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American Morning

Ohio Squad Takes Heavy Hit in Iraq; Rumsfeld to Release Report of Base Closures

Aired May 13, 2005 - 08:00   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
And a surprise announcement today from the Vatican. No waiting for Pope John Paul II. His consideration for sainthood will begin immediately.

Friday the 13th bringing bad luck to commuters now in the Northeast. Checking how Amtrak is dealing after a huge fire in a key bridge.

And the hunt for the world's most wanted terrorist. We'll talk to the man today who was told bring me Osama bin Laden's head in a box.

That's coming up here on AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody.

Also ahead this morning, another airliner diverted to Maine because of a security problem, one that was discovered after the plane took off. This morning we talk to former Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson about whether the system is really working.

HEMMER: All that coming up.

Also, Jack Cafferty, too -- good morning, my friend.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How are you doing, Bill?

Coming up in "The Cafferty File" this morning, there's a published report out that U.S. Border Patrol officers are being told by their superiors not to do their job.

In Japan, they're trying to talk sumo wrestlers out of their loincloths. That's a fighting image, that.

And baby pictures of some of the cutest babies in all the world, and they're not Soledad's.

HEMMER: No?

O'BRIEN: I've got some of my own I can show you. CAFFERTY: I know you do.

O'BRIEN: Pictures, I mean.

Thanks, Jack.

CAFFERTY: Sure.

O'BRIEN: Headlines now.

Let's get right to Kelly Wallace, who's in for Carol this morning -- good morning, again.

HEMMER: Good morning.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Soledad.

Good morning again, everyone.

Here are some stories now in the news.

Pope Benedict XVI breaking with church tradition this morning, saying he is putting his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, on the fast track to becoming a saint. There is usually a five year wait in this process. Since John Paul's death back in April, there have been repeated calls for a quick beatification and sainthood.

Back here in the United States, in Washington, John Bolton's nomination as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations heads to the full Senate. A Senate panel voting yesterday 10-8 along party lines to send the nomination to the floor, but without a recommendation for approval. Lawmakers are expected to vote on Bolton's nomination some time after next week.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on the offensive. Speaking at a gala dinner in his honor last night, Congressman DeLay had a stern message for Democrats.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TOM DELAY (R-TX), MAJORITY LEADER: America is safer, stronger, more prosperous and better prepared for the future than at any time since the end of the cold war. And in response to this mountain of evidence, this colossal testament to the strength of our ideas, our opponents have offered nothing. Nothing. No ideas, no leadership, no agenda. And in just the last week we can now add to that list no class.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Tough words coming from Congressman DeLay.

That event was intended to be a prominent show of Republican support for DeLay, who is battling a wave of ethics allegations involving fundraising, foreign travel and his relationship with lobbyists. Well, the expected rough commute in the Northeast this morning is apparently getting much better. Amtrak and New Jersey Transit, running on the Northeast Corridor, are resuming service with some slight delays. A fast moving fire had cut off service on a northern New Jersey bridge last night.

And another issue in the New York area. On New York's West Side, a 50-foot high retaining wall collapsing Thursday near the George Washington Bridge. Thankfully, though, Soledad, no injuries were reported. It's really hard to believe with that 50-foot wall, with passengers and drivers and people walking by, that no one was hurt.

O'BRIEN: That is amazing, isn't it, when you see those pictures?

WALLACE: It sure is.

O'BRIEN: All right, Kelly, thanks.

WALLACE: Sure.

O'BRIEN: Well, new violence to tell you about in Iraq today, where U.S. Army patrols came under attack in Baghdad. An Army Humvee was hit and destroyed in one of two attacks against U.S. personnel. There are no reports of any casualties.

And a car bomb targeting an Iraqi Army unit exploded north of Baghdad, killing three people and wounding six others.

Meanwhile, coalition troops are going house-to-house in western Iraq, where they are battling Iraqi insurgents and foreign fighters. The military says that U.S. jets flattened a suspected insurgent safe house near the Syrian border.

The Marines of Lima Company were in the thick of fighting as Operation Matador, in fact, began. By Monday, one squad, already exhausted, was locked in a 12-hour battle with foreign fighters. After taking heavy casualties they moved on. Then on Wednesday, its remaining members rolled over a roadside bomb. In just 96 hours, the entire squad had been wiped out. The company, known as "Lucky Lima," drew Marine Reservists from across Ohio.

