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CNN Live Sunday

Russia Proposes Year Long Stay For Astronauts; Log Cabin Republicans Debate Supporting Bush

Aired April 19, 2004 - 16:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Could this new book effect the race for the White House. It could fuel the fire of the arguments against the administration's Iraq policy. And can the war in Iraq mean a return to the draft? Find out why some college students fear an answer of yes. And, later this hour:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Eee. Eee. That's my (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: A good imitation of a bird. Well, birds of a feather flock together and so do bird watchers. We'll meet some who will have you wondering "how do they that?"

Hello and welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY, I'm Fredericka Whitfield. All of that and more after this check of the headlines.

In Iraq, U.S. troops remain poised outside the holy city of Najaf. The situation remains relatively calm after fierce fighting earlier this month. U.S. officials say members of Muqtada al-Sadr's militia are either fleeing or have been captured or killed. In the meantime, the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq since the war began now stands at 700.

Civil rights leader, the Reverend Jessie Jackson says he's trying to secure the release of two Americans and other hostages in Iraq. Jackson says he's already started making some back-channel contacts and is willing to travel to Iraq to negotiate.

Palestinians begin three days of mourning for Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi. He was assassinated by Israel yesterday. Rantisi was buried today in the same Gaza cemetery where his predecessor was buried last month. The militant Palestinian group is keeping the new leader's identity a secret to protect him.

We begin with the rising U.S. death toll in Iraq and one nation's decision to pull out of the conflict. Spain's new prime minister is ordering all of his country's troops in Iraq to return home quote "in the shortest time possible." Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero had said he would pull Spanish troops out by June 30th unless the United Nations took charge in Iraq. Today's announcement came just hours after he assumed office from Jose Maria Aznar who supported the invasion of Iraq. This weekend, 11 more Americans have been killed in the region. CNN's Karl Penhaul reports. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Coalition sources are telling us this most recent spate of death has occurred since late Saturday. It seems the most serious clash was on the border with Syria near the Iraqi border town of Husaybah. The coalition is telling us that there five marines have died in firefights, possibly 14 hours of gun battles with a group of fighters there. The marines in this area, we understand, have been interdicting what the coalition calls the rat- lines. These are supply and transport lines used by foreign fighters exiting and entering Iraq from neighboring countries.

There was also an attack on a patrol near southern town of Diwaniya, we understand in that three soldiers died. In the flash point city of Fallujah, that is the city of around 300,000 west of Baghdad, a shaky ceasefire has been in place. There have been no new developments in talks there, but as we can see from some new dramatic pictures coming from the town, there have been sporadic firefights there. Coalition authorities telling us that one marine died in those fights. Also, in Baghdad, another soldier dying when a roadside bomb exploded, another soldier dying when his tank rolled over. Karl Penhaul, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, here in the U.S., Vice President Dick Cheney vowed America will stay the course in Iraq until all dangers are removed. Cheney addressed a National Rifle Association gathering this weekend in Pittsburgh. Pointing to the recent heavy fighting, Cheney says America's will is being tested in Iraq. It is a test, Cheney insists, that Democrat John Kerry would fail.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'll leave it for Senator Kerry to explain or explain away his votes and statements about the war on terror, our cause in Iraq and the needs of the American military. Whatever the explanation, it is not an impressive record for someone who aspires to become Commander in Chief in this time of testing for our country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITEFIELD: And presidential contender John Kerry mean time says the Bush administration is trying to bring the international community into Iraq through the back door. He says it's time for fresh perspective. CNN's senior political correspondent Candy Crowley is with the Kerry campaign in Miami. Hi, Candy.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi. We are in the midst of a three-day trip to Florida, as a matter of fact. On Sunday, John Kerry went through the usual politician Sunday things-- which is to say a visit to a local church, where we heard the minister talk in favor of the scriptures and against George Bush. Prior to that, Kerry was here for a special local edition of "Meet the Press." He was asked in fact about his voting record on Iraq, in particular about his vote for the resolution of war, but then against a funding bill that would have funded the war. Now, as you know, the Bush campaign has used those votes in an ad in which they portrayed the vote as against sending armor to the troops and against various military pensions, so Kerry was asked about that this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SENATOR JOHN KERRY, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There is nothing inconsistent in either of those statements. And that advertisement displays really how sad and full of distortion--almost pathetic the Republican approach to this is. First of all, they had a series of "No"s, Mr. Kerry on this, "No," Mr. Kerry on this, "No." It wasn't a series of votes. It was one vote. And that is a distortion to the American people. Secondly, that vote would never have prevented any of those--the body armor, ammunition or anything from getting to our troops. That's a lie. That's just an outright lie.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CROWLEY: The Bush-Cheney team continues to insist that's exactly where the money went. Kerry is here in Florida for three days, as we said, a combination of fundraisers and rallies, one just about a half an hour ago here at the University of Miami. The senator is here in Florida to press the faithful, the Democratic feeling is, look, if you can't rouse the Democrats in Florida, where else can you rouse them? And this trip includes tomorrow a visit to Palm Beach County, and home of the butterfly ballot, and guess who will be with him, Fredericka? Senator Joe Liebermann.

WHITFIELD: No surprise there. Alright, Candy Crowley, thanks very much.

Well, now more on the double blow to the U.S. in Iraq in the past day: the rising death toll for one and an ally's plan to pull out. For the White House view we go to CNN's Suzanne Malvaux -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, President Bush returned to the White House really eager to try to keep that coalition in Iraq together, but the Bush Administration today seeing the first signs of perhaps a crack in that alliance with the announcement of the inauguration of Spain's new prime minister, Zapatero, saying he wants to withdraw troops out of Iraq as quickly as possible. Initially he had said that he was going to wait for a new UN Security Council resolution to give him some political cover, but earlier today National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice signaling that the conditions now have changed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We have 34 countries with forces on the ground. I think there are going to be some changes. We know the Spanish have been talking about pulling their forces out. I would not be at all surprised if they do.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MALVEAUX: Now, there are 33 countries that remain with troops on the ground. Part of that coalition in Iraq, the White House later today released--earlier today, rather, released a statement reacting to Spain's immediate withdrawal of their troops, saying-and I'M quoting here-"We are grateful to our other coalition partners for their recent expressions of solidarity in carrying out the mission in Iraq. We along with the Iraqi people appreciate the contributions of our more than 30 nation-strong coalition in Iraq. We will continue our close cooperation with our NATO ally Spain in fighting the war against terror. Obviously, Fred, a disappointment to the Bush Administration, but they continue to put at least a good face on this, saying they will work with Spain, at least in the broader war on terror -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: In the meantime, Suzanne, there are critics who are claiming the White House gave the green light to Israel for setting the stage of the assassination of Rantisi. What does the White House say today about that?

MALVEAUX: Well, the White House first is saying that of course, this is bad timing for the administration. We saw last week President Bush meeting with Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, essentially endorsing this plan to pull out of Gaza but keep much of the West Bank settlements in place. That they say, again, there was no heads-up on this attack that was going to happen against Rantisi, but at the same time, that the timing could not have been worse here, because it certainly has given the misperception that the administration gave the green light for Sharon essentially to carry out and to do anything. This only complicates the matter for the administration. They are trying to win support from Arab leaders for the situation inside of Iraq. At the same time, they are trying to jumpstart those Palestinian Israeli road map talks in the Middle East. Fred?

WHITFIELD: Suzanne Malvaux at the White House. Thanks very much. Well, something out the White House is consumed with these days: Will a new book be a political bombshell? We'll have excerpts from Bob Woodward's new book with details on what the Bush administration was planning for Iraq and when it was planning it.

How is the President playing on college campuses? And which of his policies have some college students especially afraid?

Also ahead, how an American soldier held hostage in Iraq is being remembered in his hometown this Sunday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Iraq's holy city of najaf was relatively calm today, but the standoff between U.S.-led coalition forces and a militia loyal to a militant cleric continues. About 2500 U.S. troops are poised outside the city with orders to kill or capture Maqtada al-Sadr. CNN's Karl Penhaul reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Weapons at the ready, militia fighters are rallying in Najaf. Their cause? Defend the life of renegade Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. U.S. troops are ringing the outskirts of the holy city, under orders to capture Sadr, wanted on a murder charge. If necessary, coalition commanders say they'll kill Sadr and crush his gunmen, the so-called Mehdi Army. Sadr's lieutenant says days of mediation by senior religious leaders, Iraqi politicians, and an Iranian delegation have come up dry.

