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The Situation Room

West in Nuclear Showdown With Iran; Bush Visits New Orleans

Aired January 12, 2006 - 19:00   ET

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

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: To our viewers, you're now in THE SITUATION ROOM, where new pictures and information are arriving all the time. Standing by, CNN reporters across the United States and around the world to bring you today's top stories. Happening now, it's 3:30 a.m. in Tehran The U.S. and its allies are in a high-stakes nuclear showdown with Iran. Talks end in a dangerous deadlock, but after a series of chilling threats, is there any alternative to negotiations?
It's 7:00 p.m. in Richmond, Virginia. More than a decade ago a convicted murderer sat in the electric chair and proclaimed his innocence. Now a DNA test reveals the truth about a brutal crime.

It's 7:00 p.m. in New York, where veterinarians are trying desperately to save dogs from a deadly poison in contaminated pet food. Dozens of dogs already have died. Hundreds may be at risk.

I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

BLITZER: The nuclear standoff with Iran is producing new fallout. Now that Iran has resumed research at a uranium enrichment plant, negotiators have thrown up their hands. The U.S. and its allies want the U.N. Security Council to take up the issue. The Bush administration calls Iran's actions, and I'm quoting now, "dangerous defiance." CNN's Christiane Amanpour is in Tehran, but we begin our coverage with our White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux.

Suzanne?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, U.S. officials are warning Iran that if it doesn't give up its nuclear program it could face a travel ban as well as a cut in foreign investments and diplomatic isolation.

The bit question tonight, Wolf, of course is whether or not these European leaders will be willing to impose the kind of economic sanctions, particularly on oil, that would really make a difference.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Talks with Iran over halting its nuclear program are dead.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: What the Iranians did was to unilaterally destroy the basis on which the negotiations were taking place. MALVEAUX: Since Iran reopened its Natanz nuclear site Tuesday, defying an international agreement, world leaders have become alarmed.

RICE: There is simply no peaceful rationale for the Iranian regime to resume uranium enrichment.

JACK STRAW, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: We have now to consider those steps before us.

MALVEAUX: Those steps comprise of a call from the U.S., Great Britain, Germany and France for the International Atomic Agency to haul Iran before the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.

RICE: The Council should call for the Iranian regime to step away from its nuclear weapons ambitions.

MALVEAUX: But Iran's chief nuclear negotiator says it has a right to resume its program.

ALI LARIJANI (through translator): Our intention is to do nuclear research. It has nothing to do with enrichment.

MALVEAUX: U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged all sides to take a step back.

KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: Now, I've been talking to all the parties and doing whatever I can to encourage and negotiate a settlement.

MALVEAUX: But some political analysts see Iran's move as a critical test.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a major challenge to Europe and this is a moment when the Europeans are going to have to stand up and say to the world that there is another way to handle these problems, other than American unilateral military efforts.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Now, while U.S. officials are saying the Bush administration is keeping all of its options open, including the military one, Secretary Rice emphasizing that the United States is now engaged in what it she is calling a new, more intense face of diplomacy -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thanks very much.

The president, by the way, is getting ready to come back to Washington. He's been at a Republican fund-raiser in Palm Beach. Air Force One standing by to bring the president back, that's a live picture of Air Force One, down in Florida.

Iran, meanwhile, is determined to press ahead with its nuclear program. It says negotiations are not at a dead end. Our Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour is in Tehran, with a report you'll see only here on CNN -- Christiane. CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INT'L. CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, Iran was trying to send out a conciliatory message as tensions ratchet up between it and the West over the nuclear program.

In an exclusive interview with the Iran's chief nuclear negotiator and head of the nation's national security council, Iran's said that it wants to maintain a relationship with the West, with the IAEA, that everything it is doing is under IAEA cameras and surveillance, that it says it wants to continue negotiations on its nuclear program. And that it does not believe the door to negotiations is closed.

It insists, Iran insist it is only conducting research into nuclear technology, that it is not starting any kind of large scale enrichment program. And in terms of the West's fears that Iran might divert enriched uranium to a nuclear weapons program, the chief negotiator here says that that would not be possible. That it does not intend to do that, and in any event, how could it do that on a small scale and under such heavy supervision and surveillance?

It says its right to nuclear research, under NPT, which it is a signatory to, is non-negotiable, but hopes it can reach some kind of agreement with the European countries it's been talking to, with the IAEA, that -- as they say, can be a win/win situation for Iran and for the West -- Wolf?

BLITZER: Christiane Amanpour in Tehran for us. Christiane, thank you very much.

Let's get some other headlines now making news around the country, Ali Velshi standing by with that -- Ali.

ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, now that the Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito has concluded his testimony, the answer to how well he did depends pretty much on who you ask.

Republicans praised his poise. Traveling on Air Force One today, President Bush even called Alito to say he was proud of the judge's performance. But some Democrats complain that Alito's answers were evasive and incomplete. The full Senate could vote on the nomination next week.

Police in Florida want to know who is beating homeless people around Ft. Lauderdale. At least two men swinging baseball bats have beaten three homeless men at separate locations. One victim is dead, two others are in serious condition. The offenders were captured on this surveillance video, which has been released by police.

The Maryland state senate has approved a first in the nation bill that would force Wal-Mart to spend more on employee health care in the state. The bill would force companies with over 10,000 employees to spend at least 8 percent of their payroll on health benefits, or pay the balance into a state low-income health insurance fund. Maryland lawmakers say the bill is a money saver for Medicaid. Wal-Mart opposes the bill. And remember Richard Hatch? He was the first survivor on the CBS show "Survivor." Today his trial on tax fraud charges got under way. Prosecutors say that Hatch intentionally failed to report the $1 million he won on the show, saying that he didn't want to pay about $200,000 in taxes, and adding that he even tried to get a tax refund in the year that he won. Hatch's lawyer says his client isn't just a tax evader -- isn't a tax evader, he's just the world's worst bookkeeper, bar none. Wolf?

BLITZER: He's pretty bad. Thanks very much, Ali for that.

Let's check in with Jack Cafferty standing by in New York.

Jack?

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Didn't I read somewhere that Hatch guy also had an accountant prepare a tax return, indicating he didn't win the $1 million he said, just for fun, do one that doesn't show my winnings. And then wound up sending that into the IRS? Seems I read that someplace. Anyway, this is a guy who was running around naked on that TV show trying to catch a fish.

In case you haven't noticed, we're getting fatter, a lot fatter, and it isn't pretty. Or is it? Suddenly our attitudes toward overweight people are changing. A new study shows the number of Americans who say overweight people are less attractive has dropped dramatically, 55 percent to 24 percent in the last 20 years.

Maybe it's a case of if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Two-thirds of adults in this country are overweight. So now, we seem to suddenly be more accepting of fat people. Since, as a nation, we don't seem to have the will to lose weight, we'll decide it's OK to go around looking like the Goodyear blimp.

Here's the question. Why do you think our attitudes toward overweight people have changed? You can e-mail us at caffertyfile@cnn.com or go to cnn.com/caffertyfile. Interesting question, I think.

BLITZER: I think you're right. We'll see what our viewers think. Thanks, Jack, very much.

Coming up President Bush was back in New Orleans today. Is he living up to his word? We're doing a fact check.

And big brother opening your mail. Is the government peeking at your letters from overseas? We're investigating.

Also, dead man guilty, the results of a DNA test show the right man was executed. So were time and money wasted to prove his guilt all over again? We're asking some tough questions. The famed attorney, Barry Scheck, he'll will be here in THE SITUATION ROOM.

And tainted dog food. It's already killed dozens of dogs. Fears many more may be at risk. Find out why vets are trying to get the word out to pet owners. All that and much more coming up, right after this. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: President Bush says he now sees a sense of optimism along the hurricane-battered Gulf Coast. Today he went back to the region for the first time in three months to emphasize his commitment to rebuilding what Katrina destroyed. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The contrast between when I was last here, and today seems pretty dramatic. It may be hard for you to see, but from when I first came here, to today, New Orleans is reminding me of the city I used to come to visit. It's a heck of a place to bring your family. It's a great place to find some of the greatest food in the world; and some wonderful fun.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Is the president telling it like it is, or is he overly upbeat? Let's get a reality check from Susan Roesgen, she's in New Orleans.

Susan.

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the president may say he's optimistic, but folks down here are saying show us the money. Promises are good, promises give people hope, but promises won't rebuild the levees, and promises won't keep the city alive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROESGEN (voice over): In front of Jackson Square today more than 200 high school girls rallied with their teachers and others, who don't believe the government has committed enough money to strengthen the levees in New Orleans. But one of the people who met with the president today says there's a more urgent problem, Greg Meffert is the city's chief technology officer, overseeing several city departments. He says the rest of the country would be shocked to know that New Orleans has gotten less than one-sixth of the money it asked for in the days immediately after the hurricane.

GREG MEFFERT, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS: We're having to make do, basically. And, you know, every time we're like OK, the money's coming. It's going to happen. It's going to happen. But meanwhile, I can't get somebody to go pick that up or pay for that, because I don't have the check to do that.

