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CNN Live Sunday

Laptop Stolen with Washington Information; Missing Soldiers May Have Been Kidnapped; Father's Day Wishes; Ozzie Smith Discusses Prostate Cancer

Aired June 18, 2006 - 18:00   ET

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

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: This is CNN LIVE SUNDAY and I'm Carol Lin. Straight ahead in this hour, missing American soldiers and what's being done to find them.
Also, would this have happened if their checkpoint was better protected? I'm going to talk to our military analysts.

And a plot to kill Americans on the New York subway. What did we know and when did we know it?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: The important thing I want to emphasize, this was important, but it wasn't the center of our universe at this point.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: You've been busy this weekend. So let's catch you up. This is what's happening right now in the news.

In Iraq, coalition forces are expanding the search for two American soldiers who went missing after an insurgent attack on Friday. Now, reports say masked gunmen took them from the scene.

And 13 people have been killed in violence across Iraq this weekend. These pictures from a university near Baghdad where mortar rounds wounded at least three people, most of them casualties, most of them in Baquba where three separate drive-by shootings killed five people over the course of just 30 minutes.

Now al Qaeda almost attacked the New York subway system with poison gas three years ago. "Time" magazine reports Osama bin Laden's deputy for some reason called it off. "Time" has parts of a new book due out on Tuesday by journalist Ron Suskind.

A terrible tragedy for a family visiting Yellowstone National Park. Park officials say a woman traveling with her husband and two children fell off a cliff while taking a picture. She fell 500 feet to her death.

Now, another stolen laptop chalk full of personal information. The computer contained unencrypted information of 13,000 workers in Washington D.C. It was taken Monday from the home of a person who works for ING financial services. But the workers didn't know until four days later.

Well the space shuttle Discovery is set to launch on July 1st. It's going to be NASA's first shuttle mission in almost a year and only the second since the Columbia disaster in 2003.

We are following several big stories this hour. Two missing U.S. soldiers in Iraq, they may have been kidnapped and they may still be alive. A lethal gas attack on the New York subway system. "Time" magazine says it was in the works, but al Qaeda's No. 2 man called it off. And rooting out insurgents. CNN's Nic Robertson is embedded with U.S. and Iraqi forces. He's there as they launch a major assault on the insurgent hot bed of Ramadi. An exclusive report in just 30 minutes.

But we have a lot of news today, so up first, the fate of the two missing U.S. soldiers. Iraqi police tell CNN the soldiers were pulled off the street by masked gunmen and it raises the possibility that they may still be alive. So let's get started with CNN's Cal Perry in Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAL PERRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the scene of a coalition checkpoint in Yusufiya, where one U.S. soldier was found dead and two others went .

MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM CALDWELL, U.S. MILITARY SPOKESMAN: A coalition force soldier was killed and two others are currently listed as duty- status and whereabouts unknown after their security element came under attack at a traffic control point south of Yusufiya.

PERRY: Yusufiya, a town 30 miles to the south of Baghdad, lies within what the military calls the "Triangle of Death." Police in the town say that witnesses have told them four masked gunmen seized the two soldiers. An official at the Pentagon tells CNN that a vehicle was found abandoned with blood in the back, footprints matching those from military-issued boots leading away from the truck.

It all started at 8 p.m. local time on Friday, when a unit near to the coalition checkpoint reported taking small-arms fire and explosions. They called in a quick reaction force.

CALDWELL: Coalition forces and Iraqi security forces initiated a search operation within minutes to determine the status of these soldiers. And we are currently using every means at our disposal, on the ground, in the air, and in the water to find them.

PERRY (on camera): Major General Caldwell took the weekend to remember another U.S. soldier, Sergeant Matt Maupin. The U.S. military lists him as missing captured. Caldwell added at the end of his tape message that the U.S. military will never stop looking for any of its soldiers until their status is determined definitively. Cal Perry, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE) LIN: It's important to note the area in which these soldiers were working, so let's give you a little bit of background on Yusafiya. Now the city is about 30 miles south of Baghdad and as you heard in Cal's piece, it's one corner of what they call the "Triangle of Death." The area earned that name because of the high number on coalition troops. Now, it's mostly populated by Shiites, with a Sunni minority. Residents claim insurgents who are Islamic extremists have taken over their town.

