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CNN Sunday Morning

Handover of Power Draws Closer; Interview With NPR's Andrea Seabrook

Aired June 27, 2004 - 07:00   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.


DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It's June 27th. Good morning, I'm Drew Griffin.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Thanks so much for being with us.

Here's what's coming up at this hour. Sovereignty and insurrection in Iraq, even as the nation inches towards democracy, spasms of violence aimed to push it deeper into chaos.

We'll take a closer look at the people behind many of the deadliest attacks. Also ahead, the latest dispatches from the campaign trail. Plus, the political highlights of the past week. We will cover that with NPR's Andrea Seabrook.

And a little later, why a dollar is worth only 77 cents if you're a woman. We'll tell you what some women are doing about the persistent pay disparity between men and women doing the same job.

First though, today's headlines.

GRIFFIN: President Bush has been meeting with the Turkish prime minister in Ankara, promising to push for Turkey's admission to the European Union. He leaves minutes from now for Istanbul, where the NATO Summit conference gets underway tomorrow. Mr. Bush is pushing for a NATO military role in Iraq.

Across the border in Iraq, insurgents fired three rockets this morning into the green zone in Baghdad, where the U.S. led coalition has its headquarters. No casualties reported. A four hour session in New Delhi, the first meeting on Kashmir between India and Pakistan in six years. This disputed territory considered one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints. The Indian and Pakistani foreign secretary shook hands for cameras, waved to reporters, and have scheduled another session for tomorrow.

Former Enron chief Ken Lay says his close ties to President Bush make his situation more difficult and could weigh in on a decision whether to indict him or not. Lay tells "The New York Times" he takes full responsibility for Enron's collapse, but insists he did nothing criminal..

NGUYEN: Just as President Bush arrived in Turkey, three Turkish citizens were taken hostage in Iraq. An Arabic television network broadcast the tape from the same group of militants who beheaded American Nicholas Berg and a South Korean translator.

The kidnappers want Turkish companies to leave Iraq and denounce President Bush's trip. Turkey's defense minister says his country will not give in to the terrorist demands. They're threatening to behead the three hostages in 72 hours.

In Iraq, the time gets short and the violence continues.

GRIFFIN: Three days left now to the official transfer of sovereignty. And two car bombs have exploded near a mosque in the southern city of Hillah. At least 22 civilians are dead. More than 50 others hospitalized.

CNN's Brent Sadler has the latest from Baghdad -- Brent?

BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Drew. As Betty was saying there, time is ticking for those three Turkish hostages under threat of being decapitated if the Turkish authorities do not respond to the kidnapper's demands to withdraw all Turkish companies from Iraq. That threat has not been listened to by the Turks, saying that they are not going to act on those warnings.

Now the Turkish hostages are being held by the same group. That's the one headed by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, that killed Kim Sun-il, the South Korean and Nicholas Berg, last month. The South Korean was killed just last week.

What does this mean? It means that the United States is stepping up its efforts to get Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Friday, they tried again in a targeted bombing to hit of one of his suspected safe houses, but apparently if it was him, that time they missed him.

As far as the Hillah blast is concerned, again, that is thought to be the hand of Zarqawi. That detonation south of the capital Baghdad killed 23 people and wounded at least 50 others. That explosion, a double car bomb blast.

Again, Zarqawi thought to be behind that one. Now that blast happened several hours before the head of the coalition provisional authority. Ambassador Paul Bremer visited Hillah, also visited the formerly known Saddam Hussein mosque where that blast took place.

He was visiting mass grave sites at Matawil (ph). And Mr. Bremer met relatives of victims who'd lost their lives. Matawil (ph), they expect though to hold some 300,000 bodies. It is one of 270 mass graves throughout Iraq, the legacy of Saddam Hussein's 27 year rule. And what happened in those mass grave killings could provide, of course, important background evidence that could be used against the trial of former dictator Saddam Hussein -- Drew?

GRIFFIN: Brent, is Zarqawi, would you consider him on the run? Or his strength growing with every near miss that he magically escapes from?

SADLER: Well, certainly he is a fugitive. But certainly a fugitive who apparently, according to U.S. and Iraqi intelligence sources is being able to gather the support of other groups coalescing around him.

And in the words of one of the coalition commanders, really breathing success, if you could think of that in a macabre way, to the more spectacular, the more horrendous his attacks are and hostage taking and beheadings, the more that is garnering support from other militants joining that cause -- Drew?

GRIFFIN: Brent reporting live from Baghdad this morning.

And as you reported, Brent, al Zarqawi is blamed for the abduction of three Turkish civilians in Iraq. Secretary of State Colin Powell says al Zarqawi and his terror network are enemies of the Iraqi people.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SEC. OF STATE: The Iraqi people just want to be left in peace, so that later this week, they can see the full transfer of sovereignty and be responsible for their own destiny. And Mr. Zarqawi and other evil terrorists such as him are trying to keep that from happening. And they're taking innocent Turkish civilians, in this case, as a way to make their case.

And it will not succeed. We cannot yield to this kind of terrorism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Secretary of State Powell is the guest on "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER." That's at noon Eastern.

NGUYEN: Three days to the handoff, and our e-mail question this Sunday morning, is it mission accomplished in Iraq? Tell us what you think. Send your e-mails to wam@cnn.com. We'll read them a little bit later in the show.

GRIFFIN: The family of Paul Johnson, Jr. is appealing for harmony in the Middle East. A statement by the family was read yesterday at a memorial service for Johnson. This took place in New Jersey, his home state. Johnson was the Lockheed Martin employee beheaded by his captors nine days ago in Saudi Arabia. The family said it hopes Johnson's legacy is one of peace.

NGUYEN: President Bush is on his way to Istanbul for meetings with NATO leaders. Tomorrow's summit will focus on a possible role for the alliance in Iraq. While in Ankara, the president will place a wreath or displace a wreath at the Tomb of the founder of modern Turkey.

And during a visit with the prime minister, Mr. Bush praised Turkey as a Muslim nation that embraces democracy. He also urged the European Union to welcome Turkey.

Protesters are lining the streets in Istanbul prior to President Bush's visit. People chanted and held signs opposing the U.S. leader and the war in Iraq. In Ankara, police fired tear gas on scores of protesters, who were throwing rocks as Mr. Bush flew to Turkey. Police also arrested a dozen suspects accused of planting a bomb attack. Four people were killed in a bus bombing earlier in the week in Ankara.

A massive security net has been thrown over Istanbul before the NATO summit. CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh is on security watch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: After a devastating bomb blast killed four people and injured at least a dozen others in Istanbul, word from Turkey's leadership that the NATO Summit venue here is safe.

ABDULLAH GIL, TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY: Turkey is a secure country. And a Turkish security force, they're very much -- they proved themselves. They are the best in the world.

VAN MARSH: Safe means the deployment of more than 25,000 security forces, shown here in training. Authorities have also set up security perimeters around the NATO venue. They're also closed down close to 200 streets for their crowding Istanbul's already legendary traffic jams.

Computer ferry boats are being rerouted away from some of the ports near the meeting site. And oil tankers are banned from the Bosphorus, the waterway that connects Istanbul's Asian and European sides.

JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER, NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL: I've been there myself. And I have confidence that they have done everything possible to have a very successful -- to host a very successful summit.

VAN MARSH: Summit organizers fear a repeat of last November's terror attacks in Istanbul. Four suicide bombs killed more than 60 people, including the British consul.

And hours of ahead of British Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit last month, bomb blasts targeted British owned banks here. A few weeks later, two more blasts near an Istanbul McDonald's.

KADIR TOPBAS, MAYOR, ISTANBUL, TURKEY: (through translator) I was able to get to those bomb blasts within minutes and it's taught me a lot in terms of what measures need to be taken.

