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CNN Live Sunday

Can Repeat of London Bombings be Avoided? Hurricane Emily Heads to Yucatan

Aired July 17, 2005 - 16:00   ET

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

GERRI WILLIS, CNN ANCHOR: The threat of hurricane Emily, a popular spot for American tourists is being evacuated in the Caribbean. This hour, CNN is your hurricane headquarters.
The wheels of justice turn in Iraq, the first formal charges against Saddam Hussein. We'll have a report from Baghdad.

And in our "Security Watch," catching the terrorists is one thing, destroying their weapons supply is another. Why is it so difficult? We'll examine.

Welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY. I'm Gerri Willis. All that and more after this check of the headlines.

Britain's defense secretary tells CNN the process of withdrawing British and U.S. troops from Iraq could begin within the next year. But secretary John Reed cautions any withdrawal would be extremely gradual. And he insists troops won't leave until the Iraqi people can protect themselves against insurgents.

As Israeli troops continue to mass along the border with Gaza warning of a possible offensive. There have been more violent confrontation between Palestinian militants and Israelis. Mortar shells rained down on an Israeli settlement today, wounding several people, at least two of them seriously.

And elsewhere, Israeli forces launched a missile attack against a vehicle carrying suspected Palestinian militants. Israeli troops also confirm that a targeted killing of a top military leader of Hamas.

And in Alabama, search teams looking for two children missing in a rain swollen stream have found their mother's submerged car. But so far the children have not been located. They were inside the car when their mother ran off the highway and crashed into the Cahaba River yesterday. Witnesses were able to pull the mother from the water, but could not reach the children.

We begin with fears about Hurricane Emily. The powerful storm is beating up resort towns across the Caribbean. The category four storm is capable of widespread damage. Emily delivered a second blow to Jamaica, Saturday. The island is cleaning up from Hurricane Dennis. Emily swept south of island bringing torrential rains, high winds, flooding and landslides. It sent people fleeing to shelters in the Grand Cayman Islands. But Emily shifted slightly, sparing the islands a direct hit. Workers are busy with hammers and plywood on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Residents are scrambling to protect their homes. Thousands of tourists are being evacuated. Emily is expected to hit the area by late today or early tomorrow.

Emily can be a big worry for U.S. residents as early as Tuesday. It's the strongest storm to form in the Atlantic this early in the season. For more where Emily is now, let's go to meteorologist Jacqui Jeras -- Jacqui.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Gerri.

Well, it's about 200 miles away from Cozumel right now. We'll get another update at 5:00 from the National Hurricane Center on it's position and its strength. It has weakened a little bit today. That's good news. The more it weakens, the better off everybody is going to be. But with 145 miles per hour maximum sustained winds it's looking pretty ugly for the Yucatan Peninsula.

A lot of people know this area very well. A lot of vacationers here. And there you can see, here's Cozumel, that's the island right there. And then here's the Yucatan Peninsula. And it's pushing off to the west-northwest at this time. 20 miles per hour -- so it's moving at a good rate. And want to keep it going very fast, so it just kind of hits fast and furious and then makes its way across the peninsula very quickly.

This is the forecast track. It is expected to be a major hurricane when it makes landfall. It's likely going to do that late tonight or early tomorrow morning. And then it will be moving across the peninsula throughout much of the day for tomorrow, and late tomorrow night. And then late tomorrow night, we'll probably see it move back over the open waters into the Gulf of Mexico.

It should be weakening a lot as it moves across the Yucatan Peninsula, but once it gets back over open water, we'll watch for it intensify once again and again become a major hurricane. So, forecast by Tuesday to be back into the category three with 115 miles per hour wind. And then we'll be watching for another landfall, it looks like, late on Tuesday night and into early Wednesday.

Where that second landfall is going to be, still a little too early to tell. Right now, it looks like our best bet is going to be somewhere into northern parts of Mexico. But if you live in southern parts of Texas, you really need to be on high alert here, towards Brownsville, into Corpus Christi, I'd keep my eye a little bit farther off to the east than there.

So, we'll keep a close eye on Emily. It looks like Cozumel, Cancun area getting hit hard late tonight, early tomorrow -- Gerri.

WILLIS: Jacqui, the storms just keep coming. Thanks for that.

In just a few minutes, we'll take to you Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, a popular tourist destination for Americans. Evacuations are taking place right now and CNN is there. Remember, we're your hurricane headquarters.

