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CNN Live Sunday

Interview with Carol Martin; National Guardsman Working At Ground Zero Not Getting Retiremt Credit

Aired May 29, 2005 - 18:00   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.


CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Changing tactics in fighting the war on terror: What the Bush administration is planning to make the fight more effective.
And the worries over stolen nuclear weapons and what's being done to prevent terrorists from getting nukes.

Also, paying tribute this Memorial Day weekend to understand one of the soldiers who died fighting the war in Iraq.

It is Sunday, May 29, and you're watching CNN LIVE SUNDAY.

Good evening from the CNN center in Atlanta. I'm Carol Lin. Our top story in just a moment. But first, stories making news right now.

Authorities are investigating a shooting scene near Columbus, Ohio. Six people were found shot to death in two houses outside the town of Bellfontaine today. Four of the victims are adults, but two are children. A seventh victim, a girl, with a neck wound, has been taken to the hospital.

In Iraq, the massive Operation Lightning will strike at insurgents. 10,000 U.S. troops will help with the offensive, but far more Iraqi soldiers will be involved. It is the largest undertaking so far for Iraq's new military. We are going to have much more on the mission straight ahead.

And feeling the need for speed? The only woman racing in today's Indianapolis 500, Danica Patrick came close, but no cigar. When the laps were over at the Brickyard were over, it was the Englishman Dan Wheldon winning and Patrick coming in 4th.

But on this Memorial Day weekend the Bush administration is considering a major shift in strategy in the war on terrorism. The overhaul would be designed to offset the ever-changing landscape in the fight against global terrorism. But the idea is not without its critics.

So, joining me from the White House with more details on the plan is national correspondent Bob Franken. Bob, what are you hearing?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, as the president gets set tomorrow to honor the nation's war dead, his staff, top members of his staff, are trying to rejigger the business of war.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) FRANKEN (voice-over): While President Bush made no comment as he returned from Camp David, administration sources confirmed to CNN advisers are engaged in a full-scale review of the war on terrorism.

GEN. RICHARD MYERS, JOINT CHIEF CHAIRMAN: What they're trying to do, and what we're trying to do is look at our strategy and ensure that we use the right words, the right vocabulary and focus all interest of national power, just the refinement of what our current strategy is.

FRANKEN: That strategy, since the September 11 attacks has included an intense emphasis on breaking the back of al Qaeda. Even though efforts to kill or capture Osama bin Laden have been unsuccessful, several other leaders have been removed.

Still, others have moved in. As the president's chief terrorism adviser told the "Washington Post," "nature abhors a vacuum."

So officials in and out of the administration believe the time has come to expand the focus. And the co-chairman of the 9/11 commission agrees.

LEE HAMILTON, 9/11 COMMISSION: The threat remains still very formidable, but it's much more diffuse than it was in a single little al Qaeda cell.

FRANKEN: Critics charge this review is long overdue.

SEN. CHRIS DODD, (D) CONNECTICUT: This is a debate they should have been having months ago, not just more recently, about whether or not there is a broader problem out there than just al Qaeda.

FRANKEN: In fact, the debate has been going on for some time, hampered by a delay in filling key positions in the anti-terrorism hierarchy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: And critics say that that delay has created a drift in policy. Administration people contend, however, that success, which created the need for change. Both sides agree that the war on terror is nowhere near being over -- Carol.

LIN: So, Bob it sounds like a series of complaints, but what concretely can be done?

FRANKEN: Well, what the administration sources tell me is that this is an ongoing process. We could call it a tweak, if we wanted to, that is an ever-evolving process as is an ever evolving change in the circumstances in the battle against terrorists and extremist groups.

LIN: All right. We'll see what happens. Bob Franken live at the White House, thank you.

Nuclear terrorism is considered to be one of the largest, if not the largest threat to America's security. So, this week the Homeland Security House Subcommittee met to discuss what's being done to counter the threat and how to assess -- or at least how vulnerable -- we really are to an attack. CNN's JJ Ramberg sums up the findings.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dimitri, we have credible information someone is plotting to steal two of your tactical nukes.

JJ. RAMBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A scene from a movie produced by the Nuclear Threat Initiative acting out a potential reality that is nothing short of a nightmare: terrorists getting hold of nuclear weapons.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's no question that terrorists would like to use nuclear weapons. We discovered nuclear weapons designs in the caves in Afghanistan months before September 11.

RAMBERG: The threat is large, there's enough raw materials scattered around the world to produce well over 100,000 nuclear weapons, much of it not properly protected.

ROSE GOTTEMOELLER, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT: Sometimes I've gone to facilities where they really literally have an old wooden door with a Victorian era padlock hanging on it and glass windows with no bars across the windows.

RAMBERG: United States has spear-headed steps to curb the possibility of nuclear terrorism. Half of the material in Russia is now secure. And the G-8 has pledged $20 billion to continue this work around the world.

GOTTEMOELLER: We've been working with Russia to build better fences around their facilities, to put bars over windows, to work with them to train their guard forces, to try to do everything that is necessary to ensure that their personnel are reliable, that they don't end up with an insider threat.

RAMBERG: But while there have been significant strides made in cooperation between countries, experts say there's more to be done. They worry Russia still has tactical nuclear weapons that remain vulnerable.

SAM NUNN, FORMER U.S. SENATOR: We don't have any agreement on them. We don't know how many there are. We hope the Russians know how many there are. If you don't know how many you got, then you don't know when one's missing. So, we don't know.

THOMAS KEAN, 9/11 COMMISSION: This is a threat to the American people and we should be ashamed of ourselves if we don't take it seriously and act now.

RAMBERG (on camera): Gottemeuller says she's optimistic this is a problem the United States can tackle with the right resources and support. The issue now is getting enough attention before what many people refer to as the day after. JJ Ramberg, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: CNN is committed to providing the most reliable coverage of news that affects your security. So stay tuned to CNN for the latest information day and night.

In the meantime, CNN political analyst Carlos Watson has a fresh take on this big story about nuclear proliferation. He's live in Miami right now.

Carlos, you've been working your sources well before this congressional subcommittee took up this issue. What are you hearing about the nature of nuclear weapons out there? And what the priority is going to be for the military in the days to come?

CAROL WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: There's going to be a very significant debate this summer, Carol, in Congress, that many people probably may not be on track to pay attention to: Whether or not to make much smaller nuclear weapons than the kinds that we're used to thinking about. Making nuclear weapons that may be as small as say this blackberry.

LIN: That small? Are you talking pocket-sized?

WATSON: They're often called bunker busters, or at least that's one version of them. And they're small not only in terms of size, but small, some argue, in terms of the quality of the explosion.

Interestingly enough -- and actually listen to what President Bush had to say, this past Friday, at the Naval Academy commencement speech that he gave.

LIN: Hmmm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In this time of unprecedented dangers, we need to you take on two difficult missions at once. We need you to defeat the terrorists who want to destroy what we stand for and how we live. And at the same time, we need you to transform our military for the 21st Century so we can, in turn, defeat the new adversaries who may threaten our people in the decades ahead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: Carol, you notice the president talked about significant transformation of the military.

LIN: Right.

WATSON: But he didn't talk about this conversation, this debate that will play out in terms of whether or not to begin to spending millions of dollars to fund the potential research and development of small nuclear weapons. Some people call them, as I said, bunker busters -- at least call some of them.

On the one hand, you have not just Democrats but some Republicans who say if you cross that line, if you start making nuclear weapons smaller, although you may be able to use them in different situations, you also may undercut our moral authority when we tell Iran, North Korea and others let's not go any further in terms of the spread of nuclear weapons.

Some also argue -- and some scientists recently stepped forward from the National Academy of Sciences to say that the fallout wouldn't be contained underground as some had hoped when you drop these, but that in fact, there would be significant collateral damage not only to humans but in terms of contamination above-ground.

So, when you hear talk about the nuclear option, which was the filibuster, maybe the more important nuclear conversation is going to take place this summer. It could be a symbol event in American military policy. It's one to watch.

LIN: All right. You bet.

All right. Well, size matters certainly when it comes to audience, You know, whether it's a -- you know, an entertainer or political candidate -- so, here's a pop quiz for you. What does "American Idol" have to do with the future race for president in 2008?

WATSON: Believe it or not, "American Idol" that very popular TV talent show, it reshaped 2006, maybe even 2008 politics.

LIN: Oh, Come to on!

