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CNN Live Today
Civilians Brutally Killed in Iraq; Kerry to Have Shoulder Surgery; OPEC Decides to Cut Production; Could This Summer Be One of the Worst for Gas Prices?; Tourists Flock to Trump Tower
Aired March 31, 2004 - 11:00 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.
DARYN KAGAN, ANCHOR: It is 11 a.m. in Boston, 7 p.m. in Baghdad. From CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.
The attack in Iraq -- up first on CNN this hour -- there were two today, both in the Sunni triangle. One involved U.S. troops, the other, an especially grisly attack on civilian contractors in Fallujah. It ended with bodies mutilated and dragged through the streets.
Jim Clancy is on duty in Baghdad where it is now early evening -- Jim.
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fire and death in Fallujah this day, Daryn. As you -- some civilian contractors working for the U.S.- led coalition provisional authority were caught by attackers inside the city of Fallujah.
Hand grenades or rocket-propelled grenades, we don't know which, were fired into the car or thrown into the car and setting them ablaze, perhaps wounding many of those occupants. Then the vehicles were sprayed with gunfire.
All of that, according to eyewitnesses on the scene, from a CNN source that was there and talked with them.
Now, as we understand it, after that point, the crowd gathered. There were bricks and rocks thrown at the cars as the demonstrators, or those who had gathered began to vent their rage against the occupation.
But then it got worse. It got very ugly with bodies dragged through the streets and mutilated, something I'm certain that most Iraqis are not going to be pleased with.
Many questions raised by all of this. It has been a year since the U.S. military came to Fallujah. A year later, still it remains a hotbed of violence.
This is General Mark Kimmett.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMETT, U.S. ARMY: Fallujah remains one of those cities in Iraq that just don't get it. It's a former Ba'athist stronghold. This was a city that profited immeasurably and immensely under the former regime. They have a view that somehow the harder they fight, the better chance they have of achieving some sort of restorationist movement within the country.
They fight. We work with them.
It is a small minority of the people in Fallujah. Most of the people in Fallujah want to move on with their lives, want to move forward, want to be part of a new Iraq. There's a small core element that doesn't seem to get it. They're desperate to try to hold out, desperate to try to turn back the hands of time. And that just isn't going to happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CLANCY: Daryn, that is in the heart of the so-called Sunni triangle. That is also where Nanbar (ph) province, they're not far away, where five U.S. soldiers for the 1st Infantry Division lost their lives.
They were in a convoy. Their vehicle ran over a bomb, or a bomb was implanted in the roadway. It killed all five of them when it detonated.
So very tough day for the coalition. Nine casualties in all. In Fallujah, it is not certain the nationalities of those who were the civilian contractors.
Back to you.
KAGAN: Jim Clancy with the latest from Baghdad. Jim, thank you.
Roadside bombs, rocket-propelled grenades, common tools for Iraqi insurgents. Want to bring in our Mike Brooks now to talk about the tactics and their impact.
Mike, thanks for being here with us. First, let's talk about the methods and actual devices. What do they look like before they explode?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN ANALYST: We just heard from Jim. He was talking about a bomb that was actually placed underneath the street. That's one of the ways they're doing it. But they're also using other methods, such as putting grenades underneath cars.
We were able to obtain three pictures of a vehicle that was -- this was found during a vehicle inspection. Now, this is a grenade that is wired to the frame of a U.S. personnel vehicle. And then they run the wire down along the side and down onto the wheel.
And it's set to go, to trigger when the car starts. When the truck starts moving, it will pull the pin from the grenade and set the grenade off. This was found during a vehicle inspection before the American personnel even got in the car. You can see, if you do look underneath it, you can find it.
But Daryn, a law enforcement source that just got back from Iraq, told me that they're using dead animals. They're using trash, piles of rocks. Anyplace that you can think of possible to put a bomb, they're doing that.
But they're also -- want to say that it's just a small part of Iraqis that are doing this. It's not everyone. They're getting more and more intel every day about preventions.
People have no idea how many preventions there are each and every day because of Iraqis coming forward, telling the coalition forces exactly where some of these bombs are. It happens every single day. But we never even hear about these.
