chris cuomo is here. chris?reporter: diane, as impressive of the details of this operation are, you really start to appreciate how special these s.e.a.l.s are, when you learn that taking out bin laden was just another day at the office. >> the dogs of war were finally turned loose to do what they were designed to do. >> reporter: designed to be the best anywhere, doing anything -- whether sea, air or land -- that's what s.e.a.l. stands for. >> it's a self-contained unit that can go any place in the world and literally do nothing but kick ass. >> reporter: a superhero has nothing on these guys. recruits are trained to swim 350 feet underwater with their hands and feet bound. they're taught to survive in arctic conditions, even submerging in freezing water. they also have to endure exposure to tear gas. only men ranging in age of 26 to 33 try out to become one of the 2,500 s.e.a.l.s. training takes two years. 75% don't make it through. even if they do, they need years more experience in the field to even be consid

also watching it all, "20/20" anchor chris cuomo, who is back here with us tonight. chris? >> reporter: hey, david. good news for dominique strauss-kahn. but it may prove to be a brief bright spot, because a grand jury indictment revealed today is about as harsh as it could be, and it could send mr. strauss-kahn to prison for a long time. dominique strauss-kahn blew kisses to his family in a rare light moment, after the judge accepted his argument that he had no reason to run. and his offer to stay confined in a new york city apartment rented by his wife while wearing an electronic monitoring device. >> i think the conditions, i believe, they are sufficient to ensure you will be here when we need you. >> reporter: likening the offer to that being made by bernie madoff, the defendant pledged $1 million in cash. and $5 million in assets. the prosecution argued, dominique strauss-kahn tried to flee once, and that he has the means and incentive to flee again. >> he has the stature and the resources to live a life of ease and comfort in parts of the world that are beyond this co

chris cuomo got some answers. >> reporter: bone shakers sports bar in virginia where navy s.e.a.l.m six trains. locals toasted someone they may never know by name, but who could easily be their neighbor. >> god bless the man who took the shot. he's going to live with that for the rest of his life. i'm proud of him. >> absolutely. >> i'm very proud of him. >> reporter: so what do we know about what he is like? we know the shooter is a he because all s.e.a.l.s are men. he's probably about 30 years old with a bachelor's and possibly a master's degree. he's most likely white and may have a wife and children. the s.e.a.l. who delivered that double tap to the head and chest of america's most hated enemy is a perfect physical specimen. >> they have gazelle legs. no waist. and huge upper body configuration. >> reporter: but he is also most likely hiding beneath a slightly disheveled exterior. unlike other navy s.e.a.l.s the member of team six who killed bin laden is most likely not the clean-cut action figure you might imagine. he probably uses modified grooming standards including a beard

chris cuomo was there this morning. >> reporter: the cars have disheveled the streets down here.d of surrendering to the moment. the local police are telling me it's not worth trying to clear people out. they need to have this moment. there are now about 3,000, 4,000 people that are filling the streets down here at church and one of the most famous corners of the old world trade center. and you're seeing the whole range here. there are victims' families who are come down, people who are on the phone, they're crying. they're calling people to come down here and gather. you're hearing things like "we're all family" tonight. yes, you are hearing that reserved hostility towards osama bin laden and a lot of the ugliness that goes along with that. that feeling that there has been justice but there is not nearly not as much of that as the celebration. sking singing of the national anthem. right now i'm look at a dozen flags waving. it's not unlike -- it's as one distant family told me. everything begins anew because of this. that said it's still early. all of these people seem to be on

chris cuomo reports. >> dominic strauss kaun haggard uncomfortable in court being denied bail in sexualnly days earlier he was celebrated potential future president of france. powerful head of the international monetary fund that lend billions to country all over the world. his accur uldn hava more different back ground. immigrant. mother. made. if picked strauss kaun out of a lineup as attacker. >> charges are severe. he has almost no incentive to stay in the country. >>reporter: that-year-old told police she entered the 3000 dollar a night suite at the hotel in mid town, manhattan midday saturday to clean. thinking the room was empty. she says he surprised her and immediately attacked her attempting to have sex. according to the criminal complaint when she tried to run away he locked the door to the suite. dragged her in a room and forced numerous sex acts on her. meanwhile he nrevt a hurry but later call the hotel to say he left his cell phone in his room. abc has learned hotel employee coached by police at the scene got him to say he was at jfk airport about to get on an air france

