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U.S., Coalition Forces Waging Fierce Battles Against Iraqi Insurgents; 'Daily Dose'

Aired April 07, 2004 - 11:30   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, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan at CNN Center in Atlanta. Let's check the headline at this hour. U.S. diplomats in Pakistan are warning new terror strikes against Americans are a real possibility. The U.S. consulate in Karachi points to two recent attacks and an attempted attack on U.S. interests in Pakistan.
Federal investigators arrived this morning at the scene of an Amtrak train derailment in rural Mississippi. One passenger was killed and 35 were injured when the train fell six feet off a trestle into a swampy area.

Inglewood, California, voters there have rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed Wal-mart to build a superstore in their town. The vote was nearly two to one against the megachain. Wal-mart appealed directly to voters after the city council passed a law to block big box retailers.

And CNN founder Ted Turner is getting a star today on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Turner acquired the MGM and Warner Bros. film libraries and showcased the classic movies on his entertainment channels. Turner's star will be located next to Peter Fonda's for you trivia buffs out there.

U.S. and coalition forces are waging fierce battles against Iraqi insurgents from Fallujah in the Sunni Triangle to south central Iraq.

Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr join us with perspective from there on the fighting.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, there a number of very fast-moving developments, of course, across Iraq. Let's start in Fallujah, where there was the report that U.S. forces hit a mosque in Fallujah, killing a number of civilians. What we now know from U.S. military officials is they did not hit a mosque, but, in fact, they dropped a 500-pound bomb on a surrounding wall, a bit of a distance from the mosque, but they wanted to breach the wall, we are told so they could engage those they suspected firing from the mosque.

Now, the fighting in Fallujah, of course, continues. Here at the Pentagon, though, the word so far is that everything is under control. We are told that President Bush had a conference call last night with his top national security team, another call today. The question on the table of course is whether or not more U.S. troops might be needed as the fighting spreads. You can look at the map and see, Fallujah, Ramadi, Karbala, Najaf Nasiriyah, Amarah, Kut, Baghdad, a number of cities now with some unrest. U.S. and coalition forces trying to deal with all of them.

But look at Al Kut, just for example. Ukraine officials say their troops are now withdrawn from that city after a firefight there. In Fallujah, the fighting does continue. Heavy weapons being used by the United States, tanks, as well as helicopters, gunships, AC-130 gunships, a number of U.S. forces moving through the city, somewhat rapidly, Daryn, becoming the urban warfare scenario that the U.S. feared last year when it moved into Baghdad that didn't develop at that time.

One piece of, perhaps, good news in Ramadi, where there was serious fighting yesterday, and 12 U.S. Marines were killed, U.S. officials say they now have re-established control over Ramadi.

But, again, the question is going to be, as the violence continues, as a number of hotspots flair up, what kind of U.S. forces are going to be needed to maintain security and control in all these areas?

Back to you, Daryn.

KAGAN: And, Barbara -- actually, Barbara Starr at the Pentagon, thank you for that.

The violence in Iraq has entered the presidential campaign debate. Senator John Kerry weighing in on the latest developments. Our Judy Woodruff standing by in Washington with the day's political headlines.

Judy, good morning.

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Daryn.

Well, John Kerry is going beyond his past criticisms of U.S. policy in Iraq, which have been limited to calls for more international involvement. He is now questioning the U.S. plan to transfer governmental control of Iraq on June 30th, a decision that he says has been dictated by this year's U.S. presidential election. In an interview with NPR, National Public Radio, Kerry blasted White House diplomacy on the Iraq issue as, quote, "stubborn."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What makes me so frustrated, and even angry, and I think the American people are, is the stubbornness of this administration, which has refused time and time after time to share power and responsibility in determining the governmental transformational process. Can we do it this way, ultimately? Sure. But the question is, at what cost to our troops, at what cost to American people, at what cost to our reputation in the world?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: More from John Kerry later today. I'll be asking the senator about Iraq and other issues, including the economy, when he joins me on inside politics starting at 3:30 Eastern, right here on CNN.