What exact toll are these losses taking back home?

Major Jennifer Potter is a site commander for a weapons company with the U.S. Marine Reserves.

Nice to have you, Major.

Thanks for talking with us.

MAJOR JENNIFER POTTER, U.S. MARINE RESERVES: Thank you.

Good morning.

O'BRIEN: Can you confirm that one squad of the 1st Platoon of Lima Company has been essentially wiped out by casualties or death? Are those reports accurate?

POTTER: Well, at this point we're still penning some information from the field. The situation as I understand it is very fluid and at this point I just don't have definite confirmation that I can speak either way on number of casualties and whatnot.

O'BRIEN: But you're getting some pretty dire reports from the field, aren't you?

POTTER: Actually, what we've heard so far is mainly from news reports. Official notification from the Marine Corps, that's still something that is coming in to us at this time.

O'BRIEN: Some of those news reports, we should mention, coming from reporters embedded with that company.

Tell us a little bit about the unit. Many young Reservists, I understand.

Is that right?

POTTER: That's right. I think Lima Company, 3rd Battalion 25th Marines, is pretty typical of the usual Marine Reserve unit. It's primarily bottom heavy. In other words, we've got a lot of junior unlisted Marines, younger guys in their late teens, early 20s. But to add some maturity to that, we also have a number of Marines who are -- who have been in the service, either on active duty or a lengthy time in the Reserves.

But in general terms, the unit is mainly bottom heavy with junior enlisted Marines.

O'BRIEN: Can you comment on their training? When were they activated?

POTTER: The Marines were activated on January 4 and they underwent some extensive training, several weeks of extensive training in California prior to shipping out to Iraq early in March. Last year, the unit also participated in some extensive anti-terrorism training.

O'BRIEN: I know you're still waiting on confirmation of casualties, but I'm curious if you can comment on the impact that the loss of a squad would have upon the entire company. If I understand correctly, there's three squads in a platoon, four platoons in a company. So that loss, besides emotionally, obviously, but also tactically, it must be enormous, right?

POTTER: Well, any Marine Reserve unit, the Marine Corps in general, we're all a tight knit community. And obviously any casualty, every Marine is special, an individual in his or her own right. Any loss of any Marine is very, very -- felt very deeply, not just by the Marines themselves, but, of course, the family members. And definitely our thoughts and prayers are with the families right now, with the Marines who are still in the thick of things over there in Iraq and we're all hoping and praying for their safe return. O'BRIEN: Gosh, us, as well.

Major Potter, thanks for talking with us this morning.

Appreciate your update.

POTTER: OK.

Thank you.

HEMMER: A tough reality for them.

Eight minutes past the hour now.

The Pentagon announcing its plans for closing bases and saving billions in about two hours from now. This is a decision that has a number of towns holding their breath today.

Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon with a preview -- Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.

As you say, just about two-and-a-half hours from now, the announcement to be made in this briefing room. Communities across the country watching very, very closely. This is the first base closure list we have seen in 10 years. Towns and communities across the country worried about the potential loss of jobs and the local hits on their economy.

This list now will eventually make its way to Congress for review. And there is already mixed reaction on Capitol Hill because this time, for the first time in 10 years, the list comes at a very unique time. Of course, there is a war on.

Listen to what Senator Trent Lott had to say about this view about base closure now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TRENT LOTT (R), MISSISSIPPI: I think the timing is completely wrong. Here we are fighting two wars, one in Afghanistan and Iraq, and a war on terrorism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: Now, that is one view. Others on Capitol Hill say now is the time to do base closures, save that money and give it to the troops fighting the war on terrorism.

Look at some of the statistics about what the Pentagon says about just how much money base closure can save. They say that since 1988, 98 bases have been closed, for an estimated savings of $18 billion. But, it has cost $22 billion to clean them up and close them down.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld yesterday saying that the base closures they're proposing this time around, they expect will eventually save nearly $50 billion over the next 20 years -- Bill.

HEMMER: You mentioned this discrepancy, Barbara, it costs more to clean up and close a base than what is saved in the end.

How was that -- how is it, then, that base closings save the military money?

STARR: Well, the Pentagon, of course, is famous for its accounting. But what they do say is eventually that sort of calculation turns around. As the years go on they begin to save more and more money after they get through the initial cleanup costs.

