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CNN Live Today
Hussein Questioned; Subway Sketchers; Missing Student; Gitmo Debate; Aid & Democracy; Buying in Today's Housing Market
Aired June 13, 2005 - 10:00 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: About the killings of dozens of men. The victims were from a Shiite village where the Iraqi leader escaped a 1982 assassination attempt. The killings are considered relatively minor compared to the other crimes the performer president is accused of. But there has been talk that they can serve as a test case in his upcoming trial.
Minutes from now at the White House, President Bush welcomes the presidents of five African nations. All of the countries, Botswana, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia and Niger all head democratic elections last year. The gathering follows the British-led initiative to send cash to Africa to pay off international debt.
In Southern California, investigators this morning closed down part of the Long Beach Freeway. That's the scene of the state's latest highway shooting. One man was shot and critically wounded this morning near Lynwood. Police say the shooting was tied to an earlier dispute at a night club.
The price of gasoline continues to slide, although the pace has slowed. An industry analysts says the nationwide average for all grades dropped less than two cents a gallon over the past three weeks. Since early April, the nationwide average has dropped about 16 cents a gallon.
And good morning to you. Let's go ahead and start our week. It is 10:00 a.m. in Palm Beach, Aruba, 9:00 a.m. in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Good morning, everyone, on this Monday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan.
We're going to begin with two developing stories. The first out of Iraq. Just in to CNN, pictures, new pictures in fact, of Saddam Hussein being questioned by a judge. CNN's Jennifer Eccleston is in Baghdad with those picture and to tell us what they're all about.
Jennifer, hello.
JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn.
What we saw there was an Iraqi judge questioning former President Saddam Hussein, specifically about the killings of dozens of men from a Shiite village where he survived and assassination attempt, as you mentioned earlier, in 1982. Now Iraq's special tribunal released the film of Saddam Hussein and other members of his administration being questioned by the chief investigative judge of the tribunal. And in a statement, the tribunal said that this questioning process is ongoing. They also said that he was there, present in the questioning was his lead attorney.
Now this comes a few weeks after a very public statement by the Iraqi government that said, while they were seeking to expedite Saddam Hussein's prosecution, they will put the former dictator to trial in connection with 12 of the best documented crimes. Among them, more than 500 allegedly committed by the former president. And that came from the spokesman of Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari. He said that there was no time to waste in preparing for the trial and said that the government was confident that those court proceedings would begin within two months.
Now shortly afterward, after a flurry of media activity, Iraq's special tribunal sent out a communica (ph) saying, look, there is no time frame set for the beginning of the trial. They're really stressing its independence from the government, who may be seeking to benefit from an early trial, given that they're going to be elections held at the end of the year.
Now let me just give you a little background about whittling down those charges. The spokesman said it would help ensure that the former president would receive the death sentence, which is available here under Iraq's criminal code in which was drafted under the rule of Saddam Hussein. And, of course, Daryn, last July he was arraigned in Baghdad on several broad counts. These included the assassination of political opponents, the 1988 gassing in Halabja and also the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and the suppression of Kurdish and Shiite uprisings in 1991, just after the Gulf War.
Daryn.
KAGAN: Jennifer, any explanation in the timing of releasing these pictures?
ECCLESTON: No explanation on the timing, except that they said this is something that is an ongoing process. We routinely interview those in custody. Not only Saddam Hussein, but senior members of his regime who are implicated in a vast variety of crimes, since he came to power some 30-odd years ago.
So what I think this was today, really from broad speculation, is that this is an opportunity for them to, again, stress their independence saying, we are an independent body from the government. We shall take our time and we will only begin the trial proceedings when they have done due diligence and that he was afforded the full due process under the law, they that have all of their investigations and their questions taking place. And once that happens, they'll be ready for a trial and it will happen no sooner until that time.
Daryn.
KAGAN: Jennifer Eccleston live from Baghdad.
Thank you.
Now on to our other major story we're following this hour. Police are questioning a man who was found with sketches of the city's subway system in New York City. CNN's Deborah Feyerick has the latest from New York.
Good morning.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
Well, the way this all played out is that firefighters were actually inside a building in Brooklyn. They were checking out the sprinkler system when they came upon five men who they believed were acting suspiciously. They began speaking to the men and then they called police.