Well, President Bush is keeping abreast of events in Iraq by way of secure video conference from his ranch in Texas. The president is also keeping in touch with British Prime Minister Tony Blair by telephone. On the campaign front, Commerce Secretary Don Evans is using a speech before the National Federation of Independent Businesses, to reply to Senator Kerry's budget proposals.

Ralph Nader is calling for President Bush to be impeached over the war in Iraq. Speaking in Chicago, the independent presidential candidate accused the president of taking this country to war on a platform of fabrications and deceptions. Nader says that Bill Clinton was impeached for far less of an offense. There is no comment so far from the Bush campaign on Nader's charges.

As the violence in Iraq escalates, our Bill Schneider will take a look this afternoon at whether Democracy can actually work in Iraq.

Join us for that report, and more, when I go "INSIDE POLITICS" at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

But right now, back to Daryn in Atlanta.

KAGAN: Judy, thank you. We'll see much more of you later today.

If you are holding a grudge, chances are you're better off just letting it go. Straight ahead, medical proof of why it's better to forgive and forget.

And great leader or fictional character, you won't believe what some Brits believe about Winston Churchill.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Americans say they're aware of the risks of sexually transmitted diseases, but a new survey says a lot of adults are not taking steps to prevent catching those diseases. Among single, sexually active participants 71 percent said they never use protection during oral sex, 23 percent say they never use condoms for vaginal sex. 90 percent of respondents believe that their current or recent partner was disease-free. But a third never discussed sexually transmitted diseases with their partners.

Not being able to forgive someone can take an emotional toll. It can also affect your physical well being.

Medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has more now on the healing power of forgiveness, in our "Daily Dose" of health news.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Over the past 15 years, it was the little things, like playing a quiet game with her family, that were almost impossible for Linda Marra. Her life, and subsequently, her health, shattered when her father was murdered. The nightmares were etched into her brain for years. LINDA MARRA, FATHER MURDERED: My father lived through this homicide one time, and I lived through it 1,000 times.

GUPTA: The assailant was put in jail. But for Linda, that punishment didn't seem enough for her to forgive. And an unforgiving heart took a toll. The first sign are her hair turned gray at age 29.

MARRA: I have low platelets. There were weight gain, insomnia, fatigue.

GUPTA: A teacher and mother of two, Linda realized her refusal to forgive could eventually kill her.

MARRA: It eats you alive from the inside out.

GUPTA: Unforgiveness causes stress that not only permeate the mind, but the body as well, and that stress causes microscopic tears in artery walls are which over time can cause a heart attack. It also causes spikes in the stress hormone cortisol, which can hurt your immune system. And we're not just talking about stress stemming from horrific crimes, but the build-up from a day, an argument, getting cut off in traffic. There is unforgiveness all around us.

EVERETT WORTHINGTON, PSYCHOLOGIST: If a person who is chronically unforgiving tries to make a change and begins to try to forgive more, they can affect their health in a more positive way.

GUPTA: A University of Michigan study supports that. Men who are good at defusing their anger had half as many strokes as angrier men. For Linda, forgiving her father's killer meant erasing her health problem. She says it was like being released from prison.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: For your daily dose of health news online, log on to our Web site. You'll find the latest medical news, and there is also head-to-toe health information from CNN and the Mayo Clinic. The address is CNN.com/health.

It is a somber anniversary for hundreds of thousands. Up next, we're going to a live update from Rwanda, where a nation takes time to remember those lost 10 years ago.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: A moment of silence in world capitals today marked the 10th anniversary of genocide in Rwanda. Our Jeff Koinange is in Kagali (ph), and he join us by videophone -- Jeff.

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello there, Daryn.

A day of remembrance and a day of reflection. As you said, exactly 10 years ago, the genocide began in this capital, Kagali and in the coming days all across this country. Let's just put this in perspective for a moment, Daryn. A million people killed in 100 days. That comes to about 10,000 every single day, 400 every hour, seven every minute, and that's what today's ceremony was all about, coming to term with what happened 10 years ago.

