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American Morning

Report from Kerry Campaign Trail; 'Paging Dr. Gupta'

Aired August 12, 2004 - 08:30   ET

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

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


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In the meantime, maybe it comes with the territory during a re-election year, but it's been open season for the president in print. Ron Kessler's new book is bucking that trend a bit -- he had unique access to the West Wing for his latest book called "A Matter of Character: Inside the White House of George W. Bush."
In Washington today, Ron Kessler is our guest here to talk about the latest news with the FBI and the intelligence issues as well. Good morning and welcome back here to AMERICAN MORNING.

RONALD KESSLER, AUTHOR OF "A MATTER OF CHARACTER": Thank you, Bill.

HEMMER: You spent an awful lot of time researching this president. What led him to conclude that Porter Goss was the best man for the job at CIA?

KESSLER: Well his track record is that he likes people who have experience. You know in the past, we've had CIA directors who came from the Defense Department and other areas -- it's crazy. You have to have someone who knows the business and Porter Goss does.

HEMMER: Knowing that Democrats are saying he's partisan to begin with going back to a speech he made in June criticizing John Kerry -- does that make him unfit for this job if John Kerry wins in November?

KESSLER: You know, everybody has a past. He put a lawyer in charge and he defended someone or he prosecuted someone. I think Porter Goss has shown that he is objective.

He's widely admired in the intelligence business and that's very important. You want to have someone who can lead the agency and get the support of the employees.

HEMMER: Ron did you say the 9/11 Commission was arrogant in some of its recommendations?

KESSLER: You know, I forgot I had said that last night, but I did and the reason is that they are presuming to know more than anybody in this business. Almost everybody in the intelligence business thinks that imposing a new intelligence czar on top of the existing structure would simply create more bureaucracy.

And the Commission is saying you know take it or leave it if you don't accept our ideas then -- then somehow you are against improving intelligence. The 9/11 report was a very good recounting of what happened, but what it failed to do was to explain how the intelligence community has changed since 9/11.

All of the measures that have taken place at the FBI and the CIA and the fact that you know we are safer, we have not been attacked since 9/11 largely because of the work of those agencies and without taking account of those changes I think the 9/11 Commission really has a big problem.

HEMMER: Well, back to that. Lots of -- you're not backing away from that, right? You stand by that?

KESSLER: No, I stand by that. You know, the other point is that they seem to emphasize shooting down planes after the plot really unfolded. There was not enough emphasis on how do you actually stop the plots beforehand, namely penetrating these organizations and what is very important which the Commission really ignored was that Bush meets every morning with Mueller, the FBI director and the CIA director and he really is the CEO of the war on terror.

He focuses them, he pressures them, there's nothing like meeting with the President of the United States every single morning to really give you clout in Washington. . That is very important.

HEMMER: OK, back to the recommendations. Even Thomas Kean is saying -- the chairman of that Commission -- widely respected on both sides of the political aisle -- a Republican -- saying just do something. But you disagree with the intelligence czar. If you're not going to do that what then do you do?

KESSLER: Well, what you do is you keep supporting the troops, which Bush is doing. Under Clinton the clandestine service was cut by 25 percent and there was this risk adverse politically correct atmosphere imposed.

Whereas under Bush you have this very aggressive approach and that is critical and in any organization the CEOs of attitude is critical and its -- you know -- as you say lets do something -- that is exactly what we don't need. Let's do something. We have to take measures that actually produce results.

HEMMER: Ron Kessler, thanks for talking with us today. Nice to see you.

KESSLER: Thank you, Bill.

HEMMER: All right. Another reminder for you. On Thursday evening, Larry King has a special interview here on CNN. The president and the First Lady will be Larry's guests here live on CNN. 9:00 Eastern, 6 on the West Coast only here on CNN. Now Heidi.

COLLINS: Since the Democratic convention, nominee John Kerry has been busy campaigning by bus and train from the East Coast and now all the way out West. CNN's John King reports from the Kerry campaign trail.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOHN KING, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Four thousand miles of campaigning from Boston to the Mojave Desert, Fun Boy Restaurant to be exact.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger.

KING: The world's tallest thermometer is the big attraction, 114 degrees of big numbers.

KERRY: It's a lot cooler than it was in Las Vegas.

KING: Within a few hours, he would make it to Los Angeles, a 13- day coast-to-coast post-convention trek by bus and train.

