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CNN Sunday Morning
Taipei Presidential Palace Besieged by Demonstrators; 2 U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq
Aired March 21, 2004 - 08:00 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Well, the next hour of "CNN SUNDAY MORNING" begins right now.
And good morning, everyone. Thanks for waking up with us. It's Sunday, March 21. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is "CNN SUNDAY MORNING." I'm Kyra Phillips.
ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Erica Hill. It's good to have you with us.
Here's what we've got coming up for you this hour: live to Iraq, where a year after the start of the war security concerns dominate the discussion.
What a view. It is a dream home and it can be yours, at least for a little while. We'll tell you about a new trend in luxury vacations.
And if you are just waking up and turning on CNN, you missed this live. Check it out. Just an hour ago, a Philly blast. But don't worry, folks. We're going to show you the whole thing again. Veterans Stadium disappearing in a cloud of dust.
PHILLIPS: Here's what is happening at the half-hour:
The presidential palace in Taipei is besieged today by demonstrators. They are supporters of opposition candidate Lian Zhan, who lost Saturday's presidential election by a very thin margin. A Taiwanese court has ordered all ballot boxes sealed, but so far there's been no official decision on a recount.
In western Pakistan, there's a lull of what's been days of intense fighting in the mountains bordering Afghanistan. Tribal leaders are convinced that the Pakistani military has eased up on their air assault -- or they've convinced them, rather. In exchange, the leaders will negotiate with villagers who may be protecting al Qaeda fighters. It's still not clear if the group's number two man is among those militants.
And in Iraq, two U.S. soldiers killed overnight. Six other troops are wounded in a rocket attack. The rockets were aimed at a military position in Fallujah. Other rocket attacks in Baghdad today killed at least one Iraqi and wounded a U.S. soldier.
HILL: At least one of the rockets in Baghdad landed inside the Green Zone, which is the most secure area in the capital. It's also the location of coalition authority headquarters.
CNN senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers joins us now with the latest from Baghdad -- Walter.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Erica.
Once again, the victims were the Iraqi civilians; two of them killed in a rocket attack just a few hours ago here. Three 127- millimeter rockets were fired in the direction of the Green Zone. That's where U.S. troops and the occupation officials are billeted.
Only one rocket fell into that particular area. There was one soldier lightly wounded.
It was far more deadly, however, when those same rocket barrages fell short and into a civilian neighborhood. One rocket killed two Iraqi civilians. At least five others were injured in that same rocket attack.
There were children injured in cars, at least three cars destroyed. One of the victims was an old man who was killed and disemboweled by the rocket explosion. One Iraqi bystander was overheard to say, "At least in the days of Saddam Hussein he took his victims away and executed them in private." Now, this same bystander said, "We're watching Iraqis die right in front of our eyes."
It was bloodier for the Americans last night in the Sunnni Triangle, a very volatile area there. Another rocket barrage coming from the insurgents. Two Americans soldiers were killed; six other Americans were injured in that very same area.
It is a holiday here in Iraq today. But, again, the situation is so tense that officials here in Baghdad are urging Iraqis not to gather in large numbers so that they do not become targets for potential car bombers -- Erica.
HILL: Walter, you mentioned, of course, a national holiday today. You had a little bit of reaction there from someone you spoke to. Overall, what is the sense in the capital? Because it seems like we are seeing more attacks building up as we hit this year anniversary.
RODGERS: Well, the question is -- if you are asking about the mood here in the capital, the Iraqis are unsettled, as well they should be. Virtually every night this past week we have been getting rockets coming into the city. Now, most of them are aimed at the Green Zone, where the U.S. soldiers are billeted. But not all of them, and they do fall in civilian neighborhoods.
Recall this past week there was a very powerful car bomb that went off. So the Iraqis feel more than a little insecure. And that insecurity undermines their confidence in the American occupation here. Especially their confidence in the Americans' ability to protect them -- Erica.
HILL: All right. A tough place to be. Walter Rodgers, live in Baghdad, thank you.
The interior ministry in Yemen says security forces have arrested a suspect in the bombing of the USS Cole. Seventeen U.S. sailors died in that October 2000 attack on the Navy destroyer. Ministry officials say one of two men arrested yesterday is a suspect in the bombing.