ROESGEN: Meffert blames FEMA bureaucracy for holding up $600 million the city desperately needs, just to pay its bills and restore basic services. Meffert says he explained the problem to President Bush today and the president commiserated but didn't offer any way to cut the rate tape.

White House Spokesman Trent Duffy told us that he White House developed the schedule of payment with the city of New Orleans, with their OK. And the next payment to the city is on schedule to be paid out whenever previously agreed on by the federal government and city officials. Greg Meffert has no idea when the city will see any more money.

MEFFERT: After a while you start to wonder, man, is this the plan, or something, you know? Do you really want us to come back or not?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROESGEN: A FEMA spokeswoman told me today, Wolf, that yes, there's a certain amount of paperwork involved in a big money request, but she also said the average turnaround time to process one of those money requests through FEMA is about two weeks, not four months.

BLITZER: Susan Roesgen reporting for us. Thank you, Susan, very much.

The president, by the way, was in New Orleans earlier and then he went to Mississippi. He's now in Florida, just attended a fund-raiser at a private residence in Palm Beach. Air Force One, there's a live picture, you see it right there on the tarmac, the president's inside. They're getting ready to fly back to Andrew's Air Force Base, in Maryland, right outside Washington.

You know, the federal budget is taking an even bigger hit than expected from Hurricane Katrina. The White House now says the deficit will soar above $400 billion this year, mostly because of Katrina costs. That's $60 billion more than the deficit forecast that was made back in July.

Is the government opening your personal mail? The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency acknowledges it may read mail coming from abroad as part of the fight against terror. Our Brian Todd has been -- is joining us now with the story of one man who says he found out about this program the hard way. Brian?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, Grant Goodman is a bookish 81-year-old from a retirement community in Lawrence, Kansas. He has a friend in the Philippines, who is about the same age and who he says is no more of a public threat than he is.

So, Goodman shuttered recently when a letter from his friend, which he says contained nothing more than a note and some newspaper clippings, had clearly been opened and resealed by Customs and Border Protection, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GRANT GOODMAN, MAIL OPENED BY FEDERAL AGENCY: I was obviously shocked, and very distressed to think that my privacy had been violated in this way. I wondered why in the world this had happened to a letter addressed to me.

TODD (voice over): Goodman doesn't believe there's anything in his background that's suspicious. A long time Asian studies professor at the University of Kansas, retired for 16 years. Says he's never been publicly critical of the government, and says he served as a Japanese translator for General Douglas MacArthur at the end of World War II.

Our separate background check found nothing to refute any of that. He says his friend, who he wouldn't name, is also an American- educated former professor with whom he's exchanged letters for many years.

On the heels of the NSA wire-tapping controversy Goodman's letter raises more concern over the balance between privacy and security.

CAROLINE FREDRICKSON, ACLU: It would trouble me that goes on, and that our administration feels like it has the authority to poke around in people's private lives when there's no evidence of them doing anything wrong.

TODD: Contacted by CNN, an official with Customs and Border Protection says its longstanding policy that any package coming into the U.S. from overseas can legally be opened, if there's suspicion of contraband inside.

A statement from the agency says in part, "CBP does not open mail to read personal correspondence. Sealed letter-class mail, which appears to contain only correspondence is only opened when a search warrant is issued or the sender or addressee gives written authorization."

Goodman says he never gave permission and is sure his friend didn't.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: The Customs official says she does not know about Goodman's case, does not know why his letter would have been opened. The official says it's likely that no one actually read the letter, but Grant Goodman still feels like he's under surveillance -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Brian Todd reporting for us. Thanks very much.

And to our viewers, please stay with CNN, day and night, for the most reliable news about your security.

Experts say they expect things to pick up again in Alaska's Augustine volcano. It quieted down a bit earlier today after two eruptions that spewed spoke and ash five miles high, disrupting some of the state's air routes. Our Internet Reporter Abbi Tatton is monitoring the situation online -- Abbi.

ABBI TATTON, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, we're taking you now to the Augustine Volcano, some 200 miles southwest of Anchorage in Alaska. This is on an uninhabited volcanic island, currently experiencing the most activity in the last 20 years.

We take you also to the Alaska Volcano Observatory. Look at this picture. This is a web cam, on the island there, trained on the volcano so you can look online at what's happening day by day, step by step. This is always updated.

Also pictures at that site, of a fly-over that they did yesterday after the eruption showing not just the smoke, but also avalanches caused by the increased activity there in the volcano.

They did downgrade the alert from red to orange today but that doesn't mean it's over. Look at these pictures from 1986. This was the largest eruption, some 20 years ago, the most recent one before this one. That eruption went on, on and off, with small eruptions for some five months. That's why scientists say you can expect more to come.

