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CNN Live Saturday
Bush Tours Baltic States; North Korea Nukes - Can We Stop Them?; Suicide Car Bomb in Iraq; Increase in Shootings on L.A. Highways; Kentucky Derby; Re-Opening the Decades-Old Atlanta Child Killings Case; The Ethics Guy; Chasing Tornadoes for Fun and Profit.
Aired May 07, 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: It's Noon on the east coast, 8:00 a.m. -- 8:00 p.m., rather, in Baghdad. Welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. I'm Fredricka Whitfield at CNN Global Headquarters. Ahead this hour:
A deadly day in Iraq. Another bombing and this time some Americans are among the victims. What Iraq's military is doing to try to prevent future attacks.
Also:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF LOUIS GRAHAM, DEKALB COUNTY POLICE: Quite frankly, I don't think Wayne Williams is responsible for anything. I don't think he did anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Police open the 26-year-old Atlanta child murders case. What it could mean for convicted killer Wayne Williams.
And later, storm chasers have found that for years people have found fascination with the storms, but now you can go on an adventure vacation to track tornadoes. We'll take you along for the ride. First, our top stories now in the news.
A raid in western Iraq last month led to the capture of a major terrorist suspect. The man is said to be a key associate of terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, shown in these photos. The U.S. military announced the arrest today and said the suspect coordinated meetings and movements for Zarqawi.
Three bombs exploded in the south Asian country of Myanmar, today. Government-run television says at least 11 people were killed and more than 160 other wounded. Two of the blasts targeted shopping centers in the capital, the other, a trade exhibition.
And, police will take another look at the two-year crime spree that left 29 boys and young men dead in the Atlanta area. Wayne Williams was convicted of murdering two adult men in 1982 and police closed the other cases. But now, a suburban Atlanta cold case squad will review five of the slayings. In about 30 minutes, I'll talk to the man who played a critical role in the investigation 26 years ago. President Bush is on the second leg of a European trip marking the end of World War II in Europe 60 years ago. The president began in Latvia, meeting with the leaders of that country, Estonia and Lithuania, three Baltic states annexed by the Soviet Union back in 1945. President Bush is now traveling to the Netherlands and later to Russia, where leaders are unhappy with Bush's visits to those former Soviet satellite states. The president ends his trip in Georgia, another former Soviet republic.
Well, President Bush noted, during his travels to Latvia, that the end of World War II did not bring freedom across all of Europe. It's that recognition and his visit to the Baltic states that has Russians upstairs. Our John King has been traveling with the president and joins us now from Riga -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And Fredricka, new words from the president today likely to exacerbate those tensions with Russia over this visit, over things the president has said just before and now during this visit. A full day for the president here in Riga, it included laying flowers at the foot of what is called the "Freedom Monument," here in downtown Riga, this country now a proud democracy, as you noted, behind the iron current, under the control of others in its long and troubled history, but a thriving democracy now, Mr. Bush here to pay tribute to that. And he again talked about the evil Communist oppression here, after World War II, not only in Latvia, but the other Baltic states, Lithuania and Estonia. But quite interesting today, in a speech to the Latvian people, Mr. Bush said the United States also bears some responsibility, making note of the agreement at Yalta, that agreement signed onto by President Roosevelt at the end of World War II, essentially gave the green light to Soviet expansion in eastern Europe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Once again, when powerful governments negotiated the freedom of small nations was somehow expendable. Yet this attempt to sacrifice freedom for the stake of stability left a continent divided and unstable. The captivities of millions, Central and Eastern Europe will be remembered as one of the greatest wrongs of history.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Now, as Mr. Bush does prepare to go on to Moscow for those celebrations, a big military parade marking the 60th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis; he stood in solidarity today in the Baltics with leaders. He talked again of the end of the evil of the Soviet oppression after post-World War II. Mr. Bush said his message to Mr. Putin will be, do not be afraid, you should welcome democracies on your borders. The president also suggested in that speech, perhaps Mr. Putin could look around the neighborhood and learn a few things.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: All free and successful countries have some common characteristics: Freedom of worship, freedom of the press, economic liberty, the rule of law, and the limitation of power through checks and balances. In the long run, it is the strength of Russian democracy that will determine the greatness of Russia. And I believe that Russian people value their freedom and will settle for nothing less.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: And, again, the Netherlands, the next stop for President Bush, then on to Moscow for that Monday parade. That visit will put to test the president's long-held belief that he has a very deep personal bond with President Putin and that that bond will allow them to overcome their significant policy differences. Fredricka, it is clear on that trip that list of difference is growing longer, perhaps even by the day -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, John King in Riga thanks so much.
Well, now to North Korea and the U.S. tactics being used to influence the nuclear nation to disarm. The "Washington Post" reports China has rejected a U.S. plan to cut off North Korea's supply of oil. It was a way to pressure Pyongyang to return to nuclear disarmament (SIC) talks. Meanwhile and Pentagon is monitoring North Korea. A Defense Department official says there's intelligence the nation is possibly preparing for its first nuclear test. U.N. nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei says that would be a reckless move.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOHAMED ELBARADEI, IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL: It would have disastrous political repercussions. I'm not sure how much environmental impact it could have in, terms of radiological fallout, so I do hope that North Koreans would absolutely reconsider such a reckless, reckless step.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And you can see the entire interview with ElBaradei tomorrow on "Late Edition" with wolf Blitzer. That starts at Noon Eastern.
Insurgents keep up their deadly aggression in Iraq. A U.S. Marine was killed today by an improvised explosive device during combat, west of Baghdad. And earlier today, a suicide car bomb hit a convoy in central Baghdad. Two American contractors were among at least 22 people killed. This attack comes as Iraq trains more security forces to try to deal with the violence. CNN's Ryan Chilcote, is in our Baghdad bureau with more on that -- Ryan.
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, the U.S. and Iraqi military believe the best way to stem some of the violence we've seen over the last few months, here in Iraq, is to get as many Iraqi forces as possible into the field, into operations. We had a rare opportunity to see some of the Iraqi security forces, elite troops, from their special operating forces, in training.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CHILCOTE (voice-over): It's Iraq's elite commando school, a make or break course for select recruits from Iraq's 75,000 man army who want to join its 500 plus strong special forces. But, after the U.S. military's ranger school, soldiers spend three weeks on just four hours of sleep a day, honing their combat and survival skills, keeping their heads high up on the ropes and low in the mud. Wiping your face off here doesn't help much. In addition to sometimes losing face, the recruits lose their names when they sign up. Instead they're known by numbers to mask religious or ethnic divisions.
"We want a free country," this recruit says, "that we own, not owned by insurgents or terrorists or Syrians that come from outside our borders."
Some recruits hang in for the duration. Others don't. Some lucky ones, who fail, are allowed to do it all over again. In a state of the art U.S. built shoot house, Iraq's counter-terrorist force, the other wing of the elite troops, demonstrates what it looks like when the initial training is over. They've already broken down doors with American troops in Falluja, Salman Pak, and Najaf, more than 700 operations, many more than 500 suspected insurgents.
They're Iraqi and American instructors say they're highly motivated and some of the best shots in the world. Successfully training more Iraqi troops like them, they say, is the American's best shot of getting home.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHILCOTE: Well, Fredricka, the Iraqi prime minister says that the country may be moving away from a little bit of the political infighting, here. Today, he announced that a deal has been reached with several of the factions to fill the last seven vacant jobs in the government. We're expecting an announcement as to who will get those jobs tomorrow -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Look forward to that. Thanks a lot. Ryan Chilcote in Baghdad.
Well, more than 25 years ago, the Atlanta area was gripped in fear. The murders of several children terrorized the city. So why, even after the conviction of one man years ago, is the case being reopened?
And drivers beware: A series of shootings on some L.A. freeways. Do the police have any leads?
Plus, how would you like to be right in the middle of Mother Nature's action, intentionally, and while on vacation? Storm trackers and their adventure tours, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm Rob Marciano at the CNN Weather Center. Time to look at your allergy forecast for this weekend. Tree pollen is becoming less prevalent across the South, so we've gone from red to orange across the Southeast, but still on the high side. Across the basin of Utah, very high, so you're probably suffering a little there and across the Northerns here, well, you quite won't get into to for another couple of weeks. Hope you're feeling well on this Saturday. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Los Angeles in on edge this weekend after a rash of freeway shootings. Since mid-March, there have been eight, four fatal. I'll talk to a former FBI agent about investigating the shooting spree in a moment, but first to CNN's Coreen Winter, in Los Angeles, about the fear of getting on the highway.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COREEN WINTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's just after 5:00 a.m. and this mother of two is already behind schedule, a quick goodbye for her 6-month-old daughter and into the next room and a kiss for her 2-year-old son. Then she's off, until recently, the most grueling part of her day was dodging traffic on the 40-mile drive to work along southern California's famously congested freeways. Now, Michelle Riggs has a new concern, dodging bullets.
MICHELLE RIGGS, CALIFORNIA COMMUTER: I don't feel safe knowing that there's someone out there that could pull up on the side of me at any given moment and change my life.
