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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Saddam's Right Hand Man Captured; Interview with "Magic" Johnson; Pot Holes on a Very Bumpy Road Map to Peace in Middle East

Aired June 18, 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, HOST: Ace of diamonds: can Saddam's right hand man lead the way to the ace of spades.

Mayhem in a Michigan town.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They shot at our (UNINTELLIGIBLE). They shot at the captain of the police.

BLITZER: As nightfall nears they're bracing for more trouble.

Road to Ramallah: life under occupation. Even small children are caught up in a cycle of hatred.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what do they play? They play the game of (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

I'll go one on one with Magic Johnson, the fight against AIDS and his fight for kids.

ERVIN "MAGIC" JOHNSON, FORMER NBA PLAYER: And we are just trying to give them some hope and inspire them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is a special edition of WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the Middle East. Reporting from Jerusalem, here's Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER: Happening right now, major developments in Iraq. The biggest catch besides Saddam Hussein and his two sons, this man seen next to Saddam is now in U.S. custody. The hope tonight that he knows the whereabouts of his boss and the weapons of mass destruction. In the streets, exchange of firepower. American troops attack former Iraqi soldiers, killing two. But a separate drive-by attack kills an American soldier.

And U.S. Forces trying to stop the Iraqi resistance under cover of darkness. CNN brings you exclusive pictures of the dramatic encounters.

First, third in power to Saddam Hussein, captured. Let's get the details. CNN'S Jamie McIntyre is standing by at the Pentagon -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: This could be the -- aside from his sons, no one has been closer to Saddam Hussein than the man seen standing beside him here, General Abid Hamid Mahmud. Saddam Hussein's personal secretary, national security adviser and senior bodyguard who was captured in a raid by U.S. special operation forces Monday near Tikrit. General Mahmud is the ace of diamonds in the U.S. military's deck of the 55 most wanted Iraqis. Here's a snapshot bio. He became Saddam Hussein's secretary in 1992. A cousin, he was third in power, ranked fourth on America's list of the 55 most wanted fugitives after Saddam and his two sons.

He was responsible for Saddam's security and could override government decisions. So he might know something about the whereabouts of weapons of mass destruction or perhaps even Saddam Hussein himself. Sources say the U.S. Kept his capture secret for about a day in hopes that Saddam Hussein might be nearby. U.S. troops haven't found the former Iraqi leader but have rounded up some 400 Iraqi, hundreds of weapons and stacks of cash which the U.S. says was used to pay bounties.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. RAY URDIERNO, U.S. ARMY: They try to recruit individuals and decided to kill Americans and would pay so much money. So they are paying in cash. They have different kinds of cash to pay different kinds of people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: The commander of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division believes the U.S. has significantly degraded the ability of Saddam loyalists to coordinate attacks. The coming days and weeks will show if that is so.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon, thanks.

The American struggle meanwhile to try to restore order in Iraq today took another deadly turn.

Here's our Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: It seemed to be a particularly violent day in Baghdad, an indication of the cost of this occupation. In the latest incident, a U.S. soldier, a soldier from the 1st Armored Division, shot dead and another one wounded, while guarding a propane station on the edge of town.

Now, witnesses say what happened there was much more than the drive-by shooting that the U.S. military is calling it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The soldier had a quarrel with a woman. He pushed her and threw her propane tank aside. A passerby in a car saw what happened and didn't like it. He got off the car, along with two more men. They parked their car away or came back on foot, I really don't know. Anyway, one of them walked up to the soldier and shot him before running away. He shot him at a close range.

ARRAF: An indication perhaps that tension is rising as the temperature rises as well between U.S. soldiers and Iraqis in this troubled capital.

Now, across town at the palace occupied by coalition authorities, a demonstration of army officers and former soldiers turned deadly. Now, these soldiers showed up to demand that they be paid. A month ago, the army was disbanded, and senior officers were told that they would never work again in the army. They were supposed to receive a final payment. They had gone four times to the palace gates, they say, and no payment was forthcoming. They say they and their families are destitute.

As an armored vehicle went through that crowd to try to enter the palace, some of the demonstrators began throwing stones and trying to rock the vehicle. Now, while some soldiers fired warning shots across the street, another guard, according to military officials, fired into the crowd, killing two of the demonstrators. It's an issue that's been simmering for some time, the out-of-work army officers and other people thrown out of work. U.S. officials say they're trying to find a way to deal with it.

Jane Arraf, CNN, reporting from Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Now a CNN exclusive. An American nighttime raid right into the middle of Saddam country in Iraq and a bid to try to stop some of those deadly ambush attacks.

CNN's Ben Wedeman went along with U.S. forces.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): A new haul of prisoners netted by Operation Desert Scorpion. Flat on the ground, faces in the dirt, hands bound behind their backs, men suspected of involvement in attacks on U.S. troops outside al-Oja, the town where Saddam Hussein was born. At this house, U.S. troops are looking for men, who earlier this evening had fired on American positions. Everyone is a suspect. A curfew breaker waits to be questioned.

On a farm to the south, a thorough search. In the house, they find an AK-47 assault rifle, ammunition, night-vision goggles, a sniper's scope and a lot of Iraqi dinars, which don't really amount to more than $500 or $600. One by one, the women of the house are brought into the kitchen and questioned about the men on the Americans' wanted list.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's never seen (UNINTELLIGIBLE). She's just heard about him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never seen him?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's your husband's brother, and you've never seen him?

WEDEMAN: Outside, more questions for the farm's owner, the brother of one of Saddam Hussein's senior security officials.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where did you get those Russian night sight from?

WEDEMAN: Plenty of questions; the answers are harder to come by.

A little girl afraid, strange men speaking a strange language have taken over her home in the dead of night.

As these night raids go ahead, an unmanned spy plane controlled remotely from this truck beams back live pictures of the action on the ground. Every movement is closely watched.

Despite the very real technological advantage enjoyed by the United States, Iraqi resistance remains elusive, an annoyance, American officers insist, not a major threat.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, al-Oja, central Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: We just received some more pictures from Saddam Hussein's family albums. Most of them were taken in the 1970s and 1980s. Some show him with various gulf and Middle East leaders. Others with his sons and apparently ordinary Iraqis.

The Bush administration, meanwhile is keeping a very, very wary eye on Iran. The president is speaking out about Iran and the entire issue of nuclear weapons. Let's go to the white house. Our senior White House correspondent John King is standing by with that -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, two critical issues at they at the moment when it comes to Iran. Concerns at the White House and around the world about Iran's nuclear program. Also fascinating attention riveted on Iran in recent days because of demonstrations against the government by thousands of students. Now the White House has consistently said the Bush administration, despite the allegations raised in Tehran, the White House saying that the Bush administration has absolutely nothing to do with trying to insight those demonstrations, but here at the White House today, President Bush was asked about Iran and he made clear that those students have his full support.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I appreciate those courageous souls who speak out for freedom in Iran. They need to know America stands squarely by their side. And I would urge the Iranian administration to treat them with the utmost of respect.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: On the issues of possible nuclear weapon development inside Iran, Mr. Bush says it is critical that the international community work together. He says "we will not tolerate the construction of a nuclear weapon." The president speaking at a time the International Atomic Energy Agency has issued a report raising questions about Iran's claims that its nuclear program is solely for civilian energy programs. The IAEA saying it's trying to make amends and answer its questions. The president says that this White House working with allies around the world must work together and make it crystal clear to Iran that the world will not tolerate that nuclear program turning into a weapons program.

BLITZER: John King at the White House, thanks very much.

Here's your turn to weigh in on this important story. Our web question of the day is this, "Do you think Iran poses a nuclear threat to the United States?" We'll have the results later in this broadcast. You can vote at cnn.com/wolf. While you're there, I'd love to hear from you. Send me your comments. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end this program. That's also, of course, where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

State of emergency. Two nights of riots leave a Michigan city in flames.

Also, fugitive no more. An heir to the Max Factor fortune busted by a bounty hunter.

And Magic's mission. The former NBA superstar talks about living with AIDS 12 years later.

Plus..

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER (voice-over): Under normal conditions the drive from Jerusalem to Ramallah should take only about 15 or 20 minutes. But these are not normal conditions.

