile difference or distance between the square and the hotel where the -- where the round landed. We've been told it's a 120-millimeter mortar round. That could have been fired from as far as several kilometers away from the area.

PHILLIPS: All right, let's talk about that. OK? You're saying a mortar attack four to five miles away, it could get into this area. Say, either the square...

HARRISON: Sure.

PHILLIPS: ... or one of the hotels like it hit the Sheraton. You can't detect these, can you, as they're coming in?

HARRISON: Well, you can detect them if you have counter mortar, counter fire radar set up and established. But that's a fairly intense kind of technical capability that would probably not be deployed in downtown Baghdad. It's deployed in the field with the troops maneuvering.

So finding that mortar would be very difficult.

We've got a picture up on the screen that shows a portable mortar. That's 200-millimeter, which is a fairly good-sized mortar. You can see that the shell is self-propelled. You drop the shell in there, the round in there. It's then stabilized. And you aim it by moving the mortar tube with some adjustments. There's a little, let's see, there's a little crank on the right side that you can see. You can make an adjustment on that crank and move it from side to side. You can change...

PHILLIPS: Show me exactly where that is, sir. HARRISON: That's right there.

PHILLIPS: OK.

HARRISON: You can show the elevation with another -- another adjustment. And that's the way you adjust the range and the impact point of this particular little gadget.

PHILLIPS: So you've got to be a pretty well-trained mortar man to be able to take this into one of those confined areas?

HARRISON: Sure. To put it exactly where you want, you have be a well-trained mortar man. But in order to fire harassing fire, all you really have to do is get the tube in there, get the base plate in, set it up, drop the round in and you're really ready to go with harassing fire, not accurate effective fire.

PHILLIPS: Well, I'll tell you what, we'll go back to our main map, General, coming up in the 2 p.m. hour. We'll talk more about combating Shiites and Sunnis and more about what's happening in those areas today. OK?

HARRISON: Sure.

PHILLIPS: Terrific. Thank you so much, general.

Well, from the reality of the insurgency to the grim reality of the loss of life. We'd like to share a very powerful picture of you as we go to break, one that moved all of us here on the LIVE FROM team.

One military leader told me today as he looked at this picture, each loss we sustain is agony.

We'll be back right after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired April 9, 2004 - 13:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And yes, here at the hotel we got a calling card as well, in the form of a 120-millimeter mortar -- that's a pretty big mortar -- that was dropped in on a tennis court at the sporting club that's just adjacent to the Sheraton Ishtar Hotel across the street from where I'm standing right now.
The Palestine Hotel where I am and the Sheraton Hotel, of course, both the centers for journalists here. There's some contract workers staying in the hotels, as well.

That's not the real target. The real target is the media, to get the media's attention to try to stress the point that the insurgents in this country opposed to the occupation by the U.S. and the coalition, are still here and one year, one year after toppling Saddam Hussein that coalition still can't guarantee security.

You look across Iraq, a lot of people are complaining. There are conflicts in Fallujah, to be sure. Although I know there's a cease- fire, at least a unilateral cease-fire tonight.

In the south of Iraq reports of fighting everywhere.

But I think it's important, Kyra, to take a minute, take stock of what's happened in the last year. Look at the good things, too.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLANCY (voice-over): Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi students have returned to refurbished classrooms, where teachers are being paid a living wage. For the first time schools are getting computers.

Electricity has been restored to levels well above those before the coalition invaded Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein. Clean water also widely available, sometimes in rural areas that never had it before the coalition arrived.

Newspapers and the media are flourishing. There are estimated to be around 200 newspapers published, representing views that Iraqis were never able to hear before.

Telephone communications not only restored, but international links available that were never possible before. And there are several major cell phone providers, as well.

Internet access, unheard of under Saddam Hussein, is now open along with dozens of Internet cafes Las Vegas, allowing users without computers to get on the Internet for communication and research.

Iraqi hospitals, they have seen some improvement, although much more is expected on that front in the coming year. The U.S. is preparing to spend more than a billion dollars on new and existing healthcare facilities.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CLANCY: A lot of it isn't attractive to talk about. Who wants to talk about sewer pipes being laid? But it has a lot to do with the health of the Iraqi people. It is important.

The infrastructure has been built up. Tens of thousands of security police, the Iraqi civil defense corps have all been added, Kyra.

But the real question is, will they have the security? Will Iraqis have the security in the coming year to allow them to enjoy some of these things that they now have they didn't before.

Back to you.

KYRA PHILLIPS, ANCHOR: Jim Clancy, thanks so much.

And the number of casualties among U.S. troops in Iraq continues to rise with reports now of at least six more troops killed in action.

With the latest from the Pentagon, we're joined by Barbara Starr now -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Kyra.

