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London's Muslims React to Bombings; NASA Briefs Press on Scrubbed Launch

Aired July 14, 2005 - 14:33   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Chief Justice William Rehnquist has been released from a Virginia hospital. He was admitted on Tuesday night with a fever. Rehnquist, who's 80, has been battling thyroid cancer since October. He underwent a tracheotomy earlier this year.
Scary moments at a demolition site in New York today. Five people injured including a 7-month-old baby, when part of a building and scaffolding collapsed. The building is being removed to make way for condominiums. All of the victims are in stable condition. The cause of that collapse is now under investigation.

Residents joins firefighters to fend off a brush fire in Southern California. The wind-driven blaze threatened multi-million dollar homes in Rancho Palos Verdes, just south of Los Angeles. Some flames came within yards of several mansions. Firefighters managed to contain the 100-acre fire earlier today.

Police in London appeal for information on a suspected suicide bomber. A close circuit TV image shows that 18-year-old Hasib Hussain, about to board a train for London on the morning of the multiple terror attacks a week ago today. The 18-year-old British Muslim is identified as the bomber who hit that double-decker bus about an hour after the bombs went off on three subway trains. Police want to know what Hussain was doing during that hour-long period.

Also today, London's hustle and bustle came to a halt at the stroke of noon as the city observed a moment of silence to honor the victims. The death toll today was raised by one to 53.

Among those shocked by the deadly terrorist bombings are London's many Muslims. As CNN's Zain Verjee reports, many fear a backlash now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Edgware Road and Church Street, a well known crossroad in London's Muslim community, just blocks away from one of last week's bombings. Latifa Aibi is originally from Morocco, but she'll tell that you her home is here. She moved to London from Casablanca 10 years ago, met her husband, and had three daughters.

LATIFA AIBI, MOROCCO NATIVE: I'm England. If somebody hurts my country, I want to hurt him.

VERJEE: Latifa tells us, the day of the bombings, she was confronted by a white neighbor. "He accused me," she says, "because he sees the scarf."

AIBI: I need peace for everybody.

VERJEE: Latifa leads me down the block, past butcher shops where meat is prepared according to Islamic tradition, stores offering Moroccan couscous and Lebanese pita bread, windows papered with deals for locals to phone home to relatives in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and into the Jabal Amil (ph) grocery.

The owner says business has been slow since the terrorist attacks. Ali Farhad's customers come from all over the Middle East and central Asia.

ALI FARHAD, GROCERY STORE OWNER: This is Iraqi, meat with lime. You know?

VERJEE: He tells us he has quite a few English customers, too. This is, after all, a secular, middle-class neighbor, not a hotbed of extremism. Still, Ali tells me that Muslims here are under exceptional pressure.

FARHAD: We have to keep ourselves as good as we can to show them that we are, you know -- really, want to live with them in peaceful, and just want to do our best to show them that we are good people.

ADDEL KADIR, FISH SELLER: What happened here has happened to us as well.

VERJEE: One of the bombs went off just a few blocks from here, where Addel Kadir sells fresh fish every day. Addel says he deplores the attacks, but points to the growing frustration in the Muslim world.

KADIR: There's hundreds of thousands of people died in Iraq. But nobody count for that. Hundred of thousands people died in Palestine. Nobody count for that.

VERJEE: In front of this tube stop, a memorial to the lost, flowers and notes, many written in Arabic, a message to the dead from Iraqi Muslims: "All our mosques are praying for you."

Over a smoke of apple tobacco from a bubbling shisha pipe, 18- year-old Abdul Islami, a student, tells us what he says happened when he visited the memorial at Edgware Road.

ABDUL ISLAMI, STUDENT: And I was taking a picture with my phone and two English ladies were like, oh, it's not something to laugh about. Do you know what I mean? And, obviously, they looked at our skin color and they make assumptions that we're laughing or we're taking a picture for jokes. But it is not like that.

VERJEE: He says he couldn't understand why anyone would think he had made a joke of the terror.

(on camera): What does this paper say?

(voice-over): Near the subway, a newsstand where Arab newspapers outnumber British ones.

