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CNN Live Saturday

Merck to Appeal Vioxx Trial Verdict; Pope Speaks On Terrorism; Harry Reid Recovers From Mild Stroke; Day 14 of Crawford Protest

Aired August 20, 2005 - 14:00   ET

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

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: This hour, police in Philadelphia make a major break in the case of a pregnant woman missing more than a month. We'll have the unfolding details.
Also, is there reason to be concerned after the news that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid suffered a minor stroke. We'll ask a doctor

And, keep digging into your wallet. Gas prices continue to climb and no one is quite sure if and when they'll fall. Welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. I'm Suzanne Malveaux. Thanks for joining us Those stories in a moment, but first, some other headlines, now in the news.

Police in Jordan have rounded up several suspects in connection to the attempted rocket attack on American ships docked in the Red Sea port of Aqaba and a group claiming connection to al Qaeda says it launched the attack and promised another in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. CNN could not confirm the authenticity of this claim.

The Pentagon is getting its chance today to defend a massive military downsizing plan. The Base Realignment and Closure Commission is holding hearings in Washington. The plan calls for shutting down or downsizing dozens of major bases and hundreds of smaller facilities. The Pentagon says the move would save almost $50 billion over 20 years.

As he continues his working vacation, President Bush is speaking out about the war on terror. In his weekly radio address, Mr. Bush says American troops are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan to keep terrorists from attacking the United States. And he says the U.S. will not pull out its troops out of Iraq in haste. A live report from Crawford, Texas, is straight ahead.

We begin this hour in Philadelphia. A break today in a missing persons case that has captured national headlines. Prosecutors are drawing up double murder charges against Stephen Poaches this weekend. He's accused of killing his former girlfriend. Latoyia Figueroa was five months pregnant. Her remains and those of her unborn child were found last night in Chester, a Philadelphia suburb.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LYNNE ABRAHAM, PHILADELPHIA D.A.: The body of Ms. Figaro will be examined so we can know, as close as medical science will allow us to know, precisely what caused her death. Mr. Poaches is in custody. The charges that I mentioned a few moments ago of homicide and perhaps other offenses are not yet complete. We do know we are going to be charging him with murder and other offenses. Those other offenses will have to wait until we finish our investigation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Reporter Michele McCormack from affiliate WPVI has details on the case and the grim discovery.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHELE MCCORMACK, WPVI CORRESPONDENT (video clip): Nearly one month after she was first reported missing, 24-year-old Latoyia Figueroa was found dead in an overgrown lot some 40 minutes south of her West Philadelphia neighborhood. The father of her unborn child, seen here, Stephen Poaches, was arrested just blocks away. With dawn, her father arrived at the scene to pray with family, unable to speak, he let his cousin, a Philadelphia City councilman do the talking for him.

JUAN RAMOS, VICTIM'S COUSIN: Our hearts are broken and the family, we just want to spend some time here, just take a look at this place where Latoyia unfairly was murdered.

MCCORMACK: Police sources won't say exactly what led them to the area, only that Poaches was picked up with an accomplice, a male friend. The area, they believe, is near a relative's home. Poaches was also reportedly wearing a bullet proof vest and had two firearms in his possession when he was taken into custody.

Distraught family members gathered round once word got out a body had been found. But so did perfect strangers. They may not have known Latoyia but there was a compulsion to somehow protect her.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would be praying for her that she'd be found, one way or another

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Police aren't talking about a possible motive, nor have they released details about the arrest.

Northwest Airlines vows to continue operating its normal schedule despite its mechanics walking off the job. The carrier has brought in replacement mechanics it says are experienced, licensed and trained. Northwest mechanics went on strike early this morning after contract talks broke down last night. The mechanics are protesting big pay cuts and layoffs. They say they'd rather see the airline go bankrupt than make the concessions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TED LUDWIG, PRESIDENT, AMFA LOCAL 33: From day one, Northwest's goal has been not just to save money but bust our union and bust every other union on the property one at a time. To Northwest, the negotiations were a joke. They never took the process seriously because they had no interest in negotiating. JULIE SHOWERS, NORTHWEST AIRLINES: Frankly, the last proposal we put on the table was a fair and equitable proposal to our employees, while providing the labor cost reductions that the company needs. Our final offer included things that the union told us were very important to their members.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: The Space Shuttle Discovery's trip back home to Florida has been delayed. That's because the Boeing jumbo jet that's taking shuttle there is still in Louisiana after making a refueling stop. The shuttle flew from Oklahoma to Barksdale Air Force Base yesterday. The threat of bad weather will keep it there at least until tomorrow. The shuttle is riding piggy back on the jumbo jet. The trip from California to Florida is expected to burn more than 100,000 gallons of jet fuel.

