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CNN Sunday Morning

Battle for Falluja Continues; Tribute to Pat Tillman

Aired November 14, 2004 - 09:00 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.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. It is Sunday, November 14. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Tony Harris.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen. If you're just waking up on the West Coast, it is an early 6:00 a.m. Thanks for joining us, starting your day with us. I want to get started with the day's headlines right now.

Blasting their way in, shooting their way out, U.S. troops clear buildings in Falluja one by one. A U.S. commander says there is no longer an organized insurgency in the city. U.S. military officials say 31 U.S. troops and six Iraqi forces have been killed there, along with between 1,000 and 2,000 insurgents.

U.S. Marines found the mutilated body of a woman today on a street in Falluja. And The Associated Press quotes a Marine officer as saying that he is "80 percent sure the woman was a westerner." At least two western women have been kidnapped in Iraq and are still missing.

Queen Elizabeth places a wreath at a monument in London on Remembrance Day. Hundreds have turned out in the past four days to honor Britain's war dead, including those killed in Iraq. Yesterday, Prime Minister Tony Blair joined hundreds of veterans at a remembrance ceremony at Royal Albert Hall.

And Dick Cheney has a cold, and he may have an upper respiratory infection. After a visit to a Washington hospital yesterday, his doctor says that may be why the vice president experienced shortness of breath. Cheney has had four heart attacks, but tests yesterday found no sign of cardiac problems.

HARRIS: And here's what's coming up for you this hour. It was an emotional tribute last night to fallen soldier and pro football star Pat Tillman. We will take you to his alma mater.

Four months after they fell in love, imagine the war in Iraq pulled them apart. The couple joins us live this morning to tell us what happened next.

And how about this? A Web site with pictures of Canadians willing to marry Americans to protect them from George W. Bush? Wacky political Internet sites in this morning's "Best of the Web."

NGUYEN: All right. Right now we want to go to CNN's Jane Arraf, who is near Falluja. She joins us with the latest on the situation there. This is her first report so far this morning.

Jane, good morning to you. What have you seen so far?

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Betty.

What we're seeing and hearing is from U.S. military commanders on the ground, that's Army and Marine, who tell us they have, in fact, they believe, defeated the last of the organized insurgency. Now, overnight, we were with an Army unit, Taskforce 22 of the 1st Infantry Division as they rolled through the last remaining part of their sector that was thought to be a stronghold of insurgents. And what they found was an immense underground bunker, a complex that included medical supplies and other supplies, 300 meters by 400 meters.

Overnight, they dropped four 2,000-pound bombs on that complex. And they say there were secondary explosions for 45 minutes, indicating that there were weapons stored underneath there.

Essentially, they are saying that there are still insurgents out there, but they are small groups. And they've lost their leadership. They've lost their communications ability -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Just small groups left. Let's talk about those 200 insurgents that have been captured. Are they providing any information to the U.S. military and Iraqi military forces there?

ARRAF: They certainly will provide some information, but a lot of the people who have surrendered, a lot of them who are captured are Iraqi insurgents. That top level of the insurgency thought to be foreign fighters are either still in hiding, they're dead, or they are still out there attacking U.S. forces. And those are the fighters who will probably go down fighting, who will probably be killed.

What we have been seeing is that some insurgents have been surrendering. But again, those are part of the homegrown insurgency. The foreign fighters seem -- and the other more -- the most committed of them seem to be going down with either grenades or guns in their hands -- Betty.

NGUYEN: And as this offensive winds down, talk to us a little about residents of Falluja. Many of them, most of them have left. When do you think it will be safe for them to return to the city?

ARRAF: Not for quite awhile. And even when it is safe, it will be a long time before they actually feel safe, Betty.

What we've been told by Marine officials on the ground is that Iraqis in the center of the city are just starting to come out of their homes in very small groups, and they're starting to come out because Iraqi forces are going through the city street by street. They're approaching those Iraqi forces and telling them they need food, they need water, they need medicine. And some of that aid is getting through to them, but still, a lot of Iraqis, a lot of residents in Falluja are staying at home.

They had been told to stay in their houses, or essentially they would be shot. And there is still a battle going on there. They would certainly be fearful about coming out -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. And many aid workers are trying just to get near the city to provide relief there. CNN's Jane Arraf near Falluja this morning for us. Thank you for that report, Jane -- Tony.

HARRIS: The battle may be winding down, but there is still resistance in Falluja. And U.S. Marines took casualties this weekend when a resupply mission became a reinforcement mission. Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is embedded with the Marines in Falluja.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For this Marine gunner, resupplying Charlie Company was never going to be easy. A high-speed dash through Falluja's dangerous streets, headlong into a firefight.

Resupplying Charlie Company, abruptly switching to reinforce Bravo Company. Their foot patrol pinned down by insurgent gunfire. Incoming rounds whistle and snap overhead; bullets ricochet off the armored supply vehicle. Suddenly a call, Marines injured.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's what they're doing right now. They're getting casualties.

ROBERTSON: Reinforcement turns into medevac. A race back to base, resupplying Charlie Company no longer the objective. Better luck on the next run.

Charlie Company Marines rush to get their water, food and ammunition out of harm's way. For their commander, the focus now on insurgents bypassed in the initial phase of the assault.

CAPT. THOMAS TENNANT, U.S. MARINE CORPS: The threat that they pose right now is that they hold the ground. We don't know where they are. They can continue to snipe at us and fire RPGs, and maybe even construct improvised explosive devices.

ROBERTSON: Resupplied, Captain Tennant's Marines race for cover en route to the next objective. Plans worked out as they go.

TENNANT: If we do end up clearing rooms, if we have to take over and clear rooms, you guys are throwing a frag in every room we come to.

ROBERTSON: Explosives to clear the way. Two of Charlie Company killed by insurgents lying in wait in a house just a few days before. Past the body of a man believed to be an insurgent, progress is cautious, holding up in a house along the way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. I want a scope up top. Anderson's got us covered back here. We're good.

ROBERTSON: The strains of battle etching their wearying patterns on the face of Charlie Company. No flagging, though, on the final push for their objective, an Iraqi school. As promised, no risks taken. Marines rush forward. No insurgents found.

LT. COL. TRAVIS FULLER, U.S. MARINE CORPS: One of our biggest concerns right now, actually, is not enemy being in the building. It's a building being booby-trapped.

ROBERTSON: Later, under cover of darkness, detainees being sent back to base for questioning.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Charlie Company needs some tomorrow.

ROBERTSON: And a call for much need supplies. As day breaks, relative quiet after a night of sporadic explosions. Time to repair, refresh and reflect on their first taste of battle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've never gone through anything like this with one of my friends before. I definitely know that we're all a lot closer now.

ROBERTSON: Unpredictably and seemingly out of nowhere, they take fire. A day to be like the one before, maybe. More objectives to be taken, more time for Charlie Company and the firing line. Their losses so far cutting deep but not hindering their mission.

TENNANT: Brokenhearted, disappointed, but with the mission at hand, you can't grieve too much now. You just save it, and you'll grieve when we get out of here safely.

ROBERTSON: For Charlie Company, Falluja was never going to be painless.

Nic Robertson, CNN, with Charlie Company, in Falluja, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Boy. And now our e-mail question this morning. What should be at the top of America's foreign policy agenda? Send us an e-mail at wam@cnn.com and we will read your responses throughout the program.

NGUYEN: Vice President Dick Cheney says he feels fine. The reassurance comes after he went to the hospital for a battery of tests. But doctors say they suspect a respiratory infection, not heart trouble is what's causing his troubles.

CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us now live from the White House with that and much more.

How is the vice president this morning, Elaine?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No change that we have heard of, Betty. As we heard him say yesterday, he said, as he was leaving the hospital, that he felt just fine. But yesterday, as you know, the vice president was complaining of shortness of breath and also a cough.

So he talked to his cardiologist, who recommended that because of the vice president's history of heart trouble that he go to the hospital for precautionary tests. The vice president did that yesterday afternoon at George Washington University Hospital, not far from his residence there.

