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The Situation Room

Two American Soldiers Missing After an Attack Outside of Baghdad; Interview With John Murtha

Aired June 16, 2006 - 19:00   ET

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

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: To our viewers you're in THE SITUATION ROOM where new pictures and information are arriving all the time. Standing by CNN reporters across the United States and around the world to bring you tonight's top stories. Happening now, U.S. troops in Iraq are now searching for their own. It's 3:00 a.m. Saturday outside of Baghdad where two American soldiers are missing after a deadly attack. We'll have a live report and I'll ask Congressman John Murtha about the house's rejection of a timetable to bring the troops home.
Catastrophes in the making. Are American cities ready for a new terror attack or another Katrina? It's 6:00 p.m. in New Orleans, one of the places where disaster planning is falling short. We'll have details of the disturbing new federal report. And controversy is swirling around one of the world's most popular gadgets, Apple's iPod. It's 7:00 a.m. Saturday in China. We'll show you why Apple is taking a closer look at its iPod factory there. I'm Wolf Blitzer and you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

We begin with the war in Iraq and a sad developing story at this very moment. U.S. troops in Iraq are scouring a town just outside of Baghdad. They came under a fierce attack, now one American soldier is dead, two others are unaccounted for. Their whereabouts unknown. CNN's Jamie McIntyre standing by live at the pentagon with what we know, Jamie?

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well Wolf its 3:00 a.m. in Baghdad and U.S. troops are scouring an area near a river near Yusufiyah looking for two missing soldiers. One soldier killed earlier in the day after what appears to have been an insurgent attack. Here's how it unfolded. Some U.S. troops nearby heard gunfire at a checkpoint. They thought their buddies were in trouble, they called for a quick reaction force. The quick reaction force showed up, found one U.S. soldier dead, two others missing. They don't know if they were captured or killed or simply are hiding out, but a search is underway. It's, as I said, right near a river so they're bringing in a dive team to look in the river as well. They're hoping for the best, but they're fearing the worst, Wolf.

BLITZER: Immediately what went through my mind, Jamie is that these two guys are being held hostage or have actually been captured. We haven't heard about that kind of incident in Iraq any time recently.

MCINTYRE: That's true, Wolf, although we don't know at this point if they're captured or if they were killed or simply they took off because they were under attack and they're hiding out somewhere. So we're waiting to see how it turns out.

BLITZER: That's a dangerous part of Iraq as well, Jamie, stand by, we're going to get back to you as soon as we get some more information. Also today 11 Iraqis died apparently while they were praying. A suicide bomber strapped with explosives detonated bombs at a Shiite mosque in Baghdad during afternoon prayers. How do Americans think President Bush is handling the overall situation in Iraq? Our brand new poll, CNN poll, gauges the public's mood. Right now the president's in New Mexico hoping to cap a momentous week by building a bit of political momentum. He's campaigning for an embattled republican congresswoman.

Also today the house approved a resolution supporting the war, it's a nonbinding and it essentially backs the president's war policy. We're going to get you the brand new CNN poll numbers. That's coming up shortly here in THE SITUATION ROOM. In our CNN security watch, an ominous warning from the Homeland Security Department. It says that many major American cities still are not prepared to deal with a disaster. Our Homeland Security correspondent Jeanne Meserve is joining us with the details. Jeanne?

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, a lot of time attention and money has been devoted to emergency planning in this country, but a newest estimate indicates it is nowhere near enough. 73 percent of states and 90 percent of cities do not have adequate plans in place for a major disaster.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE: Nearly five years after 9/11, nearly one year after Katrina, after 18 billion dollars in federal grants to state and local governments, the Department of Homeland Security has concluded the majority of state and local emergency plans are not adequate, feasible or acceptable to manage catastrophic events.

GEORGE FORESMAN, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: The ordinary doesn't mean that you're ready for the extraordinary and we've got to do a better job of taking our catastrophic planning to the next level.

MESERVE: The assessment found many states and cities lacked a clear command structure or plans on how to keep government operating in a catastrophe. Evacuation remains a profound concern, with inadequate planning for large numbers of evacuees and particularly for people with special needs. Among the states with the lowest assessments, West Virginia, Oregon, Louisiana and Montana. Though New York City and Washington, D.C. had plans that were rated far from perfect, they were much better than many including Oklahoma City which rated poorly despite its experience with the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building. And New Orleans, 58 percent of that city's emergency plan got the lowest possible rating.

