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9/11 Video; Immigration Battle

Aired May 16, 2006 - 13:32   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go straight to the newsroom. Betty Nguyen's working a developing story for us -- Betty.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, Kyra. Judicial Watch, which is a public interest group, It has been able to get some tapes from the Department of Justice. Now these tapes of are American Airlines flight 77 hitting the Pentagon on September 11th. There was a lot that went into getting these tapes, and we're still waiting for that to be posted on the Judicial Watch Web site. At least two tapes are going to be released. They're of two different angles from security cameras at the same Pentagon checkpoints.

But here's what we have to show you right now. CNN was the first to obtain and broadcast still frames from one of these videos back in March 2002. That is the video right there, of the plane that hit the Pentagon on September 11th. Now, we're going to get, today, video of this occurrence from the Justice Department. This video will be a more complete version of those frames that you just saw.

Now, back in 2002, I have to tell you that CNN filed a Freedom of Information request with this justice department for this very video. That was denied. CNN did not appeal.

But in 2004, Judicial Watch filed another Freedom of Information Request with the Justice Department. That was appealed. A lawsuit was entered after that.

And then the Justice Department said they cannot send those tapes out, simply because the Zacarias Moussaoui trial was coming up, and therefore they didn't want to taint the jury. Well, now, Kyra, as we know, that trial is over with. Moussaoui was convicted, sentenced to life in prison. Now those tapes can be revealed. And today, any minute now -- it was supposed to happen at 1:00 Eastern -- these tapes were supposed to be posted on Judicial Watch's Web site. We're still waiting for that to happen.

But we do have some more information that maybe we'll see on the Web site, maybe we won't. Back in 2002, CNN correspondents say that sources say the FBI confiscated hotel security camera video, which also captured this attack.

Now, we don't know if that's what's going to be released by the Justice Department. All we know is the video that the Justice Department is releasing involves the tapes that were captured at different angles of the Pentagon.

So we're waiting to see what that video shows. But it says a lot exactly about what happened. There's all these conspiracy theories out there. Obviously, it's going to solve a lot of that. But a lot of people are thinking about the families, too, those victims' families and how these tapes are going to affect them, tapes that will be released any minute now -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And as soon as we see those tape, we will get reaction from those family members and victims, those that survived.

Betty, thanks so much.

Six-thousand troops, 2,000 miles. President Bush wants the National Guard to temporarily beef up the U.S. Border Patrol on one of the world's longest undefended frontiers. And people who heard him explain it last night overwhelming approved. I'm talking three out of four in a CNN poll conducted by Opinion Research Corporation right after the speech. Twenty-one percent opposed sending the National Guard to the Mexican border. And no, this is not a poll of the general public. It only includes speech viewers, a subset that's usually a little more partisan.

And a poll of the governors of the border states involved would come out 50/50. Arizona Governor, Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, and Texas Governor Rick Perry, a Republican, are generally on board with the president's plan. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, and New York (sic) Governor Bill Richardson, a Democrat, generally are not.

Richardson talked about his concerns last night on CNN, and Perry responded in an interview with me this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GOV. BILL RICHARDSON (D), NEW MEXICO: My big question, for instance, is as New Mexico governor, is from the 6,000, how many are going to be from New Mexico, or coming to New Mexico? They couldn't give me an answer on that. There are a lot of specifics that are not dealt with. It seems that this policy is being made on the fly, and that's what's discouraging.

PHILLIPS: Governor Perry, do you believe it was made on the fly? And how soon did you know that the president was going to make this announcement about the National Guardsmen?

GOV. RICK PERRY (R), TEXAS: Well, first and foremost, this is a president who was the governor of the state of Texas for better than four and-a-half, five years, so this wasn't made on the fly. You know, quite frankly, Governor Richardson was one of the first to declare a state of emergency along the border, and now he seems to be crawfishing on this issue of whether or not National Guard troops need to be placed on the border.

So the fact is, we need to be focused on how we can positively find the answers to these issues. I think this is a step in the right direction. There's a lot more that needs to be done. Homeland Security dollars need to flow into these border states, particularly to the state of Texas, where they can augment our enforcement efforts that we're doing a substantial amount of. We've been using the National Guard in the state of Texas to augment our border security for some time now, so this is a step in the right direction.

