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American Morning

British Arrests; Condoleezza Rice to Testify; Interview With Jacques Verges

Aired March 30, 2004 - 09:00   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.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Eight suspects, 700 police, half a ton of explosives. The raid in London this morning that may have averted disaster.
After a week of complaints, the White House thinks it may have found a way to end the controversy over 9/11 testimony.

And look what happened while you were sleeping. Baseball season began. A long way from here.

Those stories all ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to Tuesday; 9:00 here in New York. Good to have you with us today.

In a moment here, what does Saddam Hussein's potential lawyer have planned in the event of a trial for the former Iraqi dictator? Our conversation with Jacques Verges in a moment out of Paris, France.

O'BRIEN: Also this morning, a woman who we told you about last week, freed from prison in California. Cleaned up her life, only to be told there was an error is figuring out her time served. Well, she asked Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for help. We're going to tell you exactly what he had to say to her.

HEMMER: All right. Top stories top of the hour. We'll get to Jack in a moment, also.

Top stories from Spain. Spanish authorities say one of the eight men arrested in the London area today may be linked to the Madrid train bombings. The arrests were made following a series of early morning raids. One operation taking place at the warehouse seen in this videotape.

Authorities say they also seized more than a half ton of ammonium nitrate. Police are investigating whether or not there's a connection involved there in Madrid.

Other news now: a New poll showing President Bush's political position against his Democratic rival, John Kerry, has strengthened. The New CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll shows 51 percent of likely voters say they would choose the president to 47 percent for Senator Kerry. That's in a two-way race. Both are back on the trail today, the campaign trail. President Bush talks about the economy in Wisconsin. Senator Kerry is in San Diego, California, second day for campaigning there in the Golden State.

The media will get a little more leeway in covering the Michael Jackson grand jury proceedings. A judge lifting restrictions yesterday on photographing jurors and witnesses outside the courthouse. However, the judge warned the media not to try and take pictures of any minors called to testify or communicate with them in any way.

Baseball fans needed a wakeup call early today to catch this year's season opener. From Japan, the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays played their first official game of 2004. It took place in Tokyo. They Yankees and all their expensive players were clobbered.

I say that with a chuckle -- 8-3 the final from Japan. It's a long, long season. The Yankees are absolutely loaded. And they're going get attention every single time they take the field in this coming season.

O'BRIEN: Yes. They lost 8-3.

HEMMER: 161 to go.

O'BRIEN: That's true, but they lost the first one 8-3.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: Out to London now. Hundreds of British police spanning out earlier today, arresting eight men suspected of being involved in a possible terrorist plot. To the British capital now, and our senior international correspondent, Sheila MacVicar, tracking this for us.

Sheila, what do you have there? Hello.

SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

The combination this morning of what has been months of intensive work, we are told, by security sources. Eight men arrested, indeed.

Behind me, the storage facility where this morning British police seized more than half a ton of ammonium nitrate. It has agricultural use as fertilizer. It can also be used to make a very powerful explosive. That's the explosive that was used in both the Oklahoma City bomb and the Bali bomb. Now, this morning, also a very unusual press conference from Scotland Yard, the head of the counterterrorism service talking almost immediately following the raids.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETER CLARKE, LONDON POLICE: The men who have been arrested will be interviewed by officers from the Metropolitan Police anti-terrorist branch. I should like to make it clear at this stage that this operation is not linked to either Irish Republican terrorism or to the recent attack in Madrid. The men who have been arrested are all British citizens. They are aged between 17 and 32.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACVICAR: Now, police sources saying that those British citizens are men of Pakistani origin, suggesting also in other statements from the police that there is a tie here perhaps to potential islamist terror. Under the U.K. Terrorism Act, the police could have up to 14 days to question the men. That's, of course, with the approval of a judge -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right. Sheila, thanks. Sheila MacVicar there in London.

Soledad?

O'BRIEN: A continuing effort today at the White House. The Bush administration seeking an agreement with the bipartisan 9/11 Commission. The compromise is aimed at getting National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice back before the commission to testify for a second time.

White House correspondent Dana Bash joins us this morning from the White House with details.

Dana, good morning again.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again to you, Soledad.

And since the White House has made it clear they are not going to give the commission what they want, which is public sworn testimony from Condoleezza Rice, what they have been doing here is trying to come up with other ways to satisfy the commission. Some of the options Bush officials are floating are releasing some notes from Condoleezza Rice's February meeting with commissioners, and also trying to find a way for her meet with them in private a second time, but not under oath.

With the promise, though, of making some of that testimony, maybe all of it, public. But so far, even Republican commissioners are saying no go.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SLADE GORTON, 9/11 COMMISSIONER: A major part of our duty is to see to it that everything possible is released to the general public. And that no compromise on a private visit by Condoleezza Rice is going to satisfy that need.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES THOMPSON, 9/11 COMMISSIONER: This commission has voted unanimously to ask Dr. Rice to appear before us as a witness under oath in public. And I think that's what she should do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now, the chairman of the commission, Tom Kean, told The New York Times that even if Condoleezza Rice does come and meet again in private, he wants her to do under oath, under pressure and penalty of perjury, because he wants it to be compared on a balanced level to what Richard Clarke said in the allegations that he made under oath.

Now, Senate Democrats are going to continue to keep up the pressure this morning. The Democratic leader is going to the floor this hour to say that Dr. Rice should come forward publicly. They're also going to have a resolution on the floor. It's not likely to go anywhere, Soledad, but certainly they are going to try to keep the pressure on this White House to try to get Dr. Rice to testify -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: In light of that, Dana, then how much of a political risk do you think this entire issue is?

BASH: It is a political risk, and they know that here. And if you put that against the backdrop of Clarke's overall charges that the administration didn't do enough, you can take a look at the latest CNN poll number. It does seem to have some effect on the president's approval on fighting terrorism.

It's now 58 percent; that's eight points down from what it was last time we took it. Certainly, it's still a high number. But when you look at how the president is running as somebody who is, as they say, steady in times of change in his leadership, this is not something they want. And any perception that Dr. Rice is trying to hide something is not exactly going to add to their reelection message that the president is trying hard to fight terrorism and did so leading up to 9/11.

O'BRIEN: Dana Bash at the White House for us this morning. Dana, thanks a lot.

Joining us to talk a little bit more about all of this is the former CIA director, James Woolsey. He's in Calgary, Alberta, this morning.

Nice to see you, sir, as always. Thanks for being with us.

JAMES WOOLSEY, FMR. CIA DIRECTOR: Good to be with you, Soledad. Sure.

O'BRIEN: The White House seems to be pursuing, as we heard Dana just say moments ago, a compromise, where Condoleezza Rice would testify privately with some of the remarks being made public. Do you think this compromise on the table now is a good offer, essentially?

WOOLSEY: That one might work. I think it's important for people to realize that presidents do need people who they can talk to confidentially. And White House national security advisers have typically not given public testimony or under oath the way cabinet members have.

I do think -- except if there's, for example, an investigation of a scandal. And I think perhaps one compromise here as just a thought would be that they should find the areas where in preparation her testimony might disagree with Richard Clarke's about fact, not necessarily -- not opinions. And have her sworn and under oath only for that.

And then they can work out whether she testifies without being under oath in public or in private. But if you have her testifying on everything under oath, then the members of the commission could probe each and every conversation she had with the president under pain of perjury. And I don't think that you want presidents to be in a situation where they can't confidentially talk with one of their assistants. That would be a new thing in American politics.

O'BRIEN: But if you're picking and choosing then, that doesn't really solve the precedent issue, does it, that the White House puts forward as why Condoleezza Rice will not testify publicly?

WOOLSEY: Well, the precedent has been waved where there have been investigations of potentially criminal behavior. And what might be looked at here, what some people have charged, is that Clarke lied in some of his testimony. If he lied about a fact, then that is something that she could eliminate. If it's just a difference of opinion between him and her, or if his prior testimony and his current testimony are just differences in opinion, not in fact, then perhaps there's nothing to look into.

But the exception to the precedent of the national security adviser not speaking has been waved in cases where they're looking into a crime. If that's the case here, then perhaps she should testify under oath. But only on those points.

O'BRIEN: We've been talking about this new CNN poll. Fifty- three percent think that the Bush administration is covering something up about the handling of intelligence on terrorism before 9/11.

Do you think there comes a point where public opinion, or maybe public mistrust is a better way to put it, trumps precedent and trumps all those arguments about, well, the president should be able to speak to a trusted adviser without the worry about that person later going under oath? I mean, is there a point where people say, we don't believe the administration and this becomes a big problem?

WOOLSEY: Well, that's a political issue, but I must say it seems to me it's one that the president ought to be able to decide. Part of the dilemma here, I'm sure, for him and the administration, is that there is no one more articulate and better able to present his case and more knowledgeable about foreign policy and his administration maybe in the country than Condoleezza Rice.