You saw him leaving, along with his wife, Lynne Cheney. He spent several hours there before heading home. And late yesterday his cardiologist, Dr. Jonathan Reiner (ph), issued a statement saying that tests ruled out any cardiac cause of the vice president's symptoms. Tests also ruled out pneumonia and other pulmonary causes. The vice president likely has a viral upper respiratory infection.

Now, aides say the vice president has been suffering from a cold in recent days ever since he returned from his annual hunting trip in South Dakota. Before that, he had been keeping quite a hectic schedule.

He was out campaigning vigorously in the months and especially in those final weeks before the election. His heart trouble stretched back to 1978, when he had his first of four heart attacks at the age of 37.

He's also had quadruple bypass surgery, a stent, and what Mr. Cheney called a pacemaker-plus implanted. That's a device that monitors and regulates if necessary his heart rhythm. But again, tests showing that it is not cardiac or pulmonary-related.

Now, as for President Bush, who, by the way, was notified about the vice president's status by White House chief of staff, Andy Card, yesterday, he has a busy week ahead of him. One week after meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair here in Washington, the president will head to Chile to attend the annual APEC meeting of Asian-Pacific leaders to discuss economic issues.

Now, the White House says that the topics will include promoting free trade, economic growth, and also cooperating on security issues. After that meeting, he will remain in Chile to hold talks with that country's president. And among the agenda items to be discussed there, Betty, strengthening Democratic institutions in that region -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Elaine Quijano at the White House this morning. Thank you.

Now, Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, will appear on CNN's "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER" today. She'll discuss her new book, "When Washington Crossed the Delaware." That is at noon Eastern, 9:00 a.m. out West.

HARRIS: It's another fallout from the tragedy of 9/11, donors afraid to give money to Muslim charities. What's behind their fear of giving, and how will these charities survive? The story here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: Plus, take a look at this, an Internet site with people willing to protect you from George W. Bush by walking you down the aisle in Canada? "The Best of the Web," that is coming up. (WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Checking our top stories now.

For a week, U.S. forces hit Falluja, and hit it hard. Now military officials say the city is no longer a base of operation for insurgents. The U.S. says the Falluja assault killed between 1,000 and 2,000 insurgents. Thirty-one Americans and six Iraqi forces were also killed.

Vice President Dick Cheney is doing OK. He went to a Washington hospital yesterday after experiencing chest pains. His cardiologist says tests showed no heart problems. Instead, he says Cheney probably has an upper respiratory infection.

And it's Remembrance Day in Britain. Thousands of veterans joined the royal family and politicians at ceremonies honoring the country's war dead.

NGUYEN: Up next this morning, little limericks and marrying an American. They are just a few of the choice picks in this week's survey of "The Best of the Web." For more, we turn now to Blaise Zerega, managing editor of "Wired" Magazine. He's live in San Francisco.

Good morning to you.

BLAISE ZEREGA, MANAGING EDITOR, "WIRED": Good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: Boy, these are some interesting pics. Let's get started. For those still upset with the election, Canadians are offering a little help via the Internet. Can you hear us?

ZEREGA: I'm sorry, yes. There's a new site. It's the wacky world of "I do," MarryAnAmerican.com. Thousands of Canadians have offered to give up their singlehood to wed Americans who are disaffected.

NGUYEN: Now, is this a joke, Blaise? I mean, come on. Are they serious?

ZEREGA: Who knows? You know, Americans have long looked to the liberal north, our northern neighbor, you know, as a place of refuge during the Vietnam War, in response to Reagan's reelection, so forth. I think it's just a fun, funny site.

NGUYEN: Yes. And look at the pictures. Of course, you've got to find out who you're going to marry if you're really going to go through this.

ZEREGA: It's a political twist to online dating.

NGUYEN: OK. All right. What about other sites for those who want to stay in the U.S.? ZEREGA: Exactly. There's another site called Axis of Logic. It's a news commentary site, and they're offering 10 reasons why, as they put it, liberals should stay in the belly of the beast and fight the good fight.

NGUYEN: The belly of the beast?

ZEREGA: Yes. You know, among them are get ready for the 2008 election, help capitalize upon the voter registration, so forth. But the number 10 reason of why the liberals should not leave America is that the average January temperature in Ottawa is 12 degrees Fahrenheit.

NGUYEN: Yikes. Oh, that could be a good reason for those who don't like the cold weather.

ZEREGA: Get ready to shovel snow.

NGUYEN: Yes, exactly. All right. Whether you want to stay or if you want to go, even, there is one site that really just wants to say, I'm sorry. What is that all about?

ZEREGA: SorryEverybody.com. That is a site that, again, for people who are upset with Bush's reelection and who disagree with the administration's policies, they're saying, hey, we're sorry, everybody. They're apologizing to the world for Bush's reelection and his policies.

NGUYEN: Now, is this just all about humor? These sites, are they hoping to spark some kind of change?

ZEREGA: A little of both. You know, I think it's just people's way of dealing with the aftermath of the election.

I mean, 48 percent of this country did vote for Kerry. And they're upset, but they're trying to get over it and move on. They're looking for some closure, to use that word.

NGUYEN: Yes. And speaking of some closure, some people are putting it down in writing in the form of limericks. You've got a couple for us, right?

ZEREGA: Oh, yes. Well, I hope you'll join me.

NGUYEN: OK.

ZEREGA: I mean...

NGUYEN: I'll try to play along here.

ZEREGA: There's a blog called ASmallVictory.net. It's a blog run by Michelle Catalano (ph). And she has sponsored a contest for limericks in the aftermath of the election. And they're pro-Bush, they're anti-Bush; they're pro-Kerry, anti-Kerry.

So I thought I'd read one. NGUYEN: OK.

ZEREGA: And it goes, "I'll remind all you neo-con fish, revenge is a cold kind of dish. You're ruling the game with no one to blame. Be careful for that which you wish."

NGUYEN: Ooh, I like the music. OK.

I have a pro-Bush that one we want to put up from the site. And it reads, "Though Bush rarely sounds educated, it's clear that he has been underrated. So give him his due because he outsmarted you. And your chance at the White House has faded."

These are pretty interesting. And so what does the winner get?

ZEREGA: Well, actually, the contest is going on right now. You can go and vote. There's hundreds of entries, and you can choose the top three.

NGUYEN: All right. And word is still out on the prize for the top two limericks.

ZEREGA: Indeed. I'm not sure exactly what they're going to offer up.

NGUYEN: All right. Blaise Zerega, always very interesting. We appreciate your time.

ZEREGA: Thanks, Betty.

NGUYEN: All right -- Tony.

HARRIS: Trying to fish around to find the goofiest picture of Bush they could find. And, oh, man.

NGUYEN: These sites, they have it all, don't they?

HARRIS: Well, one of them is seeing stars. You could say the other has been Reynolds wrapped.

NGUYEN: Star Jones has got a new view. Oh, and a new hubby, too. We'll tell you about her star-studded wedding right after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC)

HARRIS: And that is Earth Wind & Fire.

NGUYEN: And an appropriate song for this story. She got something old, something new, something borrowed, and guess from who? Well, from all her sponsors, that's who.

Star Jones wrapped herself in Reynolds yesterday, Al Reynolds yesterday. The host of "The View" and the Manhattan banker married in a star-studded wedding bash in New York yesterday.

Now, among their gifts, donated invitations, free tuxedos and bridesmaid gowns.

HARRIS: Come on.

NGUYEN: Oh, yes. And the biggest get? Plugs for the sponsors of those gets which star shamelessly mentioned several times leading up to the event. And here's what some celebs said about the ceremony.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LORRAINE BRACCO, ACTRESS: The dress was beautiful. It was white with a train that went on for several New York blocks.

BLAIR UNDERWOOD, ACTOR: Just beautiful. I mean, top-notch, classy and heartfelt, and just beautiful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: And among the other guests at the gala, Spike Lee, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and, of course, Barbara Walters was there. And that train was 27 feet long.

HARRIS: Sponsorship.