KERRY: That's a bit of a private -- I'm willing to (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why?

KERRY: Just -- it's an amazing way to see America. It's just been real exhilarating.

KING: And colorful. A musical interlude in Jefferson City, Missouri. A dash that caught even the Secret Service off guard when the candidate spotted a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter in Grandview, Iowa.

And nostalgia for his Harley along historic Route 66 in Camen (ph), Arizona.

KERRY: America's road.

KING: The missus had a starring role throughout. In Camen (ph), this assurance the marriage is solid.

TERESA HEINZ KERRY, JOHN KERRY'S WIFE: All of nine years, so I'm -- you know it's past the seven-year itch.

KING: A biting response to Bush supporters chanting four more years in Milwaukee.

HEINZ KERRY: They want four more years of hell.

KING: A case of the jitters when the Senator and her son got too close for her comfort at the rim of the Grand Canyon. And a "where are we" moment a few hours later as the train rolled west.

HEINZ KERRY: Hello, Nevada. Oh, sorry. Arizona. Sorry. So sorry. Hello Arizona.

KING: One goal of traveling the old fashioned way is to generate excitement among those whose job it is to turn out the vote come November, like these Native American leaders in New Mexico.

Most of the rallies were outdoors, but some 12,000 supporters packed an arena in Las Vegas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: By the campaign's count, 4,182 miles of cross country travel by bus and train, 16 states in all, with a combined 231 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House.

John King, CNN, Los Angeles.

COLLINS: Senator Kerry heads from Los Angeles to Oregon today. He's expected to visit three cities: Metford, Eugene, and Portland.

HEMMER: Twenty-two minutes now before the hour: back to Daryn Kagan watching the other news and again it is Iraq. Daryn, good morning.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: That is our lead yet again, Bill.

Good morning. Thousands of U.S. led forces have launched a major offensive in the Iraqi city of Najaf. Black smoke seen rising above the city as troops clash with fighters loyal to radical cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr.

The Associated Press reports two U.S. troops have been wounded there.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is thanking the government of Azerbaijan for its support on the war on terrorism. Azerbaijan is the only predominantly Muslim country that has sent troops to Iraq. The Secretary met with officials in the capital earlier today. It's Rumsfeld's third stop on a tour of U.S. allies in Central Asia.

Here in the U.S. more relief for motorists. Gasoline prices falling for the third week in a row. The Energy Department says the average price of gas is about $1.88 a gallon, but analysts say they aren't sure if the downward trend will continue because the price of oil is at a record high.

To Argentina. Video of an alarming ski lift accident. Over a dozen skiers were injured after several ski lift chairs collided. This happened Tuesday at a resort. Stranded for many hours, many had broken bones, several skiers slid down ropes to safety. The Rio Negro tourism office is investigating the incident along with a similar accident that according to reports occurred at the same resort just two weeks ago.

News from Napster, the online music service that is making it easier for GI's and their families to hear their favorite music. Napster has struck a deal to offer ten to 15 percent discounts on music downloads and subscriptions purchased through the Army and Air Force exchange service.

Napster's president says that GI's can now take music with them in their Humvees.

Remember back in the day when Napster was all about not paying at all -- but it's a different time. Back to you.

HEMMER: Daryn, thanks.

In a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING crude oil prices setting new records -- we know that -- and that could send home heating prices through this week -- winter, rather.

Got some tips to help keep your energy costs down in a moment.

COLLINS: And disturbing new findings on anti-depressants and children. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has the latest warnings for parents. You're going to want to hear this on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: There's more news now on the controversial question of whether antidepressants raise the risk of suicide in children and teenagers.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us now from the CNN Center with more details on this. Kind of a frightening subject, Sanjay.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It is, Heidi and for the first time you are starting to see some independent reviews of these FDA studies that we've heard so much about. They do show an alarming association between anti -- some anti-depressants and some children.

Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA: Though you haven't heard it from the FDA, depressed children who take some anti-depressants are more likely to exhibit suicidal behavior than depressed children who avoid those medications.

DR. STEVE HYMAN, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: We don't want treatments that are meant to help to inadvertently harm.

GUPTA: But they do sometimes cause harm by increasing the risk of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts by almost two times.

According to Dr. Steven Hyman, Harvard Provost and former director of the National Institutes for Mental Health.

