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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
Rumsfeld on the Hot Seat; Family of Accused Abuser Speaks Out
Aired May 07, 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening to our domestic and our international viewers around the world. I'm Daryn Kagan. Anderson Cooper is off tonight.
High drama on Capitol Hill, 360 begins right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN (voice-over): Defense Chief Donald Rumsfeld on the hot seat.
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: If I felt I could not be effective, I'd resign in a minute.
KAGAN: Will his testimony before Congress save his job?
One soldier's story, the family of one of the accused abusers speaks out.
A man with a deadly disease suspected of infecting up to 170 victims, should police have done more to stop him?
First it was juice, pasta, beer, bread, now Krispy Kreme? Are the only low carb part of donuts the holes?
Twins, tycoons and almost legal, the Olsen's bring in their 18th with a big screen debut.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And we're going to start tonight with Donald Rumsfeld under fire on Capitol Hill.
For more than six hours, the defense secretary and other top Pentagon brass are grilled by lawmakers in two rounds of intense Q&A on the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal.
We are covering the story from all angles tonight. In Washington, CNN Congressional Correspondent Joe Johns, plus CNN's Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre and, traveling with the president in Wisconsin tonight our White House Correspondent John King.
Let's begin on Capitol Hill and, Joe, the reaction to Rumsfeld's testimony. JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, there's a lot of uncertainty. Rumsfeld apologized. He was praised for that. He said he'd give up his job if he couldn't be effective but there's a lot of worry that this thing is going to get worse before it gets better.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS (voice-over): The defense secretary's defense contrition.
RUMSFELD: Let me be clear. I failed to recognize how important it was to elevate a matter of such gravity to the highest levels, including the president and the members of Congress.
JOHNS: But that wasn't enough for everyone.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: What were the instructions to the guards?
RUMSFELD: That is what the investigation that I've indicated has been undertaken is determining.
MCCAIN: Mr. Secretary, that's a very simple, straightforward question.
JOHNS: Rumsfeld showed some flashes of his old self in a testy exchange with Democrat Edward Kennedy.
SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: I'm trying to find out because it's been published that you were notified about this a series of times and advised to do something about it. Nothing was done.
RUMSFELD: It's not correct to say nothing was done. You're making a set of conclusions that are just simply not accurate.
JOHNS: But there was also some praise.
SEN. JEFF SESSIONS (R), ALABAMA: But I feel very strongly that the military deserves a lot of credit here.
JOHNS: Yet on the bottom line question a moment of candor.
SEN. EVAN BAYH (D), INDIANA: Would it serve to demonstrate how seriously we take this situation and therefore a help to undo some of the damage to our reputation if you were to step down?
RUMSFELD: That's possible.
JOHNS: After the hearing, Senator John McCain said he was unhappy with Rumsfeld's responses but was withholding judgment on whether the defense secretary should go.
MCCAIN: I still think it would be premature to call for the secretary's removal.
JOHNS: The senior Republican on the committee and the top Republican in the Senate both voiced confidence in Rumsfeld but said the decision was not theirs to make.
SEN. JOHN WARNER (R), ARMED SERVICES CHMN.: That's a question that's subjective and the secretary in consultation with the president, if that comes about, should answer and I indicated this morning very clearly I intend to support my president in his decision.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: Rumsfeld got some support today from Democrat Joe Lieberman. Democrat Ted Kennedy said he ought to resign. No Republicans have said anything like that at all but the question remains in the air tonight -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Joe John on Capitol Hill.
And, as damaging as the revelations have been, there are apparently even more disturbing photographs and videotapes that have not been made public yet. Pentagon officials say they have no intention of releasing the images but they concede if they are leaked they could further inflame world opinion against the U.S., more on that now from our Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Pentagon says there are many more photographs, even videotapes of prisoner abuse, which Defense Secretary Rumsfeld described as blatantly sadistic, cruel and inhuman.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Apparently, the worst is yet to come potentially in terms of disturbing events.
MCINTYRE: But there are no plans to release them.
RUMSFELD: If these are released to the public, obviously it's going to make matters worse. That's just a fact. I mean I looked at them late night and they're hard to believe.
MCINTYRE: Rumsfeld said it was his personal failure not to insist on seeing the pictures months ago.
RUMSFELD: I say no one in the Pentagon had seen them and they were part of that investigative process. It is the photographs that gives one the vivid realization of what actually took place. Words don't do it.
MCINTYRE: Rumsfeld still hasn't seen the videos but the report by the army general who investigated the abuse gives a hint on what's on them. It refers to "videotaping and photographing naked male and female detainees" and "forcing male detainees to masturbate while being photographed and videotaped." Rumsfeld's critics say it's a mistake to allow the bad news to dribble out.
MCCAIN: With all due respect to investigations ongoing and panels being appointed, the American people deserve immediate and full disclosure of all relevant information so that we can assured and comforted that something that we never believed could happen will never happen again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE: And, Daryn, among the abuses still to be investigated include beatings, a possible murder, and even the rape of an Iraqi female prisoner by an American military police officer. It is -- those are allegations that Rumsfeld himself described today as radioactive in their strategic impact -- Daryn.
KAGAN: It makes you wonder what is yet to come. Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon, Jamie thank you.
Donald Rumsfeld, the top brass and the lawmakers weren't the only voices that were heard during today's hearing.
Those hecklers are from a group called Code Pink. It's the group that describes itself as a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement. They interrupted Rumsfeld as he was giving his opening statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee. Rumsfeld showed no emotion as the group yelled and continued with his statement after police escorted the group from the room.
Six American soldiers have been charged so far in the prisoner abuse scandal. Others are under scrutiny, such as 21-year-old Lynndie England. That name might not sound familiar but her face certainly is, notorious even perhaps because Lynndie England is in many of the abuse photos. Today her family spoke out and came to her defense saying she was just following orders.
Kathleen Koch has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The photo that has dominated headlines and newscasts worldwide, an American soldier holding an Iraqi prisoner by a leash, now those closest to Private First Class Lynndie England have come to her defense sharing their own snapshots. They insist the graphic photos don't depict the real Lynndie England.
ROY HARDY, ENGLAND FAMILY ATTORNEY: The pictures don't tell the full story. You don't know what was going on behind her, beside her. You don't know why the pictures were taken. You don't know anything except you have a picture.
KOCH: England's sister and best friend describe her as a role model, kind, strong, and dependable. They insist she did not hurt any prisoners.
JESSICA KLINESTIVER, SOLDIER'S SISTER: I don't believe my sister, what she did in those photos I believe they were posed.
DESTINY GOIN, SOLDIER'S FRIEND: I don't believe Lynndie would actually be doing any of the actions that you see in the photos. It's not like her to be like that. She's a caring person. KOCH: Twenty-one-year-old England grew up in tiny Fort Ashby, West Virginia. She joined the Reserves so her parents wouldn't have to pay for her college education.
Kerry Shoemaker-Davis, now discharged, served with England in the 372nd military police company. She doubts those truly responsible will ever be punished.
KERRY SHOEMAKER-DAVIS, FORMER ARMY M.P.: Probably not and that's sad. I've been saying all along the person on the bottom of the totem pole is the one that gets squashed and this is a perfect example of that.
KOCH: The military has restricted England, now five months pregnant, to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and the surrounding area.
(on camera): England's family is in the process of finding a lawyer to defend her in case criminal charges are filed.
Kathleen Koch CNN, Cumberland, Maryland.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Well, even though he was thousands of miles away from Washington today, President Bush could not escape the fallout from the prison abuse scandal but the news wasn't all downbeat. He did get a boost from new reports on the economy, traveling with the president on the campaign trail our Senior White House Correspondent John King.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A flag-waving welcome in Wisconsin farm country for a president back on the bus in the heartland eager to talk about one big issue with little choice but to address another.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The abhorrent pictures on our TV screens have stained our honor. They do not reflect the nature of the men and women we have sent overseas.
KING: On most days, scenes like this would have little competition, most days. It was a day that reinforced how big a shadow Iraq casts over the reelection campaign and how even presidents can't always dictate the agenda.
BUSH: People are finding work in this country. The tax relief we passed is working.
KING: The economy is what the president wanted to drive the headlines. The unemployment rate dipped to 5.6 percent last month, down from its Bush administration high of 6.3 percent last June. The economy added 288,000 jobs in April and payrolls have grown by 1.1 million jobs since August.
(on camera): the improving jobs picture is a trend the Bush- Cheney campaign believes will continue into the summer and fall and it's no secret incumbent presidents tend to be reelected when the economy is looking up.
(voice-over): But Iraq is more and more a campaign question mark and to critics the prisoner abuse scandal raises yet another question about the president's war management.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It solidifies the perception that the situation in Iraq is out of control.
KING: Mr. Bush rejects the criticism and suggests his Democratic opponent is not up to the challenge.
BUSH: Let me tell you something. This country doesn't need doubletalk.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KING: Now the president just finished speaking here at his last rally of the day in La Crosse. As he rolled across rural Iowa and Wisconsin, he was called by aides back in Washington. They told him they thought Secretary Rumsfeld's testimony had gone quite well.
And, Daryn, we're also told by senior officials the president decided today for the first time to address the prisoner abuse scandal in his campaign speeches, telling senior aides he did not want this to be seen as ducking the day's big drama -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And so did you hear the president mention that today or this is in the future on the campaign trail?
