Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

Syrian President Discusses Plans For Withdrawal From Lebenon; Airport Security, Under-Trained, Overworked; 30 Standed Dolphins Moved From Florida Keys To Rehab Center

Aired March 05, 2005 - 12:00   ET

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

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


ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: It is Noon on the east coast, 7:00 in the evening in Beirut. I'm Andrea Koppel at CNN's global headquarters. Ahead this hour:
Syrian President Assad addresses parliament about its future with Lebanon. We'll tell you what it means for the prospects of Middle East peace and the war on terrorism.

Also, under-trained and overworked: That's how Atlanta Airport screeners describe their jobs. How does it impact your security when you travel? Find out in our "CNN Security Watch".

And this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My motivation is that a recruit drowned. My motivation is that for three months I was telling them this was going to be a problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: A Marine whistle blower says other Marines could be at risk because of alleged traing abuses. We'll have that story.

But first, a CNN exclusive: New images of one of the most wanted men in the world. CNN recently obtained new pictures of the terrorist leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a top lieutenant in Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. The U.S. claims Zarqawi masterminded and carried out countless attacks on Iraqis and American troops. While sources tell CNN the man in these photographs are, in fact, al-Zarqawi, it's unclear how recently the photos were taken. Still they appear to happen at the same time and place. In the picture, Zarqawi is bearded and well groomed and appears relaxed.

A tense day in Lebanon, with Lebanese troops surrounding Syrian headquarters in Beirut. Then last hour, Syrian President Bashar al- Assad delivered his speech on Syria's plans for withdrawal from Lebanon. For more on this situation, we go live now to senior international correspondent Brent Sadler in Beirut.

So Brent, are they withdrawing or are they not?

BRENT SADLER, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that seems to be the case, but not what you would describe as a withdrawal in line with what President George W. Bush has been demanding. Let me just take you, right now, live to the heart of that national anthem singing by Lebanese protesters that's been going on now for the past two or three minutes.

President Bashar al-Assad of Syrian wrapped up his speech within the last five minutes. He said that Syrian troops would be withdrawing, all the Syrian troops, withdrawing to a new line in the Bakar Bali in compliance, an old Taif agreement, it's called, at end of the civil war dating back to 1989. He did not mention specifically what would happen to Lebanese security and intelligence forces. So it's security and intelligence forces that remain in this country. He did make it quite clear they would be withdrawing to a new line closer to Syria.

He also threw the ball back very firmly in the court of the United Nations, saying it was up to the U.N. to now negotiate and discuss with the Syrians how they wanted the Syrian troops to withdraw from this country so that it would not leave a vacuum, so it would not leave instability in Lebanon. The stability and unity of Lebanon, said President Bashar al-Assad, was essential, not only for Lebanese, but the Syrians. Syria, he said, have vital interests in Lebanon that must be maintained. This is what the president had to say a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SYRIA (through translator): We should not stay one day if they any (UNINTELLIGIBLE) consensus asking us to leave. Lebanon -- Syria cannot be in Lebanon to divide. We came there -- went there to stop division, so we cannot be a reason for or a factor in dividing them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SADLER: President Bashar al-Assad, just a few minutes ago. The speech lasted about one hour, Andrea. Some of the reaction was positive. A great cheer came out when the Syrian president said there would be a redeployment of Syrian troops, but then a lot of boos when the Syrian president made it clear that this would be a withdraw, Bashar al-Assad saying he was certain, after the end of the his speech, there would be some criticism. He didn't mention any names, any countries, but said he expected some strong criticism after the words he's just made to the parliamentary members of Syria's parliament in Damascus. Back to you, Andrea.

KOPPEL: Brent Sadler in Beirut. Thanks, Brent.

In his weekly radio address, President Bush said Lebanese citizens should be free to decide their own destiny, free of Syrian control. Our Elaine Quijano is live at the White House with more.

Elaine, I'm sure that the White House hasn't responded, as yet, after all this speech only just being wrapped up. But, any sense as to whether or not this is going to satisfy the U.S., at least for now?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think the short answer to that, Andrea, is no. In fact, the president, as you mentioned, in his weekly radio address, outlining, reiterating his position, one that he has laid out even well before today's announcement. Yesterday, in fact, the president saying, while he was stumping for Social Security in New Jersey that the U.S. wants to see Syria out of Lebanon completely and immediately.

Now, the president said that the world is speaking with one voice. He noted that Saudi Arabia has also called for a withdrawal of Syrian forces. And Mr. Bush said that after meeting last month with French President Jacques Chirac, in Europe, the two leaders were in agreement only a full withdrawal is acceptable.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Sat down with the French president and we came -- we understand some things. And one of the things we really understand is that Syria. Syrian troops, Syria's intelligence services must get out of Lebanon now. There's no half measures involved. And United States and France and others say withdraw, we mean complete withdrawal. No half hearted measures.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, the White House, of course, is looking ahead to parliamentary elections in Lebanon. And against that backdrop, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a television interview, yesterday, insisted that Syria's intelligence services were also an important component, that they must pull out, she said, as well, saying they cast a long shadow over Lebanon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Obviously, there are people there who are there, shall we say, not transparently, who are -- who interfere in Lebanese affairs, who probably cast a kind of chill over Lebanese affairs. We've seen this before when countries interfere in the affairs of others and do it surreptitiously. It's not a good thing. And the Syrians should withdraw that personnel, as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: So, the U.S. strategy now, continue keeping the pressure on Syria, continue isolating that country. But, of course, Andrea, there is a real concern about what may happen if and when Syria does pull out. What would that mean for the stability of Lebanon as well as Syria? Those are both open questions, the Bush administration, thought, watching the developments very closely -- Andrea.

KOPPEL: Ok, and of course, that's because of the Hezbollah's presence there. Elaine Quijano at the White House. Thanks, Elaine.

For more on Syria and Lebanon and reaction to the Syrian president's address, we turn to Flynt Leverett, who's a senior fellow at the Saban Center for Middle East Peace at the Brookings Institution; and is the author of the upcoming book, "Inheriting Syria: Bashar's Trial by Fire."

Flynt, let's get to the speech that Bashar al-Assad made. What did -- what jumped out at you?

FLYNT LEVERETT, SABAN CENTER, BROOKINGS INST.: Well, I thought it was a -- it was a serious effort by Bashar to put what he is doing in Lebanon in the broader context of Syrian foreign policy in the region: Syria's position toward the Arab-Israeli conflict; Syria's position toward Iraq; Syria's inability to get what it would see as a very constructive dialogue going with the Bush administration. And then, at the end of the speech, he puts what he is doing in Lebanon, in that context, explains something of the history of Syria's involvement in Lebanon and essentially says we're going to redeploy our forces to the Baka (PH), we've already brought down a number of those forces. Once we've redeployed to the Baka (PH) and move troops closer to the Syrian-Lebanese border, we've essentially implemented the Taif Accord and that's all we really need to do.

And I was very struck by his intent, really, I think, to defend continuity in Syrian foreign policy even in the face of all the international pressure that's now being put on Syria. The...

KOPPEL: So, basically, the bottom line is, Bashar al-Assad is saying, we're not pulling out of Lebanon?

LEVERETT: He certainly gave no indication that he was planning on withdrawing all Syrian forces from Lebanon. He talked about the redeployment. He talked about the withdrawals that have already taken place, but didn't give a timetable for the redeployment. And he said nothing about further withdrawals except that if there is a Lebanese consensus at some point that Syrian forces should leave, they would leave.

KOPPEL: And is that possible to get a consensus, knowing that Hezbollah has so many seats within parliament? Is that a fudge word?

LEVERETT: I -- it may be a fudge word, but maybe in a different way than you're suggesting. I think Bashar may be leaving himself a little bit of room to come back to this issue. He's going to gauge the regional and international reaction to this speech. We are supposed to have Lebanese parliamentary elections later this spring. Right now, in some respects, you could say, there's not really a Lebanese government for Syria to negotiate with...

KOPPEL: In -- in...

LEVERETT: And he may want to come back to this.

KOPPEL: Flynt, help our viewers understand why people in the United States should care whether or not there are Lebanese troops, excuse me, Syrian troops in Lebanon, whether or not there are Syrian intelligence troops in Lebanon. LEVERETT: Well, the United States has had, for many decades now, a commitment to Lebanese sovereignty and independence, and I think that commitment is going to stay in place. But, I think it's important for people to understand that there is a history to the way Syria got there. It's intimately connected with the Lebanese civil war, and that an overly precipitous Syrian withdrawal, a Syrian withdrawal that isn't managed in a way that prevents a reemergence of conflict or tensions in Lebanon is going to serve in the interest of the United States very well. In the early 1980s, we tried this and a lot of American Marines lost their lives, as a result.