our chris cuomo has been tracking the latest. good morning, chris. >> hey, robin. mr. strauss-kahn is starting to feel the bite of being a defendant and also that's about feeling the loss of being a defendant. the case is still being developed, but it seems to get worse for this man every day. the would-be presidential contender has gone from debonair to down and out. this picture taken inside rikers island jail tells the story of the past four days since dominique strauss-kahn was yanked from an air france plane and arrested for the attempted rape of a hotel housekeeper. overnight strauss-kahn on suicide watch suffered another blow. resigning as the chief of the international monetary fund with as he put it infinite sadness saying he wants to devote all his energy to battle the sexual assault charges he faces here in new york. in a letter to the imf's board strauss-kahn wrote "i deny with the greatest possible firmness all of the allegations that have been made against me" and "i think at this time first of my wife whom i love more than anything, of my children, of my

chris cuomo was among the celebrations at ground zero. >> reporter: you're seeing the whole range. there are vim tims' families two have come down. people are on the phone, they're crying. they're calling people to come here and gather. you're hearing things like we're all family tonight. yet, you're hearing the reserved hostility for osama bin laden and a lot of the ugliness that goes along with thatith thatthe justice. but there's not nearly as much of that as there is celebration. the singing of the national anthem. i'm looking at a dozen flags now waving. it's not unlike new year's eve. as one distant family member told me, in her mind, everything begins anew because of this. >> some sense of closure we hope for those families. >>> his death in no way ends the nation's fight against terrorism. there are nearly 100,000 americans in afghanistan waging that battle as we speck. >> important to remember that. for reporting from that weregio we're joined by mike boettcher, from afghanistan this morning. good morning, mike. >> reporter: we received a message within 15 minutes from the

our chris cuomo was at the firehouses today and he is there tonight. s. >> reporter: hello, diane. firemen have a bond that is literally forged by fire. and nothing brings them closer than the memory of their fallen. as the continue towers burned and people ran for their lives, first responders ran into the danger. images of them in a life and death struggle are now seared in the minds of our nation. symbols of america's resolve to fight for one another, no matter the challenge. 343 firefighters did not make it out of ground zero that day. families were broken. children left without fathers. men still carry scars in their lungs and their hearts. wounds reopen every year. but last night on word of bin laden being no more, they came back to ground zero and remembered the fallen. >> we lost all five of our companies, every member, 33 guys. so it's a happy moment right now. >> reporter: but this time they're brought here by a feeling rarely attached to 9/11, relief. >> i just felt this is the only place i could be right now. there's nowhere else i could be

let's dur to "20/20" anchor chris cuomo, back with us to lead us off tonight. chris, good evening. >> reporter: david, this has been quite a ride. first, mr. strauss-kahn won bail, almost lost it, now he's in a kind of freedom limbo. but one thing is for sure. he got a taste of what it's like to be an accused sex offender. strauss-kahn arriving tonight to his new home, after the judge made it clear, bail was dependent on all conditions being met, especially home confinement. >> i do want to make it very clear. if there is the slightest problem with your compliance with what will decide whether or not the conditions need to be modified or whether they should be completely withdrawn. >> reporter: strauss-kahn's wife ann sinclair had obtained a lease here at the swank bristol plaza, where apartments rent for up to $14,000 a month. but this morning, in a building where reportedly o.j. simpson, an alleged killer once lived, neighbors objected to living next to strauss-kahn. his release from riker's island was fading fast, until the security company hired to watch the

chris cuomo has their story. >> reporter: as the twin towers burned and people ran for their lives, first responders ran into the danger. images of them in a life-and-death struggle are now searred into the minds of our nation. symbols of america's resolve to fight for one another no matter the challenge. 343 firefighters did not make it out of ground zero that day. families were broken. children left without fathers. men still carry scars in their lungs and their hearts. wounds reopened every year. on word of bin laden being no more, they came back to ground zero and remembered the fallen. >> we lost all five our companies, every member, 33 guys. so it's a happy moment right now. >> reporter: but this time they're brought here by a feeling rarely attached to 9/11, relief. >> i just felt this was the only place i could be right now. nowhere else i could be right now. >> reporter: not a celebration, but a burden lifted. the fulfillment of a promise of justice made by president bush to a firefighter who famously called out, i can't hear you. >> i can hear you. >> that voice was rocco chieri

all because of an unyielding hotel chamber maid. "20/20" anchor chris cuomo has been tracking what happened when a woman with almost no power decided to stand her ground against one of the biggest players on the world stage. chris. >> reporter: imagine, diane, going from one of the most powerful men in the world, living a life of complete luxury, to having a ham and cheese sandwich in a new york city jail. that is the situation and it could be only the beginning. >> dominique strauss-kahn. step up. >> reporter: dominique strauss-kahn looked haggard and uncomfortable in court today, being denied bail in a sexual assault case. only days earlier, he was a celebrated potential future president of france, the powerful head of the international monetary fund, that lends billions to countries all over the world. his accuser couldn't have a more different background. an immigrant, mother and maid who picked strauss-kahn out of a lineup as her attacker. >> the charges here and the underlying conduct are severe. he has almost no incentive to stay in this country. >> reporter: the 32-year-old told pol

