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American Morning
The Lives of Soldiers' Families; Vitamin E Not Effective?
Aired November 10, 2004 - 09:30 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: Opening bell from Wall Street on a Wednesday morning. Dow 30 starting today at 10,386, off about five points in trading from yesterday. Watch the price of oil again today. Went below 48 bucks a barrel yesterday. It's back up slightly over 48 bucks.
Nasdaq, 2,043 is your opening mark there. Hauling in the tech- heavy stocks there. Up about four points in trading from yesterday. So, we're open for business here in New York. And good morning once again.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Some very enthusiastic U-Haul...
HEMMER: Absolutely.
O'BRIEN: ... employees apparently today at Nasdaq.
Good morning, everybody. Exactly half past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
The battle of Falluja now in its third day. Coalition forces confirm control of most of the city. In just a moment, we'll take a look at one community that's providing a large share of those U.S. troops that are now in Falluja. We'll find out just how those families are coping.
HEMMER: A lot of tension at the bases across the country.
Also, some lighter news today. Did the cameras attack Cameron, or did Cameron attack the cameras? Two sides of the story. Some amazing pictures, too, coming up for you a bit later in "90-Second Pop."
O'BRIEN: The girl weighs, like, 100 pounds. She's a little -- little thing.
HEMMER: Let's see if she won or not?
O'BRIEN: Looks like she won.
Headlines now. Kelly Wallace is at our newsdesk this morning. Hello, good morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. She's strong.
O'BRIEN: Girl power, you know? WALLACE: Girl power. Girl power. We love that.
Good morning to you all. Good morning, again.
Now in the news -- with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat gravely ill at a French military hospital, plans are underway for his funeral and burial. Palestinian officials say Arafat's funeral may be held in Cairo by the end of the week, and that Israel has agreed to let Arafat be buried in his Ramallah compound in the West Bank. A top Muslim cleric who visited Arafat's bedside said the 75-year-old is still alive, but in a difficult situation.
A group called Ansar al-Jihad says members of the Iraqi prime minister's family will be killed unless Iraqi prisoners are released within 48 hours. At least two members of Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's family were kidnapped yesterday. In a message on a Web site, the group also demanded an end to the military offensive in Falluja.
Here in the United States, the jury in the Scott Peterson double murder trial is starting over. That's because the judge in the case dismissed juror number seven yesterday. Source say Fran Gorman may have been conducting independent research on the case. An alternate juror has been appointed to the panel. Deliberations get back underway today in less than two hours.
And Martha Stewart says she needs some help paying her bills. She has filed a claim seeking $3.7 million to help with her legal fees. That's according to a company filing from Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. The filing says Stewart and the company will rely on an independent expert to decide whether she is entitled to the money. Stewart is currently serving a five-month sentence at a federal prison in West Virginia. And you will recall, she entered that prison early last month.
Why do I think Jack will have something to say about that?
HEMMER: He may.
O'BRIEN: How is that possible? I mean, didn't she have a lot of money? Definitely, Jack will...
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: I bet she has the grounds of the prison all taken care of. Thank you, Kelly.
From Iraq today, the battle for Falluja now on its third day, and U.S. forces pushing now into the insurgent stronghold. The assault is on or ahead of schedule, according to the military, but fighting could last several more days -- that's according to Lieutenant General Thomas Metz. He also says insurgents are fighting in small groups but without much coherence. And he says it is, quote, "fair to assume" that the terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has left that town.
Meanwhile, the Sunni political party has withdrawn from the Interim National Council -- this in protest of the current offensive. And the military has released a videotape of a navy F-18 dropping a 500-pound bomb -- part of the air strikes conducted before the offensive to try and destroy roadside bombs and booby-traps set up on the ground there in Falluja.
Now, as the war continues in Iraq, back home, families struggle to stay strong, especially those who have loved ones battling in Falluja. Miguel Marquez this morning with some of those families in Camp Pendleton in California.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As Marines push their way into Falluja, families back home can only pray and hope.
MEGAN SMITH, WIFE OF MARINE IN FALLUJA: I never thought I'd be out here doing this. I never thought I'd be waiting for my husband to come home from war.
MARQUEZ: Megan Smith and her two daughters are waiting for Marine Corporal Matt Smith to come home. Married for three years, the Smiths have been separated by war for two anniversaries. Their last communication last Sunday -- an all-too-brief e-mail.
SMITH: "Like I said, I will try to call, but I will have some work -- I will have to work some magic, and it won't be for that long. So -- well, in closing, I love you more and miss you more and will try to call. Love and miss you, Matt."
MARQUEZ: Smith says from what she's seen so far, the battle for Falluja isn't living up to her fears.
SMITH: I really did expect more, like, casualties, I guess -- more death count, more news of more Marines dying or something. I expected more resistance.
MARQUEZ: Marines just back from Camp Falluja know that their colleagues are up to the task.
CPL. JONATHAN MONTEMAYOR, CAMP PENDLETON: From what I've heard like through e-mails from friends that I have over there, they said some of us -- you know, they're ready to go back and take care of business.
MARQUEZ: During the course of the war in Iraq, Camp Pendleton has suffered at least 160 Marines killed and scores wounded -- something difficult for the people in this town who deal with Marines every day.
RON ZURAWSKI, BEACHCOMBER BARBERSHOP: What's difficult is when we get Marines coming in with injuries, you know, that they suffered over in Iraq, that's -- gets you here.
MARQUEZ: Maybe the only consolation, with 19,000 to 20,000 Camp Pendleton Marines stationed in Iraq, the waiting and uncertainty will be shared by many.