QAYS AL-KHAZALI, SADR'S SPOKESMAN (through translator): Negotiations are stalled. We don't think that the American side has any desire to end this crisis. From our side, the American attack on our sacred sites is almost certain. We have taken the necessary measures.

PENHAUL: Almost two thirds of Iraq's 25 million population are Shiite. Iraq's top ayatollahs say they're drawing a quote, "red line" around Najaf and Karbala, home to their holiest shrines. Sadr's spokesman says it will be a bloodbath if the coalition marches in. Coalition authorities say Sadr, not Najaf, is their target. Karl Penhaul, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOtAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, let's take a closer look at Sadr and his relationship with Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani. Joining us is Juan Cole, a professor of modern Middle Eastern history at the University of Michigan. Good to see you, Professor.

JUAN COLE, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN PROFESSOR: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well, first let's talk about Muqtada al-Sadr. He's surrounded by troops. Is it your feeling this only empowers him more than ever?

COLE: Well, certainly he has become a widespread symbol of opposition to the presence of U.S troops in Iraq, and indeed even the Sunni fighters up in Fallujah have started putting up posters of him.

WHITFIELD: Well, the coalition forces have called the majority of these insurgents foreign insurgents. Is it your belief that these are in fact foreign insurgents? Foreign enemies? Or, indeend, are these leftovers from Saddam's army and those loyal to him as well as Muqtada al-Sadr?

COLE: Well, Muqtada al-Sadr's Army of the Mehdi is a militia that is drawn from the slums of the poor Shiite areas in Baghdad, Basra, Kut, Nasiriya. Most of the fighters in the Sunni Arab areas are also Iraqi. There may be a few foreigners but Iwouldn't put the onus on them.

WHITFIELD: So, the orders are to kill or capture. What are your concerns about the order of killing him, that it may only incite greater violence there, and make an already volatile region that much more volatile?

COLE: Well, Muqtada is the leader of a social movement. It's a religious and social movement that goes back to the 1990s, and that movement is not going to go away simply if you kill him. His father led that movement. His father was killed in 1999 by the Baath party. If Muqtada is killed there are other leaders that will come to the fore of that movement and it will turn bitter I think. There's some danger that many of the members will begin a guerrilla insurgency against the U.S. There will be a lot of trouble if the U.S. kills Muqtada.

WHITEFIELD: Let's talk now about the leading Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. It has been made very clear that he wants some part in helping determine the interim government. And now the UN envoy to Iraq is also suggesting that that indeed be the case. How might the UN be working with al-Sistani to try to come up with the leadership for this interim government?

COLE: Sistani wants a democratically elected government, he wants one person, one vote. It's not so much that he wants to determine it, but he wants the Iraqi people to be able to express their will. And his vision of Iraq is very different from Muqtada al- Sadr who wants an Iran-style theocracy. So al-Sistani is the one who called for UN involvement in the formation of a transitional Iraqi government. Sistani wants elections as soon as possible. I expect him to be generally positive towards the plan put forward by Mr. Brahimi.

WHITFIELD: And you brought up Iran. How involved might Iran be in any future of Iraq, given that the Bush Administration already labeled it an axis of evil. Is there any chance that while there are parts of Iran that have made suggestions for help that Iran as a whole would?

COLE: Well, the reformist government of Mohammed Qatami, the president of Iran has recognized the Interim Governing Council and has been generally helpful with regard to Iraq. The hardliners, the Supreme Jurisprudent Qomeini, don't like the American presence in Iraq, and seem to be working against it.

WHITFIELD: Well, how concerned are you now that the U.S. just might indeed take a backseat to help shape the interim government in Iraq if indeed it's the UN that will take the lead?

COLE: Well, there's a real problem that...

WHITFIELD: Go ahead and take another sip of water if you need to. I understand.

COLE: I've had a cold. The Americans have no legitimacy in Iraq. The UN would lend a great deal of legitimacy. So it's a good thing if it comes in.

WHITFIELD: OK. I feel so sorry for you there on that scratchy throat. Because I know that's a tought situation to be in. I'll let you go ahead and take another drink of water if you need to. You know, there has been some expressed concern about the U.S. military perhaps diminished role if the UN, indeed is also going to assist in helping to come up with the leadership or a plan in which to come up with an interim government in Iraq. How complicated, then, will it be for U.S.-led forces to have a military strategy there if indeed the handover takes place as is now being planned with the UN's help?

COLE: Well, the U.S. military expects it to be a difficult negotiation for the United States forces to remain in Iraq at the invitation of the new government. And those negotiations haven't been conducted yet. So that's something for the future. It does seem to me likely that most Iraqis will want the U.S. security umbrella for the near future because the Iraqi army is gone, and somebody needs to protect them from Iran and Turkey.

WHITFIELD: OK, Juan Cole, Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History at the University of Michigan, thanks so much for hanging in there with us. Appreciate it.

Well, on this day of rememberance, a Holocaust survivor talks about the soldier who liberated her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We thought they were going-they took over and were going to shoot us. That was our thinking. It took a while to convince us that they were our liberators.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: An American soldier and the woman he rescued, when we come right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: With poems, prayers and tears, people across the United States and overseas are marking Yom Hashoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day. In Jerusalem, six torches were lit for the six million Jews who were killed in Nazi concentration camps. CNN's national correspondent Frank Buckley brings us the compelling story of one survivor and the American soldiers who liberated her, while their own families were in camps back home.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At least 28,000 people died at Dachau. The girl in the picture was a witness. Sixteen-year old Janina Cywinska's (ph) parents and brother had already died in the gas chambers at Auschwitz. Janina was taken to Dachau and survived.

JANINA CYWINSKA: I was thinking about, "that's the end, there was no way out."

BUCKLEY: She remembers when the photo was taken. She'll never forget the day she was liberated by American soldiers of Japanese descent. They were part of the segregated and Japanese American 522nd field artillery battalion. Janina and others thought at first the Japanese won the war.

CYWINSKA: We thought they were going to took over and they were going to shoot us. That was our thinking. Then he said, "I am American soldier, I'm your liberator, and I am here to save you," and so forth, and we didn't believe him.

BUCKLEY: George Oiye was one of the liberators.

SGT GEORGE OIYE, U.S. ARMY, (RET): For the local people to see Japanese faces, it was kind of strange until they learned that we were American soldiers.

BUCKLEY: While Oiye and other Japanese American soldiers were liberating prisoners of a Nazi concentration camp, some of their families were incarcerated in internment camps in the U.S.

OIYE: Our families were in concentration camps in the States, being the ones that liberate concentration camps--the real ones in Europe, that seemed so strange.

BUCKLEY: They thought of their families at home in America, living behind barbed wire while they fought and died for America to prove their loyalty.

OIYE: It seemed so ironic and difficult to deal with.

BUCKLEY: Nearly 50 years later, the Japanese American liberator and the Polish-American survivor are friends. George Oiye and Janina Cywinska both live in California. They occasionally appear together like at places like the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.

OIYE: Here's my section.

BUCKLEY: Oiye's personal pictures from the war are among those that helped to tell the story of man's capacity to hate. Racism and fear stripped people of their dignity in America, it sent people to their deaths in Dachau. But people were also sent to Dachau to liberate them, teaching the world.

OIYE: There is a difference between good and evil.

BUCKLEY: Frank Buckley, CNN, San Jose, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: The gay republicans met this weekend in California to talk about the President's stance on gay rights. Will they be with him or against him when it comes to Election Day?

And what about college students? What's one of their number one fears as the war continues?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Here, a look at the top stories. Spain deals the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq a significant blow. Today Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero ordered more than 1400 troops to return home. His announcement comes a day after assuming office. The White House says the U.S. will continue to work closely with Spain to fight terrorism.

An outpouring of anger and grief. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian mourners bury Abdel Aziz Rantisi. He was killed yesterday in Gaza City by an Israeli airstrike. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice says the U.S. didn't know about Israel's plans in advance. Rantisi's supporters are vowing revenge.

Prayer services today for the release of Army Reservist Keith Maupin. The Private First Class is being held hostage in Iraq, one of a string of abductions by Iraqi insurgents. About 900 people near his hometown in Ohio attended church services to pray for Maupin's safe return.