Now the processions today were led by the president of Rwanda, Paul Kugami (ph), he, along with several African presidents. The prime minister of Belgium was here, several dignitaries, from around the world, came to show support for all those who died. The country's biggest memorial here in the capital. Several remains were finally laid to rest in giant tombs. In the capital Kagali alone, over a quarter of a million people are said to have been killed. Many of them are in these tombs. And those coffins you saw right there, of anywhere from 25 to 50 remains, because they haven't found all the bodies. They're just finding a hand here, and a leg there.

But that's what the ceremony today was all about, Daryn, families, slowly, but surely, healing, because it's been 10 years, and it's time to move on. As long as they know how their loved ones died, as long as they know where they died, now they can bury them and move on with their lives -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And the status of Rwanda as it is now, and relations between the two groups?

KOINANGE: I can tell you, Daryn, honestly, we've interviewed a lot of Hutus and a lot of Tutsis, and we see a coming together somewhat. It's been two years. It's not that long. But you see in some cases killers and survivors living together. We asked the survivors, how can you allow this? They say, these folks have asked for forgiveness. As long as they ask for forgiveness, we have no problem with that, and that's the kind of people they are. It looks like that on the surface, Daryn.

As you well know, only time will tell whether the hurt, and the pain and the sorrows of the past will come boiling to the surface one day -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And, Jeff, as I understand it, one of the things that time will not heal, the loss of parents and that there are thousand of orphans in Rwanda due to the genocide.

KOINANGE: Tens of thousand of orphans, Daryn, those who lost their parents, mothers, fathers, and they're out there -- in orphanages, out there in the streets, trying to get a hold of their lives, trying to bounce back from where they were before. It's difficult for them, Daryn, because this country is very poor, No. 1. It doesn't have the infrastructure and it doesn't have the support system. But at least they are trying. They want to poor themselves up by their bootstraps, because the world stood by and watched as the country tore itself apart 10 years ago. They don't want the world to step in and show how to run their country. They wan to do it from the ground up, and they're starting from the children, from the widows of people who lost family. And it started today with those ceremonies, and it's going to go on. This whole country will eventually heal altogether -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Let's hope that's how it goes.

Jeff Koinange in Kagali in Rwanda. Thank you for that report.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: Want to remind our viewers one more time that CNN does plan live coverage of Condoleezza Rice's testimony. It begins at 9:00 a.m. Eastern right here, and we'll have analysis and insight to follow.

The battle for Middle Earth. That made a big splash at the box office, but how many people think that part of "Lord of the Rings" really happened? it might surprise you. So, we're going to separate fact from fiction, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: All right, quick pop quiz here for you. Was Winston Churchill a real person? You might be surprised to know that almost 10 percent of British citizens think that he was a fictional character. This is according to a new survey published in "The Independent." A whole lot of people in England have trouble telling fact from Hollywood fiction, apparently.

Take a look at this. Was World War II, the Nazi offensive, known as the Battle of the Bulge, was that fact or fiction? Well, it is a fact. But 52 percent of the surveyed say fiction. Cold War, 32 percent say that never happened. Ghengis Khan, Mongol conqueror, 38 percent say that he was made up. And get this, a full 11 percent say that Adolf Hitler was a fictional character.

Works the other way, too, by the way. According to the survey, 57 percent believe the mythical King Arthur was real. 27 percent say that Robin Hood actually existed. And Conan the Barbarian, yes, 5 percent of those surveyed say that he was for real.

How about "The War of the Worlds," the invasion of Earth by the Martians, 6 percent believe that that one happened. And 3 percent say the battle of Helms Deep from "The Lord of the Rings" actually happened. And there is that 1 percent that believe that cyborgs really did exterminate humanity and "Battlestar Galactica" is a fact. There you have it.

"The Independent" calls the results of the survey sad and depressing.

