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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Unusual Weather Leads to Dangers in California; Bush Meets with European Union, NATO; Major Iraqi Party Chooses Prime Minister Candidate

Aired February 22, 2005 - 17:00 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.

WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now: tragedy in Texas. The search for a missing pregnant mother and her son comes to an end, and now police want to know why they were killed.
Guess who won't be coming to the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles? His mother, Queen Elizabeth.

And there's a new leading candidate to become the next prime minister of Iraq.

Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Floods, mud and sinkholes. Is Southern California on the edge of disaster? I'll ask Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn.

Eye on Iran.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous.

BLITZER: But the president warns all options are open.

Presidential plot? Assassination and al Qaeda figure into the charges against a one-time high school valedictorian.

Bird flu fears. Will it spread to humans and race around the world?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The potential has never been so high as it is right now.

BLITZER: Cell phone scare. The numbers stored in hers were spread across the Internet. What can you do to keep yours safe?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Tuesday, February 22, 2005.

BLITZER: Devastating and deadly weather is hitting California very hard right now. At least six people have been killed, and more severe weather is expected.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Severe weather, battering southern California for the sixth day in a row. This water spout, a tornado at sea, off the coast of Santa Monica, one of many dramatic scenes.

Across the region, near-record rain has saturated the ground, causing hillsides to give way, like this one in Newhall, northwest of Los Angeles. Another slide in Highland Park, leaving these homes in a precarious position. The buildings now red tagged deemed unsafe. Their owners, forced to evacuate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yesterday afternoon was the strongest rain I've ever seen in 50 years here in Southern California. And we've never seen this amount of rain in a month or six weeks. It's -- it's amazing.

BLITZER: In the wealthy Bel Air neighborhood, one hillside home lost its backyard, pool and all tumbling into the home below.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The patio had separated from the pool deck. And then all of a sudden it just all went down. But I never -- I didn't see it go down. But when I looked out, it was gone, the whole -- the whole backyard, and the pool.

CAPT. GREG GIBSON, LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT: It went through the back of one house, and out through the front of it with the mudslide, because it was -- it had about 20,000 or 30,000 gallons of water with the mudslide, which just increased the flow of the mud.

BLITZER: Since last week, mudslides have killed at least two people. And an L.A. city engineer died assessing this sinkhole in a San Fernando Valley, which continues to grow.

Floodwaters blocked other roads and highways, making it even harder to get around the region than normal.

Almost 33 inches of rain has fallen this season, the fourth wettest on record. And it isn't over yet.

Northern California, also battered by unusual weather. Funnel clouds were spotted over Sacramento. And at least two tornadoes touched down, causing damage, but no injuries in several neighborhoods.

And in the Sierra, more than two feet of new Snow, bringing fresh danger to back country skiers. A Nevada woman died in a weekend avalanche near Lake Tahoe, despite being with a guided group, and having all the right equipment.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Joining us now with his assessment of the storm's impact on his city, the Los Angeles mayor, James Hahn.

Mr. Mayor, thanks for joining us. How big of a deal is this for L.A.?

MAYOR JAMES HAHN, LOS ANGELES: Very big. As you've heard, nobody has seen this kind of rainfall in Los Angeles in their lifetime, especially in such a short period of time. We've had over seven inches of rain in this last storm, which has been going on for about six days. That's almost equivalent to the total annual rainfall we had the year before.

So, the ground just can't handle any more water. And as you're seeing, people have these beautiful hillside homes with wonderful views are seeing these homes slip down. The two homes you showed in Highland Park we're probably going to lose those. We've also red- tagged two homes that are below those homes and asked those owners to evacuate, as well.

We just are hoping for this rain to stop.

BLITZER: Why do you keep allowing these homes to be built on what are clearly very dangerous, precarious locations?

HAHN: Well, you know, we just usually don't have this kind of rain. A lot of these homes have been there for, you know, 50, 60 years. You know, we see trees that are 100 years old that are toppling in this storm. This is just such an unusual event.

You know, people know there's a risk. You know, if they have private property, they have the right to develop that property. But, this is so unusual that I think we're going to rethink, though, allowing people to rebuild in some of these areas that have been so hurt by these storms. They've really changed the whole geology of some of these hillsides, and it may not be possible to rebuild.

BLITZER: Because I've been to that area. These are multimillion-dollar homes, a lot of them in Bel Air and elsewhere in the Los Angeles County area, and in the L.A. area. Are you taking steps right now to already sort of condemn some of these places where people are living, fearing the worst?

HAHN: Well, when the building safety inspectors go out and look at the properties, they will issue a red tag, which means that the property is unsafe for habitation and to ask the occupants to evacuate it if they believe the structure is unsafe to be in.

And so we've red-tagged about 30 buildings just in this last storm, and those occupants are not allowed to be in their residences. So they have been, in effect, told that they're not going to be able to return until those buildings are repaired.

And most of those are private residences. Again, they have magnificent views up on the hillsides. But if you're on a hillside and your hillside is washing away below you, you're going to lose more than just your swimming pool, as you saw. You can lose the whole home.

BLITZER: I assume that all these residents have insurance to cover the -- the rebuilding of the home or moving to another place? HAHN: That's not the case. That's why I think most insurance policies don't cover landslide damage, or flood damage. And so that's why I've asked the governor, Governor Schwarzenegger, to declare us, again, an area of local emergency, a disaster area so that we could forward that request to the president.

He declared Los Angeles County and surrounding counties a disaster area last time. But that's a time specific declaration. And so we want to renew that.

So I spoke, wrote a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger today, saying we need -- we need a new declaration. Because that's the only way you get help for people.

Because insurance isn't going to cover this. But when you get that declaration of disaster area, then FEMA funds come. If you have a business, SBA loans come. But I think most people are going to find their insurance policies are not going to cover this kind of damage.

BLITZER: Well, good luck to you, Mr. Mayor. Good luck to all the residents in Southern California. Appreciate you joining us.

HAHN: Yes. We're hoping the rain stops.

BLITZER: I hope so, too. Thank you very much.

President Bush, meanwhile is making his way around Europe, trying to win back some friends and patch up differences over Iraq. But will new disagreements rip the relationship apart once again?

Let's go live to our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux. She's traveling with the president in Brussels -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, for the last two years European leaders have complained that their concerns have gone largely ignored, their institutions denigrated.

Today President Bush called his European trip "the listening tour," a message to Europe that it matters.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): Day two of President Bush's European charm offensive proves his diplomacy is paying off. Emerging from back-to-back summits with NATO and the European Union, President Bush walked away about what he'd been working for: renewed friendly relations with his European counterparts....

JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER, NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL: There is a lot more we agree upon, and that is the bottom line.

MALVEAUX: ... and additional support to train Iraqi troops, a critical first step to the U.S. exit strategy.

All 26 NATO members pledged to contribute to the training mission in some way, from Poland's deployment of 40 troops to Iraq, to France's commitment of one officer who will help coordinate the mission out of Brussels.

Despite the modest contributions from some members, Mr. Bush rejected the notion that NATO's effort was merely symbolic.

BUSH: Every contribution matters. And every country ought to be -- ought to be proud of the fact that they're contributing to the world's newest democracy.

MALVEAUX: Mr. Bush underscored his pro-democracy message by making appearances with several important allies: the new democratically elected Ukrainian leader Viktor Yushchenko and Mr. Bush's Iraq war proponents from Italy and Britain.

On this high profile day of diplomacy, at times the leaders' remarks seemed to border on hyperbole.

BUSH: After all, NATO is the most successful alliance in the history of the world.

SCHEFFER: It was an excellent summit. It was an excellent idea of the president to come here.

MALVEAUX: But towards the end of the day the flowery language seemed to wear thin.

BUSH: Your question kind of made it sound like he finally showed up and met.

MALVEAUX: And it was clear that there were differences in how the U.S. and Europe perceive their approaches to potential threats.

BUSH: This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. Having said that, all options are on the table.

MALVEAUX: Significant policy disagreements between the U.S. and Europe still remain, one being the Bush administration's concern over the European Union's intention to lift the arms embargo on China.