The alarm bells were sounded in Britain a year ago -- here in the United States the FDA is going to release results of its own studies next month.

The studies are done and Dr. Hyman has already seen the preliminary results.

HYMAN: We have data now, which raises the possibility that with a variety of these SSRI antidepressants, some children have an increased likelihood of suicide-related behaviors and I think this data has never been available to be seen before. GUPTA: The data that shows the very drugs that treat depression can sometimes also lead to the most tragic outcome of depression itself. Nobody really knows why this happens, but Dr. Hyman has a theory.

HYMAN: But there's long been concern that for a certain number of people, soon after starting treatment they might gain the energy or have side effects, which might lead them to attempt suicide.

GUPTA: And, therefore, the riskiest times are at the beginning of treatment or when a dose is being changed. Interestingly, Prozac appears to be the safest with regards to suicidal tendencies.

HYMAN: In fact, based on the current data, one should probably begin treatment with Prozac and only use the other drugs if Prozac is intolerated by that child.

GUPTA: Depression can be treated effectively in adults and children but when starting or changing medications, close monitoring is always a must.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA: And the study that you're hearing about there the second of two studies now, the first one released earlier this year. Both of them reached similar conclusions but there was an association again between some SSRIs or anti-depressant medications and suicide.

Now some say that the FDA is saying -- we talked to them -- they say that they're going to wait a little bit longer and review these studies before reaching any conclusions. Critics of course are saying Heidi that they're taking a little too long and dragging their feet -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Well, Sanjay, what do we actually know about how often and how many of these children are actually taking an anti-depressant?

GUPTA: Yes, you know that's a pretty remarkable number actually. The actual hard number of how many children are taking anti- depressants is hard to know because a lot of them are given off label use. The drugs are actually given off-label. But we do know the numbers in terms of trends.

They've increased by about 10 percent every year over almost the last decade and there've been sudden increases where they've gone up 50 percent for example over a period of two to three years. So it's becoming much more common for children.

Now, under the age of 18 to start taking these medications. All but Prozac is banned in the U.K., for example for children and all the other drugs are off label use so I think these findings come fall are going to shed a lot of light on this and what is appropriate and not appropriate, Heidi.

COLLINS: All right, I sure hope so. Dr. Sanjay Gupta thanks so much for that. GUPTA: Thank you.

COLLINS: Still to come this morning, crude oil prices keep on breaking records and that means your home heating costs could go right through the roof.

We've got tips to keep your energy costs under control though. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: All right, welcome back everyone. Heating oil prices set to go sky high this winter. Gerri Willis working for Andy Serwer, "Minding Your Business" and good morning to you.

GERRI WILLIS, FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey Bill.

HEMMER: The warning is out, huh?

WILLIS: Wow, I'm telling you. These are going to be some high prices this winter for people. Eight million Americans use heating oil and will be buying it this fall.

Keep in mind here that even if you bought today, you'd be paying $340 more this year for heating oil. Keep this in mind: the prices could go higher. I've got some tips for you here. Fill up now. Fill that tank up now because you'll probably get a better price.

Expectation that prices could go higher. There's going to just below 120 gallon right now. Number two: seal all those leaks. One big problem for people, their windows, their doors, their leaking energy, they're leaking dollars every single day.

One place to go energystar.gov has a great online Web site. You take a little test and find out if you're paying too much for your home heating oil. Do you pay more than somebody else with the house your age. So check that out.

You can go alternative -- you can do solar panels. Now you say, now, this is going to cost me a ton of money. No doubt about it. $20,000 to $25,000 for solar panels but guess what? You get money from the federal government or your state and local government. Hey, I even know people who make money on this deal.

Geothermal is another way to go. Dig deep. Constant temperatures under ground. You can plug into this and actually reduce your costs. Now, if you're using some of these alternative energy sources, you permanently reduce your bill by 75 to 85 percent.

HEMMER: Really?

WILLIS: Yes. So it's a good thing to do.

HEMMER: More people should do it, too.

WILLIS: You bet. HEMMER: Markets quickly. Down yesterday -- not too bad. Nasdaq was a little sketchy.

WILLIS: It's summer doldrums and we're not looking for anything too terrific today. As a matter of fact, Wal-Mart reporting holding us back just a little bit here. Keep in mind that Wal-Mart said that you know sales were good but the profit level OK so we're going to be watching that very closely.

