Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Fifth Suspect Held in Al Qaeda Investigation; Brother of Murdered Girl Receives Unlikely Help

Aired June 09, 2005 - 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.


VALERIE MORRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Crowe has been charged with assault in the incident. And apparently, he does want to speak, Bill and Carol, to the person that he assaulted. He says he's very sorry for that.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Because he's been charged and their could be lawsuit filed?

MORRIS: Oh, yes, yes. So make nice. A very, very good first step.

COSTELLO: But I'm sure -- I know, I'm being cynical. Maybe he just wants to say I'm sorry because he feels bad. Who knows.

MORRIS: A little anger management. Maybe that can help.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Perhaps. Thank you, Valerie.

In our CNN "Security Watch" today, that possible terror plot in Lodi, California. A fifth suspect has now been detained. That's about 35 miles south of Sacramento, that town. The FBI believes it's uncovered a serious threat to the U.S. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEITH SLOTTER, FBI AGENT IN CHARGE: We believe through our investigation that various individuals connected to al Qaeda have been operating in the Lodi area in various capacities, including individuals who have received terrorist training abroad with the specific intent to initiate a terrorist attack in the United States and to harm Americans and our institutions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Now, that was from yesterday. Today our terror analyst Peter Bergen has been watching this all unfold from across the Atlantic in London. Peter, welcome back here.

I want to read a statement that came out in a draft form of an FBI affidavit yesterday and how it has since changed 24 hours later. It states: "Hamid stated that during his weapons training, photos of various high-ranking U.S. political figures, including president, would be pasted on their targets." It continues, "Hamid advised that he specifically requested to come to the U.S. to carry out his jihadi mission. Potential targets for attack would include hospitals and large food stores." Again, that last line. Potential targets for attack would include hospitals and large food stores. A day later, that's been pulled back by the FBI. Can you offer an explanation as to why that would be the case?

PETER BERGEN, CNN TERROR ANALYST: Well, it's a very good question, Bill. You know, FBI affidavits are usually done by the agent in charge of the case. And usually there are two FBI agents who are (INAUDIBLE) debriefing the suspect. Often, this is done without a tape recorder. Usually it's done by taking notes.

It's possible that when recollections were kind of refreshed, that this thing about the hospitals and the grocery stores was not in the memories of the people who did the interrogation. Honestly, I don't know. But anyway, it seems to be somewhat -- it's only stepped back from some of the more sensational charges in this case. It's now much more kind of general. But the statement that you just played, from the FBI officials saying that, you know, generalized attacks against the United States, rather than these very specific attacks.

They also dropped the name of a particular Pakistani jihadist leader, where this young man was supposed to have trained in Pakistan. His name is no longer in the new affidavit. So it seems that they're -- some of the specificity of the charges have changed in the last 24 hours.

HEMMER: Are you suggesting either the threat or the story itself may be softer than first realized?

BERGEN: I think the story itself might be a little softer. I mean, there are a couple of problems with the story already, as I understand it. One is that this training camp was supposed to be near a place in Pakistan called Rawalpindi. But Rawalpindi happens to be the headquarters of Pakistan's army, and it sort of defies common sense that a major paramilitary training camp would be operating in that area, I think.

It's either a much smaller camp than was initially portrayed in some of the affidavits that were floating around, or the Pakistani government is really falling down on the job if it's allowing a major paramilitary training camp to exist in an area near -- where its army is based. It's also near its capitol.

So there are some -- a lot of unanswered questions, I think. The case seems to be fairly serious. I don't think there seems to be much debate that this -- the allegations that this guy was receiving some form of paramilitary training in Pakistan. Who was exactly giving it, what was the exact target? These now are not less -- are less clear than they were in the initial reports.

HEMMER: And one other thing. You make your -- Peter, the point you make is that one of these men implicated is a second generation American. Why do you see that as significant?

BERGEN: Yes. I think that's very significant. We've seen a number of second generation Europeans going Muslim, second generation going to Pakistan and engaging in suicide attacks, for instance, in Israel and training in Kashmir. But we haven't seen any Americans, or almost none. Certainly none in the 9/11, post-9/11 period.

So if the allegations of this is true, this is the first example of a second generation Muslim-American, an American citizen, going to train for paramilitary operations in another country. I think that's significant.

HEMMER: All right, Peter. Thanks. Peter Bergen, terrorist analyst in London, reporting for us today. And stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security -- Carol.

