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Pat Tillman Remembered; Firestorm Over Military Casket Photos

Aired April 23, 2004 - 15:00   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to CNN's LIVE FROM. I'm Kyra Phillips.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Miles O'Brien. Let's check the headlines at this hour.

Another military family in mourning. Pat Tillman, who left the National Football League after 9/11 to join the Army, has been killed in Afghanistan. Pentagon officials say the Army Ranger was on a mission in southeastern Afghanistan, where al Qaeda and Taliban fighters have been hiding.

Extra leave time to grieve. Rachel and Charity Witmer, who are both in the Army, have been given an extra 15 days of emergency leave. Their sister Michelle was killed two weeks ago while also on duty in Iraq. The surviving sisters may ask for reassignment.

Perhaps worst than feared in North Korea. European diplomats say they've been told several hundred people, not 100, were killed when freight cars exploded in a rail yard. Thousands are reported hurt. Many more are homeless. The Red Cross is on the way. North Korea has asked for United Nations help as well.

PHILLIPS: While the war on terror has claimed the lives of many Americans, most of them known mainly to family and friends, they are no less the hero. But few experience the fame of former Arizona Cardinal Pat Tillman, Army Ranger who was killed in combat yesterday in Afghanistan.

The 27-year-old NFL player spurned a $3.6 million contract to join the Army eight months after the 9/11 attacks. Tillman served in the special forces unit that hunted for al Qaeda and Taliban fighters in southeastern Afghanistan. He was a soldier like many who felt moved to patriotism and service to his country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAT TILLMAN, ARMY RANGER: You can kind of take it for granted, especially in the country we live in. We are such a free society. And we look at that flag. And I do -- I've always had a great deal of feeling for the flag. But even someone who considers themselves that way, you just don't think about it all the time. You don't realize what it gives. You don't realize how great a life we have over here.

At times like this, you stop and think about just how -- not only how good we have it, but what kind of a system we live under, what freedoms we're allowed. And that wasn't built overnight. And it's kind of the flag is a symbol of all that, and a symbol of -- my great grandfather was at Pearl Harbor. And a lot of my family has given up -- has gone and fought in wars. And I really haven't done a damn thing as far as laying myself on the line like that. And so I have a great deal of respect for those that have.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, for a closer look at the life of Pat Tillman, I'm joined now by Steve Overmyer of CNN Sports.

You also knew him very well.

STEVE OVERMYER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Boy, you look at that and you think how ironic. It's sort of like he knew his destiny.

OVERMYER: It is. It's eerie that you look at a guy like Pat Tillman, who was really a reluctant hero throughout his entire career.

He was one of the last guys who was given a scholarship to Arizona State, yet became the defensive player of the year in the Pac 10. He was one of the last guys drafted by the Cardinals, yet led them in tackles the following year. Here's a guy who shied away from the limelight. Here's a guy, when the cameras came, he went running. He didn't want any cameras around when he decided he was going to join the Army Rangers.

He didn't want to talk with any media. He didn't want this to seem like it was some sort of a P.R. move from his point. And I'll tell you, a lot of people consider him one of the most honorable men they have met.

PHILLIPS: Well, I got to tell you, I tried to get an interview with him, and he wouldn't do it.

(CROSSTALK)

OVERMYER: Turned you down?

PHILLIPS: Yes, can you believe that? No, but it's pretty amazing because you look at that interview and he says, I haven't done a damn thing. Look at what my family's done. Look at what everyone else is doing.

But he must have just had this inner spirit that was telling him, it's time to make a change. And you said when you knew him, he was so down to earth, he rode his bike to practice. I mean, he didn't spend money. He was very...

(CROSSTALK)

OVERMYER: Yes, he was not the guy that would show up to the games in the Armani suits. When you have to hop on the airplane to take a flight to a Cardinals game, you have to show up in a suit. And he was a guy who was showing up in the knit tie and the corduroy jacket, the flannel shirt, piecing together some sort of a suit. He wasn't showing up in the Armani suits.

And when you look out in the parking lot and you saw the BMWs and the Mercedes out in the parking lot, you saw this tattered old bike strung up to a nearby post, that was Pat Tillman's. And that really epitomized what really Pat Tillman was and the heart that he showed. This guy, 5'11'', barely 200 pounds, yet he was a starter in the NFL and a hard hitter in the NFL. The running backs on the Cardinals team hated practicing against him because they hated getting pounded by him in practice.