Now the soldiers went missing Friday night. The military says it is using every means to find them. To find out exactly what that means, we go to our military analyst, retired Air Force major general Don Sheppard. He's on the phone with us now from Tucson, Arizona. Don, good to have you.

DON SHEPPARD, AIR FORCE MAJOR GENERAL (RET), (on phone): My pleasure, Carol.

LIN: All right, when you hear the language that the military is using, all means at their disposal. You know, in a place like Los Angeles, when they're in gang territory, looking for a criminal, it's a door-to-door hard search with a perimetered area. How does that apply to a war zone like this?

SHEPPARD: I suspect a lot of that is going on, although you can't perimeter off the whole area because you don't know exactly where these guys are. These guys were manning a checkpoint and that's one of the things you worry about all the time with guards out, Carol, is that they are exposed.

Now you don't just leave them out by themselves standing on a street corner. You have quick reaction forces, you have radio contact. It just looks to me like this was a well-planned event. The reports I'm hearing are that there were three humvees at the checkpoint. Two of them took off after what they considered to be insurgents or mysterious people and then the third vehicle where the soldier was killed and the two were abducted was attacked. This sounds like it was pretty well-planned, to me.

LIN: OK, so possibly a trap. Yesterday there were a series of searches, some four different searches, door to door, nothing. Now that whoever the kidnappers may be, now that they know that there are forces out on the street looking, what is the strategy here on day three? How do you protect those lives and still be aggressive about that search?

SHEPPARD: Several ways. Just very much like you would do it, as a matter of fact, in Los Angeles. We spread the word through the community. You look for cues. You go to known places where you have insurgents or people of suspicion. You search those places for cues, you offer rewards. You hand out information, you use loud speakers, all that type of thing to look for these people.

Now there may be some good news here. Of course this could be in reaction to the slaying of al-Zarqawi, in which it would be insurgents who would do this and they would be more likely to kill people in retribution.

But this is a very bad area. I've been through here and it's one of those areas where the hair stands up on the back of your neck, just going through a bad neighborhood in a big city. And basically if these are criminals that have taken these people, trying to look for, you know, trying to get ransom, then there is a chance that they will be alive and we will find them.

LIN: We can only hope so. Don, your analysis of this situation when they were first caught, problem with the bridge. These three soldiers are sent out to check out the situation and then this thing went down. It took 15 minutes for a rapid reaction force to respond, 15 minutes. Don, how do you explain that?

SHEPPARD: Yes. That's something that the military is going to have to look at. That's too long to have people out in an exposed position. But I tell you Carol, we've got soldiers exposed in many places all over. And these guys being missing, we have missing in every war that we never find. It's a tough situation. But basically, you have to be careful. Review your plans, take a look at the situation again and say, look, did we make any errors here as a military that left these guys exposed and we can cover up and do better in the future.

LIN: Well, sure, we certainly hope for the best for the soldiers. Don Sheppard, thank you so much.

SHEPPARD: My pleasure.

LIN: Now the search for the missing soldiers comes at a delicate time in Washington. Much of Congress is up for reelection and nervous. Some lawmakers say it's time to start bringing our troops back home. CNN White House correspondent Elaine Quijano live with that story -- Elaine?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And Carol, at a time when the Bush administration is trying to highlight progress in Iraq, the spotlight this weekend is on the status of those two American soldiers missing since Friday. Today on CNN's "LATE EDITION," White House press secretary Tony Snow told Wolf Blitzer that the United States is still trying to determine what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We're still trying to figure it out. And we've been in communication with Baghdad, I have very recently. And unfortunately there's nothing to report either way. We're still trying to ascertain the whereabouts. Obviously there's a vigorous effort to try to locate them and to bring them back safely.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Meantime, the debate over setting a timeframe for U.S. troop reductions in Iraq continues. Against the backdrop of upcoming congressional elections in November, both Republicans and Democrats are trying to frame the issue. In an op/ed in the "San Francisco Chronicle," Democratic Senators Dianne Feinstein and Christopher Dodd wrote that the time had come for a, quote, "phased redeployment to finally begin." Feinstein plans to introduce a resolution stating that on Tuesday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D), CALIFORNIA: A timetable, some goals, some discussion with the Congress by the administration. The president might not have wanted to have done that early on, but three years and three months, and a bogging down, I think, suggests that the time has come for some discussion as to where we go from here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, Republican Senator Pat Roberts insists that setting a timeframe for U.S. troop withdrawal would give terrorists the ability to wait things out. And he says it would send a message about America's resolve. Certainly President Bush has said many times in the past that he feels such timetables would embolden the enemy. Now today spokesman Tony Snow said that the president understands how a war can wear on the nation. At the same time though, Snow says that Mr. Bush does not plan to conduct this war based on polls. Carol?

