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CNN Live Saturday

Spreme Court Justice Attacked While Jogging; Photos Emerge Of British Troops Abusing Iraqi Prisoners

Aired May 01, 2004 - 12:00   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.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: It's 12:00 Noon in Washington, 5:00 p.m. in London, 8:00 p.m. in Baghdad. I'm Betty Nguyen at CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta.
Ahead this hour, more attacks kill more Americans in Iraq. Live from Baghdad to the White House on the violence and the future of U.S. troops in that country.

Also, new allegations of Iraqi prisoners being abused, this time by British guards.

Later, the threat of street fighting in Iraqi cities: What special tactics U.S. forces are planning to protect themselves and reduce civilian casualties.

We begin this hour with late word of an assault on a U.S. Supreme Court justice. Officials say several young men attacked Justice David Souter while he was jogging. A source tells CNN the assault occurred near his home in Washington last night. A court spokes woman says Souter is feeling fine now, but suffered minor injuries. He was examined at Washington Hospital and released. It's not clear why the men targeted him or what they were after. Souter is an avid jogger.

Well, a year after President Bush declared "mission accomplished" in Iraq, the U.S. death toll continues to mount. More U.S. troops died today in insurgent attacks. In Fallujah Iraqis chant "victory over the Americans" as U.S. Marines withdraw.

Ben Wedeman updates us from Baghdad on all things Iraq.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes hello, Betty. Well, the situation in Fallujah is as follows: the Marines are repositioning around the city, handing over those positions to this Iraqi security force composed largely of former members of Saddam Hussein's army. Now residents of Fallujah have reacted generally favorably to the new force, which promises to restore calm to a city that has been battered over the last month. Hundreds of people killed, thousands made homeless, and large parts of the city severely damaged.

Now, it's unclear at this point how this Iraqi force is going to deal with the insurgents who have been in control of much of Fallujah all of the month of April, in fact. Reports indicate that they are being greeted as something of a liberating force that many people see the fact that the Americans didn't move in and that the Iraqi forces that once were loyal to Saddam Hussein taking their place, they're saying that this is something of a victory of over the U.S.-led coalition.

Now, not all members of this force have been vetted by the coalition or the Iraqi ministry of defense. Coalition officials here in Baghdad saying if they find they have blood on their hands from the time of Saddam Hussein, they will be removed.

Now, here in Baghdad, people are more and more seeing these pictures of alleged abuse by U.S. soldiers -- prison guards of Iraqi detainees and, of course, the reaction has been very, very negative. I spoke with an Iraqi human rights activist earlier today who told me that the pictures raise questions about how the prisoners or how prisoners held by the coalition are being treated throughout the entire country.

Regarding the violence of the last 24 hours, one U.S. soldier was killed and two civilian contractors as well, in an attack in Mosul, that in the northern part of the country. Now, this brings to around 140 U.S. troops killed in the last month. That is, however, a tenth or so of the number of Iraqis killed in the last month, which numbers more than 1,360 -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right, Ben Wedeman in Baghdad, thank you.

More photos of Iraqi detainees have surfaced. The latest images allegedly show British troops abusing their captives. CNN's Robin Curnow has reaction from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBIN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On sale in newsstands across England, published in the "Daily Mirror," pictures of British soldiers apparently mistreating Iraqi prisoners. The newspapers showing images what appears to be British force beating an Iraqi suspect and urinating on him, claims of torture for hours on end. The "Daily Mirror" saying it obtained the photographs from serving British soldiers. The U.K. Ministry of Defense launching an immediate investigation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If proven, not only is such appalling conduct clearly unlawful, but it also be contravenes the British army's high standards, the allegation are already under investigation.

CURNOW: Prime Minister Tony Blair's office condemned the acts and endorsed a military investigation, but Amnesty International calling for a wider, independent inquiry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's important that the public knows what the British army is doing in Iraq. It's important for Iraqis that they can trust the British army on the streets and feel that if their relatives have been taken into custody, they will be at least looked after and certainly, certainly not tortured.

CURNOW: All as British troops continue to try to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis and the wider Arab community.

Politically it's not good, all these photographs go around the Middle East and the Islamic world and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) shapes through al-Jazeera and other TV stations and give a very poor image of our country.

CURNOW (on camera): Claims of British human rights violations coming a day after pictures air on American television of alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. soldiers. Two sets of disturbing images in two days, seen against a volatile and violent backdrop. Many speculating on the backlash here in Britain, these images threaten to undermine public confidence in an already unpopular war. These claims of British misconduct coming at a time when the government is being urged to send more troops to Iraq because other coalition partners are scaling back their military commitments.

Robin Curnow at CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well, there's just 60 days to go before power is handed to the Iraqis. The violence goes on, but President Bush sees progress, more now from Suzanne Malveaux at the White House -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the White House clearly is trying to get a handle on this public relations war, it is trying desperately not to lose that war in light of some of those pictures, also the president today, in his weekly radio address talking about Iraq. Yesterday as well, talking about it, saying strategy, that this administration does have strategy that is because his critics are saying there is none, and it dates back to one year ago today when he made a speech aboard an aircraft carrier.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): May 1, 2003 aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, President Bush declared major combat over in Iraq. One year and more than 600 American casualties later, he defended those remarks.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I, um, did give the speech from the carrier saying that we had achieved an important objective, that we had accomplished a mission, which was the removal of Saddam Hussein.

MALVEAUX: But the banner behind the president, "mission accomplished," signaled to some Americans and Bush critics, a swift win in Iraq, as the June 30 deadline transfer power to the Iraqi people nears, insurgencies in Fallujah and Najaf threaten to undermine stability in the country. And this April proved to be the bloodiest month ever in Iraq with at least 126 Americans killed.

BUSH: I also said, on that carrier that day, that there was still difficult work ahead.

MALVEAUX: For Mr. Bush's critics though, his declarations that day have come to symbolize the administration's failures. Since Mr. Bush's speech, his chief political strategist Karl Rove and other advisers have acknowledged they regret the "mission accomplished" banner overhead, but say the president's message has been consistant, that bringing democracy to Iraq is tough work.

Mr. Bush's opponent, John Kerry, is using the carrier image in one of his campaign ads. But at a speech at Westminster College, he focused on the future.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This anniversary is not a time to shout, it's not a time for blame, it is a time for a new direction in Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Now what has happened over the last year definitely has taken a toll on President Bush's approval rating. The latest CNN- "USA Today"-Gallup poll shows that this time last year, 76 percent of Americans believed that the president was doing well in handling the situation in Iraq that is down to 48 percent, today -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right, Suzanne Malveaux at White House, thank you.

At least two Americans have been killed in an attack at a remote Saudi Arabian compound on the Red Sea where many oil refineries are located. Saudi officials say they suspect al-Qaeda connections. Caroline Faraj has the latest from Dubai in the neighboring United Arab Emirates.

(BEGIN AUDIOTAPE)

CAROLINE FARAJ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Betty, I would like to correct one thing, that up to now the U.S. embassy (UNINTELLIGIBLE) they're confirming to us as well as in their own statement, as well, issued about half hour ago, only two Americans have been confirmed dead, and one in a serious condition. So, it's only two up to now, and we hope the third will be -- you know, stay alive. However, they also told us that -- in the statement that was issued, that in addition to the Americans, there was also some Saudi -- a Saudi and a Westerner expected -- were also between the casualties.

What we've gathered up to now, Betty, at least two Brits -- two British nationals were also injured, and one Australian been confirmed to us that he was killed, also police in Saudi Arabia, they told us that one Saudi policeman was also killed and the other person was injured -- Betty.

(END AUDIOTAPE)

NGUYEN: All right. Coming up, if it comes to street fighting in Iraqi cities, how will U.S. troops be prepared?

And later, modern technology versus democracy: A look at which one prevailed in California.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: The countdown to Iraq sovereignty has begun, it's less than two months away, but the violence has increased. The besieged city of Fallujah is one hot spot; U.S. troops have pulled back in the area. Our next guest says any street fighting in the city could bring heavy casualties. Retired Army Colonel Pat Lang is also the former head of Mideast Intelligence at the Defense Department. He joins us now from Washington.

Good afternoon to you.

COL. PAT LANG, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Good afternoon.