KAGAN: Right. That's a good point. We will go on and lead our newscast and we'll talk about this explosion that took place, and this many people died, but we don't lead the newscast with this many explosions were avoided.
BROOKS: Exactly.
KAGAN: The successes don't get reported.
BROOKS: Not at all. They're getting good information. The FBI over there working with the coalition forces are getting good information from Iraqis, coming forward each and every day. They're putting their lives on the line by coming forward to tell the coalition forces exactly where these bombs are, and they're finding them on a daily basis.
KAGAN: And so the best defense for these types of things, intelligence, but also thorough searches, I'd imagine?
BROOKS: Absolutely. I mean, this -- the pictures we saw were from a vehicle search before the American personnel got into this truck. They looked underneath it. They found this grenade. They were able to just say, OK, let's stop. Bring it in and disrupt the device.
KAGAN: Mike Brooks, thank you.
BROOKS: Thank you, Daryn.
KAGAN: Other news today, the widow of Daniel Pearl, the "Wall Street Journal" reported who was kidnapped and killed in Pakistan in 2002, is seeking financial compensation from the fund for 9/11 victims. Mariane Pearl says her husband was targeted by Islamic extremists because he was an American. And because of that, she wants compensation from the September 11 victims' fund.
Her initial request was denied, and now she has filed a formal appeal. On CNN last night, she talked about why she is fighting for compensation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIANE PEARL, DANIEL PEARL'S WIDOW: To me, it's not so much a monetary issue. It's more, you know, then what would be the difference between Adam, for instance, and the 103 women that were pregnant and whose husbands died in the World Trade Center.
We know, when we tell the story, what's going to be the difference. That's what it is. And if people think it's not legitimate, it's a government that is not legitimate, then don't do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: U.S. officials say that Khalid Sheikh Mohammad was behind Pearl's murder. He was one of the alleged masterminds of the September 11 attacks and is now in U.S. custody.
In politics, Democratic challenger John Kerry goes in for surgery on his shoulder this hour. Our Dan Lothian is in Boston with details on that.
Dan, good morning.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
Well, Senator Kerry was expected to show up here at about 20 minutes we're told. And he's running a little bit behind schedule. A meeting with a carpenters' trainees organization here in Boston, then coming over here to Mass. General Hospital for that surgery.
His doctors say that the surgery will take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. It will be to repair a torn rotator cuff. This is an accident -- the result, rather, of an accident that occurred on the campaign trail in Iowa back in January, when a bus stopped suddenly and he wrenched his shoulder.
Doctors will be making an inch to an inch and a half incision.
Now, this also is the aggravation of an earlier injury that he sustained back in 1992 during a bike accident.
Once again, that surgery expected to take between 45 minutes to an hour. He'll be released this afternoon, may have to have some pain medication. His arm will also be in a sling. And some of his activities will be curtailed, such as lifting those babies, shaking hands on the campaign trail, and certainly throwing footballs.
Back to you.
KAGAN: Which is not going to do great for the campaign at this time. He's just taken a six-day vacation. What's the word from the campaign about having their candidate out of action, on the D.L., you might say? LOTHIAN: Right. Well, the campaign believes that he can get back into action. He will be able to be back out on the campaign trail soon. While he may have to, as I mentioned, curtail some of his activities, he will still be out there and, according to the campaign, staying on message.
KAGAN: Dan Lothian in Boston.
OPEC has spoken. It is tightening the production spigot. So what will that mean for your next trip to the pump?
He is under investigation, under suspicion and under fire. So what's Michael Jackson doing on Capitol Hill?
And trouble in Texas. A refinery fire that kept fire crews very busy.
CNN LIVE TODAY is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: This just in to CNN. Getting word the defense has rested in the Jayson Williams manslaughter trial.
He is facing eight charges in connection with the shooting death of a limousine driver at his estate in February of 2002. If he's convicted he could face up to 55 years in prison.
We saw -- we showed you some tape earlier this morning, Jayson Williams having the opportunity to testify in his own defense. And here he is talking to the judge saying that he is innocent, but that he would not testify.
And so the defense has now rested. It will soon go to the jury.
It is no secret that gasoline prices are at record highs. You see proof every day you go to the pump: about $1.80 a gallon on average nationwide. Memorial Day and that kind of travel is just on the horizon. There is little chance that prices will go down anytime soon.
