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CNN Live Saturday

Lebanon Signs on to U.N. Resolution; Israel Indicates it Will Accept Resolution as Well; What Health Questions Should You Answer Before Leaving For School; Dan Rivers Talks to a Lawyer For Terror Suspects

Aired August 12, 2006 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN center in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield. We're following two developing stories right now. The foiled terror plot in London and the push for a cease-fire in the Middle East.
First new developments out of Beirut. The Lebanese government has unanimously approved a Middle East peace resolution brokered by the UN. But is there a catch? Hezbollah says it will support the document in the spirit of national unity. Israel is expected to approve the peace plan tomorrow and a senior Israeli official says the military offensive will wrap up in the next two days.

So why the continued push for the offensive measures? But the fighting continues. Let's go to Brent Sadler who is in Beirut with more on the Lebanese Cabinet agreeing to the UN resolution. Brent?

BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Lebanese Cabinet a short time ago approved unanimously acceptance of that Security Council resolution 1701. But according to a senior Cabinet minister, behind those closed doors a very serious split. I am told that the minister, and there are many of them were shocked when the two Hezbollah ministers inside that Cabinet meeting chaired by the Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, the Hezbollah ministers that there would not be any Hezbollah disarmament south of the Litani River.

Whereas the Security Council resolution doesn't specify that, it does mean that in terms of the acceptance of this by the Lebanese government, it makes it very difficult, it puts them in a tight corner. Why? Because the Lebanese government committed to changes in the plan which it has been working on for the last week plus to get to where they are today.

For Hezbollah to come out with this clear statement at that Cabinet meeting is seen as a possible, repeat, possible spanner in the works.

Now, Fouad Siniora, the Lebanese prime minister came out of that crucial meeting saying there was unanimous acceptance and he said that he hoped the situation would improve and that the heavy hostilities would soon end. Let's listen in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FOUAD SINIORA, LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER: There won't be any weapons in the country starting from the area which is the zone that will be south of the Litani. There won't be any weapons other than the weapons of the central government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SADLER: Now, quite clearly, the information I have coming from, exclusive information from inside that Cabinet meeting that contrary to what Fouad Siniora said there about their being no weapons other than those of the United Nations peacekeepers or the Lebanese authorities would not be in that zone south of the Litani River and that's where Israeli forces are driving to right now on the ground

The Hezbollah has now said it will not disarm south of the Litani and that does throw a very big question mark over the continuance of Lebanese position vis-a-vis that resolution.

It also means that the Cabinet will have to reconvene in 24 hours, effectively giving Hezbollah's representation inside that Cabinet time to rethink its position. Brent Sadler, CNN, Beirut.

WHITFIELD: Now, Brent, this is Fredricka in Atlanta. A question about the Hezbollah leader, Nasrallah saying while in part they agreed to the resolution, it does come with some conditions so if the two ministers are already shocking the rest of the Cabinet by saying they will not disarm, where do they go from here?

SADLER: Well, that's very, very difficult, because in effect, my sources, senior sources within that Cabinet meeting are saying that in effect, Hezbollah has manipulated the Lebanese government, the Cabinet under Fouad Siniora into acceptance of that Security Council resolution knowing full well that because of what Hezbollah has said behind those closed doors, that in effect they won't be able to deliver if Hezbollah stands to that position of no disarmament behind the Litani.

There had been an expectation as a result of what Hezbollah's chief has been saying that Hezbollah would be obliged by Security Council Resolution 1701 and that there would be acquiescence to the insistence that Hezbollah kept its weapons out of the area. This changes the whole complexity of that, if Hezbollah stands by its position, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Brent Sadler in Beirut, thanks so much for that update.

And coming up in about 15 minutes from now, a live report from Crawford, Texas. President Bush is expressing confidence that the UN resolution can help end the fighting in the Middle East. Regardless of those developments in Lebanon.

