Evacuation Proceeding Fairly Smoothly in Gaza; Criminal Charges Considered Against Ohio Governor; Sentencing Hearing Proceeds for BTK Killer; Trio of Car Bombings Kills Dozens in Baghdad; More Info Available on Computer Worm That Hit CNN
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Wolf Blitzer, and you're in THE SITUATION ROOM, where news and information arrives at one place simultaneously. Standing by, CNN reporters across the United States and around the world to bring you the day's top stories. And they're happening right now. It's 10:00 p.m. in Gaza. Screaming, crying or praying, Jewish settlers are dragged from their homes and synagogues. In the West Bank, a violent rampage draws vows of revenge. In Baghdad, it's 11:00 p.m. Bombers striking a bus station, then in a hospital while the casualties arrive. Dozens of people are dead. And it's 2:00 p.m. in Wichita, Kansas, where the BTK killer faces families of his victims as law officers recount his gruesome crimes. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM. We begin with extraordinary images as history is made painfully in Gaza. Some are resisting. Some are walking out quietly. They're weeping. Others actually burning down their own houses in violent protest. One way or another, Jewish settlers are leaving Gaza. CNN's John Vause is live for us at the largest settlement there, Neve Dekalim. He's joining us now live. John?</s>JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this evacuation of the Gaza Strip is moving at an extraordinary pace. Already tonight we're told by the Israeli army and the Israeli police that 10 settlements have been evacuated and an eleventh, we are told a few hours ago, was in the final stages. Here at Neve Dekalim they have stopped the evacuation of residents for the time being. But their concern right now is at the synagogue behind me. The locals here say, the residents here say, there could be as many as 2,000 young Jewish teenagers holed up inside this synagogue right now. A lot of these teenagers are not from Neve Dekalim. They've managed to sneak into the Gaza Strip over the last couple of weeks. They're here to show support for the people of Neve Dekalim as well as the 21 other Jewish settlements. Now, the police are saying they want these teenagers to leave quietly. They want them out of the -- out of the synagogue by 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. Otherwise they will use force to get them out -- although deadlines here seem to be very, very flexible, Wolf. What we have seen throughout the day, police using a combination of persuasion, sending in police women as well as rabbis, counselors, that kind of thing to try to talk the residents of this settlement into leaving quietly. When that doesn't work, that is when they send the police in. And that is when they're being carried out of their homes. There have been some clashes with police and the settlers and also the protesters. There were thousands of infiltrators into the Gaza Strip over the last couple of weeks. But for the most part it has been a peaceful evacuation. It is very good news for the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, Wolf.</s>BLITZER: John, it's illegal now for any Israeli citizen to be in Gaza. Those who are being carried out, who are leaving now, will they be charged with a crime?</s>VAUSE: We're looking at two different situations here, Wolf. The situation for the residents, the settlers. We're hearing from the police that they are one case. They'll be treated with respect, with sensitivity and with a great deal of delicacy. Now, as far as the infiltrators are concerned, they're another group altogether. If they don't leave when they're asked to leave -- right now, they're saying if they leave quietly they won't be charged. However, if they don't, then they will face prosecution under Israeli law, Wolf.</s>BLITZER: All right, John Vause. We'll be checking back with you throughout these hours here in THE SITUATION ROOM. John, thank you very much. Over in the West Bank, a bloody rampage. Police say a Jewish settler grabbed a gun from a guard and shot dead two Palestinians. He was about to drive home from work at a settlement, the settlement of Shiloh. Police say he then ran into an industrial area, firing at Palestinian workers. One Palestinian was killed there. Two others wounded. The gunman was arrested. The prime minister, Ariel Sharon, is calling it an act of -- quote -- "Jewish terror." The Palestinian group Hamas is vowing revenge, raising fears the violence over there could escalate. There's a developing story we're following here in the United States, a story in Ohio. We're hearing that the governor of that state, Republican Bob Taft, is about to be hit with criminal charges that could possibly land him in jail if he's convicted. CNN's Mary Snow is joining us now live. She has more on the charges. What's going on, Mary?</s>MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, we're expecting official word just around 3:30. And the Associated Press is reporting that prosecutors are poised to bring four criminal misdemeanor charges against Governor Bob Taft. Now, this has to do with failing to disclose golf outings. This is something that the governor said was not intentional. He said he would take full responsibility. Prosecutors have been meeting in the morning. They're expected to announce their decision. This is significant because it would be the first Ohio governor to be charged with a crime. And if his name is familiar, he is the great grandson of President Taft. We'll have more as it develops.</s>BLITZER: All right. We'll check back with you at the bottom of the hour. Mary, thank you very much. Another story we're following here in the United States would be in Kansas, where some 31 years after an admitted serial killer began his killing spree he's now facing angry reactions from his victims' families and finally a punishment. Right now a sentencing hearing is under way for the admitted BTK killer, Dennis Rader. CNN's Jonathan Freed is joining us now live from Wichita with more. Jonathan?</s>JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, I had a seat in the courtroom this morning, and I can tell you that some of the most interesting and noteworthy things that went down in that room were not happening on camera. They were happening behind the scenes. Before the court was called to order, Wolf, Steven Relford, who was the son of Shirley Vian, who was murdered by BTK in 1977, was really the only person standing in the room. He was standing by his seat with his eyes glaring on the doorway, where he knew that Dennis Rader was about to walk through and take his seat. That happened, Wolf. Rader comes through the door, and Relford just pins his eyes on Rader trying to catch his eyes. Rader never looked his way, as far as I could see. Rader sat down. Then the judge came in and instructed everybody to sit down. That was the only point that Relford -- he was forced to take his seat. But he was perched right on the edge of his seat with his hands on his knees, Wolf, and he had his eyes just fixed on Dennis Rader. Now, during the proceeding today Wolf, as photographs of the victims of the various crime scenes were displayed, when the Otero family pictures were put up there, a number of the Otero family kids just broke down in tears. We will have more later. Wolf?