KING: In every speech today he mentioned his disgust with the photographs. He did not do that on the previous bus tour after the scandal had broken. Aides say he did not want to mention it in campaign speeches but today with his defense secretary in the hot seat on Capitol Hill, aides say the president felt he had to mention it to show his support for Secretary Rumsfeld.
KAGAN: John King in La Crosse, Wisconsin thank you for that.
This just in the Associated Press is reporting that Army Private Lynndie England, who we just heard about in Kathleen Koch's report, she's the woman shown in the photograph smiling and pointing at the naked Iraqi prisoners, she has now been charged by the military with conspiring to mistreat detainees and other crimes.
More cases of prison abuse these at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where terrorism suspects are being held, a quick news note on that. The U.S. military revealed today that two Army Reserve soldiers working as guards at the prison were disciplined for misuse of force against the detainees.
One case dates to September, 2002 the other to April, 2003. Both soldiers have been reassigned to other duties. A senior military official says that three other cases were investigated but the accused were cleared of any wrongdoing.
A ruling on the coverage of the Kobe Bryant case tops our look at other news across the country.
In Denver, Kobe on camera, a judge rules to permit a television camera in the courtroom next week when Kobe Bryant formally pleads not guilty to rape charges. After that plea the trial should begin within the next six months under Colorado's speedy trial rule.
McAlister, Oklahoma, call for clemency, the state pardon board recommends that the governor spare the life of Osbaldo Torres, an inmate from Mexico set to be executed for killing a couple during a burglary. In March, the International Court of Justice said that his and other Mexican inmates' rights were violated because they were not told they could receive help from their government.
Toledo, Ohio, the priest says he didn't do it. A Roman Catholic priest pleads not guilty to murdering a nun 24 years ago.
In Washington, tobacco on trial, a federal judge denies the tobacco industry's move to have a government lawsuit thrown out. The Justice Department's $280 billion lawsuit against top cigarette makers accuses them of deceiving the public about the dangers of smoking.
Newport, Kentucky, jail or surgery, how about that for a choice? A family court judge gives deadbeat dads a choice, go to jail or get a vasectomy. The judge has given the option to several men who have more than four children and owe tens of thousands of dollars in child support and that's a look at our stories "Cross Country" tonight.
Ahead tonight, a man accused of intentionally spreading HIV. Charged with assault was he trying to kill his partners? We're going to talk to one of them.
Also, an American attorney linked to the Madrid train bombing, what kind of evidence do the police say establishes a connection.
And say it just ain't so, low carb diets putting a hole in Krispy Kreme's profits, the craze that is just getting out of control.
But first your picks, the most popular stories on cnn.com right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: One woman describes Anthony Whitfield this way that he had the ability to make you feel you were someone really special. Little did his many sexual partners know just how special. Whitfield is HIV positive and he may have been spreading the virus for years to scores of people, "Justice Served" tonight from CNN's Kimberly Osias.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ashley McMillan never thought she'd have to worry about contracting HIV. She knew her sexual partners well or so she thought.
ASHLEY MCMILLAN, FORMER GIRLFRIEND: Well, I felt like he had just tried to kill me and didn't really know if he had succeeded at that point.
OSIAS: McMillan is speaking about this man, 31-year-old Anthony Whitfield. He's been charged in Washington State with 12 counts of assault in the first degree.
JAMES POWERS, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY: He would engage in unprotected sex without any information given with regard to his status having the HIV virus for all through these years.
OSIAS: Eight years of dangerous sexual behavior from 1996 until his arrest this March. Whitfield is accused of having sex without informing his partners of his HIV status.
(on camera): In the last few weeks, health department officials here in Olympia have been inundated with concerned callers. In fact, about 50 staff members have been working on this case alone.
(voice-over): They are looking not just for Whitfield's sex partners but all the people those people had sex with.
SHERRI MCDONALD, THURSTON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT: We have identified about 40 people who are potentially what we call primary contacts and about 130 others who are either what we call secondary or tertiary contacts.
OSIAS: For his part, Anthony Whitfield says he's innocent. He remains locked behind bars his bond raised to $1 million. If convicted, he could face more than 30 years in jail.
Ashley McMillan knows she's lucky she doesn't have HIV but four other women connected to Whitfield have already tested positive for the virus.
MCMILLAN: If you knew Tony Whitfield and if you had in any way contact with him please get yourself tested, please.
OSIAS: Kimberly Osias CNN, Olympia, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: You just saw Ashley McMillan in that piece. She said she tried to warn police about Whitfield. It was eight years ago. McMillan did not contract HIV. She joined me earlier from Oklahoma City.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Ashley take us back to eight years ago. What happened to you and what did you tell police?
MCMILLAN: Well, I dated Anthony Whitfield for approximately six weeks and I found out that he was HIV positive after we had broken up and I went to the police department and filed a police report, reporting that he knowingly had AIDs and was attempting to transmit it.
KAGAN: And do you believe that he knew he had AIDS when you had sex with him?
MCMILLAN: I know that he knew he had AIDS.
KAGAN: But did you talk about it before you had sex?
MCMILLAN: We -- we actually used protection and a condom broke and at that time I asked him would you like to go and get tested? Do we need to get tested? Had he been tested up to that date? And he told me, yes, that he had been tested recently and that he was fine, that he was negative and that I had nothing to worry about.
KAGAN: What kind of response did you get from police at the time?
MCMILLAN: Well, at the time, you have to remember I didn't know that I was negative. For all that I knew I had contracted this disease from him.
KAGAN: So, I imagine you were really upset at the time.
MCMILLAN: I was traumatized and terrified. When I went to the police department we literally filled out a police report in the waiting area of the police station. People were coming and going. There was no privacy. It was treated as though it was little more than a traffic violation.
KAGAN: And so you spoke up. It didn't have the effect that you wanted. Now it appears many people have been exposed. What would you say to him if you had a chance to see him in a courtroom now?
MCMILLAN: I have nothing to say to him. He's a very sad human being and I don't feel in the least bit sorry for him. I'm sorry that he's lived this long.
KAGAN: And to other people who feel they might have been wrongly exposed to somebody who is not being honest would you encourage them to speak up even though at the time it didn't appear that police listened to you?
MCMILLAN: It's their responsibility to speak up. It's anyone's -- anyone who feels that they have information about someone who's transmitting AIDS purposefully to unknowing partners it's their responsibility to act on that and I only hope that the law enforcement in their cities takes them seriously.
KAGAN: And just finally your feelings toward the police that you originally reported this to, are you bitter? Do you feel if you had been taken more seriously then more people wouldn't have been exposed?
MCMILLAN: Well, I feel like it's -- I'm very regretful that I didn't follow through even further than I did. Apparently a couple of phone calls and filing a police report never was enough.
So, I'm very upset. I'm angry for the people in Washington and the people in Oklahoma that were exposed to this virus within the last eight years because it could have been prevented. KAGAN: Ashley McMillan thank you for sharing your story with us. We appreciate it.
MCMILLAN: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: The Oklahoma City Police Department confirms that it did receive a report about Anthony Whitfield back in 1996. Officials there tell CNN: "Records indicate this case was not fully investigated at that time. We're in the process of determining the reason for this. The Oklahoma City Police Department will conduct a thorough investigation into how the case was processed in 1996 and whether it was handled properly."
An American citizen being held as a material witness in the Madrid train bombings, we'll look at what led the FBI to seek him out.
Plus, Donald Rumsfeld in the hot seat is his apology for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners enough? We'll talk to political strategists on both sides.
And then a little bit later some relief is in sight for chronic insomniacs. A new pill promises to help you get some shut-eye without getting hooked.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We have new details tonight on the arrest of an Oregon lawyer. He is accused of having a link to the Madrid rail bombings. Tracking that investigation is our Ted Rowlands.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Spanish authorities tell CNN 37-year-old Brandon Mayfield's fingerprints were found on a plastic bag containing detonators similar to those used in the March 11 rail bombings in Spain, a terrorist attack that killed 190 people and injured 1,500 others.
The bag, according to Spanish authorities, was found in a white van with other potential evidence including an audiotape of Quran readings near the station that three of the four trains that were attacked left from.
TOM NELSON, MAYFIELD'S ATTORNEY: I don't think much of the government's case nor their tactics.
ROWLANDS: Tom Nelson, an attorney and friend of Mayfield's, was at a closed hearing on the matter held Thursday at the federal courthouse in Portland. Nelson says Mayfield told him he hasn't left the country in years.
Mayfield was a lawyer for Jeffrey Battle in a child custody case. Battle was a member of the Portland Seven, a group accused of planning to fight against America for the Taliban. Mayfield is also a practicing Muslim.
NELSON: He's not a fanatic or extremist in any sense of the word. Is that why he was singled out? Absolutely. Yes. If he were a Jehovah's Witness or a Seventh Day Adventist or a Unitarian or a Jew or a Catholic he wouldn't be there.
ROWLANDS: U.S. authorities would not comment on the case but did confirm that two search warrants were issued. Friends say Mayfield's vehicle and law office were search along with the home he shares with his wife Mona and three young children.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sure he's thinking this is just appalling. This is ridiculous, you know, these type of charges.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROWLANDS: Mayfield has not been actually charged with anything. He's being held as a material witness, which gives the federal government a certain amount of latitude in terms of holding him. They can hold him for a "reasonable amount of time" to allow them to get a deposition from him or to have him testify in front of a federal grand jury -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Ted Rowlands in Portland, Oregon.
Checking stories from around the world here now is the "Up Link."
