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CNN Sunday Morning

Twisters Wreak Havoc Throughout Midwest; Homeland Security Becomes Campaign Issue

Aired May 30, 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.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is May 30th. Good morning, I'm Betty Nguyen.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Drew Griffin. Parts of Kansas waking up to a state of disaster. After this incredible scene last night, people in the Midwest dealing with destruction from a swarm of twisters there. More could be on the way today. More on that in a few minutes.

Here's what else to look for this hour. Within the past few hours, a commando style in Khobar, Saudi Arabia to free hostages held by militants. We're going to tell you what happened there. Also, Homeland Security as a campaign issue. We'll compare and contrast what the candidates have said so far about keeping you and your family safe. And a new Hollywood disaster film takes the box office by storm, ice storm. In this time of terrorism, are the images too real? We'll talk about it with a psychiatrist.

All that and more, beginning with today's headlines.

NGUYEN: People in the nation's mid section will be cleaning up again today from storm damage. Tornadoes and heavy rains tore through parts of Oklahoma, damaging homes and causing power outages. A similar scenario played out in central Nebraska and north Kansas. There are no injuries, but meteorologist Rob Marciano will have the latest for us in just a bit.

More than 100 volunteers are helping police search for a missing Brigham Young University student. 19-year old Brick Wilberger has been missing since last Monday. Police have also rearrested a man in connection with her disappearance. Right now, they're just calling him a "person of interest" and not a suspect.

Fires burn in Karachi, Pakistan, as an angry mob protests the killing of an Islamic scholar. The victim was known for preaching against American policy in Iraqi and Afghanistan. He was killed. His son, driver, and body guard were wounded when gunmen opened fire on their car.

GRIFFIN: Our top story this morning, a dramatic end to a hostage crisis in Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Saudi troops storm a building, kill or capture the gunmen, and free the hostages, some of whom we now know are Americans. Details still sketchy, but here's what we do know reported by CNN's David Clinch. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID CLINCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Saudi special forces leaping from helicopters onto the roof of a building in which American, European and other Western hostages were being held by a group of a heavily armed gunmen.

Sounds of heavy gunfire and then silence. Hours later, Saudi newspaper quotes officials as saying the rescue operation has ended. Most of the hostages are safe. The gunmen are either dead or in custody. But few details as to any other deaths.

Ambulances stream into the building, as the special forces move out. Details still are sketchy, as they have been throughout the just over 24 hours since the armed group opened fire on compounds housing Western workers in the oil port of Khobar.

Officials report one American and a Briton were among those killed in that shootout just before the assailants moved on to seize a high rise building.

Declaring the attack was inspired by al Qaeda, Saudi officials aid the group's goal was to disrupt their economy and destabilize the kingdom. As a time when the Saudis have pledged to work to bring down soaring oil prices, the targeting of oil workers brought a promise from the Saudi ambassador to Washington, Prince Bandar, to destroy the terrorists.

As a U.S. embassy in Riyadh passed on the State Department's advice for all Americans to leave Saudi Arabia, one American who'd already decided to leave was caught up in the crisis for hours before being taken to safety.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Add all this together made the decision easier to leave.

CLINCH: As the Saudis wrapped up the rescue operation, the British foreign office warned the oil rich kingdom is likely to see more such terrorist attacks in the very near future.

David Clinch, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: And M.J. Gohel of the Asia Pacific Foundation is an expert on terrorist organizations. He joins us now from London to talk about this attack this weekend in Saudi Arabia.

M.J., who are these people? They are loosely linked or closely linked to al Qaeda? And what do they want?

M.J. GOHEL, ASIA PACIFIC FOUNDATION: Well, Drew, the suspicion is that this atrocity was probably carried out by al Qaeda affiliated group known as the El Haramein Brigade.

This is an outfit that is run by an individual known as Abdel Aziz Muqrin. And this particular group has been involved in other atrocities in Saudi Arabia. It is a group that claims responsibility some time after the event. And I would imagine you will probably get an audiotape in a day or two.

