Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Pope Too Frail for Holy Week Activities; Terri Schiavo's Father Speaks Out
Aired March 25, 2005 - 11:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good Friday without the pope has many of his followers worried. An update on his condition in today's ceremonies. That's next in a live report from Rome.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Let's take a look at what's happening now in the news. Iowa authorities have issued an amber alert for a 10-year-old mentally challenged girl. Jetseta Marrie Gage reportedly was taken from her Cedar Rapids home by family acquaintance, identified by police as Roger Paul Bentley, a registered sex offender. Police are searching for a 1982 black and silver Datsun king cab with a silver cap. License number 392MIZ.
In college basketball, a nail-biter of a finish last night. Arizona stopping Oklahoma State, 79-78. The winning bucket coming less than three seconds left in the game. Arizona next faces number one Illinois for a chance to advance to the final four. Go, Wildcats.
And in Cincinnati, the annual Easter egg hunt at the city zoo. Although hunt, a relative term. The pretty treats are pretty easy to find. Gorillas are not only ones who partake in the bonanza. Rhinos and red river hogs also get to root out their own eggs.
Christians around the world are observing Good Friday today and for the first time, Pope John Paul II isn't able to preside over Holy Week services.
CNN's Alessio Vinci joins us now from Rome -- Alessio.
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Yes, on Good Fridays, Catholics commemorate the suffering and pain Jesus went through in the hours before dying, and indeed, the message and the theme of suffering is taking a whole through dimension here in Rome this year with the illness of Pope John Paul II taking center stage.
The pope has missed all of the significant events during this Holy Week. He missed two masses yesterday on Holy Thursday. This morning, the pope skipped another important event. One who he himself, which himself instituted back in 1979, when he was first elected pope, and that is here in the confessions of ordinary pilgrims at the St. Peter's Basilica during Good Friday.
And indeed at this time, the pope missing another ceremony taking place at the Vatican as we speak. Live pictures here with an American cardinal, James Francis Stafford (ph), residing on behalf of the pope. This is a ceremony to recall the steps of Jesus on his way to crucifixion. It is the so-called Liturgy of the Passion. Let's listen in for a second.
(LITURGY IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(MUSIC)
VINCI: Tonight again, the pope, for first time in his papacy, will not be able it take part in the way of the cross. The procession taking place at the Colosseum, reenacting Jesus's last moments before dying. His participation was limited throughout recent years, first by not being able to carry the cross himself, then being unable to walk, but at least he was there. And so now we understand the pope will not be able to be at the Colosseum, to make the trip over across down to the Colosseum, from the Vatican.
We understand the Vatican has made some provision to perhaps allow the pope to make a virtual appearance by setting up a video link between the Apostolic Palace and the Colosseum, but that event is also in question at this time. Of course, the pope very much wanted to be as close as possible to pilgrims during this very important Holy Week in the Roman Catholic calendar, but at the same time, the pope still too frail and still recovering from surgery, unable to be there with the pilgrims who have come to Rome from all around the world and across the country to be here.
KAGAN: Alessio, what about the latest on the pope's health? How much were they saying? Besides the obvious, that he's not well enough to make these traditional appearances.
VINCI: They're not saying much. As a matter of fact, they're not saying anything. The Vatican officials have not even issued a single medical bulletin ever since the pope was discharged from the hospital in mid-March. What we do know is what the doctors off-the- record and some Vatican officials off-the-record are telling us, and that is that the pope recovery is taking longer than expected.
But they're also saying that there are no plans at this time to bring the pope back to the hospital. And if anything, Vatican officials insist, and even those who have met with the pope in recent days, that he is very alert, that he is lucid, and he continues to carry out his duties. He is still frail, still recovering from his tracheotomy.
But at the same time, I'm telling you, if you speak to Vatican officials, you really get a sense that the pope, as you mentioned, he is not doing well. And, indeed, they are trying to keep him away from public eye because they want him to recover as quickly as possible.
KAGAN: Alessio, thank you very much. We go from Rome now live to Pinellas Park, Florida. Bob Schindler, the father of Terri Schiavo, at the microphone. Let's listen.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
BOB SCHINLDER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S FATHER: ... at this point is to make a strong appeal to the 11 District Court. We have an appeal in front of them. And the information that was presented last night in front of the judge, the federal judge in Tampa, was very strong. Pardon me. Was very, very strong. And we're encouraging these judges, when they review that it's under appeal, to make the right decision.