KOPPEL: Flynt, some of our viewers may not be aware of the fact that Bashar al-Assad has only been in this job, as president, since his father died in 2001. Even if he wanted to withdraw all Syrian troops from Lebanon, does he have the clout in his own country to do this?

LEVERETT: Actually, I think he would have the clout to be able to order the withdrawal of Syrian troops and have those orders carried out, but he is not going to do that in a way that is going to jeopardize his ability to protect what he and many other Syrians, in the political system there, see as their vital interest in Lebanon. If they're going to withdraw, it is only take place over time, in a carefully negotiated manner. And there is still, as he pointed out in the speech, there is going to be Syrian interests in Lebanon and there is still be a Syrian role in Lebanon.

KOPPEL: And we heard from Elaine Quijano, the Bush administration saying there are no half measures, so indeed, the White House will not be pleased by this.

Flynt Leverett joining us from Washington. Thanks so much for joining us from Washington.

LEVERETT: Thank you, Andrea.

KOPPEL: Giuliana Sgrena was held hostage for a month, released and the almost immediately shot by U.S. troops. What happened? Alessio Vinci will explain straight ahead.

Back in this country, a Marine speaks out about swim training at a military camp and what he says was a death waiting to happen.

And later:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we're required to have three hours, and I'm getting about 25 minutes a week.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: Think you're secure with airport security? Jeanne Meserve takes a look at one of the busiest airports in the world in our "CNN Security Watch."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Italians celebrate Giuliana Sgrena bittersweet return to Rome this morning, a month after she was taken captive by Iraqi insurgents. Rome bureau chief, Alessio Vinci reports now on the tragic events that happened only hours before she was to come home, leaving Sgrena wounded and an Italian security agent dead.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Giuliana Sgrena she has an extraordinary story to tell, kidnapped in Iraq a month ago, her captors were said to have executed her just days later. Then, a dramatic video in which she pleaded for her life and for Italy to withdraw troops from Iraq.

Finally, her release, at the hands of a man who paid the ultimate price for her freedom. Nicola Calipari was one of Italy's top intelligence agents in Iraq. He died trying shielded her as U.S. forces opened fire on her car at a checkpoint. She suffered minor wounds to her left shoulder while two other officers in the car were also injured. Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, summoned the U.S. ambassador to Rome, saying someone has to take responsibility for what happened. The U.S. has promised a full investigation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nicola Calipari is a friend and ally to the United States, and today, his heroism must be evident to all of us.

VINCI: Accounts, provided by U.S. forces in Baghdad, indicate that the car in which sgrena was traveling approach the checkpoint at high speed and ignored several warnings to stop.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I have heard it was said that the Americans signaledments to the car to stop, but Giuliana told me she didn't see anything. They were driving calmly. They had already passed many checkpoints. Therefore, everybody had been informed.

VINCI: What began as a successful operation to free a hostage, quickly turned into a tragedy. Giuliani Sgrena's communist newspaper, "IL Manifesto" was among the most vociferous critics of the U.S. invasion in Iraq. Their headline today, "The agent was assassinated."

In the streets of Rome, as people picked up the morning newspapers, anger and bewilderment.

We were all so happy, says this Marco Baroncelli (PH), a photographer, but after what happened, what can I say? We're all left speechless.

(on camera): The incident will clearly test the strong relations between the U.S. and Italy. And while Americans have promised a full investigation, the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, is likely to come under renewed pressure to rethink his commitment in Iraq, where Italy has more than 3,000 troops. Alessio Vinci CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: And in Iraq today, the Iraqi police say followers of a Shiite cleric gathered outside a Baghdad mosque to protect his funeral. The cleric was shot and killed Friday while getting into his car.

Military officials say four soldiers were killed in the al-Anbar province, Friday. The four were assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. No details were released on how they were killed.

Three Marine Corps. drill instructors have been suspended after a recruit drowned last month. Five had already been suspended and sixth was assigned administrative duty. A Marine officer now tells senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre he believes his warnings about instructors using unsafe techniques were ignored.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MACINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nineteen-year-old Jason Tharp drowned at Parris Island, February 8, a day after he was seen in a videotape taken by WIS TV being shoved by a swim instructor. The South Carolina station reported he apparently resisted going into the water. It was that incident that prompted Marine captain, Delbert Marriott to contact CNN.

DELBERT MARRIOTT, U.S. MARINE: My motivation is that a recruit drowned. My motivation is that for three months I was telling them this was going to be a problem. If we find a correlation, or we don't find a correlation, it still doesn't change the fact that someone identified a problem.

MACINTYRE: Last year, Marriott's assignment was to review swim training at Camp Johnson, North Carolina, where many of the Parris Island trainers are trained. The scathing conclusion of his November 30 report: "I found the biggest issue to be the complete disregard for safety."

In a follow-up e-mail a week later, he warned superiors drill sergeants were, quote, "doing their own thing and someone will die because of it."

(on camera): That's pretty strong stuff.

MARRIOTT: It is.

MACINTYRE: Was anything done at that point?

MARRIOTT: No. They're still down there instructing right now.

MACINTYRE (voice-over): "His accusations are totally false," is how Marriott's commander responded when contacted by CNN. Lieutenant Colonel Gary Lambertson, told CNN he immediately stopped the practices questioned by Marriott, pending further review. Marriott documented the difficulty of one of those practices in this videotape. Could instructors do something required of their instructors in training, swim the demanding crawl stroke for nearly two miles, gradually shedding full combat gear? Marriott says the strong swimmers struggled and one gave up.

MARRIOTT: If they have a hard time doing this stroke, imagine about the lance corporal that feels he needs to do this stroke to pass the course? He may drown trying to do the crawl stroke for 3,600 yards.

MACINTYRE: The Marine Corps. argues there's no connection between the arduous training for top instructors at Camp Johnson and the basic course for fresh recruits at Parris Island. Marriott disagrees.

MARRIOTT: I mean, we're the lead school, so if we've given an impression that this kind of training's OK, well, when they go out to their commands, they're going to do the same type of traing.

MACINTYRE: In his original report, Marriott also warned about sharking, instructors yanking students underwater while they played underwater hockey.

MARRIOTT: During the underwater hockey, the student was expected to go to the bottom of the pool holding their breath and push a 10- pound weight to the other side, now this is in full combat gear. Instructors jumped on students' backs whether they were participating or not.

MACINTYRE (on camera): It was a accident waiting to happen?

MARRIOTT: Absolutely, it was. It was a death waiting to happen.

MACINTYRE: A Marine Corps. spokesman declined to appear on camera, but vigorously disputed the procedures now under review at Camp Johnson, are unsafe. Pointing out, there's never been a drowning there or even a rescue. And he said the three separate investigations into the death of Jason Tharp will include a thorough review of procedures at Parris Island, as well.

(voice-over): Marriott, an accomplished tri-athlete, wants out of the corps and admits he doesn't have a spotless record, but he insists he has no personal agenda.

MARRIOTT: My motivation is that, no one's going to apologize to this family. I'll apologize. I'm sorry. I wish I could have done something.

MACINTYRE: Jamie Macintyre, CNN, Camp Johnson, North Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: Speaking of wanting to do something, meet the Horns, a one-family supply unit for soldiers serving in Iraq. Their story of reaching out on-line will touch your heart. We'll bring it to you in the 2:00 p.m. Eastern hour. But first, a chimpanzee attack prompts an investigation at a California animal sanctuary. We got that story coming up next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOPPEL: Nearly 30 Rough-Toothed Dolphins stranded off the Florida Keys are being moved to rehabilitation centers. At least six dolphins died. Veterinarians had to euthenize 13 others that were not expected to survive. Marine officials don't know why they animals beached themselves, but say it can happen when dolphins or whales become sick, injured, or disoriented.

A California man is in critical condition, undergoing treatment and reconstructive surgery following a gruesome and, we mean gruesome, attack by a pair of chimpanzees. The man's face was horribly disfigured, his foot was ripped off, and other parts of his body viciously manageled. This morning, authorities want to know how the chips escaped from their cage at an annual -- an animal refuge. CNN's Rusty Dornin has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It began as a celebration and ended with nothing to celebrate. St. James Davis and his wife, LaDonna, were visiting a chimpanzee, Moe, at the Animal Haven Ranch in Kern County, California. Moe once lived in the couple's home like a son and they came to celebrate his 39th birthday. Moe had come to live at the ranch last year. The Davises were overjoyed.

