tv Larry King Live CNN February 3, 2010 12:00am-1:00am EST
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all right. mark. >> i have to. this inspired a lot of folks on our staff. very briefly sean yates made a bet that diana miller could not carry him. look, diana is carrying him. very good. >> how can you do that? >> oh, my god. >> that's it for "360." thanks for watching. larry king starts now. >> larry: tonight, breaking michael jackson death news. dr. conrad murray is about to turn himself in. ten jailed americans in big trouble in haiti accused the child trafficking. their desperate pastor and families are here pleading their case. don't ask don't tell. commander in chief obama says homosexuals in the military shouldn't have to hide who they are, and the top brass agreed with him today. >> allowing gays and lesbians to
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serve openly would be the right thing to do. >> she was a p.o.w. taken captive in iraq. her ordeal is revealed next on "larry king live." >> larry: we begin with breaking news. dr. conrad murray expects to surrender to los angeles authorities as early as tomorrow on charges relating to the death of michael jackson. that, according to his lawyer. with us, ted roll rollins. ted, what's the story? has he been indicted? >> not yet. he's here in los angeles. his lawyer from houston is here in los angeles. and according to the spokesperson representing the law firm representing murray, they're expecting that he'll surrender within the next 24 to 48 hours. but up until about an hour and a half ago, they hadn't heard anything specific as to when or where.
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what they're trying to do is make sure he's not hauled off in handcuffs. they want a surrender and away from the media. tough to do in los angeles. >> what charge, jim? >> my guess is it would be involuntary manslaughter. you have a situation where michael jackson was under the doctor's care and propofol was administered and this is the last doctor to treat michael jackson. >> larry: are we skwumpijumpingn or will he be charged? >> they don't know for sure. they're holding out hope that there is a small chance that they won't be, but all of the signs are leading towards the charge coming soon. the ap reporting today they're not going to use a grand jury, go ahead and release a criminal complaint. >> larry: what about means, jim? the prosecutor must have told the lawyer something. have your client ready or what? what do they base it on? >> there's clearly contact with these offices. however, the d.a. hasn't
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necessarily tipped its hand. there's no charges filed yet. you hear things from police officers, ap gets information from someone, cnn is getting information from someone. ted is right. there is every indication that this is moving forward. >> larry: what do we know happened? what do we know supposedly that this doctor did or didn't do? >> one thing we don't know yet, we know he was the last one with michael jackson and he was caring for him. he was absolutely there, and he has admitted through his attorneys, he admitted he gave him propofol and other things leading up to his death, but we don't know what was in jackson's system. the toxicology report hasn't been released. other things could contribute to the death that could complicate the case. >> larry: with no toxicology report how, can you charge him?
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>> they simply haven't released it. look at the propofol alone, larry. you can't get it as an individual. michael jackson had it. presumably dr. murray brought it to michael jackson and administered it without the proper equipment. >> not a controlled substance, so it's not technically breaking lawsuit. >> it doesn't follow any medical protoc protocol. >> larry: it's an anesthesia. >> yes. there was no anesthesiologist there and there was no equipment to resuscitate him. >> larry: why would you give that to a patient? >> that's a question he has to answer. what we've learned, he wanted it, and dr. murray gave it to him. now, is that criminal negligence to the point of manslaughter? it's going to be an interesting case. >> if this all happens, there will be a big l.a. trial, right, jim? >> we've seen this before. i suspect it would be as big as it gets. >> larry: any comment from the jackson family? >> nothing, yet.
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you really reserve comment until things are happen. once he's indicted, we'll get a comment. >> surely the jacksons want someone to pay. i'm not suggesting conrad murray is the only person responsible or he is responsible. it simply looks bad for him. >> larry: coroner's office declare it had a homicide, right? didn't they? >> yeah. a homicide, and the cause of death was an overdose. the question is what killed? did diprivan kill nipphim? the amount shouldn't have killed him. all the players here said what i gave him, shouldn't kill him. something killed him, if they can prove it the diprivan in that cocktail and murray's responsible, he'll go down. it's going to be tough. >> it could have been a cocktail of medications and the total although of the drugs that killed him, not just one drug. >> larry: why is the lawyer telling you this now, that his
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this might happen? >> the lawyer wants to negotiate a turnover. the lawyer does not want to see his client on tv in handcuffs. >> larry: why tell the press? >> they're making it known. >> we're harassing him and calling him. he's responding to it. he's not making statements. they've gone out of their way to try not to cause any stir here. but clearly they brought their client out here for a reason. they think he will surrender in week. >> larry: thank you for staying atop of this. what's going on with those jailed americans in haiti. a big misunderstanding that could cost them their freedom? that's next. ♪ singer: was getting depressed 'cause of all of the stress ♪ ♪ i was feeling at home ♪ had a poor credit score ♪ and the number would haunt me wherever i'd go ♪ ♪ thought i'd move to a place where my credit could stink ♪ ♪ and nobody would care ♪ i just wish that somebody had told me ♪ ♪ that place was a renaissance fair! ♪ ♪ free credit report dot com! tell your friends, ♪ ♪ tell your dad,tell your mom!
