HDNet World Report

Episode Number: 508

Episode Title: Iraq Redeployment, Lunsford Act, Canal Sharks

Description: The Redeployment: Fox 2/5 Returns to Iraq; The Lunsford Act: John Couey is Sentenced, But Do Florida's Sex Offender Laws Work?; Canal Sharks: What Do You Do When Sharks Get a Little Too Close for Comfort at Your Waterfront Home?

Transcript:

TONIGHT ON WORLD REPORT WE HAVE JUST CROSSED THE CONSTANTIA WIRE FROM THE KUWAIT SIDE OF THE BORDER AND NOW WE'RE IN THE NO MAN'S ZONE IN-BETWEEN KUWAIT AND IRAQ. FOX 2/5, FOUR YEARS AGO THIS MARINE COMPANY WAS THE TIP OF THE SPEAR IN THE IRAQ. OH YEAH I FELT IT WAS OVER CAUSE BUSH AND THE ENTIRE WORLD SAID IT WAS OVER. WHEN I GOT HOME, I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE END OF IT GOODBYE IRAQ. NOW THEY'RE GOING BACK FOR A THIRD TOUR TO A DIFFERENT WAR.

THESE TRIBES ARE KNOWN TO BE HOSTILE AS WE'VE SEEN SNIPER FIRE. RPGS, IEDS, TOOK ONE TANK DOWN. BUT THERE IS NO PLACE ELSE THAT THESE MARINES WOULD RATHER BE THAN FIGHTING ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER. SOME EVEN REENLISTED WHEN THEY FOUND OUT THEIR UNIT WAS GOING BACK. THAT'S MY (DROWN OUT BY GUN FIRE) GREATEST GOAL, BRING MY MARINES BACK SAFE. SWEEPING ACROSS THE DESERT IN THEIR ARMORED VEHICLES IS A THING OF THE PAST FOR FOX 2/5, NOW ITS ALL ABOUT THE THREE BLOCK WARFARE, BEING ABLE TO GO INTO AN IRAQI CITY OR VILLAGE AND MAKING SURE IT'S SECURE AND THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF IT, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT FRIEND FROM FOE. ALSO TONIGHT JUSTICE SERVED? JESSICA LUNSFORD'S KILLER JOHN COUEY IS FOUND GUILTY IN A FLORIDA COURTROOM. JESSICA BECAME EVERYONE'S CHILD. EVERYONE'S THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN SUM IT UP. BUT DIFFICULT QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT THE KILLER AND HIS CRIME. AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT SEX OFFENDERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. ONE COMMUNITY HERE IN FLORIDA IS RELIEVED, THE WHOLE STATE IS RELIEVED THAT THE KILLER AND RAPIST OF A 9 YEAR OLD CHILD HAS BEEN STOPPED FOR GOOD. BUT WHY DID HE HAVE THE CHANCE TO STRIKE IN THE FIRST PLACE. HE HAD ALREADY STRUCK BEFORE. AND SHARKS AT THE DOOR. THESE CANALS WERE BUILD TO BRING A LITTLE BIT OF OCEAN INLAND FOR RESIDENTS TO ENJOY. BUT WITH THE WATER COMES SOMETHING ELSE. PEOPLE MUST REALIZE THAT THERE IS A POPULATION OF SHARKS THAT SORT OF BREED, LIVE AND PROBABLY DIE IN THE CANALS AND THE CANAL SYSTEM. YOU MIGHT HAVE A FEW BEERS, WANT TO GO FOR A SWIM IN THE CANAL AND HE DOESN'T COMEBACK. AND LATER, DAYLIGHT AGAIN. THE EARLIEST DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME EVER. WORLD REPORT VISITS ONE DARK NEW ENGLAND TOWN THAT NEEDS IT THE MOST. AND FINALLY, 3, ATLAS ENGINE IGNITION 0 AND LIFT OFF. A RECORD IS SET IN SPACE. EVEN AS THE SHUTTLE IS GROUNDED, ALL RIGHT NOW ON WORLD REPORT.

NO REPORTING MIKE SOURAY. WHEN I FIRST JOINED UP WITH FOX 2/5 NEARLY FOUR YEARS AGO, I THOUGHT MAYBE ONE TRIP TO THE DESERT AND THAT WOULD BE IT. NOW, THEY'RE GETTING READY TO GO BACK FOR THEIR THIRD TRIP TO IRAQ TO A MUCH DIFFERENT IRAQ AND A MUCH DIFFERENT WAR. WITH MUCH DIFFERENT PUBLIC SENTIMENT BACK HOME.

(CHANTING)

IT SOUNDS LIKE IRAQ, LOOKS LIKE IRAQ AND THE LOCALS ARE IRAQI NATIONALS HELPING THE MARINES OF FOX 2/5 GET READY TO GO BACK TO THEIR HOME AWAY FROM HOME OF OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS. (RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT) FOR YOUR SAFETY STAY INSIDE YOUR HOUSE AWAY FROM THE WINDOWS AND DOORS. IRAQI PEOPLE THEY EITHER JUST DON'T DO ANYTHING AT ALL THE OTHER THING WE NEED A LOT MORE HELP WITH THEM SO WE CAN HURRY AND TAKE CARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON OVER THERE, MAKE IT A SAFER PLACE. SERGEANT CHRIS GIBBS IS GOING BACK TO IRAQ FOR A THIRD TOUR OF DUTY THIS MONTH, NEARLY FOUR YEARS TO THE DAY OF THE INVASION. (GUNFIRE)

YOU SEE THE RBG. HERE AN ORDINARY STREET PATROL IN THIS MOCK UP OF IRAQI CITY IN THE CALIFORNIA DESERT CAN ERUPT INTO AN EXTRAORDINARY SERIES OF CHALLENGES MUCH LIKE THEY WILL SOON BE FACING AGAIN. AND IT KIND OF BRINGS BACK MEMORIES. THE TRAINING WE WERE DOING BEFORE, WE DID THIS, WE WERE ALL IN THE TRACKS AND EVERYTHING BRUNG ME BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN YOU WERE WITH US OVER THERE.

WE HAVE JUST CROSSED THE CONSTANTIA WIRE FROM THE KUWAIT SIDE OF THE BORDER AND NOW WE'RE IN THE NO MAN'S ZONE IN BETWEEN KUWAIT AND IRAQ. WHEN I FIRST WENT WITH FOX 2/5 IN MARCH 2003 THEY WERE UNEXPECTEDLY ONE OF THE FIRST AMERICAN UNITS TO INVADE IRAQ. IN FULL CHEMICAL SUITS AFTER SEVERAL IRAQI MISSILE LAUNCHES. CHRIS GIBBS AND MOST OF HIS FELLOW MARINES WERE FRESH OUT OF TRAINING. MOST HAD ENLISTED SOON AFTER 9/11 TO JOIN THE WAR AGAINST INTERNATIONAL TERROR

WITHIN MINUTES OF LEAVING OUR LINES WE WERE HIT AGAIN FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT DAY WE'RE TAKING CONTACT FROM (DROWN OUT BY GUN FIRE) STATIONED ON THE MAIN ROAD LEADING INTO BAGHDAD. THEY'RE ABOUT 100 METERS TO THE FRONT ON THE NEXT PLANK. FOX 2/5'S ABSTRACT NOTION OF COMBAT BECAME THE TERRIFYING REALITY OF WAR. THROUGH A SERIES OF AMBUSHES ON THE FINAL APPROACH TO BAGHDAD. SUFFERED THEIR FIRST CASUALTIES AND FATALITY ON APRIL 4, 2003. WHAT HAPPENED? (MACHINE GUN FIRE) LATER THAT SAME NIGHT THEY WERE INVOLVED IN A HORRIFIC CIVILIAN TRAGEDY AT A CHECK POINT WHICH CLAIMED THE LIVES OF 10 CIVILIANS, 5 OF THEM CHILDREN. AFTER YESTERDAY AND THE DAY BEFORE, I THINK THERE IS NO MORE CURIOSITY. I THINK PEOPLE HAVE SEEN WARS ON COMBAT. NO ONE LOOKS FORWARD TO ANYMORE OF IT.

GOOD MORNING AMERICA OUTSIDE BAGHDAD.

