TV Channel 71 Fri Apr 25 09:31:04 2003
>>Reporter: Circumstance is cynicism about the plans for iraq, um, the geneva convention as we talked about in here before carries wit some requirements of the occupation power, but pin order to be occupation power, you have to declare the war is going to end, once you become occupation power, you have responsibilities, you have restrictions with contracts and things like, that I have been hearing lately, um, from critics of the war that they are afraid that the pentagon will never declare, general franks will never declare a formal end to this, that when they are ready to leave, they will just take off, that will be the end, and, therefore, that occupation power rights and responsibilities and restrictions will never kick in, can you tell us, for sure, there is going to be a time when this war is declared over?
>> I would guess so. I tell you for sure? No. I guess there with would be an end. With what we are seeing, we are seeing, this sint world war i or world war ii that starts and then ends. It is -- you take afghanistan, we move from major military activities to a point where at the present time the vast majority of the country is in a stablization security mode. It is not in a major military activity mode, except along the pakistan border. How will it shake out in iraq remains to be seen? As we said, we still have people killed. We'll get there.
>>Reporter: No attempt to avoid the innovation of those requirements?
>> There is no attempt to avoid anything, except getting more people killed an an attempt to try to get that country and those people in a process that will produce a free iraqi government for those people.
>>Reporter: Mr. Secretary.
>>Reporter: Mr. Secretary, efforts to find weapons of mass destruction and terrorism, in recent days,ere has been a flowf o exploitation team, military and intelgence, kahn give us an update on what kind of progress or lack of it they are making and lastly, have you any update on the efforts to resolve the case of captain speicher?
>> There is a continuing effort to resolve the case of captain speicher and there is a team that is assigned to that. They are working the problem. They are talking to people. They are investigating sites where he may or may not have been and we are always concerned and anxious to bring back and account for every american, indeed, every coalition member. We feel the same way about the kuwaiti prisoners of way wee w still don't have closure on interest the '91
>>reporter: What about the weapons?
>> There are sites being exploited. Exploited is a funny word, but that is what they put in the memo, examined, investigated, explored, um, on a continuing basis, we get a report out of known sites, we have done this many and then out of opportunistic people have come up and said here or there, we have known that. It is still a long road. I mean, we are at a small fraction of a number of potential sites.
>>Reporter: Mr. Secretary.
>>Reporter: Mr. Secretary, going book the case of the juveniles in gaun guantanamo, why isn't there a formal legal process for ajude indicating those case as well as the other cases of the other people? General myers, these juveniles kill people, but, but, um, there hasn't been a trial. There hasn't been a tribunal. There hasn't been a hearing.
>> The president announced a policy. It has been tested and looked at legally, and we are proceeding on that basis that the people we have gathered in guantanamo. We would prefer not to halt. We would like to have arrangements with other countries this that they would takeernternationals on a basis where we can get future access to them in an event aitddional intelligence comes up and reason to have confidence they would not simypl repeop tlehat are a danger to the lives the american men, women and children, and we are keeping them down there to keep themff o the street. These are -- this is a worldwide network that al qaeda is an these folks and the taliban were part of that and were fighting in afghanistan and killing people. We have them tin guantanamo, they are being interrogated. The president has several ways he can proceed. He can put them into an articledtedtedted states article 3 of our constitutional court. He can try them that way or he can keep them for the duration of the war and keep them off the street so they don't kill other people. Now, everything that is being done is being done legally and properly and this constant refrain of the juveniles as though there is 100 children in there. These not children. Dick meyers responded to that. There are plenty of people who have been killed by people who are still untheir teens.
>>Reporter: They are being held, definitely, there is no process.
>>Reporter: Mr. Secretary, you said a few minutes ago, you are disinclined to bring iraqis to guantanamo, can you tell us, why is it that guantanamo is a good place to have brought tally been and al qada, but not to bring iraqis?
