Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

Baghdad Churches Bombed; Army Investigates Iraq Insubordination

Aired October 16, 2004 - 16:00   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.


KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Insurgents turn to churches for new targets in Iraq. Why the danger is growing for Iraqi Christians and what they are trying to do about it.
Plus, this.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I need you to contact someone. I mean, raise pure hell.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WALLACE: A soldier's plea for help in Iraq. Why a platoon may have refused a direct order to deliver fuel in the war-torn nation.

And troubling news for people waiting to get the flu vaccine. Find out what some communities are now doing to make sure that shots go only those who need them most.

Hello, and good Saturday afternoon to you. I'm Kelly Wallace in Washington. Welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY.

Those stories are straight ahead this hour. But first, a look at what's making news now.

The presidential candidates are hitting heavy on the issues in the last weeks before Election Day. President Bush is campaigning in Florida and talking tough about terrorism. Senator John Kerry is talking health care, and needling the president over flu vaccine shortages. A live report from the campaign trail in just 12 minutes.

A train derailment forced evacuations near Los Angeles today. One person was injured when 31 Union Pacific freight cars carrying chemicals jumped the tracks in a tunnel. At least four homes were damaged.

And in Afghanistan, the U.S. military today says two U.S. soldiers were killed Thursday in a roadside bombing. The blast happened as their convoy was passing through a town south of Kabul in central Afghanistan. Three other U.S. soldiers were injured in the explosion.

And we begin with the war in Iraq and word that two U.S. helicopters have crashed in Baghdad. One U.S. soldier was killed and two were injured. The cause of the crash is now under investigation. This comes on the heels of a new survey about Iraq.

A majority of American military service members and their families, some 62 percent say they believe the Bush administration underestimated the number of U.S. troops needed to establish peace in Iraq. Keeping that peace is still proving difficult.

In the militant hotbed of Falluja, peace negotiators are calling for U.S. warplanes to stop air strikes. They're also demanding the release of a detained sheikh before they will resume peace talks.

In Qaim, near the Syrian border, two U.S. soldiers, one Marine and an Iraqi were killed in a suicide car bombing last night. And in Baghdad today, more violence with a series of explosions at Christian churches.

Our Karl Penhaul brings us the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Five Christian churches were targeted in a coordinated wave of attacks across Baghdad just before dawn this morning. Iraqi interior ministry officials say that the homemade bombs were used in those explosions. There have been reports of extensive damage but no victims.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for these attacks. Of course attention of late has been focused on the wider issue of the resistance fighters fighting against the coalition military and its Iraqi allies, but nevertheless, these attacks against the churches form part of a developing pattern of sectarian violence.

Two weeks ago, seven Christians were gunned down as they left their work at a social club in Baghdad. And in August, four churches in Baghdad and another in the northern city of Mosul were attacked by car bombs.

Muslim radicals here in Iraq blame the Christian minority for collaborating with coalition military and civilian officials. They also blame them for running the liquor industry here in Iraq.

The Christian community makes up about 700,000 people, about 3 percent of the population. In recent months, we're told by members from that community that many families have been fleeing the country altogether, frightened about the rise in violence against the Christian community.

Coalition authorities have been warning of a spike in insurgent violence in and around the holy month of Ramadan, which began Thursday night and Friday morning. Around Baghdad, in other parts of the country, there certainly was a large number of attacks in the course of the day.

Two mortar attacks in Baghdad, one against a hospital that left one medic dead and three emergency workers wounded. There was also an attack on a hotel used by international media workers and two attacks on police facilities in Baghdad. Across by the border with Syria, four people were killed. Two U.S. soldiers, one U.S. Marine and an Iraqi when a suicide car bomb exploded.

But putting this in perspective, this is very much, at that level, a normal day here in Iraq. No sign yet of that surge in Ramadan violence that coalition authorities have been warning of.

Karl Penhaul, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And staying in Iraq, a refueling mission is at the heart of a growing military scandal. Some U.S. troops, reservists from a South Carolina-based unit allegedly refused to follow orders because they thought their assigned duty was too dangerous.

Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is one of the most dangerous missions in Iraq, driving a convoy. This past Wednesday in Tallil, southeast of Baghdad, 19 soldiers from a supply platoon failed to report for a mission to drive a fuel truck north to Taji.

It is now believed five of the soldiers may actually have refused their orders. Specialist Amber McClenny left this frantic message on her mother's answering machine.

SPECIALIST AMBER MCCLENNY: Hi, mom, this is Amber. This is a real, real big emergency. I need you to contact someone. I mean, raise pure hell. Yesterday we refused to go on a convoy to Taji, which is above Baghdad.

STARR: The Army is emphasizing this is an isolated incident, saying: "It is far too early in the investigation to speculate as to what happened, why it happened, or any action that might be taken."

Patricia Ann McCook says the troops were worried about safety including her husband, Sergeant Larry McCook.

PATRICIA ANN MCCOOK: They don't have bulletproof protection on the vehicles. They just don't go fast at all. It's just not safe to be in a hostile territory.

STARR: Three probes are under way into the actions of the soldiers from the 343rd Quartermaster Company, a reserve unit from South Carolina. Investigators are talking to all of those involved, trying to find out what happened and why.

Another inquiry is determining whether there were violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. And the commanding officer has ordered a safety maintenance stand-down, during which all vehicles will be inspected and retraining will be done. Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson says relatives of the soldiers told him the unit had unsafe equipment.

REP. BENNIE THOMPSON, (D) MISSISSIPPI: And it goes to the issue of whether or not we have had adequately equipped our men and women to fight this war in Iraq.

STARR: According to a military source, some of the soldiers raised valid concerns, an indication there may have been safety problems with the equipment, but the source said the concerns were raised in an inappropriate manner, causing a breakdown in discipline.

STARR (on camera): The convoy was eventually driven by other soldiers. Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: So are U.S. soldiers breaking ranks and are the troops too ill-equipped to handle their duties in Iraq? Our military intelligence analyst Ken Robinson is here in Washington to discuss the incident.

Ken, great to see you, thanks for being here.

KEN ROBINSON, CNN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: You're quite welcome.

WALLACE: First, how significant is this?

ROBINSON: Well, it's isolated. The fact that it occurred is a red flag that the unit and the command needs to look at to determine what would cause soldiers to take such a remarkable stand. They need to find out specifically what were the issues that caused them to do it.

WALLACE: Does it raise issues, though, about resources? Do these reserve units have the proper resources to carry out the missions that they're being asked to carry out?

ROBINSON: Well, the reserve components and the National Guard are carrying a large load in Iraq, and these units have not been configured for the fight that the they're currently finding themselves in; in that in previous wars, they were fighting in a linear battlefield where they were facing a force to their front.

And now these soldiers are finding themselves where really the enemy is all around them because of these improvised explosive devices. And the design of these specific fuel trucks and a lot of these soft-skinned vehicles don't provide the type of protection for the type of enemy that they're up against currently.

WALLACE: And also we were talking about this a little bit, an American soldier, if he or she believes it is a dangerous mission, they don't have the right equipment, what rights does that soldier have to refuse to carry out the required order? ROBINSON: Well, this is really going to be the heart of the investigation because there is such a thing as a lawful order, where typically, in combat, are there many times where an officer or senior NCO will order junior subordinates to risk their lives, it's part of war.

However, this situation in particular needs to be examined to find out of what in particular were the soldiers refusing? Were they refusing because it's alleged that their vehicles were deadlined? And that word is significant in the maintenance...

WALLACE: What does that mean? Yes, what does that mean?

ROBINSON: In a maintenance term, deadline, means that the vehicle is inoperable, in that some part of it, whether it be the engine, whether it be tires, whether it be some mechanical function, it cannot be relied upon to conduct its combat mission.

And so that's where the difference of opinion will be. It will be what they actually identified as being wrong with the vehicle and that a supervisor then would have looked and made a determination, risk versus gain, whether to complete the mission regardless of the fact that there was a deficiency.

This is something that's not unusual that happens in war. Hard decisions have to be made. So it is really is up to the investigating officers now to tell us what the specific incident was.

WALLACE: You also say there is sort of a larger issue here too: what the insurgency is trying to do to lines of communication between American soldiers and their commanders. What does it show us?

ROBINSON: Well, it's the strategy. The strategy of the insurgents has been to sever the lines of communication, the supply lines, and separate the infrastructure rebuilding from the population, from the government.

And so by continually -- I mean, the majority of the attacks and the majority of the casualties are occurring on these supply runs. Not with the units that have tanks, but with the units who are softer targets and are easier prey, which these refuel units are.

WALLACE: All right. Military intelligence analyst Ken Robinson, we'll leave it there. Good to see you and we will keep watching this story.

ROBINSON: Thank you, Kelly.

WALLACE: Thanks so much.

Well, switching gears a little bit. In the homestretch, President Bush turns to a common campaign theme win over voters in the Sunshine State. We will have a live report from his rally next.

Plus, this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: You never once said to yourself, I wish I hadn't voted for that war resolution?

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Find out what Senator John Kerry said to our very own CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley in an exclusive interview.

And still to come, will a rain delay help the Boston Red Sox overcome their biggest baseball rivals? We will have a live report from Fenway Park. This is CNN LIVE SATURDAY, don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: It is hard to believe, but there are just 17 days until the election. And President Bush is campaigning in the crucial state of Florida. The president is on a three-city bus tour. His latest stop, Daytona, and that's where we find CNN's Elaine Quijano.