LIN: Elaine, thank you so much. For the latest, up to the minute information on the search for the U.S. missing soldiers, log on to CNN.com any time.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching CNN, your severe weather headquarters.

LIN: Check this out. These are incredible pictures out of Kansas. A tornado ripped through the southeastern part of the state yesterday. No reports of any damage, but parts of the Midwest and the South are getting hit by more severe weather today. And take a look at these pictures just in to the CNN Center as it switches out, I hope. But you're about to see damage in Hartford, Wisconsin. There it is. That's the damage that we're looking at, as we're dependent upon the affiliate shot there. OK, not much there. But let's go to Jacqui Jeras at the CNN Weather Center. Jacqui, what's going on?

(WEATHER REPORT)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Smoke comes out of his tires as he breaks. Oh, oh, he hit that car. Hits that car.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: All right, if you love these scenes, we've got a story about car chases on demand. Ahead, the new service for viewers obsessed with this heart-pounding kind of reality T.V.

Also on the hunt for insurgents in Iraq. CNN is embedded with coalition forces in an exclusive report. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Regarding the "Time" magazine article, what did President Bush know regarding the cyanide?

SNOW: Just not going to comment at all on that story.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Questions for the White House spokesperson. But first, we are going to be talking about that terror plot that targeted the world's busiest subway system. Details in four minutes. You're watching CNN LIVE SUNDAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: It's no secret the city of New York makes an appealing target for terrorists. The city's subway was allegedly the target of a new plot by al Qaeda. New details are emerging about the chilling plot today. Three years ago, unsuspecting New York subway riders came dangerously close to being gassed by al Qaeda. But for some reason, the terror network's second in command called it off. The plot is outlined in a new book due out Tuesday. Here's CNN's Fredricka Whitfield.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): In his upcoming book, "The One Percent Doctrine," Pulitzer Price winning reporter Ron Suskind writes about alleged plans for a 2003 terror attack on a New York subway.

"Time" magazine, owned by the same company as CNN, released excerpts. According to Suskind, informants warned U.S. officials that al Qaeda planned to use small, easily concealed devices to release deadly hydrogen cyanide gas on subway trains.

He says, quote, "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," un quote.

In Washington, the FBI declined comment. But a New York police spokesman confirms the department was informed of the threat in 2003 and, quote, "took appropriate precautions," un quote.

Somewhere around 4.8 million people ride New York's subway on an average weekday. On Sunday, New York Senator Charles Schumer expressed concern.

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: I take the subways, my kids take the subways, so I think New Yorkers should feel everything is being done. But in a post 9/11 world, you can't be too careful.

WHITFIELD: In 1995, 12 Tokyo subway riders died after a nerve gas attack blamed on a doomsday cult. Just last year, terrorists bombed three London subway trains and a London bus, killing 52 people. Suskind says the planned attack in New York was apparently called off by Osama bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri. Their reason, Suskind says, remains unclear. Fredricka Whitfield, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Now hydrogen cyanide is pretty deadly stuff. It can be highly poisonous, colorless gas or a bluish-white liquid and it smells like bitter almonds. An exposure can kill a person in a matter of seconds because the gas causes vital organs to shut down. Now stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

In our world wrap now, rising tension over the possible long range missile test by North Korea. The U.S. says it expects North Korea to maintain its freeze on missile tests. The White House is not saying how President Bush will respond if the test goes ahead.

And a major crackdown on Taliban militants in Afghanistan. More than 10,000 U.S. led troops are spreading out over four southern provinces. It's called Operation Mountain Thrust. Officials say about 90 insurgents have already been killed in less than a week.

And in the nation's capitol, a somber Father's Day ceremony. Families who have lost their fathers on the battlefield laid hundreds of roses at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Red roses for soldiers killed in Vietnam, yellow for those listed as missing in action and white for soldiers who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Time now to go global. Shanon Cook has the other big world stories. Hey Shanon, Australia putting up a good show at the World Cup today, despite the fact that they lost?

