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Mosque Revenge Attacks; Search for Madeleine McCann; Flight Delays

Aired June 14, 2007 - 09:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Tony Harris.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.

Watch events come in to the NEWSROOM live on this Thursday morning.

It is June 14th. Right?

And here's what's on the rundown.

Tit-for-tat in Iraq. Sunni mosques targeted after a Shiite shrine is bombed. We'll go live with the very latest.

HARRIS: It was the scene of classroom carnage. This morning, the doors open to Norris Hall. A look inside the Virginia Tech shootings.

COLLINS: And a little girl missing for weeks. Will a map now lead investigators to her burial ground?

In the NEWSROOM.

Unholy revenge in Iraq. Within hours of an attack on this sacred Shiite shrine, vengeful militants strike back. At least 10 Sunni mosques hit in a wave of retaliation. A country mired in sectarian violence facing a new flash point.

CNN's Karl Penhaul is in Samarra and joins us now via broadband.

Karl, what are you seeing at the damaged Golden Dome site now?

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, we have just come back just moments ago from a trip to the Golden Dome mosque, or rather the ruins of it. It's only about 800 yards in a straight line from here, but it took a long time to get there.

We traveled in armored Humvee gun trucks, and they travel on a torturous route to avoid any chance of insurgent attacks. And so when we finally got there, yes, there are Iraqi army soldiers now taking up positions all around the mosque to try to secure it in and ensure that there are no more attacks there. But there really is very little left of the mosque. The golden dome itself, as you know, was bombed back in February of 2006. That itself sparked a wave of sectarian killings across Iraq. And then yesterday, the two minarets, about 100-foot-high structures, were bombed. And there's nothing left of those.

There's twisted concrete. There's twisted metal. And you can only see a fraction of the glint of the gold that was covering those minarets. But of course, this reverberates well beyond Samarra, across Iraq as a whole, and that really is what has authorities worried -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Boy, Karl, it is absolutely amazing when you look at those before and after pictures of the mosque. That is for certain.

Can you give us an idea, though, as you look around and you talk to people, what the security situation is like in Samarra right now?

PENHAUL: Here in Samarra, the streets are very quiet, very calm. One of the streets that we had to go down to get to the Golden Dome Mosque was Market Street. That normally would be bustling at this time of day, at this point in the week. But there's nobody in the streets.

Talking to some of the soldiers, they tell us that, one, a lot of the shops and a lot of the citizens simply went home after the blast because they fear for their own safety. And also, city authorities have imposed a curfew, especially for vehicles, to try and get everybody off the street until they get a handle on what kind of a sectarian backlash this may provoke.

But Samarra itself is in fact about 96 percent Sunni, only 2 percent Shia. But what happens here does reverberate across the whole country, and it's elsewhere where we have seen the sectarian backlash.

In Basra, four mosques at least were attacked. In Babil province, south of Baghdad, five Sunni mosques were attacked. And in Baghdad itself, a Sunni mosque was burned to the ground.

We are also hearing reports down in the south of Iraq of fighting between sectarian factions there -- Heidi.

COLLINS: CNN's Karl Penhaul coming to us via broadband from Samarra, Iraq, this morning.

Karl, thanks so much.

HARRIS: Fighting for his freedom while he appeals his conviction. Former White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby goes back to court this morning. Libby's lawyers will ask a federal judge to put his two-and-a-half year prison sentence on hold. If they lose, they plan to ask an appeals court for an emergency order delaying the sentence.

Libby was convicted of lying to investigators in the CIA leak case. He says he is innocent. His supporters have called on President Bush to pardon him. (WEATHER REPORT)

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Lebanon is observing a day of mourning for a prominent anti-Syrian lawmaker. A funeral today in Beirut for Walid Eido. Thousands of people turned out.

Eido and nine others died in a car bombing yesterday. He is the seventh anti-Syrian figure killed since former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated two years ago. Hariri's son vows Eido's killers will be brought to justice.

HARRIS: Investigators are pursuing a new tip in the search for missing British girl Madeleine McCann.

Reporter Kier Simmons of ITN is outside the Portuguese hotel where the little girl disappeared last month.

And Kier, what can you tell us about this latest tip?

KIER SIMMONS, ITN REPORTER: Well, this tip came to a Dutch newspaper, and it suggested that somewhere near a dirt track a bit like this one Madeleine McCann's body might be buried in scrubland like this, just off the tracks. Perhaps, it said, buried under stones or under wood.

