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Two Men Arrested In Albany, NY, Mosque Sting; Searches Underway Relating To Anthrax Investigation; New Trend Toward Luxury Medical Centers
Aired August 05, 2004 - 14:00 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.
(PRESS CONFERENCE)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: James Comey, deputy attorney general, briefing reporters there on the fed's apprehending two men in a terrorism sting in upstate New York.
Here's a little bit of what we know so far. Two men arrested in the sting for agreeing to launder money from a missile sale. Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain charged with money laundering and conspiring to conceal support and resources for terrorist activity.
Now, the missile in question in Albany, which was only a prop and the property of the U.S. government, was billed as a means to assassinate the Pakistani ambassador to the United Nations. The story, obviously, gets much more dramatic with every new detail.
CNN's Jeanne Meserve has a lot more of them too in Washington. She's been following this news conference and this story -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, at this hour, the two men who you've just heard talked about are expected to be arraigned in Albany, New York after this undercover sting operation and raid. The men, as you mentioned, are identified as Mohammed Mosharref Hossain -- he's a U.S. citizen native to Bangladesh -- the other, Yassin Aref, an Iraqi citizen with asylum status in the U.S.
He is the imam of the As-Salam Mosque, which was raided earlier this morning along with two other buildings in Albany. Federal law enforcement sources tell CNN that the two men are believed to have connections with Ansar al-Islam, a terrorist organization with ties to Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
The two men are alleged to have laundered money, which they believed to have been the proceeds from the sale of a shoulder-fired missile to terrorists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES COMEY, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: This case is a sting, a sting in which the government offered two men the opportunity to assist someone who they believed was a terrorist facilitator, supplying weapons to be used to commit terrorist acts. That does not mean, however, that this is not an important case. But I wanted to put it into perspective for you, particularly given the justified concerns in this country and elsewhere about an Al Qaeda attack. This case is important, because we hope it will send a disrupting message to those out there who might be plotting to harm people in this country or around the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: Officials say the sting was executed with assistance from an individual who had been previously arrested for document fraud. He talked to Hossain, asking him to help launder money he said he got from the sale of a Chinese-made shoulder-fired missile to Jihadists -- at one point saying the intent was to hit a Pakistani target in New York City to retaliate for the Pakistani government's cooperation in the war on terror.
Hossain brought Aref into the plot. According to the affidavit, many of their conversations were captured on audio or videotape. Aref's wife says she and their three children were questioned extensively by the FBI early this morning, but she had no knowledge of the charges against him.
Hossain is the owner of a pizza shop, who told the "Albany Times Union" newspaper this past June, while the sting was underway, that he was proud to be an American.
Each man could face 70 years in prison and fines of up to $700,000. You heard a Justice Department official moments ago saying this is not the case of the century, but they do hope it will be a deterrent. Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: Jeanne Meserve, live from Washington, thanks so much. Now to those training grounds favored by Al Qaeda plotters and recruits. Defense and intelligence sources tell CNN the on again off again activity there is very much on again. CNN's Barbara Starr is plugged into the recon at the Pentagon -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, defense and intelligence sources are now saying that they have recent intelligence, part of it from overhead imagery at least, that tells them Al Qaeda training camps in Pakistan are once again active -- some of the intelligence showing vehicles, cars, other activity at these camps along the southeastern border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, on the Pakistan side, a traditional sheltering area for the Al Qaeda and Taliban.
Officials say, however, at the moment, they're not in a particular panic about all this. They're not happy about it. But they don't think the activity that they are seeing is necessarily related to the orange code alert level here in the United States -- that this is the type of activity that they have continued to see in this region over the last several years.
But indeed, over the last couple of weeks, the Pakistani military has been moving through this area, conducting a number of raids, arresting people, sweeping up insurgents. It is expected, if they can, they would move against these camps. So U.S. intelligence watching very carefully, very concerned, waiting to see what exactly will happen -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Barbara, how exactly did they get this intelligence? Was it from the air, was it from the ground?
STARR: Well, we don't really know the answer to that in full. What we can tell you is that multiple sources in the United States government have referred to this as intelligence information, as imagery -- at least partially as imagery that has come to them. It is possible, in certain places, to stay on the Afghan side of the border and conduct some overheard aerial surveillance and reconnaissance into Pakistan and see a good deal. U.S. reconnaissance assets, U-2s, unmanned aerial vehicles, a lot of that flies over the region.