SHANON COOK, CNN ANCHOR: They did very well, I was very proud, especially since they were up against the defending champions. Now Carol, as we know, World Cup fever is in full swing. The world's gone crazy. But it's not just humans who have been kicking soccer balls around.

Some sporty robots got a piece of the action, too. Check them out here. This is Robocup 2006. And hundreds gathered in Germany Sunday for the events finals. A German and Japanese team faced off in the humanoid robot league final, that's what we're seeing here. Oh, oh, someone just took a little bit of a backward fall there. Now despite an early flurry by the Germans, the Japanese team won nine goals to five.

Now another popular category was four-legged doggie robots. Two Australian teams made it to that final. Team NUbots were the victors here. Overall, they were about 440 teams from 33 countries at the event. So you know, it was quite a big deal.

And speaking of all things soccer -- what we're looking at here is what's believed to be the world's oldest soccer ball. It used to belong to royals in Scotland way back in 1542. The ball is made from a pig's bladder, would you believe? And that pig's bladder has been covered over with pieces of leather. It's presently on display at a museum in Germany, where the World Cup is being held.

Meanwhile in Tel Aviv, Israelis find a way to release some tension, and that is by holding a massive pillow fight. Check this out, hundreds took part in the event at Rabin Square. Now participants were urged to keep their heads low or be softly knocked down. And Carol, it actually got a little bit brutal. Feathers were flying. But luckily, there were no casualties.

LIN: A new take on violence in the Middle East, I guess. Shanon, where do you find this stuff?

COOK: Oh, it finds me, I tell you.

LIN: Yes, you must be a magnet for wacky around the world. Shanon, terrific stories, thank you.

COOK: Thank you.

LIN: Now straight ahead, we have all tuned in for those wild police car chases. But now you can get your fix on demand. We're going to show you how a bit later.

But first, Father's Day holds a special means for two boys. Overcoming the odds and coping with a tragic loss. Their story next when CNN LIVE SUNDAY continues.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The college term papers are finished. The final exams passed and you have walked across that stage to get your diploma.

But before college is completely in your rearview mirror, there's one more deadline you need to pay attention to, June 30th is the last day to consolidate your student loans at a lower interest rate. On July 1st interest rates are expected to rise nearly two percentage points to 6.8 percent. That's the highest level since 2001. If you are in school or within the grace period to pay back the loans, you can consolidate now for as low as 4.75 percent.

Parents needs to pay attention, too. Those who took out PLUS loans can lock in at 6.1 percent, otherwise it's 7.94 percent starting July 1st. To put this in perspective, a student with $20,000 in college loans could save as much as $5,000 by consolidating before July 1st according to Sallie Mae.

So start with some research about your loans. If all of your loans are with one lender, then by law, you must consolidate with them. But if they are held by more than one lender, then you are allowed to shop around and get the best deals.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Among the most popular stories this hour on CNN.com. A first for the Episcopal Church. Today it elected a woman to lead the church. She's currently a bishop for the church in Nevada. And it could be the world's costliest lemon. A limited edition Mercedes Benz Roadster: the exotic car cost $1.7 million two years ago. The owner of a car dealership says the car won't run 10 blocks without breaking down, so he's suing. And you may not know, but India has a growing influence over your daily life. More on that and other stories at CNN.com. Click on the "Most Popular" tab for details.

Now when the plane crashed into the Pentagon on 9/11, it didn't simply kill people. It killed husbands and wives and children and parents. Among those devastated by that day were the Murphy brothers. They lost their dad in the attacks. And they've been struggling ever since to cope. Now this Father's Day, they share their story and a story of loss and recovery.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My husband Patrick was killed at the Pentagon on 9/11. He just happened to be there for that week on active duty. And he was the guy who wanted to be the best dad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was like -- real angry. But then, you have to deal with the facts.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For me, you know, at that time, he was 6- years-old. He's a smart boy. So, he knows what's going on. And that was tough on him. He was mad at terrorists.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everything's not clear. And once it is, you get angry. What could I have done? And everything seems hopeless.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then we found this grief camp, sponsored by an organization called TAPs (ph). They help military surviving families.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At grief camp, the first time, it helped a lot.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At the end of the grief camp, Mitch's mentor came up to me, Mrs. Murphy, I want to talk about Mitch because Mitch was angry. Mitch is angry at your husband, very much. I was surprised. Why? Why Mitch is angry at dad?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wasn't angry at my dad -- I was angry that -- he didn't know. He had no chance.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I talked to Mitch. Mitch, you know, you are angry at dad because you think daddy could run away, and could survive. But Mitch, you know, daddy's office had no window, he couldn't know a plane's coming to him. There was a big, big turning point. Casey was only 3-years-old. He didn't know so much about dad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It seemed like he didn't even know him. I feel so sorry for him.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I always telling Pat, saying, Pat, use my hands, use my eyes, use my mouth, nose, everything, to enjoy life, and hold your kids. Mitch and Casey are kids.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Stepping up the fight against insurgents. Up next, a CNN exclusive: Nic Robertson on the ground with coalition forces in Ramadi.