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>> larry: ten americans have been arrested in haiti. they had a preliminary hearing before a haitian judge today. they could face charges of kidnapping and child trafficking. no charges filed yet. the missionaries say they were just trying to help children in need leave the country. let's go first to our cnn correspondent in port-au-prince. what happened when they faced the judge today, john? >> reporter: well, larry, that was an investigating magistrate who actually went to the prison cell where these ten americans are being held. he interviewed the five women today for several hours. there were no lawyers present. he will talk to the men tomorrow, presumably there will be no lawyers yet. there's no charges at this point in time. what happens from here? he will present his evidence to a haitian prosecutor, who will then decide if there is enough
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to push on with charges. now, 14 of the 33 children apparently had one or more parents, and those parents have told cnn they gave their kids up quite simply because they could no longer care for them. larry. >> larry: do you know if the united states government is trying to get involved at all yet? >> reporter: what we've heard from the state department is they're saying this is a matter for the haitian government and a matter for the haitian people to be worked out under haitian law. they're taking a hands-off approach at this stage. >> larry: thank you, john. dan simon is on the ground in meridian, idaho. what's the latest there, dan? >> reporter: larry, we've been looking at the group and the plan to build this orphanage, and everything we've been able to ascertain thus far shows they were true in their intentions to help these people. that said, i think it's fair to say, larry, that questions have arisen about their capabilities to build this orphanage and run it. first of all, they have no experience in running an orphanage, no experience.
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they also have not registered as a nonprofit, and they also are not recognized as an international adoption agency. finally, larry, in terms of funding this orphanage over a long period of time, it has not been made clear whatsoever how they would have the financial wherewithal to run this orphanage. it appears that after this quake occurred, they didn't quite have a strategy in place and they just ran in there and tried to do something. that said, again, it appears that they just wanted to help these people, but didn't quite think about things long term. larry. >> larry: thanks, dan. also in meridian, idaho is the passer drew hamm, pastor of the central valley baptist church where all of them were members. were you surprised at this, pastor? >> i'm sorry, larry. surprised at which part? >> larry: the fact they took these kids.
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>> was i surprised personally? >> larry: yeah. >> i know that the purpose of their trip was to go and help children. so that's part of the very fabric of our church. we recently took a trip to ecuador where we did a number of things for folks. >> larry: were you surprised they took children from one place to another place? >> larry, that was the purpose of the trip, was to help those that are in need. >> larry: you say help, but i asked did you know that they intended to move children? >> sir, i know the purpose was simply to go and help. i don't know their intentions because we weren't there, and we've had very little communication with them. >> larry: are you fearful of charges being filed against them?
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we're certainly conce we're. >> we're concerned for their safety and whereabouts. they have a great compassion for the children. larry, that's probably one of the best things about this situation, is the the fact that these children are being taken care of. >> do you know why they moved them? do you know why they did this? you know these people. >> yes, sir. the purpose of this trip was specifically to go and establish an orphanage and help those children that really needed help and just to pour some compassion on those children. >> larry: do you expect the united states government to be more vocally helpful? >> i would say the government is doing all that they can. i know they have a great care and concern for these children as well. >> larry: do you know it's reported that some of the
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parentses actually gave the kids to your group saying they could not take care of their own children? do you know that to be true? >> no, sir, i don't know that to be true. >> larry: have you talked to members of the group. >> no, sir, we have not. >> larry: you're not able to communicate? don't they have cell phones? can't you talk to them? >> no, sir. the information we've received is upon their arrest, were cell phones were confiscated and we have not been able to communicate with them since last friday. >> larry: all right. pastor hamm, you remain with us. we'll be joined by some relatives and family members worried about their loved ones in haiti. their take in 60 seconds.