And now here's what we know about the airline terror investigation. British police raid Internet cafes seeking access to any e-mails sent or received by the suspects. A U.S. government memo says the 24 arrests on Thursday were triggered by a message saying, quote, "Do your attacks now." That message reportedly came from a contact in Pakistan after other suspects were picked up there. Britain's terror threat level remains critical today, the highest designation. A British Cabinet official warned authorities not to think the threat is over, however.

Also today, Pakistan said it is seeking a known terrorist believed to have links to al Qaeda. An official says the man's name came up during interrogations in the foiled plane bombing probe. In London, a lawyer for two of the suspects held complains her clients are being mistreated.

More now from CNN's Dan Rivers in London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I've been talking to a lawyer who represents two of the men arrested in this area of East London, Walthamstow, Modesa Arani (ph) told me that she was appalled with the way the police had dealt with her two clients. And that she had to go to the police station to demand that he was given some sort of refreshment. She was trying to get warm clothes for them. She said they were cold and hadn't been given blankets to sleep on.

She said they'd had very limited contact with their family and they were incredibly worried and distraught, hadn't been even able to make a phone call to their parents. These are two young men, just 22 and 23 years old.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, they seem just ordinary people who were very shocked at what was happening to them. They're extremely concerned about their families. And obviously as a result of the raids taking place, the family members have been moved out of their homes. In order for the places to be searched.

RIVERS: And she said herself as a lawyer had only been given about five minutes to talk to these two clients and hadn't even had a chance to explain to them the legal process that was going on or hadn't even had a chance to talk to them before they appeared before the local courthouse, the magistrate's court where they were remanded in custody for seven days.

Now, as you can see behind me, the police are continuing the search of houses that they've raided here. The search is going on here. This is one house that's just in front of a local mosque that is alleged that many of the suspects in this area of London worshipped at. The police can detain these men for up to 28 days and all indications are that no charges are going to be laid anytime soon.

She said there were preparations to move these men from the high security Paddington Green police station to a prison in South London, Belmarsh (ph) Prison, even before charges have been laid. Dan Rivers, CNN, Walthamstow, East London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD:: Now, CNN has been unable to corroborate the attorney's allegations and the metropolitan police there tell CNN hey have not been made aware of any official complaint about the detainee's treatment.

Meanwhile today passengers flying in and out of Britain are experiencing more delays and strict security measures. CNN's Richard Quest joins us live from London's Heathrow Airport where hopefully, a few more got in the air today, Richard?

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, if you look at me behind me at the airport, you do see planes taking off and landing all the time. And you might be tempted to think that things are pretty normal. It's anything but because on the other side of the airport, where the passengers are waiting, we are told things are very grim.

The numbers of delays continues. It can take up to four times as long to check in to flights for the United States. Because of these unprecedented security measures. No hand baggage allowed on any flight out of Britain these days. For one airline, British Airways which is the largest operator here at Heathrow, they've basically had enough. They say their passengers are frustrated. They're having to cancel dozens of flights and they say it's all because the airport can't cope with the new security measures. The chief executive of B.A. was quite blunt.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIE WALSH, CEO, BRITISH AIRWAYS: BAA has failed to allow us to operate 100 percent of our schedule. British Airways, along with other airlines, is ready and able to operate a full schedule. The weakness in the system today is getting the passengers processed through the airport.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUEST: And what they are telling us is it's simply a case that the planes are ready to go, but it's taking passengers so long to get through security, Fredricka, that they've got two choices. They either wait and delay the flights further or as they're doing in many cases, they leave with the passengers left behind, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So, Richard, what's the answer then? You know, are security administration forces likely to bring on more people to help process the security measures, the new security measures if the airlines are saying they're ready to go?

