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"New York Times" Controversy; 12-Year-Old Boy Dies on Florida Roller Coaster; Laptop With Veterans' Personal Info Recovered

Aired June 29, 2006 - 15:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Top story we are following for you out of Orlando, Florida -- a 12-year-old boy has died on a roller coaster ride at the Disney-MGM Studio theme park.
You're looking at live pictures right now, where the investigation is under way. Witnesses say that this 12-year-old boy was on this ride. We still don't know if the little boy was alone or with family members. But, when the ride was over, he was unresponsive, taken to the hospital, and thereafter pronounced dead.

Susan Candiotti is covering this story. And we hope to be talking with her a little bit later.

But we still don't know the exact reason why this 12-year-old boy died at the MGM Studio riding the Rock 'n' Roller, made famous for going zero to 60 in a matter of seconds and also featuring the Aerosmith music -- more on that story when we are able to connect with Susan Candiotti.

Meantime, thousands of people who evacuated Binghamton, New York, are being allowed to go home now. But they may not want to see what severe floods have left behind.

CNN's Allan Chernoff wades through some of the devastation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: It's the second consecutive day of beautiful, sunny weather here in Binghamton, New York. Yet, still, the floodwaters are flowing.

I'm actually standing on someone's front lawn. The typical bank for the Susquehanna River is about 80 yards behind me. This flooding that you see is the result of three consecutive days of very heavy rain earlier in the week, record-setting rain, and, of course, so, many homes flooded -- this blue home here, the basement entirely flooded.

Now, of course, yesterday, actually, the first floor also was covered with water. So, the water, as you see, is receding somewhat. About 15,000 homes were evacuated, about that number, also, still without power, and the electricity company hopes to gradually bring those homes back online, as the water actually does recede further.

There are about four fatalities that are known thus far from road accidents, but the good news, as I mentioned, the water is dramatically receding. All of this yesterday was actually under water, this entire front lawn here. And, as I walk up, I can show you where the water level actually was yesterday.

All the way up here, the water flowed to. And you can still see some rocks here that were carried forward by the water. And the high point late yesterday afternoon, all the way up here, here's some wood debris from the water, brought all the way -- this is a good, 60, 70 feet from where the water is right now.

So, the receding of the water is continuing, very good news for the residents here.

Allan Chernoff, CNN, Binghamton, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: A baker's dozen of destruction; 13 New York counties under water and under states of emergency are just starting to dig out and dry out. After an aerial tour, Governor George Pataki says property damage in his state will hit at least $100 million.

The upstate city of Binghamton seems to have gotten the worst of it, 15,000 people flooded, as the Susquehanna River spilled its banks and kept rising to nearly 12 feet above flood stage, the highest level in recorded history.

And forget what was on the menu here, because the Dolgeville Restaurant is off the map. It collapsed into the West Canada Creek yesterday, as its owners watched helplessly.

And along the Delaware, in New Jersey, the warning is, don't go home. This is a scene in Trenton, where the river is expected to crest at a little over 25 feet. That would make it the city's fourth worst flood on record. Only after the waters recede and officials inspect homes and business, however, will townspeople be allowed to return.

So far, the dam is holding around Maryland's Needwood, but engineers say the threat of collapse isn't over yet. A mandatory evacuation order remains in effect on the north side of Rockville. Police are still trying to persuade about 100 holdouts to move to higher ground. As floodwaters head downstream into already swollen rivers, the danger is not behind them.

Bridges washed away, hundreds of homes flooded, countless roads ruined, and that's just the first look at the damage along the rain- swollen Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. In dollar amounts, state officials say they are looking at $13 million worth.

And that's at the very least.

CNN's Mary Snow is on the road. She joins us now by phone.

What's happening on your trek, Mary?

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, actually, we are heading towards the Delaware River and the New Hope area.

The Delaware River is cresting at certain locations today at various points. And this is really the next area of concern. We had been along the banks of the Susquehanna River. And, as you just mentioned, really, the cleanup is starting there as water recedes.