NGUYEN: Well, let's talk about street fighting. Where do you expect to see it and how difficult will it be for U.S. troops?

LANG: Well, I think the probability of a large-scale combat in Fallujah has probably gone down with this political deal that's been made. But if it comes to that, then, what you do, typically, is that you treat the whole city as an objective area. And you avoid, at all costs, going down the length of streets or going across big wide squares and things like that, and what you is you use the buildings as terrain as though they were hills or something, and typically what you'll do is you'll get into a building at one end of the block, and you'll go from building to building by blowing holes in the walls inside with a process that's called "mouse holing," so you don't have to go in the street, because if you go in the street you're vulnerable to weapons that have been sighted along the streets.

So, you move from building to building in that way, and then if you have to cross a street at the end try to position a tank or couple of trucks or something to cover your dash across this space where you start the process again. Nevertheless, it is a very nasty difficult thing, because there are lots and lots of opportunities for ambushes and booby traps and things like that. And it usually results in a higher level of casualties than you would want.

NGUYEN: Colonel, how difficult is it to distinguish between civilians and insurgents as you are going from building to building in the street fighting?

LANG: Well, it's very difficult because often these insurgents are not uniformed, of course, although they might be wearing bits and pieces of former military uniforms in this case. But, a great many people in Iraq and Fallujah, for example, are armed because the former government gave out weapons quite freely, and so the -- your-- and people are apt to take up a gun if they see somebody from a foreign army in their area, so it would be very easy to fall into the trap of shooting armed civilians in the streets and it's difficult to distinguish, often times when you're laying down a protective base for fire for your movements -- difficult to set things up in such a way that you don't hit people that you wouldn't want to.

NGUYEN: Exactly, and as for U.S. troops, how well protected are they and prepared for this type street fighting, should it come to that?

LANG: Well, I think they're quite well prepared, and officers are very well trained to train -- to plan for this operation. I'm not altogether satisfied with the state of body armor that's been developed in the U.S. armed forces, so far. I really think we ought to have armor by this point that covers your arms and legs, as well. But in general, I think we're probably as well equipped as we possibly could be anywhere in the U.S. armed forces at this point.

NGUYEN: Let's talk about human shields quickly, as we discuss street fighting. Is that a possibility that we're going to see if it comes to that?

LANG: There's a lot of talk about this, I've never actually seen it myself, I've never seen anybody do that, but if in fact, people -- civilians, women and kids are brought out in the streets stuck between you and enemy troops, I think you'd have a very difficult time and you'd probably have to back off and try to figure out how to go around that. We're not in the business of killing women and children in a fight like this, so we would go to a really extraordinary lengths to avoid that and it might cost us some more people.

NGUYEN: Absolutely, it's very difficult when you're trying to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis.

LANG: Yep.

NGUYEN: OK. Colonel Pat Young we apprec -- or Pat Lang, I should say, we appreciate your time today, thank you.

LANG: Sure thing.

NGUYEN: Well, don't miss "Late Edition" tomorrow, for more on the situation in Iraq. Dan Senor, a spokesman for the Coalition Provisional Authority, will speak with Wolf Blitzer. "Late Edition" starts at Noon eastern.

Still ahead:

Man versus machine: Why California is pulling the plug on electronic voting.

Plus, not quite May flowers here, a very long winter drags on. We'll tell you about it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Electronic voting, it's meant to help avoid a repeat at contested 2000 presidential election, no more paper ballots, no more chads, no more problems. Well, not exactly. Now, California is calling for a criminal probe into the leading e-voting company. Ted Rowlands has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With another tightly contested presidential election predicted for November, California, the state with the most votes has major problems with its new voting machines, which caused problems in the state's March election. Friday, the secretary of state permanently banned one machine and put a temporary ban on all others. The move is a huge victory for critics of the new technology who believe that it's being inappropriately rushed into use after the Florida punch card debacle of 2000.

The concern is the machines could be vulnerable to sabotage by hackers and make recounts impossible after a close election, because there would be no paper record of each vote. The TSX voting system manufactured by Diebold Election Systems has been permanently banned in California. Company officials admitted during a state investigation that they intentionally used uncertified software to make the election deadline. The secretary of state wants criminal and civil charges pursued against the company.

KEVIN SHELLEY, CALIF. SECRETARY OF STATE: We will not tolerate deceitful tactics as engaged in by Diebold. And we must send a clear and compelling message to the rest of the industry: Don't try to pull a fast one on the voters of California.

ROWLANDS: A statement released by Diebold didn't address the threat of potential charges, saying:

"We have confidence in our technology and its benefits, and we look forward to helping administer successful elections in California and elsewhere in the country in November."

Electronic voting problems have been reported in a number of states, including Maryland and Florida. The California decision is expected to spark debates in those and other states that will use the machines and will likely also be addressed this coming week by the Federal Election Assistance Commission, which was formed to avoid a recurrence of 2000.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, San Francisco.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: The latest political news is only a mouse click away, you can log onto CNN.com/politics, for complete stories and analysis.

News across America now, in Bakersfield, California, an elementary school vice principal pleads not guilty to murdering his family. Prosecutors say Vincent Brothers killed his wife, three children, and mother-in-law last July.

Alabama supreme court rules in the case of the so-called "Ten Commandments justice." The court unanimously rejected Roy Moore's appeal to be reinstated as the state's chief justice. Moore was expelled from office when he defied a federal court order to remove a "Ten Commandments" monument from a state building.

Los Angeles are free to go to the malls again. The city police chief says a terror attack threat on area shopping centers is over. Tuesday's threat prompted increased patrols and security. And could it be true? A snowstorm on the last day of April? Well, folks in Denver had to clean snow from their cars. Parts of the Colorado Rockies got nearly a foot of snow.

Well, your house, the house of your dream, now you've got to ask for a mortgage, but don't do that until you watch CNN "Dollar Signs" today at 4:30 Eastern time this afternoon. I'll tell you why you need to check your credit report before you ask for a loan, and how you can get your credit rating in shape to get the best deal on a loan. Our experts will answer questions, you can e-mail them dollarsigns@CNN.com, We'll also take your phone calls when the lines open at 4:30 Eastern. That toll-free number is 1-800-807-2620.

As the war in Iraq drags on, what the military is doing to help troops cope.

And a tragedy cast shadow over a huge Florida air show. We'll take you live to Ft. Lauderdale.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Headlines at this half hour:

Supreme Court Justice David Souter is recovering from an assault in the streets of Washington. A court spokeswoman says he was attacked by several men while jogging near his home. The justice was treated for minor injuries and was released. Officials say he is now feeling fine.

Some Iraqi highways are clogged with people trying to return to their homes in Fallujah. Many will find them damaged or destroyed in battles between insurgents and U.S. Marines. Marine units are turning over the city's security to a group from Saddam Hussein's former army.

To Europe now, and then there were 25: Ten new countries joined the European Union today, including Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Festivities across Europe began last night. This move is hailed as a new era. Four-hundred, fifty million people now live in the E.U. countries.

And Cuba throws a big May Day bash. Crowds gathered in Havana's plaza of the revolution to witness the government sponsored celebration, along with the music and dance. Fidel Castro delivered a nearly two hour address; he vowed to continue to resist political pressure from the U.S.

War can injure the body and the brain. We'll talk to our guest about combat stress in just a moment. But first, Thelma Gutierrez reports on how the military is addressing the problem on the battlefield.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAPT. BILL BOWERS, PSYCHIATRIC NURSE: Seeing your buddy get blown up, that's -- that's a pretty big pill to swallow if you're 19 years old. LT. COL. DAN LONNQUIST, PSYCHOLOGIST: Being under the constant stress of not knowing what's going to happen.

LT. COL. EARNEST PROUD, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST: It is quite traumatic what they have to see.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are psychologists, counselors, and psychiatric nurses, reservists with the Army's 113th Stress Combat Unit, who took their civilian expertise right to the battlefield in Iraq.

(voice-over): It was the first time a mental health team like this, made up of some 70 professionals, had been mobilized for combat.

They returned after 14 long months away from home, after counseling some 20,000 soldiers.

Captain Bill Bowers is an adolescent psychiatric nurse in Los Angeles. In Iraq, his three-member team counseled 80 soldiers a week.