FORESMAN: They were going through this nationwide plan review at the same time that they were still responding to and recovering from the effects of hurricane Katrina. MESERVE: The organization that represents emergency managers said, "Hundreds of local jurisdictions do not have a full time emergency management program because of federal funding shortfalls. Further, there is no national planning guidance or standards."

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE: DHS agrees state and local governments have not gotten all of the tools they need from the federal government but says this assessment will be used to measure progress from here on out. Wolf?

BLITZER: Alright Jeanne, thank you very much.

And to our viewers, you can get your hands on that new Homeland Security report along with your state's readiness plan. Let's bring in our Internet reporter Jacki Schechner. She's standing by with more. Jacki?

JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, it is 174 pages and the Department of Homeland Security has put it on their Web site. We've made it even easier for you. Go to cnn.com/situationreport, we've got a link for you there. As Jeanne referenced they did study all 50 states, six U.S. territories and 75 major cities that are identified here on this map. It also honed in on the hurricane ban. These are states along the Gulf and Atlantic coast.

Interesting to note that it did rate very well in being prepared, things like issuing warnings and managing resources. But they also rated really not very sufficient in terms of evacuation planning also as Jeanne referenced. Now if you want to know your state's preparedness plan you can go to ready.gov, this Web site from the Department of Homeland Security, you can click on the interactive map here, just click on Texas and go to the top link here for Texas, it will give you their Homeland Security web page. Wolf?

BLITZER: Alright Jacki thank you. And to our viewers, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

U.S. forces in Afghanistan say at least 40 militants have been killed in the latest coalition attacks on Taliban insurgents. The dead are said to include would-be bombers and local leaders. The raid on a Taliban compound is part of the largest U.S. led offensive since the Taliban were ousted from power back in 2001. Our senior international correspondent, Brent Sadler is with the troops on the front lines in Kandahar Province. Brent?

BRENT SADLER, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, U.S. led coalition forces have been pounding the Taliban for the past month, inflicting heavy losses. U.S. helicopters are playing a key role in the fighting, especially Apache gun ships based here in Kandahar.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SADLER: Taliban country, southern Afghanistan. U.S. led forces push hard with a mountain offensive. Quickening the pace. Repositioning fire power to blast Taliban insurgents when they hit and run. Kandahar Air Base, a center of operations backed with U.S. helicopters from task force nighthawk. Double rotors due to heavy lifting, apache gunships fight, Blackhawks join the loop of re-supply. Moving troops and ammo, flying missions on the edge of danger.

COLONEL MARK PATTERSON, U.S. ARMY: Each and every day every time we launch an aircraft from here it is a combat mission and we treat it just like a combat mission.

SADLER: 31-year-old lieutenant Nicole Smith knows about combat missions. Fresh into this war from flight school, she is the co-pilot gunner of this U.S. Army apache gunship.

Give me some idea of what it's like up here when you're facing ground fire from the Taliban?

LT. NICOLE SMITH, U.S. ARMY: It's pretty scary and you're always a little bit nervous because you never know what your -- what kind of situation you're going into and what to expect.

SADLER: The apache was designed to knock out soviet tanks during the cold war, but here in Afghanistan its role against the Taliban is very different. This Apache is training for hard battle.

SADLER: Pilots say they get so close to the Taliban it feels like a knife fight.

We can see them, they can see us. We try to shoot them before they shoot at us, but there's always fire going both ways.

SMITH: When I get in the aircraft and I strap in and I'm not letting the adrenaline or seriousness of the situation affect the way that I would normally operate the aircraft. There's nothing else I'd rather be doing. This is a dream come true.

SADLER: Her boss, nighthawk's commander returns from a grueling nine-hour combat mission. The war, he says is going well.

PATTERSON: Clearly, we're winning. We're making a difference here each and every day. There is no doubt in my military mind that we're making a difference.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SADLER: The difference, hopes the U.S. military, between a country that breeds terrorism to one that can defeat it. Nighthawk helicopters have taken hits, mostly from small arms fire. Our missions often supporting U.S. infantry units and Special Forces, maintaining the military pressure on Taliban insurgents. Wolf?

BLITZER: Brent Sadler thank you very much for that. Jack Cafferty is off today. He'll be back on Monday. Coming up here in THE SITUATION ROOM, furious debate as the house passes a resolution supporting the war in Iraq. The outspoken critic and democrat, John Murtha, Congressman John Murtha. He'll join us here in THE SITUATION ROOM.

Also, there are new developments in the case of Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and her scuffle with a Capitol Hill Police officer. A decision has now been made on whether she will face charges.