Now, yesterday, eight Portuguese detectives were here looking around, trying to establish, to pinpoint exactly where this location might be. At some point it suggested perhaps they will come here with sniffer dogs. Although I have to say, this rain might well make that much more difficult.

HARRIS: And Kier, if you would, what do we know about the note itself? Any clues as to the possible author of the note? What do we know about the note?

SIMMONS: Well, it seems that the author of this note might be somebody who wrote a similar note to the same newspaper last year, pinpointing the whereabouts of two young girls who were eventually found murdered. But the note, it does appear to be fairly vague.

Let me just show you how difficult it will be for Portuguese police.

I pointed out this dirt track behind me here, but if I step across here, you can see that there is acre after acre of scrubland in this area. And just behind me here, you may be able to see another dirt track. In fact, from where I'm standing there are perhaps 10 dirt tracks that I can see in the valleys around me here.

So, for the Portuguese police, difficult to take this clue and establish exactly where this person might be talking about. HARRIS: And they may be being sent on a wild goose chase. We just Don't know. And, of course, the Portuguese authorities have to follow every lead in this case.

Kier Simmons, ITN News.

We appreciate your time. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

COLLINS: Summer storms and flight delays a growing problem as more and more people fly. But what can be done to help you get from here to there on time?

CNN's Mary Snow reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): New York's JFK airport Tuesday night, a scene of frustration and confusion. Bad storms forced cancellations of more than 300 planes at area airports.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nobody's doing anything. Nobody knows anything. It's a chaos.

SNOW: In Atlanta Wednesday morning, long lines snake through Hartsfield airport after severe storms grounded planes Tuesday night.

These are the kinds of delays the Federal Aviation Administration is hoping to crack down on this summer, as it expects more travelers than ever to take to the skies. The FAA announced in May it was ramping up a program to cut delays due to summer storms. It's called the Airspace Flow Program, and it gives airlines as choice of accepting the delays or taking a longer route to avoid storms.

MARION BLAKEY, FAA: This year we're expanding it. Not just with an eye to the weather, but also with an eye to the congestion that we're seeing in the airspace.

SNOW: The program's been in place for two summers in the Northeast. Critics at LaGuardia say it's not much help.

DAN HORWITZ, NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSN.: From a LaGuardia perspective, we have been there almost four years now, about three and a half years. And I have not seen very much change in how we do business.

SNOW: The FAA says the program is working, reducing delays by nine percent last year. But even supporters of the program say it's just a small glimpse of a bigger problem.

JAMES MAY, PRESIDENT, AIR TRANSPORT ASSOC.: I think this summer will be a bellwether for how bad the system can get, unfortunately.

SNOW: Industry watchers say the system is getting squeezed by more passengers, more planes, equipment in need of overhaul, and air traffic controllers who say they're overtaxed. BEN MUTZABAUGH, AIRLINE BLOGGER, "USA TODAY": We're pretty much at a saturation point. And at this point we're just trying to find Band-Aids to help make the situation better instead of actually fix the problem.

SNOW (on camera): The Air Transport Association says another factor adding to the crowded skies, corporate jets which numbered about 1,800 in 1970 and now number about 18,000 and climbing.

Mary Snow, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Billy Graham calls his wife Ruth his best friend and soul mate. Now the evangelist and their three children are at her side as she lies in a coma at their North Carolina home. A family spokesman says Ruth Graham appears to be close to death.

The news came the same day Billy Graham announced he and his wife would be buried at the newly dedicated Graham Library in Charlotte. Mrs. Graham is 87 years old. Her condition has deteriorated since she was treated for pneumonia two weeks ago.

COLLINS: And more information to share with you now we are learning about former U.N. secretary-general Kurt Waldheim. We are learning from The Associated Press that he died.

Waldheim, you may remember, was elected president of Austria despite an international scandal about his World War II military service for the Nazis. Austrian media also reporting that he died today at the age of 88. He served as U.N. chief from '72 to 1982, was elected Austrian president in 1986.

We will continue to follow this as we work to confirm the death of former U.N. secretary-general Kurt Waldheim.

Calls to 911 about a dying woman from inside -- from inside an emergency room.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

DISPATCHER: What do you want me to do for you, ma'am?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Send an ambulance out here to take her somewhere where she can get medical help.

