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CNN Sunday Morning

Teachers Evacuated Too; Operation Iron Fist; Typhoon Longwang Poised to Strike China

Aired October 02, 2005 - 09:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: The U.S. military's new offensive in western Iraq moves on today, from Sa'da to Karbila. About 1,000 American troops in Operation Iron Fist encounter sporadic small-arms fire as they try to root out terrorists coming across the Syrian border.
Otis is downgraded to a tropical storm as it whips up the waves at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The storm is moving slowly northward off the Baja Peninsula.

This morning in Washington, the Army's annual 10 miler road race is missing some soldiers because they're serving in Iraq. Some of the 3rd Infantry Division's wives laced up their running shoes and are in the race this morning.

It is Sunday, October 2nd. Good morning, everyone. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

TONY HARRIS, CNN HOST: Good morning, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Good morning.

HARRIS: Good morning everyone, I'm Tony Harris, thank you for starting your day with us.

And we begin this hour with more on the deadly bombing on the Indonesia resort island of Bali. At least 26 are dead and more than 100 hurt in what Indonesia's president calls terrorism and the work of a suicide bomber. And by chance, one of the explosions was captured on a home video camera. Here's Paul Kadik (ph) from our Australian affiliate, Channel 7 News.

PAUL KADIK, CHANNEL 7 NEWS: An Australian family videoing their holiday. Seconds later their lives and so many others are changed forever.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hurry up!

KADIK: Brothers Andrew and Daniel were thrown into the air and feared the worst.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thought Dan was dead. I just got up.

KADIK: They all made it out alive, but bear the scars.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I looked inside. Just bodies all over the ground.

KADIK: The explosion tore apart the Raja (ph) restaurant in Kuda's busy shopping district and rocked neighboring businesses. Glass shattered, spraying everywhere. A minute later a second bomb exploded at Jimbaran Beach, then another. Mobile phone cameras captured panicked tourists running for their lives. Two seafood restaurants packed with tourists were targeted. All around lay the dead and injured, those who could, were desperate to help.

It is believed suicide bombers set off devices packed with ball bearings and shrapnel designed for maximum carnage. Hospital staff struggled to cope with the wounded, who included young children. Tourists from Australia, the UK, Korea and the United States, as well as local people. Tony Barkas (ph) was among the Australians brought in with horrific burns. Chapelle Corby's sister Mercedes spent all night helping the injured and searching for survivors.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where are they?

KADIK: Hospitals list Australians killed, including 16-year-old Brendan Fitzgerald, from Bussels (ph) in Western Australia.

MARK WARREN, VICTIM'S UNCLE: He was a beautiful boy. And he's 16. He was gentle, caring, loving, intelligent.

KADIK: Jenny Williamson died from horrific injuries. The Newcastle mother and her husband, Bruce, were part of a group of friends who holiday together.

Australian photographer Jason Childs, who lives near Jimbaran Beach, had run to help the Williamsons.

JASON CHILDS, BALI RESIDENT/PHOTOGRAPHER: He couldn't see, he was blinded by the bombing. She had a massive wound to her leg.

KADIK: The bomb sites are now sealed off, with Indonesian forensic police searching for evidence. The finger of blame is already pointing to Jamah Islamiyah, responsible for the 2002 bombings.

HARRIS: The official death toll in the latest Bali bombings is now 22. The Australian home video that you just saw will be further examined by investigators. And, as you just heard, the tape showed a man carrying a backpack into the restaurant moments before the bomb exploded.

WHITFIELD: Authorities are investigating a explosion near the University of Oklahoma football stadium, which killed one person. Police are calling it a possible suicide. The blast could be heard by fans who packed the stadium to watch the Sooners play Kansas State. Police say at no time was anyone in the stadium in danger.

In "News Across America" now: New York police have charged a man with killing his missing girlfriend. Cesar Ascarunez (ph) faces life in prison for allegedly strangling the woman. The body of 26-year-old Monica Lozada-Rivaineira has not been found. Police accuse the man of dumping her body somewhere in Queens. The woman's 4-year-old daughter was found walking alone on city streets. She continues to ask for the mother she says looks like a princess. The girl is in foster care and in good condition. Police are continuing to search for the woman's body. She was last seen at the apartment she shared with Ascarunez (ph) a week ago.