QUEST: Well, the situation is complicated, obviously, because you can't just suddenly recruit another couple of hundred security operatives overnight. That's not feasible. But nor are the existing very, very strict security measures sustainable. Everybody knows you can't run an airport if people can't carry on their hand baggage. So it's going to have to be a combination of both. More security measures, more security operatives, more security standards, but ultimately, and probably in the not too distant future, they're going to have to revise the security restrictions, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Lots of changes on the horizon. Richard Quest, thanks so much at Heathrow. Questions now about security decisions here in the U.S. The Associated Press says as the British plot was unfolding, the Bush administration tried to take away $6 million earmarked for new technology to detect explosives. Instead, it wanted the money used to cover a budget shortfall providing security for government buildings. Congressional leaders nixed the idea. Some lawmakers have recently questioned the government's commitment to new anti-terror technologies. Just two days ago, Congressman Peter DeFazio, a senior Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee said, quote, "Since 9/11, I and a number of my colleagues have repeatedly warned FAA and TSA officials of the need to improve passenger and carry-on baggage screening for explosives," end quote.

And just two more to go. Federal officials have now found nine of 11 Egyptian exchange students missing for two weeks in the U.S. The students failed to show up for their college program in Montana. Three were arrested last night in Iowa. The FBI and immigration officials continue to search for the remaining two. None are expected to be suspected of terrorist activities.

Those new developments in the Middle East have the Bush administration pretty busy this evening. A live report from the president's home in Crawford, Texas, coming up next on CNN LIVE SATURDAY.

Plus, we're headed live to LAX on the West Coast, and to Dulles International on the East Coast to show you how the terror scare is affecting air traffic as a whole.

And what motivates a suicide bomber to attack America, anyway? Some thoughts from an expert life on CNN SATURDAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: President Bush says he welcomes the prospect of a lasting peace plan in the Middle East. Earlier today, he talked by phone with the Lebanese prime minister. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux has the latest from Crawford, Texas where the president is vacationing. And it looks like one party reached out to the other to make sure that everyone is on board.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Fred. President Bush, of course, really putting his political capital, the weight of his office behind this in this final process here of diplomacy, if you will.

The president releasing a statement saying he was appreciative and really approved of this UN Security Council resolution, specifically saying, "The loss of innocent life in both Lebanon and Israel has been a great tragedy. Hezbollah and its Iranian and Syrian sponsors have brought an unwanted war to the people of Lebanon and Israel and millions have suffered as a result. I now urge the international community to turn words into action and make every effort to bring lasting peace to the region."

Now President Bush reached out specifically this morning about 8:15 Eastern Time from the Crawford Ranch, making a phone call to Lebanese Prime Minister Siniora. They had a very brief conversation, about eight minutes or so. But of course, as you know, Fred, comes at a critical time for Lebanon. Their own Cabinet meeting today to look over that UN Security Council resolution. In that conversation U.S. officials say President Bush stressed the need to dismantle Hezbollah's state within a state in order to build Lebanese democracy, that he expressed his view again that Iran and Syria were arming Hezbollah in order to exert unwanted influence over Lebanon.

Now, very important call actually happened yesterday, as well, but this time it was initiated from the prime minister of Israel Olmert to President Bush. They too had a brief conversation, a different scenario here, Fred, as you know it was a very diplomatic delicate dance that they have been doing. The two leaders had not spoken since the beginning of this conflict erupted some 30 something days ago.

That is because U.S. officials wanted to make it clear they supported Israel's right to defend itself, but at the same time did not want to give the impression or perception that they were colluding with Israeli officials in their military offensive actions. Both leaders of course deciding yesterday was a good day to reach out to talk to one another and to push the diplomacy forward.

Fred, again, we'll see how this unfolds in the next 24-48 hours.

WHITFIELD: All right. Suzanne Malveaux in Crawford, Texas. Thanks so much.

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq says Iran is inciting violence in both Iraq and in the Lebanese conflict. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad tells the "New York Times, quote, "Iran is seeking to put more pressure, encourage more pressure on the coalition from the forces that they are allied with here. And the same is maybe true of Hezbollah," end quote.

Coming up, this Saturday afternoon with the terror alert on high, how long will you have to wait to check in at the airport? We'll have a live report with vital information you'll need.

