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War Funding Fight; Standoff With Iran; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Due in Syria Today

Aired April 03, 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: Good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Tony Harris.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen, in for Heidi Collins.

HARRIS: Watch events come in to the NEWSROOM live on this Tuesday, April 3rd.

Here's what's on the rundown.

NGUYEN: Congress writes the checks, and this morning President Bush ready to rip Democrats for threatening to cut off money for the Iraq war.

HARRIS: A strong hint of behind-the-scenes progress. Iran softening its language on British captives. Britain's prime minister calling the next 48 hours critical.

NGUYEN: Mammograms -- a prominent physicians group says breast cancer screening for women in their 40s should be optional. Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the new guidelines. That's live in the NEWSROOM.

And at the top this hour, the battle lines are drawn. Both sides digging in for the fight. President Bush and congressional Democrats at odds over funding for Iraq. The president expected to make a statement next hour. His remarks, one day after a new broadside by the Senate's top Democrat, a threat to yank money for combat.

To the White House now and CNN's Elaine Quijano, part of the best political team on television.

Elaine, good morning to you.

Now, yesterday, Vice President Cheney threw some tough political punches of his own, didn't he?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: He absolutely did. Good morning to you, Tony.

The vice president was at a fund-raiser in Alabama for Republican senator Jeff Sessions, and he forcefully reiterated President Bush's position that he will veto any legislation that includes a timetable for a U.S. troop withdrawal in Iraq. In his remarks, Vice President Cheney blasted lawmakers who support any kind of time frames, calling them self-appointed strategists.

Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The fact is that the United States military answers to one commander in chief in the White House, not 535 commanders in chief on Capitol Hill. We expect the House and the Senate to meet the needs of our military on time, in full, and with no strings attached.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, this morning, a senior administration official says President Bush is meeting with Defense Secretary Robert Gates for an update on the situation in Iraq before he comes out to the Rose Garden to talk to reporters.

Now, the White House has been keeping tally and reminding reporters regularly of how many days it's been since President Bush submitted his war funding request to Congress. And as we approach the 60-day mark, Tony, you can expect that we will hear President Bush reiterate that today, arguing that the clock is ticking -- Tony.

HARRIS: OK. Elaine, well, that speaks to a sense of urgency. But, do we expect that the president will pressure Congress to come back early from its spring recess?

QUIJANO: Well, you know, that's what's been so interesting, Tony, because we don't necessarily expect that. A senior administration official says not to expect President Bush to call on Congress to come back from its spring vacation, and the reason that's so interesting is because the president certainly is trying to increase the pressure on Democrats by having this event in the Rose Garden, but he's not willing to go that far, to take it that far.

Last week, in fact, Dana Perino, the deputy White House press secretary, was asked about that, that particular step of calling back Congress. She said that would be a dramatic step. She didn't rule it in or out, but at the time she said that it was something she hadn't heard in her conversations.

The bottom line, Tony, is that both sides are sort of accusing each other of not doing enough to support the troops. And yet, Tony, neither side is talking about changing its plans for spring vacation, or calling on the other side to do so.

We should mention President Bush is heading to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, starting tomorrow to begin his own Easter weekend break -- Tony.

HARRIS: Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk. All right.

Elaine Quijano at the White House for us.

And you'll want to stay right here in the NEWSROOM for live coverage of President Bush's comments coming up at 10:10 Eastern Time.

NGUYEN: Well, there is some movement this morning on those 15 British troops being held in Iran. The Iranians taking a softer diplomatic tone. British Prime Minister Tony Blair pointing to critical days ahead.

CNN's Jim Boulden live in London this morning.

And Jim, I have to ask you this, Tony Blair has been talking about this diplomatic crisis. Is there any new progress on either side?

JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what Tony Blair said this morning when he took time out from campaigning in Scotland was that it was really up to Iran to make the next move. And he said that the next 48 hours in this crisis are critical.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: All the way through we have had, if you like, two very clear tracks on this. One is to try and settle this by way of a peaceful and calm negotiation to get our people back as quickly as possible. The other is to make it clear that if that's not possible, then we have to take an increasingly tougher position.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOULDEN: Now, Tony Blair did not say what that tougher position would be. But Iran this morning said that they saw no need for these 14 men and one woman to be put on trial, something certainly that would be welcomed here in London -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Well, Jim, we haven't heard such strong language from Tony Blair. So what do you make of these words today?