(on camera): It's not that to take these kind of trips. The assignments require a lot of preparation, a lot of work. This is our landrover. It's an armored car to make sure that we'll be safe on the way and coming back. It's going to be hot in there, but we're going to get going and we'll see what we can come up with.

(voice-over): It's hot in Jerusalem right now, and I'm not just talking about the weather.

We'll have details coming up.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: Jesus Christ's time on Earth. An ancient artifact that raised hope for millions makes news once again. That story and much more coming up on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: A state of emergency now in place in a small town in Michigan. The town, Benton Harbor. Officials hope the move will prevent a third night of rioting triggered by the death of an African- American.

CNN's Ed Lavandera is our man on the scene right now. He's joining us live -- Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf.

Well, we're at the intersection of Broadway and Empire in Benton Harbor here, and to give you a sense of what's going on here as authorities prepare for what's been described as potentially another dangerous evening.

State police, a row of about 40 cars, have been driving through the streets here in this neighborhood. This particular area out here at Broadway and Empire, where we're at, is considered one of the most dangerous areas in the city, possibly tonight. And what we've seen here is state police driving down the street, essentially making their presence known to the residents that live in this area, urging people to continue walking. They're not allowing anyone just to stand around and loiter around. They're urging people to keep moving and to try to prevent any dangerous situations from exploding again tonight.

But here we've seen this scene several times in the last hour here in Benton Harbor as authorities continue urging people to move along. There will be about 300 law officers in the city here tonight patrolling the situation, trying to prevent a third night of rioting. And the mayor here in Benton Harbor is urging residents to stay calm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR CHARLES YARBROUGH, BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN: I do stand here to tell you that we vow to get to the bottom of this incident. I'm going to let the chips fall where they may. If there's anyone that is directly responsible for this, we will find out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: And authorities here are prepared for another evening. Many the authorities we see here are equipped with riot gear and they've also brought in these vehicles known as peacekeepers. Inside there, authorities can be protected from bottles or bullets if it comes to that this evening.

But again here, authorities prepared for the worst and urging the residents of this area to not break the law. They say they will not waste any time arresting anyone who is breaking the law here this evening. Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: CNN's Ed Lavandera for us on the scene. Thanks, Ed. Let's hope the night goes by relatively quietly.

Meanwhile, the heir to the Max Factor fortune who was convicted earlier this year of rape has now supposedly been captured in Mexico.

Let's check out all the details. CNN's Charles Feldman is standing by in Los Angeles with that -- Charles.

CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, yes. The FBI, by the way, says they definitely got the guy.

And for those of you who don't remember, Andrew Luster is the guy you mentioned, Wolf. He's the great-great grandson - or great- grandson of Max Factor, the makeup king. And he was convicted after he fled California on charges that he used a date rape drug, drugged three women, maybe more -- but convicted of three, raped them and also videotaped it.

Well, his capture is the story of the fugitive versus the dog.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FELDMAN (voice-over): Luster was busted by this man, a bounty hunter by the name of Duane "Dog" Chapman. Chapman caught up with the great-grandson of the makeup king Max Factor in Mexico. But now officials say they believe he may face kidnapping charges in Mexico for capturing Luster.

DUANE CHAPMAN, BOUNTY HUNTER: I'm probably the last true bounty hunter in the country today. I know that I hold the record -- more captures than any law enforcement officer or -- and bounty hunter in the world today.

FELDMAN: A TV crew has also been detained by Mexican authorities, not known at this time who they work for.

As for Chapman, he will be sent back to the U.S. to begin serving a prison sentence that could keep him behind bars for life. His lawyer says, though, an appeal of the conviction will be pursued.

ROGER DIAMOND, LUSTER ATTORNEY: I have prepared for this eventuality by filing a notice of appeal within 60 days of the conviction and so because I did that, the appeal technically is still alive.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FELDMAN: Now it's not clear by the way, when Mr. Luster will be returned to California to finish serving his -- actually to start, let alone finish, serving his 124-year prison sentence -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Charles Feldman in L.A. with that story. Charles, thanks very much. He dominated the headlines as all of our viewers will remember during the search for that sniper, the snipers in the greater Washington, D.C., area. Now Chief Moose faces another kind of pressure. Learn how he reacts.

Also, Gore TV. New reports at how the former vice president plans to battle what he considers conservative media.

And warding off Alzheimer's. A simple solution. Find out why doctors are saying, "Use it or lose it."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Police Chief Charles Moose, the public face of the Washington, D.C., area sniper case in the fall, is resigning.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve reports the case that led to his fame has now also led to his departure.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Chief Moose, was the public face of the sniper investigation, communicating with the public.

CHARLES MOOSE, POLICE CHIEF MONTGOMERY COUNTY: Your children are not safe anywhere at any time.

MESERVE: And cryptically communicating with the sniper as well.

MOOSE: You asked us to say "we have caught the sniper like a duck in a noose."

MESERVE: Moose's national media exposure led to a lucrative book and movie deal. But the ethics board nixed it, saying he couldn't use the prestige of office for private gain. Moose's lawyers went to court.

RON KARP, MOOSE ATTORNEY: The commission is denying him his first amendment right of freedom of speech and expression.

MESERVE: The book, due out in October, can be preordered now on the Internet. Clearly Moose had a choice to make.

DOUGLAS DUNCAN, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND EXECUTIVE: Wants to get on with a new chapter in his life that lets him concentrate on his book and clears up any sort of cloud that might have been hanging over the writing of that book.

MESERVE (on camera): Chief Moose has been on leave of his job since march, serving in the D.C. Air National Guard. His plans beyond the book are uncertain.

Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: How to keep from losing your mind. Some simple steps that may help you avoid Alzheimer's.

Also, holy hoax or historic find: A new discovery about a potential link to Jesus Christ.

And Magic Johnson defies the odds. Hear how he defied the odds living with AIDS.

First headlines making news around the world.

Anti-government demonstrations are now in their second week in Iran and have spread beyond the capital. Lawmakers there are condemning President Bush's support of the protests.

Disturbing demonstrations of a different kind. Two women set themselves on fire in Paris to protest a crackdown on an Iranian exile group that also opposes religious rule in Tehran. And a similar protest in London. A man belonging to the same group, the People's Mujahadeen set himself on fire outside the French Embassy. He's in serious condition.

Afghanistan is expected to produce another bumper crop of opium this year. A United Nations drug official says the country continues to be the world's largest producer, harvesting 3,400 tons last year alone.

Artists from 10 countries are in Berlin competing in the first international sand sculpture festival. Each was given 882 cubic feet of sand to make a sculpture that must be at least 13 feet high.

And more than 1,000 fans greeted English soccer star David Beckham and his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria, as they arrived in Japan. The visit comes the day after it was announced he's leaving Manchester United to play for Madrid. And that's our look around the world.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is a special edition of WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the Middle East. Reporting from Jerusalem, here's Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER: In a moment a major development to try to ease the tensions here in the Middle East, and later, my surprising encounter on the West Bank earlier today. First a quick check of the headlines right now.

(NEWSBREAK)

BLITZER: There's been a desperate, desperate struggle to try to end the violence to terrorism here in this part of the world. Now there are some signs that a cease-fire may just be possible.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER (voice-over): The Israeli government has agreed to scale back its targeted killings of suspected Palestinian terrorists as part of an effort to promote the Middle East peace road map. That's the word from senior Israeli sources who tell CNN Israel will not assassinate Palestinian militants in territories it hands over to the Palestinian Authority. The Israeli expectation the sources say, that the Palestinian Security Services will take charge in cracking down.

The Israeli still leave open some killings to prevent what they call ticking bomb or imminent attacks.

SILVAN SHALOM, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: I am very glad that finally, after a pressure from the Americans, from the European Union and the international community they are willing now to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) these territories.

A ceasefire agreement invovling Hamas and other millitant Palestinian groups could come during Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to Jerusalem on Friday.

In Cambodia he promised not to give up.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: There is no alternative, we have to keep moving. We have to find a way forward.

BLITZER: In Washington, President Bush was on the phone with Egyptian President Hosney Mubarak, asking for help for Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas' efforts to strengthen his security services to dismantle terror.

