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Lou Dobbs Tonight
Moussaoui Pleads Guilty; Terror Trial; Helicopter Crash in Iraq
Aired April 22, 2005 - 18:00 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.
KITTY PILGRIM, CNN ANCHOR: Well, tonight, a guilty plea by a September 11 plotter. New details about a second plan to use airliners as missiles. We'll tell you about his target.
And red star rising. China takes aim at one of this country's last surviving manufacturing industries. Hundreds of thousands of American jobs are at risk. We'll have a special report.
And illegal alien giveaway. Thousands of illegal aliens are overwhelming our hospitals, refusing to pay their medical bills. My guest is a top official in the American Hospital Association.
ANNOUNCER: This is LOU DOBBS, for news, debate and opinion, tonight. Sitting in for Lou Dobbs, Kitty Pilgrim.
PILGRIM: Good evening.
The only person in this country charged with helping carry out the September 11 attacks today pled guilty. Zacarias Moussaoui entered a guilty plea to all six charges. He declared he was part of a conspiracy to fly a Boeing 747 into the White House.
Justice correspondent Kelli Arena reports from outside the courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia -- Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE DEPT. CORRESPONDENT: Kitty, that's right, Zacarias Moussaoui did plead guilty to all of the counts against him, but he vowed to fight the death penalty all the way to the Supreme Court if he had to. Along with pleading guilty, he also signed a statement of facts prepared by the government.
In that statement, Moussaoui says he admitted to knowing about the plan, al Qaeda's plan to fly airplanes into buildings in the United States, and that he agreed to travel to the United States to participate in that plan. He also says that bin Laden personally selected him to participate in the operation and approved Moussaoui attacking the White House.
Now, in court, we heard a little bit more about that, Kitty. He said that part of his -- his mission was to fly a jet into the White House if the government would not negotiate for the release of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, who otherwise known as the "Blind Sheikh," who is serving a life prison term for his involvement in the first World Trade Center bombings.
Moussaoui also admitted it lying to federal agents so that his al Qaeda brothers could carry out their plan. The attorney general of the United States had a press conference just a short time ago. Let's hear a little bit of what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Moussaoui now joins shoe bomber Richard Reid, John Walker Lindh, and more than 200 other individuals who have been convicted or pled guilty to terrorism- related charges since 9/11. With today's guilty plea, we now move to the penalty phase of this case on a schedule to be established by the judge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: Now, as I told you before, Kitty, Moussaoui said that he will fight every inch against the death penalty. He claims that because he was denied direct access to al Qaeda leaders who are in U.S. custody, who he says have information that could help clear him of any involvement in the September 11 attacks, that he did not -- was not able to get a fair trial. That that would be a mitigating factor in the sentencing phase.
And the judge agreed and said that that would be an appropriate venue for Moussaoui to bring that up. So this case is far from over, Kitty.
We did hear from some of the September 11 victims' families that were here. And even though they know that there's a long haul ahead, they still said that they felt a certain sense of closure today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEBORAH BURLINGAME, SISTER OF PILOT OF FLIGHT 77: I'm just happy that we didn't have to go through a long trial. I think this is -- it's the right thing that shows that American justice prevailed here.
Here we had a jihadist, a jihadist who took part in the deaths of 3,000 innocent men, women and children who participated in the American justice system willingly, knowingly, voluntarily. And that is a triumph.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: Moussaoui had some very disparaging remarks about his defense attorney at today's hearing. One of his biggest complaints was that he believed that they tried to portray him as incompetent.
The judge did meet with Moussaoui on Wednesday and declared him legally competent. She also said that not only was he competent, but extremely intelligent and understood the law better than some of the lawyers that she deals with on a daily basis -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much. Kelli Arena.
Well, three suspected al Qaeda terrorists charged with helping plan the September 11 attacks went on trial in Spain today. Twenty- one other suspected terrorists are also on trial. And if convicted, the three prime suspects could each face more than 60,000 years in prison.
Al Goodman reports from Madrid.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AL GOODMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Police vans brought the suspects to Spain's largest Islamic terrorism trial ever. Security tight at a special courthouse on the outskirts of Madrid.
Inside, the 24 defendants, mostly of Syrian and Moroccan origin, clustered behind bulletproof glass. Three of them charged with helping to plan the September 11 attacks.
JACK CORDAY, 9/11 VICTIMS' LAWYER: I think it's one of the most important trials that have occurred in the world to date. Directly, these individuals are directly accused of aiding and giving material support to the hijackers.
GOODMAN: Corday came all the way from the United States to observe the trial. The first defendant on the stand was just an al Qaeda foot soldier, the prosecution says. But this man, Syrian-born Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas, will follow the alleged al Qaeda leader in Spain, according to authorities, accused of helping to arrange a meeting in July 2001 near Barcelona attended by hijacker Mohammed Atta, who piloted the first plane into the World Trade Center.
These two men, Moroccan-born Driss Chebli and Syrian-born Ghasoub al Abrash Ghalyoun, are the other defendants charged here with a role of the September 11 attacks.
Perhaps the best known defendant is Syrian-born Tysyra Luni (ph), correspondent for Al-Jazeera television. He had an exclusive interview with Osama bin Laden soon after the 9/11 attacks and is charged with carrying funds for al Qaeda.
FATIMA HAMED, ALLOUNI'S WIFE (through translator): The only reason he's on trial is for discovering barbarity the American government committed in Afghanistan and for his interview with bin Laden.
GOODMAN (on camera): If the first day is any indication, it's going to be a very spirited trial, with lots of verbal sparring between the court and the defendants. The trial is due to last until the summer.
Al Goodman, CNN, Madrid.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: In Iraq today, investigators went to the site of yesterday's deadly helicopter crash. Six American security guards were among the 11 people killed.
Two terrorist groups claim they shot down the helicopter. One tape purports to show the terrorists capturing and shooting the only survivor.
Senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): While not confirming the authenticity of the video from a group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq, Pentagon officials say it's more evidence of how insurgents have no regard for civilians or the law of war. A survivor who has since been identified as a member of the helicopter's Bulgarian crew is found in tall grass.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stand up.
MCINTYRE: He is ordered to his feet and then gunned down at close range.
MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Clearly what happened on that video, the execution of a helpless person is a war crime, no question about it.
MCINTYRE: Two groups have claimed responsibility for downing the commercial helicopter which was carrying 11 civilians, including six American contractors employed by Blackwater USA, who were providing security for U.S. diplomats in Iraq.
This video from another group called the Mujahedeen Army appears to show the Russian-made MI-8 helicopter about 12 miles north of Baghdad as it is hit with a surface-to-air missile or rocket-propelled grenade. If an investigation confirms the helicopter was shot down, it will be the first time insurgents have succeed in bringing down a civilian aircraft.
In January, insurgents claimed to have shot down a British C-130 cargo plane, killing all 10 people on board. And while this videotape of a missile launch looked fake to some experts, U.S. and British military authorities do believe the January crash was the result of hostile fire.
SHEPPERD: It's going to be a long time before the insurgency is defeated. They're not defeated, they're not sophisticated. These acts are not coordinated acts in any way. And we shouldn't be surprised, nor should we make too much out of a bad day, a single bad day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE: Pentagon officials continue to characterize the trend toward more spectacular attacks as a sign of increasing desperation on the part of the insurgents. But no one here at the Pentagon is suggesting that this insurgency is anywhere close to being on the ropes -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Very tough stuff on watch. Thanks very much. Jamie McIntyre. Well, President Bush today officially nominated General Peter Pace to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The president said General Pace knows the job well, as he's been vice chairman for four years. General Pace will be the first Marine Corps officer to be the chairman if the Senate confirms his nomination.
The United States faces not only a rising military threat from China, it also faces an escalating economic threat. China's latest target is the U.S. auto market. Tonight, one of this country's biggest auto companies won't rule out developing a car in China for the American market.
Christine Romans reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's just a matter of time before China becomes the dominant global exporter of automobiles. It's already begun.
China ships auto parts to the U.S. and cars to market, such as South America, Africa and Middle East, to the tune of $12 billion last year. The rush into China by American and European auto and parts makers has helped China's transformation.
Ford announced this week it will build an engine plant there. And auto parts from brake pads to seat covers are already being shipped back to the U.S. market.
PETER MORICI, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: It's clear that what's happening, the supply chain is going there first and the rest the automobile industry is going there after that. And it's all a function of an overvalued dollar and a U.S. automobile industry that can't seem to cope with competitive realities.
ROMANS: He calls U.S. automakers enablers, driving their suppliers to China for lower costs, investing billions there themselves, instead of fixing management weaknesses, and addressing labor problems at home. And labor is key, giving China a big edge when making cars.
Chinese workers make less than $2 an hour, compared with more than $36 in the United States and almost $50 in Germany. These workers are also potential customers. Faced with this reality, some say U.S. automakers have no choice but to invest in China.
DAVID COLE, CENTER FOR AUTO RESEARCH, UNIV. OF MICHIGAN: I don't think at some level we can compete. We need access to the market. When you start talking about a billion people, rapid emergence of the middle class, we want access to that market. And, in fact, we have to have it.
ROMANS: According to research from McKenzie (ph), China has the world's highest sales growth rate for vehicles, and by 2010 will be the second biggest auto market, trailing only the U.S.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: Quality is a problem. So far, the Chinese market does not seem to mind low-quality cars. But experts say the U.S. car consumer's more mature and more finicky.
Still, it looks as though there will be participation from the American automakers in building cars in China and selling them into the United States. Chrysler will not rule that out. A lot of talk in the auto circles this week that Chrysler may have plans eventually to try to build a car there and sell it here.
