Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Kidnapping of a Senior Top Official in Baghdad; Fashion Week in New York City

Aired February 09, 2005 - 11:30   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.


RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: In Los Angeles, following the police shooting death of a 13-year-old boy, the city's top cop now says his department will hurry to finish a new policy on police shootings into vehicles. Chief William Bratton's announcement comes amid protests over the killing of Devon Brown (ph), who was shot by police at the end of a stolen car chase.
The White House. Now President Bush is meeting with the president of Poland. This is a story we've been following. The two leaders are expected to discuss the Iraqi elections, reform efforts in Ukraine and Mr. Bush's upcoming trip to Europe as well.

If you're planning a flight on American Airlines, you might want to bring your own pillow. A spokesman says the airline is doing away with pillows on nearly all domestic flights, and that starts next week. It's just the latest in the string of cost-cutting measures by some of the major carriers struggling to compete with some of the low- fare airlines.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: A gun battle in Baghdad and the kidnapping of a senior top official there tops our news in the fight for Iraq. Senior international correspondent Nic Robertson join us now from the Iraqi capital with the latest on all of this.

Hi, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTL. CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty that gunfight break out on Haifa Street, a street notorious for insurgent activity. It is surrounded by high apartment blocks. Coalition vehicles that drive through that street are regularly attacked. What happened early this afternoon, a convoy of vehicles from a political Kurdish party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, apparently took a wrong turn, drove down Haifa Street. As they drove down the street, they came under attack. Three of their officials were killed, the vehicle, set on fire. The gun battle lasted some time. A huge plume of black smoke seen coming up from the area. It's not clear why they took that wrong turn, and it proved fateful for at least three of their members.

Earlier in the day, an official from Iraq's interior minister, a very senior official, we are told, was kidnapped. The interior ministry here is still searching for him. They don't know who may have him at this time.

Also, earlier in the morning, in the south of Iraq, in the town of Basra, a journalist, an Iraqi journalist working for a U.S.-funded Arabic-language channel, the Al-Hurra Channel, was killed at his home. He was coming out of his building in the morning, getting ready to get into his vehicle. His two bodyguards returned back into the house. As they went back into the house, gunmen struck, killing the journalists and his 3-year-old son -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Let's get an update on election results. We understand today some 300 ballot boxes have to be recounted. Why is that?

ROBERTSON: There have been some complaints, not only about the counting, but also about some voting irregularities, and the electoral commission is investigating those. They are going back through you some of the ballot boxes, rechecking some of the votes cast, answering those complaints. What appears to be happening, or what appears to be set to happen, or not to happen, if you will, are the election results had been expected some time this week. Now election officials are advising that it's unlikely to happen by Friday. Could happen over the weekend, could happen early next week. They're not calling it a delay, just a matter of going through all the formalities of checking on all the complaints and all the ballot boxes that require that rechecking -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Just to be clear, it's not to be called a delay.

OK, CNN's Nic Robertson in Baghdad, we thank you for that -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Here's a follow, remember that military jet that crashed in Iraq late last month? A lot of questions, even after it happened -- was it shot down? Was it an accident? Let's do this, let's go over to Barbara Starr now. She's live at the Pentagon with the latest on this.

Good morning, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Rick.

Well, neither the U.S., nor the British government has had much to say publicly about that British C-130 that went down on election day in Iraq. But now Lieutenant General Lance Smith, who has just concluded a press conference here in the Pentagon, he is the No. 2 man at the U.S. Central Command, and he is a veteran U.S. Air Force pilot, and he has spoken about what he thinks may have happened. General Smith wanted to emphasize that this is his personal opinion, that he is not part of the British government investigation.

However, General Smith said this Al Jazeera video that was shown, No. 1, he now believes, as does most of the U.S. military, that it was a phony. What he does believe what happened to that British C-130 on election day, he says he doesn't think it was brought down from a shoulder-fired missile. The C-130 has four engines. He believes it could have survived that type of attach.

He says the most likely scenario in his words, small-arms fire, or a lucky shot from an RPG.

But let's listen now to a little bit more of what the No. 2 man at CENTCOM had to say about this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. GEN. LANCE SMITH, CENTCOM: I think that the qualifications of the crew, the place that they were at, some of the reporting that we had from people that may have observed this, and that's a big may, by the way, because you never know who the folks are, I personally think that there may have been either hostile action or something could have happened inside the aircraft, but I doubt that it was mechanical in nature.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: A very respected U.S. Air Force pilot now saying that he believes there was some sort of hostile activity related to the bringing down of that British C-130 north of Baghdad on election day. There were, indeed, reports of ground fire in the area at the time the C-130 went down.