HEMMER: For 13 years, Zach Osborne has lived with the death of his little sister. Back in 1992, 4-year-old Natalie was raped and murdered. Their mother's ex-boyfriend was convicted and sentenced to death for the crimes. Zach is 19 years old. He's a college sophomore and he's getting some financial help from an unlikely place -- and that would be death row.

Zach Osborne is live from Charlotte, North Carolina, this morning. Good morning, Zach.

ZACH OSBORNE, GETTING HELP FROM DEATH ROW: Good morning.

COSTELLO: First of all, you were six years old when your sister was murdered. How did this affect you and your family?

OSBORNE: Well, it was really hard losing a family member, especially a daughter. My parents, they take it really hard. It really tore up my family a lot. Some lost their faith and worse.

COSTELLO: And didn't you end up living with a relative because your mother couldn't handle it?

OSBORNE: Yes. I was actually, to my knowledge, I was supposed to be going to a foster home and my grandmother took me in.

COSTELLO: So the ex-boyfriend, the man who murdered your little sister, is now on death row. And you come across this magazine called "Compassion." Inside the magazine are articles written by death row inmates. How did you come across this thing?

OSBORNE: My mom received it in her mailbox, actually, one day, about my senior year in high school. And she doesn't know who sent it to her, but it's really weird that we received it.

COSTELLO: It is strange. And some might think it's stranger still that you chose to enter an essay contest sponsored by this magazine. Why did you do that?

OSBORNE: Well, I did it for my sister mostly. I mean, she died at least -- I mean, if I did get this scholarship, it would be something -- it would be one thing good that came from her death.

COSTELLO: What was the essay about?

OSBORNE: The essay was about how she died, how it affected my family and how I would use the scholarship money.

COSTELLO: And did you write it as a message to those on death row?

OSBORNE: Not really. I just wrote it from my heart mostly.

COSTELLO: You know, I guess some people would find it -- I don't know, I guess I use the word strange, again, that you could accept money from people on death row who may have committed the very same crime that the ex-boyfriend committed against your sister?

OSBORNE: Yes. It is -- it is a little weird from where the money's coming from, but they're trying to help out. And it's kind of hard not to accept gifts.

COSTELLO: And I understand you want to become a police officer?

OSBORNE: Yes.

COSTELLO: And why is that?

OSBORNE: Well, I want to try to prevent further violence, from these tragedies happening to other families.

COSTELLO: In "Compassion" magazine, the inmates on death row who write the articles -- I guess they come out against the death penalty. The ex-boyfriend, he's on death row. Do you believe that he should be put to death for your sister's murder?

OSBORNE: A jury decided that, and he was guilty, and I believe in the system. If that's what his punishment was decided, then, yes.

COSTELLO: Well, Zach Osborne, good luck to you.

OSBORNE: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Thank you for joining AMERICAN MORNING.

OSBORNE: Thank you.

HEMMER: 22 minutes now before the hour.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Still to come, one movie studio comes up with a novel way to fight bootleggers, but could it backfire? Andy explains in "Minding Your Business."

Also, the American Heart Association says it now has a simple formula for losing weight. We'll look at the no-fad diet and see if it's real, next here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Oh, it's bathing suit season, and that means many Americans are getting back on their diets. There's the grapefruit diet, the cabbage soup diet the low-carb diet, the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet, and now the American Heart Association's no-fad diet.

Dr. Robert Eckel is one of the authors of the book, and the president-elect of the American Heart Association, and he joins us now.

ROBERT ECKEL, AMERICAN HEART ASSN.: Good morning.

COSTELLO: It's interesting that the American Heart Association would put out a book, its own book, and you wrote this?

ECKEL: Well, I was one of many authors.

COSTELLO: One of many authors.

ECKEL: This is a team approach, for sure.

COSTELLO: Well, why did they decide to do this?

ECKEL: Well I think it's time for people to wake up in terms of what science says about weight loss. You know, a faddish diet is one in which there's a rapid response that's short-lived. People regain their weight after they've lost it three to six months later. So this diet really has a science base. It's credible, and I think recommends a lifetime approach to weight regulation.

COSTELLO: As in exercise more, eat less, which a lot of people, frankly, don't like to do.

ECKEL: But there's an important behavioral component here. So the books a balance between thinking smart, I think a behavioral approach, eating well and moving more. So it encompasses all three.

COSTELLO: I know, you just went over the three central ideas, so just think smart, eat well and move over. And we went over the mental faction, which I think that's the hardest part, is convincing yourself that you should do this for your future, for your health. How do you do that?

ECKEL: I think it's simplify the approach of this by do it now. Why procrastinate and delay getting on a diet to lose weight for your long-term health.

