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CNN Live Saturday

Hurricane Dennis Heading Toward Gulf Coast; London Attacks And Mass Transit Security; "New York Times" Reporter Judith Miller Jailed

Aired July 09, 2005 - 14:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hurricane Dennis lashing the Florida Keys after giving Cuba a beating. This hour, we have the latest information on where the storm is headed next.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is serious. This is a very dangerous storm. And we hope that you will evacuate.

WHITFIELD: Florida prepares for the worst. We have several reports from the Gulf Coast. Plus, new details today about the terrorist attacks in London. We're live from London with today's developments. Hello, I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Those stories straight ahead, but first, other headlines now in the news.

The U.S. military today announced a new crackdown on insurgents in Iraq. Operation Scimitar focuses on the area around Fallujah. It began Thursday. The U.S. says 500 marines and about 100 Iraqi troops are taking part. They have already detained 22 insurgent suspects.

North Korea says it will return to six-party talks on its nuclear program. The talks are now scheduled to begin the week of July 25th. Kim Jong Il's government claimed in February it had nuclear weapons. North Korea's change of heart came as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Beijing. The north says it's returning to the six-way talks because it says the U.S. retracted a statement by Rice. Earlier this year, she called the country an outpost of tyranny.

Our top story now, Hurricane Dennis approaching landfall but the outer bands drenching the Florida Peninsula this hour. As the system spirals through the Gulf of Mexico, it's eye set on the battered northern Gulf Coast. Dennis is a category 2 hurricane but may strengthen before hitting land.

Evacuations of coastal areas are underway across Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Landfall is expected sometime tomorrow between Pensacola, Florida and Mobile, Alabama. We have reporters along the Gulf Coast to bring you the very latest. First, an update on where Hurricane Dennis is right now. Meteorologist Rob Marciano in the Weather Center -- Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Fredricka. After going over Cuba last night and weakening, it is now gathering strength again heading to the warm waters of Gulf of Mexico. This is the latest visible satellite imagery, meaning if you would just put a satellite up there and use the sun as a flash bulb, this is what the tops of the clouds look like.

And you can see how huge this storm is and more importantly how better defined or how nice that eye is getting as it heads into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Still only category 2. Here's the Keys and they've just been getting socked all morning long with gusty winds over 70 miles an hour at times and still happening, actually, in this particular storm.

The southeastern quadrant is probably -- is part of the strongest part of the storm as far as the winds are concerned. Category 2 status with winds at 100 miles per hour sustained. Northwesterly moving at 14 miles an hour. That is expected to continue. With that, the timing is such that it should be just south of Pensacola Beach tomorrow around 9:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m. So in the morning, the entire panhandle will start to feel the effects as a category 2 storm and 100 miles an hour winds.

But if we get up to 111, that's a cat 3 storm, so this is expected to come ashore as a strong category 2, potentially a category 3 storm. And if that were to occur, this is what it means, storm surge at 9 to 12 feet, large trees and utility poles down, small homes damaged and basically what we saw with Hurricane Ivan. A similar track and possibly a similar strength.

Three dimensional radar for you. You see those lightning flash. That's real-time radar and real-time lightning happening. Tampa, it's been a rough go for you this morning and you're going through another squall right now with winds gusting to 48 miles an hour.

And there is a tornado watch out pretty much for the entire peninsula of Florida with the possibility of seeing tornadoes throughout the day. We saw a tornado warning across metro Tampa just about an hour ago or half hour ago. And then, in through extreme northwestern part of the state, in through Pensacola already seeing some of the outer bands get in there and Santa Rosa County is under a severe thunderstorm warning. That's the latest from here, Fredricka. We'll see you in about 20 minutes.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Rob. Well, Key West avoided a direct hit. Hurricane Dennis skirted west of the lower Keys before roaring into the Gulf of Mexico. Now, coastal areas in four states are bracing themselves, ordering evacuations. Before many people packed up, they boarded up homes and businesses. Let's show you the impact that Hurricane Dennis already having. Reporters from the affiliates all over and we begin in Manatee County, Florida.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DON GERMAISE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No injury. No loss of life but we have seen some damage from those first feeder bands you were talking about, and we're going to pan around and show it to you while I tell you that the deputy fire chief for East Manatee County did tell me it appears this is due to a tornado touchdown. One of the reasons they think that as these little girls heard this morning about 6:00, they said it wasn't a lot of wind. It was a boom. One said it sounded like a bomb, an explosion. This is the damage. You see they're cleaning it up right now. Just how heavy were the winds? Well, let me show you what this grill looks like. This i the barbecue, and this is a -- it's got to be more than 100 pounds. You can't even lift it. It was blown out all the way out here. That's one of the reasons when we tell you you've got to clean up and clear your patio out when a hurricane is coming, that is it.