Four of the men bolted but the firefighters were able to hang on to one of the guys. Police came and they questioned him and on him they found subway maps, as well as what looked like to be sketches of the New York City subway and some sort of fake ID. And that's one of the reasons they wanted to find out exactly who this person was, what he was doing, where his friends went. Right now there's an investigation as police try to sort through all of this.
Again, this happened in Brooklyn and a records search shows that the building where these five men were apparent is some sort of a mini market that also has apartments. But right now police investigating. They want to rule out any suspicious activity, obviously. They do describe the man simply as a middle eastern man but they won't say any more than that.
Daryn.
KAGAN: Deborah Feyerick live from New York City. We'll get more from you as that story develops and it becomes available.
Thank you.
And now for the latest on the Alabama student missing in Aruba. It is now two weeks since 18-year-old Natalee Holloway was last seen. Her mother tells the Associated Press three of the five men in custody know what happened to her daughter. Beth Holloway Twitty suggests that authorities may be trying to protect the young men. CNN's Karl Penhaul has more now from Palm Beach, Aruba.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's exactly two weeks ago now since Natalee Holloway disappears. There are still only four people who know exactly what happened that night. Natalee, herself, and the three young men with whom she left the Carlos 'n Charlie's bar, Joran Van Der Sloot and brothers Depak and Satish Kalpoe.
Those three young men are now in police custody. They were arrested as suspects on Thursday. A law enforcement source close to this investigation has told us that samples taken from the car they allegedly left the bar in have been sent to an FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia. Samples that at first seemed to resemble blood have come back negative.
Two other suspects who have been held for more than a week remain in custody. Those two men are security guards. This is what a government spokesman had to say about their continued detention.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't get the details from the investigation. From what we think may be the case, that these three gentlemen are pointing to the finger to these two guys. So if they have an alibi, they can substantiate where they've been, they may be released at some point. But that's still ongoing. Today their lawyer, I have heard, may come with a special appeal so that their case can be considered.
PENHAUL: Defense attorneys fir five suspects say their clients are maintaining their innocence. The defense attorneys for the two security guards today have lodged an appeal to the court, saying the prosecution doesn't have enough evidence to continue to hold them. Meanwhile, a police source says the interrogation of the three young men will continue.
Karl Penhaul, CNN, Palm Beach, Aruba.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And this just in. News from the U.S. Supreme Court and it concerns Enemy Combatant Jose Padilla.
The Supreme Court has refused to be drawn into a dispute over the case of Jose Padilla. His lawyers were asking them to do that. But that would have been unusual because, for now, a federal appeals court has not yet ruled on this issue involving Jose Padilla. Arguments for that are scheduled for July 19th at the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and that one is in Richmond, Virginia.
So, once again, the U.S. Supreme Court saying for now it's not getting involved in Jose Padilla's case. More on that in a bit.
First, though, we turn to news from "CNN Security Watch" and the debate over Guantanamo Bay Prison Camp.
Recently, more voices have joined the call for that camp to be closed. Now there's a new "Time" magazine report revealing interrogation techniques used on a high profile detainee. CNN's Joe Johns has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Spotlight on the prison camp at Guantanamo Nay, where government designated enemy combatants are taken and interrogated. The question, should the place be closed? Even some Congressional Republicans are starting to wonder.
SEN. CHUCK HAGEL,( R) NEBRASKA: This can't be a situation where we just hold them forever and ever and ever and ever until they just die of old age. What are our plans here?
JOHNS: Republican Senator Mel Martinez of Florida also asked over the weekend whether the political costs of the camp are starting to outweigh the benefits. But the view of many in the party controlling the Congress is that a prisoner at Gitmo gets pretty good treatment.
REP. DUNCAN HUNTER, (R) CALIFORNIA: We're going to serve him Rice Pilaf (ph). We're going to serve him oven fried chicken. We're going to serve him three types of fruit. And pita bread. And he's going to top that all off with a glass of tea.
JOHNS: Among the detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Mohamed al- Kahtani, a suspected 20th hijacker who never made it to the plane on September 11th. A new report in Time" magazine citing a secret interrogation diary says, the government used stress strategies on him like "standing for prolonged periods, isolation for as long as 30 days, removal of clothing, forced shaving of facial hair, playing on individual phobias, such as dogs." Interrogation techniques that are not new and some say not over the line.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Quite frankly, if it's going to save American lives just by shaving someone's hair or by holding him in isolation, I think we have to keep this in context and not be so quick to criticize the military.