And we've had some of the best legal minds in the country working on this and it always seems that we're losing in court, and it's not because we have poor attorneys. All right, they're offering sound legal motions. But we haven't been very successful. But I do think that what was presented last night in the federal court is very, very viable, and we're -- you know, encouraging the appellate courts to take a hard look at this thing and do the right thing.
Now, a little later on, I'll have more information for you, and we'll come back out and hold a full, I don't know whatever you call, discussion, whatever you want to and answer any question, all your questions and bring it totally...
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)
SCHINDLER: I don't want to get into that issue yet, OK.
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)
Our best hope right now is the appellate court. What's in front of them is very, very -- I can't say how strong it is. And it's important, the legal opinions that we're getting are telling us that this thing should, the judge's decision last night should be reversed. That's from the information we're getting, and we're now hanging, waiting for that.
QUESTION: You saw Terri today. How is she? What's her condition today?
SCHINDLER: Terri is weakening, and she's down to her last hours. So something has to be done, and has to be done quick, all right. Now, clearly talk about this in more and more detail. And I apologize for hanging you guys out like this, because I know that you have a tough job that you're doing, and I'm really not try to string you on, so again, accept my apologies OK, and I'll talk to you later, all right?
QUESTION: Thank you.
SCHINDLER: Thank you very much. Thank you.
KAGAN: A quick statement by an exhausted yet still hopeful Bob Schindler. That's father of Terri Schiavo appearing at the microphones in front of the hospice, where Terri Schiavo is now. Her father saying Terri is weakening. It has been a week since she had her feeding tube removed. Her father saying that he believes his daughter is in his last hours, and yet he is hopeful of this latest legal appeal, which right now, if you're following the path, is here in Atlanta. They have appealed once again to the 11 circuit court appeals here in Atlanta.
Our Bob Franken is also there in Pinellas Park with more -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is -- it's interesting to watch, interesting and emotional to watch, as Robert Schindler who of the family has been the one who on occasion has tried to find some sort of irony, some sort of even humor sometimes in his comments. I remember when he was on CNN the other night, and his son Bobby, who was at the side here, was at the U.S. capitol lobbying. At one point, he looked at me and said I just want to say hello to my son.
Now you see a man who now clearly has the humor squeezed out of him for reasons that nobody will dispute. You've seen a man who is caught between the desperate love for his daughter. I don't think anybody is questioning the motivations here. And the realities of a government and a set of laws that has thus far frustrated their efforts, in this particular case, to reconnect the tube with Terri Schiavo, who has been disconnected from nutrition and hydration, meaning liquids like water, for almost exactly a week. And almost all doctors will tell you that this cannot continue. She cannot continue to leave -- live, rather, if this goes on for another week.
The description that he's giving of his daughter, that she's deteriorating, that starting it see the signs of withdraw are consistent with the timing that most experts say. The argument of course is in how somebody dies under this circumstance, and the other argument is just how disabled she is, how damaged her brain is -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right, Bob Franken in Pinellas Park. More from you later on.
Probably appropriate on this Good Friday and covering the Schiavo story, we have a story ahead for you that's about hope, also about having a legacy past death. A little girl loses her battle with cancer, but she has left behind an incredible legacy. We're going to show you how Alex Scott's dream lives on through other children.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Alexandra Scott lived a short, but an exceptional life. From her tiny lemonade stand has emerged a major foundation to raise money for pediatric cancer research. Alex lost her long battle against neuroblastoma last August at the age of eight. But her remarkably legacy lives on as the Alexandra Scott Butterfly Award. And the first recipient ever of the award is 11-year-old Suzie Tipton from Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Joining me this morning from New York, along with Alex Scott's mother, Liz.
Ladies, good morning.
LIZ SCOTT, ALEXANDRA'S MOTHER: Good morning.
SUZIE TIPTON, 1ST AWARD RECIPIENT: Good morning.
KAGAN: Suzie, I'm going to be with you in just a moment. Liz, can you explain the spirit of the award and why Suzie was elected.