>> The people we brought were people who were part of a worldwide, for the most part a worldwide terrorists organization and/or were participating with the alabama qa did a. The people we have got in iraq are in large measure iraqi people who belong in iraq. And to the extent they have to be held for some period of time, it is a lot more convenient to hold them in iraqi prisons than it is to build prisons in guantanamo, transport them down there, so it just seems to me, first of all, it is respectful to the taxpayers' dollars, why should we build a lot more prisons and pay to transport the folks down there?
>>Reporter: General myers, can you talk about what you said earlier in the week about cluster bombs, there is an eupbts dent -- incident -- do you have clarity on that?
>> Yeah, the information i at the time indicated then first report that this little girl had actually intended to harm soldiers, in fact, i think, as we went back p as was stated, i think, by somebody in the back of the room. She was trying to return. It wasn't a cluster bomb, but some sort of munition. It went off.
>>Reporter: The one incident you refenced earlier?
>> No. No, it wasn'T. I don't know what it is frankly. I flow is one they are investigating it will take them 30 days to figure out the details of that.
>>Reporter: Mr. Secretary, can you elaborate in anyway on his significance because of the reports that he apparently made at some point in the past about bin laden as far as the significance of establishing iraqi ties to terrorists groups.
>> Which one he is?
>>Reporter: The former intelligence officials, sir.
>> We got a variety. One was then american portfolio. One had been an intelligence officer and later ambassador to another country.
>>Reporter: That one. Allegedly involved then alleged plot.
>> What was your question about him?
>>Reporter: Kahn give us more detail on his apprehension. Elaborate.
>> I would rather not. He is significant. We think he coulde interestinulwoulwoulwoulwora...
>>Reporter: Kahn talking about the number of u.S. Ground forces in iraq now.
>> I can. 135,000 forces eliminating the word ground.
>>Reporter: Well, as far as ground force, do you expect to stay the same, rise or fall? There is some who are c back interesting the region including arizona congressman jim colby who said you don't have enough ground forces there to keep the peace.
>> How does one do this? Carefully, he said, yes. Graciously. General franks the combatant commander in that area of responsibility. He has done an excellent job. He has told us what he believes is the appropriate force level in that country. We have a total of U.S. Forces of plus or minus 135,000, at this moment, which is probably as high as it has ever been, and there are some of those people who are not ground forces. They are pilots. They are air crews. Some are doing other things, admin straightive thing t so the number of actual ground forces, to use phrase, is, i would guess, something less, maybe even less than 100,000. I just don't know the number. We don't divide them up that way, do you?
>> We also have coalition forces.
>> And we have got 23,000 coalition forces plus or minus on top of that and we have, fortunately, a lot of countries stepping forward with additional coalition forces.
>>Reporter: How many?
>> Well, we'll announce them as they move in the country.
>>Reporter: Ground force, do you expect that number to be down in the coming weeks, stay about the same, rise?
>> Here we go again. Why? Why can't reporters report on what is happening instead of what might happen if all of these variables happen to occur? We can't know how serous the security problem might flair up at some point. We can't know precisely the pace at which general garner and his folks are going to be able to get a le call iraqis to begin to assume some of those security activities. We can't tell you precisely how many additional countries are going to be sending enforces and what day they will arrive. Overtime, do we want to sigh the number of U.S. Forces decline? You bet. Are we perfectly willing to put any number of u.S. Forces that are necessary to provide the kind of security in that country, so they can get on their way to humanitarian assistance, reconstruction, and interim authority? You bet we do. We will. We'll put in what we need to. We happen to have the number that general franks thinks we need and that number will vary up or down depending on coalition forces coming in, depend on the security situation, it is all going along pretty well, i would say.
>>Reporter: Mr. Secretary, you asked a question. I think we probably call a halter to this.
>>Reporter:.
[Inaudible]
>> what do you do with somebody like that?
>>Reporter: You said why don't they report on what is happen?
>> Did i say that? It was off the record.
>>Reporter: Because you have plans about what you are going to do in the future. You are disinclined to share them with us.