So you can imagine what the other teams felt like. This guy just had tremendous heart. You know, you might say that he probably had more heart than anybody on the team. And every coach wished they had 50 Pat Tillmans on their squad.

PHILLIPS: Well, you know, it's interesting, you look at so many of these other players that are complaining about not having enough money, wanting a bigger contract.

OVERMYER: And here we are, right.

PHILLIPS: And here's this guy that had the opportunity to have all that. He really puts a face to all the men and women that are over there. I mean, his character represents so many other soldiers that are over there right now.

OVERMYER: I think that's why we in the media are embracing this story so much is, because here's a face. We actually have a face to put with some of the men and women that are giving their lives for this country, and a player who really turned down so much. He turned down fame. He turned down fortune. He turned down everything that comes with being an NFL star, all of it, in the prime of his career, to go and fight for the country.

And I think that says a lot about the true character that this guy was, that he had and the human being that he was.

PHILLIPS: Steve Overmyer, and you had the privilege of knowing him for a number of years.

OVERMYER: Yes. Very good man.

PHILLIPS: Thank you so much.

O'BRIEN: Hundreds of U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, but until now, the public has not seen the remains being returned home. Now the images have become public and the Pentagon is none too happy about it.

Our Barbara Starr has the pictures and the fallout.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With quiet dignity and military respect, caskets arrive at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, troops killed in Iraq now on the final journey back to their families, ceremonies repeated more than 500 times since the war began, a flag unfolded over a casket, a gentle touch smoothing the corner.

But these extraordinary pictures were never supposed to be seen. The Air Force released more than 300 photographs to this private anti- government secrecy Web site, pictures the Air Force says were meant only for history. A Defense Department spokesman says the release of the pictures under the Freedom of Information Act violated military policy. The entire matter is under review.

Since the war in Iraq, the Pentagon has strictly enforced its long-standing policy of not allowing media coverage of caskets arriving at Dover. Officials say it is out of deference to grieving families, not an effort to keep the news media from covering the mounting death toll.

For the families, news coverage is always difficult. Some do allow cameras at funerals. One group, the National Military Family Association, had this to say: "We believe the current policy is sensitive to the needs of the families and would urge everyone else to be sensitive to them as well."

The issue remains controversial.

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: These young men are heroes. This is the last long ride home. These young men and women are heroes. And the idea that they're essentially snuck back into the country under the cover of night so no one can see that their casket has arrived, I just think is wrong.

STARR: Now a private contractor has been fired by her employer after taking this picture of 20 flag-draped coffins going home from Iraq earlier this month, a picture that appeared in "The Seattle Times."

But for those who gave the full measure of devotion, there is a final salute, a final thank you from the comrades who brought them home.

Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: In Iraq, relaxing the policy that had angered some Sunnis and perhaps fueled the Iraqi insurgency. On Iraqi TV today, civil administrator Paul Bremer announced some former members of Saddam Hussein's ruling Baath Party may now be able to get their jobs back. The shift will mostly affect teachers and former military who are simply affiliated with the Baath party.

In the Shiite holy city of Najaf, a threatening message from rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. In a sermon, he threatened suicide attacks if U.S. forces attacked Najaf or Karbala. And in Basra, a suspect is in custody in connection with Wednesday's suicide bomb attacks. Officials say he is from Fallujah, where a Sunni insurgency is under way. They say he was seen fleeing the scene of one of those attacks. Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 74.

Secret signals on the campaign trail. Ahead, decoding candidates' body language.

O'BRIEN: And apropos not of that, beer bellies getting a bad rap. Talk about some body language, if you know what I mean. That means you've been blubbering, right? Well, the biggest beermakers take on the South Beach Diet rules. And we'll explain how you can drink and still do the Atkins thing. Whatever.

PHILLIPS: Can you really? All right.

O'BRIEN: South Beach, it's the same thing, South Beach, Atkins, whatever.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER UPDATE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: A wink and a nod can mean an awful lot. So can crossed arms or legs or even a dismissive glance to the ceiling. In the new beltway blockbuster "Plan of Attack," veteran Washington journalist Bob Woodward offers up a series of quotes from high-ranking Bush administration officials, including the president, who seemed to spend an awful lot of time trying to read each other's body language as they marched down the path toward war in Iraq.

So we thought it would be worth reading some political body language with the help of an expert who is fluent, if you will.

Joining us today, Molly Epstein. She's a professor of management communications at the Goizueta Business School at Emory University school in Atlanta, Georgia.

Good to have you with us, Professor.