COSTELLO: Well, see, that's not the problem. It's sticking to it that's the problem.

ECKEL: We had stressed that. You know, we have strategies in here that maintaining your weight loss is as important as losing it. If you lose your weight quickly and regain it, you really haven't accomplished very much. So the book really deals with that.

COSTELLO: Let's make it simple for people, and we'll go down through the steps. The first step, as you said, is do it now. Another key element, is believe you will succeed. So do you think that people set themselves up to fail? ECKEL: I think so, because they're frustrated at what they've done previously. It hasn't worked long term. And I think, again, the science base in terms of approaching a lifestyle is there and people can be successful.

COSTELLO: Another factor is set realistic goals. So I guess you won't lose 10 pounds in the first week on this diet?

ECKEL: No, keep in mind the American Heart Association is concerned about health, heart health, risk for stroke, risk for diabetes. So as part of that, a 10 percent weight loss is probably what most people really need to improve their health. They don't need to lose 20 or 25 percent or get into their high school graduation gown. We need to be realistic here.

COSTELLO: Yes, we do.

OK, and keep a food journal. Why is this important?

ECKEL: Well, it's shown convincingly that people that write things down, what they're eating what they're doing in terms of movement, relates to long-term success. So that's a commitment you make to the plan and really buys into the fact that you believe you're succeed.

COSTELLO: Let's talk about the exercise portion of this plan, because it's so hard to get moving. And you have three different approaches. First let's start with the lifestyle approach, as in a walking program.

ECKEL: Let me give an example. I now take steps up all the time in my workplace. So that's an opportunity within my lifestyle I can modify my physical activity by climbing more steps. That's activity.

COSTELLO: So no more elevator or escalator, take the steps?

ECKEL: Well, I take it up the first time in the morning, but after that I try to do steps.

COSTELLO: I'm glad you're being honest with me. An organized activity, which is a lot more fun, frankly.

ECKEL: Well, some people are groupers. In other words, they'd rather be participating in team sports. They'd rather buy a piece of equipment and work with it at home. You know, an organized activity is clearly an option for increasing your energy expenditure in the form of physical activity.

COSTELLO: And finally, just so people know, there are a lot of recipes in this book, and you claim they're very tasty. But in going through, they look rather bland to me, like, for example, for breakfast you would have one biscuit with bacon and six ounces of orange juice, and that's it.

ECKEL: Well, have you tried it yet? No.

COSTELLO: Well, the bacon part sounds really good, but it doesn't seem like a very big breakfast.

ECKEL: Well keep in mind that's one of 190 recipes. So I can assure you that the American Heart Association folks have been well honored in terms of the tradition and their approach to good food.

COSTELLO: Is that turkey bacon?

ECKEL: Yes, turkey bacon, of course. You don't think it's real bacon.

COSTELLO: No, not with the American Heart Association. I would have been shocked.

Thank you, doctor, for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.

ECKEL: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: Back to you, Bill.

HEMMER: All right, Carol, thanks.

"CNN LIVE TODAY" is coming up in 12 minutes. Here's Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center. What're you working on, Daryn? Good morning.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We've got a lot going on, Bill. Good morning to you.

You know, a lot of talk this week about aid to Africa. A group of young people from here in the U.S. are there to see the crisis firsthand. There getting some help from Oprah. We're going to talk to them about the fight against AIDS and what they're doing, and what they're learning.

And high above the U.S., circling the earth at more than 17,000 miles an hour, I'll talk with the crew of the International Space Station about life in space. Things a little sparse up there. A busy morning ahead on "CNN LIVE TODAY." Seventeen-thousand miles an hour. That's faster than you go in your car, Bill.

HEMMER: Most days. See you, Daryn. See you at the top of the hour.

In a moment here, getting the drop on movie pirates overseas. One studio's got a new idea, but it could just make matters worse. Andy tells us that, "Minding Your Business" after a break here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone. We told you the other day about those disposable video cameras. How good is the end result, though? We wanted to check in on that and also Wall Street. Back to Andy Serwer, "Minding Your Business" now. Hey.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Hello, Bill. Let's talk about Wall Street, first of all. Stocks kind of in a holding pattern early on. Down eight points. Big news going to be at 10:00 Eastern when Fed chairman Alan Greenspan testifies before Congress. Probably watching stocks doing some zigging and zagging after news of that -- his testimony comes out.