Plus, humanitarian aid not getting there. We'll talk to a spokesperson for the Mercy Corps and hear what must be done by both sides in the Middle East crisis to help people in desperate situations. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Lebanon's humanitarian crisis worsens by the day. Almost 1 million people are displaced and thousands more are trapped by the fighting in the south. Cassandra Nelson is with the relief group Mercy Corps and joins us now. Well, Cassandra, I know you guys really have a host of obstacles at hand. How are you able to get help to those in need?

CASSANDRA NELSON, MERCY CORPS: Well, so far, I mean, the situation has been extremely difficult. The access from a security standpoint, security for our staff that's working here has been exceedingly difficult. There certainly is no security and safety for them. We've had to make a lot of very difficult decisions to bring aid into some of these towns in the south.

But we do each one on a case by case basis and have managed to get into several towns in the south and deliver a fair amount of aid. We hope that a cease-fire comes soon. We're very optimistic that this one will come through and that we'll be able to expand our work and just be able to do it more and more effectively without so much energy having to go into security planning.

WHITFIELD: Well, before I ask you more about what the cease-fire would mean for you and other aid groups, let me ask you about trying to get around. You say you are able to get around, but I imagine very limited ways since many of the roads, if not all of them have been bombed out. How are you able to get around?

NELSON: Well, definitely the transportation issue is extreme. About 75 percent of the bridges in the country are gone. So to get from one place to another, you know, places that are typically 20 to 30 minutes away from each other can take hours and hours.

Put on top of that bombardments and shelling and other obstacles to our work, and getting a convoy into a town that could take normally a couple hours can take at least two days of planning up front, security checks. And then taking the convoy through.

So exceedingly time consuming to get that aid in there. And not as effective as we'd like to be. That we have been in other wars and other emergencies around the world.

WHITFIELD: How are you and other aid workers able to protect your selves? Are you wearing flak-jackets, helmets, et cetera?

NELSON: Today, we don't have a protocol that we are wearing flack-jackets. What we really are doing is relying on a lot of local intelligence. Mercy Corps has been working in Lebanon for about a decade. So in the towns and communities we're working in the south, we know the mayors, we know the city council, we know many of the residents.

They are calling us pretty much on an hour by hour basis and reporting in to us everything from the kinds of attacks they're under, if there's shelling on the roads, if it's safe for us to come. Numerous times, we've had calls from people in the towns we're going to go calling and saying don't come now. It's not safe. Come tomorrow instead.

WHITFIELD: How do you expect ...

NELSON: So we're using that local intelligence.

WHITFIELD: And so how do you expect, if a cease-fire is honored on both sides, how will that make your job easier?

NELSON: Well, if it's honored on both sides, essentially what it means is we can move around without having to spend such a huge amount of our time on planning for security. Certainly we always plan for security. But that we don't need to put as much into that because we won't be as worried about air strikes or bombardments happening in the areas that we're going to.

We can focus more on the roadways and more importantly we can actually start getting the roadways fixed. I think one of the first things Mercy Corps plans to do is start community cleanup and infrastructure projects to get the basics of this country back running. We'll do it cash for work so we can put people to work that have been displaced, that have lost their homes so we can do both to try to get the roadways open and then start moving aid in on those roads.

WHITFIELD: Well you've got a big job at hand. Cassandra Nelson with Mercy Corps, thanks so much for joining us from Beirut. Good luck to you and your group.

NELSON: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: And we're following a breaking story out of the Middle East. Hezbollah claims its militants shot down an Israeli helicopter in south Lebanon. Israel Defense Forces have confirmed the report. Also today, Israel carried out numerous air strikes in Lebanon. More information when we get it.

PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Peter Viles in Los Angeles. No airport in America screens more passengers than this one, Los Angeles International. Ahead, we'll tell you how this airport is coping with new security guidelines.

