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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

U.S. Military Conducts Large Operation Near Syrian Border; President Bush Visits Russia and Georgia

Aired May 09, 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, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, a new scientific study being released at this hour, and it's on this question: Are the brains of gay men different from the brains of straight men? We'll have an exclusive interview with the author of this scientific study.
Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

On the offensive: U.S. troops in a major new attack against the insurgents. But will it stop the bombings in Baghdad?

Past and future: President Bush honors Soviet war sacrifices at a Red Square review. But he's more in tune with the vision of a new Europe next door in Georgia.

Shoot-out: a car chase ends in a barrage of bullets. Why so much gunfire in a residential neighborhood?

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, for Monday, May 9th, 2005.

BLITZER: Thanks for joining us. We begin in Iraq, where U.S. forces have now launched an all-out assault on insurgents in the western desert. The area near the Syrian border is seen as a major infiltration route for foreign fighters, and the U.S. military says it's finding and killing many of them. Let's go straight to our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre. Jamie?

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the U.S. military is claiming to have killed as many as 100 insurgents over the past two days in a major offensive aimed at disrupting the network led by Abu Musab al Zarqawi, which has been operating from various areas stretching over to Iraq's boarder with Syria. The operation is centered on a desert area north of the Euphrates River, believed to be a sanctuary for foreign insurgents who slip across the boarder from Syria. The offensive is dubbed "Operation Matador," and is being carried out by at least a thousand U.S. troops, including Marines from the 2nd Marine Division. Colonel Bob Chase is the unit's operations officer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COL. BOB CHASE, 2ND U.S. MARINE DIVISION: We are seeing a significant atmospheric here in the Al Anbar Province, where the people are starting to be frustrated with these insurgents and with these foreign fighters, are reporting their locations to us, are telling us where they are. (END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: The U.S. claims it's getting good intelligence not just from average Iraqis, but also from Abu Musab al Zarqawi's inner circle. This chart produced by the U.S. military purports to show how Zarqawi's followers are falling one by one. In an unusual move that Pentagon officials concede is a psychological ploy, a news release accompanying the chart includes paraphrased comments reported to have come from interrogations of captured Zarqawi followers.

One, named Dr. Hassan, is said to have conceded "Zarqawi's network is rapidly declining," saying "each high-profile capture leads to the feeling that the end of the organization is near."

Another identified as a non-Iraqi is quoted as saying, "A lot of foreign fighters were leaving all over Iraq," and that "many felt they had lost everything and it wasn't worth fighting any more."

Now that might sound like propaganda, but the U.S. military calls it "information operations." Still, officials admit, it's an effort to compromise Zarqawi's network by making him doubt who he can trust. It's also aimed at driving a wedge between his foreign followers and Iraqis who may be tired of killing fellow Iraqis on his behalf. Wolf.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon. Thanks.

And earlier today, I spoke with CNN military analyst, retired U.S. Army Brigadier General James Marks, a senior intelligence officer during the invasion of Iraq. He says coalition forces have long had their eyes on this target area of the offensive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES MARKS, U.S. ARMY, (RET): It's been no mystery to the coalition forces at all that there are a lot of rat lines, there are infiltration routes, old historical commerce routes.

BLITZER: What do you mean by rat lines?

MARKS: Old historical commerce routes between Syria and Iraq.

BLITZER: Where smuggling was going on.

MARKS: Smuggling would take place, and this is an uncontrolled border.

Now, the coalition forces have known that for a very long time. And so what you have is a combination of coalition presence as well as the burgeoning Iraqi presence on the border -- they know that area much better than any coalition force -- and surveillance, and that's technical means of surveillance, unmanned aerial vehicles, satellite photography, signals intelligence. So it's a combination of capabilities that are in place to detect when there's movement.

Now what's different now obviously is the coalition forces have gotten some very precise intelligence, what's called actionable intelligence, and they've initiated this offensive operation to go after those that are coming across the border.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Brigadier General Spider Marks speaking with me earlier today.

U.S. Troops may be on the offensive, but the car bombings are continuing. Three blasts rocked Baghdad today, killing two Iraqi police officers and four civilians. Fourteen people were wounded. Police say two of today's bombings were suicide attacks aimed at security checkpoints.

Over the past 10 days alone, the bombings have claimed more than 300 lives.

And there's now word from the U.S. military that two Marines were killed during a five-hour battle yesterday in Afghanistan. The spokeswoman says the clash took place near the eastern city of Jalalabad when the Marines tracked down a band of rebels. The two Marines died while cleaning a cave after U.S. jets pounded the insurgents holed up inside. The military says two insurgents are confirmed dead, and as many as 21 others may have been killed.

News here in Washington: The clash between the Senate Republicans and the Senate Democrats over some of President Bush's judicial nominees may soon come to a head. Looming over it all, the majority leader, Bill Frist's threat to ban filibusters when it comes to confirming these judicial nominees.

Our congressional correspondent, Joe Johns is up on Capitol Hill. He has the latest. Joe?

JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, more attempts today to try to break the impasse and avoid a showdown over the filibuster. So far no magic formula.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS (voice over): On the fourth anniversary of Priscilla Owen's first nomination to the federal bench, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was trying to put to rest claims by Democrats that he once admonished Owen for judicial activism.

ATTORNEY GENERAL ALBERTO GONZALES: Judges disagree from time to time on particular issues. That doesn't in any way detract from my view that she would make a terrific judge on the 5th Circuit. I've never accused her of being an activist judge.

JOHNS: It's important because Judge Owen, who once served with Gonzales on the Texas Supreme Court, could be first test case nominee when and if the majority leader tries to get judicial filibusters ruled unconstitutional in a Senate floor vote.

The end of a week-long Senate recess renewed the sparring between right and left on and off Capitol Hill over whether Democrats should have the right to demand a 60-vote majority to put a federal judge on the bench.

SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R), TEXAS: Fundamentally what we have is a partisan minority blocking a bipartisan majority from being able to act on the Senate floor. And this is something that we think needs to come to an end.

JOHNS: Meanwhile, attempts to find a way out of a full blown confrontation continue. The Senate Democratic leader proposed moving forward with the vote on one nominee who was not among the most controversial judges.

SEN. MINORITY LEADER HARRY REID, (D), NEVADA: We know the difference between opposing nominees and blocking nominees. And I believe this is the time to put all of this behind us.

JOHNS: There was also a setback in a behind-the-scenes negotiation to get six Republicans and six Democrats essentially to declare a truce. Senator Trent Lott, the chairman of the Rules Committee, put out a statement saying he'd been trying to find common ground, but there is no deal.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS: Still in doubt is the timing of any confrontation on the Senate floor. One thing is clear: Early this week, the Senate has to deal with the Iraq supplemental spending bill. That, of course, a high priority in the House and down at the White House.

Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: All right, Joe Johns on Capitol Hill. Thanks.

A gruesome discovery in Illinois. Coming up, the latest on those two missing 8-year-old girls. New information just being released this hour.

Also, does biology play a part in determining sexual orientation? We'll have an exclusive interview with the lead researcher of a new scientific study. That's also being released this hour.

Also ahead, did sheriff deputies overreact, or was their barrage of gunfire justified? We'll go live to the scene of the shooting near L.A.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Now to the president and his overseas journey. His hip-shaking may not be earth-shaking, but it may well be a sign that he prefers the pro-Western mood in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia to an earlier Soviet-style ceremony in Moscow.

Our chief national correspondent John King is with the president. And he's covering the latest stop, Tblisi, in that Republic of Georgia -- John. JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the president clearly is in high spirits to be here.

He's a man known back in Washington for going to bed by 10:00 at night. His wife mockingly called him Mr. Excitement at the recent White House Correspondents Association dinner. But the president went to dinner in old town Tblisi with the president of Georgia and the first lady, Laura Bush, tonight. And when he came out a cultural demonstration was under way, the band playing Georgian music. Mr. Bush took a few moments to, at least, attempt to dance, as you see the pictures. Clearly in high spirits. The reason, aides say, is because tomorrow here in Freedom Square, he will salute the Rose Revolution that brought democracy to this former Soviet Republic 18 months ago. Mr. Bush, aides say, will hold out Georgia now as a beacon to the region, even to Russia, a democracy with which he has had some differences in recent days.