For public consumption, however, U.S. forces, U.S. military does not enter Pakistani airspace or cross over into the Pakistan side of the border. Whether Special Forces do or not, or intelligence operatives are on the ground is certainly another question -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Barbara Starr live from the Pentagon, thanks. Emergency workers in California are testing their skills today in a series of simulated terror attacks. And a short time ago in Los Angeles, first responders practiced their reaction to a radioactive bomb blast, and response teams in the San Francisco area also reacted to the simulated hijackings. Officials say the exercise is meant to stretch the system to the limit and to expose potential flaws in case the real thing were to happen.
Testimony's on hold in the double murder trial of Scott Peterson. It has to do with some new evidence. Rusty Dornin is at the courthouse in Redwood City, California -- Rusty.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, it was a very mysterious development that caused an abrupt ending to the court proceedings today. We were expecting to hear from another computer expert, but they went into chambers for about an hour. And when they emerged, defense attorney Mark Geragos said there is some newly discovered evidence within the last 48 hours that could exonerate his client.
So they abruptly recessed court, said that they would do some scientific testing and come back next Tuesday. Now, we don't know what this evidence is. We assume that it's some kind of physical evidence, and so there will be some scientific testing involved with it. Also, the judge, if you remember, did punish prosecutors two days ago for not turning over discovery.
Perhaps this evidence is discovery that was turned over to the defense. Now they're saying they want to test it. They believe it could exonerate his client. After the court ended, defense attorney Mark Geragos, who usually stays away from reporters, emerged from the courthouse with Jackie Peterson and wouldn't say much.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK GERAGOS, SCOTT PETERSON'S ATTORNEY: I can't comment on anything. All I can tell you is that, obviously, as the judge indicated, we need to follow up on it, and that's what we're going to do. That's all I can say.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DORNIN: Now, they do say there could be some special witnesses added. So Amber Frey was supposed to testify next week. She was up to be on the stand. Now we're not sure, depending on what happens with this evidence, if there will be some other witnesses added to the list. Perhaps they will testify first.
The judge did say witnesses, in plural, next week. So a mystery causing quite a buzz at this courthouse, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: I can imagine. Rusty Dornin, Redwood City, thanks so much. Well, what would you do if you were face to face with Saddam Hussein?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAMIR, HELPED CAPTURE SADDAM HUSSEIN: He sticks both hands out and I reached him, and I got him, I grabbed him. I was like, I'm not going to let him go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: The man who helped pull the former Iraqi leader from his spider hole tells his dramatic story straight ahead in this exclusive you'll only see here on CNN. And pushing for votes in battleground states, what both candidates are doing to gain ground in a very tight race.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: This developing story just in to CNN. We are being told the FBI and the Postal Inspection Service conducting searches right now related to an anthrax investigation.
We're getting this word from our Deb Feyerick. She's got more on what's happening right now -- Deb.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, we can tell you that the FBI raided at least two homes in New York and New Jersey. This is in connection with the 2001 anthrax attacks. You remember, then, four letters were sent in September and October of 2001 to politicians and media outlets. Five people died, a dozen more became sick.
Sources are telling CNN that homes in Wellsville, New York, just near Buffalo, are being searched, and also Ocean County, New Jersey, a town called Lavallette. Now, local health authorities, we are being told by the FBI, have in fact been contacted, but the FBI very clear to state that there is no present danger at this time.
A dispatcher at the Wellsville Police Department in New York said that the FBI began searching at about 8:00 this morning. This is part of an investigation that is being handled out of the Washington bureau. The FBI will not say why, all of the sudden, these two homes are of interest and what it is that they're looking for. But we do know that it is in connection to the 2001 anthrax attacks -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Deb, we'll stay plugged into the story and with you. Thank you so much. Now to the election, and there's still a big focus on the battleground states by both campaigns. President Bush has been stumping in Columbus, Ohio. The state has 20 electoral votes up for grabs. Bush won Ohio in 2000 by about three and a half percentage points.
He's taking part in an "Ask President Bush" Q&A session with supporters. And the Democratic contenders John Kerry and John Edwards are rallying support in Missouri, another one of the battleground states.
