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CNN Live Today

Former Iraqi General to Head Security Force; Thomas Hamill Escapes from Iraqi Captors; Israeli Prime Minister's Party Rejects Withdrawal Plan; Denzel Washington Talks about His New Film

Aired May 03, 2004 - 11:00   ET

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

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


DARYN KAGAN, ANCHOR: It is 10 a.m. in Macon, Mississippi. It's 5 p.m. in Landstuhl, Germany. We'll tell you why we're watching those numbers just ahead. From CNN headquarters in Atlanta, where it is 11 a.m., I'm Daryn Kagan. Good morning once again.
The fight for Iraq is up first on CNN LIVE TODAY. U.S. soldiers repel an attack in Najaf and Iraqis are on patrol in parts of Fallujah. But the fallout from the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners continues.

Ben Wedeman is in Baghdad with the latest -- Ben.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Daryn.

Well, the U.S. Army has issued six letters of reprimand, as well as one somewhat less grave letter of admonishment to senior noncommissioned officers and senior officers connected to this case of alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad, these letters issued on the orders of Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, who is the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq.

Six other U.S. soldiers, all military policemen, are the subject of a criminal investigation into this case. Now, there's also an investigation going on into how exactly Abu Ghraib was run. There's also another investigation looking at the role of military intelligence in this matter.

Regarding the situation in Fallujah, according to U.S. spokesmen, the situation is going much better there at the moment. This hastily assembled Iraqi security force, composed of mostly former members of the Iraqi army, has begun to deploy in the southern industrial sector of the city.

Now, U.S. officials here are stressing that this Iraqi force is only a temporary force and that it will be dissolved when its mission is accomplished.

Now, the U.S. has announced today that it is appointing a former member of Iraqi army intelligence, Mr. Muhammad Latif, to run that group, that Iraqi security force.

Initially, a different general from the former army of Saddam Hussein, Jasim Saleh, had been appointed, or rather was tipped to lead that group. But then doubts arose about his role in the very bloody suppression of a 1991 Shiite uprising in the southern part of the country. So he is not now being considered for that position.

Now, one thing we have noticed out of Fallujah, there does seem to be something of a general hesitation among this Iraqi security force to confront the insurgents who controlled that city for about a month. Last night, I heard a live interview on Al Jazeera TV with Jasim Saleh, an Iraqi general, who said he's going in there to restore law and order, not to fight the insurgents -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ben Wedeman in Baghdad. We're going to have the latest on the investigation of the alleged Iraqi prisoner abuse later this hour, find out where some people are pointing the finger and how the military is responding to that.

Former Iraq hostage Thomas Hamill is in Germany this morning. He's getting a medical checkup and getting ready for a family reunion. Our Chris Burns is at Landstuhl Regional Medical center with the latest on that.

Chris, hello.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, hi.

Thomas Hamill, a Mississippi dairy farmer, who went to Iraq to drive trucks and raise money to pay off his debts is here in Germany after he escaped from his captors just about 24 hours or so ago.

He flew -- he was flown in by the U.S. military here to Ramstein Air Base and to Landstuhl Military Hospital, a sprawling complex where a lot of U.S. troops stop here after they are injured in Iraq and other conflicts. On their way home, they stop here to be checked, and that's what he's undergoing right now.

He came in on a bus, a blue bus. He was driven in, very discreetly. We are told that he walked in on his own power. He does not want press coverage at the moment.

He wants them to look at his arm, his right arm that was shot during that ambush about three weeks ago in the convoy that he was -- in which he was driving. A number of other people were killed, including soldiers and coworkers.

He is a lucky man. He is here to tell his story. We hope to hear from him. But up to now, what we've been hearing from the U.S. military, we can show you the house where he was held, held captive, and where he said that he broke through a door to get out of the house, and to chase after a U.S. military patrol that was just accidentally in the area.