I have known her for nearly 20 years. And when Clarke says, for example, that she didn't seem to know who al Qaeda was in January of 2001, that simply is ridiculous. Condi Rice would be the best politically -- in terms of public relations -- would be the best witness the president could possibly put forward. So I'm sure they're torn there at the White House for exactly that reason.

O'BRIEN: Interesting. All right. James Woolsey, the former CIA director, joining us this morning.

Nice to see you, sir. Thanks, as always.

WOOLSEY: Good to be with you.

O'BRIEN: Thank you.

HEMMER: That's an interesting one. Yesterday there was a radio interview released from 2000 where Condoleezza Rice talked at great length about al Qaeda. This is prior to coming on board with Bush administration. Jack's got more on this, "Question of the Day."

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. The political advantage definitely belongs to the Democrats. This is an election year. And until there's some movement on the Condoleezza Rice issue, the political damage presumably will continue to accrue to the incumbent administration.

The question we're reading e-mails on is, should she be required to testify in public and under oath? Seems like a ground ball. You think, well, yes, she should be. But not everybody thinks that's a good idea.

Helen writes this: "There should be some shroud of secrecy around some of the information pre-September 11 because to tell all could endanger our current covert operations. Freedom's not free. We must all sacrifice something."

"Unfortunately, the tell-all authors who are confessing or pointing fingers seem to be only after media attention and the almighty dollar. Dr. Rice should not go. This is just another Democratic political ploy."

Christopher says this: "I think the White House needs to declassify all the information from before the attacks. It's quite obvious something went wrong, and we, the people, deserve to know what that was."

Don in Middletown, Delaware, says, "No, she should not testify in public. Enough has been said already in public. There are ongoing operations dealing with terrorist activities that we, the public, should not know about. We must let those in the know do their job."

AM@CNN.com is the address. And time permitting, we'll do one more batch of these.

HEMMER: What's your hunch? There's some movement there, right? I mean, there's talking between both sides. So some sort of compromise perhaps will be coming out of this. O'BRIEN: I thought James Woolsey had actually an interesting proposal for a compromise. Sort of field out the areas that they really want to talk about, and then put her under oath for those parts of it.

HEMMER: Selective, perhaps effective, too.

O'BRIEN: Some people may not buy it.

CAFFERTY: We shall see.

HEMMER: Let's get a break here. In a moment, how will the lawyer representing Saddam Hussein defend someone accused of such brutality? We will hear from one man who says he will represent Saddam Hussein in court in a moment.

O'BRIEN: And the California woman who was told she had to return to prison after she had gotten her life back on track. Well, now she's getting some big help. We will tell you why she is pumped up.

HEMMER: Also, it's only two months after that half-time show in Houston at the Super Bowl. Janet Jackson is making the rounds yet again.

Still to come here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: A French attorney who said he will represent Saddam Hussein in trial wants to enlist the help of the International Red Cross is setting up a meeting with the former leader. Jacques Verges says Saddam's nephew has written him a letter asking him to defend Saddam at a possible trial. Late yesterday, I talked with Verges in Paris, asking him if he thinks Saddam Hussein could get a fair trial in Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JACQUES VERGES, ATTORNEY: I don't think so today, because to have a fair trial, it should be necessary to have a state in Iraq. That is not the case. A government elected by free elections, that is not the case. A constitution, that is not the case. A justice organized, that is not the case.

HEMMER: How will you defend Saddam Hussein in a trial?

VERGES: I should answer to you, which are the accusations? In a democratic country, when a man is accused, he's accused from a document issued by the public attorney. Here I am looking for a document issued by a public attorney I don't find.

He is accused by the political leaders of the coalition, by his enemies who said that he is guilty, that he deserves to be killed. Everybody has a right to be defended, and every lawyer has a duty to defend people accused. And my office is to defend him, to discuss the accusation point by point. And I think this is a normal step in a democracy.

HEMMER: We have seen videotape, pictures of Saddam Hussein in captivity several months ago. What do you know about his physical and mental condition in Iraq?

VERGES: I don't know the situation of Mr. Saddam Hussein because he is in secrecy. And because the behavior of the people who have captured him are not confirmed to the Geneva Convention, which forbids the humiliation of the prisoners. I think to have shown him looked by a doctor who looked more like a veterinarian, examining his teeth, his tongue, his hair, I think all these are disgusting behavior and do not conform to the Geneva Convention.

HEMMER: Will you try to get the trial moved out of Iraq?

VERGES: I am trying nothing about this. I am waiting for the decision, which is not defending of me to know if the trial will be in Iraq, in the states, or in international court. Of course, the decision is not mine.

HEMMER: When will you be able to meet with Saddam Hussein?

VERGES: When I shall receive the authorization of the people who keep him. And I shall look with the International Red Cross to make steps to authorize me to see him.

HEMMER: In a trial, sir, who would you, call to testify?

VERGES: The main accusation is to have in his possession, to have had mass destructive weapons, and eventually to have used them. But who sells these to him? The United States and England. And the man who was the representative for this bargain, for this market, for this deal, is called Mr. Rumsfeld. So I should ask him to come and testify.

HEMMER: Would you call President Bush also?

VERGES: Of course. The links between the American government and the Iraqi government are so close that you cannot judge one without asking at least the other what he has done by this time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Again, Jacques Verges from yesterday. He says he has been contacted by a nephew of Saddam Hussein asking him to represent Saddam Hussein in the event of a trial. Already a team of about 50 specialists from the U.S. in Iraq earlier in the month to help Iraqis organize evidence to use in the event of a trial there.

Soledad?

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, the very latest on those terror arrests in the London area early this morning.

And another confession is said to be prompted by Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ." Those stories ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: A new industry report contends that outsourcing work can actually create jobs here in the U.S. We'll look at that, plus a market preview with Andy Serwer, who's "Minding Your Business."

Hello.

ANDY SERWER, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, FORTUNE MAGAZINE: Hello to you again.

O'BRIEN: Kind of contradicts other reports that we've heard that when you outsource jobs it hurts the U.S. economy.

SERWER: Right. I mean, this is counterintuitive. And here's the story.

This is a new study out by a technology trade group, the Information Technology Association of America. Microsoft and others are members of this group. Here's how it works.

They're saying that by outsourcing to places like India, companies lower costs that increases profits. That means they can expand and then hire more workers.

Well, some might disagree. But the point is, they're suggesting that outsourcing has actually created 90,000 jobs in the United States recently. You can see here. And they're saying in 2008 it will create 317,000.

Well, the last number. Who knows about that five years down the road. But it's an interesting point.

They're also saying that the technology downturn has created more job losses than outsourcing. And the real point here, Soledad, is it speaks to the problem of trying to count here. Trying to keep track of exactly how many jobs have been lost to outsourcing and how bad is this for the economy.

It is true that companies make more money by having lowered costs. This is a big issue; this speaks to jobs. It's a campaign issue. And we've been hearing a lot about it. We'll be hearing more and more about this over the coming months.

O'BRIEN: It sounds like classic fuzzy math.

SERWER: It is. But we're going to all work on trying to get to the bottom of it.

O'BRIEN: Great. Want to give a preview of the markets?

SERWER: I do. A lot of stuff happening. Some stuff in the food sector. Let's talk about that a little bit.

O'BRIEN: Pop?

SERWER: Yes. PepsiCo. Sorry, I blew it. I didn't bring you any food.

O'BRIEN: When you talk about food, you're supposed to bring the props.

SERWER: I know. I forgot about your situation. We'll get you some more food.

Both PepsiCo and California Pizza Kitchen saying that their numbers are looking good. Kraft buying very fine juices this morning. We'll be watching those stocks.

Also, after the open, consumer confidence numbers comes out at 10:00. So we'll be checking that. Futures down a little bit, though, this morning at the open.

O'BRIEN: Excellent. Andy, thanks so much.

SERWER: You're welcome.

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, after a tough life, this California woman, well, she was able to turn it all around. But a sentencing dispute nearly sent her back to prison. We'll tell you what happened when Governor Schwarzenegger stepped in.

That's just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: It is exactly half-past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.

When former terrorism czar Richard Clarke apologized to families last week at the 9/11 hearing, some of them expressed gratitude, but not all of them. This morning, we'll talk to a man whose brothers died in those attacks. He's one of many who are very upset with Clarke.

HEMMER: And they've written a letter we'll get to in a moment.

Also in a moment here, why is this woman smiling? A release from prison, almost had to go back. We'll tell you who came to her rescue in a few moments here.

O'BRIEN: All right. Let's get to our top stories this morning.

Spanish officials say one of the eight men arrested in the London area today may be linked to Madrid train bombings. The arrests were made following a series of early morning raids. Authorities say they also seized more than half a ton of ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer that can be used to make bombs. Sources say the suspects are linked to possible Islamist terror.