MOLLY EPSTEIN, GOIZUETA BUSINESS SCHOOL: Thank you very much.

O'BRIEN: All right, let's start with the president, shall we?

And we have a few examples of him taken from his recent news conference. These are still images. Now, you don't have to be necessarily an expert in body language to know this is a sign of displeasure, I'm guessing.

EPSTEIN: Yes, it certainly is. He appears distraught, which is appropriate, given what he was discussing. He appears very thoughtful, too. The furrowed brow and the pursed lips show a real sense of thoughtfulness, as well as distress. So, given the topic, this was appropriate.

O'BRIEN: OK. That's -- so, effective communication is what this would be indicative of.

EPSTEIN: This is effective because it makes him appear real.

O'BRIEN: All right.

Now, next one, pointing, kind of using the gesture, that's kind of a, if you were giving some advice to an executive, say, that's kind of a force it will statement, isn't it?

EPSTEIN: Yes, it is. Bush does a great job of using his hands to accentuate his points. This is a great move because he is emphasizing something without using any negative body language, such as the point. And we'll see that in just a moment.

O'BRIEN: Ah. So, if you do this, it's negative. Of course, people aren't seeing that right now at home. No, no, show me first. Show me first. This is negative. This is OK.

EPSTEIN: Right. Right, if you bring it down a little bit so that it is a gesture of engagement, it's a gesture of emphasis.

(CROSSTALK)

EPSTEIN: But something like this, especially up high near the face can be perceived as very negative. In some cultures, it is supremely insulting.

O'BRIEN: All right, and I think of Clinton, of course, "I did not have sex with that woman." You know, that one, OK?

EPSTEIN: Right. And from that, he was told to stop pointing and he went to this.

O'BRIEN: Yes. So is the fist better?

EPSTEIN: It is better, marginally.

O'BRIEN: OK, but this is the better...

EPSTEIN: But an open gesture is best. Having your hands open, showing your palms to the audience demonstrates a real sense of openness. So let's take a look.

O'BRIEN: All right, here's another occasion. And here's open palms again. The one we showed before had a backhanded palm gesture.

EPSTEIN: Right.

O'BRIEN: What about that one? Let's see that one, if we can put the backhanded palm up there. Yes.

EPSTEIN: There's the back.

O'BRIEN: Is that not as -- I mean, I guess it's obvious. That's less open, right?

EPSTEIN: Right. Well, what he's doing is something very interesting. Obviously, he's discussing some uncomfortable information. And likely the people watching him are uncomfortable. What he's doing is this kind of sheltering gathering, protective measure. So he is gathering and creating a sense of security, which the American people really need right now. It's almost shepherding.

O'BRIEN: Shepherding. Interesting.

All right, let's go to the other side of the aisle, if you will.

EPSTEIN: Other side.

O'BRIEN: And see the candidate, the presumptive Democratic nominee, John Kerry. Now, he is doing the no, no here. He's doing the point.

EPSTEIN: Yes, he is.

O'BRIEN: And you would advise him not to do that, right?

EPSTEIN: I would recommend against the point. First of all, it tends to make people very uncomfortable, for fear that they are being singled out, for fear that they're being shamed.

O'BRIEN: It takes you right back to second grade.

EPSTEIN: It does.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: And that teacher that sent you to the principal's office, right?

EPSTEIN: That's exactly what it is. It becomes very dogmatic and it creates distance between the speaker and the audience.

O'BRIEN: Ah, there he goes. Now, what about an upward point like that? That could be we're No. 1, right?

EPSTEIN: Right. This is better. This is much better because it's not that pointing at the audience. Presumably, he's making a point. And this is very appropriate if you are trying to make points that you're numbering. You might put up one finger for first, another finger for second, and a third finger.

O'BRIEN: Literally making your points.

EPSTEIN: Exactly. Exactly. And it's nonthreatening because it's not pointing at the audience.

O'BRIEN: All right, and it's cheaper than PowerPoint, too.

EPSTEIN: Yes, it is.

(LAUGHTER) O'BRIEN: So, OK.

How about this left hand -- wait a minute. That's not a left- hand gesture there. I show that -- going to show.

What about this one, though? It's the karate chop effect here, right?

(CROSSTALK)

EPSTEIN: Right. This is a very decisive gesture and it creates a real sense that the speaker is in authority, that he is comfortable, he is in command.

O'BRIEN: OK.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: And because it's open and doing that, that's telling you nonthreatening and yet command presence?