California firefighters believe they may have the massive wildfire near Los Angeles contained by tomorrow night. The blaze began Wednesday near Chatsworth and quickly charred 24,000 acres. Another wildfire near Burbank is spreading. About 60 homeowners have evacuated.

A riverboat casino is the first to reopen in the New Orleans area. The Boomtown New Orleans Casino, across the river from downtown, was evacuated as the storm neared the Gulf Coast.

HARRIS: More than a week removed from the second flooding of New Orleans, the situation is vastly improving. The Army Corps of Engineers now believe they will have the water-logged lower Ninth Ward dried by mid-week. That is not the only sign of progress in the Crescent City. CNN's Chris Lawrence explains. Good morning, Chris.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony. Over the past few weeks we talked a lot about the physical reconstruction of New Orleans. Today is the first step in the city's spiritual rebirth. This is an overwhelmingly Catholic area. Nearly half a million Roman Catholics in the archdiocese of New Orleans, and the building right behind me, the church right behind me is going to be celebrating its first mass since Hurricane Katrina hit this area so hard more than one month ago. The St. Louis Cathedral is just a landmark building here in New Orleans and it sits where we are just outside the French Quarter. An interesting dichotomy. Actually right on the edge of the French Quarter. Bourbon Street is right down the street.

And if you take a look at some of the goings-on in Bourbon Street can give you a false impression of the city. There is a lot of activity on Bourbon Street. At night it is very raucous, a lot of police firefighters and rescue workers are taking advantage and letting off some steam. Some of the bars and restaurants are reopening with limited service. And then you have the church right here. It's been here a long time, just a landmark as a part of New Orleans.

And the man who will be presiding over that service is Archbishop Alfred Hughes. Later on this morning we will be speaking with the archbishop. We'll ask him about some of the contributions that the church has made to the recovery effort, how that's impacted the church's budget and what that can mean in the month and years to come, and also about his seat on this newly formed commission by Mayor Ray Nagin here in New Orleans. This commission is designed to investigate and implement ideas and programs to bring back New Orleans. We'll speak with the archbishop about where he thinks this commission will take the city next -- Tony?

HARRIS: Healing the soul and spirit this morning, I like the sound of that. Chris Lawrence, thank you. And all day on CNN, "Rebuilding the Gulf: Problems, Politics and Paying the Bill." Later this afternoon at 4:00 Eastern, tune in to CNN to take a look at where to begin the rebuilding process. And our e-mail question this morning: after the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, should your tax dollars be used it help rebuild the Gulf Coast region? E-mail us your thoughts -- weekends@cnn.com. We'll read your comments later in the newscast.

WHITFIELD: This morning, Supreme Court justices, judges, lawyers and clerks are all gathering at a church in Washington, D.C., before the new term begins, for a Catholic mass. The Supreme Court's calendar is packed with hot-button issues such as the death penalty and assisted suicide, but who will replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor? Still that question unanswered. CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us from the White House where we expect the president might just reveal who his pick is this week.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fredricka. President Bush is on his way back from Camp David. We expect him to arrive here just a short time from now.

First up on his schedule, you mention the Supreme Court justices are gathering. President Bush himself will head to St. Matthews Cathedral just a few blocks away from the White House. There he will attend the annual Roman Catholic mass that is held every year on the Sunday before the Supreme Court opens its terms. Among those attending, prominent members of the Catholic Church, as well as Supreme Court justices, including the new chief justice, John Roberts.

It was just a few days ago that Roberts was sworn in as the country's 17th chief justice and tomorrow, President Bush will attend another private swearing in ceremony at the Supreme Court for Chief Justice Roberts. That all takes place right before the oral arguments begins and there John Roberts will be joined on the court by retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Now, President Bush still has not named his pick to replace her. She, however, has agreed to continue serving. White House officials are keeping any names very close to the vest. They're essentially in lockdown mode when it comes to talking about who the president might choose to replace Sandra Day O'Connor. The only thing they will say is that the president's list is short and the decision could come as early as tomorrow.