VAN MARSH (on camera): We later learned that just moments before our interview with the mayor, this Turkish bank was a target in a series of bomb blasts in his own city. There is very little damage and no one was hurt.

(voice-over): Despite these incidents, authorities point out that in May, they stopped an alleged plot to blow up the NATO venue. They say the arrest of suspected al Qaeda linked terrorists is proof that they're on the job.

Alphonso Van Marsh, CNN, Istanbul. (END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Other stories making headlines this morning. A new FBI computer system will not be tracking domestic terror threats on schedule. Officials had hoped the virtual case file program would be ready by the end of the year. Officials cite problems with infrastructure that makes the program work. It's supposed to help the FBI organize its data.

54 wildfires burning across Alaska. About 200 people who had been stranded by flames for two days in a small mining town called Chicken are now out of harm's way. Fire managers are hoping cooler weather is going to help. Nearly half a million acres in Alaska have been charred this season.

And in Compton, California, police chief William Bratton says he will review the policy that says it's OK for police to use their flashlights to subdue suspects. This comes after this videotaped arrest showing an officer repeatedly striking a carjack suspect with a flashlight. This is being compared by some to the Rodney King beating.

Panels for the names project AIDS quilt are on display in Washington, D.C. for the first time in eight years. The panels are designed by family and friends to remember people who've died from AIDS. A section of the project will tour 50 cities to raise awareness of this disease. 88,000 victims are represented in the quilt, which stands the length of 47 football fields.

NGUYEN: Iraqis expect to regain control of their country in just a few days, but what sort of country will it be? A determined insurgency is drawing strength from outside Iraq's borders. We'll take a closer look. That's just ahead.

GRIFFIN: And later, Dick Cheney's bad day and how he made himself feel better. That and more coming up in our political round table.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Welcome back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Drew Griffin. Three days now to the transfer of political power in Iraq. Coalition officials say that while Iraqi security forces still need some help, they're optimistic the Iraqis will soon be able to take more of a lead role.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN SENOR, CPA SPOKESMAN: But we hope over time, the Iraqis will be in a better position to assume front line positions and play the enforcer role, rather than just relying on us. And we can move into a position of being the re-enforcers.

I think it's important to keep in mind that while the security services have not been as professional as we hoped they would be by this point, and while the security services certainly need our support, many individual Iraqis have performed heroically, particularly Iraqi police force.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Those Iraqi security forces, along with coalition troops, are facing what seemed like non-stop attacks from insurgents they've been referred to as foreign fighters. But just who are they?

CNN's Jim Clancy has some answers from Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Posters honoring those who died fighting against the Americans, found not in Baghdad or the Sunni Triangle, but here in a Yarmouk a Palestinian refugee camp in neighboring Syria. Ahmed, who spoke on the condition he remains anonymous, lives here. He says he's been to Iraq several times waging war on U.S. troops.

"AHMED," (through translator): We tried to hide among civilians. We hit and tried to hide.

CLANCY: When U.S. troops first invaded Iraq, Ahmed and others from here took buses to the Syrian-Iraqi border and paid money to be smuggled across.

"AHMED," (through translator): There were American patrols everywhere. Anywhere you want to target them we set up with bombs, like weapons, and rocket-propelled grenades.

CLANCY: Just how many of these so-called foreign fighters are in Iraq is not clear. Coalition military estimates have ranged from the hundreds all the way into the thousands.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Oh, it's tough to know. The borders are porous. We know a lot of them came in from Syria, we know some came in from Iran.

CLANCY: The coalition says there are some 200 of what it calls "third party nationals" that it has in custody. Ahmed says they come from all over the Arab world.

"AHMED" (through translator): There are groups of Syrians and Palestinians, Saudis, Yemenis, they are from all nationalities.

CLANCY: The biggest impact of these foreign fighters seems to be suicide bombings, like this one in the heart of Baghdad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All suicide bombers, they are not Iraqis.

CLANCY (on camera): All across the Arab world, Iraq has become a rallying cry against the United States. Moreover, it is a place where arms are easily available; there is an abundance of U.S.-linked targets, and, therefore, the opportunity to having claimed having taken part in a jihad against America. (voice-over): Much in the way a previous generation went to Afghanistan and fought against the Soviets, many becoming followers of a young man names Osama bin Laden.

JONATHAN STEVENSON, INST. FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES: Those who have gone to Iraq will stand in similar shoes to those who went to Afghanistan.

CLANCY: In Yarmouk, there are already monuments to those who gave their lives in Iraq. Ahmed wants to sneak back across the border from Syria, he says. He also says he still considering becoming a suicide bomber.

Jim Clancy, CNN, Dubai.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: And you can see more of Jim Clancy's reporting on foreign fighters in Iraq tonight on a CNN PRESENTS special report: "COUNTDOWN TO HANDOVER" at 8:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

NGUYEN: And you want to stay with CNN for complete coverage of the handover. That is starting at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday. We've got a full line-up for you, as sovereignty is passed from the U.S.-led coalition to the Iraqis.

GRIFFIN: Soldier Carl Covington's heroic will to live from near fatal wounds in Iraq to rebuilding his shattered body one lap at a time. His story is just ahead.

Also, a league of their own. When someone says hey, you play like a girl, these players say thank you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: A look at our top stories this morning, President Bush has been holding talks with Turkey's prime minister and president. Mr. Bush he's going to fight Turkey's membership in the European Union. The president traveling to Istanbul for tomorrow's NATO Summit. The president's visit coming amid an Arab TV report that terrorists have kidnapped three Turkish citizens in Iraq. Their captors threatening to behead those three in 72 hours if Turkey doesn't remove its companies from Iraq.

Also in Iraq, insurgents firing rockets today into the green zone, which houses the U.S. led coalition. No injuries reported there.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Time now for our hero's story of the week. Today, we spotlight the inspiring story of Specialist Carl Covington. His courage, humor, and faith are helping him put his life back together after a bomb in Iraq almost destroyed it.

CNN's Lisa Sylvester has that story from Walnut Creek, California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Carl Covington was a certified lifeguard when he joined the Army just out of high school just three years ago. Now he's swimming for therapy, trying to build back the muscles in legs that were shattered by an explosion in Iraq.

The blast happened as his unit was setting up a highway checkpoint.

SPC. CARL COVINGTON, U.S. ARMY: We felt like we were the biggest targets, standing out in the middle of the road for 12 hours in a war zone. We thought we were going to get attacked from the sky. We didn't know what was going on.

PILGRIM: A bomb hit the vehicle Covington was riding in. A large piece of metal sliced through his left leg, severing arteries and leaving a gash a foot long.

COVINGTON: I knew I was hurt; I just didn't know how bad.

PILGRIM: Fellow soldiers applied tourniquets to stop Covington from bleeding to death and medivacked him to the nearest hospital. As doctors went to work, suddenly the pain was the worst he'd ever felt.

COVINGTON: OK. What else is going to happen? Am I going to see the light? It's like, what else? It was like I'm ready -- I was ready to go.

And then the chaplain comes in and says, "Are you a man of God? Do you believe in God?"

And I'm like, "Oh, Jesus, I'm not going to make it. I'm not even going to make it."

PILGRIM: It's taken 17 surgeries to save Covington's legs. Almost three months later, he's learning to walk again.

LINDA COVINGTON, MOTHER: The way he has healed from gaping wounds, things that are unimaginable to us. It's a miracle. His faith and determination; he's doing this himself.

PILGRIM: With the support of his family and community, Carl Covington is optimistic for the future.

C. COVINGTON: I'm going to deal with this injury, but my personality hasn't changed. And that's the one thing that I always want to keep is the way I am.

SYLVESTER: And he's looking forward to going to college to become an architect.