BOWERS: It is a lot of work. If somebody's not mission-capable and they're losing their marbles, you don't want them out with the other soldiers, basically, because it's not good for the unit.

GUTIERREZ: Or the soldier. The mission of the 113th was to provide immediate counseling to those in combat to try to prevent posttraumatic stress syndrome.

Lieutenant Colonel Earnest Proud is a school psychologist, back in the gym after a year in Iraq.

Of the hundreds of stories he heard, there's one soldier he says he'll never forget.

PROUD: Some 14-year-old kid ran over and picked up an AK-47 and pointed it at him, and he had to kill him. Well, he came to me and he said, "Listen, I'm having nightmares. And I had to kill him and he's the age of my kids, and I feel so badly about it."

GUTIERREZ: It's this kind of deep wound that Major Proud hopes he was able to heal.

Lieutenant Colonel Dan Lonnquist, a psychologist, says the 113th also helped soldiers cope with hardships on the home front, like money problems and a loved one's infidelity.

But, it's not knowing when they'll go home that's the biggest moral-buster.

LONNQUIST: In Iraq, we were there for six months or longer, before we had an idea that it would be a year before we would be coming back.

GUTIERREZ: Captain Bowers says the war took a year of his life, but he knows he made a difference.

BOWERS: For me, to be able to go through that with someone, that process, that is -- it's big stuff.

GUTIERREZ: Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Dr. Paul Ragan is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Vanderbilt University. He served as a Navy psychiatrist in the Persian Gulf War. Dr. Ragan is a natural to talk about combat stress.

Thank you for joining us.

DR. PAUL RAGAN, PROF. OF PSYCHIATREY, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY: You're welcome.

NGUYEN: How difficult is to cope it the emotional wounds of war?

RAGAN: Well, that varies amongst the individual and the intensity of combat and what they experience. But at times it could be very, very difficult, there could be very persistent intrusive memories and nightmares.

NGUYEN: Give us different scenarios where the stress can stem?

RAGAN: Well, the stress can stem from, as you showed in your piece, from war, the horrors of war, and also some of the no-win situations a soldier can be put in to kill or be killed. When the rules of engagement have been blurred, when women and children are used as shields, when teenagers are used as combatants, those things can be very, very stressful. Seeing your friends, also, your comrades, your buddies, maimed or killed.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. What kind of physical, emotional problems can this stress create?

RAGAN: Well, one of the things for the soldiers coming home is just because the hostilities have ended for them, that is they're coming back home, the hostilities sort of live on in their minds. And it can cause a lot of impairment in sleep, impairment in readjusting back to family life, back to civilian life. It can lead to repeated startle responses in situation you wouldn't normally see it in. It can really be very interfering in one's life.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. It's not just a personal thing, it can affect the family as you briefly mentioned.

RAGAN: Well, absolutely. Many families, many wives notice their husbands who had been in the Vietnam jungles for a long period, not being able to sleep on a bed, but having to sleep on the ground. For these soldiers, they were able to adapt. Humans are very adaptable, and they were able to survive in Iraq, and being able to decompress, slow down, and readapt to civilian life, especially at home, where the family life has gone on while they've been gone and reintegrate with the families; it takes a lot of time and patience, and sometimes professional help.

NGUYEN: Now that we've talked about the problem, let's get to that help. What is out there?

RAGAN: Well, the Army clearly has a good deal of expertise on the soldiers on their posts, and the mental health professionals there. It gets a little dicier when they return to civilian life, getting our medical care in the United States is usually through our workplace, and being able to access, informed -- what would I say? -- professional mental health, psychological help can be a problem that most Americans know about.

Clearly, being able to talk in a group where the counselor has had combat experience or has had military experience, being able to talk in the arena is going to be hard for the soldiers.

NGUYEN: Should families take an active role in getting this help?

RAGAN: Excellent question, I think in past wars with returns soldiers, we've been very reactive, waiting for people to have problems. With the heightened awareness that this program and others give this issue, we need to be proactive, and I think at first signs of difficulty with sleeplessness, persistent sleeplessness and stress, and inappropriate anger and intense emotional responses to small stressors, I think families should be very proactive.

NGUYEN: And quickly, how long does it take to recover, and can you truly recover from this?

RAGAN: People can heal very much. And it takes, depending on the intensity of your own combat stress reaction, it can take maybe a few months, and then there are the extreme spectrum where people will need -- who have severe PTSD will maybe need lifetime treatment. And that's the broad range right there.

NGUYEN: All right, Dr. Paul Ragan, assistant professor of psychiatry at Vanderbilt University.

We thank you for your time.

RAGAN: You're welcome. My pleasure.

NGUYEN: Excitement mixed with sadness at an air show in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Stunt pilots are performing in memory of one of their own, who died yesterday in a crash. John Zarrella is taking in the show and has a tribute to that fallen pilot.

John?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Betty. I can't hear you too well right now. We're in the midst of one of the early show demonstration; an F-15 Eagle going through its demonstration run right now. I can see him out there in the distance. You probably can see him there on the camera shot, too.

All day long we are going to have these kinds of events here, part of the McDonald's Air & Sea Show. And it got started about noon this afternoon. The B-2 Stealth bomber flew overhead as well as F-15 Eagles flying overhead, all part of what has been a spectacular opening to the 10th Annual Air & Sea Show.

But it is a bittersweet day today because yesterday one of the aerobatics pilots, Ian Groom, who was practicing for today's run, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. Groom was killed. We had spent about three hours with Ian Groom just two days ago preparing a piece on what he does; and Ian Groom is far more than an aerobatics pilot. Ian Groom was serving his country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZARRELLA (voice over): To Ian Groom, the love for flying was a passion from the time he was a boy. An aerobatics performer, Groom's limit on this flight was about 40 of these snap rolls in 20 seconds. Groom was one of the best in the world at what he did. Because he was Immigrations and Custom's officials, part of Homeland Security, sought him out in the days after 9/11.

IAN GROOM, AEROBATICS PILOT: I was performing at the air show, and three agents came up to see me and asked me how would I like to help the country? How would I like to serve?

ZARRELLA: Groom was asked if he was willing to teach customs pilots how to get out of bad situations and how to avoid poor decisions.

ROBERT VIATOR, IMMIGRATION & CUSTOMS PILOT: We'll get a guy who comes to us with a helicopter background and we will transition him to fixed wing, but what he grew up with is helicopter recovery technique. And we need to have what Ian tries to focus on, is breaking that habit, and getting him used to recover an airplane the way an airplane needs to recover.

ZARRELLA: Groom instructed more than 100 Customs pilots, who every day are flying missions to protect the nation's cities and watch its borders. He took no money. For Groom, an immigrant from South Africa, it was a way for him and his family to say thank you.

GROOM: America's just been such a great opportunity for us, and giving something is back just our way of making ourselves feel good.

ZARRELLA: Customs officials say every pilot who completed Groom's course is better for it.

VIATOR: Ian starts every course with the pilots that are there with these words. He says there's nothing can you do in this airplane that's going to impress me. There's nothing can you do in this airplane that's going to scare me. So let's go out and learn.

ZARRELLA: Groom performed before 4.5 million people every year at air shows, but his greatest satisfaction came, he told me, from teaching the men and women who protect the homeland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZARRELLA: Now, Ian Groom was 58 years old yesterday. The day he died. The Canadian Snowbird's flying team is going to perform the missing man formation today in honor of Ian Groom during its demonstration, later this afternoon.

Betty?

NGUYEN: John, how is that crash investigation going at this point?

ZARRELLA: It's interesting, because Ian Groom flew an experimental Russian airplane. Because it's an experimental airplane, tremendously high performance, the NTSB is still not sure whether -- at least the last word we had -- whether it will actually investigate the crash itself into what happened to Ian.

Excuse me, the F-15 flying overhead again.

But I'm sure that at some point in time, we will all know what happened to Ian Groom who is a very, very experienced world record holder in aerobatics, and a tremendous loss to the nation.

Betty?

NGUYEN: John Zarrella in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida today. Thank you.

(PROMOTIONAL INFORMATION)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: It's the 130th time around the track at Churchill Downs, today, for the first leg of the Triple Crown. Josie Burke is covering what may be a rainy Kentucky Derby in Louisville.

Good afternoon.