WATSON: Oh, no. This is serious. "American Idol" in having people vote to see who the winners are, often uses text messaging, cell phone text messaging. And while that kind of technology has been very popular overseas, particularly in Europe and Asia, it hasn't been that popular here in the U.S.

But "American Idol" just went through a major campaign, more than 40 million votes were cast that way. And we may have crossed on interesting threshold in which text messaging becomes used not just by young people, but more broadly by adults. And consequently, that may mean that you'll see politicians in governments instead of just ringing your phone in order to try and get you to vote, instead of just sending you a piece of mail, may start sending you some text messages.

LIN: Oh. Carlos, listen, I go to pump gas in my car, I got the gas pump advertisements hollering at me. I got people calling me during the dinner hour trying to sell me products. Why would I want to hear from a political candidate on my text message?

WATSON: Well, whether or not you will it may not always be up to you. But interestingly enough, Carol, at least the California State Assembly agrees with you. It just passed a bill in the last several days, saying that political consultants and political candidates couldn't freely send text messages without your consent. Why? Because the way we charge for text messaging here in the U.S., the recipient, you and me actually pays for it.

So, you would be less happy getting unsolicited mail if you knew there was a bill attached to it.

But stay tuned, because you will see candidates, just as they've used other modes of technology, start to think about how to use text messaging to raise money, to get you to come to a rally, to get to you to call members of the Senate or Congress. Don't be surprised.

LIN: All right, I won't be. I may be disappointed, but I won't be surprised, Carols.

Hey, did you hear about the FBI informant -- what's her name, Colleen Rowley, the whistle-blower.

WATSON: The whistle-blower. You recall three years ago after 9/11, she was a part of the FBI and she revealed that the FBI hadn't been on top of the job in many ways. And really blew the whistle, put her career at risk in many ways, got a lot of publicity for it. She just resigned from the FBI this past December. And now she's talking about running for congressional seat in Minnesota. Very interesting.

LIN: Long shot?

WATSON: Long shot in some sense, in that the district she's running in has an incumbent, John Klein, who won not with 51 or 52 percent, but with 56 percent of the vote.

But on the other hand, we've seen whistle blowers kind of ride the ethical train to higher office in the past. One notable example, you may remember Elliott Richardson, the one time attorney general of the United States, who refused to go after the Watergate special prosecutors Richard Nixon wanted him to, resigned in protest. And he went on to serve in several other cabinets. But you recall when he ran for office a couple of times subsequently he lost. So, there may be some good and bad news in there for Colleen Rowley.

LIN: Carlos, you're also hearing about a Senate race that involves an embarrassing relative?

WATSON: We are. This past week in Tennessee, Harold Ford, the young Congressman from Memphis, Tennessee, announced that he's running for what we think will be an open seat for the Senate in 2006 when Bill Frist steps down.

Now, people have been expecting this for awhile. But it got complicated because a day later the Republican-appointed U.S. attorney announced an indictment of five members of the Tennessee legislature, including Harold Ford's uncle.

Now, even if that hadn't happened, this would be an interesting race, because there's a question about whether or not gen-Xers can start to take on serious roles in politics, including U.S. Senate. Harold Ford is 34. There's a question about whether a blue -- meaning a Democratic candidate -- can win in a red state, being Tennessee. But now there's a question about family baggage.

And we've seen the questions before. So obviously can think about Bill Clinton with his brother, Roger Clinton, who had serious drug problems. You might even think in Tennessee about the current senator, Bill Frist, who, when he ran, his father and hid brother were senior executives, founders, of one of the largest healthcare companies that at the time was being investigated in some cases sued for medical fraud.

So will family be too much baggage, too much of an anchor, or will Harold Ford be able to say, look, I love my family. We all have family issues and to the extent they beat up on me and try and link them too much, will that boomerang and will that actually help him? We'll see.

LIN: Right. Well, Bill Clinton did say I am not my brother's keeper. Maybe Harold Ford is not his uncle's keeper either.

WATSON: And you never know, it's always a chance to go on the talk shows and talk about this, right. To take it out of the normal political realm often helps the political candidate.

LIN: Oh, my. Carlos Watson, "Fresh Take." Thanks so much.

WATSON: Carol Lin, good to see you.

LIN: Well, two years ago, or Corporal Jesus Vidana was pronounced dead twice, but then CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta operated. So how is Jesus doing now? Sanjay makes a visit.

And are you selling your home or wanting to sell your home? Gerri Willis is going to talk about the housing bubble. Are we in one?

And to lift or not lift? What do you know? And what do you want to know before a surgeon makes the first cut?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Fresh attacks across Iraq today have left at least 19 people dead and many more wounded. And now U.S. and Iraqi forces are gearing up for the largest anti-insurgency offensive of its kind since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

From Baghdad, here is CNN's Ryan Chilcote.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Insurgents kept up their attacks with a string of bombings and shootings over the weekend. In the Iraqi capital, gunmen opened fire on a police station and set off a car bomb as the fighting raged. Several Iraqis were killed in the attack, at least a dozen wounded.

In another attack in Baghdad, a suicide bomber detonated a car packed with explosives outside Iraq's Oil Ministry, again, killing and wounding Iraqis.

Iraq's security forces were preparing to strike back at the insurgents over the weekend, setting up several checkpoints for Operation Lightning. It's expected to be the largest operation since the fall of Saddam.

40,000 Iraqi soldiers and police backed up by 10,000 U.S. servicemen will set up more than 600 checkpoints and conduct house-to- house searches in an effort to stop the violence that's killed some 700 Iraqis and more than 60 U.S. troops this month.

Another car bomb detonated by a suicide bomber went off south of Kirkuk outside a school. Children were among the dead.

U.S. military says a record number of car bombs went off in May, more than 140 throughout Iraq. And a senior U.S. military intelligence officer poured new light on what he called a murky and sophisticated insurgency.

According to the official, the U.S. believes there could be as many as 12,000 to 20,000 insurgents in Iraq. The vast majority of the insurgents he said are believed to be Sunni Arabs. Only 5 percent of the insurgents, says the source, are thought to be foreign fighters.

In an interview Sunday, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Richard Myers said the U.S. military believes the infamous foreigner in Iraq, Abu Musab al Zarqawi, is wounded.

(on camera): While Zarqawi's foot soldiers are believed to be small in numbers, the U.S. military says they're responsible for a disproportionately large amount of the killing. The military says all of the suicide bombers responsible for some of the most appalling casualties have been foreigners.

Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: An update now on Saddam Hussein's former right-hand man who is pleading for help from his jail cell because of what he calls a dire situation. London's "The Observer" newspaper today published several letters written by Tariq Aziz from prison in Baghdad. He says he's innocent and he's being held illegally. Aziz complains about the isolation of prison and not being allowed to receive packages or phone calls from family.

Tariq Aziz was one of the most wanted regime members in Iraq. And he is accused of committing war crimes against Iran, Kuwait and fellow Iraqis.

And more than 1,600 American troops have lost their lives in Iraq. This Memorial Day weekend, CNN honors the nation's fallen heroes. And we now remember First Lieutenant Brian Slavenas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RON SLAVENAS, FATHER OF BRIAN SLAVENAS: My name is Ron Slavenas. And I'm the father of First Lieutenant Brian Slavenes.

Most parents praise their children to a high heaven. But I think Brian was a very unusual person. He was generally known as the gentle giant. He stood about 6'5. He accomplished quite a bit.

While he was going for his engineering degree at the University of Illinois, he also took up aviation. He received his flight instructor certificate, also played beautiful piano.

And he enjoyed flying, all the way up to the end. In his letters, he was flying over historical sites in Iraq, over Babylon. And it just came to a tragic end.

Basically, he was flying troops from one place to another, the Chinook was hit by a shoulder-fired missile. He did the very best to crash-land it, you know, 20 people survived. 16 died, but 20 did survive. Some were badly injured, but maybe their skills helped to reduce the casualty.

It's painful.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lieutenant Brian Jonathan Slavenas.

SLAVENAS: You have to go on and make the best of the situation. And by reaching out to others. That has been helpful for me. I'm Lithuanian-born. And I went through some rough times, Second World War, and what have you, and I know what it is so lose a country and what it means to live in a Democratic country as compared to oppressive dictatorships like Nazi Germany, or Soviet Russia.

So when I came here, I thought I owed this country something, so I joined up. Unfortunately, I wish I could take Brian's place, you know? I should be the one that crashed not Brian. That's how I feel.