But General Smith's remarks, of course, extremely sensitive. While he reminds everybody this is his personal opinion, the British government and U.S. government have yet to publicly speak about the investigation into what brought this plane down and how the 10 people on board perished -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Barbara Starr, with a CNN follow there from the Pentagon. We certainly thank you for that.

STARR: Imagine this, imagine getting a military award, and then having someone call you and say, we have to take it away. That's what happened to Marine Corporal Travis Eichelberger. Two years ago, military pinned a Purple Heart on his hospital gown as he recovered in the hospital from a crushed pelvis. Now the military is saying he doesn't deserve that medal because 67-ton tank that ran over his body while he was sleeping was driven by an American. So the injuries were not caused directly by enemy action. Officials have taken back the Purple Heart and removed it from Eichelberger's record, along with 11 other Marines the military says were given Purple Hearts by mistake.

Besides feeling embarrassed after hometown honors he received, the 22-year-old says he hopes this mistake doesn't happen again.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CPL. TRAVIS EICHELBERGER, U.S. MARINE CORPS: I definitely hope this does not happen to any other Marines anytime soon. And in wars now, in wars in the future, because I know how it made me feel, and how -- what I told my hometown, and it made my mother and father proud. And to have it taken away, I know how it made me feel, so I can only imagine how it can make somebody else feel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Now listen to this disturbing story. Police are looking for a woman they say scalped a young girl. Suspect pictures of Marianne Dahl (ph) are being posted around central Idaho. She is accused of tying up a 16-year-old girl, then using a four-inch knife to cut away large portions of the teenage hair. Police say Dahl says she scalped the girl because she didn't like the way the youngster was behaving as a young woman.

By the way, that story is one of the most popular stories on our Web site. You can read more about it and see what else everyone is clicking on. All you have to do is log on to our Web site. That is at CNN.com/most popular.

SANCHEZ: Certainly the budget might not be the most popular item these days with so many people complaining and how it can possibly affect them, but you know what you need to know about it, how it could possibly, for example, affect you? Log on and get informed, as CNN.com's desk brings you inside the budget online. Here it is:

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): It's hard enough for some of us to balance our own checkbooks, but are you aware of how President Bush wants to handle the budget? We've done the math for you at CNN.com.

(voice-over): Where you can get highlights of President Bush's $2.57 trillion budget plan and track how America is spending your money. All you have to do is logon to CNN.com/politics to judge for yourself on how lean and mean this proposal really is.

Our interactive gallery breaks it down for you and your family. For instance, did you know the plan increases school lunch spending by $550 million? And if you're sending a child to college, you'll be glad to know the plan includes nearly $18 billion in Pell Grants, an increase of 45 percent. Outside defense, homeland security and hefty programs like Social Security, President Bush wants to cut spending for the rest of the government by 0.5 percent. It's all supposed to fulfill the president's campaign promise to cut the deficit in half by 2009.

(on camera): Weigh in on what supporters and critics have to say, and then decide for yourself which side you're on. It's all about the economy at CNN.com.

I'm Christina Park at the dot-com desk.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: All right, well, the world of fashion is all abuzz in New York, on day three of Fashion Week, which you've been so interested in, Rick.

SANCHEZ: Yes, in fact, i've just been riveted. What's new today in the high -- clothing is coming. You stay right there. We'll put this altogether for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Fashion week rolls on in New York with the Michael Kors collection for fall. He unveiled his line this morning. So, fur, the new bling? Aqua, the new black? We have heard rumors.

And CNN contributor Kate Betts spoke with Michael Kors just a few minutes ago and she joins me in New York with all the goods. Hey there.

KATE BETTS, CNN FASHION CONTRIBUTOR: Hi, how are you? We're backstage here just after the show. We're setting up for Carmen Marc Valvo, which is the next show. And Michael Kors, I mean, the luxury, the bling, the fur, the feathers, the crystal beading. It's quite over-the-top.

NGUYEN: So what do you say was the theme? I mean, we heard aqua is the new black this year. I saw a lot of red, a lot of fur and a lot of Donald Trump's hair, as well.

BETTS: Yes, I know. It looked like a collection designed perfectly for his wife and a little bit for him, too, in their Aspen ski vacation. Apparently skiing and the whole sort of Apres ski scene was the inspiration, according to Michael Kors.

NGUYEN: I see. Are we seeing some short looks, some long looks, this year? What did you see in the show?