JOSIE BURKE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Betty. Weather could indeed be a factor today, it's not raining right now, but it rained a lot yesterday, it rained this morning. And there is in the forecast some rain for this afternoon.

If that just means that horses who've had some success under less than perfect conditions will probably have a have a little edge. One of those horses who has that experience is Imperialism. And it figures, because all week long Imperialism has been at the center of one of the most compelling Derby stories.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BURKE (voice over): The horse with the sunken eye and the eye- popping trainer are a perfect fit. Imperialism can't see the 21-year- old Kristen Mulhall breaks the mold when it comes to the Kentucky Derby.

KRISTEN MULHALL, TRAINER: I never dreamed I'd be here this quick now. Even all the way up until when we bought this horse I never thought we would be here. But it's a great feeling.

BURKE: Being young and female made her a pacesetter on two fronts. Most successful trainers are older men. Her father was one, and when Mulhall gave up riding show horses and got her trainer's license two years ago, dad wasn't thrilled with the idea.

RICHARD MULHALL, FATHER: I wasn't in favor of her doing it and being on the back side and everything. But she's handle herself very well, and it's worked out well.

MULHALL: I'm a little hard-headed and decided I wanted to go on my own and do it, and I did it.

BURKE: Mulhall is the 11th woman to enter the Kentucky Derby in history. If she wins, she'll be the first woman and the youngest trainer ever.

RICHARD MULHALL: Kristen is an awesome trainer. The horse talk to her, she listens, and they respond to each other.

She may be 21, she's 30-some years, mentally, she's a pretty sharp kid, and she's been around racehorses all her life.

BURKE: Mulhall's special relationship with Imperialism grew in the barn and on the track, she's one of the rare trainers who mounts her thoroughbred for workouts.

MULHALL: I can feel things that other people can't feel, that they can't explain to you, or you can see with your eye. He has a huge heart and gives you everything he has, every single time. That's basically what you need. It's something that is going to try and not cheat you.

BURKE: The horse and the trainer have a lot in common.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BURKE: Mulhall is actually not the only woman trainer in this year's Kentucky Derby. Jennifer Peterson trained Song of the Sword, so this year there are a record two women trainers in the 130th Run for the Roses.

Betty?

NGUYEN: Josie Burke in Louisville, Kentucky. Hopefully it will be dry for that race today.

Health headlines: The affects of caffeine on men versus women. New research suggests a cup of coffee raises blood pressure in both men and women, but does it differently. Scientists say caffeine causes blood vessels in men to restrict while it tends to increase heart activity in women.

A medical technique could mean the end of the hypodermic needle. It's called microcision, researchers use tiny crystals and a stream of gas to prepare the skin. Volunteers report feeling only a slight breeze and the drug is delivered by a patch. A Boston team from Harvard MIT. is doing the research. California motorists may soon be banned from smoking in their own cars that is if a child is riding with them. The proposed law would allow the police to ticket the offending smoker. Other states have such laws books.

Tired of crowded vacation spots. We have an option that still has lots of warm-blood mammals but not the kind you're used to.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: They're majestic mammals of the deep. And Americans are paying $1 billion, that's right, $1 billion a year to see them up close and personal.

Time to go whale watching on CNN Saturday's weekend getaways. Patricia Corrigan is the author of "The Whale Watcher's Guide" as well as several children's books on the topic. She is in St. Louise today far from a good whale-watching site. She's here to talk about her favorite creatures.

Thank you for joining us.

PATRICIA CORRIGAN, AUTHOR, "WHALE WATCHERS GUIDE": Thank you.

NGUYEN: Billion-dollar industry. Who knew?

CORRIGAN: Who knew? It started in 1955, when fishermen and a fellow who was interested in whales took a couple friends on boats. So who knew?

NGUYEN: Why is this so popular?

CORRIGAN: I think what is especially interesting is that this is a mammal that made a choice to live underwater, an air-breathing mammal. Imagine how difficult your life would be. Also they're so big, the blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived on earth. And I think being in the presence of that - "majesty" -- is the word, you used it. It's a remarkable experience.

NGUYEN: Is it hard to catch them in action? What are the best places?

CORRIGAN: There are lots of good places. November is really the only time when it's hard to find a whale. They migrate; they follow food, and so you can almost make an appointment with one, if you figure out what sort of whale you want to see or happen to know you're heading to the East Coast or to the West Coast. Then you go -- and they're there.

Many, many whale-watch tour operators offer a free ride if you don't see one on the day you go out. But it happens very rarely.

NGUYEN: But you don't think they're too hard to catch. Some folks might be thinking, I could go out all day and not see one at all? CORRIGAN: No, because the tour operators know where they are during the migration. It's an annual event on both coasts. And you shouldn't not go whale watching because you're afraid you won't see one, you should assume that you will.

This is nature, it's not a theme park, so nature gets to decide, but it's very rare that you would go on a whale-watch trip, during the right season and not see whales.

NGUYEN: You said on both coasts. Any particular area that's your favorite?

CORRIGAN: Oh, gosh. I love the East Coast, love New England. Also I've been up off Vancouver Island, Washington, Oregon, California, all the way down to Baja California, Mexico. We've got plenty of whales much of the year to go see.

NGUYEN: A lot of opportunity. Talk to us about that. How much does it cost?

CORRIGAN: It varies, can you go out of Depot Bay in Oregon for $11 and see gray whales. You can spend $25 to $30 on the East Coast on some of the larger boats. Sometimes there's a good all-day trip out of San Francisco, Oceanic Society takes people out to the Fairlawn (ph) Islands. And out beyond the islands you have the possibility of seeing seven or eight different species of whales, that trip's about $80. You can go for a reasonable fee on most places.

NGUYEN: I understand you got to stick your hand inside a whale's mouth, is that true?

CORRIGAN: Yes, it's true. Down in Baja California, in Mexico, in the lagoons. The mother and baby Gray whales are there. And a teenaged girl gray whale had come over to our boat, hung around for about an hour. And we were petting her and stroking her. This is the only place in the world can you do this, it's one of the peak wildlife experiences not to be missed.

And we were petting her and stroking her, and she opened her mouth, and I knew that elephants like to have their tongues massaged. And I reached in and I was rubbing her tongue with my hand and she closed her jaws. Now, this is a whale so it doesn't teeth. And I was not afraid. But the woman behind me was quite startled.

NGUYEN: I can only imagine. How should whale watchers prepare for these types of trips?

CORRIGAN: I think you should do a little reading ahead of time about what species of whales you might see. When you're on the boat and you see the spout or you see the tail, you may not realize there's a 40 to 50 foot long animal there. An animal that weighs a ton to ton and a half per foot. We're talking really big. So, I think if you know a little about what you might see, that's helpful.

And then of course, you have to think about your camera. Everybody wants to take "National Geographic" quality photos when they're whale watching. It doesn't happen. The boat is moving, the whale is moving, the ocean is moving. It's good to take a camera and count on fun snapshots, but it's important to put the camera down so it is not between you and the whales; and actually just watch, it just experience, just being there.

NGUYEN: It sounds like a lot of fun. Patricia Corrigan, author of "The Whale Watcher's Guide," thank you for joining us.

CORRIGAN: Thank you.

NGUYEN: There is fighting in Iraq and tributes for the fallen, plus, a long-awaited memorial for the men and women who served the U.S. in another war. All ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: It's been a very busy week in the news. There have been many memorable images you may have missed. Here's our regular view of the "Week in Pictures.

(BEGIN PHOTO MONTAGE)

NGUYEN (voice over): The fight for Iraq was red hot in Fallujah. U.S. Marines and AC-130 gunships opened fire on insurgents. The sporadic fighting came as negotiations continue throughout the week for a cease-fire.

Back home, a salute to fallen heroes and communities across America. Several U.S. service personnel killed in the war were laid to rest. April was the deadliest month of the Iraqi war for U.S. servicemen and women.

Emotional welcome home ceremonies in many cities for U.S. troops who survived tours of duty in Iraq and came home safely. Families, friends, entire communities cheered the returning heroes who had served a year in Iraq.

The World War II Memorial officially opened. It commemorates the suffering and sacrifice of 16 million men and women who served during World War II. The memorial spans the length of a football field situated between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in the nation's capital.

A record-setting heat wave sizzle the across California. Beaches and shade became popular places to beat the heat.