But, certainly, this confirmation battle expected to be more contentious than John Roberts. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right, Elaine Quijano at the White House, thanks so much.

Tonight, "CNN Presents: What's at Stake -- The New Supreme Court." Aaron Brown and Jeffrey Toobin look at the new court's potential impact on our everyday lives of four hot-button cases. That's CNN Presents tonight at 8:00 Eastern right here on CNN.

Following two devastating hurricanes, President Bush has fallen out of favor with many Americans. A new "Newsweek" poll indicates many Americans think the president is a bad leader who doesn't now what's going on around him. The poll shows 61 percent of those questioned are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the U.S. And the majority, 53 percent, disapprove of how the president is handling his job overall -- 40 percent do approve. Tony?

HARRIS: History being made this morning at the Vatican. The largest gathering of bishops ever meet with Pope Benedict XVI. We'll tell you why they're there when we go global, that's up next.

WHITFIELD: Later, a moving song inspired after a monster storm. Meet the singer and producer behind "Unsung Hero," a tribute to the victims of Hurricane Katrina already hitting the airwaves.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Our top stories this morning. Terror in Indonesia. Amateur video shows a quiet restaurant in Bali turned into chaos. Authorities believe suicide bombers carried out several attacks Saturday -- 22 people are dead, including three suicide bombers, more than 100 others wounded.

New Orleans' devastated Ninth Ward neighborhood is nearly dry after Hurricane Rita reflooded the area last weekend. Pumping may be complete by mid-week.

And the winner is: the Evil Empire. The New York Yankees. The Yanks wrapped up their eighth straight American League East title with an 8-4 win over Boston. But the Red Sox are still alive to make the playoffs with one game to play today.

WHITFIELD: I'm going to ask Bonnie -- she's a New Yorker -- what she thinks of you calling her team "the Evil Empire."

HARRIS: At this point, it's a term of endearment. Just win so much. Just the team --

WHITFIELD: I'm not hearing it in your voice.

HARRIS: We'll check in with Bonnie.

WHITFIELD: All right.

Time now to check out some other stories making news around the world. Pope Benedict XVI is hosting his first major Vatican event since being elected.

HARRIS: And for the details on that and the other top world stories, let's hand it over now to Anand Naidoo at the CNN International desk. Good morning.

ANAND NAIDOO, CNN INTERNATIONAL: Hey, thanks and good morning for me. I'm glad I'm not in that fight. A huge gathering in Vatican City. The pope has opened a three-week meeting of the world's bishops. More than 250 bishops, cardinals head of religious orders from 118 countries will take part. A host of issues will be discussed and they include whether communion should be given to Catholic politicians who back abortion rights and to divorced Catholics who remarry without getting their marriage annulled. Several delegates expect a session on celibacy for priests.

Now to the Middle East, Israel says it will suspend its offensive into Gaza. That's after Palestinian militants stopped some of their rocket fire into Israel. There've been no missile attacks into Israel since Tuesday, but Israel has warned it will continue its offensive if the militant acts resume. The recent violence came just weeks after Israel pulled out of Gaza after 38 years of occupation. The fighting erupted after an explosion at a Hamas rally killed 21 people a week ago. Hamas blamed Israel for the blast and then fired several dozen rockets into southern Israeli towns.

Now, moving on to Germany. Still a political stalemate there. Two weeks after the elections showed no clear winner, the horse trading continues. Some movement today. A late election is being held in the city of Dresden and analysts say the outcome there may tip the balance one way or the other. Both Gerhard Schroeder and his challenger, Angela Merckel, want a grand coalition which would involve both of their coalitions. But they can't seem to agree on who will be chancellor.