JOHNS: A Pentagon statement said Guantanamo provides valuable intelligence information and said al-Kahtani's interrogation "was guided by a very detailed plan and conducted by trained professionals." The administration has been clear on its views of the Guantanamo detainees.
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: They are enemy combatants for a reason, because they seek to do harm to the American people.
JOHNS: But the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee calls Guantanamo a legal black hole.
SEN. PATRICK LEAHY, (D( VERMONT: I think Guantanamo Bay has become a black eye for the United States. We have people there held under dubious reasons. We won't -- we are unwilling to follow even our own rules in holding them. We ought to either charge these people or release them.
JOHNS: The problem is, there's no clear alternative to Guantanamo right now. And as long as that's true, they say, it's a waste of time to debate shutting it down.
Joe Johns, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And this from Vice President Dick Cheney. He says there be no plans to close the Guantanamo prison. The vice president tells Fox News there is a reason people are still being held there. Cheney says, "the important thing here to understand is that the people that are at Guantanamo are bad people. I mean, these are terrorists for the most part. We've already screened the detainees there and released a number of them, sent them back to their home countries. But what's left is hard core." End of quote from the vice president. Over the weekend, the world's richest nations agreed to forgive the debt of 18 poor countries. A key to the offer, the receiving nations are seen as having good governments. President Bush is highlighting that point in a meeting this morning at the White House where we find our Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux joining us with the story.
Suzanne, good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
It's at this hour President Bush is meeting with the leaders of five African countries. The leader of Botswana, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia and Niger. This is all part of the administration's effort to highlight Africa's need and also the partnership the United States has with that continent in at least helping economically, as well as politically, promoting democracy.
Now these leaders, we are told, in about 25 minutes or so, President Bush will make a statement. He will recognize them, congratulating them for their free and fair elections, democratic elections, that were held within the last year. He will also highlight, we're told, the value of democracy and also talk about the economic rewards to those specific countries -- the exports that are duty free to come to this country.
Now all of this, Daryn, of course, comes amid pressure from British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was here at the White House last week with the president. He is essentially trying to get the wealthiest countries in the world to double the amount of aid to Africa in the next 10 years. Now President Bush did not sign off on that particular proposal. We expect that is going to come up at the G-8 Summit next month. But instead he announced a modest $674 million for famine relief.
The big news, however, of course, came over the weekend. That is when we saw out of the G-8 Summit, the finance ministers out of London, they actually said that they were going to forgive debt in the tune of some $40 billion for some of the poorest countries in the world. That is a big breakthrough. Now President Bush has been criticized before for not giving enough aid to Africa. He has said that he wants to tie it to good governance. But today, essentially, he's highlighting those countries, those leaders that have been engage in just that.
Daryn.
All right. Thank you so much, Suzanne.
Also a reminder for our viewers at home, we're going to bring you those public remarks from President Bush and that's coming up in about a half hour.
All right. Many were left underwater, but not overwhelmed. The first tropical storm of the season leaves the South super soaked, but Arlene was not one for the history books. That and your forecast coming up.
Plus, a new trial for an old case. Civil rights activist looks for justice more than 40 years after a brutal crime.
And later, ever later, ever wanted the bigger picture about penguins? You'll going to get it. You know, in fact, I have to tell you, some penguins are joining us live here in the studio. Big, big guests. Big booking for us. We'll get to that in a little bit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: America awakening to a new workweek. Much of the nation, though, moving beyond a weekend it would like to forget. Strong storms ripped through much of Oklahoma. Look at that tower just melted in half. Much of Oklahoma and high winds toppled that tower in Clinton, Oklahoma. In fact, gusts also blew over at least two tractor trailer on nearby I-40. No injuries have been reported there.
Arlene came ashore Saturday afternoon but packed more bluster than muscle as it rolled into the Panhandle near Pensacola, Florida. The tropical storm failed to muster hurricane strength and caused very little damage in the South. It's now chugging northward through Ohio.
