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Navy Removes Promotion of USS Cole Commanding Officer; Search Continues for Escaped Inmate in Virginia
Aired August 21, 2006 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We've got some news developing out of the Pentagon.
The U.S. Navy has now decided to pull back the promotion of the officer who commanded the USS Cole.
CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joins us with the details -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, this is a development that has been almost six years in the making. It was October, 2000, when the USS Cole, a Navy warship docked in Yemen, blew up. An al Qaeda suicide bomber blowing a 40-foot hole in that ship, killing 17 U.S. sailors, one of the most deadly al Qaeda attacks against the U.S. military.
On that day, Commander Kirk Lippold was the man in charge of the USS Cole. He was nominated for a promotion to Navy captain. He is a commander. He was nominated in 2003 to become a navy captain. That required congressional confirmation. It never came. And that promotion has now been languishing on the Hill since 2003.
The Navy now has pulled back his promotion. The secretary of the Navy, Don Winters, saying that Commander Lippold was "not fully qualified" to become a Navy captain because of his actions prior to the attack.
This attack has always been quite controversial, of course, within Navy circles. The questions that have always been out there as a result of some of the investigations is whether all actions were taken to protect the ship when it pulled into Yemen Harbor, how much the Navy knew about the potential threat from al Qaeda, whether or not they were fully prepared to take any action if small suicide boats approached the ship.
It's been a matter of great controversy. Commander Lippold has often said he wanted the situation resolved about his promotion one way or the other. Now it has been, six years after the attack. This Navy officer will not get his promotion, having been determined by the leadership of the U.S. Navy now that he is not qualified to become a Navy captain -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Barbara Starr, thanks for the latest.
Straight ahead, bomb components, chemicals, so-called martyrdom videos -- police in London say they found it all in their investigation of an alleged plot to bomb airliners. Some of the suspects were even charged today.
We'll have the details straight ahead on LIVE FROM.
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PHILLIPS: A search continues for that escaped inmate accused of killing two individuals, a sheriff's deputy, Tony, right? And also a security guard.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: That's right, Kyra.
We're just waiting for new information on this manhunt for 24- year-old William Charles Morva. Morva has been on the run-since yesterday, after overpowering a sheriff's deputy at the hospital where he was being treated for a sprained wrist and ankle. Police say Morva then killed an unarmed security guard at that hospital this morning as he was being tracked along the Huckleberry Trail there in Blacksburg.
Police say he shot and killed Corporal Eric Sutphin, a 13-year law enforcement veteran. He had been with the Montgomery County Police Department there in Blacksburg for about three years. He was married, the father of twin daughters.
Just quite a scene now in Blacksburg. The town essentially shut down, oh, for the last 24 hours now. Blacksburg police, Virginia State Patrol on the scene, as well as Blacksburg Police, Christiansburg Police, Tech Police, as well, all working to find this man.
They had him pretty much cornered along this six mile trail there, Huckleberry Trail. But as we mentioned a moment ago, he sort of shot himself -- shot his way out of that situation and is still on the run.
We are still following the latest developments and looking for more information as the manhunt continues at this time -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Tony Harris, appreciate it.
HARRIS: Sure thing.
PHILLIPS: True criminal or weirdo wannabe?
John Mark Karr is in a Los Angeles jail in isolation, ahead of a court hearing tomorrow that will send him, sooner or later, to Colorado. Prosecutors in Boulder say their counterparts in Northern California withdrew a 5-year-old warrant for Karr on child porn charges. That will speed the process of getting him to Boulder to face questioning and possible indictment in the death of JonBenet Ramsey.
Suspicion, investigation, apprehension, more investigation, prosecution. Britain today announced the first criminal charges in the alleged plot to blow up planes over the Atlantic.
CNN's Robin Oakley is following developments out of London. ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is the most significant development since the emergence of the alleged plot to blow up airliners over the Atlantic with liquid explosives. Susan Hemming, the boss of the Crown Prosecution Service in Britain, the counter- terrorism boss of that organization, said that eight individuals will be charged with a double count of conspiracy to murder and committing an act of terrorism under the new act introduced in Britain in 2006.
Three other individuals will face lesser charges involving the possession of materials conducive to the commission of an act of terrorism or failing to disclose information about a potential act of terrorism.
The kind of supporting evidence that will be used against those charged was outlined by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, Scotland Yard's head of anti-terrorism.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETER CLARKE, METROPOLITAN POLICE: There is evidence from surveillance carried out before the 10th of August. This includes important, indeed, highly significant video and audio recordings.