Now, Governor Ed Rendell, the governor of Pennsylvania, just held a briefing, and saying that he really can't put a dollar amount on the damage to the city, but he is asking for federal help with the disaster funds. So, yesterday, he declared about two-thirds of the counties in the state, he had emergency declaration.

And, after his briefing today, he said what most cameras were not able to capture were 1,200 auto rescues. And that include rescues from rooftops -- this all happening yesterday as the water was rising. The Susquehanna River crested last night. It was not as bad as officials feared.

If you remember, about 200,000 people had been ordered to evacuate in the Wilkes -- in and around the Wilkes-Barre area. That evacuation order was issued, a levee put to the test, held. And people going back to their homes, a very serious storm, though, the government saying at least five fatalities are known.

And for people going to their homes, it's going to take a while for some to clean up. I talked to one homeowner today, saying, you know, they are pumping out about four feet of water from their basement. It could take a few weeks to get all the water and mud out -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And, Mary, when we heard earlier from one of the officials with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, emphasized how they are really concerned about people when they return, after those evacuation orders have been lifted, that there are still dangers in place.

Are you hearing, while you are -- are traveling, how that message is being conveyed to people?

SNOW: Well, I can tell you that, the area that were in Wilkes- Barre, there were a number of emergency officials out.

As people were coming back, there were utility crews out there, fire department officials, trying to be on hand as this transition took place. But, really, what people have been remarking on is how quickly this water has been receding around the Susquehanna River, that people have lived through many floods here. And they said that they haven't seen the water rise so quickly and also fall, so, a bit of relief in that area. But we haven't really heard any big problems, in terms of people returning.

WHITFIELD: All right, Mary Snow traveling along the Susquehanna River, thanks so much for your point of view.

Layers of tragedy in Iraq today, where a somber event turned murderous, a suicide bomber detonating his car during a funeral for an Iraqi soldier. Four mourners were killed, more than 30 hurt. It happened in Kirkuk, an oil city north of Baghdad -- more details when we get them.

A Middle East meltdown -- all-out conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, some fear it's closer enough now than at any time more than a year. Israeli warplanes fired into Gaza City this morning, apparently targeting a car. One person was hurt. Israeli troops also fired artillery rounds into northern Gaza, but reportedly are holding off on a ground assault, like the one yesterday in southern Gaza.

Authorities did arrest -- did arrest, rather, dozens of Hamas members, including lawmakers and cabinet members. But officials deny they are meant to be bargaining chips in the case of a kidnapped Israeli soldier. Corporal Gilad Shalit is missing for a fifth day. A teenage Israeli settler also kidnapped Sunday is dead. Troops found his body early today in the West Bank. He had been shot.

The sayonara summit, that's some are calling Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's final visit to the White House. He and President Bush are discussing Japan's support for the war on terror and the war in Iraq, also North Korea's apparent plans to test a long-range missile.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You know, the leader of North Korea is just going to have to make a decision. Does he want to be isolated from the world or is he interested in being an active participant in the nations of the world who care about their people and desire peace?

It's his choice to make. We've made our choice. We believe it's important for nations such as Japan and the United States to be active participants in the world in a positive way. And that's what we're doing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Tomorrow, Mr. Bush takes his visitor to Graceland, home of the late Elvis Presley. Koizumi is a huge fan of Elvis, with whom he happens to share a birthday.

And now a story we continue to follow, this one out of Orlando, Florida, at the MGM Studio. You are looking at that ride right there, a roller coaster ride, where a 12-year-old boy has died after riding that ride.

Susan Candiotti joins us now with more details.

And, Susan, earlier, you talked about the little boy being unresponsive at the end of the ride. Any idea now how he died?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We don't know how he died.