WHEN THEY FINALLY ENTERED BAGHDAD THROUGH SADDAM CITY NOW CALLED SODER CITY AND CONTROLLED BY SHIA MILITIA THEY WERE REVEALED AS THE LIBERATORS THEY'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THEMSELVES TO BE. DURING THEIR OCCUPATION MISSION IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 2003, THEY NEVER FIRED A SHOT. AND MULTIPLE IRAQIS HOSTED A BARBECUE FOR THEM BEFORE THEY LEFT. (APPLAUSE) THEIR PROUD HOMECOMING WAS THEIR MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. AMERICANS CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE MISSION DESPITE NOT FINDING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION NOR SADDAM, THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES. MY HERO, MY HERO. THE WAY THAT EVERYBODY WAS ACTING, I THOUGHT IT WAS OVER. I THOUGHT MAYBE A FEW SCUFFLES HERE AND THERE AFTERWARDS FROM PEOPLE THAT WERE JUST REALLY LOYAL TO SADDAM STILL BUT I WAS DEFINITELY NOT EXPECTING THIS. 2003 I WAS FINISHING UP MY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING MATERIAL SCIENCE DEGREE AT UCLA. 2ND LIEUTENANT TILLMAN ENDSLEY WATCHED THE WAR AND FOX 2/5 ON TELEVISION. NEVER THINKING HE WOULD BE PART OF THEIR LEGACY OR THE WAR. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FATE OR FORTUNE OR WHAT YOU WANT TO CALL IT BUT YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW WHERE LIFE WILL TAKE YOU WHEN YOU SEE THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE PROBABLY BIGGER THAN LIFE. THESE MARINES ARE CERTAINLY BIGGER THAN LIFE THEY'RE HEROES IN MY EYES. I ASK THEM EVERYDAY AND HIGHER UP ASKS THEM TO DO THINGS THAT ARE HARDER THAN YOU WOULD ASK MOST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TO DO. THEY DO IT WITH A SMILE AND THEY MIGHT COMPLAIN A LITTLE BIT BUT THAT'S THE NATURE OF IT. HOW MUCH IS THE CHANGE IN PUBLIC SUPPORT AND POLITICAL SUPPORT? I THINK PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SOLDIER AND MARINE IS STILL REALLY HIGH. I'M FOR THE TROOPS SURGE. WE GOT TO GET OVER THERE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM AND IF A TROOP SURGE DOES IT, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO. OF THE FOX 2/5 MARINES WHO COULD HAVE AVOIDED THIS THIRD DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQ DUE TO NORMAL DISCHARGES AND TRANSFERS MORE THAN 90% VOLUNTEERED TO STAY IN THE MARINES AND WITH THE UNIT. I LIKE TO THINK, I KNOW DO IT OUT OF PATRIOTISM YOU KNOW. I DO IT FOR MY COUNTRY. I GOT 21 YEARS IN, THIS IS MY THIRD DEPLOYMENT IN THREE YEARS. BUT YOU KNOW THAT IS WHERE THE MARINES ARE, THAT IS WHERE I WANT TO GO. -IS THAT IT? IS IT YOU TRY TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE IF YOU CAN GET THEM TO BE FOCUSED IN THE MARINE CORP IS THAT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE GEOPOLITICS OF IT ALL? FOR ME IT'S A SENSE OF THE MARINES. THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE MARINES SO. WHAT WE HAVE NOW THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD IN THE PAST HIS PREDECESSOR AS THE UNIT'S TOP NCO FIRST SERGEANT ED SMITH DELAYED HIS SCHEDULED RETIREMENT IN 2003 TO STAY WITH FOX 2/5 FOR THEIR FIRST DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQ. HE WAS THE UNIT'S ONLY FATALITY DURING THEIR FIRST TOUR OF DUTY.

YEAH I THOUGHT IT WAS OVER CAUSE BUSH AND THE ENTIRE WORLD SAID IT WAS OVER. WHEN I GOT HOME, I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE END OF IT. WE WERE ALL PRETTY HAPPY TO BE HOME. AND YOU KNOW GOODBYE IRAQ. FORMER CORPORAL JOSH HISLE WENT BACK FOR HIS AND FOX 2/5'S SECOND TOUR OF DUTY AT THE END OF 2004 TO A MUCH DIFFERENT WAR IN RAMADI. THE BITTERLY CONTESTED PROVINCIAL CAPITAL IN THE SUNNI TRIANGLE.

THOSE WERE ABOUT SURVIVAL. WE WERE HOOKING AND JABBING WITH GUYS WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO THEY WERE. YOU KNOW SOMEONE COULD SHOOT AT YOU, CHANGE CLOTHES AND WALTZ RIGHT BY YOU. WE COULDN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT WAS A SCRAP. IT WAS AN ALL OUT COCK FIGHT. THIS TIME YEAH I'M DEFINITELY WATCHING MY OWN ASS A LITTLE BIT MORE JUST BECAUSE I WANT MY KID TO HAVE A DAD. THEY LOST THEIR SECOND MAN AND SUFFERED MORE CASUALTIES THE FIRST WEEKS BACK THAN DURING THEIR ENTIRE FIRST TOUR. HOW MANY GUYS HAVE BEEN HIT BY AN IED? YOU'VE ALL EXPERIENCED AN IED? -YEAH THEIR SUPPORT AND STABILITY MISSION QUICKLY CHANGED TO A MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE COUNTER INSURGENCY TACTICS. THEIR TRANSITION FROM LIBERATORS TO OCCUPIERS WAS OBVIOUS TO THE IRAQI'S AND SOME MARINES LIKE JOSH HISLE. I STARTED TO FEEL BAD ABOUT WHAT I WAS DOING. WE BRING VIOLENCE INTO AN AREA THAT THERE ISN'T VIOLENCE NOT BECAUSE WE WANT TO BUT BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE ENEMY HITS US. BUST THE DOOR IN, WAKE THE KIDS UP, THROW THEM ALL IN THE LIVING ROOM. GRAB THE DAD, TAKE HIM AWAY BLINDFOLDED AND CUFFED. AND YOU KNOW WE'RE LETTING HIM GO IN TWO DAYS. SO I KIND OF FELT LIKE I WAS MESSING WITH PEOPLES LIVES THAT I DIDN'T NEED TO BE. WHERE'S GO, WHERE'S GO PLEASE, PLEASE (SINGING) JOSH HISLE DECIDED AGAINST REENLISTING FOR A THIRD TOUR AND IS TRYING TO MAKE IT AS A SINGER/SONGWRITER WITH HIS ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS ABOUT THE WAR. I'M NOT AGAINST WAR, IT'S NECESSARY SOMETIMES. I JUST DON'T THINK IT IS NECESSARY NOW IN IRAQ. AND HOW DOES YOUR MUSIC ADDRESS THAT? IT JUST ADDRESSES THE WASTED TIMES WE HAD OVER THERE AND THE MISSIONS THAT WE WERE ON THAT DIDN'T ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING AND ALL THE FRIENDS WE LOST WITH NO FINISH. THERE STILL DEAD AND THE WAR IS STILL GOING ON. STAY OUT OF THE WINDOWS, DO NOT MAKE YOURSELF A HARD TARGET.

