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CNN Live Saturday

Suicide Bomber Detonates Inside Pakistani Shia Mosque; Haiti On Brink Of Civil War; Iraq Tries To Meet Dealine For Interim Constitution

Aired February 28, 2004 - 12:00 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.

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is Noon in Port-au-Prince Haiti; 8:00 p.m. in Baghdad. I'm Kelli Arena in Washington. Welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY.
Haiti is on the brink of civil war. Live from Haiti and the White House this hour, ten years after the U.S. restored the Haitian president to power.

And Iraq struggles to hammer out an interim constitution, today is deadline day. Live from Baghdad with the latest.

Also, sprinting to Super Tuesday: Ten states and a boat load of delegates. But first, the headlines.

A suicide bomber is dead and at least four other people are injured after an attack on a mosque in Pakistan. It took place during a prayer service at a Shi'ite mosque Rawalpindi. Police say the bomber was wearing explosives on his belt.

A new question in the Oklahoma City bombing case -- did timothy McVeigh have more accomplices? Reported by the -- reports by the "Associate Press" have triggered a review by the FBI. "AP" says documents show FBI agents destroyed evidence and failed to share other information in the case. The information raised the possibility that a gang of white supremacists bank robbers may have helped McVeigh in 1995.

And thousands of striking grocery store workers in California could be back at the checkout counters in the week ahead. They're voting this weekend on a new contract offer. At the heart of the dispute, healthcare costs. Some 59,000 workers in central and southern California have been on strike or locked out for nearly five months.

And we begin in Mississippi, with a possible big break in the puzzling disappearance of a missing husband, wife and their 4-year-old son. Right now, police are searching a home that's also used as a veterinarian's office and they're questioning a cousin of the missing man. Marcus Moore with affiliate, WAPT, is on the phone from Smith County, Mississippi, south of the state capital.

Are you there?

MARCUS MOORE, WAPT CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kelli, I'm right here. Yeah, right now... ARENA: What can you tell us, Marcus?

MOORE: Well I can't tell you too much, at this point. All we can say is that, as you just mentioned, that police do have someone in custody for questioning. There are about 30 investigators searching 100-acre area here in Smith County. We're about a mile and a half north of a town called Taylorsville. This is also where a cousin is -- he lives -- he and his wife live here, and they have been involved in the investigation. Police have been asking them questions since the family disappeared a couple of weeks ago.

But, what police are looking for here this morning, they're not saying. But all they will tell us is that they may -- are close, they hope they will have a resolution to this two weekend search for Michael Hargon, his wife Rebecca and their 4-year-old son James Patrick who vanished on February 14. That's what we know at this point.

ARENA: Marcus, is there any indication that you've seen that investigators have walked out with anything resembling evidence at this point?

MOORE: No, ma'am. The only thing -- we've only seen them going in with equipment. We have seen two crime scene vans drive in, as well as, a Mississippi highway patrol RV, which is kind of a mobile command center, so they plan on being here for a while but, no, we have not seen them come out with any type of evidence.

ARENA: All right. Thank you so much. That's Marcus Moore with our affiliate WAPT.

Well, chaos in the capital of Haiti, this hour. There's widespread violence and looting and the rebels are closing in ready to topple the government. The latest on the worsening situation now, from CNN's Lucia Newman in Port-au-Prince -- Lucia.

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kelli. Well, the streets Port-au-Prince are slightly more calm this morning than it was yesterday. The roadblocks and the truckloads of armed thugs that were roving the streets yesterday are gone, at least they're gone for the moment. However, there are reports of widespread looting continuing in the port of Port-au-Prince, people carrying anything they can find. A high-ranking police officer told me he conceded that they could do nothing to stop this chaos -- this lawlessness, yesterday, in the capital and lawlessness, indeed today, because they simply don't have enough men to do it.

In the meantime, military helicopters from the neighboring Dominican Republic continue to evacuate people to this country. They're landing at the Dominican Airport and taken foreign nationals out. Also, two C-130 military aircraft landed just a short while ago at the Port-au-Prince Airport, we understand one is an American plane, the other a French plane and understand to evacuate people. The president in the meantime said early this morning. Also, we understand, to evaluate people. The president, in the meantime, said early this morning, on state television, that he would not resign, reiterating something he's been saying all along, he did however issue an appeal to his followers for calm. This after the United States sent a stern statement asking the president to try to control the armed thugs that support him. Otherwise, Washington says the president will lose his prestige, his honor, and his reputation -- Kelly.

ARENA: Lucia, is there any indication at all, that a international involvement, as slim as it has been, has made any impact whatsoever?

NEWMAN: Absolutely not, there is no indication. We understand that the United States is considering, in fact, sending more than 2,000 Marines in ships on the -- to stay on the outskirts of the capital, just in case, as a contingency measure, but hasn't had much of an impact, so far, certainly not politically. The president is standing firm. He's not bowing to increasing international pressure to even consider stepping down -- Kelli.

ARENA: All right. Lucia Newman live from Port-au-Prince, thanks very much.

Well, President Bush said Friday the international community is quote: "Planning for a multinational force that could be sent to Haiti if needed," but he says that will only happen if there is a political settlement to the crisis. With the latest on the White House thinking, CNN's Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Kelli. The State Department's latest warning to Americans says, essentially, they should seek a safe haven because there are not regularly scheduled flights leaving out of Haiti, it is good news, however that have -- they do have some of those commercial airlines -- some of those military airlines, rather, that are picking up some of those people. I just talked to a White House spokesman, moments ago, and asked him what is the latest situation, the president has yet to make a final decision on some sort of contingency force. This is something that the Pentagon has talked about. This would involve sending, essentially, a three ships to the area involving 2,200 Marines that would be based off the coast of Haiti, by sometime next week, if the plan was to be approved. What would the role be? Essentially it could be reinforcing and evacuated the U.S. embassy personnel, also assisting the Coast Guard and intercepting and sending back Haitians who are out at sea or providing a safe transport for Jean-Bertrand Aristide should he decide to leave. But right now, the administration is saying they want a political solution to this crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're interested in achieving a political settlement, and we're still working to that effect.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MALVEAUX: Now, at the same time, the State Department is also urging Aristide to step aside for the good of the Haitian people, for the international community, as well. But, the White House is still putting forth this plan, this power sharing plan, that they would like Aristide, as well as the rebels, to agree to before they send that international peacekeeping force inside -- Kelli.

ARENA: Suzanne, is there any sense of a timetable or sort of a drop-dead point in terms of whether they are able to reach some sort of an agreement?

MALVEAUX: At this time, there is not timetable or a deadline that has been set. However, this contingency plan we're told, if it were to go into effect, would happen some time in the weeks to come, so that gives you some sense of wiggle room -- the flexibility here, but the Bush administration is still holding out on the possibility that there may be a political settlement before they decide to send in those ships.

AREAN: All right. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thank you.

Well, this news just in to CNN, Palestinian witnesses in Gaza City say a F-16 fired a missile and hit a car. Witnesses tell CNN three people were killed. We'll have more information on this story as it becomes available.

Well, Super Tuesday is less than 72 hours away and it could be make or break day for the campaign of senator John Edwards. Voters in ten states have their say, more than 1,100 delegates are at stake. Edwards lags behind senator John Kerry in delegates, but the North Carolina senator vows to fight on.

As the showdown nears, Howard Dean is out of the race, but his influence is very much a part of the process. Senator John Edwards is holding a conference call with organizers of the Dean campaign today, and Edwards says that he has talking regularly with Dean himself. Democratic frontrunner, John Kerry, and Dennis Kucinich are trying to make inroads with Dean supporters, as well.

Let's find out what CNN political analysis Carlos Watson has to say about the latest developments on the campaign trail. He is in New York, one of the Super Tuesday states.

Thank you for joining us.

CAROL WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYSIS: Good to see you.

ARENA: Well, what do you make of all this wooing of Dean supporters? Do you think that it will actually make a difference?

WATSON: It could make a difference. You might want to focus on four states in particular: Certainly, California and New York, certainly Ohio, so obviously the three biggest prizes. There could be a difference if the Dean supporters offer additional, say, 10 percent or even 15 percent to John Edwards in particular. And then, where you might actually see an upset, and so we should pay attention on Tuesday, is in Minnesota. In Minnesota there won't be a primary, but there'll be a caucus. That was one of the states that was most vibrantly pro-Dean and that's where some of the Dean supporters, this past week, announced that they were going to aggressively support Edwards. There might -- could be an upset in Minnesota.

ARENA: Well, getting to John Edwards, I've heard throughout the week that the real key here is having him distinguish himself enough from John Kerry. Do you think that he's been successful in that at all?