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we're joined by lisa allen, renee thompson with us she's the wife of paul thompson and samantha langford is the daughter of corinna langford and the sister of nicole langford. lisa, have you been able to talk with jim? >> no, i have not. >> larry: i guess they -- so renee, you haven't been in contact, either, with paul? >> no, no contact at all. >> larry: and you, too, samantha, right? >> it's the same thing for me, sir. >> larry: lisa, what do you make of all this? >> i think it's a big misunderstanding that's kind of been blown out of proportion. their intentions were to go there and help the kids that were in need, and like i say, i
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think it's a misunderstanding. >> larry: are you surprised, renee, that they took the children without checking first with authorities or the fact that these -- many of them had parents, they were not orphans? >> you know, i don't know all of the details that really went on over there, so i really don't have a firm answer on that. there are so many details that i'm not aware of right now. >> larry: well, samantha, the group had no documents, approvals or passports for the children. are you surprised they moved those kids? >> sir, all i know is my mother and my sister love those children and have compassion towards them and they were going there to help. i'm unsure of the situation down there as i'm not down there, but i definitely feel for them in the situation that they are in.
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>> larry: lisa, would you like the american government to be more involved than they apparently are? >> no, i feel comfortable with what they're doing at this time. >> larry: do you know what they're doing? >> i believe they're working it as best they can. i think it's a difficult situation, and just a lot of details to be worked out. >> larry: renee, is your big fear that haiti is going to charge them and haiti is going to try them? >> you know, i don't -- i don't know what haiti will be doing. i do know that our men and women down there are -- they're upstanding citizens and they're compassionate people, and i just am resting on that at the moment. >> larry: the haitian prime minister, samantha, called them
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kidnappers, although he admitted they were misguided in what they were trying to do. what do you recall of these people? >> well, sir, it's my mother and my sister, and i know their heart was to help these people, and it very much hurts me that they're being accused of this. i know that they are working very hard to take care of these children and even where they are right now, they are concerned about them. >> larry: would you describe yourself -- i don't want to put words in your mouth -- as shocked by all this? >> no, sir. i know that the government in haiti has had a tremendously difficult time. once again, there is a great level of encouragement because we know the country of haiti has a great compassion for these children, and you know, the
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purpose of this trip was to provide for these children, and we know that right now they're getting the provision and the care that they need. >> larry: do you think the haitian government is trying to send some sort of message here? >> i really don't know. i know that it must be remarkably difficult for the government because, you know, it's just extremely hard for them, and we have a great compassion for those people, larry. that's why this group from our church wanted to go down there, because they cared about those people. and that includes the government. >> larry: lisa, since the intentions were apparently obviously honorable, are you a little surprised by the government taking this action, holding them, taking away their phones and the like? couldn't this have been resolved, you think, a little better? >> it's hurtful because, again, we know what their intentions were when they went, and we're just ready for them to be brought home safely.
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>> larry: renee, what does paul thompson do? what does your husband do for a living? >> my husband is a pastor, and he also drives a school bus for a school district. >> larry: what did you think when he told you he was going there to do this? >> i was not surprised in the least. my husband is the most compassionate, unselfish man. i've been receiving phone calls, e-mails, phone calls, messages in the hundreds from people he has known over the years and know him well, highly respect him. they are shocked and are all behind him and eagerly awaiting his return. >> larry: what did your mother and sister, samantha, tell you when they went?
