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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Could Saddam Hussein Still Be Alive?

Aired May 02, 2003 - 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.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): From the ruins of a regime, a new tape, could Saddam Hussein still be alive?

A chilling new terror warning. Will al Qaeda again attack from the air?

After almost 10 months and two wars they're home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's just overwhelming, they're here and it's amazing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a moment I've been dreaming about ever since you know I found out Caleb (ph) was being born.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended.

BLITZER: Now what? As the jobless rate jumps, can the president win his next battle?

BUSH: We need a bold, economic recovery package so people can find work.

BLITZER: And Scott Peterson chained and shackled in court with a famous defense attorney at his side. Will it make a difference?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: CNN live this hour, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the nation's capital with correspondents from around the world. WOLF BLITZER REPORTS starts now.

BLITZER: It's Friday, May 2, 2003. Hello from Washington, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting.

Two troubling developments we are following right now. Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda. Do they still pose a threat? A newly-released Saddam Hussein tape has surfaced after the air strikes and on the very day U.S. troops rolled into Baghdad. Was a dazed and exhausted Iraqi leader recording this speech?

And a homeland security alert. U.S. pilots and airports are warned that al Qaeda is planning know aerial suicide attack again. First up, is this a picture of defeat? A new videotape said to have been taped when U.S. tanks were already in Baghdad purports to be Saddam Hussein's last wartime speech. It shows a seemingly distracted, tired looking man. It doesn't show the defiance which characterized earlier tapes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): This just-released tape apparently of Saddam Hussein is the video of his address that the Iraqi regime claimed was made on April 9. That's two days after the last so-called decapitation strike targeting the Iraqi dictator. The audio version of this was released in mid-April.

The new tape was obtained by the Associated Press from someone described as a former employee of the Iraqi state television channel. What's new on this tape, some apparent uncertainty which experts say is uncharacteristic of Saddam. Before he begins, he says the sooner we finish it the better. Later, he seems confused.

Like the other wartime tapes sent out by the Iraqi regime, this one seems to raise more questions than answers. There is no way to verify when it was really made. And while it tantalizes it doesn't answer the key question, is Saddam Hussein still alive?

Earlier reports suggested the audiotape was indeed Saddam's voice, but this videotape cries out for more analysis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And the analysis will be intense.

Let's move on now to al Qaeda. New advisory from the Department of Homeland Security warns the U.S. aviation community that al Qaeda is in the final stages of planning an aerial suicide attack against the U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan. The warning cites similarities to a plot to attack a U.S. warship in the Persian Gulf and says it shows al Qaeda and I'm quoting now, "continuing fixation with using explosive-laden small aircraft."

The notice urges the general aviation community, meaning those small private plane owners, to be on the lookout for unknown pilots and clients as well as aircraft with unusual modifications.

It may be battered by the is war on terror, but U.S. officials say al Qaeda is still trying to regroup and remains the FBI's top concern. Here's our Justice correspondent Kelli Arena.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Recent intelligence is prompting warnings al Qaeda is targeting U.S. interests in both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Twenty months into the war on terror and al Qaeda still poses a serious threat.

BUSH: And we're still on the hunt. We will flush them out of the caves, we'll get them on the run and we will bring them to justice.

ARENA: Half of al Qaeda's senior operatives are now dead or in U.S. custody. But public enemy No. 1, Osama bin Laden, his second in command, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, and al Qaeda's security chief, Saif al- Adel, have all eluded U.S. forces. And the terror network is actively moving to replenish its ranks.

For the first time director Robert Mueller said the FBI is tracking down recruiters right here in the United States.

ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: On those individuals, we have open investigations and we are pursuing them, hard.

ARENA: With U.S. forces still in Afghanistan, intelligence suggests al Qaeda is building up its ranks in southeast Asia and east Africa. In recent months, both have seen al Qaeda-related attacks against so-called soft targets like hotels and nightclubs.

KEN KATZMAN, TERRORISM EXPERT: The government capabilities perhaps to find them is less, so they're under less pressure. They can continue to be active there.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: Katzman and other experts say that while al Qaeda poses a threat it's probably not capable of large scale attacks as seen on September 11. But the FBI disagrees and says that al Qaeda is as dangerous now as it was then -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kelli Arena with the latest on al Qaeda. Thanks, Kelli, very much.

President Bush and his entourage have now landed just near Waco, Texas getting ready for a weekend in Crawford, Texas at the president's ranch. Shortly we'll be seeing the president come down. John Howard, the Australian prime minister spending the weekend together with the wives in Texas at the ranch. We'll be seeing the president and the prime minister shortly emerge, walk down those stairs and make the short ride to Crawford, Texas for what I'm sure is going to be a lovely, lovely weekend.

He's seen victories against terrorism and Iraq, of course. But President Bush also faces another fight, this one over an ailing economy. Let's go live to our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux. She is following that -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf. Well with the president an eye of reelection, of course he is on the road again trying to convince the American people he will be as attentive, just as successful in dealing with the country a economic security as his national security.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): President Bush is steaming full force ahead from the USS Abraham Lincoln where he had declared major combat operations in Iraq over, to a military contractor that provided tanks and fighting vehicles for the war.

This visit to the United Defense Industries in California's Silicon Valley, the heart of the economic bubble and its burst, was also designed to use Mr. Bush's wartime popularity to sell his $550 billion tax cut plan aimed at promoting economic growth.

BUSH: The goal of this country is to have an economy vibrant enough, strong enough so that somebody who's looking for work can find a job.

MALVEAUX: But Mr. Bush was stung by newly-released unemployment numbers, a jump from 5.8 unemployment in March to 6 percent in April; 8.8 million Americans out of work. More than half a million jobs lost in the past three months, the worst stretch since immediately following the September 11 terrorist attacks. A fact Democrats immediately sized on to blast the White House tax cut plan.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said, "We would hope that the president that would use his political capital this he may have gained coming off the war to create jobs for the American people and not just create tax breaks for the wealthy people."

The president too tried to use the new unemployment figure to his advantage.

BUSH: The unemployment number is now at 6 percent which should serve as a clear signal to the United States Congress, we need a bold economic recovery package so people can find work.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: The latest polls show that Bush popularity around 70 percent. The administration hoping to use the wartime success to push through his domestic agenda, prescription drugs, Medicare reform as well as an energy bill. But White House aides acknowledge that is not certain. That's why the president, in part, will be traveling around the country, promoting his big tax cut plan -- Wolf.

BLITZER: And, Suzanne, we're seeing live pictures of the president walking down the stairs from Air Force One, together with John Howard, the Australian prime minister. He, of course, was a close ally of the Bush administration during the lead-up and the war in Iraq. Australia sending about 2,000 troops to join the U.S. and British, Polish forces in the war. Australia's Prime Minister John Howard, I guess you could say being rewarded by the president now, a rare visit to his ranch in Texas, Crawford, Texas for the weekend.

Right behind John Howard, you see Andy Card, the White House chief of staff heading over with the president and the prime minister to the ranch. As well, Condoleezza Rice, walking into the picture, the national security adviser to the president. They'll be spending the weekend at Camp David before returning to Washington.

Here's your chance, by the way, to weigh in on the story that Suzanne just reported. Our "Web Question of the Day" is this: "Do you believe President Bush will turn the economy around?" We'll have the results later in this broadcast. Please vote at cnn.com/wolf.

And while you're there, I'd love to hear from you. Send me your comments. I'd love to read some of them on the air each day at the end of program. That's also, of course, why you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

They've been away at war, but we have two more dramatic homecomings this hour.