DISPATCHER: You're at the hospital, ma'am. You have to contact them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They have a problem. They won't help her.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

HARRIS: Hospital outrage in the NEWSROOM.

ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Ali Velshi in New York. An icon of American fashion could soon be owned by the government of Dubai. I'll tell you about that when we come back in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Some students in middle Tennessee are riding high.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my god!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Obviously, she is on cloud nine. Dozens of high school seniors took part in a program called Drive for Perfection. Those with perfect attendance were eligible for a drawing to win a new $16,000 car.

Five students drove off in shiny new rides. The program apparently works. The number of seniors with perfect attendance was 69 through April. That's up from 15 last year.

COLLINS: Gap goes East. The Middle East, that is.

The clothing retailer expands its presence in the region, where demand for iconic American apparel is still the rage.

Ali Velshi is here "Minding Your Business".

Hi there, Ali. A little bit surprising here.

VELSHI: Heidi, I've got something for everybody today. I've got something that you're going to -- you're going to tell me one of these places you've shopped at.

COLLINS: OK.

VELSHI: The Gap, who has been struggling for years here in the United States, is expanding like so many other companies are in other parts of the world. But Turkey and Saudi Arabia are its next targets.

Yes, they're going to open 90 Gap stores and 20 Banana Republic stores in Saudi Arabia and Turkey over the next five years. They're not controlling them directly.

They've got franchisees in both of those places. It's a system that's worked for them in the Middle East.

They've been in four or five other countries where they've had someone else who basically controls the franchise and runs the stores on their behalf. But they really feel, as you said, that there's a growth of demand of these like iconic names, these American brands, and the economies in these countries are doing well. Obviously, Saudi Arabia is because of oil, and Turkey has just been sort of chugging along and has a great growing economy.

So that's kind of interesting.

COLLINS: Yes. I'm definitely more of the Banana Republic type than Gap.

VELSHI: Well, how about Barneys?

COLLINS: Oh, yes. Now you're talking. In fact, I was just there a couple of weeks ago in New York. You can't get in or out. I mean...

VELSHI: Well, you think of Gap as a real American icon.

COLLINS: Yes.

VELSHI: But Barneys has been this Madison Avenue landmark for many years. It started in 1923.

This company ran into a lot of problems in the '90s. It went bankrupt. And then in 2004, I think, it was bought for $400 million by the Jones Group, which owns Anne Klein, Jones New York, Nine West.

We are understanding that there's a sale under way. We should be hearing about this very shortly for more than double that price, $825 million, to the investment arm of the government of Dubai.

They are investing in this. The government of Dubai has been investing in sort of luxury, landmark types of things for some time. They actually own the Mandarin Oriental Hotel here in New York, which is part of the Time Warner center that we're in.

COLLINS: I like that, too.

VELSHI: So that's kind of an interesting thing. We're waiting for that. We're waiting to see that happen.

Yes, another place you like.

Now, if you can't do the Gap or Banana Republic or the Mandarin Oriental or Barneys, you can probably buy something on eBay.

COLLINS: Yes. And that's where all the deals are?

VELSHI: Well, that's where all the deals are, and there's been a lot of counterfeit there. I have actually been burned by this before. And I know people who have.

COLLINS: Really?

VELSHI: Part of the problem is, when it comes to handbags, running shoes, software, you know, luxury goods, there are lots of problems. There have been a lot of complaints.

COLLINS: Yes. How do you know?

VELSHI: Well, this is one of those thing that eBay -- we keep hearing about how more people are signing up, but they have actually got a declining percentage of members who actually take part in these auctions. People are kind of getting a little tired of buying the wrong thing or being defrauded.

So eBay is stepping it up, they say. They have introduced new things. They've banned tens of thousands of sellers. People in China and Hong Kong are not going to be allowed to sell handbags and luxury goods.

They're doing all sorts of things to try and ensure that if you are buying a luxury brand item on eBay that it's real. You know, Tiffany has sued eBay, saying that 70 percent of things that are labeled as Tiffany on eBay are counterfeit.

COLLINS: They're not going to become like regulated or something, though, are they?

VELSHI: No. But, I mean, eBay does probably need to toughen up its rules a little bit.

COLLINS: Yes.

VELSHI: I think the idea is it works well because it's not highly regulated, but you do want to kind of think that if you're buying something on eBay, you have the protection of...