FARHAD: Don't make Muslim the scapegoats.

VERJEE (on camera): Is that what you think? Are you worried that Muslim will be made the scapegoat?

FARHAD: Yes, of course. They are.

VERJEE (voice-over): Ali insists the bombers cannot be true Muslims.

FARHAD: But they are brainwashed. Believe me. And the people, they know that. And the politicians, they know that. And you know that as well.

VERJEE: Walking down Edgware Road, it was clear to me that, though Muslims we talked to here condemn the bombings, they also fear a backlash against an entire community for the actions of a few.

Zain Verjee, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Now to the Caribbean. Hurricane Emily rapidly intensifying. In the last few hours, that storm has gained strength, jumping from a Category 1 to a Category 2 hurricane and now nearing Category 3 status.

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: We've got to quickly get over to NASA, where they're holding a news conference now about the scrubbed launch. Let's listen in.

WAYNE HALE, DEPUTY SHUTTLE PROGRAM MGR.: ... status of where we're going. First of all, you know, yesterday we had a failure of one of the low-level -- on of the four sensors in the liquid hydrogen tank or its associated electronics on board the Discovery. That sensor read wet. Now, normally they are wet, which the tank was full. They show wet. It showed wet when we sent test commands that should have made it indicate dry to the computers. Dry being the low level cutoff state. You want to make sure that it will work.

One of those four sensors failed that check. That's a violation of our launch commit criteria and so we stopped the count, drained the tank, continuously watching all those sensors. They're watched all the time. They continuously report -- any time the -- all the time that the shuttle is on with electrical power, they'll report their status to the computers and they were watched all the way by the engineers.

When the tank was drained down to the point at which those sensors were uncovered, three -- the three good sensors showed dry. The fourth showed wet for about three hours after the tank was physically dry. Now, there's some cryogenic hydrogen left in the bottom of that tank for some period of time that boils off, but that should still be a dry indication.

After about three hours of reading wet, the sensor changed to dry, which means that we now have an intermittent transient failure, which is the worst kind of thing to troubleshoot. At that time, the on-console folks in the firing room did a really inspired bit of troubleshooting. They sent some of these test commands that we talked about yesterday to try to get the sensor to read other things. They, in fact, were able to get it to read wet for a period of time and then sometime later as they continuously resent the test commands, it started reading appropriately.

So right now, the sensor indication is as it should be, which represents a problem for our troubleshooting team. What we did overnight since many of the engineers had worked during the launch countdown and spent the first few hours after the launch countdown trying to get their plan together, we sent most everybody home to get a good night's sleep, started again this morning with really vast engineering team, I've got to tell you, across the country, to put together the plan.

We reviewed all the data that we could on the black boxes, the wires, the sensors themselves, the history of this particular tank, the history of Discovery and its peculiarities with these sensors. We sent a number of folks off to get the schematics -- the original schematics on many of these piece parts; to get the factory history and the buildup to the various piece parts, and so, today it was largely spent in data review.

We established 12 different teams -- 12 different engineering teams to attack this problem. They stretch across the country. They're NASA and contractor. They include folks here at the Kennedy Space Center; at the Marshall Space Flight center; at the Johnson Space Flight Center; various places around the country where our vendors are located and these teams are looking at specific parts of the problem.

There is a troubleshooting team that's working a troubleshooting plan that we'll start this evening. That's in addition to the troubleshooting we did remotely during the tank drain. Tonight, as our troubleshooting plan comes together, we will probably start to off-load the cryogenic reactants for the fuel cells. That'll -- gives us the safety measure to get into the aft end of the orbiter to try -- start the troubleshooting inside if we decide that's the thing to do.

Given that work, if we were to get extremely lucky, it is theoretically possible that we could still launch on Sunday. That's a little bit different than where we were yesterday, because of the time of day. We had kind of given up any possibility of launching Saturday, but I've got to tell you that this represents a really optimistic, good-luck scenario, which I think is not very credible. What we're more likely into...