PILGRIM: Perhaps the start of a new era.
ROMANS: Perhaps.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much. Christine Romans.
Well, up next, Vice President Dick Cheney weighs in to the increasingly bitter dispute over the president's judicial nominations.
And pay and stay. Two leading senators plan controversial new measures to deal with our escalating immigration crisis.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: Another key Republican senator appears to be unsure about whether to vote for President Bush's nomination for U.N. ambassador. Senator Lisa Murkowski is the fourth Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to express reservations about John Bolton. Well, the committee has decided to postpone a vote until the nomination -- on the nomination until May 12.
Vice President Dick Cheney today joined the battle over President Bush's judicial nominees. The vice president declared he's ready to use his vote in the Senate to block Democratic filibusters.
Congressional correspondent Joe Johns reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Escalating the battle over judges, Vice President Dick Cheney vowed to support Republican efforts to break the impasse over the administration's judicial nominees. Cheney has the power to cast tie- breaking votes in the Senate.
RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: But if the Senate majority decides to move forward, and if the issue is presented to me in my elected office as the president of the Senate and presiding officer, I will support bringing those nominations to the floor for an up-or-down vote.
JOHNS: At issue, 10 controversial judges who have been filibustered by Democrats, requiring 60 votes to confirm rather than a simple majority. To end the opposition, Republicans are considering the so-called nuclear option, changing Senate rules to eliminate the use of filibusters. Democrats say they will retaliate by shutting down most of the Senate's business.
The man with the final say on whether to go nuclear, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. He was traveling in his home state of Tennessee with the president on Friday, while getting blasted by opponents back in Washington who are accusing Senator Frist of exploiting religion in the debate over judges.
SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D), VERMONT: To raise the specter of religious intolerance in order to try to turn our strong independent federal courts into an arm of a political party is an outrage.
JOHNS: Frist has agreed to participate in a broadcast called "Justice Sunday," sponsored by conservative Christian organizations pushing for the president's judges. Advertisements for that program pose the political issue in stark religious terms.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why do a few senators filibuster the nominee? It's because that judge has our faith and our values. Filibustering people of faith needs to stop now.
JOHNS: Leaders of five large religious groups, including the National Council of Churches, and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, called for Frist to back out of the program.
DAVID SAPERSTEIN, RELIGIOUS ACTION CENTER: When repugnant speech is being used by people, even if they are religious, it is the responsibility of our nation's leaders, particularly someone like the Senate majority leader, to say that has no place in America.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: Now, the people organizing this broadcast, including the Family Research Council, say this is no different than a politician going to a place of worship and talking about politics. The office of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist says he is being misconstrued, this is just his opportunity to try to get that message out that he believes the presidents nominees deserve an up-or-down vote -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: All right. Thank you very much. Joe Johns.
Well, two leading senators in next few weeks are planning to introduce what could become a controversial immigration bill. The legislation would, in effect, fine illegal aliens, but at the same time allow them to stay in the United States.
Bill Tucker reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Cameras in tow, Senator John McCain made a surprised appearance as the guest professor at a political science class at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. The appearance was part of MTV News "Stand-In" (ph) series. The senator, an Annapolis grad and former Navy pilot, surprised everyone with this... SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Just by coincidence, Senator Ted Kennedy and I in the last couple of days after several months of negotiations have reached an agreement for an immigration proposal that we will be putting out next week.
JOHNS: McCain didn't delve into the details, but he did tell the first year midshipman that he believes deporting every illegal in the country isn't practical or possible. The McCain-Kennedy immigration reform bill would call for fines on illegal migrants but allow them to earn the right to apply for citizenship after a six-year working period. It would also address border security calling for better use of technology.
The legislation is not expected to be introduced for a couple of weeks. And it won't be the only piece of immigration reform on the table in this Congress. The junior senator from Arizona, Jon Kyl, is joining forces with Texas Senator John Cornyn as momentum builds for immigration reform.
SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R), TEXAS: No question about it, there's a lot of pent up demand, a lot of frustration, I think, due to the fact that the federal government has not lived up to its responsibilities for so long when it comes to border security and enforcing our immigration laws.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: And Congress is now beginning to feel the heat of that frustration leading some, including Senator Cornyn, to believe, Kitty, that comprehensive immigration reform not only may be possible, but will probably get done in this Congress by the end of the year.
PILGRIM: Certainly the momentum appears to be building now.
JOHNS: It definitely is.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much. Bill Tucker.
Well, that brings us to the subject of tonight's poll. Would you support legislation to fine illegal aliens, but to allow them to remain in the United States, yes or no? Cast your vote at LouDobbs.com. We'll bring you the results later in the broadcast.
The onslaught of illegal aliens into this country is putting a huge strain on our immigration courts. Those courts are grossly underfunded, understaffed and overworked.
Lisa Sylvester has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the number of illegal aliens sneaking into the country has increased exponentially, so has the workload of the immigration courts. Arlington, Texas, for instance, saw a 75 percent increase in the number of immigration cases in motions in 2004 alone. Nationwide, the case load has steadily increased 18 percent in the last five years. But funding in resources have not kept pace in many jurisdictions.
DANA MARKS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF IMMIGRATION JUDGES: We have sorely outdated equipment from the tape recorders that record these sessions, from the fact that we don't have live court interpreters. So we have these taped transcripts. There's not enough money to transcribe them unless the case is appealed.
SYLVESTER: The judges often serve as their own court reporter and bailiff. And the last time they had a face-to-face judicial conference was three years ago. An important component as immigration law has been revamped significantly since 9/11.
KEVIN JOHNSON, UC-DAVIS LAW SCHOOL: When you have increased the number of cases, and you have judges who are overloaded, and you have judges who aren't getting the sufficient amount of training that they should be getting, and retraining, you're likely to have decisions that are less reliable, more error-prone and more likely to include mistakes.
SYLVESTER: That means more immigration cases are being appealed, clogging up the federal appellate courts. The courts of appeals have seen a nearly 600 percent increase in immigration cases, at the same time the overall budget has been slashed.
JUDGE JULIA GIBBONS, 6TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS: If we do not have sufficient staff to handle those matters, or sufficient funds to pay the rent or to pay jurors, or to pay attorneys who represent indigent criminal defendants, then we simply cannot function.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SYLVESTER: A spokeswoman for the Executive Office for Immigration Reform, which oversees the nation's immigration courts, says they've been able to add 12 judges since 2001. And she maintains that the agency is accomplishing its mission, applying the immigration law fairly and expeditiously -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: All right. Thank you. Lisa Sylvester.
Enron, the movie. A new documentary illustrates a group of corporate cowboys who walked away with millions of dollars and left their employees with nothing. We'll have that story.
And why the flood of illegal aliens into this country has forced some hospitals to close their doors.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: It's been three-and-a-half years since the devastating collapse of Enron. More than 4,000 people lost their jobs, and thousands more had their pensions wiped out. A new documentary out this weekend sheds light on this very painful chapter in corporate history.
Brooke Anderson has a preview from Los Angeles.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The other thing about people at Enron is a lot of them were former nerds.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The smartest guys in the room tracks the rise and fall of Enron's unholy trinity: Ken Lay, Jeff Skilling and Andrew Fastow. The film portrays the trio as a ruthless clique of corporate cowboys who, simply put, exaggerated Enron's bottom line and walked away with millions of dollars.
When another executive blew the whistle, the company collapsed and the government took them to trial. But employees who had invested their 401(k)s in Enron's stock were left with nothing.
ALEX GIBNEY, DIRECTOR: Skilling and Lay were not willing to talk to me. I think their characters actually come through very, very well, particularly Skilling.
You see his -- you know, hours and hours and hours of him going before the Senate and House committees, and also a lot of in-house company stuff, including some skits. I mean, that's where, you know, I was surprised to find those.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can add a kazillion dollars to the bottom line.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeff, all right! That sounds fantastic!
ANDERSON: The documentary, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, features telling conversations between Enron's energy traders.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All that money you guys stole from those poor grandmothers...
GIBNEY: Enron had a commercial slogan, "Ask why." It's deeply ironic now. So I guess if I want people to come out of this film with a message, it is ask why.
ANDERSON: Like Enron workers did at this company meeting two months before Enron went bankrupt.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're down to questions. And I've got a few up here.
I would like to know if you are on crack. If so, that would explain a lot. If not, you may want to start, because it's going to be a long time before we trust you again.
ANDERSON: Lay, Skilling and Fastow didn't get off free. Fastow pleaded guilty to fraud charges and face 10 years in prison. The other two are set for their days in court next year. Brooke Anderson, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: Coming up, illegal alien giveaway, how illegal aliens have left some of our nation's hospitals in crisis.
Plus, wild weather. It destroys homes in Kansas. We'll have that story.
And later, "Heroes," the emotional anniversary of a tragic event for one soldier. We'll have his story coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: In a moment, how caring for the uninsured, including illegal aliens, is leaving our nation's hospitals in crisis. I'll talk with the vice president of a group that represents nearly 5,000 hospitals.
But first, here are some of the other stories we're following tonight.
The Virginia Supreme Court today upheld the death penalty for accused sniper John Allen Muhammad. Muhammad was convicted on two counts of capital murder for his role in a string of 10 sniper shootings in the D.C. area in 2002.
Brushfires are raging in the Florida Everglades. The Miami-Dade Fire Department was fighting the blaze just east of an Indian reservation. There is no word on the cause of the fire.
And three people died in a crash on the New Jersey Turnpike. The accident happened when three tractor trailers, a commuter van and a car collided. A portion of the turnpike was closed for most of the day.