Elaine, good afternoon to you. What's the latest from there?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you, Kelly. Well, President Bush just a short time ago here in Daytona Beach, Florida, taking to the podium, beginning his remarks to the enthusiastic crowd that has gathered here.

But he has brought with him to this battleground state some new attack lines, retooled attack lines, targeting Senator John Kerry's vote against the $87 billion troop funding, of the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The president at this hour you can hear behind me delivering those remarks. He is joined today by his brother, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, as well as his wife, first lady Laura Bush.

But the president earlier today at stops in Sunrise, Florida, as well as West Palm Beach, saying that Kerry's "no" vote on the troop money almost on year ago was motivated not by principle, President Bush suggested, but more by politics.

Now specifically the president saying that during the Democratic primaries that happened in the face of some tough competition by anti- war candidate Howard Dean.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Senator Kerry apparently decided supporting the troops, even while they were in harm's way, was not as important as shoring up his own political position.

At a time of great threat to our country, at a time of great challenge in the world, the commander in chief must stand on principle, not the shifting sands of political convenience.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: The Kerry camp has fired back, as you might expect. Officials in that campaign pointing to what they say is a memo by the Defense Department -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld from one year ago saying that -- raising questions, rather, about the war on terrorism and the military's approach to it.

Meantime, here in Florida, Bush aides say that the strategy here for the campaign really will reflect what will happen in other swing states in the days to come. And that is taking a look at traditionally blue areas, or Democratic strongholds, but places where the president, they feel, can make a connection with certain segments of the population.

Here in Florida they are looking specifically at the Hispanic vote as well as the large number of military personnel and a sizable Jewish population. The president earlier today highlighting to the crowd in West Palm Beach as well as Sunrise that he today signed an anti-Semitism bill.

So look for the president to continue with that strategy, trying to appeal -- at least aim part of his message to very targeted groups -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Elaine, thanks so much. Some busy, long and loud days ahead for you, that's for sure. Elaine Quijano reporting from the critical battleground state of Florida. We appreciate it.

Well, a new poll out on the presidential race shows a dead heat. But the president's approval has slipped. The latest "TIME" magazine poll found President Bush's job approval rating under 50 percent for the second week in a row.

Forty-nine percent of those surveyed approve of the president's performance, 49 percent disapprove. And what is the debate factor? Almost one in three voters, 30 percent, said the debates made them more likely to vote for Senator Kerry, that's compared to 17 percent who said they are more likely to vote for President Bush.

Well, as for the Democratic contender, Senator John Kerry is in another critical battleground state, Ohio. Senator Kerry honed in on domestic issues today, specifically health care.

The senator criticized the president's handling of the flu vaccine shortage. Senator Kerry said the Bush administration failed to act on this issue. Pointing to it as an example of, quote: "How they deal with everything," unquote.

In an earlier radio address, the senator questioned the president's restrictions on federal funding of stem cell research. Yesterday, Senator Kerry sat down for an interview with CNN. In that interview, he admitted a mistake of his own.

CNN's senior political correspondent Candy Crowley reports. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CROWLEY (voice-over): He has it down pat now, the words and thoughts perfected over a two-year campaign, and three thought- focusing debates. But with 18 days to go, John Kerry is mostly about being careful.

(on camera): Did George Bush deliberately distort intelligence information because he wanted to go to war in Iraq?

KERRY: Candy, I can't tell you that. I can't get into the intent.

CROWLEY (voice-over): Campaigning through Milwaukee, Kerry sat down for an interview with CNN, following his standard economic speech, blasting George Bush for the deficit, the high cost of health care, and job loss.

(on camera): Middle-aged guy, lives in Wisconsin, he doesn't have a job. John Kerry becomes president in January. His life changes February, March, April?

KERRY: Well, his life will change very quickly, providing Congress responds.

CROWLEY: Make that very, very careful. And after taunting George Bush for being unable to admit a single mistake, Kerry was ready with one of his own. He overpromised, he said, but he blames George Bush.

KERRY: Gosh, I think I made a mistake in terms of the breadth of some of the programs that I had talked about in the primaries because the deficit was larger than we anticipated and we obviously couldn't afford it. So I've scaled them back since then.

CROWLEY (on camera): You never once said to yourself, I wish I hadn't voted for that war resolution?

KERRY: No. Because you see, what we did, we gave the president the authority to load the gun, to hold the trigger, so to speak. We didn't tell him to shoot himself in the foot.

CROWLEY (voice-over): From inside the campaign, the view is good. They like the looks of his trendline, what they need now is 18 mistake-free days, 18 days without distraction. A more serious political problem is standing in front of him, Ralph Nader.

KERRY: If people want a change, and they want responsibility for the middle class in America, don't throw away your vote. There's only one choice here, either George Bush is going to go to be president or John Kerry, and that's the vote.

CROWLEY: Nader is on the ballot in 30 states, nine of them battlegrounds.

(on camera): Though many Democrats have worried for some time about Nader's ability to play the spoiler again in 2004, Kerry seems unphased, saying, he believes the American people understand the stakes.

Candy Crowley, CNN, Milwaukee.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And you can see the entire interview with Senator Kerry at 6 p.m. Eastern here on CNN. That's at 6 p.m. Eastern, 3 p.m. Pacific, Candy Crowley's interview with Senator John Kerry on CNN LIVE SATURDAY.

Coming up, a harsh lesson in the power of supply and demand. Why some people will have to go without the flu vaccine this winter.

And will Red Sox fans have to go another year without a World Series championship? There's still hope for Boston to come out a winner, but it is getting mighty slim. Our live report from Fenway Park is next. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: The shortage of flu vaccine is causing long lines and price gouging. Health officials say none of the suspected vaccine -- suspect vaccine, excuse me, that sparked the frenzy is safe for use. And they're now scrambling to make sure the vaccine is available and gets to the people who need it most.

CNN medical correspondent Christy Feig has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTY FEIG, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The FDA says the contamination in Chiron's Liverpool plant was so severe that none of the vaccine produced there could be released. In an effort to conserve what little flu vaccine they have, health departments in states, including California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon and the District of Columbia, have already issued emergency-restrictive orders limiting the vaccine to high-risk groups: kids between six months and 23 months; all pregnant women; anyone with chronic disease like heart disease, diabetes, or asthma; and everyone over the age of 65.

Other states say they're considering similar action. In Michigan, Massachusetts, Oregon, and D.C., health workers who give the vaccine to people outside of the designated groups risk a fine. The nation's capital has the toughest penalty so far.

DR. GREGG PANE, D.C. HEALTH DEPARTMENT: We needed to have some enforcement. So that's a misdemeanor and up to a $1,000 fine.

FEIG: What vaccine is available is at a premium. In a survey of almost 3,000 hospital pharmacies, 80 percent reported being charged more than four times the normal price by suppliers. And nearly 20 percent of pharmacies surveyed said they had been offered the vaccine at more than 10 times the usual markup. (on camera): Early signs of the flu this year show it will probably be a strain similar to last year, which was very dangerous for high-risk patients. So health officials are stockpiling medicine that treats the flu, if it's caught early.

Christy Feig, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: Switching gears now to baseball. The Houston Astros turn to ace pitcher Roger Clemens today for redemption in game three of the National League Championship Series. If you are a baseball fan, you know it is crunch time in postseason play. The St. Louis Cardinals lead the series 2-0.

And in the American League Championship Series, the Boston Red Sox have their backs to the green wall. They return to Fenway tonight after last night's rainout, and face the prospect of going down 3-0 to the New York Yankees. CNN's Mark McKay joins us live from Boston with more on this legendary rivalry.

And Mark, no rainout expected tonight?

MARK MCKAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are going to cross our fingers that we don't see a drop of rain tonight, Kelly. We had enough last night to last us for the rest of October here in New England.

Well, the forecast calling for mid-50s, partly to mostly cloudy skies. Currently overcast here. But we're a ways away from opening pitch for game three here between the Yankees and the Red Sox from Fenway Park. Finally getting game three under way. So let's talk baseball with an expert. I am joined by "Sports Illustrated" senior writer Tom Verducci.

Tom, let me get your thoughts on, first of all, the starting pitchers for tonight's game, a pair of 10-game winners during the regular season. The Yanks are sending out Kevin Brown. Can they count on a quality start from a guy who's had basically a season of injuries and inconsistency?

TOM VERDUCCI, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED" SENIOR WRITER: Well, I think they have their fingers crossed because right now you don't know what to expect from Kevin Brown. Since September the 3rd he has pitched only 11 2/3 innings. And with all of the physical ailments he has had this year, he has not had the same sort of stuff he had, say, in the last couple of years when he was a dominating ace pitcher.

The Yankees have tried to convince him, don't try to blow the ball people right now, you're not able to do it. He has become more of a sinker ball specialist. So look for early in the game, if he's on, getting ground balls. And if he's not, he'll be in trouble.

MCKAY: Let me talk about Bronson Arroyo for a moment as well, 10-game winner during the regular season. He has shown though that he's not afraid of this Yankee lineup. We saw what happened here in late July when he plunked Alex Rodriguez. VERDUCCI: Absolutely, you know, he has been a good pitcher for them and he has been a little bit of a good luck charm as well. The Red Sox have not lost a game he has started since August the 15th. That means he has been keeping this team in the games, even if he himself is not getting those wins.

He's a guy who keeps the ball in the ballpark. He's a strike thrower, which you need against this patient Yankee line up. And the way he pitched against Anaheim in the division series shows you that October doesn't bother him at all. I expect him to pitch well.