And what was he telling them when he was running toward that military patrol? Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. JOSEPH MERRILL, U.S. ARMY: He didn't wave a white flag. He came out in the field, and he actually took his shirt off and waved his shirt in the air. And we -- as he got closer, we heard that he was speaking English.

At first, at a distance, we thought he was an Iraqi farmer who was coming out to the trucks. As he got closer, he -- we heard that he was speaking English. And the first man who walked up to him realized immediately that it was Mr. Hamill.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNS: And he was -- they said he took off his shirt and was waving it in the air to make sure that they wouldn't shoot at him. That military patrol happened to be in the area looking for a break in a pipeline. Talk about a break for Mr. Hamill.

Back to you.

KAGAN: Chris Burns, all right.

Let's go to Landstuhl, where Mr. Hamill is, to where he's thinking about, back home in Mississippi, and that's where we're going to hear from our Mike Brooks, who is in Hamill's home town of Macon, Mississippi.

Mike, good morning.

MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Daryn.

Well, here in Macon, Kellie has just left on to -- for a reunion with her husband. The time and place is still yet unknown.

But yesterday was a day of celebration for the family and friends of Tommy Hamill. The Hamill home was draped in an American flag. There were yellow ribbons throughout the yard. And the town here, as you can see over my shoulder, is also draped in yellow ribbons.

Right now, joining us, Daryn, we have Colleene and Jason Higginbotham, the aunt and cousin of Tommy Hamill.

Thanks for being with us.

COLLEENE HIGGINBOTHAM, THOMAS HAMILL'S AUNT: Thank you.

BROOKS: Jason, there was another incredible story about Tommy in a first escape. Can you tell me a little bit about that?

JASON HIGGINBOTHAM, THOMAS HAMILL'S COUSIN: What he said is he escaped one time about three days earlier. And he was out in the middle of the desert. And the helicopter came over, and he tried to flag it down. But they evidently didn't see him.

And he decided, you know, he didn't have any food and water and he would more than likely die in the desert trying to make it on his own. So -- and they were taking fairly good care of him. So he went and put himself in captivity without them knowing.

And then three days later they moved him to Tikrit. And he heard a military convoy coming down the road, and he pried the door open and he went and caught that one.

BROOKS: So they didn't even know he had escaped originally?

J. HIGGINBOTHAM: Not that we know of.

BROOKS: He went back in. That's just an incredible story. But now we see the result. He's going to be coming back here very shortly to join his family and friends.

Colleene, is there anything that you would like to tell our viewers that your family would like to convey to them?

C. HIGGINBOTHAM: Yes, Kellie and the family would like to express to the families of those that are missing, the contract workers who are over there, and all the military and all the civilians that are still there, that we're still praying for you. We're not giving up. We're going to pray until everyone's back.

BROOKS: Colleene, thank you very much. And Jason, thanks for joining us.

Daryn, just down the street a Jim's Gym here on Main Street in Macon, there were actually small prayer hands that were drawn out. And people put their names on them, to pray for the safe return of Tommy Hamill.

Now, the mayor said that when he does finally get back to Macon, they're going to have a Tommy Hamill Day, and they're going to have a parade down Main Street here in Macon -- Daryn.

KAGAN: I'll bet they are. Unlike anything Macon, Mississippi, has probably ever seen.

BROOKS: It is.

KAGAN: Mike Brooks in Macon, thank you for that.

Thomas Hamill's family and friends will join "LARRY KING LIVE" -- That's tonight -- to talk about his ordeal as a hostage in Iraq and his new freedom, 9 p.m. Eastern on CNN.

A public memorial today for former NFL player Pat Tillman in San Jose, California. Tillman was killed in battle in Afghanistan. The Army awarded him the Silver Star for gallantry on the battlefield and promoted him to corporal.

Tillman walked away from a $3.3 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals. He said he wanted to serve his country after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Ariel Sharon's plans to pull out of Gaza gets a very big thumbs down from Israel's Likud Party. And with that defeat, a violent attack. More from the Mideast up next.

