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CNN Sunday Morning
U.S. Troops Continue Search for Two Soldiers Missing in Iraq
Aired June 18, 2006 - 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: Now in the news, we do have new details this morning about two U.S. soldiers missing in Iraq. Police tell CNN masked gunmen abducted those soldiers. They've been missing since an attack on a checkpoint near Yusufiya on Friday night.
Now, U.S. troops continue to scour the region. A military official says one vehicle was found abandoned with blood in the back. We have a live report from Iraq in a few minutes.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Also, this important story coming from the region. U.S. and Iraqi forces surround an insurgent hotspot in Iraq. The military says troops have secured a key suburb of Ramadi. This is in an effort to try and choke off the insurgents, to try to keep them from getting into Baghdad.
Our Nic Robertson is embedded with those U.S. forces that are spearheading this mission, and we should tell you that we're going to be talking to him in just a couple of minutes.
NGUYEN: Plus, a new book says al Qaeda planned a poison gas attack on the New York subway system back in 2003. That is according to "TIME Magazine," based on excerpts from the book by Journalist Ron Suskind. Now, "TIME" says al Qaeda called off the attack just before it could be carried out. Two former U.S. officials confirm some of the details of this plot for CNN.
SANCHEZ: There has been a touchdown of sorts in Kansas. Now, this is not football we're talking about. Reports of damage from this tornado in southeastern Kansas, coming in throughout the day yesterday. Trees were snapped off like matchsticks by severe storms that moved through Texas. Parts of the state were also hit with 60 mile-per-hour winds and some golf ball-sized hail as well.
NGUYEN: Well, check your watches. T minus 13 days and counting for the shuttle "Discovery." Now, if all goes as planned, "Discovery" will lift off from Kennedy Space Center July 1st. Some NASA managers, though, object. They want more modifications to the shuttle's external fuel tank. Problems with foam insulation have been major setbacks for the shuttle program since the "Columbia" disaster.
SANCHEZ: If you're a dad, this is your day, and one of the events that takes place annually. In fact, you're looking at a live picture right now. We call it Roses and Remembrances. Live pictures from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. More than 1,000 roses are going to be placed there today, and it's all part of this Father's Day ceremony for veterans as well. And of course, those who gave their lives for our country. We're going to bring you pictures from the ceremony throughout the morning.
You are watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
NGUYEN: From the CNN Center right here in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING, 7:00 a.m., here in Atlanta; 3:00 p.m. in Baghdad. Good morning on this Father's Day.
I'm Betty Nguyen. Hey, look who's with us, Rick Sanchez -- Happy Father's Day to you!
SANCHEZ: Thanks. I've got four of those little ones. When I left it was too early this morning for me to be able to get their kiss and hugs yet.
NGUYEN: Oh, you'll get them, you'll get them.
SANCHEZ: I'll get them maybe after the show.
I'm Rick Sanchez in for Tony Harris. Thanks so much for being with us this morning.
NGUYEN: We do have new developments involving those two missing U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Iraqi police tell CNN masked gunmen captured the soldiers. They've been missing since Friday after they came under attack at a traffic checkpoint in Yusufiya, which is just west of Baghdad.
CNN's Cal Perry joins us from Baghdad with the latest on this.
What do you know, Cal?
CAL PERRY, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU DIRECTOR: Well, good morning, Betty. What we know at this point is that on Friday night at about 8:00 p.m., a coalition checkpoint came under what the military classifies as a complex attack. That is to say, nearby soldiers reported hearing small arms fire, followed by a series of explosions.
They called for a quick reaction force, which arrived at the scene in less than 15 minutes. When they got to that scene, they found one U.S. soldier dead, two others simply missing.
We've heard from General Caldwell yesterday. He said a massive search operation is under way. In fact, more than four missions were conducted yesterday to find these soldiers. They have blocked off all nearby roads. They are searching via air, via ground, and in the water.
This is an area of the country that is built on a series of canals. That is why we are hearing the military has put dive teams into that nearby water -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Yesterday, about this time, there was some concern about this faulty bridge, and maybe they had fallen into the canal and there was a massive search in the canal. Now, is it understood at this point that these soldiers were indeed kidnapped? PERRY: Well, we're hearing a variety of reports filtering into CNN. We heard from witnesses reporting that it's possible that four or five gunmen abducted these two soldiers, put them in vehicles, and drove off.
We've also heard from Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr, quoting a U.S. official as saying a nearby vehicle was found with blood in the back and boot prints leading from that vehicle, boot prints that would seem to match those of U.S. soldiers.
General Caldwell did say in the briefing yesterday that the U.S. military will never stop looking for any of its U.S. soldiers until their status can be determined definitively -- Betty.
NGUYEN: We'll be watching. Cal Perry, thank you for that -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: You get a sense in that story of what the insurgents may have done. Now we're going to try and give you a sense of what the U.S. forces are trying to do to keep other insurgents from getting into the area of Baghdad.
U.S. and Iraqi forces have launched a new operation in Iraq, and this one is against militants in the Sunni Arab city of Ramadi. This is just west of Baghdad.
CNN's Nic Robertson is embedded with the army's First Armored Division, which is spearheading this mission. He's good enough to join us now from the southern outskirts of Ramadi.
Fill us in, if you would, Nic, on how this operation is going.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Well, the operation is going very well so far, Rick. What happened overnight, an operation involving several hundreds of troops, several battalions, including an Iraqi army tank battalion, moved across a strategic bridge into the southern side of Ramadi.
This, according to commanders, now isolates Ramadi, tactically controls all the roads in and out of the city of Ramadi. There are areas, small pockets in the city of Ramadi that the insurgents have held sway in, that U.S. troops and Iraqi troops do not generally go into. This is one of those areas, this area that the troops pushed into last night is one of those areas. What they plan to do is establish an Iraqi army base in this area, support the Iraqi army until it can stand on its own.
But what U.S. commanders say they have done, is now fully encircle the city so insurgents can no longer get in and out of the city, re-supply themselves. And they plan to continue operations here to defeat those pockets of insurgents that until now they haven't really been able to get to -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: Are they also driving out, though, in the process, Nic, and could this become a problem if they start to drive out the residents of that city? In other words, the folks who perhaps are not insurgents, and then there might be a bit of almost a refugee problem from that region?
ROBERTSON: There's about 400,000 people who live in the city of Ramadi, and we have had reports and the U.S. military confirmed these reports, of between several dozen and several hundreds of families leaving the city.
They say it is not a mass exodus, but what they found here in this particular suburb, an area of about 80 or 100 homes, they found about half of the homes to be empty. They say that they believe that the families had fled, and they say this correlates with those reports that they had heard that families are fleeing.
