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CNN Saturday Morning News

An interview with Paul Wolfowitz

Aired January 15, 2005 - 07:00   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: Well, it has been a crazy week for weather. And guess what, folks? It ain't over yet.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Nope, ain't over yet.

From the CNN Center here in Atlanta, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

Good morning, everybody.

It's January 15.

You can tell by these pictures. It's cold outside.

HARRIS: Look at this. Look at this. What's this?

NGUYEN: Yikes! Wow! Watch it!

HARRIS: Get out of the way.

NGUYEN: 7:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 5:00 a.m. in Denver, where these pictures of that 28 car pileup...

HARRIS: Is that what it is, 28 cars?

NGUYEN: And people were scrambling to get out of their cars before they...

HARRIS: And get out of the way.

NGUYEN: ... slammed into each other.

All right, well, good morning, everybody.

I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris.

We'll bring you that story from Denver later this hour on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

And, to the weather watches all across the country, let's get you caught up with what's now in the news.

Mahmoud Abbas was inaugurated this morning as president of the Palestinian Authority and already he's under pressure from Israel. The Israelis have suspended contact with the Palestinians after six Israeli civilians were killed at a crossing from Gaza. Israel wants Abbas to act now to stop the violence.

Convicted prisoner abuser Charles Graner testified this morning in the penalty phase of his court martial at Fort Hood, Texas. A military jury found Specialist Graner guilty of nine counts of physical abuse and sexual humiliation of detainees at Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq. Graner could get up to 15 years in prison.

The search resumes two hours from now near Park City, Utah for as many as five skiers believed trapped by a massive avalanche. But it's a recovery operation, not a rescue mission. The Park City slide is an off limits area posted with warning signs. Witnesses saw between two and five people in the area before it was buried under 30 feet of snow.

In Corona, California, 2,000 evacuees can return home now if they want, but city officials advise them to stay away until Monday, when the safety of a nearby dam can be fully assessed. Water is still seeping from the dam. But experts now believe there is no danger it will burst.

NGUYEN: All right, here are some stories that you can look forward to this hour.

Winter shows its true colors after flirting with spring like weather. You can call it the yoyo effect, with places going from one extreme to another.

Also ahead, the breathless beauty of a world far, far away. You won't want to miss these first ever images from Saturn's moon Titan. That's a little bit later.

Plus...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Sometimes I am a little too blunt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: To put it bluntly. On the eve of President Bush's second term, he candidly admits to some poor word choices at critical moments. We'll hear what he has to say about it now.

HARRIS: And our top story this morning. The penalty phase in the court martial of Army Specialist Charles Graner resumes three hours from now at Fort Hood, Texas. Graner was convicted of abusing prisoners in Iraq. And today he's expected to testify.

CNN's Susan Candiotti is covering the story.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Accused Abu Ghraib ringleader Charles Graner said this as his trial began. CHARLES GRANER: We're going to find out how much of a monster I am today.

CANDIOTTI: The answer came late on a Friday afternoon, one year to the very day when the now notorious photos first surfaced and sparked the Army's investigation. Graner stood ramrod stiff, eyes straight ahead as the verdict was read -- guilty on nine of the 10 major counts; guilty also on one reduced charge for each of these photos, the naked human pyramid, the prisoner on a dog leash, the threat to punch another detainee, this scene of sexual humiliation. Guilty of each charge of abuse.

In closing arguments, the defense tried to explain away the photos with, well, a creative argument. The prisoner on the leash, it said, was not being dragged, he crawled out of his cell. "It's not violent. It was done creatively. Mission accomplished."

The prosecution response, "Yes, it was creative. It was creative abuse."

The jury of combat veterans was only out five hours. The same jury is to decide Graner's sentence. Graner did not testify before the jury convicted him. He plans to take the stand Saturday before the sentencing.

GRANER: Well, I'm going to start off with saying I swear to god this is the truth.

QUESTION: And then what?

GRANER: Then you're going to hear a story.

CANDIOTTI: But will that story sway jurors, who could sentence Graner to 15 years?

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Fort Hood, Texas.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

NGUYEN: Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz flew over the tsunami ravaged Aceh Province in Indonesia this morning. Indonesia had said all foreign troops delivering military aid can leave by the end of March. But Wolfowitz told reporters there's no evidence the Indonesian government is ungrateful for the U.S. military's relief efforts. In fact, he said: "The Indonesians have welcomed us with open arms."

Senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre is with Wolfowitz.

And he joins us now by phone -- good morning to you, Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning.

I'd have to say it's been quite a day. It's been a long day. We started in Thailand this morning and then we're down here in Indonesia. We did fly over the devastation at Banda Aceh. And that's where we're at the airport now.

And actually standing with me here in the airport, in the very humid weather, is the deputy defense secretary, Paul Wolfowitz.

And Secretary Wolfowitz, let me just ask you, you had a lot of questions today, particularly from Indonesians. The number one question probably, are U.S. troops going to leave Indonesia before the end of March, the so-called deadline set by the Indonesian government.

PAUL WOLFOWITZ, DEPUTY DEFENSE SECRETARY: Well, I was really struck when we talked to the Indonesian officials here. Their real focus, as is ours, is on making sure the relief and reconstruction gets done. And we certainly hope that the U.S. military can be handing this off to other people long before that.

But I think it's right to think of it as a goal and not a deadline. Their real objective mission is to take care of the people who survived this horrible disaster.

MCINTYRE: Another question you got a lot, could this possibly lessen the restrictions or ease the restrictions on the sale of military equipment, military training to Indonesia so that they can do more of their own humanitarian relief, get their own military in shape?

WOLFOWITZ: Well, it already has, to some extent. We have freed up some frozen money to pay for spares for their C-130s so they can begin flying in relief supplies. But I think, I mean personally I think that we're due to look at our relationship with the military of the democracy, and even more important now that this humanitarian tragedy has struck.

MCINTYRE: And I guess the other question is your reaction, having now seen the devastation firsthand.

WOLFOWITZ: Well, it's really heartrending and this was a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) part of the country I visited when I was ambassador. It's hard to comprehend the scale of the destruction until you actually see it. And you can just imagine the horror of the people who were swept away by that wave. But the thing you also have to think about now is the survivors are facing a scale of loss of many, many orphans and people who had their whole families wiped out and villages that just will never exist again. And I think we all want to reach out to them and their Indonesian countrymen are doing it very strongly, as well.

MCINTYRE: Secretary Wolfowitz, I know you have another big busy day tomorrow. I know you'll be meeting with a lot of Indonesian officials and we'll be following you around.

Thank you for joining us.

WOLFOWITZ: Thank you, Jamie.

MCINTYRE: And as I said, Secretary Wolfowitz has a full day of meetings in Jakarta tomorrow. He'll meet with Indonesian officials again to go over some of these same topics. But the point that the U.S. wants to underscore is that they're not helping in this area because they think it's going to lead to a political advantage, but simply because they just think it's the right thing to do and reflects U.S. values to help people when they're just bad off -- back to you.

NGUYEN: All right, CNN's Jamie McIntyre traveling with Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz there in Indonesia today.

Thank you, Jamie -- Tony.

HARRIS: And just about everywhere you look across America today, there is plenty of evidence of wild weather. Residents of La Conchita, California are free to return home, but there's not much to return to, frankly. And Monday's deadly landslide has knocked out all utilities to the oceanside community and there's no guarantee there won't be more slides.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to leave, yes. I won't -- this is -- I'm not going to do this again. You know, I went through the first one and I don't want to -- the second one is a charm, you know? That's it. I don't -- I'm out of here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: In the Ohio Valley, melting snow threatens to overwhelm some riverside cities and towns. In Cincinnati, the Ohio River is at its highest level since 1997. Heavy rains engulfed streets in and around the nation's capital, including the Virginia suburbs. The Potomac River is several feet above flood stage in places. The problem now for many waterlogged communities is the return of cold weather. It is causing standing water to freeze. Some vehicles have been immobilized because their tires are now trapped in solid ice. It just doesn't end.

NGUYEN: I know. Floods, mudslides, avalanches, snowstorms. People across the nation are feeling nature's wrath.

HARRIS: OK. What is going on? And what else is in store?

Meteorologist Dave Hennen, you see him there, joins us now from the CNN Weather Center -- and, Dave, let's see you explain all this.

NGUYEN: Yes.

DAVE HENNEN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, plenty to talk about, certainly, all week. The good news, though, guys, is that this is going to begin to quiet down. It is very cold this morning, but we are not looking at any major snowstorms.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: And as always, CNN keeps you up to date

NGUYEN: Well, some high school kids in the president's hometown get a helping hand from the Motor City Madman, as they call him.