MCKAY: We saw the Red Sox can hit in game one, the way they came back. I guess the key is for them is to hit early.

VERDUCCI: It is. The best thing for the Red Sox right now is that they're home. They're a very good offensive team but they're a great offensive team in Fenway Park. They hit about 50 points higher at home. The key for them is going to be Johnny Damon. The Yankees have been able to keep him off of the base. He makes this lineup go. Now he's a stolen extra base threat and he's an extra base threat. I think good things happen to the Red Sox Johnny Damon is on base.

MCKAY: And Joe Torre comes here with his team, as he said, they have a lot of confidence after what they were able to do in New York.

VERDUCCI: They really do. I mean, they're in a position now with two games in hand. They're looking to take this game right now. They're not looking ahead. They're not sure how their pitching is going to fall as far as game five goes. They may bring Mike Mussina back.

All of their concentration right now, and with a rested bullpen, is on game three. Look for Tom Gordon to get in this game as early as the seventh inning if they have to.

MCKAY: Tom, thanks for your insight. I really appreciate it. Kelly, we are about four hours from first pitch here at Fenway Park. Game three Yanks-Red Sox.

WALLACE: Mark, thanks so much to you and Tom Verducci. We all can't wait for that game to get under way. Thanks again.

Well, the Iraq War is creating two different political camps in the military.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: By the second deployment, we were pretty disenchanted by the way he had been treated as a Marine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: From those who oppose President Bush to those who support him. We'll explain how military wives are choosing sides.

The November election isn't their only concern, from gays in the military to reinstating the draft, military families voice their opinions in a new national survey. We will talk to the poll's political director next. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: And here is a check now of what is happening now in the news. Two helicopters crashed in Baghdad today, killing two U.S. soldiers. Two others were injured. A U.S. military spokesman says the cause of the crash is now under investigation.

Staying in Iraq, five churches were targeted in Baghdad today. Bombs exploded at the Christian houses of worship earlier this morning. No casualties were reported but the churches were damaged. The attacks come at the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The presidential candidates are working the crowds this weekend. In Florida President Bush said security is the, quote, "most solemn duty of an American president."

Senator John Kerry took his campaign to another critical battleground state, Ohio. He criticized the president's handling of health care.

A Russian Soyuz rocket docked on the International Space Station after some high drama today. An unexplained glitch sent the rocket speeding toward the station. The crew had never piloted a Soyuz before. They had to put on the brakes and manually link up with the space station.

The war in Iraq and the war on terrorism are seen as big issues in the presidential campaign. But for military families, they are the, quote, "all-important issues." And many are divided over who they want in the White House next year.

Our Ed Lavandera talks with soldiers' wives about the candidates.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's 5:30 in the morning and three soldiers' wives move through a crowd waiting to see George W. Bush at a campaign stop in Colorado. They're five hours early but the president's arrival doesn't disappoint.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president of the United States!

LAVANDERA: And neither do his words.

BUSH: There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat.

LAVANDERA: Those words strike at the core of why Sarah Sadlemayer will vote for Bush. Her husband is an Army specialist who has been in Iraq since March.

SARAH SADLEMAYER, BUSH SUPPORTER: When you want someone to be leading your country, your husband, his life is in this man's control, you want someone who believes in himself, who isn't going to be persuaded by being popular, who is going to believe in what is -- doing what is right. And to me, that's huge.

LARA BERTSCH, KERRY SUPPORTER: This administration has not been honest with us.

LAVANDERA: Lara Birch is married to a Marine who served in Iraq. The experience convinced her to enlist in a John Kerry group called military moms on a mission. Birch joins rallies like this one in New Hampshire, alongside Elizabeth Edwards.

BERTSCH: I don't believe that George Bush has supported me. I don't believe he has supported my husband.

LAVANDERA: Birch says many troops aren't getting the gear and equipment they need to protect themselves. She says her husband rode in a canvass-covered humvee while in patrol in Iraq. She wonders why an armored vehicle wasn't used. Her husband recently returned from his second tour of duty in Iraq.

BERTSCH: By the second deployment we were pretty disenchanted with how he had been treated as a Marine and with what goal was in the war against terror anyway.

LAVANDERA: The issue of equipment in preparing troops for combat comes up a lot when you talk to military families. Those who support Bush say troops are getting everything they need to fight the battle. Those who support Kerry say that's just not always the case.

NITA MARTIN, KERRY SUPPORTER: This Republican president has let me down.

LAVANDERA: That distrust fuels military families supporting Kerry like Nita Martin, the mother of two Marines.

MARTIN: I really fear for their futures because I see an administration that has lied consistently about everything they were going to do for us.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President? Mr. President?

LAVANDERA: Back in Colorado, these soldiers' wives get the president's attention for a brief moment.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President, my husband is in Iraq, thank you so much! Thank you so much!

BUSH: E-mail him, God bless him!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you very much!

LAVANDERA: The words of encouragement she says convince her President Bush will help bring her husband home safely. That's the kind of faith military families are putting into whichever candidate they support support.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Colorado Springs.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And as you can see in Ed's report, the U.S. military, the personnel of the U.S. military and their families, vary widely on specifically issues. The University of Pennsylvania's national Annenberg election survey find that only 38 percent of them agree that National Guard and reserve are properly trained, 42 percent say those units don't have the training they need. But overall, 63 percent of military personnel and their families support President Bush's handling of the situation in Iraq, 33 percent disapprove.

What do all of the numbers mean? Adam Clymer is joining me to talk about it. He is the political director of the national Annenberg election survey. He joins us here in Washington.

Thanks for being here.

ADAM CLYMER, ANNENBERG PUBLIC POLICY DIR.: Happy to be with you, Kelly.

WALLACE: Were you surprised at all by any of the numbers?

CLYMER: Well, I didn't know what -- to be surprised or not because nobody has really ever done a survey like this. It is rather difficult to conduct. We have been essentially working on it since February, collecting numbers.

I was struck by two things in these surveys. One, that the people in the military by more than 2-1 think the country is on the right track, whereas, a majority of the general public thinks we're going in the wrong direction.

But -- and I was struck today by the fact that 60 -- about three- fifths of the military sample, thinks that weren't enough troop, thinks too much of a burden was put on Iraq, as you mentioned. Only two-fifths think the Guard and reserves were adequately trained and equipped. And another -- a fair number of them think they were decently trained but not sufficiently equipped.

WALLACE: Yes, we're putting that number up there. Did the Bush administration underestimate the number of troops needed to establish peace in Iraq? Sixty-two percent say the administration underestimated, 33 percent made a reasonable estimate.

There's another question, though, worth going to war in Iraq? Sixty-four percent saying yes, it was worth going to war in Iraq, 32 percent saying no. What do those numbers tell us?

CLYMER: And that's in contrast to the general population, where only 45 percent think it was worth going to war over. I think what it translates to is a belief in the mission, a belief in the commander in chief, and a lot of unhappiness about execution; from the number of troops, for example.

Even another point. Dover Air Force Base, from time to time there's a controversy because the media would like to show photographs of the coffins coming back. The Pentagon says this wouldn't show respect for the troops. Well, the troops, especially the lower ranking troops who comprise most of the deaths, think it would. A majority of them think they would do and hardly any agree with the Pentagon.

WALLACE: That's an interesting result there.

CLYMER: And you know, I'm not sure that this should be too exciting to anyone. People have -- in the ranks, have griped about how the brass was handling wars, at least back to the Trojan War.

WALLACE: There's that other question, too. Should the U.S. keep military troops in Iraq until a stable government is established or bring home troops as soon as possible? Seventy-three percent saying, stay in Iraq, 23 percent, bring troops home. An expected result among military families and its members?

CLYMER: Yes. I think so, because if you said you were going to bring them home before a stable government was established, you would arguably be saying, we'd wasted the lives that were there. If that's our objective, we ought to see it through and make it work be and not give up.

And I don't think -- I think it's very important to the military to believe in what they're doing. And they ought to. It must be -- there are indeed dissenters on the other side, we're talking about majorities. You showed some of them. And this is not a unanimous result at all. But it's more pro-war and more pro-Bush than the general public and by a significant margin.

WALLACE: You're, of course, a veteran political reporter. Everything is always viewed in a political context, especially 17 days until the election. I guess you are hearing from both sides, Democrats and Republicans, not so happy about the results?

CLYMER: Yes. I've heard from one soldier who was happy with the results. I've had about 15 e-mails, I'm not quite sure where they got the e-mail address. That's fine. I answer them. More Democrats unhappy, but then a bunch of Republicans unhappy and sometimes with the same data. I almost think I ought to have them communicate with each other.

WALLACE: That might be good. Get the discourse, get the two of them talking to each other. Adam Clymer, thanks for being here, interesting survey, we appreciate you coming in today.

CLYMER: Nice to be with you, Kelly.

WALLACE: We appreciate it.

In news now across America, the Kerry campaign is demanding that Sinclair Broadcasting provide equal time. The company's top executives are public supporters of the Bush campaign. It has ordered 62 of its TV stations to air a 45-minute documentary slamming Senator Kerry and his Vietnam service. Democrats say Sinclair's plan is illegal.

Two-and-a-half weeks until the election, a senior official at the Justice Department say several investigations into election- related issues have been opened and many more may follow but location or nature of the probes are not being disclosed.