Lisa Sylvester, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: What a story. And we bring you heroes stories every week right here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING. And 9:00 a.m. Eastern, we'll be joined by two men who are helping injured troops returning home from the front lines. You can help, too. Find out how. That is ahead here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

GRIFFIN: But next, the Veep goes bleep. Dick Cheney gets down and dirty on Capitol Hill. That's ahead on in our political rap.

NGUYEN: And later, the pay gap. Many women want to know why their pay's substantially less than men doing the same job.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Well, if the curse of the vice president and its impact on the Bush-Cheney re-election effort.

Welcome back, everybody. I'm Drew Griffin at CNN Center in Atlanta.

NGUYEN: A curse literally. And I'm Betty Nguyen. That story in just a moment. But first, here's a look at headlines at this hour.

Another execution threat. Militants loyal to terror mastermind Abu Musab Zarqawi say they've kidnapped three Turkish citizens. In a statement on Arab television, the captors say they will behead the men within 72 hours unless Turkey pulls its companies out of Iraq.

Reuters News Agency reports Turkey has rejected those demands.

In Northern Iraq, a roadside bomb struck a Kurdish militia vehicle this morning, just outside Mosul. Hospital officials say five fighters were critically wounded.

There is more fallout from the Iraq prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib. "The Washington Post" quotes intelligence officials as saying the CIA has suspended use of its so-called enhanced interrogation techniques approved by the White House. Techniques including sleep deprivation and noise bombardment are now on hold, pending a Justice Department review. "The Post" reports that the suspension applies to CIA detention facilities around the world, but not military prisons at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and elsewhere.

Also, Israeli forces today ended their deadliest raid in the West Bank in months. Yesterday, a West Bank commander on Israel's most wanted list was killed in Nablis, along with five other gunmen. That raid is part of a two day Israeli operation to root out militants.

GRIFFIN: Time to look ahead now at news coming this week, as we fast forward. President Bush is in Turkey for the NATO meeting. That begins on Monday. Turkey has assigned 25,000 security forces around Istanbul. About 45 world leaders expected to attend that meeting.

Secretary of State Colin Powell is headed to Sudan Tuesday. He is expected to ask government officials to bring pressure on militia groups to stop attacks against civilians. There had been continuing reports of murder, rape of women and children, and the forced evacuation of nearly a million people from their homes. We'll have more on the crisis in Sudan in about two hours here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

And finally, in Athens, Olympic security forces expected to assume responsibility for the 155 summer games facilities around Greece on Thursday. The world will watch the games begin Friday, the 13th of August.

The green party has chosen its nominee for president. Texas native David Cobb has helped the build the green party and served as its general counsel once. He came out swinging at the party convention. This was held in Milwaukee.

Cobb labeled Senator John Kerry a supporter of the corporate agenda. Cobb's nomination gives him access to ballots in 22 states and the District of Columbia. Cobb's selection thwarts Ralph Nader's chance to be on the ballot in as many states as he hoped. Nader's second attempt to get on the ballot in Oregon may fall short as well. Officials are counting signatures collected at the Portland convention yesterday to see if he has enough names to qualify. Nader has said he prefers to build a coalition of third party groups and independents, rather than running under a party banner.

So the Ralph Nader problem didn't hurt John Kerry as much as it could have. In other political news, though, no regrets says Vice President Dick Cheney. Of course, the hullabaloo continues over Bill Clinton's autobiography.

NPR congressional reporter Andrea Seabrook is in our Washington Bureau.

Good morning, Andrea. I've got so much to talk to you about this morning. But let's begin with the curse. You know, we're talking about a nation obsessed with "The Sopranos." We've got Howard Stern on the air. So Dick Cheney says a little curse word between a couple friends on Capitol Hill. Is this really a big deal?

ANDREA SEABROOK, NPR CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: Well, you know, I think it could be. I mean, you see, you know, there are two camps. There's sort of the camp that says well let this thing roll off. Most Americans are not going to be super offended.

There's another camp that says this is -- you know, this is a serious issue of decorum that was the vice president. And it was on the Senate floor. And it was in reference to a senator.

And you know, wasn't this supposed to be the presidency that changed the tone in Washington? Is this really a change of tone? Is this really a sign of a uniter...

(AUDIO GAP)

I think it is absolutely brilliant political strategy for Mr. Cheney to come out and say he has no regrets and say that he feels much better now, that he should have said it long ago.

These are the -- this is the kind of political strategy that Republicans are great at. They leave the people who are going to follow them. And they do not look backwards.

GRIFFIN: Yes, just in case anybody hasn't been looking, we should set this up. He was at a photo op basically with Senator Leahy. They have political disputes over Halliburton and contracts. And basically, the vice president just went up to Leahy and said, "Bleep off."

SEABROOK: Yes. And apparently, you know, there was a little bit of a scuffle there. Politics are supposed to be, you know, not personal. There used to be this tone in Washington where people would argue over the issues and get very angry with one another, but still go out to dinner together or go get a drink at night.

This is not something you see as much anymore. It's a very different Washington than it was two decades ago, for example.

GRIFFIN: One thing I think this did show, Andrea, again, is how easy it is to push John Kerry out of the headlines. I mean, we've got now the curse. Clinton's book and all of the women who were not involved in that book and think they should have been are now giving that story some added legs. All this is happening while John Kerry is doing this multi coastal campaign that really only Barbra Streisand paid any attention to.

SEABROOK: Well, you know, I think -- I feel like I have two opinions here. One is that, as I said right here last week, this is not going to last forever. We have months and months to go before the election. And John Kerry is going to have a chance to assert himself.

It may be in his favor to wait a little longer even before he makes big splashy news. This could be a political strategy that we're just seeing the front of. And once we see him really come out, you know, and make some news and really gather some supporters, and some real excitement, that we will like -- we will think this is a good political strategy.

As it looks from this end, though, you know, Clinton's really stealing a lot of the thunder. The hardcore Democrats of the United States are not rallying behind John Kerry right now. They're rushing out to buy Bill Clinton's book.

GRIFFIN: Do you think this is a deliberate strategy, though, by Kerry? He certainly did sleep through the early going in the primaries and came out strong right at the very time he needed to?

SEABROOK: Well, I think he understands that most -- that this fight is about swing voters, that -- and that those swing voters make their decisions in the last few weeks, if not days, before the actual election. And that that's what he really needs to come on strong.

I think it's smart of him to be careful not to peak too soon. At the same time, people are starting to get nervous. You know, Democrats that I talked to are starting to feel like, you know, what's this? This guy's not making any splash. What's going on?

GRIFFIN: We've got a long way to go. Andrea Seabrook from NPR. We enjoy listening to you. And we certainly enjoy having you here. Thanks for joining us.

SEABROOK: My pleasure, thank you.

NGUYEN: Does the media give too much airtime to terrorist activities and demands? We will tackle that thorny issue during the next hour. Our guest will be Mamoun Fandy of the U.S. Peace Institute.

Beyond Iraq and Afghanistan is a humanitarian catastrophe of unbelievable proportions. We'll discuss the crisis in Sudan in the 9:00 hour. Also, one man's way of thanking U.S. forces for their sacrifice is to provide wounded vets with homes that can accommodate their special needs. We'll speak with him at 9:30.

Plus, spirituality spreads to the masses thanks to one man (UNINTELLIGIBLE) ahead on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: "The Dallas Morning News" says his church, the Potters House, has the fastest growing congregation in the country. "TIME" magazine asks whether he could be the next Billy Graham?

Bishop T.D. Jakes, a Dallas based preacher, claims the congregation of 28,000, but that's just his church. There's also his daily syndicated television show, with satellite links to nearly 300 prisons and of course, the national tours.

