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Britain-Iran Standoff; Bombings Rock Iraq; Gonzales' Rocky Road

Aired March 31, 2007 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
Welcome in to the NEWSROOM.

Heavy rains are moving eastward, out of Texas this hour, but several Dallas-area rivers still pose threats of flooding. And now severe storms loom along a lengthy swath of the country, running from Minnesota, all the way to the Gulf Coast.

And live pictures right now from Des Moines, Iowa. Well, they've got problems of their own, or at least anticipating a few.

Our Jacqui Jeras is keeping a close watch on all of it.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Well, weather not necessarily the focus just outside of Washington, but instead, ethanol, fuel and trade. Those are some of the items that President Bush, as well as the President of Brazil, are discussing at Camp David. You're looking at live pictures right now, because momentarily we're expecting a press conference. And of course we'll carry their comments as it happens.

Meantime, eight days since their capture, and the British government still doesn't know the whereabouts of its 15 troops seized at sea by Iran.

CNN's Matthew Chance has the latest on the standoff from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Facing continued uncertainty, the 15 British military personnel held in Iran remain at the center of a bitter standoff. The British foreign minister confirms there's been an exchange of letters between London and Tehran, but no one is talking about progress towards a release.

MARGARET BECKETT, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: What we want is a way out of it. We want it peacefully. And we want it as soon as possible.

We would like to be told where our personnel are. We would like to be given access to them, but we want it resolved. CHANCE: And a sense of diplomatic urgency is only heightened since Iran chose to broadcast this purported confession by one of the captured sailors, possibly made under duress.

NATHAN SUMMERS, BRITISH SEAMAN: I'm grateful no harm has come to us. Just, I'd like to apologize for entering your waters without any permission

CHANCE: Letters handwritten by the only female captive, Faye Turney, have been released, too. British officials say their anti- British and U.S. tone also appears to have been coerced.

On the streets of the Iranian capital, where Islamic Republic Day is being celebrated, there appears to be some support for the way the Iranian government is handling the standoff.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The fact that the United Kingdom or America are great powers, does not force us to free these soldiers. They may even be spies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): It would be better if Iran were to free the female British sailor because it is a positive move. But the United Kingdom also must respond positively after her release.

CHANCE: But, for the moment, Britain is trying to step up the diplomatic pressure on the Islamic republic. At a gathering of EU foreign ministers, it's looking to its European allies to adopt strong measures to encourage Iran to back down.

(on camera): Already, the European Union, which is the biggest trading partner of Iran, has expressed its strong up support for the British position in this escalating standoff. They could now choose to impose punitive measures against the Islamic republic if the British sailors aren't released soon.

Without some kind of solution, it seems Iran may be facing ever deeper isolation.

Matthew Chance, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Iraq was shaken again today by a series of deadly bombings. With the latest live from Baghdad, CNN's Frederik Pleitgen.

Frederik, another bloody day at the end of a very bloody week in Iraq. So what are U.S. troops and Iraqi security forces feel like they can do to curb this latest surge of violence?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, first of all, you're absolutely right. This has been a very, very deadly week in Iraq. And over 500 people were killed in the past six days alone. So, this has been one of the deadliest weeks since the fall of the Saddam regime. Now, remember, there is a new security plan is in place in Baghdad specifically at this time. So, you're seeing more and more American troops come into this city, and also more and more Iraqi troops to come in here to try and sort of calm the situation down. And the effect that that seems to be having is that Baghdad appears to be calming down just a little bit, but a lot of the attacks that were happening in Baghdad appear to be happening in other Iraqi cities now.

On Tuesday, there was a massive attack on a Shia market in the city of Tal Afar killing over 80 people, and that, in turn, sparked deadly reprisal attacks against Sunnis in that same city. So really a very volatile situation in Iraq right now, and even the Iraqi government says it's not sure how much more of this people are willing to take. And it's saying that it's actually in a race against the insurgents to really stop people from going into total despair here in Iraq -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So, Frederik, those other cities that you mentioned where a lot of these attacks have been taking place all week, do these happen to be places where American troops, as well as Iraqi forces, had felt like they had eliminated or cleared most of the violence from those cities?