PHILLIPS: Palestinian sources say at least five Palestinians are dead in the latest Israeli incursion into southern Gaza. CNN's Paula Hancocks is live in Jerusalem and joins us now with the details -- Paula.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.
That's right, five Palestinians were killed early this Sunday morning. Israeli troops and Israeli tanks, around 20 of them, entered southern Gaza just by the Khan Younis refugee camp.
Now, Palestinian sours are saying that a Hamas operative and his wife were killed, one or two of the Hamas militants, and then also two bystanders. The Israeli Defense Force, though, saying that they did try to arrest the Hamas militant that they went into try and secure and to try to capture, and he tried to run away with his wife. He was holding explosives. And when they fired at him, the explosives detonated, killing himself and his wife. Also, they say other Hamas operatives, between two and three, they believe, they did kill.
Now, the chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, has immediately condemned this attack, saying, just at the time when Israelis are talking about leaving Gaza and withdrawing from settlements in Gaza, they are actually, in fact, trying to reoccupy Gaza.
Now, on the political front today, the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, met with his cabinet, the right wing Likud Party, to talk about his plan of disengaging from Gaza. It's going to be a hard thing for him to push through the cabinet as the majority of his right wing party is against pulling the settlements, most or all of the 21 settlements within the Gaza strip out.
Also, some other political factors to notice. We have Dov Weisglass, the head of office for Sharon's office, going over to the United States for a meeting on Wednesday, hopefully setting the scene for a meeting between George Bush and Ariel Sharon later this month or early next month -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Paula Hancocks, live from Jerusalem, thank you.
Well in Washington State, a jury -- or an update, rather, on an item you saw here yesterday. A jury of a United Methodist Pastors has ruled that a lesbian minister should be allowed to continue her ministry. Reverend Karen DeMong (ph) was on trial for practicing homosexuality in violation of church law.
HILL: In Pakistan today, fighting slowed along the border with Afghanistan. The tribal area is the latest front in the war on terror and the search for al Qaeda holdouts. Details from CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This remote corner of Pakistan known as the federally administered tribal areas may now be the last stand for al Qaeda's top leaders. The current fighting is in the southern tip known as Waziristan.
MICHAEL O'HANLON, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: This is a part of Pakistan that the government has not felt the ability to control for a long time. It's like the wild west of the United States in the 19th century.
STARR: The tribal area sits along the border with Afghanistan. Pashtun tribesmen live in primitive conditions, accepting no control by Pakistani president, Pervez Musharraf, maintaining a strong religious code and offering shelter to al Qaeda.
PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: What is really different right now is that the Pakistani army for the very first time in its history is going into regions that it never really had a presence in.
STARR: The tribal areas were established by the British, who ruled the region before Pakistan was partitioned from India in 1947. At one point, the British had 80,000 troops in Waziristan and still couldn't maintain control.
In recent months, Musharraf sent his forces through the region, facing heaving resistance, trying to force tribal elders to give up any al Qaeda or Taliban, offering money for those who cooperate, destroying the houses of those who do not.
(on camera): These tribal areas have always operated on their own. Pakistani laws do not apply, taxes are not collected, smuggling is rampant. So when the current fighting is over, it's not clear if any of that will change.
Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HILL: All right. Some good news for you. Summer is coming, which means vacation time just about here. For some people, when it comes to vacationing, there truly is no place like home. We'll tell you about a new trend in travel.
And speaking of home, the Philly fanatic, this guy, looking for a new one. We'll show you why. You won't want to miss this big bang. Gather around for some amazing footage of the Vet implosion coming up a little later this hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: It is "Conde Nast" -- she's -- oh, I'm on air. Let your imagination run wild for a minute. A vacation in one of the finest homes in Florida, Barbados, Bermuda, or maybe even France, who says you can't afford it? It's the newest trend in vacation travel. I'll tell you right now, you can't afford it unless you are a kajillionaire.
So are you ready to come home on vacation? More and more people are, choosing to stay in luxury homes instead of expensive hotels. And joining us to act as our very own travel agent, our senior editor and "Conde Nast Travel Magazine" Lisa Gill.
Lisa, I was trying to figure out how to say your magazine properly, and I think I nailed it.
