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American Morning

Khobar Towers Bombing Indictments Appear Imminent

Aired June 21, 2001 - 10:43   ET

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

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Just days before the fifth anniversary of the Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, indictments now appear imminent. Law enforcement sources tell CNN that at least 14 people are likely to be indicted for the attack that killed 19 U.S. servicemen. Prosecutors must act before Monday when the statute of limitations expires. According to our sources, those likely to be indicted include a Lebanese chemist and 13 Saudi members of the militant group Hezbollah.

Joining us now to discuss the continuing fallout of that attack is Paul Blais. He's author of the book, "Tragedy to Triumph," and he is a victim himself of this bombing. He joins us from Virginia Beach. Good morning, sir. It's very good to see you with us this morning. Glad to have you.

PAUL BLAIS, U.S. AIR FORCE (RET.), "TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH": Good morning to you.

HARRIS: Let me ask you first of all about your thoughts coming up on this fifth anniversary. Is this a date that you actually mark?

BLAIS: Actually, I am trying to forget the event as much as I can because it meant the death of 19 of my coworkers and I honestly don't feel that the memory of them having died on a particular day is worth keeping.

HARRIS: And now I understand you suffered some extensive injuries from that blast. In fact, you were actually in a coma for some two hours. Can you tell us your story and how you recovered?

BLAIS: Actually, I was in a coma for five weeks.

HARRIS: I'm sorry, five weeks?

BLAIS: Five weeks. I was in a coma for five weeks and actually I was misidentified at first and it took approximately four days to positively identify me and the bad thing is that my parents were unaware as to whether I was dead or alive. And then the story just goes on that I was moved around from hospital to hospital around the military. And finally I was awarded a Purple Heart at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. And there is where I finally came out of my comatose state. And it has been a challenge ever since just to be able to do various activities that I used to do on a regular basis and take for granted that I was doing so at that particular time. HARRIS: That is absolutely amazing. Exactly what, what activities are you able to participate in now? Are you able to get around pretty well?

BLAIS: Actually, I can walk around almost perfectly now. I still have trouble when I am walking on stairs and uneven surfaces because my bones at one time were so bad that I could hardly even get out of bed without making a fall somewhere or another. But now it is very rare that I fall.

HARRIS: Now, you say you've tried, you're trying to forget what happened and yet you wrote a book about your experiences and about -- "From Triumph to Tragedy." First of all, why that particular title, "Triumph to Tragedy?"

BLAIS: Actually, it's called "Tragedy to Triumph" and if you think about it, it was a tragedy what I went through and the death of the 19 other airmen and it is a triumph of the situation that I am in right now and how I have recovered from that tragic event.

HARRIS: That is exactly the reason why I asked you that, because as my -- in my notes, my notes are having it at the time the exact opposite way, "Triumph to Tragedy," and that's, your response is exactly the reason why I wondered it -- why it would be that way, because it seems as though what you've done is you've been able to climb from tragedy to a triumph. That said, it's a triumph for you to actually be here with us and talk about this morning.

BLAIS: Yeah.

HARRIS: Now, how closely have you been following this investigation and what are your thoughts about it?

BLAIS: Actually, I really have not been paying too terribly much attention to it because that is just an episode of my life that I would just rather forget as having ever happened.

HARRIS: Then why the book and, as I understand it, a movie is going to be made of the book, correct?

BLAIS: Possibly a network documentary and a feature film are going to be put together in the process of promoting the incident that I had happen to me.

HARRIS: And does that actually help you forget it, though, actually having a movie made about it and writing the book and publishing that?

BLAIS: Actually, yes and no. It does help me because I will not be portraying myself in the movie if a movie gets made. But no because it will still be the simple fact that it is commemorating what I am desperately trying to forget as having happened to me.

HARRIS: Paul Blais, we are very glad that you endured what happened to you and that you came with us with your Purple Heart. We are honored to have you with us today and we wish you the absolute best of luck in the days and years to come. Take care of yourself.

BLAIS: Well, thank you very much.

HARRIS: Daryn?

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A great service to our country.

HARRIS: Definitely.

KAGAN: Absolutely.

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