President Bush and Senator John Kerry are exchanging jabs over high gas prices. The president releasing a TV ad in the style of an old silent movie. In it, he claims that John Kerry supported gasoline taxes that cost Americans $657 every year. Senator Kerry firing back at a fund-raiser in California last night, saying that Americans are being charged, "Halliburton prices."

Police volunteers and the University of Wisconsin all teaming up to search for a student who has disappeared without a trace Saturday. Even more strange, 20-year-old Audrey Seiler was also assaulted last month. She was attacked from behind; she was knocked unconscious; she was dragged a block away, but she was not robbed or sexually assaulted.

Earlier this morning, I spoke with Audrey's uncle and also a Madison police officer, Officer Larry Kampholz. Spoke about why the disappearance is so troubling.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OFC. LARRY KAMHOLZ, MADISON, WISCONSIN POLICE: It's very strange. She didn't take any personal belongings from her apartment, as a normal person would if they were going to an appointment or seeing a friend, or that type of thing. She didn't take anything with her.

She left her car in the driveway. And, you know, she walked out the door of the residence.

So it's very unusual. And like I said, we have spoken to the family and friends, and we quickly learned that is not typical of Audrey, to leave on those type of terms.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Police have no evidence linking Seiler's disappearance to that attack back in February.

Mel Gibson is turning out to be a real help to police departments, apparently. A 20-year-old man turned himself in. The police in Mesa, Arizona, claiming he was responsible for a string of burglaries. Police say Turner Bingham (ph) decided to give himself up after seeing The Passion of the Christ." Yesterday, of course, you'll recall we told you about a case in Texas where another man, Dan Leach, police say he confessed to killing his girlfriend after seeing "The Passion of the Christ."

A new study finds that children are not getting the sleep that they need. Experts recommend toddlers get 12 to 14 hours a day, everyday. Preschoolers should have 11 to 13 hours, and elementary children need 10 to 11 hours. The National Sleep Foundation found that in all of those age groups, the average child gets one to two hours less sleep than the recommended amount.

HEMMER: I think that story's for you.

O'BRIEN: Yes, it is. HEMMER: I say it with a smile.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: The controversy about intelligence in the 9/11 attacks moving now on several fronts again today. The White House now seeking a compromise with the 9/11 Commission to allow Condoleezza Rice back before the committee.

Also, the CIA reviewing testimony from former White House counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke. That from 2002 to a congressional 9/11 investigative panel. The White House wants to release the parts of it that are not classified because it believes Clarke may have contradicted himself under oath.

All of this closely watched by families of 9/11 victims. Dozens of them signing a letter published Sunday in The New York Post. In it, the families criticized Richard Clarke by saying -- and quoting now -- "The notion of profiteering from anything associated with 9/11 is particularly offensive to all of us." It continues, "We find Mr. Clarke's actions all the more offensive, especially considering the fact that there was always a high possibility that the 9/11 Commission could be used for political gain, especially now with the presidential election less than eight months away."

New York City firefighter Ken Haskell joins us now here on AMERICAN MORNING. He lost two brothers who were also firefighters killed on September 11.

Nice to have you, Ken.

KEN HASKELL, TWO BROTHERS KILLED ON 9/11: Thank you.

HEMMER: You say you were offended by Richard Clarke. Why?

HASKELL: Well, we'd just like to see -- I am a little skeptical of the timing of his statements now, the release of his book to coincide with what's going on with the commission and the investigation. We would just like to see this investigation proceed in a nonpartisan way and get to the facts, and not necessarily point fingers at one administration or the other.

HEMMER: If I go back to that letter, you mentioned profiteering in that letter that you were party to. Do you think he's trying to profit from book sales at this point? Is that your allegation?

HASKELL: I'm sure it's no coincidence that he's taking the time now to release the book in light of everything that's going on with the commission. I mean, he's made statements previously about having intelligence, important intelligence information that was neglected by the president.

Then why wouldn't he mention that at the time? Why would he wait two and a half years to coincide with the commission and the release of his book? That's how we look at it. HEMMER: He sat in your chair about a week and a half ago and said the White House held up the publishing of the book and he had no control over the release. You're skeptical about that?

HASKELL: I think his credibility is in question. Some of his motives, perhaps maybe what he said previously, is contradicting what he is saying now.

HEMMER: I'm wondering if last week's testimony had an impact on you. I want to play a short clip at the beginning of his testimony from just last week. Here's Richard Clarke in D.C.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD CLARKE, FMR. COUNTERTERRORISM ADVISER: Your government failed you. Those entrusted with protecting you failed you. And I failed you.

We tried hard, but that doesn't matter because we failed. And for that failure, I would ask once all the facts are out, for your understanding and for your forgiveness.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Richard Clarke from last week talking to some family members last week. They say that apology meant a great deal to them. Did it have the same impact on you?

HASKELL: I think it's very commendable that he would take that responsibility and apologize, but I don't blame the U.S. government for killing my brothers. And we need to remain focused on the fact that terrorists were the ones who perpetrated the crimes on 9/11.

Terrorists are the ones who killed our families and our loved ones here in New York. And it's important to remain focused on that. We have an administration now that has taken the fight to the terrorists. And it's important to remain focused on that, not necessarily point the finger at one administration or the other.

HEMMER: You know the controversy in D.C. this day is about Condoleezza Rice, whether she should testify under oath and publicly. Would you like to see that or not?

HASKELL: I think there are obviously some security issues that need to be respected in respect of her being a personal adviser to the president. If that's going compromise any of the missions we have going overseas with our military, I think that she should refrain from publicly testifying.

HEMMER: So you would say don't do it?

HASKELL: I would -- if it's going to endanger our troops or some of the security policies that we have in place now, absolutely.

HEMMER: Appreciate your perspective. Ken Haskell, thanks.

HASKELL: Thank you.

HEMMER: Soledad?

O'BRIEN: Jack is tackling the same topic today in the Question of the Day.

CAFFERTY: Same subject. Should Condoleezza Rice be required to testify before the 9/11 Commission under oath and in public? And we've gotten hundreds of responses from viewers.

Magda in Rockaway, New Jersey, writes: "Absolutely not. There are items pertaining to national security the public is not entitled to know about. The bad guys watch the news, too."

Vicki in Virginia: "It doesn't matter to me if Dr. Rice testifies in public or private. What is important is that she testifies instead of appears. Simply appearing allows her to spin her answers in favor of the White House. Testifying takes that away and requires her to tell the truth."

And Larry in Erwin, Tennessee, weighs in with this: "Yes, I think Dr. Rice should be forced to testify under oath. If she's being truthful, she has nothing to worry about. Maybe she remembers what happened to Clinton when he lied under oath."

Interesting dilemma. The White House is between a rock and a hard place on this. And they're trying to work out a compromise. But, right now, the guys on the commission hold all the cards, I think.

O'BRIEN: It will be interesting to see what the compromise, if there is one, actually ends up looking like.

Jack, thank you very much.

CAFFERTY: Yes.

O'BRIEN: A little bit of good news for a California woman who turned her life around. She built a brand new life after years in prison. But a dispute about how much time she was supposed to serve actually threatened to put her back in prison. That's where Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger comes in.

Frank Buckley has her story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The woman in the prison I.D. photo had changed. After seven years in prison and two and a half years of freedom, Pamela Martinez had a job and respect of coworkers and friends.

PAMELA MARTINEZ, IN DISPUTE OVER PRISON TIME SERVED: I have tried so hard to change my life around. And now they're going reduce me back to poverty status. BUCKLEY: That was Pamela last week as she and her supporters asked California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for clemency. It was a long shot, but it worked. Governor Schwarzenegger recommends to the California Supreme Court in this letter that her sentence be commuted to time served.

MARTINEZ: I mean, the thought that the governor would actually consider this is like -- what kind of percentage is that?

BUCKLEY: Pamela is taking it one step at a time. Monday's step, to get a judge to stay her sentence, to keep her out of prison for now. That smile on her face, after the judge's ruling.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you. And good luck.

MATINEZ: Thank you.

BUCKLEY (on camera): The California Supreme Court will now consider if Pamela Martinez has paid her debt to society, if seven years in prison is long enough for stealing a toolbox, if 65 additional days are necessary.

MARTINEZ: It's step by step every day now. But, hey, I won't be sitting in prison tomorrow. Yeah!

BUCKLEY (voice-over): Frank Buckley, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: It's a nice story.

HEMMER: That it is.

In a moment here, medical news. A promising treatment for breast cancer that is much less invasive, they say. Dr. Sanjay Guppy has that in a moment.

O'BRIEN: Also this morning, singer Janet Jackson appears to be shaking off that recent controversy. Now she's making a comeback, if you can call it that.

Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: A new study reports that even moderate exercise can help women survive breast cancer. The research shows that breast cancer patients who exercise during their recovery can reduce their risk of dying from the disease by one-quarter to one-half, depending on the level of activity. Doctors say that working out helps by burning stored fat that produces estrogen. The study was done by the American Association for Cancer Research.

In the near future, a non-surgical approach to breast tumors could become available, early research is showing. Making a house call this morning from the CNN Center to bring us some details is medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Good morning to you, Sanjay.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

Well, the procedure is called Radiofrequency Ablation. And it's a big name, but people are getting pretty excited about this.

A small study actually looking at whether or not this technique might actually be able to rid women of small breast cancer tumors about two centimeters in size. That's about the size of a grape.

Let me show you some pictures here. Very interesting. These are ultrasound pictures. Take a sneak peek at what a radiologist sees when they look at the ultrasound.

Before, you can see that black spot in the middle. That represents a breast tumor. And on the right, this is after Radiofrequency Ablation. The tumor is gone.

What Radiofrequency Ablation is, basically, you can take a look at the needle there. This is actually inserted through the skin into the tumor and then heated up to a super-hot temperature, about 200 degrees, where the temperature is applied for about 15 minutes.

There you can see the needle actually going -- just touching the tumor. These are pretty interesting pictures. Great pictures of the needle actually touching the tumor.

And then you can actually see the prongs that you saw earlier actually going through the tumor there. Interesting there, again.

This is about the point where you start to heat up the probe to about 200 degrees, 15 minutes. There, the needle is actually inside the tumor. Again, the needle being inside the tumor, heating that tumor up.

And then, finally, last picture, they're basically showing what this looks like. That's the needle going into the tumor. It heats it up. And they're finding that it gets rid of the tumor, at least radiographically -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Well, it sounds like then it's sort of minimally invasive, especially when you're talking about generally a lot of these women would have to go under the knife and cut out that tumor. But does that procedure hurt? Is it painful? Are there any sort of aftereffects to the women?

GUPTA: Well, you know, it is minimally invasive. And that's become one of the mantras certainly in the surgical therapy for these sorts of things.

We don't know -- they don't know exactly how well it works yet. A couple of interesting points is, all the women in the study subsequently had an operation to determine whether or not the tumor was gone. And they found in those 20 women the tumor, in fact, was gone.

It is a little bit painful when the needle goes through, although like a lot of other procedures, biopsies and whatnot, it's just the skin pretty much that's numbed up before the needle actually goes in. But these are preliminary trials. It looks like it's promising so far -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: But at the same time, the big problem is, once you do it, you have to -- at least so far -- they've had to cut the women open to make sure that they actually got all the cancer, right? So how do they get to the stage where they can just do it and be confident that it worked?

GUPTA: Well, that's the exact right question. And that's what's happening now.

After a while, you'll collect enough data where you're convinced that, based on this procedure and the subsequent operations, you look at the tumor afterwards and you find that there are no cells left, there are no malignant cells left, after a while surgeons will develop enough confidence to say, you know what? We don't need to do the operation afterwards. We're convinced that based on what we know, this ablation will take care of all those cells and the women will be disease-free.

That's a ways away, still, Soledad. And, again, this is for small tumors. It incorporates all those elements: less invasiveness, a cure potentially of these small breast cancer tumors. And, you know, we'll have to wait and see what the final studies show.

O'BRIEN: It's still some good news early on. Sanjay, thanks, as always. Interesting stuff.

GUPTA: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Bill?

HEMMER: Here's Aaron Brown now. A preview of what's coming up later tonight here on "NEWSNIGHT" -- Aaron.

AARON BROWN, "NEWSNIGHT" Tonight on "NEWSNIGHT," former adviser to President Bush, Karen Hughes, joins us. One of the most powerful women to serve in the top ranks of the White House ever.

Back into the fray now. A new book, a memoir, juggling her book tour with a spirited defense of her former boss and his handling of the war on terror. So, Karen Hughes, plus all the day's news, morning papers and the rest. That's "NEWSNIGHT," CNN tonight 10:00 p.m. Eastern.

HEMMER: Aaron, thank you much.

In a moment here, they say any publicity is good publicity if you spell the name right. Right? Is that true for Janet Jackson? Next up here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Funny man Jay Leno is at the top of his game as the host of "The Tonight Show." He rules the late-night ratings. And now NBC is rewarding him with a lucrative new contract that stretches through the end of the decade.

Leno was making about $16 million a year under his old contract. He said NBC gave him a good raise. He won't say how much. Although Jack Cafferty told me, what, $27?

CAFFERTY: Newspaper reports $27 million.

O'BRIEN: Jack Cafferty says $27 million. That's a nice raise.

HEMMER: Nice chunk.

CAFFERTY: You go, Jay. We're really proud of you. If you want to send any of that our way, we'll take it.

HEMMER: Come on. Good allowance.

Janet Jackson kicking off her publicity tour for her new CD. In fact, starting today. A star-studded party last night in New York. Also, prior to that, an appearance on the David Letterman show. This morning, two months removed from the Super Bowl, Sibila Vargas on the trial of the singer's comeback.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANET JACKSON, SINGER: It's very embarrassing for me to have so many people see this little breast.

DAVID LETTERMAN, TALK SHOW HOST: Well...

(LAUGHTER)

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This was Janet Jackson on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" to promote her new album, "Damita Jo." The album was the last thing on Letterman's mind.

JACKSON: I want to put all that behind me. I truly do.

LETTERMAN: Well, not me.

(LAUGHTER)

VARGAS: The Letterman appearance is just one stop on Jackson's publicity tour. But it remains to be seen if the continuing debate over her Super Bowl half-time report will overshadow the record.

JERMAINE JACKSON, JANET'S BROTHER: If this publicity is good, if her album is out there, that's what it's all about. I mean, but the music kind of speaks for itself.

VARGAS: The controversy cost Janet a Grammy appearance and the lead role in ABCs Lena Horn bio pick. But at least one industry insider thinks the backlash may actually endear Jackson's audiences.

GAIL MITCHELL, BILLBOARD MAGAZINE: I was watching her when she received the lifetime achievement award at Soul Train. She got a standing ovation. So, in that sense, I think maybe it's made some of her core fan base rally around her and be even stronger.

VARGAS: Wherever Jackson appears network censors won't be far behind.

JACKSON: Oh. You're not going to let...

VARGAS: One comment she made to Letterman was bleeped.

Sibila Vargas, CNN, Hollywood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: And, again, Jackson's new CD arriving in stores today. Reviews have been mixed so far. We'll see how the sales go after that -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Coming up on CNN this morning, the latest from London on that massive police mobilization that rounded up more than a half- dozen suspected terrorists.

That's ahead on "CNN LIVE TODAY" with Daryn Kagan.

AMERICAN MORNING is back in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: We've got to run. Here's Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center. Much more on this throughout the morning.

Daryn, good morning to you.

O'BRIEN: Hey, Daryn.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Bill, you've got to set Soledad up. You always have the best cold medication. I don't know for pregnant ladies.

HEMMER: Daryn, I want to share something with you and the viewers.

O'BRIEN: Nothing. I get nothing.

HEMMER: We keep the sanitizer right behind us here. OK?

KAGAN: Behind the scenes at AMERICAN MORNING.

HEMMER: So we keep clean.

O'BRIEN: That's right. Oh, isn't it exciting?

KAGAN: Very good. O'BRIEN: What goes on behind our scenes.

KAGAN: Took this probing journalist to get that out of you guys. Soledad, feel better.

O'BRIEN: Thank you. You're so sweet. Thank you.

KAGAN: Hang in there.

O'BRIEN: Thank you.

KAGAN: All right. We'll see you guys tomorrow morning. We will get started.

Good morning, everyone, from CNN headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Daryn Kagan. And we're going to begin with a check of the headlines at this hour.

Police in London are gathering evidence in an investigation of a possible terrorist attack. Earlier, police displayed a bag which they say contained more than half-ton of ammonium nitrate. Also, some 700 British police swept the city, arresting eight men earlier this morning. Spain says one of the eight may be linked to the Madrid bombings earlier this month. Just ahead, we'll go live to London for the latest.

Veteran British broadcaster Alistair Cooke is dead. He died yesterday at his home in New York City. Cooke was best known in the U.S. as the host of PBS' "Masterpiece Theater." He was also the host of the long-running British program "Letters From America."

Cooke retired just a few weeks ago because of heart disease. He was 95 years old.

About 20 minutes from now, President Bush will head to Wisconsin. He is talking taxes and jobs today. The president's trip to Appleton is being billed as an official visit. Wisconsin has lost some 80,000 manufacturing jobs since Bush took office, and the state is likely to be a political battleground this election year.

And about those huddled masses, more will be able to read the message on the Statue of Liberty when the monument reopens in New York this summer. The U.S. interior secretary made the announcement this morning amid concerns it could be a draw for terrorists. The secretary said new security measures will be in place.