Look in, check in with this web cam here at this site, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Abbi, thank you very much. Abbi Tatton with that.

Still to come here in THE SITUATION ROOM, he maintained his innocence until the end. Now more than a decade after his execution, DNA tests show whether the State of Virginia put the wrong man to death.

Also, bogged down by bureaucracy the worst day in their lives, a family's efforts to find their missing child get tangled in red tape by their cell phone company. We'll show you what happened right here in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: The site is located on a pedestrian bridge, as wide as an eight-lane highway. The Saudi interior ministry says the pilgrims became bottled up at an entrance to the bridge. Many had brought their luggage and the stampede began when some started tripping over the bags. Almost 3 million Muslims are believed to have made this year's pilgrimage to Mecca, revered as the birthplace of the Prophet Mohammed.

It's been the scene of many deadly incidents in the past. Just last week, 76 people were killed when a hotel collapsed onto the street packed with pilgrims in central Mecca. In 1990, more than 1,400 pilgrims were trampled to death in another stampede. Saudi officials have tried to improve security and crowd management.

At the site in Medina, they replaced the pillars with walls that are easier to hit with the stones, and also padded against the crush of pilgrims. More time has been, also to complete the ceremony.

But the sheer volume of people and the emotion of the occasion overwhelmed the precautions. Zain Verjee, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: And this note to our viewers, Zain is here in Washington. She's going to have a special interview with the First Lady Laura Bush, tomorrow. You'll see that interview right here in THE SITUATION ROOM. Zain Verjee, Laura Bush, that interview coming up tomorrow.

There's a developing story we're watching out of Oregon right now. CNN's Ali Velshi joining us once again with that.

Ali, what is going on?

VELSHI: Take a look at this picture, this is unbelievable. This is Willamette, Oregon. This is a house boat that has broken away from wherever it was moored, it's got a boat with it, and perilously close to Willamette Falls.

Now, we're trying to get more information on what that is. But that's a house boat, and a boat, broken away and approaching the falls.

Now, those look like emergency lights on the side there, so it appears this is courtesy of our affiliate KGW. And it looks to be like somebody's on the case and holding onto this boat. But it doesn't -- we don't understand if there's anybody in this boat. But of course, as soon as we get a little more information, we will tell you what's going on there and whether that boat can be saved from going over the falls.

BLITZER: Let's hope it can be. Thanks very much, Ali, we'll continue to watch that story for our viewers.

Let's check in with CNN's Anderson Cooper now, for a preview of what's coming up tonight on his program -- Anderson.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR, "360": Tonight at 10:00 on "360" the big controversy continues over a book, "A Million Little Pieces." The best-selling autobiography by James Fry, or memoir, just last night on "Larry King" he admitted he made up parts of the book, embellished some facts. The admission has cause a huge stir among his very loyal readers and the publishing world. The question is, how often does this happen? Do authors of some of our favorite books do the same thing? We'll take a look at that.

We'll also look at the president's trip to New Orleans and the Gulf Region hammered by Katrina. The president says he sees dramatic improvements, but is that the reality on the ground? What about places like Waveland, Mississippi? We showed it to you last night and we'll show it to you again. Mountains of debris haven't moved in five months. Tonight, we're keeping them honest, all that more, Wolf, 10 o'clock Eastern.

BLITZER: Thanks very much, Anderson. We'll be watching.

Just ahead here in THE SITUATION ROOM, the DNA test results are now in. Was an inmate executed more than a decade ago guilty of rape and murder or not? We'll have the answer and what it may mean for death penalty cases.

If you have a dog or a pet you won't want to miss this story. The food in your pet's bowl could be toxic. There's a situation unfolding. We're going to have details. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. A man found guilty of a crime some 20 years ago walked to his execution steadfastly maintaining his innocence. Now, officials say new tests confirm whether that man was telling the truth.

The famed defense attorney Barry Scheck standing by. He's going to join us, but first, let's go to our Randi Kaye. She is on the scene in Richmond, Virginia with more on what we learned today -- Randi.

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the night that Roger Coleman was executed, he had this to say as his final words: "An innocent man is going to be murdered tonight." Well, he was wrong because now, today, nearly 25 years after this crime was committed, we find out that wasn't the case.

He was guilty, after all. Scientific proof coming today, being announced today that Roger Coleman guilty of raping and murdering his 19-year-old sister-in-law, Wanda McCoy, in the small Virginia town of Grundy. She was stabbed twice in the chest, nearly decapitated, and investigators always believed this crime was done by someone that Wanda McCoy knew.

