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CNN Live Saturday
Turkish Workers Kidnapped In Iraq; Bush Greeted In Turkey With Protesters
Aired June 26, 2004 - 18:00 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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. I'm Carol Lin. CNN LIVE SATURDAY starts in just a minute, but first I've got these headlines. Al Jazerra Television shows terrorists in Iraq threatening to behead these three Turkish hostages. The Arab network says a group linked to rebel leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi kidnapped them. And the group says Turkey has 72 hours to pull its businesses out of Iraq.
The U.S. coalition says a bombing killed 17 people and wounded 40 others in the city of Hillah. The car bomb went off near the ancient -- or the site of the ancient Babylon City along a road notorious for ambushes.
The Green Party is not endorsing Independent candidate Ralph Nader for president. At their national convention in Milwaukee today, the Greens nominated Texas attorney, David Cobb. That means Nader won't have the party's access to the ballot in 22 states and Washington, D.C.
And once again, I'm Carol Lin and welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Tonight, body image. For some the fight to be thin can kill. Teen star Mary-Kate Olsen is battling an eating disorder. I'll have a frank discussion about anorexia and the early warning signs for parents.
And more on the ever increasing violence in Iraq and whether it will lead to martial law. I'm going to be talking to CNN military analyst General Don Shepherd about that and the latest hostage crisis unfolding there tonight.
Right now, we begin in Iraq with more hostages taken. Militants announce a new deadline. Al Jazerra reports that terrorists say three Turkish hostages will have their heads cut off in 72 hours unless Turkey withdraws from Iraq. CNN Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf reports on the kidnapping and the attacks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: The Turkish embassy in Baghdad says it's still trying to gather information on who these men might be. The men, three Turkish citizens, apparently holding up Turkish passports and saying their names in Turkish, kneeling in front of people belonging to a group believed to be affiliated with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. This group has made good on previous threats to behead hostages, most recently a South Korean national. And it says it will do the same to these three men if Turkish companies do not withdraw from Iraq in the next 72 hours. In the violence leading up to the handover to Iraqi sovereignty on Wednesday continues. In the latest, a suspected car bomb in the town of Hillah, about 60 miles, 100 kilometers south of Baghdad, kills at least 17 people and wounded at least 40, according to coalition officials. A suspected car bomb went off near a mosque in the city that's close to the ancient site of Babylon.
Coalition officials warning as well that the network that they say is affiliated with Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the most wanted man in Iraq, appears to be growing, that it has become a magnet for foreign fighters and insurgents and that indeed he poses a growing danger.
Jane Arraf, CNN, reporting from Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Well, the tape of the Turkish hostages was released as President Bush was traveling to Turkey for the NATO summit. CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh now reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Turkish foreign ministry officials saying that they're making calls trying to get more information about the status of three Turkish nationals kidnapped on the other side of the border in Iraq. Al Jazerra showing video today of the Turkish nationals held by their captors, a group reportedly linked to Abu Musab al Zarqawi. And the group is demanding that Turks leave Iraq.
This isn't the first time the foreign ministry is involved in these talks, trying to get more information because Turkish foreign ministry officials say this isn't the first time that Turks have been kidnapped in Iraq. Mostly businessman, construction workers, at least 10 of them kidnapped in the last month and a half, but all of them to date have been released unharmed.
The news comes as U.S. President George W. Bush is in Turkey for talks with Turkey's leaders. Topping the agenda, Iraq. The Americans are expected to ask Turkey for an expanded U.S. role at U.S bases in this country as their activities relate to activities on the other side of the border. And also, the Turks say that they have pointed questions for the American president. They want to know what the United States plans to do in Northern Iraq. Turkey fears that Kurds there may be asking for an independent state. Mr. Bush is already answering some of those questions saying that he's pledging to help Turkey fight what the U.S. and Turkey call armed terrorists, the PKK, who are believed to operating in the eastern part of this country as well as hold bases in Northern Iraq.
Mr. Bush's visit not warmly welcomed by all Turks here. In the capital, Ankara, some 6,000 protesters took to the streets letting him know that they are not happy with the U.S. policy in Iraq that they're very much against the war. And during this protest, which was supposed to be peaceful, more than 100 broke away from the large demonstration crowd and tried to break through the police barriers. Now, Turkish security forces and police were having none of that. They answered with tear gas.
Alphonso Van Marsh, CNN, Ankara.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Well, American, Paul Johnson's body still has not been found in Saudi Arabia. But his friends and family still held a memorial service in Egg Harbor, New Jersey. CNN's Alina Cho is there right now.
Alina, it was a somber and a very touching occasion.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It certainly was, Carol. Anyone who has lost a loved one knows that this perhaps is the most difficult -- was the most difficult of all of the difficult days that they have had in the past several weeks. Many people came out, about 100 people today, including family, close friends and people who didn't even know Paul Johnson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHO (voice-over): They came in song and in prayer.
PASTOR GENE HUBER, GREENTREE CHURCH: Sometimes the guilt of the guilty tortures the innocent.
CHO: Most of all, they came to support a family locked in grief over the death of Paul Johnson, a man kidnapped by terrorists in Saudi Arabia June 12 and beheaded by his captors a week later.
SR. PASTOR KYLE HUBER, GREENTREE CHURCH: We will stand with you for all the times that God gives us together in this life.
CHO: In place of a coffin, there was a single photo of Johnson and his wife, a floral arrangement she sent because she's still overseas and tiny white pillows from Johnson's grandchildren. There was also a makeshift flag and a yellow ribbon. Everywhere, signs this community that calls itself Smalltown, America is united in grief. This man lived on the same block as Johnson growing up.
DENNIS SEELEY JR., CHILDHOOD FRIEND: And we always pulled together, and you know, we always pray together and we always try to help our neighbors the best we can.
CHO: Then there were those who didn't know Johnson and his family like this woman.
NATALIE SWAN, GREENTREE CHURCH MEMBER: For the right reasons, we wanted to come. And I'm glad we did. It was beautiful. A beautiful sermon and music and comforting I hope to the family.
CHO: Family members didn't speak during the service, but their grief was evident, especially when Johnson's mother was given an American flag. Afterwards, there was a closing hymn...
CHOIR: God Bless America... CHO: ...and a statement on behalf of the family from the pastor, who spoke of Johnson's work in Saudi Arabia as an Apache helicopter specialist for Lockheed Martin.
K. HUBER: When history is written on the war on terrorism, let Paul's death be the catalyst that leads to thousands more westerners working in harmony with people in the Middle East.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Johnson's family also urged the Saudi government to do everything it can to find and return Johnson's remains to the family. And to those who have asked how they can help, the family said insuring that Johnson's sacrifice is never forgotten -- Carol.
LIN: Alina, this family has been incredibly private during this ordeal. It must have been quite a decision for them to allow cameras into the service. I'm wondering what was behind that decision. Why did they decide to share this day?
CHO: Carol, it was a very, very big deal. In fact, part of the condition of letting us into the church today was that we not shoot the family's faces. Of course, we respected the family's wish.
I can tell you from being inside that, as you might imagine, understandably, it was incredibly emotional. Johnson's mother, in particular, she is frail, she is ill, at many times looked as though she was in disbelief. Johnson's sister, Donna, also very emotional, propping her mother up during much of the service and fighting back tears. But interestingly, Paul Johnson's son, Paul Johnson III, seemed to be a source of strength for the family today or at least putting up a brave front given all of the circumstances.
LIN: Tough day indeed. Thank you very much, Alina Cho.
Well, Kim Sun-Il's body was returned to his hometown in South Korea. Mourners in Pusan a police honor guard escort his flag draped coffin to a memorial altar today. CNN's Sohn Jie-Ae watched as well. And she is on the telephone with us from Seoul.
Sohn Jie-Ae, give us an idea of what it was like to be there.
SOHN JIE-AE, CNN SEOUL BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Carol, it was a very, very devastated nation that met the body of Kim Sun-Il, as the body came from Iraq to Seoul and then took another plane down to Pusan where his hometown and his family awaited him. But everywhere that coffin went, they were -- it was met by weeping mourners in the streets of Seoul, in the streets of Pusan as well. People weeping on the streets. People serenading the body with candles. It was a very -- and it was a very, very devastated family that also met the body in Pusan. The body was given full honor guards and it was escorted by soldiers and police.
The devastated sister met the body initially, and -- but we were hearing that the parents were too devastated. The mother being too shocked and was taken to the hospital several times during this ordeal and was just too weak to be there for the body. But the body was taken to a very small funeral home in Pusan. And because he's a very, very devout Christian, Christian ceremonies were held, religious ceremonies were held to bring the body into the hometown -- Carol.
LIN: Jie-Ae, there were street protests after it was learned that he was beheaded. Pressure on the government to not send 3,000 more troops to Iraq. Where does that stand? And what is -- is the public still keeping up its vigil against the government's decision?
SONH: The public sure is, Carol. Even as the body came into Seoul, there was a very, very large candlelight vigil in Seoul as well as in Pusan as well. But the biggest one in Seoul where we were told that about 5,000 mourners lined the streets -- it's a major street in Seoul with candles. They were calling for the South Korean government to scrap its plans to send additional 3,000 troops to Iraq. They said that was one of the reasons that Kim Sun-Il was murdered in the first place.
