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CNN Sunday Morning
Veteran's Stadium Demolished; Attack in Iraq's Green Zone Kills 2 Civilians
Aired March 21, 2004 - 07:00 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.
ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Say goodbye to the Vet. The longtime home of the Phillys and Eagles is moments away from absolute oblivion.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: You can see the countdown there on the bottom corner of your screen. A ton and a half of high explosives have been strategically placed around the Vet's 102 columns. It's going to take just over a minute for clockwise series of explosions to collapse the structure.
HILL: Now when Veterans Stadium opened in 1971, it was among the largest ballparks ever built. And at a total cost of $50 million, it was also one of the most expensive at that time.
PHILLIPS: The site, where the stadium is right now, is actually going to become a parking lot for the new sports complex next door. It will be gone, but it won't be forgotten. The old ball field -- oh, and there it goes starting in the southwest corner going clockwise here. Look at that.
HILL: We got the inside cam and the outside cam.
PHILLIPS: We'll get you everything on CNN this Sunday morning. Now what are they saying, that a certain of the pitcher's mound and home plate is going to be left there as a bit of a memory?
HILL: A little bit of a memory. They're going to outline, I believe the Vet on the parking lot, which will stay with a white outline, its footprint, and then mark those bases and the pitchers mound.
PHILLIPS: Wow, live pictures now via our affiliate KYW. More than three decades home to the Phillies and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Now you know, you and I were doing some -- well actually our crack producers were doing some research here on the background of Vet Stadium. And I didn't know this, but this field was used for baseball as early as 1860. And during the Civil War, it was occupied by a Union army cavalry. Can you believe that?
HILL: Which is pretty amazing. This is the fourth stadium for the Phillies. We're going to be moving on to the fifth, not to far away, which will open this April. The first game there April 12, but what some 33 years that they used this park?
PHILLIPS: That's amazing. Yes, and it hosted two All-Star games, three World Series, This will now become a parking lot. And then the new stadium, Citizens Bank park, will be right across the street. I guess it'll be even bigger and better, right?
HILL: Even bigger and better. And you could still park at the Vet when you go to Citizens Bank. So you're getting a little bit of your old Philly history there.
We're going to, of course, continue to talk a little bit about this throughout the morning, kind of a big event. And that'll continue here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
On to Iraq now, where insurgents fired rockets into central Baghdad. The rockets landing in three areas near the so-called green zone, where the U.S. led coalition is headquartered. Two Iraqi civilians were killed in the attacks, many others injured. It happened after a deadly attack on U.S. troops in Fallujah.
CNN's Walter Rodgers is in Baghdad now with the latest. Walter?
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello Erica. Well this morning's attack was unusual because it took place in broad daylight. Normally when the Iraqi guerrillas fire upon the Iraqi capitol, they do it under the cover of darkness.
The coalition officials are saying that what happened was three 127 millimeter rockets were fired in the direction of the green zone, where U.S. officials in the coalition, and where the military is also billeted. Only one soldier was lightly injured. No serious injuries when one rocket fell within the green zone itself, but two other rockets fell outside the green zone into Baghdad's civilian areas.
And one of those Iraqi rockets was lethal, to say the least. Two Iraqi civilians were killed, according to Baghdad hospital sources. Additionally, some nine other Iraqis were wounded in that same attack.
Again, this sort of thing is unusual because it normally happens, as I say, at night. It happened today during broad daylight.
The Americans came in for more lethal fire Saturday night. That lethal fire was up in the Fallujah area, the volatile Sunni Triangle. There two U.S. soldiers also were targeted by Iraqi insurgents in a five rocket barrage. Two soldiers killed, upwards of five or six other soldiers and one sailor, actually, injured in that particular attack.
This is a holiday in Iraq. It's a national holiday. And despite the beautiful spring weather here, Iraqis are being urged not to go out in large gatherings, because whenever they do, they become potential targets for suicide bombers and car bombs.
Erica?
HILL: All right, well we'll take you back here. We'll be checking with you later. Walter Rodgers, live in Baghdad.
PHILLIPS: Now to Pakistan, where Army forces have been battling suspected al Qaeda fighters near the Afghan border. The Pakistani military says that 100 fighters have been arrested so far, but they're uncertain whether Osama bin Laden's top lieutenant is in the area.
