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CNN Live Sunday
Volvo Shows Off New Car Designed For Women; Israeli Strike Kills 9 Palestinian Militants, 3 Children; Rockets Fired At Baghdad Green Zone
Aired March 07, 2004 - 16:00 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.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN ANCHOR: When the bell rings, the bullies strike. It's an epidemic that plagues schools across the country. What to do if your child is a victim. Coming up, a new campaign to help your child fight back.
Plus, these could be the hottest wheels on the road. A hood that won't open. It's not supposed to. And you only need an oil change every couple of years or so. Never mind the color. We'll tell you what the women behind this design had in mind.
Hello, and welcome to CNN SUNDAY. I'm Bob Franken. All that and more after this check of the headlines.
Blast after blast jolts Iraq's skyline as seven rockets fired from the back of an SUV target Baghdad's green zone. One injury is reported. The green zone is home to Iraq's coalition provisional authority, and that's where the country's new constitution is supposed to be signed on Monday. We'll have a live report from Baghdad in just a moment.
More blasts, these in the Middle East where 14 Palestinians are dead after Israeli forces raided two Gaza refugee camps. Israeli forces say they're trying to dismantle the terrorism infrastructure. The Israeli army says heavy gunfire on anti-tank missiles were fired at IDF troops. Nine of the dead are Hamas members.
Attorney General John Ashcroft could find out today if he needs surgery. He's being treated in a Washington hospital for a severe case of gallstone pancreatitis. Doctors are giving him antibiotics. How he responds could determine if surgery is warranted.
Recovery teams, including divers and dogs, as you can see in this live picture, are searching the Baltimore Harbor for victims of a water taxi accident. Three people are still missing after yesterday's capsizing. Specially trained dogs are indicating they may be on the scent of something. We'll have a live report from the scene in just a few minutes.
We begin in Iraq where Baghdad was once again rocked by explosions. It happened on the eve of the expected signing of the country's interim constitution and near the location of the ceremony. CNN's Ben Wedeman is in the Iraqi capital and joins us for a live update -- Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, hello, Bob. Those explosions went off mid-evening here coming from the area in the direction of the green zone. That, of course, is the heart of the coalition provisional authority.
Now, according to senior coalition sources, what happened was, there's some sort of vehicle, an SUV drove up just north of the Rashid Hotel, fired at least seven rockets, five of them hit the hotel lightly, injuring one U.S. civilian contractor.
Now, the vehicle apparently was set ablaze. Two missiles found by Iraqi police still onboard. Afterwards members of the 1st Armored Division cleared the area and exploded that vehicle.
Now, this is not the first time the Rashid was attacked it. On the 26th of October, last year, very early one Sunday morning, several missiles hit the hotel during a visit by Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz. And in that incident, one American officer was killed.
Since then, the hotel is by and large cleared. There's a few U.S. civilian contractors and military personnel, but no longer do coalition officials live in that hotel.
Just across from that hotel is where the conference center is and that is where tomorrow it is expected, at noon Baghdad time, the members of the Iraqi governing council will sign the delayed interim constitution.
Now, that was supposed to have been signed on Friday, but there were last-minute disputes. Several members, Iraqi Shiite members of that council, objecting to a clause that would have allowed Kurdish provinces to essentially veto a permanent constitution that's supposed to go to vote sometime next year. We are told, however, that no changes in the end were actually made to the interim constitution and that signing will go ahead.
Meanwhile, the U.S. justice department is sending 50 prosecutors, investigators and administrative staff to sort through the evidence that will be used in the war crimes trial that is eventually going to be held, possibly as early as this summer or early fall.
That war crimes trial will be against senior officials of the former Iraqi regime, including Saddam Hussein. However, it is going to be an Iraqi trial with Iraqi judges. The U.S. people are coming here just essentially to help them organize a case against the former regime and its leaders -- Bob.
FRANKEN: Ben, back to that constitution. Is there any indication that these attacks might affect the location of the ceremonies?
WEDEMAN: Well, senior coalition officials tell us that they have have -- actually for several days now, have seriously beefed up security in that area. That they will go ahead. That they will take place in the conference center.
We had heard before the Friday ceremony when they didn't sign the constitution, that they were concerned that there would be so many members of the governing council, senior officials from the coalition provisional authority, other V.I.P.s and diplomats, that this would obviously be an ideal target for anybody who wanted to disrupt the ceremony and derail the whole process of trying to get a Democratic system in place in Iraq.
