Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Pakistani Raids Yielded Information About Possible NYC Terror Attack; Najaf Fighting Continues; Sudan Says It Will Meet U.N.'s Security/Human Rights Deadline; Fay Wray Dead At 96

Aired August 09, 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.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now in the news, retired Army General John Shalikashvili is hospitalized in Tacoma, Washington. Pentagon officials confirm he had a severe stroke and is in intensive care. Shalikashvili served as the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff in the 1990s and is currently an advisor to John Kerry's presidential campaign. More from the Pentagon live just ahead.
Also, rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr says he is willing to fight to the death. His forces are battling U.S. and Iraqi troops in the holy city of Najaf for a fifth straight day. The governor of Najaf has given U.S. forces permission to move in and around the Imam Ali mosque, Najaf's holiest site.

There's guarded optimism at a hospital in the Bronx today. Doctors there say Carl and Clarence, the conjoined twins who were separated last week, haven't developed any major problems. Their mom, well, she can't wait to hold them one at a time for the first time. We will bring you her reaction this a little bit later in this hour.

We are keeping you informed. CNN, the most trusted name in news.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: New York's major says his city will not overreact to new concerns about terrorism. New York is hosting, of course, the Republican National Convention in three weeks. But Mayor Michael Bloomberg says some emerging details about an al Qaeda planning are not new. He pointed to reports that that helicopters could be used in an attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, MAYOR OF NEW YORK: You may rest assured that without this information, if you tried to get on a helicopter in New York City, you have to go through a magnetometer or a hand-held WAN and they look at your identification and they check everything you carry. That's been going on since 9/11. This is nothing new that -- to discover that an aircraft can be used as a weapon. There's 2,800 lives that were given, sadly, to bring that point home to us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Over the weekend, the FBI issued a warning about the possible use of helicopters, limousines and other rental vehicles for terrorism.

Pakistan is interrogating three more al Qaeda suspects arrested this morning in Lahore. Pakistan has become an invaluable partner in the war on terrorism, but it's worried about possible retaliation from the number one terror group.

CNN'S Maria Ressa is there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Over the weekend, another al Qaeda operative was arrested in Dubai and sent to Pakistan, part of an ongoing global crackdown which led to increased security in the U.S. and U.K.

It was spurred by a treasure trove of information discovered after the July 13th arrest of computer expert Naeem Noor Khan. Authorities here said he was working with them as a mole to help track down other al Qaeda operatives around the world compromised after the U.S. prematurely released his name last week.

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: Hayat, the Pakistani interior minister, actually said maybe if Khan's name hadn't been released, it might have lead to getting bin Laden himself.

RESSA: But U.S. officials say they had a duty to warn about possible pre-election plots against the U.S.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: The problem is that when you're trying to strike a balance between giving enough information to the public, so that they know that you're dealing with a specific, credible, different kind of threat than you've dealt with in the past, you're always weighing that against kind of operational considerations.

RESSA: There are other irritants to the Pakistanis. Last week, a U.S. official warned of possible al Qaeda training camps in Pakistan, a charge officials here vehemently deny.

SHEIKH RASHID AHMED, PAKISTANI INFORMATION MINISTER: This is stupid propaganda. And how it's possible, our forces are there from inch to inch, our armed forces are moving and there's a training camp? No way at all.

RESSA: Since 9/11, Pakistan says it's doing all it can in the war on terror, including sending its armed forces into the tribal areas for the first time ever to hunt for al Qaeda. Pakistan says it has arrested nearly 600 al Qaeda members.

Now, al Qaeda is striking back with increased bombings and targeted attacks. Two assassination attempts against Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf. And just two weeks ago, a suicide bombing attack against its prime minister designate.

Don't question our commitment now, says Pakistan, even as it asks its cabinet ministers to cut down public appearances while this crackdown continues. Anticipating what al Qaeda can do when it's further pushed against the wall.

Maria Ressa, CNN, Islamabad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Pentagon officials say former four-star general, John Shalikashvili, is hospitalized after suffering a stroke. The former chairman of the joint chief of staff has been advising John Kerry on military matters.

And CNN's Kathleen Koch has more on the story now from her post today at the Pentagon. Kathleen?

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, officials here say that the general suffered a severe stroke Friday night just after midnight. And we were told that he was rushed very quickly though from his home in Steilacoom, Washington, to nearby Madigan Army Medical Center. A spokesman there, Sharon Ayala, says that 68-year-old general right now is in guarded condition in the intensive care unit.

Shalikashvili was chairman of the joint chief staff for four years during the Clinton administration from 1993 to 1997. He was born in Poland and thus became the first foreign-born chairman of the joint chiefs. Prior to that, he served as NATO's tenth supreme allied commander in Europe.