But I also have to say that there another trend of feeling in South Korea, even among the younger generation who were against the war in the beginning. There is also a trend that South Korea at this point should not be giving into the terrorist's demands, that this is not what South Korea as a government should do. So there are two major trends, but the one that are you are seeing on the streets is one for the anti-war --Carol.
LIN: All right, thank you very much. Sohn Jie-Ae reporting live from Seoul on the telephone.
Still ahead -- to come on CNN LIVE SATURDAY, it is pouring rain along the Gulf Coast. Conditions are ripe for flash flooding. I'm going to show you who's getting pounded.
Plus, a troubling week for one of the young Olsen twins. A look at Mary Kate's eating disorder and the obsession so many people have with being thin.
And later, turning pro when you're barely old enough to drive. Can these young athletes handle the pressure? We'll take a look at what can be done.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Well, here's what else is happening across America. Police in Naples, Florida, have filed murder charges after finding this man stabbed to death in a trash bin. The arrest came after another man covered in blood walked into a Wal-Mart and bought garbage bags. Suspect Sheddrick Deon Bentley claimed self-defense. Police say the victim, Cory Brightman, was staying with his uncle former Indianapolis Colts running back, Albert Bentley.
The Department of Homeland Security is reminding law enforcement agencies and first responders to be prepared for possible terrorism over the Fourth of July holiday. A bulletin reports that al Qaeda is reportedly ready to attack. And this from Washington -- an FBI computer system that was supposed to be tracking domestic terror threats by the end of the year won't be ready by then. A bureau official confirms to CNN that the much touted virtual case file is behind schedule and there is no completion date.
Well, it's being called the largest piece of folk art in the world. Coming up next, a look at the larger than life memorial to AIDS victims.
Plus, battling eating disorders. Why so many superstars are pushing back from the table and why it could also affect the girl next door? Advice from an expert straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: The AIDS memorial quilt is back in Washington. It has 8,000 new panels and represents 88,000 people who died from AIDS. Organizers say it both pays tribute to them and raises awareness even after more than 20 years after the disease was diagnosed in this country. Let's take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BETH KREAMER, MOTHER OF AIDS VICTIM: My son died in 1996 of AIDS. Greg was 25 when he died. He had graduated from UMass, Boston. It used to be amazing to me how many women would try to pick him up, and he was gay. And they would be crushed. It looks like a sunflower, but it's supposed to be the sun setting in Provincetown, Massachusetts because that was one of his favorite places. And you can see there's comments from several of his friends, including his purr people. Meow, meow, up there, the purr people.
Gert's been with the project since day one.
GERT MCMULLIN, NAMED PROJECT: I'm the first volunteer. I've been involved for over 16 years now and I made one of the first panels. I've probably made over 120.
KREAMER: It's just so amazing.
MCMULLIN: It's not all sad though. It's -- some of it's really happy.
KREAMER: I was a little afraid of giving it away, Gert. It really is a blanket of love now and that's the way I thought about it since I've done it. It became a blanket of love for me as much as for him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pepan Timmons (ph).
KREAMER: When you hear the names and you see the panels and you know each is an individual with a family, and it just becomes exponential as to how many people have been affected.
Thank you so much for everything you've done. (END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Well, whether it's a fatal disease or an eating disorder, it takes a lot of courage to admit there is something wrong. Teen star Mary Kate Olsen's surprising admission she is being treated has gotten the media whipped up about triggers and symptoms of anorexia. Mary Kate Olsen denied for months that she's sick. Her parents, apparently, knew she had problems with food and monitored her eating. They did not think it was anorexia, though.
Michelle Ascher Dunn is a psychoanalyst who works with teens and writes an advice column for them in "The New York Daily News."
Michelle, I don't know what your reaction was when you heard that Mary Kate Olsen was this sick. Of course, the pictures had been out for several months and all kinds of speculation. But it's unimaginable that someone as beautiful and as successful as she is with caring parents would have this kind of problem.
MICHELLE ASCHER DUNN, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": You know it's true and I was heartbroken, but I'm not surprised because there are so many young children and many young people Mary Kate's age who are falling ill from anorexia. So I was not surprised though saddened.
LIN: You passed on a couple of letters, one from a child and one from a parent that were pretty revealing of today's society. Let me read them to our audience here.
One says, "Dear Michelle, is the problem with Mary Kate going to somehow rub off on other kids. I am 13, but ever since I found out about her, I don't feel that hungry either."
Now, that is a scary notion.
ASCHER DUNN: That is so scary, but it's very common because children of all ages and tweens and teens copy and emulate Mary Kate. Parents are kind of scared that children will copy Mary Kate or any of the peers.
LIN: Yes, but the reporting is that she's sick. So why would a child want to emulate her in this matter? I mean if she jumped off a bridge, would they also want to jump off the bridge?
ASCHER DUNN: Well, you know, Kurt Cobain, a lot of people did that after he died. But no, I don't think that would be a real goal. It's the thinness. People -- children want to be thin. Adults want to be thin and tweens want to be thin. They would follow the thinness, not the death.
LIN: And it's the case with anorexics that they don't -- they visually don't have a realistic body image. They look in the mirror and they don't find themselves looking emaciated. They think it's attractive.
ASCHER DUNN: They do think it's attractive. They feel fat even though they're thin. And they feel full even though they're empty. LIN: Yes. And the tricky thing with Mary Kate Olsen is she is petite to begin with, only 5'2" and that her family was aware that she had a problem. Her parents even tried to bribe her by not giving her car back unless she ate and gained more weight.
ASCHER DUNN: That's a very common thing. Parents become -- begin to become aware, sometimes a little too late and they do try to bribe their kids. But sometimes that really doesn't work.
LIN: All right. A letter from a father here.
"Dear Michelle, I am a father of an 11-year-old daughter and I have custody of her right now. My question is this -- would I really know if my girl was coming down with what Mary Kate has? She idolizes this girl and wants to be like her."
ASCHER DUNN: Very good question. I remember that question well. Lots of parents do not know because they don't see the early warning signs. And the early warning signs are very clear now, now that we are -- just learn more about it.
LIN: What are they? Yes, what are they?
ASCHER DUNN: They are specifically food refusal, little diet, pushing food around on the plate, feeling sick, food refusal.
LIN: But you can't force them to eat. So what should you do?
ASCHER DUNN: You really can't force them to eat, but you can sit down and not be in denial yourself. You have to really be aware that your child is falling ill. It may not be as obvious as true anorexia, but you keep your eyes open.
LIN: So do you drag her off to a doctor then? You take her off to a doctor?
ASCHER DUNN: Yes, yes. You take her a doctor.
LIN: She's not going to cooperate, right?
ASCHER DUNN: No, she's not going to cooperate.
LIN: And just a regular physician or a specialist?
ASCHER DUNN: You would start with your regular physician and definitely find an eating specialist as soon as you can.
LIN: All right. What are the -- I mean is there a point where there's no return health wise?
ASCHER DUNN: There is a tipping point and I don't know about no return, but there's a tipping point where the return is very hard to get back.
LIN: And a shocking thing that you mentioned that the tweens, the ages 8 to 12, is the fastest growing group of anorexics. We talk about girls. What about boys?
ASCHER DUNN: There's a small group of boys and they are growing. You'd be surprised because boys are now becoming much more aware of their bodies and thinness is a factor. We don't know how many boys there are because they are underreported.
LIN: All right. Michelle Dunn, it's an amazing story that we have to keep alive. Hopefully, it's not another celebrity that comes down with anorexia to keep the story going.
ASCHER DUNN: Yes, yes.
LIN: Thanks very much, Michelle Dunn.
ASCHER DUNN: Thank you so much for having me.
LIN: Still to come on CNN LIVE SATURDAY, it is not your grandmother's church advice...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's my trumpet. He's my peace. I'm talking about Jesus. Somebody talk...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: That is an unforgettable service delivering a message in his own style. A closer look at the man behind Megafest 2004.
And teens turning pro, can young athletes handle the pressure?
But first, the transfer of power in Iraq. It's just days away. The dangers for U.S. troops.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: In Iraq, the U.S. coalition says a bomb killed 17 people and wounded 40 others in the southern city of Hillah. The car bomb went off near the ancient Babylon site along a road notorious for ambushes.
In New Jersey today, a memorial service for Paul Johnson Jr. He is the American who was kidnapped and beheaded in Saudi Arabia. Relatives said they hope his legacy is one of peace and love for that country where he worked for more than a decade.
Troubling pictures and chilling threats, the Arabic TV network, Al Jazeera, is airing this videotape of three Turkish men apparently being held hostage in Iraq. The terrorist group that beheaded American Nicholas Berg is threatening to do the same to these men unless Turkey pulls its companies out of Iraq within 72 hours.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has arrived in Istanbul Turkey, in advance of the NATO summit. President Bush will be joining him there for Monday's meetings. Rumsfeld made a one-day stop in Moldova earlier today to thank the country for its support in Iraq. More hostages, more dead and more fighting. Kidnappers seem to have free rein in that country, Iraq. Even the military commander of coalition forces admits a major terror network is growing fast. Retired Air Force Major General Don Shepherd is our military analyst tonight.