The first hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

All right. We're going to begin with some...


Aired March 30, 2004 - 09:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Eight suspects, 700 police, half a ton of explosives. The raid in London this morning that may have averted disaster.
After a week of complaints, the White House thinks it may have found a way to end the controversy over 9/11 testimony.

And look what happened while you were sleeping. Baseball season began. A long way from here.

Those stories all ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to Tuesday; 9:00 here in New York. Good to have you with us today.

In a moment here, what does Saddam Hussein's potential lawyer have planned in the event of a trial for the former Iraqi dictator? Our conversation with Jacques Verges in a moment out of Paris, France.

O'BRIEN: Also this morning, a woman who we told you about last week, freed from prison in California. Cleaned up her life, only to be told there was an error is figuring out her time served. Well, she asked Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for help. We're going to tell you exactly what he had to say to her.

HEMMER: All right. Top stories top of the hour. We'll get to Jack in a moment, also.

Top stories from Spain. Spanish authorities say one of the eight men arrested in the London area today may be linked to the Madrid train bombings. The arrests were made following a series of early morning raids. One operation taking place at the warehouse seen in this videotape.

Authorities say they also seized more than a half ton of ammonium nitrate. Police are investigating whether or not there's a connection involved there in Madrid.

Other news now: a New poll showing President Bush's political position against his Democratic rival, John Kerry, has strengthened. The New CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll shows 51 percent of likely voters say they would choose the president to 47 percent for Senator Kerry. That's in a two-way race. Both are back on the trail today, the campaign trail. President Bush talks about the economy in Wisconsin. Senator Kerry is in San Diego, California, second day for campaigning there in the Golden State.

The media will get a little more leeway in covering the Michael Jackson grand jury proceedings. A judge lifting restrictions yesterday on photographing jurors and witnesses outside the courthouse. However, the judge warned the media not to try and take pictures of any minors called to testify or communicate with them in any way.

Baseball fans needed a wakeup call early today to catch this year's season opener. From Japan, the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays played their first official game of 2004. It took place in Tokyo. They Yankees and all their expensive players were clobbered.

I say that with a chuckle -- 8-3 the final from Japan. It's a long, long season. The Yankees are absolutely loaded. And they're going get attention every single time they take the field in this coming season.

O'BRIEN: Yes. They lost 8-3.

HEMMER: 161 to go.

O'BRIEN: That's true, but they lost the first one 8-3.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: Out to London now. Hundreds of British police spanning out earlier today, arresting eight men suspected of being involved in a possible terrorist plot. To the British capital now, and our senior international correspondent, Sheila MacVicar, tracking this for us.

Sheila, what do you have there? Hello.

SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

The combination this morning of what has been months of intensive work, we are told, by security sources. Eight men arrested, indeed.

Behind me, the storage facility where this morning British police seized more than half a ton of ammonium nitrate. It has agricultural use as fertilizer. It can also be used to make a very powerful explosive. That's the explosive that was used in both the Oklahoma City bomb and the Bali bomb. Now, this morning, also a very unusual press conference from Scotland Yard, the head of the counterterrorism service talking almost immediately following the raids.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETER CLARKE, LONDON POLICE: The men who have been arrested will be interviewed by officers from the Metropolitan Police anti-terrorist branch. I should like to make it clear at this stage that this operation is not linked to either Irish Republican terrorism or to the recent attack in Madrid. The men who have been arrested are all British citizens. They are aged between 17 and 32.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACVICAR: Now, police sources saying that those British citizens are men of Pakistani origin, suggesting also in other statements from the police that there is a tie here perhaps to potential islamist terror. Under the U.K. Terrorism Act, the police could have up to 14 days to question the men. That's, of course, with the approval of a judge -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right. Sheila, thanks. Sheila MacVicar there in London.

Soledad?

O'BRIEN: A continuing effort today at the White House. The Bush administration seeking an agreement with the bipartisan 9/11 Commission. The compromise is aimed at getting National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice back before the commission to testify for a second time.

White House correspondent Dana Bash joins us this morning from the White House with details.

Dana, good morning again.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again to you, Soledad.

And since the White House has made it clear they are not going to give the commission what they want, which is public sworn testimony from Condoleezza Rice, what they have been doing here is trying to come up with other ways to satisfy the commission. Some of the options Bush officials are floating are releasing some notes from Condoleezza Rice's February meeting with commissioners, and also trying to find a way for her meet with them in private a second time, but not under oath.

With the promise, though, of making some of that testimony, maybe all of it, public. But so far, even Republican commissioners are saying no go.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SLADE GORTON, 9/11 COMMISSIONER: A major part of our duty is to see to it that everything possible is released to the general public. And that no compromise on a private visit by Condoleezza Rice is going to satisfy that need.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES THOMPSON, 9/11 COMMISSIONER: This commission has voted unanimously to ask Dr. Rice to appear before us as a witness under oath in public. And I think that's what she should do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now, the chairman of the commission, Tom Kean, told The New York Times that even if Condoleezza Rice does come and meet again in private, he wants her to do under oath, under pressure and penalty of perjury, because he wants it to be compared on a balanced level to what Richard Clarke said in the allegations that he made under oath.

Now, Senate Democrats are going to continue to keep up the pressure this morning. The Democratic leader is going to the floor this hour to say that Dr. Rice should come forward publicly. They're also going to have a resolution on the floor. It's not likely to go anywhere, Soledad, but certainly they are going to try to keep the pressure on this White House to try to get Dr. Rice to testify -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: In light of that, Dana, then how much of a political risk do you think this entire issue is?

BASH: It is a political risk, and they know that here. And if you put that against the backdrop of Clarke's overall charges that the administration didn't do enough, you can take a look at the latest CNN poll number. It does seem to have some effect on the president's approval on fighting terrorism.

It's now 58 percent; that's eight points down from what it was last time we took it. Certainly, it's still a high number. But when you look at how the president is running as somebody who is, as they say, steady in times of change in his leadership, this is not something they want. And any perception that Dr. Rice is trying to hide something is not exactly going to add to their reelection message that the president is trying hard to fight terrorism and did so leading up to 9/11.

O'BRIEN: Dana Bash at the White House for us this morning. Dana, thanks a lot.

Joining us to talk a little bit more about all of this is the former CIA director, James Woolsey. He's in Calgary, Alberta, this morning.

Nice to see you, sir, as always. Thanks for being with us.

JAMES WOOLSEY, FMR. CIA DIRECTOR: Good to be with you, Soledad. Sure.

O'BRIEN: The White House seems to be pursuing, as we heard Dana just say moments ago, a compromise, where Condoleezza Rice would testify privately with some of the remarks being made public. Do you think this compromise on the table now is a good offer, essentially?

WOOLSEY: That one might work. I think it's important for people to realize that presidents do need people who they can talk to confidentially. And White House national security advisers have typically not given public testimony or under oath the way cabinet members have.

I do think -- except if there's, for example, an investigation of a scandal. And I think perhaps one compromise here as just a thought would be that they should find the areas where in preparation her testimony might disagree with Richard Clarke's about fact, not necessarily -- not opinions. And have her sworn and under oath only for that.

And then they can work out whether she testifies without being under oath in public or in private. But if you have her testifying on everything under oath, then the members of the commission could probe each and every conversation she had with the president under pain of perjury. And I don't think that you want presidents to be in a situation where they can't confidentially talk with one of their assistants. That would be a new thing in American politics.

O'BRIEN: But if you're picking and choosing then, that doesn't really solve the precedent issue, does it, that the White House puts forward as why Condoleezza Rice will not testify publicly?

WOOLSEY: Well, the precedent has been waved where there have been investigations of potentially criminal behavior. And what might be looked at here, what some people have charged, is that Clarke lied in some of his testimony. If he lied about a fact, then that is something that she could eliminate. If it's just a difference of opinion between him and her, or if his prior testimony and his current testimony are just differences in opinion, not in fact, then perhaps there's nothing to look into.

But the exception to the precedent of the national security adviser not speaking has been waved in cases where they're looking into a crime. If that's the case here, then perhaps she should testify under oath. But only on those points.

O'BRIEN: We've been talking about this new CNN poll. Fifty- three percent think that the Bush administration is covering something up about the handling of intelligence on terrorism before 9/11.

Do you think there comes a point where public opinion, or maybe public mistrust is a better way to put it, trumps precedent and trumps all those arguments about, well, the president should be able to speak to a trusted adviser without the worry about that person later going under oath? I mean, is there a point where people say, we don't believe the administration and this becomes a big problem?

WOOLSEY: Well, that's a political issue, but I must say it seems to me it's one that the president ought to be able to decide. Part of the dilemma here, I'm sure, for him and the administration, is that there is no one more articulate and better able to present his case and more knowledgeable about foreign policy and his administration maybe in the country than Condoleezza Rice.