WHITFIELD: And then a look inside al Qaeda. Are there patterns to the way the network plans its attacks and does this latest effort fit the mold? You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: British police continue their investigation into this week's alleged airline terror plot that was foiled. Here's what we know. Investigators are exploring whether the accused conspirators had ties to suspected terror operatives in Pakistan. Security sources tell CNN that the suspects received a coded message from Pakistan, directing them to quote, "attack now."

British police raided Internet cafes in Birmingham, London and in areas west of the British capital. And an attorney for two of the suspects says her clients were denied food and water for up to 26 hours and they haven't been allowed to call their families. Police say they are unaware of any formal complaints about the detainees' treatment.

Air travelers are adjusting to the new security demands and the long lines appear to be easing just a little bit. Hundreds of National Guard troops are helping in California and in other states. Our Peter Viles is checking on security at Los Angeles International Airport. And our Gary Nuremberg is at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington. Peter, let's begin with you at LAX.

PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, good news here, the lines are not that long and this is an airport known for long lines in good times and in bad. But the line to my right, which is American domestic and some international, if you take a look at it, there's only a handful of folks in this line, which is great news for them. It's probably why they're smiling. But this is a line that on normal days it could snake way back. One of the reasons it's not today is that TSA has staffed up for this. They have all of their workers on 12-hour shifts, 12 hours on, 12 hours off.

There's a lot of TSA workers at this airport today. Also National Guardsmen helping the TSA inside security. The Guardsmen are inside security and they're helping to double check carry-on luggage to make sure there's no liquids, that somebody hasn't bought a bottle of water, cup of coffee, that they're trying to bring on. So extra security here and a very interesting trend we're seeing, not just here, but in airports around the country, more people are checking luggage that they would have carry on a week ago.

So a big spike in checked luggage. Up to 30-50 percent at this airport. More luggage being checked. That mean a lot less being carried on. That's one of the reasons these lines are short. It's not taking so long to get through security. Now let's take a check of air travel on the other side of the country in Washington in Dulles Airport there, Gary Nuremberg is standing by. Gary.

GARY NUREMBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Peter. We just talked to people who run Dulles, representatives of that agency saying there is nothing extraordinarily out of the ordinary going on here today. Fewer disruptions caused by those new travel restrictions on carry on luggage that one would normally see on a summer Saturday with a thunderstorm that causes delays and cancellations and creates more havoc than we're seeing here at Dulles this afternoon.

Lines at the security checkpoints have grown longer in recent hours. But most passengers are aware of the new restrictions and are showing up with that scenario that Peter described a moment ago, liquids and gels in checked luggage rather than those in carry on. One gate attendant said he was surprised by the number of people, however, who are arriving unaware of the new restrictions. And as you walk through Dulles this afternoon, you can see people repacking their bags so that they don't have to throw away those things which will not be allowed on airliners.

Other than that, they describe this as a typical Saturday. Although the lines at those security checkpoints are taking longer than they would have before these new restrictions are implemented. Nothing out of the ordinary. It appears that passengers like it that way. Back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right. So people as a whole are understanding that this is for the sake of security. Now, while we see at some airports they don't have enough screeners to accommodate all these new restrictions, what are you seeing there at Dulles? NUREMBERG: The lines are a bit longer and there's certainly room for more screeners, they chose to open more stations than they have. The lines are moving smoothly if not quickly.

WHITFIELD: All right, very good. Gary Nuremberg, thanks so much at Dulles International Airport outside Washington.

We want to take a closer look at the possible motive for the terror plot. The book, "The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam From Extremists" looks at the threat of Muslim extremists. Author Khaled Bou el-Fadl is an Islamic Law professor at UCLA. Thanks so much for joining us professor.

KHALED BOU EL FADL, PROF ISLAMIC LAW, UCLA: You're welcome.

WHITFIELD: Well when we look at a whole at this foiled plot, does it look to you to have the fingers prints of al Qaeda?