And Apple responds to allegations about the factory that makes its hugely popular iPod. Critics are questioning the working conditions there. We'll show you what Apple is doing right now. Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Tonight President Bush is on the road once again and his poll numbers appear to be on the rise, at least slightly. In our just-released CNN survey, Mr. Bush's overall approval rating has inched up a point to 37 percent, but a majority 53 percent, still disapprove of the job he's doing. The president's approval rating on Iraq is up 5 points from May to 39 percent. And his disapproval rating on Iraq has gone down 8 points to 54 percent. This is the first poll taken since the president's surprise trip to Baghdad on Monday.

The U.S. House of Representatives today approved a resolution supporting the war, but even after today's house vote, many democrats are sticking to their guns, pushing for U.S. forces to start coming home. And that includes the house democrat who made an early and important push for a pullout.

And joining us now is Congressman John Murtha, democrat of Pennsylvania. You led the fight, congressman, against this resolution. It passed 256-153. Is this a vote of confidence for the president's policy and strategy in Iraq by the House of Representatives?

REP. JOHN MURTHA, (D) PENNSYLVANIA: Well, I think it's a vote to confirming that the people that voted for it or for this so-called strategy, but I -- I think more and more you'll see that the strategy, not the strategies changed, but the votes changed. A number of people came to me afterwards listening to what I had to say and a number of republicans voted with us. So we're making progress, but the thing that disturbed me and worries me about this whole thing, we can't get them to change direction. And I said over and over in debate if you listened to any of it. In Beirut, President Reagan changed direction. In Somalia, President Clinton changed direction and yet here with the troops out there every day suffering from these explosive devices and the -- and looking back to his occupier, 80 percent of the people want us out of there and yet they continue to say we're fighting this thing. We're not fighting this. The troops are fighting this thing. That's who's doing the fighting.

This one guy in the White House said cut and run. I don't know what the hell he knows about cutting and running, but we've been there three years longer than World War I, we've been longer than the Korean War and almost as long as the war in Europe. So cut and run is ridiculous. I mean, we're talking policy here and they used sound bytes and rhetoric in order to answer sound, reasonable suggestions about what ought to be done.

BLITZER: The newest CNN poll that's out today, we asked this question. Should the U.S. set a timetable to eventually withdraw troops from Iraq? 53 percent said yes 41 percent said no. When we got more specific, we said -- asked this question, should the U.S. set a timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq within six months? Only 28 percent said yes 66 percent said no. The American public is not where you are right now.

MURTHA: Well, the American public, I think, at least what I see is coming around to the position that we can't win this militarily. What I've been saying over and over again, we can't win it militarily. What I'm saying is we should withdraw, we should redeploy as soon as practicable, but I think the logistics tale, the fact that the mission is not understandable. I just today got a call from a young fellow that's a staff sergeant that's retiring he's 24 years in the Special Forces. He said you're speaking for us. We have lost our mission.

When I first went over there and I think it's his third deployment, I knew what I was doing. Now I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know what my mission is. Now that's an (INAUDIBLE) story, but the point is the troops themselves, 42 percent of them want out of there. Almost all of them want out in a year, but I don't know what the right timetable is, but I know one thing, we have to change direction. That's what the American public is saying. Most people want to leave it up to the military, but we can't win this militarily. Military leaders have told me that, I've said it over and over again.

BLITZER: Here's what Congressman Patrick McHenry, republican of North Carolina, said earlier in this floor debate. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. PATRICK MCHENRY, (R) NORTH CAROLINA: But we are fighting a war. We are fighting a war against Islamic extremists that hate the very fiber of our being as Americans.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Well what do you say to this congressman?

MURTHA: Well he said we are fighting -- he's standing in an air conditioned office in Washington, D.C. and he says we're fighting a war. We're not fighting a war. Our troops, 1 percent of the population are fighting this war. They're wearing 70 pounds of equipment or body armor, they have helmets on, they have radios, they're in Humvees that are armored with no air condition. They're the ones fighting the war. We're not fighting in Washington. We're arguing about policy and it would be treasonous for me not to speak out when I disagree with the president's policy.

BLITZER: A couple unrelated questions, sort of related, the Haditha investigation, allegations that U.S. Marines were involved in killing 24 civilians. Their lawyers, at least a couple of the lawyers of the military forces, the marines who were there are saying they engaged in the rules of engagement, they acknowledged there was so- called collateral damage. Innocent civilians were killed but they were going by the books. Do you have any reason to revise your earlier statements on what happened there?