Security is extraordinary for the president's outdoor speech. Local officials say they expect if the weather is nice perhaps 50,000 people or more. Mr. Bush again will hold out Georgia as a thriving young democracy. And he's hoping that among those listening are leaders in neighboring Russia. Georgia and Russia still have some tensions. Mr. Bush has had tensions with his friend Vladimir Putin over what he believes is backsliding on Russia's commitment to democracy.

Those tensions, though, not apparent today. An extraordinary scene in Red Square, the place where Stalin, Brezhnev, Khrushchev, other Soviet leaders once stood reviewing the troops in Red Square. A military parade today -- in the viewing stand, the president of the United States in the seat of honor next to his good friend Vladimir Putin. Aides say the president, of course, said very little publicly while in Moscow, so aides say there was not an opportunity nor was it appropriate to press his concerns about Russia's commitment to democracy. But Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told us Mr. Bush did make those points quite forcefully in private.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: We obviously, believe that this country can be a great democracy. That it needs to make further steps in order to do that. But President Putin and President Bush's relationship, in fact, enables them to talk about these issues.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Now, Mr. Putin was not happy that Mr. Bush started in Latvia, once under Soviet occupation, ending his trip here in Georgia, the former Soviet Republic. But the White House aides and the president himself said he considers it his duty to promote democracy around the world. Says he's not trying to lecture Mr. Putin, but he does hope Mr. Putin will take notice -- and welcome, not try to intimidate, the new Democracies on his doorstep -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's John King reporting for us. John, thanks very much. Have a safe journey home. Other news we're following right here in the United States. Two eight-year-old girls who disappeared only yesterday have now been found, unfortunately, both dead. Authorities in Zion, Illinois -- that's about 45 miles north of Chicago -- say the bodies of the little girls were found in a nature area this morning. Police are investigating the deaths as homicides.

Officials began a news conference just a few minutes ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. RICHARD KELLER, LAKE COUNTY CORONER: It appears to be stab wounds. And I know one of the questions that was out there was about sexual assault. We have found no evidence of sexual assault on exam.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: We'll continue to watch this story for you, get some more information as it becomes available. Another heart-wrenching story out there.

When we come back, just released at this hour, brand new research on the long-running debate over what causes homosexuality. Do gay men have a different kind of brain than straight men? Is the chemistry different? This is a story you'll see only here on CNN. We've got the lead researcher of this study. She'll join us.

Also, what the mayor of Spokane, Washington, says about allegations he had sexual relations with young men.

And remembering World War II. We'll hear from a lieutenant who defied orders to help a Jewish concentration camp survivor. Another story you will see only here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

Just released at this hour, results of a new study that could have some major implications on a hot button issue. Researchers in Sweden have found that the brain of gay men and straight men respond differently to chemicals derived from hormones. And that, according to one scientific expert, clearly shows biology plays a key part in determining sexual orientation. The study will be published in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences here in the United States. The report's lead researcher, Dr. Ivanka Savic, joined me on the phone from Stockholm, Sweden. I asked her what we've learned from this study.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. IVANKA SAVIC, KAROLINSKA INSTITUTE: Well, basically what we learned is that homosexual and heterosexual men showed in this study a different physiological response to pheromone-like compounds to putative pheromones. And this response was detected in the regions of the brain, which are actually designated for sexual behavior. BLITZER: In other words, they were responding to various smells in a different way, is that what you're saying, straight men as opposed to gay men?

SAVIC: They were responding -- they were exposed -- they were exposed to ordinary smells, and they were exposed to so called putative pheromones, candidate compounds for body odors. They did not know what they were smelling, and they showed a different response, with respect to pheromones, and a completely similar response with respect to ordinary odorants.

BLITZER: What your study also showed, and correct me if I'm wrong, was that gay men, their response to these specific kinds of smells, was similar to women as opposed to straight men?

SAVIC: It was not identical to women's response, but it was more similar to heterosexual women's response than to heterosexual man's response, yes.

BLITZER: So what does this mean, that the brain of a gay man is different than the brain of a straight man?

SAVIC: No. This is not a conclusion of -- actually, the study does not answer today's (ph) question. But the study says -- shows -- that there's a different physiological response in gay men compared to heterosexual men. Now, that could have a different explanation. That leads two alternative explanations to our finding.

BLITZER: What are they?

SAVIC: One is that the gay men were more exposed to the specific so-called male compound, and that their brain may be desensitized to the compound due to large exposure, just as in women. Another explanation is that there is a reorganization of neuronal networks in the brain of gay men, and this could be either hard-wired or secondary to the activity.

BLITZER: So what does this study, though, show, from your perspective, on the longstanding debate whether homosexuality is something you're born with or something you acquire in the course of a lifetime? In other words, nature versus nurture.

SAVIC: It does not give a direct answer to nature-versus- nurture, but it shows that this response is not a chosen response. So, it is a biological, immediate response that we detect within one minute. So, it is a biological response, but it does not answer to the question whether this is hard-wired or secondary. We have to do full lab studies to investigate that.

BLITZER: More research required. All right, Dr. Savic, thanks very much for sharing the results of your study with our viewers.

SAVIC: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: And, when we come back, nuclear ambitions: two members of the president's so-called axis of evil may be developing weapons of mass destruction. The former U.S. defense secretary William Cohen standing by to join us live to discuss the growing threats from North Korea, and Iran.

Plus, caught on tape, why a highway chase ended in a barrage of bullets. We'll go live to the scene.

And later, scandal at city hall: a mayor's private life exposed. Did this hometown newspaper, though, go too far? We'll explore. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

Iran says it will resume uranium-enrichment activities within days. Enriched uranium is the key ingredient in nuclear weapons. Iran last year suspended enriching uranium and began talks with the European Union, aimed at resolving the dispute. The Bush administration accuses Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons which Tehran strongly denies, and it has threatened to take the issue to the U.N. Security Council if Iran resumes enrichment-related work.

There's another serious concern to the Bush administration and others, namely, North Korea's nuclear program. Dr. Mohammed ElBaradei, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency told me that the agency estimates North Korea already has perhaps five or six nuclear weapons. That's similar to the U.S. assessment, and as we've been reporting, recent satellite images indicate that North Korea could perhaps be on the verge of testing its first nuclear device.

Joining us now to talk about that and more, our guest, the former U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen, our world affairs analyst. He's chairman and CEO of The Cohen Group.

Let's talk about North Korea first. Is it realistic, realistic to assume that Kim Jong-Il could do what Moammar Gadhafi did and simply give up his nuclear program in exchange for any number of concessions?

WILLIAM COHEN, THE COHEN GROUP: Oh, I think it's quite possible that he could do this. As a matter of fact, President Bush, a couple of years ago, made a -- an offer to him, basically saying, if you give up your nuclear ambitions we have a robust economic package for you.

BLITZER: The Clinton administration made that offer and thought it could live with it, but he was cheating even as he said he wasn't.

COHEN: He was cheating, and any kind of an agreement would have to have far more intrusive inspection to prevent any cheating in the future. But there is a robust economic package, and that's precisely the message that the six-party talks were designed to communicate, getting them back to the table. There has to be some redemption of the rhetoric on both sides. China has to play a more important role than they're willing to play to date. And that is, to bring them back to the table.

BLITZER: He's really upping the ante now, Kim Jong-Il if -- and this is still a big if -- if he goes forward with something he's not yet done, namely a nuclear test.

COHEN: If he goes forward, I think there would be serious repercussions. You already have Japanese delegates and ministers talking about the possibility of taking it to the Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea. North Koreans have said that would be the equivalent of a declaration of war. So, there are serious consequences to the North Koreans going forward. If they take the suspension of the processing -- they shut down one of the nuclear plants and so they could reprocess the spent fuel rods that they have, then the tests of a short range missile, all culminating now with the potential of them digging a ditch which might be -- it might be a ruse but might be the real deal.

BLITZER: If he were to go ahead with the test, the pressure on Japan to go ahead and build a nuclear bomb, would be enormous, and that would -- a lot of people think -- make the Chinese crazy.

COHEN: Well, South Korea as well as Japan. You may recall that the South Koreans were also testing -- at least, researching -- the possibility of having a nuclear capability which has since, I assume, has been shut down. But South Korea, Japan, that certainly would pose a risk for China. They don't want to see that happen. Which is another reason why the Chinese had to become even more involved in pressuring the North Koreans to come back to the table.

BLITZER: Let's briefly talk about Iran. It looks like they're going to go forward and start reprocessing this enriched uranium. What does that mean?