BOULDEN: I think what he was talking about, to be honest with you, was the tougher stance could be economic sanctions, for instance, or putting more pressure diplomatically through the European Union or through the U.N. Of course, two steps they took a little bit last week.

I think we're still miles away from anybody talking about maybe a possible military intervention. We do ask -- we are asked about that from time to time, but that is not something that they are talking about specifically. So, maybe a tougher stance would be -- if the diplomatic side fails, that there would be maybe some sort of economic pressure -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Jim Boulden live in London for us.

Thank you, Jim.

HARRIS: And a possible connection between those British troops and Iran and five Iranians being held by the U.S. in Iraq. Now, according to The Associated Press, a senior Iraqi official says his government is working for the release of five Iranians held since January. Also offering that "This will be a factor that will help in the release of the British sailors and marines."

Also today, word that an Iranian official taken by armed men in Baghdad in February has now been released. Iran has claimed the U.S. orchestrated that kidnapping.

(NEWSBREAK)

HARRIS: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is due in Syria today in defiance of the White House. Pelosi's visit part of a Middle East fact-finding tour. She's already been to Lebanon and Israel.

Joining us now on the phone, Senior International Correspondent Brent Sadler.

Brent, good morning to you.

When is Nancy Pelosi expected to arrive?

BRENT SADLER, CNN BEIRUT BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Tony.

My sources at the airport here in Damascus tell me that her aircraft is now in the process of landing inside the Syrian capital here, where she's got the next 24 hours or so a series of very high- level meetings with the Syrian leadership. This flying directly in the face, of course, Tony, of the U.S. administration, that is heavily criticizing this trip. In fact, John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said he thought it was naive and unconstructive for Speaker Pelosi to go ahead with this much- criticized visit.

So, who is she seeing and why is she coming? She will certainly be seeing the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad. She is expected to meet with him Wednesday for the final part of her meetings here. Also expected to take lunch with the Syrian leader and other top members of his Ba'ath Party regime.

Also, why she is in Damascus, she will be touching base with the vice president, Farouk al-Shara, who is the long-serving foreign minister here. And she will also be speaking to the recently appointed Walid Muallem, who is the current serving Syrian foreign minister.

So, it doesn't get higher than that.

HARRIS: Yes.

SADLER: I caught up with Speaker Pelosi in Beirut before she went to Ramallah and before obviously coming to Syria, and she said there was a lot of tough talking to do here, and not least the issue of Syria's support for Hamas and terror groups like Hezbollah, Syrian continued interference, it's said, in Lebanese internal affairs, and of course alleged Syrian support for the insurgents basically crossing the border from Syria into Iraq -- Tony. HARRIS: And Brent, let's talk for a moment about the possible use by Damascus of this trip as a propaganda tool. Does Damascus view this visit with the congressional delegation as an opportunity at the very least to highlight the lack of engagement with this White House?

SADLER: Yes, there's absolutely no doubt about that, Tony. Pelosi says she is coming really in line with the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group that did push for constructive dialogue with Iran and Syria. And certainly, the Syrian newspapers here have been making much of this visit.

"The Syria Times" describing Pelosi today as "... a brave lady on an invaluable mission." And "Teshrin," the government newspaper, said, American legislators, Democrats, as well as Republicans are "... aware that U.S. policy in the region," especially the war in Iraq and its ties with Syria is "... a fiasco that must be repaired."

And certainly there will be plenty of photo opportunities, as I say, with the top three, really, here in Damascus, from the president, the vice president and the foreign minister. So these are going to be important hours in terms of what the Syrians say, what the Pelosi delegation might say when it's here. Very likely to be diplomatic, of course, while she and the other bipartisan delegates, including senior members of Congress, are in the Syrian capital.

It may be different, of course, when she gets out of the region, back home to the United States. But certainly this is a very, very controversial visit -- Tony.

HARRIS: Yes.

Our senior international correspondent, Brent Sadler, with us.

Brent, as always, thank you.

NGUYEN: Well, food and medicine are beginning to arrive in the Solomon Islands. Two powerful earthquakes and a tsunami destroyed several villages in the South Pacific island chain.

Waves were up to 30 feet high. Just look at some of this video. Twenty people were killed in this, and that number expected to rise as searchers find more victims.

Now, information is still slow coming out of the area. It is remote, and has limited power and phone service.

HARRIS: A far more tranquil scene where we find our Chad Myers this morning.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Widowed in Iraq, and trying to find work to support their families. Hope for those in need of help, that is ahead in the NEWSROOM.