It's a state that Bush also took in 2000, this one by just more than three percentage points. The Kerry-Edwards team will take the campaign on the trail this afternoon -- or on the rails, I should say. The candidates leave St. Louis by train for a series of stops across the state.
Now earlier, Kerry slammed Bush on the way that the president responded to news of the 9/11 attacks. The president was in a Florida classroom when he received news of the suicide hijackings.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Had I been reading to children and had my top aid whisper in my ear, "America is under attack," I would have told those kids very politely and nicely that the president of the United States had something that he needed to attend to, and I would have attended to it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Now, Kerry was speaking at the Unity 2004 Conference of Minority Journalists when he was asked how he would have responded on 9/11. President Bush is scheduled to address that gathering tomorrow. And the Boss goes political. Bruce Springsteen will be joining two dozen other rock stars in a bid to oust President Bush from the White House.
The groups will hit the road in the coming weeks for a series of concerts in battleground states. The Boss made his decision known in an op-ed piece in "The New York Times." He said, quote, "Personally, for the last 25 years, I've always stayed one step away from partisan politics. Instead, I've been partisan about a set of ideals. This year, however, for many of us, the stakes have risen too high to sit this election out."
So, what do you think? Do you like politics with your music? E- mail us with your comments, livefrom@cnn.com. We'll read some of your responses next hour. It was a moment this young Iraqi man will never forget.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAMIR: I said, "This is Saddam." They said, "No, ask him." And I asked him, "What's your name?"
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Saddam Hussein out of his hiding place and into the hands of Americans. The interpreter who was there tells his story to CNN. If you have to ask how much it costs, you probably can't afford it. Five-star hospitals catering to the rich and contagious...
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: News across America now. Federal prosecutors announce a possible terror attack averted in Chicago. Federal agents arrested a Chicago man who they believe was acting alone and charged him with plotting to use a fertilizer truck bomb to blow up a federal courthouse. Well, prosecutors say that 66-year-old Gale Nettles was arrested earlier yesterday. He is expected to be in court this afternoon.
The husband of Lori Hacking reportedly confessed to his brothers that he killed his wife. The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that now. Mark Hacking has not been charged with the crime. The prosecutor has until this evening to file charges or seek an extension.
In southern Nebraska, a train derailment and crash. A Union Pacific railroad coal train derailed and then was struck by a westbound train. Two crewmembers were hurt. The cause of that derailment is now under investigation.
Well, five-star hospitals that resemble expensive spas or hotels, that's what we're talking about. The "Harvard Business Review" and "Money" magazine, well, they're reporting on a trend now toward luxury medical centers. CNN medical correspondent Christy Feig visited one such hospital.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTY FEIG, CNN, WASHINGTON (voice-over): The rooms are spacious, there are chandeliers in the hall, sofa beds for family members and gourmet chefs at your beck and call. But it's not a fine hotel. It's the newest trend in hospital care. Leeann Hamilton Jacobs stayed in one when her doctor thought it was important she have peace and quiet.
LEEANN HAMILTON JACOBS, PATIENT: It was like night and day. I mean, it was probably one on one care that I had here with the nurses. The other thing I remember the most was just how quiet it was.
FEIG (on-camera): This five-star service comes with a price tag. Here at the Pavilion at Washington Hospital Center, for example, this extra attention will cost you $450 a day, in addition to what insurance pays.
(voice-over): Deluxe hospital rooms across the country range from $300 to $1,200 a day. One of the perks -- gourmet meals anytime of the day or night. CLAY BERRY, PAVILION CHEF: Anything they want off of our menu, which consists of anything from Maryland-style crab cakes to grilled salmon, grilled tuna, chicken breast, tenderloin.
FEIG: But beneath the veneer of elegance and comfort, it's still a hospital.
GLENDORA LAWSON, WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER: Pictures aren't always just pictures. Actually, behind this picture are our gases, our oxygen and our suction. So when you no longer need these things, we just put it down because most of our patients do not want to be reminded that they're in the hospital.
FEIG: At times, you might even forget you're in a hospital as you gaze out through your room with a view. In Washington, I'm Christy Feig.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, we don't hear much good news from the airlines these days, but a couple of upstart carriers are about to spread their wings...
