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CNN Live Saturday

The Pope & Islam; Tainted Spinach Found Across U.S.; Legal Briefs; Lebanon's Recovery

Aired September 16, 2006 - 13:59   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," anger in the Muslim world is still growing after some comments by the pope. In a speech this week he cited a medieval text that describes some teachings of the Prophet Mohammed as "evil and inhuman." The Vatican says the pontiff sincerely regrets that Muslims have been offended by his comments.
President Bush calls on Congress to approve his plan for questioning and trying terror suspects. In his weekly radio address, Mr. Bush says the plan provides clear rules for handling terror suspects held by the CIA. But some senators in his own party say it gives interrogators too much leeway.

In Asia, a new peace for -- push for peace, rather, between new nuclear-armed neighbors, India and Pakistan, have agreed to resume talks that were suspended in June. The agreement was made between Pakistani and Indian leaders who are attending a non-aligned movement summit in Havana.

Health investigators in the U.S. are searching for other sources of a big E. coli outbreak. So far the spread is linked to bagged spinach products from a company in California, but other producers are being checked out as well. The outbreak in 19 states has killed one person and sickened dozens of others.

In Missouri, the search for a kidnapped baby goes on this hour. Police say a woman walked into an a rural home yesterday and kidnapped the one-week-old infant, telling the baby's mother, "I'm here to take your child." They say the kidnapper slashed the mother's throat and barricaded her in a bathroom before fleeing.

Welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

Ahead this hour, as President Bush digs in on the issue of interrogations and trials for terror suspects, what is the legal fallout? We'll get some answers from our favorite attorneys in today's "Legal Briefs."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hezbollah has emerged from this conflict with -- has emerged politically stronger than it was before the war.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: How did that happen? And what is going on inside Lebanon now that the fighting is over? We'll get an inside perspective from Beirut.

And he had it all. He had all the right questions for Alex Trebek, that is. We'll find out what life it like after "Jeopardy" from the man who set all the records on the popular game show.

But first now to our top story.

Despite conciliatory statements from the Vatican, the firestorm over the pope's comments continue to grow. During an address in Germany this week, the pope quoted a 14th century emperor who criticized Islamic teachings. The Vatican says the pope is very upset his remarks were misinterpreted.

Angry Muslims have staged demonstrations and several churches in the West Bank and Gaza were attacked.

CNN's Zain Verjee has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(CHANTING)

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Angry chants from protesters after Friday prayers in Egypt. Down with the Pope, they shout. Similar scenes of outrage from Gaza, India, Lebanon, Turkey. Sparking this anger, comments by Pope Benedict XVI about Islam and the Prophet Mohammed.

At a university lecture in Germany, the Pope said, "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhume such as his command to spread by the sword, the faith he preached." He was quoting a 14th century Byzantine Christian emperor. Reaction in the Muslim world was swift and widespread. The Iman of Al-Azhar Mosque in Egypt says the comments show the Pope's ignorance he says, adding it's an insult to all prophets. It would only worsen relations between Muslims and Christians.

With condemnation and furor on the streets and wide media coverage, the Vatican issued a statement saying, "The Pope didn't intend to offend anyone. That it was not the intention of the Holy Father to examine jihad and Muslim thought on it much less to offend Muslim believers."

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN FAITH AND VALUES CORRESPONDENT: This is a pope who believes very strongly in rational inquiry into the truth. This talk was also sort of a challenge to Muslims to say, show me -- show me what it is in your religion that doesn't agree with this text.

VERJEE: Many Christian and Muslim leaders are urging all religious leaders to be cautious about what they say not to inflame the situation further. But some analysts say damage has already been done.

PROF. FAWAZ GERGES, SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE: I think it deepens and widens the gulf that exists between the world of Islam and the West. (END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: That story originally aired on "THE SITUATION ROOM." You can catch Zain Verjee and Wolf Blitzer weeknights in "THE SITUATION ROOM," and at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 Pacific.

Later in this hour we'll have reaction to the pope's remarks from a U.S. Muslim cleric.