Shalikashvili enlisted in the army back in 1958, and rose through the ranks serving in Vietnam. And in 1991, he headed up the international relief operation that airlifted food to and provided protection for the Kurds in Northern Iraq. Most recently, most people may remember that the general has become a very vocal supporter of and an advisor to the Democratic nominee for president, Senator John Kerry.

There you see the pictures of the general speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Boston last month, in which he called himself an old soldier and new Democrat. And, Betty, we're waiting right now for some response from the Kerry campaign to the general's hospitalization.

NGUYEN: Because, of course, he was serving as an advisor to that campaign. Kathleen Koch, thank you.

O'BRIEN: Other news across America to tell you about. Bond denied for four men accused of last week's gruesome killings in Deltona, Florida. Authorities say an ex-convict who believed a video game system had been stolen from him lead three other men to beat six people to death with baseball bats and knives.

Life without parole again for Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols. The sentence on state charges comes on top of a federal term. Nichols issued a statement asking forgiveness at his sentencing today in McAllister, Oklahoma. Bomber Timothy McVeigh, of course, was executed in June of 2001.

And prosecutors in Salt Lake City have until the end of the work day to file homicide charges against Mark Hacking in the death of his pregnant wife, Lori. Her body is still missing. NGUYEN: Turning now to Iraq and the holy city of Najaf, where tensions are rising once again. As renegade cleric Muqtada al-Sadr vows to fight to the death to get U.S. and Iraqi forces out of the city, this as the governor of Najaf gives troops the go ahead to engage al-Sadr's militia in the city.

CNN'S Matthew Chance reports now from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, fighting raging still in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf, where U.S. forces facing off against the Mehdi army, loyal of course to the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Now, we've had latest casualty figures from those several days of fighting. The U.S. military saying at least 360 of those Mehdi army fighters killed in combat operations. They say at least four U.S. soldiers have also been killed in the battles that have been raging around that holy city.

There has been calls for the violence to come to an end, but at the moment, Muqtada al-Sadr is resisting any compromises, saying that, if necessary, he'll fight to the death in the holy city of Najaf.

MUQTADA AL-SADR, SHIITE CLERIC (through translator): In this situation, you can't have democracy and occupation. You can't have freedom and occupation. Let's remove the occupation first, then there'll be freedom and democracy. But not democracy or freedom with an occupation.

I'll keep on resisting. I'm staying in Najaf, and I won't leave until the last day of my life. My stay is to defend Najaf, the holiest place. Whoever wants to stay is welcome.

CHANCE: Well, the U.S. military says that it won't abandon Najaf either. In fact, it says its forces have taken up positions around the sacred Imam Ali mosque, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam. It's also the place, according to U.S. officials, where Mehdi army fighters are holed up and using as a staging ground to launch attacks against U.S. forces.

They say they've got permission from the governor of Najaf to operate in and around the shrine of Imam Ali if necessary. Although, they say they're not planning to do that at this stage -- mindful, perhaps, of the explosive backlash any attempt to perhaps storm that mosque may have amongst Iraq's Shiite majority population.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Well, they spent their entire lives together, quite literally. But now, two formerly conjoined twins are adjusting to life apart. We'll have an update on the boys' condition just ahead.

And is fame really all that it's quacked up to be? Donald Duck finds out how it feels to have folks walk all over you.

And how's this for in sync? And we're not talking about the boy band. Diving brothers, hoping -- look at them. Man, I'm just flabbergasted by that. That's pretty cool. They do everything together, obviously. Look at that. Wow. Hoping to make a splash at the Athens Olympics. I don't think they get to do it together at the Olympics, though.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Overseas now, Sudan's government says it will meet the U.N.'s deadline in three weeks to improve security and human rights in Darfur. Meanwhile, today, a European Union fact finding team said what's happening in Darfur isn't genocide but a serious problem nonetheless.

CNN's chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, reports from a refugee camp in western Darfur.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Dr. Jonathan Spector is at war with Darfur's biggest killer now, malnutrition.

JONATHAN SPECTOR, MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES: Today, he's very ill.

AMANPOUR: Dr. Specter is midway through a stint for the aid group, Medecins Sans Frontieres, in Al Junaynah, the capital of Western Darfur. He's a long way from his pediatric practice back in Boston.

SPECTOR: In a developed country, this child would be in an intensive care unit setting. He would be on a monitor. He would be maybe even getting -- for sure getting oxygen and maybe on a ventilator.

AMANPOUR: Here, he doesn't have simple diagnostics like blood tests. And everyday he has to make a tough choice about who to treat.