And now Bishop Jakes might be one step closer to becoming a household name with his latest project. It's called Mega Fest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

T.D. JAKES, BISHOP: Need some noise in the house.

NGUYEN: And with that, Bishop T.D. Jakes officially kicked off what he calls his first ever national gathering for the entire family. Past extravaganzas have been aimed at adults, often with men and women in separate audiences.

JAKES: Aim at something. Aim high, brother.

I hope that people will go away from Mega Fest understanding that Christians are multidimensional, that we're not just churchy, and that we don't just worship. That's part of what we do, but we also laugh and we interact and we fly planes and we stay in hotels and we like comedy and we like music, that we're alive. That being a Christian isn't the end of your life, it's the beginning.

God is calling you to change.

NGUYEN: Jakes says Mega Fest could draw up to 200,000 people. There's a circus, a gospel show, a Christian based comedy concert, a celebrity basketball game with NBA great Magic Johnson all billed as events where parents can feel comfortable with their kids.

It's the family angle that brought the Jeffersons from Alabama to Atlanta.

D.J. JEFFERSON, MEGA FEST PARTICIPANT: Enjoying my child and my friends so we can have a good time without all the drugs, and all the violence, and all the confusion and everything. We're just here to praise God and have a wonderful time.

NGUYEN: And the Carters from New Orleans.

PEAKLETTE CARTER, MEGA FEST PARTICIPANT: I just think it's just important that people come together and be rejuvenated and just get one cause and expect to receive from the most high.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he probably is the new Billy Graham of the 21st century.

NGUYEN: That's a comparison he's heard a lot lately. "TIME" magazine called him that in a cover story three years ago. But this author of 26 books and leader of perhaps the fastest growing congregation in the nation says it's no time to dwell on the similarity.

JAKES: Well, I'm deeply humbled by a title like that. I'm deeply appreciative to be recognized for what I do, not only because it's a calling, but I think that black preaching is an art.

But I think far more importantly is to recognize that the focus of our preaching ultimately leads people to God in relationship with God.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Certainly brought a wonderful group of people to Atlanta this week.

Well, imagine a hole about the size of a quarter. If you're a working woman, that's what's missing from your paycheck. We'll explain how some women are trying to fill that gap.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Welcome back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Betty Nguyen.

Well, summer is here and so are allergies, which can trigger asthma attacks. We'll help you take a breath. At 8:30 Eastern on "House Call", Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on asthma and living with it.

GRIFFIN: The world's largest retailer is facing what will likely be the nation's biggest civil rights class action suit ever. Female employees past and present are accusing Wal-Mart of paying women less and promoting more men.

As Kathleen Hays reports, Wal-Mart's not alone.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN HAYS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Equal pay for equal work, Congress passed the law more than 40 years ago, but the problem of unequal pay persists.

According to the Census Bureau, women earn on average just 77 cents for every dollar earned by men.

DEBRA SMITH, EQUAL RIGHTS ADVOCATE: It's really awful. The statistics are awful that women are still so far behind men.

HAYS: Just released figures based on salaries in 1999. Female doctors earn $88,000, while men made $140,000. Female lawyers did somewhat better, earning $66,000 versus men's $90,000.

Men and women wash the dishes the same way, but even here, paychecks differ. Women dishwashers earned an average of $12,000. Men earned $14,000.

So why is this still a problem?

SMITH: It's a societal problem. Women are in the workforce to stay. And we need to correct that situation.

HAYS: Experts say proving gender discrimination in the courts is tough because men and women doing the same jobs often have different work histories, different experience, and different levels of education.

And it's tough to take on the company alone. Many women just live with it, but some have banded together to take legal action, like at Boeing, Calpine, and the freight related company CH Robinson.

MARY STILL, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: I think you're going to start seeing some change from some of these discrimination suits, where people are suing. And there are some pretty large settlements. And I think that's going to be a big motivator for organizations to start really training sort of supervisors and managers not to say that the things like well, he has a family to support, that's why he's earning more pay. But not only not to say that, but not to factor that into their -- the equation when they're considering who to promote.

HAYS: Lawyers say the sex discrimination case against Wal-Mart is a clarion call to companies big and small to take a look at how they hire, pay, and promote women. Because the sex discrimination suit against Wal-Mart shows that women are no longer willing to settle for a smaller piece of the pie.

Kathleen Hays, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: All right, tackle football isn't usually thought of as a sport for women. GRIFFIN: But there's no shortage of women who want to play. And now they can. Gridiron girls as CNN SUNDAY MORNING returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Welcome back. I'm Drew Griffin. We say good morning to Baltimore this morning on Sunday. Rob Marciano will have the complete weekend forecast for Baltimore and beyond in just a few moments, but it's looking good so far.

First some top stories. More hostage taking in Iraq. An Arab TV network reports terrorists have kidnapped three Turkish citizens. The militants threatening to behead those men if Turkey doesn't pull its companies out of Iraq. Turk officials say they will not.

In Turkey, President Bush is en route to Istanbul for tomorrow's NATO Summit. Polls showing Turks mostly opposed the war in Iraq on their southern border.

Reuters News Service reports defense chief Donald Rumsfeld says the U.S. may not have to send more troops to Iraq. Rumsfeld told BBC Television he expects to strike a deal at the Istanbul Summit to allow NATO troops to train Iraqi security forces.

NGUYEN: Well, football and females, does that sound like a contradiction? If you think so, well, you may want to think again. More and more women are playing the field. And they're tough competitors.

Donna Renae has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONNA RENAE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Are you ready for some women's football? Then check out the independent women's football league, one of several professional associations devoted to full contact all female football. Yes, same sport, different hormones.

Rookie defensive end Melissa Eubanks with the Atlanta Explosion says the game helps her tackle life as a college student.

MELISSA EUBANKS, ROOKIE DEFENSIVE END: It's like a relief when you come out on the field, you know, if you had a stressful day or something, you just come out here. And it's just all out, you know, hidden and stuff like that. And it's like another side you really didn't know you had.

But when you come out here, your aggression comes out. And you leave the field and you feel a lot better. You feel relieved.

RENAE (on camera): About the only difference between the women's game and the men's game is the size of the football. The women use a junior size football to give them more passing control.

Sorry. (voice-over): Even though the team has yet to toss any money at players, explosion quarterback Sue Kokowski still considers herself a pro.

SUE KOKOWSKI, FOOTBALL PLAYER: It's been my dream since I was about five to be the quarterback.

RENAE: So if someone says ah, you throw like a girl.

KOKOWSKI: My dad told me how to throw when I was about four. And they've actually measured how far I can throw. I can throw about 50 yards down field. So definitely not like a girl by any means.

RENAE: The IFWL's third season ends with a national championship match in July.

Donna Renae, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Women and men are setting records in Cleveland by taking it all off. More than 2700 people, here they are, letting it all hang out Saturday for a picture by a photographer, Spencer Tunic. He's known for his photos showing thousands of naked people in public places. This shoot set a North American record for the largest number of nude people in a photograph. The image will be on display at the Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art in August.

NGUYEN: Yes, that's some art form. I'm glad we censored that video there.

GRIFFIN: Oh, yes.

(WEATHER REPORT)

GRIFFIN: We're asking our viewers this morning do they think mission accomplished in Iraq takes place on June 30. Here's what Orlando had to say of Mesquite, Texas. "June 30th is pure politics. Nothing will change in Iraq. The kidnappings and killings will continue. This is a lost cause."

NGUYEN: And Dinesh has a similar comment. She questions though what was the exact mission to begin with? The only gain so far is that Saddam is out of power, but Iraq isn't in any better condition.

We're getting a lot of people feeling the same way about this question. So if you have a different thought, send it to us. The question again is it mission accomplished in Iraq. You can e-mail us your answers at wam@cnn.com.