Good evening, Don.
MAJ GEN DON SHEPPERD (RET), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Good evening.
LIN: What do you make of those pictures of the three Turkish hostages?
SHEPPERD: Very chilling, Carol, because of what we've seen. We are hoping for the best. We're expecting the worst with these people. The strange thing is these people are very likely Muslims. Turkey is overwhelmingly Muslims and attacks against Muslims, attacks against the infrastructure of Iraq, attacks against the Iraqis themselves is what these foreign fighters and the coalescing between them and former insurgents is bringing this country, very sad.
LIN: Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said very recently that the Zarqawi network, which is now holding these hostages, is not static. We believe it is growing. Other groups realize that success breeds success. That is what he said. Do you agree with that? I mean it's undeniable that they've been able to move around the country freely and grab these people.
SHEPPERD: It does. However, the reports are that they are headquarters in Fallujah. Now, Fallujah has been the scene of a truce. It's been a failure so far. Nobody has been handed over. Weapons have not come out. And the question is are the Iraqis willing to allow their cities and their country to be hijacked by foreigners. That's what's bringing them the grief right now not the attacks against the occupying forces, the U.S. and coalition but against Iraqis. Is this going to continue or not? The jury's out, Carol.
LIN: All right. Well, earlier today I talked with the coalition's chief spokesperson, Dan Senor, and this is what he had to say about the Iraqi forces who are going to be taking over come July 1.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID SENOR, COALITION CHIEF SPOKESMAN: Iraqis want a prominent role in their security. They want to play a major role, but they're not ready at this point to play the only role. The fact is both the Iraqis and we understand that after June 30, there will be a significant terror threat on the ground here in Iraq and the Iraqis will not be in position to defend against that threat on their own. And so, they're going to need our help.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Our help for how long? And in a situation where there are more violent attacks, I mean clearly Iraq is more dangerous today than it was 15 months ago.
SHEPPERD: Indeed it is, Carol. We expected this to peter out and it's gone exactly the other way. Dan Senor is right. They're going to need our help. They're not equipped. They're not trained. We're trying to do it rapidly. There are going to be operations in which they will take the lead and need us to back them out. But strangely enough now, when they take over sovereignty, we are going to have to ask for their permission to conduct offensive operations and they are going to ask us to conduct offensive operations. A different situation.
LIN: So let me ask you this, when the Prime Minister Allawi says we may have to consider -- we, as Iraq, may have to consider imposing martial law, what forces, competent forces does he have to impose that? And if that is necessary, will they have to call on American troops or coalition troops to do the job for them?
SHEPPERD: Yes, initially he won't have the forces to do it and he will have to call on us. For instance, in Fallujah, a very logical scenario would be that because of what's coming out of Fallujah and going on there, you impose martial law in Fallujah. And they don't have the police in Fallujah or even outside to bring them in to do it. They're going to have to have our help.
But there again, combined operations and cooperation and notification between U.S. and Iraqi forces are what's going to happen. It's going to take place over a long period of time. You could see even more U.S. troops going in, Carol.
LIN: Yes. Don, you are describing a scenario where, frankly, the coalition needs a little luck in the coming months. We'll see what happens. Thank you very much...
SHEPPERD: Indeed.
LIN: ...Major Don Shepperd -- Major General Don Shepperd.
And on "CNN STURDAY NIGHT," you can see my entire interview with Dan Senor, senior advisor to Ambassador Bremer, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern, 7:00 Pacific. Our big primetime show.
CNN, of course, is committed to bringing you complete coverage leading up to Iraq's new sovereignty, so tune in tomorrow to a "CNN PRESENTS" special report, "COUNTDOWN TO HANDOVER." That is Sunday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 Pacific.
News around the world right now -- six militants have been killed in an Israeli operation in the West Bank town of Nablus. Five of the dead are members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, including their leader in the city. The sixth was a member of Hamas.
The Czech Republic's prime minister is planning to resign. Vladimir Spidla has told leaders of his Social Democratic Party that he will also step down as party leader. Confidence in Spidla's government has been shaken by a poor showing in the recent elections for the European parliament. Rain has caused a washout at Wimbledon today. Off and on downpours meant little action on the court other than a rush to remove and then replace protective tarps. Matches have been rescheduled for tomorrow. And it's only the third time in Wimbledon's 127-year history that weather has forced the tournaments middle Sunday.
Atlanta, Georgia is a bit more proud than usual. The reason, Megafest. Organizers say more than 130,000 people are attending. It is a Christian convention that features spiritual services and family events, including a circus and basketball. But the big draw is the convention's main speaker, a preacher known for his spirituality, humor and unmistakable charisma. Eric Phillips reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BISHOP T.D. JAKES, MEGAFEST FOUNDER: I'm going into another dimension. I'm going to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) black Clark Kent, but I'm coming out of that mud looking like superman. This is your year to turn into superman.
ERIC PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What is it about the Bishop T.D. Jakes' message...
JAKES: I'm dealing with issues. Pray for me.
PHILLIPS: ...that causes even grown men to weep and weep?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's very real. He deals with real issues, real life issues that people deal with every day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, he's way up here on the level of knowledge in the Bible and stuff. And he kind of draws down to the crowd and acts at their level.
PHILLIPS: Jakes is the founder of Megafest, a first of its kind Christian convention offering spiritual renewal and empowerment with workshops catering individually to men, women and children.
(on camera): One hundred thousand preregistered for Megafest and organizers say the final numbers aren't in. But they say by the time it's all said and done, 130,000 or more will have made their way to Atlanta for this conference.
JAKES: I think that there's a great deal of hunger in our country right now for spirituality. You know how (UNINTELLIGIBLE). They always look like they smell something.
PHILLIPS: There's also a hunger fore Jakes' keeping it real style. Like a pied piper, he draws believers from all cultures and socioeconomic classes, even celebrities.
MAGIC JOHNSON, FORMER NBA STAR: When you hear him speak, you just get glued. You can't even go to the rest room. You don't want to miss anything.
PHILLIPS: Jakes hit the national scene in 1993 with his self- published, "Woman Thou Art Loose." It sold more than 2 million copies. Today, he's got nearly 30 books on the shelves.
JAKES: You can overcome. You are more than a...
PHILLIPS: "Time" magazine called Jakes America's best preacher. He's also been dubbed the next Billy Graham.
JAKES: Comparisons make it comfortable for people who need to describe who you are in 300 words or less. But really, most of us are far more complicated than to be a duplication of somebody else.
So God would allow a preacher to go by. He stoops down.
PHILLIPS: Many attending this conference and his 28,000 member church in Dallas say Jakes is one of a kind though he takes no credit for his success.
JAKES: I am not the message. I'm the messenger. I'm not the mail. I'm the postman.
PHILLIPS: A postman whose route extends around the world.
Eric Phillips, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: His foul mouth is rubbing off on a few U.S. citizens.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Did you hear what happened with...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, I heard him saying....
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Telling everybody to (EXPLETIVE DELETED) off.
MOOS: See, now, I'll have to bleep you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Still to come, how some people view politics and profanity.
Plus, more and more teenagers are turning pro. But how young is too young to play professional sports?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Tonya Harding's dream of becoming a big time boxer may have to wait a while. The 33-year-old former ice skating champ was definitely not a champ at a boxing match last night in Canada. There she goes. She was actually knocked out by 22-year-old Amy Johnson in the third round. Harding was hoping to win the bout and land a pay- per-view match that could have paid her as much as $600,000.
All right, well, when it comes to sports, how young is too young to tackle the world of professional sports? That was the big question earlier this week when the Orlando Magic chose Dwight Howard as their first pick in this year's NBA draft. But was it a mistake for the 18- year-old to graduate from high school straight into the NBA? We turn to "USA Today" sportswriter Mel Antonen in Washington today.
Mel, good to see you.
MEL ANTONEN, SPORTSWRITER, "USA TODAY": Good evening, Carol. How are you?
LIN: I'm doing just fine. Take a look at this story. Dwight Howard is the third prep player in four years to be chosen as No. 1. Is it a fact now that high schoolers are a hotter commodity than college players?
ANTONEN: Without a doubt right now, high school players are stronger. They're more talented and NBA teams like to draft them and then develop them on their own. So yes, there is this trend now to draft high school players. But I have to say this -- it's not as easy to go from the high school playing court to the NBA and be as good as Lebron James was -- has been in Cleveland. It's not that easy. There's a lot of issues involved.
LIN: Or as lucky as Kobe Bryant. I mean what are the challenges for this kid?
ANTONEN: First of all, there's the challenges of life, you know. I'm leaving home and I'm going to go to this city and I got to decide where am I going to live, how much am I going to pay for my apartment? What am I going to do with all this money that comes up?
LIN: Or all these women.
ANTONEN: Where am I going to eat?
LIN: Yes.
ANTONEN: Where am I going to eat?
LIN: But...
ANTONEN: And then you have the expectations on the job. You're going to go to work and people are going to expect because that you're making millions that you got to be good right away. There's no really learning curve. You have to be at the top of your game right away and so there's incredible expectations.