Back here in the U.S., Jayson Williams is kind of off the hook, at least partially. His lawyers talk about Friday's mixed verdict. That's ahead.

And later, we're going to talk -- well, I'm going to talk -- I'm owning this one -- I'm talking to Denzel Washington. The Academy Award winner has a new movie out. It's called "Man on Fire."

CNN LIVE TODAY is back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: This just in to CNN. The Cracker Barrel restaurant chain has reached a settlement with the Justice Department on complaints alleging racial discrimination, in a live news conference taking place right now from the Justice Department.

Cracker Barrel does not admit wrongdoing, and in fact it denies it. The agreement outlines plans for expanded diversity training, a third-party testing program at restaurants, an independent auditor and other programs.

The statement says the deal ends the Justice Department's review of Cracker Barrel, which has 497 restaurants in 41 states.

In world news, Ariel Sharon says that he will consult with his cabinet and his Likud Party and other parties on what to do next.

The Israeli prime minister met with parliament the day after Likud Party members voted down his so-called disengagement plan.

Yesterday's non-binding party vote was on Sharon's proposal to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Jewish settlers in territories denounced it and the vote wasn't even close.

John Vause has more on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From the Likud Party faithful, a revolt, a humiliation for their prime minister.

Ariel Sharon was counting on a vote of confidence to push ahead with his plans to withdraw settlers and troops from all of Gaza and parts of the West Bank. But from the 40 percent of Likud Party members who voted, a resounding no.

In Gaza, settlers cheered as the results came in. Those opposed had campaigned long and hard. Disengagement would be a reward for terrorists, they said, and just hours after polls opened an example, they say, of the kind of violence which would only worsen should Israel withdraw.

On the main road between the Gaza settlements and Israel, a pregnant woman and her four children were shot dead. They were on their way to Israel to campaign against the disengagement plan. This was the first fatal attack on a Gaza settler in 18 months.

Israeli forces hit back with helicopters, firing at least two missiles into a Gaza city high-rise. The target was the Hamas-owned al Aqsa radio station. Israel says it was hit because it broadcast incitement. No one was hurt.

While on the West Bank down of Nablus, an Israeli air strike killed four prominent leaders from the al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. This is the kind of ongoing tit for tat violence which the Israeli prime minister says he was hoping to end.

But those close to Ariel Sharon say he won't give up, possibly bringing his plan to cabinet and presenting it to the Israeli parliament, where chances are, it will be approved.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can assure you one thing, the prime minister is determined.

VAUSE (on camera): Ariel Sharon may now find himself in the difficult position to trying to implement a plan rejected by his party, but which opinion polls show is supported by most Israelis.

John Vause, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Back here in the U.S., there's no word yet on whether Jayson Williams will be retried on one charge that produced a jury deadlock.

Williams, the former NBA star, was charged in the shooting death of a limousine driver at Williams' home in New Jersey. The jury couldn't agree on the reckless manslaughter charge, but it did find Williams not guilty of a more serious offense, aggravated manslaughter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILLY MARTIN, WILLIAMS' DEFENSE ATTORNEY: We've said all along that this case was flawed from the beginning by the prosecutors when they refused and failed to present this case to a grand jury.

The jury, the trial jury the other day spoke recently, and very loud about what they thought about the evidence. They did not believe some of their key witnesses, and they thought it was an accident and not a crime.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Williams was convicted of four charges, including evidence tampering. He could get a maximum prison sentence of 13 years on those counts.

There's fire and heat in the west and water in Texas, too much of it. Heavy rains sweep across the Lone Star State. Details and weather coming up next. And speaking of heat, Denzel Washington. "Man on Fire" is raking it in at the box office. I'll have a chance to talk to him one on one, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Speaking of heat, let's talk about actor Denzel Washington. He's starring in "Man on Fire." I had a chance to talk with him about the project.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Let's start by talking about the movie "Man on Fire." You are ripping up the box office. The box office absolutely loves you, Denzel.