I can also tell you that since the 10th of August, we have found bomb making equipment. There are chemicals, including hydrogen peroxide, electrical components, documents and other items.
we have also found a number of video recordings. These are sometimes referred to as martyrdom videos.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OAKLEY: Mr. Clarke outlined that there have been 69 separate searches, as many as 400 computers have been taken into the possession of the police, 200 mobile phones and thousands of other items, including DVDs and videos. It is a significant step forward for the police and the prosecuting authorities, but Mr. Clarke said a long road remained ahead.
He said that the scale of this investigation will continue to be immense and its span worldwide.
Robin Oakley, CNN, London.
PHILLIPS: Effective, immediate and multinational -- qualities President Bush says are urgently needed in a peacekeeping force in Southern Lebanon.
Some countries, though, are waiting for more details from the U.N. before contributing troops. And some countries won't send troops at all -- the U.S. for instance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: America will do our part. We will assist the new international force with logistics support, command and control, communications and intelligence. Lebanon, Israel and our allies agreed that this would be the most effective contribution we can make at this time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Washington is also pledging $230 million in aid.
Well, the family of a kidnapped journalist pleads for his life. The brother and sisters of Fox News reporter Steve Centanni appeared on Al Jazeera Television a week after Centanni and New Zealand photographer Olaf Wiig were captured in Gaza by prison -- or by persons, rather, or persons unknown. To this day, no one has claimed responsibility or issued any sort of demands.
Fox News has asked CNN to air the plea and, of course, we agreed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEN CENTANNI, STEVE CENTANNI'S BROTHER: Our brother, Steve Centanni, was kidnapped on August 14th, last Monday. I would like his captors to know that Steve is an honorable man who always tries to do what is right.
Steve has strong respect for the Palestinian people and their culture. Steve was in Gaza with Olaf Wiig to report the truth. He is far more valuable to the Palestinian people free, as a journalist, than as a captive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Palestinian authorities are searching for Centanni and Wiig right now.
Home from the battlefield, now a new battle starts.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE ROBINSON, VETERANS FOR AMERICA: Ninety-nine percent of America doesn't know that these soldiers have honorably served and that they're finding difficulty coming back home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Veterans in search for jobs -- they're not as easy to find as you may think.
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PHILLIPS: One day you're fighting for your life, maybe for lots of lives, wielding authority, shouldering responsibility, representing your country in another country a world away. Well, the next day you're just another guy without a job. For many U.S. veterans, the real battle comes when military service is over.
Here's CNN's Gary Nurenberg.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The transition from this job to a civilian job back home can be tough.
GARETT REPPENHAGEN, VETERAN: A lot of the skills really don't translate at all. I mean, I was a sniper. I was a combat soldier.
NURENBERG: Part of Garett Reppenhagen's new job is to help other veterans find jobs.
REPPENHAGEN: A lot of these guys are infantry soldiers that have been in the infantry maybe eight years from the time they graduated high school. They never had a real job. They never had a college education.
NURENBERG (on camera): The problem is most acute for younger veterans. While the nation's unemployment rate as a whole is less than 5 percent, the most recently available numbers show unemployment for veterans between 18 and 24 at more than 17 percent.
JAMES NICHOLSON, VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY: That's significantly higher than their counterparts in the civilian sector, and that bothers me.
NURENBERG: So the Department of Veterans Affairs has what it calls transition assistance programs.
NICHOLSON: We send teams all over the world, really, to talk to them for several months before they -- they get out, to get them thinking about employment.
NURENBERG: But there is a sales job to do at home, as well.
ROBINSON: Ninety-nine percent of America doesn't know that these soldiers have honorably served and that they're finding difficulty coming back home.
JASON MCGEE, VETERAN: I was in the D.C. Army National Guard and the positions I'm looking for are for international project management.
NURENBERG: Veterans like Jason McGee can use special job searches facilities like this one in Washington, D.C...
MCGEE: We have to also work for it.
NURENBERG: ... where counselors tell employers...
ROBINSON: These people are -- will be good employees when they come back. They're willing to do what they have to do to get the job done.
NURENBERG: If they could get just the job in the first place.
Gary Nurenberg, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
PHILLIPS: Remembering fallen heroes -- the men and women who have sacrificed their lives in the war in Iraq.
Twenty-year-old Army Sergeant Joshua A. Ford was killed by a roadside bomb near An Numaniyah July 31st. Hundreds of people turned out in Pender, Nebraska for his funeral.
