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U.S. Military Ramps Up Hunt for Abu Musab Al Zarqawi; Count on a Recount?
Aired October 19, 2004 - 13:33 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.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Martha Stewart's stock broker is at the heart of her appeal of her stock case conviction. Sources say her lawyers will file a brief tomorrow contending Stewart's Sixth Amendment right to confront a witness was violated during her trial. Her defense team was never able to cross-examine her former stock broker, because he never took the stand, but his damaging testimony from an audio taped interview was used.
British authorities are charging radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza Al Masri with 10 counts of soliciting to murder. He is also accused of inciting racial hatred. Al Masri allegedly urged followers to kill non-Muslims. The charge has put on hold an extradition request by the U.S..
Charity worker hostage -- Iraqi militants have abducted the head of CARE International in Baghdad. Margaret Hassan was grabbed this morning. The exact details surrounding her abduction have not been released. Her kidnappers have not issued any demands.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. military ramps up the hunt for Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, the Al Qaeda mastermind who recently pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden on an Islamic Web site. Recent airstrikes on Falluja have already targeted Zarqawi and his followers.
Barbara Starr joins us from the Pentagon with details of a new campaign into getting someone on the ground to turn him in -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, as you say, the airstrikes have been going on for days. That's just one step in the effort now. U.S. military sources tell us that the military and the Iraqis are passing out a number of pictures of Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, passing them out in areas around Falluja and around Baghdad.
Let's look at just one of these posters being put up. This note that there is a $25 million reward for the terrorist leader. It quotes some of his sayings, the responsibility that he has taken for a number of suicide attacks and bombing attacks in Iraq in recent weeks and months.
Some of the other pictures, posters, cards that are being passed out include this one here. You can see that it gives phone numbers, e-mails, urges Iraqis, anybody who has information, to contact the coalition and turn in Zarqawi.
There are also these cards, which are being passed out specifically to Iraqis in these areas, basically talking about the fact that Zarqawi is killing Iraqis, urging those Iraqi citizens to turn him in.
Language on this card says that this person who bears this card has information about Zarqawi. Their hope is that the Iraqis will bring these cards to coalition or U.S. soldiers and say the that they have information about him.
This is the latest effort to just try to get Abu Musab Al Zarqawi. It's problematic whether it will work at the end of the day. He is believed to be sheltered by supporters somewhere in either the Falluja or Baghdad area.
But all of this, Kyra, part of a stepped-up campaign, even after these bombing attacks, to publicly tighten the noose around him and his network, if you will, to make them feel the heat, feel the pressure, make a mistake, start to move around. And the hope is that that is one way they may catch him.
Just by way of example, in a press release yesterday from the U.S. military about one of their recent bombing attacks, they had some very unusual language. They said that they had basically, some of these bombing attacks had killed some of Zarqawi's associates, that replacements had been put into place, and that this was forcing a revamping of the Zarqawi network.
Now all of this sounds like top-secret intelligence that reporters and the news media don't normally get in those press handouts, but they put it in one of those, clearly wanting it to be reported, wanting the information to get out there, and wanting Zarqawi to feel the heat -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Barbara, real quickly, about the flyers, how effective have those been in the past. I was just trying to remember the last valuable individual or high-threat target that was actually turned in because someone saw one of these flyers.
STARR: Well, in Iraq, as you say, they've been regular technique. There was were the playing cards during the war. A number of people found by having those images out there. Saddam Hussein's sons, by all accounts, they were turned in by someone who knew where they were hiding out. And that person, by all accounts, may have collected the reward, although they both died in a brutal shootout with U.S. military forces.
Saddam Hussein also a reward on his head, not knowing in particular exactly how they came to find him in his spider hole. And of course there still is an outstanding reward for Osama bin Laden.
But really, it appears these rewards work if, in fact, the person is not in an area where they are very deeply sheltered by sympathizers. So far Zarqawi appears to be sheltered, as does Osama bin Laden. No immediate indication anybody's going to give up either of those most-wanted men -- Kyra.
Barbara Starr, thanks so much.
HARRIS: And, Kyra, as we mentioned at the top of the hour, John Kerry is in Pennsylvania, that crucial battleground state. There he is in Wilkes-Barre, to be exact, and the senator is talking about Social Security and his plans to balance the budget. From Wilkes- Barre, it is on to Dayton.
