Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Pope and the President; Firefighters on Frontlines in Colorado; Death Penalty for Child Rape

Aired April 16, 2008 - 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Heidi continues on maternity leave.

HARRIS: Events coming to the CNN NEWSROOM live on this Wednesday, April 16th. Here's what's on the rundown.

WHITFIELD: The Pope and the president. Benedict XVI heading for a grand welcome at the White House. Live coverage.

HARRIS: Firefighters on the frontlines in Colorado right now. Lives and buildings lost to the flames.

WHITFIELD: The death penalty for child rape. The Supreme Court hears the case shortly. We're digging deeper, in the NEWSROOM.

And live this hour, want to show you these pictures out of New Brunswick, New Jersey, this row of houses right here. Firefighters are on the scene trying to battle the blaze, but already the destruction has taken place because of this fire that is right now unexplained. We're not quite sure the source of this fire, but this is what's happening in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

When we get more information on the source of this fire and whether anyone is in danger there, we'll be able to bring it to you.

HARRIS: The president and the Pope. This morning, the White House rolls out the red carpet. It is the first papal visit in nearly 30 years.

CNN's Jason Carroll joins us live from Washington.

Jason, good morning to you. Anywhere from 64 to 70 million Catholics in the United States. What are Catholics that you've talked to in Washington, D.C. saying about the Pope's visit?

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, definitely they are very excited and excited to hear what the Pope is going to have to say on a number of issues. As you may know, the Pope is going to have to face a number of challenges, the sex abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic Church here, just one of the challenges he's going to have to face while he's here.

The Catholic flock of the United States has really changed, Tony. A lot of Catholics moving away from traditional Catholic teachings. Take a look at just one of the numbers that we've got here. 51 percent of Catholics say that they believe abortion should be legal. That is a number, obviously, very disturbing to the Vatican. One of the Pope's challenges is to try to bring more of these people back into the fold.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL (voice over): Pope Benedict XVI will greet a flock of millions in the United States, the adoring, the faithful. His challenge, to reach Catholics like Ed McCarthy and his granddaughter, Kelly.

ED MCCARTHY, CATHOLIC: I don't really go to church every Sunday, but I believe in God.

KELLY MCCARTHY, CATHOLIC: If we have the right to get married, why can't a priest get married?

CARROLL: Married priests, not attending weekly mass, they're what some call cafeteria Catholics, those who pick certain parts of the religion to follow.

JAVON ALEXANDER, CATHOLIC: I don't really know too much about this Pope. I hear a lot of things. But the last Pope, I kind of liked him a little more.

CARROLL: Knowing Pope Benedict is realizing he's not like his predecessor.

JOHN ALLEN, CNN SENIOR VATICAN ANALYST: If John Paul had not been a pope, he would have been a movie star. If Benedict had not been a pope, he would have been a university professor.

CARROLL: He's the intellectual, the introvert.

REV. GERALD WALSH, AUXILIARY BISHOP OF NEW YORK: Those who have met him find him to be a very patient, kind, understanding man.

CARROLL: He's also conservative, nicknamed God's Rottweiler. When he was Munich's cardinal, Joseph Ratzinger, he was not open to the idea of married priests or cafeteria Catholics. But he's still considered by some to be a good listener.

CARDINAL FRANCIS GEORGE, ARCHBISHOP OF CHICAGO: He'll ask questions and try to understand. He's a tremendous synthesizer.

CARROLL: But can he inspire Catholics who want reform in a country still hurting from the priests' sexual abuse scandal?

POPE BENEDICT XVI, CATHOLIC CHURCH SPIRITUAL LEADER: We are deeply ashamed and (INAUDIBLE).

CARROLL: On Tuesday, Pope Benedict said he was deeply shamed of the pain that was caused. Some victims say words aren't enough. BARBARA BLAINE, VICTIMS' ADVOCATE: One of the most significant things that we continually ask for is action. We look for tangible steps to be taken that protect children.

CARROLL: Father Joseph Fessio studied under Ratzinger when he was a theology professor and says the man he knows can reach anyone who chooses to listen.

REV. JOSEPH FESSIO, FMR. STUDENT OF POPE BENEDICT: They're going to find out more about who he really is, and what he is is someone who lives deeply in his Christian faith and expresses it profoundly and beautifully, and I think that will have an impact.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL: And Tony, he'll have plenty of opportunities to make an impact. He'll have that very big public mass here in Washington, D.C. He has the youth rally on Saturday in New York and also on Sunday the giant mass at Yankee Stadium -- Tony.

