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Chicago Courthouse on Lockdown Due to Escaped Prisoner; Senate Debates Democratic Plans for Iraq; Pentagon Considers Reducing Troops in Iraq; Marine Charged with Murder Claims Orders Were Given; British Airways Being Investigated for Prices

Aired June 22, 2006 - 13:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, HOST: Hello, everyone, I'm Kyra Phillips at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
Just in, we're getting word of a courthouse in Chicago on lockdown after a prisoner escaped. Fredricka Whitfield with more on this developing story.

What do we know, Fred?

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Kyra, what we know is that a prisoner inside the building of this federal courthouse, who was in the custody of U.S. federal marshals, somehow escapes. The entire building is on lockdown, the entire building, as a matter of fact, on lockdown.

Over the intercom system, the Associated Press is reporting that officials have announced to everyone that this search is under way for this person. They do -- it is not clear at this point, however, whether this prisoner was armed, but they do ask for everyone's cooperation in the search for this individual. We don't know whether -- whether the details were given over the intercom. But this just taking place.

Federal courthouse in Chicago, right now, on lockdown, as officials look for this escaped prisoner.

PHILLIPS: OK, Fred, we'll keep following that story. Let us know when you have more information. Appreciate it.

Now, cut and run or continue a failed policy? We're talking Iraq, and those aren't our words; it's the language on the Senate floor. Two proposals, both Democratic, both aimed at bringing the troops home.

CNN congressional correspondent Dana Bash has the upshot right now.

Dana, truly a blueprint for both sides of where they stand on this strategy in Iraq.

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It really is, Kyra. And watching the debate over the past day and a half, it really is a proving ground, basically, for the argument that both sides are going to make, hope to make, in the upcoming election with regard to Iraq. On the Republican side, it's a reprise of what they did two years ago. And that is to try to take an increasingly unpopular war and turn it to their advantage. How? By saying that the Democrats, what they would do is hurt America's security, and specifically that is the argument that Republicans made with regard to these two Democratic amendments, both, almost all the Republicans who came to the Senate floor, they said that this would simply give hope to insurgents and terrorists. They would lie in wait and wait for American troops to come home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN WARNER (R), VIRGINIA: Both of these amendments, the amendment from the senator from Michigan, the senator from Massachusetts, would send a message which would indicate there's some wavering, some equivocation, here at home in supporting our president, the commander in chief. And that goes to the basic credibility of the United States of America, which is on the line in these votes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now, on the other side, we did hear the Democratic line sort of emerge and what they are hoping to be their line this coming election year. And that is, that the war in Iraq, obviously, is unpopular. They understand that the president is -- has been increasingly unpopular of late. And they are trying to make the case that Republicans who support the president are simply, in the words of one Democratic senator, giving him cover.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MINORITY LEADER: But it is morally treasonable to the American people. Let me repeat that, Madam President. That we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but it's morally treasonable to the American people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now that is the argument that Democrats talk to those who are really focused on trying to take back the Congress this year. That's the argument that they hoped would really be the central one when it comes to the debate in Iraq, because they think that's where they have a winning argument, saying that the White House needs more oversight and accountability, and that's why Democrats should be in Congress.

But they are really -- there are some who are a little bit upset that this debate did end up really focusing on the issue where Democrats are divided, Kyra, and that is a time line for U.S. troops coming home. And that is what we saw play out on the Senate floor today.

PHILLIPS: All right. Dana Bash, thank you so much.

We want to get back to Fredricka Whitfield once again, working that story out of Chicago, that courtroom on lockdown after a prisoner escape.

What do you know, Fred?

WHITFIELD: Well, it's taking place at the Dirksen Federal Building. Over the intercom, according to the Associated Press, officials have alerted people about a floor by floor search of this prisoner that escaped the custody of U.S. federal marshals in that courthouse.

We still don't know, however, whether that prisoner is armed. But the officials are alerting everyone in the building to be on the lookout.

And of course, when we get more information, perhaps even a description of the prisoner or perhaps even why even the prisoner was in the federal courthouse, what kind of case he was to be involved in, we'll be able to bring that to you, too. We're still working the story.

