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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees

Serial child molester released from prison, New bin Laden tape offers deal to Europe, Japanese hostages released in Iraq, Interview with Don King

Aired April 15, 2004 - 19:00   ET

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

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


(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Truce with terror, a new tape offers a new deal. Will Europe give in to the world's most wanted man?

A serial child molester goes free on appeal because his alleged victim killed himself.

No time to delay, networks rush to buy the latest gear to bleep out those naughty words.

Is Don King punch drunk? Once a Clintonite, he's now campaigning for Bush. Do Republicans really want this controversial king?

And the Donald creates the perfect storm of cross promotion but is NBC making us all seasick?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: Live from the CNN Broadcast Center in New York this is ANDERSON COOPER 360.

COOPER: Good evening. Welcome to 360.

Wherever he is, Osama bin Laden has apparently managed to get another message out, a seven and a half minute audio tape. This time he offers a deal for Europeans only or a truce of consequences.

We're covering this story around the globe tonight, in Afghanistan, Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson; in London, CNN's Guy Raz; in Washington, White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux; and, in Iraq, CNN's Karl Penhaul.

We begin in Afghanistan. Nic, bin Laden today appears to be striking a very different tone in this tape than he ever has before.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Anderson. There seems to be a politically astute tone that message delivered in audio tapes given to two Arabic language news broadcasters. At the same time, the hunt here in Afghanistan for Osama bin Laden goes on.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ROBERTSON (voice-over): As U.S. troops were conducting early morning raids hunting Osama bin Laden in the remote Afghan villages, Arabic language news channels were just receiving the latest message appearing to be from the al Qaeda leader. Striking a new tone, it offers a truce for European nations apparently trying to isolate the United States.

OSAMA BIN LADEN (through translator): I offer a truce to them with the commitment to stop operations against any state which vows to stop attacking Muslims or interfere in their affairs, including participating in the American conspiracy against the wider Muslim world.

ROBERTSON: Seemingly, a more politically astute posture than previous messages, bin Laden appears to be exploiting the March 11th Madrid bombings and Spain's subsequent announcement it may pull troops out of Iraq.

In a further indication the tape was recorded recently, the speaker refers to the March 22nd killing of Sheikh Yassin, the spiritual leader of Hamas.

BIN LADEN (through translator): Our actions come in response to your actions of destroying and killing our people in Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine. It is enough to witness the event that shocked the world, the killing of the elderly wheelchair bound Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, God have mercy on him, and we pledge to God to take revenge on America, God willing.

ROBERTSON: For the U.S. troops hunting bin Laden and his supporters suspected of anti-coalition activity, the message and what the troops can learn from it have much interest.

CAPT. ANTHONY GIBBS, U.S. ARMY: It's obvious now that Osama is still out there. It doesn't make me feel any worse about the work that we're doing up here because I'm rest assured now that he's not operating in this part of the country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: Bin Laden gives a three month deadline for his offer and threatens war for any nation that doesn't accept it. The troops here say they can't put a deadline on how long it will take to capture Osama bin Laden but they do say however long it takes they're prepared -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right, Nic Robertson, live in Afghanistan, thanks Nic.

European leaders issued their response to bin Laden and it was resounding we will not negotiate with terrorists, welcome news to the White House certainly. This week the president has been trying to shore up international support, hosting Arab and European leaders.

In Washington tonight White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne. SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, President Bush was notified of the audio tape early this morning and it could pose a difficulty for the White House if the American people begin to judge the president's ability to fight the war on terror based on the capture of Osama bin Laden. So far that has not happened and so far there has not been a crack in the alliance.

White House Spokesman Scott McClellan saying earlier this morning: "Our intelligence community has publicly confirmed that it is likely his voice on the tape. And I think that it is a clear reminder that we are still at on war terrorism. I think that is a clear reminder that terrorists will use any excuse to carry out their evil acts on innocent human beings."

And it goes on to talk about the coalition saying: "I think that the coalition in Iraq has shown their commitment to following through on what we are working to help the Iraqi people realize and that is a free and peaceful future."

Perhaps what is more disconcerting is what is happening on the ground inside of Iraq. They want to make sure they have a U.N. Security Council resolution that gives international cover to all of those allies to stay those troops and to keep their support inside that country -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right, Suzanne at the White House thanks Suzanne.

As we mentioned, European leaders say they won't make deals with terrorists but what about the broader European population who overwhelmingly oppose the war in Iraq.

In London for us tonight, CNN's Guy Raz, Guy is bin Laden's deal likely to have any takers?

GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very unlikely, Anderson. This message from Osama bin Laden has effectively fallen on deaf ears across Europe. The people that CNN has spoken to, ordinary people in various European capitals, have said they do not want to see their governments negotiating with what they regard as a terrorist.

Now, what makes this tape particularly interesting, of course, is the obvious. The speaker on the tape, if indeed it is bin Laden, is trying to drive a wedge between the United States and Europe, trying to exacerbate existing divisions.

Earlier today we heard from British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. He said, for example, his government will treat this message with contempt.

Now, bin Laden effectively making a strategic calculation. He knows what happened in Madrid. He knows what happened after those bombings, the ouster of course of a pro-American government in that country.

He's well aware of very large antiwar demonstrations in Europe over the past year and a half and, of course, divisions when it comes to the Israel-Palestinian question.

So, effectively the speaker trying to talk over the heads of the European leaders directly to the public, so far, Anderson, it does not appear as if it's resonating.

COOPER: Good news certainly to hear that. Guy Raz, thanks very much from London.

This is not the first time Osama bin Laden has mentioned Europe in a taped message. Here's a "Fast Fact" for you. In an audio tape message released October 18, 2003, bin Laden warned, and I quote: "Let the transgressors know that we reserve our right in responding when and where we see appropriate against all the countries that participate in this unjust war, especially Britain, Spain, Australia, Poland, Japan and Italy."

Less than five months later, this deadly scene, the March train bombings in Madrid, 191 people killed. Investigators now believe a terror cell with suspected ties to al Qaeda carried out these attacks.

We're going to look more closely at this new tape and what it might mean with two terrorism analysts coming up later on 360.

But in Iraq tonight that is where we go now. Insurgents kept up fierce fighting and, while some hostages were freed, another was executed.

CNN's Karl Penhaul is there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A kiss from a cleric, the feel of safety for these three Japanese hostages. Last week the scene was very different, kneeling, blindfolded as their kidnappers threatened to burn them alive unless Japanese troops pull out of Iraq. Japan's troops stayed. The two humanitarian workers and freelance journalists are free.

This French journalist was also fortunate. His four day kidnap ordeal began Sunday.

MOHAMMED GASHAR AL-FAYDI, MUSLIM SCHOLARS ASSN.: They were screaming jihad and they blindfolded me and threw me in the back of the car with a blade under my throat.

PENHAUL: He says he was moved to ten different locations before being released Wednesday, a very different end for Italian hostage Fabrizio Quattrocchi.

This tape was sent late Wednesday by a previously unknown insurgent group called the Green Brigade to Arabic broadcaster Al- Jazeera. Minutes later Quattrocchhi, a private security guard, was murdered. Three colleagues seized at the same time are still being held.

Earlier this week, coalition authority said 40 international hostages from 12 different countries were in insurgent hands. And, on Baghdad streets, the killing continued, the wreck of an Iranian diplomat's car, unidentified gunmen pumped bullets into (unintelligible), Iran's first secretary to Baghdad.

The drive-by shooting came as an Iranian delegation was here to mediate between the coalition forces and Shiite cleric Muqtada al- Sadr's militia, a standoff that's threatening to become a battle.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PENHAUL: Anderson, earlier this evening we're told by Spanish troops in the holy city of Najaf that they took mortar fire from suspected members of Sadr's Shiite militia there. The Spanish troops tell us there was no injuries or any damage to buildings there but certainly signs that things are hotting up in Najaf.

In Fallujah, that's the second front in the current round of violence that we're seeing. Marines told me tonight that a shaky ceasefire is continuing to hold but during the day-to-day they've spotted insurgents unloading a cache of weapons from ambulances marked with the Iraqi Red Crescent symbol -- Anderson.

COOPER: We certainly heard that one before from Fallujah. All right, Karl Penhaul thanks very much for that.

Because of the growing insurgency, violence and U.S. casualties, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld today made it official, an extended tour of duty for 20,000 U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Rumsfeld says he regrets the decision while making a rare admission about the violence on the ground. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: If a year ago you had asked me to describe where you would be on April 15th, 2004 in Iraq, how might you have described it and I answered by saying I would not have described it precisely the way we are now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Well, the extension affects about 20,000 troops currently in Iraq. They were supposed to be coming home at the end of one year but will now be staying an extra 90 days.

Not too far from Iraq in Saudi Arabia, renewed concern for Americans tonight. Here's a quick news note. Secretary of State Colin Powell has ordered all non-essential personnel and their families to leave the kingdom in the coming days. Powell says the threat level has gone up but he is giving no specifics.

We are following a number of developing stories for you right now "Cross Country." Let's take a quick look.

Olympia, Washington, former GITMO cleared. All remaining charges against Army Captain James Yee were dropped today. The Army abandoned the adultery and pornography charges citing concern over publicity. Espionage charges against the Muslim chaplain were dropped a month ago.

Boston, Massachusetts, last ditch legislation, Governor Mit Romney is again trying to stop the first U.S. gay marriages from becoming legal May 17th. The Massachusetts attorney general won't do it, so Romney now wants to appoint a special counsel to take the case to the state Supreme Court.