First to the Lebanese border, gunfire exchange, Israeli forces and Hezbollah militia fought it out in the disputed region along the border. Israel says Hezbollah guerrillas attacked its army post. Israeli warplanes responded by attacking Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
To Pakistan, first a bomb then a riot, a bomb at a Shiite Muslim mosque kills at least 13 people, injures more than 100. In Karachi hundreds of Shiite youths burn cars in a government office; the violence triggered by the bombing.
To Paris, practicing for the worst, hundreds of French police, firemen and paramedics participate in a training exercise in a Paris metro station simulating the aftermath of an explosion. Three and a half million passengers use that metro every day and that is tonight's "Up Link."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN (voice-over): Defense Chief Donald Rumsfeld on the hot seat. Will his testimony before Congress save his job?
First it was juice, pasta, beer, bread, now Krispy Kreme, are the only low carb part of donuts the holes?
Twins, tycoons and almost legal, the Olsen's bring in their 18th with a big screen debut, 360 continues.
(END VIDEOTAPE) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: The part of the program where we catch you up with some of our top stories. Here now is the reset. On Capitol Hill, Donald Rumsfeld, drilled by law makers about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. Rumsfeld took full responsibility for what happened and apologized to the victims. He defended the Pentagon's handling of the case and vowed to stay on the job.
Fort Bragg, North Carolina, a developing story. CNN has confirmed that Linndie England, the Army private seen smiling and pointing at naked Iraqi detainees tonight has been charged with conspiring to mistreat prisoners and other crimes.
In Portland, a shocking admission from a former Oregon governor. Neil Goldschmidt today admitted having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. It happened while he was mayor of Portland in the 1970s. The 63-year-old today asked for forgiveness.
As we've said today's grilling of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was very intense at times. He fought back several times, saying the Pentagon did reveal the abuse investigation to the media months before. But it wasn't until the photographs surfaced that the world noticed, giving proof of the power of pictures.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN (voice-over): The news first broke on January 16, three days after a soldier reported the abuse to a supervisor.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS": The commander of coalition forces in Iraq has ordered an investigation into the reported abuse of detainees there.
KAGAN: At the time, the allegations were serious, the information precise. The U.S. military was investigating allegations of abuse of Iraqi detainees by U.S. soldiers at the notorious prison of Abu Ghraib. Yet the story quickly went away. The "New York Times" only ran a 373-word article the next morning on page 7. The story came back, though on March 20.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A battalion commander, company commander and the U.S. military commander of the prison certainly now facing questions.
KAGAN: When the U.S. military announced that six U.S. military personnel had been charged with cruelty, assault and indecent acts.
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY SPOKESMAN: Though it was a small number of detainees involved, that's the kind of cancer that you've got to cut out quickly.
KAGAN: Yet again, the story didn't stick. Only 604 words on page 14 of the "New York Times." What was missing for the story to hold? This. Pictures. Since CBS's "60 Minutes II" aired these on April 28, the story has made national headlines. ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, ANDERSON COOPER 360: Good evening. We begin with allegations of prisoner abuse in Iraq.
KAGAN: Why?
ALEX JONES, DIR. OF SHORENSTEIN CENTER ON THE PRESS, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: Words can be emotional. But when you compare them with a dramatic, powerful image, that's something that goes not just through the eye and to the brain, it seems to go throughout the whole body. I think those photographs changed the story. They transform it. First of all, they make it irrefutably, undeniably true.
KAGAN: Since the pictures were released nine days ago, it's been a consistent lead story. The "New York Times" for example ran roughly 60 articles and columns and the story has now morphed into a political scandal, all because the power of pictures.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Secretary Rumsfeld did offer his deepest apology for the prison scandal today. But is it enough? Should his acceptance of accountability lead him to resign? Joining me to debate this and other questions, Morris Reid, a Democratic strategist who thinks Secretary Rumsfeld should resign. And in Washington, D.C., Cheri Jacobus, a Republican strategist and Rumsfeld supporter. Cheri, ladies first, did the defense secretary save his job with today's performance in front of Congress?
CHERI JACOBUS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I think he did what he needed to do today. And the president is behind him. The American people are behind him. There was a poll that came out, a "Washington Post"/ABC poll that showed 69 percent of those polled said he should keep his job. 58 percent of the Democrats thought he should keep the job. I think those numbers will go up today. He was honest, straightforward, clearly concerned about the situation and apologetic about those areas where he feels he could have done better, though I think in hindsight, it's hard to see where they could have done more. This information did come out January 16.
KAGAN: We'll get to that in a second. I want to get Morris in here for a second. Did the defense secretary save his job? Should he still be in his position running the Pentagon?
MORRIS REID, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I don't think so. This is the tip of the iceberg. Normally, people like these things to trickle out. They try to use that shock value. I think as we dig deeper, we'll find that this is widespread. The question is where was Rumsfeld? Was he on the jobs? What happened in the chain of command?
KAGAN: Cheri, we even did hear from the defense secretary today, hold on there's even more shocking pictures. Videotape that could leak out that's even worse than what we've seen so far.
JACOBUS: Exactly. He's being very honest about this. And sort of preparing everyone. And again, everybody did know about this. They just weren't paying attention. He now understands the power of the photographs. A picture truly is worth a thousand words. But he's taking the hit for this and I think he performed admirably today, unlike some of senators afterwards who ran to the microphones immediately after he testified, calling for his resignation. I think Rumsfeld did what he needed to do today.
KAGAN: Let me ask you about the hearings, Morris. Do you think the hearings did what they needed to do? They were out in the public. The whole world able to watch. And yet were the senators asking good questions, going for information, or was there a lot of grandstanding?
REID: I think it was appropriate. I think this is shocking to the American people. Here we are, the greatest nation in the world. We're a beacon on the hill. When these type of things happens we have to ask hard questions. Not just on the Democrat side but the Republicans asked a lot of hard questions. The real question is when did they know, how did they know, and why weren't we informed from the very beginning. I feel like Donald Rumsfeld's job is to protect the president and he didn't do that. He let the president down. Quite frankly, if he was asleep at the switch, he let the American people down.
KAGAN: One more question about who was in charge here and I want to go to Cheri for this. Donald Rumsfeld today coming out of the gate very strong and that saying he was in charge. It was on his watch. He'll take responsibility. Is that the kind of apology that should come from the defense secretary or the president, because isn't he ultimately the commander-in-chief?
JACOBUS: Well, today, we heard from the defense secretary. It was his job and he's taking the hit. But the president has also apologized as well. So I think they're both doing what they need to do in terms of being leaders. But clearly, the American people when you look at those pictures and see the soldiers, the perpetrators of this, those are the ones who are being investigated. We've seen some of the fallout from that. And I think as time goes on, and these incidents are more clearly played out, we'll find out who is really to blame. And I don't think it's something that is going to stick to Rumsfeld or to the president.
REID: That's not good enough.
KAGAN: And I have to say not being good enough is going to be your last word. We're out of time. Thank you for your time.
Today's buzz is this. "Has the U.S. media overplayed the Iraqi prison abuse story?" Log on to CNN.com/360 to vote. We'll have your results at the end of the program.
It will be a tough weekend for so many families. Mother's day won't be the same with mom on duty in Iraq. Our Gary Tuchman brings us one family's heartache. Not only is mom away, but so is dad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sergeant Sydell Taylor has been deployed in Iraq for one year. For the second Mother's day in a row, she will be without this young man and this young lady.
What would you like to say to your mother for Mother's day?
TASHARA TAYLOR, SOLDIER'S DAUGHTER: I love you. Be careful, and happy Mother's day.
TUCHMAN: 11-year-old Tashara and 3-year-old Chris' father is also serving in Iraq. The children now live with their mother's 15- year-old sister and an older cousin in Brunswick, Georgia.
HOPE LEGGETT, CHILDREN'S GUARDIAN: We did a power of attorney, if anything happens, she wants me to raise the kids, tell them she loves them and know she was over there for a good cause.
TUCHMAN: Do you know where your mommy is right now.
CHRIS TAYLOR: Yes.
TUCHMAN: Where is your mommy?
C. TAYLOR: Iraq.
TUCHMAN: How far away is Iraq? Is it far or close?
C. TAYLOR: Yes.
TUCHMAN: Far? Do you miss her? A lot?
Their mother was scheduled to come home next week. Sergeant Taylor told her daughter they were going to Disney World. But then, the word her deployment had been extended at least another four months.
SGT. SYDELL TAYLOR, U.S ARMY: She took it like a champ. She said that's all right, we'll just go next summer. But I know she was hurt.
TUCHMAN: What's the first thing you want to do when your mom and your dad come home?
T. TAYLOR: I don't really want to do anything. I just want to know that they're here and they're all right.
TUCHMAN: Her mother dreams of that moment.
S. TAYLOR: I'm so sorry that I can't be there with you right now. But I will be home soon. I promise. And I love you very much.
TUCHMAN: Gary Tuchman, CNN, Brunswick, Georgia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: I can only imagine how special that Mother's day will be when they're all together again. Next, a change of pace. We'll look at the subject of sleep. Insomniacs soon -- could they be counting pills rather than sheep? We'll hear about a new drug that could be the salvation for the sleepless.
Also tonight, the downfall of doughnuts. Krispy Kreme is taking a pounding on Wall Street. Is the low-carb craze to blame?