NGUYEN: Sponsorship. Let's talk about that, because "The New York Post" some of those demands from these sponsors included $4,500 from companies wanting to be a wedding sponsor, $1,500 from companies wanted to get their product and gift bags.

I guess you give gift bags now to all your guests at weddings. That's a wedding. And to get ready for the big day, there must be at least eight hairstylists, six makeup artists and 10 manicurists. Now that is a wedding.

HARRIS: It was NASCAR, is what it was.

NGUYEN: All about the sponsors.

HARRIS: Was there a Valvoline sticker on the dress somewhere?

NGUYEN: I doubt that.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Why is it the more money you make, the more people want to give you?

HARRIS: Want to give you things.

NGUYEN: The publicity, maybe that's why.

HARRIS: OK. Crazy.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: OK. I'll make it up to you. You can be a sponsor at my wedding. How about that?

MARCIANO: Love to.

NGUYEN: If I ever get married. We've got to work on that first.

HARRIS: Got to work on the groom.

NGUYEN: Yes. Maybe you can help me out there. Maybe you know somebody.

Well, they're the gifts that keep on giving and getting attention, too.

HARRIS: Muslim charities say they don't mind donating freely, but they do mind being the subject of FBI investigations. We'll have that story ahead.

And it's an amazing race. One man with strong legs and his brand-new pair of lungs. How did this runner finish a marathon? We'll tell you after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, good morning, everyone. We want to welcome you back to this last leg of CNN SUNDAY MORNING at 9:00 a.m. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Here's what's happening now in the news.

U.S. military officials say the coalition assault on Falluja was nearly flawless and all but over. They say resistance in the former insurgent stronghold has been nearly crushed after six days. That's sooner that expected. Nonetheless, 31 U.S. troops and six Iraqi soldiers have been killed.

Also in Falluja, we're following reports the mutilated body of a woman, apparently a Westerner, has been found. The "Associate Press" says the body was dumped in a street in the center of the city. Two Western women are known to have been taken hostage and are still missing.

Pope John Paul II says different branches of Christianity need to come together despite obvious stumbling stones, in a speech yesterday. He didn't mention any specific ethical divisions, but it's believed he was referring to issues like the ordination of women in some Christian faiths and the concentration of an openly gay Episcopal bishop in the United States.

In Washington, doctors have ruled out heart problems as the cause of Dick Cheney's unscheduled visit to a hospital. The vice president, who's had four heart attacks, went to George Washington University Medical Center yesterday when he had trouble breathing. As he left the hospital, he told reporters, "I feel fine."

NGUYEN: Here's a quick update on developments out of Iraq. House to house sweeps are still under way in Falluja. But the week- long offensive is deemed a success. Military officials say between one and 2,000 insurgents were killed, 31 American and six Iraqi forces were also killed.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says Falluja is no longer a safe haven for terrorists. He says the operation is almost over with a few pockets of resistance still remaining.

Iraqi prime minister, Iyad Allawi, says the kidnapping of his relatives will not stop him from purging Iraq of terrorists. At least two of his family members were abducted Tuesday and threatened with death. Allawi says he does not know their fate.

Giving to the poor, it's a big part of Islamic tradition. But Muslims in the U.S. say they're getting some less than charitable attention. CNN's Alina Cho has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims pray, fast, and give money to the poor.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One of the major pillars of Islam is to give to charity, and especially during this holy month of Ramadan.

CHO: The Muslim faithful typically donate two-and-a-half percent of their wealth every year. But post-September 11th, the FBI has cracked down on Islamic charities suspected of having terrorist ties, and that's left many Muslims too scared to donate.

ADEM CARROLL, ICNA RELIEF: I think a lot of the community does feel very alienated now.

CHO: Adem Carroll works for the Islamic Circle of North America. The relief arm of that group collects food for the needy, helps families of detainees and orphans overseas, causes Muslims care deeply about. But since the crackdowns, donations have dropped 50 percent.

MUHAMMAD RAHMAN, EXECUTIVE DIR. ICNA RELIEF: If we had 2,000 or 3,000 orphans, now we've cut to a 1,000 orphans.

CHO: Muslim experts say when it comes to the issue of supporting orphans, the children can sometimes be linked to what their parents may have done.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Giving money to these orphans is seen as supporting terrorism because you're basically telling a would-be, for example, a would-be suicide bomber, "Don't worry. If you kill yourself, your family or your children will be taken care of."

CHO: Some Muslims say they are so fearful about leaving a money trail, the charities say when they do give, they give smaller amounts in cash. Muhammad Yunus is an elder in Patterson, New Jersey's, Muslim community.

MUHAMMAD YUNUS, AMERICAN MUSLIM UNION: The people have been more careful and they've been more -- you know, aware of that -- not just to donate, you know, now they're asking, where did the donation go, and how are you going to spend it?

CHO: The FBI says despite the crackdown, law-abiding Muslims have nothing to fear and should give as they please.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a feeling that I'm trying to be a good citizen, and I'm trying to be a good human being. And yet I'm also being thought of as a terrorist, or supporting terrorism.

Reporter: making charity, giving to others, a mixed blessing for Muslim Americans during this holy month of Ramadan.

Alina Cho, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And here are some stories making news across America this morning. In Tampa Bay, Florida, truckers drive home a message with what they call the "world's largest truck convoy." They're calling attention to the work of truckers in Iraq and Kuwait. The truckers also delivered a $10,000 check to its final destination, the Special Olympics.

And in New York, an autopsy is planned today for the rapper known as ODB. Russell Jones was a founding member of the rap group Wu-Tang Clan, and had a history of drug abuse and convictions. Police say he collapsed and died in a recording studio. He would have turned 36 tomorrow.

In Miami, Florida, 11 people are nursing eye injuries after some unknown paintball attackers struck again around the city. Officials say two of the recent victims have lost total vision in one eye. In all, hospital officials say they've treated 11 victims of paintball gun attacks, all shot in the eye in the past two weeks. Police are investigating.

Boston's Roman Catholic archbishop is telling Catholics, the church's financial situation is much worse than people realize. In an open letter, Archbishop Sean O'Malley writes that the sexual abuse scandal has decimated the archdiocese's finances and more than one- fourth of its 357 parishes will be forced to close. The letter was written to convince people to end protest over previous closings.

Now to an amazing story. It is tough enough to run a marathon, but how about doing it with someone else's lungs? That is just what double lung transplant recipient Len Geiger did in Richmond, Virginia, and he was joined by a special friend. Len joins us now along with Kevin Shroyer, the father of the girl whose lungs Len received.

Good morning to you both.

LEN GEIGER, TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT: Good morning, Betty.

KEVIN SHROYER, FATHER OF DONOR: Good morning.

NGUYEN: Len, let's start with you. Tell our viewers why you needed this lung transplant.

GEIGER: I was diagnosed in 1994 with a genetic disease called Alpha One or Alpha One Antitrypsin deficiency. It's probably the most common genetic disease that you've never heard of. Approximately 100,000 people are affected by it in the U.S. alone, and less than 10,000 have been diagnosed so far. It's also known as genetic emphysema.

NGUYEN: And Kevin, tell us a little about your daughter and how she came to be a donor.

SHROYER: My daughter was 14 years old, and she passed away in May of 2002. A typical teenaged lady, very active in school, played on the soccer team, played saxophone in the school band, active in church. She was a ballet dancer. She passed away, and my wife and I made the decision to donate her organs upon her passing.

NGUYEN: Just a beautiful girl. Len, now, you wrote a letter to Kevin and his family, essentially thanking them. That must have been so difficult to sit down and put pen to paper.

GEIGER: It was. I wrote that letter, I can't even tell you how many times, and could never seem to get it right until finally someone suggested that I just say "thank you." And it made it so much simpler. And I was able to write that letter and get it off to them, almost right at the one-year anniversary of the transplant and their daughter's death.

NGUYEN: And you guys start the exchanging letters and you finally met in person. And, of course, you went to this race yesterday. I want to throw up a picture of you, Len. As you go to these races, you have the sign on the back of you that reads "Two hip replacements lung transplant, and shattered femur. What the heck am I doing here?" what were you doing at that race? It took a while, six hours, but you were determined. Tell us why.