Well, the message out of the U.S. military, the Pentagon and the coalition in Baghdad today was that things are coming under control. Still a couple of things they are very concerned about with the insurgency, however.

In Baghdad, the first news that it is possible members of the Badr Brigade, which is another Shia insurgency force, may be fighting against the Mehdi Army, which is the illegal militia of Moqtada al- Sadr. That is one thing they are watching very closely.

Also watching for any continuing signs that any of the Shia insurgents are joining forces with the Sunni insurgents west of Baghdad.

But overall, the message is things are coming under control city by city.

In the southern city of al-Kut, for example, coalition forces say they expect to regain full control of this city after moving in there. Now, revealing that about 1,000 U.S. troops were moved down from Baghdad south to al-Kut a few days ago to undertake action there and regain control of the city.

But back in Fallujah, west of Baghdad, that Sunni stronghold, some key developments today. The coalition announcing a unilateral halt to offensive operations while they let in humanitarian medical assistance, let the people of Fallujah tend to their dead and wounded.

And members of the Iraqi Governing Council attempting to talk to the leaders of Fallujah and try and ratchet down the violence.

Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, though, making it very clear that the coalition will only go so far.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY: It is important to understand that the coalition remains firm that, should these discussions breakdown the coalition military forces are prepared to go back on the offensive operations.

And at no time during the suspension of offensive operations do soldiers forfeit their inherent right of self-defense. If fired upon, they will fire back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: And indeed in the hours after that unilateral halt to offensive operations was declared there was some action. Insurgents apparently attacking a Red Crescent convoy trying to move through Fallujah to deliver some assistance.

Also the U.S. military has, of course, maintained its cordon around the city, all exit and entry points being monitored around Fallujah. Only women and children being allowed out of the city, we are told.

And the U.S. military still poised for a push from both the southwest and northwest directions around the city, ready to take control of Fallujah -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Barbara Starr, live from the Pentagon.

Meanwhile, officials are still trying to figure out how to deal with the hostage situation in Iraq. Three Japanese and two Arab aid workers are still being held by insurgents. The kidnappings have presented the Japanese government with a dilemma.

CNN'S Atika Shubert reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The images play over and over across Japanese television, but there is little that can be done.

The Japanese government does not know where the hostages are or even who is behind the kidnapping, leaving no one to bargain with, no way to get them back home.

There is only the insurgents' demand: Japanese troops must leave Iraq or the hostages will be burned live.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi continues to stand firm, refusing to withdraw troops from Iraq.

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER (through translator): We will not bow to any despicable terrorist threats.

SHUBERT: But the government is running out of options. It has more than 500 troops on the ground, part of a force that will eventually reach more than a thousand, all taking part in non-combat humanitarian missions.

Troops were sent despite the deep misgivings that supporting U.S. policy in Iraq would make Japan a target for terror. Now the country's worst fears have been realized.

Hundreds of angry protesters gathered outside the prime minister's office, demanding Koizumi order the immediate withdrawal of Japanese troops. But the public is still deeply divided. Others worry that giving in now may invite more abductions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): if we give into their demands now it may just get worse and the international community would look down at us.

SHUBERT: That logic is difficult for family members to accept.

MAOKO IMAI, MOTHER OF HOSTAGE (through translator): I want my son to be released and if that means withdrawing the troops I want them to be pulled out. The troops in Iraq will not be safe (ph) if the government ignores the lives of the humanitarian workers.

SHUBERT: For now, they can only watch and wait.

(on camera) Japan is now looking to Prime Minister Koizumi for an explanation: why and how did this happen? Can the government bring them home safely?

For now, the prime minister has no answers.

Atika Shubert, CNN, Tokyo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: The kidnappers are threatening to kill the Japanese hostages if Japan's troops don't pull out of Iraq by Sunday.

Sunday is also the day Vice President Cheney arrives in Japan for a weeklong trip through the region. A big part of Cheney's mission will be to shore up the coalition's Asian contingent by urging Japan and South Korea to hang tough on their troop commitment.

Aside from National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice it was the star of yesterday's 9/11 hearing, the president's daily intelligence briefing from August 6, 2001. The 9/11 commission wants it declassified. Now there's a development regarding that. More from White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. She's in Crawford, Texas -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the White House is trying as quickly as possible to declassify. It's a one and a half page presidential daily brief. They are working with the commission to do that. We expect it to be released at some time.

But what it is is essentially -- it was a memo that was sent to the president -- this was one month before the September 11 attacks -- at his Crawford ranch when he was vacationing.

And what it was, it was a response to an inquiry that the president made. There was a lot of chatter. The country was in a state of high alert for al Qaeda attacking U.S. installations overseas and abroad. The president wanted to know if there was a threat of al Qaeda attacking inside of the United States.