GRIFFIN: Do we know the size of this group? Obviously in this particular case, the gunmen, as we hear from the Saudis, are either dead or captured. Do we know if this is a very large group or growing group in Saudi Arabia?

GOHEL: This is certainly a growing group. And Muqrin, who runs this El Haramein Brigade, is very much a liaison man between radical groups in Saudi Arabia and Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda.

The problem in Saudi Arabia is that the oil wealth has not been percolating downwards to the people. There is massive unemployment there. There are a lot of very frustrated young men.

So these young men then go to the radical clerics in the mosques, the clerics who ironically have been funded by the Saudi regime. And the clerics are preaching the message of bin Laden.

So there is an endless supply of recruits and suicide bombers for the global jihad movement.

GRIFFIN: Well let me ask you, in your opinion, Prince Bandar says he's going to crush the terrorists in Saudi Arabia, take a militant -- or a military style view. Is he and the kingdom doing enough to solve the other problems, which is to raise employment levels, and to end some of the poverty there?

GOHEL: Well, we've been hearing a lot of fine words from the Saudi regime, and which of course, welcome. But what we need are fine deeds, fine deeds on the ground.

There was a triple suicide bombing in Riyadh, the capitol, last May. And the Saudi regime promised a crackdown. Well that crackdown has never materialized. There are various elements within the regime, as also in the security services, which are highly suspect.

For instance, the attack in Yanbul earlier this month, the attackers were wearing military uniform. And some of them were linked to the security services. And it took the security services 1.5 hours to react to the atrocity.

Also, when other suspect hideouts have been surrounded, all the suspects somehow have managed to escape. And indeed, there has to -- there had to be fundamental changes within Saudi Arabia, because Saudi Arabia is effectively a police state. And the wealth is only kept within the ruling family and its relations.

GRIFFIN: Thank you, sir. A case we continue to watch. Breaking news out of Saudi Arabia this morning. M.J. Gohel of the Asia Pacific Foundation in London. Thank you for joining us -- Betty?

NGUYEN: Marauding funnel clouds roam tornado alley. It's another bad weather weekend in parts of the Midwest. Farm houses are damaged in northern Kansas. Severe damage is reported in a small town in Oklahoma. Power is out in central Nebraska. And it is not over yet.

(WEATHER REPORT)

GRIFFIN: Time for some other stories making news across America. Two prominent figures from the Watergate era have died. Former special prosecutor Archibald Cox died at his home in Maine. He was 92. Cox was fired by President Richard Nixon when he refused to drop the search for special White House tape recordings.

Sam Dash had been the chief counsel for the Senate Watergate committee. Dash became a household name for this tough questioning of the key players during the televised Watergate hearings. Sam Dash was 79-years old.

NGUYEN: The Marines are coming. As part of Fleet Week in New York City, U.S. Marines are staging several mock attacks in local parks. The Marines are being dropped by helicopter. After the show, the public gets to meet the Marines and tour those helicopters.

In Nashville, one Cub Scout is giving a little something extra this Memorial Day. 10-year old James Myla (ph) may not be able to walk, but he's decided not to be confined to his wheelchair. For the second straight year, Myla (ph) is helping place flags at the Nashville National Cemetery. And today, he'll two Marines at the wreath laying ceremony.

GRIFFIN: We want to ask you for something this morning. Your e- mail question of the day, are the latest terror alerts changing your holiday plans? E-mail us now at wam@cnn.com. We'd like to hear from you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was doing my job that day. And I'm very lucky to be back home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: The A-10 pilot known as "Killer Chick" was nearly blown out of the sky over Baghdad. We'll tell you how her life has changed since that fateful day.

GRIFFIN: Also coming up, a psychiatrist will explain why some people might not want to see the disaster film that everybody else saw this weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it was kind of hot in the box. And my chest was hurting a little bit. And they checked it out and everything. And I was all good, but I had a little bit of water in my lungs.