As you walk up here, you can see other evidence that it could've been a tornado because a straight line. This next lanai, this screened in porch also damaged. Look at how that was just blown apart over here. Just absolutely incredible. Now, as you pan a little further to the left, you'll see a tree, a couple trees actually, that have been blown out of the ground. Those are palm trees, so again, indicative of extreme straight winds. Very strong winds. And, that's where we are right now.

Again, near the Manatee River and we have been monitoring on storm trace. You can't see it right now because of the light, but as you say, we had the first feeder band. It looks like there's more feeder bands on the way about 50 to 100 miles away. These people are actually trying to clean up what they can before the next storms come in with more wind.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAD BERKY, CNN AFFILIATE CORRESPONDENT: For the longest time this morning, it was the tree and us. And that was about it. We finally got some barricades out here to at least alert drivers with some flashing lights that it is actually two trees. Because while it looks like the crown of one, there's actually another one behind it. Where we are is Hardy (ph) Road in Coral Gables. Wynatta (ph) Street is the intersection here.

And as you look at the crew, making short shrift of the two trees, let's roll some pictures and you can see they have the work cut out for them. Along this Hardy (ph) Road area here, we have counted at least eight, nine, ten big ficus trees that have come down. A couple of trees fallen on cars. One tree we found up against the side of a house.

But, again, the damage seems to be in this one central area here around Hardy (ph) Road. We even went up as far as U.S. 1 to take a look at U.S. 1 and we could find that U.S. 1 was open. Traffic is moving very smoothly so on U.S. 1 itself, there's really no problem. But it is back in this Hardy (ph) Road neighborhood here, a pretty exclusive enclave in an already exclusive Coral Gables area that has just been hit hard by a number of these old, old shallow rooted ficus trees that came down last night around 1:00.

We had a very strong burst of a thunderstorm that came in here, followed by another one and that is that sort of a train of storms that wound its way through Dade County up into Broward County, up into the Davie area with so many reports from the Davie Beach area and Fort Lauderdale and that sort of thing, but it all started right here in this little Hardy (ph) area of Coral Gables.

So, we just wanted to let you know that having watched these trees all morning, the crews are here. The crews are out working and I'm sure they are in other neighborhoods of Coral Gables, as well. From the Gables, Rad Berky, Local 10 news.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NEKI MOHAN, CNN AFFILIATE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Let's take a look at how brisk it is. You can see the winds blowing here on the beach and the palm trees. Still people moving around, coming out to see what's going on. You can see Miami Beach sanitation workers working hard. The good thing about putting all those downed trees on the air, people sending it in, is that immediately the sanitation crews get to see what areas to be cleaned up right away and they're lucky enough to have their neighborhoods cleaned up because they put the tree on TV.

Now, we'll take you back to the story of the lifeguards and the surfers. Going to be an ongoing battle all day.

(voice-over): Lifeguards are sounding the alarm to daredevils who dare to brave the surf. It will take a lot of convincing to get surfers like Samantha Wood and Ryan Kennedy to stay out.

MOHAN: And what do you say to the people who think you guys are crazy?

SAMANTHA WOOD, SURFER: Try it. It's fun.

RYAN KENNEDY, SURFER: It's going to be very rough. You have to know what you're doing out there.

MOHAN: What's the key to staying alive in something like this?

KENNEDY: Knowing what you're doing out there and having been in it before.

MOHAN (voice-over): What's one man's play is another man's work. And for lifeguards like John Skinner, it is a dangerous task.

JOHN SKINNER, LIFEGUARD: And just as the beaches are closed, there's absolutely no going in the water. It's very unsafe today.

MOHAN (on camera): Yes. What kind of risk is it to you if you have to go out there and get them?

SKINNER: It puts the whole -- the whole lifeguard unit in a risk because then we have to mobilize more people to go after one person where somebody could be drowning further up the beach and take the resources away to go after someone.

MOHAN: You can take a look out on the beach. You can see there's quite a number of people out here. There's even people just taking showers from coming off the beach, people walking down on the sand. I saw a father walk down on the sand with his daughter thinking it was a great idea. The poor little girl stung by the sand so badly ran behind a storage shed to hide because they just don't realize how truly strong the wind and sand is out there.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And that from our affiliate reporters throughout Florida. Well, Cuba is recovering from their bout with Hurricane Dennis. At least 10 people are reported killed on the island nation. We'll have the latest from CNN's Lucia Newman coming up. She rode out the storm in Havana and you'll want to see her report.