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 27, 2004 - 07:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It's June 27th. Good morning, I'm Drew Griffin.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Thanks so much for being with us.

Here's what's coming up at this hour. Sovereignty and insurrection in Iraq, even as the nation inches towards democracy, spasms of violence aimed to push it deeper into chaos.

We'll take a closer look at the people behind many of the deadliest attacks. Also ahead, the latest dispatches from the campaign trail. Plus, the political highlights of the past week. We will cover that with NPR's Andrea Seabrook.

And a little later, why a dollar is worth only 77 cents if you're a woman. We'll tell you what some women are doing about the persistent pay disparity between men and women doing the same job.

First though, today's headlines.

GRIFFIN: President Bush has been meeting with the Turkish prime minister in Ankara, promising to push for Turkey's admission to the European Union. He leaves minutes from now for Istanbul, where the NATO Summit conference gets underway tomorrow. Mr. Bush is pushing for a NATO military role in Iraq.

Across the border in Iraq, insurgents fired three rockets this morning into the green zone in Baghdad, where the U.S. led coalition has its headquarters. No casualties reported. A four hour session in New Delhi, the first meeting on Kashmir between India and Pakistan in six years. This disputed territory considered one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints. The Indian and Pakistani foreign secretary shook hands for cameras, waved to reporters, and have scheduled another session for tomorrow.

Former Enron chief Ken Lay says his close ties to President Bush make his situation more difficult and could weigh in on a decision whether to indict him or not. Lay tells "The New York Times" he takes full responsibility for Enron's collapse, but insists he did nothing criminal..

NGUYEN: Just as President Bush arrived in Turkey, three Turkish citizens were taken hostage in Iraq. An Arabic television network broadcast the tape from the same group of militants who beheaded American Nicholas Berg and a South Korean translator.

The kidnappers want Turkish companies to leave Iraq and denounce President Bush's trip. Turkey's defense minister says his country will not give in to the terrorist demands. They're threatening to behead the three hostages in 72 hours.

In Iraq, the time gets short and the violence continues.

GRIFFIN: Three days left now to the official transfer of sovereignty. And two car bombs have exploded near a mosque in the southern city of Hillah. At least 22 civilians are dead. More than 50 others hospitalized.

CNN's Brent Sadler has the latest from Baghdad -- Brent?

BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Drew. As Betty was saying there, time is ticking for those three Turkish hostages under threat of being decapitated if the Turkish authorities do not respond to the kidnapper's demands to withdraw all Turkish companies from Iraq. That threat has not been listened to by the Turks, saying that they are not going to act on those warnings.

Now the Turkish hostages are being held by the same group. That's the one headed by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, that killed Kim Sun-il, the South Korean and Nicholas Berg, last month. The South Korean was killed just last week.

What does this mean? It means that the United States is stepping up its efforts to get Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Friday, they tried again in a targeted bombing to hit of one of his suspected safe houses, but apparently if it was him, that time they missed him.

As far as the Hillah blast is concerned, again, that is thought to be the hand of Zarqawi. That detonation south of the capital Baghdad killed 23 people and wounded at least 50 others. That explosion, a double car bomb blast.

Again, Zarqawi thought to be behind that one. Now that blast happened several hours before the head of the coalition provisional authority. Ambassador Paul Bremer visited Hillah, also visited the formerly known Saddam Hussein mosque where that blast took place.

He was visiting mass grave sites at Matawil (ph). And Mr. Bremer met relatives of victims who'd lost their lives. Matawil (ph), they expect though to hold some 300,000 bodies. It is one of 270 mass graves throughout Iraq, the legacy of Saddam Hussein's 27 year rule. And what happened in those mass grave killings could provide, of course, important background evidence that could be used against the trial of former dictator Saddam Hussein -- Drew?

GRIFFIN: Brent, is Zarqawi, would you consider him on the run? Or his strength growing with every near miss that he magically escapes from?

SADLER: Well, certainly he is a fugitive. But certainly a fugitive who apparently, according to U.S. and Iraqi intelligence sources is being able to gather the support of other groups coalescing around him.

And in the words of one of the coalition commanders, really breathing success, if you could think of that in a macabre way, to the more spectacular, the more horrendous his attacks are and hostage taking and beheadings, the more that is garnering support from other militants joining that cause -- Drew?

GRIFFIN: Brent reporting live from Baghdad this morning.

And as you reported, Brent, al Zarqawi is blamed for the abduction of three Turkish civilians in Iraq. Secretary of State Colin Powell says al Zarqawi and his terror network are enemies of the Iraqi people.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SEC. OF STATE: The Iraqi people just want to be left in peace, so that later this week, they can see the full transfer of sovereignty and be responsible for their own destiny. And Mr. Zarqawi and other evil terrorists such as him are trying to keep that from happening. And they're taking innocent Turkish civilians, in this case, as a way to make their case.

And it will not succeed. We cannot yield to this kind of terrorism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Secretary of State Powell is the guest on "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER." That's at noon Eastern.

NGUYEN: Three days to the handoff, and our e-mail question this Sunday morning, is it mission accomplished in Iraq? Tell us what you think. Send your e-mails to wam@cnn.com. We'll read them a little bit later in the show.

GRIFFIN: The family of Paul Johnson, Jr. is appealing for harmony in the Middle East. A statement by the family was read yesterday at a memorial service for Johnson. This took place in New Jersey, his home state. Johnson was the Lockheed Martin employee beheaded by his captors nine days ago in Saudi Arabia. The family said it hopes Johnson's legacy is one of peace.

NGUYEN: President Bush is on his way to Istanbul for meetings with NATO leaders. Tomorrow's summit will focus on a possible role for the alliance in Iraq. While in Ankara, the president will place a wreath or displace a wreath at the Tomb of the founder of modern Turkey.

And during a visit with the prime minister, Mr. Bush praised Turkey as a Muslim nation that embraces democracy. He also urged the European Union to welcome Turkey.

Protesters are lining the streets in Istanbul prior to President Bush's visit. People chanted and held signs opposing the U.S. leader and the war in Iraq. In Ankara, police fired tear gas on scores of protesters, who were throwing rocks as Mr. Bush flew to Turkey. Police also arrested a dozen suspects accused of planting a bomb attack. Four people were killed in a bus bombing earlier in the week in Ankara.

A massive security net has been thrown over Istanbul before the NATO summit. CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh is on security watch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: After a devastating bomb blast killed four people and injured at least a dozen others in Istanbul, word from Turkey's leadership that the NATO Summit venue here is safe.

ABDULLAH GIL, TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY: Turkey is a secure country. And a Turkish security force, they're very much -- they proved themselves. They are the best in the world.

VAN MARSH: Safe means the deployment of more than 25,000 security forces, shown here in training. Authorities have also set up security perimeters around the NATO venue. They're also closed down close to 200 streets for their crowding Istanbul's already legendary traffic jams.

Computer ferry boats are being rerouted away from some of the ports near the meeting site. And oil tankers are banned from the Bosphorus, the waterway that connects Istanbul's Asian and European sides.

JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER, NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL: I've been there myself. And I have confidence that they have done everything possible to have a very successful -- to host a very successful summit.

VAN MARSH: Summit organizers fear a repeat of last November's terror attacks in Istanbul. Four suicide bombs killed more than 60 people, including the British consul.

And hours of ahead of British Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit last month, bomb blasts targeted British owned banks here. A few weeks later, two more blasts near an Istanbul McDonald's.

KADIR TOPBAS, MAYOR, ISTANBUL, TURKEY: (through translator) I was able to get to those bomb blasts within minutes and it's taught me a lot in terms of what measures need to be taken.