COLLINS: Absolutely.

VELSHI: ... of the place if it doesn't turn out to be real.

COLLINS: And when all else fails, just go to Barneys. Love it.

VELSHI: Yes. Then you know it's real.

COLLINS: All right.

Ali Velshi, nice to see you again. Thanks so much.

VELSHI: See you at the -- see you at Barneys.

COLLINS: Perfect. Meet you there for lunch.

VELSHI: Yes.

HARRIS: Religion and revenge in Iraq. An attack on a holy site ignites widespread violence.

A closer look coming up for you in the NEWSROOM.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Atika Shubert in Jerusalem. Hamas, the Islamic militant group, has taken over the Gaza Strip.

I'll have more for you when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good to see you.

The bottom of the hour.

Welcome, everyone, to THE CNN NEWSROOM.

I'm Tony Harris.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Heidi Collins.

We want to get straight to some information we are getting in here at CNN from our affiliate on the ground in Illinois, WLS.

We are trying to figure out more about this situation. WLS tells us that apparently state police are now on the scene of a shooting with multiple victims. Again, this is in Will County. Apparently those people found shot in an SUV near Joliet, Illinois. Officials saying at least one of the victims has died. They've roped off an area -- I believe that's what we're looking at now -- near I-55 and Bluff Road, if you happen to know the area. Will County -- of course, you can see some of the officials there on the scene trying to figure out what may have happened here.

We will continue to follow this. You can see a vehicle there. It looks to be a red vehicle. But I certainly don't want to speculate. And, again, according to WLS, there are apparently now, we are just learning, apparently four people dead.

Again, according to our affiliate there, WLS, in Illinois, is reporting at least four people now dead in this area, Will County, near I-55 and Bluff Road. It looks to be quite a rural area from those pictures that we are getting in.

We're going to learn more about this and bring it to you as soon as we get it.

HARRIS: Hamas now cementing its control of Gaza. This follows days of fighting with Fatah, another Palestinian faction. Dozens of people have been killed.

Let's go live to the region now.

CNN's Atika Shubert joins us from Jerusalem -- Atika, good do see you.

What is the latest on this Hamas take over?

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Islamic militant group Hamas has essentially cemented the control over the Gaza Strip. But Fatah does seem to be fighting back, at least in the West Bank, arresting dozens of Hamas members there. In fact, there was a gun fight in the West Bank town of Nablus between Hamas and Fatah forces. So that could be a worrying development if the violence spreads to the West Bank.

But so far, it has largely been contained to the Gaza Strip.

Now, while all that's happening, we're still waiting for word from the Palestinian president and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas. He is due to make what his officials call a decisive announcement. His aides tell us that he is trying to decide whether or not to dissolve the government and assume emergency powers.

But clearly, for Gaza, that may be too late. It seems already to be under the control of Hamas -- Tony.

HARRIS: Just a couple of questions come to mind.

The Hamas attempt at a takeover here, is this happening with the blessing of the prime minister, Haniya?

SHUBERT: Well, Prime Minister Ismail Haniya is the political head of Hamas. And he's actually been keeping very quiet throughout all of this. At the beginning, he did call for a cease-fire. But, clearly, his troops were either unwilling or unable and completely ignored his call. So it's not clear exactly what the political -- the role of the political leadership is doing here.

But, clearly, if the government is dissolved, then Haniya will have some explaining to do.

HARRIS: So are we talking about rogue elements of -- so-called rogue elements of Hamas taking on right now rogue elements of Fatah?

Is that -- are those the two sides that are fighting right now?

SHUBERT: It could be. It's certainly a very lawless and complex situation on the ground in Gaza. It's not so clear-cut as just Hamas and Fatah forces. There are also other clans involved, other militias involved. But the fact is this was a very organized campaign by Hamas to take over the Gaza Strip, and they have succeeded.

HARRIS: If Hamas gains control -- a big if right now -- what does that mean for Israel?

SHUBERT: Well, it means that Israel is looking at an Iran-backed militant group on its southern border -- that's Hamas; and, also, another one on its northern border, Hezbollah in Lebanon. So it's essentially surrounded by extremist radicals. And that is putting Israel in a very difficult position. They're watching this with increasing trepidation.

HARRIS: To say the least.

CNN's Atika Shubert for us in Jerusalem.

Atika, thank you.