GEIGER: This is something that we do together to prove a point. And the point is that organ donation and transplantation does work. That you can not only survive, you can actually thrive.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. And Kevin, as you've become friends with Len, you guys have really a strong bond, here. Do you feel your daughter's presence?

SHROYER: Absolutely. It's one of the true joys that I get from doing events with Len. This is our third race we've done together. It's the longest race we have completed, thus far. But when I'm with him, I have that sense that, you know, I'm still with my daughter. It's as close as I will ever again come to being with my daughter, to running with my daughter. So it's a unique emotional experience for me to be able to do these races with Len.

NGUYEN: You are amazing men. And we appreciate you spending the time this morning to talk to us about all that you've been through and where you're going as you both have become friends and continue to bond. Thank you so much. GEIGER: Thank you, Betty.

SHROYER: Thank you.

NGUYEN: Well, what love brought together let no war tear it apart. That is the philosophy of this couple.

HARRIS: They were separated by the Iraq war only four months after they met and fell in love. And here they are, the couple joins us live, nudge them, nudge them, make sure, make sure -- there he is. They're going to join us just in a couple of minutes to share their rather intimate vision of our "Soldier's Story" next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Seven months ago, U.S. Army Ranger, NFL player Pat Tillman died in combat in Afghanistan. He had walked away from a multimillion-dollar contract in the NFL to join the military in the wake of 9/11. Now, yesterday, about 50 of his former teammates at Arizona State University, they returned to pay tribute and retire his number.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: We honor the memory and accomplishments of Pat Tillman.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Earlier this month, Tillman received the same honor at his high school alma mater in Leland High School in San Jose, California. Not only retired his number, but also named the field after him. Take a look at this, his jersey, pads and helmet were displayed where he last wore them on the field, celebrating a touchdown.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Welcome back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Betty Nguyen. We want to check our top stories right now. The toll in Falluja: A marine commander says the assault on the Iraqi city has killed 31 American troops and six Iraqi soldiers. He says between 1,000 and 2,000 insurgents are dead.

Britain remembers its war dead, including troops killed in Iraq. Prince Charles and other royal family members laid a wreath at a war monument. Thousands have turned out for ceremonies over the past few days.

And back in the United States, doctors say it is not his heart. Vice president Cheney went to the hospital after feeling short of breath yesterday. Doctors say he might have a respiratory infection, but they found no current heart problems. Cheney has had four heart attacks.

HARRIS: This is going to be fun. Love in a time of war. The focus of our "Soldier's Story" today. It stems from a book called "Women Write the War" edited by Bee Pedersen. The anthology features personal stories penned by women who sent their loved ones off to Iraq. One of those women is Maripaz Garcia, whose boyfriend, Enrique Lopez, went to war and she writes: "His letters are the sunniest parts of my day, offering a little breath of tranquility and a sense of connection." Well, the two are back together now and they're joining us from Austin, Texas.

Buenos Dias. Hello. Good morning.

ENRIQUE LOPEZ, U.S. ARMY: Good morning, Tony.

MARIPAZ GARCIA, "WOMEN WRITE THE WAR": Hi. Good morning.

Well Marie Paz, I got to ask you first of all: He is back. When did he get back, and what was that reunion like? Give us details. Juicy details, please.

GARCIA: No, no details. It was amazing. It was very exciting. He came back in April -- March.

HARRIS: In march? Enrique, what was it like? What was it like seeing this woman that you fell in love with so quickly?

LOPEZ: Well, it was amazing. Whatever you hold as inspiration, the most emotional thing is the reencounter. So, she didn't know. I just got on a flight without knowing in much advance. So I came back. I didn't call her. I just showed up on her...

HARRIS: Oh, you did?

LOPEZ: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and she almost died when she saw me.

HARRIS: Maripaz, you had known this man for just four months, before he was deployed. Did you really think that this relationship would stand the test of time, a deployment, war in Iraq? What made you so convinced that this relationship would last?

GARCIA: It was always very, very good, very special, very serious. So I had my hopes up.

HARRIS: What did you like about him? What was it that drew you to him?

Oh, that's right, I'm going to embarrass you this morning. You're absolutely right.

GARCIA: Right.

LOPEZ: Oh hey, it's Sunday. You can do it.

GARCIA: He's just very generous, very good, very true. He's always thinking about what I need and what I want, and I like that. HARRIS: And Enrique, boy, you know, you meet a good woman, and you then get papers that you're going to be deployed to Iraq, and you know what, we're always concerned we won't be able to hang on to the good ones. What was it about her that was so special for you?

LOPEZ: Oh, it was from the first moment I realized what a great human being she was. You know, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and the experience of war was a perfect time to concentrate on this relationship, it was a time to realize how loyal, how much support she was. War is a really exhausting experience, but having her letters, having her support all the time made a big difference in the difficult time.

HARRIS: And Maripaz, from the time he began writing to you to the last letter, did he change much?

GARCIA: No. It was pretty much always the same. The same -- he kept his spirits up. And I was able to also maintain my -- I don't know how to say it...

HARRIS: Well, you kept your spirits up. You talk about the fact that humor was so important in the fact that he used humor in his letters, kept you going, kept you strong.

GARCIA: Yeah, yeah. And Bee Pedersen gave me the opportunity to express all that in her book. So I really appreciate that because I -- we needed that sharing.

HARRIS: That outlet.

GARCIA: Yeah.

HARRIS: Let me pick up on that and read a quote of yours from the book. It says "some good conceptual and life changes will come out of all of this devastation and destruction. Many people will eventually enjoy a better life." You believe in this war effort, and did you believe in it because you knew that it would be important to Enrique, or did you just believe in the issues and the cause?

GARCIA: Well, personally I don't like this war. I don't believe in the actually...

HARRIS: You don't?

GARCIA: No. That we are into this war. But I support -- I support him, whatever he's doing. And hopefully, eventually, once they get out of there, their life for Iraqi people will be better.

HARRIS: And Enrique, one final question. Do you have any business you want to take care of here this morning? Is there a question you want to ask your beloved next to you? Anything you want to take care of before we say good-bye? Anything? Anything?

LOPEZ: How much....

(CROSSTALK)

HARRIS: You got a question you want to pop there, Enrique? Any real news you want to make here on the broadcast this morning?

LOPEZ: No, but I'll give you a call when we're getting ready for it. How's that?

HARRIS: That's it. That's it, doctor. Give me a call, all right? We'll do it right here. Good to see you both. Be well and take care of one another.

GARCIA: Thank you.

HARRIS: Thanks for being here.

LOPEZ: Bye, Tony.

NGUYEN: You just had to put the man on the spot. Did you see his eyes, and then her eyes? Bless their hearts. They'll give you a call all right.

HARRIS: Absolutely.

Well, a big question mark, hanging over the second Bush administration is what's ahead for the Supreme Court? At least three justices could be replaced, which has implications from coast to coast. "Inside Politics" tackles the future of the Supreme Court with former U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson "Inside Politics" coming up in just six minutes.

NGUYEN: And do we want to say good morning, Miami. They are having the South Florida International Auto Show there. Look at beautiful Miami, this is from affiliate KPLG. Rob Marciano will have your forecast in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: OK, all morning we've been asking for your thoughts in our e-mail question, what should be the top priority -- foreign policy priority in this second Bush administration?

NGUYEN: Eric and Sue from Nashville, Tennessee writes: "We had better begin with rebuilding relationships throughout the world. The Iraq was is bad, Iran and North Korea with the nuclear weapons worse, but if one of those countries decides to use one of those nukes, we re going to need every friend we can get our hands on."

HARRIS: This from Tripp, "The top priority is to pursue "threats" to the national security of the United States. The second priority is stabilizing the Middle East."

Makes sense.

NGUYEN: And we appreciate all your response this morning.

Now to go to Rob Marciano for a look at the weather.

Good morning, Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, METEOROLOGIST: Morning guys.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Take care Rob.

NGUYEN: No complaints. All right, thank you, Rob.