And in Oregon, the voting is already under way. It is the only state where the mailbox has completely replaced the ballot box. Election officials began mailing more than 2 million ballots to registered voters yesterday. Voters will have until 8:00 p.m. local time on Election Day to get their ballots in either by mail or by dropping them off at designated points.

All of the numbers show this to be a very close presidential race, according to CNN's latest analysis of the all-important national electoral map, the momentum Senator Kerry gained from the presidential debates has helped him close the gap with President Bush, but president would still win if the election were held today.

The weekly analysis shows President Bush with 277 electoral votes to Senator Kerry's 261. As you know 270 are needed to win. Ohio and New Hampshire, two states that Mr. Bush carried in 2000 have now shifted to Senator Kerry's camp.

Coming up on CNN LIVE SATURDAY, we will introduce you to a man who was born to play.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEON FLEISHER, MUSICIAN: I don't really, really remember the time when I wasn't playing. My life revolved around music.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: But a debilitating condition changed that, until recently. The story of Leon Fleisher, a little later in the show.

And up next, in our "Living Well," making the most out of every doctor visit. How to make sure the communication lines are open between you and your physician. This is CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: And welcome back to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Carol Lin joins us now from Atlanta with a preview of what is ahead on CNN LIVE SATURDAY at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.

Carol, great to see you. What's on tap for tonight?

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, gosh, Kelly, we've got a lot lined up in our prime-time hours. We are going to run the full interview with John Kerry that our Candy Crowley had. He's actually going to admit some of the mistakes that he made, which is kind of interesting for a man who is running for president.

And also, Kelly, you have shopped eBay? Confessions please.

WALLACE: I haven't, I haven't, I haven't.

LIN: All right, well, you know, you don't have to go online anymore because apparently eBay is opening up a store in Beverly Hills, which I don't quite understand. We're trying to get the store manager on the phone, because the whole point is to surf the Web and the convenience of it and everything. But apparently they're going for really high-end items, so we're just trying to figure out if it means people are schlupping their stuff from all over the country to Beverly Hills to get the high-end dollars too.

WALLACE: You would think there are so many high-end stores in Beverly Hills -- high-end stores in Beverly Hills that people could just go into the shops there, right?

LIN: And eBay is the Web. You know, it's the whole convenience thing. So a lot of questions, we're going to be digging, doing our shopping.

WALLACE: All right. We'll be watching. We'll be watching, watching, watching. Love to spend money around here, right? Thanks, Carol. Great see you. Carol Lin, CNN LIVE SATURDAY coming up at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.

Well, these day, many people go see a doctor, they get barely a few minutes with him or her and then leave wishing they had brought a medical translator along. Know the feeling? Well, it doesn't have to be that hard and you don't have to go to medical school. Here to talk about talking to your doctor is Dr. Bill Lloyd, a surgeon and professor at the University of California-Davis Medical Center.

Doctor, thanks for being here today.

DR. BILL LLOYD, SURGEON: Hi, Kelly.

WALLACE: A lot of people are going to be watching this, because how do poor communication or lack of communication between yourself and your doctor affect good medicine?

LLOYD: Well, Kelly, just like in business or romance, good health care requires open communications. That means, good talking, clear speaking, and attentive listening for both the patient and the doctor.

I want to tell you about some problems people can get into when communications break down between doctors and their patients. First of all, there could be a delay in the diagnosis because the patient is not forthcoming or the doctor is in such a haste that he's not asking the proper questions.

There's no reason to be going forward with any kind of diagnostic procedure if the patient can't understand the consent. It's not valid if the patient doesn't understand the risks and benefits. Everybody hates taking pills every day. But it is important for doctors to clearly communicate the reasons why, so that there's good compliance in the patient's take those medicines instead of them leaving them sitting in the medicine cabinet.

It's also important that we prevent complications. And there can be complications when patients don't listen and perhaps take aspirin right up until the time surgery.

And finally the element of mutual trust. If you're not listening to your doctor, it is very difficult to establish a close relationship so that you can trust the doctor when it comes time to making important decisions.

WALLACE: Well, and also so many us involved in HMOs or the managed care system, how does this entire managed care system affect the relationship, the dialogue between doctor and patient?

LLOYD: Boy, Kelly, that's a powerful point. Many Americans as you know are under a health care plan. And productivity in the clinic requires that both the doctors and the clinic's staff work very, very hard all day, maximizing the number of patients that they see.

Now, this doesn't mean that the visit should be so hasty or disrespectful that you feel like you're at the car wash. So, don't hesitate to drop an anchor, by that I mean, stop everything if you think your doctor is just rambling on so fast or not asking you the important questions so you can get relief for whatever problems you have. Don't hesitate to tell the doctor to say, will you please slow down?

WALLACE: And what about -- let's go give some more specific information. If one of our viewers is out there, has an appointment on Monday, give us the specific steps that we should follow to get the most out of that doctor's visit on Monday morning?

LLOYD: Visits are getting shorter and shorter and it's essential that you squeeze every bit of information that you can, accurate information out of your doctor. And then it's just as important that you recall that information on the way home.

So here's some important tips of things you can do for your next doctor's visit to maximize that experience. First do a little research. If you know the problem you're going to be seen for, do a Web search or look in the local magazine and try to find out a little bit more about your condition, that way you won't be broadsided when the doctor talks about new treatments or decisions that you'll need to make.

Always bring a partner, a family member or perhaps a co-worker or a neighbor. That person can sit there and simply listen. So when you get home, you say, now did the doctor say take the pills on Tuesday and Thursday? No, the Doctor said don't take the pills on Tuesday and Thursday.

So it's always a good check to have a partner there. And don't hesitate to write things down. Sure, the doctor is going to give you a fact sheet when you're done, but information that you write down yourself is more likely to be remembered a longer time. Always be aware of your medications and make your doctor aware of your medications. If you're seeing a variety of doctors and taking all kinds of different pills, it's important that your doctor know everything that you're taking.

And finally, let me repeat this, let me repeat this, let me repeat this...

(LAUGHTER)

WALLACE: Yes.

LLOYD: Whenever your doctor tell says something, just tell it right back to them. Take the pill three times a day. So you want me to take it three times a day? The more you repeat things, the more relationship you build with the doctor because the doctor will be convinced you are actually listening to her.

WALLACE: Dr. Lloyd, we were going ahead and writing down all of those tips. Very helpful advice. Dr. Bill Lloyd, surgeon at University of California-Davis Medical Center. Thanks for being here today with that useful advice.

LLOYD: Talk to you again soon.

WALLACE: OK. And CNN LIVE SATURDAY will continue right after this. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: In this life, you can count yourself lucky if your passion also happens to be your profession. This next story is about the passion of an accomplished musician, a man who refused to let his dream die even after it was put on hold for decades.

Beth Nissen reports.

BETH NISSEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He was a true prodigy, studying with great pianist and teacher Artur Schnabel from the age of 9, making his debut with the New York Philharmonic in 1944 as a teenager.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Leon Fleisher, 16-year-old pianist, is the soloist.

FLEISHER: I don't really remember the time when I wasn't playing. My life revolved around music.

NISSEN: By his late 20s, Leon Fleischer was an internationally known concert pianist, playing 80 to 60 concerts a year and recording a series of successful albums. He was at peak of his playing ability, his professional career, when it started.

FLEISHER: I began to noticed that the fifth and fourth fingers of my right hand, involuntarily and uncontrollably curling under. I couldn't play. I could not use my right hand to play the piano because the fingers would not remain extended.

NISSEN: He saw a score of doctors, specialists, no one could help him even diagnose his problem.

FLEISHER: That was the beginning of a terrible depression for me. I thought almost daily of ending it all. My life as I had known it was over.

NISSEN: He was 36. It was many dark months before Fleisher had what he calls an "aha moment."

FLEISHER: I realized that my connection to music was more than just as a two-handed piano player. I needed to be connected with music.

NISSEN: He started a new career as a conductor and as a master teacher. Over the years, he gave occasional piano recitals, concerts playing music written for left hand alone, and he continued his exhaustive search for treatment that would released his crabbed right hand. Surgery, shock treatment, acupuncture.

FLEISHER: I tried everything from aromatherapy to Zen Buddhism and everything in between.

NISSEN: Doctors first diagnosed repetitive stress injury, then carpal tunnel syndrome before they finally identified the cause, a neurological movement disorder called dystonia.

FLEISHER: It attacks surgeons, it attacks people who use their hands, typists. In this country alone there are some 300,000 people with dystonia. And throughout the world, some 10,000 musicians.

NISSEN: In 1997, Fleisher was finally referred to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

FLEISHER: They had discovered botulinum toxin type A could be used to relieve these curling under symptoms.

NISSEN: Botulinum toxin, better known as Botox. Injections of Botox relaxed his hand muscles, allowed his fingers to extend fully.

FLEISHER: It just changed like almost instantly overnight. And I sat down and I began playing pieces and I could suddenly play them again.

NISSEN: "With Two Hands," that is the title of his newly released CD, his first solo recording in 40 years. He's once again booking recitals and concert percent in the U.S., Europe.

FLEISHER: And in the spring, I go back to China and Korea, Japan.

NISSEN: The passage of so much time has changed his playing.

FLEISHER: I can't play everything. I'm now 76, you know? I can't scamper around the keyboard the way I used to. NISSEN: Yet he can play, make music again with his own two hands.

Beth Nissen, CNN, Baltimore, Maryland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: We thank Beth Nissen for bringing us that beautiful report. That is all of the time we have for now. But stay with CNN. Up next, "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS." Today's profile, J.lo and A-Rod. I'll be back after a quick break with today's top stories.