The Israeli military meanwhile imposed a curfew on a town of Taqila (ph), after suspect Palestinian gunman shot and killed a 7- year-old Israeli girl and wounded her 3-year-old sister and father.

They were driving inside Israeli not far from that town. Israeli officials say the gunman remain at large.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: So is there a solution to this bloody conflict?

Aaron Miller served six -- six U.S. secretaries of state. He was a top advisor on Israeli/Palestinian peace negotiations. He is now trying to reach a new generation as president of Seeds of Peace.

Aaron Miller joins us live here in Jerusalem.

Is it possible there could be some progress right now?

AARON MILLER, PRES. SEEDS OF PEACE: I think there is a way, and I think there's a unique opportunity. No. 1, you've got a Palestinian prime minister that is still in power, and that the Americans and Israelis are willing to talk to. No. 2, you have got an Israeli prime minister that's using a different vocabulary and who has founder stock. His security credentials are unparalleled. Then if he chose to create a breakthrough, I think the Israeli public would follow. No. 3, you have an American president that is willful and forceful and clearly has moved this issue to the top of his agenda. So there is an opportunity. It's going to require very tough decisions by all three parties.

BLITZER: But you also have Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade, the Palestinian terrorist organizations that will do whatever they can presumably to not have some sort of settlement with Israel.

MILLER: It's true. That's why you'll need a serious Israeli/Palestinian channel that can deliver the things that each side needs and an American involvement to sustain that diplomacy. I think it's critical to keep this in mind, Wolf. The Palestinian Authority is going to have to, at some point, whether now through a ceasefire, but ultimately probably through military force, reimpose its control over these groups.

BLITZER: So you are saying there could be a civil war between forces associated with the Palestinian Authority and Mahmoud Abbas on the one hand and Hamas and lets say and the other groups on the other hand?

MILLER: No, I don't think that's what the Palestinian Authority wants and frankly can't afford that. What I'm suggesting is I think the Palestinian Authority and security personnel are going to try to negotiate a ceasefire. If at some point in the future Hamas breaks that and violates the understanding then the Palestinian Authority would have a rationale to crack down. At the same time if, in fact, a ceasefire can be negotiated, the Israelis would have to do things that would empower Abu Mazen, things on the ground. I would use Gaza as a case in point.

BLITZER: Should the Israelis stop these targeted killings of various suspected terrorists?

MILLER: I'm not going to second-guess Israeli security. They have a right to defend themselves. Any democracy faced with the threat of suicide terrorism has this problem. But the problem is every Israeli action has a consequence. This is not a question of the Israelis being -- or Hamas being Osama bin Laden, and the Israelis being the United States. But the fact is Israelis and Palestinians have to live with one another. Every action that the Israelis take has a consequence because ultimately Israelis and Palestinians will probably have to find no alternative other than a negotiated solution.

BLITZER: Is it time for the U.S., NATO forces to start thinking of coming in to separate the Israelis and the Palestinians?

MILLER: Look, when we've used our forces in the Middle East it's always been in the context of an agreement, whether it was Sinai, U.N. peacekeepers on the Golan Heights, it's always come in the context of an agreement. And frankly, before we get to radical solutions like deployment of U.S. forces, we ought to try serious and sustained U.S. diplomacy dealing with those sides.

BLITZER: And you think Secretary Powell, Condoleezz Rice, she has muted that she my be coming to this part of the world.

Is that what we're going to see a lot more of coming from the Bush administration?

MILLER: I could think of no two more qualified better individuals to take this on, empowered by the president of the United States who has moved this issue to the top of his agenda.

BLITZER: And you seem to think that, Ariel Sharon, the prime minister of Israel is ready for some sort of two-state solution which will require major Israeli withdrawals from the West Bank and Gaza and the freezing, if not the elimination of some those settlements if not all of them.

MILLER: What I think is that peace has always been a national priority for every Israeli prime minister. Every Israeli prime minister since Benagan, every single one has managed to reap some sort of accommodation with either Palestinians or Arabs. I don't think Ariel Sharon wants to be the first Israeli prime minister not to take that step.

BLITZER: All right, Aaron Miller, here in Jerusalem, thanks for joining us.

We have much more news coming up, including this, Holy find or hoax: news made today on Jesus and an archaeological discovery.

Plus, the road to Ramallah.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I told my son, staying in his room with his cousin, and what did they play, they played the game of suicide bomber.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Palestinians struggle for a normal life during rather violent times

I'll go one on one with Magic Johnson for a rare interview off the court on his battle with HIV and his fight for the children.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. I am Wolf Blitzer reporting form Jerusalem.

Yesterday I criss-crossed the country with Israel's president as he paid condolence calls on families victimized by violence. Today I took a much shorter journey. I drove into the West Bank town of Ramallah to see what life is like for Palestinians who live day-to-day under Israeli occupation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER (voice-over): Qusay (ph), a middle class dress shop owner says he yearns only for a normal life for his family. But after one especially unpleasant recent confrontation with Israeli soldiers, he saw a shocking change in his 6-year-old son.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I saw his eyes that he is suffering, you know, from I don't know what kind of look it was. Next day, next day, I saw my son playing with his cousin, you know. What did they play? They played a game of suicide bomber. Even though we are not extremists, my family. i tried to raise him as a peaceful man. But look what they do to him.

BLITZER: Other Palestinians tell similar accounts of despair. They blame the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank that goes back to the 1967 war.

There are Israeli military checkpoints around Ramallah, as is the case indeed throughout the West Bank. The Israelis cite security concerns, noting that Palestinian suicide bombers usually have crossed into Jerusalem and other Israeli cities from the West Bank.

But Palestinians, including Dr. George Ismeih, a pediatrician, don't accept that explanation.

DR GEORGE IMSEIH, PEDIATRICIAN: There are more security problems and checkpoints here. These points are a humiliation and insulting for the population -- Palestinian population.

BLITZER: He lives in Ramallah, but works at a hospital in Jerusalem. That commute usually winds up taking 90 minutes or longer each way. Under normal circumstances, that drive would take only about 15 or 20 minutes.

Kais Bakri, a Palestinian businessman, sees a much more sinister Israeli motive.

KAIS BAKRI, BUSINESSMAN: The whole aim of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a checkpoint is to make you want to leave this country.

BLITZER (on camera): This is the Kalindia (ph) checkpoint, just outside of Ramallah. This is normally a busy place. A lot of people want to go back and forward between Ramallah and Jerusalem. If you want to get into Ramallah, you want to leave Ramallah, you got to by and large through this Kalindia checkpoint.

It's open today. People are going through. They're checked. The security is rather tight. But by and large, people are moving.

Almost at a moment's notice, they can close off this checkpoint. They seal off the West Bank from Jerusalem. People won't get in, people won't get out if there's a security problem. That's a fact of life here in the Middle East.

(voice-over): Once inside Ramallah, you see a bustling and diverse Palestinian community. The traditional mixing with the modern, both Muslims and Christians.

Sonia Jeetan is a lawyer in Ramallah who says she has become physically and emotionally drained by the Israeli military occupation, though she insists it's also in some inexplicable way, making the Palestinians stronger.

SONIA JEETAN, LAWYER: I feel tired of the suffering, but I know that in the end this will have to end up in something good for us. I believe that we can't suffer all this and we won't gain anything out of it.

BLITZER: The question for Palestinians and Israelis alike: just when does that happen?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And tomorrow we're going to take a close look at this fence that the Israeli government is building, a fence potentially that could divide Israel from the West Bank. We'll find out how Israelis feel, if they're feeling more secure as a result of this fence, a massive project that's still under way, very much under way along the border.

There's another important development that happened here in Jerusalem earlier today. Experts have rendered their judgment on what some call a major archaeological find. But others believe it's actually a hoax, a box involving the bones of James, the brother of Jesus Christ.

CNN's Jay -- CNN's Jason Bellini has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Eight months ago Christians were excited by the discovery of this box. An ossuary, claimed by its owner to contain the bones of Jesus' brother, James.

The box's engraving, in Aramaic reads, "James, son of Joseph and brother of Jesus." It was touted as one of the first ever physical links to Jesus.