Meanwhile, heaping to avoid the chaos of chads and butterfly ballots of 2000, election officials are using provisional ballots, early ballots, absentee ballots and new electronic voting machines. But in Florida yesterday, the glitches showed up almost as soon as the early voters did. Although most of the problems were minor, CNN's Lisa Sylvester says, battles are brewing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): After Florida in 2000, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act. It gave states nearly $3 billion to upgrade their voting systems. But even with the new law, this year's election results could end up right back in court.
ROBERT RICHIE, CENTER FOR VOTING AND DEMOCRACY: If it's within a thousand votes, as it was in Florida, in a key swing state that decides the presidency, I think it's -- the odds are that the Supreme Court will once again be making a decisive decision that easily could be seen as tipping the vote one way or the other.
SYLVESTER: One out of four voters is expected to use new electronic voting machines. But of the 29 states using e-voting, only Nevada has a paper trail to verify results.
PROF. AVI RUBIN, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY: If there's any kind of controversy, we have nothing that we can do to get reassurance that we have the right answer.
SYLVESTER: Other issues could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court in a close election.
Absentee ballots in Pennsylvania were sent out late. A lawsuit is seeking to give overseas voters an extra two weeks to mail them back. A ballot amendment in Colorado would split the nine electoral votes and could ultimately decide who is the next president. In states like Ohio, provisional ballots are being debated by the courts.
The Help America Vote Act requires ballots be given to voters whose names do not show up on the voter rolls. If it's later proven they are registered, the provisional ballots are supposed to count.
DOUG CHAPIN, ELECTIONLINE.ORG: What we're seeing, though, is that different states interpret the provisional voting requirement differently, meaning that voters in some states will have their provisional ballots counted and others will not, especially those voters who don't go to the right precinct and cast their ballot.
SYLVESTER: And then there are 18 states, including Missouri, that are still using the old punch-card technology. So, just like 2000, this election could hinge again on those dangling and hanging chads. (on camera): One problem is that there are no uniform standards. Congress appropriated money to upgrade the election systems, but many states left it up to the counties to decide what action to take. So battleground state Ohio, for instance, has four different voting systems.
Lisa Sylvester, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: The "Democracy at Risk" series continues tonight on CNN. "Where's the Money?" tracks what happened to the $3 billion allocated to improve elections this year. That story and more on "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" at 6:00 Easter.
Also ahead on CNN, the Nader factor -- many Democrats called him a spoiler in 2000. Could he affect the outcome of this year's election? Join Wolf Blitzer for this and more as he hosts today's edition of "JUDY WOODRUFF'S INSIDE POLITICS" at 3:00 Eastern.
PHILLIPS: And straight ahead -- mere moments in a lifetime captured forever thanks to the lens of a camera and the eye of an artist. We're going to focus on a brand new book for those who love to take pictures or just look at them -- next on LIVE FROM.
ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DONNA ROSATO, WRITER, "MONEY: November and early December are fantastic times to go to Hawaii. There really is no off-season for Hawaii. June is a very popular time. A lot of honeymooners go there. Also, early fall.
But if you go in late fall, in November/early December, outside of the holidays, you'll find fewer crowds, fewer people, and better deals. And you'll have an easier time getting into some of those hard-to-get resorts. It will be easier to land an ocean-view room if you go this time of year.
The weather is temperate all year around. Early December you may have a little bit of rain, but in general, you should still have the fabulous Hawaiian weather, which is 80 degrees and sunny.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Have you been watching this great baseball this postseason? For a second straight night, the Boston Red Sox rallied in extra innings to defeat the New York Yankees. The game went 14 innings! And it lasted nearly six hours -- the longest ever in postseason play. The Yankees still lead the series 3-2.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... in the air. We go to St. Louis, where Houston is up three games to two. HARRIS: And a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth gave the Houston Astros a win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The Astros now lead the National League Championship Series three games to two.
PHILLIPS: In other sporting news, boxing moves to the center of the ring today in history: Boxing great Evander Holyfield, born on this day in 1962. He K.O.ed Buster Douglas to become world heavyweight champion in 1990 and held the crown off and on throughout much of the decade.
And boxer Mike Tyson got his boxing license back in the state in 1998. It was suspended after, you remember, he bit Holyfield in the ear twice in a famous rematch in 1997.
Let's check the markets. Check in with Rhonda Schaffler now from the New York Stock Exchange -- Rhonda?
RHONDA SCHAFFLER, CNN SR. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra. We're going to tell you all the latest from the markets, and also let you know about Social Security checks, which will be bigger this year, but they might not be big enough to cover all the bills.