Remember that CNN is your hurricane headquarters for information. Stay with us day and night for up to the minute coverage with our crews along the Gulf Coast and the help of our affiliates, as well. We'll bring you continuous coverage. Another live update coming up within minutes.

Plus, the London terror investigation. New details today about the sequence of the bombings. We'll get a live report from London. CNN LIVE SATURDAY will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Cards, flowers and other tributes continue to be left at the entrance to the King's Cross Underground Station in London, the hardest hit tube station Thursday. The makeshift memorials remember the more than 50 killed and hundreds injured in the deadly bombings at four locations in central London. Some people are posting pleas for information about friends or relatives still missing.

London police say that the three subway blasts went off within seconds of each other, making it more likely timing devices were involved. And more questions now about the fourth explosion, an hour later on a Number 30 bus. Jim Clancy is near the King's Cross Underground Station with the latest on the investigation and reaction to the attacks -- Jim?

JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, as you look at the situation, I think this was echoed by the investigators of the Metropolitan Police today. You look at those three explosions, and as you noted, it's all fingers are pointing towards these were timing devices.

What happened on the bus, more of an open book there. It could've been someone on their way to plant a bomb. It could've been someone that didn't plant a bomb that was on their way home. There's no telling what the cause of that one may have been. That's going to be one of the things they'll want to investigate very closely, as if there isn't anything that they want to investigate closely because they've got so many element that is they have to look at.

It was only this afternoon that the coroner began the official, intensive investigation that will involve dental records, DNA and other elements to positively identify some of the victims of this crime. And remember, because it is a terrorist crime, simple body identification by visual methods isn't enough in this case. They'll want to verify each and every person, distinct remains between them.

The criminal probe, they don't have any named suspects in all of this but certainly, 100 feet below me or so, it is very tough going, indeed, for the investigators. It is hot. It is dusty. It is dirty down there. They're having to go through and work by hand. There is no room for automation. There's no room for any equipment down there. They're going to have to slowly get the way through there. They recovered more of the bodies today. They didn't tell us how many but that is an ongoing process.

Now, I want to take a couple of minutes, Fredricka, if I can and just walk you through this. King's Cross station. King's Cross station -- you're going to see the camera move a little bit. That's all right. Go ahead. We're going to show you this is one of the oldest stations in London. It's more than 150 years old.

At any given time, it is packed with people. Trains from the north of the country come in here. There are almost as many people as you might see here in a normal day because the one line that goes downtown is not operational, of course. That is where the tunnel has been blocked by that car that was shattered in Thursday's blast.

But as you look at here at King's Cross Station, you can see something that's come up in the last 48 hours. Hundreds of floral bouquets, tributes to the people who lost their lives here. Alongside all of these -- many of them are little messages. You will be sadly missed by all. I love you. London love. You can see a child wrote that one. All of these floral messages, people telling us that they came here really out of a determination to leave a mark here that says we won't be deterred by this.

We have come here to pay tribute to the victims and the tribute to the people of this city that have so much resiliency in them. The same message that Prime Minister Blair delivered this day. Back to you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Jim Clancy, thanks so much from King's Cross Statin there in central London.

Well, the near simultaneous explosions on the subway and the high grade of the explosives suggests a degree of sophistication to the experts. Let's talk with CNN security analyst Clark Kent Irvin in Washington. He's a former inspector general with homeland security. Good to see you, Clark.

CLARK KENT IRVIN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: You too, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Do the details, the fact that there may be a timing device, the fact that these explosives may have weighed less than ten pounds, do these details rule out certain well-known organizations that investigators have always been keeping an eye on there in London?

ERVIN: Well, I don't think the details rule out anything. If anything, the detail today showing the sophistication of the attacks makes it more likely that this is either al Qaeda itself or one of the al Qaeda offshoots. There are increasing similarities between the attacks here and in Madrid last year.

WHITFIELD: Except in the case of Madrid, cell phones were used as detonators, right?

ERVIN: That is right except that the sophistication suggests near simultaneity of the attacks, and that was the case in Madrid, as well. This was timed for maximum impact, to inflict maximum damage and maximum death and that's a cause for real concern.

WHITFIELD: So, when you have three groups that have claimed responsibility for this set of bombings, how in the world will investigators go about trying to verify who might be responsible when at least three groups are raising their hands and saying we are.