CNN's Ash-Har Quraishi joins us now live from Islamabad with the latest -- Ash-Har?
ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Well, there's been a lull in the fighting that's been so fierce for the last week or so. Now military officials said that they met with the Loya Jirga. That's the council of the tribal elders of all seven agencies in northwest Pakistan. The tribal elders there meeting with officials, discussing options to try and negotiate some sort of a cease-fire. And also trying to find a resolution to this standoff that's been very, very fiercely fought by the suspected al Qaeda fighters in this area.
Now Pakistan military officials tell us that they have told the Jirga that they will allow them to go into this area. They will send a team in there to try and negotiate with the Amerzai (ph) tribe. That's the tribe that's believed to have been harboring the suspected al Qaeda fighters.
And part of the deal is that the military wants some of their paramilitary troops who were taken hostage, they say, by these fighters to be released. They're giving them about a day's time.
So they have eased up on the artillery fire. There is intermittent fire continuing, but it has slowed down quite a bit. And they are sweeping some of the homes in this area, trying to look for these suspected militants as well.
So the first lull that we've seen in about five to six days now, they're trying to find an alternative to the violence that's been going on there since last Tuesday. But at this point, they say that they still think that there may be a high value target in the middle of this area. So how far these negotiations will go, that's unclear.
But at this time, the military says they will let up this artillery fire, this heavy pounding of the area until tomorrow to give the tribal elders the opportunity to try and negotiate some sort of a peaceful solution -- Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Ash-Har Quraishi, live from Islamabad, thank you.
HILL: The military operation in Pakistan is also spilling over into Afghanistan with some of the militants attempting to escape across the border.
CNN's Ryan Chilcote has been covering the war on terror from Kabul for some time now. He joins us with an exclusive perspective on the current situation.
Hello, Ryan.
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Well they call it the hammer and the anvil approach in tandem with the Pakistani army that's operating on the east side of the border. The U.S. military, together with the Afghan national army, that's the national army here that the U.S. military is training, is conducting its own offensive against the Taliban and al Qaeda that it suspects in that area.
It -- I just spoke with, in fact, a unit of the Afghan national army that just came back from the field. They say that there is a lot of fighting in the border area. In fact, they talk about one battle that was just on the 19th of this month. They said that they were ambushed by -- after they found two weapons caches, right in the border area, ambushed by some Taliban and al Qaeda fighters. They said they returned fire and they think that they killed three of them.
The biggest battle that that group described to me, however, took place on March 5. What they are saying is that it was the largest attack against U.S. forces in a year or perhaps even more from Taliban and al Qaeda fighters that they are on the other side of the border.
They say in that battle, they killed nine. But the very -- a lot of fighting right in that area. Basically, U.S. special forces or U.S. military units working in tandem with the Afghan national army as the Pakistani army does its own work on the east side of the border.
That's not the only place they're fighting though. They're also fighting in southern and in southeastern Afghanistan. So really, a lot of fighting going on here in Afghanistan. Back to you.
HILL: A lot of fighting going on. The Taliban obviously still a very strong presence. Do we have any idea of the numbers right now of what troops are facing?
CHILCOTE: Yes, very difficult to come up with any numbers because obviously a lot of the Taliban, when asked if they're Taliban, are saying that they aren't. And a lot of people here say that there are a lot of people that are sympathetic to the Taliban, but don't reveal that as long as they feel like they're in a hostile environment to do that.
So a lot of people here on the ground say that the situation in terms of the Taliban's strength really could change very quickly if those sympathizers join their fight.
Now what we're hearing from military commanders from U.S. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is that the Taliban, there are really three groups, if you will, fighting the United States' armies here in Afghanistan.
There is the Taliban. There is al Qaeda. And then there is another group called Hekmajar or Glubadeen Hekmajar's (ph) group, referred to by the military as Hig.
The head of the Glubadeen Hekmajar (ph) is the man that was supported by the CIA back in the '70s and '80s in the fight against the Soviets. But he is now fighting U.S. forces.
The al Qaeda rather clear, U.S. military says they're focusing their effort in eastern Afghanistan. Most of the attacks that the U.S. military is seeing is coming from the eastern Afghanistan border area from al Qaeda.
Taliban, the Taliban, however, are usually attacking U.S. forces in the south and southeast of this country. And there was even an attack just this Friday in which -- or rather Thursday, in which two U.S. servicemen were killed and two were wounded. U.S. military responded killing five of them, they say. They also called in some airstrikes.