So what they've discovered this morning correlates with some people leaving the city, but they say the numbers of people leaving are small. They stress that this is a small operation, nothing like a massive operation in the nearby city of Fallujah to drive out insurgents a year and a half ago. This, they say is different. What they want to do is encourage those people to come back -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: I also heard there was an IED explosion. How close were you to that explosion and what can you tell us about the injuries to the soldiers, Nic?
ROBERTSON: There were two explosions, Rick. We could hear one explosion, saw some smoke rising. Not clear if that was one of those involving the U.S. troops. There have been several explosions through the night.
What we know is that a fuel truck that was re-supplying this operation took a wrong turn in Ramadi. Two soldiers -- that vehicle struck an IED. Two soldiers injured. We're told today they're OK. One Abrams tank also struck an IED. A soldier there, his leg was broken, he's receiving medical treatment at the time -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: International Correspondent Nic Robertson following that story. Stay safe, if you could, Nic, and we'll be certainly checking in with you from time to time.
We also have this program note for you. White House Press Secretary Tony Snow is going to weigh in on Iraq and the war on terror. That's coming up beginning at 11:00 Eastern on CNN's "Late Edition" with Wolf Blitzer. And then at 1:00 p.m., Eastern, CNN's John Roberts hosts, "Iraq: A Week at War." CNN's team of correspondents around the world bring you an only in-depth look at some of the major events in the war on terror -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Now, we want to get you to an alleged terrorist plot on New York's subway system. A published report says al Qaeda planned to attack New York City subways with hydrogen cyanide gas in 2003, using a small concealed delivery system. But the attack was reportedly called off by Osama bin Laden's number two man. That is according to an online report from "TIME Magazine," based on excerpts from a new book, "The One Percent Doctrine," by Journalist and Author Ron Suskind.
Suskind writes, "There would be several placed in subway cars and other strategic locations and activated remotely. This was well past conception and early planning. The group was operational. They were 45 days from zero hour."
Some of the details of the plot were confirmed to CNN by two former U.S. officials, with knowledge of the terrorist plan. They disagreed, though, with Suskind that the terrorists came within 45 days of the attack. They say the proposed timing was not that precise.
SANCHEZ: Stories across America this morning. Well, A show of support in New York City for the health needs of emergency workers who responded to the World Trade Center attacks. About 200 people attended the rally, calling for President Bush to meet with several responders. At issue, monitoring the medical conditions of those exposed to deadly toxins released when the towers collapsed.
Well, something went wrong on Oregon's highest mountain Saturday. Climbers near the top of Mount Hood started falling backward, hitting other climbers that were below them. Two climbers had to be air- lifted to a Portland hospital. Both, we understand, with head injuries and back injuries.
And now in Utah, a plane there arrives just in time for Father's Day. More than 100 Utah soldiers stepped out to waiting arms of family and friends Saturday. The soldiers arrived home after spending more than a year in Iraq. And we say happy Father's Day to all the soldier dads. In fact, all the dads.
And that brings us to our email question of the day. What is your fondest Father's Day memory? We want to share those with you and hear what you have to say so we can share it with the rest of our viewers. We're going to read your comments right here throughout the morning.
NGUYEN: I'm really looking forward to that. Those are going to be some great stories, some feel good stories on this special day. A special day for you, too, Rick. I'm sure you'll have a few of your own.
Well, it is called -- get this -- the "Flying Assassin," hunting Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. But this predator that you're looking at is drawing fire from some critics.
Plus...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Do you like learning English in this class?
STUDENTS: Yes.
SANCHEZ: Yes? Only in English? Do you like learning in English only?
STUDENTS: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: This is a passionate controversy that's been taking place really since really 1998, when they passed the proposition there in California. English or else. A zero tolerance law for schools there with kids who don't know the language. But some say the solution may be a problem. CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues in just a moment.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi I'm Aaron Bradenbahr (ph). I'm deployed in Elisad (ph), Iraq. Just shouting out to my father and my grandfather for a happy Father's Day. Hope you guys are having fun and missing me lots. And I'll see you when I get home. Love you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Private Matt Tong (ph), here in Baghdad, Iraq. I'd like to wish my father in Davis, Michigan, a happy Father's Day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, my name is First Class Ronald Hobbs (ph). I'm at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. I'd like to say hi to Ronald Carter, back in Detroit, Michigan. Happy Father's Day. You have to stay safe. God bless you all.
(SINGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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NGUYEN: Want to take you live now to Washington, D.C. These are really some poignant moments today. Not only is it always, when you're standing there at the wall. If you've never been there, it's quite a sight, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. But today, 1,000 roses are going to be placed there in honor of all those who have given their lives for this nation. And many of them fathers. Some 58,000 casualties in that war, and today is a day of remembrance. We'll keep taking you there live to show you just really some special moments on this Father's Day.
SANCHEZ: Let's talk about a debate now. This is a debate that's been taking place really all around the country, but especially in California. It's about education and language, one of the many hot issues in our soaring immigrant population.
A Senate bill would try and declare that English should be the national language, but not necessarily the country's official language. The problem is, when it comes to schools, pragmatically, how do you get non-English speakers to rapidly learn English in their classrooms while also learning all the other subjects? Well, you may have seen this report. I put it together earlier this week. It aired on "ANDERSON COOPER 360." Here it is.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SANCHEZ (voice over): They're called English learners, students who arrive in a school system speaking only their native language. And nowhere in the country are there more of them than in California. Fully, one-third of the nation's English learners now live here.
The cost and complications in trying to educate these students is so emotionally charged that in 1998, California passed a law that all but outlawed bilingual education.
Bilingual education means schools have to hire teachers to teach in many languages. Spanish teacher for Spanish students. Chinese teacher for Chinese students, costing taxpayers millions.
Also English learners are separated, a sort of school within a school, one for them and one for students who speak English.
The cost of educating these 1.7 million students with special needs in California was enormous. So what's the alternative? Many point to so-called immersion, which is more of a sink or swim, really.
Purists of this system want no special teachers, no special classes. English only, regardless of a child's language. But under this system, studies show many English learners become confused and drop out.
STEVEN KENNEDY, PRINCIPAL, MENIFEE ELEMENTARY: I've had experience with total immersion, also with a bilingual program in my past life.
SANCHEZ (on camera): Steven Kennedy is the principal here at Menifee Elementary. Half his students are English learners and live below the poverty level. He has found that neither bilingual, nor immersion really works.
Your program is not immersion and it's not bilingual education?
KENNEDY: Absolutely.
SANCHEZ: It's something in the middle.
KENNEDY: It is right smack dab in the middle and it's all about kids.