BUSH: There is deep concern in our country that a transfer of weapons would be a transfer of technology to China, which would change the balance of relations IN -- between China and Taiwan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Now President Bush leaves Brussels with largely symbolic gestures of support. But according to one European Union official, sometimes symbolism is substance -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Do you get the sense, Suzanne that he's making inroads, though? The charm offensive, is it working among Europeans?

MALVEAUX: Well, certainly if you listen to what they're saying publicly, they feel that it is working. They feel that he is sincere in moving forward. Privately, as well, they say that they want to put the past behind them. A couple of things that have happened that make them realize they need and have to work with this president: the fact that he won his re-election, the fact that Iraqi elections were so successful, and also the fact that his party, of course, controls both houses back in the United States -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Suzanne Malveaux in Brussels. Thanks, Suzanne, very much.

To our viewers, here's your chance to weigh in on this story. Our Web question of the day is this: will diplomacy persuade Iran to halt its nuclear program? You can vote right now. Go to CNN.com/Wolf. We'll have the results for you later in this broadcast.

One step closer to naming a new prime minister in Iraq. The most powerful party announces its top candidate.

Plus, new developments and an arrest in the case of a slain pregnant woman and her 7-year-old son.

One of the world's biggest health threats named and fresh warnings that health officials may not have the tools they need to fight it. I'll speak about it with the head of the CDC, Dr. Julie Gerberding.

Also ahead...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are hundreds of thousands of people who do nothing but try to hack into phone company systems.

BLITZER: ... fresh concerns. The phone numbers and the e-mail messages you saved on your cell phone may not necessarily be safe from hackers. How to protect your privacy. Information you need in today's "Security Watch." Our Mary Snow standing by with that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Is Iraq getting closer to getting a new leader? The Shiite-led coalition that won last month's election has picked Ibrahim al-Jaafari as its candidate for prime minister. That makes him the hands-down favorite, but the bargaining may not necessarily be over.

Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, has the story from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Presenting a picture of unity, there was little to hint among the religious United Iraqi Alliance's politicians that they'd had weeks of tough talks to get to this point, ready to announce their nomination for prime minister.

Ahmed Chalabi, the challenger, once a favorite of the U.S., appearing comfortable he didn't get the job. AHMED CHALABI, UNITED IRAQI ALLIANCE: We decided that unity is more important than winning. And we proceeded in this direction, and I think it's a great result for Iraq and for the allies.

ROBERTSON: Although no details were given of why Jaafari was the preferred candidate, his political track record, while in exile in London and Iran, according to some politicians, at least, indicates a quiet moderate, capable of unifying disparate elements, a quality many Iraqis see as critical if the country's to avoid civil war.

IBRAHIM AL-JAAFARI, UNITED IRAQI ALLIANCE (through translator): We would be very happy if our Sunni brothers would take one of the leading positions in the government.

ROBERTSON: Jaafari's nomination, though, still requires the backing of the more secular Kurdish Alliance, who want, among other things, guarantees on autonomy, and a clear definition of the role of religion in society.

HOSHYAR ZEBARI, KURDISH ALLIANCE: We can influence many decisions of this government before the formation of the package. OK? After that, it would be far more difficult.

ROBERTSON: One way for the Kurds to exercise their influence would be to come up with another nominee for prime minister. To be successful, they'd need to count on divisions inside the United Iraqi Alliance.

Ayad Allawi, the interim prime minister, put his name back in the ring. It may have been that that helped spur the UIA to their decision.

ADEL ABDUL MAHDI, UNITED IRAQI ALLIANCE: We have our candidate for the prime minister, and of course, from their part, from some reporters, I think starting from tomorrow we will start negotiations in more cities and places than done up to now.

ROBERTSON: What will likely make the back room wheeling and dealing more interesting for the top politicians involved is that pretty much they all knew each other in exile. It doesn't rule out any surprises and certainly could make for some very protracted brinkmanship.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And there's news just coming in to CNN, a truly shocking development. For the first time, the Pentagon now says publicly there's an investigation into whether a U.S. soldier raped a female Iraqi prisoner. Our Jamie McIntyre is looking into the story. He's standing by. He's going to be joining us live with details. That's coming up.

Also ahead, a cruel ending to the search for a missing Texas mother and her young son. And a new reminder of a shocking statistic involving pregnant women and murder.

Plus, there's also a new development in the Terri Schiavo case. A Florida appeals court decides whether the brain-damaged woman's feeding tube can now be removed.

And guess who's not attending the marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles? A surprise announcement from Buckingham Palace made just a few moments ago. We'll have details.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: There's a major break in the case of that missing Texas woman and her 7-year-old son. It came shortly after the woman's former boyfriend was arrested and charged with murder.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Police say they recovered what appeared to be the bodies of Lisa Underwood and her 7-year-old son, Jayden, in a wooded area near Denton, Texas, about 30 miles from their Fort Worth home.

LT. GENE JONES, FORT WORTH POLICE: We know that the grave contains the bodies of a female and a male consistent with the ages of Lisa Underwood and her son, Jayden.

BLITZER: Underwood's Dodge Durango was found nose down in a nearby creek on Monday. The discovery of the bodies occurred within hours of an arrest in the case.

Thirty-seven-year-old Stephen Barbee of Fort Worth is charged with capital murder, and bond is set at $2 million. An affidavit supporting an arrest warrant says Barbee admitted suffocating Underwood and her son.

JONES: We know that Mr. Barbee and Miss Underwood were, at one time, romantically involved. I can't tell you what their relationship is, what their most current relationship status was.

BLITZER: Underwood was seven months pregnant, and the affidavit alleges that Barbee was the father of her unborn child.

To many observers, the Underwood case is reviving memories of crimes involving other expectant mothers.

In California, Scott Peterson was convicted late last year of killing his pregnant wife, Laci. In Utah, Mark Hacking is accused of killing his pregnant wife, Lori. In Missouri, Bobbi Jo Stinnett was strangled and her fetus was torn from her body, allegedly by a woman who wanted the claim the fetus for her own.

And earlier this month in Kentucky, Sarah Brady fought off a woman who may have been trying to steal her unborn baby.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: A study conducted in Maryland and published in the Journal of American -- the "Journal of the American Medical Association" four years ago identified murder as the leading cause of death among pregnant women.

Alleged terror ties and a possible plan to kill the president of the United States. An American citizen charged today in and alleged plot to assassinate President Bush.

Health warnings. What the CDC says is a prominent threat right now.

Cell phone security. Paris Hilton was apparently hacked. Are you also vulnerable? You can find out how to protect yourself in our "Security Watch." That's coming up shortly.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

An American citizen charged with involvement in a possible plot to assassinate President Bush. We'll get to details in a moment. First, though, a quick check of some other stories now in the news.

The death toll from a major earthquake in central Iran is at least 400, and it's expected to climb. The quake, with a magnitude of 6.4, shook several dozen remote villages. It was centered about 125 miles east of Bam, where a stronger earthquake killed thousands just over a year ago.

In Santa Maria, California, jury selection has resumed in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial. The process was put on hold one week ago when the pop star was rushed to a hospital with a flu.

The dramatic and lengthy battle centered around Terri Schiavo goes on in Florida. Today an appeals court cleared the way for the severely brain damaged woman's husband to remove her feeding tube. But a judge promptly blocked the removal, issuing an emergency stay. Schiavo's parents are fighting to prevent the tube's removal. A hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.

We're just learning that the Pentagon is now investigating allegations that a U.S. soldier raped an Iraqi prisoner.

Our military affairs correspondent, Jamie McIntyre, standing by with details.

Jamie, what do we know?

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the Pentagon is acknowledging for the first time that the U.S. Army is investigating an allegation that a U.S. soldier raped a female Iraqi prisoner. But they didn't give any time for when this incident took place.

They also acknowledge that a second investigation of a rape allegation by U.S. military personnel was closed, after insufficient evidence was found to substantiate the charge.

These acknowledgments come a week after Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, testifying on Capitol Hill, was asked pointed questions by members of Congress about whether any Iraqi women had been abused or raped by U.S. military personnel.

Rumsfeld told the Senate Appropriation Committee on Wednesday he would -- didn't know but he would get an answer.