Well, just when did President Bush begin planning for the war in Iraq? Bob Woodward writes it happens within weeks of the September 11th attacks. This and others behind the scenes revelations are in the new book, "Plan of Attack." portions of it were in the "The Washington Post" today. CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us from Washington with a closer look now. Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka according to the excerpts, the book lays out a detailed account based in part on interviews with President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. In the book author Bob Woodward maintains that in late November of 2001, the president directed Secretary Rumsfeld to start planning for military action in Iraq. The book also described how in late December of that year as the Bush administration publicly sought a diplomatic solution, behind the scenes; the president was meeting with the head of U.S. Central Command at that time.

Army General Tommy Franks to plan the Iraq invasion. Now the excerpts also describes events closer to the start of the war, in particularly a meeting in January 2003, in witch Vice President Dick Cheney invited the Saudi Arabiaian Ambassador to his west wing office, now according to the book the vice president allowed the ambassador to view a top-secret war plan map that was supposed to be off limits to foreigners. Also at the meeting Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and the chairman of the Joint Chief General Richard Meyers.

Now the account describes the ambassador asking for a copy of the map to which Secretary Rumsfeld is quoted as replying, I would rather not give it to you, but you can take notes if you want. Then in response to a question about Saddam Hussein, Vice President Cheney to the ambassador. "Prince Bandar once we start Saddam is toast." Now this morning on CNN's "Late Edition" General Meyers was asked about that account. He said although he hadn't read it, he was aware of it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. RICHARD MYERS, U.S. ARMY: It sounds basically correct, and at that time we were looking for support of our allies and partners in the region, Saudi Arabia minister could be partner in the region for a very long time, and we were looking for their support.

(END VIDEO CLIP) QUIJANO: This morning National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice downplayed another issue raised in the book that the Saudi ambassador learned of the Iraq war plan even before Secretary of State Colin Powell. Now Rice said Secretary Powell was privy to all the conversations with the president and said Powell would not have been surprised that the Saudis would have needed to be informed about what might happen if the president decided to go to war.

Fredericka.

WHITFIELD: Elaine lots of specific information and quotes in that book. How is Bob Woodward explaining how he got a lot of that information?

QUIJANO: Well according to him, he says there are not just the interviews with the president and with Secretary Rumsfeld, but also notes, written records, if you will, personal notes that he used to compile all of this information. In addition to that, of course, interviews with aides as well, so all of that really coming together to give this very in-depth detailed behind the scenes description of those months leading up to the war in Iraq.

Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Elaine Quijano thanks very much. And the book is on the bookstands starting tomorrow. You can hear much more from Bob Woodward himself on CNN, he will be a guest on "Larry King Live" be sure to tune in for that, 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 Pacific tomorrow.

Well, last week John Kerry went back to school visiting college campuses to reach out to younger voters, but what are young folks thinking about politics these days? According to a "News Week" poll done last month Kerry was favored by voters 18 to 29 years old. President Bush's approval rating among that group was 44 percent, 54 percent disapproved.

Our next guest knows a thing or two about how young people think. Mitch Mosvick is a Gen X columnist for "Newsweek" magazine and student at the University of Minnesota and he joins us from Minneapolis. Good to see you Mitch.

MITCH MOSVICK, UNIV. OF MINNESOTA STUDENT: Nice to see you Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, well I understand that among young people, just like everybody else in America Iraq, the war in Iraq is of great concern, but particularly among young people because of the draft?

MOSVICK: Yes. Well, a lot of young people are talking about the draft, because we hear that more and more troops are necessary in the war. And the only country talking about sending more troops is our country right now, as far as I know, and so people are getting a little worried about it, yes.

WHITFIELD: So what are a lot of these people saying? They're thinking that perhaps a serious proposal will be made that a draft just might be a reality potentially?

MOSVICK: Well, I've read Mitch McConnell saying that it would never get through Congress, and I'm not sure that a draft would actually happen, but I do think that young people are increasingly concerned, especially those getting out of college who are looking to go work.

WHITFIELD: And particularly because the average age of a lot of the young military men and women overseas in Iraq is in the early 20s. Did you notice among a lot of the young people that you know, have had a chance to interview and talk with on a regular basis that while many of the young people were supportive of the war before it began, how have their views changed now that the war is in the midst?

MOSVICK: A lot of people are more concerned about it. A lot of people, honestly, did not think that the war would go on this long, and that casualties would get worse and worse. That was not the thought one year ago when protests were going on before the war.

WHITFIELD: And I understand a lot of the students that you talked to be involved in pro-war protests, and now they're thinking a little differently as we approach election today?

MOSVICK: Some of them, I would say those who are involved in the protests probably are sticking to their guns and supporting the president. But those who may be supporting the war tacitly without participating in the pro-war protests now are definitely reconsidering.

WHITFIELD: And so we have seen in most recent elections that the younger voters have been rather apathetic. Are you getting a sense that this year it might be a little different, that many young people are hoping to exercise their power by the power of the vote?

MOSVICK: I think, actually that apathy will still play a great part. I don't think the turnout will be much more.

WHITFIELD: Why?

MOSVICK: People are still just -- if they weren't interested in politics already, some people have gotten more interested, what with the gay marriage issue or the increasing death toll in Iraq, but there's still half the population who's not going to vote, in the college population. They're just not interested.

WHITFIELD: So among a lot of young people, are you finding that some of these very contentious issues may elicit some great dialogue you know on college campuses, but somehow a lot of these kids are still not motivated to go to the polling stations?

MOSVICK: That's definitely what I'm getting.

WHITFIELD: Well what are some of the hot topics that seemed to be dividing so many students on campuses? We know the war for one. We are talking about that. What are some of the other issues? MOSVICK: Well, there's the jobs issue. Most students want jobs when they graduate. And that's what they were looking forward to a couple years ago. And now there's an increasing level of anxiety about getting a job after school, and particularly a job in one's major. And they want the economy to recover, so that's much easier for them. There's a lot of debate on how to do that exactly.

WHITFIELD: And we saw in your most recent magazine poll that many of the young people polled seem to be throwing their sport to John Kerry when we talk about the presidential candidates. Why is that? What is the explanation that many of them seem to feel like they want to cozy up to John Kerry over President Bush?

MOSVICK: I think a lot of people blame President Bush for the recession. Whether that's true or not, I think a lot of people do blame him for the recession, blame him for the casualties in Iraq, and just don't look to him as a leader at this time. Other than the ones who have already supported him, of course.

WHITFIELD: Now what about the Ralph Nader factor?

MOSVICK: I actually sort of discount the polls showing that Ralph Nader has a substantial amount of the college population. I do not think he'll do very well this year as he did in 2000, for that matter, on college campuses, just because people on the left at college just do not feel it's the time for a third-party candidate and they're rallying to John Kerry.

WHITFIELD: All right, Mitch Mosvick, with the finger on the polls of the young voters out there. Gen X reporter for "Newsweek." Thanks very much.

MOSVICK: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well many gays and lesbians who voted for Bush in 20 00 say they're not likely to support him this time around. He opposes same sex marriages. CNN's Miguel Marquez reports on this year's Gay Republican National Convention.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDNET, (voice over): Log Cabin Republicans, gay Republicans in Palm Springs for their national convention, the big issue, deciding how they feel about President Bush backing an amendment to ban gay marriage.

PATRICK GUERRIERO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LOG CABIN REPUBLICAN: The president jeopardized what should have been an automatic endorsement for the Log Cabin Republican.

MARQUEZ: Proving its point, the organization is running ads reminding the GOP of what the vice president said in 2000.

GUERRIERO: The Republican party can choose to be on the right side of history or the wrong side of history. MARQUEZ: Log Cabin Republicans are quick to point out that an estimated 1 million gays and lesbians supported candidate Bush in 2000. With this election expected to be tight, Log Cabin Republicans are just as quick to point out that a second Bush term may hinge on gay and lesbian support.

BRIAN BALLARD, LOG CABIN REPUBLICAN, BOARD MEMEMBER: I'm a conservative. And to me, gay marriage is the conservative answer to gay relationships.

MARQUEZ: Brian Ballard and 22 other Log Cabin board members will eventually vote up or down on the endorsement of the president. For his vote he says Bush must yank he support for the anti gay marriage amendment.

BALLARD: When he did come out in support of that amendment, it was I think it's been said before but it did feel like a kick in the gut to me.

MARQUEZ: But a board member from Ohio sees gay marriage as one issue of many.

KAREN COOKSTON, LOG CABIN REPUBLICAN, BOARD MEMEMBER: I don't believe it is a deal breaker. It's in fact a huge factor, but it is not the deal breaker.