All right, Gerri, good to have you here.

WILLIS: Thank you.

HEMMER: Gerri Willis working for Andy. All right Heidi.

COLLINS: Jack Cafferty continues his vacation as we said -- he keeps calling us. I don't know what the deal is with that but Toure is here now with his experience.

TOURE, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "ROLLING STONE" MAGAZINE: Yes and we're going to have fun today. For all the high school kids out there watching listen up.

Anybody who has ever been to high school can tell you that the SAT is the most important test you will ever take in your life, right?

COLLINS: Right.

HEMMER: Yes.

TOURE: For example, the President of the United States, George W., scored 566 verbal, 640 math for a combined total of 1206, which means anybody who gets above 1200 can be president.

Other famous test takers, Ben Stein, noted genius, 1573. Al Gore, 1355. Stephen King got in the 1300s. The beautiful Meredith Vieira: 1300s.

Mark Cuban, billionaire, 1240. Kobe Bryant: 1080 -- was a little more focused on the hoop skills perhaps.

HEMMER: Speaks Italian.

TOURE: Speaks Italian. Didn't take the test in Italian, though, unfortunately.

(LAUGHTER)

Denzel Miller didn't take the test. John Kerry hasn't released his scores so we're asking the campaign now; please tell us what the Senator got. We're going to have an update for you on that tomorrow.

But as for something a little closer to home...

HEMMER: Yes?

TOURE: Heidi is not saying hers. I'm going to say mine. Bill is going to tell you his.

HEMMER: Yes.

TOURE: In a minute.

COLLINS: You are?

HEMMER: Yes.

TOURE: But first -- first -- we're going to tell you some other things. Andy Borowitz -- 1500. He's a smart guy. He's like me.

ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZERPORT.COM: Yeah, right.

TOURE: Sarah Bernard, 1390. She went to prep school. Jeffrey Toobin, 1310. Daryn Kagan, 1290 -- love a beautiful, smart woman, right?

Chad Myers, 1180. Rob Marciano, 1100 -- I'm shocked you're working, Rob! Gerri Willis says she got 2100 -- I don't think the scale goes that high.

(CROSSTALK)

She says she did extra credit.

COLLINS: Of course she did.

WILLIS: You know they have these little extra credit items you can do; that's what I did Toure. You didn't get those?

TOURE: I got a 1450 and I would have gotten a little higher but Mrs. Starmer (ph) stopped the test 30 seconds early.

HEMMER: What are you doing working here?

TOURE: I don't know.

HEMMER: 1450?

TOURE: Bill?

HEMMER: 1500 -- seven...

TOURE: Pony up to the truth, brother.

COLLINS: I went to high school too long ago.

HEMMER: Borowitz...

TOURE: Come on.

HEMMER: My ACT I had a 57. And my SAT I had a 1700 that's what I had.

TOURE: Look at him dancing. COLLINS: Wow.

TOURE: Where's Daryn? Tell -- Daryn, tell me something true?

KAGAN: What's that? I don't -- well, Bill didn't get 1500 on...

TOURE: No, he didn't -- we know better than that.

HEMMER: Daryn, why you selling me out like that?

KAGAN: Because it was perfect, that's why. Stop being so humble.

HEMMER: 1600 is perfect, right?

KAGAN: No, I'm proof that you don't -- you do not need perfect SAT scores to get into Stanford. That they're still scratching their head on that one. I did not get in there with those scores.

HEMMER: Thank you, Daryn. Hey Jack's on vacation, that's why Toure is here by the way. We continue to update you on the latest on the 9/11 Commission report -- scorecard.

Number of days since the Commission made the recommendations: 21.

Help me out guys.

Number of recommendations adopted by Congress: zero. House and Senate committees debating how to implement the recommendations. We will keep you posted in D.C.

1450. Stunning. My man Toure.

TOURE: All verbal. The verbal carried me.

COLLINS: I know no one believes me I honestly do not remember. I'll call the parents.

HEMMER: We have an hour left.

COLLINS: Maybe they'll remember. I honestly don't.

TOURE: Mr. and Mrs. -- will they remember?

WILLIS: I'm betting 1790.