In Afghanistan, renewed clashes with militants near the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar left one U.S. soldier and an Afghan troop dead, another U.S. soldier and two Afghan service members were wounded. Officials say militants attacked with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. The fighting intensified before and after the September 18 parliamentary and provincial elections.

That's it for me -- Fredricka, Tony?

WHITFIELD: Thanks, Anand.

HARRIS: We have tropical storms, tropical depressions. Stan, Otis. Longwang. We also have Bonnie Schneider to clear it all up. She has your weather coming up in just minutes.

WHITFIELD: Lots of factors there.

Plus, many of the schools are closed, but teachers from the Gulf Coast still need to work. How some are getting back to the classroom when CNN SUNDAY MORNING returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Extraordinary images.

HARRIS: It's been rough Atlantic hurricane season.

WHITFIELD: It really has been. The difficult thing about images like that -- it's hard to discern whether it's Rita, Katrina, you have a typhoon encroaching on some areas in the Orient, heading towards China. Bonnie, these images do look very similar because you're talking about intense winds, rain and storm surges.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely. We talked about the categories of hurricanes here, and on that side of the world it's typhoons, but they're just as strong, and often stronger, in the Asian area into the Pacific because the Pacific Ocean is larger, the water temperature can be warmer -- more latent heat. So the storms here, the typhoons can develop monstrous in size.

Now, the Typhoon Longwang came in as what we would call a Category 3 as it hit Taiwan yesterday. As it moves across the mountainous region we'll see it weaken a bit when it makes land fall a second time, and that will be in China. Still, a powerful storm with strong winds. Wind gusts up to 125 miles per hour. That is a powerful typhoon indeed. Not to say we don't have our own troubles in the tropics, but that's hitting the area right now.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Nice temperatures all over, really. Thank you, Bonnie.

We continue our day-long look at rebuilding the Gulf Coast region following the two devastating hurricanes. Part of that rebuilding includes reopening schools, but that won't happen for months in some places. So, thousands of educators are now scattered across the country taking new jobs until they can go back home. Kathleen Koch has their story.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Toppled desks, missing walls, soaked books. Sad scenes that have left thousands of Gulf Coast teachers with nowhere to work. Hilda Thomas has taken a job in Maryland as English teacher/coordinator at Oxon Hill High School. She doesn't know what happened to the New Orleans junior high school where she was principal or where her teachers are.

HILDA THOMAS, DISPLACED TEACHER: I find myself each afternoon when I go home having to check the voice mail system and see if a call has come in to say, Ms. Thomas, I'm here and I'm okay.

KOCH: Four hundred eighty-nine Louisiana schools remain closed, 226 in Mississippi.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The force of the water coming in and then rushing right back out.

KOCH (on camera): Open classroom.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Definitely.

KOCH (voice-over): Unlike in New Orleans, Mississippi teachers are still getting paid, so more of them are staying in the area, anxious to begin the cleanup process.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Their first thought is, I must save all those supplies I worked for. But we have just really discouraged them from coming back.

KOCH: That because many schools in both states are still not safe to return to.

AD ANNOUNCER: Every dollar you donate goes directly for food, shelter and clothing --

KOCH: Teachers unions are running ads and raising money for those impacted. They praise school systems nationwide for hiring teachers who may have gone out with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing.

REG WEAVER, PRESIDENT, NEA: Many states have relaxed or waived some of the requirements and have taken these people in. So, I believe that that is the humane thing to do and we, you know, we always need teachers. We always need teachers.

KOCH: Hilda Thomas is grateful for the support and outpouring of help she's gotten in Maryland. She's staying there, for now.

THOMAS: I will be here this school year. At the end of this school year, I don't -- I'm not sure in terms of the future. It all depends upon how things are in New Orleans.

KOCH: Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.

HARRIS: It's hard to believe but two and a half years into the war U.S. troops still battle Iraqi insurgents. CNN is embedded with troops as they go into day two of Operation Iron Fist with dramatic pictures, next.

