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American Morning
Search Continues for Missing American Soldiers in Iraq; White House Looks Into Reports of North Korea Missile Test
Aired June 19, 2006 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Two U.S. soldiers still missing in Iraq. The search is intensifying and the military has released their names.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Serious threat or political posturing -- North Korea warned about a possible long-range missile test, a test that has the United States in range.
S. O'BRIEN: New York City's subways targeted by al Qaeda. A new book claims that a deadly gas attack may have just been days away.
ROBERTS: Also, a first for American Episcopalians. They have chosen a woman as their head bishop. But it could cause a serious split in the worldwide religious community.
S. O'BRIEN: And firefighters are holding the line this morning in Arizona, as a fast moving wildfire forces hundreds of people out of their homes.
Those stories all ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Good morning.
Welcome back, everybody.
I'm Soledad O'Brien.
ROBERTS: And I'm John Roberts in for Miles O'Brien this week.
Good Monday morning to you.
Kicking off another week.
S. O'BRIEN: Boy, you've got energy.
ROBERTS: Don't you love Monday morning?
S. O'BRIEN: Uh-huh.
ROBERTS: I'm just trying to convince myself I've got energy and not slowing down.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, good luck. It's not working.
Anyway, let's go to some new developments this morning in a serious story, that search for two American soldiers who are missing in Iraq. The search has grown more urgent with eyewitness reports that the soldiers were captured. The military has added considerable resources to finding the men. It still calls them, though, missing, not captured.
CNN's Arwa Damon is live for us in Baghdad -- Arwa, good morning.
What do we know about the search for these men?
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Well, Major General William Caldwell gave a taped press statement earlier here in Baghdad, a few hours ago, saying that the search has widened. They have so far swept through 12 villages in the area. He said the U.S. military was using every means at its disposal to find these two missing soldiers, to include divers, unmanned aerial vehicles, planes. Some 8,000 U.S. and Iraqi forces are now involved in this search that has not been uneventful.
They have been clashes as they have swept through this area. It is in the triangle of death, just south of Baghdad. They said that so far seven U.S. soldiers had been wounded. Three suspected insurgents have been killed and 34 have been detained.
Major General Caldwell also emphasized that the U.S. military will never stop searching for its soldiers until their status can be determined definitively -- slowdown.
S. O'BRIEN: Arwa, let me ask you a question about other violence in Baghdad. There was another attack more recently.
What do we know about that attack?
DAMON: That's right. A car bomb detonated this morning in eastern Baghdad, killing four civilians and wounding another 10. This follows a very violent weekend, in which at least 50 Iraqis were killed throughout the country. On Saturday in Baghdad alone, despite a major security crack down by the Iraqi government, by Iraqi and U.S. security forces, nine car bombs detonated -- slowdown.
S. O'BRIEN: Arwa Damon for us in Baghdad this morning.
Arwa, thank you -- John.
ROBERTS: A CNN Security Watch now.
A book being published tomorrow claims al Qaeda plotted to spread deadly cyanide gas in the New York City subway system back in 2003. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Ron Suskind writes in "The One Percent Doctrine" that the gas would have been dispersed on trains using materials found in hardware stores.
Former officials confirm that Osama bin Laden's second in command called off the planned attack.
One New York senator used word of the alleged plot to criticize the Department of Homeland Security.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: This threat underscores the stupidity of what the Department of Homeland Security did in cutting back funding for New York and giving funding to places like Dillingham, Alaska and Modoc, California. It also underscores the folly of saying oh, we're going to fund equipment over personnel. This kind of attack, given the status of the detection mechanisms we had, the best prevention were personnel and Homeland Security is saying that doesn't count.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Senator Schumer said, though, that there is no indication an alleged plot like this is still in the works.
Pat D'Amuro was assistant director of the FBI in New York back in 2003 when this alleged plot first came to light. And he is going to join us at the half hour.
Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
Pressure now on North Korea. Stern warnings coming from several countries after it was learned North Korea may be preparing to test a long-range missile, one that could reach well into the United States.
CNN's Kathleen Koch is live at the White House this morning -- Kathleen, why is the White House taking these rumors so seriously?