COLLINS: 1790. I'm going with that. All right, still to come this morning, U.S. Marines on the move in Najaf. There is intensified fighting this morning in that Iraqi city. We'll have the very latest ahead on American morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired August 12, 2004 - 08:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In the meantime, maybe it comes with the territory during a re-election year, but it's been open season for the president in print. Ron Kessler's new book is bucking that trend a bit -- he had unique access to the West Wing for his latest book called "A Matter of Character: Inside the White House of George W. Bush."
In Washington today, Ron Kessler is our guest here to talk about the latest news with the FBI and the intelligence issues as well. Good morning and welcome back here to AMERICAN MORNING.

RONALD KESSLER, AUTHOR OF "A MATTER OF CHARACTER": Thank you, Bill.

HEMMER: You spent an awful lot of time researching this president. What led him to conclude that Porter Goss was the best man for the job at CIA?

KESSLER: Well his track record is that he likes people who have experience. You know in the past, we've had CIA directors who came from the Defense Department and other areas -- it's crazy. You have to have someone who knows the business and Porter Goss does.

HEMMER: Knowing that Democrats are saying he's partisan to begin with going back to a speech he made in June criticizing John Kerry -- does that make him unfit for this job if John Kerry wins in November?

KESSLER: You know, everybody has a past. He put a lawyer in charge and he defended someone or he prosecuted someone. I think Porter Goss has shown that he is objective.

He's widely admired in the intelligence business and that's very important. You want to have someone who can lead the agency and get the support of the employees.

HEMMER: Ron did you say the 9/11 Commission was arrogant in some of its recommendations?

KESSLER: You know, I forgot I had said that last night, but I did and the reason is that they are presuming to know more than anybody in this business. Almost everybody in the intelligence business thinks that imposing a new intelligence czar on top of the existing structure would simply create more bureaucracy.

And the Commission is saying you know take it or leave it if you don't accept our ideas then -- then somehow you are against improving intelligence. The 9/11 report was a very good recounting of what happened, but what it failed to do was to explain how the intelligence community has changed since 9/11.

All of the measures that have taken place at the FBI and the CIA and the fact that you know we are safer, we have not been attacked since 9/11 largely because of the work of those agencies and without taking account of those changes I think the 9/11 Commission really has a big problem.

HEMMER: Well, back to that. Lots of -- you're not backing away from that, right? You stand by that?

KESSLER: No, I stand by that. You know, the other point is that they seem to emphasize shooting down planes after the plot really unfolded. There was not enough emphasis on how do you actually stop the plots beforehand, namely penetrating these organizations and what is very important which the Commission really ignored was that Bush meets every morning with Mueller, the FBI director and the CIA director and he really is the CEO of the war on terror.

He focuses them, he pressures them, there's nothing like meeting with the President of the United States every single morning to really give you clout in Washington. . That is very important.

HEMMER: OK, back to the recommendations. Even Thomas Kean is saying -- the chairman of that Commission -- widely respected on both sides of the political aisle -- a Republican -- saying just do something. But you disagree with the intelligence czar. If you're not going to do that what then do you do?

KESSLER: Well, what you do is you keep supporting the troops, which Bush is doing. Under Clinton the clandestine service was cut by 25 percent and there was this risk adverse politically correct atmosphere imposed.

Whereas under Bush you have this very aggressive approach and that is critical and in any organization the CEOs of attitude is critical and its -- you know -- as you say lets do something -- that is exactly what we don't need. Let's do something. We have to take measures that actually produce results.

HEMMER: Ron Kessler, thanks for talking with us today. Nice to see you.

KESSLER: Thank you, Bill.

HEMMER: All right. Another reminder for you. On Thursday evening, Larry King has a special interview here on CNN. The president and the First Lady will be Larry's guests here live on CNN. 9:00 Eastern, 6 on the West Coast only here on CNN. Now Heidi.

COLLINS: Since the Democratic convention, nominee John Kerry has been busy campaigning by bus and train from the East Coast and now all the way out West. CNN's John King reports from the Kerry campaign trail.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOHN KING, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Four thousand miles of campaigning from Boston to the Mojave Desert, Fun Boy Restaurant to be exact.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger.

KING: The world's tallest thermometer is the big attraction, 114 degrees of big numbers.

KERRY: It's a lot cooler than it was in Las Vegas.

KING: Within a few hours, he would make it to Los Angeles, a 13- day coast-to-coast post-convention trek by bus and train.