I'll add it all up for you when CNN's LIVE FROM comes right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, for years we have all at some point been touched by a very telling photo in the pages of "National Geographic." Maybe it this one -- Tom Abercrombie's iconic image of an Afghan woman with caged birds atop of her head. The message is clear.
Or maybe it was this picture taken by David Alan Harvey. She's one of the first women admitted to the Coast Guard's Officer Candidate School. She's cleaning her M-1 rifle.
Or maybe you recall this precious photo captured by Dean Conger. This child near the Arctic Circle gives her age in response to Dean's question -- "I'm four," she says.
Well, these are three of 280 pictures "In Focus: National Geographic's Greatest Portraits," a new lavish coffee table book that's out now.
Earlier, I spoke with photographer Robb Kendrick.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: We've got this video of you sort of in action with this cowboy. Tell us where you are and tell us how you got him to relax.
ROBB KENDRICK, PHOTOGRAPHER: OK, this is on a ranch in Texas, And i was out photographing him using the old, historic tin type process, which is from the 1880s. And basically it's just walking the person through a very laborious process and showing them what I'm going to be doing, because this process requires the subject to really be relaxed and commit to a long exposure. So, you know, spending time with these people and letting them come in the dark room that I take behind my truck with me when I'm shooting this way gives them a sense of confidence in what's going on.
PHILLIPS: How do you get them to relax? Because, I mean, as you look at this video and the process, it takes a lot of time, there's a lot of things going on, and if you're not comfortable in front of the camera, it can be a stressful process.
KENDRICK: Well, I think, you know, the thing with "National Geographic" is they've always given the photographers time and resources to spend with the subjects, so you're not in there rushing for two or three hours with the subject. You can spend days at a place to get to know people, so their guard can really drop, and you get to know them as a person and they get to know you as a person, so they don't just become a piece of a puzzle; they become somebody that you get to know in an intimate way.
PHILLIPS: Why tin type?
KENDRICK: About five years ago, I guess I was having a midlife crisis, and I was a little bit bored with 35 millimeter, and I'd collected tin types for 18 years. So I just decided to learn the process, and I've been fortunate that "National Geographic" has supported me in using this process on a few projects.
PHILLIPS: One of your photos, it's the cover of the book.
KENDRICK: Right.
PHILLIPS: Tell us about the rancher's daughter.
KENDRICK: This was shot near Elko, Nevada for "National Geographic." It's in the October issue this month as a feature story. And this young girl was -- I was actually photographing her father, who's the cow boss on the Maggie Crick (ph) Ranch near Elko, and she came down to watch her father get his photograph taken, because they told her it would be with a historic process, and she has an interest in fashion design from that period, and so she came down, and I saw her with this flat brimmed hat on and asked her if I could take her picture and she was just -- turned out to be a great subject.
PHILLIPS: She's striking.
Well, on a personal level, I love these pictures of you with your family in the lavender fields. You're such an interesting character. From tin type to the lavender field, tell me how you decided to live on a lavender field?
KENDRICK: Well, we already live in a rural area on a piece of property, and hay doesn't make any money. And I was on a "National Geographic" story about perfume and the production of perfume all over the world. And I was in Provence, France, and it was a very hot climate where they grow it, and I live in Texas where it is hot, and so just I got the idea to try it, and it's blossomed into a -- literally blossomed into a 10-acre project, and a different business. PHILLIPS: Well, I can relate. Mom and I went to Provence and those lavender fields. The lavender fields and the irises are pretty much unbelievable.
KENDRICK: Exactly.
PHILLIPS: Our freckled friend at the rodeo. This picture of yours is in the book. Tell us about this guy.
KENDRICK: Right. He was at the rodeo when I was photographing on this assignment, and you know, there was a lot of cowboys around, and this guy was the opposite of a cowboy, and you know, very interesting face. But he also kind of represented the flavor of Elko, which has everything from cowboys to gold miners to gamblers to, you know, legalized prostitution. So it was just -- he was one of the interesting characters that came out of that trip.
PHILLIPS: Wow. Well, Rob, you definitely have the eye. The book is "In Focus: National Geographic's Greatest Portraits." Also, I've got to tell folks to check out your Web site, all kinds of neat stuff and beautiful pictures of the lavender fields.
KENDRICK: All right, thanks for having me.
PHILLIPS: Rob Kendrick, it was a pleasure. Thank you.
KENDRICK: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: This LIVE FROM moves, doesn't it?
PHILLIPS: Yes, we're almost finished.
HARRIS: My goodness.