Later, the countdown to their 18th birthday is still on but their new movie is in theaters today. We'll check in with Mary Kate and Ashley.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: A good night's sleep is elusive for a lot of people. Many researchers are now studying a new pill that could help. Our senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It's the worst feeling, tired all day but you still can't sleep at night. That irresistible urge to catch a few winks at your desk, but then tossing and turning in your bed. More than 70 million Americans suffer from insomnia and are willing to do just about anything to get rid of it. More than just lack of sleep, insomnia is poor quality of sleep, with frequent wakings and daytime drowsiness. And you might even gain weight, because of your lack of sleep.
DR. THOMAS LO RUSSO, NORTHERN VIRGINIA SLEEP DIAGNOSTIC CTR.: When you don't sleep well, you may have a diminished metabolism and, therefore, you don't burn the calories that perhaps someone with good eight hours of sleep may do.
GUPTA: Treating this torment is a multibillion dollar industry that may soon get a little bit more competitive with the introduction of a new pill. Estorra. Zapacor (ph), its maker, released six separate studies this week showing its effectiveness in getting people to sleep faster with longer stretches of uninterrupted sleep and greater amount of total sleep time.
Perhaps most interesting was its safety of use even after 12 months. Currently, most doctors won't prescribe sleeping aids for more than a few weeks. And it's appropriateness for elderly insomniacs which have been a notoriously difficult population to treat because of concerns about nighttime disorientation. Those who might get the most use out of it, those with a long-term pain condition or ongoing stress such as an ill family member. Not so good for those with sleep apnea or those with only occasional sleep problems. Still, the FDA will have to review these studies before final approval which may come later this year.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: We have the doctor with us right here. Everybody wants a pill in America. Are people too quick to go for pill instead of looking at another way of trying to get to sleep.
GUPTA: If you're going to go to a sleep doctor, they'll talk about something called sleep hygiene, following a consistent routine, no caffeine before bedtime, no alcohol, try and get a good night's sleep by exercising during the day, things like that.
KAGAN: Speaking of good reasons to stay up.
GUPTA: 9:00 Sunday night.
KAGAN: How's that for a good segue.
GUPTA: That's a good segue. 9:00 Sunday, "Life Beyond Limits" is the documentary that we've been talking about all week. Extreme athletes. How do they do that? We'll tell you how, medically and scientifically. I think it's going to be really good.
KAGAN: There's weird stuff in there that might actually keep people up.
GUPTA: How do they do that?
KAGAN: Why do they do that? We're looking forward to that. Thanks, Sanjay.
An estimated 1.8 billion doughnuts were sold in the U.S. last year, many of them by Krispy Kreme, that's a franchise now feeling the bite of the low-carb nation. Today, its stock is tumbling leaving investors glazed, dazed and battered.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN (voice-over): When Ben Franklin said eat to live and not live to eat, he obviously had never tasted a Krispy Kreme doughnut. The gooey carb-filled confections have been a junk food juggernaut since Vernon Rudolph brought a secret yeast-raised doughnut recipe to North Carolina in 1937. But in these low-carb crazy times, the doughnut has become a diet no-no. And Krispy Kreme, along with the rest of the multibillion dollar a year U.S. doughnut business, is feeling a little starved for affection.
The culprits, the millions of Americans losing weight the Atkins way, piling on the protein, cutting down on carbs. A Krispy Kreme statement says, quote, "recent market data suggests that consumer interest in reduced carbohydrate consumption has heightened significantly following the beginning of the year and has accelerated in the last two to three months."
And so the doughnuts have to go and so does the bread, pasta and potatoes. Atkins aficianados are turning bread into toast with a 10 percent drop in sales this past year. The U.S. Potato Board is launching a P.R. campaign aimed at sparking new interest in spuds. Pasta, pizza, they're all feeling the pinch, while pork belly prices are soaring. Even Spam sales are sizzling. Has everyone forgotten, we are what we eat?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Politics unplugged. Everyone's talking about Donald Rumsfeld. They are talking about him, saying his name. The defense secretary himself has been talking all day. More on that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: It is time to check in on some pop culture news in tonight's "Current."
More than 51 million people watched the final episode of "Friends" last night. But if you taped or TiVoed it, you may have missed the very end, because the show went past 10:00 by several minutes. So here, a public service to anyone who missed the big finish.
OK, Rachel does get on the plane but she gets off the plane. She gets back. She comes back to Ross. When she eventually goes to Ross, there's a lot of kiss, kiss, kissing, bring us the kiss, and then they turn their keys and walk off into re-run land at the end. The end.
David Letterman planning a really, really late show. Instead of the usual early evening taping, he's going to tape next Friday's show at 4:00 o'clock in the morning. Just for something new. No word on who the guests will be, but if you're looking for New York luminaries who are likely to be up at 4:00 in the morning, the choices are pretty much limited to P. Diddy or Bill Hemmer or Soledad O'Brien. Good luck.
The movie, "The New York Minute," opens in theaters today, starring the world's most famous millionaire twins. It seems like only yesterday or maybe it was just a New York minute ago that audiences first noticed those adorable little girls, and look at them now. And take a look at our entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas. She talked with Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen in this edition of "The Weekender."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I fooled you!
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Audiences fell in love with their angelic faces in "Full House," but boy have things changed. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are all grown up, and in their new film, "New York Minute," they're taking Manhattan by storm.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're so not in Kansas anymore.
PETER CASTRO, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: What they want to do is keep the core audience, and hopefully, you know, become really attractive movie stars that young males are going to want to flock to see.
VARGAS (on camera): Are you concerned at all that, OK, now you're getting older, are your fans still going to be with you? ASHLEY OLSEN, ACTOR: I think that everyone, you know, everything that we've done is because people of any age can relate to certain time periods in our life, or just enjoy what we do. So hopefully we can just keep entertaining them no matter what are.
CASTRO: They're becoming sexy twins.
VARGAS (voice-over): The sexy teens have appeared on umpteen magazines. They've starred in dozens of films, launched a multimillion dollar cosmetic and fashion line, and recently got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And they haven't turned 18 yet.
Their wealth has reportedly been estimated to exceed $150 million each.
(on camera): You guys are an empire. How do you stay so grounded?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know what? We have like a huge family, and we've always had them, you know, amazing people in our lives.
VARGAS (voice-over): One of those people is Robert Thorn, Mary Kate and Ashley's attorney and co-founder of their company, Dualstar.
ROBERT THORN, CEO, DUALSTAR ENT.: We just were fortunate and made the right decisions, the right products, the right media projects. And it was up to the fans, and they said yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS: And interestingly, two things happen with Mary Kate and Ashley when they turn 18 next month. One, they'll have access to their saved earnings, and two, they officially become presidents of their multimillion dollar company, Dualstar Entertainment. So as you can imagine, they'll be very busy.
KAGAN: Yeah, not a bad job to have when you're 18.
VARGAS: Yeah, are they the busiest girls...
KAGAN: Well, I've seen all the buzz. I have to ask you, you've seen them up close. One of them allegedly has an eating disorder, is too thin?
VARGAS: You know, I don't know about that. I mean, I was young, you know, I was 18 years old. You know we don't eat. Do we?
(CROSSTALK)
KAGAN: When I was 18, I managed to pack on a few pounds. I got to say. (UNINTELLIGIBLE). But good for them.
VARGAS: Yeah, you know, they're extremely busy. They're also preparing to go to NYU. So, you know, that coupled with promoting a movie, a multimillion dollar movie, you know, you've got to take these things into consideration. Food might not be the priority. KAGAN: Maybe not. Sibila Vargas, thank you. And I know you've been around for a little bit, but welcome to CNN.
VARGAS: Oh, thank you.
KAGAN: Good to have you here on board. Appreciate it.
With his job on the line, the defense secretary defends himself. Coming up, Rumsfeld under pressure and unplugged, facing the toughest challenge of his career.
Monday, 21st century love. Couples that live together but aren't married. Are there benefits?
But first, today's "Buzz." Have the U.S. media overplayed the Iraqi prison abuse story? Log on to cnn.com/360 to vote now. Results when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Have the U.S. media overplayed the Iraqi prison abuse story? Forty-two percent said yes, 58 percent said no. Of course, it's not a scientific poll, but it's your "Buzz."
And finally tonight, Donald Rumsfeld in the hot seat, under oath today and under pressure all week. It's a story that's been on everyone's lips.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This one incident destroyed our credibility in Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Rumsfeld has been engaged in a cover-up from the start.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The secretary testified without even indicating to the members of the Senate that this story existed.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Congress should have been notified of this situation a long time ago.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When did he learn about it and why on earth was the president not informed?
SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D), FLORIDA: He blunders into the situation.
SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: Actions must follow. Accountability must follow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe Mr. Rumsfeld has to design.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He ought to resign.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rumsfeld must go.
REP. CHARLES RANGEL (D), NEW YORK: File articles of impeachment and force him to leave office.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's an important part of my cabinet and he will stay in my cabinet.
SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: I think Rumsfeld's resignation is a bit of a sideshow in a sense.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our secretary of defense is doing a super job.
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: There's not evidence to convict Secretary Rumsfeld.
REP. TOM DELAY (R-TX), MAJORITY LEADER: Calling for Secretary Rumsfeld's resignation is as bad as saying the war is unwinnable.
BUSH: Secretary Rumsfeld has served our nation well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The American people and Congress are simply entitled to know the facts.
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: These events occurred on my watch, as secretary of defense. I am accountable for them and I take full responsibility.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan, and now here's Judy Woodruff.
