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Live From...
Attack on Convoy; Women in Combat; Standing Firm
Aired June 24, 2005 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Look at this. Smoke rises from a suicide bomb attack in Iraq. Several believed to be among U.S. service members killed. We're live from the Pentagon.
Missing Alabama student investigation. An Aruban judge facing more questions. His son believed to be the last to see Natalee Holloway alive.
And authorities in Camden, New Jersey, expected to make a live statement this hour about the disappearance of three little boys.
KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The desert is on fire in Arizona. And even though the fire is growing, residents are getting some good news. I'm Keith Oppenheim in Carefree, Arizona. I'll explain that in a live report coming up.
NGUYEN: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen, in for Kyra Phillips today. This hour of CNN's LIVE FROM starts right now.
Our focus first, the fight for Iraq, where American casualties are mounting. Public support is slumping, and the Pentagon and Congress keep sparring. No word of what could be one of the bloodiest days for female troops in Iraq.
Our Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre joins us with more on yet another convoy attack.
I know information has been slowly trickling in. What do you know so far about this attack, Jamie?
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, very little new information as we're continuing to watch what happened in this convoy attack last night in Falluja. A U.S. Marine convoy was attacked by a suicide car or truck bomber, and the result was that six U.S. troops were killed and 13 wounded.
Among the dead are believed to be five U.S. Marines and one U.S. Navy sailor. And we are told that there are a number of women who were in this convoy and may have been victims of this attack.
Some of the identification process has been slowed down because of the horrific nature and fire that followed the explosion. But we are told that there are indications that one of the units that might have been hit was what's called a so-called linus (ph) team. Those are female Marines or soldiers who help the -- help out specifically by searching female Iraqi civilians in order to avoid insulting the local populous. But again, we have no confirmation of that. All we know for sure is that as many as six have died, 13 wounded in this suicide attack last night. And again, suicide bombs and vehicle bombs continue to be the weapon of choice of insurgents as they continue to inflict deadly damage against U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians as well -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Jamie, do you have any indication why this information is so slowly coming in, the reports out of Iraq? This happened last night.
MCINTYRE: It does. But typically, the U.S. military waits a day before they release any names. And in this case, apparently, because of the problems identifying some of the remains, that process may be a little later.
That's what's taking a while to determine the exact breakdown. We do get fairly quickly, as we have in this case, the numbers as they know them. We just don't get all of the details usually until a day or so.
NGUYEN: And let's go through those numbers again, because there are just a few confirmed, and there are some where they're listed as "whereabouts unknown."
MCINTYRE: The official town is called duty status whereabouts unknown. That's for any time a soldier or a Marine, in which their fate is undetermined and they don't know where they are. And that's the technical description that is given to -- in the case of bodies that have not been fully recovered or fully identified.
NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon. Thanks for that update.
Now for a closer look at the duties and the dangers facing women in combat, particularly in Iraq, we turn to CNN's own Jane Arraf, who always seems to be on the front lines. Our senior Baghdad correspondent does join us now live via videophone from Qaim, Iraq.
And Jane, talk to us a little about women and their role in Iraq, especially in Falluja, which has been a very dangerous area as of lately.
JANE ARRAF, CNN SR. BAGHDAD CORRESPONDENT: Betty, early indications are that some of those casualties may have been women who were part of a search team. Essentially, women who would search other women either on raids or at checkpoints. It's one of the things that the Marines and the Army feel they're lacking right now, particularly the Marines, which have very few women in those roles.
One of the things that they tell us here -- and this is all part of Al Anbar province, one of the most volatile parts of Iraq -- is that they have had instances, one several weeks ago, where a woman actually shot a Marine as they were entering a house. She was shot as well, as the Marines returned fire.
But it's something that we're seeing that the Marines and Army say they're seeing as tactics evolve with the insurgents. You cannot have men searching women here. It would cause an absolute riot. And that is partly why they're bringing more women into volatile places such as Falluja -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Jane, of course no one wants to hear what has happened, but let's talk a little about that and what morale is like there for the troops in Iraq.