Now, it was the title that was released yesterday that caused some alarm for viewers, as well as some Bush critics. It is called "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States."

It was clear from the questioning from commissioners they felt that this should have raised a red flag to the administration that an attack was imminent. Rice, testifying on numerous occasions, peppered by questions saying that this was not a warning to the administration.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: I believe the title was "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States." Now, the...

RICHARD BEN-VENISTE, 9/11 COMMISSION MEMBER: Thank you.

RICE: ... the PDB. No, Mr. Ben-Veniste, you would...

BEN-VENISTE: I would like to get into...

RICE: I would like to finish my point here.

BEN-VENISTE: I didn't know there was a point.

RICE: You asked me whether or not it warned of attacks.

BEN-VENISTE: I asked you what the title was.

RICE: You said did it not warn of attacks. It did not warn of attacks inside the United States. It was historical information based on old reporting. There was no new threat information.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Also inside that brief was the notion, the idea, the possibility of al Qaeda hijacking planes, U.S. airplanes, but Rice saying that it certainly did not introduce the idea of using those planes as missiles.

We also learned yesterday from her testimony that included 70 different investigations from FBI into al Qaeda cells inside of the United States. Rice testifying that she did not recall telling the president that there was al Qaeda inside of the country.

The bottom line here, Kyra, is the administration wants to get this brief out as quickly as possible. They say if you look at the facts this does not show that there was any kind of detailed information that they could have known that an attack was imminent.

The commissioners want people to take a look at this, because they think that perhaps it does -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne, is the president responding to what took place, the mortar attack in Baghdad today?

MALVEAUX: Well, the president was on the phone making calls to allies. He spoke with the leaders of Poland, Italy and El Salvador. We are told by White House spokesman Scott McClellan that all three of those leaders are committed to Iraq, to the future of Iraq, that they are also committed to fighting what the White House is now calling these extremist elements that seek to use violence, to derail the transition process.

That the president also had a video conference call with his national security team, including Ambassador Bremer and General Abizaid, to get the latest on the military operations. The president is watching very closely and carefully what happens in Iraq -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne Malveaux, live from Crawford. Thank you.

You're never more than a few minutes away from the latest development in Iraq. Right here on LIVE FROM, we'll go in depth on this battle to take down the enemy.

Also ahead, recreating the passion, a Good Friday show of a demotion of a man following in the steps of Jesus to keep a promise.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

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PHILLIPS: Pope John Paul II leads an afternoon mass at the Vatican in observance of Good Friday. Today marks the day that Christians believe Jesus was crucified.

The 83-year-old pontiff later presides over the Way of the Cross procession at the Coliseum under exceptional security. The weeklong Easter observances end Sunday with a mass celebration in St. Peter's Square. Well, every year a group of brave and devout Filipinos reenact Jesus' last hours in a real-life passion. This year's reenactment was very symbolic on the heels of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."

A warning to viewers, though, just like the movie some of the scenes in this report may make you a little squeamish and might not be suitable for some adults and children.

Here's CNN's Maria Ressa.

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MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the 17th year he has been nailed to the cross, says Ruben Enaje.

In 1989, he says he miraculously survived a three-story fall with no injuries. To thank God he vowed to relive the suffering and death of Jesus Christ for the next 20 years.

He says he gets scared a day before when he begins imagining the nails biting into his skin, and the memory won't end until he is again on the cross.

RUBEN ENAJE, RELIVES JESUS' FINAL HOURS (through translator): When they drive the nail in the only thought in my head is Jesus Christ. He will be with me through everything, help me through the suffering.

RESS: Suffering to atone, to purify. That is why these men go through this, many of them repeating it year after year.

(on camera) This wooden paddle is studded with sharpened glass. As part of the spectacle of Good Friday here it will be used to break the flesh on this man's back, paving the way for the procession of the cross.

(voice-over) This year the suffering of the Christ has become more real for the residents here. Weeks before, they gathered together to watch the screening of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ".

ENAJE (through translator): The movie made me want to live a purer life, a better life, because it showed me how much he really suffered to get rid of our sins.

RESSA: Enaje says he has three years of crucifixions left to fulfill his vow. And although the Catholic Church discourages this annual ritual, Enaje says he knows this is the reason why God answers his prayers.

Maria Ressa, CNN, Pamponga (ph), the Philippines.

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PHILLIPS: Other news around the world, an ominous warning. The suspected terrorists killed in an apparent blast in Spain promised to inflict blood for blood unless Spanish troops are pulled out of Iraq and Afghanistan. That warning was left on videotape just before the suspects died last week. All were wanted in connection with the Madrid train bombing.

Sri Lanka's fragile cease-fire appears in jeopardy. Two Tamil Tiger factions exchanged fire today in the worst armed clashes since the 2002 truce halted the 19-year civil war. At least nine people were killed.