In Beverly Hills, California, probable cause for Courtney Love, a judge ruled today that the celebrity rocker must stand trial on two felony drug charges. The judge wasn't swayed by the claim that she had prescriptions for the painkillers in her home.

Summerville, New Jersey, no dismissal, the judge in the Jayson Williams trial denies a defense motion to dismiss all charges but he will let attorneys recall witnesses to discuss new evidence that's being introduced. Trial should resume on Monday.

And, Atlanta, Georgia, speech rights denied, a federal court ruled today that the city of Augusta illegally restricted protesters during the Masters Golf Tournament last year. The women's group was protesting the all male club membership when the city moved them a half mile away from the golf club, and that is a look at stories "Cross Country" tonight.

A sexual predator who has confessed to molesting more than 200 victims, ahead find out why he got set free. Now even his own family fears he will strike again.

Plus, our special series "Indecent Crackdown," why radio stations are reaching for the bleeper button faster than you can say, well, something naughty. The Janet Jackson nipple-ripple now has censors scanning the airwaves.

And prize fights and politics, Don King comes out swinging for the GOP, all that ahead.

First let's take a look "Inside the box" at the top stories on tonight's network newscasts.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Well, tonight a serial child molester walks the streets a free man. A California appeals court overturned his most recent conviction just four days ago. Right now he's in Washington State and authorities there want to make sure they do not lose sight of him. His family worries he may strike again.

CNN's Miguel Marquez is following the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Edward Harvey Stokes, a self-proclaimed serial child molester with over 200 victims was let out of prison last week, his case overturned on appeal and now he's flying under the radar. JOHN URQUNART, KING COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: He has to register as a sex offender within 30 days but, of course, at least so far has committed no law -- broken no laws. We're not looking for him. The police aren't looking for him but we're still interested that he's here in Washington.

MARQUEZ: On September 11, 2001, Stokes was convicted of one count of sexual battery and oral copulation and sentenced to 19 years to life after he lured a 16-year-old boy from the streets of Seattle to Orange County, California.

TONY RACKAUCKAS, ORANGE COUNTY D.A.: He goes after boys who are 15, 16, 17 years old, young men, and uses drugs to get control of them and forces sexual acts on them.

MARQUEZ: Tony Rackauckas, the Orange County District Attorney whose office tried Stokes says this is a guy who has a long history of sexually abusing minors.

RACKAUCKAS: They wake up shackled and tied up and at his mercy, him doing various kinds of forced sex acts on them.

MARQUEZ: In the 1990s, while serving a different sentence on molestation charges in Colorado, Stokes wrote a statement to a prison therapist admitting to having 212 victims over 28 years and referred to himself as a monster. Even Stokes' sister by adoption can't believe he's out.

SUSAN STOKES, ADOPTED SISTER OF EDWARD STOKES: I just think about the kids whose lives he's impacted and the damage he's done and the potential for some of those to also become predators.

MARQUEZ: Stokes was released because his sole accuser killed himself shortly before trial. An attorney for Stokes' defense says the Constitution is clear on defendant's rights.

JOHN BARNETT, ATTORNEY FOR STOKES: He did eight years for a crime that he never was afforded his most basic constitutional right, which is to confront and cross-examine his accuser.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Now, authorities discovered where Stokes was because a Costco employee had seen the story out there and she told authorities that he was in there applying for the Costco card and purchasing candy. Stokes has to register as a sex offender in Washington State by mid-May -- Anderson.

COOPER: Miguel Marquez thanks very much, Miguel.

Miguel mentioned the Washington State sex offender registry. Here's a "Fast Fact" about the national one. Non-violent offenders have to register their address annually.

Now those classified as violent sexual offenders have to register their address every 90 days. If a sexual offender doesn't register with the FBI when he or she is released from jail, the offender could be fined $100,000 and go back to jail for a year.

We are tracking a number of developing stories around the globe right now. Let's check the "Up Link."

Southern Gaza, Israeli air strike, an Israeli helicopter fires two missiles today on a refugee camp injuring at least 20 Palestinians, some critically. Palestinian witnesses say Israeli troops also shot and killed a 19-year-old bystander. Israel's military says its troops fired at an armed man.

Madrid, Spain, shifting tides, the incoming prime minister delivers a strong speech to Parliament a day before a parliamentary vote he's widely expected to win. Socialist leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero vowed to fight terrorism and recognize gay marriage.

Cuba, failing grade on human rights, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights is again criticizing the communist island's record. It's asking Cuba to guarantee freedom of expression and religion and begin talking with political groups to develop democratic institutions.

Vancouver, Canada, major cross-border bust, Canadian police say they have broken up a marijuana and money-laundering operation worth millions of dollars each week. Police say three groups were cooperating to get the marijuana into the U.S. in exchange for American dollars, which was then converted back to Canadian money, and that's a quick look at stories in the "Up Link."

"Indecent Crackdown" how far will it go? Now radio stations are rushing for the bleeper button. Has the nipple-ripple already gone too far? We're going to hear from both sides on that.

Also tonight, Martha Stewart fighting hard to stay out of prison, will a last ditch appeal keep her a free woman?

And a little later, Donald Trump, he is here, there and everywhere and we say enough already. The cross-promotion media bonanza that is this weeks overkill.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Radio shock jock Howard Stern got a shock of his own when he got back from vacation this week. Not only had radio stations given him the boot but reruns of his raunchy show are now being censored as well.

As the battle over America's airwaves continues, so does our series "Indecent Crackdown." Here's CNN's Adaora Udoji.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They're on high alert in the radio world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's your question for Dr. Brown? UDOJI: WOR, one of the country's oldest stations, operates on an eight-second delay, an easy way to cut off rowdy callers.

So, the extra vigilance brought on by the FCC's indecency crackdown drives popular psychologist Joy Brown crazy. She says radio is being unfairly targeted.

DR. JOY BROWN, RADIO HOST: I mean if we're really talking about it, it's not radio. It's television and it's, I mean and it's movies.

UDOJI: So, agrees shock jock Howard Stern who says he's at war. The "New York Post" reports Stern returned from vacation this week to find his station heavily censoring his reruns. That followed the FCC slapping a half million dollar fine against six Clear Channel stations for indecency violations in a Stern show. Clear Channel fired him. Thursday Stern was blasting President Bush.

VOICE OF HOWARD STERN: Clear Channel got in that position because they pay off Bush and Colin Powell's son cleared the way for them to own every radio station."

UDOJI: Whoever's at fault, over in Little Ferry, New Jersey at even tide they're thrilled. One of only two U.S. companies making the delay devices says business is booming.

RICHARD FACTOR, PRESIDENT, EVENIDE, INC.: We've gotten orders for hundreds in a period of a few weeks, you know. That's pretty unusual.

UDOJI: It's a confusing and scary time for radio stations, say some analysts, because they aren't sure what's indecent or not. They consider the devices insurance policies.

(on camera): And insurance policies so that radio stations can err on the side of caution.

Adaora Udoji, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, what do you think of the FCC crackdown? Has it gone too far?

Let's talk with two people in the radio business and we promise we'll try not to censor them tonight. In Chicago, liberal talk radio host Nancy Skinner and, in Miami, conservative Christian radio host Doug Giles, appreciate both of you being on this program.

Doug, what about this? Has the FCC gone too far?

DOUG GILES, CHRISTIAN RADIO HOST: Well, you know, after Janet Jackson's breast coming out party during the Super Bowl, you know, we've got what 90 million people. They were liberal, conservative, Jews, Christian, atheists, Martians, Jo Joe the monkey boy in Brazilian jungles that, you know, aside from the FCC you got the -- you got the common people, us average Joes and Janes out there saying that we've had enough of it.

And I think it's indicative of, you know, just the tiredness that the American population is getting with having this incredible filth just shoved down our throat. You know I'm all for free speech. I'm all for people popping off. I wouldn't have a job if I wasn't for free speech.

COOPER: Well, Nancy, let me bring you in here. Nancy, why can't corporations, radio channels, Clear Channel decide who they want to air and who they don't want to air?

NANCY SKINNER, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Well, first let me say that I am really freaked out that I'm in agreement both with Howard Stern and Rush Limbaugh that we're all pretty much in agreement about this issue because corporations, there are so few corporations that own all the airwaves, Anderson. That's the problem.

We had such concentration and Howard Stern is right that was Michael Powell who allowed even further consolidations. This was against the opposition of the American public and both houses of Congress that voted against it and they slipped it through in an omnibus bill.

COOPER: But Nancy you know when people say, look, they're riding in their car with their child and they hear -- their child hears Howard Stern.

SKINNER: Then change the channel. That's the freedom. Now isn't it ironic that we're invading Iraq to liberate them so they have freedoms but, you know, in Afghanistan they had the ministry of virtue and vice. Now, we're instigating censorship here.

GILES: Yes, but what about...

SKINNER: The (unintelligible) principle of democracy is divergent and pluralistic media and we're taking that away.

COOPER: Why not? Why not just change the channel?

GILES: What about -- what about having the Islamic jihad channel where they talk about, you know, killing us belligerent infidels (unintelligible).

COOPER: Well, you know, that's really not on the air.

SKINNER: There's no market for that.

COOPER: Let's talk about Howard Stern. I mean why, Doug, why not? Why shouldn't parents just turn off the radio or turn the channel if they don't like what's being heard?