WATSON: I think it's a great question, because in many ways in debate on Thursday, he didn't do as much as he could to distance himself, which again caused a lot of people to ask the question: Is he running for president or campaigning for vice president? He didn't really take shots and now he would argue back that, well, I want to run a positive campaign, I want to be optimistic, I want to focus on the future, being negative guy isn't me. But again, voters need an alternative, particularly when you've got one guy who's won 19 out of 21 contests and in many ways, seems to be the likely nominee.

So, I'm not sure he's done enough to draw a distinction, but again there's so much animosity between the Dean campaigns, in many cases, and the Kerry campiang, that many of the Dean supporters may still decide to focus on John Edwards as their new standard bearer.

ARENA: There's has been, obviously, the issues of gay marriage, that have come into play, but we also saw social security this week come into the mix in a big way. Is there an issue that you see that could be a defining issue for this campaign going forward?

WATSON: I think there will be several and I think in different parts of the country, you'll see different ones. The economy will still be a substantial issue and you'll see the different sides discuss it differently. President Bush will say: While I'm not happy with the 5.6 percent employment rate, it's better than what we saw in the last recession where the numbers were nine and 10 percent. And, he would say: Don't forget a number of families, while the job situation's not what we want, they've earned equity in the homes and in that way they built up new wealth. And so he would say: Look at the whole picture and not just part of. So, I think you'll hear about the economy and certainly we'll hear a lot about the 43 million Americans who don't have healthcare. But, I wouldn't be surprised to see new foreign policy questions show up.

So, not just Iraq, but I think you'll hear more about Haiti, which of course, Suzanne was just talking about. I think you'll hear more about China. I think you'll hear more about Libya and Pakistan in this debate. And last but not least, I think immigration will end up being a hot button issue, particularly in some of those swing states like New Mexico, Arizona, and even in places like Colorado and Nevada.

ARENA: All right. Carlos Watson, we'll be watching. Thanks very much.

WATSON: Good to see you.

ARENA: Well, CNN is live coast to coast all day on Super Tuesday. Starting at 5:00 a.m. Eastern during "CNN Daybreak." count on CNN to bring you the campaign updates as the results begin to roll in, 7:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Deadline day: Ahead, the status of Iraq's draft constitution. We'll take you live to Baghdad.

And later on CNN SATURDAY: Combing through controversy. Larry King searches for the truth beneath Donald Trump's hairdo.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ARENA: The Iraqi Governing Council could be close to agreement on an interim constitution, but it probably won't meet today's deadline. That's the latest word from coalition officials. The draft constitution would be the foundation for Iraq's legal system after the coalition hands over power, June 30. CNN's Jane Arraf is live in Baghdad with the latest.

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kelli, the main thing is that they are still talking, so it's a lot better than it could be and mostly what they seem to be talking about are issues concerning the Shias, particularly the role law -- sorry, the role of Islam in Iraqi law and issues concerning the Kurds. Now, one member of the Governing Council, a Kurdish independent member, Mahmoud Othman, tells us that they have reached an agreement that Kurdish will be, for the first time, an official language in Iraq and he says if they don't meet the midnight agreement, it's not a huge tragedy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. MAHMOUD OTHMAN, IRAQI COUNCIL MEMBER: If it's delayed a bit, nothing will affect very much really, because there is a deadline we put it ourselves. I mean, coalition and the G.C., just the two of us and the two of us, we are in these meetings, so -- and nobody else is involved to say -- well, all this, you know, it's international and so on. So I think if we could -- if we see that, we cannot finish it, give it a few more days, that' will be logical. I mean, it's no problem, as far as Iraq is concerned.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARRAF: Now, if it drags on a lot longer than that, it could put the June 30 deadline in jeopardy. That's the date that the U.S. says they'll hand power back to Iraqis -- Kelly.

ARENA: And Jane, there's no indication that the deadline will slide, has there?

ARRAF: Not yet. But we're still kind of a ways away and there's a lot packed into a short amount of time. That is the deadline everyone's looking at; the deadline that the U.S. says it is intent on keeping. It seems to want to hand power back to the Iraqis as much as the Iraqis want power handed back to them. They're just trying to figure out the best way to do this -- Kelly.

ARENA: All right. Jane Arraf live in Baghdad. Thank you.

Well, elsewhere around the world, at this hour: In Pakistan officials say gunmen ambushed a military checkpoint near the Afghan border. At least 11 people were reported killed when the soldiers returned fire. This week, government forces launched an operation there, against Taliban and al-Qaeda cells, but officials say that it's not clear if either group was involved in today's attack.

In China, diplomats are reporting minor progress in talks on North Korea's nuclear program as days of negotiations come to a close. U.S. officials say that other delegations are inching closer to Washington's position. That would demand a complete and verifiable nuclear dismantling by Pyongyang.

And, the State Department warns Americana to steer clear of demonstrations in Venezuela after yesterday's protest. Two people died and at least 21 were injured as troops clashed with demonstrators opposed to the government of President Hugo Chavez.

Well, how much of a threat is al-Qaeda? We're sorting through the mixed signals, next.

And, still to come, she was born into show business but now Sofia Coppola holds a title that no other American women has held. We're counting down to Oscar night, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ARENA: This has been a sobering week in the U.S. in the fight against terrorism. The CIA has determined that a tape recording from Osama bin Laden's top lieutenant, Ayman al-Zawahiri is likely legitimate. Zawahiri is on the right shown here with Osama bin Laden. And, the tape, played on the al-Arabia satellite channel, promises new attacks against U.S. interests.

Also this week, the directors of the CIA and FBI testified before Congress on the very real possibility of new terror attacks by al- Qaeda that could be carried out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE TENENT, CIA DIRECTOR: On aircraft plots alone, we have uncovered new plans to recruit pilots and to evade new security measures in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Even catastrophic attacks on the scale of 9/11 remain within al-Qaeda's reach.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: Let's assess the impact of the CIA's director, George Tenent's warnings that al-Qaeda still presents a clear danger to the U.S. We've asked Michael Swetman (SIC) to join us, he's chairman and CEO of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies and noted terrorism expert. Thanks for joining us.

MICHAEL SWETNAM, TERRORISM EXPERT: Thank you for having me, Kelli.

ARENA: Well, you heard the CIA director a -- another attack on the scale of September 11.

SWETNAM: Absolutely. That's been, of course, the goal of al- Qaeda since September the 11th and even though we have captured upwards of three quarters of the leadership of al-Qaeda, there are still as many as 30,000 al-Qaeda fighters out there around the world involved in as many as 70 different terrorist organizations associated with al-Qaeda and they're plotting every day a new attack, and of course, their goal is an attack at least the scale of 9/11 if not one greater.

ARENA: The interest in aircraft, we know still persists, we saw that over the holidays with the cancellation of several flights. But, something that the CIA director said is that we know they come back and revisit targets and two of the targets, they believe, are the Capital and the White House.

SWETNAM: Absolutely. One of the most frightening things about al-Qaeda and the remnants of 9/11 is their history of revisiting targets they think are very important.

ARENA: Like the World Trade Center on '93.

SWETNAM: Like the World Trade Center. They tried to bring it down in '93 and then they came back and successfully did it in 2001. We know they were targeting the White House, and probably the capital building, as well. We suspect that they've been building plans to go after the White House and the capital building and we're really a little afraid that we haven't seen those plans come to fruition. We're afraid of being surprised, yet again, by al-Qaeda attempting a new mode of attack. The airplane mode, which they seem to have favored over the last several years, has failed. Over the holidays, they tempted to hijack some airplanes and we had enough knowledge to be able to keep those airplanes from flying out of Great Britain and other place -- and then France and some other places. They may well now turn to another mode of attack and surprise us.

ARENA: This is latest audiotape, released by Ayman al-Zawahiri, we've seen tapes like this before, and he sort of took a direct hit at President Bush and said there's just a lot that he's out there saying not true. For example: That most of the al-Qaeda leadership is in custody and that is something that is a matter of debate. I mean, how much about this structure did we really know in order to tick off who in leader -- in a leadership position and who wasn't? Khaled Shaikh Mohammad, for example, we all know about him now, but did we know about him before?

SWETNAM: Yes, we did, actually...

ARENA: But, in terms of how high he was in the hierarchy? SWETNAM: We did. The problem is that -- and we knew about it and we've capture -- we have captured three-quarters of the leadership. The problem is that it's not a hierarchical organizational, it's a dispersed organization. So, even though you take out the main leaders, the arms act and will still attack us.

ARENA: All right, Michael Swetnam, I'm so sorry to leave on that note. Would have been nicer to hear you say that we had had it all in hand. But, we know better, don't we?