(MARKET REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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 August 5, 2004 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(PRESS CONFERENCE)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: James Comey, deputy attorney general, briefing reporters there on the fed's apprehending two men in a terrorism sting in upstate New York.
Here's a little bit of what we know so far. Two men arrested in the sting for agreeing to launder money from a missile sale. Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain charged with money laundering and conspiring to conceal support and resources for terrorist activity.
Now, the missile in question in Albany, which was only a prop and the property of the U.S. government, was billed as a means to assassinate the Pakistani ambassador to the United Nations. The story, obviously, gets much more dramatic with every new detail.
CNN's Jeanne Meserve has a lot more of them too in Washington. She's been following this news conference and this story -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, at this hour, the two men who you've just heard talked about are expected to be arraigned in Albany, New York after this undercover sting operation and raid. The men, as you mentioned, are identified as Mohammed Mosharref Hossain -- he's a U.S. citizen native to Bangladesh -- the other, Yassin Aref, an Iraqi citizen with asylum status in the U.S.
He is the imam of the As-Salam Mosque, which was raided earlier this morning along with two other buildings in Albany. Federal law enforcement sources tell CNN that the two men are believed to have connections with Ansar al-Islam, a terrorist organization with ties to Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
The two men are alleged to have laundered money, which they believed to have been the proceeds from the sale of a shoulder-fired missile to terrorists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES COMEY, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: This case is a sting, a sting in which the government offered two men the opportunity to assist someone who they believed was a terrorist facilitator, supplying weapons to be used to commit terrorist acts. That does not mean, however, that this is not an important case. But I wanted to put it into perspective for you, particularly given the justified concerns in this country and elsewhere about an Al Qaeda attack. This case is important, because we hope it will send a disrupting message to those out there who might be plotting to harm people in this country or around the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: Officials say the sting was executed with assistance from an individual who had been previously arrested for document fraud. He talked to Hossain, asking him to help launder money he said he got from the sale of a Chinese-made shoulder-fired missile to Jihadists -- at one point saying the intent was to hit a Pakistani target in New York City to retaliate for the Pakistani government's cooperation in the war on terror.
Hossain brought Aref into the plot. According to the affidavit, many of their conversations were captured on audio or videotape. Aref's wife says she and their three children were questioned extensively by the FBI early this morning, but she had no knowledge of the charges against him.
Hossain is the owner of a pizza shop, who told the "Albany Times Union" newspaper this past June, while the sting was underway, that he was proud to be an American.
Each man could face 70 years in prison and fines of up to $700,000. You heard a Justice Department official moments ago saying this is not the case of the century, but they do hope it will be a deterrent. Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: Jeanne Meserve, live from Washington, thanks so much. Now to those training grounds favored by Al Qaeda plotters and recruits. Defense and intelligence sources tell CNN the on again off again activity there is very much on again. CNN's Barbara Starr is plugged into the recon at the Pentagon -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, defense and intelligence sources are now saying that they have recent intelligence, part of it from overhead imagery at least, that tells them Al Qaeda training camps in Pakistan are once again active -- some of the intelligence showing vehicles, cars, other activity at these camps along the southeastern border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, on the Pakistan side, a traditional sheltering area for the Al Qaeda and Taliban.
Officials say, however, at the moment, they're not in a particular panic about all this. They're not happy about it. But they don't think the activity that they are seeing is necessarily related to the orange code alert level here in the United States -- that this is the type of activity that they have continued to see in this region over the last several years.
But indeed, over the last couple of weeks, the Pakistani military has been moving through this area, conducting a number of raids, arresting people, sweeping up insurgents. It is expected, if they can, they would move against these camps. So U.S. intelligence watching very carefully, very concerned, waiting to see what exactly will happen -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Barbara, how exactly did they get this intelligence? Was it from the air, was it from the ground?
STARR: Well, we don't really know the answer to that in full. What we can tell you is that multiple sources in the United States government have referred to this as intelligence information, as imagery -- at least partially as imagery that has come to them. It is possible, in certain places, to stay on the Afghan side of the border and conduct some overheard aerial surveillance and reconnaissance into Pakistan and see a good deal. U.S. reconnaissance assets, U-2s, unmanned aerial vehicles, a lot of that flies over the region.
