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CNN Sunday Morning

4 U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq; Referendum Under Way in Israel

Aired May 02, 2004 - 07:04   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: Let's take a look at some of the other stories now making headlines on this Sunday morning. At this hour, a roadside bomb attack early this morning in northwest Baghdad killed two U.S. soldiers. Two members of the Iraqi civil defense corps were also wounded in that incident.
And in the southern town of Amara, two other U.S. soldiers died late yesterday when their convoy came under fire.

In the town of Hilla, a spokesman for Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al- Sadr says coalition forces raided the cleric's offices yesterday, killing one of al-Sadr's deputies. The spokesman says four others were also killed in the raid.

In Israel, a referendum is underway today within the Likud Party on the prime minister's plan to withdraw Israeli troops and settlers from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Ariel Sharon has staked his political fortunes on this vote, warning that if the referendum is defeated, his coalition government could collapse and force new elections.

Israeli military sources say gunmen opened fire on settlers near a Gaza settlement. An Israeli woman and her four children were killed. Israeli soldiers killed the two gunmen.

RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Again, we want to recap you on our top story. We have just heard in the past few minutes here, U.S. civilian kidnapped by insurgents west of Baghdad on April 9 has escaped his captors in Iraq and is in U.S. custody, this according to Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, announcing this just a few minutes ago.

43-year old Thomas Hamill was found by coalition soldiers. No word yet on his condition or what his treatment was like. There you see his picture there from video that was released on April 9, shortly after this convoy, he was a truck driver for Halliburton. And that convoy was attacked. He is the only surviving member of that convoy.

As we get more information on this, as it is coming in, we will bring that to you here on CNN.

Now the war in Iraq was very much on the minds of those attending last night's White House correspondents dinner in Washington. Normally this annual event is upbeat. It's the occasion for lots of jokes and humor.

And overall, it was. But for a few minutes, President Bush sounded a much more somber tone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This year, we are also mindful that our country is in a period of testing and sacrifice. As I speak, men and women in uniform are taking great risks. And so are many journalists, who are being faithful to their own sense of duty.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAN MIGUEL: And later in our program, we'll bring you some of the more lighthearted moments from the correspondents dinner.

HILL: Supreme Court justice David Souter may miss tomorrow's deliberations after being attacked on the street. The 64-year old justice suffered only minor injuries.

Our Kathleen Koch has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The apparently random attack occurred around 9:00 p.m. Friday while Supreme Court Justice David Souter was out jogging on the city street. Of course, spokeswoman Kathy Arburg (ph) says several young men assaulted 64-year old Souter, who then contacted Supreme Court police. Officers took the justice to Washington Hospital Center, where doctors found he had minor injuries and released him early Saturday morning.

Arburg (ph) wouldn't characterize the motive for the attack, but did say Souter had not been robbed. Experts say Supreme Court justices are not required to have constant security. And court scholars point out the justices generally attract little negative attention.

PAUL ROTHSTEIN, GEORGETOWN UNIV. LAW SCHOOL: Well, the abortion decision engendered fairly high degree of threats for judges. But in general, the Supreme Court judges are probably less often threatened than most other public officials.

KOCH: Eight years ago, another justice, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, was a victim of crime on Washington streets. Ginsberg's purse was snatched from her while walking with her family near the Kennedy Center.

Security experts say it often takes a serious attack before agencies opt for stepped up protection.

LARRY JOHNSON, SECURITY EXPERT: It's just -- we had not invested in that up to this point. Now once you start having -- if you start having attacks like this, that's going to raise the question that there ought to be expanded Secret Service protection or security details for, you know, people like this justice.

KOCH (on camera): Souter, an avid jogger, is one of the younger of the justices. The court spokesman, though, says it's uncertain whether he'll be back at court Monday to join in deliberations.

Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: A look now at some of the other stories making news across America. A computer glitch caused some major problems for Delta Airlines passengers. The airline was forced to ground flights to and from Atlanta for up to 6.5 hours. The glitch caused problems with flight preparations, but had no effect on security procedures or safety. Delta wasn't sure just how many flights were affected by the delays.