But now we have heard from Disney. They put out a statement just a short time ago, saying that this 12-year-old boy was taken by ambulance to Celebration Hospital -- that's a hospital right outside the Disney grounds -- and that this happened at about 11:30 this morning, again, after he was riding an amusement ride called the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, which features the music of the rock group Aerosmith -- the ride, again, at MGM Studios.

Disney says that after he got off the ride and was transported by ambulance to the tonight, Disney then learned that the -- the boy had passed away. Disney says it offers the family deepest sympathies. A company representative is with the family at this time, says Disney offering them whatever help they can. We understand from a source that the boy was on the roller coaster with his father.

Now, the setup of this roller coaster is very fast. And it goes upside-down at one point, goes through a tunnel. And the passengers sit two by two, two people in the front, two people in the back of a car.

This happened, again, at about 11:30 this morning. And Florida officials, as they are required by law, were notified at about 1:00 this afternoon that this happened. Of course, the ride has been shut down. Disney says that its initial review of the attraction indicates that the ride was operating normally.

However, of course, the ride has been closed while an inspection is going on. Someone from the state of Florida is observing that inspection. Disney is allowed to investigate itself, as are all large amusement parks in Florida. That's according to the law.

This is the second death that occurred at a Disney park so far this year. Back in April, a woman, a German tourist, died after riding the Mission: Space ride at Epcot Center. Again, that ride was not blamed either.

In this case, actually, we don't know precisely what happened. We don't know if the boy had a preexisting condition. We can tell you that this ride, like a lot of other high-speed rides at Disney, did have signs up that -- that warned potential passengers that, if they have any kind of preexisting condition, a bad heart, high blood pressure, pregnant, you probably should not be on that ride.

Again, those are signs that are posted outside that amusement, that we don't know what the cause of death was naturally of this youngster at this time. Of course, as usually is the case, an autopsy will be done. And the Orange County Sheriff's Office is also investigating the boy's death -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: And, Susan, this Rock 'n' Roller, is this a fairly new ride there at MGM?

CANDIOTTI: No. It's been around for a few years now. I don't know precisely how many, but, certainly, it has been around.

It's -- it -- it entices a lot of people, because, of course, the music of Aerosmith. That's a big draw. And it's a fast roller coaster. And it's not the only one at various Disney properties. Some new ones have opened up at the Animal Kingdom ride. That's the newest amusement. But this one has been around for a while.

WHITFIELD: All right, sad story.

Susan Candiotti, thanks so much for that update.

Gross negligence, that is the term being kicked around the Veterans Affairs laptop scandal. It turns out the laptop in question was recovered last night, with personal information on almost 27 million vets and military personnel intact. But can the V.A. itself recover?

Veterans Secretary Jim Nicholson appeared today before a House committee.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM NICHOLSON, SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS: The number-one concern in this whole saga is our veterans. And while I'm -- I'm happy, and I'm really feeling quite optimistic for our veterans that are affected, that I cannot tell them yet that there is no reason to worry, because I do not have those assurances from -- from the law enforcement community.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Laptop recovered, but still a lot of questions, some of them being answered right now at the FBI, who is holding a press conference.

Let's listen.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

WILLIAM CHASE, FBI: ... in the near future.

And, with that, we will open it up for questions.

QUESTION: Can you talk a little bit -- I'm sorry, Scott (OFF- MIKE) from ABC 7 News.

Can you talk about little bit about the recovery of it, where it was recovered, from whom, and a little bit more about that scenario, please?

CHASE: You want to defer?

Actually, the Park -- since the Park Police did recover it, we will -- I will defer to them for that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Being as brief as I can with and as accurate as possible, we had developed some relationships with -- from other cases.

And this person came forward to one of our directives to give this information to it. He was aware of it, because of the media attention and a very -- a relationship between the FBI and all the law enforcement agencies working on this. And this person called our person, our detective, to give that information. And that's how the case was broken.

QUESTION: Can you say how that person acquired...

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: Excuse me.

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: Dorcy Specter (ph) from Channel 4.

