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Space Shuttle Discovery Prepares for Today's Launch; Former Soldier Charged with Rape and Murder in Iraq; Food Industry's Secret to Marketing; Kobayashi Wins Hot Dog Eating Title Again

Aired July 04, 2006 - 13:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, hello, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen and joined by Tony Harris, my partner in crime.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good to see you, Betty, from the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. A former soldier charged. Accusations of rape and murder in Iraq. I'll dig into the details with a spokesman for the multinational force in Iraq, Major General William Caldwell.

NGUYEN: Also with the shuttle liftoff, next hour. Will that take place, that's the big question. CNN's Miles O'Brien is on the scene with full coverage.

And from the fireworks to the infamous Coney Island hot dog contest, which just wrapped up, by the way. You have to see this. America celebrates the Fourth of July. Happy Fourth of July, folks. LIVE FROM starts right now.

HARRIS: Well, if all goes well, we're less than two hours away from the launch of space shuttle Discovery. The first two tries over the weekend were no-goes because of weather, but there's an 80 percent chance of fair skies today. The countdown continues despite a pencil- sized crack found yesterday in the foam insulation around the shuttle's fuel tank. NASA says a painstaking inspection showed nothing abnormal. And mission managers agree the shuttle is ready to go fly. Liftoff is scheduled for 2:38 p.m. eastern time.

NGUYEN: And this would be the first Fourth of July shuttle launch. The seven astronauts are suited up, they're ready to go, the twin brother of "Discovery's" pilot says the crew can't wait to finally get the mission under way. CNN's space correspondent Miles O'Brien is at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He's been following this all throughout every single stage of it. He'll be joining us with that.

HARRIS: So what do the skies look like? For that, we go to CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras in the CNN Weather Center. Hi, Jacqui.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well if all goes well, fireworks won't be the only things lighting up the sky on this Independence Day. Space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to blast off in just over an hour. Bad weather canceled those first two tries. Now a foam issue threatened today's attempt as well, so CNN's John Zarrella takes a look at all of this. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A tiny crack in foam insulation on the shuttle "Discovery's" external tank turned out not to be serious enough to ruin NASA's Fourth of July plans. After a lengthy management mission, the space agency decided the shuttle was good to go for launch.

WILLIAM GERSTENMAIER, ASSOCIATE NASA ADMINISTRATOR: Lots of discussions from many people during the review. A very good discussion across the team members but essentially no dissenting opinions with where we're going.

ZARRELLA: A routine inspection of the vehicle had found a five- inch long, one-eighth inch deep crack in the insulation on a bracket of the upper end of the external tank. A tiny chunk of foam that looked like a piece of bread crust was also found at the base of the vehicle.

GERSTENMAIER: This size foam loss is within our design criteria. It's acceptable to lose this size of foam.

ZARRELLA: Engineering teams spent the day Monday working three issues. Would the crack allow additional ice to build up in the area? Would the remaining foam stay in place? And would the tiny missing piece cause additional heat buildup? Engineers used a camera to get these close-up looks at the suspect area.

GERSTENMAIER: Those views show that foam is structurally intact. It shows that the gaps that are supposed to be there between the two pieces of remaining foam are clear of debris, there's no lose foam in there. It all looks fine and the structure is in good shape.

ZARRELLA: Foam insulation has been a major concern for the space agency since the Columbia accident. A piece of foam that broke off the tank and struck Columbia beached the heat shielding, causing Columbia to break up on re-entry. Last summer another piece of foam broke off Discovery but did not damage the vehicle. Space agency officials say this latest foam issue would not have gotten as much attention prior to Columbia.

John Zarrella, CNN, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And we want to take you now live to Florida, the Kennedy Space Center and our Miles O'Brien. Let me get this straight, Miles, so that little piece that fell off, they're not going to replace it and they're not going to put anything back in its place.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN SPACE CORRESPONDENT: No, it's not necessary. There's additional foam on this little bracket that actually gives them a margin for error here. There's two concerns in the foam. We talk all the time about how it keeps the cold on the inside, super cold liquid hydrogen, super cold liquid oxygen. It also protects against heating of the structure as the space shuttle reaches speeds of 17,500 miles an hour on assets. So it's a two-fer. Keeps the hot out and the cold in kind of thing.