EPSTEIN: Exactly. You want to use it in moderation, though. Otherwise, it does become something that could be perceived as threatening.

O'BRIEN: OK. So it goes -- now, this one is interesting. This is the invisible piano move right?

EPSTEIN: Yes, this is.

O'BRIEN: What's going on here?

EPSTEIN: Here, he appears to be creating, attempting to create a sense of calm. This is a gesture that we do to create calm. So he appears to be trying to connect with his audience and reassure them of something.

O'BRIEN: OK.

EPSTEIN: So we have the open palm scooping forward to the body as a sheltering, shepherding gesture. And this tends to be a little bit more trying to control things gesture.

O'BRIEN: Or he's auditioning to be a conductor for the Boston Pops.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: Who knows? Anyway.

Well, Molly Epstein, this is fascinating. I didn't get a chance to ask you if you can tell by gestures who's going to win. But that would be putting you on the spot. So we'll save that. We'll save that. I just pointed at her. Did you see that, a double point? I'm so sorry. We'll save that for our next segment, OK?

EPSTEIN: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Thank you for dropping by. And I'll give you a wink. Is that OK?

EPSTEIN: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Hey, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Look out.

All right, it's Friday. Ready to kick back and relax, maybe have a beer? Or is it not on your diet? The new battle between Anheuser- Busch and the South Beach Diet, we'll explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(FINANCIAL UPDATE)

PHILLIPS: All right, checking entertainment headlines this Friday, April 23. Go ahead, give me a hey, hey, hey.

O'BRIEN: Hey, hey, hey.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: There you...

O'BRIEN: How was that?

PHILLIPS: That was excellent.

O'BRIEN: Yes.

PHILLIPS: A live-action version of "Fat Albert" is coming to the big screen, the movie based on the '70s cartoon classic, which we loved, of course. It's expected to be in theaters by Christmas. Bill Cosby co-wrote the script. And just like the cartoon, he says, look for a lesson in the message.

Indiana Jones fans will have to wait a while longer before they see Harrison Ford tackling any new guests. Ford, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas all have other irons in the fire right now. So production of a new Indy epic won't begin until sometime next year. They had better hurry. With Ford at 62, no telling how audiences will respond to a geriatric Indiana Jones.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Could an active nature be monkeying with the voting on "American Idol"? Jennifer Hudson was booted off the show in a very close vote. It happened after tornadoes left thousands of devoted fans in the Midwest without power.

O'BRIEN: So she lost her power base?

PHILLIPS: There you go. O'BRIEN: Oh, so to speak, power base.

PHILLIPS: So to speak.

O'BRIEN: All right, the Bud Bowl hits South Beach. It's a battle between the king of beer and the country's trendiest diet.

PHILLIPS: CNN's John Zarrella calls the plays.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): You'd like a cold one, but you're on a diet. Don't worry, says Anheuser-Busch. The nation's largest beermaker is charging that the mega-popular South Beach Diet book is flatly misleading when it comes to beer.

FRANCINE KATZ, ANHEUSER-BUSCH: And we realize that the South Beach Diet has helped many people lose weight, but it doesn't change the fact that Dr. Agatston's advice about beer is absolutely wrong.

ZARRELLA: In the book, author Doctor Arthur Agatston writes: "Maltose, the sugar in beer, has a higher glycemic index than white bread. The insulin response to it leads to the fat storage in the abdomen that we call, quite accurately, the beer belly."

Anheuser-Busch representatives holding a news conference in of all places, South Beach, said the beer belly isn't caused by maltose because there isn't any maltose in beer.

DOUG MUHLEMAN, ANHEUSER-BUSCH CHIEF BREWMASTER: The yeast consumes the maltose, converting it to alcohol and carbon dioxide, leaving no maltose behind.

ZARRELLA: The South Beach Diet doctor told "The South Florida Sun-Sentinel" he's willing to do more research on that point, but remains convinced that -- quote -- "beer is fattening."

Anheuser-Busch unveiled an ad that will appear Friday on more than 30 newspapers. The ad reads, "Have a beer with your South Beach Diet." Company officials say they are going public because they can't let misstatements go unchallenged. The beermaker's message to consumers? There's nothing wrong with bellying up to the bar as long as it's done in moderation.

John Zarrella, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Well, I guess we'd better hop to, because we're out of time.

PHILLIPS: That moderation word.

O'BRIEN: We're out of time here.