NGUYEN: One of the FBI's most wanted now in custody. But what led the FBI to put this woman on the same list as Osama bin Laden?

That story ahead in the NEWSROOM.

NGUYEN: Also, risk versus benefits. A new mammogram recommendation for women in their 40s. Why the change? And is it the right call?

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us live in the NEWSROOM with some perspective.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And good morning again, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

I'm Tony Harris.

Coming up, war funding and the battle between Congress and the White House. Both sides dig in for the fight. New details coming up in the NEWSROOM.

NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen.

Getting ready to hit the road for spring break? What you need know about those gas prices. Don't miss it, ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Just a -- just another reminder for you. War funding, agenda item number one for the president this morning. And comments from the Rose Garden of the White House, live coverage here on CNN, in the NEWSROOM, 10:10 a.m. Eastern Time.

NGUYEN: Well, it has been standard medical advice, women, 40 years old and over, need to get routine mammograms. You've heard it, right? Well, now a major physicians group has new recommendations for breast cancer screenings.

And here to talk about that is CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Not everybody is I guess as excited to hear about this, because they think, hmm, really?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, it's interesting. Doctors don't always agree on everything.

NGUYEN: Right.

GUPTA: No surprise there, I guess. But the American College of Physicians is sort of basing this not on a new study...

NGUYEN: OK.

GUPTA: ... but on looking at lots of old studies, trying to figure out whether or not the 40 to 49 age group really makes sense as far as women getting those mammograms. Do the benefits outweigh the risks? The question we're trying to answer.

They're saying not so fast, maybe not everyone needs to get it. Here's what they say specifically.

Women age 40-49 should discuss with their doctor the risks for breast cancer every one to two years. Notice they're not saying get a mammogram every one to two years.

NGUYEN: Just discuss it.

GUPTA: Talk about it. They're also specifically saying doctors have an obligation here as well.

Doctors need inform women again between these ages about the benefits and harms of mammograms. So, it is quite a step back from what we are used to hearing from the American Cancer Society, saying we need to get this more frequently. The American College of Physicians saying this is -- this is our best recommendations.

NGUYEN: Well, with all of the different risks out there, why not get a mammogram?

GUPTA: I think that's a great question. And people say, well, wait a second, a mammogram is such an easy test.

NGUYEN: Right.

GUPTA: It's such a widely used screening test. There is some concern about radiation, although that's a pretty small concern. The bigger concern is mammograms find lots of things, and sometimes those things are just fine, they're normal, they're nothing to worry about.

But as a result to finding something, the patient is going to subsequently get a biopsy, they're certainly going to have a lot of worry, a lot of anxiety. And they sometimes those risks, those potential harms, outweigh what you might find in terms of early cancer.

By the way, again, not everyone agrees on this.

NGUYEN: I was about to say -- yes.

GUPTA: You know, the American Cancer Society says early mammograms in this age group will decrease morbidity from breast cancer by 40 percent. That's significant. You get breast cancer...

NGUYEN: And that's important.

GUPTA: Very important. One of the basic tenets of medicine, catch cancer early, you're more likely to beat it.

NGUYEN: Right. To survive, exactly.

So, if a woman listening to this has already started in her 40s to get those mammograms, should they just quit and talk to their doctor? GUPTA: Yes. I don't think they should quit necessarily. They should talk to their doctor.

I mean, on one hand, you sort of think these one-size-fits-all recommendations don't make a lot of sense. I mean, Betty, you're different than another woman in the newsroom, who is different than another woman.

NGUYEN: And your family history plays a big role, too.

GUPTA: Your family history plays a big role. Everything about you plays a different role.

NGUYEN: Right.

GUPTA: So you should be treated as an individual.

I've always been a little surprised that we have these blanket recommendations like the one you see there from the ACS saying every year beginning age 40, and from National Cancer Institute saying every one to two years.

To me, it always made more sense as a physician and just as a consumer of health that it should be individualized to me and it should be individualized to you. I think this is a step in that direction. But for now it's just sort of confusing to people.

NGUYEN: It is, because you've got one group opposing the other group, and in the middle women saying, OK, what should I do?

GUPTA: I think the best answer is to probably get a mammogram still, at least one early in your 40s, and then after that you may not need it as frequently.

NGUYEN: OK.

GUPTA: Talk to your doctor about your individual risks, and maybe it's not every two years, maybe it's every five years. Maybe you don't need another one until you're 50. You know, it could -- it's really dependent on each individual.