DENZEL WASHINGTON, ACTOR: Well, you know, I think every now and again you make films, and you make one where it all works. And this is one of those films, I think, where all the elements work. And when I saw it, I went, "Wow, this is a real good picture."

And I think people across America are feeling the same way. And they're responding to it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WASHINGTON: The gunshot holds no fear. Say it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The gunshot holds no fear.

WASHINGTON: Louder!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: When you first saw it, you thought that. But you've made so many movies. When you're actually making them can you feel, this is going to be a winner, or have you guessed completely wrong in the past?

WASHINGTON: Sometimes it's hard to tell. Because you don't know how they're going to put it all together. I knew we had really great elements. I knew he was shooting the heck out of it.

And I knew we were getting good performances from Dakota and Christopher Walken and Mark Anthony and Robin Mitchell. So it felt good.

KAGAN: What about when you were making "Training Day," speaking of history making pictures? Did you feel "Training Day" was your best in terms of being up for best actor?

WASHINGTON: You've got to understand, I do what I do, and then people do what they do. People give out awards or they talk about it. They say you're great, or they say you stink, or they say you're great but you stink.

But whatever they say, that doesn't really have anything to do with what I do while I'm making a film. You know, do the best job you can and then you put it out there. It belongs to the people. Like this film now belongs to the people; it doesn't belong to me.

KAGAN: Let's talk about the character in this latest movie. He's a very intense man. There's a lot of violence in this movie. And it does kind of, to me, in some ways hearken back to "Training Day." A different type of character, and yet the intensity and the violence seem to have a common theme.

WASHINGTON: Well, in "Training Day," I think Alonzo was just mean.

KAGAN: Yes.

WASHINGTON: He was a -- he was a mean, evil, cheating, lying, stealing guy.

I don't think that Creasy is that kind of guy. I think that he's shut off from the world, and he's a professional.

And I think that -- you know, the first part of the movie is really a love story. And then it's all about revenge. So he's just -- he's just seeking revenge for, you know, the one he loves.

It's a film that asks the question, what would you do if you were in that position? I'd be curious to ask you, what would you do if it was your daughter that was kidnapped?

KAGAN: Well, as not just an actor, but as a dad, you must have asked yourself that question.

WASHINGTON: What?

KAGAN: What would you do?

WASHINGTON: What would I do?

KAGAN: What would you do if that was one of your kids?

WASHINGTON: Yes, I have. I'm already doing it. I'm doing it.

KAGAN: You're doing it?

WASHINGTON: Yes.

KAGAN: And then looking ahead, what can we -- any romantic comedy pictures we can see coming from you?

WASHINGTON: I'm looking for one. You want to send me a script? Send me a script.

KAGAN: I'll look for one for you.

WASHINGTON: Look for one for me.

KAGAN: That would make my day. My training day, to find your next movie.

WASHINGTON: Good. Good.

KAGAN: That would be a good gig.

Well, good luck with this movie. Doesn't look like necessarily you need it, because the fans are coming in and getting in the seats.

WASHINGTON: Yes. Go see it. Don't be afraid of it. It's really a good picture. And it's interesting that we -- there are more women going to see the film than guys...

KAGAN: Well, let me tell you...

WASHINGTON: And it's an action picture.

KAGAN: That's not surprising. And also we're seeing in an earlier interview, you're turning 50, Denzel?

WASHINGTON: Yes.

KAGAN: And what are you going to do to celebrate that?

WASHINGTON: I'm celebrating every day.

KAGAN: Every day?

WASHINGTON: Every day is my birthday.

KAGAN: Well, I've got to tell you, if this is what 50 looks like, we'll take it.

WASHINGTON: Thank you.

KAGAN: Denzel Washington. "Man on Fire." Thanks for stopping by. Appreciate it.

And let's check the box office. The second week in the theater, "Man on Fire" brought in $50 million in the box office this weekend. That made it No. 2 behind "Mean Girls."

They are pictures that have shocked the world, including the Pentagon. Up next, the U.S. military reacts to some startling incidents of prisoner abuse in Iraq.