What they are saying about the round of base closures we will see in two-and-a-half hours is it will save $48 billion initially over 20 years and then $5 billion a year simply from having those bases closed and not having to support them anymore -- Bill.

HEMMER: We will wait for the announcement and word to trickle out.

Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.

Barbara, thanks for that.

STARR: Thank you.

HEMMER: Don't go far today.

Rob Marciano, meanwhile, is watching the weather for us, working for Chad Myers -- good morning, Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Bill.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Well, a flight from France to Boston diverted after a passenger was thought to be on a no fly list. Why aren't officials identifying travelers before the planes take off? We talk to a former homeland security official up next.

HEMMER: Also, the flowers are blooming, and so, too, is allergy season. Sanjay has some survival tips in a moment.

O'BRIEN: And another annual spring event, the prom. We're going to see how one high school senior and her parents deal with the pressures of prom night.

Those stories ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

HEMMER:

O'BRIEN:

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: The diversion of an airliner raising new questions about that no fly passenger list. An Air France jet bound for Boston made an unscheduled stop in Maine on Thursday when officials spotted a suspicious name on the list. The passenger's name and birthday did match someone on the federal no fly list. But officials, after forcing the jet, which originated back in France, to land in Bangor, Maine, they took the man in for questioning, along with his family. The plane took off from Boston again. The man and his family were later released. They were deemed to not be a threat. And officials say there was no security threat, and that is part of our "Security Watch" this morning.

Asa Hutchinson is former undersecretary of homeland security, who is now running for Arkansas governor.

And he's our guest down there in Little Rock.

And welcome back.

Good morning to you down there.

ASA HUTCHINSON, FORMER HOMELAND SECRETARY UNDERSECRETARY: Good morning, Bill.

HEMMER: By our count here, this is the fourth plane that's been diverted since 9/11 to Bangor, Maine after the plane was already in the air.

Why is it happening that way and not before the plane takes off?

HUTCHINSON: Well, it should happen before the plane takes off. Information is the key tool that the government uses in the war on terrorism and it's not getting the information it needs quick enough and not being analyzed quick enough.

Actually, you said four times. I think it's probably happened more times than that. It's just that a number of times those issues are resolved in the air without the plane being diverted.

But the problem is twofold. First of all, right now the airlines are making the check initially. The government makes the check after the plane takes off. That needs to be reversed. Second, you've got to get more information on the passengers before the plane takes off so we can check that and make sure that adequate safety is provided.

HEMMER: Let me try and poke away at a few things here.

How many times has someone been denied admittance on a plane because their name did appear on the no fly lists and they were denied access to that aircraft?

HUTCHINSON: Well, that would happen when -- it's not an infrequent occurrence that that would take place. But I would say it's more often that the initial check is a tentative hit on the no fly list and then further probing indicates they're two different individuals. That process takes time. But that is more frequently the occasion.

HEMMER: Let me be a little more pointed with the question, then.

How many times have they caught a terrorist before he got on board a flight that was bound for the U.S.?

HUTCHINSON: Someone who's on the list, it has happened, but it has not happened on a daily occasion. I could not give you the specific number.

HEMMER: Can you give me an example or one name or where it's happened?

HUTCHINSON: Well, I mean you can look back to the ones that have been diverted to Bangor, Maine. It gives you a simple, the fact that it does happen. And then secondly there's other occasions that it happens prior to the plane taking off. But this happens first by the airlines doing the check, denying the entry to the passenger or taking the passenger and notifying law enforcement.

HEMMER: Here seems to be the rub with this particular case. The French say they did it right. They say they checked this guy out, no problems, let his family fly onto Boston. The U.S. gets this name in the air and they say, you know, the name matches, the birth date is the same, but apparently, according to "USA Today," he spelled his name with one different letter than this other individual, who was on the no fly list.

Is there any way to avoid a situation like that or, in retrospect, did the French do it right and we got it wrong?

HUTCHINSON: Well, all of these are based upon professional analysts looking at the names and the identifying information with the lists. Sometimes on the lists you might only have a small amount of information and the more information you have on the passenger, the easier it is to resolve any potential conflicts. This takes time. And even though you improve the system, get more information, get it to the government officials further in advance, you're still going to have analysts struggling with this because this is not an easy thing to do all the time.