people who know her are painting a portrait of a fearful, fragile widow, single mom. "20/20" anchor chris cuomo has the latest on her story and the case being built against dominique strauss-kahn, the suspect from france. >> reporter: new details are emerging about the background of the 32-year-old hotel maid. her lawyer says she's a muslim. a widowed mother of a 15-year-old daughter who came here seven years ago, seeking asylum from guinea. >> she's extraordinarily vulnerable here. basically having her life taken away from her. >> reporter: but in france, there's growing sympathy for strauss-kahn. in fact, an informal poll in france shows that almost 60% of those surveyed believe that strauss-kahn was set up by the maid as part of a conspiracy to ruin his political career. strauss-kahn's lawyers have also challenged the maid's account, suggesting that any sexual encounter was consensual. >> forensic evidence we believe will not be consistent with a forcible encounter. >> reporter: but a close friend of the alleged victim says she told him it was not consensual, and told him she had no idea who

chris cuomo is following the court case. >> reporter: dominique strauss-kahn blew kisses to his familytay confined in a new york city apartment rented by his wife while wearing an electronic monitoring device. >> i think the conditions that have been proposed, i believe that they are sufficient to ensure that you will be here when we need you. >> reporter: likening the offer to that made by bernie madoff the defendant pledged $1 million in cash and $5 million in assets. the prosecution argued dominique strauss-kahn tried to flee once and that he has the means and incentive to flee again. >> he has the stature and the resources to live a life of ease and comfort in parts of the world that are beyond this court. >> reporter: good news for the prosecution came from the grand jury indictment that was revealed, which seemed to indicate they found the alleged victim's account completely believable. strauss-kahn denied wrongdoing for the first time in his letter resigning as the head of the imf on wednesday. writing "i deny with the greatest possible firmness all the allegations that have bee

with more on that, here is chris cuomo. >> reporter: new details are emerging about the background ofold sofitel hotel maid. her lawyer says she is a muslim, a widowed mother of a 15-year-old daughter who sought asylum here from guinea seven years ago. >> she is extraordinarily vulnerable here, having basically her life taken away from her. >> reporter: but in france, there is growing sympathy for strauss-kahn, in fact, an informal poll in france shows almost 60% of those surveyed believe strauss-kahn was set up by the maid as part of the conspiracy to ruin his political career. strauss-kahn's lawyers have also challenged the maid's account, suggesting any sexual encounter was consensual. >> forensic evidence we believe will not be consistent with a forcible encounter. >> reporter: a close friend of the alleged victim says she told him it was not consensual and she had no idea who strauss-kahn was at the time of the alleged brutal attack. >> she is recovering, slowly. >> reporter: off camera the friend also told abc news of a call made by the alleged victim from the hospital. saying,

chris cuomo has a look at the man. we don't know exactly who he is.e have an idea. >> we all want to meet these men and thank them because of how amazing the task was. for security reasons, we're not allowed to know. but we do know there's only 2,500 s.e.a.l.s. 25% never make it. and only a small slice make it to the elite level like team 6. one thing is for sure, whoever pulled the trigger on osama bin laden was the best of the best. overnight, at bone shakers sports bar in virginia, where navy s.e.a.l.s 6 trains, they toast a man they will never know the name. but they know he is their neighbor. >> he is going to live with that for the rest of his life. i am proud of him. i'm very proud of him. >> reporter: what do we know about what he is like? we know the shooter is a he because all s.e.a.l.s are men. he's probably about 30 years ago, with a bachelors and possible a masters degree. he is probably white and may have a wife and children. the s.e.a.l. that delivered the double-tap to the head and chest of america's most-hated enemy, is a perfect phys

for "good morning america," chris cuomo, abc news, new york. >>> and we are honored to have joining usr from this elite unit. howard lawsen was wounded and awarded the silver star. he is the author of a book, "s.e.a.l. team six." first of all, thank you very much. it really is an honor to have you here in our studio. you said when you first heard about this mission, you had no doubt who was behind it. >> yes. it's kind of funny. my neighbor came by yesterday. he is also my preacher. and said, happy dead bin laden day. i heard the s.e.a.l.s killed bin laden. the hair went up on the back of my neck. i went yep. that was s.e.a.l. team 6. >> describe for us what it is like when you are on the helicopter. it is 2 teams of 12 or more. you get on a helicopter and you know what your mission is. what is going through your head at that time? >> it's not what you think. there's a lot of gear prep that goes into it. you rehearse getting on the birds. and what you're going to do en route to the target. you're not even thinking about the target when you get on the helicopter. you're thinking about g

