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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
Survivors Found in MC-130 Crash; Padilla Lawyer Says She Cannot See Client; NASA Crewmembers Set Record
Aired June 12, 2002 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Now on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, a developing story. A U.S. Special Ops aircraft goes down in Afghanistan.
Wanted for questioning: police have a name and a picture one week after a Utah girl's disappearance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERGEANT FRED LOUIS, SALT LAKE CITY POLICE: We do consider him dangerous.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Denver in danger, a monster fire marches on. The president says killers are still lurking around out there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're under attack. That's the way it is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: So what's he doing about it? And a Hollywood murder mystery, were they working on a book when they threw the book at Robert Blake?
It's Wednesday, June 12, 2002. Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. We begin with a breaking story out of Afghanistan, where a U.S. Special Forces aircraft has gone down with ten people on board. Let's go straight to our Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre for details. Jamie.
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, it was about one o'clock Eastern time but 9:30 at night in Afghanistan. A U.S. Air Force MC-130 Special Operations transport plane was taking off from a forward operating base near Gardez when it apparently crashed upon takeoff. There were ten U.S. military personnel onboard, a crew of seven plus three, who were passengers in the plane.
Initial reports from the scene, according to the U.S. Central Command, are that there are some survivors of the crash. We haven't been told how many. We haven't been told if there are any deaths or how many there might be.
No indication at this time that this was a result of anything other than an accident. No indication of hostile fire. The military is still investigating what happened. As I said, there are still rescuers on the scene. The names of those onboard the plane are being withheld at this time while the families are being contacted. Wolf.
BLITZER: Jamie, any indication whatsoever who those three passengers onboard this aircraft may have been?
MCINTYRE: Well they were all military personnel, but they aren't all members of the crew. This plane has a crew of seven and there were three people onboard.
Now it can carry a lot more soldiers than that. It's usually used to transport Special Operations troops around, so fortunately this was not a fully-loaded plane when it went down.
BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon, thank you very much. And these are pictures of that MC-130. The aircraft went down in a region of Afghanistan where U.S. forces have gone after al Qaeda holdouts. Let's go live to CNN's Gary Tuchman. He's on the scene in Kabul. Gary, what are you hearing there, first of all, about this incident?
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the area where it happened is Paktika Province, specifically an area called the Bande Sardeh Dam. It's about 120 miles southwest of Kabul.
Now it's an area where U.S. forces have been looking for al Qaeda holdouts as you've been saying. The most famous mission of the war, perhaps, took place there, Operation Anaconda this past March and there's continuing missions to blow up caves where al Qaeda people may be hiding out.
Now we know that 12 other U.S. troops have been killed in airplane or helicopter accidents, supporting the war in Afghanistan. Most recently, January 7th, seven Marines were killed when their KC- 130 refueling plane crashed into a mountain in Pakistan.
So, it's a region where U.S. forces have done a lot of work. The name of the closest big city if Gardez. U.S. forces have been on the scene there with Special Operations forces since this war began.
The good news, as Jamie pointed out, there are some survivors. We expect to find out a lot more details a few hours from now at the Bagram Air Force Base. That's just north of here in Kabul, where we'll be attending a news conference and bringing it to you later, Wolf, back to you.
BLITZER: Gary Tuchman on the scene. We'll be back to you, of course, as this story continues to unfold, and this is a C-130. It's very similar to an MC-130, although there are significant differences, and for that, let's turn to our military analyst retired General David Grange. General Grange, first of all, tell us the difference between a C- 130 and the MC-130 or AC-130. You're a former member of the Special Operations.
BRIGADIER GENERAL DAVID GRANGE, U.S. ARMY (RET): Well, the MC-130 is an aircraft modified for Special Operations, for advanced infiltration, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), resupply missions, for refueling Special Operations helicopters and also psychological operations.
It's advanced avionics. It has some countermeasures for enemy radar, enemy infrared weaponry. It's a great aircraft. It's very reliable and for them to crash is unusual.
BLITZER: Well, what about the track record? When you say it's unusual, how unusual is it for an MC-130 to go down, because C-130s have gone down in military operations over the years as you well know?
GRANGE: Yes, all 130s actually are very reliable. I've used them off and on over 30 years and I feel very comfortable in those aircraft. They've been used on many missions from Vietnam all the way up to today.
So it's a very reliable aircraft. It's hard to tell is this incident happened from enemy fire. Of course, takeoff and landing is a very dangerous time for an aircraft in a hostile area. That's when it's hard to do counter-radar, counter-weaponry measures. So it's hard to say what happened and hopefully, from what you reported, we do have survivors and they can be saved.