Let's do a major motion picture segment here. First of all, I want to talk about Warner Entertainment. That's owned by the parent company that owns CNN. They have a new strategy now to fight piracy, DVD piracy, in China. Basically what happens usually these days, a movie gets released in the United States and then, within a matter of days, pirated DVDs are for sale in China.

Warner Brothers is fighting back, releasing a DVD in China on the same day that the movie is exhibited here in the United States. They picked this film to do it with. "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." There it is. You laugh, you cry, you share the pants. Bill, have you marked out any time on your calendar it see this one?

HEMMER: No, I haven't, but I...

SERWER: "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants."

HEMMER: Reviews are decent on that film.

SERWER: Oh, they are. I wasn't aware of this. Jack, I know that you're going to be doing "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants."

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: No, she got me last weekend with that "Monster-in-Law" thing.

SERWER: I can't believe you went to see that.

(CROSSTALK)

SERWER: Who was in that? Wasn't it Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez?

CAFFERTY: Yes, the traitor and the twit, as I like the two call the two that starred in it.

COSTELLO: Oh!

SERWER: Why did I start it up?

COSTELLO: Oh, why?

SERWER: Start me up, OK.

Let's talk about this movie camera here. Remember we had this on air the other day? This is the first disposable video camera. It's digital video, obviously. And we've got some -- we took it to CVS to get it processed. Want to show you the results here. This is AMERICAN MORNING home movies. Let's roll it.

SERWER (on videotape): ... you're a high-powered television journalist.

CAFFERTY: That's not bad.

SERWER: That's not bad, is it?

CAFFERTY: No.

SERWER (on videotape): What do you do to prepare for your morning...

CAFFERTY: Is it an automatic focus thing?

SERWER: Yes. There you go.

And now we go over here. This is Soledad O'Brien, cinematographer. I don't know if she's going to win a daytime Emmy for cinematography here. Look at that, lookin' good. Who is that?

HEMMER (on videotape): I have..

CAFFERTY (on videotape): In the forensic sciences in the past decade, which have been...

SERWER: So serious.

COSTELLO: How did you edit this?

SERWER: Well, you know, through the magic of television, Carol. You should know about that.

COSTELLO: Oh, yes.

SERWER: It's pretty good stuff, though.

CAFFERTY: I mean, if you're going on vacation or a kids' birthday or something, that's not a bad idea.

SERWER: Right. Yes, yes. So here we go. That's all I got.

HEMMER: And at the very end, we caught a picture of T-Bone.

SERWER: Oh, Todd Bonon (ph)?

HEMMER: The very end.

SERWER: Yes, you know.

HEMMER: The guy who makes Andy go.

SERWER: Yes, indeed he does.

COSTELLO: Let's check in with Jack with the "Question of the Day."

CAFFERTY: "Patriot Act." Parts of it are due to expire at the end of the year. President Bush thinks Congress ought to make it permanent. We want to know your thoughts on that.

David writes: "Arrests without warrants, detention without trial, surveillance without oversight. Aren't these the same actions listed as the offenses of George III and the reasons for the American Revolution? Who says history doesn't repeat itself?"

Bill in Massachusetts: "Dressing a pig in a crown does not make it a queen." Remember that, Andy?

SERWER: Yes, sir.

CAFFERTY: "The same goes for the Patriot Act, an act that's anything but patriotic. It's nothing but a way for big government, in the guise of national security, to invade one's privacy, to censor what one reads and to spy on others with no oversight or restraint."

And Jim writes finally in New York: "True patriots like Thomas Jefferson are spinning in their collective graves. Perhaps we should call it something more fitting. 'Paranoid Act' sounds about right."

SERWER: I think those viewers who wrote in that the euphemism, the Patriot Act -- I mean, that really is....

CAFFERTY: It's just awful.

SERWER: Why not call it the "Terrorism Investigation Act"? At least say it what it is, right?

CAFFERTY: How about if the House Ethics Committee works more than one day this year?

HEMMER: Not a bad idea.

SERWER: Yes. I think that's an -- also a good idea.

CAFFERTY: If they...

HEMMER: You all right?

SERWER: Start him up.

HEMMER: Are you sure?

CAFFERTY: No. I have to go now.

COSTELLO: Did you take your Antacid?

SERWER: Tum, T-T-T-Tums, Tums.

CAFFERTY: My tummy's feeling great.