PLEITGEN: Well, they had, especially in Tal Afar. I mean, in 2006, in March of 2006, President Bush was saying that Tal Afar could be a model for what Iraq could be like. And they really had felt that they had driven the Iraqi insurgents out of that -- out of that city, but now they seem to have returned.

And really, what a lot of Iraqis are asking themselves is, why is this still happening? Why, even with all the security, even in Baghdad, are the insurgents still able to propagate these attacks? And they seem to be having endless quantities of explosives, and they seem to have the means to deliver these explosives in Baghdad even with the security plan in place -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Frederik Pleitgen, thanks so much, from Baghdad.

Meantime, President Bush is accusing Congress of padding bills to fund the Iraq war with pork barrel spending. Mr. Bush took aim at congressional Democrats in his weekly radio address.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Democrats loaded up their bills with billions of dollars in domestic spending completely unrelated to the war, including $3.5 million for visitors to tour the capital, $6.4 million for the House of Representatives' salaries and expenses account, and $74 million for secure peanut storage. I like peanuts as much as the next guy, but I believe the security of our troops should come before the security of our peanut crop.

For all these reasons, that is why I made it clear to the Democrats in Congress I will veto the bill.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So, Iraq is on the front burner, just as trade and alternative fuels are as well. That's what he's meeting with the president of Brazil about over there at Camp David, just outside of Washington, D.C. Their live comments coming up as they happen.

Meantime, the president's biggest complaint is the bills in position of a timetable. That bill that we were talking about just before seeing those live pictures. With a veto all but certain, new Iraq funding could face a lengthy delay.

But as CNN's Dana Bash reports, it's an uphill battle.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Democrats say a new, non-partisan analysis undermines White House claims that the fight over funding the Iraq War will soon put combat troops at risk.

The Congressional Research Service says even without additional funding, the Army could finance the war for several more months, through most of July 2007. The report also says the Pentagon does have flexibility to transfer money from elsewhere for urgent requirements.

KATHLEEN HICKS, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: The process is that you rob Peter to pay Paul. Lower priority items will start to lose funding in order to pay for overseas contingency costs.

BASH: Democrats hope the new study helps rebut a powerful Bush argument in a standoff centered on Democrats' demands that Iraq War funding be tied to a deadline for troop withdrawal.

America's top military officer warns if the Pentagon doesn't get $100 billion in war funding by April 15th, the Army will have to curtail Reserve and Guard training. Quality of life initiatives like barrack upgrades would be reduced and equipment repairs suspended.

And by May 15th, General Pace warns, deployments to Iraq could be delayed. Troops in Iraq would have to stay longer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So you're saying there's a chain reaction?

GENERAL PETER PACE, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: There is, sir. And there are other things. I'll stop there.

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER: Whose fault is that? Whose fault is that? We have waited for months and months and months to get this appropriation bill.

BASH: Democrats blame the president for mismanaging the war and weakening the military, and say the Pentagon and White House are using scare tactics to try to get Democrats to back down in their push for a deadline for troops to come home. REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: And what the president is saying, give me the money but don't expect me to be accountable.

BASH (on camera): Congress has now left town for spring break and they're weeks away from sending a war funding bill to the president, one they know he will veto.

BASH (on camera): So the question is how and when will the standoff end? How much are both sides willing to compromise on the issue of timetables for troops to come home in order to get money for troops who are still in Iraq?

Dana Bash, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

WHITFIELD: A newly-surfaced memo asks questions about the government's truthfulness in explaining the death of Afghanistan -- in Afghanistan, rather, of Corporal Pat Tillman, the former NFL football star. It shows that while officials were insisting Tillman died in an ambush, a general sent the memo up the chain of command warning that Tillman was probably killed by friendly fire.

