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American Morning

Will Americans be Allowed to See Pictures of U.S. Coffins Returning From War?; 'Crowded House'

Aired October 07, 2004 - 09:30   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Just about half past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING. Coming up today, will Americans be allowed to see pictures of U.S. coffins returning from war? A lawsuit now aims to force the Pentagon to abandon its restrictions on those pictures. The man behind the suit is a former CNN reporter. We're going to ask him why he thinks these pictures are necessary to see.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Also we're going to look in this interesting question. What would happen, capturing Osama bin Laden in the next couple of weeks? What would it do to the presidential election?

Kelly Wallace looks at that and other surprising scenarios. That's coming up.

Let's check in as a matter of fact now in the news with Kelly Wallace, who's handling that part of the show for us -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, double duty today. Good morning to you. Good morning again, everyone.

We begin in the Middle East, where the death toll is rising in Gaza. The Israeli military there has launched what it viewed as its biggest operation in four years. Israeli soldiers killed four Palestinians in separate incidents today. The Israeli military says the Palestinians were launching rockets at Israeli settlements. Some 80 people have been killed in the Israeli operation since it began last week.

In politics, Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne, are hosting a town hall meeting in Miami at this hour. The vice president will address security and the economy. The meeting is part of the Cheneys' three-day campaign swing through the Sunshine State.

New developments expected in the Daniel Pelosi murder trial. You'll recall that Pelois is charged with the second-degree murder of multimillionaire Ted Ammon in 2001. In about a half hour, a judge will decide whether tapes of wiretap conversations will be allowed as evidence in the trail. Pelosi has reportedly admitted to other inmates that he killed Ammon.

And John Lennon would have turned 64 in two days. Today, his widow, Yoko Ono, remembers his life with the Lennon Ono Grant for Peace. Ono told Heidi earlier why a journalist and a whistleblower were chosen for the award.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YOKO ONO: It's very intense, and people being extremely frightened and confused. I thought it's very good to show that some people are very courageous to speak up, and because of them that we're benefiting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Journalist Seymour Hirsch and Mordakai Banunu (ph) will receive their awards in New York City tonight. That gets you caught up.

Heidi, very interesting to interview with Yoko Ono.

COLLINS: Yes, and staying on the journalism topic, Kelly, I want to get to this story now. A journalism professor has filed a federal lawsuit to gain access to pictures and video of U.S. service member coffins arriving at Dover Air Force Base. It's the east coast mortuary, the first stop on American soil for many fallen soldiers. The Pentagon did release some photos of flag-draped coffins earlier this year, but then called the release a mistake and has not released any since.

The professor filing the lawsuit, Ralph Begleiter, the Rosenberg professor of communication and distinguished journalist in residence at the University of Delaware. He is also a former CNN correspondent.

Ralph, good morning to you. Thanks for being with us on AMERICAN MORNING today.

I want to ask you, in your words why did you file this lawsuit?

RALPH BEGLEITER, PROFESSOR, UNIV. OF DELAWARE: Well, as the Pentagon indicated by sometimes releasing these photos, there are times when the American people need to see the true cost of war, which includes many things. Obviously it includes a dollar cost. It includes the cost to allies around the world. It includes the cost of not being able to handle other conflict sometimes, if that's the case.

But one of the costs of war, obviously, is the casualties, and the military has released those pictures in the past, when there were victims in the bombing of the USS Cole for example in 2000. Off the coast of Yemen, those photographs were released. So there are times when the American people need to see them. And I'm just trying to clarify whether those documents are public documents of a very important and really an almost sacred moment when these American heroes who return from combat having given their ultimate sacrifice are returned to the U.S. soil for the first time. That's really the goal.

COLLINS: I would imagine there would be two very clear sides of that sacred moment, as you say. In fact, the Pentagon says it's trying to respect the families who have lost loved ones. Here exactly is what they say, coming to us from the Pentagon this morning, "The department's policy regarding no media coverage of the transfer of remains has been in effect since 1991. The principle focus and purpose of the policy is to protect the wishes and privacy of the families during their time of greatest loss and grief."

