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CNN Live Saturday
One U.S. Soldier Dead, Two Missing After Attack in Iraq; Slight Bounce for Bush; Interview with Missing Soldier Matt Maupin's Mother; No Crime, No Cover-Up At Hadith According to Attorney; Money Saving Car Rental Tips; Cat Caught In Cement Lives
Aired June 17, 2006 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now in the news, the U.S. Military is searching for two soldiers missing after an attack at a traffic checkpoint south of Baghdad. One soldier was killed in the attack last night. The area is known as the "Triangle of Death" because of frequent insurgent attacks against U.S. troops
Also in Iraq, a series of bombings killed at least 23 people today. The attacks delivered a new blow to the highly publicized government operation aimed at securing the capital. The new violence comes a day after a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a prominent Shiite mosque killing at least 11 people
A sharp U.S. warning to North Korea, do not test fire a long range missile. Satellite photos indicate North Korea appears to be preparing to test a missile that could reach parts of the U.S. The state department says the test would be provocative and volatile -- a pledge not to conduct such tests.
A go or a no go? Shuttle Discovery astronauts will find out today if the first shuttle mission in nearly year will get off the launch pad. NASA has been trying to fix problems involving the external fuel tank. Mission manger -- rangers, rather, hope to give a green light for a launch July 1.
Off the hook, a grand jury says Representative Cynthia McKinney won't be charged for an incident involving a capitol police officer. The Georgia Democrat was accused of hitting the officer who tried to stop her from entering a building last March. McKinney said it was a case of racial profiling, but later apologized for the incident.
And now to Reynolds Wolf for a quick check of the weather. How does it look?
(WEATHER REPORT)
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much.
WOLF: You bet.
WHITFIELD: We update the top stories every 15 minutes on CNN LIVE SATURDAY, your next update is coming up at 12:15 Eastern.
Straight ahead this hour, battling wildfires in the nation's southwest, will firefighters get some help from the weather? Also, some tips on how to avoid getting taken for a ride the next time you rent a car.
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield, welcome CNN LIVE SATURDAY.
In Iraq, one U.S. soldier is dead, two missing after an attack in an area known as the "Triangle of Death." It happened at a checkpoint about 12 miles south of Baghdad last night. Earlier today a military spokesman gave us the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM CALDWELL, U.S. MILITARY SPOKESMAN: Good afternoon. Last night, a coalition force soldier was kill and two others are currently listed as duty status and whereabouts unknown after their security element came under attack at a traffic control point south of Yusufiya, Iraq at approximately 7:55 p.m. local time, Friday June 16. The names of the soldiers are being withheld pending notification of their next of kin.
Coalition forces and Iraqi security forces initiated a search operation within minutes to determine the status of these soldiers. And we are currently using every means at our disposal on the ground, in the air, and in the water to find them. The specifics of this situation currently available for release are as follows.
Coalition force at an adjacent traffic control point heard an explosion and small arms fire at approximately 7:55 p.m. last night in the vicinity of the missing soldiers' checkpoint at a canal crossing near the Euphrates River vicinity of Yusufiya. After being unable to communicate with the checkpoint a quick reaction force was launched arriving on scene within 15 minutes. The quick reaction force reported finding one soldier killed in action and two soldiers' duty status and whereabouts unknown.
All traffic control points were notified to stop civilian traffic and increase security. Helicopter, unmanned aerial vehicle, and fixed wing assets provided reconnaissance over and around the site. A dive team was requested. Within an hour of the incident, blocking positions were established throughout area and a concerted effort to focus the search and prevent movement of suspected out of the area.
Three raids were conducted during the night on suspected possible locations and a fourth operation was conducted this morning. Coalition forces engaged with local leaders in the area to enlist the support of civilians in providing any information they could and these engagements continue.
Dive teams are now on sight working the canals and river. There is cross coordination amongst adjacent units to develop actionable intelligence on our soldiers' whereabouts. We are using all available assets, coalition and Iraqi, ground, air, and water to locate and determine the duty status of our soldiers. We continue today to search for Sergeant Matt Maupin captured in April of 2004.
