Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Police Arrest Four Men in London Bombing Attempts; U.S. Troop Pullout From Iraq Could Begin in Spring; Life After War

Aired July 27, 2005 - 11:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A first of its kind new show premieres this week. "Over There" is a new drama about life for U.S. soldiers in Iraq. I'll be speaking with a TV critic about the potential dangers of doing a show about an ongoing war.
And a story to pull at your heartstrings. Twin boys, both born in needs of heart transplants. I'll be speaking with their parents.

The second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

But first, "Now in the News," predawn raids in Birmingham, England, have netted four people in connection with last week's failed bomb attacks. CNN now confirms that one of the suspects is identified as Yasin Hassan Omar, a man police say was among the four would-be bombers who attempted to set off explosives on July 21. We'll have a live update in just a few minutes.

A NASA mission briefing is under way this hour to discuss the status of the Space Shuttle Discovery. The crew used the shuttle's newly-modified robotic arm today to examine the spacecraft. During yesterday's launch, cameras videotaped debris falling away from the underside of the orbiter.

In Aruba, the search for missing teenager Natalee Holloway is focused on this pond. Authorities are now in the process of draining it. The pond is located near the beach where two brothers say they dropped off Holloway and a judge's son on the day she disappeared. Two law enforcement sources tell CNN that a local gardener gave them information that made them want to search the pond for the teen's body.

In Salt Lake City, a judge has declared that the man accused of kidnapping Utah teenager Elizabeth Smart is mentally incompetent to stand trial. The ruling sends Brian David Mitchell to a mental hospital until he's deemed competent. Earlier, on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," Elizabeth's father, Ed Smart, said it was a relief that his daughter may not have to testify at trial.

Hello, and welcome again to CNN LIVE TODAY. It's 4:00 p.m. in Birmingham, England; 7:00 p.m. in Baghdad; and 11:00 p.m. in Beijing.

From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in for Daryn Kagan.

We begin with new developments in the attempted bombings of the London transit system. Police arrested four men today in connection with the attacks. And CNN confirms one of them was among the bombing suspects identified earlier by authorities.

Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson joins us now from Birmingham, where the arrests took place -- Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello. Good morning, Fredricka.

Well, the raids took place in the early hours of this morning. Armed police went into the area, along with bomb disposal teams, to arrest the man on the street behind me. They had to taser him. The police announced that in a statement shortly after the raids.

They have now -- it's now clear that the man they arrested here is one of those wanted bombers from last week. Twenty-four-year-old Somali Yasin Hassan Omar has been living in Britain since 1992. He is a legal resident. He came here when he was 11 years old.

Police were raiding an address associated with him in north London yesterday. But now they have arrested him in this area of Birmingham here.

Not far away, they have arrested three other men. Those men currently being held at a police station in the center of Birmingham. Mr. Omar, we understand, has been taken to a high security police station in the center of London where he is being questioned. The other three men, perhaps the reason they're being held here, perhaps because they're not so central to that investigation into the failed bombings last week.

The army bomb disposal teams that came in with -- that came in with the police on the raid this morning dealt with a suspicious package that was here. The residents of the area were evacuated, some 200 different families. They still remain outside -- outside the police cordon here.

One lady I spoke to who was a close neighbor of the house that was raided said that she had seen suspicious activity going on there over the last few weeks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATY STEWART, NEIGHBOR: If there were possibly one of them, or even two of them that were living there previously on foot, that's not as noticeable as four men. They were drawn to my attention because four men and a car kept parking and coming and going. I saw it in my front window...

ROBERTSON: In the last two weeks?

STEWART: In the last two weeks, yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: So a lot of surprise here for people in this neighborhood that this should happen right here. Their community leaders came out a short time ago. This is a very mixed area. They called for calm amongst the community.

But really, from the police so far, no details on exactly what took place, other than the fact that in arresting Mr. Omar, they tasered him. The police have certainly been saying recently that they believe that he was a very, very dangerous person.

WHITFIELD: All right. Nic Robertson, thanks so much, from Birmingham, just north of London.

Well, now to Iraq and the question on the minds of many Americans: how soon are U.S. troops likely to begin pulling out? The top U.S. commander in Iraq provided some answers today during a visit by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

CNN's Aneesh Raman joins us now from Baghdad with more -- Aneesh.

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, good morning.

Those comments coming from General George Casey, the top American commander here on the ground. They come, as you say, amid an unannounced visit by the secretary of defense. Wherever he goes, there are questions that follow him about when American troops here on the ground could begin to withdraw from Iraq.

General Casey today addressed that issue with a number of "ifs."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. GEORGE CASEY, COMMANDER, MULTINATIONAL FORCES: We have built a readiness assessment that we have been doing now for the last several months. We have transition teams embedded with the divisions. And so when we get these reports, we know they're solidly based.