HARRIS: And that is all of our time for CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: Stay tuned for "INSIDE POLITICS." Thanks for joining us.

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 14, 2004 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. It is Sunday, November 14. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Tony Harris.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen. If you're just waking up on the West Coast, it is an early 6:00 a.m. Thanks for joining us, starting your day with us. I want to get started with the day's headlines right now.

Blasting their way in, shooting their way out, U.S. troops clear buildings in Falluja one by one. A U.S. commander says there is no longer an organized insurgency in the city. U.S. military officials say 31 U.S. troops and six Iraqi forces have been killed there, along with between 1,000 and 2,000 insurgents.

U.S. Marines found the mutilated body of a woman today on a street in Falluja. And The Associated Press quotes a Marine officer as saying that he is "80 percent sure the woman was a westerner." At least two western women have been kidnapped in Iraq and are still missing.

Queen Elizabeth places a wreath at a monument in London on Remembrance Day. Hundreds have turned out in the past four days to honor Britain's war dead, including those killed in Iraq. Yesterday, Prime Minister Tony Blair joined hundreds of veterans at a remembrance ceremony at Royal Albert Hall.

And Dick Cheney has a cold, and he may have an upper respiratory infection. After a visit to a Washington hospital yesterday, his doctor says that may be why the vice president experienced shortness of breath. Cheney has had four heart attacks, but tests yesterday found no sign of cardiac problems.

HARRIS: And here's what's coming up for you this hour. It was an emotional tribute last night to fallen soldier and pro football star Pat Tillman. We will take you to his alma mater.

Four months after they fell in love, imagine the war in Iraq pulled them apart. The couple joins us live this morning to tell us what happened next.

And how about this? A Web site with pictures of Canadians willing to marry Americans to protect them from George W. Bush? Wacky political Internet sites in this morning's "Best of the Web."

NGUYEN: All right. Right now we want to go to CNN's Jane Arraf, who is near Falluja. She joins us with the latest on the situation there. This is her first report so far this morning.

Jane, good morning to you. What have you seen so far?

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Betty.

What we're seeing and hearing is from U.S. military commanders on the ground, that's Army and Marine, who tell us they have, in fact, they believe, defeated the last of the organized insurgency. Now, overnight, we were with an Army unit, Taskforce 22 of the 1st Infantry Division as they rolled through the last remaining part of their sector that was thought to be a stronghold of insurgents. And what they found was an immense underground bunker, a complex that included medical supplies and other supplies, 300 meters by 400 meters.

Overnight, they dropped four 2,000-pound bombs on that complex. And they say there were secondary explosions for 45 minutes, indicating that there were weapons stored underneath there.

Essentially, they are saying that there are still insurgents out there, but they are small groups. And they've lost their leadership. They've lost their communications ability -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Just small groups left. Let's talk about those 200 insurgents that have been captured. Are they providing any information to the U.S. military and Iraqi military forces there?

ARRAF: They certainly will provide some information, but a lot of the people who have surrendered, a lot of them who are captured are Iraqi insurgents. That top level of the insurgency thought to be foreign fighters are either still in hiding, they're dead, or they are still out there attacking U.S. forces. And those are the fighters who will probably go down fighting, who will probably be killed.

What we have been seeing is that some insurgents have been surrendering. But again, those are part of the homegrown insurgency. The foreign fighters seem -- and the other more -- the most committed of them seem to be going down with either grenades or guns in their hands -- Betty.

NGUYEN: And as this offensive winds down, talk to us a little about residents of Falluja. Many of them, most of them have left. When do you think it will be safe for them to return to the city?

ARRAF: Not for quite awhile. And even when it is safe, it will be a long time before they actually feel safe, Betty.

What we've been told by Marine officials on the ground is that Iraqis in the center of the city are just starting to come out of their homes in very small groups, and they're starting to come out because Iraqi forces are going through the city street by street. They're approaching those Iraqi forces and telling them they need food, they need water, they need medicine. And some of that aid is getting through to them, but still, a lot of Iraqis, a lot of residents in Falluja are staying at home.

They had been told to stay in their houses, or essentially they would be shot. And there is still a battle going on there. They would certainly be fearful about coming out -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. And many aid workers are trying just to get near the city to provide relief there. CNN's Jane Arraf near Falluja this morning for us. Thank you for that report, Jane -- Tony.

HARRIS: The battle may be winding down, but there is still resistance in Falluja. And U.S. Marines took casualties this weekend when a resupply mission became a reinforcement mission. Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is embedded with the Marines in Falluja.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For this Marine gunner, resupplying Charlie Company was never going to be easy. A high-speed dash through Falluja's dangerous streets, headlong into a firefight.

Resupplying Charlie Company, abruptly switching to reinforce Bravo Company. Their foot patrol pinned down by insurgent gunfire. Incoming rounds whistle and snap overhead; bullets ricochet off the armored supply vehicle. Suddenly a call, Marines injured.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's what they're doing right now. They're getting casualties.

ROBERTSON: Reinforcement turns into medevac. A race back to base, resupplying Charlie Company no longer the objective. Better luck on the next run.

Charlie Company Marines rush to get their water, food and ammunition out of harm's way. For their commander, the focus now on insurgents bypassed in the initial phase of the assault.

CAPT. THOMAS TENNANT, U.S. MARINE CORPS: The threat that they pose right now is that they hold the ground. We don't know where they are. They can continue to snipe at us and fire RPGs, and maybe even construct improvised explosive devices.

ROBERTSON: Resupplied, Captain Tennant's Marines race for cover en route to the next objective. Plans worked out as they go.

TENNANT: If we do end up clearing rooms, if we have to take over and clear rooms, you guys are throwing a frag in every room we come to.

ROBERTSON: Explosives to clear the way. Two of Charlie Company killed by insurgents lying in wait in a house just a few days before. Past the body of a man believed to be an insurgent, progress is cautious, holding up in a house along the way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. I want a scope up top. Anderson's got us covered back here. We're good.

ROBERTSON: The strains of battle etching their wearying patterns on the face of Charlie Company. No flagging, though, on the final push for their objective, an Iraqi school. As promised, no risks taken. Marines rush forward. No insurgents found.

LT. COL. TRAVIS FULLER, U.S. MARINE CORPS: One of our biggest concerns right now, actually, is not enemy being in the building. It's a building being booby-trapped.

ROBERTSON: Later, under cover of darkness, detainees being sent back to base for questioning.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Charlie Company needs some tomorrow.

ROBERTSON: And a call for much need supplies. As day breaks, relative quiet after a night of sporadic explosions. Time to repair, refresh and reflect on their first taste of battle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've never gone through anything like this with one of my friends before. I definitely know that we're all a lot closer now.

ROBERTSON: Unpredictably and seemingly out of nowhere, they take fire. A day to be like the one before, maybe. More objectives to be taken, more time for Charlie Company and the firing line. Their losses so far cutting deep but not hindering their mission.

TENNANT: Brokenhearted, disappointed, but with the mission at hand, you can't grieve too much now. You just save it, and you'll grieve when we get out of here safely.

ROBERTSON: For Charlie Company, Falluja was never going to be painless.

Nic Robertson, CNN, with Charlie Company, in Falluja, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Boy. And now our e-mail question this morning. What should be at the top of America's foreign policy agenda? Send us an e-mail at wam@cnn.com and we will read your responses throughout the program.

NGUYEN: Vice President Dick Cheney says he feels fine. The reassurance comes after he went to the hospital for a battery of tests. But doctors say they suspect a respiratory infection, not heart trouble is what's causing his troubles.

CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us now live from the White House with that and much more.

How is the vice president this morning, Elaine?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No change that we have heard of, Betty. As we heard him say yesterday, he said, as he was leaving the hospital, that he felt just fine. But yesterday, as you know, the vice president was complaining of shortness of breath and also a cough.

So he talked to his cardiologist, who recommended that because of the vice president's history of heart trouble that he go to the hospital for precautionary tests. The vice president did that yesterday afternoon at George Washington University Hospital, not far from his residence there.

