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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

How Does bin Laden Continue to Elude U.S. Capture?; Possible Attack on Iraq Would be Costly; New Trend Shows Seniors Are Shacking Up

Aired July 30, 2002 - 17:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Now on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS: Bin Laden's bodyguards. If they're behind bars, what happened to the man they're supposed to protect?

Target: Saddam. An attack on Iraq won't come cheap, and you may have to pick up the tab.

Aground again. Is there hope for the whales?

Seniors shacking up. Is it for love or money? I'll ask Dr. Ruth.

And he's Austin Powers's smaller nemesis. Coming up, it's me and Mini-Me, as I speak with actor Verne Troyer.

It's Tuesday, July 30th, 2002. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.

We begin with word that the United States has its hands on some of Osama bin Laden's top bodyguards, raising more questions about the fate of the al Qaeda leader himself.

Our justice correspondent, Kelli Arena, has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): ... held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, according to U.S. officials, are members of Osama bin Laden's security detail. Sources won't say how long they've been in custody, but their capture -- among other indications -- has convinced some U.S. officials that bin Laden is dead. The FBI's counterterrorism chief had this to say earlier this month.

DALE WATSON, FBI COUNTERTERRORISM OFFICIAL: Is UBL alive or is he dead? I'm not real sure of the answer, is he alive or dead. I personally think he's probably not with us anymore.

ARENA: The thinking is if the bodyguards were captured away from bin Laden, it's likely their charge is dead. That combined with the fact that bin Laden has not been seen or heard from in months seems to lend credence to the theory. But there is a definite split in thinking among top officials about bin Laden's fate. SEN. RICHARD SHELBY (R-AL), INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE VICE CHAIRMAN: I don't think you could read anything in it conclusively. The fact you might capture part of the king's bodyguard doesn't mean you've got the king.

ARENA: Others are quick to add many people have been involved in bin Laden's security over time. They point out there is still no body, or anyone saying they witnessed his death. And it's quite possible bin Laden is in hiding, patiently waiting to emerge when the next attack occurs.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: Officials from both sides of the debate admit that no one can say for sure. And dead or alive, all agree that bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist network still poses a very serious threat.

Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: Kelli, what are we supposed to make of these reports that Osama bin Laden's son or sons may be moving up the chain of command and may have a more important role right now in what's going on?

ARENA: Wolf, those reports refer to Saad bin Laden, who is Osama's third eldest son. He's 21 years old. And U.S. officials tell us that they are simply false, that he is a known al Qaeda operative, he's described as a facilitator, as a money manager. He is someone that they have wanted for some time and have been aware of for some time. But there's absolutely no evidence to support the reporting that he has moved up in rank. It's a romantic notion that he may be poised to take the baton for his father, but no evidence to support it, Wolf.

BLITZER: Kelli Arena, thank you very much for that report.

So what about Osama bin Laden? What's going on? Is he alive or dead? Let's bring in our defense analyst, David Isby. You've been looking into this -- all this stuff very carefully. First of all, the notion about his sons or son moving up -- what do you hear about that?

DAVID ISBY, DEFENSE ANALYST: Well, it's certainly very much a part of the whole Arab notion of legitimacy. You know, places like Iraq, Syria, of course, Saudi Arabia, power stays within the family. So even if Osama is alive, keeping it in the family is seen as very important for keeping the power legitimate in al Qaeda.

BLITZER: What do you make of the fact there are now known top Osama bin Laden bodyguards under U.S. control at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba?

ISBY: I think it's only to be expected. Having a large bodyguard, as Osama did before 9/11 in Afghanistan, is very much a prestige thing -- again, worldwide, but especially in the Arab world. If he did execute an E&E plan -- escape and evasion -- he would have left most of his bodyguard in place with their communications still working, taking only a few people and communications no one's ever heard before, radios that hadn't been used before, and then escape. So leaving your bodyguard behind while you escape and evade is very much a tactic from the terrorist playbook.

BLITZER: What does it say, if anything, about whether Osama bin Laden is alive or dead?

ISBY: It really doesn't indicate very much except what we knew, that we pressed him hard, we obviously came close. But right now, it doesn't get us any closer to answering this big question.

BLITZER: And you know, you hear these conflicting reports, a top FBI analyst, a counterterrorism official saying he believes personally Osama bin Laden is dead. You hear others saying he's on that border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan, dug deep into some sort of cave. What do we make of these reports? Are people just guessing?