BETTS: You know, this year, it is all about Oscar dresses. I mean, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, they all start sort of wheeling out these really superglam dresses that are obviously made for the red carpet. Michael Kors had more than he's ever had before. Of course, he told me his dream was to dress Jennifer and Brad, but I don't think that's going to happen this year unfortunately.

NGUYEN: Maybe separately, he can.

BETTS: Separately, yes.

NGUYEN: So you're looking forward to the next one that's coming up. Is there any particular designer coming up this week that is just way out there? Because when we see some of these looks on the runway, especially those looks that you're thinking, my goodness, who wears that and where would you wear that to? Any of those designers coming up through the end of the week?

BETTS: Well, I think everybody is looking forward to -- well, last night, Narciso Rodriguez was a big hit. And that was like, you know -- he's kind of the next American Calvin Klein, I would say. But I think everyone always looks forward to Ralph Lauren, you know, the American classic.

NGUYEN: Very classy, yes.

BETTS: Calvin Klein, Donna Karan -- you know, the big heavy hitters, to see what they're going to come up with. I mean, you know, they've been doing it for so long, reinventing the wheel. And I think this season particularly, we've seen a lot of changes in proportion on the runway so we want to see how they're going to react to that.

NGUYEN: Hey, quickly, Kate, I understand J. Lo is launching her own line, but it's not going to be until the last day of fashion week. Is that the case?

BETTS: J. Lo is Friday night, the last show of a long, long week. and she's going to have to pull something really great out of her hat because I think people are getting kind of tired and by 8:00 on Friday night, they'll probably be over-fashioned. But it's exciting, I mean, she's really -- Beyonce has her own line coming up. So J. Lo is really the first one to hit the runway and it will be interesting to see how she handles it.

NGUYEN: Maybe she's thinking she's saving the best for last. Kate Betts, we appreciate your time today. Thank you.

BETTS: Thank you.

SANCHEZ: I'm going to come up with my own look, as a matter of fact. Bermuda shorts and black nylon socks. The perfect look to cut the grass.

NGUYEN: On the catwalk? Maybe you could a little bling with it and some fur -- it works.

SANCHEZ: Maybe a dogwalk. We're about to look the at English society, especially the rich.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. We saw it in the movie "Gosford Park," that you're seeing here. Well, the man behind the Oscar-winning screenplay is here and will tell us about who or what he is scrutinizing now. CNN LIVE TODAY returns in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: In the world of entertainment today, a new book from across the pond, as they like to say. You may remember the movie "Gosford Park," the British murder mystery, with a plot thicker than Yorkshire pudding. Well, that film won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay back in 2002. And the man responsible for that screenplay has now written a new book called, "Snobs." Would it have been anything else? It's a satire of English society, poking fun at both the top and bottom of the English class system.

Julian Fellowes joins us now here in the studio to talk about this work.

Thanks for being here today.

JULIAN FELLOWES, AUTHOR, "SNOBS": I'm delighted to be here.

I don't know that I've got quite to the bottom of English society. I sort of get the top and the people who want to be in the top.

NGUYEN: Well, what I wanted to ask you. I mean, actor, writer, producer, now author of this novel entitled "Snobs." What do you know about "Snobs?"

FELLOWES: Well, we're all snobs. NGUYEN: To an extent, yes.

FELLOWES: We're all snobs. We've all got some subject we think we just know that little bit more than anyone else does.

I don't see it so very terrible. But I suppose that I do make a little bit of fun out of people who sort of give the things in life for which we cannot take credit too much importance.

NGUYEN: But you have -- you have a direct line to this, because aren't you married to a blue blood, as they say?

FELLOWES: I suppose I am, yes.

NGUYEN: So you have some insight that maybe the rest of us don't?

FELLOWES: Well, I think, quite honestly, that the reason for writing the book, apart from the fact that someone asked me, is that I was aware that I lived in two sort of secret worlds -- I'd lived inside show business, I'd lived inside society.

And in a way, they're both groups that people fantasize about. They read magazines when they're going into the dentist, and think, oh, my life would be so much simpler if I was movie star or if I was married to a rich lord, everything would make sense. And of course the truth is, there's no such thing as a simple life. And it just seemed to me that that was, hopefully, quite interesting to write about.

NGUYEN: And now your movie, "Gosford Park," also "Vanity Fair," they all look at this society, the elites. Why is that segment so funny to you?

FELLOWES: Well, it's also what you're asked to do. I mean, I've just written and directed a film called "Separate Lives," which isn't class at all. It's just about people being unhappy who shouldn't be. You know, and I've just done "Mary Poppins" on the London stage. I mean, I know that's about nannies, but it isn't about class; it's about happiness and, you know, dysfunctional families and things.