GILES: Well the problem is, is that when they turn off the radio because of Howard Stern and the rise of shock jocks, I mean everybody and their dog, you know, from Stern on down and different rock stations pulling off the shock jock type stuff. I mean here in Miami, you've got -- you've got wannabe Sterns that are doing, you know, their shock jock and also tapering back a whole lot since the whole Stern debacle hit the fan post Janet Janet's breast coming out party. They're starting to tone down.

SKINNER: Fourteen million people listen to Howard Stern, Doug.

GILES: So what? Ninety million people said that they're sick of the, you know, the breast and the grinding and the bumping and (unintelligible).

COOPER: But, Doug, I think a lot of people who were watching the Super Bowl didn't expect to see something like that. Nancy, people are tuning in to Howard Stern. They kind of know what they're getting in for.

SKINNER: Absolutely, Anderson, and the fact is...

GILES: The thing that I don't like, the thing that I don't like, Anderson, is that freedom of speech has turned into freedom to offend, you know, and it's (unintelligible).

SKINNER: That's what it is, Doug.

COOPER: OK, Nancy final thought.

SKINNER: That's what it is. What do you think? Of course the freedom of speech is free to be offensive. I would never listen to Howard Stern. This is not my shtick but central to American democracy is that we all get to speak our mind. If you don't like it, you shut it off.

Whatever happened to personal responsibility, which is something that the conservatives, you know, libertarians speak so highly of. You take responsibility for your children.

COOPER: We're going to have to leave it there. We're going to have to leave it there, appreciate both of you being on the program.

GILES: Thanks for having us.

COOPER: Doug Giles and Nancy Skinner thanks very much.

GILES: Thanks, Anderson. Thanks buddy.

SKINNER: You bet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Martha Stewart's broker wants a new trial and what does Martha's handbag have to do with it?

DON KING: Four more years, four more years for George Walker Bush.

COOPER: All right, let's -- is Don King punch drunk? Once a Clintonite he's now campaigning for Bush. Do Republicans really want this controversial king?

And the Donald creates the perfect storm of cross promotion but is NBC making us all seasick? 360 continues.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Let's look at our top stories in "The Reset." All across Europe no takers for bin Laden's truce or consequences offer. Leaders emphatically rejecting a peace deal laid out in a new audiotape that's said to be from the al Qaeda leader. French president Jacques Chirac said quote, "no dealings are possible with terrorists."

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Americans told to leave. The State Department orders all nonessential diplomats and their family members to leave the country because of concerns about terrorism. Private citizens are also being urged to leave the kingdom.

Oakland, California: a predator in jail. Infamous child molester Kenneth Parnell sentenced to life in prison for trying to buy a young boy for $500. Parnell served five years back in the 1980s for abducting two boys, including Steven Stainer who endured seven years of abuse before he managed to escape.

New York now: Barbara Walters new book deal. The interviewing icon reportedly being paid $5 million to write her memoirs. 2007 the target date for publication.

And that's a look at top story in "The Reset" tonight.

Now back to our top story, Osama bin Laden: it's truce or consequences in a new audio tape message. Another example of how al Qaeda tries to hijack public opinion.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): In his latest audiotape, Osama bin Laden offers a truce to European nations that stop, in his words, attacking Muslims. He also referred directly to the March 11 bombings in Madrid that killed 190 people.

Yet again bin Laden has shown he is aware of how divided European public opinion is about the war with Iraq and that he intends to take advantage of it. This is not the first time al Qaeda has used hate messages to drive a wedge between the United States and its allies. Last September, al Qaeda threatened Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf, a vital ally to the U.S. A few months later, Musharraf survived two bloody assassination attempts.

In an audiotape released last October, bin Laden called for attacks on Spain and other members of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq. On March 11, ten deadly bombs exploded on trains in Madrid. Days later, Spanish voters stunned observers and elected an anti-war government. And today, again just three days after President Bush promised that the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq will remain steadfast...

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We must not waiver.

COOPER: ...bin Laden threatened European nations that continue to support the U.S. in Iraq. Osama bin Laden might be hiding in a remote part of the world, but he sure knows how to get his message out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, so far no one has is buying bin Laden's truce offer. I recently was joined by CNN terrorism analyst Peter Bergen and M.J. Gohel, who is a terrorism expert for the Asia Pacific Foundation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Peter, in your opinion, what is most significant about this tape?

PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: Well, I think the first thing that is most significant is it is a proof of life of bin Laden in the last three weeks. The reference to the assassination of Sheikh Yassin on March 22 means the tape was made in the last three week and it means that he's alive and well and also influencing the global Jihad he set in motion on 9/11 by trying to bring a wedge between the Europeans and the United States on the subject of the Iraq war.

COOPER: M.J., as Peter mentioned, not just alive and well, but remarkably well informed about what is going on, referencing very recent events, as Peter says. What do you make of this?

M.J. GOHEL, TERRORISM EXPERT: What is fascinating about this particular tape is that the timing of it, the fact that he's trying to create divisions within the western alliance, and the fact that he's referred to the Palestinian issue within 24 hours of the meeting taking place between the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon and President George Bush at the White House.

COOPER: Do you think this message will resonate among European -- not European leaders said they won't make any sort of deal, but among European citizens who are largely against the war in Iraq?

BERGEN: Maybe. This might be one more piece of evidence for people in European countries who are opposed to the war that the Iraq war is not their fight and that they're paying an unnecessary cost for their involvement. So, even if the governments are saying, publicly, we're not going withdraw from the coalition, nonetheless the electorates in these countries may well have a different view as they did in Spain.

COOPER: M.J. What do Osama bin Laden learn from the events in Spain, from the reaction of the Spanish people to the bombings there?

GOHEL: Those bombings had a major impact on the general election there. This was the intention. And what is rather worrying and sad is that the new incoming Spanish government, with unseemly haste, announced that Spain would pull its troops out on June 30 from Iraq.

Now this sent out the worst possible message. It showed that European nations can be intimidated and this only encouraged al Qaeda and affiliated groups within the global jihad movement to bring more pressure on European countries.

COOPER: Peter Bergen, you've often said in the past that after one of these tapes is released, there is often a violent incident shortly thereafter. Is there anything in this tape, in this recording that points to a next target?

BERGEN: Well, you did say specifically that Americans are going to be targeted for the assassination of Sheikh Yassin. Certainly in the past, in October of 2003 bin Laden called for attacks on Spanish, British, Italian targets. And those attacks did happen after that tape. So these tapes are a message to bin Laden supporters to actually act. The most reliable guide to al Qaeda's actions are bin Laden statements. So, unfortunately this might presage other attacks.

COOPER: M.J. he mentions European opinion polls in this tape. He talks about Halliburton by name specifically. How well informed are they? They do seem to have an amazing sense of public relations.

GOHEL: They're trying to influence, public opinion. They're trying to cause division in the rest of alliance. They are trying to isolate the USA. And, of course, the USA is the enemy No. 1. The whole intention of this latest videotape is to widen the cracks, which they perceive exist between Europe and the USA.

COOPER: M.J. Gohel, appreciate you joining us. Beter Bergen as well, thank you very much.

BERGEN: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, today's "Buzz" question is this, "has the war in Iraq made al Qaeda stronger or weaker?" What do you think? Log on to cnn.com/360 to vote. We'll have the results at the end of the program tonight.

So did Martha Stewart get fair trial? She was found guilty of lying and now she's accusing a juror of doing the same thing. An update on that in "Justice Served."

Plus, "The Apprentice" frenzy. The finale is tonight and just in time because this week it got "Overkilled."

And Don King steps into the political ring. But is he a Republican or a Democrat? Got to find out, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Well, the co-defendant in the Martha Stewart case wants a new trial as well. Peter Bacanovic's lawyer say the jury blatantly disobeyed the judge's orders when they were told to ignore media coverage about the case.

CNN's Alan Chernoff has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Martha Stewart's handbag is exclusive, Hermes Birkin bag. They retail for more than $6,000. It was the talk of the tabloids at the beginning of the trial. And according to the latest defense memo to Judge William Cedarbaum, its cost was discussed among some jurors. The judge Cedarbaum warned jurors not to read about the trial. The lead attorney for Peter Bacanovic convicted with Stewart says this is evidence the jurors violated the order and were prejudiced by press coverage, reasons to toss the guilty verdict and hold a new trial. One juror confirmed to CNN discussing the bag with individual colleagues, but said the topic never came up in group deliberations.

JOHN COFFEE, COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL: There is always going to be a little bit of this talk in the background. None of it strikes me as showing the jurors were biased.

CHERNOFF: The Bacanovic filing says jurors discussed the hourly fee of Stewart's lawyer, Rob Morvillo (ph), $650. Which appeared in New York magazine before the trial began. Martha Stewart's lawyers had been asking for a new trial claiming juror Chappel Hartridge lied on the jury questionnaire, withholding facts about his criminal history.

Legal experts say Judge Cedarbaum is almost certain to stand by the jury's verdict. Sentencing is scheduled for June 17th after which Stewart and Bacanovic may appeal. Alan Chernoff, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Covering the case for us tonight, Court TV's Lisa Bloom.

So, what are the chances that Bacanovic and Stewart will get a new trial?

LISA BLOOM, COURT TV: You've got to be kidding me. Talking about the price of Martha Stewart's handbag?

Does she think -- does her defense team think she's going to get a new trial because they talked about that? I'm astounded. This was just as bad their defense was a trail, which was essentially no defense.

Who cares about the price of the handbag?