Miguel Marquez, CNN, Camp Pendleton, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: One other note on what's happening in Falluja so far, the U.S. Military says at least 10 American troops have died in the invasion of that town -- Soledad?
O'BRIEN: We may learn as early as today who President Bush will choose to succeed outgoing Attorney General John Ashcroft. White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is live in Washington, D.C. with details on that this morning. Good morning to you, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
That's right, we do expect that as early as today we could find out the successor to Attorney General John Ashcroft. As you know, of course, the big shake-up in the cabinet underway. It was just yesterday that Ashcroft announced that he was resigning, as well as Commerce Secretary Don Evans. It was a five-page, handwritten letter to the president that was submitted on Election Night.
Now, as you know, of course, Ashcroft is arguably one of the most controversial figures in the cabinet. He is known for his accomplishments when it comes to measures fighting corporate and violent crimes, but has gained some notoriety when it comes to the anti-terrorism measures -- specifically the Patriot Act. Some critics saying that this has basically eroded civil liberties.
And it was just yesterday the president put out a statement saying that he was proud, that he protected Americans against terrorism. Ashcroft said he was leaving, because it would be better served the department for new leadership and fresh inspiration.
Now, possible successors here -- we have heard the Deputy Secretary Larry Thompson. We have heard, as well, as the campaign chair Marc Racicot. But sources tell us that the one who is at the very top of the list, most likely, of course, is White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales. He served in Texas as a Supreme Court justice there, as well as general counsel to the president back in their Texas days. It would mean -- would be very significant that he would be the first Hispanic to actually hold that position.
Also yesterday, of course, we saw Don Evans, Secretary Don Evans, he is a longtime friend of the president, back from almost their childhood days. He is expected to go back home to Texas. He raised a lot of money four years ago for the president in his campaign. This year, it's Mercer Reynolds who did that, and is widely expected that he may replace Don Evans in the months to come -- Soledad?
O'BRIEN: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House for us this morning. Suzanne, thanks.
HEMMER: Twenty-two before the hour. Another check of the weather -- one final check today. Here's Chad Meyers at the CNN Center. How you doing, man? (WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: OK. Millions of people take Vitamin E thinking that they will lower the risk of heart disease. New research now suggests, though, that the vitamin gets and "E" for effort, perhaps though not for effectiveness.
Here's our own "E," Elizabeth Cohen, at the CNN Center with more. Good morning to you, Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, "B."
Vitamin E, in fact, there was so much excitement around it, Bill. Years ago, people said, wow, Vitamin E seems to be so helpful, seems to really help protect people, keep people from getting heart disease. In fact, many doctors, many cardiologists started taking these mega doses of Vitamin E. We're talking 20 times the amount sometimes than what you would usually get in your diet.
But now, a new analysis of 14 different studies shows that Vitamin E really doesn't work against heart disease. What they found is that it does not improve heart health to take these high doses of Vitamin E. That it does not have any proven health benefits at all. And in fact, it may hurt you, could increase risk of bleeding by interfering with the blood's ability to clot.
So, the bottom line according to these researchers is don't take these mega doses of Vitamin E. We checked in with the folks at the Harvard School of Public Health who did those original Vitamin E studies, and they said, they're still taking their Vitamin E supplements, not necessarily at the 400 international unit level, which is what some people were taking, but around 100 to 200. They stand by their studies. They think that Vitamin E really does work, and is safe.
HEMMER: I have to wonder how much of this just can confuse people. Two questions for you -- how much Vitamin E should be getting?
COHEN: Well,, the experts who wrote this study say that people should be getting about 10 to 20 international units a day, and what you want to try to do, is you want to try to get it through food, and we've brought a little Vitamin E garden here. Leafy greens a good place, broccoli, almonds, certain kinds of oils have a lot of Vitamin E, so you want to start there. It can be difficult, however, to get enough Vitamin e in your diet, even if you try harder. So some experts say, go ahead and take a multivitamin with, let's say, about 20 IUs or so of Vitamin E, that that might be a good idea, and that's not going to hurt you, but what they're against is the mega-doses of 200, 300, 400 international units of Vitamin E.
HEMMER: So if there are questions Vitamin E, are there other dietary supplements that can improve heart health?
COHEN: You know what, fish oil has been shown to help heart health. That's one supplement where it has been shown to be helpful, and of course, there are medicines you can take. For example, Aspirin can help your heart, prescription medicines like statins can help your heart, but here's a radical idea, you really want to help your heart, diet and exercise; don't just pop a pill.
HEMMER: I like that last one, or two. Thanks, Elizabeth, talk to you later. All right -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Wall Street won't be surprised by an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve today. Traders are looking for indicators of the future. A look at that's ahead.
HEMMER: Also, one of Hollywood's A-list actresses, a former model, Cameron Diaz has been seen in a lot of pictures, but not quite like this. "90-Second Pop" in a moment here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. It's time for a Wednesday edition of "90-Second Pop" with our house band, as we like to call them. Pretty good today, very clever. Andy Borowitz, the minister of humor at BorowitzReport.com.
I met someone who is a big fan of yours. He's crazy about you. We've got to talk about that later.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: The pizza guy.
O'BRIEN: Sarah Bernard is a contributing editor for "New York" magazine.
Good morning to you.
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: B.J. Sigesmund is a staff editor for "US Weekly" with some breaking news this morning.
B.J. SIGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": Yes.
O'BRIEN: But we're not going to start it by talking about that.