The Associated Press says the purpose of the memo was to tip officials as high as President Bush not to risk the embarrassment of getting the story wrong in public. It's unclear whether the warning reached the White House. And a White House spokesman says there's no indication that it did.

Another Republican lawmaker is urging Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to step down. "I trusted him before, but I can't now." That's -- those are the words of Oklahoma Congressman Lee Terry. That's how he put it today.

Gonzales' credibility took another hit this week during testimony by his former chief of staff. More now from CNN's Kelli Arena.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL: I don't recall being involved in deliberations involving the question of whether or not a U.S. attorney should or should not be asked to resign.

ARENA: But his former chief of staff told Congress Gonzales was involved from the get-go. Justice officials say it comes down to two words, discussions, which they admit the attorney general was involved in, and selections, which they contend he wasn't involved in.

It's enough to make your head spin.

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R-PA), RANKING MEMBER, JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: It's an old story in Washington. What was done wasn't really so bad, but handling it improperly and not leveling is very bad. And Attorney General Gonzales has his work cut out for him.

ARENA: But even his supporters are stunned that this has escalated into such a crisis, with no solid evidence yet of any wrongdoing.

SEN. ORRIN HATCH (R), UTAH: It was badly mishandled, there's no question about that.

ARENA: Gonzales is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 17th, but the pressure is getting intense, and Justice officials may push for an earlier date.

GOP consultants say the sooner the better.

DAVID WINSTON, GOP POLITICAL CONSULTANT: He needs to take the initiative to fix this, and that means he's got to be pretty aggressive about it.

ARENA: Gonzales' fate ultimately lies with one man, the president.

(on camera): The White House says president Bush still has a lot of confidence in Gonzales, but that he's got a lot of work to do.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Bernard Kerik, remember that name? Well, it's back in the news. The failed nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security is likely to be indicted on several felony counts, according to "The Washington Post".

The former New York City police commissioner is a long-time associate of presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, who recommended Kerik to President Bush for the homeland security job. After the nomination crashed and burned, reports raised questions about Kerik's ethics and his business connections. "The Post: says the likely charges include tax evasion and conspiracy to commit wire tapping.

Well, there's a lot more happening this afternoon, including a new food recall that pet owners need to hear about.

And then this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a little scary. You can't get through the bottle of lotion, but a gun?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: That's right. A gun making it through at least one airport security checkpoint.

And then a little later, the apple is moving over to make room for the pomegranate. What do they have in common?

You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Weather tops our news "Across America".

(NEWSBREAK)

WHITFIELD: And another warning for pet owners. Purina is recalling all sizes and varieties of its Alpo Prime Cuts and Gravy wet dog food. It's believed to be tainted with wheat gluten containing a toxic substance. And now some dry pet food is also being recalled. This, as the FDA investigates what may be a different culprit for the pet food scare.

CNN's Mary Snow has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): For the first time, a massive recall includes dry pet food. Hill's Pet Nutrition says consumers should stop using one of its products, Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food. The development comes roughly two weeks after wet pet food products from a separate company, Menu Foods, were recalled after cats and dogs suffered kidney failure. Some pets got sick, others died. Federal officials are at a loss to explain exactly what went wrong.

DR. STEPHEN SUNDLOF, FDA CTR. FOR VETERINARY MEDICINE: We understand it's confusing. It's confusing to everybody. We're trying to make sense out of it.

SNOW: The Food and Drug Administration says it's found a chemical called Melamine in certain pet foods containing wheat gluten from a supplier in China. In China, Melamine can be found in fertilizers. It's banned for that purpose in the United States but can be found in some plastics. As investigators continue working towards solving the pet food supply program, what are some vets telling pet owners to do?

DR. BRUCE AKEY, CORNELL COL. OF VETERINARY MEDICINE: If you're really, really concerned, then feed your pet a home-made diet for a few days or a few weeks and give this thing a chance to run its course. SNOW: Dog owner Eileen Moriarty says that's exactly what she intends to do.

