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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees

Tornadoes Rip Through Midwest; Interview With Saddam Hussein's Lawyer; Judge Deals Blow to Kobe Bryant's Defense

Aired April 21, 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.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Anderson Cooper, tonight on 360 Mother Nature's fury at its worst.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Deadly tornadoes blast the middle of the country and more could be on the way. In Iraq, the bloodbath continues. Terrorists target civilians while Marines battle insurgents.

Saddam Hussein to stand trial, we'll hear from his lawyer and the man who's setting up the tribunal.

Late-breaking developments in the Kobe Bryant case, the judge deals a big blow to the defense. The accuser's medical records are off limits.

And that's entertainment baby, who's the latest "it" kid? He's the toddler stars can't wait to pose with.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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

COOPER: And a good evening to you. We begin this hour in Utica, Illinois where rescue workers are digging through the rubble searching for survivors after a series of deadly tornadoes touched down last night. At least eight people confirmed dead but the Midwest is certainly not out of danger, Oklahoma at this hour bracing for even more storms.

Let's get a damage report from CNN's Chris Lawrence.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From what people could see, the tornado itself lasted seconds.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was a matter of that fast.

LAWRENCE: And just like that left years of hard work destroyed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lifetime gone.

LAWRENCE: Nowhere got hit harder than Utica, Illinois where a local tavern collapsed and crushed eight people inside.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everything was just demolished. Nothing was in order. It was just destroyed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And those buildings have been there forever. I mean they're over 100 years old.

LAWRENCE: The tornado blasted through homes with so much force it's hard to tell where the inside stops and the outside begins. Some of these trees took decades to grow but seconds to be ripped out by their roots.

A tornado chaser in Utica caught up to the funnel cloud just as it hit town.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've seen tornadoes just as big but never this close.

LAWRENCE: Winds blew the windows out of an elementary school and rows of homes were flattened by strong winds peaking near 200 miles per hour but Utica wasn't the only place hit hard.

In nearby Joliet, twisters damaged dozens of homes and two tornadoes touched down in Indiana. One in Cocomo blew part of the roof off a skating rink sending it flying into the homes next door.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE: Now no one else is missing here in Utica where at this point the crews are just trying to remove what's left of some of this rubble but the eight deaths are especially hard to take in a small town where, if you ask people here did you know someone at the tavern, they'll tell you of course I did -- Anderson.

COOPER: So hard to see those pictures. Thanks very much for the report from Utica.

In Iraq, more bombs, bullets and bloodshed. In and near the southern city of Basra a deadly morning commute, five well-coordinated suicide car bombs explode killing 68 people including 18 school children, most of them in Kindergarten.

And, in Fallujah, so much for a cease-fire, renewed fighting there, U.S. Marines and insurgents battling it out for more than four hours. We have two reports on the tense situation in Iraq today, one from our Baghdad Bureau Chief Jane Arraf, the other from Senior White House Correspondent John King.

Let's begin in Baghdad, Jane, a bloody day indeed.

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Absolutely, Anderson.

Iraqis had been wondering whether a recent lull in these attacks meant an end to them or just a change in tactics and this morning in Basra the answer became horribly apparent.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARRAF (voice-over): It was the deadliest attack in Iraq's second biggest city, Basra, since the end of the war and perhaps the most horrifying, among the victims of simultaneous suicide bombs children on their way to school. Dozens more were injured in the morning rush hour blasts detonated outside four police stations in Basra and nearby Azubar (ph).

The attacks ended the lull in car bombings over the past few weeks seemingly replaced instead by attacks on coalition forces and a wave of kidnappings. In the volatile city of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, a three (unintelligible) cease-fire that promised no offensive action by U.S. forces was punctured by continuing attacks by insurgents on Marine positions.

Three Marines were wounded in the fighting Tuesday and Wednesday. U.S. forces say they killed more than 35 insurgents and a coalition spokesman said while the U.S. has agreed to a cease-fire with Iraqi officials, it won't hold for long if the attacks continue.

DAN SENOR, COALITION SPOKESMAN: There were always question marks about their capacity to deliver. We made it clear that time was ticking. There was a lot of progress to be done, a lot of work ahead and if there was not substantial progress quickly major hostilities would resume.

ARRAF: With continued alarm from Iraqis over the toll on civilians in Fallujah major hostilities would be politically difficult for U.S. forces.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARRAF: All of this against a backdrop of a crumbling of part of the U.S.-led military coalition with Spain and then Honduras and the Dominican Republic saying they'll pull troops out from the south.

Now the U.S. says it can handle that loss easily militarily but like the thorniest problems in Iraq it will require more than a military solution -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right, Jane Arraf live from Baghdad thanks Jane.

Hours after the deadly attack in Basra, President Bush acknowledged that the last couple of weeks have been really tough, in his words, in Iraq but he says U.S. forces will remain there until the job is done.

Our Senior White House Correspondent John King has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Outlining the stakes in Iraq to newspaper editors a promise that also appeared to be a criticism of his father's choice at the end of the first Gulf War. GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Iraqi people are looking, you know, they're looking at Americans saying are we going to cut and run again? That's what they're thinking as well and we're not going to cut and run if I'm in the Oval Office.

KING: At the moment not cutting and running means increased troop levels in Iraq and a faster pace of operations that is draining money fast, so much so that key members of Congress say the $51 billion budgeted for military operations in Iraq this year will soon run out.

REP. JOHN SPRATT (D), SOUTH CAROLINA: What's the cost of 20,000 more troops?

PAUL WOLFOWITZ, DEPUTY DEFENSE SECRETARY: I can't give you that number right now.

KING: The administration thinks it can get by in Iraq until at least August with existing money but also concedes it might have to reverse course and request billions more in emergency funding before the November election.

WOLFOWITZ: We made predictions and one of them we thought the 1st Armored Division could be coming home now. That prediction turned out to be wrong.

KING: At the editor's event, Mr. Bush said he came to talk policy, not politics but, when asked, the president did take issue with how his Democratic opponent recently defined the threshold for bringing U.S. troops home.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It was a stable Iraq, not whether or not that's a full democracy. I can't tell you what's it's going to be but a stable Iraq.

KING: Mr. Bush said democracy is essential to keeping Iraq from collapsing into chaos.

BUSH: It's necessary. It's what will change the world, help change the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: Now, Mr. Bush also told those editors that he believed the terrorists wanted to strike here in the United States again and, Anderson, within the past 24 hours in private briefings both the president and now his national security adviser have told members of Congress they are "certain" the terrorists will try to strike the United States before the November elections.

COOPER: All right, John King at the White House thanks John.

The cost of war in Iraq is escalating, you heard. Here's a "Fast Fact" for you. The Pentagon estimates it will cost about $700 million just to keep the 20,000 troops who've had their tours extended an extra 90 days in Iraq. That's what Joint Chiefs Chairman General Richard Myers told the House Armed Services Committee today.

Well, the tribunal announced yesterday to try Saddam Hussein is beginning the long and difficult process of gathering evidence. Coming up, I'll talk with Salim Chalabi, the man in charge of setting up the Iraqi tribunal.

I'll also talk with a French lawyer who says he will represent Saddam Hussein. That's coming up on 360.

Right now more fallout today linked to Bob Woodward's new book "Plan of Attack." The Pentagon admits that it deleted a key section from a transcript of an interview that Woodward did with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld last year.

The transcript was posted on the Pentagon's Web site this week but a spokesman says Rumsfeld was unaware of the deletions when he made statements at a Pentagon briefing that turned out to be misleading.

More now from CNN's Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At Tuesday's Pentagon briefing, Rumsfeld was disputing a passage in Bob Woodward's new book "Plan of Attack" alleging Saudi Prince Bandar was told by Rumsfeld two months before the invasion of Iraq it was going to happen and he could take that to the bank.

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: I don't remember saying it to be perfectly honest.

MCINTYRE: Woodward claims he got that directly from Rumsfeld.

BOB WOODWARD, "WASHINGTON POST": Don Rumsfeld is on the record, if you look on the Pentagon Web site, saying that he said this war plan you can take it to the bank. It's going to happen.

MCINTYRE: Except that the transcript of the October 23 interview posted by the Pentagon had been edited and that quote had been deleted.

RUMSFELD: I've just been passed a note.

MCINTYRE: Aides to Rumsfeld say he was unaware of the deletions until he was handed a note just before the end of the briefing and that in the confusion of the moment he misunderstood what it said. Rumsfeld then stated flatly that nothing relevant had been removed.

RUMSFELD: But I can say with certain knowledge that nothing was taken out that would naysay what I just indicated in my response to the question.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Unintelligible).

RUMSFELD: I beg your pardon? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Unintelligible).

RUMSFELD: And you can take that to the bank.

MCINTYRE: Pentagon officials say the transcript was edited by mutual consent with Bob Woodward after a meeting last Friday because they argued the deleted section did not directly confirm Rumsfeld spoke to Prince Bandar or when the conversation took place.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: Tonight, Bob Woodward told CNN it was absolutely inconceivable he would have agreed to that deletion and the Pentagon said it was probably a mistake to make the deletion without including the standard disclaimer that material had been deleted and pulled off the record -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right, Jamie at the Pentagon thanks Jamie McIntyre.