MARQUEZ: Still, support for gay marriage tops the agenda. The first official speakers, an independent and a Democrat.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We came as two human beings, citizens of the commonwealth that are part of a struggle that affects all our lives.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: They are one of seven Massachusetts couples who won their case before the state's highest court, opening the door to gay marriage, from gay Republicans, they got a standing ovation.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, Los Angeles.

WHITFIELD: Prayers from a hometown hoping for a hostage's release.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Chris Lawrence here in Batavia, Ohio where Matt Maupin's family has received a phone call from former POW Jessica Lynch's mother. We will tell you what they talked about.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: It's a day of tears and prayers in Batavia, Ohio. Church services are taking on special meaning in and near the hometown of Matt Maupin, the U.S. soldier being held hostage in Iraq. Even the family of former POW Jessica Lynch is reaching out to Maupin's loved ones.

CNN's Chris Lawrence joins us from Batavia with more on the Lynch family's phone call.

Chris.

LAWRENCE: Yes, Fredricka, one of our U.S. army sources who is at Matt Maupin's family's home says they just got off the phone with former POW Jessica Lynch's mother. We have learned that the call lasted about ten minutes, mother to mother, with Mrs. Lynch sharing some of the experiences that they had with Jessica, and also telling Carol Lynn Maupin to expect when, not if her son comes home.

But this is really just part of the incredible support this family has been getting from across the area here. Church services today pretty much focused on Matt Maupin, with the pastor trying to encourage people to keep praying for the family, and also many of the parishioners reaching out to try to support them.

Ironically last fall before all this happened. Carol Lynn Maupin herself started a support group for reservist families, and now some of the members of that same group are only too happy to try to help her.

DEBBIE RIGG, MOTHER OF U.S. SOLDIER: 'm sure she didn't realize last week that she would be needing support, but that's what we're there for. So we're going to help her any way we can, be there to do anything, but most of all, pray for her and Matt. That is what is more important that any thing else.

LAWRENCE: And besides all the signs and support that are everywhere in town, we've also learned that the U.S. government and the U.S. Army has assigned a team of up to ten people to the Maupin family home some of them counselors specially trained to deal with hostage situations -- Fredericka.

WHITFIELD: And Chris, tell me a little bit more about the location where you are, where people have set up that place of remembrance as they continue their prayers for his release.

LAWRENCE: Well, I know it looks like a lot, but this is actually Fredricka just one of many places. You'll see five, ten, 15 places just like this all around the area. This happens to be the school where Matt Maupin attended high school, but really just about anywhere you go in town, you will see it just decorated like this in a show of support.

WHITFIELD: All right, nice way of the community pulling together they're for his safe return. Chris Lawrence thanks very much.

Well, some other news from around the world now. Protests in Tokyo, Japan's hostage crisis may be over, but the anger is still brewing. Thousands of people marched through the streets protesting the war in Iraq. Many are criticizing their government for supporting the U.S. in Iraq.

A Cardiff whale, 21-year-old Prince Williams made his water polo debut. He played for the Scottish National University team and attracted quite a big crowd. No surprise there for his first public tournament. Despite his princely charms, his team lost both games.

Well in Rome, hundreds of people gathered to mark the birth of the city, which according to legend took place this month in 753 B.C. Dressed as gladiators and emporia's people marched through the streets recreating scenes from Roman history.

And a Russian spacecraft is in its launch position in Kazakhstan. It will carry a three-man crew to the International Space Station. Lift off is set for Monday morning. CNN's Ryan Chilcote has the details.

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRSPONDENT: American Mike Fincke, a Russian Gennady Padalka, and Dutchman Andre Kuipers entering one of the world's most exclusive clubs. Replacing a two-man crew that has been on the International Space Station since last fall, the American astronaut and Russian cosmonaut will spend the next six months in orbit.

Kuipers is traveling on a seat Russia sold to the Europeans Space Agency. He will be spending just over a week at the station. Together they are set to blast off on a Russian Soyuz transport module, the one and only spacecraft that as ferried astronauts and cosmonauts and astronauts to and from the station every six months since the shuttle's fleet was grounded last spring.

(on camera): The Russian space agency wants to change that, and NASA is now considering a Russian proposal to leave crews on the space station for a year at a time, freeing up seats on the Soyuz for paying customers.

(voice-over): Like American entrepreneur Greg Olson, paying to go where only two space tours have gone before him. Olson is reportedly shelling out $20 million for his seat on a later flight.

Without the shuttles operating NASA can't ignore the Russian plan, and with proposed flight to the Moon and Mars, NASA will need to train for extended missions.

So far the American record is just under seven months. The record-holding Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov flew for over 14 months. Space veteran Norm Thagard flew with Polyakov.

NORM THAGARD, FORMER ASTRONAUT: You have to be a person that can tolerate a fairly isolated environment in personal contact with only one or two other human beings.

CHILCOTE: Padalka and Fincke are expected to be in close personal contact for just a half year. Small comfort to Fink's son.

MIKE FINCKE, ASTRONAUT: My son is two and a half years old. He thinks he's coming with me. It's going to break my heart when he watches that rocket go up and he's not on it.

CHILCOTE: The next crew could be together in space for more than a year. Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well who doesn't like flying objects of another kind? Birds, but how many of us know which bird is which? And can distinguish them by sound? Our next guest does and can without ever seeing them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: What a beautiful sound, the magical songs of birds. Those distinctive sounds are how a group of blind bird enthusiasts will compete in a bird watching contest on the Texas coast. Well it's part of the great Texas birding classic. Among the weeklong tournament events, what's believed to be the world's first competitive birding event for the blind. To tell us how the idea took flight we're joined on the phone by Gladie Cruz. She is one the blind birders hoping to win. All right Gladie, how does this work?

GLADIE CRUZ, BLIND BIRDER, (via telephone): Yes, first Fredricka I want to thank you for having the opportunity to talk to you. First of all, it's a group of blind people that started six months ago getting trained by recordings of bird songs and bird calls, and having field trips. And a group of blind and vision-impaired people got together to practice and be here today at the competition, which is today.

WHITFIELD: So the object is you all will traverse this area and be listening for sounds, and you try to identify the birds. Is the object who can identify the most birds?

CRUZ: Yes, the most birds.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And now, tell me about your experience. I understand you went blind about nine years ago because of tumors that damaged your optic nerves, right?

CRUZ: Correct.

WHITFIELD: How did you find the fortitude to really kind of move on with your life and find these outlets, just like this?

CRUZ: Well, first of all, I'm grateful to have someone that helped me continue my education, but I still was a little bit depressed. Now that I started birding with other blind people and visually impaired, I found out that it's going after learning birds and having fun with them, it's -- it has -- helped me a lot in my depression, being near a depression stage.

WHITFIELD: So, now did you always have a love for birds and you took it one step further, or is this something completely new to you?

CRUZ: Something completely new to me. Because until the fact that I was blind. I didn't have any idea blind people would have an opportunity to learn about birds by ear, and compete for the first time in the century.

WHITFIELD: Gladie, how many birds do you think you can identify? CRUZ: Today, the competition we already got the results from three teams, a combination of blind and visually impaired participants, the team that won, this team -- they're were by organizations. The one that got the most birds today was 43 birds (INAUDIBLE) tweety birds.

WHITFIELD: Oh my gosh, that's remarkable. And so this birding has really enhanced your life in so many ways, hasn't it just the camaraderie of being with your team members?

CRUZ: Yes, definitely, yes, and I'm really grateful that they gave us an opportunity. First of all, I want to thank the Rensiville (ph) institute and Texas parks (INAUDIBLE) and birds for funding us to begin this project, to have that opportunity.

WHITFIELD: That's great Gladie. And I understand that the proceeds from this competition will actually help in the preservation of the habitat of these birds along the Texas coast.

CRUZ: Great. It's a great -- very special area. There's a lot of birds are down here. And the ones that migrate stop here for a while, so that gives us a chance, an opportunity to listen to the beautiful wild birds that are northern birds, and they stop here.

WHITFIELD: Oh well that is fantastic. Gladie Cruz thanks so much for joining us on the telephone and giving us some perspective of the competition, and best wishes to you in your future endeavors.

CRUZ: Thank you so much. My vision is for other blind people that are listening to this message, for them to get active and hopefully if they want information, they can contact me at the 956- 867-6612.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well done. Thanks Gladie appreciate it.