We continue to search using every means available and will not stop looking until we find the missing soldiers. Make no mistake, we never stop looking for our service members until their status is definitively determined and we continue to pray for their safe return.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Missing U.S. soldiers in Iraq, deadly bombings in Baghdad. CNN's Cal Perry is in the Iraqi capital with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAL PERRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A rare announcement today from the U.S. military on a Saturday, here in Baghdad, Major General Caldwell saying that two U.S. soldiers are currently missing, one is dead in an attack on a checkpoint in the town of Yusufiya.
The attack happened last night at about 8:00 p.m. A local checkpoint, a checkpoint near to the one that was attacked, called a U.S. quick reaction force when they arrived on the ground they found one U.S. soldier dead, two missing. Major General Caldwell saying that a massive search operation is underway both in the water and on the ground, that four that have taken place since the incident last night.
In other news here in Baghdad, it's been an exceptionally bloody day, five major attacks on the capital killing over 23 people, wounding 70 others. We know that a major bomb went offer in the central part of the city, an attack on security forces, these are, in fact, the forces the prime minister has put on the street and what he dubs Operation Together Forward. This is the fourth day to secure a city over 70,000 of these various security force are on the streets.
In northern Baghdad, an apparent sectarian attack targets a Shia market. Two people killed, another 11 wounded in a mortars barrage, four mortars hitting the crowded market at about 10:00 a.m.
This all follows another sectarian attack the day before at a Shia shrine in northwestern Baghdad, 11 people dead, another 25 wounded in a suicide bomber. The suicide bomber was able to make his way all the way into the mosque. This only raises sectarian tensions at a time in which the prime minister and U.S. military are trying to secure the capital.
Cal Perry, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: The number of U.S. troops who have died in Iraq exceeds more than 2,500, still President Bush says Iraqis must know that the U.S. will not abandon their country. Mr. Bush talked about it in his weekly radio address.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It is vital for the Iraqi people know with certainty that America will not abandon them after we have come this far. The challenges that remain in Iraq are serious. We face determined enemies who remain intent on killing the innocent and defeating these enemies will require more sacrifice and the continued patience of our country, but our efforts in Iraq are well worth it, the mission is necessary for the security of our country and we will succeed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And for more on Mr. Bush's Iraq policy let's check in now with our Ed Henry, he's at the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas -- Ed.
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Fred. That's right, you heard the president in his radio address once again walking that fine line where he's touting some of the achievements by the new Iraqi government, but also warning there will be challenges ahead, the violence will continue, but he is trying to tout some of the good news coming out of Iraq at a time when a new CNN poll shows his approval ratings inching up ever so slightly, raising the question whether or not a Bush bounce.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY (voice-over): There's a bounce to President Bush's step again as he hits the road. This time the swing state of New Mexico, reprising his role as fundraiser and chief for vulnerable Republicans like Congresswoman Heather Wilson.
BUSH: We will not cut and run. It's important to have people in the United States Congress who understand the stakes of the fight in Iraq and complete the mission and Heather Wilson is such a person.
HENRY: A new CNN poll shows the president's approval rating has inched up five points to 37 percent, from a low of 32 percent. Approval of the president's handling of Iraq has risen five points, to 39 percent since last month. After the president's surprise visit to Baghdad to celebrate formation of a new Iraqi government and the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The president was also buoyed Friday by a House vote to back the mission in Iraq, with the Republicans rejecting a timetable for troop pull-out.
REP. HEATHER WILSON (R), NEW MEXICO: It is a choice between resolve and retreat. And for me and my family, I choose resolve.
HENRY: The president returned the favor by raising big money for Wilson, after a fundraiser in Seattle, earlier in the day, for freshman Republican Dave Reichert. But CNN's new polls suggest these visits could do more harm than good. Only 27 percent of registered voters say they would be more likely to support a candidate that the president stumps for. A whopping 47 percent would be less likely to support a Bush candidate while 20 percent say a Bush visit would make no difference.