BLITZER: Let's take a look at a map of where Gardez is and we'll put it up on the screen because I want to show our viewers something about this entire area.
Of course, this is the area, just south of Kabul, the Gardez area not far along from the border with Pakistan. Presumably, when you look at this whole area, General, what kind of operation would you guest this plane might have been involved in, called to undertake?
GRANGE: Well a lot of different types of operations, but just looking at what's been reported and the number of personnel on the aircraft that may have already delivered resupplies or delivered troops, Special Operation troops or vehicles or other types of equipment.
So that may have already happened and it was departing the area to go back to its home base. Very mountainous terrain, obviously, this aircraft is designed to work on what they call stole airfields, you know short takeoff and landing strips in remote areas under austere conditions. It's a perfect aircraft for that type of operations. That's why it's the aircraft of choice probably in this region.
BLITZER: General Grange, a former Ranger, former member of the Delta Force, thanks for your expertise, as usual.
And let's move on now to Utah. They're not using the word "suspect," but police are seeking a 26-year-old transient for questioning in the disappearance of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart. CNN National Correspondent Frank Buckley is standing by with today's developments in this kidnapping investigation that's gripped much of the country. Frank.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, you're right. He is described as a transient. Let me show you a picture of him right away. His name is Bret Edmunds. He is 26 years old. He is wanted on two outstanding warrants here in Salt Lake City or in Utah. One is for fraud. One is for assaulting a police officer.
Police believe he was in a car in the neighborhood around the Smart residence a night or two before the abduction took place. Police went back into that neighborhood yesterday, where they began to re-canvass the area.
A milkman making deliveries reported a car with a license plate number with the numbers 266 in it. A car coming back to Edmunds has the number 266 in it. Police want to talk to Edmunds, but as you say, they are not calling him a suspect.
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DWAYNE BAIRD, SALT LAKE CITY POLICE: We're not ruling him out as a suspect, but we want to interview him first and find out if, in fact, he was up here in the avenues, what he was doing here, the timeframe and those kinds of things.
We have some questions of him that our detectives want to interview him about and then we can decide one way or the other as far as any further extent in this kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BUCKLEY: It was an alert milkman who a couple of nights, perhaps one night we're not really sure before the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who in the neighborhood around the Smarts noticed what he felt was a suspicious car. He was interviewed here by a local television station KUTV. Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLIE MILLER, MILKMAN: He just seemed to drive the neighborhood real slow and so it seemed as though he was looking for something and it just seemed out of the norm to me. So, you know, when we spot those things out there, we just try to keep an eye on the neighborhood and hopefully this might be information that could help.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BUCKLEY: And so now police are hoping to talk to the person that they believe was in that car that was spotted by the milkman. The license plate number of that car is 266 XJH.
The original license plate number that they had, had the numbers 266 in it as reported by the milkman, but they did not have those last three letters correct, according to the police because when the police ran that initial plate, it came back - it didn't come back. There was no car registered to that number. Someone else subsequently called in, said how about this car, and now that's why police want to talk to this individual. Wolf.
BLITZER: Frank Buckley on the scene, thank you very much. And Sergeant Fred Louis is a spokesman for the Salt Lake City Police Department. He joins us now with a closer look at this very, very sad case. Sergeant Louis, thanks so much for joining us. Why at this point is he not a suspect? Sergeant Louis stand by for a second. Unfortunately, we're having some troubles with your microphone. We're going to try to fix that. Maybe you could use this microphone instead. Let's see if we can hear you now.
LOUIS: OK, could you repeat the question?
BLITZER: The question is why is this individual, Bret Michael Edmunds, not a suspect?
LOUIS: He's not a suspect. We don't have any information that would indicate him being involved in the kidnapping of Elizabeth. However, based on the information from the milkman and some other tips that we're following up on, we feel that his vehicle with the 266 in the license plate is something that we need to follow up on.
So we went forward today with this information about Mr. Edmunds in hopes of locating him, interviewing him, and just to interview him to find out what he knows. He was in the area, so we want to find out if he knows anything about this case.
BLITZER: Is there anything in his record because we do know he does have a record. Is there anything in his background that would suggest kidnapping?
LOUIS: We don't have any information about his background, but we do know that he has violence in his past. He assaulted a police officer and he also has a second warrant for fraud. So, this individual is dangerous and we're asking people not to approach him, but if they see him to call the Salt Lake City Police Department.