COOPER: You think this is just a result of a high priced attorney needing to be able to file something?

BLOOM: Needing something.

How long had we known about some of this alleged background of some of these jurors?

Did they know about it before the verdict, Anderson?

Because if they did, why didn't they tell the judge and an alternate could have been seated and all these people could have been invited.

COOPER: According to "Newsweek," Stewart's attorneys hired private investigators looking into the backgrounds of the jurors before the verdict.

BLOOM: And that raises serious questions about gamesmanship on the part of the defense. Because all of this could have been cured by seating an alternate and getting rid of the bad egg.

COOPER: Because now they're saying this guy, Chappel Hartridge, they are saying he had sort of a shady past, embezzled money, arrested for assault.

But would he have been chosen for the jury had this been know?

BLOOM: That's first question. The prosecution says the defense probably would have chosen him anyway. But lets take the defense at their word, they wouldn't chosen him had they known. What if they found out during the trial, before the jury went out to deliberate and they didn't bring it to the judge's attention. Instead waited for a verdict that went against Martha Stewart and new they raise it?

I think that's highly unproper on their part.

COOPER: It is possible they kept it as an arrow quiver just to use in case things when badly.

BLOOM: Exactly. And the whole thing could have been solved by seating a alternate, if they knew about it before the jury went out to deliberate.

COOPER: Could any of this impact sentencing? I mean, say they don't get a new trial could any of this information (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

BLOOM: No. There are federal sentencing guidelines. The judge is going to look at Martha Stewart's past, her lack of criminal history, has she has shown remorse, which she has not. Those kinds of factors, not whether one of the jurors did cocaine five years go.

COOPER: Thank you very much. By the way, Lisa, you're fired.

BLOOM: Oh, no.

COOPER: That's right. Tonight you'll hear Donald Trump say those words for last time, thank goodness. For a while, at least.

BLOOM: You didn't really mean that.

COOPER: Oh, yes. You're fired. Thank you very much. The final episode of "The Apprentice" airs tonight -- you can leave. And NBC is pulling together all its parts to make sure you know about it. The network has taken the concept of synergy to extremes, and That is making for some serious apprentice overkill.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP, HOST, "THE APPRENTICE": You're fired.

COOPER: With those words, the hopes and dreams of one final "Apprentice" wanna-be will be dashed. And another will go on to a quarter million dollar job with the Trump organization. Will it be the cigar mogul or the Harvard MBA, only the Donald knows. But NBC is doing all it can to make sure we're there when the winner is chosen.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But how do the contestants get on the show in the first place?

COOPER: According to Video Monitoring service, in just the past four days, "The Apprentice" has been talked about 42 times on NBC, and its cable components MSNBC and CNBC.

KATIE COURIC, "TODAY SHOW": Bill and Kwame will duke it out in a corporate jungle of New York City on tonight's hotly anticipated finale of "The Apprentice."

COOPER: For weeks countless plugs on "Today."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, behind "The Apprentice."

COOPER: "Dateline" devoted a full hour to the game last night and will give the Donald his due with an hour-long profile tomorrow night. All that cross promotion isn't surprising since "The Apprentice" has creeped steadily forward in the ratings. Finishing in the number two slot last week with 22 million viewers. Network cross promotion is nothing new. CBS is "The Early Show" features the latest "Survivor" reject every Friday giving that news program its highest weekly ratings. But NBC with its web of cable, broadcast, news and entertainment divisions has stretched the notion of network synergy to new lengths and given us a serious case of apprentice "Overkill." NBC, you're fired.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: By the way Lisa Bloom was not really fired. It was all just good fun.

It may be overkill but the American public seems to have an unquenchable appetite for all this reality on television. Here's a fast fact for you. Last week reality shows dominated the Nelson ratings taking the top for spots. "American Idol" was no. 1 with 23.5 million viewers, "The Apprentice" edged out "Survivor" for second place, with the Donald pulling in 22 million viewers.

The one and only Don King, the other Donald, stops by for one wacky ahead. And coming up the boxing promoter never had a lose for words really. He's talking about politics tonight, and frankly I don't think he's stopped yet.

Plus in "The Current," when it comes to money, Nicole Kidman is head's up down under. All that ahead stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: All right, time to check on lighter pop news in tonight's "Current." Let's take a look.

Veterinarians in Kenya are puzzled by the discovery of a baby zebra without stripes. They don't know if the animal was born that way or if the stripes vanished or if she removed them herself because they made her look fat.

"Business Review Weekly" says Nicole Kidman earned almost $20 million last year, enough to make her the richest Australian entertainer. We think the magazine overlooked the Aussie who consistently leads crowds floored and begging for more: Fosters.

And also in "The Current" tonight, we have a special -- oh wait a minute. What's this? This just in, a media alert. It seems Jessica Simpson is launching a new product called -- have we confirmed this? Called Desert Beauty. That's right. According to the press release, Desert Beauty is, and I quote "the first ever kissable, lickable fragrance and body care collection created to be both a fragrance and a flavor" -- I'm sorry, excuse me, dessert beauty. It's available in three scents according to the press release, creamy, dreamy and juicy. What about tacky?

Well, tonight we bring you a visit with the lord of the ring, Don King. Often sued, always interesting. Sure he promotes boxing, big boxing match this weekend. But politics? The flamboyant hair raising order has much to say on the election. I found that out after he nearly knocked me down with fast and loud talking jabs. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: So Don King, you used to support President Clinton. You gave money to Richard Gephardt and Carol Moseley Braun. But now you're supporting President Bush.

DON KING, BOXING PROMOTER: Yes, I'm supporting George Walker Bush for the president of the United States, because he's now reaching out for a word called inclusiveness. Inclusiveness means bringing all the Americans together, black and white alike and working for a better America.

COOPER: Does he want your support?

KING: Well, certainly he wants my support. He's the president of the United States. He says we're all god's children.

COOPER: How do you go from supporting President Clinton and Dick Gephardt and Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun to supporting President George Bush?

KING: I'm a Republicrat.

COOPER: You're a what?

KING: A Republicrat. That means you support America.

COOPER: Some people call you an Opportunacrat.

KING: Well, they can call me whatever they want. But that's what they said to John Paul Jones when the water was over the portholes and the British commander says do you surrender? And John Paul Jones responded, "I have not yet begun to fight."

COOPER: You're not just supporting President Bush, your wearing eight buttons for Bush and the family.

KING: Get this one here. Four more years. Four more years for George Walker Bush.

COOPER: Have you met President Bush?

KING: I have met him? I'm with him.

COOPER: Are you raising money?

KING: All the time. I'm raising money for America and he happens to be the man with the plan that's going to make America better. And we have to stand by him and bring America together in inclusiveness, not exclusiveness. George Walker Bush for four more years.

COOPER: All right. So, you have this event in Madison Square Garden. Doing boxing promotion again. What is this big event?

KING: It's a great event. It's diversity. The same thing that Bush in now preaching. We have John Reese and he's fighting Frazier Kendall. I predict the Puerto Rican will win. Viva Puerto Rico! Viva Puerto Rico! First time in history that you have two Puerto Ricans fighting for the heavyweight crown. Woo! Madison Square Garden, get it on Pap Per View! Pay Per View! Pay Per View! Call your local cable operator, or your satellite broadcaster!

COOPER: I know you're doing a lot of...

KING: Yes, I am.

COOPER: How many boxers are you being sued by now?

KING; It doesn't matter how many that are sue. How many I did make rich? I made 121 millionaires, that's more than all -- all corporations in the whole history of this country has never made as many poor millionaires as I did from the common folk.

COOPER: Why are so many suing you? Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson?

KING: Because they're coded. They are guided by their slavelike mentality. They are guided by trying to knock down a bunch of crabs rather than understanding and not knowing anyone that pay them and get respect and dignity without choosing between either/or. You can have them both.

COOPER: Do you wish you were a politician?

KING: I am a politician. I'm a politician of life. I don't want to be a politician in an office. I want George Walker Bush to do that. I want to be the fuel that primes the pump, that keeps him pushing ahead, one land indisible with liberty and justice for all. Work George, work George, go George, go George. John Kerry has two chances to win. Slim and none. And slim is out of time.

COOPER: Don King, Opportunicrat thanks very much.

KING: I love you. Great, great, great, great interviewer. I'm so happy. I'm so excited. Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo!

COOPER: Thanks, Don.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: I don't really know what to say. Coming up, "The Nth Degree."

Plus, tomorrow we continue our series "Indecent Crackdown." Selling adult sex toys, legal or not?

First, today's "Buzz." "Has the war in Iraq made al Qaeda stronger or weaker." Log on to cnn.com/360 to vote now. Results when we come bak.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Time now for "The Buzz." Earlier we asked you, "has the war in Iraq made al Qaeda stronger or weaker?" More than 22,000 of you have voted. 64 percent of you said stronger, 36 percent of you said it made them weaker. Not a scientific poll, just your "Buzz." Thank you.

Tonight, war is told to "The Nth Degree." Flipping through the "New York Times" today we found ourselves unable to get past page A- 13. There, staring back at us, the faces of all American members killed last week in Iraq.

They range in age from 18 to 45. And came from places like Gurney Illinois, Houston, Texas, Chunky, Mississippi. They died in places like Fallujah, Ramadi, Baghdad.

Behind each face, a family, a mother, a father, a wife, a husband. We think of their faces as well. 64 men and women who died in one terrible week.

People talk about the cost of war. This is the real cost. And there are few words to speak.