You'd expect "Plan of Attack" to cause a stir in Washington certainly but here's the shocker. It also has Pottery Barn fired up. Here's a 360 news note for you about why.

In the book, Bob Woodward quotes Secretary of State Colin Powell as warning President Bush that invading Iraq would produce a pottery barn rule, which Powell defined as you break it, you own it.

In the popular home furnishings chain they want everyone to know there is no such rule in its stores. Instead, Pottery Barn says the damage is written off as a loss. That's certainly good to know.

Well, a major legal blow for Kobe Bryant. That story tops our look at news "Cross Country."

Denver, Colorado a judge ruled just hours ago that the medical and psychological history of Kobe Bryant's rape accuser is inadmissible at trial. The judge said he wasn't convinced that the woman waived confidentiality by telling others about her treatment. We're going to have a lot more on this in a live report from Colorado and from our 360 legal analyst later in the program.

Driving cross country soaring gas prices, the average national price for regular gasoline breaks another record today. I don't know how many times I've said that. It is going higher even still. AAA says the price passed $1.80 per gallon. The government says it should peak before Memorial Day weekend.

Washington, D.C. now, Alan Greenspan is upbeat. The Federal Reserve chairman says the U.S. economic recovery has legs and is hitting its stride, expanding, adding more jobs in March than the last four years. He said it's doing so well short term interest rates may rise later in the year.

Austin, Texas now, new leases on life, a state appeals court overturned the death sentences for two men today, one for mental retardation, the other for insufficient evidence. Texas has executed more than a third of the 908 people put to death in the U.S. since 1976.

Leon County, Florida now, high stakes, Baltimore Raven's cornerback Cory Fuller (ph) was charged with hosting big money card games in his house with pots up to thousands of dollars. Eight others were also charged after the raid when 20 officers broke up the game called Georgia Skins.

And some lab mice have two mommies. I don't understand it but scientists have produced a few mice with no genetic fathers, a first for mammals and possible for humans. The Journal of Nature reports on a trick to make the second mutant's mother genes look like the male DNA to make the baby mice. I'll have to read the article. That's a look at stories "Cross Country" for you tonight.

U.S. troops are spread thin around the globe right now. Should a military draft be reinstated? We're going to look at those renewed calls for mandatory service.

Plus, man in the middle, Colin Powell was he for or against the Bush war plan? That's a midweek crisis.

And suicide bombing strikes at the heart of Saudi Arabia, was al Qaeda behind the deadly attack, all that ahead.

First your picks the most popular stories right now on cnn.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Well on Capitol Hill today renewed debate over bringing back the draft prompted by concerns U.S. troops are spread too think in Iraq and Afghanistan. The idea isn't a new one certainly but in an election year how popular would this be with voters? History shows us that America's commitment to its military can't be separated from raw politics.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: Why shouldn't we ask all of our citizens to bear some responsibility and pay some price?

COOPER: Senator Hagel's question is one that's been asked before many times in fact over many years. The U.S. first called for conscription in the Civil War. Men between 18 and 35 were compelled to serve unless they had the $300 it cost to buy their way out. That led to the 1864 draft riots depicted in the movie "Gangs of New York."

The draft was revived for World War I, then World War II and stayed through Vietnam. In the draft lottery that began in 1969, officials pulled birthdates and numbers from different drums.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: September 14th.

COOPER: The lower your number the faster you'd be called to duty but this led to anti-draft demonstrations and, as the war dragged on the numbers of those trying to avoid the draft grew. More than 15 million were deferred, exempted or disqualified and an estimate 570,000 dodged the draft. It finally ended in 1973.

For the last 30 years, the U.S. has relied on a volunteer military but with troops deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq and other world hotspots personnel is stretched thin. Some 40 percent of the 130,000 troops in Iraq belong to the National Guard or Reserves.

A draft might solve the manpower problem but it raises all sorts of political problems as well. With an election seven months away, there's no doubt anyone considering a call for a draft also has to consider raw politics.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, John Kerry was hoping his pre-Earth Day Louisiana cruise would get all the attention but that was impossible on a day when his campaign posted his military records on its Web site. The question now will the move quell the controversy about his records and his Vietnam service?

That story from CNN National Correspondent Kelly Wallace.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the campaign Web site more than 100 pages of documents which Kerry's advisers say put to rest any questions about whether Kerry deserved three Purple Hearts for his Vietnam service.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: John Kerry has a record in the military that he's running on not running from.

WALLACE: A Purple Heart, military experts say, is awarded to a soldier wounded by enemy fire. The documents provide details of the injuries which earned Kerry his second and third Purple Hearts. Shrapnel wounds when he came under fire, more shrapnel wounds and contusions when a mine detonated in another incident.

But regarding his first Purple Heart, Kerry's military records don't specify his injuries or how he was wounded. His former commanding officer told the "Boston Globe" he had questioned whether Kerry's boat had taken enemy fire.

The campaign showed CNN what it called a sick call treatment record from Kerry's personal files describing a shrapnel wound to his left arm.

KERRY: Those of us who were there know what happened. It hasn't been questioned in 35 years. Obviously in presidential races politics are politics and I understand that but I'm proud of my service.

WALLACE: The documents are filled with praise one superior saying in combat Kerry was unsurpassed. He was awarded the Bronze Star for saving a fellow soldier's life and the Silver Star, one of the highest honors for battle.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WALLACE: And when he came home he protested the war, speaking out 33 years ago tomorrow before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee actions, Anderson, that angered many of the same Vietnam veterans who are most vigorously questioning Kerry's Vietnam service.

COOPER: And we're hearing more and more about that as this campaign goes on. Kelly Wallace thanks very much.

WALLACE: Sure.

COOPER: Well, a deadly bombing in the Saudi capital tops our look at news around the globe right now in the "Up Link." Let's check it out.

In Riyadh, the Saudi government says today's suicide car bombing "fits the pattern of an al Qaeda operation." Besides the bomber, four people were killed including an 11-year-old Syrian girl, 148 were injured.

In Ashkelon, Israel, no regrets, nuclear whistle-blower Mordecai Vanunu released from prison today saying he was proud and happy to do what he did. Vanunu, you'll remember, was jailed after he leaked details about Israel's alleged nuclear program back in 1986. Israel has never officially acknowledged the program's existence.

Beit Lahia, Gaza Strip, deadly exchanged, the Palestinians say an Israel incursion into the area left at least eight Palestinians dead, including four militants and a teenager. The Israeli military says its actions were prompted by rockets and other weapons being fired on Israeli troops.

Beijing, China, handshakes, smiles and bear hugs, there he is. We haven't seen him. The Chinese media and the blackout of North Korean President Kim Jong Il's three day visit, they ended it but didn't broadcast this photo op until Kim was on his way home. He's promising cooperation on the nuclear issue. China is promising more economic aid.

Geneva, Switzerland now, symbolic gesture, the U.N. Human Rights Commission calling for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty, a non-binding measure supporting the idea passed by a wide margin but the U.S., China and 17 other countries voted against it.

Lower orbit, old comrades reconnect, the International Space Station getting a fresh crew after an overnight docking with a Soyuz rocket. The station's Russian commander and American flight engineer are scheduled to be there for six months, and that is a look at the "Up Link."

A blow to Kobe Bryant's defense, no access to his accuser's medical records, find out what impact this will have on his case.

Also tonight, Saddam Hussein on trial, it comes with a $75 million price tag but should he even get such a trial? I'm going to ask his lawyer and the man in charge of his tribunal. And a little later brush with fame, meet an incredibly cute 2- year-old kid who gets the hot shots with the top stars. That's him and Madonna. That's all ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Well, earlier we saw the Pentagon responding to Bob Woodward's new book and elsewhere in Washington the fallout just continues. At the State Department the man in the middle it seems is Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Senior Analyst Jeff Greenfield has our "Midweek Crisis."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SR. ANALYST (voice-over): Another week, another book, another frenzy of revelation, disputation, speculation. Did the president commit to war weeks, months, maybe a year and a half before he said he did? Was Colin Powell's advice and counsel ignored? Was Saudi Prince Bandar tipped off about the war in advance and did he promise to lower oil prices to help Bush's reelection?

(on camera): Well, here's another question. Does anyone, anyone outside the political media bubble that is, does anyone care? Should they care? Will they care? Here's a clear unambiguous answer. It depends.

(voice-over): Yes, John Kerry says it matters.

KERRY: George Bush once again is misleading America and he is misleading America about my record and what I intend to do because he doesn't have a record to run on. He has a record to run away from.

GREENFIELD: But the idea that members of a president's inner circle disagree is not exactly man bites dog. It isn't even dog bites man. It's more like dog eats bone.

The tensions between Colin Powell and Cheney and Rumsfeld had been the currency of Washington water cooler gossip since about a half hour after Bush's inauguration.

And the idea that Powell should have resigned when his reservations about the war were ignored, well Williams Jennings Bryant quit as Wilson's Secretary of State over U.S. entry into World War I. Cy Vance quit as Carter's Secretary of State to protest the Iran hostage rescue attempt but that's about it.

It's not like Britain where Tony Blair lost two cabinet members over Iraq. In the U.S., insiders almost always prefer staying on the inside. And fundamentally it is what will happen here in Iraq that will shape the public's view of the decision to go to war.