SIGESMUND: OK.
O'BRIEN: So you have to hold that.
BERNARD: Save that for last.
O'BRIEN: That's a deep tease...
SIGESMUND: Oh.
O'BRIEN: ... for our viewers to stick with us as begin with Pierce Brosnan and Colin Farrell.
BERNARD: That's right.
O'BRIEN: That's Colin.
BERNARD: Colin.
O'BRIEN: He doesn't want to be 007.
BERNARD: Can you believe he doesn't?
O'BRIEN: Why not?
BERNARD: You know...
O'BRIEN: "Alexander" is such a great movie. Come on.
BERNARD: You know, there's just been this trend for actors to not want to play these kind of -- these roles, like -- remember when we were trying to talk about who was going to be Superman? No one really wanted to do it, because they were afraid of being typecast as Superman for the next 10 years. And I think that that might be what Colin Farrell is thinking. He doesn't want to be sort of pigeonholed into the James Bond mold. But I can't understand why you would turn that down.
SIGESMUND: Well...
BERNARD: I mean, this is the kind of role that...
O'BRIEN: Great cars.
BERNARD: ... you're supposed to be -- exactly. You're supposed to be handsome. You're supposed to be an athlete. You are supposed to be all sorts of things.
SIGESMUND: Yes. Colin Farrell is still on the up and up in his career. You know, he's doing "Alexander," He's doing bigger movies next year. He might get an Oscar one of these years. The James Bond franchise is someone...
O'BRIEN: Oh, we all might get an Oscar one of these days.
SIGESMUND: No, seriously, he could. The James Bond franchise, though, is for an actor who wants to lose himself in a franchise and is willing to give away the next six or seven years of his life. And Colin Farrell just isn't that guy.
BERNARD: He doesn't want to do it. I... BOROWITZ: He has one quote that I thought was pretty, that when he said that they should choose somebody that the audience doesn't have a history with. And to me that's Colin Farrell.
O'BRIEN: That's Colin Farrell. BOROWITZ: That's the guy. I mean, wasn't he the star of "Phone Booth?" You know, I mean, that's...
BERNARD: He was.
O'BRIEN: Exactly.
BERNARD: I would like to suggest maybe Richard Branson for the job actually.
BOROWITZ: There you go.
(CROSSTALK)
BERNARD: Because did you see the show last night? I mean, I know you're about to talk about it.
(CROSSTALK)
BERNARD: It was unbelievable.
O'BRIEN: Nicely into -- thank you -- "The Rebel Billionaire."
BERNARD: Yes.
O'BRIEN: He's got his own reality show, like who doesn't?
SIGESMUND: Exactly.
BOROWITZ: And this is an amazing thing.
O'BRIEN: I loved it.
BOROWITZ: Well, it's cool, because you know, Richard Branson, this, you know, Virgin Airways, Virgin Records, the whole thing. And his concept is that he is doing all of these stunts to select the next president of his corporation. So it's things like two hot air balloons and they have to walk up this three-inch plank. And I'm watching this and thinking, you know, in the average day of a corporate president, how often does that skill really come up? I mean, aren't you on the phone most of the time?
SIGESMUND: It is so much more like "Fear Factor." It really had nothing to do with "The Apprentice." I mean, there is some business stuff in it, but it's much more -- it comes to life really with these crazy events. In the second hour, he has them, one, pass a baton from another while hanging upside down off an airplane.
O'BRIEN: Well, I do that that all the time.
BERNARD: But he's doing it, too. I mean, the difference between this and "The Apprentice" is he's actually doing all of the challenges with the contestants.
SIGESMUND: Right.
O'BRIEN: And the winner actually gets to become the president of Virgin Worldwide...
SIGESMUND: Supposedly.
O'BRIEN: ... which -- whatever that is.
SIGESMUND: Yes, yes.
O'BRIEN: But it sounds good.
SIGESMUND: He's also very different than Trump. You know, he's much more friendly.
O'BRIEN: Better hair?
SIGESMUND: He's cuddly even. Much better hair.
BERNARD: I'm telling you, James Bond.
O'BRIEN: All right, we de-teased this. Cameron Diaz, who weighs, like, 97 pounds soaking wet, beats up a photographer.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
O'BRIEN: What happened? This is an exclusive for "US Weekly," by the way.
SIGESMUND: Yes. I edited this story actually Monday night. What is clear is that Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake were in a scuffle with two paparazzi Saturday night. Cameron and -- the photographers say that Cameron attacked them, actually, after they took her picture. She jabbed the guy in the neck. He fell, and she stole his camera. That's what the photographers maintain.
Cameron and Justin's lawyer say, no, my clients were accosted. These guys jumped out and attacked them. They acted in self-defense, and Cameron took the camera because she wanted to identify him later.
BOROWITZ: You know, I don't think Cameron really thought this thing through, because if you're going to beat up a photographer and steal his camera, don't you also have to beat up the photographer who takes the picture of you beating up the photographer?
BERNARD: Right.
BOROWITZ: I mean, this is like -- more people will see those pictures than "Charlie's Angels 2."
O'BRIEN: You know...
BERNARD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) "Charlie's Angels."
O'BRIEN: The friend who is snapping pictures. Yo (ph) man, I got you back.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
O'BRIEN: And Cameron is kicking, like, his butt all over the place. Well, you know, technically, legally, they could face some legal trouble, right?
SIGESMUND: Yes, they could. There has been a police report charge -- I'm sorry. There has been a police report filed. And, yes, I mean, it could be battery. It could be grand theft when you rob someone.