Can you say how the person who contacted your detective actually acquired this laptop?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's part of the investigation right now. It's linking back.

CHASE: Right. The -- as you know, the investigation is ongoing. And we don't want to get into any of the specifics regarding the actual investigation.

QUESTION: There was some thought that maybe he had bought this, not knowing -- this person may have bought the computer, not knowing that it had been stolen. Is that a possibility?

CHASE: Again, let's -- you know, the investigation is ongoing. And that's just a fact we don't want to get into at this time.

QUESTION: Carolyn (ph) (OFF-MIKE) NBC News. Is there -- do you know yet -- how do you know that this material hasn't been compromised, copied, or otherwise disseminated to somebody, anybody?

CHASE: Well, the results that we currently have are very preliminary, but they are very favorable. We -- we feel like we can be relatively certain that the information was not compromised. So, again, I don't want to go too much into the forensic examination at this time.

QUESTION: What more -- I know that you have to be careful with the information you are giving out here. But what more can you tell us about the scenario? I mean, we know that it's been recovered. But can you talk to us about the process in which that was done? Did this person instantly know and decide they needed to come forward to law enforcement? I mean, paint a little bit of the picture for us, if you can.

CHASE: Well, I think we did put out posters. And a reward was offered for return of -- of the laptop.

My understanding is that this individual, in fact, saw those posters, and then contacted the Park Police. And that led to the recovery of the -- the -- the equipment. The equipment was then turned over from the Park Police to us. And then we started really a two-part analysis, one to determine if it was the stolen property, and the second to determine if the actual hard drive and the data files had been compromised in any way.

QUESTION: Do you believe that there was any wrongdoing on the part of the person who ended up with that computer? And would that person be eligible for the reward money?

CHASE: Again, that's getting into the facts of the investigation. We really don't want to go there right now.

QUESTION: It's Keith Manning (ph) AP.

Can you say where that computer was located, where the person who had it was, what jurisdiction?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

What I can tell you is that it was in Maryland. And the person called the investigator -- the detective, excuse me -- because of a previous relationship on another case he had worked. And because of the flyers, as...

WHITFIELD: You are listening to both the FBI and members of Park Police explain that Park Police helped recover this V.A. laptop that had been missing since the beginning of may, stolen from the household of a V.A. employee.

And the FBI was saying it's still too early to say if any information on there has been compromised. They are optimistic. However, no arrests have been made -- that laptop retrieved in the Baltimore area, and turned in.

You can continue to watch more of the FBI-Park Police press conference on Pipeline.com.

National security, how much do you really need to know? A controversy involving big newspapers heats up on Capitol Hill.

This is CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: President Bush says he will work with Congress on new plans for trying suspected terrorists. By a 5-3 margin today, the Supreme Court overruled the president's plan for trying detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. The court said the administration's plan for military tribunals violates U.S. law and the Geneva Conventions.

CNN senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre is standing by.

And, so, Jamie, what kind of reaction is coming from Defense Secretary Rumsfeld? Any?

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, we haven't had any personal reaction from Defense Secretary Rumsfeld.

But Pentagon and Justice Department lawyers are scrambling to come up with new procedures that they say will pass legal muster, probably in consultation with the U.S. Congress.

Just to be clear, the Supreme Court ruled that the procedures that President Bush put in place were flawed, but they did not say, the justices did not say that President Bush did not have the authority to detain and try these people at Guantanamo Bay.

This -- this case resolved -- revolved around one particular detainee, a man named Salim Ahmed Hamdan, who was captured in Afghanistan in 2001. Officials say he has admitted to being a driver, a bodyguard, a close associate of Osama bin Laden. He was charged with conspiracy, which, by the way, the Supreme Court said today was not a legitimate charge for a military commission.