If Iraq is moving toward a peaceful, stable, free country by Election Day, the origins of the policy will mean little. If it is violent, chaotic, a quagmire drawing in more and more American troops that is what will make the judgment suspect. And, ask yourself, what's more likely to do the president political damage the idea that the Saudis lowered gas prices to help him or record high gas prices come autumn?

(on camera): It's not that internal disputes aren't important. If John Kennedy had listened to many of his advisers during the Cuban Missile Crisis, none of us would be here right now. It's just that most of the time these internal dustups don't seem to matter much to voters. It is what happens outside in the real word that counts.

Jeff Greenfield, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Saddam Hussein to stand trial. We'll hear from his lawyer and the man who's setting up the tribunal.

Late-breaking developments in the Kobe Bryant case, the judge deals a big blow to the defense. The accuser's medical records are off limits.

And, that's entertainment baby, who's the latest "it" kid? Meet the toddler stars can't wait to pose with, 360 continues.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: In the next half hour on 360 justice for Saddam Hussein. Plans are going forward to try him before an Iraqi tribunal. Will he get a fair trial? Does that matter? You'll hear from Jacques Verges who says he's Saddam Hussein's lawyer and Salem Chalabi, head of the tribunal.

First let's check our top stories in the reset. Utica, Illinois, nature's wrath. At least eight people killed by one of several tornadoes that raked various Midwestern states last night. The victims were trapped inside an old tavern that was destroyed.

Basra, Iraq, coordinated car bombings. At least 68 people killed in a series of suicide explosions in the southern Iraqi city. 18 children, including 10 kindergartners among the dead.

Washington, D.C., appreciation or degradation? Some Democrats are upset about a bill that lets Iraq and Afghanistan veterans make early withdrawals from their pensions. One Congressman calls it, quote, "the tiniest of tiny benefits." Another said it's a monumental insult. But Republicans call it a step in the right direction.

Baghdad, Iraq. Troubling trend when it comes to Iraq's struggling security forces, a U.S. commander says about one in ten is working against the coalition forces. Major General Martin Dempsey also says about 40 percent have walked off the job because they are intimidated. Northern Germany now, midair collision. A pair of Toronto fighter jets collide at 15,000 feet killing both the pilot and wingman in one plane. Both crew members from the other jet managed to parachute to safety.

That's a look at the reset tonight.

In Iraq tonight, questions about the new tribunal set up to try Saddam Hussein. When will it start? How can it function in the current security environment? Salem chalabi is in charge of setting up the tribunal. His last name Chalabi may sound familiar. He's the nephew of Ahmed Chalabi a long-time dissident in exile who's now a member of the Iraqi governing council. I talked with Salem earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Mr. Chalabi, can Saddam Hussein get a fair trial in Iraq?

SALEM CHALABI, HEAD OF IRAQI TRIBUNAL: I think he can. We are appointing judges and making sure that the judges are not former victims of the regime to ensure that there will be impartiality. We are appointing international monitors to monitor the procedures of the tribunal to ensure that defendants have rights, and that the trial processes are fair.

COOPER: Right now Saddam Hussein is classified as a prisoner of war, a P.O.W., thereby not eligible for the death penalty. Will his classification change by the time of the trial?

CHALABI: Yes. I think that once sovereignty is transfered back to Iraq, once we get appropriate detention facilities, et cetera, Saddam will be transferred over to, you know, out of the U.S. military into the tribunal's custody.

COOPER: Are you concerned at all then about the appearance of basically collusion between the tribunal and the United States if the U.S. is paying $75 million to set up a prison, to set up detention facilities, and then administrative facilities? There are some who are going to say, it seems very -- too close.

CHALABI: There is this concern that, you know, we're having U.S., you know, you know, increased U.S. assistance or increased U.S. involvement in this process. But they're also bringing in international assistance from other countries. And they will, you know, counteract the U.S. side. So it's not solely a U.S. operation. I mean, it's not solely -- the international component of it is not solely a U.S. thing. But as I said, the U.S. is going to be providing assistance to the Iraqis, and not the other way around.

COOPER: Where is Saddam Hussein right now?

CHALABI: I'm not at liberty to say. But he's in Iraq.

COOPER: He is in Iraq? CHALABI: Yes.

COOPER: Salem chalabi, appreciate you joining us again. Difficult job ahead of you. Thank you very much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Let's get all the angles. Let's check in with the other side. I talked with Jacques Verges who says he is Saddam Hussein's lawyer.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Why do you want to represent Saddam Hussein? Is it because you believe he is innocent or you believe everyone deserves good representation?

JACQUES VERGES, SADDAM HUSSEIN'S LAWYER: I believe that a man who is accused has a right in a democracy to have a lawyer. And it is a duty for the lawyer to defend him. Is he innocent or guilty? Tell me what is your position, what is your proof, I don't know.

COOPER: For instance, gassing Kurds. That would be one thing he's probably going to be charged with.

VERGES: But you say such. I want a paper telling me when this happen. Who do that, if that has been done and what is the role of Mr. Saddam Hussein in this. If that exists I have not (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

COOPER: You have talked about bringing forth witnesses from the U.S. government. You said President Bush, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Why?

VERGES: The government of Saddam Hussein was the ally of the United States long time ago. And if we are to reproach to this government what he has done with weapons sold by the American state, the people who sold these weapons, should be, should sit near of him in the court.

COOPER: You're saying that if Saddam Hussein is tried for war crimes, the United States government should be tried for war crimes, as well?

VERGES: Of course. If he is to be prosecuted, I think the responsibility of the American government, and Mr. Rumsfeld first should sit near of him.

COOPER: There has been discussion about whether or not you really are Saddam Hussein's attorney. There's an attorney in Jordan who says that he is Saddam's attorney and that Saddam's wife and a daughter have hired him to be Saddam's attorney. What proof do you have that you actually represent Saddam Hussein?

VERGES: I was appointed by his nephew the son of his brother. And this nephew said to me, perhaps there are other lawyers thinking about the case, but please I want you. I urge you to deal immediately in order to protect the right of my uncle. I am afraid that the American in order to avoid a trial, try to make him die before the trial.

COOPER: Jacques Verges. We appreciate you being on the program. Thank you very much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, today's buzz question is this -- is it important that Saddam Hussein get a fair trial? What do you think? You can log on to CNN.com/360 right now to vote. We'll have results at the end of the program.

New developments in the Kobe Bryant case. That's what we're going to talk about coming up. A big bombshell for the NBA star facing rape charges. All ahead in our justice served segment.

Plus, say cheese. How one toddler's is managing to get his picture taken with superstars and celebrities.

And a little later Britney Spears plays a nasty little trick on her brother. Find out what she did and why ahead in the current.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Time for "Justice Served" now. Late this afternoon, the judge in the Kobe Bryant case ruled that the medical and psychological history of the woman accusing him of rape is inadmissible at trial. Let's get the latest from national correspondent Gary Tuchman. Gary, this cannot make the defense happy.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No, Anderson, this is not good news for Kobe Bryant. The judge who will preside over his trial has decided Bryant's attorneys will not get access to the alleged victim's medical records. Meaning, the records cannot be used in a trial.

Bryant's attorneys contend the woman had tried to kill herself twice in the months prior to this alleged rape. They say those suicide attempts are part of a pattern that shows she tries to seek attention.

They told judge Terry Ruckriegle that because she had talked about her hospital visits to her mother and to her friends her medical records no longer legally deserved to be kept private. But the judge has ruled that the accuser did not reveal the nature of her medical treatment to outsiders and therefore did not waive her doctor/patient privilege. Therefore, the records cannot be used in a trial.

A trial date still has not been set. Three more days of pretrial hearings will take place next week. The primary topic: if parts of the woman's sexual history will be admissible in a trial. That is likely to be a bigger issue for the Bryant team, because defense lawyers say injuries she said she suffered could have come from other men she had sex with near the time of her encounter with the basketball player. Anderson, back to you.

COOPER: All right. Gary Tuchman, thanks very much from Atlanta.

Here now to help us to sort out what this mean's for Bryant's defense strategy, 360 legal analyst Kimberly Guilfoyle Newsom. Kimberly, thanks for being with us.

KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE NEWSOM, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Thanks, Anderson.

COOPER: A big blow to the Bryant defense.

NEWSOM: Big blow to the defense and to Kobe Bryant. Big victory for the prosecution and for the doctor/patient privilege. And basically, victim's rights here.

This case is about one-on-one. Kobe Bryant's word against the alleged victim. What the defense was hoping to do was seriously impair her credibility in the eyes of the jurors by saying that this is a woman that's not to be trusted, that she engages in attention- seeking behavior and that the past would show exactly what happened here in this instant case.

COOPER: Even though the jury may not hear it in the courtroom, they probably already heard it on the television. It's been widely reported, these alleged suicide attempts. Have they poisoned the jury pool?

NEWSOM: Well, there is no doubt that this woman's credibility, her reputation has been impaired by this whole incident. We've had so much coverage on this, in tabloids and other things, about her past sexual history and past psychiatric history. Albeit, this is a woman that allegedly has some troubled issues in the past.

And the defense has already succeeded in potentially poisoning that jury pool, because people are listening and watching and evaluating. Which is why jury selection is going to have to be so important to weed out people that already have formed an opinion about her or about Kobe Bryant.