PATRICIA MADRID, NEW MEXICO ATTORNEY GENERAL: I'm very happy that the president is here campaigning for my opponent Heather Wilson because what a it demonstrates is that she really does vote with him 88 percent of the time, that she is on his team....
HENRY: New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid, Wilson's Democratic challenger, says Republicans should not be confident about recent good news in Iraq.
MADRID: I simply don't think the situation is going to get better. Although no simple answers for this no exit war we've gotten into.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY: Now while the president's overall job approval rating has inched up five points, as you heard there, over the last two months, in the last month, despite the good news coming out of Iraq, it's only gone up one point, really statistically meaningless and Democrats are pointing out if this is a Bush bounce, Republicans have a lot of work to do between now and November -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: And so, Ed, what more about what you have learned about how Americans feel about the whole troop withdrawal idea in Iraq?
HENRY: Well it's interesting in this new CNN poll it also found that among registered voters 53 percent do want some sort of a timetable to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq, about 41 percent say no. Interesting that the president has repeatedly rejected a timetable and he still says he won't do that, but it's clear from this poll there's still a lot of domestic political pressure on the president to do so -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: Ed Henry in Crawford, thanks so much.
Turning to allegation of U.S. troops abusing Iraqi and Afghan detainees. A Pentagon report says some detainees were fed only bread and water for several days, were deprived of sleep and subjected to loud music, but concludes that while the treatment was wrong it was not illegal. A human rights group the calls report a whitewash. The incidents took place in 2003 and 2004.
Details of President Bush's top secret trip to Baghdad this week, plus al-Qaeda's new leader in Iraq. CNN brings you the only in-depth look at major events in the war on terror. John Roberts hosts "Iraq: A week at War" tonight at 7:00 eastern and also tonight...
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: Coming up tonight at 10:00, a multi billion dollar industry you probably know little about.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a market that is effectively unregulated on the international level.
ANNOUNCER: We're talking private military contracting and you're paying the price.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably not going to be able to get a job now after I do this interview.
ANNOUNCER: That's coming up tonight at 10:00 Eastern, right here on CNN. (END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: But first straight ahead, I'll speak with a former U.S. general about how the military reacts when some of their own go missing.
Also, we'll have details of a deadly accident near a big music festival in Tennessee.
And what's the real cost of renting a car? If you don't pay attention to all the extras, your bill could be extra big. Coming up, a list of things your car rental company won't tell you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A quarter past the hour, this developing story right now in the news. An intense search is underway for two U.S. soldiers missing in Iraq. The military says the soldiers disappeared last night after an attack on a checkpoint southwest of Yusufiya.
A string of attacks in Baghdad leaves 23 people dead. The victims include 11 killed when had a suicide car bomber targeted an Iraqi patrol.
U.S. Military officials call it a quick and severe blow to the enemy. They say U.S.-led forces killed about 40 Taliban fighters gathering at camp in southern Afghanistan. The U.S.-led attack was part of Operation Mountain Thrust which began its main phase on Thursday.
The U.S. says there are signs North Korea plans to test an intercontinental ballistic missile, one that could reach parts of the United States. The State Department says North Korea should focus instead on giving up its nuclear program.
Later today, we'll find out when NASA plans to launch the Space Shuttle Discovery. Right now Discovery is undergoing a flight readiness review at Kennedy Space Center. The next window for launch is between July 1 and the 9th.
We update the top stories every 15 minutes on CNN LIVE SATURDAY, your next updated is coming up at 12:30 Eastern.
The search for two missing U.S. soldiers is underway this hour in Iraq after an attack on their checkpoint last night. Joining us on the phone with his take on how the search may be unfolding, our military analyst retired U.S. Army Brigadier General David Grange.
General, thanks for being with us. This is a nightmare, missing soldiers, what likely is happening in a search for them?