In Massachusetts, a disabled man was killed after falling out of an amusement park rollercoaster. The Superman rollercoaster at Six Flags New England was shut down. The incident is under investigation. The 55-year old victim had Cerebral Palsy. The coaster is one of the fastest and tallest in the world.

In Seattle, nearly 3,000 same sex marriage supporters marched to Safeco Field in an attempt to disrupt an anti-gay marriage rally. Around 20,000 opponents of same sex marriages were gathered inside the stadium.

SAN MIGUEL: Now we want to fast forward to the week ahead and some events we think will be making news. On Tuesday, a competency hearing for Brian David Mitchell, the man accused of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart in Utah. Smart was taken from her home nearly two years ago and held for nine months before two people spotted the suspect and called police.

Also on Tuesday, sentencing for former Merrill Lynch assistant Doug Faneuil, the star witness in the Martha Stewart trial. Sentencing for Stewart and her ex-broker, Peter Bacanovic will be June 17.

And Thursday night, after 10 years, the last episode of "Friends." If you tune in, you'll be one of tens of millions expected to do so.

HILL: A historic vote in the Middle East, and it could predict Ariel Sharon's future. We'll go live to Tel Aviv. Plus, this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY LENO, COMEDIAN: According to Bob Woodward's book, a -- Colin Powell and Dick Cheney no longer speak to each other. To give you an idea of how bad it's gotten, their Secret Service code names are Bill and Hillary.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAN MIGUEL: Washington takes a walk on the lighter side. We'll bring you the details at the big correspondents dinner last night when CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: Some incredible news coming out of Iraq this morning. An American hostage found alive. Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt made the announcement this morning, just about 15 minutes ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY: Today at 10:20 hours, Mr. Tommy Hamill, an employee of Kellogg, Brown and Root was recovered by U.S. forces south of Tikrit. He is in good health. He was reported missing after his convoy was ambushed on 9 April.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Thomas Hamill, as we mentioned, of Halliburton, he was the driver for the subsidiary Kellogg Brown and Root. Apparently, we're hearing that he was found just in Tikrit apparently walked up to some coalition forces. American soldiers, identified himself. It appeared as if he had escaped from the building, but those details very sketchy at this point. It is also unclear how he arrived in Tikrit. We will be getting more of those details as they released to us. And we will be sharing them with you as well.

We are told, however, that Mr. Hamill has spoken with his family. We will continue to update you on the story throughout the morning. So in the meantime, we turn it over to Renay San Miguel -- Renay?

SAN MIGUEL: Thank you, Erica.

In the presidential race, really has been a political battlefield this week. Fights over war ribbons and metals. A Democrat calling the vice president a chicken hawk. And there's much more.

Also related to politics, the Bush-Cheney meeting with the 9/11 Commission. NPR's congressional correspondent Andrea Seabrook joins us for a look at all of this. And Andrea, just like we talked about last week, again, it was a week where John Kerry was having to go on the defense, this time about the whole metals controversy.

You know, I mean this is going on while the president is also having a very tough time with Iraq and the 9/11 Commission. Are Democrats on the Hill starting to get a little bit worried about whether the Kerry campaign is getting its message out?

ANDREA SEABROOK, NPR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They are. Democrats on the Hill and off the Hill, those who would support John Kerry are starting to worry that this guy is not keeping up with the pace of President Bush in this campaign. They're worried that he's message isn't as clear, it's not as concise, and that it doesn't get out there as quickly as President Bush's seems to.

Case in point, this week we have continued controversy over these metals that John Kerry was awarded for his service in Vietnam more than 30 years ago. He's calling this a phony controversy, but what might have been phony is the metals that he threw away in a protest over 30 years ago. Very -- it's very interesting. You know, Republicans would call this a double flip flop when it comes to Kerry. You know, on the one hand, he won metals. And then threw them away or renounced them. On the other hand, maybe he didn't throw them away. So another possible flip flop.