COOPER: Now, Colorado has a rape shield law, but there's going to be three days of testimony next week about whether her sexual history should be included in the court. How can that even happen if there is a rape shield law?

NEWSOM: A great question Anderson. The defense is arguing that because Kobe Bryant is charged with a forcible rape crime here, the big issue is who caused the injuries. If there is evidence to suggest that someone other than Kobe Bryant within that 72-hour time frame could have injured the woman severely enough to produce those injuries, then perhaps he is right and this was an issue of consent.

And it's his word then against hers. And it would negate the physical evidence that is so powerful right now against him.

COOPER: So they're looking more at her very recent sexual history. Not past behavior from years gone by. NEWSOM: Yes. In the past, defense attorneys have tried to bring up instances from the past of sexual misconduct, or promiscuity to try and what we call in the business, dirty the victim and impair her credibility.

Here, the defense is not going to because of rape shield laws that are now in place, be able to bring up anything that she's had in the past or how many men she has slept with. Only for this very specific time frame, which makes sense, because it's only relevant as to what happened around this incident and whether he is the one that caused those injuries.

COOPER: So that decision will be made by the judge next week?

NEWSOM: Hopefully next week. It's going to be three days of hearings which should be pretty intense. The judge has had a lot of really important legal issues here to deal with. I think there are going to be case law for quite some time.

COOPER: They both say they want a quick trial. When are we looking at?

NEWSOM: Hopefully we're going to get that pretty soon. Everyone thought that this would go beyond the NBA season, of course, and that's exactly what it looks like. So we'll be getting this to trial shortly, within the next month or two, because both sides for once are in agreement on that issue.

COOPER: The one thing they do agree on. All right, Kimberly, thanks very much.

Well smoking, drinking, gambling and education? Coming up in the "Nth Degree" using sin taxes to stock school supplies. Also tonight, dozens of celebrities are being photographed with him. So what does it take to get my picture with little Jeremy Dorak (ph)?

All that ahead. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Time to check on some pop news in tonight's "Current."

A new study by Ikea says 20 percent of Americans like to have places in the house other than the bedroom. Perhaps the study will prompt Ikea to update its catalogue so it's furniture not only blends in, but vibrates as well.

The winner of "The Apprentice" will soon put his story to paper. Word is Bill Rancic is close to signing a book deal where he'll show readers the keys to success; chief amongst them: work hard, stick with it and never, ever hire Omarosa.

In Houston a dog named Sophie saved another dog from the jaws of an alligator. Sophie is being hailed as a hero in Houston. Though some fear all the attention has gone to her heard, Sophie says her next move will be to be the center spot on Hollywood Squares. And Britney Spears punked her brother for his 27th birthday. She had him arrested and led away by fake police officers. Spears finally admitted it was just for laughs. For revenge we suggest he try something really sinister like turning her microphone on when she sings.

I don't know if that's true.

Have you met the new media darling? Goes by the name of Jeremy. Posing with some of the most famous people around. There's even a Web site for his many followers. Not bad for a 2-year-old.

Jeanne Moos explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He may be just learning to talk.

JEREMY ZOREK: Uh-oh. Nice.

MOOS: But somehow he's managed to talk his way into dozens of celebrity photo-ops. From Leno to Billy Crystal to Robin Williams to Halle Berry.

MICHAEL ZOREK, JEREMY'S DAD: It's not the best picture of Jeremy but she looks beautiful.

MOOS: Jeremy's dad posts them all on the Web site whoisthatwithjeremy.com.

J. ZOREK: Who's that?

M. ZOREK: That's G. Gordon Liddy.

MOOS: From Watergate to Playboy, sorry, Hef, Jeremy is a boy who plays, not a playboy. Back in the '80s Jeremy's dad was an actor. In a dress, in a mohawk. Now his son's posing with actors like 007, singers like Billy Joel. They run into celebs on the street, go to dozens of book signings. Jeremy's most photographed moment was with none other than Madonna.

(on camera): So are you doing it for fun?

Do you want to have a show biz career?

M. ZOREK: It's for fun. It's for fun. He models. Which is fine. But none of this...

J. ZOREK: Mommy! Mommy!

MOOS (voice-over): We tagged along when Jeremy lined up to meet Danny Aiello signing his new CD.

M. ZOREK: Can you say hi Danny Aiello.

J. ZOREK: Hi Danny Aiello.

M. ZOREK: This is my son Jeremy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, Jeremy.

M. ZOREK: Can I get a photograph?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure.

MOOS: A few say no. Among them Mikhail Gorbachev and Paul McCartney. Though Ringo posed.

(on camera): Can you say P. Diddy.

J. ZOREK: P. Diddy.

MOOS (voice-over): From rapper, to former president, there's even a parody Web site now. Who is that eating Jeremy? And someone photo swabbed Jeremy's head onto Michael Jackson's dangling baby. Once in awhile Jeremy fuss.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One more for the road.

M. ZOREK: He likes -- if you know the ABC song he likes that better.

J. ZOREK: ABCD.

MOOS: This kid's too cool to drool on a celebrity. Makes posing with Santa seem quaint.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: So this is Jeremy. I'm also joined by his father Michael. Thanks for being with us.

M. ZOREK: It's a pleasure. Thank you very much.

COOPER: So, now, why do you do this?

M. ZOREK: Well, it started out as just for fun, and it got a little carried away if you will. It was fun to do. We'd go to book signings. We'd go to things like that.

COOPER: And how do these celebrities react when you suddenly hoist Jeremy upon them?

M. ZOREK: Most of them are just very comfortable holding a kid. They think he's adorable looking and they're very happy. So...

COOPER: Has anyone ever said no, I refuse to do it?

M. ZOREK: Yes we had a couple. We had Paul McCartney, he and his wife said no. And we were walking down the street and bumped into Mikhail Gorbachev and he said no.

COOPER: Where do you hang out that you jump into Mikhail Gorbachev on the street?

M. ZOREK: We do a lot of strolling. We do a lot of strolling.

COOPER: You're a stay at home dad.

M. ZOREK: I'm a stay at home day, and I always walk around with a camera.

COOPER: And what does your wife think of all this?

M. ZOREK: She finds it interesting. I think at first she was a little uneasy. And then afterwards it grew into something that she thinks is fun.

COOPER: Jeremy, do you like having your pictures taken.

M. ZOREK: Say Hi, Anderson Cooper. Can you say high.

J. ZOREK: What's that?

M. ZOREK: That's the camera that you're putting your thumb on.

COOPER: He doesn't -- he obviously doesn't really know anything about these celebrities.

M. ZOREK: No, not at all. I mean, nothing fazes him. He would take a picture with anybody so...

J. ZOREK: Daddy, picture fountains.

M. ZOREK: Take a picture of the fountains. We'll do that after this.

COOPER: There's a fountain right outside.

M. ZOREK: Yes.

COOPER: Now, what was Madonna like?

M. ZOREK: Madonna was great. Madonna was very, very -- she went with it. Jeremy got up and started crawling around. And she was just very nice and when we put him on the table she couldn't have been nicer. He picked up the book, he grabbed it, and he started pointing at the pages and she just went along with it. And he went along with it. And none of the cameras fazed him. None of the flash bulbs fazed him. And so here he is.

COOPER: Can I get my picture taken with him?

M. ZOREK: Absolutely. I'd love to. Jeremy, daddy's going to take a picture of you with Anderson.

(CROSSTALK) COOPER: Uh-oh.

M. ZOREK: Smile.

J. ZOREK: No!

COOPER: Maybe we'll get one afterwards.

M. ZOREK: Do you want to take a picture with Anderson.

COOPER: Jeremy, it was really nice to meet you.

M. ZOREK: Say, thank you.

COOPER: Bye-bye.

J. ZOREK: Thank you. Thank you, fountain.

COOPER: We'll go to the fountain right after the program.

Coming up, these days many schools are strapped...

J. ZOREK: Thank you, fountain.

COOPER: In a second -- for cash. Should drinkers and smokers help foot the bill? We'll take a sin tax plan to "The Nth Degree."

Plus tomorrow held hostage in Iraq the heartache and hope family members face waiting and wondering. We'll talk to the mother of a former POW.

And today's "Buzz" question, is it important that Saddam Hussein gets a fair trail. Log on to cnn.com/360. You can vote right now, results when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Time now for "The Buzz." Earlier we asked, is it important that Saddam Hussein get a fair trial? 82 percent of you said yes, 18 percent said no. Not a scientific poll, but it is your "Buzz."

Tonight taking sacrifice to "The Nth Degree."

Question, what do you call a Texan who drinks, smokes, gambles and visits a couple, three topless bars every day? Right now a reprobate. But if Texas Governor Rick Perry has that way you can call that man a hero of public education. You see in common with other governors else were, Mr. Perry has proposed shifting the burden of financing education in his state from residential property and business taxes to the so-called sin taxes. Now the idea is that more of the take from this sort of thing, steins of suds, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) shots, poker pots, flesh pots, butts would go toward this sort of thing, the three R's, the "Iddy Bitty Spider," teaching wee ones right from wrong. Man the sacrifices parents have to make. It hasn't happened yet you understand. But get ready down there in Texas to light up, drink up, ante up and snap some garters. And remember hey, it's for the kids.