Nonetheless, as I said, they are going to go ahead, not changing the location or the time. So it seems like they feel confident enough to hold it on schedule, in place -- Bob.
FRANKEN: Ben Wedeman in Iraq in Baghdad, following the ever- changing story.
And the U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq says negotiations over the country's interim constitution are quote, "a great example of democracy at work." As Ben reported, the signing of the document was delayed after Shiite members of the Iraq governing council objected to a clause. But Paul Bremer says that's to be expected. He spoke with Wolf Blitzer today on "CNN's LATE EDITION."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL BREMER, U.S. CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATOR IN IRAQ: The fundamental issue is the protection of minority rights, whether they're Kurds, Shia, Sunnis or somebody on the wrong end of a vote for a while. Democracy is not just about elections and it's not just about majority rule. It's also about protecting the minorities who may be, as they are in our case, temporary minorities. The Democrats are in power, then they're out. The Republicans are in power, then out.
Democracy really does depend on the protection of minority rights. And at the bottom, that's the question that's involved here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: And as we've been reporting, the signing of the interim constitution is expected tomorrow. But Bremer Left open the possibility of another delay.
Events in Iraq will almost certainly affect the presidential campaign and the election. CNN's Dana Bash joins us from Crawford, Texas, near the president's ranch with more -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bob. Well, the White House is keep a low profile with regards to these attacks not reacting quite yet to them. But no doubt, Bob, they're keeping a close watch on them. Because it goes without saying that the transition back to a Democratic Iraq is absolutely essential, Bush advisers believe, by June 30. That's their deadline. And it's essential primarily because it's a presidential election year.
The Bush campaign advisers fanned out across the Sunday talk shows today talking about the economy, defending the president's record on that, defending the president's of images of 9/11 in his new campaign ads. But Iraq was also front and center politically this weekend.
Both the president and his Democratic rival, John Kerry, used their weekly radio address to talk about the issue of Iraq. And Senator Kerry gave an interview to "TIME" magazine where he said he is beginning to try to formulate the policy for what he would do now in Iraq, if he were president. Saying that he is planning, probably in the near future, to send a delegation to Iraq to get some information about what exactly is going on on the ground there to help him formulate that policy.
Now, the Bush campaign, you can imagine, not surprisingly said that that mission would probably be political.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TERRY HOLT, BUSH-CHENEY CAMPAIGN: I think the political question is a little touchy. I mean, you know, Sean Penn went to Iraq. Hillary Clinton went over Thanksgiving. So I think it's fine. It's just that it's -- it's very close to politics. Are you going to use it for policy purposes to make better decisions and perhaps maybe next time vote for the war supplemental? Or are you going to become a little more political with the information?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, you heard those illusions to Sean Penn and Hillary Clinton, part of the president's campaign to paint John Kerry as a liberal. Also part of the campaign to paint him as a flip-flopper on the issues. Iraq is one of those issues saying he voted for the war in Iraq in the Senate and now is running against it.
But John Kerry, as you know, John -- Bob, I should say, says that the president is misled him, misled Americans, because the intelligence going into the war on weapons of mass destruction was faulty -- Bob.
FRANKEN: Dana Dash in Crawford, Texas. And, of course, it's extremely difficult to avoid any political interpretations of things during this period of the campaign.
The Bush re-election campaign remains under fire for using images from September 11 in a series of ads that aired this week. So former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani used his time on the morning talk shows to defend the president's use of the images.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUDY GIULIANI, FRM NEW YORK MAYOR: The real issue is, is it appropriate for the president to talk about that as a challenge of his administration? And I think it's unrealistic to think that it isn't. This was part of the president's record. It was a part of the record that I believe, and people are entitled to disagree about that, a very, very important part, because I this president led us very effectively through the worst attack in our history.
(END VIDEO CLIP) FRANKEN: The ads are part of a $10 million initial advertising blitz by the Bush/Cheney re-election campaign.
And now, to the tragedy in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Maryland divers are searching the cold depths for three people still missing after yesterday's water taxi accident. Search dogs trained to find submerged bodies are acting like they found something. Our Kathleen Koch is in Baltimore with more.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bob, this search has been going on all day. It started about 7:00 a.m. this morning. And we're being told that the three remaining passengers who are missing are a man a woman and a child. We don't know if they're from the same family.
Of those passengers who were rescued yesterday, we're told now only 7 still remain in the hospital. Two of them in critical condition is condition.