BRIG. GEN. DAVID GRANGE, U.S. ARMY (RET.): First of all, any time you have U.S. soldiers missing, MIA, they call it, and all resource are put against that effort. I recall that from Vietnam and also, unfortunately, in our unit we had three of our soldiers captured in Macedonia by the Serbs during a bombing in Kosovo. Anyway, a full court press will be put out to try to save -- find and save these soldiers.
WHITFIELD: And we heard from General Caldwell, there in Iraq, saying that all the resource are being used. Given the fact that this took place near the Euphrates River, they've called for a dive team. How unusual is this to hear this kind of detail coming from the major general, right now?
GRANGE: Well, he didn't really go into any detail that had operational security issues, it's just showing the commitment and they're going to look on land and obviously around the water, everywhere they can, but I don't think they released anything that would jeopardize the search effort.
WHITFIELD: Was there anything that you heard in his statement that you thought was rather significant to try and understand exactly what happened and what is transpiring now?
GRANGE: Well, I think the idea here is, by the enemy, is to try to say hey, we're still here, you haven't decapitated us, we are going to have revenge, we're still going to strike where we want, you know, and it's gone on in Iraq just recently that you have talked about as well as the capture of soldiers. Capturing soldiers has more of an emotional effect obviously than even killing people.
You know, that's something they're going to show they really have control of the area though this is kind of a quirk event it's still significant and I'm surprised we haven't seen anything on the local broadcast stations showing this.
WHITFIELD: Talk to me about the complications now, when you've bought ongoing various military operations in that area and just simply throughout the country now further exacerbated by this search for these two soldiers.
GRANGE: It is but I mean the resources are there. I mean resource are always standing by in our military to do hostage rescue. We have, if not the finest, one of the top finest hostage rescue capabilities in the world with special operating force and also conventional forces can be used as well.
The good news is, I believe, that we have a lot more Iraqis supporting not only their own government but the coalition now that Zarqawi's dead, and so I think that the intelligence, the information will be more available than it was in the past.
WHITFIELD: General Grange, thanks so much.
GRANGE: My pleasure.
WHITFIELD: And coming up later, I'll be talking to the mother of a missing soldier.
Meantime it's fire season in the southwest. We'll get the latest on how the weather is hurting or helping.
And an important milestone for the victims of Columbine. Find out how a former president is helping to honor them.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Family members of U.S. military man Matt Maupin had been worried sick ever since he went missing back in April of 2004 in Iraq. And now news of two more soldiers missing in Iraq stirs yet more emotions. Carolyn Maupin is the mother of Matt Maupin and she joins us on the phone right now.
And Carolyn, thanks so much for being with us. We heard General Caldwell make mention of your son, the search is ongoing. What, if anything, are you hearing about that ongoing search for your son?
CAROLYN MAUPIN, MOTHER OF MISSING SOLDIER: Just that they are constantly looking and going forward. But otherwise, there is no other news about him.
WHITFIELD: And are you convinced of the efforts?
MAUPIN: I am. And I am because our troops do tell me they're looking for him, so that makes me even more sure that they are doing that.
WHITFIELD: How are you being updated on the search?
MAUPIN: We are being updated every Friday. We get a call from our CAO every Friday. He calls us every Friday with updates. We also ask questions, he gets back with us with answer, so we are keeping in communication with them.
WHITFIELD: So tell me what that's like waiting for the phone to ring, or getting those updates, knowing they come every Friday?
MAUPIN: I tell you what, I'm hoping one day I won't have to have those for every Friday. I'm hoping that Matt will call and say, hey mom or maybe the Army hopefully will call and say we've got him. But, I wait for that everyday, everyday and every minute of the day.
WHITFIELD: And now waking up this morning, hearing that there is an ongoing search now for two more military -- U.S. military men missing in Iraq, tell me what that does for you to hear about this ongoing search of yet two more soldiers?
MAUPIN: It's like reliving our first notice of when Matt -- whereabouts unknown. So, I can relate to the parents and I've been praying for them, so hopefully they find them very, very soon. Because I can relate to how they feel.