WHITFIELD: Plus, first there was the West Wing, now there's the E-Ring. A new television drama gives viewers an unprecedented look at life inside the Pentagon. CNN has your exclusive access.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Indonesia's president is tightening security across the country as he called yesterday's string of bombings in Bali an act of terrorism. The U.S. embassy in Jakarta is warning Americans to be vigilant. At least 22 people are dead, including three bombers and 132 more injured after a string of bombs exploded in popular tourist areas of the island.

A massive wildfire northwest of Los Angeles could be fully contained by Monday. The Chatsworth Topanga fire burned 24,000 acres since it ignited Wednesday. Right now Los Angeles County fire officials say the blaze is 40 percent contained and another smaller fire near Burbank burns, as well. It is roughly 15 percent contained.

And tropical storm Stan, the 18th named storm of the season has made landfall. The storm hit Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula earlier this morning with 45-mile-an-hour winds, five to 10 inches of rain is expected. Stan should weaken into a tropical depression over land but could regrow in strength when it reenters the warm gulf waters. Keeping you in remember foed, CNN the most trusted name in news.

WHITFIELD: The U.S. military's operation "Iron Fist" is moving on to a second location. The latest initiative to take out the insurgency in western Iraq started yesterday in the Sa'da Province. CNN's Jennifer Eccleston is embedded would the Marines and joins us now from Karbala with the very latest on that. And Jennifer, what kind of activity is taking place right now?

JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: I don't know if you're able to hear it, but a significant amount of gunfire going on behind me. We've been facing that throughout the day. Of course, this is, as you mentioned, the second phase in the Marine push to root out the terrorists along the Euphrates River Valley and they moved today to a town just of Karbala, which is just west -- there, you can hear another explosion -- just west of where we were yesterday in Sudan.

Now, they're trying to secure the eastern section of the city and as you can see it's becoming quite a significant fight but the advance into town was slower than they expected and that's because they've been taken so much or the small arms fire and number of rocket- propelled grenade attacks, too, for the last nine hours. And such a challenge to pursue the insurgents by foot. And, again, you can hear behind me an incredible amount of activity. But the challenge to secure these areas by foot has been so great that they needed to call an air support and also tank support and just today they dropped six 500-pound bombs on five different buildings in this town which are believed to be used -- there you go, that's some mortar fire behind me. But these safe houses are believed to have been used by the insurgents who have been firing on the Marines and that Abrams tank round that was fired, if you hear the large blasts behind me, apart from the sporadic fire, right now which is machine guns, when you hear the large bangs, subsequent bangs, that normally is -- are tank rounds coming from the Abrams tanks and this morning they used one to fire into a building where they also suspected that insurgents were launching attacks on them and as a result, seven civilians were killed -- were wounded rather, beg your pardon, six were evacuated for further treatment and among them was a baby girl.

But, as was the case yesterday in Sa'da, There's been a significant number of mines also today and IED improvised explosive devices that have been laid out in Carabola's (PH) main street. They, by and large, have been detonated by the Marines, they didn't go off on their own, but this really just presents a significant challenge in this part of Iraq and western province where it is believed that there is a significant insurgent stronghold and this push, this operation today, and yesterday's, as well, is an effort to either engage them, either to kill them, or to push them out of this region so there can be some sense of stability for the people who live in this area -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Jennifer, is it believed the majority of these insurgents are foreigners? Those who have crossed fraumthe border or are Iraqi insurgents?

ECCLESTON: By and large, the majority of them are Iraqi insurgents. There are -- however, there are a significant number of fighters who come from outside Iraq, foreign fighters and we're only just about, I would say, 10 miles from the Syrian border, which is why you do see a large concentration of foreign fighters in this area because it is the main transit route from Syria into western Iraq to the major population centers, first and foremost, Baghdad. So, this area has been a hotbed of insurgent activity for the last eight months. Marines, not the company I'm with today, previous deployment were fighting in this very same city. The insurgents, there were many, many operations launched from this part of Iraq, but the issue at that that time was that the Marines would come in, they'd clear a city, and then there was another city to go to, so they moved on. And two weeks later, or several weeks later, the insurgency will move back in. Now, we're having a similar scenario here, where we're fighting city-by-city, but the difference here is that there has an increase in troop levels from -- on behalf of the U.S. forces and also on the Iraqi forces, so what's hoped at this stage is as they clear through these cities, as stabilize these cities, eventually in the near future, there will be a stabilizing force put into place in order to further secure and keep the city safe so these insurgents won't come back. Initially, though, they will be Americans, but soon after that they will be, those positions will be filled by the Iraqi army -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jennifer Eccleston, thank you so much with for that report embedded with the Marines, there.