Some of the local commanders there on the ground to the local Afghan officials say there were some civilians wounded in that attack, but that is something that the U.S. military says they cannot confirm. Back to you.
HILL: All right, Ryan, we appreciate the report. Ryan Chilcote, live from Kabul.
PHILLIPS: Here are some other stories making headlines this morning. Their tip-offs led to a big payoff. Two men will split a $500,000 reward for providing information that led to the capture of two D.C. area snipers.
Robert Holmes will get $350,000 for providing crucial information. And 38-year old Whitney Donahue will get the rest for calling police after he saw Lee Boyd Malvo and John Allen Mohammed at a Maryland rest stop. Donahue says it was nothing special.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHITNEY DONAHUE, TO RECEIVE REWARD IN D.C. SNIPER CASE: I don't feel like I'm a hero. I just feel like I made a phone call.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: And in New York state, some same sex couples are celebrating their first morning of matrimony. Six ministers in New Paltz married more than two dozen gay and lesbian couples yesterday in defiance of New York state law. The couples were hitched without a hitch. No arrests were made. And only one person protested.
But one of the ministers is among two previously charged with performing such ceremonies without a license. They will be arraigned tomorrow.
In Washington state, a lesbian pastor can continue her ministry. This comes after a jury of Methodist pastors decided that Reverend Karen Damman is not guilty of practices incompatible with Christian teaching. The verdict comes from a church trial that focused on the reverend's sexual orientation. Damman and her long time partner recently married. That ruling means that the minister is in good standing with the church and can take on new assignments.
HILL: President Bush officially starts his campaign, firing shots at his opponent. We are talking politics later this hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (through translator) We used to have a political disagreement and discussions frequently. But once the discussions were over, we went back to being brothers with a goal in mind, which was to reach the summit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: And what happens when people who consider themselves long time enemies decide to climb a mountain together. Plus, in case you missed it, just some 10 minutes ago, don't worry, you'll get a chance to witness the good-bye to the 33-year old home of the Phillies once again.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, even under the best of circumstances, an expedition through the frigid Drake's Passage to Antarctica is a challenging task. So imagine doing it with someone you've been told all your life is an enemy of your people.
Well, the trip made history in January, when four Palestinians and four Israelis took off to show the world there's hope that the two cultures could get along. They not only made it through the dangerous Drake's Passage, but then tackled a mountain never before scaled. When they got to the top, well, they gave it a name.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We hereby name this mountain the mountain of Israeli-Palestinian's Friendship.
PHILLIPS: And they're calling this trip Breaking the Ice. And that's just what the crew hopes the experience will do to the stalled peace talks. Palestinian Ofat Heydar (ph) says that it's a journey she will never forget.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): In the most difficult times, when people were, you know, were either injured or needed help or assistance, or were cold, how we dealt with each other just on -- as humans. And we really felt just as humans you needed to help them and now worrying whether they were Arabs or whether they were Israelis or Palestinians. Just dealing with them on that level, that was very -- that affected me the most.
We used to have political disagreements and discussions frequently. But once the discussions were over, we went back to being brothers with a goal in mind, which was to reach the summit.
And I learned that when people have a goal, a specific goal in mind, they will continue on that path and forget the secondary issues.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, there was a reunion last night with Heydar (ph) and two of the other climbers. The trio took part in a panel discussion with former Assistant Secretary of State Harold Saunders in Washington.
Joining us now from Washington bureau, another member of that crew, Israeli businessman Heskel Nathaniel.
Heskel, great to see you.
HESKEL NATHANIEL, ISRAELI BUSINESSMAN: Yes, hi, good morning.
PHILLIPS: So I'm curious, what kind of attention is this getting back home? Are Israelis and Palestinians talking about this trip?
NATHANIEL: It got quite a lot of attention in the media in Israel, in the Arab world as well. And it is a kind of a good news story. And people like to talk about news. For a change, they are talking about good news at the moment and not only about bad news.
I thought this was a nice contribution.
PHILLIPS: Well, let's talk about this trip and how it formed, and how you selected the men and women that took part. How did it all go down?
NATHANIEL: It was relatively easy to select the people within Israel because we can just get access to the people easily. Within the Palestinian authorities was a complete different story. We can't go over the borders. We needed to get many, many political doors opened to get to know the people.