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, because there is, apparently, some hard and fast evidence in the form of satellite images that have been gathered over the last few weeks that do show that apparently a long-range missile in North Korea has been fueled. Now that means it could be fired any time over the next month. And the concern is not only in the U.S.
Australia -- their foreign minister has come out warning of "serious consequences" if a test were carried out. Japan has said it would join the U.S. in taking "severe action."
Now, it was back in 1998 over Japan that North Korea launched its last missile. That was an intermediate-range missile. And that sparked international condemnation.
The White House, though, is watching these -- this new evidence, these new developments, very, very carefully and warning that North Korea needs to stick by its commitment, its self-imposed moratorium back in 1999 not to launch any more of these missile tests -- John.
ROBERTS: Kathleen, the White House has already gone to extraordinary lengths to put the squeeze on North Korea.
What else could it possibly do if North Korea decides to go ahead with this test fire? KOCH: John, that very question was put to Tony Snow, the White House press secretary, over the weekend when he appeared on the Sunday morning talk shows. And he said that right now the ball is in North Korea's court.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: They need to sit down with the six parties with whom they've been negotiating, the regional partners plus the United States, to try to deal with concerns about the ongoing -- or about the nuclear programs within North Korea itself. Again, it's a situation analogous to Iran. They need to make the step to get to the table...
WOLF BLITZER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What if they go ahead with this test?
SNOW: Well, we'll have to -- if they go ahead with a test, then we will have to response properly and appropriately at the time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: The U.S. ambassador to Japan over the weekend said that if the test goes ahead, that economic sanctions would have to be considered -- John.
ROBERTS: All right, thanks very much.
Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security -- slowdown.
S. O'BRIEN: We are watching some severe weather this morning around the country. Today, people in Hartford, Wisconsin are going to begin cleaning up from the damage of a tornado. The twister touched down on Sunday, ripped apart buildings and rooftops. About 50 homes and 10 businesses sustained significant damage. Only one person was injured.
Hundreds of people being evacuated in northern Arizona. A quick moving wildfire near Sedona is growing to more than 1,000 acres. Officials describe the fire as very active.
Kevin Kennedy from our affiliate KPNX has details for us.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
KEVIN KENNEDY, KPNX CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fire tracks roll in and look what they see -- a massive cloud of smoke and fast moving flames.
GARY JOHNSON, SEDONA FIRE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: Winds come up, high temperatures, low humidities, drought -- that's just a bad mix coming together. And when it gets started, it makes it tough.
KENNEDY: This fire battle being waged in a rugged area. Much of the work being done from the sky. Air tankers and helicopters splashed the flames. It's helping, but the fire continues to march.
JOHNSON: It started on Brins Mesa. It seemed to stay there and wasn't too bad. As we look at it some more, it's climbed up to the top and it's starting to move.
KENNEDY: That's where these guys are headed. Those living up here are headed out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ma'am (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
KENNEDY: It's just too close for comfort.
JOHNSON: Our concern is, is that the fire may be going one way, but we don't want it to either spark or work its way backwards and kind of wick back into town.
KENNEDY: The fire heading away from these homes, but creeping closer to Oak Creek Canyon, so close sirens and a radio message warned residents.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Highway 89A through Oak Creek Canyon is closed and everyone needs to get out of Oak Creek Canyon immediately.
KENNEDY: It's get up and go time for some. This fire is a long way from contained.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: That was Kevin Kennedy from our affiliate KPNX.
A type one fire team is expected to take over tomorrow. Type one teams are brought in to fight the most difficult fires.
A check of the forecast now with Chad Myers at the CNN Center -- Chad, how is the weather going to be for folks there?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know, the winds aren't bad today. But they still could gust to 20 miles per hour, and that's typically the threshold that will pick up a spark and send that spark somewhere else.
(WEATHER REPORT)
ROBERTS: Still to come, more on those two U.S. soldiers missing in Iraq after an attack at a checkpoint. A former POW tells us what they might be going through.
S. O'BRIEN: Also, a woman elected to lead one of America's biggest churches. We'll take a look at what that means for a church that's already divided on the issue of women in the pulpit.