HARRIS:

We've got the dot-com breakdown when we go "Beyond The Game."

But first, here's what's

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you throw a drowning lawyer? A rock.

What do you call 500 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A good start.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Ouch. Well, when is a lawyer joke not so funny? When it gets you arrested, that is. A hot topic for our "Legal Briefs" next hour on CNN SATURDAY MORNING. That's at 8:00 a.m. Eastern.

And here is our e-mail question for you this morning. Do you think elections in Iraq will be free and fair? E-mail us at wam@cnn.com and we will read those replies throughout the program.

HENNEN: I'm Dave Hennen in the Weather Center with your cold and flu report for this weekend. Hopefully you're feeling well. But many of you in parts of the Northeast are not feeling so well, including New York, where we have widespread flu activity reported, back into Vermont, Connecticut; widespread activity as well. Kentucky and Texas also reporting widespread flu activity. More regional, local activity reported through the upper Midwest. So not quite as widespread. Very cold this morning, though, through the Upper Midwest, and lots of snow leading to some enhanced flu symptoms, as well, with the cold into the West. Alaska reporting widespread activity.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Time now to look at Stories Across America.

In Indiana, plumes of smoke rise from a fire at this recycling plant, which is about 30 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Investigators say about 6,000 pounds of the highly flammable metal magnesium caught fire. Look at these flames. The fire chief has decided to let the blaze burn itself out and officials have evacuated as many as 5,000 nearby residents.

In New York, prayers and praise from family and friends of Hanna Chi (ph). She is reportedly the first New Yorker to be identified as a victim of last month's tsunami in South Asia. The 25-year-old, who worked in Hong Kong, was on vacation in Thailand. Friends say she was sleeping in her beach bungalow when the tsunami hit.

HARRIS: In Washington, people sleeping at hotels for next week's presidential inauguration may get a mint on their pillows after all. Avoiding a possible strike, workers at top hotels there have reached a tentative labor deal with their employers. Details not out yet, but the deal reportedly includes a $0.50 an hour raise. The hotel workers union should vote on the deal this Tuesday.

And in Texas, a rocker with rhymes and now a reason. Jamming a gym tonight in President Bush's hometown of Crawford, Ted Nugent will be singing "Cat Scratch Fever" for fans attending a sold out benefit. It's to raise money for a local high school band flying off to the presidential inauguration. The band, which hopes to take part in the inaugural parade needs about $48,000 for the trip.

And check out these pictures. Smash, bang, there's another one for you. A 28-car pileup caused by, what else, ice and snow in Colorado. The details later this hour on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: Look at that lady there. I was watching video of this earlier this week and people were really jumping out of their cars before they slammed into each other.

Is that a good idea?

HARRIS: Well, you know what? I guess the thought is is that you don't want to get smashed up by...

NGUYEN: Whiplash or...

HARRIS: ... the airbag.

NGUYEN: That's true.

Dave...

HARRIS: Because those things can hurt you?

NGUYEN: ... can you weigh in on this one?

HENNEN: Yes, I saw the same video. And there were actually people jumping out of their cars...

NGUYEN: Right.

HENNEN: ... and then having to dodge other cars that were coming at them.

HARRIS: Right.

NGUYEN: Exactly.

HENNEN: It's probably not a good idea.

NGUYEN: King of risky.

HENNEN: Stay with your vehicle.

(WEATHER REPORT) HARRIS: And, Dave, if you're in the Midwest with all the rain and the flooding, the cold temperatures, that's good news, actually.

HENNEN: Yes, absolutely. It is going to be dry through the Midwest the next couple of days, so no additional rainfall on the way to aggravate the flood problem.

HARRIS: All right, David, thank you.

NGUYEN: Thank you.

HARRIS: Well, the pictures from outer space this week are fascinating. Take a look at this. Images broadcast from Titan probe.

NGUYEN: Plus, she was once the most downloaded athlete in the world. Yes, you know who we're talking about, Anna Kournikova. Who's hot and who's not in the world of sports. We'll tell you.

Plus, there's a question for our very own Rick Horrow. He'll be talking about that and much more. There he is.

HARRIS: Smile, man. You're on television.

NGUYEN: Are you hot in the sports world, Rick?

HARRIS: Oh, no.

NGUYEN: I think he thinks so.

HARRIS: That's awful.

NGUYEN: See you soon, Rick.

HARRIS: It's too much.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: By the end of the weekend only four NFL teams will be left standing. That means we're three weeks away from one of the most hyped sporting events on the planet, the Super Bowl. And corporate America is ready to lay down $2.4 million for a 30 second spot during the big game. And those ad revenues affect much more than just the NFL's bottom line. That's because it's football that financial experts point to as the model of success when it comes to how to run a professional sports program.

But football isn't the only sport enjoying success as we move into the new year.

For more on that, let's turn to the author of "When the Game Is On the Line."

Joining us from West Palm Beach, Florida is the field goal kicker for the CNN weekend flag football squad, sports analyst Rick Horrow -- good morning, Rick.

Sorry, had to do it.

RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: Well, hey, wait a second. You don't kick field goals in flag football, pal. What are you telling me?

HARRIS: See. See, and he's got...

HORROW: What are you telling me?

HARRIS: And he's got more talk back than Mike Vanderjack.

Good to see you.

HORROW: Hey, good answer.

Cheap shot, but good answer.

HARRIS: Hey, I've got to ask you about last weekend's play-off games. They really were something of a ratings bonanza for ABC.

HORROW: Yes, well, they were. And here's the key. You know, NFL is the gold standard for all professional sports, as we know, and they were in negotiations, a $17 billion deal with Fox and CBS. Increased about 30 percent over that. They're kind of tying up the loose ends with ABC and ESPN for Sunday night and Monday night.

So what did they need? They needed good ratings and they got them.

The most watched game last week was the Chargers-Jets at 26 million viewers. That's stout.

But three of the top 10 watched programs last week, by the way, were NFL football games. The Chargers-Jets we talked about; the Fox package at about 20 million homes and the ABC wildcard deal we talked about in 23 million homes.

HARRIS: Right.

HORROW: It is that gold standard and for the next three weeks, we talked about business and marketing issues leading to Super Bowl 39 on February 6.

HARRIS: Well, Rick, what does all this say about the popularity of football over other sports?

HORROW: It's huge. Football is that $6 billion business and the marketing and management and increase in franchise values, it'll continue to get better. And, again, it'll culminate in Jacksonville and we'll talk about that.

HARRIS: OK. Marketable sports images moving into 2005, which athletes are hot?

HORROW: Well, let's talk about the NBA first.

HARRIS: OK.

HORROW: Shaq is big and he scores well and he's hot. He's increased the value of The Heat by about $100 million, some say. A 325 percent increase in jersey sales over when he played for the Lakers. And 70 percent, by the way, of the NBA fans polled say they still consider that sport wholesome family entertainment, which is really important given the basket brawl in November.

On the other hand, you've got Kobe Bryant.

HARRIS: Yes.

HORROW: A 92 percent decrease in Internet sales. And, by the way, with his sprained ankle last night, he may be on the shelf for about a month, which is even worse for him.

HARRIS: That's right.

HORROW: And Allen Iverson had a 69 percent decrease in sales.

So the image for the NBA is important. And image rebuilding in that sport, by the way, Tony, is everything.

HARRIS: Yes. You know what? Let's turn to tennis now. The best tennis player on the planet, in my opinion, is that Roger Federer. But the hottest, and probably we've got to turn to the ladies, is Kournikova still the hottest part-time tennis player out there?

HORROW: Part-time, yes. But the hottest full-time tennis player is Maria Sharapova, at a 300 percent increase in Internet search, as well. So women's tennis continues to increase with its superstars. Kournikova, about a 50 percent decline in Internet searches on court now. She is married to Iglesias. She is on "The Apprentice."

HARRIS: Yes.

HORROW: So off the court, she's doing well. But she still can't win a tennis match. She's retired from active tennis. And you know what? Nobody really cares.

HARRIS: Oh, nobody really cares.

OK, what's your fair ball of the week?

HORROW: The fair ball of the week is long overdue, by the way. It's major league baseball's steroid policy, enacted over the last couple of days. It is big, a 10 day decrease in -- or a 10 day suspension, violation one, up to a 60 day over time. Major league baseball agreed with the players, it's long overdue. And, by the way, just in time, because Jose Canseco is coming up with a blockbuster tell all steroid book in two weeks, so they came out with it just at the right time.