But their big problem was with the commission procedures, which they say didn't have the proper rules of evidence and didn't have the proper safeguards for individual detainees. And, today, Hamdan's attorney said they got what they wanted, which is simply the opportunity to have a fair trial.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER CHARLES SWIFT, ATTORNEY FOR SALIM AHMED HAMDAN: It's clear how to proceed, exactly as we have been asking from the beginning, in a regular court, be that a federal court in charge of conspiracy, or, if there is a war crime, in a court-martial.

We have never contested that we cannot be tried there. All we have wanted is a fair trial. And we thank the Supreme Court for ensuring that Mr. Hamdan will get one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: The Bush administration says that there's no constitutional problem with the idea of military commissions, but that the Supreme Court found that the particular way these commissions had been set up did not provide the proper protections, did not conform to U.S. military law and to international treaties, specifically the Geneva Convention.

So, right now, the attorneys are drawing up new procedures. Meanwhile, some 450 detainees will remain at Guantanamo Bay. The ruling does not affect the future of Guantanamo and does not affect the president's authority to -- to hold those people there, and to eventually try them, assuming that the procedures are -- are -- are considered legal, under the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court decision -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And, Jamie, explain what seems to be a strange marriage, when you have the defendant, Hamdan, who is represented by this military lawyer, Charlie Swift.

MCINTYRE: Well, all of the -- a lot of the defendants are assigned a military attorney. Many of them also have civilian attorneys as well.

In fact, it was the civilian attorney who argued this case before the Supreme Court a few months ago, when -- during the oral arguments. But it's interesting to talk to a lot of these military attorneys, because they, of course, take their role very seriously in advocating on behalf of the detainees.

And whether or not you feel these particular detainees might be guilty or innocent, the attorneys felt very strongly that the process was simply unfair, and that the -- and that they weren't being taken seriously when they made that criticism.

But, today, the Supreme Court did take them seriously and agree with them that the process wasn't fair. And now the administration is going to have to fix it.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon, thanks so much.

Well, did "The New York Times" endanger national security by exposing that secret government plan to track money transfers? Two other major national newspapers broke the same story, but it's "The Times" that become -- that has become target of some angry Republicans in Washington.

CNN's Tom Foreman filed this report for "ANDERSON COOPER 360."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Between the busy streets of New York and the crowded Capitol in Washington, new shots are being fired in the war over words in "The New York Times."

A congressional resolution has been introduced effectively condemning "The Times." Some lawmakers are suggesting they now want extensive investigations into how "The Times" found out about and decided to publish details of a secret government program to track terrorists through bank transactions.

SEN. BILL FRIST (R-TN), MAJORITY LEADER: Where did this information come from? Was it purposely leaked to "The New York Times"? And was "The New York Times" complicit in leaking a highly classified program to the American people, which makes us less safe? Then, I think we might have to look at it.

FOREMAN: "The Los Angeles Times" and "The Wall Street Journal," which has twice as many readers as "The New York Times," also reported on the program. But "The New York Times" is being hammered for leading the way.

Despite the fact that federal employees clearly leaked secrets, some members of Congress seem intent on nailing the messenger, saying "The Times" has undermined the war on terror and indirectly endangered U.S. troops.

SEN. PAT ROBERTS (R-KS), SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: I believe now that we are less capable, we are less safe than we were before. REP. PETER KING (R-NY), HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: This is -- this is war. This is not the same as a highway bill or a tax bill. This is life and death. And "The New York Times" should understand that.

FOREMAN: There's even talk about "Times" reporters and editors being jailed if they won't reveal their sources.

(on camera): An editor at "The New York Times" says they talked at length with administration officials before publishing this piece, and understood the prime concern was not about terrorists.

BILL KELLER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, "THE NEW YORK TIMES": The main argument that they made to support their argument that publishing this would endanger the program was that bankers who are involved in it would be spooked by the publicity and would withdraw their cooperation.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Now, however, the talk is all about security, making it clear that, even during a week of terrible flooding in D.C., the old leaks are still a big problem.

Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And, so, joining us to discuss the legal aspects of "The New York Times" controversy, CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin.

All right, so, Jeffrey, can the government prosecute "The Times" or anyone else for publishing a story about national security just like this?

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Well, I think those are two very different questions.

I think "The New York Times" is very much on safe legal ground in publishing the story. People have raised the possibility that "The Times" could be prosecuted under the Espionage Act. I think that's ridiculous. That -- that requires proving that "The Times" intended to aid a foreign power.

The people who might be prosecuted are the people who leaked to "The Times." They disclosed classified information. They're at risk. And "Times" supporter -- and "Times" reporters could be subpoenaed to the grand jury to say who their sources are. But, in terms of "The Times" itself committing a crime, I don't think there's anything there.

WHITFIELD: And, so, critics on the Hill are saying, wait a minute. You know, the -- the administration warned "The Times," or threatened "The Times" they shouldn't publish it, told them, or instructed them, not to publish it. "The Times" and any other newspaper decided, we are going to.

Are we not talking borderline censorship here?

TOOBIN: Well, the -- the government is always free to ask you not to publish something. And I think responsible journalists always take that kind of warning seriously.

But that's a very different question than a legal question. I mean, I -- I think it really is a hard question about whether "The Times" was journalistically -- journalistically responsible in disclosing this program, because this isn't a kind of whistle-blower situation. No one seriously is suggesting that this program was illegal, so "The Times" was sort of blowing the lid off an illegal government operation.

But that's a question about journalistic responsibility. And that's, in our society, left up to journalists. It's the private sector that decides what gets published. It's not the government. And -- but -- but whether "The Times" made the right decision, I think a lot of intelligent people disagree about.

WHITFIELD: So, at this juncture, does this pursuit against "The Times" and possibly anybody else later have a legal leg to stand on?

TOOBIN: Well, I think a leak investigation is quite possible, where the government goes after, you know, who...

WHITFIELD: Like we have seen in the Judith Miller-Matt Cooper case.

TOOBIN: Like in the Judith Miller situation.

WHITFIELD: Sure.

TOOBIN: And -- and what we have learned in the Judith Miller and Matt Cooper situation is that the reporters don't really have a privilege in federal court to say, I'm not going to disclose my sources.

So the reporters who did the story I think are in some jeopardy of being subpoenaed and perhaps held in contempt. But that's the risk, not any sort of prosecution for the publication itself.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jeffrey Toobin, thanks so much.

Washed away, homes and businesses giving way to floodwaters in the Northeast. We have seen that picture, heartbreaking every time. An update straight ahead on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, this coming out of Montgomery, Alabama. Alabama Governor Don Siegelman is convicted on federal charges of bribery, conspiracy, mail fraud and obstruction of justice. Siegelman was governor between 1995 and 2003.

His former chief of staff, Paul Hamrick, and the state transportation director Mack Roberts were also on trial. They were acquitted on all charges. So, again, former Alabama governor Don Siegelman convicted on a series of federal charges.

Well, it's been about an hour since the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the 17th straight time. To see how the markets are reacting, let's go to Susan Lisovicz from the New York Stock Exchange -- Susan.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Troubled waters also flowing across Pennsylvania. As the Susquehanna slowly recedes, new problems do come to light. Damage and debris as far as the eye can see plus a need for fresh drinking water. Tens of thousands of people have just been given the OK to go back to their homes to assess the damage.

Two-thirds of Pennsylvania's counties remain under states of emergency. The governor is calling it a disaster along the Delaware. That river is still rising and it's expected to crest this hour in New Hope, just north of Philadelphia.

In times of disaster, the call goes out to who else? The National Guard. And so it is with the flooding across Pennsylvania.

Joining me by phone from Indiantown Major General Jessica Wright. General Wright, thanks so much for being with us. The mission has changed quite a bit. Yesterday with a lot of rescue efforts, emergency situations. What are you doing today?