I have known her for nearly 20 years. And when Clarke says, for example, that she didn't seem to know who al Qaeda was in January of 2001, that simply is ridiculous. Condi Rice would be the best politically -- in terms of public relations -- would be the best witness the president could possibly put forward. So I'm sure they're torn there at the White House for exactly that reason.

O'BRIEN: Interesting. All right. James Woolsey, the former CIA director, joining us this morning.

Nice to see you, sir. Thanks, as always.

WOOLSEY: Good to be with you.

O'BRIEN: Thank you.

HEMMER: That's an interesting one. Yesterday there was a radio interview released from 2000 where Condoleezza Rice talked at great length about al Qaeda. This is prior to coming on board with Bush administration. Jack's got more on this, "Question of the Day."

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. The political advantage definitely belongs to the Democrats. This is an election year. And until there's some movement on the Condoleezza Rice issue, the political damage presumably will continue to accrue to the incumbent administration.

The question we're reading e-mails on is, should she be required to testify in public and under oath? Seems like a ground ball. You think, well, yes, she should be. But not everybody thinks that's a good idea.

Helen writes this: "There should be some shroud of secrecy around some of the information pre-September 11 because to tell all could endanger our current covert operations. Freedom's not free. We must all sacrifice something."

"Unfortunately, the tell-all authors who are confessing or pointing fingers seem to be only after media attention and the almighty dollar. Dr. Rice should not go. This is just another Democratic political ploy."

Christopher says this: "I think the White House needs to declassify all the information from before the attacks. It's quite obvious something went wrong, and we, the people, deserve to know what that was."

Don in Middletown, Delaware, says, "No, she should not testify in public. Enough has been said already in public. There are ongoing operations dealing with terrorist activities that we, the public, should not know about. We must let those in the know do their job."

AM@CNN.com is the address. And time permitting, we'll do one more batch of these.

HEMMER: What's your hunch? There's some movement there, right? I mean, there's talking between both sides. So some sort of compromise perhaps will be coming out of this. O'BRIEN: I thought James Woolsey had actually an interesting proposal for a compromise. Sort of field out the areas that they really want to talk about, and then put her under oath for those parts of it.

HEMMER: Selective, perhaps effective, too.

O'BRIEN: Some people may not buy it.

CAFFERTY: We shall see.

HEMMER: Let's get a break here. In a moment, how will the lawyer representing Saddam Hussein defend someone accused of such brutality? We will hear from one man who says he will represent Saddam Hussein in court in a moment.

O'BRIEN: And the California woman who was told she had to return to prison after she had gotten her life back on track. Well, now she's getting some big help. We will tell you why she is pumped up.

HEMMER: Also, it's only two months after that half-time show in Houston at the Super Bowl. Janet Jackson is making the rounds yet again.

Still to come here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: A French attorney who said he will represent Saddam Hussein in trial wants to enlist the help of the International Red Cross is setting up a meeting with the former leader. Jacques Verges says Saddam's nephew has written him a letter asking him to defend Saddam at a possible trial. Late yesterday, I talked with Verges in Paris, asking him if he thinks Saddam Hussein could get a fair trial in Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JACQUES VERGES, ATTORNEY: I don't think so today, because to have a fair trial, it should be necessary to have a state in Iraq. That is not the case. A government elected by free elections, that is not the case. A constitution, that is not the case. A justice organized, that is not the case.

HEMMER: How will you defend Saddam Hussein in a trial?

VERGES: I should answer to you, which are the accusations? In a democratic country, when a man is accused, he's accused from a document issued by the public attorney. Here I am looking for a document issued by a public attorney I don't find.

He is accused by the political leaders of the coalition, by his enemies who said that he is guilty, that he deserves to be killed. Everybody has a right to be defended, and every lawyer has a duty to defend people accused. And my office is to defend him, to discuss the accusation point by point. And I think this is a normal step in a democracy.

HEMMER: We have seen videotape, pictures of Saddam Hussein in captivity several months ago. What do you know about his physical and mental condition in Iraq?

VERGES: I don't know the situation of Mr. Saddam Hussein because he is in secrecy. And because the behavior of the people who have captured him are not confirmed to the Geneva Convention, which forbids the humiliation of the prisoners. I think to have shown him looked by a doctor who looked more like a veterinarian, examining his teeth, his tongue, his hair, I think all these are disgusting behavior and do not conform to the Geneva Convention.

HEMMER: Will you try to get the trial moved out of Iraq?

VERGES: I am trying nothing about this. I am waiting for the decision, which is not defending of me to know if the trial will be in Iraq, in the states, or in international court. Of course, the decision is not mine.

HEMMER: When will you be able to meet with Saddam Hussein?

VERGES: When I shall receive the authorization of the people who keep him. And I shall look with the International Red Cross to make steps to authorize me to see him.

HEMMER: In a trial, sir, who would you, call to testify?

VERGES: The main accusation is to have in his possession, to have had mass destructive weapons, and eventually to have used them. But who sells these to him? The United States and England. And the man who was the representative for this bargain, for this market, for this deal, is called Mr. Rumsfeld. So I should ask him to come and testify.

HEMMER: Would you call President Bush also?

VERGES: Of course. The links between the American government and the Iraqi government are so close that you cannot judge one without asking at least the other what he has done by this time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Again, Jacques Verges from yesterday. He says he has been contacted by a nephew of Saddam Hussein asking him to represent Saddam Hussein in the event of a trial. Already a team of about 50 specialists from the U.S. in Iraq earlier in the month to help Iraqis organize evidence to use in the event of a trial there.

Soledad?

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, the very latest on those terror arrests in the London area early this morning.

And another confession is said to be prompted by Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ." Those stories ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: A new industry report contends that outsourcing work can actually create jobs here in the U.S. We'll look at that, plus a market preview with Andy Serwer, who's "Minding Your Business."

Hello.

ANDY SERWER, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, FORTUNE MAGAZINE: Hello to you again.

O'BRIEN: Kind of contradicts other reports that we've heard that when you outsource jobs it hurts the U.S. economy.

SERWER: Right. I mean, this is counterintuitive. And here's the story.

This is a new study out by a technology trade group, the Information Technology Association of America. Microsoft and others are members of this group. Here's how it works.

They're saying that by outsourcing to places like India, companies lower costs that increases profits. That means they can expand and then hire more workers.

Well, some might disagree. But the point is, they're suggesting that outsourcing has actually created 90,000 jobs in the United States recently. You can see here. And they're saying in 2008 it will create 317,000.

Well, the last number. Who knows about that five years down the road. But it's an interesting point.

They're also saying that the technology downturn has created more job losses than outsourcing. And the real point here, Soledad, is it speaks to the problem of trying to count here. Trying to keep track of exactly how many jobs have been lost to outsourcing and how bad is this for the economy.

It is true that companies make more money by having lowered costs. This is a big issue; this speaks to jobs. It's a campaign issue. And we've been hearing a lot about it. We'll be hearing more and more about this over the coming months.

O'BRIEN: It sounds like classic fuzzy math.

SERWER: It is. But we're going to all work on trying to get to the bottom of it.

O'BRIEN: Great. Want to give a preview of the markets?

SERWER: I do. A lot of stuff happening. Some stuff in the food sector. Let's talk about that a little bit.

O'BRIEN: Pop?

SERWER: Yes. PepsiCo. Sorry, I blew it. I didn't bring you any food.

O'BRIEN: When you talk about food, you're supposed to bring the props.

SERWER: I know. I forgot about your situation. We'll get you some more food.

Both PepsiCo and California Pizza Kitchen saying that their numbers are looking good. Kraft buying very fine juices this morning. We'll be watching those stocks.

Also, after the open, consumer confidence numbers comes out at 10:00. So we'll be checking that. Futures down a little bit, though, this morning at the open.

O'BRIEN: Excellent. Andy, thanks so much.

SERWER: You're welcome.

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, after a tough life, this California woman, well, she was able to turn it all around. But a sentencing dispute nearly sent her back to prison. We'll tell you what happened when Governor Schwarzenegger stepped in.

That's just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: It is exactly half-past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.

When former terrorism czar Richard Clarke apologized to families last week at the 9/11 hearing, some of them expressed gratitude, but not all of them. This morning, we'll talk to a man whose brothers died in those attacks. He's one of many who are very upset with Clarke.

HEMMER: And they've written a letter we'll get to in a moment.

Also in a moment here, why is this woman smiling? A release from prison, almost had to go back. We'll tell you who came to her rescue in a few moments here.

O'BRIEN: All right. Let's get to our top stories this morning.

Spanish officials say one of the eight men arrested in the London area today may be linked to Madrid train bombings. The arrests were made following a series of early morning raids. Authorities say they also seized more than half a ton of ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer that can be used to make bombs. Sources say the suspects are linked to possible Islamist terror.