PHILLIPS: All right. Thanks, Fred.

U.S. troop strength in Iraq may be come down gradually, modestly, regardless of the rumble in Congress. Standing by with that story, CNN's Barbara Starr -- Barbara.

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

Well, that's right, even as the debate goes on, on Capitol Hill, here in the Pentagon things appear to be moving forward. General George Casey, the top commander in Iraq, is in Washington today. He was on Capitol Hill this morning with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, briefing members of Congress. And he's expected to be here later this afternoon in this briefing room, with the secretary for a press conference.

We don't know whether there's going to be a specific announcement. But what Pentagon sources are confirming is that Casey and Rumsfeld are discussing an option today for a gradual troop reduction over the coming months. And this would be, if it's all approved, it would be very gradual; it would be phased.

And essentially, it would take place by simply not rotating in new forces in the months ahead, especially towards the end of the year. Nobody's talking about bringing troops out of Iraq, per se, but simply not replacing the troops that are there.

And what our sources at the Pentagon are saying is the most likely option now being discussed is up to two brigades. That's something between 6,000 and 10,000 troops.

But, again, it would be very gradual. What we're hearing is two brigades would be the maximum that they're looking at, at this point. But it would all emerge over the next many months. They simply would decide not to replace some of the troops that are there right now and postpone the deployment of new troops so the overall number would come down over time -- Kyra. PHILLIPS: All right, Barbara. Thanks. And we expect to hear from General Casey and Secretary Rumsfeld later this afternoon. The two are scheduled to brief reporters about 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. We'll bring that to you live as soon as it starts.

Five more U.S. troops in Iraq are dead after separate attacks. Let's go now to CNN's Arwa Damon. She's in Baghdad -- Arwa.

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kyra, five more soldiers killed in Iraq on Tuesday and Wednesday. Four of those Marines operating in Iraq's volatile western Al Anbar province. Three were killed in a roadside bomb. The fourth, according to a U.S. military statement while conducting security operations. The fifth soldier to have died on Wednesday, happened in the roadside bomb here in the capital in Baghdad -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: They're talking about this war debate going on in the states. What are they telling you overseas?

DAMON: Well, the interesting thing thing, Kyra, that when debates happen in the states, oftentimes the troops here, when you ask them about it, when you ask them their opinions on it, they kind of look at you as though, you know, you've gone mad because they're so far away from that reality here.

What they are living here, the guys that have their boots on the ground, that are out there pounding the streets, living the dust and the heat, are so far away from the debates happening in the states that they'll say to you, "Listen, while we're here, whatever's happening in the states doesn't really matter. It doesn't affect us. Because we're here, and we still have to go out and conduct these operations every day. When we will focus on those debates, when we will start thinking about them, that will be when we go home" -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Yesterday, Arwa, you told about -- told us about these 80 Iraqis that were kidnapped, apparently, on their way to work. Do you know anything about what happened?

DAMON: Well, Kyra, good news for some of those, and awful news for others. What we are hearing is that 16 women of those 80 kidnapped, 80 individuals kidnapped, were released. Another 30 to 35 men were released.

But the Iraqi emergency police are telling us they did find two bodies believed to belong -- believed to have belonged to some of those who were kidnapped, and the fate of the rest remains unknown. Now, Iraqi security forces are conducting operations, trying to figure out where they might be held captive -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Arwa Damon, thanks for all the latest news out of Baghdad. Appreciate it.

We want to go back to the newsroom now, Fredricka Whitfield with more information on that courthouse on lockdown.

What's up with the prisoner on the loose? WHITFIELD: Now we understand that the prisoner they're searching for, his name is Larnell Rogers. He is considered to be violent. This according to officials. However, they are still conducting the floor to floor searches for him in the Dirksen Federal Building.

A little bit more detail on what is believed to have taken place there. Rogers appeared in court for hearing, but he appeared late. And upon arrival, learned that there was a bench warrant out for his arrest and, allegedly, he then took off, then leading to this search.

Over the intercom system throughout the building, people have been informed to lock their doors. The elevator has been shut down, as well as they continue to launch this search for Larnell Rogers, not considered, according to officials there, to be violent.