NGUYEN: And that's the advice straight from the good doctor.

GUPTA: Yes. That's good advice.

NGUYEN: Sanjay, thank you. I appreciate it.

GUPTA: Thank you.

HARRIS: And still ahead in the NEWSROOM this morning, the final days of Jesus. We will take you to the Garden of Gethsemane, the place where it is said Jesus his biggest test. Ultimate betrayal -- details ahead in the NEWSROOM.

NGUYEN: Also, President Bush live in the Rose Garden at 10:10 Eastern. He'll comment on Democrats' threat to cut off money for the Iraq war.

You'll want to stay in the NEWSROOM.

CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Carrie Lee in New York.

More troubles in the housing industry as a major mortgage lender files for bankruptcy. That story coming up in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Putting more in your tank means less in your wallet right now. The government says the average price for gas shot up again last week to almost $2.71 a gallon. That is an increase of nearly a dime. Overall, prices have climbed more than 54 cents a gallon over the past nine weeks.

HARRIS: A new chapter now for that mortgage company that has become the poster child for the subprime lending meltdown. It happens to be Chapter 11.

Carrie Lee is "Minding Your Business" this morning, in for Ali Velshi.

Carrie, great to see you.

LEE: You, as well, Tony.

HARRIS: Hey, we're talking about New Century again, aren't we?

LEE: That's right. A new chapter for New Century Financial. They've just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Now, this is a restructuring move, so they will continue to do business. But they're cutting over half of its workforce, about 3,200 employees. And this all follows the subprime mortgage market implosion that we saw in February.

So, New Century is going to try to hang in there, but the stock is being de-listed from the NYSC. And, you know, a lot of people would say, look, we've seen this coming in the mortgage industry, subprime, at least.

Lenders made $640 billion in subprime loans last year. That's nearly twice the level we saw in 2003. They amounted to about 20 percent of overall mortgage lending. And now, Tony, about 13 percent of those subprime loans are delinquent.

So, no big surprise here that these companies are in trouble.

HARRIS: Hey, Carrie, and let me follow up on that. Is it true that the news gets worse for these companies, that some of them are actually facing criminal probes?

LEE: You know, it could be.

HARRIS: Yes. LEE: I mean, the thing is, how much did they know about the people they were lending money to? You know, did he they ask the right questions? Did they do due diligence in giving loans to people who could actually afford them? If not, well, then, yes, they could face big problems.

HARRIS: And what is this story about this lawsuit that Microsoft is facing over the marketing of its new operating system?

LEE: That's right. There is a new lawsuit. Microsoft being sued over its Windows Vista marketing.

Basically, Microsoft worked with retailers and PC sellers to label computers Vista capable or not. Now, some said of them said Windows Vista Capable. So, you see that, you think, OK, I can run Vista.

HARRIS: Yes.

LEE: But those did not necessarily have all of the bells and whistles included in Vista. You know, the things that a lot of people really want, the high-tech stuff.

Well, there is another designation, Vista premium ready. And people are complaining that the differences weren't clear.

And Tony, you can kind of see their point. If I saw Windows vista capable, I would think, OK, I'm getting the whole -- the whole thing.

HARRIS: Yes. So that's a lawsuit now. And that will be settled.

Any real practical implications for users at this time?

LEE: Well, I guess, you know, you just have to ask the right questions. Make sure you know exactly what you're getting.

HARRIS: That makes sense.

LEE: You know, there's a basic version of Vista, and then there's the high end one, the complete one, which is what a lot of people want.

HARRIS: Beautiful.

Carrie Lee, "Minding Your Business" this morning.

Carrie, great to see you. Thank you.

LEE: You, as well. My pleasure.

NGUYEN: Well, they fight the war, but Congress writes the checks. The president set to respond to the Democrats' threat to cut off the money pipeline. Mr. Bush live in the Rose Garden, that is at 10:10 Eastern here in the NEWSROOM. HARRIS: So, you can't recall the names of all of those recalled pet foods? We will sort through the confusion four you.

That is straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: All right, Betty, what do you say? We take everybody up to the New York Stock Exchange?

NGUYEN: Yes. You know what time it is.

HARRIS: Time to ring the bell, huh?

NGUYEN: And there they just did.

HARRIS: Well, they're clapping. So we just missed it by a fraction of a second there.

NGUYEN: Just a hair.

HARRIS: Because that's what happens. They hit the little button.

Oh, it's about to happen.

NGUYEN: Oh, there it goes.