MURTHA: No I only know what they've told me and the stories that they've told me have been verified or at least expanded on by "Newsweek" and "Time" magazine, so everything that the marines told me in the first place where they went well beyond the rules of engagement.

BLITZER: What about your decision now reversed to become the house majority leader if, if the democrats became the majority. Who put pressure on you to change your mind?

MURTHA: Well I really didn't change my mind. I'm still in the race, I just decided it was too early, but I wanted to get a placeholder out there. I decided that if I didn't get out there in front. In this business if people go around asking for support and all at once you have half of the people committed, so I wanted to make sure I had a place. And I told the people I'm not withdrawing. I'm just suspending my race and some of my supporters are still working, but I'm not actively going to work until after the election and of course, my major reason is to try to win the house back and unify the democrats.

BLITZER: So if in fact the democrats become the majority you'll challenge Steny Hoyer for the majority leadership?

MURTHA: I will be a candidate and he'll challenge me.

BLITZER: Congressman Murtha thanks very much for joining us.

MURTHA: Okay. Nice talking to you, Wolf.

BLITZER: And still to come tonight in THE SITUATION ROOM, what happened at Haditha? There's a new report out that seeks to answer whether or not U.S. Marines killed Iraqi civilians last November and then tried to cover it up. Our Jamie McIntyre spoke with one of the defense attorneys for one of the marines.

And Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. Does a grand jury think she hit a Capitol Hill Police Officer with a closed fist? The grand jury has now decided. We'll tell you what's going on. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Let's check in with Zain Verjee. She's joining us from the CNN Center with a closer look at some other important stories making news. Hi Zain.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Wolf. Wildfires are scattered across the west, most notably in New Mexico. These flames in a wooded area just south of Albuquerque, New Mexico, shut down Interstate 25 just temporarily. The fire is just about out now. In all, fires have scorched 30,000 acres in New Mexico alone and driven people from hundreds of homes. Wildfires also burned or are burning in Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Alaska and Texas. Construction's set to begin on a memorial to honor the victims of the massacre at Columbine High School. The attack seven years ago left 12 students and a teacher dead. They broke ground at the Littleton, Colorado site today. Former President Bill Clinton was there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL CLINTON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: This memorial is not only so that you will never forget the people you loved, but so that through your life you can honor theirs.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

VERJEE: The $1 1/2 million memorial will be built in a park near the school.

Today, indications the bird flu may be knocking on North America's door again. Canada says it's detected a case of avian flu in the eastern province of Prince Edward Island. Health officials plan more tests over the weekend to determine if it is the h5n1 strain. They say a gosling in a backyard poultry flock contracted the disease. If it is h5n1, it would be the first case in the Americas. Back to Wolf in THE SITUATION ROOM. Wolf I miss Jack.

BLITZER: He'll be back Monday?

VERJEE: Will he? Where was he?

BLITZER: He's on vacation this week.

VERJEE: Oh, alright.

BLITZER: Thank you Zain. I'll tell him you missed him.

Jack will be back on Monday.

Just ahead, an embattled congressman sounds off after his colleagues, democrats and republicans kick him off a powerful congressional committee amid corruption allegations. Tonight, William Jefferson is back home in Louisiana. We'll take you there live.

Plus, U.S. Marines accused of a massacre in Iraq. Now an attorney for one of them sits down with our senior pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre for his first TV interview. This is something you will see only here on CNN. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to THE SITUATION ROOM. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. More now on our top story. Right now in Iraq, U.S. troops are conducting a massive search near a town outside Baghdad. Two American soldiers are missing and one is dead. This after soldiers came under a fierce attack. And we're also following new developments into the investigation of whether U.S. troops killed Iraqi civilians in Haditha last November. Our senior pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre is joining us now with the latest. Jamie?

MCINTYRE: Well Wolf, first on those missing troops in Iraq. Still no sign of them. U.S. military search teams right now conducting a search near the town of Yusufiyah, which is southwest of Baghdad. That's where a checkpoint apparently came under attack. Some nearby troops called for assistance and a quick reaction force responded, finding one soldier dead, two others missing, not known if they're captured, if they're killed or whether they're just hiding out somewhere. That search underway. Also in Iraq, the report on whether or not there was a cover-up of the killing of civilians at Haditha is complete, it's now in the hands of the three star general who's reviewing it. This as defense attorneys continue to tell CNN the marines who were there did nothing wrong.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE (voice-over): There was no crime to cover up, according to the attorney representing one of the Marines who was involved in several of the shootings that resulted in the deaths of 24 Iraqis, including women and children, last year in Haditha.