I'm Anderson Cooper. Thanks for watching.

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 21, 2004 - 19:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Anderson Cooper, tonight on 360 Mother Nature's fury at its worst.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Deadly tornadoes blast the middle of the country and more could be on the way. In Iraq, the bloodbath continues. Terrorists target civilians while Marines battle insurgents.

Saddam Hussein to stand trial, we'll hear from his lawyer and the man who's setting up the tribunal.

Late-breaking developments in the Kobe Bryant case, the judge deals a big blow to the defense. The accuser's medical records are off limits.

And that's entertainment baby, who's the latest "it" kid? He's the toddler stars can't wait to pose with.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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

COOPER: And a good evening to you. We begin this hour in Utica, Illinois where rescue workers are digging through the rubble searching for survivors after a series of deadly tornadoes touched down last night. At least eight people confirmed dead but the Midwest is certainly not out of danger, Oklahoma at this hour bracing for even more storms.

Let's get a damage report from CNN's Chris Lawrence.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From what people could see, the tornado itself lasted seconds.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was a matter of that fast.

LAWRENCE: And just like that left years of hard work destroyed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lifetime gone.

LAWRENCE: Nowhere got hit harder than Utica, Illinois where a local tavern collapsed and crushed eight people inside.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everything was just demolished. Nothing was in order. It was just destroyed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And those buildings have been there forever. I mean they're over 100 years old.

LAWRENCE: The tornado blasted through homes with so much force it's hard to tell where the inside stops and the outside begins. Some of these trees took decades to grow but seconds to be ripped out by their roots.

A tornado chaser in Utica caught up to the funnel cloud just as it hit town.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've seen tornadoes just as big but never this close.

LAWRENCE: Winds blew the windows out of an elementary school and rows of homes were flattened by strong winds peaking near 200 miles per hour but Utica wasn't the only place hit hard.

In nearby Joliet, twisters damaged dozens of homes and two tornadoes touched down in Indiana. One in Cocomo blew part of the roof off a skating rink sending it flying into the homes next door.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE: Now no one else is missing here in Utica where at this point the crews are just trying to remove what's left of some of this rubble but the eight deaths are especially hard to take in a small town where, if you ask people here did you know someone at the tavern, they'll tell you of course I did -- Anderson.

COOPER: So hard to see those pictures. Thanks very much for the report from Utica.

In Iraq, more bombs, bullets and bloodshed. In and near the southern city of Basra a deadly morning commute, five well-coordinated suicide car bombs explode killing 68 people including 18 school children, most of them in Kindergarten.

And, in Fallujah, so much for a cease-fire, renewed fighting there, U.S. Marines and insurgents battling it out for more than four hours. We have two reports on the tense situation in Iraq today, one from our Baghdad Bureau Chief Jane Arraf, the other from Senior White House Correspondent John King.

Let's begin in Baghdad, Jane, a bloody day indeed.

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Absolutely, Anderson.

Iraqis had been wondering whether a recent lull in these attacks meant an end to them or just a change in tactics and this morning in Basra the answer became horribly apparent.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARRAF (voice-over): It was the deadliest attack in Iraq's second biggest city, Basra, since the end of the war and perhaps the most horrifying, among the victims of simultaneous suicide bombs children on their way to school. Dozens more were injured in the morning rush hour blasts detonated outside four police stations in Basra and nearby Azubar (ph).

The attacks ended the lull in car bombings over the past few weeks seemingly replaced instead by attacks on coalition forces and a wave of kidnappings. In the volatile city of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, a three (unintelligible) cease-fire that promised no offensive action by U.S. forces was punctured by continuing attacks by insurgents on Marine positions.

Three Marines were wounded in the fighting Tuesday and Wednesday. U.S. forces say they killed more than 35 insurgents and a coalition spokesman said while the U.S. has agreed to a cease-fire with Iraqi officials, it won't hold for long if the attacks continue.

DAN SENOR, COALITION SPOKESMAN: There were always question marks about their capacity to deliver. We made it clear that time was ticking. There was a lot of progress to be done, a lot of work ahead and if there was not substantial progress quickly major hostilities would resume.

ARRAF: With continued alarm from Iraqis over the toll on civilians in Fallujah major hostilities would be politically difficult for U.S. forces.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARRAF: All of this against a backdrop of a crumbling of part of the U.S.-led military coalition with Spain and then Honduras and the Dominican Republic saying they'll pull troops out from the south.

Now the U.S. says it can handle that loss easily militarily but like the thorniest problems in Iraq it will require more than a military solution -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right, Jane Arraf live from Baghdad thanks Jane.

Hours after the deadly attack in Basra, President Bush acknowledged that the last couple of weeks have been really tough, in his words, in Iraq but he says U.S. forces will remain there until the job is done.

Our Senior White House Correspondent John King has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Outlining the stakes in Iraq to newspaper editors a promise that also appeared to be a criticism of his father's choice at the end of the first Gulf War. GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Iraqi people are looking, you know, they're looking at Americans saying are we going to cut and run again? That's what they're thinking as well and we're not going to cut and run if I'm in the Oval Office.

KING: At the moment not cutting and running means increased troop levels in Iraq and a faster pace of operations that is draining money fast, so much so that key members of Congress say the $51 billion budgeted for military operations in Iraq this year will soon run out.

REP. JOHN SPRATT (D), SOUTH CAROLINA: What's the cost of 20,000 more troops?

PAUL WOLFOWITZ, DEPUTY DEFENSE SECRETARY: I can't give you that number right now.

KING: The administration thinks it can get by in Iraq until at least August with existing money but also concedes it might have to reverse course and request billions more in emergency funding before the November election.

WOLFOWITZ: We made predictions and one of them we thought the 1st Armored Division could be coming home now. That prediction turned out to be wrong.

KING: At the editor's event, Mr. Bush said he came to talk policy, not politics but, when asked, the president did take issue with how his Democratic opponent recently defined the threshold for bringing U.S. troops home.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It was a stable Iraq, not whether or not that's a full democracy. I can't tell you what's it's going to be but a stable Iraq.

KING: Mr. Bush said democracy is essential to keeping Iraq from collapsing into chaos.

BUSH: It's necessary. It's what will change the world, help change the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: Now, Mr. Bush also told those editors that he believed the terrorists wanted to strike here in the United States again and, Anderson, within the past 24 hours in private briefings both the president and now his national security adviser have told members of Congress they are "certain" the terrorists will try to strike the United States before the November elections.

COOPER: All right, John King at the White House thanks John.

The cost of war in Iraq is escalating, you heard. Here's a "Fast Fact" for you. The Pentagon estimates it will cost about $700 million just to keep the 20,000 troops who've had their tours extended an extra 90 days in Iraq. That's what Joint Chiefs Chairman General Richard Myers told the House Armed Services Committee today.

Well, the tribunal announced yesterday to try Saddam Hussein is beginning the long and difficult process of gathering evidence. Coming up, I'll talk with Salim Chalabi, the man in charge of setting up the Iraqi tribunal.

I'll also talk with a French lawyer who says he will represent Saddam Hussein. That's coming up on 360.

Right now more fallout today linked to Bob Woodward's new book "Plan of Attack." The Pentagon admits that it deleted a key section from a transcript of an interview that Woodward did with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld last year.

The transcript was posted on the Pentagon's Web site this week but a spokesman says Rumsfeld was unaware of the deletions when he made statements at a Pentagon briefing that turned out to be misleading.

More now from CNN's Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At Tuesday's Pentagon briefing, Rumsfeld was disputing a passage in Bob Woodward's new book "Plan of Attack" alleging Saudi Prince Bandar was told by Rumsfeld two months before the invasion of Iraq it was going to happen and he could take that to the bank.

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: I don't remember saying it to be perfectly honest.

MCINTYRE: Woodward claims he got that directly from Rumsfeld.

BOB WOODWARD, "WASHINGTON POST": Don Rumsfeld is on the record, if you look on the Pentagon Web site, saying that he said this war plan you can take it to the bank. It's going to happen.

MCINTYRE: Except that the transcript of the October 23 interview posted by the Pentagon had been edited and that quote had been deleted.

RUMSFELD: I've just been passed a note.

MCINTYRE: Aides to Rumsfeld say he was unaware of the deletions until he was handed a note just before the end of the briefing and that in the confusion of the moment he misunderstood what it said. Rumsfeld then stated flatly that nothing relevant had been removed.

RUMSFELD: But I can say with certain knowledge that nothing was taken out that would naysay what I just indicated in my response to the question.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Unintelligible).

RUMSFELD: I beg your pardon? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Unintelligible).

RUMSFELD: And you can take that to the bank.

MCINTYRE: Pentagon officials say the transcript was edited by mutual consent with Bob Woodward after a meeting last Friday because they argued the deleted section did not directly confirm Rumsfeld spoke to Prince Bandar or when the conversation took place.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: Tonight, Bob Woodward told CNN it was absolutely inconceivable he would have agreed to that deletion and the Pentagon said it was probably a mistake to make the deletion without including the standard disclaimer that material had been deleted and pulled off the record -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right, Jamie at the Pentagon thanks Jamie McIntyre.

You'd expect "Plan of Attack" to cause a stir in Washington certainly but here's the shocker. It also has Pottery Barn fired up. Here's a 360 news note for you about why.