For public consumption, however, U.S. forces, U.S. military does not enter Pakistani airspace or cross over into the Pakistan side of the border. Whether Special Forces do or not, or intelligence operatives are on the ground is certainly another question -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Barbara Starr live from the Pentagon, thanks. Emergency workers in California are testing their skills today in a series of simulated terror attacks. And a short time ago in Los Angeles, first responders practiced their reaction to a radioactive bomb blast, and response teams in the San Francisco area also reacted to the simulated hijackings. Officials say the exercise is meant to stretch the system to the limit and to expose potential flaws in case the real thing were to happen.
Testimony's on hold in the double murder trial of Scott Peterson. It has to do with some new evidence. Rusty Dornin is at the courthouse in Redwood City, California -- Rusty.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, it was a very mysterious development that caused an abrupt ending to the court proceedings today. We were expecting to hear from another computer expert, but they went into chambers for about an hour. And when they emerged, defense attorney Mark Geragos said there is some newly discovered evidence within the last 48 hours that could exonerate his client.
So they abruptly recessed court, said that they would do some scientific testing and come back next Tuesday. Now, we don't know what this evidence is. We assume that it's some kind of physical evidence, and so there will be some scientific testing involved with it. Also, the judge, if you remember, did punish prosecutors two days ago for not turning over discovery.
Perhaps this evidence is discovery that was turned over to the defense. Now they're saying they want to test it. They believe it could exonerate his client. After the court ended, defense attorney Mark Geragos, who usually stays away from reporters, emerged from the courthouse with Jackie Peterson and wouldn't say much.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK GERAGOS, SCOTT PETERSON'S ATTORNEY: I can't comment on anything. All I can tell you is that, obviously, as the judge indicated, we need to follow up on it, and that's what we're going to do. That's all I can say.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DORNIN: Now, they do say there could be some special witnesses added. So Amber Frey was supposed to testify next week. She was up to be on the stand. Now we're not sure, depending on what happens with this evidence, if there will be some other witnesses added to the list. Perhaps they will testify first.
The judge did say witnesses, in plural, next week. So a mystery causing quite a buzz at this courthouse, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: I can imagine. Rusty Dornin, Redwood City, thanks so much. Well, what would you do if you were face to face with Saddam Hussein?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAMIR, HELPED CAPTURE SADDAM HUSSEIN: He sticks both hands out and I reached him, and I got him, I grabbed him. I was like, I'm not going to let him go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: The man who helped pull the former Iraqi leader from his spider hole tells his dramatic story straight ahead in this exclusive you'll only see here on CNN. And pushing for votes in battleground states, what both candidates are doing to gain ground in a very tight race.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: This developing story just in to CNN. We are being told the FBI and the Postal Inspection Service conducting searches right now related to an anthrax investigation.
We're getting this word from our Deb Feyerick. She's got more on what's happening right now -- Deb.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, we can tell you that the FBI raided at least two homes in New York and New Jersey. This is in connection with the 2001 anthrax attacks. You remember, then, four letters were sent in September and October of 2001 to politicians and media outlets. Five people died, a dozen more became sick.
Sources are telling CNN that homes in Wellsville, New York, just near Buffalo, are being searched, and also Ocean County, New Jersey, a town called Lavallette. Now, local health authorities, we are being told by the FBI, have in fact been contacted, but the FBI very clear to state that there is no present danger at this time.
A dispatcher at the Wellsville Police Department in New York said that the FBI began searching at about 8:00 this morning. This is part of an investigation that is being handled out of the Washington bureau. The FBI will not say why, all of the sudden, these two homes are of interest and what it is that they're looking for. But we do know that it is in connection to the 2001 anthrax attacks -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Deb, we'll stay plugged into the story and with you. Thank you so much. Now to the election, and there's still a big focus on the battleground states by both campaigns. President Bush has been stumping in Columbus, Ohio. The state has 20 electoral votes up for grabs. Bush won Ohio in 2000 by about three and a half percentage points.
He's taking part in an "Ask President Bush" Q&A session with supporters. And the Democratic contenders John Kerry and John Edwards are rallying support in Missouri, another one of the battleground states.