Cleanup is underway in Western Wisconsin where this tornado damaging at least 24 building in the village of Hammond. It struck Saturday afternoon but officials wouldn't allow residents to go into the area until they were sure there were no gas leaks. There were no injuries from the twister.
For that, let's get a look at today's weather. Want to welcome Bonnie Snyder (ph), our new weather person, I guess to be politically correct.
Bonnie, welcome to CNN.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Thank you, Bonnie. We'll see more of you in this hour and next hour as well.
So you want to buy a house but having cold feet? Gerri Willis warms you up to the idea of buying in today's market.
Gerri, good morning.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Daryn.
You thinking about buying? It's a seller's market. We're going to show you how to get the best deal possible this summer.
Daryn.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Let's go ahead and check the markets. Things a little bit slow on Wall Street to start the week. The Dow is down, as you can see, 28 points. The Nasdaq also down. Down just about a point.
Interest rates are up only slightly from the historic lows and the nation's housing prices have steadily climbed. So is this a good time to buy, sell or stay where you are? Our Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis has her "Top Five Tips" on what you need to ask yourself.
Good morning, Ger.
WILLIS: Hey, good morning, Daryn.
Well, tip number one, walk around town. Real estate is local. You've really got to think about location and there can be big differences from town to town. Take a look at these numbers. Bradenton, Florida, for example. Price there have gone up almost 46 percent year-over-year. Only a short 13 miles away, Sarasota, Florida, they're up 36 percent. But in Tampa, 46 miles away, they're up just 16 percent. So you can see very big differences from place to place, even town to town.
If you're looking for a house right now, get a list of potential zip codes you'd like to live in. Preferably more than one. Give them to your real estate agents and get them to give you numbers about how far those pries have gone. You may think -- you may find out that some places are less popular than you thought.
KAGAN: And that leads us to location, location, location!
WILLIS: Well, as we've been saying, real estate is local. It's all about where you buy, not necessarily what you buy. People get obsessed with a house, Daryn. They see it on the web, they fall if love with it, but you've got to remember to think about the neighborhood. Because, at the end of the day, you can fix up a house but you cannot move that house closer to good schools or to a better community.
KAGAN: That is true. This is a seller's market in most towns, so how's that affect what you're doing?
WILLIS: Well, Daryn, a lot of people don't realize, and when they're out looking at a house, the phone number on that sign in front of that beautiful house, that's really for a seller's agent. Likewise, if you go to a showing of a home, you will be introduced to the seller's agent. Again, if you share information with this person, where you want to live, how much you want to pay, what your personal situation is, you're really just giving info directly to the seller that they can use in negotiation. So your best keeping your secrets to yourself until you locate your own agent who will represent you.
KAGAN: And these markets where people are really bidding up, you really have to know what a house is worth.
WILLIS: You've got to make sure that you're paying the right amount of money and not too much. Likely, if you're picking on of the popular market, you'll pay a premium. But how much is too much? Take a look at the price per square foot for the homes in the neighborhood that are selling in the time frame you are and then make sure you don't overpay on that basis. So it's price per square foot. That's how the experts look at it.
Daryn.
KAGAN: And how should it affect how long you plan staying in this house?
WILLIS: Well, the longer you stay, the less likely you are to have to worry about any kind of movements in the market up or down, one way or the other in the short term. Let's face it, Daryn, most people see their home as a long-term investment. And when they retire, they're likely to see that house, the biggest part of their personal portfolio, and you want to make sure you keep the value of that house rising. Hold it for the long term. It means that you'll have a better chance of making it pay.
KAGAN: All right. Gerri Willis live from New York City.
Thank you.
WILLIS: Thank you.
He was charged with killing three civil rights workers more than 40 years. Now a Baptist preacher and former Ku Klux Klansman has a day in court one more time. We're live in Mississippi coming up next.
And could this be the day Jackson juror go at it again in about an hour? We're going to be waiting for their verdict.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We're coming up on the half hour. Good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's a look at what's happening "Now in the News."
A short time ago an Iraqi court released this video of Saddam Hussein facing questions about the killings of dozens of men. The victims were from the Shiite village where the Iraqi leader escaped a 1982 assassination attempt. The killings are considered relatively minor compared to the other crimes the former president is accused of. But there's been talk that they could serve as a test case in the upcoming trial.