LADONNA DAVIS, FORMER CHIMPANZEE OWNER: Moe lived in our home with us for over 33 years. He is sweet and warm hearted, and has been the light of our lives.

DORNIN: The ranch was his second sanctuary. The chip was removed from the couple's home in 1999 after he bit the finger of a friend who was visiting the family. But during this birthday visit Thursday, two other chimps, in an adjacent cage, suddenly attacked St. James, mulling him critically and injuring LaDonna. The son-in-law of the ranch owner, shot one of the aggressive chimps.

CMDR. HAL CHEALANDER, KERN COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT.: He had to go back in and reload and came back out and shot and ultimately killed the chimpanzee that was advancing on Mr. Davis.

DORNIN: Two other female chimps escaped, but were later rounded up.

(on camera): Ranch owners declined comment on the incident, but neighbors told us it was not uncommon to see the chimps on the property, and they seemed very well cared for.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were concerned about the animals and they also had bins of oranges for them and, oh you know, all kind of treats and things. So, they kept them pretty well occupied.

DORNIN (voice-over): No one knows why it happened. State fish and game investigators are most concerned about how the animals escaped. They plan to test the dead chimps for rabies. Moe was not involved in the attack. But, for St. James, a man who has dedicated his life to caring for animals like this, the attack was both a physical and emotionally brutal encounter. His family, though, has said they're not ready to comment on his condition. The permit for the facility expires in three weeks. In the meantime, Moe remains inside.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, Havilah, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: More than 83 million people travel through Atlanta's airport every year. Coming up, Jeanne Meserve reports on questionable security practices and asks the question: Are the screeners getting enough training?

And if you have been listening to the president recently, you may have noticed President Bush has changed his pitch on Social Security. Dana Bash will tell us why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOPPEL: Now to our security watch, and a couple of airline securities that made headline this is week. Beginning April 14, cigarette lighters will no longer be allowed in commercial airplane cabins in the U.S. or beyond airport security checkpoints. The lighters are already banned in check baggage. In a related note, it's currently up to the airlines to compare those names on passenger names to the government watch lists. But federal transportation officials will be testing their own pre-screening system in August, with two airlines that have not yet been named. The government wants to take over the system to verify passenger identities. Our security watch segment continues now. There's increasing concern about too little training for security screeners at Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson Airport.

CNN's America Bureau correspondent, Jeanne Meserve reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN AMERICA BUREAU CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): More people fly through Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport, than any other airport in the world. Some screeners say the heavy workload is preventing them from getting the required weekly training.

JOHN SUMMEROUR, SECURITY SCREENER: Well, we're required to have three hours, and I'm getting about 25 minutes a week.

MESERVE: Security experts say the training is critical for screeners to keep up with the latest terrorist methods for concealing weapons.

CLARK KENT ERVIN, SECURITY ANALYST: We all know that if terrorist will try to sneak weapons pass the screener workforce, they're going to do so in the most innovative way that they can think of. So, training is absolutely essential.

MESERVE (on camera): Do you think that it puts the traveling public at risk if screeners aren't having this recurring training.

ERVIN: Absolutely.

MESERVE (voice-over): The Transportation Security Administration says, in Atlanta last year, only three screeners out of 1,100 failed their recertification exam, an indication that training is adequate. It's not always done in a classroom or at a computer.

MARK HATFIELD, TSA SPOKESMAN: But some of that takes place on the job where they're being tested by computer projected images of threat items, while they're working the X-ray machine, while they're being tested by covert operatives who attempt to get items through the checkpoint. And -- so, all those various things -- the morning meetings with role call.

MESERVE: Screeners maintain the definition of training should be much narrower.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How to recognize that's a prohibited item. What to look for. But we've not been trained on.

MESERVE: Screeners also allege, they're asked to sign paperwork saying that they've gotten their required training even when they feel they not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you don't sign it, they threaten you, saying something may happen to you, you may lose your job.

MESERVE: TSA officials say no Atlanta screener has ever been ordered to falsify a document or has been threatened with discipline or dismissal.

These three with whom we spoke are all members of the American Federation of Government employees. They acknowledge the training issue could help recruit new members. But they say their real concern is the safety of more than the 83 million people who fly through Hartsfield each year.

For CNN's American Bureau, Jeanne Meserve, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

A new report gives Democrats more ammunition in their battle with President Bush over his spending plans. The Congressional Budget Office says under the president's plans the federal deficit will top $200 billion each year for the next decade, and that does not include the potential price tag for Mr. Bush's plan to revamp Social Security, plus the costs of the ongoing military operation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Democrats say the Bush budget will pass on a crippling and growing debt to future generations.

Well, with critics blasting President Bush's plan to overhaul Social Security, the administration has launched a counter attack, a two-month travel blitz to sell the plan is under way. And yesterday, the president hit the road with stops in New Jersey, and Indiana.

Here is CNN's White House correspondent, Dana Bash.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The president with the business degree knows, if your product is not selling, you better change your pitch.

BUSH: Social Security has provided a safety net for many retirees, and that's an important safety net. But the safety net has got a hole in it.

BASH: Safety net is lingo borrowed from Democrats, the retooled rhetoric aimed at emphasizing he's committed to preserving Social Security benefits, not just pushing private accounts for younger workers.

ANDREW KOHUT, PEW RESEARCH CENTER: The president is going to -- going to have to radically change the message, and convince the American public that the way they have come to think about these accounts is not quite right.

BASH: Before this New Jersey trip, the president already visited nine states looking for public support for his plan. Yet the more Americans hear, several polls show, the less they like his ideas, especially so-called personal accounts.

REP. BOB MENEDEZ (D), NEW JERSEY: Mr. President, you are not welcome with your program on privatizing Social Security.

BASH: The reason Bush aides complain, highly organized and well funded opposition campaigns like these in New Jersey. Among the targets here, Republican Congressman Mike Ferguson, at the president's event, but not ready to endorse personalized accounts.

REP. MIKE FERGUSON (R), NEW JERSEY: There's not one plan out there right now, we're either supporting or opposing.

BASH: The Democratic National Committee bought it's first round of ads to put the squeeze on.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Call Congressman Ferguson and tell him to oppose President Bush's risky scheme.

BUSH: I don't care what the ads say. I don't care what the scare tactics say. You are going to get your check just like the government said.

BASH: But Democrats insist the Bush plan is doomed. Forty-two senators, enough to sustain a filibuster signed this letter saying, unless he drops private accounts, it will be impossible to establish the kind of cooperative, bipartisan process we need. In New Jersey, and later in Indiana, the president still pitched personal accounts hard. Calling them the best investment for younger workers. (on camera): While the president spent all day repeating he would not let anyone 55 or older lose their Social Security benefits, he was also careful to tell a younger worker here, that he's not making him the same promise.

Dana Bash, CNN, Notre Dame, Indiana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: The first week in testimony in the Michael Jackson trial has wrapped up in Florida. The pop star says he is pleased, but angry with some of what happens happened so far. We'll get a check of the weeks headlight, just ahead.

Plus, Martha Stewart's future. Will Americans forgive and forget? Our Jeff Greenfield weighs in on the domestic diva and her chances for a comeback.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOPPEL: The first week of Michael Jackson's child molestation trial is over, a trial that's expected to run upwards of six months.

CNN's Ted Rowlands has a recap now of the week's events.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL JACKSON, ENTERTAINER: It went very good. It was very good.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Walking out of court, Michael Jackson expressed his pleasure with what many observers agree was a very good day for his defense team. The family of the boy Jackson is accused of molesting praised him extensively on a video played by the prosecution in court.

ANN BREMNER, LEGAL ANALYST: The prosecutor had to put the video on before the defense did, because it's so devastating to the prosecution.

ROWLANDS: The video is the raw footage of a planned documentary that was being assembled to help Jackson's public image. The tape seems to clearly help the defense claim that the family was mistakenly expecting Jackson to be a permanent part of their lives. On several occasions on the video, the victim's mother oddly described Michael Jackson as not just a celebrity helping a sick child, but as a father figure for her children. At one point, she said, "He's assisting me in filling the role of a father figure they've never had."

