Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

President Bush to Undergo Routine Colonoscopy; Violence vs. Violence in Iraq; Pakistan's Supreme Court Reverses President Musharraf's Dismissal of Judge

Aired July 20, 2007 - 14:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good afternoon to you, everybody. I'm T.J. Holmes, sitting in today for Don Lemon at the CNN headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kyra Phillips.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

HOLMES: Acting President Cheney. For the second time in the Bush presidency, the VP will get the top job tomorrow for two and a half hours, give or take, while President Bush is indisposed, if you will.

CNN's Elaine Quijano has the medical details from the White House.

And indisposed is I guess one way to put it, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That is one way to put it. Hello to you, T.J.

The president left for Camp David earlier today because tomorrow he will be undergoing at Camp David a colonoscopy. This was the announcement that was made earlier today by White House press Secretary Tony Snow in the White House briefing. Snow saying that the president, President Bush, will be turning over his presidential powers to Vice President Cheney.

Here's Tony Snow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Because the president will be under the effects of anesthesia, he once again has elected to implement Section 3 of the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Once enacted, the vice president will serve as acting president until such time as the president notifies the appropriate authorities that he is prepared to reassume the authority of...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, Snow himself, of course, a colon cancer survivor. Snow emphasizing that President Bush was not showing any kind of symptoms. He did say that before he became president, doctors did discover and remove polyps during routine screening exams in previous years.

Snow said, though, that back in 2002, when there was a similar examination like this done, the doctors did not find any polyps at that time. He did say, however, that because of the president's age and his history, that there was a possibility that, in fact, there would be polyps found this time around. Basically, back in '02, doctors saying let's do this again in five years, and now we're at the five-year mark -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right. It is just that time.

Our Elaine Quijano for us from the White House.

Thank you so much, Elaine.

PHILLIPS: President Bush kept it short and sweet today in the Rose Garden, challenging lawmakers who don't support him on his Iraq war policy to at least support the troops with money, resources and time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The House and Senate are now scheduled to leave for the August recess before passing a bill to support our troops and their missions. Even members of Congress who no longer support our effort in Iraq should at least be able to provide an increase in pay for our troops fighting there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Now we're about to show you what's being called the ugly side of the war -- videos posted on the Internet shot in Iraq showing extreme brutality, beatings, summary executions by men now considered America's partners.

We warn you, this report shows some pretty graphic violence.

Here's CNN's Michael Ware.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is one of America's new allies, the enemy of our enemy, beating a suspected al Qaeda member, threatening to kill him. He is part of America's success against al Qaeda in Iraq, a member of a Sunni militia group supported by the U.S. to target al Qaeda.

In this operation north of Baghdad, his group, no uniforms, their faces covered, are working hand-in-hand with local police and army units and drawn from insurgent groups and local tribes. These are fighters who have been killing Americans and now use some American- supplied ammunition and U.S. military support to turn on al Qaeda, enemies of the U.S., now supported by the U.S.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In Anbar province, Sunni tribes that were once fighting alongside al Qaeda against our coalition are now fighting alongside our coalition against al Qaeda. We're working to replicate the success in Anbar in other parts of the country.

WARE: And this is Anbar.

Grainy video, posted two weeks ago, on an Islamist Web site shows U.S.-aligned militia unloading another al Qaeda prisoner from a police pickup. The man in charge asks his prisoner if he killed someone called Khalid (ph), and then, taunting, tells him, to say hi to Khalid (ph) for me.

Cursing their prisoner, the makeshift firing squad leads him to a spot near an embankment. And he's executed.

(GUNFIRE)

WARE: Why would these insurgents and tribesmen turn on al Qaeda to work with the Americans? The answer, power, money, contracts and control over their neighborhoods.

And while few mourn the deaths of al Qaeda fighters anywhere, summary executions and excessive force by militias, sponsored by the U.S., is not something American commanders say they condone nor seek.