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>> well, sir, i was informed of the fact that they were going to go and help children, which excited me because these children, after seeing pictures of them on the internet and pictures that were posted, i also felt compassion for them and was excited for the fact that they were given the opportunity to go and help take care of these children and meet their emotional and physical needs. i'm very proud of them. >> larry: as well you should be. we'll stay on top of this. we'll keep in constant touch. we wish all of you nothing but the best in all of this. pastor drew ham, renee, lisa, thank you all. don't ask, don't tell, a policy that's divided the military. is it about to change? stay with us. ♪ you're the one
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now more of my want-tos are can-dos. as your doctor about symbicort today. i got my first prescription free. call or go online to learn more. [ male announcer ] if you cannot afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help. >> larry: defense secretary gates told a hearing of the senate armed services committee today that the pentagon is taking the first steps towards repealing the military's don't ask, don't tell policy. to get into all of this, all our guests in washington, general wesley clark, former nato supreme commander. he supports the president's call to end the policy. lieutenant kor corn nell robert mcginnis, u.s. army, retired. he thinks it's too soon to repeal. roy is a gay himself and currently serving in the national guard. he faces discharge because of don't ask, doebt r don't tell. he's a west point graduate and
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an iraqi veteran. and tony perkins for he remember sergeant in the united states marine corps president of the family research council. he's against the repeal of don't ask, don't tell. let me show you back-to-back tapes now. first the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff andrew mullen and then senator john mccain. one goes one way, one the other. watch. >> speaking for myself and myself only, it is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. no matter how i look at this issue, i cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. >> our men and women in uniform are fighting two wars, guarding the front lines against the global terrorist enemy, serving and sacrificing on battlefields far from home, and working to
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rebuild and reform the force after more than eight years of conflict. at this moment, a midst hardship for our armed services, we should not be seeking to overturn the don't ask, don't tell policy. >> larry: general, why is this the time to overturn it? >> i think it's past due. we should honor all of those who want to serve our country. i think it's wrong for people to be told they have to lie about who they are and cover up their identity in order to serve their country. other nations have looked at this and they've said the policy isn't don't ask, don't tell, it's don't misbehave. and their armed services have gays serving in them and they're doing quite well, and i don't see any reason why we have to discriminate against men and women who want to serve their country. >> lieutenant colonel mcginnis, why encourage lying? >> i agree, we shouldn't encourage lying.
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don't ask, don't tell isn't really the law. unfortunately, it's a clinton administration aberration of the law, but that's what we're dealing with. the fact is, larry, back in '93 when i was working with this 50-man group, we looked at all the data that was available. they didn't do the extensive research that apparently secretary gates and admiral mullen are suggesting. i think that's a great idea and i endorse what they're about to do. however, we went with the best information we had, we convinced the congress, and the congress was a democratic congress at that time, larry. they wrote 15 very specific findings. if those findings are no longer valid, throw it out. but if they're still valid, we need to keep the law because it supports military readiness. >> larry: lieutenant choi, why, in your opinion, are they no longer valid? >> i think when we're in a time of war, and for those who are currently serving in the
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kournts incounterinsurgencies in iraq and afghanistan, we learn a very important lesson. we need every skilled soldier we can get. any good leader serving right now will tell you that. to kick out arabic and pharosee bing link wists in a time of war, especially those who refuse to lie about who they are or refuse to lie about who they love, i think that's an absolute mistake. >> larry: tony perkins, you will admit that there are crosses and jewish stars at normandy and other battlefields, symbolically there are gay soldiers buried there. doesn't that tell you something about their desire to serve their country? >> it's not a question of whether or not they have a desire to serve, nor is it a question whether they can serve. they certainly can serve in the military today. it's a question of the behavior of those who identify themselves as homosexual. i think the question, larry, has been, and raised, is what has changed since 1993 when this
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policy was implemented by the clinton administration? we had 14 congressional hearings since then all coming to the same conclusion that this would undermine unit cohesion and military readiness. even the democratic chairman of the house armed services committee, ike skelton, says he's opposed to changing this policy. there are members of the joint chiefs who are opposed to changing this policy. it's not a foregone conclusion this is going to be changed. >> larry: what is the fear, that the gay person will come on to a straight person or the straight person will be embarrassed to take -- what's the fear? >> i think we've seen the same thing. we have to be very careful with how we integrate the sexes in the military, and i think a lot of people don't understand, present company excepted here, but the military is a very open environment. there's very few occasions where you're living in the same room and showering with 80 men.
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there is no privacy. officers have a little more privacy than enlisted men. so especially when you're in training situations where you have an individual that has the power, really, of life and death in some circumstances over individuals, there can be a lot of coercion, and this can be a very dangerous situation and intimidating situation. it's not healthy for the well-being of the military. >> larry: general clark, how do you respond to that? >> i think the standard is exactly what tony suggested it should be is don't misbehave. but, unfortunately, that's not what the don't ask, don't tell rule is about. it's about witch hunts, it's about tattletales, it's about a lot of pressure to cover things up and not be seen and not know who you are, so i think the standard ought to be, don't misbehave. there is a lot of coercion in training, no doubt about it. it happens between men, it happens between men and women, it happens between men and men
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and it happens between women and women. that's what it is when someone has power over someone else. it's not tolerated to misbehave in the civilian community and it shouldn't be tolerated in the military, and that should be the end of it. people should be entitled to be who they are and the standard is don't misbehave. >> larry: we'll ask lieutenant colonel mcginnis why it shouldn't be based just on behavior, right after this.