ISBY: Some of it's guessing. Some of it is also trying to weigh reports that are not confirmed. What's disinformation, what's deception? And if there is a real Osama, is at some point he's going to make a mistake, use a communication device that we're monitoring, somehow increase his signature, that even lying low, as he is, if he is alive, he just can't keep it up forever. Someone's got to fill his water jugs.

BLITZER: I've heard from a lot of experts that if he were dead, there would be mourning. The family members -- and there's there's a huge extended family. There would be outward signs that U.S. and other intelligence services would be able to pick up to conclude that he is, in fact, dead.

ISBY: Quite likely, but there's also a great interest in keeping him alive, in using this as sort of -- he is sort of the vanished authority. So even if he's not there, he's inherent in the structure of the organization. So they may want, even if he is dead, to keep it from getting out and preventing mourning, even with this extended family, much of which he's alienated from.

BLITZER: Is there a sense, though, right now that Osama bin Laden, assuming he is alive, can still be at the top of this organization and order strikes, terror strikes?

ISBY: He may be in some contact, but no, he obviously cannot have a hands-on, day-to-day control, which he may have had in the past. Since leaving Afghanistan, if he is alive, he may issue code words through intermediaries, but he's not likely to be able to have his own previous facilitator role -- dealing with sources, methods, actors of dispersed cells.

BLITZER: David Isby, thanks for joining us, as usual.

ISBY: You're welcome.

BLITZER: Appreciate it very much.

Let's move on, check out some other news going on today on a very different note.

On Cape Cod, one official describes the scene as "heart- breaking." More than 40 pilot whales have beached themselves for the second straight day. They're the same ones who stranded themselves on a beach about 25 miles from today's site. Several too sick or in shock were euthanized.

CNN's Bill Delaney has more on the extraordinary effort to save them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL DELANEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A sight few expected after more than 40 whales stranded for a second day on the shores of Cape Cod -- more than 20 of the whales, alive, free-swimming as afternoon high tide approached. For hours, rescuers kept the whales moist in mud flats near Lieutenant's Island, predicting no more than 10 or 15 would live. Now another chance to finally go north out of Cape Cod Bay, into the open sea.

(on camera): What's dangerous about a second-day stranding?

A.J. CADY, INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ANIMAL WELFARE: These animals are already incredibly stressed from the first day, and so many more of them die just from shock and exposure or injuries that they've sustained that they just haven't had a chance to recover from.

DELANEY (voice-over): Unlike Monday, when more than 50 of the whales stranded on a sandy beach in the town of Dennis, only 9 died in the searing sun, 46 lovingly shoved back into the water at high tide.

(on camera): Nobody knows just why whales strand themselves. Scientists have theories. The pilot whales here on Cape Cod could have been chasing a school of fish and been lured into the suddenly and deceptively shallow waters near shore here. And pilot whales are particularly sociable and hierarchical animals. They could have been following an ill or a confused leader.

(voice-over): Rescuers again hoping they've seen the last of this perplexed and poignant pod of pilot whales.

Bill Delaney, CNN, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And in Florida, it's a happy story about manatees that beached themselves near Boca Raton. Officials say the two males and one female are in little danger. Beachgoers gathered as the animals wallowed in the surf. Officials say it's normal behavior during mating season. Once the female rests, she'll swim off in deeper water.

What you're seeing now isn't a clip for an upcoming shark movie. The human swimmers and the sharks are in waters off La Jolla, California. And despite what it looks like, officials say this isn't a shark invasion. Just the opposite, in fact. Experts say sharks go out of their way to avoid people, and when they do attack, they spit them out because they don't taste very good.

And this developing story in California in San Diego County. Some 1,700 firefighters are battling a wildfire in the mountains near the town of Julian that's already charred more than 2,500 acres. Joining us on the phone with details is Audrey Hagen. She's the fire information officer in the state's Forestry Fire Protection Department.

Audrey, thanks for joining us. Give us the latest, please.

AUDREY HAGEN, FIRE INFO OFFICER: The Pines fire is 10 percent contained. The cause is still under investigation. We have lost seven structures -- three outbuildings, one barn, three structures. The three structures, we don't know exactly what they are. There are 1,750 firefighters on scene. Right now, we are working structural protection in the Kent Woods in the Pines area. It has been evacuated. We are doing structural protection. The fire is burning southeast, and it is -- it has two heads. One head is on the east side of the Vulcan Mountains, which is burning northeast.

BLITZER: Audrey, how much danger is there to residents in the area?

HAGEN: Most of the residents have been evacuated. A lot of them were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

BLITZER: And what does it look like? What do the experts think? How long will it take to get this fire under control?