HEY GUIDO, WE GOT TO START PUSHING THE F# # KING TEAMS UP HERE. THIS AREA TO MY RIGHT HERE IS NOT SECURE. DO YOU THINK YOUR MORE PREPARED THIS TIME THAN LAST TIME? ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE A GOOD GROUP OF GUYS. GOOD TRAINING EXTREMELY HARD DAY IN AND DAY OUT. WE KNEW THIS WAS COMING A LITTLE WHILE AGO SO WE'VE BEEN GOING BALLS TO THE WALL. WHAT'S YOUR GREATEST APPREHENSIONS GOING OVER THE SECOND TIME. COME BACK ALIVE. BRING BACK MY MARINES ALIVE. I PROMISED THEM IN MARCH, LAST YEAR I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET OUT AND I PROMISED THEM IF WE CAME BACK IN MARCH IF WE WENT BACK TO WAR I WOULD STAY FOR ANOTHER PROMP WITH THEM SO YOU KNOW THAT'S MY (DROWN OUT BY GUNFIRE) GREATEST GOAL BRING MY MARINES BACK SAFE. EVERYBODY WHO IS PROBABLY WATCHING A SHOW LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE ASKING THEMSELVES HEY, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DO THIS, YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF THIS. YOU'VE DONE YOUR DEAL, YOU'VE DONE YOUR DUTY OVER THERE. WHY GO BACK AND DO IT A THIRD TIME? I DO IT FOR MY FRIENDS THAT ARE LIKE BROTHERS TO ME, THEY'RE LIKE MY FAMILY THESE GUYS THAT ARE MOSTLY GOING OVER THERE ARE GUYS THAT I PERSONALLY TRAINED. YOU KNOW I CONSIDER THEM AS BROTHERS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I CAN GO OVER THERE, DO MY PART AND BRING THEM BACK. WHAT ABOUT WHEN THEY DEBATE THE TIME TABLES, WITHDRAWALS, WHATEVER PEOPLE WITH SOME MILITARY EXPERIENCE LIKE SARAH MCCAIN WILL SAY, WELL THAT'S GOING TO BE A REAL MORALE BREAKER FOR THE GUYS, DOES IT BOTHER YOU GUYS? THAT'S THE GOOD THING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OPINIONS THAT THE PUBLIC HAVE AND THE MARINES. ARE STAUNCH AND THEY'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO THE ENTIRE TIME. OPINIONS AND POLITICIANS ARE FICKLE, AND THEY BLOW WITH THE WIND. WE ARE JUST KIND OF LOSING LIVES AT THIS POINT, SO CUTTING AND RUNNING TO ME MEANS WHILE I WAS IN THE MARINE CORP IT MEANT RETREAT AND AT THIS POINT I THINK IT MEANS A LOGICAL THING TO THINK ABOUT, GETTING OUT OF THERE.

(SINGING) PUBLIC SENTIMENTS ABOUT THE WAR, POLITICAL DEBATES OVER THE NEW STRATEGY AND EVEN DIFFERING OPINIONS WITHIN THE FOX 2/5 FAMILY WILL HAVE LITTLE EFFECT ON THIS NEXT CHAPTER OF THEIR IRAQ WAR STORY. FOR THEM THE ONE CONSISTENT MISSION OVER THE YEARS IS TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER AND BRING EVERYONE HOME.

JESSICA LUNSFORD'S KILLER IS BROUGHT TO JUSTICE, BUT QUESTIONS STILL REMAIN. ARE OUR SEX OFFENDER LAWS TOUGH ENOUGH? OR HAVE THEY ACTUALLY GONE TOO FAR?