CNN LIVE TODAY is back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired May 3, 2004 - 11:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, ANCHOR: It is 10 a.m. in Macon, Mississippi. It's 5 p.m. in Landstuhl, Germany. We'll tell you why we're watching those numbers just ahead. From CNN headquarters in Atlanta, where it is 11 a.m., I'm Daryn Kagan. Good morning once again.
The fight for Iraq is up first on CNN LIVE TODAY. U.S. soldiers repel an attack in Najaf and Iraqis are on patrol in parts of Fallujah. But the fallout from the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners continues.

Ben Wedeman is in Baghdad with the latest -- Ben.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Daryn.

Well, the U.S. Army has issued six letters of reprimand, as well as one somewhat less grave letter of admonishment to senior noncommissioned officers and senior officers connected to this case of alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad, these letters issued on the orders of Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, who is the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq.

Six other U.S. soldiers, all military policemen, are the subject of a criminal investigation into this case. Now, there's also an investigation going on into how exactly Abu Ghraib was run. There's also another investigation looking at the role of military intelligence in this matter.

Regarding the situation in Fallujah, according to U.S. spokesmen, the situation is going much better there at the moment. This hastily assembled Iraqi security force, composed of mostly former members of the Iraqi army, has begun to deploy in the southern industrial sector of the city.

Now, U.S. officials here are stressing that this Iraqi force is only a temporary force and that it will be dissolved when its mission is accomplished.

Now, the U.S. has announced today that it is appointing a former member of Iraqi army intelligence, Mr. Muhammad Latif, to run that group, that Iraqi security force.

Initially, a different general from the former army of Saddam Hussein, Jasim Saleh, had been appointed, or rather was tipped to lead that group. But then doubts arose about his role in the very bloody suppression of a 1991 Shiite uprising in the southern part of the country. So he is not now being considered for that position.

Now, one thing we have noticed out of Fallujah, there does seem to be something of a general hesitation among this Iraqi security force to confront the insurgents who controlled that city for about a month. Last night, I heard a live interview on Al Jazeera TV with Jasim Saleh, an Iraqi general, who said he's going in there to restore law and order, not to fight the insurgents -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ben Wedeman in Baghdad. We're going to have the latest on the investigation of the alleged Iraqi prisoner abuse later this hour, find out where some people are pointing the finger and how the military is responding to that.

Former Iraq hostage Thomas Hamill is in Germany this morning. He's getting a medical checkup and getting ready for a family reunion. Our Chris Burns is at Landstuhl Regional Medical center with the latest on that.

Chris, hello.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, hi.

Thomas Hamill, a Mississippi dairy farmer, who went to Iraq to drive trucks and raise money to pay off his debts is here in Germany after he escaped from his captors just about 24 hours or so ago.

He flew -- he was flown in by the U.S. military here to Ramstein Air Base and to Landstuhl Military Hospital, a sprawling complex where a lot of U.S. troops stop here after they are injured in Iraq and other conflicts. On their way home, they stop here to be checked, and that's what he's undergoing right now.

He came in on a bus, a blue bus. He was driven in, very discreetly. We are told that he walked in on his own power. He does not want press coverage at the moment.

He wants them to look at his arm, his right arm that was shot during that ambush about three weeks ago in the convoy that he was -- in which he was driving. A number of other people were killed, including soldiers and coworkers.

He is a lucky man. He is here to tell his story. We hope to hear from him. But up to now, what we've been hearing from the U.S. military, we can show you the house where he was held, held captive, and where he said that he broke through a door to get out of the house, and to chase after a U.S. military patrol that was just accidentally in the area.

And what was he telling them when he was running toward that military patrol? Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. JOSEPH MERRILL, U.S. ARMY: He didn't wave a white flag. He came out in the field, and he actually took his shirt off and waved his shirt in the air. And we -- as he got closer, we heard that he was speaking English.