And so they were analyzing it in both directions. An eighth of an inch depth flake, very thin, and there is plenty of margin on that strut there that made it possible for them to get comfortable with this. As a matter of fact, I talked to the NASA administrator not too long ago about this study and was asking him about the risk of this particular piece and whether NASA was kind of caught up in launch fever.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL GRIFFIN, NASA ADMINISTRATOR: The foam which can come off, has come off. If it had come off in flight, it would be no issue. It's half the size of the minimum threshold about which we are concerned.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: It weighs about the weight of a penny. So it really is a small piece, but the concern was, is this the beginning of another much larger piece coming off. And they have come to that conclusion that that is not the case. What we're watching right now, just to bring you up to date here as you look at these live pictures. It looks like a beautiful day doesn't it? It's beautiful blue skies here. Much better than we've been having in the afternoons over the two attempts over the weekend when we had a scrub.

The thing that we've got our eyes on right now, and I know you mentioned it briefly and Jacqui mentioned it, is this sea breeze which is set up, which is creating this little dry pocket of weather, we're kind of sandwiched between thunderstorms out to sea and internally in Florida.

But because of the way the sea breeze sets up, we're in a little dry pocket here. The problem is as that wind picks up, we run into the risk of a cross wind violation, in other words, too much of a cross wind for the shuttle if it were ever have to return here. That's never happened in 25 years of space shuttle flying but these are rules that they have to stick to.

So, we're watching that. The astronauts are strapped in. The closeout crew is about to get out of dodge, so to speak, pull out of the so-called white room which is like the jet way or the shuttle way I guess in this case. Make their way to roughly where we are, then it will be just the seven astronauts, 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and oxygen, some guys in a tank about a mile away. And we'll be waiting for that perfect moment when the space station is overhead and we can launch this shuttle like a football being tossed to a receiver at just the right moment.

NGUYEN: Well the skies are looking pretty good right now. Like you said, we will be waiting and watching. Miles will be here with us every step of the way as that countdown continues. Right now we're an hour and 28 minutes from launch time and when it does launch, we're going to take it right here live on CNN. So stay tuned for that. Talk to you soon, Miles. HARRIS: A demand for answers, a promise of justice. The pentagon, the FBI and officials in Iraq are all investigating an alleged home invasion, rape and mass murder in the small town of Mahmoudiya. If it's true, Iraq's justice minister calls it monstrous and inhuman. One former army private Steven Green is under arrest here in the U.S. At least three others are under investigation in Iraq.

CNN's Bob Franken has been looking into the case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He faces a possible death penalty. 21-year-old Steven Green accused of rape and murder. He's one of four investigators say participated in a brutal attack on an Iraqi woman and her family in Mahmoudiya, just south of Baghdad on March 12th. Authorities say Green and three others conspired to rape the 20-year-old woman.

And after a night of drinking the four went to the family's home. It's alleged that Green shot dead the woman's relatives including a 5- year-old girl. According to an FBI affidavit, Green and another soldier then raped the woman. The affidavit, quoting one of his comrades, says Green then shot her to death. To cover up their crimes, the four set the house and dead victims on fire.

According to the FBI, these latest accusations against members of the U.S. military in Iraq came to light just two weeks ago during stress debriefing of soldiers. Those debriefings followed the brutal killings by Iraqi insurgents of two U.S. soldiers kidnapped from a checkpoint.

They were members of the 101st airborne division, as was Green. He was arrested in Marion, North Carolina. He was initially held here in Charlotte, processed in a civilian, not a military court. Green had been honorably discharged from the army in March. He had left the military, said the FBI investigator due to personality disorder.

Private first class Green was last stationed at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, along with the others under investigation. Authorities plan to move him to Louisville, although they gave no timetable.

(on camera): This is one of several investigations. But U.S. officials continue to insist these are isolated incidents.

Bob Franken, CNN, Charlotte, North Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And still to come, the accusations and the accused. We will hear from Major General William Caldwell about the effect that these latest charges are having in Iraq.