We begin with the so-called Tomcatters, the Navy fighter pilots back at their base in Virginia. CNN's Kyra Phillips was with them during the war. She's back at Oceana at the naval air station in Virginia right now. She's joining us live -- Kyra.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, I feel like a pilot. I haven't gotten a lot of sleep in the past couple of days. It's been pretty exciting.

I want to go right to the pictures of the F-14 flyover right over the base here. It was a pretty spectacular show. All of the families, friends and kids waiting and cheering on as they saw the jet come over and then within minutes after that, they landed, slowly got out of their jets. We're going to take a shot now out on the flight deck where you can see some of the pilots mingling with their families around the jets on the flight deck and here inside the hangar, more families and friends gather, having drinks and eating food and listening to music and just getting close again.

And one family is the Geiger (ph) family. Lieutenant commander Jason Geiger and Alec (ph), Kali (ph) and Darby (ph). Are you glad daddy's back?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

PHILLIPS: So what was he doing overseas?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Looking out for us, making sure the bad guys don't come here a lot.

PHILLIPS: What a smart girl, dad. That's pretty amazing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I guess she takes after her mom.

PHILLIPS: How does it feel to be back?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Awesome, you know? Just the right place at the right time and got to do our thing and came back and we're here and it's awesome to be back.

PHILLIPS: All right, Alec. And I know you want to shout out to grandpa, right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Hi, grandpa and nanna! PHILLIPS: That is one excited family. Of course, dozens of families back here after their husbands have been away, their fathers have been away serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and also Operation Southern Watch. A long deployment, Wolf, no doubt and they're so glad to be back here at home.

BLITZER: Many of them have been away for some 10 -- 10 months. Kyra Phillips, thanks to you. Get some rest at some point down the road.

Meanwhile, there were tears, hugs, kisses, the hallmarks of the day in San Diego for the long-awaited homecoming of the aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln.

It's not quite -- it's not quite back to its home port, which is in Everett, Washington, but it will be back on the road tomorrow getting towards Everett, Washington, in Washington state Tuesday morning. It was delightful day in San Diego for all concerned.

Up next, Scott Peterson gets a new defender,. But will a high profile lawyer get the accused killer off?

Also, little boy lost. He wasn't kidnapped two years ago after all. So who is Eli Quick?

And Saddam Hussein's torture tales. A look inside his extremely cruel world.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: New details of his days of torture. Did Saddam Hussein do the dirty work himself or get others to kill for him? Find out from Persian Gulf War correspondent Arthur Kent. That, much more coming up on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

High-powered help for accused killer Scott Peterson. Two weeks ago, when he was arrested for the murder of his wife, Laci, and their unborn son, he said he couldn't afford a lawyer. But today the famed Los Angeles defense attorney Mark Geragos agreed to take on the case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK GERAGOS, SCOTT PETERSON'S ATTORNEY: I don't believe Scott Peterson murdered his wife or his child. I don't believe that he's responsible. I believe somebody else did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Do the pictures of shackles and waist chains paint Scott Peterson as a monster in the public eye? Are they jeopardizing his ability to get a fair trial?

Joining me from New York to discuss the case is the Court TV host Lisa Bloom. Lisa, thanks as usual for joining us.

First of all, what about Mark Geragos being brought in as the attorney of record? Is that going to dramatically change the complexion of his defense?

LISA BLOOM, COURT TV: Well, I don't think so.

You know, you'll recall, Wolf, that Winona Ryder was convicted, not withstanding Mark Geragos' representation of her. Susan McDougal, another famous client, has spent a couple of years in prison. Gary Condit is now out of work although he was never charged with a crime.

So it's hard to say what difference it's going to make to have a high-profile attorney in the case.

BLITZER: But he is well known, as you say high-profile attorney. That's obviously, I would assume, a lot better than a public defender.

BLOOM: Well, he is well known.

I'll tell you, the first two things he did today surprise me. First, he said publicly that his client is innocent. A lot of defense attorneys will never use that word. They will say the state was unable to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. But they will not use the word innocent. That's a word we heard Geragos use today.

And secondly, he said the police should be looking for the real killer. I wonder if that's what Scott Peterson was doing on the golf course of La Jolla when he was arrested.

BLITZER: So what kind of strategy should he pursue in the immediate weeks ahead?

BLOOM: Well probably, the smartest strategy would be to insist on a speedy trial because this is going to be a forensic case, Wolf. I expect the state is going to have quite a bit of scientific testing done of Scott Peterson's boat, of his home, of cement bags in his backyard. Those tests take times. Sometimes you have to retest two or three times, find another expert and if they hold the prosecution's feet to the fire in this case, that could be the best defense strategy.

BLITZER: I assume also they're going to need a lot of expert witnesses if it's going to be a circumstantial case like this with a lot of circumstantial evidence. That's not -- it's going to take a long time even before this case goes to trial.

BLOOM: Well, you're right and we saw in the David Westerfield case, for example, that there was a host of expert witnesses called to the stand by the prosecution to testify about things like hairs, fibers, blood, DNA, even dogs and I would expect a similar kind of push by the prosecution in this case. I would expect every scintilla of evidence be pored over by the prosecution. After all, it's a high profile case for the prosecution as well as for the defense and they don't want to mess it up.

BLITZER: We really don't know -- correct me if I'm wrong, Lisa. We haven't seen any of the evidence that the prosecution really has other than leaks to the news media.

BLOOM: Well, that's true and there's a lot of speculation in the tabloid press. I think we should wait and see what evidence comes out at the preliminary hearing.

But I think the most damning evidence, perhaps, of Scott Peterson is his own admission that places him at the crime scene within three miles of where those bodies washed ashore. He said out of his own mouth, that's where he went fishing on New Year's Eve (sic). He puts himself right at the scene of the crime.

BLITZER: But could he argue, Mark Geragos, in this particular case that maybe his wife was following him? Maybe she showed up and somebody else killed her?

BLOOM: Following him? She was supposed to be walking the dog and the dog returned later that morning with a muddy leash and found by the neighbor. It's hard to imagine she was walking the dog a hundred miles north of her home.

BLITZER: You also heard Mark Geragos earlier say he shouldn't be seen walking around shackled with the prison uniform. This makes basically him look like he's guilty and convicted and he asked the judge to not allow this anymore. Does he have a strong argument on that side?

BLOOM: I think he does and the judge was right to grant that, that he should be allowed to wear street clothes for court appearances. I think it does create a negative impression in the public mind when we see him in the orange prison jumpsuit, the prison slides, the ankle chains. He is innocent until proven guilty and I think he should be permitted to wear street clothes as most defendants are when the defense attorney makes that request.

BLITZER: One final question, Lisa, before I let you go. What about moving this trial to a different venue, a different location because of the adverse publicity that may have already circulated in Modesto, Stanislaus County where the trial presumably is supposed to take place?

BLOOM: I would expect that motion, I would expect it to be granted like it was granted in the high-profile dog mauling case that started out in northern California and was changed to southern California.

But, Wolf, you tell me what venue in the United States is not fully familiar with the facts of the Scott Peterson case. I think it s going to be a tough road to hoe.

BLITZER: All right, Lisa Bloom, you heard it here. Thanks very much, Lisa, for joining us. Have a nice weekend.

And Saddam Hussein on videotape. The last known video of the fallen dictator surfaces. But does it really mean he's alive?

They said all along their daughter was taken from their home. Now the parents of baby Sabrina Aisenberg have a hunch of their own as far as their daughter's whereabouts. A surprising twist to this case.