The victim's older sister spent a second day on the stand on cross examination. At one point, she broke down, testifying about alleged abuse by her father. The sister answered she couldn't remember to many of the questions asked by Thomas Mesereau, Jackson's attorney. Jackson's mother, his sister, LaToya, and brother, Jermaine, were all in court for the day. Jackson's publicist says he is ready for the long haul. RAYMONE BAIN, JACKSON'S PUBLICIST: He feels his defense team has done a good job, but it doesn't mean he is ready to go out here and celebrate. Because we have a long way to go.

ROWLANDS: The victim's sister who has now been on the stand for the better part of two full days is expected to be back on the stand for more cross examination when court resumes on Monday.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Santa Maria, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: Meet the masters of reinvention. Coming up a little bit later, Jeff Greenfield looks at some of the greatly career come backs in recent American history.

But first, got spring fever? We've the answer, perhaps for some of you. The best places to chase that little white ball around. Golf getaways when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOPPEL: Spring is in the air. Winter is ending. But your golf bag is probably dusty, and your swing is probably a little rusty too. What to do? It's time for a spring golf "Getaway" to get up to speed in style. And To help us do that, Kate Dolan of "Travel + Leisure Golf" magazine has some great suggestions. She joins us right now from New York. And Kate, I have to imagine that spring is probably an incredibly popular time for people to get out on the links.

KATE DOLAN:, "TRAVEL + LEISURE GOLF": Yes. It's time to get your swing into gear. Everyone is excited for the new year. They've read our magazine. They know all the equipment is new. It's very excited.

KOPPEL: Well, let's kind of go through some of the places that you all lay out in your magazine. And why don't we begin with the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa, which I understand is very popular among some of the stars of the sport.

DOLAN Yes. This is an historic resort, It's 75-years-old. And the history there is amazing. Clark Gable actually played there in the early 1940s, and lost his wedding ring on the course. Of course, the attentive Biltmore staff searched high and low and found the ring. The funny thing is, we don't know who he was married to at the time since, he was married five times. But this resort is great. They're doing a great -- great package right now, $300 for three nights, and you get $100 resort credit.

KOPPEL: Terrific. Let us move on to Pinehurst in North Carolina, which I understand, is also going to be hosting this year's U.S. Open.

DOLAN Yes. And you can go, right now, to Pinehurst and pretty much act like a championship player. In their championship package, you can play just like Tiger will play on the number two. You'll have a caddie wearing your name on his jersey. They'll announce you as you tee off. It's very exciting. The resort there is also beautiful. The spa -- and I can tell you, I went this time last year, and had this amazing Georgian peach scrub. It's just all inclusive there.

KOPPEL: In North Carolina, no less.

DOLAN Yes. You wouldn't even think about it, but it's true.

KOPPEL: What about the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa there? I don't know if you had a scrub while you were there. But I understand Arnold Palmer says it's the best kept secret in the U.S.

DOLAN Well, at "Travel + Leisure Golf" we are here to reveal all the best tidbits in golf. And this is certainly one of them. This course is gorgeous. The resort itself is beautiful. Rooms are low right now. But if you do want to splurge (ph), there is a four- bedroom pent house suite, right over the spa. And you actually get your own spa personal room. It's quite a luxurious trip.

KOPPEL: Cool. Well, Listen, we've also got the lodge at Tori Pines, I understand.

DOLAN: Yes. They actually just renovated their South Course. Reese Jones (ph) came in and worked on the South Course in an attempt to lure the U.S. Open there. And they did it. They are going to be there in 2008. So, we say go now before the crowds go. Tori Pine is beautiful. A lot of people love to stay there. Pebble Beach one -- is right in the area, but a lot of people choose to stay at Tori Pines, because it's so amazing.

KOPPEL: In our remaining seconds here, I want your input on the Four Seasons Resort at Maui, which your magazine says is best for families.

DOLAN: Yes. Our readers voted this one of the best vacations for families. They have a kids club there, that they just do anything. They wade in tide pools. They have coconut demonstrations. They look for geckos. It's great. And the golf there is amazing. It's just so lush and so beautiful. And people wouldn't think to go to Maui now, but it's a great time to go.

KOPPEL: I think it's always a wonderful time to go to Hawaii.

DOLAN: Yes.

KOPPEL: But Kate, we should let our viewers know that, you are not just a golf lover, but you're the only girl in a family with four boys and you started playing when you were a little girl.

DOLAN: Yes.

KOPPEL: And so you really know something about the sport. Kate Dolan, thanks so much for joining us from New York.

DOLAN: Thank you, Andrea. KOPPEL: Well, F. Scott Fitzgerald said there were no second acts in America, but then he never knew Martha. Jeff Greenfield takes a closer look at some of the others who found forgiveness in the land of the free. That story for you when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOPPEL: Martha Stewart is spending this weekend at her New York estate in relative freedom. Within days she'll be fitted with an electronic anklet and will begin five months in house arrest. That means, no long strolls around the grounds, no visiting with her horses or even walking her dogs. But she will be free to pursue her career and prepare for her appeal which is scheduled for March 17th. Stewart has a lot on her plate, a new television show -- actually, a couple of them, a magazine column and her own version of "The Apprentice."

As CNN's senior analyst, Jeff Greenfield explains, America really is the land of second chances.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Martha, is there any...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Martha (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Leave Martha alone.

JEFF GREENFIELD, SENIOR ANALYST (voice-over): If you want to know how Martha Stewart went from this to this after five months in prison, start with the most famous words of this famous American writer. F. Scott Fitzgerald once observed there are no second acts in American lives. He could not have been more wrong.

MARCUS MABRY, "NEWSWEEK" SENIOR EDITOR: This is a country where we believe in second acts. We believe in redemption. We believe in confessional stories. We believe in the comeback.

GREENFIELD: Marcus Mabry, a senior editor at "Newsweek," could be talking about all sorts of famous Americans.

Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry went to prison after being caught on tape smoking crack. Came out...

MARION BARRY, FORMER MAYOR OF WASHINGTON D.C.: So help me God.

GREENFIELD: got elected mayor again. He is now on the D.C. City Council.

RICHARD NIXON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You don't have Nixon to kick around anymore.

GREENFIELD: Richard Nixon came back from political death in 1962 after losing a California governor's race to win two terms as president.

NIXON: We live in a new world. GREENFIELD: And came back from resignation and disgrace after Watergate to become an elder statesman. And the man that helped plan that Watergate break in, G. Gordon Liddy, came back from a lengthy prison term...

G. GORDON LIDDY, INVOLVED IN WATERGATE SCANDAL: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) G. Gordon Liddy Show.

GREENFIELD: ... to become a best-selling author, radio talk show host and lecture circuit writer.

LIDDY: If you sit back and decide that there are no second acts and don't do anything, well, there won't be any. But if you will not accept that and go on out and work at something, you can do it.

GREENFIELD: In Martha Stewart's case, her comeback flows from many sources. She did her time with no grousing, no demands for special favors. Her crime, was by some measures, relatively minor.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love you Martha.

GREENFIELD: Many supporters, in fact, believe her real crime was being a rich, very successful, very demanding boss woman. Nor did she ever express contrition, a good thing, editor Mabry says.

MABRY: I think it's really interesting that her stock and her company are doing well, in fact, because the woman looks defiant and she looks strong.

GREENFIELD: She is also a famous person, a quality that, in some cases, seems to insulate wrong doers from scorn. We are, after all, in a country where an auto mechanic, who became famous for having sex with a teenager -- who almost killed his wife -- still gets asked for his autograph.

LIDDY: I can't speak for Joey. But I can say that, people who are either famous or notorious are treated pretty much the same.

JACKSON: Neverland is my home.

GREENFIELD: Which does not mean we forgive everything. If Michael Jackson is found guilty, it's hard to imagine most of the public will embrace a convicted child molester.

(on camera): But in general, those who have fallen from grace in this country have a powerful ally in their efforts to come back, that deeply embedded belief that this is the land of the second chance, the fresh start. Millions of our ancestors crossed oceans or a frontier, and left behind their roots, their language, their country and their past. So, it's not surprising that we may be so willing to extend to others what so many of our forbearers sought for themselves.

Jeff Greenfield, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: I think there's another way of putting. Some people could call it hutzpah.

There is much more ahead on CNN SATURDAY. In a few moments, we're going to have "IN THE MONEY" with Jack Cafferty. And at 2:00 Eastern, CNN LIVE Saturday introduces you to a remarkable family in Maryland, that's reaching out to soldiers in Iraq and really making a difference. And at 3:00, it's "NEXT@CNN.