SCOTT: Yes, I would love too. The award was named by and created by Volvo cars in honor of Alex and her giving spirit, and they wanted to honor a child who, like Alex, shows an extraordinary commitment at a young age to helping others and overcoming obstacles, and we felt that Suzie's story and her spirit was so much Alex that it was almost incredible to us that she had the simple idea and turned it into successful charity that's making a difference for a lot of people. She's an incredible girl, and I feel honored to be sitting with her here today.
KAGAN: A remarkable young lady.
Suzie, you have an organization called Suzie's closet. How does it work?
TIPTON: Well, we loan medical equipment to people who can't afford it or they're waiting on their intern's companies to approve it.
KAGAN: So you had this medical equipment. Now you, more than almost anybody that we know, can appreciate how important it to have good medical equipment. You have a form of cerebral palsy.
TIPTON: Yes.
KAGAN: And you're noticing as you grow and get bigger, you need different kinds of equipment.
TIPTON: Yes.
KAGAN: And so it's a challenge, especially for kids, and so you wanted to help out other kids?
TIPTON: Yes.
KAGAN: What's been the biggest challenge in putting your organization together, Suzie?
TIPTON: Well, I guess I guess organizing it all. That was really hard.
KAGAN: Yes?
TIPTON: It's organized in our base basement right now.
KAGAN: It's in your basement?
TIPTON: Yes.
KAGAN: Now, when you got this award and you learned about Alex, what did you think?
TIPTON: I thought it was awesome. And I thought it was awesome that I got to go to New York. And I thought it was awesome that people are so nice and willing to help. KAGAN: So I think you have the award right there in your lap.
TIPTON: Yes.
KAGAN: Pretty great. Congratulations on that. Liz, of course, part of this is not just to honor people who are doing great work, like Suzie is, but also to shine the light on the organization and how they can help and I am sure you're going to want to do that with Suzie's Closet, as well.
SCOTT: Definitely.
KAGAN: What was it -- you mentioned that there was a certain spirit. Anybody who saw a story about Alex or got to meet her could tell right away what a special little girl she was. What was that special something that you also see in Suzie?
SCOTT: It's really hard to describe. It's a certain way of looking at world. A very smart way and a very practical way but at the same time, somebody who's very independent. And who has a really positive attitude about their life and about their life situation maybe not being the easiest, but feeling good about themselves and wanting to help others succeed.
KAGAN: And Suzie, real quick, if people want to help you out with your closet and your donations, is there a Web site or somewhere they can go?
TIPTON: Yes.
KAGAN: We're going to check on that. You know what, we'll check on that and we'll get that information and we will pass that on to our viewers. Meanwhile, Suzie, congratulations on receiving -- being the first recipient of this award. And Liz, thank you for sharing Alex's spirit and you're always welcome here on this program.
SCOTT: Thank you very much. We appreciate it.
KAGAN: Ladies, thanks to both of you. And we are going to take a break. We're back with more news after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: This just in to CNN. The U.S. government saying it has agreed to sell a sophisticated type of F-16 fighter plane to both Pakistan and India. With more on that, let's go to the White House. Our Suzanne Malveaux standing by with more -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Well, Daryn, CNN has learned from senior administration officials that President Bush called the prime minister of India to inform him of the U.S.'s intentions, that is to sell F-16s to Pakistan. There's been a lot of discussion about this, of course, in the past, as recently as Secretary Rice's recent visit in the region, saying that this was something that the United States was considering. Now, as you're aware, of course, the U.S. has banned the selling of that type of aircraft, any type of aircraft to both India and Pakistan since the late 1990s. That, of course, when they conducted nuclear weapon's test. But since then, senior Bush administration officials say that they have been opened to the idea that they would like to reward their greatest allies when it comes to the war on terror and of course, it does not hurt the U.S. economy as well.