Democrats, of course, call this totally bogus. They say that it is of the utmost valor to fight and then renounce the war.

SAN MIGUEL: And then, you know, this led to a level of partisan sniping -- you know, it has gone to a new level with Frank Lautenberg using the chicken hawk term against Vice President Cheney. And John McCain coming out and saying, you know, guys, can we agree that the Vietnam War is now over and that we have to get together?

But really, you know the idea that any kind of legislation that's going to be good for the American people is going to get done before November?

SEABROOK: Yes. That's something that those of us who cover Capitol Hill sort of dispensed with early on this year. We feel like, you know, it's really about the presidential campaign marching across the House floor, marching across the Senate floor week after week. Their issues come up there instead of -- or in -- as well as in the public.

And you're right, chicken hawk. Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey came out on the Senate floor and said these -- the Bush administration, especially Mr. Cheney, Mr. Bush, are willing to scream like hawks and send people into war, send our troops in war. But when it comes to serving themselves, they have other priorities.

As they quote Mr. Cheney as saying about why he had so many deferrals for his service during Vietnam. And so, you know, it's just back and forth. And again, like you said, Senator John McCain comes out and speaks for the people and says you know what? The Vietnam War's over. Let's let it be over.

SAN MIGUEL: I know. We'll see what happens as the campaign goes on. In the meantime, both President Bush and Vice President Cheney appearing together before the 9/11 Commission. No recordings, no transcripts or anything like that. Just you know, everybody spinning it as they come out and talk to the media.

What is the buzz in Washington about how that was handled by President Bush and Vice President Cheney?

SEABROOK: People are saying that it was very cordial, that the president answered questions first and then referred to Vice President Cheney after some questions, that they both answered everything that was put to them.

I think what people are really looking for, at least in terms of Washington buzz is whether or not the notebooks that the commissioners took notes in about this meeting will be redacted. The thing I that the White House collected those notes when those -- when the commissioners were leaving the White House, to check them through and see if there was any classified information. You can't let that information leave the White House.

It will be interesting to see what, if anything, or we may not know, but if anything is redacted, blacked out from those notebooks. And you know, we're all holding our breath for the final report, which comes out July 26. And so, watch this space.

SAN MIGUEL: Anything being said about Lee Hamilton and Bob Kerrey leaving that commission meeting with the president before it was over with? I mean, you know, their campaigns came out and said that they had previous commitments, but if you're working that hard to get the president and the vice president before your commission to answer all the questions, you think you would maybe do some rescheduling?

SEABROOK: You know, that's very interesting. They say that they were told by the head of the commission that it would only be two hours, that really they would be out of there by 11:30. And so, that's why they kept their commitments.

Now I think everybody sort of looks at this and thinks, gosh, you know, if I had a meeting with the president, especially after trying so hard to get one in the first place, I would kind of move things around. But you know, details will -- I'm sure they'll be coming out more details. And it'll be interesting to see.

SAN MIGUEL: We'll see. One other thing here, I mean we are -- we have just finished, as you know, the toughest month for the coalition in Iraq, the deadliest month. What are the Republicans saying about how Iraq shapes up to be more and more of a campaign issue, that the closer we head to November, any real -- any sense of panic there from some of the Republicans that you speak with on the Hill about how this is going to get handled?

SEABROOK: You know, there is a sense that something -- that if doesn't get better, that if things don't go more smoothly from here on out, that there could be problems.

At the same time, we've seen in poll after poll, and we -- you know, you and I, Renay, talked about this just a couple weeks ago, when things are focused on Iraq, it favors President Bush, if things are bad, if things are good. At least right now, there's sort of a rally effect, meaning that the citizens get behind their president. And it's good for President Bush and bad for John Kerry. And so, there's sort of this sense of we'll wait and see.

SAN MIGUEL: And we will wait and see. NPR congressional correspondent Andrea Seabrook, thanks for joining us. We appreciate your time.