She joins us live from New York.
LISA GILL, "CONDE NAST TRAVELER": Yes.
PHILLIPS: Good.
And from Washington, the founder and president of Time & Place Homes, Mitch Willey. Wiley knows a thing or two about luxury homes. He's an expert in renovating and designing them. Maybe by the end of this segment he'll fix one up for all of us.
Hi, you guys.
GILL: Hi. Good morning.
MITCH WILLEY, FOUNDER, TIME & PLACE: Good morning.
PHILLIPS: All right. We probably should set the scene and explain to our viewers his is definitely for the very, very wealthy, correct?
GILL: Yes.
WILLEY: That's actually not correct.
PHILLIPS: No? Really? Oh, Mr. Willey, do tell. I'd like know how this is affordable.
WILLEY: No. In fact, what we offer are five-star hotel services in private homes and estates throughout the world. But we've actually priced it so it is very value-laden. In fact, we price it less than competing hotels in every jurisdiction in which we operate because we want it to be easy and affordable for people traveling obviously as the upper end, but not for the very wealthy, necessarily.
PHILLIPS: All right. Let's talk about Time & Place. You're president and founder of this company. Tell us about -- give us some more specifics about these luxury homes.
WILLEY: We have locations in -- we're in 24 locations around the world. And we offer everything from a one-bedroom apartment in the center of Paris with a wonderful terrace, up to $50 million homes and estates in the United States, Mexico, Hawaii, and throughout the country. And what we offer are these five-star hotel services.
You have your own personal concierge. We can age. We can do anything you need us to do in your private home, and we think there's nothing more luxurious than that. But to speak from the price issue, it varies from anything of a low in Paris, for instance, of under $300 a night -- and we only have a three-night minimum -- up to perhaps $35,000 a week for a wonderful estate in Sonoma.
PHILLIPS: Oh, wow. All right. Mitch Willey, hold on just a second here. Let's move over and talk to Lisa more about these.
Lisa, let's talk about the benefits of doing something like this versus staying in a hotel.
GILL: Sure. I mean, there are two points you can talk about. One is simply renting a villa or an apartment. And like Mitch said, you do get a lot of value. You get a lot of space, you get a lot of privacy, and you get the opportunity to live like a local for the time being.
These management companies that offer rentals of these properties are increasingly offering upscale services such as car and driver, for example, a stay-in cook, housekeeping, baby sitting services. They will even arrange things like cooking classes for you, excursions into the local town if you're abroad, and will take care of all your problems with local representatives there.
PHILLIPS: So where are the hot spots now, Lisa?
GILL: Oh, well, Italy is always a popular destination, of course. And there are companies that will specialize not only in a particular country, but in a particular region. The Parker Company is one of them.
The Caribbean is always a great space. And if skiing is more your style, there are what is being known as fractional vacation ownerships. And these are becoming very popular, too. It's another way to have an upscale vacation experience with some ownership of a property, but you get all the perks of staying at a luxury hotel.
PHILLIPS: Mitch, is that a possibility? Say you do find a property you really like, do you have a chance to maybe start putting money towards owning it?
WILLEY: Well, it's interesting. We're not a membership club. There's no upfront fee. But what is happening increasingly, Kyra, is that guests who come to our homes we find are really sort of test driving the market.
And they are experimenting in Palm Springs to see if they might like to buy a second or third home. And several times in the last year alone we've had guests who have, in fact, made offers on the homes they are staying in because they fell in love not only with the location but also with that house. But what is even more interest is that they will put a bid on a house but make sure that Time & Place guarantees them that we will continue to list their house in our inventory. Because they love the fact that we do really asset management and take care of the house. We remove all the obstacles of remote ownership. They have an income flow. And actually, when they come to their home, they then are a guest and they also will have full concierge services as the owner of their home.
PHILLIPS: Mitch, real quickly, your favorite spot?
WILLEY: Palm Springs, Nantucket, Paris, Jackson Hole, Beaver Creek. I can't limit it.
PHILLIPS: Yes, I don't blame you. I'd be popping around to the same places.
OK. Lisa, what about you?
GILL: Oh, the Caribbean is always a wonderful spot. St. Barts is a great spot for villa rentals and pretending that you live there year round.