Now you're looking at some live pictures there of, perhaps, a lot of officials there assembling, perhaps, in the lobby area. And some outdoor video outside of the Dirksen Federal Building where this federal courthouse is located.

All of this taking place around the South Dearborn Street, West Adam Street, West Jackson Boulevard area, in downtown Chicago -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Fred.

Well, home from the war and facing the fight of their lives. Seven Marines and a Navy medic charged with murder, kidnapping, conspiracy and larceny in the April death of an unarmed and disabled Iraqi. The troops' attorneys and families insist they're innocent.

Standing by at Camp Pendleton, California, CNN's Kareen Wynter.

Kareen, you actually got a chance to talk with a family member of one of the accused.

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And Kyra, they're absolutely devastated. The family members of Corporal Trent Thomas says that he had a lifelong dream. He wanted to serve his country; he wanted to be a Marine. That he's absolutely blown away by these murder charges.

And Kyra, in an unusual request, they actually say Thomas begged them from his jail cell here on base to speak out, to tell his story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WYNTER (voice-over): Valencia Thomas can only imagine what's going through her brother's mind.

VALENCIA THOMAS, SISTER OF ACCUSED MARINE: He's really scared.

WYNTER: Twenty-four-year-old Marine Corporal Trent Thomas is confined to a military cell at Camp Pendleton. He's one of eight charged with premeditated murder in the April shooting death of an Iraqi civilian in Hamdaniya.

THOMAS: He said, "You have got to get me a civilian lawyer." That was his main focus: "You have got to get me a civilian lawyer. I think that if I use their military lawyers then I'm going to going to go to jail for something that was completely out of our control."

WYNTER: Charges in the criminal investigation include kidnapping, assault and larceny. The Marines are accused of dragging the Iraqi man from his house, shooting him, and placing an assault rifle in his hands to make him look like an insurgent.

According to a charging document viewed by CNN from a defense attorney representing one of the accused, the Iraqi man was allegedly shot by five of the Marines. Thomas says her brother maintains his innocence.

THOMAS: You can't really go into details on the phone and everything is tapped. But basically orders were given. He said they're over there ordering Marines to do stuff all the time, and he says that orders were given.

WYNTER: The seven Marines and one sailor will face an Article 32 hearing, similar to a civilian grand jury, which could lead to a courts-martial for some or all of the men. Thomas says the family was signed a military attorney but also wants an outside legal team.

THOMAS: When I spoke to Trent three weeks ago, you know, his lawyer just admitted -- or his military lawyer admitted that, you know, he really didn't know much about the case.

LT. COL. DAREN MARGOLIN, USMC JUDGE ADVOCATE: Every one of these Marines and the sailor are provided with experienced, detailed military counsel. Their choice to retain a civilian counsel is up to them.

WYNTER: In the nearby town of Oceanside, which has close ties to the Marine base, reaction was subdued and sympathetic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kind of tough to judge from over here. I'm not in that type of situation, you know. When you can't tell who's on your side and who isn't.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It saddens me that it happened at all. And if it is -- if it was something that our men did do then I feel that we put them in that position.

WYNTER: Valencia Thomas says her brother just wants a fair trial, adding if that's even possible in such a high profile case.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WYNTER: Thomas clearly wanting to move away here from the heavy headlines involving these charges. Kyra, in our interview, she also talked about the fact that her brother was awarded a Purple Heart just last year and that he was on his third tour when this incident took place -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: We're hearing the side of the family. But what if these men are not found innocent, what if murder charges hold? Could they face the death penalty?

WYNTER: They absolutely could. There's a lengthy road in terms of legal proceedings that could follow. But right now what we're hearing from the military is really not much. They say it's way too soon to speculate. But I can tell you, Kyra, what the new charges that were filed yesterday -- well, there's an investigation into that itself. Meaning that those charges could be lowered or even changed. It depends on the outcome of those findings -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Kareen Wynter at Camp Pendleton it. Thanks, Kareen.

More on our top story, a possible escape at a Chicago prison. We're on it.

