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Body Tug-Of-War; Chemical Bombs; Coming Home; Gerri's Top Tips

Aired February 22, 2007 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in for Heidi Collins.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Tony Harris. Spend a second hour in the NEWSROOM this morning and stay informed. Here's what's on the rundown.

Battle royal. Prince Harry shipping off this spring for war duty. He'll be known as Troop Commander Wales.

WHITFIELD: The mother, the lovers, the lawyers. The battle over Anna Nicole Smith's body and baby back in court this hour.

HARRIS: And she can't speak a word, but communicates just fine. We will take you in to the mysterious world of autism.

It is Thursday, the 22nd day of February. You are in the NEWSROOM.

And our top story this hour. More courtroom drama expected in just a few minutes in Florida. The emotional and often explosive tug-of-war over Anna Nicole Smith's body winding down. Our Susan Candiotti is outside the courthouse in Broward County.

Susan, we understand the hearing is set to start any moment now. Has everyone started to arrive?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just about a half hour from now, at 10:30, that's when testimony will resume. Again, let me give you a little bit of a flavor of what we're looking at out here. Above, I don't know if you can hear it. Probably not. But there's a helicopter flying overhead.

Down the street, let me first start with the strong police presence they have here, trying to keep the traffic in check, trying to make sure that no one gets hit by any cars or, frankly, mowed over by photographers running to get their shot. But the photographers now are pretty well penned in across the street. You can see that they are waiting for all of the principals in this courtroom drama to arrive.

No one has as of yet. They are waiting for Howard K. Sterns, Smith's partner, Virgie Arthur, Smith's mother, and Larry Birkhead, her ex- boyfriend who claims to be the biological father of their child. They'll be going in that door, you're looking at over there, once they arrive.

So to bring you up to speed here, the judge has asked by day's end all the attorneys who represent the key players here, not only the three I mentioned, but there is also a lawyer who represents Dannielynn, the baby, represents her interests in this case because, technically, she's the next of kin, and he speaks for her since she is, obviously, too young to speak for herself.

Now Larry Birkhead is expected to take the stand first up when court resumes. He is the last person we saw yesterday. And in court yesterday, he struggled when he was asked by the judge, if he were proven to be the biological father, where he would bury Anna Nicole Smith.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY BIRKHEAD, SMITH'S EX-BOYFRIEND: I would say that since she always had a desire to be in California and that was her home, outside of just the paternity battle, that that's where I would have preferred her to be.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In California?

BIRKHEAD: That's where I would prefer her to be. However, since her son has passed away, I know he didn't want to go to the Bahamas. I know he didn't -- he called California his home. I hate that he's there. But I'm having a tough time with the decision.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now in the middle of this very dramatic day of testimony yesterday, during the midday recess, the mother, Virgie Arthur, Howard K. Stern and Birkhead all made a visit over to the medical examiner's office where Anna Nicole Smith's remains are under lock and key. They had a private viewing of her in a conference room, set up more-or-less like a funeral home, with a lot of flowers in this conference room. She lay there in an open casket. And they had a chance to spend some private time with her. And they are bound by a confidentiality rule not to speak about any details of what happened.

So, again, the judge here has a decision to make, and it's coming up soon, and that is whether Anna Nicole Smith should be buried in the Bahamas next to her son, Daniel. He died there and was buried there last year, or whether she should perhaps be returned to Texas where her mother wants her to be, or perhaps California where Larry Birkhead said she once want to be buried next to her idol, Marilyn Monroe. We expect a decision in this case, Tony, to be made tomorrow possibly by midday. That's what the judge is saying. So today could be the last day of testimony.

Back to you.

HARRIS: Susan, help me with this. What was the relevance of a line of questioning yesterday to Virgie Arthur, Anna Nicole Smith's mom, as to whether or not Miss Arthur was receiving compensation for photos, videotapes, and other access to this whole process?

CANDIOTTI: WELL, there were objections to that line of questioning. But the relevance, as the judge explained it, and as some lawyers were arguing for, was that it plays to the state of mind of the various parties in this case who wish to gain custody of her remains. The state of mind, financial interest.