ERVIN: Well, that's going to be very, very difficult. The good news, though, is that of course the British have tremendous experience in the area of terrorism, not just from IRA but there have been a number of terrorist cells linked to al Qaeda, affiliates of al Qaeda, sympathizers of al Qaeda that the London law enforcement and intelligence officials have successfully taken down.

So they're very experienced. They're also getting help from Europe and from the United States in that regard. And the cameras that were placed throughout London will be helpful, as well, seeing if the perpetrators can be identified after the fact.

WHITFIELD: And apparently investigators in London have said that they detected no chatter leading up to these explosions. Yet the same time, there had been a feeling over the past couple of years, particularly since Britain got involved with the two wars, that if there were to be another attack it just might target the subway systems.

ERVIN: That's exactly right. The people said yesterday -- when this happens that they were not at all surprised it had happened. There had long been indications that is the subway, the mass transit in London would be the subject of the attack. And of course the timing, with the G-8 Summit being in Scotland made it particularly likely that if this would happen at all, it would happen then.

And so this attack draws more attention to mass transit, not just in Europe, which is a major means of tourism, of people getting to work, et cetera, but now it also focuses some attention on mass transit here in the U.S. How might one influence the other?

ERVIN: Well, you're absolutely right. This is the second wake- up call now that we in the United States have had with regard to the vulnerability of our own mass transit system and I think we need to recalibrate our spending. We have spent about $18 billion or so since 9/11 on aviation security and only a fraction with regard to mass transit.

WHITFIELD: But can security ever really be stepped up exponentially when it comes down to rail traffic, to subway traffic in the U.S. because it seems like it's, you know, awfully difficult to try to manage, isn't it?

ERVIN: It can be stepped up. It can be stepped up substantially. It's very, very difficult to prevent it from happening at all. It's more difficult to prevent something from happening in mass transit than aviation but it's not impossible and more can be done. For example, a number of steps were taken after Madrid, increased police presence, bomb-sniffing dogs, looking in trash receptacles, and those were, of course, exactly the measures that secretary Chernoff rightly announced after London.

The key though is to institutionalize the measures to do this on an ongoing basis and not to ratchet it down after the threat appears to have passed. That's going to require money of course, but that's why, as I say, more money needs to be devoted to mass transit security going forward.

WHITFIELD: Clark Kent Ervin, former inspector general with homeland security, thanks so much for joining us from Washington.

ERVIN: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Hunkering down, Florida's getting ready for Dennis. Straight ahead, we'll give you the very latest information on its position and projected path.

Plus, many Gulf Coast areas have been warned to evacuate. But two Louisiana men say they'll just stay where they are. Their story straight ahead at CNN LIVE SATURDAY continues its coverage of Hurricane Dennis.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD (voice-over): Here's an update on Hurricane Dennis. Strong wind gusts and minor damage already being reported in Key West, Florida, and parts of South Florida. On the northern Gulf Coast, people are getting ready. Homes and businesses are boarded up and residents and tourists moved inland. Dennis is 350 miles south, southeast of Apalachicola and still moving to the northwest.

The Category 2 hurricane expected to get stronger before hitting between Pensacola and Mobile, Alabama, on Sunday. Stay with CNN, your hurricane headquarters for the very latest information on Dennis throughout the entire weekend.

Threatening the Gulf as Dennis continues to move, what are other ways Florida residents are preparing? We'll go live to Pensacola, Florida. Plus, the deadly mark on Cuba. Details coming up.

A look at our top stories now. London investigators say near seconds separated the three subway explosions in Thursday's terror attacks. Officials also discount a fourth bomb was in a bag on the double decker bus. More than 50 people were killed. Officials hope to begin to identifying the dead later today. North Korea says it will return to the bargaining table the week of July 25th, after a year-long standoff. It is welcome news for U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who arrived in Beijing earlier today.

And the crew for the Space Shuttle Discovery prepares for its Wednesday afternoon launch, a takeoff far more publicized than Columbia's ascent two years ago. NASA officials say London's terror bombings have little impact on their security plans.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

Bands of rain and wind from Hurricane Dennis continue to whip Florida this hour. This is Miami Beach, where the streets are empty as well as the beaches there as people await the storm. Just how much of the Gulf Coast is at risk from the approaching hurricane. Let's check in with Rob Marciano -- Rob.

MARCIANO: Fredricka, we're still centered along the Florida Panhandle, over towards the Mississippi and Alabama coastlines and a lesser amount towards the mouth of the Mississippi River.