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Aired June 13, 2005 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: About the killings of dozens of men. The victims were from a Shiite village where the Iraqi leader escaped a 1982 assassination attempt. The killings are considered relatively minor compared to the other crimes the performer president is accused of. But there has been talk that they can serve as a test case in his upcoming trial.
Minutes from now at the White House, President Bush welcomes the presidents of five African nations. All of the countries, Botswana, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia and Niger all head democratic elections last year. The gathering follows the British-led initiative to send cash to Africa to pay off international debt.
In Southern California, investigators this morning closed down part of the Long Beach Freeway. That's the scene of the state's latest highway shooting. One man was shot and critically wounded this morning near Lynwood. Police say the shooting was tied to an earlier dispute at a night club.
The price of gasoline continues to slide, although the pace has slowed. An industry analysts says the nationwide average for all grades dropped less than two cents a gallon over the past three weeks. Since early April, the nationwide average has dropped about 16 cents a gallon.
And good morning to you. Let's go ahead and start our week. It is 10:00 a.m. in Palm Beach, Aruba, 9:00 a.m. in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Good morning, everyone, on this Monday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan.
We're going to begin with two developing stories. The first out of Iraq. Just in to CNN, pictures, new pictures in fact, of Saddam Hussein being questioned by a judge. CNN's Jennifer Eccleston is in Baghdad with those picture and to tell us what they're all about.
Jennifer, hello.
JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn.
What we saw there was an Iraqi judge questioning former President Saddam Hussein, specifically about the killings of dozens of men from a Shiite village where he survived and assassination attempt, as you mentioned earlier, in 1982. Now Iraq's special tribunal released the film of Saddam Hussein and other members of his administration being questioned by the chief investigative judge of the tribunal. And in a statement, the tribunal said that this questioning process is ongoing. They also said that he was there, present in the questioning was his lead attorney.
Now this comes a few weeks after a very public statement by the Iraqi government that said, while they were seeking to expedite Saddam Hussein's prosecution, they will put the former dictator to trial in connection with 12 of the best documented crimes. Among them, more than 500 allegedly committed by the former president. And that came from the spokesman of Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari. He said that there was no time to waste in preparing for the trial and said that the government was confident that those court proceedings would begin within two months.
Now shortly afterward, after a flurry of media activity, Iraq's special tribunal sent out a communica (ph) saying, look, there is no time frame set for the beginning of the trial. They're really stressing its independence from the government, who may be seeking to benefit from an early trial, given that they're going to be elections held at the end of the year.
Now let me just give you a little background about whittling down those charges. The spokesman said it would help ensure that the former president would receive the death sentence, which is available here under Iraq's criminal code in which was drafted under the rule of Saddam Hussein. And, of course, Daryn, last July he was arraigned in Baghdad on several broad counts. These included the assassination of political opponents, the 1988 gassing in Halabja and also the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and the suppression of Kurdish and Shiite uprisings in 1991, just after the Gulf War.
Daryn.
KAGAN: Jennifer, any explanation in the timing of releasing these pictures?
ECCLESTON: No explanation on the timing, except that they said this is something that is an ongoing process. We routinely interview those in custody. Not only Saddam Hussein, but senior members of his regime who are implicated in a vast variety of crimes, since he came to power some 30-odd years ago.
So what I think this was today, really from broad speculation, is that this is an opportunity for them to, again, stress their independence saying, we are an independent body from the government. We shall take our time and we will only begin the trial proceedings when they have done due diligence and that he was afforded the full due process under the law, they that have all of their investigations and their questions taking place. And once that happens, they'll be ready for a trial and it will happen no sooner until that time.
Daryn.
KAGAN: Jennifer Eccleston live from Baghdad.
Thank you.
Now on to our other major story we're following this hour. Police are questioning a man who was found with sketches of the city's subway system in New York City. CNN's Deborah Feyerick has the latest from New York.
Good morning.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
Well, the way this all played out is that firefighters were actually inside a building in Brooklyn. They were checking out the sprinkler system when they came upon five men who they believed were acting suspiciously. They began speaking to the men and then they called police.