COLLINS: From the rubble of a holy shrine spouts new revenge attacks in Iraq. Within hours of this bombing of a major Shiite shrine, attackers struck at least 10 Sunni mosques. Four people died in sectarian violence. Across Iraq, thousands have taken part in angry but peaceful demonstrations. They are protesting the second bombing of the Shiite shrine in just over a year.

Also, today, mortar rounds land inside Baghdad's green zone. There's no immediate word on casualties and damage, but dark smoke could be seen rising into the air. The heavily fortified district in central Baghdad houses U.S. military and diplomatic agencies.

HARRIS: A deadly motel fire. Now authorities say it was arson. Five members of one family died in the fire in suburban Atlanta. That was a week ago. Three motel residents and three firefighters were injured. The fire destroyed the Budget Inn Motel. Investigators say it started in a stack of mattresses below the unit where the victims died. There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

COLLINS: Once again, quite a bit of weather today to talk about -- and, Chad, you mentioned those tornadoes from yesterday that you saw.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Keeping kids safe -- sports injuries aren't the only danger. A new initiative to protect kids from sexual predators. We will talk with the Congressman behind the effort, coming up in THE NEWSROOM.

COLLINS: Prosecutor on trial -- the D.A. In the Duke lacrosse case fighting ethics charges and fighting to keep his law license.

What's ahead today for Mike Nifong, in THE NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: You already know to catch us weekday mornings from 9:00 a.m. Until 12:00 Eastern.

But did you know you can take us with you anywhere you go on your iPod?

The CNN NEWSROOM pod cast is available 24-7 right on your iPod.

HARRIS: You know, they wear helmets and pads to protect them.

But what about keeping kids who play sports safe from sexual predators?

That is the goal of a new partnership being announced today on Capitol Hill.

Congressman Nick Lampson of Texas joins us to talk about it.

Boy, I've got to tell you something. You get a lot of credit for being out on the forefront and helping kids and helping to protect kids. People who don't believe that need to go to Web site and see for themselves.

Talk to us about this effort that you're leading and the news conference coming up later today.

REP. NICK LAMPSON (D), TEXAS: Well, first of all, it's critically important to do everything that we can to protect our children. There are so many who are participating in youth sports, and that's what this event today is. Today I'll have a press conference to thank USA Football for a very significant contribution to the National Center for Safety Initiatives. That's an organization that provides background checks. And we know that while there are many wonderful people who volunteer to act as coaches and to do other kinds of things to help these children learn self-discipline and self- confidence and the many kinds of things that youth sports teach, we want them to be kept safe. We want their -- we want to know that there are also opportunities for people to -- to take advantage and to exploit children.

And this is a magnificent thing...

HARRIS: Yes.

LAMPSON: ... that USA Football is doing to further the National Center for Safety Initiatives.

HARRIS: USA Football, a non-profit organization, boy, what is the size of the donation today? And what will that money help NCSI continue to do?

LAMPSON: Well, it's a full half million dollars...

HARRIS: Wow!

LAMPSON: And that is a very significant contribution. It'll go a long way toward helping them to do the kinds of background checks to guarantee that -- or hopefully guarantee that everyone who does volunteer and has a role to play in any of our children's lives is an honorable person and they're doing the right thing.

So it's background checks. They will be looking at multi-source sex offender registry searches...

HARRIS: (INAUDIBLE).

LAMPSON: ... Social Security numbers, addresses, driver's -- all sorts of things that give an indication of what that person is about.

HARRIS: So let's see if we can frame this up a little bit.

How much of an issue do we really have with sexual predators infiltrating youth coaching around the country?

LAMPSON: Well, first of all, I don't think it's increasing. I think that we are more aware...

HARRIS: Oh. OK.

LAMPSON: ... of problems that happen. There is a much greater effort being made to make sure that we do have the right people and that we weed out those who may have untoward interests in coming here. Sure, it is a problem. You do hear about them. You do hear about children who all...

HARRIS: And they're shocking. I mean the cases...

LAMPSON: Oh, well, certainly it is.

HARRIS: ... when you hear them, it's just absolutely shocking.

LAMPSON: There are some astounding statistics about overall activities that deal with children and the exploitation of children. And that's the reason why USA Football is so critically interested. That's the reason I spent 10 years of my life up here trying to promote these programs that can do things to help children, whether it's on the Internet, whether it is on the football field, whether it's in the classroom of their school.