She wasn't the only one asked. Howard Stern was also asked whether he had been compensated. And she denied it. He said that he had never received money from "Entertainment Tonight." He's done a lot of interviews with them lately. Although he did say that he accepted a free plane ride after Anna Nicole died from here in Florida, over to the Bahamas, and then he granted them another exclusive interview.

HARRIS: Susan Candiotti for us, following the proceedings in Broward County, Florida.

Susan, thank you.

WHITFIELD: So across the pond, as they say, Britain's Prince Harry heading to Iraq. Confirmation coming just this morning. The 22-year- old is third in line to the British throne. It is said that he has been actively seeking the posting to Iraq. Harry is a second lieutenant and Britain's defense ministry says the royal will carry out a normal troop commander's role, leading a dozen men in armored reconnaissance vehicles. Prince Harry will be marching into the war as Britain pulls nearly a quarter of its troops out in the coming months.

Prince Harry joins some 7,100 British troops in Iraq as his government does prepare to start withdrawing about a quarter of its forces. The U.S., meanwhile, has more than 140,00 troops currently serving in Iraq and President Bush plans to send more than 21,000 additional troops that way.

Mixing chemicals with explosives. A new toxic weapon in the Iraq War. Live to CNN's Kathleen Koch at the Pentagon.

Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And, Fredricka, yes, that's what we heard today from the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, Lieutenant General Ray Odierno, that basically U.S. troops are confronting this new and potentially deadly threat. And we saw a case of it employed in southwestern Baghdad today, where a car bomb went off that was packed with chlorine gas. Some six people killed, some 70 sent to local hospitals. General Odierno says that troops -- in fact, U.S. troops raiding a car bomb factory in Iraq just two days ago found there on location not just explosive but these chlorine canisters. So they realize that bomb makers are employing this new and deadly tactic.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. GEN. RAY ODIERNO, U.S. ARMY: We found attempts of them to try to use all different types of chemical mixtures in order to try to make VBIDs (ph) more lethal. And this is just another way to do it.

Now I would say, in that incident the other day, we had one individual civilian killed. All the others were very minor injuries. So what we have to do is continue to evaluate, what does it mean and what we can do to try to stop them from detonating them at all, of course, but also what do we have to do to protect the populous when this happens. And we're studying that now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: General Odierno was also asked whether or not U.S. commanders would like to see those roughly 15,000 plus British troops, which are going to be pulled out of southern Iraq, would they like to see them in Baghdad? Were they frustrated that they weren't coming there? And Odierno said, no. That the U.S. forces, the commanders worked with the British in coming up with this plan. They were very much in agreement in it. Believe it's appropriate. And again, as the White House said over and over again yesterday, they would hope that U.S. forces will be able to follow this similar model once things have calmed down in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq.

Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And, Kathleen, let's talk about these choppers going down in Iraq. How is the U.S. military either adapting or maybe even changing strategy of their use?

KOCH: What Odierno pointed out was, first of all, that they've made some arrests in the recent downing of helicopters. It's roughly eight U.S. helicopters that have gone down since January 20th. And so a couple of people have been arrested. The U.S. has, over the last two days, been conducting some operations, trying to track down those responsible.

Odierno pointed out that in two or three cases there were actually ambushes conducted where these forces, insurgents laid in wait. They were watching the helicopter's motions, stake them out and then attacked all at once. And he does say he believes that the groups responsible are largely al Qaeda relate.

WHITFIELD: All right, Kathleen Koch at the Pentagon, thanks so much.

KOCH: You bet.

HARRIS: We right now we are waiting -- everyone is waiting for a decision. We're watching Washington, D.C., where a D.C. jury is deliberating, determining the fate of former White House advisor and former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney. We are talking about that man at the center of the screen, Lewis Scooter Libby.

Libby is accused of lying to investigators about his conversations with reporters regarding the identity of outed CIA officer Valerie Plame. A case dating back to 2003.

We will continue to watch that federal court building in Washington, D.C. When we get word of a verdict, we will certainly bring that to you with a bit of wall-to-wall coverage here in the NEWSROOM.

WHITFIELD: Well, you've heard about wraps. Wrap sandwiches.

HARRIS: Oh, yes, sandwich.

WHITFIELD: OK. Forget about that.