In the book, Bob Woodward quotes Secretary of State Colin Powell as warning President Bush that invading Iraq would produce a pottery barn rule, which Powell defined as you break it, you own it.

In the popular home furnishings chain they want everyone to know there is no such rule in its stores. Instead, Pottery Barn says the damage is written off as a loss. That's certainly good to know.

Well, a major legal blow for Kobe Bryant. That story tops our look at news "Cross Country."

Denver, Colorado a judge ruled just hours ago that the medical and psychological history of Kobe Bryant's rape accuser is inadmissible at trial. The judge said he wasn't convinced that the woman waived confidentiality by telling others about her treatment. We're going to have a lot more on this in a live report from Colorado and from our 360 legal analyst later in the program.

Driving cross country soaring gas prices, the average national price for regular gasoline breaks another record today. I don't know how many times I've said that. It is going higher even still. AAA says the price passed $1.80 per gallon. The government says it should peak before Memorial Day weekend.

Washington, D.C. now, Alan Greenspan is upbeat. The Federal Reserve chairman says the U.S. economic recovery has legs and is hitting its stride, expanding, adding more jobs in March than the last four years. He said it's doing so well short term interest rates may rise later in the year.

Austin, Texas now, new leases on life, a state appeals court overturned the death sentences for two men today, one for mental retardation, the other for insufficient evidence. Texas has executed more than a third of the 908 people put to death in the U.S. since 1976.

Leon County, Florida now, high stakes, Baltimore Raven's cornerback Cory Fuller (ph) was charged with hosting big money card games in his house with pots up to thousands of dollars. Eight others were also charged after the raid when 20 officers broke up the game called Georgia Skins.

And some lab mice have two mommies. I don't understand it but scientists have produced a few mice with no genetic fathers, a first for mammals and possible for humans. The Journal of Nature reports on a trick to make the second mutant's mother genes look like the male DNA to make the baby mice. I'll have to read the article. That's a look at stories "Cross Country" for you tonight.

U.S. troops are spread thin around the globe right now. Should a military draft be reinstated? We're going to look at those renewed calls for mandatory service.

Plus, man in the middle, Colin Powell was he for or against the Bush war plan? That's a midweek crisis.

And suicide bombing strikes at the heart of Saudi Arabia, was al Qaeda behind the deadly attack, all that ahead.

First your picks the most popular stories right now on cnn.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Well on Capitol Hill today renewed debate over bringing back the draft prompted by concerns U.S. troops are spread too think in Iraq and Afghanistan. The idea isn't a new one certainly but in an election year how popular would this be with voters? History shows us that America's commitment to its military can't be separated from raw politics.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: Why shouldn't we ask all of our citizens to bear some responsibility and pay some price?

COOPER: Senator Hagel's question is one that's been asked before many times in fact over many years. The U.S. first called for conscription in the Civil War. Men between 18 and 35 were compelled to serve unless they had the $300 it cost to buy their way out. That led to the 1864 draft riots depicted in the movie "Gangs of New York."

The draft was revived for World War I, then World War II and stayed through Vietnam. In the draft lottery that began in 1969, officials pulled birthdates and numbers from different drums.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: September 14th.

COOPER: The lower your number the faster you'd be called to duty but this led to anti-draft demonstrations and, as the war dragged on the numbers of those trying to avoid the draft grew. More than 15 million were deferred, exempted or disqualified and an estimate 570,000 dodged the draft. It finally ended in 1973.

For the last 30 years, the U.S. has relied on a volunteer military but with troops deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq and other world hotspots personnel is stretched thin. Some 40 percent of the 130,000 troops in Iraq belong to the National Guard or Reserves.

A draft might solve the manpower problem but it raises all sorts of political problems as well. With an election seven months away, there's no doubt anyone considering a call for a draft also has to consider raw politics.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, John Kerry was hoping his pre-Earth Day Louisiana cruise would get all the attention but that was impossible on a day when his campaign posted his military records on its Web site. The question now will the move quell the controversy about his records and his Vietnam service?

That story from CNN National Correspondent Kelly Wallace.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the campaign Web site more than 100 pages of documents which Kerry's advisers say put to rest any questions about whether Kerry deserved three Purple Hearts for his Vietnam service.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: John Kerry has a record in the military that he's running on not running from.

WALLACE: A Purple Heart, military experts say, is awarded to a soldier wounded by enemy fire. The documents provide details of the injuries which earned Kerry his second and third Purple Hearts. Shrapnel wounds when he came under fire, more shrapnel wounds and contusions when a mine detonated in another incident.

But regarding his first Purple Heart, Kerry's military records don't specify his injuries or how he was wounded. His former commanding officer told the "Boston Globe" he had questioned whether Kerry's boat had taken enemy fire.

The campaign showed CNN what it called a sick call treatment record from Kerry's personal files describing a shrapnel wound to his left arm.

KERRY: Those of us who were there know what happened. It hasn't been questioned in 35 years. Obviously in presidential races politics are politics and I understand that but I'm proud of my service.

WALLACE: The documents are filled with praise one superior saying in combat Kerry was unsurpassed. He was awarded the Bronze Star for saving a fellow soldier's life and the Silver Star, one of the highest honors for battle.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WALLACE: And when he came home he protested the war, speaking out 33 years ago tomorrow before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee actions, Anderson, that angered many of the same Vietnam veterans who are most vigorously questioning Kerry's Vietnam service.

COOPER: And we're hearing more and more about that as this campaign goes on. Kelly Wallace thanks very much.

WALLACE: Sure.

COOPER: Well, a deadly bombing in the Saudi capital tops our look at news around the globe right now in the "Up Link." Let's check it out.

In Riyadh, the Saudi government says today's suicide car bombing "fits the pattern of an al Qaeda operation." Besides the bomber, four people were killed including an 11-year-old Syrian girl, 148 were injured.

In Ashkelon, Israel, no regrets, nuclear whistle-blower Mordecai Vanunu released from prison today saying he was proud and happy to do what he did. Vanunu, you'll remember, was jailed after he leaked details about Israel's alleged nuclear program back in 1986. Israel has never officially acknowledged the program's existence.

Beit Lahia, Gaza Strip, deadly exchanged, the Palestinians say an Israel incursion into the area left at least eight Palestinians dead, including four militants and a teenager. The Israeli military says its actions were prompted by rockets and other weapons being fired on Israeli troops.

Beijing, China, handshakes, smiles and bear hugs, there he is. We haven't seen him. The Chinese media and the blackout of North Korean President Kim Jong Il's three day visit, they ended it but didn't broadcast this photo op until Kim was on his way home. He's promising cooperation on the nuclear issue. China is promising more economic aid.

Geneva, Switzerland now, symbolic gesture, the U.N. Human Rights Commission calling for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty, a non-binding measure supporting the idea passed by a wide margin but the U.S., China and 17 other countries voted against it.

Lower orbit, old comrades reconnect, the International Space Station getting a fresh crew after an overnight docking with a Soyuz rocket. The station's Russian commander and American flight engineer are scheduled to be there for six months, and that is a look at the "Up Link."

A blow to Kobe Bryant's defense, no access to his accuser's medical records, find out what impact this will have on his case.

Also tonight, Saddam Hussein on trial, it comes with a $75 million price tag but should he even get such a trial? I'm going to ask his lawyer and the man in charge of his tribunal. And a little later brush with fame, meet an incredibly cute 2- year-old kid who gets the hot shots with the top stars. That's him and Madonna. That's all ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Well, earlier we saw the Pentagon responding to Bob Woodward's new book and elsewhere in Washington the fallout just continues. At the State Department the man in the middle it seems is Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Senior Analyst Jeff Greenfield has our "Midweek Crisis."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SR. ANALYST (voice-over): Another week, another book, another frenzy of revelation, disputation, speculation. Did the president commit to war weeks, months, maybe a year and a half before he said he did? Was Colin Powell's advice and counsel ignored? Was Saudi Prince Bandar tipped off about the war in advance and did he promise to lower oil prices to help Bush's reelection?

(on camera): Well, here's another question. Does anyone, anyone outside the political media bubble that is, does anyone care? Should they care? Will they care? Here's a clear unambiguous answer. It depends.

(voice-over): Yes, John Kerry says it matters.

KERRY: George Bush once again is misleading America and he is misleading America about my record and what I intend to do because he doesn't have a record to run on. He has a record to run away from.

GREENFIELD: But the idea that members of a president's inner circle disagree is not exactly man bites dog. It isn't even dog bites man. It's more like dog eats bone.

The tensions between Colin Powell and Cheney and Rumsfeld had been the currency of Washington water cooler gossip since about a half hour after Bush's inauguration.

And the idea that Powell should have resigned when his reservations about the war were ignored, well Williams Jennings Bryant quit as Wilson's Secretary of State over U.S. entry into World War I. Cy Vance quit as Carter's Secretary of State to protest the Iran hostage rescue attempt but that's about it.

It's not like Britain where Tony Blair lost two cabinet members over Iraq. In the U.S., insiders almost always prefer staying on the inside. And fundamentally it is what will happen here in Iraq that will shape the public's view of the decision to go to war.