Is it the final answer? Absolutely not. We need substantial amount of dollars, substantial amount of boots on the ground, if you will, to stop this illegal immigration, and particularly stop these drug dealers and possible terrorists that are coming into our state.

PHILLIPS: Governor Schwarzenegger came out also concerned about these Guardsmen. He said, I am concerned that asking National Guard troops to guard our nation's border is a band-aid solution and not the permanent solution that we need. Are you concerned about the fact that soldiers are already strapped in Iraq and Afghanistan?

PERRY: Well, first and foremost, there's probably not a state, with the possible exception of California, that's got anymore National Guard troops that are serving in Iraq. But our individuals are quite capable of multitasking. We had to deal with Katrina and Rita, as well as the Iraq war and our National Guard troops, along with a host of volunteers, and our DPS and all other types of other law enforcement individuals. Substantially and appropriately addressed that major crisis that we had. I think that our National Guard troops -- as they are doing today -- will be able to augment this effort to secure our borders.

But I think it's really important that the federal government allow for those Homeland Security dollars to be released so that we can augment even more the border enforcement -- law enforcement...

PHILLIPS: What about Border Patrol agents? Are you saying that the Border Patrol just isn't good enough, and that these agents are not doing their jobs?

PERRY: Absolutely not. They're doing did a fabulous job. What I'm saying is that we need more dollars to help augment our security efforts of our local law enforcement. They're the individuals, along with Border Patrol, that know this border better than anyone, and...

PHILLIPS: So why not put the funds toward that? Why not put the money toward better law enforcement there, in your state, and better law enforcement on the border and better -- more funds for the Border Patrol agents?

PERRY: Good point, and I agree with you totally.

PHILLIPS: So why are you supporting the fact that National Guard troops are coming on your boarder?

PERRY: Well, the fact is we've already got our Texas National Guard troops that are assisting in this effort, have been for months. I think this is a -- we know that every time a person in uniform shows up on that border, crime goes down. So the more boots on the ground, the more individuals that we can have, that's the reason we'd like to see more law enforcement individuals. And this plan brings the National Guard in, then it augments them and replaces them with Border Patrol agents. We agree with that. The fact is we need more. PHILLIPS: Let me ask you about that message, governor. You see a Border Patrol agent, and you think, OK, hopefully I'll be able to have a pretty civil conversation with the Border Patrol agent. He or she will ask what I'm doing, I may get arrested, I may be let go, depending on the story. But when you see a soldier with a weapon, the first thing to enter your mind is, well, this is someone that's trained to kill the enemy. It's very different from the training that police officers go through or Border Patrol agents go through.

So are you concerned that this could get pretty chaotic and could become a militarized zone that could create a scene that not a lot of people want to see?

PERRY: Well, I think, first and foremost, that the media needs to take into account that that's not what the National Guard's going to be used for. And I think to paint a picture that that's what it is, is inappropriate. So we need to focus on what's the National Guard actually doing.

Our National Guard is assisting in the collection of intelligence and a substantial number of other types of ways. They need to continue that role. Again, I think it's that uniformed law enforcement presence that's making the big difference on that border. That's where the Homeland Security dollars need to be expended.

They need to be released today so we can see those types of increases of that uniformed presence of law enforcement that actually know where the bad guys smuggle the drugs, where the terrorists are trying to cross. And in doing that, you will see a substantial decrease of illegal immigration also.

PHILLIPS: Governor Perry, sure to appreciate your time today, thank you.

PERRY: You're welcome.

PHILLIPS: Calm rivers become raging rapids as New England's flooding nears record levels. An update straight ahead. The news keeps coming. We'll keep bringing it to you. More LIVE FROM next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Break in the weather -- that's all water-logged New Englanders want right now and they could get it later today. Then perhaps they could start drying out for all this. Roads impassable, houses, unlivable. Governors of Massachusetts and New Hampshire have declared states of emergency and called out the National Guard to help evacuate residents or place sandbags on riverbanks.

In many communities, Matsu in Massachusetts among them, the worry is whether the older dams will hold. Many of them are at the breaking point right now. Will New England get any relief?

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Bitter relief for some people in parched Florida. About 1200 residents of Edgewater are back in their homes a day after a huge brushfire sent them running. Drivers are having to take a detour around section of Interstate 95 after the flames jumped the highway. It's not clear how the fire start but investigators are calling it suspicious.