We never went publicly without an announcement we are recruiting people. We could not do that.
I think there were several criteria. The most important was not to look for people who were necessarily very extreme sportsmen, but more that our bringing human (UNINTELLIGIBLE) with them with different political views, with lots of emotions, that could engage in discussions and all of problems, but still would not become a burden, but will be supportive of the team.
PHILLIPS: Well, talk about two political extremes coming together. I mean, this is such an extreme area. I was really lucky to go through it -- Antarctica also. So I've got to ask you, as you all came together, and you went through -- I mean you hiked through these conditions. They're obviously very dangerous. You have to go through a lot of special training, did everybody have each other's back? Did you witness some pretty incredible team building on this trip? Were you surprised?
NATHANIEL: There were many high moments. There were also many low moments. It never became violent. Of course, we had lots of discussions. And sometimes they were very emotional and very heated.
You know, the oriental atmosphere and the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) mentality. But we always find a way to get back to each other again, because there's always something that had to be done. You know, you are -- you understand, you realize that you are stuck together in one boat. There is no way to go home. You can't just say I've had enough, I'd like to retire from that trip. And I think that was probably -- brought the people elevated them to a level that they realized it doesn't matter at the moment all the differences. We do not necessarily have to solve all our problems in order to get along with each other, to respect each other.
There was one bizarre moment we came along to a Russian scientific station. And they came up with vodka to our boat. And we ended up having a bizarre party until the moments of the night. And we actually loved each other for some moment, but we found also some reasons to argue the day after.
PHILLIPS: It's amazing what a couple shots of vodka will do, Heskel.
NATHANIEL: Unbelievable, yes.
PHILLIPS: Yes, it is. Well, it's unbelievable what you did. The video is incredible. The trip is amazing. I can't wait to follow up with you and find out the talk back home and how this progresses. Are you going to do it again?
NATHANIEL: I think we are planning the next expedition it will be a different place on the earth now. We'll take different people, a different group will concentrate in Jews and Arabs again. We'll enlarge the team. And we'll go in an absolutely different place on earth, but the concept of breaking the ice will continue.
PHILLIPS: That's wonderful. Heskel Nathaniel, I hope you'll share that trip with us when it happens again.
NATHANIEL: With pleasure.
PHILLIPS: Wonderful, thanks so much.
NATHANIEL: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Erica?
HILL: Thanks, Kyra. Former White House adviser says the Bush administration manipulated America into war with Iraq. So what does the White House have to say? That story coming up later this hour. Plus, as you know now, the race is on. Your morning dose of politics just ahead on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HILL: If you're having to fill up the car this weekend, chances are you got a case of sticker shock. Gas prices are high and the bad news, they're going to get higher.
PHILLIPS: Well, those prices inspired our morning e-mail question for today. How high would the cost of a gallon of gas have to go before you'd buy a hybrid? E-mail us your thoughts at wam@cnn.com. We'll read them throughout CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
HILL: Right now, we're going to fast forward to some of the events taking place this week. On Tuesday, the 9/11 commission will hold hearings on the government's counterterrorism policy. Members of the Clinton and Bush administrations are expected to testify.
Then on Wednesday, it's the next hearing in the Kobe Bryant case. A big issue so far has been how much information must be disclosed about the woman who accuses him of rape.
And on Thursday, it is the lighting of the Olympic torch in Greece. Athens is of course hosting this summer's Olympic games.
(WEATHER REPORT)
PHILLIPS: All right, well time for a check of the top stories now making headlines. At least five Palestinians, including some Hamas militants are dead after Israeli troops raided an area in southern Gaza. Gun battles broke out between the Israeli forces and Palestinians. The army says that the sweeps were aimed at stopping terrorism.
And in Pakistan, fighting tapers off. Pakistani forces slow down their assault on suspected militants after tribal leaders asked to go in to help negotiate. The leaders hope to work with local villagers, who are suspected of harboring wanted militants.
