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Search Continues For Missing U.S. Soldiers in Iraq; Three U.S. Soldiers Charged in Deaths of Iraqi Detainees; Missile Threat From North Korea?

Aired June 19, 2006 - 15:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Quite a fight in Sedona, Arizona, right now -- live pictures from KPHO, as you can see, all the assets being brought in to fight the fire -- fire crews trying to corral a wildfire that has tripled in size just in the past 24 hours.
It started yesterday in the scenic Oak Creek Canyon. People are scrambling to get out of there right now, even as more firefighters are moving in. So far, we are told they haven't lost any homes, but the fight grows tougher as those winds pick up.

A busy day for Jacqui Jeras, keeping a watch on all of it from the Weather Center -- Jacqui.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, Kyra.

Those winds are not too bad right now. They're around 15, maybe 20 miles per hour, not quite at those levels where we start to see real significant problems with those firefighters trying to get those flames out. But, you know, you get up to 20, 25, that could be enough to spark some of those embers and spread that fire a little bit farther.

There's a system pulling through this region here, an upper-level trough, as we call it. And, as that approaches, we are going to continue to watch those winds increase. And we think that will also be happening across much of the Four Corners area. So, kind of a critical fire weather outlook area across much of Utah, into Colorado, across much of Arizona, into New Mexico, and this is even going to be as far north maybe into parts of Wyoming, where could have problems with fires.

And, also, as this approaches, particularly by tomorrow, we could be getting what we call those dry-type thunderstorms, the ones that produce lightning, but don't produce any rainfall. And that could spark more fires across the area -- the temperatures starting to heat up, only in the noon hour out there.

Sedona is right around in this area here. It's south of Flagstaff. And there you can see the present weather conditions here. Winds are coming in out of the south, southwest, 12 miles per hour at this present time. And your temperature is 85 degrees. Those temperatures are going to go well up into the 90s today. And the winds could be gusting as strong as 35 miles per hour.

So, I think, in the next, say, three to six hours, things are going to be very critical across this region, with those flames continuing to go. Of course, there is an ongoing drought in this area as well. They really need some of this rain. And, at this time of year, Kyra, they look forward to the monsoon season, which really kicks up somewhere around the Fourth of July. So, we haven't seen much in terms of thunderstorms for quite a while. We are looking forward to those moving in, in the next month ahead.

PHILLIPS: All right, Jacqui, we will keep an eye on it.

Well, it's more intense, more urgent by the hour, the search from the air, on the ground, thousands of U.S. soldiers looking for two of their own in one of the most hostile parts of Iraq. A group linked to al Qaeda claims to be holding the missing G.I.s, but there's no proof yet.

CNN's Arwa Damon brings us up to date.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: On Sunday, the Department of Defense released the names of two U.S. soldiers who have been missing in Iraq since their checkpoint came under attack Friday night, Private 1st Class Thomas Tucker, 25 years old, and 23-year-old Private First Class Kristian Menchaca.

Their checkpoint came under attack south of Baghdad in an area known as the Triangle of Death. U.S. forces nearby reported hearing gunfire and an explosion. They called quick-reaction forces. When those forces arrived on the scene, they found one soldier dead and the other two missing.

Eyewitnesses have told the Iraqi police that they saw four or five suspected insurgents putting these two soldiers into a vehicle and driving them away from the scene.

Over the weekend, the Pentagon has said that they found a vehicle with bloodstains and boot prints, footprints, leading away from it. Those footprints are believed to match the boots worn by U.S. forces here.

Now, the U.S. military has launched a massive operation, sparing no cost to find its two soldiers.

MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM CALDWELL, U.S. ARMY SPOKESMAN, COALITION FORCES IN IRAQ: Over 8,000 U.S. military and Iraqi army and police are working together, conducting an intensive surf-air operation to determine the status of these soldiers. We are using every means at our disposal.

DAMON: The U.S. military is also using divers, unmanned aerial vehicles, and planes. So far, they have swept through 12 villages in that area. And these sweeps have not been uneventful. There have been clashes, what the U.S. military is calling harassing attacks. So far, seven U.S. soldiers have been wounded, three suspected insurgents killed, and another 34 detained.

Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Three U.S. soldiers have just been charged in the deaths of three detainees in Iraq.