HEMMER: It is not easy and clearly it's not perfect.

How could the system be better, in your estimation, then?

HUTCHINSON: Again, you've got to change, first of all, that the government has to have the lead responsibility. These are professional analysts and it's not an airline responsibility. You're looking at people who are not trained in law enforcement making the initial check now.

Secondly, and they're working through the process, you've got to have an international agreement to get the information to the governments earlier because you're going to have constant delays, you're going to have planes diverted if you don't make these decisions before that plane takes off and get the information earlier in advance.

HEMMER: It is a tricky deal and it has not been perfect in the past. But we'll see in the future.

Asa Hutchinson, thanks for your time down there in Little Rock, Arkansas this morning.

HUTCHINSON: Thank you, Bill.

HEMMER: All right -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, allergy season is here. We are "Paging Dr. Gupta" for a little advice on how to weather it.

That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Did you guys see Jon Stewart? He took a little aim at the battle over John Bolton on Comedy Central's "Daily Show. Stewart noted the curious case of Republican Senator George Voinovich, who voted for sending Bolton's name on to the Senate while at the same time blasting the nominee for U.S. ambassador to the U.N.

Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART, COURTESY COMEDY CENTRAL)

SEN. GEORGE VOINOVICH (R), OHIO: It is my opinion that John Bolton is the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be.

JON STEWART, HOST: Then this is it! Slam dunk. Bolton's not coming out of committee. Say good night, Gracie.

VOINOVICH: That being said, Mr. Chairman, we owe it to the president to give Mr. Bolton an up or down vote on the floor of the United States Senate.

STEWART: I got Voinoviched. Fakes no, votes yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: That was so funny.

HEMMER: To the full Senate we go now for John Bolton.

To Jack Cafferty, the Question of the Day.

CAFFERTY: You know, sometimes Jon Stewart is funny and then there's nights like that.

HEMMER: Oh, no...

O'BRIEN: I thought that was amusing.

HEMMER: Yes.

O'BRIEN: You didn't think that was kind of clever?

HEMMER: Not bad.

CAFFERTY: Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton are hanging out these days. They're working together on health care and on a Pentagon panel on military readiness. Go figure.

It was Gingrich who led the charge to impeach Hillary's husband, President Bill Clinton, and the two of them, of course, became enemies on the issue of health care back during the president's first term.

It's important to remember, though, boys and girls, that politicians will run over their mothers to get their faces in front of a television camera. And for these two, the strategy appears to be working.

The question this morning is this, what are Hillary Clinton and Newt Gingrich up to?

Jason in Lakewood, Washington: "Simply put, they're capitalizing on an issue that strongly brings together two separate parties with totally separate outlooks and makes Democrats and Republicans almost feel cozy again."

Jim in New York writes: "Did anyone notice if Newt has a cigar in his pocket?"

Andre in Georgia writes: "Jack, there's only one nightmare for me every morning -- your face on my television. Hillary Clinton is an angel compared to you."

And John in Pennsylvania writes: "Hi, Jack. I just woke up. I haven't turned on the television. I don't know what the Question of the Day is. But I'm assuming it's idiotic. So here's my generic answer, yes, but only if George W. agrees to have the procedure done on himself, too."

HEMMER: Does that fit, karma, oh great one?

CAFFERTY: Pretty funny.

HEMMER: Nice.

Thanks, Jack.

O'BRIEN: That was kind of funny.

Well, some pretty anxious moments for high school seniors and their parents. Part two of our series on prom night pressures is just ahead. Everybody looking forward to the big dance. Some people very worried, though, about what happens afterwards.

Stay with us.

You're watching AMERICAN MORNING. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Another beauty here in New York City.

Good morning, everyone.

8:30 here on AMERICAN MORNING.

A look inside the hunt for Osama bin Laden like you have never seen before.

O'BRIEN: We've got that story just ahead.

First, though, let's get another look at the headlines this morning with Kelly Wallace, who's in for Carol -- good morning, again.

WALLACE: Thanks, Soledad.

Good morning again, everyone.

Now in the news, in just about two hours, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is set to announce which of the country's 400 plus military bases could be shut down. It is the first base closure list in 10 years and the cuts are expected to save the military almost $50 billion over the next two decades. Some lawmakers, though, are criticizing the move, saying the timing is all wrong. But those in favor of the closings say the money can be used to help the troops fighting overseas.