HARRIS: OK.

WHITFIELD: This deli - yes, raping like we're doing right now? Yes, that too. OK.

HARRIS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Well, here's a deli that serves whops.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get down. Get down. Get down. Get down. Get down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Wow.

WHITFIELD: No, that's what I mean. Whop with a bat.

HARRIS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Get out indeed. A store owner fights back, whopping in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: Also a tiny baby, major milestone, born at less than 10 ounces. Remember this story? She's big enough to go home now. Amillia's a fighter. You want the proof? Stay here with us in the NEWSROOM.

WHITFIELD: A woman with autism struggling to live in the typical world but keeping her humor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Would you define yourself as an autistic person, Amanda?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. The word for people whose brains look like mine, last I checked.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta has a story you just don't want to miss. You'll see it right here from the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: According to Reuters, it is being reported that today would have been a deadline for Iran to suspend any kind of uranium enrichment activity today. Well, apparently, according to Reuters, they have not met that deadline and so now this leaves the country open up to any kind of possible wider sanctions being imposed by the IAEA. Our Lis Mislo (ph) at the U.N. is following this story. She's going through the report that is being issued by the IAEA and, of course, when we get any more information of the details of this report and the possibility of not meeting this deadline imposed by the U.N., we'll be able to bring that to you.

Meantime, out of Hollywood, Britney Spears, the custody of her two children possibly in the balance today. Spears estranged husband, Kevin Federline, will be in a family court this morning, L.A. time, for an emergency hearing. He's seeking sole custody of five-month-old Jayden James and 17-month-old Sean. Stay tuned to that.

HARRIS: Is it free speech for religions discrimination. That is the question this morning in Wake County North Carolina. These anti- Islamic pamphlets were handed out by a guest speaker at a local high school. Among its points, why women shouldn't marry a Muslim man. At least one parent and a national Muslim organization want answers from school administrators. The handout claims the Prophet Mohammed was a demon possessed criminal inspired by Satan. The parent says, when he asked the teacher and principal about the handouts, they told him it was a matter of free speech. OK.

New parents bringing their baby home from a hospital. It happens all the time, right? Not like this. Derek Hayward, of Miami affiliate WSVN, reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's coming home.

DEREK HAYWARD, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): She's coming home, weighing in at a whopping four pounds. A far cry from when tiny Amillia was born. October 24th, barely 10 ounces of baby, just 9 « inches long. As she entered the world after only 21 weeks and six days in her mother's womb. No baby born that early has ever survived before.

Her mother credits the staff at Baptist Children's Hospital. But the staff is convinced divine intervention had a role here, too.

DR. WILLIAM SMALLING, BAPTIST CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: This is a miracle. Medicine has advanced. We're making great strides. But this was a special baby. And I think we can truly call her a miracle. Here at Baptist Children's Hospital, this is really an historic occasion. And we're part of history. And it's very exciting.

HAYWARD: Amillia's parents have been waiting four months to take her home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Family. That's it, family.

SONJA TAYLOR, MOTHER: I'm just ready to go home and be a good mom and a good wife.

HAYWARD: So, for the first time in her life, Amillia is buckled into a baby seat, oblivious of the phone calls that are pouring in from all over the world to wish her well. Amillia is home at her parents' house in Homestead. She's going to require asthma medicine. She's going to require Vitamin E on her skin a lot and a lot of other special care. But not bad considering that technically speaking it is still a miracle she's even alive.

In Homestead, Derek Hayward, 7 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: That is incredible. And that picture says it all.

HARRIS: With the fingers and the little feet.

WHITFIELD: Yes, tiny, tiny, tiny.

HARRIS: The size and just the -- at birth.

WHITFIELD: I know. But now, four pounds, four and a half pounds, it's just remarkable considering she was born 10 ounces.

HARRIS: Keep your fingers crossed.

WHITFIELD: It's a sweet story.

HARRIS: Yes, it is.

WHITFIELD: All right, this story . . .

HARRIS: Yes, not so sweet?

WHITFIELD: Sweet, not the word. No. Downstairs neighbor, meet the upstairs neighbor.

HARRIS: OK.