PHILLIPS: That wraps it up for LIVE FROM. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired April 23, 2004 - 15:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to CNN's LIVE FROM. I'm Kyra Phillips.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Miles O'Brien. Let's check the headlines at this hour.

Another military family in mourning. Pat Tillman, who left the National Football League after 9/11 to join the Army, has been killed in Afghanistan. Pentagon officials say the Army Ranger was on a mission in southeastern Afghanistan, where al Qaeda and Taliban fighters have been hiding.

Extra leave time to grieve. Rachel and Charity Witmer, who are both in the Army, have been given an extra 15 days of emergency leave. Their sister Michelle was killed two weeks ago while also on duty in Iraq. The surviving sisters may ask for reassignment.

Perhaps worst than feared in North Korea. European diplomats say they've been told several hundred people, not 100, were killed when freight cars exploded in a rail yard. Thousands are reported hurt. Many more are homeless. The Red Cross is on the way. North Korea has asked for United Nations help as well.

PHILLIPS: While the war on terror has claimed the lives of many Americans, most of them known mainly to family and friends, they are no less the hero. But few experience the fame of former Arizona Cardinal Pat Tillman, Army Ranger who was killed in combat yesterday in Afghanistan.

The 27-year-old NFL player spurned a $3.6 million contract to join the Army eight months after the 9/11 attacks. Tillman served in the special forces unit that hunted for al Qaeda and Taliban fighters in southeastern Afghanistan. He was a soldier like many who felt moved to patriotism and service to his country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAT TILLMAN, ARMY RANGER: You can kind of take it for granted, especially in the country we live in. We are such a free society. And we look at that flag. And I do -- I've always had a great deal of feeling for the flag. But even someone who considers themselves that way, you just don't think about it all the time. You don't realize what it gives. You don't realize how great a life we have over here.

At times like this, you stop and think about just how -- not only how good we have it, but what kind of a system we live under, what freedoms we're allowed. And that wasn't built overnight. And it's kind of the flag is a symbol of all that, and a symbol of -- my great grandfather was at Pearl Harbor. And a lot of my family has given up -- has gone and fought in wars. And I really haven't done a damn thing as far as laying myself on the line like that. And so I have a great deal of respect for those that have.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, for a closer look at the life of Pat Tillman, I'm joined now by Steve Overmyer of CNN Sports.

You also knew him very well.

STEVE OVERMYER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Boy, you look at that and you think how ironic. It's sort of like he knew his destiny.

OVERMYER: It is. It's eerie that you look at a guy like Pat Tillman, who was really a reluctant hero throughout his entire career.

He was one of the last guys who was given a scholarship to Arizona State, yet became the defensive player of the year in the Pac 10. He was one of the last guys drafted by the Cardinals, yet led them in tackles the following year. Here's a guy who shied away from the limelight. Here's a guy, when the cameras came, he went running. He didn't want any cameras around when he decided he was going to join the Army Rangers.

He didn't want to talk with any media. He didn't want this to seem like it was some sort of a P.R. move from his point. And I'll tell you, a lot of people consider him one of the most honorable men they have met.

PHILLIPS: Well, I got to tell you, I tried to get an interview with him, and he wouldn't do it.

(CROSSTALK)

OVERMYER: Turned you down?

PHILLIPS: Yes, can you believe that? No, but it's pretty amazing because you look at that interview and he says, I haven't done a damn thing. Look at what my family's done. Look at what everyone else is doing.

But he must have just had this inner spirit that was telling him, it's time to make a change. And you said when you knew him, he was so down to earth, he rode his bike to practice. I mean, he didn't spend money. He was very...

(CROSSTALK)

OVERMYER: Yes, he was not the guy that would show up to the games in the Armani suits. When you have to hop on the airplane to take a flight to a Cardinals game, you have to show up in a suit. And he was a guy who was showing up in the knit tie and the corduroy jacket, the flannel shirt, piecing together some sort of a suit. He wasn't showing up in the Armani suits.

And when you look out in the parking lot and you saw the BMWs and the Mercedes out in the parking lot, you saw this tattered old bike strung up to a nearby post, that was Pat Tillman's. And that really epitomized what really Pat Tillman was and the heart that he showed. This guy, 5'11'', barely 200 pounds, yet he was a starter in the NFL and a hard hitter in the NFL. The running backs on the Cardinals team hated practicing against him because they hated getting pounded by him in practice.

So you can imagine what the other teams felt like. This guy just had tremendous heart. You know, you might say that he probably had more heart than anybody on the team. And every coach wished they had 50 Pat Tillmans on their squad.