I would gladly give my life, to exchange it for his life, you know. Which is unusual until you lose a child, it's extremely painful.

Maybe we'll have a free Iraq someday. That would be my wish. Then maybe some of the losses are not that much in vain, you know? The loss can never be replaced. The pain will always be there, but maybe there will be somewhat of a comfort to know a free Iraq, a Democratic Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Every week at this time, we like to bring you the more personal stories from the front lines. Today the story of a U.S. Marine originally believed killed in action, but he defied the odds with help from our own senior medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: On April 8, 2003, 25- year-old Jesus Vidana lay clinging to life after a sniper bullet pierced his helmet during a gunfight, spraying shrapnel into his brain.

A fellow Marine pronounced him dead on the scene. Later on the chopper, he was pronounced dead again, but he was alive, barely. Jesus's pulse was faint.

The closest qualified surgeon was in fact, me, just a few miles away, just outside of Baghdad, covering the Devil Docs medical team for CNN.

JESUS VIDANA, SOLDIER SAVED BY DR. GUPTA: They told us that a journalist from CNN who was performing surgery and I say, a journalist? You know, but, then, yes, he's a doctor.

GUPTA: We rushed into surgery with the most rudimentary tools to save him -- what we had laying around, a drill and IV bag to help clear out the blood clot in Jesus's brain.

No doubt, medical necessity, a life teetering on a fragile precipice, and perhaps fate would come together that day. And after two hours of surgery, Jesus pulled through.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thank God because I mean -- I thought -- you know, I thought he was going to pass away.

GUPTA: He was airlifted to Spain for more operations and to begin his recovery, and then it was back home for even more operations and rehab to regain some of what he'd lost that day in Iraq -- his ability to walk, talk, feed and bathe himself. We would reunite nearly a year after our first encounter in Iraq.

(on camera): How you doing?

VIDANA: Pretty good.

GUPTA (voice-over): Even then, Jesus' recovery after such a severe head wound was impressive, but he had a long way to go. He still had trouble walking, especially using the left side of his body. And while he may have left the physical war behind him in Iraq, the psychological one remained with him.

VIDANA: Emotionally I think -- I still have, like, a tough time dealing with it. I still have like depression, sometimes, but I'm taking medication for that.

GUPTA: Now another year has passed. Jesus' doctors have him on a better regimen of anti-depressants and he's kept up the physical therapy, so that his attitude...

VIDANA: Whooo hooo!

GUPTA: ... and his health are both on upward slope. Each day's gains move Vidana a little further from Iraq and a little closer to happiness.

VIDANA: You have to just keep pushing forward and moving on. Life will leave you behind if you don't. And I don't want to be left behind, you know. I don't want to stay in Iraq, you know. I guess hypothetically or -- that wasn't the end of life for me.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: We ask a lot of Sanjay. We rarely ask him to save lives and yet he stepped up to the plate.

We're going to move on to the housing market. Up next, what do you do if prices keep climbing? Gerri Willis has some tips.

And are you thinking of plastic surgery? Well, you should listen to our guest before you make any decisions.

You're watching CNN LIVE SUNDAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Welcome back.

Here's a quick look at what's happening right now in the news. Thousands of bikers are in Washington this weekend. They are taking part in Rolling Thunder, an annual Memorial Day motorcycle rally to honor military vets. They rode their bikes from Arlington National Cemetery to the Vietnam War Memorial. And heard from several speakers, including Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Bill Clinton is asking for more donations to help rebuild the Maldives. Is he on the third leg of his tour of tsunami-devastated nations. Clinton is expected to hold meetings tomorrow in the devastated city of Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

And the grisly discovery in rural Ohio. Police say the bodies of six people, two of them children, were found in two adjacent houses, all of them shot to death. There was one survivor, a girl who was shot in the neck. Police are investigating the possibility that the killings may have been a murder/suicide.

So is the real estate market sizzling? Well, housing prices are up and people are digging deeper into their pockets to buy them. Experts warn a correction is likely to pop the housing bubble soon. So, how can you prepare for the worst? Our personal finance editor Gerri Willis is in New York. Good evening, Gerri.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Good to see you, Carol.

LIN: Do you agree there's a housing bubble?

WILLIS: Well, I think prices are out of control in some markets. You could you call it a bubble. The question then is, does the bubble burst? And if so, what do you do about it? Carol, I'm going to tell you, there are markets across the country now that are already in negative territory. It might surprise you where they are. They are in rust belt cities. But big questions on the metro areas on the East and West Coast, New York, Washington, Los Angeles, you name it, could they bust? And there'd be a lot of people hit if that were the case.

Well, your defensive position if it happens to be is to stay pat. Because, typically these busts last a short period of time, maybe just three years. They're certainly not as long as the run up in prices we've seen in a lot of markets, five years, six years, even ten.

LIN: So, what about the rust belt states? I mean, what if your housing prices are flat and you want to sell. What do you do?

WILLIS: Well, if you're in one of these cities where prices are going nowhere fast, what you want to do as a home owner is provide the gains yourself. And you do that by fixing up the kitchen, the bath. Just simply painting, you get 148 percent return on investment.

Now, if you're in a situation where you absolutely have to sell and to a flat market, you're not going to make a lot of money unless you put some investment in your house, obviously. And you risk the possibility that you could even lose a little money. But by using a little elbow grease, Carol, you can make good money.

LIN: 148 percent profit on a little house paint, not too bad.

All right. What if you have an adjustable rate loan and interest rates go up? Do you think folks should refinance or just hang on tight?

WILLIS: You bet. You know, interest rates could go up here. People have talked about it for, golly, two years now. Are rates going to go higher? Typically they do with a stronger economy. All the projections I see from all of the major economists is that rates will go higher.

So what do you do? Well if you got an adjustable rate mortgage, you have got swap it into something else, maybe a fixed rate or a 30- year fixed would be preferable here. And I got to tell you, Carol, prepared to the long-term averages, it's really pretty attractive, 5.63 as opposed to 8 percent long-term average, even a 30-year mortgage is looking pretty attractive.

LIN: You bet. But what if you lose your job and you still have the house payment? What do you think? Are there options?

WILLIS: Isn't that the worst nightmare possible, that you lose your job and can't make your mortgage? Well, here is what I suggest. If you're working at a company and you're afraid there going to be layoffs there. And look, let me tell you, most people can sense, they can smell trouble before it happens, you want to take out a home equity line of credit.

This will allow to you tap the equity you've already built in your home to make mortgage payments if the worst does happen. It's a real safe bet. It doesn't cost a lot of money to do. And it's a way out of trouble if you do lose your job.

LIN: Yes. But if you are looking for a home in this sort of bubble economy and some of the, you know, on the East Coast or the West Coast, where prices are really hot, I mean, what are you supposed to do if you can't afford the places? Do you think folks should hang on thinking that the bubble may burst, they'll get a better price?

WILLIS: Well, the question is how long do you hold on?

LIN: Yes.

WILLIS: Because you could have made this argument three years ago that prices were too high, particularly in the Northeast here. And you would have been wrong, right?

So I think getting into the housing market is a good idea. The question is, you've got to make sure you don't overpay. This may require you to move to a neighborhood that was not at the top of your list to find an undiscovered neighborhood that has some amenities that you really like. And possibly to pick the second or third school district on your list as well.

You may have to make compromises along the way, but the benefits, the tax benefits for example, of getting into that marketplace are pretty good for people. And you know, you're always putting away money. You're adding to the equity of your house. That's a store of value that you can tap at any time as we talked about earlier with home equity lines of credit.

LIN: That's interesting. You're saying that people should compromise even on the school district, maybe not shoot for the best of the best, but a realtor or a loan broker, hey, interest rates have never been so low, really stretch yourself, even if you don't think you can afford this house, you may never be able to stretch into that neighborhood again.

WILLIS: Well, I got to tell you, Carol, people are stretching and they're using some mortgage products that could be dangerous, like the interest-only mortgages. I'm not a fan of those products.

At the end of the day, you're not building any equity in your home for a period of time while that interest-only provision is in place.

LIN: Yeah, but your loan broker will to you, hey, it's tax deductible. And you can use it as a second to avoid mortgage insurance.