VAN MARSH (on camera): We later learned that just moments before our interview with the mayor, this Turkish bank was a target in a series of bomb blasts in his own city. There is very little damage and no one was hurt.

(voice-over): Despite these incidents, authorities point out that in May, they stopped an alleged plot to blow up the NATO venue. They say the arrest of suspected al Qaeda linked terrorists is proof that they're on the job.

Alphonso Van Marsh, CNN, Istanbul. (END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Other stories making headlines this morning. A new FBI computer system will not be tracking domestic terror threats on schedule. Officials had hoped the virtual case file program would be ready by the end of the year. Officials cite problems with infrastructure that makes the program work. It's supposed to help the FBI organize its data.

54 wildfires burning across Alaska. About 200 people who had been stranded by flames for two days in a small mining town called Chicken are now out of harm's way. Fire managers are hoping cooler weather is going to help. Nearly half a million acres in Alaska have been charred this season.

And in Compton, California, police chief William Bratton says he will review the policy that says it's OK for police to use their flashlights to subdue suspects. This comes after this videotaped arrest showing an officer repeatedly striking a carjack suspect with a flashlight. This is being compared by some to the Rodney King beating.

Panels for the names project AIDS quilt are on display in Washington, D.C. for the first time in eight years. The panels are designed by family and friends to remember people who've died from AIDS. A section of the project will tour 50 cities to raise awareness of this disease. 88,000 victims are represented in the quilt, which stands the length of 47 football fields.

NGUYEN: Iraqis expect to regain control of their country in just a few days, but what sort of country will it be? A determined insurgency is drawing strength from outside Iraq's borders. We'll take a closer look. That's just ahead.

GRIFFIN: And later, Dick Cheney's bad day and how he made himself feel better. That and more coming up in our political round table.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Welcome back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Drew Griffin. Three days now to the transfer of political power in Iraq. Coalition officials say that while Iraqi security forces still need some help, they're optimistic the Iraqis will soon be able to take more of a lead role.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN SENOR, CPA SPOKESMAN: But we hope over time, the Iraqis will be in a better position to assume front line positions and play the enforcer role, rather than just relying on us. And we can move into a position of being the re-enforcers.

I think it's important to keep in mind that while the security services have not been as professional as we hoped they would be by this point, and while the security services certainly need our support, many individual Iraqis have performed heroically, particularly Iraqi police force.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Those Iraqi security forces, along with coalition troops, are facing what seemed like non-stop attacks from insurgents they've been referred to as foreign fighters. But just who are they?

CNN's Jim Clancy has some answers from Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Posters honoring those who died fighting against the Americans, found not in Baghdad or the Sunni Triangle, but here in a Yarmouk a Palestinian refugee camp in neighboring Syria. Ahmed, who spoke on the condition he remains anonymous, lives here. He says he's been to Iraq several times waging war on U.S. troops.

"AHMED," (through translator): We tried to hide among civilians. We hit and tried to hide.

CLANCY: When U.S. troops first invaded Iraq, Ahmed and others from here took buses to the Syrian-Iraqi border and paid money to be smuggled across.

"AHMED," (through translator): There were American patrols everywhere. Anywhere you want to target them we set up with bombs, like weapons, and rocket-propelled grenades.

CLANCY: Just how many of these so-called foreign fighters are in Iraq is not clear. Coalition military estimates have ranged from the hundreds all the way into the thousands.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Oh, it's tough to know. The borders are porous. We know a lot of them came in from Syria, we know some came in from Iran.

CLANCY: The coalition says there are some 200 of what it calls "third party nationals" that it has in custody. Ahmed says they come from all over the Arab world.

"AHMED" (through translator): There are groups of Syrians and Palestinians, Saudis, Yemenis, they are from all nationalities.

CLANCY: The biggest impact of these foreign fighters seems to be suicide bombings, like this one in the heart of Baghdad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All suicide bombers, they are not Iraqis.

CLANCY (on camera): All across the Arab world, Iraq has become a rallying cry against the United States. Moreover, it is a place where arms are easily available; there is an abundance of U.S.-linked targets, and, therefore, the opportunity to having claimed having taken part in a jihad against America. (voice-over): Much in the way a previous generation went to Afghanistan and fought against the Soviets, many becoming followers of a young man names Osama bin Laden.

JONATHAN STEVENSON, INST. FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES: Those who have gone to Iraq will stand in similar shoes to those who went to Afghanistan.

CLANCY: In Yarmouk, there are already monuments to those who gave their lives in Iraq. Ahmed wants to sneak back across the border from Syria, he says. He also says he still considering becoming a suicide bomber.

Jim Clancy, CNN, Dubai.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: And you can see more of Jim Clancy's reporting on foreign fighters in Iraq tonight on a CNN PRESENTS special report: "COUNTDOWN TO HANDOVER" at 8:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

NGUYEN: And you want to stay with CNN for complete coverage of the handover. That is starting at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday. We've got a full line-up for you, as sovereignty is passed from the U.S.-led coalition to the Iraqis.

GRIFFIN: Soldier Carl Covington's heroic will to live from near fatal wounds in Iraq to rebuilding his shattered body one lap at a time. His story is just ahead.

Also, a league of their own. When someone says hey, you play like a girl, these players say thank you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: A look at our top stories this morning, President Bush has been holding talks with Turkey's prime minister and president. Mr. Bush he's going to fight Turkey's membership in the European Union. The president traveling to Istanbul for tomorrow's NATO Summit. The president's visit coming amid an Arab TV report that terrorists have kidnapped three Turkish citizens in Iraq. Their captors threatening to behead those three in 72 hours if Turkey doesn't remove its companies from Iraq.

Also in Iraq, insurgents firing rockets today into the green zone, which houses the U.S. led coalition. No injuries reported there.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Time now for our hero's story of the week. Today, we spotlight the inspiring story of Specialist Carl Covington. His courage, humor, and faith are helping him put his life back together after a bomb in Iraq almost destroyed it.

CNN's Lisa Sylvester has that story from Walnut Creek, California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Carl Covington was a certified lifeguard when he joined the Army just out of high school just three years ago. Now he's swimming for therapy, trying to build back the muscles in legs that were shattered by an explosion in Iraq.

The blast happened as his unit was setting up a highway checkpoint.

SPC. CARL COVINGTON, U.S. ARMY: We felt like we were the biggest targets, standing out in the middle of the road for 12 hours in a war zone. We thought we were going to get attacked from the sky. We didn't know what was going on.

PILGRIM: A bomb hit the vehicle Covington was riding in. A large piece of metal sliced through his left leg, severing arteries and leaving a gash a foot long.

COVINGTON: I knew I was hurt; I just didn't know how bad.

PILGRIM: Fellow soldiers applied tourniquets to stop Covington from bleeding to death and medivacked him to the nearest hospital. As doctors went to work, suddenly the pain was the worst he'd ever felt.

COVINGTON: OK. What else is going to happen? Am I going to see the light? It's like, what else? It was like I'm ready -- I was ready to go.

And then the chaplain comes in and says, "Are you a man of God? Do you believe in God?"

And I'm like, "Oh, Jesus, I'm not going to make it. I'm not even going to make it."

PILGRIM: It's taken 17 surgeries to save Covington's legs. Almost three months later, he's learning to walk again.

LINDA COVINGTON, MOTHER: The way he has healed from gaping wounds, things that are unimaginable to us. It's a miracle. His faith and determination; he's doing this himself.

PILGRIM: With the support of his family and community, Carl Covington is optimistic for the future.

C. COVINGTON: I'm going to deal with this injury, but my personality hasn't changed. And that's the one thing that I always want to keep is the way I am.

SYLVESTER: And he's looking forward to going to college to become an architect.