SPECTOR: He's malnourished. But he doesn't actually meet criteria for admission to our camp because he's not severely malnourished. He's moderately malnourished.

AMANPOUR: But these children are severe cases. And every effort counts. Mothers are told to force formula into their skin-and-bones infants every three hours. With malnutrition comes another killer: Disease, diarrhea, skin infection, septicemia. And all these patients, like the Yaya (ph) family, have already been brutalized by the wave of ethnic cleansing perpetrated by government-backed militias over the past 18 months. "They chased us from our home seven months ago and stole all our cattle. They killed three people in our family," says Halima (ph), as she watches over her starving daughter's Zahra (ph). In another tent, Dr. Spector relishes a success.

SPECTOR: She's good. She's so much better. She looks more...

AMANPOUR: But it's only a small success in a desperate bid to save about two million people in urgent need of food and medical relief. There's not nearly enough humanitarian aid or enough aid workers reaching the region. Eighteen months after this catastrophe began, the world has coughed up less than half the funds the U.N. requested to save this part of Sudan.

Christiane Amanpour, CNN, Al Junaynah, Western Darfur.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Well, on a much happier note relating to children, their mother says she can't wait to cuddle them separately.

NGUYEN: Two-year-old twins are recovering after separation surgery. We'll let you know how they're doing right after a break.

O'BRIEN: And these brothers are hoping to make something happen together at the summer Olympics. There is a thing called synchronized diving. I was off-base. I didn't know. Is it new?

NGUYEN: Now we now.

O'BRIEN: We're going to learn something together, folks, but you have to stay tuned.

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: This just in, CNN has confirmed that actress Fay Wray has died in her New York home. And most folks will remember Fay Wray as the woman being cupped in King Kong's hand as she screamed for help. And, of course, the movie "King Kong" -- that hand actually was a six-foot-long mechanical device that doubled as his arm and hand. And Fay Wray, again, died today at the age of 96 in her New York Home. Miles?

O'BRIEN: A mother's wish is answered for her conjoined twin sons. Carl and Clarence Aguirre are recovering after a 17-hour surgical ordeal last week to separate them. The two-year-old Filipino boys were joined at the head. Doctors at Montefiore Medical Center in New York say there have been no major problems to report thus far. The boy's mother says the surgery was the right decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARLENE AGUIRRE, MOTHER OF CONJOINED TWINS: When I first found out that I have conjoined twins, I know that this is a really risky operation. And I know that I might lose one of them. But it never stopped me of doing it. I have to be -- get a chance that they will be separated, and that's if my dreams come true.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Good luck to them. Doctors say one of the twins may be taken off a ventilator later today. We hope they do well.

Now, when a 300-pound ape complains about an aching tooth, you know it's got to hurt, right? Koko the gorilla used sign language to tell her handlers, there you see Penny, who is her -- look at that, isn't that cute? Hugging her right there.

Penny Patterson, who is her main helper, and signer, and reader of signs, Koko was given anesthesia. Three dentists went to work and Koko, who is 33-years-old, got a clean bill of health. Now, I have my theory on this one. I met Koko about 10 years ago and -- there in northern California. See her signing there? Let's listen for one sec.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Would you like to be a mother?

KOKO THE GORILLA (through translator): Candy, you?

O'BRIEN: Candy?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Changing the subject.

O'BRIEN: I don't have any candy. Do you have any candy?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, she doesn't get...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: See? Even 10 years ago, she was craving candy. Koko, you've got to lay off the sweets. I have to figure out how to sign that for her.

All right. What's next?

NGUYEN: Well, we want to go from Koko back to "King Kong," because we do want to make a correction. Fay Wray the actress died yesterday at her home in New York. And we all remember her role in the movie in "King Kong."

O'BRIEN: Absolutely. From Koko to Fay Wray. Tough segue there. We wish her family well, Fay Wray's family, who died at the age of 96 in New York.

NGUYEN: Well, we do want to check some entertainment headlines as well on this Monday, August 9th. Cruise control at the box office. The dark action flick "Collateral" starring Tom Cruise was the top grossing film this weekend, taking in $24.4 million in its debut. Movie receipts overall were down 23 percent from the same weekend last year.

And what will Lindsay Lohan do for an encore? Well, the 18-year- old actress took home a leading four awards at last night's Teen Choice Awards. Among the honors, best actress in a comedy movie and best movie hissy fit. Miles, you know a little bit about that?

O'BRIEN: Well, yes, it's popular among one resident of my household -- kind of likes Lindsay a little.

NGUYEN: Well, this hot-headed duck has thrown his share of hissy fits over the years. But he's all smiles right now. Donald Duck got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today, 70 years after making his cartoon debut.