And defining moments. President Bush pulls off a picture perfect landing. A look at that as well as the not so flattering images that were pushed to the background.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. CNN first reported yesterday that it was unlikely Eli Quick seen in the photo on the right was a missing North Carolina boy. Today DNA tests confirm it. Quick was recently abandoned in a Chicago-area hospital.

After noticing how much the two looked alike, the family of Tristen "Buddy" Myers had been hopeful he would turn out to be their boy. But it's just a resemblance, nothing more. Myers has been missing now for more than two years.

DNA tests are also now being conducted on a little girl in Illinois. The family of Sabrina Aisenberg says she bears a striking resemblance to their missing daughter. She's been gone for more than five years. CNN's Kathleen Koch has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This was the picture an Illinois judge order posted on a missing children's Web site when a couple wanted to adopt the girl who had no birth certificate. The was when a stranger noticed it resembled baby photos of little Sabrina Aisenberg.

The 5-month-old had disappeared from her Tampa, Florida home in November 1997. Police say the 6-year-old girl known as "Paloma" was given to an Illinois couple by a relative, a nurse at a Texas hospital.

CHIEF DONALD SCHLOSSER, PONTIAC POLICE: The child was apparently dropped at a hospital in I believe McAllen, Texas. And the person who dropped the child off there then left, and that person has never been located again.

KOCH: Sabrina Aisenberg's parents who were once under suspicion in the case are waiting anxiously.

STEVE AISENBERG, FATHER OF MISSING GIRL: We think there are a lot of similarities from the mouth to the nose to the eyes, even the ear lobes are very similar.

MARLENE AISENBERG, MOTHER OF MISSING GIRL: It makes us very hopeful and just to believe that you know this is our turn. She's going to come home. We've always believed that it's going to come home and it's our turn. KOCH: Police say DNA was taken from the Illinois girl Thursday and sent to an FBI lab for processing. No charges are expected against the Illinois family that's been raising the girl since 1998 or the relative who brought her to them.

SCHLOSSER: There's no sinister intent on the part of any of the parties that we have been able to determine.

KOCH: Child advocates insist no matter what the outcome, public involvement like this is crucial.

JOAN DONNELIAH, NATL. CTR. FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN: We've had so many kids returned home because someone just took the time to take a look at the picture.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH: The Aisenbergs have had about 500 tips in Sabrina's case since she disappeared. So authorities caution against too much optimism, since this too, could be a false alarm. But, Wolf, this Illinois family is being cooperative, putting her picture on the Internet, making sure that little Paloma's DNA is available and very tough if they'll lose here if there's a match.

BLITZER: All right, we'll continue to watch this story too. Kathleen Koch, thanks very much.

Saddam Hussein on tape. His last known video recording popped up as President Bush celebrates victory.

Also prostitution goes public. The Hollywood Madam hits the stock market.

And home sweet homecoming. The dramatic welcome back for sailors and Marines sealed with a kiss.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: CNN live this house, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the nation's capital with correspondents from around the world.

Here now is Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER: Coming up, bad lighting, bad hair and a tired look on his face. The last video images of Saddam Hussein. Is the fallen dictator on the run or out of steam? We'll go live to Baghdad.

(NEWSBREAK)

BLITZER: The final words of Saddam Hussein? The Associated Press, the television part of it, has obtained a videotape of the Iraqi dictator. It's reportedly a speech recorded on April 9 that was never televised to his troops.

Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is in Baghdad and he's checking the latest developments. NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, very interesting that this material should surface now. It comes from a trusted source, according to the AP television news agency, received the material. They say they've had tapes, videotapes from this source before and it's somebody who worked for Iraqi television satellite news station and the tape box apparently bore the presidential seal.

It certainly shows Saddam Hussein or somebody who appears to look like him certainly struggling with the situation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Appearing tired, confused and exhausted, Saddam Hussein delivers his last address to the Iraqi people.

He starts: "The faster, the better. Are you ready?"

Broadcast by radio on April 9, the day his regime collapsed, this is the first time the video recording of the speech has been seen. As he reads, he occasionally loses his way. "And if you would like to ask about your command, it is firm and not moved,' he says.

The message, however, belies the truth. Although it is not known where this was recorded, by the end of that day, U.S. troops were famously helping pull down one of Saddam's statues in the center of Baghdad.

Previously-released video from the same source, an employee of Iraqi TV shows what purports to be Saddam Hussein in the Adamir (ph) neighborhood of Baghdad on the same day, April 9. The man clambering on the cars, on that video bears a strong resemblance to Saddam Hussein and looks just like the man giving the speech.

The emergence of this tape raises many questions, not least of which i: Why now? Particularly, following reports from a little known pro-Saddam group that the former Iraqi leader would make a speech soon.

At the end of this recording, a pause, adding, "How was the reading? All in all, good? Yes?" Possibly the root of his problems, no one left around to tell him he was wrong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: And after so many years of having Saddam Hussein in power its perhaps little wonder then that people here still believe perhaps the former Iraqi leader is around. There are certainly elements and reasons to believe that Ba'ath Party officials who used to work under Saddam Hussein are still around, still living in their houses. Some of them even going back to their own jobs and issues like this, videotapes like this and the whole issue of re-emergence of the Ba'ath Party really scares people here in Baghdad and around Iraq.

What they want to see -- they want to see the United States capture Saddam Hussein or at least give them verifiable information about where he is so they know he is not coming back. So this is likely something to trouble people here to some degree, Wolf.

BLITZER: Nic Robertson with the latest on this the new videotape from Baghdad. Nic, thanks very much.

Coalition forces, by the way, are striking two more names of their 55 most wanted list. Abd Al-Tawab Mullah Huwaysh was No. 16. He served the regime as director of the Office of Military Industrialization. Huwaysh is now in coalition hands.

So is No. 42. He is Taha Muhyi Al-Din Maruf, a member of Iraq's revolutionary command council.

Seventeen of the 55, by the way, most wanted are now in coalition custody. Three others are believed to be dead.

The power of pictures has never been greater than it is now in the age of instant worldwide television and media. Few have benefited more or at less times less than the president of the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): It's been a week of memorable images. But which of these pictures will you remember?

Leaders always try to carefully stage events, hoping you'll come away with their version of history. But reality sometimes gets in the way.

The Bush administration wants you to remember this: Donald Rumsfeld in Baghdad. A trip, he said, would not be a victory tour although it sure looked like one.

A new Palestinian prime minister being sworn in and handed a new peace plan.

The administration may not want you to remember these images: U.S. troops in a nasty confrontation in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, chaos, civilians killed, a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, both images hinting at difficult times ahead.

It seems presidents often try to outdo their predecessors for the mother of all photo-ops.

Bill Clinton wanted you to remember events like this: a dramatic summit, a valiant attempt at peace. But he could never escape this image. George Bush Senior had his shining moment after the Gulf War, eclipsed by a stagnating economy and images of complacency of the White House.

The staged event, giving you the impression of history being made as you watched. Perhaps there was no one better at it than Ronald Reagan.

RICHARD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

BLITZER: Some presidents benefited from events so dramatic that only a signing ceremony was needed to create that lasting memory.

Jimmy Carter earned that break when he brokered the Camp David accords. The next year we all watched these images bring down his presidency and forge its legacy.

Now, George W. Bush, in the third year of his presidency making a Reagan-like run at creating his moments in your memory.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Dramatic pictures this week. Very, very dramatic images of the week.

Saddam Hussein, by the way, may be out of power and out of sight. But is he out of mind? Coming up a look at the legacy of evil many Iraqis are still struggling to shake.