EILEEN MORIARTY, DOG OWNER: It's a little scary to think that, you know, it could be in any one of these foods, especially when you think you're buying a premium brand that has better ingredients.

SNOW: Exactly how many pets have been affected by the tainted food remains unclear. The FDA is confirming the deaths of approximately 14 pets but says it's received over 8,000 complaints it's now reviewing.

Mary Snow, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And for more on what brands are included in the recall, go to CNN.com.

And live pictures right now of Camp David, just outside of Washington, D.C. There, people are waiting the arrival of President Bush and the president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. And there the two are, walking in right now.

This is the second meeting in less than a month. You'll recall that the president was in Latin America touring five nations last month.

Let's listen in.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... for Laura and me, and it is my honor to welcome you to this part of America. You come as a friend. We welcome you as a friend. And our discussions were very friendly.

We talked about a lot of areas of mutual concern. We talked about what I would call mutual opportunities. We talked about, of course, trade. Brazil and America trade a lot.

Perhaps the most compelling part of the opportunity to work together is for the Doha Round. It's in the U.S.' interest that we complete the Doha Round successfully. It is in -- I think it's in Brazil's interest. At least that's the way the president has told me. I don't want to put words in his mouth, but it is in our interest to work together to make sure that we have a deal that treats Brazil fairly, the United States fairly, as well as other nations fairly.

I strongly believe that the best way to help alleviate world poverty is through trade. And so we had yet another constructive dialogue. We had a good dialogue there in Sao Paulo, and here in Camp David we have as well.

Interestingly enough, we announced the creation of a U.S.-Brazil CEO forum. It's an opportunity for people in our respective countries to get to know each other better and to strengthen economic ties, as well as social ties.

We talked about biofuels.

I can remember very well, Mr. President, going to the Petrogas plant. It was an amazing facility. And it was exciting for me to see the realities of your biofuels industry first hand.

I'm a big believer in alternative fuels. There's a whole new industry here in the United States beginning to spring up. And I told the president that not only are we committed domestically to promoting an alternative fuel industry, we're committed to working with Brazil. And that's why we support the president's initiative on the International Biofuels Forum, as well as the initiative that we talked about in Sao Paulo and signed a memorandum of understanding, and that is to help nations in our own hemisphere realize the benefits of ethanol and biodiesel.

I appreciate the president's very strong commitment to democracy. I also appreciate his very strong commitment to help nations, particularly on the continent of Africa. And one of the really exciting initiatives that we will work together on is an initiative to eradicate malaria in Sao Tome and Principe, two opportunities for Brazil and the United States to work together to improve somebody's life.

There is no excuse for malaria to continue to kill as many people as it does. Our great nations can work together to stop that death.

There's a reasonable plan in place. It's a plan that I'm confident can achieve great success. And it makes a lot of sense for Brazil and United States to work toward that plan.

As I said in Sao Paulo, Mr. President, I appreciate very much your leadership on Haiti. I appreciate the fact that you led the U.N. stabilization force. We want to, of course, make sure that your efforts to bring security are followed up by opportunity for the people of Haiti.

We don't want your force just to be there to simply stabilize. We want your force to leave -- be a part of a constructive future, which is precisely your vision. And we want to work with you very closely to achieve that end.

And we've spent a lot of time talking about other parts of the world. And that's what you would expect when the United States and Brazil sit at the same time.

Brazil is an influential nation. And it's an important nation.

And I really do appreciate so very much your sharing your strategic thoughts about not only our own neighborhood, but other parts of the world.

And so, Mr. President, it's with great pleasure that I welcome you here. I'm looking forward to giving you a tour of Camp David.

We've been spending too much time doing business. Now we need to do a little pleasure.

And after this press conference, you and I will take a little tour and then I'll feed you a meal, if you're hungry.

Welcome.

LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): I hope that it's not too much work.

