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Cubans Prepare for Ivan; Gun Manufacturers Don't Expect Post- Ban Surge; FDA Discusses Suicide/Antidepressant Connection in Children; Iraq Violence; North Korea Nuclear Concerns

Aired September 13, 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.


(WEATHER REPORT)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CO-HOST: All right. Jacqui George -- Jacqui Jeras, rather, live. It's been a long day already. Thanks, Jacqui.

All right -- Betty.

BETTY NGUYEN, CO-HOST: It sure has. And as you mentioned Cuba, Kyra -- Cuba on one side, Cancun on the other, catastrophic Ivan right in the middle. Having devastated Jamaica, Grenada, and the Grand Cayman Islands, the killer hurricane is back up to a Category 5 with its sights, we think, on the Gulf of Mexico.

Cuba, it appears, though, will be spared a direct hit, but even a glancing blow could be horrendous.

CNN's Lucia Newman is in the western town of Pinar del Rio with the latest.

Hi, there, Lucia.

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Betty.

Well, as you say, it may be Havana could be spared or maybe spared the worst of it. But not Pinar del Rio, which is on the far western tip of Cuba and which was already pounded by Hurricane Charley, exactly one month ago.

It's starting to rain a lot, as you can see. The winds are stronger, and it's expected that in the next few hours, hurricane- force winds will be pounding this province and this town.

There are hundreds and hundreds of tourists who have been evacuated to the main hotel here. Cuba's 78-year-old communist leader, Fidel Castro, is in the province, touring some of the evacuation centers. We understand he's going to set up shop at the main civil defense headquarters.

Electricity has been cut in the whole province to prevent people from being electrocuted, if and when power lines are down, and it's expected they will.

And obviously everyone living near coastal areas has been evacuated. There are 1.5 million Cubans who have been evacuated, from Pinar del Rio all the way Ciego de Avila in central Cuba, because there is fear that the storm will turn to the right once it clears the western tip of this island. There could be storm surges even throughout the north and even as close as Havana -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Lucia Newman, thank you so much for that report.

We want now to turn to a loaded issue between pro- and anti-gun groups. Today, the federal 10-year ban on assault weapons expires. Congress failed to reauthorize the ban enacted during the Clinton administration.

Anti-gun groups say allowing firearms like AK-47s back on the streets will lead to increased crime, but many gun shop owners say they don't expect a jump in sales.

CNNfn's Ceci Rodgers reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CECI RODGERS, CNNFN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Gun manufacturers have been gearing up for this day. Despite pleas from police agencies, politicians and gun control group, Congress is letting a decade-long ban on military-style semiautomatic weapons expire.

SARAH BRADY, GUN CONTROL ADVOCATE: The American public needs to know and understand that the assault weapons are coming, AK-47s, Uzis, and clips of up to 100 rounds back on our city streets.

RODGERS: But gun makers like Mark Westrom, who's preparing to manufacture the so-called pre-ban rifles as early as Tuesday, say they're seeing a trickle, not a surge in orders from their customers.

MARK WESTROM, PRESIDENT, ARMALITE INC.: The uptick of interest that we're seeing is not enough to bring us back to last year's sales level. So, it's -- the people who think there's going to be a sudden rush and an outpouring of firearms onto the streets are absolutely incorrect. It's -- it's not happening.

RODGERS: Armalite expects to ship about 30 of the pre-ban rifles a day, beginning sometime this week.

(on camera): One of the many reasons Armalite is not seeing a huge surge in demand is that its semiautomatic rifles like this one were still on the market the past ten years, in a stripped down version that met the letter of the law.

(voice-over): The law banned 19 specific models, large capacity ammunition magazines, and other weapons with certain military features.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The pre-ban guns could have five features not allowed during the post-ban period: a flash suppressor or a grenade launcher mounted up here, a bayonet lug, a pistol grip, and a collapsing butt stock.

RODGERS: The National Rifle Association calls it a cosmetic ban. It was easy to get around, and Armalite did, producing more of the rifles than ever before in the past decade. Similar to a hunting rifle, collectors and serious target shooters bought them.

WESTROM: Ten years ago, misuse of rifles of any sort, especially of our type was vanishingly small. It still is.

RODGERS: So, what happens next in the battle over guns? Both those for and against bans say it likely hinges on who wins the White House in November.

Ceci Rodgers, CNN financial news, Geneseo, Illinois.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Those affected by the 2002 Washington area sniper shootings are speaking out in support of the assault ban.