GARY MYERS, ATTORNEY FOR HADITHA MARINE: The rules of engagement are the license to do what they did. And as long as they followed those rules of engagement, I believe they have a defense of justifiable homicide on one hand and, perhaps, self-defense on the other. In every particular this fails as evidence.

MCINTYRE: After viewing the videotape of the victims and the aftermath shot by an aspiring Iraqi journalist, Myers insisted it would not stand up in court.

MYERS: It proves nothing other than that there were people killed who died violently and who bled profusely. And all of those things are regrettable, but none of them serves to prove murder.

MCINTYRE: Myers insists Haditha was not a massacre, and that comes from an attorney who successfully defended a company commander who was at My Lai, the notorious massacre of the Vietnam War.

MYERS: My Lai was a massacre. Men, women, babies and children were put into a trench, and they were fired upon by American soldiers.

MCINTYRE (on camera): How could it be that Marines could kill young children, a mother who appeared to be in their bed, and they just followed the rules? How can that be?

MYERS: Because they're not required to inquire under the circumstances. They're not required to inquire. If they believe they were threatened, they can use deadly force. And that's what they did.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: And again, that investigation of whether there's a cover-up has been completed. It's in the hands of a three-star general being reviewed. Meanwhile, defense attorneys tell CNN that the initial report that attributed to some of these civilian deaths to a roadside bomb that turned out to be inaccurate, those defense attorneys tell CNN that they claim none of that information came from their clients and that the Marines were unaware that that report was out there -- Wolf.

Jamie McIntyre, good work as usual. Our senior Pentagon correspondent.

More now on the state of the war in Iraq. Earlier I spoke with Iraq's new ambassador to the United States about the fast-moving developments in his country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Joining us now, Samir al-Sumaidaie, the new Iraqi ambassador to the United States.

Mr. Ambassador, welcome back to THE SITUATION ROOM.

SAMIR AL-SUMAIDAIE, IRAQI AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: As we're speaking, there's word that one American soldier was killed, two others are now missing at a checkpoint at a location at a place calls Yusufiyah near Baghdad, not too far away. You're familiar with this area.

AL-SUMAIDAIE: Yes, this area is notorious for insurgent activity. And it was called variously the "road of death" or the "area of death." It was particularly dangerous for people going from Baghdad to Najaf, and there were a lot of kidnappings and killings in that area. So we understand that that is a dangerous area.

There was a sweep or a series of sweeps which reduced the level of violence in that area, but this is certainly unwelcome news.

BLITZER: And we hope they find these two American soldiers speedily.

AL-SUMAIDAIE: I certainly do hope so.

BLITZER: Let's talk a little bit about the continuing violence that's going on. Today another Shiite mosque, as you know, was bombed. The sectarian violence, they're trying to foment, these insurgents, the terrorists, the strife between Shiites and Sunnis.

Are they going to succeed in creating this civil war, which after bombing of the mosque in Samarra a few weeks back, it looked like the country was on the verge?

AL-SUMAIDAIE: Yes. But they have failed. This is the cornerstone of their strategy: to create civil war in Iraq, to make the country ungovernable, to drive the Americans out and thereby seize power.

Iraqi population, by and large, have not shown any inclination to go that way. There are, of course, those who are extremists or on the fringes, I would say, who have indulged in sectarian violence, and there was a peak of that immediately after the Samarra attack.

But this has subsided. And I believe now with the taking over of this new government there are indications, especially with the pronouncements of the government and the clear indication that they are taking serious measures, that things will be brought under control.

BLITZER: There was deep concern in Washington yesterday, especially in the Congress, when there was report that the new government of Prime Minister al-Maliki was going to give amnesty to insurgents and terrorists in prison right now who may have been involved in killing U.S. troops.

I know there's been a denial, but I want you to explain to our viewers what the policy of the government is as far as amnesty for prisoners and their records is concerned.

AL-SUMAIDAIE: Well, let's be very clear. The new government wants to isolate the extremists and the hardcore terrorists. And the way -- only way to isolate them is to try and win over those people on the borders: those who might have carried arms for nationalist reasons; those who feel that it is their duty to protect the country against an occupying foreign power, but they are not really terrorists as such.

Now, there are a number of ways to attract them away from al Qaeda and away from Saddam Hussein. That is to assure them that there is an alternative, that if they lay down their arms, if they join the political process, we will not be...