We've reported extensively here on the financial burden illegal aliens have placed on this country. Many our nation's hospitals, especially those near the border, are on the verge of bankruptcy as they are forced to treat the uninsured.
Well, joining me more on this growing crisis is Rick Pollack. He is the executive vice president of the American Hospital Association. And thanks very much for being with us, Rick.
RICK POLLACK, AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION: Sure, Kitty.
PILGRIM: How bad a problem is this?
POLLACK: It's a very bad problem. And it's affecting many hospitals across the country.
And, you know, you have to keep it into perspective. There are 45 million uninsured people in this country. There are many of those are illegal immigrants. And it's a subset of that larger problem. And it's already putting a lot of stress on a very stressed out system.
PILGRIM: You know, I was particularly struck by the example of your Scripps Mercy Hospital, it's located about nine miles over the border. Tell us a little bit about what is happening there.
POLLACK: Well, we did a study, actually a consultant did a study, and it showed in the 24 counties that border Mexico, over $200 million has been spent on care for illegal immigrants. We know in the state of New Jersey alone, $200 million has been spent for that purpose. New York City health and hospitals corporation alone, one hospital system spent $225 million in taking care for illegal immigrants.
So whether they're illegal immigrants, or whether they are uninsured, hospitals are the healthcare safety net. We become the family doctor for those folks. And again, it just adds a lot of stress to a system that's already under stress.
PILGRIM: One of the things that struck me as I was reading through the notes was that some -- many are pregnant women coming across the border. Is this a trend?
POLLACK: It happens in a lot of cases, but it's not just cases of pregnant women -- it's car accidents, it's burn situations, it's all kinds of emergency situations that we find. And again, hospitals will take care of any person that comes through their emergency room not only is it a federal law but it's part of our mission. And we are there to take care of people. The problem here, of course, is that the cost of doing it is rather -- it's substantial.
PILGRIM: I'm looking at the statistics, in the last quarter 75 patients came to deliver their child at Scripps Mercy, pregnant mothers. Several hospitals have had to shut down, haven't they?
POLLACK: In parts of the country, there has been closures. And some of it has been attributed to this reason. But there are a lot of reasons that hospitals tend to close.
PILGRIM: Who ultimately bears the brunt? The counties pay for it. What's being done on the federal level to deal with this?
POLLACK: In many ways we all pay the brunt for it because at the end of the day, this is one of the contributors to increased health care costs for everyone. But the federal government has recognized that there is a problem. They provided $1 billion over a four-year period to help those hospitals that are most severely impacted in terms of emergency room care. That's just a drop in the bucket, relative to the size of the problem. But it is a step in the right direction.
PILGRIM: Rick, what would you like to see being done? You're (INAUDIBLE) in this.
POLLACK: Well, clearly, there needs to be more resources to provide the care. This is a responsibility that we as a nation have. Hospitals are just the part of it. And of course when it comes to illegal immigration, while we are on the receiving end of taking care that anyone walks through the door, clearly some sort of policy that enforces our immigration laws is clearly needed.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much. Rick Pollack, thanks very much for being with us tonight.
POLLACK: Thank you.
PILGRIM: In other news, border patrol officials say they captured nearly 150 illegal aliens from Brazil. That was near the Texas border with Mexico. A spokesman said they were caught in six separate locations. Officials say since October, more than 15,000 illegal aliens from Brazil have been apprehended.
And Army reservist who held a group of illegal aliens at gunpoint will not face charges. An Arizona prosecutors says Sergeant Patrick Hobb (ph) did not commit a crime, but made a lawful citizen's arrest when he held six aliens and the man smuggling them.
And as many as 20 illegal aliens from Haiti arrived on the shores of Juno Beach, Florida. Sheriff's deputies and Border Patrol agents used dogs and helicopters to track their movements. At least half of them have been captured.
Let's take a look at your e-mails. This is one our favorite things to do. G.M. in New York writes, "I agree with your ideas about closing the border, because the illegals demand to have rights and be supported by the government as soon as they cross instead of earning that right. As Hispanic-Americans, my family and I support the Minutemen's action and your ideas about controlling the borders."
Brad from Ontario, Canada, "as a Canadian viewer, I wanted to say that the stand you have made against illegal immigration is appreciated by all of us who respect national borders. Canadian, Americans, Mexicans all must respect the rule of law if we are to continue ourselves democracies."
And many of you wrote in about a report we brought you last night about some immigrant groups charging that four New York hospitals discriminate against patients who can't speak English.
John in Apple Valley, California wrote, "for over 200 years immigrants assimilated into this country without have taxpayer paid translators in every school, court and hospital. It's time to get real, we need a constitutional amendment certifying English as our official and exclusive legal language. Immigrants need to learn the language or supply they're own translators."
Well we love hearing from you. Send us your thoughts, loudobbs@cnn.com. And each of you who's e-mail is read on the broadcast will receive a copy of Lou's book "Exporting America."
We have a really unusual story out of South Africa tonight. It seems a chimpanzee at a local zoo there has started to smoke cigarettes. Charlie the chimp apparently picked up the bad habit by watching visitors smoking, and now every time someone tosses a cigarette into his cage, he puffs away. One zoo official said Charlie acts like a naughty school boy and hides his cigarettes whenever workers are around.
At top of the hour on CNN, Anderson Cooper 360 finger fraud at Wendy's. Anderson Cooper joins with us now with a preview -- Anderson.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah Kitty. Hard to follow the smoking chimps but thanks. Next on 360, the woman who claimed to have found a finger in her food at Wendy's is arrested. Police say it was a hoax. Find out how they are using CSI forensics to crack the case and track down the finger.
Also at the top of hour, have you seen the video? Police handcuffing a 5-year-old girl after a temper tantrum. Think they crossed the line? You can judge for yourself. It is all caught on tape. 360 starts at the top of the hour -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Thanks, Anderson.
Up next, wacky weather across the United States. Why people in one part of the country is facing a health concern.
And later, "Heroes." He lost his leg in Iraq, but not his will to survive. The inspirational story of one soldier. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: More wild weather across the country tonight has produced some spectacular sites. Take a look at this -- tornadoes swept through parts of southern Kansas. Five homes were damaged or destroyed. Now, the tornadoes prompted evacuations at the Kansas City International Airport. No injuries were reported, however.
And amazing pictures tonight out of Miami. Two of the water spouts off the coast. Amazing pictures. Water spouts generally begin as true tornadoes over land and then they move out over water.
And warm weather and heavy rain have brought huge swarms of mosquitoes to parts of southern Georgia and northern Florida. Now, the mosquitoes are raising health concerns because they could spread the West Nile Virus.
Well, joining me now, tonight's newsmakers from Washington. We're joined by Roger Simon, "U.S. News & World Report." Karen Tumulty of "Time" Magazine" and CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider.
And thank you all for being with me.
ROGER SIMON, "U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT": Thank you.
KAREN TUMULTY, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Hi, Kitty.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Sure.
PILGRIM: Lets start with John Bolton. The Bolton nomination has really dominated the headlines this week and then hear reports of Colin Powell playing into this. Where do we stand on this? Let's start with you, Karen.
TUMULTY: Well, the White House is not showing any signs of back off of this nomination. And are, you know, basically accusing this is being another example of partisanship in Washington. But it's really hard for them to make that argument, given the fact that we're in this situation because a Republican senator, George Voinovich of Ohio, raised some objections. And just basically said I want to give this nomination a little bit more thought before -- before I vote on it. I do think that Colin Powell, if what we've been reading today, what we've been hearing is true, if he is also lobbying behind the scenes or at least expressing concerns to members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I think could that be a real problem.
PILGRIM We've had comments trickling out all week. We had Condi Rice speaking about it, the White House. Roger, do you think that the nomination is in any jeopardy?
SIMON: I think it's in some jeopardy. I'm not sure they won't get him in the end. But certainly thought it would -- going to be easier than it is. The question is no longer whether Bolton is qualified to be United Nation's ambassador, whatever those qualifications might be. It's whether he was so disruptive, and so high-handed at the State Department that he's really disqualified himself for the job. That he tried to get an intelligence analyst fired for disagreeing that Cuba had biological warfare weapons that it had wanted to export. The question is really he has the temperament and suitability for the job of a diplomat.
PILGRIM: Bill, we knew this would be a controversial nomination, we but didn't know how controversial. Was this a miscalculation?
SCHNEIDER: Yes, well, it was controversial because of his views. Because of his policy views and his criticisms of the U.N. Now it's become an entirely different controversy, it's about his personal behavior and, as Roger just said, his temperament. He doesn't sound like, well, a diplomat and his job is to be a diplomat. So, lots of members of the Senate are beginning to wonder, is this man suited for the job? I can think of four Republicans on that Senate Foreign Relations Committee who are wavering right now. Some of them surprising like Karen mentioned, George Voinovich. Now we hear Lisa Murkowski of Alaska may be wavering. His temperament seems to be doing him in.
PILGRIM: Let's move to another figure who's generated good bit of interest this week, and that is Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict. He weighed in the president campaign by urging American bishops to deny communion to politicians who supported abortion rights. What role might we see him moving forward in American politics, tough question. But I think it's worth considering -- Karen.
TUMULTY: I think that it is worth considering, because it is not just the presidential campaign where this issue has come into play. But office holders all over the country, Catholic office holders who vote in favor of policies that are against church teaching may find their faith on the line. And the question really will be whether the -- whether the new pope does push this issue and put it out as a matter of church doctrine.
SCHNEIDER: Yes.
PILGRIM: Go ahead, Roger.