BLITZER: Is this the individual the chief, the police chief was hinting about yesterday when he said that they think they have someone in mind?
LOUIS: Well, we're still, detectives are still interviewing people, you know, witnesses, friends, family or friends and this individual when we finally locate him and talk to him, we'll have more information at that point.
BLITZER: Has there been any ransom demand if, in fact, this is a kidnapping of that nature as far as you know, Sergeant?
LOUIS: There's not been any ransom demands, no.
BLITZER: Sergeant Louis, thanks so much for joining us, appreciate it very much.
Now to Colorado, which has become a battleground for firefighters and a nightmare for residents.
Thousands have been urged to evacuate, many already have, their homes right in the path of one of the nine major fires burning across the state. The largest and most dangerous just miles from Denver, and that's where CNN's Charles Molineaux is standing by. Charles.
CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, this battle is actually about to shape up into more of a battle. Finally, reinforcements are on the way. That's the word from the Forest Service here in Castle Rock, Colorado.
This is the Northern Command Center for the Hayman fire. This as the Forest Service contemplates a real nightmare scenario, one it says is very realistic in which the Hayman fire expands to 200,000 acres.
The idea is based on that notion that sooner or later, the winds are going to pick back up again like they did on Monday when the fire burned 60,000 acres in a single day. It has now burned 90,000 and that has put it right on the outskirts of some of Denver's remote southwestern suburbs.
Five thousand people have evacuated already. Some 10,000 more are considered likely to want to evacuate and voluntary evacuations are in place in the fire's path.
However, reinforcements are coming. Some 1,800 additional firefighters are being brought in from across the country and some six planes will now be available, 14 helicopters. This effectively quadruples the manpower available on this fire and offers the opportunity for a change in strategy to actually fighting this fire instead of just getting out of the way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RON HALEY, U.S. FOREST SERVICE: A lot of the effort, because there was a shortage of resources, was put into evacuations, methodical evacuations and so forth. Well, immediately orders were placed for fire resources, and as those begin to come in, we're better able to deal with the fire situation. I don't want to paint a picture that we got a handle on this thing at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOLINEAUX: Because at this point only five percent containment on the Hayman fire, it is very much out of control still and as you may be able to tell, Wolf, we are actually seeing the afternoon breezes pick up.
This has been a continuing problem for firefighters in the afternoons, although at the moment, the overall weather forecast does remain relatively calm and relatively benign.
BLITZER: Charles Molineaux, thanks for joining us. Thanks for that report. And the Colorado Governor Bill Owens has been to the front lines of these fires. He's kept residents alerted to the dangers and is now asking for government help. Right now, Governor Owens is taking a few minutes to talk with us. Governor, thanks for joining us.
GOVERNOR BILL OWENS, COLORADO: You bet.
BLITZER: Give us a perspective in your state's history -- how big are these current fires?
OWENS: Well, Wolf, this is a real challenge. We've never had nine fires going at the same time. We've never had a fire as big as the Hayman fire, which you just reported on, 80,000 acres.
We're hoping to double the firefighters on the line tomorrow, but this is a time for Colorado to do everything we can to support these people and also do everything we can as Coloradoans not to add to the problem by human error in terms of causing additional fires.
BLITZER: Well, what do you mean by that? What else could - what should people in Colorado avoid doing right now?
OWENS: Well, no open fires in Colorado are allowed. I banned all open fires three days ago. We've banned fireworks. The state is so dry. This is our driest year in recorded history. Our snow pack is at two percent of normal.
So what we've got here is fires that are using, that are benefiting, as it were, from these horrible weather conditions in terms of the wind, in terms of the dryness, and so it's a time for all of us to be very careful in terms of these manmade fires.
That Hayman fire that you just reported on was caused by a careless camper. We have additional fires. I just returned from Durango, Missionary Ridge, again a manmade fire. We're mostly dealing with manmade fires in Colorado today and that's really a real tragedy.
BLITZER: Are people in the Denver area out of the woods, so to speak?
OWENS: Yes. Yes, this fire is not going to endanger Denver itself. I just flew over it a couple of hours ago, and as bad as it is and as significant as it is, it's still 20 or 30 miles from Denver and there's a lot of natural stoppage points for this fire between Denver and the fire.
But the southern suburbs, Jefferson County, there are areas there that are already in danger, and that's where we've been evacuating. Basically, this fire is directly west of Colorado Springs, and then it goes north towards Denver, about 20 or 30 miles west of Colorado Springs. A lot of times people think that Denver's right in the path. Denver Metropolitan area is safe.