BUSH: That's right. WHITFIELD: The comments there from President Lula Da Silva of Brazil, as well as President Bush, as President Bush was talking about the mutual opportunities that Brazil and the United States are sharing.

We're going to take a short break for now, and we'll bring you more of these comments of this summit taking place at Camp David.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Jacqui.

Well, federal investigators are trying to find out how an off- duty flight attendant was able to bring a gun into a plane. As we hear from John Gonzalez of CNN affiliate WJLA, other passengers have a lot of questions too.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN GONZALEZ, WJLA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): According to the Transportation Security Administration, 35-year-old Janet Tucker, flight attendant from Georgia, was on flight 571 from Atlanta with a handgun. Dulles authorities tell us Tucker immediately notified them when she landed here at Dulles.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was extremely shocking to me. It's scary. You can't get through a bottle of lotion, but a gun?

GONZALEZ: Tucker, not working the flight, told authorities she inadvertently brought the concealed weapon with her. Now TSA officials are trying to figure out where she went through security and why she was cleared.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to know that I'm safe, and I don't want anyone carrying on a gun regardless of who they are, flight attendant, pilot, whatever. TSA, whatever. Only U.S. marshals should have a gun.

GONZALEZ: Frequent flier Mark Meadows says he's not surprised.

MARK MEADOWS, PASSENGER: I mean, it's disturbing, but it's one of those things where you know TSA is not perfect at all, and that a lot of things can happen. A lot of things come through.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I hope it will be investigated and they'll make the change they need to make.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Straight ahead in THE NEWSROOM, for police, an alternative to tasers. We'll take a look at bean bag guns and how they work.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: Jacqui Jeras with us again. This has really been a frightening spring season.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHTIFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Jacqui.

All right. Bean bag guns and tasers are touted as less lethal weapons to fight crime. And many local law enforcement agencies are using them. But are they safe? Here is CNN's Gary Nurenberg.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Holding a handgun to his head in Georgia last summer, the domestic abuse suspect threatens to kill Cherokee County sheriff's deputies, taunts them saying "Kill me. Kill me."

Instead, they fire a bean bag striking him once and then again, forcing him to drop the gun.

CHIEF WILLIAM MASON, HARWICH, MASS.: Contrary to popular belief, police officers are not -- do not desire to kill people.

NURENBERG: The Harwich, Massachusetts police used a bean bag to subdue a knife wielding suspect last month.

LT. MICHAEL ANDERSON, CHATHAM, MASS. POLICE: No innocent bystanders were injured, no police officers were injured and the suspect required no medical attention.

NURENBERG: Some departments are using them as an alternative to tasers that hit this suspects like this woman with an electrical charge. The president of the Washington, DC Fraternal Order of Police says tasers don't always work.

LOU CANNON, FOP PRESIDENT, WASHINGTON, DC: I hit him. I hit him with both cartridges, zapped him and it had absolutely no effect. As a matter of fact, he bit me in the hand and took the taser from me.

NURENBERG: An Amnesty International study concludes that like this man, more than 100 suspects have died after being zapped by those taser that is carry 50,000 volts. The beanbags, or impact munitions as they're also called have also killed.

CPL. THOMAS POWELL, ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD: It was because the chest was targeted and injuries resulted there, which resulted in death. Our primary areas are the green areas, and, as you see, it's the lower abdomen and the thighs and, obviously, from the rear, the buttocks and the backs of the legs. Those are preferred areas to hit.

NURENBERG: Officers say bean bags beat hand-to-hand combat on the streets.

POWELL: It allows us the ability to reach out and strike somebody, just like we would with our baton or our stick and yet give us additional distance to keep us safe.

NURENBERG: And allow suspects like this one to simply stay alive. Gary Nurenberg, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, you think that's strange? How about this? This looks pretty odd, doesn't it? Well, the pomegranate has a lot of people talking, thinking and consuming these days. And it's not just hype. They're actually real health benefits.