ROBERTS: And school's out for summer. But that doesn't mean your kid's brain has to go on vacation, too. It doesn't mean pigs can't fly, either. Tips on keeping their minds sharp ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Eyewitnesses in Iraq say two American soldiers were captured by insurgents. The U.S. military is not confirming that.
Three years ago, Shoshana Johnson was captured in Iraq. Her interrogation was aired on Iraqi television.
Do you remember these pictures? It was just at the start of the war and Specialist Johnson was in the same convoy as PFC Jessica Lynch when Iraqi forces shot and captured her.
U.S. troops hunted for 22 days until they were able to free them.
Shoshana Johnson joins us from El Paso, Texas.
It's nice to see you.
Thanks for talking with us this morning.
SHOSHANA JOHNSON, FORMER POW IN IRAQ: Oh, good morning.
Thank you for having me.
S. O'BRIEN: it's our pleasure.
What's the first thing that goes through your mind when you're taken hostage, when you're in captivity? What do you think about, your family? I know you have a young daughter. Or was it about your fellow soldiers? what were you thinking?
JOHNSON: The first thought, of course, is my family -- my daughter, my parents, sisters. And then you think of your fellow soldiers, what's happened to them, are they alive, how are they doing, how their families are going to react to any news.
S. O'BRIEN: You must just be utterly terrified. I mean who can forget how during that -- the interrogation that we got to see -- how nervous you and the others all looked, I mean just utterly petrified.
Were you just terrified at that point?
JOHNSON: Definitely. I was in, also, a lot of pain, you know? I didn't know what was going to happen. I didn't know if I was going to get medical care. I wondered if I'd see my daughter again or my family again. It was a lot of things going on at once.
S. O'BRIEN: Oh my gosh, I can't even imagine.
You had been shot in the ankle and eventually you did, indeed, get medical care.
I've spoken to former hostages about, a little bit about their training and I would not want you to mention anything that would ever compromise any soldier anywhere. But did they give you any kind of preparation for what might happen if, indeed, you're taken captive? JOHNSON: Every soldier gets basic knowledge. Of course, as a cook in a maintenance company, the thoughts of you being captured is not likely. But since the capture of us from the 507th, things have changed in the military. Basic training and -- has changed quite a bit. They've intensified POW training within soldiers.
S. O'BRIEN: I guess there's a really different sense nowadays that really anybody, when you're talking about Baghdad or Iraq in general, could become a hostage.
Were you kept with your fellow hostages? Were you kept separate? I mean how did it, logistically, it work out?
JOHNSON: During most of my captivity, I was kept separate from the males. I was very much isolated from them. But they always gave me -- tried to give me a sense that they were near and give me some support.
S. O'BRIEN: Major General William Caldwell, we've heard him say, as he does his briefings from Baghdad, that the military never stops searching.
Did you know that when you were captive? Did that bring you some comfort?
JOHNSON: Definitely. I knew my soldiers would not leave me behind. Sometimes, you know, the things that go through your head is that people back home have forgotten u. But in your heart you know that the soldiers, especially the ones on ground in Iraq, will never forget those who are in captivity or missing.
So the message I always put out to any Americans here back home is keep those soldiers in your prayers. Know that they put on the uniform now for themselves, but for everyone that stays back home.
S. O'BRIEN: Any words of comfort for the family members of the two men -- and they're young men -- who are missing? Private First Class Thomas Tucker, who's just 25, and Kristian Menchaca, who is 23 years old?
JOHNSON: The most I can say is pray and always have hope. You know, my parents went through 22 days of just not knowing what was happening. And their faith is what kept them going and it's what kept me going, also.
S. O'BRIEN: You now talk to students a lot at universities, I know, about your experience as a POW.
What's your message, Shoshana?
JOHNSON: That as a soldier we need the support of those back home. Even if you don't like the politics behind the conflict, know that it has nothing to do with the people that put on the uniform. We're given a job to do. No matter who is in the White House, you know, we're going to be a soldier and we're going to defend our nation.
S. O'BRIEN: Shoshana Johnson.
How old is your little girl now. She was three -- what is she, almost six?
JOHNSON: She's six now. Six and just a terror.
S. O'BRIEN: You know what? I have a 6-year-old, too, so I know when you say terror, I know exactly what you're thinking.
Thanks for being with us, Shoshana.