And there's much more ahead on CNN SATURDAY. In a few moments "In The Money."

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 May 1, 2004 - 12:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: It's 12:00 Noon in Washington, 5:00 p.m. in London, 8:00 p.m. in Baghdad. I'm Betty Nguyen at CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta.
Ahead this hour, more attacks kill more Americans in Iraq. Live from Baghdad to the White House on the violence and the future of U.S. troops in that country.

Also, new allegations of Iraqi prisoners being abused, this time by British guards.

Later, the threat of street fighting in Iraqi cities: What special tactics U.S. forces are planning to protect themselves and reduce civilian casualties.

We begin this hour with late word of an assault on a U.S. Supreme Court justice. Officials say several young men attacked Justice David Souter while he was jogging. A source tells CNN the assault occurred near his home in Washington last night. A court spokes woman says Souter is feeling fine now, but suffered minor injuries. He was examined at Washington Hospital and released. It's not clear why the men targeted him or what they were after. Souter is an avid jogger.

Well, a year after President Bush declared "mission accomplished" in Iraq, the U.S. death toll continues to mount. More U.S. troops died today in insurgent attacks. In Fallujah Iraqis chant "victory over the Americans" as U.S. Marines withdraw.

Ben Wedeman updates us from Baghdad on all things Iraq.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes hello, Betty. Well, the situation in Fallujah is as follows: the Marines are repositioning around the city, handing over those positions to this Iraqi security force composed largely of former members of Saddam Hussein's army. Now residents of Fallujah have reacted generally favorably to the new force, which promises to restore calm to a city that has been battered over the last month. Hundreds of people killed, thousands made homeless, and large parts of the city severely damaged.

Now, it's unclear at this point how this Iraqi force is going to deal with the insurgents who have been in control of much of Fallujah all of the month of April, in fact. Reports indicate that they are being greeted as something of a liberating force that many people see the fact that the Americans didn't move in and that the Iraqi forces that once were loyal to Saddam Hussein taking their place, they're saying that this is something of a victory of over the U.S.-led coalition.

Now, not all members of this force have been vetted by the coalition or the Iraqi ministry of defense. Coalition officials here in Baghdad saying if they find they have blood on their hands from the time of Saddam Hussein, they will be removed.

Now, here in Baghdad, people are more and more seeing these pictures of alleged abuse by U.S. soldiers -- prison guards of Iraqi detainees and, of course, the reaction has been very, very negative. I spoke with an Iraqi human rights activist earlier today who told me that the pictures raise questions about how the prisoners or how prisoners held by the coalition are being treated throughout the entire country.

Regarding the violence of the last 24 hours, one U.S. soldier was killed and two civilian contractors as well, in an attack in Mosul, that in the northern part of the country. Now, this brings to around 140 U.S. troops killed in the last month. That is, however, a tenth or so of the number of Iraqis killed in the last month, which numbers more than 1,360 -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right, Ben Wedeman in Baghdad, thank you.

More photos of Iraqi detainees have surfaced. The latest images allegedly show British troops abusing their captives. CNN's Robin Curnow has reaction from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBIN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On sale in newsstands across England, published in the "Daily Mirror," pictures of British soldiers apparently mistreating Iraqi prisoners. The newspapers showing images what appears to be British force beating an Iraqi suspect and urinating on him, claims of torture for hours on end. The "Daily Mirror" saying it obtained the photographs from serving British soldiers. The U.K. Ministry of Defense launching an immediate investigation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If proven, not only is such appalling conduct clearly unlawful, but it also be contravenes the British army's high standards, the allegation are already under investigation.

CURNOW: Prime Minister Tony Blair's office condemned the acts and endorsed a military investigation, but Amnesty International calling for a wider, independent inquiry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's important that the public knows what the British army is doing in Iraq. It's important for Iraqis that they can trust the British army on the streets and feel that if their relatives have been taken into custody, they will be at least looked after and certainly, certainly not tortured.

CURNOW: All as British troops continue to try to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis and the wider Arab community.

Politically it's not good, all these photographs go around the Middle East and the Islamic world and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) shapes through al-Jazeera and other TV stations and give a very poor image of our country.

CURNOW (on camera): Claims of British human rights violations coming a day after pictures air on American television of alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. soldiers. Two sets of disturbing images in two days, seen against a volatile and violent backdrop. Many speculating on the backlash here in Britain, these images threaten to undermine public confidence in an already unpopular war. These claims of British misconduct coming at a time when the government is being urged to send more troops to Iraq because other coalition partners are scaling back their military commitments.

Robin Curnow at CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well, there's just 60 days to go before power is handed to the Iraqis. The violence goes on, but President Bush sees progress, more now from Suzanne Malveaux at the White House -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the White House clearly is trying to get a handle on this public relations war, it is trying desperately not to lose that war in light of some of those pictures, also the president today, in his weekly radio address talking about Iraq. Yesterday as well, talking about it, saying strategy, that this administration does have strategy that is because his critics are saying there is none, and it dates back to one year ago today when he made a speech aboard an aircraft carrier.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): May 1, 2003 aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, President Bush declared major combat over in Iraq. One year and more than 600 American casualties later, he defended those remarks.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I, um, did give the speech from the carrier saying that we had achieved an important objective, that we had accomplished a mission, which was the removal of Saddam Hussein.

MALVEAUX: But the banner behind the president, "mission accomplished," signaled to some Americans and Bush critics, a swift win in Iraq, as the June 30 deadline transfer power to the Iraqi people nears, insurgencies in Fallujah and Najaf threaten to undermine stability in the country. And this April proved to be the bloodiest month ever in Iraq with at least 126 Americans killed.

BUSH: I also said, on that carrier that day, that there was still difficult work ahead.

MALVEAUX: For Mr. Bush's critics though, his declarations that day have come to symbolize the administration's failures. Since Mr. Bush's speech, his chief political strategist Karl Rove and other advisers have acknowledged they regret the "mission accomplished" banner overhead, but say the president's message has been consistant, that bringing democracy to Iraq is tough work.

Mr. Bush's opponent, John Kerry, is using the carrier image in one of his campaign ads. But at a speech at Westminster College, he focused on the future.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This anniversary is not a time to shout, it's not a time for blame, it is a time for a new direction in Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Now what has happened over the last year definitely has taken a toll on President Bush's approval rating. The latest CNN- "USA Today"-Gallup poll shows that this time last year, 76 percent of Americans believed that the president was doing well in handling the situation in Iraq that is down to 48 percent, today -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right, Suzanne Malveaux at White House, thank you.

At least two Americans have been killed in an attack at a remote Saudi Arabian compound on the Red Sea where many oil refineries are located. Saudi officials say they suspect al-Qaeda connections. Caroline Faraj has the latest from Dubai in the neighboring United Arab Emirates.

(BEGIN AUDIOTAPE)

CAROLINE FARAJ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Betty, I would like to correct one thing, that up to now the U.S. embassy (UNINTELLIGIBLE) they're confirming to us as well as in their own statement, as well, issued about half hour ago, only two Americans have been confirmed dead, and one in a serious condition. So, it's only two up to now, and we hope the third will be -- you know, stay alive. However, they also told us that -- in the statement that was issued, that in addition to the Americans, there was also some Saudi -- a Saudi and a Westerner expected -- were also between the casualties.

What we've gathered up to now, Betty, at least two Brits -- two British nationals were also injured, and one Australian been confirmed to us that he was killed, also police in Saudi Arabia, they told us that one Saudi policeman was also killed and the other person was injured -- Betty.

(END AUDIOTAPE)

NGUYEN: All right. Coming up, if it comes to street fighting in Iraqi cities, how will U.S. troops be prepared?

And later, modern technology versus democracy: A look at which one prevailed in California.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: The countdown to Iraq sovereignty has begun, it's less than two months away, but the violence has increased. The besieged city of Fallujah is one hot spot; U.S. troops have pulled back in the area. Our next guest says any street fighting in the city could bring heavy casualties. Retired Army Colonel Pat Lang is also the former head of Mideast Intelligence at the Defense Department. He joins us now from Washington.

Good afternoon to you.

COL. PAT LANG, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Good afternoon.

NGUYEN: Well, let's talk about street fighting. Where do you expect to see it and how difficult will it be for U.S. troops?