COHEN: Well, it means that they are trying to put as much pressure on the Europeans as well as the United States to come up with a package which they think would satisfactory to them. The E.U. has been trying to bring the United States into the negotiating strategy. The president has sent some signals that we might be supportive of the E.U. trying to bring about a cessation of this program as such. It needs carrots, according to the E.U.; according to the United States, it needs some sticks as well.

And the question is, what kind of a package would be acceptable to the Europeans to put forward and whether the United States will completely support that. There are some in the administration that believe no matter what the agreement is, the Iranians are going to go forward with a program that will give them the capability of declaring themselves to be a nuclear power at some point in the future.

BLITZER: We'll watch both of these nuclear stories unfold. Thanks very much, William Cohen, as usual.

COHEN: A pleasure, Wolf.

BLITZER: Let's take a quick look at some other stories making news "Around the World."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(voice-over): Ethnic rebel groups in Myanmar are strongly denying any role in deadly weekend bombings in the capital. The military government blames the rebels for the three almost- simultaneous blasts which tore through two crowded supermarkets and a convention center, killing at least 11 people and wounding more than 160.

Two Rwandan businessmen went on trial today in Belgium on charges they played key roles in the Rwanda genocide. They're accused of helping Hutu militias kill 50,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus, who were among 800,000 killed in the bloodbath in 1994. Both men deny wrongdoing.

Thousands of Cubans turned out in Havana for the first outdoor concert by an American rock band, and Audioslave didn't disappoint, thundering out song after song for more than three hours. And that's our look "Around the World."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER (on camera): When we come back, cops in Compton, California, open fire. How this barrage of bullets ended up hurting more than just a runaway suspect. That's coming up.

Plus, one city's mayor caught up in a web of sex allegations. Are the news media going too far when investigating the private lives of public figures? I'll ask Frank Sesno. He's standing by. He's now professor of public policy and communication.

And later, meet a World War II veteran, a black man, who helped shelter a young Jewish boy despite strict orders not to do so. Our Brian Todd standing by with the story you will see only here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: A barrage of bullets flew in a residential neighborhood near Los Angeles last night as police cornered a suspect after a pursuit. But some are questioning whether the officers overreacted.

CNN's Peter Viles is in Compton, California. He has the story and the videotape of the incident. Peter?

PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, as you mentioned, still a lot of questions here in Compton -- starting to get some of the facts involved here. You'll see this in a moment on tape. Ten deputies, firing what we now know are 90 to 95 rounds at a vehicle. All of this happening in about 16 seconds. We know this because all of it was captured on tape.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Midnight, reports of gunshots in Compton, California. Police rush to the scene and so did independent news photographers.

Sheriff's deputies believe this white SUV is involved in the shooting, but the driver refuses to pull over. Twelve minutes later, deputies have him cornered. And then -- and it's not clear why from this video -- ten deputies open fire.

This isn't the first time gunfire was ever heard in Compton, but nothing like this.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was like being in Iraq. You know, all of a sudden, all hell is breaking loose.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was on the floor crying, saying, why do you have to kill him? Don't shoot him. Why do they have to do him like that? They don't have to kill him? Because I thought he was dead. It was like, set it off, and like I told them, it was gunshot at OK Corral.

VILES: After the shooting stopped, the drama wasn't over. Sheriff's deputies kept their guns drawn.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Watch your crossfire! Watch your crossfire!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get out of here. There's shots fired.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go!

VILES: Authorities now say the driver of the vehicle, Winston Hayes (ph), was not armed, and yet 10 deputies fired their weapons. The question now is, why?

SHERIFF LEE BACA, LOS ANGELES COUNTY: What we're going to look at is, what was the triggering point for the shooting? That's the key question right now.

VILES: It's not clear yet how many times the driver was shot, but he was reportedly in good condition at a local hospital. A sheriff's deputy was also shot, probably from friendly fire. He, too, in good condition.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VILES (on camera): Wolf, again, the key facts here, the driver, not armed, shot four times we now know. Deputies -- 10 deputies firing 90 shots and the sheriff still doesn't know -- still can't tell us why they fired in the first place. Wolf?

BLITZER: What about the possibility they were firing at the tires to get a flat tire, because it looked like those tires were pretty flat.

VILES: Possible. Ninety bullets -- some of them must have gone into the tires. Four of them went into this individual. One of them ricocheted and hit a deputy in the chest protector -- the bullet protector -- so he was saved. But a number of them went into houses here. We've seen bullet holes in windows and houses here. So it was a pretty dangerous scene, and some of these bullets were flying eye- high or higher. They didn't all go at the tires, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Peter Viles reporting. A lot of investigation still required. Thanks very much.

Two adults were killed and more than 20 children were injured today in suburban Kansas City. Investigators say a bus carrying elementary school students slammed into two vehicles at a busy intersection in Liberty, Missouri. At least two students received life threatening injuries; an investigation, now under way.

Danger on the highway: it's not just the risk of having an accident. Motorists also face other threats, including the possibility of a violent attack.

CNN's Anderson Cooper is in Los Angeles. He's joining us now live with more. This is a very worrisome development we've seen lately, Anderson.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it was, and that shooting we just saw, very dramatic, occurring here earlier this morning. Tonight on 360, we are going to be spending the entire hour looking at our freeway culture in the United States, in particular, the wave of shootings that have occurred here in Los Angeles on the freeways in the last two months. There have been at least eight separate incidences; four people have been killed while driving their cars. And what is so scary to many here in California is that some of these people allegedly were not involved in altercations with other drivers. They were simply in their vehicles, driving along and all of a sudden they were shot. Four people have been killed, a number of others injured. There have also just been some random shots at cars. Very scary for people here, for drivers on the highway. As you know, Wolf, so many people here spend so much time on the highway. It is a major part of their day -- Wolf.

BLITZER: I think it's going to affect people who drive on highways all over the country. Must-viewing TV tonight on "ANDERSON COOPER 360." Anderson, thanks very much. Anderson's program airs a little more than an hour or so from now, 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 Pacific.

And when we come back, we'll have more on the news we're watching. But though at the top of the hour, "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT." Lou's standing by in New York with a preview -- Lou.

LOU DOBBS, HOST, LOU DOBBS TONIGHT: Wolf, thank you very much.

At 6:00 Eastern, at the top of the hour now we'll be reporting on Iran's nuclear challenge. Iran tonight is definitely moving closer to building nuclear weapons. Our guest -- our special guest tonight, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Pat Roberts.

Also selling out our national security. New concerns are being raised about the sale of a critical part of the world's telecommunications network to India. We'll have that story.

And the battle over judicial filibusters is intensifying. President Bush declares it is time for the Senate to vote on his nominees. We'll have that story and a great deal more at the top of the hour. Please join us. Now back to you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Lou, we will be joining you. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts at the top of the hour.

When we come back a private life and a public figure. A mayor with an anti-gay voting record caught up in a gay sex scandal. But is that just the beginning? Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Spokane, Washington, is being rocked by a city hall scandal that's making headlines around the country. It centers on the city's mayor -- allegations of child molestation and a controversial outing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAYOR JIM WEST (R), SPOKANE, WASHINGTON: I'm a law-abiding citizen and I believe my public record of service stands on its own merit.

BLITZER (voice-over): Spokane Mayor Jim West reacting last week to a stunning expose from the "Spokesman-Review Newspaper." After a three-year investigation the paper reported that West used his positions as mayor, sheriff's deputy and Boy Scout leader to develop sexual relationships with boys and young men. The expose included allegations by two men with criminal records who say that West molested them two decades ago. An accusation the mayor says is false.

WEST: I categorically deny any allegations about incidents that supposedly occurred 24-years-ago as alleged by two convicted felons and about which I have no knowledge.

BLITZER: But West, a conservative Republican and former legislator with a staunch anti-gay voting record, did not deny having sex with men.

WEST: The newspaper also reported that I have visited a gay Internet chat line and had relations with adult men. I don't deny that.

BLITZER: Although last week he wouldn't call himself gay, as allegations of online sex in city hall emerge, there was a change in the mayor's tone. And today the "Spokesman-Review" reported that West called the paper's editor at home early yesterday morning to discuss coverage of the scandal. The paper describes West as emotional and rambling at times during the 30-minute conversation. And quotes him as saying, "I'm being destroyed because I am a gay man, which is fine. I've been in public life. I can accept that. Because I am a gay man, because of this double life, it has been hell." Also raising eyebrows in this case the way "The Spokesman-Review" uncovered the story. To confirm an allegation by an 18-year-old gay man the paper hired a computer expert to trace West's participation in a gay chat room. And then pose as 17 and 18-year-old young men. The paper reported that during the online chats West variously offered gifts, favors and even a city hall internship -- some call the sting unethical. But "The Spokesman-Review" editor says extreme measures were necessary to authenticate and verify the story.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: On its editorial page, "The Spokesman-Review" has called for Mayor West to resign, something he says he does not intend to do. But did the newspaper go too far in exposing the mayor's private life?