BLITZER: What about those people who aren't necessarily safe? What advice do you have for them in terms of if they have to evacuate and leave their homes, what should they take with them?
OWENS: You know, they should do it immediately and they should be preparing for that right now. They should get family pets and documents and heirlooms and pictures. My advice, though, is what we've been saying here for days, and that is when the evacuation order is issued, get out immediately. Don't put law enforcement and firefighters at risk coming in to tell you a second time; natural tendency to want to stay with your home.
We even have fire units that have wanted to hold the line when they've been ordered to evacuate. Everybody needs to follow these rules, so that we don't put additional people at risk.
We haven't had one death. We've had very few minor injuries based on these nine fires that are aflame across Colorado today, and we want to keep that record intact while we continue to fight these fires.
BLITZER: Governor Bill Owens thanks for joining us.
OWENS: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: Good luck to you and everyone else in Colorado.
OWENS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
BLITZER: Our best wishes, thank you very much.
OWENS: You bet.
BLITZER: And some of the more dramatic views of this incredibly dangerous fire have come to us from our Denver affiliate KUSA, and the same daring news crew we heard from yesterday is flying over the area once again today.
JAYSON LUBER, KUSA: Wolf, several hot spots continue to ravage the rugged Colorado Mountains. One of the newest hot spots is burning on this, the western edge of the fire boundary, sending thick smoke plumes high into the sky. The smoke is a major issue for air attacks, flurry bombers. They are forced to stay on the ground, unable to fight through the thick smoke and haze that continues to blow across the Metro area.
Air attack helicopters are up and actively targeting the hot spots, dropping thousands of gallons of water, sucked up from mountain lakes and ponds. Anywhere they can find water, they're going to be sucking it up and trying to cool down these edges of the fire and slow down the blaze that continues to track towards the east.
The winds later this afternoon are expected to shift again from east to west, hopefully pushing the smoke and fire back on itself. That would be a welcome relief for fire crews and ground crews who struggle to save the many homes and cabins that dot this heavily wooded and rugged mountainside. Reporting from Sky 9, Jayson Luber with photojournalist Brian Willy (ph), Wolf back to you.
BLITZER: Thank you very much, once again, Jayson and Brian for that excellent reporting. And, there's a developing story we're following out of the Midwest right now.
There's been a train collision. Two commuter trains have collided in Aurora, Illinois. You're looking at a live picture near Chicago. Take a look at this picture. We're seeing this train collision, two commuter trains in a suburb of Chicago.
We're going to be developing this story, getting some more information on it. As we get more information, we'll be bringing that to you as well.
This picture, live picture, from our affiliate in Chicago WBBM, a train collision, commuter trains, a story that's unfortunately become all too familiar in recent weeks.
When we come back, dirty bombs, deadlines and detention does the war on terror collide with constitutional rights? Attorneys for the alleged dirty bomb plotter say he should be released from custody.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I'm John King at the White House. The president says America is still under attack, the killer still lurking. The White House rejects the notion the president is talking up the threat to get his way on Capitol Hill.
BLITZER: Also, a CNN exclusive, did police deception play into the arrest of the actor Robert Blake? Could the case against him be in jeopardy? Plus, American children held against their will, the laws of Saudi Arabia under fire on Capitol Hill.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. We turn now to the terror threats, starting with the arrest and detention of suspected dirty bomb plotter Jose Padilla. He's also known as Abdullah Al Muhajir. He's been in custody since arriving in Chicago last month on an alleged reconnaissance mission for al Qaeda.
Allegedly trained in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Padilla is now in a Navy brig held as what's called an enemy combatant even though he's a United States citizen.
A short while ago at a hearing in New York City, Padilla's lawyer pressed for his immediate release, arguing that his detention by the U.S. military is unconstitutional. The government has been given until June 21st to respond.
Joining me now from New York is his defense attorney Donna Newman. Donna thanks for joining us. What's your main argument that you made before the judge?
DONNA NEWMAN, ATTORNEY FOR JOSE PADILLA: What really occurred today was based on motions that were filed quite a while ago and still remain under seal but with very little argument. What the issue was, was whether now that Mr. Padilla is no longer in the custody of the Department of Justice, and that's where our motions were filed, was that motion, the contents, the substance, could be decided. That's called mootness (ph). Is there in a case in controversy on those issues? And the judge decided that since he's not in custody in New York within his jurisdiction, there is not a case in custody here and therefore the issues that I raised simply will not be decided on the merits and that's what was argued.