>> No. I just shared with them. I just told you the plan. The plan is to increase the number of u.S. Forces if they are necessary, to decrease them physical they are not necessary. To git as many other countries participating in there as i possibly can and to the extent i can, and have fewer forces and can not have more U.S. Forces. S that the plan. I know that leaves people somewhat unfulfilled. But there happens to be truth. That is ground truth. That is how we do these things. That is what w do. That is our job. Yeah. Woe! Woe. Woe. Woe. Say sit agai hold it, isn't that what you said. Hold on. Rick: All right. The pentagon briefing wrapping up. A couple of headlines from the briefing: One, the war on terror continues on many fronts including in afghanistan, whe officials confirmed, two U.S. Servicemen were killed during a fight with taliban holdoutser that the pakist border; and secretary rums felled said the situation in iraq is improving that 12 of the 55 most-wanted iraqis are providing information at the secretary says is useful. One of those in custody, of course, former deputy prime minister tariq aziz, as for getting the interim government in place, secretary rumsfeld would not guess on when it would be up and running, but d did say, it takes time. He said it is going well. Meantime, let's go to the white house where ari fleischer is holding his briefing. Let's listen in.
>>Reporter: -- Possibly terrorists organizations, many want to know, nuclear weapons or wmd?
>> Well, i think the real issue here is how do you deal with threats and because you deal with a threat through military action in one place in the world does not mean you must deal wit the same way in the different part of the world. The outcome is desirable. It is removing the threat. The president came to the judgment after 12 years of watching iraq to find a world that military was the only option to remove the threat in iraq. In north korean, he believes diplomacies the best option to remove the threat of north korea having these weapon, that is why we pursued diplomacy for the dismantlement.
>>Reporter: Versus iraq?
>> I don't know how to differentiate between threats and weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the people in the case of iraq who might use them versus the hands of north koreans who we are pursuing through dy plom asy and the development of missile defense. For the critics of missile defense, this is an important reminder of why missile defense is an important part of our strategy to defend our country. Rick: The focus of the white house briefing, so far, has been north korean, as you know, there were talks over the last 24 hours or so with north korea, u.S. Officials, chinese officials. Secretary rumsfeld saying the talks have not moved the ball forward at all. We'll continue to monitor the white house briefing and bring you news from that. In the meantime, ham pi times. For the 24th expeditionary unit. They are packing up. They are heading home. Fox's carol mckinley has the story. Hi, carol.
>>Reporter: Hi, rick. This is where they are. They are at a place they have named. A hotel on the persian gulf. The marines have been abroad about eight months. 28 days of those eight months was fightingen iraq. Now, they are cleaning house so to speak. They are sweeping out the vehicles of the sand, grit accumulated, so they can now go home. Well, the first marine ground forces to leave iraq, they are the guys you are about to see, again, abroad for so long, are going to be hitting american soil by memorial day. The 24th marine expeditionary unit carried a reminder with them across the desert. It is this flag given by the new york-new jersey port authority police department. The flag commemorates the 37 officers of the port authority killed september 11th. Now, the marines will hand deliver this flag after adventure and journey across the desert when they return. They will settle for camp lejeune in about a week. Wilt take a month in the water to get home. The marines hosed down, disinfected heave carton, shell, piece of machinery before it was loaded on hovercraft. Those will take them to ships anchored then persian gulf. Some 2500 marines making this trip home.
>> I am cole from worthington, minnesota. I am with the 24th. Look out, mom and dad, i am ready to come home.
[Cheering and applause]
>>reporter: Meanwhile, the united nations' refugee agency wants to help half million iraqi refugees living in other countries. These iraqis are in the united states. Now, most of the half million refugees are in neighboring countries of iraq. They will only be able to come home once they are assured law and order has returned. Many of them in syria, jordan, also here in kuwait, and iran, the U.N. Has said aside $154 million for the project. Rick? Rick: Carol mckinley in kuwait city. Great story, carol, thanks very much. Rick: A naturalized american citizen jailed in iraq for years shows up among the u.S. Troops. Fox's william la jeunesse in baghdad. Reports on this amazing story.
>>Reporter: Welcome home.
>> Thank you very much, sir.
>>Reporter: How are you?
>> What is your name?
>> Oday shams mohammed.