HARRIS: Yes.

Well, we wanted to have you on today, Congressman...

LAMPSON: Thank you.

HARRIS: ... because it just sounds like a win-win. It really does.

LAMPSON: It is.

HARRIS: And who is joining you today?

Is Lynn Swann going to be there today?

I know Congressman Schuler is going to be there.

LAMPSON: Congressman Schuler is going to be there and former Congressman...

HARRIS: He knows a little something about football.

LAMPSON: He knows a little bit about football.

HARRIS: A little bit.

LAMPSON: I mean he looks -- he still looks like he's ready to go play.

HARRIS: Well, thanks for your time today.

LAMPSON: My pleasure.

HARRIS: And good luck with the program.

LAMPSON: Thank you for your interest and helping us get it out.

HARRIS: No problem. Our pleasure.

COLLINS: We're going to take a minute to update you on the story that we told you about just a few minutes here on CNN.

We have now confirmed the situation in Illinois, just south of Joliet, right off Interstate 55.

The police department there -- the state police, actually -- telling us that they are aware of four people dead and one in the hospital. Apparently gunshot wounds in that SUV. You can see it there in between the trees.

Some live pictures coming into us from our affiliate, WLS.

Once again, we are learning apparently four people dead, one in the hospital. And, also, no one on the loose at this time. So, obviously, investigators are there trying to learn just as much as they possibly can about what may have happened here.

We are also learning from "The Chicago Tribune" apparently three children in that vehicle and one adult are the four that are dead. Again, three children and one adult, according to "The Chicago Tribune," have been found dead in an SUV, again, along the frontage road off of Interstate Highway 55.

We will continue to follow this story and bring you any more details that we can just as soon as we get them.

HARRIS: He is a Marine fighting two wars -- one in Iraq, the other in family court. Except he can't deploy for one battle. Details ahead in THE NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Some service men and women can't fight for their kids because they're fighting in Iraq.

CNN's Deborah Feyerick reports.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

TYLER: Now can I drive it?

CPL. LEVI BRADLEY, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS: Yes. Get in it.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When we left for Iraq, Marine Corporal Levi Bradley was sure of only one thing -- his little boy Tyler would be home safe in Kansas, well looked after by Bradley's own mom.

That's the deal he had made with his estranged wife, Amber. In a signed letter, she gave him sole custody, with the understanding they would work out the details during their divorce proceedings when he got back.

But while he was away, Amber, who refused our interview requests, had a change of heart. She wanted Tyler and couldn't wait.

(on camera): You had an arrangement? BRADLEY: Yes.

FEYERICK: She was not honoring that arrangement?

BRADLEY: No.

FEYERICK (voice-over): There are 140,000 single parents in the military and like an untold number, Corporal Bradley was fighting two wars -- one in Iraq, the other in family court.

(on camera): You're fighting for your kids over the phone?

BRADLEY: Yes.

FEYERICK (voice-over): This despite a federal ruling intended to freeze civil court proceedings during deployment. It's called The Service Members Civil Relief Act and it's supposed to give active duty service members a minimum 90 day extension. Bradley's attorney applied for a delay under this act, but the custody hearing went on without him. The judge ruled the act does not apply in child custody fights, citing instead an obligation to consider the best interests of the child.

The judge awarded his estranged wife joint custody and then ruled it was best for Tyler to live not with his paternal grandmother, but with his mom, who was also pregnant with the couple's second child.

(on camera): You have your ex-wife, you have the judge, you have lawyers. But the one person not in the courtroom...

BRADLEY: That was me.

FEYERICK (voice-over): Corporal Bradley appealed. But as this official court recording shows, the lawyer for his soon to be ex-wife argued his deployment was not as an issue.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't believe he had relevant evidence to add to the case because he had been away from the family unit so much of their married time.

FEYERICK: Bradley's lawyer disagrees. She says they weren't asking for special treatment, just an equal playing field.

JEAN ANN UVODICH, CORPORAL BRADLEY'S LAWYER: Here he is defending his entire country, but we're not allowing him to come home and defend himself.

FEYERICK (on camera): If somebody were to say to you, quit the Marines, you get your kids back, what kind of a choice is that?

BRADLEY: I didn't -- I'd take it. If they said that if you got out of the Marines today, then you could have your kids back, I would be out in a heartbeat.