Today, in response to a request by CNN, the Pentagon provided only a brief description of several cases involving alleged abuse of women detainees in Iraq, said all of the investigations are under -- are being fully investigated. All of the allegations are being fully investigated. It includes several cases where women were forced to expose themselves to U.S. military personnel that involved no contact and several cases in which it was alleged that there was a rape, including one homosexual rape allegedly committed by a U.S. contractor. That's being investigated by the Justice Department -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Are they saying anything about these photos that are circulating on the Internet, on the Web out there, Jamie?

MCINTYRE: Well, there have been photographs that have been circulating on the Internet that purport to show U.S. military personnel raping women.

But an investigation of those photographs shows that they've been around for quite a long time. They are essentially fakes. They came there various important pornographic Web sites. They're made to look like U.S. military personnel, but in fact they're staged and they don't actually show, according to what we can determine, an actual incident that took place in Iraq.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre with the latest on that front -- Jamie, thank you very much.

He was valedictorian of his high school, an Islamic academy in Virginia. Now, after more than a year and a half in Saudi detention, this American citizen is back in Virginia, charged with a very serious crime relating to terrorism.

Let's turn to our justice correspondent Kelli Arena.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: The government says Ahmed Omar Abu Ali conspired to assassinate President Bush, that he supported al Qaeda, and that he was willing to set up a terror cell right here in the United States. He remains in custody in Northern Virginia. Abu Ali's parents say the government is lying to save embarrassment.

OMAR ABU ALI, FATHER: I would like to say that the government, they lied to us from the first day. They told this court that this is a Saudi case. And we have nothing do with this case. Now they are cooking -- they cooked new things. They changed the story about Ahmed.

ARENA: Abu Ali was held in Saudi Arabia without being charged for 20 months. He is a U.S. citizen, born in Texas.

His family says he was held at the request of the United States and sued the U.S. government on behalf of their son. U.S. government officials have insisted the Saudis had their own interest in Abu Ali, having to do with the bombings in Riyadh in May of 2003.

Abu Ali claims he was tortured by the Saudis and that he has the scars on his back to prove it. He was told to present that evidence on Thursday at a detention hearing. The judge assured him he would not suffer any torture or humiliation while in U.S. custody.

In the indictment against him, Abu Ali is charged with discussing two scenarios to assassinate President Bush, one in which he would get close enough to the president to shoot him on the street and another in which Abu Ali would detonate a car bomb. All the evidence against him remains under seal, the indictment just the bare bones of what the government knows.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The Saudi Embassy here in Washington denies the allegations of torture leveled by the attorney for Ahmed Abu Ali.

Spokesman Nail Al-Jubeir tells CNN -- I'm quoting now -- "Mr. Abu Ali had access to U.S. consular visits on a regular basis and at no time were the Saudi authorities informed by the U.S. Embassy that Mr. Abu Ali was being mistreated." Al-Jubeir goes on to say that Abu Ali's family declined a Saudi government offer to visit him in custody. And he adds -- and I'm quoting now -- "There was no mistreatment of Mr. Abu Ali."

It's one of the world's health -- it's one of the words health officials fear most, pandemic, a disease spreading over a wide area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population. With the reemergence of the so-called avian, or bird flu, there's concern it could be the world's next great pandemic.

CNN's Brian Todd is here. He talked to experts, joining us with a reality check -- Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, experts from the World Health Organization to the Centers for Disease Control are all sounding alarms about avian flu, and they're focusing on one specific region.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD (voice-over): After three flu pandemics in the last century, many experts agree the world is due for another. And top health officials have new concerns about a potentially devastating strain in Asia. DR. KLAUS STOHR, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: Avian influence in Asia poses a very significant public health threat. The disease is prevalent in several countries. It has never been so widespread to any -- in any time during the last century.

TODD: Officials at the World Health Organization, which works firsthand with victims in Asia, say the so-called bird flu was identified in 10 countries last year and is now present in four, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia.

The WHO says more than 50 people have been infected. More than 40 have died. But thousands more have been exposed to this strain. And while the head of the Centers For Disease Control agrees we're not on the brink of a flu pandemic:

DR. JULIE GERBERDING, DIRECTOR, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL: We are, however, very concerned about avian flu in Asia. There are more pigs, people and poultry in that environment than we've ever seen before. That is the formula for emergence of new flu strains.

TODD: CDC officials say this is an airborne disease like other flu strains. In Asia, farmers and others have gotten it from animals' nose and throat secretions. Experts are worried that it could go through a deadly genetic evolution.

STOHR: It's what's in it, namely that this virus can change, can mutate, and then acquire the capacity for rapid, sustained, permanent human-to-human transmission without the animal reservoir. That virus would travel around the world in less than six to eight months.

TODD: That's due to more widespread air travel. Most humans who've gotten this flu have died from it. And at the moment, there is no vaccine. Other experts emphasize, the threat is not so urgent.

DR. DANIEL BLUMENTHAL, MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: I have to say that I think it's too soon to panic. I think that avian flu has been with us for a long time. Very recently, we've noticed that it can jump occasionally from birds to people and even more rarely from one person to another. But, so far, there's no evidence of an epidemic.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: And officials at CDC and the World Health Organization say they're keeping their eye on the ball, sending teams of experts all over Asia to surveil this flu strain and ordering clinical trials for vaccines to protect against it -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Brian Todd, thanks very much.

You heard from the head of the CDC, Dr. Julie Gerberding, in Brian's report.

I spoke with her just a little bit -- a little while ago about the avian flu and the threat it poses.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Dr. Gerberding, thanks very much for joining us.

First, the general question, how worried should we be?

GERBERDING: Well, I think we're in a situation right now where it would not be an imminent problem to see avian flu emerge. But all of the ingredients that could create a more serious human-to-human spread are in place.

So it's really my job and the CDC's job to be worried about that possibility. Most people only need to be concerned if they're traveling in the region. And, in that case, they should be advised to stay away from poultry and the poultry markets.

BLITZER: So, if they're traveling to where? What part of the world should they stay away from poultry?

GERBERDING: The main area where the birds are infected is Western Asia. We're aware of human-to-human -- or, excuse me, bird- to-human cases in Vietnam and also the potential for that to emerge in most of the other rim countries in that region.

But, wherever the birds are, it's possible that the virus can spread. So, we're just sending general commonsense advice about staying away from the fresh markets and from live poultry.

BLITZER: How would the avian flu get to the United States?

GERBERDING: Well, there are several possibilities. But I think the one that we're most concerned about is this possibility that the virus could evolve to become more efficiently transmitted from one person to another.

And, if that occurred, then it would move in the same way that regular flu moves. The way to avoid that is, of course, to detect the first cases of flu emerging and to use the public health measures, as well as the antivirals and the vaccines that we will have available, to contain it there, before it moves beyond the borders.

BLITZER: Who do you suspect would be the first victims, God forbid, if this came to the U.S., people in cities or in rural areas?

GERBERDING: Again, it's very difficult to predict. We know how unpredictable flu can be, even in regular seasons. But I think the most concern would be among travelers who are returning from the infected area, maybe the pattern that we saw with SARS.

And that's why, again, we're focusing so much on early detection and containment, so that we don't end up with a travel-related illness, the way we did with the SARS corona virus.

BLITZER: When you say containment, do you mean quarantine?

GERBERDING: Well, the kinds of measures that would be required really depend on the local circumstances. If we began to see a step- up in cases among people, suggesting the virus was moving more readily from birds to people, or if we saw clusters where clearly one person was sending it to another person, and then that person was infecting a third person, that would be an indication for isolation and then quarantining the people who'd had contact with that.

We would use a model just like we used with SARS.

BLITZER: So is there -- does the CDC, do you have a plan in place for a pandemic right now?

GERBERDING: Actually, the whole Department of Health and Human Services has a pandemic flu plan. Each of the involved agencies has a specific role to play. And our role is mainly in the detection and the science of the virus per se, as well as making sure that we do everything possible to reduce the harm if anyone is exposed or if the problem emerges.

But we have a number of scenarios in that plan, so that we can scale up our response depending on the nature of the circumstances. We hope we'll never use this plan, but we want to be prepared just in case.