LIN: All right. Well, in Dwight Howard's case, he's 18 years old. He's a devout Christian. He's wanted to play in the NBA since he was a toddler and his uncle is going to be traveling with him at least for the first year. I mean so how corruptible is this kid really?
ANTONEN: Well, that's a good thing that his uncle is there and that he's got the support of his family because there is a lot of things that can happen in traveling and being around, you know living an NBA life that an 18-year-old has no idea how to deal with. So it's a good thing that his uncle is there.
But even though his uncle is there, it's still going to be very, very difficult. There's the emotional baggage. There's the emotional challenge that you don't know how an 18-year-old's going to be react when there's 16,000 fans either cheering you or booing you or some 30- year-old superstar in some city knocking you on your tail. I mean there's going to be some huge, huge adjustments. And just because Lebron James did it in Cleveland a couple years ago, doesn't mean that it's automatic for any high school player no matter how good he is. And people are saying that Mr. Howard is very mature and very strong, but man, it's a huge challenge.
LIN: Well, who's saying that, the NBA? I mean, you know, it's to their benefit. They get all the buzz, taking these young players and bringing them up to professional sports and maybe that's what they want. They like to talk about this boot camp. Have you heard about this, Mel, this boot camp that they put young players in, including Lebron James apparently went to the same program where they talk about everything from how to write a check to how to fend off the women to, you know, how to not make the mistake of marrying early, you know, how to identify love? Bu I don't know. How successful really is this program? And do you think the NBC is sincere about these kids learning those tips?
ANTONEN: It might be successful, but I don't think you can learn all of life's challenges in one afternoon or two hours or whatever. You have to learn by trial and error. So yes, those things are good and I think sometimes they help. All sports tend to do them. They try to help the young kids out, show them the temptations and show them how to live it straight. But it's still more difficult. It's one thing to do it in the classroom and understand it. It's another thing to do it in the reality of life and that's what makes it so difficult.
LIN: Is this -- does the sport matter when it comes to age, too? I mean what about baseball or tennis or, you know, other different professional sports? Golf even. I mean Tiger Woods did just fine.
ANTONEN: Yes, Tiger Woods just did fine. I mean there are some young players that can do very well. Basketball is extremely intense because you're thrown out into the NBA and you say OK, do the job. In baseball, I think sometimes it's a little bit easier because if you're an 18 or a 19-year-old you get sent to some small town in Montana or Kansas and they give you time to learn your trade. You might have three or four years before you have to produce on the big league level. In football, there are no 18-year-olds. Nobody jumps from high school to the professional ranks. You got to go through four years of college.
LIN: Plus, it's the physicality of the sport too. It makes a difference in probably...
ANTONEN: Pardon me?
LIN: The physicality of the sport. You have to physically develop in those years. ANTONENT: Exactly. So you know football doesn't have that problem. I think baseball can be a little easier than basketball in that you have at least some apprenticeship or some type of internship to learn your trade. I mean if you make a mistake in Montana, that's one thing.
LIN: Right.
ANTONEN: But if you make a mistake in Orlando with, you know, 15,000 people watching you...
LIN: Right.
ANTONEN: ...and the entire media, it's huge. So there's a lot of stress involved.
LIN: All right. Thanks very much, Mel Antonen. Good to see you.
ANTONEN: Thank you, Carol.
LIN: Well, a slip of the tongue has put him under the gun. Coming up next, lend an ear to the unpleasant language from the vice president of the United States and find out why it isn't all that uncommon.
Plus, Michael Moore is thanking his critics for putting him in the spotlight when -- well, when they tell you why when we tell you why when CNN LIVE SATURDAY rolls on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: The film "Fahrenheit 9/11" is igniting both controversy and big ticket sales. It earned more than $8 million its first day in theaters but some conservatives are crying foul over the anti-Bush film and are trying to get TV ads for it yanked. CNN's Adaora Udoji reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Michael Moore went looking for a fight. He got one in "Fahrenheit 9/11," his movie, attacking President Bush's Iraq war, accusing him of cronyism and deceit.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers. Thank you. Now, watch this drive.
UDOJI: As the movie's hype hits a crescendo opening nationwide, the White House is pushing back, calling his views radical.
DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: This is a film that doesn't require us to actually view it to know that it's filled with factual inaccuracies. UDOJI (on camera): One group of Bush supporters, Citizen United, went further, filing a complaint with the Federal Election Commission urging it to yank the movie's broadcast ads next month.
DAVID BOSSIE, PRESIDENT, CITIZEN UNITED: The sound clips of President Bush and other federal candidates for office are subject to the restrictions and regulatory requirements of federal campaign law.
UDOJI (voice-over): They argue the images amount to illegal partisan advertising barred so close to the Republican National Convention.
MICHAEL MOORE, FILMMAKER: It's a violation of my First Amendment rights that I cannot advertise my movie? It's a movie.
UDOJI: But Moore has been riding a hoopla train for weeks, winning the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival, tangling with Disney, which refused to distribute it. Always irreverent, he's thanking his critics.
MOORE: They've only done this film a huge favor. I can't thank them enough because the publicity it's given the film, I mean, I couldn't even put a dollar amount on it.
UDOJI: Translation, more eyes to see his version of the Bush White House. More votes, he hopes, against the president in November and no doubt, more money in his pocket.
Adaora Udoji, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: All right, we're going to stay on the political front. Latino voters are important to both parties this November. And John Kerry was stumping hard today for their votes in Washington. He told them that his economic plan would reverse the damage done by the Bush administration, sending jobs overseas and tax cuts. But Republicans struck back. The Bush administration sent out a letter quoting five Latino Congressmen who accuse Kerry of doing little or nothing -- quote, unquote -- "for Latinos."
No regrets. Vice President Dick Cheney is standing by his use of the f-word earlier this week during an encounter with a Democratic senator. It is not the first time a Washington insider has been caught using salty language. Our Jeanne Moos reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS (voice-over): Swearing in is one thing. Swearing is another.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... major league (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
MOOS: Remember when candidate George Bush referred to a reporter as an opening as a posterior anatomy, to which Dick Cheney replied, "Big-time!" Well, now it's Mr. Cheney who's gone big time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He dropped the "F" bomb.
MOOS (on camera): He said the "F" word. He said "F" you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really?
MOOS: Did you hear what happened with...?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I heard Dick Cheney telling everybody to (EXPLETIVE DELETED)) off.
MOOS: See, now I have to bleep you!
(voice-over) Actually, the vice president only told off one person, Senator Patrick Leahy.
CAVUTO: Do you have any regrets?
CHENEY: No. I said it.
MOOS: Doesn't everybody curse these days?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED)).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's actually swearing at someone and demeaning another human being.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Depends on the word. I mean, that would offend me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dick, just apologize!
MOOS: In an interview with "Rolling Stone" the "F" word rolled off Kerry's tongue: "Did I expect George Bush to (EXPLETIVE DELETED)) it up as badly as he did? I don't think anybody did."
And after a snowboarding spill, Kerry was quoted as saying, "I don't fall down. That is son of a (EXPLETIVE DELETED)) ran into me.
George Bush, the elder debated Geraldine Ferraro, then bragged, "We kicked a little (EXPLETIVE DELETED))."
And Barbara Bush once said of Geraldine Ferraro, "I'm not going to say it, but it rhymes with witch."
(on camera) Now, if you don't mind, this is Match the Politician to the Profanity Quiz.
"Major league a-hole." Who said that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was John Kerry.
MOOS: That was not John Kerry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was Barbara Bush?
MOOS: No, it wasn't Barbara Bush.
"F" Saddam, we're taking him out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's George Bush!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They always believe taking people out.
MOOS: Remember this one, "major league a-hole?" You don't remember that one? You're failing the quiz!
(voice-over) Funny that just when Dick Cheney gets caught cursing, Madonna is cleaning up her act by charging those working for her five bucks every time they swear.
Politicians must envy Bulworth, the fictional Senator who, thinking he's going to die, liberated his language.
WARREN BEATTY, ACTOR: Oh, (EXPLETIVE DELETED) (EXPLETIVE DELETED) (EXPLETIVE DELETED). That's the real obscenity black folks living with everyday is trying to believe a (EXPLETIVE DELETED)) word Democrats and Republicans say.
MOOS: But how do you say the unsayable? "The Washington Post" wrote out the entire "F" word uttered by Vice President Cheney, but referred to Mr. Bush's earlier discretion as "expletive."
While "The New York Times" never even got as the "F," opting for "an obscene phrase to describe what he thought Mr. Leahy should do."
And all of those hyphens and missing letters? Think of it as the Morse code of cursing. Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: And that's all the time we have right now. Coming up next at 7:00 Eastern is "THE CAPITAL GANG." Mark Shields has a look at what the gang has for tonight.
MARK SHIELDS, CO-HOST, THE CAPITAL GANG: "THE CAPITAL GANG" looks at the return of Bill Clinton, at Republicans not letting John Kerry vote at the Senate, Ralph Nader versus the Congressional Black Caucus, plus a direct report on terrorist violence in Saudi Arabia. All that and much more right here next on CNN.