SANCHEZ (voice-over): One of his students is Monsora Gonzalez (ph). Speaks no English. In fact, arrived in the U.S. just five days ago. She's being immersed because her teachers only talk to her and her classmates in English.
SANCHEZ (on camera): Do you like learning English in this class?
STUDENTS: Yes.
SANCHEZ: Yes? Only in English? You like learning in English only?
STUDENTS: Yes. SANCHEZ (voice-over): Although they're being immersed in English, the students are taught in a setting similar to the bilingual model. For two hours a day, they meet here in the Mrs. Sanchez's class with other students who are also English learners, for a full year. Their parents seem delighted.
MARIA HERNANDEZ, PARENT: It not only help the kids, it helps the parents too.
SANCHEZ: That's because there's even a weekly session for newly arrived parents. But it's the school's administrators who are really delighted. They've seen costs go down and test scores go up -- way up. Menifee Elementary is now beating the state academic average by more than 50 points. And it's not just for Hispanic students.
Kate O'Neil came from Russia less than a year ago, speaking not a word of English. Listen to her now.
KATE O'NEIL, STUDENT: Yes, well, I'm trying to learn as fast as I can. I really like speaking English. It's fun.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ (on camera): Interestingly enough, Kate's story is reminiscent of another student who arrived in the U.S. speaking absolutely no English. Because there were no special programs at the time, he was immersed, you might say, by being placed in regular classes. But because he became so confused, he was held back and given time, evidently, to learn English. He did OK. This young immigrant student went on to become an honor student, even won a journalism scholarship. And I share that story with you because, you know, being in Menifee, it made me think of my own past. That student I just described is me.
NGUYEN: Is you. You know, I think I have a similar story, but in the opposite direction. You know, when we came to the United States, I was so young. It was important that I learn English, and English only. So English has been the only language that I truly, truly know. I do know Vietnamese, but I'm not as fluent as I would love to be.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
NGUYEN: So it's almost like in the younger generations, you speak English and English only. And at the same point, you kind of lose a sense of your culture, your language.
SANCHEZ: Yes, but did you speak at Vietnamese at home with your mom?
NGUYEN: Just a little bit. Because we had to become American and learn English.
SANCHEZ: See, my parents do not speak a lick of English to this day.
NGUYEN: Really?
SANCHEZ: So I can't talk to them unless I'm speaking Spanish. So you grow up -- because they were concerned -- it wasn't about them, it was about us learning English.
NGUYEN: Right. Well, you know, it's different in any family, but at the same time, therein lies the debate. How do you teach these children in schools?
SANCHEZ: And that's what they're tussling with now. And I think in the end, as you saw in this piece, it may be something in the middle that works the best.
NGUYEN: Right. Sometimes that's the way it has to work.
SANCHEZ: Where as often where you find the truth.
NGUYEN: True, true.
OK, well, they fly top secret missions -- this is fascinating story as well -- searching for Osama bin Laden and insurgents. We're going to take you inside for a bird's eye view of the Predator.
SANCHEZ: Also, she had an unusual childhood, but Ruth Graham took her dad's message of love and humility to heart. Coming up, lessons from her father, in our "Faces of Faith." Stay with CNN, the most trusted name in news.
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NGUYEN: OK, check this out. Yes, there's no sign of Dorothy or Toto, but you can clearly see this tornado that touched down in southeast Kansas. It was one of several twisters spotted in the state yesterday. Here's the good news -- no reports of damage.
But that was not the case in Texas. Strong storms ripped across that state, snapping off trees and causing wind damage. Some areas were hit with golf ball size hail. My goodness.
But you know, it is kind of that time of year for this to happen. It's starting to get really warm outside...
SANCHEZ: Oh, absolutely.
NGUYEN: ...and you get the cool air and the warm air. I'm no meteorologist, but hey, that's what I heard.
SANCHEZ: Hey, you're good enough.
Reynolds Wolf is a meteorologist. This is the first time I get a chance to work with you, Reynolds. You know, I keep wanting to change your name.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Oh I know. There's a whole pack of U.S. wolves all over this place.
NGUYEN: Exactly.
WOLF: And you need to be careful when we mark our territory. That could be some scary stuff.
NGUYEN: Oh. Why'd you have to go there? Get out of here!
SANCHEZ: Welcome aboard, and what do you got?
WOLF: All right, man. Here's what we got. Some scattered showers still forming throughout parts of Texas. South Texas, we've got heavy rainfall from San Antonio, right along the I-10 corridor, southward from Victoria, back over to Houston.
We're going to hopscotch a little farther to the northeast. In Nacogdoches, some scattered showers there. Central Tennessee, west Tennessee. Here's Memphis, for your point of reference. Here's Nashville. Right along I-40 we're seeing heavy rainfall.
Also, north of Chicago, not much in Chicago at this point, but in Milwaukee, they're getting rocked with some heavy showers at this time.
As we take you back to Florida, we've got a little bit of that sea breeze beginning to kick in from Port Saint Lucie, north to Orlando, some scattered activity. If you're planning on pulling a round of golf this Father's Day in the afternoon, you may have to stop and just take a break or two. You may have a pop-up shower.
Now, in Miami, a few scattered showers off the coast, but very light at this time. Take a look at this beautiful shot that we have from Miami. It is a great one this morning. A nice mix of sunshine, a few scattered clouds, and overall, a pretty nice day with high temperatures going up to about 89 degrees on Miami Beach. Should be a great shot. That is from WPLG. Back to you.
NGUYEN: Hey, Rick, you were just in Miami.
SANCHEZ: I was there yesterday. In fact from my hotel room, it looked like that view that we were just looking at there.
NGUYEN: Did it? Nice.
SANCHEZ: But the best thing about Miami this time of year is you want to look at those views from an air-conditioned room.
WOLF: Oh, yes.
NGUYEN: It's kind of muggy outside.
All right, Reynolds, we'll talk to you soon.
SANCHEZ: Birds of prey, huh?
NGUYEN: That's what we're talking about.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Totally unbelievable. To be able to do this from Vegas, and you know, destroy high-valued target, perhaps bin Laden himself one day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Here's what we're talking about. Inside a Predator spy plane, used in the war on terror. We'll take you there.
SANCHEZ: Also, a father's legacy. A daughter of Billy Graham talks about what it's like to grow up in the home of one of the world's most famous ministers. Ahead, in our "Faces of Faith" segment.
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SANCHEZ: Here's what's in the news right now. U.S. troops in Iraq continuing their land and air search for two missing soldiers. Iraqi police are telling CNN at least four or five masked gunmen in two cars seized the two soldiers. They've been missing since an insurgent attack on a checkpoint that's just south of Baghdad Friday night. Military officials said one vehicle was found abandoned with blood on the back seat.