The Iraq war under protest by Palestinians. Thousands of Palestinians called on Iraqis to rise up against the U.S. in a holy war. Some set fire to U.S. and Israeli flags. Others burned epogies of President Bush.

Casualties of war. Ahead on LIVE FROM: how a military base particularly hit hard by recent troop deaths is dealing with a huge loss.

And shock jock Howard Stern, yanked off the air. He says he's the victim of a witch-hunt. Dial that one in later on LIVE FROM.

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PHILLIPS: Well, the anniversary of the fall of Baghdad has been marked by a fathom of vicious and bloody attacks across Iraq this week. How is the military battling the insurgents?

Joining me now, retired U.S. Air Force General George Harrison.

Great to see you, sir. Here we are back at the map.

GEN. GEORGE HARRISON, U.S. AIR FORCE (RET.): That's right.

PHILLIPS: Once again, a general overview of where all the -- I guess the fighting is taking place specifically right now, the hotbed in the Fallujah area?

HARRISON: That's right. The Sunni Triangle has been remarkably quiet over the last week or so. Right now, Karbala, Najaf, some activity in Kut is causing problems.

The northern half of the country is very quiet, very stable without any particular problems.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's get right to the keyhole, because we've got these satellite images of Baghdad.

First, as we move into Baghdad, this is sort of an overall look of what it looks like. And then as we move in closer, General, let's talk about the Green Zone, again, this area right here. Define to our viewers exactly what that means. And then we'll talk about the mortar attack that happened.

HARRISON: OK. The Green Zone is the area that is -- that is most involved with coalition provisional authority, with the emerging Iraqi government and the headquarters of most of the coalition forces.

That's the area that's most intensely secured. It's isolated. You can't go in and out without the right kinds of searches and clearances and all those kinds of things.

However, it is not protected from longer-range activity such as mortars, the things that we're going to discuss in a minute or two.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's talk about that. So going back and taking a look where the Green Zone was. And then we're going to take our next shot here of actually where Firdos Square, where the statue used to be of Saddam Hussein.

This is sort of a closer -- That is where the statue was right there. And then up here the Palestinian hotel. And then right -- not far from there the Sheraton. And this is where the mortar attack happened in this area.

Now, a year later, since the statue fell, what do you think? Was this mortar to be aimed at the area where the statue fell, or could it have been one of these hotels where journalists and civilians are staying?

HARRISON: Well, it's hard to tell. There's about a tenth of a mile difference or distance between the square and the hotel where the -- where the round landed. We've been told it's a 120-millimeter mortar round. That could have been fired from as far as several kilometers away from the area.

PHILLIPS: All right, let's talk about that. OK? You're saying a mortar attack four to five miles away, it could get into this area. Say, either the square...

HARRISON: Sure.

PHILLIPS: ... or one of the hotels like it hit the Sheraton. You can't detect these, can you, as they're coming in?

HARRISON: Well, you can detect them if you have counter mortar, counter fire radar set up and established. But that's a fairly intense kind of technical capability that would probably not be deployed in downtown Baghdad. It's deployed in the field with the troops maneuvering.

So finding that mortar would be very difficult.

We've got a picture up on the screen that shows a portable mortar. That's 200-millimeter, which is a fairly good-sized mortar. You can see that the shell is self-propelled. You drop the shell in there, the round in there. It's then stabilized. And you aim it by moving the mortar tube with some adjustments. There's a little, let's see, there's a little crank on the right side that you can see. You can make an adjustment on that crank and move it from side to side. You can change...

PHILLIPS: Show me exactly where that is, sir. HARRISON: That's right there.

PHILLIPS: OK.

HARRISON: You can show the elevation with another -- another adjustment. And that's the way you adjust the range and the impact point of this particular little gadget.

PHILLIPS: So you've got to be a pretty well-trained mortar man to be able to take this into one of those confined areas?

HARRISON: Sure. To put it exactly where you want, you have be a well-trained mortar man. But in order to fire harassing fire, all you really have to do is get the tube in there, get the base plate in, set it up, drop the round in and you're really ready to go with harassing fire, not accurate effective fire.

PHILLIPS: Well, I'll tell you what, we'll go back to our main map, General, coming up in the 2 p.m. hour. We'll talk more about combating Shiites and Sunnis and more about what's happening in those areas today. OK?

HARRISON: Sure.

PHILLIPS: Terrific. Thank you so much, general.

Well, from the reality of the insurgency to the grim reality of the loss of life. We'd like to share a very powerful picture of you as we go to break, one that moved all of us here on the LIVE FROM team.

One military leader told me today as he looked at this picture, each loss we sustain is agony.

We'll be back right after a quick break.

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