SWETNAM: Thank you for having me.

ARENA: All right. Take care.

Well, three cars struck on a stretch of California highway is a sniper to blame? We are following the investigation.

Plus:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Howard Sterns of the world are the exception rather than the rule and that they will no longer have a platform on our stations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: Drawing the line between decency and indecency on the air waves. The debate heats up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ARENA: The latest developments: Police near Jackson, Mississippi, are questioning a relative in connection with the disappearance of a family of three. Authorities tell CNN he's the brother-in-law of the missing father, Michael Hargon. He's been missing with his wife Rebecca and their 4-year-old son since Valentine's Day.

Is another sniper at work? Well, police in Northern California are investigating a string of possibly connected shootings along an interstate highway. Three shootings took place on interstate 580 near Hayward, this weekend -- this week, I'm sorry. The police are trying to determine whether a bullet or a piece of road debris shattered the back window of a car exiting that same freeway.

And, the stage shifts from West Coast to East today, with the two leading democratic candidates traveling to New York. John Kerry and John Edwards face another nationally televised debate tomorrow, before the Super Tuesday contest in 10 states.

Meantime, Edwards is making efforts to win the backing of Howard Dean supporters. He withdrew from the race after Wisconsin.

And in the Middle East, three people are dead in an Israel missile attack in Gaza City. That's according to Palestinian witnesses who talked to CNN. Israeli jets and helicopters were heard overhead. The apparent target, a small car traveling a refuge camp. Doctors say 3 children were wounded in that attack.

The nation's largest radio chains seem to draw a line in the sand this week over indecency. Clear Channel janked shock jock Howard Stern from its station, still, the line between decency and censorship can be blurring. We'll talk about that with our guests in a moment, but first, here's CNN's Adora Udoji.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Howard Stern built a syndicated radio dynasty on racy talk.

HOWARD STERN, SHOCK JOCK RADIO HOST: I would love to see you with your top off.

UDOJI: His fans love him for it.

CROWD CHANTING: Howard! Howard!

UDOJI: But federal regulators have fined him for it to the tune of nearly $2 million the past 10 years. Now, a radio group, Clear Channel, has suspended him from six stations citing a new decency policy.

The company says Tuesday's discussion about the sex tape of socialite fashionista Paris Hilton went too far with Stern graphically asking her co-star Rick Solomon for details.

(on camera): Then a caller using the N-word and other crude terms asked Solomon if he'd ever had sex an African-American celebrity.

On Capital Hill, with other broadcast executives, Clear Channel's president said, enough.

JOHN HOGAN, CEO, CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS: Howard Stern s of the world are the exception rather than the rule. And that they will no longer have a platform on our stations.

UDOJI: Cleaning house of shock jocks, the company also fired Todd Clem aka Bubba the Love Sponge.

Sterns syndicator, Infinity Broadcasting, had no comment on Stern's suspension, but Stern who was still on the air in dozens of markets called the suspension among other things, silly.

STERN: I'm going to be the sacrificial lamb. Sad day. Really is. I have to take my punishment. I don't know what the hell happened on the show Tuesday that hasn't happened for 20 years.

UDOJI: In a surprising twist he has a supporter in the conservative fellow talk show host, Rush Limbaugh, who says he hasn't even heard the show. RUSH LIMBAUGH, TALK SHOW HOST: I'm in the free speech business here, my friends. I couldn't survive without it. And it is one thing for a company in business to determine whether or not they're party to it. It's quite another for a government.

UDOJI: Many are asking how far does this go? Will the fallout from the "Super Bowl" antics of Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake mean permanent changes?

HOWARD KURTZ, "THE WASHINGTON POST": If Congress and the FCC were really to get serious about cracking down on the all the indecency in all the different forms on television and radio, a lot of corporate profits would be threatened.

UDOJI: Stern makes money and few expect the latest sensor to mark his end.

Adaora Udoji, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: Decency to some may be censorship to others. Our guests have thoughts on this. John McIntire is a radio commentator in Pittsburgh and Michael Smerconish is a radio talk show host, and trial attorney. He's at the end other end of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Gentlemen, thank you for joining us.

JOHN MCINTIRE, RADIO COMMENTATOR: Howdy.

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Hi.

ARENA: Well, I put this out there, Howard Stern said it himself, what is he doing differently now that he hasn't done in the past 20 years to provoke this action -- John.

MCINTIRE: Absolutely nothing. For once -- and I can't even believe these words coming out of my mouth -- I completely agree with Rush Limbaugh. This is a free speech issue.

I cannot believe adult men and women in the United States of America live in mortal fear of Janet Jackson's breast attacking them in the sleep at night. We have to relax. We have to grow up. Take a step back.

Let Howard Stern do what he does, it's not leading to some decline and fall of Western civilization. I'm worried about the government censoring people. And I'm worried about the right wing lawmakers and FCC commissioners stirring up the Bush's base for the fall.

ARENA: Michael, you get to answer that?

SMERCONISH: I think it is leading to a fall of Western civilization. The pendulum is swinging in this country, and rightfully so. We have Janet Jackson to thank for this. Not to condemn for this. It's been long overdue and I'm hoping it extends beyond radio and into the world of television and movies and most importantly, music, as well.

Howard Stern, a gifted broadcaster. I think he can work far more clean and still succeed than he does right now. And he isn't doing anything different today than he did for the last 20 years, but it doesn't mean that what he's been doing for the last 20 years is right.

ARENA: You know, Howard Stern is a widely popular broadcaster. I mean, there's always the option, and playing devil's advocate, of there is always the option of just not listening. There are lots of people that don't listen.

So, Michael, what about just turning him off?

SMERCONISH: Well, by an extension of that logic, Kelly, we could have trash television on not just in the evening, but all day long when kids are listening, as well. I mean it is almost like rubber necking when you see an automobile accident. We don't like automobile accidents, but you're right, we all have a tendency to take a peek. And I think the American people absolutely like to listen to Howard Stern.

But he goes beyond the pale and that broadcast that he did on Tuesday is a great example. He didn't have to go as far as he did and he still could have been entertaining. What's wrong with cleaning it up?

ARENA: John, what is wrong with cleaning it up?

MCINTIRE: What's wrong with cleaning it up is that there are some adults in this country who like Howard Stern's humor. Juvenile though it may be, and sexually graphic though it be may be. Sometimes Howard Stern is ridiculously silly and sometimes he's just plain funnier than H-E-double toothpicks. I don't want to use the wrong word here because of what's going on right now.

Michael says we shouldn't be condemning Janet Jackson, we should be thanking her, which I guess means he wants to say thanks for the mammary.

But I think we have to stop this thing before it goes too far. Because he's talking about limits on everything, who is going to determine what line is crossed and where the line is. This is government censorship of art. That is a slippery slope, it is a very dangerous path to walk down in this country. And with the current right-wing fanatical administration in charge, this is the time they might just really go too far and throw the First Amendment out the window.

ARENA: I guess, guys, what -- gentlemen, what I find curious is this did not just happen overnight. There have -- I mean, Stern has been around for quite a while. He's been pushing the envelope for a long time. We have seen television get more daring and pushing the envelope, as well.

There has been no public uproar. There has been no mass move to say, hey, enough is enough. Michael, what do you say to that?

SMERCONISH: I don't agree with that.

ARENA: OK?

SMERCONISH: Kelli I don't agree with that. I think the groundswell has been building, out there, for sometime. That people are fed up with what they see on MTV, what they see on television, what they hear in those musical lyrics to the extent that they're paying attention,

And Janet Jackson, it's not because of Janet Jackson. She was really the final straw or the straw that broke the camel's back. I think that the American people really do want it cleaned up.

And more specific to this gentleman's point, we the people own the air waves and for that reason, I think -- and the scarcity notion there are limited positions on the dial is justification enough to simply say, it's time to clean it up. Not to completely put the hammer down and put him out of business, but to say, Howard Stern, you have gone too far.

ARENA: All right. Michael, you get the last word here. I'm sorry. Michael Smerconish, John McIntire, thank you so much for joining us both.

MCINTIRE: Thank you.

ARENA: Well, she's been panned for her acting, but praised for her directing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SOPHIA COPPOLA, FILM DIRECTOR: I'm happy to be up there with the guys this year.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: How Sophia Coppola won over the critics and time for Oscar night.

Plus, Carnival Cruise Lines enlists the help of Jessica Lynch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL HOCHMAN, "SKI" MAGAZINE: You know what the great thing about the ski areas is, besides the skiing and the snowboarding? Dogs. Yes, dogs, man's best friend, the dog's life. Most people assume that ski areas are not dog friendly. The opposite is true.