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 May 7, 2004 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening to our domestic and our international viewers around the world. I'm Daryn Kagan. Anderson Cooper is off tonight.
High drama on Capitol Hill, 360 begins right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN (voice-over): Defense Chief Donald Rumsfeld on the hot seat.
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: If I felt I could not be effective, I'd resign in a minute.
KAGAN: Will his testimony before Congress save his job?
One soldier's story, the family of one of the accused abusers speaks out.
A man with a deadly disease suspected of infecting up to 170 victims, should police have done more to stop him?
First it was juice, pasta, beer, bread, now Krispy Kreme? Are the only low carb part of donuts the holes?
Twins, tycoons and almost legal, the Olsen's bring in their 18th with a big screen debut.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And we're going to start tonight with Donald Rumsfeld under fire on Capitol Hill.
For more than six hours, the defense secretary and other top Pentagon brass are grilled by lawmakers in two rounds of intense Q&A on the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal.
We are covering the story from all angles tonight. In Washington, CNN Congressional Correspondent Joe Johns, plus CNN's Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre and, traveling with the president in Wisconsin tonight our White House Correspondent John King.
Let's begin on Capitol Hill and, Joe, the reaction to Rumsfeld's testimony. JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, there's a lot of uncertainty. Rumsfeld apologized. He was praised for that. He said he'd give up his job if he couldn't be effective but there's a lot of worry that this thing is going to get worse before it gets better.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS (voice-over): The defense secretary's defense contrition.
RUMSFELD: Let me be clear. I failed to recognize how important it was to elevate a matter of such gravity to the highest levels, including the president and the members of Congress.
JOHNS: But that wasn't enough for everyone.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: What were the instructions to the guards?
RUMSFELD: That is what the investigation that I've indicated has been undertaken is determining.
MCCAIN: Mr. Secretary, that's a very simple, straightforward question.
JOHNS: Rumsfeld showed some flashes of his old self in a testy exchange with Democrat Edward Kennedy.
SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: I'm trying to find out because it's been published that you were notified about this a series of times and advised to do something about it. Nothing was done.
RUMSFELD: It's not correct to say nothing was done. You're making a set of conclusions that are just simply not accurate.
JOHNS: But there was also some praise.
SEN. JEFF SESSIONS (R), ALABAMA: But I feel very strongly that the military deserves a lot of credit here.
JOHNS: Yet on the bottom line question a moment of candor.
SEN. EVAN BAYH (D), INDIANA: Would it serve to demonstrate how seriously we take this situation and therefore a help to undo some of the damage to our reputation if you were to step down?
RUMSFELD: That's possible.
JOHNS: After the hearing, Senator John McCain said he was unhappy with Rumsfeld's responses but was withholding judgment on whether the defense secretary should go.
MCCAIN: I still think it would be premature to call for the secretary's removal.
JOHNS: The senior Republican on the committee and the top Republican in the Senate both voiced confidence in Rumsfeld but said the decision was not theirs to make.
SEN. JOHN WARNER (R), ARMED SERVICES CHMN.: That's a question that's subjective and the secretary in consultation with the president, if that comes about, should answer and I indicated this morning very clearly I intend to support my president in his decision.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: Rumsfeld got some support today from Democrat Joe Lieberman. Democrat Ted Kennedy said he ought to resign. No Republicans have said anything like that at all but the question remains in the air tonight -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Joe John on Capitol Hill.
And, as damaging as the revelations have been, there are apparently even more disturbing photographs and videotapes that have not been made public yet. Pentagon officials say they have no intention of releasing the images but they concede if they are leaked they could further inflame world opinion against the U.S., more on that now from our Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Pentagon says there are many more photographs, even videotapes of prisoner abuse, which Defense Secretary Rumsfeld described as blatantly sadistic, cruel and inhuman.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Apparently, the worst is yet to come potentially in terms of disturbing events.
MCINTYRE: But there are no plans to release them.
RUMSFELD: If these are released to the public, obviously it's going to make matters worse. That's just a fact. I mean I looked at them late night and they're hard to believe.
MCINTYRE: Rumsfeld said it was his personal failure not to insist on seeing the pictures months ago.
RUMSFELD: I say no one in the Pentagon had seen them and they were part of that investigative process. It is the photographs that gives one the vivid realization of what actually took place. Words don't do it.
MCINTYRE: Rumsfeld still hasn't seen the videos but the report by the army general who investigated the abuse gives a hint on what's on them. It refers to "videotaping and photographing naked male and female detainees" and "forcing male detainees to masturbate while being photographed and videotaped." Rumsfeld's critics say it's a mistake to allow the bad news to dribble out.
MCCAIN: With all due respect to investigations ongoing and panels being appointed, the American people deserve immediate and full disclosure of all relevant information so that we can assured and comforted that something that we never believed could happen will never happen again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE: And, Daryn, among the abuses still to be investigated include beatings, a possible murder, and even the rape of an Iraqi female prisoner by an American military police officer. It is -- those are allegations that Rumsfeld himself described today as radioactive in their strategic impact -- Daryn.
KAGAN: It makes you wonder what is yet to come. Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon, Jamie thank you.
Donald Rumsfeld, the top brass and the lawmakers weren't the only voices that were heard during today's hearing.
Those hecklers are from a group called Code Pink. It's the group that describes itself as a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement. They interrupted Rumsfeld as he was giving his opening statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee. Rumsfeld showed no emotion as the group yelled and continued with his statement after police escorted the group from the room.
Six American soldiers have been charged so far in the prisoner abuse scandal. Others are under scrutiny, such as 21-year-old Lynndie England. That name might not sound familiar but her face certainly is, notorious even perhaps because Lynndie England is in many of the abuse photos. Today her family spoke out and came to her defense saying she was just following orders.
Kathleen Koch has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The photo that has dominated headlines and newscasts worldwide, an American soldier holding an Iraqi prisoner by a leash, now those closest to Private First Class Lynndie England have come to her defense sharing their own snapshots. They insist the graphic photos don't depict the real Lynndie England.
ROY HARDY, ENGLAND FAMILY ATTORNEY: The pictures don't tell the full story. You don't know what was going on behind her, beside her. You don't know why the pictures were taken. You don't know anything except you have a picture.
KOCH: England's sister and best friend describe her as a role model, kind, strong, and dependable. They insist she did not hurt any prisoners.
JESSICA KLINESTIVER, SOLDIER'S SISTER: I don't believe my sister, what she did in those photos I believe they were posed.
DESTINY GOIN, SOLDIER'S FRIEND: I don't believe Lynndie would actually be doing any of the actions that you see in the photos. It's not like her to be like that. She's a caring person. KOCH: Twenty-one-year-old England grew up in tiny Fort Ashby, West Virginia. She joined the Reserves so her parents wouldn't have to pay for her college education.
Kerry Shoemaker-Davis, now discharged, served with England in the 372nd military police company. She doubts those truly responsible will ever be punished.
KERRY SHOEMAKER-DAVIS, FORMER ARMY M.P.: Probably not and that's sad. I've been saying all along the person on the bottom of the totem pole is the one that gets squashed and this is a perfect example of that.
KOCH: The military has restricted England, now five months pregnant, to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and the surrounding area.
(on camera): England's family is in the process of finding a lawyer to defend her in case criminal charges are filed.
Kathleen Koch CNN, Cumberland, Maryland.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Well, even though he was thousands of miles away from Washington today, President Bush could not escape the fallout from the prison abuse scandal but the news wasn't all downbeat. He did get a boost from new reports on the economy, traveling with the president on the campaign trail our Senior White House Correspondent John King.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A flag-waving welcome in Wisconsin farm country for a president back on the bus in the heartland eager to talk about one big issue with little choice but to address another.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The abhorrent pictures on our TV screens have stained our honor. They do not reflect the nature of the men and women we have sent overseas.
KING: On most days, scenes like this would have little competition, most days. It was a day that reinforced how big a shadow Iraq casts over the reelection campaign and how even presidents can't always dictate the agenda.
BUSH: People are finding work in this country. The tax relief we passed is working.
KING: The economy is what the president wanted to drive the headlines. The unemployment rate dipped to 5.6 percent last month, down from its Bush administration high of 6.3 percent last June. The economy added 288,000 jobs in April and payrolls have grown by 1.1 million jobs since August.
(on camera): the improving jobs picture is a trend the Bush- Cheney campaign believes will continue into the summer and fall and it's no secret incumbent presidents tend to be reelected when the economy is looking up.
(voice-over): But Iraq is more and more a campaign question mark and to critics the prisoner abuse scandal raises yet another question about the president's war management.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It solidifies the perception that the situation in Iraq is out of control.
KING: Mr. Bush rejects the criticism and suggests his Democratic opponent is not up to the challenge.
BUSH: Let me tell you something. This country doesn't need doubletalk.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KING: Now the president just finished speaking here at his last rally of the day in La Crosse. As he rolled across rural Iowa and Wisconsin, he was called by aides back in Washington. They told him they thought Secretary Rumsfeld's testimony had gone quite well.
And, Daryn, we're also told by senior officials the president decided today for the first time to address the prisoner abuse scandal in his campaign speeches, telling senior aides he did not want this to be seen as ducking the day's big drama -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And so did you hear the president mention that today or this is in the future on the campaign trail?