Let's head straight to our Pentagon -- to the Pentagon, rather, and our senior correspondent, Jamie McIntyre.

What more do we know, Jamie?

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, this was an event that happened back on May 9, when U.S. troops were operating in an area called the Thar Thar Canal in southern Salahuddin Province.

According to Pentagon sources, three male detainees were shot, apparently as they were fleeing away from U.S. forces, according to sources. And the question is, was that shooting a legitimate act, or was there a crime committed?

Based on the suspicions of another soldier, an investigation was started later last month. And now we are told today that, based on that investigation, three soldiers, a non-commissioned officer and two enlisted soldiers, are being charged with murder, attempted murder, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, and communication of a threat.

Those are the charges that they will face. They will get the benefit of a -- what's called an Article 32 hearing, which is the military equivalent of a civilian grand jury, to see if there's enough evidence to warrant courts-martials.

Meanwhile, they are being held in pretrial confinement, an indication of the weight of the evidence that the criminal investigators found -- so, again, those three soldiers, a non- commissioned officer, two enlisted, being charged in what criminal investigators in the military believe was the murder of three male Iraqi detainees last month in Iraq -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Meanwhile, these two soldiers in Iraq that have gone missing, Jamie, obviously on the hearts of all Americans and the families, any more details on what happened to these men?

MCINTYRE: Well, it does appear that they were -- the three of them were manning a -- a checkpoint that was basically a -- a mobile bridge.

They were providing security at a bridge crossing across a canal. Their fellow soldiers heard the explosion and gunfight nearby. They called in that quick reaction force. And, when they got there, the two soldiers were missing.

Now, I would say two things. One is the -- the claims on an Islamist Web site that the -- the soldiers were captured, right now, the U.S. military has no information to confirm that. In fact, I would tell you that some people in the Pentagon are highly skeptical that that claim is accurate.

Also, reports from some of the people at the scene indicating that maybe there was a diversionary attack before this happened that lured some of the soldiers away, we are not getting any confirmation of that as well.

IN the official reporting of what has happened, there's no mention of any diversionary attack, just the attack on the soldiers, which still raises a question why three soldiers would be by themselves manning this bridge -- bridge location. When I asked a military spokesman about that, they said, that's a good question, but, right now, the priority is on finding the soldiers.

PHILLIPS: All right, Jamie McIntyre, thanks so much.

"Well, be proud of me, mom. I'm defending my country." That's what Private Thomas Tucker told his parents in a recent phone message. Now they are clinging to his voice, his words, while he's missing in Iraq.

Our Dan Simon visited Tucker's hometown in Oregon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are at the local high school here in Madras, Oregon. This is where Thomas Tucker grew up.

He graduated from high school in 1999. And, back then, everybody knew him as Tommy. He always wore a baseball cap, a really likable individual, according to everybody we talked to. His mother actually works here now as a cafeteria worker. And everybody just seems to really admire her and look up to her.

Now, in terms of the family, they are not making any public statements at this point. The family has asked that -- that we respect their privacy. There are a couple of police officers at the house politely shooing the media away.

However, I did speak to a woman who described herself as a family friend. And she had nothing but kind words to say about Tommy.

JOE GUINEY, FAMILY FRIEND: I remember Tommy as being very energetic, always had a smile on his face, and always very willing to do what is asked of him. Tommy played with my youngest son, Kelly (ph), in little league. And I remember Tommy always being very willing to play any position he was asked, without any argument.

SIMON: Madras is a very small town, about 5,000 people, just southeast of Portland.

And there's a concerted effort right now to get people to put yellow ribbons on trees and wave American flags. And we have already seen some evidence of that. I saw a -- a yellow flag on somebody's car. And there was a note attached to it. And it said: "We love you, Tommy. Get home safely."

Dan Simon, CNN, Madras, Oregon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Some people think it's a bluff, but the U.S. and some Pacific Rim allies aren't taking any chances with the latest challenge from North Korea.

That country appears to be close to testing a missile that could reach the U.S.