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 June 26, 2004 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. I'm Carol Lin. CNN LIVE SATURDAY starts in just a minute, but first I've got these headlines. Al Jazerra Television shows terrorists in Iraq threatening to behead these three Turkish hostages. The Arab network says a group linked to rebel leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi kidnapped them. And the group says Turkey has 72 hours to pull its businesses out of Iraq.
The U.S. coalition says a bombing killed 17 people and wounded 40 others in the city of Hillah. The car bomb went off near the ancient -- or the site of the ancient Babylon City along a road notorious for ambushes.
The Green Party is not endorsing Independent candidate Ralph Nader for president. At their national convention in Milwaukee today, the Greens nominated Texas attorney, David Cobb. That means Nader won't have the party's access to the ballot in 22 states and Washington, D.C.
And once again, I'm Carol Lin and welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Tonight, body image. For some the fight to be thin can kill. Teen star Mary-Kate Olsen is battling an eating disorder. I'll have a frank discussion about anorexia and the early warning signs for parents.
And more on the ever increasing violence in Iraq and whether it will lead to martial law. I'm going to be talking to CNN military analyst General Don Shepherd about that and the latest hostage crisis unfolding there tonight.
Right now, we begin in Iraq with more hostages taken. Militants announce a new deadline. Al Jazerra reports that terrorists say three Turkish hostages will have their heads cut off in 72 hours unless Turkey withdraws from Iraq. CNN Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf reports on the kidnapping and the attacks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: The Turkish embassy in Baghdad says it's still trying to gather information on who these men might be. The men, three Turkish citizens, apparently holding up Turkish passports and saying their names in Turkish, kneeling in front of people belonging to a group believed to be affiliated with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. This group has made good on previous threats to behead hostages, most recently a South Korean national. And it says it will do the same to these three men if Turkish companies do not withdraw from Iraq in the next 72 hours. In the violence leading up to the handover to Iraqi sovereignty on Wednesday continues. In the latest, a suspected car bomb in the town of Hillah, about 60 miles, 100 kilometers south of Baghdad, kills at least 17 people and wounded at least 40, according to coalition officials. A suspected car bomb went off near a mosque in the city that's close to the ancient site of Babylon.
Coalition officials warning as well that the network that they say is affiliated with Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the most wanted man in Iraq, appears to be growing, that it has become a magnet for foreign fighters and insurgents and that indeed he poses a growing danger.
Jane Arraf, CNN, reporting from Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Well, the tape of the Turkish hostages was released as President Bush was traveling to Turkey for the NATO summit. CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh now reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Turkish foreign ministry officials saying that they're making calls trying to get more information about the status of three Turkish nationals kidnapped on the other side of the border in Iraq. Al Jazerra showing video today of the Turkish nationals held by their captors, a group reportedly linked to Abu Musab al Zarqawi. And the group is demanding that Turks leave Iraq.
This isn't the first time the foreign ministry is involved in these talks, trying to get more information because Turkish foreign ministry officials say this isn't the first time that Turks have been kidnapped in Iraq. Mostly businessman, construction workers, at least 10 of them kidnapped in the last month and a half, but all of them to date have been released unharmed.
The news comes as U.S. President George W. Bush is in Turkey for talks with Turkey's leaders. Topping the agenda, Iraq. The Americans are expected to ask Turkey for an expanded U.S. role at U.S bases in this country as their activities relate to activities on the other side of the border. And also, the Turks say that they have pointed questions for the American president. They want to know what the United States plans to do in Northern Iraq. Turkey fears that Kurds there may be asking for an independent state. Mr. Bush is already answering some of those questions saying that he's pledging to help Turkey fight what the U.S. and Turkey call armed terrorists, the PKK, who are believed to operating in the eastern part of this country as well as hold bases in Northern Iraq.
Mr. Bush's visit not warmly welcomed by all Turks here. In the capital, Ankara, some 6,000 protesters took to the streets letting him know that they are not happy with the U.S. policy in Iraq that they're very much against the war. And during this protest, which was supposed to be peaceful, more than 100 broke away from the large demonstration crowd and tried to break through the police barriers. Now, Turkish security forces and police were having none of that. They answered with tear gas.
Alphonso Van Marsh, CNN, Ankara.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Well, American, Paul Johnson's body still has not been found in Saudi Arabia. But his friends and family still held a memorial service in Egg Harbor, New Jersey. CNN's Alina Cho is there right now.
Alina, it was a somber and a very touching occasion.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It certainly was, Carol. Anyone who has lost a loved one knows that this perhaps is the most difficult -- was the most difficult of all of the difficult days that they have had in the past several weeks. Many people came out, about 100 people today, including family, close friends and people who didn't even know Paul Johnson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHO (voice-over): They came in song and in prayer.
PASTOR GENE HUBER, GREENTREE CHURCH: Sometimes the guilt of the guilty tortures the innocent.
CHO: Most of all, they came to support a family locked in grief over the death of Paul Johnson, a man kidnapped by terrorists in Saudi Arabia June 12 and beheaded by his captors a week later.
SR. PASTOR KYLE HUBER, GREENTREE CHURCH: We will stand with you for all the times that God gives us together in this life.
CHO: In place of a coffin, there was a single photo of Johnson and his wife, a floral arrangement she sent because she's still overseas and tiny white pillows from Johnson's grandchildren. There was also a makeshift flag and a yellow ribbon. Everywhere, signs this community that calls itself Smalltown, America is united in grief. This man lived on the same block as Johnson growing up.
DENNIS SEELEY JR., CHILDHOOD FRIEND: And we always pulled together, and you know, we always pray together and we always try to help our neighbors the best we can.
CHO: Then there were those who didn't know Johnson and his family like this woman.
NATALIE SWAN, GREENTREE CHURCH MEMBER: For the right reasons, we wanted to come. And I'm glad we did. It was beautiful. A beautiful sermon and music and comforting I hope to the family.
CHO: Family members didn't speak during the service, but their grief was evident, especially when Johnson's mother was given an American flag. Afterwards, there was a closing hymn...
CHOIR: God Bless America... CHO: ...and a statement on behalf of the family from the pastor, who spoke of Johnson's work in Saudi Arabia as an Apache helicopter specialist for Lockheed Martin.
K. HUBER: When history is written on the war on terrorism, let Paul's death be the catalyst that leads to thousands more westerners working in harmony with people in the Middle East.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Johnson's family also urged the Saudi government to do everything it can to find and return Johnson's remains to the family. And to those who have asked how they can help, the family said insuring that Johnson's sacrifice is never forgotten -- Carol.
LIN: Alina, this family has been incredibly private during this ordeal. It must have been quite a decision for them to allow cameras into the service. I'm wondering what was behind that decision. Why did they decide to share this day?
CHO: Carol, it was a very, very big deal. In fact, part of the condition of letting us into the church today was that we not shoot the family's faces. Of course, we respected the family's wish.
I can tell you from being inside that, as you might imagine, understandably, it was incredibly emotional. Johnson's mother, in particular, she is frail, she is ill, at many times looked as though she was in disbelief. Johnson's sister, Donna, also very emotional, propping her mother up during much of the service and fighting back tears. But interestingly, Paul Johnson's son, Paul Johnson III, seemed to be a source of strength for the family today or at least putting up a brave front given all of the circumstances.
LIN: Tough day indeed. Thank you very much, Alina Cho.
Well, Kim Sun-Il's body was returned to his hometown in South Korea. Mourners in Pusan a police honor guard escort his flag draped coffin to a memorial altar today. CNN's Sohn Jie-Ae watched as well. And she is on the telephone with us from Seoul.
Sohn Jie-Ae, give us an idea of what it was like to be there.
SOHN JIE-AE, CNN SEOUL BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Carol, it was a very, very devastated nation that met the body of Kim Sun-Il, as the body came from Iraq to Seoul and then took another plane down to Pusan where his hometown and his family awaited him. But everywhere that coffin went, they were -- it was met by weeping mourners in the streets of Seoul, in the streets of Pusan as well. People weeping on the streets. People serenading the body with candles. It was a very -- and it was a very, very devastated family that also met the body in Pusan. The body was given full honor guards and it was escorted by soldiers and police.
The devastated sister met the body initially, and -- but we were hearing that the parents were too devastated. The mother being too shocked and was taken to the hospital several times during this ordeal and was just too weak to be there for the body. But the body was taken to a very small funeral home in Pusan. And because he's a very, very devout Christian, Christian ceremonies were held, religious ceremonies were held to bring the body into the hometown -- Carol.
LIN: Jie-Ae, there were street protests after it was learned that he was beheaded. Pressure on the government to not send 3,000 more troops to Iraq. Where does that stand? And what is -- is the public still keeping up its vigil against the government's decision?
SONH: The public sure is, Carol. Even as the body came into Seoul, there was a very, very large candlelight vigil in Seoul as well as in Pusan as well. But the biggest one in Seoul where we were told that about 5,000 mourners lined the streets -- it's a major street in Seoul with candles. They were calling for the South Korean government to scrap its plans to send additional 3,000 troops to Iraq. They said that was one of the reasons that Kim Sun-Il was murdered in the first place.