Four of the men bolted but the firefighters were able to hang on to one of the guys. Police came and they questioned him and on him they found subway maps, as well as what looked like to be sketches of the New York City subway and some sort of fake ID. And that's one of the reasons they wanted to find out exactly who this person was, what he was doing, where his friends went. Right now there's an investigation as police try to sort through all of this.
Again, this happened in Brooklyn and a records search shows that the building where these five men were apparent is some sort of a mini market that also has apartments. But right now police investigating. They want to rule out any suspicious activity, obviously. They do describe the man simply as a middle eastern man but they won't say any more than that.
Daryn.
KAGAN: Deborah Feyerick live from New York City. We'll get more from you as that story develops and it becomes available.
Thank you.
And now for the latest on the Alabama student missing in Aruba. It is now two weeks since 18-year-old Natalee Holloway was last seen. Her mother tells the Associated Press three of the five men in custody know what happened to her daughter. Beth Holloway Twitty suggests that authorities may be trying to protect the young men. CNN's Karl Penhaul has more now from Palm Beach, Aruba.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's exactly two weeks ago now since Natalee Holloway disappears. There are still only four people who know exactly what happened that night. Natalee, herself, and the three young men with whom she left the Carlos 'n Charlie's bar, Joran Van Der Sloot and brothers Depak and Satish Kalpoe.
Those three young men are now in police custody. They were arrested as suspects on Thursday. A law enforcement source close to this investigation has told us that samples taken from the car they allegedly left the bar in have been sent to an FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia. Samples that at first seemed to resemble blood have come back negative.
Two other suspects who have been held for more than a week remain in custody. Those two men are security guards. This is what a government spokesman had to say about their continued detention.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't get the details from the investigation. From what we think may be the case, that these three gentlemen are pointing to the finger to these two guys. So if they have an alibi, they can substantiate where they've been, they may be released at some point. But that's still ongoing. Today their lawyer, I have heard, may come with a special appeal so that their case can be considered.
PENHAUL: Defense attorneys fir five suspects say their clients are maintaining their innocence. The defense attorneys for the two security guards today have lodged an appeal to the court, saying the prosecution doesn't have enough evidence to continue to hold them. Meanwhile, a police source says the interrogation of the three young men will continue.
Karl Penhaul, CNN, Palm Beach, Aruba.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And this just in. News from the U.S. Supreme Court and it concerns Enemy Combatant Jose Padilla.
The Supreme Court has refused to be drawn into a dispute over the case of Jose Padilla. His lawyers were asking them to do that. But that would have been unusual because, for now, a federal appeals court has not yet ruled on this issue involving Jose Padilla. Arguments for that are scheduled for July 19th at the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and that one is in Richmond, Virginia.
So, once again, the U.S. Supreme Court saying for now it's not getting involved in Jose Padilla's case. More on that in a bit.
First, though, we turn to news from "CNN Security Watch" and the debate over Guantanamo Bay Prison Camp.
Recently, more voices have joined the call for that camp to be closed. Now there's a new "Time" magazine report revealing interrogation techniques used on a high profile detainee. CNN's Joe Johns has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Spotlight on the prison camp at Guantanamo Nay, where government designated enemy combatants are taken and interrogated. The question, should the place be closed? Even some Congressional Republicans are starting to wonder.
SEN. CHUCK HAGEL,( R) NEBRASKA: This can't be a situation where we just hold them forever and ever and ever and ever until they just die of old age. What are our plans here?
JOHNS: Republican Senator Mel Martinez of Florida also asked over the weekend whether the political costs of the camp are starting to outweigh the benefits. But the view of many in the party controlling the Congress is that a prisoner at Gitmo gets pretty good treatment.
REP. DUNCAN HUNTER, (R) CALIFORNIA: We're going to serve him Rice Pilaf (ph). We're going to serve him oven fried chicken. We're going to serve him three types of fruit. And pita bread. And he's going to top that all off with a glass of tea.
JOHNS: Among the detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Mohamed al- Kahtani, a suspected 20th hijacker who never made it to the plane on September 11th. A new report in Time" magazine citing a secret interrogation diary says, the government used stress strategies on him like "standing for prolonged periods, isolation for as long as 30 days, removal of clothing, forced shaving of facial hair, playing on individual phobias, such as dogs." Interrogation techniques that are not new and some say not over the line.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Quite frankly, if it's going to save American lives just by shaving someone's hair or by holding him in isolation, I think we have to keep this in context and not be so quick to criticize the military.