That's it for us. "Next@CNN" is coming up next. Then at 6:00 Eastern Carol Lin talks to a family friend and investigator in the Dru Sjodin case. And at 7:00 Eastern, "People in the News," tonight Christopher Reeve is profiled. We'll be back in a moment with the headlines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired April 19, 2004 - 16:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Could this new book effect the race for the White House. It could fuel the fire of the arguments against the administration's Iraq policy. And can the war in Iraq mean a return to the draft? Find out why some college students fear an answer of yes. And, later this hour:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Eee. Eee. That's my (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: A good imitation of a bird. Well, birds of a feather flock together and so do bird watchers. We'll meet some who will have you wondering "how do they that?"

Hello and welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY, I'm Fredericka Whitfield. All of that and more after this check of the headlines.

In Iraq, U.S. troops remain poised outside the holy city of Najaf. The situation remains relatively calm after fierce fighting earlier this month. U.S. officials say members of Muqtada al-Sadr's militia are either fleeing or have been captured or killed. In the meantime, the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq since the war began now stands at 700.

Civil rights leader, the Reverend Jessie Jackson says he's trying to secure the release of two Americans and other hostages in Iraq. Jackson says he's already started making some back-channel contacts and is willing to travel to Iraq to negotiate.

Palestinians begin three days of mourning for Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi. He was assassinated by Israel yesterday. Rantisi was buried today in the same Gaza cemetery where his predecessor was buried last month. The militant Palestinian group is keeping the new leader's identity a secret to protect him.

We begin with the rising U.S. death toll in Iraq and one nation's decision to pull out of the conflict. Spain's new prime minister is ordering all of his country's troops in Iraq to return home quote "in the shortest time possible." Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero had said he would pull Spanish troops out by June 30th unless the United Nations took charge in Iraq. Today's announcement came just hours after he assumed office from Jose Maria Aznar who supported the invasion of Iraq. This weekend, 11 more Americans have been killed in the region. CNN's Karl Penhaul reports. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Coalition sources are telling us this most recent spate of death has occurred since late Saturday. It seems the most serious clash was on the border with Syria near the Iraqi border town of Husaybah. The coalition is telling us that there five marines have died in firefights, possibly 14 hours of gun battles with a group of fighters there. The marines in this area, we understand, have been interdicting what the coalition calls the rat- lines. These are supply and transport lines used by foreign fighters exiting and entering Iraq from neighboring countries.

There was also an attack on a patrol near southern town of Diwaniya, we understand in that three soldiers died. In the flash point city of Fallujah, that is the city of around 300,000 west of Baghdad, a shaky ceasefire has been in place. There have been no new developments in talks there, but as we can see from some new dramatic pictures coming from the town, there have been sporadic firefights there. Coalition authorities telling us that one marine died in those fights. Also, in Baghdad, another soldier dying when a roadside bomb exploded, another soldier dying when his tank rolled over. Karl Penhaul, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, here in the U.S., Vice President Dick Cheney vowed America will stay the course in Iraq until all dangers are removed. Cheney addressed a National Rifle Association gathering this weekend in Pittsburgh. Pointing to the recent heavy fighting, Cheney says America's will is being tested in Iraq. It is a test, Cheney insists, that Democrat John Kerry would fail.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'll leave it for Senator Kerry to explain or explain away his votes and statements about the war on terror, our cause in Iraq and the needs of the American military. Whatever the explanation, it is not an impressive record for someone who aspires to become Commander in Chief in this time of testing for our country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITEFIELD: And presidential contender John Kerry mean time says the Bush administration is trying to bring the international community into Iraq through the back door. He says it's time for fresh perspective. CNN's senior political correspondent Candy Crowley is with the Kerry campaign in Miami. Hi, Candy.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi. We are in the midst of a three-day trip to Florida, as a matter of fact. On Sunday, John Kerry went through the usual politician Sunday things-- which is to say a visit to a local church, where we heard the minister talk in favor of the scriptures and against George Bush. Prior to that, Kerry was here for a special local edition of "Meet the Press." He was asked in fact about his voting record on Iraq, in particular about his vote for the resolution of war, but then against a funding bill that would have funded the war. Now, as you know, the Bush campaign has used those votes in an ad in which they portrayed the vote as against sending armor to the troops and against various military pensions, so Kerry was asked about that this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SENATOR JOHN KERRY, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There is nothing inconsistent in either of those statements. And that advertisement displays really how sad and full of distortion--almost pathetic the Republican approach to this is. First of all, they had a series of "No"s, Mr. Kerry on this, "No," Mr. Kerry on this, "No." It wasn't a series of votes. It was one vote. And that is a distortion to the American people. Secondly, that vote would never have prevented any of those--the body armor, ammunition or anything from getting to our troops. That's a lie. That's just an outright lie.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CROWLEY: The Bush-Cheney team continues to insist that's exactly where the money went. Kerry is here in Florida for three days, as we said, a combination of fundraisers and rallies, one just about a half an hour ago here at the University of Miami. The senator is here in Florida to press the faithful, the Democratic feeling is, look, if you can't rouse the Democrats in Florida, where else can you rouse them? And this trip includes tomorrow a visit to Palm Beach County, and home of the butterfly ballot, and guess who will be with him, Fredericka? Senator Joe Liebermann.

WHITFIELD: No surprise there. Alright, Candy Crowley, thanks very much.

Well, now more on the double blow to the U.S. in Iraq in the past day: the rising death toll for one and an ally's plan to pull out. For the White House view we go to CNN's Suzanne Malvaux -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, President Bush returned to the White House really eager to try to keep that coalition in Iraq together, but the Bush Administration today seeing the first signs of perhaps a crack in that alliance with the announcement of the inauguration of Spain's new prime minister, Zapatero, saying he wants to withdraw troops out of Iraq as quickly as possible. Initially he had said that he was going to wait for a new UN Security Council resolution to give him some political cover, but earlier today National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice signaling that the conditions now have changed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We have 34 countries with forces on the ground. I think there are going to be some changes. We know the Spanish have been talking about pulling their forces out. I would not be at all surprised if they do.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MALVEAUX: Now, there are 33 countries that remain with troops on the ground. Part of that coalition in Iraq, the White House later today released--earlier today, rather, released a statement reacting to Spain's immediate withdrawal of their troops, saying-and I'M quoting here-"We are grateful to our other coalition partners for their recent expressions of solidarity in carrying out the mission in Iraq. We along with the Iraqi people appreciate the contributions of our more than 30 nation-strong coalition in Iraq. We will continue our close cooperation with our NATO ally Spain in fighting the war against terror. Obviously, Fred, a disappointment to the Bush Administration, but they continue to put at least a good face on this, saying they will work with Spain, at least in the broader war on terror -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: In the meantime, Suzanne, there are critics who are claiming the White House gave the green light to Israel for setting the stage of the assassination of Rantisi. What does the White House say today about that?

MALVEAUX: Well, the White House first is saying that of course, this is bad timing for the administration. We saw last week President Bush meeting with Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, essentially endorsing this plan to pull out of Gaza but keep much of the West Bank settlements in place. That they say, again, there was no heads-up on this attack that was going to happen against Rantisi, but at the same time, that the timing could not have been worse here, because it certainly has given the misperception that the administration gave the green light for Sharon essentially to carry out and to do anything. This only complicates the matter for the administration. They are trying to win support from Arab leaders for the situation inside of Iraq. At the same time, they are trying to jumpstart those Palestinian Israeli road map talks in the Middle East. Fred?

WHITFIELD: Suzanne Malvaux at the White House. Thanks very much. Well, something out the White House is consumed with these days: Will a new book be a political bombshell? We'll have excerpts from Bob Woodward's new book with details on what the Bush administration was planning for Iraq and when it was planning it.

How is the President playing on college campuses? And which of his policies have some college students especially afraid?

Also ahead, how an American soldier held hostage in Iraq is being remembered in his hometown this Sunday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Iraq's holy city of najaf was relatively calm today, but the standoff between U.S.-led coalition forces and a militia loyal to a militant cleric continues. About 2500 U.S. troops are poised outside the city with orders to kill or capture Maqtada al-Sadr. CNN's Karl Penhaul reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Weapons at the ready, militia fighters are rallying in Najaf. Their cause? Defend the life of renegade Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. U.S. troops are ringing the outskirts of the holy city, under orders to capture Sadr, wanted on a murder charge. If necessary, coalition commanders say they'll kill Sadr and crush his gunmen, the so-called Mehdi Army. Sadr's lieutenant says days of mediation by senior religious leaders, Iraqi politicians, and an Iranian delegation have come up dry.