And in our gasoline price watch, a gallon of gasoline reaches an all-time high after jumping 19 cents this week. For many, that's turning into a big price pain at the pump as well. AAA says the national average for a gallon of regular serve self-unleaded is $2.60. That's up 73 cents from a year ago or about 39%. California has the most expensive gasoline in the country with an average unleaded regular price of $2.80 a gallon. Utah has the least expensive, $2.40 a gallon.

So are these gas prices taking a toll on the economy? J.J. Ramberg joins us from New York with some answers. J.J., is there any relief in sight?

J.J. RAMBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Relief in sight? That I don't know. I mean, demand is so big. Supplies are so tight. We'll have to see, maybe we'll see some relief when the summer driving season ends and demand goes down a little bit, but who knows, because then heating oil season starts. So we'll see. As for if this is taking a toll on the economy, Wal-Mart just released earnings reports this week. And they posted the slowest earnings growth they've seen in nearly four years. And the head of Wal-Mart says that's because his customers are being affected by gas prices.

And it makes sense, when you don't have a lot of disposable income, you have to take money from somewhere else to pay for that gas unless you change your gas consumption behavior, which doesn't seem to be changing. That said, there are some other companies, like JC Penney just posted their earnings and they had a very upbeat outlook for the future. So the gas prices and oil prices don't seem, yet, to be taking an enormous toll on the economy as a whole.

Now, earlier I went and asked an economist, in the past, when we've seen oil spikes and we've seen these rising interest rates, we've seen a recession. And what is not happening yet. Yet or if ever. So what does he think is the cause of us being able to withstand this? This is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LAKSHMAN ACHUTHAN, ECONOMIC CYCLE RESEARCH INSTITUTE: The reason is because of where we are in the economic cycle and we're at a point where the leading indicators, things like home price activity or the job market, which is getting stronger or profits, where all of these things are in an upswing makes it very difficult for an energy spike or even higher interest rates to cause a severe downturn.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAMBERG: Now, at this point there are some companies who are passing along high energy costs, UPS and FedEx are causing some surcharges because they're having to pay more for gas. We heard about the airlines raising their ticket prices because of fuel surcharges. But there are a lot of companies right now that are still eating those. Once they start, if they start passing them along to consumers, we may see more consumers stop spending. We'll see what happens. Suzanne?

MALVEAUX: OK. Well, thanks, J.J. You keep us informed there. Perhaps there are things we can do. Thanks again, J.J.

Now, a health scare for one of the biggest political figures in the U.S. captures the attention of many Americans. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid is now resting after suffering what's being called a mini stroke this week. Now the big question, what impact might it have down the road for the powerful Democrat? Congressional correspondent Joe Johns reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid appeared in perfect health last month, meeting with Supreme Court nominee John Roberts.

SEN. HARRY REID, (D) MINORITY LEADER: Judge, welcome to the Democratic side of the United States Senate.

JOHNS: Harry Reid is the most powerful Democrat in the U.S. Senate. Soft-spoken, but tough and direct. Members of his party elected him to lead them on Capitol Hill, after the former Democratic leader, Tom Daschle, was defeated in his re-election bid. Reid is 65. An aide said he experienced dizziness and other symptoms of what had been described as a mini stroke on Tuesday, while at his home in Searchlight, Nevada. He went to the hospital at the urging of his wife, Landra, who was with him at the time.

He's a former boxer, who's also run 12 marathons. Reid is said to work out five times a week, he doesn't drink or smoke. The news came at a time when the Senate is out of session for its long August recess. Reid has done traveling, including fundraisers in a handful of states and a family vacation. When the Congress goes back into session in September, Reid's staff predicted his condition will not disrupt his work at all on Capitol Hill and that doctors have placed no limits on his activities of any kind.

The news spread quickly. White House spokesman Trent Duffy said, "The president is glad to hear that Senator Reid is feeling fine and looks forward to working with him this fall." The Senate majority leader, Republican Bill Frist, a medical doctor, said in a written statement that he has "spoken with Senator Reid and he's feeling fine, showing his usual strength of spirit."

The Reid spirit has been credited with creating an effective Democratic communications operation, as well as a surprising amount of party discipline and unity in voting on the Senate floor. Working with what he's got, even though Democrats have little power to control the agenda in the Senate, short of a filibuster.