(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan. Wolf Blitzer takes over from Washington, D.C.

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


Aired April 7, 2004 - 11:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan at CNN Center in Atlanta. Let's check the headline at this hour. U.S. diplomats in Pakistan are warning new terror strikes against Americans are a real possibility. The U.S. consulate in Karachi points to two recent attacks and an attempted attack on U.S. interests in Pakistan.
Federal investigators arrived this morning at the scene of an Amtrak train derailment in rural Mississippi. One passenger was killed and 35 were injured when the train fell six feet off a trestle into a swampy area.

Inglewood, California, voters there have rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed Wal-mart to build a superstore in their town. The vote was nearly two to one against the megachain. Wal-mart appealed directly to voters after the city council passed a law to block big box retailers.

And CNN founder Ted Turner is getting a star today on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Turner acquired the MGM and Warner Bros. film libraries and showcased the classic movies on his entertainment channels. Turner's star will be located next to Peter Fonda's for you trivia buffs out there.

U.S. and coalition forces are waging fierce battles against Iraqi insurgents from Fallujah in the Sunni Triangle to south central Iraq.

Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr join us with perspective from there on the fighting.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, there a number of very fast-moving developments, of course, across Iraq. Let's start in Fallujah, where there was the report that U.S. forces hit a mosque in Fallujah, killing a number of civilians. What we now know from U.S. military officials is they did not hit a mosque, but, in fact, they dropped a 500-pound bomb on a surrounding wall, a bit of a distance from the mosque, but they wanted to breach the wall, we are told so they could engage those they suspected firing from the mosque.

Now, the fighting in Fallujah, of course, continues. Here at the Pentagon, though, the word so far is that everything is under control. We are told that President Bush had a conference call last night with his top national security team, another call today. The question on the table of course is whether or not more U.S. troops might be needed as the fighting spreads. You can look at the map and see, Fallujah, Ramadi, Karbala, Najaf Nasiriyah, Amarah, Kut, Baghdad, a number of cities now with some unrest. U.S. and coalition forces trying to deal with all of them.

But look at Al Kut, just for example. Ukraine officials say their troops are now withdrawn from that city after a firefight there. In Fallujah, the fighting does continue. Heavy weapons being used by the United States, tanks, as well as helicopters, gunships, AC-130 gunships, a number of U.S. forces moving through the city, somewhat rapidly, Daryn, becoming the urban warfare scenario that the U.S. feared last year when it moved into Baghdad that didn't develop at that time.

One piece of, perhaps, good news in Ramadi, where there was serious fighting yesterday, and 12 U.S. Marines were killed, U.S. officials say they now have re-established control over Ramadi.

But, again, the question is going to be, as the violence continues, as a number of hotspots flair up, what kind of U.S. forces are going to be needed to maintain security and control in all these areas?

Back to you, Daryn.

KAGAN: And, Barbara -- actually, Barbara Starr at the Pentagon, thank you for that.

The violence in Iraq has entered the presidential campaign debate. Senator John Kerry weighing in on the latest developments. Our Judy Woodruff standing by in Washington with the day's political headlines.

Judy, good morning.

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Daryn.

Well, John Kerry is going beyond his past criticisms of U.S. policy in Iraq, which have been limited to calls for more international involvement. He is now questioning the U.S. plan to transfer governmental control of Iraq on June 30th, a decision that he says has been dictated by this year's U.S. presidential election. In an interview with NPR, National Public Radio, Kerry blasted White House diplomacy on the Iraq issue as, quote, "stubborn."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What makes me so frustrated, and even angry, and I think the American people are, is the stubbornness of this administration, which has refused time and time after time to share power and responsibility in determining the governmental transformational process. Can we do it this way, ultimately? Sure. But the question is, at what cost to our troops, at what cost to American people, at what cost to our reputation in the world?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: More from John Kerry later today. I'll be asking the senator about Iraq and other issues, including the economy, when he joins me on inside politics starting at 3:30 Eastern, right here on CNN.