In Montgomery County, Maryland, today Congressional lawmakers came together with relatives of sniper victims and trauma doctors. They urged last minute passage of the extension.

One lawmaker warned if the ban expires weapons of war could end up on the nation's streets.

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is blasting President Bush over the end of the arms ban. Senator Kerry says the president failed Americans and their safety by not extending the assault weapons ban.

He spoke to supporters in Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And so, tomorrow, for the first time in 10 years, when a killer walks into a gun shop, when a terrorist goes a gun show somewhere in America, when they want to purchase an AK-47 or some other military assault weapon, they're going to hear one word: "Sure."

Today, George Bush chose to make the job of terrorists easier and make the job of America's police officers harder, and that's just plain wrong.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Senator Kerry unveiled his $5 billion crime plan at that event. He also picked up the endorsement of the National Association of Police Organizations.

Well, President Bush has not publicly commented on the expiration of the assault arms ban, but the White House did turn away a group of law enforcement officers who support the ban.

Meanwhile, President Bush is on the campaign trail in Michigan. He's making three stops there on his bus tour. Mr. Bush touted his health care agenda to voters in Muskegon. He also criticized his Democratic rival's planned stance on Social Security.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If you're a senior citizen, you don't have to worry about Social Security. If you're a Baby Boomer, you don't have to worry about Social Security. And by the way, you'll hear the same rhetoric you hear every campaign, believe me. You know? Don't worry -- "They're going to take away your Social Security check." It is the most tired, pathetic way to campaign for the presidency.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The presidential race is heating up. And you can get more coverage on CNN's "INSIDE POLITICS" with Judy Woodruff. Starting today and running through the election, her show spans 90 minutes, begins at a new time, 3:00 p.m. Eastern.

In today's edition, can John Kerry close the gap with President Bush? That's coming up right here on CNN.

Now we're getting our first glimpse of a recovering former President Clinton. He was spotted in his Chappaqua backyard over the weekend. Clinton was wearing a ball cap and a T-shirt.

He left a New York hospital last Friday to begin his recuperation from heart bypass surgery. The 58-year-old got a quadruple bypass, as you know. Blood vessels from his chest and leg were used to replace heart arteries which were more than 90 percent blocked.

NGUYEN: In medical news now, the risk of suicide in children who take antidepressants. Federal health advisers are meeting today to determine if there is a link and whether stronger warning labels are needed.

CNN medical correspondent Christy Feig is monitoring that meeting from Washington, and she joins us now.

Hi there.

CHRISTY FEIG, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right. This issue has been debated for about a year now, and now an advisory committee to the FDA is sifting through all that data, trying to determine whether or not antidepressants could actually increase a depressed child's risk of attempting suicide.

It's a very emotional and controversial issue.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FEIG: Mathy Milling Downling outgoing and active 12-year-old daughter Candace (ph) was becomingly increasingly anxious about school issues, so doctors prescribed her a common antidepressant. A few weeks later, she committed suicide.

MATHY MILLING DOWNLING, DAUGHTER COMMITTEE SUICIDE: We had no indication that anything like this could possibly happen. Our child was never sad. There was never any point where she said, "I don't think life is worth living."

FEIG: Chris Drell was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 11. He credits similar antidepressants with saving his life.

CHRIS DRELL, TAKES ANTIDEPRESSANTS: I couldn't deal with anything, and I couldn't deal with life, couldn't deal with the depressed feeling that I had, the bad feeling that I had. I knew that I didn't want to deal with it, and I had to die.

FEIG: Currently the only antidepressant approved by the FDA for use in children is Prozac.

But it doesn't work for every child. And there's nothing illegal about a doctor's prescribing any adult antidepressant for kids. And that's what Candace (ph) and Chris' doctors did.

Now evidence is surfacing that some antidepressants that work well in adults may not work in children at all, or may actually increase suicidal tendencies in teens.

Even so, some who work with depressed children don't want to be limited to just Prozac.

DR. ADELAIDE ROBB, CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER: I don't think they're dangerous but they need to be monitored closely.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEIG: The committee will continue their discussion all day tomorrow. Then they'll make a recommendation on whether there's enough science to say these drugs are dangerous. After that, it's up to the FDA to decide how to advise doctors -- Betty.

NGUYEN: But in the meantime, Christy, what should parents do if they are giving their children these types of medication?

FEIG: It's tough for parents to hear right now, because there's not a lot they can do, because the evidence goes both ways.