</s>BLITZER: Jonathan Freed, when will we hear from Rader himself? When is he expected to make his appeal, if there is going to be an appeal?</s>FREED: Based on the way this thing is timing out, Wolf, that would happen tomorrow. He'll be given an opportunity. It's called allocution. It's not clear whether or not he's actually going to take advantage of that. We've been hearing some whispers from the defense that he might. We have to wait and see for that. And tomorrow, based on how long it's taking today, would likely be when the family members would be able to make their victim impact statements, as well. Wolf?</s>BLITZER: We'll be checking back with you, Jonathan Freed, as well. Thank you very much. Seven hundred U.S. soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, have just received deployment orders for Iraq. They're expected to be on the ground in about 30 days. Military officials are not saying how long they will stay. Officials say the troops will provide security around the Abu Ghraib prison on the edge of Baghdad and also help with security for a new detention facility being opened next month northeast of the Iraqi capital. Over in Iraq itself even by Baghdad's bloody standards it's been another devastating day in the Iraqi capital. Dozens of people are dead, many more are wounded, in three carefully coordinated bombings. CNN's Aneesh Raman is live in Baghdad. He's joining us now. Aneesh?</s>ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, a week dominated by talk of a constitution, now focused on an attack that left 43 people dead and wounded upwards of 90 others.</s>RAMAN (voice-over): On mornings like this, the politics of Iraq seem irrelevant. A trio of car bombs detonating within minutes of each other in central Baghdad. The first two at the al-Nahda bus terminal, one of the busiest in the capital. The explosions killed dozens, wounded scores of others. Moments later, another bomb, this one at the al-Kindi Hospital as casualties from the first explosion were being brought in. A coordinated attack and one of the biggest in Iraq in weeks. The pain unbearable. The anger understandable.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We want our voices heard by the president and every official to tackle such violence. All those who were killed are innocent people. There were no Americans, no Iraqi troops on the scene.</s>RAMAN: This is reality for Iraqi civilians, waking some days to carnage; on most others facing a continued lack in basic services. There is work being done, reconstruction taking place, but not nearly as quick as anyone here would like. And that is why the extension of the constitutional deadline is so frustrating for the average Iraqi.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): They gave no convincing reason for the delay. They just said we are still in talks. There's no convincing reason compared to what's happening on the Iraqi streets.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): What a pity all this delay for nothing. This country is being destroyed daily by explosions with no security. Boy, we just want it to end.</s>RAMAN: Under intense scrutiny Iraqi leaders say they are making progress toward a final compromise. Whether that is truly the case will be known in a matter of days.</s>RAMAN: And so, Wolf, in between progress and violence reside the Iraqi people. They have hope for the future. They just at times cannot see beyond the difficulties of daily life. Wolf?</s>BLITZER: All right. Aneesh Raman in Baghdad. We'll check back with you as well. Thank you. And your chance now to sound off on some of the major stories of the day. It's called the "Cafferty File." CNN's Jack Cafferty has a different question for all of us each hour. And he's joining us now live from New York. Hello once again, Jack.</s>JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Mr. Blitzer, how are you? Nice to see you. There's a question that precedes the question. We were brought to our knees around here yesterday by that computer worm that shut down a lot of the computers here at CNN and I think some other media places, as well, ABC and the "New York Times." My computer I.Q. is probably a negative number. I know nothing about this stuff. But I was reading in the -- one of the wires today where Microsoft put out a patch on August 9 that, if installed, would have prevented this worm deal. Yesterday was, what, the 16th? So a week before the computers all went on the fritz here -- that's a technical term -- there was a patch available. How come we didn't have that patch?</s>BLITZER: You know, our computers here in the CNN Washington bureau never missed a beat, Jack. In Atlanta and in New York we had serious problems but not in Washington.</s>CAFFERTY: Well, that's the power of the Wolfman! On to other things. The Governator wants to crack down on sex offenders. Arnold Schwarzenegger out in California supporting two new bills that would force California sex offenders to wear electronic tracking devices for life. It's a great idea. Schwarzenegger say the new law would give California the strictest laws and toughest penalties for the worst crimes. That's a quote. The bill would bar registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school, make possession of child pornography a felony, and increase parole time for up to 10 years for some offenses. So the question this hour is: should sex offenders be monitored for life? E-mail us at CaffertyFile@CNN.com. The other suggestion I would make to Arnold, if he were to ask, is if we tattoo the word "pervert" on their foreheads when they get out of prison so everybody knows who they are and where they are. I mean, we've got to be -- remember these kids in Florida that were killed here a few weeks -- months ago by these paroled sex offenders that had records that reached from here to Washington and back? Nobody knew where they were. They were out, you know, stalking these little kids, raping them, killing them. Got to do something about that.</s>BLITZER: All right. We've to do something about the e-mail. And we're going to be doing something about the e-mail, because we're going to be getting it. Jack, thanks. You'll be sharing it with our viewers later this hour. Still to come here, intelligence revealed. Warnings, warnings that perhaps an al Qaeda cell was operating in the United States before 9/11 and was ignored. Find out why an American military officer is now going public. He'll join us live here in THE SITUATION ROOM. Also, illegal immigration. A state of emergency declared in two states. But will that do anything to solve the problem? Standing by Lou Dobbs and Univision anchor Jorge Ramos. They'll join us to talk about it. Plus, terror behind bars. Were prison gang members trying to organize attacks in Southern California? We'll have the latest on the FBI's investigation. And a little bit later, buying booze at Wal-Mart? The world's largest retailer trying to shake up liquor sales. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.