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


Aired May 13, 2005 - 08:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
And a surprise announcement today from the Vatican. No waiting for Pope John Paul II. His consideration for sainthood will begin immediately.

Friday the 13th bringing bad luck to commuters now in the Northeast. Checking how Amtrak is dealing after a huge fire in a key bridge.

And the hunt for the world's most wanted terrorist. We'll talk to the man today who was told bring me Osama bin Laden's head in a box.

That's coming up here on AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody.

Also ahead this morning, another airliner diverted to Maine because of a security problem, one that was discovered after the plane took off. This morning we talk to former Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson about whether the system is really working.

HEMMER: All that coming up.

Also, Jack Cafferty, too -- good morning, my friend.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How are you doing, Bill?

Coming up in "The Cafferty File" this morning, there's a published report out that U.S. Border Patrol officers are being told by their superiors not to do their job.

In Japan, they're trying to talk sumo wrestlers out of their loincloths. That's a fighting image, that.

And baby pictures of some of the cutest babies in all the world, and they're not Soledad's.

HEMMER: No?

O'BRIEN: I've got some of my own I can show you. CAFFERTY: I know you do.

O'BRIEN: Pictures, I mean.

Thanks, Jack.

CAFFERTY: Sure.

O'BRIEN: Headlines now.

Let's get right to Kelly Wallace, who's in for Carol this morning -- good morning, again.

HEMMER: Good morning.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Soledad.

Good morning again, everyone.

Here are some stories now in the news.

Pope Benedict XVI breaking with church tradition this morning, saying he is putting his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, on the fast track to becoming a saint. There is usually a five year wait in this process. Since John Paul's death back in April, there have been repeated calls for a quick beatification and sainthood.

Back here in the United States, in Washington, John Bolton's nomination as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations heads to the full Senate. A Senate panel voting yesterday 10-8 along party lines to send the nomination to the floor, but without a recommendation for approval. Lawmakers are expected to vote on Bolton's nomination some time after next week.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on the offensive. Speaking at a gala dinner in his honor last night, Congressman DeLay had a stern message for Democrats.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TOM DELAY (R-TX), MAJORITY LEADER: America is safer, stronger, more prosperous and better prepared for the future than at any time since the end of the cold war. And in response to this mountain of evidence, this colossal testament to the strength of our ideas, our opponents have offered nothing. Nothing. No ideas, no leadership, no agenda. And in just the last week we can now add to that list no class.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Tough words coming from Congressman DeLay.

That event was intended to be a prominent show of Republican support for DeLay, who is battling a wave of ethics allegations involving fundraising, foreign travel and his relationship with lobbyists. Well, the expected rough commute in the Northeast this morning is apparently getting much better. Amtrak and New Jersey Transit, running on the Northeast Corridor, are resuming service with some slight delays. A fast moving fire had cut off service on a northern New Jersey bridge last night.

And another issue in the New York area. On New York's West Side, a 50-foot high retaining wall collapsing Thursday near the George Washington Bridge. Thankfully, though, Soledad, no injuries were reported. It's really hard to believe with that 50-foot wall, with passengers and drivers and people walking by, that no one was hurt.

O'BRIEN: That is amazing, isn't it, when you see those pictures?

WALLACE: It sure is.

O'BRIEN: All right, Kelly, thanks.

WALLACE: Sure.

O'BRIEN: Well, new violence to tell you about in Iraq today, where U.S. Army patrols came under attack in Baghdad. An Army Humvee was hit and destroyed in one of two attacks against U.S. personnel. There are no reports of any casualties.

And a car bomb targeting an Iraqi Army unit exploded north of Baghdad, killing three people and wounding six others.

Meanwhile, coalition troops are going house-to-house in western Iraq, where they are battling Iraqi insurgents and foreign fighters. The military says that U.S. jets flattened a suspected insurgent safe house near the Syrian border.

The Marines of Lima Company were in the thick of fighting as Operation Matador, in fact, began. By Monday, one squad, already exhausted, was locked in a 12-hour battle with foreign fighters. After taking heavy casualties they moved on. Then on Wednesday, its remaining members rolled over a roadside bomb. In just 96 hours, the entire squad had been wiped out. The company, known as "Lucky Lima," drew Marine Reservists from across Ohio.