(END VIDEO CLIP) NGUYEN: And later, thinking inside the box or maybe not thinking at all. Anyway, don't try this at home. That story and more on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: "The Day After Tomorrow" hits theaters this weekend, full of special effects and the destruction of major U.S. cities. But with images of 9/11 still so real for many, and terror alerts causing concern, are movies like this a little too real?

Dr. Christopher Griffiths of the Morehouse School of Medicine has some thoughts on that. And he joins us to talk about it.

Good morning to you.

CHRISTOPHER GRIFFITHS, DR., MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: Good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: Well, a lot of people are interested in this movie. And why not? It's a big summer flick with all these realistic graphics. But a lot of folks are really concerned that with the 9/11 situation and the terror warnings that were just out this week, and the war against terror, is this something that we should be watching? Or is going to instill more fear?

GRIFFITHS: I think for the -- I've seen the movie. And for the most part, when I came out of there, I was totally traumatized.

NGUYEN: Were you really?

GRIFFITHS: No, I'm kidding. It's all in fun. But you know, most people could recognize this is Hollywood. And it's all in fun. The only folks who could perhaps have a problem with this would be people who are, you know, victims of major disasters, major trauma.

For example, my prayers go out to the folks today in the Midwest.

NGUYEN: Right.

GRIFFITHS: This is not the kind of movie that...

NGUYEN: Because there are tornadoes in this movie.

GRIFFITHS: Exactly. This is not the kind of movie that someone who's been involved in floods, fire, that type of thing should go and see. For the most part, it's all in fun. And people, I think, can recognize that it's Hollywood.

NGUYEN: But don't you think that with the fears out there, the terrorist warnings and what not, that our level of anxiety has been raised? And perhaps this could really affect our psyche?

GRIFFITHS: Particularly for those perhaps who were in New York City, who were in Washington when it all happened because even though it's a movie and it's done up for Hollywood, you can see destruction in these cities. And it could prompt of those memories to come back, you know, involving the terrorist attacks.

NGUYEN: And especially for youngsters, teenagers, this is a PG- 13 movie. Is this going to affect them?

GRIFFITHS: The very young could have a hard time with it, but for the most part, you know, older adolescents, teenagers I think will tolerate it well. From my early childhood memories, I just think about what my parents did to me when they took me to see "Jaws."

NGUYEN: Oh, yes.

GRIFFITHS: I'm still afraid to get in the water, you know?

NGUYEN: That's right.

GRIFFITHS: But I think most people can see that, you know, it's fun. It's fantastic. And it has like, you know I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but kind of a happy Hollywood ending.

NGUYEN: Well, of course it does. But you know, I have a little sister who's just 11-years old. And growing up in Texas, she saw the tornadoes and all the damage there. Seeing a movie like this could really spark some fear, especially in the younger ones. So what should parents do to help ease that?

GRIFFITHS: Well, the first thing is parents need to make sure they supervise what movies their children are seeing. It always irritates me when a movie with adult themes, and you see little kids in there, parents like hold their ears or cover their eyes. That's inappropriate. So parents need to really screen what the movies are.

And for those folks who have been in tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, fires, this is not the type of movie for them to see.

NGUYEN: And we just all need to remember it is just a movie. It's Hollywood.

GRIFFITHS: It is a movie. It's Hollywood. It's all in fun and good...

NGUYEN: And you liked it?

GRIFFITHS: I enjoyed it. It was actually really good comical and it was fun.

NGUYEN: Great effects.

GRIFFITHS: Yes, it was.

NGUYEN: All right, Dr., we thank you for your time.

GRIFFITHS: Thank you very much.

NGUYEN: "The Day After Tomorrow" is already stirring the sharp imaginations of editorial cartoonists. This one is from Rob Rogers at "The Pittsburgh Post Gazette". "On the plus side, we finally have an excuse to use the four-wheel drive," the caption says. A voice in an SUV is level with the crown of the Statute of Liberty.

GRIFFIN: Well now we...