WHITFIELD: Hey, upstairs guy, turn your TV down.

HARRIS: What's the problem?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He comes in with his three foot long sword and starts pointing it at me and going, "where is she?"

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So she was screaming. And, just screaming, let's just put it that way.

HARRIS: OK.

WHITFIELD: But she wasn't in this house.

HARRIS: Where was she, Fred?

WHITFIELD: A case of Sunday morn porn. That's the line of the day. That's in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: And CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis bringing some civility back to the program here this morning.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I hope so.

WHITFIELD: She's shaking her head.

HARRIS: Hey, Gerri, that tax deadline is coming up. We need to figure out some ways to save some dollars, if we can.

WILLIS: April 15th, less than two months away. That means it's time to start thinking of ways to cut your tax bill before Uncle Sam comes knocking at your door. My tips are next in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Well, after yesterday, the Dow had a downer of a day, falling at about 48 points. Today, well, also down by about eight points. But the Nasdaq up by one. We're watching the numbers.

HARRIS: Uncle Sam's coming. Are you ready? Tax day now less than two months away. CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis is here to help you keep more of your money in your pocket.

WILLIS: Right.

HARRIS: You know what, Gerri, this is great. I'm looking ahead here. And we have spent a lot of time talking about getting your house winterized, ready for the harsh weather. And it looks like there is a tax time payoff to all that work.

WILLIS: Yes, there is, Tony. You've got to think energy efficiency. And there is a great tax credit this year. Look, if you put in new windows or add insulation to your house last year, if you did it last year, you're in for a tax break. You'll be able to claim a 10 percent credit, up to $500, for insulation and heat-reducing metal roofs, up to $200 for energy efficient windows.

Now if you're more ambition, you can get an annual credit worth up to $2,000 if you install solar panels or water heaters. So those are more expensive, the credit's bigger.

HARRIS: Hey, can we save for retirement? I'm thinking if we can be smart here and get a two-fer (ph) out of this and be smart at tax time?

WILLIS: Yes. You bet you. You know, kill two birds with one stone by opening an IRA to increase your savings for retirement. The other advantage here, Tony, as you just mentioned, you're going to shelter some income for Uncle Sam. The maximum IRA contribution for people under 50 is $4,000. And up to $5,000 if you're 50 years or older. It's a great two-fer.

HARRIS: How about phones? I'm hearing a lot of folks around the center talking about that there is a rebate for phones? Cell phones. Explain that to me, Gerri.

WILLIS: Tony, IRS errors in your favor. Look, if you own a phone, and this includes a cell phone, you're entitled to at least $30 back from Uncle Sam. Now the one-time refund is pay back for an old telephone excise tax the government has been making people pay for a century. You can get up to $60 for families of four or more. Now claiming the standard credit will be much easier than digging up phone bills for the past three and a half years to figure out exactly how much you were owed. So take that standard credit.

HARRIS: Now that's great.

And we shouldn't forget about education spending, should we?

WILLIS: There are big, big breaks for people spending for education. If you contribute to a 529 plan to save for your child's education, you could be in for a big fat tax deduction. Some states allow you to deduct your contributions to the 529. Now if you want to see if your state is one of them, go to www.savingforcollege.com.

And if you're already paying tuition, you're in for another big tax break. Qualified higher education expenses are deductible for up to $4,000 in intuition and fees if your adjusted gross income is $65,000 or less, and $130,000 for joint filers.

Now, if your income is higher, Tony, that is $80,000 or less for single filers or $160,000 or less for married couples, you can deduct up to $2,000. You don't want to ignore that because that's just free, free, free money, you know.

HARRIS: Absolutely. Great tips today, Gerri.

What's coming up this weekend on the big "Open House" show?

WILLIS: The big "Open House." It's ripped off, Tony. We're talking about ripoffs. We're going to tell you all about the fight for your consumer rights with banks, credit cards, contractors, insurance companies. We'll show you how to keep your car mechanic honest. Good luck with that.

And, plus, folks across the nation are getting ripped off by predatory loans. I sat down with Congressman Barney Frank to see what they're doing in Washington. They've got a plan. And we'll, of course, tell you the very best way to complain. I know you want to hear that, Tony

HARRIS: Oh, I definitely do. Great tips today. I can't wait for "Open House" over the weekend. And viewer e-mails tomorrow, Gerri?