They didn't have the state-of-the-art DNA technology, the fingerprinting that we have today, so that's why they decided to test the DNA sample that's been saved for 25 years. They compared the two samples found at the scene, and sure enough, they belong to Roger Coleman.

Jim McCloskey with Centurion Ministries, he's been fighting to prove the innocence of Roger Coleman for 18 years. We spoke with him today after the DNA results came down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM MCCLOSKEY, CENTURION MINISTRIES: Quite frankly, I still don't understand the motivation that led Roger to do this, nor the means or the opportunity given her time of death and his movements that night.

So I'm still numbed by this new truth that has been revealed, and of course, I'm sure in the days to come I will reevaluate how I looked at this, on what basis I believed that he, in fact, was innocent, when he was not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Now, just a couple of months ago, Virginia Governor Mark Warner ordered these tests. He wanted the people of Virginia to know for sure once and for all. Today he not speak on camera, but he did release this statement. He writes, "we have sought the truth using DNA technology not available at the time the commonwealth carried out the ultimate criminal sanction. The confirmation that Roger Coleman's DNA was present reaffirms the verdict and the sanction." We also spoke today by phone with the prosecutor, Tom Scott, who successfully prosecuted Roger Coleman back in 1981. He always believed he was guilty. He writes, "I'm feeling euphoric." This has confirmed what we knew all along. I do feel the prosecution, the entire legal team, and the judiciary system have been vindicated. For the McCoy family, this will give them some kind of closure. Maybe they'll get on with their lives but you never really get over something like this."

But now, Wolf, maybe the State of Virginia and certainly the community of Grundy will be able to move forward.

BLITZER: Randi Kaye, reporting for us in Richmond. Thank you, Randi, very much.

My next guest is a high-profile defense attorney. He's the co- direct of the Innocence Project. Barry Scheck us joining us from Los Angeles now with more on this latest development. What's your reaction to what has happened, Barry?

BARRY SCHECK, CO-DIRECTOR, INNOCENCE PROJECT: Well, we're really grateful to Governor Warner for going about and doing these tests. We've been actually trying to assist Jim McCloskey to get these tests for close to a decade and everybody has refused.

You have to put this into context, because Governor Warner has done something really extraordinary. A few weeks ago, he announced results of DNA tests that were performed in old cases. There were 330 cases where we found swabs that hadn't been tested from the old days.

Previously, we -- the Innocence Project had gotten five people out of prison, proven them innocent, testing these old swabs. So Governor Warner took a random sample of those swabs and out of 29 of them, two people turned out to be innocent and we found the real perpetrators. Following the same policy he went ahead and did the testing finally in the Coleman case which demonstrates that Coleman was guilty.

Equally, remember, Governor Warner, in an alliance between the Innocence Project and Ken Starr, decided to give clemency to a man named Lovett (ph), because state officials had destroyed biological evidence that could have been subjected to DNA testing and without that evidence, he concluded that it was not safe to carry out the ultimate penalty.

So Governor Warner deserves a lot of correct, because he is supporting our efforts to find the truth and let the chips fall where they may with DNA testing. It's proven a lot of people innocent.

You go to our Web site, innocenceproject.org, you'll see 172 post-conviction DNA exonerations. And in this case as it happens, at various times, it turns out that Coleman was not telling the truth and he was guilty.

BLITZER: Since the death penalty was reinstated in this country, more than 1,000 people have been executed, I think 1,004. Is there any evidence to suggest any one of them was wrongly executed by the state?

SCHECK: Oh, yes. Quite a number of them. Prosecutors ...

BLITZER: DNA evidence?

SCHECK: Well, not DNA evidence yet, although there are a number of cases where we're trying get access to the evidence. It's very hard. There -- you have -- we have difficulty in the cases of people that are still alive.

There have been 14 people on death row that we've been able to exonerate with DNA, some just days before their execution but in this instance, we have a case pending in Houston, Texas. The last person that Governor Bush executed we're trying to get DNA testing in that case of Claude Jones, that request is out there.

BLITZER: But so far, Barry, there's not one case that you could name that definitively shows that the state wrongfully -- wrongly executed someone.

SCHECK: No, I think there are a number of cases recently -- Ruben Cantu in San Antonio, Larry Griffin in St. Louis -- where there's been very substantial proof of innocence. When you're talking about getting DNA, however, you got to understand, it took ten years to get access to this evidence in the Coleman case.

When people are executed, the state has thrown away evidence. The State of Virginia, for example, in the case of Joseph O'Dell literally destroyed the evidence rather than permitting post-execution testing.