Turning now to the fight for Iraq. Nine people were killed, 28 others were wounded today in five different bomb attacks around Baghdad. Four of the strikes were suicide car bombings and two of the suicide attacks targeted Iraqi police patrols. Another car blew up outside an electoral commission office while a separate attack targeted two government vehicles.

Meanwhile, the death toll from yesterday's suicide bombing near a stolen propane fuel tanker has climbed to at least 90, making it the second largest terror attack since Saddam Hussein was overthrown.

There's also word today that the Iraqi special tribunal has filed the first criminal charge against Saddam Hussein. CNN's Aneesh Raman is in Baghdad with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Justice one step closer.

RAID JUHI, CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE JUDGE (though translator): The Iraqi special tribunal has entered a new phase the phase of the actual trial of these accused. And we ask the almighty to support us.

RAMAN: Iraq's chief investigative judge Sunday issuing the first formal charges against Saddam Hussein and other members of his former regime. They could face trial as early as September on the first of what is expected to be multiple cases, beginning with the alleged atrocities in the northern village of Dujail, where in 1982, more than 150 were killed after a failed assassination attempt against then- president Hussein.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, we got him.

RAMAN: Since Saddam's capture in December 2003, Iraqis have eagerly awaited the moment their former dictator would come to trial. But it took nearly seven months for the special tribunal to put Saddam in a courtroom and under the world's watch, listing the various crimes he would face.

And then again, a period of silence as the tribunal staff traveled throughout the country gathering evidence, conducting interviews, meticulously preparing. A tug of war ensued, tribunal officials fearing a rush could weaken their case at trial.

Iraqi political figures bowing to public pressure, publicly demanding Hussein face trial as soon as possible, often suggesting it would be a matter of months.

But in this, the latest video released in June, Saddam was interrogated about the events in Dujail, an indication that his case was moving forward.

(on camera): This would be the first of perhaps a dozen trials Saddam will face, each for a specific case, each carrying the potential of the death penalty. But for the Iraqi people, the specifics are as important as the defendant. Many of them say humanity itself is on trial.

Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIS: A lawyer for Saddam Hussein criticized today's filing. He tells CNN he will need more time to prepare an adequate defense for the former Iraqi leader.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIOVANNI DI STEFANO, SADDAM HUSSEIN'S LAWYER: As of today, we still do not have a single document purporting to be anything where we can be ready for trial. And under their own rules and regulations, article 20 of their own statute, we will require time to be able to prepare a defense. Anything other than that, would make it a show trial or a farce. And that's not something that we will be prepared to entertain.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIS: The attorney argued that Saddam Hussein should not be tried for anything, because the Iraqi constitution written during Saddam's rule made him immune from all charges.

Mexican officials are taking Emily's looming threat very seriously. The storm is as powerful as Hurricane Gilbert which claimed 300 lives in 1988. Tourists are being bused out, some offshore oil platforms are being evacuated. And across the Yucatan Peninsula, people are preparing.

Our Karl Penhaul is in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. And has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are ancient ruins of Mexico's Mayan civilization. This stone fortress at Tulum has withstood the ravages of sand and sea, war (ph) and wind. Now, there's a fresh menace on the horizon.

(on camera): In the next few hours, Hurricane Emily is expected to hit this coastline. Experts forecast the winds could be so strong, they may put much more modern buildings to the test.

(voice-over): A few miles away, here in the tourist resort of Playa Del Carmen, some residents are following the time honored hurricane ritual of boarding up. This workman says he's not afraid. He says he was only six when the devastating Hurricane Gilbert pounded this area, Mexico's so-called Mayan Riviera, it's part of the Yucatan Peninsula.

According to local government officials, an estimated 130,000 tourists are on vacation on the Mayan Riviera. More than half are international visitors, and many of those from the U.S. some were bargain hunting in this tourist bazaar Saturday, enjoying the sun before the storm.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What are you going to do? It's mother nature.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, no one seems to be panicking.

PENHAUL: This is a big, strong wind.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is strong wind, oh, we get them in Scotland where we live. So...

PENHAUL: In the tourist mecca of Cancun, government meteorologist Jose Chi pours over charts and listens out for the latest forecast. He's seen many hurricanes blow through, and believes Emily could be massive.