NGUYEN: Making fun of it.

GRIFFIN: ...got the premise of this story, "The Day After Tomorrow." Global warming causes a series of immediate catastrophes. The stars of the movie so are embracing the term "carbon neutral."

A company called Future Forests plants trees to compensate for burning fossil fuels, which creates carbon dioxide.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE GYLLENHAAL, ACTOR: It has raised my awareness to the extent, you know, that it could at this moment. And hopefully, I'll buy a hydro car soon, but right now, I'm just into turning off my lights.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: OK, here's another term for you. "Enviro cab pollution debt." Pay yours down before it's too late.

If you want to see the science or a lack thereof behind "The Day After Tomorrow," jump onto the web and go to cnn.com/science. All the best parts right at your fingertips.

NGUYEN: The A-10 thunderbolt is one of the fiercest attack jets in the U.S. arsenal. It can also take a lot of abuse, but a direct hit?

GRIFFIN: Coming up, a veteran pilot of the Iraq War, who saved both herself and her plane under extremely difficult circumstances.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Time now for a quick check of the headlines. Saudi security forces have ended the hostage standoff in Khobar. As many as 50 hostages were being held by gunmen at a residential complex. Seven Americans were released before Saudi police stormed the area. Saudi police say most of the hostages are safe and well, but will not comment on any deaths.

Unrest in Karachi, as protesters burned several buildings, including a police station. The demonstrators are upset over the shooting death of a popular cleric, who was known for his anti- American messages. He was killed by unknown gunmen outside his home.

GRIFFIN: It was a night she won't soon forget, the night Captain Kim Campbell took a hit while flying a mission over Baghdad. National correspondent Gary Tuchman follows up on what many call a hero's tale fro Operation Iraqi Freedom.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: During the peak of the air war over Iraq, A-10 pilot Kim Campbell's life hung in balance on a cloudy April night over Baghdad.

(on camera) Do you think you're a hero?

CAPT. KIM CAMPBELL, U.S. AIR FORCE: No, not at all. I think to me, I was doing my job that day. And I'm very lucky to be back home.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Luck had something to do with it. But Air Force colleagues say heroism did, too.

Captain Campbell, also known as Killer Chick, or KC, was hit by Iraqi fire over Baghdad. Her attack jet lost its hydraulic power. CNN was embedded with her squadron at the base on the Iraqi border where she safely landed.

(on camera) Do you think that you were going to be able to make it back or that you'd have to eject from the plane?

CAMPBELL: There was a quick second where I knew it was a possibility. But in my mind I knew I had no desire to eject over Baghdad.

The experts believe that a surface-to-air missile impacted somewhere in this area and then, as it hit, it sent shrapnel from the missile into both the inside of the right tail and also the fuselage here.

TUCHMAN: KC is now back at North Carolina's Pope Air Force base with her new A-10. Home since July, she says she remains a strong supporter of the U.S. role in Iraq.

CAMPBELL: No one said this was going to be easy. And you know, we know it's going to be tough. And we'll be there as long as the mission calls for it.

TUCHMAN: The 28-year-old has received awards and accolades. She makes two to three speeches a month while continuing her training.

CAMPBELL: Our squadron will most likely be deploying later on this year. And I'm more than happy to go back.

TUCHMAN (on camera): Would your family like to see you not fly combat missions any more?

CAMPBELL: They know that I love what I do. And they know that I'm willing to take risks, and this is something that I would be willing to give my life for, because I believe in it.

And you know, my parents aren't going to tell me that I can't do it. Certainly not at age 28, anyway.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Gary Tuchman, CNN, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. (END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: We bring you hero stories every week on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: And great stories they are. Well, they have little food or water or even medicine, but the people of Western Sudan have no shortage of despair. And these are the lucky ones. Christiane Amanpour will take us inside a Sudanese refugee camp in Chad.

GRIFFIN: Also ahead, will terrorist concerns influence your vote in November? Political analyst Ron Brownstein explores the dynamics of Homeland Security as an emerging campaign theme.