And what's really wrong-headed about blocking post-execution testing, is just imagine if somebody has committed a terrible murder that merits execution, the real perpetrator is out there committing more crimes. So certainly people shouldn't be afraid to face the truth in these cases. What's unusual about the Coleman case, it took so long.

BLITZER: That's why there would have been -- could you imagine if the DNA evidence today would have come back and said this man was innocent, there would have been a huge uproar but that obviously did not happen.

SCHECK: Well, no, but there have been 172 cases where people have been convicted of murder, some of them on death row, where DNA evidence has shown them to be innocent. There have been tens of thousands of cases since 1989 where people have been arrested or indicted and, thankfully, DNA has proven them innocent before the verdicts.

So we have to look at this in the long view. I'm absolutely convinced if we can get access to evidence in more of these post- execution cases, there's no doubt that we'll find an innocent executed.

BLITZER: Is DNA the be-all, end-all? Is that the absolutely essential ingredient?

SCHECK: No. I mean, there's all kinds of proof, fingerprints, all kinds of scientific evidence that can be brought to bear in these cases. You can also find the real perpetrator confessing and document that somebody's been wrongfully convicted or executed. That happens with great frequency these days.

DNA has just really been a learning moment for the criminal justice system, where it is shown definitively in many cases that the wrong person has been convicted, and identified the real perpetrator. So we're learning more about the fallibility of the system. It turns out Coleman was guilty.

The real take-home lesson here is that public officials like Governor Warner should be commended for going about testing and finding the truth. Governor Warner, in the last month, has found seven innocents and now confirmed that one person who was convicted was actually guilty. That's for the record.

BLITZER: Barry Scheck, thanks as usual for joining us.

SCHECK: Thank you.

BLITZER: Barry Scheck with the Innocent Project.

Up next, why a cell phone company refused to trace a phone that could have led to a missing baby. There's new fallout tonight from a story that's left a lot of people outraged.

Plus tainted pet food leading to dozens of animal deaths. We'll show you what happened and what's being done about it. Mary Snow is on the story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Imagine your child is missing and the best chance of getting him back is being blocked by bureaucracy. It happened to one California family who got tangled up in red tape on the worst day of their lives. CNN's Chris Lawrence is joining us now live from Los Angeles with the story. Chris?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, it sounds crazy on the face of it, but it comes down to this new GPS technology, and how to balance a person's right to privacy versus what could be the life of a child.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE (voice-over): A truck stolen from a family's own driveway. Their 10-month-old inside. Could the cell phone sitting on the front seat help save the baby, buckled up in back?

STEPHANIE COCHRAN, MOTHER: The one thought was that maybe that the phone could like be our one saving grace.

LAWRENCE: It had GPS built in, but bureaucracy initially kept police from tracking it.

DISPATCHER: 911, state your emergency.

COCHRAN: Someone stole our car with my baby in it at my house.

LAWRENCE: It was two days before Christmas, Corona, California. Stephanie Cochran's husband just buckled up their baby and ran inside to get his 3-year-old brother.

BROTHER: Somebody stole Wade?

COCHRAN: Yes.

BROTHER: He's lost?

COCHRAN: He's lost.

LAWRENCE: A thief stole the truck and drove off.

COCHRAN: I felt like my heart was broken and that I felt like I was dying inside.

DISPATCHER: We're going to try to see if we can do a GPS tracking.

LAWRENCE: They called Sprint. The detectives called Sprint, but they wasted valuable time with the customer service rep who initially refused to track the phone because the company didn't want to violate the family's right to privacy.

KATHLEEN DUNLEAVY, SPRINT SPOKESWOMAN: What's under investigation right now is the time lag.

LAWRENCE: Sprint says it would be easy to abuse this technology and it has a legal obligation to protect customers' privacy.

DUNLEAVY: That is why if someone calls our customer care center, we will not track their phone for them.

LAWRENCE: Customers have to call the police, who fill out a form and fax it back to Sprint.

COCHRAN: I couldn't believe that they were asking for those sort of things. Paperwork, you know, I had been on the phone with them. What other kind of release did they need from a customer?

LAWRENCE: In this case, they didn't need GPS. Police found the truck and Wade, a few hours later, about a mile away.

COCHRAN: I'm just so thankful to have him home, you know, that's all I cared about. Thank you for not hurting my baby.

LAWRENCE: The county board wasn't so quick to move on and at one point considered freezing construction of Sprint's cell phone towers.

JOHN TAVAGLIONE, RIVERSIDE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: Bureaucracy can't get in the way of the life of a child and I felt that something needed to change.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE: It's -- so far, Sprint is fully cooperating with the police in order to update its policies and because of this case, California legislators are already drafting a bill that would allow you, the customer, to sign a form when you buy your phone. That form would authorize the company to track your phone's GPS in case of an emergency. Wolf?