WILLIS: Well, the interest-only, though, it is -- interest is deductible, but if you take out a 30-year fixed, the big majority of your payments in those very first years of your mortgage is mostly interest. So I don't think that the tax deduction issue really plays here. I think people are maybe getting in over their head with some of the mortgage debt they're taking on. You got to make sure that you can afford it. I know double incomes, people think boy, sky's the limit. But I think you need to be realistic here and say boy, if one of us loses our job, what are we going to do? What's the backup system? What's the plan? And you need to make sure that you're actually building equity in that house, because that's what's going to make you wealthy in the long run.

LIN: That's why mom said save for a rainy day, right?

WILLIS: That's right.

LIN: The sun's not always out. Thanks so much, Gerri. Good to see you. Have a great holiday.

WILLIS: Thank you.

LIN: Well, a woman dies during plastic surgery she kept secret from her husband. What should millions of people do looking when they're for a plastic surgeon they can rely on? Former model and actor Carol Martin now counsels patients preparing for surgery. I'm going to be talking to her right after the break.

And later, the record-setting run to the finish line for Danica Patrick at the Indy 500.

But first a check of the weather.

(WEATHER)

LIN: As we honor veterans this is Memorial Day weekend there is a controversy involving hundreds of Army National Guardsmen, they are not getting credit toward their military retirement for service at ground zero. And now Congress is getting involved.

CNN's Alina Cho has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Whenever Alan Colombani returns to Lower Manhattan.

ALAN COLOMBANI, NATIONAL GUARDSMAN: I get kind of nostalgic, a little depressed, because it reminds me every day of happened on September 11.

CHO: Colombani was a postal worker back then. He worked across the street from what is now ground zero. In fact, Colombani could have worked overtime that day, but he didn't because he wanted to relax.

(on camera): I bet you're glad you needed that day off.

COLOMBANI: Yes I did. Thank God for that. CHO: A few hours later, his National Guard unit was called to duty. The mission? To look inside buildings to see if anyone was trapped.

COLOMBANI: Our work, especially we - the elevators are not working, you got to walk up 51 flights, 71 flights. But it's all in a day's work. And it's part of my responsibility as a soldier.

CHO: Colombani spent nearly three weeks there before being transferred to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he served as a guard.

COLOMBANI: Down at ground zero say little harder, more stressful.

CHO: Yet Colombani, though he was paid, is only receiving federal retirement credit for his work at West Point, not for the work he did at ground zero. That's because the Military Academy is considered a federal site, ground zero is not. Representative from New York Carolyn Maloney says it should be.

REP. CAROLYN MALONEY, (D) NEW YORK: It was an attack against our nation, not against our city or a particular area.

CHO: Congresswoman Maloney has introduced a bill, which the House has passed, to grant National Guardsmen who worked at ground zero full credit toward their retirement.

MALONEY: They served in what was a far more dangerous zone. They served honorably, bravely, they risked their lives. We know the air was toxic, yet they are not getting the same treatment as members of the same division who went to West Point.

COLOMBANI: Even though it's a little piece of land here, it took a lot of us to protect it after what happened. But don't you just think, state activators and just pay us and not to recognize us federal-wise for retirement benefits, I think is not fair.

CHO: These days, Colombani still runs into people he worked with at the post office.

COLOMBANI: Mike, how are you doing, Mike?

CHO: But he says the memories of 9/11 will always be with him every time he visits ground zero.

Alina Cho, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: All right. Taking a look at news around the world right now in our world wrap. Exit polls show French voters have rejected the European Union's first constitution. The document is designed to unite Europe. But opponents believe it would hurt France's working class. A no vote means no constitution, since all EU countries have to approve it. And Lebanon holds its first parliamentary election since Syrian troops withdrew from the country. And claiming victory tonight, the opposition party led by the son of assassinated prime minister Rafik Hariri. Official results are expected tomorrow.

And Pope Benedict XVI is reaching out to Orthodox Christians in his first trip of his papacy. He visited Bari, Italy today where he promised to end the 1,000-year-old rift with the Orthodox Church.

Now, there has been a development in a plastic surgery death case that made headlines here in the U.S. -- right here in the U.S. and in Europe. A 42-year-old mother of two traveled from Ireland to the U.S. to get a facelift and a nose job from a well-known plastic surgeon. But the woman died shortly after the procedure from cardiac arrest.

Well this week, the New York medical examiners office determined the surgery did play a significant role in her death. So, what went wrong? And how can people who are considering plastic surgery get the best possible care?

Well, joining me to talk about that is Carol Martin, you recognize her. She was a model and actor. And now a cosmetic surgery consultant.

Carol, you actually speak from experience. I mean, it's hard to believe looking at you so naturally beautiful that you've had ten procedures and you're happy to admit it.

CAROL MARTIN, ACTRESS/COSMETIC SURGERY CONSULTANT: Yes, I am.

LIN: But at least we know that you actually did your homework and the legwork.

This particular situation, I mean, this woman went to a well- known plastic surgeon. What could have been the alarm bells for her?

MARTIN: Well, Carol, when you're thinking about having cosmetic surgery, you just want to make sure that you tell the doctor everything about your health. And a lot of people don't always do that. And we don't know the hard details of this surgery, of what went on here, but sometimes in many cases the patients are not always honest with their physicians.

LIN: What are some examples of plastic surgery disasters you think that could have been prevented?

MARTIN: Well, there was a story out of the south where a young lady in her early 30s went in so have cosmetic surgery. She was bulimic. Now, a bulimic person can look like any average person on the street. Unfortunately, when you're bulimic, you are not in the best health. She died.

And if she had been honest with her physician, that would have never have happened. He never would have operated on her. You've got to remember, most surgeons are really good surgeons. They are very few bad ones. LIN: Yeah. But you know what, it's funny, I think some people may not -- they might admit, hey look, I have a problem with bulimia, if I'm having open heart surgery. But if they think plastic surgery, they think it's almost like, oh, going to a facialist to get a peel. But it's serious business. I mean, this is real surgery. So you've got to tell the doctor everything is what you're saying.

What about -- what is the first thing that a patient needs to know about the doctor?

MARTIN: Well the first thing the patients need to know, Carol, is check up on what they are board certified in. Make sure that the physician you're picking, or the surgeon is board certified. You don't want a board certified orthopedist performing your facelift. Call your state medical board, ask them what the doctor is board certified in.

LIN: So, are you saying just because someone claims to be a plastic surgeon, they're not necessarily qualified to do, let's say multiple procedures like liposuction and a nose job and an eye lift or neck lift or what not.

MARTIN: Well, you got to remember, Carol, anyone with a medical license can hang their shingle out and advertise themselves as a cosmetic surgeon. And that's where people really have to be careful.

LIN: What about doctors who advertise a lot? I mean, you see the same names over and over again, if you look in your local magazines and newspapers. Is that any indication of reputation or reliability?

MARTIN: You know, Carol, I don't think it is. Because it's a very competitive market, and I know some excellent surgeons that do advertise. And so I don't really find anything wrong with that at all.

LIN: Um-hum, but so -- but I'm just wondering if it's an indication that, you know, hey, they advertise a lot. I feel comfortable with them because I see their name out there. What would you tell people?

MARTIN: Well, if you see their name out there a lot that could mean a couple of different things. They could have a PR person, they could also be interviewed a lot, because they have done something that's newsworthy, check -- here again, check your state medical board, find out what they're board certified in. This is really important.

LIN: OK. Because -- just check the details of their credentials.

MARTIN: Absolutely.

LIN: And does it matter where you have the surgery? Should you go to a major city? You think New York, Beverly Hills, those places have a plethora of surgeons, maybe more experience in procedures? MARTIN: Big cities are always going to have good surgeons. But I think also when you have a smaller city, they have good surgeons also. Here again, it all falls back on experience. If you're having cosmetic surgery, you want someone that performs the surgery a lot.

LIN: OK. And also if you're going to be away from home you should definitely have a plan should things go wrong.

MARTIN: Absolutely.

LIN: And let the family know where you are.

MARTIN: Yes. Always let a family member know when you're having surgery.

LIN: Carol Martin, thanks very much. Great to see you.

MARTIN: Thank you, Carol.

LIN: Well, the amazing story of Danica Patrick at today's Indy 500. Coming up her record-setting performance at the world's best known race.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: There was a battle at the Brickyard today, but when the checkered flag waved, Englishman Dan Wheldon won the Indianapolis 500. Danica Patrick, the only woman running in the race came in fourth.

There was a lot of hype and speculation surrounding this 23-year- old rookie. Patrick's only the 4th woman to ever run in the Indy and she's the first woman to lead a lap in the race's history, prompting us to say "you go, girl!"