O'BRIEN: He's already embarrassed, because, look, the girl is like a little reed and she (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the photographer.
(CROSSTALK)
BERNARD: I think this is only going to help Cameron Diaz's, you know, next role.
SIGESMUND: Right.
BERNARD: She can be, you know, Lorsa Mesita (ph).
O'BRIEN: Charlie's Angels 10.
BERNARD: Charlie's Angels 3, exactly.
BOROWITZ: Could this put a crimp in Justin Timberlake's singing career? Because then I know which side I'm on.
O'BRIEN: You guys -- good question. And as always, fabulous talking with you.
Let's go back to Bill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Good stuff, too. Thanks, Soledad.
In a moment here, first check of the markets this morning, and waiting for word from the Fed, back in a moment here, with Andy and Jack and everybody right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Quick check of the markets. They are open now, and the Fed is getting together to talk about interest rates, and Andy Serwer has a very close eye on all that this morning.
Good morning. First, the markets. How're we looking?
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: No, first happy birthday to Jean Wineberg (ph). producer. It's her birthday.
Second, Dow is up 14 points, you can see there. Nasdaq is -- that's up, excuse. Nasdaq is down a little bit. Cisco is down a little bit. They reported earnings last night, not quite up to snuff. The dollar continues to sink for all you currency freaks out there, the euro breaking through $1.30 for the first time. That is a record.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: What is a currency freak?
SERWER: A currency freak is someone who follows currencies intensely.
HEMMER: Hence the phrase.
SERWER: Yes, the Fed will be reporting today 2:15, probably raising interest rates, that's almost certainty, to 2 percent in the Fed Funds Rate. You're looking at statement to see what they'll be doing during the month of December.
Big news out of Redmond, Washington tomorrow. That's where Microsoft lives. A new search engine, they are going up against Googs -- going up against Google. They already have a search engine at MSN, but it's actually powered by Yahoo!. This is going to be there on version. Steve Ballmer, the CEO of Microsoft, you've got to love this, talking about Google, saying we will catch up, we will surpass.
I kind of think, Steve, that's a little wishful thinking maybe. I mean, Google is a powerful thing. However, Jack, the stock is down now.
CAFFERTY: Google's stock?
SERWER: Yes.
CAFFERTY: Finally.
SERWER: It's down to $168. They actually hit $200 there on November 3rd, and it's starting to maybe move down a little bit.
CAFFERTY: There you go. Did you short the stock when it was at 200.
SERWER: I don't do any of those things. Hands off, hands off policy.
O'BRIEN: Mr. Cafferty, a final look at Question of the Day.
CAFFERTY: Yes, they've got this miracle pill that be on the market as early as next year -- you lose weight, it prevents heart disease, it will straighten your teeth, it'll grow hair, it'll melt the wax in your ears, I mean, this is all going on, but there are possibly some side effects.
The question is, how far are you willing to go to lose weight? Which is a big topic in this country.
Mark in San Antonio -- "Being overweight most of my life, I'm 34, I've tried every drug out there as soon as it was available. They all work short term, but that's it. For the last six months, I've been watching what I'm eating, I exercise every morning while watching AMERICAN MORNING, and I'm down 105 pounds -- cut calories, exercise, that's the ticket."
SERWER: All right, Mark.
CAFFERTY: A in New York writes, "There's something unattractive about telegenic people sneering at the overweight. My large-boned niece eats very little and is quite active, nevertheless she gains weight at unfair rates. When she did achieve a normal weight, she was working out four hours a day. Sometime she gets so weary and discouraged."
And George in McCungee (ph), Pennsylvania, life is for livering -- Livering? It's 10:00, I'm almost done. "Life is for living," he wrote, "not suffering with every so-called miracle diet or pill that comes along. Resolve to be who your genes tell you you are. We dumb Dutchmen are genetically destined to be heavy, so why fight it. A fond supporter of meat, potatoes with gravy and Krispy Kremes."
O'BRIEN: There's an element of really not so much overweight, but unhealthfully overweight.
CAFFERTY: There is a difference, of course.
O'BRIEN: I mean, people are numerically overweight, but actually that's just the way their body is supposed to be.
CAFFERTY: And then you've got to factor in the genetics of whether or you're predisposed to things like diabetes and heart disease, then weight becomes even a bigger problem.
O'BRIEN: I mean, his poor niece, she's not meant to be a little Cameron Diaz. It's not going to happen.
CAFFERTY: Yes, exactly. There' s a place out in Iowa, just north of Des Moines, where I used to work way back a long time ago, and they had a tulip festival, was all Dutch people, and these were the biggest teenagers I've ever seen. You go in the restaurants there, and the girls were huge, they were beautiful, Scandinavian kids, blond hair, blue-eyed, but they all weighed about 190 pounds, and, you know, their parents were even bigger, and I mean, it's just the way they are, the way it was.
O'BRIEN: And their healthy. That's the way God made you.
All right, quick break. We're back in a moment, everybody.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: We got to run.
And Andy Serwer, our very, very, very good friend, Andy, you gave us a presentation during the commercial break. And I can tell you, we are so...
SERWER: Chocolate turkeys for everyone. HEMMER: We're all turkeys.
CAFFERTY: Remember last year you had turkey-flavored soda, I remember.
O'BRIEN: Yes, this is a big improvement.
SERWER: Stay tuned, we're getting some more of that.
(CROSSTALK)
SERWER: We love that stuff.
O'BRIEN: Thanks.