(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)
PHILLIPS: Coming up in the second hour of LIVE FROM, flu shots in the spotlight. Americans make a run for the border.
HARRIS: The northern border to get their vaccines. And we expect to hear from Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson live.
LIVE FROM'S hour of power begins after this.
PHILLIPS: Very good, Tony.
(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 October 19, 2004 - 13:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Martha Stewart's stock broker is at the heart of her appeal of her stock case conviction. Sources say her lawyers will file a brief tomorrow contending Stewart's Sixth Amendment right to confront a witness was violated during her trial. Her defense team was never able to cross-examine her former stock broker, because he never took the stand, but his damaging testimony from an audio taped interview was used.
British authorities are charging radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza Al Masri with 10 counts of soliciting to murder. He is also accused of inciting racial hatred. Al Masri allegedly urged followers to kill non-Muslims. The charge has put on hold an extradition request by the U.S..
Charity worker hostage -- Iraqi militants have abducted the head of CARE International in Baghdad. Margaret Hassan was grabbed this morning. The exact details surrounding her abduction have not been released. Her kidnappers have not issued any demands.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. military ramps up the hunt for Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, the Al Qaeda mastermind who recently pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden on an Islamic Web site. Recent airstrikes on Falluja have already targeted Zarqawi and his followers.
Barbara Starr joins us from the Pentagon with details of a new campaign into getting someone on the ground to turn him in -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, as you say, the airstrikes have been going on for days. That's just one step in the effort now. U.S. military sources tell us that the military and the Iraqis are passing out a number of pictures of Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, passing them out in areas around Falluja and around Baghdad.
Let's look at just one of these posters being put up. This note that there is a $25 million reward for the terrorist leader. It quotes some of his sayings, the responsibility that he has taken for a number of suicide attacks and bombing attacks in Iraq in recent weeks and months.
Some of the other pictures, posters, cards that are being passed out include this one here. You can see that it gives phone numbers, e-mails, urges Iraqis, anybody who has information, to contact the coalition and turn in Zarqawi.
There are also these cards, which are being passed out specifically to Iraqis in these areas, basically talking about the fact that Zarqawi is killing Iraqis, urging those Iraqi citizens to turn him in.
Language on this card says that this person who bears this card has information about Zarqawi. Their hope is that the Iraqis will bring these cards to coalition or U.S. soldiers and say the that they have information about him.
This is the latest effort to just try to get Abu Musab Al Zarqawi. It's problematic whether it will work at the end of the day. He is believed to be sheltered by supporters somewhere in either the Falluja or Baghdad area.
But all of this, Kyra, part of a stepped-up campaign, even after these bombing attacks, to publicly tighten the noose around him and his network, if you will, to make them feel the heat, feel the pressure, make a mistake, start to move around. And the hope is that that is one way they may catch him.
Just by way of example, in a press release yesterday from the U.S. military about one of their recent bombing attacks, they had some very unusual language. They said that they had basically, some of these bombing attacks had killed some of Zarqawi's associates, that replacements had been put into place, and that this was forcing a revamping of the Zarqawi network.
Now all of this sounds like top-secret intelligence that reporters and the news media don't normally get in those press handouts, but they put it in one of those, clearly wanting it to be reported, wanting the information to get out there, and wanting Zarqawi to feel the heat -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Barbara, real quickly, about the flyers, how effective have those been in the past. I was just trying to remember the last valuable individual or high-threat target that was actually turned in because someone saw one of these flyers.
STARR: Well, in Iraq, as you say, they've been regular technique. There was were the playing cards during the war. A number of people found by having those images out there. Saddam Hussein's sons, by all accounts, they were turned in by someone who knew where they were hiding out. And that person, by all accounts, may have collected the reward, although they both died in a brutal shootout with U.S. military forces.
Saddam Hussein also a reward on his head, not knowing in particular exactly how they came to find him in his spider hole. And of course there still is an outstanding reward for Osama bin Laden.
But really, it appears these rewards work if, in fact, the person is not in an area where they are very deeply sheltered by sympathizers. So far Zarqawi appears to be sheltered, as does Osama bin Laden. No immediate indication anybody's going to give up either of those most-wanted men -- Kyra.
Barbara Starr, thanks so much.
HARRIS: And, Kyra, as we mentioned at the top of the hour, John Kerry is in Pennsylvania, that crucial battleground state. There he is in Wilkes-Barre, to be exact, and the senator is talking about Social Security and his plans to balance the budget. From Wilkes- Barre, it is on to Dayton.