But first, we've got a quick break and then a check of the headlines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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 March 5, 2005 - 12:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: It is Noon on the east coast, 7:00 in the evening in Beirut. I'm Andrea Koppel at CNN's global headquarters. Ahead this hour:
Syrian President Assad addresses parliament about its future with Lebanon. We'll tell you what it means for the prospects of Middle East peace and the war on terrorism.

Also, under-trained and overworked: That's how Atlanta Airport screeners describe their jobs. How does it impact your security when you travel? Find out in our "CNN Security Watch".

And this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My motivation is that a recruit drowned. My motivation is that for three months I was telling them this was going to be a problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: A Marine whistle blower says other Marines could be at risk because of alleged traing abuses. We'll have that story.

But first, a CNN exclusive: New images of one of the most wanted men in the world. CNN recently obtained new pictures of the terrorist leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a top lieutenant in Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. The U.S. claims Zarqawi masterminded and carried out countless attacks on Iraqis and American troops. While sources tell CNN the man in these photographs are, in fact, al-Zarqawi, it's unclear how recently the photos were taken. Still they appear to happen at the same time and place. In the picture, Zarqawi is bearded and well groomed and appears relaxed.

A tense day in Lebanon, with Lebanese troops surrounding Syrian headquarters in Beirut. Then last hour, Syrian President Bashar al- Assad delivered his speech on Syria's plans for withdrawal from Lebanon. For more on this situation, we go live now to senior international correspondent Brent Sadler in Beirut.

So Brent, are they withdrawing or are they not?

BRENT SADLER, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that seems to be the case, but not what you would describe as a withdrawal in line with what President George W. Bush has been demanding. Let me just take you, right now, live to the heart of that national anthem singing by Lebanese protesters that's been going on now for the past two or three minutes.

President Bashar al-Assad of Syrian wrapped up his speech within the last five minutes. He said that Syrian troops would be withdrawing, all the Syrian troops, withdrawing to a new line in the Bakar Bali in compliance, an old Taif agreement, it's called, at end of the civil war dating back to 1989. He did not mention specifically what would happen to Lebanese security and intelligence forces. So it's security and intelligence forces that remain in this country. He did make it quite clear they would be withdrawing to a new line closer to Syria.

He also threw the ball back very firmly in the court of the United Nations, saying it was up to the U.N. to now negotiate and discuss with the Syrians how they wanted the Syrian troops to withdraw from this country so that it would not leave a vacuum, so it would not leave instability in Lebanon. The stability and unity of Lebanon, said President Bashar al-Assad, was essential, not only for Lebanese, but the Syrians. Syria, he said, have vital interests in Lebanon that must be maintained. This is what the president had to say a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SYRIA (through translator): We should not stay one day if they any (UNINTELLIGIBLE) consensus asking us to leave. Lebanon -- Syria cannot be in Lebanon to divide. We came there -- went there to stop division, so we cannot be a reason for or a factor in dividing them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SADLER: President Bashar al-Assad, just a few minutes ago. The speech lasted about one hour, Andrea. Some of the reaction was positive. A great cheer came out when the Syrian president said there would be a redeployment of Syrian troops, but then a lot of boos when the Syrian president made it clear that this would be a withdraw, Bashar al-Assad saying he was certain, after the end of the his speech, there would be some criticism. He didn't mention any names, any countries, but said he expected some strong criticism after the words he's just made to the parliamentary members of Syria's parliament in Damascus. Back to you, Andrea.

KOPPEL: Brent Sadler in Beirut. Thanks, Brent.

In his weekly radio address, President Bush said Lebanese citizens should be free to decide their own destiny, free of Syrian control. Our Elaine Quijano is live at the White House with more.

Elaine, I'm sure that the White House hasn't responded, as yet, after all this speech only just being wrapped up. But, any sense as to whether or not this is going to satisfy the U.S., at least for now?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think the short answer to that, Andrea, is no. In fact, the president, as you mentioned, in his weekly radio address, outlining, reiterating his position, one that he has laid out even well before today's announcement. Yesterday, in fact, the president saying, while he was stumping for Social Security in New Jersey that the U.S. wants to see Syria out of Lebanon completely and immediately.

Now, the president said that the world is speaking with one voice. He noted that Saudi Arabia has also called for a withdrawal of Syrian forces. And Mr. Bush said that after meeting last month with French President Jacques Chirac, in Europe, the two leaders were in agreement only a full withdrawal is acceptable.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Sat down with the French president and we came -- we understand some things. And one of the things we really understand is that Syria. Syrian troops, Syria's intelligence services must get out of Lebanon now. There's no half measures involved. And United States and France and others say withdraw, we mean complete withdrawal. No half hearted measures.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, the White House, of course, is looking ahead to parliamentary elections in Lebanon. And against that backdrop, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a television interview, yesterday, insisted that Syria's intelligence services were also an important component, that they must pull out, she said, as well, saying they cast a long shadow over Lebanon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Obviously, there are people there who are there, shall we say, not transparently, who are -- who interfere in Lebanese affairs, who probably cast a kind of chill over Lebanese affairs. We've seen this before when countries interfere in the affairs of others and do it surreptitiously. It's not a good thing. And the Syrians should withdraw that personnel, as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: So, the U.S. strategy now, continue keeping the pressure on Syria, continue isolating that country. But, of course, Andrea, there is a real concern about what may happen if and when Syria does pull out. What would that mean for the stability of Lebanon as well as Syria? Those are both open questions, the Bush administration, thought, watching the developments very closely -- Andrea.

KOPPEL: Ok, and of course, that's because of the Hezbollah's presence there. Elaine Quijano at the White House. Thanks, Elaine.

For more on Syria and Lebanon and reaction to the Syrian president's address, we turn to Flynt Leverett, who's a senior fellow at the Saban Center for Middle East Peace at the Brookings Institution; and is the author of the upcoming book, "Inheriting Syria: Bashar's Trial by Fire."

Flynt, let's get to the speech that Bashar al-Assad made. What did -- what jumped out at you?

FLYNT LEVERETT, SABAN CENTER, BROOKINGS INST.: Well, I thought it was a -- it was a serious effort by Bashar to put what he is doing in Lebanon in the broader context of Syrian foreign policy in the region: Syria's position toward the Arab-Israeli conflict; Syria's position toward Iraq; Syria's inability to get what it would see as a very constructive dialogue going with the Bush administration. And then, at the end of the speech, he puts what he is doing in Lebanon, in that context, explains something of the history of Syria's involvement in Lebanon and essentially says we're going to redeploy our forces to the Baka (PH), we've already brought down a number of those forces. Once we've redeployed to the Baka (PH) and move troops closer to the Syrian-Lebanese border, we've essentially implemented the Taif Accord and that's all we really need to do.

And I was very struck by his intent, really, I think, to defend continuity in Syrian foreign policy even in the face of all the international pressure that's now being put on Syria. The...

KOPPEL: So, basically, the bottom line is, Bashar al-Assad is saying, we're not pulling out of Lebanon?

LEVERETT: He certainly gave no indication that he was planning on withdrawing all Syrian forces from Lebanon. He talked about the redeployment. He talked about the withdrawals that have already taken place, but didn't give a timetable for the redeployment. And he said nothing about further withdrawals except that if there is a Lebanese consensus at some point that Syrian forces should leave, they would leave.

KOPPEL: And is that possible to get a consensus, knowing that Hezbollah has so many seats within parliament? Is that a fudge word?

LEVERETT: I -- it may be a fudge word, but maybe in a different way than you're suggesting. I think Bashar may be leaving himself a little bit of room to come back to this issue. He's going to gauge the regional and international reaction to this speech. We are supposed to have Lebanese parliamentary elections later this spring. Right now, in some respects, you could say, there's not really a Lebanese government for Syria to negotiate with...

KOPPEL: In -- in...

LEVERETT: And he may want to come back to this.

KOPPEL: Flynt, help our viewers understand why people in the United States should care whether or not there are Lebanese troops, excuse me, Syrian troops in Lebanon, whether or not there are Syrian intelligence troops in Lebanon. LEVERETT: Well, the United States has had, for many decades now, a commitment to Lebanese sovereignty and independence, and I think that commitment is going to stay in place. But, I think it's important for people to understand that there is a history to the way Syria got there. It's intimately connected with the Lebanese civil war, and that an overly precipitous Syrian withdrawal, a Syrian withdrawal that isn't managed in a way that prevents a reemergence of conflict or tensions in Lebanon is going to serve in the interest of the United States very well. In the early 1980s, we tried this and a lot of American Marines lost their lives, as a result.