Man overboard, and the search for him is on after a delay. An Ohio man is missing from a cruise ship off the east coast of Florida. The Coast Guard says the search for Daniel DiPiero began this morning after a delay due to stormy weather. He was reported missing Monday morning from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Mariner of the Seas.

It was shocking testimony: a young man telling Congress how he was lured into the sleazy world of online child pornography. Justin Berry accused one man of luring him to the Michigan -- or to Michigan, rather -- when he was just 13 and then setting up an Internet site to show video of him performing sex acts. Now that story of Internet abuse leads to arrest.

Allan Chernoff has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ken Gourlay was arrested Monday in Detroit on 10 counts of felony child abuse. Justin Berry and Michigan authorities claim Gourlay molested Berry starting when Berry was 14 years old. They also claim that in a series of encounters, Gourlay introduced Berry to the world of online prostitution.

MIKE COX, MICHIGAN ATTORNEY GENERAL: We allege that during the course of these meetings, Kenneth Gourlay got Justin to prostitute himself.

CHERNOFF: If convicted, Gourlay could face more than 100 years in prison. Gourlay's lawyer refused to comment on the charges against his client saying he looks forward to trying the case in court. Barry's case gained national attention last month when he testified before Congress on Internet predators.

JUSTIN BERRY, ALLEGED VICTIM: I hope the web-cam would help me meet other teenagers online and hopefully a few girls my age. That never happened. No teenager outside of the web-cam pornography business ever contacted me. But I did hear from many child predators.

CHERTOFF: According to Berry's attorney, his client is grateful to Michigan authorities for apprehended Gourlay. Gourlay is now being held on half a million dollars bond.

Allan Chernoff, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Internet images of alleged athletes hazing gets a soccer player suspended. Northwestern University is investigating its womens' soccer team because of pictures posted on a Web site. The pictures show women in T-shirts, underwear and knee socks, allegedly going through initiation rituals for the women's soccer team. Some of the women are shown blindfolded, others with their arms tied behind their backs. All team activities are on hold during the athletic department's investigation.

Horses in high water. Animal rescues from the flood zone in New England, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Lava's flowing, hot gases spewing out of the top. Even though the gas clouds are smaller than yesterday, experts warn that Mount Merapi could blow any time. Many farmers who live at the base of this Indonesian volcano have moved their families to safety now, and they refuse to leave because of the only animals. The volcano, considered by some as sacred, last erupted a dozen years ago.

A powerful earthquake rattled South Pacific islands just north of New Zealand today. The magnitude 7.4 quake hit deep under the ocean, prompting tsunami warnings. But so far, no killer waves have surfaced. The quake struck just hours before New Zealand and some two dozen other countries were to conduct a mock drill of the Pacific tsunami warning system. Many New Zealanders felt the quake, but no damage or injuries are reported at this time.

A flood of fear in New England. Not know where you're going, when you're coming back or what will be left. Evacuations are tough on people, maybe even tougher on animals. Our reporter now from Boston affiliate WHDH has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mary Anne (ph), just keep your eye on the boat!

LINDA ERGAS, WHDH REPORTER (voice-over): As the water gets deeper, these horses become more resistant. At the deepest point, the water is practically reaching the animals' necks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Never actually had to take horses and bring them through this amount of water.

ERGAS: Workers from the Animal Rescue League are ferried in by firefighters. Thunder Bridge Lane is now a river. And at the end is Mystic Pines, a horse farm, where 16 horses are stranded, surrounded by endless water. Getting them to dry land -- not an easy task.

The farm's owner, Nancy Hart, feeling emotionally tapped.

NANCY HART, HORSE FARM OWNER: We own six of our own, and then we have -- the rest are boarders. And they're my responsibility.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just keep moving forward, slow.

ERGAS (on camera): These two horses here are giving this team the most trouble. No doubt, the animals are afraid of the water. But the cold temperature of the water is making things worse. (voice-over): No question, a tough day for everyone here.

DANIELLE RALLO, HORSE OWNER: I just -- I was little nervous about him getting through the water. He hates water.

ERGAS (on camera): Now, throughout this entire ordeal, no tranquilizers were used on any of the horses. One of the animals did cut its leg and it needed stitches, but it should be just fine. For now, all of the horses will be boarded at other farms and it will likely be some time before they're brought back here.

Reporting in Middleton, Linda Ergas, 7 News Night Team.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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