HILL: And there you have it. This is a live shot of the former home of the Phillies and the Eagles. Now it's just 70,000 cubic yards of rubble. We'll show you what happened 30 minutes ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're just making sure that these guys are treated a little better than we were when we got home. That's all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: From one vet to many others, Walter Reed patients are getting some special treatment from a man who is our hero spotlight this week. His story next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
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Kills 2 Civilians>
Aired March 21, 2004 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Say goodbye to the Vet. The longtime home of the Phillys and Eagles is moments away from absolute oblivion.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: You can see the countdown there on the bottom corner of your screen. A ton and a half of high explosives have been strategically placed around the Vet's 102 columns. It's going to take just over a minute for clockwise series of explosions to collapse the structure.
HILL: Now when Veterans Stadium opened in 1971, it was among the largest ballparks ever built. And at a total cost of $50 million, it was also one of the most expensive at that time.
PHILLIPS: The site, where the stadium is right now, is actually going to become a parking lot for the new sports complex next door. It will be gone, but it won't be forgotten. The old ball field -- oh, and there it goes starting in the southwest corner going clockwise here. Look at that.
HILL: We got the inside cam and the outside cam.
PHILLIPS: We'll get you everything on CNN this Sunday morning. Now what are they saying, that a certain of the pitcher's mound and home plate is going to be left there as a bit of a memory?
HILL: A little bit of a memory. They're going to outline, I believe the Vet on the parking lot, which will stay with a white outline, its footprint, and then mark those bases and the pitchers mound.
PHILLIPS: Wow, live pictures now via our affiliate KYW. More than three decades home to the Phillies and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Now you know, you and I were doing some -- well actually our crack producers were doing some research here on the background of Vet Stadium. And I didn't know this, but this field was used for baseball as early as 1860. And during the Civil War, it was occupied by a Union army cavalry. Can you believe that?
HILL: Which is pretty amazing. This is the fourth stadium for the Phillies. We're going to be moving on to the fifth, not to far away, which will open this April. The first game there April 12, but what some 33 years that they used this park?
PHILLIPS: That's amazing. Yes, and it hosted two All-Star games, three World Series, This will now become a parking lot. And then the new stadium, Citizens Bank park, will be right across the street. I guess it'll be even bigger and better, right?
HILL: Even bigger and better. And you could still park at the Vet when you go to Citizens Bank. So you're getting a little bit of your old Philly history there.
We're going to, of course, continue to talk a little bit about this throughout the morning, kind of a big event. And that'll continue here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
On to Iraq now, where insurgents fired rockets into central Baghdad. The rockets landing in three areas near the so-called green zone, where the U.S. led coalition is headquartered. Two Iraqi civilians were killed in the attacks, many others injured. It happened after a deadly attack on U.S. troops in Fallujah.
CNN's Walter Rodgers is in Baghdad now with the latest. Walter?
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello Erica. Well this morning's attack was unusual because it took place in broad daylight. Normally when the Iraqi guerrillas fire upon the Iraqi capitol, they do it under the cover of darkness.
The coalition officials are saying that what happened was three 127 millimeter rockets were fired in the direction of the green zone, where U.S. officials in the coalition, and where the military is also billeted. Only one soldier was lightly injured. No serious injuries when one rocket fell within the green zone itself, but two other rockets fell outside the green zone into Baghdad's civilian areas.
And one of those Iraqi rockets was lethal, to say the least. Two Iraqi civilians were killed, according to Baghdad hospital sources. Additionally, some nine other Iraqis were wounded in that same attack.
Again, this sort of thing is unusual because it normally happens, as I say, at night. It happened today during broad daylight.
The Americans came in for more lethal fire Saturday night. That lethal fire was up in the Fallujah area, the volatile Sunni Triangle. There two U.S. soldiers also were targeted by Iraqi insurgents in a five rocket barrage. Two soldiers killed, upwards of five or six other soldiers and one sailor, actually, injured in that particular attack.
This is a holiday in Iraq. It's a national holiday. And despite the beautiful spring weather here, Iraqis are being urged not to go out in large gatherings, because whenever they do, they become potential targets for suicide bombers and car bombs.
Erica?
HILL: All right, well we'll take you back here. We'll be checking with you later. Walter Rodgers, live in Baghdad.
PHILLIPS: Now to Pakistan, where Army forces have been battling suspected al Qaeda fighters near the Afghan border. The Pakistani military says that 100 fighters have been arrested so far, but they're uncertain whether Osama bin Laden's top lieutenant is in the area.
CNN's Ash-Har Quraishi joins us now live from Islamabad with the latest -- Ash-Har?
ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Well, there's been a lull in the fighting that's been so fierce for the last week or so. Now military officials said that they met with the Loya Jirga. That's the council of the tribal elders of all seven agencies in northwest Pakistan. The tribal elders there meeting with officials, discussing options to try and negotiate some sort of a cease-fire. And also trying to find a resolution to this standoff that's been very, very fiercely fought by the suspected al Qaeda fighters in this area.
Now Pakistan military officials tell us that they have told the Jirga that they will allow them to go into this area. They will send a team in there to try and negotiate with the Amerzai (ph) tribe. That's the tribe that's believed to have been harboring the suspected al Qaeda fighters.
And part of the deal is that the military wants some of their paramilitary troops who were taken hostage, they say, by these fighters to be released. They're giving them about a day's time.
So they have eased up on the artillery fire. There is intermittent fire continuing, but it has slowed down quite a bit. And they are sweeping some of the homes in this area, trying to look for these suspected militants as well.
So the first lull that we've seen in about five to six days now, they're trying to find an alternative to the violence that's been going on there since last Tuesday. But at this point, they say that they still think that there may be a high value target in the middle of this area. So how far these negotiations will go, that's unclear.
But at this time, the military says they will let up this artillery fire, this heavy pounding of the area until tomorrow to give the tribal elders the opportunity to try and negotiate some sort of a peaceful solution -- Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Ash-Har Quraishi, live from Islamabad, thank you.
HILL: The military operation in Pakistan is also spilling over into Afghanistan with some of the militants attempting to escape across the border.
CNN's Ryan Chilcote has been covering the war on terror from Kabul for some time now. He joins us with an exclusive perspective on the current situation.
Hello, Ryan.
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Well they call it the hammer and the anvil approach in tandem with the Pakistani army that's operating on the east side of the border. The U.S. military, together with the Afghan national army, that's the national army here that the U.S. military is training, is conducting its own offensive against the Taliban and al Qaeda that it suspects in that area.
It -- I just spoke with, in fact, a unit of the Afghan national army that just came back from the field. They say that there is a lot of fighting in the border area. In fact, they talk about one battle that was just on the 19th of this month. They said that they were ambushed by -- after they found two weapons caches, right in the border area, ambushed by some Taliban and al Qaeda fighters. They said they returned fire and they think that they killed three of them.
The biggest battle that that group described to me, however, took place on March 5. What they are saying is that it was the largest attack against U.S. forces in a year or perhaps even more from Taliban and al Qaeda fighters that they are on the other side of the border.
They say in that battle, they killed nine. But the very -- a lot of fighting right in that area. Basically, U.S. special forces or U.S. military units working in tandem with the Afghan national army as the Pakistani army does its own work on the east side of the border.
That's not the only place they're fighting though. They're also fighting in southern and in southeastern Afghanistan. So really, a lot of fighting going on here in Afghanistan. Back to you.
HILL: A lot of fighting going on. The Taliban obviously still a very strong presence. Do we have any idea of the numbers right now of what troops are facing?
CHILCOTE: Yes, very difficult to come up with any numbers because obviously a lot of the Taliban, when asked if they're Taliban, are saying that they aren't. And a lot of people here say that there are a lot of people that are sympathetic to the Taliban, but don't reveal that as long as they feel like they're in a hostile environment to do that.
So a lot of people here on the ground say that the situation in terms of the Taliban's strength really could change very quickly if those sympathizers join their fight.
Now what we're hearing from military commanders from U.S. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is that the Taliban, there are really three groups, if you will, fighting the United States' armies here in Afghanistan.
There is the Taliban. There is al Qaeda. And then there is another group called Hekmajar or Glubadeen Hekmajar's (ph) group, referred to by the military as Hig.
The head of the Glubadeen Hekmajar (ph) is the man that was supported by the CIA back in the '70s and '80s in the fight against the Soviets. But he is now fighting U.S. forces.
The al Qaeda rather clear, U.S. military says they're focusing their effort in eastern Afghanistan. Most of the attacks that the U.S. military is seeing is coming from the eastern Afghanistan border area from al Qaeda.
Taliban, the Taliban, however, are usually attacking U.S. forces in the south and southeast of this country. And there was even an attack just this Friday in which -- or rather Thursday, in which two U.S. servicemen were killed and two were wounded. U.S. military responded killing five of them, they say. They also called in some airstrikes.