Senior senior -- or CNN senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth has more details for us -- Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the U.S. and others would be quite upset, because, based upon negotiations done recently of those six-party talks, North Korea said it wouldn't be testing any missiles, agreed to a moratorium.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who met with her counterpart from Spain in Washington today, is also very concerned about, what are the capabilities of North Korea? What might happen should there be a launch? And she would be quite upset.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: It would be a very serious matter and, indeed, a provocative act, should North Korea decide to -- to launch that missile. We will obviously consult on next steps, but I can assure everyone that it would be taken with utmost seriousness.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: Rice's U.S. ambassador at the United Nations, John Bolton, told journalists, the U.S. has been consulting with other countries on what options, diplomatically, should there be a missile launch.

Bolton said he would be very interested to know what kind of missile, what's under the nose cone, he said.

It will be difficult, though, Kyra, at the United Nations for the U.S. to take major action, because China, a North Korea ally, is opposed to anything dramatic done against Pyongyang here. Previous efforts by the U.S., France and others have been rebuffed.

And, also, Kyra, the United States spoke to North Korea's representatives in New York, warning them about any potential missile launch -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So, is there any real diplomatic weapon that could stop this?

ROTH: Well, there could be an effort to diplomatically get tough and threaten them regarding any hopes of resuming the six-party talks, and to test the resolve of the North Koreans.

And, militarily, Japan said -- Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi said today the U.S. and Japan would respond harshly. But nobody knows exactly what steps might be taken.

It's interesting timing. Many think North Korea is now acting in this way, may be a little upset at all the attention given to Iran and the agreements that the U.S. hopes to work out there, come to the negotiating table, if there's a moratorium there, two parts of the axis of evil, according to President Bush.

PHILLIPS: All right, Richard Roth, thanks so much.

Three thousand acres burning, 400 homes and businesses evacuated -- we are on the story of a huge wildfire in Arizona.

Stay with CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Live pictures once again from KPHO in Sedona, Arizona.

We are staying on top of this story, because it doesn't seem to be getting any better right now. Fire crews are just trying to corral this wildfire that has tripled in size within the past 24 hours. It started yesterday in the scenic Oak Creek Canyon.

People are scrambling to get out of there. Even more firefighters are moving in to try and help in that fight. So far, they haven't lost any homes, but the fire does grow tougher as those winds pick up -- Jacqui Jeras saying the winds about 15 to 20 miles per hour right now. But it is expected that it could get worse as the day rolls on.

We are keeping our eye on the fight from the air and also on the ground, as we monitor the conditions.

Also, water is the big worry in Houston. As much as 10-and-a- half inches of rain fell overnight on -- and this morning, creating flash floods over much of the city. It's mainly roads, but also some houses. Emergency crews have rescued about 500 people from that high water right now.

And, north of Milwaukee, it's cleanup day. A tornado roared through Hartford on Father's Day, tearing off roofs, uprooting trees, and reducing about 60 homes and businesses to rubble. One person was seriously hurt when he fell and broke his hip while rushing to his basement.

Mass transit vs. mass hysteria -- the post-9/11 calculus just got a little more complicated for New York subway riders, with confirmation of a threat that most had already considered.

Marcus Solis of our affiliate in New York, WABC, has local reaction to the al Qaeda subway cyanide plot.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARCUS SOLIS, WABC REPORTER (voice-over): According to the book, the attack was just 45 days away from taking place, al Qaeda terrorists releasing cyanide gas in the New York City subway system, both on platforms and inside crowded train cars.

Details of the 2003 plot are described in a new book by Ron Suskind entitled "The One Percent Doctrine." Excerpts appear in this week's "TIME" magazine.

Senator Charles Schumer confirmed the threat, though he says it could not be corroborated at the time.

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: But it was taken very seriously by both New York City, NYPD, as well as the federal government, and a whole variety of steps were taken. There is not a belief that this is still pending right now.

SOLIS: The plot reportedly involved the use of paint-can-size containers filled with two separate canisters, containing easily obtained materials. When mixed, clouds of hydrogen cyanide would be released into the air, a gas that acts as a deadly blood agent.

RON SUSKIND, AUTHOR, "THE ONE PERCENT DOCTRINE": Perhaps not as great a threat as a -- as a nerve agent attack. But, at the same time, this chemical does have the potential to kill hundreds or thousands of people.

SOLIS: Subways have been terror targets around the world. In 1995, a release of the more dangerous sarin gas killed a dozen people in Tokyo.