Then there's another factor out there, the cartel decided -- the OPEC cartel decided in Vienna today to cut oil production by 1 million barrels a day. That starts tomorrow.
Gary Tuchman has more on what that means to you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are the suppliers of about a third of the world's oil. And there's nothing funny about that to the most oil dependent nations. But as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, better known as OPEC, meets in Vienna today, don't necessarily assume prices will continue climbing as a result of their get-together.
RON GOLD, PETROLEUM INDUSTRY RESEARCH FOUNDATION: OPEC is really meeting for the purpose of how to make sure they don't have a big drop in the price of oil, not to push it up further.
TUCHMAN: OPEC is represented in both hemispheres. Eleven nations belong to the organization from the Middle East, Asia, Africa and South America.
Saudi Arabia, the world's largest producer of oil, is leading the effort to reduce supply. One might assume that would lead to higher prices, but...
GOLD: World oil requirements tend to fall off in the second quarter. And what OPEC would be trying to do is to sort of make their judgment as to how much oil they need to withdraw to prop prices up, not necessarily to push them still higher.
TUCHMAN: However, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have said they backed a delay in production cuts. If they succeed in convincing other members to do that, a long shot at best, it could result in lower prices.
Either way, gasoline prices right now are at their highest level ever in the United States. But adjusted for inflation, they're considerably lower than during the energy crisis a quarter century ago.
This organization is at the peak of its influence.
Gary Tuchman, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Getting more word out of Iraq now about the attack that took place earlier. There was one attack that went after U.S. soldiers, and then another that went after what appeared to be civilians.
We're getting word now that -- confirmation that at least three out of those four victims were indeed Americans. They attacked the cars with grenades and small arms fire. And then also, noteworthy as you can see, set the cars on fire.
And there are reports out of Fallujah, as well, that some of those bodies were dragged through the streets.
Once again, getting word that three -- at least three out of the four victims of this particular attack were Americans. We don't have specific identities yet, or exactly what their jobs were there in Iraq.
More on that just ahead.
Well, it might sound strange, but millions of Americans love to hear the words, "You're fired," at least when it is Donald Trump saying it. Jeanne Moos takes a look at the man who would be king again.
And we want to remind you that we are still taking questions from our sleep disorder expert. Drop us an e-mail at LiveToday@CNN.com. We'll have your answers coming up in the next half hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Refinery operations -- excuse me. Refinery operations have resumed today at a B.P. facility near Galveston, Texas. The officials at this Texas city refinery say the cause of last night's fire explosion is under investigation.
Ten people were treated for chemical exposure. Nearby residents are no longer being told to stay indoors.
Well, this leads us to the discussion of gas prices. It seems like they're on fire. And prices traditionally spike during the summer travel season. So could this summer be even worse than usual?
We have called the Proctor Doctor. Brad Proctor, CEO of GasPriceWatch.com, is in Cincinnati.
You have come, I hope, to help give some relief at the pump. Good morning.
BRAD PROCTOR, CEO, GASPRICEWATCH.COM: Well, we can try.
KAGAN: OK. "E" for effort, Brad.
First, let's talk about the best and the worst. What do you know of the best gas prices in the country and the worst?
PROCTOR: We're seeing in the $1.48s, actually a few states. In Oklahoma and Indiana we're seeing $1.48 for the low, which is -- It's a good price. But we're seeing in San Francisco with $2.39.
KAGAN: And that's for unleaded?
PROCTOR: Just regular unleaded gasoline.
KAGAN: Regular unleaded.
PROCTOR: Absolutely. And we're seeing average now of $1.81, based on our volunteer spotters putting in prices. So it's -- This is the highest we've ever seen it in the four years that we've been around.
KAGAN: I thought it was doing well yesterday. I filled up here in Atlanta for $1.58.
PROCTOR: Yes. KAGAN: Yes, not too bad.
Now you hear the argument, when people start complaining about gas prices, well, historically, if adjusted for inflation, you're still paying less than you did, what, 10, 15 years ago. Do you buy that?
PROCTOR: Yes. When you take into inflation. The idea is you're paying less than you were. But that still means hard dollars are coming out of your pocket.