President Bush and Senator John Kerry are exchanging jabs over high gas prices. The president releasing a TV ad in the style of an old silent movie. In it, he claims that John Kerry supported gasoline taxes that cost Americans $657 every year. Senator Kerry firing back at a fund-raiser in California last night, saying that Americans are being charged, "Halliburton prices."

Police volunteers and the University of Wisconsin all teaming up to search for a student who has disappeared without a trace Saturday. Even more strange, 20-year-old Audrey Seiler was also assaulted last month. She was attacked from behind; she was knocked unconscious; she was dragged a block away, but she was not robbed or sexually assaulted.

Earlier this morning, I spoke with Audrey's uncle and also a Madison police officer, Officer Larry Kampholz. Spoke about why the disappearance is so troubling.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OFC. LARRY KAMHOLZ, MADISON, WISCONSIN POLICE: It's very strange. She didn't take any personal belongings from her apartment, as a normal person would if they were going to an appointment or seeing a friend, or that type of thing. She didn't take anything with her.

She left her car in the driveway. And, you know, she walked out the door of the residence.

So it's very unusual. And like I said, we have spoken to the family and friends, and we quickly learned that is not typical of Audrey, to leave on those type of terms.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Police have no evidence linking Seiler's disappearance to that attack back in February.

Mel Gibson is turning out to be a real help to police departments, apparently. A 20-year-old man turned himself in. The police in Mesa, Arizona, claiming he was responsible for a string of burglaries. Police say Turner Bingham (ph) decided to give himself up after seeing The Passion of the Christ." Yesterday, of course, you'll recall we told you about a case in Texas where another man, Dan Leach, police say he confessed to killing his girlfriend after seeing "The Passion of the Christ."

A new study finds that children are not getting the sleep that they need. Experts recommend toddlers get 12 to 14 hours a day, everyday. Preschoolers should have 11 to 13 hours, and elementary children need 10 to 11 hours. The National Sleep Foundation found that in all of those age groups, the average child gets one to two hours less sleep than the recommended amount.

HEMMER: I think that story's for you.

O'BRIEN: Yes, it is. HEMMER: I say it with a smile.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: The controversy about intelligence in the 9/11 attacks moving now on several fronts again today. The White House now seeking a compromise with the 9/11 Commission to allow Condoleezza Rice back before the committee.

Also, the CIA reviewing testimony from former White House counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke. That from 2002 to a congressional 9/11 investigative panel. The White House wants to release the parts of it that are not classified because it believes Clarke may have contradicted himself under oath.

All of this closely watched by families of 9/11 victims. Dozens of them signing a letter published Sunday in The New York Post. In it, the families criticized Richard Clarke by saying -- and quoting now -- "The notion of profiteering from anything associated with 9/11 is particularly offensive to all of us." It continues, "We find Mr. Clarke's actions all the more offensive, especially considering the fact that there was always a high possibility that the 9/11 Commission could be used for political gain, especially now with the presidential election less than eight months away."

New York City firefighter Ken Haskell joins us now here on AMERICAN MORNING. He lost two brothers who were also firefighters killed on September 11.

Nice to have you, Ken.

KEN HASKELL, TWO BROTHERS KILLED ON 9/11: Thank you.

HEMMER: You say you were offended by Richard Clarke. Why?

HASKELL: Well, we'd just like to see -- I am a little skeptical of the timing of his statements now, the release of his book to coincide with what's going on with the commission and the investigation. We would just like to see this investigation proceed in a nonpartisan way and get to the facts, and not necessarily point fingers at one administration or the other.

HEMMER: If I go back to that letter, you mentioned profiteering in that letter that you were party to. Do you think he's trying to profit from book sales at this point? Is that your allegation?

HASKELL: I'm sure it's no coincidence that he's taking the time now to release the book in light of everything that's going on with the commission. I mean, he's made statements previously about having intelligence, important intelligence information that was neglected by the president.

Then why wouldn't he mention that at the time? Why would he wait two and a half years to coincide with the commission and the release of his book? That's how we look at it. HEMMER: He sat in your chair about a week and a half ago and said the White House held up the publishing of the book and he had no control over the release. You're skeptical about that?

HASKELL: I think his credibility is in question. Some of his motives, perhaps maybe what he said previously, is contradicting what he is saying now.

HEMMER: I'm wondering if last week's testimony had an impact on you. I want to play a short clip at the beginning of his testimony from just last week. Here's Richard Clarke in D.C.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD CLARKE, FMR. COUNTERTERRORISM ADVISER: Your government failed you. Those entrusted with protecting you failed you. And I failed you.

We tried hard, but that doesn't matter because we failed. And for that failure, I would ask once all the facts are out, for your understanding and for your forgiveness.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Richard Clarke from last week talking to some family members last week. They say that apology meant a great deal to them. Did it have the same impact on you?

HASKELL: I think it's very commendable that he would take that responsibility and apologize, but I don't blame the U.S. government for killing my brothers. And we need to remain focused on the fact that terrorists were the ones who perpetrated the crimes on 9/11.

Terrorists are the ones who killed our families and our loved ones here in New York. And it's important to remain focused on that. We have an administration now that has taken the fight to the terrorists. And it's important to remain focused on that, not necessarily point the finger at one administration or the other.

HEMMER: You know the controversy in D.C. this day is about Condoleezza Rice, whether she should testify under oath and publicly. Would you like to see that or not?

HASKELL: I think there are obviously some security issues that need to be respected in respect of her being a personal adviser to the president. If that's going compromise any of the missions we have going overseas with our military, I think that she should refrain from publicly testifying.

HEMMER: So you would say don't do it?

HASKELL: I would -- if it's going to endanger our troops or some of the security policies that we have in place now, absolutely.

HEMMER: Appreciate your perspective. Ken Haskell, thanks.

HASKELL: Thank you.

HEMMER: Soledad?

O'BRIEN: Jack is tackling the same topic today in the Question of the Day.

CAFFERTY: Same subject. Should Condoleezza Rice be required to testify before the 9/11 Commission under oath and in public? And we've gotten hundreds of responses from viewers.

Magda in Rockaway, New Jersey, writes: "Absolutely not. There are items pertaining to national security the public is not entitled to know about. The bad guys watch the news, too."

Vicki in Virginia: "It doesn't matter to me if Dr. Rice testifies in public or private. What is important is that she testifies instead of appears. Simply appearing allows her to spin her answers in favor of the White House. Testifying takes that away and requires her to tell the truth."

And Larry in Erwin, Tennessee, weighs in with this: "Yes, I think Dr. Rice should be forced to testify under oath. If she's being truthful, she has nothing to worry about. Maybe she remembers what happened to Clinton when he lied under oath."

Interesting dilemma. The White House is between a rock and a hard place on this. And they're trying to work out a compromise. But, right now, the guys on the commission hold all the cards, I think.

O'BRIEN: It will be interesting to see what the compromise, if there is one, actually ends up looking like.

Jack, thank you very much.

CAFFERTY: Yes.

O'BRIEN: A little bit of good news for a California woman who turned her life around. She built a brand new life after years in prison. But a dispute about how much time she was supposed to serve actually threatened to put her back in prison. That's where Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger comes in.

Frank Buckley has her story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The woman in the prison I.D. photo had changed. After seven years in prison and two and a half years of freedom, Pamela Martinez had a job and respect of coworkers and friends.

PAMELA MARTINEZ, IN DISPUTE OVER PRISON TIME SERVED: I have tried so hard to change my life around. And now they're going reduce me back to poverty status. BUCKLEY: That was Pamela last week as she and her supporters asked California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for clemency. It was a long shot, but it worked. Governor Schwarzenegger recommends to the California Supreme Court in this letter that her sentence be commuted to time served.

MARTINEZ: I mean, the thought that the governor would actually consider this is like -- what kind of percentage is that?

BUCKLEY: Pamela is taking it one step at a time. Monday's step, to get a judge to stay her sentence, to keep her out of prison for now. That smile on her face, after the judge's ruling.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you. And good luck.

MATINEZ: Thank you.

BUCKLEY (on camera): The California Supreme Court will now consider if Pamela Martinez has paid her debt to society, if seven years in prison is long enough for stealing a toolbox, if 65 additional days are necessary.

MARTINEZ: It's step by step every day now. But, hey, I won't be sitting in prison tomorrow. Yeah!

BUCKLEY (voice-over): Frank Buckley, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: It's a nice story.

HEMMER: That it is.

In a moment here, medical news. A promising treatment for breast cancer that is much less invasive, they say. Dr. Sanjay Guppy has that in a moment.

O'BRIEN: Also this morning, singer Janet Jackson appears to be shaking off that recent controversy. Now she's making a comeback, if you can call it that.

Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: A new study reports that even moderate exercise can help women survive breast cancer. The research shows that breast cancer patients who exercise during their recovery can reduce their risk of dying from the disease by one-quarter to one-half, depending on the level of activity. Doctors say that working out helps by burning stored fat that produces estrogen. The study was done by the American Association for Cancer Research.