PHILLIPS: There you go. I would love to pretend I lived in one of these homes. Let me tell you.
Lisa Gill, Mitch Willey, thank you both so much. You have us all dreaming now of our luxury homes.
WILLEY: Great. Thank you.
PHILLIPS: All right.
GILL: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Erica?
HILL: Dreaming indeed. For some folks, though, a dream may have died today. One of the last of not so beloved artificial turf falls today. We'll show you the whole shebang.
And if spending 18 years in prison wrongfully accused was not tough enough, we'll follow up on one man's post-incarceration trial.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
PHILLIPS: Well, checking headlines real quickly, this man may reap the reward after tipping off authorities about the expected Ohio highway shooter. Conrad Malsom spotted a car authorities were looking for and made more than a dozen 911 calls before getting through to police in Las Vegas.
And in Baghdad, insurgents launched three rockets in the vicinity of a coalition headquarters building. One hitting inside the so- called high security Green Zone. Nearby in Fallujah, two U.S. soldiers were killed, six more hurt in a rocket attack yesterday.
HILL: We have been asking you throughout the morning just how high the price of gas would have to get before you go out and buy a hybrid. And hearing from a few folks this morning.
Sam in Oroville, California, writing in -- he says -- you're up early in California, by the way, Sam.
PHILLIPS: Too early.
HILL: Way too early on a Sunday. He said he's "driven a Toyota Prius for about eight months. "I don't miss the gas hogs at all I used to drive. I just wish I can get a Prius wagon. I hope others jump on in. The waters are fine."
PHILLIPS: And Deanna says, "It would have to be $10 or more before I'd get a hybrid, unless, of course, they come out with a four- wheel drive hybrid truck."
HILL: There could be some in the works. Apparently an SUV coming out very soon, I read.
PHILLIPS: Really?
HILL: Yes. I think a Lexus SUV, high-class hybrid.
Meantime, Shimpfan writes in saying, "Three bucks a gallon." Three bucks a gallon, they're out, and they're getting a hybrid.
PHILLIPS: What's your cutoff?
HILL: My cutoff? You know, I just want a hybrid anyway. I don't think I have a cutoff.
PHILLIPS: It's a cool car.
HILL: I just think they're great. I think it's cool. I do.
PHILLIPS: I'm thinking the SUV.
HILL: Hey, it could work. It could work.
Meantime, talk about a lot of juice here, a ton and a half of high explosives ends an era in Philadelphia. Home to the Phillies and the Eagles for nearly 33 years, it is good-bye to the Vet. There it goes.
Veterans Stadium falling, along with its name. The Phillies will open this season in April in Citizen's Bank Park. The Eagles play now at Lincoln Financial Field. Just don't have the same ring to them, do they?
PHILLIPS: In North Carolina, Daryl Hunt just can't seem to catch a break. First, he spent 18 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. DNA evidence vindicated him. But while he was in the pen, police say somebody racked up more than $5,000 in debt using Hunt's name and social security number.
HILL: All right. Let's get a quick peek at what's ahead now for you on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING."
Coming up at 8:30 a.m. Eastern, herbal supplements are hotter than ever. But are they safe? Dr. Andrew Wile (ph) has the answers to your questions in our "WEEKEND HOUSE CALL."
Then at 9:30 a.m., it's not you your typical spring break. We'll follow some college students who decided to see what it is like to be homeless.
And at 9:45, if you are watching your carbs you have got to watch this. First it was low carb, then no carb, net carbs. We're going to clear up all the confusion for you, and hopefully for us, too.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: In Iraq, a rocket attack in Fallujah kills two American soldiers. Insurgents launched at least five rockets on a U.S. military outpost. Six other U.S. troops were wounded in the rocket barrage.
Following Taiwan's presidential election, the opposition party leader is calling for a recount. And thousands of demonstrators support him. All ballot boxes have from been sealed after incumbent president, Chen Shui-bian, won by the slimmest of margins.
In Kosovo, NATO troops keep watch over a tense calm, at least for now. During three days of violence, ethnic Albanian protesters burned Serbian churches and homes to the ground. Two Albanian boys were drowned last week, allegedly after being chased by Serbs. Well, they're being buried today.
"WEEKEND HOUSE CALL" with Holly Firfer begins right now.