At first, at a distance, we thought he was an Iraqi farmer who was coming out to the trucks. As he got closer, he -- we heard that he was speaking English. And the first man who walked up to him realized immediately that it was Mr. Hamill.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNS: And he was -- they said he took off his shirt and was waving it in the air to make sure that they wouldn't shoot at him. That military patrol happened to be in the area looking for a break in a pipeline. Talk about a break for Mr. Hamill.

Back to you.

KAGAN: Chris Burns, all right.

Let's go to Landstuhl, where Mr. Hamill is, to where he's thinking about, back home in Mississippi, and that's where we're going to hear from our Mike Brooks, who is in Hamill's home town of Macon, Mississippi.

Mike, good morning.

MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Daryn.

Well, here in Macon, Kellie has just left on to -- for a reunion with her husband. The time and place is still yet unknown.

But yesterday was a day of celebration for the family and friends of Tommy Hamill. The Hamill home was draped in an American flag. There were yellow ribbons throughout the yard. And the town here, as you can see over my shoulder, is also draped in yellow ribbons.

Right now, joining us, Daryn, we have Colleene and Jason Higginbotham, the aunt and cousin of Tommy Hamill.

Thanks for being with us.

COLLEENE HIGGINBOTHAM, THOMAS HAMILL'S AUNT: Thank you.

BROOKS: Jason, there was another incredible story about Tommy in a first escape. Can you tell me a little bit about that?

JASON HIGGINBOTHAM, THOMAS HAMILL'S COUSIN: What he said is he escaped one time about three days earlier. And he was out in the middle of the desert. And the helicopter came over, and he tried to flag it down. But they evidently didn't see him.

And he decided, you know, he didn't have any food and water and he would more than likely die in the desert trying to make it on his own. So -- and they were taking fairly good care of him. So he went and put himself in captivity without them knowing.

And then three days later they moved him to Tikrit. And he heard a military convoy coming down the road, and he pried the door open and he went and caught that one.

BROOKS: So they didn't even know he had escaped originally?

J. HIGGINBOTHAM: Not that we know of.

BROOKS: He went back in. That's just an incredible story. But now we see the result. He's going to be coming back here very shortly to join his family and friends.

Colleene, is there anything that you would like to tell our viewers that your family would like to convey to them?

C. HIGGINBOTHAM: Yes, Kellie and the family would like to express to the families of those that are missing, the contract workers who are over there, and all the military and all the civilians that are still there, that we're still praying for you. We're not giving up. We're going to pray until everyone's back.

BROOKS: Colleene, thank you very much. And Jason, thanks for joining us.

Daryn, just down the street a Jim's Gym here on Main Street in Macon, there were actually small prayer hands that were drawn out. And people put their names on them, to pray for the safe return of Tommy Hamill.

Now, the mayor said that when he does finally get back to Macon, they're going to have a Tommy Hamill Day, and they're going to have a parade down Main Street here in Macon -- Daryn.

KAGAN: I'll bet they are. Unlike anything Macon, Mississippi, has probably ever seen.

BROOKS: It is.

KAGAN: Mike Brooks in Macon, thank you for that.

Thomas Hamill's family and friends will join "LARRY KING LIVE" -- That's tonight -- to talk about his ordeal as a hostage in Iraq and his new freedom, 9 p.m. Eastern on CNN.

A public memorial today for former NFL player Pat Tillman in San Jose, California. Tillman was killed in battle in Afghanistan. The Army awarded him the Silver Star for gallantry on the battlefield and promoted him to corporal.

Tillman walked away from a $3.3 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals. He said he wanted to serve his country after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Ariel Sharon's plans to pull out of Gaza gets a very big thumbs down from Israel's Likud Party. And with that defeat, a violent attack. More from the Mideast up next.

Back here in the U.S., Jayson Williams is kind of off the hook, at least partially. His lawyers talk about Friday's mixed verdict. That's ahead.