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>> larry: okay, lieutenant colonel mcginnis, why shouldn't it just be bad behavior? whatever, bad behavior should be expulsion. >> larry, we do have a lot of laws and we do prosecute as many people as we can when we find a case. the military has a very unique culture, and we need to understand that and the congress needs to take that into consideration. i'm sure edward mullen, when he has a group working on this, will consider that. back in '93, larry, we went through all the issues on cohesion, the bonding and so forth. all of those contributed to the law. the law is very specific in regard to its findings on sexual behavior. can you enforce this? probably. don't know exactly.
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that's why it's important to go out and ask the soldiers and the families, which i wholly endorse. i think this is the best thing i heard from the secretary today. >> larry: is it possible, lieutenant colonel, that times have changed. this is 17 years later. >> times have changed, larry, but the military's culture has not radically changed because it's a time of war. so it's possible that, you know, we could change this, but be very, very careful because you have a military that's defending us now. you don't want to do something rash and create a risk that you don't want -- you just can't put back in the bottle. >> larry: lieutenant choi, does this policy personally hurt you? >> of course, larry. when we can all just talk about policy, i think that's fine for a great show in the evening, but for me, all of this really does affect my life.
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that hearing today was talking about my job. but you know how it really affects me personally and i think personally for all of us that are here, we're wearing our rings and on my west point ring, it says honor. the first day i learned the honor codes. a cadet will not lie, and you will not tolerate those who lie. but when i told the truth, i went on national tv and told the truth, i went to drill next weekend and we went on the rifle range, and as we were cleaning our weapons, one of my soldiers comes up to me and says, so was that you talking on tv? i said, yeah, that was me. it was a little bit of a surprise because it was an infantry unit, but by the time we were done cleaning our weapons, he said, all right, then. when do we get to meet your boyfriend? to think there is all this fear on a policy level and people talk and it makes for a nice sound bite, but the reality on the ground is, we're ready for people to tell the truth. and i think it insults our soldiers to assume they can't
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handle the truth. >> larry: tony, doesn't it bother you to hear lieutenant choi say that? >> no, larry, certainly we've had a chance to talk and i have great respect for him and his service to the country as i do for every man and woman regardless of their sexual orientation. but we don't make public policy based upon personal situations, we make public policy for what's best for the nation. you know what the president has done, he has urged the joint chiefs to make a change in a time of war, undermining potentially our nation's security and the effectiveness of our military and quite possibly opening the door to the draft once again, because we've seen there are men and women who do serve in the military who have expressed reservations about staying in the military if this change comes about. so there are ramifications to policy decisions. to other consequences, sometimes, but i think we need to look those through.
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i don't think the chief can tackle this issue when he's already said, the secretary has said they're going to carry out the orders of the commander in chief, and that is to make sure this policy is done away with it. which, by the way, is troubling to me in that the military would be undermining the very thing they protect, and that is the rule of law. >> larry: general clark, doesn't the military need people? >> the military needs people, and larry, i do think attitudes have changed. i was a division commander with the first cavalry division when the last policy was adopted back in '93. i knew what the soldiers felt, i watched it over the years that i remained in the service, i talked to people about it. the attitudes changed even in the course of a few years, and they've changed more now, but i would caution this. if this becomes a political football and democrats line up on one side and republicans on the other, those opinion polls that we're talking about and polling soldiers won't mean a darn thing again, it will just
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inflame the forces. i think the standard is that soldiers and marines and airmen and sailors have to obey the law. they have to uphold the standards they've been given, they have to be responsible and tell the truth, and they should be who they are. and that means we should accept human beings for who they are and honor and love them, because we need them in this country. >> larry: lieutenant colonel mcginnis, would you rather have no gays in the military, period? >> well, we have gays right now, larry. i don't think anybody denies that. >> larry: but would you like to see a law that says no gays? >> the current law is a double pretense. homosexuals like dan have to pretend they're not homosexual and the military pretends they don't mind. the law is clear, the military obeys the law of the land. the congress says, this is the law, you obey it. they salute and they drive on. larry, at the same time, going back to what general clark was saying, we dismiss a quarter of