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


Aired May 30, 2004 - 07:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is May 30th. Good morning, I'm Betty Nguyen.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Drew Griffin. Parts of Kansas waking up to a state of disaster. After this incredible scene last night, people in the Midwest dealing with destruction from a swarm of twisters there. More could be on the way today. More on that in a few minutes.

Here's what else to look for this hour. Within the past few hours, a commando style in Khobar, Saudi Arabia to free hostages held by militants. We're going to tell you what happened there. Also, Homeland Security as a campaign issue. We'll compare and contrast what the candidates have said so far about keeping you and your family safe. And a new Hollywood disaster film takes the box office by storm, ice storm. In this time of terrorism, are the images too real? We'll talk about it with a psychiatrist.

All that and more, beginning with today's headlines.

NGUYEN: People in the nation's mid section will be cleaning up again today from storm damage. Tornadoes and heavy rains tore through parts of Oklahoma, damaging homes and causing power outages. A similar scenario played out in central Nebraska and north Kansas. There are no injuries, but meteorologist Rob Marciano will have the latest for us in just a bit.

More than 100 volunteers are helping police search for a missing Brigham Young University student. 19-year old Brick Wilberger has been missing since last Monday. Police have also rearrested a man in connection with her disappearance. Right now, they're just calling him a "person of interest" and not a suspect.

Fires burn in Karachi, Pakistan, as an angry mob protests the killing of an Islamic scholar. The victim was known for preaching against American policy in Iraqi and Afghanistan. He was killed. His son, driver, and body guard were wounded when gunmen opened fire on their car.

GRIFFIN: Our top story this morning, a dramatic end to a hostage crisis in Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Saudi troops storm a building, kill or capture the gunmen, and free the hostages, some of whom we now know are Americans. Details still sketchy, but here's what we do know reported by CNN's David Clinch. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID CLINCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Saudi special forces leaping from helicopters onto the roof of a building in which American, European and other Western hostages were being held by a group of a heavily armed gunmen.

Sounds of heavy gunfire and then silence. Hours later, Saudi newspaper quotes officials as saying the rescue operation has ended. Most of the hostages are safe. The gunmen are either dead or in custody. But few details as to any other deaths.

Ambulances stream into the building, as the special forces move out. Details still are sketchy, as they have been throughout the just over 24 hours since the armed group opened fire on compounds housing Western workers in the oil port of Khobar.

Officials report one American and a Briton were among those killed in that shootout just before the assailants moved on to seize a high rise building.

Declaring the attack was inspired by al Qaeda, Saudi officials aid the group's goal was to disrupt their economy and destabilize the kingdom. As a time when the Saudis have pledged to work to bring down soaring oil prices, the targeting of oil workers brought a promise from the Saudi ambassador to Washington, Prince Bandar, to destroy the terrorists.

As a U.S. embassy in Riyadh passed on the State Department's advice for all Americans to leave Saudi Arabia, one American who'd already decided to leave was caught up in the crisis for hours before being taken to safety.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Add all this together made the decision easier to leave.

CLINCH: As the Saudis wrapped up the rescue operation, the British foreign office warned the oil rich kingdom is likely to see more such terrorist attacks in the very near future.

David Clinch, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: And M.J. Gohel of the Asia Pacific Foundation is an expert on terrorist organizations. He joins us now from London to talk about this attack this weekend in Saudi Arabia.

M.J., who are these people? They are loosely linked or closely linked to al Qaeda? And what do they want?

M.J. GOHEL, ASIA PACIFIC FOUNDATION: Well, Drew, the suspicion is that this atrocity was probably carried out by al Qaeda affiliated group known as the El Haramein Brigade.

This is an outfit that is run by an individual known as Abdel Aziz Muqrin. And this particular group has been involved in other atrocities in Saudi Arabia. It is a group that claims responsibility some time after the event. And I would imagine you will probably get an audiotape in a day or two.