WINTER: Since March 12, when a man was shot and killed driving in Orange County, a rash of unsolved shootings have rattled much of Southern California. That, even though police insist the number of freeway shootings isn't on the rise.
ART ACEVEDO, LOS ANGELS POLICE: We've had some tragedies, but compared to last year, we're actually on pace to have fewer incidents this year.
WINTER: But public fears have forced the creation of the special task force to stop the shootings. We were allowed rode along on one of the first undercover patrols.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we just had a shot fired.
WINTER: The undercover investigator begins chasing a report of what sounds like another freeway shooting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The victim is actually at the new (UNINTELLIGIBLE) they advise that they were shot at -- at the exact same or near the same -- same 10-20 as the shooting from yesterday.
WINTER: We were asked not to reveal the identity of the officer, but this call and the next one he receives...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Party that said their windshield was shot...
WINTER: Turned out to be false alarms.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This was a good day, because there was no shootings and maybe a bad day for leads, but tomorrow's another day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And that was CNN's Coreen Winter reporting.
Well, why is the investigation of this year's spade of shootings such a challenge? Joining us from New York, Don Clark, a former FBI special agent in charge.
Well, Don, millions of folks on the L.A. highways, at any given time, how does that further complicate the search for the shooter or shooters?
DON CLARK, FMR. FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Well, it does bring to itself a lot of complications there, because, you know, most people driving the freeways, certainly, Fredricka, not looking to get involved in a shooting, so their mind-set is not even there. But, I think, what you've really come in contact with now, is that you find an area where a crime problem has just really shifted. You know, we're accustomed to it being in the neighborhood and now it's shifted to the freeway. So, I think, law enforcement has to adjust to that shift and try to do some things to gather evidence to put this thing to rest.
WHITFIELD: And how much more difficult is it going to be for investigators, now, to figure out whether this shooter is in a moving vehicle or whether they're at a stationery point?
CLARK: Yeah, I don't know that it's that difficult to do, but I think what they really have to do is be creative and come up with ways to work with this. They probably have assessed whether or not it is someone in a stable position, which from everything I know, I don't think that that's necessarily the case, and to what to do the people who may be pulling up alongside other vehicles. And how to get information to other law enforcement people in the area, so that they can compare crimes that have been committed with perhaps these.
WHITFIELD: And how do you know, at this point, whether it is the same person, the same group, perhaps, or if many of these are the case of copycats?
CLARK: Well, I would not guess that it's a single person. I mean, there seems to be too much variation into what's going on. So, you probably have groups. But you could have gangs that are involved in this, you could have initiations. And that's why it's so important for that police department to get information out to the community about this and while they're solving some other crime, they may gather some information on this. I don't think it's a single person at all.
WHITFIELD: And you've touch on why it's so important for the community to be involved. The public can really help advance this investigation how?
CLARK: Well, you know, we've asked for years now to bring the public in and help us solve crimes, even back when I was in the FBI. You wanted to bring the public in. It's the right thing to do, because the public is the one that's out there and you've got people driving on the freeways, you tell them what the crime problem is: They have erratic behavior, they can get a license tag and all it sometimes that's all it takes is one license tag to be able to identify a car, and you may be able to solve a string of these and the public can help do that.
WHITFIELD: But you also have the case of the drivers trying to concentrate on their driving, perhaps not trying to look too much around, but there is also the issue of intimidation, which also comes to light in investigations like this.
CLARK: Well exactly and you know I think it's important that you make the drivers aware of exactly where the activity is going on out there and they can also plot out the exactly what times of days they feel may be the times to be most on the lookout for this type of activity. So still, the driver's a lot of things to do. Maybe stay off the cell phone a little bit and watch some of these things.
WHITFIELD: All right, good advice. Don Clark, former FBI special agent in charge, this time join us from New York.
CLARK: Thank you, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Coming up, if the sight of the tornado you're about to see, right here, doesn't want to make you want to run in the other direction you might be ready for a storm chasing tour.
And 20 horses will break out of the gate, but only one wins. Will it be a favorite, say "Bellamy Road," or perhaps another prized thoroughbred? We'll have a live report straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Well, get out your hat, hoist a mint julep, perhaps, it's time for the running of the roses. The 131st Kentucky Derby is less than six hours away. CNN's sports correspondent, Ray D'Allessio is at Churchill Downs.
And Ray, folks have had a chance to see their first sneak peeks of the horses. Who looks good?
RAY D'ALLESSIO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah the field looks good, Fredricka, you're absolutely right. I do believe the last time we did one of these, I was coming to you from Philadelphia in a blinding snowstorm, but much different today. The weather is absolutely gorgeous, and it is, it's going to be a great race tonight. Right now the favorite, "Bellamy Road." But history tells us being the favorite in the Kentucky Derby doesn't always translate to victory. In fact, in the past 25 races, the favorite at post time has won the race only twice and that might not be good news to George Steinbrenner, who was looking to snap an 0 for 5 streak here at the Kentucky Derby. He's never won in five previous races, but he could have the top contender in "Bellamy Road," the current favorite. Very impresses force in his past two starts. He won by a combined 33 lengths. Still, there is some question whether "Bellamy Road" can live up to all the hype. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TODD PLETCHER, TRAINER OF 3 DERBY ENTRANTS: He missed two starts this year or has been extremely impressive, he's kind of had everything his way. Now let's see if he can do it without having everything his way.
D'ALLESSIO: In addition to proving his critics wrong, "Bellamy Road" could also give trainer, Nick Zito his third Kentucky Derby win. If not "Bellamy Road," Zito has four other hopefuls.
NICK ZITO, TRAINER OF 5 DERBY ENTRANTS: If we lose, I have to come up with something, because you have five, but if we lose, we lose. I mean, that's the way it is. But, sure, it is pressure. Five is better than one.
D. WAYNE LUKAS, TRAINER "GOING WILD": I'm not saying he couldn't win it. I think we'll put a suicide watch out on Nick if he doesn't win with one of those, but...
(LAUGHTER)
D'ALLESSIO: Like "Bellamy Road," "Afleet Alex" was also impressive when he won the Arkansas Derby. However, one big difference, "Afleet Alex" has won more prep races, something first- time Kentucky derby trainer Tim Ritchey says is very comforting.
TIM RITCHEY, TRAINER, "AFLEET ALEX": I haven't been here, but I know, just running horses, in general, when you get to bigger races, when you have a horse that's been tested, you know what he is, you know what he's capable of.
D'ALLESSIO: And here's something else we know, with a full field of 20 horses, forecasters calling for beautiful weather, and more than 100,000 fans cheering, this year's Kentucky Derby may not only be the fastest two minutes of sports, but the greatest.
BOB BAFFERT, TRAINER, "SORT IT OUT": If they got ride of the Derby tomorrow, I'd probably quit training and do something else. Because, the Derby keeps me going and I really look forward to this, and that's why I'm in the business, is to try to get to the Derby every year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
D'ALLESSIO: While back at the Kentucky Derby after missing last year's race, of course, Baffert, a three-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, his last win coming back in 2002 with "War Emblem" -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And Ray, all the folks behind you, right there, most of those folks there aren't really getting a chance to bet, are they? The just kind of are there for the whole scene and the experience?
D'ALLESSIO: They're actually going back and forth to the betting windows, but a lot of them, right now, basically just out here picnicking, the -- trust me, the mint juleps are flowing. I'm staying away from them, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: I'm sure, you are.
D'ALLESSIO: I'm being good. But yeah, everybody out here having a good time.
WHITFIELD: All right Ray, well maybe you'll sneak one in after broadcast or something. It's all part of the...
D'ALLESSIO: I'll bring you one back.
WHITFIELD: ...Kentucky Derby experience. OK, that too. All right, Ray D'Allessio, thanks a lot. Have a good time out there.
Well, it's a case with many unanswered questions and one of them is weather convicted murder Wayne Williams is guilty. Ahead, why police are reopening a 26-year-old case.
Plus, how secure is the U.S.-Mexico border? The new secretary of Homeland Security takes a closer look when CNN LIVE SATURDAY returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: "Now in the News," President Bush called the Soviet domination of Central and Eastern Europe after World War II one of the greatest wrongs of history. The president spoke in the Baltic nation of Latvia, today, he's on a four-nation trip to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.
Insurgents launched deadly attacks in Iraq today. At least 22 people were killed in violence, including two U.S. contractors who died in a suicide blast in Baghdad. A U.S. Marine was also killed during combats today in the province of Anbar.
And two people in Kabul, Afghanistan have died after a blast at an internet cafe popular with Westerners. Police are investigating whether the attack was a suicide bombing.
Decades ago, several killings paralyzed Atlanta with fear. Some 29 African-Americans, most of them boys, were murdered between 1979 and 1981. Now, a police chief is reopening the case, saying the convicted killer is innocent. Reporter Lisa Ram with affiliate WAGA has the story.
LISA RAM, WAGA REPORTER: When Wayne Williams went to jail in 1982 for murdering two men, authorities at the time believe they also got a mass murder. Investigators say carpet fibers taken from his home and cars linked Williams to many of Atlanta's infamous missing and murdered children cases. However, Williams was never officially convicted of for of those DeKalb County murders.