SEABROOK: My pleasure.

SAN MIGUEL: Erica, back to you.

HILL: Thanks, Renay. There is always some fun and laughter at the White House correspondents dinner. The annual event brought out politicians, entertainers and journalists alike in Washington last night. Among them, "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno, who delivered the one liners.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LENO: You know, I watched Condoleezza Rice testify a couple of weeks ago. And as I watched her, I said to myself, you know, I've seen that hair style before. Where have I seen it? Can we put that picture up? I tried -- I couldn't place it. Put it up. There it is. Where did I See it? And then I remembered, oh yes, that's where -- yes. That's where I'd seen it, yes. I knew I'd seen it before. I knew I'd seen it before.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAN MIGUEL: Well, spring storms hit the Lone Star state, but where are they headed next? Rob is coming up with the forecast just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: Severe thunderstorms and high winds swept through parts of Texas. Reports of at least one tornado touching down as well near Houston. Rescue crews will resume their search today for an 18 month old swept away by flood waters caused by the heavy rain. Flooding caused the death of six other people, including three children.

SAN MIGUEL: Yes, if you grow up in Texas like I did, boy, this is the time of the year where you really keep an eye on the forecast and the weather channel to see what is going on and...

HILL: Understandably.

SAN MIGUEL: ...take cover if you have to.

(WEATHER REPORT)

SAN MIGUEL: We want to recap you on our top story right now and a welcome bit of good news coming out of Iraq. The coalition there saying that an American contractor missing since the convoy attack last month has been recovered, and is in good health after escaping from his captors. 43-year old Thomas Hamill of Mississippi, who last seen in this video shortly after his capture, was found near Tikrit, more than 100 miles from where he was captured just outside of Baghdad. Hamill went missing on April 9 with two U.S. soldiers, who are still missing after their fuel convoy was attacked near Baghdad International Airport. All of this coming just within the last almost half hour or so from Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt. We are working several angles of this story to get some reaction on it from both Baghdad and in the U.S. So stay with CNN. We'll be right back with more CNN SUNDAY MORNING right after this.

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Aired May 2, 2004 - 07:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Let's take a look at some of the other stories now making headlines on this Sunday morning. At this hour, a roadside bomb attack early this morning in northwest Baghdad killed two U.S. soldiers. Two members of the Iraqi civil defense corps were also wounded in that incident.
And in the southern town of Amara, two other U.S. soldiers died late yesterday when their convoy came under fire.

In the town of Hilla, a spokesman for Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al- Sadr says coalition forces raided the cleric's offices yesterday, killing one of al-Sadr's deputies. The spokesman says four others were also killed in the raid.

In Israel, a referendum is underway today within the Likud Party on the prime minister's plan to withdraw Israeli troops and settlers from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Ariel Sharon has staked his political fortunes on this vote, warning that if the referendum is defeated, his coalition government could collapse and force new elections.

Israeli military sources say gunmen opened fire on settlers near a Gaza settlement. An Israeli woman and her four children were killed. Israeli soldiers killed the two gunmen.

RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Again, we want to recap you on our top story. We have just heard in the past few minutes here, U.S. civilian kidnapped by insurgents west of Baghdad on April 9 has escaped his captors in Iraq and is in U.S. custody, this according to Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, announcing this just a few minutes ago.

43-year old Thomas Hamill was found by coalition soldiers. No word yet on his condition or what his treatment was like. There you see his picture there from video that was released on April 9, shortly after this convoy, he was a truck driver for Halliburton. And that convoy was attacked. He is the only surviving member of that convoy.

As we get more information on this, as it is coming in, we will bring that to you here on CNN.

Now the war in Iraq was very much on the minds of those attending last night's White House correspondents dinner in Washington. Normally this annual event is upbeat. It's the occasion for lots of jokes and humor.

And overall, it was. But for a few minutes, President Bush sounded a much more somber tone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This year, we are also mindful that our country is in a period of testing and sacrifice. As I speak, men and women in uniform are taking great risks. And so are many journalists, who are being faithful to their own sense of duty.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAN MIGUEL: And later in our program, we'll bring you some of the more lighthearted moments from the correspondents dinner.