Some of the evens of this afternoon, first of all, the water taxi itself, the seaport water taxi, was righted just a few minutes ago. The 36-foot by 8 foot pontoon boat had been sitting submerged and upside down the last 24 hours, tied up at a dock just next to us, but they finally righted it, and investigators will now have a chance to really go over it.
And they pointed out the dogs. They have been going back and forth across the waters behind us all morning, really, then into the afternoon, and they apparently hit on a scent between an area -- between two green buoys where they lowered some divers in and are checking that out.
But another dramatic events and photographs released by the Navy late this afternoon showing some scenes of the dramatic rescue. Naval reservists jumped into boats when then saw the taxi overturn late yesterday afternoon. They got to the scene as quickly as they could. And we talked with one who described what they found there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID ROMANO, U.S. NAVY RESCUE: We had a crew of people, at least a dozen active and reserve Navy. When we went there, they were pretty upset, screaming, hollering that they had some people underneath the boat that were trapped.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: Now, the weather is said by the national transportation safety board to be a very central factor in this investigation. Other items the NTSB is looking at is whether or not the water taxi company gave passengers the proper safety briefing on where the life vests were, how they could access them, show them how to put them on. Was there a placard on the boat that gave those instructions?
The NTSB is also very busy today questioning people on the boat. Anyone who saw the boat capsize and also the rescuers. But we are being told, Bob, that the investigation will take some three to four days here on the scene, but the search for the bodies could take quite a long time. Back to you.
FRANKEN: Such a tragedy in Baltimore. Kathleen Koch, thank you.
And elsewhere across America. , in Los Angeles, UCLA police are not saying why they've arrested the director of a program that provides donated cadavers for medical research. But the "L.A. Times" reports authorities are investigating whether they stole body parts and sold them.
In Pokamoke City Maryland, the U.S. agriculture reports a case of avian flu at a commercial chicken farm. The same strain turned up in two flocks in Delaware. The farm is under quarantine.
In Concord, New Hampshire, openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, takes control of the New Hampshire Episcopal Diocese with today's investiger (ph) ceremony. His confirmation six months ago sharply divided the denomination. Conservative minorities still oppose his inconsecration.
Internationally, more violence in Haiti. Coming up next, gunfire interrupts a peaceful demonstration.
Plus, a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some children are among the dead in raids in the Middle East.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FRANKEN: In Gaza today more deadly violence. Israeli forces raided two Palestinian refugee camps killing at least 14 Palestinians and wounding about 50 others, according to Palestinian sources. The militant group Hamas said nine of the dead were militants and the rest civilians including three boys under the age of 14. CNN's Chris Burns has details from Gaza.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the funerals, vows of revenge, promises of more bloodshed after the latest Israeli raid in Gaza. After intense firefights between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces that rolled into two refugee camps in central Gaza before dawn.
The Israeli army says its tanks and armored vehicles backed by Apache helicopters came in search of terrorists infrastructure, the militants and their weapons, which is exactly what they faced.
Israeli forces say the militants fired more than a dozen anti- tank rockets, along with rocket propelled grenades and a hail of bullets, and from Palestinian youth, a hail of stones.
Palestinian hospital sources say civilian was among the dead, including at least three children.
(on camera): The Israeli incursion comes just a day after a three-car attack by Palestinian militants on the border crossing with northern Israel far over my shoulder. The attack, however, was stopped right here at the Palestinian checkpoint.
(voice-over): Four Palestinians died along with two Palestinian policemen at the checkpoint. The Israelis say that helps justify their policy of repeated incursions in Gaza.
AVI PAZNER, ISRAELI GOVT. SPOKSEMAN: Our operation is purely on an ongoing base. We are fighting now a wave of terrorism.
BURNS: Calling for help from the international community, the Palestinian authority says the Israeli policy will only lead to more violence.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Israelis are still playing with fire.
BURNS: Expecting more fire from Palestinian militants, Israel was under tight security as it celebrated the Jewish holiday of Pareem. Parades of traditional rejoicing. While a short drive away, a different type of parade, focused on revenge.
Chris Burns, CNN, in the Gaza strip.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: In other news around the world. In Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, what started as a peaceful demonstration ended with gunfire and one protester killed, four journalists were wounded. Still not clear who the shooters were but witnesses say it came from the direction of a pro-Aristide neighborhood.
Thousands of people marched toward the presidential palace earlier, celebrating the ousting of Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
In Moscow a powerful apartment explosion. The city's mayor says he's 98 percent sure it was caused by a gas leak, and that two people were hurt. The Russian news agency say eight people were injured and others may be trapped beneath the rubble.