What exact toll are these losses taking back home?

Major Jennifer Potter is a site commander for a weapons company with the U.S. Marine Reserves.

Nice to have you, Major.

Thanks for talking with us.

MAJOR JENNIFER POTTER, U.S. MARINE RESERVES: Thank you.

Good morning.

O'BRIEN: Can you confirm that one squad of the 1st Platoon of Lima Company has been essentially wiped out by casualties or death? Are those reports accurate?

POTTER: Well, at this point we're still penning some information from the field. The situation as I understand it is very fluid and at this point I just don't have definite confirmation that I can speak either way on number of casualties and whatnot.

O'BRIEN: But you're getting some pretty dire reports from the field, aren't you?

POTTER: Actually, what we've heard so far is mainly from news reports. Official notification from the Marine Corps, that's still something that is coming in to us at this time.

O'BRIEN: Some of those news reports, we should mention, coming from reporters embedded with that company.

Tell us a little bit about the unit. Many young Reservists, I understand.

Is that right?

POTTER: That's right. I think Lima Company, 3rd Battalion 25th Marines, is pretty typical of the usual Marine Reserve unit. It's primarily bottom heavy. In other words, we've got a lot of junior unlisted Marines, younger guys in their late teens, early 20s. But to add some maturity to that, we also have a number of Marines who are -- who have been in the service, either on active duty or a lengthy time in the Reserves.

But in general terms, the unit is mainly bottom heavy with junior enlisted Marines.

O'BRIEN: Can you comment on their training? When were they activated?

POTTER: The Marines were activated on January 4 and they underwent some extensive training, several weeks of extensive training in California prior to shipping out to Iraq early in March. Last year, the unit also participated in some extensive anti-terrorism training.

O'BRIEN: I know you're still waiting on confirmation of casualties, but I'm curious if you can comment on the impact that the loss of a squad would have upon the entire company. If I understand correctly, there's three squads in a platoon, four platoons in a company. So that loss, besides emotionally, obviously, but also tactically, it must be enormous, right?

POTTER: Well, any Marine Reserve unit, the Marine Corps in general, we're all a tight knit community. And obviously any casualty, every Marine is special, an individual in his or her own right. Any loss of any Marine is very, very -- felt very deeply, not just by the Marines themselves, but, of course, the family members. And definitely our thoughts and prayers are with the families right now, with the Marines who are still in the thick of things over there in Iraq and we're all hoping and praying for their safe return. O'BRIEN: Gosh, us, as well.

Major Potter, thanks for talking with us this morning.

Appreciate your update.

POTTER: OK.

Thank you.

HEMMER: A tough reality for them.

Eight minutes past the hour now.

The Pentagon announcing its plans for closing bases and saving billions in about two hours from now. This is a decision that has a number of towns holding their breath today.

Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon with a preview -- Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.

As you say, just about two-and-a-half hours from now, the announcement to be made in this briefing room. Communities across the country watching very, very closely. This is the first base closure list we have seen in 10 years. Towns and communities across the country worried about the potential loss of jobs and the local hits on their economy.

This list now will eventually make its way to Congress for review. And there is already mixed reaction on Capitol Hill because this time, for the first time in 10 years, the list comes at a very unique time. Of course, there is a war on.

Listen to what Senator Trent Lott had to say about this view about base closure now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TRENT LOTT (R), MISSISSIPPI: I think the timing is completely wrong. Here we are fighting two wars, one in Afghanistan and Iraq, and a war on terrorism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: Now, that is one view. Others on Capitol Hill say now is the time to do base closures, save that money and give it to the troops fighting the war on terrorism.

Look at some of the statistics about what the Pentagon says about just how much money base closure can save. They say that since 1988, 98 bases have been closed, for an estimated savings of $18 billion. But, it has cost $22 billion to clean them up and close them down.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld yesterday saying that the base closures they're proposing this time around, they expect will eventually save nearly $50 billion over the next 20 years -- Bill.

HEMMER: You mentioned this discrepancy, Barbara, it costs more to clean up and close a base than what is saved in the end.

How was that -- how is it, then, that base closings save the military money?

STARR: Well, the Pentagon, of course, is famous for its accounting. But what they do say is eventually that sort of calculation turns around. As the years go on they begin to save more and more money after they get through the initial cleanup costs.