Curious to know, have you spoken with any family members who have lost loved ones in the conflict of war?

BEGLEITER: Well, let me comment on that, on the quote you just read, no media coverage. I'm not suing for media coverage of the return of these coffins. These are photographs taken by the military, by U.S. government photographers, or their contractors, not by the military, not talking about a gaggle of photo opportunities.

COLLINS: Where would they be used then, Ralph?

BEGLEITER: They could be used anywhere. They could be used by the media, certainly. They could be used by families. They could be used in other publications. They could be published on the web. I don't know who would publish them. I'm sure CNN and others have published the photographs that were released by the military last spring. So it's not a question of having the media invade this moment or anything of that sort.

Have I spoken with families? I have not spoken with families. I've heard from some, and I've heard from some on both sides of the issue. I respect the privacy of the families, absolutely. And I don't have any intention of violating anyone's privacy in this case. It's the Pentagon that takes the pictures. It's the Pentagon that releases the names and hometowns of all the victims. And sometimes photographs of those who are returning home. So, if there's any invasion of privacy, it occurs at that level, not at the level of making public these documents that represent a truly historical moment in the course of any war.

And by the way, this is a nonpartisan issue, if I may say so. As you pointed out, the policy began in 1991, under President Bush at that time during the Gulf War. It was continued by President Clinton during the 1990s through a series of conflicts and has continued under President George W. Bush.

COLLINS: All right, Ralph Begleiter. I appreciate your time this morning here on AMERICAN MORNING. Thank you -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: With the very latest polls showing President Bush and Senator Kerry in a statistical dead heat, these next couple of weeks are going to make a difference in who wins.

Kelly Wallace once again now with a look at the prospect for an October surprise -- that's what they call it -- that could obviously tip the election one way or another -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Right, we've talked about Iraq. Something big happening in walk could influence the election, but there are other surprises from a national and world stage. And the thinking is that this election, unlike or more than any other election in recent history, could be determined by something that hasn't even happened yet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) WALLACE (voice over): Why? A close election during a time of conflict. Democrats are buzzing about it, charging the White House might engineer a last-minute surprise to win the election.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: I assume that it will be something, but we have to be ready for that.

WALLACE: Teresa Heinz Kerry went further. Of Osama bin Laden, she recently told a business group in Phoenix: "I wouldn't be surprised if he appeared in the next month."

The president's supporters dismiss it all.

KELLYANNE CONWAY, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I think that October is going to go quietly into the gentle night, and that we'll see the president emerge with more than 50 percent of the vote on election day.

WALLACE: The term "October surprise" gained notoriety in 1980 when Ronald Reagan's campaign was accused of convincing Iran not to free American hostages until after the election. But political observers talk this year of an October surprise that is beyond both campaigns' control, such as the capture of Osama bin Laden. It would provide a huge boost to the president's war on terrorism and undercut Senator Kerry's main argument about Iraq.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Saddam Hussein was a diversion from the real war on terror.

WALLACE: The Afghan elections.

BUSH: The people of Afghanistan will vote in free elections this very week.

WALLACE: If they are peaceful, a plus for Mr. Bush. Any violence could back Senator Kerry's charge the administration took its eye off Afghanistan.

And the biggest wildcard of all? A terrorist attack. The political consequences unknown. Voters could blame the president or solidly stand behind him.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And so one of the most intense and expensive presidential campaigns in U.S. history, Rick, could ultimately be decided not by the candidates themselves, but by outside forces.

SANCHEZ: Good perspective piece. Thanks a lot, Kelly. Appreciate it.

And the presidential candidates are going to rev up for round two in the St. Louis debate tomorrow. CNN's primetime debate coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. That's Eastern Time. Paula Zahn hosts a townhall meeting with undecided voters live from Racine, Wisconsin. That's tonight at 8:00 Eastern. You can ask the Bush or the Kerry camps any of your questions. Just send them to us at CNN.com/ontheroad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

SANCHEZ: Still to come, Dr. Sanjay Gupta with important warnings signs for postpartum depression.