QAYS AL-KHAZALI, SADR'S SPOKESMAN (through translator): Negotiations are stalled. We don't think that the American side has any desire to end this crisis. From our side, the American attack on our sacred sites is almost certain. We have taken the necessary measures.

PENHAUL: Almost two thirds of Iraq's 25 million population are Shiite. Iraq's top ayatollahs say they're drawing a quote, "red line" around Najaf and Karbala, home to their holiest shrines. Sadr's spokesman says it will be a bloodbath if the coalition marches in. Coalition authorities say Sadr, not Najaf, is their target. Karl Penhaul, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOtAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, let's take a closer look at Sadr and his relationship with Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani. Joining us is Juan Cole, a professor of modern Middle Eastern history at the University of Michigan. Good to see you, Professor.

JUAN COLE, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN PROFESSOR: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well, first let's talk about Muqtada al-Sadr. He's surrounded by troops. Is it your feeling this only empowers him more than ever?

COLE: Well, certainly he has become a widespread symbol of opposition to the presence of U.S troops in Iraq, and indeed even the Sunni fighters up in Fallujah have started putting up posters of him.

WHITFIELD: Well, the coalition forces have called the majority of these insurgents foreign insurgents. Is it your belief that these are in fact foreign insurgents? Foreign enemies? Or, indeend, are these leftovers from Saddam's army and those loyal to him as well as Muqtada al-Sadr?

COLE: Well, Muqtada al-Sadr's Army of the Mehdi is a militia that is drawn from the slums of the poor Shiite areas in Baghdad, Basra, Kut, Nasiriya. Most of the fighters in the Sunni Arab areas are also Iraqi. There may be a few foreigners but Iwouldn't put the onus on them.

WHITFIELD: So, the orders are to kill or capture. What are your concerns about the order of killing him, that it may only incite greater violence there, and make an already volatile region that much more volatile?

COLE: Well, Muqtada is the leader of a social movement. It's a religious and social movement that goes back to the 1990s, and that movement is not going to go away simply if you kill him. His father led that movement. His father was killed in 1999 by the Baath party. If Muqtada is killed there are other leaders that will come to the fore of that movement and it will turn bitter I think. There's some danger that many of the members will begin a guerrilla insurgency against the U.S. There will be a lot of trouble if the U.S. kills Muqtada.

WHITEFIELD: Let's talk now about the leading Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. It has been made very clear that he wants some part in helping determine the interim government. And now the UN envoy to Iraq is also suggesting that that indeed be the case. How might the UN be working with al-Sistani to try to come up with the leadership for this interim government?

COLE: Sistani wants a democratically elected government, he wants one person, one vote. It's not so much that he wants to determine it, but he wants the Iraqi people to be able to express their will. And his vision of Iraq is very different from Muqtada al- Sadr who wants an Iran-style theocracy. So al-Sistani is the one who called for UN involvement in the formation of a transitional Iraqi government. Sistani wants elections as soon as possible. I expect him to be generally positive towards the plan put forward by Mr. Brahimi.

WHITFIELD: And you brought up Iran. How involved might Iran be in any future of Iraq, given that the Bush Administration already labeled it an axis of evil. Is there any chance that while there are parts of Iran that have made suggestions for help that Iran as a whole would?

COLE: Well, the reformist government of Mohammed Qatami, the president of Iran has recognized the Interim Governing Council and has been generally helpful with regard to Iraq. The hardliners, the Supreme Jurisprudent Qomeini, don't like the American presence in Iraq, and seem to be working against it.

WHITFIELD: Well, how concerned are you now that the U.S. just might indeed take a backseat to help shape the interim government in Iraq if indeed it's the UN that will take the lead?

COLE: Well, there's a real problem that...

WHITFIELD: Go ahead and take another sip of water if you need to. I understand.

COLE: I've had a cold. The Americans have no legitimacy in Iraq. The UN would lend a great deal of legitimacy. So it's a good thing if it comes in.

WHITFIELD: OK. I feel so sorry for you there on that scratchy throat. Because I know that's a tought situation to be in. I'll let you go ahead and take another drink of water if you need to. You know, there has been some expressed concern about the U.S. military perhaps diminished role if the UN, indeed is also going to assist in helping to come up with the leadership or a plan in which to come up with an interim government in Iraq. How complicated, then, will it be for U.S.-led forces to have a military strategy there if indeed the handover takes place as is now being planned with the UN's help?

COLE: Well, the U.S. military expects it to be a difficult negotiation for the United States forces to remain in Iraq at the invitation of the new government. And those negotiations haven't been conducted yet. So that's something for the future. It does seem to me likely that most Iraqis will want the U.S. security umbrella for the near future because the Iraqi army is gone, and somebody needs to protect them from Iran and Turkey.

WHITFIELD: OK, Juan Cole, Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History at the University of Michigan, thanks so much for hanging in there with us. Appreciate it.

Well, on this day of rememberance, a Holocaust survivor talks about the soldier who liberated her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We thought they were going-they took over and were going to shoot us. That was our thinking. It took a while to convince us that they were our liberators.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: An American soldier and the woman he rescued, when we come right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: With poems, prayers and tears, people across the United States and overseas are marking Yom Hashoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day. In Jerusalem, six torches were lit for the six million Jews who were killed in Nazi concentration camps. CNN's national correspondent Frank Buckley brings us the compelling story of one survivor and the American soldiers who liberated her, while their own families were in camps back home.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At least 28,000 people died at Dachau. The girl in the picture was a witness. Sixteen-year old Janina Cywinska's (ph) parents and brother had already died in the gas chambers at Auschwitz. Janina was taken to Dachau and survived.

JANINA CYWINSKA: I was thinking about, "that's the end, there was no way out."

BUCKLEY: She remembers when the photo was taken. She'll never forget the day she was liberated by American soldiers of Japanese descent. They were part of the segregated and Japanese American 522nd field artillery battalion. Janina and others thought at first the Japanese won the war.

CYWINSKA: We thought they were going to took over and they were going to shoot us. That was our thinking. Then he said, "I am American soldier, I'm your liberator, and I am here to save you," and so forth, and we didn't believe him.

BUCKLEY: George Oiye was one of the liberators.

SGT GEORGE OIYE, U.S. ARMY, (RET): For the local people to see Japanese faces, it was kind of strange until they learned that we were American soldiers.

BUCKLEY: While Oiye and other Japanese American soldiers were liberating prisoners of a Nazi concentration camp, some of their families were incarcerated in internment camps in the U.S.

OIYE: Our families were in concentration camps in the States, being the ones that liberate concentration camps--the real ones in Europe, that seemed so strange.

BUCKLEY: They thought of their families at home in America, living behind barbed wire while they fought and died for America to prove their loyalty.

OIYE: It seemed so ironic and difficult to deal with.

BUCKLEY: Nearly 50 years later, the Japanese American liberator and the Polish-American survivor are friends. George Oiye and Janina Cywinska both live in California. They occasionally appear together like at places like the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.

OIYE: Here's my section.

BUCKLEY: Oiye's personal pictures from the war are among those that helped to tell the story of man's capacity to hate. Racism and fear stripped people of their dignity in America, it sent people to their deaths in Dachau. But people were also sent to Dachau to liberate them, teaching the world.

OIYE: There is a difference between good and evil.

BUCKLEY: Frank Buckley, CNN, San Jose, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: The gay republicans met this weekend in California to talk about the President's stance on gay rights. Will they be with him or against him when it comes to Election Day?

And what about college students? What's one of their number one fears as the war continues?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Here, a look at the top stories. Spain deals the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq a significant blow. Today Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero ordered more than 1400 troops to return home. His announcement comes a day after assuming office. The White House says the U.S. will continue to work closely with Spain to fight terrorism.

An outpouring of anger and grief. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian mourners bury Abdel Aziz Rantisi. He was killed yesterday in Gaza City by an Israeli airstrike. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice says the U.S. didn't know about Israel's plans in advance. Rantisi's supporters are vowing revenge.

Prayer services today for the release of Army Reservist Keith Maupin. The Private First Class is being held hostage in Iraq, one of a string of abductions by Iraqi insurgents. About 900 people near his hometown in Ohio attended church services to pray for Maupin's safe return.

Well, just when did President Bush begin planning for the war in Iraq? Bob Woodward writes it happens within weeks of the September 11th attacks. This and others behind the scenes revelations are in the new book, "Plan of Attack." portions of it were in the "The Washington Post" today. CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us from Washington with a closer look now. Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka according to the excerpts, the book lays out a detailed account based in part on interviews with President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. In the book author Bob Woodward maintains that in late November of 2001, the president directed Secretary Rumsfeld to start planning for military action in Iraq. The book also described how in late December of that year as the Bush administration publicly sought a diplomatic solution, behind the scenes; the president was meeting with the head of U.S. Central Command at that time.