BLITZER: There are stories in the papers today quoting you as suggesting that this bird flu, that this bird flu could -- if it were to mutate into a human form, it could kill millions of people, as earlier pandemics have happened. Is that exaggerated or is that true?

GERBERDING: Well, I think the possibility of that happening is real. It's happened at least 30 times in the history of human beings and three times in the last century.

Right now, in Asia, we have many of the requirements that would allow that kind of process to be facilitated. But, at the same time, flu is a very unpredictable virus. And we have no evidence right now that that has happened or that it's going to happen soon or that it will ever happen.

Our situation is to take it very seriously, to do anything we can to be prepared, but not to alarm the public or anticipate that people need to be doing anything differently today than they did yesterday.

BLITZER: Dr. Gerberding, thanks for explaining all this to us. It is pretty alarming, but you give it some perspective.

GERBERDING: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Royal wedding no-show, why the queen will not be attending the marriage ceremony of her son, Prince Charles, and Camilla Parker Bowles. We'll go to London.

Securing your cell phone, how to protect the private phone numbers you have and the information you've saved on your mobile phone and BlackBerry. Our Mary Snow has been investigating.

Plus, showcasing her own charm. The first lady, Laura Bush, visits U.S. troops in Germany.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: There's late word from Buckingham Palace about who will attend the controversial wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles and one very important person who will not.

CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney is in London. She has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A statement from Buckingham Palace in London late Tuesday evening said that Queen Elizabeth II would not be attending the civil marriage of her son, Prince Charles, to his longtime lover Camilla Parker Bowles on April the 8th.

However, the statement went on to say that she would be attending a ceremony of dedication afterwards at Windsor Castle. Indeed, she was looking forward to it. However, there are those who say that, as head of the Church of England, Queen Elizabeth would perhaps be uncomfortable, at least in the public eye, attending the marriage of her son, a divorcee, to another woman, a divorcee, with the memory of the marriage to Diana, princess of Wales, still very firmly in the British public mind.

This civil ceremony will be breaking new ground. Never before has a British royal marriage taken place in a civil ceremony. And there will doubtless be countless speculation in the British tabloids on Wednesday.

Fionnuala Sweeney, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: For more on this development, we're joined from London by Charles Mosley. He's editor and chief of "Debrett's." That's best known for its reference books on Britain's royal and noble families.

Mr. Mosley, thanks very much for joining us.

Is this a huge surprise?

CHARLES MOSLEY, EDITOR IN CHIEF, "DEBRETT'S": Yes, I think it is, particularly in the timing.

After all, we always knew it was going to be a civil ceremony and originally it was going to be held in Windsor Castle, the queen's own residence. So, presumably, she was originally happy to attend it. Otherwise, we would have been informed otherwise. Now we've been told almost two weeks after the original announcement that she's not attending the ceremony in the Guildhall.

And I think that is the significance. It is that it is in the Guildhall, outside the precincts of Windsor Castle, in the town of Windsor, which I know well because I used to live near there. And the fact of the matter is that it does lend itself to all kinds of possibilities. I don't think it's so much a security problem as the possibility of a demonstration, which might be embarrassing to the queen.

BLITZER: Will Prince Charles be angry at his mother?

MOSLEY: We know that he and his mother have had their differences in the past. But he tends to be angry with people below him in rank, not perhaps with people above him, as she is.

BLITZER: Charles Mosley, thanks very much for joining us. We'll watch the wedding together with the rest of the world.

When we come back, "Security Watch." Your cell phone is in your pocket, but is it safe from hackers? What you need to know to keep your privacy private. That will come up when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: We'll get to our CNN "Security Watch" in a moment.

First, though, a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Sinn Fein's alleged involvement in a Belfast bank robbery is drawing a tough response. Last year, Britain suspended all parliamentary financial allowances for Sinn Fein members in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Now the penalties are being extended. And they could be expanded to cover Sinn Fein members in the British parliament. Sinn Fein is Northern Ireland's main Catholic party. Its allies in the Irish Republican Army are blamed for stealing a world record $50 million in the December robbery.

The U.S.-led coalition in Iraq is getting some help. Australia will send almost 500 more troops to Iraq, bringing its total to 1,400. The additional troops will replace Dutch forces leaving next month.

In Germany, some American troops had a special visitor today, Laura Bush. A day before President Bush arrives in Germany, the first lady visited Ramstein Air Base.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: In our CNN "Security Watch," millions of us have them, but few thought about cell phone security until a recent highly publicized incident involving Paris Hilton. Her cell phone was apparently hacked. And yours probably could be, too. What can you do about that?

CNN's Mary Snow standing by in New York with the story -- Mary.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the technology may be advanced, but security experts say you have to rely on old-fashioned common sense when it comes to your wireless device. As Paris Hilton found out, more than just phone numbers could be exposed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW (voice-over): It's not the kind of reality show Paris Hilton is used to, her cell phone numbers, explicit photos and personal messages stealing the limelight and shared on the Internet. While your cell phone may be tame compared to Hilton's, security experts say everyone should be on guard for phone hackers.

MARK RASCH, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, SOLUTIONARY: There are hundreds of thousands of people who do nothing but try to hack into phone company systems, hack into cell phone systems.

SNOW: And industry watchers say those phone systems and your phone need to be secured like personal computers.

NICK MAGLIATO, CEO, TRUST DIGITAL: I've seen everything from patient records to be stored on these phones for individual doctors that visit hospitals, to small business people having their billing systems built over the phones.

SNOW: In Hilton's case, her spokeswoman says she had a T-Mobile Sidekick 2, a personal electronic device that can do things like send messages and take photos. T-Mobile says it's aware of the situation and fully investigating it.

The company also says it's possible someone may have known Hilton's password or had access to the device. Private investigators like Robert Strang, though, say protection mainly falls on the consumer's shoulders.

ROBERT STRANG, CEO, INVESTIGATIVE MANAGEMENT GROUP: Making sure you cover your tracks, backtracking, remembering what you had on your BlackBerry, what you had in your phone, and covering the bases yourself. You're on your own.

SNOW: But there are some things you can do.

RASCH: The best thing to do is hold your provider's feet to the fire. And when you find out about things like this, ask your provider what they're doing, and then vote with your feet. Go to a provider that guarantees a certain level of security.

SNOW: Security experts also suggest encryption software, which can make your information unreadable to others. This is especially important, they say, as Mobile phones grow in use.

And, for instance, they can be used to buy rail tickets. T- Mobile offers some simple tips, such as using a complex password with upper and lowercase letters and numbers and changing the password often.

(END VIDEOTAPE) SNOW: Now, just last week, a 22-year-old hacker pled guilty to infiltrating T-Mobile's system. Court documents also suggest that he may have even accessed Secret Service documents. That case, like this one, the Secret Service is also investigating this, because it does investigate computer fraud cases -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Mary Snow with an excellent report, very useful information for almost all of our viewers. Thanks very much.

And to our viewers, please stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

We'll have the results of our Web question of the day. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in on our Web question of the day. Remember, though, it's not a scientific poll.

Barry Bonds, the slugger from the San Francisco Giants, just moments ago has been speaking out about the steroid controversy in baseball.

CNN's Matt Morrison joining us now live with details. What did he say, Matt?

MATT MORRISON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, he was very impassioned, as he was defensive in front of the media as he met the team -- met the media at the team's spring training complex.

He was critical of the media. He was also defensive in terms of his critics, not the least of which is Jose Canseco.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARRY BONDS, SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: I was better than Jose then and I've been better than Jose his whole career. So, I don't have -- I don't have anything to talk about Jose.

If he wants to make money, go make money, though. But, you know, you had the bash boys. You had one of the best lineups in baseball that I -- second to some of the Yankees lineups or you can go on. And, you know, for somebody who brags about what he did, I don't see any of your records.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORRISON: Wolf, Bonds' comments also included very impassioned comments about Babe Ruth, the subject of race, etcetera. And we're going to be hearing more about this as we go through spring training -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Matt Morrison, thanks very much.