NGUYEN: And our coverage of the space shuttle Discovery launch. We are counting down to liftoff in the next hour. You want to stay with us. We'll hear from the experts, the astronauts and the ever important families waiting to see Discovery launch into space.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK KELLY, DISCOVERY ASTRONAUT: I knew it was a risk on my first life. You know I knew there are risks involved now. The difference for me, personally, is seven of my friends died on Columbia not too long ago. So it's a little bit more -- a little bit more real, I think.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Look at that shot. Thank you, Scott. Look at that shot.

NGUYEN: Beautiful skies.

HARRIS: Skies seemingly improving.

NGUYEN: Well on an 80 percent chance of a launch today.

HARRIS: Of a go. Of a go.

NGUYEN: Yes.

NGUYEN: We are mindful of the wind speeds as Jacqui was talking about just a moment ago and there we have it, the wind speeds. Because the winds can be fine, the window may be perfectly clear for launch, but you also have to consider if there's a bit of a problem and you need to bring the shuttle back down ...

NGUYEN: Right.

HARRIS: ... the wind speeds have to be such that you can bring the shuttle back down safely in a slightly different area.

NGUYEN: Well it's like what Miles says, you know it's just like throwing a football to a receiver, it has to be just right. If you have a big old whiff of wind coming through, it could throw everything off.

HARRIS: It's not perfect. OK, and our launch scheduled for -- we're what, an hour 21 and counting to launch, 2:38 p.m. eastern time.

NGUYEN: See that blast off into the skies. But you can even see the heat there. You see those little waves of heat. It's hot down there, but hopefully it will lead to a nice launch day and we will be watching and bring it to you live.

HARRIS: On the Fourth of July.

NGUYEN: Yes happy Fourth of July, everybody.

Hey, speaking of, where were you 30 years ago today? July 4, 1976. America was gaga over the bicentennial. 200 years of independence. A huge celebration. Here's New York harbor 1976. The Coast Guard launched operation sail as a poignant image with the twin towers of the World Trade Center in the background, you see it there. In Philadelphia crowds gathered at Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed. That building in the center is the pavilion for the Liberty Bell.

And in Washington on this date back in 1976, people gathered at the Jefferson Memorial for a religious service. So is this bringing back any memories for you? We want to hear about them. What do you remember about the bicentennial. How did you experience it?

Boy there are some pretty fireworks right there. Tell us what you remember. E-mail us and do send some photos if have you some from July 4th, 1976. Send them to livefrom@CNN.com, we'll share some of those emails and pictures a little bit later.

HARRIS: I would have the Jackson Five afro.

NGUYEN: See now, I want to see that picture.

HARRIS: Yes, it would be -- oh, now it's all -- yes with a pencil in? Yes, yes, yes.

Well you ever get home from the supermarket with items not on your list? Well of course you have. Ever wonder why? Well the food industry knows a thing or two about marketing. Make that super- marketing. And CNN's Elizabeth Cohen reveals them in this report from "AMERICAN MORNING."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Enter, two shoppers with the same mission. Navigate a supermarket only slightly smaller than a football field. Chris Cotter shops with his children, Breann and Liam. His challenge?

CHRIS COTTER, SHOPPER: Trying to get a variety of different foods, to get the kids to eat it.

COHEN: And Danielle Hnatiuk and 2-month-old Isabella. Her challenge, impulse buys.

DANIELLE HNATIUK, SHOPPER: I know what I need and I know what I want and I shop. Unless I come here hungry.

COHEN: New York University nutrition professor Marion Nestle, who spent an entire year studying groceries for her book, "What to Eat", is closely monitoring their choices. Nestle warns that foods are packaged and placed in a way that says buy me. And the consumer has to buy smart.

MARION NESTLE, AUTHOR, "WHAT TO EAT": The entire purpose of the supermarket is to get you to buy more not less. Whether those foods are the best ones for you or not is really secondary.

Eenie, meenie, minie mo. OK. COHEN: Both our shoppers scored well in the produce department. Lesson one -- fresh food doesn't have to cost more than junk.

NESTLE: When the Department of Agriculture came out with the study that said that you can eat seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day for under $1, I didn't believe it. And I went to a store and I bought a pound of green beans. There they were, nine servings for under a dollar.

COHEN: Later Danielle makes a wrong turn down a center aisle, where many products are heavily processed. Lesson two, stick to the perimeter.

NESTLE: If you must set food in the center aisle, don't buy anything in a box. Or if it's in a box, make sure it has five ingredients or less.