WILLIS: Yes, sir.

HARRIS: Beautiful.

WILLIS: Well, actually, we have something special for you tomorrow. I'll tell you about it later (ph).

HARRIS: Oh, great. OK. Have a great day, Gerri. Great to see you. WILLIS: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Hear death was just the beginning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I love the Bahamas, but we're going to have to figure that out. You'll remind me this afternoon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: More high drama expected shortly in the pitched courtroom battle over Anna Nicole Smith's body. A live update in the NEWSROOM.

And Hillary Clinton versus Barack Obama. The gloves come off.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hillary Clinton's Hollywood base is crumbling. It's crumbling partly because of what she is doing and partly because Barack Obama is magic in this town.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: We'll tell you who sparked this war of words. Stay in the NEWSROOM.

And a woman with autism struggling to live in the typical world but keeping her humor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Would you define yourself as an autistic person, Amanda?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. The word for people whose brains look like mine, last I checked.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta has a story you just won't want to miss. You'll see it in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: 10:30 a.m. Eastern time, 7:30 a.m. for our friends in the West. Good morning everyone, welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM, I'm Tony Harris.

WHITFIELD: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Heidi Collins.

Britain's Prince Harry heading to Iraq. Confirmation just coming out this morning. The 22-year-old is third in line to the British throne. It says that he has been actively seeking the post to Iraq. Harry is a second lieutenant and Britain's defense ministry says the royal will carry out a normal troop commander's role, leading a dozen men in armored reconnaissance vehicles. Prince Harry will be marching into the war as Britain pulls nearly a quarter of its troops out in the coming months.

HARRIS: We want to get back to the Severe Weather Center. Chad Myers over my shoulder right there. Oh, you're going to start out West and I understand you have a pretty cool i-Report.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Now, a look inside autism, the story told through a woman you won't soon forget.

WHITFIELD: Amanda Baggs may change the way you think of the disorder and how people with autism deal with the typical world. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta now with Amanda's story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Amanda Baggs, rocking back and forth. She does not make eye contact. Her movements are erratic. Her behavior, eccentric. She cannot speak, and for most of us this is precisely what we expect when we see a person with autism.

But Amanda will absolutely change your expectations. We first came across Amanda on YouTube. Her appearance there so startling I wanted to meet her. I had so many questions.

AMANDA BAGGS: The way I naturally think and respond to things looks and feels so different from standard concepts, or even visualization, that some people do not consider it thought at all.

It is only when I type something in your language that you refer to me as having communication.

GUPTA: Amanda calls herself bilingual. For other autistic people she has movement and gestures to communicate. But for the rest of us, she made this video to teach us how it works. She jokingly calls us neurotypical, meaning we do not have autism. She communicates with a keyboard and computer, and for visitors a voice synthesizer.

(on camera): So you've seen the video with your own eyes. I want to show it to you through Amanda Baggs eyes. She lives in this building, and she lives alone.

(voice-over): This is where Amanda made the video. She shot it, edited it and posted it on the Internet, all completely on her own. Surprised?

If we must label her, she won't like it, but medically she is a low-functioning autistic.

Amanda interacts with everything around her.

(on camera): What about this? This was interesting. You can read obviously, but you're actually putting your face in the book. Why? What does that mean?

BAGGS: I like the smell and the texture of that particular paper. That book has very rough paper.

GUPTA (voice-over): Amanda says this is her natural way of thinking, in patterns and in colors. Thinking with language and written words as we do is not natural for her, therefore so she struggles with it.

(on camera): If you wanted to talk to me, could you do that?

BAGGS: I could make speech sounds. At this point I could not make them mean anything I was thinking.

GUPTA: Does that frustrate you?

BAGGS: Not really. I type very fast.

GUPTA: Yes, you do.

(voice-over): Yes, she types very fast. When she's feeling good and not distracted, Amanda types about 120 words a minute. But her ability fluctuates. Some days, she can only type with one finger at a home.