HEMMER: Tomorrow here -- tomorrow here on AMERICAN MORNING, there's a red tide rising in New England. Don't breathe this stuff. It is bad. And that also means bad news for clam and oyster lovers. Harmful algae has forced some of the world's most prolific shellfish beds to close. And we're told the problem could get worse. We'll check it out tomorrow. We are back in a moment, right after this on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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


Aired June 9, 2005 - 09:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
VALERIE MORRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Crowe has been charged with assault in the incident. And apparently, he does want to speak, Bill and Carol, to the person that he assaulted. He says he's very sorry for that.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Because he's been charged and their could be lawsuit filed?

MORRIS: Oh, yes, yes. So make nice. A very, very good first step.

COSTELLO: But I'm sure -- I know, I'm being cynical. Maybe he just wants to say I'm sorry because he feels bad. Who knows.

MORRIS: A little anger management. Maybe that can help.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Perhaps. Thank you, Valerie.

In our CNN "Security Watch" today, that possible terror plot in Lodi, California. A fifth suspect has now been detained. That's about 35 miles south of Sacramento, that town. The FBI believes it's uncovered a serious threat to the U.S. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEITH SLOTTER, FBI AGENT IN CHARGE: We believe through our investigation that various individuals connected to al Qaeda have been operating in the Lodi area in various capacities, including individuals who have received terrorist training abroad with the specific intent to initiate a terrorist attack in the United States and to harm Americans and our institutions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Now, that was from yesterday. Today our terror analyst Peter Bergen has been watching this all unfold from across the Atlantic in London. Peter, welcome back here.

I want to read a statement that came out in a draft form of an FBI affidavit yesterday and how it has since changed 24 hours later. It states: "Hamid stated that during his weapons training, photos of various high-ranking U.S. political figures, including president, would be pasted on their targets." It continues, "Hamid advised that he specifically requested to come to the U.S. to carry out his jihadi mission. Potential targets for attack would include hospitals and large food stores." Again, that last line. Potential targets for attack would include hospitals and large food stores. A day later, that's been pulled back by the FBI. Can you offer an explanation as to why that would be the case?

PETER BERGEN, CNN TERROR ANALYST: Well, it's a very good question, Bill. You know, FBI affidavits are usually done by the agent in charge of the case. And usually there are two FBI agents who are (INAUDIBLE) debriefing the suspect. Often, this is done without a tape recorder. Usually it's done by taking notes.

It's possible that when recollections were kind of refreshed, that this thing about the hospitals and the grocery stores was not in the memories of the people who did the interrogation. Honestly, I don't know. But anyway, it seems to be somewhat -- it's only stepped back from some of the more sensational charges in this case. It's now much more kind of general. But the statement that you just played, from the FBI officials saying that, you know, generalized attacks against the United States, rather than these very specific attacks.

They also dropped the name of a particular Pakistani jihadist leader, where this young man was supposed to have trained in Pakistan. His name is no longer in the new affidavit. So it seems that they're -- some of the specificity of the charges have changed in the last 24 hours.

HEMMER: Are you suggesting either the threat or the story itself may be softer than first realized?

BERGEN: I think the story itself might be a little softer. I mean, there are a couple of problems with the story already, as I understand it. One is that this training camp was supposed to be near a place in Pakistan called Rawalpindi. But Rawalpindi happens to be the headquarters of Pakistan's army, and it sort of defies common sense that a major paramilitary training camp would be operating in that area, I think.

It's either a much smaller camp than was initially portrayed in some of the affidavits that were floating around, or the Pakistani government is really falling down on the job if it's allowing a major paramilitary training camp to exist in an area near -- where its army is based. It's also near its capitol.

So there are some -- a lot of unanswered questions, I think. The case seems to be fairly serious. I don't think there seems to be much debate that this -- the allegations that this guy was receiving some form of paramilitary training in Pakistan. Who was exactly giving it, what was the exact target? These now are not less -- are less clear than they were in the initial reports.

HEMMER: And one other thing. You make your -- Peter, the point you make is that one of these men implicated is a second generation American. Why do you see that as significant?

BERGEN: Yes. I think that's very significant. We've seen a number of second generation Europeans going Muslim, second generation going to Pakistan and engaging in suicide attacks, for instance, in Israel and training in Kashmir. But we haven't seen any Americans, or almost none. Certainly none in the 9/11, post-9/11 period.

So if the allegations of this is true, this is the first example of a second generation Muslim-American, an American citizen, going to train for paramilitary operations in another country. I think that's significant.

HEMMER: All right, Peter. Thanks. Peter Bergen, terrorist analyst in London, reporting for us today. And stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security -- Carol.

HEMMER: For 13 years, Zach Osborne has lived with the death of his little sister. Back in 1992, 4-year-old Natalie was raped and murdered. Their mother's ex-boyfriend was convicted and sentenced to death for the crimes. Zach is 19 years old. He's a college sophomore and he's getting some financial help from an unlikely place -- and that would be death row.