AND LATER SWIMMING AND LIVING WITH SHARKS, COMING UP ON WORLD REPORT

WORLD REPORT CONTINUES REPORTING FROM FLORIDA, HERE IS GREG DOBBS. A MAN NAMED JOHN COUEY WAS CONVICTED HERE AT THE COURTHOUSE IN MIAMI LAST WEEK OF THE WORST KIND OF CRIME. HE HAD KIDNAPPED, THEN RAPED, THEN KILLED A LITTLE 9 YEAR OLD GIRL. IT WAS A CASE THAT HORRIFIED THE NATION. WELL NOW HE IS OUT OF CIRCULATION BUT WHY WAS HE EVER BACK IN CIRCULATION AT ALL WHEN HE HAD BEEN ARRESTED FOR SEX CRIMES WITH CHILDREN BEFORE. TWICE BEFORE WHILE THE CASE HAS LED TO TOUGHER LAWS IN SEVERAL STATES TO KEEP MEN LIKE COUEY AWAY FROM KIDS, THE VICTIMS FATHER IS STILL CAMPAIGNING TO MAKE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS GET EVEN TOUGHER. MARK LUNSFORD MAKES NO SECRET OF IT: BEFORE HE WALKED INTO COURT THIS MORNING TO START THE SENTENCING PHASE OF THE TRIAL, HE TOLD US, HE WAS HOPING FOR DEATH, FOR THE MAN WHO BROUGHT DEATH TO HIS DAUGHTER. I WOULD LOVE TO PUT MY HANDS AROUND HIS NECK AND JUST CHOKE THE LIVING LIFE OUT OF HIM. BUT THAT'S VIGILANTE, THAT'S BEING BARBARIC, YOU CAN'T, THAT'S WORKING AGAINST THE SYSTEM, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE SYSTEM, I KNOW WE DON'T LIKE IT, TRUST ME, I KNOW. I DON'T LIKE IT EITHER, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE, AND AT LEAST WE HAVE ONE. AND THAT IS THE SYSTEM THAT LETS THE JURORS IN THIS WELL- PUBLICIZED TRIAL THE ONES WHO LAST WEEK FOUND JOHN COUEY GUILTY RECOMMEND A SENTENCE OF DEATH, OR LIFE. THE DEFENSE ARGUMENT AGAINST COUEY PAYING THE ULTIMATE PRICE, IS THAT THE CONVICTED KILLER IS RETARDED. BUT BASED ON COUEY'S ATTEMPT TO FLEE AFTER PUTTING HIS VICTIM TO DEATH, LUNSFORD'S SUPPORTERS THINK THAT WHEN JUDGE AND JURY HEAR THAT CLAIM, THEY'LL REJECT IT. A GUY THAT'S MENTALLY RETARDED DOES NOT HAVE THE MENTAL CAPACITY TO PURCHASE A BUS TICKET IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S NAME AND FLEE TO SAVANNAH AND HAVE PLANS TO FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA. Q: AFTER THE CRIME. A: CORRECT, SO I DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BUY THAT. CERTAINLY NOBODY THAT I'VE TALKED TO IS BUYING IT. YOU BUMP INTO ME ON THE STREET, I ACCEPT YOUR APOLOGY. YOU PUT YOUR HANDS ON ONE OF OUR KIDS AND TELL ME YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO DO IT, I THINK YOU'RE FULL OF, I THINK YOU'RE FULL OF IT. YOU DID MEAN TO DO IT, IT WAS PRE- MEDITATED, YOU SEEN IT, AND YOU DID IT. APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED, BUT, LIFE IN PRISON WOULD BE. IT IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE CRIME NOW TWO YEARS SINCE THE UNIMAGINABLY GHASTLY MURDER TURNED MARK LUNSFORD'S LIFE UPSIDE DOWN. ON A RURAL ROAD IN THE RURAL WESTERN FLORIDA TOWN OF HOMOSASSA SPRINGS. HIS LITTLE GIRL JESSICA WAS ASLEEP HERE IN HER OWN HOME. IN HER OWN BEDROOM. BUT UNBEKNOWNST TO HER, LET ALONE TO HER DAD, A CONVICTED CHILD SEXUAL OFFENDER HAD RECENTLY MOVED IN WITH RELATIVES, RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. HE SNUCK INTO THE LUNSFORD HOME, SNATCHED JESSIE FROM HER BED, AND IN THE COURSE OF THREE DAYS RAPED HER, THEN STUFFED HER IN TWO GREEN PLASTIC GARBAGE BAGS. AND THEN, IN A DIRT HOLE BEHIND THE HOUSE WHERE HE WAS LIVING, WITHIN SIGHT OF JESSIE'S HOME, JOHN COUEY BURIED HER ALIVE. WHEN THE THIRD-GRADER FINALLY WAS FOUND, DEAD FROM SUFFOCATION, TWO OF HER FINGERS HAD POKED FRANTICALLY THROUGH THE TOP OF THE BAGS IN WHICH SHE'D BEEN BURIED. IN HER OTHER HAND SHE CLUTCHED, A PURPLE STUFFED DOLPHIN. THE PAINFUL, PERSISTENT QUESTION IS WHETHER THIS ALL COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. FIRST, IF JOHN COUEY HAD BEEN SENTENCED TO A LONGER PRISON TERM FOR HIS LAST OFFENSE OR AT LEAST SERVED THE FULL TERM HE WAS GIVEN. IF WE'D HAVE HAD 25 YEARS ON THE BOOKS THEN, HE'D HAVE NEVER MADE IT TO MY DAUGHTER. HIS LAST PRISON SENTENCE WAS 10 YEARS, HE ONLY DID TWO YEARS OUT OF TEN. WHY? WHAT'D YOU GIVE HIM 10 YEARS FOR? AND SECOND, MAYBE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF COUEY HAD REGISTERED HIS NEW ADDRESS IN HOMOSASSA SPRINGS WITH THE LOCAL SHERIFF, AS THE LAW REQUIRED, BUT HE DIDN'T. AND EVEN IF COUEY HAD REGISTERED JESSIE'S FATHER SAYS, HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW TO CHECK THE SEX OFFENDER LISTS THAT ARE MADE PUBLIC RECORD. I WAS IGNORANT, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING, NEVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT STILL DON'T AND I WANT TO TELL THEM THAT THEY NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT IT, BUT I'M JUST AS GUILTY AS THEY ARE. WE DON'T REALLY REALIZE WHAT KIND OF FEARS WE SHOULD HAVE AND THEN IT'S TOO LATE. BUT IF IT'S TOO LATE FOR JESSIE LUNSFORD, IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR OTHERS, IF MARK LUNSFORD HAS HIS WAY. HE HAS TURNED WHAT MUST BE LIFE'S HARDEST HEARTBREAK INTO INSPIRATION. AND TURNED DEVASTATION INTO DETERMINATION. DETERMINATION TO MARSHALL ALL THE FORCES HE CAN TO ANSWER HIS OWN QUESTION WHERE DID WE GO WRONG? PART OF THE ANSWER HE THINKS, IS THAT IN AN EFFORT TO TREAT WHAT HE CALLS AN UNTREATABLE DISEASE, WE'VE GONE SOFT. IT KILLS ME BECAUSE THEY SAY, WE'RE GONNA REHABILITATE THESE GUYS WHILE THEY'RE IN PRISON. HOW YOU GONNA DO THAT? THERE AIN'T NO KIDS IN PRISON. SO HOW CAN YOU SAY HE'S BEEN REHABILITATED WHILE HE SERVED HIS TIME? WHAT DID YOU DO, BRING A CLASSROOM OF KIDS IN THERE TO SEE IF HE'D DO ANYTHING WITH THEM? BEING A SEXUAL PREDATOR IS AN ILLNESS, AND IT IS AN ILLNESS THAT MOST OF THESE SEXUAL PREDATORS DO NOT GET OVER. CONGRESSWOMAN DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ IS A LEADER IN CONGRESS TO GIVE FEDERAL SUPPORT TO STATES SO THEY'LL TOUGHEN THEIR LAWS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO COUNSEL THEIR WAY OUT OF THIS PROBLEM, SO THEY HAVE IT FOR LIFE. AND FOLLOWING THEIR CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS AND THE COMPLETION OF THEIR SENTENCES, THEY ARE RELEASED INTO SOCIETY AND THEY RE-OFFEND. CIVIL CONFINEMENT PROGRAMS ALLOW STATES TO CONTAIN AND CONFINE THESE PREDATORS INDEFINITELY UNTIL THEY ARE DEEMED TO BE NO LONGER A DANGER TO SOCIETY. BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE FUNDING TO PROVIDE THAT INCENTIVE TO STATES TO IMPLEMENT THOSE LAWS BECAUSE IT'S EXPENSIVE TO DO THAT. WASHINGTON CAN PROVIDE MORE MONEY FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THERE ARE MOVES TO PROVIDE EVEN MORE AND UNDER THE VIOLENT CRIME AND ENFORCEMENT ACT, REDUCE FUNDING TO STATES THAT DON'T MORE RIGOROUSLY PROSECUTE AGAINST, THEN MONITOR THE MOVEMENTS, OF CONVICTED SEXUAL OFFENDERS. CONVICTED OFFENDERS LIKE, JOHN COUEY. HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN PRISON AT THAT POINT, BUT WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES BECAUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SPREAD TOO THIN. BUT SOME EXPERTS ARGUE THAT PRISON, ISN'T ALWAYS THE ANSWER. THERE IS NO CURE, JUST LIKE THERE IS NO CURE FOR DIABETES, SCHIZOPHRENIA OR LOTS OF OTHER ILLNESSES, AND WE DO KNOW THAT TREATMENT CAN BE EFFECTIVE AND IN THERAPY WITH SEX OFFENDERS WE REALLY WORK WITH OFFENDERS TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT HE THINKS ABOUT VICTIMS TO UNDERSTAND THE HARM THAT HE HAS CAUSED. IF THEY PUT ONE IN PRISON FOR 25 YEARS, THAT'S 25 YEARS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY VICTIMS. THAT'S PRETTY GOOD. BECAUSE JUST ONE PEDOPHILE CAN HAVE A HUNDRED VICTIMS. WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN PRISON THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RE- OFFEND, SO YES THAT IS ONE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY THAT OUR SOCIETY HAS AS AN OPTION. UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT REALISTIC PERHAPS SINCE SEX OFFENDERS DO NOT STAY IN PRISON FOR LIFE. WE DO NOT LOCK THEM UP AND THROW AWAY THE KEY, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO AND IT COSTS OVER $25,000 A YEAR IN MOST STATES TO INCARCERATE ONE OFFENDER. OR IT COULD BE THE COST OF MONEY, THE COST OF HOUSING SOMEONE. THAT REALLY IRKS ME. BUT IT'S TRUE, AT LEAST FOR NOW THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY AND THERE AREN'T ENOUGH BEDS IN ALL THE NATION'S PRISONS, FOR ALL THE NATION'S OFFENDERS. THAT'S ONE REASON WHY, EVEN IF THEY MIGHT RE-OFFEND, THEY ARE PUT BACK ON THE STREETS. THERE ARE STILL NO UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS AT SCHOOLS AND DAYCARE CENTERS, OR NATIONWIDE MANDATORY MONITORING. IN FACT, ACCORDING TO STUDIES, THERE ARE MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND CONVICTED SEX OFFENDERS WHO HAVE JUST DISAPPEARED LIKE JOHN COUEY. EVERYONE ASSUMES JOHN COUEY ATTACKED JESSICA, BECAUSE HE SIMPLY SAW HER ACROSS THE STREET AND EITHER COULDN'T, OR CHOSE NOT TO, STOP HIMSELF. AND EVERYONE IS AWARE THAT BECAUSE ENFORCEMENT MONEY IS STILL SHORT AND A SURPRISING NUMBER OF LAWS ARE STILL LENIENT, THERE ARE OTHERS LIKE COUEY OUT THERE, RIGHT NOW. INCLUDING SOME WHO HAVE COMPLIED WITH THE LAW. IT MAKES ME SICK, I LIVE IN A NICE AREA OF JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA, AND I GET ON THE FDLA WEBPAGE PERIODICALLY TO SEE WHERE THEY'RE LIVING, AND WITHIN A THREE-MILE RADIUS OF WHERE I LIVE, THERE ARE SO MANY RED DOTS I CAN'T COUNT THEM ALL. THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THESE GUYS; NOW I'LL TELL YOUR VIEWERS THIS: IF THEY HAVEN'T GONE ON THEIR STATE'S WEB PAGE TO ASSESS WHERE THESE SEX OFFENDERS ARE LIVING, THEY SHOULD DO IT AND I THINK THEY'LL BE SHOCKED. SOME COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY HERE IN FLORIDA, HAVE BEEN SHOCKED ENOUGH ALREADY, TO STRENGTHEN THE MEASURES THEY ALREADY HAD ON THE BOOKS TO SEPARATE THEIR SEXUAL OFFENDERS FROM THEIR KIDS. HERE IN MIAMI BEACH FOR INSTANCE, SHORTLY AFTER JESSICA WAS MURDERED, THE MAYOR TOLD US OF HIS PLAN, TO EXTEND THE RESTRICTION ON HOW FAR OFFENDERS CAN LIVE FROM SCHOOLS AND DAYCARES, BUS STOPS AND PUBLIC PARKS, TO EXTEND IT FROM A THOUSAND FEET, TO 2500 SO AFTER THE RECENT CASES OF CHILD TORTURE AND MURDER IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA I WAS LOOKING AT THE DISTANCE SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS AND I SAW ONLY 1,000 WHEN IT CAME TO KEEPING SEXUAL OFFENDER AND PREDATORS AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN AND COMPARED TO 2,500 ON THE OTHER HAND IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE, AND SO I BELIEVE THAT WE DO HAVE THE POWER AS A MUNICIPALITY TO INSTITUTE THIS ORDINANCE AND THAT'S WHERE THE IDEA CAME FROM. MIAMI BEACH DID PASS THE ORDINANCE AND NOW SAYS THAT THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED SEXUAL OFFENDERS IN THE CITY HAS BEEN CUT, BY TWO THIRDS. THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT KEEPS MARK LUNSFORD GOING. ALTHOUGH SOME SAY THAT RESTRICTIONS ON MEN WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR TIME AREN'T FAIR.