Army General Tommy Franks to plan the Iraq invasion. Now the excerpts also describes events closer to the start of the war, in particularly a meeting in January 2003, in witch Vice President Dick Cheney invited the Saudi Arabiaian Ambassador to his west wing office, now according to the book the vice president allowed the ambassador to view a top-secret war plan map that was supposed to be off limits to foreigners. Also at the meeting Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and the chairman of the Joint Chief General Richard Meyers.

Now the account describes the ambassador asking for a copy of the map to which Secretary Rumsfeld is quoted as replying, I would rather not give it to you, but you can take notes if you want. Then in response to a question about Saddam Hussein, Vice President Cheney to the ambassador. "Prince Bandar once we start Saddam is toast." Now this morning on CNN's "Late Edition" General Meyers was asked about that account. He said although he hadn't read it, he was aware of it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. RICHARD MYERS, U.S. ARMY: It sounds basically correct, and at that time we were looking for support of our allies and partners in the region, Saudi Arabia minister could be partner in the region for a very long time, and we were looking for their support.

(END VIDEO CLIP) QUIJANO: This morning National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice downplayed another issue raised in the book that the Saudi ambassador learned of the Iraq war plan even before Secretary of State Colin Powell. Now Rice said Secretary Powell was privy to all the conversations with the president and said Powell would not have been surprised that the Saudis would have needed to be informed about what might happen if the president decided to go to war.

Fredericka.

WHITFIELD: Elaine lots of specific information and quotes in that book. How is Bob Woodward explaining how he got a lot of that information?

QUIJANO: Well according to him, he says there are not just the interviews with the president and with Secretary Rumsfeld, but also notes, written records, if you will, personal notes that he used to compile all of this information. In addition to that, of course, interviews with aides as well, so all of that really coming together to give this very in-depth detailed behind the scenes description of those months leading up to the war in Iraq.

Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Elaine Quijano thanks very much. And the book is on the bookstands starting tomorrow. You can hear much more from Bob Woodward himself on CNN, he will be a guest on "Larry King Live" be sure to tune in for that, 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 Pacific tomorrow.

Well, last week John Kerry went back to school visiting college campuses to reach out to younger voters, but what are young folks thinking about politics these days? According to a "News Week" poll done last month Kerry was favored by voters 18 to 29 years old. President Bush's approval rating among that group was 44 percent, 54 percent disapproved.

Our next guest knows a thing or two about how young people think. Mitch Mosvick is a Gen X columnist for "Newsweek" magazine and student at the University of Minnesota and he joins us from Minneapolis. Good to see you Mitch.

MITCH MOSVICK, UNIV. OF MINNESOTA STUDENT: Nice to see you Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, well I understand that among young people, just like everybody else in America Iraq, the war in Iraq is of great concern, but particularly among young people because of the draft?

MOSVICK: Yes. Well, a lot of young people are talking about the draft, because we hear that more and more troops are necessary in the war. And the only country talking about sending more troops is our country right now, as far as I know, and so people are getting a little worried about it, yes.

WHITFIELD: So what are a lot of these people saying? They're thinking that perhaps a serious proposal will be made that a draft just might be a reality potentially?

MOSVICK: Well, I've read Mitch McConnell saying that it would never get through Congress, and I'm not sure that a draft would actually happen, but I do think that young people are increasingly concerned, especially those getting out of college who are looking to go work.

WHITFIELD: And particularly because the average age of a lot of the young military men and women overseas in Iraq is in the early 20s. Did you notice among a lot of the young people that you know, have had a chance to interview and talk with on a regular basis that while many of the young people were supportive of the war before it began, how have their views changed now that the war is in the midst?

MOSVICK: A lot of people are more concerned about it. A lot of people, honestly, did not think that the war would go on this long, and that casualties would get worse and worse. That was not the thought one year ago when protests were going on before the war.

WHITFIELD: And I understand a lot of the students that you talked to be involved in pro-war protests, and now they're thinking a little differently as we approach election today?

MOSVICK: Some of them, I would say those who are involved in the protests probably are sticking to their guns and supporting the president. But those who may be supporting the war tacitly without participating in the pro-war protests now are definitely reconsidering.

WHITFIELD: And so we have seen in most recent elections that the younger voters have been rather apathetic. Are you getting a sense that this year it might be a little different, that many young people are hoping to exercise their power by the power of the vote?

MOSVICK: I think, actually that apathy will still play a great part. I don't think the turnout will be much more.

WHITFIELD: Why?

MOSVICK: People are still just -- if they weren't interested in politics already, some people have gotten more interested, what with the gay marriage issue or the increasing death toll in Iraq, but there's still half the population who's not going to vote, in the college population. They're just not interested.

WHITFIELD: So among a lot of young people, are you finding that some of these very contentious issues may elicit some great dialogue you know on college campuses, but somehow a lot of these kids are still not motivated to go to the polling stations?

MOSVICK: That's definitely what I'm getting.

WHITFIELD: Well what are some of the hot topics that seemed to be dividing so many students on campuses? We know the war for one. We are talking about that. What are some of the other issues? MOSVICK: Well, there's the jobs issue. Most students want jobs when they graduate. And that's what they were looking forward to a couple years ago. And now there's an increasing level of anxiety about getting a job after school, and particularly a job in one's major. And they want the economy to recover, so that's much easier for them. There's a lot of debate on how to do that exactly.

WHITFIELD: And we saw in your most recent magazine poll that many of the young people polled seem to be throwing their sport to John Kerry when we talk about the presidential candidates. Why is that? What is the explanation that many of them seem to feel like they want to cozy up to John Kerry over President Bush?

MOSVICK: I think a lot of people blame President Bush for the recession. Whether that's true or not, I think a lot of people do blame him for the recession, blame him for the casualties in Iraq, and just don't look to him as a leader at this time. Other than the ones who have already supported him, of course.

WHITFIELD: Now what about the Ralph Nader factor?

MOSVICK: I actually sort of discount the polls showing that Ralph Nader has a substantial amount of the college population. I do not think he'll do very well this year as he did in 2000, for that matter, on college campuses, just because people on the left at college just do not feel it's the time for a third-party candidate and they're rallying to John Kerry.

WHITFIELD: All right, Mitch Mosvick, with the finger on the polls of the young voters out there. Gen X reporter for "Newsweek." Thanks very much.

MOSVICK: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well many gays and lesbians who voted for Bush in 20 00 say they're not likely to support him this time around. He opposes same sex marriages. CNN's Miguel Marquez reports on this year's Gay Republican National Convention.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDNET, (voice over): Log Cabin Republicans, gay Republicans in Palm Springs for their national convention, the big issue, deciding how they feel about President Bush backing an amendment to ban gay marriage.

PATRICK GUERRIERO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LOG CABIN REPUBLICAN: The president jeopardized what should have been an automatic endorsement for the Log Cabin Republican.

MARQUEZ: Proving its point, the organization is running ads reminding the GOP of what the vice president said in 2000.

GUERRIERO: The Republican party can choose to be on the right side of history or the wrong side of history. MARQUEZ: Log Cabin Republicans are quick to point out that an estimated 1 million gays and lesbians supported candidate Bush in 2000. With this election expected to be tight, Log Cabin Republicans are just as quick to point out that a second Bush term may hinge on gay and lesbian support.

BRIAN BALLARD, LOG CABIN REPUBLICAN, BOARD MEMEMBER: I'm a conservative. And to me, gay marriage is the conservative answer to gay relationships.

MARQUEZ: Brian Ballard and 22 other Log Cabin board members will eventually vote up or down on the endorsement of the president. For his vote he says Bush must yank he support for the anti gay marriage amendment.

BALLARD: When he did come out in support of that amendment, it was I think it's been said before but it did feel like a kick in the gut to me.

MARQUEZ: But a board member from Ohio sees gay marriage as one issue of many.

KAREN COOKSTON, LOG CABIN REPUBLICAN, BOARD MEMEMBER: I don't believe it is a deal breaker. It's in fact a huge factor, but it is not the deal breaker.