What experts will say they should do is watch their children closely. There are certain signs they can look for: whether their agitation is increasing; whether the hostilities are increasing; anything they're saying that might indicate they're showing interest in harming themselves. Experts will say watch your child very closely. They say this for doctors and for parents: Now is not a time to let your guard down.

NGUYEN: Christy Feig, thank you so much -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: A satellite picked it up, and then everybody started talking about it. Nuke or not, North Korea is back in the spotlight as the world ponders how to deal with a dangerous situation

And Batman and Robin breached security at Buckingham Palace. We just missed the live shot. He took off his mask. We had a sneak peek at the lone ranger. Well, if you're just tuning in, it's the video of the day. We'll tell what you the heck is going on.

And just barely squeaking past this little guy, never fear, you'll get another chance to see the surfing Jack Russell terrier in a few.

LIVE FROM hangs 10 or 20 or however many toes dogs have, right after this.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Straight to London, live pictures now, Batman revealed. Off with the mask, on with the hard hat. He's -- he can no longer picket because the cherry picker is taking him down.

As you know, we've been following this for a couple hours now. This man, Jason Hatch, 33, is a protester. He was representing an organization called Fathers for Justice Group. It's a campaign for greater custody rights for divorced or separated fathers.

Well, he had made a security breach entering into Buckingham Palace and sort of was dangling off the ledge there after posting his banner.

The royal family not there. We are told that Queen Elizabeth and her family has been in Scotland, so it really wasn't too much of a threat with regard to the royals.

But obviously, the protester happy that he made his point, whatever that was, standing on the ledge in a Batman suit. Now he's making his way, sort of a ceremonial wave, I guess you could say, not as good as Queen Elizabeth.

But we'll continue to follow up what happens to him -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Inside the heart of Iraq's Sunni Triangle. U.S. warplanes attacked the city of Fallujah again today, this time targeting a meeting of suspected terrorists, but there are reports women and children were among the wounded.

Our Walter Rodgers reports.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. Air Force F-16s dropped two 500-pound bombs on what the military called, quote, "a confirmed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi terrorist meeting site in Fallujah."

Zarqawi has a $25 million bounty on his head. The Americans believe he is orchestrating murderous attacks on coalition forces and Iraqi civilians.

Iraq's Ministry of Health reports 20 people were killed, 38 others wounded. Among them, five women and children. The U.S. military reports 25 of Zarqawi's fighters were killed in the latest bid to decapitate insurgent resistance using air power.

The outgoing Marine commander says Fallujah has become a cancer.

LT. GEN. JAMES CONWAY, U.S. MARINES: Frankly the Marines we have here right now could crush the city and be done with business in four days. But that is not what we're going to do.

Frankly, we can contain Fallujah like we've been doing now for quite some time. And so, there's no immediate sense of immediacy or urgency, I believe, associated with it.

RODGERS: Perhaps, but here in the Iraqi capital itself, the insurgents seem to be getting more powerful rather than being contained.

Over the weekend at times, it seemed to literally rain rockets and mortars in Baghdad and the devastating effect of car bombings and about 80 Iraqis died nationwide Sunday alone.

One of the worst incidents was when insurgents hit this Bradley fighting vehicle. The crew was evacuated safely. Then jubilant Iraqis danced around the burning Bradley, celebrating.

A U.S. helicopter sent in to destroy the Bradley killed at least 22 Iraqis, including this Al Arabiya TV journalist. His last words, "I'm dying. I'm dying."

America's allies continue to die here, as well. Sunday, three Polish soldiers were killed in an ambush; three others were wounded.

(on camera): A top U.S. general predicts this latest spike in violence will continue at least through the U.S. presidential elections in November. Many here believe it will bleed into the Iraqi elections in December and January, and nobody in Iraq is willing to predict when this violence will end.

Walter Rodgers, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: North Korea says a mysterious large cloud that showed up on satellite images last week was part of a demolition project, but the blast has renewed concerns about the country's possible nuclear weapons ambitions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: This is not just the United States that has said that there needs to be a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. It is North Korea's neighbors, with which they have a lot at stake, places like China, with which they have a lot at stake.

And so, the North Koreans would only succeed in isolating themselves further if they're somehow trying to gain negotiating leverage or their own October surprise, we'll never know, it will serve to further isolate themselves even further.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Joining us now to discuss the issue, Jim Walsh, executive director of the Managing the Atom Project at Harvard University's JFK School of Government.

Jim, great to see you.