GRIFFIN: Do we know the size of this group? Obviously in this particular case, the gunmen, as we hear from the Saudis, are either dead or captured. Do we know if this is a very large group or growing group in Saudi Arabia?

GOHEL: This is certainly a growing group. And Muqrin, who runs this El Haramein Brigade, is very much a liaison man between radical groups in Saudi Arabia and Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda.

The problem in Saudi Arabia is that the oil wealth has not been percolating downwards to the people. There is massive unemployment there. There are a lot of very frustrated young men.

So these young men then go to the radical clerics in the mosques, the clerics who ironically have been funded by the Saudi regime. And the clerics are preaching the message of bin Laden.

So there is an endless supply of recruits and suicide bombers for the global jihad movement.

GRIFFIN: Well let me ask you, in your opinion, Prince Bandar says he's going to crush the terrorists in Saudi Arabia, take a militant -- or a military style view. Is he and the kingdom doing enough to solve the other problems, which is to raise employment levels, and to end some of the poverty there?

GOHEL: Well, we've been hearing a lot of fine words from the Saudi regime, and which of course, welcome. But what we need are fine deeds, fine deeds on the ground.

There was a triple suicide bombing in Riyadh, the capitol, last May. And the Saudi regime promised a crackdown. Well that crackdown has never materialized. There are various elements within the regime, as also in the security services, which are highly suspect.

For instance, the attack in Yanbul earlier this month, the attackers were wearing military uniform. And some of them were linked to the security services. And it took the security services 1.5 hours to react to the atrocity.

Also, when other suspect hideouts have been surrounded, all the suspects somehow have managed to escape. And indeed, there has to -- there had to be fundamental changes within Saudi Arabia, because Saudi Arabia is effectively a police state. And the wealth is only kept within the ruling family and its relations.

GRIFFIN: Thank you, sir. A case we continue to watch. Breaking news out of Saudi Arabia this morning. M.J. Gohel of the Asia Pacific Foundation in London. Thank you for joining us -- Betty?

NGUYEN: Marauding funnel clouds roam tornado alley. It's another bad weather weekend in parts of the Midwest. Farm houses are damaged in northern Kansas. Severe damage is reported in a small town in Oklahoma. Power is out in central Nebraska. And it is not over yet.

(WEATHER REPORT)

GRIFFIN: Time for some other stories making news across America. Two prominent figures from the Watergate era have died. Former special prosecutor Archibald Cox died at his home in Maine. He was 92. Cox was fired by President Richard Nixon when he refused to drop the search for special White House tape recordings.

Sam Dash had been the chief counsel for the Senate Watergate committee. Dash became a household name for this tough questioning of the key players during the televised Watergate hearings. Sam Dash was 79-years old.

NGUYEN: The Marines are coming. As part of Fleet Week in New York City, U.S. Marines are staging several mock attacks in local parks. The Marines are being dropped by helicopter. After the show, the public gets to meet the Marines and tour those helicopters.

In Nashville, one Cub Scout is giving a little something extra this Memorial Day. 10-year old James Myla (ph) may not be able to walk, but he's decided not to be confined to his wheelchair. For the second straight year, Myla (ph) is helping place flags at the Nashville National Cemetery. And today, he'll two Marines at the wreath laying ceremony.

GRIFFIN: We want to ask you for something this morning. Your e- mail question of the day, are the latest terror alerts changing your holiday plans? E-mail us now at wam@cnn.com. We'd like to hear from you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was doing my job that day. And I'm very lucky to be back home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: The A-10 pilot known as "Killer Chick" was nearly blown out of the sky over Baghdad. We'll tell you how her life has changed since that fateful day.

GRIFFIN: Also coming up, a psychiatrist will explain why some people might not want to see the disaster film that everybody else saw this weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it was kind of hot in the box. And my chest was hurting a little bit. And they checked it out and everything. And I was all good, but I had a little bit of water in my lungs.