O'BRIEN: You've got to admit, he's got longevity, a little patience there, even though he's a bit irascible after all these years.

All right, if you want to make a big splash in diving, you can't make a big splash at all, that's the trick. No splash, right? That gives you the 10. Hard enough for any individual to do, twice as tricky when your teammate's on the springboard next to you.

CNN's Jason Bellini caught up with two brothers who must stay in sync to win the gold.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Meet the Dumais brothers. Justin, 25, is often outshined by his younger brother, Troy, who's 24. In the air, they try to act like identical twins. On the ground, they have two very different personalities.

TROY DUMAIS, SYNCHRONIZED DIVER: I'm more outgoing.

JUSTIN DUMAIS, SYNCHRONIZED DIVER: Got the academic side.

KENNY ARMSTRONG, COACH: And they know one another very well.

BELLINI: An advantage when they're feeling the brotherly love, which isn't always.

(on camera): Have you ever seen them when they're not talking to one another?

ARMSTRONG: Yes, that's yes, that's a definite. That's why they don't live together

BELLINI: Troy admits he's tired of teammates scrutinizing their relationship.

T. DUMAIS: And then we ask them the same question, so what if your sister was standing here? I wouldn't like it. So, I mean, (INAUDIBLE) then why are you giving us crap about it? I mean, we deal with it, and we don't cause that much problem. BELLINI: Athens will be Troy's second Olympics. In 2000, his best individual effort was sixth in the three-meter springboard. Justin didn't make the team.

T. DUMAIS: I think it was a difficult thing for my brother to handle, because that was his dream too, to go to the Olympics and win a medal.

BELLINI: At this year's trial, the same thing happened, Troy qualified in his individual event, Justin did not. But Justin made the team with the help of his brother in synchronized diving.

T. DUMAIS: That's all she wrote, basically. I mean, that was his last chance, was synchro.

BELLINI: Synchronized diving became an Olympic event in 2000.

(on camera): Judges review the execution of the individual diver, but more importantly the synchronization of the duo, from takeoff, to the height of the dive, to the angle they hit the water.

J. DUMAIS: Synchro is kind of -- put two competitors together, and, I mean, it's always say, Oh, it was his fault, or it was his fault. And during synchro, you can't have that. It's a team event. It's our fault, it's not his or mine.

BELLINI: After Athens, Justin wants to join the Air National Guard. Troy plans to continue diving. Both say the time for sibling rivalry is over. In Athens, they have to be in sync like never before.

Jason Bellini, CNN, Houston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: All right, so I shouldn't feel too bad. It was only in 2000 that they started synchronized diving.

NGUYEN: Four years ago.

O'BRIEN: And I just kind of missed that Sydney thing. I apologize. All right, and to them, I wish them well...

NGUYEN: Best of luck.

O'BRIEN: ... in Athens, which is coming up soon, August 13th, I believe.

NGUYEN: Friday.

O'BRIEN: All right, that wraps up LIVE FROM. I'm Miles O'Brien. We're glad you dropped by.

NGUYEN: "INSIDE POLITICS" is next, and Candy Crowley is in for Judy Woodruff today. Hi Candy.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Betty. Thanks very much to you and Miles. Have a good rest of the day.

Today marks the third anniversary of President Bush's decision to allow federal funding for stem cell research for the first time but with restrictions. We'll take a look at how the issue will affect the race for the White House.

Plus, leading by example. Who's the healthiest presidential candidate? We'll tell you what a new survey says, as well as which former president earned the most votes for being a role model for healthy living.

"INSIDE POLITICS" begins in just a moment.

NGUYEN: Now in the news, Hollywood's original damsel in distress Fay Wray has died. Ray was immortalized in the 1933 film, "King Kong." The role earned her a place in screen and scream history. She starred in some 75 other films, but she would always be identified with a story of a love between the beauty and a giant ape. Ray, who was 96, died yesterday at her home in New York.

New York's mayor says his city will not overreact to new concerns about terrorism. New York is hosting the Republican National Convention later this month. But Mayor Michael Bloomberg says some emerging details about al Qaeda planning are not new. Over the weekend, the FBI issued a warning about the possible use of helicopters, limousines and other rental vehicles for terrorism.

Pentagon officials say former four-star General John Shalikashvili is hospitalized after suffering a stroke. The former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff has been advising John Kerry on military matters. Officials say he was stricken Friday night and now is in guarded condition in Tacoma, Washington.

And Deltona, Florida, officials say 27-year-old Troy Victorino led three other men in beating six people to death over a disputed video game system. The suspects appeared in court this morning, and all are being held without bond. Authorities say Victorino's three alleged accomplices have all confessed.