So if you're thinking about going on vacation and you're thinking you can't bring you dog, think again. But of course, call ahead to see if the dog is welcome at your favorite place in the mountains.

It's a great time to have pets when you go to your favorite ski area, because you can be outside with them, you can play with them and they love messing around in the snow.

If you have a city dog, one cool thing is, introducing them to snow. they can tons of exercise. They'll go back home in pretty good shape.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ARENA: With the Oscars just a day away, movie history has already been made. The first American female director has been nominated, Sophia Coppola. CNN's Daryn Kagan sat down with her for a chat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DARYN KAGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This was the way most of us first met Sophia Coppola. This is how we know her now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the category, best achievement in directing, Sophia Coppola for "Lost in Translation."

The 32-year old Oscar nominee's show biz career began soon after birth when she appeared as Michael Corleoni's god son in "The Godfather."

That was the first of several roles she had in some of her father's films, that culminated in 1990 with the highly anticipated third chapter of "The Godfather" saga.

COPPOLA: You haven't kissed me hello, yet. Relatives always kiss.

KAGAN: Critics cried nepotism when Francis Ford Coppola cast his teenaged daughter in such a high-profile role. His judgment was questioned, and so was her acting talent.

COPPOLA: Actually, I'm glad I got a hard time for "Godfather 3", because it probably wouldn't have pushed me into, you know, doing other things.

KAGAN: Nearly a decade later, those other things, turned some heads.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Those girls have a bright future ahead of them.

KAGAN: Her 1999 dark comedy, "The Virgin Suicides" won Coppola critical acclaim as both a director and a writer. It helped establish her professionally, moving her out of the shadow of her father. Now with "Lost in Translation" the spotlight is all hers.

KAGAN: I get the feeling you don't love this part. The whole publicity interview. You in front of the camera part.

COPPOLA: Yes, I'm just a little shy, but it's exciting being a part of, you know, the whole tradition of the Academy Awards. But, yes, I'm a little shy with the on camera part.

KAGAN: With credits that range from director to producer, writer to costume designer, the young girl who used to take small roles in films and even a Madonna music video has become one of only three women in Oscar history, and the first American women, to be nominated as a director.

COPPOLA: Once someone told me that, I couldn't believe it that after all these years that was really true. So, you know, I'm happy to be up there with the guys this year.

KAGAN: This may not be the first time. After all, this is only the second feature film she's directed. Daryn Kagan, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: You can see more of Hollywood's gold rush Sunday 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Our Daryn Kagan hosts a live program from the red carpet outside the Kodak Theater where Hollywood's best will be honored.

Headlines across America, Carnival Cruise Lines' new ship "The Miracle" is getting a celebrity sendoff. It was christened yesterday in Jacksonville, Florida, with former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch, cracking a bottle of Champaign across it's bow.

Then, the new liner set off for the Bahamas on its maiden voyage. It can carry nearly a thousand crew members and more than 2,000 passengers.

From snowstorm to slush in a matter of hours, sunshine is helping melt all that snow in the Carolinas from yesterday and Thursday. Parts of the region got at least a foot.

In Daytona Beach, Florida, Bike Week is officially underway. The even is now in its 63rd year. Up to half a million visitors are expected to crowd the famed beach town for the festivities.

And good news for American taxpayers. The Internal Revenue Service has mailed out its first batch of tax refunds and the average check is $97 bigger this year. Refunds mailed so far average about $2300.

Computers, cell phones and other high-tech gadgets, how can you be sure you get the most for your money? Find out on "Dollar $igns" later today on CNN. Our experts tell you about some of the hottest new gadgets and help you decide what's best for your budget. If you have questions, e-mail them to us, at dollarsigns@cnn.com. Or you can call us toll free, 1-800-807-2620. The phone lines open at 4:30 Eastern.

Well, common faux pas that can easily be lost in translation. A crash course in global etiquette. What you need to know before traveling abroad.

(PROMO INFO) ARENA: Most Americans are already planning this year's vacation and if you're going overseas, you might want to consider brushing up on your global Ps and Qs. What's perfectly acceptable in our country, a hand gesture, or a greeting may be an insult elsewhere.

Dean Foster wrote the "Global Etiquette Guide to Europe". He is in New York this weekend speaking at the "The New York Times" travel show.

Dean, thanks for joining us.

DEAN FOSTER, AUTHOR, "GLOBAL ETIQUETT GUIDE: Pleasure to be here, Kelli.

ARENA: Well, why don't we start with what's a popular Mediterranean destination, Greece? You had some interesting insight for our viewers concerning that country.

FOSTER: Yeah, you know, sometimes what Americans might view as just a wave could be really insulting in some of the Eastern Mediterranean cultures. For example, if you raise your hand up like this and try to wave at someone. Well, that's a gesture in Greece that's traditionally really quite aggressive. And also if you want to call somebody over, what you want to do is you want to hold your hand parallel to the ground and you just kind of want to do this kind of motion. It looks like waving good-bye, but in fact what you are doing is calling somebody over.

ARENA: Do you get cut any slack being an American? Greece is a popular tourist destination.

FOSTER: Well, you know, I think Americans like most people, they're admired and but they're also -- they considered a little bit naive sometimes, when they travel abroad. And you want to show some respect for the way the people do things in other cultures, so that you can break out of the tourist bubble.

A lot of people stay within a tourist bubble and they really don't get the most out of their trip. If you break out of that tourist bubble and understand how people really think and do things, then you can connect with the people and your trip is so much richer.

ARENA: I think so, too. Let's go to the Arab world. What do we need to know if traveling to that part of the world?

FOSTER: Well, you want to recognize that the -- it's very varied and country by country it can be different. But there are some general things about the Arab world that you should be aware of, certainly, as a Westerner.

For one thing, you want to void using your left hand because the left hand is really the hand that was -- that's considered unclean. And so always use the right hand particularly if you are passing food or touching people or passing important documents.

Never show the sole of your shoe because it is the part of the body that touches the ground and the dirtiest part of your body.

If you remember when the statue of Saddam came down, some of the Iraqis were actually hitting the statue with their shoe. It was really quite an insult to do that. And it was a sign of anger.

ARENA: Right. So, you want to be careful about that.

FOSTER: Right.

ARENA: Go ahead.

FOSTER: Men and women should also be careful about touching each other because in some of the more devout countries men and women in the Muslim world don't touch.

ARENA: All right. Spain, also some rules to be aware of there?

FOSTER: Well, the interesting thing is when you compare Spain to say Hispanic South America, if you're introduced to a woman, let's say, you don't know her marital status, in Spain typically, you want to refer to her at senora. But in Hispanic South America, you would be better off referring to her as senorita.

Of course, if she was obviously older then you would refer to her as senora. If you know her marital status, well, then you're set.

ARENA: OK. Japan? I know lots of rules to follow there. I lived there for a while. Tell us what you think is the most important thing for our viewers to know.

FOSTER: Well, you know, in Japan, if you're greeting someone, you always have to have a lot of business cards, certainly if you're there on business. But even if you're there just traveling casually, East Asian cultures are non-touching cultures. And you want to be sure not to greet someone with a firm hand shake or a strong hand shake. Just a soft hand shake is good enough.

If you give someone a business card, always give it to them with two hands, receive a business card with two hands. If you are giving gifts from East Asia, or accepting gifts, you give and accept them with two hands, always. And never open the gift.

ARENA: I think we have time for one more. One more, Brazil.

FOSTER: Sure. In Brazil, never make the OK sign like we do in the U.S. because that is really quite offensive. Better off just to smile and give a thumbs up.

ARENA: All right. Well, good, good advice. Thank you so much for joining us.

FOSTER: It's a pleasure. And hope to see you at the Travel Show.

ARENA: OK. That would be nice to go to.

Still to come, the week in pictures. We'll focus our lens on some snapshots from around the world.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ARENA: Now to a hair raising question. Is Donald Trump's hair real or fake? Appearing on "Larry King Live" last night, the real estate mogul laid to rest the issue by brushing off hairy rumors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, CEO TRUMP ENTERPRISES: Let's go. Come here.

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": It is not a toupee.

TRUMP: OK, will you please inform the public?

KING: It is not a toupee.

TRUMP: I don't think --

KING: Let me pull it a little. It is not a toupee. It is not a comb over.

TRUMP: Don't mess it up too much.

KING: No, no, it's not a comb over.

TRUMP: It's really not that much of a comb over. Where I get killed in this hair.

I'm killed in this hair. You know the show has gotten great reviews. I have gotten great reviews. Everything has gotten great reviews, except for one thing, my hair. Gets bad reviews.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: Trump added that he had no plans to change his very recognizable hairstyle.