Plus, who says women don't belong in baseball? I talked to the first woman to umpire in a big league game in 20 years. That's coming up in 12 minutes in CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: So, it has tough leathery skin, a bitter inner membrane. And plenty of seeds.

But thousands of health conscious Americans are jumping on the pomegranate band wagon as the ancient Middle East fruit enjoys contemporary celebrity as a superfood rich with antioxidants.

Dr. Bill Lloyd joins us now with more on this. So instead of an apple a day, it's now a pomegranate a day keeps a doctor away? It's not as catchy, but the benefits are real?

DR. BILL LLOYD, UC-DAVIS MEDICAL CENTER: They're very real, Fredricka. Ounce for ounce, serving for serving, there is more power in fresh pomegranate and pomegranate juice than almost any other food product around.

Now there is a hitch. You can only get fresh pomegranates during the fall. I searched all over Sacramento and I couldn't find any. But you can still get pure pomegranate juice. You notice this glass isn't full. It's only got about an ounce and a half, Fredricka, but that's all it takes to get all the benefits of one day's dose of pomegranate juice.

WHITFIELD: Oh, that's pretty good. We got a couple of - there you go. They're very expensive. So now knowing you don't have to consume the whole thing to get the biggest punch. That is pretty encouraging.

LLOYD: If you're going to eat a fresh pomegranate, you have to open it up and the money is in the seeds. Just the opposite of that apple. In an apple, all the benefits are on the skin of the apple and the outer pulp. In the pomegranate, you've got to eat those seeds and, as you said, sometimes they can be bitter, depending on the time of the year.

There is lots of other health benefits from the pomegranate. We know that it lowers your bad cholesterol and raises your good cholesterol. So that will have a positive effect on folks suffering with atherosclerosis and may lower your risk from stroke or heart attack. We know it naturally lowers your blood pressure. But be careful if you're taking a medication to lower your blood pressure. Ask your doctor if it's OK to drink pomegranate juice.

And now even more wonderful news about men suffering from prostate cancer. There's been a slew of studies out saying drinking that one and a half ounce of pomegranate juice everyday, now that is fresh or concentrated pure pomegranate juice will actually slow the progression of prostate cancer as measured by that blood test, the PSA.

WHITFIELD: So I wonder, is there anyone who should stay away from pomegranate? Is it not good for certain people out there?

LLOYD: The one precaution they give for people who want to take pomegranate juice, is the same problem that we know about grapefruit juice. And that is it can interact with certain categories of prescription medications, some antibiotics and again, some high blood pressure medications.

So if you're on prescription medications, before you get started on a pomegranate routine, as your doctor or your pharmacist, will there be any indications for not taking this juice because it might interact with my medications?

WHITFIELD: Wow. That's good to hear. Because I love pomegranates. And it's nice to hear that they really are all these benefits that I've heard people talking about.

LLOYD: Nearly triple the benefits of red wine or that green tea that we hear so much. It's sweet. It's good to taste.

WHITFIELD: Mm. Yummy.

LLOYD: Just don't spill it on your tie.

WHITFIELD: That's right. Wear a t-shirt or something like that when you consume pomegranate.

LLOYD: Certainly.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Dr. Bill Lloyd.

LLOYD: We'll talk again soon.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, much more of the NEWSROOM straight ahead. And he has had his daily dose of pomegranate juice today ...

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Is that me? Talking about me?

WHITFIELD: ... so he's ready to tick, tick, tick. Who else could I be talking it about, Rick Sanchez?

SANCHEZ: You know, I do pomegranate juice. My wife came home one day from Kroger with this big with this big giant ugly bottle and she said you've got to take some of this every morning or something.

WHITFIELD: Just an ounce. At least an ounce a day.

SANCHEZ: Sounds good.

WHITFIELD: Yeah. I like it.

SANCHEZ: So I'm not allowed to drink red wine anymore? No more excuse, saying it's good for you?

WHITFIELD: In small doses.

SANCHEZ: Exactly. Exactly.

WHITFIELD: You have got a new replacement here.