HARRIS: Another one? His other... HORROW: Yes, well, it's a -- no, it's the same one, but now it's coming out on the stands and now we have major league baseball having its policy just in time for it.

HARRIS: OK. And what's your foul ball?

HORROW: Well, the foul ball is salary stability. A $2.3 million average salary per player, a 2 percent decrease in salaries for the first time since '95. But then the Mets and the Yankees are competing for the back pages of the New York sports sections.

HARRIS: That's right.

HORROW: Martinez, Beltran, Randy Johnson, $300 million for three players. And now the baseball salaries are spiraling again.

By the way, it's good work if you can get it.

HARRIS: That's for sure.

HORROW: So, Tony, work on your curve ball. You may be getting more money over time. You need that, pal.

HARRIS: Thank you. Thank you for that.

HORROW: Hey, yes?

HARRIS: I needed that this morning.

Thank you, Rick.

Good to see you, as always.

HORROW: I'm sure you did, man.

I'll see you next week.

HARRIS: Taking you "Beyond The Game."

That's Rick Horrow.

Thanks, Rick.

HORROW: All right.

HARRIS: Betty?

NGUYEN: I'm going to have to separate you two.

All right, take a look at these pictures, everyone. Slipping, sliding, all in Colorado on the streets there. What an ordeal these drivers had to go through. We have those details a little later this hour.

And two weeks before elections in Iraq, what's on the outlook? We'll hear from CNN's Nic Robertson in Mosul when we come back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: An anti-war group goes to court over its access to Pennsylvania Avenue.

Good morning and welcome back to CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

I'm Tony Harris.

NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen.

Thanks for joining us.

We have that story in just a minute.

But first, here's a look at the morning headlines.

The sentencing phase in the court martial of Army Reserve Specialist Charles Graner begins in about three hours and he is expected to testify. A military jury in Fort Hood, Texas found him guilty yesterday of abusing inmates at Abu Ghraib Prison in Baghdad. Graner faces up to 15 years in prison.

The number two man in the Defense Department toured Banda Aceh, Indonesia today, the area which was hardest hit by last month's earthquake and tsunamis. Paul Wolfowitz says he expects the U.S. to end its military relief mission to Indonesia within weeks, as soon as Indonesia is ready to take over.

A recovery mission in Utah. Emergency workers plan to resume their search this morning for up to five people presumed dead in a massive avalanche. Authorities say two to five people tore through an out of bounds area near the Canyon Resort in Party City yesterday. The victims could be buried under 30 feet of snow.

HARRIS: Fifteen days and counting until the polls open in Iraq and election preps are underway in Mosul, the northern city that has become an insurgency hot spot.

Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is there -- hello, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Tony.

Well, Mosul is one of the areas, in one of the areas in Iraq where commanders recognize that security will be an issue around the elections. What they are doing here in this city, a number of things to encourage people to come out to vote, as well as prepare to make the city a more secure place for people to vote.

What they are doing is going to the local radio station, along with Iraqi -- an Iraqi commander, and doing a telephone chat show. This has been something that's been ongoing over the last few months, but they're stepping it up to do these telephone call in shows, one every day. The idea is Iraqi people call in with their questions about the elections and their security, the Iraqi commander and the U.S. military commander here answer those questions.

People were calling in with such questions as where can I vote, how do I know that I'll be safe to vote, who should I vote for? And the commanders answering those questions.

They're also going, the troops are also going to talk with imams at mosques to explain to them so that they can encourage their congregations to come out and vote. One Iraqi I talked to earlier today told me he thought 85 percent of the population of Mosul did want to come out and vote.

HARRIS: And, Nic, I'm wondering is there any kind of -- because you just mentioned that security is the issue and it will be issue -- is there any kind of official statement from officials there on the ground now as to the status of the safety concerns at the moment?

ROBERTSON: There have been briefings given in Baghdad today that indicate there will be limited travel on the day of the elections, that it will be hard for people to get close to the polling stations. There are many provinces in Iraq, of course, where the -- where there is good security or better, relatively better security. And the elections are expected to pass off in those areas.

The key thing commanders here and the Iraqi people are looking for is, they say, to know that it's safe to come out and vote. And then they say if that, if people are confident that it's safe, then they will come out and vote. And that's really, there's sort of an educational process that the troops are going through now, as well as making provisions for limiting traffic on the day of the elections, making provisions to make sure that does actually happen -- Tony.

HARRIS: OK, Nic Robertson in Mosul for us this morning.

Nic, thank you.

And here is our e-mail question this morning. Do you think elections in Iraq will be free and fair? E-mail us at wam@cnn.com and we'll read your comments throughout the morning.

NGUYEN: The anti-war group, or one, at least, goes to court seeking more access to President Bush's inauguration parade route. The group claims too much of the parade route along Pennsylvania Avenue is reserved for the president's family, friends and supporters. The group, known as A.N.S.W.E.R., wants the inaugural committee to open up more space to the general public. They suggest the government is privatizing a national public ceremony. The inaugural committee would not comment.

Now to our Saturday morning "Security Watch," where we update you on the week's major developments in the war on terror.

Tuesday, President Bush nominated U.S. Appeals Court Judge Michael Chertoff to serve as homeland security secretary. Bush's first nominee, New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, withdrew his name, saying he had employed an illegal immigrant as a nanny. A new U.S. intelligence report released Thursday says by the year 2020, al Qaeda will likely be overshadowed by several decentralized Islamic militant groups. The report also says there is growing concern these groups will get their hands on biological or even nuclear weapons.

Also on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said new technology at New York's JFK International Airport will speed security and immigration creeks. He also announced the beginning of a pilot program that allows international travelers to register for a background check, which would help them get through the airports much quicker.

The FBI has spent four years and $170 million developing software that will allow agents two share information more quickly. But now a top FBI official says there is a good chance it won't work and the project will have to be scrapped. Thursday, the official said the software problems are having no major impact on the Bureau's counter- terrorism operations.

By the numbers, it looks like Americans feel pretty safe inside their own borders. Thirty-nine percent of those questioned in the latest "USA Today"/Gallup Poll say an act of terrorism in the U.S. in the next several weeks is very or somewhat likely. Fifty-nine percent said an attack is not likely.

We want you to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security -- Tony.

HARRIS: So, what's cooking on Titan? Hopefully breakfast. And these pictures may reveal the answer. A close look at the second biggest moon in the solar system next on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: And we want to say good morning Portland, the host of the U.S. figure skating championships this week. We will have your weather forecast a little bit later this hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, listen to this. You're out running errands when you're stopped by police who want to take DNA samples as part of a murder investigation. Is that an invasion of privacy? "Legal Briefs" live next hour on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, 8:00 a.m. Eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Our top stories at this hour. Court-martialed soldier Charles Graner takes the stand this morning to testify in his penalty phase. The Army Specialist faces up to 15 years for abusing prisoners at an Iraqi prison.

A senior Pentagon official surveyed the tsunami damage in Banda Aceh by air today. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz says the U.S. military will continue to provide emergency aid to the stricken region for several more weeks. And in Utah, check it out, it is now a recovery operation, not a rescue mission. Up to five people are believed buried beneath a giant avalanche. The sheriff concedes that finding any survivors would be "a miracle."

A weather update is coming up in just a few minutes.

And we don't want you to forget about our e-mail question this morning. Do you think elections in Iraq will be free and fair? E- mail us at wam@cnn.com and we will read those a little bit later this hour -- Tony.

HARRIS: Well, Betty, we should see more pictures from Titan later today. European space officials say they were blown away by the images sent back yesterday from the mysterious Saturn moon.

Those pictures now and a report on the Titan mission from CNN's space correspondent, Miles O'Brien.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Beneath the haze, there was plenty to gaze at on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan -- gullies, rivers and a sea all filled with methane. A strange place, but an oddly familiar one too. A day to remember more than 20 years in the making.

CAROLYN PORCO, CASSINI SCIENTIST: Frankly, I cannot believe what I am seeing. This is just -- I really didn't think we'd have this kind of view.

O'BRIEN: The astounding view came courtesy of a nine foot spacecraft that looked like a cheesy prop from a Grade B sci-fi movie. But it was an alien flying saucer for real. Named for the Earthling who discovered Titan in 1655, the Huygens probe parachuted as planned to the Titanic surface, sampling the atmosphere, measuring the winds and snapping hundreds of pictures.

JEAN-JACQUES DORDAIN, ESA DIRECTOR GENERAL: So we are the first visitors of Titan and scientific data that we are collecting now shall unveil the secrets of this new world.