FEYERICK (voice-over): Deborah Feyerick, CNN, Kansas.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COLLINS: The ethics trial for the Duke lacrosse prosecutor -- testimony gets underway again this hour in Raleigh, North Carolina. Of course, we're talking about Mike Nifong.

We're looking at some pictures now of Collin Finnerty arriving at the courthouse this morning. That's him. And if you may remember, he is -- was one of the accused lacrosse players in this entire case. Of course, all of those charges against him and the others were dropped.

Meanwhile, the North Carolina State Bar accusing the D.A. Mike Nifong of violating the rules of professional conduct. Up first on the stand today, an attorney for one of the lacrosse players. Another of the players, Reade Seligmann -- we saw him yesterday, attended that hearing. Three members of the lacrosse team were accused of raping a female stripper and eventually cleared of all charges.

HARRIS: Computer glitch repaired. They are breathing easier aboard the International Space Station. Details coming up for you in THE NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Coordinating colors to help maintain a healthy diet.

But when should you eat what foods when it comes to vitamins?

That answer in today's 30, 40, 50 report from Elizabeth Cohen.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

DR. ANDREW WEIL, AUTHOR, "HEALTHY AGING": You saw the orange cauliflowers?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's beautiful. I was wondering what that was.

WEIL: Yes. They've got a beta -- a high beta carotene in them. And this is -- these are two varieties of kale. This is red Russian kale and this Italian black kale. They can't be any fresher than getting them out of your own garden.

COHEN (voice-over): Studies show time and time again -- a healthy diet helps prevent heart disease, cancer and a whole host of other diseases. But are certain foods, certain nutrients, especially important at certain times of your life?

We asked author Dr. Andrew Weil, head of the University of Arizona's Integrative Medicine Program.

WEIL: It's pretty stuff.

COHEN: He says your 30s, or even earlier, is the ideal time to eat well, to keep diseases at bay in the decades to come.

WEIL: But with some salmon that we broiled last night and leftovers.

COHEN: For example, less salt to prevent hypertension, less fat to prevent heart disease. And women especially need to start thinking now about osteoporosis.

WEIL: Women can't just suddenly wake up at age 50 and say I'd better start worrying about my bones and take calcium now. Your bone health determined by how you've lived mostly up to your mid-30s. You know, that's when you build bones.

COHEN: Then once you hit 40, your chances of hypertension go way up.

WEIL: Avoid eating or reduce consumption of processed and refined foods, which are often high in sodium, and to eat more fruits and vegetables, which are high in potassium, that has an opposite, relaxant effect on blood vessels. Calcium and magnesium can also help lower blood pressure somewhat.

COHEN: By your 50s, Weil suggests eating lots of magnesium rich foods to keep your heart healthy. Leafy greens, whole grains, seeds and fish are high in magnesium.

WEIL: It has a protective effect on heart rhythm. It stabilizes the heart electrically. So for people who are prone to heart arrhythmias, I always recommend that they add magnesium to their diet.

Yes, I need a piece of catfish, please.

COHEN: And your 50s is a good time to think about preventing Alzheimer's Disease. The omega 3 fatty acids in some fish have been shown to possibly help stave off Alzheimer's. Weil offers this tip for all ages -- colorize your diet.

WEIL: A simple rule to follow is you want to try to eat across the color spectrum every day. So you really want to think about, you know, where did you eat your purple thing today and where did you get your red thing?

The more colors you have in your diet on a regular basis, the healthier you are.

COHEN: And while supplements can sometimes be helpful, experts agree that getting your nutrients through fresh food is the best approach.

Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Five kids get the ride of their lives from fishing fun to flood rescue. We'll tell you all about it, ahead in THE NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: Drama on the International Space Station. A computer glitch in the Station's Russian sector threatening the mission and creating extra work for Space Shuttle Atlantis astronauts. Russian controllers just established -- actual, reestablished communication overnight. The computers went down on Tuesday and the Shuttle Atlantis was forced to fire its thrusters to keep the space station in position.

The Atlantis mission, as you know, has been extended. Astronauts will repair a thermal blanket that peeled back during launch. A spacewalk is planned to tuck the blanket down and staple it in place.

COLLINS: Good morning, everybody.

I'm Heidi Collins.

HARRIS: And good morning to you.

I'm Tony Harris.

Stay informed all day in THE CNN NEWSROOM.

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