And now this live picture taking place in Dupont Circle in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., outside Cathedral Saint Matthews which is when the Red Mass is to take place momentarily.

HARRIS: That's right Fred, the 52nd annual Red Mass to be held, as you mentioned, right there at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew. Just a few moments ago Justice Scalia, Antonin Scalia, entered the church. Chief Justice John Roberts. There he is. Justice Scalia, just moments ago entering the cathedral and we understand chief justice of the United States, John Roberts, is also on hand, as well. Fred, did you see Clarence Thomas?

WHITFIELD: Not yet.

HARRIS: Not yet?

WHITFIELD: Haven't seen him yet.

HARRIS: OK.

WHITFIELD: But, apparently, he is inside.

With his wife and nephew.

WHITFIELD: But I didn't get a chance to see that video of him, but, you know, traditionally, this Red Mass takes place just before the start of the supreme court going back into session and the idea is that these justices would get guidance from the holy spirit in which to conduct the profession of law and now we're seeing some more vehicles to pull up. The president is expected, according to our reporter Elaine Quijano, who reported a bit earlier, he is expected to attend this mass, as well.

HARRIS: OK, OK.

WHITFIELD: And this is a historic location, this Cathedral of Saint Matthew.

HARRIS: So, Supreme Court justices, cabinet members.

WHITFIELD: And there's Justice Kennedy.

HARRIS: That's right. Cabinet officers, members of the local judiciary, as well.

WHITFIELD: That's right. And this is a church that not only has its historical reference to always conducting this Red Mass, but this was the church where the funeral mass took place for President John F. Kennedy. This is also a church where Pope John Paul II visited and celebrated mass in the late '70s. And this is a place, right in the center of town just a few blocks away from the White House that is used to seeing a lot of dignitaries and heads of state.

HARRIS: The 52nd annual Red Mass to begin in just moments at the top of the hour.

Moving on now, take a former special force's officer with Pentagon experience, add a Hollywood script, and executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer and what do you get? The answer is NBC's new show "E-Ring." Carol Lin introduces us now to one of the main man behind it who you may have seen as a military intelligence analyst right here on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEN ROBINSON, CNN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Yeah, there's a specific protocol for all the flags.

CAROL LIN, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Recreating an exact replica of the Pentagon is no easy task, but that's just what CNN's military intelligence analyst and 24-year military veteran Ken Robinson has helped Jerry Bruckheimer do this fall.

(on camera): This project's very personal to you, why?

ROBINSON: Well, I lived the life. I worked in the Pentagon for many years. I worked in the joint chief of staff, I worked in the office of secretary of dedefense and for two decades I was a soldier myself and for the last five years traveling in war zones I've been in Afghanistan and Iraq and this is a time of great concern for the nation because it's curious. It wants to know how this stuff works.

LIN (voice-over): Ken calls it making the sausage. Explaining to viewers, on a weekly basis, how decisions are made within the Pentagon's highest halls of power. In fact, the show takes its name from the coredore in the build building that houses the secretary of defense known as the "E-Ring." Explaining what actually goes on within those walls is part of the attraction for the show's stars including Benjamin Bratt and Dennis Hopper.

DENNIS HOPPER, ACTOR: To me the great mystery is the Pentagon, I mean, 28,000 people work in the Pentagon and, very honestly, there's very few of us in America that really knows what happens there. LIN: But Robinson knows a lot. His 20 years in the armed services included assignments with the rangers, Special Forces, and clandestine special operations units. He was also an intelligence officer in the office of the secretary of defense at the Pentagon.