KERRY: That's a bit of a private -- I'm willing to (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why?

KERRY: Just -- it's an amazing way to see America. It's just been real exhilarating.

KING: And colorful. A musical interlude in Jefferson City, Missouri. A dash that caught even the Secret Service off guard when the candidate spotted a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter in Grandview, Iowa.

And nostalgia for his Harley along historic Route 66 in Camen (ph), Arizona.

KERRY: America's road.

KING: The missus had a starring role throughout. In Camen (ph), this assurance the marriage is solid.

TERESA HEINZ KERRY, JOHN KERRY'S WIFE: All of nine years, so I'm -- you know it's past the seven-year itch.

KING: A biting response to Bush supporters chanting four more years in Milwaukee.

HEINZ KERRY: They want four more years of hell.

KING: A case of the jitters when the Senator and her son got too close for her comfort at the rim of the Grand Canyon. And a "where are we" moment a few hours later as the train rolled west.

HEINZ KERRY: Hello, Nevada. Oh, sorry. Arizona. Sorry. So sorry. Hello Arizona.

KING: One goal of traveling the old fashioned way is to generate excitement among those whose job it is to turn out the vote come November, like these Native American leaders in New Mexico.

Most of the rallies were outdoors, but some 12,000 supporters packed an arena in Las Vegas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: By the campaign's count, 4,182 miles of cross country travel by bus and train, 16 states in all, with a combined 231 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House.

John King, CNN, Los Angeles.

COLLINS: Senator Kerry heads from Los Angeles to Oregon today. He's expected to visit three cities: Metford, Eugene, and Portland.

HEMMER: Twenty-two minutes now before the hour: back to Daryn Kagan watching the other news and again it is Iraq. Daryn, good morning.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: That is our lead yet again, Bill.

Good morning. Thousands of U.S. led forces have launched a major offensive in the Iraqi city of Najaf. Black smoke seen rising above the city as troops clash with fighters loyal to radical cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr.

The Associated Press reports two U.S. troops have been wounded there.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is thanking the government of Azerbaijan for its support on the war on terrorism. Azerbaijan is the only predominantly Muslim country that has sent troops to Iraq. The Secretary met with officials in the capital earlier today. It's Rumsfeld's third stop on a tour of U.S. allies in Central Asia.

Here in the U.S. more relief for motorists. Gasoline prices falling for the third week in a row. The Energy Department says the average price of gas is about $1.88 a gallon, but analysts say they aren't sure if the downward trend will continue because the price of oil is at a record high.

To Argentina. Video of an alarming ski lift accident. Over a dozen skiers were injured after several ski lift chairs collided. This happened Tuesday at a resort. Stranded for many hours, many had broken bones, several skiers slid down ropes to safety. The Rio Negro tourism office is investigating the incident along with a similar accident that according to reports occurred at the same resort just two weeks ago.

News from Napster, the online music service that is making it easier for GI's and their families to hear their favorite music. Napster has struck a deal to offer ten to 15 percent discounts on music downloads and subscriptions purchased through the Army and Air Force exchange service.

Napster's president says that GI's can now take music with them in their Humvees.

Remember back in the day when Napster was all about not paying at all -- but it's a different time. Back to you.

HEMMER: Daryn, thanks.

In a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING crude oil prices setting new records -- we know that -- and that could send home heating prices through this week -- winter, rather.

Got some tips to help keep your energy costs down in a moment.

COLLINS: And disturbing new findings on anti-depressants and children. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has the latest warnings for parents. You're going to want to hear this on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: There's more news now on the controversial question of whether antidepressants raise the risk of suicide in children and teenagers.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us now from the CNN Center with more details on this. Kind of a frightening subject, Sanjay.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It is, Heidi and for the first time you are starting to see some independent reviews of these FDA studies that we've heard so much about. They do show an alarming association between anti -- some anti-depressants and some children.

Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA: Though you haven't heard it from the FDA, depressed children who take some anti-depressants are more likely to exhibit suicidal behavior than depressed children who avoid those medications.

DR. STEVE HYMAN, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: We don't want treatments that are meant to help to inadvertently harm.

GUPTA: But they do sometimes cause harm by increasing the risk of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts by almost two times.

According to Dr. Steven Hyman, Harvard Provost and former director of the National Institutes for Mental Health.

