CNN Student News

Aired August 27, 2003

This is a rush transcript. This copy may not be in its final form and may be dated.

TRACYE HUTCHINS, CNN ANCHOR: Major combat may be over in Iraq...but what must be done before coalition troops are out of danger? The report is in on Columbia...find out who and what's to blame, besides a piece of foam that damaged its wing. And meet a golden girl who's gone from amateur to pro, in one stride. Hello and welcome to CNN Student News on this Wednesday, August 27th! I'm Tracye Hutchins at the CNN Center.

First Up: Still a War

First up--a startling statistic on U.S. casualties in Iraq. As of yesterday, more U.S. troops had died in Iraq after major combat operations ended, than those who died during the main coalition invasion. Possible relief for occupation forces could come in the form of international assistance: Bulgarian troops, for example, have taken over patrol duties in the Iraqi city of Karbala. But as Jamie McIntyre tells us, the grim milestone for the U.S. indicates that peace in Iraq is not yet at hand.

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JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN REPORTER: On May first -- six weeks after the Iraq war began -- President Bush declared victory from deck of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln:

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: My fellow Americans: Major combat operations in Iraq have ended.

MCINTYRE: At that time 138 U.S. troops had died in Operation Iraqi Freedom, 114 from hostile action. Since then, 139 more troops have died, 62 from hostilities, the rest from accidents, illness, or suicides. The mounting death toll underscores that nearly three months after major combat was declared over in Iraq, the U.S. military is not just mopping up a few pockets of opposition -- it's facing determined resistance fighters employing ever more sophisticated tactics. Bush Administration officials urge patience, and some historical perspective. What's happening now in Iraq they argue - is not that different from Germany after World War II.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: S.S. officers -- called "werewolves" -- engaged in sabotage and attacked coalition forces and those locals cooperating with them -- much like Baathists and Fedayeen today.

MCINTYRE: The only effective response say U.S. commanders is more raids like those conducted Tuesday north of Baghdad, in which hundreds of U.S. troops went after Iraqi gang members believed responsible for recent attacks.

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: I think the country's made the right decision. And I am confident that over time, we will in fact prevail.

MCINTYRE: The Pentagon continues to argue more U.S. troops are not needed, but if U.S. commanders think otherwise, they need only ask and they will get more forces. Jamie McIntyre, CNN, The Pentagon

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Mideast Israeli Attack

TRACYE HUTCHINS, CNN ANCHOR: Elsewhere in the Middle East...Palestinian sources say two members of the Hamas militant group narrowly escaped an Israeli rocket attack on Tuesday. The militants were stuck in a traffic jam at a refugee camp near Gaza, when they were targeted by an Israeli helicopter. Three missiles slammed into their car, but the Hamas members managed to escape before the vehicle was hit. One passerby was killed and 23 others were wounded in the attack. Israel has been going after Hamas militants since last week, when the group claimed responsibility for a suicide attack that killed 20 people in Jerusalem.

Word to the Wise

A Word to the Wise...diligence - earnest and persistent application to an undertaking; steady effort. (Source: www.dictionary.com)

Shuttle Columbia Investigation

TRACYE HUTCHINS, CNN ANCHOR: Investigators have been diligent in searching for reasons for the space shuttle Columbia disaster...and a report released on Tuesday was highly critical of NASA, as expected. Elaine Quijano tells us who's shouldering the blame, for the events that led to the loss of the spacecraft on February first.

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ADM. HAL GEHMAN (RET.), CHAIRMAN, COLUMBIA ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BOARD: The space shuttle is not inherently unsafe.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN REPORTER: The 250-page report by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board says it was a combination of factors ... including NASA's culture ... that led the agency to miss the seriousness of the event that occurred 81 seconds after takeoff. The board says changing that culture needs to happen at all levels of NASA.

GEHMAN: You can change a bad organization by reorganizing it, but you cannot change a bad culture by reorganization, it takes both reorganization and leadership.

QUIJANO: The group says a nearly two-pound piece of foam ripped off the space shuttle and smashed a hole into the leading edge of the left wing. That hole later allowed gases to leak in causing the shuttle to disintegrate as it re-entered earth's atmosphere.