Brigadier General Mark McDonald.

BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK MCDONALD, MULTI-NATIONAL CORPS - IRAQ: We do not allow that and we do not encourage that. We will stop that if we see it.

WARE: That said, the general also says he's not seen reports of abuses himself. But another senior U.S. official does say the militia's methods are an ugly side of the war here in Iraq, ugly, but effective.

In the militia-controlled areas, al Qaeda has not been defeated, but it's certainly been blunted, the capital of Anbar reclaimed from its grip and attacks across the province spectacularly reduced, with similar signs emerging in other areas.

The successes of the Sunni militias, however, come at a price. The Shia-dominated government in Baghdad is not happy, wary of U.S. support for armed Sunni groups.

"This support scares us," says Hadi al-Amri. Commanding a powerful Shia militia, he is Iraq's equivalent to the chairman of the Armed Services Committee in the U.S.

"Working with these people is very dangerous," he says. "We told the Americans we won't accept under any circumstances their being open to armed Sunni militia, like the Islamic Army of Iraq or the Brigades of the 1920 Revolution" -- two of the very groups the U.S. has been courting and supporting.

And this former national security minister, now heading a parliamentary oversight body, claims the U.S. is overstepping its authority.

"That these tribes are armed beyond the government's control might lead to conflict," he says, suggesting they may be an American counterbalance to a government accused of links to an Iranian-backed militia from the Shia community.

ABDUL KARIM AL-ENZI, FORMER IRAQI MINISTER OF STATE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY: There is nothing that the Multi-National force, the Corps, is doing with, by name, by numbers, by place, by location, by intent, that we don't share with the government of Iraq.

WARE: With few signs of progress from the central government, America's former insurgent enemies seem to have given U.S. commanders something the Iraqi government rarely has, a success story.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Michael Ware joining us from Baghdad.

Michael, in your piece, you point out this is ugly but effective, and that's an interesting point.

Is there talk off the record that maybe U.S. troops will leave or leave sooner and just let al Qaeda and militias kill each other off?

WARE: Well, certainly that's one of the alternatives that face the American military, Congress, and the public. That's definitely a road that can be gone down, particularly if the U.S. withdrawal is rapid or precipitous. I mean, that will signal, you know, in terms of the regional players here, a defeat by America, and America's going to have to wear that.

What they're going to leave behind is what you've just been watching. You're going to see a Lebanon-style situation with very powerful groupings of militias all with external backers going toe to toe.

Now, it's going to turn out that at the end of the day, probably America itself will back many of these Sunni militias. And if America doesn't, America's Arab allies certainly are -- Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt. So, this might just be a glimpse of the future -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: It will be interesting to watch.

Michael Ware, thanks.

HOLMES: Well, the stability of Pakistan is a big question mark today. The high court and the president locked in a face-off that really didn't end that well for President Pervez Musharraf.

CNN State Department Correspondent Zain Verjee joins us now with more.

Hello to you, Zain.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPT. CORRESPONDENT: Hi, T.J. Well, this was a big deal in Pakistan. The supreme court -- just for a little bit of background here -- decided to put back the chief justice in his position. His name is Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Now, he was removed by President Pervez Musharraf basically after being accused of corruption. Now, that sparked massive and violent protests on the streets of Pakistan. Opponents were accusing Musharraf of trying to get rid of a judge that could block his plan to ask parliament for another five years as president.

Here's what the State Department is saying about today's decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM CASEY, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: For us, what this says is that the Pakistani people are able to resolve even very difficult political questions of this kind in a peaceful way. And more importantly, through their institutions and in accordance with the rule of law. And I think it speaks positively to the political situation in Pakistan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERJEE: The deputy State Department spokesman says that Musharraf is a man who is committed to the process of democratic change in Pakistan and to free and fair elections.

But T.J., just to understand what was going on here, this was really a fight between two sides -- the judicial independence arm in Pakistan and military leadership in Pakistan. At the end of the day today, the judiciary won -- T.J.