I can't make -- If milk goes up to $6 a gallon, I can make a conscious decision and say, "I'm not going to buy any milk. I'm going to go out and buy water today." And the idea is I can do without that.
But I have to go to work. You know, I have to buy gasoline. And the swing in any given town on any given day is anywhere from 10 to 25 cents. And as we pointed out, there's almost a 90 cents difference in the high and low in gasoline in the United States. That's incredible.
KAGAN: When you're filling up a big tank, that really adds up.
And that's how your website plays in here. Tell us how your web site works.
PROCTOR: Well, our web site is free for anyone to use. What we've asked is volunteers to come out and they've found gas stations for us and now they're volunteering to put the prices in.
So on your way to work or on your way home from work, you spot a couple prices, you volunteer, you put those prices in. And of course, that means everybody in your neighborhood, the more that the people know about it, the more opportunities they have to make a more informed decision on how to buy that gasoline.
You know, the concept is to encourage the oil companies to keep the prices low by buying from those low-price leaders in your town.
And it could be -- you know, some people are brand loyal. Even within the same brand, you'll see a 10- or 20-cent swing in the price of that brand. So why not buy from the station that has the lowest in the brand you like? So...
KAGAN: You have spotters all across the country?
PROCTOR: Yes, we do. We track about 129,000 gas stations in the United States. They're all based on zip code. And then we have over 80,000 people that have volunteered, either put in prices, view prices, whatever. So they're on a consistently and every day, going out there and trying to track prices. But we're always looking for a few good more people.
KAGAN: Always looking for a few good spotters? Aren't we all?
PROCTOR: Absolutely. KAGAN: It's called GasPriceWatch.com. You can log on and either help out or get some tips on cheaper gas.
Brad, thank you.
PROCTOR: Thank you.
KAGAN: Appreciate that. GasPriceWatch.com.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Hand gestures. In New York City, that's nothing new. But who knew that a four-finger salute -- four-finger salute, that would be, would make Trump a top-dollar tourist attraction?
Here now is CNN's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tourists pose in front of Playboy, they pose in front of Tiffany. But those spots have been trumped by the onslaught of tourists posing in front of Trump Tower.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The one place he wanted to see, Trump.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And here I am.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because of the famous clip at the end of the show when the cab takes off.
MOOS: You know, after Donald says...
DONALD TRUMP, REAL ESTATE MOGUL: You're fired.
MOOS: ... and the loser leaves dragging a suitcase like a tail between her legs.
Tourists seem especially fired up by the words...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're fired.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're fired.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're fired?
MOOS: In case anyone needs a cue card, a huge ad hangs from Trump Tower.
The city has issued four tickets telling Trump to remove illegal signage. No banner ads allowed on classy Fifth Avenue.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because it cheapens the building.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's Trump Towers. He should be able to do what he wants. MOOS: Fines run as high as $2,500 bucks per ticket, chump change for Trump. A spokesperson says, "I don't see a reason why we wouldn't keep it up until the show's finale on April 15."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're fired.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're fired.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His hair's a little weird.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His hair needs help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His hair is sweet.
MOOS: Trump's new book devotes a chapter to it. "My hair is 100 percent mine. No animals have been harmed in the creation of my hairstyle."
KING: It's not a toupee. It is not a comb over.
TRUMP: Don't mess it up too much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In all honestly, his hair looks better on this than it does on him.
MOOS: This being Trump's wax figure at Madam Tussaud's.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm afraid he's going to say, you're fired.
MOOS: Even as "The New York Times" raises the specter of Trump's casino empire facing bankruptcy, his showbiz career is soaring. Trump's book includes a cartoon showing Donald Duck saying, "I remember when I was the Donald."
Now we're all trying to be the Donald.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His hand is going, you're fired.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: you're fired.
MOOS: If only we could figure out how to get the fingers right.
TRUMP: You're fired.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're fired.
MOOS: You're hired.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: That little girl is very good.
Still to come, we have a lot more news to get to. Did the White House begin to put together a plan for a war with Iraq just weeks after President Bush entered the Oval Office? CNN has learned the plan even had a name. That's coming up next.
We're also keeping our eyes on Boston. That is where Senator John Kerry is due to arrive any moment at Massachusetts General Hospital. He's having shoulder surgery later today. It's going to put him on the campaign D.L. for a little bit. More on Senator Kerry's medical prognosis ahead.