Well, President Bush is keeping abreast of events in Iraq by way of secure video conference from his ranch in Texas. The president is also keeping in touch with British Prime Minister Tony Blair by telephone. On the campaign front, Commerce Secretary Don Evans is using a speech before the National Federation of Independent Businesses, to reply to Senator Kerry's budget proposals.

Ralph Nader is calling for President Bush to be impeached over the war in Iraq. Speaking in Chicago, the independent presidential candidate accused the president of taking this country to war on a platform of fabrications and deceptions. Nader says that Bill Clinton was impeached for far less of an offense. There is no comment so far from the Bush campaign on Nader's charges.

As the violence in Iraq escalates, our Bill Schneider will take a look this afternoon at whether Democracy can actually work in Iraq.

Join us for that report, and more, when I go "INSIDE POLITICS" at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

But right now, back to Daryn in Atlanta.

KAGAN: Judy, thank you. We'll see much more of you later today.

If you are holding a grudge, chances are you're better off just letting it go. Straight ahead, medical proof of why it's better to forgive and forget.

And great leader or fictional character, you won't believe what some Brits believe about Winston Churchill.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Americans say they're aware of the risks of sexually transmitted diseases, but a new survey says a lot of adults are not taking steps to prevent catching those diseases. Among single, sexually active participants 71 percent said they never use protection during oral sex, 23 percent say they never use condoms for vaginal sex. 90 percent of respondents believe that their current or recent partner was disease-free. But a third never discussed sexually transmitted diseases with their partners.

Not being able to forgive someone can take an emotional toll. It can also affect your physical well being.

Medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has more now on the healing power of forgiveness, in our "Daily Dose" of health news.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Over the past 15 years, it was the little things, like playing a quiet game with her family, that were almost impossible for Linda Marra. Her life, and subsequently, her health, shattered when her father was murdered. The nightmares were etched into her brain for years. LINDA MARRA, FATHER MURDERED: My father lived through this homicide one time, and I lived through it 1,000 times.

GUPTA: The assailant was put in jail. But for Linda, that punishment didn't seem enough for her to forgive. And an unforgiving heart took a toll. The first sign are her hair turned gray at age 29.

MARRA: I have low platelets. There were weight gain, insomnia, fatigue.

GUPTA: A teacher and mother of two, Linda realized her refusal to forgive could eventually kill her.

MARRA: It eats you alive from the inside out.

GUPTA: Unforgiveness causes stress that not only permeate the mind, but the body as well, and that stress causes microscopic tears in artery walls are which over time can cause a heart attack. It also causes spikes in the stress hormone cortisol, which can hurt your immune system. And we're not just talking about stress stemming from horrific crimes, but the build-up from a day, an argument, getting cut off in traffic. There is unforgiveness all around us.

EVERETT WORTHINGTON, PSYCHOLOGIST: If a person who is chronically unforgiving tries to make a change and begins to try to forgive more, they can affect their health in a more positive way.

GUPTA: A University of Michigan study supports that. Men who are good at defusing their anger had half as many strokes as angrier men. For Linda, forgiving her father's killer meant erasing her health problem. She says it was like being released from prison.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: For your daily dose of health news online, log on to our Web site. You'll find the latest medical news, and there is also head-to-toe health information from CNN and the Mayo Clinic. The address is CNN.com/health.

It is a somber anniversary for hundreds of thousands. Up next, we're going to a live update from Rwanda, where a nation takes time to remember those lost 10 years ago.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: A moment of silence in world capitals today marked the 10th anniversary of genocide in Rwanda. Our Jeff Koinange is in Kagali (ph), and he join us by videophone -- Jeff.

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello there, Daryn.

A day of remembrance and a day of reflection. As you said, exactly 10 years ago, the genocide began in this capital, Kagali and in the coming days all across this country. Let's just put this in perspective for a moment, Daryn. A million people killed in 100 days. That comes to about 10,000 every single day, 400 every hour, seven every minute, and that's what today's ceremony was all about, coming to term with what happened 10 years ago.