We are keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

Now, "JUDY WOODRUFF'S INSIDE POLITICS" with Candy Crowley.

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 9, 2004 - 15:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now in the news, retired Army General John Shalikashvili is hospitalized in Tacoma, Washington. Pentagon officials confirm he had a severe stroke and is in intensive care. Shalikashvili served as the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff in the 1990s and is currently an advisor to John Kerry's presidential campaign. More from the Pentagon live just ahead.
Also, rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr says he is willing to fight to the death. His forces are battling U.S. and Iraqi troops in the holy city of Najaf for a fifth straight day. The governor of Najaf has given U.S. forces permission to move in and around the Imam Ali mosque, Najaf's holiest site.

There's guarded optimism at a hospital in the Bronx today. Doctors there say Carl and Clarence, the conjoined twins who were separated last week, haven't developed any major problems. Their mom, well, she can't wait to hold them one at a time for the first time. We will bring you her reaction this a little bit later in this hour.

We are keeping you informed. CNN, the most trusted name in news.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: New York's major says his city will not overreact to new concerns about terrorism. New York is hosting, of course, the Republican National Convention in three weeks. But Mayor Michael Bloomberg says some emerging details about an al Qaeda planning are not new. He pointed to reports that that helicopters could be used in an attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, MAYOR OF NEW YORK: You may rest assured that without this information, if you tried to get on a helicopter in New York City, you have to go through a magnetometer or a hand-held WAN and they look at your identification and they check everything you carry. That's been going on since 9/11. This is nothing new that -- to discover that an aircraft can be used as a weapon. There's 2,800 lives that were given, sadly, to bring that point home to us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Over the weekend, the FBI issued a warning about the possible use of helicopters, limousines and other rental vehicles for terrorism.

Pakistan is interrogating three more al Qaeda suspects arrested this morning in Lahore. Pakistan has become an invaluable partner in the war on terrorism, but it's worried about possible retaliation from the number one terror group.

CNN'S Maria Ressa is there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Over the weekend, another al Qaeda operative was arrested in Dubai and sent to Pakistan, part of an ongoing global crackdown which led to increased security in the U.S. and U.K.

It was spurred by a treasure trove of information discovered after the July 13th arrest of computer expert Naeem Noor Khan. Authorities here said he was working with them as a mole to help track down other al Qaeda operatives around the world compromised after the U.S. prematurely released his name last week.

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: Hayat, the Pakistani interior minister, actually said maybe if Khan's name hadn't been released, it might have lead to getting bin Laden himself.

RESSA: But U.S. officials say they had a duty to warn about possible pre-election plots against the U.S.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: The problem is that when you're trying to strike a balance between giving enough information to the public, so that they know that you're dealing with a specific, credible, different kind of threat than you've dealt with in the past, you're always weighing that against kind of operational considerations.

RESSA: There are other irritants to the Pakistanis. Last week, a U.S. official warned of possible al Qaeda training camps in Pakistan, a charge officials here vehemently deny.

SHEIKH RASHID AHMED, PAKISTANI INFORMATION MINISTER: This is stupid propaganda. And how it's possible, our forces are there from inch to inch, our armed forces are moving and there's a training camp? No way at all.

RESSA: Since 9/11, Pakistan says it's doing all it can in the war on terror, including sending its armed forces into the tribal areas for the first time ever to hunt for al Qaeda. Pakistan says it has arrested nearly 600 al Qaeda members.

Now, al Qaeda is striking back with increased bombings and targeted attacks. Two assassination attempts against Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf. And just two weeks ago, a suicide bombing attack against its prime minister designate.

Don't question our commitment now, says Pakistan, even as it asks its cabinet ministers to cut down public appearances while this crackdown continues. Anticipating what al Qaeda can do when it's further pushed against the wall.

Maria Ressa, CNN, Islamabad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Pentagon officials say former four-star general, John Shalikashvili, is hospitalized after suffering a stroke. The former chairman of the joint chief of staff has been advising John Kerry on military matters.

And CNN's Kathleen Koch has more on the story now from her post today at the Pentagon. Kathleen?

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, officials here say that the general suffered a severe stroke Friday night just after midnight. And we were told that he was rushed very quickly though from his home in Steilacoom, Washington, to nearby Madigan Army Medical Center. A spokesman there, Sharon Ayala, says that 68-year-old general right now is in guarded condition in the intensive care unit.

Shalikashvili was chairman of the joint chief staff for four years during the Clinton administration from 1993 to 1997. He was born in Poland and thus became the first foreign-born chairman of the joint chiefs. Prior to that, he served as NATO's tenth supreme allied commander in Europe.