SCHNEIDER: The point is that -- he will accelerate a process we've seen going to for some time, that is in every faith and denominations in the United States, we're seeing an increasing division between the observant and the less observant, between churchgoers and non-churchgoers. Even doing synagoguegoers and non- synagoguegoers in the Jewish community. Because a recent study showed that among Jewish voters who go to synagogue regularly, Bush did pretty well. He split the vote with Kerry. Where as other Jews were overwhelmingly for Kerry. You're seeing it between observing Catholics and non-observing Catholic. And the pope is really defining a constituency here and really directing them to vote for people who go along with church teachings on issues like euthanasia and abortion, which is going to drive them more Republican, and non observant voters more Democratic.
(CROSSTALK)
TUMULTY: Although, if I could just add, Kitty, one thing.
PILGRIM: Go ahead, Karen.
TUMULTY: "Time" magazine, we did a lot of polling on this question last year during the presidential campaign, and even among observant American Catholics there is a strong feeling that they really don't want to see the church intervening in politics, and punishing elected officials for their political views.
SIMON: I think that's absolutely right. And while I agree with my colleagues on the comments on -- with the new pope, I don't think influencing American politics is the new pope's greatest priority. I think he's got two huge problem, actually, three huge problems. The dropoff in church attendance by Catholics in the United States and in Europe. And a severe dropoff in the number of young men who want to become priests in the United States. For the survival of the church that is what the new pope has to address, not whether domestic politics in the United States needs to be shoved one way or another by him.
PILGRIM: OK.
Let's move on to another topic I really want to get to, the energy bill. It passed yesterday -- in the House. Similar to bill in 2001/2003. In the Senate, there's always a big thrash. What chance do we have in getting something through -- Karen?
TUMULTY: I think the chances of getting something through are pretty high -- primarily because one of the issues that American voters care about more -- more than just about anything else right now, are high gas prices. And while this bill will not address the immediate causes of gasoline price increases, as the president himself acknowledged this week, the last thing Congress wants to be seen is looking like it doesn't care about the issue, that it's doing nothing on the issue.
However that House bill has some -- some things that are going to be very difficult in it for the Senate to swallow. And I do think that is going to be a problem going forward.
PILGRIM: Bill.
SCHNEIDER: Yes. Well, gas prices certainly the core issue to most Americans. I think that there was some momentum lost when the president said this wouldn't have any immediate impact on gas prices. Gasoline prices is a very big problem for many Americans. In part, because they see those prices flashed in their face every day as they drive down the street and they wonder what in the world is going to be done to this? Look, Bush has big problems -- Social Security, gas price, mounting violence in Iraq, John Bolton's nomination to the U.N., Tom DeLay, the judge's nominations, the stock market. There's a list of woes that goes on very long for President Bush.
PILGRIM: OK, Roger, one last could.
SIMON: Well, this is a thousand-page bill, there's something in it for everyone to hate, and a little bit of something for everything to like. There's drilling in ANWAR in here. There's municipalities get to slow down on decreasing suit and smog pollution. There's increasing daylight savings times by two hours a day. There's protection from companies who pollute the ground water.
PILGRIM: It's the kitchen sink. Yes.
SIMON: So, so it's a huge, huge bill. And I doubt that the whole thing is going to get approved by the Senate.
PILGRIM: All right, thanks very much, guys. Have a great weekend.
Roger Simon, Karen Tumulty, Bill Schneider, thanks a lot.
TUMULTY: Thanks, Kitty.
PILGRIM: A reminder now, for you to vote in "Tonight's Poll." Would you support legislation to find illegal aliens, but allow them to remain in the United States, yes or no?
Cast your votes at loudobbs.com. We'll bring you the results in just a few minutes.
Still ahead, in "Heroes" the inspiring story of one soldier who's determination has led them to complete not one, but three marathons despite very serious wounds.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PILGRIM: Now, "Heroes." It's our weekly salute to the men and women who serve this country. And tonight, the emotional story of retired Army Staff Sergeant Hilbert Ceasar. He has just completed the Boston Marathon in the hand cycle division. His extraordinary accomplishment comes exactly one year after losing his leg in an insurgent attack in Iraq.
Casey Wian has his story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Once he gets moving on his hand cycle, retired Army Staff Sergeant Hilbert Caesar says it's hard it slow him down. That fierce determination carried him through 7 years in the military doing tours in Germany, Korea, Kosovo and Iraq until April 18, 2004, when Caesar's armored Howitzer drove by a roadside bomb while on a reconnaissance mission.
STAFF SGT. HILBERT CAESAR, (RET) U.S. ARMY: We were just rolling and all of a sudden, it was just boom. This loud explosion, and everything had just paused.
WIAN: Three soldiers were injured, including Caesar. The explosion severed his right leg, just above the knee.
CAESAR: I saw a buddy of mine. You know, I saw him, like, collapsing down inside. Because he was -- I was inside of the vehicle. As I was reaching over there to try to -- like ease his fall, I just like collapsed and dropped, that's because my leg was gone.
WIAN: As the section chief with the 27th Field Artillery 1st Armor Division, Caesar commanded seven soldiers.
CAESAR: You know, they learned everything from me. And you, after that -- that was my guy, that was like -- they was my family there at the time. So it was difficult leaving them. It really was.
Because like ever day, that's what I was thinking about, you know, got to make sure they were all right. Hopefully I trained them well and that they would step up to you late plate and do their jobs, you know.
WIAN: An athlete all of his life in team sports, Caesar thought long distance runners and cyclist a bit crazy. Since losing his leg, he has change his mind. In fact, he competed in his first hand cycle race just four months after his injury. And has completed three marathons. Most recently the Boston Marathon on April 18, a year to the day after losing his leg.
CAESAR: It took me a little while to get there, but I made it. It's over and done! Feels pretty good. Awesome!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yea!
CAESAR: Yes! WIAN: If not from the injury, Caesar says he would return to active duty. Instead, he works for the Department Veteran Affairs and acts as an inspiration to his fellow soldiers.
CAESAR: Hopefully they see. And they kind of -- they guys lifts their spirits are low and stuff, they can, you know, raise up and say, you know, I can do that too.
WIAN: Casey Wian, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: Caesar is already gearing up to train for future marathons. We wish him the very best.
Still ahead, the results of tonight's poll and a preview what's ahead tomorrow. Plus, how some famous paintings could illustrate recent changes in the Catholic Church. I'll be joined by a leading expert on the papacy when we continue.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: Pope Benedict XVI met with more than 150 cardinals today. He thanked them for electing him to lead more than 1 billion Catholics worldwide.
Now the pope is also reaching out to other faiths. He sent a message to the chief rabbi of Rome's Jewish community saying he wants to continue the relationship with the Jewish community that began under John Paul II. The pope also stressed the enormity of the task ahead of him.
And joining me now is father John Paris, professor of bioethics at Boston College. And it's always nice to see you, Father Paris.
FATHER JOHN PARIS, BOSTON COLLEGE: Good to be back, Kitty.
PILGRIM: You know, in certain segments we go to the videotape, but in this segment I suggest we go to Rembrandt, that's your suggestion. And there are two paintings that you say really illustrate the sort of evolution of Pope Benedict. And this is the -- the first one we have, "Christ in the Storm at the Lake of Galilee." It was painted in 1633 by Rembrandt. Why do you think that suggest Cardinal Ratzinger's role in the church?
PARIS: That's the very description he used last week when he gave the talk before the conclave. He said the church is this storm tossed bark, various currents pushing the church around and it's in turmoil and there are threats everywhere. And that was the vision he had when he was the chief disciplinarian of the church. Sort like a policeman at Times Square, always on the look-out for trouble. And he sees it everywhere.
PILGRIM: And yet he got quite a reputation for saying, no, a good bit. Cardinal No, is his nickname, was it not?
PARIS: That was his job.
PILGRIM: And yet he had to steer the ship.
Let's move to the second Rembrandt. And I love this too. This is the "Prodigal Son" by Rembrandt. It was painted at the end of his life. And they say this represents a vision of maturity in the painter.
And I'm quoting that thought from a Dutch theologian, Father Henry Nouwen, who recently wrote a book on the Prodigal Son and analysis on the church. Pope Benedict is 78 years old. Does it also represent a mature vision that he may have for the church going forward?
PARIS: Father Nouwen's book is magnificent on this painting. He stood in front of this painting at Hermitage in Moscow and said, he's never been so moved.
Here's the picture of God the father, embracing, reaching out, reconciling himself to the son who is the reprobate, who was the sinner, who has fallen away. And here is the role of the father. Not the cop, not the person who says no, the person who says come, mercy is yours, let me pour out the love which is mine onto you.
PILGRIM: So might we see a softer side for Pope Benedict. In the book by Father Nouwen, he says there are two hands on the painting that the father has two hands embracing the son. One hand is very masculine, the other hand is a softer, more feminine embrace. Might we see a bigger role for women, or might we see a softer approach on the part of Pope Benedict?
PARIS: I think we'll see both. It's certainly my hope.
PILGRIM: And ours too, father.
Is there any one vision that you have for what we might see in the next few months?
PARIS: What i see in the next few months is simply opening him out to others, to other religions. And as he puts it, to those even without any religion, but who have fundamental problems which they are unable to solve by themselves. And the answer is that God, in fact, reaches out to all. And he now is the representative to God for the Catholics says, not only for Catholics, but to all men. Let us see how we can work through life together.
PILGRIM: Well, thank you very much for that analysis. Father John Paris, always a pleasure to talk to you.
PARIS: Thanks, Kitty.
PILGRIM: And now the results of tonight's poll, 93 percent would not support legislation to fine illegal aliens, but allow them to remain in the United States. 7 percent of you would.
Well, thanks for being with us tonight. For all of us here, good night from New York. Have a great weekend. ANDERSON COOPER 360 starts right now -- Anderson.