LANG: Well, I think the probability of a large-scale combat in Fallujah has probably gone down with this political deal that's been made. But if it comes to that, then, what you do, typically, is that you treat the whole city as an objective area. And you avoid, at all costs, going down the length of streets or going across big wide squares and things like that, and what you is you use the buildings as terrain as though they were hills or something, and typically what you'll do is you'll get into a building at one end of the block, and you'll go from building to building by blowing holes in the walls inside with a process that's called "mouse holing," so you don't have to go in the street, because if you go in the street you're vulnerable to weapons that have been sighted along the streets.

So, you move from building to building in that way, and then if you have to cross a street at the end try to position a tank or couple of trucks or something to cover your dash across this space where you start the process again. Nevertheless, it is a very nasty difficult thing, because there are lots and lots of opportunities for ambushes and booby traps and things like that. And it usually results in a higher level of casualties than you would want.

NGUYEN: Colonel, how difficult is it to distinguish between civilians and insurgents as you are going from building to building in the street fighting?

LANG: Well, it's very difficult because often these insurgents are not uniformed, of course, although they might be wearing bits and pieces of former military uniforms in this case. But, a great many people in Iraq and Fallujah, for example, are armed because the former government gave out weapons quite freely, and so the -- your-- and people are apt to take up a gun if they see somebody from a foreign army in their area, so it would be very easy to fall into the trap of shooting armed civilians in the streets and it's difficult to distinguish, often times when you're laying down a protective base for fire for your movements -- difficult to set things up in such a way that you don't hit people that you wouldn't want to.

NGUYEN: Exactly, and as for U.S. troops, how well protected are they and prepared for this type street fighting, should it come to that?

LANG: Well, I think they're quite well prepared, and officers are very well trained to train -- to plan for this operation. I'm not altogether satisfied with the state of body armor that's been developed in the U.S. armed forces, so far. I really think we ought to have armor by this point that covers your arms and legs, as well. But in general, I think we're probably as well equipped as we possibly could be anywhere in the U.S. armed forces at this point.

NGUYEN: Let's talk about human shields quickly, as we discuss street fighting. Is that a possibility that we're going to see if it comes to that?

LANG: There's a lot of talk about this, I've never actually seen it myself, I've never seen anybody do that, but if in fact, people -- civilians, women and kids are brought out in the streets stuck between you and enemy troops, I think you'd have a very difficult time and you'd probably have to back off and try to figure out how to go around that. We're not in the business of killing women and children in a fight like this, so we would go to a really extraordinary lengths to avoid that and it might cost us some more people.

NGUYEN: Absolutely, it's very difficult when you're trying to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis.

LANG: Yep.

NGUYEN: OK. Colonel Pat Young we apprec -- or Pat Lang, I should say, we appreciate your time today, thank you.

LANG: Sure thing.

NGUYEN: Well, don't miss "Late Edition" tomorrow, for more on the situation in Iraq. Dan Senor, a spokesman for the Coalition Provisional Authority, will speak with Wolf Blitzer. "Late Edition" starts at Noon eastern.

Still ahead:

Man versus machine: Why California is pulling the plug on electronic voting.

Plus, not quite May flowers here, a very long winter drags on. We'll tell you about it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Electronic voting, it's meant to help avoid a repeat at contested 2000 presidential election, no more paper ballots, no more chads, no more problems. Well, not exactly. Now, California is calling for a criminal probe into the leading e-voting company. Ted Rowlands has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With another tightly contested presidential election predicted for November, California, the state with the most votes has major problems with its new voting machines, which caused problems in the state's March election. Friday, the secretary of state permanently banned one machine and put a temporary ban on all others. The move is a huge victory for critics of the new technology who believe that it's being inappropriately rushed into use after the Florida punch card debacle of 2000.

The concern is the machines could be vulnerable to sabotage by hackers and make recounts impossible after a close election, because there would be no paper record of each vote. The TSX voting system manufactured by Diebold Election Systems has been permanently banned in California. Company officials admitted during a state investigation that they intentionally used uncertified software to make the election deadline. The secretary of state wants criminal and civil charges pursued against the company.

KEVIN SHELLEY, CALIF. SECRETARY OF STATE: We will not tolerate deceitful tactics as engaged in by Diebold. And we must send a clear and compelling message to the rest of the industry: Don't try to pull a fast one on the voters of California.

ROWLANDS: A statement released by Diebold didn't address the threat of potential charges, saying:

"We have confidence in our technology and its benefits, and we look forward to helping administer successful elections in California and elsewhere in the country in November."

Electronic voting problems have been reported in a number of states, including Maryland and Florida. The California decision is expected to spark debates in those and other states that will use the machines and will likely also be addressed this coming week by the Federal Election Assistance Commission, which was formed to avoid a recurrence of 2000.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, San Francisco.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: The latest political news is only a mouse click away, you can log onto CNN.com/politics, for complete stories and analysis.

News across America now, in Bakersfield, California, an elementary school vice principal pleads not guilty to murdering his family. Prosecutors say Vincent Brothers killed his wife, three children, and mother-in-law last July.

Alabama supreme court rules in the case of the so-called "Ten Commandments justice." The court unanimously rejected Roy Moore's appeal to be reinstated as the state's chief justice. Moore was expelled from office when he defied a federal court order to remove a "Ten Commandments" monument from a state building.

Los Angeles are free to go to the malls again. The city police chief says a terror attack threat on area shopping centers is over. Tuesday's threat prompted increased patrols and security. And could it be true? A snowstorm on the last day of April? Well, folks in Denver had to clean snow from their cars. Parts of the Colorado Rockies got nearly a foot of snow.

Well, your house, the house of your dream, now you've got to ask for a mortgage, but don't do that until you watch CNN "Dollar Signs" today at 4:30 Eastern time this afternoon. I'll tell you why you need to check your credit report before you ask for a loan, and how you can get your credit rating in shape to get the best deal on a loan. Our experts will answer questions, you can e-mail them dollarsigns@CNN.com, We'll also take your phone calls when the lines open at 4:30 Eastern. That toll-free number is 1-800-807-2620.

As the war in Iraq drags on, what the military is doing to help troops cope.

And a tragedy cast shadow over a huge Florida air show. We'll take you live to Ft. Lauderdale.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Headlines at this half hour:

Supreme Court Justice David Souter is recovering from an assault in the streets of Washington. A court spokeswoman says he was attacked by several men while jogging near his home. The justice was treated for minor injuries and was released. Officials say he is now feeling fine.

Some Iraqi highways are clogged with people trying to return to their homes in Fallujah. Many will find them damaged or destroyed in battles between insurgents and U.S. Marines. Marine units are turning over the city's security to a group from Saddam Hussein's former army.

To Europe now, and then there were 25: Ten new countries joined the European Union today, including Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Festivities across Europe began last night. This move is hailed as a new era. Four-hundred, fifty million people now live in the E.U. countries.

And Cuba throws a big May Day bash. Crowds gathered in Havana's plaza of the revolution to witness the government sponsored celebration, along with the music and dance. Fidel Castro delivered a nearly two hour address; he vowed to continue to resist political pressure from the U.S.

War can injure the body and the brain. We'll talk to our guest about combat stress in just a moment. But first, Thelma Gutierrez reports on how the military is addressing the problem on the battlefield.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAPT. BILL BOWERS, PSYCHIATRIC NURSE: Seeing your buddy get blown up, that's -- that's a pretty big pill to swallow if you're 19 years old. LT. COL. DAN LONNQUIST, PSYCHOLOGIST: Being under the constant stress of not knowing what's going to happen.

LT. COL. EARNEST PROUD, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST: It is quite traumatic what they have to see.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are psychologists, counselors, and psychiatric nurses, reservists with the Army's 113th Stress Combat Unit, who took their civilian expertise right to the battlefield in Iraq.

(voice-over): It was the first time a mental health team like this, made up of some 70 professionals, had been mobilized for combat.

They returned after 14 long months away from home, after counseling some 20,000 soldiers.

Captain Bill Bowers is an adolescent psychiatric nurse in Los Angeles. In Iraq, his three-member team counseled 80 soldiers a week.

BOWERS: It is a lot of work. If somebody's not mission-capable and they're losing their marbles, you don't want them out with the other soldiers, basically, because it's not good for the unit.