WHITFIELD: And how helpful has it been at all in this grieving and this process for you, for other military families to reach out to you to try to comfort you, offer any kind of support?
MAUPIN: It's, I believe that that is what keeps us lifted everyday is the support from not only the military families, but our community and surrounding areas, and even the country as a matter of fact, that everyone is there with us praying and hoping for Matt and now I'm sure for the two of today.
WHITFIELD: And how do you suppose the general public, nonmilitary types, would be able to help you and now the other family members of these other two missing soldiers?
MAUPIN: I would say that they would be reaching out to them, which I'm sure they will be, and their prayers will be with them and they'll be hoping for the very best and thanking them for what all they have done for our freedom.
WHITFIELD: All right, Carolyn Maupin, thanks so much for taking the time. And of course, we continue to hope for the best in the ongoing search now of your son, 20 years old at the time he went missing, Matthew Maupin. Thanks so much, Carolyn Maupin.
MAUPIN: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: And more of CNN LIVE SATURDAY right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Half past the hour, this developing story now in the news. A search is underway at this hour for two American soldiers missing in Iraq. They disappeared after coming under attack yesterday about 30 miles south of Baghdad in an area called the "Triangle of Death." One American soldier was killed in that attack.
The U.S. is warning North Korea not to test -- not to test fire, rather, a long-range missile. Satellite photos indicate the North appears to be getting ready to test a missile that could reach parts of the U.S. The State Department says the tests would be a proactive act.
Waiting for word on Shuttle Discovery. NASA is expected to decide today whether to launch the shuttle on July 1st. If it happens, it will be the first shuttle mission in nearly a year.
Representative Cynthia McKinney says she's relieved, this after a grand jury declined to charge her for an altercation involving a Capitol Hill Police officer in March. The Georgia Democrat was accused of hitting the officer who tried to stop her after she failed to walk through a metal detector at a House office building.
In the desert southwest of the U.S., it's another day on the front lines for firefighters. In Arizona and New Mexico, thousands of acres are scorched and hundreds of people forced to flee their homes. Many of the blazes were sparked by lightning. Wildfires also are burning in Colorado, Alaska, Utah and Texas.
Let's check in now with Reynolds Wolf. Dry conditions doesn't help in those firefighter efforts.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WHITFIELD: And now back to our developing story from Iraq. Still no sign of two U.S. soldiers missing since an insurgent attack last night on a traffic checkpoint near Yusufiya, about 30 miles south of Baghdad. The attack killed one American soldier. A coalition spokesman vows to keep looking for the two soldiers who disappeared.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM CALDWELL, U.S. MILITARY SPOKESMAN: Coalition forces and Iraqi security forces initiated a search operation within minutes to determine the status of these soldiers. And we are currently using every means at our disposal on the ground, in the air, and in the water, to find them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The attack took place in a Sunni stronghold that has been dangerous for Americans in the past, earning the name the "Triangle of Death."
Meanwhile, the highly-publicized security crackdown in Baghdad failed to prevent a series of attacks today that killed at least 23 people. Two of the attacks targeted crowded markets. Another attack killed four people on a minibus, and another one targeting an Iraqi security patrol killing 11 people, including an Iraqi soldier.
Amid the continuing violence in Iraq, U.S. military officials are investigating claims that Marines massacred 24 civilians in Haditha last November, and that the chain of command covered it up.
CNN's senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre talked with a lawyer for one of the Marines facing possible charges.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There was no crime to cover up, according to the attorney representing one of the Marines who was involved in several of the shootings that resulted in the deaths of 24 Iraqis, including women and children, last year in Haditha.
GARY MYERS, ATTORNEY FOR HADITHA MARINE: The rules of engagement are the license to do what they did. And as long as they followed those rules of engagement, I believe they have a defense of justifiable homicide, on the one hand, and, perhaps, self-defense on the other. In every particular this fails as evidence.