HARRIS: Boy, this should be quite a day in Washington, D.C., watching it all for us, Jason Carroll.

Jason, great to see you. Thanks.

Pope Benedict, who turns 81 today, has a busy schedule in the United States. Here are a few of the highlights. Tonight, he attends a prayer service with American bishops. Tomorrow, the Pope will celebrate mass at Nationals Park in Washington. Some 46,000 people are expected. On Friday, Pope Benedict will travel to New York. He will address the United Nations general assembly. On Sunday, he will celebrate mass at Yankee Stadium.

The White House putting on the Ritz. What a show this should be. A stately welcome for Pope Benedict. Live coverage, 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

And still ahead, the Pope and the White House. What does it mean to the church and its American flock? A closer look with our senior Vatican analyst John Allen.

WHITFIELD: Out west making headlines this morning, fire and some possible relief. Rain and snow is in the forecast today for southeast Colorado. And boy, do they need it. Firefighters are hoping the spring storm will help them battle a series of killer wildfires. At least three people are dead. Thousands of acres have been scorched and hundreds of people have been evacuated. Much of Colorado is under high fire danger and the governor has issued a state of emergency.

We'll check in with Rob Marciano in the weather center. Weather certainly can tamper or help firefighters in this kind of effort.

HARRIS: Naturally.

WHITFIELD: But snow and rain, that only sounds like help.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Yes, it will be nice. Thanks so much, Rob.

MARCIANO: All right.

WHITFIELD: We'll check back with you -- Tony.

HARRIS: A year ago today, horror at Virginia Tech. 32 people dead. This morning, the community remembers.

Our Brianna Keilar covered the story last spring. She's back in Blacksburg this morning.

And Brianna, I remember, boy, it was during these hours, maybe just a few minutes from right now a year ago that the story started to break for us. And I certainly remember the e-mail traffic getting you out of the door and down to Blacksburg. Wonder what it's like for you a year later.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's really just amazing, Tony, that a year has even passed. I mean, it seems like the time has just flown, but a lot of people have been trying to get past that moment a year ago. They're remembering students today. No classes here. It's a day of remembrance, a commemoration taking place in the heart of the campus, the drill field here in just about an hour.

But a lot of people, as I said, trying to move past this, not let this define their college experience. But at the same time, a lot of people as well, this has had a lasting -- this has had a lasting impact for them. They haven't just been able to move on and to really understand that, all you need to do is talk to someone who was in Norris Hall one year ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR (voice over): Erin Sheehan and 13 other Virginia Tech students were in their German class on the second floor of Norris Hall.

ERIN SHEEHAN, VIRGINIA TECH SURVIVOR: This group of windows was my classroom. I remember we saw someone poke in the door twice.

KEILAR: It was Seung-Hui Cho, a senior at Virginia Tech.

SHEEHAN: I heard a hammering noise. The thing that bothered me was that the hammering was going up and down the hall.

KEILAR: Cho shot Erin's professor first, then 12 of the 14 students in the class. Erin played dead.

SHEEHAN: I had to fight with myself to stop the instinct to scream.

KEILAR: Erin escaped without being shot. She and three other students barricading the door to stop Cho from returning. Moments later, Cho killed himself.

After a week or two, Erin was showing signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, nightmares and flashbacks, unexpected noises now cause her heart to race.

SHEEHAN: I think people have no idea how much people running in flip-flops will actually sound like bullets to me.

KEILAR: Even the sound of boxes being stacked makes her nervous.

(On camera): You just looked over your shoulder when you heard a noise. Was that...

SHEEHAN: Yes. That was bothering me again.

KEILAR (voice over): Erin now has to take tests in a quiet room alone. Earplugs help her study, sleeping medication helps at night, and she credits psychotherapy with making her PTSD more manageable.

This April day, Erin heads to class mindful of what took place exactly one year ago.

SHEEHAN: I wish, you know, this hadn't happened to anyone. But now that it has, I would like to think about it as, you know, something that I've grown from, you know, hopefully become a better person, hopefully appreciate my life more and understand how easily it could have been taken away.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: And that is why Erin says she is seriously considering taking part in a very controversial pro-gun control protest that is scheduled to take place here at Virginia Tech later this afternoon actually on the drill field where earlier the commemoration will take place -- Tony.

HARRIS: Hey Brianna, I understand they are calling that protest a lie-in. What can you tell us about that?