What they are saying about the round of base closures we will see in two-and-a-half hours is it will save $48 billion initially over 20 years and then $5 billion a year simply from having those bases closed and not having to support them anymore -- Bill.

HEMMER: We will wait for the announcement and word to trickle out.

Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.

Barbara, thanks for that.

STARR: Thank you.

HEMMER: Don't go far today.

Rob Marciano, meanwhile, is watching the weather for us, working for Chad Myers -- good morning, Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Bill.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Well, a flight from France to Boston diverted after a passenger was thought to be on a no fly list. Why aren't officials identifying travelers before the planes take off? We talk to a former homeland security official up next.

HEMMER: Also, the flowers are blooming, and so, too, is allergy season. Sanjay has some survival tips in a moment.

O'BRIEN: And another annual spring event, the prom. We're going to see how one high school senior and her parents deal with the pressures of prom night.

Those stories ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

HEMMER:

O'BRIEN:

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: The diversion of an airliner raising new questions about that no fly passenger list. An Air France jet bound for Boston made an unscheduled stop in Maine on Thursday when officials spotted a suspicious name on the list. The passenger's name and birthday did match someone on the federal no fly list. But officials, after forcing the jet, which originated back in France, to land in Bangor, Maine, they took the man in for questioning, along with his family. The plane took off from Boston again. The man and his family were later released. They were deemed to not be a threat. And officials say there was no security threat, and that is part of our "Security Watch" this morning.

Asa Hutchinson is former undersecretary of homeland security, who is now running for Arkansas governor.

And he's our guest down there in Little Rock.

And welcome back.

Good morning to you down there.

ASA HUTCHINSON, FORMER HOMELAND SECRETARY UNDERSECRETARY: Good morning, Bill.

HEMMER: By our count here, this is the fourth plane that's been diverted since 9/11 to Bangor, Maine after the plane was already in the air.

Why is it happening that way and not before the plane takes off?

HUTCHINSON: Well, it should happen before the plane takes off. Information is the key tool that the government uses in the war on terrorism and it's not getting the information it needs quick enough and not being analyzed quick enough.

Actually, you said four times. I think it's probably happened more times than that. It's just that a number of times those issues are resolved in the air without the plane being diverted.

But the problem is twofold. First of all, right now the airlines are making the check initially. The government makes the check after the plane takes off. That needs to be reversed. Second, you've got to get more information on the passengers before the plane takes off so we can check that and make sure that adequate safety is provided.

HEMMER: Let me try and poke away at a few things here.

How many times has someone been denied admittance on a plane because their name did appear on the no fly lists and they were denied access to that aircraft?

HUTCHINSON: Well, that would happen when -- it's not an infrequent occurrence that that would take place. But I would say it's more often that the initial check is a tentative hit on the no fly list and then further probing indicates they're two different individuals. That process takes time. But that is more frequently the occasion.

HEMMER: Let me be a little more pointed with the question, then.

How many times have they caught a terrorist before he got on board a flight that was bound for the U.S.?

HUTCHINSON: Someone who's on the list, it has happened, but it has not happened on a daily occasion. I could not give you the specific number.

HEMMER: Can you give me an example or one name or where it's happened?

HUTCHINSON: Well, I mean you can look back to the ones that have been diverted to Bangor, Maine. It gives you a simple, the fact that it does happen. And then secondly there's other occasions that it happens prior to the plane taking off. But this happens first by the airlines doing the check, denying the entry to the passenger or taking the passenger and notifying law enforcement.

HEMMER: Here seems to be the rub with this particular case. The French say they did it right. They say they checked this guy out, no problems, let his family fly onto Boston. The U.S. gets this name in the air and they say, you know, the name matches, the birth date is the same, but apparently, according to "USA Today," he spelled his name with one different letter than this other individual, who was on the no fly list.

Is there any way to avoid a situation like that or, in retrospect, did the French do it right and we got it wrong?

HUTCHINSON: Well, all of these are based upon professional analysts looking at the names and the identifying information with the lists. Sometimes on the lists you might only have a small amount of information and the more information you have on the passenger, the easier it is to resolve any potential conflicts. This takes time. And even though you improve the system, get more information, get it to the government officials further in advance, you're still going to have analysts struggling with this because this is not an easy thing to do all the time.

HEMMER: It is not easy and clearly it's not perfect.