O'BRIEN: Huygens' heroes gathered at the European Space Agency control center in Germany out of this world with joy as the improbable descent unfolded and the spacecraft phoned home on time.

DORDAIN: It looks like we've heard the baby crying.

O'BRIEN: Their baby was handy with its cameras, offering up an image that no one predicted -- a rock-strewn landscape that looks like Mars, or Arizona, for that matter.

PORCO: We just didn't expect it to look this way. But there we are on the surface and there are boulders of some sort. And we're going to be working out how they came to be. O'BRIEN: Scientists are fascinated by Titan because they believe it's like looking at Earth four billion years ago, before life started simmering on the evolutionary range.

DAVID SOUTHWOOD, ESA DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE: I always think of Titan as the cooking pot that is like the early Earth. And you want to know whether it's really cooking. And once you see this, you see liquid on the surface, I believe we are cooking.

O'BRIEN: Miles O'Brien, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And I've got to tell you what was really a lot of fun about watching all of this unfold yesterday, Betty, was watching the oohs and aahs, the expressions on the faces of all those scientists. They emergency response effort like kids just excited about what was going on.

NGUYEN: Oh, absolutely. And did you see the one lady? She started crying.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: It was such an emotional time. I mean people have worked for years to capture this information, these pictures. And can you imagine, a sea of methane?

HARRIS: No, no, no.

NGUYEN: I mean...

HARRIS: I don't want to imagine that.

NGUYEN: That's beyond belief. No, no, no, no.

All right, let's just move right on from that thought, shall we?

HARRIS: Absolutely.

NGUYEN: OK, thank you, Tony.

When one family member suffers, everyone feels the pain. That's the philosophy of the Army's "Band of Brothers". That's the story of soldiers Kyle Eggers and Todd Gibbs, both killed in Iraq. The wife of their unit's commanding officer has their story. That is tomorrow morning right here on CNN SUNDAY. She will talk about the challenges facing families left behind when a soldier is killed in action.

And, the fashion police get ready for the biggest party in Hollywood. Oh, who cares about the awards? It's all about who's wearing who at the Golden Globes. That is live tomorrow morning on CNN SUNDAY, 9:00 a.m. Eastern. BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I just have a, you just put me under the spot here. (END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Put on the spot a few times. So, does President Bush have any regrets when he looks back at his first term? Find out next on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: But first, a CNN extra. Apple Computer this past Tuesday unveiled two cheaper, smaller versions of its popular iPod digital music player. The $99 iPod Shuffle has 512 megabytes of memory and holds up to 120 songs. Now, for $50 more, the one gig version holds 240 songs.

Also from Mac, a new 40 or 80 gig mini-desktop with no monitor, no keyboard or mouse, but the price is $499. It's the lowest priced Mac ever on the market.

And the number of U.S. households with computers jumped over the 60 percent mark back in October 2003. and according to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nearly 55 percent of the U.S. population has a home Internet access.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, good morning, Portland. The sun hasn't come up there just yet, as we take a live look from our affiliate, KPTV. There in Portland, we'll have your weather forecast in about 10 minutes.

But in the meantime, U.S. skating championships are underway this week. Last night, spectators in the Rose Garden witnessed perfection itself.

HARRIS: Wow!

NGUYEN: A string of straight 6.0s for the artistic merit and the dynamic duo, Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Augusto. No other skater in U.S. history has done it before. Belbin and Augusto are now two time U.S. champs in ice dance. And Michelle Kwan and Sasha Cohen go head to head for the national title. That happens tonight.

He likes to speak his mind. But should President Bush pay more mind to what he says? The president himself admits there were times when he wished he had.

Our Elaine Quijano has more from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Not to follow the past...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's joked about his plainspokenness many times, and even made it a part of his stump speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Sometimes I am a little too blunt. I get that from my mother.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, President Bush, who last year struggled to name a mistake he'd made...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: I just haven't -- you just put me under the spot here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: ... says he can think of two times he wished he would have chosen his words more carefully -- once when he discussed insurgents in Iraq, just months after the U.S.-led invasion of that country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: There are some who feel like that, you know, the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is bring 'em on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: In an interview airing tonight on ABC's "20/20," Mr. Bush expressed second thoughts about that statement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "20/20, ABC)

BUSH: When I, I said some things in the first term that were probably a little blunt. "Bring it on" was a little blunt. And I was really speaking to the -- to our troops. But it came out, and it had a different connotation, a different meaning for others. And so I've got to -- I'll be, I'll be more disciplined in how I say things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Another time happened in the days after September 11 at the Pentagon, when Mr. Bush said this of Osama bin Laden.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: I want justice. And there's an old poster out West, as I recall, that said, "Wanted: Dead Or Alive."

QUIJANO: The president candidly admitted that phrase raised the ire of the first lady.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "20/20," ABC) BUSH: I guess it's not the most diplomatic of language. Laura, as a matter of fact, chewed me out right after that. So I, I, I, I, I do have to be cautious about, you know, conveying thoughts is, in, in, in a way, maybe, that doesn't send wrong impressions about our country.

QUIJANO (on camera): The president said he didn't know if his acknowledgement of poor word choice should be called a regret, a confession or simply a lesson. And while he expressed misgivings about the language he used, he also made clear he had no regrets about the actions he took.

Elaine Quijano, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

HARRIS: If you're in Colorado, stay off the roads if you can. We'll tell you and we'll show you -- well, there it is. What happened? And there's more of it. Jeez. The story next on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: OK, today's "Wows of the Week" begins on eBay, where one forward thinking person in Omaha is offering advertising space on his forehead. The idea of skinvertising is spreading with a lot of folks on eBay now willing to lease body surfaces to the highest bidder.

In Union, Missouri, a fast food restaurant was the prime location for a fast delivery. Mom was trying to get to the hospital but baby wouldn't wait. They don't. So she pulled into a McDonald's and gave birth beneath the golden arches. Maybe it was a sign. The baby boy's last name, McDonald.

NGUYEN: No.

HARRIS: No. I couldn't make this up.

And the Fort Worth Zoo's resident pacaderm, Picasso, auctioned off one of her paintings for tsunami relief. Rasha is an Indian elephant from Thailand who has been painting for about a decade. This piece, which she knocked off in about, oh, about five minutes, was put on eBay with a startling bid -- startling, yes it was -- a starting bid of $500. The winning bid seven days later was $7,000 for an original. $7,000.

NGUYEN: Yes, not bad for five minutes of work.

Well, check this out. In Denver, Colorado, an icy hill was no match for motorists this week. Boom! One by one they all came careening down the slope and one by one they rear ended the cars at the bottom. One driver even bailed out before impact -- here it goes right there -- which may have been a foolish thing to do because...

HARRIS: I don't know. That was pretty fast.

NGUYEN: Watch the video.

HARRIS: Yes?

NGUYEN: This lady ends up getting in the way of another sliding car. Well, that's not the right video.

HARRIS: OK.

NGUYEN: Anyway, she got away in time, thank goodness. But as we were talking to Dave a little bit earlier, Dave Hennen, that is, our weather department, not exactly a smart thing to do to just kind of jump out of a car on an icy street.

HARRIS: OK, in her defense, I think she was a little worried about the speed she was picking up as she was going into -- look at this! Look at this! That's pretty good speed.

NGUYEN: Yes, no one wants to hit another car.

HARRIS: Right. So, you know, well, that's all I can offer in defense.

NGUYEN: But if a car is coming behind you, it can be a little tricky, a little dangerous.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: Dave, you agree, don't you?

HENNEN: You know, the one question I have about that video?

HARRIS: Yes?

HENNEN: Is how come somebody is not at the top of the hill going nobody go.

NGUYEN: Stop. Yes.

HARRIS: Yes, exactly. It probably just crept up on everybody.

HENNEN: Yes, probably.

HARRIS: Yes.

HENNEN: It was icy in Denver. That snow all gone, so conditions have definitely improved through the Rockies.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: All right, let's go to our e-mail responses from you in this first hour.

The question is Iraqi elections -- do you believe that they will be free and fair?

NGUYEN: Well, Charlie writes, too, this morning, saying: "Elections in Iraq free and fair? You're kidding, right?"

HARRIS: And this from Edwin: "Considering their past, they can only go uphill. Maybe if there is stability in the elections, it will be s sign of things to come. We can only hope."

All right, here's the address, wam@cnn.com. The question once again, Iraqi elections, free and fair? Send us your responses and we'll be reading those next hour.