REID: Thank you very much for being here this afternoon. We're sorry that we don't have a more convenient place. But we don't run the rules committee and we go where we find room.

JOHNS: Reporter: his plain spoken manner has brought him praise from party loyalists and even gotten him into trouble. Like when he called the president a loser and a liar.

REID: The president of the United States would not be president of the United States, had he not come to Nevada and told the big lie.

JOHNS (on camera): Reid has canceled public appearances that were scheduled over the remainder of the August break, during which time his staff says he's expected to rest and recover. Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Now, the widow of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. continues her physical rehabilitation after a big stroke and mild heart attack this week. Doctors say Coretta Scott King has sat up and managed to say a few words but cannot talk. Doctors say they are still hopeful the 78-year-old will make a full recovery.

Now news about those two prominent figures suffering strokes have some asking about the risks and warning signs for strokes. Dr. Marc Siegel is associate professor at New York University School of Medicine. He is also the author of "False Alarm, the Truth About the Epidemic of Fear."

Dr. Siegel joins us from New York. Again, doctor, thank you very much for being with us. Obviously here, many people are asking questions, both about Coretta Scott King's condition as well as Reid. What's the difference here? I understand Reid suffered from a minor stroke, whereas King, it sounded like it was rather serious.

DR. MARC SIEGEL, NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: Well, with Senator Reid, he is actually in very healthy condition and he exercises regularly and the amount of damage that's been done here is very, very small. But you still have to realize this is a big warning sign for the senator and a big workup is necessary to make sure that the arteries in the neck aren't narrow, that there isn't a problem with the heart, looking for underlying diseases that could put him at risk for a big stroke. With Mrs. King, it's a large amount of the brain that's been affected. And that brain tissue is dead. So her recovery is much different. It's more like teaching her to walk again and to speak better and also to process thinking. That takes several weeks and is a long rehabilitation process. But at the end of which time she may do well.

MALVEAUX: And what is the likelihood that Reid would suffer from another stroke or in the case of Mrs. King as well, she had suffered minor strokes in the past.

SIEGEL: Well, the risk is probably a lot greater for Mrs. King, but for Senator Reid, it's at least one in three that he might have a much larger stroke. And that's one of the reasons that the surveillance is necessary, toss look for other conditions.

MALVEAUX: And for those of us who are looking at both of these individuals, we don't what their health conditions were in the past, but what are some of the warning signs? What should we be looking for in ourselves?

SIEGEL: Well, you know, with Senator Reid, he had a classic warning sign, which he had dizziness and light headedness. If you develop weakness on one side of your body or slurred speech, or you feel like you're going to blackout, these are signs that a stroke may be coming on. If you can't find the words, that's a very common symptom, you must call your physician right away.

MALVEAUX: And who is susceptible?

SIEGEL: Well, anybody that is a smoker is a big-time risk. Even if you have a family history of a stroke you have to watch that. Heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. These are the highest risk groups.

MALVEAUX: Dr. Mark Siegel, thank you very much for joining us. We appreciate it.

SIEGEL: Thank you, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Thank you. The verdict is in in a major drug liability case. The reward is huge. A full report next.

Plus, bone dry, the water shutoff at a popular water park after hundreds of people get sick.

Also, a nation in turmoil. The impact of the Gaza pullout on Israel's collective psyche. And later, could one very cold case finally be cracked? A 75-year-old mystery of a missing judge in New York.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Well, drug giant Merck says it will appeal the first Vioxx case to go to a jury, which ends with a $253 million verdict. CNN senior correspondent Allan Chernoff looks at a pain killer on trial in Texas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A day of vindication for Carol Ernst, the widow who sued Merck while Vioxx was still on the market.

CAROL ERNST, PLAINTIFF: I just know that it was a road that I had to run and I had to finish. And I'm glad it's finished. And I'm glad it ended in the way it did.

MARK LANIER, PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY: It sends the message regardless that drug companies must tell us the good, the bad and the ugly about their drugs. They cannot hide behind an almighty dollar and a profit sign in an effort to get their money in the bank and not tell us the truth about their drugs. That won't be allowed in this country. It's not right.

CHERNOFF: Fifty-nine-year-old Bob Ernst, a Wal-Mart manager, had completed a 60-mile bike ride with his wife only eight days before dying in his sleep. Merck attorneys argued Ernst could not have been a victim of Vioxx. The coroner's report said Ernst died of arrhythmia, an irregular heart beat, not a heart attack or stroke which studies indicated Vioxx could trigger. But during the trial, the coroner testified Ernst could have had a heart attack that led to the fatal arrhythmia.