Zach Osborne is live from Charlotte, North Carolina, this morning. Good morning, Zach.

ZACH OSBORNE, GETTING HELP FROM DEATH ROW: Good morning.

COSTELLO: First of all, you were six years old when your sister was murdered. How did this affect you and your family?

OSBORNE: Well, it was really hard losing a family member, especially a daughter. My parents, they take it really hard. It really tore up my family a lot. Some lost their faith and worse.

COSTELLO: And didn't you end up living with a relative because your mother couldn't handle it?

OSBORNE: Yes. I was actually, to my knowledge, I was supposed to be going to a foster home and my grandmother took me in.

COSTELLO: So the ex-boyfriend, the man who murdered your little sister, is now on death row. And you come across this magazine called "Compassion." Inside the magazine are articles written by death row inmates. How did you come across this thing?

OSBORNE: My mom received it in her mailbox, actually, one day, about my senior year in high school. And she doesn't know who sent it to her, but it's really weird that we received it.

COSTELLO: It is strange. And some might think it's stranger still that you chose to enter an essay contest sponsored by this magazine. Why did you do that?

OSBORNE: Well, I did it for my sister mostly. I mean, she died at least -- I mean, if I did get this scholarship, it would be something -- it would be one thing good that came from her death.

COSTELLO: What was the essay about?

OSBORNE: The essay was about how she died, how it affected my family and how I would use the scholarship money.

COSTELLO: And did you write it as a message to those on death row?

OSBORNE: Not really. I just wrote it from my heart mostly.

COSTELLO: You know, I guess some people would find it -- I don't know, I guess I use the word strange, again, that you could accept money from people on death row who may have committed the very same crime that the ex-boyfriend committed against your sister?

OSBORNE: Yes. It is -- it is a little weird from where the money's coming from, but they're trying to help out. And it's kind of hard not to accept gifts.

COSTELLO: And I understand you want to become a police officer?

OSBORNE: Yes.

COSTELLO: And why is that?

OSBORNE: Well, I want to try to prevent further violence, from these tragedies happening to other families.

COSTELLO: In "Compassion" magazine, the inmates on death row who write the articles -- I guess they come out against the death penalty. The ex-boyfriend, he's on death row. Do you believe that he should be put to death for your sister's murder?

OSBORNE: A jury decided that, and he was guilty, and I believe in the system. If that's what his punishment was decided, then, yes.

COSTELLO: Well, Zach Osborne, good luck to you.

OSBORNE: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Thank you for joining AMERICAN MORNING.

OSBORNE: Thank you.

HEMMER: 22 minutes now before the hour.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Still to come, one movie studio comes up with a novel way to fight bootleggers, but could it backfire? Andy explains in "Minding Your Business."

Also, the American Heart Association says it now has a simple formula for losing weight. We'll look at the no-fad diet and see if it's real, next here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Oh, it's bathing suit season, and that means many Americans are getting back on their diets. There's the grapefruit diet, the cabbage soup diet the low-carb diet, the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet, and now the American Heart Association's no-fad diet.

Dr. Robert Eckel is one of the authors of the book, and the president-elect of the American Heart Association, and he joins us now.

ROBERT ECKEL, AMERICAN HEART ASSN.: Good morning.

COSTELLO: It's interesting that the American Heart Association would put out a book, its own book, and you wrote this?

ECKEL: Well, I was one of many authors.

COSTELLO: One of many authors.

ECKEL: This is a team approach, for sure.

COSTELLO: Well, why did they decide to do this?

ECKEL: Well I think it's time for people to wake up in terms of what science says about weight loss. You know, a faddish diet is one in which there's a rapid response that's short-lived. People regain their weight after they've lost it three to six months later. So this diet really has a science base. It's credible, and I think recommends a lifetime approach to weight regulation.

COSTELLO: As in exercise more, eat less, which a lot of people, frankly, don't like to do.

ECKEL: But there's an important behavioral component here. So the books a balance between thinking smart, I think a behavioral approach, eating well and moving more. So it encompasses all three.

COSTELLO: I know, you just went over the three central ideas, so just think smart, eat well and move over. And we went over the mental faction, which I think that's the hardest part, is convincing yourself that you should do this for your future, for your health. How do you do that?

ECKEL: I think it's simplify the approach of this by do it now. Why procrastinate and delay getting on a diet to lose weight for your long-term health.