HARRIS: And there you go. You see, they hit the button. The button triggers the bell. And then all of the applause.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR, NEWSROOM: Got excited pre-bell ringing.

HARRIS: The good folks at Nuveen Investment sounding the bell this morning. The Dow starts the day at 12,383 after closing up nearly 28 points yesterday. The Nasdaq pretty flat. So everyone is watching fallout from the New Century Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. It's something we just talked about with Carrie Lee just a couple of moments ago. We'll pick up on that story with Susan Lisovicz a little later this hour in the NEWSROOM.

NGUYEN: But right now, those battle lines are drawn, both sides digging in for the fight, President Bush and congressional Democrats at odds over funding for Iraq. The president is expected to make a statement next hour. His remarks one day after a new broadside by the Senate's top Democrat. Harry Reid is threatening to yank money for combat. You'll want to stay in the NEWSROOM for live coverage of President Bush's comments. That is coming up at 10:10 Eastern.

In the meantime, that new salvo from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sent the White House into fight back mode. Here is CNN White House correspondent Ed Henry.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is ratcheting up pressure on the president, backing a new bill to cut off most Iraq war funding by next March, sparking a double-barreled assault from the White House.

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's time the self-appointed strategists on Capitol Hill understood a very simple concept. You cannot win a war if you tell the enemy when you're going to quit.

DANA PERINO, WHITE HOUSE DEP. PRESS SECRETARY: There's just these shifting sands when it comes to the Democrats and their decisions. It's almost shifting so fast like a sand storm.

HENRY: Reid spokesman Jim Manley fired back, the only thing that has shifted is the public's opposition to the war in Iraq. As more and more Americans demand to see the troops get out of what is clearly a civil war, this administration stubbornly continues to stick its head in the sand.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'll veto a bill.

HENRY: Both sides were already fighting over a war funding bill the president has promised to veto because of a provision calling for U.S. troops to start leaving Iraq within 120 days. Reid has now also signed on to a bill sponsored by anti-war Democrat Russ Feingold that would only allow war spending in three areas -- fighting al Qaeda, training Iraqis and securing the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. While neither bill has much chance to become law, Democrats say it's about forcing Mr. Bush to change policy. But the White House shows no signs of budge budging.

CHENEY: It's nothing less than an attempt to force the president's hand. They are going to find out they misread George W. Bush.

HENRY (on-camera): There is a late add to the president's schedule Tuesday morning. He will make a statement in the rose garden about this Iraq funding issue, a clear sign that the White House believes they can get some political mileage out of it. Ed Henry, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: New developments this morning on the British standoff with Iran. Fifteen British troops still being held, but there may be some movement on the diplomatic front. Iran's top negotiator now sounding optimistic about talks and backing off earlier threats that the troops would be put on trial. British Prime Minister Tony Blair welcoming the change but keeping up the tough talk.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: All the way through we had, if you like, two very clear tracks on this. One is to try and settle this by way of peaceful and calm negotiation to get our people back as quickly as possible. The other is to make it clear if that's not possible, then we have to take an increasingly tougher position. (END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: And are sure to stay with CNN throughout the day for the latest developments on this developing story.

NGUYEN: Well, the word this morning that more troops have been killed in Iraq, military says three U.S. troops and a British soldier died in separate incidents yesterday. It's already been another day of violence in the country. Police say roadside blasts and a mortar attack killed three civilians in Baghdad. In the Anbar province, the military reports at least six militants were killed in raids targeting al Qaeda in Iraq.

HARRIS: Many of Iraq's widows and there are an estimated three million of them, have no choice, find work or starve. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen tells us about a plan to help.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): (INAUDIBLE) working the sewing machine is a challenge, but she needs to master it, she says, so she can find a job and support her family or face utter poverty.

TRANSLATOR: Women in this country are house wives. They never go out unless they really have to. I have no education, I was just a housewife, she says.

PLEITGEN: But (INAUDIBLE) is now a widow. She won't let us show her face out of fear of retribution by insurgents. She says she lost her husband to sectarian violence just a few months ago. She has eight children to feed and Iraq has no welfare system. So, she's come to Baghdad's widows development and training center to prepare herself for life in the working world. Traditionally in Iraqi society, it's the men who provide the income for the family. So many of the women who come here have no formal job education. For many of them, this center is their only chance to get the training they need to help them find a job to support their families. The country's ministry of women's affairs estimates up to three million women are now widowed. In many cases they alone have to rebuild their lives and keep their families together. So the center aims to give them more than just the basic skills.