JIM WALSH, JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT: Good to see you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. So, how do we know this is not a nuclear blast?

WALSH: There are a couple of things that would tell us that.

First of all, there's nothing in the atmosphere. There's no fallout. There's no nuclear material that's been spread around that's been picked up by sensors or detectors that you expect to see if, in fact, this was a nuclear blast.

And then secondly, I think the second big indicator here is that the North Koreans are going to allow British and other diplomats to come visit the site. I don't think they'd let them visit the site if, in fact, it had been a test site.

PHILLIPS: All right. Well, it was said that this was a power -- like you said, going to build a power plant, but missiles are stored there, too, right?

WALSH: That's right. There are missiles there and there's also allegedly an enrichment facility in the area.

And it comes at a time when people are speculating or at least the U.S. intelligence community is speculating as to whether North Korea might test a nuclear device, as Condoleezza Rice, said prior to election. In fact, her appearance on the show sort of warning the North Koreans that it was a bad idea gives some credence to the notion that the administration is somewhat concerned about that.

PHILLIPS: When's the last time British inspectors were allowed in there?

WALSH: Well, no inspectors have been allowed in quite sometime. You'll remember that jut prior to the Iraq war, there was a series of steps that the North Koreans took.

They broke the seals on IAEA, International Atomic Energy Agency equipment. They kicked inspectors out. They moved the plutonium rods.

So, it's been sometime, well over a year, since people have been on the ground in Pyongyang or elsewhere to look at North Korea's nuclear assets. PHILLIPS: Now, the president got this note from intelligence talking about testing -- testing nukes. What do we know about what intel told the president? What kind of weight does it carry? And could something like this happen before the election, and if so, why?

WALSH: All good questions.

As to the intelligence itself, at least it's been reported so far. There has been a report that has gone to the president saying this is a possibility, but there appears to are intense disagreement, as there was during the lead-up to the war in Iraq, about the nature of this intelligence.

Does it really mean North Korea's planning to test, or does it mean that they are simply engaging in other activity or trying to gain leverage in advance of negotiations? That's unclear, and I think there is a disagreement within the intelligence community about that.

Why would they test? Well, I actually don't think they would test. I think that would be against their own self-interests, and they're unlikely to do it, if they did test, perhaps they do it, again, to gain leverage before six party talks or to somehow influence the U.S. election, although I think that would be ill conceived if they tried to do it.

PHILLIPS: Jim, meanwhile, tell us about the delegation you're going to have at Harvard?

WALSH: Well, that's another reason why I don't think they're going to test. I think the North Koreans have been somewhat on a peace offensive over the last period, the last several months.

And I'm happy to say that Harvard University, as well as Stanford, are going to host a delegation from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. And we're going to sit down and talk about some of the very issues you and I have been discussing.

PHILLIPS: Well, it's going to be interesting to see your lineup. Jim Walsh at Harvard. Thanks so much.

WALSH: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: All right. Betty.

NGUYEN: On an election year, after you've raked the leaves, settle in for the upcoming presidential debates. We have a quick preview of what to look for when Bush and Kerry go head-to-head. That's coming up.

And illegal love, a cat and a duck living together in Canada? The latest twist in the case that has our feathers ruffled.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Rhonda Schaffler in New York, a major airline lands in bankruptcy court. What does that mean for its flyers? I'll have a report coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: News across America now.

Another booby-trapped letter bound for governor's office has been intercepted. It showed up in the postage handling facility for Virginia's governor. The envelope is rigged to ignite when opened.

At least 15 other state leaders have also been targeted. The letters with the same return address, a prison in Nevada.

An Ohio woman's exotic pet collection turns deadly. The woman was fatally bitten by a viper. When authorities visited her home, they found at least nine venomous snakes and more than a dozen other snakes, lizards and alligators.

And check this out. We're just throwing this in because look at picture. You can't beat it. La Jolla, California. This is Zoe, the surfing Jack Russell terrier. Zoe's owner, Scott Chandler, says that she's been surfing since she was a puppy and really gets upset when you don't take her out.

Happy ending for an unusual pair of friends in Kitchener, Ontario. A law restricting ducks as pets threatened to break up Bailey and her best friend, Molly the cat. It's animal hour right now. But hundreds of families came forward willing to take in the pair, and now they're headed to a foster home.

NGUYEN: One lucky duck.

All right. Well, a major air carrier has landed in bankruptcy. What does that mean for its flyers?

We want to go now to our business guru, Rhonda Schaffler, who joins us now from the New York Stock Exchange.