That's all the time we have for this hour.

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 29, 2005 - 18:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Changing tactics in fighting the war on terror: What the Bush administration is planning to make the fight more effective.
And the worries over stolen nuclear weapons and what's being done to prevent terrorists from getting nukes.

Also, paying tribute this Memorial Day weekend to understand one of the soldiers who died fighting the war in Iraq.

It is Sunday, May 29, and you're watching CNN LIVE SUNDAY.

Good evening from the CNN center in Atlanta. I'm Carol Lin. Our top story in just a moment. But first, stories making news right now.

Authorities are investigating a shooting scene near Columbus, Ohio. Six people were found shot to death in two houses outside the town of Bellfontaine today. Four of the victims are adults, but two are children. A seventh victim, a girl, with a neck wound, has been taken to the hospital.

In Iraq, the massive Operation Lightning will strike at insurgents. 10,000 U.S. troops will help with the offensive, but far more Iraqi soldiers will be involved. It is the largest undertaking so far for Iraq's new military. We are going to have much more on the mission straight ahead.

And feeling the need for speed? The only woman racing in today's Indianapolis 500, Danica Patrick came close, but no cigar. When the laps were over at the Brickyard were over, it was the Englishman Dan Wheldon winning and Patrick coming in 4th.

But on this Memorial Day weekend the Bush administration is considering a major shift in strategy in the war on terrorism. The overhaul would be designed to offset the ever-changing landscape in the fight against global terrorism. But the idea is not without its critics.

So, joining me from the White House with more details on the plan is national correspondent Bob Franken. Bob, what are you hearing?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, as the president gets set tomorrow to honor the nation's war dead, his staff, top members of his staff, are trying to rejigger the business of war.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) FRANKEN (voice-over): While President Bush made no comment as he returned from Camp David, administration sources confirmed to CNN advisers are engaged in a full-scale review of the war on terrorism.

GEN. RICHARD MYERS, JOINT CHIEF CHAIRMAN: What they're trying to do, and what we're trying to do is look at our strategy and ensure that we use the right words, the right vocabulary and focus all interest of national power, just the refinement of what our current strategy is.

FRANKEN: That strategy, since the September 11 attacks has included an intense emphasis on breaking the back of al Qaeda. Even though efforts to kill or capture Osama bin Laden have been unsuccessful, several other leaders have been removed.

Still, others have moved in. As the president's chief terrorism adviser told the "Washington Post," "nature abhors a vacuum."

So officials in and out of the administration believe the time has come to expand the focus. And the co-chairman of the 9/11 commission agrees.

LEE HAMILTON, 9/11 COMMISSION: The threat remains still very formidable, but it's much more diffuse than it was in a single little al Qaeda cell.

FRANKEN: Critics charge this review is long overdue.

SEN. CHRIS DODD, (D) CONNECTICUT: This is a debate they should have been having months ago, not just more recently, about whether or not there is a broader problem out there than just al Qaeda.

FRANKEN: In fact, the debate has been going on for some time, hampered by a delay in filling key positions in the anti-terrorism hierarchy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: And critics say that that delay has created a drift in policy. Administration people contend, however, that success, which created the need for change. Both sides agree that the war on terror is nowhere near being over -- Carol.

LIN: So, Bob it sounds like a series of complaints, but what concretely can be done?

FRANKEN: Well, what the administration sources tell me is that this is an ongoing process. We could call it a tweak, if we wanted to, that is an ever-evolving process as is an ever evolving change in the circumstances in the battle against terrorists and extremist groups.

LIN: All right. We'll see what happens. Bob Franken live at the White House, thank you.

Nuclear terrorism is considered to be one of the largest, if not the largest threat to America's security. So, this week the Homeland Security House Subcommittee met to discuss what's being done to counter the threat and how to assess -- or at least how vulnerable -- we really are to an attack. CNN's JJ Ramberg sums up the findings.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dimitri, we have credible information someone is plotting to steal two of your tactical nukes.

JJ. RAMBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A scene from a movie produced by the Nuclear Threat Initiative acting out a potential reality that is nothing short of a nightmare: terrorists getting hold of nuclear weapons.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's no question that terrorists would like to use nuclear weapons. We discovered nuclear weapons designs in the caves in Afghanistan months before September 11.

RAMBERG: The threat is large, there's enough raw materials scattered around the world to produce well over 100,000 nuclear weapons, much of it not properly protected.

ROSE GOTTEMOELLER, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT: Sometimes I've gone to facilities where they really literally have an old wooden door with a Victorian era padlock hanging on it and glass windows with no bars across the windows.

RAMBERG: United States has spear-headed steps to curb the possibility of nuclear terrorism. Half of the material in Russia is now secure. And the G-8 has pledged $20 billion to continue this work around the world.

GOTTEMOELLER: We've been working with Russia to build better fences around their facilities, to put bars over windows, to work with them to train their guard forces, to try to do everything that is necessary to ensure that their personnel are reliable, that they don't end up with an insider threat.

RAMBERG: But while there have been significant strides made in cooperation between countries, experts say there's more to be done. They worry Russia still has tactical nuclear weapons that remain vulnerable.

SAM NUNN, FORMER U.S. SENATOR: We don't have any agreement on them. We don't know how many there are. We hope the Russians know how many there are. If you don't know how many you got, then you don't know when one's missing. So, we don't know.

THOMAS KEAN, 9/11 COMMISSION: This is a threat to the American people and we should be ashamed of ourselves if we don't take it seriously and act now.

RAMBERG (on camera): Gottemeuller says she's optimistic this is a problem the United States can tackle with the right resources and support. The issue now is getting enough attention before what many people refer to as the day after. JJ Ramberg, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: CNN is committed to providing the most reliable coverage of news that affects your security. So stay tuned to CNN for the latest information day and night.

In the meantime, CNN political analyst Carlos Watson has a fresh take on this big story about nuclear proliferation. He's live in Miami right now.

Carlos, you've been working your sources well before this congressional subcommittee took up this issue. What are you hearing about the nature of nuclear weapons out there? And what the priority is going to be for the military in the days to come?

CAROL WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: There's going to be a very significant debate this summer, Carol, in Congress, that many people probably may not be on track to pay attention to: Whether or not to make much smaller nuclear weapons than the kinds that we're used to thinking about. Making nuclear weapons that may be as small as say this blackberry.

LIN: That small? Are you talking pocket-sized?

WATSON: They're often called bunker busters, or at least that's one version of them. And they're small not only in terms of size, but small, some argue, in terms of the quality of the explosion.

Interestingly enough -- and actually listen to what President Bush had to say, this past Friday, at the Naval Academy commencement speech that he gave.

LIN: Hmmm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In this time of unprecedented dangers, we need to you take on two difficult missions at once. We need you to defeat the terrorists who want to destroy what we stand for and how we live. And at the same time, we need you to transform our military for the 21st Century so we can, in turn, defeat the new adversaries who may threaten our people in the decades ahead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: Carol, you notice the president talked about significant transformation of the military.

LIN: Right.

WATSON: But he didn't talk about this conversation, this debate that will play out in terms of whether or not to begin to spending millions of dollars to fund the potential research and development of small nuclear weapons. Some people call them, as I said, bunker busters -- at least call some of them.

On the one hand, you have not just Democrats but some Republicans who say if you cross that line, if you start making nuclear weapons smaller, although you may be able to use them in different situations, you also may undercut our moral authority when we tell Iran, North Korea and others let's not go any further in terms of the spread of nuclear weapons.

Some also argue -- and some scientists recently stepped forward from the National Academy of Sciences to say that the fallout wouldn't be contained underground as some had hoped when you drop these, but that in fact, there would be significant collateral damage not only to humans but in terms of contamination above-ground.

So, when you hear talk about the nuclear option, which was the filibuster, maybe the more important nuclear conversation is going to take place this summer. It could be a symbol event in American military policy. It's one to watch.

LIN: All right. You bet.

All right. Well, size matters certainly when it comes to audience, You know, whether it's a -- you know, an entertainer or political candidate -- so, here's a pop quiz for you. What does "American Idol" have to do with the future race for president in 2008?

WATSON: Believe it or not, "American Idol" that very popular TV talent show, it reshaped 2006, maybe even 2008 politics.

LIN: Oh, Come to on!