BLITZER: So what do you do? So it looks like you lost in this particular motion. What do you do next to help your client?
NEWMAN: What I do next is we filed a habeas, a petition for a writ of habeas corpus and that says simply that he is being held in custody in violation of his constitutional rights.
One must realize, that he has not been charged with anything and it's interesting to note that the government has said, and I don't recall who, and I think it was the attorney general today or yesterday, that his detention will be indefinite, and I can tell you that I am not being allowed to see him.
I am precluded from seeing him, and the aim of his detention, as the media has reported and as the attorney general has said, is simply and very definitely investigation.
Therefore, if you think about it, a U.S. citizen is being detained. He is being questioned, interrogated, because the administration has determined, decided -- judge and jury all in one -- that this man is guilty, but they refuse to charge him of anything.
BLITZER: Donna, I want to continue the questioning, and as I do, I want to show viewers some new videotape that we've just obtained. You see over here on the split screen, this is from 1991, some 11 years ago when Jose Padilla was before a judge in Florida on totally, of course, unrelated matters and we'll continue to show our viewers this video of the suspect right now.
But you heard the deputy attorney general point to Supreme Court cases during World War II and after, when U.S. citizens were indeed tried as prisoners of war or enemy combatants. They say they have the law on their side and what they're doing now is totally constitutional.
NEWMAN: Yes, well I respectfully disagree with his interpretation of the law and I think just offhand one has to notice that in respect to the incident in 1942, that in fact there was, of course Articles of War. We were at war.
Congress had declared war, and there the evidence was not based on informants who we know, the news media has pointed out repeatedly, are not credible and have given us false information, specifically the al Qaeda high official that they have referred to has repeatedly told us false information.
So you're looking at a totally different fact pattern here and, in addition, what I understand, and this is just an understanding, that subsequent to that decision, many of the Supreme Court Justices voiced their opinions that that was wrongly decided.
BLITZER: But, Donna, I've read the 1942 Supreme Court decision.
NEWMAN: Yes.
BLITZER: I have it right here in front of me.
NEWMAN: Yes.
BLITZER: As far as I can tell, there's nothing in that decision that says that the Congress must formally declare war in order to hold someone as a so-called enemy combatant.
NEWMAN: That's true. However, what you look at in a case is not only what the Supreme Court said, but the facts upon which they rely. The facts here are just so totally different. That's what's important to understand, to understand that the information that they're basing enemy combatant and who is making that determination is really so important to our Constitution.
What all that really we are saying, really think about it is, why can't we have this in the court system? You can have a closed court. We have it all the time, yet the government is saying, look, we can't open up our court and let all this information out, which is definitely suspect since they've been on the news every single day telling us this information.
BLITZER: All right.
NEWMAN: Yes, but nonetheless that is a problem. It's really a different fact. Those are the things we will go into and you will be seeing that coming out as we begin to develop our attack. Remember, this isn't a case. This isn't where I'm getting evidence. That's important for people to understand.
BLITZER: All right, Donna Newman, the court-appointed lawyer representing Jose Padilla, thanks for spending some time with us, appreciate it very much.
And more terror warnings today as the Bush Administration pounds out a steady drumbeat of concern, but there are some questions that are emerging about what's called the timing of all of this tough talk. Here's CNN's Senior White House Correspondent John King.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KING (voice-over): Homeland security, yet again the president's focus, here signing a new law providing more than $4 billion to better prepare for the threat of a biological or chemical attack.
BUSH: Terrorist groups seek biological weapons. We know some rogue states already have them. It's important that we confront these real threats to our country and prepare for future emergencies.
KING: Yet another warning at the first meeting of the president's new Homeland Security Advisory Council, a group that includes a governor, a mayor, and two former CIA directors.
BUSH: They're still out there. These people are, you know, these killers are still lurking around.
KING: Aides say the president is telling it like it is and that the tough talk about the continued terrorist threat is necessary to keep the American people on alert and not part of a White House political strategy to sell policy initiatives like the proposed new Department of Homeland Security.
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: These very few people who want to make such an outlandish political accusation represent the most cynical among the most partisan, and they're not to be taken seriously.
KING: The administration's lobbying for the new department intensified. Key congressional committee chairmen were called to a meeting with the president, and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge went to Capitol Hill. While defending the president's warnings, the White House did tell the Justice Department Monday's announcement of the arrest of so-called dirty bomb suspect, Abdullah Al Muhajir, came across as too alarming.