ROBINSON: Ben knows what to do.

LIN: Ken's experience is the inspiration for Benjamin Bratt's character.

BENJAMIN BRATT, ACTOR: That's what I really responded to in talking to Ken before I decided to take this job is that, here is someone who not only was completely authentic in terms of what he was talking about, first-hand knowledge on a global scale of what we're dealing with here.

LIN: Whether shooting location scenes in the desert...

ROBINSON: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) shoot three rounds, but delivered in semi-automatic mode, boom, boom, boom.

LIN: Or onset in los Angeles, Robinson says the devil is in details.

ROBINSON: We want to make sure that the sets are dressed, that the background characters who are there and foreground principal actors are properly seated, properly blocked in a way that's consistent with how those characters would actually be interacting with each other in the Pentagon. We want to be as technically correct as possible.

LIN: So, how does the former Pentagon feel about a former insider's kiss and tell in Hollywood? Robinson said his former colleagues have wished him well. Some have even visited the set, but he swears that there is no formal cooperation.

ROBINSON: So, I think they take a wait and see attitude. They're look as will the American people and decide whether it's right for them.

LIN: Carol Lin, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, coming up next, his words capture the heartache of a hurricane. Meet the voice and meet one of the creators behind "Unsung Hero" a song dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. We're back right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The devastation from Hurricane Katrina has served has served as an inspiration to artists everywhere. Poems have been written, the pictures have been breathtaking and books are in the works. And this morning, we share a song written by two Florida men. It's called "Unsung Hero," here's a sample of the music put to video of Katrina's devastation.

(MUSIC)

WHITFIELD: And joining me now from Miami are the two people responsible for this inspirational song, 19-year-old Jean-Carlos Casely wrote the words and he's the singer. Also joining us is 20- year-old Jason Farmer who produced the number and wrote the music.

You guys, that is nice and very catchy.

JASON FARMER, PRODUCER, SONGWRITER: Thank you.

JEAN-CARLOS CASELY, SINGER, SONGWRITER: Thank you very much.

WHITFIELD: So, Jason, tell me about the inspiration because part of the inspiration came from a recent visit to Louisiana. You guys had already been talking about putting together a piece like this and then you were captured and really taken away by some of your experiences in Louisiana, right?

FARMER: Yes, yes indeed. First it came from -- my manager called me and said she wanted to do something for the Hurricane Katrina victims and she gave me the title "Unsung Heroes" and I was listening to "No Woman, No Cry" from Bob Marley and at the same time watching the same images that everybody else was watching from CNN and various news stations and from then it just sparked. But my visit to Louisiana really opened up my eyes further to what the people are actually experiencing from, you know, having to sleep on the floor in a club when we reached there and you know, and actually getting a chance to speak to some of the evacuees themselves and, you know, them explaining their stories on, you know, how they lost their homes and how they have to swim out of their homes and some missing their family members, it really touched me.

WHITFIELD: And so Casely, you all made a decision, even though the words are very profound and they're very deep, touching messages of personal experience, of tragedy, you've given it an upbeat kind of sound with the music. How did you make that decision?

CASELY: Well, it was just natural. I think what Jason wanted to do was to have a contract, You know, kind of a bad side and good side to make a nice balance. Like in the intro of the actual song you hear actual reports of the devastation and while it's taking place while underneath that the music is more soothing, you know, and I really wanted to make the song an uplifting song with a chorus that's saying that we will overcome all these obstacles we've been faced with, you know?

And Casely, as the primary songwriter here, let's delve a little deeper into some of your lairics. "If I had a genie in my life, I'd wish away the pain, for every man in this world, who lost his house today, for every woman holding on that can't get through the day, so now you got to start from zero, and you're an unsung hero."

CASELY: Right.

WHITFIELD: What was the inspiration?

CASELY: Just everything that happened. I had been watching the news for a few weeks so I had already had this emotion built up inside and when Jason gave me the music to the actual song, the words just started flowing out. You know, I thought about all these stories that I've heard, all the news clippings that I've seen and it really wasn't a difficult thing to do, honestly, because there was so much material that I could draw from.