Now the processions today were led by the president of Rwanda, Paul Kugami (ph), he, along with several African presidents. The prime minister of Belgium was here, several dignitaries, from around the world, came to show support for all those who died. The country's biggest memorial here in the capital. Several remains were finally laid to rest in giant tombs. In the capital Kagali alone, over a quarter of a million people are said to have been killed. Many of them are in these tombs. And those coffins you saw right there, of anywhere from 25 to 50 remains, because they haven't found all the bodies. They're just finding a hand here, and a leg there.

But that's what the ceremony today was all about, Daryn, families, slowly, but surely, healing, because it's been 10 years, and it's time to move on. As long as they know how their loved ones died, as long as they know where they died, now they can bury them and move on with their lives -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And the status of Rwanda as it is now, and relations between the two groups?

KOINANGE: I can tell you, Daryn, honestly, we've interviewed a lot of Hutus and a lot of Tutsis, and we see a coming together somewhat. It's been two years. It's not that long. But you see in some cases killers and survivors living together. We asked the survivors, how can you allow this? They say, these folks have asked for forgiveness. As long as they ask for forgiveness, we have no problem with that, and that's the kind of people they are. It looks like that on the surface, Daryn.

As you well know, only time will tell whether the hurt, and the pain and the sorrows of the past will come boiling to the surface one day -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And, Jeff, as I understand it, one of the things that time will not heal, the loss of parents and that there are thousand of orphans in Rwanda due to the genocide.

KOINANGE: Tens of thousand of orphans, Daryn, those who lost their parents, mothers, fathers, and they're out there -- in orphanages, out there in the streets, trying to get a hold of their lives, trying to bounce back from where they were before. It's difficult for them, Daryn, because this country is very poor, No. 1. It doesn't have the infrastructure and it doesn't have the support system. But at least they are trying. They want to poor themselves up by their bootstraps, because the world stood by and watched as the country tore itself apart 10 years ago. They don't want the world to step in and show how to run their country. They wan to do it from the ground up, and they're starting from the children, from the widows of people who lost family. And it started today with those ceremonies, and it's going to go on. This whole country will eventually heal altogether -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Let's hope that's how it goes.

Jeff Koinange in Kagali in Rwanda. Thank you for that report.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: Want to remind our viewers one more time that CNN does plan live coverage of Condoleezza Rice's testimony. It begins at 9:00 a.m. Eastern right here, and we'll have analysis and insight to follow.

The battle for Middle Earth. That made a big splash at the box office, but how many people think that part of "Lord of the Rings" really happened? it might surprise you. So, we're going to separate fact from fiction, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: All right, quick pop quiz here for you. Was Winston Churchill a real person? You might be surprised to know that almost 10 percent of British citizens think that he was a fictional character. This is according to a new survey published in "The Independent." A whole lot of people in England have trouble telling fact from Hollywood fiction, apparently.

Take a look at this. Was World War II, the Nazi offensive, known as the Battle of the Bulge, was that fact or fiction? Well, it is a fact. But 52 percent of the surveyed say fiction. Cold War, 32 percent say that never happened. Ghengis Khan, Mongol conqueror, 38 percent say that he was made up. And get this, a full 11 percent say that Adolf Hitler was a fictional character.

Works the other way, too, by the way. According to the survey, 57 percent believe the mythical King Arthur was real. 27 percent say that Robin Hood actually existed. And Conan the Barbarian, yes, 5 percent of those surveyed say that he was for real.

How about "The War of the Worlds," the invasion of Earth by the Martians, 6 percent believe that that one happened. And 3 percent say the battle of Helms Deep from "The Lord of the Rings" actually happened. And there is that 1 percent that believe that cyborgs really did exterminate humanity and "Battlestar Galactica" is a fact. There you have it.

"The Independent" calls the results of the survey sad and depressing.

(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan. Wolf Blitzer takes over from Washington, D.C.

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