We have a quick break. We're back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired March 31, 2004 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, ANCHOR: It is 11 a.m. in Boston, 7 p.m. in Baghdad. From CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.
The attack in Iraq -- up first on CNN this hour -- there were two today, both in the Sunni triangle. One involved U.S. troops, the other, an especially grisly attack on civilian contractors in Fallujah. It ended with bodies mutilated and dragged through the streets.
Jim Clancy is on duty in Baghdad where it is now early evening -- Jim.
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fire and death in Fallujah this day, Daryn. As you -- some civilian contractors working for the U.S.- led coalition provisional authority were caught by attackers inside the city of Fallujah.
Hand grenades or rocket-propelled grenades, we don't know which, were fired into the car or thrown into the car and setting them ablaze, perhaps wounding many of those occupants. Then the vehicles were sprayed with gunfire.
All of that, according to eyewitnesses on the scene, from a CNN source that was there and talked with them.
Now, as we understand it, after that point, the crowd gathered. There were bricks and rocks thrown at the cars as the demonstrators, or those who had gathered began to vent their rage against the occupation.
But then it got worse. It got very ugly with bodies dragged through the streets and mutilated, something I'm certain that most Iraqis are not going to be pleased with.
Many questions raised by all of this. It has been a year since the U.S. military came to Fallujah. A year later, still it remains a hotbed of violence.
This is General Mark Kimmett.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMETT, U.S. ARMY: Fallujah remains one of those cities in Iraq that just don't get it. It's a former Ba'athist stronghold. This was a city that profited immeasurably and immensely under the former regime. They have a view that somehow the harder they fight, the better chance they have of achieving some sort of restorationist movement within the country.
They fight. We work with them.
It is a small minority of the people in Fallujah. Most of the people in Fallujah want to move on with their lives, want to move forward, want to be part of a new Iraq. There's a small core element that doesn't seem to get it. They're desperate to try to hold out, desperate to try to turn back the hands of time. And that just isn't going to happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CLANCY: Daryn, that is in the heart of the so-called Sunni triangle. That is also where Nanbar (ph) province, they're not far away, where five U.S. soldiers for the 1st Infantry Division lost their lives.
They were in a convoy. Their vehicle ran over a bomb, or a bomb was implanted in the roadway. It killed all five of them when it detonated.
So very tough day for the coalition. Nine casualties in all. In Fallujah, it is not certain the nationalities of those who were the civilian contractors.
Back to you.
KAGAN: Jim Clancy with the latest from Baghdad. Jim, thank you.
Roadside bombs, rocket-propelled grenades, common tools for Iraqi insurgents. Want to bring in our Mike Brooks now to talk about the tactics and their impact.
Mike, thanks for being here with us. First, let's talk about the methods and actual devices. What do they look like before they explode?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN ANALYST: We just heard from Jim. He was talking about a bomb that was actually placed underneath the street. That's one of the ways they're doing it. But they're also using other methods, such as putting grenades underneath cars.
We were able to obtain three pictures of a vehicle that was -- this was found during a vehicle inspection. Now, this is a grenade that is wired to the frame of a U.S. personnel vehicle. And then they run the wire down along the side and down onto the wheel.
And it's set to go, to trigger when the car starts. When the truck starts moving, it will pull the pin from the grenade and set the grenade off. This was found during a vehicle inspection before the American personnel even got in the car. You can see, if you do look underneath it, you can find it.
But Daryn, a law enforcement source that just got back from Iraq, told me that they're using dead animals. They're using trash, piles of rocks. Anyplace that you can think of possible to put a bomb, they're doing that.
But they're also -- want to say that it's just a small part of Iraqis that are doing this. It's not everyone. They're getting more and more intel every day about preventions.
People have no idea how many preventions there are each and every day because of Iraqis coming forward, telling the coalition forces exactly where some of these bombs are. It happens every single day. But we never even hear about these.
KAGAN: Right. That's a good point. We will go on and lead our newscast and we'll talk about this explosion that took place, and this many people died, but we don't lead the newscast with this many explosions were avoided.
BROOKS: Exactly.
KAGAN: The successes don't get reported.