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 October 16, 2004 - 16:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Insurgents turn to churches for new targets in Iraq. Why the danger is growing for Iraqi Christians and what they are trying to do about it.
Plus, this.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I need you to contact someone. I mean, raise pure hell.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WALLACE: A soldier's plea for help in Iraq. Why a platoon may have refused a direct order to deliver fuel in the war-torn nation.

And troubling news for people waiting to get the flu vaccine. Find out what some communities are now doing to make sure that shots go only those who need them most.

Hello, and good Saturday afternoon to you. I'm Kelly Wallace in Washington. Welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY.

Those stories are straight ahead this hour. But first, a look at what's making news now.

The presidential candidates are hitting heavy on the issues in the last weeks before Election Day. President Bush is campaigning in Florida and talking tough about terrorism. Senator John Kerry is talking health care, and needling the president over flu vaccine shortages. A live report from the campaign trail in just 12 minutes.

A train derailment forced evacuations near Los Angeles today. One person was injured when 31 Union Pacific freight cars carrying chemicals jumped the tracks in a tunnel. At least four homes were damaged.

And in Afghanistan, the U.S. military today says two U.S. soldiers were killed Thursday in a roadside bombing. The blast happened as their convoy was passing through a town south of Kabul in central Afghanistan. Three other U.S. soldiers were injured in the explosion.

And we begin with the war in Iraq and word that two U.S. helicopters have crashed in Baghdad. One U.S. soldier was killed and two were injured. The cause of the crash is now under investigation. This comes on the heels of a new survey about Iraq.

A majority of American military service members and their families, some 62 percent say they believe the Bush administration underestimated the number of U.S. troops needed to establish peace in Iraq. Keeping that peace is still proving difficult.

In the militant hotbed of Falluja, peace negotiators are calling for U.S. warplanes to stop air strikes. They're also demanding the release of a detained sheikh before they will resume peace talks.

In Qaim, near the Syrian border, two U.S. soldiers, one Marine and an Iraqi were killed in a suicide car bombing last night. And in Baghdad today, more violence with a series of explosions at Christian churches.

Our Karl Penhaul brings us the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Five Christian churches were targeted in a coordinated wave of attacks across Baghdad just before dawn this morning. Iraqi interior ministry officials say that the homemade bombs were used in those explosions. There have been reports of extensive damage but no victims.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for these attacks. Of course attention of late has been focused on the wider issue of the resistance fighters fighting against the coalition military and its Iraqi allies, but nevertheless, these attacks against the churches form part of a developing pattern of sectarian violence.

Two weeks ago, seven Christians were gunned down as they left their work at a social club in Baghdad. And in August, four churches in Baghdad and another in the northern city of Mosul were attacked by car bombs.

Muslim radicals here in Iraq blame the Christian minority for collaborating with coalition military and civilian officials. They also blame them for running the liquor industry here in Iraq.

The Christian community makes up about 700,000 people, about 3 percent of the population. In recent months, we're told by members from that community that many families have been fleeing the country altogether, frightened about the rise in violence against the Christian community.

Coalition authorities have been warning of a spike in insurgent violence in and around the holy month of Ramadan, which began Thursday night and Friday morning. Around Baghdad, in other parts of the country, there certainly was a large number of attacks in the course of the day.

Two mortar attacks in Baghdad, one against a hospital that left one medic dead and three emergency workers wounded. There was also an attack on a hotel used by international media workers and two attacks on police facilities in Baghdad. Across by the border with Syria, four people were killed. Two U.S. soldiers, one U.S. Marine and an Iraqi when a suicide car bomb exploded.

But putting this in perspective, this is very much, at that level, a normal day here in Iraq. No sign yet of that surge in Ramadan violence that coalition authorities have been warning of.

Karl Penhaul, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And staying in Iraq, a refueling mission is at the heart of a growing military scandal. Some U.S. troops, reservists from a South Carolina-based unit allegedly refused to follow orders because they thought their assigned duty was too dangerous.

Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is one of the most dangerous missions in Iraq, driving a convoy. This past Wednesday in Tallil, southeast of Baghdad, 19 soldiers from a supply platoon failed to report for a mission to drive a fuel truck north to Taji.

It is now believed five of the soldiers may actually have refused their orders. Specialist Amber McClenny left this frantic message on her mother's answering machine.

SPECIALIST AMBER MCCLENNY: Hi, mom, this is Amber. This is a real, real big emergency. I need you to contact someone. I mean, raise pure hell. Yesterday we refused to go on a convoy to Taji, which is above Baghdad.

STARR: The Army is emphasizing this is an isolated incident, saying: "It is far too early in the investigation to speculate as to what happened, why it happened, or any action that might be taken."

Patricia Ann McCook says the troops were worried about safety including her husband, Sergeant Larry McCook.

PATRICIA ANN MCCOOK: They don't have bulletproof protection on the vehicles. They just don't go fast at all. It's just not safe to be in a hostile territory.

STARR: Three probes are under way into the actions of the soldiers from the 343rd Quartermaster Company, a reserve unit from South Carolina. Investigators are talking to all of those involved, trying to find out what happened and why.

Another inquiry is determining whether there were violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. And the commanding officer has ordered a safety maintenance stand-down, during which all vehicles will be inspected and retraining will be done. Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson says relatives of the soldiers told him the unit had unsafe equipment.

REP. BENNIE THOMPSON, (D) MISSISSIPPI: And it goes to the issue of whether or not we have had adequately equipped our men and women to fight this war in Iraq.

STARR: According to a military source, some of the soldiers raised valid concerns, an indication there may have been safety problems with the equipment, but the source said the concerns were raised in an inappropriate manner, causing a breakdown in discipline.

STARR (on camera): The convoy was eventually driven by other soldiers. Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: So are U.S. soldiers breaking ranks and are the troops too ill-equipped to handle their duties in Iraq? Our military intelligence analyst Ken Robinson is here in Washington to discuss the incident.

Ken, great to see you, thanks for being here.

KEN ROBINSON, CNN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: You're quite welcome.

WALLACE: First, how significant is this?

ROBINSON: Well, it's isolated. The fact that it occurred is a red flag that the unit and the command needs to look at to determine what would cause soldiers to take such a remarkable stand. They need to find out specifically what were the issues that caused them to do it.

WALLACE: Does it raise issues, though, about resources? Do these reserve units have the proper resources to carry out the missions that they're being asked to carry out?

ROBINSON: Well, the reserve components and the National Guard are carrying a large load in Iraq, and these units have not been configured for the fight that the they're currently finding themselves in; in that in previous wars, they were fighting in a linear battlefield where they were facing a force to their front.

And now these soldiers are finding themselves where really the enemy is all around them because of these improvised explosive devices. And the design of these specific fuel trucks and a lot of these soft-skinned vehicles don't provide the type of protection for the type of enemy that they're up against currently.

WALLACE: And also we were talking about this a little bit, an American soldier, if he or she believes it is a dangerous mission, they don't have the right equipment, what rights does that soldier have to refuse to carry out the required order? ROBINSON: Well, this is really going to be the heart of the investigation because there is such a thing as a lawful order, where typically, in combat, are there many times where an officer or senior NCO will order junior subordinates to risk their lives, it's part of war.

However, this situation in particular needs to be examined to find out of what in particular were the soldiers refusing? Were they refusing because it's alleged that their vehicles were deadlined? And that word is significant in the maintenance...

WALLACE: What does that mean? Yes, what does that mean?

ROBINSON: In a maintenance term, deadline, means that the vehicle is inoperable, in that some part of it, whether it be the engine, whether it be tires, whether it be some mechanical function, it cannot be relied upon to conduct its combat mission.

And so that's where the difference of opinion will be. It will be what they actually identified as being wrong with the vehicle and that a supervisor then would have looked and made a determination, risk versus gain, whether to complete the mission regardless of the fact that there was a deficiency.

This is something that's not unusual that happens in war. Hard decisions have to be made. So it is really is up to the investigating officers now to tell us what the specific incident was.

WALLACE: You also say there is sort of a larger issue here too: what the insurgency is trying to do to lines of communication between American soldiers and their commanders. What does it show us?

ROBINSON: Well, it's the strategy. The strategy of the insurgents has been to sever the lines of communication, the supply lines, and separate the infrastructure rebuilding from the population, from the government.

And so by continually -- I mean, the majority of the attacks and the majority of the casualties are occurring on these supply runs. Not with the units that have tanks, but with the units who are softer targets and are easier prey, which these refuel units are.

WALLACE: All right. Military intelligence analyst Ken Robinson, we'll leave it there. Good to see you and we will keep watching this story.

ROBINSON: Thank you, Kelly.

WALLACE: Thanks so much.

Well, switching gears a little bit. In the homestretch, President Bush turns to a common campaign theme win over voters in the Sunshine State. We will have a live report from his rally next.

Plus, this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: You never once said to yourself, I wish I hadn't voted for that war resolution?

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Find out what Senator John Kerry said to our very own CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley in an exclusive interview.

And still to come, will a rain delay help the Boston Red Sox overcome their biggest baseball rivals? We will have a live report from Fenway Park. This is CNN LIVE SATURDAY, don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: It is hard to believe, but there are just 17 days until the election. And President Bush is campaigning in the crucial state of Florida. The president is on a three-city bus tour. His latest stop, Daytona, and that's where we find CNN's Elaine Quijano.