END
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Aired April 22, 2005 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KITTY PILGRIM, CNN ANCHOR: Well, tonight, a guilty plea by a September 11 plotter. New details about a second plan to use airliners as missiles. We'll tell you about his target.
And red star rising. China takes aim at one of this country's last surviving manufacturing industries. Hundreds of thousands of American jobs are at risk. We'll have a special report.
And illegal alien giveaway. Thousands of illegal aliens are overwhelming our hospitals, refusing to pay their medical bills. My guest is a top official in the American Hospital Association.
ANNOUNCER: This is LOU DOBBS, for news, debate and opinion, tonight. Sitting in for Lou Dobbs, Kitty Pilgrim.
PILGRIM: Good evening.
The only person in this country charged with helping carry out the September 11 attacks today pled guilty. Zacarias Moussaoui entered a guilty plea to all six charges. He declared he was part of a conspiracy to fly a Boeing 747 into the White House.
Justice correspondent Kelli Arena reports from outside the courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia -- Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE DEPT. CORRESPONDENT: Kitty, that's right, Zacarias Moussaoui did plead guilty to all of the counts against him, but he vowed to fight the death penalty all the way to the Supreme Court if he had to. Along with pleading guilty, he also signed a statement of facts prepared by the government.
In that statement, Moussaoui says he admitted to knowing about the plan, al Qaeda's plan to fly airplanes into buildings in the United States, and that he agreed to travel to the United States to participate in that plan. He also says that bin Laden personally selected him to participate in the operation and approved Moussaoui attacking the White House.
Now, in court, we heard a little bit more about that, Kitty. He said that part of his -- his mission was to fly a jet into the White House if the government would not negotiate for the release of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, who otherwise known as the "Blind Sheikh," who is serving a life prison term for his involvement in the first World Trade Center bombings.
Moussaoui also admitted it lying to federal agents so that his al Qaeda brothers could carry out their plan. The attorney general of the United States had a press conference just a short time ago. Let's hear a little bit of what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Moussaoui now joins shoe bomber Richard Reid, John Walker Lindh, and more than 200 other individuals who have been convicted or pled guilty to terrorism- related charges since 9/11. With today's guilty plea, we now move to the penalty phase of this case on a schedule to be established by the judge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: Now, as I told you before, Kitty, Moussaoui said that he will fight every inch against the death penalty. He claims that because he was denied direct access to al Qaeda leaders who are in U.S. custody, who he says have information that could help clear him of any involvement in the September 11 attacks, that he did not -- was not able to get a fair trial. That that would be a mitigating factor in the sentencing phase.
And the judge agreed and said that that would be an appropriate venue for Moussaoui to bring that up. So this case is far from over, Kitty.
We did hear from some of the September 11 victims' families that were here. And even though they know that there's a long haul ahead, they still said that they felt a certain sense of closure today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEBORAH BURLINGAME, SISTER OF PILOT OF FLIGHT 77: I'm just happy that we didn't have to go through a long trial. I think this is -- it's the right thing that shows that American justice prevailed here.
Here we had a jihadist, a jihadist who took part in the deaths of 3,000 innocent men, women and children who participated in the American justice system willingly, knowingly, voluntarily. And that is a triumph.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: Moussaoui had some very disparaging remarks about his defense attorney at today's hearing. One of his biggest complaints was that he believed that they tried to portray him as incompetent.
The judge did meet with Moussaoui on Wednesday and declared him legally competent. She also said that not only was he competent, but extremely intelligent and understood the law better than some of the lawyers that she deals with on a daily basis -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much. Kelli Arena.
Well, three suspected al Qaeda terrorists charged with helping plan the September 11 attacks went on trial in Spain today. Twenty- one other suspected terrorists are also on trial. And if convicted, the three prime suspects could each face more than 60,000 years in prison.
Al Goodman reports from Madrid.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AL GOODMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Police vans brought the suspects to Spain's largest Islamic terrorism trial ever. Security tight at a special courthouse on the outskirts of Madrid.
Inside, the 24 defendants, mostly of Syrian and Moroccan origin, clustered behind bulletproof glass. Three of them charged with helping to plan the September 11 attacks.
JACK CORDAY, 9/11 VICTIMS' LAWYER: I think it's one of the most important trials that have occurred in the world to date. Directly, these individuals are directly accused of aiding and giving material support to the hijackers.
GOODMAN: Corday came all the way from the United States to observe the trial. The first defendant on the stand was just an al Qaeda foot soldier, the prosecution says. But this man, Syrian-born Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas, will follow the alleged al Qaeda leader in Spain, according to authorities, accused of helping to arrange a meeting in July 2001 near Barcelona attended by hijacker Mohammed Atta, who piloted the first plane into the World Trade Center.
These two men, Moroccan-born Driss Chebli and Syrian-born Ghasoub al Abrash Ghalyoun, are the other defendants charged here with a role of the September 11 attacks.
Perhaps the best known defendant is Syrian-born Tysyra Luni (ph), correspondent for Al-Jazeera television. He had an exclusive interview with Osama bin Laden soon after the 9/11 attacks and is charged with carrying funds for al Qaeda.
FATIMA HAMED, ALLOUNI'S WIFE (through translator): The only reason he's on trial is for discovering barbarity the American government committed in Afghanistan and for his interview with bin Laden.
GOODMAN (on camera): If the first day is any indication, it's going to be a very spirited trial, with lots of verbal sparring between the court and the defendants. The trial is due to last until the summer.
Al Goodman, CNN, Madrid.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: In Iraq today, investigators went to the site of yesterday's deadly helicopter crash. Six American security guards were among the 11 people killed.
Two terrorist groups claim they shot down the helicopter. One tape purports to show the terrorists capturing and shooting the only survivor.
Senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): While not confirming the authenticity of the video from a group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq, Pentagon officials say it's more evidence of how insurgents have no regard for civilians or the law of war. A survivor who has since been identified as a member of the helicopter's Bulgarian crew is found in tall grass.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stand up.
MCINTYRE: He is ordered to his feet and then gunned down at close range.
MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Clearly what happened on that video, the execution of a helpless person is a war crime, no question about it.
MCINTYRE: Two groups have claimed responsibility for downing the commercial helicopter which was carrying 11 civilians, including six American contractors employed by Blackwater USA, who were providing security for U.S. diplomats in Iraq.
This video from another group called the Mujahedeen Army appears to show the Russian-made MI-8 helicopter about 12 miles north of Baghdad as it is hit with a surface-to-air missile or rocket-propelled grenade. If an investigation confirms the helicopter was shot down, it will be the first time insurgents have succeed in bringing down a civilian aircraft.
In January, insurgents claimed to have shot down a British C-130 cargo plane, killing all 10 people on board. And while this videotape of a missile launch looked fake to some experts, U.S. and British military authorities do believe the January crash was the result of hostile fire.
SHEPPERD: It's going to be a long time before the insurgency is defeated. They're not defeated, they're not sophisticated. These acts are not coordinated acts in any way. And we shouldn't be surprised, nor should we make too much out of a bad day, a single bad day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE: Pentagon officials continue to characterize the trend toward more spectacular attacks as a sign of increasing desperation on the part of the insurgents. But no one here at the Pentagon is suggesting that this insurgency is anywhere close to being on the ropes -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Very tough stuff on watch. Thanks very much. Jamie McIntyre. Well, President Bush today officially nominated General Peter Pace to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The president said General Pace knows the job well, as he's been vice chairman for four years. General Pace will be the first Marine Corps officer to be the chairman if the Senate confirms his nomination.
The United States faces not only a rising military threat from China, it also faces an escalating economic threat. China's latest target is the U.S. auto market. Tonight, one of this country's biggest auto companies won't rule out developing a car in China for the American market.
Christine Romans reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's just a matter of time before China becomes the dominant global exporter of automobiles. It's already begun.
China ships auto parts to the U.S. and cars to market, such as South America, Africa and Middle East, to the tune of $12 billion last year. The rush into China by American and European auto and parts makers has helped China's transformation.
Ford announced this week it will build an engine plant there. And auto parts from brake pads to seat covers are already being shipped back to the U.S. market.
PETER MORICI, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: It's clear that what's happening, the supply chain is going there first and the rest the automobile industry is going there after that. And it's all a function of an overvalued dollar and a U.S. automobile industry that can't seem to cope with competitive realities.
ROMANS: He calls U.S. automakers enablers, driving their suppliers to China for lower costs, investing billions there themselves, instead of fixing management weaknesses, and addressing labor problems at home. And labor is key, giving China a big edge when making cars.
Chinese workers make less than $2 an hour, compared with more than $36 in the United States and almost $50 in Germany. These workers are also potential customers. Faced with this reality, some say U.S. automakers have no choice but to invest in China.
DAVID COLE, CENTER FOR AUTO RESEARCH, UNIV. OF MICHIGAN: I don't think at some level we can compete. We need access to the market. When you start talking about a billion people, rapid emergence of the middle class, we want access to that market. And, in fact, we have to have it.
ROMANS: According to research from McKenzie (ph), China has the world's highest sales growth rate for vehicles, and by 2010 will be the second biggest auto market, trailing only the U.S.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: Quality is a problem. So far, the Chinese market does not seem to mind low-quality cars. But experts say the U.S. car consumer's more mature and more finicky.
Still, it looks as though there will be participation from the American automakers in building cars in China and selling them into the United States. Chrysler will not rule that out. A lot of talk in the auto circles this week that Chrysler may have plans eventually to try to build a car there and sell it here.
PILGRIM: Perhaps the start of a new era.