I mean, to a degree, you do what you're asked to do. I mean, I suppose that this became my sort of niche because, you know, very, very luckily for me, when they were looking for a writer for "Gosford Park," they were looking for someone who knew how those houses worked. And thank God, you know, there weren't very many screenwriters who did.

NGUYEN: So in this book, when you look at those who want to be elite and the elite trying to maintain their status, which is funnier?

FELLOWES: Well, I think we're all pretty funny, if we're looked at in that way.

NGUYEN: The wannabes or the ones who are there and trying to maintain it? FELLOWES: I think they're both vulnerable in different ways. I just -- I never really like to condemn a group, do you know what I mean?

NGUYEN: Oh, but you do plenty of it in this book.

FELLOWES: At least I condemn everyone, you know?

NGUYEN: Exactly, equal opportunity.

FELLOWES: Well, that's what (INAUDIBLE) said. People say I discriminate. He said, I don't discriminate, I hate everyone.

NGUYEN: Hey, quickly, we're almost out of time, but I have to ask you, you've already won an Oscar, which means you get to vote now. Can you give us any clues on who you're picking for the Academy Awards?

FELLOWES: I mean, of course, you know, I'm still making up my mind. I did think "Sideways" is a wonderful film, a wonderful movie, and one that I absolutely wish I'd written. And I do think Hilary Swank is extraordinary...

NGUYEN: Oh, "Million Dollar Baby."

FELLOWES: ... "Million Dollar Baby."

And I thought "Hotel Rwanda" was a fantastic film.

NGUYEN: So you like them all basically is what you're telling me. You're not going to give me the goods.

FELLOWES: I just feel -- you know, we're told so sternly not to, and I'm a naturally obedient man.

NGUYEN: Well, being obedient, I have to end this right now, Julian Fellowes. I appreciate your time.

FELLOWES: Thank you so much.

NGUYEN: And we will be back with much more here on LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back.

We here at CNN have been following a developing story for you here throughout the morning. And may now have the culmination of that story. We've got some sad news to report to you. We've learned from officials in the area of Orlando, Florida that that sheriff's deputy who was airlifted to the hospital has passed away.

Once again, three sheriff's deputies in all were shot by a man who was at a home. Police were investigating a domestic dispute when the man started shooting at the sheriff's, according to police. Three of them were shot. One of them, we learned, has just not passed away. We have a picture now of the suspect. He has, indeed, been apprehended. This is new information that we're bringing you. The suspect -- there's a picture of the suspect -- pardon me, let me correct myself, he has not been apprehended. The police have now just started to release this picture of him. Again, his name is Jason Wheeler. This is the first that picture we see of him.

We also have a bit of sound we received a moment ago from sheriff's deputies there in Lake County, Florida. Let's go ahead and listen in to that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two of which -- the two deputies had some leg wounds, and unfortunately, one of the deputies has passed away.

QUESTION: Tell me, what is the operation mode you're in now in terms of searching for the suspect?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are very aggressively, very aggressively, searching this area, probably a three-mile perimeter in the Lake Catherine, Lake Mack area, both sides of the road. We would appreciate any assistance in locating this guy. He's armed, he's dangerous.

QUESTION: And what should people do if they live in this area or if they're driving in this area, in terms of seeing him? I mean, they shouldn't try to apprehend him, right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely not. I would treat it like a natural disaster -- stay indoors. You don't need to be out on the roads at this point. We have probably in excess of 100 people. Fallucia (ph) County, Florida Highway Patrol, Marine patrol; Seminole County, we have there SWAT teams, there attack teams. We have ground forces, right now just searching the area very diligently. So they need to remain indoors. If they do see them, dial 911.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: So here's what they're doing there right now: They have a perimeter set up, an area that's pretty much under quarantine, where they're watching to see if they can apprehend this suspect, who is still on the loose, as we mentioned.

A school has also been in lockdown in this area. There's an aerial that we've been sharing with you. This is a live picture that we're getting of the area right now.

Just to set up, police show up, they're investigating a domestic dispute, they say a man starts shooting at them, he gets away in a motorcycle; he is still on the loose.

Now his wife is also saying, and this is interesting, that the man had before he left, this Jason Wheeler, this picture we're seeing now, had booby-trapped their home, and that's one of the difficulties that some of the sheriff's deputies and other law-enforcement officials are dealing with right now.

So we leave you now with the very latest on that story, again, a story that's literally been unfolding as we've been bringing to you here on CNN this morning.

NGUYEN: And of course they'll be much more throughout the day right here on CNN, but right now it's time to go to Wolf Blitzer in Washington.