And later, we're going to talk -- well, I'm going to talk -- I'm owning this one -- I'm talking to Denzel Washington. The Academy Award winner has a new movie out. It's called "Man on Fire."

CNN LIVE TODAY is back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: This just in to CNN. The Cracker Barrel restaurant chain has reached a settlement with the Justice Department on complaints alleging racial discrimination, in a live news conference taking place right now from the Justice Department.

Cracker Barrel does not admit wrongdoing, and in fact it denies it. The agreement outlines plans for expanded diversity training, a third-party testing program at restaurants, an independent auditor and other programs.

The statement says the deal ends the Justice Department's review of Cracker Barrel, which has 497 restaurants in 41 states.

In world news, Ariel Sharon says that he will consult with his cabinet and his Likud Party and other parties on what to do next.

The Israeli prime minister met with parliament the day after Likud Party members voted down his so-called disengagement plan.

Yesterday's non-binding party vote was on Sharon's proposal to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Jewish settlers in territories denounced it and the vote wasn't even close.

John Vause has more on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From the Likud Party faithful, a revolt, a humiliation for their prime minister.

Ariel Sharon was counting on a vote of confidence to push ahead with his plans to withdraw settlers and troops from all of Gaza and parts of the West Bank. But from the 40 percent of Likud Party members who voted, a resounding no.

In Gaza, settlers cheered as the results came in. Those opposed had campaigned long and hard. Disengagement would be a reward for terrorists, they said, and just hours after polls opened an example, they say, of the kind of violence which would only worsen should Israel withdraw.

On the main road between the Gaza settlements and Israel, a pregnant woman and her four children were shot dead. They were on their way to Israel to campaign against the disengagement plan. This was the first fatal attack on a Gaza settler in 18 months.

Israeli forces hit back with helicopters, firing at least two missiles into a Gaza city high-rise. The target was the Hamas-owned al Aqsa radio station. Israel says it was hit because it broadcast incitement. No one was hurt.

While on the West Bank down of Nablus, an Israeli air strike killed four prominent leaders from the al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. This is the kind of ongoing tit for tat violence which the Israeli prime minister says he was hoping to end.

But those close to Ariel Sharon say he won't give up, possibly bringing his plan to cabinet and presenting it to the Israeli parliament, where chances are, it will be approved.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can assure you one thing, the prime minister is determined.

VAUSE (on camera): Ariel Sharon may now find himself in the difficult position to trying to implement a plan rejected by his party, but which opinion polls show is supported by most Israelis.

John Vause, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Back here in the U.S., there's no word yet on whether Jayson Williams will be retried on one charge that produced a jury deadlock.

Williams, the former NBA star, was charged in the shooting death of a limousine driver at Williams' home in New Jersey. The jury couldn't agree on the reckless manslaughter charge, but it did find Williams not guilty of a more serious offense, aggravated manslaughter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILLY MARTIN, WILLIAMS' DEFENSE ATTORNEY: We've said all along that this case was flawed from the beginning by the prosecutors when they refused and failed to present this case to a grand jury.

The jury, the trial jury the other day spoke recently, and very loud about what they thought about the evidence. They did not believe some of their key witnesses, and they thought it was an accident and not a crime.

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KAGAN: Williams was convicted of four charges, including evidence tampering. He could get a maximum prison sentence of 13 years on those counts.

There's fire and heat in the west and water in Texas, too much of it. Heavy rains sweep across the Lone Star State. Details and weather coming up next. And speaking of heat, Denzel Washington. "Man on Fire" is raking it in at the box office. I'll have a chance to talk to him one on one, coming up.

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KAGAN: Speaking of heat, let's talk about actor Denzel Washington. He's starring in "Man on Fire." I had a chance to talk with him about the project.

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KAGAN: Let's start by talking about the movie "Man on Fire." You are ripping up the box office. The box office absolutely loves you, Denzel.

DENZEL WASHINGTON, ACTOR: Well, you know, I think every now and again you make films, and you make one where it all works. And this is one of those films, I think, where all the elements work. And when I saw it, I went, "Wow, this is a real good picture."