ARRAF: Morale really depends on where you are. Out here on the front lines morale is fairly high, possibly because these are soldiers and Marines...
NGUYEN: All right. We're having a difficult time hearing Jane Arraf. If we can get her back up, we will try to do that.
Right now, though, we want to shift over to the White House. President Bush is standing firm, insisting that progress is being made in Iraq, and that there are plenty of reasons for optimism. He's been playing host today to the Iraqi prime minister, so let's bring in CNN's David Ensor for more on that meeting.
What happened today, David?
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, this is a president who often likes to stress that he doesn't govern by polls. But he did make clear to the press corps here today that he is well aware that the polls show American public support for the war in Iraq has been dropping in recent weeks.
It's been a very tough time over there the last couple of months, very bloody. We're now up over 1,700 service men and women who have been killed.
But asked about a timetable for a withdrawal of even some of those troops, the president was firm in his response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There's not going to be any timetables. I mean, I told this to the prime minister.
We are there to complete a mission, and it's an important mission. A democratic Iraq is in the interest of the United States of America, and it's in the interest of laying the foundation for peace. And if that's the mission, then why would you -- why would you say to the enemy, you know, here's the timetable, just go ahead and wait us out?
It doesn't make any sense to have a timetable. You know, if you give a timetable, you're conceding too much to the enemy. This is an enemy that will be defeated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENSOR: For his part, Prime Minister Jaafari praised the United States and thanked Americans for their help in Iraq. In fact, he said the U.S. has given something far more valuable of money, it's given the lives -- the U.S. has given the lives of some of its sons and daughters -- Betty.
NGUYEN: David, the president said there would be no timetable, but did he discuss how Iraqi troops are coming with this training so that they can protect their own country?
ENSOR: Well, he said that he and Prime Minister Jaafari talked about that at some length during their discussions today. Obviously it's something that the U.S. is very concerned with, so are the Iraqis.
Prime Minister Jaafari has said he would very much like to have Iraq take over security and to see the troops leave, but not before it's safe to do so. So nobody was giving any specifics about how they might try to speed up that training. Certainly it's going as fast as the Pentagon can arrange -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Well, maybe we'll learn some more specifics on Tuesday when the president speaks to the nation.
ENSOR: Quite possibly.
NGUYEN: All right. CNN's David Ensor. Thank you for that.
A huge wildfire is raging across the Tonto National Forest outside Phoenix, Arizona. Firefighters say the blaze is moving away from populated areas, but high winds are still a concern.
We get the latest now from Keith Oppenheim in the town of Carefree.
What's the situation there, Keith?
OPPENHEIM: Hi, Betty. And we've got a generally optimistic outlook from fire officials, who gave their first news conference of the day about an hour ago. The gist of what they said is that the fire is spreading, but there is no danger right now to private homes or to any buildings at all.
This fire started a couple of days ago. It actually started as two fires that joined together. And once the fire came together, the fires consumed 11 homes and three outbuildings.
Delvin Lopez, who is a ranger with the U.S. Forest Service, talked about that. And he said that there are many houses -- though there have been many houses that have been saved, the loss of any property is a disappointment to the fire crews.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DELVIN LOPEZ, ACTING DISTRICT RANGER: We did lose 11 homes in that area, and three storage sheds. So, first of all, I -- you know, I'm sorry we weren't able to salvage those homes, but it was quite a firestorm through there, and very little we could do. (END VIDEO CLIP)
OPPENHEIM: By the way, about 250 people were evacuated from their homes in the last day or two. But by last night, most of those folks have been able to return to their homes.
As far as the fire goes, Betty, it's moving out to the desert. There's plenny of vegetation and dry shrubs out there for the fire to consume.
So what the crews are doing now is setting backfires. It's really the only way that they can stop a fire in the wilderness. And some of the officials at the news conference warned that people might see a lot of smoke today, but the smoke that they see today is more likely to be from the backfires set by the crews than the actual wildfire itself.
NGUYEN: Using fires to fight fires. All right. CNN's Keith Oppenheim. Thank you.