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 February 9, 2005 - 11:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: In Los Angeles, following the police shooting death of a 13-year-old boy, the city's top cop now says his department will hurry to finish a new policy on police shootings into vehicles. Chief William Bratton's announcement comes amid protests over the killing of Devon Brown (ph), who was shot by police at the end of a stolen car chase.
The White House. Now President Bush is meeting with the president of Poland. This is a story we've been following. The two leaders are expected to discuss the Iraqi elections, reform efforts in Ukraine and Mr. Bush's upcoming trip to Europe as well.

If you're planning a flight on American Airlines, you might want to bring your own pillow. A spokesman says the airline is doing away with pillows on nearly all domestic flights, and that starts next week. It's just the latest in the string of cost-cutting measures by some of the major carriers struggling to compete with some of the low- fare airlines.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: A gun battle in Baghdad and the kidnapping of a senior top official there tops our news in the fight for Iraq. Senior international correspondent Nic Robertson join us now from the Iraqi capital with the latest on all of this.

Hi, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTL. CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty that gunfight break out on Haifa Street, a street notorious for insurgent activity. It is surrounded by high apartment blocks. Coalition vehicles that drive through that street are regularly attacked. What happened early this afternoon, a convoy of vehicles from a political Kurdish party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, apparently took a wrong turn, drove down Haifa Street. As they drove down the street, they came under attack. Three of their officials were killed, the vehicle, set on fire. The gun battle lasted some time. A huge plume of black smoke seen coming up from the area. It's not clear why they took that wrong turn, and it proved fateful for at least three of their members.

Earlier in the day, an official from Iraq's interior minister, a very senior official, we are told, was kidnapped. The interior ministry here is still searching for him. They don't know who may have him at this time.

Also, earlier in the morning, in the south of Iraq, in the town of Basra, a journalist, an Iraqi journalist working for a U.S.-funded Arabic-language channel, the Al-Hurra Channel, was killed at his home. He was coming out of his building in the morning, getting ready to get into his vehicle. His two bodyguards returned back into the house. As they went back into the house, gunmen struck, killing the journalists and his 3-year-old son -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Let's get an update on election results. We understand today some 300 ballot boxes have to be recounted. Why is that?

ROBERTSON: There have been some complaints, not only about the counting, but also about some voting irregularities, and the electoral commission is investigating those. They are going back through you some of the ballot boxes, rechecking some of the votes cast, answering those complaints. What appears to be happening, or what appears to be set to happen, or not to happen, if you will, are the election results had been expected some time this week. Now election officials are advising that it's unlikely to happen by Friday. Could happen over the weekend, could happen early next week. They're not calling it a delay, just a matter of going through all the formalities of checking on all the complaints and all the ballot boxes that require that rechecking -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Just to be clear, it's not to be called a delay.

OK, CNN's Nic Robertson in Baghdad, we thank you for that -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Here's a follow, remember that military jet that crashed in Iraq late last month? A lot of questions, even after it happened -- was it shot down? Was it an accident? Let's do this, let's go over to Barbara Starr now. She's live at the Pentagon with the latest on this.

Good morning, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Rick.

Well, neither the U.S., nor the British government has had much to say publicly about that British C-130 that went down on election day in Iraq. But now Lieutenant General Lance Smith, who has just concluded a press conference here in the Pentagon, he is the No. 2 man at the U.S. Central Command, and he is a veteran U.S. Air Force pilot, and he has spoken about what he thinks may have happened. General Smith wanted to emphasize that this is his personal opinion, that he is not part of the British government investigation.

However, General Smith said this Al Jazeera video that was shown, No. 1, he now believes, as does most of the U.S. military, that it was a phony. What he does believe what happened to that British C-130 on election day, he says he doesn't think it was brought down from a shoulder-fired missile. The C-130 has four engines. He believes it could have survived that type of attach.

He says the most likely scenario in his words, small-arms fire, or a lucky shot from an RPG.

But let's listen now to a little bit more of what the No. 2 man at CENTCOM had to say about this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. GEN. LANCE SMITH, CENTCOM: I think that the qualifications of the crew, the place that they were at, some of the reporting that we had from people that may have observed this, and that's a big may, by the way, because you never know who the folks are, I personally think that there may have been either hostile action or something could have happened inside the aircraft, but I doubt that it was mechanical in nature.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: A very respected U.S. Air Force pilot now saying that he believes there was some sort of hostile activity related to the bringing down of that British C-130 north of Baghdad on election day. There were, indeed, reports of ground fire in the area at the time the C-130 went down.