PHILLIPS: Well, you know, it's interesting, you look at so many of these other players that are complaining about not having enough money, wanting a bigger contract.

OVERMYER: And here we are, right.

PHILLIPS: And here's this guy that had the opportunity to have all that. He really puts a face to all the men and women that are over there. I mean, his character represents so many other soldiers that are over there right now.

OVERMYER: I think that's why we in the media are embracing this story so much is, because here's a face. We actually have a face to put with some of the men and women that are giving their lives for this country, and a player who really turned down so much. He turned down fame. He turned down fortune. He turned down everything that comes with being an NFL star, all of it, in the prime of his career, to go and fight for the country.

And I think that says a lot about the true character that this guy was, that he had and the human being that he was.

PHILLIPS: Steve Overmyer, and you had the privilege of knowing him for a number of years.

OVERMYER: Yes. Very good man.

PHILLIPS: Thank you so much.

O'BRIEN: Hundreds of U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, but until now, the public has not seen the remains being returned home. Now the images have become public and the Pentagon is none too happy about it.

Our Barbara Starr has the pictures and the fallout.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With quiet dignity and military respect, caskets arrive at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, troops killed in Iraq now on the final journey back to their families, ceremonies repeated more than 500 times since the war began, a flag unfolded over a casket, a gentle touch smoothing the corner.

But these extraordinary pictures were never supposed to be seen. The Air Force released more than 300 photographs to this private anti- government secrecy Web site, pictures the Air Force says were meant only for history. A Defense Department spokesman says the release of the pictures under the Freedom of Information Act violated military policy. The entire matter is under review.

Since the war in Iraq, the Pentagon has strictly enforced its long-standing policy of not allowing media coverage of caskets arriving at Dover. Officials say it is out of deference to grieving families, not an effort to keep the news media from covering the mounting death toll.

For the families, news coverage is always difficult. Some do allow cameras at funerals. One group, the National Military Family Association, had this to say: "We believe the current policy is sensitive to the needs of the families and would urge everyone else to be sensitive to them as well."

The issue remains controversial.

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: These young men are heroes. This is the last long ride home. These young men and women are heroes. And the idea that they're essentially snuck back into the country under the cover of night so no one can see that their casket has arrived, I just think is wrong.

STARR: Now a private contractor has been fired by her employer after taking this picture of 20 flag-draped coffins going home from Iraq earlier this month, a picture that appeared in "The Seattle Times."

But for those who gave the full measure of devotion, there is a final salute, a final thank you from the comrades who brought them home.

Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: In Iraq, relaxing the policy that had angered some Sunnis and perhaps fueled the Iraqi insurgency. On Iraqi TV today, civil administrator Paul Bremer announced some former members of Saddam Hussein's ruling Baath Party may now be able to get their jobs back. The shift will mostly affect teachers and former military who are simply affiliated with the Baath party.

In the Shiite holy city of Najaf, a threatening message from rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. In a sermon, he threatened suicide attacks if U.S. forces attacked Najaf or Karbala. And in Basra, a suspect is in custody in connection with Wednesday's suicide bomb attacks. Officials say he is from Fallujah, where a Sunni insurgency is under way. They say he was seen fleeing the scene of one of those attacks. Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 74.

Secret signals on the campaign trail. Ahead, decoding candidates' body language.

O'BRIEN: And apropos not of that, beer bellies getting a bad rap. Talk about some body language, if you know what I mean. That means you've been blubbering, right? Well, the biggest beermakers take on the South Beach Diet rules. And we'll explain how you can drink and still do the Atkins thing. Whatever.

PHILLIPS: Can you really? All right.

O'BRIEN: South Beach, it's the same thing, South Beach, Atkins, whatever.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER UPDATE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: A wink and a nod can mean an awful lot. So can crossed arms or legs or even a dismissive glance to the ceiling. In the new beltway blockbuster "Plan of Attack," veteran Washington journalist Bob Woodward offers up a series of quotes from high-ranking Bush administration officials, including the president, who seemed to spend an awful lot of time trying to read each other's body language as they marched down the path toward war in Iraq.

So we thought it would be worth reading some political body language with the help of an expert who is fluent, if you will.

Joining us today, Molly Epstein. She's a professor of management communications at the Goizueta Business School at Emory University school in Atlanta, Georgia.

Good to have you with us, Professor.

MOLLY EPSTEIN, GOIZUETA BUSINESS SCHOOL: Thank you very much.