Across the other side of the Yucatan Peninsula lies some of Mexico's biggest offshore oil fields. They produce more than a million barrels of crude a day. Much of that is exported to the U.S. Experts say if there is significant damage there, or even risk of damage, international oil prices could surge.

Hurricane protection and relief operations are coordinated from Cancun. Civil protection director Roberto Vargas says about 3,000 volunteers, officials and soldiers are involved in the effort. And just hours before Emily is due to strike, they're trying to stop the flood of sun seekers to the hurricane threatened coast.

When the hurricane does strike, possibly late Sunday or early Monday, Mexicans and tourists alike will be keeping their fingers crossed that homes and hotels are as rock solid as these ancient remains.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PENHAUL: Gerri, we're just a few miles north of those historic ruins in Tulum now, down at the beach in Playa Del Carmen. I don't know if you can see, but from behind me is the area that Hurricane Emily is expected to hit this coastline, maybe late tonight, maybe very early tomorrow morning.

The winds are already picking up. A program of evacuations at the hotels along this beachfront has begun. Many international tourists, both from the U.S. and from Europe, have been told either to leave their hotels or to move out of their rooms into secure areas.

In fact, we down here spent about three hours trying to find a room that would let us stay near to the beachfront. We've seen the last few surfers take benefit from some of the large waves now rolling in. But most of the people are now the beach area -- Gerri.

WILLIS: That was CNN's Karl Penhaul. Karl, thank you for that. And stay safe.

Stay with CNN as we track Emily throughout the day. Your next live update is just minutes away. We are your hurricane headquarters.

Speaking out about the CIA leak investigation and the deal that kept him out of jail.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATT COOPER, "TIME" MAGAZINE: After that conversation, I knew that she worked at the CIA and worked on WMD issues.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIS: "Time's" Matt Cooper sharing more information. How the White House is reacting to his version of events.

And the London terror: New information about the four men suspected of carrying out the deadly attacks.

And protecting the homeland: What measures are now being taken to protect American public transportation systems? Find out in our CNN "Security Watch. "

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WILLIS: Welcome back to CNN LIVE SUNDAY. I'm Gerri Willis.

"Time" magazine reporter Matt Cooper is sharing more information about the investigation into the 2003 leak of a CIA employee's identity. Now Cooper said today on "Meet the Press," that after first speaking with White House adviser Karl Rove, he also spoke with Luis Libby, the top aide to Vice President Cheney.

And on CNN's "RELIABLE SOURCES," Cooper described how his lawyer managed to strike a deal with the attorney for Rove. That deal released Cooper from his promise of confidentiality, allowing him to testify before a grand jury and avoid a possible jail sentence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: That morning in "The Wall Street Journal," that was the same morning I thought I was going off to jail, my lawyer saw a quote from Mr. Rove's lawyer that said Karl waives all confidentiality about the conversations. If Matt Cooper is going to jail, he's not going to jail for Karl Rove.

We took that as a kind of invitation. My lawyer contacted his lawyer. And over the next couple of hours, they worked out an agreement, which is specific to me, it was run by Karl Rove, it has signatures, and it gives me a specific waiver for conversations with me in July 2003.

That had a degree of specificity and personalness to me, that I was comfortable enough accepting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIS: For more what Matt Cooper is saying and writing in the latest on CIA leak investigation, let's join CNN White House correspondent Elaine Quijano -- Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hell to you Gerri. And Matt Cooper, at the end of his first person account in "Time" magazine lays out the bottom line. He poses a series of questions which he answers saying, quote, "so did Rove leak Plame's name to me or tell me she was covert? No. Was it through my conversation with Rove that I learned for the first time that Wilson's wife worked at the CIA and may have been responsible for sending him? Yes. Did Rove say that she worked at the agency on WMD? Yes."

Now, Cooper told a grand jury last week that in July of 2003, he had that conversation with Karl Rove, the president's chief political strategist. And while Cooper is certainly talking publicly now, the White House is not commenting on Rove.

Two years ago, Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters that Rove and Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, Luis Libby were not involved, but Cooper now says both were sources.

Now, it's not clear just how Cooper's testimony fits into the investigation. Of course, the special prosecutor in the case, Patrick Fitzgerald, isn't saying much. But certainly some say the fact that Rove spoke at all to reporters about these matters raises some red flags, raises some concerns. Democrats have called for his security clearance to be pulled. Others say he should be fired. Republicans still continue to chalk this all up to partisan politics -- Gerri.