HOLMES: And of course Musharraf is a strong U.S. ally. And in some -- in many regards, he has paid for that. So now how much does this compound his problems? How much more of a blow is this to Musharraf?

VERJEE: Well, today's decision is a big blow to Musharraf. This could mean that there could in the future be moves to limit his power or even push him out of power.

You see, the second middle class in Pakistan was pretty mad at him for trying to get rid of the chief justice. Lawyers and professionals that have been basically over the years fed up with military rule, and they have been pressuring Pervez Musharraf to spell out a timetable for free elections.

Now, the upside, T.J., in this decision from Musharraf is this: he's got one less crisis to deal with. What he can do now is put that aside and focus on cracking down on militants, like he says he will.

Also, just remember, too, that this is an election year in Pakistan. So everything takes on an added significance and everything is amplified -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right. Even though it didn't work out for him, at least he got one thing off the plate.

Zain Verjee for us at the State Department.

Thank you so much, Zain.

PHILLIPS: A packed courtroom in Atlanta today. The Georgia Supreme Court hearing arguments to free or keep holding Genarlow Wilson. No word on when the court will rule.

Wilson is serving a 10-year prison term for consensual sex with a girl when they were both teenagers. Wilson's lawyer says the sentence violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. At least one justice was sympathetic.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUSTICE CAROL HUNSTEIN, GEORGIA SUPREME COURT: Teenagers make mistakes. And where -- where is the justice in a 10-year sentence and being on the sex offenders registry for the rest of that person's life?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Georgia's attorney general argues that a court ruling freeing Wilson could force the state to free around 1,300 convicted child molesters.

HOLMES: Well, the ground shook, alarms sounded, windows shattered. It was an earthquake, and it jolted folks away in the San Francisco Bay area.

It struck before dawn. It was a magnitude 4.2 quake, considered light by earthquake standards. That means minimal damage -- broken dishes, windows, and, of course, it's the Bay area, it's wine country. And cases of wine got busted up pretty good.

That appears, however, to be the extent of some of the damage, and no injuries were reported.

PHILLIPS: Ever heard of a hog dog rodeo? Some say they test the skill of hunting dogs. Critics say they're really about mutilation and pain.

Rick Sanchez reports.

HOLMES: Plus, do the words "Made in China" make you a little bit uneasy these days? Wait until you hear how many products made there might lurk on your grocery store shelves.

PHILLIPS: Can technology make the nation's seaports safer? We're waiting to hear from the secretary of Homeland Security.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSBREAK)

PHILLIPS: CNN and YouTube are teaming up for Monday night's Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina. It's being held in Charleston on the campus of the Citadel.

We set the stage with numbers from the latest CNN polls.

Our senior political correspondent, Candy Crowley, already at the Citadel with more.

So, set the scene for us. What's it like? Is everybody excited, Candy, besides you?

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, as a matter of fact. I hate to tell you, but we've seen advance people for the Edwards campaign and for the Clinton campaign. This is how seriously they take these events.

So we've seen a number of people here from the campaigns that are just sort of checking out what the platform looks like. As you can see behind me, they're still building it, putting together the big blocks I think that you saw at the last -- at the New Hampshire debate.

So, we're really in the early stages, so things kind of begin to pick up on Saturday and Sunday because, as you know, the big debate is Monday.

PHILLIPS: Do we have audio? OK. We didn't have audio.

Sorry, Candy.

I want to ask you about both, obviously, Republican and Democratic side of things. Just quickly, let me ask you about Rudy Giuliani. He seems to do very well in the Bible Belt. Why is that?

CROWLEY: Well, here's what's interesting about Rudy Giuliani at this point. When we looked at nationally at some of the numbers, we found that he polled somewhere between 25 and 30 percent of Christian right voters, of evangelicals as well. Now, these are people who have always felt that anti-abortion candidates came first. But what we're finding is there is a pragmatism to this particular section of the party that looks at Rudy Giuliani and sees somebody that could perhaps win and, more importantly to the Republican Party, beat Hillary Clinton.