I'm Anderson Cooper. Coming up next, "PAULA ZAHN NOW." TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired April 15, 2004 - 19:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Truce with terror, a new tape offers a new deal. Will Europe give in to the world's most wanted man?

A serial child molester goes free on appeal because his alleged victim killed himself.

No time to delay, networks rush to buy the latest gear to bleep out those naughty words.

Is Don King punch drunk? Once a Clintonite, he's now campaigning for Bush. Do Republicans really want this controversial king?

And the Donald creates the perfect storm of cross promotion but is NBC making us all seasick?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: Live from the CNN Broadcast Center in New York this is ANDERSON COOPER 360.

COOPER: Good evening. Welcome to 360.

Wherever he is, Osama bin Laden has apparently managed to get another message out, a seven and a half minute audio tape. This time he offers a deal for Europeans only or a truce of consequences.

We're covering this story around the globe tonight, in Afghanistan, Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson; in London, CNN's Guy Raz; in Washington, White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux; and, in Iraq, CNN's Karl Penhaul.

We begin in Afghanistan. Nic, bin Laden today appears to be striking a very different tone in this tape than he ever has before.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Anderson. There seems to be a politically astute tone that message delivered in audio tapes given to two Arabic language news broadcasters. At the same time, the hunt here in Afghanistan for Osama bin Laden goes on.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ROBERTSON (voice-over): As U.S. troops were conducting early morning raids hunting Osama bin Laden in the remote Afghan villages, Arabic language news channels were just receiving the latest message appearing to be from the al Qaeda leader. Striking a new tone, it offers a truce for European nations apparently trying to isolate the United States.

OSAMA BIN LADEN (through translator): I offer a truce to them with the commitment to stop operations against any state which vows to stop attacking Muslims or interfere in their affairs, including participating in the American conspiracy against the wider Muslim world.

ROBERTSON: Seemingly, a more politically astute posture than previous messages, bin Laden appears to be exploiting the March 11th Madrid bombings and Spain's subsequent announcement it may pull troops out of Iraq.

In a further indication the tape was recorded recently, the speaker refers to the March 22nd killing of Sheikh Yassin, the spiritual leader of Hamas.

BIN LADEN (through translator): Our actions come in response to your actions of destroying and killing our people in Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine. It is enough to witness the event that shocked the world, the killing of the elderly wheelchair bound Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, God have mercy on him, and we pledge to God to take revenge on America, God willing.

ROBERTSON: For the U.S. troops hunting bin Laden and his supporters suspected of anti-coalition activity, the message and what the troops can learn from it have much interest.

CAPT. ANTHONY GIBBS, U.S. ARMY: It's obvious now that Osama is still out there. It doesn't make me feel any worse about the work that we're doing up here because I'm rest assured now that he's not operating in this part of the country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: Bin Laden gives a three month deadline for his offer and threatens war for any nation that doesn't accept it. The troops here say they can't put a deadline on how long it will take to capture Osama bin Laden but they do say however long it takes they're prepared -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right, Nic Robertson, live in Afghanistan, thanks Nic.

European leaders issued their response to bin Laden and it was resounding we will not negotiate with terrorists, welcome news to the White House certainly. This week the president has been trying to shore up international support, hosting Arab and European leaders.

In Washington tonight White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne. SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, President Bush was notified of the audio tape early this morning and it could pose a difficulty for the White House if the American people begin to judge the president's ability to fight the war on terror based on the capture of Osama bin Laden. So far that has not happened and so far there has not been a crack in the alliance.

White House Spokesman Scott McClellan saying earlier this morning: "Our intelligence community has publicly confirmed that it is likely his voice on the tape. And I think that it is a clear reminder that we are still at on war terrorism. I think that is a clear reminder that terrorists will use any excuse to carry out their evil acts on innocent human beings."

And it goes on to talk about the coalition saying: "I think that the coalition in Iraq has shown their commitment to following through on what we are working to help the Iraqi people realize and that is a free and peaceful future."

Perhaps what is more disconcerting is what is happening on the ground inside of Iraq. They want to make sure they have a U.N. Security Council resolution that gives international cover to all of those allies to stay those troops and to keep their support inside that country -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right, Suzanne at the White House thanks Suzanne.

As we mentioned, European leaders say they won't make deals with terrorists but what about the broader European population who overwhelmingly oppose the war in Iraq.

In London for us tonight, CNN's Guy Raz, Guy is bin Laden's deal likely to have any takers?

GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very unlikely, Anderson. This message from Osama bin Laden has effectively fallen on deaf ears across Europe. The people that CNN has spoken to, ordinary people in various European capitals, have said they do not want to see their governments negotiating with what they regard as a terrorist.

Now, what makes this tape particularly interesting, of course, is the obvious. The speaker on the tape, if indeed it is bin Laden, is trying to drive a wedge between the United States and Europe, trying to exacerbate existing divisions.

Earlier today we heard from British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. He said, for example, his government will treat this message with contempt.

Now, bin Laden effectively making a strategic calculation. He knows what happened in Madrid. He knows what happened after those bombings, the ouster of course of a pro-American government in that country.

He's well aware of very large antiwar demonstrations in Europe over the past year and a half and, of course, divisions when it comes to the Israel-Palestinian question.

So, effectively the speaker trying to talk over the heads of the European leaders directly to the public, so far, Anderson, it does not appear as if it's resonating.

COOPER: Good news certainly to hear that. Guy Raz, thanks very much from London.

This is not the first time Osama bin Laden has mentioned Europe in a taped message. Here's a "Fast Fact" for you. In an audio tape message released October 18, 2003, bin Laden warned, and I quote: "Let the transgressors know that we reserve our right in responding when and where we see appropriate against all the countries that participate in this unjust war, especially Britain, Spain, Australia, Poland, Japan and Italy."

Less than five months later, this deadly scene, the March train bombings in Madrid, 191 people killed. Investigators now believe a terror cell with suspected ties to al Qaeda carried out these attacks.

We're going to look more closely at this new tape and what it might mean with two terrorism analysts coming up later on 360.

But in Iraq tonight that is where we go now. Insurgents kept up fierce fighting and, while some hostages were freed, another was executed.

CNN's Karl Penhaul is there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A kiss from a cleric, the feel of safety for these three Japanese hostages. Last week the scene was very different, kneeling, blindfolded as their kidnappers threatened to burn them alive unless Japanese troops pull out of Iraq. Japan's troops stayed. The two humanitarian workers and freelance journalists are free.

This French journalist was also fortunate. His four day kidnap ordeal began Sunday.

MOHAMMED GASHAR AL-FAYDI, MUSLIM SCHOLARS ASSN.: They were screaming jihad and they blindfolded me and threw me in the back of the car with a blade under my throat.

PENHAUL: He says he was moved to ten different locations before being released Wednesday, a very different end for Italian hostage Fabrizio Quattrocchi.

This tape was sent late Wednesday by a previously unknown insurgent group called the Green Brigade to Arabic broadcaster Al- Jazeera. Minutes later Quattrocchhi, a private security guard, was murdered. Three colleagues seized at the same time are still being held.

Earlier this week, coalition authority said 40 international hostages from 12 different countries were in insurgent hands. And, on Baghdad streets, the killing continued, the wreck of an Iranian diplomat's car, unidentified gunmen pumped bullets into (unintelligible), Iran's first secretary to Baghdad.

The drive-by shooting came as an Iranian delegation was here to mediate between the coalition forces and Shiite cleric Muqtada al- Sadr's militia, a standoff that's threatening to become a battle.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PENHAUL: Anderson, earlier this evening we're told by Spanish troops in the holy city of Najaf that they took mortar fire from suspected members of Sadr's Shiite militia there. The Spanish troops tell us there was no injuries or any damage to buildings there but certainly signs that things are hotting up in Najaf.

In Fallujah, that's the second front in the current round of violence that we're seeing. Marines told me tonight that a shaky ceasefire is continuing to hold but during the day-to-day they've spotted insurgents unloading a cache of weapons from ambulances marked with the Iraqi Red Crescent symbol -- Anderson.

COOPER: We certainly heard that one before from Fallujah. All right, Karl Penhaul thanks very much for that.

Because of the growing insurgency, violence and U.S. casualties, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld today made it official, an extended tour of duty for 20,000 U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Rumsfeld says he regrets the decision while making a rare admission about the violence on the ground. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: If a year ago you had asked me to describe where you would be on April 15th, 2004 in Iraq, how might you have described it and I answered by saying I would not have described it precisely the way we are now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Well, the extension affects about 20,000 troops currently in Iraq. They were supposed to be coming home at the end of one year but will now be staying an extra 90 days.

Not too far from Iraq in Saudi Arabia, renewed concern for Americans tonight. Here's a quick news note. Secretary of State Colin Powell has ordered all non-essential personnel and their families to leave the kingdom in the coming days. Powell says the threat level has gone up but he is giving no specifics.

We are following a number of developing stories for you right now "Cross Country." Let's take a quick look.

Olympia, Washington, former GITMO cleared. All remaining charges against Army Captain James Yee were dropped today. The Army abandoned the adultery and pornography charges citing concern over publicity. Espionage charges against the Muslim chaplain were dropped a month ago.

Boston, Massachusetts, last ditch legislation, Governor Mit Romney is again trying to stop the first U.S. gay marriages from becoming legal May 17th. The Massachusetts attorney general won't do it, so Romney now wants to appoint a special counsel to take the case to the state Supreme Court.