KOPPEL: Flynt, some of our viewers may not be aware of the fact that Bashar al-Assad has only been in this job, as president, since his father died in 2001. Even if he wanted to withdraw all Syrian troops from Lebanon, does he have the clout in his own country to do this?

LEVERETT: Actually, I think he would have the clout to be able to order the withdrawal of Syrian troops and have those orders carried out, but he is not going to do that in a way that is going to jeopardize his ability to protect what he and many other Syrians, in the political system there, see as their vital interest in Lebanon. If they're going to withdraw, it is only take place over time, in a carefully negotiated manner. And there is still, as he pointed out in the speech, there is going to be Syrian interests in Lebanon and there is still be a Syrian role in Lebanon.

KOPPEL: And we heard from Elaine Quijano, the Bush administration saying there are no half measures, so indeed, the White House will not be pleased by this.

Flynt Leverett joining us from Washington. Thanks so much for joining us from Washington.

LEVERETT: Thank you, Andrea.

KOPPEL: Giuliana Sgrena was held hostage for a month, released and the almost immediately shot by U.S. troops. What happened? Alessio Vinci will explain straight ahead.

Back in this country, a Marine speaks out about swim training at a military camp and what he says was a death waiting to happen.

And later:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we're required to have three hours, and I'm getting about 25 minutes a week.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: Think you're secure with airport security? Jeanne Meserve takes a look at one of the busiest airports in the world in our "CNN Security Watch."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Italians celebrate Giuliana Sgrena bittersweet return to Rome this morning, a month after she was taken captive by Iraqi insurgents. Rome bureau chief, Alessio Vinci reports now on the tragic events that happened only hours before she was to come home, leaving Sgrena wounded and an Italian security agent dead.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Giuliana Sgrena she has an extraordinary story to tell, kidnapped in Iraq a month ago, her captors were said to have executed her just days later. Then, a dramatic video in which she pleaded for her life and for Italy to withdraw troops from Iraq.

Finally, her release, at the hands of a man who paid the ultimate price for her freedom. Nicola Calipari was one of Italy's top intelligence agents in Iraq. He died trying shielded her as U.S. forces opened fire on her car at a checkpoint. She suffered minor wounds to her left shoulder while two other officers in the car were also injured. Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, summoned the U.S. ambassador to Rome, saying someone has to take responsibility for what happened. The U.S. has promised a full investigation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nicola Calipari is a friend and ally to the United States, and today, his heroism must be evident to all of us.

VINCI: Accounts, provided by U.S. forces in Baghdad, indicate that the car in which sgrena was traveling approach the checkpoint at high speed and ignored several warnings to stop.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I have heard it was said that the Americans signaledments to the car to stop, but Giuliana told me she didn't see anything. They were driving calmly. They had already passed many checkpoints. Therefore, everybody had been informed.

VINCI: What began as a successful operation to free a hostage, quickly turned into a tragedy. Giuliani Sgrena's communist newspaper, "IL Manifesto" was among the most vociferous critics of the U.S. invasion in Iraq. Their headline today, "The agent was assassinated."

In the streets of Rome, as people picked up the morning newspapers, anger and bewilderment.

We were all so happy, says this Marco Baroncelli (PH), a photographer, but after what happened, what can I say? We're all left speechless.

(on camera): The incident will clearly test the strong relations between the U.S. and Italy. And while Americans have promised a full investigation, the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, is likely to come under renewed pressure to rethink his commitment in Iraq, where Italy has more than 3,000 troops. Alessio Vinci CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: And in Iraq today, the Iraqi police say followers of a Shiite cleric gathered outside a Baghdad mosque to protect his funeral. The cleric was shot and killed Friday while getting into his car.

Military officials say four soldiers were killed in the al-Anbar province, Friday. The four were assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. No details were released on how they were killed.

Three Marine Corps. drill instructors have been suspended after a recruit drowned last month. Five had already been suspended and sixth was assigned administrative duty. A Marine officer now tells senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre he believes his warnings about instructors using unsafe techniques were ignored.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MACINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nineteen-year-old Jason Tharp drowned at Parris Island, February 8, a day after he was seen in a videotape taken by WIS TV being shoved by a swim instructor. The South Carolina station reported he apparently resisted going into the water. It was that incident that prompted Marine captain, Delbert Marriott to contact CNN.

DELBERT MARRIOTT, U.S. MARINE: My motivation is that a recruit drowned. My motivation is that for three months I was telling them this was going to be a problem. If we find a correlation, or we don't find a correlation, it still doesn't change the fact that someone identified a problem.

MACINTYRE: Last year, Marriott's assignment was to review swim training at Camp Johnson, North Carolina, where many of the Parris Island trainers are trained. The scathing conclusion of his November 30 report: "I found the biggest issue to be the complete disregard for safety."

In a follow-up e-mail a week later, he warned superiors drill sergeants were, quote, "doing their own thing and someone will die because of it."

(on camera): That's pretty strong stuff.

MARRIOTT: It is.

MACINTYRE: Was anything done at that point?

MARRIOTT: No. They're still down there instructing right now.

MACINTYRE (voice-over): "His accusations are totally false," is how Marriott's commander responded when contacted by CNN. Lieutenant Colonel Gary Lambertson, told CNN he immediately stopped the practices questioned by Marriott, pending further review. Marriott documented the difficulty of one of those practices in this videotape. Could instructors do something required of their instructors in training, swim the demanding crawl stroke for nearly two miles, gradually shedding full combat gear? Marriott says the strong swimmers struggled and one gave up.

MARRIOTT: If they have a hard time doing this stroke, imagine about the lance corporal that feels he needs to do this stroke to pass the course? He may drown trying to do the crawl stroke for 3,600 yards.

MACINTYRE: The Marine Corps. argues there's no connection between the arduous training for top instructors at Camp Johnson and the basic course for fresh recruits at Parris Island. Marriott disagrees.

MARRIOTT: I mean, we're the lead school, so if we've given an impression that this kind of training's OK, well, when they go out to their commands, they're going to do the same type of traing.

MACINTYRE: In his original report, Marriott also warned about sharking, instructors yanking students underwater while they played underwater hockey.

MARRIOTT: During the underwater hockey, the student was expected to go to the bottom of the pool holding their breath and push a 10- pound weight to the other side, now this is in full combat gear. Instructors jumped on students' backs whether they were participating or not.

MACINTYRE (on camera): It was a accident waiting to happen?

MARRIOTT: Absolutely, it was. It was a death waiting to happen.

MACINTYRE: A Marine Corps. spokesman declined to appear on camera, but vigorously disputed the procedures now under review at Camp Johnson, are unsafe. Pointing out, there's never been a drowning there or even a rescue. And he said the three separate investigations into the death of Jason Tharp will include a thorough review of procedures at Parris Island, as well.

(voice-over): Marriott, an accomplished tri-athlete, wants out of the corps and admits he doesn't have a spotless record, but he insists he has no personal agenda.

MARRIOTT: My motivation is that, no one's going to apologize to this family. I'll apologize. I'm sorry. I wish I could have done something.

MACINTYRE: Jamie Macintyre, CNN, Camp Johnson, North Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: Speaking of wanting to do something, meet the Horns, a one-family supply unit for soldiers serving in Iraq. Their story of reaching out on-line will touch your heart. We'll bring it to you in the 2:00 p.m. Eastern hour. But first, a chimpanzee attack prompts an investigation at a California animal sanctuary. We got that story coming up next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOPPEL: Nearly 30 Rough-Toothed Dolphins stranded off the Florida Keys are being moved to rehabilitation centers. At least six dolphins died. Veterinarians had to euthenize 13 others that were not expected to survive. Marine officials don't know why they animals beached themselves, but say it can happen when dolphins or whales become sick, injured, or disoriented.

A California man is in critical condition, undergoing treatment and reconstructive surgery following a gruesome and, we mean gruesome, attack by a pair of chimpanzees. The man's face was horribly disfigured, his foot was ripped off, and other parts of his body viciously manageled. This morning, authorities want to know how the chips escaped from their cage at an annual -- an animal refuge. CNN's Rusty Dornin has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It began as a celebration and ended with nothing to celebrate. St. James Davis and his wife, LaDonna, were visiting a chimpanzee, Moe, at the Animal Haven Ranch in Kern County, California. Moe once lived in the couple's home like a son and they came to celebrate his 39th birthday. Moe had come to live at the ranch last year. The Davises were overjoyed.