Daryn and Fredricka Whitfield at the CNN Center are going to take you through the next couple of hours.
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 November 10, 2004 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Opening bell from Wall Street on a Wednesday morning. Dow 30 starting today at 10,386, off about five points in trading from yesterday. Watch the price of oil again today. Went below 48 bucks a barrel yesterday. It's back up slightly over 48 bucks.
Nasdaq, 2,043 is your opening mark there. Hauling in the tech- heavy stocks there. Up about four points in trading from yesterday. So, we're open for business here in New York. And good morning once again.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Some very enthusiastic U-Haul...
HEMMER: Absolutely.
O'BRIEN: ... employees apparently today at Nasdaq.
Good morning, everybody. Exactly half past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
The battle of Falluja now in its third day. Coalition forces confirm control of most of the city. In just a moment, we'll take a look at one community that's providing a large share of those U.S. troops that are now in Falluja. We'll find out just how those families are coping.
HEMMER: A lot of tension at the bases across the country.
Also, some lighter news today. Did the cameras attack Cameron, or did Cameron attack the cameras? Two sides of the story. Some amazing pictures, too, coming up for you a bit later in "90-Second Pop."
O'BRIEN: The girl weighs, like, 100 pounds. She's a little -- little thing.
HEMMER: Let's see if she won or not?
O'BRIEN: Looks like she won.
Headlines now. Kelly Wallace is at our newsdesk this morning. Hello, good morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. She's strong.
O'BRIEN: Girl power, you know? WALLACE: Girl power. Girl power. We love that.
Good morning to you all. Good morning, again.
Now in the news -- with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat gravely ill at a French military hospital, plans are underway for his funeral and burial. Palestinian officials say Arafat's funeral may be held in Cairo by the end of the week, and that Israel has agreed to let Arafat be buried in his Ramallah compound in the West Bank. A top Muslim cleric who visited Arafat's bedside said the 75-year-old is still alive, but in a difficult situation.
A group called Ansar al-Jihad says members of the Iraqi prime minister's family will be killed unless Iraqi prisoners are released within 48 hours. At least two members of Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's family were kidnapped yesterday. In a message on a Web site, the group also demanded an end to the military offensive in Falluja.
Here in the United States, the jury in the Scott Peterson double murder trial is starting over. That's because the judge in the case dismissed juror number seven yesterday. Source say Fran Gorman may have been conducting independent research on the case. An alternate juror has been appointed to the panel. Deliberations get back underway today in less than two hours.
And Martha Stewart says she needs some help paying her bills. She has filed a claim seeking $3.7 million to help with her legal fees. That's according to a company filing from Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. The filing says Stewart and the company will rely on an independent expert to decide whether she is entitled to the money. Stewart is currently serving a five-month sentence at a federal prison in West Virginia. And you will recall, she entered that prison early last month.
Why do I think Jack will have something to say about that?
HEMMER: He may.
O'BRIEN: How is that possible? I mean, didn't she have a lot of money? Definitely, Jack will...
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: I bet she has the grounds of the prison all taken care of. Thank you, Kelly.
From Iraq today, the battle for Falluja now on its third day, and U.S. forces pushing now into the insurgent stronghold. The assault is on or ahead of schedule, according to the military, but fighting could last several more days -- that's according to Lieutenant General Thomas Metz. He also says insurgents are fighting in small groups but without much coherence. And he says it is, quote, "fair to assume" that the terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has left that town.
Meanwhile, the Sunni political party has withdrawn from the Interim National Council -- this in protest of the current offensive. And the military has released a videotape of a navy F-18 dropping a 500-pound bomb -- part of the air strikes conducted before the offensive to try and destroy roadside bombs and booby-traps set up on the ground there in Falluja.
Now, as the war continues in Iraq, back home, families struggle to stay strong, especially those who have loved ones battling in Falluja. Miguel Marquez this morning with some of those families in Camp Pendleton in California.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As Marines push their way into Falluja, families back home can only pray and hope.
MEGAN SMITH, WIFE OF MARINE IN FALLUJA: I never thought I'd be out here doing this. I never thought I'd be waiting for my husband to come home from war.
MARQUEZ: Megan Smith and her two daughters are waiting for Marine Corporal Matt Smith to come home. Married for three years, the Smiths have been separated by war for two anniversaries. Their last communication last Sunday -- an all-too-brief e-mail.
SMITH: "Like I said, I will try to call, but I will have some work -- I will have to work some magic, and it won't be for that long. So -- well, in closing, I love you more and miss you more and will try to call. Love and miss you, Matt."
MARQUEZ: Smith says from what she's seen so far, the battle for Falluja isn't living up to her fears.
SMITH: I really did expect more, like, casualties, I guess -- more death count, more news of more Marines dying or something. I expected more resistance.
MARQUEZ: Marines just back from Camp Falluja know that their colleagues are up to the task.
CPL. JONATHAN MONTEMAYOR, CAMP PENDLETON: From what I've heard like through e-mails from friends that I have over there, they said some of us -- you know, they're ready to go back and take care of business.
MARQUEZ: During the course of the war in Iraq, Camp Pendleton has suffered at least 160 Marines killed and scores wounded -- something difficult for the people in this town who deal with Marines every day.
RON ZURAWSKI, BEACHCOMBER BARBERSHOP: What's difficult is when we get Marines coming in with injuries, you know, that they suffered over in Iraq, that's -- gets you here.
MARQUEZ: Maybe the only consolation, with 19,000 to 20,000 Camp Pendleton Marines stationed in Iraq, the waiting and uncertainty will be shared by many.