PHILLIPS: What makes Hillary so popular in the black community in South Carolina?

CROWLEY: Well, we see in the polls that she has a 16-point lead over Barack Obama among the African-American -- in the African- American community. Part of this is the name "Clinton".

As you know, Bill Clinton has deep roots in the African-American community. Still, here in South Carolina, she has a terrific organization here. And as well, she's a known quantity. What we hear when we talk to people around South Carolina in the African-American community, they say, we just don't know that much about Barack Obama. He seems to be a rising star. Does he understand where we are as a community? What sort of ideas does he have?

So, Barack Obama, at least as far as his positions, is not as well known as Hillary Clinton is. But everybody tells us that at this point it's very fluid, despite that 16-point lead. A lot can change between now and January.

PHILLIPS: Well, is Barack Obama doing anything to get the black vote?

CROWLEY: Well, you know, he's certainly -- he's opened up a campaign office here in Charleston just this week. Certainly, he has been talking more recently about his experiences as a community organizer, where he went into African-American communities and helped organize politically. So, he is, in fact, talking more and more about that.

PHILLIPS: This really wipes out the notion that people were saying at the beginning, just because he's black he's going to get the black vote. And it's not turning out that way at all in some of these states.

CROWLEY: Well, it isn't. And, you know, a lot of people say, why would you think that it would? When I talk to blacks, they say, listen, we have diverse opinions here within the community. They are interested in education, and what is Hillary Clinton's education platform, what is Barack Obama's? They're interested in health care.

They're interested in the number of things -- civil rights, obviously. But they all have the same sort of interests as the general population here. So, they think that it's no big thing that some of them would be for Hillary Clinton, some for Barack Obama, and, in fact, some for John Edwards and others.

And this vote is not yet settled. It's very early on, so we haven't seen the last of these numbers, that's for sure.

PHILLIPS: All right. Hopefully we'll get to talk to you after the debate.

Candy Crowley, thanks a lot.

CROWLEY: Sure.

PHILLIPS: And can't wait for the CNN/YouTube debate on Monday? Well, join us tonight for a preview. You can find out what's on America's mind when Paula Zahn reveals some of the possible video questions for the candidates.

That's tonight and every night this week at 8:00 Eastern, only on CNN.

HOLMES: Now we've got some food for thought. If you're trying to cut Chinese products from your shopping list, it could be a lot harder than you think.

Those details straight ahead here in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: New interrogation techniques for terror suspects. You know the controversy over how al Qaeda suspects have been treated, even those accused and proven of terrorism, and the interrogation techniques used at Guantanamo Bay and other locations that obviously the CIA does not talk about location-wise.

Apparently, President Bush signed an executive order today spelling out these new interrogation techniques for terrorism suspects that are apparently supposed to bar cruel and inhumane treatment of these suspects. Now, the White House declined to say whether the CIA currently has detention and interrogation programs. We've talked a lot about that through people that say they have been involved with them, they are a part of them.

It's something that the White House does not comment on, but it did say if it did, it must adhere to the guidelines outlined in this new executive order. That order targeting the captured al Qaeda terrorist that we told you about held at Guantanamo Bay and other prisons.

We'll keep you updated on how this goes.

HOLMES: China says it's cracking down on exporters who may have sent toxic foods and toothpaste overseas, but is that good enough for U.S. consumers?

Could you avoid products made in China if you tried?

CNN Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen tried to figure that out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): For one year, Sara Bongiorni tried to avoid everything made in China.

(on camera): You didn't buy shoes made in China.

BONGIORNI: Right.

COHEN: You didn't buy ties made in China.

BONGIORNI: Right.

COHEN: But when it came to food, different story?