In Beverly Hills, California, probable cause for Courtney Love, a judge ruled today that the celebrity rocker must stand trial on two felony drug charges. The judge wasn't swayed by the claim that she had prescriptions for the painkillers in her home.

Summerville, New Jersey, no dismissal, the judge in the Jayson Williams trial denies a defense motion to dismiss all charges but he will let attorneys recall witnesses to discuss new evidence that's being introduced. Trial should resume on Monday.

And, Atlanta, Georgia, speech rights denied, a federal court ruled today that the city of Augusta illegally restricted protesters during the Masters Golf Tournament last year. The women's group was protesting the all male club membership when the city moved them a half mile away from the golf club, and that is a look at stories "Cross Country" tonight.

A sexual predator who has confessed to molesting more than 200 victims, ahead find out why he got set free. Now even his own family fears he will strike again.

Plus, our special series "Indecent Crackdown," why radio stations are reaching for the bleeper button faster than you can say, well, something naughty. The Janet Jackson nipple-ripple now has censors scanning the airwaves.

And prize fights and politics, Don King comes out swinging for the GOP, all that ahead.

First let's take a look "Inside the box" at the top stories on tonight's network newscasts.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Well, tonight a serial child molester walks the streets a free man. A California appeals court overturned his most recent conviction just four days ago. Right now he's in Washington State and authorities there want to make sure they do not lose sight of him. His family worries he may strike again.

CNN's Miguel Marquez is following the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Edward Harvey Stokes, a self-proclaimed serial child molester with over 200 victims was let out of prison last week, his case overturned on appeal and now he's flying under the radar. JOHN URQUNART, KING COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: He has to register as a sex offender within 30 days but, of course, at least so far has committed no law -- broken no laws. We're not looking for him. The police aren't looking for him but we're still interested that he's here in Washington.

MARQUEZ: On September 11, 2001, Stokes was convicted of one count of sexual battery and oral copulation and sentenced to 19 years to life after he lured a 16-year-old boy from the streets of Seattle to Orange County, California.

TONY RACKAUCKAS, ORANGE COUNTY D.A.: He goes after boys who are 15, 16, 17 years old, young men, and uses drugs to get control of them and forces sexual acts on them.

MARQUEZ: Tony Rackauckas, the Orange County District Attorney whose office tried Stokes says this is a guy who has a long history of sexually abusing minors.

RACKAUCKAS: They wake up shackled and tied up and at his mercy, him doing various kinds of forced sex acts on them.

MARQUEZ: In the 1990s, while serving a different sentence on molestation charges in Colorado, Stokes wrote a statement to a prison therapist admitting to having 212 victims over 28 years and referred to himself as a monster. Even Stokes' sister by adoption can't believe he's out.

SUSAN STOKES, ADOPTED SISTER OF EDWARD STOKES: I just think about the kids whose lives he's impacted and the damage he's done and the potential for some of those to also become predators.

MARQUEZ: Stokes was released because his sole accuser killed himself shortly before trial. An attorney for Stokes' defense says the Constitution is clear on defendant's rights.

JOHN BARNETT, ATTORNEY FOR STOKES: He did eight years for a crime that he never was afforded his most basic constitutional right, which is to confront and cross-examine his accuser.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Now, authorities discovered where Stokes was because a Costco employee had seen the story out there and she told authorities that he was in there applying for the Costco card and purchasing candy. Stokes has to register as a sex offender in Washington State by mid-May -- Anderson.

COOPER: Miguel Marquez thanks very much, Miguel.

Miguel mentioned the Washington State sex offender registry. Here's a "Fast Fact" about the national one. Non-violent offenders have to register their address annually.

Now those classified as violent sexual offenders have to register their address every 90 days. If a sexual offender doesn't register with the FBI when he or she is released from jail, the offender could be fined $100,000 and go back to jail for a year.

We are tracking a number of developing stories around the globe right now. Let's check the "Up Link."

Southern Gaza, Israeli air strike, an Israeli helicopter fires two missiles today on a refugee camp injuring at least 20 Palestinians, some critically. Palestinian witnesses say Israeli troops also shot and killed a 19-year-old bystander. Israel's military says its troops fired at an armed man.

Madrid, Spain, shifting tides, the incoming prime minister delivers a strong speech to Parliament a day before a parliamentary vote he's widely expected to win. Socialist leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero vowed to fight terrorism and recognize gay marriage.

Cuba, failing grade on human rights, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights is again criticizing the communist island's record. It's asking Cuba to guarantee freedom of expression and religion and begin talking with political groups to develop democratic institutions.

Vancouver, Canada, major cross-border bust, Canadian police say they have broken up a marijuana and money-laundering operation worth millions of dollars each week. Police say three groups were cooperating to get the marijuana into the U.S. in exchange for American dollars, which was then converted back to Canadian money, and that's a quick look at stories in the "Up Link."

"Indecent Crackdown" how far will it go? Now radio stations are rushing for the bleeper button. Has the nipple-ripple already gone too far? We're going to hear from both sides on that.

Also tonight, Martha Stewart fighting hard to stay out of prison, will a last ditch appeal keep her a free woman?

And a little later, Donald Trump, he is here, there and everywhere and we say enough already. The cross-promotion media bonanza that is this weeks overkill.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Radio shock jock Howard Stern got a shock of his own when he got back from vacation this week. Not only had radio stations given him the boot but reruns of his raunchy show are now being censored as well.

As the battle over America's airwaves continues, so does our series "Indecent Crackdown." Here's CNN's Adaora Udoji.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They're on high alert in the radio world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's your question for Dr. Brown? UDOJI: WOR, one of the country's oldest stations, operates on an eight-second delay, an easy way to cut off rowdy callers.

So, the extra vigilance brought on by the FCC's indecency crackdown drives popular psychologist Joy Brown crazy. She says radio is being unfairly targeted.

DR. JOY BROWN, RADIO HOST: I mean if we're really talking about it, it's not radio. It's television and it's, I mean and it's movies.

UDOJI: So, agrees shock jock Howard Stern who says he's at war. The "New York Post" reports Stern returned from vacation this week to find his station heavily censoring his reruns. That followed the FCC slapping a half million dollar fine against six Clear Channel stations for indecency violations in a Stern show. Clear Channel fired him. Thursday Stern was blasting President Bush.

VOICE OF HOWARD STERN: Clear Channel got in that position because they pay off Bush and Colin Powell's son cleared the way for them to own every radio station."

UDOJI: Whoever's at fault, over in Little Ferry, New Jersey at even tide they're thrilled. One of only two U.S. companies making the delay devices says business is booming.

RICHARD FACTOR, PRESIDENT, EVENIDE, INC.: We've gotten orders for hundreds in a period of a few weeks, you know. That's pretty unusual.

UDOJI: It's a confusing and scary time for radio stations, say some analysts, because they aren't sure what's indecent or not. They consider the devices insurance policies.

(on camera): And insurance policies so that radio stations can err on the side of caution.

Adaora Udoji, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, what do you think of the FCC crackdown? Has it gone too far?

Let's talk with two people in the radio business and we promise we'll try not to censor them tonight. In Chicago, liberal talk radio host Nancy Skinner and, in Miami, conservative Christian radio host Doug Giles, appreciate both of you being on this program.

Doug, what about this? Has the FCC gone too far?

DOUG GILES, CHRISTIAN RADIO HOST: Well, you know, after Janet Jackson's breast coming out party during the Super Bowl, you know, we've got what 90 million people. They were liberal, conservative, Jews, Christian, atheists, Martians, Jo Joe the monkey boy in Brazilian jungles that, you know, aside from the FCC you got the -- you got the common people, us average Joes and Janes out there saying that we've had enough of it.

And I think it's indicative of, you know, just the tiredness that the American population is getting with having this incredible filth just shoved down our throat. You know I'm all for free speech. I'm all for people popping off. I wouldn't have a job if I wasn't for free speech.

COOPER: Well, Nancy, let me bring you in here. Nancy, why can't corporations, radio channels, Clear Channel decide who they want to air and who they don't want to air?

NANCY SKINNER, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Well, first let me say that I am really freaked out that I'm in agreement both with Howard Stern and Rush Limbaugh that we're all pretty much in agreement about this issue because corporations, there are so few corporations that own all the airwaves, Anderson. That's the problem.

We had such concentration and Howard Stern is right that was Michael Powell who allowed even further consolidations. This was against the opposition of the American public and both houses of Congress that voted against it and they slipped it through in an omnibus bill.

COOPER: But Nancy you know when people say, look, they're riding in their car with their child and they hear -- their child hears Howard Stern.

SKINNER: Then change the channel. That's the freedom. Now isn't it ironic that we're invading Iraq to liberate them so they have freedoms but, you know, in Afghanistan they had the ministry of virtue and vice. Now, we're instigating censorship here.

GILES: Yes, but what about...

SKINNER: The (unintelligible) principle of democracy is divergent and pluralistic media and we're taking that away.

COOPER: Why not? Why not just change the channel?

GILES: What about -- what about having the Islamic jihad channel where they talk about, you know, killing us belligerent infidels (unintelligible).

COOPER: Well, you know, that's really not on the air.

SKINNER: There's no market for that.

COOPER: Let's talk about Howard Stern. I mean why, Doug, why not? Why shouldn't parents just turn off the radio or turn the channel if they don't like what's being heard?