Miguel Marquez, CNN, Camp Pendleton, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: One other note on what's happening in Falluja so far, the U.S. Military says at least 10 American troops have died in the invasion of that town -- Soledad?
O'BRIEN: We may learn as early as today who President Bush will choose to succeed outgoing Attorney General John Ashcroft. White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is live in Washington, D.C. with details on that this morning. Good morning to you, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
That's right, we do expect that as early as today we could find out the successor to Attorney General John Ashcroft. As you know, of course, the big shake-up in the cabinet underway. It was just yesterday that Ashcroft announced that he was resigning, as well as Commerce Secretary Don Evans. It was a five-page, handwritten letter to the president that was submitted on Election Night.
Now, as you know, of course, Ashcroft is arguably one of the most controversial figures in the cabinet. He is known for his accomplishments when it comes to measures fighting corporate and violent crimes, but has gained some notoriety when it comes to the anti-terrorism measures -- specifically the Patriot Act. Some critics saying that this has basically eroded civil liberties.
And it was just yesterday the president put out a statement saying that he was proud, that he protected Americans against terrorism. Ashcroft said he was leaving, because it would be better served the department for new leadership and fresh inspiration.
Now, possible successors here -- we have heard the Deputy Secretary Larry Thompson. We have heard, as well, as the campaign chair Marc Racicot. But sources tell us that the one who is at the very top of the list, most likely, of course, is White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales. He served in Texas as a Supreme Court justice there, as well as general counsel to the president back in their Texas days. It would mean -- would be very significant that he would be the first Hispanic to actually hold that position.
Also yesterday, of course, we saw Don Evans, Secretary Don Evans, he is a longtime friend of the president, back from almost their childhood days. He is expected to go back home to Texas. He raised a lot of money four years ago for the president in his campaign. This year, it's Mercer Reynolds who did that, and is widely expected that he may replace Don Evans in the months to come -- Soledad?
O'BRIEN: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House for us this morning. Suzanne, thanks.
HEMMER: Twenty-two before the hour. Another check of the weather -- one final check today. Here's Chad Meyers at the CNN Center. How you doing, man? (WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: OK. Millions of people take Vitamin E thinking that they will lower the risk of heart disease. New research now suggests, though, that the vitamin gets and "E" for effort, perhaps though not for effectiveness.
Here's our own "E," Elizabeth Cohen, at the CNN Center with more. Good morning to you, Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, "B."
Vitamin E, in fact, there was so much excitement around it, Bill. Years ago, people said, wow, Vitamin E seems to be so helpful, seems to really help protect people, keep people from getting heart disease. In fact, many doctors, many cardiologists started taking these mega doses of Vitamin E. We're talking 20 times the amount sometimes than what you would usually get in your diet.
But now, a new analysis of 14 different studies shows that Vitamin E really doesn't work against heart disease. What they found is that it does not improve heart health to take these high doses of Vitamin E. That it does not have any proven health benefits at all. And in fact, it may hurt you, could increase risk of bleeding by interfering with the blood's ability to clot.
So, the bottom line according to these researchers is don't take these mega doses of Vitamin E. We checked in with the folks at the Harvard School of Public Health who did those original Vitamin E studies, and they said, they're still taking their Vitamin E supplements, not necessarily at the 400 international unit level, which is what some people were taking, but around 100 to 200. They stand by their studies. They think that Vitamin E really does work, and is safe.
HEMMER: I have to wonder how much of this just can confuse people. Two questions for you -- how much Vitamin E should be getting?
COHEN: Well,, the experts who wrote this study say that people should be getting about 10 to 20 international units a day, and what you want to try to do, is you want to try to get it through food, and we've brought a little Vitamin E garden here. Leafy greens a good place, broccoli, almonds, certain kinds of oils have a lot of Vitamin E, so you want to start there. It can be difficult, however, to get enough Vitamin e in your diet, even if you try harder. So some experts say, go ahead and take a multivitamin with, let's say, about 20 IUs or so of Vitamin E, that that might be a good idea, and that's not going to hurt you, but what they're against is the mega-doses of 200, 300, 400 international units of Vitamin E.
HEMMER: So if there are questions Vitamin E, are there other dietary supplements that can improve heart health?
COHEN: You know what, fish oil has been shown to help heart health. That's one supplement where it has been shown to be helpful, and of course, there are medicines you can take. For example, Aspirin can help your heart, prescription medicines like statins can help your heart, but here's a radical idea, you really want to help your heart, diet and exercise; don't just pop a pill.
HEMMER: I like that last one, or two. Thanks, Elizabeth, talk to you later. All right -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Wall Street won't be surprised by an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve today. Traders are looking for indicators of the future. A look at that's ahead.
HEMMER: Also, one of Hollywood's A-list actresses, a former model, Cameron Diaz has been seen in a lot of pictures, but not quite like this. "90-Second Pop" in a moment here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. It's time for a Wednesday edition of "90-Second Pop" with our house band, as we like to call them. Pretty good today, very clever. Andy Borowitz, the minister of humor at BorowitzReport.com.
I met someone who is a big fan of yours. He's crazy about you. We've got to talk about that later.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: The pizza guy.
O'BRIEN: Sarah Bernard is a contributing editor for "New York" magazine.
Good morning to you.
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: B.J. Sigesmund is a staff editor for "US Weekly" with some breaking news this morning.
B.J. SIGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": Yes.
O'BRIEN: But we're not going to start it by talking about that.
SIGESMUND: OK.
O'BRIEN: So you have to hold that.