WILLIS: Elaine, in the article, Matt Cooper also mentions a reaction from Karl Rove at the end of their conversation. What can you tell us about that?

QUIJANO: That's right. This is something that Matt Cooper says has stuck with him, really, since that conversation two years ago. He says towards the end, he quotes Rove as saying "I've already said too much."

Now, he was asked about this today by Howie Kurtz pressed to explain what he meant. And he says, well, at the time, I thought maybe he meant he had been indiscreet and had said something important. And then later he says I thought, well, maybe it was something more benign, like I've said too much, I've got to get to a meeting. So I don't know what he meant.

So, at this point, unclear. Of course only Karl Rove knows what he intended by that. But certainly, as I mentioned, Matt Cooper has remembered that line to this day.

WILLIS: Lots of twists and turns in this story. Elaine Quijano, thanks for that.

The British government this week is expected to consider new anti-terrorism measures as the investigation continues into the recent bombings that killed 55 people and wounded more than 700 others. CNN's Nic Robertson has the latest on the four men suspected of carrying out these deadly attacks.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Each with a backpack, each on his way to die. 18-year-old Hasib Hussain in the lead. His bomb would kill more than 12 on a bus 2 and-a-half hours later.

Next, a 19-year-old British-Jamaican convert to Islam. Police have now identified him as Germane Lindsey. More than 22 people died when his explosives detonated at 8:50 AM.

Behind him, on the security camera video at Luton (ph) Station, 22-year-old Shahzad Tanweer, and 30-year-old Mohammed Sidique Khan, their bombs go off within a minute of Lindsay's, killing more than 14 people.

Lindsay's sister still struggling to stomach the news.

DANA REID, LINDSAY'S HALF-SISTER: I want proof. I want proof to say that it was him. I want proof of something that is -- that actually happened to say it was him, because I don't think it is.

ROBERTSON: Where Lindsay grew up, within 50 miles or 80 kilometers of his three companions. Former friends remember his sudden conversion to Islam several years ago.

KYLE WATER, FRM. FRIEND OF LINDSAY: He took Urdo lessons and they were passionate about his religion, passionate, more than I've ever seen in any Muslim. He followed it to his heart. And that was his life. His religion was his life.

ROBERTSON: Lindsay got married, moved and moved again, began to use the name Abdullah Sahid Jamal. Finally, settling here in Alesbury (ph), near his English wife's relatives just north of London. Police are still searching his house and others.

(on camera): This Islamic bookstore is one of the latest places to be searched by the police. So far, they say, they've executed ten warrants here in the Leeds area. Increasingly, their forensic teams focusing on places, the suspected bombers are believed to have met.

(voice-over): The vast majority of the ten addresses within a few streets of Tanweer's and Hussain's houses.

And the shock still resonating through this community, too. Noticeably, many students stepping forward to defend Egyptian biochemist Magdy el Nasher, currently being questioned in Egypt about his ties to a house in Leeds where police found explosives.

ABDULLAH AL ANBOORI, FRIEND OF MAGDY EL-NASHER: He was just wrong place at wrong time, maybe. And I think he's an innocent person.

ROBERTSON: In London, at least one phase of the investigation did seem to close after more than a week, the No. 30 bus, where Hussain's bomb exploded, was removed from the crime scene.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Leeds.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIS: Back on the beach -- Aruban authorities take the suspect in the Natalee Holloway case to the site where he says he last saw the missing teen.

Survivor soldier taken down by a sniper. One brave American finds a new way to fight the insurgency in Iraq.

And it's tiger time again: A strong finish in a major win, and any doubt at all, that Tiger Woods is at the top of his game. We'll take you to St. Andrews. That's up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WILLIS: News around the world now. A Dutch teenager was taken to the beach in Aruba where police say he last saw Natalee Holloway. That's the Alabama teen who has been missing for a month and-a-half. Police say Joran Van der Sloot admits being alone with Holloway on the beach the night she disappeared. Van der Sloot hasn't been charged with any crime. And must be charged, or released by September 4.

And a powerful typhoon is barreling toward Taiwan. The storm is being packing winds of 119 miles an hour, and is expected to hit this island within hours.

And in China, a rescue plan that went slightly awry. Now, this panda became stranded by floodwaters. Officials decided to get him down by injecting him with anesthesia, breaking his fall with a mattress. But instead of falling down, the panda fell asleep in the tree. It would take rescuers another five hours to pull the panda down with a rope.