But of a more immediate concern, really, not so much where the center is going but the right flank is where we have the potential for tornadoes and it has already been rough as far as gusty winds and a lot of heavy rain, especially down around the Keys. Tampa's already been hit with a couple of tornadoes and there has been a couple of tornado warnings posted in the last hour with a couple of cells that are moving through the Tampa, St. Petersburg area.

This is Crystal -- Citrus County up through here and this cell has the potential for producing a tornado. And then another line north of Tampa, all heading up in this general direction. You can kind of see the spin in the atmosphere.

There was a squall line that moved through Tampa earlier. That has spun all the way towards Pensacola, and the center like 400 mile away from Pensacola. So, already beginning to feel the effects of this. Visible satellite imagery, look at the eye in this hurricane getting more well defined. Certainly the cloud canopy is expanding. So, even though it's only a Category 2 storm, looks like it is definitely getting organization to it.

One of our computer models: What this shows is wind field. And this is right now with tropical storm force winds in the yellow. The orange indicates hurricane force winds. That bright red, that is major hurricane in the way of 111 an hour or better.

You can see by 6:00 a.m. tomorrow, the hurricane force winds are just south of the Florida Panhandle. That is Panama City, Pensacola, Apalachicola. So, by wake-up call tomorrow morning there already could be getting pounded with hurricane force winds. Then the center of this is forecast to head somewhere into Alabama, Florida border. Similar to where Ivan was last year. And Ivan, by the way, came ashore as a Category 3 Storm. This is the forecast track, again, out of the National Hurricane Center. Forecast right now, Fredricka, to come on board as a strong Category 2 storm. Hopefully we won't get to Category 3 status. And of course we'll keep you posted if that happens.

WHITFIELD: All right, fingers crossed on that. Thanks so much, Rob.

MARCIANO: You bet.

WHITFIELD: Here's a look at the fury unleashed on Cuba. Cuban President Fidel Castro described Hurricane Dennis as a diabolical force. CNN's Lucia Newman rode out the storm in Havana and filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The worst is over. Hurricane Dennis leaving Cuba shortly after midnight leaving this capital city completely in darkness. In fact, power still is not established in Cuba's capital.

At least 1.6 million people had to be evacuated between Thursday and Friday, taken to higher ground or to safer homes. Most of them have now returned to their houses. Among those people were 16,000 tourists, mainly Europeans and Canadians. They also have had to suffer the power outages, some cases being forced to carry their suitcases down 25 flights of stairs, in some of the Havana's main hotels, because the generators aren't working or can't keep up with the demand in order to power the elevators.

Now the mop up exercises have already begun. It's being hampered by the rain, which is continuing here in the capital. Worst hit, of course, was south-central Cuba, which suffered, we understand, extensive damage to power and communications lines as well as the homes and to crops. But all in all, the hurricane was not as devastating as many had anticipated.

Not so in Haiti where there were massive mudslides and floods, bridges were absolutely blown away by the waters. And at least 22 people, we understand, were killed after the devastating the main (ph) island, which is still trying to recover from last year's hurricanes.

All in all, Cuba is counting its blessings, but it has been a nasty and a certainly premature start to this year's hurricane season. Lucia Newman, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Evacuations have been underway along Florida Gulf Coast although Key West avoided direct hit from Hurricane Dennis. Power is out in man places, and there is some damage as the storm turns in the gulf, might the cities between Pensacola, Florida and Mobile, Alabama, take the next direct hit? CNN's John Zarrella is in Pensacola where residents are still reeling from last year's relentless hurricane season. John? JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT, CNN LIVE SATURDAY: Fredricka, absolutely no question about that. The folks here just don't need to see this. In fact, here's a little anecdote for the viewers.

We are here at a Ramada Inn, and the woman who manages this Ramada Inn, she lost her home last year to Hurricane Ivan. She's been living in the hotel since then. And that's a story all up and down here in Pensacola and over into Mobile, Gulf Breeze. Lots of folks under the same situation. They don't need this.

It just started raining here. That squall line that Rob Marciano was talking about is just about over us here. And in the distance, for the viewers to take a look at, that's Interstate 10 bridge. You can see the traffic is fairly light right now on interstate, east-west artery that crosses Florida.

And there's a darker section of that bridge, a gray section and I'm sure many if not all of the viewers recall from last year Hurricane Ivan tore out a section of that bridge right there. It was over washed by the storm and there was a semi tractor trailer hanging over the edge. That's where it happened.

Of course, folks here are hoping that does not happen again with this storm. But certainly, anything is possible as the storm continues to move ever closer to us. Now, preparations have been underway here in Pensacola since yesterday. People because of Ivan getting prepared early. We stopped at a Home Depot today. Lots of folks in there buying gas cans, batteries, people are boarding up.