Conventional explosives were used in trains in Madrid and London. New York straphangers have grown accustomed to increased security and random bag checks, and resigned to the fact that New York remains a top target.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: After 9/11, I just, like, walk around with the sense that, if we're going to die, we are going to die. So, I am not, you know, going to stop riding the subways because there might be a cyanide attack.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wouldn't expect al Qaeda to RSVP if -- so that we are all aware when it's coming. I am glad it didn't happen. And I hope it doesn't materialize.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, four-and-a-half million people ride the New York City subways on an average day, making it the fifth most traveled subway system in the world.

The news keeps coming. We will keep bringing it to you -- more LIVE FROM coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: A violent collision, seven hours of surgery, and countless "I told you so"s, but Ben Roethlisberger's ordeal isn't over just yet. Police say the star quarterback of the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers will be cited for not having a motorcycle license and failing to wear a helmet. Roethlisberger collided with a car a week ago in Pittsburgh. The driver will also get a ticket. Police say she caused the accident. Pennsylvania's helmet-optional law, incidentally, applies only to licensed riders.

The odds are going up for Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. It has been a month since the colt shattered his back right leg in the Preakness, an injury that could well have killed him. New photos show that Barbaro is in a new fiberglass cast. He's still in a special stall at a Pennsylvania animal hospital, where workers describe him as friendly, frisky, and feisty.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: First, she blazed a trail as a scientist. Later, she switched her lab coat for a priest's collar. And, over the weekend, Katharine Jefferts Schori made history again, becoming the first female presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church.

Here's a look at how she got where she is.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Before being ordained an Episcopal priest 12 years ago, Katharine Jefferts Schori was a successful oceanographer at the National Marine Fishery Service in Seattle.

She received her B.A. degree in biology from Stanford University and her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Oregon State University. Fifty- two years old, Jefferts Schori married, with one daughter. She was elected bishop of Nevada in 2001. In the election of presiding bishop Sunday, Jefferts Schori was the lone woman and one of the youngest among seven candidates.

In 2003, Jefferts Schori joined other bishops in supporting the controversial election of the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church. That act triggered outrage from traditionalists among the church's nearly two-and-a-half million members.

Jefferts Schori's vote was in line with her support of the Diocese of Nevada's decision to allow the blessing of same-sex unions. Recognizing the likely battles awaiting her as presiding bishop, Jefferts Schori reached out to critics Sunday, saying -- quote -- "I will bend over backwards to build good relations with those who don't agree with me."

She will be installed as the 26th presiding bishop November 4 at the Washington National Cathedral.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, has indicated it doesn't want anything to do with Bishop Jefferts Schori. It has -- or Schori, rather -- it has asked the head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop of Canterbury, to put it under another Anglican leader.

Well, what's next, Ambien buying Jolt Cola, Philip Morris buying NicoDerm? Not really. But a famous chocolate-maker really is buying a business dedicated to helping people lose weight. Is it a sweet deal?

Our Ali Velshi here with the details.

I'll tell you what. You take the two obsessions, right, the -- the indulgence and guilt...

ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

PHILLIPS: ... and you kind of...

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: And you put it all together.

VELSHI: It's right there.

(LAUGHTER)

VELSHI: You have got Nestle buying Jenny Craig. It's -- it's really -- it is...

(LAUGHTER)

VELSHI: It is as funny as it sounds, because Nestle, you know, I -- I -- it's hard to get that full list of what Nestle does, but it's KitKat, Dreyer's ice cream, Edy's, Haagen Dazs, Smarties, Fancy Feast, Purina, Poland Spring. I mean, it's got a -- this is a big, big food company.

But it's -- it's not what you think of when you think of weight loss. Now, I should tell you, Nestle does have Lean Cuisine power bars, Pria bars, things like that. And the -- the healthy food, weight loss category is actually growing, surprisingly enough, faster than all the other packaged goods are.

So, it was a good business for -- for Nestle to get into. Jenny Craig, I think it sold about $400 million worth of stuff last year. That's, you know, the revenue -- Nestle paying about $600 million for this company -- 600 of these Jenny Craig places all over.

And, of course, we have all heard about it in the last couple years because of -- of Kirstie Alley.

I don't know if you remember this back in 1999. Do you remember that they had Monica Lewinsky as a -- as a pitch person for them?

PHILLIPS: I do remember that.