Violence in Iraq today amid reports of a new plan to stem the bloodshed. Two car bomb attacks killed three people in Baghdad, and almost 50 bodies were found in the city within 24 hours. Authorities are considering a plan to dig trenches to restrict access to the Iraqi capital.

An entire city in New Mexico is under threat today. City officials in Las Cruces have received two letters warning of random shootings unless the city pays a substantial ransom. Officials are urging the city's 75,000 residents to look out for any suspicious activity.

Health investigators are scrambling to track down all sources of an E. coli outbreak. Here's what we know right now.

The outbreak caused by tainted fresh spinach is now linked to a California company, but other processors are being looked at as well. The illness has spread to at least 19 states. One person has died. Dozens of others have been sickened.

More details now from CNN's Jonathan Freed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Investigators have connected the E. coli outbreak to spinach products packaged by a California-based company, Natural Selection Foods/Earthbound Farms.

The Food and Drug administration says the company has implemented a voluntary recall of its spinach products. The FDA traced the problem to the company through interviews with people who became sick.

In Wisconsin, health officials have confirmed a 77-year-old Manitowoc County woman died last week as a result of an E. coli infection. Officials say her death at a Green Bay hospital from kidney failure is linked to the E. coli outbreak that spread to at least 19 states. But they don't yet know if the woman ate raw spinach.

New York is the latest state with confirmed cases of E. coli illnesses, seven of them, connected to bacteria in bagged spinach. The map has become cluttered with cases stretching from coast to coast with as many as 11 in Utah, and 30 in Wisconsin. Including the one death. Wisconsin's governor says the state was the first to identify the strain and made the genetic information available to other states.

GOV. JIM DOYLE, WISCONSIN: When officials in eight other states matched the genetic marker with the Wisconsin strain we determined that this was a nationwide epidemic with a single source.

FREED: At least 17 of the Wisconsin victims are hospitalized. And at least four of them are in what Milwaukee officials call a crisis situation. With possible kidney failure.

BEVAN BAKER, MILWAUKEE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH: And we're being very prudent in our caution to say that perhaps boiling, frying or sauteeing may lessen the likelihood of infection but it does not completely take away the likelihood of infection. And for that reason I would say abstain from consumption.

FREED: On the streets of Manitowoc even before it was known the death touched this community there was concern. So both you and your young son ate spinach in a sandwich yesterday and today how are you feeling?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Actually I do have a little bit of stomach cramping but I'm thinking maybe it's mind over matter type thing. I don't -- I'm not concerned at this point. I just think, ok, well all this scare is in me now and oh, my stomach hurts but I think I'm okay. My son is doing great.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm actually afraid to eat it because there has already been one death.

FREED: At a cooking store in town worries about a favorite ingredient.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll buy it again. It's just going to take a little time until they find out the problem.

FREED (on camera): The FDA says it's still investigating whether or not other bagged products have been affected.

Jonathan Freed, CNN, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Let's go "Across America" now.

A south Georgia town looks like a ghost town this weekend. Federal agents swept through Fillmore, Georgia, taking more than 120 illegal immigrants into custody. The raid underscores one community's reliance on illegal workers to fill low-wage jobs.

An Oregon woman finds this man inside her home. The 51-year-old women strangles the intruding with her bear hands. She thought he was a burglar, but guess what? It turns out police say the intruder was a hit man hired by her estranged spouse. Well, hubby now cooling off in police custody.

Former president Bill Clinton among those paying respects to Ann Richards today. The body of the former Texas governor is lying in state today at the Capitol Rotunda in Austin. The brassy Democrat known for her biting political one-liners died from cancer on Wednesday. CNN's hurricane headquarters is getting very busy this afternoon. Jacqui Jeras is there.

Lot's of activity, Atlantic, as well as the Pacific.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: There sure is, yes, both sides. We've got three different hurricanes we're talking about. Only one is bothering people today. We'll tell you which one is that -- which one that is, and if it's not enough for you, we have severe weather in the Midwest.

Details coming up on the nation's weather.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Jacqui.

And trashy videos and the law. Can you think of a better combination for our legal team to take up in today's "Legal Briefs?" Boy, that's fodder for trouble.