HAGEN: They really haven't estimated any containment or any control at this time.

BLITZER: Audrey Hagen, thanks for joining from the scene of this blaze. We'll be continuing to monitor this development, as well.

And it could take months to reopen the Quecreek mine in Pennsylvania, where nine workers were trapped so 77 hours until their dramatic rescue. One of those miners remains hospitalized today.

Despite safety advances, coal mining is no job for the faint- hearted, as we all know. To get an idea of what miners really do face, our Jeff Flock went down into the "Seldom Seen Mine," an old Pennsylvania mine now available to be seen by tourists.

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, tonight trying to give you some sense of what it was like for those nine miners. To do it, we've come the an abandoned coal mine, about 500 feet down, in Pennsylvania, Patton, Pennsylvania.

You know, you talked about the one group of miners reaching the others by phone. This is a mine phone, just like the one they used to warn the other group of miners.

I want to take you back now inside an area that sort of roughly approximates what it was like for those nine men. This is an area about -- I don't know. I'm going to ask the men we've got back here just exactly what the dimension is, but it's just about the same dimensions, Jake, as those guys were dealing with, correct?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, this is about 15 feet wide, and you've got 4 feet of height in here. This is about the same type of conditions them guys down there in Somerset were trapped in.

FLOCK: Right. Now, what do you do, when you've got water coming at you from behind you -- and I don't know, John, if you're able to get past me to see what it looks like back there. What do you do when you got water coming at you in a confined space like this? How do you get out?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, you move as fast as you possibly can and head for the higher ground. You're aware of the higher ground because you're exposed to so much danger at all times that it...

FLOCK: That you're prepared for it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You get there automatically. And when you get there, well, then, you next plan movement.

FLOCK: I got you. Last question I want to ask -- this is this is a mine not unlike the Saxman mine, an abandoned mine. Part of this is flooded, too. If someone were to break into this with a new mine, you'd have the same problem here, correct?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If they broke in over on the other side of the hill, yeah. Right here, we're too high for that water to move any further in this direction, but somebody'd be in a world of hurt over there.

FLOCK: And go ahead and give me a -- Glenn (ph), one rap on the wall there. That's pretty soft coal up there, isn't it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah. This has been exposed to the atmosphere for a while. Normally, it would be a lot harder than this. This has weathered a little bit. But you see, this is a real high quality coal right here. It has a real high BTU rating. And this would be the same seam the boys in Somerset were working, so they were in good coal.

FLOCK: Gentlemen, I appreciate it.

It really gives us some sense for the confined space, Wolf, that those guys were in. I don't know how they managed to get out as rapidly as they did and to survive. I guess we're still figuring that one out.

That is the latest here now from 500 feet beneath the Pennsylvania surface at what's now called the "Seldom Seen Mine." And I'm told you can come here and take a tour here, if you'd like. They'll show you around, what it's like under the ground in a coal mine.

Back to you.

BLITZER: Jeff Flock, who, as all of our viewers know, has been doing an outstanding job covering this story in Pennsylvania. Jeff, thank you very much.

And another postscript to the September 11 attacks. The first letters have gone out to victims' relatives, outlining the awards they're eligible for from the government's victims' compensation fund. A spokesman says the final amount will be based on income, but each applicant will get a minimum $250,000. Life insurance and other benefits will be deducted, but not charity donations. Families who accept the funds will forfeit the right to sue the airlines involved. They'll have until next December to respond.

Turning now to the corporate scandals that have shaken Wall Street and much of the nation. President Bush moved today to reassure nervous investors, signing into law a reform bill that creates new oversights and toughens penalties. Among the highlights, a new board to monitor the accounting industry and maximum prison terms for executives of 20 years, up from the current 5.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will act against those who have shaken confidence in our markets using the full authority of government to expose corruption, punish wrongdoers and defend the rights and interests of American workers and investors.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: And here's your chance to weigh in on this story. Our Web question of the day is this: Do you think the corporate reform legislation signed into law today will protect investors? We'll give the results later in this program also. Vote at cnn.com/wolf, my web page. And while you're there, send me your comments. I'll read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also, by the way, where you can read my daily on-line column, cnn.com/wolf.

The White House is beating the war drum, but can the United State really afford to duke it out with Saddam Hussein? A closer look at the cost of war.

Also, eye on your parents. Seniors are choosing to live together but not go to the altar. Is that truly a healthy trend? Dr. Ruth Westheimer joins us live.