KING: In every speech today he mentioned his disgust with the photographs. He did not do that on the previous bus tour after the scandal had broken. Aides say he did not want to mention it in campaign speeches but today with his defense secretary in the hot seat on Capitol Hill, aides say the president felt he had to mention it to show his support for Secretary Rumsfeld.
KAGAN: John King in La Crosse, Wisconsin thank you for that.
This just in the Associated Press is reporting that Army Private Lynndie England, who we just heard about in Kathleen Koch's report, she's the woman shown in the photograph smiling and pointing at the naked Iraqi prisoners, she has now been charged by the military with conspiring to mistreat detainees and other crimes.
More cases of prison abuse these at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where terrorism suspects are being held, a quick news note on that. The U.S. military revealed today that two Army Reserve soldiers working as guards at the prison were disciplined for misuse of force against the detainees.
One case dates to September, 2002 the other to April, 2003. Both soldiers have been reassigned to other duties. A senior military official says that three other cases were investigated but the accused were cleared of any wrongdoing.
A ruling on the coverage of the Kobe Bryant case tops our look at other news across the country.
In Denver, Kobe on camera, a judge rules to permit a television camera in the courtroom next week when Kobe Bryant formally pleads not guilty to rape charges. After that plea the trial should begin within the next six months under Colorado's speedy trial rule.
McAlister, Oklahoma, call for clemency, the state pardon board recommends that the governor spare the life of Osbaldo Torres, an inmate from Mexico set to be executed for killing a couple during a burglary. In March, the International Court of Justice said that his and other Mexican inmates' rights were violated because they were not told they could receive help from their government.
Toledo, Ohio, the priest says he didn't do it. A Roman Catholic priest pleads not guilty to murdering a nun 24 years ago.
In Washington, tobacco on trial, a federal judge denies the tobacco industry's move to have a government lawsuit thrown out. The Justice Department's $280 billion lawsuit against top cigarette makers accuses them of deceiving the public about the dangers of smoking.
Newport, Kentucky, jail or surgery, how about that for a choice? A family court judge gives deadbeat dads a choice, go to jail or get a vasectomy. The judge has given the option to several men who have more than four children and owe tens of thousands of dollars in child support and that's a look at our stories "Cross Country" tonight.
Ahead tonight, a man accused of intentionally spreading HIV. Charged with assault was he trying to kill his partners? We're going to talk to one of them.
Also, an American attorney linked to the Madrid train bombing, what kind of evidence do the police say establishes a connection.
And say it just ain't so, low carb diets putting a hole in Krispy Kreme's profits, the craze that is just getting out of control.
But first your picks, the most popular stories on cnn.com right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: One woman describes Anthony Whitfield this way that he had the ability to make you feel you were someone really special. Little did his many sexual partners know just how special. Whitfield is HIV positive and he may have been spreading the virus for years to scores of people, "Justice Served" tonight from CNN's Kimberly Osias.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ashley McMillan never thought she'd have to worry about contracting HIV. She knew her sexual partners well or so she thought.
ASHLEY MCMILLAN, FORMER GIRLFRIEND: Well, I felt like he had just tried to kill me and didn't really know if he had succeeded at that point.
OSIAS: McMillan is speaking about this man, 31-year-old Anthony Whitfield. He's been charged in Washington State with 12 counts of assault in the first degree.
JAMES POWERS, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY: He would engage in unprotected sex without any information given with regard to his status having the HIV virus for all through these years.
OSIAS: Eight years of dangerous sexual behavior from 1996 until his arrest this March. Whitfield is accused of having sex without informing his partners of his HIV status.
(on camera): In the last few weeks, health department officials here in Olympia have been inundated with concerned callers. In fact, about 50 staff members have been working on this case alone.
(voice-over): They are looking not just for Whitfield's sex partners but all the people those people had sex with.
SHERRI MCDONALD, THURSTON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT: We have identified about 40 people who are potentially what we call primary contacts and about 130 others who are either what we call secondary or tertiary contacts.
OSIAS: For his part, Anthony Whitfield says he's innocent. He remains locked behind bars his bond raised to $1 million. If convicted, he could face more than 30 years in jail.
Ashley McMillan knows she's lucky she doesn't have HIV but four other women connected to Whitfield have already tested positive for the virus.
MCMILLAN: If you knew Tony Whitfield and if you had in any way contact with him please get yourself tested, please.
OSIAS: Kimberly Osias CNN, Olympia, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: You just saw Ashley McMillan in that piece. She said she tried to warn police about Whitfield. It was eight years ago. McMillan did not contract HIV. She joined me earlier from Oklahoma City.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Ashley take us back to eight years ago. What happened to you and what did you tell police?
MCMILLAN: Well, I dated Anthony Whitfield for approximately six weeks and I found out that he was HIV positive after we had broken up and I went to the police department and filed a police report, reporting that he knowingly had AIDs and was attempting to transmit it.
KAGAN: And do you believe that he knew he had AIDS when you had sex with him?
MCMILLAN: I know that he knew he had AIDS.
KAGAN: But did you talk about it before you had sex?
MCMILLAN: We -- we actually used protection and a condom broke and at that time I asked him would you like to go and get tested? Do we need to get tested? Had he been tested up to that date? And he told me, yes, that he had been tested recently and that he was fine, that he was negative and that I had nothing to worry about.
KAGAN: What kind of response did you get from police at the time?
MCMILLAN: Well, at the time, you have to remember I didn't know that I was negative. For all that I knew I had contracted this disease from him.
KAGAN: So, I imagine you were really upset at the time.
MCMILLAN: I was traumatized and terrified. When I went to the police department we literally filled out a police report in the waiting area of the police station. People were coming and going. There was no privacy. It was treated as though it was little more than a traffic violation.
KAGAN: And so you spoke up. It didn't have the effect that you wanted. Now it appears many people have been exposed. What would you say to him if you had a chance to see him in a courtroom now?
MCMILLAN: I have nothing to say to him. He's a very sad human being and I don't feel in the least bit sorry for him. I'm sorry that he's lived this long.
KAGAN: And to other people who feel they might have been wrongly exposed to somebody who is not being honest would you encourage them to speak up even though at the time it didn't appear that police listened to you?
MCMILLAN: It's their responsibility to speak up. It's anyone's -- anyone who feels that they have information about someone who's transmitting AIDS purposefully to unknowing partners it's their responsibility to act on that and I only hope that the law enforcement in their cities takes them seriously.
KAGAN: And just finally your feelings toward the police that you originally reported this to, are you bitter? Do you feel if you had been taken more seriously then more people wouldn't have been exposed?
MCMILLAN: Well, I feel like it's -- I'm very regretful that I didn't follow through even further than I did. Apparently a couple of phone calls and filing a police report never was enough.
So, I'm very upset. I'm angry for the people in Washington and the people in Oklahoma that were exposed to this virus within the last eight years because it could have been prevented. KAGAN: Ashley McMillan thank you for sharing your story with us. We appreciate it.
MCMILLAN: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: The Oklahoma City Police Department confirms that it did receive a report about Anthony Whitfield back in 1996. Officials there tell CNN: "Records indicate this case was not fully investigated at that time. We're in the process of determining the reason for this. The Oklahoma City Police Department will conduct a thorough investigation into how the case was processed in 1996 and whether it was handled properly."
An American citizen being held as a material witness in the Madrid train bombings, we'll look at what led the FBI to seek him out.
Plus, Donald Rumsfeld in the hot seat is his apology for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners enough? We'll talk to political strategists on both sides.
And then a little bit later some relief is in sight for chronic insomniacs. A new pill promises to help you get some shut-eye without getting hooked.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We have new details tonight on the arrest of an Oregon lawyer. He is accused of having a link to the Madrid rail bombings. Tracking that investigation is our Ted Rowlands.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Spanish authorities tell CNN 37-year-old Brandon Mayfield's fingerprints were found on a plastic bag containing detonators similar to those used in the March 11 rail bombings in Spain, a terrorist attack that killed 190 people and injured 1,500 others.
The bag, according to Spanish authorities, was found in a white van with other potential evidence including an audiotape of Quran readings near the station that three of the four trains that were attacked left from.
TOM NELSON, MAYFIELD'S ATTORNEY: I don't think much of the government's case nor their tactics.
ROWLANDS: Tom Nelson, an attorney and friend of Mayfield's, was at a closed hearing on the matter held Thursday at the federal courthouse in Portland. Nelson says Mayfield told him he hasn't left the country in years.
Mayfield was a lawyer for Jeffrey Battle in a child custody case. Battle was a member of the Portland Seven, a group accused of planning to fight against America for the Taliban. Mayfield is also a practicing Muslim.
NELSON: He's not a fanatic or extremist in any sense of the word. Is that why he was singled out? Absolutely. Yes. If he were a Jehovah's Witness or a Seventh Day Adventist or a Unitarian or a Jew or a Catholic he wouldn't be there.
ROWLANDS: U.S. authorities would not comment on the case but did confirm that two search warrants were issued. Friends say Mayfield's vehicle and law office were search along with the home he shares with his wife Mona and three young children.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sure he's thinking this is just appalling. This is ridiculous, you know, these type of charges.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROWLANDS: Mayfield has not been actually charged with anything. He's being held as a material witness, which gives the federal government a certain amount of latitude in terms of holding him. They can hold him for a "reasonable amount of time" to allow them to get a deposition from him or to have him testify in front of a federal grand jury -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Ted Rowlands in Portland, Oregon.
Checking stories from around the world here now is the "Up Link."