ROMANS: Perhaps.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much. Christine Romans.
Well, up next, Vice President Dick Cheney weighs in to the increasingly bitter dispute over the president's judicial nominations.
And pay and stay. Two leading senators plan controversial new measures to deal with our escalating immigration crisis.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: Another key Republican senator appears to be unsure about whether to vote for President Bush's nomination for U.N. ambassador. Senator Lisa Murkowski is the fourth Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to express reservations about John Bolton. Well, the committee has decided to postpone a vote until the nomination -- on the nomination until May 12.
Vice President Dick Cheney today joined the battle over President Bush's judicial nominees. The vice president declared he's ready to use his vote in the Senate to block Democratic filibusters.
Congressional correspondent Joe Johns reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Escalating the battle over judges, Vice President Dick Cheney vowed to support Republican efforts to break the impasse over the administration's judicial nominees. Cheney has the power to cast tie- breaking votes in the Senate.
RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: But if the Senate majority decides to move forward, and if the issue is presented to me in my elected office as the president of the Senate and presiding officer, I will support bringing those nominations to the floor for an up-or-down vote.
JOHNS: At issue, 10 controversial judges who have been filibustered by Democrats, requiring 60 votes to confirm rather than a simple majority. To end the opposition, Republicans are considering the so-called nuclear option, changing Senate rules to eliminate the use of filibusters. Democrats say they will retaliate by shutting down most of the Senate's business.
The man with the final say on whether to go nuclear, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. He was traveling in his home state of Tennessee with the president on Friday, while getting blasted by opponents back in Washington who are accusing Senator Frist of exploiting religion in the debate over judges.
SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D), VERMONT: To raise the specter of religious intolerance in order to try to turn our strong independent federal courts into an arm of a political party is an outrage.
JOHNS: Frist has agreed to participate in a broadcast called "Justice Sunday," sponsored by conservative Christian organizations pushing for the president's judges. Advertisements for that program pose the political issue in stark religious terms.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why do a few senators filibuster the nominee? It's because that judge has our faith and our values. Filibustering people of faith needs to stop now.
JOHNS: Leaders of five large religious groups, including the National Council of Churches, and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, called for Frist to back out of the program.
DAVID SAPERSTEIN, RELIGIOUS ACTION CENTER: When repugnant speech is being used by people, even if they are religious, it is the responsibility of our nation's leaders, particularly someone like the Senate majority leader, to say that has no place in America.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: Now, the people organizing this broadcast, including the Family Research Council, say this is no different than a politician going to a place of worship and talking about politics. The office of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist says he is being misconstrued, this is just his opportunity to try to get that message out that he believes the presidents nominees deserve an up-or-down vote -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: All right. Thank you very much. Joe Johns.
Well, two leading senators in next few weeks are planning to introduce what could become a controversial immigration bill. The legislation would, in effect, fine illegal aliens, but at the same time allow them to stay in the United States.
Bill Tucker reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Cameras in tow, Senator John McCain made a surprised appearance as the guest professor at a political science class at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. The appearance was part of MTV News "Stand-In" (ph) series. The senator, an Annapolis grad and former Navy pilot, surprised everyone with this... SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Just by coincidence, Senator Ted Kennedy and I in the last couple of days after several months of negotiations have reached an agreement for an immigration proposal that we will be putting out next week.
JOHNS: McCain didn't delve into the details, but he did tell the first year midshipman that he believes deporting every illegal in the country isn't practical or possible. The McCain-Kennedy immigration reform bill would call for fines on illegal migrants but allow them to earn the right to apply for citizenship after a six-year working period. It would also address border security calling for better use of technology.
The legislation is not expected to be introduced for a couple of weeks. And it won't be the only piece of immigration reform on the table in this Congress. The junior senator from Arizona, Jon Kyl, is joining forces with Texas Senator John Cornyn as momentum builds for immigration reform.
SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R), TEXAS: No question about it, there's a lot of pent up demand, a lot of frustration, I think, due to the fact that the federal government has not lived up to its responsibilities for so long when it comes to border security and enforcing our immigration laws.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: And Congress is now beginning to feel the heat of that frustration leading some, including Senator Cornyn, to believe, Kitty, that comprehensive immigration reform not only may be possible, but will probably get done in this Congress by the end of the year.
PILGRIM: Certainly the momentum appears to be building now.
JOHNS: It definitely is.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much. Bill Tucker.
Well, that brings us to the subject of tonight's poll. Would you support legislation to fine illegal aliens, but to allow them to remain in the United States, yes or no? Cast your vote at LouDobbs.com. We'll bring you the results later in the broadcast.
The onslaught of illegal aliens into this country is putting a huge strain on our immigration courts. Those courts are grossly underfunded, understaffed and overworked.
Lisa Sylvester has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the number of illegal aliens sneaking into the country has increased exponentially, so has the workload of the immigration courts. Arlington, Texas, for instance, saw a 75 percent increase in the number of immigration cases in motions in 2004 alone. Nationwide, the case load has steadily increased 18 percent in the last five years. But funding in resources have not kept pace in many jurisdictions.
DANA MARKS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF IMMIGRATION JUDGES: We have sorely outdated equipment from the tape recorders that record these sessions, from the fact that we don't have live court interpreters. So we have these taped transcripts. There's not enough money to transcribe them unless the case is appealed.
SYLVESTER: The judges often serve as their own court reporter and bailiff. And the last time they had a face-to-face judicial conference was three years ago. An important component as immigration law has been revamped significantly since 9/11.
KEVIN JOHNSON, UC-DAVIS LAW SCHOOL: When you have increased the number of cases, and you have judges who are overloaded, and you have judges who aren't getting the sufficient amount of training that they should be getting, and retraining, you're likely to have decisions that are less reliable, more error-prone and more likely to include mistakes.
SYLVESTER: That means more immigration cases are being appealed, clogging up the federal appellate courts. The courts of appeals have seen a nearly 600 percent increase in immigration cases, at the same time the overall budget has been slashed.
JUDGE JULIA GIBBONS, 6TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS: If we do not have sufficient staff to handle those matters, or sufficient funds to pay the rent or to pay jurors, or to pay attorneys who represent indigent criminal defendants, then we simply cannot function.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SYLVESTER: A spokeswoman for the Executive Office for Immigration Reform, which oversees the nation's immigration courts, says they've been able to add 12 judges since 2001. And she maintains that the agency is accomplishing its mission, applying the immigration law fairly and expeditiously -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: All right. Thank you. Lisa Sylvester.
Enron, the movie. A new documentary illustrates a group of corporate cowboys who walked away with millions of dollars and left their employees with nothing. We'll have that story.
And why the flood of illegal aliens into this country has forced some hospitals to close their doors.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: It's been three-and-a-half years since the devastating collapse of Enron. More than 4,000 people lost their jobs, and thousands more had their pensions wiped out. A new documentary out this weekend sheds light on this very painful chapter in corporate history.
Brooke Anderson has a preview from Los Angeles.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The other thing about people at Enron is a lot of them were former nerds.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The smartest guys in the room tracks the rise and fall of Enron's unholy trinity: Ken Lay, Jeff Skilling and Andrew Fastow. The film portrays the trio as a ruthless clique of corporate cowboys who, simply put, exaggerated Enron's bottom line and walked away with millions of dollars.
When another executive blew the whistle, the company collapsed and the government took them to trial. But employees who had invested their 401(k)s in Enron's stock were left with nothing.
ALEX GIBNEY, DIRECTOR: Skilling and Lay were not willing to talk to me. I think their characters actually come through very, very well, particularly Skilling.
You see his -- you know, hours and hours and hours of him going before the Senate and House committees, and also a lot of in-house company stuff, including some skits. I mean, that's where, you know, I was surprised to find those.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can add a kazillion dollars to the bottom line.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeff, all right! That sounds fantastic!
ANDERSON: The documentary, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, features telling conversations between Enron's energy traders.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All that money you guys stole from those poor grandmothers...
GIBNEY: Enron had a commercial slogan, "Ask why." It's deeply ironic now. So I guess if I want people to come out of this film with a message, it is ask why.
ANDERSON: Like Enron workers did at this company meeting two months before Enron went bankrupt.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're down to questions. And I've got a few up here.
I would like to know if you are on crack. If so, that would explain a lot. If not, you may want to start, because it's going to be a long time before we trust you again.
ANDERSON: Lay, Skilling and Fastow didn't get off free. Fastow pleaded guilty to fraud charges and face 10 years in prison. The other two are set for their days in court next year. Brooke Anderson, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: Coming up, illegal alien giveaway, how illegal aliens have left some of our nation's hospitals in crisis.
Plus, wild weather. It destroys homes in Kansas. We'll have that story.
And later, "Heroes," the emotional anniversary of a tragic event for one soldier. We'll have his story coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: In a moment, how caring for the uninsured, including illegal aliens, is leaving our nation's hospitals in crisis. I'll talk with the vice president of a group that represents nearly 5,000 hospitals.
But first, here are some of the other stories we're following tonight.
The Virginia Supreme Court today upheld the death penalty for accused sniper John Allen Muhammad. Muhammad was convicted on two counts of capital murder for his role in a string of 10 sniper shootings in the D.C. area in 2002.
Brushfires are raging in the Florida Everglades. The Miami-Dade Fire Department was fighting the blaze just east of an Indian reservation. There is no word on the cause of the fire.
And three people died in a crash on the New Jersey Turnpike. The accident happened when three tractor trailers, a commuter van and a car collided. A portion of the turnpike was closed for most of the day.
We've reported extensively here on the financial burden illegal aliens have placed on this country. Many our nation's hospitals, especially those near the border, are on the verge of bankruptcy as they are forced to treat the uninsured.