Here to talk about that CNN's special correspondent, Frank Sesno. He's now a professor of public policy of communication at George Mason University in Virginia. Frank, thanks very much.

So what's the answer, did the newspaper go too far in what's being described as this sting operation?

FRANK SESNO, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there have to be several thresholds set to do something like this, because this is very difficult. And any time in journalism you get into misrepresenting or creating a situation you can be accused of entrapment or worse. But we know about hidden cameras, Wolf. We know that things are done sometimes, because it's the only way to get the story.

And several questions have to be answered, was it compelling, was it in the public interest? Was there something that couldn't be ascertained any other way? In all that, I think the answer is, yes. And because of the location of the Internet location of all of this, because it had to be corroborated.

BLITZER: Because it was coming from city hall.

SESNO: It was coming from city hall. It was an elected mayor. There were allegation of underage solicitation, and using the power of the office for favors and other things. So, this is very much in the taxpayers' interest. Interesting in the quote that you had there a moment ago from the mayor's conversation with Steven Smith the editor of the paper. He also said the major, "I'm not mad at the paper. You're just doing your job. I know that. I'm glad, at least, you're trying to verify everything." So, even the mayor understands that what the paper was doing, though extraordinary, was probably justified.

BLITZER: But I -- I think, when I heard about this story and the sting operation that this news agency engaged in, I began to ask myself, is this something that we would do? If you were still the Washington bureau chief of CNN, and you got word that some gay Congressmen, let's say, was engaging in chat rooms, using his office on Capitol Hill to do so, would you go that far? SESNO: Well, it would be very difficult. And you know, you and I would sit down and have a long conversation about that. Is that the only way to ascertain the information? What else have you been doing. Is this really the result of a three-year investigation? Do you have names, do you have transcripts, do you have documents? The answer is yes in the case of "The Spokesman-Review" and what they did in Spokane. If you were to say to me as a reporter, we have to nail this and we need to find out if this person on this Internet site is really the mayor before you go on the air or go into print with something like that, you need to nail that down. And that may take some extraordinary measures.

It's like the Food Lion case that ABC did and got into huge trouble with. Back in 1977, "The Chicago Sun-Times" undercover reporters actually bought a bar, The Mirage, it was called, to demonstrate the degree of corruption in city hall. They were able to buy their way past all kinds of violations and get a license. Those were creating circumstances. I spoke to Tom Rosenstiel, he's head of the Project for Excellence In Journalism, and I asked him whether this sort of thing is done. And he says, and in his view, and he's looked at this very carefully, yes, if it reaches that certain threshold. This one did.

BLITZER: Frank Sesno, thanks for joining us.

SESNO: Good to see you.

BLITZER: Good work.

Let's take a look at some stories you may have missed this past weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): A Georgia lawman says he's reopening the Atlanta child murders investigation. The case involves 29 slayings between 1979 and 1981. The suspect in most of the deaths, Wayne Williams, was convicted for two of the slayings, but DeKalb County Police Chief Louis Graham says he believes Williams is innocent.

Coast Guard rescue. The crew of a Coast Guard helicopter pulled two men to safety off North Carolina. Their sailboat was caught in a storm, and rough water knocked them overboard at least twice before they could be rescued.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And they're off!

BLITZER: Dark horse. A 50-to-1 longshot named Giacomo won the 131st Kentucky Derby, beating the field that included a heavily- favored horse owned by New York Yankees boss George Steinbrenner. It was the second-biggest upset in Kentucky Derby history.

And that's our weekend snapshot.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: World War II liberator: meet a black American veteran who risked it all to help shelter a young Jewish concentration camp survivor. That's coming up.

First, though, he was Princess Diana's confidant. We profile Paul Burrell in CNN's 25th anniversary series, "Then & Now."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER (voice-over): Princess Diana called him her rock, but some consider former butler Paul Burrell the man who helped put the royal family's reputation on the rocks.

Burrell was the princess' most trusted servant in the tumultuous years before her fatal car crash in 1997. He served the royal family for more than 21 years. But in 2001, Burrell was arrested and accused of stealing property belonging to Diana. His trial ended dramatically, when Queen Elizabeth herself intervened on his behalf.

PAUL BURRELL, FORMER ROYAL BUTLER: My name was cleared, bringing to an end 21 months of hell.

ANNOUNCER: No longer a butler, Burrell lives in Wales with his wife and two sons. He owns a florist shop, but has greater ambitions.

BURRELL: I'd like people to say, oh, there's Paul Burrell, not Princess Diana's butler. Eventually, I'd like to become my own person. And I will do things in TV and presenting roles, history, etiquette, manners, style, those things which I know so well.

ANNOUNCER: A regular on celebrity game shows, Burrell has also published a book, "A Royal Duty," about his life with Diana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Troops who survive war and return home to resume a normal life carry with them lifelong memories. On this 60th anniversary of the end of the World War II in Europe, CNN's Brian Todd has a remarkable story of one GI and the friend he simply called Peewee. Brian's joining us now live from the World War II Memorial here in Washington -- Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this story is about two people who seemingly couldn't be more different, but who found common ground at a crucial time.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD (voice-over): When you speak to John Withers, the phrase "war hero" doesn't immediately come to mind. The retired State Department diplomat is self-effacing and bookish, much the same as he was 60 years ago.

Spring, 1945; 28-year-old Lieutenant John Withers commands a truck convoy carrying supplies to the front lines -- a company of all black soldiers in a segregated Army. A company under strict orders, do not take in displaced camp survivors wandering around. Allied commanders fear survivors from the nearby Dachau camp will spread disease if they travel with convoys. Lieutenant Withers is prepared to carry out those orders one day, when two young boys beg his soldiers for shelter.

JOHN WITHERS, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: My intention was to immediately call the MPs and have them sent wherever.

TODD: That's until he actually sees them. One of them, a 16- year-old Polish Jew named Mieczyslaw Wajgenszperg, later said he'd appealed to the black soldiers for help because he knew they had faced discrimination and might be sympathetic. For more than a year these men house, clothe, feed and teach the boy, who they call Peewee because of his unpronounceable name. Their commander knows he's taking an enormous risk.

WITHERS: I even could have gotten a dishonorable discharge. And imagine a black soldier coming back to the South, where my home was, with a dishonorable or a less than honorable discharge.

TODD: Withers, his men and Peewee make it to war's end undetected. When Withers rotates back to the U.S., the two never expect to see each other again.

Decades later, after hearing all the stories, Withers' oldest son decides he'll try to track down Peewee.

He finds him in Connecticut. He had changed his name to Martin Weigen, and had become a successful businessman. The boy named Peewee and a lieuteannt who took him in are reunited after 55 years.

Withers, now 88, hasn't forgotten the lesson taught to him by this young survivor simply by his demeanor.

WITHERS: You must not fall into this intense anger, because if you are -- against the sufferings and the things that have been done to you. Instead, you have to resolve it within yourself.

TODD: The two men and their families spend two valuable years visiting, catching up. Martin Weigen, who insisted that Withers still call him Peewee, died in 2003.

John Withers, who 60 years earlier had given a young man the home he so desperately needed, now comforts that man's children.

BARBARA BERGREN, MARTIN WEIGEN'S DAUGHTER: I have to hug him, I have to kiss him. We look at him. He's one of our heroes.

EDWARD WEIGEN, MARTIN WEIGEN'S SON: He's a very kind person. He's a gentle person. That's how our father was, too.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: Martin Weigen's children say as long as they were growing up, he barely mentioned his experience even wehn they pressed him on it. But after that reunion with John Withers in 2001, and especially in Withers' presence, he opened up -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Brian Todd, a beautiful story indeed. Thanks very much for reporting it. Brian Todd at the World War II Memorial here in Washington.

And remember, you can always catch us at this time, 5:00 p.m. Eastern on WOLF BTLIZER REPORTS. I'll be back tomorrow at noon as well. Until then, thanks very much for joining us. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now, Lou standing by in New York -- Lou.