In the near future, a non-surgical approach to breast tumors could become available, early research is showing. Making a house call this morning from the CNN Center to bring us some details is medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Good morning to you, Sanjay.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

Well, the procedure is called Radiofrequency Ablation. And it's a big name, but people are getting pretty excited about this.

A small study actually looking at whether or not this technique might actually be able to rid women of small breast cancer tumors about two centimeters in size. That's about the size of a grape.

Let me show you some pictures here. Very interesting. These are ultrasound pictures. Take a sneak peek at what a radiologist sees when they look at the ultrasound.

Before, you can see that black spot in the middle. That represents a breast tumor. And on the right, this is after Radiofrequency Ablation. The tumor is gone.

What Radiofrequency Ablation is, basically, you can take a look at the needle there. This is actually inserted through the skin into the tumor and then heated up to a super-hot temperature, about 200 degrees, where the temperature is applied for about 15 minutes.

There you can see the needle actually going -- just touching the tumor. These are pretty interesting pictures. Great pictures of the needle actually touching the tumor.

And then you can actually see the prongs that you saw earlier actually going through the tumor there. Interesting there, again.

This is about the point where you start to heat up the probe to about 200 degrees, 15 minutes. There, the needle is actually inside the tumor. Again, the needle being inside the tumor, heating that tumor up.

And then, finally, last picture, they're basically showing what this looks like. That's the needle going into the tumor. It heats it up. And they're finding that it gets rid of the tumor, at least radiographically -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Well, it sounds like then it's sort of minimally invasive, especially when you're talking about generally a lot of these women would have to go under the knife and cut out that tumor. But does that procedure hurt? Is it painful? Are there any sort of aftereffects to the women?

GUPTA: Well, you know, it is minimally invasive. And that's become one of the mantras certainly in the surgical therapy for these sorts of things.

We don't know -- they don't know exactly how well it works yet. A couple of interesting points is, all the women in the study subsequently had an operation to determine whether or not the tumor was gone. And they found in those 20 women the tumor, in fact, was gone.

It is a little bit painful when the needle goes through, although like a lot of other procedures, biopsies and whatnot, it's just the skin pretty much that's numbed up before the needle actually goes in. But these are preliminary trials. It looks like it's promising so far -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: But at the same time, the big problem is, once you do it, you have to -- at least so far -- they've had to cut the women open to make sure that they actually got all the cancer, right? So how do they get to the stage where they can just do it and be confident that it worked?

GUPTA: Well, that's the exact right question. And that's what's happening now.

After a while, you'll collect enough data where you're convinced that, based on this procedure and the subsequent operations, you look at the tumor afterwards and you find that there are no cells left, there are no malignant cells left, after a while surgeons will develop enough confidence to say, you know what? We don't need to do the operation afterwards. We're convinced that based on what we know, this ablation will take care of all those cells and the women will be disease-free.

That's a ways away, still, Soledad. And, again, this is for small tumors. It incorporates all those elements: less invasiveness, a cure potentially of these small breast cancer tumors. And, you know, we'll have to wait and see what the final studies show.

O'BRIEN: It's still some good news early on. Sanjay, thanks, as always. Interesting stuff.

GUPTA: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Bill?

HEMMER: Here's Aaron Brown now. A preview of what's coming up later tonight here on "NEWSNIGHT" -- Aaron.

AARON BROWN, "NEWSNIGHT" Tonight on "NEWSNIGHT," former adviser to President Bush, Karen Hughes, joins us. One of the most powerful women to serve in the top ranks of the White House ever.

Back into the fray now. A new book, a memoir, juggling her book tour with a spirited defense of her former boss and his handling of the war on terror. So, Karen Hughes, plus all the day's news, morning papers and the rest. That's "NEWSNIGHT," CNN tonight 10:00 p.m. Eastern.

HEMMER: Aaron, thank you much.

In a moment here, they say any publicity is good publicity if you spell the name right. Right? Is that true for Janet Jackson? Next up here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Funny man Jay Leno is at the top of his game as the host of "The Tonight Show." He rules the late-night ratings. And now NBC is rewarding him with a lucrative new contract that stretches through the end of the decade.

Leno was making about $16 million a year under his old contract. He said NBC gave him a good raise. He won't say how much. Although Jack Cafferty told me, what, $27?

CAFFERTY: Newspaper reports $27 million.

O'BRIEN: Jack Cafferty says $27 million. That's a nice raise.

HEMMER: Nice chunk.

CAFFERTY: You go, Jay. We're really proud of you. If you want to send any of that our way, we'll take it.

HEMMER: Come on. Good allowance.

Janet Jackson kicking off her publicity tour for her new CD. In fact, starting today. A star-studded party last night in New York. Also, prior to that, an appearance on the David Letterman show. This morning, two months removed from the Super Bowl, Sibila Vargas on the trial of the singer's comeback.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANET JACKSON, SINGER: It's very embarrassing for me to have so many people see this little breast.

DAVID LETTERMAN, TALK SHOW HOST: Well...

(LAUGHTER)

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This was Janet Jackson on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" to promote her new album, "Damita Jo." The album was the last thing on Letterman's mind.

JACKSON: I want to put all that behind me. I truly do.

LETTERMAN: Well, not me.

(LAUGHTER)

VARGAS: The Letterman appearance is just one stop on Jackson's publicity tour. But it remains to be seen if the continuing debate over her Super Bowl half-time report will overshadow the record.

JERMAINE JACKSON, JANET'S BROTHER: If this publicity is good, if her album is out there, that's what it's all about. I mean, but the music kind of speaks for itself.

VARGAS: The controversy cost Janet a Grammy appearance and the lead role in ABCs Lena Horn bio pick. But at least one industry insider thinks the backlash may actually endear Jackson's audiences.

GAIL MITCHELL, BILLBOARD MAGAZINE: I was watching her when she received the lifetime achievement award at Soul Train. She got a standing ovation. So, in that sense, I think maybe it's made some of her core fan base rally around her and be even stronger.

VARGAS: Wherever Jackson appears network censors won't be far behind.

JACKSON: Oh. You're not going to let...

VARGAS: One comment she made to Letterman was bleeped.

Sibila Vargas, CNN, Hollywood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: And, again, Jackson's new CD arriving in stores today. Reviews have been mixed so far. We'll see how the sales go after that -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Coming up on CNN this morning, the latest from London on that massive police mobilization that rounded up more than a half- dozen suspected terrorists.

That's ahead on "CNN LIVE TODAY" with Daryn Kagan.

AMERICAN MORNING is back in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: We've got to run. Here's Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center. Much more on this throughout the morning.

Daryn, good morning to you.

O'BRIEN: Hey, Daryn.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Bill, you've got to set Soledad up. You always have the best cold medication. I don't know for pregnant ladies.

HEMMER: Daryn, I want to share something with you and the viewers.

O'BRIEN: Nothing. I get nothing.

HEMMER: We keep the sanitizer right behind us here. OK?

KAGAN: Behind the scenes at AMERICAN MORNING.

HEMMER: So we keep clean.

O'BRIEN: That's right. Oh, isn't it exciting?

KAGAN: Very good. O'BRIEN: What goes on behind our scenes.

KAGAN: Took this probing journalist to get that out of you guys. Soledad, feel better.

O'BRIEN: Thank you. You're so sweet. Thank you.

KAGAN: Hang in there.

O'BRIEN: Thank you.

KAGAN: All right. We'll see you guys tomorrow morning. We will get started.

Good morning, everyone, from CNN headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Daryn Kagan. And we're going to begin with a check of the headlines at this hour.

Police in London are gathering evidence in an investigation of a possible terrorist attack. Earlier, police displayed a bag which they say contained more than half-ton of ammonium nitrate. Also, some 700 British police swept the city, arresting eight men earlier this morning. Spain says one of the eight may be linked to the Madrid bombings earlier this month. Just ahead, we'll go live to London for the latest.

Veteran British broadcaster Alistair Cooke is dead. He died yesterday at his home in New York City. Cooke was best known in the U.S. as the host of PBS' "Masterpiece Theater." He was also the host of the long-running British program "Letters From America."

Cooke retired just a few weeks ago because of heart disease. He was 95 years old.

About 20 minutes from now, President Bush will head to Wisconsin. He is talking taxes and jobs today. The president's trip to Appleton is being billed as an official visit. Wisconsin has lost some 80,000 manufacturing jobs since Bush took office, and the state is likely to be a political battleground this election year.

And about those huddled masses, more will be able to read the message on the Statue of Liberty when the monument reopens in New York this summer. The U.S. interior secretary made the announcement this morning amid concerns it could be a draw for terrorists. The secretary said new security measures will be in place.

The first hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

All right. We're going to begin with some...