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a million young soldiers every year for all sorts of reasons. about one-third of 1% fit the category of homosexuals. every soldier that walks out the door is a loss, but every one of those decisions is made on the best interest of the military based on the laws that congress has given us. they either change the laws after considering all the requisite information that the pentagon hopefully will provide without bias, then we can get on and do the important business of fighting the wars of this country. >> larry: lieutenant choi, have you thought of quitting? >> what kind of question is that, larry? why would you ever ask a soldier to quit? >> larry: because they don't want you if you admit who you are. >> well, i think that the morals that you're taught and the values that you're taught at the very first day of your basic training, that's what you fall back on whenever you have a gray area or whenever you have a difficult decision. and i think anybody here in this can understand that. we've learned -- my dad is a
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southern baptist minister, and he thought me from the beginning, i don't care what you did, just tell me the truth. those are the values we fall back on. my instinct right now? i was given the chance to quit and i would most likely hold onto all of my benefits. as a combat veteran, i think i've earned some of those, but i said no, i'm putting it all on the line, because i learned on that very first day that you tell the truth and there can be consequences, there can be risks, but for me, being solidly sound in those things i was taught from day one, i'm confident that i made the right decision. >> larry: we're going to do a lot more on this and i thank you all very much. a former p.o.w. is with us. her fight for life wasn't just on the battlefield, next. chevy traverse. he it has more cargo space than pilot. including the most space behind the third row. and traverse beats honda on highway gas mileage too.
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garlique's clinically tested ingredient maintains healthy cholesterol naturally. eat right. exercise. garlique. we welcome sho shanna johnson back to "larry king live." she's a he veteran of operation iraqi freedom. she and five other members of the maintenance company were taken captive march 23, 2003. they was held prisoner 22 days. author of a new book "i'm still standing." from captive soldier to free citizen, my journey home. before we get into this, what do you make of the don't ask, don't tell controversy? >> silly. if men and women want to serve in our military, i really don't care who they want to sleep with. it's all about serving our country.
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>> larry: so you would repeal it? >> definitely. >> larry: it's been seven years since you were a p.o.w. do you think about it a lot? >> still. very much so. the controversy between us and iraq is in the media, so it's difficult to forget. >> larry: how were you caught? >> during an ambush. vehicles were disabled. it seemed like the whole city came out and participated in the ambush. i was shot and caught, basically. >> larry: shot where? >> in both my legs. >> larry: what were those 23 days like? >> it was hard to describe. fear every day they would just be done with you and just kill you and end it all, wondering about my family, my daughter, you know, wondering where the special forces were. >> larry: how were you treated? >> pretty humanely. i can't complain.
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was it perfect? no, it wasn't. but compared to what i expected, i'm very grateful. >> larry: you write in the book that you were not raped but you wonder about the possibility. what do you mean? >> during the medical care, i had an operation and i was given general anesthesia for the first time ever, and i don't know what happened, basically. >> larry: do you suspect something might have happened? >> i try not to think like that, you know. they treated me with kindness. i'm just going to leave it at that, but i have to admit i don't know what happened every second. >> larry: your captors told you about seeing your mother on television, didn't they? >> yes. >> larry: what did that do to you? >> it broke me down. the first thing i thought was what is my daughter going through, what is my mother going through? it turned out when i got home, it was my grandmother and not my mother, but i tried to be so tough and not be the whimpering female that really tore at my heart.
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>> larry: were you married? >> no, i've never been married. >> larry: how were you freed? >> the united states marine corps came to the rescue. >> larry: what happened? >> it seems that they got a tip from an iraqi individual, and they took the tip and ran with it, and basically broke down the door, kicked down the door where we were at. >> larry: how many were captured there? >> it was seven of us being held in the house. >> larry: did they get all seven out? >> all seven out. >> larry: were you the only one wounded? >> no, joseph hudson, he got three bullets to his back, he got shot in the buttocks, and then edgar hernandez took a bullet to his arm. >> larry: were you discharged after that? >> 2003 i got a medical discharge because of my legs, my back and the ptsd. >> larry: have you signed up for a career in the service? >> in the beginning, no. i just wanted to do the first three years, get out and go to culinary school. but after i had my daughter, i thought i could make this a career and still pursue my culinary dreams.