And absolutely nothing can keep this girl out of water, not even a shark attack. Surf's up for Bethany Hamilton. She's our guest next. We're AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: This is a fascinating story. Week three of our series, we call it called "Crowded House." This is a five-week series looking at the complicated world of raising multiples.

COLLINS: And it probably could be many more weeks long than only five. Lots to talk about here. We also are visiting Soledad O'Brien who just had her own set of twins, Charlie and Jackson. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is at the CNN Center to tell us all about it.

Hey, Sanjay.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Heidi and Rick.

So much to talk about here. Listen, Soledad may not have it, but for millions of moms out there, postpartum depression is a pretty common reality, a grim one as well. And there are questions as well about whether it's worse when you have multiples. The Bryant family of Montgomery, Alabama went through it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're a big boy!

GUPTA (voice over): Just over 2 weeks old, and Soledad's babies get their first checkup. Their bill of health and Soledad's: fine.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right.

GUPTA: But this is the time where, for some moms, things aren't fine; in fact, far from it.

KIM BRYANT, MOTHER OF TWINS: It's time to eat.

GUPTA: Twenty-six-year-old Kim Bryant knew something was wrong when several weeks after giving birth she still couldn't get up off the couch to cradle her twins.

BRYANT: I could barely hold them. I was just in a lot of pain. And it was really just affecting me the fact that I couldn't really respond to my own kids.

GUPTA: Although Kim was never clinically diagnosed with depression, hers is a common story. Eighty percent of women experience baby blues for a few days after birth. But for 10 percent, especially those with a history of depression, those blues can spiral into full-flown depression.

BRYANT: It's just, you know, a hormonal thing. You have you so many hormones, and once you get pregnant, they're trying to leave and sort their way out.

GUPTA: And as soon as a woman delivers, those hormones change. Some say that can be even more dramatic in the case of multiples. That hasn't been proven. But still, many of these women experience depression even during pregnancy. And then they face the difficult question of whether to take medication.

DR. LORI ATSHULLER, UCLA MOOD DISORDERS RESEARCH CENTER: Most women are very concerned about what affects the anti-depressant would have on the developing fetus.

GUPTA: For Kim and many women, that concern remains even after the birth.

BRYANT: I was still, you know, trying to breast feed, so I didn't want any medication interfering with that.

GUPTA: Some consumers groups are ardently opposed to pregnant women taking anti-depressants, saying they could cause problems for the baby in the late stages of pregnancy. But doctors argue a depressed mom could be dangerous for a baby's health.

DR. ZACHARY STOWE, EMORY U. WOMEN'S HEALTH PROG.: Maternal depression during pregnancy is associated with lower birth weight, pre-term delivery, higher rates of smoking and alcohol use.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA: And some signs of postpartum depression starting just a few weeks after birth, a general lack of interest or specific loss of connection with your baby. Also, losing your appetite or having difficulty sleeping. Especially if those symptoms last over a couple of weeks, those are things to really watch out for -- Heidi.

COLLINS: So, Sanjay, what are the big concerns about taking anti-depressants during pregnancy? Because obviously you want to do something to fix this.

GUPTA: You know, there's some pretty critical questions that just haven't been answered yet when it comes to taking antidepressants during pregnancy. One is, how can the medication affect the developing baby's organs? The other is, how might the medication affect the baby upon delivery? Sometimes it can manifest itself in jitteriness, or respiratory distress, breathing problems. That happens when the babies are born. So those are concerns. Also the last thing, could the medication have a potential long-term effect on the baby's development? All of those things need to be answered. Studies are pretty scarce so it makes it even a more difficult question for moms, doctors alike -- Heidi.

SANCHEZ: What's going to be happening next week? What do you got coming our way, Sanjay?

GUPTA: Well, we've got a -- we're going to continue on with the "Crowded House" series. We're going to look at a household that is so full because it's full of multiples. They've got a set triplets. They've got a set of quadruplets. How do they do it? How do take care of these multiples? And we're going to hear from the multiples themselves as well. That's all on AMERICAN MORNING "Crowded House" next Thursday, starting at 7:00 a.m.