BONGIORNI: Well, I also tried to avoid it, but I had no idea because the labels don't tell you much at all -- as much label reading as I did. There was no way I could know whether or not I was buying something with ingredients from China. COHEN (voice over): Even with all the safety concerns about foods from China, most of the time is there no way of knowing if a product contains Chinese ingredients. For the most part, food companies aren't required to label where their ingredients come from, so they don't. This was evident as we shopped with Bongiorni.

BONGIORNI: This one told me it was a product of China right there.

COHEN (on camera): But this was really -- to see "Made in China" on the label was the exception?

BONGIORNI: Absolutely. That's right.

COHEN (voice over): Consumer groups are outraged that shoppers have no way of knowing where their food comes from.

CAROLINE SMITH DEWAAL, CENTER FRIST: SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST: It's almost impossible to completely avoid foods made in China, because they become ingredients in so many other products.

COHEN: Like what? Here's a small sampling and some you might not expect: apple juice, freeze dried berries like the ones in this cereal, and instant coffee. Other examples, tea and pine nuts.

Another big concern, although it is labeled, seafood like tilapia and shrimp. Safety concerns prompted the FDA this month to ban the import of Chinese seafood until it's proven to be safe.

But one part of the supermarket Sara feels confidence about is the produce section.

BONGIORNI: Very often on the little sticker it will say "Product of Guatemala," or "Product of Chile". So you can -- you can be pretty safe there, I think.

COHEN: Sara's year-long experiment is over. Her lesson learned? You can avoid many Chinese products, but when it comes to food, most of the time you have no idea where it comes from.

BONGIORNI: It's interesting, you know the source of your tennis shoes, but you don't know the source of your packaged foods.

COHEN: Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, just one day after the Dow finished above the 14,000 milestone for the first time, investors are seeing red, a lot of it.

Susan Liscovicz at the New York Stock Exchange to tell us what's behind the reversal.

(BUSINESS REPORT) HOLMES: Well, the recent focus on dog fighting brings other vicious practices to light, such as hog dogging. You ever heard of that? CNN's Rick Sanchez will tell us all about it. That's ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.

HOLMES: I'm T.J. Holmes sitting in today for Don Lemon.

He's paid to blow the whistle on player gaffs, but as a longtime NBA referee, is he about to foul out himself?

PHILLIPS: FBI investigating allegations that the ref was betting on some of the same games he was officiating. That's just for starters. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Homeland Security head Michael Chertoff on the West Coast this hour talking port security and security. He's making stops in Long Beach and Los Angeles highlighting new government efforts to secure incoming cargo. We're supposed to see a demonstration on some new technology on ports and cargo. We'll stake it live as soon as it happens.

HOLMES: It could be a devastating scandal for pro basketball, allegations an NBA referee bet on games, including games he was officiating. The FBI now on the case. CNN's Jim Acosta is on the story from New York.

Hello there, Jim.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, T.J., that's right. A spokesman for the National Basketball Referees Association has confirmed to CNN that an NBA ref is the subject of an FBI investigation.

Among the most serious allegations to surface in the federal probe, referee's union says is whether one of its own was betting on games he was officiating. A law enforcement source has told the Associated Press the bets were placed during the last two NBA seasons for thousands of dollars, and that the referee in question -- whose identity has not been released -- is accused of having ties to organized crime.

This afternoon, the National Basketball Referees Association released a statement to CNN saying, "These accusations, if true, are extremely serious. And we have been in discussions with the NBA regarding this matter."

Now, the president of the NBA's Retired Players' Association, Len Elmore, agrees the allegations are a major problem for the league because they raise the prospect about whether this ref was involved in point shaving.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEN ELMORE, RETIRED PLAYERS ASSOCIATION: When you're now talking about officials, you know, we're talking about the integrity of the game, not only the character of the people who officiate the games, but the integrity. You know, there's a public trust involved with people who go to the games, who are fans of the game. They expect the games to be played fair, on the up and up.