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U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq>
Aired March 21, 2004 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Well, the next hour of "CNN SUNDAY MORNING" begins right now.
And good morning, everyone. Thanks for waking up with us. It's Sunday, March 21. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is "CNN SUNDAY MORNING." I'm Kyra Phillips.
ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Erica Hill. It's good to have you with us.
Here's what we've got coming up for you this hour: live to Iraq, where a year after the start of the war security concerns dominate the discussion.
What a view. It is a dream home and it can be yours, at least for a little while. We'll tell you about a new trend in luxury vacations.
And if you are just waking up and turning on CNN, you missed this live. Check it out. Just an hour ago, a Philly blast. But don't worry, folks. We're going to show you the whole thing again. Veterans Stadium disappearing in a cloud of dust.
PHILLIPS: Here's what is happening at the half-hour:
The presidential palace in Taipei is besieged today by demonstrators. They are supporters of opposition candidate Lian Zhan, who lost Saturday's presidential election by a very thin margin. A Taiwanese court has ordered all ballot boxes sealed, but so far there's been no official decision on a recount.
In western Pakistan, there's a lull of what's been days of intense fighting in the mountains bordering Afghanistan. Tribal leaders are convinced that the Pakistani military has eased up on their air assault -- or they've convinced them, rather. In exchange, the leaders will negotiate with villagers who may be protecting al Qaeda fighters. It's still not clear if the group's number two man is among those militants.
And in Iraq, two U.S. soldiers killed overnight. Six other troops are wounded in a rocket attack. The rockets were aimed at a military position in Fallujah. Other rocket attacks in Baghdad today killed at least one Iraqi and wounded a U.S. soldier.
HILL: At least one of the rockets in Baghdad landed inside the Green Zone, which is the most secure area in the capital. It's also the location of coalition authority headquarters.
CNN senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers joins us now with the latest from Baghdad -- Walter.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Erica.
Once again, the victims were the Iraqi civilians; two of them killed in a rocket attack just a few hours ago here. Three 127- millimeter rockets were fired in the direction of the Green Zone. That's where U.S. troops and the occupation officials are billeted.
Only one rocket fell into that particular area. There was one soldier lightly wounded.
It was far more deadly, however, when those same rocket barrages fell short and into a civilian neighborhood. One rocket killed two Iraqi civilians. At least five others were injured in that same rocket attack.
There were children injured in cars, at least three cars destroyed. One of the victims was an old man who was killed and disemboweled by the rocket explosion. One Iraqi bystander was overheard to say, "At least in the days of Saddam Hussein he took his victims away and executed them in private." Now, this same bystander said, "We're watching Iraqis die right in front of our eyes."
It was bloodier for the Americans last night in the Sunnni Triangle, a very volatile area there. Another rocket barrage coming from the insurgents. Two Americans soldiers were killed; six other Americans were injured in that very same area.
It is a holiday here in Iraq today. But, again, the situation is so tense that officials here in Baghdad are urging Iraqis not to gather in large numbers so that they do not become targets for potential car bombers -- Erica.
HILL: Walter, you mentioned, of course, a national holiday today. You had a little bit of reaction there from someone you spoke to. Overall, what is the sense in the capital? Because it seems like we are seeing more attacks building up as we hit this year anniversary.
RODGERS: Well, the question is -- if you are asking about the mood here in the capital, the Iraqis are unsettled, as well they should be. Virtually every night this past week we have been getting rockets coming into the city. Now, most of them are aimed at the Green Zone, where the U.S. soldiers are billeted. But not all of them, and they do fall in civilian neighborhoods.
Recall this past week there was a very powerful car bomb that went off. So the Iraqis feel more than a little insecure. And that insecurity undermines their confidence in the American occupation here. Especially their confidence in the Americans' ability to protect them -- Erica.
HILL: All right. A tough place to be. Walter Rodgers, live in Baghdad, thank you.
The interior ministry in Yemen says security forces have arrested a suspect in the bombing of the USS Cole. Seventeen U.S. sailors died in that October 2000 attack on the Navy destroyer. Ministry officials say one of two men arrested yesterday is a suspect in the bombing.