And later, a much happier note after months of waiting and anxious hoping, thousands of military families are being reunited. We'll show you the happy home coming.

But first, a look at some other news making headlines around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): A survivor was pulled from the rubble of a dormitory in Bingal, Turkey more than 30 hours after it collapsed in a 6.4 magnitude quake. More than a hundred students and teachers have been rescued. Dozens still are missing.

Meanwhile, there's anger over the government's response to the quake. Rioting has broken out with clashes between angry residents and police.

Improving relations between nuclear neighbors India and Pakistan. India's prime minister says he's restoring diplomatic and airline links. They were cut during recent tensions over Kashmir, which both countries claim as their own.

Australia's prime minister says North Korea's government may have ties to drug trafficking. A member of the Korean Workers' Party was found onboard a ship seized last month carrying $50 million worth of heroin.

A different kind of beauty contest in Thailand. The annual Miss Jumbo pageant searches for the woman who has the right size, grace and elegance to represent the country's national symbol, the elephant. This year's winner says she wants to be a role model for large women.

And what's believed to be a first. An Australian brothel has gone public. Shares gained 40 percent on the first day of trading. Former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss was hired to help raise publicity.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Reign of terror. How Saddam Hussein held on to power. The details of torture uncovered by the famous war correspondent Arthur Kent. That's coming up on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: As more time passes with Saddam Hussein out of power, more tales of atrocity exacted by the deposed Iraqi president are being told. Sunday the History Channel will explore some of stories about Saddam Hussein's cruelty as part of its week-long series, "Reign of Terror."

I spoke with host, Arthur Kent.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Let's get right to the issue, Saddam Hussein's fascination with some of the previous butchers like Hitler or Stalin or Pol Pot. Talk about that.

ARTHUR KENT, HISTORY CHANNEL: Well, you know, he read the works of Adolf Hitler, but in particular Josef Stalin. And he was fascinated at both Stalin's methods of political organization and his talent for repression. And indeed, he patterned much of his Iraqi regime after Joe Stalin's Soviet Russia.

BLITZER: We know that there was torture. There were horrors. How bad was it under his rule?

KENT: Pretty unspeakable.

I mean, you're talking about a man whose idea of having an evening out for his growing son Uday when he was a teenager was going down to the torture chambers and showing his son actual torture sessions.

Now, of course, that the regime has collapsed, more and more Iraqis are able to talk freely and they're telling stories, for instance, as in our program, of how complaining about the food at Baghdad University or perhaps selling works of art that weren't allowed by the regime could land you in prison and under torture. Just remarkably crude and cruel methods of torture which, again, seemed to be designed to terrorize the entire population and keep them subservient to Saddam Hussein.

BLITZER: Give us some specifics of the horror, though, the torture. What did you learn?

KENT: Well, you know, frankly, personally, in my experience, the chief horror was of disappearance and the assuming that your relatives once disappeared, once taken from you, never to be seen again would have been treated in the most grotesque fashion and then killed. And, you know, I think we all had a taste of that ourselves when in 1990 one of our reporting colleagues and friends, Farzad Bazoff, of the "Observer" newspaper in London was arrested by Saddam's secret police after taking a photograph of a weapons installation, put in front of a kangaroo court, abused, we believe tortured, perhaps by Uday Hussein himself and then when President Bush senior, at the time, Margaret Thatcher and Boutrous Ghali of the U.N. appealed to Saddam Hussein, Look, don't kill this guy. He's a journalist. Saddam Hussein had him hanged and his body dumped at the gates of the British embassy. That was before the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Wolf. So you know, we had a taste of what all Iraqi families have had to live with for decades.

BLITZER: And you've spoken to them.

KENT: That kind of brutal repression.

BLITZER: They're willing to -- they're willing to come out now and speak. When he was branded "the butcher of Baghdad," did he just give the order -- orders or was he personally involved in murdering and torturing Iraqis?

KENT: Indeed. You know, we're talking about someone who at one stage pulled his minister of health from the Cabinet table and shot him to death in front of the rest of the cabinet. And as we've seen at the residences of other members of the family, particularly Uday Hussein, his son -- you know, the manacles, torture implements, cages, body cages, it was obviously not just a tool of official repression, but at times, an aspect of personal recreation.

BLITZER: Arthur Kent's documentary, important documentary, "The Horrors of Hussein" premieres Sunday night on the History Channel. We'll be watching. Thanks very much for that report, Arthur.

KENT: Thank you, Wolf.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And a joyous day for thousands of families. Coming up, the crew of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln back from war. Highlights of this very emotional homecoming. That's up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: You still have time to vote on "Our Web Question." Go ahead, cnn.com/wolf.

Meanwhile, an inspiring young man now in news across America. The former prisoner of war David Williams was welcomed home in Orlando, Florida earlier today. The hometown hero received the key to the city from the mayor and he thanked the crowd for their support. The Apache helicopter pilot was accompanied by his wife Michelle and their two children.

In Sacramento, California the cozy former home of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski has been saved from destruction. The current owner of the cabin has decided to keep the shed in storage for now. An intriguing note inside the cabin says, quote, "Taking a bath in the winter breaks an Indiana law."

After almost 26 years of marriage, Mary Jo and Joey Buttafuco are finally calling it quits. According to "The New York Post" she filed for divorce, exact reasons so far is unknown.

It's been another day memorable images with thousands of sailors and Marines returning from war and disembarking the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Here's some of what we saw.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: There they go! The first kiss.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I'm so happy he's home. He's finally here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been thinking about this moment forever. This is the moment I've been dreaming about.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. I don't have any plans tonight. I'm going to go to Disneyland tomorrow.

PHILLIPS: How excited are you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's not even enough words to describe it. It's just overwhelming, they're here and it's amazing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pardon me, I need to kiss my husband.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well just watching them, I think it's exciting to see their faces light up when they hold their children. I think it's very exciting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a wonderful moment. Very shaky and -- just excited.

PHILLIPS: What do you want to do with your father now that he's home?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd really like to go home and play like some baseball or soccer.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm just glad he's home so he can help me with softball.

ERIC HORNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tell me how you're feeling today?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm just glad to be home. I feel really good.

HORNG: What do you want to say to your folks? They're probably watching now, people back in (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll be home soon and I love them. (END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And we're happy for all, all of those families, those reunions only just beginning. There will be a lot more in the weeks and months to come.

"Our Web Question of the Day," by the way, is this, do you believe President Bush will turn the economy around? You can still vote. Go to cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results when we come back. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in on "Our Web Question of the Day." Do you believe President Bush will turn the economy around? Look at this, 20 percent of you say yes, 80 percent of you say no.

You can find the exact vote tally, continue to vote, by the way, on our Web site cnn.com/wolf. Remember, this is not a scientific poll.

Let's get to some of your e-mails. Jerry writes this: "The presidential event the administration produced on the USS Lincoln must have cost taxpayers a lot of money. that money could have gotten a lot a schools through the rest of the school year."

Viola writes this: "Where is bin Laden? Where is Saddam Hussein? Where are the WMDs? The combat may be over, but these questions haven't been answered."

Finally, this from Nancy: "Watching the president land on the USS Abraham Lincoln yesterday and seeing the sailors come home today were proud moments for our nation. It brings back memories of all the brave men and women like my father who have our country over the years."

A reminder, you can always catch WOLF BLITZER REPORTS each weekday 5 p.m. Eastern. I'll see you Sunday on "LATE EDITION," the last word in Sunday talk. This Sunday I'll go one-on-one with the Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He's just back from his visit to Iraq and Afghanistan. That's Sunday, noon Eastern. Until then, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com

Aired May 2, 2003 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): From the ruins of a regime, a new tape, could Saddam Hussein still be alive?