LOU DOBBS, HOST, "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT": Thank you, Wolf. Have a great evening.

END

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 May 9, 2005 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, a new scientific study being released at this hour, and it's on this question: Are the brains of gay men different from the brains of straight men? We'll have an exclusive interview with the author of this scientific study.
Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

On the offensive: U.S. troops in a major new attack against the insurgents. But will it stop the bombings in Baghdad?

Past and future: President Bush honors Soviet war sacrifices at a Red Square review. But he's more in tune with the vision of a new Europe next door in Georgia.

Shoot-out: a car chase ends in a barrage of bullets. Why so much gunfire in a residential neighborhood?

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, for Monday, May 9th, 2005.

BLITZER: Thanks for joining us. We begin in Iraq, where U.S. forces have now launched an all-out assault on insurgents in the western desert. The area near the Syrian border is seen as a major infiltration route for foreign fighters, and the U.S. military says it's finding and killing many of them. Let's go straight to our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre. Jamie?

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the U.S. military is claiming to have killed as many as 100 insurgents over the past two days in a major offensive aimed at disrupting the network led by Abu Musab al Zarqawi, which has been operating from various areas stretching over to Iraq's boarder with Syria. The operation is centered on a desert area north of the Euphrates River, believed to be a sanctuary for foreign insurgents who slip across the boarder from Syria. The offensive is dubbed "Operation Matador," and is being carried out by at least a thousand U.S. troops, including Marines from the 2nd Marine Division. Colonel Bob Chase is the unit's operations officer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COL. BOB CHASE, 2ND U.S. MARINE DIVISION: We are seeing a significant atmospheric here in the Al Anbar Province, where the people are starting to be frustrated with these insurgents and with these foreign fighters, are reporting their locations to us, are telling us where they are. (END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: The U.S. claims it's getting good intelligence not just from average Iraqis, but also from Abu Musab al Zarqawi's inner circle. This chart produced by the U.S. military purports to show how Zarqawi's followers are falling one by one. In an unusual move that Pentagon officials concede is a psychological ploy, a news release accompanying the chart includes paraphrased comments reported to have come from interrogations of captured Zarqawi followers.

One, named Dr. Hassan, is said to have conceded "Zarqawi's network is rapidly declining," saying "each high-profile capture leads to the feeling that the end of the organization is near."

Another identified as a non-Iraqi is quoted as saying, "A lot of foreign fighters were leaving all over Iraq," and that "many felt they had lost everything and it wasn't worth fighting any more."

Now that might sound like propaganda, but the U.S. military calls it "information operations." Still, officials admit, it's an effort to compromise Zarqawi's network by making him doubt who he can trust. It's also aimed at driving a wedge between his foreign followers and Iraqis who may be tired of killing fellow Iraqis on his behalf. Wolf.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon. Thanks.

And earlier today, I spoke with CNN military analyst, retired U.S. Army Brigadier General James Marks, a senior intelligence officer during the invasion of Iraq. He says coalition forces have long had their eyes on this target area of the offensive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES MARKS, U.S. ARMY, (RET): It's been no mystery to the coalition forces at all that there are a lot of rat lines, there are infiltration routes, old historical commerce routes.

BLITZER: What do you mean by rat lines?

MARKS: Old historical commerce routes between Syria and Iraq.

BLITZER: Where smuggling was going on.

MARKS: Smuggling would take place, and this is an uncontrolled border.

Now, the coalition forces have known that for a very long time. And so what you have is a combination of coalition presence as well as the burgeoning Iraqi presence on the border -- they know that area much better than any coalition force -- and surveillance, and that's technical means of surveillance, unmanned aerial vehicles, satellite photography, signals intelligence. So it's a combination of capabilities that are in place to detect when there's movement.

Now what's different now obviously is the coalition forces have gotten some very precise intelligence, what's called actionable intelligence, and they've initiated this offensive operation to go after those that are coming across the border.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Brigadier General Spider Marks speaking with me earlier today.

U.S. Troops may be on the offensive, but the car bombings are continuing. Three blasts rocked Baghdad today, killing two Iraqi police officers and four civilians. Fourteen people were wounded. Police say two of today's bombings were suicide attacks aimed at security checkpoints.

Over the past 10 days alone, the bombings have claimed more than 300 lives.

And there's now word from the U.S. military that two Marines were killed during a five-hour battle yesterday in Afghanistan. The spokeswoman says the clash took place near the eastern city of Jalalabad when the Marines tracked down a band of rebels. The two Marines died while cleaning a cave after U.S. jets pounded the insurgents holed up inside. The military says two insurgents are confirmed dead, and as many as 21 others may have been killed.

News here in Washington: The clash between the Senate Republicans and the Senate Democrats over some of President Bush's judicial nominees may soon come to a head. Looming over it all, the majority leader, Bill Frist's threat to ban filibusters when it comes to confirming these judicial nominees.

Our congressional correspondent, Joe Johns is up on Capitol Hill. He has the latest. Joe?

JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, more attempts today to try to break the impasse and avoid a showdown over the filibuster. So far no magic formula.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS (voice over): On the fourth anniversary of Priscilla Owen's first nomination to the federal bench, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was trying to put to rest claims by Democrats that he once admonished Owen for judicial activism.

ATTORNEY GENERAL ALBERTO GONZALES: Judges disagree from time to time on particular issues. That doesn't in any way detract from my view that she would make a terrific judge on the 5th Circuit. I've never accused her of being an activist judge.

JOHNS: It's important because Judge Owen, who once served with Gonzales on the Texas Supreme Court, could be first test case nominee when and if the majority leader tries to get judicial filibusters ruled unconstitutional in a Senate floor vote.

The end of a week-long Senate recess renewed the sparring between right and left on and off Capitol Hill over whether Democrats should have the right to demand a 60-vote majority to put a federal judge on the bench.

SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R), TEXAS: Fundamentally what we have is a partisan minority blocking a bipartisan majority from being able to act on the Senate floor. And this is something that we think needs to come to an end.

JOHNS: Meanwhile, attempts to find a way out of a full blown confrontation continue. The Senate Democratic leader proposed moving forward with the vote on one nominee who was not among the most controversial judges.

SEN. MINORITY LEADER HARRY REID, (D), NEVADA: We know the difference between opposing nominees and blocking nominees. And I believe this is the time to put all of this behind us.

JOHNS: There was also a setback in a behind-the-scenes negotiation to get six Republicans and six Democrats essentially to declare a truce. Senator Trent Lott, the chairman of the Rules Committee, put out a statement saying he'd been trying to find common ground, but there is no deal.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS: Still in doubt is the timing of any confrontation on the Senate floor. One thing is clear: Early this week, the Senate has to deal with the Iraq supplemental spending bill. That, of course, a high priority in the House and down at the White House.

Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: All right, Joe Johns on Capitol Hill. Thanks.

A gruesome discovery in Illinois. Coming up, the latest on those two missing 8-year-old girls. New information just being released this hour.

Also, does biology play a part in determining sexual orientation? We'll have an exclusive interview with the lead researcher of a new scientific study. That's also being released this hour.

Also ahead, did sheriff deputies overreact, or was their barrage of gunfire justified? We'll go live to the scene of the shooting near L.A.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Now to the president and his overseas journey. His hip-shaking may not be earth-shaking, but it may well be a sign that he prefers the pro-Western mood in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia to an earlier Soviet-style ceremony in Moscow.

Our chief national correspondent John King is with the president. And he's covering the latest stop, Tblisi, in that Republic of Georgia -- John. JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the president clearly is in high spirits to be here.

He's a man known back in Washington for going to bed by 10:00 at night. His wife mockingly called him Mr. Excitement at the recent White House Correspondents Association dinner. But the president went to dinner in old town Tblisi with the president of Georgia and the first lady, Laura Bush, tonight. And when he came out a cultural demonstration was under way, the band playing Georgian music. Mr. Bush took a few moments to, at least, attempt to dance, as you see the pictures. Clearly in high spirits. The reason, aides say, is because tomorrow here in Freedom Square, he will salute the Rose Revolution that brought democracy to this former Soviet Republic 18 months ago. Mr. Bush, aides say, will hold out Georgia now as a beacon to the region, even to Russia, a democracy with which he has had some differences in recent days.

Security is extraordinary for the president's outdoor speech. Local officials say they expect if the weather is nice perhaps 50,000 people or more. Mr. Bush again will hold out Georgia as a thriving young democracy. And he's hoping that among those listening are leaders in neighboring Russia. Georgia and Russia still have some tensions. Mr. Bush has had tensions with his friend Vladimir Putin over what he believes is backsliding on Russia's commitment to democracy.