Women find a sanctuary here. It changes their psychological situation, their social situation and their health situation. We also give them a course on social care, explains the center's director. Funded solely by donations, (INAUDIBLE) says she hopes someday the center will be able to sell the clothes and blankets to become more self sufficient. (INAUDIBLE) is committed to not allowing her life to be ruled by sadness since her husband's death and she hopes this could be the sound of a new future for her and her family. Frederik Pleitgen, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: We are watching the White House very closely today because at 10:10 Eastern, the president is going to be speaking in the rose garden, dealing with funding for Iraq. As you know the president and congressional Democrats are at odds over this funding so we're very interested in hearing what he has to say about it. He's also going to be taking questions so that will provide additional insights. As soon as it happens, we'll bring it to you live right here on CNN.

HARRIS: Chad Myers, the cherry blossom festival. Hey Chad, is the festival today later in the day or tomorrow?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hey, Tony. How are you?

HARRIS: What is that? Who is that?

NGUYEN: Where are you?

MYERS: Hey, man. I'm here in the boat.

HARRIS: That is not you out there.

MYERS: I'm way out here. Can you believe a wireless microphone can go this far.

HARRIS: He's throwing his voice is what he's doing Betty.

NGUYEN: Such a talented man.

MYERS: You know, just everybody out here having fun. I mean, you can't just not walk down through here and have a different appreciation for nature. Let's take you up to the top of this tree. This is not just one branch of cherry blossoms here but tree after tree after tree. In fact, 3,750 trees all cherry blossoms, about 2,000 of them are these Yoshino cherry trees. This is one of the older ones that I could find around and I asked a couple of the park service guys, is this one of the originals, maybe 1912, 1915? They don't have a lineage on any of the trees so they don't know. The only way I can tell you is if I cut it down and count the rings. I said don't do that for us. But every tree does have a number. You can find it. Here it is. This is number L-134. And they know the tree. They know when they cut it last. They know when they checked for bugs and all that and there is a list of all of those trees and all of that basic work that they have to do to keep these trees alive, well and going and all around the other side of the basin as well.

It's just an absolutely beautiful day here. This is going to be the best day of the rest of the week, I'm afraid, because we're going down into the 50s and 60s. Thunderstorms to the plains right now from Missouri all the way back to Chicago and snow all the way up into the arrowhead of Minnesota. This is going to be a pretty big day when it comes to severe weather and that severe weather could charge from Chicago through -- east of Des Moines, the quad cities right into Illinois, into Indiana and maybe even to Cincinnati as well with a pretty big risk of severe weather. We'll keep you advised. If you live in that area, make sure that weather radio you bought, make sure that's turned on.

NGUYEN: Speaking of storms, Chad, you may be in the lap of luxury right now, such beautiful weather behind you. But we have news that William Gray, hurricane forecaster -- yes, has said that there's going to be at least 17 named storms this hurricane season.

MYERS: I didn't get that e-mail.

NGUYEN: It's just crossing right now. In fact the Colorado State University is also backing that up.

HARRIS: Well, Chad, here's what we're going to do. This is just crossing the wires right now. The 2007 Atlantic hurricane season will be far more active than usual. So what we'll do is we'll get this in an e-mail down to you so you can take a look at it, you and your team and Shawn (ph) here in Atlanta is welcome to take a look at it.

MYERS: There will be two key words you're going to find in there. One of them is going to be la, l-a. The other one is going to be is Nina. La Nina, that's the girl, not el Nino, which was the boy. The boy last year killed our hurricane season which was a great thing. Now it looks like we're going to be in la Nina which will make it an active season. We'll go back and look at some of the active seasons in the past and they little be la Nina years. So that's what he's thinking about I'm sure, but he also has about six other things he looks at. It's not just one thing.

NGUYEN: Blaming it on the females again. OK, Chad.

HARRIS: All right, Chad. Thank you.

Still to come this morning in the NEWSROOM, one of the FBI's most wanted now in custody. What led the FBI to put this woman on the same list as Osama bin Laden? That's ahead in the NEWSROOM.

NGUYEN: Also, can't recall the names of those recalled pet foods? Well, you're not alone. We are going to sort through all of this confusion. That is ahead in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: The final days of Jesus. We'll take you to the garden of Gethsemane, the place where it is said Jesus faced his biggest test, ultimate betrayal.. Details coming up in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Let's get everyone. You will want to stay right here in the NEWSROOM for live coverage of President Bush's I guess we can call it a news conference now. The president will start with remarks, a statement, as he usually does when he holds a news conference. So we'll have that for you. 10:10 a.m. in the NEWSROOM.