And I do believe that if the political process continues to go positively, and if the development of the security forces continues to go as it is going, I do believe we'll still be able to take some fairly substantial reductions after these elections in the spring and summer of next year.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAMAN: Now, Fredricka, that timeline is consistent with what I have heard from Iraqi officials. Last week, Iraq's national security adviser, Mowaffak Rubaie, said we could see sizable reductions in foreign troops by mid next year. But all of this incumbent on a number of variables working out. And the secretary of defense pushing those points with the Iraqi government as he met with both the President and the prime minister.

First, Rumsfeld saying that Iraq needs to be much more aggressive in its dealings with neighbors Iran and Syria. Those borders, he says, have to be completely secured so we don't have the ongoing flow of foreign fighters into Iraq.

Also, strong words from the secretary on the constitutional deadline now looming just weeks away of August 15. The government is pushing towards that. That, the date by which they have to have the document written.

It is the first in a number of steps that if met by the end of the year, Fredricka, would lead to the establishment of the first constitutionally-based government in Iraq. Rumsfeld pushing that process, saying it is a huge component to any possible stability here in this country -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Aneesh, what is the status of the constitution?

RAMAN: Well, we have seen a number of drafts put out to the press. Essentially, it's right now in a stage of public dialogue.

There are critical issues confronting this document in the constitutional committee, not the least of which is federalism, how autonomous will the regions be, oil revenue. Those who have the oil in their areas, do they get to keep the money, does it go all to the central government?

And then, of course, the debates over Islam, how prominent a role it will play, what effect it will have on women's rights. The latest draft we saw said that women's rights would be in accordance with Sharia (ph) Islamic law. That greatly inhibits the rights of women.

But this is just the beginning of a public debate that is going to take place for the next few weeks. The question, though, can any or all of these issues really get resolved by the date they need to be, August 15, the date by which the national assembly has to vote this document up or down so the Iraqis can vote it up or down in mid October -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Aneesh Raman in Baghdad. Thanks so much.

Well, helping troops cope with the stresses of war once they return home is the focus of a hearing this morning on Capitol Hill.

CNN's Kimberly Osias joins us live from Washington with more on that -- Kimberly.

KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka.

Well, this is the Veterans Affairs Committee that is actually holding the hearing. The topic, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It's a problem that often goes undetected because most soldiers either don't know they're experiencing a real problem, or simply too proud to talk about it. And talking, psychiatrists say, is exactly what they need to be doing.

Talking is what former Army Captain Stefanie Pelkey is doing before Congress today. Her husband Michael, who recently returned from serving a tour in Iraq, committed suicide.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. STEFANIE PELKEY, U.S. ARMY (RET.): No, he wasn't in Iraq. But in his mind, he was in there day in and day out. Although Michael would never discuss the details of his experiences in Iraq, I know he saw casualties, children suffering, dead civilians, and soldiers perish. For my soft-hearted Michael, this was enough.

Every man's heart is different. For my Michael, it may not have taken much, but it changed his heart and his mind forever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OSIAS: Stefanie Pelkey says her husband suffered from severe nightmares, slept with a gun under his pillow, and couldn't complete simple functions like mailing bills.

A new Army study shows that Michael Pelkey was not alone. In fact, one in 10 returning soldiers suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The study points to various combat stressors that Operation Iraqi Freedom soldiers experience. Stressors like higher rates of incoming rocket and mortar attacks. Unlike the first Operation Iraqi Freedom, these soldiers report killing more enemy combatants and handling more body remains. All of these conditions contribute to the higher reported rate of mental health issues -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So sad. All right. Thanks so much, Kimberly Osias, from Washington.

Meanwhile, a new CNN-"USA TODAY"-Gallup poll shows most Americans are not confident of a U.S. victory in Iraq. According to the survey, 43 percent are confident that the U.S. will win the war. Twenty-one percent think the U.S. can win but won't. And nearly a third of those polled think the U.S. cannot win the war in Iraq.

Well, you see the images from the Iraq war on the news just about every day. But now you're about to see the war play out on television in a whole new way. Will Americans tune in? We'll take a closer look.

And getting North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program. Officials from the U.S. and other key nations, they have some difficult work ahead. We'll get the latest on the high-stakes negotiations now under way.

Plus, shakeup in San Diego's City Hall. A surf shop owner -- the call her Surf Chick -- will face off against a former police chief in the latest effort to find a mayor. A closer look at the controversy in California straight ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Normally when you think of San Diego Zoo, you think of its world-famous animal attractions, not the city's politics. In the past four weeks, San Diego has seen three mayors in various political scandals. And now a city councilwoman who also owns a surf shop hopes the tide will turn.