Published report says al Qaeda planned to attack New York subways with poison gas. This was back in 2003 when they had planned to do that. The plot is in a new book by a reporter, Ron Suskin. Excerpts of it are in "Time" magazine. A spokesman says New York authorities knew of the plot before Osama bin Laden's second in command decided to call the attack off.
Another personnel data theft in Washington. ING financial services reports a laptop computer was stolen Monday from the home of a worker. ING handles the retirement plans for thousands of Federal workers. ING says the Social Security numbers and other personnel information are on this computer. It was not password protected, and the information was not encrypted.
Live this morning in Washington, it's Father's Day at the Vietnam veterans memorial. And sons and daughters of Vietnam vets have gathered to honor their fathers, lost in Vietnam. We'll be sharing these poignant pictures with you throughout the morning. Red roses signifying soldiers that were killed in action, yellow denoting those soldiers that are still missing, and white roses for those who have died during the war in Iraq or Afghanistan. We'll be checking back in from time to time. This is CNN and we're your most trusted names in news.
NGUYEN: Targeting the Taliban. The military says 85 suspected insurgents have been killed in "Operation Mountain Thrust" in Afghanistan. Now, the offensive was launched last week, one evolving weapon in this war against insurgents and the hunt for Osama bin Laden is the predator drone. More on its remote, yet lethal capabilities, from senior international correspondent Brent Sadler.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Osama bin Laden, believed captured on tape by a CIA predator spy plane some six years ago. A tall figure wearing a white robe, recorded before the 9/11 attacks. Critics call it a missed opportunity to kill him. Predator could hunt, but not kill back then. But today's version, still searching for bin Laden over Afghanistan, carries powerful hellfire missiles.
(on-camera): If you have ever wondered what it is like to be in a predator's eye view, then here it is. End of shift for another bird coming in to land, sighting in on our position. Not just seeing us here in Kandahar, southern Afghanistan, but also 8,000 miles away in Nevada, where predators are flown by pilots who never leave the ground, through a satellite link.
CAPT. JON SONGER, COMMANDER, PREDATOR SQUADRON: Predator operates at a secret or top-secret level on a normal basis.
SADLER: The basic design is little more than a snowmobile engine strapped to a glider. I know you can't talk a lot about the secret stuff that's inside the plane, but give me some idea of what we can see here.
SONGER: Well, at the front of the aircraft, you have the video camera. It's got both electro-optical and infrared capability. What does that mean? It can see both in daylight and at night.
SADLER: This predator launch site runs these birds of prey like clockwork, wheeling them in and out of here for military tasks that are not so very long ago would have been missions impossible. But predators' evolving role as a flying assassin in the war on terror draws fire. Critics dispute the legality of targeted killing under U.S. and international law, especially if host nations are not told of a lethal strike. Its deadly firepower was recently triggered over the Afghan battlefield by this 23-year-old operator. She was ordered to launch a predator missile from these controls in Kandahar.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We found a group of insurgents, so we followed them, and we were cleared hot to shoot.
SADLER: Twelve confirmed kills. Predators are not fast, cruising at about 80 miles an hour, but they have long reach, some 450 miles range. Over 20 hours on 100 gallons of fuel.
SONGER: Incredible. Absolutely unbelievable, to be able to do this from Vegas, and you know, destroy high-valued target, perhaps bin Laden himself one day.
SADLER: If the predator gets a second chance. Brent Sadler, CNN, Kandahar, southern Afghanistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: This is (INAUDIBLE) cool news time. The U.S. now has its 75th national monument. You don't think Yosemite, Mount Rushmore, where I just was by the way incidentally not long ago, or the Statue of Liberty is enough.
NICOLE LAPIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, it's not enough. Now we've got another one.
SANCHEZ: Another one under water.
LAPIN: We've got another one under water. It's a chain of islands northwest of Hawaii. And this is not a small area. Have you guys been to Yosemite? You said you were in Mount Rushmore.
SANCHEZ: Mount Rushmore, but not Yosemite.
LAPIN: OK, this is 100 times larger than Yosemite. You haven't been to Yosemite. I'll give you another perspective. It's bigger than 46 of our 50 states. Now, President Bush is calling this a quote big deal and cnn.com thinks it is, too, and that's why they plunged -- the pun is definitely intended -- into the country's newest marine sanctuary.
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LAPIN (voice-over): This is actually the 14th marine sanctuary in the United States, and you know what, it's larger than all U.S. national parks combined. Get this -- it's 1400 miles long, 100 miles wide, and of the 7,000 marine species found there, at least 1/4 of them can't be found anywhere else in the world. Designating it a sanctuary is going to further protect this chain of islands and its species, like the endangered monk seals and green sea turtles. This picture gallery highlights other species found there, including the Hawaiian squirrel fish and the vast shallow water reefs. This is actually the second time President Bush invoked the 1906 antiquities act that gives him the authority to designate national monuments.
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LAPIN: This is one of the few times President Bush is actually getting some praise from environmental groups. And by designating this area a national monument, government regulations and enforcements, well, those are going to start immediately.
SANCHEZ: And the key is to protect it. You know, being from Florida, I know about another one, John Pennycamp state park.
LAPIN: That's at the keys. There's another in Monterey. There are 14 and this is the newest one. So if you guys want to check out more of this and see those cute pictures of all those fish we were just looking at, just go to cnn.com/science.
SANCHEZ: Thanks so much, Nicole.
LAPIN: Sure.
SANCHEZ: Well, daddy made a difference and now she wants the entire world to know about it. We're talking about Ruth Graham, daughter of the world-famous evangelist Billy Graham. She writes in her book "A Legacy of Faith," things I learned from my father. NGUYEN: In more than 50 plus years of my lifetime, I have never seen my father waiver in his purpose. That's what she says. Ruth Graham joins us - you have to see this -- in our "faces of Faith" segment. That is coming up in about 4 minutes.
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UNIDENTIFIED SOLDIER: Hi. My name is Lance Corporal Eric (INAUDIBLE), combat (INAUDIBLE) second outside Iraq. I'd like to wish, happy Father's Day to my dad (INAUDIBLE) in (INAUDIBLE) Michigan. Happy Father's Day, dad.
UNIDENTIFIED SOLDIER: Hi, this is Lance Corporal Robert Thomas from outside Iraq. I just want to say Happy Father's Day to Eric Thompson back home in (INAUDIBLE) Michigan. Thanks for all your support, can't wait to see you, love you, bye.
UNIDENTIFIED SOLDIER: This is Lance Corporal (INAUDIBLE) in (INAUDIBLE) Iraq, I'd like to say happy Father's Day to my father, Glen Webber in Radford (ph), Michigan. I'll see you soon, dad, you rock!