And the best cartoons of all time. Find out who didn't make the cut.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. "The New York Times" today offered a stark headline, warning of a, quote, "profound effect" on the economy in the event of a war against Iraq. As they consider plans to target Saddam Hussein, U.S. officials are certainly weighing the cost.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): If and when the order for war against Iraq is given, the U.S. military will snap into action. No final game plan has been authorized by President Bush, but whatever strategy he settles on won't come cheap. According to the Congressional Research Service, the Persian Gulf war 11 years ago cost more than $60 billion, but the U.S. didn't get stuck with the bill. Almost $50 billion was picked up by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the European allies, Japan and other sources.

The next time around, the U.S. may have to go it alone, and it may wind up costing U.S. taxpayers a lot more, depending on the military strategy adopted.

Some plans call for deploying 250,000 U.S. troops to the region for weeks, and even more likely for months, plans which could drain a U.S. economy that's been suffering and struggling to recover. And there's another wild card. What happens if oil shipments from the Persian Gulf region are disrupted and the price per barrel skyrockets? That would clearly affect the price you pay for everything from gasoline to home heating and cooling.

Still, top Bush administration officials say the president is determined to pursue what they call "regime change" in Baghdad, meaning getting rid of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, whatever the price.

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: It's not just this administration. It's been a good many years that people have had, as a policy for this country, regime change in Iraq. The Congress has opined on it. The prior administration opined on it. Clearly, President Bush has.

BLITZER: They warn the price tag for inaction could be much higher, noting that the Iraqi leader is developing weapons of mass destruction, whether chemical, biological or even nuclear. It would be a lot more expensive, they say, in dealing with the deadly consequences of that.

RUMSFELD: Oh, but they have chemical weapons and biological weapons and have an appetite for nuclear weapons and have been working on them for a good many years, and that we -- and that there's an awful lot we don't know about their programs.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: On the overall situation, Saddam Hussein sounded off today. Meeting with members of Iraq's atomic energy commission, he scoffed at U.S. and British concerns about Iraq's nuclear program, saying this, quote, "They say if Iraq has nuclear technology, it would produce such-and-such weapons and might put those weapons in the service of terrorism. That kind of talk is like a joke."

For more on a possible U.S.-led attack on Iraq and the costs of such a campaign, I'm joined now from Atlanta by Jack Liles. He's a military analyst for CNN Headline News. He's a former Navy officer. He helped plan and carry out strikes against Iraq the first time around.

Jack, thanks for joining us. What do you make, first of all, of all this talk that the U.S. is getting closer and closer to actually launching air strikes, real air strikes against Iraq?

JACK LILES, MILITARY ANALYST, CNN HEADLINE NEWS: Well, it's obviously a high point of attention right now that our military forces are either preparing for, planning for or staging themselves for some type of action against Iraq.

And as you know, and a lot of Americans maybe don't know, we've had quite a presence over in the Persian Gulf region, patrolling the "no fly" zones of southern and northern Iraq for the last decade, and have quite a presence over there and quite a large group of servicemen both on the ground in the region, as well as flying missions off of aircraft carriers and bases there who have a lot of experience over and around Iraq. So our military is very prepared for any contingency they may be called upon for in the Iraq area or throughout the Middle East or in the overall war on terror, if you will.

BLITZER: But it wouldn't be prudent for U.S. military planners to assume that air power alone could get the job done -- namely, regime change or overthrowing Saddam Hussein. It would almost certainly require some sort of extensive ground presence, isn't that right?

LILES: That's conjecture right now, but a lot of the answer to that question's based on the intelligence we have, which is, of course, the big mystery. What do we know about Saddam? What does he have? Who is he aiding or helping or harboring? Where are his weapons?

The answers to those intelligence questions, which probably won't truly be made known to the American public up front, are -- lead us to believe that either tactic A or tactic B will take place. And that'll be based on what kind of intelligence we have and what we know about Saddam and his regime, whether air strikes alone will take care of the problem, whether an invasion is necessary, whether our containment strategy that we're executing right now would be enough.

BLITZER: The intelligence -- you raise the issue of intelligence. It's been almost four years since there were international weapons inspection teams inside Iraq. How good, on the whole, is the intelligence on Iraq right now?

LILES: Well, I'm sure that's the $20 million question the Pentagon is asking right now. It's something we don't know because, again, this is the highest levels of intelligence -- that is, what's going on inside Iraq, what's going on inside Saddam's house. What does he have, what does he not have? What's active, what's buried away. All those questions are what the Pentagon are trying to answer right now through the various resources of intelligence we have.

And we can conjecture all we want, we can read about leaks, we can see leaks, but that's probably not something we'll know about until after the decisions are made, and then that intelligence will probably be brought to light to justify those decisions.