PHILLIPS: Palestinian sources say at least five Palestinians are dead in the latest Israeli incursion into southern Gaza. CNN's Paula Hancocks is live in Jerusalem and joins us now with the details -- Paula.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.
That's right, five Palestinians were killed early this Sunday morning. Israeli troops and Israeli tanks, around 20 of them, entered southern Gaza just by the Khan Younis refugee camp.
Now, Palestinian sours are saying that a Hamas operative and his wife were killed, one or two of the Hamas militants, and then also two bystanders. The Israeli Defense Force, though, saying that they did try to arrest the Hamas militant that they went into try and secure and to try to capture, and he tried to run away with his wife. He was holding explosives. And when they fired at him, the explosives detonated, killing himself and his wife. Also, they say other Hamas operatives, between two and three, they believe, they did kill.
Now, the chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, has immediately condemned this attack, saying, just at the time when Israelis are talking about leaving Gaza and withdrawing from settlements in Gaza, they are actually, in fact, trying to reoccupy Gaza.
Now, on the political front today, the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, met with his cabinet, the right wing Likud Party, to talk about his plan of disengaging from Gaza. It's going to be a hard thing for him to push through the cabinet as the majority of his right wing party is against pulling the settlements, most or all of the 21 settlements within the Gaza strip out.
Also, some other political factors to notice. We have Dov Weisglass, the head of office for Sharon's office, going over to the United States for a meeting on Wednesday, hopefully setting the scene for a meeting between George Bush and Ariel Sharon later this month or early next month -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Paula Hancocks, live from Jerusalem, thank you.
Well in Washington State, a jury -- or an update, rather, on an item you saw here yesterday. A jury of a United Methodist Pastors has ruled that a lesbian minister should be allowed to continue her ministry. Reverend Karen DeMong (ph) was on trial for practicing homosexuality in violation of church law.
HILL: In Pakistan today, fighting slowed along the border with Afghanistan. The tribal area is the latest front in the war on terror and the search for al Qaeda holdouts. Details from CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This remote corner of Pakistan known as the federally administered tribal areas may now be the last stand for al Qaeda's top leaders. The current fighting is in the southern tip known as Waziristan.
MICHAEL O'HANLON, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: This is a part of Pakistan that the government has not felt the ability to control for a long time. It's like the wild west of the United States in the 19th century.
STARR: The tribal area sits along the border with Afghanistan. Pashtun tribesmen live in primitive conditions, accepting no control by Pakistani president, Pervez Musharraf, maintaining a strong religious code and offering shelter to al Qaeda.
PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: What is really different right now is that the Pakistani army for the very first time in its history is going into regions that it never really had a presence in.
STARR: The tribal areas were established by the British, who ruled the region before Pakistan was partitioned from India in 1947. At one point, the British had 80,000 troops in Waziristan and still couldn't maintain control.
In recent months, Musharraf sent his forces through the region, facing heaving resistance, trying to force tribal elders to give up any al Qaeda or Taliban, offering money for those who cooperate, destroying the houses of those who do not.
(on camera): These tribal areas have always operated on their own. Pakistani laws do not apply, taxes are not collected, smuggling is rampant. So when the current fighting is over, it's not clear if any of that will change.
Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HILL: All right. Some good news for you. Summer is coming, which means vacation time just about here. For some people, when it comes to vacationing, there truly is no place like home. We'll tell you about a new trend in travel.
And speaking of home, the Philly fanatic, this guy, looking for a new one. We'll show you why. You won't want to miss this big bang. Gather around for some amazing footage of the Vet implosion coming up a little later this hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: It is "Conde Nast" -- she's -- oh, I'm on air. Let your imagination run wild for a minute. A vacation in one of the finest homes in Florida, Barbados, Bermuda, or maybe even France, who says you can't afford it? It's the newest trend in vacation travel. I'll tell you right now, you can't afford it unless you are a kajillionaire.
So are you ready to come home on vacation? More and more people are, choosing to stay in luxury homes instead of expensive hotels. And joining us to act as our very own travel agent, our senior editor and "Conde Nast Travel Magazine" Lisa Gill.
Lisa, I was trying to figure out how to say your magazine properly, and I think I nailed it.
She joins us live from New York.
LISA GILL, "CONDE NAST TRAVELER": Yes.