BLITZER: Chris Lawrence reporting, thanks very much. Sounds like an excellent idea. And thank God that baby is OK. GPS systems are turning out to be crucial in law enforcement's fight to stop car thieves.

Police from California to Minnesota are now using the devices to track stolen vehicles and the Internet is giving us a first look at these so-called bait cars. Our Internet reporter Jacki Schechner has more. Jacki?

JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, take a look at this. This is an actual car theft in progress. And you can watch videos like this on the Web site called baitcar.com. Now this is put together by a police force in British Columbia. They have a huge car theft problem there.

Basically what happens is the cars are outfitted with a global positioning system, a video camera. The police are tipped off when the car is stolen. They surround the car, they get close enough and they cut off the engine with the click of a mouse. The video is then used as evidence in court and it's posted online at their Web site, baitcar.com. Let me show what you that looks like.

Now, this is just one program. There's about 100 of these programs across North America. The very first of these was in Minneapolis in 1997. They actually, by the way, told me they have their very first bait car still in rotation. Does it work? That's the big question.

Well, they've got 200 convictions so far. They say their auto theft rate is down 30 percent and in British Columbia, this highly publicized bait car program, their first decline in auto theft in a decade. It is down 15 percent, thanks to baitcar.com. Wolf?

BLITZER: I love that story. Thanks very much for that, Jacki -- Jacki Schechner, our Internet reporter.

Up next, a popular pet food recalled in almost two dozen states. It contains a toxic fungus that's already killed some animals. Why vets are afraid more could die. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: An important warning for pet owners. A popular brand of pet food is being recalled after dozens of animals fell ill, some of them to the point of death. CNN's Mary Snow is joining us from New York with more on this story. Mary?

SNOW: Wolf, at least 76 dogs have died. That number is expected to go up. Many more have gotten sick because of the tainted pet food. That food was recalled three weeks ago, but there's concern that many pet owners may not know about the warning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW (voice-over): Taby (ph) is one of the lucky ones. This black poodle was able to walk out of the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, but dozens of other dogs weren't so fortunate. This hospital has become sort of a nerve center in the northeast for dogs poisoned by pet food that was recalled in 23 states in the last month.

SHARON CENTER, DOCTOR, CORNELL UNIVERSITY: This is a very uncommon thing for your average veterinarian to see. It's uncommon for me and I've been doing liver work for 30 years.

SNOW: Liver damage is the most serious problem for dogs eating food tainted with aflatoxin, a mold found in corn products, products used in the food. Diamond Pet Foods, which issued the recall says it tests for aflatoxin, but says a batch slipped through.

MARK BRINKMANN, DIAMOND PET FOOD: It's a colorless, odorless, tasteless fungus that's in the corn.

SNOW: The company says this is the first recall in its 35-year history and says it's stepped up its testing in recent weeks. And it says it's narrowed its list of toxic products to two.

BRINKMANN: We've identified only two products, Diamond Premium Adult and Diamond Maintenance Dog. And only four date codes within those two products.

SNOW: The company has detailed information on its Diamond Pet Foods Web site. Doctors fear that some pet owners though may still be unaware about the danger and could be unknowingly poisoning their pets.

CENTER: We believe that there's going to be several hundred dogs affected in the end that may have lost their life.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW: The company says it's getting about 1,000 calls a day into its call center. Also it's offering to pay health care bills for pets that got sick from the tainted food. Wolf?

BLITZER: Mary Snow reporting for us. Mary, thank you very much.

Other news making headlines around the world. For that, let's turn to CNN's Ali Velshi. Ali?

VELSHI: Wolf, the man who shot and wounded Pope John Paul II two decades ago is now a free man. Mehmet Ali Agca was released from a Turkish jail today after serving 25 years behind bars for trying to assassinate the pope and for killing a journalist. A Turkish justice minister has ordered a review of the release amid mounting criticism.

Well the Turkish Health Ministry is reporting two more patients with bird flu. Boys they are, four and six-years-old. Officials say both had direct contact with diseased birds. And that brings the total number of people diagnosed with bird flu in Turkey is brought up to 18, and three of those have been fatal. There is no indication that the flu has been spread from human to human.

Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson is asking the Israeli prime minister for -- his family for forgiveness. Robertson recently suggested that Ariel Sharon's stroke was God's punishment for withdrawing Israeli settlers from Gaza. Now Robertson says his remarks were, quote, "Insensitive and inappropriate," end quote, and they were fueled by his zeal and love of Israel. says it accepts Robertson's apology, but it's standing by its decision to cut him out of a deal to build a Christian heritage site in the Jewish state. Wolf?