BLITZER: Jack, take us into the minds of the front-line troops, whether air troops or ground troops, who are going to be involved, if, in fact, the president authorizes a new war against Iraq. They're hearing all these war plans. They're hearing about the costs of war, the debate unfolding in the Congress. There'll be congressional hearings tomorrow on going to war against Iraq. What -- what -- how does this impact on these troops?

LILES: It really, Wolf, doesn't have a huge impact on the way they think. It's probably more with their families that the anxiety is created than the actual servicemen and women themselves. Remember, over the last decade, we've had a huge presence of troops, aircraft carriers, air squadrons in the Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Gulf states region, patrolling Iraq and watching Iraq. So many of these troops -- it's kind of rare to find someone in the military right now who hasn't done some time over there, who isn't very familiar with that region and familiar with the threat and very prepared for any type of activity going on in Iraq.

So probably not a lot of anxiety, really more enthusiasm and motivation towards perhaps helping out in the war on terror, and then maybe some anxiety on the part of most servicepeople's families about us going into more active combat again.

BLITZER: Jack Liles, a CNN military analyst who works for our sister organization, Headline News. Thanks for joining us on CNN, as well.

And a former Chinese employee of Cornell University in upstate New York is under arrest, charged with trying to smuggle valuable biological material to China. The 38-year-old researcher, traveling with his wife and daughter, initially was detained at the airport in Syracuse, when security workers found more than 100 glass vials full of bacteria. A Cornell University spokeswoman tells CNN if the material is commercially produced, it could be worth millions of dollars to the manufacturer. Before recently being let go, the researcher helped Cornell develop the enzyme, aimed at improving farm animal nutrition.

Investigators are at the site of a deadly tank fire at the Army's Fort Hood base in Texas. Two soldiers were killed when the M-1A2 Abrams tank erupted in flames during gunnery exercises yesterday. Nine soldiers were injured. Officials have not determined what caused the fire.

James Traficant was hauled off to prison. Find out how much hard time the former congressman is now facing.

Plus, seniors living together out of wedlock. Is it for money or for love? Dr. Ruth will join us live.

And he's daring, he's dashing, he's Mini-Me. Verne Troyer will be my guest to talk real life and "Austin Powers."

But first our news quiz. "TV Guide" has ranked the top 50 cartoon characters of all time. Which cartoon tops the list? Beavis and Butt-Head, Bugs Bunny, Homer Simpson, Rocky and Bullwinkle. The answer coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. Coming up, Dr. Ruth Westheimer on why so many seniors are choosing to live together without being married, but first, a look at some stories making news right now.

A week ago, James Traficant was expelled from Congress. Today, he was sentenced to eight years in jail for corruption. Right after the sentencing, the Ohio Democrat was led off to jail in handcuffs. Despite his fate, Traficant vows to run for re-election and he predicts he'll win.

Officials from the United States and Mexico announced today the arrest of more than 2,000 suspected drug traders since March. U.S. officials say the operation busted narcotics operations in Texas, Arizona and southern California.

In Jerusalem, a suicide bomber blew himself up today on a busy street, wounding at least seven people. Police say the bomber was 17 years old and from the West Bank town of Bethlehem. A source tells CNN the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade claimed responsible. It's the first attack in Jerusalem since two bombings in June killed 26 people.

And in Guatemala today, Pope John Paul II created Central America's first saint. Hundreds of thousands of people attended the mass canonizing the 17th century Franciscan missionary. Tomorrow, the pope will travel to Mexico, where he'll create the church's first Indian saint, elevating Juan Diego, who tradition says saw the virgin of Guadalupe in 1531.

It used to be that when you heard gossip about an unmarried couple living together, you could be pretty well be sure that the conversation was about a younger couple. Today, that may not necessarily be the case. A Census Bureau survey finds at least 112,000 households headed by someone 65 or over with an unmarried partner. What's this older generation coming to? We've asked a nationally known psychosexual therapist, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, to join us and give us a clue.

Dr. Ruth, thanks for joining us. Why are so many older couples living together out of wedlock?

DR. RUTH WESTHEIMER, PSYCHOSEXUAL THERAPIST: First of all, Wolf, thank God that they found somebody to live with. So -- and the issue of why out of wedlock is really an issue of the surrounding society, like their children or their grandchildren or maybe even the religious institution. Now, if they feel that they can live together and be companions and have good sex and for many reasons of social security checks and other issues not to get married, my suggestion is, Wolf, tell them to make a commitment ceremony, just to say, "I love you," just to say, "We'll stay together and we'll take care of each other and forget about the legality."