Elaine, good afternoon to you. What's the latest from there?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you, Kelly. Well, President Bush just a short time ago here in Daytona Beach, Florida, taking to the podium, beginning his remarks to the enthusiastic crowd that has gathered here.

But he has brought with him to this battleground state some new attack lines, retooled attack lines, targeting Senator John Kerry's vote against the $87 billion troop funding, of the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The president at this hour you can hear behind me delivering those remarks. He is joined today by his brother, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, as well as his wife, first lady Laura Bush.

But the president earlier today at stops in Sunrise, Florida, as well as West Palm Beach, saying that Kerry's "no" vote on the troop money almost on year ago was motivated not by principle, President Bush suggested, but more by politics.

Now specifically the president saying that during the Democratic primaries that happened in the face of some tough competition by anti- war candidate Howard Dean.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Senator Kerry apparently decided supporting the troops, even while they were in harm's way, was not as important as shoring up his own political position.

At a time of great threat to our country, at a time of great challenge in the world, the commander in chief must stand on principle, not the shifting sands of political convenience.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: The Kerry camp has fired back, as you might expect. Officials in that campaign pointing to what they say is a memo by the Defense Department -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld from one year ago saying that -- raising questions, rather, about the war on terrorism and the military's approach to it.

Meantime, here in Florida, Bush aides say that the strategy here for the campaign really will reflect what will happen in other swing states in the days to come. And that is taking a look at traditionally blue areas, or Democratic strongholds, but places where the president, they feel, can make a connection with certain segments of the population.

Here in Florida they are looking specifically at the Hispanic vote as well as the large number of military personnel and a sizable Jewish population. The president earlier today highlighting to the crowd in West Palm Beach as well as Sunrise that he today signed an anti-Semitism bill.

So look for the president to continue with that strategy, trying to appeal -- at least aim part of his message to very targeted groups -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Elaine, thanks so much. Some busy, long and loud days ahead for you, that's for sure. Elaine Quijano reporting from the critical battleground state of Florida. We appreciate it.

Well, a new poll out on the presidential race shows a dead heat. But the president's approval has slipped. The latest "TIME" magazine poll found President Bush's job approval rating under 50 percent for the second week in a row.

Forty-nine percent of those surveyed approve of the president's performance, 49 percent disapprove. And what is the debate factor? Almost one in three voters, 30 percent, said the debates made them more likely to vote for Senator Kerry, that's compared to 17 percent who said they are more likely to vote for President Bush.

Well, as for the Democratic contender, Senator John Kerry is in another critical battleground state, Ohio. Senator Kerry honed in on domestic issues today, specifically health care.

The senator criticized the president's handling of the flu vaccine shortage. Senator Kerry said the Bush administration failed to act on this issue. Pointing to it as an example of, quote: "How they deal with everything," unquote.

In an earlier radio address, the senator questioned the president's restrictions on federal funding of stem cell research. Yesterday, Senator Kerry sat down for an interview with CNN. In that interview, he admitted a mistake of his own.

CNN's senior political correspondent Candy Crowley reports. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CROWLEY (voice-over): He has it down pat now, the words and thoughts perfected over a two-year campaign, and three thought- focusing debates. But with 18 days to go, John Kerry is mostly about being careful.

(on camera): Did George Bush deliberately distort intelligence information because he wanted to go to war in Iraq?

KERRY: Candy, I can't tell you that. I can't get into the intent.

CROWLEY (voice-over): Campaigning through Milwaukee, Kerry sat down for an interview with CNN, following his standard economic speech, blasting George Bush for the deficit, the high cost of health care, and job loss.

(on camera): Middle-aged guy, lives in Wisconsin, he doesn't have a job. John Kerry becomes president in January. His life changes February, March, April?

KERRY: Well, his life will change very quickly, providing Congress responds.

CROWLEY: Make that very, very careful. And after taunting George Bush for being unable to admit a single mistake, Kerry was ready with one of his own. He overpromised, he said, but he blames George Bush.

KERRY: Gosh, I think I made a mistake in terms of the breadth of some of the programs that I had talked about in the primaries because the deficit was larger than we anticipated and we obviously couldn't afford it. So I've scaled them back since then.

CROWLEY (on camera): You never once said to yourself, I wish I hadn't voted for that war resolution?

KERRY: No. Because you see, what we did, we gave the president the authority to load the gun, to hold the trigger, so to speak. We didn't tell him to shoot himself in the foot.

CROWLEY (voice-over): From inside the campaign, the view is good. They like the looks of his trendline, what they need now is 18 mistake-free days, 18 days without distraction. A more serious political problem is standing in front of him, Ralph Nader.

KERRY: If people want a change, and they want responsibility for the middle class in America, don't throw away your vote. There's only one choice here, either George Bush is going to go to be president or John Kerry, and that's the vote.

CROWLEY: Nader is on the ballot in 30 states, nine of them battlegrounds.

(on camera): Though many Democrats have worried for some time about Nader's ability to play the spoiler again in 2004, Kerry seems unphased, saying, he believes the American people understand the stakes.

Candy Crowley, CNN, Milwaukee.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And you can see the entire interview with Senator Kerry at 6 p.m. Eastern here on CNN. That's at 6 p.m. Eastern, 3 p.m. Pacific, Candy Crowley's interview with Senator John Kerry on CNN LIVE SATURDAY.

Coming up, a harsh lesson in the power of supply and demand. Why some people will have to go without the flu vaccine this winter.

And will Red Sox fans have to go another year without a World Series championship? There's still hope for Boston to come out a winner, but it is getting mighty slim. Our live report from Fenway Park is next. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: The shortage of flu vaccine is causing long lines and price gouging. Health officials say none of the suspected vaccine -- suspect vaccine, excuse me, that sparked the frenzy is safe for use. And they're now scrambling to make sure the vaccine is available and gets to the people who need it most.

CNN medical correspondent Christy Feig has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTY FEIG, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The FDA says the contamination in Chiron's Liverpool plant was so severe that none of the vaccine produced there could be released. In an effort to conserve what little flu vaccine they have, health departments in states, including California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon and the District of Columbia, have already issued emergency-restrictive orders limiting the vaccine to high-risk groups: kids between six months and 23 months; all pregnant women; anyone with chronic disease like heart disease, diabetes, or asthma; and everyone over the age of 65.

Other states say they're considering similar action. In Michigan, Massachusetts, Oregon, and D.C., health workers who give the vaccine to people outside of the designated groups risk a fine. The nation's capital has the toughest penalty so far.

DR. GREGG PANE, D.C. HEALTH DEPARTMENT: We needed to have some enforcement. So that's a misdemeanor and up to a $1,000 fine.

FEIG: What vaccine is available is at a premium. In a survey of almost 3,000 hospital pharmacies, 80 percent reported being charged more than four times the normal price by suppliers. And nearly 20 percent of pharmacies surveyed said they had been offered the vaccine at more than 10 times the usual markup. (on camera): Early signs of the flu this year show it will probably be a strain similar to last year, which was very dangerous for high-risk patients. So health officials are stockpiling medicine that treats the flu, if it's caught early.

Christy Feig, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: Switching gears now to baseball. The Houston Astros turn to ace pitcher Roger Clemens today for redemption in game three of the National League Championship Series. If you are a baseball fan, you know it is crunch time in postseason play. The St. Louis Cardinals lead the series 2-0.

And in the American League Championship Series, the Boston Red Sox have their backs to the green wall. They return to Fenway tonight after last night's rainout, and face the prospect of going down 3-0 to the New York Yankees. CNN's Mark McKay joins us live from Boston with more on this legendary rivalry.

And Mark, no rainout expected tonight?

MARK MCKAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are going to cross our fingers that we don't see a drop of rain tonight, Kelly. We had enough last night to last us for the rest of October here in New England.

Well, the forecast calling for mid-50s, partly to mostly cloudy skies. Currently overcast here. But we're a ways away from opening pitch for game three here between the Yankees and the Red Sox from Fenway Park. Finally getting game three under way. So let's talk baseball with an expert. I am joined by "Sports Illustrated" senior writer Tom Verducci.

Tom, let me get your thoughts on, first of all, the starting pitchers for tonight's game, a pair of 10-game winners during the regular season. The Yanks are sending out Kevin Brown. Can they count on a quality start from a guy who's had basically a season of injuries and inconsistency?

TOM VERDUCCI, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED" SENIOR WRITER: Well, I think they have their fingers crossed because right now you don't know what to expect from Kevin Brown. Since September the 3rd he has pitched only 11 2/3 innings. And with all of the physical ailments he has had this year, he has not had the same sort of stuff he had, say, in the last couple of years when he was a dominating ace pitcher.

The Yankees have tried to convince him, don't try to blow the ball people right now, you're not able to do it. He has become more of a sinker ball specialist. So look for early in the game, if he's on, getting ground balls. And if he's not, he'll be in trouble.

MCKAY: Let me talk about Bronson Arroyo for a moment as well, 10-game winner during the regular season. He has shown though that he's not afraid of this Yankee lineup. We saw what happened here in late July when he plunked Alex Rodriguez. VERDUCCI: Absolutely, you know, he has been a good pitcher for them and he has been a little bit of a good luck charm as well. The Red Sox have not lost a game he has started since August the 15th. That means he has been keeping this team in the games, even if he himself is not getting those wins.

He's a guy who keeps the ball in the ballpark. He's a strike thrower, which you need against this patient Yankee line up. And the way he pitched against Anaheim in the division series shows you that October doesn't bother him at all. I expect him to pitch well.