BROOKS: Not at all. They're getting good information. The FBI over there working with the coalition forces are getting good information from Iraqis, coming forward each and every day. They're putting their lives on the line by coming forward to tell the coalition forces exactly where these bombs are, and they're finding them on a daily basis.
KAGAN: And so the best defense for these types of things, intelligence, but also thorough searches, I'd imagine?
BROOKS: Absolutely. I mean, this -- the pictures we saw were from a vehicle search before the American personnel got into this truck. They looked underneath it. They found this grenade. They were able to just say, OK, let's stop. Bring it in and disrupt the device.
KAGAN: Mike Brooks, thank you.
BROOKS: Thank you, Daryn.
KAGAN: Other news today, the widow of Daniel Pearl, the "Wall Street Journal" reported who was kidnapped and killed in Pakistan in 2002, is seeking financial compensation from the fund for 9/11 victims. Mariane Pearl says her husband was targeted by Islamic extremists because he was an American. And because of that, she wants compensation from the September 11 victims' fund.
Her initial request was denied, and now she has filed a formal appeal. On CNN last night, she talked about why she is fighting for compensation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIANE PEARL, DANIEL PEARL'S WIDOW: To me, it's not so much a monetary issue. It's more, you know, then what would be the difference between Adam, for instance, and the 103 women that were pregnant and whose husbands died in the World Trade Center.
We know, when we tell the story, what's going to be the difference. That's what it is. And if people think it's not legitimate, it's a government that is not legitimate, then don't do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: U.S. officials say that Khalid Sheikh Mohammad was behind Pearl's murder. He was one of the alleged masterminds of the September 11 attacks and is now in U.S. custody.
In politics, Democratic challenger John Kerry goes in for surgery on his shoulder this hour. Our Dan Lothian is in Boston with details on that.
Dan, good morning.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
Well, Senator Kerry was expected to show up here at about 20 minutes we're told. And he's running a little bit behind schedule. A meeting with a carpenters' trainees organization here in Boston, then coming over here to Mass. General Hospital for that surgery.
His doctors say that the surgery will take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. It will be to repair a torn rotator cuff. This is an accident -- the result, rather, of an accident that occurred on the campaign trail in Iowa back in January, when a bus stopped suddenly and he wrenched his shoulder.
Doctors will be making an inch to an inch and a half incision.
Now, this also is the aggravation of an earlier injury that he sustained back in 1992 during a bike accident.
Once again, that surgery expected to take between 45 minutes to an hour. He'll be released this afternoon, may have to have some pain medication. His arm will also be in a sling. And some of his activities will be curtailed, such as lifting those babies, shaking hands on the campaign trail, and certainly throwing footballs.
Back to you.
KAGAN: Which is not going to do great for the campaign at this time. He's just taken a six-day vacation. What's the word from the campaign about having their candidate out of action, on the D.L., you might say? LOTHIAN: Right. Well, the campaign believes that he can get back into action. He will be able to be back out on the campaign trail soon. While he may have to, as I mentioned, curtail some of his activities, he will still be out there and, according to the campaign, staying on message.
KAGAN: Dan Lothian in Boston.
OPEC has spoken. It is tightening the production spigot. So what will that mean for your next trip to the pump?
He is under investigation, under suspicion and under fire. So what's Michael Jackson doing on Capitol Hill?
And trouble in Texas. A refinery fire that kept fire crews very busy.
CNN LIVE TODAY is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: This just in to CNN. Getting word the defense has rested in the Jayson Williams manslaughter trial.
He is facing eight charges in connection with the shooting death of a limousine driver at his estate in February of 2002. If he's convicted he could face up to 55 years in prison.
We saw -- we showed you some tape earlier this morning, Jayson Williams having the opportunity to testify in his own defense. And here he is talking to the judge saying that he is innocent, but that he would not testify.
And so the defense has now rested. It will soon go to the jury.
It is no secret that gasoline prices are at record highs. You see proof every day you go to the pump: about $1.80 a gallon on average nationwide. Memorial Day and that kind of travel is just on the horizon. There is little chance that prices will go down anytime soon.
Then there's another factor out there, the cartel decided -- the OPEC cartel decided in Vienna today to cut oil production by 1 million barrels a day. That starts tomorrow.