But today, after studying the box meticulously for the past two months, 14 experts spread a wet blanket on those hopes, claim the inscriptions forgeries and modern ones at that.

PROF. AVIGOR HOROWITZ, BIBLICAL LANGUAGES EXPERT: The person who wrote the inscriptions, the person who thought in modern Hebrew, a person who thought in Ancient Hebrew would have thought that the inscription was ridiculous in content.

DR. UZI DAHARI, ARCHAEOLOGIST: It's totally fake because you can see -- you can see the line of the patina, cutted by the letter (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

BELLINI: The box belongs to an Israeli collector named Odon Golan (ph), who said he bought it and a black stone table for $200 at an antique shop in Jerusalem's Old City. He disputes the committee's conclusion. Had the committee found the box's inscription authentic, it would have been worth millions.

Today's announcement means the box, though ancient, is nothing special.

SHUKA DORFMAN, ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY: The box is original probably because we know that we have in our -- in our storage we have, maybe, hundreds of the same ossuary.

BELLINI: In Jesus' time, such boxes were used to store and identify the bones of the deceased when later exhumed.

It's still a mystery whose box this was. But now the experts don't really care.

Jason Bellini, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: It's 45 minutes past the hour. I want to update our viewers on our top story, the capture of the ace of diamonds.

Our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre, is standing by.

Jamie, they seem to be falling pretty quickly, those 55 top most wanted Iraqis. What are you hearing? Are these captured Iraqis telling the U.S. useful information about weapons of mass destruction, about Saddam Hussein or other extremely important issues?

MCINTYRE: Well, they are getting information, but exactly how much and exactly what they are talking about is not clear.

One of the things they said they learned from interrogations is that in fact Saddam Hussein loyalists are continuing to fund attacks against U.S. troops. That is, they're using large caches of money to try to attract recruits to attack U.S. troops.

Now General Mahmud, as you said, the ace of diamond in the deck of the 55 most wanted, he is third in command, probably the one person besides Saddam Hussein and his two sons who might have the answer to where weapons of mass destruction are or to where Saddam and his sons are themselves. Now whether he talks and how long that may take, no one knows. But the U.S. is saying that this is -- quote -- "a significant capture," is the way the White House put it, and it shows that up to this point, the U.S. has captured over 33 of the top 55 -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Still, Saddam Hussein and his two sons, Uday and Qusay very much elusive. They keep telling us, Jamie, until there is hard evidence that any of those three is dead, they have to believe they're alive. Do they believe what Ahmed Chalabi, the former Iraqi opposition leader, has been saying, that Saddam Hussein personally is directing some of this military action against U.S. troops? MCINTYRE: Well, they're not sure. They are under the -- working on the assumption that Saddam is alive. They are working on the assumption that his followers are behind these attacks and they say even if he's not in direct contact with them, the very belief that Saddam Hussein is alive could be simply inspiring his followers to continue the fight against the U.S.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon. Thanks, Jamie, very much.

Magic Johnson, he's as busy as ever, a decade-plus after he came down with HIV and a decade after he retired from basketball. When we come back, I'll talk one-on-one with Magic Johnson about his latest projects, the NBA and much more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: He's one of the greatest basketball players of all times. Magic Johnson since retiring has also done some wonderful things outside of basketball. Earlier today, I had a special conversation with Magic Johnson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Magic Johnson, thanks very much for joining us. First of all, about this event that you, Arnold Palmer, Joe Torre (ph), (UNINTELLIGIBLE), you are all getting involved in this charity. Tell our viewers briefly what is going on.

JOHNSON: The Four Seasons of Hope is a charity-based organization that goes out, and we're all about helping children. And what I use the money that is raised for the Magic Johnson Foundation, I go out and I send young minorities to college. And so right now we have 250 young students in college right now, and the program is really going very, very well. So I'm very pleased with it. I'm glad to be a part of it, and especially glad to be a part of it because these other four men are doing an outstanding job with their foundations as well. And what we're trying to do is just reach back and give back to young people, because we know there's a lot of young people who are less fortunate than ourselves, and we're just trying to give them some hope, and inspire them, and tell them to reach out and dream and go after their dreams and goals.

BLITZER: I know that you have been deeply involved in the battle against AIDS worldwide. What else -- what is the federal government, the U.S. government, not doing that it should be doing to help in this struggle?

JOHNSON: Well, I think that for the first time, President Bush has allocated almost $15 billion to HIV and AIDS. And so that money has to be used and used wisely to reach those who are affected with HIV and AIDS, and also put up a program that we can cause prevention to educate young people about HIV and AIDS. So once this money is allocated and different organizations can use it, we must use it wisely, because when you look up at Africa and some of the continents, of African continents, this disease has really taken effect. Over 40 percent of the people there are infected with HIV and AIDS.

So we have to do a better job there, as well as home here in the United States. But I think that with the money being allocated, we'll be able to do a better job, and the drugs have gotten a lot better, too, as well. We just got to make sure the people can afford those drugs.

BLITZER: What do you feel, Magic, about all these kids starting the NBA career, their NBA careers right out of high school? LeBron James, of course, the number one pick of the NBA this year. Should there be some sort of age limit to become a professional basketball player?

JOHNSON: I think what happens is this: For every LeBron James that makes it, there's five other high school players who don't. And we have to start understanding that. And not only do I think that maybe he should go to college at least for a year or two, because it helps you mature as a person and as a young man. But just like the other leagues, we cannot implement that type of plan where, you know, you have to be a certain age, because those high school players would then sue the league because the other leagues allow young men and women to turn pro at an early age.

So I don't think the NBA will be able to put that plan in place. So if you are going to do it, make sure if you are going to be a high school player and you come out, make sure you are mature enough and physical enough to handle the NBA, not only the schedule of the games, but also playing 82 games instead of playing now 30, like you do in high school.

BLITZER: Magic Johnson, always good to speak with you. Good advice for a lot of young people out there. Before I let you go, how are you feeling?

JOHNSON: I am feeling wonderful. God has blessed me with this good health that I have. It's been 11 years now since I announced I was HIV positive. And life has been great. The drugs have been doing its part. I've been doing my part as far as working out. And so it's been going wonderful. And let me say that I've always enjoyed watching you, because you inform us better than anybody else. It's really wonderful, whether it's the war or whether it's at the White House. Wolf, you're the man. You're the man. You are the LeBron James or the Michael Jordan of your field. How about that?

BLITZER: Hey, Magic, I'll take that. I'll take that for a yes. Thanks very much. Magic Johnson, what can I tell you. Thanks very much for joining us.

JOHNSON: You got it.

BLITZER: You're an inspiration to a lot of people out there.

JOHNSON: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: A really, really nice guy. Had a good time talking with him.

When we come back, surprise at a West Bank military checkpoint. See my reception thousands of miles from home.

Also, our hot Web question of the day is this: Do you think Iran poses a nuclear threat to the United States? You can still vote, cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Just getting this clarification in from CNN's Charles Feldman in Los Angeles. Earlier this hour, he reported on the Andrew Luster story, the Max Factor fortune heir. He reported that the bounty hunter caught him, Dwayne Chapman, faced a long prison sentence when he returns to the United States. Of course, that was not the case. Andrew Luster, of course, faces a long prison sentence when he comes back to the United States on conviction of rape charges in California. Regret the error, of course.

Here's your chance to weigh in on our Web question of the day. Do you think Iran poses a nuclear threat to the United States? Look at this, 24 percent of you say yes, but 76 percent of you say no. Remember, as always, this is not a scientific poll.

This final note -- one nice thing about covering stories around the world, wherever I go, I meet some fascinating people at some unusual locations.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): People are clearly watching CNN around the world, including here on the West Bank.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER (on camera): Yes, that's me. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We see you every day; you don't see us except once in a lifetime.

BLITZER: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You take care.

BLITZER: Thank you very much.

(voice-over): But this guy, selling cold drinks, apparently doesn't get cable. He didn't have a clue who I was. He was just happy to sell us some drinks.

(on camera): Well, good work. Thank you very much. Appreciate it very much. You want a drink? Can I buy you a drink?