KEILAR: Yes. They're calling it a lie-in because what it is is 32 people, many of them Virginia Tech students, dressed in black, lying on the ground for three minutes. They are simulating the victims of Virginia Tech and the amount of time that they say it would have taken Cho to get a gun. A lot of pro-gun control groups, three of them, in fact, helping organize this protest.

And you hear from students like Erin. She says, you know, one of the best ways to remember these victims is to try to fight for change. But there are a whole lot of people on campus who don't see it that way. They say this is a day of remembrance and you shouldn't be making political statements on a day like today -- Tony.

HARRIS: Remembering the Virginia Tech massacre one year later. Brianna Keilar for us this morning.

Brianna, thank you. WHITFIELD: On to the presidential politics now. The two Democratic candidates getting ready to face off in Philadelphia. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama meet in a debate tonight just six days before the Pennsylvania primary. Polls show Clinton maintaining a lead over Obama in Pennsylvania, but Obama leads nationwide in the popular vote, pledge delegates and the number of states won.

For Republican John McCain, it's the economy again today. He holds an economic summit this morning in Milwaukee. McCain is calling on the government to suspend a federal gas tax for the summer.

The death penalty for child rapists. Is it constitutional? It's before the U.S. Supreme Court this morning.

Justice correspondent Kelli Arena is there.

So, what are the arguments for and against, Kelli?

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, there is absolutely no dispute that this crime was horrible, the rape of an 8-year-old child. But does it warrant the death penalty? That is the question before the Supreme Court justices this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA (voice over): He's not a killer, but Patrick Kennedy was sentenced to die for his crime. The New Orleans native sits here on death row at Louisiana's maximum-security prison.

Unlike the more than 3,000 inmates facing execution nationwide, Kennedy is unique. He's the first prisoner in decades to face death for a crime other than murder. Kennedy brutally raped a child in this house. The victim, his 8-year-old stepdaughter.

KATE BARTHOLOMEW, ORLEANS PARISH SEX CRIMES PROSECUTOR: In my opinion, the rape of the child is more heinous and more hideous than a homicide because the child survives with what has happened.

ARENA: But death penalty opponents argue a death sentence could give attackers a reason to murder their victims.

JUDY BENITEZ, LOUISIANA FDN. AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULTS: If they're going to face the death penalty for raping the child, why would they leave a living witness?

ARENA: Louisiana is the only state actively pursuing lethal injection for raping children.

In 1977, the Supreme Court banned execution for rape, but Louisiana lawmakers said the ruling only applied when victims were adults and in 1995 passed a law allowing execution for the rape of children under 12.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When we look at unusual means, what it means to be cruel and unusual, this is exactly the kind of unusualness that raises these serious concerns about the constitutionality of Mr. Kennedy's death sentence.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: The justices are expected to rule on whether Louisiana's law is constitutional by the end of this June -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much. Kelli Arena there at the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court -- Tony?

HARRIS: All right. Let's get back to those deadly wildfires in the west for a moment. Much of Colorado is under high-fire danger, and the governor has issued a state of emergency. We want to get an update now.

Joining us on the phone from Ordway, Colorado is Katherine Sanguinetti with the Crowley County Fire Response.

Katherine, good to talk to you. If you would, give us an update on the status of the fires that the point.

KATHERINE SANGUINETTI, CROWLEY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: Currently the Ordway fire has burned approximately 8900 acres, which equates to about 14 square miles. We have about 60 percent containment with winds 20 miles an hour.

HARRIS: OK. So 60 percent containment at this point. How many people, if you know the latest figures, have been evacuated from that town?

SANGUINETTI: Approximately 1200 people.

HARRIS: 1200 people. So what is the plan of attack as you approach this fire today?

SANGUINETTI: It's to continue containment with the winds as they are. However, it can go either way for us at this point. So our primary concern is public safety and insuring that those people are taken care of.

HARRIS: What's in the -- Katherine, what's in the forecast for you today? More high winds? Are we talking about in the 20-mile-per- hour range again?

SANGUINETTI: Yes, continuing winds, some possibility of precipitation, although that is very a very low possibility.

HARRIS: Any idea of what might have caused this?

SANGUINETTI: You know, that that's -- it's currently under investigation.

HARRIS: OK. Currently under investigation. We understand that three people were killed. Any other injuries to report?

SANGUINETTI: Not that we are aware of. HARRIS: OK. And anything else that -- in terms of approach? Do you have all of the manpower, all of the material that you might need to assist you in getting better containment on the fire?

SANGUINETTI: You know, the response has been phenomenal. We have 35 agencies out here in Ordway assisting with this fire.

HARRIS: OK. And 60 percent containment. Any idea of what you'd like to achieve by the end of the day?