Plus, trying to stop a bullet with a bullet. North Korea raises the stakes for the Pentagon's missile shield strategy. Are U.S. defenses ready?

Stay with CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Back straight to the newsroom now, Fredricka Whitfield with more on that developing story out of Chicago -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Well, the search continuing at a 27-story skyscraper in Chicago, downtown Chicago, at the federal building. It's called the Dirksen Federal Building. And you're looking at a live shot right now.

The entire building, which not only supplies the federal courthouse but also a correctional facility, it's also the home of the FBI Chicago office, an entire lockdown, taking place in that building because officials say a prisoner who was in the custody of federal marshals seemed to get away.

What we understand is Larnell Rogers, who is this suspect that they're looking for, who is not considered nonviolent, was to appear in court for a hearing. But when he was late for the hearing, officials say, he finally arrived and learned of a bench warrant out for his arrest and then bolted. And now the search has been under way for sometime there.

Over the intercom system, officials let all the people in that building know that they were searching for this escaped prisoner, and they've instructed everyone to lock their doors. The elevators have been locked, as well. So this entire 27-story federal building in lockdown.

You're looking at the live pictures of the assemblage of press, as well as officials. Hopefully, we'll hear more from those officials momentarily.

PHILLIPS: Got it. All right. Thanks, Fred.

Well, North Korea, diplomatically, politically, economically, cut off from most of the world on its best day. But President Bush is warning that any kind of missile test will make that isolation deeper. The top U.S. diplomat at the U.N. says if Pyongyang does test fire a weapon capable of reaching the U.S., it can expect the world to react.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BOLTON, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: ... now is convincing North Korea not to launch that missile, and a variety of governments in the region and around the world have all made the same point. I don't think there's any support for North Korea proceeding with that test.

But what we've made clear is if they do, we're beginning preliminary discussions in the Security Council. A launch of a missile, particularly if it goes after Japanese territory, is clearly a threat to international peace and security, something we can't accept.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, Bolton sums up that his warning to North Korea, simply, don't go there.

Now straight ahead, I'll speak with a former defense attorney that says that he has the answer to the North Korea threat: if necessary, strike and destroy.

It's a brave, relatively new world for young people, a scary one for parents. I'm talking about social sites on the Internet. Friendship can be just a few keystrokes away, but so can danger. We've all heard frightening stories about young people who are lured by adults.

Right now, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is holding a day-long event aimed at keeping kids safe online.

At the same time, the hugely popular MySpace.com has come out with new safety measures. The biggest change is aimed at banning adults from contacting 14- and 15-year-olds if they don't know the teen's full names or e-mail addresses. MySpace also plans targeted ads to age appropriate groups. And it will give all members the option of making their profiles private.

But the top MySpace security officer told CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING" safety begins at home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HEMANSHU NIGAM, MYSPACE.COM: Parents play a very, very important role, just like they do in the offline world. I have four children myself, and every day I teach them about safety offline. When my daughter crosses the street, look both ways. When -- and I teach her about not talking to strangers.

Parents have the same role to bring that offline safety dialogue into the online world. And if they do that, they're going to raise their children in a digital age where, by natural learning, they will be doing things that are safe online, as they do every single day, offline.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, will curiosity kill the cat? Thanks to all the recent news about Internet predators, some parents might like to reboot the family computer right through the window. Come up on LIVE FROM, a more sensible approach to cyber safety.

Now in medical news, stunning news for migraine suffers, literally. Researchers are testing a zapper -- this is what it looks like -- that may be able to stun those killer headaches into submission.

OK, zapper isn't really the precise team. Technically, the battery powered gadget is a transcranial magnetic stimulation device. Patients hold it in the back of their heads like you see, push a button, and it shoots magnetic impulses into their brains to block migraines at the source.

Almost seven in 10 migraine suffers who tested it said it works. The research at Ohio State University was paid for by NeuraLieve, the gadget's maker.

Well, something weird is happening in Tulsa.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're blue; they're red. They sometimes move, which is really bizarre.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This didn't seem like anything I had ever seen that was coming out of a human body.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kind of bluish.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: A medical mystery gives patients the creeps and leaves doctors baffled. Our medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has the details next.