A chilling new terror warning. Will al Qaeda again attack from the air?

After almost 10 months and two wars they're home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's just overwhelming, they're here and it's amazing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a moment I've been dreaming about ever since you know I found out Caleb (ph) was being born.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended.

BLITZER: Now what? As the jobless rate jumps, can the president win his next battle?

BUSH: We need a bold, economic recovery package so people can find work.

BLITZER: And Scott Peterson chained and shackled in court with a famous defense attorney at his side. Will it make a difference?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: CNN live this hour, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the nation's capital with correspondents from around the world. WOLF BLITZER REPORTS starts now.

BLITZER: It's Friday, May 2, 2003. Hello from Washington, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting.

Two troubling developments we are following right now. Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda. Do they still pose a threat? A newly-released Saddam Hussein tape has surfaced after the air strikes and on the very day U.S. troops rolled into Baghdad. Was a dazed and exhausted Iraqi leader recording this speech?

And a homeland security alert. U.S. pilots and airports are warned that al Qaeda is planning know aerial suicide attack again. First up, is this a picture of defeat? A new videotape said to have been taped when U.S. tanks were already in Baghdad purports to be Saddam Hussein's last wartime speech. It shows a seemingly distracted, tired looking man. It doesn't show the defiance which characterized earlier tapes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): This just-released tape apparently of Saddam Hussein is the video of his address that the Iraqi regime claimed was made on April 9. That's two days after the last so-called decapitation strike targeting the Iraqi dictator. The audio version of this was released in mid-April.

The new tape was obtained by the Associated Press from someone described as a former employee of the Iraqi state television channel. What's new on this tape, some apparent uncertainty which experts say is uncharacteristic of Saddam. Before he begins, he says the sooner we finish it the better. Later, he seems confused.

Like the other wartime tapes sent out by the Iraqi regime, this one seems to raise more questions than answers. There is no way to verify when it was really made. And while it tantalizes it doesn't answer the key question, is Saddam Hussein still alive?

Earlier reports suggested the audiotape was indeed Saddam's voice, but this videotape cries out for more analysis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And the analysis will be intense.

Let's move on now to al Qaeda. New advisory from the Department of Homeland Security warns the U.S. aviation community that al Qaeda is in the final stages of planning an aerial suicide attack against the U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan. The warning cites similarities to a plot to attack a U.S. warship in the Persian Gulf and says it shows al Qaeda and I'm quoting now, "continuing fixation with using explosive-laden small aircraft."

The notice urges the general aviation community, meaning those small private plane owners, to be on the lookout for unknown pilots and clients as well as aircraft with unusual modifications.

It may be battered by the is war on terror, but U.S. officials say al Qaeda is still trying to regroup and remains the FBI's top concern. Here's our Justice correspondent Kelli Arena.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Recent intelligence is prompting warnings al Qaeda is targeting U.S. interests in both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Twenty months into the war on terror and al Qaeda still poses a serious threat.

BUSH: And we're still on the hunt. We will flush them out of the caves, we'll get them on the run and we will bring them to justice.

ARENA: Half of al Qaeda's senior operatives are now dead or in U.S. custody. But public enemy No. 1, Osama bin Laden, his second in command, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, and al Qaeda's security chief, Saif al- Adel, have all eluded U.S. forces. And the terror network is actively moving to replenish its ranks.

For the first time director Robert Mueller said the FBI is tracking down recruiters right here in the United States.

ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: On those individuals, we have open investigations and we are pursuing them, hard.

ARENA: With U.S. forces still in Afghanistan, intelligence suggests al Qaeda is building up its ranks in southeast Asia and east Africa. In recent months, both have seen al Qaeda-related attacks against so-called soft targets like hotels and nightclubs.

KEN KATZMAN, TERRORISM EXPERT: The government capabilities perhaps to find them is less, so they're under less pressure. They can continue to be active there.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: Katzman and other experts say that while al Qaeda poses a threat it's probably not capable of large scale attacks as seen on September 11. But the FBI disagrees and says that al Qaeda is as dangerous now as it was then -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kelli Arena with the latest on al Qaeda. Thanks, Kelli, very much.

President Bush and his entourage have now landed just near Waco, Texas getting ready for a weekend in Crawford, Texas at the president's ranch. Shortly we'll be seeing the president come down. John Howard, the Australian prime minister spending the weekend together with the wives in Texas at the ranch. We'll be seeing the president and the prime minister shortly emerge, walk down those stairs and make the short ride to Crawford, Texas for what I'm sure is going to be a lovely, lovely weekend.

He's seen victories against terrorism and Iraq, of course. But President Bush also faces another fight, this one over an ailing economy. Let's go live to our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux. She is following that -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf. Well with the president an eye of reelection, of course he is on the road again trying to convince the American people he will be as attentive, just as successful in dealing with the country a economic security as his national security.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): President Bush is steaming full force ahead from the USS Abraham Lincoln where he had declared major combat operations in Iraq over, to a military contractor that provided tanks and fighting vehicles for the war.

This visit to the United Defense Industries in California's Silicon Valley, the heart of the economic bubble and its burst, was also designed to use Mr. Bush's wartime popularity to sell his $550 billion tax cut plan aimed at promoting economic growth.

BUSH: The goal of this country is to have an economy vibrant enough, strong enough so that somebody who's looking for work can find a job.

MALVEAUX: But Mr. Bush was stung by newly-released unemployment numbers, a jump from 5.8 unemployment in March to 6 percent in April; 8.8 million Americans out of work. More than half a million jobs lost in the past three months, the worst stretch since immediately following the September 11 terrorist attacks. A fact Democrats immediately sized on to blast the White House tax cut plan.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said, "We would hope that the president that would use his political capital this he may have gained coming off the war to create jobs for the American people and not just create tax breaks for the wealthy people."

The president too tried to use the new unemployment figure to his advantage.

BUSH: The unemployment number is now at 6 percent which should serve as a clear signal to the United States Congress, we need a bold economic recovery package so people can find work.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: The latest polls show that Bush popularity around 70 percent. The administration hoping to use the wartime success to push through his domestic agenda, prescription drugs, Medicare reform as well as an energy bill. But White House aides acknowledge that is not certain. That's why the president, in part, will be traveling around the country, promoting his big tax cut plan -- Wolf.

BLITZER: And, Suzanne, we're seeing live pictures of the president walking down the stairs from Air Force One, together with John Howard, the Australian prime minister. He, of course, was a close ally of the Bush administration during the lead-up and the war in Iraq. Australia sending about 2,000 troops to join the U.S. and British, Polish forces in the war. Australia's Prime Minister John Howard, I guess you could say being rewarded by the president now, a rare visit to his ranch in Texas, Crawford, Texas for the weekend.

Right behind John Howard, you see Andy Card, the White House chief of staff heading over with the president and the prime minister to the ranch. As well, Condoleezza Rice, walking into the picture, the national security adviser to the president. They'll be spending the weekend at Camp David before returning to Washington.

Here's your chance, by the way, to weigh in on the story that Suzanne just reported. Our "Web Question of the Day" is this: "Do you believe President Bush will turn the economy around?" We'll have the results later in this broadcast. Please vote at cnn.com/wolf.

And while you're there, I'd love to hear from you. Send me your comments. I'd love to read some of them on the air each day at the end of program. That's also, of course, why you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

They've been away at war, but we have two more dramatic homecomings this hour.