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILLY GRAHAM: I was asked in an interview if this was our last crusade. I said, it probably is, in New York. But I also said I never say never.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: We got a chance to cover that event in New York. You know, there's a well known stigma around a preacher's kid or they call them PKs. They're often considered the ones that know the most about living life, but sometimes the least likely to follow that path. Ruth Graham's father, Billy Graham, is a renowned man of faith, as we all know. In her book "A Legacy of Faith, Things I Learned from My Father," that's the name of the book, she writes candidly about the cross she inevitably had to bear and growing up as the daughter of a world-famous traveling evangelist. She's with us this morning from New York to share some of those experiences with us and to give us a sense about what it's been like. I understand from reading parts of your book, that it hasn't always been easy for you. Depression, failed marriages. How did your dad help you get though these moments in your life?
RUTH GRAHAM, AUTHOR, A LEGACY OF FAITH: You know, I always knew that my father loved me and that was the underpinning for me. He gave me the opportunity, the safety net to fail, and certainly fail I did. And in the book, I mention about six life characteristics of my father and one of them is grace. And my father extended so much grace to me that it really was a defining moment in my life, especially one time after my second marriage failed. It was a disastrous marriage and I packed some things up and went home to see my parents. I had failed miserably. I had failed them. I had failed myself. I thought I had failed God. I had failed my children. And fears multiplied with every mile as I drove home, wondering, you know what were they going to say to me? They had told me not to do this. They told me to wait. And as I rounded the last bend in my father's driveway, I saw him standing there, and as I got out of the car, he wrapped his arms around me and said "welcome home." That is grace, and that is the same kind of grace that our heavenly father gives us.
SANCHEZ: You write about your mother in one book, now you write about your father in a second book. What's the difference, and which was harder to do?
GRAHAM: Actually, this book about my father was harder to do because there were fewer memories. He was gone about 60 percent of the time. So that made it difficult. But I went through my files, and I found so many letters from my father, postcards, where he would just jot a note just to encourage me. The letters of advice, counsel, love. And he parented from a distance, so it was wonderful to go through those things and realize all over again how present he was, even though he was distant.
SANCHEZ: I bet it must have been really difficult for you growing up to meet the expectations that people would place on you, being Billy Graham's daughter.
GRAHAM: Well, when we were growing up, we didn't feel that quite as much because we lived in a small community that was populated by retired missionaries. So it was not unusual for people to be traveling the globe preaching the gospel. As I got older, that I realized that people had expectations of me. And yes it was, and it still is, but I think --
SANCHEZ: What about -- I know you went through some bouts with depression. A lot of us go through difficult times in our lives, but do you think that perhaps was exacerbated by the fact that you were under that pressure?
GRAHAM: Well, I don't think I'm quite under that much pressure as my brothers are, but yes, there is a certain expectation, but I've finally become comfortable being myself.
SANCHEZ: How often do you talk to your brother?
GRAHAM: My brother Franklin?
SANCHEZ: Yes.
GRAHAM: Well, I can't find him most of the time.
SANCHEZ: Everybody's talking about him carrying on the legacy of your father. That must be tough on him.
GRAHAM: I'm sure it is, but I can't speak for him, but it's, it's a heavy load, but my brother's perfectly capable. SANCHEZ: What's the most important lesson that you take away -- and I imagine we've all learned so many lessons from your dad. What's the one you think that's most important for you?
GRAHAM: Well, the most important is, as I mentioned, grace, giving grace to myself, giving grace to others. And also, I think we need to remember that all of us have legacies. Some of us have legacies of bitterness and anger and abuse. They don't have a legacy from the Billy Graham family, but we all have legacies. And I think we can change the legacy that we pass on by determining now that we will change our legacy to love in faith, and certainly, God has given us a legacy, because he sent his only son to die for us so that we might have eternal life. And that's the legacy that we can pass on.
SANCHEZ: Ruth Graham, we thank you so much. Sounds like a wonderful book, and --
GRAHAM: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: And I'm sure a lot of people will be excited about reading it. Thanks again, once again, for joining us.
GRAHAM: Thank you so much.
SANCHEZ: Betty, we send things over to you.
NGUYEN: All right. Well, just in time for Father's Day, it's a golf showdown. Tiger Woods may be gone from the U.S. Open, but Phil Mickelson and Kenneth Ferrie are providing plenty, oh yes, plenty of drama. A live report from the open, that is next. Stay with CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Nice music on this father's day. Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there and what better way to celebrate than to get you prepared for a day of golf? What else? It is the final round of the U.S. Open in New York and our Larry Smith is there.
LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Who is a dad.
NGUYEN: Who is a dad, by the way. And hey, not a bad assignment on this Father's Day, right, Larry?
SMITH: That's right. Not a bad spot. Rather be at home, of course, but we'll take it here with the guys I guess at the U.S. Open, the final round, (INAUDIBLE) U.S. Open. It's going to be a hot one today, highs in the mid-90s. Phil Mickelson has won three majors before and it's become kind of a tradition for him that his daughters run out on the green and celebrate with him when he wins a big victory and maybe this will happen again today here at Wingfoot. We will see Mickelson right now as the man everyone's watching, shot a 1 under par 69 on Saturday as he is tied for the lead now at 2 over par. What a great story for him. He could become just the third man ever to win three consecutive professional majors, after winning the PGA last August and the masters in April, vying for his fourth grand slam title overall. Mickelson has twice been a runner-up at the U.S. Open but says he's taking nothing for granted.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PHIL MICKELSON, TIED FOR 1ST AT U.S. OPEN: It's a lot of fun to have a chance to be in the final group Sunday of an open. A lot of work left to do. There's a lot of people that have a great chance tomorrow that are right there in it. And, but the only place I'd rather be is maybe leading by a few shots. So I'm very excited and happy to have fought hard on the back nine to get back into contention and tied for the lead.
KENNETH FERRIE, TIED FOR 1ST AT U.S. OPEN: At the end of the day, I'm going to go out there tomorrow and I don't think many people are going to give me a chance to win. You know what I mean? It's the first time I'm going to be in this situation. I have no idea myself how I'm going to handle it. I could go out there and play lovely, I could go out there and totally shrink in the limelight.
MICKELSON: This is a very hard golf course, but it's a fun challenge. We don't get a chance to be tested like this, but this one time a year, where the course plays like this. And so, it becomes a very fun test to really challenge yourself at the highest level.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Well, Mickelson can call it fun because he may be the only guy having fun. He has given back the fewest shots of anyone here on the course, only nine bogies. That's the best in the tournament. I guess that's why he can still smile at end of the day. Now the guy he's tied with Kenneth Ferrie, you heard from a moment ago, he is a virtual unknown from England, Kenneth Ferrie, 27 years old, his fourth start in a major, first time in a U.S. Open and probably a few butterflies when he wakes up this morning, gets ready to tee off about 3:00 Eastern time this afternoon. Betty.