SANGUINETTI: We would like to, of course, have it 100 percent contained and have people moving back into their homes.

HARRIS: All right. Katherine Sanguinetti on the line with us.

Katherine, we appreciate your time and good luck in battling that fire.

WHITFIELD: We'll talk of the economy straight ahead. Oil prices surge even higher, and gas is costing you even more. Why record prices at the pump are here seemingly to stay. You're in the NEWSROOM.

We'll be back.

ANNOUNCER: CNN NEWSROOM brought to you by...

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

Inferno on the interstate. Wow. That's an understatement. A tanker turns into a three-way fireball. Incredible tape right there. You'll see it in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Live picture of the White House right now as it gets ready for the first visit by Pope Benedict here in the U.S. He's got a full day on his plate. Besides a one-on-one meeting with President Bush right there at the White House, he'll also be meeting with about 300 U.S. bishops at the National Shrine in addition to a great tour of Washington, D.C., and thousands are already lining up throughout Washington to get their glimpse of the Pope on what is...

HARRIS: On a great day...

WHITFIELD: ...also his 81st birthday.

HARRIS: Happy birthday to the Pope. My goodness.

WHITFIELD: What an incredible birthday gift, right, for him and for the rest of Washington who gets to witness it first hand.

HARRIS: He arrives at -- yes. He arrives at Andrews Air Force Base yesterday afternoon and there's a crowd of about 5,000 or so. And they ear singing "Happy Birthday" a day early to the Pope.

WHITFIELD: Is that the...

HARRIS: That was terrific.

WHITFIELD: Yes. And the first time for President Bush to be meeting...

HARRIS: That's right.

WHITFIELD: ...with this head of state. He hasn't done so for anybody else during his administration.

HARRIS: I'm a little excited. This is -- what a great day weatherwise.

WHITFIELD: Yes, beautiful day.

HARRIS: The South Lawn, 10,000 to maybe 12,000 people on hand for this welcoming ceremony this morning. It should be great.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

HARRIS: And we got it right here.

WHITFIELD: It can't get any more gorgeous than that right there...

HARRIS: Isn't that something?

WHITFIELD: ...right there in Washington at the White House.

HARRIS: Talk about business now. Gas prices at record levels fueled on by surging oil prices, breaking all previous levels in electronic trading this morning.

With more on this and what it means to you in -- look at the barrel.

ALI VELSHI, CNN SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Sorry, man.

HARRIS: Look at the barrel. The barrel says it all. There he is, Ali Velshi.

VELSHI: I go to sleep every night thinking I'm not going to show Tony the barrel. Tomorrow is not going to be about the barrel. But unfortunately, $114.53.

Tony, every time I do this to you, it's a bigger number.

HARRIS: It is.

VELSHI: I mean it started at $111 yesterday, then we get to $112, then $113, $114.53., and easing a little bit lower than that but bottom line it's above 100 bucks. It's affecting what we pay for everything else, whether it's jet fuel or diesel or gasoline. HARRIS: Yes.

VELSHI: The average for gasoline, way up again, $3.40 now if you round it up, it's $3.399 so $3.40, up from $3.28.

Now you remember these folks who are talking about, you know, gas going up between now and Memorial Day. That's what happens. It ramps up. So that's a bit of a problem that we've got right now. You start seeing gas prices go up a cent every day.

HARRIS: Right. Right.

VELSHI: I mean 365 days a year.

HARRIS: Didn't take long.

VELSHI: That's too much.

HARRIS: Right. But you know, it's interesting. You mentioned the summer driving season, and we know that -- maybe it's later this week that we start to get those spring and summer blends of gasoline.

VELSHI: Right.

HARRIS: Hey, is it possible we could see $4 -- boy. I even hate saying it -- this summer?

VELSHI: I know it's tough. There are some places that I have seen $4 already, and sure, I mean I just had one of my colleagues here telling me they just got on Long Island. He was paying $3.68 or something for regular gasoline. Parts of the country are really hurting from this.

Now, obviously, as it pushes up, that -- some of that summer demand is going to pull back, you know. We know that because of the low dollar we're not going overseas in many cases to travel, so people thought about staycation, staying home.

HARRIS: Yes.

VELSHI: Well, they can't be big driving vacations either because of the gas. So we'll have to see how this all pairs out. You know, John McCain's proposal to pull the federal taxes off the gasoline for the summer, that would be about 18 cents a gallon for gas and 24 for diesel, except that he's not president.

HARRIS: He's not president.