You saw him leaving, along with his wife, Lynne Cheney. He spent several hours there before heading home. And late yesterday his cardiologist, Dr. Jonathan Reiner (ph), issued a statement saying that tests ruled out any cardiac cause of the vice president's symptoms. Tests also ruled out pneumonia and other pulmonary causes. The vice president likely has a viral upper respiratory infection.

Now, aides say the vice president has been suffering from a cold in recent days ever since he returned from his annual hunting trip in South Dakota. Before that, he had been keeping quite a hectic schedule.

He was out campaigning vigorously in the months and especially in those final weeks before the election. His heart trouble stretched back to 1978, when he had his first of four heart attacks at the age of 37.

He's also had quadruple bypass surgery, a stent, and what Mr. Cheney called a pacemaker-plus implanted. That's a device that monitors and regulates if necessary his heart rhythm. But again, tests showing that it is not cardiac or pulmonary-related.

Now, as for President Bush, who, by the way, was notified about the vice president's status by White House chief of staff, Andy Card, yesterday, he has a busy week ahead of him. One week after meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair here in Washington, the president will head to Chile to attend the annual APEC meeting of Asian-Pacific leaders to discuss economic issues.

Now, the White House says that the topics will include promoting free trade, economic growth, and also cooperating on security issues. After that meeting, he will remain in Chile to hold talks with that country's president. And among the agenda items to be discussed there, Betty, strengthening Democratic institutions in that region -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Elaine Quijano at the White House this morning. Thank you.

Now, Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, will appear on CNN's "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER" today. She'll discuss her new book, "When Washington Crossed the Delaware." That is at noon Eastern, 9:00 a.m. out West.

HARRIS: It's another fallout from the tragedy of 9/11, donors afraid to give money to Muslim charities. What's behind their fear of giving, and how will these charities survive? The story here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: Plus, take a look at this, an Internet site with people willing to protect you from George W. Bush by walking you down the aisle in Canada? "The Best of the Web," that is coming up. (WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Checking our top stories now.

For a week, U.S. forces hit Falluja, and hit it hard. Now military officials say the city is no longer a base of operation for insurgents. The U.S. says the Falluja assault killed between 1,000 and 2,000 insurgents. Thirty-one Americans and six Iraqi forces were also killed.

Vice President Dick Cheney is doing OK. He went to a Washington hospital yesterday after experiencing chest pains. His cardiologist says tests showed no heart problems. Instead, he says Cheney probably has an upper respiratory infection.

And it's Remembrance Day in Britain. Thousands of veterans joined the royal family and politicians at ceremonies honoring the country's war dead.

NGUYEN: Up next this morning, little limericks and marrying an American. They are just a few of the choice picks in this week's survey of "The Best of the Web." For more, we turn now to Blaise Zerega, managing editor of "Wired" Magazine. He's live in San Francisco.

Good morning to you.

BLAISE ZEREGA, MANAGING EDITOR, "WIRED": Good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: Boy, these are some interesting pics. Let's get started. For those still upset with the election, Canadians are offering a little help via the Internet. Can you hear us?

ZEREGA: I'm sorry, yes. There's a new site. It's the wacky world of "I do," MarryAnAmerican.com. Thousands of Canadians have offered to give up their singlehood to wed Americans who are disaffected.

NGUYEN: Now, is this a joke, Blaise? I mean, come on. Are they serious?

ZEREGA: Who knows? You know, Americans have long looked to the liberal north, our northern neighbor, you know, as a place of refuge during the Vietnam War, in response to Reagan's reelection, so forth. I think it's just a fun, funny site.

NGUYEN: Yes. And look at the pictures. Of course, you've got to find out who you're going to marry if you're really going to go through this.

ZEREGA: It's a political twist to online dating.

NGUYEN: OK. All right. What about other sites for those who want to stay in the U.S.? ZEREGA: Exactly. There's another site called Axis of Logic. It's a news commentary site, and they're offering 10 reasons why, as they put it, liberals should stay in the belly of the beast and fight the good fight.

NGUYEN: The belly of the beast?

ZEREGA: Yes. You know, among them are get ready for the 2008 election, help capitalize upon the voter registration, so forth. But the number 10 reason of why the liberals should not leave America is that the average January temperature in Ottawa is 12 degrees Fahrenheit.

NGUYEN: Yikes. Oh, that could be a good reason for those who don't like the cold weather.

ZEREGA: Get ready to shovel snow.

NGUYEN: Yes, exactly. All right. Whether you want to stay or if you want to go, even, there is one site that really just wants to say, I'm sorry. What is that all about?

ZEREGA: SorryEverybody.com. That is a site that, again, for people who are upset with Bush's reelection and who disagree with the administration's policies, they're saying, hey, we're sorry, everybody. They're apologizing to the world for Bush's reelection and his policies.

NGUYEN: Now, is this just all about humor? These sites, are they hoping to spark some kind of change?

ZEREGA: A little of both. You know, I think it's just people's way of dealing with the aftermath of the election.

I mean, 48 percent of this country did vote for Kerry. And they're upset, but they're trying to get over it and move on. They're looking for some closure, to use that word.

NGUYEN: Yes. And speaking of some closure, some people are putting it down in writing in the form of limericks. You've got a couple for us, right?

ZEREGA: Oh, yes. Well, I hope you'll join me.

NGUYEN: OK.

ZEREGA: I mean...

NGUYEN: I'll try to play along here.

ZEREGA: There's a blog called ASmallVictory.net. It's a blog run by Michelle Catalano (ph). And she has sponsored a contest for limericks in the aftermath of the election. And they're pro-Bush, they're anti-Bush; they're pro-Kerry, anti-Kerry.

So I thought I'd read one. NGUYEN: OK.

ZEREGA: And it goes, "I'll remind all you neo-con fish, revenge is a cold kind of dish. You're ruling the game with no one to blame. Be careful for that which you wish."

NGUYEN: Ooh, I like the music. OK.

I have a pro-Bush that one we want to put up from the site. And it reads, "Though Bush rarely sounds educated, it's clear that he has been underrated. So give him his due because he outsmarted you. And your chance at the White House has faded."

These are pretty interesting. And so what does the winner get?

ZEREGA: Well, actually, the contest is going on right now. You can go and vote. There's hundreds of entries, and you can choose the top three.

NGUYEN: All right. And word is still out on the prize for the top two limericks.

ZEREGA: Indeed. I'm not sure exactly what they're going to offer up.

NGUYEN: All right. Blaise Zerega, always very interesting. We appreciate your time.

ZEREGA: Thanks, Betty.

NGUYEN: All right -- Tony.

HARRIS: Trying to fish around to find the goofiest picture of Bush they could find. And, oh, man.

NGUYEN: These sites, they have it all, don't they?

HARRIS: Well, one of them is seeing stars. You could say the other has been Reynolds wrapped.

NGUYEN: Star Jones has got a new view. Oh, and a new hubby, too. We'll tell you about her star-studded wedding right after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC)

HARRIS: And that is Earth Wind & Fire.

NGUYEN: And an appropriate song for this story. She got something old, something new, something borrowed, and guess from who? Well, from all her sponsors, that's who.

Star Jones wrapped herself in Reynolds yesterday, Al Reynolds yesterday. The host of "The View" and the Manhattan banker married in a star-studded wedding bash in New York yesterday.

Now, among their gifts, donated invitations, free tuxedos and bridesmaid gowns.

HARRIS: Come on.

NGUYEN: Oh, yes. And the biggest get? Plugs for the sponsors of those gets which star shamelessly mentioned several times leading up to the event. And here's what some celebs said about the ceremony.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LORRAINE BRACCO, ACTRESS: The dress was beautiful. It was white with a train that went on for several New York blocks.

BLAIR UNDERWOOD, ACTOR: Just beautiful. I mean, top-notch, classy and heartfelt, and just beautiful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: And among the other guests at the gala, Spike Lee, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and, of course, Barbara Walters was there. And that train was 27 feet long.

HARRIS: Sponsorship.

NGUYEN: Sponsorship. Let's talk about that, because "The New York Post" some of those demands from these sponsors included $4,500 from companies wanting to be a wedding sponsor, $1,500 from companies wanted to get their product and gift bags.