Hi there, Rhonda. What does this mean for travelers?

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

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Aired September 13, 2004 - 14:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CO-HOST: All right. Jacqui George -- Jacqui Jeras, rather, live. It's been a long day already. Thanks, Jacqui.

All right -- Betty.

BETTY NGUYEN, CO-HOST: It sure has. And as you mentioned Cuba, Kyra -- Cuba on one side, Cancun on the other, catastrophic Ivan right in the middle. Having devastated Jamaica, Grenada, and the Grand Cayman Islands, the killer hurricane is back up to a Category 5 with its sights, we think, on the Gulf of Mexico.

Cuba, it appears, though, will be spared a direct hit, but even a glancing blow could be horrendous.

CNN's Lucia Newman is in the western town of Pinar del Rio with the latest.

Hi, there, Lucia.

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Betty.

Well, as you say, it may be Havana could be spared or maybe spared the worst of it. But not Pinar del Rio, which is on the far western tip of Cuba and which was already pounded by Hurricane Charley, exactly one month ago.

It's starting to rain a lot, as you can see. The winds are stronger, and it's expected that in the next few hours, hurricane- force winds will be pounding this province and this town.

There are hundreds and hundreds of tourists who have been evacuated to the main hotel here. Cuba's 78-year-old communist leader, Fidel Castro, is in the province, touring some of the evacuation centers. We understand he's going to set up shop at the main civil defense headquarters.

Electricity has been cut in the whole province to prevent people from being electrocuted, if and when power lines are down, and it's expected they will.

And obviously everyone living near coastal areas has been evacuated. There are 1.5 million Cubans who have been evacuated, from Pinar del Rio all the way Ciego de Avila in central Cuba, because there is fear that the storm will turn to the right once it clears the western tip of this island. There could be storm surges even throughout the north and even as close as Havana -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Lucia Newman, thank you so much for that report.

We want now to turn to a loaded issue between pro- and anti-gun groups. Today, the federal 10-year ban on assault weapons expires. Congress failed to reauthorize the ban enacted during the Clinton administration.

Anti-gun groups say allowing firearms like AK-47s back on the streets will lead to increased crime, but many gun shop owners say they don't expect a jump in sales.

CNNfn's Ceci Rodgers reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CECI RODGERS, CNNFN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Gun manufacturers have been gearing up for this day. Despite pleas from police agencies, politicians and gun control group, Congress is letting a decade-long ban on military-style semiautomatic weapons expire.

SARAH BRADY, GUN CONTROL ADVOCATE: The American public needs to know and understand that the assault weapons are coming, AK-47s, Uzis, and clips of up to 100 rounds back on our city streets.

RODGERS: But gun makers like Mark Westrom, who's preparing to manufacture the so-called pre-ban rifles as early as Tuesday, say they're seeing a trickle, not a surge in orders from their customers.

MARK WESTROM, PRESIDENT, ARMALITE INC.: The uptick of interest that we're seeing is not enough to bring us back to last year's sales level. So, it's -- the people who think there's going to be a sudden rush and an outpouring of firearms onto the streets are absolutely incorrect. It's -- it's not happening.

RODGERS: Armalite expects to ship about 30 of the pre-ban rifles a day, beginning sometime this week.

(on camera): One of the many reasons Armalite is not seeing a huge surge in demand is that its semiautomatic rifles like this one were still on the market the past ten years, in a stripped down version that met the letter of the law.

(voice-over): The law banned 19 specific models, large capacity ammunition magazines, and other weapons with certain military features.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The pre-ban guns could have five features not allowed during the post-ban period: a flash suppressor or a grenade launcher mounted up here, a bayonet lug, a pistol grip, and a collapsing butt stock.

RODGERS: The National Rifle Association calls it a cosmetic ban. It was easy to get around, and Armalite did, producing more of the rifles than ever before in the past decade. Similar to a hunting rifle, collectors and serious target shooters bought them.

WESTROM: Ten years ago, misuse of rifles of any sort, especially of our type was vanishingly small. It still is.

RODGERS: So, what happens next in the battle over guns? Both those for and against bans say it likely hinges on who wins the White House in November.

Ceci Rodgers, CNN financial news, Geneseo, Illinois.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Those affected by the 2002 Washington area sniper shootings are speaking out in support of the assault ban.

In Montgomery County, Maryland, today Congressional lawmakers came together with relatives of sniper victims and trauma doctors. They urged last minute passage of the extension.