MARQUEZ: Still, support for gay marriage tops the agenda. The first official speakers, an independent and a Democrat.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We came as two human beings, citizens of the commonwealth that are part of a struggle that affects all our lives.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: They are one of seven Massachusetts couples who won their case before the state's highest court, opening the door to gay marriage, from gay Republicans, they got a standing ovation.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, Los Angeles.

WHITFIELD: Prayers from a hometown hoping for a hostage's release.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Chris Lawrence here in Batavia, Ohio where Matt Maupin's family has received a phone call from former POW Jessica Lynch's mother. We will tell you what they talked about.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: It's a day of tears and prayers in Batavia, Ohio. Church services are taking on special meaning in and near the hometown of Matt Maupin, the U.S. soldier being held hostage in Iraq. Even the family of former POW Jessica Lynch is reaching out to Maupin's loved ones.

CNN's Chris Lawrence joins us from Batavia with more on the Lynch family's phone call.

Chris.

LAWRENCE: Yes, Fredricka, one of our U.S. army sources who is at Matt Maupin's family's home says they just got off the phone with former POW Jessica Lynch's mother. We have learned that the call lasted about ten minutes, mother to mother, with Mrs. Lynch sharing some of the experiences that they had with Jessica, and also telling Carol Lynn Maupin to expect when, not if her son comes home.

But this is really just part of the incredible support this family has been getting from across the area here. Church services today pretty much focused on Matt Maupin, with the pastor trying to encourage people to keep praying for the family, and also many of the parishioners reaching out to try to support them.

Ironically last fall before all this happened. Carol Lynn Maupin herself started a support group for reservist families, and now some of the members of that same group are only too happy to try to help her.

DEBBIE RIGG, MOTHER OF U.S. SOLDIER: 'm sure she didn't realize last week that she would be needing support, but that's what we're there for. So we're going to help her any way we can, be there to do anything, but most of all, pray for her and Matt. That is what is more important that any thing else.

LAWRENCE: And besides all the signs and support that are everywhere in town, we've also learned that the U.S. government and the U.S. Army has assigned a team of up to ten people to the Maupin family home some of them counselors specially trained to deal with hostage situations -- Fredericka.

WHITFIELD: And Chris, tell me a little bit more about the location where you are, where people have set up that place of remembrance as they continue their prayers for his release.

LAWRENCE: Well, I know it looks like a lot, but this is actually Fredricka just one of many places. You'll see five, ten, 15 places just like this all around the area. This happens to be the school where Matt Maupin attended high school, but really just about anywhere you go in town, you will see it just decorated like this in a show of support.

WHITFIELD: All right, nice way of the community pulling together they're for his safe return. Chris Lawrence thanks very much.

Well, some other news from around the world now. Protests in Tokyo, Japan's hostage crisis may be over, but the anger is still brewing. Thousands of people marched through the streets protesting the war in Iraq. Many are criticizing their government for supporting the U.S. in Iraq.

A Cardiff whale, 21-year-old Prince Williams made his water polo debut. He played for the Scottish National University team and attracted quite a big crowd. No surprise there for his first public tournament. Despite his princely charms, his team lost both games.

Well in Rome, hundreds of people gathered to mark the birth of the city, which according to legend took place this month in 753 B.C. Dressed as gladiators and emporia's people marched through the streets recreating scenes from Roman history.

And a Russian spacecraft is in its launch position in Kazakhstan. It will carry a three-man crew to the International Space Station. Lift off is set for Monday morning. CNN's Ryan Chilcote has the details.

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRSPONDENT: American Mike Fincke, a Russian Gennady Padalka, and Dutchman Andre Kuipers entering one of the world's most exclusive clubs. Replacing a two-man crew that has been on the International Space Station since last fall, the American astronaut and Russian cosmonaut will spend the next six months in orbit.

Kuipers is traveling on a seat Russia sold to the Europeans Space Agency. He will be spending just over a week at the station. Together they are set to blast off on a Russian Soyuz transport module, the one and only spacecraft that as ferried astronauts and cosmonauts and astronauts to and from the station every six months since the shuttle's fleet was grounded last spring.

(on camera): The Russian space agency wants to change that, and NASA is now considering a Russian proposal to leave crews on the space station for a year at a time, freeing up seats on the Soyuz for paying customers.

(voice-over): Like American entrepreneur Greg Olson, paying to go where only two space tours have gone before him. Olson is reportedly shelling out $20 million for his seat on a later flight.

Without the shuttles operating NASA can't ignore the Russian plan, and with proposed flight to the Moon and Mars, NASA will need to train for extended missions.

So far the American record is just under seven months. The record-holding Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov flew for over 14 months. Space veteran Norm Thagard flew with Polyakov.

NORM THAGARD, FORMER ASTRONAUT: You have to be a person that can tolerate a fairly isolated environment in personal contact with only one or two other human beings.

CHILCOTE: Padalka and Fincke are expected to be in close personal contact for just a half year. Small comfort to Fink's son.

MIKE FINCKE, ASTRONAUT: My son is two and a half years old. He thinks he's coming with me. It's going to break my heart when he watches that rocket go up and he's not on it.

CHILCOTE: The next crew could be together in space for more than a year. Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well who doesn't like flying objects of another kind? Birds, but how many of us know which bird is which? And can distinguish them by sound? Our next guest does and can without ever seeing them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: What a beautiful sound, the magical songs of birds. Those distinctive sounds are how a group of blind bird enthusiasts will compete in a bird watching contest on the Texas coast. Well it's part of the great Texas birding classic. Among the weeklong tournament events, what's believed to be the world's first competitive birding event for the blind. To tell us how the idea took flight we're joined on the phone by Gladie Cruz. She is one the blind birders hoping to win. All right Gladie, how does this work?

GLADIE CRUZ, BLIND BIRDER, (via telephone): Yes, first Fredricka I want to thank you for having the opportunity to talk to you. First of all, it's a group of blind people that started six months ago getting trained by recordings of bird songs and bird calls, and having field trips. And a group of blind and vision-impaired people got together to practice and be here today at the competition, which is today.

WHITFIELD: So the object is you all will traverse this area and be listening for sounds, and you try to identify the birds. Is the object who can identify the most birds?

CRUZ: Yes, the most birds.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And now, tell me about your experience. I understand you went blind about nine years ago because of tumors that damaged your optic nerves, right?

CRUZ: Correct.

WHITFIELD: How did you find the fortitude to really kind of move on with your life and find these outlets, just like this?

CRUZ: Well, first of all, I'm grateful to have someone that helped me continue my education, but I still was a little bit depressed. Now that I started birding with other blind people and visually impaired, I found out that it's going after learning birds and having fun with them, it's -- it has -- helped me a lot in my depression, being near a depression stage.

WHITFIELD: So, now did you always have a love for birds and you took it one step further, or is this something completely new to you?

CRUZ: Something completely new to me. Because until the fact that I was blind. I didn't have any idea blind people would have an opportunity to learn about birds by ear, and compete for the first time in the century.

WHITFIELD: Gladie, how many birds do you think you can identify? CRUZ: Today, the competition we already got the results from three teams, a combination of blind and visually impaired participants, the team that won, this team -- they're were by organizations. The one that got the most birds today was 43 birds (INAUDIBLE) tweety birds.

WHITFIELD: Oh my gosh, that's remarkable. And so this birding has really enhanced your life in so many ways, hasn't it just the camaraderie of being with your team members?

CRUZ: Yes, definitely, yes, and I'm really grateful that they gave us an opportunity. First of all, I want to thank the Rensiville (ph) institute and Texas parks (INAUDIBLE) and birds for funding us to begin this project, to have that opportunity.

WHITFIELD: That's great Gladie. And I understand that the proceeds from this competition will actually help in the preservation of the habitat of these birds along the Texas coast.

CRUZ: Great. It's a great -- very special area. There's a lot of birds are down here. And the ones that migrate stop here for a while, so that gives us a chance, an opportunity to listen to the beautiful wild birds that are northern birds, and they stop here.

WHITFIELD: Oh well that is fantastic. Gladie Cruz thanks so much for joining us on the telephone and giving us some perspective of the competition, and best wishes to you in your future endeavors.

CRUZ: Thank you so much. My vision is for other blind people that are listening to this message, for them to get active and hopefully if they want information, they can contact me at the 956- 867-6612.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well done. Thanks Gladie appreciate it.

That's it for us. "Next@CNN" is coming up next. Then at 6:00 Eastern Carol Lin talks to a family friend and investigator in the Dru Sjodin case. And at 7:00 Eastern, "People in the News," tonight Christopher Reeve is profiled. We'll be back in a moment with the headlines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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