SANCHEZ: All right. Thanks a lot, appreciate it. Sounds so impersonal, multiples. What did you have? Multiples.

COLLINS: You're right. That's kind of sad.

All right, well, still to come this morning, soul surfer Bethany Hamilton still riding the waves after a vicious shark attack. She's our guest next on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Nearly one year ago, 13-year-old surfer Bethany Hamilton lost her arm in a shark attack. Her battle to recover her life and the sport she loves is told in her new book "Soul Surfer."

Bethany Hamilton is here now.

Good morning to you, Bethany. Thanks for being here.

BETHANY HAMILTON, AUTHOR, "SOUL SURFER": Good morning.

COLLINS: It has been less than a year since the shark attack. You lost your arm when this happened, as we all know and have heard your amazing story. Talk to us first about how hard it was to get back into the water, and back on your board.

HAMILTON: Well, the day I got back on my board was the day before Thanksgiving, and it was not necessarily hard. I was just so glad to get back in the water, because I'd been anxious for like a week. And that -- when I first got up on my first wave, or it was actually my third wave, but I rode it all the way to the beach, and after that, I just had, like, tears of happiness, and I was just like so glad to just, like, so glad to be in the water, because I wasn't really scared at that certain spot. So I was just having a really good time, and I was so stoked to be out there.

COLLINS: Stoked. Now what about as far as the competition goes? How's that been faring since the attack?

HAMILTON: Well, I'm probably not as serious in competition, but I'm just having fun doing it. And I've made the nationals this year, and... COLLINS: Not a lot of people can say that, that's for sure. That's definitely some success I'm sure that I lot of people would be pretty envious of.

Talk about your life outside of surfing, too. How has that changed since this happened?

HAMILTON: Well, I'm definitely traveling a lot more. I've been to Australia, Portugal and, like, New York and all over America. And I've gotten to do all these TV shows, like this one.

COLLINS: You're getting to be a pro.

HAMILTON: Yes, and, I've been meeting a lot of new people. And it's really fun.

COLLINS: Last question for you, why did you write the book? What were you trying to do in putting all your thoughts on paper?

HAMILTON: I mainly wrote the book just to tell my faith with God, and that to let everyone know that he loves them and just how much he took care of me that day, and I wouldn't be here because I lost 70 percent of my blood that morning. And it was kind of, like, rare for me to, like, even make it. And I was just praying the whole way in. And also just, like, to encourage people and let them know that, like, they can do whatever they want if they just set their heart to it, and just never give up, and just go out there and do it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: And we figured you might be curious. Here's a look at the massive 13'6" tiger shark that attacked Bethany.

SANCHEZ: Wow, that is some shark. Look at that thing.

Well, coming up right here on CNN, as Afghans prepare for Saturday's election, Christiane Amanpour speaks with presidential front-runner Hamid Karzai. That's coming up in our next hour with Daryn Kagan, on "CNN LIVE TODAY."

And AMERICAN MORNING is going to be back in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Time now to check in with Andy one last time, "Question of the Day."

ANDY BOROWITZ, "BOROWITZREPORT.COM": Now, we asked, who should win the Nobel Peace Prize? Shoshana writes, "No one should win the Nobel Peace Prize this year. Those advocating an end to the Iraq conflict have done little more than flap their lips. Let us not trivialize the prize by awarding it for lip service."

Doug writes, "NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. By locking out the NHL players, he has put a stop to the only violence the Canadians allow themselves, the hockey fight." And finally, John writes, "Jack Cafferty should get the Nobel Prize for Peace. He isn't running for president. With Jack as president, even Monaco would declare war on us."

So there you have it.

COLLINS: Wow. He's not here to defend himself.

SANCHEZ: But he's watching, I'm sure.

COLLINS: Yes, as usual.

COLLINS: Andy, thank you for that. It's time now for us to go from the AMERICAN MORNING studios here in New York. For Kelly, Andy, Rick, and the other Andy.

SANCHEZ: Very well done.

COLLINS: Thanks for watching, everybody. Going to turn it over now to Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center to take you through the next two hours right here on "CNN LIVE TODAY."