CHIEF LOUIS GRAHAM, DEKALB COUNTY POLICE: Quite frankly, I don't think Wayne Williams is responsible for anything. I don't think he did anything. So, I made up my mind with that over 20 years ago, and I still feel that way. RAM: Now, Chief Graham is opening four of the missing and murdered cases that happened in his county in 1991. He has formed a five-member cold case squad with what he calls are young and enthusiastic detectives.
GRAHAM: At this point, there are just too many open questions, and all I'm trying to do is answer those questions as best we can.
RAM: The four cases.
Patrick Baltazar, 11 years old. His body was found February 13th, 1981, in an office complex in DeKalb County. The evidence showed he was strangled.
Curtis Walker, 13, also strangled. His body was found in the South River on March 6, 1981.
Joseph Bell, 15, on April 19, 1981, his body was also found in the South River in DeKalb County.
William Barrett, 17. On May 12, 1981, his body was found near the corner of Winthrop Road and Glennwood in DeKalb.
Atlanta solicitor Joseph Drolet is one of the former Fulton County prosecutors who tried Wayne Williams. He remains convinced that Wayne Williams is guilty.
JOSEPH DROLET, FORMER PROSECUTOR: It may possibly uncover additional facts about the case or perhaps participation of others, which many people suspected at the time and subsequent, but I'm not sure it's going to change anything in regard to the evidence against Wayne Williams.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: That was Lisa Ram (ph) reporting from our affiliate, WAGA. With more on the case, Chet Dettlinger joins us on the telephone from Louisville, Kentucky. He was an assistant police chief in Atlanta at the time of the killings.
All right, Chet, thanks so much for being with us.
CHET DETTLINGER, FMR ASS'T CHIEF, ATLANTA POLICE DEPT.: You're welcome.
WHITFIELD: Well, do you agree with Chief Graham, that there are a lot of unexplained questions?
DETTLINGER: Well, of course, I do. I agree with Louis (INAUDIBLE). At that time, he was chief of police in Fulton County, and interestingly enough, I think -- the only problem I ever had with any of Wood's theories (ph) was he was leaning toward the KKK, and I don't think the KKK had anything to do with it. But, yes, I agree with him wholeheartedly, and I'm so glad he's opening it.
WHITFIELD: So, you've always been convinced that Wayne Williams was not necessarily the right man behind bars, to connect him with the nearly 30 crimes, even though he was convicted of just two?
DETTLINGER: Well, I haven't been convinced one way or the other. I don't know whether Wayne's innocent or not. I just don't think they proved him guilty of anything. They certainly didn't prove him guilty of 28 of them, because they didn't try him for 28 of them, they tried him for two.
WHITFIELD: What's missing in this case? The common denominators include strangulation. What are some of the other commonalities...
DETTLINGER: No, no, now, hold on -- strangulation is not the common denominator. That's one of the problems in this case. There were people who were stabbed, people who're bludgeoned, people who were shot, people were suffocated...
WHITFIELD: In the four -- in the four and perhaps five cases the police chief is reopening, strangulation is a form of -- the mode of death, in at least those four or five.
DETTLINGER: OK, I'm not sure. It's been like 30 years, but it seems to me like what they've -- probably were -- probably found on the autopsy report would be something called probable asphyxia, and probably asphyxia means you probably stopped breathing. I don't remember those four particular ones. I thought one of them was stabbed. I guess not.
WHITFIELD: In your experience, when you're dealing with serial killings, often times there's a calling card. Was there a calling card that you can discern in these cases?
DETTLINGER: No, and I think that's a myth as well. That's something that came up with Ted Bundy through, what's his name? Kipple (ph) in Seattle. I don't think there's necessarily a calling card in any serial murder.
WHITFIELD: So, how do you see the re-opening of this case proceeding?
DETTLINGER: How do I see it proceeding? I don't know how they can reopen it, number one. I'm very glad to see -- I'm very happy about it. I'm very glad to see Lloyd doing it. I just don't know what they're going to do. They're going to look at some old records, I guess, and probably try to apply some new technology, such as DNA. I don't know how DNA will help, but that would be the only thing I could see that might even possibly upset the state's case, because -- even if they -- Wayne Williams was not convicted of killing these four people, OK? He was convicted of killing only two people.
These four people's cases were administratively cleared. And that goes on all the time. So, I mean, if they prove somebody else didn't kill him, that doesn't effect Wayne Williams at all for the two he was convicted of.
WHITFIELD: How do you see the re-opening of the case further disturbing or perhaps resolving some of the issues that some of these family members of these victims may have to this day? DETTLINGER: It may give -- it may find some answers, because there are answers out there. Of course, the problem is that a lot of the people are now deceased. The man who I'm sure killed one of the victims is deceased, and, you know, I don't know. I don't know whether they'll be able to get enough new information. They can go through the old stuff. That's what I was saying before. They can go through the old documents and they may come up with some different answers, but not much they can dig up new unless there's technology.
WHITFIELD: Chet Dettlinger, thanks so much for joining us from Louisville, Kentucky, on the telephone. And we'll have more right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Well, now for an update on the week's "Security Watch" developments in the war on terror.
Pakistani authorities have arrested the alleged number three man for al Qaeda. Abu Farraj al-Libbi is believed to be responsible for the terror group's global operations. Also arrested, 18 people believed to be part of al-Libbi's network.
A new report is critical of the FBI. It says the agency has been slow in hiring enough new intelligence analysts to protect national security. The Justice Department says the FBI ended fiscal 2004 with a 32% vacancy rate.
Congress is moving forward with a bill that may affect your driver's license. It would authorize uniform requirements on driver's licenses to prevent states from issuing them to illegal immigrants. The House has already approved the legislation. The Senate is set to vote on it next week.
Closer to home, the new man in charge of Homeland Security took a closer looks at efforts to secure parts of America's southwestern border.
CNN's homeland security correspondent Jeannie -- Jeanne Meserve, rather, has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEAN MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, tries out a fiberoptic scope used by customs to detect contraband in gas tanks. It was part of the secretary's first look at the southwest border.
MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Well, you know, you can get statistics and reports and briefings, but there's nothing quite like seeing things in person.
MESERVE: There is a lot to digest. Just this week, infrared cameras detected 15 people wending across the desert. They got away, but left this behind, 700 pounds of marijuana worth half a million dollars. When will this happen again? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It could be tonight.
MESERVE: Flooding in along the drugs, people. Border patrol trackers follow the footsteps of illegal aliens.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is fairly recent. It's from sometime today. You can see, the edges are still pretty sharp.
MESERVE: They find a makeshift camp, but no aliens. Until they head back to the road.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He looks tired.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, he does.
MESERVE: The young Mexican, scratched, thirsty, unable to open a can of food, ditched by the smuggler or coyote who brought him across the border.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The guy just left him, so -- he was smart enough, when he found a road, to start walking the road.
MESERVE: He is just one of many. Close to 700,000 illegal aliens have been detained in the last seven months.
Chertoff acknowledges some of the people coming across the border could be terrorists.
CHERTOFF: Obviously, people who are probing to get into the homeland to carry out -- wage war against us here in the United States -- are going to explore every possible avenue.
MESERVE: Chertoff wants to get control by using smarter strategy, more law enforcement and more technology. Arizona senior senator says there must be much more.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: ...for a few miles this way along the border, and a few miles that way. We have cameras and other high- tech equipment. You get past there, nothing except a three-strand barbed wire fence.
MESERVE: McCain says the recent Minutemen action demonstrates how frustrated some Americans are at the lack of security at the border. Asked if Chertoff understood the dimensions of the situation, McCain said, with determination, he will.
Jeanne Meserve, CNN, at the Arizona-Mexico border.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And, stay tuned to CNN day and night about the most reliable news of your security.
The uproar over a run away bride's actions continues, a mix of compassion and anger. Should she face the public and offer a more personal apology? Our ethics guy weighs in. And these people are in for the ride of their lives as they head towards an action-packed adventure. If you're a thrill seeker, you won't want to miss this vacation get away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: And, stories making headlines across America now.
Some anxious moments in Las Vegas and some dramatic footage. A passenger was forced to land a small private plane after the pilot suffered a heart attack. The pilot later died. The other two passengers on the plane are said to be OK.
A Columbus, Georgia, school district has reduced the suspension of a student who refused to end a cell phone call from his mom in Iraq. Kevin Francois, initially, was given a 10-day suspension for disorderly conduct. That suspension has now been reduced to three days. School officials say he became defiant and used profanity when a teacher asked him to hand over the phone. School officials say the student didn't at first tell them he was talking to his mom, who has been stationed in Iraq since last January. They say the school also makes arrangements for students to receive calls from parents who are deployed overseas.
A mother in Washington State who went to school to pick up her daughter was asked to leave for violating the school's dress code. The mother was wearing a white tank top with spaghetti straps and a partially open back, right there. Well, the principal stopped her at the door, and told her to go home and change her clothes
Well, the story of the so-called run away bride has drawn a lot of attention. Jennifer Wilbanks issued a statement on Thursday, saying her disappearance had nothing to do with cold feet. But what about ethical question involved in leaving town days before your wedding without letting anyone know? Well, here with some answers, the author of "Life Principles: Feeling Good by Doing Good," Dr. Bruce Weinstein, the ethics guy. Good to see you.