On the sports scene, Lance Armstrong is widening the gap between himself and the competition at the Tour de France. The six-time winner adding an extra minute to his overall lead today, but he wasn't the first to cross the line in today's stage, instead, Armstrong's teammate George Hincapie picked up his first ever tour stage win, finishing the grueling 127 mile climb through the Pyrenees, five minutes ahead of Armstrong.

And if there was any question that Tiger Woods is one of the greatest golfers in history, this may help settle it. Woods picked up his tenth major today with a win at the British Open. He finish the old course five shots ahead of his closest competitor. That's the largest margin in any major since Woods won the British Open by 8 in 2000.

CNN's Don Riddell has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DON RIDDELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The leader board here at St. Andrews resembled something of an Augusta reunion with past masters, Langer, Faldo, Lyle, Alathabel (ph) and Singe and Couples, all playing their part. But in the end, none of them could outwit the holder of four green jackets, Tiger Woods.

TIGER WOODS, BRITISH OPEN CHAMPION: We know these guys are making a run. And they should make a run. I'm they're the best players in the world.

I kept saying to myself that if may make a birdie like Monti is ahead of me. He's making a run. If he makes birdie ahead of me, if I make birdie the same hole, it's moot. We're all square, no blood.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE, FINISHED BEHIND WOODS: How can one be disappointed in a performance where you finish second at home of golf here, to the best player in the world? How can I be dissatisfied with that? I came into here 40th in the world. So, I done a lot better than I should have done.

He is the wrong name to have, having to chase. Yes, I'm sorry, but he doesn't. He's that good, and he's that experienced, and that mentally tough, that you know that might make a mistake, but we needed a series of mistakes. And that wasn't going to happen.

WOODS: I don't want to be like I was in 2000. Why would you want to be like that? When you think you can be better? That's the beauty of it. No matter how good you play, you can always feel like you can you do better. And that's what makes it exciting for the next day.

RIDDELL (on camera): In winning for the second time, Woods has now matched the fete of the great Jack Nicklaus who triumphed on the old course in 1970 and 1978.

With a renewed winning habit, and a rejuvenated swing, who'd now bet against the world No. 1 matching the feat of the great Jack Nicklaus in winning 18 major titles.

Don Riddell, CNN, at St. Andrews in Scotland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIS: Up next, hunting the terrorists and also their weapons.

Questions in the wake of the London attacks: How to stop terror groups from obtaining powerful explosives.

Changes on American soil. What is being done to protect our railways and public transportation systems. We're going to find out in our CNN "Security Watch."

And evacuative ahead of Emily. The powerful storm heading towards a popular U.S. destination. A live update from you hurricane headquarters. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GERRI WILLIS, CNN ANCHOR: "Now in the News," we're keeping a close watch on Hurricane Emily. The Category 4 storm's maximum sustained winds have dropped slightly to 145 miles per hour. But Emily is still capable of causing major damage and thousands of tourists are being evacuated from resorts lining the Yucatan peninsula.

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is facing his first charges from the Iraqi special tribunal. The charges come in connection with a series of detentions and executions following a 1982 assassination attempt against Saddam. Now no trial date has been set, but under Iraqi law proceedings can begin as early as September.

Five bombings in and around the Iraqi capital today have killed at least nine and wounded 28 others. Four of the attacks were suicide car bombings and many of the blasts targeted Iraqi police. Also today, the death toll in yesterday's suicide bombing outside Baghdad increased to at least 90.

In our "Security Watch," the war on terrorism, it isn't just about tracking down and apprehending terrorists. Destroying their weapons supply is also critical, but challenging with a seemingly endless supply of high energy explosives at terrorists' disposal. So where do they get all those powerful explosives?

CNN's Barbara Starr takes a look.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the wake of the July 7th attacks in London, questions about the availability of explosives powerful enough to cause so much death and destruction. Two days after the bombings, just a brief statement from British authorities.

DEP. COMM. BRIAN PADDICK, LONDON METRO POLICE: All we are saying is that it is high explosive.

STARR: High explosives burned fast causing maximum damage. British investigators aren't saying if attackers used a commercially available explosive, a military grade explosive, or something homemade. Investigators reportedly have found the highly volatile explosive known as TATP. Several Internet sites show how TATP can be made. But making it is a violation of U.S. law.