GUTIERREZ: Or the soldier. The mission of the 113th was to provide immediate counseling to those in combat to try to prevent posttraumatic stress syndrome.

Lieutenant Colonel Earnest Proud is a school psychologist, back in the gym after a year in Iraq.

Of the hundreds of stories he heard, there's one soldier he says he'll never forget.

PROUD: Some 14-year-old kid ran over and picked up an AK-47 and pointed it at him, and he had to kill him. Well, he came to me and he said, "Listen, I'm having nightmares. And I had to kill him and he's the age of my kids, and I feel so badly about it."

GUTIERREZ: It's this kind of deep wound that Major Proud hopes he was able to heal.

Lieutenant Colonel Dan Lonnquist, a psychologist, says the 113th also helped soldiers cope with hardships on the home front, like money problems and a loved one's infidelity.

But, it's not knowing when they'll go home that's the biggest moral-buster.

LONNQUIST: In Iraq, we were there for six months or longer, before we had an idea that it would be a year before we would be coming back.

GUTIERREZ: Captain Bowers says the war took a year of his life, but he knows he made a difference.

BOWERS: For me, to be able to go through that with someone, that process, that is -- it's big stuff.

GUTIERREZ: Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Dr. Paul Ragan is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Vanderbilt University. He served as a Navy psychiatrist in the Persian Gulf War. Dr. Ragan is a natural to talk about combat stress.

Thank you for joining us.

DR. PAUL RAGAN, PROF. OF PSYCHIATREY, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY: You're welcome.

NGUYEN: How difficult is to cope it the emotional wounds of war?

RAGAN: Well, that varies amongst the individual and the intensity of combat and what they experience. But at times it could be very, very difficult, there could be very persistent intrusive memories and nightmares.

NGUYEN: Give us different scenarios where the stress can stem?

RAGAN: Well, the stress can stem from, as you showed in your piece, from war, the horrors of war, and also some of the no-win situations a soldier can be put in to kill or be killed. When the rules of engagement have been blurred, when women and children are used as shields, when teenagers are used as combatants, those things can be very, very stressful. Seeing your friends, also, your comrades, your buddies, maimed or killed.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. What kind of physical, emotional problems can this stress create?

RAGAN: Well, one of the things for the soldiers coming home is just because the hostilities have ended for them, that is they're coming back home, the hostilities sort of live on in their minds. And it can cause a lot of impairment in sleep, impairment in readjusting back to family life, back to civilian life. It can lead to repeated startle responses in situation you wouldn't normally see it in. It can really be very interfering in one's life.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. It's not just a personal thing, it can affect the family as you briefly mentioned.

RAGAN: Well, absolutely. Many families, many wives notice their husbands who had been in the Vietnam jungles for a long period, not being able to sleep on a bed, but having to sleep on the ground. For these soldiers, they were able to adapt. Humans are very adaptable, and they were able to survive in Iraq, and being able to decompress, slow down, and readapt to civilian life, especially at home, where the family life has gone on while they've been gone and reintegrate with the families; it takes a lot of time and patience, and sometimes professional help.

NGUYEN: Now that we've talked about the problem, let's get to that help. What is out there?

RAGAN: Well, the Army clearly has a good deal of expertise on the soldiers on their posts, and the mental health professionals there. It gets a little dicier when they return to civilian life, getting our medical care in the United States is usually through our workplace, and being able to access, informed -- what would I say? -- professional mental health, psychological help can be a problem that most Americans know about.

Clearly, being able to talk in a group where the counselor has had combat experience or has had military experience, being able to talk in the arena is going to be hard for the soldiers.

NGUYEN: Should families take an active role in getting this help?

RAGAN: Excellent question, I think in past wars with returns soldiers, we've been very reactive, waiting for people to have problems. With the heightened awareness that this program and others give this issue, we need to be proactive, and I think at first signs of difficulty with sleeplessness, persistent sleeplessness and stress, and inappropriate anger and intense emotional responses to small stressors, I think families should be very proactive.

NGUYEN: And quickly, how long does it take to recover, and can you truly recover from this?

RAGAN: People can heal very much. And it takes, depending on the intensity of your own combat stress reaction, it can take maybe a few months, and then there are the extreme spectrum where people will need -- who have severe PTSD will maybe need lifetime treatment. And that's the broad range right there.

NGUYEN: All right, Dr. Paul Ragan, assistant professor of psychiatry at Vanderbilt University.

We thank you for your time.

RAGAN: You're welcome. My pleasure.

NGUYEN: Excitement mixed with sadness at an air show in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Stunt pilots are performing in memory of one of their own, who died yesterday in a crash. John Zarrella is taking in the show and has a tribute to that fallen pilot.

John?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Betty. I can't hear you too well right now. We're in the midst of one of the early show demonstration; an F-15 Eagle going through its demonstration run right now. I can see him out there in the distance. You probably can see him there on the camera shot, too.

All day long we are going to have these kinds of events here, part of the McDonald's Air & Sea Show. And it got started about noon this afternoon. The B-2 Stealth bomber flew overhead as well as F-15 Eagles flying overhead, all part of what has been a spectacular opening to the 10th Annual Air & Sea Show.

But it is a bittersweet day today because yesterday one of the aerobatics pilots, Ian Groom, who was practicing for today's run, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. Groom was killed. We had spent about three hours with Ian Groom just two days ago preparing a piece on what he does; and Ian Groom is far more than an aerobatics pilot. Ian Groom was serving his country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZARRELLA (voice over): To Ian Groom, the love for flying was a passion from the time he was a boy. An aerobatics performer, Groom's limit on this flight was about 40 of these snap rolls in 20 seconds. Groom was one of the best in the world at what he did. Because he was Immigrations and Custom's officials, part of Homeland Security, sought him out in the days after 9/11.

IAN GROOM, AEROBATICS PILOT: I was performing at the air show, and three agents came up to see me and asked me how would I like to help the country? How would I like to serve?

ZARRELLA: Groom was asked if he was willing to teach customs pilots how to get out of bad situations and how to avoid poor decisions.

ROBERT VIATOR, IMMIGRATION & CUSTOMS PILOT: We'll get a guy who comes to us with a helicopter background and we will transition him to fixed wing, but what he grew up with is helicopter recovery technique. And we need to have what Ian tries to focus on, is breaking that habit, and getting him used to recover an airplane the way an airplane needs to recover.

ZARRELLA: Groom instructed more than 100 Customs pilots, who every day are flying missions to protect the nation's cities and watch its borders. He took no money. For Groom, an immigrant from South Africa, it was a way for him and his family to say thank you.

GROOM: America's just been such a great opportunity for us, and giving something is back just our way of making ourselves feel good.

ZARRELLA: Customs officials say every pilot who completed Groom's course is better for it.

VIATOR: Ian starts every course with the pilots that are there with these words. He says there's nothing can you do in this airplane that's going to impress me. There's nothing can you do in this airplane that's going to scare me. So let's go out and learn.

ZARRELLA: Groom performed before 4.5 million people every year at air shows, but his greatest satisfaction came, he told me, from teaching the men and women who protect the homeland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZARRELLA: Now, Ian Groom was 58 years old yesterday. The day he died. The Canadian Snowbird's flying team is going to perform the missing man formation today in honor of Ian Groom during its demonstration, later this afternoon.

Betty?

NGUYEN: John, how is that crash investigation going at this point?

ZARRELLA: It's interesting, because Ian Groom flew an experimental Russian airplane. Because it's an experimental airplane, tremendously high performance, the NTSB is still not sure whether -- at least the last word we had -- whether it will actually investigate the crash itself into what happened to Ian.

Excuse me, the F-15 flying overhead again.

But I'm sure that at some point in time, we will all know what happened to Ian Groom who is a very, very experienced world record holder in aerobatics, and a tremendous loss to the nation.

Betty?

NGUYEN: John Zarrella in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida today. Thank you.

(PROMOTIONAL INFORMATION)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: It's the 130th time around the track at Churchill Downs, today, for the first leg of the Triple Crown. Josie Burke is covering what may be a rainy Kentucky Derby in Louisville.

Good afternoon.

JOSIE BURKE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Betty. Weather could indeed be a factor today, it's not raining right now, but it rained a lot yesterday, it rained this morning. And there is in the forecast some rain for this afternoon.