FADL: Details are sketchy, but it does look like an al Qaeda instigated, linked plot. It probably will turn out to be something that al Qaeda has been involved in to one extent or another.

WHITFIELD: So if it does turn out to be that, do you see this as an attention-seeking measure from al Qaeda, and if so, why?

FADL: Well, yes, unfortunately, this whole plot was not such a great surprise for specialists in the field. Al Qaeda recently, in the past few months, has been largely marginalized as a main opposition movement to U.S. aims in the Middle East. Nasrallah gave a very famous speech, in which he said the main heroic resistors to American foreign policy aims in the Middle East are four, Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, Iran. Very next day, al Qaeda feels left out, so we have Zawahiri come up on TV and basically says, hey, don't forget us. We're still on the scene.

WHITFIELD: And that might be the reason for what we're hearing to be these messages of attack now?

FADL: Yes, I mean, basically he got a very cold shoulder from Hezbollah. Hezbollah, for a variety of reasons, is not interested in al Qaeda. And it was only a matter of time al Qaeda would try to prove that it is still a significant player in the field. The reality though is otherwise.

WHITFIELD: Well, let's look at the logic behind these new tactics or what we are now learning to be sort of the latest tactics of explosive liquids. When just in a time when people felt like they had an idea of what to look for, we're talking about bombs in luggage. And, say, shoe bombs like in Richard Reed a couple years ago. Now we're talking about liquid explosives. Talk to me about the evolution of the method being used by terrorist groups and why they may try to stay ahead of the curve of those anti-terror investigators.

FADL: Well, al Qaeda has been, I mean, in the same way that it is ideologically very inflexible and very puritanical in its outlook, even its methods, it is not remarkably flexible. I mean, you notice a fixation on international intercourse. Whether it's the World Trade Centers or airplanes.

Was it that shocking that they would try to use some liquid explosive device? Going through security checks at one point after 9/11, if you had a can of coke, a conscientious officer would say take a sip. So they will would know it was safe. And you know, we simply seem to have forgotten or got lax about the fact that liquids could be as dangerous as solids. I mean, but what is really, it's significant is that al Qaeda seems to be incapable of going beyond thinking of targeting soft, civilian targets, easy civilian targets.

WHITFIELD: OK. Khaled Bou el Fadl, Islamic Law professor with UCLA. Thanks so much for your time, joining us from Los Angeles.

FADL: You're welcome.

WHITFIELD: Well, a birthday visit for ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is scheduled to fly to Cuba tonight. Castro turns 80 tomorrow, he is recovering from intestinal surgery and is reportedly sitting up and walking. Castro has handed power, temporarily, to his brother Raul.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: And it's time to head back to school. Ahead, should certain vaccinations be on your to do list before the first bell rings? Dr. Lloyd is next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our universe is a vast landscape filled with mysterious dark forces. Dr. Anthony Tyson is hoping to shed some light on the subject.

DR. ANTHONY TYSON, DIRECTOR LSST: Dark matter controls the evolution of the cosmic structure because gravitationally it pulls everything together. We have a project that will image the whole wide sky and try to understand what the physical nature of this dark matter and dark energy that fills the universe is.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The project is called the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope or LSST.

TYSON: This telescope has a very wide field of view and it will see billions of galaxies. And so it goes out to the edge of the optical universe, halfway back to the big bang.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The LSST's future home will be atop Cerro Pachon, an 8,800 foot mount peak in northern Chile. The data will be accessible to everyone, from astronomers to grade school students, via the Internet.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Checking news across America, a dramatic rescue at sea. The U.S. Coast Guard plucked 40 people from a research vessel off the coast of Louisiana on Friday. The fire erupted in the ship's engine room. Two of the passengers had to be airlifted to hospitals.

In Phoenix, two serial shooting suspects have been indicted on murder and attempted murder charges. Police are now investigating whether the men might be linked to even more shootings.

Peace activist Cindy Sheehan was hospitalized in Texas. She was treated for dehydration and exhaustion, but could be released later on today. Her son was killed in Iraq and she's been a regular protester at President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right, very good. Thanks so much.