Well, joining me more on this growing crisis is Rick Pollack. He is the executive vice president of the American Hospital Association. And thanks very much for being with us, Rick.
RICK POLLACK, AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION: Sure, Kitty.
PILGRIM: How bad a problem is this?
POLLACK: It's a very bad problem. And it's affecting many hospitals across the country.
And, you know, you have to keep it into perspective. There are 45 million uninsured people in this country. There are many of those are illegal immigrants. And it's a subset of that larger problem. And it's already putting a lot of stress on a very stressed out system.
PILGRIM: You know, I was particularly struck by the example of your Scripps Mercy Hospital, it's located about nine miles over the border. Tell us a little bit about what is happening there.
POLLACK: Well, we did a study, actually a consultant did a study, and it showed in the 24 counties that border Mexico, over $200 million has been spent on care for illegal immigrants. We know in the state of New Jersey alone, $200 million has been spent for that purpose. New York City health and hospitals corporation alone, one hospital system spent $225 million in taking care for illegal immigrants.
So whether they're illegal immigrants, or whether they are uninsured, hospitals are the healthcare safety net. We become the family doctor for those folks. And again, it just adds a lot of stress to a system that's already under stress.
PILGRIM: One of the things that struck me as I was reading through the notes was that some -- many are pregnant women coming across the border. Is this a trend?
POLLACK: It happens in a lot of cases, but it's not just cases of pregnant women -- it's car accidents, it's burn situations, it's all kinds of emergency situations that we find. And again, hospitals will take care of any person that comes through their emergency room not only is it a federal law but it's part of our mission. And we are there to take care of people. The problem here, of course, is that the cost of doing it is rather -- it's substantial.
PILGRIM: I'm looking at the statistics, in the last quarter 75 patients came to deliver their child at Scripps Mercy, pregnant mothers. Several hospitals have had to shut down, haven't they?
POLLACK: In parts of the country, there has been closures. And some of it has been attributed to this reason. But there are a lot of reasons that hospitals tend to close.
PILGRIM: Who ultimately bears the brunt? The counties pay for it. What's being done on the federal level to deal with this?
POLLACK: In many ways we all pay the brunt for it because at the end of the day, this is one of the contributors to increased health care costs for everyone. But the federal government has recognized that there is a problem. They provided $1 billion over a four-year period to help those hospitals that are most severely impacted in terms of emergency room care. That's just a drop in the bucket, relative to the size of the problem. But it is a step in the right direction.
PILGRIM: Rick, what would you like to see being done? You're (INAUDIBLE) in this.
POLLACK: Well, clearly, there needs to be more resources to provide the care. This is a responsibility that we as a nation have. Hospitals are just the part of it. And of course when it comes to illegal immigration, while we are on the receiving end of taking care that anyone walks through the door, clearly some sort of policy that enforces our immigration laws is clearly needed.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much. Rick Pollack, thanks very much for being with us tonight.
POLLACK: Thank you.
PILGRIM: In other news, border patrol officials say they captured nearly 150 illegal aliens from Brazil. That was near the Texas border with Mexico. A spokesman said they were caught in six separate locations. Officials say since October, more than 15,000 illegal aliens from Brazil have been apprehended.
And Army reservist who held a group of illegal aliens at gunpoint will not face charges. An Arizona prosecutors says Sergeant Patrick Hobb (ph) did not commit a crime, but made a lawful citizen's arrest when he held six aliens and the man smuggling them.
And as many as 20 illegal aliens from Haiti arrived on the shores of Juno Beach, Florida. Sheriff's deputies and Border Patrol agents used dogs and helicopters to track their movements. At least half of them have been captured.
Let's take a look at your e-mails. This is one our favorite things to do. G.M. in New York writes, "I agree with your ideas about closing the border, because the illegals demand to have rights and be supported by the government as soon as they cross instead of earning that right. As Hispanic-Americans, my family and I support the Minutemen's action and your ideas about controlling the borders."
Brad from Ontario, Canada, "as a Canadian viewer, I wanted to say that the stand you have made against illegal immigration is appreciated by all of us who respect national borders. Canadian, Americans, Mexicans all must respect the rule of law if we are to continue ourselves democracies."
And many of you wrote in about a report we brought you last night about some immigrant groups charging that four New York hospitals discriminate against patients who can't speak English.
John in Apple Valley, California wrote, "for over 200 years immigrants assimilated into this country without have taxpayer paid translators in every school, court and hospital. It's time to get real, we need a constitutional amendment certifying English as our official and exclusive legal language. Immigrants need to learn the language or supply they're own translators."
Well we love hearing from you. Send us your thoughts, loudobbs@cnn.com. And each of you who's e-mail is read on the broadcast will receive a copy of Lou's book "Exporting America."
We have a really unusual story out of South Africa tonight. It seems a chimpanzee at a local zoo there has started to smoke cigarettes. Charlie the chimp apparently picked up the bad habit by watching visitors smoking, and now every time someone tosses a cigarette into his cage, he puffs away. One zoo official said Charlie acts like a naughty school boy and hides his cigarettes whenever workers are around.
At top of the hour on CNN, Anderson Cooper 360 finger fraud at Wendy's. Anderson Cooper joins with us now with a preview -- Anderson.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah Kitty. Hard to follow the smoking chimps but thanks. Next on 360, the woman who claimed to have found a finger in her food at Wendy's is arrested. Police say it was a hoax. Find out how they are using CSI forensics to crack the case and track down the finger.
Also at the top of hour, have you seen the video? Police handcuffing a 5-year-old girl after a temper tantrum. Think they crossed the line? You can judge for yourself. It is all caught on tape. 360 starts at the top of the hour -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Thanks, Anderson.
Up next, wacky weather across the United States. Why people in one part of the country is facing a health concern.
And later, "Heroes." He lost his leg in Iraq, but not his will to survive. The inspirational story of one soldier. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: More wild weather across the country tonight has produced some spectacular sites. Take a look at this -- tornadoes swept through parts of southern Kansas. Five homes were damaged or destroyed. Now, the tornadoes prompted evacuations at the Kansas City International Airport. No injuries were reported, however.
And amazing pictures tonight out of Miami. Two of the water spouts off the coast. Amazing pictures. Water spouts generally begin as true tornadoes over land and then they move out over water.
And warm weather and heavy rain have brought huge swarms of mosquitoes to parts of southern Georgia and northern Florida. Now, the mosquitoes are raising health concerns because they could spread the West Nile Virus.
Well, joining me now, tonight's newsmakers from Washington. We're joined by Roger Simon, "U.S. News & World Report." Karen Tumulty of "Time" Magazine" and CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider.
And thank you all for being with me.
ROGER SIMON, "U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT": Thank you.
KAREN TUMULTY, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Hi, Kitty.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Sure.
PILGRIM: Lets start with John Bolton. The Bolton nomination has really dominated the headlines this week and then hear reports of Colin Powell playing into this. Where do we stand on this? Let's start with you, Karen.
TUMULTY: Well, the White House is not showing any signs of back off of this nomination. And are, you know, basically accusing this is being another example of partisanship in Washington. But it's really hard for them to make that argument, given the fact that we're in this situation because a Republican senator, George Voinovich of Ohio, raised some objections. And just basically said I want to give this nomination a little bit more thought before -- before I vote on it. I do think that Colin Powell, if what we've been reading today, what we've been hearing is true, if he is also lobbying behind the scenes or at least expressing concerns to members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I think could that be a real problem.
PILGRIM We've had comments trickling out all week. We had Condi Rice speaking about it, the White House. Roger, do you think that the nomination is in any jeopardy?
SIMON: I think it's in some jeopardy. I'm not sure they won't get him in the end. But certainly thought it would -- going to be easier than it is. The question is no longer whether Bolton is qualified to be United Nation's ambassador, whatever those qualifications might be. It's whether he was so disruptive, and so high-handed at the State Department that he's really disqualified himself for the job. That he tried to get an intelligence analyst fired for disagreeing that Cuba had biological warfare weapons that it had wanted to export. The question is really he has the temperament and suitability for the job of a diplomat.
PILGRIM: Bill, we knew this would be a controversial nomination, we but didn't know how controversial. Was this a miscalculation?
SCHNEIDER: Yes, well, it was controversial because of his views. Because of his policy views and his criticisms of the U.N. Now it's become an entirely different controversy, it's about his personal behavior and, as Roger just said, his temperament. He doesn't sound like, well, a diplomat and his job is to be a diplomat. So, lots of members of the Senate are beginning to wonder, is this man suited for the job? I can think of four Republicans on that Senate Foreign Relations Committee who are wavering right now. Some of them surprising like Karen mentioned, George Voinovich. Now we hear Lisa Murkowski of Alaska may be wavering. His temperament seems to be doing him in.
PILGRIM: Let's move to another figure who's generated good bit of interest this week, and that is Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict. He weighed in the president campaign by urging American bishops to deny communion to politicians who supported abortion rights. What role might we see him moving forward in American politics, tough question. But I think it's worth considering -- Karen.
TUMULTY: I think that it is worth considering, because it is not just the presidential campaign where this issue has come into play. But office holders all over the country, Catholic office holders who vote in favor of policies that are against church teaching may find their faith on the line. And the question really will be whether the -- whether the new pope does push this issue and put it out as a matter of church doctrine.
SCHNEIDER: Yes.
PILGRIM: Go ahead, Roger.