And also, he was known as the wizard of Oz on the baseball field. Ozzie Smith is going to join us live for a special message for men on Father's Day. You're watching CNN LIVE SUNDAY.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, my name is Lance Corporal Larry G. Patello (ph), Combat Logistics Battalion 7, Al-Asad, Iraq. I would like to give a wish out, Happy Father's Day to my dad, Donald Patello (ph), in Dryin (ph), Michigan. Happy Father's Day, dad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, this is Lance Corporal Robert Thompson (ph) from Al-Asad Iraq, I just want to say Happy Father's Day to Eric Thompson (ph) back home in Niles (ph), Michigan, thanks for your support, can't wait to see you. Love you, by.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Lance Corporal Brian Weber (ph) in Al-Asad, Iraq. I would like to say Happy Father's Day to my father Glen Weber (ph) in Redford, Michigan. I'll see you soon dad. You rock.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unbelievable. Look at that. Out of control. Head-on into a pickup truck!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: All the drama of high speed police chases right at your fingertips. Details straight ahead, when CNN LIVE SUNDAY continues in 60 seconds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Here's what's happening right now in the news.

In Iraq, the search continues for two U.S. soldiers reportedly snatched by insurgents at this coalition checkpoint. Iraqi police say the soldiers were abducted by masked gunmen. CNN is going to keep you updated on all the developments in this story as they unfold.

Now, today's biggest flashpoint in Iraq is the city of Baquba. Eight people were killed in drive-by shootings. Three of those shootings happened over a 30 minute period.

In Baghdad, four more people were killed by a car bomb, and another car bomb in Mosul killed a schoolgirl and wounded 18.

New revelations of an al Qaeda plan to deliver a deadly gas attack in New York City's subway system three years ago. Now, state and local officials are confirming the reports. The subway poison gas plot was reportedly called off by Osama bin Laden's deputy.

And tragedy at Yellowstone National Park. A 52-year-old woman fell 500 feet to her death. Park officials say she lost her footing while trying to take a picture.

And another stolen laptop chock full of personal information. The computer contained unencrypted information of 13,000 workers in Washington, DC. It was taken Monday from a home of a person that worked for ING Financial Services but the workers didn't know until four days later.

And talk about some quick pickup. The animated movie "Cars" stayed out in front of the competition for a second straight week. The latest Disney/Pixar offering has already earned $31 million.

An extremely dangerous and difficult mission. U.S. and Iraqi troops moving in on the critical town of Ramadi, trying to put a stranglehold on insurgents. CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is embedded with U.S. troops there. He filed this report that you will only see on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A 500-pound bomb slams into barricades on a strategic bridge, marking the beginning of an attack designed to stop insurgents getting in and out of Ramadi.

In the hours that follow just after sunset, hundreds of U.S. and Iraqi troops and armor pour over the rail bridge to the southern outskirts on have the city, penetrating areas controlled by insurgents and completing, officers say, the isolation or strategic encirclement of Ramadi.

CAPT. MIKE MCLUSKER, U.S. ARMY: Terrorists have had what we would call freedom of maneuver or freedom of movement and they have gone on for a while. So I would say that they are used to being able to operate freely in the area that we're moving to.

COL. SEAN MACFARLAND, U.S. ARMY: They are going to go across this canal and establish a patrol base.

ROBERTSON: It's a joint U.S.-Iraqi operation. Although the U.S. provides most of the firepower and logistics, the plan uses U.S. strength to get Iraqi security forces into parts of Ramadi off-limits to them until now.