JOHNS: A Pentagon statement said Guantanamo provides valuable intelligence information and said al-Kahtani's interrogation "was guided by a very detailed plan and conducted by trained professionals." The administration has been clear on its views of the Guantanamo detainees.
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: They are enemy combatants for a reason, because they seek to do harm to the American people.
JOHNS: But the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee calls Guantanamo a legal black hole.
SEN. PATRICK LEAHY, (D( VERMONT: I think Guantanamo Bay has become a black eye for the United States. We have people there held under dubious reasons. We won't -- we are unwilling to follow even our own rules in holding them. We ought to either charge these people or release them.
JOHNS: The problem is, there's no clear alternative to Guantanamo right now. And as long as that's true, they say, it's a waste of time to debate shutting it down.
Joe Johns, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And this from Vice President Dick Cheney. He says there be no plans to close the Guantanamo prison. The vice president tells Fox News there is a reason people are still being held there. Cheney says, "the important thing here to understand is that the people that are at Guantanamo are bad people. I mean, these are terrorists for the most part. We've already screened the detainees there and released a number of them, sent them back to their home countries. But what's left is hard core." End of quote from the vice president. Over the weekend, the world's richest nations agreed to forgive the debt of 18 poor countries. A key to the offer, the receiving nations are seen as having good governments. President Bush is highlighting that point in a meeting this morning at the White House where we find our Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux joining us with the story.
Suzanne, good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
It's at this hour President Bush is meeting with the leaders of five African countries. The leader of Botswana, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia and Niger. This is all part of the administration's effort to highlight Africa's need and also the partnership the United States has with that continent in at least helping economically, as well as politically, promoting democracy.
Now these leaders, we are told, in about 25 minutes or so, President Bush will make a statement. He will recognize them, congratulating them for their free and fair elections, democratic elections, that were held within the last year. He will also highlight, we're told, the value of democracy and also talk about the economic rewards to those specific countries -- the exports that are duty free to come to this country.
Now all of this, Daryn, of course, comes amid pressure from British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was here at the White House last week with the president. He is essentially trying to get the wealthiest countries in the world to double the amount of aid to Africa in the next 10 years. Now President Bush did not sign off on that particular proposal. We expect that is going to come up at the G-8 Summit next month. But instead he announced a modest $674 million for famine relief.
The big news, however, of course, came over the weekend. That is when we saw out of the G-8 Summit, the finance ministers out of London, they actually said that they were going to forgive debt in the tune of some $40 billion for some of the poorest countries in the world. That is a big breakthrough. Now President Bush has been criticized before for not giving enough aid to Africa. He has said that he wants to tie it to good governance. But today, essentially, he's highlighting those countries, those leaders that have been engage in just that.
Daryn.
All right. Thank you so much, Suzanne.
Also a reminder for our viewers at home, we're going to bring you those public remarks from President Bush and that's coming up in about a half hour.
All right. Many were left underwater, but not overwhelmed. The first tropical storm of the season leaves the South super soaked, but Arlene was not one for the history books. That and your forecast coming up.
Plus, a new trial for an old case. Civil rights activist looks for justice more than 40 years after a brutal crime.
And later, ever later, ever wanted the bigger picture about penguins? You'll going to get it. You know, in fact, I have to tell you, some penguins are joining us live here in the studio. Big, big guests. Big booking for us. We'll get to that in a little bit.
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KAGAN: America awakening to a new workweek. Much of the nation, though, moving beyond a weekend it would like to forget. Strong storms ripped through much of Oklahoma. Look at that tower just melted in half. Much of Oklahoma and high winds toppled that tower in Clinton, Oklahoma. In fact, gusts also blew over at least two tractor trailer on nearby I-40. No injuries have been reported there.
Arlene came ashore Saturday afternoon but packed more bluster than muscle as it rolled into the Panhandle near Pensacola, Florida. The tropical storm failed to muster hurricane strength and caused very little damage in the South. It's now chugging northward through Ohio.
Cleanup is underway in Western Wisconsin where this tornado damaging at least 24 building in the village of Hammond. It struck Saturday afternoon but officials wouldn't allow residents to go into the area until they were sure there were no gas leaks. There were no injuries from the twister.