MARSHA ROBBINS, JUROR: We looked at the evidence, we thought about what we had seen and heard. And it was just putting everything all together.

CHERNOFF: Jurors said Merck did a poor job in labeling Vioxx, failing to warn doctors and patients of its potential risk. But Merck maintains it acted responsibly. Even telling the Food and Drug Administration of potential cardiac danger before receiving confirmation from clinical trials. Merck says it will appeal.

JONATHAN SKIDMORE, MERCK ATTORNEY: There's no reliable scientific evidence in this case that Vioxx had anything to do with Mr. Ernst's tragic death.

TED MAYER, MERCK ATTORNEY: We believe strongly in our defense on this case and this case isn't over yet.

CHERNOFF: The jury voted to award Carol Ernst $253 million, but Texas law limits punitive damages and her attorney acknowledged the court will reduce the amount. It was costly for Merck to pull Vioxx. The drug had sales of more than $2 billion a year. But now, Merck could face a far greater penalty.

(on camera): The company already is confronting about 4,000 Vioxx lawsuits. Legal experts say many more will now be filed and Merck's liability could extend well into the billions of dollars.

Allan Chernoff, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Now, let's check a few stories making news across America this weekend. The number of people who got sick after visiting an Upstate New York water attraction is closing in on 1800 today. Authorities believe a parasite is to blame. The bug causes vomiting and diarrhea that can last two weeks.

Rapper Eminem is in rehab this weekend fighting an addiction to sleeping pills. The nine-time Grammy winner has cancelled his European tour. It was scheduled to start in September.

And James Lubbock has his wallet back today, complete with expired credit cards from 1966. That's right. That's when Lubbock accidentally dropped his wallet into the ocean. A Massachusetts fisherman caught it in his net recently. The wallet was 25 miles from the spot Lubbock dropped it.

Going home, Pope Benedict XVI is now in his native Germany where he's reaching out to young Catholics. Live picture there's. Also, countdown to constitution day in Iraq. You may find the U.S. government's position on religion and government a little different there than here at home.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: The pope met with Muslim leaders in Germany today and offered blunt remarks on terrorism. CNN's Alessio Vinci reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Dialogue with other religions is a top priority with this pope. One day after meeting with Jewish leaders in a synagogue here in Cologne. The pope today met with Muslim leaders.

Most of his address focused on the spread of terrorism, saying that those two instigate and plan attacks wish to poison the relations between the two religions. These are frank words for a pope who in the past has been cautious in characterizing terrorism as a clash of civilization. He urged Muslim leaders to preach tolerance and respect.

POPE BENEDICT XVI, HOLY FATHER (through translator): You guide Muslim believers and train them, bring them up in the Islamic faith, teaching is the vehicle through which ideas and convictions are transmitted. Words are the main way for educating the mind. And the spirit.

VINCI (voice-over): Germany is home to more than 3 million Muslims, most of them are from Turkey. Before becoming pope, Joseph Ratzinger strongly opposed Turkey's bid to join the European Union. But there was no mention of that in today's meeting nor an indication on a softer position on that.

As it has been the case so far, however, the pope kept away from sensitive political issues concentrating, of course, on the religious aspects of his visit here in Germany. The pope also mentioned a need to defend religious freedom. So far, a sour point so far in the relations between the two faiths. Vatican officials often point out there's a lack of reciprocity. Muslim immigrants come here to Europe and are allowed to practice their faith, teach Islam in schools and even build mosques, while Christian minorities in most parts of the Islamic world are not offered the same privileges.

(on camera): And of course, this evening, the pope presides over a vigil just outside of Cologne. It will be his first opportunity to interact directly with hundreds of thousands of young pilgrims from all around the world who arrive here in Cologne. It will be an opportunity for him to speak directly to them. We'll have to see how this less populist and less charismatic pope compares to his predecessor were able to send his message that God must be central to everyone's life. I'm Alessio Vinci, CNN, reporting from Cologne.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: The Israeli pullout from Gaza resumes tomorrow after a pause for the Jewish Sabbath. Four settlements remain to be evacuated. This week's emotional scenes of forced evictions played out, live on television. The impact is clearly a nation in pain. CNN's Paula Hancocks reports now from Tel Aviv.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's only about 40 miles or 60 kilometers from Tel Aviv to the northern most Gaza settlement, but it feels like a different world. Few share the ideology of the Jewish settlers, even fewer the religious conviction that Gaza is the promised land of the Jews. But even here on a crowded beach in Tel Aviv, images of settlers being evacuated and in some cases of police being attacked by protesters hits home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sometimes they turn on the TV and ...