COSTELLO: Well, see, that's not the problem. It's sticking to it that's the problem.

ECKEL: We had stressed that. You know, we have strategies in here that maintaining your weight loss is as important as losing it. If you lose your weight quickly and regain it, you really haven't accomplished very much. So the book really deals with that.

COSTELLO: Let's make it simple for people, and we'll go down through the steps. The first step, as you said, is do it now. Another key element, is believe you will succeed. So do you think that people set themselves up to fail? ECKEL: I think so, because they're frustrated at what they've done previously. It hasn't worked long term. And I think, again, the science base in terms of approaching a lifestyle is there and people can be successful.

COSTELLO: Another factor is set realistic goals. So I guess you won't lose 10 pounds in the first week on this diet?

ECKEL: No, keep in mind the American Heart Association is concerned about health, heart health, risk for stroke, risk for diabetes. So as part of that, a 10 percent weight loss is probably what most people really need to improve their health. They don't need to lose 20 or 25 percent or get into their high school graduation gown. We need to be realistic here.

COSTELLO: Yes, we do.

OK, and keep a food journal. Why is this important?

ECKEL: Well, it's shown convincingly that people that write things down, what they're eating what they're doing in terms of movement, relates to long-term success. So that's a commitment you make to the plan and really buys into the fact that you believe you're succeed.

COSTELLO: Let's talk about the exercise portion of this plan, because it's so hard to get moving. And you have three different approaches. First let's start with the lifestyle approach, as in a walking program.

ECKEL: Let me give an example. I now take steps up all the time in my workplace. So that's an opportunity within my lifestyle I can modify my physical activity by climbing more steps. That's activity.

COSTELLO: So no more elevator or escalator, take the steps?

ECKEL: Well, I take it up the first time in the morning, but after that I try to do steps.

COSTELLO: I'm glad you're being honest with me. An organized activity, which is a lot more fun, frankly.

ECKEL: Well, some people are groupers. In other words, they'd rather be participating in team sports. They'd rather buy a piece of equipment and work with it at home. You know, an organized activity is clearly an option for increasing your energy expenditure in the form of physical activity.

COSTELLO: And finally, just so people know, there are a lot of recipes in this book, and you claim they're very tasty. But in going through, they look rather bland to me, like, for example, for breakfast you would have one biscuit with bacon and six ounces of orange juice, and that's it.

ECKEL: Well, have you tried it yet? No.

COSTELLO: Well, the bacon part sounds really good, but it doesn't seem like a very big breakfast.

ECKEL: Well keep in mind that's one of 190 recipes. So I can assure you that the American Heart Association folks have been well honored in terms of the tradition and their approach to good food.

COSTELLO: Is that turkey bacon?

ECKEL: Yes, turkey bacon, of course. You don't think it's real bacon.

COSTELLO: No, not with the American Heart Association. I would have been shocked.

Thank you, doctor, for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.

ECKEL: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: Back to you, Bill.

HEMMER: All right, Carol, thanks.

"CNN LIVE TODAY" is coming up in 12 minutes. Here's Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center. What're you working on, Daryn? Good morning.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We've got a lot going on, Bill. Good morning to you.

You know, a lot of talk this week about aid to Africa. A group of young people from here in the U.S. are there to see the crisis firsthand. There getting some help from Oprah. We're going to talk to them about the fight against AIDS and what they're doing, and what they're learning.

And high above the U.S., circling the earth at more than 17,000 miles an hour, I'll talk with the crew of the International Space Station about life in space. Things a little sparse up there. A busy morning ahead on "CNN LIVE TODAY." Seventeen-thousand miles an hour. That's faster than you go in your car, Bill.

HEMMER: Most days. See you, Daryn. See you at the top of the hour.

In a moment here, getting the drop on movie pirates overseas. One studio's got a new idea, but it could just make matters worse. Andy tells us that, "Minding Your Business" after a break here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone. We told you the other day about those disposable video cameras. How good is the end result, though? We wanted to check in on that and also Wall Street. Back to Andy Serwer, "Minding Your Business" now. Hey.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Hello, Bill. Let's talk about Wall Street, first of all. Stocks kind of in a holding pattern early on. Down eight points. Big news going to be at 10:00 Eastern when Fed chairman Alan Greenspan testifies before Congress. Probably watching stocks doing some zigging and zagging after news of that -- his testimony comes out.

Let's do a major motion picture segment here. First of all, I want to talk about Warner Entertainment. That's owned by the parent company that owns CNN. They have a new strategy now to fight piracy, DVD piracy, in China. Basically what happens usually these days, a movie gets released in the United States and then, within a matter of days, pirated DVDs are for sale in China.