Those tensions, though, not apparent today. An extraordinary scene in Red Square, the place where Stalin, Brezhnev, Khrushchev, other Soviet leaders once stood reviewing the troops in Red Square. A military parade today -- in the viewing stand, the president of the United States in the seat of honor next to his good friend Vladimir Putin. Aides say the president, of course, said very little publicly while in Moscow, so aides say there was not an opportunity nor was it appropriate to press his concerns about Russia's commitment to democracy. But Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told us Mr. Bush did make those points quite forcefully in private.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: We obviously, believe that this country can be a great democracy. That it needs to make further steps in order to do that. But President Putin and President Bush's relationship, in fact, enables them to talk about these issues.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Now, Mr. Putin was not happy that Mr. Bush started in Latvia, once under Soviet occupation, ending his trip here in Georgia, the former Soviet Republic. But the White House aides and the president himself said he considers it his duty to promote democracy around the world. Says he's not trying to lecture Mr. Putin, but he does hope Mr. Putin will take notice -- and welcome, not try to intimidate, the new Democracies on his doorstep -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's John King reporting for us. John, thanks very much. Have a safe journey home. Other news we're following right here in the United States. Two eight-year-old girls who disappeared only yesterday have now been found, unfortunately, both dead. Authorities in Zion, Illinois -- that's about 45 miles north of Chicago -- say the bodies of the little girls were found in a nature area this morning. Police are investigating the deaths as homicides.

Officials began a news conference just a few minutes ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. RICHARD KELLER, LAKE COUNTY CORONER: It appears to be stab wounds. And I know one of the questions that was out there was about sexual assault. We have found no evidence of sexual assault on exam.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: We'll continue to watch this story for you, get some more information as it becomes available. Another heart-wrenching story out there.

When we come back, just released at this hour, brand new research on the long-running debate over what causes homosexuality. Do gay men have a different kind of brain than straight men? Is the chemistry different? This is a story you'll see only here on CNN. We've got the lead researcher of this study. She'll join us.

Also, what the mayor of Spokane, Washington, says about allegations he had sexual relations with young men.

And remembering World War II. We'll hear from a lieutenant who defied orders to help a Jewish concentration camp survivor. Another story you will see only here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

Just released at this hour, results of a new study that could have some major implications on a hot button issue. Researchers in Sweden have found that the brain of gay men and straight men respond differently to chemicals derived from hormones. And that, according to one scientific expert, clearly shows biology plays a key part in determining sexual orientation. The study will be published in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences here in the United States. The report's lead researcher, Dr. Ivanka Savic, joined me on the phone from Stockholm, Sweden. I asked her what we've learned from this study.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. IVANKA SAVIC, KAROLINSKA INSTITUTE: Well, basically what we learned is that homosexual and heterosexual men showed in this study a different physiological response to pheromone-like compounds to putative pheromones. And this response was detected in the regions of the brain, which are actually designated for sexual behavior. BLITZER: In other words, they were responding to various smells in a different way, is that what you're saying, straight men as opposed to gay men?

SAVIC: They were responding -- they were exposed -- they were exposed to ordinary smells, and they were exposed to so called putative pheromones, candidate compounds for body odors. They did not know what they were smelling, and they showed a different response, with respect to pheromones, and a completely similar response with respect to ordinary odorants.

BLITZER: What your study also showed, and correct me if I'm wrong, was that gay men, their response to these specific kinds of smells, was similar to women as opposed to straight men?

SAVIC: It was not identical to women's response, but it was more similar to heterosexual women's response than to heterosexual man's response, yes.

BLITZER: So what does this mean, that the brain of a gay man is different than the brain of a straight man?

SAVIC: No. This is not a conclusion of -- actually, the study does not answer today's (ph) question. But the study says -- shows -- that there's a different physiological response in gay men compared to heterosexual men. Now, that could have a different explanation. That leads two alternative explanations to our finding.

BLITZER: What are they?

SAVIC: One is that the gay men were more exposed to the specific so-called male compound, and that their brain may be desensitized to the compound due to large exposure, just as in women. Another explanation is that there is a reorganization of neuronal networks in the brain of gay men, and this could be either hard-wired or secondary to the activity.

BLITZER: So what does this study, though, show, from your perspective, on the longstanding debate whether homosexuality is something you're born with or something you acquire in the course of a lifetime? In other words, nature versus nurture.

SAVIC: It does not give a direct answer to nature-versus- nurture, but it shows that this response is not a chosen response. So, it is a biological, immediate response that we detect within one minute. So, it is a biological response, but it does not answer to the question whether this is hard-wired or secondary. We have to do full lab studies to investigate that.

BLITZER: More research required. All right, Dr. Savic, thanks very much for sharing the results of your study with our viewers.

SAVIC: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: And, when we come back, nuclear ambitions: two members of the president's so-called axis of evil may be developing weapons of mass destruction. The former U.S. defense secretary William Cohen standing by to join us live to discuss the growing threats from North Korea, and Iran.

Plus, caught on tape, why a highway chase ended in a barrage of bullets. We'll go live to the scene.

And later, scandal at city hall: a mayor's private life exposed. Did this hometown newspaper, though, go too far? We'll explore. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

Iran says it will resume uranium-enrichment activities within days. Enriched uranium is the key ingredient in nuclear weapons. Iran last year suspended enriching uranium and began talks with the European Union, aimed at resolving the dispute. The Bush administration accuses Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons which Tehran strongly denies, and it has threatened to take the issue to the U.N. Security Council if Iran resumes enrichment-related work.

There's another serious concern to the Bush administration and others, namely, North Korea's nuclear program. Dr. Mohammed ElBaradei, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency told me that the agency estimates North Korea already has perhaps five or six nuclear weapons. That's similar to the U.S. assessment, and as we've been reporting, recent satellite images indicate that North Korea could perhaps be on the verge of testing its first nuclear device.

Joining us now to talk about that and more, our guest, the former U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen, our world affairs analyst. He's chairman and CEO of The Cohen Group.

Let's talk about North Korea first. Is it realistic, realistic to assume that Kim Jong-Il could do what Moammar Gadhafi did and simply give up his nuclear program in exchange for any number of concessions?

WILLIAM COHEN, THE COHEN GROUP: Oh, I think it's quite possible that he could do this. As a matter of fact, President Bush, a couple of years ago, made a -- an offer to him, basically saying, if you give up your nuclear ambitions we have a robust economic package for you.

BLITZER: The Clinton administration made that offer and thought it could live with it, but he was cheating even as he said he wasn't.

COHEN: He was cheating, and any kind of an agreement would have to have far more intrusive inspection to prevent any cheating in the future. But there is a robust economic package, and that's precisely the message that the six-party talks were designed to communicate, getting them back to the table. There has to be some redemption of the rhetoric on both sides. China has to play a more important role than they're willing to play to date. And that is, to bring them back to the table.

BLITZER: He's really upping the ante now, Kim Jong-Il if -- and this is still a big if -- if he goes forward with something he's not yet done, namely a nuclear test.

COHEN: If he goes forward, I think there would be serious repercussions. You already have Japanese delegates and ministers talking about the possibility of taking it to the Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea. North Koreans have said that would be the equivalent of a declaration of war. So, there are serious consequences to the North Koreans going forward. If they take the suspension of the processing -- they shut down one of the nuclear plants and so they could reprocess the spent fuel rods that they have, then the tests of a short range missile, all culminating now with the potential of them digging a ditch which might be -- it might be a ruse but might be the real deal.

BLITZER: If he were to go ahead with the test, the pressure on Japan to go ahead and build a nuclear bomb, would be enormous, and that would -- a lot of people think -- make the Chinese crazy.

COHEN: Well, South Korea as well as Japan. You may recall that the South Koreans were also testing -- at least, researching -- the possibility of having a nuclear capability which has since, I assume, has been shut down. But South Korea, Japan, that certainly would pose a risk for China. They don't want to see that happen. Which is another reason why the Chinese had to become even more involved in pressuring the North Koreans to come back to the table.

BLITZER: Let's briefly talk about Iran. It looks like they're going to go forward and start reprocessing this enriched uranium. What does that mean?