GILES: Well the problem is, is that when they turn off the radio because of Howard Stern and the rise of shock jocks, I mean everybody and their dog, you know, from Stern on down and different rock stations pulling off the shock jock type stuff. I mean here in Miami, you've got -- you've got wannabe Sterns that are doing, you know, their shock jock and also tapering back a whole lot since the whole Stern debacle hit the fan post Janet Janet's breast coming out party. They're starting to tone down.

SKINNER: Fourteen million people listen to Howard Stern, Doug.

GILES: So what? Ninety million people said that they're sick of the, you know, the breast and the grinding and the bumping and (unintelligible).

COOPER: But, Doug, I think a lot of people who were watching the Super Bowl didn't expect to see something like that. Nancy, people are tuning in to Howard Stern. They kind of know what they're getting in for.

SKINNER: Absolutely, Anderson, and the fact is...

GILES: The thing that I don't like, the thing that I don't like, Anderson, is that freedom of speech has turned into freedom to offend, you know, and it's (unintelligible).

SKINNER: That's what it is, Doug.

COOPER: OK, Nancy final thought.

SKINNER: That's what it is. What do you think? Of course the freedom of speech is free to be offensive. I would never listen to Howard Stern. This is not my shtick but central to American democracy is that we all get to speak our mind. If you don't like it, you shut it off.

Whatever happened to personal responsibility, which is something that the conservatives, you know, libertarians speak so highly of. You take responsibility for your children.

COOPER: We're going to have to leave it there. We're going to have to leave it there, appreciate both of you being on the program.

GILES: Thanks for having us.

COOPER: Doug Giles and Nancy Skinner thanks very much.

GILES: Thanks, Anderson. Thanks buddy.

SKINNER: You bet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Martha Stewart's broker wants a new trial and what does Martha's handbag have to do with it?

DON KING: Four more years, four more years for George Walker Bush.

COOPER: All right, let's -- is Don King punch drunk? Once a Clintonite he's now campaigning for Bush. Do Republicans really want this controversial king?

And the Donald creates the perfect storm of cross promotion but is NBC making us all seasick? 360 continues.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Let's look at our top stories in "The Reset." All across Europe no takers for bin Laden's truce or consequences offer. Leaders emphatically rejecting a peace deal laid out in a new audiotape that's said to be from the al Qaeda leader. French president Jacques Chirac said quote, "no dealings are possible with terrorists."

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Americans told to leave. The State Department orders all nonessential diplomats and their family members to leave the country because of concerns about terrorism. Private citizens are also being urged to leave the kingdom.

Oakland, California: a predator in jail. Infamous child molester Kenneth Parnell sentenced to life in prison for trying to buy a young boy for $500. Parnell served five years back in the 1980s for abducting two boys, including Steven Stainer who endured seven years of abuse before he managed to escape.

New York now: Barbara Walters new book deal. The interviewing icon reportedly being paid $5 million to write her memoirs. 2007 the target date for publication.

And that's a look at top story in "The Reset" tonight.

Now back to our top story, Osama bin Laden: it's truce or consequences in a new audio tape message. Another example of how al Qaeda tries to hijack public opinion.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): In his latest audiotape, Osama bin Laden offers a truce to European nations that stop, in his words, attacking Muslims. He also referred directly to the March 11 bombings in Madrid that killed 190 people.

Yet again bin Laden has shown he is aware of how divided European public opinion is about the war with Iraq and that he intends to take advantage of it. This is not the first time al Qaeda has used hate messages to drive a wedge between the United States and its allies. Last September, al Qaeda threatened Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf, a vital ally to the U.S. A few months later, Musharraf survived two bloody assassination attempts.

In an audiotape released last October, bin Laden called for attacks on Spain and other members of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq. On March 11, ten deadly bombs exploded on trains in Madrid. Days later, Spanish voters stunned observers and elected an anti-war government. And today, again just three days after President Bush promised that the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq will remain steadfast...

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We must not waiver.

COOPER: ...bin Laden threatened European nations that continue to support the U.S. in Iraq. Osama bin Laden might be hiding in a remote part of the world, but he sure knows how to get his message out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, so far no one has is buying bin Laden's truce offer. I recently was joined by CNN terrorism analyst Peter Bergen and M.J. Gohel, who is a terrorism expert for the Asia Pacific Foundation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Peter, in your opinion, what is most significant about this tape?

PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: Well, I think the first thing that is most significant is it is a proof of life of bin Laden in the last three weeks. The reference to the assassination of Sheikh Yassin on March 22 means the tape was made in the last three week and it means that he's alive and well and also influencing the global Jihad he set in motion on 9/11 by trying to bring a wedge between the Europeans and the United States on the subject of the Iraq war.

COOPER: M.J., as Peter mentioned, not just alive and well, but remarkably well informed about what is going on, referencing very recent events, as Peter says. What do you make of this?

M.J. GOHEL, TERRORISM EXPERT: What is fascinating about this particular tape is that the timing of it, the fact that he's trying to create divisions within the western alliance, and the fact that he's referred to the Palestinian issue within 24 hours of the meeting taking place between the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon and President George Bush at the White House.

COOPER: Do you think this message will resonate among European -- not European leaders said they won't make any sort of deal, but among European citizens who are largely against the war in Iraq?

BERGEN: Maybe. This might be one more piece of evidence for people in European countries who are opposed to the war that the Iraq war is not their fight and that they're paying an unnecessary cost for their involvement. So, even if the governments are saying, publicly, we're not going withdraw from the coalition, nonetheless the electorates in these countries may well have a different view as they did in Spain.

COOPER: M.J. What do Osama bin Laden learn from the events in Spain, from the reaction of the Spanish people to the bombings there?

GOHEL: Those bombings had a major impact on the general election there. This was the intention. And what is rather worrying and sad is that the new incoming Spanish government, with unseemly haste, announced that Spain would pull its troops out on June 30 from Iraq.

Now this sent out the worst possible message. It showed that European nations can be intimidated and this only encouraged al Qaeda and affiliated groups within the global jihad movement to bring more pressure on European countries.

COOPER: Peter Bergen, you've often said in the past that after one of these tapes is released, there is often a violent incident shortly thereafter. Is there anything in this tape, in this recording that points to a next target?

BERGEN: Well, you did say specifically that Americans are going to be targeted for the assassination of Sheikh Yassin. Certainly in the past, in October of 2003 bin Laden called for attacks on Spanish, British, Italian targets. And those attacks did happen after that tape. So these tapes are a message to bin Laden supporters to actually act. The most reliable guide to al Qaeda's actions are bin Laden statements. So, unfortunately this might presage other attacks.

COOPER: M.J. he mentions European opinion polls in this tape. He talks about Halliburton by name specifically. How well informed are they? They do seem to have an amazing sense of public relations.

GOHEL: They're trying to influence, public opinion. They're trying to cause division in the rest of alliance. They are trying to isolate the USA. And, of course, the USA is the enemy No. 1. The whole intention of this latest videotape is to widen the cracks, which they perceive exist between Europe and the USA.

COOPER: M.J. Gohel, appreciate you joining us. Beter Bergen as well, thank you very much.

BERGEN: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, today's "Buzz" question is this, "has the war in Iraq made al Qaeda stronger or weaker?" What do you think? Log on to cnn.com/360 to vote. We'll have the results at the end of the program tonight.

So did Martha Stewart get fair trial? She was found guilty of lying and now she's accusing a juror of doing the same thing. An update on that in "Justice Served."

Plus, "The Apprentice" frenzy. The finale is tonight and just in time because this week it got "Overkilled."

And Don King steps into the political ring. But is he a Republican or a Democrat? Got to find out, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Well, the co-defendant in the Martha Stewart case wants a new trial as well. Peter Bacanovic's lawyer say the jury blatantly disobeyed the judge's orders when they were told to ignore media coverage about the case.

CNN's Alan Chernoff has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Martha Stewart's handbag is exclusive, Hermes Birkin bag. They retail for more than $6,000. It was the talk of the tabloids at the beginning of the trial. And according to the latest defense memo to Judge William Cedarbaum, its cost was discussed among some jurors. The judge Cedarbaum warned jurors not to read about the trial. The lead attorney for Peter Bacanovic convicted with Stewart says this is evidence the jurors violated the order and were prejudiced by press coverage, reasons to toss the guilty verdict and hold a new trial. One juror confirmed to CNN discussing the bag with individual colleagues, but said the topic never came up in group deliberations.

JOHN COFFEE, COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL: There is always going to be a little bit of this talk in the background. None of it strikes me as showing the jurors were biased.

CHERNOFF: The Bacanovic filing says jurors discussed the hourly fee of Stewart's lawyer, Rob Morvillo (ph), $650. Which appeared in New York magazine before the trial began. Martha Stewart's lawyers had been asking for a new trial claiming juror Chappel Hartridge lied on the jury questionnaire, withholding facts about his criminal history.

Legal experts say Judge Cedarbaum is almost certain to stand by the jury's verdict. Sentencing is scheduled for June 17th after which Stewart and Bacanovic may appeal. Alan Chernoff, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Covering the case for us tonight, Court TV's Lisa Bloom.

So, what are the chances that Bacanovic and Stewart will get a new trial?

LISA BLOOM, COURT TV: You've got to be kidding me. Talking about the price of Martha Stewart's handbag?

Does she think -- does her defense team think she's going to get a new trial because they talked about that? I'm astounded. This was just as bad their defense was a trail, which was essentially no defense.

Who cares about the price of the handbag?

COOPER: You think this is just a result of a high priced attorney needing to be able to file something?

BLOOM: Needing something.