For that, let's get a look at today's weather. Want to welcome Bonnie Snyder (ph), our new weather person, I guess to be politically correct.
Bonnie, welcome to CNN.
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KAGAN: Thank you, Bonnie. We'll see more of you in this hour and next hour as well.
So you want to buy a house but having cold feet? Gerri Willis warms you up to the idea of buying in today's market.
Gerri, good morning.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Daryn.
You thinking about buying? It's a seller's market. We're going to show you how to get the best deal possible this summer.
Daryn.
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KAGAN: Let's go ahead and check the markets. Things a little bit slow on Wall Street to start the week. The Dow is down, as you can see, 28 points. The Nasdaq also down. Down just about a point.
Interest rates are up only slightly from the historic lows and the nation's housing prices have steadily climbed. So is this a good time to buy, sell or stay where you are? Our Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis has her "Top Five Tips" on what you need to ask yourself.
Good morning, Ger.
WILLIS: Hey, good morning, Daryn.
Well, tip number one, walk around town. Real estate is local. You've really got to think about location and there can be big differences from town to town. Take a look at these numbers. Bradenton, Florida, for example. Price there have gone up almost 46 percent year-over-year. Only a short 13 miles away, Sarasota, Florida, they're up 36 percent. But in Tampa, 46 miles away, they're up just 16 percent. So you can see very big differences from place to place, even town to town.
If you're looking for a house right now, get a list of potential zip codes you'd like to live in. Preferably more than one. Give them to your real estate agents and get them to give you numbers about how far those pries have gone. You may think -- you may find out that some places are less popular than you thought.
KAGAN: And that leads us to location, location, location!
WILLIS: Well, as we've been saying, real estate is local. It's all about where you buy, not necessarily what you buy. People get obsessed with a house, Daryn. They see it on the web, they fall if love with it, but you've got to remember to think about the neighborhood. Because, at the end of the day, you can fix up a house but you cannot move that house closer to good schools or to a better community.
KAGAN: That is true. This is a seller's market in most towns, so how's that affect what you're doing?
WILLIS: Well, Daryn, a lot of people don't realize, and when they're out looking at a house, the phone number on that sign in front of that beautiful house, that's really for a seller's agent. Likewise, if you go to a showing of a home, you will be introduced to the seller's agent. Again, if you share information with this person, where you want to live, how much you want to pay, what your personal situation is, you're really just giving info directly to the seller that they can use in negotiation. So your best keeping your secrets to yourself until you locate your own agent who will represent you.
KAGAN: And these markets where people are really bidding up, you really have to know what a house is worth.
WILLIS: You've got to make sure that you're paying the right amount of money and not too much. Likely, if you're picking on of the popular market, you'll pay a premium. But how much is too much? Take a look at the price per square foot for the homes in the neighborhood that are selling in the time frame you are and then make sure you don't overpay on that basis. So it's price per square foot. That's how the experts look at it.
Daryn.
KAGAN: And how should it affect how long you plan staying in this house?
WILLIS: Well, the longer you stay, the less likely you are to have to worry about any kind of movements in the market up or down, one way or the other in the short term. Let's face it, Daryn, most people see their home as a long-term investment. And when they retire, they're likely to see that house, the biggest part of their personal portfolio, and you want to make sure you keep the value of that house rising. Hold it for the long term. It means that you'll have a better chance of making it pay.
KAGAN: All right. Gerri Willis live from New York City.
Thank you.
WILLIS: Thank you.
He was charged with killing three civil rights workers more than 40 years. Now a Baptist preacher and former Ku Klux Klansman has a day in court one more time. We're live in Mississippi coming up next.
And could this be the day Jackson juror go at it again in about an hour? We're going to be waiting for their verdict.
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KAGAN: We're coming up on the half hour. Good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's a look at what's happening "Now in the News."
A short time ago an Iraqi court released this video of Saddam Hussein facing questions about the killings of dozens of men. The victims were from the Shiite village where the Iraqi leader escaped a 1982 assassination attempt. The killings are considered relatively minor compared to the other crimes the former president is accused of. But there's been talk that they could serve as a test case in the upcoming trial.
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