BLITZER: All right, Ali, thank you very much.

Let's find out what's coming up right at the top of the hour. Paula Zahn standing by. Paula?

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Wolf. Just about seven minutes from now, we're going to have some new details for you in a story that everyone's been talking about for months, the cruise ship honeymoon that turned into a baffling mystery. What ever happened to the groom? It's a mystery that keeps getting deeper and deeper and more suspicious every time someone offers an explanation.

Plus, an attempted robbery that didn't quite work out the way a would-be thief had planned. Look at this amazing video of the store clerk taking matters into his own hands with a baseball bat. As it turns out, Wolf, this was the fifth time his store was hit and this time he was prepared. And we hope he will be joining us in this next hour.

BLITZER: We certainly will. Thanks very much.

ZAHN: Wolf, does it look like I'm on Mulholland Drive tonight?

BLITZER: Are you?

ZAHN: It's fake. But I have a feeling that I should be looking back at the ocean back there.

BLITZER: It looks lovely whatever it is.

ZAHN: Yes, we're thinking about L.A. this time of the year here.

BLITZER: See you in a few minutes. Thanks, Paula.

Still ahead here in THE SITUATION ROOM, big is in. More Americans say you can be overweight and still be attractive. Why are they saying that? Jack Cafferty is standing by with your answers. Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: A good moment to check back with our man, Jack. Hi, Jack.

CAFFERTY: Thank you, Mr. Wolf. Good to be with you.

A new study shows the number of Americans who say overweight people are less attractive has dropped pretty sharply. In the last 20 years it's come down from 55 percent to 24 percent. The question is, what do you think our attitudes toward overweight people have changed?

Paula in Albuquerque, New Mexico: This is a land of self- indulgence. We have labor-saving devices, we have cheap fast food. We don't wish to struggle or be stressed. If we do either, we eat and eat. Our standards of both taste and appropriateness in dress were scrapped years ago. Ergo, I see more and more hippos every day and it ain't pretty.

Wayne in Haskell, New Jersey: Jack, it's simple. When we were young, we laughed at gray hair and our parents' music was called oldies. Now that we're all a little larger around the middle, we call gray hair "distinguished" and our music is "classic" and our fat is now "tolerated."

Andrew in Illinois: Fighting obesity myself, I'm disgusted with my condition and others who share the same problem. Maybe two-thirds of Americans think it's OK to be overweight because they don't want to do anything about it.

Frank writes: Maybe it's just what the majority of Americans have come to realize, that overweight people tend to be less arrogant and judgmental than people obsessed with being thin.

And my favorite letter comes from Dave in Reston, Virginia: When gentlemen's clubs, that would be strip joints, have dancers who wear pastries instead of pasties, I'll believe the survey.

That ain't band.

BLITZER: That's not bad at all, Dave in Reston, Virginia. All right, stand by, Jack. We've got a story that we told you about a couple of weeks ago, involving New Jersey. An online contest to come up with a new state slogan.

Well, guess what? The results are in. And Abbi Tatton is standing by with the details. Abbi?

TATTON: The results are in indeed, Wolf and Jack. And people have been voting, over 11,00 of them. What was the winner? Well, it's "New Jersey, come see for yourself." Quite worth the wait. What do you think, Jack, about that one?

CAFFERTY: I think that's lame. The best entry was "At least it ain't West Virginia."

BLITZER: Come see for yourself. Jack, I believe you live in New Jersey, right?

CAFFERTY: I do live in New Jersey. And there's a lot about New Jersey that is grossly misunderstood. We are not just the tank farms and the turnpikes seen on "The Sopranos." There are some beautiful parts of the state, but I'm not going to tell you where they are because there's too damn many people there already.

BLITZER: Expect the unexpected, love at first sight, come see for yourself, the best kept secret -- what was the other one, Abbi? You crossed it out, the other slogan, the losing slogan.

TATTON: Another loser was "The real deal."

BLITZER: The real deal.

TATTON: That one also didn't come in first.

CAFFERTY: Those are lame.

BLITZER: See you guys tomorrow. Don't forget, we're here in THE SITUATION ROOM weekdays 4:00-to-6:00 p.m. Eastern. Also 7:00-to-8:00 p.m. Eastern. This note, tomorrow night, our Zain Verjee has an exclusive interview with the first lady, Laura Bush. We'll bring it to you right here in THE SITUATION ROOM. Until then, I'm Wolf Blitzer. Let's go up to Paula Zahn, she's standing by. Paula?

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