If Iraq is moving toward a peaceful, stable, free country by Election Day, the origins of the policy will mean little. If it is violent, chaotic, a quagmire drawing in more and more American troops that is what will make the judgment suspect. And, ask yourself, what's more likely to do the president political damage the idea that the Saudis lowered gas prices to help him or record high gas prices come autumn?

(on camera): It's not that internal disputes aren't important. If John Kennedy had listened to many of his advisers during the Cuban Missile Crisis, none of us would be here right now. It's just that most of the time these internal dustups don't seem to matter much to voters. It is what happens outside in the real word that counts.

Jeff Greenfield, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Saddam Hussein to stand trial. We'll hear from his lawyer and the man who's setting up the tribunal.

Late-breaking developments in the Kobe Bryant case, the judge deals a big blow to the defense. The accuser's medical records are off limits.

And, that's entertainment baby, who's the latest "it" kid? Meet the toddler stars can't wait to pose with, 360 continues.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: In the next half hour on 360 justice for Saddam Hussein. Plans are going forward to try him before an Iraqi tribunal. Will he get a fair trial? Does that matter? You'll hear from Jacques Verges who says he's Saddam Hussein's lawyer and Salem Chalabi, head of the tribunal.

First let's check our top stories in the reset. Utica, Illinois, nature's wrath. At least eight people killed by one of several tornadoes that raked various Midwestern states last night. The victims were trapped inside an old tavern that was destroyed.

Basra, Iraq, coordinated car bombings. At least 68 people killed in a series of suicide explosions in the southern Iraqi city. 18 children, including 10 kindergartners among the dead.

Washington, D.C., appreciation or degradation? Some Democrats are upset about a bill that lets Iraq and Afghanistan veterans make early withdrawals from their pensions. One Congressman calls it, quote, "the tiniest of tiny benefits." Another said it's a monumental insult. But Republicans call it a step in the right direction.

Baghdad, Iraq. Troubling trend when it comes to Iraq's struggling security forces, a U.S. commander says about one in ten is working against the coalition forces. Major General Martin Dempsey also says about 40 percent have walked off the job because they are intimidated. Northern Germany now, midair collision. A pair of Toronto fighter jets collide at 15,000 feet killing both the pilot and wingman in one plane. Both crew members from the other jet managed to parachute to safety.

That's a look at the reset tonight.

In Iraq tonight, questions about the new tribunal set up to try Saddam Hussein. When will it start? How can it function in the current security environment? Salem chalabi is in charge of setting up the tribunal. His last name Chalabi may sound familiar. He's the nephew of Ahmed Chalabi a long-time dissident in exile who's now a member of the Iraqi governing council. I talked with Salem earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Mr. Chalabi, can Saddam Hussein get a fair trial in Iraq?

SALEM CHALABI, HEAD OF IRAQI TRIBUNAL: I think he can. We are appointing judges and making sure that the judges are not former victims of the regime to ensure that there will be impartiality. We are appointing international monitors to monitor the procedures of the tribunal to ensure that defendants have rights, and that the trial processes are fair.

COOPER: Right now Saddam Hussein is classified as a prisoner of war, a P.O.W., thereby not eligible for the death penalty. Will his classification change by the time of the trial?

CHALABI: Yes. I think that once sovereignty is transfered back to Iraq, once we get appropriate detention facilities, et cetera, Saddam will be transferred over to, you know, out of the U.S. military into the tribunal's custody.

COOPER: Are you concerned at all then about the appearance of basically collusion between the tribunal and the United States if the U.S. is paying $75 million to set up a prison, to set up detention facilities, and then administrative facilities? There are some who are going to say, it seems very -- too close.

CHALABI: There is this concern that, you know, we're having U.S., you know, you know, increased U.S. assistance or increased U.S. involvement in this process. But they're also bringing in international assistance from other countries. And they will, you know, counteract the U.S. side. So it's not solely a U.S. operation. I mean, it's not solely -- the international component of it is not solely a U.S. thing. But as I said, the U.S. is going to be providing assistance to the Iraqis, and not the other way around.

COOPER: Where is Saddam Hussein right now?

CHALABI: I'm not at liberty to say. But he's in Iraq.

COOPER: He is in Iraq? CHALABI: Yes.

COOPER: Salem chalabi, appreciate you joining us again. Difficult job ahead of you. Thank you very much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Let's get all the angles. Let's check in with the other side. I talked with Jacques Verges who says he is Saddam Hussein's lawyer.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Why do you want to represent Saddam Hussein? Is it because you believe he is innocent or you believe everyone deserves good representation?

JACQUES VERGES, SADDAM HUSSEIN'S LAWYER: I believe that a man who is accused has a right in a democracy to have a lawyer. And it is a duty for the lawyer to defend him. Is he innocent or guilty? Tell me what is your position, what is your proof, I don't know.

COOPER: For instance, gassing Kurds. That would be one thing he's probably going to be charged with.

VERGES: But you say such. I want a paper telling me when this happen. Who do that, if that has been done and what is the role of Mr. Saddam Hussein in this. If that exists I have not (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

COOPER: You have talked about bringing forth witnesses from the U.S. government. You said President Bush, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Why?

VERGES: The government of Saddam Hussein was the ally of the United States long time ago. And if we are to reproach to this government what he has done with weapons sold by the American state, the people who sold these weapons, should be, should sit near of him in the court.

COOPER: You're saying that if Saddam Hussein is tried for war crimes, the United States government should be tried for war crimes, as well?

VERGES: Of course. If he is to be prosecuted, I think the responsibility of the American government, and Mr. Rumsfeld first should sit near of him.

COOPER: There has been discussion about whether or not you really are Saddam Hussein's attorney. There's an attorney in Jordan who says that he is Saddam's attorney and that Saddam's wife and a daughter have hired him to be Saddam's attorney. What proof do you have that you actually represent Saddam Hussein?

VERGES: I was appointed by his nephew the son of his brother. And this nephew said to me, perhaps there are other lawyers thinking about the case, but please I want you. I urge you to deal immediately in order to protect the right of my uncle. I am afraid that the American in order to avoid a trial, try to make him die before the trial.

COOPER: Jacques Verges. We appreciate you being on the program. Thank you very much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, today's buzz question is this -- is it important that Saddam Hussein get a fair trial? What do you think? You can log on to CNN.com/360 right now to vote. We'll have results at the end of the program.

New developments in the Kobe Bryant case. That's what we're going to talk about coming up. A big bombshell for the NBA star facing rape charges. All ahead in our justice served segment.

Plus, say cheese. How one toddler's is managing to get his picture taken with superstars and celebrities.

And a little later Britney Spears plays a nasty little trick on her brother. Find out what she did and why ahead in the current.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Time for "Justice Served" now. Late this afternoon, the judge in the Kobe Bryant case ruled that the medical and psychological history of the woman accusing him of rape is inadmissible at trial. Let's get the latest from national correspondent Gary Tuchman. Gary, this cannot make the defense happy.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No, Anderson, this is not good news for Kobe Bryant. The judge who will preside over his trial has decided Bryant's attorneys will not get access to the alleged victim's medical records. Meaning, the records cannot be used in a trial.

Bryant's attorneys contend the woman had tried to kill herself twice in the months prior to this alleged rape. They say those suicide attempts are part of a pattern that shows she tries to seek attention.

They told judge Terry Ruckriegle that because she had talked about her hospital visits to her mother and to her friends her medical records no longer legally deserved to be kept private. But the judge has ruled that the accuser did not reveal the nature of her medical treatment to outsiders and therefore did not waive her doctor/patient privilege. Therefore, the records cannot be used in a trial.

A trial date still has not been set. Three more days of pretrial hearings will take place next week. The primary topic: if parts of the woman's sexual history will be admissible in a trial. That is likely to be a bigger issue for the Bryant team, because defense lawyers say injuries she said she suffered could have come from other men she had sex with near the time of her encounter with the basketball player. Anderson, back to you.

COOPER: All right. Gary Tuchman, thanks very much from Atlanta.

Here now to help us to sort out what this mean's for Bryant's defense strategy, 360 legal analyst Kimberly Guilfoyle Newsom. Kimberly, thanks for being with us.

KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE NEWSOM, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Thanks, Anderson.

COOPER: A big blow to the Bryant defense.

NEWSOM: Big blow to the defense and to Kobe Bryant. Big victory for the prosecution and for the doctor/patient privilege. And basically, victim's rights here.

This case is about one-on-one. Kobe Bryant's word against the alleged victim. What the defense was hoping to do was seriously impair her credibility in the eyes of the jurors by saying that this is a woman that's not to be trusted, that she engages in attention- seeking behavior and that the past would show exactly what happened here in this instant case.

COOPER: Even though the jury may not hear it in the courtroom, they probably already heard it on the television. It's been widely reported, these alleged suicide attempts. Have they poisoned the jury pool?

NEWSOM: Well, there is no doubt that this woman's credibility, her reputation has been impaired by this whole incident. We've had so much coverage on this, in tabloids and other things, about her past sexual history and past psychiatric history. Albeit, this is a woman that allegedly has some troubled issues in the past.

And the defense has already succeeded in potentially poisoning that jury pool, because people are listening and watching and evaluating. Which is why jury selection is going to have to be so important to weed out people that already have formed an opinion about her or about Kobe Bryant.

COOPER: Now, Colorado has a rape shield law, but there's going to be three days of testimony next week about whether her sexual history should be included in the court. How can that even happen if there is a rape shield law?