Shalikashvili enlisted in the army back in 1958, and rose through the ranks serving in Vietnam. And in 1991, he headed up the international relief operation that airlifted food to and provided protection for the Kurds in Northern Iraq. Most recently, most people may remember that the general has become a very vocal supporter of and an advisor to the Democratic nominee for president, Senator John Kerry.

There you see the pictures of the general speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Boston last month, in which he called himself an old soldier and new Democrat. And, Betty, we're waiting right now for some response from the Kerry campaign to the general's hospitalization.

NGUYEN: Because, of course, he was serving as an advisor to that campaign. Kathleen Koch, thank you.

O'BRIEN: Other news across America to tell you about. Bond denied for four men accused of last week's gruesome killings in Deltona, Florida. Authorities say an ex-convict who believed a video game system had been stolen from him lead three other men to beat six people to death with baseball bats and knives.

Life without parole again for Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols. The sentence on state charges comes on top of a federal term. Nichols issued a statement asking forgiveness at his sentencing today in McAllister, Oklahoma. Bomber Timothy McVeigh, of course, was executed in June of 2001.

And prosecutors in Salt Lake City have until the end of the work day to file homicide charges against Mark Hacking in the death of his pregnant wife, Lori. Her body is still missing. NGUYEN: Turning now to Iraq and the holy city of Najaf, where tensions are rising once again. As renegade cleric Muqtada al-Sadr vows to fight to the death to get U.S. and Iraqi forces out of the city, this as the governor of Najaf gives troops the go ahead to engage al-Sadr's militia in the city.

CNN'S Matthew Chance reports now from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, fighting raging still in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf, where U.S. forces facing off against the Mehdi army, loyal of course to the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Now, we've had latest casualty figures from those several days of fighting. The U.S. military saying at least 360 of those Mehdi army fighters killed in combat operations. They say at least four U.S. soldiers have also been killed in the battles that have been raging around that holy city.

There has been calls for the violence to come to an end, but at the moment, Muqtada al-Sadr is resisting any compromises, saying that, if necessary, he'll fight to the death in the holy city of Najaf.

MUQTADA AL-SADR, SHIITE CLERIC (through translator): In this situation, you can't have democracy and occupation. You can't have freedom and occupation. Let's remove the occupation first, then there'll be freedom and democracy. But not democracy or freedom with an occupation.

I'll keep on resisting. I'm staying in Najaf, and I won't leave until the last day of my life. My stay is to defend Najaf, the holiest place. Whoever wants to stay is welcome.

CHANCE: Well, the U.S. military says that it won't abandon Najaf either. In fact, it says its forces have taken up positions around the sacred Imam Ali mosque, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam. It's also the place, according to U.S. officials, where Mehdi army fighters are holed up and using as a staging ground to launch attacks against U.S. forces.

They say they've got permission from the governor of Najaf to operate in and around the shrine of Imam Ali if necessary. Although, they say they're not planning to do that at this stage -- mindful, perhaps, of the explosive backlash any attempt to perhaps storm that mosque may have amongst Iraq's Shiite majority population.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Well, they spent their entire lives together, quite literally. But now, two formerly conjoined twins are adjusting to life apart. We'll have an update on the boys' condition just ahead.

And is fame really all that it's quacked up to be? Donald Duck finds out how it feels to have folks walk all over you.

And how's this for in sync? And we're not talking about the boy band. Diving brothers, hoping -- look at them. Man, I'm just flabbergasted by that. That's pretty cool. They do everything together, obviously. Look at that. Wow. Hoping to make a splash at the Athens Olympics. I don't think they get to do it together at the Olympics, though.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Overseas now, Sudan's government says it will meet the U.N.'s deadline in three weeks to improve security and human rights in Darfur. Meanwhile, today, a European Union fact finding team said what's happening in Darfur isn't genocide but a serious problem nonetheless.

CNN's chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, reports from a refugee camp in western Darfur.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Dr. Jonathan Spector is at war with Darfur's biggest killer now, malnutrition.

JONATHAN SPECTOR, MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES: Today, he's very ill.

AMANPOUR: Dr. Specter is midway through a stint for the aid group, Medecins Sans Frontieres, in Al Junaynah, the capital of Western Darfur. He's a long way from his pediatric practice back in Boston.

SPECTOR: In a developed country, this child would be in an intensive care unit setting. He would be on a monitor. He would be maybe even getting -- for sure getting oxygen and maybe on a ventilator.

AMANPOUR: Here, he doesn't have simple diagnostics like blood tests. And everyday he has to make a tough choice about who to treat.

SPECTOR: He's malnourished. But he doesn't actually meet criteria for admission to our camp because he's not severely malnourished. He's moderately malnourished.