That's it for me. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts 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

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 February 22, 2005 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now: tragedy in Texas. The search for a missing pregnant mother and her son comes to an end, and now police want to know why they were killed.
Guess who won't be coming to the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles? His mother, Queen Elizabeth.

And there's a new leading candidate to become the next prime minister of Iraq.

Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Floods, mud and sinkholes. Is Southern California on the edge of disaster? I'll ask Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn.

Eye on Iran.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous.

BLITZER: But the president warns all options are open.

Presidential plot? Assassination and al Qaeda figure into the charges against a one-time high school valedictorian.

Bird flu fears. Will it spread to humans and race around the world?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The potential has never been so high as it is right now.

BLITZER: Cell phone scare. The numbers stored in hers were spread across the Internet. What can you do to keep yours safe?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Tuesday, February 22, 2005.

BLITZER: Devastating and deadly weather is hitting California very hard right now. At least six people have been killed, and more severe weather is expected.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Severe weather, battering southern California for the sixth day in a row. This water spout, a tornado at sea, off the coast of Santa Monica, one of many dramatic scenes.

Across the region, near-record rain has saturated the ground, causing hillsides to give way, like this one in Newhall, northwest of Los Angeles. Another slide in Highland Park, leaving these homes in a precarious position. The buildings now red tagged deemed unsafe. Their owners, forced to evacuate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yesterday afternoon was the strongest rain I've ever seen in 50 years here in Southern California. And we've never seen this amount of rain in a month or six weeks. It's -- it's amazing.

BLITZER: In the wealthy Bel Air neighborhood, one hillside home lost its backyard, pool and all tumbling into the home below.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The patio had separated from the pool deck. And then all of a sudden it just all went down. But I never -- I didn't see it go down. But when I looked out, it was gone, the whole -- the whole backyard, and the pool.

CAPT. GREG GIBSON, LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT: It went through the back of one house, and out through the front of it with the mudslide, because it was -- it had about 20,000 or 30,000 gallons of water with the mudslide, which just increased the flow of the mud.

BLITZER: Since last week, mudslides have killed at least two people. And an L.A. city engineer died assessing this sinkhole in a San Fernando Valley, which continues to grow.

Floodwaters blocked other roads and highways, making it even harder to get around the region than normal.

Almost 33 inches of rain has fallen this season, the fourth wettest on record. And it isn't over yet.

Northern California, also battered by unusual weather. Funnel clouds were spotted over Sacramento. And at least two tornadoes touched down, causing damage, but no injuries in several neighborhoods.

And in the Sierra, more than two feet of new Snow, bringing fresh danger to back country skiers. A Nevada woman died in a weekend avalanche near Lake Tahoe, despite being with a guided group, and having all the right equipment.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Joining us now with his assessment of the storm's impact on his city, the Los Angeles mayor, James Hahn.

Mr. Mayor, thanks for joining us. How big of a deal is this for L.A.?

MAYOR JAMES HAHN, LOS ANGELES: Very big. As you've heard, nobody has seen this kind of rainfall in Los Angeles in their lifetime, especially in such a short period of time. We've had over seven inches of rain in this last storm, which has been going on for about six days. That's almost equivalent to the total annual rainfall we had the year before.

So, the ground just can't handle any more water. And as you're seeing, people have these beautiful hillside homes with wonderful views are seeing these homes slip down. The two homes you showed in Highland Park we're probably going to lose those. We've also red- tagged two homes that are below those homes and asked those owners to evacuate, as well.

We just are hoping for this rain to stop.

BLITZER: Why do you keep allowing these homes to be built on what are clearly very dangerous, precarious locations?

HAHN: Well, you know, we just usually don't have this kind of rain. A lot of these homes have been there for, you know, 50, 60 years. You know, we see trees that are 100 years old that are toppling in this storm. This is just such an unusual event.

You know, people know there's a risk. You know, if they have private property, they have the right to develop that property. But, this is so unusual that I think we're going to rethink, though, allowing people to rebuild in some of these areas that have been so hurt by these storms. They've really changed the whole geology of some of these hillsides, and it may not be possible to rebuild.

BLITZER: Because I've been to that area. These are multimillion-dollar homes, a lot of them in Bel Air and elsewhere in the Los Angeles County area, and in the L.A. area. Are you taking steps right now to already sort of condemn some of these places where people are living, fearing the worst?

HAHN: Well, when the building safety inspectors go out and look at the properties, they will issue a red tag, which means that the property is unsafe for habitation and to ask the occupants to evacuate it if they believe the structure is unsafe to be in.

And so we've red-tagged about 30 buildings just in this last storm, and those occupants are not allowed to be in their residences. So they have been, in effect, told that they're not going to be able to return until those buildings are repaired.

And most of those are private residences. Again, they have magnificent views up on the hillsides. But if you're on a hillside and your hillside is washing away below you, you're going to lose more than just your swimming pool, as you saw. You can lose the whole home.

BLITZER: I assume that all these residents have insurance to cover the -- the rebuilding of the home or moving to another place? HAHN: That's not the case. That's why I think most insurance policies don't cover landslide damage, or flood damage. And so that's why I've asked the governor, Governor Schwarzenegger, to declare us, again, an area of local emergency, a disaster area so that we could forward that request to the president.

He declared Los Angeles County and surrounding counties a disaster area last time. But that's a time specific declaration. And so we want to renew that.

So I spoke, wrote a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger today, saying we need -- we need a new declaration. Because that's the only way you get help for people.

Because insurance isn't going to cover this. But when you get that declaration of disaster area, then FEMA funds come. If you have a business, SBA loans come. But I think most people are going to find their insurance policies are not going to cover this kind of damage.

BLITZER: Well, good luck to you, Mr. Mayor. Good luck to all the residents in Southern California. Appreciate you joining us.

HAHN: Yes. We're hoping the rain stops.

BLITZER: I hope so, too. Thank you very much.

President Bush, meanwhile is making his way around Europe, trying to win back some friends and patch up differences over Iraq. But will new disagreements rip the relationship apart once again?

Let's go live to our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux. She's traveling with the president in Brussels -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, for the last two years European leaders have complained that their concerns have gone largely ignored, their institutions denigrated.

Today President Bush called his European trip "the listening tour," a message to Europe that it matters.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): Day two of President Bush's European charm offensive proves his diplomacy is paying off. Emerging from back-to-back summits with NATO and the European Union, President Bush walked away about what he'd been working for: renewed friendly relations with his European counterparts....

JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER, NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL: There is a lot more we agree upon, and that is the bottom line.

MALVEAUX: ... and additional support to train Iraqi troops, a critical first step to the U.S. exit strategy.

All 26 NATO members pledged to contribute to the training mission in some way, from Poland's deployment of 40 troops to Iraq, to France's commitment of one officer who will help coordinate the mission out of Brussels.

Despite the modest contributions from some members, Mr. Bush rejected the notion that NATO's effort was merely symbolic.

BUSH: Every contribution matters. And every country ought to be -- ought to be proud of the fact that they're contributing to the world's newest democracy.

MALVEAUX: Mr. Bush underscored his pro-democracy message by making appearances with several important allies: the new democratically elected Ukrainian leader Viktor Yushchenko and Mr. Bush's Iraq war proponents from Italy and Britain.

On this high profile day of diplomacy, at times the leaders' remarks seemed to border on hyperbole.

BUSH: After all, NATO is the most successful alliance in the history of the world.

SCHEFFER: It was an excellent summit. It was an excellent idea of the president to come here.

MALVEAUX: But towards the end of the day the flowery language seemed to wear thin.

BUSH: Your question kind of made it sound like he finally showed up and met.

MALVEAUX: And it was clear that there were differences in how the U.S. and Europe perceive their approaches to potential threats.

BUSH: This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. Having said that, all options are on the table.

MALVEAUX: Significant policy disagreements between the U.S. and Europe still remain, one being the Bush administration's concern over the European Union's intention to lift the arms embargo on China.

BUSH: There is deep concern in our country that a transfer of weapons would be a transfer of technology to China, which would change the balance of relations IN -- between China and Taiwan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Now President Bush leaves Brussels with largely symbolic gestures of support. But according to one European Union official, sometimes symbolism is substance -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Do you get the sense, Suzanne that he's making inroads, though? The charm offensive, is it working among Europeans?