It is likely that this could mean thousands of jobs, perhaps billions of dollars, for some of the major markets, aircraft industry markets, and those companies that will potentially benefit from this. So this is a developing story, but again, CNN has confirmed through those senior administration officials that this is something the United States wants to move forward with and quickly -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Suzanne Malveaux, live the at the White House. Suzanne, thank you.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: And I hope all of you out there have a great holiday weekend. That's going to do it for me. I am Daryn Kagan. Carol Lin will be with you at the top of the hour, in for Wolf Blitzer. I'll see you Monday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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 March 25, 2005 - 11:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good Friday without the pope has many of his followers worried. An update on his condition in today's ceremonies. That's next in a live report from Rome.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Let's take a look at what's happening now in the news. Iowa authorities have issued an amber alert for a 10-year-old mentally challenged girl. Jetseta Marrie Gage reportedly was taken from her Cedar Rapids home by family acquaintance, identified by police as Roger Paul Bentley, a registered sex offender. Police are searching for a 1982 black and silver Datsun king cab with a silver cap. License number 392MIZ.
In college basketball, a nail-biter of a finish last night. Arizona stopping Oklahoma State, 79-78. The winning bucket coming less than three seconds left in the game. Arizona next faces number one Illinois for a chance to advance to the final four. Go, Wildcats.
And in Cincinnati, the annual Easter egg hunt at the city zoo. Although hunt, a relative term. The pretty treats are pretty easy to find. Gorillas are not only ones who partake in the bonanza. Rhinos and red river hogs also get to root out their own eggs.
Christians around the world are observing Good Friday today and for the first time, Pope John Paul II isn't able to preside over Holy Week services.
CNN's Alessio Vinci joins us now from Rome -- Alessio.
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Yes, on Good Fridays, Catholics commemorate the suffering and pain Jesus went through in the hours before dying, and indeed, the message and the theme of suffering is taking a whole through dimension here in Rome this year with the illness of Pope John Paul II taking center stage.
The pope has missed all of the significant events during this Holy Week. He missed two masses yesterday on Holy Thursday. This morning, the pope skipped another important event. One who he himself, which himself instituted back in 1979, when he was first elected pope, and that is here in the confessions of ordinary pilgrims at the St. Peter's Basilica during Good Friday.
And indeed at this time, the pope missing another ceremony taking place at the Vatican as we speak. Live pictures here with an American cardinal, James Francis Stafford (ph), residing on behalf of the pope. This is a ceremony to recall the steps of Jesus on his way to crucifixion. It is the so-called Liturgy of the Passion. Let's listen in for a second.
(LITURGY IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(MUSIC)
VINCI: Tonight again, the pope, for first time in his papacy, will not be able it take part in the way of the cross. The procession taking place at the Colosseum, reenacting Jesus's last moments before dying. His participation was limited throughout recent years, first by not being able to carry the cross himself, then being unable to walk, but at least he was there. And so now we understand the pope will not be able to be at the Colosseum, to make the trip over across down to the Colosseum, from the Vatican.
We understand the Vatican has made some provision to perhaps allow the pope to make a virtual appearance by setting up a video link between the Apostolic Palace and the Colosseum, but that event is also in question at this time. Of course, the pope very much wanted to be as close as possible to pilgrims during this very important Holy Week in the Roman Catholic calendar, but at the same time, the pope still too frail and still recovering from surgery, unable to be there with the pilgrims who have come to Rome from all around the world and across the country to be here.
KAGAN: Alessio, what about the latest on the pope's health? How much were they saying? Besides the obvious, that he's not well enough to make these traditional appearances.
VINCI: They're not saying much. As a matter of fact, they're not saying anything. The Vatican officials have not even issued a single medical bulletin ever since the pope was discharged from the hospital in mid-March. What we do know is what the doctors off-the- record and some Vatican officials off-the-record are telling us, and that is that the pope recovery is taking longer than expected.
But they're also saying that there are no plans at this time to bring the pope back to the hospital. And if anything, Vatican officials insist, and even those who have met with the pope in recent days, that he is very alert, that he is lucid, and he continues to carry out his duties. He is still frail, still recovering from his tracheotomy.
But at the same time, I'm telling you, if you speak to Vatican officials, you really get a sense that the pope, as you mentioned, he is not doing well. And, indeed, they are trying to keep him away from public eye because they want him to recover as quickly as possible.
KAGAN: Alessio, thank you very much. We go from Rome now live to Pinellas Park, Florida. Bob Schindler, the father of Terri Schiavo, at the microphone. Let's listen.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
BOB SCHINLDER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S FATHER: ... at this point is to make a strong appeal to the 11 District Court. We have an appeal in front of them. And the information that was presented last night in front of the judge, the federal judge in Tampa, was very strong. Pardon me. Was very, very strong. And we're encouraging these judges, when they review that it's under appeal, to make the right decision.