AMANPOUR: But these children are severe cases. And every effort counts. Mothers are told to force formula into their skin-and-bones infants every three hours. With malnutrition comes another killer: Disease, diarrhea, skin infection, septicemia. And all these patients, like the Yaya (ph) family, have already been brutalized by the wave of ethnic cleansing perpetrated by government-backed militias over the past 18 months. "They chased us from our home seven months ago and stole all our cattle. They killed three people in our family," says Halima (ph), as she watches over her starving daughter's Zahra (ph). In another tent, Dr. Spector relishes a success.

SPECTOR: She's good. She's so much better. She looks more...

AMANPOUR: But it's only a small success in a desperate bid to save about two million people in urgent need of food and medical relief. There's not nearly enough humanitarian aid or enough aid workers reaching the region. Eighteen months after this catastrophe began, the world has coughed up less than half the funds the U.N. requested to save this part of Sudan.

Christiane Amanpour, CNN, Al Junaynah, Western Darfur.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Well, on a much happier note relating to children, their mother says she can't wait to cuddle them separately.

NGUYEN: Two-year-old twins are recovering after separation surgery. We'll let you know how they're doing right after a break.

O'BRIEN: And these brothers are hoping to make something happen together at the summer Olympics. There is a thing called synchronized diving. I was off-base. I didn't know. Is it new?

NGUYEN: Now we now.

O'BRIEN: We're going to learn something together, folks, but you have to stay tuned.

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: This just in, CNN has confirmed that actress Fay Wray has died in her New York home. And most folks will remember Fay Wray as the woman being cupped in King Kong's hand as she screamed for help. And, of course, the movie "King Kong" -- that hand actually was a six-foot-long mechanical device that doubled as his arm and hand. And Fay Wray, again, died today at the age of 96 in her New York Home. Miles?

O'BRIEN: A mother's wish is answered for her conjoined twin sons. Carl and Clarence Aguirre are recovering after a 17-hour surgical ordeal last week to separate them. The two-year-old Filipino boys were joined at the head. Doctors at Montefiore Medical Center in New York say there have been no major problems to report thus far. The boy's mother says the surgery was the right decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARLENE AGUIRRE, MOTHER OF CONJOINED TWINS: When I first found out that I have conjoined twins, I know that this is a really risky operation. And I know that I might lose one of them. But it never stopped me of doing it. I have to be -- get a chance that they will be separated, and that's if my dreams come true.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Good luck to them. Doctors say one of the twins may be taken off a ventilator later today. We hope they do well.

Now, when a 300-pound ape complains about an aching tooth, you know it's got to hurt, right? Koko the gorilla used sign language to tell her handlers, there you see Penny, who is her -- look at that, isn't that cute? Hugging her right there.

Penny Patterson, who is her main helper, and signer, and reader of signs, Koko was given anesthesia. Three dentists went to work and Koko, who is 33-years-old, got a clean bill of health. Now, I have my theory on this one. I met Koko about 10 years ago and -- there in northern California. See her signing there? Let's listen for one sec.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Would you like to be a mother?

KOKO THE GORILLA (through translator): Candy, you?

O'BRIEN: Candy?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Changing the subject.

O'BRIEN: I don't have any candy. Do you have any candy?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, she doesn't get...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: See? Even 10 years ago, she was craving candy. Koko, you've got to lay off the sweets. I have to figure out how to sign that for her.

All right. What's next?

NGUYEN: Well, we want to go from Koko back to "King Kong," because we do want to make a correction. Fay Wray the actress died yesterday at her home in New York. And we all remember her role in the movie in "King Kong."

O'BRIEN: Absolutely. From Koko to Fay Wray. Tough segue there. We wish her family well, Fay Wray's family, who died at the age of 96 in New York.

NGUYEN: Well, we do want to check some entertainment headlines as well on this Monday, August 9th. Cruise control at the box office. The dark action flick "Collateral" starring Tom Cruise was the top grossing film this weekend, taking in $24.4 million in its debut. Movie receipts overall were down 23 percent from the same weekend last year.

And what will Lindsay Lohan do for an encore? Well, the 18-year- old actress took home a leading four awards at last night's Teen Choice Awards. Among the honors, best actress in a comedy movie and best movie hissy fit. Miles, you know a little bit about that?

O'BRIEN: Well, yes, it's popular among one resident of my household -- kind of likes Lindsay a little.

NGUYEN: Well, this hot-headed duck has thrown his share of hissy fits over the years. But he's all smiles right now. Donald Duck got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today, 70 years after making his cartoon debut.

O'BRIEN: You've got to admit, he's got longevity, a little patience there, even though he's a bit irascible after all these years.