NGUYEN: And speaking of that next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING, it begins right now.

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 January 15, 2005 - 07:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it has been a crazy week for weather. And guess what, folks? It ain't over yet.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Nope, ain't over yet.

From the CNN Center here in Atlanta, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

Good morning, everybody.

It's January 15.

You can tell by these pictures. It's cold outside.

HARRIS: Look at this. Look at this. What's this?

NGUYEN: Yikes! Wow! Watch it!

HARRIS: Get out of the way.

NGUYEN: 7:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 5:00 a.m. in Denver, where these pictures of that 28 car pileup...

HARRIS: Is that what it is, 28 cars?

NGUYEN: And people were scrambling to get out of their cars before they...

HARRIS: And get out of the way.

NGUYEN: ... slammed into each other.

All right, well, good morning, everybody.

I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris.

We'll bring you that story from Denver later this hour on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

And, to the weather watches all across the country, let's get you caught up with what's now in the news.

Mahmoud Abbas was inaugurated this morning as president of the Palestinian Authority and already he's under pressure from Israel. The Israelis have suspended contact with the Palestinians after six Israeli civilians were killed at a crossing from Gaza. Israel wants Abbas to act now to stop the violence.

Convicted prisoner abuser Charles Graner testified this morning in the penalty phase of his court martial at Fort Hood, Texas. A military jury found Specialist Graner guilty of nine counts of physical abuse and sexual humiliation of detainees at Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq. Graner could get up to 15 years in prison.

The search resumes two hours from now near Park City, Utah for as many as five skiers believed trapped by a massive avalanche. But it's a recovery operation, not a rescue mission. The Park City slide is an off limits area posted with warning signs. Witnesses saw between two and five people in the area before it was buried under 30 feet of snow.

In Corona, California, 2,000 evacuees can return home now if they want, but city officials advise them to stay away until Monday, when the safety of a nearby dam can be fully assessed. Water is still seeping from the dam. But experts now believe there is no danger it will burst.

NGUYEN: All right, here are some stories that you can look forward to this hour.

Winter shows its true colors after flirting with spring like weather. You can call it the yoyo effect, with places going from one extreme to another.

Also ahead, the breathless beauty of a world far, far away. You won't want to miss these first ever images from Saturn's moon Titan. That's a little bit later.

Plus...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Sometimes I am a little too blunt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: To put it bluntly. On the eve of President Bush's second term, he candidly admits to some poor word choices at critical moments. We'll hear what he has to say about it now.

HARRIS: And our top story this morning. The penalty phase in the court martial of Army Specialist Charles Graner resumes three hours from now at Fort Hood, Texas. Graner was convicted of abusing prisoners in Iraq. And today he's expected to testify.

CNN's Susan Candiotti is covering the story.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Accused Abu Ghraib ringleader Charles Graner said this as his trial began. CHARLES GRANER: We're going to find out how much of a monster I am today.

CANDIOTTI: The answer came late on a Friday afternoon, one year to the very day when the now notorious photos first surfaced and sparked the Army's investigation. Graner stood ramrod stiff, eyes straight ahead as the verdict was read -- guilty on nine of the 10 major counts; guilty also on one reduced charge for each of these photos, the naked human pyramid, the prisoner on a dog leash, the threat to punch another detainee, this scene of sexual humiliation. Guilty of each charge of abuse.

In closing arguments, the defense tried to explain away the photos with, well, a creative argument. The prisoner on the leash, it said, was not being dragged, he crawled out of his cell. "It's not violent. It was done creatively. Mission accomplished."

The prosecution response, "Yes, it was creative. It was creative abuse."

The jury of combat veterans was only out five hours. The same jury is to decide Graner's sentence. Graner did not testify before the jury convicted him. He plans to take the stand Saturday before the sentencing.

GRANER: Well, I'm going to start off with saying I swear to god this is the truth.

QUESTION: And then what?

GRANER: Then you're going to hear a story.

CANDIOTTI: But will that story sway jurors, who could sentence Graner to 15 years?

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Fort Hood, Texas.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

NGUYEN: Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz flew over the tsunami ravaged Aceh Province in Indonesia this morning. Indonesia had said all foreign troops delivering military aid can leave by the end of March. But Wolfowitz told reporters there's no evidence the Indonesian government is ungrateful for the U.S. military's relief efforts. In fact, he said: "The Indonesians have welcomed us with open arms."

Senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre is with Wolfowitz.

And he joins us now by phone -- good morning to you, Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning.

I'd have to say it's been quite a day. It's been a long day. We started in Thailand this morning and then we're down here in Indonesia. We did fly over the devastation at Banda Aceh. And that's where we're at the airport now.

And actually standing with me here in the airport, in the very humid weather, is the deputy defense secretary, Paul Wolfowitz.

And Secretary Wolfowitz, let me just ask you, you had a lot of questions today, particularly from Indonesians. The number one question probably, are U.S. troops going to leave Indonesia before the end of March, the so-called deadline set by the Indonesian government.

PAUL WOLFOWITZ, DEPUTY DEFENSE SECRETARY: Well, I was really struck when we talked to the Indonesian officials here. Their real focus, as is ours, is on making sure the relief and reconstruction gets done. And we certainly hope that the U.S. military can be handing this off to other people long before that.

But I think it's right to think of it as a goal and not a deadline. Their real objective mission is to take care of the people who survived this horrible disaster.

MCINTYRE: Another question you got a lot, could this possibly lessen the restrictions or ease the restrictions on the sale of military equipment, military training to Indonesia so that they can do more of their own humanitarian relief, get their own military in shape?

WOLFOWITZ: Well, it already has, to some extent. We have freed up some frozen money to pay for spares for their C-130s so they can begin flying in relief supplies. But I think, I mean personally I think that we're due to look at our relationship with the military of the democracy, and even more important now that this humanitarian tragedy has struck.

MCINTYRE: And I guess the other question is your reaction, having now seen the devastation firsthand.

WOLFOWITZ: Well, it's really heartrending and this was a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) part of the country I visited when I was ambassador. It's hard to comprehend the scale of the destruction until you actually see it. And you can just imagine the horror of the people who were swept away by that wave. But the thing you also have to think about now is the survivors are facing a scale of loss of many, many orphans and people who had their whole families wiped out and villages that just will never exist again. And I think we all want to reach out to them and their Indonesian countrymen are doing it very strongly, as well.

MCINTYRE: Secretary Wolfowitz, I know you have another big busy day tomorrow. I know you'll be meeting with a lot of Indonesian officials and we'll be following you around.

Thank you for joining us.

WOLFOWITZ: Thank you, Jamie.

MCINTYRE: And as I said, Secretary Wolfowitz has a full day of meetings in Jakarta tomorrow. He'll meet with Indonesian officials again to go over some of these same topics. But the point that the U.S. wants to underscore is that they're not helping in this area because they think it's going to lead to a political advantage, but simply because they just think it's the right thing to do and reflects U.S. values to help people when they're just bad off -- back to you.

NGUYEN: All right, CNN's Jamie McIntyre traveling with Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz there in Indonesia today.

Thank you, Jamie -- Tony.

HARRIS: And just about everywhere you look across America today, there is plenty of evidence of wild weather. Residents of La Conchita, California are free to return home, but there's not much to return to, frankly. And Monday's deadly landslide has knocked out all utilities to the oceanside community and there's no guarantee there won't be more slides.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to leave, yes. I won't -- this is -- I'm not going to do this again. You know, I went through the first one and I don't want to -- the second one is a charm, you know? That's it. I don't -- I'm out of here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: In the Ohio Valley, melting snow threatens to overwhelm some riverside cities and towns. In Cincinnati, the Ohio River is at its highest level since 1997. Heavy rains engulfed streets in and around the nation's capital, including the Virginia suburbs. The Potomac River is several feet above flood stage in places. The problem now for many waterlogged communities is the return of cold weather. It is causing standing water to freeze. Some vehicles have been immobilized because their tires are now trapped in solid ice. It just doesn't end.

NGUYEN: I know. Floods, mudslides, avalanches, snowstorms. People across the nation are feeling nature's wrath.

HARRIS: OK. What is going on? And what else is in store?

Meteorologist Dave Hennen, you see him there, joins us now from the CNN Weather Center -- and, Dave, let's see you explain all this.

NGUYEN: Yes.

DAVE HENNEN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, plenty to talk about, certainly, all week. The good news, though, guys, is that this is going to begin to quiet down. It is very cold this morning, but we are not looking at any major snowstorms.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: And as always, CNN keeps you up to date

NGUYEN: Well, some high school kids in the president's hometown get a helping hand from the Motor City Madman, as they call him.