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 7, 2004 - 09:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Just about half past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING. Coming up today, will Americans be allowed to see pictures of U.S. coffins returning from war? A lawsuit now aims to force the Pentagon to abandon its restrictions on those pictures. The man behind the suit is a former CNN reporter. We're going to ask him why he thinks these pictures are necessary to see.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Also we're going to look in this interesting question. What would happen, capturing Osama bin Laden in the next couple of weeks? What would it do to the presidential election?

Kelly Wallace looks at that and other surprising scenarios. That's coming up.

Let's check in as a matter of fact now in the news with Kelly Wallace, who's handling that part of the show for us -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, double duty today. Good morning to you. Good morning again, everyone.

We begin in the Middle East, where the death toll is rising in Gaza. The Israeli military there has launched what it viewed as its biggest operation in four years. Israeli soldiers killed four Palestinians in separate incidents today. The Israeli military says the Palestinians were launching rockets at Israeli settlements. Some 80 people have been killed in the Israeli operation since it began last week.

In politics, Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne, are hosting a town hall meeting in Miami at this hour. The vice president will address security and the economy. The meeting is part of the Cheneys' three-day campaign swing through the Sunshine State.

New developments expected in the Daniel Pelosi murder trial. You'll recall that Pelois is charged with the second-degree murder of multimillionaire Ted Ammon in 2001. In about a half hour, a judge will decide whether tapes of wiretap conversations will be allowed as evidence in the trail. Pelosi has reportedly admitted to other inmates that he killed Ammon.

And John Lennon would have turned 64 in two days. Today, his widow, Yoko Ono, remembers his life with the Lennon Ono Grant for Peace. Ono told Heidi earlier why a journalist and a whistleblower were chosen for the award.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YOKO ONO: It's very intense, and people being extremely frightened and confused. I thought it's very good to show that some people are very courageous to speak up, and because of them that we're benefiting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Journalist Seymour Hirsch and Mordakai Banunu (ph) will receive their awards in New York City tonight. That gets you caught up.

Heidi, very interesting to interview with Yoko Ono.

COLLINS: Yes, and staying on the journalism topic, Kelly, I want to get to this story now. A journalism professor has filed a federal lawsuit to gain access to pictures and video of U.S. service member coffins arriving at Dover Air Force Base. It's the east coast mortuary, the first stop on American soil for many fallen soldiers. The Pentagon did release some photos of flag-draped coffins earlier this year, but then called the release a mistake and has not released any since.

The professor filing the lawsuit, Ralph Begleiter, the Rosenberg professor of communication and distinguished journalist in residence at the University of Delaware. He is also a former CNN correspondent.

Ralph, good morning to you. Thanks for being with us on AMERICAN MORNING today.

I want to ask you, in your words why did you file this lawsuit?

RALPH BEGLEITER, PROFESSOR, UNIV. OF DELAWARE: Well, as the Pentagon indicated by sometimes releasing these photos, there are times when the American people need to see the true cost of war, which includes many things. Obviously it includes a dollar cost. It includes the cost to allies around the world. It includes the cost of not being able to handle other conflict sometimes, if that's the case.

But one of the costs of war, obviously, is the casualties, and the military has released those pictures in the past, when there were victims in the bombing of the USS Cole for example in 2000. Off the coast of Yemen, those photographs were released. So there are times when the American people need to see them. And I'm just trying to clarify whether those documents are public documents of a very important and really an almost sacred moment when these American heroes who return from combat having given their ultimate sacrifice are returned to the U.S. soil for the first time. That's really the goal.

COLLINS: I would imagine there would be two very clear sides of that sacred moment, as you say. In fact, the Pentagon says it's trying to respect the families who have lost loved ones. Here exactly is what they say, coming to us from the Pentagon this morning, "The department's policy regarding no media coverage of the transfer of remains has been in effect since 1991. The principle focus and purpose of the policy is to protect the wishes and privacy of the families during their time of greatest loss and grief."

Curious to know, have you spoken with any family members who have lost loved ones in the conflict of war?