How could the system be better, in your estimation, then?

HUTCHINSON: Again, you've got to change, first of all, that the government has to have the lead responsibility. These are professional analysts and it's not an airline responsibility. You're looking at people who are not trained in law enforcement making the initial check now.

Secondly, and they're working through the process, you've got to have an international agreement to get the information to the governments earlier because you're going to have constant delays, you're going to have planes diverted if you don't make these decisions before that plane takes off and get the information earlier in advance.

HEMMER: It is a tricky deal and it has not been perfect in the past. But we'll see in the future.

Asa Hutchinson, thanks for your time down there in Little Rock, Arkansas this morning.

HUTCHINSON: Thank you, Bill.

HEMMER: All right -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, allergy season is here. We are "Paging Dr. Gupta" for a little advice on how to weather it.

That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Did you guys see Jon Stewart? He took a little aim at the battle over John Bolton on Comedy Central's "Daily Show. Stewart noted the curious case of Republican Senator George Voinovich, who voted for sending Bolton's name on to the Senate while at the same time blasting the nominee for U.S. ambassador to the U.N.

Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART, COURTESY COMEDY CENTRAL)

SEN. GEORGE VOINOVICH (R), OHIO: It is my opinion that John Bolton is the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be.

JON STEWART, HOST: Then this is it! Slam dunk. Bolton's not coming out of committee. Say good night, Gracie.

VOINOVICH: That being said, Mr. Chairman, we owe it to the president to give Mr. Bolton an up or down vote on the floor of the United States Senate.

STEWART: I got Voinoviched. Fakes no, votes yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: That was so funny.

HEMMER: To the full Senate we go now for John Bolton.

To Jack Cafferty, the Question of the Day.

CAFFERTY: You know, sometimes Jon Stewart is funny and then there's nights like that.

HEMMER: Oh, no...

O'BRIEN: I thought that was amusing.

HEMMER: Yes.

O'BRIEN: You didn't think that was kind of clever?

HEMMER: Not bad.

CAFFERTY: Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton are hanging out these days. They're working together on health care and on a Pentagon panel on military readiness. Go figure.

It was Gingrich who led the charge to impeach Hillary's husband, President Bill Clinton, and the two of them, of course, became enemies on the issue of health care back during the president's first term.

It's important to remember, though, boys and girls, that politicians will run over their mothers to get their faces in front of a television camera. And for these two, the strategy appears to be working.

The question this morning is this, what are Hillary Clinton and Newt Gingrich up to?

Jason in Lakewood, Washington: "Simply put, they're capitalizing on an issue that strongly brings together two separate parties with totally separate outlooks and makes Democrats and Republicans almost feel cozy again."

Jim in New York writes: "Did anyone notice if Newt has a cigar in his pocket?"

Andre in Georgia writes: "Jack, there's only one nightmare for me every morning -- your face on my television. Hillary Clinton is an angel compared to you."

And John in Pennsylvania writes: "Hi, Jack. I just woke up. I haven't turned on the television. I don't know what the Question of the Day is. But I'm assuming it's idiotic. So here's my generic answer, yes, but only if George W. agrees to have the procedure done on himself, too."

HEMMER: Does that fit, karma, oh great one?

CAFFERTY: Pretty funny.

HEMMER: Nice.

Thanks, Jack.

O'BRIEN: That was kind of funny.

Well, some pretty anxious moments for high school seniors and their parents. Part two of our series on prom night pressures is just ahead. Everybody looking forward to the big dance. Some people very worried, though, about what happens afterwards.

Stay with us.

You're watching AMERICAN MORNING. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Another beauty here in New York City.

Good morning, everyone.

8:30 here on AMERICAN MORNING.

A look inside the hunt for Osama bin Laden like you have never seen before.

O'BRIEN: We've got that story just ahead.

First, though, let's get another look at the headlines this morning with Kelly Wallace, who's in for Carol -- good morning, again.

WALLACE: Thanks, Soledad.

Good morning again, everyone.

Now in the news, in just about two hours, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is set to announce which of the country's 400 plus military bases could be shut down. It is the first base closure list in 10 years and the cuts are expected to save the military almost $50 billion over the next two decades. Some lawmakers, though, are criticizing the move, saying the timing is all wrong. But those in favor of the closings say the money can be used to help the troops fighting overseas.

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