MALVEAUX: Well, certainly if you listen to what they're saying publicly, they feel that it is working. They feel that he is sincere in moving forward. Privately, as well, they say that they want to put the past behind them. A couple of things that have happened that make them realize they need and have to work with this president: the fact that he won his re-election, the fact that Iraqi elections were so successful, and also the fact that his party, of course, controls both houses back in the United States -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Suzanne Malveaux in Brussels. Thanks, Suzanne, very much.

To our viewers, here's your chance to weigh in on this story. Our Web question of the day is this: will diplomacy persuade Iran to halt its nuclear program? You can vote right now. Go to CNN.com/Wolf. We'll have the results for you later in this broadcast.

One step closer to naming a new prime minister in Iraq. The most powerful party announces its top candidate.

Plus, new developments and an arrest in the case of a slain pregnant woman and her 7-year-old son.

One of the world's biggest health threats named and fresh warnings that health officials may not have the tools they need to fight it. I'll speak about it with the head of the CDC, Dr. Julie Gerberding.

Also ahead...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are hundreds of thousands of people who do nothing but try to hack into phone company systems.

BLITZER: ... fresh concerns. The phone numbers and the e-mail messages you saved on your cell phone may not necessarily be safe from hackers. How to protect your privacy. Information you need in today's "Security Watch." Our Mary Snow standing by with that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Is Iraq getting closer to getting a new leader? The Shiite-led coalition that won last month's election has picked Ibrahim al-Jaafari as its candidate for prime minister. That makes him the hands-down favorite, but the bargaining may not necessarily be over.

Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, has the story from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Presenting a picture of unity, there was little to hint among the religious United Iraqi Alliance's politicians that they'd had weeks of tough talks to get to this point, ready to announce their nomination for prime minister.

Ahmed Chalabi, the challenger, once a favorite of the U.S., appearing comfortable he didn't get the job. AHMED CHALABI, UNITED IRAQI ALLIANCE: We decided that unity is more important than winning. And we proceeded in this direction, and I think it's a great result for Iraq and for the allies.

ROBERTSON: Although no details were given of why Jaafari was the preferred candidate, his political track record, while in exile in London and Iran, according to some politicians, at least, indicates a quiet moderate, capable of unifying disparate elements, a quality many Iraqis see as critical if the country's to avoid civil war.

IBRAHIM AL-JAAFARI, UNITED IRAQI ALLIANCE (through translator): We would be very happy if our Sunni brothers would take one of the leading positions in the government.

ROBERTSON: Jaafari's nomination, though, still requires the backing of the more secular Kurdish Alliance, who want, among other things, guarantees on autonomy, and a clear definition of the role of religion in society.

HOSHYAR ZEBARI, KURDISH ALLIANCE: We can influence many decisions of this government before the formation of the package. OK? After that, it would be far more difficult.

ROBERTSON: One way for the Kurds to exercise their influence would be to come up with another nominee for prime minister. To be successful, they'd need to count on divisions inside the United Iraqi Alliance.

Ayad Allawi, the interim prime minister, put his name back in the ring. It may have been that that helped spur the UIA to their decision.

ADEL ABDUL MAHDI, UNITED IRAQI ALLIANCE: We have our candidate for the prime minister, and of course, from their part, from some reporters, I think starting from tomorrow we will start negotiations in more cities and places than done up to now.

ROBERTSON: What will likely make the back room wheeling and dealing more interesting for the top politicians involved is that pretty much they all knew each other in exile. It doesn't rule out any surprises and certainly could make for some very protracted brinkmanship.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And there's news just coming in to CNN, a truly shocking development. For the first time, the Pentagon now says publicly there's an investigation into whether a U.S. soldier raped a female Iraqi prisoner. Our Jamie McIntyre is looking into the story. He's standing by. He's going to be joining us live with details. That's coming up.

Also ahead, a cruel ending to the search for a missing Texas mother and her young son. And a new reminder of a shocking statistic involving pregnant women and murder.

Plus, there's also a new development in the Terri Schiavo case. A Florida appeals court decides whether the brain-damaged woman's feeding tube can now be removed.

And guess who's not attending the marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles? A surprise announcement from Buckingham Palace made just a few moments ago. We'll have details.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: There's a major break in the case of that missing Texas woman and her 7-year-old son. It came shortly after the woman's former boyfriend was arrested and charged with murder.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Police say they recovered what appeared to be the bodies of Lisa Underwood and her 7-year-old son, Jayden, in a wooded area near Denton, Texas, about 30 miles from their Fort Worth home.

LT. GENE JONES, FORT WORTH POLICE: We know that the grave contains the bodies of a female and a male consistent with the ages of Lisa Underwood and her son, Jayden.

BLITZER: Underwood's Dodge Durango was found nose down in a nearby creek on Monday. The discovery of the bodies occurred within hours of an arrest in the case.

Thirty-seven-year-old Stephen Barbee of Fort Worth is charged with capital murder, and bond is set at $2 million. An affidavit supporting an arrest warrant says Barbee admitted suffocating Underwood and her son.

JONES: We know that Mr. Barbee and Miss Underwood were, at one time, romantically involved. I can't tell you what their relationship is, what their most current relationship status was.

BLITZER: Underwood was seven months pregnant, and the affidavit alleges that Barbee was the father of her unborn child.

To many observers, the Underwood case is reviving memories of crimes involving other expectant mothers.

In California, Scott Peterson was convicted late last year of killing his pregnant wife, Laci. In Utah, Mark Hacking is accused of killing his pregnant wife, Lori. In Missouri, Bobbi Jo Stinnett was strangled and her fetus was torn from her body, allegedly by a woman who wanted the claim the fetus for her own.

And earlier this month in Kentucky, Sarah Brady fought off a woman who may have been trying to steal her unborn baby.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: A study conducted in Maryland and published in the Journal of American -- the "Journal of the American Medical Association" four years ago identified murder as the leading cause of death among pregnant women.

Alleged terror ties and a possible plan to kill the president of the United States. An American citizen charged today in and alleged plot to assassinate President Bush.

Health warnings. What the CDC says is a prominent threat right now.

Cell phone security. Paris Hilton was apparently hacked. Are you also vulnerable? You can find out how to protect yourself in our "Security Watch." That's coming up shortly.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

An American citizen charged with involvement in a possible plot to assassinate President Bush. We'll get to details in a moment. First, though, a quick check of some other stories now in the news.

The death toll from a major earthquake in central Iran is at least 400, and it's expected to climb. The quake, with a magnitude of 6.4, shook several dozen remote villages. It was centered about 125 miles east of Bam, where a stronger earthquake killed thousands just over a year ago.

In Santa Maria, California, jury selection has resumed in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial. The process was put on hold one week ago when the pop star was rushed to a hospital with a flu.

The dramatic and lengthy battle centered around Terri Schiavo goes on in Florida. Today an appeals court cleared the way for the severely brain damaged woman's husband to remove her feeding tube. But a judge promptly blocked the removal, issuing an emergency stay. Schiavo's parents are fighting to prevent the tube's removal. A hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.

We're just learning that the Pentagon is now investigating allegations that a U.S. soldier raped an Iraqi prisoner.

Our military affairs correspondent, Jamie McIntyre, standing by with details.

Jamie, what do we know?

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the Pentagon is acknowledging for the first time that the U.S. Army is investigating an allegation that a U.S. soldier raped a female Iraqi prisoner. But they didn't give any time for when this incident took place.

They also acknowledge that a second investigation of a rape allegation by U.S. military personnel was closed, after insufficient evidence was found to substantiate the charge.

These acknowledgments come a week after Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, testifying on Capitol Hill, was asked pointed questions by members of Congress about whether any Iraqi women had been abused or raped by U.S. military personnel.

Rumsfeld told the Senate Appropriation Committee on Wednesday he would -- didn't know but he would get an answer.