But I also have to say that there another trend of feeling in South Korea, even among the younger generation who were against the war in the beginning. There is also a trend that South Korea at this point should not be giving into the terrorist's demands, that this is not what South Korea as a government should do. So there are two major trends, but the one that are you are seeing on the streets is one for the anti-war --Carol.
LIN: All right, thank you very much. Sohn Jie-Ae reporting live from Seoul on the telephone.
Still ahead -- to come on CNN LIVE SATURDAY, it is pouring rain along the Gulf Coast. Conditions are ripe for flash flooding. I'm going to show you who's getting pounded.
Plus, a troubling week for one of the young Olsen twins. A look at Mary Kate's eating disorder and the obsession so many people have with being thin.
And later, turning pro when you're barely old enough to drive. Can these young athletes handle the pressure? We'll take a look at what can be done.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Well, here's what else is happening across America. Police in Naples, Florida, have filed murder charges after finding this man stabbed to death in a trash bin. The arrest came after another man covered in blood walked into a Wal-Mart and bought garbage bags. Suspect Sheddrick Deon Bentley claimed self-defense. Police say the victim, Cory Brightman, was staying with his uncle former Indianapolis Colts running back, Albert Bentley.
The Department of Homeland Security is reminding law enforcement agencies and first responders to be prepared for possible terrorism over the Fourth of July holiday. A bulletin reports that al Qaeda is reportedly ready to attack. And this from Washington -- an FBI computer system that was supposed to be tracking domestic terror threats by the end of the year won't be ready by then. A bureau official confirms to CNN that the much touted virtual case file is behind schedule and there is no completion date.
Well, it's being called the largest piece of folk art in the world. Coming up next, a look at the larger than life memorial to AIDS victims.
Plus, battling eating disorders. Why so many superstars are pushing back from the table and why it could also affect the girl next door? Advice from an expert straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: The AIDS memorial quilt is back in Washington. It has 8,000 new panels and represents 88,000 people who died from AIDS. Organizers say it both pays tribute to them and raises awareness even after more than 20 years after the disease was diagnosed in this country. Let's take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BETH KREAMER, MOTHER OF AIDS VICTIM: My son died in 1996 of AIDS. Greg was 25 when he died. He had graduated from UMass, Boston. It used to be amazing to me how many women would try to pick him up, and he was gay. And they would be crushed. It looks like a sunflower, but it's supposed to be the sun setting in Provincetown, Massachusetts because that was one of his favorite places. And you can see there's comments from several of his friends, including his purr people. Meow, meow, up there, the purr people.
Gert's been with the project since day one.
GERT MCMULLIN, NAMED PROJECT: I'm the first volunteer. I've been involved for over 16 years now and I made one of the first panels. I've probably made over 120.
KREAMER: It's just so amazing.
MCMULLIN: It's not all sad though. It's -- some of it's really happy.
KREAMER: I was a little afraid of giving it away, Gert. It really is a blanket of love now and that's the way I thought about it since I've done it. It became a blanket of love for me as much as for him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pepan Timmons (ph).
KREAMER: When you hear the names and you see the panels and you know each is an individual with a family, and it just becomes exponential as to how many people have been affected.
Thank you so much for everything you've done. (END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Well, whether it's a fatal disease or an eating disorder, it takes a lot of courage to admit there is something wrong. Teen star Mary Kate Olsen's surprising admission she is being treated has gotten the media whipped up about triggers and symptoms of anorexia. Mary Kate Olsen denied for months that she's sick. Her parents, apparently, knew she had problems with food and monitored her eating. They did not think it was anorexia, though.
Michelle Ascher Dunn is a psychoanalyst who works with teens and writes an advice column for them in "The New York Daily News."
Michelle, I don't know what your reaction was when you heard that Mary Kate Olsen was this sick. Of course, the pictures had been out for several months and all kinds of speculation. But it's unimaginable that someone as beautiful and as successful as she is with caring parents would have this kind of problem.
MICHELLE ASCHER DUNN, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": You know it's true and I was heartbroken, but I'm not surprised because there are so many young children and many young people Mary Kate's age who are falling ill from anorexia. So I was not surprised though saddened.
LIN: You passed on a couple of letters, one from a child and one from a parent that were pretty revealing of today's society. Let me read them to our audience here.
One says, "Dear Michelle, is the problem with Mary Kate going to somehow rub off on other kids. I am 13, but ever since I found out about her, I don't feel that hungry either."
Now, that is a scary notion.
ASCHER DUNN: That is so scary, but it's very common because children of all ages and tweens and teens copy and emulate Mary Kate. Parents are kind of scared that children will copy Mary Kate or any of the peers.
LIN: Yes, but the reporting is that she's sick. So why would a child want to emulate her in this matter? I mean if she jumped off a bridge, would they also want to jump off the bridge?
ASCHER DUNN: Well, you know, Kurt Cobain, a lot of people did that after he died. But no, I don't think that would be a real goal. It's the thinness. People -- children want to be thin. Adults want to be thin and tweens want to be thin. They would follow the thinness, not the death.
LIN: And it's the case with anorexics that they don't -- they visually don't have a realistic body image. They look in the mirror and they don't find themselves looking emaciated. They think it's attractive.
ASCHER DUNN: They do think it's attractive. They feel fat even though they're thin. And they feel full even though they're empty. LIN: Yes. And the tricky thing with Mary Kate Olsen is she is petite to begin with, only 5'2" and that her family was aware that she had a problem. Her parents even tried to bribe her by not giving her car back unless she ate and gained more weight.
ASCHER DUNN: That's a very common thing. Parents become -- begin to become aware, sometimes a little too late and they do try to bribe their kids. But sometimes that really doesn't work.
LIN: All right. A letter from a father here.
"Dear Michelle, I am a father of an 11-year-old daughter and I have custody of her right now. My question is this -- would I really know if my girl was coming down with what Mary Kate has? She idolizes this girl and wants to be like her."
ASCHER DUNN: Very good question. I remember that question well. Lots of parents do not know because they don't see the early warning signs. And the early warning signs are very clear now, now that we are -- just learn more about it.
LIN: What are they? Yes, what are they?
ASCHER DUNN: They are specifically food refusal, little diet, pushing food around on the plate, feeling sick, food refusal.
LIN: But you can't force them to eat. So what should you do?
ASCHER DUNN: You really can't force them to eat, but you can sit down and not be in denial yourself. You have to really be aware that your child is falling ill. It may not be as obvious as true anorexia, but you keep your eyes open.
LIN: So do you drag her off to a doctor then? You take her off to a doctor?
ASCHER DUNN: Yes, yes. You take her a doctor.
LIN: She's not going to cooperate, right?
ASCHER DUNN: No, she's not going to cooperate.
LIN: And just a regular physician or a specialist?
ASCHER DUNN: You would start with your regular physician and definitely find an eating specialist as soon as you can.
LIN: All right. What are the -- I mean is there a point where there's no return health wise?
ASCHER DUNN: There is a tipping point and I don't know about no return, but there's a tipping point where the return is very hard to get back.
LIN: And a shocking thing that you mentioned that the tweens, the ages 8 to 12, is the fastest growing group of anorexics. We talk about girls. What about boys?
ASCHER DUNN: There's a small group of boys and they are growing. You'd be surprised because boys are now becoming much more aware of their bodies and thinness is a factor. We don't know how many boys there are because they are underreported.
LIN: All right. Michelle Dunn, it's an amazing story that we have to keep alive. Hopefully, it's not another celebrity that comes down with anorexia to keep the story going.
ASCHER DUNN: Yes, yes.
LIN: Thanks very much, Michelle Dunn.
ASCHER DUNN: Thank you so much for having me.
LIN: Still to come on CNN LIVE SATURDAY, it is not your grandmother's church advice...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's my trumpet. He's my peace. I'm talking about Jesus. Somebody talk...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: That is an unforgettable service delivering a message in his own style. A closer look at the man behind Megafest 2004.
And teens turning pro, can young athletes handle the pressure?
But first, the transfer of power in Iraq. It's just days away. The dangers for U.S. troops.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: In Iraq, the U.S. coalition says a bomb killed 17 people and wounded 40 others in the southern city of Hillah. The car bomb went off near the ancient Babylon site along a road notorious for ambushes.
In New Jersey today, a memorial service for Paul Johnson Jr. He is the American who was kidnapped and beheaded in Saudi Arabia. Relatives said they hope his legacy is one of peace and love for that country where he worked for more than a decade.
Troubling pictures and chilling threats, the Arabic TV network, Al Jazeera, is airing this videotape of three Turkish men apparently being held hostage in Iraq. The terrorist group that beheaded American Nicholas Berg is threatening to do the same to these men unless Turkey pulls its companies out of Iraq within 72 hours.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has arrived in Istanbul Turkey, in advance of the NATO summit. President Bush will be joining him there for Monday's meetings. Rumsfeld made a one-day stop in Moldova earlier today to thank the country for its support in Iraq. More hostages, more dead and more fighting. Kidnappers seem to have free rein in that country, Iraq. Even the military commander of coalition forces admits a major terror network is growing fast. Retired Air Force Major General Don Shepherd is our military analyst tonight.