NGUYEN: I love what he said, I have no idea what I'm going to do. I'm just going to play. Hopefully, he's going to try to win. But speaking of winners, who else is in the lead? Who has a shot at this besides those two?
Well, in the top 10, players of the leader board, you have three other major winners outside of Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Mike Weir (ph) and Jim Furyk (ph). Don't count out Steve Stricker (ph) as well. He has been a couple top five finishes in the open. I talked to him last night. He was certainly frustrated with the way he played, second round leader a one under par, had a 75 yesterday, so right now he is five shots, three shots off the lead actually at five over par, but he is someone, too that if you just don't make mistakes, you can stay steady, could have a shot at this. We're looking at the highest scoring U.S. Open champion since 1978. No one has been, no champion has been over par for the tournament since 1978, so certainly a difficult task ahead here on Sunday.
NGUYEN: No doubt. OK, Larry. Thanks so much. We'll talk to you soon. SANCHEZ: Hey, let's go over to Reynolds Wolf now and find out what is going on. I was thinking, something you and I were talking about a while ago. This is Father's Day, and Tiger just lost his dad and he's playing as bad as he's ever played before.
NGUYEN: He didn't even make the cut, which was something that a lot of us were surprised about. But again, the man is dealing with a lot. And it's Father's Day, which has to be difficult especially for those who have lost their fathers. We've been looking in at the Washington site there at the Vietnam Veterans memorial, but a lot of folks really are going to be doing celebrating, like Rick right here. And you yourself, you're a new father, Reynolds.
WOLF: Should be a great time. You know, a lot of dads, one of the most popular gifts is you have a barbecue grill and you go outside and try it out on Father's Day.
NGUYEN: You know what, funny you say that because Rick, what are you doing today?
SANCHEZ: That's exactly what we're doing. (INAUDIBLE) neighbors over so come on over, man!
WOLF: All right, we'll do what we can. I'll bring the chef's hat and the apron and everything.
SANCHEZ: How's the weather going to be?
WOLF: Well, If you happen to be in Texas this morning, we have some rough times to say the very least. A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Brazoria (ph) County. That's going to last for another 15 to 20 minutes, but would not be surprised to see more of this in the Lone Star state. So if you happen to be barbecuing out in Texas, you may have a wet time of it, to say the very least. Meantime, we take a look at the rest of the nation, into the great lakes, scattered showers and storms will continue. Nice and warm and dry on the desert southwest. Along the eastern seaboard, it's going to be a muggy day. It's also going to be very warm for places like New York, where we have a live image of the gray lady. There she is, coming up in just a few seconds. There she is, the Statue of Liberty, kind of hazy for the time being, but into the afternoon, expect partly cloudy skies, high temperatures going up into the 90s. So very warm from the Bronx all the way to Yonkers, even in Brooklyn. Certainly some warm times for you. But hey, it is summertime. It's Father's Day, so get out there and enjoy yourself, back to you.
NGUYEN: Have a great time. And speaking of Father's Day, we're going to get you to weigh in a little bit later Reynolds. But here's our email question today -- what is your fondest Father's Day memory? Got some great ones. Ernie from Florida says the fondest Father's Day memory I have is when I took my father to Fenway Park for a Boston Red Sox game. As I child, my father would take me to Fenway, so I decided one Father's Day to take him for a game. I purchased the best priced seating available.
SANCHEZ: This one is coming in from Jill in Pennsylvania, says one of my best, my fondest memories occurred four years ago when I gave birth to my first child. It was also my husband's first child, my father's first grandchild and my grandfather's first great grandchild. There you go! It was truly a special day for everyone.
NGUYEN: I love these! This is a great question. Please, send in your thoughts, share them with us today. What is your fondest Father's Day memory? Email us, weekends@cnn.com. I can't wait to hear more stories. Love it.
SANCHEZ: There's nothing in the world more important, not your job, not your money --
NGUYEN: family. That's all that matters.
SANCHEZ: Being a dad. Yeah, yeah.
Well, next hour of CNN, before we get too mushy, SUNDAY MORNING begins in just a moment. But first, I wanted to wish you a happy Father's Day to all the dads out there from our CNN SUNDAY MORNING family to yours. There they are, many of us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Now in the news two American soldiers reported missing near the Iraqi town of Yusufiyah which is where we understand they were apparently abducted. Iraqi police tell CNN at least four or five masked gunmen seized the two soldiers on Friday night. Witnesses report seeing gunmen in two cars whisk away the Americans. Now the search is underway by air, ground and water.
U.S. and Iraqi forces surround an insurgent hot spot in Iraq. The military says troops have secured a key suburb of Ramadi in an effort to choke off the insurgents. Our Nic Robertson is embedded with U.S. forces spearheading this mission. We're going to talk with him live in three minutes.
And a new book says Al Qaeda planned a poison gas attack on the New York subway system back in 2003. That is according to "Time" magazine and it's based on excerpts from journalist Ron Suskind's book. "Time" says Al Qaeda called off the attack and two former U.S. officials confirm some of those details in this plot for CNN.
SANCHEZ: ING Financial Services says a laptop was stolen last week from the home of one of its employees. That's a problem. ING says the laptop contained social security numbers and other personal information. The data wasn't password protected nor was it encrypted. ING handles the retirement plans for thousands of federal workers in our nation's capitol.
You know it's the most violent crime reported in New Orleans since hurricane Katrina hit last August. Five teenagers shot to death in a neighborhood just outside the central business district. The motive police say was either over drugs or some type of revenge killing. Some nasty weather in the nation's midsection. Take a look at this tornado that touched down yesterday, this in southeastern Kansas. People on the ground there got lucky there. There was no damage reported, no serious damage that is. A full Father's day weather report is 13 minutes. CNN is your most trusted name in news.
NGUYEN: From the CNN Center this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is June 18th, Father's Day. 8:00 a.m. here at CNN headquarters in Atlanta. Good morning everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez, it's that bilingual thing we were talking about. I'm sitting in for Tony Harris. Thanks so much for being with us. We've got a lot of news on tap.
NGUYEN: Yes we do. And Tony by the way is enjoying himself on this Father's Day. And speaking of Father's Day, there is a tribute, now I can't talk to you, thanks to you it's contagious, a tribute taking place in Washington this morning. Here's a live picture right now outside the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
SANCHEZ: That's Yolanda Acevedo and she's from Virginia. This is what makes her story so special. She's the featured speaker at this Father's Day ceremony, her husband Navy Commander Joseph Acevedo died in Bahrain in 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her father Army Corporal Jose Montes died in Vietnam in 1968. So you talk about someone who's made a supreme sacrifice, there you have it. Yolanda Acevedo is the featured speaker today at this Vietnam Veterans memorial gathering.