BEGLEITER: Well, let me comment on that, on the quote you just read, no media coverage. I'm not suing for media coverage of the return of these coffins. These are photographs taken by the military, by U.S. government photographers, or their contractors, not by the military, not talking about a gaggle of photo opportunities.

COLLINS: Where would they be used then, Ralph?

BEGLEITER: They could be used anywhere. They could be used by the media, certainly. They could be used by families. They could be used in other publications. They could be published on the web. I don't know who would publish them. I'm sure CNN and others have published the photographs that were released by the military last spring. So it's not a question of having the media invade this moment or anything of that sort.

Have I spoken with families? I have not spoken with families. I've heard from some, and I've heard from some on both sides of the issue. I respect the privacy of the families, absolutely. And I don't have any intention of violating anyone's privacy in this case. It's the Pentagon that takes the pictures. It's the Pentagon that releases the names and hometowns of all the victims. And sometimes photographs of those who are returning home. So, if there's any invasion of privacy, it occurs at that level, not at the level of making public these documents that represent a truly historical moment in the course of any war.

And by the way, this is a nonpartisan issue, if I may say so. As you pointed out, the policy began in 1991, under President Bush at that time during the Gulf War. It was continued by President Clinton during the 1990s through a series of conflicts and has continued under President George W. Bush.

COLLINS: All right, Ralph Begleiter. I appreciate your time this morning here on AMERICAN MORNING. Thank you -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: With the very latest polls showing President Bush and Senator Kerry in a statistical dead heat, these next couple of weeks are going to make a difference in who wins.

Kelly Wallace once again now with a look at the prospect for an October surprise -- that's what they call it -- that could obviously tip the election one way or another -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Right, we've talked about Iraq. Something big happening in walk could influence the election, but there are other surprises from a national and world stage. And the thinking is that this election, unlike or more than any other election in recent history, could be determined by something that hasn't even happened yet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) WALLACE (voice over): Why? A close election during a time of conflict. Democrats are buzzing about it, charging the White House might engineer a last-minute surprise to win the election.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: I assume that it will be something, but we have to be ready for that.

WALLACE: Teresa Heinz Kerry went further. Of Osama bin Laden, she recently told a business group in Phoenix: "I wouldn't be surprised if he appeared in the next month."

The president's supporters dismiss it all.

KELLYANNE CONWAY, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I think that October is going to go quietly into the gentle night, and that we'll see the president emerge with more than 50 percent of the vote on election day.

WALLACE: The term "October surprise" gained notoriety in 1980 when Ronald Reagan's campaign was accused of convincing Iran not to free American hostages until after the election. But political observers talk this year of an October surprise that is beyond both campaigns' control, such as the capture of Osama bin Laden. It would provide a huge boost to the president's war on terrorism and undercut Senator Kerry's main argument about Iraq.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Saddam Hussein was a diversion from the real war on terror.

WALLACE: The Afghan elections.

BUSH: The people of Afghanistan will vote in free elections this very week.

WALLACE: If they are peaceful, a plus for Mr. Bush. Any violence could back Senator Kerry's charge the administration took its eye off Afghanistan.

And the biggest wildcard of all? A terrorist attack. The political consequences unknown. Voters could blame the president or solidly stand behind him.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And so one of the most intense and expensive presidential campaigns in U.S. history, Rick, could ultimately be decided not by the candidates themselves, but by outside forces.

SANCHEZ: Good perspective piece. Thanks a lot, Kelly. Appreciate it.

And the presidential candidates are going to rev up for round two in the St. Louis debate tomorrow. CNN's primetime debate coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. That's Eastern Time. Paula Zahn hosts a townhall meeting with undecided voters live from Racine, Wisconsin. That's tonight at 8:00 Eastern. You can ask the Bush or the Kerry camps any of your questions. Just send them to us at CNN.com/ontheroad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

SANCHEZ: Still to come, Dr. Sanjay Gupta with important warnings signs for postpartum depression.