Well, ketchup and mustard and possibly a side of virus trouble, too. Later, why are some researchers looking at putting viruses on your food?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Well, here are some of the most popular stories on CNN.com this hour.

Baby formula recall. Three hundred thousand bottles of Abbott Company's Similac brand may lack Vitamin C. That's because the bottles have faulty tops that can let in air, and air can break down Vitamin C.

Check CNN.com for the specific Similac products being recalled.

With his brother Fidel sidelined by surgery, Raul Castro is hosting a summit of non-aligned nations in Cuba. He led leaders from Iran, North Korea and Venezuela, with strong attacks on U.S. policy.

And who let the "Dog" out? Bounty hunter and reality star Duane "Dog" Chapman -- he wants to be called that -- he makes bail in Hawaii. He's wanted in Mexico, where bounty hunting is a crime.

Well, the Dog got tagged before he took a walk. He's got to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet. That's kind of clever, isn't it?

Who let the "Dog" out?

Jacqui Jeras here in the weather center.

JERAS: Hey.

WHITFIELD: A lot going on.

JERAS: There is a lot going on today.

WHITFIELD: A lot of tropical stuff going on.

JERAS: Absolutely, yes.

WHITFIELD: I knew you wanted to talk about the "Dog."

JERAS: Of course. Yes. Have you ever seen that show?

WHITFIELD: No.

JERAS: (INAUDIBLE).

WHITFIELD: OK.

JERAS: Anyway...

WHITFIELD: I'll have to go to our CNN.com to check out a little bit more on our Web site.

JERAS: More details on that, yes.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

JERAS: We've got everything on the hurricanes as well, if you want to continue to monitor the progress of that. If you've got maybe some friends or family, people visiting in Mexico, very concerned about Hurricane Lane, which is getting ready to make landfall. But we'll start you out in the Pacific.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Jacqui.

All right. Well, we are now in the peak of hurricane season, but what does that mean for all of those forecasting it?

Here's CNN meteorologist Reynolds Wolf.

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: President Bush wants Congress to narrow the U.S. legal interpretation of the Geneva Conventions and allow tougher interrogations for terror suspects. Is this going too far?

And speaking of going too far, the man who earned a fortune with his "Girls Gone Wild" video pleads guilty to federal charges.

Let's see if our legal experts go wild about these cases. We know you will, gentlemen, over the latter.

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Yes.

WHITFIELD: But we will start out conservatively.

Avery Friedman is a civil rights attorney and law professor. Good to see you, Avery.

FRIEDMAN: Hi, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Richard Herman is a New York criminal defense attorney.

Good to see you as well, Richard.

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Hi, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. As I said, we'll start out conservatively. Let's talk about this Article 3.

Avery, can you just go changing the Article 3?

FRIEDMAN: It sounds like a Billy Joel song.

WHITFIELD (SINGING): Don't go changing...

FRIEDMAN: Yes. You know, the truth is that the Geneva Conventions have served the world and served America very well for over 60 years. The idea of narrowing definitions, essentially triggers the idea both among Americans and the world community, Fredricka, that we're changing the rules, that somehow we can get away with certain behavior.

And the most knowledgeable people, people like Colin Powell, people like John Warner, people like John McCain know that you can't change the rules. We have to take the higher moral ground. That's who we are as Americans.

WHITFIELD: You can't change the rules particularly because they say if U.S. military personnel are in the custody of some other country, you stand the chance of them being abused or mistreated.

FRIEDMAN: Exactly right.

WHITFIELD: So -- so, Richard, if that is the basis of the argument, who would recognize these changes? I mean, we -- we kind of have heard the political fallout here, but legally, you know, who would honor these changes if the president has his way?

HERMAN: Fred, what makes you think that any of these al Qaeda people are going to -- going to represent these rules and abide by these rules? Here's what's going on here. Last week, 14 detainees were transferred to Guantanamo from secret CIA prisons.

WHITFIELD: Yes?

HERMAN: The Bush administration is conditioning the American people because the Red Cross is going to interview these people, and we're going to hear about how these people were treated. We, as Americans, have to determine, what are we going to do if we capture bin Laden and his followers? Are we going to allow our interrogators to take his head, stick it in water, pick it up and say, "Hey, when are you going to blow us up again?" Or are we going to sue our interrogators for civil rights violations, collect money, and pay these people?