Gary Tuchman has more on what that means to you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are the suppliers of about a third of the world's oil. And there's nothing funny about that to the most oil dependent nations. But as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, better known as OPEC, meets in Vienna today, don't necessarily assume prices will continue climbing as a result of their get-together.
RON GOLD, PETROLEUM INDUSTRY RESEARCH FOUNDATION: OPEC is really meeting for the purpose of how to make sure they don't have a big drop in the price of oil, not to push it up further.
TUCHMAN: OPEC is represented in both hemispheres. Eleven nations belong to the organization from the Middle East, Asia, Africa and South America.
Saudi Arabia, the world's largest producer of oil, is leading the effort to reduce supply. One might assume that would lead to higher prices, but...
GOLD: World oil requirements tend to fall off in the second quarter. And what OPEC would be trying to do is to sort of make their judgment as to how much oil they need to withdraw to prop prices up, not necessarily to push them still higher.
TUCHMAN: However, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have said they backed a delay in production cuts. If they succeed in convincing other members to do that, a long shot at best, it could result in lower prices.
Either way, gasoline prices right now are at their highest level ever in the United States. But adjusted for inflation, they're considerably lower than during the energy crisis a quarter century ago.
This organization is at the peak of its influence.
Gary Tuchman, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Getting more word out of Iraq now about the attack that took place earlier. There was one attack that went after U.S. soldiers, and then another that went after what appeared to be civilians.
We're getting word now that -- confirmation that at least three out of those four victims were indeed Americans. They attacked the cars with grenades and small arms fire. And then also, noteworthy as you can see, set the cars on fire.
And there are reports out of Fallujah, as well, that some of those bodies were dragged through the streets.
Once again, getting word that three -- at least three out of the four victims of this particular attack were Americans. We don't have specific identities yet, or exactly what their jobs were there in Iraq.
More on that just ahead.
Well, it might sound strange, but millions of Americans love to hear the words, "You're fired," at least when it is Donald Trump saying it. Jeanne Moos takes a look at the man who would be king again.
And we want to remind you that we are still taking questions from our sleep disorder expert. Drop us an e-mail at LiveToday@CNN.com. We'll have your answers coming up in the next half hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Refinery operations -- excuse me. Refinery operations have resumed today at a B.P. facility near Galveston, Texas. The officials at this Texas city refinery say the cause of last night's fire explosion is under investigation.
Ten people were treated for chemical exposure. Nearby residents are no longer being told to stay indoors.
Well, this leads us to the discussion of gas prices. It seems like they're on fire. And prices traditionally spike during the summer travel season. So could this summer be even worse than usual?
We have called the Proctor Doctor. Brad Proctor, CEO of GasPriceWatch.com, is in Cincinnati.
You have come, I hope, to help give some relief at the pump. Good morning.
BRAD PROCTOR, CEO, GASPRICEWATCH.COM: Well, we can try.
KAGAN: OK. "E" for effort, Brad.
First, let's talk about the best and the worst. What do you know of the best gas prices in the country and the worst?
PROCTOR: We're seeing in the $1.48s, actually a few states. In Oklahoma and Indiana we're seeing $1.48 for the low, which is -- It's a good price. But we're seeing in San Francisco with $2.39.
KAGAN: And that's for unleaded?
PROCTOR: Just regular unleaded gasoline.
KAGAN: Regular unleaded.
PROCTOR: Absolutely. And we're seeing average now of $1.81, based on our volunteer spotters putting in prices. So it's -- This is the highest we've ever seen it in the four years that we've been around.
KAGAN: I thought it was doing well yesterday. I filled up here in Atlanta for $1.58.
PROCTOR: Yes. KAGAN: Yes, not too bad.
Now you hear the argument, when people start complaining about gas prices, well, historically, if adjusted for inflation, you're still paying less than you did, what, 10, 15 years ago. Do you buy that?
PROCTOR: Yes. When you take into inflation. The idea is you're paying less than you were. But that still means hard dollars are coming out of your pocket.
I can't make -- If milk goes up to $6 a gallon, I can make a conscious decision and say, "I'm not going to buy any milk. I'm going to go out and buy water today." And the idea is I can do without that.