Good evening, Don.
MAJ GEN DON SHEPPERD (RET), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Good evening.
LIN: What do you make of those pictures of the three Turkish hostages?
SHEPPERD: Very chilling, Carol, because of what we've seen. We are hoping for the best. We're expecting the worst with these people. The strange thing is these people are very likely Muslims. Turkey is overwhelmingly Muslims and attacks against Muslims, attacks against the infrastructure of Iraq, attacks against the Iraqis themselves is what these foreign fighters and the coalescing between them and former insurgents is bringing this country, very sad.
LIN: Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said very recently that the Zarqawi network, which is now holding these hostages, is not static. We believe it is growing. Other groups realize that success breeds success. That is what he said. Do you agree with that? I mean it's undeniable that they've been able to move around the country freely and grab these people.
SHEPPERD: It does. However, the reports are that they are headquarters in Fallujah. Now, Fallujah has been the scene of a truce. It's been a failure so far. Nobody has been handed over. Weapons have not come out. And the question is are the Iraqis willing to allow their cities and their country to be hijacked by foreigners. That's what's bringing them the grief right now not the attacks against the occupying forces, the U.S. and coalition but against Iraqis. Is this going to continue or not? The jury's out, Carol.
LIN: All right. Well, earlier today I talked with the coalition's chief spokesperson, Dan Senor, and this is what he had to say about the Iraqi forces who are going to be taking over come July 1.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID SENOR, COALITION CHIEF SPOKESMAN: Iraqis want a prominent role in their security. They want to play a major role, but they're not ready at this point to play the only role. The fact is both the Iraqis and we understand that after June 30, there will be a significant terror threat on the ground here in Iraq and the Iraqis will not be in position to defend against that threat on their own. And so, they're going to need our help.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Our help for how long? And in a situation where there are more violent attacks, I mean clearly Iraq is more dangerous today than it was 15 months ago.
SHEPPERD: Indeed it is, Carol. We expected this to peter out and it's gone exactly the other way. Dan Senor is right. They're going to need our help. They're not equipped. They're not trained. We're trying to do it rapidly. There are going to be operations in which they will take the lead and need us to back them out. But strangely enough now, when they take over sovereignty, we are going to have to ask for their permission to conduct offensive operations and they are going to ask us to conduct offensive operations. A different situation.
LIN: So let me ask you this, when the Prime Minister Allawi says we may have to consider -- we, as Iraq, may have to consider imposing martial law, what forces, competent forces does he have to impose that? And if that is necessary, will they have to call on American troops or coalition troops to do the job for them?
SHEPPERD: Yes, initially he won't have the forces to do it and he will have to call on us. For instance, in Fallujah, a very logical scenario would be that because of what's coming out of Fallujah and going on there, you impose martial law in Fallujah. And they don't have the police in Fallujah or even outside to bring them in to do it. They're going to have to have our help.
But there again, combined operations and cooperation and notification between U.S. and Iraqi forces are what's going to happen. It's going to take place over a long period of time. You could see even more U.S. troops going in, Carol.
LIN: Yes. Don, you are describing a scenario where, frankly, the coalition needs a little luck in the coming months. We'll see what happens. Thank you very much...
SHEPPERD: Indeed.
LIN: ...Major Don Shepperd -- Major General Don Shepperd.
And on "CNN STURDAY NIGHT," you can see my entire interview with Dan Senor, senior advisor to Ambassador Bremer, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern, 7:00 Pacific. Our big primetime show.
CNN, of course, is committed to bringing you complete coverage leading up to Iraq's new sovereignty, so tune in tomorrow to a "CNN PRESENTS" special report, "COUNTDOWN TO HANDOVER." That is Sunday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 Pacific.
News around the world right now -- six militants have been killed in an Israeli operation in the West Bank town of Nablus. Five of the dead are members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, including their leader in the city. The sixth was a member of Hamas.
The Czech Republic's prime minister is planning to resign. Vladimir Spidla has told leaders of his Social Democratic Party that he will also step down as party leader. Confidence in Spidla's government has been shaken by a poor showing in the recent elections for the European parliament. Rain has caused a washout at Wimbledon today. Off and on downpours meant little action on the court other than a rush to remove and then replace protective tarps. Matches have been rescheduled for tomorrow. And it's only the third time in Wimbledon's 127-year history that weather has forced the tournaments middle Sunday.
Atlanta, Georgia is a bit more proud than usual. The reason, Megafest. Organizers say more than 130,000 people are attending. It is a Christian convention that features spiritual services and family events, including a circus and basketball. But the big draw is the convention's main speaker, a preacher known for his spirituality, humor and unmistakable charisma. Eric Phillips reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BISHOP T.D. JAKES, MEGAFEST FOUNDER: I'm going into another dimension. I'm going to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) black Clark Kent, but I'm coming out of that mud looking like superman. This is your year to turn into superman.
ERIC PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What is it about the Bishop T.D. Jakes' message...
JAKES: I'm dealing with issues. Pray for me.
PHILLIPS: ...that causes even grown men to weep and weep?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's very real. He deals with real issues, real life issues that people deal with every day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, he's way up here on the level of knowledge in the Bible and stuff. And he kind of draws down to the crowd and acts at their level.
PHILLIPS: Jakes is the founder of Megafest, a first of its kind Christian convention offering spiritual renewal and empowerment with workshops catering individually to men, women and children.
(on camera): One hundred thousand preregistered for Megafest and organizers say the final numbers aren't in. But they say by the time it's all said and done, 130,000 or more will have made their way to Atlanta for this conference.
JAKES: I think that there's a great deal of hunger in our country right now for spirituality. You know how (UNINTELLIGIBLE). They always look like they smell something.
PHILLIPS: There's also a hunger fore Jakes' keeping it real style. Like a pied piper, he draws believers from all cultures and socioeconomic classes, even celebrities.
MAGIC JOHNSON, FORMER NBA STAR: When you hear him speak, you just get glued. You can't even go to the rest room. You don't want to miss anything.
PHILLIPS: Jakes hit the national scene in 1993 with his self- published, "Woman Thou Art Loose." It sold more than 2 million copies. Today, he's got nearly 30 books on the shelves.
JAKES: You can overcome. You are more than a...
PHILLIPS: "Time" magazine called Jakes America's best preacher. He's also been dubbed the next Billy Graham.
JAKES: Comparisons make it comfortable for people who need to describe who you are in 300 words or less. But really, most of us are far more complicated than to be a duplication of somebody else.
So God would allow a preacher to go by. He stoops down.
PHILLIPS: Many attending this conference and his 28,000 member church in Dallas say Jakes is one of a kind though he takes no credit for his success.
JAKES: I am not the message. I'm the messenger. I'm not the mail. I'm the postman.
PHILLIPS: A postman whose route extends around the world.
Eric Phillips, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: His foul mouth is rubbing off on a few U.S. citizens.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Did you hear what happened with...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, I heard him saying....
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Telling everybody to (EXPLETIVE DELETED) off.
MOOS: See, now, I'll have to bleep you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Still to come, how some people view politics and profanity.
Plus, more and more teenagers are turning pro. But how young is too young to play professional sports?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Tonya Harding's dream of becoming a big time boxer may have to wait a while. The 33-year-old former ice skating champ was definitely not a champ at a boxing match last night in Canada. There she goes. She was actually knocked out by 22-year-old Amy Johnson in the third round. Harding was hoping to win the bout and land a pay- per-view match that could have paid her as much as $600,000.
All right, well, when it comes to sports, how young is too young to tackle the world of professional sports? That was the big question earlier this week when the Orlando Magic chose Dwight Howard as their first pick in this year's NBA draft. But was it a mistake for the 18- year-old to graduate from high school straight into the NBA? We turn to "USA Today" sportswriter Mel Antonen in Washington today.
Mel, good to see you.
MEL ANTONEN, SPORTSWRITER, "USA TODAY": Good evening, Carol. How are you?
LIN: I'm doing just fine. Take a look at this story. Dwight Howard is the third prep player in four years to be chosen as No. 1. Is it a fact now that high schoolers are a hotter commodity than college players?
ANTONEN: Without a doubt right now, high school players are stronger. They're more talented and NBA teams like to draft them and then develop them on their own. So yes, there is this trend now to draft high school players. But I have to say this -- it's not as easy to go from the high school playing court to the NBA and be as good as Lebron James was -- has been in Cleveland. It's not that easy. There's a lot of issues involved.
LIN: Or as lucky as Kobe Bryant. I mean what are the challenges for this kid?
ANTONEN: First of all, there's the challenges of life, you know. I'm leaving home and I'm going to go to this city and I got to decide where am I going to live, how much am I going to pay for my apartment? What am I going to do with all this money that comes up?
LIN: Or all these women.
ANTONEN: Where am I going to eat?
LIN: Yes.
ANTONEN: Where am I going to eat?
LIN: But...
ANTONEN: And then you have the expectations on the job. You're going to go to work and people are going to expect because that you're making millions that you got to be good right away. There's no really learning curve. You have to be at the top of your game right away and so there's incredible expectations.