COMING UP, THE COUEY TRIAL IS OVER. BUT THE DEBATE CONTINUES. DOES PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN HAVE A PRICE TAG. CIVIL CONFINEMENT PROGRAMS ALLOW STATES TO CONTAIN AND CONFINE THESE PREDATORS INDEFINITELY UNTIL THEY ARE DEEMED TO NO LONGER BE A DANGER TO SOCIETY BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE FUNDING TO PROVIDE THAT INCENTIVE TO STATES TO IMPLEMENT THOSE LAWS BECAUSE IT'S EXPENSIVE TO DO THAT. AND LATER SHARKS TOO CLOSE TO HOME. WHAT TO DO WHEN PLAY TURNS LETHAL.

THIS IS WORLD REPORT HERE'S GREG DOBBS

NO RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN WANTS ANOTHER JESSICA LUNSFORD CASE. BUT NOT EVERYONE AGREES ABOUT THE MERIT OF LAWS THAT MAKE REGISTERED SEXUAL OFFENDERS DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM PLAYGROUNDS, SCHOOLS AND OTHER PLACES WHERE CHILDREN GATHER. SOME OF MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT OFFENDERS WILL SAY THAT THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO VENTURE OUT OF THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD TO SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY WILL BE LESS LIKELY TO BE RECOGNIZED, SO OFFENDERS MAY BE LESS LIKELY TO MOLEST OR ABUSE CHILDREN IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT STILL, IN ADDITION TO MIAMI BEACH ABOUT HALF THE STATES HAVE CRACKED DOWN. MOST OF THEM, HAVING HEARD TESTIMONY FROM JESSICA LUNSFORD'S DAD, ARE CALLING THEIR NEW LEGISLATION, " JESSICA'S LAW." FLORIDA, WHERE SHE WAS KILLED, WAS THE FIRST. YOU KNOW IN FLORIDA IF YOU MOLEST A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 12 IT'S A MINIMUM MANDATORY OF 25 YEARS, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO SERVE 25 YEARS AND IF YOU EVER DO GET OUT, THERE'S LIFETIME GPS MONITORING, WHICH IS CERTAINLY BETTER THAN IT WAS BEFORE. Q: AND THAT IS A RESULT OF JESSIE'S? A: THAT IS A RESULT OF JESSIE'S LAW. I THINK IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE. IF YOU'RE IN PRISON FOR 25 YEARS, THERE'S 25 YEARS YOU DON'T HAVE ANY VICTIMS. THAT SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD, THAT SOUNDS PRETTY SMART. ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THERE IS " THE JESSICA LUNSFORD ACT." WE WERE ABLE TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE DEALING WITH MAKING SURE THAT SEXUAL PREDATORS WHO HAD COMMITTED PRIOR CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN HAD TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TIMES A YEAR THEY REPORTED THEIR ADDRESS, MAKE SURE THERE WAS BRACELET, ANKLE BRACELET MONITORING SO THAT WE COULD KEEP TRACK OF THEM BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, JESSICA'S ATTACKER, JUST BLEW IT OFF. Q: HE DIDN'T REGISTER HIS NEW ADDRESS. A: HE DIDN'T, HE JUST BLEW IT OFF AND NO ONE KNEW HE WAS LIVING WHERE HE WAS LIVING, SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MARK ON THAT TYPE OF LEGISLATION AND GOING FORWARD ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE LAWS AND MAKE WE DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE FUNDING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND STATE BY STATE. ONCE JOHN COUEY IS SENTENCED, WHICH COULD TAKE DAYS OR EVEN WEEKS, MARK LUNSFORD WON'T GO HOME. HE WILL GO INSTEAD TO WASHINGTON, AND JOIN TOGETHER WITH THE PARENTS OF ELIZABETH SMART, AND POLLY KLASS, AND OTHER YOUNG CHILDREN NOTORIOUSLY BRUTALIZED. THEY WILL PUSH FOR AN ACCOUNTABILITY BILL, TO APPLY NATIONWIDE. IT'S GONNA REQUIRE THE 50 STATES TO HAVE FULL DISCLOSURE, SO THAT THE PEOPLE, US, ME AND YOU, WILL KNOW HOW MANY CASES ARE REPORTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE PARTICULARS OF THOSE CASES, AND OF THOSE CASES HOW MANY CASES ARE BROUGHT BY THE PROSECUTORS AND OF THOSE CASES THAT ARE BROUGHT BY THE PROSECUTORS, HOW MAY CASES ARE PLED DOWN AND OF THOSE CASES THAT ARE PLED DOWN, WHAT ARE THE SENTENCES IMPOSED BY JUDGES. RIGHT NOW WE JUST DON'T KNOW THAT INFORMATION, BUT I THINK THAT IF WE HAD THE MUSCLE OF HAVING THESE FULL DISCLOSURE LAWS, I THINK YOU WOULD SEE TOUGHER SENTENCING. THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO BE THE COP OR THE STATE ATTORNEY OR THE JUDGE THAT WAS SOFT ON A PEDOPHILE. IF YOU ARE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OR A PROSECUTOR AND YOU LET SOMEONE SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS, YOUR MISTAKE IS UNACCEPTABLE TO SOCIETY. BECAUSE WE RELY ON YOU, WE RELY ON YOU TO PROTECT US FROM THESE PEOPLE AND YOU TURN THEM LOOSE, BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIVE NEXT DOOR TO YOU? OR BECAUSE IT WASN'T YOUR CHILD. WHAT'S EVEN HARDER TO TACKLE, IS THIS: PORNOGRAPHY. ACCORDING TO MANY SOCIOLOGISTS AND CRIMINOLOGISTS, PORN IS A MAJOR MOTIVATOR FOR MEN WHO PREY ON KIDS. ESPECIALLY, CHILD PORN. BECAUSE IN SO MANY CASES, WHEN THEY EXAMINE THE HOME OF A SEXUAL PREDATOR, THEY FIND PORNOGRAPHY THE STUDIES ARE ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC, IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH OF THIS STUFF IS OUT THERE ON THE INTERNET. THESE PEDOPHILES ARE PREYING ON OUR KIDS AND THEY'RE REALLY DOING IT THROUGH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. THE STUDIES SUGGEST A RATE AS GREAT AS 40 PERCENT THAT POSSESSORS OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY HAVE ALSO ASSAULTED A CHILD GENERALLY BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIX AND TWELVE. AND THAT MIGHT MEAN LEGAL ADULT PORN, NOT JUST ILLEGAL CHILD PORN ACCORDING TO ANTI-PORN CAMPAIGNERS. THE MORE PORNOGRAPHY WE GET, THE MORE SEXUAL ABUSE WE GET. PORNOGRAPHY IS ABOUT SEX, DID ANYBODY NOTICE? SO, WHAT'S GOING ON NOW WITH OUR SEXUAL LIVES? HAVE THEY IMPROVED? BY NO MEANS, BY NO MEANS. WE HAVE MASSIVE DYSFUNCTION, AND VIOLENCE, AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE, AND CERTAINLY CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IS OFF THE CHARTS. THE RESEARCH ON HOW PORNOGRAPHY CHANGES THINGS LIKE PEOPLE'S CONCEPTION OF WHETHER RAPE IS A CRIME OR NOT. MEN AND WOMEN BOTH, AFTER BEING EXPOSED TO PORNOGRAPHY HAD FEELINGS THAT RAPE WASN'T AS SERIOUS A CRIME AS THOSE WHO HADN'T BEEN EXPOSED TO PORNOGRAPHY. IF THAT'S TRUE, THEN THE SITUATION IS BAD, AND GETTING WORSE. BECAUSE PORNOGRAPHY INCLUDING CHILD PORN, IS ALREADY EASY TO ACCESS, AND GETTING EASIER. THE DAYS WHEN MEN LIKE JOHN COUEY HAD TO SNEAK OFF TO SOME SEEDY TRIPLE-X-RATED PORN SHOP ARE LONG GONE. NOWADAYS, WHETHER IT'S PORN THAT SHOWS KIDS WHICH IS ILLEGAL, OR PORN THAT SHOWS ONLY ADULTS, WHICH IS NOT, IT IS AS CLOSE. AS YOUR COMPUTER. THE PORNOGRAPHY DEBATE WILL CONTINUE OF COURSE, BUT AS MORE COMMUNITIES ACT TO LIMIT THE RIGHTS OF SEX OFFENDERS, THERE IS NO CONSENSUS ON WHAT IT TAKES OR ON WHAT IS FAIR WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING CHILDREN. PEOPLE ASK, WHY SHOULD MY COMMUNITY HAVE TO ACCEPT A SEXUAL OFFENDER JUST BECAUSE YOURS HAS PUSHED HIM AWAY? WHEN HAS A SEXUAL OFFENDER PAID HIS DEBT TO SOCIETY? THERE IS EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST SEX OFFENDER TREATMENT DOES HELP REDUCE SEXUAL OFFENSE RECIDIVISM. THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THE MYTHS THAT DRIVES THESE LAWS THE SEX OFFENDER TREATMENT DOESN'T WORK AND THAT THEY ALL REOFFEND. THE COMMON SENSE REALITY IS YOU WANT TO KEEP THE SEX OFFENDER AND PREDATORS AS FAR AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN AS POSSIBLE. PERIOD. AND THAT'S THE THRUST OF THE ISSUE AND MANY PEOPLE DO WISH TO TWIST THE TRUTH TO MAKE A TRAP FOR FOOLS. AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL NOT FALL INTO THAT TRAP. BUT THESE DEBATES ARE JUST BACKGROUND NOISE FOR THE MARK LUNSFORD'S OF THE WORLD, WHO ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE LAWS JUST AS TOUGH AS SOCIETY WILL ACCEPT. EVEN IF IT DOESN'T CHANGE WHAT'S HAPPENED, IN THEIR OWN TRAGIC LIVES. Q: YOU CAN'T BRING YOUR DAUGHTER BACK. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? A: I GOT GRANDKIDS. I GOT FRIENDS WHO GOT KIDS. I DON'T KNOW THAT CHILD WALKING DOWN THE STREET BUT I DON'T WANT NOTHING TO HAPPEN TO THAT CHILD. I DON'T WANT A PARENT TO HAVE TO FEEL WHAT I HAVE TO FEEL FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I DON'T WANT THAT CHILD TO HAVE TO FEEL WHAT IT'S GONNA HAVE TO FEEL AFTER SOMEONE MOLESTS THAT CHILD. IT'S WRONG, IT'S JUST WRONG. WHETHER LAWS AGAINST SEXUAL PREDATORS GET EVEN TOUGHER NOW OR NOT, JESSICA LUNSFORD'S DEATH WAS NOT IN VAIN. THE HEAD OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN HAS SAID 1000S OF CHILDREN'S LIVES WILL BE SAVED BECAUSE OF JESSICA.