FRIEDMAN: Oh, my goodness.

HERMAN: What are we going to do? We have to -- we have to rise up now.

The rules today of war, the rules are there are no rules. Unfortunately, Avery, it's not like World War II. It's not like Korea. It's not like Vietnam.

These people saw people's heads off. They fly planes into buildings. They don't abide by rules anymore.

WHITFIELD: So, Avery, you're shaking your head because if there are detainees in custody, you believe that there are some constitutional rights that should be honored?

FRIEDMAN: Well, more than that. And again, I don't mean to be disrespectful, but that is a shameless argument. And let me tell you why.

We are not those people. The best people in intelligence will tell you that you...

HERMAN: They laugh at us, Avery.

FRIEDMAN: No, they don't.

HERMAN: They laugh at us.

FRIEDMAN: They achieve the best information by intelligent interrogation, not by simulated drowning and by engaging in torture. When we have the best people like Colin Powell, like John McCain, like John Warner, who know what it's like to be in war, as opposed to those who don't, those are the people that you look to.

So, to suggest to us that we engage in anarchy in terms of intelligence, that, frankly -- and, again, this is a patented word that Richard uses, it's an outrage. It's just inappropriate.

WHITFIELD: Well, thanks, you guys, because I think you've now given us insight as to what kind of behind-closed-door conversations or arguments that are taking place in Washington over this very subject.

FRIEDMAN: You bet. You bet.

HERMAN: We need a lot of time on this one, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: I know. I wish we had more time.

HERMAN: We need a lot of time. WHITFIELD: But, you know, I have a feeling we're going to be talking about this topic again and revisiting it.

FRIEDMAN: Yes, because we've got a long way to go. You're right. We have a long way to go.

WHITFIELD: We really do. We're in the beginning stages.

Meantime, talk about stages, maybe a stage for this young man, Joe Francis, "Girls Gone Wild." He's made something like $40 million off these videos where a lot of girls are behaving badly, let's say.

And so now he has pleaded guilty to violating federal laws to prevent -- that are in place to prevent exploitation of children because come to find out that a lot of these young ladies are under age. But here's the catch, Richard. He was fined $2 million.

This guy has made something like $40 million. So, you know, what is the maximum penalty on something like this? And does it in any way make a dent on the whole child exploitation problem?

HERMAN: Well, Fred, the reality is it probably doesn't. The fine was $2.1 million. He's been making $40 million a year. A year he's been making.

In the year 2000, he sold 4.5 million videos and DVDs. But this -- this -- I'm surprised it wasn't a global deal, because he's got a 43-count RICO...

FRIEDMAN: Right.

HERMAN: ... federal indictment that he's facing right now. That is very, very serious.

WHITFIELD: So...

HERMAN: That's the one that's going to make the dent.

WHITFIELD: So, Avery, this really is chump change. I mean, this is $2 million. This pays for the gas for his fleet of Bentleys, if he has it.

FRIEDMAN: That's right. I don't know who's buying these videos. I guess maybe somebody knows who buying them. But apparently they're very popular.

HERMAN: Avery, you have a couple of those. Come on.

FRIEDMAN: Oh, is that right? I'm asking -- I'm asking the question.

But, look it, let me tell you something. Richard's right. The fact is there are 43 counts out there, including racketeering RICO charges. It is the tip of the iceberg.

Also, there are deferred sentences. And in English, what it means is that if Joey Francis steps out of line again, the sentence that should have been a lot stronger and would be has been deferred. So, essentially, the feds have their hands around Joey Francis' throat if...

WHITFIELD: So you're talking potentially jail time or even put him out of business?

FRIEDMAN: Exactly right. Well, I don't know about putting him out of business, but jail time, big fine.

WHITFIELD: Right.

FRIEDMAN: And the bottom line is, that if they're 13, 14, 15 and 16 years old, he better make sure he knows who's on those videos.

WHITFIELD: Avery and Richard, thanks so much.