VELSHI: So he can't do that. Yes.

HARRIS: Right. Hey, just very quickly, what do you foresee for the open this morning?

VELSHI: Well, again, mixed. A lot of things going on in the market today. We've got a lot of economic reports out this morning. They're marginally higher right now for the open, but you know, yesterday, they were higher, then they were lower. That's right, so this is one of those days...

HARRIS: All right. Fingers crossed.

VELSHI: ...where I don't think there's a big gyrations. They're calculating oil prices and earnings and things like that.

HARRIS: And there he is, "Minding Your Business," Ali Velshi for us this morning. Good to see you.

VELSHI: All right.

HARRIS: Thanks, Ali.

WHITFIELD: Staycation.

HARRIS: Staycation. He's good.

WHITFIELD: He has coined a phrase.

HARRIS: Yes, he has.

WHITFIELD: I've never heard that before. I like it.

All right. Well, take a look at this. It looks like shock and awe, but it happened on the interstate in Virginia. Just look. An enormous tanker truck explosion caught on the dash cam on I-81 in Bristol, Virginia. Police say the brakes, the brakes caught fire, and it wasn't long before it ignited the fuel on that tanker. But the good news out of all this, the driver got out and everyone else was OK. But part of the interstate was shut down for hours.

Witnesses staying at the nearby hotel say the blast was so huge that cars in the parking lot were damaged. Singed.

HARRIS: Wow.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM this morning, a blockbuster drug pulled from the market. Now new questions about studies of the pain killer Vioxx. The story ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: News about your health now. Several reports out today raise new questions about studies of the once best-selling drug, Vioxx. According to the reports, drug maker Merck drafted dozens of studies and then recruited doctors to put their names on them. The reports are based on an article in the "Journal of the American Medical Association." Merck disputes the article's conclusion that it used ghost writing in its research.

Vioxx, as you may recall, was taken off the market in 2004 because of evidence linking it to heart attacks. The journal article was based on documents stemming from lawsuits against Merck.

WHITFIELD: Also, questions this morning about the dangers of a common chemical found in plastics. Researchers say bisphenol-a may be linked to hormonal problems and possibly to cancer. It's used to make water bottles, baby bottles, plastic containers and thousands of other everyday items. Researchers say more than 90 percent of Americans are exposed to trace amounts of the substance. Testing on lab animals linked it to precancerous tumors, urinary tract problems and early puberty.

HARRIS: A settlement that amounts to nothing. That's what critics of a deal from Ford are saying. The automaker is offering vouchers to roughly 800,000 Ford Explorer owners in four states. The class action suit claimed the resale value was depressed by publicity over rollover deaths. Those Explorer owners are now being offered a $500 voucher to buy a new Explorer or $300 for another new Ford or Lincoln-Mercury.

The lawsuits over the alleged rollover deaths are still pending.

WHITFIELD: Faith and festivities. The White House welcomes Pope Benedict with extraordinary pomp. You don't want to miss it. Live coverage straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Just past the bottom of the hour. Welcome back.

Hi, Fred.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello to you.

HARRIS: Hi, everybody. I'm Tony Harris.

WHITFIELD: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Let's take a look at the big board on this day. (INAUDIBLE) day here in the U.S. The pope in Washington, D.C., about to meet with the president. And here is the president of Korea, Lee Myung-bak. Well, he's ringing the bell there at the New York Stock Exchange. Yesterday, it closed up 60 points up on the Dow.

We'll see how the markets are looking right now -- 109 points up. That's good. That's a good start for this day. Don't you think?

HARRIS: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: We're going to continue to watch the markets for you.

HARRIS: One hour from right now. One of the largest arrival ceremonies ever for the White House. The guest of honor, Pope Benedict. Take a look at this. The south lawn of the White House bathed in sunshine.

White House correspondent Elaine Quijano here to set what looks to be just a wonderful stage.

Elaine, good morning.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Good morning to you, Tony. Well, the weather is certainly cooperating here in Washington for the pope's visit.

The events today really the culmination of months of work and elaborate south lawn arrival ceremony set to begin later this morning. And the ceremony of course coming after President Bush yesterday travelled to Andrews Air Force Base to meet the pope's plane. Something President Bush has not done before when it comes to other world leaders.

After the ceremony here, the president and the pope will eventually be meeting one-on-one in the oval office. It's expected they'll be discussing a range of issues including how to fight extremist ideology.

The White House points out that this pope is no stranger to criticism by extremists. At the same time, though, there is, of course, a long history of disagreement between this president and the Vatican when it comes to Iraq.