(voice-over): By the way, he's been wearing the outfit, including the flowers atop his head, selling drinks since he was 14 years old. (END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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





Johnson; Pot Holes on a Very Bumpy Road Map to Peace in Middle East>


Aired June 18, 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, HOST: Ace of diamonds: can Saddam's right hand man lead the way to the ace of spades.

Mayhem in a Michigan town.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They shot at our (UNINTELLIGIBLE). They shot at the captain of the police.

BLITZER: As nightfall nears they're bracing for more trouble.

Road to Ramallah: life under occupation. Even small children are caught up in a cycle of hatred.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what do they play? They play the game of (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

I'll go one on one with Magic Johnson, the fight against AIDS and his fight for kids.

ERVIN "MAGIC" JOHNSON, FORMER NBA PLAYER: And we are just trying to give them some hope and inspire them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is a special edition of WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the Middle East. Reporting from Jerusalem, here's Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER: Happening right now, major developments in Iraq. The biggest catch besides Saddam Hussein and his two sons, this man seen next to Saddam is now in U.S. custody. The hope tonight that he knows the whereabouts of his boss and the weapons of mass destruction. In the streets, exchange of firepower. American troops attack former Iraqi soldiers, killing two. But a separate drive-by attack kills an American soldier.

And U.S. Forces trying to stop the Iraqi resistance under cover of darkness. CNN brings you exclusive pictures of the dramatic encounters.

First, third in power to Saddam Hussein, captured. Let's get the details. CNN'S Jamie McIntyre is standing by at the Pentagon -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: This could be the -- aside from his sons, no one has been closer to Saddam Hussein than the man seen standing beside him here, General Abid Hamid Mahmud. Saddam Hussein's personal secretary, national security adviser and senior bodyguard who was captured in a raid by U.S. special operation forces Monday near Tikrit. General Mahmud is the ace of diamonds in the U.S. military's deck of the 55 most wanted Iraqis. Here's a snapshot bio. He became Saddam Hussein's secretary in 1992. A cousin, he was third in power, ranked fourth on America's list of the 55 most wanted fugitives after Saddam and his two sons.

He was responsible for Saddam's security and could override government decisions. So he might know something about the whereabouts of weapons of mass destruction or perhaps even Saddam Hussein himself. Sources say the U.S. Kept his capture secret for about a day in hopes that Saddam Hussein might be nearby. U.S. troops haven't found the former Iraqi leader but have rounded up some 400 Iraqi, hundreds of weapons and stacks of cash which the U.S. says was used to pay bounties.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. RAY URDIERNO, U.S. ARMY: They try to recruit individuals and decided to kill Americans and would pay so much money. So they are paying in cash. They have different kinds of cash to pay different kinds of people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: The commander of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division believes the U.S. has significantly degraded the ability of Saddam loyalists to coordinate attacks. The coming days and weeks will show if that is so.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon, thanks.

The American struggle meanwhile to try to restore order in Iraq today took another deadly turn.

Here's our Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: It seemed to be a particularly violent day in Baghdad, an indication of the cost of this occupation. In the latest incident, a U.S. soldier, a soldier from the 1st Armored Division, shot dead and another one wounded, while guarding a propane station on the edge of town.

Now, witnesses say what happened there was much more than the drive-by shooting that the U.S. military is calling it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The soldier had a quarrel with a woman. He pushed her and threw her propane tank aside. A passerby in a car saw what happened and didn't like it. He got off the car, along with two more men. They parked their car away or came back on foot, I really don't know. Anyway, one of them walked up to the soldier and shot him before running away. He shot him at a close range.

ARRAF: An indication perhaps that tension is rising as the temperature rises as well between U.S. soldiers and Iraqis in this troubled capital.

Now, across town at the palace occupied by coalition authorities, a demonstration of army officers and former soldiers turned deadly. Now, these soldiers showed up to demand that they be paid. A month ago, the army was disbanded, and senior officers were told that they would never work again in the army. They were supposed to receive a final payment. They had gone four times to the palace gates, they say, and no payment was forthcoming. They say they and their families are destitute.

As an armored vehicle went through that crowd to try to enter the palace, some of the demonstrators began throwing stones and trying to rock the vehicle. Now, while some soldiers fired warning shots across the street, another guard, according to military officials, fired into the crowd, killing two of the demonstrators. It's an issue that's been simmering for some time, the out-of-work army officers and other people thrown out of work. U.S. officials say they're trying to find a way to deal with it.

Jane Arraf, CNN, reporting from Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Now a CNN exclusive. An American nighttime raid right into the middle of Saddam country in Iraq and a bid to try to stop some of those deadly ambush attacks.

CNN's Ben Wedeman went along with U.S. forces.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): A new haul of prisoners netted by Operation Desert Scorpion. Flat on the ground, faces in the dirt, hands bound behind their backs, men suspected of involvement in attacks on U.S. troops outside al-Oja, the town where Saddam Hussein was born. At this house, U.S. troops are looking for men, who earlier this evening had fired on American positions. Everyone is a suspect. A curfew breaker waits to be questioned.

On a farm to the south, a thorough search. In the house, they find an AK-47 assault rifle, ammunition, night-vision goggles, a sniper's scope and a lot of Iraqi dinars, which don't really amount to more than $500 or $600. One by one, the women of the house are brought into the kitchen and questioned about the men on the Americans' wanted list.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's never seen (UNINTELLIGIBLE). She's just heard about him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never seen him?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's your husband's brother, and you've never seen him?

WEDEMAN: Outside, more questions for the farm's owner, the brother of one of Saddam Hussein's senior security officials.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where did you get those Russian night sight from?

WEDEMAN: Plenty of questions; the answers are harder to come by.

A little girl afraid, strange men speaking a strange language have taken over her home in the dead of night.

As these night raids go ahead, an unmanned spy plane controlled remotely from this truck beams back live pictures of the action on the ground. Every movement is closely watched.

Despite the very real technological advantage enjoyed by the United States, Iraqi resistance remains elusive, an annoyance, American officers insist, not a major threat.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, al-Oja, central Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: We just received some more pictures from Saddam Hussein's family albums. Most of them were taken in the 1970s and 1980s. Some show him with various gulf and Middle East leaders. Others with his sons and apparently ordinary Iraqis.

The Bush administration, meanwhile is keeping a very, very wary eye on Iran. The president is speaking out about Iran and the entire issue of nuclear weapons. Let's go to the white house. Our senior White House correspondent John King is standing by with that -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, two critical issues at they at the moment when it comes to Iran. Concerns at the White House and around the world about Iran's nuclear program. Also fascinating attention riveted on Iran in recent days because of demonstrations against the government by thousands of students. Now the White House has consistently said the Bush administration, despite the allegations raised in Tehran, the White House saying that the Bush administration has absolutely nothing to do with trying to insight those demonstrations, but here at the White House today, President Bush was asked about Iran and he made clear that those students have his full support.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I appreciate those courageous souls who speak out for freedom in Iran. They need to know America stands squarely by their side. And I would urge the Iranian administration to treat them with the utmost of respect.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: On the issues of possible nuclear weapon development inside Iran, Mr. Bush says it is critical that the international community work together. He says "we will not tolerate the construction of a nuclear weapon." The president speaking at a time the International Atomic Energy Agency has issued a report raising questions about Iran's claims that its nuclear program is solely for civilian energy programs. The IAEA saying it's trying to make amends and answer its questions. The president says that this White House working with allies around the world must work together and make it crystal clear to Iran that the world will not tolerate that nuclear program turning into a weapons program.

BLITZER: John King at the White House, thanks very much.

Here's your turn to weigh in on this important story. Our web question of the day is this, "Do you think Iran poses a nuclear threat to the United States?" We'll have the results later in this broadcast. You can vote at cnn.com/wolf. While you're there, I'd love to hear from you. Send me your comments. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end this program. That's also, of course, where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

State of emergency. Two nights of riots leave a Michigan city in flames.

Also, fugitive no more. An heir to the Max Factor fortune busted by a bounty hunter.

And Magic's mission. The former NBA superstar talks about living with AIDS 12 years later.

Plus..

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER (voice-over): Under normal conditions the drive from Jerusalem to Ramallah should take only about 15 or 20 minutes. But these are not normal conditions.