LIN: All right. Well, in Dwight Howard's case, he's 18 years old. He's a devout Christian. He's wanted to play in the NBA since he was a toddler and his uncle is going to be traveling with him at least for the first year. I mean so how corruptible is this kid really?
ANTONEN: Well, that's a good thing that his uncle is there and that he's got the support of his family because there is a lot of things that can happen in traveling and being around, you know living an NBA life that an 18-year-old has no idea how to deal with. So it's a good thing that his uncle is there.
But even though his uncle is there, it's still going to be very, very difficult. There's the emotional baggage. There's the emotional challenge that you don't know how an 18-year-old's going to be react when there's 16,000 fans either cheering you or booing you or some 30- year-old superstar in some city knocking you on your tail. I mean there's going to be some huge, huge adjustments. And just because Lebron James did it in Cleveland a couple years ago, doesn't mean that it's automatic for any high school player no matter how good he is. And people are saying that Mr. Howard is very mature and very strong, but man, it's a huge challenge.
LIN: Well, who's saying that, the NBA? I mean, you know, it's to their benefit. They get all the buzz, taking these young players and bringing them up to professional sports and maybe that's what they want. They like to talk about this boot camp. Have you heard about this, Mel, this boot camp that they put young players in, including Lebron James apparently went to the same program where they talk about everything from how to write a check to how to fend off the women to, you know, how to not make the mistake of marrying early, you know, how to identify love? Bu I don't know. How successful really is this program? And do you think the NBC is sincere about these kids learning those tips?
ANTONEN: It might be successful, but I don't think you can learn all of life's challenges in one afternoon or two hours or whatever. You have to learn by trial and error. So yes, those things are good and I think sometimes they help. All sports tend to do them. They try to help the young kids out, show them the temptations and show them how to live it straight. But it's still more difficult. It's one thing to do it in the classroom and understand it. It's another thing to do it in the reality of life and that's what makes it so difficult.
LIN: Is this -- does the sport matter when it comes to age, too? I mean what about baseball or tennis or, you know, other different professional sports? Golf even. I mean Tiger Woods did just fine.
ANTONEN: Yes, Tiger Woods just did fine. I mean there are some young players that can do very well. Basketball is extremely intense because you're thrown out into the NBA and you say OK, do the job. In baseball, I think sometimes it's a little bit easier because if you're an 18 or a 19-year-old you get sent to some small town in Montana or Kansas and they give you time to learn your trade. You might have three or four years before you have to produce on the big league level. In football, there are no 18-year-olds. Nobody jumps from high school to the professional ranks. You got to go through four years of college.
LIN: Plus, it's the physicality of the sport too. It makes a difference in probably...
ANTONEN: Pardon me?
LIN: The physicality of the sport. You have to physically develop in those years. ANTONENT: Exactly. So you know football doesn't have that problem. I think baseball can be a little easier than basketball in that you have at least some apprenticeship or some type of internship to learn your trade. I mean if you make a mistake in Montana, that's one thing.
LIN: Right.
ANTONEN: But if you make a mistake in Orlando with, you know, 15,000 people watching you...
LIN: Right.
ANTONEN: ...and the entire media, it's huge. So there's a lot of stress involved.
LIN: All right. Thanks very much, Mel Antonen. Good to see you.
ANTONEN: Thank you, Carol.
LIN: Well, a slip of the tongue has put him under the gun. Coming up next, lend an ear to the unpleasant language from the vice president of the United States and find out why it isn't all that uncommon.
Plus, Michael Moore is thanking his critics for putting him in the spotlight when -- well, when they tell you why when we tell you why when CNN LIVE SATURDAY rolls on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: The film "Fahrenheit 9/11" is igniting both controversy and big ticket sales. It earned more than $8 million its first day in theaters but some conservatives are crying foul over the anti-Bush film and are trying to get TV ads for it yanked. CNN's Adaora Udoji reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Michael Moore went looking for a fight. He got one in "Fahrenheit 9/11," his movie, attacking President Bush's Iraq war, accusing him of cronyism and deceit.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers. Thank you. Now, watch this drive.
UDOJI: As the movie's hype hits a crescendo opening nationwide, the White House is pushing back, calling his views radical.
DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: This is a film that doesn't require us to actually view it to know that it's filled with factual inaccuracies. UDOJI (on camera): One group of Bush supporters, Citizen United, went further, filing a complaint with the Federal Election Commission urging it to yank the movie's broadcast ads next month.
DAVID BOSSIE, PRESIDENT, CITIZEN UNITED: The sound clips of President Bush and other federal candidates for office are subject to the restrictions and regulatory requirements of federal campaign law.
UDOJI (voice-over): They argue the images amount to illegal partisan advertising barred so close to the Republican National Convention.
MICHAEL MOORE, FILMMAKER: It's a violation of my First Amendment rights that I cannot advertise my movie? It's a movie.
UDOJI: But Moore has been riding a hoopla train for weeks, winning the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival, tangling with Disney, which refused to distribute it. Always irreverent, he's thanking his critics.
MOORE: They've only done this film a huge favor. I can't thank them enough because the publicity it's given the film, I mean, I couldn't even put a dollar amount on it.
UDOJI: Translation, more eyes to see his version of the Bush White House. More votes, he hopes, against the president in November and no doubt, more money in his pocket.
Adaora Udoji, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: All right, we're going to stay on the political front. Latino voters are important to both parties this November. And John Kerry was stumping hard today for their votes in Washington. He told them that his economic plan would reverse the damage done by the Bush administration, sending jobs overseas and tax cuts. But Republicans struck back. The Bush administration sent out a letter quoting five Latino Congressmen who accuse Kerry of doing little or nothing -- quote, unquote -- "for Latinos."
No regrets. Vice President Dick Cheney is standing by his use of the f-word earlier this week during an encounter with a Democratic senator. It is not the first time a Washington insider has been caught using salty language. Our Jeanne Moos reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS (voice-over): Swearing in is one thing. Swearing is another.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... major league (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
MOOS: Remember when candidate George Bush referred to a reporter as an opening as a posterior anatomy, to which Dick Cheney replied, "Big-time!" Well, now it's Mr. Cheney who's gone big time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He dropped the "F" bomb.
MOOS (on camera): He said the "F" word. He said "F" you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really?
MOOS: Did you hear what happened with...?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I heard Dick Cheney telling everybody to (EXPLETIVE DELETED)) off.
MOOS: See, now I have to bleep you!
(voice-over) Actually, the vice president only told off one person, Senator Patrick Leahy.
CAVUTO: Do you have any regrets?
CHENEY: No. I said it.
MOOS: Doesn't everybody curse these days?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED)).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's actually swearing at someone and demeaning another human being.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Depends on the word. I mean, that would offend me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dick, just apologize!
MOOS: In an interview with "Rolling Stone" the "F" word rolled off Kerry's tongue: "Did I expect George Bush to (EXPLETIVE DELETED)) it up as badly as he did? I don't think anybody did."
And after a snowboarding spill, Kerry was quoted as saying, "I don't fall down. That is son of a (EXPLETIVE DELETED)) ran into me.
George Bush, the elder debated Geraldine Ferraro, then bragged, "We kicked a little (EXPLETIVE DELETED))."
And Barbara Bush once said of Geraldine Ferraro, "I'm not going to say it, but it rhymes with witch."
(on camera) Now, if you don't mind, this is Match the Politician to the Profanity Quiz.
"Major league a-hole." Who said that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was John Kerry.
MOOS: That was not John Kerry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was Barbara Bush?
MOOS: No, it wasn't Barbara Bush.
"F" Saddam, we're taking him out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's George Bush!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They always believe taking people out.
MOOS: Remember this one, "major league a-hole?" You don't remember that one? You're failing the quiz!
(voice-over) Funny that just when Dick Cheney gets caught cursing, Madonna is cleaning up her act by charging those working for her five bucks every time they swear.
Politicians must envy Bulworth, the fictional Senator who, thinking he's going to die, liberated his language.
WARREN BEATTY, ACTOR: Oh, (EXPLETIVE DELETED) (EXPLETIVE DELETED) (EXPLETIVE DELETED). That's the real obscenity black folks living with everyday is trying to believe a (EXPLETIVE DELETED)) word Democrats and Republicans say.
MOOS: But how do you say the unsayable? "The Washington Post" wrote out the entire "F" word uttered by Vice President Cheney, but referred to Mr. Bush's earlier discretion as "expletive."
While "The New York Times" never even got as the "F," opting for "an obscene phrase to describe what he thought Mr. Leahy should do."
And all of those hyphens and missing letters? Think of it as the Morse code of cursing. Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: And that's all the time we have right now. Coming up next at 7:00 Eastern is "THE CAPITAL GANG." Mark Shields has a look at what the gang has for tonight.
MARK SHIELDS, CO-HOST, THE CAPITAL GANG: "THE CAPITAL GANG" looks at the return of Bill Clinton, at Republicans not letting John Kerry vote at the Senate, Ralph Nader versus the Congressional Black Caucus, plus a direct report on terrorist violence in Saudi Arabia. All that and much more right here next on CNN.
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