And we've had some of the best legal minds in the country working on this and it always seems that we're losing in court, and it's not because we have poor attorneys. All right, they're offering sound legal motions. But we haven't been very successful. But I do think that what was presented last night in the federal court is very, very viable, and we're -- you know, encouraging the appellate courts to take a hard look at this thing and do the right thing.
Now, a little later on, I'll have more information for you, and we'll come back out and hold a full, I don't know whatever you call, discussion, whatever you want to and answer any question, all your questions and bring it totally...
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)
SCHINDLER: I don't want to get into that issue yet, OK.
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)
Our best hope right now is the appellate court. What's in front of them is very, very -- I can't say how strong it is. And it's important, the legal opinions that we're getting are telling us that this thing should, the judge's decision last night should be reversed. That's from the information we're getting, and we're now hanging, waiting for that.
QUESTION: You saw Terri today. How is she? What's her condition today?
SCHINDLER: Terri is weakening, and she's down to her last hours. So something has to be done, and has to be done quick, all right. Now, clearly talk about this in more and more detail. And I apologize for hanging you guys out like this, because I know that you have a tough job that you're doing, and I'm really not try to string you on, so again, accept my apologies OK, and I'll talk to you later, all right?
QUESTION: Thank you.
SCHINDLER: Thank you very much. Thank you.
KAGAN: A quick statement by an exhausted yet still hopeful Bob Schindler. That's father of Terri Schiavo appearing at the microphones in front of the hospice, where Terri Schiavo is now. Her father saying Terri is weakening. It has been a week since she had her feeding tube removed. Her father saying that he believes his daughter is in his last hours, and yet he is hopeful of this latest legal appeal, which right now, if you're following the path, is here in Atlanta. They have appealed once again to the 11 circuit court appeals here in Atlanta.
Our Bob Franken is also there in Pinellas Park with more -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is -- it's interesting to watch, interesting and emotional to watch, as Robert Schindler who of the family has been the one who on occasion has tried to find some sort of irony, some sort of even humor sometimes in his comments. I remember when he was on CNN the other night, and his son Bobby, who was at the side here, was at the U.S. capitol lobbying. At one point, he looked at me and said I just want to say hello to my son.
Now you see a man who now clearly has the humor squeezed out of him for reasons that nobody will dispute. You've seen a man who is caught between the desperate love for his daughter. I don't think anybody is questioning the motivations here. And the realities of a government and a set of laws that has thus far frustrated their efforts, in this particular case, to reconnect the tube with Terri Schiavo, who has been disconnected from nutrition and hydration, meaning liquids like water, for almost exactly a week. And almost all doctors will tell you that this cannot continue. She cannot continue to leave -- live, rather, if this goes on for another week.
The description that he's giving of his daughter, that she's deteriorating, that starting it see the signs of withdraw are consistent with the timing that most experts say. The argument of course is in how somebody dies under this circumstance, and the other argument is just how disabled she is, how damaged her brain is -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right, Bob Franken in Pinellas Park. More from you later on.
Probably appropriate on this Good Friday and covering the Schiavo story, we have a story ahead for you that's about hope, also about having a legacy past death. A little girl loses her battle with cancer, but she has left behind an incredible legacy. We're going to show you how Alex Scott's dream lives on through other children.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Alexandra Scott lived a short, but an exceptional life. From her tiny lemonade stand has emerged a major foundation to raise money for pediatric cancer research. Alex lost her long battle against neuroblastoma last August at the age of eight. But her remarkably legacy lives on as the Alexandra Scott Butterfly Award. And the first recipient ever of the award is 11-year-old Suzie Tipton from Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Joining me this morning from New York, along with Alex Scott's mother, Liz.
Ladies, good morning.
LIZ SCOTT, ALEXANDRA'S MOTHER: Good morning.
SUZIE TIPTON, 1ST AWARD RECIPIENT: Good morning.
KAGAN: Suzie, I'm going to be with you in just a moment. Liz, can you explain the spirit of the award and why Suzie was elected.