NEWSOM: A great question Anderson. The defense is arguing that because Kobe Bryant is charged with a forcible rape crime here, the big issue is who caused the injuries. If there is evidence to suggest that someone other than Kobe Bryant within that 72-hour time frame could have injured the woman severely enough to produce those injuries, then perhaps he is right and this was an issue of consent.

And it's his word then against hers. And it would negate the physical evidence that is so powerful right now against him.

COOPER: So they're looking more at her very recent sexual history. Not past behavior from years gone by. NEWSOM: Yes. In the past, defense attorneys have tried to bring up instances from the past of sexual misconduct, or promiscuity to try and what we call in the business, dirty the victim and impair her credibility.

Here, the defense is not going to because of rape shield laws that are now in place, be able to bring up anything that she's had in the past or how many men she has slept with. Only for this very specific time frame, which makes sense, because it's only relevant as to what happened around this incident and whether he is the one that caused those injuries.

COOPER: So that decision will be made by the judge next week?

NEWSOM: Hopefully next week. It's going to be three days of hearings which should be pretty intense. The judge has had a lot of really important legal issues here to deal with. I think there are going to be case law for quite some time.

COOPER: They both say they want a quick trial. When are we looking at?

NEWSOM: Hopefully we're going to get that pretty soon. Everyone thought that this would go beyond the NBA season, of course, and that's exactly what it looks like. So we'll be getting this to trial shortly, within the next month or two, because both sides for once are in agreement on that issue.

COOPER: The one thing they do agree on. All right, Kimberly, thanks very much.

Well smoking, drinking, gambling and education? Coming up in the "Nth Degree" using sin taxes to stock school supplies. Also tonight, dozens of celebrities are being photographed with him. So what does it take to get my picture with little Jeremy Dorak (ph)?

All that ahead. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Time to check on some pop news in tonight's "Current."

A new study by Ikea says 20 percent of Americans like to have places in the house other than the bedroom. Perhaps the study will prompt Ikea to update its catalogue so it's furniture not only blends in, but vibrates as well.

The winner of "The Apprentice" will soon put his story to paper. Word is Bill Rancic is close to signing a book deal where he'll show readers the keys to success; chief amongst them: work hard, stick with it and never, ever hire Omarosa.

In Houston a dog named Sophie saved another dog from the jaws of an alligator. Sophie is being hailed as a hero in Houston. Though some fear all the attention has gone to her heard, Sophie says her next move will be to be the center spot on Hollywood Squares. And Britney Spears punked her brother for his 27th birthday. She had him arrested and led away by fake police officers. Spears finally admitted it was just for laughs. For revenge we suggest he try something really sinister like turning her microphone on when she sings.

I don't know if that's true.

Have you met the new media darling? Goes by the name of Jeremy. Posing with some of the most famous people around. There's even a Web site for his many followers. Not bad for a 2-year-old.

Jeanne Moos explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He may be just learning to talk.

JEREMY ZOREK: Uh-oh. Nice.

MOOS: But somehow he's managed to talk his way into dozens of celebrity photo-ops. From Leno to Billy Crystal to Robin Williams to Halle Berry.

MICHAEL ZOREK, JEREMY'S DAD: It's not the best picture of Jeremy but she looks beautiful.

MOOS: Jeremy's dad posts them all on the Web site whoisthatwithjeremy.com.

J. ZOREK: Who's that?

M. ZOREK: That's G. Gordon Liddy.

MOOS: From Watergate to Playboy, sorry, Hef, Jeremy is a boy who plays, not a playboy. Back in the '80s Jeremy's dad was an actor. In a dress, in a mohawk. Now his son's posing with actors like 007, singers like Billy Joel. They run into celebs on the street, go to dozens of book signings. Jeremy's most photographed moment was with none other than Madonna.

(on camera): So are you doing it for fun?

Do you want to have a show biz career?

M. ZOREK: It's for fun. It's for fun. He models. Which is fine. But none of this...

J. ZOREK: Mommy! Mommy!

MOOS (voice-over): We tagged along when Jeremy lined up to meet Danny Aiello signing his new CD.

M. ZOREK: Can you say hi Danny Aiello.

J. ZOREK: Hi Danny Aiello.

M. ZOREK: This is my son Jeremy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, Jeremy.

M. ZOREK: Can I get a photograph?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure.

MOOS: A few say no. Among them Mikhail Gorbachev and Paul McCartney. Though Ringo posed.

(on camera): Can you say P. Diddy.

J. ZOREK: P. Diddy.

MOOS (voice-over): From rapper, to former president, there's even a parody Web site now. Who is that eating Jeremy? And someone photo swabbed Jeremy's head onto Michael Jackson's dangling baby. Once in awhile Jeremy fuss.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One more for the road.

M. ZOREK: He likes -- if you know the ABC song he likes that better.

J. ZOREK: ABCD.

MOOS: This kid's too cool to drool on a celebrity. Makes posing with Santa seem quaint.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: So this is Jeremy. I'm also joined by his father Michael. Thanks for being with us.

M. ZOREK: It's a pleasure. Thank you very much.

COOPER: So, now, why do you do this?

M. ZOREK: Well, it started out as just for fun, and it got a little carried away if you will. It was fun to do. We'd go to book signings. We'd go to things like that.

COOPER: And how do these celebrities react when you suddenly hoist Jeremy upon them?

M. ZOREK: Most of them are just very comfortable holding a kid. They think he's adorable looking and they're very happy. So...

COOPER: Has anyone ever said no, I refuse to do it?

M. ZOREK: Yes we had a couple. We had Paul McCartney, he and his wife said no. And we were walking down the street and bumped into Mikhail Gorbachev and he said no.

COOPER: Where do you hang out that you jump into Mikhail Gorbachev on the street?

M. ZOREK: We do a lot of strolling. We do a lot of strolling.

COOPER: You're a stay at home dad.

M. ZOREK: I'm a stay at home day, and I always walk around with a camera.

COOPER: And what does your wife think of all this?

M. ZOREK: She finds it interesting. I think at first she was a little uneasy. And then afterwards it grew into something that she thinks is fun.

COOPER: Jeremy, do you like having your pictures taken.

M. ZOREK: Say Hi, Anderson Cooper. Can you say high.

J. ZOREK: What's that?

M. ZOREK: That's the camera that you're putting your thumb on.

COOPER: He doesn't -- he obviously doesn't really know anything about these celebrities.

M. ZOREK: No, not at all. I mean, nothing fazes him. He would take a picture with anybody so...

J. ZOREK: Daddy, picture fountains.

M. ZOREK: Take a picture of the fountains. We'll do that after this.

COOPER: There's a fountain right outside.

M. ZOREK: Yes.

COOPER: Now, what was Madonna like?

M. ZOREK: Madonna was great. Madonna was very, very -- she went with it. Jeremy got up and started crawling around. And she was just very nice and when we put him on the table she couldn't have been nicer. He picked up the book, he grabbed it, and he started pointing at the pages and she just went along with it. And he went along with it. And none of the cameras fazed him. None of the flash bulbs fazed him. And so here he is.

COOPER: Can I get my picture taken with him?

M. ZOREK: Absolutely. I'd love to. Jeremy, daddy's going to take a picture of you with Anderson.

(CROSSTALK) COOPER: Uh-oh.

M. ZOREK: Smile.

J. ZOREK: No!

COOPER: Maybe we'll get one afterwards.

M. ZOREK: Do you want to take a picture with Anderson.

COOPER: Jeremy, it was really nice to meet you.

M. ZOREK: Say, thank you.

COOPER: Bye-bye.

J. ZOREK: Thank you. Thank you, fountain.

COOPER: We'll go to the fountain right after the program.

Coming up, these days many schools are strapped...

J. ZOREK: Thank you, fountain.

COOPER: In a second -- for cash. Should drinkers and smokers help foot the bill? We'll take a sin tax plan to "The Nth Degree."

Plus tomorrow held hostage in Iraq the heartache and hope family members face waiting and wondering. We'll talk to the mother of a former POW.

And today's "Buzz" question, is it important that Saddam Hussein gets a fair trail. Log on to cnn.com/360. You can vote right now, results when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Time now for "The Buzz." Earlier we asked, is it important that Saddam Hussein get a fair trial? 82 percent of you said yes, 18 percent said no. Not a scientific poll, but it is your "Buzz."

Tonight taking sacrifice to "The Nth Degree."

Question, what do you call a Texan who drinks, smokes, gambles and visits a couple, three topless bars every day? Right now a reprobate. But if Texas Governor Rick Perry has that way you can call that man a hero of public education. You see in common with other governors else were, Mr. Perry has proposed shifting the burden of financing education in his state from residential property and business taxes to the so-called sin taxes. Now the idea is that more of the take from this sort of thing, steins of suds, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) shots, poker pots, flesh pots, butts would go toward this sort of thing, the three R's, the "Iddy Bitty Spider," teaching wee ones right from wrong. Man the sacrifices parents have to make. It hasn't happened yet you understand. But get ready down there in Texas to light up, drink up, ante up and snap some garters. And remember hey, it's for the kids.

I'm Anderson Cooper. Thanks for watching.

Coming up next "PAULA ZAHN NOW."

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