The gas lines are extremely long, 40, 50 cars deep at the gas stations. That's still have fuel. And of course, the folks know full well that they need to be getting out of here if they can, if they're ordered to evacuate. The Governor Jeb Bush, today, talking on television to residents of Florida, saying that it is important for them not to take any chances.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH (R), GOVERNOR, FLORIDA: The Panhandle, it is important to heed the instructions of -- to evacuate. There still will be time to evacuate for this day. And if you're in a mandatory evacuation area, please do so. For people, residents of Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, particularly, you know the devastation of a Category 3 or Category 4 force storm. This is serious. This is a very dangerous storm. And we hope that you will evacuate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: So, again now in the final hours here, about 12 hours from now, things will be quite different here than they are now. We certainly expect that conditions will have gone dramatically downhill starting at about probably midnight into the overnight hours here -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. John Zarrella, in Pensacola, thanks so much. Hurricanes cost Florida dozens of lives and more than $17 billion in insured losses last summer alone. And this season's named storms are already outpacing the start of the 2004 season. CNN Meteorologist Rob Marciano takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: If you thought last hurricane season was bad, bear in mind that last season didn't get bad until August the 13, a Friday the 13 as it happened, when Hurricane Charley took a sharp turn tore through the retirement town of Punta Gorda and raced across Florida. The first of four major hurricanes to hit the U.S. mainland in six weeks; after Charley came Frances, Ivan and Jean.

This year's first major hurricane is bearing down on the Southeast U.S. coastline a month earlier. We are already down to the fourth named storm. That's the earliest we have ever seen four named storms in the Atlantic basin ever. Just why is the Atlantic so active? Climate scientists point to the effect called a North Atlantic Oscillation. A long-term weather pattern that has made conditions right for hurricanes since the mid-1990s.

And this year, the waters of the Atlantic are unusually warm, the perfect conditions to grow hurricanes. How bad can it get? Experts have said early and often we are in for an above average year. Not that anyone expected Dennis so strong, so early in the season.

How many storms? In the alphabetical list of named storms, we made it to O last year. And the furthest into the alphabet was 10 years ago, Tropical Storm Tanya in October 1995.

And if you're keeping score, the annual stormed names run through the Ws. Let's hope we're not talking about Wilma a few months from now. Rob Marciano, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: We're keeping you updated on Hurricane Dennis all day here on CNN. So stay with us.

Also ahead, a stormy D.C. court case spawning this question, should a reporter have been sent to jail for her silence? Our legal eagles take on the CIA leak investigation straight ahead on CNN LIVE SATURDAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: We'll get back to the hurricane coverage in a moment, but first, stirring things up in the world of journalism. The case of a high-profile journalist going to jail for keeping the source names quiet. It is the focus of this week's "Legal Roundtable".

Judith Miller of "The New York Times" and "Time" magazine's Matthew Cooper were targets of a federal investigation into the leak of an identity of an undercover CIA operative. Miller was jailed Wednesday she wouldn't disclose her source. Let's go to our legal experts, Richard Herman, in New York, and Avery Friedman, in Cleveland.

Good to see both of you, gentlemen.

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Good afternoon.

RICHARD HERMAN: Hi, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Avery, let me begin with you. Should it have come to this?

FRIEDMAN: You know, this is a classic battle. This is a terrible week for freedom of the press. Judith Miller did what she's supposed to do. She is supposed to protect the confidential sources. The difficulty is you've got a behavior here by a purportedly government official disclosing the identity of an undercover covert CIA agent. That's treasonous.

So, this classic battle resulted in Judith honoring her confidentiality and paying the price being held in civil contempt, and then going to jail. So, they're in the absence of congressional action, Fredricka, to protect broadcasts or print reporters, there was no choice. She had to go to jail or disclose that confidential source.

WHITFIELD: So, Richard, you are shaking your head. "Time" magazine's editor-in-chief Norman Pearlstein, said no journalist is above the law. And that's why he had the notes of Matthew Cooper handed over and, you know, it helped, in part, keep Matthew Cooper out of jail. Do you think that was the right approach?

HERMAN: Well, you know, Fredricka, we live in such -- our time in history right now is -- has never been in the past. And, I mean, you look what's going on in London. I look out my window of my office. I don't see the Twin Towers. This is a crucial period of time in history. There is no federal legislation for shield laws for reporters to protect their sources.

WHITFIELD: Should there be?

HERMAN: Well, I'm not even getting to that point right now.