And Iran says it's time for the U.N. to hurry up and finish its 13 month review of the country's nuclear program. Iran's top nuclear negotiator says his country has taken steps towards reassuring the world its nuclear program is peaceful. But the U.N. agency is scheduled to discuss the issue at a meeting in Vienna tomorrow.
Women are taking charge on the roads. And coming up next, gone are the days when ladies sprawled over a car to help sell it. Now, they're helping to make choices in the boardroom.
And some important news for parents. Big changes could be coming to your child's school.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FRANKEN: We take you behind the wheel now way look at a new car designed entirely by women for women. It's the Volvo concept car and it has key designs, including a seat indentation for a ponytail. Volvo unveiled the car at the Geneva International Auto Show this weekend.
Our guest is somebody who says cars makers are designing vehicles with more women things in mind. Women things: I know you'll love that term. I'm talking with Lauren, the auto expert and the co-host on the "Do It Yourself."
Let's talk about this. Why are they doing this?
LAUREN FIX, CAR EXPERT: Well, actually what happens, women are making 55 percent of the buying decisions and 80 percent of the influence. You have could cater to us. That's what they've done. They actually came up with an idea about a year and a half ago, decided to get 120 people involved. Most of which were women and they were employees to get their input. They found a lot of women don't want to maintain their own cars, although we're supposed to be car care aware and do basic maintenance, most women want to take somewhere.
And so they have a bonnet that doesn't off. And they have 2 neat little outlets, one for the gas and one for the washer fluid.
Because women are looking at things differently. This is a fashion statement. So, we wanted to change the cushions. We want to be able to move things around, gear and our kids. So the seats are cinema-style seats.
And there was so much input by women, if we're making this much of the buying decision, we should have input in the design. That's how the whole concept evolved. And what's neat, this car will be at the New York Auto Show on April 9.
FRANKEN: At the risk of losing my masculinity right here and now, some of these things are universally appealing. Wouldn't you agree?
FIX: I agree. It wasn't designed for women, but it was designed for people in general. I mean, a lot of people don't want to work on their own cars. That's why there are dealers and that's why there are tons of technical shops out there to do the work for you.
However, what's neat about the car is, the big thing was visibility. It was seating comfort. You can actually get your body scanned, which may be good or bad, and they put it into a key and when you put your key into the ignition, it would know it's you and would adjust the seats, the best visibility, the best distance from the steering wheel and the best safety position. So, there's a lot of neat things a.
FRANKEN: They have variation on that now, Volvo does, where you in effect set your key, your seat ahead of time with the number of settings. Why the sea gull openings? That's like the old Mercedes. Why are they doing that?
FIX: They call it the A pillar and the B pillar. The A pillar is where the windshield attached, and the B, is that next post, like if you had a second door, it's moved much further back so you can bring in your briefcase, or your laptop case, or get children easier, child safety seats, move them, let the kids get in and out.
So all that was designed for convenience, for head clearance. Women want easy in, easy out. They want to make life easier. We live in these cars. I mean not just women, but men, everybody lives in their vehicle it seems. So the idea was to make it a little more consumer friendly.
And a lot of these goes into Volvo production. I know Mazda also has a focus group they put together. So does Lexus. Everybody's doing it because they don't want to lose out on that sale.
FRANKEN: There an ad, I believe its for Dodge where they show the couple, the husband and wife. The woman is concerned about the fuzzy things and the husband concerned about the HEMI engine.
FIX: The HEMI, yes.
FRANKEN: The macho thing. What you seem to be suggesting that those differences are really not that far apart? That there needs to be a melding and there is a melding of the gender interest in cars?
FIX: There really is. There used to be the he said, she said. If my husband came home with a car, and I would say, did you think about the kids, did you think about all the gear we have to move around? That's why a lot of times they're trying to design the vehicles for the whole family, not just the masculine side. If it's got a HEMI, that it's got more than that.
And so that's what all of the manufacturers are trying to do and the dealers are trained to be aware women want to know the details we get on Internet, we find out information, we come in as very informed consumers and they don't want to lose those sales.
FRANKEN: Lauren Fix, with the latest on still another cultural fix.
And here's another one. The boys may be saying good-bye to the girls. That's actually a reversion. That is, if the federal government has its way. Up next: the faces in the nation's public schools could soon see a change.
Plus, new efforts under way to help students who get scared when the clock strikes 3:00 in the school buildings.