The Vatican under Pope John Paul II opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq at the very outset. Pope John Paul at that time maintaining that there were other avenues still that could have been pursued.

Well, now years later, the White House maintains that there's an understanding at this point between the Vatican and the president about the need to protect Iraq's remaining Christians from further violence in Iraq.

Now, it's unlikely, Tony, that we're going to hear any real public discussion of disagreements between the pope and President Bush. Today's event really is about emphasizing their common areas of agreement and their common values.

Tony?

HARRIS: Elaine, how might the ceremony differ from other arrival ceremonies that we've seen here at the south lawn?

QUIJANO: Well, you know, it's going to largely mirror what we have seen, visits from other heads of state. It will be very elaborate as I mentioned. It will include some of the typical elements that we have seen including a 21-gun salute.

Other things, though, certainly have been modified in order to reflect the fact that the pope is not only the head of state, but he is also the head of the Catholic Church.

There will be the singing of the Lord's Prayer by operatic singer Kathleen Battle, a soprano. Also, we're told that in addition to the traditional sort of review of military personnel, you're also going to see a review that will include boy scouts, girl scouts as well as some members of Catholic service organizes like the Knights of Columbus.

And I have to tell you, I don't think I'm giving anything away here. It's not on the official schedule, but during the rehearsals that were going on yesterday, one could very clearly hear the strains of "Happy Birthday." Today, of course, is the 81st birthday for the pontiff.

Tony?

HARRIS: Oh, what a good day this should be. Man -- great ceremony. And Kathleen Battle, a great show as well. Elaine Quijano at the White House for us. Elaine, thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well, let's talk more about the symbolism. The meaning behind the pope's visit. John Allen is a CNN senior Vatican analyst. He also serves as a Vatican expert for the National Catholic Reporter.

Good to see you, John.

JOHN ALLEN, CNN SENIOR VATICAN ANALYST: Good morning.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, let's talk about this pope. Pope John Paul had sort of rock star status. This new pope, people are still getting to know him, but if he has some status, how would you describe it?

ALLEN: Well, I think to put it in a sound bite the situation is this. If John Paul had not been a pope, he would have been a movie star. You know, he just lit up the stage. If Benedict XVI had not been a pope, he would have been a university professor.

He's a little bit more shy, a little bit more cerebral, a very thoughtful figure. Someone who speaks in fully formed paragraphs rather than sound bites. And I think all of that explains why he is still something of a question mark for so many Americans on the eve of his visit.

A Pew foreign poll found that 80 percent of Americans including two-thirds of American Catholics said they knew almost nothing about this pope. So this really is his debut on the American stage.

And certainly, his very forceful comments yesterday on the sex abuse crisis and this very high-profile public ceremony at the White House this morning are very effective ways of sort of putting him out there so the American public can begin to get to know him.

WHITFIELD: Yes. So that's very interesting. Because you describe him in one breath as being shy but on the other end, you know, this forceful comments about sexual abuse.

He also has been very outspoken about the war. He's going to be meeting one-on-one with President Bush. Can you kind of imagine the kind of conversation the two of them would have, whether it be about war or abortion or this country's stance and approach on immigration. All the things that this pope has been outspoken about before?

ALLEN: Sure. I think we have to make a distinction between what's going to go on once those doors close and it's just the two of them. And bear in mind that Benedict is very comfortable in English. So there will be -- there's no translator there. It's a purely one- on-one conversation between the pope and the president. I think once the door is close, this is going to be a substantive conversation. Now, the kinds of after the fact statements we're going to get both from the White House and from the Vatican are no doubt going to be fairly bland and they're going to emphasize the warmth of the personal relationship and so on.

But Benedict is not looking at this purely as a photo-op. I mean, there are real concerns he has. At one level, they're fairly abstract about the need for a democracy to be informed by moral values. But there are also some very pointed specific policy questions.

We already know one of them. Yesterday on the papal plane, Benedict said he wanted to bring up the immigration issue with the president. He's specifically concerned about the way American immigration policy sometimes divides families. And that is something he wants to press the White House about.

WHITFIELD: Yes. He said it's , quote, unquote, "It really is dangerous for the social, moral, and human fabric." The separation of families, as he sees it with immigration.

And how about on the issue of abortion? We heard the latest poll showing that 51 percent of Catholics say abortion being legal is fine, which is, you know, a complete juxtaposition of where the pope, the pontiff, would stand.