(END VIDEO CLIP) NGUYEN: And later, thinking inside the box or maybe not thinking at all. Anyway, don't try this at home. That story and more on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: "The Day After Tomorrow" hits theaters this weekend, full of special effects and the destruction of major U.S. cities. But with images of 9/11 still so real for many, and terror alerts causing concern, are movies like this a little too real?

Dr. Christopher Griffiths of the Morehouse School of Medicine has some thoughts on that. And he joins us to talk about it.

Good morning to you.

CHRISTOPHER GRIFFITHS, DR., MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: Good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: Well, a lot of people are interested in this movie. And why not? It's a big summer flick with all these realistic graphics. But a lot of folks are really concerned that with the 9/11 situation and the terror warnings that were just out this week, and the war against terror, is this something that we should be watching? Or is going to instill more fear?

GRIFFITHS: I think for the -- I've seen the movie. And for the most part, when I came out of there, I was totally traumatized.

NGUYEN: Were you really?

GRIFFITHS: No, I'm kidding. It's all in fun. But you know, most people could recognize this is Hollywood. And it's all in fun. The only folks who could perhaps have a problem with this would be people who are, you know, victims of major disasters, major trauma.

For example, my prayers go out to the folks today in the Midwest.

NGUYEN: Right.

GRIFFITHS: This is not the kind of movie that...

NGUYEN: Because there are tornadoes in this movie.

GRIFFITHS: Exactly. This is not the kind of movie that someone who's been involved in floods, fire, that type of thing should go and see. For the most part, it's all in fun. And people, I think, can recognize that it's Hollywood.

NGUYEN: But don't you think that with the fears out there, the terrorist warnings and what not, that our level of anxiety has been raised? And perhaps this could really affect our psyche?

GRIFFITHS: Particularly for those perhaps who were in New York City, who were in Washington when it all happened because even though it's a movie and it's done up for Hollywood, you can see destruction in these cities. And it could prompt of those memories to come back, you know, involving the terrorist attacks.

NGUYEN: And especially for youngsters, teenagers, this is a PG- 13 movie. Is this going to affect them?

GRIFFITHS: The very young could have a hard time with it, but for the most part, you know, older adolescents, teenagers I think will tolerate it well. From my early childhood memories, I just think about what my parents did to me when they took me to see "Jaws."

NGUYEN: Oh, yes.

GRIFFITHS: I'm still afraid to get in the water, you know?

NGUYEN: That's right.

GRIFFITHS: But I think most people can see that, you know, it's fun. It's fantastic. And it has like, you know I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but kind of a happy Hollywood ending.

NGUYEN: Well, of course it does. But you know, I have a little sister who's just 11-years old. And growing up in Texas, she saw the tornadoes and all the damage there. Seeing a movie like this could really spark some fear, especially in the younger ones. So what should parents do to help ease that?

GRIFFITHS: Well, the first thing is parents need to make sure they supervise what movies their children are seeing. It always irritates me when a movie with adult themes, and you see little kids in there, parents like hold their ears or cover their eyes. That's inappropriate. So parents need to really screen what the movies are.

And for those folks who have been in tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, fires, this is not the type of movie for them to see.

NGUYEN: And we just all need to remember it is just a movie. It's Hollywood.

GRIFFITHS: It is a movie. It's Hollywood. It's all in fun and good...

NGUYEN: And you liked it?

GRIFFITHS: I enjoyed it. It was actually really good comical and it was fun.

NGUYEN: Great effects.

GRIFFITHS: Yes, it was.

NGUYEN: All right, Dr., we thank you for your time.

GRIFFITHS: Thank you very much.

NGUYEN: "The Day After Tomorrow" is already stirring the sharp imaginations of editorial cartoonists. This one is from Rob Rogers at "The Pittsburgh Post Gazette". "On the plus side, we finally have an excuse to use the four-wheel drive," the caption says. A voice in an SUV is level with the crown of the Statute of Liberty.

GRIFFIN: Well now we...

NGUYEN: Making fun of it.