BLITZER: The generation though of people over 65 right now, traditionally, the notion of living together outside of wedlock is almost like living in sin. Are there new mores, new attitudes about living together? The grandparents, in effect, copying what the grand children are doing.

WESTHEIMER: I don't think it's a question of copying. I think it's a question of necessity. First of all, we, women, live longer than you men. Yes, I've now been a widow for five years. Second, people have realized how important it is to have a companion, not just intellectually, not just for going out to dinner, but to touch. I'm not talking about actual sex all the time, but to have somebody who caresses your face, somebody who says, "You look lovely today," somebody who says, "Maybe we'll go for a weekend on a trip." So it's not a question of copying. It's a question of the necessity of all of us living longer and realizing how important it is to have a significant other in our lives.

BLITZER: We've put together some pros and cons, practical pros and cons, for older people living together. Take a look at this. One of the pros -- they can share expenses. Obviously, that could save some money, to protect a nest egg. From partner's medical expenses, they could protect the assets from the partner's family. But there are some cons in living together outside of wedlock. The legal decision-making authority would not necessarily be automatic. They would need to seek legal power of attorney for a partner and there would be no tax breaks because they're not married. Those are pretty practical pros and cons.

WESTHEIMER: Wolf, throw out your two lists right now because where is love. Where is caring? Where is companionship? Where are all of those emotional parts? Yes, a couple should go to an attorney and say, "If something happens to him, even if I'm not married, I want to be able to take care -- take care of those legalities." That is all something that can be done, take care of the legacy, take care of all of the things that worry your children. And if your children have something to complain about, say, "I'm sorry, this is my life." So you throw out that list and put in some love, some caring and you know what, Wolf, some sex.

BLITZER: All right, Dr. Ruth Westheimer.

WESTHEIMER: I have to tell you something else.

BLITZER: Go ahead.

WESTHEIMER: Wolf, I did a book -- which I did not know that you were going to call me today -- and it's called "Rekindling Romance." And it talks about rekindling at an older age also.

BLITZER: You're never too old to rekindle romance. Dr. Ruth Westheimer...

WESTHEIMER: I like that.

BLITZER: ... thanks as usual for joining us -- appreciate it very much. I'm sure our older viewers out there -- we have a few -- were listening very attentively.

And a possible revolution in aviation is coming up. A hypersonic jet -- get this -- eight times the speed of sound. Why the Aussies are bragging over NASA? And remember that asteroid that's supposed to collide with Earth in only two decades? Find out where scientists say it's going right now. This story is changing every few days.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Now checking these stories on today's "Newswire." Remember that story last week about the possibility a mile-wide asteroid that potentially could collide with Earth on February 1, 2019? Well, scientists are now saying, "Never mind. Forget about it." New calculations show the asteroid will pass by the Earth without incident, and we're all free to go ahead and make some plans for February 2, 2019.

What's been called the world's most valuable coin is on the auction block this evening at Sotheby's in New York. It's a 1933 U.S. double eagle, a $20 piece said to be worth -- get this -- at least $4 million. It was minted as the United States was going off the gold standard -- never circulated, but stolen from the government and at one point, owned by Egypt's King Farouk.

And for bidders who like it hot, an auction in London today featured Marilyn Monroe memorabilia. The sale was timed to coincide with the anniversary of Monroe's death 40 years ago next week. Items up for bid included some of the actress's clothes and personalized jewelry.

A research project down under could turn the aviation industry upside down. Australian scientists are working on a jet engine that could allow planes or rockets to fly at eight times the speed of sound. Peter Caldicott (ph) reports on the scramjet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PETER CALDICOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Move over NASA, you've been beaten by scientist from the University of Queensland that masterminded the world's first successful scramjet flight. It took six seconds for the first stage to burn out. Eleven seconds later, the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) missile kicked in, taking the rocket to the edge of the atmosphere. At eight times the speed of sound, four years of research at a cost of $2 million paid off.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I'm seeing everything go, not just well, but perfectly. I -- it's just been brilliant. It's been fantastic.

CALDICOTT: The project, which could revolutionize supersonic flight didn't start off too well. The first scramjet flight veered off course last October when guidance screens on the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) tank rocket failed. A recent Japanese launch also careered out of control, sending a $14 million dollar rocket crashing into the desert. But today, university officials say that once sensors fed back data to their computers, they were over the moon.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Once we got that, it was just -- I have never felt anything like it. It was mind-boggling.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: That was Peter Caldicott (ph) reporting on the scramjet. This note -- traveling 5,000 miles an hour, an airliner with scramjet engines could fly from Australia to the United States in less than two hours, hardly enough time to watch an in-flight movie.