All right, if you want to make a big splash in diving, you can't make a big splash at all, that's the trick. No splash, right? That gives you the 10. Hard enough for any individual to do, twice as tricky when your teammate's on the springboard next to you.

CNN's Jason Bellini caught up with two brothers who must stay in sync to win the gold.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Meet the Dumais brothers. Justin, 25, is often outshined by his younger brother, Troy, who's 24. In the air, they try to act like identical twins. On the ground, they have two very different personalities.

TROY DUMAIS, SYNCHRONIZED DIVER: I'm more outgoing.

JUSTIN DUMAIS, SYNCHRONIZED DIVER: Got the academic side.

KENNY ARMSTRONG, COACH: And they know one another very well.

BELLINI: An advantage when they're feeling the brotherly love, which isn't always.

(on camera): Have you ever seen them when they're not talking to one another?

ARMSTRONG: Yes, that's yes, that's a definite. That's why they don't live together

BELLINI: Troy admits he's tired of teammates scrutinizing their relationship.

T. DUMAIS: And then we ask them the same question, so what if your sister was standing here? I wouldn't like it. So, I mean, (INAUDIBLE) then why are you giving us crap about it? I mean, we deal with it, and we don't cause that much problem. BELLINI: Athens will be Troy's second Olympics. In 2000, his best individual effort was sixth in the three-meter springboard. Justin didn't make the team.

T. DUMAIS: I think it was a difficult thing for my brother to handle, because that was his dream too, to go to the Olympics and win a medal.

BELLINI: At this year's trial, the same thing happened, Troy qualified in his individual event, Justin did not. But Justin made the team with the help of his brother in synchronized diving.

T. DUMAIS: That's all she wrote, basically. I mean, that was his last chance, was synchro.

BELLINI: Synchronized diving became an Olympic event in 2000.

(on camera): Judges review the execution of the individual diver, but more importantly the synchronization of the duo, from takeoff, to the height of the dive, to the angle they hit the water.

J. DUMAIS: Synchro is kind of -- put two competitors together, and, I mean, it's always say, Oh, it was his fault, or it was his fault. And during synchro, you can't have that. It's a team event. It's our fault, it's not his or mine.

BELLINI: After Athens, Justin wants to join the Air National Guard. Troy plans to continue diving. Both say the time for sibling rivalry is over. In Athens, they have to be in sync like never before.

Jason Bellini, CNN, Houston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: All right, so I shouldn't feel too bad. It was only in 2000 that they started synchronized diving.

NGUYEN: Four years ago.

O'BRIEN: And I just kind of missed that Sydney thing. I apologize. All right, and to them, I wish them well...

NGUYEN: Best of luck.

O'BRIEN: ... in Athens, which is coming up soon, August 13th, I believe.

NGUYEN: Friday.

O'BRIEN: All right, that wraps up LIVE FROM. I'm Miles O'Brien. We're glad you dropped by.

NGUYEN: "INSIDE POLITICS" is next, and Candy Crowley is in for Judy Woodruff today. Hi Candy.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Betty. Thanks very much to you and Miles. Have a good rest of the day.

Today marks the third anniversary of President Bush's decision to allow federal funding for stem cell research for the first time but with restrictions. We'll take a look at how the issue will affect the race for the White House.

Plus, leading by example. Who's the healthiest presidential candidate? We'll tell you what a new survey says, as well as which former president earned the most votes for being a role model for healthy living.

"INSIDE POLITICS" begins in just a moment.

NGUYEN: Now in the news, Hollywood's original damsel in distress Fay Wray has died. Ray was immortalized in the 1933 film, "King Kong." The role earned her a place in screen and scream history. She starred in some 75 other films, but she would always be identified with a story of a love between the beauty and a giant ape. Ray, who was 96, died yesterday at her home in New York.

New York's mayor says his city will not overreact to new concerns about terrorism. New York is hosting the Republican National Convention later this month. But Mayor Michael Bloomberg says some emerging details about al Qaeda planning are not new. Over the weekend, the FBI issued a warning about the possible use of helicopters, limousines and other rental vehicles for terrorism.

Pentagon officials say former four-star General John Shalikashvili is hospitalized after suffering a stroke. The former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff has been advising John Kerry on military matters. Officials say he was stricken Friday night and now is in guarded condition in Tacoma, Washington.

And Deltona, Florida, officials say 27-year-old Troy Victorino led three other men in beating six people to death over a disputed video game system. The suspects appeared in court this morning, and all are being held without bond. Authorities say Victorino's three alleged accomplices have all confessed.

We are keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

Now, "JUDY WOODRUFF'S INSIDE POLITICS" with Candy Crowley.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com