DR. BRUCE WEINSTEIN, THE ETHICS GUY: You too, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, this would seem like a no-brainer. You leave town. You don't tell anyone, even though you just want to be alone. It seems pretty inconsiderate, doesn't it?
WEINSTEIN: Well, the ethical principle of justice or fairness requires that the punishment fit the crime, and a simple apology, given that all this woman has put the country through, seems insufficient. But there's a broader question that has not yet been addressed, and I think it's worth examining, and that is the media's role in keeping this issue front and center for the last week. I mean, it seems like for the last four to six weeks, we have one story marshalled before us that we hear about over and over until it's beating a dead horse and then we move on to the next issue. There's so many other important issues to look at. I wonder to what extent does the public bear responsibility for keeping these single stories alive and to what degree does the media bear some responsibility for placing these stories front and center?
WHITFIELD: So, how do you feel that should be resolved?
WEINSTEIN: Well, we should just move on to other issues. I mean, look at -- they're less sexy issues, to be sure -- dwindling health care insurance, employment opportunities, the economy, the threat of terrorism and so forth that seem at least as important as one run away bride's misadventures.
WHITFIELD: In a case like this, when so much has been exhausted, whether on the air, the resources to search for Jennifer Wilbanks, in the end once she's found safe and sound, you don't think, necessarily, as much should be committed to her public apology or the depth of how public her apology should be to the many people who were looking for her, et cetera?
WEINSTEIN: Absolutely. I mean, every hour on -- not just this network, but on every network, broadcast and cable alike, we're hearing this story over and over and over, and it's enough. It seems to violate the ethical principle of justice in that it's a misallocation of scarce resources.
WHITFIELD: All right, so enough, already, on the Jennifer Wilbanks story.
WEINSTEIN: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Let's move on. Let's go to an e-mail from John, and he's got this question for you. "One of my friends is having an affair. I'm also friendly with his wife and I feel that I'm being disloyal to her by keeping this information to myself. Of course, if I tell her what I know, her husband would never speak to me again. What should I do?"
WEINSTEIN: Well, the most the writer can do is encourage his or her friend to rethink the wisdom of having an affair and to consider being open and honest with his spouse. But it's not the writer's responsibility or ethical obligation to get between the husband and wife in this matter.
But, you know, it might be worth rethinking the friendship, because if your friend has such a fundamentally different idea of what a good relationship is about, is this really somebody who's worth calling a friend? And also, if your friend is willing to treat his wife with such contempt, what's to say that he won't treat you with such contempt down the road?
WHITFIELD: So, it's safe to have this conversation with the alleged cheater, you know, and really question their actions, or maybe even try to help them see what they're doing is wrong, but you don't necessarily want to get in between and choose sides?
WEINSTEIN: Absolutely. It's not really the writer's business to get in between the husband and wife. But, you know that saying, how you do anything is how you do everything, and a person who is willing to cheat on his wife is probably, somewhere down the road, going to cheat on his or her friend as well.
WHITFIELD: Hm, good point. All right. Thanks a lot, doctor.
WEINSTEIN: Thanks, Fredericka.
WHITFIELD: Well, if you have a question for Dr. Weinstein, e- mail us. Send your questions to ethics@CNN.com. We'll get them on the air and get them answered for you.
CNN takes a serious look at another ethical issue -- this kind of is a continuation of the e-mail we just saw -- asking whether it is OK to cheat. It seems that most Americans seem to think so, with new surveys showing an increasing number of people having affairs, while taboos against stepping out are fading away. "INFIDELITY" on CNN PRESENTS, today, at 3:00 Eastern.
Well, most people run away from tornadoes, but if you're looking for some adventure, we just might have the vacation for you. We'll take you inside the action straight ahead on CNN LIVE SATURDAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Well, most normal people hope for nice weather when they go on vacations, but there are some who always look for storm clouds, apparently, so now, there are tour companies operating in tornado alley that will take you to see...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bear attack. Also, ahead...
WHITFIELD: Michael Forrester works with those companies as a storm chaser and a photographer.
And, you know, most folks would think it's crazy enough that folks would want to be a storm chaser by career. Now, you're actually attracting people -- just ordinary folks -- who decide, you know what, I want to see what it's like to get up close and personal with tornadoes.
MICHAEL FORRESTER, STORM CHASER: More and more people every year are discovering this. It's really a niche market right now. In total, there's probably about six different companies that operate storm tours around the country. You're talking about maybe 300 people a year that are doing this, but every year, that number continues to grow.
WHITFIELD: Who are these folks? Describe the tourists who wants to see a tornado up close and personal.
FORRESTER: They really vary, from all over the world, especially foreign countries that don't have the type of severe weather that we have in the United States, and also folks that just have an interest in severe weather. Weather junkies.
WHITFIELD: At what point did you realize there's a market for this? FORRESTER: It really started out as a fluke, just something that -- thought people would be interested in, not really sure if it would fly. And, sure enough, there are lots of people out there that responded and continue to. We're just about full for two solid months this year.
WHITFIELD: Really?
FORRESTER: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Now, how do you guarantee people's safety? How close are you getting to these twisters? And, you know, twisters are rather unpredictable, or at least most of us always thought they were. How do you know where to go and at what point? Lot of questions there.
FORRESTER: It depends on the technology, and that's what makes the difference, is -- you really want to be as safe as possible, because you're not only taking these tourists out for the trip, you're there yourself. You want to be safe. So, you want the technology. You want to have access to Doppler radar. You want to know a little bit about meteorology to be able to predict, with -- as much as possible, where these storms are going to go. And they do tend to track.
WHITFIELD: And you're equipped with that now? While you're out there, you've the Doppler so you can find out where the tornadic activity is, or at least severe, or impending weather is.
FORRESTER: Yes. We target an area in the morning and drive in that direction. Generally we drive about 500 miles a day. This year we're chasing with Josh Norman (ph) and the Center for Severe Weather Research and his Doppler-on-wheels trucks. So, we'll actually be able to see up-close, high-resolution Doppler images live of any tornadic activity.
WHITFIELD: Can you almost always guarantee that on this tour you're going to see at least one?
FORRESTER: No. No.
WHITFIELD: So, folks may book a tour with you and then never see a twister at all?
FORRESTER: It is possible. We can't control Mother Nature.
WHITFIELD: Right.
FORRESTER: So, there are those times that it's lots of blue skies.
WHITFIELD: So, how do you know how to book a trip with you? How do you book this tornado excursion?
FORRESTER: It's a lot of luck. No one can predict, other than knowing that May and June are going to be your peak weather months for severe weather, so that's when you want to go, especially mid to late May, this year, looks really good. So, if someone's thinking about going, now's a very good time. The next couple of weeks look really good. I'll be out there, starting tomorrow.
WHITFIELD: Now, what about waivers? I imagine that folks have to sign waivers, at least do this at your own risk.
FORRESTER: Absolutely. Sure. It's -- there is a waiver involved, but no one has been injured storm-chasing with an organized tour group.
WHITFIELD: And how much does it cost on average?
FORRESTER: Costs anywhere between $1,500 and $3,000, just depending how many days you're going to chase.
WHITFIELD: Wow! And are you staying in the car? Is this included? Got to have accommodations.
FORRESTER: No, that includes your accommodations.
WHITFIELD: That's what you usually see, when you see a lot of storm-chasers. They're camping out in their vehicles, because they're moving from place to place. Is a tourist experiencing it like that?
FORRESTER: It's -- no. We're eating breakfast and lunch every day. Dinner, we sometimes skip because that's usually the peak of the severe activity weather, in the dinner hours. But, we're always staying in as nice a hotel, motel, we can find in the Midwest. We're not staying in any large cities by any means.
WHITFIELD: All right. I hear the phones ringing, so people are actually interested. How do they inquire about -- how do they sign up?
FORRESTER: Real easy. They can go to stormchasing.com. They can go right to the website and sign up right online, plus learn a lot more about the company and what we do.
WHITFIELD: Wow. That's pretty fascinating. All right, Michael Forrester, storm chaser, and now leading tours. And you, too, can get on board and see a twister up close and personal. Thanks a lot, Michael. All right, thanks a lot, Michael. Good to see you.
FORRESTER: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Still much more ahead on CNN Saturday. In a few moments, "IN THE MONEY." At 2:00 Eastern, "CNN LIVE SATURDAY," with more on the re-opening of the decades-old Atlanta child killings case, and at 3:00 Eastern, "CNN PRESENTS," today, looking at infidelity, a problem that touches nearly half of all marriages. But first, Jack Cafferty has a preview of "IN THE MONEY."