One lawmaker warned if the ban expires weapons of war could end up on the nation's streets.

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is blasting President Bush over the end of the arms ban. Senator Kerry says the president failed Americans and their safety by not extending the assault weapons ban.

He spoke to supporters in Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And so, tomorrow, for the first time in 10 years, when a killer walks into a gun shop, when a terrorist goes a gun show somewhere in America, when they want to purchase an AK-47 or some other military assault weapon, they're going to hear one word: "Sure."

Today, George Bush chose to make the job of terrorists easier and make the job of America's police officers harder, and that's just plain wrong.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Senator Kerry unveiled his $5 billion crime plan at that event. He also picked up the endorsement of the National Association of Police Organizations.

Well, President Bush has not publicly commented on the expiration of the assault arms ban, but the White House did turn away a group of law enforcement officers who support the ban.

Meanwhile, President Bush is on the campaign trail in Michigan. He's making three stops there on his bus tour. Mr. Bush touted his health care agenda to voters in Muskegon. He also criticized his Democratic rival's planned stance on Social Security.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If you're a senior citizen, you don't have to worry about Social Security. If you're a Baby Boomer, you don't have to worry about Social Security. And by the way, you'll hear the same rhetoric you hear every campaign, believe me. You know? Don't worry -- "They're going to take away your Social Security check." It is the most tired, pathetic way to campaign for the presidency.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The presidential race is heating up. And you can get more coverage on CNN's "INSIDE POLITICS" with Judy Woodruff. Starting today and running through the election, her show spans 90 minutes, begins at a new time, 3:00 p.m. Eastern.

In today's edition, can John Kerry close the gap with President Bush? That's coming up right here on CNN.

Now we're getting our first glimpse of a recovering former President Clinton. He was spotted in his Chappaqua backyard over the weekend. Clinton was wearing a ball cap and a T-shirt.

He left a New York hospital last Friday to begin his recuperation from heart bypass surgery. The 58-year-old got a quadruple bypass, as you know. Blood vessels from his chest and leg were used to replace heart arteries which were more than 90 percent blocked.

NGUYEN: In medical news now, the risk of suicide in children who take antidepressants. Federal health advisers are meeting today to determine if there is a link and whether stronger warning labels are needed.

CNN medical correspondent Christy Feig is monitoring that meeting from Washington, and she joins us now.

Hi there.

CHRISTY FEIG, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right. This issue has been debated for about a year now, and now an advisory committee to the FDA is sifting through all that data, trying to determine whether or not antidepressants could actually increase a depressed child's risk of attempting suicide.

It's a very emotional and controversial issue.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FEIG: Mathy Milling Downling outgoing and active 12-year-old daughter Candace (ph) was becomingly increasingly anxious about school issues, so doctors prescribed her a common antidepressant. A few weeks later, she committed suicide.

MATHY MILLING DOWNLING, DAUGHTER COMMITTEE SUICIDE: We had no indication that anything like this could possibly happen. Our child was never sad. There was never any point where she said, "I don't think life is worth living."

FEIG: Chris Drell was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 11. He credits similar antidepressants with saving his life.

CHRIS DRELL, TAKES ANTIDEPRESSANTS: I couldn't deal with anything, and I couldn't deal with life, couldn't deal with the depressed feeling that I had, the bad feeling that I had. I knew that I didn't want to deal with it, and I had to die.

FEIG: Currently the only antidepressant approved by the FDA for use in children is Prozac.

But it doesn't work for every child. And there's nothing illegal about a doctor's prescribing any adult antidepressant for kids. And that's what Candace (ph) and Chris' doctors did.

Now evidence is surfacing that some antidepressants that work well in adults may not work in children at all, or may actually increase suicidal tendencies in teens.

Even so, some who work with depressed children don't want to be limited to just Prozac.

DR. ADELAIDE ROBB, CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER: I don't think they're dangerous but they need to be monitored closely.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEIG: The committee will continue their discussion all day tomorrow. Then they'll make a recommendation on whether there's enough science to say these drugs are dangerous. After that, it's up to the FDA to decide how to advise doctors -- Betty.

NGUYEN: But in the meantime, Christy, what should parents do if they are giving their children these types of medication?

FEIG: It's tough for parents to hear right now, because there's not a lot they can do, because the evidence goes both ways.

What experts will say they should do is watch their children closely. There are certain signs they can look for: whether their agitation is increasing; whether the hostilities are increasing; anything they're saying that might indicate they're showing interest in harming themselves. Experts will say watch your child very closely. They say this for doctors and for parents: Now is not a time to let your guard down.