HANCOCKS: And you feel it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 8:00 when the news comes on, you feel it. All Israel is crying, because can you see it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All this week I was sitting at my house, crying, when I saw all the pain that the people are feeling there.

HANCOCKS: Images like these will not be forgotten easily. But many Israelis look beyond the visual.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's our of context-- the real drama is what's happening around it. Because you have to remember what's been happening in this area for 30 years almost. So the real drama is what we are doing to the Palestinians. And what they've been suffering for the last 30 years.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any time you kind of just watch the news, you kind of get a skewed perspective, which is, of course, the news at the moment but it's not necessarily the reality of the entire country.

HANCOCKS: Even after the images of the past few days before Gaza, the majority of Israelis do still support Sharon's plan. One poll published Friday in one of the most popular newspapers, "Yedioth Ahronoth" 59 percent are still in favor and just 37 percent are opposed.

(on camea): But of those I've been talking to on the beach, many of whom support the plan, there are very few who believe that Sharon will still be in power after the next election. Paula Hancocks, CNN, Tel Aviv.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Standing strong amid growing public discontent. President Bush argues his case for the war in Iraq. And in our legal briefs, the fate of the infamous BTK serial killer. Is his sentence just? We'll talk about it, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Stories now in the news.

Northwest Airlines Says it's business as usual today despite a strike by mechanics. 5,400 employees walked off the job in a dispute over pay and layoffs. Northwest is using replacement workers to keep its planes serviced.

A weather delay for Discovery and it's still not back home in Florida. The shuttle is riding piggy back from its landing site in California. And it's now stuck in Louisiana. NASA doesn't want to risk running into the summertime thunderstorms that are forecast for the South.

And London police say they've reviewed policy on deadly force. Minor changes will be made. The review follows the shooting death of a Brazilian man last month. Police wrongly suspected he was a suicide terrorist in the London subway and opened fire when he didn't stop.

With the fourth anniversary of 9/11 drawing near, President Bush is speaking out about the ongoing war in terror and the situation in Iraq. CNN's Ed Lavandera is with us from Crawford, Texas, where Mr. Bush continues his working vacation. Ed?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Suzanne, it's day 14 of the Crawford protest, just a few miles away from President Bush's ranch. But still no signs that the president will meet with the protesters here or Cindy Sheehan, although she's not here as we have reported the last couple of days.

She's in California taking care of her mother who's suffered a stroke. But in his weekly radio address, President Bush did not acknowledge the protesters nor Cindy Sheehan, instead re-echoing the themes for his reasons for going to war in Iraq.

GEORGE W. BUSH, U.S. PRESIDENT (audio clip): Our troops know they're fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere to protect fellow Americans from a savage enemy. They know if we do not confront the evil men abroad, we will have to face them one day in our own cities and streets. And they know that the safety and security of every American is at stake in this war and they know we will prevail.

LAVANDERA: Those kinds of words have earned President Bush a great deal of support among many in this country, that support manifesting itself today here in Crawford with an almost 100 motorcycle strong Rolling Thunder display here through the tiny roads of Crawford, leading up to the president's ranch.

We've seen many of Bush's supporters also starting to come out here through the weekend days as well. We anticipate we will continue to see that. There's been a buildup of security presence here this weekend that we've noticed today because this morning, several more police officers here at the protest scene as well as helicopters flying over as well.

And we anticipate that to continue, because authorities here expecting, since it is a weekend, more people will continue. We've been talking about how the protesters had been planning to move closer to President Bush's ranch, that there was a sympathetic neighbor who was going to share some land where these protesters could move to.

We're learning now from the protesters here that plans to move this entire demonstration closer to the president's ranch probably will not happen. And the president has not been seen in the last couple of days. In fact, the only person on a bike that got close to the president today was Lance Armstrong, the cycling champion who went on a bike ride with the president earlier today. Suzanne?

MALVEAUX: And Ed, do we know when Cindy Sheehan is returning?

LAVANDERA: Well, it's still up in the air. We spoke with a friends here in Crawford who says that Cindy's mother is improving. But until she gets a final diagnosis as to what her mother's situation will be, it's not exactly clear. But we have been told it will be midweek, probably Wednesday at the earliest before Cindy Sheehan returns. President Bush leaving Crawford -- will be leaving Crawford on Monday, has a series of events scheduled with veterans and troops in Idaho and Utah this week. He'll be leaving Monday, not coming back until Wednesday night. So we don't anticipate Cindy Sheehan to be back any time before then as well.