O'BRIEN: All right, let's start with the president, shall we?

And we have a few examples of him taken from his recent news conference. These are still images. Now, you don't have to be necessarily an expert in body language to know this is a sign of displeasure, I'm guessing.

EPSTEIN: Yes, it certainly is. He appears distraught, which is appropriate, given what he was discussing. He appears very thoughtful, too. The furrowed brow and the pursed lips show a real sense of thoughtfulness, as well as distress. So, given the topic, this was appropriate.

O'BRIEN: OK. That's -- so, effective communication is what this would be indicative of.

EPSTEIN: This is effective because it makes him appear real.

O'BRIEN: All right.

Now, next one, pointing, kind of using the gesture, that's kind of a, if you were giving some advice to an executive, say, that's kind of a force it will statement, isn't it?

EPSTEIN: Yes, it is. Bush does a great job of using his hands to accentuate his points. This is a great move because he is emphasizing something without using any negative body language, such as the point. And we'll see that in just a moment.

O'BRIEN: Ah. So, if you do this, it's negative. Of course, people aren't seeing that right now at home. No, no, show me first. Show me first. This is negative. This is OK.

EPSTEIN: Right. Right, if you bring it down a little bit so that it is a gesture of engagement, it's a gesture of emphasis.

(CROSSTALK)

EPSTEIN: But something like this, especially up high near the face can be perceived as very negative. In some cultures, it is supremely insulting.

O'BRIEN: All right, and I think of Clinton, of course, "I did not have sex with that woman." You know, that one, OK?

EPSTEIN: Right. And from that, he was told to stop pointing and he went to this.

O'BRIEN: Yes. So is the fist better?

EPSTEIN: It is better, marginally.

O'BRIEN: OK, but this is the better...

EPSTEIN: But an open gesture is best. Having your hands open, showing your palms to the audience demonstrates a real sense of openness. So let's take a look.

O'BRIEN: All right, here's another occasion. And here's open palms again. The one we showed before had a backhanded palm gesture.

EPSTEIN: Right.

O'BRIEN: What about that one? Let's see that one, if we can put the backhanded palm up there. Yes.

EPSTEIN: There's the back.

O'BRIEN: Is that not as -- I mean, I guess it's obvious. That's less open, right?

EPSTEIN: Right. Well, what he's doing is something very interesting. Obviously, he's discussing some uncomfortable information. And likely the people watching him are uncomfortable. What he's doing is this kind of sheltering gathering, protective measure. So he is gathering and creating a sense of security, which the American people really need right now. It's almost shepherding.

O'BRIEN: Shepherding. Interesting.

All right, let's go to the other side of the aisle, if you will.

EPSTEIN: Other side.

O'BRIEN: And see the candidate, the presumptive Democratic nominee, John Kerry. Now, he is doing the no, no here. He's doing the point.

EPSTEIN: Yes, he is.

O'BRIEN: And you would advise him not to do that, right?

EPSTEIN: I would recommend against the point. First of all, it tends to make people very uncomfortable, for fear that they are being singled out, for fear that they're being shamed.

O'BRIEN: It takes you right back to second grade.

EPSTEIN: It does.

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O'BRIEN: And that teacher that sent you to the principal's office, right?

EPSTEIN: That's exactly what it is. It becomes very dogmatic and it creates distance between the speaker and the audience.

O'BRIEN: Ah, there he goes. Now, what about an upward point like that? That could be we're No. 1, right?

EPSTEIN: Right. This is better. This is much better because it's not that pointing at the audience. Presumably, he's making a point. And this is very appropriate if you are trying to make points that you're numbering. You might put up one finger for first, another finger for second, and a third finger.

O'BRIEN: Literally making your points.

EPSTEIN: Exactly. Exactly. And it's nonthreatening because it's not pointing at the audience.

O'BRIEN: All right, and it's cheaper than PowerPoint, too.

EPSTEIN: Yes, it is.

(LAUGHTER) O'BRIEN: So, OK.

How about this left hand -- wait a minute. That's not a left- hand gesture there. I show that -- going to show.

What about this one, though? It's the karate chop effect here, right?

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EPSTEIN: Right. This is a very decisive gesture and it creates a real sense that the speaker is in authority, that he is comfortable, he is in command.

O'BRIEN: OK.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: And because it's open and doing that, that's telling you nonthreatening and yet command presence?

EPSTEIN: Exactly. You want to use it in moderation, though. Otherwise, it does become something that could be perceived as threatening.