There are millions of tons of high explosives around the world. More than two million tons of explosives are manufactured every year in the U.S., much of it used for commercial mining. Experts say in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, it would be difficult for terrorists to steal either commercial or military explosives. It's all under lock and key.

But military explosives are readily available in Iran, Syria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

MALCOLM BRADY, FORMER ATF ASST. DIRECTOR: It's a black market world that they live in, and they know where to go find it.

STARR: Al Qaeda training camps may have taught bomb-making to countless operatives, combining supply and expertise.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know that the terrorists will ever run out of explosives in certain parts of the world.

STARR: Iraq remains a major source. Last year, 380 tons of explosives were reported missing at just one site. Insurgents regularly strip artillery shells and other munitions of explosives and reuse the material in their attacks.

(on camera): Military and intelligence experts say the threat from high energy explosives is difficult to stop. There are huge stockpiles around the world and chemicals readily available to make more.

Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIS: With explosives so easy for terrorists to get, how can security officials minimize the threat of bombings in the U.S.? And what can we do to protect ourselves against attacks like those in London and Madrid? Giving us some insight from Washington, CNN security analyst and former White House homeland security adviser, Richard Falkenrath.

Richard, welcome.

RICHARD FALKENRATH, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Good afternoon, Gerri.

WILLIS: So let's just start with this threat, these terrorist attacks in London, does this represent a failure by intelligence authorities there, by their homeland security?

FALKENRATH: Well, yes, it is a failure. The British security services wanted to stop exactly this kind of attack and they failed stop it. But I think it's sort of an understandable failure as we learn more about this plot. This is an extremely difficult plot to stop.

Apparently these individuals who carried out the bombs weren't known for their radical beliefs, weren't previously affiliated with militants and jihadists, and that's the hardest sort of plot to stop. People who just come out of the woodwork without extensive connections back into known terrorist networks.

WILLIS: Well, are we protected against that very kind of threat?

FALKENRATH: Well, there is no perfect protection, there never is and never will be. The sort of attack that occurred in London could happen here in the United States, there's no question of that. Our mass transit systems are vulnerable to the exact same sort of attack that they carried out.

And it is always possible that a small number of individuals will decide on their own to become terrorists, go on the Internet, acquire the skills, the basic information they need to put the attack together and carry it out. We're never going to be able to have 100 percent guarantees that that's impossible.

WILLIS: Well, Richard, what kinds of changes should we have here on American soil as a result of what we've learned from this attack?

FALKENRATH: Well, I think they're mostly changes in degree rather than changes in kind, of the things that we've already been doing. The most important thing is prevention, it's trying to identify individuals like the ones who carried out the attack before they had the opportunity to do their attack. That is basically intelligence and law enforcement work. It's never perfect, but it's the best line of defense we have.

Mass transit security will get some additional attention now. There's no question. But, again, you're basically left with public awareness efforts like going on in the New York City subway right now, enhanced law enforcement presence in the stations and some closed- circuit televisions. You can't have a hermetically sealed mass transit system. It would defeat purpose of mass transit.

WILLIS: Well, are you surprised that we haven't seen terrorist bombings here in the U.S.?

FALKENRATH: Well, I am a little surprised, and there have been times since 9/11 when I certainly thought an attack was extremely likely. But I also think it's not purely accidental. It's also because of the nature of the American population, we don't have large populations of very radicalized Muslims as you do in Europe, in the United Kingdom. It also i think is because of the improvements we have put in place since 9/11 with our law enforcement, counterterrorism, and border security.

That said, there are no guarantees. This could happen again tomorrow. There's no question. But I think the fact we have had no attacks on American soil since 9/11 is no accident. It has a lot to do with the countermeasures that have been taken since 9/11.

WILLIS: What's surprising is you've seen so many cameras, and a lot of people have talked about the cameras in London that captured the pictures of these terrorists. We don't have such an elaborate system here in the U.S., should we?

FALKENRATH: Well, it's true, we don't have a system the way the British do, which is centrally managed by Scotland Yard. I don't think the American people want the FBI essentially managing a closed- circuit television network across America.

But we have a lot of closed-circuit televisions all over the country. The 9/11 attackers were caught on closed circuit TV in Logan Airport. Many subways have closed-circuit TVs that are managed locally. The difference is they have a much bigger program. They're out on the streets and it's centrally controlled and managed.