Attorney General John Ashcroft wanted to break the news himself, but was traveling in Russia. Some senior White House aides considered this televised statement from a dark studio too ominous.
JOHN ASHCROFT, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL: We have captured a known terrorist...
KING: And say it would have been best to let top deputies back in Washington handle the announcement.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
But, these senior aides stress that the attorney general has the president's full support and say this, what they call a minor dustup is just the latest example of the very difficult debate internally in the administration over just what to say publicly about intelligence threat and the continuing threat - Wolf.
BLITZER: John King at the White House. Thanks very much and in another development in the September 11th investigation, CNN has learned that a man who may have recruited some of the hijackers is being held by another government, and that U.S. investigators have access to information obtained by him. According to investigators, Mohammed Haydar Zammar is not as important a catch as someone like al Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah, but they say he has been directly linked to hijacker and alleged ringleader Mohammed Atta and to al Qaeda.
"The Washington Post" reported today that Zammar recruited Atta and other hijackers. A Syrian-born German citizen, Zammar was last seen in Morocco in the fall, but German officials have said they don't know where he is.
Here's your chance to weigh in on this important story. Our Web question of the day is this. Do you think al Qaeda has more U.S. recruits? Go to my Web page CNN.com/wolf. That's where you can vote. While you're there, let me know what you're thinking. There's a "click here" icon on the left side of the page. Send me your comments and I'll read some of them on the air each day. Also, that's where you can read my daily online column CNN.com/wolf. Sexual abuse and men of the cloth, America's bishops converge on Dallas.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Jason Carroll, live at the U.S. Conference of Bishops meeting in Dallas. The bishops have given themselves just two days to try and solve years of problems that have been plaguing the church. The question is can it be done? I'll have an update.
BLITZER: In Boston, anger and a call to arms, send the church a message by not sending your money. And a new twist in the Hollywood murder mystery, a question of detectives and deception. A CNN exclusive on the Robert Blake case, still ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: We want to go back to our top story. WE have new developments in the crash of an MC-130 in Afghanistan. Let's go live to the Pentagon, our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre with details -- Jamie.
MCINTYRE: Wolf, according to the latest release from the U.S. Central Command, at least seven U.S. military personnel survived that crash, seven of 10. They have been transported to a U.S. facility at Kandahar. One of them has a broken leg. Others have cuts and bruises. None of the injuries are life threatening. Three others are still unaccounted for, have not yet been recovered. They may be dead or they may just be missing. We don't know their status - Wolf.
BLITZER: Any additional information Jamie on perhaps the cause. This was an accident presumably, right?
MCINTYRE: Every indication is it was an accident, the crash on (ph) takeoff. The cause is not known at this time.
BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre with more information and we'll back to you, of course, if you get some more developments. Thank you very much Jamie McIntyre.
Let's take a look at some other top stores. A jury in California has found 20-year old David Attias guilty of four counts of murder. Attias was convicted of killing four pedestrians with his car near the University of California Santa Barbara campus last year. Witnesses says he shouted "I am the angel of death" as he got out of his car and was subdued by several people. The jury now must decide whether Attias was sane at the time of the incident.
Federal officials say they believe they've smashed one of the world's biggest heroin trafficking operations. It reportedly brought $3 million worth of drugs into the United States each month. Officials say 26 people have been arrested, including one of Colombia's top drug king pins.
Lawyers for actor Robert Blake are raising questions about the LAPD's investigation of Bonny Lee Bakley's murder. CNN has obtained a transcript showing that the lead detective let a writer join him during interviews of potential witnesses, but introduced the writer as - quote - "a partner". Blake is awaiting trial in the case. His lawyers say the transcript impeaches the reliability of the entire investigation.
It's considered one of the most important meetings in U.S. Catholic history. Bishops from throughout the United States are gathering in Dallas to discuss solutions to the Church sexual abuse scandal. CNN's Jason Carroll is there -- Jason.
CARROLL: And Wolf, some 300 bishops have arrived for this U.S. Conference of Bishops meeting. To say that they have their work cut out for them would be a gross understatement. Already today, Bishop Wilton Gregory has said that he recognizes the tragedy of not acting. He said that during a preconference briefing that was held today.
Basically during that time, reporters have the opportunity to ask Bishop Gregory about the national plan that the Bishops have come up with to try deal with all of these allegations of sexual abuse. Two main subjects will basically be debated during this conference. The first one dealing with zero tolerance or the one strike and you're out policy. Currently the current proposal that they have on the table, this draft proposal, calls for a zero tolerance type of rule, if you will, for all future cases, but not necessarily for past cases.