BLITZER: But if they were involved and had blood on their hands and they killed American soldiers...

AL-SUMAIDAIE: I don't believe the government will tolerate -- and I think the prime minister was very explicit about this. No one with blood on his hands will be dealt with in that way.

BLITZER: Will there be fewer than 100,000 troops in Iraq at the ends of this year, as your national security adviser, Mowaffak al- Rubaie, told me the other day?

AL-SUMAIDAIE: Well, he might be in a better position to tell you. But the best person to tell you is likely to be General Casey, who is the person on the ground assessing all the risks and operations and his needs. He is in the best position to tell us what he needs.

BLITZER: Are you concerned that the U.S. might withdraw militarily too quickly?

AL-SUMAIDAIE: If the U.S. withdraws prematurely, I think the consequences would be very bad both for U.S. and for Iraq.

BLITZER: So you're worried about that, seeing this debate in Washington? I want your reaction as you see a very, very tough debate, especially in the House of Representatives.

AL-SUMAIDAIE: It is understandable. I watched part of that debate yesterday. And it is understandable for the sentiment of some of the participants in that debate, that they want their boys home. This everybody can understand.

But we have to look at the complete picture. What are the consequences of bringing everyone home right now. I think that would be a disaster for the United States, for Iraq and for the region.

BLITZER: One final question. The national security adviser of Iraq said, "We believe that this is the beginning of the end of al Qaeda in Iraq."

AL-SUMAIDAIE: Well, there is certainly a wave of optimism going through. And it's not totally unjustified. We have a lot of intelligence gains. Al Qaeda is on the defensive right now. And I believe if we seize this moment and strengthen our security forces, we can make real progress towards security and stability.

BLITZER: The new ambassador of Iraq to the United States, Samir al-Sumaidaie, thanks very much for joining us.

AL-SUMAIDAIE: Thank you very much.

BLITZER: We hope you'll be a frequent visitor here in THE SITUATION ROOM.

AL-SUMAIDAIE: Thank you. Thank you so much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And for all of the developments in Iraq this week, don't miss CNN's special report, "IRAQ: A WEEK AT WAR." It airs 7:00 p.m. Eastern Saturday night, replays Sunday 1:00 p.m. Eastern right after "LATE EDITION." John Roberts hosts this week.

We want to follow up on a story involving a disturbing video circulating online. It depicts a U.S. Marine performing a song about lyrics involving the gunning down of an Iraqi family.

Standing by with some new developments, our Internet reporter Jacki Schechner -- Jacki.

SCHECHNER: Wolf, the man in the video has been identified as North Carolina U.S. Marine Corporal Joshua Beelyle (ph). The song describes in brutal, graphic detail a Marine gunning down an Iraqi woman's family after being confronted by weapons.

Earlier this week, the Council on American-Islamic Relations asked the Pentagon and Congress to investigate this video and to find out if this was, in fact, a Marine. The following day, the Marine, according to his hometown paper, apologized calling the video a joke and saying that he wouldn't perform it anymore and he would take down any online references to it. CARE welcomed his apology. Now, the video had showed up on YouTube, a video site where people can post amateur videos, and it was viewed some 70,000 times. As for the Marines, they had issued a statement calling the video "inappropriate." We reached out to try to get in touch with Corporal Beelyle, and they would not allow us to speak with him, saying they have a preliminary inquiry that is ongoing. If any laws were broken, they will then go ahead with a full investigation -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you very much for that Jacki.

Just ahead, here in THE SITUATION ROOM, Washington issues a warning as North Korea apparently prepares to test a missile that could hit California. We will bring you the latest developments.

Plus, the grand jury has finished considering the case against her. Will Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney be indicted over a scuffle with a Capitol Hill police officer? We'll tell you. Stay with us. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. One less source of controversy tonight for a controversial member of Congress. A grand jury has decided to not indict the house Democrat Cynthia McKinney for her scuffle with a Capitol Hill police officer. Our justice correspondent Kelli Arena has more on this late-breaking story. Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the Justice Department doesn't usually comment on the status of investigations, as you know, but it does have the discretion to do so when there's overwhelming public interest in a case and this was one of those occasions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA (voice-over): It all started in late March, when a Capital Hill police officer accused the Congresswoman of hitting him after he tried to stop her from entering a House office building. The officers he didn't recognize McKinney, who changed her hair style. What's more, McKinney was not wearing her congressional pin, but McKinney suggested race was a factor.