Here in the U.S. it's highly decentralized and uneven around the country. My guess is some of the homeland security money will go towards more cameras, but we won't have a central network the way they do in the United Kingdom.

WILLIS: What else should be done, especially when it comes to public transportation, whether it's airplanes, trains, subways? FALKENRATH: I think the whole surface transportation system will get a lot more attention from the Department of Homeland Security compared to where it has been over the last four years. There will be enhanced funding for sensors, for closed-circuit TVs, for command centers for the local operators. The local law enforcement officials will be encouraged to keep heightened presences in the mass transit systems. There will be public affairs efforts to alert the riders to keep -- be on the lookout.

So all of this will happen. It's not a silver bullet by any means, as I said, you can't have perfect security in a mass transit system, but we will get a little bit better.

Richard, you keep talking about educating travelers to be alert. What can you tell them what to look for? A young kid with a backpack, how many of those do I see every day?

FALKENRATH: They're everywhere, I mean, you are exactly right, Gerri. There are everywhere. And so you really have to rely on people's own intuition. The approach at New York City is, if you see something, say something. And so what they're trying to do is create a place where people feel comfortable just calling in based on their own intuition.

Most of the time it won't amount to any, frankly. But you do want to inculcate in the riders this sort of heightened sense of awareness and just to be and on the lookout. There is no cookie cutter though that you can apply it to say this is something you have to be worried about. Because, as you say, there's a lot of young men with backpacks on our subways every day.

WILLIS: Richard Falkenrath, thank you so much for that information.

FALKENRATH: Thank you, Gerri, have a good day.

WILLIS: CNN is committed to providing the most reliable coverage of news that affects your security. Stay tuned to CNN for the latest information day and night.

Tracking Hurricane Emily. The dangerous storm now hovering just below Category 5 status. New information on its path ahead.

Also ahead, lives and homes destroyed in a massive landslide. Now members of one California community are taking legal action. Find out who they're blaming, that's ahead on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WILLIS: More now on our top story, that's Hurricane Emily. It could be a big worry for U.S. residents as early as Tuesday. Our meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is tracking Emily's movements from the hurricane headquarters.

Jacqui, where is it now? JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, it's about 135 miles away from Cozumel now, so it's getting closer. And the 5:00 advisory just coming in a little bit early now, and Emily is holding steady. So it's still a Category 4 hurricane, maximum sustained winds at 145 miles per hour. Higher gusts beyond that.

Satellite imagery looking kind of interesting here. Take note how well defined that eye was earlier. It was a stronger Category 4 earlier today, it's weakened just a little bit. A very nicely, tightly centered, however, a -- maximum hurricane-force winds extending out about 60 miles from the center of the storm.

We're still expecting the track to stay about the same, continuing a west-northwesterly motion about 20 miles per hour, and that should bring landfall into this area near Cozumel, possibly around Cancun, right along the Yucatan peninsula here late tonight and into early tomorrow morning.

It's going to move across the peninsula. It will weaken pretty dramatically, then move back over into open water and then it should intensify once again. Second landfall should be coming late Tuesday night or early in the morning on Wednesday, likely to northern parts of Mexico. But you can see that cone of error brings it into southern parts of Texas. So you do need to be on high alert.

What can you expect along the Yucatan peninsula? Five to eight inches of rainfall. Locally a heavier amount, up to about a foot. And storm surge a pretty big deal here with 8 to 12 feet above normal tide levels. So, Emily, a strong Category 4 holding steady right now -- Gerri.

WILLIS: Jacqui, thanks for that.

It has been six months since deadly landslides swept through La Conchita, California. Ten people died when their houses were buried in mud. And that mountain of mud is still there. Many are angry that nobody is cleaning up and rebuilding the area. It's the focus of a brewing legal battle.

CNN's Peter Viles explains.

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PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If Mike Bell walks just a few blocks from his California house he comes face to face with it, the killer hillside.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get out of here!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey! Look out!

VILES: When the hill gave way in January, 10 people were buried alive.

MIKE BELL, LA CONCHITA HOMEOWNER: One of my neighbors said, oh, my God, look. And we turned and looked up the alley, and you could see the hill fail.

VILES: Six months later there are shrines to the dead, damaged houses and things you can't see, a brewing legal battle. The county has always said the area was unsafe, but residents said they had no idea the hill would collapse the way it did.