NGUYEN: And you know this gathering really speaks to a lot of people, a lot of families out there and their loss on this Father's Day. Some 1,000 roses will be placed at the memorial honoring all of those who have given their lives. We're going to dipping into this service throughout the morning just to take a moment to pause and remember those who have given so much on this Father's Day.
New developments this morning involving those missing American soldiers in Iraq. Iraqi police tell CNN masked gunmen abducted the soldiers. They have been missing since Friday after coming under attack at a traffic checkpoint just west of Baghdad. More now from CNN's Cal Perry in Baghdad. Cal, give us the circumstances behind why Iraqi police believe these two military soldiers were abducted.
PERRY: Well, new information coming to CNN overnight. We understand that a group of witnesses in the town of Yusufiyah, this is in fact the same town where those U.S. soldiers had gone missing, it's a town about 30 miles to the south of Baghdad. A group of witnesses going to police in that town and saying they believe they saw about four or five gunmen abduct these two U.S. soldiers, put them in vehicles and drove them out of the area.
We also understand that CNN's pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has spoken to a senior U.S. military official who tells her that the military found a nearby vehicle, a vehicle with blood in the back, but more importantly boot prints leading from the scene that would seem to match boots worn by U.S. officers in that area. We also heard from Major General Caldwell yesterday in a rare taped announcement to the Baghdad Press Corps saying that the U.S. military will never stop looking for any of its soldiers until their status can be determined definitively. Betty?
NGUYEN: Cal Perry in Baghdad for us, thank you for that report.
SANCHEZ: Now let's take you over to Ramadi. This is a familiar name in the fight for Iraq. I'm sure you've heard it many times before. U.S. and Iraqi troops are there right now. What they are trying to do is block off the insurgents from being able to get into Baghdad. That's why this is a special operation. CNN's Nic Robertson is embedded with the Army's first armored division, which is spearheading the mission. Now we were trying to hook up with him live as we had done just previously, but we just learned moments ago that some of the military figures -- some of the military officials have made a decision to leave the area and of course because Nic is embedded he had to leave with them. What he did, though, he was able to file a report for us and here it is.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON: When the operation began just after dusk was completed in the early hours of this morning, Sunday morning, U.S. military says it now has Ramadi isolated. It means tactically encircled. U.S. military and Iraqi army now control all the roads in and out of Ramadi. Now the U.S. military says this will stop and this operation was designed to plug the last hole if you will in Ramadi where insurgents have been coming in and out of the city to re-supply for operations inside the city of Ramadi, it's a city of some 400,000 people.
The operation last night on the southern side of the city kicked off by a large 500-pound bomb being dropped on a bridge that blew away for this military advance to come into this neighborhood. This is a neighborhood where insurgents are known to operate, this is a neighborhood where there have been very, very few military -- U.S. military operations, the Iraqi army hasn't been able to go here. It's been an area where the insurgents have essentially had free rein.
The U.S. military now says this operation is the beginning to an end to that. They plan to put a U.S.-Iraqi army military installations in place around the city, ultimately to replace the Iraqi army with Iraqi policemen. But now this operation, the U.S. military says it is a turning point, they now complete the isolation, the tactical circle around Ramadi. They can begin with civil affairs programs and other programs inside the city of Ramadi, designed to defeat the insurgents here. Nic Robertson, CNN, Ramadi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: And as I mentioned just moments ago Nic is on the move but we will try and take him whenever we get a chance. We do have this program though for you, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow is weighing in on Iraq and the war on terror. That's going to be coming up at 11:00 eastern on CNN's "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER." Also at 1:00 p.m. eastern CNN's John Roberts is going to host "Iraq Week at War," CNN's correspondents around the world bring you only -- the only in depth look at major events on the war on terror.
Also for complete coverage of breaking news and today's top stories, stay with CNN, the most trusted name in news. NGUYEN: Well it is the largest offensive in Afghanistan since the toppling of the Taliban. The military says 85 insurgents have been killed so far in Operation Mountain Thrust. Two coalition troops have died though in the offensive against Taliban fighters. Senior International Correspondent Brent Sadler takes a closer look at the battle being waged from the air.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SADLER: Taliban country, southern Afghanistan. U.S. led forces push hard with a mountain offensive. Quickening the pace. Repositioning fire power to blast Taliban insurgents when they hit and run. Kandahar Air Base, a center of operations backed with U.S. helicopters from task force nighthawk. Double rotors due to heavy lifting, apache gunships fight, Blackhawks join the loop of re-supply. Moving troops and ammo, flying missions on the edge of danger.
COLONEL MARK PATTERSON, U.S. ARMY: Each and every day every time we launch an aircraft from here it is a combat mission and we treat it just like a combat mission.
SADLER: 31-year-old lieutenant Nicole Smith knows about combat missions. Fresh into this war from flight school, she is the co-pilot gunner of this U.S. Army apache gunship.
Give me some idea of what it's like up here when you're facing ground fire from the Taliban?
LT. NICOLE SMITH, U.S. ARMY: It's pretty scary and you're always a little bit nervous because you never know what your -- what kind of situation you're going into and what to expect.
SADLER: The apache was designed to knock out soviet tanks during the cold war, but here in Afghanistan its role against the Taliban is very different. This apache is training for hard battle.
Pilots say they get so close to the Taliban it feels like a knife fight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can see them, they can see us. We try to shoot them before they shoot at us, but there's always fire going both ways.
SMITH: When I get in the aircraft and I strap in and I'm not letting the adrenaline or seriousness of the situation affect the way that I would normally operate the aircraft. There's nothing else I'd rather be doing. This is a dream come true.
SADLER: Her boss, nighthawk's commander returns from a grueling nine-hour combat mission. The war, he says is going well.
PATTERSON: Clearly, we're winning. We're making a difference here each and every day. There is no doubt in my military mind that we're making a difference.
SADLER: The difference, hopes the U.S. military, between a country that breeds terrorism to one that can defeat it. Brent Sadler, CNN, Kandahar, Southern Afghanistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNKNOWN: Okay Greg, I'm going to cleanse you today with an essential cleanser and this is really good.
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This might just be the new version of the gentlemen's club.
UNKNOWN: Put these cool, compresses.
FIRFER: Facials, hot stone massage, manicures and pedicures. Surprise? You won't find any pampered women here at this spa. It's all about taking care of men.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From the minute you walk in the door you know you're in a day spa for men. Because you see dark woods, you don't see any floral things. Everything we're doing is focusing on what men need.