But General Smith's remarks, of course, extremely sensitive. While he reminds everybody this is his personal opinion, the British government and U.S. government have yet to publicly speak about the investigation into what brought this plane down and how the 10 people on board perished -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Barbara Starr, with a CNN follow there from the Pentagon. We certainly thank you for that.

STARR: Imagine this, imagine getting a military award, and then having someone call you and say, we have to take it away. That's what happened to Marine Corporal Travis Eichelberger. Two years ago, military pinned a Purple Heart on his hospital gown as he recovered in the hospital from a crushed pelvis. Now the military is saying he doesn't deserve that medal because 67-ton tank that ran over his body while he was sleeping was driven by an American. So the injuries were not caused directly by enemy action. Officials have taken back the Purple Heart and removed it from Eichelberger's record, along with 11 other Marines the military says were given Purple Hearts by mistake.

Besides feeling embarrassed after hometown honors he received, the 22-year-old says he hopes this mistake doesn't happen again.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CPL. TRAVIS EICHELBERGER, U.S. MARINE CORPS: I definitely hope this does not happen to any other Marines anytime soon. And in wars now, in wars in the future, because I know how it made me feel, and how -- what I told my hometown, and it made my mother and father proud. And to have it taken away, I know how it made me feel, so I can only imagine how it can make somebody else feel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Now listen to this disturbing story. Police are looking for a woman they say scalped a young girl. Suspect pictures of Marianne Dahl (ph) are being posted around central Idaho. She is accused of tying up a 16-year-old girl, then using a four-inch knife to cut away large portions of the teenage hair. Police say Dahl says she scalped the girl because she didn't like the way the youngster was behaving as a young woman.

By the way, that story is one of the most popular stories on our Web site. You can read more about it and see what else everyone is clicking on. All you have to do is log on to our Web site. That is at CNN.com/most popular.

SANCHEZ: Certainly the budget might not be the most popular item these days with so many people complaining and how it can possibly affect them, but you know what you need to know about it, how it could possibly, for example, affect you? Log on and get informed, as CNN.com's desk brings you inside the budget online. Here it is:

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): It's hard enough for some of us to balance our own checkbooks, but are you aware of how President Bush wants to handle the budget? We've done the math for you at CNN.com.

(voice-over): Where you can get highlights of President Bush's $2.57 trillion budget plan and track how America is spending your money. All you have to do is logon to CNN.com/politics to judge for yourself on how lean and mean this proposal really is.

Our interactive gallery breaks it down for you and your family. For instance, did you know the plan increases school lunch spending by $550 million? And if you're sending a child to college, you'll be glad to know the plan includes nearly $18 billion in Pell Grants, an increase of 45 percent. Outside defense, homeland security and hefty programs like Social Security, President Bush wants to cut spending for the rest of the government by 0.5 percent. It's all supposed to fulfill the president's campaign promise to cut the deficit in half by 2009.

(on camera): Weigh in on what supporters and critics have to say, and then decide for yourself which side you're on. It's all about the economy at CNN.com.

I'm Christina Park at the dot-com desk.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: All right, well, the world of fashion is all abuzz in New York, on day three of Fashion Week, which you've been so interested in, Rick.

SANCHEZ: Yes, in fact, i've just been riveted. What's new today in the high -- clothing is coming. You stay right there. We'll put this altogether for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Fashion week rolls on in New York with the Michael Kors collection for fall. He unveiled his line this morning. So, fur, the new bling? Aqua, the new black? We have heard rumors.

And CNN contributor Kate Betts spoke with Michael Kors just a few minutes ago and she joins me in New York with all the goods. Hey there.

KATE BETTS, CNN FASHION CONTRIBUTOR: Hi, how are you? We're backstage here just after the show. We're setting up for Carmen Marc Valvo, which is the next show. And Michael Kors, I mean, the luxury, the bling, the fur, the feathers, the crystal beading. It's quite over-the-top.

NGUYEN: So what do you say was the theme? I mean, we heard aqua is the new black this year. I saw a lot of red, a lot of fur and a lot of Donald Trump's hair, as well.

BETTS: Yes, I know. It looked like a collection designed perfectly for his wife and a little bit for him, too, in their Aspen ski vacation. Apparently skiing and the whole sort of Apres ski scene was the inspiration, according to Michael Kors.

NGUYEN: I see. Are we seeing some short looks, some long looks, this year? What did you see in the show?

BETTS: You know, this year, it is all about Oscar dresses. I mean, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, they all start sort of wheeling out these really superglam dresses that are obviously made for the red carpet. Michael Kors had more than he's ever had before. Of course, he told me his dream was to dress Jennifer and Brad, but I don't think that's going to happen this year unfortunately.