Now for a check of the weather outlook for the Phoenix area and beyond, we have Rob Marciano at the CNN weather center.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Anxiety mounting in Camden, New Jersey. Police say they have no firm leads in the search for three missing children. Police officials and parents of the boys are expected to address the media sometime in the next few minutes. We will monitor that and bring you any information when it comes.
Well, five people are in custody in the disappearance of Alabama student Natalee Holloway, including an Aruban judge. But so far, no one has been charged with anything. We'll go live to Aruba for the latest. And also, a look at how Aruban law is so different from America's system.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This guy in the white shirt, they're walking, but he was drinking out of a beer can and just dropped it -- threw it on the ground.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Operation Extra Eyes. Ordinary citizens on patrol for drunk drivers. We'll show you how it works.
And next, dedicated to their mission. Six months after the Asian tsunami, some volunteers are still on the job.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: News around the world now.
Millions of Iranians go to the polls in the country's first presidential runoff election. Voting was extended at least four hours because of huge turnout. A moderate cleric is pitted against a hard- line religious conservative in this second round of the election, and analysts say the outcome is too close to call.
Floods in China have killed more than 500 people in the past two weeks. Look at this. And forecasters are protecting more torrential downpours. Rising waters have forced the evacuation of nearly 1.5 million people in parts of that country. Damage was worse in southern China.
Millions of dollars, tons of aids, and tens of thousands of volunteers have poured into southeast Asia for the past six months. Recovery from the devastating tsunami is slow but steady, in part because of those who put their own lives on hold.
CNN's Aneesh Raman introduces us to two of them.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When Justin Strauss saw reports of an Asian tsunami, he gave more than a donation. He gave himself. Leaving his construction job in Hilltop, Pennsylvania, the former Peace Corps volunteer signed up again, bringing his skills to Thailand's hardest-hit villages.
JUSTIN STRAUSS, TSUNAMI VOLUNTEER: I knew I'd be facing a lot of difficulties as far as sights and stories of what I hear here. And I'm glad I did it.
RAMAN: For three months, Justin has lived and labored among tsunami survivors, building homes on a landscape ravaged by the waves, building relationships with people who have nothing left.
Sixty-three year old Chung Nam Utiman (ph) lost 11 family members to the tsunami. And in its aftermath, gained an unlikely friend.
STRAUSS: I was told about his story and told that he's been working by himself. And to me, that was a perfect partner to work with. I mean, to try to lend a hand.
RAMAN: Every day, Justin comes here to work. Every day, the two grow closer. Chung Nam (ph) calls Justin his son. Justin calls this a second home.
(on camera): The work out here is really difficult. Beyond the infrastructure issues, it's monsoon season. And when it's not raining, it is unbearably hot. And for some of the volunteers it's the first time they're doing anything like this.
(voice-over): Songwriter Dana Underwood came to comfort survivors. She had never done humanitarian work before. But she had also never seen such devastation.
DANA UNDERWOOD, TSUNAMI VOLUNTEER: When I saw this, it just -- everything that happened was on such a grand scale and so horrifying that I just knew, you know, even if I couldn't affiliate with someone, that I could go and lift a bucket.
RAMAN: It's now been five months, and Underwood's mom came from Chicago hoping to bring her daughter home. But Dana's staying. Counseling the displaced is more important today than it was the day after the disaster.
UNDERWOOD: The shock is wearing off of what happened. And so depression is starting to set in. And you can just sort of see people wonder why things are taking so long, and, you know, wonder why people have forgotten what's gone on here.
RAMAN: Tens of thousands of foreign volunteers have made their way through southern Thailand, each with their own story, their own reason for coming, their own lessons learned.
UNDERWOOD: I've learned that if you can help somebody, you should, even if you can't -- you know, if you think you can't afford it, or you don't know how it's going to work out, you just do it anyway, because it does.