GRIFFIN: ...got the premise of this story, "The Day After Tomorrow." Global warming causes a series of immediate catastrophes. The stars of the movie so are embracing the term "carbon neutral."

A company called Future Forests plants trees to compensate for burning fossil fuels, which creates carbon dioxide.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE GYLLENHAAL, ACTOR: It has raised my awareness to the extent, you know, that it could at this moment. And hopefully, I'll buy a hydro car soon, but right now, I'm just into turning off my lights.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: OK, here's another term for you. "Enviro cab pollution debt." Pay yours down before it's too late.

If you want to see the science or a lack thereof behind "The Day After Tomorrow," jump onto the web and go to cnn.com/science. All the best parts right at your fingertips.

NGUYEN: The A-10 thunderbolt is one of the fiercest attack jets in the U.S. arsenal. It can also take a lot of abuse, but a direct hit?

GRIFFIN: Coming up, a veteran pilot of the Iraq War, who saved both herself and her plane under extremely difficult circumstances.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Time now for a quick check of the headlines. Saudi security forces have ended the hostage standoff in Khobar. As many as 50 hostages were being held by gunmen at a residential complex. Seven Americans were released before Saudi police stormed the area. Saudi police say most of the hostages are safe and well, but will not comment on any deaths.

Unrest in Karachi, as protesters burned several buildings, including a police station. The demonstrators are upset over the shooting death of a popular cleric, who was known for his anti- American messages. He was killed by unknown gunmen outside his home.

GRIFFIN: It was a night she won't soon forget, the night Captain Kim Campbell took a hit while flying a mission over Baghdad. National correspondent Gary Tuchman follows up on what many call a hero's tale fro Operation Iraqi Freedom.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: During the peak of the air war over Iraq, A-10 pilot Kim Campbell's life hung in balance on a cloudy April night over Baghdad.

(on camera) Do you think you're a hero?

CAPT. KIM CAMPBELL, U.S. AIR FORCE: No, not at all. I think to me, I was doing my job that day. And I'm very lucky to be back home.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Luck had something to do with it. But Air Force colleagues say heroism did, too.

Captain Campbell, also known as Killer Chick, or KC, was hit by Iraqi fire over Baghdad. Her attack jet lost its hydraulic power. CNN was embedded with her squadron at the base on the Iraqi border where she safely landed.

(on camera) Do you think that you were going to be able to make it back or that you'd have to eject from the plane?

CAMPBELL: There was a quick second where I knew it was a possibility. But in my mind I knew I had no desire to eject over Baghdad.

The experts believe that a surface-to-air missile impacted somewhere in this area and then, as it hit, it sent shrapnel from the missile into both the inside of the right tail and also the fuselage here.

TUCHMAN: KC is now back at North Carolina's Pope Air Force base with her new A-10. Home since July, she says she remains a strong supporter of the U.S. role in Iraq.

CAMPBELL: No one said this was going to be easy. And you know, we know it's going to be tough. And we'll be there as long as the mission calls for it.

TUCHMAN: The 28-year-old has received awards and accolades. She makes two to three speeches a month while continuing her training.

CAMPBELL: Our squadron will most likely be deploying later on this year. And I'm more than happy to go back.

TUCHMAN (on camera): Would your family like to see you not fly combat missions any more?

CAMPBELL: They know that I love what I do. And they know that I'm willing to take risks, and this is something that I would be willing to give my life for, because I believe in it.

And you know, my parents aren't going to tell me that I can't do it. Certainly not at age 28, anyway.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Gary Tuchman, CNN, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. (END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: We bring you hero stories every week on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: And great stories they are. Well, they have little food or water or even medicine, but the people of Western Sudan have no shortage of despair. And these are the lucky ones. Christiane Amanpour will take us inside a Sudanese refugee camp in Chad.

GRIFFIN: Also ahead, will terrorist concerns influence your vote in November? Political analyst Ron Brownstein explores the dynamics of Homeland Security as an emerging campaign theme.

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