MALVEAUX: Okay. Ed Lavandera, thank you very much. I'll see you in Crawford shortly. Thanks again, Ed.

Iraqi leaders working to forge a constitution face their second deadline just a couple day from now. And as the work drags on, critical road blocks are still holding up a final draft. The latest from CNN's Aneesh Raman in Baghdad

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With just days to go until Iraq's new constitutional deadline, the question remains, can compromise be reached and if so, at what cost to those involved. The two main issues that are still being debated, the role of religion and the notion of federalism in the new Iraq. In the former, growing consensus now that Islam could become, quote, "the main source of legislation."

This would be a concession to more conservative-minded negotiators. It had been thought before Islam would simply be a source of legislation. This will raise concerns among Iraq's secular politicians. The United States, which has long been shepherding this process along, we're told by those involved is pushing for Islam to be the main source, hoping that this will lead to compromise. Also pushing, though, for the principles of democracy in Iraq's constitution.

On the other point, that of federalism, it seems, according to negotiators, that is now in Kurdish hands. The wording they might be willing to compromise, the Kurds, of course, had an autonomous region under Saddam Hussein. They want nothing less in the new Iraq. They have also called for the right to self-determination. That has raised concern among Sunnis who want this entire conversation sidelined as well as some Shia who are calling for a unified one Iraq.

Other Shia, though, have called for a similar situation in Iraq's south, so it is unclear if this issue will be an impasse, if compromise can in fact be achieved. No one is saying how close any of the issues are to final agreements.

(on camera): They are suggesting, though, that Monday could be as it was last week, down to the 11th hour with negotiations and with no one quite clear what exactly will take place. Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Remember Colin Powell's presentation to the UN in the run-up to the Iraq War? The former secretary of state tried to make the case that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Now, a form former Powell aide says the data he passed on to his boss back them marked the lowest point of his life. National security correspondent David Ensor has details in a special CNN PRESENTS report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COLIN POWELL, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: One of the most worrisome things that emerges from the thick intelligence file we have on Iraq's biological weapons is the existence of mobile production facilities used to make biological agents.

DAVID ENSOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He makes a dramatic accusation. Saddam has bio-weapons labs mounted on trucks that would be almost impossible to find.

POWELL: We have firsthand descriptions ...

DAVID KAY, FORMER CIA WEAPONS INSPECTOR: In fact, secretary Powell was not told that one of the sources he was given as a source of this information had indeed been flagged by the Defense Intelligence Agency as a liar, fabricator.

POWELL: To find even one of these ...

ENSOR: Powell was also not told that the prime source, an Iraqi defector, code named "Curveball" had never been debriefed by the CIA.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe the name of the agent wasn't alarming enough. Maybe it should have been "screwup" or "lying sack of manure," something like that. But, you know, to know that you're giving the president a ticket to go to war based upon one source, at that point, you want to drag the source in and talk to him yourself.

KAY: Curveball is a case of utter irresponsibility and a good example of how decayed the intelligence process has become.

POWELL: Leaving Saddam Hussein in possession of weapons of mass destruction for a few more months or years is not an option. Not in a post-September 11th world.

ENSOR: The speech would turn out to be riddled with misleading allegations. But at the time, the press plays it as an overwhelming success.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He had walked into my office musing and he said, words to the effect of, I wonder how we'll all feel if we put half a million troops into Iraq and march from one corner of the country to the other and find nothing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: "Dead Wrong, Inside an Intelligence Meltdown" premieres tomorrow night at 8:00 and 11:00 Eastern on CNN.

Our legal briefs are next, including the story of why one woman was pardoned 60 years after her execution. Two legal experts weigh in next.

Plus, an unsolved mystery revisited. The famous case of Judge Crater and intriguing new clues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: The only woman executed in Georgia's electric chair gets a pardon, decades later. And the man who admitted to the BTK murders will spend the rest of his life in prison. For more we turn to our legal eagles, civil rights attorney and law professor Avery Friedman and criminal defense attorney Richard Herman. Thank you very much, both of you for joining us today.

AVERY FRIEDMAN, LAW PROFESSOR: Good afternoon.

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Nice to be with you.

MALVEAUX: A lot to talk about here. Let's start off with BTK, Dennis Rader, he'd been sentenced to life in prison on all counts. Let's start off with you, Avery. Is this a surprise to you? And is there any recourse for the families that wanted to put him to death quite frankly?