RAMAN: Aneesh Raman, CNN, Thailand.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Well, shifting gears, the Reverend Billy Graham for decades has been known as the world's evangelist. Ahead on LIVE FROM, as he gets set for his final crusade. He reveals what happened at a turning point in his life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. BILLY GRAHAM, EVANGELIST: I thought I was dying. And I knew I was dying.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Well, what happened next took a whole lot of faith. The rest of his story, that's ahead on LIVE FROM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: An elderly preacher from North Carolina will bare his soul tonight to thousands of listeners in Flushing, New York. His health in decline, but his faith unshaken. The Reverend Billy Graham is coming fill circle to a city instrumental to his stunning life's journey.
CNN's Alina Cho is in New York for this last crusade -- Alina.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, it was here in New York way back in 1957 that Billy Graham first rise to national prominence. It was a stunning 16-week revival at Madison Square Garden. More than two million people came out to see Graham. So New York understandably holds a special place in Graham's heart. And undeniably, it is one of the big reasons why he has decided to come back for what he is calling his last crusade. Dr. Graham will be delivering three sermons over as many days beginning tonight. He says that he will stick to scripture and stay away from politics. But remember, this is a weekend event.
As you can hear behind me, it will include a lot of music, and there will be a youth rally tomorrow. The star of that show is Bible Man, also known as Robert Schlipp.
Quite a getup you have there. You are a Christian action hero who fights evil by quoting scripture. So tell me, what is it about the way you deliver your message that really uplifts (ph) the children.
ROBERT SCHLIPP, BIBLE MAN: Well, we present the gospel message in a unique way, and that is, we use stage illusions, choreograph battle sequences, original songs. But more important than that, throughout the entire stage production there are 30 passages of scripture.
We present the message of god's plan for salvation four different times. And there's the opportunity for kids to meet Jesus Christ, who we believe is the greatest superhero of all time.
CHO: Now tell me, as you know, this will be Graham's last crusade in America. I'm wondering what your thoughts are on that. This is a bittersweet time.
SCHLIPP: Well, it's absolutely such a great privilege to be invited to be a part of such an historic event, and it's wonderful to be able to stand with someone who has been a role model to me and an icon that I have looked up to my entire life. And to be invited to share a platform and have the opportunity to give the invitation for people to make commitments to Jesus at a Billy Graham crusade is one of the greatest honors that I could ever hope for in my life.
I've heard it said that Billy Graham is the greatest evangelist since the apostle Paul in the bible. And I believe that's true, and I feel very privileged to be able to share the bible with him.
CHO: On a very lighter note, very quickly, how hot are you and how long does it take you to get into this costume?
SCHLIPP: Well, it does take a little while to put on the former armor, and it gets really hot. But if you pray (INAUDIBLE), you can put on the full armor of god, too, just like that.
CHO: All right. Bible Man, otherwise known as Robert Schlipp, thank you for joining us live here on CNN.
Very quickly, Betty, though this is his last crusade in America, Bill Graham, we should mention, is also considering an invitation to preach in London this fall. But he says he won't make any announcements or decisions about that until he finishes up in New York -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Nonetheless, history will be made this weekend. Alina Cho, thank you so much.
At age 86, the Reverend Graham suffers from a number of painful afflictions, and to hear him tell it, he's prepared to meet his maker. He spoke in New York with our Kyra Phillips.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GRAHAM: I thought I was dying one night. I knew I was dying. And I asked the lord to be sure that I was ready to meet him. And all of my sins that I ever committed came in front of my mind, back to my childhood, and then I said, "Lord, forgive me."
And I knew that when Christ died on the cross, he took my sins. And the bible says his blood cleanses us from all sin. And those thoughts came to me. And I had a peace come over me that I have never lost. I still have it, an absolute peace and absolute certainty of my own immortality with him.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: You have no unfinished business?
GRAHAM: No unfinished business. I've even got my bills paid.
PHILLIPS: Hallelujah to that.
GRAHAM: The only unfinished business would be to hug my children and kiss my wife again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: And you will be hearing much, much more on Billy Graham. "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS" takes an hour-long look at his long career and the impact it's had on millions around the globe. That's "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS," Sunday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
Right now the search continues on the island of Aruba with plenty of unanswered questions remaining about the suspects in police custody. The latest on their situation. Plus a closer look at the legal issues facing authorities working the case.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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