SCHNEIDER: The point is that -- he will accelerate a process we've seen going to for some time, that is in every faith and denominations in the United States, we're seeing an increasing division between the observant and the less observant, between churchgoers and non-churchgoers. Even doing synagoguegoers and non- synagoguegoers in the Jewish community. Because a recent study showed that among Jewish voters who go to synagogue regularly, Bush did pretty well. He split the vote with Kerry. Where as other Jews were overwhelmingly for Kerry. You're seeing it between observing Catholics and non-observing Catholic. And the pope is really defining a constituency here and really directing them to vote for people who go along with church teachings on issues like euthanasia and abortion, which is going to drive them more Republican, and non observant voters more Democratic.
(CROSSTALK)
TUMULTY: Although, if I could just add, Kitty, one thing.
PILGRIM: Go ahead, Karen.
TUMULTY: "Time" magazine, we did a lot of polling on this question last year during the presidential campaign, and even among observant American Catholics there is a strong feeling that they really don't want to see the church intervening in politics, and punishing elected officials for their political views.
SIMON: I think that's absolutely right. And while I agree with my colleagues on the comments on -- with the new pope, I don't think influencing American politics is the new pope's greatest priority. I think he's got two huge problem, actually, three huge problems. The dropoff in church attendance by Catholics in the United States and in Europe. And a severe dropoff in the number of young men who want to become priests in the United States. For the survival of the church that is what the new pope has to address, not whether domestic politics in the United States needs to be shoved one way or another by him.
PILGRIM: OK.
Let's move on to another topic I really want to get to, the energy bill. It passed yesterday -- in the House. Similar to bill in 2001/2003. In the Senate, there's always a big thrash. What chance do we have in getting something through -- Karen?
TUMULTY: I think the chances of getting something through are pretty high -- primarily because one of the issues that American voters care about more -- more than just about anything else right now, are high gas prices. And while this bill will not address the immediate causes of gasoline price increases, as the president himself acknowledged this week, the last thing Congress wants to be seen is looking like it doesn't care about the issue, that it's doing nothing on the issue.
However that House bill has some -- some things that are going to be very difficult in it for the Senate to swallow. And I do think that is going to be a problem going forward.
PILGRIM: Bill.
SCHNEIDER: Yes. Well, gas prices certainly the core issue to most Americans. I think that there was some momentum lost when the president said this wouldn't have any immediate impact on gas prices. Gasoline prices is a very big problem for many Americans. In part, because they see those prices flashed in their face every day as they drive down the street and they wonder what in the world is going to be done to this? Look, Bush has big problems -- Social Security, gas price, mounting violence in Iraq, John Bolton's nomination to the U.N., Tom DeLay, the judge's nominations, the stock market. There's a list of woes that goes on very long for President Bush.
PILGRIM: OK, Roger, one last could.
SIMON: Well, this is a thousand-page bill, there's something in it for everyone to hate, and a little bit of something for everything to like. There's drilling in ANWAR in here. There's municipalities get to slow down on decreasing suit and smog pollution. There's increasing daylight savings times by two hours a day. There's protection from companies who pollute the ground water.
PILGRIM: It's the kitchen sink. Yes.
SIMON: So, so it's a huge, huge bill. And I doubt that the whole thing is going to get approved by the Senate.
PILGRIM: All right, thanks very much, guys. Have a great weekend.
Roger Simon, Karen Tumulty, Bill Schneider, thanks a lot.
TUMULTY: Thanks, Kitty.
PILGRIM: A reminder now, for you to vote in "Tonight's Poll." Would you support legislation to find illegal aliens, but allow them to remain in the United States, yes or no?
Cast your votes at loudobbs.com. We'll bring you the results in just a few minutes.
Still ahead, in "Heroes" the inspiring story of one soldier who's determination has led them to complete not one, but three marathons despite very serious wounds.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PILGRIM: Now, "Heroes." It's our weekly salute to the men and women who serve this country. And tonight, the emotional story of retired Army Staff Sergeant Hilbert Ceasar. He has just completed the Boston Marathon in the hand cycle division. His extraordinary accomplishment comes exactly one year after losing his leg in an insurgent attack in Iraq.
Casey Wian has his story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Once he gets moving on his hand cycle, retired Army Staff Sergeant Hilbert Caesar says it's hard it slow him down. That fierce determination carried him through 7 years in the military doing tours in Germany, Korea, Kosovo and Iraq until April 18, 2004, when Caesar's armored Howitzer drove by a roadside bomb while on a reconnaissance mission.
STAFF SGT. HILBERT CAESAR, (RET) U.S. ARMY: We were just rolling and all of a sudden, it was just boom. This loud explosion, and everything had just paused.
WIAN: Three soldiers were injured, including Caesar. The explosion severed his right leg, just above the knee.
CAESAR: I saw a buddy of mine. You know, I saw him, like, collapsing down inside. Because he was -- I was inside of the vehicle. As I was reaching over there to try to -- like ease his fall, I just like collapsed and dropped, that's because my leg was gone.
WIAN: As the section chief with the 27th Field Artillery 1st Armor Division, Caesar commanded seven soldiers.
CAESAR: You know, they learned everything from me. And you, after that -- that was my guy, that was like -- they was my family there at the time. So it was difficult leaving them. It really was.
Because like ever day, that's what I was thinking about, you know, got to make sure they were all right. Hopefully I trained them well and that they would step up to you late plate and do their jobs, you know.
WIAN: An athlete all of his life in team sports, Caesar thought long distance runners and cyclist a bit crazy. Since losing his leg, he has change his mind. In fact, he competed in his first hand cycle race just four months after his injury. And has completed three marathons. Most recently the Boston Marathon on April 18, a year to the day after losing his leg.
CAESAR: It took me a little while to get there, but I made it. It's over and done! Feels pretty good. Awesome!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yea!
CAESAR: Yes! WIAN: If not from the injury, Caesar says he would return to active duty. Instead, he works for the Department Veteran Affairs and acts as an inspiration to his fellow soldiers.
CAESAR: Hopefully they see. And they kind of -- they guys lifts their spirits are low and stuff, they can, you know, raise up and say, you know, I can do that too.
WIAN: Casey Wian, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: Caesar is already gearing up to train for future marathons. We wish him the very best.
Still ahead, the results of tonight's poll and a preview what's ahead tomorrow. Plus, how some famous paintings could illustrate recent changes in the Catholic Church. I'll be joined by a leading expert on the papacy when we continue.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: Pope Benedict XVI met with more than 150 cardinals today. He thanked them for electing him to lead more than 1 billion Catholics worldwide.
Now the pope is also reaching out to other faiths. He sent a message to the chief rabbi of Rome's Jewish community saying he wants to continue the relationship with the Jewish community that began under John Paul II. The pope also stressed the enormity of the task ahead of him.
And joining me now is father John Paris, professor of bioethics at Boston College. And it's always nice to see you, Father Paris.
FATHER JOHN PARIS, BOSTON COLLEGE: Good to be back, Kitty.
PILGRIM: You know, in certain segments we go to the videotape, but in this segment I suggest we go to Rembrandt, that's your suggestion. And there are two paintings that you say really illustrate the sort of evolution of Pope Benedict. And this is the -- the first one we have, "Christ in the Storm at the Lake of Galilee." It was painted in 1633 by Rembrandt. Why do you think that suggest Cardinal Ratzinger's role in the church?
PARIS: That's the very description he used last week when he gave the talk before the conclave. He said the church is this storm tossed bark, various currents pushing the church around and it's in turmoil and there are threats everywhere. And that was the vision he had when he was the chief disciplinarian of the church. Sort like a policeman at Times Square, always on the look-out for trouble. And he sees it everywhere.
PILGRIM: And yet he got quite a reputation for saying, no, a good bit. Cardinal No, is his nickname, was it not?
PARIS: That was his job.
PILGRIM: And yet he had to steer the ship.
Let's move to the second Rembrandt. And I love this too. This is the "Prodigal Son" by Rembrandt. It was painted at the end of his life. And they say this represents a vision of maturity in the painter.
And I'm quoting that thought from a Dutch theologian, Father Henry Nouwen, who recently wrote a book on the Prodigal Son and analysis on the church. Pope Benedict is 78 years old. Does it also represent a mature vision that he may have for the church going forward?
PARIS: Father Nouwen's book is magnificent on this painting. He stood in front of this painting at Hermitage in Moscow and said, he's never been so moved.
Here's the picture of God the father, embracing, reaching out, reconciling himself to the son who is the reprobate, who was the sinner, who has fallen away. And here is the role of the father. Not the cop, not the person who says no, the person who says come, mercy is yours, let me pour out the love which is mine onto you.
PILGRIM: So might we see a softer side for Pope Benedict. In the book by Father Nouwen, he says there are two hands on the painting that the father has two hands embracing the son. One hand is very masculine, the other hand is a softer, more feminine embrace. Might we see a bigger role for women, or might we see a softer approach on the part of Pope Benedict?
PARIS: I think we'll see both. It's certainly my hope.
PILGRIM: And ours too, father.
Is there any one vision that you have for what we might see in the next few months?
PARIS: What i see in the next few months is simply opening him out to others, to other religions. And as he puts it, to those even without any religion, but who have fundamental problems which they are unable to solve by themselves. And the answer is that God, in fact, reaches out to all. And he now is the representative to God for the Catholics says, not only for Catholics, but to all men. Let us see how we can work through life together.
PILGRIM: Well, thank you very much for that analysis. Father John Paris, always a pleasure to talk to you.
PARIS: Thanks, Kitty.
PILGRIM: And now the results of tonight's poll, 93 percent would not support legislation to fine illegal aliens, but allow them to remain in the United States. 7 percent of you would.
Well, thanks for being with us tonight. For all of us here, good night from New York. Have a great weekend. ANDERSON COOPER 360 starts right now -- Anderson.
END
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