It's nice to see you and nice to see you doing so well.
JOHNSON: Thank you very much for having me.
S. O'BRIEN: We appreciate it -- John.
ROBERTS: Coming up, gender politics in the U.S. Episcopal Church. For the first time ever, a woman is elected presiding bishop. We're going to take a look at the significance of that.
And later on, tips on keeping your kids' minds sharp while they're out of school. How to stop the summer brain drain. What is that sucking sound that I hear.
Ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: This morning, for the first time ever, a woman is leading the U.S. Episcopal Church. Katharine Jefferts Schori was elected presiding bishop on Sunday. The election also makes her the first female in the world to head an Anglican communion church.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, COURTESY WBNS-TV)
BISHOP KATHARINE SCHORI, EPISCOPAL CHURCH: I believe that god welcomes all to his table, people who agree and people who disagree. And the Episcopal Church has always been a strong voice for including a variety of theologies, a variety of opinions and insisting that all of the marginalized are most especially welcome at the table.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: But her election comes at a time when there are already rifts in the church over the ordination of gay priests and bishops.
Delia Gallagher is CNN's faith and values correspondent and joins me now.
So, this was sort of a double whammy. It's Father's Day. They elect a woman to be the presiding bishop. And it was the 30th anniversary of the church's decision to allow the ordination of women as priests.
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN FAITH AND VALUES CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's...
ROBERTS: A surprise and a pretty significant move.
GALLAGHER: A big surprise. In fact, the people at the conference said just that, it was a big surprise even for them. A lot of them said they wanted to elect her, but they didn't think that she would actually have a chance to be elected. There were six other male candidates in this.
And I think the significance is twofold, as you say. One, 30 years after they first allow women priests and bishops in the Episcopal Church they now have a presiding bishop. So the head of their entire church is a woman. So certainly for those people who are looking for leadership of women in the church, this is a milestone for them.
Also, the entire world was so focused on this conference because of the question of gay bishops. And this has come as a real surprise to those churches in the Anglican community which, as you mentioned, is 38 churches around the world that are Episcopal, churches all kind of in this conglomerate together. And they were looking at the American church to say what are they going to do on the issue of gay bishops?
And instead, here they come out with a woman presiding bishop. So you can imagine that those conservative churches who were already upset over the issue of gay bishops now have another issue to deal with.
ROBERTS: Yes, I wanted to ask you about the gay bishops thing in a second, because there's some significant action taking place on that today.
But this woman, Katharine Schori, is a person who supported the ordination of Gene Robinson, who was the first gay bishop in the Episcopal Church. And, also, she was the bishop of Nevada, which allows same-sex marriage in Episcopalian churches.
So what effect will her election have on the greater Anglican Church worldwide?
GALLAGHER: Well, I think it's very interesting that certainly for the American Episcopal Church -- because you have to remember that these churches are all autonomous. And even within the American Episcopal Church, the dioceses are autonomous. So dioceses elect their own bishops. And they have full right to do -- to elect whomever they wish. And this general congregation of which she is now the head has only -- it doesn't have a sort of binding authority over the diocese.
So they can make recommendations and they can say well you should bless same-sex relationships or you should not bless gay bishops in (UNINTELLIGIBLE)... ROBERTS: But there were some...
GALLAGHER: But they...
ROBERTS: There were some people, though, in the Episcopal Church in America who believe that it's out of step with the rest of the world.
GALLAGHER: Well, it is...
ROBERTS: So isn't this going to further...
GALLAGHER: It is in terms...
ROBERTS: Isn't this...
GALLAGHER: It is absolutely out of step with the rest of the Anglican community. And this is what is creating this very deep divide -- and they're even talking about schism -- both within the Episcopal Church in the United States and within the larger Anglican community, because you have some churches who say this is not what we are about. And you have the American Episcopal Church, which is obviously going in a slightly different direction.
ROBERTS: What about the issue of the ordination of gay priests and bishops? Where is the Episcopal Church with that today?
GALLAGHER: Well, they're voting on it today. And they're voting on several different issues. One the same-sex, blessing of same-sex relationships, and the other on this resolution to sort of cease the installation of gay bishops, because, as you say, in 2003, they already installed Gene Robinson in New Hampshire.