AT CAPE CANAVERAL HERE IN FLORIDA, A NEW RECORD AND A NEW MISSION. IN A DRAMATIC NIGHTTIME LAUNCH, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PUT SIX SATELLITES INTO ORBIT A ONCE. TWO OF THEM WILL HELP FUTURE SATELLITES FOR THE MILITARY, FOR WEATHER, FOR COMMUNICATIONS TO STAY IN SPACE LONGER. AS SHE SAT ON THE LAUNCH PAD THURSDAY NIGHT DURING A BUILT IN HOLD ONLY 4 MINUTES BEFORE SCHEDULED LIFT OFF, THERE WAS A STRANGE DELAY. THE NAVY WAS CONDUCTING CLASSIFIED EXERCISES DOWN RANGE IN THE ATLANTIC. WE PICKED UP THE COUNT DOWN WE'RE AT T MINUS 3:55 USING THE SAME RADIO FREQUENCY THAT THE ENGINEERS FROM THE UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE WOULD NEED IN A CRISIS IF THEY HAD TO BLOW UP THIS ROCKET IN IT'S FIRST MOMENTS OF FLIGHT. 5, 4, 3, ATLAS ENGINE IGNITION. 1, 0 AND LIFT OFF. BUT AFTER JUST A HALF HOUR DELAY THIS 800,000 POUND ATLAS 5 TALL AS A 19 STORY SKY SCRAPER BLASTED OFF. SHE LUMBERED SO SLOWLY OFF THE PAD, ONE TRACKING CAMERA REACHED FOR THE SKY BEFORE SHE DID BUT JUST TWO MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, CONSUMING FUEL AT A RATE OF 300 GALLONS PER SECOND, THE ROCKET WAS RACING TOWARDS SPACE AT 2200 MILES PER HOUR. LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER, MORE THAN 4000 MILES PER HOUR WHICH WAS A BIG THRILL FOR TWO UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY MID SHIPMEN WHO WORKED ON ONE OF THE EXPERIMENTAL SATELLITES ON BOARD AND GOT TO SEE THE LAUNCH FROM JUST A FEW MILES AWAY. THAT WAS REALLY AMAZING AND JUST TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT WAS OVERWHELMING. IT WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS I'VE EVER SEEN. WITHIN JUST OVER AN HOUR THE ATLAS ROCKET RELEASED SIX SATELLITES, A RECORD FROM A SINGLE LAUNCH. IN THIS GROUNDBREAKING MISSION ONE OF THOSE SATELLITES WILL ROBOTICALLY REPAIR AND REFUEL AND UPGRADE THE HARDWARE ON ANOTHER WHICH FOR SATELLITES IN THE FUTURE WOULD MEAN THAT WHEN THEIR PARTS ARE OBSOLETE OR THEIR FUEL IS DEPLETED, THEY WONT HAVE TO BE REPLACED, THEY'LL ONLY HAVE TO BE REVIVED. THE INITIALLY FLIGHT PATH TOO THE ATLAS 5 ON AN ARC ALMOST RIGHT OVER THE MAMMOTH VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING HERE AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER WHERE THOSE HITS FROM THE HAIL TWO WEEKS AGO ON THE SPACE SHUTTLES FOAM COVERED FUEL TANK ARE STILL BEING CLOSELY EXAMINED. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, NASA WORKERS CAN USE A SPECIAL ABRASIVE SPONGE, THINK A REALLY EXPENSIVE BRILLO PAD TO REPAIR SEVERAL THOUSAND POCK MARKS BUT 1-2 THOUSAND WILL NEED MORE DETAILED ATTENTION. IF THEY CAN'T FIX ALL THE DAMAGE HERE WITHIN ABOUT A MONTH, THEY'LL HAVE TO TAKE THE TANK APART AND SHIP IT BACK TO THE PLANT IN ALABAMA OR REPLACE IT WITH THE TANK THAT IS NEXT IN LINE. EITHER WAY IT'S A COSTLY DELAY.

AND COST OF COURSE IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR SINCE FUNDING FOR NASA GOT TIGHTER. FOR INSTANCE A PROGRAM TO PINPOINT THE PATH AND SPEED AND SIZE OF ASTEROIDS WHICH COULD HIT THE EARTH AND CAUSE MASSIVE DAMAGE IS NOW INACTIVE DUE TO A LACK OF FUNDING SO EVERY DELAY WITH THE SHUTTLE COULD BE COSTLY IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. WE'LL BE BACK. NEXT ON WORLD REPORT THEY'RE TOOTHY, THEY'RE 10 FEET LONG, THEY'RE DANGEROUS AND THEY'RE JUST OUTSIDE THE BACK DOOR, LIVING WITH KILLER SHARKS THERE IS POPULATION OF SHARKS THAT BREED, LIVE AND PROBABLY DIE IN THE CANAL. AND LATER LET THERE BE LIGHT OR AT LEAST DAYLIGHT SAVINGS. IN ONE DARK NEW ENGLAND TOWN, EVEN THE SEAGULLS ARE EXCITED.

WORLD REPORT CONTINUES. HERE IS WENDY BROCKMAN.