Speaking about movies, big stars, little stars, the Boss is back! Bruce Springsteen and his band sing about September 11 in their first studio recording in years. And guess who else is back? Mini-me! My profile and interview with the superstar. The "Austin Powers" cult hero! He's next! Look at him! We'll be talking live. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUGS BUNNY: I'm a rabbit all right. Would you like to shoot me now or wait until you get home?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Now, the answer to our "News Quiz" on great cartoon characters. Bugs Bunny is up in the first place on the new "TV GUIDE" list of the "50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time." That rascally rabbit is followed on the list by dimwitted daddy, Homer Simpson, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Beavis and Butt-Head and "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas."

Noticeably absent from the top 10 is the cartoon icon, Mickey Mouse. The longtime Disney star has been in semiretirement for years and in Toontown as well as Hollywood. The attitude seems to be -- what have you done lately?

The Boss is back and with him his E Street Band. Thousands turned out at Bruce Springsteen's old stomping grounds at Asbury Park, New Jersey today, to hear him play tunes from his new album, "The Rising." Springsteen wrote some of the songs in tribute to victims of September 11. Next week, the Boss begins a world tour.

It's been a long road, but he's making it big as Mini-Me, the clone of Dr. Evil in the "Austin Powers" movies, emerging as an audience favorite.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE MYERS, ACTOR: My God, there must be Mini-Me. You complete me.

BLITZER: Verne Troyer was not always adored this way. In fact, the two-foot-eight-inch phenom has been subjected mostly to roles as children or animals. Even as a stunt double for a 9-month-old baby before he literally burst into the mainstream fame in the 1999 film "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me."

MYERS: I shall call him, Mini-me. BLITZER: Since then, Mini-Me's star has been on the rise, but it hasn't been easy for the star himself. Troyer does his own stunts, which include grilling fight and dance scenes. What he still hasn't done on the screen is speak.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Heel, Mini-Me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Verne Troyer gets a chance to speak right now. The veteran actor and stuntman and Austin Powers' nemesis joins me live from New York.

Verne, thanks for joining us. Tell our viewers a little bit about yourself, how you got on the big screen.

VERNE TROYER, ACTOR: I got started doing stunt work. My first film was a movie called "Baby's Day Out." Like you mentioned, I was a nine -- well, I was a stunt double for a 9-month-old baby.

BLITZER: And as a stunt double, how did they spot you? How did Mike Myers find you to play Mini-me in the "Austin Powers" movies?

TROYER: I actually -- I met with Jay Roach first. I got to meet Mike later and I guess, you know, I was just the perfect cast -- well, the perfect person to play that Mini-me character.

BLITZER: A lot of people look at you and they don't realize how old you are. You're more than 30 years old, right?

TROYER: I'm 33.

BLITZER: You're 33 years old and you got a huge future now in motion pictures. What's it been like this ride for you?

TROYER: I'm still trying to get used to it. I'm just adjusting day-by-day. So you know, it's -- I don't know. It's -- I'm just enjoying it and taking it one step at a time.

BLITZER: Everybody who sees you, obviously, knows who you are. The whole "Austin Powers" series has been such a phenomenal success. How are you dealing with all this fame?

TROYER: Well, when I go out into public, I try to wear a hat and sunglasses, but it just doesn't seem to work.

BLITZER: That's not going to do it. That's not going to do it.

TROYER: Unfortunately. No, but it's fun. I'm taking it one step at a time.

BLITZER: What's next on the agenda for you? What's happening? Is there going to be, first of all, a fourth "Austin Powers"?

TROYER: I guess you have to talk to Mike about that. I hope so. If there is, I would love to be a part of it, definitely. BLITZER: What's been the best part of the new recognition that you've won?

TROYER: It's given me a lot more opportunity as far as my career. It's -- you know, I've done some different things. I did a short film called "Bit" -- "Bit Players," I'm sorry. And it was more of a dramatic, you know, role. So it's just, you know, given me more opportunities.

BLITZER: The decision that Mike Myers made not to have you speak, actually utter words in the "Austin Powers" movies, what was all that about?

TROYER: Well, basically, he's a clone that came out, that was only one-eighth the size and he wasn't perfect. He was just pure evil.

(LAUGHTER)

BLITZER: But you turned out -- I don't want to give away too much from the last movie, which I have seen. There's been an interesting twist in that movie with Austin Powers and you.