PHILLIPS: Good.
And from Washington, the founder and president of Time & Place Homes, Mitch Willey. Wiley knows a thing or two about luxury homes. He's an expert in renovating and designing them. Maybe by the end of this segment he'll fix one up for all of us.
Hi, you guys.
GILL: Hi. Good morning.
MITCH WILLEY, FOUNDER, TIME & PLACE: Good morning.
PHILLIPS: All right. We probably should set the scene and explain to our viewers his is definitely for the very, very wealthy, correct?
GILL: Yes.
WILLEY: That's actually not correct.
PHILLIPS: No? Really? Oh, Mr. Willey, do tell. I'd like know how this is affordable.
WILLEY: No. In fact, what we offer are five-star hotel services in private homes and estates throughout the world. But we've actually priced it so it is very value-laden. In fact, we price it less than competing hotels in every jurisdiction in which we operate because we want it to be easy and affordable for people traveling obviously as the upper end, but not for the very wealthy, necessarily.
PHILLIPS: All right. Let's talk about Time & Place. You're president and founder of this company. Tell us about -- give us some more specifics about these luxury homes.
WILLEY: We have locations in -- we're in 24 locations around the world. And we offer everything from a one-bedroom apartment in the center of Paris with a wonderful terrace, up to $50 million homes and estates in the United States, Mexico, Hawaii, and throughout the country. And what we offer are these five-star hotel services.
You have your own personal concierge. We can age. We can do anything you need us to do in your private home, and we think there's nothing more luxurious than that. But to speak from the price issue, it varies from anything of a low in Paris, for instance, of under $300 a night -- and we only have a three-night minimum -- up to perhaps $35,000 a week for a wonderful estate in Sonoma.
PHILLIPS: Oh, wow. All right. Mitch Willey, hold on just a second here. Let's move over and talk to Lisa more about these.
Lisa, let's talk about the benefits of doing something like this versus staying in a hotel.
GILL: Sure. I mean, there are two points you can talk about. One is simply renting a villa or an apartment. And like Mitch said, you do get a lot of value. You get a lot of space, you get a lot of privacy, and you get the opportunity to live like a local for the time being.
These management companies that offer rentals of these properties are increasingly offering upscale services such as car and driver, for example, a stay-in cook, housekeeping, baby sitting services. They will even arrange things like cooking classes for you, excursions into the local town if you're abroad, and will take care of all your problems with local representatives there.
PHILLIPS: So where are the hot spots now, Lisa?
GILL: Oh, well, Italy is always a popular destination, of course. And there are companies that will specialize not only in a particular country, but in a particular region. The Parker Company is one of them.
The Caribbean is always a great space. And if skiing is more your style, there are what is being known as fractional vacation ownerships. And these are becoming very popular, too. It's another way to have an upscale vacation experience with some ownership of a property, but you get all the perks of staying at a luxury hotel.
PHILLIPS: Mitch, is that a possibility? Say you do find a property you really like, do you have a chance to maybe start putting money towards owning it?
WILLEY: Well, it's interesting. We're not a membership club. There's no upfront fee. But what is happening increasingly, Kyra, is that guests who come to our homes we find are really sort of test driving the market.
And they are experimenting in Palm Springs to see if they might like to buy a second or third home. And several times in the last year alone we've had guests who have, in fact, made offers on the homes they are staying in because they fell in love not only with the location but also with that house. But what is even more interest is that they will put a bid on a house but make sure that Time & Place guarantees them that we will continue to list their house in our inventory. Because they love the fact that we do really asset management and take care of the house. We remove all the obstacles of remote ownership. They have an income flow. And actually, when they come to their home, they then are a guest and they also will have full concierge services as the owner of their home.
PHILLIPS: Mitch, real quickly, your favorite spot?
WILLEY: Palm Springs, Nantucket, Paris, Jackson Hole, Beaver Creek. I can't limit it.
PHILLIPS: Yes, I don't blame you. I'd be popping around to the same places.
OK. Lisa, what about you?
GILL: Oh, the Caribbean is always a wonderful spot. St. Barts is a great spot for villa rentals and pretending that you live there year round.
PHILLIPS: There you go. I would love to pretend I lived in one of these homes. Let me tell you.