But I have to go to work. You know, I have to buy gasoline. And the swing in any given town on any given day is anywhere from 10 to 25 cents. And as we pointed out, there's almost a 90 cents difference in the high and low in gasoline in the United States. That's incredible.
KAGAN: When you're filling up a big tank, that really adds up.
And that's how your website plays in here. Tell us how your web site works.
PROCTOR: Well, our web site is free for anyone to use. What we've asked is volunteers to come out and they've found gas stations for us and now they're volunteering to put the prices in.
So on your way to work or on your way home from work, you spot a couple prices, you volunteer, you put those prices in. And of course, that means everybody in your neighborhood, the more that the people know about it, the more opportunities they have to make a more informed decision on how to buy that gasoline.
You know, the concept is to encourage the oil companies to keep the prices low by buying from those low-price leaders in your town.
And it could be -- you know, some people are brand loyal. Even within the same brand, you'll see a 10- or 20-cent swing in the price of that brand. So why not buy from the station that has the lowest in the brand you like? So...
KAGAN: You have spotters all across the country?
PROCTOR: Yes, we do. We track about 129,000 gas stations in the United States. They're all based on zip code. And then we have over 80,000 people that have volunteered, either put in prices, view prices, whatever. So they're on a consistently and every day, going out there and trying to track prices. But we're always looking for a few good more people.
KAGAN: Always looking for a few good spotters? Aren't we all?
PROCTOR: Absolutely. KAGAN: It's called GasPriceWatch.com. You can log on and either help out or get some tips on cheaper gas.
Brad, thank you.
PROCTOR: Thank you.
KAGAN: Appreciate that. GasPriceWatch.com.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Hand gestures. In New York City, that's nothing new. But who knew that a four-finger salute -- four-finger salute, that would be, would make Trump a top-dollar tourist attraction?
Here now is CNN's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tourists pose in front of Playboy, they pose in front of Tiffany. But those spots have been trumped by the onslaught of tourists posing in front of Trump Tower.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The one place he wanted to see, Trump.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And here I am.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because of the famous clip at the end of the show when the cab takes off.
MOOS: You know, after Donald says...
DONALD TRUMP, REAL ESTATE MOGUL: You're fired.
MOOS: ... and the loser leaves dragging a suitcase like a tail between her legs.
Tourists seem especially fired up by the words...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're fired.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're fired.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're fired?
MOOS: In case anyone needs a cue card, a huge ad hangs from Trump Tower.
The city has issued four tickets telling Trump to remove illegal signage. No banner ads allowed on classy Fifth Avenue.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because it cheapens the building.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's Trump Towers. He should be able to do what he wants. MOOS: Fines run as high as $2,500 bucks per ticket, chump change for Trump. A spokesperson says, "I don't see a reason why we wouldn't keep it up until the show's finale on April 15."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're fired.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're fired.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His hair's a little weird.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His hair needs help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His hair is sweet.
MOOS: Trump's new book devotes a chapter to it. "My hair is 100 percent mine. No animals have been harmed in the creation of my hairstyle."
KING: It's not a toupee. It is not a comb over.
TRUMP: Don't mess it up too much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In all honestly, his hair looks better on this than it does on him.
MOOS: This being Trump's wax figure at Madam Tussaud's.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm afraid he's going to say, you're fired.
MOOS: Even as "The New York Times" raises the specter of Trump's casino empire facing bankruptcy, his showbiz career is soaring. Trump's book includes a cartoon showing Donald Duck saying, "I remember when I was the Donald."
Now we're all trying to be the Donald.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His hand is going, you're fired.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: you're fired.
MOOS: If only we could figure out how to get the fingers right.
TRUMP: You're fired.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're fired.
MOOS: You're hired.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: That little girl is very good.
Still to come, we have a lot more news to get to. Did the White House begin to put together a plan for a war with Iraq just weeks after President Bush entered the Oval Office? CNN has learned the plan even had a name. That's coming up next.
We're also keeping our eyes on Boston. That is where Senator John Kerry is due to arrive any moment at Massachusetts General Hospital. He's having shoulder surgery later today. It's going to put him on the campaign D.L. for a little bit. More on Senator Kerry's medical prognosis ahead.
We have a quick break. We're back after this.
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