HILL: Supreme Court justice David Souter may miss tomorrow's deliberations after being attacked on the street. The 64-year old justice suffered only minor injuries.

Our Kathleen Koch has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The apparently random attack occurred around 9:00 p.m. Friday while Supreme Court Justice David Souter was out jogging on the city street. Of course, spokeswoman Kathy Arburg (ph) says several young men assaulted 64-year old Souter, who then contacted Supreme Court police. Officers took the justice to Washington Hospital Center, where doctors found he had minor injuries and released him early Saturday morning.

Arburg (ph) wouldn't characterize the motive for the attack, but did say Souter had not been robbed. Experts say Supreme Court justices are not required to have constant security. And court scholars point out the justices generally attract little negative attention.

PAUL ROTHSTEIN, GEORGETOWN UNIV. LAW SCHOOL: Well, the abortion decision engendered fairly high degree of threats for judges. But in general, the Supreme Court judges are probably less often threatened than most other public officials.

KOCH: Eight years ago, another justice, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, was a victim of crime on Washington streets. Ginsberg's purse was snatched from her while walking with her family near the Kennedy Center.

Security experts say it often takes a serious attack before agencies opt for stepped up protection.

LARRY JOHNSON, SECURITY EXPERT: It's just -- we had not invested in that up to this point. Now once you start having -- if you start having attacks like this, that's going to raise the question that there ought to be expanded Secret Service protection or security details for, you know, people like this justice.

KOCH (on camera): Souter, an avid jogger, is one of the younger of the justices. The court spokesman, though, says it's uncertain whether he'll be back at court Monday to join in deliberations.

Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: A look now at some of the other stories making news across America. A computer glitch caused some major problems for Delta Airlines passengers. The airline was forced to ground flights to and from Atlanta for up to 6.5 hours. The glitch caused problems with flight preparations, but had no effect on security procedures or safety. Delta wasn't sure just how many flights were affected by the delays.

In Massachusetts, a disabled man was killed after falling out of an amusement park rollercoaster. The Superman rollercoaster at Six Flags New England was shut down. The incident is under investigation. The 55-year old victim had Cerebral Palsy. The coaster is one of the fastest and tallest in the world.

In Seattle, nearly 3,000 same sex marriage supporters marched to Safeco Field in an attempt to disrupt an anti-gay marriage rally. Around 20,000 opponents of same sex marriages were gathered inside the stadium.

SAN MIGUEL: Now we want to fast forward to the week ahead and some events we think will be making news. On Tuesday, a competency hearing for Brian David Mitchell, the man accused of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart in Utah. Smart was taken from her home nearly two years ago and held for nine months before two people spotted the suspect and called police.

Also on Tuesday, sentencing for former Merrill Lynch assistant Doug Faneuil, the star witness in the Martha Stewart trial. Sentencing for Stewart and her ex-broker, Peter Bacanovic will be June 17.

And Thursday night, after 10 years, the last episode of "Friends." If you tune in, you'll be one of tens of millions expected to do so.

HILL: A historic vote in the Middle East, and it could predict Ariel Sharon's future. We'll go live to Tel Aviv. Plus, this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY LENO, COMEDIAN: According to Bob Woodward's book, a -- Colin Powell and Dick Cheney no longer speak to each other. To give you an idea of how bad it's gotten, their Secret Service code names are Bill and Hillary.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAN MIGUEL: Washington takes a walk on the lighter side. We'll bring you the details at the big correspondents dinner last night when CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: Some incredible news coming out of Iraq this morning. An American hostage found alive. Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt made the announcement this morning, just about 15 minutes ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY: Today at 10:20 hours, Mr. Tommy Hamill, an employee of Kellogg, Brown and Root was recovered by U.S. forces south of Tikrit. He is in good health. He was reported missing after his convoy was ambushed on 9 April.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Thomas Hamill, as we mentioned, of Halliburton, he was the driver for the subsidiary Kellogg Brown and Root. Apparently, we're hearing that he was found just in Tikrit apparently walked up to some coalition forces. American soldiers, identified himself. It appeared as if he had escaped from the building, but those details very sketchy at this point. It is also unclear how he arrived in Tikrit. We will be getting more of those details as they released to us. And we will be sharing them with you as well.