Lisa Gill, Mitch Willey, thank you both so much. You have us all dreaming now of our luxury homes.
WILLEY: Great. Thank you.
PHILLIPS: All right.
GILL: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Erica?
HILL: Dreaming indeed. For some folks, though, a dream may have died today. One of the last of not so beloved artificial turf falls today. We'll show you the whole shebang.
And if spending 18 years in prison wrongfully accused was not tough enough, we'll follow up on one man's post-incarceration trial.
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(WEATHER REPORT)
PHILLIPS: Well, checking headlines real quickly, this man may reap the reward after tipping off authorities about the expected Ohio highway shooter. Conrad Malsom spotted a car authorities were looking for and made more than a dozen 911 calls before getting through to police in Las Vegas.
And in Baghdad, insurgents launched three rockets in the vicinity of a coalition headquarters building. One hitting inside the so- called high security Green Zone. Nearby in Fallujah, two U.S. soldiers were killed, six more hurt in a rocket attack yesterday.
HILL: We have been asking you throughout the morning just how high the price of gas would have to get before you go out and buy a hybrid. And hearing from a few folks this morning.
Sam in Oroville, California, writing in -- he says -- you're up early in California, by the way, Sam.
PHILLIPS: Too early.
HILL: Way too early on a Sunday. He said he's "driven a Toyota Prius for about eight months. "I don't miss the gas hogs at all I used to drive. I just wish I can get a Prius wagon. I hope others jump on in. The waters are fine."
PHILLIPS: And Deanna says, "It would have to be $10 or more before I'd get a hybrid, unless, of course, they come out with a four- wheel drive hybrid truck."
HILL: There could be some in the works. Apparently an SUV coming out very soon, I read.
PHILLIPS: Really?
HILL: Yes. I think a Lexus SUV, high-class hybrid.
Meantime, Shimpfan writes in saying, "Three bucks a gallon." Three bucks a gallon, they're out, and they're getting a hybrid.
PHILLIPS: What's your cutoff?
HILL: My cutoff? You know, I just want a hybrid anyway. I don't think I have a cutoff.
PHILLIPS: It's a cool car.
HILL: I just think they're great. I think it's cool. I do.
PHILLIPS: I'm thinking the SUV.
HILL: Hey, it could work. It could work.
Meantime, talk about a lot of juice here, a ton and a half of high explosives ends an era in Philadelphia. Home to the Phillies and the Eagles for nearly 33 years, it is good-bye to the Vet. There it goes.
Veterans Stadium falling, along with its name. The Phillies will open this season in April in Citizen's Bank Park. The Eagles play now at Lincoln Financial Field. Just don't have the same ring to them, do they?
PHILLIPS: In North Carolina, Daryl Hunt just can't seem to catch a break. First, he spent 18 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. DNA evidence vindicated him. But while he was in the pen, police say somebody racked up more than $5,000 in debt using Hunt's name and social security number.
HILL: All right. Let's get a quick peek at what's ahead now for you on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING."
Coming up at 8:30 a.m. Eastern, herbal supplements are hotter than ever. But are they safe? Dr. Andrew Wile (ph) has the answers to your questions in our "WEEKEND HOUSE CALL."
Then at 9:30 a.m., it's not you your typical spring break. We'll follow some college students who decided to see what it is like to be homeless.
And at 9:45, if you are watching your carbs you have got to watch this. First it was low carb, then no carb, net carbs. We're going to clear up all the confusion for you, and hopefully for us, too.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: In Iraq, a rocket attack in Fallujah kills two American soldiers. Insurgents launched at least five rockets on a U.S. military outpost. Six other U.S. troops were wounded in the rocket barrage.
Following Taiwan's presidential election, the opposition party leader is calling for a recount. And thousands of demonstrators support him. All ballot boxes have from been sealed after incumbent president, Chen Shui-bian, won by the slimmest of margins.
In Kosovo, NATO troops keep watch over a tense calm, at least for now. During three days of violence, ethnic Albanian protesters burned Serbian churches and homes to the ground. Two Albanian boys were drowned last week, allegedly after being chased by Serbs. Well, they're being buried today.
"WEEKEND HOUSE CALL" with Holly Firfer begins right now.
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U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq>