SEAN O'KEEFE, NASA ADMINISTRATOR: This was a case where we missed it...just flat missed it.

QUIJANO: The report says even though some launch technicians saw the initial incident, concerns by lower-level engineers never made it to top NASA decision-makers, partly because of communication glitches -- partly because of intimidation -- and partly because engineers had seen foam chunks break off during previous launches -- and never had a serious problem. NASA's administrator says his agency will accept all the board's recommendations for change --and will factor in human nature the next launch.

O'KEEFE: We have to then compensate that human characteristic and be sure that we exercise an overabundance of diligence.

QUIJANO: The board made a total of 29 recommendations including creating an independent technical engineering authority at NASA in order to ensure the safety of any future missions. In Washington, for CNN Student News, I'm Elaine Quijano.

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Shoutout!

Time for the Shoutout! Bit of a challenge today--Shoutouts are to CNN Student News as ____ are to the SAT! If you think you've got it figured, shout it out! Is it: A) Analogies, B) Pencils, C) Colleges or D) Screams? You've got three seconds--GO!

This analogy was set up to show that analogies are components, or things you'd see on the SAT, in the way that Shoutouts are components of our show. It might make you want to scream...But that's your answer and that's your Shoutout!

SAT Scores Up

TRACYE HUTCHINS, CNN ANCHOR: Diligent studying has paid off for high school students nationwide... Evident in record high scores on a college entrance exam known as the sat, or scholastic aptitude test. We'd like to think that CNN Student News played a role in boosting those scores! Deanna Morawski tells us what other factors might be involved.

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DEANNA MORAWSKI, CNN STUDENT NEWS: It's a pretty significant test--Used in the admissions process at college campus at 80 percent of the nation's colleges and universities. But those admissions offices can expect to see more competitive candidates following Tuesday's announcement of record scores.

GASTON CAPERTON, PRESIDENT, COLLEGE BOARD: The math scores are the highest in 35 years at 519.

MORAWSKI: Add that to the highest verbal scores in 16 years-- an average of 507-- and you've got an impressive group of test-takers this year. Out of a possible 1600, they scored an average of 1026...Up six points from last year. But what caused the higher scores? The College Board, which owns the exam, cites increased enrollment in advanced math and science courses...As well as the spread of high-tech gadgets and computers. Other educators say it stems from teachers using real life applications for mathematics, rather than straight computations. As for those getting the top scores--Asian-American students still outrank those of other racial groups. But it appears the pool of test-takers has grown increasingly more diverse.

CAPERTON: 36 percent are from minority families. 38 percent are the first generation to go to college. In 10 years, the number of Mexican-Americans has increased 56 percent, and the number of non-Mexican Hispanics has increased 50 percent.

MORAWSKI: Results from this year's test continue to show a gap between white students and non-Asian minorities, as well as between genders. But the College Board says things are headed in the right direction. For CNN Student News, I'm Deanna Morawski.

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Female Phenom Goes Pro

TRACYE HUTCHINS, CNN ANCHOR: Step aside Lebron James -- there's another sports sensation who's just gone pro, right out of high school. Her name's Allyson Felix, and she's lightning around the oval. Her sponsorship with Adidas effectively ends her amateur status, and she's on track to sprint past some records in her sport. In fact, Miss Felix has already broken Marion Jones' high-school record in the 200 meters...and her time of 22-point-11 seconds is faster than the winning time in the '96 Olympics.

Before We Go

TRACYE HUTCHINS, CNN ANCHOR: And before we go...If just thinking about running this time of year makes you sweat, imagine how your dog must feel with a fur coat on. Now at least he can look a little cooler, thanks to some special sunglasses fitted by a company in Germany. The shades were originally designed to protect the eyes of mountain rescue dogs from sun and snow. But put them on in summer, and you'll see some fly fur-faced fashion.

Goodbye

TRACYE HUTCHINS, CNN ANCHOR: Some cool canines concluding CNN Student News. I'm Tracye Hutchins. Keep it here for more stories, next on Headline News.