COHEN: Well, it means that they are trying to put as much pressure on the Europeans as well as the United States to come up with a package which they think would satisfactory to them. The E.U. has been trying to bring the United States into the negotiating strategy. The president has sent some signals that we might be supportive of the E.U. trying to bring about a cessation of this program as such. It needs carrots, according to the E.U.; according to the United States, it needs some sticks as well.

And the question is, what kind of a package would be acceptable to the Europeans to put forward and whether the United States will completely support that. There are some in the administration that believe no matter what the agreement is, the Iranians are going to go forward with a program that will give them the capability of declaring themselves to be a nuclear power at some point in the future.

BLITZER: We'll watch both of these nuclear stories unfold. Thanks very much, William Cohen, as usual.

COHEN: A pleasure, Wolf.

BLITZER: Let's take a quick look at some other stories making news "Around the World."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(voice-over): Ethnic rebel groups in Myanmar are strongly denying any role in deadly weekend bombings in the capital. The military government blames the rebels for the three almost- simultaneous blasts which tore through two crowded supermarkets and a convention center, killing at least 11 people and wounding more than 160.

Two Rwandan businessmen went on trial today in Belgium on charges they played key roles in the Rwanda genocide. They're accused of helping Hutu militias kill 50,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus, who were among 800,000 killed in the bloodbath in 1994. Both men deny wrongdoing.

Thousands of Cubans turned out in Havana for the first outdoor concert by an American rock band, and Audioslave didn't disappoint, thundering out song after song for more than three hours. And that's our look "Around the World."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER (on camera): When we come back, cops in Compton, California, open fire. How this barrage of bullets ended up hurting more than just a runaway suspect. That's coming up.

Plus, one city's mayor caught up in a web of sex allegations. Are the news media going too far when investigating the private lives of public figures? I'll ask Frank Sesno. He's standing by. He's now professor of public policy and communication.

And later, meet a World War II veteran, a black man, who helped shelter a young Jewish boy despite strict orders not to do so. Our Brian Todd standing by with the story you will see only here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: A barrage of bullets flew in a residential neighborhood near Los Angeles last night as police cornered a suspect after a pursuit. But some are questioning whether the officers overreacted.

CNN's Peter Viles is in Compton, California. He has the story and the videotape of the incident. Peter?

PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, as you mentioned, still a lot of questions here in Compton -- starting to get some of the facts involved here. You'll see this in a moment on tape. Ten deputies, firing what we now know are 90 to 95 rounds at a vehicle. All of this happening in about 16 seconds. We know this because all of it was captured on tape.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Midnight, reports of gunshots in Compton, California. Police rush to the scene and so did independent news photographers.

Sheriff's deputies believe this white SUV is involved in the shooting, but the driver refuses to pull over. Twelve minutes later, deputies have him cornered. And then -- and it's not clear why from this video -- ten deputies open fire.

This isn't the first time gunfire was ever heard in Compton, but nothing like this.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was like being in Iraq. You know, all of a sudden, all hell is breaking loose.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was on the floor crying, saying, why do you have to kill him? Don't shoot him. Why do they have to do him like that? They don't have to kill him? Because I thought he was dead. It was like, set it off, and like I told them, it was gunshot at OK Corral.

VILES: After the shooting stopped, the drama wasn't over. Sheriff's deputies kept their guns drawn.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Watch your crossfire! Watch your crossfire!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get out of here. There's shots fired.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go!

VILES: Authorities now say the driver of the vehicle, Winston Hayes (ph), was not armed, and yet 10 deputies fired their weapons. The question now is, why?

SHERIFF LEE BACA, LOS ANGELES COUNTY: What we're going to look at is, what was the triggering point for the shooting? That's the key question right now.

VILES: It's not clear yet how many times the driver was shot, but he was reportedly in good condition at a local hospital. A sheriff's deputy was also shot, probably from friendly fire. He, too, in good condition.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VILES (on camera): Wolf, again, the key facts here, the driver, not armed, shot four times we now know. Deputies -- 10 deputies firing 90 shots and the sheriff still doesn't know -- still can't tell us why they fired in the first place. Wolf?

BLITZER: What about the possibility they were firing at the tires to get a flat tire, because it looked like those tires were pretty flat.

VILES: Possible. Ninety bullets -- some of them must have gone into the tires. Four of them went into this individual. One of them ricocheted and hit a deputy in the chest protector -- the bullet protector -- so he was saved. But a number of them went into houses here. We've seen bullet holes in windows and houses here. So it was a pretty dangerous scene, and some of these bullets were flying eye- high or higher. They didn't all go at the tires, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Peter Viles reporting. A lot of investigation still required. Thanks very much.

Two adults were killed and more than 20 children were injured today in suburban Kansas City. Investigators say a bus carrying elementary school students slammed into two vehicles at a busy intersection in Liberty, Missouri. At least two students received life threatening injuries; an investigation, now under way.

Danger on the highway: it's not just the risk of having an accident. Motorists also face other threats, including the possibility of a violent attack.

CNN's Anderson Cooper is in Los Angeles. He's joining us now live with more. This is a very worrisome development we've seen lately, Anderson.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it was, and that shooting we just saw, very dramatic, occurring here earlier this morning. Tonight on 360, we are going to be spending the entire hour looking at our freeway culture in the United States, in particular, the wave of shootings that have occurred here in Los Angeles on the freeways in the last two months. There have been at least eight separate incidences; four people have been killed while driving their cars. And what is so scary to many here in California is that some of these people allegedly were not involved in altercations with other drivers. They were simply in their vehicles, driving along and all of a sudden they were shot. Four people have been killed, a number of others injured. There have also just been some random shots at cars. Very scary for people here, for drivers on the highway. As you know, Wolf, so many people here spend so much time on the highway. It is a major part of their day -- Wolf.

BLITZER: I think it's going to affect people who drive on highways all over the country. Must-viewing TV tonight on "ANDERSON COOPER 360." Anderson, thanks very much. Anderson's program airs a little more than an hour or so from now, 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 Pacific.

And when we come back, we'll have more on the news we're watching. But though at the top of the hour, "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT." Lou's standing by in New York with a preview -- Lou.

LOU DOBBS, HOST, LOU DOBBS TONIGHT: Wolf, thank you very much.

At 6:00 Eastern, at the top of the hour now we'll be reporting on Iran's nuclear challenge. Iran tonight is definitely moving closer to building nuclear weapons. Our guest -- our special guest tonight, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Pat Roberts.

Also selling out our national security. New concerns are being raised about the sale of a critical part of the world's telecommunications network to India. We'll have that story.

And the battle over judicial filibusters is intensifying. President Bush declares it is time for the Senate to vote on his nominees. We'll have that story and a great deal more at the top of the hour. Please join us. Now back to you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Lou, we will be joining you. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts at the top of the hour.

When we come back a private life and a public figure. A mayor with an anti-gay voting record caught up in a gay sex scandal. But is that just the beginning? Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Spokane, Washington, is being rocked by a city hall scandal that's making headlines around the country. It centers on the city's mayor -- allegations of child molestation and a controversial outing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAYOR JIM WEST (R), SPOKANE, WASHINGTON: I'm a law-abiding citizen and I believe my public record of service stands on its own merit.

BLITZER (voice-over): Spokane Mayor Jim West reacting last week to a stunning expose from the "Spokesman-Review Newspaper." After a three-year investigation the paper reported that West used his positions as mayor, sheriff's deputy and Boy Scout leader to develop sexual relationships with boys and young men. The expose included allegations by two men with criminal records who say that West molested them two decades ago. An accusation the mayor says is false.

WEST: I categorically deny any allegations about incidents that supposedly occurred 24-years-ago as alleged by two convicted felons and about which I have no knowledge.

BLITZER: But West, a conservative Republican and former legislator with a staunch anti-gay voting record, did not deny having sex with men.

WEST: The newspaper also reported that I have visited a gay Internet chat line and had relations with adult men. I don't deny that.

BLITZER: Although last week he wouldn't call himself gay, as allegations of online sex in city hall emerge, there was a change in the mayor's tone. And today the "Spokesman-Review" reported that West called the paper's editor at home early yesterday morning to discuss coverage of the scandal. The paper describes West as emotional and rambling at times during the 30-minute conversation. And quotes him as saying, "I'm being destroyed because I am a gay man, which is fine. I've been in public life. I can accept that. Because I am a gay man, because of this double life, it has been hell." Also raising eyebrows in this case the way "The Spokesman-Review" uncovered the story. To confirm an allegation by an 18-year-old gay man the paper hired a computer expert to trace West's participation in a gay chat room. And then pose as 17 and 18-year-old young men. The paper reported that during the online chats West variously offered gifts, favors and even a city hall internship -- some call the sting unethical. But "The Spokesman-Review" editor says extreme measures were necessary to authenticate and verify the story.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: On its editorial page, "The Spokesman-Review" has called for Mayor West to resign, something he says he does not intend to do. But did the newspaper go too far in exposing the mayor's private life?