Aired February 28, 2004 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is Noon in Port-au-Prince Haiti; 8:00 p.m. in Baghdad. I'm Kelli Arena in Washington. Welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY.
Haiti is on the brink of civil war. Live from Haiti and the White House this hour, ten years after the U.S. restored the Haitian president to power.

And Iraq struggles to hammer out an interim constitution, today is deadline day. Live from Baghdad with the latest.

Also, sprinting to Super Tuesday: Ten states and a boat load of delegates. But first, the headlines.

A suicide bomber is dead and at least four other people are injured after an attack on a mosque in Pakistan. It took place during a prayer service at a Shi'ite mosque Rawalpindi. Police say the bomber was wearing explosives on his belt.

A new question in the Oklahoma City bombing case -- did timothy McVeigh have more accomplices? Reported by the -- reports by the "Associate Press" have triggered a review by the FBI. "AP" says documents show FBI agents destroyed evidence and failed to share other information in the case. The information raised the possibility that a gang of white supremacists bank robbers may have helped McVeigh in 1995.

And thousands of striking grocery store workers in California could be back at the checkout counters in the week ahead. They're voting this weekend on a new contract offer. At the heart of the dispute, healthcare costs. Some 59,000 workers in central and southern California have been on strike or locked out for nearly five months.

And we begin in Mississippi, with a possible big break in the puzzling disappearance of a missing husband, wife and their 4-year-old son. Right now, police are searching a home that's also used as a veterinarian's office and they're questioning a cousin of the missing man. Marcus Moore with affiliate, WAPT, is on the phone from Smith County, Mississippi, south of the state capital.

Are you there?

MARCUS MOORE, WAPT CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kelli, I'm right here. Yeah, right now... ARENA: What can you tell us, Marcus?

MOORE: Well I can't tell you too much, at this point. All we can say is that, as you just mentioned, that police do have someone in custody for questioning. There are about 30 investigators searching 100-acre area here in Smith County. We're about a mile and a half north of a town called Taylorsville. This is also where a cousin is -- he lives -- he and his wife live here, and they have been involved in the investigation. Police have been asking them questions since the family disappeared a couple of weeks ago.

But, what police are looking for here this morning, they're not saying. But all they will tell us is that they may -- are close, they hope they will have a resolution to this two weekend search for Michael Hargon, his wife Rebecca and their 4-year-old son James Patrick who vanished on February 14. That's what we know at this point.

ARENA: Marcus, is there any indication that you've seen that investigators have walked out with anything resembling evidence at this point?

MOORE: No, ma'am. The only thing -- we've only seen them going in with equipment. We have seen two crime scene vans drive in, as well as, a Mississippi highway patrol RV, which is kind of a mobile command center, so they plan on being here for a while but, no, we have not seen them come out with any type of evidence.

ARENA: All right. Thank you so much. That's Marcus Moore with our affiliate WAPT.

Well, chaos in the capital of Haiti, this hour. There's widespread violence and looting and the rebels are closing in ready to topple the government. The latest on the worsening situation now, from CNN's Lucia Newman in Port-au-Prince -- Lucia.

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kelli. Well, the streets Port-au-Prince are slightly more calm this morning than it was yesterday. The roadblocks and the truckloads of armed thugs that were roving the streets yesterday are gone, at least they're gone for the moment. However, there are reports of widespread looting continuing in the port of Port-au-Prince, people carrying anything they can find. A high-ranking police officer told me he conceded that they could do nothing to stop this chaos -- this lawlessness, yesterday, in the capital and lawlessness, indeed today, because they simply don't have enough men to do it.

In the meantime, military helicopters from the neighboring Dominican Republic continue to evacuate people to this country. They're landing at the Dominican Airport and taken foreign nationals out. Also, two C-130 military aircraft landed just a short while ago at the Port-au-Prince Airport, we understand one is an American plane, the other a French plane and understand to evacuate people. The president in the meantime said early this morning. Also, we understand, to evaluate people. The president, in the meantime, said early this morning, on state television, that he would not resign, reiterating something he's been saying all along, he did however issue an appeal to his followers for calm. This after the United States sent a stern statement asking the president to try to control the armed thugs that support him. Otherwise, Washington says the president will lose his prestige, his honor, and his reputation -- Kelly.

ARENA: Lucia, is there any indication at all, that a international involvement, as slim as it has been, has made any impact whatsoever?

NEWMAN: Absolutely not, there is no indication. We understand that the United States is considering, in fact, sending more than 2,000 Marines in ships on the -- to stay on the outskirts of the capital, just in case, as a contingency measure, but hasn't had much of an impact, so far, certainly not politically. The president is standing firm. He's not bowing to increasing international pressure to even consider stepping down -- Kelli.

ARENA: All right. Lucia Newman live from Port-au-Prince, thanks very much.

Well, President Bush said Friday the international community is quote: "Planning for a multinational force that could be sent to Haiti if needed," but he says that will only happen if there is a political settlement to the crisis. With the latest on the White House thinking, CNN's Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Kelli. The State Department's latest warning to Americans says, essentially, they should seek a safe haven because there are not regularly scheduled flights leaving out of Haiti, it is good news, however that have -- they do have some of those commercial airlines -- some of those military airlines, rather, that are picking up some of those people. I just talked to a White House spokesman, moments ago, and asked him what is the latest situation, the president has yet to make a final decision on some sort of contingency force. This is something that the Pentagon has talked about. This would involve sending, essentially, a three ships to the area involving 2,200 Marines that would be based off the coast of Haiti, by sometime next week, if the plan was to be approved. What would the role be? Essentially it could be reinforcing and evacuated the U.S. embassy personnel, also assisting the Coast Guard and intercepting and sending back Haitians who are out at sea or providing a safe transport for Jean-Bertrand Aristide should he decide to leave. But right now, the administration is saying they want a political solution to this crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're interested in achieving a political settlement, and we're still working to that effect.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MALVEAUX: Now, at the same time, the State Department is also urging Aristide to step aside for the good of the Haitian people, for the international community, as well. But, the White House is still putting forth this plan, this power sharing plan, that they would like Aristide, as well as the rebels, to agree to before they send that international peacekeeping force inside -- Kelli.

ARENA: Suzanne, is there any sense of a timetable or sort of a drop-dead point in terms of whether they are able to reach some sort of an agreement?

MALVEAUX: At this time, there is not timetable or a deadline that has been set. However, this contingency plan we're told, if it were to go into effect, would happen some time in the weeks to come, so that gives you some sense of wiggle room -- the flexibility here, but the Bush administration is still holding out on the possibility that there may be a political settlement before they decide to send in those ships.

AREAN: All right. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thank you.

Well, this news just in to CNN, Palestinian witnesses in Gaza City say a F-16 fired a missile and hit a car. Witnesses tell CNN three people were killed. We'll have more information on this story as it becomes available.

Well, Super Tuesday is less than 72 hours away and it could be make or break day for the campaign of senator John Edwards. Voters in ten states have their say, more than 1,100 delegates are at stake. Edwards lags behind senator John Kerry in delegates, but the North Carolina senator vows to fight on.

As the showdown nears, Howard Dean is out of the race, but his influence is very much a part of the process. Senator John Edwards is holding a conference call with organizers of the Dean campaign today, and Edwards says that he has talking regularly with Dean himself. Democratic frontrunner, John Kerry, and Dennis Kucinich are trying to make inroads with Dean supporters, as well.

Let's find out what CNN political analysis Carlos Watson has to say about the latest developments on the campaign trail. He is in New York, one of the Super Tuesday states.

Thank you for joining us.

CAROL WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYSIS: Good to see you.

ARENA: Well, what do you make of all this wooing of Dean supporters? Do you think that it will actually make a difference?

WATSON: It could make a difference. You might want to focus on four states in particular: Certainly, California and New York, certainly Ohio, so obviously the three biggest prizes. There could be a difference if the Dean supporters offer additional, say, 10 percent or even 15 percent to John Edwards in particular. And then, where you might actually see an upset, and so we should pay attention on Tuesday, is in Minnesota. In Minnesota there won't be a primary, but there'll be a caucus. That was one of the states that was most vibrantly pro-Dean and that's where some of the Dean supporters, this past week, announced that they were going to aggressively support Edwards. There might -- could be an upset in Minnesota.

ARENA: Well, getting to John Edwards, I've heard throughout the week that the real key here is having him distinguish himself enough from John Kerry. Do you think that he's been successful in that at all?