SANCHEZ: Want to talk about what's going on?

WHITFIELD: Yeah, let's.

SANCHEZ: It's pretty fabulous, actually, as stories go.

WHITFIELD: I believe it.

SANCHEZ: A man comes home from work. All of a sudden he finds his wife is with another man. He takes out a gun and shoots and kills that other man. Should he be held responsible if, are you ready -- if he finds out that -- from his wife at the moment that he comes home that that man was actually raping her, even though he wasn't? That's what she said.

She said I'm being raped by this man.

WHITFIELD: So he took action.

SANCHEZ: So, he takes action and protects his wife from a rapist. Turns out it was not a rapist. Turns out it was her lover. She is charged, not him, with manslaughter.

WHITFIELD: Right. Still a very unique case. Because as the law stands in any state, it's not advocating that anyone take the law in their own hands.

SANCHEZ: But there is that crime of passion thing, besides. He has to protect his wife. It's a lot of interesting ...

WHITFIELD: Yeah, yeah.

SANCHEZ: He didn't go and get the gun. He just happened to have it on him.

WHITFIELD: Yeah.

SANCHEZ: It's not like he had to go walk a mile and then come back.

WHITFIELD: And you have to wonder whether she knew that, if she knows her husband. SANCHEZ: You mean she wanted ...

WHITFIELD: Whether she knew her husband was armed. She knows him, right?

SANCHEZ: It almost reminded me of a story I've been working on the last couple of days. I've been going through Texas and Oklahoma ...

WHITFIELD: Yeah.

SANCHEZ: Working on this Black Widow story as well.

WHITFIELD: OK.

SANCHEZ: Which is really just like this. But in a little while, we're going to talk to an attorney and we're going to flush this whole thing out. She does it for a living. And then tonight we're going to follow it up, by the way. And we would like to know if you could send us an e-mail, we would like to know what you think. And we're also going to be taking your phone calls as well.

WHITFIELD: Yeah. This is surely going to elicit a huge response out there.

SANCHEZ: Yeah. From men and women.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much.

SANCHEZ: Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Rick.

We want to take you straight to Camp David. Once again, remember, the Brazilian president and President Bush are meeting there, they are discussing trade and they have also been talking a bit about alternative fuels. We'll listen in a little bit more now.

GEORGE W. BUSH, U.S. PRESIDENT: The U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the United States president. I named them to four-year terms. They served their four-year terms. And I appreciate their service. I'm sorry that this -- these hearings and all this stuff have besmirched their reputation. It's certainly not the intent of anybody in this administration.

But I'll remind you that there's no credible evidence that there's been any wrongdoing.

QUESTION (through translator): Chivata Tevaseen (ph) from the Global TV network.

The goodwill between you gentlemen is very evident. President Lula, it is also evident the effort to advance with the Doha round. If the Doha round does not reach a success in Brazil, does it have a B plan? President Bush, what would be the impediment for the United States to have bilateral agreement on trade with Brazil? IGNACIO LULU DA SILVA, BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Well, I have said to all the heads of state in government that I have been in contact with, to President Bush, to Tony Blair and to Chancellor Angela Merkel, to Prime Minister Prodi and President Chirac, to all I have been talking to, I have said that the Doha rounds is not ...

WHITFIELD: We'll continue to monitor this press conference given by the president of Brazil and president of the United States meeting there at Camp David. Of course, if you want to hear more of that press conference you can go to cnn.com/pipeline.

And you heard at the very top, President Bush once again defending his U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales as so many are calling for his resignation, the president, President Bush saying that there's no credible evidence of any wrongdoing involving his attorney general. More on that as we get t.

Meantime, get ready to take a double take. That's right, a female umpire at a Major League Baseball game. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Making the show, the goal of everyone working their way up from pro baseball's minor leagues, especially Ria Cortesio, well Thursday, she became the first woman to umpire a big league game in nearly two decades. She told me about her experience.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD (voice-over): At Hohokam Park (ph), it seemed like an ordinary exhibition Major League ball game, anxious crowd, cotton candy, players, then this curveball.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only female umpire currently working in pro ball.