And he was used to throwing blows inside the ring, but got blindsided by a few life lessons. We'll tell you about his comeback, coming up later.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Kills 9 Palestinian Militants, 3 Children; Rockets Fired At Baghdad Green Zone>
Aired March 7, 2004 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN ANCHOR: When the bell rings, the bullies strike. It's an epidemic that plagues schools across the country. What to do if your child is a victim. Coming up, a new campaign to help your child fight back.
Plus, these could be the hottest wheels on the road. A hood that won't open. It's not supposed to. And you only need an oil change every couple of years or so. Never mind the color. We'll tell you what the women behind this design had in mind.
Hello, and welcome to CNN SUNDAY. I'm Bob Franken. All that and more after this check of the headlines.
Blast after blast jolts Iraq's skyline as seven rockets fired from the back of an SUV target Baghdad's green zone. One injury is reported. The green zone is home to Iraq's coalition provisional authority, and that's where the country's new constitution is supposed to be signed on Monday. We'll have a live report from Baghdad in just a moment.
More blasts, these in the Middle East where 14 Palestinians are dead after Israeli forces raided two Gaza refugee camps. Israeli forces say they're trying to dismantle the terrorism infrastructure. The Israeli army says heavy gunfire on anti-tank missiles were fired at IDF troops. Nine of the dead are Hamas members.
Attorney General John Ashcroft could find out today if he needs surgery. He's being treated in a Washington hospital for a severe case of gallstone pancreatitis. Doctors are giving him antibiotics. How he responds could determine if surgery is warranted.
Recovery teams, including divers and dogs, as you can see in this live picture, are searching the Baltimore Harbor for victims of a water taxi accident. Three people are still missing after yesterday's capsizing. Specially trained dogs are indicating they may be on the scent of something. We'll have a live report from the scene in just a few minutes.
We begin in Iraq where Baghdad was once again rocked by explosions. It happened on the eve of the expected signing of the country's interim constitution and near the location of the ceremony. CNN's Ben Wedeman is in the Iraqi capital and joins us for a live update -- Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, hello, Bob. Those explosions went off mid-evening here coming from the area in the direction of the green zone. That, of course, is the heart of the coalition provisional authority.
Now, according to senior coalition sources, what happened was, there's some sort of vehicle, an SUV drove up just north of the Rashid Hotel, fired at least seven rockets, five of them hit the hotel lightly, injuring one U.S. civilian contractor.
Now, the vehicle apparently was set ablaze. Two missiles found by Iraqi police still onboard. Afterwards members of the 1st Armored Division cleared the area and exploded that vehicle.
Now, this is not the first time the Rashid was attacked it. On the 26th of October, last year, very early one Sunday morning, several missiles hit the hotel during a visit by Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz. And in that incident, one American officer was killed.
Since then, the hotel is by and large cleared. There's a few U.S. civilian contractors and military personnel, but no longer do coalition officials live in that hotel.
Just across from that hotel is where the conference center is and that is where tomorrow it is expected, at noon Baghdad time, the members of the Iraqi governing council will sign the delayed interim constitution.
Now, that was supposed to have been signed on Friday, but there were last-minute disputes. Several members, Iraqi Shiite members of that council, objecting to a clause that would have allowed Kurdish provinces to essentially veto a permanent constitution that's supposed to go to vote sometime next year. We are told, however, that no changes in the end were actually made to the interim constitution and that signing will go ahead.
Meanwhile, the U.S. justice department is sending 50 prosecutors, investigators and administrative staff to sort through the evidence that will be used in the war crimes trial that is eventually going to be held, possibly as early as this summer or early fall.
That war crimes trial will be against senior officials of the former Iraqi regime, including Saddam Hussein. However, it is going to be an Iraqi trial with Iraqi judges. The U.S. people are coming here just essentially to help them organize a case against the former regime and its leaders -- Bob.
FRANKEN: Ben, back to that constitution. Is there any indication that these attacks might affect the location of the ceremonies?
WEDEMAN: Well, senior coalition officials tell us that they have have -- actually for several days now, have seriously beefed up security in that area. That they will go ahead. That they will take place in the conference center.
We had heard before the Friday ceremony when they didn't sign the constitution, that they were concerned that there would be so many members of the governing council, senior officials from the coalition provisional authority, other V.I.P.s and diplomats, that this would obviously be an ideal target for anybody who wanted to disrupt the ceremony and derail the whole process of trying to get a Democratic system in place in Iraq.
Nonetheless, as I said, they are going to go ahead, not changing the location or the time. So it seems like they feel confident enough to hold it on schedule, in place -- Bob.