BERNARD: Save that for last.
O'BRIEN: That's a deep tease...
SIGESMUND: Oh.
O'BRIEN: ... for our viewers to stick with us as begin with Pierce Brosnan and Colin Farrell.
BERNARD: That's right.
O'BRIEN: That's Colin.
BERNARD: Colin.
O'BRIEN: He doesn't want to be 007.
BERNARD: Can you believe he doesn't?
O'BRIEN: Why not?
BERNARD: You know...
O'BRIEN: "Alexander" is such a great movie. Come on.
BERNARD: You know, there's just been this trend for actors to not want to play these kind of -- these roles, like -- remember when we were trying to talk about who was going to be Superman? No one really wanted to do it, because they were afraid of being typecast as Superman for the next 10 years. And I think that that might be what Colin Farrell is thinking. He doesn't want to be sort of pigeonholed into the James Bond mold. But I can't understand why you would turn that down.
SIGESMUND: Well...
BERNARD: I mean, this is the kind of role that...
O'BRIEN: Great cars.
BERNARD: ... you're supposed to be -- exactly. You're supposed to be handsome. You're supposed to be an athlete. You are supposed to be all sorts of things.
SIGESMUND: Yes. Colin Farrell is still on the up and up in his career. You know, he's doing "Alexander," He's doing bigger movies next year. He might get an Oscar one of these years. The James Bond franchise is someone...
O'BRIEN: Oh, we all might get an Oscar one of these days.
SIGESMUND: No, seriously, he could. The James Bond franchise, though, is for an actor who wants to lose himself in a franchise and is willing to give away the next six or seven years of his life. And Colin Farrell just isn't that guy.
BERNARD: He doesn't want to do it. I... BOROWITZ: He has one quote that I thought was pretty, that when he said that they should choose somebody that the audience doesn't have a history with. And to me that's Colin Farrell.
O'BRIEN: That's Colin Farrell. BOROWITZ: That's the guy. I mean, wasn't he the star of "Phone Booth?" You know, I mean, that's...
BERNARD: He was.
O'BRIEN: Exactly.
BERNARD: I would like to suggest maybe Richard Branson for the job actually.
BOROWITZ: There you go.
(CROSSTALK)
BERNARD: Because did you see the show last night? I mean, I know you're about to talk about it.
(CROSSTALK)
BERNARD: It was unbelievable.
O'BRIEN: Nicely into -- thank you -- "The Rebel Billionaire."
BERNARD: Yes.
O'BRIEN: He's got his own reality show, like who doesn't?
SIGESMUND: Exactly.
BOROWITZ: And this is an amazing thing.
O'BRIEN: I loved it.
BOROWITZ: Well, it's cool, because you know, Richard Branson, this, you know, Virgin Airways, Virgin Records, the whole thing. And his concept is that he is doing all of these stunts to select the next president of his corporation. So it's things like two hot air balloons and they have to walk up this three-inch plank. And I'm watching this and thinking, you know, in the average day of a corporate president, how often does that skill really come up? I mean, aren't you on the phone most of the time?
SIGESMUND: It is so much more like "Fear Factor." It really had nothing to do with "The Apprentice." I mean, there is some business stuff in it, but it's much more -- it comes to life really with these crazy events. In the second hour, he has them, one, pass a baton from another while hanging upside down off an airplane.
O'BRIEN: Well, I do that that all the time.
BERNARD: But he's doing it, too. I mean, the difference between this and "The Apprentice" is he's actually doing all of the challenges with the contestants.
SIGESMUND: Right.
O'BRIEN: And the winner actually gets to become the president of Virgin Worldwide...
SIGESMUND: Supposedly.
O'BRIEN: ... which -- whatever that is.
SIGESMUND: Yes, yes.
O'BRIEN: But it sounds good.
SIGESMUND: He's also very different than Trump. You know, he's much more friendly.
O'BRIEN: Better hair?
SIGESMUND: He's cuddly even. Much better hair.
BERNARD: I'm telling you, James Bond.
O'BRIEN: All right, we de-teased this. Cameron Diaz, who weighs, like, 97 pounds soaking wet, beats up a photographer.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
O'BRIEN: What happened? This is an exclusive for "US Weekly," by the way.
SIGESMUND: Yes. I edited this story actually Monday night. What is clear is that Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake were in a scuffle with two paparazzi Saturday night. Cameron and -- the photographers say that Cameron attacked them, actually, after they took her picture. She jabbed the guy in the neck. He fell, and she stole his camera. That's what the photographers maintain.
Cameron and Justin's lawyer say, no, my clients were accosted. These guys jumped out and attacked them. They acted in self-defense, and Cameron took the camera because she wanted to identify him later.
BOROWITZ: You know, I don't think Cameron really thought this thing through, because if you're going to beat up a photographer and steal his camera, don't you also have to beat up the photographer who takes the picture of you beating up the photographer?
BERNARD: Right.
BOROWITZ: I mean, this is like -- more people will see those pictures than "Charlie's Angels 2."
O'BRIEN: You know...
BERNARD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) "Charlie's Angels."
O'BRIEN: The friend who is snapping pictures. Yo (ph) man, I got you back.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
O'BRIEN: And Cameron is kicking, like, his butt all over the place. Well, you know, technically, legally, they could face some legal trouble, right?
SIGESMUND: Yes, they could. There has been a police report charge -- I'm sorry. There has been a police report filed. And, yes, I mean, it could be battery. It could be grand theft when you rob someone.