MACFARLAND: One piece at a time, going to take back parts of Ramadi that the insurgents have been able to gain the upper hand.

ROBERTSON: The details of this operation have been a closely guarded secret. But as the troops get ready to move on out here over the bridge into Ramadi, the concern is the insurgents may have figured out they are coming, pulled back and laid plenty of IEDs, or road side bombs in their wake.

MacFarland and other commanders have been keen to play down the size of the attack, possibly concerned about sparking panic among city residents. Hundreds of whom they say have recently left the city of 400,000.

For soldiers on the leading edge of the attack, there was no doubt about the scale of what they were getting into.

SPEC. MICHAEL ESKO, U.S. ARMY: This is part of the big one, first part going in, so I guess we are all a little nervous, excited, scared, I think it will work out for the best though.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a big day so make sure this is the one we get everything right and bring all our guys back.

ROBERTSON: CNN wasn't taken along for the actual attack, but sleeping soldiers the next morning spoke volumes for the intensity of their overnight effort and lack of immediate insurgent response. But among commanders, little doubt insurgents will strike back.

MACFARLAND: My concern is the first thing everybody else - is sniper fire, and we're going to probe us to gauge our reaction.

ROBERTSON (on camera): The overnight operation was also made easier by the fact that many had fled their homes when troops arrived here in this suburb on the south side of Ramadi. Their objective? They found half the families had gone, commanders concluded reports they had of people fleeing in advance of their attack were accurate. The challenge now is to convince those people it's safe to come back home and convince them as well that they can defeat the insurgents.

Nic Robertson, CNN, embedded with the 1st Battalion, the 37th Armored Regiment, on the south side of Ramadi, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: For more on the search for insurgents in Iraq, you can log on to cnn.com.

The power of celebrity. Bono on stage with U2 or campaigning to end world poverty. Angelina. Walking the red carpet or reaching out to the world's refugees. Warrick Dunn. Going for the touchdown or giving single moms their first home.

When they do what they do best, we can't get enough. When it's in the name of charity, we're captivated even more.

And captivating is the perfect word to describe the man that put the back flips in baseball. Now Ozzie Smith is now the man with a message. Take a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) OZZIE SMITH, FORMER BASEBALL PLAYER: Baseball starts with good defense, and so does fighting prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in the U.S. today. One in six men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. When detected early, prostate cancer is highly treatable. And with a little defense, with can beat prostate cancer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Awesome. Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith joins us now. I love seeing you do that back flip. You're famous for it. I don't know how you did it.

SMITH: Did you notice how I got lower and lower, though, Carol, as the years went on.

LIN: But it's all about completing the cycle, right? And inspiring other people to do what may seem the impossible. How did you get so interested in trying to get prostate cancer awareness, prostate cancer checkups out there? You've not been touched personally.

SMITH: No. Not personally. But a lot of people around me have. I have a very good friend that I play golf with all the time has just been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and as an African American male, we're 60 percent more likely to get prostate cancer as opposed to a Caucasian male, and some 20 to 25 percent of those people will die from the disease, and, you know, getting involved, I think, is just about way to use my celebrity to bring awareness to a very worthy cause.

You know, Gillette has gone a great job at spearheading this with Major League Baseball, at getting the awareness of how important it is to have your blood work done, for African American men, I think it's tough, because of insurance problems, and the reluctance as men.

LIN: What about the nature of -- The assumption, I'm only guessing, for a man, is when you think about checkup, all right, is it kind of a humiliating process? Is there going to be somebody, you know, approaching you in an area you don't want -- it's very simple. It's none of that.

SMITH: It's very simple. Just get -- you can get detected with a blood test. And, for men, that's always been hard for us to sit down and talk about things such as this. So, it's about making sure that men now at least talking about it. If you start talking about it, it becomes a little bit, the understanding of it is clearer, and you realize that early detection can save your life.

LIN: And Major League Baseball. So, explain this sixth inning stretch. Usually it's in the seventh inning. Major League Baseball has pledged $10,000 for every home run for the sixth batter ...

SMITH: That's right. In every game today, the guy hitting in the six spot, I don't know whether or not a manager is going to manipulate that. But the sixth guy if he hits a home run, $10,000 will be donated to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

LIN: I got to say. How often is the sixth batter going to hit a home run? Is Major Leaguer Baseball being a little cheap here?