We begin with the so-called Tomcatters, the Navy fighter pilots back at their base in Virginia. CNN's Kyra Phillips was with them during the war. She's back at Oceana at the naval air station in Virginia right now. She's joining us live -- Kyra.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, I feel like a pilot. I haven't gotten a lot of sleep in the past couple of days. It's been pretty exciting.

I want to go right to the pictures of the F-14 flyover right over the base here. It was a pretty spectacular show. All of the families, friends and kids waiting and cheering on as they saw the jet come over and then within minutes after that, they landed, slowly got out of their jets. We're going to take a shot now out on the flight deck where you can see some of the pilots mingling with their families around the jets on the flight deck and here inside the hangar, more families and friends gather, having drinks and eating food and listening to music and just getting close again.

And one family is the Geiger (ph) family. Lieutenant commander Jason Geiger and Alec (ph), Kali (ph) and Darby (ph). Are you glad daddy's back?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

PHILLIPS: So what was he doing overseas?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Looking out for us, making sure the bad guys don't come here a lot.

PHILLIPS: What a smart girl, dad. That's pretty amazing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I guess she takes after her mom.

PHILLIPS: How does it feel to be back?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Awesome, you know? Just the right place at the right time and got to do our thing and came back and we're here and it's awesome to be back.

PHILLIPS: All right, Alec. And I know you want to shout out to grandpa, right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Hi, grandpa and nanna! PHILLIPS: That is one excited family. Of course, dozens of families back here after their husbands have been away, their fathers have been away serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and also Operation Southern Watch. A long deployment, Wolf, no doubt and they're so glad to be back here at home.

BLITZER: Many of them have been away for some 10 -- 10 months. Kyra Phillips, thanks to you. Get some rest at some point down the road.

Meanwhile, there were tears, hugs, kisses, the hallmarks of the day in San Diego for the long-awaited homecoming of the aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln.

It's not quite -- it's not quite back to its home port, which is in Everett, Washington, but it will be back on the road tomorrow getting towards Everett, Washington, in Washington state Tuesday morning. It was delightful day in San Diego for all concerned.

Up next, Scott Peterson gets a new defender,. But will a high profile lawyer get the accused killer off?

Also, little boy lost. He wasn't kidnapped two years ago after all. So who is Eli Quick?

And Saddam Hussein's torture tales. A look inside his extremely cruel world.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: New details of his days of torture. Did Saddam Hussein do the dirty work himself or get others to kill for him? Find out from Persian Gulf War correspondent Arthur Kent. That, much more coming up on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

High-powered help for accused killer Scott Peterson. Two weeks ago, when he was arrested for the murder of his wife, Laci, and their unborn son, he said he couldn't afford a lawyer. But today the famed Los Angeles defense attorney Mark Geragos agreed to take on the case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK GERAGOS, SCOTT PETERSON'S ATTORNEY: I don't believe Scott Peterson murdered his wife or his child. I don't believe that he's responsible. I believe somebody else did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Do the pictures of shackles and waist chains paint Scott Peterson as a monster in the public eye? Are they jeopardizing his ability to get a fair trial?

Joining me from New York to discuss the case is the Court TV host Lisa Bloom. Lisa, thanks as usual for joining us.

First of all, what about Mark Geragos being brought in as the attorney of record? Is that going to dramatically change the complexion of his defense?

LISA BLOOM, COURT TV: Well, I don't think so.

You know, you'll recall, Wolf, that Winona Ryder was convicted, not withstanding Mark Geragos' representation of her. Susan McDougal, another famous client, has spent a couple of years in prison. Gary Condit is now out of work although he was never charged with a crime.

So it's hard to say what difference it's going to make to have a high-profile attorney in the case.

BLITZER: But he is well known, as you say high-profile attorney. That's obviously, I would assume, a lot better than a public defender.

BLOOM: Well, he is well known.

I'll tell you, the first two things he did today surprise me. First, he said publicly that his client is innocent. A lot of defense attorneys will never use that word. They will say the state was unable to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. But they will not use the word innocent. That's a word we heard Geragos use today.

And secondly, he said the police should be looking for the real killer. I wonder if that's what Scott Peterson was doing on the golf course of La Jolla when he was arrested.

BLITZER: So what kind of strategy should he pursue in the immediate weeks ahead?

BLOOM: Well probably, the smartest strategy would be to insist on a speedy trial because this is going to be a forensic case, Wolf. I expect the state is going to have quite a bit of scientific testing done of Scott Peterson's boat, of his home, of cement bags in his backyard. Those tests take times. Sometimes you have to retest two or three times, find another expert and if they hold the prosecution's feet to the fire in this case, that could be the best defense strategy.

BLITZER: I assume also they're going to need a lot of expert witnesses if it's going to be a circumstantial case like this with a lot of circumstantial evidence. That's not -- it's going to take a long time even before this case goes to trial.

BLOOM: Well, you're right and we saw in the David Westerfield case, for example, that there was a host of expert witnesses called to the stand by the prosecution to testify about things like hairs, fibers, blood, DNA, even dogs and I would expect a similar kind of push by the prosecution in this case. I would expect every scintilla of evidence be pored over by the prosecution. After all, it's a high profile case for the prosecution as well as for the defense and they don't want to mess it up.

BLITZER: We really don't know -- correct me if I'm wrong, Lisa. We haven't seen any of the evidence that the prosecution really has other than leaks to the news media.

BLOOM: Well, that's true and there's a lot of speculation in the tabloid press. I think we should wait and see what evidence comes out at the preliminary hearing.

But I think the most damning evidence, perhaps, of Scott Peterson is his own admission that places him at the crime scene within three miles of where those bodies washed ashore. He said out of his own mouth, that's where he went fishing on New Year's Eve (sic). He puts himself right at the scene of the crime.

BLITZER: But could he argue, Mark Geragos, in this particular case that maybe his wife was following him? Maybe she showed up and somebody else killed her?

BLOOM: Following him? She was supposed to be walking the dog and the dog returned later that morning with a muddy leash and found by the neighbor. It's hard to imagine she was walking the dog a hundred miles north of her home.

BLITZER: You also heard Mark Geragos earlier say he shouldn't be seen walking around shackled with the prison uniform. This makes basically him look like he's guilty and convicted and he asked the judge to not allow this anymore. Does he have a strong argument on that side?

BLOOM: I think he does and the judge was right to grant that, that he should be allowed to wear street clothes for court appearances. I think it does create a negative impression in the public mind when we see him in the orange prison jumpsuit, the prison slides, the ankle chains. He is innocent until proven guilty and I think he should be permitted to wear street clothes as most defendants are when the defense attorney makes that request.

BLITZER: One final question, Lisa, before I let you go. What about moving this trial to a different venue, a different location because of the adverse publicity that may have already circulated in Modesto, Stanislaus County where the trial presumably is supposed to take place?

BLOOM: I would expect that motion, I would expect it to be granted like it was granted in the high-profile dog mauling case that started out in northern California and was changed to southern California.

But, Wolf, you tell me what venue in the United States is not fully familiar with the facts of the Scott Peterson case. I think it s going to be a tough road to hoe.

BLITZER: All right, Lisa Bloom, you heard it here. Thanks very much, Lisa, for joining us. Have a nice weekend.

And Saddam Hussein on videotape. The last known video of the fallen dictator surfaces. But does it really mean he's alive?

They said all along their daughter was taken from their home. Now the parents of baby Sabrina Aisenberg have a hunch of their own as far as their daughter's whereabouts. A surprising twist to this case.