So that is definitely an issue that they're going to be taking up. Also, the issue of accountability. Nothing in this current draft that the bishops are - that the bishops are going to be looking at deals with what to do with a bishop if he decides not to follow the national mandatory policy that the bishops end up coming up with. So there's been much talk about that as well. Bishop Gregory already acknowledging today during this conference that he has held that this is just a first step.
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BISHOP WILTON GREGORY, U.S. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC SOLUTIONS: I'm going to give an answer that probably might surprise you. I don't think it will be resolved on Saturday. What I hope will be accomplished is a clear concise statement to our people that their children will not be put in harm's way, that bishops will handle these matters more transparently, more consistently, and that we will begin taking those steps to improve the way we handle all of these matters.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
CARROLL: The bishops will be meeting on Thursday to discuss the proposals that have been set forth. They're expected to take a vote on Friday. Already though, Wolf, a number of bishops have already acknowledged that they've lost credibility and trust with parishioners. They're hoping that they can come up with a plan that will in some way rebuild some of that credibility - Wolf.
BLITZER: Jason Carroll in Dallas. Thank you very much. And among those who have arrived for the Dallas Conference is the Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles. He's calling for zero tolerance on sexual abuse. (BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY, LOS ANGELES: We have to come out of here with a very clear strong statement that we will take every step possible to make sure that children and young people are safe in all of the church's ministries (UNITELLIGIBLE). There is no post Dallas. It has to be done here, and I'm quite confident we're going to do it.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
BLITZER: Controversy over the Church abuse scandal is especially intense in Boston where Cardinal Bernard Law has been accused of ignoring complaints and coddling abusers. As CNN Boston bureau chief Bill Delaney tells us, some Catholic parishioners appear to be on the edge of rebellion.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(SINGING)
BILL DELANEY, CNN BOSTON BUREAU CHIEF: Harmony of deep faith.
(SINGING)
DELANEY: What first drew Christians together 2,000 years ago, often secretly then to each other's homes. Now to a church basement outside Boston on a Monday night.
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: We are church. We are ...
DELANEY: A group just four months old called Voices of the Faithful, 21st Century Catholics who besides belief, share deep anger too at the sexual scandal in their church.
SUSAN TROY, VOICES OF THE FAITHFUL: I got beyond angry. I mean look at us. I mean when any one of us starts talking about it, I don't know about you, but I start quivering.
DELANEY: Claiming to be 15,000 strong in dozens of states, more than 20 countries demanding to be heard as never before, or at least not for a long time.
LUISE CAHILL DITTRICH, VOICES OF THE FAITHFUL: The early church was about as democratic as could be. The church that Jesus left us, they are still operating in a 15th Century mode, which is one part divine right of kings and one part Holy Roman Empire.
DELANEY: In Boston, most members of Voice of the Faithful leaders say want embattled Cardinal Bernard Law to resign. A few weeks ago, though, an emissary from the archdiocese warned the group it could gather, but only under the authority of the bishop.
What's happening among some of the Voices of the Faithful quietly may yet resound among the church hierarchy, Catholics who say they'll no longer contribute directly to their archdiocese, but only directly to specific Catholic charities, which could dangerously further drain Boston, which acknowledges already paying out $30 million in sexual abuse claims with at least 70 more cases pending. As week by week, more and more come for the first time, raising their voices, among the faithful.
ELLIE NORRIS, VOICES OF THE FAITHFUL: In my perish, I want tall, active, conscious participation, and I expect that on every level, and that apparently is a revolutionary idea.
DELANEY: Whose time may have come. Bill Delaney, CNN, Boston.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And CNN will have special coverage of the conference in Dallas beginning tomorrow morning, 10:00 a.m. Eastern. Our Leon Harris will be reporting.
Coming up, American children caught in the middle of a heart- wrenching saga.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We haven't been able to get any help for Monica (ph) and my granddaughter. She's at the mercy of people that hate us and want to kill us.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
BLITZER: The laws of Saudi Arabia and diplomacy of the heart.
In Havana, diplomacy by foot. Why did hundreds of thousands of Cubans take to the street? We'll be right back.
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BLITZER: Some heart-wrenching testimony today on Capitol Hill. It focused on dozens of U.S. citizens who are said to be held against their will in Saudi Arabia. Many are children of American mothers and Saudi fathers. CNN's Kathleen Koch heard their pleas.