LADONNA DAVIS, FORMER CHIMPANZEE OWNER: Moe lived in our home with us for over 33 years. He is sweet and warm hearted, and has been the light of our lives.

DORNIN: The ranch was his second sanctuary. The chip was removed from the couple's home in 1999 after he bit the finger of a friend who was visiting the family. But during this birthday visit Thursday, two other chimps, in an adjacent cage, suddenly attacked St. James, mulling him critically and injuring LaDonna. The son-in-law of the ranch owner, shot one of the aggressive chimps.

CMDR. HAL CHEALANDER, KERN COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT.: He had to go back in and reload and came back out and shot and ultimately killed the chimpanzee that was advancing on Mr. Davis.

DORNIN: Two other female chimps escaped, but were later rounded up.

(on camera): Ranch owners declined comment on the incident, but neighbors told us it was not uncommon to see the chimps on the property, and they seemed very well cared for.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were concerned about the animals and they also had bins of oranges for them and, oh you know, all kind of treats and things. So, they kept them pretty well occupied.

DORNIN (voice-over): No one knows why it happened. State fish and game investigators are most concerned about how the animals escaped. They plan to test the dead chimps for rabies. Moe was not involved in the attack. But, for St. James, a man who has dedicated his life to caring for animals like this, the attack was both a physical and emotionally brutal encounter. His family, though, has said they're not ready to comment on his condition. The permit for the facility expires in three weeks. In the meantime, Moe remains inside.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, Havilah, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: More than 83 million people travel through Atlanta's airport every year. Coming up, Jeanne Meserve reports on questionable security practices and asks the question: Are the screeners getting enough training?

And if you have been listening to the president recently, you may have noticed President Bush has changed his pitch on Social Security. Dana Bash will tell us why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOPPEL: Now to our security watch, and a couple of airline securities that made headline this is week. Beginning April 14, cigarette lighters will no longer be allowed in commercial airplane cabins in the U.S. or beyond airport security checkpoints. The lighters are already banned in check baggage. In a related note, it's currently up to the airlines to compare those names on passenger names to the government watch lists. But federal transportation officials will be testing their own pre-screening system in August, with two airlines that have not yet been named. The government wants to take over the system to verify passenger identities. Our security watch segment continues now. There's increasing concern about too little training for security screeners at Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson Airport.

CNN's America Bureau correspondent, Jeanne Meserve reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN AMERICA BUREAU CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): More people fly through Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport, than any other airport in the world. Some screeners say the heavy workload is preventing them from getting the required weekly training.

JOHN SUMMEROUR, SECURITY SCREENER: Well, we're required to have three hours, and I'm getting about 25 minutes a week.

MESERVE: Security experts say the training is critical for screeners to keep up with the latest terrorist methods for concealing weapons.

CLARK KENT ERVIN, SECURITY ANALYST: We all know that if terrorist will try to sneak weapons pass the screener workforce, they're going to do so in the most innovative way that they can think of. So, training is absolutely essential.

MESERVE (on camera): Do you think that it puts the traveling public at risk if screeners aren't having this recurring training.

ERVIN: Absolutely.

MESERVE (voice-over): The Transportation Security Administration says, in Atlanta last year, only three screeners out of 1,100 failed their recertification exam, an indication that training is adequate. It's not always done in a classroom or at a computer.

MARK HATFIELD, TSA SPOKESMAN: But some of that takes place on the job where they're being tested by computer projected images of threat items, while they're working the X-ray machine, while they're being tested by covert operatives who attempt to get items through the checkpoint. And -- so, all those various things -- the morning meetings with role call.

MESERVE: Screeners maintain the definition of training should be much narrower.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How to recognize that's a prohibited item. What to look for. But we've not been trained on.

MESERVE: Screeners also allege, they're asked to sign paperwork saying that they've gotten their required training even when they feel they not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you don't sign it, they threaten you, saying something may happen to you, you may lose your job.

MESERVE: TSA officials say no Atlanta screener has ever been ordered to falsify a document or has been threatened with discipline or dismissal.

These three with whom we spoke are all members of the American Federation of Government employees. They acknowledge the training issue could help recruit new members. But they say their real concern is the safety of more than the 83 million people who fly through Hartsfield each year.

For CNN's American Bureau, Jeanne Meserve, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

A new report gives Democrats more ammunition in their battle with President Bush over his spending plans. The Congressional Budget Office says under the president's plans the federal deficit will top $200 billion each year for the next decade, and that does not include the potential price tag for Mr. Bush's plan to revamp Social Security, plus the costs of the ongoing military operation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Democrats say the Bush budget will pass on a crippling and growing debt to future generations.

Well, with critics blasting President Bush's plan to overhaul Social Security, the administration has launched a counter attack, a two-month travel blitz to sell the plan is under way. And yesterday, the president hit the road with stops in New Jersey, and Indiana.

Here is CNN's White House correspondent, Dana Bash.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The president with the business degree knows, if your product is not selling, you better change your pitch.

BUSH: Social Security has provided a safety net for many retirees, and that's an important safety net. But the safety net has got a hole in it.

BASH: Safety net is lingo borrowed from Democrats, the retooled rhetoric aimed at emphasizing he's committed to preserving Social Security benefits, not just pushing private accounts for younger workers.

ANDREW KOHUT, PEW RESEARCH CENTER: The president is going to -- going to have to radically change the message, and convince the American public that the way they have come to think about these accounts is not quite right.

BASH: Before this New Jersey trip, the president already visited nine states looking for public support for his plan. Yet the more Americans hear, several polls show, the less they like his ideas, especially so-called personal accounts.

REP. BOB MENEDEZ (D), NEW JERSEY: Mr. President, you are not welcome with your program on privatizing Social Security.

BASH: The reason Bush aides complain, highly organized and well funded opposition campaigns like these in New Jersey. Among the targets here, Republican Congressman Mike Ferguson, at the president's event, but not ready to endorse personalized accounts.

REP. MIKE FERGUSON (R), NEW JERSEY: There's not one plan out there right now, we're either supporting or opposing.

BASH: The Democratic National Committee bought it's first round of ads to put the squeeze on.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Call Congressman Ferguson and tell him to oppose President Bush's risky scheme.

BUSH: I don't care what the ads say. I don't care what the scare tactics say. You are going to get your check just like the government said.

BASH: But Democrats insist the Bush plan is doomed. Forty-two senators, enough to sustain a filibuster signed this letter saying, unless he drops private accounts, it will be impossible to establish the kind of cooperative, bipartisan process we need. In New Jersey, and later in Indiana, the president still pitched personal accounts hard. Calling them the best investment for younger workers. (on camera): While the president spent all day repeating he would not let anyone 55 or older lose their Social Security benefits, he was also careful to tell a younger worker here, that he's not making him the same promise.

Dana Bash, CNN, Notre Dame, Indiana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: The first week in testimony in the Michael Jackson trial has wrapped up in Florida. The pop star says he is pleased, but angry with some of what happens happened so far. We'll get a check of the weeks headlight, just ahead.

Plus, Martha Stewart's future. Will Americans forgive and forget? Our Jeff Greenfield weighs in on the domestic diva and her chances for a comeback.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOPPEL: The first week of Michael Jackson's child molestation trial is over, a trial that's expected to run upwards of six months.

CNN's Ted Rowlands has a recap now of the week's events.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL JACKSON, ENTERTAINER: It went very good. It was very good.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Walking out of court, Michael Jackson expressed his pleasure with what many observers agree was a very good day for his defense team. The family of the boy Jackson is accused of molesting praised him extensively on a video played by the prosecution in court.

ANN BREMNER, LEGAL ANALYST: The prosecutor had to put the video on before the defense did, because it's so devastating to the prosecution.

ROWLANDS: The video is the raw footage of a planned documentary that was being assembled to help Jackson's public image. The tape seems to clearly help the defense claim that the family was mistakenly expecting Jackson to be a permanent part of their lives. On several occasions on the video, the victim's mother oddly described Michael Jackson as not just a celebrity helping a sick child, but as a father figure for her children. At one point, she said, "He's assisting me in filling the role of a father figure they've never had."