I guess you give gift bags now to all your guests at weddings. That's a wedding. And to get ready for the big day, there must be at least eight hairstylists, six makeup artists and 10 manicurists. Now that is a wedding.

HARRIS: It was NASCAR, is what it was.

NGUYEN: All about the sponsors.

HARRIS: Was there a Valvoline sticker on the dress somewhere?

NGUYEN: I doubt that.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Why is it the more money you make, the more people want to give you?

HARRIS: Want to give you things.

NGUYEN: The publicity, maybe that's why.

HARRIS: OK. Crazy.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: OK. I'll make it up to you. You can be a sponsor at my wedding. How about that?

MARCIANO: Love to.

NGUYEN: If I ever get married. We've got to work on that first.

HARRIS: Got to work on the groom.

NGUYEN: Yes. Maybe you can help me out there. Maybe you know somebody.

Well, they're the gifts that keep on giving and getting attention, too.

HARRIS: Muslim charities say they don't mind donating freely, but they do mind being the subject of FBI investigations. We'll have that story ahead.

And it's an amazing race. One man with strong legs and his brand-new pair of lungs. How did this runner finish a marathon? We'll tell you after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, good morning, everyone. We want to welcome you back to this last leg of CNN SUNDAY MORNING at 9:00 a.m. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Here's what's happening now in the news.

U.S. military officials say the coalition assault on Falluja was nearly flawless and all but over. They say resistance in the former insurgent stronghold has been nearly crushed after six days. That's sooner that expected. Nonetheless, 31 U.S. troops and six Iraqi soldiers have been killed.

Also in Falluja, we're following reports the mutilated body of a woman, apparently a Westerner, has been found. The "Associate Press" says the body was dumped in a street in the center of the city. Two Western women are known to have been taken hostage and are still missing.

Pope John Paul II says different branches of Christianity need to come together despite obvious stumbling stones, in a speech yesterday. He didn't mention any specific ethical divisions, but it's believed he was referring to issues like the ordination of women in some Christian faiths and the concentration of an openly gay Episcopal bishop in the United States.

In Washington, doctors have ruled out heart problems as the cause of Dick Cheney's unscheduled visit to a hospital. The vice president, who's had four heart attacks, went to George Washington University Medical Center yesterday when he had trouble breathing. As he left the hospital, he told reporters, "I feel fine."

NGUYEN: Here's a quick update on developments out of Iraq. House to house sweeps are still under way in Falluja. But the week- long offensive is deemed a success. Military officials say between one and 2,000 insurgents were killed, 31 American and six Iraqi forces were also killed.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says Falluja is no longer a safe haven for terrorists. He says the operation is almost over with a few pockets of resistance still remaining.

Iraqi prime minister, Iyad Allawi, says the kidnapping of his relatives will not stop him from purging Iraq of terrorists. At least two of his family members were abducted Tuesday and threatened with death. Allawi says he does not know their fate.

Giving to the poor, it's a big part of Islamic tradition. But Muslims in the U.S. say they're getting some less than charitable attention. CNN's Alina Cho has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims pray, fast, and give money to the poor.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One of the major pillars of Islam is to give to charity, and especially during this holy month of Ramadan.

CHO: The Muslim faithful typically donate two-and-a-half percent of their wealth every year. But post-September 11th, the FBI has cracked down on Islamic charities suspected of having terrorist ties, and that's left many Muslims too scared to donate.

ADEM CARROLL, ICNA RELIEF: I think a lot of the community does feel very alienated now.

CHO: Adem Carroll works for the Islamic Circle of North America. The relief arm of that group collects food for the needy, helps families of detainees and orphans overseas, causes Muslims care deeply about. But since the crackdowns, donations have dropped 50 percent.

MUHAMMAD RAHMAN, EXECUTIVE DIR. ICNA RELIEF: If we had 2,000 or 3,000 orphans, now we've cut to a 1,000 orphans.

CHO: Muslim experts say when it comes to the issue of supporting orphans, the children can sometimes be linked to what their parents may have done.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Giving money to these orphans is seen as supporting terrorism because you're basically telling a would-be, for example, a would-be suicide bomber, "Don't worry. If you kill yourself, your family or your children will be taken care of."

CHO: Some Muslims say they are so fearful about leaving a money trail, the charities say when they do give, they give smaller amounts in cash. Muhammad Yunus is an elder in Patterson, New Jersey's, Muslim community.

MUHAMMAD YUNUS, AMERICAN MUSLIM UNION: The people have been more careful and they've been more -- you know, aware of that -- not just to donate, you know, now they're asking, where did the donation go, and how are you going to spend it?

CHO: The FBI says despite the crackdown, law-abiding Muslims have nothing to fear and should give as they please.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a feeling that I'm trying to be a good citizen, and I'm trying to be a good human being. And yet I'm also being thought of as a terrorist, or supporting terrorism.

Reporter: making charity, giving to others, a mixed blessing for Muslim Americans during this holy month of Ramadan.

Alina Cho, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And here are some stories making news across America this morning. In Tampa Bay, Florida, truckers drive home a message with what they call the "world's largest truck convoy." They're calling attention to the work of truckers in Iraq and Kuwait. The truckers also delivered a $10,000 check to its final destination, the Special Olympics.

And in New York, an autopsy is planned today for the rapper known as ODB. Russell Jones was a founding member of the rap group Wu-Tang Clan, and had a history of drug abuse and convictions. Police say he collapsed and died in a recording studio. He would have turned 36 tomorrow.

In Miami, Florida, 11 people are nursing eye injuries after some unknown paintball attackers struck again around the city. Officials say two of the recent victims have lost total vision in one eye. In all, hospital officials say they've treated 11 victims of paintball gun attacks, all shot in the eye in the past two weeks. Police are investigating.

Boston's Roman Catholic archbishop is telling Catholics, the church's financial situation is much worse than people realize. In an open letter, Archbishop Sean O'Malley writes that the sexual abuse scandal has decimated the archdiocese's finances and more than one- fourth of its 357 parishes will be forced to close. The letter was written to convince people to end protest over previous closings.

Now to an amazing story. It is tough enough to run a marathon, but how about doing it with someone else's lungs? That is just what double lung transplant recipient Len Geiger did in Richmond, Virginia, and he was joined by a special friend. Len joins us now along with Kevin Shroyer, the father of the girl whose lungs Len received.

Good morning to you both.

LEN GEIGER, TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT: Good morning, Betty.

KEVIN SHROYER, FATHER OF DONOR: Good morning.

NGUYEN: Len, let's start with you. Tell our viewers why you needed this lung transplant.

GEIGER: I was diagnosed in 1994 with a genetic disease called Alpha One or Alpha One Antitrypsin deficiency. It's probably the most common genetic disease that you've never heard of. Approximately 100,000 people are affected by it in the U.S. alone, and less than 10,000 have been diagnosed so far. It's also known as genetic emphysema.

NGUYEN: And Kevin, tell us a little about your daughter and how she came to be a donor.

SHROYER: My daughter was 14 years old, and she passed away in May of 2002. A typical teenaged lady, very active in school, played on the soccer team, played saxophone in the school band, active in church. She was a ballet dancer. She passed away, and my wife and I made the decision to donate her organs upon her passing.

NGUYEN: Just a beautiful girl. Len, now, you wrote a letter to Kevin and his family, essentially thanking them. That must have been so difficult to sit down and put pen to paper.

GEIGER: It was. I wrote that letter, I can't even tell you how many times, and could never seem to get it right until finally someone suggested that I just say "thank you." And it made it so much simpler. And I was able to write that letter and get it off to them, almost right at the one-year anniversary of the transplant and their daughter's death.

NGUYEN: And you guys start the exchanging letters and you finally met in person. And, of course, you went to this race yesterday. I want to throw up a picture of you, Len. As you go to these races, you have the sign on the back of you that reads "Two hip replacements lung transplant, and shattered femur. What the heck am I doing here?" what were you doing at that race? It took a while, six hours, but you were determined. Tell us why.