ALLEN: Yes, absolutely. One of the core concerns both for John Paul II and for Benedict XVI is fostering what they call a culture of life. That means defense of human life from conception and natural death. Not just opposition to abortion but also opposition to embryonic stem cell research, to euthanasia, and so on.

And clearly, it is of concern to the Vatican and the pope that a significant number of Catholics, and not just in the United States, by the way, but in many other parts of the world, don't necessarily follow the official line of the church on that question.

And I expect during the course of this visit we will be hearing some very pointed remarks from Benedict XVI, in a sense calling Catholics to embrace the teachings of the church and precisely those points.

WHITFIELD: All right. John Allen, we'll have you back. Thanks so much as we continue our live coverage of what will be taking place there on the south lawn of the White House involving the pope, as well as his tour of Washington, D.C. before going on to New York.

Thanks so much, John.

HARRIS: And once again, take a look at that great picture there. The south lawn of the White House. A stately welcome. Boy, inside the hour for Pope Benedict's live coverage right here in the CNN NEWSROOM, 10:30 a.m. Eastern.

Let's take you back now to this fire burning right now -- New Brunswick, New Jersey. We told you about it and showed you these pictures at the top of the hour. But just want to revisit it for just a moment.

As you see, the firefighters continuing to work on it. Just a short while ago. Take a look at the intensity of the flames here. Shooting through the roofs of these town homes. We're talking about attached town homes, so just a row of buildings now on fire.

Firefighters with hoses on ladders now trying to do the best they can to control this. It started in one of the row homes and just starts to skip along the whole pack here. We're going to keep an eye on this.

No word of any injuries at last check, but firefighters clearly with their hands full will continue to keep this on your radar as we get additional information in the NEWSROOM.

WHITFIELD: Also on this one-year anniversary, Virginia Tech, a day of mourning. It's hard to believe, 365 days ago. A mentally ill student went on the deadliest school shooting rampage in U.S. history. Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed 32 people before turning the gun on himself.

Well, today, the community is still struggling to heal. This morning a ceremony to honor those who died. Flags will fly at half- staff. There's a statewide moment of silence at noon. And bells will ring for the 32 victims. Our Brianna Keilar is on the campus today. We'll check in with her throughout the morning.

And if you'd like to follow the Virginia Tech day of remembrance ceremonies online, check out cnn.com/live. Streaming coverage all day.

HARRIS: We want to check in once again with Rob Marciano now in the severe weather center.

Rob, we could use some help out in Colorado. And I know we've got all kinds of fire warnings and danger. Ordway now could really use a bit of a break with those fires out there. 60 percent contained right now. But, boy, you have the picture, you have the maps. So what's the forecast for that area?

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, guess what? He's still a guest in Israel, but Jimmy Carter is getting criticized for wanting to bring Hamas to the table. A live update from the region next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: News just in to CNN. A story that we've been following pretty closely here in the NEWSROOM. Bilal Hussein, the Iraqi photographer who was working for the Associated Press, has finally been released after two years in military custody. Let's make that the U.S. military custody. Hussein was handed over to his colleagues at the Associated Press earlier today in Baghdad. And some of the pictures you can see here. Great pictures, great moment, obviously.

The U.S. military had accused Hussein of links to insurgents, but in a rather lengthy process -- we're talking about two years here. Earlier this month, the Iraqi Judicial Panel dismissed all allegations against Hussein, and he was ordered released.

And in a military statement released, Hussein, the U.S. military saying that Hussein is no longer considered a threat. So, Bilal Hussein, an Iraqi photographer for the Associated Press, has been released from U.S. military custody after two years.

WHITFIELD: All right, Tony. Also from Iraq, intense fighting overnight in two key Shiite regions. U.S. military reports it's unmanned hellfire missile killed four militants and wounded another in Basra. The militants were firing rocket-propelled grenades at Iraqi soldiers when they were hit.

Meanwhile in Baghdad, five other militants died in battle in the city's volatile north eastern region.

And military officials today are also reporting two more marine deaths in Iraq. The troops died in a roadside bombing in Anbar Province, Monday. That makes 4,036 U.S. military deaths in the Iraq war.

HARRIS: Jimmy carter calls it his tour for peace, but the former president's visit is stirring anger in Israel over Carter reaching out to Hamas.

CNN's Ben Wedeman is in Jerusalem with the story.

And Ben, if you would, give us the latest on reaction to the former president's visit.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Tony. Well, former President Carter is just now winding up his Israeli leg of his Middle East tour. He's heading to Egypt. In Egypt he's scheduled to meet with two senior leaders of the Hamas movement.