MAJ. GEN. JESSICA WRIGHT: Today, Fredricka, clearly, it has -- we've had a mission change to more security, presence patrols of our soldiers and our airmen. And we are gearing up for points of distribution, a mission that will be handled by our 56th brigade and the 111th fighter wing out of Willow Grove.

WHITFIELD: And at these points of distribution, what will you be distributing?

WRIGHT: We will be providing the citizens of Pennsylvania water, ice, MREs, blankets and cots once the counties decide that that is what they need and where they need it. We are going by what the local officials tell us. They are on the ground, they are well in tune to what's happening in their local neighborhoods. It clearly is a clear team effort between a local state government and the National Guard, the Pennsylvania state police and the emergency management.

WHITFIELD: You mention MREs, blankets. Surely not a lot of folks are used to those sorts of things being distributed to them. Even though a lot of folks have dealt with flooding before, not of this magnitude as of recent. How surreal is this for you all National Guardsmen handing out this kind of equipment right now?

WRIGHT: Well, truly, Fredricka, we were activated for Katrina. We sent 2,500 soldiers and airmen to Louisiana. So really it's not surreal at all. It's what we do. And we have done it very well and we handled all of the points of distribution places in Louisiana. So we're good at our job at Homeland Security and we're very good at protecting the nation.

WHITFIELD: So not surreal, but instead, deja vu all over again. Certainly Katrina just ten months ago -- you certainly didn't think you would be in this position again, then, did you?

WRIGHT: No, we did not. We did not. We certainly would never hope for something like this, but when it happens in Pennsylvania, we join with the team that we have here and we protect the lives of our citizens.

WHITFIELD: So we mentioned, General Wright, that there's a great need of drinking water, especially along the Susquehanna River. How desperately in need are people there?

WRIGHT: Well, we have already distributed several tractor trailer loads of drinking water. And, again, we rely on the local counties and we -- the local enforcement agencies. And we deliver what is needed. So the governor has told us that what we need we will get, and we certainly have been putting that out.

WHITFIELD: Major General Jessica Wright, thanks so much for taking the time. We know you have a big job ahead of you.

WRIGHT: My pleasure. Thanks, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Well, does the crime merit the time? Lawyers for three people convicted of looting during Hurricane Katrina say they'll appeal their sentence. Fifteen years in prison, the maximum under the state law. The judge says he wants to send a message. The trio was caught leaving a grocery store, loaded down with bottles of wine, liquor and beer.

Andrea Yates believes she was a bad mother because TV cartoons told her saw. That's what a psychiatrist testified today. Dr. Melissa Ferguson (ph) was the first witness called by the defense as it tries to prove Yates was insane when she drowned her five children. The psychiatrist interviewed Yates the day after her arrest in 2001. She said, in her view, the defendant was psychotic.

Funeral services today in Roswell, Georgia, for Patsy Ramsey, the mother of JonBenet. It's been almost ten years since the child beauty queen was found killed in the family's Colorado home. Despite keen interest and years of detective work, the case has never been sold. Patsy Ramsey, who was 49, died Saturday after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She'll be buried in Marietta, Georgia, next to her daughter.

A pretty big day in Baghdad. They are celebrating the new attitude and a whole lot of new faces of the Iraqi police force, coming up. More on LIVE FROM.

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WHITFIELD: Layers of tragedy in Iraq today, where a somber event turned murderous. A suicide bomber detonating his car during a funeral for an Iraqi soldier. Four mourners were killed, more than 30 hurt. It happened in Kirkuk, an oil city north of Baghdad.

An insurgent hotbed could be cooling off if American military reports are correct. A U.S. general today said the coalition has made progress toward regaining control of Ramadi. He says stores are opening and city officials are focusing on providing basic services such as electricity and water.