Lisa Sylvester, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: What a story. And we bring you heroes stories every week right here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING. And 9:00 a.m. Eastern, we'll be joined by two men who are helping injured troops returning home from the front lines. You can help, too. Find out how. That is ahead here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

GRIFFIN: But next, the Veep goes bleep. Dick Cheney gets down and dirty on Capitol Hill. That's ahead on in our political rap.

NGUYEN: And later, the pay gap. Many women want to know why their pay's substantially less than men doing the same job.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Well, if the curse of the vice president and its impact on the Bush-Cheney re-election effort.

Welcome back, everybody. I'm Drew Griffin at CNN Center in Atlanta.

NGUYEN: A curse literally. And I'm Betty Nguyen. That story in just a moment. But first, here's a look at headlines at this hour.

Another execution threat. Militants loyal to terror mastermind Abu Musab Zarqawi say they've kidnapped three Turkish citizens. In a statement on Arab television, the captors say they will behead the men within 72 hours unless Turkey pulls its companies out of Iraq.

Reuters News Agency reports Turkey has rejected those demands.

In Northern Iraq, a roadside bomb struck a Kurdish militia vehicle this morning, just outside Mosul. Hospital officials say five fighters were critically wounded.

There is more fallout from the Iraq prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib. "The Washington Post" quotes intelligence officials as saying the CIA has suspended use of its so-called enhanced interrogation techniques approved by the White House. Techniques including sleep deprivation and noise bombardment are now on hold, pending a Justice Department review. "The Post" reports that the suspension applies to CIA detention facilities around the world, but not military prisons at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and elsewhere.

Also, Israeli forces today ended their deadliest raid in the West Bank in months. Yesterday, a West Bank commander on Israel's most wanted list was killed in Nablis, along with five other gunmen. That raid is part of a two day Israeli operation to root out militants.

GRIFFIN: Time to look ahead now at news coming this week, as we fast forward. President Bush is in Turkey for the NATO meeting. That begins on Monday. Turkey has assigned 25,000 security forces around Istanbul. About 45 world leaders expected to attend that meeting.

Secretary of State Colin Powell is headed to Sudan Tuesday. He is expected to ask government officials to bring pressure on militia groups to stop attacks against civilians. There had been continuing reports of murder, rape of women and children, and the forced evacuation of nearly a million people from their homes. We'll have more on the crisis in Sudan in about two hours here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

And finally, in Athens, Olympic security forces expected to assume responsibility for the 155 summer games facilities around Greece on Thursday. The world will watch the games begin Friday, the 13th of August.

The green party has chosen its nominee for president. Texas native David Cobb has helped the build the green party and served as its general counsel once. He came out swinging at the party convention. This was held in Milwaukee.

Cobb labeled Senator John Kerry a supporter of the corporate agenda. Cobb's nomination gives him access to ballots in 22 states and the District of Columbia. Cobb's selection thwarts Ralph Nader's chance to be on the ballot in as many states as he hoped. Nader's second attempt to get on the ballot in Oregon may fall short as well. Officials are counting signatures collected at the Portland convention yesterday to see if he has enough names to qualify. Nader has said he prefers to build a coalition of third party groups and independents, rather than running under a party banner.

So the Ralph Nader problem didn't hurt John Kerry as much as it could have. In other political news, though, no regrets says Vice President Dick Cheney. Of course, the hullabaloo continues over Bill Clinton's autobiography.

NPR congressional reporter Andrea Seabrook is in our Washington Bureau.

Good morning, Andrea. I've got so much to talk to you about this morning. But let's begin with the curse. You know, we're talking about a nation obsessed with "The Sopranos." We've got Howard Stern on the air. So Dick Cheney says a little curse word between a couple friends on Capitol Hill. Is this really a big deal?

ANDREA SEABROOK, NPR CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: Well, you know, I think it could be. I mean, you see, you know, there are two camps. There's sort of the camp that says well let this thing roll off. Most Americans are not going to be super offended.

There's another camp that says this is -- you know, this is a serious issue of decorum that was the vice president. And it was on the Senate floor. And it was in reference to a senator.

And you know, wasn't this supposed to be the presidency that changed the tone in Washington? Is this really a change of tone? Is this really a sign of a uniter...

(AUDIO GAP)

I think it is absolutely brilliant political strategy for Mr. Cheney to come out and say he has no regrets and say that he feels much better now, that he should have said it long ago.

These are the -- this is the kind of political strategy that Republicans are great at. They leave the people who are going to follow them. And they do not look backwards.

GRIFFIN: Yes, just in case anybody hasn't been looking, we should set this up. He was at a photo op basically with Senator Leahy. They have political disputes over Halliburton and contracts. And basically, the vice president just went up to Leahy and said, "Bleep off."

SEABROOK: Yes. And apparently, you know, there was a little bit of a scuffle there. Politics are supposed to be, you know, not personal. There used to be this tone in Washington where people would argue over the issues and get very angry with one another, but still go out to dinner together or go get a drink at night.

This is not something you see as much anymore. It's a very different Washington than it was two decades ago, for example.

GRIFFIN: One thing I think this did show, Andrea, again, is how easy it is to push John Kerry out of the headlines. I mean, we've got now the curse. Clinton's book and all of the women who were not involved in that book and think they should have been are now giving that story some added legs. All this is happening while John Kerry is doing this multi coastal campaign that really only Barbra Streisand paid any attention to.

SEABROOK: Well, you know, I think -- I feel like I have two opinions here. One is that, as I said right here last week, this is not going to last forever. We have months and months to go before the election. And John Kerry is going to have a chance to assert himself.

It may be in his favor to wait a little longer even before he makes big splashy news. This could be a political strategy that we're just seeing the front of. And once we see him really come out, you know, and make some news and really gather some supporters, and some real excitement, that we will like -- we will think this is a good political strategy.

As it looks from this end, though, you know, Clinton's really stealing a lot of the thunder. The hardcore Democrats of the United States are not rallying behind John Kerry right now. They're rushing out to buy Bill Clinton's book.

GRIFFIN: Do you think this is a deliberate strategy, though, by Kerry? He certainly did sleep through the early going in the primaries and came out strong right at the very time he needed to?

SEABROOK: Well, I think he understands that most -- that this fight is about swing voters, that -- and that those swing voters make their decisions in the last few weeks, if not days, before the actual election. And that that's what he really needs to come on strong.

I think it's smart of him to be careful not to peak too soon. At the same time, people are starting to get nervous. You know, Democrats that I talked to are starting to feel like, you know, what's this? This guy's not making any splash. What's going on?

GRIFFIN: We've got a long way to go. Andrea Seabrook from NPR. We enjoy listening to you. And we certainly enjoy having you here. Thanks for joining us.

SEABROOK: My pleasure, thank you.

NGUYEN: Does the media give too much airtime to terrorist activities and demands? We will tackle that thorny issue during the next hour. Our guest will be Mamoun Fandy of the U.S. Peace Institute.

Beyond Iraq and Afghanistan is a humanitarian catastrophe of unbelievable proportions. We'll discuss the crisis in Sudan in the 9:00 hour. Also, one man's way of thanking U.S. forces for their sacrifice is to provide wounded vets with homes that can accommodate their special needs. We'll speak with him at 9:30.

Plus, spirituality spreads to the masses thanks to one man (UNINTELLIGIBLE) ahead on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: "The Dallas Morning News" says his church, the Potters House, has the fastest growing congregation in the country. "TIME" magazine asks whether he could be the next Billy Graham?

Bishop T.D. Jakes, a Dallas based preacher, claims the congregation of 28,000, but that's just his church. There's also his daily syndicated television show, with satellite links to nearly 300 prisons and of course, the national tours.