FRIEDMAN: Well, you know what? There is no recourse. There's no surprise. This was the deal worked out with defense counsel and the prosecutors. What you have to understand, Suzanne, the murders that were committed here were committed during a time where Kansas did not have a death penalty. Three years after the last murder Kansas reinstated a death penalty. So despite the desire of the families who suffered these heinous losses, there's absolutely nothing we can do, nothing that can be done, I should say. And so there really is no surprise here.

MALVEAUX: And so, Richard, this is basically over. This is it, for those who are dissatisfied, for those families looking for something else, life is prison, that's what he gets.

HERMAN: That's what he gets, Suzanne. And you know, it was gut wrenching watching the survivors' families stand up and testify in court the other day. And you know, when they were done and it was gut wrenching, they all turned around and walk out when Rader stood up to give his blurb or whatever he was saying. It's just a horrendous situation. And unfortunately like Professor Avery said, there was no death penalty at the times these crimes were committed and therefore, it's life in prison. That's what he's going to do. And frankly, lot of people are speculating he won't make it too long in prison, someone might look to take him out.

MALVEAUX: And that brings me to my next question. And perhaps Avery, you can fill in the blanks here for us. But paint a picture, if you will. What is life going to be like? And what kind of restrictions will he have to the outside world in terms of letters or reading materials? And restrictions to the inmate population as well.

FRIEDMAN: Well, from the outside world, he's going to be treated like any other prison. In fact, in this very perverse way he's probably going to be getting fan letters from some of the members of the general population. You know, these people actually get wedding proposals, marriage proposals. So that's going to happen.

But from the standpoint of the prison population, Dennis Rader's in a lot of trouble. Prison personnel will have a very difficult time protecting him. And I'm in agreement, I think he's got a lot of problems. The fact is, it's a life term but we don know how long that life is going to be.

MALVEAUX: And Richard, he brings up a very good point, which is how does corrections protect this kind of man?

HERMAN: Well, I don't know how much they're going to put into that protection of him. Because I think he is probably one of the most hated individuals in the United States right now. So they'll do everything, I guess, by the letter of the law to try to protect him, but it's very, very dangerous in the facility he's going to be, in the environment is very hostile. And he's probably got a mark on him right now. And someone's going to look to claim that. And like previous killers like him who have suffered this consequence in prison, I think he's in real trouble. MALVEAUX: Let's talk about another noteworthy case here, the case of Lena Baker, an African American woman was executed, put to death 60 years ago. She was executed for killing a white man and she claimed that he held her as a slave. Now, it was just this past week that the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles announced she is going to be pardoned later this month. What new evidence came to light to engender this pardon? Let's start with you, Avery.

FRIEDMAN: There is no new evidence. What the Georgia board did was something that had to be done. The majesty of our legal system, Suzanne, is that where mistakes are made, and there was a heinous mistake made because the worst she did was voluntary manslaughter and yet they put her to death 61 years ago. So what the board did, when they had a chance to issue a clemency order, in other words, to rectify the wrongdoing, it failed to do that back in the 1940s. So in 2005, finally, the Georgia board did the right thing and while there's no new evidence, indeed, this clearance, this clemency order is something that rectifies this terrible racial injustice.

HERMAN: And Suzanne, the reason why it's such an injustice is because she was -- she had a one-day trial before an all-while male jury. I mean, they picked a jury, they had jury openings, they put the evidence on, the defense went on, they did summations, the jury deliberated and there was the verdict guilty, death penalty all in one day. And that's why Avery is absolutely right. It was a horrible injustice finally rectified.

MALVEAUX: Richard, let me ask you this. What is the significance here of granting the pardons after all this time? Do the family members have additional recourse? Can they pursue a civil suit at this point?

HERMAN: Suzanne, there are no civil suits to be pursued at this point here. The family pushed, they pushed hard for so many years to get this pardon. And it was, you know, kudos to their efforts that they finally obtained it. But there's no litigation, there's no further civil suits. There's nothing.

FRIEDMAN: And actually that's the point. The point is that even though there's no civil action against the state for what happened, the name of this individual, Lena Baker, had to be cleared. The worst crime she committed did not warrant a death penalty and the family, along with other advocacy groups indeed deserve credit because they pursued this and justice prevailed 61 years later.

MALVEAUX: Is there any significance, the fact that they did not find she was innocent of a crime? They said, according to what they said in 1945, it's a grievous error as this case called out for mercy, the decision to deny her clemency in 1945. But again, this board said she was not innocent a crime. Is there something that can be done there? Or is that distinction even relevant?