The signs of graduation day in Iraq, and a shot in the arm for the country's struggling police force. They are singing Shia songs to celebrate the last day of training. But this Baghdad police academy has no religious affiliation. In fact, all 320 graduates for the first time ever, swore an oath of loyalty to Iraq, not to a political party, not to a militia, not to an Islamic sect. The Iraqi government is eager to shake off the image the national police are biased toward the Shia majority.

One Iraqi family is complete again now that a certain little girl is home after a long, very strange, but rewarding trip. Remember Baby Noor? Big dark eyes and chubby little cheeks? Well, she's back in Iraq, recovering from life-saving surgery here in the United States. Noor was discovered last year by American soldiers, just nine months old and suffering from spina bifida. After several operations, all very successful, doctors in Atlanta released her this week. They're not sure she will ever have use of her legs, but Baby Noor is otherwise healthy.

And the news keep coming. We'll keep bringing it to you. More of LIVE FROM right after this.

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WHITFIELD: Tragedy at the MGM Studios at Disney. You are looking at the Rock 'N' Roller ride just moments ago, where a 12-year- old, after riding on that, has died. Apparently the 12-year-old boy was with his father on the ride. When the ride came to a stop the 12- year-old was unresponsive. They took him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Investigation is underway. This is now the second death this year at Disney.

Weather aside, NASA says things do look good for a weekend launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Barring the unforeseen or an afternoon thunderstorm, Discovery will take off on a 12 day mission to the International Space Station in 48 hours, give or take. 3:49 p.m. Eastern Saturday is the scheduled launch time.

It will be only the second shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster in 2003. And you can watch Discovery's liftoff right here on CNN. It's scheduled for 3:49 p.m. Eastern on Saturday. Our special coverage with Miles O'Brien begins at 3:00 p.m. Eastern, noon Pacific.

Well, here's something you have never seen before: Kuwaiti women voting. They won the right last year and today they exercised it for the first time, helping to choose a parliament. And not only were women voting, 27 women were candidates. In one concession to the past, men and women voted in separate places, however. And we will tell you when we are darned good and ready. That, in a nutshell, is Iran's response to western pressure about its nuclear plans. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other representatives of western nations are in Moscow today. It's a warmup to the annual G8 Summit, which begins July 15th.

G8 ministers say they want to know by next Wednesday whether Tehran will accept a western package of incentives and talks about its nuclear ambitions. Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has already said there wouldn't be a response until mid-August. Well, today Iran's foreign minister backed him up, saying the G8 will have to wait.

The news keeps coming. We'll keep bringing it to you. More of LIVE FROM next.

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WHITFIELD: Less than three minutes away from the hardest working man in television, Wolf Blitzer.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, Fred.

A serious set back for President Bush. The Supreme Court rules against the administration on military tribunals for prisoners at Guantanamo. What's the future for those approximately 450 terror suspects who are detained there? And what's the political impact here at home and around the world? We are taking you in depth.

Also enemies at a crossroads -- Israel arrests dozens of members of the Hamas-led Palestinian government and remains on the offensive in Gaza.

Also the body of an Israeli settler is found murdered. Is there any end in sight along the road of violence? The Israeli ambassador to the United States joins us here in "THE SITUATION ROOM."

And reaching out to gay Republicans, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger tries to make new allies without losing old friends.

And get this -- "Love me Tender," The prime minister and the president talk of deep bonds and Elvis. Only Jeanne Moos has this story that you will see coming up in "THE SITUATION ROOM" -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thank you very much, Wolf Blitzer.

Well, planning to hit the road this holiday weekend? As you are whizzing down I-whatever, say thanks to Dwight Eisenhower. It's been 50 years since the then-president took pen in hand to create America's interstate highway system.

Before the multi-lane concept caught on, car travelers had to tread their way through countless little towns on narrow, two-land roads, many of which still exist. Interstates may lack the charm of the Route 66 era, but if you've got a backseat full of kids, you will be happy to get where you are going as soon as possible. Straight ahead to Ali Velshi with the "Closing Bell" -- Ali.

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