JACK CAFFERTY, HOST "IN THE MONEY": Thanks. Coming up on "IN THE MONEY," thinking the worst: see if America's been doing its homework in order to prepare for a possible nuclear attack. Plus, how the healthcare system can flatline your bank account. We'll look at whether the cash you spend to stay well could one day put you over the limit. And money talks, experience walks. Find out why it's so tough to get back on your feet if you get fired at 50. All that, and more, right after a quick check of the headlines.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 7, 2005 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: It's Noon on the east coast, 8:00 a.m. -- 8:00 p.m., rather, in Baghdad. Welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. I'm Fredricka Whitfield at CNN Global Headquarters. Ahead this hour:
A deadly day in Iraq. Another bombing and this time some Americans are among the victims. What Iraq's military is doing to try to prevent future attacks.
Also:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF LOUIS GRAHAM, DEKALB COUNTY POLICE: Quite frankly, I don't think Wayne Williams is responsible for anything. I don't think he did anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Police open the 26-year-old Atlanta child murders case. What it could mean for convicted killer Wayne Williams.
And later, storm chasers have found that for years people have found fascination with the storms, but now you can go on an adventure vacation to track tornadoes. We'll take you along for the ride. First, our top stories now in the news.
A raid in western Iraq last month led to the capture of a major terrorist suspect. The man is said to be a key associate of terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, shown in these photos. The U.S. military announced the arrest today and said the suspect coordinated meetings and movements for Zarqawi.
Three bombs exploded in the south Asian country of Myanmar, today. Government-run television says at least 11 people were killed and more than 160 other wounded. Two of the blasts targeted shopping centers in the capital, the other, a trade exhibition.
And, police will take another look at the two-year crime spree that left 29 boys and young men dead in the Atlanta area. Wayne Williams was convicted of murdering two adult men in 1982 and police closed the other cases. But now, a suburban Atlanta cold case squad will review five of the slayings. In about 30 minutes, I'll talk to the man who played a critical role in the investigation 26 years ago. President Bush is on the second leg of a European trip marking the end of World War II in Europe 60 years ago. The president began in Latvia, meeting with the leaders of that country, Estonia and Lithuania, three Baltic states annexed by the Soviet Union back in 1945. President Bush is now traveling to the Netherlands and later to Russia, where leaders are unhappy with Bush's visits to those former Soviet satellite states. The president ends his trip in Georgia, another former Soviet republic.
Well, President Bush noted, during his travels to Latvia, that the end of World War II did not bring freedom across all of Europe. It's that recognition and his visit to the Baltic states that has Russians upstairs. Our John King has been traveling with the president and joins us now from Riga -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And Fredricka, new words from the president today likely to exacerbate those tensions with Russia over this visit, over things the president has said just before and now during this visit. A full day for the president here in Riga, it included laying flowers at the foot of what is called the "Freedom Monument," here in downtown Riga, this country now a proud democracy, as you noted, behind the iron current, under the control of others in its long and troubled history, but a thriving democracy now, Mr. Bush here to pay tribute to that. And he again talked about the evil Communist oppression here, after World War II, not only in Latvia, but the other Baltic states, Lithuania and Estonia. But quite interesting today, in a speech to the Latvian people, Mr. Bush said the United States also bears some responsibility, making note of the agreement at Yalta, that agreement signed onto by President Roosevelt at the end of World War II, essentially gave the green light to Soviet expansion in eastern Europe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Once again, when powerful governments negotiated the freedom of small nations was somehow expendable. Yet this attempt to sacrifice freedom for the stake of stability left a continent divided and unstable. The captivities of millions, Central and Eastern Europe will be remembered as one of the greatest wrongs of history.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Now, as Mr. Bush does prepare to go on to Moscow for those celebrations, a big military parade marking the 60th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis; he stood in solidarity today in the Baltics with leaders. He talked again of the end of the evil of the Soviet oppression after post-World War II. Mr. Bush said his message to Mr. Putin will be, do not be afraid, you should welcome democracies on your borders. The president also suggested in that speech, perhaps Mr. Putin could look around the neighborhood and learn a few things.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: All free and successful countries have some common characteristics: Freedom of worship, freedom of the press, economic liberty, the rule of law, and the limitation of power through checks and balances. In the long run, it is the strength of Russian democracy that will determine the greatness of Russia. And I believe that Russian people value their freedom and will settle for nothing less.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: And, again, the Netherlands, the next stop for President Bush, then on to Moscow for that Monday parade. That visit will put to test the president's long-held belief that he has a very deep personal bond with President Putin and that that bond will allow them to overcome their significant policy differences. Fredricka, it is clear on that trip that list of difference is growing longer, perhaps even by the day -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, John King in Riga thanks so much.
Well, now to North Korea and the U.S. tactics being used to influence the nuclear nation to disarm. The "Washington Post" reports China has rejected a U.S. plan to cut off North Korea's supply of oil. It was a way to pressure Pyongyang to return to nuclear disarmament (SIC) talks. Meanwhile and Pentagon is monitoring North Korea. A Defense Department official says there's intelligence the nation is possibly preparing for its first nuclear test. U.N. nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei says that would be a reckless move.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOHAMED ELBARADEI, IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL: It would have disastrous political repercussions. I'm not sure how much environmental impact it could have in, terms of radiological fallout, so I do hope that North Koreans would absolutely reconsider such a reckless, reckless step.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And you can see the entire interview with ElBaradei tomorrow on "Late Edition" with wolf Blitzer. That starts at Noon Eastern.
Insurgents keep up their deadly aggression in Iraq. A U.S. Marine was killed today by an improvised explosive device during combat, west of Baghdad. And earlier today, a suicide car bomb hit a convoy in central Baghdad. Two American contractors were among at least 22 people killed. This attack comes as Iraq trains more security forces to try to deal with the violence. CNN's Ryan Chilcote, is in our Baghdad bureau with more on that -- Ryan.
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, the U.S. and Iraqi military believe the best way to stem some of the violence we've seen over the last few months, here in Iraq, is to get as many Iraqi forces as possible into the field, into operations. We had a rare opportunity to see some of the Iraqi security forces, elite troops, from their special operating forces, in training.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CHILCOTE (voice-over): It's Iraq's elite commando school, a make or break course for select recruits from Iraq's 75,000 man army who want to join its 500 plus strong special forces. But, after the U.S. military's ranger school, soldiers spend three weeks on just four hours of sleep a day, honing their combat and survival skills, keeping their heads high up on the ropes and low in the mud. Wiping your face off here doesn't help much. In addition to sometimes losing face, the recruits lose their names when they sign up. Instead they're known by numbers to mask religious or ethnic divisions.
"We want a free country," this recruit says, "that we own, not owned by insurgents or terrorists or Syrians that come from outside our borders."
Some recruits hang in for the duration. Others don't. Some lucky ones, who fail, are allowed to do it all over again. In a state of the art U.S. built shoot house, Iraq's counter-terrorist force, the other wing of the elite troops, demonstrates what it looks like when the initial training is over. They've already broken down doors with American troops in Falluja, Salman Pak, and Najaf, more than 700 operations, many more than 500 suspected insurgents.
They're Iraqi and American instructors say they're highly motivated and some of the best shots in the world. Successfully training more Iraqi troops like them, they say, is the American's best shot of getting home.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHILCOTE: Well, Fredricka, the Iraqi prime minister says that the country may be moving away from a little bit of the political infighting, here. Today, he announced that a deal has been reached with several of the factions to fill the last seven vacant jobs in the government. We're expecting an announcement as to who will get those jobs tomorrow -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Look forward to that. Thanks a lot. Ryan Chilcote in Baghdad.
Well, more than 25 years ago, the Atlanta area was gripped in fear. The murders of several children terrorized the city. So why, even after the conviction of one man years ago, is the case being reopened?
And drivers beware: A series of shootings on some L.A. freeways. Do the police have any leads?
Plus, how would you like to be right in the middle of Mother Nature's action, intentionally, and while on vacation? Storm trackers and their adventure tours, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm Rob Marciano at the CNN Weather Center. Time to look at your allergy forecast for this weekend. Tree pollen is becoming less prevalent across the South, so we've gone from red to orange across the Southeast, but still on the high side. Across the basin of Utah, very high, so you're probably suffering a little there and across the Northerns here, well, you quite won't get into to for another couple of weeks. Hope you're feeling well on this Saturday. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Los Angeles in on edge this weekend after a rash of freeway shootings. Since mid-March, there have been eight, four fatal. I'll talk to a former FBI agent about investigating the shooting spree in a moment, but first to CNN's Coreen Winter, in Los Angeles, about the fear of getting on the highway.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COREEN WINTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's just after 5:00 a.m. and this mother of two is already behind schedule, a quick goodbye for her 6-month-old daughter and into the next room and a kiss for her 2-year-old son. Then she's off, until recently, the most grueling part of her day was dodging traffic on the 40-mile drive to work along southern California's famously congested freeways. Now, Michelle Riggs has a new concern, dodging bullets.
MICHELLE RIGGS, CALIFORNIA COMMUTER: I don't feel safe knowing that there's someone out there that could pull up on the side of me at any given moment and change my life.
WINTER: Since March 12, when a man was shot and killed driving in Orange County, a rash of unsolved shootings have rattled much of Southern California. That, even though police insist the number of freeway shootings isn't on the rise.