The victim's older sister spent a second day on the stand on cross examination. At one point, she broke down, testifying about alleged abuse by her father. The sister answered she couldn't remember to many of the questions asked by Thomas Mesereau, Jackson's attorney. Jackson's mother, his sister, LaToya, and brother, Jermaine, were all in court for the day. Jackson's publicist says he is ready for the long haul. RAYMONE BAIN, JACKSON'S PUBLICIST: He feels his defense team has done a good job, but it doesn't mean he is ready to go out here and celebrate. Because we have a long way to go.

ROWLANDS: The victim's sister who has now been on the stand for the better part of two full days is expected to be back on the stand for more cross examination when court resumes on Monday.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Santa Maria, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: Meet the masters of reinvention. Coming up a little bit later, Jeff Greenfield looks at some of the greatly career come backs in recent American history.

But first, got spring fever? We've the answer, perhaps for some of you. The best places to chase that little white ball around. Golf getaways when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOPPEL: Spring is in the air. Winter is ending. But your golf bag is probably dusty, and your swing is probably a little rusty too. What to do? It's time for a spring golf "Getaway" to get up to speed in style. And To help us do that, Kate Dolan of "Travel + Leisure Golf" magazine has some great suggestions. She joins us right now from New York. And Kate, I have to imagine that spring is probably an incredibly popular time for people to get out on the links.

KATE DOLAN:, "TRAVEL + LEISURE GOLF": Yes. It's time to get your swing into gear. Everyone is excited for the new year. They've read our magazine. They know all the equipment is new. It's very excited.

KOPPEL: Well, let's kind of go through some of the places that you all lay out in your magazine. And why don't we begin with the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa, which I understand is very popular among some of the stars of the sport.

DOLAN Yes. This is an historic resort, It's 75-years-old. And the history there is amazing. Clark Gable actually played there in the early 1940s, and lost his wedding ring on the course. Of course, the attentive Biltmore staff searched high and low and found the ring. The funny thing is, we don't know who he was married to at the time since, he was married five times. But this resort is great. They're doing a great -- great package right now, $300 for three nights, and you get $100 resort credit.

KOPPEL: Terrific. Let us move on to Pinehurst in North Carolina, which I understand, is also going to be hosting this year's U.S. Open.

DOLAN Yes. And you can go, right now, to Pinehurst and pretty much act like a championship player. In their championship package, you can play just like Tiger will play on the number two. You'll have a caddie wearing your name on his jersey. They'll announce you as you tee off. It's very exciting. The resort there is also beautiful. The spa -- and I can tell you, I went this time last year, and had this amazing Georgian peach scrub. It's just all inclusive there.

KOPPEL: In North Carolina, no less.

DOLAN Yes. You wouldn't even think about it, but it's true.

KOPPEL: What about the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa there? I don't know if you had a scrub while you were there. But I understand Arnold Palmer says it's the best kept secret in the U.S.

DOLAN Well, at "Travel + Leisure Golf" we are here to reveal all the best tidbits in golf. And this is certainly one of them. This course is gorgeous. The resort itself is beautiful. Rooms are low right now. But if you do want to splurge (ph), there is a four- bedroom pent house suite, right over the spa. And you actually get your own spa personal room. It's quite a luxurious trip.

KOPPEL: Cool. Well, Listen, we've also got the lodge at Tori Pines, I understand.

DOLAN: Yes. They actually just renovated their South Course. Reese Jones (ph) came in and worked on the South Course in an attempt to lure the U.S. Open there. And they did it. They are going to be there in 2008. So, we say go now before the crowds go. Tori Pine is beautiful. A lot of people love to stay there. Pebble Beach one -- is right in the area, but a lot of people choose to stay at Tori Pines, because it's so amazing.

KOPPEL: In our remaining seconds here, I want your input on the Four Seasons Resort at Maui, which your magazine says is best for families.

DOLAN: Yes. Our readers voted this one of the best vacations for families. They have a kids club there, that they just do anything. They wade in tide pools. They have coconut demonstrations. They look for geckos. It's great. And the golf there is amazing. It's just so lush and so beautiful. And people wouldn't think to go to Maui now, but it's a great time to go.

KOPPEL: I think it's always a wonderful time to go to Hawaii.

DOLAN: Yes.

KOPPEL: But Kate, we should let our viewers know that, you are not just a golf lover, but you're the only girl in a family with four boys and you started playing when you were a little girl.

DOLAN: Yes.

KOPPEL: And so you really know something about the sport. Kate Dolan, thanks so much for joining us from New York.

DOLAN: Thank you, Andrea. KOPPEL: Well, F. Scott Fitzgerald said there were no second acts in America, but then he never knew Martha. Jeff Greenfield takes a closer look at some of the others who found forgiveness in the land of the free. That story for you when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOPPEL: Martha Stewart is spending this weekend at her New York estate in relative freedom. Within days she'll be fitted with an electronic anklet and will begin five months in house arrest. That means, no long strolls around the grounds, no visiting with her horses or even walking her dogs. But she will be free to pursue her career and prepare for her appeal which is scheduled for March 17th. Stewart has a lot on her plate, a new television show -- actually, a couple of them, a magazine column and her own version of "The Apprentice."

As CNN's senior analyst, Jeff Greenfield explains, America really is the land of second chances.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Martha, is there any...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Martha (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Leave Martha alone.

JEFF GREENFIELD, SENIOR ANALYST (voice-over): If you want to know how Martha Stewart went from this to this after five months in prison, start with the most famous words of this famous American writer. F. Scott Fitzgerald once observed there are no second acts in American lives. He could not have been more wrong.

MARCUS MABRY, "NEWSWEEK" SENIOR EDITOR: This is a country where we believe in second acts. We believe in redemption. We believe in confessional stories. We believe in the comeback.

GREENFIELD: Marcus Mabry, a senior editor at "Newsweek," could be talking about all sorts of famous Americans.

Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry went to prison after being caught on tape smoking crack. Came out...

MARION BARRY, FORMER MAYOR OF WASHINGTON D.C.: So help me God.

GREENFIELD: got elected mayor again. He is now on the D.C. City Council.

RICHARD NIXON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You don't have Nixon to kick around anymore.

GREENFIELD: Richard Nixon came back from political death in 1962 after losing a California governor's race to win two terms as president.

NIXON: We live in a new world. GREENFIELD: And came back from resignation and disgrace after Watergate to become an elder statesman. And the man that helped plan that Watergate break in, G. Gordon Liddy, came back from a lengthy prison term...

G. GORDON LIDDY, INVOLVED IN WATERGATE SCANDAL: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) G. Gordon Liddy Show.

GREENFIELD: ... to become a best-selling author, radio talk show host and lecture circuit writer.

LIDDY: If you sit back and decide that there are no second acts and don't do anything, well, there won't be any. But if you will not accept that and go on out and work at something, you can do it.

GREENFIELD: In Martha Stewart's case, her comeback flows from many sources. She did her time with no grousing, no demands for special favors. Her crime, was by some measures, relatively minor.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love you Martha.

GREENFIELD: Many supporters, in fact, believe her real crime was being a rich, very successful, very demanding boss woman. Nor did she ever express contrition, a good thing, editor Mabry says.

MABRY: I think it's really interesting that her stock and her company are doing well, in fact, because the woman looks defiant and she looks strong.

GREENFIELD: She is also a famous person, a quality that, in some cases, seems to insulate wrong doers from scorn. We are, after all, in a country where an auto mechanic, who became famous for having sex with a teenager -- who almost killed his wife -- still gets asked for his autograph.

LIDDY: I can't speak for Joey. But I can say that, people who are either famous or notorious are treated pretty much the same.

JACKSON: Neverland is my home.

GREENFIELD: Which does not mean we forgive everything. If Michael Jackson is found guilty, it's hard to imagine most of the public will embrace a convicted child molester.

(on camera): But in general, those who have fallen from grace in this country have a powerful ally in their efforts to come back, that deeply embedded belief that this is the land of the second chance, the fresh start. Millions of our ancestors crossed oceans or a frontier, and left behind their roots, their language, their country and their past. So, it's not surprising that we may be so willing to extend to others what so many of our forbearers sought for themselves.

Jeff Greenfield, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: I think there's another way of putting. Some people could call it hutzpah.

There is much more ahead on CNN SATURDAY. In a few moments, we're going to have "IN THE MONEY" with Jack Cafferty. And at 2:00 Eastern, CNN LIVE Saturday introduces you to a remarkable family in Maryland, that's reaching out to soldiers in Iraq and really making a difference. And at 3:00, it's "NEXT@CNN.

But first, we've got a quick break and then a check of the headlines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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