HERMAN: Well, Suzanne, this was an intentional killing. No question about it. She claimed mitigation. She claimed circumstances. But the time to appeal that has long expired. This is not an appeal of that conviction. It's a pardon. It's a pardon. And there's a distinction here. You know, the family should be very grateful they obtained that now.

MALVEAUX: Thank you very much. Appreciate you both, of course, Professor Avery Friedman and attorney Richard Herman. Thanks again.

HERMAN: Thank you. Nice seeing you.

FRIEDMAN: Nice to see you. Take care.

MALVEAUX: It's a true Manhattan murder mystery that may finally be cracked. A judge disappeared 75 years ago without a trace. Now, new clues to what might have happened to him.

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MALVEAUX: We begin the hour with a missing persons case. And we end with one as well. This code case dates to 1930. A letter may lead to a body and the end of a 75-year-old mystery. Or maybe not. You be the judge. CNN's Mary Snow reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The year, 1930, the country entering the great depression. And in New York City politics, Tammany Hall was rife with corruption. That same year, Judge Joseph Crater was rising in prominence.

Then Governor Franklin Roosevelt appointed Judge Crater a seat on the state supreme court. Outside the courthouse, his affection for dancing earned him the nickname "Good Time Joe." On the night of August 6th he vanished. Dick Tofel tried unravel the mystery in his book, "Vanishing Point."

DICK TOFEL, AUTHOR, "VANISHING POINT": I think the Judge Crater story is probably the most significant missing persons case, certainly in New York and in many ways in the country and remains one of great unresolved mysteries in American history.

SNOW: To this day, no one knows exactly what happened and there's been no shortage of obsession to find out. On the night he disappeared, Crater was last seen in Times Square. Tales say he told his assistant he was going to Westchester for a swim. Crater was allegedly seen having dinner that night and buying a ticket for a Broadway show. He was reportedly spotted at one point with his showgirl mistress. The next day he was supposed to meet his wife at their main home. He never showed up.

Crater's disappearance became fodder for suspicions. Was the hiding? His wife thought he was murdered. A $5,000 reward was offered. Then, theories of mob involvement.

In the years that followed, thousands of Crater sightings were reported across the country, even as far away as Cuba. Psychics from around the world weighed in. The question now, does Coney Island, once a bustling seaside board walk hold the answer?

The NYPD's cold case unit is looking into a possible clue. A woman who recently died left behind a note claiming to identify Crater's killers. According to published reports, the woman claims her husband, a city police officer and his brother, a cabbie, killed the judge and buried his body at what's now an aquarium in Coney Islands. The police confirmed there are examining remains of buried bones but wouldn't elaborate. Some historians are skeptical.

Author Dick Tofel says whatever the real answer, Crater's disappearance has a lasting legacy.

TOFEL: Not only did Judge Crater disappear, but he triggered a series of events in which New York's Tammany Hall, the Democratic machine that controlled New York politics ended up disappearing.

SNOW: Mary Snow, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: And there's much more ahead on CNN Saturday. At the top of the hour, "CNN PRESENTS: Taming Beast." Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes us inside the war on cancer.

At 4:00, are your kids on steroids? CNN LIVE SATURDAY talks with Dr. Bill Lloyd about the warning signs parents can look for that may signal a problem. And at 5:00, tune in to "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS" for an in depth look at the life and spiritual journey of Pope Benedict XVI.

"PEOPLE IN THE NEWS" also takes a look at the role religion plays in Hollywood.

I'm Suzanne Malveaux. Thanks for joining us CNN LIVE SATURDAY. The hour's headlines after a break.

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MALVEAUX: I'm Suzanne Malveaux at the CNN Center. "Now in the New:" Northwest Airline says its flights are running smoothly despite the first major U.S. Airline strike in years. More than 5,000 union mechanics are being replaced on the job. Labor and management could not agree on layoffs and pay.

The search in Philadelphia for a missing pregnant woman has ended with a discovery of her body. And the arrest of her former boyfriend. Authorities say Stephen Poaches will be charged in murder with connection of the death of Latoyia Figueroa and her unborn child. He was reportedly carrying a pistol and wearing a bulletproof vest when arrested.

Pope Benedict XVI is on a trip home to his native Germany. He appeared at a youth pilgrimage and spoke to youth about terrorism. The Pontiff meant with Jewish leaders yesterday. The Pontiff is calling for a mutual respect among people of different religions.

I'm Suzanne Malveaux at CNN Center in Atlanta. More news at the bottom of the hour. CNN PRESENTS "Taming the Beast, Inside the War on Cancer" begins right now.

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