The alarm bells were sounded in Britain a year ago -- here in the United States the FDA is going to release results of its own studies next month.

The studies are done and Dr. Hyman has already seen the preliminary results.

HYMAN: We have data now, which raises the possibility that with a variety of these SSRI antidepressants, some children have an increased likelihood of suicide-related behaviors and I think this data has never been available to be seen before. GUPTA: The data that shows the very drugs that treat depression can sometimes also lead to the most tragic outcome of depression itself. Nobody really knows why this happens, but Dr. Hyman has a theory.

HYMAN: But there's long been concern that for a certain number of people, soon after starting treatment they might gain the energy or have side effects, which might lead them to attempt suicide.

GUPTA: And, therefore, the riskiest times are at the beginning of treatment or when a dose is being changed. Interestingly, Prozac appears to be the safest with regards to suicidal tendencies.

HYMAN: In fact, based on the current data, one should probably begin treatment with Prozac and only use the other drugs if Prozac is intolerated by that child.

GUPTA: Depression can be treated effectively in adults and children but when starting or changing medications, close monitoring is always a must.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA: And the study that you're hearing about there the second of two studies now, the first one released earlier this year. Both of them reached similar conclusions but there was an association again between some SSRIs or anti-depressant medications and suicide.

Now some say that the FDA is saying -- we talked to them -- they say that they're going to wait a little bit longer and review these studies before reaching any conclusions. Critics of course are saying Heidi that they're taking a little too long and dragging their feet -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Well, Sanjay, what do we actually know about how often and how many of these children are actually taking an anti-depressant?

GUPTA: Yes, you know that's a pretty remarkable number actually. The actual hard number of how many children are taking anti- depressants is hard to know because a lot of them are given off label use. The drugs are actually given off-label. But we do know the numbers in terms of trends.

They've increased by about 10 percent every year over almost the last decade and there've been sudden increases where they've gone up 50 percent for example over a period of two to three years. So it's becoming much more common for children.

Now, under the age of 18 to start taking these medications. All but Prozac is banned in the U.K., for example for children and all the other drugs are off label use so I think these findings come fall are going to shed a lot of light on this and what is appropriate and not appropriate, Heidi.

COLLINS: All right, I sure hope so. Dr. Sanjay Gupta thanks so much for that. GUPTA: Thank you.

COLLINS: Still to come this morning, crude oil prices keep on breaking records and that means your home heating costs could go right through the roof.

We've got tips to keep your energy costs under control though. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: All right, welcome back everyone. Heating oil prices set to go sky high this winter. Gerri Willis working for Andy Serwer, "Minding Your Business" and good morning to you.

GERRI WILLIS, FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey Bill.

HEMMER: The warning is out, huh?

WILLIS: Wow, I'm telling you. These are going to be some high prices this winter for people. Eight million Americans use heating oil and will be buying it this fall.

Keep in mind here that even if you bought today, you'd be paying $340 more this year for heating oil. Keep this in mind: the prices could go higher. I've got some tips for you here. Fill up now. Fill that tank up now because you'll probably get a better price.

Expectation that prices could go higher. There's going to just below 120 gallon right now. Number two: seal all those leaks. One big problem for people, their windows, their doors, their leaking energy, they're leaking dollars every single day.

One place to go energystar.gov has a great online Web site. You take a little test and find out if you're paying too much for your home heating oil. Do you pay more than somebody else with the house your age. So check that out.

You can go alternative -- you can do solar panels. Now you say, now, this is going to cost me a ton of money. No doubt about it. $20,000 to $25,000 for solar panels but guess what? You get money from the federal government or your state and local government. Hey, I even know people who make money on this deal.

Geothermal is another way to go. Dig deep. Constant temperatures under ground. You can plug into this and actually reduce your costs. Now, if you're using some of these alternative energy sources, you permanently reduce your bill by 75 to 85 percent.

HEMMER: Really?

WILLIS: Yes. So it's a good thing to do.

HEMMER: More people should do it, too.

WILLIS: You bet. HEMMER: Markets quickly. Down yesterday -- not too bad. Nasdaq was a little sketchy.

WILLIS: It's summer doldrums and we're not looking for anything too terrific today. As a matter of fact, Wal-Mart reporting holding us back just a little bit here. Keep in mind that Wal-Mart said that you know sales were good but the profit level OK so we're going to be watching that very closely.