And defining moments. President Bush pulls off a picture perfect landing. A look at that as well as the not so flattering images that were pushed to the background.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. CNN first reported yesterday that it was unlikely Eli Quick seen in the photo on the right was a missing North Carolina boy. Today DNA tests confirm it. Quick was recently abandoned in a Chicago-area hospital.

After noticing how much the two looked alike, the family of Tristen "Buddy" Myers had been hopeful he would turn out to be their boy. But it's just a resemblance, nothing more. Myers has been missing now for more than two years.

DNA tests are also now being conducted on a little girl in Illinois. The family of Sabrina Aisenberg says she bears a striking resemblance to their missing daughter. She's been gone for more than five years. CNN's Kathleen Koch has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This was the picture an Illinois judge order posted on a missing children's Web site when a couple wanted to adopt the girl who had no birth certificate. The was when a stranger noticed it resembled baby photos of little Sabrina Aisenberg.

The 5-month-old had disappeared from her Tampa, Florida home in November 1997. Police say the 6-year-old girl known as "Paloma" was given to an Illinois couple by a relative, a nurse at a Texas hospital.

CHIEF DONALD SCHLOSSER, PONTIAC POLICE: The child was apparently dropped at a hospital in I believe McAllen, Texas. And the person who dropped the child off there then left, and that person has never been located again.

KOCH: Sabrina Aisenberg's parents who were once under suspicion in the case are waiting anxiously.

STEVE AISENBERG, FATHER OF MISSING GIRL: We think there are a lot of similarities from the mouth to the nose to the eyes, even the ear lobes are very similar.

MARLENE AISENBERG, MOTHER OF MISSING GIRL: It makes us very hopeful and just to believe that you know this is our turn. She's going to come home. We've always believed that it's going to come home and it's our turn. KOCH: Police say DNA was taken from the Illinois girl Thursday and sent to an FBI lab for processing. No charges are expected against the Illinois family that's been raising the girl since 1998 or the relative who brought her to them.

SCHLOSSER: There's no sinister intent on the part of any of the parties that we have been able to determine.

KOCH: Child advocates insist no matter what the outcome, public involvement like this is crucial.

JOAN DONNELIAH, NATL. CTR. FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN: We've had so many kids returned home because someone just took the time to take a look at the picture.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH: The Aisenbergs have had about 500 tips in Sabrina's case since she disappeared. So authorities caution against too much optimism, since this too, could be a false alarm. But, Wolf, this Illinois family is being cooperative, putting her picture on the Internet, making sure that little Paloma's DNA is available and very tough if they'll lose here if there's a match.

BLITZER: All right, we'll continue to watch this story too. Kathleen Koch, thanks very much.

Saddam Hussein on tape. His last known video recording popped up as President Bush celebrates victory.

Also prostitution goes public. The Hollywood Madam hits the stock market.

And home sweet homecoming. The dramatic welcome back for sailors and Marines sealed with a kiss.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: CNN live this house, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the nation's capital with correspondents from around the world.

Here now is Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER: Coming up, bad lighting, bad hair and a tired look on his face. The last video images of Saddam Hussein. Is the fallen dictator on the run or out of steam? We'll go live to Baghdad.

(NEWSBREAK)

BLITZER: The final words of Saddam Hussein? The Associated Press, the television part of it, has obtained a videotape of the Iraqi dictator. It's reportedly a speech recorded on April 9 that was never televised to his troops.

Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is in Baghdad and he's checking the latest developments. NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, very interesting that this material should surface now. It comes from a trusted source, according to the AP television news agency, received the material. They say they've had tapes, videotapes from this source before and it's somebody who worked for Iraqi television satellite news station and the tape box apparently bore the presidential seal.

It certainly shows Saddam Hussein or somebody who appears to look like him certainly struggling with the situation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Appearing tired, confused and exhausted, Saddam Hussein delivers his last address to the Iraqi people.

He starts: "The faster, the better. Are you ready?"

Broadcast by radio on April 9, the day his regime collapsed, this is the first time the video recording of the speech has been seen. As he reads, he occasionally loses his way. "And if you would like to ask about your command, it is firm and not moved,' he says.

The message, however, belies the truth. Although it is not known where this was recorded, by the end of that day, U.S. troops were famously helping pull down one of Saddam's statues in the center of Baghdad.

Previously-released video from the same source, an employee of Iraqi TV shows what purports to be Saddam Hussein in the Adamir (ph) neighborhood of Baghdad on the same day, April 9. The man clambering on the cars, on that video bears a strong resemblance to Saddam Hussein and looks just like the man giving the speech.

The emergence of this tape raises many questions, not least of which i: Why now? Particularly, following reports from a little known pro-Saddam group that the former Iraqi leader would make a speech soon.

At the end of this recording, a pause, adding, "How was the reading? All in all, good? Yes?" Possibly the root of his problems, no one left around to tell him he was wrong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: And after so many years of having Saddam Hussein in power its perhaps little wonder then that people here still believe perhaps the former Iraqi leader is around. There are certainly elements and reasons to believe that Ba'ath Party officials who used to work under Saddam Hussein are still around, still living in their houses. Some of them even going back to their own jobs and issues like this, videotapes like this and the whole issue of re-emergence of the Ba'ath Party really scares people here in Baghdad and around Iraq.

What they want to see -- they want to see the United States capture Saddam Hussein or at least give them verifiable information about where he is so they know he is not coming back. So this is likely something to trouble people here to some degree, Wolf.

BLITZER: Nic Robertson with the latest on this the new videotape from Baghdad. Nic, thanks very much.

Coalition forces, by the way, are striking two more names of their 55 most wanted list. Abd Al-Tawab Mullah Huwaysh was No. 16. He served the regime as director of the Office of Military Industrialization. Huwaysh is now in coalition hands.

So is No. 42. He is Taha Muhyi Al-Din Maruf, a member of Iraq's revolutionary command council.

Seventeen of the 55, by the way, most wanted are now in coalition custody. Three others are believed to be dead.

The power of pictures has never been greater than it is now in the age of instant worldwide television and media. Few have benefited more or at less times less than the president of the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): It's been a week of memorable images. But which of these pictures will you remember?

Leaders always try to carefully stage events, hoping you'll come away with their version of history. But reality sometimes gets in the way.

The Bush administration wants you to remember this: Donald Rumsfeld in Baghdad. A trip, he said, would not be a victory tour although it sure looked like one.

A new Palestinian prime minister being sworn in and handed a new peace plan.

The administration may not want you to remember these images: U.S. troops in a nasty confrontation in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, chaos, civilians killed, a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, both images hinting at difficult times ahead.

It seems presidents often try to outdo their predecessors for the mother of all photo-ops.

Bill Clinton wanted you to remember events like this: a dramatic summit, a valiant attempt at peace. But he could never escape this image. George Bush Senior had his shining moment after the Gulf War, eclipsed by a stagnating economy and images of complacency of the White House.

The staged event, giving you the impression of history being made as you watched. Perhaps there was no one better at it than Ronald Reagan.

RICHARD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

BLITZER: Some presidents benefited from events so dramatic that only a signing ceremony was needed to create that lasting memory.

Jimmy Carter earned that break when he brokered the Camp David accords. The next year we all watched these images bring down his presidency and forge its legacy.

Now, George W. Bush, in the third year of his presidency making a Reagan-like run at creating his moments in your memory.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Dramatic pictures this week. Very, very dramatic images of the week.

Saddam Hussein, by the way, may be out of power and out of sight. But is he out of mind? Coming up a look at the legacy of evil many Iraqis are still struggling to shake.

And later, a much happier note after months of waiting and anxious hoping, thousands of military families are being reunited. We'll show you the happy home coming.