So you're getting ready to head back to school or maybe you're starting college for the first time? As you make those last-minute purchases and load the car, have you stopped to check your health? It may be a smart idea. Let's bring in Dr. Bill Lloyd. So on your check list, needs to be check your health. Why?

DR. BILL LLOYD, UNIC. OF CALIF.-DAVIS MED CTR: Fredricka, every weekend I try to share a little medical expertise with you. But as a parent, I have genuine expertise. This is our seventh summer we're sending somebody to college and these are the things you need to think about before you ship them away.

Make sure they've had a recent health checkup and make sure their vaccinations are up to date. There's some special vaccinations that college kids need to think about. Have they had a recent dental check? Are their eye glass prescriptions up to date and their contact lenses and do they have a backup pair for when they get to school.

Many kids are taking prescription medications. Asthmatics use inhalers. Get them an extra supply and send them with an extra written prescription in case they run out they're away at school. And finally, check up on their insurance. Make sure that your family's home insurance will cover them when they're across the country and if necessary, buy an extra supplemental policy.

WHITFIELD: These seem like pretty basic things but, amazingly, a lot of folks forget about all this. The focus is on, you know, back to school items such as, you know, their note pads, pens and all that good stuff. Are you finding that a lot of people are forgetting that their kids need to be immunized and there are a lot of other measures that need to be taken to protect them health wise.

LLOYD: Certainly, everybody's thinking about the socks. We got to buy those tube socks. We got to buy that linen, but you have to think about those vaccinations. And the number one vaccination that college freshman need to worry about is the one for Meningitis, Bacterial Meningitis, which is a very serious infection. And Fredricka, let me tell you how it works. There are people walking around this country that have the germ up their nose but they're not sick. When they get in the company of other people who have never been exposed to that bacteria before, like in a college dormitory, with freshmen getting together in a crowded situation for the first time, then children, young adults, then are exposed to the bug and they could get very, very sick.

Bacterial Meningitis will start with like a flu symptom. You'll have a fever and headache, but it will soon progress to neck ache and a rash. Anyone who thinks they might come down with Meningitis, needs to get to a doctor right away. But the vaccine is very effective. It's a one-time shot and it will cover them throughout their college education.

WHITFIELD: And there are other, newer vaccines that a lot of parents have not been accustomed to even thinking about, HPV being one of them for daughters.

LLOYD: This is the first summer that young college women can think about getting that HPV vaccine. Remember now, it only works if you've never had HPV before. So young women may want to check with their doctors and find out if they're eligible and if it's a good idea for them to have it. And think about that Tetanus shot.

Most young adults haven't had a Tetanus booster since back in first grade. Ten, twelve years later, it's time to get another one, as well. And while you've got your sleeve rolled up, think about that Hepatis B vaccine. Get life long protection from serious liver infection and possible liver cancer with a single injection.

WHITFIELD: All right, Dr. Bill Lloyd, thanks so much. Always good to see you.

LLOYD: We'll talk again soon.

WHITFIELD: All right, well coming up, a unique perspective. Hear from a woman who swears allegiance to Osama bin Laden. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Well, much more of CNN SATURDAY straight ahead with Carol Lin. What's on tap.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: In the next hour I'm going to be interviewing Israel's ambassador to the United Nations. Just a couple of hours ago the Lebanese cabinet has approved this U.N. resolution, which is theoretically going to end in a cease-fire. So I want to ask Israel about the military offensive underway right now, whether they trust Hezbollah. We'll see how optimistic they are this resolution can actually work.

And then at 6:00, the end game. What's it going to take really to seal the deal with Hezbollah? Can they be trusted and what happens if they continue the fighting? Israel has the right to defend itself under this U.N. resolution. So will it, in fact, end the fighting? We'll find out.