O'BRIEN: He's already embarrassed, because, look, the girl is like a little reed and she (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the photographer.
(CROSSTALK)
BERNARD: I think this is only going to help Cameron Diaz's, you know, next role.
SIGESMUND: Right.
BERNARD: She can be, you know, Lorsa Mesita (ph).
O'BRIEN: Charlie's Angels 10.
BERNARD: Charlie's Angels 3, exactly.
BOROWITZ: Could this put a crimp in Justin Timberlake's singing career? Because then I know which side I'm on.
O'BRIEN: You guys -- good question. And as always, fabulous talking with you.
Let's go back to Bill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Good stuff, too. Thanks, Soledad.
In a moment here, first check of the markets this morning, and waiting for word from the Fed, back in a moment here, with Andy and Jack and everybody right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Quick check of the markets. They are open now, and the Fed is getting together to talk about interest rates, and Andy Serwer has a very close eye on all that this morning.
Good morning. First, the markets. How're we looking?
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: No, first happy birthday to Jean Wineberg (ph). producer. It's her birthday.
Second, Dow is up 14 points, you can see there. Nasdaq is -- that's up, excuse. Nasdaq is down a little bit. Cisco is down a little bit. They reported earnings last night, not quite up to snuff. The dollar continues to sink for all you currency freaks out there, the euro breaking through $1.30 for the first time. That is a record.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: What is a currency freak?
SERWER: A currency freak is someone who follows currencies intensely.
HEMMER: Hence the phrase.
SERWER: Yes, the Fed will be reporting today 2:15, probably raising interest rates, that's almost certainty, to 2 percent in the Fed Funds Rate. You're looking at statement to see what they'll be doing during the month of December.
Big news out of Redmond, Washington tomorrow. That's where Microsoft lives. A new search engine, they are going up against Googs -- going up against Google. They already have a search engine at MSN, but it's actually powered by Yahoo!. This is going to be there on version. Steve Ballmer, the CEO of Microsoft, you've got to love this, talking about Google, saying we will catch up, we will surpass.
I kind of think, Steve, that's a little wishful thinking maybe. I mean, Google is a powerful thing. However, Jack, the stock is down now.
CAFFERTY: Google's stock?
SERWER: Yes.
CAFFERTY: Finally.
SERWER: It's down to $168. They actually hit $200 there on November 3rd, and it's starting to maybe move down a little bit.
CAFFERTY: There you go. Did you short the stock when it was at 200.
SERWER: I don't do any of those things. Hands off, hands off policy.
O'BRIEN: Mr. Cafferty, a final look at Question of the Day.
CAFFERTY: Yes, they've got this miracle pill that be on the market as early as next year -- you lose weight, it prevents heart disease, it will straighten your teeth, it'll grow hair, it'll melt the wax in your ears, I mean, this is all going on, but there are possibly some side effects.
The question is, how far are you willing to go to lose weight? Which is a big topic in this country.
Mark in San Antonio -- "Being overweight most of my life, I'm 34, I've tried every drug out there as soon as it was available. They all work short term, but that's it. For the last six months, I've been watching what I'm eating, I exercise every morning while watching AMERICAN MORNING, and I'm down 105 pounds -- cut calories, exercise, that's the ticket."
SERWER: All right, Mark.
CAFFERTY: A in New York writes, "There's something unattractive about telegenic people sneering at the overweight. My large-boned niece eats very little and is quite active, nevertheless she gains weight at unfair rates. When she did achieve a normal weight, she was working out four hours a day. Sometime she gets so weary and discouraged."
And George in McCungee (ph), Pennsylvania, life is for livering -- Livering? It's 10:00, I'm almost done. "Life is for living," he wrote, "not suffering with every so-called miracle diet or pill that comes along. Resolve to be who your genes tell you you are. We dumb Dutchmen are genetically destined to be heavy, so why fight it. A fond supporter of meat, potatoes with gravy and Krispy Kremes."
O'BRIEN: There's an element of really not so much overweight, but unhealthfully overweight.
CAFFERTY: There is a difference, of course.
O'BRIEN: I mean, people are numerically overweight, but actually that's just the way their body is supposed to be.
CAFFERTY: And then you've got to factor in the genetics of whether or you're predisposed to things like diabetes and heart disease, then weight becomes even a bigger problem.
O'BRIEN: I mean, his poor niece, she's not meant to be a little Cameron Diaz. It's not going to happen.
CAFFERTY: Yes, exactly. There' s a place out in Iowa, just north of Des Moines, where I used to work way back a long time ago, and they had a tulip festival, was all Dutch people, and these were the biggest teenagers I've ever seen. You go in the restaurants there, and the girls were huge, they were beautiful, Scandinavian kids, blond hair, blue-eyed, but they all weighed about 190 pounds, and, you know, their parents were even bigger, and I mean, it's just the way they are, the way it was.
O'BRIEN: And their healthy. That's the way God made you.
All right, quick break. We're back in a moment, everybody.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: We got to run.
And Andy Serwer, our very, very, very good friend, Andy, you gave us a presentation during the commercial break. And I can tell you, we are so...
SERWER: Chocolate turkeys for everyone. HEMMER: We're all turkeys.
CAFFERTY: Remember last year you had turkey-flavored soda, I remember.
O'BRIEN: Yes, this is a big improvement.
SERWER: Stay tuned, we're getting some more of that.
(CROSSTALK)
SERWER: We love that stuff.
O'BRIEN: Thanks.
Daryn and Fredricka Whitfield at the CNN Center are going to take you through the next couple of hours.
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