SMITH: We hope that today, six is very lucky, and we chose six because one out of every six men in America will at some point have to deal with prostate cancer.

LIN: Tell Major League Baseball -- they can up the ante. Every home run.

SMITH: Every home run.

LIN: Not the sixth batter. Come on.

SMITH: I'll tell them that next time. But it's -- it's a very worthy cause, and, today, you know, you will see blue. Blue has become synonymous with prostate cancer awareness.

LIN: Like pink for breast cancer awareness.

SMITH: Exactly.

LIN: All right. Gillette has taken you on. They are sponsoring this. They are paying for this. Is this your new career?

SMITH: Well, it's not about career. It's about taking my celebrity to a point to where I can be a part of a worthy cause. I think this here probably is one of the most important things I've done, you know, that I could ever do in helping save lives. If we save one, two, three lives by people going and getting checked, then this is all worth it.

LIN: You got it. So this is not take me out to the ballpark, this is take me out to the doctor.

SMITH: That's right, take me out to the doctor.

LIN: Just get checked. Simple blood test.

SMITH: That's right.

LIN: Appreciate it, Ozzie.

SMITH: Thank you very much, Carol.

LIN: Good luck with this.

All right. Well, can you call it the ultimate reality TV right at your fingertips. Car chases on demand. Straight ahead.

First, drama, action and suspense. It is not a movie. It's the Masters. Phil Mickelson makes a full charge at the U.S. Open. A live report, straight ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, I'm (inaudible), I'm currently deployed in Al-Asad, Iraq. Just shouting out to my father, 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 Conn (ph) here in Baghdad, Iraq. Like to wish my father in Davis, Michigan a Happy Father's Day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Sergeant First Class Ronald Hobbes (ph) at Camp Erkajob (ph), Kuwait. I'd like to say hi to Ronald Carter, back in Detroit, Michigan. Happy Father's Day, and y'all stay safe. God bless y'all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Larry Smith at the 106th U.S. Open. The second major of the year. It's coming down to a thrilling finish here in the final round. I've got the update when CNN LIVE SUNDAY continues in 60 seconds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: In other news across America, Peru, Illinois. Two small planes collide in midair at an air show. One pilot was killed but there were no other injuries.

Near Chicago, hope dims for saving two men who disappeared in the Cal-Sag Waterway yesterday. Dive teams unsuccessfully searched the channel for six hours. The missing pair are described as two men in their 20s.

And in Oregon, two mountain climbers are in fair condition after falling 500 feet near the top of Mt. Hood. Paramedics were nearby when they fell and rushed to help. A National Guard helicopter lifted them off that mountain.

And a unique competition in Louisville, Kentucky this weekend. All 1,200 participants are transplant recipients. Their ages do vary, though, from three to 83. Events include swimming, table tennis and basketball. They look good.

Now the leaders are playing in the final holes of the U.S. Open. It's one of the four big championships in men's golf. And for the winner? Big bragging rights. CNN's Larry Smith live in Mamaroneck, New York with the latest- how do you pronounce that? Mamoronic (ph)? Mamaroneck!?

SMITH: Mamaroneck. That's very close. Got a difficult to try first time out, Carol. What an exciting finish we have got here at Winged Foot. It's come down it looks like right now to Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie. We talked about how the player that made the fewest mistakes today would get the victory.

And right now, it's been Montgomerie with the fewest mistakes, only two bogeys on the day. He birdied a few moments ago on 17 to get to four over par and tie Mickelson who just a few minutes ago hit his fourth, make that his fifth bogey on the day. He also was at four over par. And, so, at one point a four-way tie for first when Mickelson birdied the 11th hole. He bogeyed at 16. And Monty the birdie on 17. So here we go.

Montgomerie, by the way, 42 years old. He is from Scotland. He is one of the best players on the European tour for the past decade. But has never won a major and never won a tournament in 99 career starts on U.S. soil. He's going for his first major. Mickelson, if he can get a win, going for his third consecutive professional major victory, and only Tiger Woods and Ben Hogan have done that before in the previous in golf.

Now, if it's a tie, we come back tomorrow, and those two, whoever's tied, will play a full 18-hole round. But again, tied right now, four over par. Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie earing the end of this fourth round of the U.S. Open. Let's go back to you.