GEIGER: This is something that we do together to prove a point. And the point is that organ donation and transplantation does work. That you can not only survive, you can actually thrive.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. And Kevin, as you've become friends with Len, you guys have really a strong bond, here. Do you feel your daughter's presence?

SHROYER: Absolutely. It's one of the true joys that I get from doing events with Len. This is our third race we've done together. It's the longest race we have completed, thus far. But when I'm with him, I have that sense that, you know, I'm still with my daughter. It's as close as I will ever again come to being with my daughter, to running with my daughter. So it's a unique emotional experience for me to be able to do these races with Len.

NGUYEN: You are amazing men. And we appreciate you spending the time this morning to talk to us about all that you've been through and where you're going as you both have become friends and continue to bond. Thank you so much. GEIGER: Thank you, Betty.

SHROYER: Thank you.

NGUYEN: Well, what love brought together let no war tear it apart. That is the philosophy of this couple.

HARRIS: They were separated by the Iraq war only four months after they met and fell in love. And here they are, the couple joins us live, nudge them, nudge them, make sure, make sure -- there he is. They're going to join us just in a couple of minutes to share their rather intimate vision of our "Soldier's Story" next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Seven months ago, U.S. Army Ranger, NFL player Pat Tillman died in combat in Afghanistan. He had walked away from a multimillion-dollar contract in the NFL to join the military in the wake of 9/11. Now, yesterday, about 50 of his former teammates at Arizona State University, they returned to pay tribute and retire his number.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: We honor the memory and accomplishments of Pat Tillman.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Earlier this month, Tillman received the same honor at his high school alma mater in Leland High School in San Jose, California. Not only retired his number, but also named the field after him. Take a look at this, his jersey, pads and helmet were displayed where he last wore them on the field, celebrating a touchdown.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Welcome back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Betty Nguyen. We want to check our top stories right now. The toll in Falluja: A marine commander says the assault on the Iraqi city has killed 31 American troops and six Iraqi soldiers. He says between 1,000 and 2,000 insurgents are dead.

Britain remembers its war dead, including troops killed in Iraq. Prince Charles and other royal family members laid a wreath at a war monument. Thousands have turned out for ceremonies over the past few days.

And back in the United States, doctors say it is not his heart. Vice president Cheney went to the hospital after feeling short of breath yesterday. Doctors say he might have a respiratory infection, but they found no current heart problems. Cheney has had four heart attacks.

HARRIS: This is going to be fun. Love in a time of war. The focus of our "Soldier's Story" today. It stems from a book called "Women Write the War" edited by Bee Pedersen. The anthology features personal stories penned by women who sent their loved ones off to Iraq. One of those women is Maripaz Garcia, whose boyfriend, Enrique Lopez, went to war and she writes: "His letters are the sunniest parts of my day, offering a little breath of tranquility and a sense of connection." Well, the two are back together now and they're joining us from Austin, Texas.

Buenos Dias. Hello. Good morning.

ENRIQUE LOPEZ, U.S. ARMY: Good morning, Tony.

MARIPAZ GARCIA, "WOMEN WRITE THE WAR": Hi. Good morning.

Well Marie Paz, I got to ask you first of all: He is back. When did he get back, and what was that reunion like? Give us details. Juicy details, please.

GARCIA: No, no details. It was amazing. It was very exciting. He came back in April -- March.

HARRIS: In march? Enrique, what was it like? What was it like seeing this woman that you fell in love with so quickly?

LOPEZ: Well, it was amazing. Whatever you hold as inspiration, the most emotional thing is the reencounter. So, she didn't know. I just got on a flight without knowing in much advance. So I came back. I didn't call her. I just showed up on her...

HARRIS: Oh, you did?

LOPEZ: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and she almost died when she saw me.

HARRIS: Maripaz, you had known this man for just four months, before he was deployed. Did you really think that this relationship would stand the test of time, a deployment, war in Iraq? What made you so convinced that this relationship would last?

GARCIA: It was always very, very good, very special, very serious. So I had my hopes up.

HARRIS: What did you like about him? What was it that drew you to him?

Oh, that's right, I'm going to embarrass you this morning. You're absolutely right.

GARCIA: Right.

LOPEZ: Oh hey, it's Sunday. You can do it.

GARCIA: He's just very generous, very good, very true. He's always thinking about what I need and what I want, and I like that. HARRIS: And Enrique, boy, you know, you meet a good woman, and you then get papers that you're going to be deployed to Iraq, and you know what, we're always concerned we won't be able to hang on to the good ones. What was it about her that was so special for you?

LOPEZ: Oh, it was from the first moment I realized what a great human being she was. You know, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and the experience of war was a perfect time to concentrate on this relationship, it was a time to realize how loyal, how much support she was. War is a really exhausting experience, but having her letters, having her support all the time made a big difference in the difficult time.

HARRIS: And Maripaz, from the time he began writing to you to the last letter, did he change much?

GARCIA: No. It was pretty much always the same. The same -- he kept his spirits up. And I was able to also maintain my -- I don't know how to say it...

HARRIS: Well, you kept your spirits up. You talk about the fact that humor was so important in the fact that he used humor in his letters, kept you going, kept you strong.

GARCIA: Yeah, yeah. And Bee Pedersen gave me the opportunity to express all that in her book. So I really appreciate that because I -- we needed that sharing.

HARRIS: That outlet.

GARCIA: Yeah.

HARRIS: Let me pick up on that and read a quote of yours from the book. It says "some good conceptual and life changes will come out of all of this devastation and destruction. Many people will eventually enjoy a better life." You believe in this war effort, and did you believe in it because you knew that it would be important to Enrique, or did you just believe in the issues and the cause?

GARCIA: Well, personally I don't like this war. I don't believe in the actually...

HARRIS: You don't?

GARCIA: No. That we are into this war. But I support -- I support him, whatever he's doing. And hopefully, eventually, once they get out of there, their life for Iraqi people will be better.

HARRIS: And Enrique, one final question. Do you have any business you want to take care of here this morning? Is there a question you want to ask your beloved next to you? Anything you want to take care of before we say good-bye? Anything? Anything?

LOPEZ: How much....

(CROSSTALK)

HARRIS: You got a question you want to pop there, Enrique? Any real news you want to make here on the broadcast this morning?

LOPEZ: No, but I'll give you a call when we're getting ready for it. How's that?

HARRIS: That's it. That's it, doctor. Give me a call, all right? We'll do it right here. Good to see you both. Be well and take care of one another.

GARCIA: Thank you.

HARRIS: Thanks for being here.

LOPEZ: Bye, Tony.

NGUYEN: You just had to put the man on the spot. Did you see his eyes, and then her eyes? Bless their hearts. They'll give you a call all right.

HARRIS: Absolutely.

Well, a big question mark, hanging over the second Bush administration is what's ahead for the Supreme Court? At least three justices could be replaced, which has implications from coast to coast. "Inside Politics" tackles the future of the Supreme Court with former U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson "Inside Politics" coming up in just six minutes.

NGUYEN: And do we want to say good morning, Miami. They are having the South Florida International Auto Show there. Look at beautiful Miami, this is from affiliate KPLG. Rob Marciano will have your forecast in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: OK, all morning we've been asking for your thoughts in our e-mail question, what should be the top priority -- foreign policy priority in this second Bush administration?

NGUYEN: Eric and Sue from Nashville, Tennessee writes: "We had better begin with rebuilding relationships throughout the world. The Iraq was is bad, Iran and North Korea with the nuclear weapons worse, but if one of those countries decides to use one of those nukes, we re going to need every friend we can get our hands on."

HARRIS: This from Tripp, "The top priority is to pursue "threats" to the national security of the United States. The second priority is stabilizing the Middle East."

Makes sense.

NGUYEN: And we appreciate all your response this morning.

Now to go to Rob Marciano for a look at the weather.

Good morning, Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, METEOROLOGIST: Morning guys.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Take care Rob.

NGUYEN: No complaints. All right, thank you, Rob.

HARRIS: And that is all of our time for CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: Stay tuned for "INSIDE POLITICS." Thanks for joining us.

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