Today, in response to a request by CNN, the Pentagon provided only a brief description of several cases involving alleged abuse of women detainees in Iraq, said all of the investigations are under -- are being fully investigated. All of the allegations are being fully investigated. It includes several cases where women were forced to expose themselves to U.S. military personnel that involved no contact and several cases in which it was alleged that there was a rape, including one homosexual rape allegedly committed by a U.S. contractor. That's being investigated by the Justice Department -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Are they saying anything about these photos that are circulating on the Internet, on the Web out there, Jamie?

MCINTYRE: Well, there have been photographs that have been circulating on the Internet that purport to show U.S. military personnel raping women.

But an investigation of those photographs shows that they've been around for quite a long time. They are essentially fakes. They came there various important pornographic Web sites. They're made to look like U.S. military personnel, but in fact they're staged and they don't actually show, according to what we can determine, an actual incident that took place in Iraq.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre with the latest on that front -- Jamie, thank you very much.

He was valedictorian of his high school, an Islamic academy in Virginia. Now, after more than a year and a half in Saudi detention, this American citizen is back in Virginia, charged with a very serious crime relating to terrorism.

Let's turn to our justice correspondent Kelli Arena.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: The government says Ahmed Omar Abu Ali conspired to assassinate President Bush, that he supported al Qaeda, and that he was willing to set up a terror cell right here in the United States. He remains in custody in Northern Virginia. Abu Ali's parents say the government is lying to save embarrassment.

OMAR ABU ALI, FATHER: I would like to say that the government, they lied to us from the first day. They told this court that this is a Saudi case. And we have nothing do with this case. Now they are cooking -- they cooked new things. They changed the story about Ahmed.

ARENA: Abu Ali was held in Saudi Arabia without being charged for 20 months. He is a U.S. citizen, born in Texas.

His family says he was held at the request of the United States and sued the U.S. government on behalf of their son. U.S. government officials have insisted the Saudis had their own interest in Abu Ali, having to do with the bombings in Riyadh in May of 2003.

Abu Ali claims he was tortured by the Saudis and that he has the scars on his back to prove it. He was told to present that evidence on Thursday at a detention hearing. The judge assured him he would not suffer any torture or humiliation while in U.S. custody.

In the indictment against him, Abu Ali is charged with discussing two scenarios to assassinate President Bush, one in which he would get close enough to the president to shoot him on the street and another in which Abu Ali would detonate a car bomb. All the evidence against him remains under seal, the indictment just the bare bones of what the government knows.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The Saudi Embassy here in Washington denies the allegations of torture leveled by the attorney for Ahmed Abu Ali.

Spokesman Nail Al-Jubeir tells CNN -- I'm quoting now -- "Mr. Abu Ali had access to U.S. consular visits on a regular basis and at no time were the Saudi authorities informed by the U.S. Embassy that Mr. Abu Ali was being mistreated." Al-Jubeir goes on to say that Abu Ali's family declined a Saudi government offer to visit him in custody. And he adds -- and I'm quoting now -- "There was no mistreatment of Mr. Abu Ali."

It's one of the world's health -- it's one of the words health officials fear most, pandemic, a disease spreading over a wide area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population. With the reemergence of the so-called avian, or bird flu, there's concern it could be the world's next great pandemic.

CNN's Brian Todd is here. He talked to experts, joining us with a reality check -- Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, experts from the World Health Organization to the Centers for Disease Control are all sounding alarms about avian flu, and they're focusing on one specific region.

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TODD (voice-over): After three flu pandemics in the last century, many experts agree the world is due for another. And top health officials have new concerns about a potentially devastating strain in Asia. DR. KLAUS STOHR, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: Avian influence in Asia poses a very significant public health threat. The disease is prevalent in several countries. It has never been so widespread to any -- in any time during the last century.

TODD: Officials at the World Health Organization, which works firsthand with victims in Asia, say the so-called bird flu was identified in 10 countries last year and is now present in four, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia.

The WHO says more than 50 people have been infected. More than 40 have died. But thousands more have been exposed to this strain. And while the head of the Centers For Disease Control agrees we're not on the brink of a flu pandemic:

DR. JULIE GERBERDING, DIRECTOR, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL: We are, however, very concerned about avian flu in Asia. There are more pigs, people and poultry in that environment than we've ever seen before. That is the formula for emergence of new flu strains.

TODD: CDC officials say this is an airborne disease like other flu strains. In Asia, farmers and others have gotten it from animals' nose and throat secretions. Experts are worried that it could go through a deadly genetic evolution.

STOHR: It's what's in it, namely that this virus can change, can mutate, and then acquire the capacity for rapid, sustained, permanent human-to-human transmission without the animal reservoir. That virus would travel around the world in less than six to eight months.

TODD: That's due to more widespread air travel. Most humans who've gotten this flu have died from it. And at the moment, there is no vaccine. Other experts emphasize, the threat is not so urgent.

DR. DANIEL BLUMENTHAL, MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: I have to say that I think it's too soon to panic. I think that avian flu has been with us for a long time. Very recently, we've noticed that it can jump occasionally from birds to people and even more rarely from one person to another. But, so far, there's no evidence of an epidemic.

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TODD: And officials at CDC and the World Health Organization say they're keeping their eye on the ball, sending teams of experts all over Asia to surveil this flu strain and ordering clinical trials for vaccines to protect against it -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Brian Todd, thanks very much.

You heard from the head of the CDC, Dr. Julie Gerberding, in Brian's report.

I spoke with her just a little bit -- a little while ago about the avian flu and the threat it poses.

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BLITZER: Dr. Gerberding, thanks very much for joining us.

First, the general question, how worried should we be?

GERBERDING: Well, I think we're in a situation right now where it would not be an imminent problem to see avian flu emerge. But all of the ingredients that could create a more serious human-to-human spread are in place.

So it's really my job and the CDC's job to be worried about that possibility. Most people only need to be concerned if they're traveling in the region. And, in that case, they should be advised to stay away from poultry and the poultry markets.

BLITZER: So, if they're traveling to where? What part of the world should they stay away from poultry?

GERBERDING: The main area where the birds are infected is Western Asia. We're aware of human-to-human -- or, excuse me, bird- to-human cases in Vietnam and also the potential for that to emerge in most of the other rim countries in that region.

But, wherever the birds are, it's possible that the virus can spread. So, we're just sending general commonsense advice about staying away from the fresh markets and from live poultry.

BLITZER: How would the avian flu get to the United States?

GERBERDING: Well, there are several possibilities. But I think the one that we're most concerned about is this possibility that the virus could evolve to become more efficiently transmitted from one person to another.

And, if that occurred, then it would move in the same way that regular flu moves. The way to avoid that is, of course, to detect the first cases of flu emerging and to use the public health measures, as well as the antivirals and the vaccines that we will have available, to contain it there, before it moves beyond the borders.

BLITZER: Who do you suspect would be the first victims, God forbid, if this came to the U.S., people in cities or in rural areas?

GERBERDING: Again, it's very difficult to predict. We know how unpredictable flu can be, even in regular seasons. But I think the most concern would be among travelers who are returning from the infected area, maybe the pattern that we saw with SARS.

And that's why, again, we're focusing so much on early detection and containment, so that we don't end up with a travel-related illness, the way we did with the SARS corona virus.

BLITZER: When you say containment, do you mean quarantine?

GERBERDING: Well, the kinds of measures that would be required really depend on the local circumstances. If we began to see a step- up in cases among people, suggesting the virus was moving more readily from birds to people, or if we saw clusters where clearly one person was sending it to another person, and then that person was infecting a third person, that would be an indication for isolation and then quarantining the people who'd had contact with that.

We would use a model just like we used with SARS.

BLITZER: So is there -- does the CDC, do you have a plan in place for a pandemic right now?

GERBERDING: Actually, the whole Department of Health and Human Services has a pandemic flu plan. Each of the involved agencies has a specific role to play. And our role is mainly in the detection and the science of the virus per se, as well as making sure that we do everything possible to reduce the harm if anyone is exposed or if the problem emerges.

But we have a number of scenarios in that plan, so that we can scale up our response depending on the nature of the circumstances. We hope we'll never use this plan, but we want to be prepared just in case.

BLITZER: There are stories in the papers today quoting you as suggesting that this bird flu, that this bird flu could -- if it were to mutate into a human form, it could kill millions of people, as earlier pandemics have happened. Is that exaggerated or is that true?