Now you have a situation where it's alleged that the games have been manipulated for someone else's financial gain. And that goes to the heart of sports in general, particularly professional sports.

So, when you look at the two, whether it's player conduct compared to the potential of officials fixing games, I think the integrity aspect is really what's going to be the blow that could eventually create a major crisis for a pro sport.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Now the league has also issued a statement saying it's been asked by the FBI to refrain from commenting on the matter, but the AP is reporting the accused ref is expected to turn himself in to federal authorities next week -- T.J.

HOLMES: Jim, the NBA deals with image issues, PR concerns all the time, often time it has to do with player conduct -- or misconduct. But a concern like this, and a scandal like this, how much of a concern have they had? We don't usually hear that much about point shaving, and betting on games, and manipulating games. How big of an issue is this for the NBA?

ACOSTA: Right, T.J. We don't hear about these sorts of scandals all that often, but we know they do go on from time to time. It's such a concern for the NBA. We do know that the league, every year, almost indoctrinates its players in the concerns about point shaving, and they have ex-mobsters, who actually come in the locker rooms, go to players conferences and talk to players about the dangers, not only to the league but themselves, if they're involved in this sort of thing.

As a reporter, I covered the NCAA tournament not too long ago, a couple years ago, and they even are actually pressing this concern to college players about the risks of point shaving, not only to the sport, but to the players themselves. Lives can be ruined, careers can be ruined, if people get wrapped up in this sort of thing.

But a referee involved in this sort of matter, if it's true, could be potentially devastating to the league.

HOLMES: All right. It sure could. Jim Acosta for us, in New York. Thank you so much.

ACOSTA: You bet.

PHILLIPS: Locked in a Phoenix jail for nearly a year even though he was never charged with a crime, the update on the imprisoned tuberculosis patient. Straight ahead from the CNN NEWSROOM. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Just in to CNN, a 20-year-old military ordinance recovered in the Heights section of Jersey today. Jason Carroll following up on this.

What's the deal, Jason? A little bit of history, there.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a strange one, definitely, Kyra.

Imagine waking up in the morning, walking out on your front lawn and seeing something that looks like some sort of a military weapon. Well, that's what happened to a Jersey City woman, when she woke up this morning, walked outside, saw this device. She called police, they confiscated it. The U.S. military now saying they have recovered what appears to be an AT-4 anti-tank rocket tube. Somewhat of a mouthful, I know a lot of us don't know what that is. Let me explain.

An anti-tank rocket launcher comes in two parts, as you might know, Kyra, the launcher and the projectile, the warhead, the dangerous part. Well, the spent launcher is meant to be discarded after a one-time use, and in that form it's not dangerous, and that's what they found on the front lawn of this woman's home in Jersey City.

Again, want to make clear it was the spent launcher that was found on the front lawn of this woman's house. According to the Jersey City police, they've just released a press release that came to us just a few moments ago.

They say there's no indication that this device had been fired recently. They say it is not considered hazardous, quote, "And no longer operable." In fact, they say this device is often used in military training. They're calling it a military training device.

Ft. Dix is located about 72 miles from this location, but again, no indication at this point that it came from Ft. Dix. Newark FBI says that the U.S. Army is now in possession of this military training device. And right now investigators are trying to confirm exactly what it is, trying to confirm if it is, in fact, this AT-4 anti-tank rocket tube, or if it's something else.

And also trying to find out, Kyra, where it came from and how it got on the front lawn of this woman's house.

PHILLIPS: So, Jason, we're actually looking at file video of a rocket tube like the one you're talking about here. And let me ask you, when she came out on the front porch, it wasn't buried or anything? It -- it -- somebody had left it there?

CARROLL: You got it, Kyra. It was just, you know, lying right there on her small little front lawn there for all to see as people sort of walked by. So, you can draw your own conclusions from that. But once again, investigators at this point trying to track and find out exactly where it came from, and why it was there.