But first, a look at some other news making headlines around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): A survivor was pulled from the rubble of a dormitory in Bingal, Turkey more than 30 hours after it collapsed in a 6.4 magnitude quake. More than a hundred students and teachers have been rescued. Dozens still are missing.

Meanwhile, there's anger over the government's response to the quake. Rioting has broken out with clashes between angry residents and police.

Improving relations between nuclear neighbors India and Pakistan. India's prime minister says he's restoring diplomatic and airline links. They were cut during recent tensions over Kashmir, which both countries claim as their own.

Australia's prime minister says North Korea's government may have ties to drug trafficking. A member of the Korean Workers' Party was found onboard a ship seized last month carrying $50 million worth of heroin.

A different kind of beauty contest in Thailand. The annual Miss Jumbo pageant searches for the woman who has the right size, grace and elegance to represent the country's national symbol, the elephant. This year's winner says she wants to be a role model for large women.

And what's believed to be a first. An Australian brothel has gone public. Shares gained 40 percent on the first day of trading. Former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss was hired to help raise publicity.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Reign of terror. How Saddam Hussein held on to power. The details of torture uncovered by the famous war correspondent Arthur Kent. That's coming up on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

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BLITZER: As more time passes with Saddam Hussein out of power, more tales of atrocity exacted by the deposed Iraqi president are being told. Sunday the History Channel will explore some of stories about Saddam Hussein's cruelty as part of its week-long series, "Reign of Terror."

I spoke with host, Arthur Kent.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Let's get right to the issue, Saddam Hussein's fascination with some of the previous butchers like Hitler or Stalin or Pol Pot. Talk about that.

ARTHUR KENT, HISTORY CHANNEL: Well, you know, he read the works of Adolf Hitler, but in particular Josef Stalin. And he was fascinated at both Stalin's methods of political organization and his talent for repression. And indeed, he patterned much of his Iraqi regime after Joe Stalin's Soviet Russia.

BLITZER: We know that there was torture. There were horrors. How bad was it under his rule?

KENT: Pretty unspeakable.

I mean, you're talking about a man whose idea of having an evening out for his growing son Uday when he was a teenager was going down to the torture chambers and showing his son actual torture sessions.

Now, of course, that the regime has collapsed, more and more Iraqis are able to talk freely and they're telling stories, for instance, as in our program, of how complaining about the food at Baghdad University or perhaps selling works of art that weren't allowed by the regime could land you in prison and under torture. Just remarkably crude and cruel methods of torture which, again, seemed to be designed to terrorize the entire population and keep them subservient to Saddam Hussein.

BLITZER: Give us some specifics of the horror, though, the torture. What did you learn?

KENT: Well, you know, frankly, personally, in my experience, the chief horror was of disappearance and the assuming that your relatives once disappeared, once taken from you, never to be seen again would have been treated in the most grotesque fashion and then killed. And, you know, I think we all had a taste of that ourselves when in 1990 one of our reporting colleagues and friends, Farzad Bazoff, of the "Observer" newspaper in London was arrested by Saddam's secret police after taking a photograph of a weapons installation, put in front of a kangaroo court, abused, we believe tortured, perhaps by Uday Hussein himself and then when President Bush senior, at the time, Margaret Thatcher and Boutrous Ghali of the U.N. appealed to Saddam Hussein, Look, don't kill this guy. He's a journalist. Saddam Hussein had him hanged and his body dumped at the gates of the British embassy. That was before the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Wolf. So you know, we had a taste of what all Iraqi families have had to live with for decades.

BLITZER: And you've spoken to them.

KENT: That kind of brutal repression.

BLITZER: They're willing to -- they're willing to come out now and speak. When he was branded "the butcher of Baghdad," did he just give the order -- orders or was he personally involved in murdering and torturing Iraqis?

KENT: Indeed. You know, we're talking about someone who at one stage pulled his minister of health from the Cabinet table and shot him to death in front of the rest of the cabinet. And as we've seen at the residences of other members of the family, particularly Uday Hussein, his son -- you know, the manacles, torture implements, cages, body cages, it was obviously not just a tool of official repression, but at times, an aspect of personal recreation.

BLITZER: Arthur Kent's documentary, important documentary, "The Horrors of Hussein" premieres Sunday night on the History Channel. We'll be watching. Thanks very much for that report, Arthur.

KENT: Thank you, Wolf.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And a joyous day for thousands of families. Coming up, the crew of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln back from war. Highlights of this very emotional homecoming. That's up next.

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BLITZER: You still have time to vote on "Our Web Question." Go ahead, cnn.com/wolf.

Meanwhile, an inspiring young man now in news across America. The former prisoner of war David Williams was welcomed home in Orlando, Florida earlier today. The hometown hero received the key to the city from the mayor and he thanked the crowd for their support. The Apache helicopter pilot was accompanied by his wife Michelle and their two children.

In Sacramento, California the cozy former home of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski has been saved from destruction. The current owner of the cabin has decided to keep the shed in storage for now. An intriguing note inside the cabin says, quote, "Taking a bath in the winter breaks an Indiana law."

After almost 26 years of marriage, Mary Jo and Joey Buttafuco are finally calling it quits. According to "The New York Post" she filed for divorce, exact reasons so far is unknown.

It's been another day memorable images with thousands of sailors and Marines returning from war and disembarking the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Here's some of what we saw.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: There they go! The first kiss.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I'm so happy he's home. He's finally here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been thinking about this moment forever. This is the moment I've been dreaming about.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. I don't have any plans tonight. I'm going to go to Disneyland tomorrow.

PHILLIPS: How excited are you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's not even enough words to describe it. It's just overwhelming, they're here and it's amazing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pardon me, I need to kiss my husband.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well just watching them, I think it's exciting to see their faces light up when they hold their children. I think it's very exciting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a wonderful moment. Very shaky and -- just excited.

PHILLIPS: What do you want to do with your father now that he's home?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd really like to go home and play like some baseball or soccer.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm just glad he's home so he can help me with softball.

ERIC HORNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tell me how you're feeling today?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm just glad to be home. I feel really good.

HORNG: What do you want to say to your folks? They're probably watching now, people back in (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll be home soon and I love them. (END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And we're happy for all, all of those families, those reunions only just beginning. There will be a lot more in the weeks and months to come.

"Our Web Question of the Day," by the way, is this, do you believe President Bush will turn the economy around? You can still vote. Go to cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results when we come back. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in on "Our Web Question of the Day." Do you believe President Bush will turn the economy around? Look at this, 20 percent of you say yes, 80 percent of you say no.

You can find the exact vote tally, continue to vote, by the way, on our Web site cnn.com/wolf. Remember, this is not a scientific poll.

Let's get to some of your e-mails. Jerry writes this: "The presidential event the administration produced on the USS Lincoln must have cost taxpayers a lot of money. that money could have gotten a lot a schools through the rest of the school year."

Viola writes this: "Where is bin Laden? Where is Saddam Hussein? Where are the WMDs? The combat may be over, but these questions haven't been answered."

Finally, this from Nancy: "Watching the president land on the USS Abraham Lincoln yesterday and seeing the sailors come home today were proud moments for our nation. It brings back memories of all the brave men and women like my father who have our country over the years."

A reminder, you can always catch WOLF BLITZER REPORTS each weekday 5 p.m. Eastern. I'll see you Sunday on "LATE EDITION," the last word in Sunday talk. This Sunday I'll go one-on-one with the Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He's just back from his visit to Iraq and Afghanistan. That's Sunday, noon Eastern. Until then, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.

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