(LAUGHTER) I wish I had better news. What we are more likely into is, several days of troubleshooting and we will know tomorrow when we get the integrated troubleshooting plan back at the mission management team -- when the engineers complete with that and start work on that, we'll be able to give you a more definitive time line. That's the best I've got right now.

Let's see. Mike, did I leave anything out?

MIKE WETMORE, SHUTTLE PROCESSING: No, I think you completely covered it and I guess I would just add that from the ground- processing perspective, we executed the 72-hour scrub turnaround yesterday as requested; knowing that today we would be at a good hold point. We're going to hold basically 48 hours out from a launch and look for another decision tomorrow about this time on whether to continue forward back toward processing or to back out further and basically go into full troubleshooting mode.

HALE: To reiterate: Tomorrow the mission management team, as a team management team, will meet at 3:30 to review the engineering team -- the results of the work the engineering teams have done in the forward trouble shooting plan. Following that meeting, we'll make a decision about the way forward and I'll come back over here -- or somebody will come back over here and tell you guys all about it and answer any questions that you might have at that time, as well. I think that's all I've got.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. We'll take questions. Let's start here in the front with Marsha.

MARSHA DENNIS (ph), ASSOCIATED PRESS: Marsha Dennis (ph), Associated Press, for either gentlemen. Full troubleshooting mode: Does that imply a roll-back, and what's your leading suspect as of today?

HALE: Well, let's see, when I talked about full troubleshooting mode, I was talking more about an engineering mind-set and this point. We've got the full team across the country engaged; hundreds of engineers; folks that were involved in the manufacturing design pulling out records, reviewing tests that had been run and so forth.

At this point, we envision the troubleshooting to take place mostly at the launchpad. There obviously are scenarios that could lead to a roll-back. Right now there are so many options or so many possible things that could come out of the troubleshooting, that it's really not a -- very fruitful to speculate, because we want to take this one step at a time and see where the data leads us. It really doesn't lend itself to giving you a definitive answer and I'm sorry about that, but we're just starting the troubleshooting and we'll see where the data takes us.

WETMORE: And if I can add a little bit, from a...

PHILLIPS: At a lot of -- after a lot of test commands and troubleshooting, engineer teams there at NASA say: Well, the sensor indication looks pretty good, after the fuel tank sensor failure yesterday, which scrubbed the Discovery launch.

Now they're at a hold point, but they're saying, possibly: Liftoff on Sunday. Sean Callebs there, tracking what they're saying at NASA. What do you think, Sean?

SEAN CALLEBS: Well, they said, "possibly on Sunday." But clearly the headline is that is an extremely optimistic outlook at this point. They're very clear. The NASA management team saying that the big concern right now: It is an intermittent problem. And anybody who has ever dealt with anything in an engineering fashion, knows when you have something that's gone down and you say, "well, it works sometimes, it doesn't work sometimes," that is the most difficult thing to fix.

What we're talking about is a faulty fuel sensor and you heard him talk about low level. Let me explain for just a second here. Now, here in the external tank -- two sections here: This would be the low level. There are four sensors down in this area and you heard him say that they would read wet, when it should have been dry.

So, basically as the hydrogen burns down -- once it begins to run out, it should say: Dry. Those four sensors are very critically important, because as the hydrogen and oxygen is pumped into the shuttle through two separate pipes, it gets into the combustion chamber and that is where it is ignited. And if the sensor reads wet and it is dry and continues to burn, it could cause a catastrophic problem.

You heard him say that they'll go into the shuttle and make some changes so they can go into these panels. They're talking about these two panels right here. If indeed this intermittent problem is within the shuttle and not in the external fuel tank, it could be something easier to fix. But at this point, they simply don't know.

It could also be in the wiring or in the cable -- in all the various wires and cables from within the shuttle, as well. So, really this is a problem that has NASA somewhat stumped. You heard him talk about the 12 committees that are working about this; virtually all over the nation. NASA, doing what it can. We'll keep our ears to the ground here and keep our fingers crossed for Sunday, Kyra. If we hear anything else, we'll pass it on.