WHITFIELD: Ria Cortesio, a female ump, blending in, sort of, with the other umpires on a Major League field. Calling the shots in mostly minor league games is something this 30 year old has been doing for nine years.

RIA CORTESIO, PRO UMPIRE: The atmosphere was a little different.

WHITFIELD: For one, Cortesio told me after the game in the minors maybe there are a couple of dozen fans in the stands. Mostly the players' family and friends.

CORTESI: We walked out on the field in Hohokam yesterday and I think there were 12,000, music between innings and the smells from the grill, making me hungry the whole game. So it was a great atmosphere.

WHITFIELD: On the field, Cortesio in her comfort zone. Post play? Well, that's a whole other ball game, fielding so many questions. QUESTION: Do you feel like a trail blazer?

CORTESIO: No.

QUESTION: Tell me about that.

CORTESIO: About what?

WHITFIELD: Cortesio not into this zone.

CORTESIO: When I found out I had this game, my plan was to sneak in, work the game and sneak out and hope no one noticed. That didn't happen.

WHITFIELD: Is that exciting? Is it burdensome? What does it feel like to you?

CORTESIO: Kind of a pain in the butt. I mean, you know, interviews and that sort of thing is not part of the job description for an umpire and it's not something -- I mean, the onslaught the past few days isn't something that I really have any experience dealing with, but, you know, I realize obviously that, you know, every other umpire in professional baseball is male. So, I'm the one that's going to get the brunt of the attention here. I would love to see it be 50/50, half men, half women umpiring professional baseball, if for no other reason than just to take the heat off of me.

WHITFIELD: Do you mind that people take notice, that they take a double look when they see you and say, wait a minute, that's a woman?

CORTESIO: Well, on the field it doesn't happen. Everyone knows who I am. I'll have friends or family that will come to my games and heard people say, is that a woman? Is that a guy? No, that's got to be a woman. No, it can't be a woman, women can't umpire. So that stuff just kind of makes me laugh. I think it's funny.

WHITFIELD: Right now, she umps in AA. AAA is next before getting a chance to umpiring Major League in a regular season. Still a good two years away.

Is that a dream for you?

CORTESIO: Definitely. Definitely. That's where the money is at and I would like to get me a hot tub, so one of the reasons I would like to get to the big leagues.

WHITFIELD: In the meantime, it's her game to win.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And Ria Cortesio says she just wants to be an inspiration to other little girls who one day could be an ump like her in the big leagues.

In the meantime we're continuing to watch severe weather in the mid section of this country. Our Jacqui Jeras is monitoring tornado warnings in Iowa. All that and more next in THE NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. It's March Madness. And I'm going to pass it on to Rick Sanchez. Rick?

SANCHEZ: Yeah, very nice. Here's the basket. You ready? Woo!

WHITFIELD: Did you catch it?

SANCHEZ: Right through.

WHITFIELD: OK.

SANCHEZ: You made a three.

WHITFIELD: Woosh.

SANCHEZ: And you were fouled so you get another one. It might be a four.

Thanks so much, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Have a good night.

SANCHEZ: You're always a good shot.

Following several developing stories tonight, including new information about the growing pet food recall.

Also police are saying that a husband pulled the trigger. So why is the wife the one facing the manslaughter charges? This is a strange story with a strange twist in Texas love.

Also we're tracking possible tornados in parts of the Midwest, yeah, that's a hot story as well.

So hello again, everybody. I'm Rick Sanchez. Let's start there. Let's go right to the weather situation, and get to Jacqui Jeras, she is live at the CNN Weather center. Been following this thing.

Heard you talk about the Hawkeye State a little while ago, talking about Iowa, huh?

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yeah. Absolutely. That's a hotbed of activity at this hour, Rick. And really conditions have gone downhill.

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