REP. CYNTHIA MCKINNEY (D), GEORGIA: This whole incident was instigated by the inappropriate touching and stopping of me, a female black Congresswoman.

ARENA: A charge the Capitol Hill police hotly denied. The grand jury has been hearing evidence since shortly after the incident and decided against an indictment. The government says it respects the decision. Lou Cannon represents the fraternal order of police in D.C.

LOU CANNON, FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE: The initial response from the membership and everything is extreme disappointment. I've already received numerous calls, as this broke, about people wondering why they would want to be a law enforcement officer's in the nation's Capitol anymore.

ARENA: McKinney did eventually apologize.

MCKINNEY: I am sorry that this misunderstanding happened at all and I regret its escalation, and I apologize.

ARENA: McKinney's lawyer says the right, just and fair thing has happened.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: The decision not to indict means that the issue is closed for good. If we could only say the same thing for the racial and political tension on Capitol Hill. Wolf?

BLITZER: Kelli, thanks very much. And Kelli, and our viewers, we are just getting in a statement from Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney reacting to this decision not to indict. Let me read it to you. "I'm relieved that this unfortunate incident is behind me. I accept today's grand jury finding of no probable cause as right and just and the proper resolution of this case. I want to thank my friends and supporters for standing with me during this difficult period." She goes on to say "I shall continue my important work on behalf of the citizens of Georgia's fourth congressional district, without this cloud hanging over me."

Now to another House Democrat who is in deeper political hot water tonight and still under investigation for bribery. Congressman William Jefferson is back in Louisiana right now. Just hours ago the full House voted to boot him from the powerful House Ways and Means committee with the blessing of his fellow Democrats. Jefferson hasn't been charged with any wrongdoing. He denies, in fact, any wrongdoing. The investigation of him boiled over last month. The FBI raided his congressional office and his home and allegedly found 90,000 dollars stashed in his freezer. Our Gulf Coast correspondent, Susan Roesgen is joining us live from New Orleans with more.

SUSAN ROESGEN, GULF COAST CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the Congressman said today that he was not going to answer any reporters' questions about the investigation, but he did say again today that he has an honorable explanation for the questions that have been raised by the investigation, although he feels betrayed by his own Democratic party.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROESGEN (voice-over): Congressman Bill Jefferson doesn't blame federal investigators for getting him kicked off the House Ways and Means committee. He blames his own Democratic party especially House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

REP. WILLIAM JEFFERSON (D), LOUISIANA: It is more of a scapegoat, I think, for the convenience of an argument that Pelosi wants to gain advantage in a political debate, but it is unrelated to my committee work. It is irrelevant to my committee work.

ROESGEN: Jefferson says Pelosi has never liked his votes on trade and energy issues. Now, he says, his party wants him off the committee to project a clean image in the mid-terms elections. Back in Louisiana, state legislative black caucus members say it's worse than that.

REP. JUAN LAFONTA, LOUISIANA STATE HOUSE: It should worry folks that at any given time members of Congress who have power or have money or access to power can basically, you know, go on a witch-hunt against somebody. It can basically turn on somebody on any given day. I don't know what it does for you for sleeping at night, but I would hate if one day they wake up and they decide to go after me.

ROESGEN: Jefferson says he has no intention of leaving Congress while he is under investigation. In fact, he says, he still plans to run for re-election in the fall and political analysts say even an indictment might not stop him.

JEFF CROUERE, POLITICAL ANALYST: We've had politicians in our state who have been re-elected after indictment. Insurance commissioner or governor. So, I mean, Bill Jefferson is probably looking at that history and thinking I might be able to win this if I just fight it out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROESGEN: And apparently, Wolf, that is what Congressman Jefferson intends to do.

BLITZER: Susan, thank you very much. Susan Roesgen on the scene for us in New Orleans.

Still ahead here in THE SITUATION ROOM, iPod problems for Apple. We'll show you why the company is looking into conditions at a Chinese factory where the iPodS are made. Mary Snow has the story and up next, North Korea's nuclear program and weapons test generating fresh concern. Can the reclusive Asian nation actually threaten the continental United States with a new missile? Will they test this missile in the coming days? Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MARKET REPORT)

BLITZER: Let's check in with Zain Verjee once again for a quick look at some other important stories. Zain?