Well, did your last plane ticket cost more than it should have? A major airline, maybe several airlines, are being investigated for possible price fixing. LOVE FROM is on the case, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: More on our developing story. Actually, one of our top stories today.

Fred, what's the situation at the courthouse in lockdown in Chicago?

WHITFIELD: Right in downtown Chicago on Dearborn Street between Adams and Jackson, for those who are familiar with it, the Dirksen federal building on lockdown because officials are looking for an escaped prisoner there.

Jonathan Freed is in the lobby of the Dirksen building, where we just saw moments ago in that live shot a number of officials and reporters all assembling -- Jonathan.

JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Fredricka.

I can tell you that yes, the building is on lockdown, but it's not on lockdown to the point that my photographer and I were unable to get in. Because all we had to do was show identification, and we were allowed to walk into the building almost as if it were a normal -- a normal working day. The average person is not being allowed in now.

One thing that we should probably clarify. I know that the initial reports have been describing Larnell Rogers, who was the man who was accused of lying to an ATF agent and had a hearing scheduled here earlier today, didn't show up for that hearing, and when he didn't, that's why a warrant for his arrest was issued. He had been described as a prisoner. But our understanding is that he was not in custody and that he was simply expected to show up for a hearing, did not. The warrant was issued.

He showed up at the end of this hearing, when it was over, learned that this arrest warrant had been issued, and that is when he bolted. And that is when they sealed off all the courtrooms in this building here and locked it down.

WHITFIELD: So Jonathan -- Jonathan, does that also mean, then, Larnell Rogers was not in the custody of U.S. marshals, either?

FREED: Our understanding now is that he was not in custody and that he was expected to show up for a hearing and that he did not appear for the hearing, and that's when the warrant was issued.

WHITFIELD: Do we know what the hearing was to be about?

FREED: Yes, it involved his lying to an ATF agent. There's a briefing that's about to happen now. I'm going to try to listen in here as I'm talking to you, as well. I'm not sure if we have that feed.

WHITFIELD: OK, well, I'll let you listen in for a moment and maybe I'll just give little background about what this facility means to downtown Chicago.

It's a 27-story skyscraper right in downtown Chicago at Dearborn between Adams and Jackson. It's a pretty sophisticated federal building there, a lot of things going on there, meaning not only do they have the federal courthouse there, but it's also where FBI Chicago offices are located, as well as a correctional facility.

But of course, as Jonathan just reported, we're now trying to sort out some details about the person, the suspect, that now officials are looking for. The reason why this entire federal building is on lockdown, except for, of course, that lobby area where Jonathan, as well as the other officials, are.

We were unable to bring you the audio of the gentleman who is talking, because Jonathan is able to listen to it, and perhaps he'll give us information on that as soon as we get it.

So for now, Kyra, the search does continue for this person. We're not to call him a prisoner or an inmate escapee any more, however. It turns out he was appearing for a hearing, and he was late. And then a bench warrant went out for his arrest. When he learned of that upon arrival at that scheduled hearing, he then bolted, according to officials.

Of course, when we have more, from Jonathan freed, our reporter there, Kyra, we'll be able to bring that to you.

PHILLIPS: All right, sounds good. Thanks, Fred.

More potential trouble for the airlines. British Airways confirms it's being investigated for possible price fixing. Two U.S. carriers are being mentioned, as well. We get the story now from CNN's Allan Chernoff. He's at Newark International Airport.

Allan, what do you know?

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra this is a joint British/American investigation focusing on the fuel surcharges that airlines tack onto their passenger fares to compensate for the soaring price of crude oil. Of course, oil is such a critical component to the cost structure of airlines.

We know for certain that British Airways is a target of this investigation. In fact, the news came out of their office in London. And only last week British authorities actually raided British Airways facilities in London to get information about all of this.

Now whether or not U.S. carriers are involved, that's a little murkier. United Airlines told us that they are cooperating in this investigation, but they've been told they're not a target.

American Airlines told our British correspondent the exact same thing. But when I called American, they gave a slightly different statement. They said that "We have not been told we're a target." So a little less definitive denial over there -- Kyra.

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