All right, Gerri, good to have you here.

WILLIS: Thank you.

HEMMER: Gerri Willis working for Andy. All right Heidi.

COLLINS: Jack Cafferty continues his vacation as we said -- he keeps calling us. I don't know what the deal is with that but Toure is here now with his experience.

TOURE, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "ROLLING STONE" MAGAZINE: Yes and we're going to have fun today. For all the high school kids out there watching listen up.

Anybody who has ever been to high school can tell you that the SAT is the most important test you will ever take in your life, right?

COLLINS: Right.

HEMMER: Yes.

TOURE: For example, the President of the United States, George W., scored 566 verbal, 640 math for a combined total of 1206, which means anybody who gets above 1200 can be president.

Other famous test takers, Ben Stein, noted genius, 1573. Al Gore, 1355. Stephen King got in the 1300s. The beautiful Meredith Vieira: 1300s.

Mark Cuban, billionaire, 1240. Kobe Bryant: 1080 -- was a little more focused on the hoop skills perhaps.

HEMMER: Speaks Italian.

TOURE: Speaks Italian. Didn't take the test in Italian, though, unfortunately.

(LAUGHTER)

Denzel Miller didn't take the test. John Kerry hasn't released his scores so we're asking the campaign now; please tell us what the Senator got. We're going to have an update for you on that tomorrow.

But as for something a little closer to home...

HEMMER: Yes?

TOURE: Heidi is not saying hers. I'm going to say mine. Bill is going to tell you his.

HEMMER: Yes.

TOURE: In a minute.

COLLINS: You are?

HEMMER: Yes.

TOURE: But first -- first -- we're going to tell you some other things. Andy Borowitz -- 1500. He's a smart guy. He's like me.

ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZERPORT.COM: Yeah, right.

TOURE: Sarah Bernard, 1390. She went to prep school. Jeffrey Toobin, 1310. Daryn Kagan, 1290 -- love a beautiful, smart woman, right?

Chad Myers, 1180. Rob Marciano, 1100 -- I'm shocked you're working, Rob! Gerri Willis says she got 2100 -- I don't think the scale goes that high.

(CROSSTALK)

She says she did extra credit.

COLLINS: Of course she did.

WILLIS: You know they have these little extra credit items you can do; that's what I did Toure. You didn't get those?

TOURE: I got a 1450 and I would have gotten a little higher but Mrs. Starmer (ph) stopped the test 30 seconds early.

HEMMER: What are you doing working here?

TOURE: I don't know.

HEMMER: 1450?

TOURE: Bill?

HEMMER: 1500 -- seven...

TOURE: Pony up to the truth, brother.

COLLINS: I went to high school too long ago.

HEMMER: Borowitz...

TOURE: Come on.

HEMMER: My ACT I had a 57. And my SAT I had a 1700 that's what I had.

TOURE: Look at him dancing. COLLINS: Wow.

TOURE: Where's Daryn? Tell -- Daryn, tell me something true?

KAGAN: What's that? I don't -- well, Bill didn't get 1500 on...

TOURE: No, he didn't -- we know better than that.

HEMMER: Daryn, why you selling me out like that?

KAGAN: Because it was perfect, that's why. Stop being so humble.

HEMMER: 1600 is perfect, right?

KAGAN: No, I'm proof that you don't -- you do not need perfect SAT scores to get into Stanford. That they're still scratching their head on that one. I did not get in there with those scores.

HEMMER: Thank you, Daryn. Hey Jack's on vacation, that's why Toure is here by the way. We continue to update you on the latest on the 9/11 Commission report -- scorecard.

Number of days since the Commission made the recommendations: 21.

Help me out guys.

Number of recommendations adopted by Congress: zero. House and Senate committees debating how to implement the recommendations. We will keep you posted in D.C.

1450. Stunning. My man Toure.

TOURE: All verbal. The verbal carried me.

COLLINS: I know no one believes me I honestly do not remember. I'll call the parents.

HEMMER: We have an hour left.

COLLINS: Maybe they'll remember. I honestly don't.

TOURE: Mr. and Mrs. -- will they remember?

WILLIS: I'm betting 1790.

COLLINS: 1790. I'm going with that. All right, still to come this morning, U.S. Marines on the move in Najaf. There is intensified fighting this morning in that Iraqi city. We'll have the very latest ahead on American morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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