(on camera): It's not that to take these kind of trips. The assignments require a lot of preparation, a lot of work. This is our landrover. It's an armored car to make sure that we'll be safe on the way and coming back. It's going to be hot in there, but we're going to get going and we'll see what we can come up with.

(voice-over): It's hot in Jerusalem right now, and I'm not just talking about the weather.

We'll have details coming up.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: Jesus Christ's time on Earth. An ancient artifact that raised hope for millions makes news once again. That story and much more coming up on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: A state of emergency now in place in a small town in Michigan. The town, Benton Harbor. Officials hope the move will prevent a third night of rioting triggered by the death of an African- American.

CNN's Ed Lavandera is our man on the scene right now. He's joining us live -- Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf.

Well, we're at the intersection of Broadway and Empire in Benton Harbor here, and to give you a sense of what's going on here as authorities prepare for what's been described as potentially another dangerous evening.

State police, a row of about 40 cars, have been driving through the streets here in this neighborhood. This particular area out here at Broadway and Empire, where we're at, is considered one of the most dangerous areas in the city, possibly tonight. And what we've seen here is state police driving down the street, essentially making their presence known to the residents that live in this area, urging people to continue walking. They're not allowing anyone just to stand around and loiter around. They're urging people to keep moving and to try to prevent any dangerous situations from exploding again tonight.

But here we've seen this scene several times in the last hour here in Benton Harbor as authorities continue urging people to move along. There will be about 300 law officers in the city here tonight patrolling the situation, trying to prevent a third night of rioting. And the mayor here in Benton Harbor is urging residents to stay calm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR CHARLES YARBROUGH, BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN: I do stand here to tell you that we vow to get to the bottom of this incident. I'm going to let the chips fall where they may. If there's anyone that is directly responsible for this, we will find out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: And authorities here are prepared for another evening. Many the authorities we see here are equipped with riot gear and they've also brought in these vehicles known as peacekeepers. Inside there, authorities can be protected from bottles or bullets if it comes to that this evening.

But again here, authorities prepared for the worst and urging the residents of this area to not break the law. They say they will not waste any time arresting anyone who is breaking the law here this evening. Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: CNN's Ed Lavandera for us on the scene. Thanks, Ed. Let's hope the night goes by relatively quietly.

Meanwhile, the heir to the Max Factor fortune who was convicted earlier this year of rape has now supposedly been captured in Mexico.

Let's check out all the details. CNN's Charles Feldman is standing by in Los Angeles with that -- Charles.

CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, yes. The FBI, by the way, says they definitely got the guy.

And for those of you who don't remember, Andrew Luster is the guy you mentioned, Wolf. He's the great-great grandson - or great- grandson of Max Factor, the makeup king. And he was convicted after he fled California on charges that he used a date rape drug, drugged three women, maybe more -- but convicted of three, raped them and also videotaped it.

Well, his capture is the story of the fugitive versus the dog.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FELDMAN (voice-over): Luster was busted by this man, a bounty hunter by the name of Duane "Dog" Chapman. Chapman caught up with the great-grandson of the makeup king Max Factor in Mexico. But now officials say they believe he may face kidnapping charges in Mexico for capturing Luster.

DUANE CHAPMAN, BOUNTY HUNTER: I'm probably the last true bounty hunter in the country today. I know that I hold the record -- more captures than any law enforcement officer or -- and bounty hunter in the world today.

FELDMAN: A TV crew has also been detained by Mexican authorities, not known at this time who they work for.

As for Chapman, he will be sent back to the U.S. to begin serving a prison sentence that could keep him behind bars for life. His lawyer says, though, an appeal of the conviction will be pursued.

ROGER DIAMOND, LUSTER ATTORNEY: I have prepared for this eventuality by filing a notice of appeal within 60 days of the conviction and so because I did that, the appeal technically is still alive.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FELDMAN: Now it's not clear by the way, when Mr. Luster will be returned to California to finish serving his -- actually to start, let alone finish, serving his 124-year prison sentence -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Charles Feldman in L.A. with that story. Charles, thanks very much. He dominated the headlines as all of our viewers will remember during the search for that sniper, the snipers in the greater Washington, D.C., area. Now Chief Moose faces another kind of pressure. Learn how he reacts.

Also, Gore TV. New reports at how the former vice president plans to battle what he considers conservative media.

And warding off Alzheimer's. A simple solution. Find out why doctors are saying, "Use it or lose it."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Police Chief Charles Moose, the public face of the Washington, D.C., area sniper case in the fall, is resigning.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve reports the case that led to his fame has now also led to his departure.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Chief Moose, was the public face of the sniper investigation, communicating with the public.

CHARLES MOOSE, POLICE CHIEF MONTGOMERY COUNTY: Your children are not safe anywhere at any time.

MESERVE: And cryptically communicating with the sniper as well.

MOOSE: You asked us to say "we have caught the sniper like a duck in a noose."

MESERVE: Moose's national media exposure led to a lucrative book and movie deal. But the ethics board nixed it, saying he couldn't use the prestige of office for private gain. Moose's lawyers went to court.

RON KARP, MOOSE ATTORNEY: The commission is denying him his first amendment right of freedom of speech and expression.

MESERVE: The book, due out in October, can be preordered now on the Internet. Clearly Moose had a choice to make.

DOUGLAS DUNCAN, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND EXECUTIVE: Wants to get on with a new chapter in his life that lets him concentrate on his book and clears up any sort of cloud that might have been hanging over the writing of that book.

MESERVE (on camera): Chief Moose has been on leave of his job since march, serving in the D.C. Air National Guard. His plans beyond the book are uncertain.

Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: How to keep from losing your mind. Some simple steps that may help you avoid Alzheimer's.

Also, holy hoax or historic find: A new discovery about a potential link to Jesus Christ.

And Magic Johnson defies the odds. Hear how he defied the odds living with AIDS.

First headlines making news around the world.

Anti-government demonstrations are now in their second week in Iran and have spread beyond the capital. Lawmakers there are condemning President Bush's support of the protests.

Disturbing demonstrations of a different kind. Two women set themselves on fire in Paris to protest a crackdown on an Iranian exile group that also opposes religious rule in Tehran. And a similar protest in London. A man belonging to the same group, the People's Mujahadeen set himself on fire outside the French Embassy. He's in serious condition.

Afghanistan is expected to produce another bumper crop of opium this year. A United Nations drug official says the country continues to be the world's largest producer, harvesting 3,400 tons last year alone.

Artists from 10 countries are in Berlin competing in the first international sand sculpture festival. Each was given 882 cubic feet of sand to make a sculpture that must be at least 13 feet high.

And more than 1,000 fans greeted English soccer star David Beckham and his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria, as they arrived in Japan. The visit comes the day after it was announced he's leaving Manchester United to play for Madrid. And that's our look around the world.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is a special edition of WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the Middle East. Reporting from Jerusalem, here's Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER: In a moment a major development to try to ease the tensions here in the Middle East, and later, my surprising encounter on the West Bank earlier today. First a quick check of the headlines right now.

(NEWSBREAK)

BLITZER: There's been a desperate, desperate struggle to try to end the violence to terrorism here in this part of the world. Now there are some signs that a cease-fire may just be possible.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER (voice-over): The Israeli government has agreed to scale back its targeted killings of suspected Palestinian terrorists as part of an effort to promote the Middle East peace road map. That's the word from senior Israeli sources who tell CNN Israel will not assassinate Palestinian militants in territories it hands over to the Palestinian Authority. The Israeli expectation the sources say, that the Palestinian Security Services will take charge in cracking down.

The Israeli still leave open some killings to prevent what they call ticking bomb or imminent attacks.

SILVAN SHALOM, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: I am very glad that finally, after a pressure from the Americans, from the European Union and the international community they are willing now to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) these territories.

A ceasefire agreement invovling Hamas and other millitant Palestinian groups could come during Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to Jerusalem on Friday.

In Cambodia he promised not to give up.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: There is no alternative, we have to keep moving. We have to find a way forward.

BLITZER: In Washington, President Bush was on the phone with Egyptian President Hosney Mubarak, asking for help for Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas' efforts to strengthen his security services to dismantle terror.