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KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Doria Davis (ph) considers herself lucky to be alive. She says she was kidnapped from Florida and beaten and held in Saudi Arabia for two years by her Saudi father.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This man I knew as my father began beating me everytime I begged to go home or begged to speak to my mother.
KOCH: Her parents were divorced. A U.S. court gave her mother custody. Miriam Hernandez Davis (ph) says she helped arrange her daughter's escape after finally being able to visit her in Saudi Arabia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All I could say and had time to say is to be patient and strong. The same way that I sneaked in to see you and let you know that I had not abandoned you or given up, I'll find a way to get you out. I'm not going to leave you here, I promise.
PAT ROUSH: I've made this a mission impossible assignment that I refuse to give up on.
KOCH: Pat Roush (ph) says in 1986 her two daughters were kidnapped from Chicago by their Saudi father and taken to Saudi Arabia. She is still fighting for their return.
ROUSH: My daughters are just gone, and I'm supposed to just go on with my life, and my daughters are just treated as Saudi citizens, Saudi women who have no rights.
KOCH: Roush had hoped President Bush could help.
(on camera): He met with the Saudi prince. Have you appealed to the president himself? Can he do anything?
ROUSH: Oh yes, I've appealed to the president. I've lobbied four State Departments. I've had hand-delivered letters to three presidents of the United States.
KOCH: All the women say they've gotten the same response from U.S. embassy officials in Saudi Arabia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're visitors here. We can't help you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They've told me that we cannot tell the Saudi government what to do.
KOCH: The State Department says the problem is Saudi law. Women or children need a father's, husband's or brother's permission to travel anywhere, especially out of the country.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have been up against that challenge throughout, and it is -- as the very sad record shows, it has not been something we have been able to move very far on.
KOCH: It is cold comfort to the families of the estimated 92 Americans being held in Saudi Arabia.
ROUSH: I have tremendous hope. I'm a devout Catholic, and I know that the Lord will bring my daughters home.
KOCH: Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And CNN has tried to get some reaction from the Saudi embassy here in Washington. So far, however, we've been unable to receive any response from the Saudi embassy.
Hundreds of thousands of Cubans marched past the U.S. mission in Havana, shouting "long live socialism". The rally, along with others on the island, was called by President Fidel Castro as a show of strength against U.S. demands for reform. A proposed constitutional amendment declares Cuba's one-party system to be - quote -- "untouchable".
On earth and in space, transportation milestones reached today. Our "Newswire" is straight ahead. Buckle up.
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BLITZER: Now checking today's "Newswire". Astronauts Carl Walz and Daniel Bursch have accidentally set a new NASA record, 188 straight days in space. Walz is center-front in this video; Bursch is on the back row, right. They were supposed to be back on earth by now, but their ride home, shuttle Endeavor, was late lifting off. So, how are they doing?
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
DANIEL BURSCH, ASTRONAUT: I've actually, I really like to run on earth, but actually I've kind of gotten sick of running up here. It's kind of on the treadmill and same run the entire time, but I feel pretty good and from what other long Expedition crews have told me that if you -- if you exercise every day and almost every day and use the treadmill a lot that you should be in pretty good shape.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
BLITZER: Good luck to you all. Let's go to New York now and get a preview of Lou Dobbs "MONEYLINE". That of course begins right at the top of the hour - Lou.
LOU DOBBS, HOST: Wolf, thank you. ImClone's former chief executive officer, Sam Waksal has been arrested. He is charged with securities fraud, a dramatic fall from grace, today handcuffed and then released on $10 million bail. We'll have the very latest for you. ImClone is only the latest investigation of corporate wrongdoing in this country.
Tonight we'll have a report highlighting the risk and the rewards of white-collar crime. And the latest installment of our series of special reports, protecting our national borders. Tonight we focus on the border between the United States and Canada. I'll be joined by the Canadian ambassador. All of that and lot more still ahead. Please join us. Now back to Wolf Blitzer -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you very much, Lou. And you have two minutes to cast your vote in our Web question of the day. Do you think al Qaeda has more U.S. recruits? Go to my Web page, CNN.com/wolf. Also our "Picture of the Day" is coming up. Stay with us.
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BLITZER: Turning now to our "Picture of the Day", Orlando residents have that sinking feeling once again. Dozens have been forced to evacuate their apartments on the edge of a giant hole, which opened up in the ground yesterday. The sinkhole has already swallowed trees, pipelines and a recreation trail. It's 60 feet deep and 150 feet wide.
That's all the time we have. Lou Dobbs "MONEYLINE" begins right now.
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