NGUYEN: Christy Feig, thank you so much -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: A satellite picked it up, and then everybody started talking about it. Nuke or not, North Korea is back in the spotlight as the world ponders how to deal with a dangerous situation

And Batman and Robin breached security at Buckingham Palace. We just missed the live shot. He took off his mask. We had a sneak peek at the lone ranger. Well, if you're just tuning in, it's the video of the day. We'll tell what you the heck is going on.

And just barely squeaking past this little guy, never fear, you'll get another chance to see the surfing Jack Russell terrier in a few.

LIVE FROM hangs 10 or 20 or however many toes dogs have, right after this.

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

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PHILLIPS: Straight to London, live pictures now, Batman revealed. Off with the mask, on with the hard hat. He's -- he can no longer picket because the cherry picker is taking him down.

As you know, we've been following this for a couple hours now. This man, Jason Hatch, 33, is a protester. He was representing an organization called Fathers for Justice Group. It's a campaign for greater custody rights for divorced or separated fathers.

Well, he had made a security breach entering into Buckingham Palace and sort of was dangling off the ledge there after posting his banner.

The royal family not there. We are told that Queen Elizabeth and her family has been in Scotland, so it really wasn't too much of a threat with regard to the royals.

But obviously, the protester happy that he made his point, whatever that was, standing on the ledge in a Batman suit. Now he's making his way, sort of a ceremonial wave, I guess you could say, not as good as Queen Elizabeth.

But we'll continue to follow up what happens to him -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Inside the heart of Iraq's Sunni Triangle. U.S. warplanes attacked the city of Fallujah again today, this time targeting a meeting of suspected terrorists, but there are reports women and children were among the wounded.

Our Walter Rodgers reports.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. Air Force F-16s dropped two 500-pound bombs on what the military called, quote, "a confirmed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi terrorist meeting site in Fallujah."

Zarqawi has a $25 million bounty on his head. The Americans believe he is orchestrating murderous attacks on coalition forces and Iraqi civilians.

Iraq's Ministry of Health reports 20 people were killed, 38 others wounded. Among them, five women and children. The U.S. military reports 25 of Zarqawi's fighters were killed in the latest bid to decapitate insurgent resistance using air power.

The outgoing Marine commander says Fallujah has become a cancer.

LT. GEN. JAMES CONWAY, U.S. MARINES: Frankly the Marines we have here right now could crush the city and be done with business in four days. But that is not what we're going to do.

Frankly, we can contain Fallujah like we've been doing now for quite some time. And so, there's no immediate sense of immediacy or urgency, I believe, associated with it.

RODGERS: Perhaps, but here in the Iraqi capital itself, the insurgents seem to be getting more powerful rather than being contained.

Over the weekend at times, it seemed to literally rain rockets and mortars in Baghdad and the devastating effect of car bombings and about 80 Iraqis died nationwide Sunday alone.

One of the worst incidents was when insurgents hit this Bradley fighting vehicle. The crew was evacuated safely. Then jubilant Iraqis danced around the burning Bradley, celebrating.

A U.S. helicopter sent in to destroy the Bradley killed at least 22 Iraqis, including this Al Arabiya TV journalist. His last words, "I'm dying. I'm dying."

America's allies continue to die here, as well. Sunday, three Polish soldiers were killed in an ambush; three others were wounded.

(on camera): A top U.S. general predicts this latest spike in violence will continue at least through the U.S. presidential elections in November. Many here believe it will bleed into the Iraqi elections in December and January, and nobody in Iraq is willing to predict when this violence will end.

Walter Rodgers, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: North Korea says a mysterious large cloud that showed up on satellite images last week was part of a demolition project, but the blast has renewed concerns about the country's possible nuclear weapons ambitions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: This is not just the United States that has said that there needs to be a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. It is North Korea's neighbors, with which they have a lot at stake, places like China, with which they have a lot at stake.

And so, the North Koreans would only succeed in isolating themselves further if they're somehow trying to gain negotiating leverage or their own October surprise, we'll never know, it will serve to further isolate themselves even further.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Joining us now to discuss the issue, Jim Walsh, executive director of the Managing the Atom Project at Harvard University's JFK School of Government.

Jim, great to see you.

JIM WALSH, JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT: Good to see you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. So, how do we know this is not a nuclear blast?

WALSH: There are a couple of things that would tell us that.