The Israeli military meanwhile imposed a curfew on a town of Taqila (ph), after suspect Palestinian gunman shot and killed a 7- year-old Israeli girl and wounded her 3-year-old sister and father.

They were driving inside Israeli not far from that town. Israeli officials say the gunman remain at large.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: So is there a solution to this bloody conflict?

Aaron Miller served six -- six U.S. secretaries of state. He was a top advisor on Israeli/Palestinian peace negotiations. He is now trying to reach a new generation as president of Seeds of Peace.

Aaron Miller joins us live here in Jerusalem.

Is it possible there could be some progress right now?

AARON MILLER, PRES. SEEDS OF PEACE: I think there is a way, and I think there's a unique opportunity. No. 1, you've got a Palestinian prime minister that is still in power, and that the Americans and Israelis are willing to talk to. No. 2, you have got an Israeli prime minister that's using a different vocabulary and who has founder stock. His security credentials are unparalleled. Then if he chose to create a breakthrough, I think the Israeli public would follow. No. 3, you have an American president that is willful and forceful and clearly has moved this issue to the top of his agenda. So there is an opportunity. It's going to require very tough decisions by all three parties.

BLITZER: But you also have Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade, the Palestinian terrorist organizations that will do whatever they can presumably to not have some sort of settlement with Israel.

MILLER: It's true. That's why you'll need a serious Israeli/Palestinian channel that can deliver the things that each side needs and an American involvement to sustain that diplomacy. I think it's critical to keep this in mind, Wolf. The Palestinian Authority is going to have to, at some point, whether now through a ceasefire, but ultimately probably through military force, reimpose its control over these groups.

BLITZER: So you are saying there could be a civil war between forces associated with the Palestinian Authority and Mahmoud Abbas on the one hand and Hamas and lets say and the other groups on the other hand?

MILLER: No, I don't think that's what the Palestinian Authority wants and frankly can't afford that. What I'm suggesting is I think the Palestinian Authority and security personnel are going to try to negotiate a ceasefire. If at some point in the future Hamas breaks that and violates the understanding then the Palestinian Authority would have a rationale to crack down. At the same time if, in fact, a ceasefire can be negotiated, the Israelis would have to do things that would empower Abu Mazen, things on the ground. I would use Gaza as a case in point.

BLITZER: Should the Israelis stop these targeted killings of various suspected terrorists?

MILLER: I'm not going to second-guess Israeli security. They have a right to defend themselves. Any democracy faced with the threat of suicide terrorism has this problem. But the problem is every Israeli action has a consequence. This is not a question of the Israelis being -- or Hamas being Osama bin Laden, and the Israelis being the United States. But the fact is Israelis and Palestinians have to live with one another. Every action that the Israelis take has a consequence because ultimately Israelis and Palestinians will probably have to find no alternative other than a negotiated solution.

BLITZER: Is it time for the U.S., NATO forces to start thinking of coming in to separate the Israelis and the Palestinians?

MILLER: Look, when we've used our forces in the Middle East it's always been in the context of an agreement, whether it was Sinai, U.N. peacekeepers on the Golan Heights, it's always come in the context of an agreement. And frankly, before we get to radical solutions like deployment of U.S. forces, we ought to try serious and sustained U.S. diplomacy dealing with those sides.

BLITZER: And you think Secretary Powell, Condoleezz Rice, she has muted that she my be coming to this part of the world.

Is that what we're going to see a lot more of coming from the Bush administration?

MILLER: I could think of no two more qualified better individuals to take this on, empowered by the president of the United States who has moved this issue to the top of his agenda.

BLITZER: And you seem to think that, Ariel Sharon, the prime minister of Israel is ready for some sort of two-state solution which will require major Israeli withdrawals from the West Bank and Gaza and the freezing, if not the elimination of some those settlements if not all of them.

MILLER: What I think is that peace has always been a national priority for every Israeli prime minister. Every Israeli prime minister since Benagan, every single one has managed to reap some sort of accommodation with either Palestinians or Arabs. I don't think Ariel Sharon wants to be the first Israeli prime minister not to take that step.

BLITZER: All right, Aaron Miller, here in Jerusalem, thanks for joining us.

We have much more news coming up, including this, Holy find or hoax: news made today on Jesus and an archaeological discovery.

Plus, the road to Ramallah.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I told my son, staying in his room with his cousin, and what did they play, they played the game of suicide bomber.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Palestinians struggle for a normal life during rather violent times

I'll go one on one with Magic Johnson for a rare interview off the court on his battle with HIV and his fight for the children.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. I am Wolf Blitzer reporting form Jerusalem.

Yesterday I criss-crossed the country with Israel's president as he paid condolence calls on families victimized by violence. Today I took a much shorter journey. I drove into the West Bank town of Ramallah to see what life is like for Palestinians who live day-to-day under Israeli occupation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER (voice-over): Qusay (ph), a middle class dress shop owner says he yearns only for a normal life for his family. But after one especially unpleasant recent confrontation with Israeli soldiers, he saw a shocking change in his 6-year-old son.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I saw his eyes that he is suffering, you know, from I don't know what kind of look it was. Next day, next day, I saw my son playing with his cousin, you know. What did they play? They played a game of suicide bomber. Even though we are not extremists, my family. i tried to raise him as a peaceful man. But look what they do to him.

BLITZER: Other Palestinians tell similar accounts of despair. They blame the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank that goes back to the 1967 war.

There are Israeli military checkpoints around Ramallah, as is the case indeed throughout the West Bank. The Israelis cite security concerns, noting that Palestinian suicide bombers usually have crossed into Jerusalem and other Israeli cities from the West Bank.

But Palestinians, including Dr. George Ismeih, a pediatrician, don't accept that explanation.

DR GEORGE IMSEIH, PEDIATRICIAN: There are more security problems and checkpoints here. These points are a humiliation and insulting for the population -- Palestinian population.

BLITZER: He lives in Ramallah, but works at a hospital in Jerusalem. That commute usually winds up taking 90 minutes or longer each way. Under normal circumstances, that drive would take only about 15 or 20 minutes.

Kais Bakri, a Palestinian businessman, sees a much more sinister Israeli motive.

KAIS BAKRI, BUSINESSMAN: The whole aim of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a checkpoint is to make you want to leave this country.

BLITZER (on camera): This is the Kalindia (ph) checkpoint, just outside of Ramallah. This is normally a busy place. A lot of people want to go back and forward between Ramallah and Jerusalem. If you want to get into Ramallah, you want to leave Ramallah, you got to by and large through this Kalindia checkpoint.

It's open today. People are going through. They're checked. The security is rather tight. But by and large, people are moving.

Almost at a moment's notice, they can close off this checkpoint. They seal off the West Bank from Jerusalem. People won't get in, people won't get out if there's a security problem. That's a fact of life here in the Middle East.

(voice-over): Once inside Ramallah, you see a bustling and diverse Palestinian community. The traditional mixing with the modern, both Muslims and Christians.

Sonia Jeetan is a lawyer in Ramallah who says she has become physically and emotionally drained by the Israeli military occupation, though she insists it's also in some inexplicable way, making the Palestinians stronger.

SONIA JEETAN, LAWYER: I feel tired of the suffering, but I know that in the end this will have to end up in something good for us. I believe that we can't suffer all this and we won't gain anything out of it.

BLITZER: The question for Palestinians and Israelis alike: just when does that happen?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And tomorrow we're going to take a close look at this fence that the Israeli government is building, a fence potentially that could divide Israel from the West Bank. We'll find out how Israelis feel, if they're feeling more secure as a result of this fence, a massive project that's still under way, very much under way along the border.

There's another important development that happened here in Jerusalem earlier today. Experts have rendered their judgment on what some call a major archaeological find. But others believe it's actually a hoax, a box involving the bones of James, the brother of Jesus Christ.

CNN's Jay -- CNN's Jason Bellini has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Eight months ago Christians were excited by the discovery of this box. An ossuary, claimed by its owner to contain the bones of Jesus' brother, James.

The box's engraving, in Aramaic reads, "James, son of Joseph and brother of Jesus." It was touted as one of the first ever physical links to Jesus.

But today, after studying the box meticulously for the past two months, 14 experts spread a wet blanket on those hopes, claim the inscriptions forgeries and modern ones at that.