NGUYEN: Maybe separately, he can.

BETTS: Separately, yes.

NGUYEN: So you're looking forward to the next one that's coming up. Is there any particular designer coming up this week that is just way out there? Because when we see some of these looks on the runway, especially those looks that you're thinking, my goodness, who wears that and where would you wear that to? Any of those designers coming up through the end of the week?

BETTS: Well, I think everybody is looking forward to -- well, last night, Narciso Rodriguez was a big hit. And that was like, you know -- he's kind of the next American Calvin Klein, I would say. But I think everyone always looks forward to Ralph Lauren, you know, the American classic.

NGUYEN: Very classy, yes.

BETTS: Calvin Klein, Donna Karan -- you know, the big heavy hitters, to see what they're going to come up with. I mean, you know, they've been doing it for so long, reinventing the wheel. And I think this season particularly, we've seen a lot of changes in proportion on the runway so we want to see how they're going to react to that.

NGUYEN: Hey, quickly, Kate, I understand J. Lo is launching her own line, but it's not going to be until the last day of fashion week. Is that the case?

BETTS: J. Lo is Friday night, the last show of a long, long week. and she's going to have to pull something really great out of her hat because I think people are getting kind of tired and by 8:00 on Friday night, they'll probably be over-fashioned. But it's exciting, I mean, she's really -- Beyonce has her own line coming up. So J. Lo is really the first one to hit the runway and it will be interesting to see how she handles it.

NGUYEN: Maybe she's thinking she's saving the best for last. Kate Betts, we appreciate your time today. Thank you.

BETTS: Thank you.

SANCHEZ: I'm going to come up with my own look, as a matter of fact. Bermuda shorts and black nylon socks. The perfect look to cut the grass.

NGUYEN: On the catwalk? Maybe you could a little bling with it and some fur -- it works.

SANCHEZ: Maybe a dogwalk. We're about to look the at English society, especially the rich.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. We saw it in the movie "Gosford Park," that you're seeing here. Well, the man behind the Oscar-winning screenplay is here and will tell us about who or what he is scrutinizing now. CNN LIVE TODAY returns in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: In the world of entertainment today, a new book from across the pond, as they like to say. You may remember the movie "Gosford Park," the British murder mystery, with a plot thicker than Yorkshire pudding. Well, that film won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay back in 2002. And the man responsible for that screenplay has now written a new book called, "Snobs." Would it have been anything else? It's a satire of English society, poking fun at both the top and bottom of the English class system.

Julian Fellowes joins us now here in the studio to talk about this work.

Thanks for being here today.

JULIAN FELLOWES, AUTHOR, "SNOBS": I'm delighted to be here.

I don't know that I've got quite to the bottom of English society. I sort of get the top and the people who want to be in the top.

NGUYEN: Well, what I wanted to ask you. I mean, actor, writer, producer, now author of this novel entitled "Snobs." What do you know about "Snobs?"

FELLOWES: Well, we're all snobs. NGUYEN: To an extent, yes.

FELLOWES: We're all snobs. We've all got some subject we think we just know that little bit more than anyone else does.

I don't see it so very terrible. But I suppose that I do make a little bit of fun out of people who sort of give the things in life for which we cannot take credit too much importance.

NGUYEN: But you have -- you have a direct line to this, because aren't you married to a blue blood, as they say?

FELLOWES: I suppose I am, yes.

NGUYEN: So you have some insight that maybe the rest of us don't?

FELLOWES: Well, I think, quite honestly, that the reason for writing the book, apart from the fact that someone asked me, is that I was aware that I lived in two sort of secret worlds -- I'd lived inside show business, I'd lived inside society.

And in a way, they're both groups that people fantasize about. They read magazines when they're going into the dentist, and think, oh, my life would be so much simpler if I was movie star or if I was married to a rich lord, everything would make sense. And of course the truth is, there's no such thing as a simple life. And it just seemed to me that that was, hopefully, quite interesting to write about.

NGUYEN: And now your movie, "Gosford Park," also "Vanity Fair," they all look at this society, the elites. Why is that segment so funny to you?

FELLOWES: Well, it's also what you're asked to do. I mean, I've just written and directed a film called "Separate Lives," which isn't class at all. It's just about people being unhappy who shouldn't be. You know, and I've just done "Mary Poppins" on the London stage. I mean, I know that's about nannies, but it isn't about class; it's about happiness and, you know, dysfunctional families and things.