How long had we known about some of this alleged background of some of these jurors?

Did they know about it before the verdict, Anderson?

Because if they did, why didn't they tell the judge and an alternate could have been seated and all these people could have been invited.

COOPER: According to "Newsweek," Stewart's attorneys hired private investigators looking into the backgrounds of the jurors before the verdict.

BLOOM: And that raises serious questions about gamesmanship on the part of the defense. Because all of this could have been cured by seating an alternate and getting rid of the bad egg.

COOPER: Because now they're saying this guy, Chappel Hartridge, they are saying he had sort of a shady past, embezzled money, arrested for assault.

But would he have been chosen for the jury had this been know?

BLOOM: That's first question. The prosecution says the defense probably would have chosen him anyway. But lets take the defense at their word, they wouldn't chosen him had they known. What if they found out during the trial, before the jury went out to deliberate and they didn't bring it to the judge's attention. Instead waited for a verdict that went against Martha Stewart and new they raise it?

I think that's highly unproper on their part.

COOPER: It is possible they kept it as an arrow quiver just to use in case things when badly.

BLOOM: Exactly. And the whole thing could have been solved by seating a alternate, if they knew about it before the jury went out to deliberate.

COOPER: Could any of this impact sentencing? I mean, say they don't get a new trial could any of this information (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

BLOOM: No. There are federal sentencing guidelines. The judge is going to look at Martha Stewart's past, her lack of criminal history, has she has shown remorse, which she has not. Those kinds of factors, not whether one of the jurors did cocaine five years go.

COOPER: Thank you very much. By the way, Lisa, you're fired.

BLOOM: Oh, no.

COOPER: That's right. Tonight you'll hear Donald Trump say those words for last time, thank goodness. For a while, at least.

BLOOM: You didn't really mean that.

COOPER: Oh, yes. You're fired. Thank you very much. The final episode of "The Apprentice" airs tonight -- you can leave. And NBC is pulling together all its parts to make sure you know about it. The network has taken the concept of synergy to extremes, and That is making for some serious apprentice overkill.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP, HOST, "THE APPRENTICE": You're fired.

COOPER: With those words, the hopes and dreams of one final "Apprentice" wanna-be will be dashed. And another will go on to a quarter million dollar job with the Trump organization. Will it be the cigar mogul or the Harvard MBA, only the Donald knows. But NBC is doing all it can to make sure we're there when the winner is chosen.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But how do the contestants get on the show in the first place?

COOPER: According to Video Monitoring service, in just the past four days, "The Apprentice" has been talked about 42 times on NBC, and its cable components MSNBC and CNBC.

KATIE COURIC, "TODAY SHOW": Bill and Kwame will duke it out in a corporate jungle of New York City on tonight's hotly anticipated finale of "The Apprentice."

COOPER: For weeks countless plugs on "Today."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, behind "The Apprentice."

COOPER: "Dateline" devoted a full hour to the game last night and will give the Donald his due with an hour-long profile tomorrow night. All that cross promotion isn't surprising since "The Apprentice" has creeped steadily forward in the ratings. Finishing in the number two slot last week with 22 million viewers. Network cross promotion is nothing new. CBS is "The Early Show" features the latest "Survivor" reject every Friday giving that news program its highest weekly ratings. But NBC with its web of cable, broadcast, news and entertainment divisions has stretched the notion of network synergy to new lengths and given us a serious case of apprentice "Overkill." NBC, you're fired.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: By the way Lisa Bloom was not really fired. It was all just good fun.

It may be overkill but the American public seems to have an unquenchable appetite for all this reality on television. Here's a fast fact for you. Last week reality shows dominated the Nelson ratings taking the top for spots. "American Idol" was no. 1 with 23.5 million viewers, "The Apprentice" edged out "Survivor" for second place, with the Donald pulling in 22 million viewers.

The one and only Don King, the other Donald, stops by for one wacky ahead. And coming up the boxing promoter never had a lose for words really. He's talking about politics tonight, and frankly I don't think he's stopped yet.

Plus in "The Current," when it comes to money, Nicole Kidman is head's up down under. All that ahead stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: All right, time to check on lighter pop news in tonight's "Current." Let's take a look.

Veterinarians in Kenya are puzzled by the discovery of a baby zebra without stripes. They don't know if the animal was born that way or if the stripes vanished or if she removed them herself because they made her look fat.

"Business Review Weekly" says Nicole Kidman earned almost $20 million last year, enough to make her the richest Australian entertainer. We think the magazine overlooked the Aussie who consistently leads crowds floored and begging for more: Fosters.

And also in "The Current" tonight, we have a special -- oh wait a minute. What's this? This just in, a media alert. It seems Jessica Simpson is launching a new product called -- have we confirmed this? Called Desert Beauty. That's right. According to the press release, Desert Beauty is, and I quote "the first ever kissable, lickable fragrance and body care collection created to be both a fragrance and a flavor" -- I'm sorry, excuse me, dessert beauty. It's available in three scents according to the press release, creamy, dreamy and juicy. What about tacky?

Well, tonight we bring you a visit with the lord of the ring, Don King. Often sued, always interesting. Sure he promotes boxing, big boxing match this weekend. But politics? The flamboyant hair raising order has much to say on the election. I found that out after he nearly knocked me down with fast and loud talking jabs. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: So Don King, you used to support President Clinton. You gave money to Richard Gephardt and Carol Moseley Braun. But now you're supporting President Bush.

DON KING, BOXING PROMOTER: Yes, I'm supporting George Walker Bush for the president of the United States, because he's now reaching out for a word called inclusiveness. Inclusiveness means bringing all the Americans together, black and white alike and working for a better America.

COOPER: Does he want your support?

KING: Well, certainly he wants my support. He's the president of the United States. He says we're all god's children.

COOPER: How do you go from supporting President Clinton and Dick Gephardt and Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun to supporting President George Bush?

KING: I'm a Republicrat.

COOPER: You're a what?

KING: A Republicrat. That means you support America.

COOPER: Some people call you an Opportunacrat.

KING: Well, they can call me whatever they want. But that's what they said to John Paul Jones when the water was over the portholes and the British commander says do you surrender? And John Paul Jones responded, "I have not yet begun to fight."

COOPER: You're not just supporting President Bush, your wearing eight buttons for Bush and the family.

KING: Get this one here. Four more years. Four more years for George Walker Bush.

COOPER: Have you met President Bush?

KING: I have met him? I'm with him.

COOPER: Are you raising money?

KING: All the time. I'm raising money for America and he happens to be the man with the plan that's going to make America better. And we have to stand by him and bring America together in inclusiveness, not exclusiveness. George Walker Bush for four more years.

COOPER: All right. So, you have this event in Madison Square Garden. Doing boxing promotion again. What is this big event?

KING: It's a great event. It's diversity. The same thing that Bush in now preaching. We have John Reese and he's fighting Frazier Kendall. I predict the Puerto Rican will win. Viva Puerto Rico! Viva Puerto Rico! First time in history that you have two Puerto Ricans fighting for the heavyweight crown. Woo! Madison Square Garden, get it on Pap Per View! Pay Per View! Pay Per View! Call your local cable operator, or your satellite broadcaster!

COOPER: I know you're doing a lot of...

KING: Yes, I am.

COOPER: How many boxers are you being sued by now?

KING; It doesn't matter how many that are sue. How many I did make rich? I made 121 millionaires, that's more than all -- all corporations in the whole history of this country has never made as many poor millionaires as I did from the common folk.

COOPER: Why are so many suing you? Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson?

KING: Because they're coded. They are guided by their slavelike mentality. They are guided by trying to knock down a bunch of crabs rather than understanding and not knowing anyone that pay them and get respect and dignity without choosing between either/or. You can have them both.

COOPER: Do you wish you were a politician?

KING: I am a politician. I'm a politician of life. I don't want to be a politician in an office. I want George Walker Bush to do that. I want to be the fuel that primes the pump, that keeps him pushing ahead, one land indisible with liberty and justice for all. Work George, work George, go George, go George. John Kerry has two chances to win. Slim and none. And slim is out of time.

COOPER: Don King, Opportunicrat thanks very much.

KING: I love you. Great, great, great, great interviewer. I'm so happy. I'm so excited. Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo!

COOPER: Thanks, Don.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: I don't really know what to say. Coming up, "The Nth Degree."

Plus, tomorrow we continue our series "Indecent Crackdown." Selling adult sex toys, legal or not?

First, today's "Buzz." "Has the war in Iraq made al Qaeda stronger or weaker." Log on to cnn.com/360 to vote now. Results when we come bak.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Time now for "The Buzz." Earlier we asked you, "has the war in Iraq made al Qaeda stronger or weaker?" More than 22,000 of you have voted. 64 percent of you said stronger, 36 percent of you said it made them weaker. Not a scientific poll, just your "Buzz." Thank you.

Tonight, war is told to "The Nth Degree." Flipping through the "New York Times" today we found ourselves unable to get past page A- 13. There, staring back at us, the faces of all American members killed last week in Iraq.

They range in age from 18 to 45. And came from places like Gurney Illinois, Houston, Texas, Chunky, Mississippi. They died in places like Fallujah, Ramadi, Baghdad.

Behind each face, a family, a mother, a father, a wife, a husband. We think of their faces as well. 64 men and women who died in one terrible week.

People talk about the cost of war. This is the real cost. And there are few words to speak.

I'm Anderson Cooper. Coming up next, "PAULA ZAHN NOW." TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com