WATSON: I think it's a great question, because in many ways in debate on Thursday, he didn't do as much as he could to distance himself, which again caused a lot of people to ask the question: Is he running for president or campaigning for vice president? He didn't really take shots and now he would argue back that, well, I want to run a positive campaign, I want to be optimistic, I want to focus on the future, being negative guy isn't me. But again, voters need an alternative, particularly when you've got one guy who's won 19 out of 21 contests and in many ways, seems to be the likely nominee.

So, I'm not sure he's done enough to draw a distinction, but again there's so much animosity between the Dean campaigns, in many cases, and the Kerry campiang, that many of the Dean supporters may still decide to focus on John Edwards as their new standard bearer.

ARENA: There's has been, obviously, the issues of gay marriage, that have come into play, but we also saw social security this week come into the mix in a big way. Is there an issue that you see that could be a defining issue for this campaign going forward?

WATSON: I think there will be several and I think in different parts of the country, you'll see different ones. The economy will still be a substantial issue and you'll see the different sides discuss it differently. President Bush will say: While I'm not happy with the 5.6 percent employment rate, it's better than what we saw in the last recession where the numbers were nine and 10 percent. And, he would say: Don't forget a number of families, while the job situation's not what we want, they've earned equity in the homes and in that way they built up new wealth. And so he would say: Look at the whole picture and not just part of. So, I think you'll hear about the economy and certainly we'll hear a lot about the 43 million Americans who don't have healthcare. But, I wouldn't be surprised to see new foreign policy questions show up.

So, not just Iraq, but I think you'll hear more about Haiti, which of course, Suzanne was just talking about. I think you'll hear more about China. I think you'll hear more about Libya and Pakistan in this debate. And last but not least, I think immigration will end up being a hot button issue, particularly in some of those swing states like New Mexico, Arizona, and even in places like Colorado and Nevada.

ARENA: All right. Carlos Watson, we'll be watching. Thanks very much.

WATSON: Good to see you.

ARENA: Well, CNN is live coast to coast all day on Super Tuesday. Starting at 5:00 a.m. Eastern during "CNN Daybreak." count on CNN to bring you the campaign updates as the results begin to roll in, 7:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Deadline day: Ahead, the status of Iraq's draft constitution. We'll take you live to Baghdad.

And later on CNN SATURDAY: Combing through controversy. Larry King searches for the truth beneath Donald Trump's hairdo.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ARENA: The Iraqi Governing Council could be close to agreement on an interim constitution, but it probably won't meet today's deadline. That's the latest word from coalition officials. The draft constitution would be the foundation for Iraq's legal system after the coalition hands over power, June 30. CNN's Jane Arraf is live in Baghdad with the latest.

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kelli, the main thing is that they are still talking, so it's a lot better than it could be and mostly what they seem to be talking about are issues concerning the Shias, particularly the role law -- sorry, the role of Islam in Iraqi law and issues concerning the Kurds. Now, one member of the Governing Council, a Kurdish independent member, Mahmoud Othman, tells us that they have reached an agreement that Kurdish will be, for the first time, an official language in Iraq and he says if they don't meet the midnight agreement, it's not a huge tragedy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. MAHMOUD OTHMAN, IRAQI COUNCIL MEMBER: If it's delayed a bit, nothing will affect very much really, because there is a deadline we put it ourselves. I mean, coalition and the G.C., just the two of us and the two of us, we are in these meetings, so -- and nobody else is involved to say -- well, all this, you know, it's international and so on. So I think if we could -- if we see that, we cannot finish it, give it a few more days, that' will be logical. I mean, it's no problem, as far as Iraq is concerned.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARRAF: Now, if it drags on a lot longer than that, it could put the June 30 deadline in jeopardy. That's the date that the U.S. says they'll hand power back to Iraqis -- Kelly.

ARENA: And Jane, there's no indication that the deadline will slide, has there?

ARRAF: Not yet. But we're still kind of a ways away and there's a lot packed into a short amount of time. That is the deadline everyone's looking at; the deadline that the U.S. says it is intent on keeping. It seems to want to hand power back to the Iraqis as much as the Iraqis want power handed back to them. They're just trying to figure out the best way to do this -- Kelly.

ARENA: All right. Jane Arraf live in Baghdad. Thank you.

Well, elsewhere around the world, at this hour: In Pakistan officials say gunmen ambushed a military checkpoint near the Afghan border. At least 11 people were reported killed when the soldiers returned fire. This week, government forces launched an operation there, against Taliban and al-Qaeda cells, but officials say that it's not clear if either group was involved in today's attack.

In China, diplomats are reporting minor progress in talks on North Korea's nuclear program as days of negotiations come to a close. U.S. officials say that other delegations are inching closer to Washington's position. That would demand a complete and verifiable nuclear dismantling by Pyongyang.

And, the State Department warns Americana to steer clear of demonstrations in Venezuela after yesterday's protest. Two people died and at least 21 were injured as troops clashed with demonstrators opposed to the government of President Hugo Chavez.

Well, how much of a threat is al-Qaeda? We're sorting through the mixed signals, next.

And, still to come, she was born into show business but now Sofia Coppola holds a title that no other American women has held. We're counting down to Oscar night, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ARENA: This has been a sobering week in the U.S. in the fight against terrorism. The CIA has determined that a tape recording from Osama bin Laden's top lieutenant, Ayman al-Zawahiri is likely legitimate. Zawahiri is on the right shown here with Osama bin Laden. And, the tape, played on the al-Arabia satellite channel, promises new attacks against U.S. interests.

Also this week, the directors of the CIA and FBI testified before Congress on the very real possibility of new terror attacks by al- Qaeda that could be carried out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE TENENT, CIA DIRECTOR: On aircraft plots alone, we have uncovered new plans to recruit pilots and to evade new security measures in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Even catastrophic attacks on the scale of 9/11 remain within al-Qaeda's reach.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: Let's assess the impact of the CIA's director, George Tenent's warnings that al-Qaeda still presents a clear danger to the U.S. We've asked Michael Swetman (SIC) to join us, he's chairman and CEO of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies and noted terrorism expert. Thanks for joining us.

MICHAEL SWETNAM, TERRORISM EXPERT: Thank you for having me, Kelli.

ARENA: Well, you heard the CIA director a -- another attack on the scale of September 11.

SWETNAM: Absolutely. That's been, of course, the goal of al- Qaeda since September the 11th and even though we have captured upwards of three quarters of the leadership of al-Qaeda, there are still as many as 30,000 al-Qaeda fighters out there around the world involved in as many as 70 different terrorist organizations associated with al-Qaeda and they're plotting every day a new attack, and of course, their goal is an attack at least the scale of 9/11 if not one greater.

ARENA: The interest in aircraft, we know still persists, we saw that over the holidays with the cancellation of several flights. But, something that the CIA director said is that we know they come back and revisit targets and two of the targets, they believe, are the Capital and the White House.

SWETNAM: Absolutely. One of the most frightening things about al-Qaeda and the remnants of 9/11 is their history of revisiting targets they think are very important.

ARENA: Like the World Trade Center on '93.

SWETNAM: Like the World Trade Center. They tried to bring it down in '93 and then they came back and successfully did it in 2001. We know they were targeting the White House, and probably the capital building, as well. We suspect that they've been building plans to go after the White House and the capital building and we're really a little afraid that we haven't seen those plans come to fruition. We're afraid of being surprised, yet again, by al-Qaeda attempting a new mode of attack. The airplane mode, which they seem to have favored over the last several years, has failed. Over the holidays, they tempted to hijack some airplanes and we had enough knowledge to be able to keep those airplanes from flying out of Great Britain and other place -- and then France and some other places. They may well now turn to another mode of attack and surprise us.

ARENA: This is latest audiotape, released by Ayman al-Zawahiri, we've seen tapes like this before, and he sort of took a direct hit at President Bush and said there's just a lot that he's out there saying not true. For example: That most of the al-Qaeda leadership is in custody and that is something that is a matter of debate. I mean, how much about this structure did we really know in order to tick off who in leader -- in a leadership position and who wasn't? Khaled Shaikh Mohammad, for example, we all know about him now, but did we know about him before?

SWETNAM: Yes, we did, actually...

ARENA: But, in terms of how high he was in the hierarchy? SWETNAM: We did. The problem is that -- and we knew about it and we've capture -- we have captured three-quarters of the leadership. The problem is that it's not a hierarchical organizational, it's a dispersed organization. So, even though you take out the main leaders, the arms act and will still attack us.

ARENA: All right, Michael Swetnam, I'm so sorry to leave on that note. Would have been nicer to hear you say that we had had it all in hand. But, we know better, don't we?

SWETNAM: Thank you for having me.