THIS IS AS CLOSE AS MOST OF US WILL GET TO THE REAL LIFE VERSION OF JAWS A DAY TRIP TO THE AQUARIUM BUT IN ONE COSTAL AREA, PREDATORY SHARKS ARE MOVING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY ARE BREEDING IN THE CANALS BEHIND UPSCALE HOUSE AND TURNING THE LOCALS IDEA OF A LAZY AFTERNOON SWIM INTO A BLOOD CHILLING ADVENTURE. THERE MAY BE FEW PLACES IN THE WORLD AS IDEALLY SITUATED FOR ANYONE WHO LOVES THE WATER IT SEEMS LIKE A GREAT DAY FOR A SWIM AS THE PART OF QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA KNOWN AS THE GOLD COAST. IT'S SUCH AN APPEALING BIT OF WATER HERE IT'S HARD TO STAY OUT. AUSTRALIANS LOVE THE SEA SO MUCH, THEY'VE BROUGHT IT TO THEIR BACK YARDS, BUILDING CANALS TO CREATE WATERFRONT COMMUNITIES MILES FROM THE COAST. BUT ALONG WITH A TOUCH OF THE SEA, THE CANALS HAVE BROUGHT SOMETHING ELSE TO THE BACK DOOR. PEOPLE MUST REALIZE THAT THERE IS A POPULATION OF SHARKS THAT ARE BORN, LIVE, AND DIE IN THE CANALS AND CANAL SYSTEMS. IT IS BECOMING MORE PREVALENT THAT THERE'S SHARKS AND THERE'S BEEN SOME FATAL ATTACKS. EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS OR SO THERE IS AN OLD MAN HAVING A FEW BEERS, WANTS TO GO FOR A SWIM IN THE CANAL AND HE DOESN'T COME BACK. OR HE COMES BACK BUT HE IS NOT ALL IN, A BIT OF HIM IS MISSING. THE BULL SHARK. LIKE THESE AT A GOLD COAST AQUARIUM, THE BULL SHARKS IN AUSTRALIA'S CANALS CAN GROW TO MORE THAN TEN FEET IN LENGTH. THEY ARE AMONG THE MOST AGGRESSIVE OF ALL SHARKS AND AUSTRALIA'S INLAND CANALS ARE SWIMMING WITH THEM. FROM WHAT I GATHER THEY COME IN THEY GET A BIT DISORIENTED AND LIVE FOR MOST OF THE REST OF THEIR LIVES IN THE CANALS, AND THEY GET TO GROW TO A VERY LARGE SIZE. WITH BULL SHARKS AT HOME IN EITHER SALT OR FRESH WATER, AND WITH SO MANY PEOPLE LIVING AND PLAYING ALONG AUSTRALIA'S NATURAL AND MANMADE WATERWAYS, IT SEEMS EVERYONE HAS AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION OF WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE BULL SHARKS IN THE BACK YARD. THIS IS USUALLY A FAIR BET THAT YOU'VE GOT A GOOD CHANCE OF GETTING ONE OR TWO. ON THE BRISBANE RIVER, 30 MILES FROM THE PACIFIC OCEAN, THE HUNT IS ON. AT TIMES THEY'RE QUITE THICK AND YOU CAN EASILY CATCH A HALF A DOZEN IN ONE SESSION. SHARK FISHING HAS BECOME A SORT OF NEW ADVENTURE SPORT FOR PEOPLE, ANGUS CURRY AND THE FRIENDS HE HAS TRYING TO CATCH SOME BAIT THAT WILL ATTRACT A BULL SHARK. OH SHARK FISHING'S ALWAYS A LOT OF FUN, YOU CAN ACTUALLY CATCH BETTER FISH THAT MIGHT FIGHT A BIG HARDER, BUT THERE'S A CERTAIN NOVELTY TO A SHARK.

SHARKS ARE MORE THAN A NOVELTY FOR RESEARCHERS LIKE JONATHAN WERRY. NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE HOW MANY SHARKS INHABIT THE CANALS OF EASTERN AUSTRALIA. WERRY WANTS TO FIND OUT, AND HE'S GOT TECHNOLOGY ON HIS TEAM. YEAH WE'VE GOT A VR2, IT'S A LISTENING DEVICE, SO WE'RE DEPLOYING THESE TO ACTUALLY TRACK THE LONG TERM MOVEMENTS OF TAGGED SHARKS. FOR OTHERS, THE BULL SHARK MEANS BUSINESS. THE WHOLE IDEA IS JUST TO JUST TO TRY TO WEAR THE SHARK OUT, SOMETIMES IT'S TAKEN LIKE AN HOUR OR MORE TO GET THEM IN. TONIGHT, ABOUT A HALF DOZEN ADVENTURERS ARE PAYING FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF AN ENCOUNTER WITH FEAR. SEEN A BIG ONE YESTERDAY MORNING JUST NOT FAR FROM HERE JUST AS WE LEFT ON THE JET SKIS, ALL THE CUSTOMERS WERE LIKE, WHOA WAS THAT A DOLPHIN? HA HA HA. AFTER SIGNING AWAY THEIR RIGHT TO SUE IN THE EVENT OF DEATH OR DISMEMBERMENT, THEY WILL HEAD OUT ON A GOLD COAST CANAL TO BRING IN A BULL SHARK WITH ROD AND REEL. BEEN FISHING ALL MY LIFE AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER BEEN SHARK FISHING, SO HOOKING ONE UP WILL BE AMAZING. IDEAS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH BULL SHARKS RANGE FROM PUTTING BOUNTIES ON THEM TO STAGING PUBLIC FISHING TOURNAMENTS. NOT EVERYONE IS WAITING FOR AN INVITATION. THIS IS TYPICALLY A PLACE WHERE THE BULL SHARKS HAUNT. ANYONE WATCHING FROM THE HOUSES ON THE BANKS OF THE BRISBANE RIVER WOULD THINK ANGUS CURRY AND HIS MATES JUST HOOKED THE GREAT WHITE SHARK FROM "JAWS.". GOT ONE, EVERYONE'S SURE THEY'VE TIED INTO A SHARK. COME ON, COME ON... CAN YOU SEE HIM? HE SHOULD BE RIGHT THERE. BUT WHEN THE FISH ON THE END OF THE LINE EMERGES FROM THE DARKNESS. OH YOU'RE JOKING. IT'S WHAT THEY CALL BRISBANE RIVER BARRAMUNDI THAT'S AUSTRALIAN FOR CATFISH. TALK ABOUT DISAPPOINTMENT. MAYBE THE PROBLEM HERE IS THE BAIT. WHO'S GOING TO HAVE THE FIRST SHOT? WHEN YOU'RE OUT FOR SHARK, A CAN OF WORMS WON'T CUT IT. OKAY GET READY, HE'S GOING TO RUN. READY, AIM, FIRE! STINGRAYS ARE A FAVORITE FOOD OF BULL SHARKS BUT THIS BAIT HAS BITE. AUSTRALIA'S FAMED CROCODILE HUNTER STEVE IRWIN DIED WHEN A STINGRAY BARB PIERCED HIS HEART. SO WHEN A STINGRAY IS CAUGHT ALMOST AS QUICK AS YOU CAN SAY, G'DAY MATE. THE CREW TAKES THE STING OUT OF THE STINGRAY. FOR SOME CUSTOMERS, JUST CATCHING THE BAIT IS WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION. OH YEAH. OH I LOVE IT, FIRST TIME I'VE EVER DONE THIS AND LOOK AT THAT. TO GET A SHARK'S ATTENTION, THE MORE BLOOD, THE BETTER. WE'LL START POURING IT INTO THE WATER JUST TO ADD A BIT OF INCENTIVE I SUPPOSE. BUT PRACTICES LIKE THIS WORRY PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS, WHO SAY IT ONLY ATTRACTS MORE SHARKS TO AREAS WHERE THEY'VE ALREADY ATTACKED HUMANS. PLACES WHERE SHARKS CAN ENTER INLAND WATERWAYS ARE MANAGED TO KEEP THEM OUT. WELL THERE'S TWO METHODS ON THE GOLD COAST AS FAR AS THE SHARK PROTECTION PROGRAM. THE NETS THAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE AT THE MOMENT WHICH ARE APPROXIMATELY 200 METERS LONG AND A SERIES OF DRUM LINES AS WELL SO YOU HAVE ABOUT 35 DRUM LINES AND ELEVEN NETS. BUT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH NET, NOT ENOUGH MONEY, AND NOT ENOUGH MANPOWER TO PROTECT EVERY INLET SO EVERY NIGHT EVERYDAY AUSTRALIANS TURN A PROBLEM INTO AN OPPORTUNITY. THEY'RE HERE AND THERE'S NOT REALLY ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT MUCH OF A DENT IN THE POPULATION OURSELVES AND THERE'S NOT REALLY A LOT ANYONE CAN DO ABOUT THE SHARKS, SO WE'VE HAD TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH THEM, AND MAKE THE MOST OF IT, HA. AS THE NIGHT WEARS ON. MY SHARK'S COMING FIRST, DON'T YOU WORRY. THERE'S NOT A NIBBLE, LET ALONE A BITE FROM A BULL SHARK. BUT ON ANOTHER BOAT IN ANOTHER CANAL OH YEAH, WE'VE GOT MOVEMENT. SHARK RESEARCHER JONATHAN WERRY HAS SOMETHING ON THE HOOK. THE CATCH OF THE DAY IS A BULL SHARK MEASURING JUST OVER THREE FEET LONG NOT EXACTLY THE MONSTER OF THE CANAL. BASICALLY THIS TYPE OF GUY IS GOING TO STAY AWAY FROM HUMAN ACTIVITY AS MUCH AS HE CAN, IF HE DOES COME IN AND SAY DID NIP SOMEONE IT WOULD BE A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY, WHERE HE WAS PROBABLY TARGETING MULLET. THIS JUVENILE SHARK COULD STILL DOUBLE ITS LENGTH BY THE TIME IT'S FULL GROWN AND JONATHAN WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE IF THAT HAPPENS, THANKS TO TAGS THAT WILL TRACK THE SHARK'S MOVEMENTS. SHE'S WANTING TO GO, OKAY HERE WE GO. JONATHAN WERRY SAYS THAT RIDDING AUSTRALIA'S CANALS OF BULL SHARKS IS PROBABLY UNWISE, BECAUSE THEY'VE BECOME AN IMPORTANT PART OF AN ARTIFICIALLY CREATED ECOSYSTEM. NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE HOW MANY SHARKS INHABIT THE INLAND WATERWAYS OF AUSTRALIA'S GOLD COAST. BUT MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY'RE PROBABLY HERE TO STAY, AND THAT AUSTRALIANS WILL HAVE TO LEARN WHEN ITS SAFE TO GO IN THE WATER AND WHEN IT'S TIME TO STAY OUT SOME RESEARCHERS SAY THOUSANDS LIVE IN THE CANALS, OTHERS SAY HUNDREDS. EITHER WAY THERE ARE ENOUGH TO MAKE INLAND CANAL SHARK FISHING, AUSTRALIA'S FASTEST GROWING ADVENTURE SPORT. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