It's a state that Bush also took in 2000, this one by just more than three percentage points. The Kerry-Edwards team will take the campaign on the trail this afternoon -- or on the rails, I should say. The candidates leave St. Louis by train for a series of stops across the state.
Now earlier, Kerry slammed Bush on the way that the president responded to news of the 9/11 attacks. The president was in a Florida classroom when he received news of the suicide hijackings.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Had I been reading to children and had my top aid whisper in my ear, "America is under attack," I would have told those kids very politely and nicely that the president of the United States had something that he needed to attend to, and I would have attended to it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Now, Kerry was speaking at the Unity 2004 Conference of Minority Journalists when he was asked how he would have responded on 9/11. President Bush is scheduled to address that gathering tomorrow. And the Boss goes political. Bruce Springsteen will be joining two dozen other rock stars in a bid to oust President Bush from the White House.
The groups will hit the road in the coming weeks for a series of concerts in battleground states. The Boss made his decision known in an op-ed piece in "The New York Times." He said, quote, "Personally, for the last 25 years, I've always stayed one step away from partisan politics. Instead, I've been partisan about a set of ideals. This year, however, for many of us, the stakes have risen too high to sit this election out."
So, what do you think? Do you like politics with your music? E- mail us with your comments, livefrom@cnn.com. We'll read some of your responses next hour. It was a moment this young Iraqi man will never forget.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAMIR: I said, "This is Saddam." They said, "No, ask him." And I asked him, "What's your name?"
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Saddam Hussein out of his hiding place and into the hands of Americans. The interpreter who was there tells his story to CNN. If you have to ask how much it costs, you probably can't afford it. Five-star hospitals catering to the rich and contagious...
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: News across America now. Federal prosecutors announce a possible terror attack averted in Chicago. Federal agents arrested a Chicago man who they believe was acting alone and charged him with plotting to use a fertilizer truck bomb to blow up a federal courthouse. Well, prosecutors say that 66-year-old Gale Nettles was arrested earlier yesterday. He is expected to be in court this afternoon.
The husband of Lori Hacking reportedly confessed to his brothers that he killed his wife. The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that now. Mark Hacking has not been charged with the crime. The prosecutor has until this evening to file charges or seek an extension.
In southern Nebraska, a train derailment and crash. A Union Pacific railroad coal train derailed and then was struck by a westbound train. Two crewmembers were hurt. The cause of that derailment is now under investigation.
Well, five-star hospitals that resemble expensive spas or hotels, that's what we're talking about. The "Harvard Business Review" and "Money" magazine, well, they're reporting on a trend now toward luxury medical centers. CNN medical correspondent Christy Feig visited one such hospital.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTY FEIG, CNN, WASHINGTON (voice-over): The rooms are spacious, there are chandeliers in the hall, sofa beds for family members and gourmet chefs at your beck and call. But it's not a fine hotel. It's the newest trend in hospital care. Leeann Hamilton Jacobs stayed in one when her doctor thought it was important she have peace and quiet.
LEEANN HAMILTON JACOBS, PATIENT: It was like night and day. I mean, it was probably one on one care that I had here with the nurses. The other thing I remember the most was just how quiet it was.
FEIG (on-camera): This five-star service comes with a price tag. Here at the Pavilion at Washington Hospital Center, for example, this extra attention will cost you $450 a day, in addition to what insurance pays.
(voice-over): Deluxe hospital rooms across the country range from $300 to $1,200 a day. One of the perks -- gourmet meals anytime of the day or night. CLAY BERRY, PAVILION CHEF: Anything they want off of our menu, which consists of anything from Maryland-style crab cakes to grilled salmon, grilled tuna, chicken breast, tenderloin.
FEIG: But beneath the veneer of elegance and comfort, it's still a hospital.
GLENDORA LAWSON, WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER: Pictures aren't always just pictures. Actually, behind this picture are our gases, our oxygen and our suction. So when you no longer need these things, we just put it down because most of our patients do not want to be reminded that they're in the hospital.
FEIG: At times, you might even forget you're in a hospital as you gaze out through your room with a view. In Washington, I'm Christy Feig.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, we don't hear much good news from the airlines these days, but a couple of upstart carriers are about to spread their wings...
(MARKET REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