ARENA: All right. Take care.

Well, three cars struck on a stretch of California highway is a sniper to blame? We are following the investigation.

Plus:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Howard Sterns of the world are the exception rather than the rule and that they will no longer have a platform on our stations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: Drawing the line between decency and indecency on the air waves. The debate heats up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ARENA: The latest developments: Police near Jackson, Mississippi, are questioning a relative in connection with the disappearance of a family of three. Authorities tell CNN he's the brother-in-law of the missing father, Michael Hargon. He's been missing with his wife Rebecca and their 4-year-old son since Valentine's Day.

Is another sniper at work? Well, police in Northern California are investigating a string of possibly connected shootings along an interstate highway. Three shootings took place on interstate 580 near Hayward, this weekend -- this week, I'm sorry. The police are trying to determine whether a bullet or a piece of road debris shattered the back window of a car exiting that same freeway.

And, the stage shifts from West Coast to East today, with the two leading democratic candidates traveling to New York. John Kerry and John Edwards face another nationally televised debate tomorrow, before the Super Tuesday contest in 10 states.

Meantime, Edwards is making efforts to win the backing of Howard Dean supporters. He withdrew from the race after Wisconsin.

And in the Middle East, three people are dead in an Israel missile attack in Gaza City. That's according to Palestinian witnesses who talked to CNN. Israeli jets and helicopters were heard overhead. The apparent target, a small car traveling a refuge camp. Doctors say 3 children were wounded in that attack.

The nation's largest radio chains seem to draw a line in the sand this week over indecency. Clear Channel janked shock jock Howard Stern from its station, still, the line between decency and censorship can be blurring. We'll talk about that with our guests in a moment, but first, here's CNN's Adora Udoji.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Howard Stern built a syndicated radio dynasty on racy talk.

HOWARD STERN, SHOCK JOCK RADIO HOST: I would love to see you with your top off.

UDOJI: His fans love him for it.

CROWD CHANTING: Howard! Howard!

UDOJI: But federal regulators have fined him for it to the tune of nearly $2 million the past 10 years. Now, a radio group, Clear Channel, has suspended him from six stations citing a new decency policy.

The company says Tuesday's discussion about the sex tape of socialite fashionista Paris Hilton went too far with Stern graphically asking her co-star Rick Solomon for details.

(on camera): Then a caller using the N-word and other crude terms asked Solomon if he'd ever had sex an African-American celebrity.

On Capital Hill, with other broadcast executives, Clear Channel's president said, enough.

JOHN HOGAN, CEO, CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS: Howard Stern s of the world are the exception rather than the rule. And that they will no longer have a platform on our stations.

UDOJI: Cleaning house of shock jocks, the company also fired Todd Clem aka Bubba the Love Sponge.

Sterns syndicator, Infinity Broadcasting, had no comment on Stern's suspension, but Stern who was still on the air in dozens of markets called the suspension among other things, silly.

STERN: I'm going to be the sacrificial lamb. Sad day. Really is. I have to take my punishment. I don't know what the hell happened on the show Tuesday that hasn't happened for 20 years.

UDOJI: In a surprising twist he has a supporter in the conservative fellow talk show host, Rush Limbaugh, who says he hasn't even heard the show. RUSH LIMBAUGH, TALK SHOW HOST: I'm in the free speech business here, my friends. I couldn't survive without it. And it is one thing for a company in business to determine whether or not they're party to it. It's quite another for a government.

UDOJI: Many are asking how far does this go? Will the fallout from the "Super Bowl" antics of Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake mean permanent changes?

HOWARD KURTZ, "THE WASHINGTON POST": If Congress and the FCC were really to get serious about cracking down on the all the indecency in all the different forms on television and radio, a lot of corporate profits would be threatened.

UDOJI: Stern makes money and few expect the latest sensor to mark his end.

Adaora Udoji, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: Decency to some may be censorship to others. Our guests have thoughts on this. John McIntire is a radio commentator in Pittsburgh and Michael Smerconish is a radio talk show host, and trial attorney. He's at the end other end of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Gentlemen, thank you for joining us.

JOHN MCINTIRE, RADIO COMMENTATOR: Howdy.

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Hi.

ARENA: Well, I put this out there, Howard Stern said it himself, what is he doing differently now that he hasn't done in the past 20 years to provoke this action -- John.

MCINTIRE: Absolutely nothing. For once -- and I can't even believe these words coming out of my mouth -- I completely agree with Rush Limbaugh. This is a free speech issue.

I cannot believe adult men and women in the United States of America live in mortal fear of Janet Jackson's breast attacking them in the sleep at night. We have to relax. We have to grow up. Take a step back.

Let Howard Stern do what he does, it's not leading to some decline and fall of Western civilization. I'm worried about the government censoring people. And I'm worried about the right wing lawmakers and FCC commissioners stirring up the Bush's base for the fall.

ARENA: Michael, you get to answer that?

SMERCONISH: I think it is leading to a fall of Western civilization. The pendulum is swinging in this country, and rightfully so. We have Janet Jackson to thank for this. Not to condemn for this. It's been long overdue and I'm hoping it extends beyond radio and into the world of television and movies and most importantly, music, as well.

Howard Stern, a gifted broadcaster. I think he can work far more clean and still succeed than he does right now. And he isn't doing anything different today than he did for the last 20 years, but it doesn't mean that what he's been doing for the last 20 years is right.

ARENA: You know, Howard Stern is a widely popular broadcaster. I mean, there's always the option, and playing devil's advocate, of there is always the option of just not listening. There are lots of people that don't listen.

So, Michael, what about just turning him off?

SMERCONISH: Well, by an extension of that logic, Kelly, we could have trash television on not just in the evening, but all day long when kids are listening, as well. I mean it is almost like rubber necking when you see an automobile accident. We don't like automobile accidents, but you're right, we all have a tendency to take a peek. And I think the American people absolutely like to listen to Howard Stern.

But he goes beyond the pale and that broadcast that he did on Tuesday is a great example. He didn't have to go as far as he did and he still could have been entertaining. What's wrong with cleaning it up?

ARENA: John, what is wrong with cleaning it up?

MCINTIRE: What's wrong with cleaning it up is that there are some adults in this country who like Howard Stern's humor. Juvenile though it may be, and sexually graphic though it be may be. Sometimes Howard Stern is ridiculously silly and sometimes he's just plain funnier than H-E-double toothpicks. I don't want to use the wrong word here because of what's going on right now.

Michael says we shouldn't be condemning Janet Jackson, we should be thanking her, which I guess means he wants to say thanks for the mammary.

But I think we have to stop this thing before it goes too far. Because he's talking about limits on everything, who is going to determine what line is crossed and where the line is. This is government censorship of art. That is a slippery slope, it is a very dangerous path to walk down in this country. And with the current right-wing fanatical administration in charge, this is the time they might just really go too far and throw the First Amendment out the window.

ARENA: I guess, guys, what -- gentlemen, what I find curious is this did not just happen overnight. There have -- I mean, Stern has been around for quite a while. He's been pushing the envelope for a long time. We have seen television get more daring and pushing the envelope, as well.

There has been no public uproar. There has been no mass move to say, hey, enough is enough. Michael, what do you say to that?

SMERCONISH: I don't agree with that.

ARENA: OK?

SMERCONISH: Kelli I don't agree with that. I think the groundswell has been building, out there, for sometime. That people are fed up with what they see on MTV, what they see on television, what they hear in those musical lyrics to the extent that they're paying attention,

And Janet Jackson, it's not because of Janet Jackson. She was really the final straw or the straw that broke the camel's back. I think that the American people really do want it cleaned up.

And more specific to this gentleman's point, we the people own the air waves and for that reason, I think -- and the scarcity notion there are limited positions on the dial is justification enough to simply say, it's time to clean it up. Not to completely put the hammer down and put him out of business, but to say, Howard Stern, you have gone too far.

ARENA: All right. Michael, you get the last word here. I'm sorry. Michael Smerconish, John McIntire, thank you so much for joining us both.

MCINTIRE: Thank you.

ARENA: Well, she's been panned for her acting, but praised for her directing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SOPHIA COPPOLA, FILM DIRECTOR: I'm happy to be up there with the guys this year.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: How Sophia Coppola won over the critics and time for Oscar night.

Plus, Carnival Cruise Lines enlists the help of Jessica Lynch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL HOCHMAN, "SKI" MAGAZINE: You know what the great thing about the ski areas is, besides the skiing and the snowboarding? Dogs. Yes, dogs, man's best friend, the dog's life. Most people assume that ski areas are not dog friendly. The opposite is true.