Some of the local commanders there on the ground to the local Afghan officials say there were some civilians wounded in that attack, but that is something that the U.S. military says they cannot confirm. Back to you.
HILL: All right, Ryan, we appreciate the report. Ryan Chilcote, live from Kabul.
PHILLIPS: Here are some other stories making headlines this morning. Their tip-offs led to a big payoff. Two men will split a $500,000 reward for providing information that led to the capture of two D.C. area snipers.
Robert Holmes will get $350,000 for providing crucial information. And 38-year old Whitney Donahue will get the rest for calling police after he saw Lee Boyd Malvo and John Allen Mohammed at a Maryland rest stop. Donahue says it was nothing special.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHITNEY DONAHUE, TO RECEIVE REWARD IN D.C. SNIPER CASE: I don't feel like I'm a hero. I just feel like I made a phone call.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: And in New York state, some same sex couples are celebrating their first morning of matrimony. Six ministers in New Paltz married more than two dozen gay and lesbian couples yesterday in defiance of New York state law. The couples were hitched without a hitch. No arrests were made. And only one person protested.
But one of the ministers is among two previously charged with performing such ceremonies without a license. They will be arraigned tomorrow.
In Washington state, a lesbian pastor can continue her ministry. This comes after a jury of Methodist pastors decided that Reverend Karen Damman is not guilty of practices incompatible with Christian teaching. The verdict comes from a church trial that focused on the reverend's sexual orientation. Damman and her long time partner recently married. That ruling means that the minister is in good standing with the church and can take on new assignments.
HILL: President Bush officially starts his campaign, firing shots at his opponent. We are talking politics later this hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (through translator) We used to have a political disagreement and discussions frequently. But once the discussions were over, we went back to being brothers with a goal in mind, which was to reach the summit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: And what happens when people who consider themselves long time enemies decide to climb a mountain together. Plus, in case you missed it, just some 10 minutes ago, don't worry, you'll get a chance to witness the good-bye to the 33-year old home of the Phillies once again.
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PHILLIPS: Well, even under the best of circumstances, an expedition through the frigid Drake's Passage to Antarctica is a challenging task. So imagine doing it with someone you've been told all your life is an enemy of your people.
Well, the trip made history in January, when four Palestinians and four Israelis took off to show the world there's hope that the two cultures could get along. They not only made it through the dangerous Drake's Passage, but then tackled a mountain never before scaled. When they got to the top, well, they gave it a name.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We hereby name this mountain the mountain of Israeli-Palestinian's Friendship.
PHILLIPS: And they're calling this trip Breaking the Ice. And that's just what the crew hopes the experience will do to the stalled peace talks. Palestinian Ofat Heydar (ph) says that it's a journey she will never forget.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): In the most difficult times, when people were, you know, were either injured or needed help or assistance, or were cold, how we dealt with each other just on -- as humans. And we really felt just as humans you needed to help them and now worrying whether they were Arabs or whether they were Israelis or Palestinians. Just dealing with them on that level, that was very -- that affected me the most.
We used to have political disagreements and discussions frequently. But once the discussions were over, we went back to being brothers with a goal in mind, which was to reach the summit.
And I learned that when people have a goal, a specific goal in mind, they will continue on that path and forget the secondary issues.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, there was a reunion last night with Heydar (ph) and two of the other climbers. The trio took part in a panel discussion with former Assistant Secretary of State Harold Saunders in Washington.
Joining us now from Washington bureau, another member of that crew, Israeli businessman Heskel Nathaniel.
Heskel, great to see you.
HESKEL NATHANIEL, ISRAELI BUSINESSMAN: Yes, hi, good morning.
PHILLIPS: So I'm curious, what kind of attention is this getting back home? Are Israelis and Palestinians talking about this trip?
NATHANIEL: It got quite a lot of attention in the media in Israel, in the Arab world as well. And it is a kind of a good news story. And people like to talk about news. For a change, they are talking about good news at the moment and not only about bad news.
I thought this was a nice contribution.
PHILLIPS: Well, let's talk about this trip and how it formed, and how you selected the men and women that took part. How did it all go down?
NATHANIEL: It was relatively easy to select the people within Israel because we can just get access to the people easily. Within the Palestinian authorities was a complete different story. We can't go over the borders. We needed to get many, many political doors opened to get to know the people.