ART ACEVEDO, LOS ANGELS POLICE: We've had some tragedies, but compared to last year, we're actually on pace to have fewer incidents this year.
WINTER: But public fears have forced the creation of the special task force to stop the shootings. We were allowed rode along on one of the first undercover patrols.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we just had a shot fired.
WINTER: The undercover investigator begins chasing a report of what sounds like another freeway shooting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The victim is actually at the new (UNINTELLIGIBLE) they advise that they were shot at -- at the exact same or near the same -- same 10-20 as the shooting from yesterday.
WINTER: We were asked not to reveal the identity of the officer, but this call and the next one he receives...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Party that said their windshield was shot...
WINTER: Turned out to be false alarms.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This was a good day, because there was no shootings and maybe a bad day for leads, but tomorrow's another day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And that was CNN's Coreen Winter reporting.
Well, why is the investigation of this year's spade of shootings such a challenge? Joining us from New York, Don Clark, a former FBI special agent in charge.
Well, Don, millions of folks on the L.A. highways, at any given time, how does that further complicate the search for the shooter or shooters?
DON CLARK, FMR. FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Well, it does bring to itself a lot of complications there, because, you know, most people driving the freeways, certainly, Fredricka, not looking to get involved in a shooting, so their mind-set is not even there. But, I think, what you've really come in contact with now, is that you find an area where a crime problem has just really shifted. You know, we're accustomed to it being in the neighborhood and now it's shifted to the freeway. So, I think, law enforcement has to adjust to that shift and try to do some things to gather evidence to put this thing to rest.
WHITFIELD: And how much more difficult is it going to be for investigators, now, to figure out whether this shooter is in a moving vehicle or whether they're at a stationery point?
CLARK: Yeah, I don't know that it's that difficult to do, but I think what they really have to do is be creative and come up with ways to work with this. They probably have assessed whether or not it is someone in a stable position, which from everything I know, I don't think that that's necessarily the case, and to what to do the people who may be pulling up alongside other vehicles. And how to get information to other law enforcement people in the area, so that they can compare crimes that have been committed with perhaps these.
WHITFIELD: And how do you know, at this point, whether it is the same person, the same group, perhaps, or if many of these are the case of copycats?
CLARK: Well, I would not guess that it's a single person. I mean, there seems to be too much variation into what's going on. So, you probably have groups. But you could have gangs that are involved in this, you could have initiations. And that's why it's so important for that police department to get information out to the community about this and while they're solving some other crime, they may gather some information on this. I don't think it's a single person at all.
WHITFIELD: And you've touch on why it's so important for the community to be involved. The public can really help advance this investigation how?
CLARK: Well, you know, we've asked for years now to bring the public in and help us solve crimes, even back when I was in the FBI. You wanted to bring the public in. It's the right thing to do, because the public is the one that's out there and you've got people driving on the freeways, you tell them what the crime problem is: They have erratic behavior, they can get a license tag and all it sometimes that's all it takes is one license tag to be able to identify a car, and you may be able to solve a string of these and the public can help do that.
WHITFIELD: But you also have the case of the drivers trying to concentrate on their driving, perhaps not trying to look too much around, but there is also the issue of intimidation, which also comes to light in investigations like this.
CLARK: Well exactly and you know I think it's important that you make the drivers aware of exactly where the activity is going on out there and they can also plot out the exactly what times of days they feel may be the times to be most on the lookout for this type of activity. So still, the driver's a lot of things to do. Maybe stay off the cell phone a little bit and watch some of these things.
WHITFIELD: All right, good advice. Don Clark, former FBI special agent in charge, this time join us from New York.
CLARK: Thank you, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Coming up, if the sight of the tornado you're about to see, right here, doesn't want to make you want to run in the other direction you might be ready for a storm chasing tour.
And 20 horses will break out of the gate, but only one wins. Will it be a favorite, say "Bellamy Road," or perhaps another prized thoroughbred? We'll have a live report straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Well, get out your hat, hoist a mint julep, perhaps, it's time for the running of the roses. The 131st Kentucky Derby is less than six hours away. CNN's sports correspondent, Ray D'Allessio is at Churchill Downs.
And Ray, folks have had a chance to see their first sneak peeks of the horses. Who looks good?
RAY D'ALLESSIO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah the field looks good, Fredricka, you're absolutely right. I do believe the last time we did one of these, I was coming to you from Philadelphia in a blinding snowstorm, but much different today. The weather is absolutely gorgeous, and it is, it's going to be a great race tonight. Right now the favorite, "Bellamy Road." But history tells us being the favorite in the Kentucky Derby doesn't always translate to victory. In fact, in the past 25 races, the favorite at post time has won the race only twice and that might not be good news to George Steinbrenner, who was looking to snap an 0 for 5 streak here at the Kentucky Derby. He's never won in five previous races, but he could have the top contender in "Bellamy Road," the current favorite. Very impresses force in his past two starts. He won by a combined 33 lengths. Still, there is some question whether "Bellamy Road" can live up to all the hype. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TODD PLETCHER, TRAINER OF 3 DERBY ENTRANTS: He missed two starts this year or has been extremely impressive, he's kind of had everything his way. Now let's see if he can do it without having everything his way.
D'ALLESSIO: In addition to proving his critics wrong, "Bellamy Road" could also give trainer, Nick Zito his third Kentucky Derby win. If not "Bellamy Road," Zito has four other hopefuls.
NICK ZITO, TRAINER OF 5 DERBY ENTRANTS: If we lose, I have to come up with something, because you have five, but if we lose, we lose. I mean, that's the way it is. But, sure, it is pressure. Five is better than one.
D. WAYNE LUKAS, TRAINER "GOING WILD": I'm not saying he couldn't win it. I think we'll put a suicide watch out on Nick if he doesn't win with one of those, but...
(LAUGHTER)
D'ALLESSIO: Like "Bellamy Road," "Afleet Alex" was also impressive when he won the Arkansas Derby. However, one big difference, "Afleet Alex" has won more prep races, something first- time Kentucky derby trainer Tim Ritchey says is very comforting.
TIM RITCHEY, TRAINER, "AFLEET ALEX": I haven't been here, but I know, just running horses, in general, when you get to bigger races, when you have a horse that's been tested, you know what he is, you know what he's capable of.
D'ALLESSIO: And here's something else we know, with a full field of 20 horses, forecasters calling for beautiful weather, and more than 100,000 fans cheering, this year's Kentucky Derby may not only be the fastest two minutes of sports, but the greatest.
BOB BAFFERT, TRAINER, "SORT IT OUT": If they got ride of the Derby tomorrow, I'd probably quit training and do something else. Because, the Derby keeps me going and I really look forward to this, and that's why I'm in the business, is to try to get to the Derby every year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
D'ALLESSIO: While back at the Kentucky Derby after missing last year's race, of course, Baffert, a three-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, his last win coming back in 2002 with "War Emblem" -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And Ray, all the folks behind you, right there, most of those folks there aren't really getting a chance to bet, are they? The just kind of are there for the whole scene and the experience?
D'ALLESSIO: They're actually going back and forth to the betting windows, but a lot of them, right now, basically just out here picnicking, the -- trust me, the mint juleps are flowing. I'm staying away from them, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: I'm sure, you are.
D'ALLESSIO: I'm being good. But yeah, everybody out here having a good time.
WHITFIELD: All right Ray, well maybe you'll sneak one in after broadcast or something. It's all part of the...
D'ALLESSIO: I'll bring you one back.
WHITFIELD: ...Kentucky Derby experience. OK, that too. All right, Ray D'Allessio, thanks a lot. Have a good time out there.
Well, it's a case with many unanswered questions and one of them is weather convicted murder Wayne Williams is guilty. Ahead, why police are reopening a 26-year-old case.
Plus, how secure is the U.S.-Mexico border? The new secretary of Homeland Security takes a closer look when CNN LIVE SATURDAY returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: "Now in the News," President Bush called the Soviet domination of Central and Eastern Europe after World War II one of the greatest wrongs of history. The president spoke in the Baltic nation of Latvia, today, he's on a four-nation trip to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.
Insurgents launched deadly attacks in Iraq today. At least 22 people were killed in violence, including two U.S. contractors who died in a suicide blast in Baghdad. A U.S. Marine was also killed during combats today in the province of Anbar.
And two people in Kabul, Afghanistan have died after a blast at an internet cafe popular with Westerners. Police are investigating whether the attack was a suicide bombing.
Decades ago, several killings paralyzed Atlanta with fear. Some 29 African-Americans, most of them boys, were murdered between 1979 and 1981. Now, a police chief is reopening the case, saying the convicted killer is innocent. Reporter Lisa Ram with affiliate WAGA has the story.
LISA RAM, WAGA REPORTER: When Wayne Williams went to jail in 1982 for murdering two men, authorities at the time believe they also got a mass murder. Investigators say carpet fibers taken from his home and cars linked Williams to many of Atlanta's infamous missing and murdered children cases. However, Williams was never officially convicted of for of those DeKalb County murders.