SCOTT: Yes, I would love too. The award was named by and created by Volvo cars in honor of Alex and her giving spirit, and they wanted to honor a child who, like Alex, shows an extraordinary commitment at a young age to helping others and overcoming obstacles, and we felt that Suzie's story and her spirit was so much Alex that it was almost incredible to us that she had the simple idea and turned it into successful charity that's making a difference for a lot of people. She's an incredible girl, and I feel honored to be sitting with her here today.
KAGAN: A remarkable young lady.
Suzie, you have an organization called Suzie's closet. How does it work?
TIPTON: Well, we loan medical equipment to people who can't afford it or they're waiting on their intern's companies to approve it.
KAGAN: So you had this medical equipment. Now you, more than almost anybody that we know, can appreciate how important it to have good medical equipment. You have a form of cerebral palsy.
TIPTON: Yes.
KAGAN: And you're noticing as you grow and get bigger, you need different kinds of equipment.
TIPTON: Yes.
KAGAN: And so it's a challenge, especially for kids, and so you wanted to help out other kids?
TIPTON: Yes.
KAGAN: What's been the biggest challenge in putting your organization together, Suzie?
TIPTON: Well, I guess I guess organizing it all. That was really hard.
KAGAN: Yes?
TIPTON: It's organized in our base basement right now.
KAGAN: It's in your basement?
TIPTON: Yes.
KAGAN: Now, when you got this award and you learned about Alex, what did you think?
TIPTON: I thought it was awesome. And I thought it was awesome that I got to go to New York. And I thought it was awesome that people are so nice and willing to help. KAGAN: So I think you have the award right there in your lap.
TIPTON: Yes.
KAGAN: Pretty great. Congratulations on that. Liz, of course, part of this is not just to honor people who are doing great work, like Suzie is, but also to shine the light on the organization and how they can help and I am sure you're going to want to do that with Suzie's Closet, as well.
SCOTT: Definitely.
KAGAN: What was it -- you mentioned that there was a certain spirit. Anybody who saw a story about Alex or got to meet her could tell right away what a special little girl she was. What was that special something that you also see in Suzie?
SCOTT: It's really hard to describe. It's a certain way of looking at world. A very smart way and a very practical way but at the same time, somebody who's very independent. And who has a really positive attitude about their life and about their life situation maybe not being the easiest, but feeling good about themselves and wanting to help others succeed.
KAGAN: And Suzie, real quick, if people want to help you out with your closet and your donations, is there a Web site or somewhere they can go?
TIPTON: Yes.
KAGAN: We're going to check on that. You know what, we'll check on that and we'll get that information and we will pass that on to our viewers. Meanwhile, Suzie, congratulations on receiving -- being the first recipient of this award. And Liz, thank you for sharing Alex's spirit and you're always welcome here on this program.
SCOTT: Thank you very much. We appreciate it.
KAGAN: Ladies, thanks to both of you. And we are going to take a break. We're back with more news after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: This just in to CNN. The U.S. government saying it has agreed to sell a sophisticated type of F-16 fighter plane to both Pakistan and India. With more on that, let's go to the White House. Our Suzanne Malveaux standing by with more -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Well, Daryn, CNN has learned from senior administration officials that President Bush called the prime minister of India to inform him of the U.S.'s intentions, that is to sell F-16s to Pakistan. There's been a lot of discussion about this, of course, in the past, as recently as Secretary Rice's recent visit in the region, saying that this was something that the United States was considering. Now, as you're aware, of course, the U.S. has banned the selling of that type of aircraft, any type of aircraft to both India and Pakistan since the late 1990s. That, of course, when they conducted nuclear weapon's test. But since then, senior Bush administration officials say that they have been opened to the idea that they would like to reward their greatest allies when it comes to the war on terror and of course, it does not hurt the U.S. economy as well.
It is likely that this could mean thousands of jobs, perhaps billions of dollars, for some of the major markets, aircraft industry markets, and those companies that will potentially benefit from this. So this is a developing story, but again, CNN has confirmed through those senior administration officials that this is something the United States wants to move forward with and quickly -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Suzanne Malveaux, live the at the White House. Suzanne, thank you.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: And I hope all of you out there have a great holiday weekend. That's going to do it for me. I am Daryn Kagan. Carol Lin will be with you at the top of the hour, in for Wolf Blitzer. I'll see you Monday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