Now, what's interesting about this resolution is the wording of it. And the wording of it was partially devised by this new presiding bishop. And it said, "We are obliged to urge you" -- speaking to the diocese -- "We are obliged to urge you to cease installing gay bishops."
Now, if this passes, it's sort of interesting, because the wording suggests we are obliged because of the greater division in the Anglican community to urge you. So there's still a loophole there where the dioceses can still do what industry dioceses want to do.
ROBERTS: Yes.
Well, as an Episcopalian myself, it's always good to be on the leading edge of things, for better or for worse.
Delia Gallagher, thanks very much.
GALLAGHER: Thank you.
ROBERTS: Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, details on an al Qaeda plot to release lethal gas in the New York City subway system. Just how close did it come to being a reality? We're going to talk to the former assistant director of the FBI in New York City just ahead.
Plus, a new round of car crash tests to tell you about. We'll tell you which cars are the best bet for your family's safety.
AMERICAN MORNING continues right after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Microsoft has developed a prototype home where everything works at the push of a button.
Our own Miles O'Brien takes a look at Welcome To The Future.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Eight or nine hours of my day is consumed with doing chores.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wish someone would clean my coffee maker and make my coffee for me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd love to have an automated oven with the meals already prepared.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A self-cleaning toilet. That is like the grossest job in the house.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Something that every time you walk out of your bathroom just sanitizes your bathroom.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some sort of machine or piece of technology that zooms around my house and picked up all the toys.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Something that will do your chores and you can still get paid by parents.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd love an automated world allowing me to spend more time with my family.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Our homes are our castles. But these days, we want more than four walls and a roof. We want it to do some chores, so we can kick back in the Barka lounger and have some more quality time with the kids.
(voice-over): With a quick palm scan at the front door, Jonathan Cluts of Microsoft enters the software maker's prototype home of the future. The home, otherwise known as Grace, greets Cluts and reads off his schedule.
JONATHAN CLUTS, MICROSOFT: Grace, what's up?
GRACE: You are meeting with CNN today.
M. O'BRIEN: With the push of a button, Grace sets the temperature, opens the blinds and starts playing some of his favorite tunes.
CLUTS: Every family member can have it work just the way they want it to.
M. O'BRIEN: The kitchen comes equipped with an interactive screen for scheduling babysitters and a virtual bulletin board that helps coordinate invitations and notifies you of specials. How about a microwave that can scan bar codes to find exact cooking instructions for a product?
CLUTS: Here we are in my daughter's room.
M. O'BRIEN: In the closet, a mirror uses radio tags embedded in garments to pick out your outfits.
Cluts says the goal of all these technologies is making life easier for families.
CLUTS: It's going to be a really great time saver for people and also really, basically, a real stress saver.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Good morning.
Welcome back, everybody.
I'm Soledad O'Brien.
ROBERTS: And I'm John Roberts in for the other O'Brien, Miles, this week.
Good morning to you.
S. O'BRIEN: Nice to have you.
ROBERTS: Good to be here, as always.
S. O'BRIEN: Thanks for taking the time.
Thank you.
Let's get right to Carol Costello.
She's got a look at some of the top stories making news from the newsroom -- hey, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
Good morning to all of you.
North Korea being warned against a possible long-range missile test. There are reports that North Korea may have finished fueling the missile for a test flight and may try to launch it within the next month. Relations between North Korea and its neighbors are already tense because of a nuclear standoff. CNN's Atika Shubert has more for you from Tokyo.
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, all eyes are watching North Korea for this possible missile test. There's been a flurry of diplomatic activity here. Japan's prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, has said that his country would take stern measures if the test were conducted. Japan is threatening to impose sanctions and take its case to the U.N. Security Council. In fact, Japan's foreign minister has said that if any part of the missile falls into Japan, it would consider it as an attack.
And the nervousness doesn't end there. It goes further in the region. China and South Korea have both pressed North Korea to reconsider going through with this test. But so far, there's been no response from Pyongyang, which is especially worrying, with reports that the missile may have already completed fueling, the final stage before launch.
Atika Shubert, CNN, Tokyo.
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