COHEN: Chris also slips up at the end of an aisle. Lesson three, be savvy to special displays designed to make you buy impulse items detrimental to your waistline and wallets.

NESTLE: Companies pay the supermarkets to place their products at eye level which is ideal or at the end of the aisles or at the cash registers.

COHEN: The food industry is quick to defend its practices.

TIM HAMMONDS, PRESIDENT, FOOD MARKETING INSTITUTE: We sell broccoli and brussel sprouts. Every family is different. You can't make decisions for them. They have to make the decisions for themselves.

NESTLE: Well, let's see what we have here.

COHEN: At checkout Nestle shared her mantra, skip the processed, load up on the fresh.

NESTLE: I would give this an A-plus.

COHEN: Elizabeth Cohen, CNN Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Get your daily dose of health and medical news with Soledad O'Brien and Miles O'Brien weekdays on "AMERICAN MORNING" beginning at 6:00 a.m. eastern.

Up next our interview with Major General Caldwell on the ground in Baghdad. A former soldier accused, we'll hear how the coalition is reacting to the latest news.

NGUYEN: And countdown to launch. We're going to go back to Kennedy Space Center for live coverage of liftoff.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: Red, white and blue are the colors of the day, of course. But mustard yellow trumps them all at Nathan's annual hot dog eating contest at Coney Island. The gorging, well that's over. So let's go to our Allan Chernoff to end the suspense. Before we get to the winner Allan, I got to ask you, every time we look up, you're eating another hot dog.

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm doing just fine. I cannot possibly compete with the greatest athletes in the world behind me. I've seen the Super Bowl, I've seen the World Series, but never have I witnessed such athletic prowess as we've just seen here at Coney Island.

In fact, a new world record set. Takero Kobayashi coming from behind to set that record, 53.75 hot dogs and buns consumed in only 12 minutes and he did it from behind as I said. For most of this contest, American champ Joey Chestnut was in the lead.

And even at five minutes into the contest, Chestnut had 30 hot dogs and buns. It was astounding frankly watching the way that Chestnut was eating. I was scared for his life. But as you can see, Kobayashi was steady. In fact, after the contest, he said that he had a big burp right in the middle and that allowed him to continue to remain steady and to emerge victorious with his win of 53 3/4 hot dogs and bun. History has been made here at Coney Island today.

NGUYEN: Hold on, hold on. So the key to winning is having a big burp, is that what you said, a big burp in the middle of it?

HARRIS: You need room, it creates room and space.

CHERNOFF: The secret is the burp, I guess. But Kobayashi used a new technique this year. Also very, very important. In the past, he split his hot dog and bun. He apparently realized that he was up against an incredible competitor in Joey Chestnut. So he just took that hot dog and bun whole, dunked them whole, and then shoved them right in. It was really quite the spectacle.

And as you can see, literally, thousands of people were here to witness the event. And as you can see, some of the eaters are actually leaving. And you can see -- there's Kobayashi in the bus right now. Look at his fans. This man has groupies worldwide. And I just cannot describe the excitement of standing so close to such a worldwide athletic hero.

NGUYEN: I can see the excitement, you're billowing over. We want to talk to you a little bit more. We're out of time for this moment. But hopefully we're going to talk to you a little bit later. What you've learned about this experience, because you've been doing a little bit of dunking as well and I'm afraid you're about to purge yourself of those hot dogs that you've eaten today.

HARRIS: No, no, no.

NGUYEN: Just wait till you're not on camera, OK? We'll talk to you soon, Allan. HARRIS: Allan doesn't know what to say.

NGUYEN: For good reason.

HARRIS: How about Atlanta. Here in Atlanta, Kenyans dominating this year's Peachtree Road Race. Martine Lisle dusted his 55,000 fellow runners on the 6.2 mile course with an unofficial time of 27 minutes 20 seconds. Lorna Kiplogatt (ph) won the women's division with a time of 31 minutes 9 seconds. The Peachtree is the world's largest 10k race.

NGUYEN: Yes, the one here in Atlanta goes right by where I live. And they were up early this morning let me tell you.

HARRIS: Yes, sure.

NGUYEN: When we come back, we will return to the launch pad where the Discovery crew is preparing for liftoff. Look at that site. More on LIVE FROM next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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