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>> larry: why did you write the book? >> to put to rest questions. i heard a lot of different versions of what had happened to me, and i wanted to set the story straight. now people can pick it up and see what happened from my point of view. >> larry: a lot of misunderstandings? >> misunderstandings, out and out lies. there were a lot of things about me running away and shooting over my shoulder. i was leading the convoy, i'm the reason they got lost. totally untrue. >> larry: all wrong? >> all wrong. >> larry: more after this. and unlock the freshness of the outdoors for your indoor cat. fueling an exhilarating adventure... each entree is bursting with high-quality protein... plus wholesome grain and garden greens. specially formulated to promote hairball control... and healthy weight. friskies indoor wet cat food. feed the senses. now turn treat time into party time... with friskies party mix cat treats.
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>> larry: anderson cooper is back home in new york. what's the lead tonight, anderson? >> we have breaking news tonight, a cnn exclusive on where the christmas day bomber is cooperating with authorities. plus, those ten american missionaries, right now they sit behind bars in haiti accused of child trafficking. are they guilty a crime and merely misguided? we're digging deeper and you can decide for yourself. we'll look at the devastation with haiti. tonight we have pastor joel osteen reconciling religion with iter destruction. we'll see what the new yorkers are doing to help their loved ones back in haiti. >> anderson cooper with a tie -- >> it feels strange.
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>> larry: i bet. at the top of the hour. shoshana johnson is with us. her terrific book is "i'm still standing." you decided you should write to get out of the army because he had problems with blatant resentment and pettiness from fellow officers. what do you mean? >> there seemed to be a lot of resentment of the attention i got, all the media, going to certain events, even military events they complained about the color of my lipstick to the color of my nail polish, which is really silly because i used them before i was deployed. >> what rank were you? >> specialist e-4. >> larry: you get a pension for life, right? >> yes, i will. >> larry: what is ahead now? what are you doing? >> i'm in culinary school in el paso, texas. i'm enjoying it and raising my daughter. just enjoying life as much as i can.
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>> larry: how do you look back at your military career? >> i loved it. i enjoyed being in the military, and i don't regret for one second joining up. it was something that i think improved my life, improved my outlook on life, and made me feel really appreciate the freedom i enjoy. >> larry: what did you make of all the media attention? >> it was kind of a pain in the butt. >> larry: did the other six captors rezents it? >> no, not at all. we're very tight. >> you got the most? you did. >> but we understood that we shared a bond that nobody could understand or come between. they're my brothers, and i can lean on them anytime. >> larry: you were the first black p.o.w. in american history? >> black female, yeah. it's not a title that i like. >> larry: did they have to convince you to write this book? was there any hesitant see at all? >> there was a lot. my family insisted -- >> larry: didn't want you to?
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>> they insisted i write the book. they think what you do is so important and wonderful. i wasn't sure that other people would think that also. i'm expecting some people to not like it, some people to make dirty comments and everything like that, but i know in my heart that i've told the truth. >> how old is your daughter now? >> she's 9 years old, 4'8", 100 pounds. >> fourth grade? >> yeah. >> larry: i got a 9-year-old. would you mind if they joined the military? >> i wouldn't mind at all. i would definitely sit down with her and let her know what it's really like to be in the military. if she makes that decision after our talk, i will support her 110%. i enjoyed my time in the military, and there are times when i actually miss it. the camaraderie. >> larry: do you keep in touch with the san diegos? >> yes. >> larry: this will be a best seller. sho shawna johnson, i'm still
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standing, my journey home. james cameron and the the cast of "avatar" will be here tomorrow night. if you have a question for them, go to cnn dots come/larry heking and fire away or tweet me at kingsthings. we have a preview, next. in the south. i'll never forget. it used one tank of petrol and i had to refill it twice with oil. a new car today has 95% lower emissions than in 1970. exxonmobil is working to improve cars, liners of tires, plastics which are lighter and advanced hydrogen technologies that could increase fuel efficiency by up to 80%. host: could switching to geico 15% or more on car insurance?s host: does charlie daniels play a mean fiddle? ♪ fiddle music
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implts oscar nominations were announced today and "avatar" had nine nods. james cameron is here tonight and so will the cast and others who helped create the $2 billion grossing blockbuster. here's a look at the movie that changed the film game forever. watch. >> action. >> look out. >> you got to be kidding me?
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