WATSON: Oh, no. This is serious. "American Idol" in having people vote to see who the winners are, often uses text messaging, cell phone text messaging. And while that kind of technology has been very popular overseas, particularly in Europe and Asia, it hasn't been that popular here in the U.S.

But "American Idol" just went through a major campaign, more than 40 million votes were cast that way. And we may have crossed on interesting threshold in which text messaging becomes used not just by young people, but more broadly by adults. And consequently, that may mean that you'll see politicians in governments instead of just ringing your phone in order to try and get you to vote, instead of just sending you a piece of mail, may start sending you some text messages.

LIN: Oh. Carlos, listen, I go to pump gas in my car, I got the gas pump advertisements hollering at me. I got people calling me during the dinner hour trying to sell me products. Why would I want to hear from a political candidate on my text message?

WATSON: Well, whether or not you will it may not always be up to you. But interestingly enough, Carol, at least the California State Assembly agrees with you. It just passed a bill in the last several days, saying that political consultants and political candidates couldn't freely send text messages without your consent. Why? Because the way we charge for text messaging here in the U.S., the recipient, you and me actually pays for it.

So, you would be less happy getting unsolicited mail if you knew there was a bill attached to it.

But stay tuned, because you will see candidates, just as they've used other modes of technology, start to think about how to use text messaging to raise money, to get you to come to a rally, to get to you to call members of the Senate or Congress. Don't be surprised.

LIN: All right, I won't be. I may be disappointed, but I won't be surprised, Carols.

Hey, did you hear about the FBI informant -- what's her name, Colleen Rowley, the whistle-blower.

WATSON: The whistle-blower. You recall three years ago after 9/11, she was a part of the FBI and she revealed that the FBI hadn't been on top of the job in many ways. And really blew the whistle, put her career at risk in many ways, got a lot of publicity for it. She just resigned from the FBI this past December. And now she's talking about running for congressional seat in Minnesota. Very interesting.

LIN: Long shot?

WATSON: Long shot in some sense, in that the district she's running in has an incumbent, John Klein, who won not with 51 or 52 percent, but with 56 percent of the vote.

But on the other hand, we've seen whistle blowers kind of ride the ethical train to higher office in the past. One notable example, you may remember Elliott Richardson, the one time attorney general of the United States, who refused to go after the Watergate special prosecutors Richard Nixon wanted him to, resigned in protest. And he went on to serve in several other cabinets. But you recall when he ran for office a couple of times subsequently he lost. So, there may be some good and bad news in there for Colleen Rowley.

LIN: Carlos, you're also hearing about a Senate race that involves an embarrassing relative?

WATSON: We are. This past week in Tennessee, Harold Ford, the young Congressman from Memphis, Tennessee, announced that he's running for what we think will be an open seat for the Senate in 2006 when Bill Frist steps down.

Now, people have been expecting this for awhile. But it got complicated because a day later the Republican-appointed U.S. attorney announced an indictment of five members of the Tennessee legislature, including Harold Ford's uncle.

Now, even if that hadn't happened, this would be an interesting race, because there's a question about whether or not gen-Xers can start to take on serious roles in politics, including U.S. Senate. Harold Ford is 34. There's a question about whether a blue -- meaning a Democratic candidate -- can win in a red state, being Tennessee. But now there's a question about family baggage.

And we've seen the questions before. So obviously can think about Bill Clinton with his brother, Roger Clinton, who had serious drug problems. You might even think in Tennessee about the current senator, Bill Frist, who, when he ran, his father and hid brother were senior executives, founders, of one of the largest healthcare companies that at the time was being investigated in some cases sued for medical fraud.

So will family be too much baggage, too much of an anchor, or will Harold Ford be able to say, look, I love my family. We all have family issues and to the extent they beat up on me and try and link them too much, will that boomerang and will that actually help him? We'll see.

LIN: Right. Well, Bill Clinton did say I am not my brother's keeper. Maybe Harold Ford is not his uncle's keeper either.

WATSON: And you never know, it's always a chance to go on the talk shows and talk about this, right. To take it out of the normal political realm often helps the political candidate.

LIN: Oh, my. Carlos Watson, "Fresh Take." Thanks so much.

WATSON: Carol Lin, good to see you.

LIN: Well, two years ago, or Corporal Jesus Vidana was pronounced dead twice, but then CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta operated. So how is Jesus doing now? Sanjay makes a visit.

And are you selling your home or wanting to sell your home? Gerri Willis is going to talk about the housing bubble. Are we in one?

And to lift or not lift? What do you know? And what do you want to know before a surgeon makes the first cut?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Fresh attacks across Iraq today have left at least 19 people dead and many more wounded. And now U.S. and Iraqi forces are gearing up for the largest anti-insurgency offensive of its kind since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

From Baghdad, here is CNN's Ryan Chilcote.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Insurgents kept up their attacks with a string of bombings and shootings over the weekend. In the Iraqi capital, gunmen opened fire on a police station and set off a car bomb as the fighting raged. Several Iraqis were killed in the attack, at least a dozen wounded.

In another attack in Baghdad, a suicide bomber detonated a car packed with explosives outside Iraq's Oil Ministry, again, killing and wounding Iraqis.

Iraq's security forces were preparing to strike back at the insurgents over the weekend, setting up several checkpoints for Operation Lightning. It's expected to be the largest operation since the fall of Saddam.

40,000 Iraqi soldiers and police backed up by 10,000 U.S. servicemen will set up more than 600 checkpoints and conduct house-to- house searches in an effort to stop the violence that's killed some 700 Iraqis and more than 60 U.S. troops this month.

Another car bomb detonated by a suicide bomber went off south of Kirkuk outside a school. Children were among the dead.

U.S. military says a record number of car bombs went off in May, more than 140 throughout Iraq. And a senior U.S. military intelligence officer poured new light on what he called a murky and sophisticated insurgency.

According to the official, the U.S. believes there could be as many as 12,000 to 20,000 insurgents in Iraq. The vast majority of the insurgents he said are believed to be Sunni Arabs. Only 5 percent of the insurgents, says the source, are thought to be foreign fighters.

In an interview Sunday, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Richard Myers said the U.S. military believes the infamous foreigner in Iraq, Abu Musab al Zarqawi, is wounded.

(on camera): While Zarqawi's foot soldiers are believed to be small in numbers, the U.S. military says they're responsible for a disproportionately large amount of the killing. The military says all of the suicide bombers responsible for some of the most appalling casualties have been foreigners.

Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: An update now on Saddam Hussein's former right-hand man who is pleading for help from his jail cell because of what he calls a dire situation. London's "The Observer" newspaper today published several letters written by Tariq Aziz from prison in Baghdad. He says he's innocent and he's being held illegally. Aziz complains about the isolation of prison and not being allowed to receive packages or phone calls from family.

Tariq Aziz was one of the most wanted regime members in Iraq. And he is accused of committing war crimes against Iran, Kuwait and fellow Iraqis.

And more than 1,600 American troops have lost their lives in Iraq. This Memorial Day weekend, CNN honors the nation's fallen heroes. And we now remember First Lieutenant Brian Slavenas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RON SLAVENAS, FATHER OF BRIAN SLAVENAS: My name is Ron Slavenas. And I'm the father of First Lieutenant Brian Slavenes.

Most parents praise their children to a high heaven. But I think Brian was a very unusual person. He was generally known as the gentle giant. He stood about 6'5. He accomplished quite a bit.

While he was going for his engineering degree at the University of Illinois, he also took up aviation. He received his flight instructor certificate, also played beautiful piano.

And he enjoyed flying, all the way up to the end. In his letters, he was flying over historical sites in Iraq, over Babylon. And it just came to a tragic end.

Basically, he was flying troops from one place to another, the Chinook was hit by a shoulder-fired missile. He did the very best to crash-land it, you know, 20 people survived. 16 died, but 20 did survive. Some were badly injured, but maybe their skills helped to reduce the casualty.

It's painful.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lieutenant Brian Jonathan Slavenas.

SLAVENAS: You have to go on and make the best of the situation. And by reaching out to others. That has been helpful for me. I'm Lithuanian-born. And I went through some rough times, Second World War, and what have you, and I know what it is so lose a country and what it means to live in a Democratic country as compared to oppressive dictatorships like Nazi Germany, or Soviet Russia.

So when I came here, I thought I owed this country something, so I joined up. Unfortunately, I wish I could take Brian's place, you know? I should be the one that crashed not Brian. That's how I feel.

I would gladly give my life, to exchange it for his life, you know. Which is unusual until you lose a child, it's extremely painful.