>>Reporter: How long have you been gone?
>> Four years.
>>Reporter: Kahn tell us what happened to you.
>> What happened. Like having drive from syria to northern iraq. The they kept me in captivity and i spent the worst time ever happening to a man.
>>Reporter: Like?
>> Physical torture. I got two broken ribs.
>>Reporter: How did you in vision it was going to end?
>> Oh, i never give up home. I never give up hope. I felt it. I felt always americans will be by me in spirit and soul. I keep reminding myself that there is always people -- people are waiting for me there. How are you d buddy? It is me oday.
>>Reporter: What does america mean to you today?
>> It means everything. It means safety, security and happiness.
>>Reporter: Why did you not give up hope?
>> Because when we say i believe in america, we do mean what we say, and there is still the belief that kept me alive and even that kind of little row of hope, I didn't give it up.
>>Reporter: Now, mr. Mohammed was granted political asylum in the U.S. In '9 after serving then first gulf war. He moved to san francisco. He served as medical aid at san francisco's general hospital and st. Francis hospital and returned to see his mother who was sick in dag bad dag when he was captureden iraq. In baghdad, william la jeunesse, fox news. Rick: We'll take a quick break. We'll tell you a sad story. An aspiring actress with a bright career ahead of her, a beautiful young woman a yale graduate, shot by the ex-boyfriend who then killed himself. An update on that sad story, l of course, update you on the continuing investigation into the murder of laci peterson and her unborn son. Scott peterson, her husband, said to stand trial. An update on that case as well. Keep it right here on "fox news live." We'll be right back. Fair a rick: And this is a "fox news alert". You are watching a very happy homecoming in progress. There this is banner there that says we shall never forget onboard the u.S.S. -- Uss shiloh which has been at sea for ten months playing an important role in the war in iraq. They are returning back to the home base in san diego along with the uss mobile bay another san diego-based missile cruisers, finally headed home from their tour in the gulf. There you can see the deck which is filled with some very happy people who are returning home after a long time at sea. They are returning home. Their families are there at the port in san diego for some very happy reunions which we'll be covering live here on fox. Trace gallagher comes to us live from the deck of the uss shiloh with more. We'll be getting reports from him. Again, we don't have much control over these shots, so we apologize for that, but we'll continue to watch the happy homecoming that is taking place in san diego right at the port there where the uss shiloh and the uss mobile bay are returning back home after ten months at sea. Rick: An up-and-coming actress, in critical condition after being shot in the face and cops say her ex is to blame. Todd connor is live in fox central with more. Todd? Todd?
>>Reporter: Hi, there, rick, yeah a story that has touched a lot of new yorkers because of the senselessly of the attack on the young aspiring actress. Lyric benson was on the way to a promising career, but stopped then tracks by a bullet to the face fired by ex-fiancee. Now, according to police lyric was shot as she enter the vestibule of the chinatown apartment building in front of her mother who was visiting from north carolina. She had just finished a long night of work as a hoe tess at one of new york's trendist restaurant, her attack, well, police say it was 33-year-old robert ambergino, the man she was planning to marry before she broke it off just two months ago. He then shot and killed. She is still alife, but in extremely critical condition. It certainly has all of the elements of a tragic love story that would play out in the safe confines of a broadway theater. Lyric a yale graduate, struggling actress and waitress moved to new york to be with two loves: Acting and ambergino, she is living the real-life tragedy, far from the stage of the great white way, she portrayed a waitress in american express ad campaign as well, which is still running. She just completed a role on the nbc show "law and order criminal intent." Her agent describes her as delightful, spirited, young woman. Rick? Rick: All right. Todd connor in fox central. Today, thanks for the update. When we come back, we'll talk about surrender of tariq aziz. Just how much can our interrogators learn from him he? Is being questioned right now. We'll have a live report from baghdad right now coming up. Also, wait until we tell you what president bush is now saying about iraq's suspect weapons of mass destruction. We'll have that story, live from the white house, keep it right here on fox, as we watch live pictures from san diego, california, the uss shiloh and the uss mobile bay are returning home. <