FRANKEN: Ben Wedeman in Iraq in Baghdad, following the ever- changing story.
And the U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq says negotiations over the country's interim constitution are quote, "a great example of democracy at work." As Ben reported, the signing of the document was delayed after Shiite members of the Iraq governing council objected to a clause. But Paul Bremer says that's to be expected. He spoke with Wolf Blitzer today on "CNN's LATE EDITION."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL BREMER, U.S. CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATOR IN IRAQ: The fundamental issue is the protection of minority rights, whether they're Kurds, Shia, Sunnis or somebody on the wrong end of a vote for a while. Democracy is not just about elections and it's not just about majority rule. It's also about protecting the minorities who may be, as they are in our case, temporary minorities. The Democrats are in power, then they're out. The Republicans are in power, then out.
Democracy really does depend on the protection of minority rights. And at the bottom, that's the question that's involved here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: And as we've been reporting, the signing of the interim constitution is expected tomorrow. But Bremer Left open the possibility of another delay.
Events in Iraq will almost certainly affect the presidential campaign and the election. CNN's Dana Bash joins us from Crawford, Texas, near the president's ranch with more -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bob. Well, the White House is keep a low profile with regards to these attacks not reacting quite yet to them. But no doubt, Bob, they're keeping a close watch on them. Because it goes without saying that the transition back to a Democratic Iraq is absolutely essential, Bush advisers believe, by June 30. That's their deadline. And it's essential primarily because it's a presidential election year.
The Bush campaign advisers fanned out across the Sunday talk shows today talking about the economy, defending the president's record on that, defending the president's of images of 9/11 in his new campaign ads. But Iraq was also front and center politically this weekend.
Both the president and his Democratic rival, John Kerry, used their weekly radio address to talk about the issue of Iraq. And Senator Kerry gave an interview to "TIME" magazine where he said he is beginning to try to formulate the policy for what he would do now in Iraq, if he were president. Saying that he is planning, probably in the near future, to send a delegation to Iraq to get some information about what exactly is going on on the ground there to help him formulate that policy.
Now, the Bush campaign, you can imagine, not surprisingly said that that mission would probably be political.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TERRY HOLT, BUSH-CHENEY CAMPAIGN: I think the political question is a little touchy. I mean, you know, Sean Penn went to Iraq. Hillary Clinton went over Thanksgiving. So I think it's fine. It's just that it's -- it's very close to politics. Are you going to use it for policy purposes to make better decisions and perhaps maybe next time vote for the war supplemental? Or are you going to become a little more political with the information?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, you heard those illusions to Sean Penn and Hillary Clinton, part of the president's campaign to paint John Kerry as a liberal. Also part of the campaign to paint him as a flip-flopper on the issues. Iraq is one of those issues saying he voted for the war in Iraq in the Senate and now is running against it.
But John Kerry, as you know, John -- Bob, I should say, says that the president is misled him, misled Americans, because the intelligence going into the war on weapons of mass destruction was faulty -- Bob.
FRANKEN: Dana Dash in Crawford, Texas. And, of course, it's extremely difficult to avoid any political interpretations of things during this period of the campaign.
The Bush re-election campaign remains under fire for using images from September 11 in a series of ads that aired this week. So former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani used his time on the morning talk shows to defend the president's use of the images.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUDY GIULIANI, FRM NEW YORK MAYOR: The real issue is, is it appropriate for the president to talk about that as a challenge of his administration? And I think it's unrealistic to think that it isn't. This was part of the president's record. It was a part of the record that I believe, and people are entitled to disagree about that, a very, very important part, because I this president led us very effectively through the worst attack in our history.
(END VIDEO CLIP) FRANKEN: The ads are part of a $10 million initial advertising blitz by the Bush/Cheney re-election campaign.
And now, to the tragedy in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Maryland divers are searching the cold depths for three people still missing after yesterday's water taxi accident. Search dogs trained to find submerged bodies are acting like they found something. Our Kathleen Koch is in Baltimore with more.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bob, this search has been going on all day. It started about 7:00 a.m. this morning. And we're being told that the three remaining passengers who are missing are a man a woman and a child. We don't know if they're from the same family.
Of those passengers who were rescued yesterday, we're told now only 7 still remain in the hospital. Two of them in critical condition is condition.
Some of the evens of this afternoon, first of all, the water taxi itself, the seaport water taxi, was righted just a few minutes ago. The 36-foot by 8 foot pontoon boat had been sitting submerged and upside down the last 24 hours, tied up at a dock just next to us, but they finally righted it, and investigators will now have a chance to really go over it.