So if you're thinking about going on vacation and you're thinking you can't bring you dog, think again. But of course, call ahead to see if the dog is welcome at your favorite place in the mountains.

It's a great time to have pets when you go to your favorite ski area, because you can be outside with them, you can play with them and they love messing around in the snow.

If you have a city dog, one cool thing is, introducing them to snow. they can tons of exercise. They'll go back home in pretty good shape.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ARENA: With the Oscars just a day away, movie history has already been made. The first American female director has been nominated, Sophia Coppola. CNN's Daryn Kagan sat down with her for a chat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DARYN KAGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This was the way most of us first met Sophia Coppola. This is how we know her now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the category, best achievement in directing, Sophia Coppola for "Lost in Translation."

The 32-year old Oscar nominee's show biz career began soon after birth when she appeared as Michael Corleoni's god son in "The Godfather."

That was the first of several roles she had in some of her father's films, that culminated in 1990 with the highly anticipated third chapter of "The Godfather" saga.

COPPOLA: You haven't kissed me hello, yet. Relatives always kiss.

KAGAN: Critics cried nepotism when Francis Ford Coppola cast his teenaged daughter in such a high-profile role. His judgment was questioned, and so was her acting talent.

COPPOLA: Actually, I'm glad I got a hard time for "Godfather 3", because it probably wouldn't have pushed me into, you know, doing other things.

KAGAN: Nearly a decade later, those other things, turned some heads.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Those girls have a bright future ahead of them.

KAGAN: Her 1999 dark comedy, "The Virgin Suicides" won Coppola critical acclaim as both a director and a writer. It helped establish her professionally, moving her out of the shadow of her father. Now with "Lost in Translation" the spotlight is all hers.

KAGAN: I get the feeling you don't love this part. The whole publicity interview. You in front of the camera part.

COPPOLA: Yes, I'm just a little shy, but it's exciting being a part of, you know, the whole tradition of the Academy Awards. But, yes, I'm a little shy with the on camera part.

KAGAN: With credits that range from director to producer, writer to costume designer, the young girl who used to take small roles in films and even a Madonna music video has become one of only three women in Oscar history, and the first American women, to be nominated as a director.

COPPOLA: Once someone told me that, I couldn't believe it that after all these years that was really true. So, you know, I'm happy to be up there with the guys this year.

KAGAN: This may not be the first time. After all, this is only the second feature film she's directed. Daryn Kagan, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: You can see more of Hollywood's gold rush Sunday 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Our Daryn Kagan hosts a live program from the red carpet outside the Kodak Theater where Hollywood's best will be honored.

Headlines across America, Carnival Cruise Lines' new ship "The Miracle" is getting a celebrity sendoff. It was christened yesterday in Jacksonville, Florida, with former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch, cracking a bottle of Champaign across it's bow.

Then, the new liner set off for the Bahamas on its maiden voyage. It can carry nearly a thousand crew members and more than 2,000 passengers.

From snowstorm to slush in a matter of hours, sunshine is helping melt all that snow in the Carolinas from yesterday and Thursday. Parts of the region got at least a foot.

In Daytona Beach, Florida, Bike Week is officially underway. The even is now in its 63rd year. Up to half a million visitors are expected to crowd the famed beach town for the festivities.

And good news for American taxpayers. The Internal Revenue Service has mailed out its first batch of tax refunds and the average check is $97 bigger this year. Refunds mailed so far average about $2300.

Computers, cell phones and other high-tech gadgets, how can you be sure you get the most for your money? Find out on "Dollar $igns" later today on CNN. Our experts tell you about some of the hottest new gadgets and help you decide what's best for your budget. If you have questions, e-mail them to us, at dollarsigns@cnn.com. Or you can call us toll free, 1-800-807-2620. The phone lines open at 4:30 Eastern.

Well, common faux pas that can easily be lost in translation. A crash course in global etiquette. What you need to know before traveling abroad.

(PROMO INFO) ARENA: Most Americans are already planning this year's vacation and if you're going overseas, you might want to consider brushing up on your global Ps and Qs. What's perfectly acceptable in our country, a hand gesture, or a greeting may be an insult elsewhere.

Dean Foster wrote the "Global Etiquette Guide to Europe". He is in New York this weekend speaking at the "The New York Times" travel show.

Dean, thanks for joining us.

DEAN FOSTER, AUTHOR, "GLOBAL ETIQUETT GUIDE: Pleasure to be here, Kelli.

ARENA: Well, why don't we start with what's a popular Mediterranean destination, Greece? You had some interesting insight for our viewers concerning that country.

FOSTER: Yeah, you know, sometimes what Americans might view as just a wave could be really insulting in some of the Eastern Mediterranean cultures. For example, if you raise your hand up like this and try to wave at someone. Well, that's a gesture in Greece that's traditionally really quite aggressive. And also if you want to call somebody over, what you want to do is you want to hold your hand parallel to the ground and you just kind of want to do this kind of motion. It looks like waving good-bye, but in fact what you are doing is calling somebody over.

ARENA: Do you get cut any slack being an American? Greece is a popular tourist destination.

FOSTER: Well, you know, I think Americans like most people, they're admired and but they're also -- they considered a little bit naive sometimes, when they travel abroad. And you want to show some respect for the way the people do things in other cultures, so that you can break out of the tourist bubble.

A lot of people stay within a tourist bubble and they really don't get the most out of their trip. If you break out of that tourist bubble and understand how people really think and do things, then you can connect with the people and your trip is so much richer.

ARENA: I think so, too. Let's go to the Arab world. What do we need to know if traveling to that part of the world?

FOSTER: Well, you want to recognize that the -- it's very varied and country by country it can be different. But there are some general things about the Arab world that you should be aware of, certainly, as a Westerner.

For one thing, you want to void using your left hand because the left hand is really the hand that was -- that's considered unclean. And so always use the right hand particularly if you are passing food or touching people or passing important documents.

Never show the sole of your shoe because it is the part of the body that touches the ground and the dirtiest part of your body.

If you remember when the statue of Saddam came down, some of the Iraqis were actually hitting the statue with their shoe. It was really quite an insult to do that. And it was a sign of anger.

ARENA: Right. So, you want to be careful about that.

FOSTER: Right.

ARENA: Go ahead.

FOSTER: Men and women should also be careful about touching each other because in some of the more devout countries men and women in the Muslim world don't touch.

ARENA: All right. Spain, also some rules to be aware of there?

FOSTER: Well, the interesting thing is when you compare Spain to say Hispanic South America, if you're introduced to a woman, let's say, you don't know her marital status, in Spain typically, you want to refer to her at senora. But in Hispanic South America, you would be better off referring to her as senorita.

Of course, if she was obviously older then you would refer to her as senora. If you know her marital status, well, then you're set.

ARENA: OK. Japan? I know lots of rules to follow there. I lived there for a while. Tell us what you think is the most important thing for our viewers to know.

FOSTER: Well, you know, in Japan, if you're greeting someone, you always have to have a lot of business cards, certainly if you're there on business. But even if you're there just traveling casually, East Asian cultures are non-touching cultures. And you want to be sure not to greet someone with a firm hand shake or a strong hand shake. Just a soft hand shake is good enough.

If you give someone a business card, always give it to them with two hands, receive a business card with two hands. If you are giving gifts from East Asia, or accepting gifts, you give and accept them with two hands, always. And never open the gift.

ARENA: I think we have time for one more. One more, Brazil.

FOSTER: Sure. In Brazil, never make the OK sign like we do in the U.S. because that is really quite offensive. Better off just to smile and give a thumbs up.

ARENA: All right. Well, good, good advice. Thank you so much for joining us.

FOSTER: It's a pleasure. And hope to see you at the Travel Show.

ARENA: OK. That would be nice to go to.

Still to come, the week in pictures. We'll focus our lens on some snapshots from around the world.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ARENA: Now to a hair raising question. Is Donald Trump's hair real or fake? Appearing on "Larry King Live" last night, the real estate mogul laid to rest the issue by brushing off hairy rumors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, CEO TRUMP ENTERPRISES: Let's go. Come here.

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": It is not a toupee.

TRUMP: OK, will you please inform the public?

KING: It is not a toupee.

TRUMP: I don't think --

KING: Let me pull it a little. It is not a toupee. It is not a comb over.

TRUMP: Don't mess it up too much.

KING: No, no, it's not a comb over.

TRUMP: It's really not that much of a comb over. Where I get killed in this hair.

I'm killed in this hair. You know the show has gotten great reviews. I have gotten great reviews. Everything has gotten great reviews, except for one thing, my hair. Gets bad reviews.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: Trump added that he had no plans to change his very recognizable hairstyle.