Meanwhile, heaping to avoid the chaos of chads and butterfly ballots of 2000, election officials are using provisional ballots, early ballots, absentee ballots and new electronic voting machines. But in Florida yesterday, the glitches showed up almost as soon as the early voters did. Although most of the problems were minor, CNN's Lisa Sylvester says, battles are brewing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): After Florida in 2000, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act. It gave states nearly $3 billion to upgrade their voting systems. But even with the new law, this year's election results could end up right back in court.
ROBERT RICHIE, CENTER FOR VOTING AND DEMOCRACY: If it's within a thousand votes, as it was in Florida, in a key swing state that decides the presidency, I think it's -- the odds are that the Supreme Court will once again be making a decisive decision that easily could be seen as tipping the vote one way or the other.
SYLVESTER: One out of four voters is expected to use new electronic voting machines. But of the 29 states using e-voting, only Nevada has a paper trail to verify results.
PROF. AVI RUBIN, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY: If there's any kind of controversy, we have nothing that we can do to get reassurance that we have the right answer.
SYLVESTER: Other issues could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court in a close election.
Absentee ballots in Pennsylvania were sent out late. A lawsuit is seeking to give overseas voters an extra two weeks to mail them back. A ballot amendment in Colorado would split the nine electoral votes and could ultimately decide who is the next president. In states like Ohio, provisional ballots are being debated by the courts.
The Help America Vote Act requires ballots be given to voters whose names do not show up on the voter rolls. If it's later proven they are registered, the provisional ballots are supposed to count.
DOUG CHAPIN, ELECTIONLINE.ORG: What we're seeing, though, is that different states interpret the provisional voting requirement differently, meaning that voters in some states will have their provisional ballots counted and others will not, especially those voters who don't go to the right precinct and cast their ballot.
SYLVESTER: And then there are 18 states, including Missouri, that are still using the old punch-card technology. So, just like 2000, this election could hinge again on those dangling and hanging chads. (on camera): One problem is that there are no uniform standards. Congress appropriated money to upgrade the election systems, but many states left it up to the counties to decide what action to take. So battleground state Ohio, for instance, has four different voting systems.
Lisa Sylvester, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: The "Democracy at Risk" series continues tonight on CNN. "Where's the Money?" tracks what happened to the $3 billion allocated to improve elections this year. That story and more on "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" at 6:00 Easter.
Also ahead on CNN, the Nader factor -- many Democrats called him a spoiler in 2000. Could he affect the outcome of this year's election? Join Wolf Blitzer for this and more as he hosts today's edition of "JUDY WOODRUFF'S INSIDE POLITICS" at 3:00 Eastern.
PHILLIPS: And straight ahead -- mere moments in a lifetime captured forever thanks to the lens of a camera and the eye of an artist. We're going to focus on a brand new book for those who love to take pictures or just look at them -- next on LIVE FROM.
ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DONNA ROSATO, WRITER, "MONEY: November and early December are fantastic times to go to Hawaii. There really is no off-season for Hawaii. June is a very popular time. A lot of honeymooners go there. Also, early fall.
But if you go in late fall, in November/early December, outside of the holidays, you'll find fewer crowds, fewer people, and better deals. And you'll have an easier time getting into some of those hard-to-get resorts. It will be easier to land an ocean-view room if you go this time of year.
The weather is temperate all year around. Early December you may have a little bit of rain, but in general, you should still have the fabulous Hawaiian weather, which is 80 degrees and sunny.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Have you been watching this great baseball this postseason? For a second straight night, the Boston Red Sox rallied in extra innings to defeat the New York Yankees. The game went 14 innings! And it lasted nearly six hours -- the longest ever in postseason play. The Yankees still lead the series 3-2.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... in the air. We go to St. Louis, where Houston is up three games to two. HARRIS: And a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth gave the Houston Astros a win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The Astros now lead the National League Championship Series three games to two.
PHILLIPS: In other sporting news, boxing moves to the center of the ring today in history: Boxing great Evander Holyfield, born on this day in 1962. He K.O.ed Buster Douglas to become world heavyweight champion in 1990 and held the crown off and on throughout much of the decade.
And boxer Mike Tyson got his boxing license back in the state in 1998. It was suspended after, you remember, he bit Holyfield in the ear twice in a famous rematch in 1997.
Let's check the markets. Check in with Rhonda Schaffler now from the New York Stock Exchange -- Rhonda?
RHONDA SCHAFFLER, CNN SR. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra. We're going to tell you all the latest from the markets, and also let you know about Social Security checks, which will be bigger this year, but they might not be big enough to cover all the bills.