chris cuomo, abc news, new york. >> that is just amazing. really incredible.who took out osama bin laden because of that very reason, privacy and security. >> it'll be like, deep throat. whoever comes out, it will be 30 years from now. >> but heroes. >> hats off. more when we come back. stay with us, everybody. >> but heroes. >> hats off. more when we come back. stay with us, everybody. >> all new. oprah: many were so young -- black people, white people willing to die for what was right. >> 50 years later, oprah reunites the legendary freedom riders. >>> welcome back to "world news now," everybody. let's face it, we're all guilty of it, texting over dinner, surfing the net when we are supposed to be working -- i never do that. but how do you know if you just using technology as opposed to becoming addicted to it? our tech contributor daniel sieberg is out with a new book. "the digital diet" and he's here to help us learn all how to power down. it's finally good to see you face to face. we certainly know your pieces. but it's good to see you. >> you too, rob. i

here's chris cuomo. >> reporter: what does it take to climb out of a helicopter, assault a compound, double-tap osama bin laden, and be back in time for breakfast? >> they were able to hit arguably one of the most hidden and perhaps even furiously protected men on the planet. and 40 minutes later, they were gone. >> reporter: and what kind of hero does all that and then prefers to remain entirely anonymous? >> basically what was in their mind is just taking care of business. no thoughts of personal conquest. or gore are you glory. just getting in there, taking care of business and getting themselves out alive. >> reporter: answer, the navy s.e.a.l.s known as team 6. s.e.a.l. stands for sea, air, land. as in, they tom nate any combat environment. they are the elite of the elite in the american military. but if you think they look and act like charlie sheen in the hollywood version, think again. >> nothing is the way you see it in the movies. chest thumping and being the bad really tough macho guys. most of the time that's not the case. the personality profile is more laid back. and dr

chris cuomo takes you inside their world. >> dog of war finally turn loose to do what they are designedigned to be the best anywhere doing anything whether sea, air or land. that's what seal stands for. >> self contained unit go anywhere in the world and kick ass. >> super hero has nothing on these guys. recruit trained to swim 350 feet under water with the hand and feet bound. taught to survive in arctic conditions. even submerging in freezing water. they also have to endure exposure to tear gas. only men ranging in age 26 to 33 try out to become one of the 2500 seals. training takes two years. 75 percent don't make it through. even if they do, they need years more experience in the field to even be considered for elite squad that double tapped bin laden team 6. >> by the time you goat 6 you overcome any weak point you have in any discipline or you wash-out and say you are a good seal but not good enough for this. >>reporter: richard would kno know. he started team 6 in 1980. on missions they may jump from a plane 11 miles up. tonight deadly silence trained camouflage themselves to any

chris cuomo, though, his more. >> reporter: the dogs of war were finally turned loose designed to do what they are to do. >> reporter: do anything, whether sea, air, or land. that's what s.e.a.l. stands for. >> it's a self-contained unit that can go anyplace in the world and literally do nothing but kick ass. >> reporter: a superhero has nothing on these guys. recruits are trained to swim 350 feet under water with their hands and feet bound. they're taught to survive in arctic conditions, even submerging in freezing water. they also have to endure exposure to tear gas. only men ranging in age 26 to 33 try out to become one of the 2,500 s.e.a.l.s. training takes two years. 75% don't make it through. even if they do, they need years more experience in the field to oven be considered for the elite squad that double tapped bin laden, team six. >> by the time that you get to six, you will either overcome any weak points that you have any any of those zps or wash out and say that you're a good s.e.a.l. but not good enough for this. >> reporter: and marco cinco would know. he started team s

our chris cuomo was here last night. it's a different mood this morning.a special place. it started off for a bad reason. i think there are things to keep clear. i was here last night. no question this was about osama bin laden being dead. but the word celebration is not quite right. this was a coming together. there was muslim, christian, jew, brown, white. they were all here to be together. it was not about an eye for an eye. to me, this was about a threat being gone and a hope for a more peaceful pu fuful future. i think the emotions were compl complex. >> and very different. you said at first, police were trying to keep everybody at bay. then the police thought, they need this. they need the time to be able to come together. >> they were not here to riot or hate. it was so concentrated. so near and dear. so many people hurt for so long. they're hoping for peace. they hope this is a new beginning. >> the chants we're hearing, usa, it's not anti-anything. it's just pro american forces. >> a lot of the faces were not just american faces. they were foreign