HARRIS:

We've got the dot-com breakdown when we go "Beyond The Game."

But first, here's what's

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you throw a drowning lawyer? A rock.

What do you call 500 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A good start.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Ouch. Well, when is a lawyer joke not so funny? When it gets you arrested, that is. A hot topic for our "Legal Briefs" next hour on CNN SATURDAY MORNING. That's at 8:00 a.m. Eastern.

And here is our e-mail question for you this morning. Do you think elections in Iraq will be free and fair? E-mail us at wam@cnn.com and we will read those replies throughout the program.

HENNEN: I'm Dave Hennen in the Weather Center with your cold and flu report for this weekend. Hopefully you're feeling well. But many of you in parts of the Northeast are not feeling so well, including New York, where we have widespread flu activity reported, back into Vermont, Connecticut; widespread activity as well. Kentucky and Texas also reporting widespread flu activity. More regional, local activity reported through the upper Midwest. So not quite as widespread. Very cold this morning, though, through the Upper Midwest, and lots of snow leading to some enhanced flu symptoms, as well, with the cold into the West. Alaska reporting widespread activity.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Time now to look at Stories Across America.

In Indiana, plumes of smoke rise from a fire at this recycling plant, which is about 30 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Investigators say about 6,000 pounds of the highly flammable metal magnesium caught fire. Look at these flames. The fire chief has decided to let the blaze burn itself out and officials have evacuated as many as 5,000 nearby residents.

In New York, prayers and praise from family and friends of Hanna Chi (ph). She is reportedly the first New Yorker to be identified as a victim of last month's tsunami in South Asia. The 25-year-old, who worked in Hong Kong, was on vacation in Thailand. Friends say she was sleeping in her beach bungalow when the tsunami hit.

HARRIS: In Washington, people sleeping at hotels for next week's presidential inauguration may get a mint on their pillows after all. Avoiding a possible strike, workers at top hotels there have reached a tentative labor deal with their employers. Details not out yet, but the deal reportedly includes a $0.50 an hour raise. The hotel workers union should vote on the deal this Tuesday.

And in Texas, a rocker with rhymes and now a reason. Jamming a gym tonight in President Bush's hometown of Crawford, Ted Nugent will be singing "Cat Scratch Fever" for fans attending a sold out benefit. It's to raise money for a local high school band flying off to the presidential inauguration. The band, which hopes to take part in the inaugural parade needs about $48,000 for the trip.

And check out these pictures. Smash, bang, there's another one for you. A 28-car pileup caused by, what else, ice and snow in Colorado. The details later this hour on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: Look at that lady there. I was watching video of this earlier this week and people were really jumping out of their cars before they slammed into each other.

Is that a good idea?

HARRIS: Well, you know what? I guess the thought is is that you don't want to get smashed up by...

NGUYEN: Whiplash or...

HARRIS: ... the airbag.

NGUYEN: That's true.

Dave...

HARRIS: Because those things can hurt you?

NGUYEN: ... can you weigh in on this one?

HENNEN: Yes, I saw the same video. And there were actually people jumping out of their cars...

NGUYEN: Right.

HENNEN: ... and then having to dodge other cars that were coming at them.

HARRIS: Right.

NGUYEN: Exactly.

HENNEN: It's probably not a good idea.

NGUYEN: King of risky.

HENNEN: Stay with your vehicle.

(WEATHER REPORT) HARRIS: And, Dave, if you're in the Midwest with all the rain and the flooding, the cold temperatures, that's good news, actually.

HENNEN: Yes, absolutely. It is going to be dry through the Midwest the next couple of days, so no additional rainfall on the way to aggravate the flood problem.

HARRIS: All right, David, thank you.

NGUYEN: Thank you.

HARRIS: Well, the pictures from outer space this week are fascinating. Take a look at this. Images broadcast from Titan probe.

NGUYEN: Plus, she was once the most downloaded athlete in the world. Yes, you know who we're talking about, Anna Kournikova. Who's hot and who's not in the world of sports. We'll tell you.

Plus, there's a question for our very own Rick Horrow. He'll be talking about that and much more. There he is.

HARRIS: Smile, man. You're on television.

NGUYEN: Are you hot in the sports world, Rick?

HARRIS: Oh, no.

NGUYEN: I think he thinks so.

HARRIS: That's awful.

NGUYEN: See you soon, Rick.

HARRIS: It's too much.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: By the end of the weekend only four NFL teams will be left standing. That means we're three weeks away from one of the most hyped sporting events on the planet, the Super Bowl. And corporate America is ready to lay down $2.4 million for a 30 second spot during the big game. And those ad revenues affect much more than just the NFL's bottom line. That's because it's football that financial experts point to as the model of success when it comes to how to run a professional sports program.

But football isn't the only sport enjoying success as we move into the new year.

For more on that, let's turn to the author of "When the Game Is On the Line."

Joining us from West Palm Beach, Florida is the field goal kicker for the CNN weekend flag football squad, sports analyst Rick Horrow -- good morning, Rick.

Sorry, had to do it.

RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: Well, hey, wait a second. You don't kick field goals in flag football, pal. What are you telling me?

HARRIS: See. See, and he's got...

HORROW: What are you telling me?

HARRIS: And he's got more talk back than Mike Vanderjack.

Good to see you.

HORROW: Hey, good answer.

Cheap shot, but good answer.

HARRIS: Hey, I've got to ask you about last weekend's play-off games. They really were something of a ratings bonanza for ABC.

HORROW: Yes, well, they were. And here's the key. You know, NFL is the gold standard for all professional sports, as we know, and they were in negotiations, a $17 billion deal with Fox and CBS. Increased about 30 percent over that. They're kind of tying up the loose ends with ABC and ESPN for Sunday night and Monday night.

So what did they need? They needed good ratings and they got them.

The most watched game last week was the Chargers-Jets at 26 million viewers. That's stout.

But three of the top 10 watched programs last week, by the way, were NFL football games. The Chargers-Jets we talked about; the Fox package at about 20 million homes and the ABC wildcard deal we talked about in 23 million homes.

HARRIS: Right.

HORROW: It is that gold standard and for the next three weeks, we talked about business and marketing issues leading to Super Bowl 39 on February 6.

HARRIS: Well, Rick, what does all this say about the popularity of football over other sports?

HORROW: It's huge. Football is that $6 billion business and the marketing and management and increase in franchise values, it'll continue to get better. And, again, it'll culminate in Jacksonville and we'll talk about that.

HARRIS: OK. Marketable sports images moving into 2005, which athletes are hot?

HORROW: Well, let's talk about the NBA first.

HARRIS: OK.

HORROW: Shaq is big and he scores well and he's hot. He's increased the value of The Heat by about $100 million, some say. A 325 percent increase in jersey sales over when he played for the Lakers. And 70 percent, by the way, of the NBA fans polled say they still consider that sport wholesome family entertainment, which is really important given the basket brawl in November.

On the other hand, you've got Kobe Bryant.

HARRIS: Yes.

HORROW: A 92 percent decrease in Internet sales. And, by the way, with his sprained ankle last night, he may be on the shelf for about a month, which is even worse for him.

HARRIS: That's right.

HORROW: And Allen Iverson had a 69 percent decrease in sales.

So the image for the NBA is important. And image rebuilding in that sport, by the way, Tony, is everything.

HARRIS: Yes. You know what? Let's turn to tennis now. The best tennis player on the planet, in my opinion, is that Roger Federer. But the hottest, and probably we've got to turn to the ladies, is Kournikova still the hottest part-time tennis player out there?

HORROW: Part-time, yes. But the hottest full-time tennis player is Maria Sharapova, at a 300 percent increase in Internet search, as well. So women's tennis continues to increase with its superstars. Kournikova, about a 50 percent decline in Internet searches on court now. She is married to Iglesias. She is on "The Apprentice."

HARRIS: Yes.

HORROW: So off the court, she's doing well. But she still can't win a tennis match. She's retired from active tennis. And you know what? Nobody really cares.

HARRIS: Oh, nobody really cares.

OK, what's your fair ball of the week?

HORROW: The fair ball of the week is long overdue, by the way. It's major league baseball's steroid policy, enacted over the last couple of days. It is big, a 10 day decrease in -- or a 10 day suspension, violation one, up to a 60 day over time. Major league baseball agreed with the players, it's long overdue. And, by the way, just in time, because Jose Canseco is coming up with a blockbuster tell all steroid book in two weeks, so they came out with it just at the right time.