MCKAY: We saw the Red Sox can hit in game one, the way they came back. I guess the key is for them is to hit early.

VERDUCCI: It is. The best thing for the Red Sox right now is that they're home. They're a very good offensive team but they're a great offensive team in Fenway Park. They hit about 50 points higher at home. The key for them is going to be Johnny Damon. The Yankees have been able to keep him off of the base. He makes this lineup go. Now he's a stolen extra base threat and he's an extra base threat. I think good things happen to the Red Sox Johnny Damon is on base.

MCKAY: And Joe Torre comes here with his team, as he said, they have a lot of confidence after what they were able to do in New York.

VERDUCCI: They really do. I mean, they're in a position now with two games in hand. They're looking to take this game right now. They're not looking ahead. They're not sure how their pitching is going to fall as far as game five goes. They may bring Mike Mussina back.

All of their concentration right now, and with a rested bullpen, is on game three. Look for Tom Gordon to get in this game as early as the seventh inning if they have to.

MCKAY: Tom, thanks for your insight. I really appreciate it. Kelly, we are about four hours from first pitch here at Fenway Park. Game three Yanks-Red Sox.

WALLACE: Mark, thanks so much to you and Tom Verducci. We all can't wait for that game to get under way. Thanks again.

Well, the Iraq War is creating two different political camps in the military.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: By the second deployment, we were pretty disenchanted by the way he had been treated as a Marine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: From those who oppose President Bush to those who support him. We'll explain how military wives are choosing sides.

The November election isn't their only concern, from gays in the military to reinstating the draft, military families voice their opinions in a new national survey. We will talk to the poll's political director next. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: And here is a check now of what is happening now in the news. Two helicopters crashed in Baghdad today, killing two U.S. soldiers. Two others were injured. A U.S. military spokesman says the cause of the crash is now under investigation.

Staying in Iraq, five churches were targeted in Baghdad today. Bombs exploded at the Christian houses of worship earlier this morning. No casualties were reported but the churches were damaged. The attacks come at the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The presidential candidates are working the crowds this weekend. In Florida President Bush said security is the, quote, "most solemn duty of an American president."

Senator John Kerry took his campaign to another critical battleground state, Ohio. He criticized the president's handling of health care.

A Russian Soyuz rocket docked on the International Space Station after some high drama today. An unexplained glitch sent the rocket speeding toward the station. The crew had never piloted a Soyuz before. They had to put on the brakes and manually link up with the space station.

The war in Iraq and the war on terrorism are seen as big issues in the presidential campaign. But for military families, they are the, quote, "all-important issues." And many are divided over who they want in the White House next year.

Our Ed Lavandera talks with soldiers' wives about the candidates.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's 5:30 in the morning and three soldiers' wives move through a crowd waiting to see George W. Bush at a campaign stop in Colorado. They're five hours early but the president's arrival doesn't disappoint.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president of the United States!

LAVANDERA: And neither do his words.

BUSH: There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat.

LAVANDERA: Those words strike at the core of why Sarah Sadlemayer will vote for Bush. Her husband is an Army specialist who has been in Iraq since March.

SARAH SADLEMAYER, BUSH SUPPORTER: When you want someone to be leading your country, your husband, his life is in this man's control, you want someone who believes in himself, who isn't going to be persuaded by being popular, who is going to believe in what is -- doing what is right. And to me, that's huge.

LARA BERTSCH, KERRY SUPPORTER: This administration has not been honest with us.

LAVANDERA: Lara Birch is married to a Marine who served in Iraq. The experience convinced her to enlist in a John Kerry group called military moms on a mission. Birch joins rallies like this one in New Hampshire, alongside Elizabeth Edwards.

BERTSCH: I don't believe that George Bush has supported me. I don't believe he has supported my husband.

LAVANDERA: Birch says many troops aren't getting the gear and equipment they need to protect themselves. She says her husband rode in a canvass-covered humvee while in patrol in Iraq. She wonders why an armored vehicle wasn't used. Her husband recently returned from his second tour of duty in Iraq.

BERTSCH: By the second deployment we were pretty disenchanted with how he had been treated as a Marine and with what goal was in the war against terror anyway.

LAVANDERA: The issue of equipment in preparing troops for combat comes up a lot when you talk to military families. Those who support Bush say troops are getting everything they need to fight the battle. Those who support Kerry say that's just not always the case.

NITA MARTIN, KERRY SUPPORTER: This Republican president has let me down.

LAVANDERA: That distrust fuels military families supporting Kerry like Nita Martin, the mother of two Marines.

MARTIN: I really fear for their futures because I see an administration that has lied consistently about everything they were going to do for us.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President? Mr. President?

LAVANDERA: Back in Colorado, these soldiers' wives get the president's attention for a brief moment.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President, my husband is in Iraq, thank you so much! Thank you so much!

BUSH: E-mail him, God bless him!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you very much!

LAVANDERA: The words of encouragement she says convince her President Bush will help bring her husband home safely. That's the kind of faith military families are putting into whichever candidate they support support.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Colorado Springs.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And as you can see in Ed's report, the U.S. military, the personnel of the U.S. military and their families, vary widely on specifically issues. The University of Pennsylvania's national Annenberg election survey find that only 38 percent of them agree that National Guard and reserve are properly trained, 42 percent say those units don't have the training they need. But overall, 63 percent of military personnel and their families support President Bush's handling of the situation in Iraq, 33 percent disapprove.

What do all of the numbers mean? Adam Clymer is joining me to talk about it. He is the political director of the national Annenberg election survey. He joins us here in Washington.

Thanks for being here.

ADAM CLYMER, ANNENBERG PUBLIC POLICY DIR.: Happy to be with you, Kelly.

WALLACE: Were you surprised at all by any of the numbers?

CLYMER: Well, I didn't know what -- to be surprised or not because nobody has really ever done a survey like this. It is rather difficult to conduct. We have been essentially working on it since February, collecting numbers.

I was struck by two things in these surveys. One, that the people in the military by more than 2-1 think the country is on the right track, whereas, a majority of the general public thinks we're going in the wrong direction.

But -- and I was struck today by the fact that 60 -- about three- fifths of the military sample, thinks that weren't enough troop, thinks too much of a burden was put on Iraq, as you mentioned. Only two-fifths think the Guard and reserves were adequately trained and equipped. And another -- a fair number of them think they were decently trained but not sufficiently equipped.

WALLACE: Yes, we're putting that number up there. Did the Bush administration underestimate the number of troops needed to establish peace in Iraq? Sixty-two percent say the administration underestimated, 33 percent made a reasonable estimate.

There's another question, though, worth going to war in Iraq? Sixty-four percent saying yes, it was worth going to war in Iraq, 32 percent saying no. What do those numbers tell us?

CLYMER: And that's in contrast to the general population, where only 45 percent think it was worth going to war over. I think what it translates to is a belief in the mission, a belief in the commander in chief, and a lot of unhappiness about execution; from the number of troops, for example.

Even another point. Dover Air Force Base, from time to time there's a controversy because the media would like to show photographs of the coffins coming back. The Pentagon says this wouldn't show respect for the troops. Well, the troops, especially the lower ranking troops who comprise most of the deaths, think it would. A majority of them think they would do and hardly any agree with the Pentagon.

WALLACE: That's an interesting result there.

CLYMER: And you know, I'm not sure that this should be too exciting to anyone. People have -- in the ranks, have griped about how the brass was handling wars, at least back to the Trojan War.

WALLACE: There's that other question, too. Should the U.S. keep military troops in Iraq until a stable government is established or bring home troops as soon as possible? Seventy-three percent saying, stay in Iraq, 23 percent, bring troops home. An expected result among military families and its members?

CLYMER: Yes. I think so, because if you said you were going to bring them home before a stable government was established, you would arguably be saying, we'd wasted the lives that were there. If that's our objective, we ought to see it through and make it work be and not give up.

And I don't think -- I think it's very important to the military to believe in what they're doing. And they ought to. It must be -- there are indeed dissenters on the other side, we're talking about majorities. You showed some of them. And this is not a unanimous result at all. But it's more pro-war and more pro-Bush than the general public and by a significant margin.

WALLACE: You're, of course, a veteran political reporter. Everything is always viewed in a political context, especially 17 days until the election. I guess you are hearing from both sides, Democrats and Republicans, not so happy about the results?

CLYMER: Yes. I've heard from one soldier who was happy with the results. I've had about 15 e-mails, I'm not quite sure where they got the e-mail address. That's fine. I answer them. More Democrats unhappy, but then a bunch of Republicans unhappy and sometimes with the same data. I almost think I ought to have them communicate with each other.

WALLACE: That might be good. Get the discourse, get the two of them talking to each other. Adam Clymer, thanks for being here, interesting survey, we appreciate you coming in today.

CLYMER: Nice to be with you, Kelly.

WALLACE: We appreciate it.

In news now across America, the Kerry campaign is demanding that Sinclair Broadcasting provide equal time. The company's top executives are public supporters of the Bush campaign. It has ordered 62 of its TV stations to air a 45-minute documentary slamming Senator Kerry and his Vietnam service. Democrats say Sinclair's plan is illegal.

Two-and-a-half weeks until the election, a senior official at the Justice Department say several investigations into election- related issues have been opened and many more may follow but location or nature of the probes are not being disclosed.

And in Oregon, the voting is already under way. It is the only state where the mailbox has completely replaced the ballot box. Election officials began mailing more than 2 million ballots to registered voters yesterday. Voters will have until 8:00 p.m. local time on Election Day to get their ballots in either by mail or by dropping them off at designated points.