Here to talk about that CNN's special correspondent, Frank Sesno. He's now a professor of public policy of communication at George Mason University in Virginia. Frank, thanks very much.

So what's the answer, did the newspaper go too far in what's being described as this sting operation?

FRANK SESNO, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there have to be several thresholds set to do something like this, because this is very difficult. And any time in journalism you get into misrepresenting or creating a situation you can be accused of entrapment or worse. But we know about hidden cameras, Wolf. We know that things are done sometimes, because it's the only way to get the story.

And several questions have to be answered, was it compelling, was it in the public interest? Was there something that couldn't be ascertained any other way? In all that, I think the answer is, yes. And because of the location of the Internet location of all of this, because it had to be corroborated.

BLITZER: Because it was coming from city hall.

SESNO: It was coming from city hall. It was an elected mayor. There were allegation of underage solicitation, and using the power of the office for favors and other things. So, this is very much in the taxpayers' interest. Interesting in the quote that you had there a moment ago from the mayor's conversation with Steven Smith the editor of the paper. He also said the major, "I'm not mad at the paper. You're just doing your job. I know that. I'm glad, at least, you're trying to verify everything." So, even the mayor understands that what the paper was doing, though extraordinary, was probably justified.

BLITZER: But I -- I think, when I heard about this story and the sting operation that this news agency engaged in, I began to ask myself, is this something that we would do? If you were still the Washington bureau chief of CNN, and you got word that some gay Congressmen, let's say, was engaging in chat rooms, using his office on Capitol Hill to do so, would you go that far? SESNO: Well, it would be very difficult. And you know, you and I would sit down and have a long conversation about that. Is that the only way to ascertain the information? What else have you been doing. Is this really the result of a three-year investigation? Do you have names, do you have transcripts, do you have documents? The answer is yes in the case of "The Spokesman-Review" and what they did in Spokane. If you were to say to me as a reporter, we have to nail this and we need to find out if this person on this Internet site is really the mayor before you go on the air or go into print with something like that, you need to nail that down. And that may take some extraordinary measures.

It's like the Food Lion case that ABC did and got into huge trouble with. Back in 1977, "The Chicago Sun-Times" undercover reporters actually bought a bar, The Mirage, it was called, to demonstrate the degree of corruption in city hall. They were able to buy their way past all kinds of violations and get a license. Those were creating circumstances. I spoke to Tom Rosenstiel, he's head of the Project for Excellence In Journalism, and I asked him whether this sort of thing is done. And he says, and in his view, and he's looked at this very carefully, yes, if it reaches that certain threshold. This one did.

BLITZER: Frank Sesno, thanks for joining us.

SESNO: Good to see you.

BLITZER: Good work.

Let's take a look at some stories you may have missed this past weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): A Georgia lawman says he's reopening the Atlanta child murders investigation. The case involves 29 slayings between 1979 and 1981. The suspect in most of the deaths, Wayne Williams, was convicted for two of the slayings, but DeKalb County Police Chief Louis Graham says he believes Williams is innocent.

Coast Guard rescue. The crew of a Coast Guard helicopter pulled two men to safety off North Carolina. Their sailboat was caught in a storm, and rough water knocked them overboard at least twice before they could be rescued.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And they're off!

BLITZER: Dark horse. A 50-to-1 longshot named Giacomo won the 131st Kentucky Derby, beating the field that included a heavily- favored horse owned by New York Yankees boss George Steinbrenner. It was the second-biggest upset in Kentucky Derby history.

And that's our weekend snapshot.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: World War II liberator: meet a black American veteran who risked it all to help shelter a young Jewish concentration camp survivor. That's coming up.

First, though, he was Princess Diana's confidant. We profile Paul Burrell in CNN's 25th anniversary series, "Then & Now."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER (voice-over): Princess Diana called him her rock, but some consider former butler Paul Burrell the man who helped put the royal family's reputation on the rocks.

Burrell was the princess' most trusted servant in the tumultuous years before her fatal car crash in 1997. He served the royal family for more than 21 years. But in 2001, Burrell was arrested and accused of stealing property belonging to Diana. His trial ended dramatically, when Queen Elizabeth herself intervened on his behalf.

PAUL BURRELL, FORMER ROYAL BUTLER: My name was cleared, bringing to an end 21 months of hell.

ANNOUNCER: No longer a butler, Burrell lives in Wales with his wife and two sons. He owns a florist shop, but has greater ambitions.

BURRELL: I'd like people to say, oh, there's Paul Burrell, not Princess Diana's butler. Eventually, I'd like to become my own person. And I will do things in TV and presenting roles, history, etiquette, manners, style, those things which I know so well.

ANNOUNCER: A regular on celebrity game shows, Burrell has also published a book, "A Royal Duty," about his life with Diana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Troops who survive war and return home to resume a normal life carry with them lifelong memories. On this 60th anniversary of the end of the World War II in Europe, CNN's Brian Todd has a remarkable story of one GI and the friend he simply called Peewee. Brian's joining us now live from the World War II Memorial here in Washington -- Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this story is about two people who seemingly couldn't be more different, but who found common ground at a crucial time.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD (voice-over): When you speak to John Withers, the phrase "war hero" doesn't immediately come to mind. The retired State Department diplomat is self-effacing and bookish, much the same as he was 60 years ago.

Spring, 1945; 28-year-old Lieutenant John Withers commands a truck convoy carrying supplies to the front lines -- a company of all black soldiers in a segregated Army. A company under strict orders, do not take in displaced camp survivors wandering around. Allied commanders fear survivors from the nearby Dachau camp will spread disease if they travel with convoys. Lieutenant Withers is prepared to carry out those orders one day, when two young boys beg his soldiers for shelter.

JOHN WITHERS, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: My intention was to immediately call the MPs and have them sent wherever.

TODD: That's until he actually sees them. One of them, a 16- year-old Polish Jew named Mieczyslaw Wajgenszperg, later said he'd appealed to the black soldiers for help because he knew they had faced discrimination and might be sympathetic. For more than a year these men house, clothe, feed and teach the boy, who they call Peewee because of his unpronounceable name. Their commander knows he's taking an enormous risk.

WITHERS: I even could have gotten a dishonorable discharge. And imagine a black soldier coming back to the South, where my home was, with a dishonorable or a less than honorable discharge.

TODD: Withers, his men and Peewee make it to war's end undetected. When Withers rotates back to the U.S., the two never expect to see each other again.

Decades later, after hearing all the stories, Withers' oldest son decides he'll try to track down Peewee.

He finds him in Connecticut. He had changed his name to Martin Weigen, and had become a successful businessman. The boy named Peewee and a lieuteannt who took him in are reunited after 55 years.

Withers, now 88, hasn't forgotten the lesson taught to him by this young survivor simply by his demeanor.

WITHERS: You must not fall into this intense anger, because if you are -- against the sufferings and the things that have been done to you. Instead, you have to resolve it within yourself.

TODD: The two men and their families spend two valuable years visiting, catching up. Martin Weigen, who insisted that Withers still call him Peewee, died in 2003.

John Withers, who 60 years earlier had given a young man the home he so desperately needed, now comforts that man's children.

BARBARA BERGREN, MARTIN WEIGEN'S DAUGHTER: I have to hug him, I have to kiss him. We look at him. He's one of our heroes.

EDWARD WEIGEN, MARTIN WEIGEN'S SON: He's a very kind person. He's a gentle person. That's how our father was, too.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: Martin Weigen's children say as long as they were growing up, he barely mentioned his experience even wehn they pressed him on it. But after that reunion with John Withers in 2001, and especially in Withers' presence, he opened up -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Brian Todd, a beautiful story indeed. Thanks very much for reporting it. Brian Todd at the World War II Memorial here in Washington.

And remember, you can always catch us at this time, 5:00 p.m. Eastern on WOLF BTLIZER REPORTS. I'll be back tomorrow at noon as well. Until then, thanks very much for joining us. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now, Lou standing by in New York -- Lou.

LOU DOBBS, HOST, "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT": Thank you, Wolf. Have a great evening.

END

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