Christians around the world are observing holy week focusing on what the bible describes as the last days of Jesus on earth. In this week before Easter we're taking you to a different sacred site in the holy land each day. Today CNN's Atika Shubert joins us from the garden where it's said Judas betrayed Jesus. Atika, good morning.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony. I am right now standing at the church of all nations. It was actually built fairly recently, just a few decades ago but it houses a very ancient and holy location for many Christians and that is because they believe that this is the place that Jesus prayed for the world and was ultimately arrested and betrayed. The name of this area is the garden of Gethsemane. Gethsemane is Aramaic for olive press and it is somewhere in this vicinity that most biblical scholars and historians agree that Jesus met his disciples, came here after the last supper.

And this is the -- almost exactly the location we're not sure of the exact spot, but according to historians, these olive trees and this olive grove here were somewhere in that location.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHUBERT (voice-over): Olive trees said it be nearly 2,000 years old. Silent witnesses perhaps to what the bible describes as Jesus' most difficult test and his ultimate betrayal here in the garden of Gethsemane. These stairs are believed to be one of the routes Jesus may have walked over the Mount of Olives to preach in the temple of Jerusalem in the week before his crucifixion. It is here in the garden of Gethsemane that Jesus is said it have wrestled with the prospect of his own death, gazing over the tombs of the Kidron (ph) Valley.

FATHER JEROME MURPHY O'CONNOR, BIBLICAL SCHOLAR: I think the struggle was for self-mastery, that Jesus had been forced to think about his death as something imminent by the size of the great tombs in the valley. In other words, personality was coming apart under fear.

SHUBERT: The basilica of the Agony houses a rock, said to be the very one on which Jesus prayed, but historians say the exact spot remains unknown.

STEPHAN PFANN, PRESIDENT, HOLY LAND UNIVERSITY: The site of the garden Gethsemane, which is fairly certain is much bigger than the size of that church. So, it could have happened anywhere in that garden.

SHUBERT: It is also here that Judas is said to have kissed Jesus, identifying him for arrest. But the only witnesses keep their secrets, whispering to those that come to visit, revealing nothing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SHUBERT: Now, the olive trees here in the garden of Gethsemane have proven to be so popular that they've actually had to put a fence around it because hundreds of pilgrims and visitors come here every day. But it hasn't stopped any people from coming to visit, especially during this holy week.

HARRIS: So Atika, 2,000 year old trees by some estimations, I have to ask you, how do we know for sure that those olive trees are that old? Has anyone ever counted the rings on one of those trees?

SHUBERT: Well, we don't know exactly how old these trees are. We know that they are at least hundreds of years old. You can't count the rings on an olive tree because an olive tree actually hollows out as it grows old, so it's very difficult to count but some people believe that some of these trees were just saplings during Jesus' time.

HARRIS: I did not know that. I've learned a couple of things this morning. Atika Shubert for us in Jerusalem, Atika, I appreciate it. Thank you. You taught me something.

NGUYEN: Yeah, Tony. You can't count the rings on an olive tree. We all know that. Not really.

All right. President Bush, live in the rose garden today at 10:10 Eastern. He's going to comment on Democrats' threat to cut off money for the Iraq war. You definitely want to stay tuned, because not only is he going to be making a statement, he's also going to be taking questions. So we hope to learn much, much more on this issue.

Also, one of the FBI's most wanted, now in custody. Take a look at her. But what led the FBI to put this woman on the same list as Osama bin Laden? That's ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: All right. You already know to catch us weekday mornings from 9:00 a.m. until noon Eastern. But now you can take us with you anywhere on your iPod, make us part of your lifestyle, taking the kids to school, out on spring break, the CNN NEWSROOM pod cast available to you 24/7 right on your iPod.

Police nab the most wanted woman. What led her to be listed as one of the FBI's biggest threats? CNN's David Mattingly reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Handcuffed and guarded by five men, a smiling Shauntay Henderson emerged from a Kansas City court house known to law enforcement everywhere as one of the most dangerous people in America.

TONY SANDERS, KANSAS CITY POLICE: We want her off the streets and thankfully now she is.

MATTINGLY: Only 24 years old, Henderson's alleged role as a violent gang leader had just recently landed her on the FBI's 10 most wanted list. Described as armed and dangerous, her face was posted along side the likes of Osama bin Laden, only the eighth woman to make the list in 57 years.