All of the numbers show this to be a very close presidential race, according to CNN's latest analysis of the all-important national electoral map, the momentum Senator Kerry gained from the presidential debates has helped him close the gap with President Bush, but president would still win if the election were held today.

The weekly analysis shows President Bush with 277 electoral votes to Senator Kerry's 261. As you know 270 are needed to win. Ohio and New Hampshire, two states that Mr. Bush carried in 2000 have now shifted to Senator Kerry's camp.

Coming up on CNN LIVE SATURDAY, we will introduce you to a man who was born to play.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEON FLEISHER, MUSICIAN: I don't really, really remember the time when I wasn't playing. My life revolved around music.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: But a debilitating condition changed that, until recently. The story of Leon Fleisher, a little later in the show.

And up next, in our "Living Well," making the most out of every doctor visit. How to make sure the communication lines are open between you and your physician. This is CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: And welcome back to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Carol Lin joins us now from Atlanta with a preview of what is ahead on CNN LIVE SATURDAY at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.

Carol, great to see you. What's on tap for tonight?

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, gosh, Kelly, we've got a lot lined up in our prime-time hours. We are going to run the full interview with John Kerry that our Candy Crowley had. He's actually going to admit some of the mistakes that he made, which is kind of interesting for a man who is running for president.

And also, Kelly, you have shopped eBay? Confessions please.

WALLACE: I haven't, I haven't, I haven't.

LIN: All right, well, you know, you don't have to go online anymore because apparently eBay is opening up a store in Beverly Hills, which I don't quite understand. We're trying to get the store manager on the phone, because the whole point is to surf the Web and the convenience of it and everything. But apparently they're going for really high-end items, so we're just trying to figure out if it means people are schlupping their stuff from all over the country to Beverly Hills to get the high-end dollars too.

WALLACE: You would think there are so many high-end stores in Beverly Hills -- high-end stores in Beverly Hills that people could just go into the shops there, right?

LIN: And eBay is the Web. You know, it's the whole convenience thing. So a lot of questions, we're going to be digging, doing our shopping.

WALLACE: All right. We'll be watching. We'll be watching, watching, watching. Love to spend money around here, right? Thanks, Carol. Great see you. Carol Lin, CNN LIVE SATURDAY coming up at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.

Well, these day, many people go see a doctor, they get barely a few minutes with him or her and then leave wishing they had brought a medical translator along. Know the feeling? Well, it doesn't have to be that hard and you don't have to go to medical school. Here to talk about talking to your doctor is Dr. Bill Lloyd, a surgeon and professor at the University of California-Davis Medical Center.

Doctor, thanks for being here today.

DR. BILL LLOYD, SURGEON: Hi, Kelly.

WALLACE: A lot of people are going to be watching this, because how do poor communication or lack of communication between yourself and your doctor affect good medicine?

LLOYD: Well, Kelly, just like in business or romance, good health care requires open communications. That means, good talking, clear speaking, and attentive listening for both the patient and the doctor.

I want to tell you about some problems people can get into when communications break down between doctors and their patients. First of all, there could be a delay in the diagnosis because the patient is not forthcoming or the doctor is in such a haste that he's not asking the proper questions.

There's no reason to be going forward with any kind of diagnostic procedure if the patient can't understand the consent. It's not valid if the patient doesn't understand the risks and benefits. Everybody hates taking pills every day. But it is important for doctors to clearly communicate the reasons why, so that there's good compliance in the patient's take those medicines instead of them leaving them sitting in the medicine cabinet.

It's also important that we prevent complications. And there can be complications when patients don't listen and perhaps take aspirin right up until the time surgery.

And finally the element of mutual trust. If you're not listening to your doctor, it is very difficult to establish a close relationship so that you can trust the doctor when it comes time to making important decisions.

WALLACE: Well, and also so many us involved in HMOs or the managed care system, how does this entire managed care system affect the relationship, the dialogue between doctor and patient?

LLOYD: Boy, Kelly, that's a powerful point. Many Americans as you know are under a health care plan. And productivity in the clinic requires that both the doctors and the clinic's staff work very, very hard all day, maximizing the number of patients that they see.

Now, this doesn't mean that the visit should be so hasty or disrespectful that you feel like you're at the car wash. So, don't hesitate to drop an anchor, by that I mean, stop everything if you think your doctor is just rambling on so fast or not asking you the important questions so you can get relief for whatever problems you have. Don't hesitate to tell the doctor to say, will you please slow down?

WALLACE: And what about -- let's go give some more specific information. If one of our viewers is out there, has an appointment on Monday, give us the specific steps that we should follow to get the most out of that doctor's visit on Monday morning?

LLOYD: Visits are getting shorter and shorter and it's essential that you squeeze every bit of information that you can, accurate information out of your doctor. And then it's just as important that you recall that information on the way home.

So here's some important tips of things you can do for your next doctor's visit to maximize that experience. First do a little research. If you know the problem you're going to be seen for, do a Web search or look in the local magazine and try to find out a little bit more about your condition, that way you won't be broadsided when the doctor talks about new treatments or decisions that you'll need to make.

Always bring a partner, a family member or perhaps a co-worker or a neighbor. That person can sit there and simply listen. So when you get home, you say, now did the doctor say take the pills on Tuesday and Thursday? No, the Doctor said don't take the pills on Tuesday and Thursday.

So it's always a good check to have a partner there. And don't hesitate to write things down. Sure, the doctor is going to give you a fact sheet when you're done, but information that you write down yourself is more likely to be remembered a longer time. Always be aware of your medications and make your doctor aware of your medications. If you're seeing a variety of doctors and taking all kinds of different pills, it's important that your doctor know everything that you're taking.

And finally, let me repeat this, let me repeat this, let me repeat this...

(LAUGHTER)

WALLACE: Yes.

LLOYD: Whenever your doctor tell says something, just tell it right back to them. Take the pill three times a day. So you want me to take it three times a day? The more you repeat things, the more relationship you build with the doctor because the doctor will be convinced you are actually listening to her.

WALLACE: Dr. Lloyd, we were going ahead and writing down all of those tips. Very helpful advice. Dr. Bill Lloyd, surgeon at University of California-Davis Medical Center. Thanks for being here today with that useful advice.

LLOYD: Talk to you again soon.

WALLACE: OK. And CNN LIVE SATURDAY will continue right after this. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: In this life, you can count yourself lucky if your passion also happens to be your profession. This next story is about the passion of an accomplished musician, a man who refused to let his dream die even after it was put on hold for decades.

Beth Nissen reports.

BETH NISSEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He was a true prodigy, studying with great pianist and teacher Artur Schnabel from the age of 9, making his debut with the New York Philharmonic in 1944 as a teenager.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Leon Fleisher, 16-year-old pianist, is the soloist.

FLEISHER: I don't really remember the time when I wasn't playing. My life revolved around music.

NISSEN: By his late 20s, Leon Fleischer was an internationally known concert pianist, playing 80 to 60 concerts a year and recording a series of successful albums. He was at peak of his playing ability, his professional career, when it started.

FLEISHER: I began to noticed that the fifth and fourth fingers of my right hand, involuntarily and uncontrollably curling under. I couldn't play. I could not use my right hand to play the piano because the fingers would not remain extended.

NISSEN: He saw a score of doctors, specialists, no one could help him even diagnose his problem.

FLEISHER: That was the beginning of a terrible depression for me. I thought almost daily of ending it all. My life as I had known it was over.

NISSEN: He was 36. It was many dark months before Fleisher had what he calls an "aha moment."

FLEISHER: I realized that my connection to music was more than just as a two-handed piano player. I needed to be connected with music.

NISSEN: He started a new career as a conductor and as a master teacher. Over the years, he gave occasional piano recitals, concerts playing music written for left hand alone, and he continued his exhaustive search for treatment that would released his crabbed right hand. Surgery, shock treatment, acupuncture.

FLEISHER: I tried everything from aromatherapy to Zen Buddhism and everything in between.

NISSEN: Doctors first diagnosed repetitive stress injury, then carpal tunnel syndrome before they finally identified the cause, a neurological movement disorder called dystonia.

FLEISHER: It attacks surgeons, it attacks people who use their hands, typists. In this country alone there are some 300,000 people with dystonia. And throughout the world, some 10,000 musicians.

NISSEN: In 1997, Fleisher was finally referred to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

FLEISHER: They had discovered botulinum toxin type A could be used to relieve these curling under symptoms.

NISSEN: Botulinum toxin, better known as Botox. Injections of Botox relaxed his hand muscles, allowed his fingers to extend fully.

FLEISHER: It just changed like almost instantly overnight. And I sat down and I began playing pieces and I could suddenly play them again.

NISSEN: "With Two Hands," that is the title of his newly released CD, his first solo recording in 40 years. He's once again booking recitals and concert percent in the U.S., Europe.

FLEISHER: And in the spring, I go back to China and Korea, Japan.

NISSEN: The passage of so much time has changed his playing.

FLEISHER: I can't play everything. I'm now 76, you know? I can't scamper around the keyboard the way I used to. NISSEN: Yet he can play, make music again with his own two hands.

Beth Nissen, CNN, Baltimore, Maryland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: We thank Beth Nissen for bringing us that beautiful report. That is all of the time we have for now. But stay with CNN. Up next, "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS." Today's profile, J.lo and A-Rod. I'll be back after a quick break with today's top stories.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com