chris cuomo has been tracking the latest. good morning, chris. >> reporter: it was a good day/bad day for the defendant. yes, he got bail and will be able to see his wife and kids again but it could be short-lived. he learned of the grand jury indictment which could not be any harsher. abc news learned strauss-kahn's wife rented an apartment in this posh building on the upper east side which has two bedrooms going for as much as $14,000 a month. sources say unless the building's management changes its mind this could become strauss-kahn's new home as early as this morning when he's expected to be released on bail. on thursday, strauss-kahn had celebrated that small convivictn court blowing a kiss to his wife. >> i have decided i will grant bail under the following conditions. >> reporter: it came after a laundry list of promises from strauss-kahn's attorneys including surrendering his passport and agreeing to remain confined in that new apartment 24/7. strauss-kahn also agreed to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and have

and abc news has learned that he's being held in rikers island prison. "20/20" anchor chris cuomo is here. >> this is going to be a tough ride, robin. we have been told that he is cooperative. he's gentle. but he is spooked by his circumstances. this is just the beginning. this morning, dominique strauss-kahn is waking up in an 11 by 13-foot jail cell on rikers island, after a judge denied him bail for now. buying the prosecution's argument that he is a flight risk. >> certainly his ability to leave the country was demonstrated by the manner in which he left the hotel after the incident. >> reporter: authorities say before they pulled him off a plane at jfk, strauss-kahn attacked a 32-year-old maid in his luxury hotel suite. dragging her into a bedroom and forcing her to perform sex acts. but the defense says he is innocent. and that he wants to stay here to prove it. >> we don't believe he has any intention of leaving. his focus is to try to clear his name. >> reporter: it's a dramatic turn for the imf chief. a man in charge in billions of loans to countries. only days ago, strauss-

our chief legal correspondent and "20/20" anchor chris cuomo, has been tracking this from the hotel. >> reporter: well, the similarities are interesting at least. another posh new york city hotel. another hotel maid, who said she was sexually assaulted by a foreign banker. >> have you told your family yet? >> reporter: for the second time this month, a prominent international banker is led away in handcuffs after an alleged sexual assault of a maid at a posh manhattan hotel. this time, the accused is 74-year-old mahmoud abdel salam omar. the former chief of egypt's bank of alexandria. he was staying here at the upscale pierre hotel, where suites run over $1,000 a night. sources tell abc news that at approximately 6:00 p.m. on sunday, omar called to have tissues delivered to his room. a 44-year-old maid claims that when she arrives, omar wearing pajamas, asks her to place the tissues on a table inside his room. she alleges that omar closes the door and locks it, trapping her in the room. immediately attacking her and tries to kiss and fondle her. the maid fights off the advances. and

and chris cuomo our "20/20" anchor and friend, is staying on top of this. >> a suicide watch, it's important to know this is precautionary. there is nothing specific about a threat about strauss-kahn. it's to make sure everything is okay. we now know that the card key swipes from the hotel room put strauss-kahn and the accuser allegedly in the room at the same time. this is a case that is still just starting to build, as is our information about the accuser. the attorney for the 32-year-old sofitel is a single mother of a 15-year-old daughter. >> she doesn't have relatives here. she does not have an extended family. she's extraordinarily vulnerable here. having basically her life taken away from her. >> reporter: but in france there's growing sympathy for strauss-kahn. sparked by images of the powerful financial chief in handcuffs. some of his supporters claim he was set up by the alleged victim as part of a conspiracy to ruin his political career. his lawyers also disputed the maid's account suggesting that any sexual encounter was consensual. >> it will not be consistent with forcible enco

chris to say a few words. >> thank you, mayor. this morning in a conversation with governor cuomo, the state was placed on high alert in coordination with the port authority of new york, the new jersey throughout will region and throughout the rest of the state, his message on that conference call this morning much like the mayor, a sechbs relief perhaps even a sense of joy, but more importantly a sense ofvilvinlg wlans and chals going forward. as you can see behind us, there is no longer a pit, but we must complete this site and the work of this country and president obama to bring osama bin laden to justice reflects the kind of perseverance and endurance that this nation has always demonstrated and now today this city and the port authority of new york and new jersey are demonstrating behind you. thank you very much. >> chris, thank you. our speaker of the city council, christine quinn is with us today. >> you've been listening to mayor michael bloomberg speaking with other officials and also speaking with some of the family members of the 9/11 victims. he was quick to say there's no immediate threat to new york city, but obvious