HARRIS: Another one? His other... HORROW: Yes, well, it's a -- no, it's the same one, but now it's coming out on the stands and now we have major league baseball having its policy just in time for it.

HARRIS: OK. And what's your foul ball?

HORROW: Well, the foul ball is salary stability. A $2.3 million average salary per player, a 2 percent decrease in salaries for the first time since '95. But then the Mets and the Yankees are competing for the back pages of the New York sports sections.

HARRIS: That's right.

HORROW: Martinez, Beltran, Randy Johnson, $300 million for three players. And now the baseball salaries are spiraling again.

By the way, it's good work if you can get it.

HARRIS: That's for sure.

HORROW: So, Tony, work on your curve ball. You may be getting more money over time. You need that, pal.

HARRIS: Thank you. Thank you for that.

HORROW: Hey, yes?

HARRIS: I needed that this morning.

Thank you, Rick.

Good to see you, as always.

HORROW: I'm sure you did, man.

I'll see you next week.

HARRIS: Taking you "Beyond The Game."

That's Rick Horrow.

Thanks, Rick.

HORROW: All right.

HARRIS: Betty?

NGUYEN: I'm going to have to separate you two.

All right, take a look at these pictures, everyone. Slipping, sliding, all in Colorado on the streets there. What an ordeal these drivers had to go through. We have those details a little later this hour.

And two weeks before elections in Iraq, what's on the outlook? We'll hear from CNN's Nic Robertson in Mosul when we come back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: An anti-war group goes to court over its access to Pennsylvania Avenue.

Good morning and welcome back to CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

I'm Tony Harris.

NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen.

Thanks for joining us.

We have that story in just a minute.

But first, here's a look at the morning headlines.

The sentencing phase in the court martial of Army Reserve Specialist Charles Graner begins in about three hours and he is expected to testify. A military jury in Fort Hood, Texas found him guilty yesterday of abusing inmates at Abu Ghraib Prison in Baghdad. Graner faces up to 15 years in prison.

The number two man in the Defense Department toured Banda Aceh, Indonesia today, the area which was hardest hit by last month's earthquake and tsunamis. Paul Wolfowitz says he expects the U.S. to end its military relief mission to Indonesia within weeks, as soon as Indonesia is ready to take over.

A recovery mission in Utah. Emergency workers plan to resume their search this morning for up to five people presumed dead in a massive avalanche. Authorities say two to five people tore through an out of bounds area near the Canyon Resort in Party City yesterday. The victims could be buried under 30 feet of snow.

HARRIS: Fifteen days and counting until the polls open in Iraq and election preps are underway in Mosul, the northern city that has become an insurgency hot spot.

Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is there -- hello, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Tony.

Well, Mosul is one of the areas, in one of the areas in Iraq where commanders recognize that security will be an issue around the elections. What they are doing here in this city, a number of things to encourage people to come out to vote, as well as prepare to make the city a more secure place for people to vote.

What they are doing is going to the local radio station, along with Iraqi -- an Iraqi commander, and doing a telephone chat show. This has been something that's been ongoing over the last few months, but they're stepping it up to do these telephone call in shows, one every day. The idea is Iraqi people call in with their questions about the elections and their security, the Iraqi commander and the U.S. military commander here answer those questions.

People were calling in with such questions as where can I vote, how do I know that I'll be safe to vote, who should I vote for? And the commanders answering those questions.

They're also going, the troops are also going to talk with imams at mosques to explain to them so that they can encourage their congregations to come out and vote. One Iraqi I talked to earlier today told me he thought 85 percent of the population of Mosul did want to come out and vote.

HARRIS: And, Nic, I'm wondering is there any kind of -- because you just mentioned that security is the issue and it will be issue -- is there any kind of official statement from officials there on the ground now as to the status of the safety concerns at the moment?

ROBERTSON: There have been briefings given in Baghdad today that indicate there will be limited travel on the day of the elections, that it will be hard for people to get close to the polling stations. There are many provinces in Iraq, of course, where the -- where there is good security or better, relatively better security. And the elections are expected to pass off in those areas.

The key thing commanders here and the Iraqi people are looking for is, they say, to know that it's safe to come out and vote. And then they say if that, if people are confident that it's safe, then they will come out and vote. And that's really, there's sort of an educational process that the troops are going through now, as well as making provisions for limiting traffic on the day of the elections, making provisions to make sure that does actually happen -- Tony.

HARRIS: OK, Nic Robertson in Mosul for us this morning.

Nic, thank you.

And here is our e-mail question this morning. Do you think elections in Iraq will be free and fair? E-mail us at wam@cnn.com and we'll read your comments throughout the morning.

NGUYEN: The anti-war group, or one, at least, goes to court seeking more access to President Bush's inauguration parade route. The group claims too much of the parade route along Pennsylvania Avenue is reserved for the president's family, friends and supporters. The group, known as A.N.S.W.E.R., wants the inaugural committee to open up more space to the general public. They suggest the government is privatizing a national public ceremony. The inaugural committee would not comment.

Now to our Saturday morning "Security Watch," where we update you on the week's major developments in the war on terror.

Tuesday, President Bush nominated U.S. Appeals Court Judge Michael Chertoff to serve as homeland security secretary. Bush's first nominee, New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, withdrew his name, saying he had employed an illegal immigrant as a nanny. A new U.S. intelligence report released Thursday says by the year 2020, al Qaeda will likely be overshadowed by several decentralized Islamic militant groups. The report also says there is growing concern these groups will get their hands on biological or even nuclear weapons.

Also on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said new technology at New York's JFK International Airport will speed security and immigration creeks. He also announced the beginning of a pilot program that allows international travelers to register for a background check, which would help them get through the airports much quicker.

The FBI has spent four years and $170 million developing software that will allow agents two share information more quickly. But now a top FBI official says there is a good chance it won't work and the project will have to be scrapped. Thursday, the official said the software problems are having no major impact on the Bureau's counter- terrorism operations.

By the numbers, it looks like Americans feel pretty safe inside their own borders. Thirty-nine percent of those questioned in the latest "USA Today"/Gallup Poll say an act of terrorism in the U.S. in the next several weeks is very or somewhat likely. Fifty-nine percent said an attack is not likely.

We want you to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security -- Tony.

HARRIS: So, what's cooking on Titan? Hopefully breakfast. And these pictures may reveal the answer. A close look at the second biggest moon in the solar system next on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: And we want to say good morning Portland, the host of the U.S. figure skating championships this week. We will have your weather forecast a little bit later this hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, listen to this. You're out running errands when you're stopped by police who want to take DNA samples as part of a murder investigation. Is that an invasion of privacy? "Legal Briefs" live next hour on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, 8:00 a.m. Eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Our top stories at this hour. Court-martialed soldier Charles Graner takes the stand this morning to testify in his penalty phase. The Army Specialist faces up to 15 years for abusing prisoners at an Iraqi prison.

A senior Pentagon official surveyed the tsunami damage in Banda Aceh by air today. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz says the U.S. military will continue to provide emergency aid to the stricken region for several more weeks. And in Utah, check it out, it is now a recovery operation, not a rescue mission. Up to five people are believed buried beneath a giant avalanche. The sheriff concedes that finding any survivors would be "a miracle."

A weather update is coming up in just a few minutes.

And we don't want you to forget about our e-mail question this morning. Do you think elections in Iraq will be free and fair? E- mail us at wam@cnn.com and we will read those a little bit later this hour -- Tony.

HARRIS: Well, Betty, we should see more pictures from Titan later today. European space officials say they were blown away by the images sent back yesterday from the mysterious Saturn moon.

Those pictures now and a report on the Titan mission from CNN's space correspondent, Miles O'Brien.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Beneath the haze, there was plenty to gaze at on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan -- gullies, rivers and a sea all filled with methane. A strange place, but an oddly familiar one too. A day to remember more than 20 years in the making.

CAROLYN PORCO, CASSINI SCIENTIST: Frankly, I cannot believe what I am seeing. This is just -- I really didn't think we'd have this kind of view.

O'BRIEN: The astounding view came courtesy of a nine foot spacecraft that looked like a cheesy prop from a Grade B sci-fi movie. But it was an alien flying saucer for real. Named for the Earthling who discovered Titan in 1655, the Huygens probe parachuted as planned to the Titanic surface, sampling the atmosphere, measuring the winds and snapping hundreds of pictures.

JEAN-JACQUES DORDAIN, ESA DIRECTOR GENERAL: So we are the first visitors of Titan and scientific data that we are collecting now shall unveil the secrets of this new world.