I mean, to a degree, you do what you're asked to do. I mean, I suppose that this became my sort of niche because, you know, very, very luckily for me, when they were looking for a writer for "Gosford Park," they were looking for someone who knew how those houses worked. And thank God, you know, there weren't very many screenwriters who did.

NGUYEN: So in this book, when you look at those who want to be elite and the elite trying to maintain their status, which is funnier?

FELLOWES: Well, I think we're all pretty funny, if we're looked at in that way.

NGUYEN: The wannabes or the ones who are there and trying to maintain it? FELLOWES: I think they're both vulnerable in different ways. I just -- I never really like to condemn a group, do you know what I mean?

NGUYEN: Oh, but you do plenty of it in this book.

FELLOWES: At least I condemn everyone, you know?

NGUYEN: Exactly, equal opportunity.

FELLOWES: Well, that's what (INAUDIBLE) said. People say I discriminate. He said, I don't discriminate, I hate everyone.

NGUYEN: Hey, quickly, we're almost out of time, but I have to ask you, you've already won an Oscar, which means you get to vote now. Can you give us any clues on who you're picking for the Academy Awards?

FELLOWES: I mean, of course, you know, I'm still making up my mind. I did think "Sideways" is a wonderful film, a wonderful movie, and one that I absolutely wish I'd written. And I do think Hilary Swank is extraordinary...

NGUYEN: Oh, "Million Dollar Baby."

FELLOWES: ... "Million Dollar Baby."

And I thought "Hotel Rwanda" was a fantastic film.

NGUYEN: So you like them all basically is what you're telling me. You're not going to give me the goods.

FELLOWES: I just feel -- you know, we're told so sternly not to, and I'm a naturally obedient man.

NGUYEN: Well, being obedient, I have to end this right now, Julian Fellowes. I appreciate your time.

FELLOWES: Thank you so much.

NGUYEN: And we will be back with much more here on LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back.

We here at CNN have been following a developing story for you here throughout the morning. And may now have the culmination of that story. We've got some sad news to report to you. We've learned from officials in the area of Orlando, Florida that that sheriff's deputy who was airlifted to the hospital has passed away.

Once again, three sheriff's deputies in all were shot by a man who was at a home. Police were investigating a domestic dispute when the man started shooting at the sheriff's, according to police. Three of them were shot. One of them, we learned, has just not passed away. We have a picture now of the suspect. He has, indeed, been apprehended. This is new information that we're bringing you. The suspect -- there's a picture of the suspect -- pardon me, let me correct myself, he has not been apprehended. The police have now just started to release this picture of him. Again, his name is Jason Wheeler. This is the first that picture we see of him.

We also have a bit of sound we received a moment ago from sheriff's deputies there in Lake County, Florida. Let's go ahead and listen in to that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two of which -- the two deputies had some leg wounds, and unfortunately, one of the deputies has passed away.

QUESTION: Tell me, what is the operation mode you're in now in terms of searching for the suspect?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are very aggressively, very aggressively, searching this area, probably a three-mile perimeter in the Lake Catherine, Lake Mack area, both sides of the road. We would appreciate any assistance in locating this guy. He's armed, he's dangerous.

QUESTION: And what should people do if they live in this area or if they're driving in this area, in terms of seeing him? I mean, they shouldn't try to apprehend him, right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely not. I would treat it like a natural disaster -- stay indoors. You don't need to be out on the roads at this point. We have probably in excess of 100 people. Fallucia (ph) County, Florida Highway Patrol, Marine patrol; Seminole County, we have there SWAT teams, there attack teams. We have ground forces, right now just searching the area very diligently. So they need to remain indoors. If they do see them, dial 911.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: So here's what they're doing there right now: They have a perimeter set up, an area that's pretty much under quarantine, where they're watching to see if they can apprehend this suspect, who is still on the loose, as we mentioned.

A school has also been in lockdown in this area. There's an aerial that we've been sharing with you. This is a live picture that we're getting of the area right now.

Just to set up, police show up, they're investigating a domestic dispute, they say a man starts shooting at them, he gets away in a motorcycle; he is still on the loose.

Now his wife is also saying, and this is interesting, that the man had before he left, this Jason Wheeler, this picture we're seeing now, had booby-trapped their home, and that's one of the difficulties that some of the sheriff's deputies and other law-enforcement officials are dealing with right now.

So we leave you now with the very latest on that story, again, a story that's literally been unfolding as we've been bringing to you here on CNN this morning.

NGUYEN: And of course they'll be much more throughout the day right here on CNN, but right now it's time to go to Wolf Blitzer in Washington.

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