First to the Lebanese border, gunfire exchange, Israeli forces and Hezbollah militia fought it out in the disputed region along the border. Israel says Hezbollah guerrillas attacked its army post. Israeli warplanes responded by attacking Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
To Pakistan, first a bomb then a riot, a bomb at a Shiite Muslim mosque kills at least 13 people, injures more than 100. In Karachi hundreds of Shiite youths burn cars in a government office; the violence triggered by the bombing.
To Paris, practicing for the worst, hundreds of French police, firemen and paramedics participate in a training exercise in a Paris metro station simulating the aftermath of an explosion. Three and a half million passengers use that metro every day and that is tonight's "Up Link."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN (voice-over): Defense Chief Donald Rumsfeld on the hot seat. Will his testimony before Congress save his job?
First it was juice, pasta, beer, bread, now Krispy Kreme, are the only low carb part of donuts the holes?
Twins, tycoons and almost legal, the Olsen's bring in their 18th with a big screen debut, 360 continues.
(END VIDEOTAPE) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: The part of the program where we catch you up with some of our top stories. Here now is the reset. On Capitol Hill, Donald Rumsfeld, drilled by law makers about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. Rumsfeld took full responsibility for what happened and apologized to the victims. He defended the Pentagon's handling of the case and vowed to stay on the job.
Fort Bragg, North Carolina, a developing story. CNN has confirmed that Linndie England, the Army private seen smiling and pointing at naked Iraqi detainees tonight has been charged with conspiring to mistreat prisoners and other crimes.
In Portland, a shocking admission from a former Oregon governor. Neil Goldschmidt today admitted having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. It happened while he was mayor of Portland in the 1970s. The 63-year-old today asked for forgiveness.
As we've said today's grilling of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was very intense at times. He fought back several times, saying the Pentagon did reveal the abuse investigation to the media months before. But it wasn't until the photographs surfaced that the world noticed, giving proof of the power of pictures.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN (voice-over): The news first broke on January 16, three days after a soldier reported the abuse to a supervisor.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS": The commander of coalition forces in Iraq has ordered an investigation into the reported abuse of detainees there.
KAGAN: At the time, the allegations were serious, the information precise. The U.S. military was investigating allegations of abuse of Iraqi detainees by U.S. soldiers at the notorious prison of Abu Ghraib. Yet the story quickly went away. The "New York Times" only ran a 373-word article the next morning on page 7. The story came back, though on March 20.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A battalion commander, company commander and the U.S. military commander of the prison certainly now facing questions.
KAGAN: When the U.S. military announced that six U.S. military personnel had been charged with cruelty, assault and indecent acts.
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY SPOKESMAN: Though it was a small number of detainees involved, that's the kind of cancer that you've got to cut out quickly.
KAGAN: Yet again, the story didn't stick. Only 604 words on page 14 of the "New York Times." What was missing for the story to hold? This. Pictures. Since CBS's "60 Minutes II" aired these on April 28, the story has made national headlines. ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, ANDERSON COOPER 360: Good evening. We begin with allegations of prisoner abuse in Iraq.
KAGAN: Why?
ALEX JONES, DIR. OF SHORENSTEIN CENTER ON THE PRESS, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: Words can be emotional. But when you compare them with a dramatic, powerful image, that's something that goes not just through the eye and to the brain, it seems to go throughout the whole body. I think those photographs changed the story. They transform it. First of all, they make it irrefutably, undeniably true.
KAGAN: Since the pictures were released nine days ago, it's been a consistent lead story. The "New York Times" for example ran roughly 60 articles and columns and the story has now morphed into a political scandal, all because the power of pictures.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Secretary Rumsfeld did offer his deepest apology for the prison scandal today. But is it enough? Should his acceptance of accountability lead him to resign? Joining me to debate this and other questions, Morris Reid, a Democratic strategist who thinks Secretary Rumsfeld should resign. And in Washington, D.C., Cheri Jacobus, a Republican strategist and Rumsfeld supporter. Cheri, ladies first, did the defense secretary save his job with today's performance in front of Congress?
CHERI JACOBUS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I think he did what he needed to do today. And the president is behind him. The American people are behind him. There was a poll that came out, a "Washington Post"/ABC poll that showed 69 percent of those polled said he should keep his job. 58 percent of the Democrats thought he should keep the job. I think those numbers will go up today. He was honest, straightforward, clearly concerned about the situation and apologetic about those areas where he feels he could have done better, though I think in hindsight, it's hard to see where they could have done more. This information did come out January 16.
KAGAN: We'll get to that in a second. I want to get Morris in here for a second. Did the defense secretary save his job? Should he still be in his position running the Pentagon?
MORRIS REID, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I don't think so. This is the tip of the iceberg. Normally, people like these things to trickle out. They try to use that shock value. I think as we dig deeper, we'll find that this is widespread. The question is where was Rumsfeld? Was he on the jobs? What happened in the chain of command?
KAGAN: Cheri, we even did hear from the defense secretary today, hold on there's even more shocking pictures. Videotape that could leak out that's even worse than what we've seen so far.
JACOBUS: Exactly. He's being very honest about this. And sort of preparing everyone. And again, everybody did know about this. They just weren't paying attention. He now understands the power of the photographs. A picture truly is worth a thousand words. But he's taking the hit for this and I think he performed admirably today, unlike some of senators afterwards who ran to the microphones immediately after he testified, calling for his resignation. I think Rumsfeld did what he needed to do today.
KAGAN: Let me ask you about the hearings, Morris. Do you think the hearings did what they needed to do? They were out in the public. The whole world able to watch. And yet were the senators asking good questions, going for information, or was there a lot of grandstanding?
REID: I think it was appropriate. I think this is shocking to the American people. Here we are, the greatest nation in the world. We're a beacon on the hill. When these type of things happens we have to ask hard questions. Not just on the Democrat side but the Republicans asked a lot of hard questions. The real question is when did they know, how did they know, and why weren't we informed from the very beginning. I feel like Donald Rumsfeld's job is to protect the president and he didn't do that. He let the president down. Quite frankly, if he was asleep at the switch, he let the American people down.
KAGAN: One more question about who was in charge here and I want to go to Cheri for this. Donald Rumsfeld today coming out of the gate very strong and that saying he was in charge. It was on his watch. He'll take responsibility. Is that the kind of apology that should come from the defense secretary or the president, because isn't he ultimately the commander-in-chief?
JACOBUS: Well, today, we heard from the defense secretary. It was his job and he's taking the hit. But the president has also apologized as well. So I think they're both doing what they need to do in terms of being leaders. But clearly, the American people when you look at those pictures and see the soldiers, the perpetrators of this, those are the ones who are being investigated. We've seen some of the fallout from that. And I think as time goes on, and these incidents are more clearly played out, we'll find out who is really to blame. And I don't think it's something that is going to stick to Rumsfeld or to the president.
REID: That's not good enough.
KAGAN: And I have to say not being good enough is going to be your last word. We're out of time. Thank you for your time.
Today's buzz is this. "Has the U.S. media overplayed the Iraqi prison abuse story?" Log on to CNN.com/360 to vote. We'll have your results at the end of the program.
It will be a tough weekend for so many families. Mother's day won't be the same with mom on duty in Iraq. Our Gary Tuchman brings us one family's heartache. Not only is mom away, but so is dad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sergeant Sydell Taylor has been deployed in Iraq for one year. For the second Mother's day in a row, she will be without this young man and this young lady.
What would you like to say to your mother for Mother's day?
TASHARA TAYLOR, SOLDIER'S DAUGHTER: I love you. Be careful, and happy Mother's day.
TUCHMAN: 11-year-old Tashara and 3-year-old Chris' father is also serving in Iraq. The children now live with their mother's 15- year-old sister and an older cousin in Brunswick, Georgia.
HOPE LEGGETT, CHILDREN'S GUARDIAN: We did a power of attorney, if anything happens, she wants me to raise the kids, tell them she loves them and know she was over there for a good cause.
TUCHMAN: Do you know where your mommy is right now.
CHRIS TAYLOR: Yes.
TUCHMAN: Where is your mommy?
C. TAYLOR: Iraq.
TUCHMAN: How far away is Iraq? Is it far or close?
C. TAYLOR: Yes.
TUCHMAN: Far? Do you miss her? A lot?
Their mother was scheduled to come home next week. Sergeant Taylor told her daughter they were going to Disney World. But then, the word her deployment had been extended at least another four months.
SGT. SYDELL TAYLOR, U.S ARMY: She took it like a champ. She said that's all right, we'll just go next summer. But I know she was hurt.
TUCHMAN: What's the first thing you want to do when your mom and your dad come home?
T. TAYLOR: I don't really want to do anything. I just want to know that they're here and they're all right.
TUCHMAN: Her mother dreams of that moment.
S. TAYLOR: I'm so sorry that I can't be there with you right now. But I will be home soon. I promise. And I love you very much.
TUCHMAN: Gary Tuchman, CNN, Brunswick, Georgia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: I can only imagine how special that Mother's day will be when they're all together again. Next, a change of pace. We'll look at the subject of sleep. Insomniacs soon -- could they be counting pills rather than sheep? We'll hear about a new drug that could be the salvation for the sleepless.
Also tonight, the downfall of doughnuts. Krispy Kreme is taking a pounding on Wall Street. Is the low-carb craze to blame?