After yesterday's election Donna Frye led a field of 11 candidates, and she'll compete in a runoff election in November. But will all of this wash away the tide of scandal from the seaside city?

Here's CNN's Thelma Gutierrez.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If you're one of those who believe that bad things come in threes, then it's finally time for something good to happen here in San Diego.

BOB KITTLE, "SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE": The city of San Diego is indeed in a lot of trouble. This is one of the very worst crises it has faced in its 155-year history.

GUTIERREZ: Let's start with this guy, former Mayor Dick Murphy. In April, "TIME" magazine observed his leading and dubious role in a scandal. The city employee pension fund was vastly underfunded. Now the FBI and others are investigating what happened.

The shortfall amounts to a staggering $1.7 billion. And though he denies wrongdoing, Mayor Murphy resigned.

Murphy was quickly replaced by city councilman, Michael Zucchet. And that brings us to the second bad thing: the strip club.

San Diego law prohibits strippers from actually touching patrons. And this man, the owner of Cheetah's, apparently concluded that's bad for business. So he used cash to grease the wheels of justice and tried to get the law changed.

Of course he didn't know the FBI had been wire tapping his calls. So he eventually was caught and pleaded guilty to paying illegal bribes.

Who took the money? A federal jury found two city countmen guilty of...

KITTLE: Essentially taking bribes. Laundered campaign contributions, direct cash payments, and reported campaign contributions.

GUTIERREZ: And that brings us to bad thing number three. One of those convicted was mayor-to-be Michael Zucchet.

MICHAEL ZUCCHET, FMR. INTERIM MAYOR, SAN DIEGO: I still can't believe my days of serving this city are over for now.

GUTIERREZ: So two days after me became interim mayor, and before he even held his first city council meeting, Zucchet is found quality of nine counts of corruption, conspiracy and extortion. And he, too, left in disgrace. But he says he's innocent and was railroaded.

But there's more.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe I have done nothing wrong.

GUTIERREZ: This man, another city councilman, was also convicted in the strip club standal. He says he's innocent, but now he's gone. So that leaves these two city council seats empty.

DONNA FRYE (D), MAYORAL CANDIDATE: Did I feel sorry for my colleagues? No. I think that they violated the public trust, and I think it was irresponsible.

GUTIERREZ: That's Donna Frye, another member of the San Diego City Council. And now she wants to be mayor. If elected, she would become the fourth San Diego mayor this year.

FRYE: But I'm going to inherit a lot of distress, I'm going to inherit three or four years of unaudited financial reports. I'm going to be inheriting a very divisive city.

GUTIERREZ: Frye, a surfer and environmentalist, was the only person who voted against tampering with the city's pension fund.

CRAIG BENEDETTO, POLITICAL ANALYST: San Diego's a joke. And it's going to be a joke until we get some strong, ethical leadership at City Hall.

GUTIERREZ: So if you are one of those who believes bad things come in threes, then the joke's over. And San Diego can hope that despite the Cheetah's scam, and the pension problems, it is at last time for San Diego to enjoy its time in the sun.

Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, San Diego.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: President Bush makes a rare visit to Capitol Hill today. He's pushing his Supreme Court nominee and CAFTA. How far will he get with the senators? We'll have all the details right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: It is hot out there, but apparently we're about to get a lot of relief. Jacqui Jeras is in the weather center -- Jacqui.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Well, coming up next, nuclear weapons talks in Beijing. Is North Korea any closer to scrapping it's nuclear weapons? That's coming up in the next half-hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories now. The top U.S. commander in Iraq says he thinks a fairly substantial American troop pullout could begin as early as next spring. General George Casey added that if Iraq continues making progress with its political transformation and security forces. Casey spoke during an unannounced visit by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld today.

The House Veterans Affairs Committee is holding a hearing on Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Committee members specifically want to know how the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense are responding to the problem. The Pentagon's chief health official said yesterday all troops would be checked within six months of returning home as part of a $100 million military health program.

British police nabbed one of four suspects in the July 21 attempted bombings on the London transit system. He's identified as Yasin Hassan Omar. Omar was arrested, along with three other people, in predawn raids across Birmingham, England. He has been moved to a high-security jail in London.

Sources say New York Governor George Pataki will not seek a fourth term. We're told that the governor revealed his intentions during a dinner at the executive mansion last night. Pataki is considering a 2008 run for the Republican presidential nomination. He's expected to make his plans public in a news conference about 30 minutes from now.

More legal trouble for former football star O.J. Simpson. A federal judge has found him guilty of pirating satellite signals from DirecTV. Simpson has been ordered to pay $25,000 in damages plus other fees. Simpson's attorneys say the judge denied their client a right to a jury trial and they're examining their legal options.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com