GERBERDING: Well, I think the possibility of that happening is real. It's happened at least 30 times in the history of human beings and three times in the last century.

Right now, in Asia, we have many of the requirements that would allow that kind of process to be facilitated. But, at the same time, flu is a very unpredictable virus. And we have no evidence right now that that has happened or that it's going to happen soon or that it will ever happen.

Our situation is to take it very seriously, to do anything we can to be prepared, but not to alarm the public or anticipate that people need to be doing anything differently today than they did yesterday.

BLITZER: Dr. Gerberding, thanks for explaining all this to us. It is pretty alarming, but you give it some perspective.

GERBERDING: Thank you.

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BLITZER: Royal wedding no-show, why the queen will not be attending the marriage ceremony of her son, Prince Charles, and Camilla Parker Bowles. We'll go to London.

Securing your cell phone, how to protect the private phone numbers you have and the information you've saved on your mobile phone and BlackBerry. Our Mary Snow has been investigating.

Plus, showcasing her own charm. The first lady, Laura Bush, visits U.S. troops in Germany.

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BLITZER: There's late word from Buckingham Palace about who will attend the controversial wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles and one very important person who will not.

CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney is in London. She has details.

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FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A statement from Buckingham Palace in London late Tuesday evening said that Queen Elizabeth II would not be attending the civil marriage of her son, Prince Charles, to his longtime lover Camilla Parker Bowles on April the 8th.

However, the statement went on to say that she would be attending a ceremony of dedication afterwards at Windsor Castle. Indeed, she was looking forward to it. However, there are those who say that, as head of the Church of England, Queen Elizabeth would perhaps be uncomfortable, at least in the public eye, attending the marriage of her son, a divorcee, to another woman, a divorcee, with the memory of the marriage to Diana, princess of Wales, still very firmly in the British public mind.

This civil ceremony will be breaking new ground. Never before has a British royal marriage taken place in a civil ceremony. And there will doubtless be countless speculation in the British tabloids on Wednesday.

Fionnuala Sweeney, CNN, London.

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BLITZER: For more on this development, we're joined from London by Charles Mosley. He's editor and chief of "Debrett's." That's best known for its reference books on Britain's royal and noble families.

Mr. Mosley, thanks very much for joining us.

Is this a huge surprise?

CHARLES MOSLEY, EDITOR IN CHIEF, "DEBRETT'S": Yes, I think it is, particularly in the timing.

After all, we always knew it was going to be a civil ceremony and originally it was going to be held in Windsor Castle, the queen's own residence. So, presumably, she was originally happy to attend it. Otherwise, we would have been informed otherwise. Now we've been told almost two weeks after the original announcement that she's not attending the ceremony in the Guildhall.

And I think that is the significance. It is that it is in the Guildhall, outside the precincts of Windsor Castle, in the town of Windsor, which I know well because I used to live near there. And the fact of the matter is that it does lend itself to all kinds of possibilities. I don't think it's so much a security problem as the possibility of a demonstration, which might be embarrassing to the queen.

BLITZER: Will Prince Charles be angry at his mother?

MOSLEY: We know that he and his mother have had their differences in the past. But he tends to be angry with people below him in rank, not perhaps with people above him, as she is.

BLITZER: Charles Mosley, thanks very much for joining us. We'll watch the wedding together with the rest of the world.

When we come back, "Security Watch." Your cell phone is in your pocket, but is it safe from hackers? What you need to know to keep your privacy private. That will come up when we return.

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BLITZER: We'll get to our CNN "Security Watch" in a moment.

First, though, a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.

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BLITZER (voice-over): Sinn Fein's alleged involvement in a Belfast bank robbery is drawing a tough response. Last year, Britain suspended all parliamentary financial allowances for Sinn Fein members in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Now the penalties are being extended. And they could be expanded to cover Sinn Fein members in the British parliament. Sinn Fein is Northern Ireland's main Catholic party. Its allies in the Irish Republican Army are blamed for stealing a world record $50 million in the December robbery.

The U.S.-led coalition in Iraq is getting some help. Australia will send almost 500 more troops to Iraq, bringing its total to 1,400. The additional troops will replace Dutch forces leaving next month.

In Germany, some American troops had a special visitor today, Laura Bush. A day before President Bush arrives in Germany, the first lady visited Ramstein Air Base.

And that's our look around the world.

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BLITZER: In our CNN "Security Watch," millions of us have them, but few thought about cell phone security until a recent highly publicized incident involving Paris Hilton. Her cell phone was apparently hacked. And yours probably could be, too. What can you do about that?

CNN's Mary Snow standing by in New York with the story -- Mary.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the technology may be advanced, but security experts say you have to rely on old-fashioned common sense when it comes to your wireless device. As Paris Hilton found out, more than just phone numbers could be exposed.

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SNOW (voice-over): It's not the kind of reality show Paris Hilton is used to, her cell phone numbers, explicit photos and personal messages stealing the limelight and shared on the Internet. While your cell phone may be tame compared to Hilton's, security experts say everyone should be on guard for phone hackers.

MARK RASCH, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, SOLUTIONARY: There are hundreds of thousands of people who do nothing but try to hack into phone company systems, hack into cell phone systems.

SNOW: And industry watchers say those phone systems and your phone need to be secured like personal computers.

NICK MAGLIATO, CEO, TRUST DIGITAL: I've seen everything from patient records to be stored on these phones for individual doctors that visit hospitals, to small business people having their billing systems built over the phones.

SNOW: In Hilton's case, her spokeswoman says she had a T-Mobile Sidekick 2, a personal electronic device that can do things like send messages and take photos. T-Mobile says it's aware of the situation and fully investigating it.

The company also says it's possible someone may have known Hilton's password or had access to the device. Private investigators like Robert Strang, though, say protection mainly falls on the consumer's shoulders.

ROBERT STRANG, CEO, INVESTIGATIVE MANAGEMENT GROUP: Making sure you cover your tracks, backtracking, remembering what you had on your BlackBerry, what you had in your phone, and covering the bases yourself. You're on your own.

SNOW: But there are some things you can do.

RASCH: The best thing to do is hold your provider's feet to the fire. And when you find out about things like this, ask your provider what they're doing, and then vote with your feet. Go to a provider that guarantees a certain level of security.

SNOW: Security experts also suggest encryption software, which can make your information unreadable to others. This is especially important, they say, as Mobile phones grow in use.

And, for instance, they can be used to buy rail tickets. T- Mobile offers some simple tips, such as using a complex password with upper and lowercase letters and numbers and changing the password often.

(END VIDEOTAPE) SNOW: Now, just last week, a 22-year-old hacker pled guilty to infiltrating T-Mobile's system. Court documents also suggest that he may have even accessed Secret Service documents. That case, like this one, the Secret Service is also investigating this, because it does investigate computer fraud cases -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Mary Snow with an excellent report, very useful information for almost all of our viewers. Thanks very much.

And to our viewers, please stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

We'll have the results of our Web question of the day. That's coming up next.

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BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in on our Web question of the day. Remember, though, it's not a scientific poll.

Barry Bonds, the slugger from the San Francisco Giants, just moments ago has been speaking out about the steroid controversy in baseball.

CNN's Matt Morrison joining us now live with details. What did he say, Matt?

MATT MORRISON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, he was very impassioned, as he was defensive in front of the media as he met the team -- met the media at the team's spring training complex.

He was critical of the media. He was also defensive in terms of his critics, not the least of which is Jose Canseco.

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BARRY BONDS, SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: I was better than Jose then and I've been better than Jose his whole career. So, I don't have -- I don't have anything to talk about Jose.

If he wants to make money, go make money, though. But, you know, you had the bash boys. You had one of the best lineups in baseball that I -- second to some of the Yankees lineups or you can go on. And, you know, for somebody who brags about what he did, I don't see any of your records.

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MORRISON: Wolf, Bonds' comments also included very impassioned comments about Babe Ruth, the subject of race, etcetera. And we're going to be hearing more about this as we go through spring training -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Matt Morrison, thanks very much.

That's it for me. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts 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

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com