I'll add it all up for you when CNN's LIVE FROM comes right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, for years we have all at some point been touched by a very telling photo in the pages of "National Geographic." Maybe it this one -- Tom Abercrombie's iconic image of an Afghan woman with caged birds atop of her head. The message is clear.
Or maybe it was this picture taken by David Alan Harvey. She's one of the first women admitted to the Coast Guard's Officer Candidate School. She's cleaning her M-1 rifle.
Or maybe you recall this precious photo captured by Dean Conger. This child near the Arctic Circle gives her age in response to Dean's question -- "I'm four," she says.
Well, these are three of 280 pictures "In Focus: National Geographic's Greatest Portraits," a new lavish coffee table book that's out now.
Earlier, I spoke with photographer Robb Kendrick.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: We've got this video of you sort of in action with this cowboy. Tell us where you are and tell us how you got him to relax.
ROBB KENDRICK, PHOTOGRAPHER: OK, this is on a ranch in Texas, And i was out photographing him using the old, historic tin type process, which is from the 1880s. And basically it's just walking the person through a very laborious process and showing them what I'm going to be doing, because this process requires the subject to really be relaxed and commit to a long exposure. So, you know, spending time with these people and letting them come in the dark room that I take behind my truck with me when I'm shooting this way gives them a sense of confidence in what's going on.
PHILLIPS: How do you get them to relax? Because, I mean, as you look at this video and the process, it takes a lot of time, there's a lot of things going on, and if you're not comfortable in front of the camera, it can be a stressful process.
KENDRICK: Well, I think, you know, the thing with "National Geographic" is they've always given the photographers time and resources to spend with the subjects, so you're not in there rushing for two or three hours with the subject. You can spend days at a place to get to know people, so their guard can really drop, and you get to know them as a person and they get to know you as a person, so they don't just become a piece of a puzzle; they become somebody that you get to know in an intimate way.
PHILLIPS: Why tin type?
KENDRICK: About five years ago, I guess I was having a midlife crisis, and I was a little bit bored with 35 millimeter, and I'd collected tin types for 18 years. So I just decided to learn the process, and I've been fortunate that "National Geographic" has supported me in using this process on a few projects.
PHILLIPS: One of your photos, it's the cover of the book.
KENDRICK: Right.
PHILLIPS: Tell us about the rancher's daughter.
KENDRICK: This was shot near Elko, Nevada for "National Geographic." It's in the October issue this month as a feature story. And this young girl was -- I was actually photographing her father, who's the cow boss on the Maggie Crick (ph) Ranch near Elko, and she came down to watch her father get his photograph taken, because they told her it would be with a historic process, and she has an interest in fashion design from that period, and so she came down, and I saw her with this flat brimmed hat on and asked her if I could take her picture and she was just -- turned out to be a great subject.
PHILLIPS: She's striking.
Well, on a personal level, I love these pictures of you with your family in the lavender fields. You're such an interesting character. From tin type to the lavender field, tell me how you decided to live on a lavender field?
KENDRICK: Well, we already live in a rural area on a piece of property, and hay doesn't make any money. And I was on a "National Geographic" story about perfume and the production of perfume all over the world. And I was in Provence, France, and it was a very hot climate where they grow it, and I live in Texas where it is hot, and so just I got the idea to try it, and it's blossomed into a -- literally blossomed into a 10-acre project, and a different business. PHILLIPS: Well, I can relate. Mom and I went to Provence and those lavender fields. The lavender fields and the irises are pretty much unbelievable.
KENDRICK: Exactly.
PHILLIPS: Our freckled friend at the rodeo. This picture of yours is in the book. Tell us about this guy.
KENDRICK: Right. He was at the rodeo when I was photographing on this assignment, and you know, there was a lot of cowboys around, and this guy was the opposite of a cowboy, and you know, very interesting face. But he also kind of represented the flavor of Elko, which has everything from cowboys to gold miners to gamblers to, you know, legalized prostitution. So it was just -- he was one of the interesting characters that came out of that trip.
PHILLIPS: Wow. Well, Rob, you definitely have the eye. The book is "In Focus: National Geographic's Greatest Portraits." Also, I've got to tell folks to check out your Web site, all kinds of neat stuff and beautiful pictures of the lavender fields.
KENDRICK: All right, thanks for having me.
PHILLIPS: Rob Kendrick, it was a pleasure. Thank you.
KENDRICK: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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PHILLIPS: Very good, Tony.
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