CHIEF LOUIS GRAHAM, DEKALB COUNTY POLICE: Quite frankly, I don't think Wayne Williams is responsible for anything. I don't think he did anything. So, I made up my mind with that over 20 years ago, and I still feel that way. RAM: Now, Chief Graham is opening four of the missing and murdered cases that happened in his county in 1991. He has formed a five-member cold case squad with what he calls are young and enthusiastic detectives.
GRAHAM: At this point, there are just too many open questions, and all I'm trying to do is answer those questions as best we can.
RAM: The four cases.
Patrick Baltazar, 11 years old. His body was found February 13th, 1981, in an office complex in DeKalb County. The evidence showed he was strangled.
Curtis Walker, 13, also strangled. His body was found in the South River on March 6, 1981.
Joseph Bell, 15, on April 19, 1981, his body was also found in the South River in DeKalb County.
William Barrett, 17. On May 12, 1981, his body was found near the corner of Winthrop Road and Glennwood in DeKalb.
Atlanta solicitor Joseph Drolet is one of the former Fulton County prosecutors who tried Wayne Williams. He remains convinced that Wayne Williams is guilty.
JOSEPH DROLET, FORMER PROSECUTOR: It may possibly uncover additional facts about the case or perhaps participation of others, which many people suspected at the time and subsequent, but I'm not sure it's going to change anything in regard to the evidence against Wayne Williams.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: That was Lisa Ram (ph) reporting from our affiliate, WAGA. With more on the case, Chet Dettlinger joins us on the telephone from Louisville, Kentucky. He was an assistant police chief in Atlanta at the time of the killings.
All right, Chet, thanks so much for being with us.
CHET DETTLINGER, FMR ASS'T CHIEF, ATLANTA POLICE DEPT.: You're welcome.
WHITFIELD: Well, do you agree with Chief Graham, that there are a lot of unexplained questions?
DETTLINGER: Well, of course, I do. I agree with Louis (INAUDIBLE). At that time, he was chief of police in Fulton County, and interestingly enough, I think -- the only problem I ever had with any of Wood's theories (ph) was he was leaning toward the KKK, and I don't think the KKK had anything to do with it. But, yes, I agree with him wholeheartedly, and I'm so glad he's opening it.
WHITFIELD: So, you've always been convinced that Wayne Williams was not necessarily the right man behind bars, to connect him with the nearly 30 crimes, even though he was convicted of just two?
DETTLINGER: Well, I haven't been convinced one way or the other. I don't know whether Wayne's innocent or not. I just don't think they proved him guilty of anything. They certainly didn't prove him guilty of 28 of them, because they didn't try him for 28 of them, they tried him for two.
WHITFIELD: What's missing in this case? The common denominators include strangulation. What are some of the other commonalities...
DETTLINGER: No, no, now, hold on -- strangulation is not the common denominator. That's one of the problems in this case. There were people who were stabbed, people who're bludgeoned, people who were shot, people were suffocated...
WHITFIELD: In the four -- in the four and perhaps five cases the police chief is reopening, strangulation is a form of -- the mode of death, in at least those four or five.
DETTLINGER: OK, I'm not sure. It's been like 30 years, but it seems to me like what they've -- probably were -- probably found on the autopsy report would be something called probable asphyxia, and probably asphyxia means you probably stopped breathing. I don't remember those four particular ones. I thought one of them was stabbed. I guess not.
WHITFIELD: In your experience, when you're dealing with serial killings, often times there's a calling card. Was there a calling card that you can discern in these cases?
DETTLINGER: No, and I think that's a myth as well. That's something that came up with Ted Bundy through, what's his name? Kipple (ph) in Seattle. I don't think there's necessarily a calling card in any serial murder.
WHITFIELD: So, how do you see the re-opening of this case proceeding?
DETTLINGER: How do I see it proceeding? I don't know how they can reopen it, number one. I'm very glad to see -- I'm very happy about it. I'm very glad to see Lloyd doing it. I just don't know what they're going to do. They're going to look at some old records, I guess, and probably try to apply some new technology, such as DNA. I don't know how DNA will help, but that would be the only thing I could see that might even possibly upset the state's case, because -- even if they -- Wayne Williams was not convicted of killing these four people, OK? He was convicted of killing only two people.
These four people's cases were administratively cleared. And that goes on all the time. So, I mean, if they prove somebody else didn't kill him, that doesn't effect Wayne Williams at all for the two he was convicted of.
WHITFIELD: How do you see the re-opening of the case further disturbing or perhaps resolving some of the issues that some of these family members of these victims may have to this day? DETTLINGER: It may give -- it may find some answers, because there are answers out there. Of course, the problem is that a lot of the people are now deceased. The man who I'm sure killed one of the victims is deceased, and, you know, I don't know. I don't know whether they'll be able to get enough new information. They can go through the old stuff. That's what I was saying before. They can go through the old documents and they may come up with some different answers, but not much they can dig up new unless there's technology.
WHITFIELD: Chet Dettlinger, thanks so much for joining us from Louisville, Kentucky, on the telephone. And we'll have more right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Well, now for an update on the week's "Security Watch" developments in the war on terror.
Pakistani authorities have arrested the alleged number three man for al Qaeda. Abu Farraj al-Libbi is believed to be responsible for the terror group's global operations. Also arrested, 18 people believed to be part of al-Libbi's network.
A new report is critical of the FBI. It says the agency has been slow in hiring enough new intelligence analysts to protect national security. The Justice Department says the FBI ended fiscal 2004 with a 32% vacancy rate.
Congress is moving forward with a bill that may affect your driver's license. It would authorize uniform requirements on driver's licenses to prevent states from issuing them to illegal immigrants. The House has already approved the legislation. The Senate is set to vote on it next week.
Closer to home, the new man in charge of Homeland Security took a closer looks at efforts to secure parts of America's southwestern border.
CNN's homeland security correspondent Jeannie -- Jeanne Meserve, rather, has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEAN MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, tries out a fiberoptic scope used by customs to detect contraband in gas tanks. It was part of the secretary's first look at the southwest border.
MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Well, you know, you can get statistics and reports and briefings, but there's nothing quite like seeing things in person.
MESERVE: There is a lot to digest. Just this week, infrared cameras detected 15 people wending across the desert. They got away, but left this behind, 700 pounds of marijuana worth half a million dollars. When will this happen again? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It could be tonight.
MESERVE: Flooding in along the drugs, people. Border patrol trackers follow the footsteps of illegal aliens.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is fairly recent. It's from sometime today. You can see, the edges are still pretty sharp.
MESERVE: They find a makeshift camp, but no aliens. Until they head back to the road.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He looks tired.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, he does.
MESERVE: The young Mexican, scratched, thirsty, unable to open a can of food, ditched by the smuggler or coyote who brought him across the border.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The guy just left him, so -- he was smart enough, when he found a road, to start walking the road.
MESERVE: He is just one of many. Close to 700,000 illegal aliens have been detained in the last seven months.
Chertoff acknowledges some of the people coming across the border could be terrorists.
CHERTOFF: Obviously, people who are probing to get into the homeland to carry out -- wage war against us here in the United States -- are going to explore every possible avenue.
MESERVE: Chertoff wants to get control by using smarter strategy, more law enforcement and more technology. Arizona senior senator says there must be much more.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: ...for a few miles this way along the border, and a few miles that way. We have cameras and other high- tech equipment. You get past there, nothing except a three-strand barbed wire fence.
MESERVE: McCain says the recent Minutemen action demonstrates how frustrated some Americans are at the lack of security at the border. Asked if Chertoff understood the dimensions of the situation, McCain said, with determination, he will.
Jeanne Meserve, CNN, at the Arizona-Mexico border.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And, stay tuned to CNN day and night about the most reliable news of your security.
The uproar over a run away bride's actions continues, a mix of compassion and anger. Should she face the public and offer a more personal apology? Our ethics guy weighs in. And these people are in for the ride of their lives as they head towards an action-packed adventure. If you're a thrill seeker, you won't want to miss this vacation get away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: And, stories making headlines across America now.
Some anxious moments in Las Vegas and some dramatic footage. A passenger was forced to land a small private plane after the pilot suffered a heart attack. The pilot later died. The other two passengers on the plane are said to be OK.
A Columbus, Georgia, school district has reduced the suspension of a student who refused to end a cell phone call from his mom in Iraq. Kevin Francois, initially, was given a 10-day suspension for disorderly conduct. That suspension has now been reduced to three days. School officials say he became defiant and used profanity when a teacher asked him to hand over the phone. School officials say the student didn't at first tell them he was talking to his mom, who has been stationed in Iraq since last January. They say the school also makes arrangements for students to receive calls from parents who are deployed overseas.
A mother in Washington State who went to school to pick up her daughter was asked to leave for violating the school's dress code. The mother was wearing a white tank top with spaghetti straps and a partially open back, right there. Well, the principal stopped her at the door, and told her to go home and change her clothes
Well, the story of the so-called run away bride has drawn a lot of attention. Jennifer Wilbanks issued a statement on Thursday, saying her disappearance had nothing to do with cold feet. But what about ethical question involved in leaving town days before your wedding without letting anyone know? Well, here with some answers, the author of "Life Principles: Feeling Good by Doing Good," Dr. Bruce Weinstein, the ethics guy. Good to see you.