MONTE STRAIT, FBI: She was involved in a gang as part of a gang war in Kansas City. This was violence between gangs over turf battles, but also testimony against each other.

MATTINGLY: Shauntay Henderson had been on the run for six months before police were tipped off and arrested her at a Kansas City apartment. She was wanted in the killing of a man last September. A woman matching Henderson's description approached a pickup truck and shot the driver in the chest. But agents say that's just the beginning of an investigation into a bloody war over Kansas City streets.

(on-camera): Henderson had become a notorious figure in a violent Kansas City gang known for its drug dealing and its use of high-powered weapons. The FBI says Henderson could be connected to as many as 50 gang-related shootings and five additional homicides.

STRAIT: She is viewed as a leader. She's protected by the group. She's also very active in terms of pushing forward in violence.

MATTINGLY: Henderson was named to the FBI's 10 most wanted list on Saturday and was arrested the same day. She appeared in court Monday morning and a judge entered a plea of not guilty. And seemingly aware of her national notoriety, Shauntay Henderson paused just for a moment to show off her handcuffs before disappearing into a police van. David Mattingly, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well, more of the things that you feed your pets are being recalled this morning. This time the problem is salmonella with chicken jerky, chicken jerky, that's right under the dingo brand name. Did you get that, salmonella, the chicken jerky and the Dingo brand name. Now these treats are for dogs, cats, even ferrets. The manufacturer warns the bacteria could infect both animals and people handling the food. The company asks consumers to throw away any unused portions of its Dingo chicken jerky treats. And pet food recalls, got you confused. I'm sure it does. Just what do you need to know? Well, CNN consumer reporter Greg Hunter looks at what you can do right now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTER (voice-over): This is how pet store owner and dog boarder Marcia Habib starts her day, checking the Internet for recalls for both wet and dry pet food. So you got to research this every day.

MARCIA HABIB, OWNER, SUTTON DOG PARLOUR: We have to do it every day. That's the first thing we do every day.

HUNTER: The list on the original recall website, menufoods.com is daunting. There can be dozens of products for each manufacturer on the list. Making things more complicated, there are now at least three more websites to check for recalled pet food. Experts like Dr. Ann Hohenhaus of New York's Animal Medical Center still do not know exactly what is poisoning pets in the tainted food.

DR. ANN HOHENHAUS, THE ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER: I don't think we know what it is. The story is really confusing. So how the rat poison and the melamine both fit into the story is really perplexing and unclear.

HUNTER: Still a mystery?

HOHENHAUS: Mystery. HUNTER: So what should concerned pet parents do? Well, you can check the many websites every day for recalled food or when all else fails, you can look for one ingredient that seems to be the string that ties all recalled pet food together. The big headline here for consumers is if you're worried at all and you don't know if it's on the recall list or not, the main ingredient to look for for a pet owner is --

HOHENHAUS: Wheat gluten.

HUNTER: Number one?

HOHENHAUS: That's been the offending ingredient that's been common in all of these recalled foods.

HUNTER: And each and every product is required to list the ingredients. Greg Hunter, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: There is reaction this morning from the Chinese company accused of producing that tainted wheat gluten. A statement saying the company is just astonished, their words, by what it refers to as recent rumors. Manufacturer says it follows a strict testing procedure and is cooperating with U.S. investigators. The FDA though directed inspectors on Friday to stop all wheat gluten imports from the company. Tony?

HARRIS: Well, they fight the war but Congress writes the check. The president set to respond to the Democrats' threat to cut off the money pipeline. Mr. Bush live in the rose garden, 10:10 a.m. Eastern right here in the NEWSROOM. And in that fight over funding, who holds the ultimate trump card? Congress or President Bush? We'll hear what CNN political contributor Amy Walter has to say about it, in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Good morning everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen in for Heidi Collins who has the day off.

HARRIS: And good morning everyone. I'm Tony Harris. Stay informed in the CNN NEWSROOM. Here's what's on the rundown. The White House and Congress fighting over billions of dollars in war funds. This hour President Bush responds to Democrats' threats to cut off money for the fight for Iraq.

NGUYEN: Tehran and London tempering their talk on those captive troops. Hints of behind the scenes progress in this 12-day old stand between Iran and Britain.

HARRIS: Prison break, an inmate makes a wild dash for freedom. See the amazing chase, this Tuesday, April 3rd, you are in the NEWSROOM.

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