MCINTYRE: After viewing the videotape of the victims and the aftermath shot by an aspiring Iraqi journalist, Myers insisted it would not stand up in court.
MYERS: It proves nothing other than that there were people killed who died violently and who bled profusely. And all of those things are regrettable, but none of them serves to prove murder.
MCINTYRE: What about the pictures taken by the U.S. military seen by CNN that appear to show victims shot at close range?
MYERS: It will be a Herculean effort on the part of the government to muster enough competent evidence to demonstrate that anything criminal occurred. And if all they've got are pictures that were taken after the events, it will be very difficult.
MCINTYRE: Myers argues everything he believes the Marines did that day, from shooting what turned out to be unarmed men in a taxi to firing into buildings without knowing who was inside, can be defended as justified under the rules in effect at the time.
MYERS: There was a good faith belief that fire was coming from those buildings. These Marines followed the rules of engagement and if the rule of engagement at the time was, as I believe it to be, with respect to the taxi, that when an IED went off, if people were seen running from the scene, they were considered insurgents and one had a right to fire.
MCINTYRE: Myers insists Haditha was not a massacre, and that comes from an attorney who successfully defended a company commander who was at My Lai, the notorious massacre of the Vietnam War.
MYERS: My Lai was a massacre. Men, women, babies and children were put into a trench, and they were fired upon by American soldiers.
MCINTYRE (on camera): How could it be that Marines could kill young children, a mother who appear to be in their bed and they just followed the rules? How can that be?
MYERS: Because they're not required to inquire under the circumstances. They're not required to inquire. If they believe they were threatened, they can use deadly force. And that's what they did.
MCINTYRE (voice-over): Military experts tell CNN two principles should guide the use of lethal force -- proportionality and necessity. That is, how important is the objective and does it warrant the risk of innocent lives? And that is likely to be at the heart of this case.
(on camera): The U.S. military has announced that their separate investigation into whether there was a cover-up has been completed and is being reviewed by a three star general in Iraq.
Defense attorneys for some of the Haditha Marines, meanwhile, tell CNN that an initial press release that inaccurately attributed some of the civilian deaths to a roadside bomb was not based on any information that came from their clients.
Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And join us tonight for "A WEEK AT WAR." CNN's team of correspondents around the world will look at the president's trip to Iraq, al Qaeda in Iraq's new number one man and more. John Roberts hosts the only in-depth look at the week's major events in the war on terror tonight at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, only on CNN.
Well there are quite a few things your car rental company won't tell you, but we will, and they'll save you a whole lot of money. That story coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Well, time now for "Dollars and Deals." The cost of renting a car can really add up if you're not careful. It's not the daily rate that will kill you, it's all those extras, many of which you really don't even need.
Russell Pearlman is a senior writer at "SmartMoney" magazine. He's here with some tips about things your rental car company just won't tell you but you will. Good to see you, Russell.
RUSSELL PEARLMAN, SENIOR WRITER, "SMARTMONEY": Thanks for having me.
WHITFIELD: All right. So renting a car used to be simple, now it's rather complicated. There are lots of rules in which to abide by, lots of options that are extended to you, but you don't need to take advantage of all the options, right?
PEARLMAN: That's right. Most of the time, you don't need to buy the occasionally pricey car insurance that the rental car company offers to you. If you have your own car insurance, odds are it covers collision and liability. If you have a credit card and you book the reservation with a credit card, odds are you'll get some insurance coverage.
Before you sign on the dotted line to buy the insurance coverage from the rental car company, we suggest calling your credit card to see what type of coverage you already have and for future use, call your own auto insurance and say, hey, do I really need to buy this? Because occasionally it can add $10 to $15 a day to your rental car.
WHITFIELD: Right, it can be expensive. All right, so that's one of your 10. You probably don't need the insurance. Let's go over a couple of the others. For one, follow instructions because if they tell you don't go here, you probably shouldn't go there with their vehicle because they've got tracking devices now on these rental cars.