And occasionally she cannot type at all. On rare days, Amanda can become catatonic. Distractions, interferences, sensory overloads, all present huge obstacles for Amanda. So she is most secure and most comfortable here at home with her dog Billie Jean and with all over computer equipment as well. But when she leaves here, she is assaulted by too much stimulation.

I went with her to see her dentist. She uses a wheelchair not because she can't walk, she can. But she says the very act of balancing herself proves too distracting. And you'll notice she's focused on her keyboard. In the dentist chair, the buzz and flickering of the fluorescent lights are overwhelming for her. They can trigger migraines.

So Amanda soothes herself, she fiddles with her blocks, they are familiar and calming. When Amanda hit herself, I was startled but not surprised. It is a familiar autistic behavior. She must be so frustrated, such a bright woman, so trapped, and yet I wondered how is it that Amanda has been able to reveal so much about herself? And how many more people are there just like her?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: That is riveting, isn't it? Amanda's story is remarkable, teaching us all a lot about autism and what she is going through. Amanda was able to speak normally at one time. We'll have more on that mystery, plus Amanda's advice for parents of autistic children when Sanjay's story continues right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: So right before the break, we introduced you to an amazing woman.

HARRIS: Amanda Baggs, she may be trapped but her brain roams free. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta continues with this rare and fascinating look inside autism.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA (voice-over): It's a bit disconcerting talking to Amanda. Typical of people with autism, there is no eye contact.

BAGGS (through voice synthesizer): There's problems. And I don't know all my meds.

GUPTA: Until she responds with her keyboard and voice synthesizer, it's hard to know if what I'm saying actually registers.

(on camera): If you didn't have this, how would I communicate with this? How would I understand what you're trying to tell me? How would you guide me, or at least help me understand you?

BAGGS (through voice synthesizer): I tend to kind of bludgeon people over the head with that kind of communication. Not sure.

GUPTA (voice-over): Growing up, Amanda attended regular public schools. She could read at an early age. It's called hyperlexia. And it's common for people with autism.

She says she learned spelling by reading. She learned to type with a teaching software. Then, in her teens, she slowly lost her ability to talk.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The (INAUDIBLE)

BAGGS (through voice synthesizer): Great.

(on camera): Would you say that people would be surprised to find out how well you can communicate, being a person with autism?

BAGGS (through voice synthesizer): Generally, if they see me first before they see me talk, they are surprised, and sometimes disbelieving. And, then, sometimes, if they first see me write, they think that I'm not autistic.

DR. ERIC HOLLANDER, SEAVER AND NEW YORK AUTISM CENTER OF EXCELLENCE: And what is extraordinary is that some individuals that you think are mentally retarded and have no language, once they're able to communicate through a keyboard, they have high-level processing and thinking about the world, and they're able to communicate in an expressive fashion.

GUPTA (voice-over): Remember, that's how we first found Amanda, via her computer on YouTube. In fact, the Internet has allowed her to leave her secure and orderly little apartment to meet others with autism.

For example, she likes to go to an online community called Second Life, where she's created an animated alter ego who looks and acts like her. Even here, in her virtual world, she's typing and rocking back and forth.

HOLLANDER: The big advantage of the Internet for people with autism is, it does filter out all of the facial expressions and the body language. So, people don't have to spend time trying to disentangle or understand the nonverbal forms of communication.

GUPTA: What are we missing here? Why -- why has autism been this -- something that people have not really been able to get their arms around, in terms of being able to communicate, being able to understand it fully?

BAGGS (through voice synthesizer): There's a communication gap that goes two ways. It's not a one-way street. And, so, part of the problem is that the people are thinking if they don't understand us, it's because we're broken, and, if we don't understand them, it's because we're broken.

GUPTA: As for communicating with others who have autism, Amanda said it's not about words. I asked her about an autistic woman she wanted to meet.

(on camera): Why didn't you just look at her and make a motion, like hello, or hi, or wave the hand, or something to acknowledge her at the time?

BAGGS (through voice synthesizer): That would be a bit invasive, wouldn't it?

GUPTA: Well, it happens all the time. I mean, I think -- I think a lot of people would understand that sort of gesture. Do -- do you think -- do you think that she would have been offended by it, or that it would have been too invasive to her?