And I think people across America are feeling the same way. And they're responding to it.

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WASHINGTON: The gunshot holds no fear. Say it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The gunshot holds no fear.

WASHINGTON: Louder!

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KAGAN: When you first saw it, you thought that. But you've made so many movies. When you're actually making them can you feel, this is going to be a winner, or have you guessed completely wrong in the past?

WASHINGTON: Sometimes it's hard to tell. Because you don't know how they're going to put it all together. I knew we had really great elements. I knew he was shooting the heck out of it.

And I knew we were getting good performances from Dakota and Christopher Walken and Mark Anthony and Robin Mitchell. So it felt good.

KAGAN: What about when you were making "Training Day," speaking of history making pictures? Did you feel "Training Day" was your best in terms of being up for best actor?

WASHINGTON: You've got to understand, I do what I do, and then people do what they do. People give out awards or they talk about it. They say you're great, or they say you stink, or they say you're great but you stink.

But whatever they say, that doesn't really have anything to do with what I do while I'm making a film. You know, do the best job you can and then you put it out there. It belongs to the people. Like this film now belongs to the people; it doesn't belong to me.

KAGAN: Let's talk about the character in this latest movie. He's a very intense man. There's a lot of violence in this movie. And it does kind of, to me, in some ways hearken back to "Training Day." A different type of character, and yet the intensity and the violence seem to have a common theme.

WASHINGTON: Well, in "Training Day," I think Alonzo was just mean.

KAGAN: Yes.

WASHINGTON: He was a -- he was a mean, evil, cheating, lying, stealing guy.

I don't think that Creasy is that kind of guy. I think that he's shut off from the world, and he's a professional.

And I think that -- you know, the first part of the movie is really a love story. And then it's all about revenge. So he's just -- he's just seeking revenge for, you know, the one he loves.

It's a film that asks the question, what would you do if you were in that position? I'd be curious to ask you, what would you do if it was your daughter that was kidnapped?

KAGAN: Well, as not just an actor, but as a dad, you must have asked yourself that question.

WASHINGTON: What?

KAGAN: What would you do?

WASHINGTON: What would I do?

KAGAN: What would you do if that was one of your kids?

WASHINGTON: Yes, I have. I'm already doing it. I'm doing it.

KAGAN: You're doing it?

WASHINGTON: Yes.

KAGAN: And then looking ahead, what can we -- any romantic comedy pictures we can see coming from you?

WASHINGTON: I'm looking for one. You want to send me a script? Send me a script.

KAGAN: I'll look for one for you.

WASHINGTON: Look for one for me.

KAGAN: That would make my day. My training day, to find your next movie.

WASHINGTON: Good. Good.

KAGAN: That would be a good gig.

Well, good luck with this movie. Doesn't look like necessarily you need it, because the fans are coming in and getting in the seats.

WASHINGTON: Yes. Go see it. Don't be afraid of it. It's really a good picture. And it's interesting that we -- there are more women going to see the film than guys...

KAGAN: Well, let me tell you...

WASHINGTON: And it's an action picture.

KAGAN: That's not surprising. And also we're seeing in an earlier interview, you're turning 50, Denzel?

WASHINGTON: Yes.

KAGAN: And what are you going to do to celebrate that?

WASHINGTON: I'm celebrating every day.

KAGAN: Every day?

WASHINGTON: Every day is my birthday.

KAGAN: Well, I've got to tell you, if this is what 50 looks like, we'll take it.

WASHINGTON: Thank you.

KAGAN: Denzel Washington. "Man on Fire." Thanks for stopping by. Appreciate it.

And let's check the box office. The second week in the theater, "Man on Fire" brought in $50 million in the box office this weekend. That made it No. 2 behind "Mean Girls."

They are pictures that have shocked the world, including the Pentagon. Up next, the U.S. military reacts to some startling incidents of prisoner abuse in Iraq.

CNN LIVE TODAY is back after this.

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