PROF. AVIGOR HOROWITZ, BIBLICAL LANGUAGES EXPERT: The person who wrote the inscriptions, the person who thought in modern Hebrew, a person who thought in Ancient Hebrew would have thought that the inscription was ridiculous in content.

DR. UZI DAHARI, ARCHAEOLOGIST: It's totally fake because you can see -- you can see the line of the patina, cutted by the letter (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

BELLINI: The box belongs to an Israeli collector named Odon Golan (ph), who said he bought it and a black stone table for $200 at an antique shop in Jerusalem's Old City. He disputes the committee's conclusion. Had the committee found the box's inscription authentic, it would have been worth millions.

Today's announcement means the box, though ancient, is nothing special.

SHUKA DORFMAN, ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY: The box is original probably because we know that we have in our -- in our storage we have, maybe, hundreds of the same ossuary.

BELLINI: In Jesus' time, such boxes were used to store and identify the bones of the deceased when later exhumed.

It's still a mystery whose box this was. But now the experts don't really care.

Jason Bellini, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: It's 45 minutes past the hour. I want to update our viewers on our top story, the capture of the ace of diamonds.

Our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre, is standing by.

Jamie, they seem to be falling pretty quickly, those 55 top most wanted Iraqis. What are you hearing? Are these captured Iraqis telling the U.S. useful information about weapons of mass destruction, about Saddam Hussein or other extremely important issues?

MCINTYRE: Well, they are getting information, but exactly how much and exactly what they are talking about is not clear.

One of the things they said they learned from interrogations is that in fact Saddam Hussein loyalists are continuing to fund attacks against U.S. troops. That is, they're using large caches of money to try to attract recruits to attack U.S. troops.

Now General Mahmud, as you said, the ace of diamond in the deck of the 55 most wanted, he is third in command, probably the one person besides Saddam Hussein and his two sons who might have the answer to where weapons of mass destruction are or to where Saddam and his sons are themselves. Now whether he talks and how long that may take, no one knows. But the U.S. is saying that this is -- quote -- "a significant capture," is the way the White House put it, and it shows that up to this point, the U.S. has captured over 33 of the top 55 -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Still, Saddam Hussein and his two sons, Uday and Qusay very much elusive. They keep telling us, Jamie, until there is hard evidence that any of those three is dead, they have to believe they're alive. Do they believe what Ahmed Chalabi, the former Iraqi opposition leader, has been saying, that Saddam Hussein personally is directing some of this military action against U.S. troops? MCINTYRE: Well, they're not sure. They are under the -- working on the assumption that Saddam is alive. They are working on the assumption that his followers are behind these attacks and they say even if he's not in direct contact with them, the very belief that Saddam Hussein is alive could be simply inspiring his followers to continue the fight against the U.S.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon. Thanks, Jamie, very much.

Magic Johnson, he's as busy as ever, a decade-plus after he came down with HIV and a decade after he retired from basketball. When we come back, I'll talk one-on-one with Magic Johnson about his latest projects, the NBA and much more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: He's one of the greatest basketball players of all times. Magic Johnson since retiring has also done some wonderful things outside of basketball. Earlier today, I had a special conversation with Magic Johnson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Magic Johnson, thanks very much for joining us. First of all, about this event that you, Arnold Palmer, Joe Torre (ph), (UNINTELLIGIBLE), you are all getting involved in this charity. Tell our viewers briefly what is going on.

JOHNSON: The Four Seasons of Hope is a charity-based organization that goes out, and we're all about helping children. And what I use the money that is raised for the Magic Johnson Foundation, I go out and I send young minorities to college. And so right now we have 250 young students in college right now, and the program is really going very, very well. So I'm very pleased with it. I'm glad to be a part of it, and especially glad to be a part of it because these other four men are doing an outstanding job with their foundations as well. And what we're trying to do is just reach back and give back to young people, because we know there's a lot of young people who are less fortunate than ourselves, and we're just trying to give them some hope, and inspire them, and tell them to reach out and dream and go after their dreams and goals.

BLITZER: I know that you have been deeply involved in the battle against AIDS worldwide. What else -- what is the federal government, the U.S. government, not doing that it should be doing to help in this struggle?

JOHNSON: Well, I think that for the first time, President Bush has allocated almost $15 billion to HIV and AIDS. And so that money has to be used and used wisely to reach those who are affected with HIV and AIDS, and also put up a program that we can cause prevention to educate young people about HIV and AIDS. So once this money is allocated and different organizations can use it, we must use it wisely, because when you look up at Africa and some of the continents, of African continents, this disease has really taken effect. Over 40 percent of the people there are infected with HIV and AIDS.

So we have to do a better job there, as well as home here in the United States. But I think that with the money being allocated, we'll be able to do a better job, and the drugs have gotten a lot better, too, as well. We just got to make sure the people can afford those drugs.

BLITZER: What do you feel, Magic, about all these kids starting the NBA career, their NBA careers right out of high school? LeBron James, of course, the number one pick of the NBA this year. Should there be some sort of age limit to become a professional basketball player?

JOHNSON: I think what happens is this: For every LeBron James that makes it, there's five other high school players who don't. And we have to start understanding that. And not only do I think that maybe he should go to college at least for a year or two, because it helps you mature as a person and as a young man. But just like the other leagues, we cannot implement that type of plan where, you know, you have to be a certain age, because those high school players would then sue the league because the other leagues allow young men and women to turn pro at an early age.

So I don't think the NBA will be able to put that plan in place. So if you are going to do it, make sure if you are going to be a high school player and you come out, make sure you are mature enough and physical enough to handle the NBA, not only the schedule of the games, but also playing 82 games instead of playing now 30, like you do in high school.

BLITZER: Magic Johnson, always good to speak with you. Good advice for a lot of young people out there. Before I let you go, how are you feeling?

JOHNSON: I am feeling wonderful. God has blessed me with this good health that I have. It's been 11 years now since I announced I was HIV positive. And life has been great. The drugs have been doing its part. I've been doing my part as far as working out. And so it's been going wonderful. And let me say that I've always enjoyed watching you, because you inform us better than anybody else. It's really wonderful, whether it's the war or whether it's at the White House. Wolf, you're the man. You're the man. You are the LeBron James or the Michael Jordan of your field. How about that?

BLITZER: Hey, Magic, I'll take that. I'll take that for a yes. Thanks very much. Magic Johnson, what can I tell you. Thanks very much for joining us.

JOHNSON: You got it.

BLITZER: You're an inspiration to a lot of people out there.

JOHNSON: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: A really, really nice guy. Had a good time talking with him.

When we come back, surprise at a West Bank military checkpoint. See my reception thousands of miles from home.

Also, our hot Web question of the day is this: Do you think Iran poses a nuclear threat to the United States? You can still vote, cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Just getting this clarification in from CNN's Charles Feldman in Los Angeles. Earlier this hour, he reported on the Andrew Luster story, the Max Factor fortune heir. He reported that the bounty hunter caught him, Dwayne Chapman, faced a long prison sentence when he returns to the United States. Of course, that was not the case. Andrew Luster, of course, faces a long prison sentence when he comes back to the United States on conviction of rape charges in California. Regret the error, of course.

Here's your chance to weigh in on our Web question of the day. Do you think Iran poses a nuclear threat to the United States? Look at this, 24 percent of you say yes, but 76 percent of you say no. Remember, as always, this is not a scientific poll.

This final note -- one nice thing about covering stories around the world, wherever I go, I meet some fascinating people at some unusual locations.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): People are clearly watching CNN around the world, including here on the West Bank.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER (on camera): Yes, that's me. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We see you every day; you don't see us except once in a lifetime.

BLITZER: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You take care.

BLITZER: Thank you very much.

(voice-over): But this guy, selling cold drinks, apparently doesn't get cable. He didn't have a clue who I was. He was just happy to sell us some drinks.

(on camera): Well, good work. Thank you very much. Appreciate it very much. You want a drink? Can I buy you a drink?

(voice-over): By the way, he's been wearing the outfit, including the flowers atop his head, selling drinks since he was 14 years old. (END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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Johnson; Pot Holes on a Very Bumpy Road Map to Peace in Middle East>