WHITFIELD: So, Jason, the music came first?

FARMER: Yes, ma'am. The music did come first.

WHITFIELD: How did you do that? Did you have this kind of project in mind or you were kind of tinkering around with some music and thought, hmm, what timing now? Maybe put this -- pair this with the lairics that Casely came up with.

FARMER: Well, I -- you know, everything started really just from really seeing everything going on the news. And I wanted to do something different and I don't know, it just came out. It just came out. You know, I didn't hold back anything and everything just flowed out.

WHITFIELD: Now, let's talk about the air time. You're getting a little bit of air time there, in Miami, in particular. What are your hopes to get this music out to inspire people in any way that they can to help out so many people devastated by these hurricanes.

FARMER: You know, we would eventually you know, like to do a tour, you know, to the areas, you know, Louisiana, Texas and actually perform the song for the people because that's who the song is really for. It's for the people. You know, this is what it's all about. You know it's for those that, you know, are unsung heroes.

CASELY: Right.

WHITFIELD: And Casely, it's every artist's dream, particularly a songwriter's dream to get their music out there. Tell me what it felt like the first time you heard it on the radio and said, wait a minute, we did this.

CASELY: Yeah, it's really surreal. It's really unbelievable. Like you just -- your face just -- you know, you just start miling like, wow, you know, I'm having an effect. Like this can -- this can actually go to such a big level and reach out to so many people and just the thought of that is overwhelming.

WHITFIELD: Jean-Carlos Casely, your friends call you Casely, so that's why I decided to, too. Jason Farmer, thanks so much gentlemen.

CASELY: Thank you.

FARMER: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: It's a beautiful song. CASELY: Thank.

WHITFIELD: Good luck to you both.

FARMER: Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

CASELY: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well, all day on CNN we're focusing on rebuilding the gulf, "Problems, Politics and Paying the Bill." Later this afternoon at 4:00 Eastern tune in to CNN for a look at where to begin the rebuilding process -- Tony.

HARRIS: And your responses to our e-mail question on how the fund the rebuilding of New Orleans is next. Plus, pictures from the devastated Gulf Coast, put to the music of "Unsung Hero."

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HARRIS: OK, all morning long we've been asking for your thoughts on our e-mail question. Should your tax dollars be used to help rebuild the Gulf Coast region? A lots of great e-mails, a lot of great thoughts this morning. How about this from Barbara who writes: "As taxpayers should we should not be forced to pay for lavish homes along the hurricane areas. The people building there must have enough common sense not to build in hurricane areas. We can't afford homes like that for ourselves and should not be paying others who don't have enough sense to build in safe areas." Thank you Barbara.

WHITFIELD: And Jean writes, "With all the money that has been donated and already promised by FEMA, I believe the government is already using taxpayer dollars to rebuild those areas hit by Katrina and Rita."

HARRIS: And this is from -- who is this from?

WHITFIELD: Kenneth.

HARRIS: This if from Kenneth from Kansas city. "We have a duty as a nation to rebuild the Gulf Coast. Haven't we rebuilt war-torn countries after we bombed them back to the stone age? Aren't we in Iraq helping them rebuild their society? We owe it to ourselves to be at least as good to our own citizens." Kenneth thank you, thank you all for your e-mails this morning.

WHITFIELD: I love hearing all these very frank thoughts.

HARRIS: Oh yeah.

WHITFIELD: No matter which way you want to look at it, people are very open about their point of view.

HARRIS: The e-mail box...

WHITFIELD: Yeah.

HARRIS: Full this morning with folks responding to this question.

WHITFIELD: I'm not surprised.

HARRIS: Thank you very much. And next on "On the Story" some Louisiana evacuees are choosing to stay away forever. How will that affect the state as a whole?

WHITFIELD: Plus, what's next for the Superdome in Louisiana, New Orleans? We'll leave you now with the lairics to "Unsung Hero" put to the images from Hurricane Katrina.

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