HERMAN: OK, Fred.

FRIEDMAN: Nice to be with you, Fredricka. Take care.

HERMAN: See you soon.

WHITFIELD: All right. We'll talk next weekend.

FRIEDMAN: Bye-bye.

WHITFIELD: Well, now that the fighting has stopped, what is happening in Lebanon as people try to pick up the pieces there? We'll get some answers straight ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Once you get sick from it...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's going to make you think twice about, you know -- I hope that's a good thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Viruses on your food? Could that be a good thing? We'll tell you why the Food and Drug Administration says it could be a very good thing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD (voice over): With more than two million members, REI is the largest national retail coop, but CEO Sally Jewell doesn't want to stop there. Her goal is to get even more people off the couch.

SALLY JEWELL, PRESIDENT & CEO, REI: We think it's very, very important that people of all ages, but particularly young people, have an opportunity to experience nature.

WHITFIELD: REI sells clothing and high-end outdoor gear, along with programs designed to get people outside. The company also donates more than $3 million to outdoor activities and conservation.

JEWELL: Success certainly is defined financially, but success is also defined by what kind of a difference you're making in the lives of people around you and in the community that you're in.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Now in the news, experts tie an E. coli outbreak to a California produce company. Natural Selection Foods markets its bagged spinach under 31 name brands. Investigators are also checking spinach packaged by other companies. The FDA said to be safe, toss any bagged spinach.

The pope "extremely upset." That's how the Vatican describes Pope Benedict today. The Vatican insists the pope meant no offense in recent remarks about Islam, only that violence and religion are not compatible. Not convinced, Morocco is demanding it ambassador to Vatican City return to the North African nation.

Security officials in Yemen say they've broken up an alleged terrorist cell linked to al Qaeda. Yemen's interior minister says authorities arrested four people today following a seven-hour siege. They're suspected of plotting to blow up targets in Yemen's capital, and in yesterday's foiled attacks, on oil and gas installations.

Amber alert in Missouri. Police are looking for a newborn baby, this one who was kidnapped from the home. The child's mother told police a woman asked to use her phone. Once inside the house, police say, the stranger stabbed the mother, slashed her throat and left with the baby. The mother is in stable condition today.

More now on Pope Benedict's controversial address in Germany this week. The pope quoted a 14th century emperor, who attacked Islamic teachings as evil and inhuman. The pontiff's use of the quotation stirred up some heated debate around the world, including right here right in America.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IMAN YAHYA HENDI, MUSLIM CHAPLAIN, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Being shamed is not enough. He has to apologize. On the same -- you know, in the same token, Muslims have to also be respectful of the church and not attack churches. You know, I heard of a church being attacked in the West Bank of the Palestinian territories. This is not right and this is not ethical as well.

JOHN ALLEN, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: And his main point, actually, was certainly not to attack Islam. He actually -- if he was attacking anyone, he was attacking the West and the lack of intellectual respect for religion in the West.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: A Vatican spokesman says the pope is upset that his use of the quotation been misinterpreted.

It's been more than a month since the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah ended, but things are still far from normal. But enough time has past to assess the effects of the recent conflict.

I talked with Professor Karim Makdisi of the American University of Beirut. I started by asking him what the Lebanese people think were the gains and losses from that conflict.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARIM MAKDISI, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT: I would say the Lebanese people think that the losses are -- that entire summer has been ruined. There's over 1,200 people that have been killed, many thousands wounded. And there were over a million people displaced. The economy was destroyed and the infrastructure was hit for several billion dollars worth of damage.

So there is a lot of uncertainty and fear that people still have, even today. In terms of the gains, I would say that hopefully the gain would be -- most people are thinking that the gain is that the military's solution to this conflict simply doesn't take us anywhere, does not lead us anywhere. And hopefully both sides now acknowledge this and understand this.

WHITFIELD: Now, you mentioned still people feel rather fearful. In what way?