FRIEDMAN: There should be.

HERMAN: A judge issued an order to this reporter to divulge her sources. Her lawyers had the ability to take appeal and they took their appeals, they went to the United States Supreme Court, who rejected it. She's in direct contempt of court. You know, she should just -- she doesn't want to go to jail, divulge your sources, otherwise she belongs in jail.

FRIEDMAN: Oh.

WHITFIELD: So, it looks like she's looking at four months jail time. Do you see that -- does she have any reprieve? Are there any options for her?

HERMAN: Yeah. Divulge the sources. Those are her options.

WHITFIELD: And that's it?

FRIEDMAN: Oh, yes. But look at the moral statement that Judith Miller is making here. She understands that when you violate the law, that you pay the consequence. It would have been very easy for her to disclose the confidential source, on this very important matter.

But you know what? You have to give Judith Miller credit for the courage she's shown honoring the morality of this commitment. She understands that in the absence of congress passing a law, that 31 states in our country have passed to protect reporters, results in her going to jail. It would have been the coward's way out in my judgment to make that disclosure. And I have to tell you she is a real hero when it comes to American journalism. No doubt.

HERMAN: Absolutely, she is not a hero, Fredricka. She is in direct contempt of court, of an order.

You know, Avery, how many of those reporters do you think received subpoenas and complied? And including Mr. Novak -- we don't know yet if he did or didn't. I assuming that he did.

FRIEDMAN: Oh, you know what happened with Bob Novak.

HERMAN: Absolutely.

FRIEDMAN: You know exactly what happened.

HERMAN: She is in direct violation -- look. It is a crime to intentionally reveal the name of a CIA operative. She violated that crime. She -- they're in investigation.

(CROSS TALK)

WHITFIELD: Wait a minute, Richard. She didn't even write a story.

FRIEDMAN: She didn't disclose it.

WHITFIELD: She didn't write a story about it.

FRIEDMAN: That's right.

WHITFIELD: And as we're looking at the pictures, you brought up Bob Novak, he's the first one to have written a story involving the name of Valerie Plame. So, why is he not charged?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, he probably --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The disclosure is by the

WHITFIELD: Why was he not part of this special prosecution investigation?

FRIEDMAN: The disclosure is by the government official, not by the reporter. And you are right. Judith Miller did not write a story. Neither did Matt Cooper. At the end, and I should mention this, Matt Cooper in a sense still held that moral flag. He was prepared to go to jail also. It was the confidential source that gave him permission to make the disclosure. He had already said good-bye to his family. He was ready to go to jail.

HERMAN: Hey, Fredricka, Valerie Plame's husband wrote an article adverse to the Bush administration. As a result of that, it is claimed by Novak that senior Bush officials revealed the name of Valerie Plame to get it out in the public and ruin her identity.

FRIEDMAN: Right.

HERMAN: So a federal investigation was tripped. As a result of that investigation, subpoenas to reporters were issued. And you know, I mean, Miss Miller got the subpoena. She has to comply. I don't salute her. I think it's horrible. I think she should comply with that subpoena.

WHITFIELD: Well, does this case not exemplify the fact whether you go to jail or whether you stand the ground, you know -- or get permission from the source to reveal that person's source, that no matter what, the relationship between journalist and source compromised just merely because of this case?

FRIEDMAN: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: And that the fact it did reach a federal court, and so, you know, the relationship between journalist and source is forever damaged?

(CROSS TALK)

HERMAN: Since 9/11, Fredricka -- I'm sorry, since 9/11 --

(CROSS TALK)

FRIEDMAN: If we look to 9/11, we might as well kiss the rights good-bye. The fact is that Judith Miller did the right moral thing. She understood that she broke the law. She understood she has to go to jail and Fredricka is right. The fact is that this confidential source, relationship between journalists is now diminished. And it is time for the Congress to follow the lead of most states in passing a protective device.

There's no question but that this is virtually treasonous behavior if it's true by one of the higher level people in the Bush administration.

WHITFIELD: So, Richard, does this set the stage for some sort of federal shield law? Or will it never get to that?

HERMAN: There is legislation now trying to be passed for federal shield laws but it's not passed yet. So, until it does, until it does, this is the law. This was a federal judge's order. That federal judge, the federal laws that is protect this reporter's rights are the same laws that are going to put her in jail.

WHITFIELD: All right. Richard Herman, Avery Friedman, thank you so much, gentlemen. Appreciate it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nice to see you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take care. Have a good day.

WHITFIELD: Just as stormy as that storm out there, Hurricane Dennis, and it is making its way to the Florida coastline. An update straight ahead.