And they pointed out the dogs. They have been going back and forth across the waters behind us all morning, really, then into the afternoon, and they apparently hit on a scent between an area -- between two green buoys where they lowered some divers in and are checking that out.
But another dramatic events and photographs released by the Navy late this afternoon showing some scenes of the dramatic rescue. Naval reservists jumped into boats when then saw the taxi overturn late yesterday afternoon. They got to the scene as quickly as they could. And we talked with one who described what they found there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID ROMANO, U.S. NAVY RESCUE: We had a crew of people, at least a dozen active and reserve Navy. When we went there, they were pretty upset, screaming, hollering that they had some people underneath the boat that were trapped.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: Now, the weather is said by the national transportation safety board to be a very central factor in this investigation. Other items the NTSB is looking at is whether or not the water taxi company gave passengers the proper safety briefing on where the life vests were, how they could access them, show them how to put them on. Was there a placard on the boat that gave those instructions?
The NTSB is also very busy today questioning people on the boat. Anyone who saw the boat capsize and also the rescuers. But we are being told, Bob, that the investigation will take some three to four days here on the scene, but the search for the bodies could take quite a long time. Back to you.
FRANKEN: Such a tragedy in Baltimore. Kathleen Koch, thank you.
And elsewhere across America. , in Los Angeles, UCLA police are not saying why they've arrested the director of a program that provides donated cadavers for medical research. But the "L.A. Times" reports authorities are investigating whether they stole body parts and sold them.
In Pokamoke City Maryland, the U.S. agriculture reports a case of avian flu at a commercial chicken farm. The same strain turned up in two flocks in Delaware. The farm is under quarantine.
In Concord, New Hampshire, openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, takes control of the New Hampshire Episcopal Diocese with today's investiger (ph) ceremony. His confirmation six months ago sharply divided the denomination. Conservative minorities still oppose his inconsecration.
Internationally, more violence in Haiti. Coming up next, gunfire interrupts a peaceful demonstration.
Plus, a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some children are among the dead in raids in the Middle East.
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FRANKEN: In Gaza today more deadly violence. Israeli forces raided two Palestinian refugee camps killing at least 14 Palestinians and wounding about 50 others, according to Palestinian sources. The militant group Hamas said nine of the dead were militants and the rest civilians including three boys under the age of 14. CNN's Chris Burns has details from Gaza.
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CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the funerals, vows of revenge, promises of more bloodshed after the latest Israeli raid in Gaza. After intense firefights between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces that rolled into two refugee camps in central Gaza before dawn.
The Israeli army says its tanks and armored vehicles backed by Apache helicopters came in search of terrorists infrastructure, the militants and their weapons, which is exactly what they faced.
Israeli forces say the militants fired more than a dozen anti- tank rockets, along with rocket propelled grenades and a hail of bullets, and from Palestinian youth, a hail of stones.
Palestinian hospital sources say civilian was among the dead, including at least three children.
(on camera): The Israeli incursion comes just a day after a three-car attack by Palestinian militants on the border crossing with northern Israel far over my shoulder. The attack, however, was stopped right here at the Palestinian checkpoint.
(voice-over): Four Palestinians died along with two Palestinian policemen at the checkpoint. The Israelis say that helps justify their policy of repeated incursions in Gaza.
AVI PAZNER, ISRAELI GOVT. SPOKSEMAN: Our operation is purely on an ongoing base. We are fighting now a wave of terrorism.
BURNS: Calling for help from the international community, the Palestinian authority says the Israeli policy will only lead to more violence.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Israelis are still playing with fire.
BURNS: Expecting more fire from Palestinian militants, Israel was under tight security as it celebrated the Jewish holiday of Pareem. Parades of traditional rejoicing. While a short drive away, a different type of parade, focused on revenge.
Chris Burns, CNN, in the Gaza strip.
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FRANKEN: In other news around the world. In Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, what started as a peaceful demonstration ended with gunfire and one protester killed, four journalists were wounded. Still not clear who the shooters were but witnesses say it came from the direction of a pro-Aristide neighborhood.
Thousands of people marched toward the presidential palace earlier, celebrating the ousting of Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
In Moscow a powerful apartment explosion. The city's mayor says he's 98 percent sure it was caused by a gas leak, and that two people were hurt. The Russian news agency say eight people were injured and others may be trapped beneath the rubble.