DR. BRUCE WEINSTEIN, THE ETHICS GUY: You too, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, this would seem like a no-brainer. You leave town. You don't tell anyone, even though you just want to be alone. It seems pretty inconsiderate, doesn't it?
WEINSTEIN: Well, the ethical principle of justice or fairness requires that the punishment fit the crime, and a simple apology, given that all this woman has put the country through, seems insufficient. But there's a broader question that has not yet been addressed, and I think it's worth examining, and that is the media's role in keeping this issue front and center for the last week. I mean, it seems like for the last four to six weeks, we have one story marshalled before us that we hear about over and over until it's beating a dead horse and then we move on to the next issue. There's so many other important issues to look at. I wonder to what extent does the public bear responsibility for keeping these single stories alive and to what degree does the media bear some responsibility for placing these stories front and center?
WHITFIELD: So, how do you feel that should be resolved?
WEINSTEIN: Well, we should just move on to other issues. I mean, look at -- they're less sexy issues, to be sure -- dwindling health care insurance, employment opportunities, the economy, the threat of terrorism and so forth that seem at least as important as one run away bride's misadventures.
WHITFIELD: In a case like this, when so much has been exhausted, whether on the air, the resources to search for Jennifer Wilbanks, in the end once she's found safe and sound, you don't think, necessarily, as much should be committed to her public apology or the depth of how public her apology should be to the many people who were looking for her, et cetera?
WEINSTEIN: Absolutely. I mean, every hour on -- not just this network, but on every network, broadcast and cable alike, we're hearing this story over and over and over, and it's enough. It seems to violate the ethical principle of justice in that it's a misallocation of scarce resources.
WHITFIELD: All right, so enough, already, on the Jennifer Wilbanks story.
WEINSTEIN: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Let's move on. Let's go to an e-mail from John, and he's got this question for you. "One of my friends is having an affair. I'm also friendly with his wife and I feel that I'm being disloyal to her by keeping this information to myself. Of course, if I tell her what I know, her husband would never speak to me again. What should I do?"
WEINSTEIN: Well, the most the writer can do is encourage his or her friend to rethink the wisdom of having an affair and to consider being open and honest with his spouse. But it's not the writer's responsibility or ethical obligation to get between the husband and wife in this matter.
But, you know, it might be worth rethinking the friendship, because if your friend has such a fundamentally different idea of what a good relationship is about, is this really somebody who's worth calling a friend? And also, if your friend is willing to treat his wife with such contempt, what's to say that he won't treat you with such contempt down the road?
WHITFIELD: So, it's safe to have this conversation with the alleged cheater, you know, and really question their actions, or maybe even try to help them see what they're doing is wrong, but you don't necessarily want to get in between and choose sides?
WEINSTEIN: Absolutely. It's not really the writer's business to get in between the husband and wife. But, you know that saying, how you do anything is how you do everything, and a person who is willing to cheat on his wife is probably, somewhere down the road, going to cheat on his or her friend as well.
WHITFIELD: Hm, good point. All right. Thanks a lot, doctor.
WEINSTEIN: Thanks, Fredericka.
WHITFIELD: Well, if you have a question for Dr. Weinstein, e- mail us. Send your questions to ethics@CNN.com. We'll get them on the air and get them answered for you.
CNN takes a serious look at another ethical issue -- this kind of is a continuation of the e-mail we just saw -- asking whether it is OK to cheat. It seems that most Americans seem to think so, with new surveys showing an increasing number of people having affairs, while taboos against stepping out are fading away. "INFIDELITY" on CNN PRESENTS, today, at 3:00 Eastern.
Well, most people run away from tornadoes, but if you're looking for some adventure, we just might have the vacation for you. We'll take you inside the action straight ahead on CNN LIVE SATURDAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Well, most normal people hope for nice weather when they go on vacations, but there are some who always look for storm clouds, apparently, so now, there are tour companies operating in tornado alley that will take you to see...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bear attack. Also, ahead...
WHITFIELD: Michael Forrester works with those companies as a storm chaser and a photographer.
And, you know, most folks would think it's crazy enough that folks would want to be a storm chaser by career. Now, you're actually attracting people -- just ordinary folks -- who decide, you know what, I want to see what it's like to get up close and personal with tornadoes.
MICHAEL FORRESTER, STORM CHASER: More and more people every year are discovering this. It's really a niche market right now. In total, there's probably about six different companies that operate storm tours around the country. You're talking about maybe 300 people a year that are doing this, but every year, that number continues to grow.
WHITFIELD: Who are these folks? Describe the tourists who wants to see a tornado up close and personal.
FORRESTER: They really vary, from all over the world, especially foreign countries that don't have the type of severe weather that we have in the United States, and also folks that just have an interest in severe weather. Weather junkies.
WHITFIELD: At what point did you realize there's a market for this? FORRESTER: It really started out as a fluke, just something that -- thought people would be interested in, not really sure if it would fly. And, sure enough, there are lots of people out there that responded and continue to. We're just about full for two solid months this year.
WHITFIELD: Really?
FORRESTER: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Now, how do you guarantee people's safety? How close are you getting to these twisters? And, you know, twisters are rather unpredictable, or at least most of us always thought they were. How do you know where to go and at what point? Lot of questions there.
FORRESTER: It depends on the technology, and that's what makes the difference, is -- you really want to be as safe as possible, because you're not only taking these tourists out for the trip, you're there yourself. You want to be safe. So, you want the technology. You want to have access to Doppler radar. You want to know a little bit about meteorology to be able to predict, with -- as much as possible, where these storms are going to go. And they do tend to track.
WHITFIELD: And you're equipped with that now? While you're out there, you've the Doppler so you can find out where the tornadic activity is, or at least severe, or impending weather is.
FORRESTER: Yes. We target an area in the morning and drive in that direction. Generally we drive about 500 miles a day. This year we're chasing with Josh Norman (ph) and the Center for Severe Weather Research and his Doppler-on-wheels trucks. So, we'll actually be able to see up-close, high-resolution Doppler images live of any tornadic activity.
WHITFIELD: Can you almost always guarantee that on this tour you're going to see at least one?
FORRESTER: No. No.
WHITFIELD: So, folks may book a tour with you and then never see a twister at all?
FORRESTER: It is possible. We can't control Mother Nature.
WHITFIELD: Right.
FORRESTER: So, there are those times that it's lots of blue skies.
WHITFIELD: So, how do you know how to book a trip with you? How do you book this tornado excursion?
FORRESTER: It's a lot of luck. No one can predict, other than knowing that May and June are going to be your peak weather months for severe weather, so that's when you want to go, especially mid to late May, this year, looks really good. So, if someone's thinking about going, now's a very good time. The next couple of weeks look really good. I'll be out there, starting tomorrow.
WHITFIELD: Now, what about waivers? I imagine that folks have to sign waivers, at least do this at your own risk.
FORRESTER: Absolutely. Sure. It's -- there is a waiver involved, but no one has been injured storm-chasing with an organized tour group.
WHITFIELD: And how much does it cost on average?
FORRESTER: Costs anywhere between $1,500 and $3,000, just depending how many days you're going to chase.
WHITFIELD: Wow! And are you staying in the car? Is this included? Got to have accommodations.
FORRESTER: No, that includes your accommodations.
WHITFIELD: That's what you usually see, when you see a lot of storm-chasers. They're camping out in their vehicles, because they're moving from place to place. Is a tourist experiencing it like that?
FORRESTER: It's -- no. We're eating breakfast and lunch every day. Dinner, we sometimes skip because that's usually the peak of the severe activity weather, in the dinner hours. But, we're always staying in as nice a hotel, motel, we can find in the Midwest. We're not staying in any large cities by any means.
WHITFIELD: All right. I hear the phones ringing, so people are actually interested. How do they inquire about -- how do they sign up?
FORRESTER: Real easy. They can go to stormchasing.com. They can go right to the website and sign up right online, plus learn a lot more about the company and what we do.
WHITFIELD: Wow. That's pretty fascinating. All right, Michael Forrester, storm chaser, and now leading tours. And you, too, can get on board and see a twister up close and personal. Thanks a lot, Michael. All right, thanks a lot, Michael. Good to see you.
FORRESTER: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Still much more ahead on CNN Saturday. In a few moments, "IN THE MONEY." At 2:00 Eastern, "CNN LIVE SATURDAY," with more on the re-opening of the decades-old Atlanta child killings case, and at 3:00 Eastern, "CNN PRESENTS," today, looking at infidelity, a problem that touches nearly half of all marriages. But first, Jack Cafferty has a preview of "IN THE MONEY."
JACK CAFFERTY, HOST "IN THE MONEY": Thanks. Coming up on "IN THE MONEY," thinking the worst: see if America's been doing its homework in order to prepare for a possible nuclear attack. Plus, how the healthcare system can flatline your bank account. We'll look at whether the cash you spend to stay well could one day put you over the limit. And money talks, experience walks. Find out why it's so tough to get back on your feet if you get fired at 50. All that, and more, right after a quick check of the headlines.
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