VERJEE: Hi, Wolf. North Korea's nuclear program and other potential weapons activity has the west on the watch again. U.S. today warned the reclusive country against conducting a long-range missile test. It also urged North Korea to return to talks aimed at ending it's nuclear ambitions. South Korean officials say recent activities suggest that North Korea may be on the verge of testing a missile capable of reaching parts of the U.S..

In Gaza, Palestinians mourn three men killed in an Israeli air strike on Thursday evening. The Israeli military says they were members of Islamic Jihad. Today at least one more Palestinian is dead, the victim of another Israeli air strike. The target, a car carrying members of Islamic Jihad. Palestinian security forces saying at least three other people were wound. Islamic Jihad says one of them was Imad Yassin, a top commander in the militant group

United Nations security council sending former Liberian president Charles Taylor to the Hague to face war crimes charges. The world body today adopted a resolution essentially authorizing Taylor's transfer to stand trial. Taylor is currently being held in Sierra Leon on 11 charges. He's accused of fueling a bloody civil war that led to widespread murder as well as other atrocities. Wolf?

BLITZER: Zain, thank you very much. Have a great weekend. We'll see you here in Washington soon. Let's find out what's coming up right at the top of the hour. Paula Zahn is standing by. Hi, Paula.

PAULA ZAHN: Hi, Wolf. They are out on a late start here below me looking over New York's Friday traffic tonight for a special hour we're calling driver beware. We'll look at what can be done to make our highways faster and safer and see what crooks are doing to get you into a car accident on purpose so they can make money off of you and there are still school buses on the road for summer school, so can anything make drivers obey the law to stop when they're letting children on and off?

It's pretty amazing, Wolf, I know it's been a little while since you've had little ones, but not too many people in America seem to think that they need to stop for school buses. You will see this all unfold on camera. It's pretty disgusting.

BLITZER: We'll watch it together with you, Paula. Thank you very much. Paula's standing by, coming up shortly.

Still ahead, controversy swirling around one of the world's most popular gadgets. We're going to show you why Apple is taking a closer look at the Chinese factory that makes iPods. Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Apple says it's looking into conditions at a Chinese factory where it's hugely popular iPods are being made after reports that workers are possibly being exploited. Let's bring in CNN's Mary Snow. She's watching the story from New York, Mary.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, behind the music, questions are being raised about how iPods are made.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW (voice-over): From the Pope to the president, iPods are so popular Apple says it sold about 50 million of them. Labels on the famous music player's read designed by Apple in California, assembled in China. Exactly how they're made in China is coming under question. The British newspaper "The Mail" on Sunday reports allegations that factory workers in a so-called iPod city are putting 15-hour days earning about $50 a month, following the publication of that article, the maker of iPods apple told CNN in a statement, we are currently investigating the allegations regarding working conditions in the iPod manufacturing plant in China.

The Human Rights watch, which monitors working conditions in China, couldn't address iPod factory specifically, but it says overall in China poor working conditions are not uncommon and not confined to factories making clothes or toys.

SOPHIE RICHARDSON, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: It's probably something of a surprise to people to learn that there could be equally bad conditions in higher tech factories.

SNOW: Tech industry observers say overall, Chinese factory workers employed by western companies make more money and tend to fare a bit better.

NAVI RADJOU, FORRESTER RESEARCH: It's true that in absolute terms the numbers seem a little bit below what you might expect in the west, but within the Chinese economic context, I think that the salary is a very decent one offered to those employees.

SNOW: Although they still make far less than their western counterparts, about the conditions in China, the company says, Apple is committed to ensuring that working conditions in our supply chain are safe. Workers are treated with respect and dignity and manufacturing processes are environmentally responsible. Even though the cost of manufacturing in China is a fraction of what it would be in the U.S., companies are still pressured to provide better conditions or face negative headlines and public scrutiny.

RICHARDSON: Look, there's a reason goods that come from China are so cheap. It's because people don't get paid properly.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW: CNN contacted the Chinese mission here in New York and the Chinese embassy in Washington for comment. Spokesmen at both offices declined saying it wasn't really something they could address.

BLITZER: Mary Snow reporting. Mary, thanks very much. Have a great weekend. I'll be back this Sunday for "LATE EDITION," the last word in Sunday talk. Among my guests, the new White House Press Secretary Tony Snow. LATE EDITION airs 11:00 a.m. Eastern, 8:00 P.M. Pacific. We're here in THE SITUATION ROOM Monday through Friday, 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Eastern, as well as 7:00 P.M. Eastern. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington, thanks very much for joining us.

Up next, "PAULA ZAHN NOW," Paula's standing by in New York, Paula?

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