O'BRIEN: Huygens' heroes gathered at the European Space Agency control center in Germany out of this world with joy as the improbable descent unfolded and the spacecraft phoned home on time.

DORDAIN: It looks like we've heard the baby crying.

O'BRIEN: Their baby was handy with its cameras, offering up an image that no one predicted -- a rock-strewn landscape that looks like Mars, or Arizona, for that matter.

PORCO: We just didn't expect it to look this way. But there we are on the surface and there are boulders of some sort. And we're going to be working out how they came to be. O'BRIEN: Scientists are fascinated by Titan because they believe it's like looking at Earth four billion years ago, before life started simmering on the evolutionary range.

DAVID SOUTHWOOD, ESA DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE: I always think of Titan as the cooking pot that is like the early Earth. And you want to know whether it's really cooking. And once you see this, you see liquid on the surface, I believe we are cooking.

O'BRIEN: Miles O'Brien, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And I've got to tell you what was really a lot of fun about watching all of this unfold yesterday, Betty, was watching the oohs and aahs, the expressions on the faces of all those scientists. They emergency response effort like kids just excited about what was going on.

NGUYEN: Oh, absolutely. And did you see the one lady? She started crying.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: It was such an emotional time. I mean people have worked for years to capture this information, these pictures. And can you imagine, a sea of methane?

HARRIS: No, no, no.

NGUYEN: I mean...

HARRIS: I don't want to imagine that.

NGUYEN: That's beyond belief. No, no, no, no.

All right, let's just move right on from that thought, shall we?

HARRIS: Absolutely.

NGUYEN: OK, thank you, Tony.

When one family member suffers, everyone feels the pain. That's the philosophy of the Army's "Band of Brothers". That's the story of soldiers Kyle Eggers and Todd Gibbs, both killed in Iraq. The wife of their unit's commanding officer has their story. That is tomorrow morning right here on CNN SUNDAY. She will talk about the challenges facing families left behind when a soldier is killed in action.

And, the fashion police get ready for the biggest party in Hollywood. Oh, who cares about the awards? It's all about who's wearing who at the Golden Globes. That is live tomorrow morning on CNN SUNDAY, 9:00 a.m. Eastern. BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I just have a, you just put me under the spot here. (END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Put on the spot a few times. So, does President Bush have any regrets when he looks back at his first term? Find out next on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: But first, a CNN extra. Apple Computer this past Tuesday unveiled two cheaper, smaller versions of its popular iPod digital music player. The $99 iPod Shuffle has 512 megabytes of memory and holds up to 120 songs. Now, for $50 more, the one gig version holds 240 songs.

Also from Mac, a new 40 or 80 gig mini-desktop with no monitor, no keyboard or mouse, but the price is $499. It's the lowest priced Mac ever on the market.

And the number of U.S. households with computers jumped over the 60 percent mark back in October 2003. and according to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nearly 55 percent of the U.S. population has a home Internet access.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, good morning, Portland. The sun hasn't come up there just yet, as we take a live look from our affiliate, KPTV. There in Portland, we'll have your weather forecast in about 10 minutes.

But in the meantime, U.S. skating championships are underway this week. Last night, spectators in the Rose Garden witnessed perfection itself.

HARRIS: Wow!

NGUYEN: A string of straight 6.0s for the artistic merit and the dynamic duo, Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Augusto. No other skater in U.S. history has done it before. Belbin and Augusto are now two time U.S. champs in ice dance. And Michelle Kwan and Sasha Cohen go head to head for the national title. That happens tonight.

He likes to speak his mind. But should President Bush pay more mind to what he says? The president himself admits there were times when he wished he had.

Our Elaine Quijano has more from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Not to follow the past...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's joked about his plainspokenness many times, and even made it a part of his stump speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Sometimes I am a little too blunt. I get that from my mother.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, President Bush, who last year struggled to name a mistake he'd made...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: I just haven't -- you just put me under the spot here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: ... says he can think of two times he wished he would have chosen his words more carefully -- once when he discussed insurgents in Iraq, just months after the U.S.-led invasion of that country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: There are some who feel like that, you know, the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is bring 'em on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: In an interview airing tonight on ABC's "20/20," Mr. Bush expressed second thoughts about that statement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "20/20, ABC)

BUSH: When I, I said some things in the first term that were probably a little blunt. "Bring it on" was a little blunt. And I was really speaking to the -- to our troops. But it came out, and it had a different connotation, a different meaning for others. And so I've got to -- I'll be, I'll be more disciplined in how I say things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Another time happened in the days after September 11 at the Pentagon, when Mr. Bush said this of Osama bin Laden.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: I want justice. And there's an old poster out West, as I recall, that said, "Wanted: Dead Or Alive."

QUIJANO: The president candidly admitted that phrase raised the ire of the first lady.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "20/20," ABC) BUSH: I guess it's not the most diplomatic of language. Laura, as a matter of fact, chewed me out right after that. So I, I, I, I, I do have to be cautious about, you know, conveying thoughts is, in, in, in a way, maybe, that doesn't send wrong impressions about our country.

QUIJANO (on camera): The president said he didn't know if his acknowledgement of poor word choice should be called a regret, a confession or simply a lesson. And while he expressed misgivings about the language he used, he also made clear he had no regrets about the actions he took.

Elaine Quijano, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

HARRIS: If you're in Colorado, stay off the roads if you can. We'll tell you and we'll show you -- well, there it is. What happened? And there's more of it. Jeez. The story next on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: OK, today's "Wows of the Week" begins on eBay, where one forward thinking person in Omaha is offering advertising space on his forehead. The idea of skinvertising is spreading with a lot of folks on eBay now willing to lease body surfaces to the highest bidder.

In Union, Missouri, a fast food restaurant was the prime location for a fast delivery. Mom was trying to get to the hospital but baby wouldn't wait. They don't. So she pulled into a McDonald's and gave birth beneath the golden arches. Maybe it was a sign. The baby boy's last name, McDonald.

NGUYEN: No.

HARRIS: No. I couldn't make this up.

And the Fort Worth Zoo's resident pacaderm, Picasso, auctioned off one of her paintings for tsunami relief. Rasha is an Indian elephant from Thailand who has been painting for about a decade. This piece, which she knocked off in about, oh, about five minutes, was put on eBay with a startling bid -- startling, yes it was -- a starting bid of $500. The winning bid seven days later was $7,000 for an original. $7,000.

NGUYEN: Yes, not bad for five minutes of work.

Well, check this out. In Denver, Colorado, an icy hill was no match for motorists this week. Boom! One by one they all came careening down the slope and one by one they rear ended the cars at the bottom. One driver even bailed out before impact -- here it goes right there -- which may have been a foolish thing to do because...

HARRIS: I don't know. That was pretty fast.

NGUYEN: Watch the video.

HARRIS: Yes?

NGUYEN: This lady ends up getting in the way of another sliding car. Well, that's not the right video.

HARRIS: OK.

NGUYEN: Anyway, she got away in time, thank goodness. But as we were talking to Dave a little bit earlier, Dave Hennen, that is, our weather department, not exactly a smart thing to do to just kind of jump out of a car on an icy street.

HARRIS: OK, in her defense, I think she was a little worried about the speed she was picking up as she was going into -- look at this! Look at this! That's pretty good speed.

NGUYEN: Yes, no one wants to hit another car.

HARRIS: Right. So, you know, well, that's all I can offer in defense.

NGUYEN: But if a car is coming behind you, it can be a little tricky, a little dangerous.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: Dave, you agree, don't you?

HENNEN: You know, the one question I have about that video?

HARRIS: Yes?

HENNEN: Is how come somebody is not at the top of the hill going nobody go.

NGUYEN: Stop. Yes.

HARRIS: Yes, exactly. It probably just crept up on everybody.

HENNEN: Yes, probably.

HARRIS: Yes.

HENNEN: It was icy in Denver. That snow all gone, so conditions have definitely improved through the Rockies.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: All right, let's go to our e-mail responses from you in this first hour.

The question is Iraqi elections -- do you believe that they will be free and fair?

NGUYEN: Well, Charlie writes, too, this morning, saying: "Elections in Iraq free and fair? You're kidding, right?"

HARRIS: And this from Edwin: "Considering their past, they can only go uphill. Maybe if there is stability in the elections, it will be s sign of things to come. We can only hope."

All right, here's the address, wam@cnn.com. The question once again, Iraqi elections, free and fair? Send us your responses and we'll be reading those next hour.

NGUYEN: And speaking of that next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING, it begins right now.

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