O'BRIEN: OK. So it goes -- now, this one is interesting. This is the invisible piano move right?

EPSTEIN: Yes, this is.

O'BRIEN: What's going on here?

EPSTEIN: Here, he appears to be creating, attempting to create a sense of calm. This is a gesture that we do to create calm. So he appears to be trying to connect with his audience and reassure them of something.

O'BRIEN: OK.

EPSTEIN: So we have the open palm scooping forward to the body as a sheltering, shepherding gesture. And this tends to be a little bit more trying to control things gesture.

O'BRIEN: Or he's auditioning to be a conductor for the Boston Pops.

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O'BRIEN: Who knows? Anyway.

Well, Molly Epstein, this is fascinating. I didn't get a chance to ask you if you can tell by gestures who's going to win. But that would be putting you on the spot. So we'll save that. We'll save that. I just pointed at her. Did you see that, a double point? I'm so sorry. We'll save that for our next segment, OK?

EPSTEIN: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Thank you for dropping by. And I'll give you a wink. Is that OK?

EPSTEIN: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Hey, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Look out.

All right, it's Friday. Ready to kick back and relax, maybe have a beer? Or is it not on your diet? The new battle between Anheuser- Busch and the South Beach Diet, we'll explain.

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PHILLIPS: All right, checking entertainment headlines this Friday, April 23. Go ahead, give me a hey, hey, hey.

O'BRIEN: Hey, hey, hey.

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PHILLIPS: There you...

O'BRIEN: How was that?

PHILLIPS: That was excellent.

O'BRIEN: Yes.

PHILLIPS: A live-action version of "Fat Albert" is coming to the big screen, the movie based on the '70s cartoon classic, which we loved, of course. It's expected to be in theaters by Christmas. Bill Cosby co-wrote the script. And just like the cartoon, he says, look for a lesson in the message.

Indiana Jones fans will have to wait a while longer before they see Harrison Ford tackling any new guests. Ford, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas all have other irons in the fire right now. So production of a new Indy epic won't begin until sometime next year. They had better hurry. With Ford at 62, no telling how audiences will respond to a geriatric Indiana Jones.

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PHILLIPS: Could an active nature be monkeying with the voting on "American Idol"? Jennifer Hudson was booted off the show in a very close vote. It happened after tornadoes left thousands of devoted fans in the Midwest without power.

O'BRIEN: So she lost her power base?

PHILLIPS: There you go. O'BRIEN: Oh, so to speak, power base.

PHILLIPS: So to speak.

O'BRIEN: All right, the Bud Bowl hits South Beach. It's a battle between the king of beer and the country's trendiest diet.

PHILLIPS: CNN's John Zarrella calls the plays.

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JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): You'd like a cold one, but you're on a diet. Don't worry, says Anheuser-Busch. The nation's largest beermaker is charging that the mega-popular South Beach Diet book is flatly misleading when it comes to beer.

FRANCINE KATZ, ANHEUSER-BUSCH: And we realize that the South Beach Diet has helped many people lose weight, but it doesn't change the fact that Dr. Agatston's advice about beer is absolutely wrong.

ZARRELLA: In the book, author Doctor Arthur Agatston writes: "Maltose, the sugar in beer, has a higher glycemic index than white bread. The insulin response to it leads to the fat storage in the abdomen that we call, quite accurately, the beer belly."

Anheuser-Busch representatives holding a news conference in of all places, South Beach, said the beer belly isn't caused by maltose because there isn't any maltose in beer.

DOUG MUHLEMAN, ANHEUSER-BUSCH CHIEF BREWMASTER: The yeast consumes the maltose, converting it to alcohol and carbon dioxide, leaving no maltose behind.

ZARRELLA: The South Beach Diet doctor told "The South Florida Sun-Sentinel" he's willing to do more research on that point, but remains convinced that -- quote -- "beer is fattening."

Anheuser-Busch unveiled an ad that will appear Friday on more than 30 newspapers. The ad reads, "Have a beer with your South Beach Diet." Company officials say they are going public because they can't let misstatements go unchallenged. The beermaker's message to consumers? There's nothing wrong with bellying up to the bar as long as it's done in moderation.

John Zarrella, CNN, Miami.

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O'BRIEN: Well, I guess we'd better hop to, because we're out of time.

PHILLIPS: That moderation word.

O'BRIEN: We're out of time here.

PHILLIPS: That wraps it up for LIVE FROM. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com