PEARLMAN: That's right. It used to be you signed -- when you signed an agreement -- let's say you're going to California. A lot of California car companies did not want you to go into Mexico, but it was really your word against theirs if you said hey you didn't go there they can't really prove it.
But you're right, there are -- several companies now have GPS systems built into their cars. So they can tell where you are driving at any given time. Some car companies have tried to use this to say, if you were speeding with a car they will charge you for excessive wear and tear.
WHITFIELD: Or maybe even traffic tickets or something like.
PEARLMAN: That's right. So they'll know what you're getting. Now, there are some states that have stepped in and said look, you cannot use this as a big brother situation, but that's only two or three states that have inputted this right now. Now there are no car companies that we know that are actively doing this right now.
WHITFIELD: OK.
PEARLMAN: However, that's not to say that it's not possible because a global positioning system device gives the car company that option.
WHITFIELD: All right. Well quickly, let's go some of the others. Our prices are not etched in sand, so if they promise you a price over the phone when you make the reservations, they don't really have to stick to it.
PEARLMAN: That's right. It's not that they don't have to stick to it, it that the prices fluctuate dramatically. You could book a car online for $50 a day and an hour later come back and that price could be anywhere from $70 to $30 a day.
WHITFIELD: Wow, that's not fair.
PEARLMAN: Car companies -- well, I mean, the takeaway from this is that -- book your car enough in advance. So give yourself the option if you want to check it.
WHITFIELD: But then one of your other tips says your reservation doesn't mean bubkis.
PEARLMAN: That's right. Your reservation is only a guarantee that you can get a car from that company at that time. So, perhaps, if you want a mid-size car, they night not have a mid-size car for you when you come there. It depends on what cars are coming in and out of the lot at any time. But the good thing is that if you have that mid- size car, they don't have it, ask to get a larger car for free.
WHITFIELD: OK, well, maybe there's a bonus in the end. Russell Pearlman of "SmartMoney" magazine. Of course, if you want to see what the other tips are, since we only really got through four out of the 10 tips, you'll have to pick up the July issue of "SmartMoney" magazine. Thanks so much, Russell.
PEARLMAN: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Forty-five past the hour now, here's what's happening right now in the news.
Missing in Iraq -- two U.S. soldiers disappeared after coming under attack last night. Another American soldier was killed in the action about 30 miles south of Baghdad. A search is now underway.
In Baghdad, four mortar rounds slammed into a market today, killing two people. It was one of several bombings in the capital that killed at least 21 other people and wounded dozens. The attacks were carried out despite a huge government operation aimed at securing the capital.
In a developing story out of New Orleans, a shoot-out leaves four people dead, including a 16-year-old boy. The shooting happened earlier today. Three of the dead were found inside a sport utility vehicle. Police are holding a news conference in about 15 minutes.
Will Shuttle Discovery get a green light? NASA is expected to decide today whether to launch the shuttle on July 1st. It would be the first shuttle mission in nearly a year.
We update the top stories every 15 minutes on CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Your next update is coming up at the top of the hour, 1:00 Eastern.
Well, everybody is talking about her and the new baby. Coming up, we're talking to Angelina Jolie about her role as a mother.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: And this just in to CNN, another deadly attack in Iraq. It happened about 30 minutes ago in a Shiite area southwest of Baghdad. Iraqi police tell us that at least five people were killed, 25 people hurt. This is just the latest of several bombings in the capital today that have killed at least 21 other people and wounded dozens more.
"Going Global" -- two warlords backed by the U.S. have fled Mogadishu to a ship in the Indian Ocean. That's according to an informed source quoted by a freelance journalist. It comes one week after forces of the warlords were defeated by an Islamic militia.
And World Cup fever is still going strong this weekend. You're looking right now at the U.S. soccer team practicing in Germany. The U.S. takes on Italy in just over two hours from now. It's a must win for the Americans. If they lose they are out of the tournament entirely.