We never went publicly without an announcement we are recruiting people. We could not do that.
I think there were several criteria. The most important was not to look for people who were necessarily very extreme sportsmen, but more that our bringing human (UNINTELLIGIBLE) with them with different political views, with lots of emotions, that could engage in discussions and all of problems, but still would not become a burden, but will be supportive of the team.
PHILLIPS: Well, talk about two political extremes coming together. I mean, this is such an extreme area. I was really lucky to go through it -- Antarctica also. So I've got to ask you, as you all came together, and you went through -- I mean you hiked through these conditions. They're obviously very dangerous. You have to go through a lot of special training, did everybody have each other's back? Did you witness some pretty incredible team building on this trip? Were you surprised?
NATHANIEL: There were many high moments. There were also many low moments. It never became violent. Of course, we had lots of discussions. And sometimes they were very emotional and very heated.
You know, the oriental atmosphere and the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) mentality. But we always find a way to get back to each other again, because there's always something that had to be done. You know, you are -- you understand, you realize that you are stuck together in one boat. There is no way to go home. You can't just say I've had enough, I'd like to retire from that trip. And I think that was probably -- brought the people elevated them to a level that they realized it doesn't matter at the moment all the differences. We do not necessarily have to solve all our problems in order to get along with each other, to respect each other.
There was one bizarre moment we came along to a Russian scientific station. And they came up with vodka to our boat. And we ended up having a bizarre party until the moments of the night. And we actually loved each other for some moment, but we found also some reasons to argue the day after.
PHILLIPS: It's amazing what a couple shots of vodka will do, Heskel.
NATHANIEL: Unbelievable, yes.
PHILLIPS: Yes, it is. Well, it's unbelievable what you did. The video is incredible. The trip is amazing. I can't wait to follow up with you and find out the talk back home and how this progresses. Are you going to do it again?
NATHANIEL: I think we are planning the next expedition it will be a different place on the earth now. We'll take different people, a different group will concentrate in Jews and Arabs again. We'll enlarge the team. And we'll go in an absolutely different place on earth, but the concept of breaking the ice will continue.
PHILLIPS: That's wonderful. Heskel Nathaniel, I hope you'll share that trip with us when it happens again.
NATHANIEL: With pleasure.
PHILLIPS: Wonderful, thanks so much.
NATHANIEL: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Erica?
HILL: Thanks, Kyra. Former White House adviser says the Bush administration manipulated America into war with Iraq. So what does the White House have to say? That story coming up later this hour. Plus, as you know now, the race is on. Your morning dose of politics just ahead on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
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HILL: If you're having to fill up the car this weekend, chances are you got a case of sticker shock. Gas prices are high and the bad news, they're going to get higher.
PHILLIPS: Well, those prices inspired our morning e-mail question for today. How high would the cost of a gallon of gas have to go before you'd buy a hybrid? E-mail us your thoughts at wam@cnn.com. We'll read them throughout CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
HILL: Right now, we're going to fast forward to some of the events taking place this week. On Tuesday, the 9/11 commission will hold hearings on the government's counterterrorism policy. Members of the Clinton and Bush administrations are expected to testify.
Then on Wednesday, it's the next hearing in the Kobe Bryant case. A big issue so far has been how much information must be disclosed about the woman who accuses him of rape.
And on Thursday, it is the lighting of the Olympic torch in Greece. Athens is of course hosting this summer's Olympic games.
(WEATHER REPORT)
PHILLIPS: All right, well time for a check of the top stories now making headlines. At least five Palestinians, including some Hamas militants are dead after Israeli troops raided an area in southern Gaza. Gun battles broke out between the Israeli forces and Palestinians. The army says that the sweeps were aimed at stopping terrorism.
And in Pakistan, fighting tapers off. Pakistani forces slow down their assault on suspected militants after tribal leaders asked to go in to help negotiate. The leaders hope to work with local villagers, who are suspected of harboring wanted militants.
HILL: And there you have it. This is a live shot of the former home of the Phillies and the Eagles. Now it's just 70,000 cubic yards of rubble. We'll show you what happened 30 minutes ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're just making sure that these guys are treated a little better than we were when we got home. That's all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: From one vet to many others, Walter Reed patients are getting some special treatment from a man who is our hero spotlight this week. His story next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
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