PHILLIPS: We'll stay on top of it. Interesting. Thanks, Jason.

HOLMES: Back in Denver, a tuberculosis patient, Andrew Speaker, returning to the National Jewish Medical Center late yesterday. His wife's there. He tells us he's doing well three days after surgery at the University of Colorado Hospital.

Doctors removed the part of his right lung infected with TB. Speaker caused, as you know, an international health scare when he took commercial flights to and from Europe after being diagnosed with that tough-to-treat form of the disease.

That's the same diagnosis given to an Arizona man, but unlike Speaker, he's been locked up for almost a year. CNN's Thelma Gutierrez has the update.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): For the first time in nearly a year, Robert Daniels will see the sunrise from his hospital window.

ROBERT DANIELS, VIA TELEPHONE: It's the light, the first impression was how the light looks like, finally. I can finally see far. I can finally see trees. I can finally, you know, see the colors of the world.

GUTIERREZ: Since last August, this 27-year-old from Arizona, who was diagnosed with an extremely drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis, had been kept in isolation. In a cell within the jail ward of a county hospital in Phoenix with no view to the outside world, no shower, and no visitors.

DANIELS: I'm really mentally being killed here.

GUTIERREZ: Daniels was placed in the custody of the Maricopa County sheriff because he repeatedly went out in public without a mask. At the time, he was contagious. And though he was never charged with a crime, he says he was treated like a prisoner.

DANIELS: Even if I did a mistake, it doesn't give them the right to torture me like this.

GUTIERREZ: The ACLU agreed and filed a federal lawsuit against the Maricopa County officials, alleging his civil rights were being violated.

But before his case could be heard, Arizona officials transferred Daniels to the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, the same hospital where TB patient Andrew Speaker is being treated. Within the first hours of being admitted here, Daniels' medical treatment was changed, his diagnosis upgraded, and now he's learned he's a likely candidate for a lifesaving surgery.

DANIELS: This is a nightmare that I've been having. I'm going to get out. Get out of the cell alive.

GUTIERREZ: Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Denver, Colorado.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: And in Denver, Daniels remains under guard, that's part of the deal worked out with Arizona authorities before he was transferred. This morning the Maricopa County sheriff told CNN's Kiran Chetry his version of events and what he perceives.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO, MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA: As far as not being charged, I do have a problem with that, but I do run the jails and he was treated, as I said, in a good manner. He was a problem child at times, but, you know, it cost the taxpayers a over a half a million dollars to keep this guy. He's getting free medical service, so I don't know why his big complaint continues.

KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: Well, you know, I mean, in fairness, this was somebody who was repeatedly warned. He admits this, as well, that he was contagious and should wear a mask and he didn't listen to orders, correct?

ARPAIO: Yeah. But I'm conducting an investigation on him. I launched an investigation four months ago.

CHETRY: Right, for what?

ARPAIO: For endangerment. He was out in the public without his surgical mask. He was ordered not to do that. That's why they confined him in the jail, so I'm not done with this guy yet.

CHETRY: Right.

ARPAIO: I'm just waiting for a medical -- for some medical records from the court, and I'll continue this investigation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: The sheriff says he has a duty to protect the public.

PHILLIPS: Straight ahead in the NEWSROOM, a dog story with a happy ending and an operation that's "paw-sitively" promising for people, too.

I'm Sibila Vargas in Hollywood. The final Harry Potter book is just hours away from flying off store shelves, but its author is not shelving her harsh feelings about some of the book's reviews. I'll have that and more, when the NEWSROOM continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: It is THE day that Harry Potter fans have been waiting for, the final book in the series hits store shelves. We have seen people lined up in costume -- and sometimes disturbing costumes -- determined to get their copy come Haggard to high water. Sibila Vargas here with the details and also some pretty serious harsh words from author J.K. Rowling ...

VARGAS: Oh, yes.

HOLMES: ...has for the critics. Oh, yes.