We are told, however, that Mr. Hamill has spoken with his family. We will continue to update you on the story throughout the morning. So in the meantime, we turn it over to Renay San Miguel -- Renay?

SAN MIGUEL: Thank you, Erica.

In the presidential race, really has been a political battlefield this week. Fights over war ribbons and metals. A Democrat calling the vice president a chicken hawk. And there's much more.

Also related to politics, the Bush-Cheney meeting with the 9/11 Commission. NPR's congressional correspondent Andrea Seabrook joins us for a look at all of this. And Andrea, just like we talked about last week, again, it was a week where John Kerry was having to go on the defense, this time about the whole metals controversy.

You know, I mean this is going on while the president is also having a very tough time with Iraq and the 9/11 Commission. Are Democrats on the Hill starting to get a little bit worried about whether the Kerry campaign is getting its message out?

ANDREA SEABROOK, NPR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They are. Democrats on the Hill and off the Hill, those who would support John Kerry are starting to worry that this guy is not keeping up with the pace of President Bush in this campaign. They're worried that he's message isn't as clear, it's not as concise, and that it doesn't get out there as quickly as President Bush's seems to.

Case in point, this week we have continued controversy over these metals that John Kerry was awarded for his service in Vietnam more than 30 years ago. He's calling this a phony controversy, but what might have been phony is the metals that he threw away in a protest over 30 years ago. Very -- it's very interesting. You know, Republicans would call this a double flip flop when it comes to Kerry. You know, on the one hand, he won metals. And then threw them away or renounced them. On the other hand, maybe he didn't throw them away. So another possible flip flop.

Democrats, of course, call this totally bogus. They say that it is of the utmost valor to fight and then renounce the war.

SAN MIGUEL: And then, you know, this led to a level of partisan sniping -- you know, it has gone to a new level with Frank Lautenberg using the chicken hawk term against Vice President Cheney. And John McCain coming out and saying, you know, guys, can we agree that the Vietnam War is now over and that we have to get together?

But really, you know the idea that any kind of legislation that's going to be good for the American people is going to get done before November?

SEABROOK: Yes. That's something that those of us who cover Capitol Hill sort of dispensed with early on this year. We feel like, you know, it's really about the presidential campaign marching across the House floor, marching across the Senate floor week after week. Their issues come up there instead of -- or in -- as well as in the public.

And you're right, chicken hawk. Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey came out on the Senate floor and said these -- the Bush administration, especially Mr. Cheney, Mr. Bush, are willing to scream like hawks and send people into war, send our troops in war. But when it comes to serving themselves, they have other priorities.

As they quote Mr. Cheney as saying about why he had so many deferrals for his service during Vietnam. And so, you know, it's just back and forth. And again, like you said, Senator John McCain comes out and speaks for the people and says you know what? The Vietnam War's over. Let's let it be over.

SAN MIGUEL: I know. We'll see what happens as the campaign goes on. In the meantime, both President Bush and Vice President Cheney appearing together before the 9/11 Commission. No recordings, no transcripts or anything like that. Just you know, everybody spinning it as they come out and talk to the media.

What is the buzz in Washington about how that was handled by President Bush and Vice President Cheney?

SEABROOK: People are saying that it was very cordial, that the president answered questions first and then referred to Vice President Cheney after some questions, that they both answered everything that was put to them.

I think what people are really looking for, at least in terms of Washington buzz is whether or not the notebooks that the commissioners took notes in about this meeting will be redacted. The thing I that the White House collected those notes when those -- when the commissioners were leaving the White House, to check them through and see if there was any classified information. You can't let that information leave the White House.