Well, this absolutely gorgeous new mama right here, Angelina Jolie had the same fears many of you mothers experience during childbirth. She was scared something would go wrong. The actress has two adopted children. She delivered baby Shiloh by cesarean section in Namibia last month. Jolie talked about it with out Anderson Cooper in her first interview since Shiloh's birth.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGELINA JOLIE, ACTRESS: Because you're there for the birth, which I wasn't for my first two kids, you're just suddenly terrified that they're not going to take a first breath. That was my whole focus. I just wanted to hear her cry and I was sure everything would go -- at the last minute, I become that mother that was sure everything was going to go wrong, and she's healthy and it was amazing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And you can watch Anderson Cooper's exclusive interview with Angelina Jolie in its entirety this Tuesday night, 10:00 Eastern, 7:00 Pacific. The actress talks about her passion for helping refugees around the world, Baby Shiloh and daddy Brad. It is all part of CNN's World Refugee Day coverage here on CNN, the most trusted name in news.
How many lives did this concrete mixer cost this cat? An amazing tale of feline survival right after this.
And if you've always dreamed about owning a vacation home, now may be the time to act. In today's "Modern Living" report, CNN's personal finance editor Gerri Willis tells us why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Stress is starting to show in the second home market with some sellers slashing prices and buyers looking for deals. While this could be your opportunity to buy, tread carefully.
First the good news, you no longer have to put down 30 to 40 percent of the purchase price to buy that dream place on the beach. The bad news, you can expect to pay as much as one full percentage point more than you would if you were purchasing a primary home.
Second, realize upkeep can punch a big hole in that vacation dream. not to mention your time. Expect to spend as much as two percent of the purchase price per year to maintain your place in the sun.
And don't forget, you'll need to have someone check the place on a regular basis to be sure that all is quiet on the vacation front.
Gerry Willis, CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: They say curiosity killed the cat. That's almost what happened in Salt Lake City, Utah. But don't worry, there is a happy ending.
Erica Vaughn (ph) of CNN affiliate KSTU in Salt Lake City has this story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Every now and then we'll find him playing with Tigger (ph), our dog.
ERICA VAUGHN, KSTU REPORTER (voice-over): When he's not sleeping or eating, Tom is exploring.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When we had our house built, and they poured our driveway, they didn't compact the ground so we had big sinkage holes like this one.
VAUGHN: Megan Royland thinks Tom crawled under the driveway then construction crews filled in the hole, sealing the curious cat in cement. He went missing for two days.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were all pretty sad and kept our eye out for him though.
VAUGHN (on camera): What kind of noises was he making?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was making meow, meow.
VAUGHN (voice-over): Karissa (ph) heard the cat's crying from under the garage floor.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And it made me feel pretty sad knowing that he was stuck under cement.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very, very rarely do we get something like that, maybe once in a lifetime at this job.
VAUGHN: Davis County Animal Control couldn't believe this rescue call and had several concerns.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If he had enough air to stay under there while we got him out, if we had enough space to remove him out without hitting the cat with the saw.
VAUGHN: Firefighters used a saw to cut open a hole in the cement exposing a foot deep tunnel.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He decided to come out and poke the his little head up and everything was good to go. It was a happy reunion.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's still kind of freaked out from being under there and -- oh, shoot. He's in the thing. Come here, Tom. Come here.
VAUGHN: Tom is obviously not too traumatized, and didn't learn his lesson. After two days of no food and water, he dusted himself off and is ready to explore.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're used to having him going places where you wouldn't think he would go.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: A lucky kitty. Thanks to Erica Vaughn of CNN affiliate KSTU in our Salt Lake City area for that report.
A look at our top stories in just a moment. "IN THE MONEY" is next. Here's a preview.
ANDY SERWER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks.
Coming up on "IN THE MONEY," what goes on here doesn't just stay here. See how turbulence in the U.S. economy is making waves around the world.
Plus, heavy eaters. With KFC in a suit over trans-fats, we'll look at whose responsibility your diet is.
And the summer jobless. Find out if those unpaid internships are any better than a gig flipping burgers.
All that and more after a quick check of the headlines.
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