Later, the countdown to their 18th birthday is still on but their new movie is in theaters today. We'll check in with Mary Kate and Ashley.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: A good night's sleep is elusive for a lot of people. Many researchers are now studying a new pill that could help. Our senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It's the worst feeling, tired all day but you still can't sleep at night. That irresistible urge to catch a few winks at your desk, but then tossing and turning in your bed. More than 70 million Americans suffer from insomnia and are willing to do just about anything to get rid of it. More than just lack of sleep, insomnia is poor quality of sleep, with frequent wakings and daytime drowsiness. And you might even gain weight, because of your lack of sleep.
DR. THOMAS LO RUSSO, NORTHERN VIRGINIA SLEEP DIAGNOSTIC CTR.: When you don't sleep well, you may have a diminished metabolism and, therefore, you don't burn the calories that perhaps someone with good eight hours of sleep may do.
GUPTA: Treating this torment is a multibillion dollar industry that may soon get a little bit more competitive with the introduction of a new pill. Estorra. Zapacor (ph), its maker, released six separate studies this week showing its effectiveness in getting people to sleep faster with longer stretches of uninterrupted sleep and greater amount of total sleep time.
Perhaps most interesting was its safety of use even after 12 months. Currently, most doctors won't prescribe sleeping aids for more than a few weeks. And it's appropriateness for elderly insomniacs which have been a notoriously difficult population to treat because of concerns about nighttime disorientation. Those who might get the most use out of it, those with a long-term pain condition or ongoing stress such as an ill family member. Not so good for those with sleep apnea or those with only occasional sleep problems. Still, the FDA will have to review these studies before final approval which may come later this year.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: We have the doctor with us right here. Everybody wants a pill in America. Are people too quick to go for pill instead of looking at another way of trying to get to sleep.
GUPTA: If you're going to go to a sleep doctor, they'll talk about something called sleep hygiene, following a consistent routine, no caffeine before bedtime, no alcohol, try and get a good night's sleep by exercising during the day, things like that.
KAGAN: Speaking of good reasons to stay up.
GUPTA: 9:00 Sunday night.
KAGAN: How's that for a good segue.
GUPTA: That's a good segue. 9:00 Sunday, "Life Beyond Limits" is the documentary that we've been talking about all week. Extreme athletes. How do they do that? We'll tell you how, medically and scientifically. I think it's going to be really good.
KAGAN: There's weird stuff in there that might actually keep people up.
GUPTA: How do they do that?
KAGAN: Why do they do that? We're looking forward to that. Thanks, Sanjay.
An estimated 1.8 billion doughnuts were sold in the U.S. last year, many of them by Krispy Kreme, that's a franchise now feeling the bite of the low-carb nation. Today, its stock is tumbling leaving investors glazed, dazed and battered.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN (voice-over): When Ben Franklin said eat to live and not live to eat, he obviously had never tasted a Krispy Kreme doughnut. The gooey carb-filled confections have been a junk food juggernaut since Vernon Rudolph brought a secret yeast-raised doughnut recipe to North Carolina in 1937. But in these low-carb crazy times, the doughnut has become a diet no-no. And Krispy Kreme, along with the rest of the multibillion dollar a year U.S. doughnut business, is feeling a little starved for affection.
The culprits, the millions of Americans losing weight the Atkins way, piling on the protein, cutting down on carbs. A Krispy Kreme statement says, quote, "recent market data suggests that consumer interest in reduced carbohydrate consumption has heightened significantly following the beginning of the year and has accelerated in the last two to three months."
And so the doughnuts have to go and so does the bread, pasta and potatoes. Atkins aficianados are turning bread into toast with a 10 percent drop in sales this past year. The U.S. Potato Board is launching a P.R. campaign aimed at sparking new interest in spuds. Pasta, pizza, they're all feeling the pinch, while pork belly prices are soaring. Even Spam sales are sizzling. Has everyone forgotten, we are what we eat?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Politics unplugged. Everyone's talking about Donald Rumsfeld. They are talking about him, saying his name. The defense secretary himself has been talking all day. More on that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: It is time to check in on some pop culture news in tonight's "Current."
More than 51 million people watched the final episode of "Friends" last night. But if you taped or TiVoed it, you may have missed the very end, because the show went past 10:00 by several minutes. So here, a public service to anyone who missed the big finish.
OK, Rachel does get on the plane but she gets off the plane. She gets back. She comes back to Ross. When she eventually goes to Ross, there's a lot of kiss, kiss, kissing, bring us the kiss, and then they turn their keys and walk off into re-run land at the end. The end.
David Letterman planning a really, really late show. Instead of the usual early evening taping, he's going to tape next Friday's show at 4:00 o'clock in the morning. Just for something new. No word on who the guests will be, but if you're looking for New York luminaries who are likely to be up at 4:00 in the morning, the choices are pretty much limited to P. Diddy or Bill Hemmer or Soledad O'Brien. Good luck.
The movie, "The New York Minute," opens in theaters today, starring the world's most famous millionaire twins. It seems like only yesterday or maybe it was just a New York minute ago that audiences first noticed those adorable little girls, and look at them now. And take a look at our entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas. She talked with Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen in this edition of "The Weekender."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I fooled you!
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Audiences fell in love with their angelic faces in "Full House," but boy have things changed. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are all grown up, and in their new film, "New York Minute," they're taking Manhattan by storm.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're so not in Kansas anymore.
PETER CASTRO, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: What they want to do is keep the core audience, and hopefully, you know, become really attractive movie stars that young males are going to want to flock to see.
VARGAS (on camera): Are you concerned at all that, OK, now you're getting older, are your fans still going to be with you? ASHLEY OLSEN, ACTOR: I think that everyone, you know, everything that we've done is because people of any age can relate to certain time periods in our life, or just enjoy what we do. So hopefully we can just keep entertaining them no matter what are.
CASTRO: They're becoming sexy twins.
VARGAS (voice-over): The sexy teens have appeared on umpteen magazines. They've starred in dozens of films, launched a multimillion dollar cosmetic and fashion line, and recently got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And they haven't turned 18 yet.
Their wealth has reportedly been estimated to exceed $150 million each.
(on camera): You guys are an empire. How do you stay so grounded?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know what? We have like a huge family, and we've always had them, you know, amazing people in our lives.
VARGAS (voice-over): One of those people is Robert Thorn, Mary Kate and Ashley's attorney and co-founder of their company, Dualstar.
ROBERT THORN, CEO, DUALSTAR ENT.: We just were fortunate and made the right decisions, the right products, the right media projects. And it was up to the fans, and they said yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VARGAS: And interestingly, two things happen with Mary Kate and Ashley when they turn 18 next month. One, they'll have access to their saved earnings, and two, they officially become presidents of their multimillion dollar company, Dualstar Entertainment. So as you can imagine, they'll be very busy.
KAGAN: Yeah, not a bad job to have when you're 18.
VARGAS: Yeah, are they the busiest girls...
KAGAN: Well, I've seen all the buzz. I have to ask you, you've seen them up close. One of them allegedly has an eating disorder, is too thin?
VARGAS: You know, I don't know about that. I mean, I was young, you know, I was 18 years old. You know we don't eat. Do we?
(CROSSTALK)
KAGAN: When I was 18, I managed to pack on a few pounds. I got to say. (UNINTELLIGIBLE). But good for them.
VARGAS: Yeah, you know, they're extremely busy. They're also preparing to go to NYU. So, you know, that coupled with promoting a movie, a multimillion dollar movie, you know, you've got to take these things into consideration. Food might not be the priority. KAGAN: Maybe not. Sibila Vargas, thank you. And I know you've been around for a little bit, but welcome to CNN.
VARGAS: Oh, thank you.
KAGAN: Good to have you here on board. Appreciate it.
With his job on the line, the defense secretary defends himself. Coming up, Rumsfeld under pressure and unplugged, facing the toughest challenge of his career.
Monday, 21st century love. Couples that live together but aren't married. Are there benefits?
But first, today's "Buzz." Have the U.S. media overplayed the Iraqi prison abuse story? Log on to cnn.com/360 to vote now. Results when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Have the U.S. media overplayed the Iraqi prison abuse story? Forty-two percent said yes, 58 percent said no. Of course, it's not a scientific poll, but it's your "Buzz."
And finally tonight, Donald Rumsfeld in the hot seat, under oath today and under pressure all week. It's a story that's been on everyone's lips.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This one incident destroyed our credibility in Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Rumsfeld has been engaged in a cover-up from the start.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The secretary testified without even indicating to the members of the Senate that this story existed.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Congress should have been notified of this situation a long time ago.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When did he learn about it and why on earth was the president not informed?
SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D), FLORIDA: He blunders into the situation.
SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: Actions must follow. Accountability must follow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe Mr. Rumsfeld has to design.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He ought to resign.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rumsfeld must go.
REP. CHARLES RANGEL (D), NEW YORK: File articles of impeachment and force him to leave office.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's an important part of my cabinet and he will stay in my cabinet.
SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: I think Rumsfeld's resignation is a bit of a sideshow in a sense.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our secretary of defense is doing a super job.
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: There's not evidence to convict Secretary Rumsfeld.
REP. TOM DELAY (R-TX), MAJORITY LEADER: Calling for Secretary Rumsfeld's resignation is as bad as saying the war is unwinnable.
BUSH: Secretary Rumsfeld has served our nation well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The American people and Congress are simply entitled to know the facts.
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: These events occurred on my watch, as secretary of defense. I am accountable for them and I take full responsibility.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan, and now here's Judy Woodruff.
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