VELSHI: Yes. That didn't work out to well. PHILLIPS: And you know who else? Fergie, right? Didn't Fergie do commercials for -- for Jenny Craig? Uh-oh. Now, I'm trying to remember.

(CROSSTALK)

VELSHI: I really didn't pay much attention to Jenny Craig, until this whole Kirstie Alley thing came along.

(LAUGHTER)

(CROSSTALK)

VELSHI: This is a company in some trouble, and they got really good at doing what they do -- so, now, Nestle buying into this. Now, you know, when you think about this, it's not as weird as it sounds. Nestle's competitors, Unilever, ConAgra, all the big food companies, have a -- sort of a weight loss, weight control food offering. So, Nestle is now getting into this a little bigger.

The only thing is that this isn't -- you know, Jenny Craig is not just a food offering business. Nestle has already has got the Lean Cuisine. They have got -- you know, Unilever has Slim Fast. ConAgra has Healthy Choice.

But this Jenny Craig thing is the system, right, the whole idea that you go to these places and you consult. And, so, it's -- it seems like a little bit of a gamble, but this is a growing business. So, it's kind of -- it is as weird as you say.

(CROSSTALK)

VELSHI: And the next thing, we are going to here about Ambien buying Jolt Cola.

PHILLIPS: Yes.

(CROSSTALK)

VELSHI: Why not have both ends of the market?

PHILLIPS: That was my clever writer.

No, but I was reading -- by the way, yes, Fergie was Weight Watchers. Sorry. I was thinking...

(CROSSTALK)

VELSHI: Oh, really?

PHILLIPS: Yes. I went on the -- it's interesting, the people that advertise for these.

But, anyway, Nestle actually has a nutrition unit.

VELSHI: Yes. PHILLIPS: I didn't realize that.

VELSHI: Yes.

PHILLIPS: I was reading about that. So, well, obviously...

VELSHI: And keep in mind...

PHILLIPS: Yes?

VELSHI: These -- these package food companies, they -- they sell everything they can possibly sell that can go onto the same truck and go to the same distributors, right?

So, if you look at the big companies, the Nestles, the ConAgras, the Unilevers, all the products we buy tend to come from those places, and the Procter & Gambles of the world. So, they don't -- they're not really concentrating on whether or not they're healthy or not healthy. It's all the chocolates, all the candies, all the coffee, all the dog food, cat food, all the stuff that goes to corner stores and grocery stores, which is why this is a little weird, because it's -- you don't get your Jenny Craig stuff at the corner store.

In fact, when Jenny Craig started doing that a few years ago, it didn't work out for them. So, it's a different line of work than -- than everything Nestle does.

PHILLIPS: Probably a lot of new scientific and interesting research that they will find out by combining these two, right?

VELSHI: It's -- it's a big problem out there. Weight loss is a -- weight gain is a big problem in America and the world over.

So, what Nestle is doing is saying, we are a smart business. We want a piece of that action one way or the other. And we are loosely connected to it.

But it -- it's fair to say that a lot of the things that we eat that cause us to need to lose weight are also made by these packaged- goods companies. So, yes, interesting.

PHILLIPS: All right, Ali Velshi, we will see you as we get to the closing bell.

VELSHI: Yes, see you in about a half-hour.

PHILLIPS: All right.

VELSHI: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Great.

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: Thanks. Straight ahead: holding on to hope. Families wait for news about those two U.S. soldiers missing in Iraq, while thousands of troops join the search for their kidnapped brothers.

Stay with CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Live pictures once again from our affiliate KPNX, one of our affiliates based out of Phoenix, Arizona.

This is Sedona, Arizona. You know, this place is well-known for those beautiful red rock formations, just an incredible place to go. But, today, there's a tremendous battle going on among firefighters. Fire crews are just trying to corral this wildfire that has tripled in size in the past 24 hours. It started yesterday in scenic Oak Creek Canyon.

Police are -- or people, rather, are still scrambling to get out of there. And more firefighters are moving in to try to fight the blaze. So far, they haven't lost any homes, but the fight does grow tougher as those winds pick up.

Jacqui Jeras, of course, it has been a busy day for her. She's keeping a watch on that situation, in addition to the flooding in Houston, Texas.

Maybe we should start with Arizona.

What do you think? Do you think those winds will pick up?

(WEATHER REPORT)

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