If that just means that horses who've had some success under less than perfect conditions will probably have a have a little edge. One of those horses who has that experience is Imperialism. And it figures, because all week long Imperialism has been at the center of one of the most compelling Derby stories.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BURKE (voice over): The horse with the sunken eye and the eye- popping trainer are a perfect fit. Imperialism can't see the 21-year- old Kristen Mulhall breaks the mold when it comes to the Kentucky Derby.

KRISTEN MULHALL, TRAINER: I never dreamed I'd be here this quick now. Even all the way up until when we bought this horse I never thought we would be here. But it's a great feeling.

BURKE: Being young and female made her a pacesetter on two fronts. Most successful trainers are older men. Her father was one, and when Mulhall gave up riding show horses and got her trainer's license two years ago, dad wasn't thrilled with the idea.

RICHARD MULHALL, FATHER: I wasn't in favor of her doing it and being on the back side and everything. But she's handle herself very well, and it's worked out well.

MULHALL: I'm a little hard-headed and decided I wanted to go on my own and do it, and I did it.

BURKE: Mulhall is the 11th woman to enter the Kentucky Derby in history. If she wins, she'll be the first woman and the youngest trainer ever.

RICHARD MULHALL: Kristen is an awesome trainer. The horse talk to her, she listens, and they respond to each other.

She may be 21, she's 30-some years, mentally, she's a pretty sharp kid, and she's been around racehorses all her life.

BURKE: Mulhall's special relationship with Imperialism grew in the barn and on the track, she's one of the rare trainers who mounts her thoroughbred for workouts.

MULHALL: I can feel things that other people can't feel, that they can't explain to you, or you can see with your eye. He has a huge heart and gives you everything he has, every single time. That's basically what you need. It's something that is going to try and not cheat you.

BURKE: The horse and the trainer have a lot in common.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BURKE: Mulhall is actually not the only woman trainer in this year's Kentucky Derby. Jennifer Peterson trained Song of the Sword, so this year there are a record two women trainers in the 130th Run for the Roses.

Betty?

NGUYEN: Josie Burke in Louisville, Kentucky. Hopefully it will be dry for that race today.

Health headlines: The affects of caffeine on men versus women. New research suggests a cup of coffee raises blood pressure in both men and women, but does it differently. Scientists say caffeine causes blood vessels in men to restrict while it tends to increase heart activity in women.

A medical technique could mean the end of the hypodermic needle. It's called microcision, researchers use tiny crystals and a stream of gas to prepare the skin. Volunteers report feeling only a slight breeze and the drug is delivered by a patch. A Boston team from Harvard MIT. is doing the research. California motorists may soon be banned from smoking in their own cars that is if a child is riding with them. The proposed law would allow the police to ticket the offending smoker. Other states have such laws books.

Tired of crowded vacation spots. We have an option that still has lots of warm-blood mammals but not the kind you're used to.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: They're majestic mammals of the deep. And Americans are paying $1 billion, that's right, $1 billion a year to see them up close and personal.

Time to go whale watching on CNN Saturday's weekend getaways. Patricia Corrigan is the author of "The Whale Watcher's Guide" as well as several children's books on the topic. She is in St. Louise today far from a good whale-watching site. She's here to talk about her favorite creatures.

Thank you for joining us.

PATRICIA CORRIGAN, AUTHOR, "WHALE WATCHERS GUIDE": Thank you.

NGUYEN: Billion-dollar industry. Who knew?

CORRIGAN: Who knew? It started in 1955, when fishermen and a fellow who was interested in whales took a couple friends on boats. So who knew?

NGUYEN: Why is this so popular?

CORRIGAN: I think what is especially interesting is that this is a mammal that made a choice to live underwater, an air-breathing mammal. Imagine how difficult your life would be. Also they're so big, the blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived on earth. And I think being in the presence of that - "majesty" -- is the word, you used it. It's a remarkable experience.

NGUYEN: Is it hard to catch them in action? What are the best places?

CORRIGAN: There are lots of good places. November is really the only time when it's hard to find a whale. They migrate; they follow food, and so you can almost make an appointment with one, if you figure out what sort of whale you want to see or happen to know you're heading to the East Coast or to the West Coast. Then you go -- and they're there.

Many, many whale-watch tour operators offer a free ride if you don't see one on the day you go out. But it happens very rarely.

NGUYEN: But you don't think they're too hard to catch. Some folks might be thinking, I could go out all day and not see one at all? CORRIGAN: No, because the tour operators know where they are during the migration. It's an annual event on both coasts. And you shouldn't not go whale watching because you're afraid you won't see one, you should assume that you will.

This is nature, it's not a theme park, so nature gets to decide, but it's very rare that you would go on a whale-watch trip, during the right season and not see whales.

NGUYEN: You said on both coasts. Any particular area that's your favorite?

CORRIGAN: Oh, gosh. I love the East Coast, love New England. Also I've been up off Vancouver Island, Washington, Oregon, California, all the way down to Baja California, Mexico. We've got plenty of whales much of the year to go see.

NGUYEN: A lot of opportunity. Talk to us about that. How much does it cost?

CORRIGAN: It varies, can you go out of Depot Bay in Oregon for $11 and see gray whales. You can spend $25 to $30 on the East Coast on some of the larger boats. Sometimes there's a good all-day trip out of San Francisco, Oceanic Society takes people out to the Fairlawn (ph) Islands. And out beyond the islands you have the possibility of seeing seven or eight different species of whales, that trip's about $80. You can go for a reasonable fee on most places.

NGUYEN: I understand you got to stick your hand inside a whale's mouth, is that true?

CORRIGAN: Yes, it's true. Down in Baja California, in Mexico, in the lagoons. The mother and baby Gray whales are there. And a teenaged girl gray whale had come over to our boat, hung around for about an hour. And we were petting her and stroking her. This is the only place in the world can you do this, it's one of the peak wildlife experiences not to be missed.

And we were petting her and stroking her, and she opened her mouth, and I knew that elephants like to have their tongues massaged. And I reached in and I was rubbing her tongue with my hand and she closed her jaws. Now, this is a whale so it doesn't teeth. And I was not afraid. But the woman behind me was quite startled.

NGUYEN: I can only imagine. How should whale watchers prepare for these types of trips?

CORRIGAN: I think you should do a little reading ahead of time about what species of whales you might see. When you're on the boat and you see the spout or you see the tail, you may not realize there's a 40 to 50 foot long animal there. An animal that weighs a ton to ton and a half per foot. We're talking really big. So, I think if you know a little about what you might see, that's helpful.

And then of course, you have to think about your camera. Everybody wants to take "National Geographic" quality photos when they're whale watching. It doesn't happen. The boat is moving, the whale is moving, the ocean is moving. It's good to take a camera and count on fun snapshots, but it's important to put the camera down so it is not between you and the whales; and actually just watch, it just experience, just being there.

NGUYEN: It sounds like a lot of fun. Patricia Corrigan, author of "The Whale Watcher's Guide," thank you for joining us.

CORRIGAN: Thank you.

NGUYEN: There is fighting in Iraq and tributes for the fallen, plus, a long-awaited memorial for the men and women who served the U.S. in another war. All ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: It's been a very busy week in the news. There have been many memorable images you may have missed. Here's our regular view of the "Week in Pictures.

(BEGIN PHOTO MONTAGE)

NGUYEN (voice over): The fight for Iraq was red hot in Fallujah. U.S. Marines and AC-130 gunships opened fire on insurgents. The sporadic fighting came as negotiations continue throughout the week for a cease-fire.

Back home, a salute to fallen heroes and communities across America. Several U.S. service personnel killed in the war were laid to rest. April was the deadliest month of the Iraqi war for U.S. servicemen and women.

Emotional welcome home ceremonies in many cities for U.S. troops who survived tours of duty in Iraq and came home safely. Families, friends, entire communities cheered the returning heroes who had served a year in Iraq.

The World War II Memorial officially opened. It commemorates the suffering and sacrifice of 16 million men and women who served during World War II. The memorial spans the length of a football field situated between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in the nation's capital.

A record-setting heat wave sizzle the across California. Beaches and shade became popular places to beat the heat.

And there's much more ahead on CNN SATURDAY. In a few moments "In The Money."

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