Warner Brothers is fighting back, releasing a DVD in China on the same day that the movie is exhibited here in the United States. They picked this film to do it with. "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." There it is. You laugh, you cry, you share the pants. Bill, have you marked out any time on your calendar it see this one?

HEMMER: No, I haven't, but I...

SERWER: "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants."

HEMMER: Reviews are decent on that film.

SERWER: Oh, they are. I wasn't aware of this. Jack, I know that you're going to be doing "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants."

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: No, she got me last weekend with that "Monster-in-Law" thing.

SERWER: I can't believe you went to see that.

(CROSSTALK)

SERWER: Who was in that? Wasn't it Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez?

CAFFERTY: Yes, the traitor and the twit, as I like the two call the two that starred in it.

COSTELLO: Oh!

SERWER: Why did I start it up?

COSTELLO: Oh, why?

SERWER: Start me up, OK.

Let's talk about this movie camera here. Remember we had this on air the other day? This is the first disposable video camera. It's digital video, obviously. And we've got some -- we took it to CVS to get it processed. Want to show you the results here. This is AMERICAN MORNING home movies. Let's roll it.

SERWER (on videotape): ... you're a high-powered television journalist.

CAFFERTY: That's not bad.

SERWER: That's not bad, is it?

CAFFERTY: No.

SERWER (on videotape): What do you do to prepare for your morning...

CAFFERTY: Is it an automatic focus thing?

SERWER: Yes. There you go.

And now we go over here. This is Soledad O'Brien, cinematographer. I don't know if she's going to win a daytime Emmy for cinematography here. Look at that, lookin' good. Who is that?

HEMMER (on videotape): I have..

CAFFERTY (on videotape): In the forensic sciences in the past decade, which have been...

SERWER: So serious.

COSTELLO: How did you edit this?

SERWER: Well, you know, through the magic of television, Carol. You should know about that.

COSTELLO: Oh, yes.

SERWER: It's pretty good stuff, though.

CAFFERTY: I mean, if you're going on vacation or a kids' birthday or something, that's not a bad idea.

SERWER: Right. Yes, yes. So here we go. That's all I got.

HEMMER: And at the very end, we caught a picture of T-Bone.

SERWER: Oh, Todd Bonon (ph)?

HEMMER: The very end.

SERWER: Yes, you know.

HEMMER: The guy who makes Andy go.

SERWER: Yes, indeed he does.

COSTELLO: Let's check in with Jack with the "Question of the Day."

CAFFERTY: "Patriot Act." Parts of it are due to expire at the end of the year. President Bush thinks Congress ought to make it permanent. We want to know your thoughts on that.

David writes: "Arrests without warrants, detention without trial, surveillance without oversight. Aren't these the same actions listed as the offenses of George III and the reasons for the American Revolution? Who says history doesn't repeat itself?"

Bill in Massachusetts: "Dressing a pig in a crown does not make it a queen." Remember that, Andy?

SERWER: Yes, sir.

CAFFERTY: "The same goes for the Patriot Act, an act that's anything but patriotic. It's nothing but a way for big government, in the guise of national security, to invade one's privacy, to censor what one reads and to spy on others with no oversight or restraint."

And Jim writes finally in New York: "True patriots like Thomas Jefferson are spinning in their collective graves. Perhaps we should call it something more fitting. 'Paranoid Act' sounds about right."

SERWER: I think those viewers who wrote in that the euphemism, the Patriot Act -- I mean, that really is....

CAFFERTY: It's just awful.

SERWER: Why not call it the "Terrorism Investigation Act"? At least say it what it is, right?

CAFFERTY: How about if the House Ethics Committee works more than one day this year?

HEMMER: Not a bad idea.

SERWER: Yes. I think that's an -- also a good idea.

CAFFERTY: If they...

HEMMER: You all right?

SERWER: Start him up.

HEMMER: Are you sure?

CAFFERTY: No. I have to go now.

COSTELLO: Did you take your Antacid?

SERWER: Tum, T-T-T-Tums, Tums.

CAFFERTY: My tummy's feeling great.

HEMMER: Tomorrow here -- tomorrow here on AMERICAN MORNING, there's a red tide rising in New England. Don't breathe this stuff. It is bad. And that also means bad news for clam and oyster lovers. Harmful algae has forced some of the world's most prolific shellfish beds to close. And we're told the problem could get worse. We'll check it out tomorrow. We are back in a moment, right after this on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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