Yesterday in Ramallah, he met with a Hamas member of parliament, and on Friday, he's scheduled to meet with the head of Hamas' political bureau in Damascus, Syria. Now, obviously, this has upset the Israelis. The Israelis, of course, and the United States considering Hamas a terrorist organization.

And, in fact, while President Carter was here, he got something of a cold shoulder from Israeli leaders. The only one he met was Shimon Peres, the president of Israel. But all other senior Israeli leaders declined to meet with former President Carter all because of the fact that he is meeting with members of Hamas.

This despite the fact that a recent opinion poll published here found that 64 percent of Israelis believe that Israel should speak to Hamas because Hamas is essentially a political fact of life, whether you like it or not.

Tony?

HARRIS: OK. CNN's Ben Wedeman for us in Jerusalem. Ben, appreciate it. Thank you.

WHITFIELD: In this country, inside a Texas polygamist compound.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: No questions were off limits. But some answers were difficult to find.

Is there any time where a woman 16 years or younger is married out here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We just want our children back. We're not here to talk about ourselves. We just want the children back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: More of this dialogue, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Telling their story. Women who live at the polygamist ranch in Eldorado, Texas. They're talking about what they say went on there. Here now is our David Mattingly.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on-camera): All right. Here we go. This is an extraordinary moment for the first time in four years since this facility has been out here. They are allowing us inside the gate. We just passed through, and now we're going on to one of the main roads inside the gate.

(voice-over): We immediately drove through what seemed to be a construction zone. There was heavy equipment parked everywhere. Then we saw several large wooden buildings, living quarters, we were told.

(on-camera): Just the sense I get of just looking here for this first few moments, this place seems to be huge. One thing I am noticing. The direction we're going seems to be away from the temple and that we're going into what looks like maybe one of the residential areas. We're pulling over here. This must be our location. We'll see what happens.

(voice-over): On a balcony, women stood watching, clearly upset. Below, mothers were eager to send one message that they are the victims.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They told us before we moved that they would take the children and the mothers together and put them in one compound together. All of us, all of the people together. That was a lie. MATTINGLY: No questions were off-limits, but some answers were difficult to find.

Is there any time where a woman 16 years or younger is married out here?

ESTHER, RESIDENT: We just want our children back. We're not here to talk about ourselves. We just want the children back.

MATTINGLY: But that's why the children are not here, and that's why I'm asking these question, so I hope you don't mind.

ESTHER: Do you want to know what they did today?

MATTINGLY: More than 50 of the mothers had been returned to the compound only an hour before by bus. Six mothers chose not to return. The rest are still staying with the youngest children. Investigators encountered problems trying to get simple information like names and ages. I had the same problem. Questions about age were frequently met with hesitation.

How old were you when you married?

ESTHER: 21.

MATTINGLY: And you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 21.

MATTINGLY: And how old are you now?

ESTHER: I'm 32.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm 33.

MATTINGLY: Almost all the women declined to give their last names. In all the conversations, there was only one confirmation that teens are married here. Are there any young women ages 16 and under who marry out here and how often does that happen?

MARIE, RESIDENT: It's not real common.

MATTINGLY: How young would you say the youngest girl you've seen married out here?

MARIE: Probably 16.

MATTINGLY: All of the women said that charges of abuse were not true. That no one is forced to marry and the woman named Sarah who first alerted authorities does not live here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Someone who once lived here and has been mad, and turned against is a traitor.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They set this whole thing up to bring persecution against. It's the worst insurrection that's happen in the United States.

MATTINGLY: I left with still more question. Some of them apparently won't be answered until 416 custody cases go to court. David Mattingly, CNN, Eldorado, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Boy, do we have that live picture? Take a look at this.

WHITFIELD: Gorgeous.

HARRIS: Just wonderful. The White House putting on the ritz. What a ceremony this is going to be. A stately welcome for Pope Benedict. Live coverage 10:30 Eastern in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Boy, tragedy on the ride to school. A bus plunges into a canal in Western India. Killing this 44 people, most of them children. Going to take exams. How dramatic are these pictures. Police officials says search crews have recovered 44 bodies and rescued four people. Several others are still missing.

Investigators don't know yet why the driver lost control and ran off the road. Men, it's horrible.

WHITFIELD: Well, good morning again, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Stay informed all day in the CNN NEWSROOM. Here's what's on the rundown.

The pope calling on the White House this hour. President Bush welcoming him with great fanfare. Live coverage of the ceremony.

WHITFIELD: And killer fire on the Colorado (INAUDIBLE). Crews made progress but wind is the wild card now.

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