It will be interesting to see what, if anything, or we may not know, but if anything is redacted, blacked out from those notebooks. And you know, we're all holding our breath for the final report, which comes out July 26. And so, watch this space.

SAN MIGUEL: Anything being said about Lee Hamilton and Bob Kerrey leaving that commission meeting with the president before it was over with? I mean, you know, their campaigns came out and said that they had previous commitments, but if you're working that hard to get the president and the vice president before your commission to answer all the questions, you think you would maybe do some rescheduling?

SEABROOK: You know, that's very interesting. They say that they were told by the head of the commission that it would only be two hours, that really they would be out of there by 11:30. And so, that's why they kept their commitments.

Now I think everybody sort of looks at this and thinks, gosh, you know, if I had a meeting with the president, especially after trying so hard to get one in the first place, I would kind of move things around. But you know, details will -- I'm sure they'll be coming out more details. And it'll be interesting to see.

SAN MIGUEL: We'll see. One other thing here, I mean we are -- we have just finished, as you know, the toughest month for the coalition in Iraq, the deadliest month. What are the Republicans saying about how Iraq shapes up to be more and more of a campaign issue, that the closer we head to November, any real -- any sense of panic there from some of the Republicans that you speak with on the Hill about how this is going to get handled?

SEABROOK: You know, there is a sense that something -- that if doesn't get better, that if things don't go more smoothly from here on out, that there could be problems.

At the same time, we've seen in poll after poll, and we -- you know, you and I, Renay, talked about this just a couple weeks ago, when things are focused on Iraq, it favors President Bush, if things are bad, if things are good. At least right now, there's sort of a rally effect, meaning that the citizens get behind their president. And it's good for President Bush and bad for John Kerry. And so, there's sort of this sense of we'll wait and see.

SAN MIGUEL: And we will wait and see. NPR congressional correspondent Andrea Seabrook, thanks for joining us. We appreciate your time.

SEABROOK: My pleasure.

SAN MIGUEL: Erica, back to you.

HILL: Thanks, Renay. There is always some fun and laughter at the White House correspondents dinner. The annual event brought out politicians, entertainers and journalists alike in Washington last night. Among them, "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno, who delivered the one liners.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LENO: You know, I watched Condoleezza Rice testify a couple of weeks ago. And as I watched her, I said to myself, you know, I've seen that hair style before. Where have I seen it? Can we put that picture up? I tried -- I couldn't place it. Put it up. There it is. Where did I See it? And then I remembered, oh yes, that's where -- yes. That's where I'd seen it, yes. I knew I'd seen it before. I knew I'd seen it before.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAN MIGUEL: Well, spring storms hit the Lone Star state, but where are they headed next? Rob is coming up with the forecast just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: Severe thunderstorms and high winds swept through parts of Texas. Reports of at least one tornado touching down as well near Houston. Rescue crews will resume their search today for an 18 month old swept away by flood waters caused by the heavy rain. Flooding caused the death of six other people, including three children.

SAN MIGUEL: Yes, if you grow up in Texas like I did, boy, this is the time of the year where you really keep an eye on the forecast and the weather channel to see what is going on and...

HILL: Understandably.

SAN MIGUEL: ...take cover if you have to.

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SAN MIGUEL: We want to recap you on our top story right now and a welcome bit of good news coming out of Iraq. The coalition there saying that an American contractor missing since the convoy attack last month has been recovered, and is in good health after escaping from his captors. 43-year old Thomas Hamill of Mississippi, who last seen in this video shortly after his capture, was found near Tikrit, more than 100 miles from where he was captured just outside of Baghdad. Hamill went missing on April 9 with two U.S. soldiers, who are still missing after their fuel convoy was attacked near Baghdad International Airport. All of this coming just within the last almost half hour or so from Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt. We are working several angles of this story to get some reaction on it from both Baghdad and in the U.S. So stay with CNN. We'll be right back with more CNN SUNDAY MORNING right after this.

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