Maybe we'll have a free Iraq someday. That would be my wish. Then maybe some of the losses are not that much in vain, you know? The loss can never be replaced. The pain will always be there, but maybe there will be somewhat of a comfort to know a free Iraq, a Democratic Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Every week at this time, we like to bring you the more personal stories from the front lines. Today the story of a U.S. Marine originally believed killed in action, but he defied the odds with help from our own senior medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: On April 8, 2003, 25- year-old Jesus Vidana lay clinging to life after a sniper bullet pierced his helmet during a gunfight, spraying shrapnel into his brain.

A fellow Marine pronounced him dead on the scene. Later on the chopper, he was pronounced dead again, but he was alive, barely. Jesus's pulse was faint.

The closest qualified surgeon was in fact, me, just a few miles away, just outside of Baghdad, covering the Devil Docs medical team for CNN.

JESUS VIDANA, SOLDIER SAVED BY DR. GUPTA: They told us that a journalist from CNN who was performing surgery and I say, a journalist? You know, but, then, yes, he's a doctor.

GUPTA: We rushed into surgery with the most rudimentary tools to save him -- what we had laying around, a drill and IV bag to help clear out the blood clot in Jesus's brain.

No doubt, medical necessity, a life teetering on a fragile precipice, and perhaps fate would come together that day. And after two hours of surgery, Jesus pulled through.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thank God because I mean -- I thought -- you know, I thought he was going to pass away.

GUPTA: He was airlifted to Spain for more operations and to begin his recovery, and then it was back home for even more operations and rehab to regain some of what he'd lost that day in Iraq -- his ability to walk, talk, feed and bathe himself. We would reunite nearly a year after our first encounter in Iraq.

(on camera): How you doing?

VIDANA: Pretty good.

GUPTA (voice-over): Even then, Jesus' recovery after such a severe head wound was impressive, but he had a long way to go. He still had trouble walking, especially using the left side of his body. And while he may have left the physical war behind him in Iraq, the psychological one remained with him.

VIDANA: Emotionally I think -- I still have, like, a tough time dealing with it. I still have like depression, sometimes, but I'm taking medication for that.

GUPTA: Now another year has passed. Jesus' doctors have him on a better regimen of anti-depressants and he's kept up the physical therapy, so that his attitude...

VIDANA: Whooo hooo!

GUPTA: ... and his health are both on upward slope. Each day's gains move Vidana a little further from Iraq and a little closer to happiness.

VIDANA: You have to just keep pushing forward and moving on. Life will leave you behind if you don't. And I don't want to be left behind, you know. I don't want to stay in Iraq, you know. I guess hypothetically or -- that wasn't the end of life for me.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: We ask a lot of Sanjay. We rarely ask him to save lives and yet he stepped up to the plate.

We're going to move on to the housing market. Up next, what do you do if prices keep climbing? Gerri Willis has some tips.

And are you thinking of plastic surgery? Well, you should listen to our guest before you make any decisions.

You're watching CNN LIVE SUNDAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Welcome back.

Here's a quick look at what's happening right now in the news. Thousands of bikers are in Washington this weekend. They are taking part in Rolling Thunder, an annual Memorial Day motorcycle rally to honor military vets. They rode their bikes from Arlington National Cemetery to the Vietnam War Memorial. And heard from several speakers, including Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Bill Clinton is asking for more donations to help rebuild the Maldives. Is he on the third leg of his tour of tsunami-devastated nations. Clinton is expected to hold meetings tomorrow in the devastated city of Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

And the grisly discovery in rural Ohio. Police say the bodies of six people, two of them children, were found in two adjacent houses, all of them shot to death. There was one survivor, a girl who was shot in the neck. Police are investigating the possibility that the killings may have been a murder/suicide.

So is the real estate market sizzling? Well, housing prices are up and people are digging deeper into their pockets to buy them. Experts warn a correction is likely to pop the housing bubble soon. So, how can you prepare for the worst? Our personal finance editor Gerri Willis is in New York. Good evening, Gerri.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Good to see you, Carol.

LIN: Do you agree there's a housing bubble?

WILLIS: Well, I think prices are out of control in some markets. You could you call it a bubble. The question then is, does the bubble burst? And if so, what do you do about it? Carol, I'm going to tell you, there are markets across the country now that are already in negative territory. It might surprise you where they are. They are in rust belt cities. But big questions on the metro areas on the East and West Coast, New York, Washington, Los Angeles, you name it, could they bust? And there'd be a lot of people hit if that were the case.

Well, your defensive position if it happens to be is to stay pat. Because, typically these busts last a short period of time, maybe just three years. They're certainly not as long as the run up in prices we've seen in a lot of markets, five years, six years, even ten.

LIN: So, what about the rust belt states? I mean, what if your housing prices are flat and you want to sell. What do you do?

WILLIS: Well, if you're in one of these cities where prices are going nowhere fast, what you want to do as a home owner is provide the gains yourself. And you do that by fixing up the kitchen, the bath. Just simply painting, you get 148 percent return on investment.

Now, if you're in a situation where you absolutely have to sell and to a flat market, you're not going to make a lot of money unless you put some investment in your house, obviously. And you risk the possibility that you could even lose a little money. But by using a little elbow grease, Carol, you can make good money.

LIN: 148 percent profit on a little house paint, not too bad.

All right. What if you have an adjustable rate loan and interest rates go up? Do you think folks should refinance or just hang on tight?

WILLIS: You bet. You know, interest rates could go up here. People have talked about it for, golly, two years now. Are rates going to go higher? Typically they do with a stronger economy. All the projections I see from all of the major economists is that rates will go higher.

So what do you do? Well if you got an adjustable rate mortgage, you have got swap it into something else, maybe a fixed rate or a 30- year fixed would be preferable here. And I got to tell you, Carol, prepared to the long-term averages, it's really pretty attractive, 5.63 as opposed to 8 percent long-term average, even a 30-year mortgage is looking pretty attractive.

LIN: You bet. But what if you lose your job and you still have the house payment? What do you think? Are there options?

WILLIS: Isn't that the worst nightmare possible, that you lose your job and can't make your mortgage? Well, here is what I suggest. If you're working at a company and you're afraid there going to be layoffs there. And look, let me tell you, most people can sense, they can smell trouble before it happens, you want to take out a home equity line of credit.

This will allow to you tap the equity you've already built in your home to make mortgage payments if the worst does happen. It's a real safe bet. It doesn't cost a lot of money to do. And it's a way out of trouble if you do lose your job.

LIN: Yes. But if you are looking for a home in this sort of bubble economy and some of the, you know, on the East Coast or the West Coast, where prices are really hot, I mean, what are you supposed to do if you can't afford the places? Do you think folks should hang on thinking that the bubble may burst, they'll get a better price?

WILLIS: Well, the question is how long do you hold on?

LIN: Yes.

WILLIS: Because you could have made this argument three years ago that prices were too high, particularly in the Northeast here. And you would have been wrong, right?

So I think getting into the housing market is a good idea. The question is, you've got to make sure you don't overpay. This may require you to move to a neighborhood that was not at the top of your list to find an undiscovered neighborhood that has some amenities that you really like. And possibly to pick the second or third school district on your list as well.

You may have to make compromises along the way, but the benefits, the tax benefits for example, of getting into that marketplace are pretty good for people. And you know, you're always putting away money. You're adding to the equity of your house. That's a store of value that you can tap at any time as we talked about earlier with home equity lines of credit.

LIN: That's interesting. You're saying that people should compromise even on the school district, maybe not shoot for the best of the best, but a realtor or a loan broker, hey, interest rates have never been so low, really stretch yourself, even if you don't think you can afford this house, you may never be able to stretch into that neighborhood again.

WILLIS: Well, I got to tell you, Carol, people are stretching and they're using some mortgage products that could be dangerous, like the interest-only mortgages. I'm not a fan of those products.

At the end of the day, you're not building any equity in your home for a period of time while that interest-only provision is in place.

LIN: Yeah, but your loan broker will to you, hey, it's tax deductible. And you can use it as a second to avoid mortgage insurance.

WILLIS: Well, the interest-only, though, it is -- interest is deductible, but if you take out a 30-year fixed, the big majority of your payments in those very first years of your mortgage is mostly interest. So I don't think that the tax deduction issue really plays here. I think people are maybe getting in over their head with some of the mortgage debt they're taking on. You got to make sure that you can afford it. I know double incomes, people think boy, sky's the limit. But I think you need to be realistic here and say boy, if one of us loses our job, what are we going to do? What's the backup system? What's the plan? And you need to make sure that you're actually building equity in that house, because that's what's going to make you wealthy in the long run.