MAKDISI: People are fearful because as you know, the blockade has just only recently ended. But Israel remains still in occupation of parts south Lebanon. People are afraid that a small spark will -- will lead, perhaps, to another reigniting this conflict or this war, even on a smaller scale, but enough to disrupt people's lives and the economy in this country. So we remain -- I think the feeling is that people here feel that they remain hostage in many ways to a kind of a larger regional dimension, and questions that are really beyond just Lebanon.

WHITFIELD: Now what about for Hezbollah? Are they getting a lot of the blame or are people now looking to Hezbollah as a stronger force as a result?

MAKDISI: I would say that the country is divided. The country is certainly divided. Hezbollah has emerged from this conflict with -- has emerged politically stronger than it was before the war. A lot of people, even those who are not natural allies of Hezbollah, were very impressed with the way Hezbollah carried on the conduct with the war, with the way in which they're dealing with the reconstruction, especially in southern Lebanon.

So they've emerged with great credit. But that does not take away from the fact that country remains politically divided along the lines of either the pro-American groups and those who are naturally inclined toward following American or European foreign policies and strategies, and those who look more towards Syria and Iran. WHITFIELD: And you mentioned people have been very impressed with the support that Hezbollah has given post-conflict, meaning Hezbollah has given handfuls of cash to people, haven't they, to help rebuild, to put people back in their housing. They've delivered on a lot of promises. So if there were people who didn't like Hezbollah before living there, might Hezbollah have gained a few more fans?

MAKDISI: Yes, I agree. I think what you're saying is correct. Hezbollah has done something which -- which a lot of people talk about, which is they've understand how to get into the hearts and minds of people, especially, as I said, in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region, which were most severely hit during the war. They were -- it's not just that they were handing out cash to residents, to those who have lost their homes, to those who were displaced during the war. They gave them cash in order to rebuild, in order to rent places until their houses were reconstructed.

But they were very much on the ground, helping people to rebuild water facilities, helping people get back to their homes, to -- helping -- even helping in the demining process and the spreading information about the unexploded bombs and the unexploded custer (ph) bombs that remained littered across is southern Lebanon.

So they've done a very, very good job like that. And a lot of people can trust that. In fact, to what the government has done, which is is it's remained, to date, anyway -- it remained a little bit in the shadows, in terms of the reconstruction process in southern Lebanon.

WHITFIELD: Interesting. So there's a real conflict that people feel about who or what entity they can rely on, whether it's the Lebanese government or whether it's this organization which has a reputation of carrying out terrorist attacks?

MAKDISI: Yes. That's correct. Hezbollah, as you know, has not just a military wing, but it has, of course, a lot -- a social wing. It's responsible for a number of NGOs across Lebanon, and especially in southern Lebanon. They do a lot of humanitarian work. And even the U.N. representatives that I've spoken to have been very, very impressed with the way Hezbollah has carried on in the reconstruction and the humanitarian process in southern Lebanon.

So they're very much on the ground. They respond very quickly to people's needs and to people's requirements. Since they come from the people, after all. So the view of -- of Hezbollah being a terrorist organization is not something that people in this country and in this region, for that matter, take very seriously. They view it as a resistance group that is part and parcel of the Lebanese community, part and parcel of the Lebanese and Arab nation, and is fighting a legitimate fight to remove Israel from occupied Lebanese lands, and from returning prisoners that are kept hostage within Israel itself.

WHITFIELD: All right, Professor Karim Makdisi at the American University in Beirut, thank you so much for your time.

MAKDISI: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And next week we'll talk about aftermath of the conflict from the Israeli point of view.

Well, he was the man with all the right questions on "Jeopardy." Find out what he has in the way of answers when we ask him how the game show changed his life, straight ahead on CNN LIVE SATURDAY.

Web cams? They can keep on eye on things when you're not home. Technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg takes a look in this edition of "Techno File."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Having a web cam can be a great way to stay in touch and friends and family, but what about when you're not at home? Well, there are now ways you can use it remotely.

Joining us now to talk about that is Brian Cooley, editor at large with CNET. So Brian, first of all, what could you use this camera for when you're not at home?

BRIAN COOLEY, CNET.COM: These are used primarily by folks who want to watch the kids when they get home from school, watch the pets, watch a vacation home, watch a business. There are a lot of ways to use these. The beauty of them is, you can watch them on any web browser. It's not a typical television monitor connection.