TROYER: Well, basically, Mini-Me goes through like a physical and an emotional change. So when you see the film, you'll understand.

(LAUGHTER)

BLITZER: What's it like being a short person, as you are?

TROYER: Well, for me, I guess, I don't know what it's like to be tall. So I grew up like this and you know, you just adapt to every situation. It's a tall world out there, but you know, I'm used to it.

BLITZER: Your parents are average height. And you have siblings who are average height, right?

TROYER: Yes.

BLITZER: How are they dealing with all of this fame that you're winning?

TROYER: They're very proud, definitely. And you know, I'm just -- you know, I'm still trying to get used to it. So I think they are, too. I took them -- I actually took...

BLITZER: Go ahead, Verne.

TROYER: I'm sorry. I took them to the premiere and they've kind of seen a little bit of, you know, what I go through every day. And you know that's a good thing.

BLITZER: Where did you grow up?

TROYER: I grew up in Michigan, right here.

BLITZER: What was it like -- yes. What was it like growing up in Michigan?

TROYER: I grew up in a very small town, Centreville. And my graduating class had like 92 people, I guess. So I mean it was just -- you know, everybody knew everybody and it was -- it was nice, actually.

BLITZER: And you're working on a new project right now?

TROYER: Actually, I'm going to take a small break, but there's a pilot that we're shopping and there's a lot of studios that are interested in it.

BLITZER: When you say a pilot, you mean a TV pilot?

TROYER: Yes, a pilot -- it's kind of like a "Matrix" type of show.

BLITZER: So you're going to go from the big screen to the little screen.

TROYER: Yes. I guess so.

BLITZER: Verne Troyer...

TROYER: No pun intended.

BLITZER: Verne Troyer, you know you've been -- you're a cult figure out there. We love you and thanks for joining us.

TROYER: No, thank -- I want to say one thing.

BLITZER: Go ahead.

TROYER: I want to say thank you to my manager, Alana Bertinelli (ph) for, you know, everything that's she's done for me.

BLITZER: All right. I'm sure she's a lovely person and she deserves your gratitude.

TROYER: That's right.

BLITZER: You've got a huge future ahead of you.

TROYER: Thank you.

BLITZER: Thanks again, Verne.

TROYER: Nice to talk to you.

BLITZER: Thank you. And the Austin Powers fun will continue tomorrow, 10:00 a.m., Robert Wagner will be on "CNN LIVE," 10:00 a.m. Eastern tomorrow morning, 7:00 a.m. on the West Coast.

Let's go to New York now and get a preview of "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE." That, of course, begins right at the top of the hour.

Lou, can you -- you can't top that, can you?

LOU DOBBS, HOST, "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE": We wouldn't attempt to try, Wolf. Thank you very much. Coming at the top of the hour, the president signs into law the most aggressive business reform since the post-Depression era. We'll have a live report for you from the White House.

Tensions escalate in the Middle East today after another suicide bomb in Jerusalem. My guest is Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. And two top Merrill Lynch executives, today, took the fifth before Congress. We'll tell you what's behind their deafening silence. We'll be joined by Senator Carl Levin, the chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Investigations. All of that and a great deal more ahead. Please join us. Now back to Wolf Blitzer -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you very much, Lou. And the results of our "Web Question of The Day": Do you think that corporate reform legislation signed into law by the president will protect investors? We'll have the results when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Now, here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of The Day." Earlier, we asked: Do you think the corporate reform legislation signed into law today by President Bush will protect investors? Look at the results -- 33 percent of you are saying, yes. Sixty-seven percent say, no. Remember, this is not a scientific poll.

Time to hear from you, our e-mailers. Sharon writes this: "I agree completely with Donald Rumsfeld that leaking military plans is outrageous. It could cost many lives and allow Saddam Hussein to prepare a better defense, all to satisfy someone's ego."

Lea adds: "The war plan 'leakers' aren't the only ones behaving badly. So are the news media that print and air the top secret information."

This from Roy: "You can argue all you want about the right to free speech, but I do not think our founding fathers intended to protect our `right' to share top secret military plans with our enemies when they drafted the Bill of Rights."

Gary adds: "In reference to the Pentagon leaking U.S. plans for attacking Iraq, Go for it! Saddam Hussein will be kept guessing as to what the actual plan is."

That's all the time we have right now, but we do have some breaking news from an earlier report. All those whales that we reported on coming ashore in Cape Cod will be euthanized. And that's all the time we have. Until tomorrow, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" begins right now.

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