And absolutely nothing can keep this girl out of water, not even a shark attack. Surf's up for Bethany Hamilton. She's our guest next. We're AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: This is a fascinating story. Week three of our series, we call it called "Crowded House." This is a five-week series looking at the complicated world of raising multiples.

COLLINS: And it probably could be many more weeks long than only five. Lots to talk about here. We also are visiting Soledad O'Brien who just had her own set of twins, Charlie and Jackson. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is at the CNN Center to tell us all about it.

Hey, Sanjay.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Heidi and Rick.

So much to talk about here. Listen, Soledad may not have it, but for millions of moms out there, postpartum depression is a pretty common reality, a grim one as well. And there are questions as well about whether it's worse when you have multiples. The Bryant family of Montgomery, Alabama went through it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're a big boy!

GUPTA (voice over): Just over 2 weeks old, and Soledad's babies get their first checkup. Their bill of health and Soledad's: fine.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right.

GUPTA: But this is the time where, for some moms, things aren't fine; in fact, far from it.

KIM BRYANT, MOTHER OF TWINS: It's time to eat.

GUPTA: Twenty-six-year-old Kim Bryant knew something was wrong when several weeks after giving birth she still couldn't get up off the couch to cradle her twins.

BRYANT: I could barely hold them. I was just in a lot of pain. And it was really just affecting me the fact that I couldn't really respond to my own kids.

GUPTA: Although Kim was never clinically diagnosed with depression, hers is a common story. Eighty percent of women experience baby blues for a few days after birth. But for 10 percent, especially those with a history of depression, those blues can spiral into full-flown depression.

BRYANT: It's just, you know, a hormonal thing. You have you so many hormones, and once you get pregnant, they're trying to leave and sort their way out.

GUPTA: And as soon as a woman delivers, those hormones change. Some say that can be even more dramatic in the case of multiples. That hasn't been proven. But still, many of these women experience depression even during pregnancy. And then they face the difficult question of whether to take medication.

DR. LORI ATSHULLER, UCLA MOOD DISORDERS RESEARCH CENTER: Most women are very concerned about what affects the anti-depressant would have on the developing fetus.

GUPTA: For Kim and many women, that concern remains even after the birth.

BRYANT: I was still, you know, trying to breast feed, so I didn't want any medication interfering with that.

GUPTA: Some consumers groups are ardently opposed to pregnant women taking anti-depressants, saying they could cause problems for the baby in the late stages of pregnancy. But doctors argue a depressed mom could be dangerous for a baby's health.

DR. ZACHARY STOWE, EMORY U. WOMEN'S HEALTH PROG.: Maternal depression during pregnancy is associated with lower birth weight, pre-term delivery, higher rates of smoking and alcohol use.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA: And some signs of postpartum depression starting just a few weeks after birth, a general lack of interest or specific loss of connection with your baby. Also, losing your appetite or having difficulty sleeping. Especially if those symptoms last over a couple of weeks, those are things to really watch out for -- Heidi.

COLLINS: So, Sanjay, what are the big concerns about taking anti-depressants during pregnancy? Because obviously you want to do something to fix this.

GUPTA: You know, there's some pretty critical questions that just haven't been answered yet when it comes to taking antidepressants during pregnancy. One is, how can the medication affect the developing baby's organs? The other is, how might the medication affect the baby upon delivery? Sometimes it can manifest itself in jitteriness, or respiratory distress, breathing problems. That happens when the babies are born. So those are concerns. Also the last thing, could the medication have a potential long-term effect on the baby's development? All of those things need to be answered. Studies are pretty scarce so it makes it even a more difficult question for moms, doctors alike -- Heidi.

SANCHEZ: What's going to be happening next week? What do you got coming our way, Sanjay?

GUPTA: Well, we've got a -- we're going to continue on with the "Crowded House" series. We're going to look at a household that is so full because it's full of multiples. They've got a set triplets. They've got a set of quadruplets. How do they do it? How do take care of these multiples? And we're going to hear from the multiples themselves as well. That's all on AMERICAN MORNING "Crowded House" next Thursday, starting at 7:00 a.m.