SIEBERG: All right. Now, there's a couple of different tiers of cameras, right?

COOLEY: Yes.

SIEBERG: Some more expensive than others?

COOLEY: This Linxus (ph) is a really good example of a nice, inexpensive camera for about $100. It will give you a 320 x 240 resolution. That's a decent web image. It doesn't pan or tilt or zoom. It just looks at one picture all the time, unless you physically move it. And it's also wireless.

This Panasonic camera is an example of a higher tier. For a few hundred dollars, this guy is also wireless, but gives you pan and tilt and some models can also zoom in. So for example, on this live image we're watching here, if I go touch a part of the picture with my mouse, this Panasonic camera we're using right now will actually tilt and swing the picture, as you just saw, over to that part of the room that I clicked on. It also is available with zoom, so I can hit a button that will take it to a zoomed in location that I've predefined in this.

SIEBERG: Very entertaining for the cats, too. COOLEY: That's a big, big difference in the usability. Because this allows you to cover a lot of the house with a single camera, whereas the less expensive camera, it doesn't cover as much.

SIEBERG: Now what about recording this video, say for security purposes?

COOLEY: Good question. You can do that. Because a lot of folks aren't going to sit around and watch all day to catch someone who's vandalizing a property or what have you. So you can get software inexpensively for these -- sometimes it comes with them -- that lets you record on motion detection. So when the camera sees something move, it starts to record it and saves it to the hard drive of your computer in your house. If nothing is moving, it doesn't record anything.

SIEBERG: And the resolution of these, pretty good?

COOLEY: Anywhere from 320 by 420, which is -- you know, that's like a small web stream image -- up to a more sizable 640 by 480. And some cameras even go above a megapixel now.

SIEBERG: Wow, pretty cool stuff. Thanks for helping us out. Brian Cooley, editor at large at CNET. We appreciate it.

COOLEY: You bet.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Answer: he was the champion on the TV show "Jeopardy" for an incredible six months, winning $2.5 million. The question? Who is Ken Jennings? Jennings became so famous that his name is now a trivia answer himself. And now he's written a book, "Brainiac," and what is it about? Well, trivia. You guessed it.

And he's joining us live now. Hey, good to see you, Ken.

KEN JENNINGS, "BRAINIAC": Hey, Fredricka, thanks for having me.

WHITFIELD: Well, great, your book "Brainiac," about trivia and also about your journey to "Jeopardy." So is this also kind of a cheat sheet, maybe, for the next "Jeopardy" champion? Are they going to get tips and get smart like you?

JENNINGS: I hope so. When I was on the show, I had a lot of great tips from past champions of the show. So there's a few chapters in "Brainiac" which I think are a pretty good how-to guide for the budding "Jeopardy" genius.

WHITFIELD: So you've got something 170 trivia questions sprinkled throughout the book. I have to wonder if "Jeopardy" signed off on this book. You're giving up all the secrets.

JENNINGS: There are some, like, backstage secrets of "Jeopardy" you would not know just from watching the show at home.

WHITFIELD: Really, like what?

JENNINGS: Well, I've often wondered -- you know, you see the players holding your buzzers and sometimes it seems like it's not really working. You know, they get very angry. And when you're on the show, you see just how tricky the timing on the "Jeopardy" buzzer is. And I try to give a few helpful hints.

WHITFIELD: Oh, really? So they didn't give, like, kind of some acting tips just to have viewers on their seats that they want all the contestants to kind of hype it up a little bit?

JENNINGS: No, no, not all. When you see people angry on "Jeopardy," I think they're genuinely pretty angry.

WHITFIELD: Angry they didn't get the answer right or the question right?

JENNINGS: Well, often, you know, all three players know the answer, but as I say in "Brainiac," it's just the timing on the signaling device, you know? Two people look dumb without really being very dumb.

WHITFIELD: Well, you know what's so funny? I mean, if your book is as funny as your blog, which is just knee-slapping funny -- you talk about your adventures and you talk about how you kind of got hung up in the whole rankings thing, you know, wanting to know where your book stands and the whole rankings.