First of all, there's nothing in the atmosphere. There's no fallout. There's no nuclear material that's been spread around that's been picked up by sensors or detectors that you expect to see if, in fact, this was a nuclear blast.

And then secondly, I think the second big indicator here is that the North Koreans are going to allow British and other diplomats to come visit the site. I don't think they'd let them visit the site if, in fact, it had been a test site.

PHILLIPS: All right. Well, it was said that this was a power -- like you said, going to build a power plant, but missiles are stored there, too, right?

WALSH: That's right. There are missiles there and there's also allegedly an enrichment facility in the area.

And it comes at a time when people are speculating or at least the U.S. intelligence community is speculating as to whether North Korea might test a nuclear device, as Condoleezza Rice, said prior to election. In fact, her appearance on the show sort of warning the North Koreans that it was a bad idea gives some credence to the notion that the administration is somewhat concerned about that.

PHILLIPS: When's the last time British inspectors were allowed in there?

WALSH: Well, no inspectors have been allowed in quite sometime. You'll remember that jut prior to the Iraq war, there was a series of steps that the North Koreans took.

They broke the seals on IAEA, International Atomic Energy Agency equipment. They kicked inspectors out. They moved the plutonium rods.

So, it's been sometime, well over a year, since people have been on the ground in Pyongyang or elsewhere to look at North Korea's nuclear assets. PHILLIPS: Now, the president got this note from intelligence talking about testing -- testing nukes. What do we know about what intel told the president? What kind of weight does it carry? And could something like this happen before the election, and if so, why?

WALSH: All good questions.

As to the intelligence itself, at least it's been reported so far. There has been a report that has gone to the president saying this is a possibility, but there appears to are intense disagreement, as there was during the lead-up to the war in Iraq, about the nature of this intelligence.

Does it really mean North Korea's planning to test, or does it mean that they are simply engaging in other activity or trying to gain leverage in advance of negotiations? That's unclear, and I think there is a disagreement within the intelligence community about that.

Why would they test? Well, I actually don't think they would test. I think that would be against their own self-interests, and they're unlikely to do it, if they did test, perhaps they do it, again, to gain leverage before six party talks or to somehow influence the U.S. election, although I think that would be ill conceived if they tried to do it.

PHILLIPS: Jim, meanwhile, tell us about the delegation you're going to have at Harvard?

WALSH: Well, that's another reason why I don't think they're going to test. I think the North Koreans have been somewhat on a peace offensive over the last period, the last several months.

And I'm happy to say that Harvard University, as well as Stanford, are going to host a delegation from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. And we're going to sit down and talk about some of the very issues you and I have been discussing.

PHILLIPS: Well, it's going to be interesting to see your lineup. Jim Walsh at Harvard. Thanks so much.

WALSH: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: All right. Betty.

NGUYEN: On an election year, after you've raked the leaves, settle in for the upcoming presidential debates. We have a quick preview of what to look for when Bush and Kerry go head-to-head. That's coming up.

And illegal love, a cat and a duck living together in Canada? The latest twist in the case that has our feathers ruffled.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Rhonda Schaffler in New York, a major airline lands in bankruptcy court. What does that mean for its flyers? I'll have a report coming up.

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PHILLIPS: News across America now.

Another booby-trapped letter bound for governor's office has been intercepted. It showed up in the postage handling facility for Virginia's governor. The envelope is rigged to ignite when opened.

At least 15 other state leaders have also been targeted. The letters with the same return address, a prison in Nevada.

An Ohio woman's exotic pet collection turns deadly. The woman was fatally bitten by a viper. When authorities visited her home, they found at least nine venomous snakes and more than a dozen other snakes, lizards and alligators.

And check this out. We're just throwing this in because look at picture. You can't beat it. La Jolla, California. This is Zoe, the surfing Jack Russell terrier. Zoe's owner, Scott Chandler, says that she's been surfing since she was a puppy and really gets upset when you don't take her out.

Happy ending for an unusual pair of friends in Kitchener, Ontario. A law restricting ducks as pets threatened to break up Bailey and her best friend, Molly the cat. It's animal hour right now. But hundreds of families came forward willing to take in the pair, and now they're headed to a foster home.

NGUYEN: One lucky duck.

All right. Well, a major air carrier has landed in bankruptcy. What does that mean for its flyers?

We want to go now to our business guru, Rhonda Schaffler, who joins us now from the New York Stock Exchange.

Hi there, Rhonda. What does this mean for travelers?

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

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