I'm going to be talking with one of the best Middle East experts around. A lot coming up in the next couple of hours. It's going to be pretty busy. WHITFIELD: All right, we'll be listening. Lots of questions still. And folks are kind of waiting with bated breaths to see if the cease-fire is going to hold, is it going to stick. Might this be the answer.

LIN: Thirty two days of fighting. They want to try to do something. We'll see if it works.

WHITFIELD: All right Carol, thanks so much.

Well, what attracts followers to Osama bin Laden? Why are they willing to die for him? CNN traveled to ten countries to get insight for a special later on this month, "In The Footsteps of Bin laden." CNN's Christiane Amanpour profiles one supporter, a widow of the war on terror and proud of it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Malika el Aroud, a devout Muslim who had emigrated from Morocco as a child was living in Belgium when she first saw Osama bin Laden on television. His image mesmerized her and her husband, Abu Satir Damand.

MALIKA EL AROUD, WIDOW OF AL QAEDA MEMBER (through translator): He was watching. There was a fascination, a love. It was very clear, and I felt the same. Osama had a beauty in his face. It is a stunning face.

OSAMA BIN LADEN, AL QAEDA LEADER: (Arabic)

EL AROUD: When you hear his voice it makes you want to stand up right away and leave and join him.

AMANPOUR: And that's what her husband did when he traveled to Afghanistan in 2000. Malika el Aroud followed the next year.

Life with bin Laden meant living without.

EL AROUD: There were windows without glass. Just a big hole in the wall. And it was the middle of winter. There was no bathroom, no kitchen. We really thought we had gone back to the Middle Ages.

AMANPOUR: Her husband, who had spent six months in al Qaeda training camps, was given a secret deadly assignment, one that would move bin Laden closer to his ultimate goal.

EL AROUD: He told me he would be home in 15 days.

AMANPOUR: That would be the last time she would ever see him. Then, the assassination of Ahmad Shah Masoud (ph), a friend of the U.S. and legendary leader of the Northern Alliance, a formidable Afghan militia. Two men claiming to be television reporters arranged an interview with Masoud. They were suicide bombers, armed with explosives. One had them strapped to his body, the other, hidden in the camera. PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: There is no doubt bin Laden order the assassination of Masoud. He knew the 9/11 attacks would likely provoke some kind of American reaction and he needed the Taliban to protect him. So what he gave them was the one thing they desired most which was Masoud's head on a plate.

AMANPOUR: The explosion killed Masoud. It also killed one of the two attackers, the cameraman. The other assassin was executed by Masoud's men. He was Abdel Satar Darman (ph), Malika el Aroud's husband. This had been his secret mission, and she was very proud.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Later this month, see Christiane Amanpour's investigative documentary on Osama bin Laden. Gain new insights into the man who declared the war on the United States from the people who know him. "In the Footsteps of Bin Laden." Catch the two hour premier Wednesday, August 23rd at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, only on CNN.

The terror plot unfolding in London has become a political football here in the U.S. Coming up next on CNN LIVE SATURDAY, the politics of terror. With an election looming, both parties are using terror as talking points. The story right after this quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Chance for peace in Middle East. That is out top story today. I'm Carol Lin. In the last few hours, the Lebanese cabinet met, approving a U.N. resolution on a cease-fire, and Israel's cabinet is going to meet tomorrow. We have all the details straight ahead. Also, do your attacks now. An intercepted message suggests terrorists may have been close to blowing up American-bound planes.

And the threes Ls, liquids, lotions and lipsticks. If you plan to fly anytime soon, show up empty handed.

But first, we want to bring you up to speed on what's happening right now. Lebanon signs onto a U.N. agreement to halt the Israel/Hezbollah fighting. Israel says it's going to stop the offensive operations on Monday. The Middle East story, much more complicated than just that. But it's straight ahead.

And the airline terror probe widens. Officials in Britain and Pakistan are holding 40 suspects. Germany now is investigating possible links. Still no sign of terrorist involvement on this side of the Atlantic.

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