And I love the comparisons you made with yourself and Superman, how at work -- you know, people at work didn't even know what you were doing, and here you are you're flying back and forth to California for these tapings of this show. Did you really kind of feel a little Clark Kent-like?

JENNINGS: Yes. There's a chapter in "Brainiac" on the whole secret identity I had. Because a lot of people don't realize, "Jeopardy" tapes four months in advance sometimes, and I had signed a secrecy contract saying I could tell no one if I had won or lost.

WHITFIELD: Oh. So it's not that you didn't want to tell people.

JENNINGS: No, I was -- I would have risked my whole winnings if I had let the secret slip. So I had to leave a double life while I was commuting to California twice a month.

WHITFIELD: So did you make new friends, then, post your winnings? Or, you know, all lot of those coworkers, did they suddenly kind of cozy up to you and reveal that they were a little upset that they didn't know?

JENNINGS: They got -- they were very surprised. If you think computer programmers are smart, yes, no one figured it out for months and months. But they did get very into it. They put up a wall at work with faces of all of my contestants -- you know, challengers, and they would X them off one at a time like a Mafia thing.

WHITFIELD: Oh, that's a lot of fun. So, now, how has your life changed, besides now being an author of a great book that's getting such great reviews of it being just so well-written and with such wonderful humor, as well?

JENNINGS: That's actually the main thing that's changed. I was able to -- I was, frankly, always a pretty lousy computer programmer. And I've been very happy to be able to take some leave from that and work on "Brainiac." You know, if nothing else, I'm working from home, so I feel like I'm -- you know, not missing my 3-year-old son's whole childhood. It's been really nice.

WHITFIELD: Wow. Well, congratulations on your winnings. I know it was a while ago, but, you know, you're still -- you know, fresh in the minds of everyone who looked to you as the "Jeopardy" champ. And one that everybody else who plays "Jeopardy" kind of aspires to -- Ken Jennings.

JENNINGS: Thank you very much.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much. The book is "Brainiac," on store shelves now.

Well, what would you say if viruses became a regular part of your lunch menu? Next, the Food and Drug Administration says that just might be a good thing.

But first, one house, two dozen designers. They add up to a masterpiece of a home in Bridgehampton, New York. Can you go wrong with the address alone? It can be yours for a pretty penny, of course. Here's personal finance editor Gerri Willis with today's "Modern Living."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR (voice-over): Twenty- five of the nation's best designers strut their stuff in a massive 18,000 square foot house custom built for the event.

SUSANNA SULK, EDITOR, "HOUSE AND GARDEN": There are eight family bedrooms and two staff (ph) and 10 full barmes. There is a game room, a media room.

WILLIS: To find out what inspired some of the designs, we went straight to the designers themselves.

PHILIP GORRIVAN, DESIGNER: I'm calling this room the new outdoors. The goal was to bring outdoor furnishings and fabrics to a new level of luxury.

ERNEST DE LA TORRE, DESIGNER: I've assembled a world class collection of art, and then I wanted to create furnishings that were worthy of the art. The room is all about bridging the past and the present and bringing the old and the new together.

WILLIS: The new in this room? A ceiling made entirely out of cork. And that's not ordinary wallpaper either. It's pressed corn.

And this dream home is up for sale for a whopping $25 million, with one catch. You'll have to furnish it yourself.

Gerri Willis, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Well, hopefully you had your lunch, because this next story right make you lose your appetite. The FDA is OKing adding viruses to popular foods like hot dogs. It's designed to help keep you from getting sick. The movie is surprising some people, however.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wouldn't you get sick from it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's going to make you think twice about, you know -- I hope that's a good thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Well, a Baltimore company has one government approval to use a viral spray on ready to eat lunch meats and poultry products. It says the spray will actually fight bacterial infection, and you could see the virus-treated foods within a year.

Well, straight ahead in the next hour of CNN, "Welcome to the Future: Security Watch." What tools and technology are being put into place in the post-9/11 world?

And later at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, Bonnie Raitt joins us live from the Monterey Jazz Festival. A check of the day's headlines is next, and then "Welcome to the Future."

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