BELL: No one had any clue that it would or they wouldn't have been living here.

VILES: But the argument is about the future, too. Bell believes it's possible and feasible to stabilize the hill so it never collapses again.

BELL: I know for a fact it is. And the reason I know that is because there are reputable geological firms that have come into town, they've done a set of drawings on how to stabilize the whole hill.

VILES: But Ventura County doesn't want to touch the hill.

STEVE BENNETT, VENTURA COUNTY SUPERVISOR: If the county goes in and says, we are going to stabilize the hill, and we don't -- and something goes wrong and the hill still slides, the liability for the taxpayers is enormous.

VILES: It's a local problem but a national issue. After all, taxpayers help hurricane victims rebuild in Florida, why not mudslide victims in California? For one, FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency that helps hurricane victims, doesn't fix hillsides, period. And the county isn't convinced the hill can be fixed even for $100 million.

BENNETT: No geologist will tell us that if you terrace the hill, we will guarantee you it won't slide.

VILES: So it's a standoff, leaving a damaged town to live in the shadow of a dangerous hill.

Peter Viles, for CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIS: Knocked down but not for long. A soldier survives a sniper attack in Iraq. But it's what he does next that is truly remarkable.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm meteorologist Bonnie Schneider in the CNN Weather Center with your allergy forecast. Well, for those of you who suffer from allergies, you'll find it will be a lot easier to breathe in the southern states today. We're expecting cloud coverage and a good amount of scattered showers and thunderstorms, and that will help keep the air clean and comfortable for you, though, it will be humid.

Down into the western part of the count country, we've got hot, dry stagnant air through central California on into Nevada and Utah. And this is going to make for uncomfortable conditions for those of you who suffer from allergies.

That's a look at your allergy forecast, I'm meteorologist Bonnie Schneider . Have a great day.

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WILLS: It's hard to imagine what constitutes all in a day's work for U.S. forces in Iraq. But after being shot in the chest while on routine patrol, one Army medic did something amazing, he saved the life of a man who just tried to kill him.

Jessica Weinstein of our Rochester affiliate WHEC has the story.

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DEBBIE TSCHIDERER, MOTHER OF PFC TSCHIDERER: He chased the van, shot out the tires. Does sound kind of like a Bonnie and Clyde type...

JESSICA WEINSTEIN, WHEC REPORTER: Debbie Tschiderer doesn't often get long e-mails from her son, 20-year-old Stephen Tschiderer is just too busy. He's an Army medic stationed in Baghdad.

TSCHIDERER: For years he talked about wanting to be a doctor, and he's very levelheaded.

WEINSTEIN: And the proof is not only in his e-mail accounts but on a tape the Army obtained from insurgents. The sniper's bullet knocks him down but doesn't keep him there.

TSCHIDERER: And you see him flagging to his unit where the insurgents were.

WEINSTEIN: And once his unit captures the insurgents, Stephen does something that still stuns his mother. He helps the man who tried to take his life.

TSCHIDERER: He actually handcuffed the guy who tried to kill him. And then he administered medical attention to him. He had a broken leg, and three gunshot wounds.

WEINSTEIN: Stephen's girlfriend says this is the man she admires.

JACKIE HOLLIDAY, GIRLFRIEND OF PFC. TSCHIDERER: It's not a surprise. It's all part who of he is.

TSCHIDERER: And to me that shows the incredible strength of character that we're very proud of.

WEINSTEIN: Only later did Debbie and Jackie discover that the whole attack was supposed to be training for other terrorists. Now it's evidence of how an American soldier used good will to combat the enemy.

And in his e-mail, Stephen tells his mother he was just doing his duty.

TSCHIDERER: He ends it with: "Treating the man who shot me didn't really sink in until after. At the time, I just did my job and didn't think about it too much."

WEINSTEIN: It's an act Stephen now hopes will be just as significant in the battle for hearts and minds than anything else he does.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIS: Stephen Tschiderer's family says he has recovered completely. The bullet grazed his thumb and hit his chest. But thanks to his body armor, he escaped with only a bruise. Our thanks to Jessica Weinstein from affiliate WHEC for the story.

And inside "Gunner Palace." A bombed-out palace in Iraq where hundreds of American soldiers carry out their daily mission. I'll speak with the film's director on the next hour of CNN LIVE SUNDAY.

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