Plus, when the big one hits, Louisianians have been told evacuate. But we'll introduce you to a couple of old timers who say a hurricane is no match for the two of them.

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WHITFIELD: Hurricane Dennis churning in the Gulf of Mexico. Rob Marciano, is it picking up strength?

MARCIANO: Well, we'll know at 3 o'clock. I was hoping to get the numbers earlier, but Jacqui Jeras will be up in a few minutes, hopefully with that information as well. But certainly the satellite imagery shows that the eye is getting better organized.

The latest recon from some of the data coming out of the airplanes, that fly through there, show the pressure dropped a little bit. Would not be surprised if they bumped up the winds, but it should remain a Category 2 for the next few hours.

Of more concern, really, the tornado watch that is out for much of the peninsula of Florida. And already we've seen one of these feeder bands spiral all the way to the Pensacola area, with a strong thunderstorm there earlier this hour.

This is still the track, Fredricka. Expected landfall of the eye sometime tomorrow early afternoon right around Pensacola. But the winds from this system will be whipping to hurricane strength right around wake-up time or sunrise tomorrow morning. So, it will be a busy night and especially a busy day tomorrow. Back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Rob.

A three-hour drive south of New Orleans, it's Grande Isle, Louisiana. It's a spit of land near the mouth of the Mississippi River, a place hurricanes like to haunt or at least tease. CNN's Peter Viles paid a visit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the electricity coming back, Tropical Storm Cindy knocked it out Tuesday, the mayor called for a voluntary evacuation and folks in Grande Isle were asking an old question again, will this storm be the one that washes this town away? AMBROSE BESSON, GRANDE ISLE RESIDENT: This time, if Grand Isle, washes away, a whole way of life is gone. Gone forever.

VILES: Aside from brief stints in the Army, Ambrose Besson, and his cousin Bobby Santee (ph), have lived here all their lives.

BOBBIE SANTEE (ph), GRANDE ISLE RESIDENT: My roots are here.

BESSON: Yes.

SANTEE: You seen the movie "Roots"? My roots is here.

VILES: Here, is a quiet ol' Cajun fishing village where the fish really are jumping; where the Bayou La Fouse (ph) spills into the Gulf.

BESSON: Bayou La Fouse (ph) is in this area here.

VILES (on camera): Oh, OK.

(voice-over): It is the kind of place where you can see the mayor without an appointment. Where men carry knives because you never know when you need to shuck an oyster.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's your live oyster, right out of the water, fresh out of the water.

VILES: It's a place were old men like to gossip.

BESSON: We'd put Peyton Place to shame on this island. They don't have nothing on us.

VILES: And like to hold on to memories of simpler days.

BESSON: We weren't raised we electric lights, kerosene lamps, candles. When we wanted to eat, you go right back down the street from where we're standing and one block, and throw a cast net and catch some mullets (ph).

SANTEE: When we were kids, somebody was a young couple get married in the neighborhood and everybody grab a hammer, handful of nails and go build them a house. And then you'd have a house to sleep in that night.

VILES: Even today, old timers will study the birds and the oak trees that their grandfathers planted for signs of the coming storm.

SANTEE: If the trees got acorns, there's no hurricane.

VILES: Right?

SANTEE: If they got no acorns, then you have hurricanes.

VILES: And what do you have on the trees right now?

SANTEE: Got leaves. No acorns. VILES: The defining moment in the town's history was Hurricane Betsy in 1965. With winds of more than 125 miles per hour. It blew away 90 percent of the town.

BESSON: Nobody can explain what Betsy was like unless you were here.

VILES: The mayor was seven. His father's restaurant disappeared. It was later found 15 miles away.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I remember asking my daddy, when he was 37 years old, with Betsy, I was seven. And I looked up at him and said, what are we going to do? He said, we are going to start all over.

VILES: The whole town started over knowing some day a storm could wipe it off the map.

BESSON: Sooner or later, I don't know when, this island will go back to sea.

VILES: These two aren't going anywhere yet. If forced to evacuate, they will. But they will be back.

BESSON: I can live off this land. I don't need air conditioning. I don't need -- I can live here.

SANTEE: As long as there's a grain of sand left, I will still be on grand isle.

VILES: So don't write off this little town just yet. Peter Viles, for CNN, Grand Isle, Louisiana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And we are bringing you continuing coverage of Hurricane Dennis here all day on CNN. A live update of where the storm is headed at the top of the hour and then "CNN 25," the top business stories of the past 25 years. We'll be right back.

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