SANCHEZ: All right. Thanks a lot, appreciate it. Sounds so impersonal, multiples. What did you have? Multiples.

COLLINS: You're right. That's kind of sad.

All right, well, still to come this morning, soul surfer Bethany Hamilton still riding the waves after a vicious shark attack. She's our guest next on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Nearly one year ago, 13-year-old surfer Bethany Hamilton lost her arm in a shark attack. Her battle to recover her life and the sport she loves is told in her new book "Soul Surfer."

Bethany Hamilton is here now.

Good morning to you, Bethany. Thanks for being here.

BETHANY HAMILTON, AUTHOR, "SOUL SURFER": Good morning.

COLLINS: It has been less than a year since the shark attack. You lost your arm when this happened, as we all know and have heard your amazing story. Talk to us first about how hard it was to get back into the water, and back on your board.

HAMILTON: Well, the day I got back on my board was the day before Thanksgiving, and it was not necessarily hard. I was just so glad to get back in the water, because I'd been anxious for like a week. And that -- when I first got up on my first wave, or it was actually my third wave, but I rode it all the way to the beach, and after that, I just had, like, tears of happiness, and I was just like so glad to just, like, so glad to be in the water, because I wasn't really scared at that certain spot. So I was just having a really good time, and I was so stoked to be out there.

COLLINS: Stoked. Now what about as far as the competition goes? How's that been faring since the attack?

HAMILTON: Well, I'm probably not as serious in competition, but I'm just having fun doing it. And I've made the nationals this year, and... COLLINS: Not a lot of people can say that, that's for sure. That's definitely some success I'm sure that I lot of people would be pretty envious of.

Talk about your life outside of surfing, too. How has that changed since this happened?

HAMILTON: Well, I'm definitely traveling a lot more. I've been to Australia, Portugal and, like, New York and all over America. And I've gotten to do all these TV shows, like this one.

COLLINS: You're getting to be a pro.

HAMILTON: Yes, and, I've been meeting a lot of new people. And it's really fun.

COLLINS: Last question for you, why did you write the book? What were you trying to do in putting all your thoughts on paper?

HAMILTON: I mainly wrote the book just to tell my faith with God, and that to let everyone know that he loves them and just how much he took care of me that day, and I wouldn't be here because I lost 70 percent of my blood that morning. And it was kind of, like, rare for me to, like, even make it. And I was just praying the whole way in. And also just, like, to encourage people and let them know that, like, they can do whatever they want if they just set their heart to it, and just never give up, and just go out there and do it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: And we figured you might be curious. Here's a look at the massive 13'6" tiger shark that attacked Bethany.

SANCHEZ: Wow, that is some shark. Look at that thing.

Well, coming up right here on CNN, as Afghans prepare for Saturday's election, Christiane Amanpour speaks with presidential front-runner Hamid Karzai. That's coming up in our next hour with Daryn Kagan, on "CNN LIVE TODAY."

And AMERICAN MORNING is going to be back in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Time now to check in with Andy one last time, "Question of the Day."

ANDY BOROWITZ, "BOROWITZREPORT.COM": Now, we asked, who should win the Nobel Peace Prize? Shoshana writes, "No one should win the Nobel Peace Prize this year. Those advocating an end to the Iraq conflict have done little more than flap their lips. Let us not trivialize the prize by awarding it for lip service."

Doug writes, "NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. By locking out the NHL players, he has put a stop to the only violence the Canadians allow themselves, the hockey fight." And finally, John writes, "Jack Cafferty should get the Nobel Prize for Peace. He isn't running for president. With Jack as president, even Monaco would declare war on us."

So there you have it.

COLLINS: Wow. He's not here to defend himself.

SANCHEZ: But he's watching, I'm sure.

COLLINS: Yes, as usual.

COLLINS: Andy, thank you for that. It's time now for us to go from the AMERICAN MORNING studios here in New York. For Kelly, Andy, Rick, and the other Andy.

SANCHEZ: Very well done.

COLLINS: Thanks for watching, everybody. Going to turn it over now to Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center to take you through the next two hours right here on "CNN LIVE TODAY."

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