VARGAS: Oh, yes, lots of harsh words there, but a lot of people having to get their Harry on today. Not since Beatle mania has the world seen the kind of enthusiasm surrounding a British export.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the seventh and final book about the famous boy wizard, goes on sale to a global audience at midnight. But what a scene it has been already from London, to New York, to Bombay, droves of fans lined up at their favorite books stores, waiting for the moment they can finally learn the fate of one of the most popular figures in literary history.

It's hard to believe that just 13 years ago Potter's author, J.K. Rowling, was unemployed, a single mother with no publisher or agent. Now thanks to her first six Potter tales and the movies based on them, the 41-year-old scribe is the world's first writer to rake in more than a $1 billion in receipts. In fact, according to "Forbes", she is Britain's richest woman, the first billionaire author.

Not too shabby, huh?

HOLMES: That's not shabby at all. But getting to today's release date, that wasn't too shabby either. It took a miracle. A little hairy to get to this point. Why is that?

VARGAS: Well, you know, there's been contact leaks on the Internet, a mistake by a U.S. retailer which sent out a few of the hard copies early, and the journey to the bookstores these days has been marred with problems.

J.K. Rowling herself has come out swinging against newspaper critics that she says just might ruin her book for readers. This is what she said, "I am staggered that some American newspapers have decided to publish reported spoilers in the form of reviews, in complete disregard to wishes of literally millions of readers, particularly children. I'm incredibly grateful to all of those newspapers, book sellers and others who have chosen not to attempt to spoil Harry's last adventure for fans."

The lesson here might be if you want to find out what happens in books on your own, get it, read it fast.

HOLMES: It's 700, 800 pages? Is that right?

VARGAS: You can't read it that fast. There's one person who got the book almost a week ago and she's still working on it now, so takes some time.

HOLMES: One of these days, Sibila, we are going to do a Lindsay Lohan story that doesn't involve jail or rehab.

VARGAS: One of these days. OK. Well, believe it or not, the 21-year-old actress actually can do something under the radar. She actually avoided the paparazzi when she turned herself in to police. Late yesterday afternoon, Lohan surrendered herself to Beverly Hills police for her alleged Memorial Day weekend DUI, that ultimately sent the starlet to rehab.

Now, according to police, Lohan's blood-alcohol level at to the time of the crash was above California's legal limit, of .08, although they would not specify the exact percentage. Lohan was also facing charges of hit-and-run, was booked, photographed and reportedly released on $30,000 bail.

The court date was scheduled for August 24th. But we'll see. We'll see, one day we will have a good story, maybe not rehab, maybe just a movie that she's working on and she put all that stuff behind her.

HOLMES: One of these days, she'll be on a humanitarian mission, she donated some time for charity.

VARGAS: Yeah. Angelina Jolie did it. It's not impossible.

HARRIS: What do we have to look forward to for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT?

VARGAS: Tonight, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, a special why the stars are not like us. The ridiculous excuses they make when they get into trouble, the most embarrassing interviews. You will not be able to take your eyes off TV's most provocative entertainment news show, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT at 11:00 p.m. Eastern.

HOLMES: I don't know, Sibila , I have some pretty ridiculous excuses when I get in trouble, too.

VARGAS: I bet you do.

HOLMES: Thank you. We'll see you soon.

VARGAS: Have a great weekend.

HOLMES: All right.

Well, a dog in England may be leading the way for humans. A Belgian shepherd named Storm, that lost a paw to cancer, is said to be the first pet ever to be fitted with a prosthetic paw. The dog's skin and bone have grown into a metal implant forming a seal that will resist infection. The veterinarian who pioneered the surgery thinks the principle can be adopted to help humans who have lost feet or hands.

PHILLIPS: Well, their country has some of the richest oil reserves in the world. So, why are Iraqis waiting for hours on end to get a tank of gas?

CNN's Frederik Pleitgen has more on short supplies and short fuses.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxant.com