WHEN WE COME BACK DAYLIGHT SAVINGS HAS COME EARLIER THIS YEAR THAN EVER BEFORE, WORLD REPORT TAKES YOU TO ONE TOWN WHERE THE RESIDENTS CAN BARELY CONTAIN THEIR EXCITEMENT WHEN CAN YOU CHANGE THE OIL AGAIN BEN? DO IT TOMORROW MORNING.

THIS IS HDNET WORLD REPORT HERE IS CHRISTY O'CONNOR.

LAST SATURDAY'S SUNSET WASN'T MUCH TO SPEAK OF IN LUBEC, MAINE. A GLOOMY GRAY DEEPENED TO, WELL, AN EVEN GLOOMIER ONE UNTIL ONLY THE LIGHTHOUSE BEACON CUT THROUGH AND AN OCCASIONAL FOGHORN.

IT'S A LONG WINTER. YEAH. A LONG WINTER. BY SUNDAY - WHEN DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGAN EARLIER THAN EVER BEFORE SUE BAKER WAS MORE THAN READY FOR AN EXTRA HOUR OF AFTERNOON SUN WE LIVE IN A BEAUTIFUL AREA, AND LIGHTING IT AND SEEING IT FOR AN HOUR LONGER IS A GOOD THING! LUBEC IS A PLACE WHERE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME CAN MATTER A LOT. IT'S THE EASTERNMOST TOWN IN THE UNITED STATES THE SPOT WHERE MAINE JUTS FURTHEST INTO THE ATLANTIC. OH, GOSH, IT'S A BIG DEAL. LOOK! ANNABELLE'S. THE EASTERNMOST PUB IN THE UNITED STATES. I'M IN A BOOK CLUB AND WE CALL OURSELVES THE EASTERN MOST BOOK CLUB IN THE USA, SO IT'S AN IDENTITY. STILL, THE GEOGRAPHY MEANS THAT FROM NOVEMBER TO MARCH, AND EVEN INTO APRIL, THE DAYS ARE DREARY, COLD, AND VERY, VERY SHORT. IN THE DEAD OF WINTER, THE SUN ONLY SHINES UNTIL ABOUT 3:30 P-M.

I HATE THESE SHORT DAYS IN THE WINTER. DRIVE YOU CRAZY SITTING IN THE HOUSE. I LIKE TO GET OUT EVEN IF I'M NOT DOING NOTHING. NOT THAT LUBEC EVER GETS ROWDY, EXACTLY. THE TOWN IS HOME TO ABOUT 16- HUNDRED PEOPLE MANY OF THEM RETIRED. MOST OF THE AVAILABLE JOBS ARE FISHING-[RELATED. BUT LIKE IN ANY SMALL TOWN, WHEN IT'S TIME FOR FUN, THE LOCALS GATHER AT THEIR FAVORITE HOT SPOT. WE JUST CALL IT THE LITTLE BOAT RAMP. WE TALK ABOUT IT SOMEPLACE WE SAY WELL, WE GOING DOWN TO THE BOAT RAMP. HE'S NOT KIDDING. THE BOAT RAMP SEES PLENTY OF THE ACTION, RELATIVELY SPEAKING. WHEN I LEAVE HOME I TELL MY WIFE I SAY I'M GOING DOWN TO THE BOAT RAMP. THE RAMP'S MAIN RIVAL IS MURPHY'S VILLAGE RESTAURANT (LAUGHING) AFTER CHURCH ON SUNDAYS. JOHN, DO YOU LIKE IT DO YOU LIKE THE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME? DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO ME. IT'S ALL THE SAME. SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH, THESE CUSTOMERS SEEM AMBIVALENT THAT DAYLIGHT SAVINGS HAS COME THREE WEEKS EARLY. WELL I GUESS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN ENERGY SAVING THING. EVELYN: GOD CREATED TIME. DON'T KNOW WHY MAN HAS TO GO AND SCREW IT UP. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO DRIVING THIS AFTERNOON. NONI: I'M ACTUALLY NEITHER. I JUST WISH WE'D GET ON WITH IT. WHAT IS IT? 10 MINUTES OF 11 NOW? BUD BOOMER DOESN'T MIND THE EARLY SUNSETS. HE DIDN'T EVEN CHANGE THE CLOCKS AT HIS HOUSE UNTIL LATE SUNDAY MORNING. IT'S PART OF NATURE AND YOU JUST TAKE IT AS IS. PEOPLE IN THE TOWN ARE LAID BACK. THE OLD TIMERS ARE LAID BACK. HIS WIFE, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS EAGER FOR THE SUNSHINE TO STICK AROUND YOU CAN TELL FROM THE PHOTOS SHE KEEPS NEARBY. I LOVE IT. TO ME IT DOESN'T MATTER. I LIKE IT CAUSE I LOVE, YOU KNOW I WISH IT WOULDN'T GET DARK TIL 10 OR 11 AT NIGHT. I'D BE ALL SET IN ALASKA. IT'S ABOUT ALMOST QUARTER TO 4. ON THE BOAT RAMP, THE SUN'S STILL UP NEAR FOUR O'CLOCK, AND SHOWS NO SIGN OF QUITTING JUST YET. IN THIS TOWN, THAT SEEMS WORTH A LITTLE REVELRY. WHEN CAN YOU CHANGE THE OIL AGAIN, BEN? DO IT TOMORROW MORNING BUT FEW ARE MORE THRILLED THAN SUE BAKER. SHE'S BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT FOR FIVE LONG MONTHS. WHAT TIME IS IT? PROBABLY A LITTLE AFTER 6. AND IT'S LIGHT YET (LAUGHS) SUE AND HER HUSBAND MOVED HERE FOR LUBEC'S PICTURESQUE VIEWS. SHE WELCOMES THEIR LINGERING COMPANY (SIGH) LIFE IS GOOD. A LITTLE LATER, AND A LITTLE LONGER, EACH DAY.