BAGGS (through voice synthesizer): When I'm around other autistic people, where the meaning is known already, why bother with forcing an arm to do all that, when you can already make the meaning clear? It's redundant.

Why would I spend not only the physical energy on doing the motion, but the cognitive energy working out which particular motion is the one you want out of me right then? It's like running calculus in your head to say hi, and it's not usually worth it in the long run.

GUPTA (voice-over): In other words, meeting our expectations is not important for her, can actually overwhelm her.

(on camera): What is the message, then, for -- for -- for the parents, for the people who are providers? What? I mean, try harder to communicate?

BAGGS (through voice synthesizer): Listen to other autistic people. In fact, expose autistic children to a wide variety of autistic adults. It may be the autistic adults who do have either typing or speech who are far more equipped to be able to communicate with other autistic people.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Burlington, Vermont.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Two giant beverage rivals are making one major disclosure and many health groups are saying, you've got the right one, baby. Susan Lisovicz is at the New York Stock Exchange with the story. I think everyone gets the hint.

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

HARRIS: And still to come in the NEWSROOM, nuclear experts weigh in on Iran's nuclear program. They give no guarantees that it's for peaceful purposes only. A developing story and live report from the United Nations next in the NEWSROOM.

WHITFIELD: The mother, the lovers and the legal battle -- Anna Nicole smith making headlines, even in deaths. We're following this developing story, as you look at live pictures right there in the courtroom, where testimony resumes.

We'll be back with it in the NEWSROOM.

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HARRIS: The U.N.'s nuclear chief has just released a long- awaited report on Iran's nuclear program.

CNN's Liz Neisloss is live from the United Nations. Liz, good to see you. I know you've had a chance to look at the report. What's the key finding?

LIZ NEISLOSS, CNN U.N. CORRESPONDENT: The key finding, Tony, is not a surprise to diplomats here. That is that Iran continues to defy the United Nations Security Council. They continue to enrich uranium. They continue to build at nuclear plants where the council has asked them to stop and has put Iran under sanctions. Despite that, though, they are still persisting in their nuclear program, which the Iranians say is for peaceful purposes. But there are a lot of fears, Tony, about outstanding questions, and this report says all the mysteries cannot be cleared up -- Tony.

HARRIS: So, Liz, where does the process go from here?

NEISLOSS: Well, it is a long slog to try to get to more sanctions. So they are going to try to tighten the screws on Iran, while at the same time pursuing diplomacy. So a parallel track it's called in the diplomatic world, a little more discussion and little more sanctions. How much more in the sanctions department depends how you consider the pressures against the U.S. The U.S. would like further sanctions. Russia and China, which have business and political interests in Iran, do not want firm sanctions -- Tony.

HARRIS: CNN U.N. correspondent Liz Neisloss for us. Liz, thank you. WHITFIELD: So what is the White House reaction? Well, in a word, disappointment.

CNN's Ed Henry joins us live with a look, as we also look at live pictures of President Bush arriving there in North Carolina -- Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right.

Hello, Fred. The president will be talking about energy today. But you're right, the White House also talking of course about Iran, expressing disappointment in Iran, based on this report, and I would say it's a measured response from the White House.

Gordon Jonro (ph), the National Security Council spokesman here, saying, quote, "The report indicates Iran has not suspended its uranium-enrichment activities. This is disappointing." He added that The White House has not taken a full look at the report yet. They're just looking at it right now. It's hot of the presses, and they want to take a look at it and discuss the next step with allies.

And what's significant about, the reason why I say it's measured, is that the White House really seems to be taking pains to stress they're not headed to war with Iran. We've heard about this over and over, Democrats on Capitol Hill charging the president has been building a case for war with Iran with these public statements about Iran meddling with Iraq, in addition to the public statements about Iran's uranium enrichment program. And what you're really see here is, I think, the White House trying to downplay that talk as much as they can, and insist, as just heard from Liz, that they want to seek a diplomatic track.

WHITFIELD: Ed Henry, thanks so much from the White House.

HENRY: Thank you.

HARRIS: Iraqi gasping for breath. Insurgents releasing chlorine gas into the air. A new tactic stirring up old memories, coming up in the NEWSROOM.

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