And now Bishop Jakes might be one step closer to becoming a household name with his latest project. It's called Mega Fest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

T.D. JAKES, BISHOP: Need some noise in the house.

NGUYEN: And with that, Bishop T.D. Jakes officially kicked off what he calls his first ever national gathering for the entire family. Past extravaganzas have been aimed at adults, often with men and women in separate audiences.

JAKES: Aim at something. Aim high, brother.

I hope that people will go away from Mega Fest understanding that Christians are multidimensional, that we're not just churchy, and that we don't just worship. That's part of what we do, but we also laugh and we interact and we fly planes and we stay in hotels and we like comedy and we like music, that we're alive. That being a Christian isn't the end of your life, it's the beginning.

God is calling you to change.

NGUYEN: Jakes says Mega Fest could draw up to 200,000 people. There's a circus, a gospel show, a Christian based comedy concert, a celebrity basketball game with NBA great Magic Johnson all billed as events where parents can feel comfortable with their kids.

It's the family angle that brought the Jeffersons from Alabama to Atlanta.

D.J. JEFFERSON, MEGA FEST PARTICIPANT: Enjoying my child and my friends so we can have a good time without all the drugs, and all the violence, and all the confusion and everything. We're just here to praise God and have a wonderful time.

NGUYEN: And the Carters from New Orleans.

PEAKLETTE CARTER, MEGA FEST PARTICIPANT: I just think it's just important that people come together and be rejuvenated and just get one cause and expect to receive from the most high.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he probably is the new Billy Graham of the 21st century.

NGUYEN: That's a comparison he's heard a lot lately. "TIME" magazine called him that in a cover story three years ago. But this author of 26 books and leader of perhaps the fastest growing congregation in the nation says it's no time to dwell on the similarity.

JAKES: Well, I'm deeply humbled by a title like that. I'm deeply appreciative to be recognized for what I do, not only because it's a calling, but I think that black preaching is an art.

But I think far more importantly is to recognize that the focus of our preaching ultimately leads people to God in relationship with God.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Certainly brought a wonderful group of people to Atlanta this week.

Well, imagine a hole about the size of a quarter. If you're a working woman, that's what's missing from your paycheck. We'll explain how some women are trying to fill that gap.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Welcome back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Betty Nguyen.

Well, summer is here and so are allergies, which can trigger asthma attacks. We'll help you take a breath. At 8:30 Eastern on "House Call", Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on asthma and living with it.

GRIFFIN: The world's largest retailer is facing what will likely be the nation's biggest civil rights class action suit ever. Female employees past and present are accusing Wal-Mart of paying women less and promoting more men.

As Kathleen Hays reports, Wal-Mart's not alone.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN HAYS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Equal pay for equal work, Congress passed the law more than 40 years ago, but the problem of unequal pay persists.

According to the Census Bureau, women earn on average just 77 cents for every dollar earned by men.

DEBRA SMITH, EQUAL RIGHTS ADVOCATE: It's really awful. The statistics are awful that women are still so far behind men.

HAYS: Just released figures based on salaries in 1999. Female doctors earn $88,000, while men made $140,000. Female lawyers did somewhat better, earning $66,000 versus men's $90,000.

Men and women wash the dishes the same way, but even here, paychecks differ. Women dishwashers earned an average of $12,000. Men earned $14,000.

So why is this still a problem?

SMITH: It's a societal problem. Women are in the workforce to stay. And we need to correct that situation.

HAYS: Experts say proving gender discrimination in the courts is tough because men and women doing the same jobs often have different work histories, different experience, and different levels of education.

And it's tough to take on the company alone. Many women just live with it, but some have banded together to take legal action, like at Boeing, Calpine, and the freight related company CH Robinson.

MARY STILL, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: I think you're going to start seeing some change from some of these discrimination suits, where people are suing. And there are some pretty large settlements. And I think that's going to be a big motivator for organizations to start really training sort of supervisors and managers not to say that the things like well, he has a family to support, that's why he's earning more pay. But not only not to say that, but not to factor that into their -- the equation when they're considering who to promote.

HAYS: Lawyers say the sex discrimination case against Wal-Mart is a clarion call to companies big and small to take a look at how they hire, pay, and promote women. Because the sex discrimination suit against Wal-Mart shows that women are no longer willing to settle for a smaller piece of the pie.

Kathleen Hays, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: All right, tackle football isn't usually thought of as a sport for women. GRIFFIN: But there's no shortage of women who want to play. And now they can. Gridiron girls as CNN SUNDAY MORNING returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Welcome back. I'm Drew Griffin. We say good morning to Baltimore this morning on Sunday. Rob Marciano will have the complete weekend forecast for Baltimore and beyond in just a few moments, but it's looking good so far.

First some top stories. More hostage taking in Iraq. An Arab TV network reports terrorists have kidnapped three Turkish citizens. The militants threatening to behead those men if Turkey doesn't pull its companies out of Iraq. Turk officials say they will not.

In Turkey, President Bush is en route to Istanbul for tomorrow's NATO Summit. Polls showing Turks mostly opposed the war in Iraq on their southern border.

Reuters News Service reports defense chief Donald Rumsfeld says the U.S. may not have to send more troops to Iraq. Rumsfeld told BBC Television he expects to strike a deal at the Istanbul Summit to allow NATO troops to train Iraqi security forces.

NGUYEN: Well, football and females, does that sound like a contradiction? If you think so, well, you may want to think again. More and more women are playing the field. And they're tough competitors.

Donna Renae has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONNA RENAE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Are you ready for some women's football? Then check out the independent women's football league, one of several professional associations devoted to full contact all female football. Yes, same sport, different hormones.

Rookie defensive end Melissa Eubanks with the Atlanta Explosion says the game helps her tackle life as a college student.

MELISSA EUBANKS, ROOKIE DEFENSIVE END: It's like a relief when you come out on the field, you know, if you had a stressful day or something, you just come out here. And it's just all out, you know, hidden and stuff like that. And it's like another side you really didn't know you had.

But when you come out here, your aggression comes out. And you leave the field and you feel a lot better. You feel relieved.

RENAE (on camera): About the only difference between the women's game and the men's game is the size of the football. The women use a junior size football to give them more passing control.

Sorry. (voice-over): Even though the team has yet to toss any money at players, explosion quarterback Sue Kokowski still considers herself a pro.

SUE KOKOWSKI, FOOTBALL PLAYER: It's been my dream since I was about five to be the quarterback.

RENAE: So if someone says ah, you throw like a girl.

KOKOWSKI: My dad told me how to throw when I was about four. And they've actually measured how far I can throw. I can throw about 50 yards down field. So definitely not like a girl by any means.

RENAE: The IFWL's third season ends with a national championship match in July.

Donna Renae, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Women and men are setting records in Cleveland by taking it all off. More than 2700 people, here they are, letting it all hang out Saturday for a picture by a photographer, Spencer Tunic. He's known for his photos showing thousands of naked people in public places. This shoot set a North American record for the largest number of nude people in a photograph. The image will be on display at the Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art in August.

NGUYEN: Yes, that's some art form. I'm glad we censored that video there.

GRIFFIN: Oh, yes.

(WEATHER REPORT)

GRIFFIN: We're asking our viewers this morning do they think mission accomplished in Iraq takes place on June 30. Here's what Orlando had to say of Mesquite, Texas. "June 30th is pure politics. Nothing will change in Iraq. The kidnappings and killings will continue. This is a lost cause."

NGUYEN: And Dinesh has a similar comment. She questions though what was the exact mission to begin with? The only gain so far is that Saddam is out of power, but Iraq isn't in any better condition.

We're getting a lot of people feeling the same way about this question. So if you have a different thought, send it to us. The question again is it mission accomplished in Iraq. You can e-mail us your answers at wam@cnn.com.

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