LIN: All right. Larry Smith in Mamaroneck. I got that right.

SMITH: Very good.

LIN: Thanks. Speaking Indian now. Appreciate it.

Well, it's the ultimate reality TV. The high speed car chase, and for some reason, we can't get enough. Well, now, you don't have to worry about missing the action, at least, when the TVs are turned off.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, my name is Lance Corporal Larry G. Patello (ph), Combat Logistics Battalion 7, Al-Asad, Iraq. I would like to give a wish out, Happy Father's Day to my dad, Donald Patello (ph), in Dryin (ph), Michigan. Happy Father's Day, dad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, this is Lance Corporal Robert Thompson (ph) from Al-Asad Iraq, I just want to say Happy Father's Day to Eric Thompson (ph) back home in Niles (ph), Michigan, thanks for your support, can't wait to see you. Love you, by.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Lance Corporal Brian Weber ...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, he hits that car! Hits that car. He jumps out the window.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Come on. You've been glued to the set for these things. In hot pursuit across California, high speed police chases seem like a part of daily life. Now, in 2003, more than 7,000 pursuits were reported in California alone. And law enforcement is doing what it can to reduce that number. But they do happen, and lives are in danger. CNN's Ted Rowlands reports a story that first aired on "ANDERSON COOPER 360."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is unbelievable. Look at that. He's out of control. Head on into a pickup truck.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They play out on a daily basis in California and many times end up on TV.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, there's four vehicles that he just ran into.

ROWLANDS: Police chases, which some consider the ultimate in reality television.

JUDY GRAFFE, PURSUIT WATCHER: I have to tune in.

ROWLANDS: Judy Graffe, along with thousands of other viewers, love to watch people on the freeways in streets of California trying to get away from the police. Judy is such a fanatic that she actually subscribes to a service that alerts her with a phone call when a chase is under way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa, look at that. Right between those two cars.

GRAFFE: No one single car chase is like another. I mean, anything from what neighborhoods they go to, to the speeds they travel, to who it turns out they are.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There he goes. He's out, and he's in the lanes of traffic.

ROWLANDS: Over the years, there have been some memorable California chases. There was the stolen tank in San Diego. There was the hijacked bus in Los Angeles, the driver careening through the streets like a real-life version of the movie, "Speed," without the Hollywood ending.

GRAFFE: That one was absolutely fascinating. To imagine somebody hijacking a bus and thinking they could get away?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's over 120 miles an hour here in...

ROWLANDS: Police have chased practically everything on wheels, from motorcycles ...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, look at this, a wheelie, right through traffic.

ROWLANDS: ...to RVs. This chase lasted more than four hours, part of it off-road. Everyone seemed relieved when this ended.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nature called.

ROWLANDS: 7-Up received some free advertising while police pursued this stolen truck.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look out. Spinning out...

ROWLANDS: There's even been a case of ambulance-chasing, literally. Sometimes the suspect runs; many times they give up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So it's a foot chase, and we'll see if the officers -- he runs out of steam.

ROWLANDS: This person decided to turn things around, putting the car into reverse.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very bizarre behavior.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It went through the interchange, continuing northbound onto 405 ...

ROWLANDS: And, of course, there was the ultimate celebrity pursuit, O.J., the slow-speed chase seen live around the world.

GRAFFE: Who knew where that was going to go? I mean, it was anybody's guess. And so I think that sort of hooked me into car chases.

ROWLANDS: As for the question of why so many chases here? many people think California is unique because there are more freeways and more cars. But Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton points to the people.

WILLIAM BRATTON, CHIEF, LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT: You got a lot of nuts here, that's what makes it so unique, quite frankly.

ROWLANDS: Ted Rowlands, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Join "ANDERSON COOPER 360" only on CNN weeknights at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.

And don't forget, in three minutes, Sanjay Gupta's special, "Fit Nation." Sanjay takes on obesity tonight. How can you help your loved ones become more fit?

At 8:00 p.m., a fascinating "CNN PRESENTS: Dead Wrong" the intelligence meltdown on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

At 9:00 Eastern, "LARRY KING LIVE," and tonight former Vice President Al Gore on global warming and his new movie.

At 10:00 p.m. Eastern, kids only cell phone ring tones. They can hear them. Can you? (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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