CNN affiliate KTIV was there as a community paid its respects and a grieving father said good-bye.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LONNIE FORD, SOLDIER'S FATHER: He was a little boy when he left. When he came back in April, he was a man. He was just fantastic with my grandson William and William just loved him. Every time he was around little kids, I mean he -- he just got that big smile on his face. He had that magnetism. And the little kids, I guess, could feel it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm proud of him. And we knew he was doing what he thought was right...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
FORD: He told me he quit smoking. Yes. He's sitting in his truck. And I don't know who took the picture. He's got this look on his face and he's got a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and you could see the determination in his face to accomplish his mission and to do the best job he could.
(VIDEO FOOTAGE OF FUNERAL)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Sergeant Ford is just one of the 2,611 men and women who have died in the Iraq War.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Oh my lord. It's heading right for us, dudes. We've got to go. We've got to go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Oh, this is one of three twisters outside Denver yesterday. As dangerous as it looks and sounds, word is this twister caused little damage and no injuries.
Flood waters are going down, but not enough to reopen roads in South Central Alaska. About 150 people who cleared out Friday are still waiting to go home. The Parks Highway is still closed, but barring any other washouts, the Alaska Railroad expects to be running on schedule.
Speaking of washouts, for the fourth time since May, flash floods have washed away a bridge over this normally dry ravine in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Road crews are trying to put together a temporary bridge. They say they can't do more until monsoon season ends.
And more deaths in China. We're now told 441 Chinese were killed by the typhoon that hit the southern coast 11 days ago. It's the strongest storm to hit China in more than 50 years.
What about the Atlantic? Any sign of storms brewing there?
Meteorologist Jacqui Jeras in the CNN Weather Center -- Jacqui, what do you think?
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Kyra, we've had a lot of activity in the Atlantic and the Caribbean as of late, in terms of thunderstorm activity. But the winds have just been not allowing anything to happen in terms of getting a tropical depression or a tropical storm.
(WEATHER REPORT)
PHILLIPS: I'm getting word that we've got to head to the continent.
A developing story in the Congo area.
Our Africa correspondent, Jeff Koinange, joins us on the phone -- Jeff, it's involving some diplomats?
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kyra.
Let me lay down the series of events just so that to keep the viewers updated.
Right before the election results were announced late Monday, there was an altercation between the bodyguards belonging to the incumbent, Joseph Kabila, and the main challenger, Jean-Pierre Bemba. Several people were killed in that incident.
Now, about an hour ago, heavy gunfire rocked an exclusive neighborhood in the capital, Kinshasa. And I was just speaking to a journalist friend of mine who is standing on the roof of a hotel watching all this. And he's hearing from people on the ground that there were a group of foreign ambassadors who went to visit the challenger, Jean-Pierre Bemba, were at his home when elite forces belonging to the incumbent, President Joseph Kabila, went to try and disarm the bodyguards of Jean-Pierre Bemba.
And, again, gunfire broke out and we understand that the foreign diplomats may be trapped in his home. We don't have any reports of any injuries at this time, but the United Nations confirms that it has launched a military operation to try and rescue the foreign diplomats -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Now, Jeff, just to try and put this more in perspective for our American audience, as well, you have been covering the story in Congo for us for months and months and months. You've talked about the corruption there. You have talked about the issue of rape and members of the military raping the women there. It's been an ongoing problem.
So, Kabila is the one you talked about as sort of being the progressive frontrunner in this election.
Does it look like this is a turf war that's going on and a fear that the government that has been in charge may lose power?
KOINANGE: Turf war no doubt, Kyra. And, look, if you look at the results, Kabila, in the first round, he actually got more than double his closest opponent. He got 44.8 percent. His closest opponent, Jean-Pierre Bemba, got 20 percent. So what happens is none of them could get the majority 50 percent and over. They have to go to a second round runoff.
Now, remember, the campaign period was extremely peaceful. Foreign diplomats were hailing this as a forward step, as a progressive step, this is democracy in the right direction. And then literally right before the results were announced, this altercation, leading many experts to say that this may, no doubt, be the calm before the storm -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Jeff Koinange, keep us updated, please, throughout the program.
Appreciate it.
Straight ahead, a manhunt for a murderer. A sheriff's deputy and a security guard are killed. Virginia Tech's campus is shut down. An escaped prisoner, this man right here, on the loose. We're live from Blacksburg.
The second hour of LIVE FROM is straight ahead.
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