LIN: That's why mom said save for a rainy day, right?

WILLIS: That's right.

LIN: The sun's not always out. Thanks so much, Gerri. Good to see you. Have a great holiday.

WILLIS: Thank you.

LIN: Well, a woman dies during plastic surgery she kept secret from her husband. What should millions of people do looking when they're for a plastic surgeon they can rely on? Former model and actor Carol Martin now counsels patients preparing for surgery. I'm going to be talking to her right after the break.

And later, the record-setting run to the finish line for Danica Patrick at the Indy 500.

But first a check of the weather.

(WEATHER)

LIN: As we honor veterans this is Memorial Day weekend there is a controversy involving hundreds of Army National Guardsmen, they are not getting credit toward their military retirement for service at ground zero. And now Congress is getting involved.

CNN's Alina Cho has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Whenever Alan Colombani returns to Lower Manhattan.

ALAN COLOMBANI, NATIONAL GUARDSMAN: I get kind of nostalgic, a little depressed, because it reminds me every day of happened on September 11.

CHO: Colombani was a postal worker back then. He worked across the street from what is now ground zero. In fact, Colombani could have worked overtime that day, but he didn't because he wanted to relax.

(on camera): I bet you're glad you needed that day off.

COLOMBANI: Yes I did. Thank God for that. CHO: A few hours later, his National Guard unit was called to duty. The mission? To look inside buildings to see if anyone was trapped.

COLOMBANI: Our work, especially we - the elevators are not working, you got to walk up 51 flights, 71 flights. But it's all in a day's work. And it's part of my responsibility as a soldier.

CHO: Colombani spent nearly three weeks there before being transferred to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he served as a guard.

COLOMBANI: Down at ground zero say little harder, more stressful.

CHO: Yet Colombani, though he was paid, is only receiving federal retirement credit for his work at West Point, not for the work he did at ground zero. That's because the Military Academy is considered a federal site, ground zero is not. Representative from New York Carolyn Maloney says it should be.

REP. CAROLYN MALONEY, (D) NEW YORK: It was an attack against our nation, not against our city or a particular area.

CHO: Congresswoman Maloney has introduced a bill, which the House has passed, to grant National Guardsmen who worked at ground zero full credit toward their retirement.

MALONEY: They served in what was a far more dangerous zone. They served honorably, bravely, they risked their lives. We know the air was toxic, yet they are not getting the same treatment as members of the same division who went to West Point.

COLOMBANI: Even though it's a little piece of land here, it took a lot of us to protect it after what happened. But don't you just think, state activators and just pay us and not to recognize us federal-wise for retirement benefits, I think is not fair.

CHO: These days, Colombani still runs into people he worked with at the post office.

COLOMBANI: Mike, how are you doing, Mike?

CHO: But he says the memories of 9/11 will always be with him every time he visits ground zero.

Alina Cho, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: All right. Taking a look at news around the world right now in our world wrap. Exit polls show French voters have rejected the European Union's first constitution. The document is designed to unite Europe. But opponents believe it would hurt France's working class. A no vote means no constitution, since all EU countries have to approve it. And Lebanon holds its first parliamentary election since Syrian troops withdrew from the country. And claiming victory tonight, the opposition party led by the son of assassinated prime minister Rafik Hariri. Official results are expected tomorrow.

And Pope Benedict XVI is reaching out to Orthodox Christians in his first trip of his papacy. He visited Bari, Italy today where he promised to end the 1,000-year-old rift with the Orthodox Church.

Now, there has been a development in a plastic surgery death case that made headlines here in the U.S. -- right here in the U.S. and in Europe. A 42-year-old mother of two traveled from Ireland to the U.S. to get a facelift and a nose job from a well-known plastic surgeon. But the woman died shortly after the procedure from cardiac arrest.

Well this week, the New York medical examiners office determined the surgery did play a significant role in her death. So, what went wrong? And how can people who are considering plastic surgery get the best possible care?

Well, joining me to talk about that is Carol Martin, you recognize her. She was a model and actor. And now a cosmetic surgery consultant.

Carol, you actually speak from experience. I mean, it's hard to believe looking at you so naturally beautiful that you've had ten procedures and you're happy to admit it.

CAROL MARTIN, ACTRESS/COSMETIC SURGERY CONSULTANT: Yes, I am.

LIN: But at least we know that you actually did your homework and the legwork.

This particular situation, I mean, this woman went to a well- known plastic surgeon. What could have been the alarm bells for her?

MARTIN: Well, Carol, when you're thinking about having cosmetic surgery, you just want to make sure that you tell the doctor everything about your health. And a lot of people don't always do that. And we don't know the hard details of this surgery, of what went on here, but sometimes in many cases the patients are not always honest with their physicians.

LIN: What are some examples of plastic surgery disasters you think that could have been prevented?

MARTIN: Well, there was a story out of the south where a young lady in her early 30s went in so have cosmetic surgery. She was bulimic. Now, a bulimic person can look like any average person on the street. Unfortunately, when you're bulimic, you are not in the best health. She died.

And if she had been honest with her physician, that would have never have happened. He never would have operated on her. You've got to remember, most surgeons are really good surgeons. They are very few bad ones. LIN: Yeah. But you know what, it's funny, I think some people may not -- they might admit, hey look, I have a problem with bulimia, if I'm having open heart surgery. But if they think plastic surgery, they think it's almost like, oh, going to a facialist to get a peel. But it's serious business. I mean, this is real surgery. So you've got to tell the doctor everything is what you're saying.

What about -- what is the first thing that a patient needs to know about the doctor?

MARTIN: Well the first thing the patients need to know, Carol, is check up on what they are board certified in. Make sure that the physician you're picking, or the surgeon is board certified. You don't want a board certified orthopedist performing your facelift. Call your state medical board, ask them what the doctor is board certified in.

LIN: So, are you saying just because someone claims to be a plastic surgeon, they're not necessarily qualified to do, let's say multiple procedures like liposuction and a nose job and an eye lift or neck lift or what not.

MARTIN: Well, you got to remember, Carol, anyone with a medical license can hang their shingle out and advertise themselves as a cosmetic surgeon. And that's where people really have to be careful.

LIN: What about doctors who advertise a lot? I mean, you see the same names over and over again, if you look in your local magazines and newspapers. Is that any indication of reputation or reliability?

MARTIN: You know, Carol, I don't think it is. Because it's a very competitive market, and I know some excellent surgeons that do advertise. And so I don't really find anything wrong with that at all.

LIN: Um-hum, but so -- but I'm just wondering if it's an indication that, you know, hey, they advertise a lot. I feel comfortable with them because I see their name out there. What would you tell people?

MARTIN: Well, if you see their name out there a lot that could mean a couple of different things. They could have a PR person, they could also be interviewed a lot, because they have done something that's newsworthy, check -- here again, check your state medical board, find out what they're board certified in. This is really important.

LIN: OK. Because -- just check the details of their credentials.

MARTIN: Absolutely.

LIN: And does it matter where you have the surgery? Should you go to a major city? You think New York, Beverly Hills, those places have a plethora of surgeons, maybe more experience in procedures? MARTIN: Big cities are always going to have good surgeons. But I think also when you have a smaller city, they have good surgeons also. Here again, it all falls back on experience. If you're having cosmetic surgery, you want someone that performs the surgery a lot.

LIN: OK. And also if you're going to be away from home you should definitely have a plan should things go wrong.

MARTIN: Absolutely.

LIN: And let the family know where you are.

MARTIN: Yes. Always let a family member know when you're having surgery.

LIN: Carol Martin, thanks very much. Great to see you.

MARTIN: Thank you, Carol.

LIN: Well, the amazing story of Danica Patrick at today's Indy 500. Coming up her record-setting performance at the world's best known race.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: There was a battle at the Brickyard today, but when the checkered flag waved, Englishman Dan Wheldon won the Indianapolis 500. Danica Patrick, the only woman running in the race came in fourth.

There was a lot of hype and speculation surrounding this 23-year- old rookie. Patrick's only the 4th woman to ever run in the Indy and she's the first woman to lead a lap in the race's history, prompting us to say "you go, girl!"

That's all the time we have for this hour.

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