FIRFER: And that need is growing. According to the International Spa Association, men account for nearly 30 percent of spa goers in 2003.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think every now and then you need to treat yourself to something. I work hard to make a living and I work long hours and this is just one of the things that I can do for myself that I enjoy and it's something strictly for me and that's why I do it.
FIRFER: Holly Firfer, CNN.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Let's do this. Let's take a quick look now at news from across America. NASA plans the launch of the Shuttle Discovery on July 1st. It's going to be the first manned space flight in nearly a year. And only the second since the Columbia disaster nearly 3 1/2 years ago. CNN as you've come to expect, will provide full coverage of the launch -- your most trusted name in news.
Also in California people protest outside the gates of Camp Pendleton, they're speaking out against the way the military is detaining a sailor and seven Camp Pendleton Marines, jailed for the death of an unarmed Iraqi civilian. The Marine Corps has now lowered the confinement level of the servicemen. They don't have to wear handcuffs when leaving their cells and we understand now they can also have physical contact with some of their visitors.
In Utah now it was a double treat for "Triple Deuce." Just in time for Father's Day, soldiers from the 222nd field artillery or "triple deuce" as it's called, were dropped off to their loved ones in various parts of the state. Salt Lake City was the final destination before heading home for a little R and R. That brings us now to our e-mail question of the day. What's your fondest Father's Day memory or memories? We're wanting all of you to email us if you would right here, it's cnn.com. Simple enough. We're going to be reading them throughout the morning and we're going to start with this one Betty.
NGUYEN: Yeah, actually we got a few already. And I think every woman or girl out there can really relate to this. Amy from Michigan says, "I remember when I was a little girl, I would pretend to fall asleep on the couch watching TV at night so my dad would have to carry me into my bed and tuck me in."
SANCHEZ: I still do that with my 5-year-old daughter, by the way.
NGUYEN: I thought you were going to say with your dad. That would be a problem. He might pull his back out or something like that.
SANCHEZ: He's pretty strong. He could probably do it
NGUYEN: Well this next one is from Carl in Michigan says, "I woke up this morning to a call from my son in Iraq. He sounded great. It was so good for a father's heart. It is early in the morning but I think this will be my best Father's Day ever."
SANCHEZ: That's great. God bless you, Carl. Hey, listen, you're going to love this one. This one comes to us from a dad in Long Island. He says, "My son gave me the best, gave me an extra present this Father's Day." Extra is the word that he uses. You know what he did? He moved out.
NGUYEN: That's a dad who wanted his son out of there. I mean, come on. Can you go ahead and get your own place.
SANCHEZ: Finally a little peace and quiet around here.
NGUYEN: That's great stuff. Love it. Hey here is the question one more time for you. What's your fondest Father's Day memory? Send us your thoughts, email us weekends@cnn.com and you know we're going to read them on the air.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back to CNN, I'm Rick Sanchez. Time to get yourself in shape. Even on weekends. Here is Sanjay Gupta with "Fit Nation."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: We began as a country of open spaces and big places. A land of plenty. Americans lived off the land, working with their hands, gathering around the dinner table was expected. Welcome to modern life, all you can eat, abundance of choice, work and recreation has moved from the fields and the front yards to the couch and the computer. Now childhood obesity rates are exploding. Diabetes, heart disease, even death now coming at a young age. Where will we find the answer to this contemporary health crisis? From government? From doctors? From big business?
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It costs a lot more to watch this obesity epidemic develop and than pay for the consequences of it.
GUPTA: Is there something you can do?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They are looking for this magic bullet. There is no magic bullet. There is common sense.
GUPTA: How did we get here and what can we do to create a fit nation?
Hello. I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta. The information you're about to hear may actually alarm you, cause you to worry about your children's health, force you to rethink how you use your free time. But as a nation, we're facing a crisis. We're at a tipping point, literally tipping the scales and endangering our own health and the health and future of our children.
With obesity, with the problems of overweight, it's fixable. What do you say about that and how do we actually get it done?
CLINTON: We need to eat less, exercise more and watch the foods that change our metabolism for the worst.
LANCE ARMSTRONG, TOUR DE FRANCE CHAMPION: But it all comes down to math. What you put out is what you can put in.
MARIA SHRIVER, FIRST LADY OF CALIFORNIA: Exercise. Exercise every day and I think a lot of the studies have shown that if you also have kids, it's not enough to say to them go out and exercise. You have to actually model it for them.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Angelina Jolie has been for the most part, reclusive, tight-lipped, sometimes difficult, sometimes strange, during the beginning stages of her relationship with Brad Pit and while carrying the couple's baby girl Shiloh. But now she's talking, exclusively, graciously, to CNN's Anderson Cooper. Listen to what she says about the day her baby girl was born.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGELINA JOLIE, ACTRESS: Because you're there for the birth which I wasn't for my first two kids, you're just suddenly terrified that they're not going to take a first breath. That was my whole focus, I just wanted to hear her cry. I was sure everything would go -- at the last minute I became the mother that was sure everything was going to go wrong. And she's healthy and it was amazing. (END OF VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: He's asking and she is answering. Face-to-face. This is a CNN worldwide exclusive. Angelina Jolie on "AC 360" talking about her new daughter, her husband and helping refugees around the world and her role as a U.N. special ambassador. Mark your calendar, it's this Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. eastern only on CNN. And boy, she looks great.
NGUYEN: She does look great.
SANCHEZ: She's always looked great but she looks great.
NGUYEN: And her child, I mean Shiloh, she's going to be a knockout. Hey, speaking of another lady who looks pretty good herself, as graceful as ever and still with that distinctive look, live on CNN SUNDAY MORNING next hour, oh, there she is. Lassie is back. Yes, Lassie the collie, with a new movie and a new cause. You don't want to miss this.
SANCHEZ: First on tap for "HOUSE CALL", today Dr. Sanjay Gupta celebrating Father's Day with an in-depth look at men's health. An expert answers your questions on everything from prostate health to high blood pressure to sexual dysfunction. "HOUSE CALL" straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: I'm Rick Sanchez and here's what's in the news right now. New details this morning about two U.S. soldiers missing in Iraq. Police tell CNN masked gunmen took the soldiers away, they've been missing since an attack on a checkpoint Friday night. U.S. troops continue to scour the region. A military official says one vehicle was found abandoned with blood in the back seat.
U.S. and Iraqi forces surround an insurgent hot spot in Iraq. The military says the troops have secured a key suburb of Ramadi in an effort to choke off the insurgents. Troops are now positioned at every main access point. U.S. and Iraqi forces have been battling insurgents in Ramadi now for weeks, even prior to this latest operation.
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