And Iran says it's time for the U.N. to hurry up and finish its 13 month review of the country's nuclear program. Iran's top nuclear negotiator says his country has taken steps towards reassuring the world its nuclear program is peaceful. But the U.N. agency is scheduled to discuss the issue at a meeting in Vienna tomorrow.
Women are taking charge on the roads. And coming up next, gone are the days when ladies sprawled over a car to help sell it. Now, they're helping to make choices in the boardroom.
And some important news for parents. Big changes could be coming to your child's school.
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FRANKEN: We take you behind the wheel now way look at a new car designed entirely by women for women. It's the Volvo concept car and it has key designs, including a seat indentation for a ponytail. Volvo unveiled the car at the Geneva International Auto Show this weekend.
Our guest is somebody who says cars makers are designing vehicles with more women things in mind. Women things: I know you'll love that term. I'm talking with Lauren, the auto expert and the co-host on the "Do It Yourself."
Let's talk about this. Why are they doing this?
LAUREN FIX, CAR EXPERT: Well, actually what happens, women are making 55 percent of the buying decisions and 80 percent of the influence. You have could cater to us. That's what they've done. They actually came up with an idea about a year and a half ago, decided to get 120 people involved. Most of which were women and they were employees to get their input. They found a lot of women don't want to maintain their own cars, although we're supposed to be car care aware and do basic maintenance, most women want to take somewhere.
And so they have a bonnet that doesn't off. And they have 2 neat little outlets, one for the gas and one for the washer fluid.
Because women are looking at things differently. This is a fashion statement. So, we wanted to change the cushions. We want to be able to move things around, gear and our kids. So the seats are cinema-style seats.
And there was so much input by women, if we're making this much of the buying decision, we should have input in the design. That's how the whole concept evolved. And what's neat, this car will be at the New York Auto Show on April 9.
FRANKEN: At the risk of losing my masculinity right here and now, some of these things are universally appealing. Wouldn't you agree?
FIX: I agree. It wasn't designed for women, but it was designed for people in general. I mean, a lot of people don't want to work on their own cars. That's why there are dealers and that's why there are tons of technical shops out there to do the work for you.
However, what's neat about the car is, the big thing was visibility. It was seating comfort. You can actually get your body scanned, which may be good or bad, and they put it into a key and when you put your key into the ignition, it would know it's you and would adjust the seats, the best visibility, the best distance from the steering wheel and the best safety position. So, there's a lot of neat things a.
FRANKEN: They have variation on that now, Volvo does, where you in effect set your key, your seat ahead of time with the number of settings. Why the sea gull openings? That's like the old Mercedes. Why are they doing that?
FIX: They call it the A pillar and the B pillar. The A pillar is where the windshield attached, and the B, is that next post, like if you had a second door, it's moved much further back so you can bring in your briefcase, or your laptop case, or get children easier, child safety seats, move them, let the kids get in and out.
So all that was designed for convenience, for head clearance. Women want easy in, easy out. They want to make life easier. We live in these cars. I mean not just women, but men, everybody lives in their vehicle it seems. So the idea was to make it a little more consumer friendly.
And a lot of these goes into Volvo production. I know Mazda also has a focus group they put together. So does Lexus. Everybody's doing it because they don't want to lose out on that sale.
FRANKEN: There an ad, I believe its for Dodge where they show the couple, the husband and wife. The woman is concerned about the fuzzy things and the husband concerned about the HEMI engine.
FIX: The HEMI, yes.
FRANKEN: The macho thing. What you seem to be suggesting that those differences are really not that far apart? That there needs to be a melding and there is a melding of the gender interest in cars?
FIX: There really is. There used to be the he said, she said. If my husband came home with a car, and I would say, did you think about the kids, did you think about all the gear we have to move around? That's why a lot of times they're trying to design the vehicles for the whole family, not just the masculine side. If it's got a HEMI, that it's got more than that.
And so that's what all of the manufacturers are trying to do and the dealers are trained to be aware women want to know the details we get on Internet, we find out information, we come in as very informed consumers and they don't want to lose those sales.
FRANKEN: Lauren Fix, with the latest on still another cultural fix.
And here's another one. The boys may be saying good-bye to the girls. That's actually a reversion. That is, if the federal government has its way. Up next: the faces in the nation's public schools could soon see a change.
Plus, new efforts under way to help students who get scared when the clock strikes 3:00 in the school buildings.
And he was used to throwing blows inside the ring, but got blindsided by a few life lessons. We'll tell you about his comeback, coming up later.
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Kills 9 Palestinian Militants, 3 Children; Rockets Fired At Baghdad Green Zone>