PHILLIPS: All right. I know you're there. Sean Callebs, thank you so much. We're going to take a quick break. More LIVE FROM, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: British Open update now. Tiger Woods, still in the lead. Six under, we are told. And a few well-known names not far behind. Retief Goosen, four under. Moving on down the list, Vijay Singh, three under. We'll continue to update how they all do.

But of course, the "Golden Bear." He's there, saying good-bye in style. Jack Nicklaus, as you know, bringing the curtain down on a legendary golfing career at the British Open at St. Andrews, Scotland. It's his last major tournament. The master produced a few moments of a magic as he ended round one, with three over 75. That's not bad. Playing a good round. It's got to be a bittersweet moment for the Bear.

We'll be following all things British Open for you, of course.

Well, big news in Hollywood. The Emmy nominations are out. Let's get straight to it. Sibila Vargas with entertainment. Hi, Sibila.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

With varsity players like "Friends," "Frasier" and "Sex and the City" having already graduated, TV's top honors let a few benchers onto the Emmy field and at least one freshman player was certainly not desperate for nominations.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL IMPERIOLI, ACTOR: The nominees for lead actress in a comedy series are...

VARGAS (voice-over): The ladies of Wisteria Lane were among the leaders at the 57th annual primetime Emmy nominations. "Desperate Housewives" was tapped 15 times in all, including outstanding lead comedy actress nominations for Marcia Cross, Felicity Huffman and this year's Golden Globe winner, Teri Hatcher. Also in the mix was "Malcolm in the Middle" star Jane Kaczmarek and two-time Emmy winner Patricia Heaton.

PATRICIA HEATON, ACTRESS, "EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND": Let me enlighten you as to how a hamper works, OK?

VARGAS: Heaton's "Everybody Loves Raymond" co-star Ray Romano was also nominated for outstanding actor in a comedy series. He'll compete with Jason Bateman from "Arrested Development," "Scrubs" star Zach Braff, "Monk"'s Tony Shaloub and Eric McCormack from "Will and Grace." That series was also nominated also 15 times.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you -- take that off!

VARGAS: That show will duke it out with last year's winner for outstanding comedy series, "Arrested Development," as well as "Desperate Housewives," "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Scrubs."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yo, there's a rescue plane. We're saved. Yay!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, he's out.

VARGAS: Certainly not "Lost" in the Emmys roundup was the ensemble cast of ABC's surprise hit "Lost," which grabbed an impressive 12 nominations. Its outstanding drama series competition from NBC's "West Wing," Fox's real-time drama "24," and two HBO hits: "Six Feet Under" and "Deadwood."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You would not to be staring like that at me.

VARGAS: The foul-mouthed Western also saw headliner Ian McShane receive a nod for outstanding lead actor in a drama series. He'll duel it out with "24"'s Kiefer Sutherland, "House"'s Hugh Laurie, "Boston Legal"'s James Spader and the dark horse nominee of the group, Hank Azaria from "Huff."

PATRICIA ARQUETTE, ACTRESS, "MEDIUM": I mean, I see it. I see the truth.

VARGAS: A surprise nomination for outstanding lead actress in a drama series went to freshman player Patricia Arquette from "Medium." Her race is against "The Shield"'s Glenn Close, "Six Feet Under" star Frances Conroy and, Mariska Hargitay from "Law and Under: SVU" and the new Mrs. Ben Affleck and soon-to-be mom Jennifer Garner from "Alias."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

When all was said and done, HBO still the belle of the ball, with 93 nominations in all. It should be an interesting race and you can watch the Emmy awards as they are handed out September 18th. As for me, I'm on my way to interview nominee Teri Hatcher. Anything you're desperate to find out, Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Let me think. Yes, I want to know the future of her relationship with the really good-looking neighbor. What's his name? I've only seen the show once or twice.

VARGAS: Mike, Mike.

PHILLIPS: Yes, Mike.

VARGAS: I think, yes.

PHILLIPS: Try and work on an interview with Mike, would you?

VARGAS: All right.

PHILLIPS: All right, Sibila, thanks a lot.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Well, terror ties to what we're talking about. New details emerging about the men suspected in the London bombings. LIVE FROM is on that investigation. Stay with us.

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