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CNN Sunday Morning
Mt. St. Helens Building Toward Eruption; Iraqi Police Find Bodies of Two Westerners; 'Newsweek' Poll Puts Kerry Ahead of Bush
Aired October 03, 2004 - 09:00 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.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: It's been two decades since scientists have worried so much about activity at Mount St. Helens. A steam eruption yesterday sends a signal that something more powerful is imminent.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to CNN SUNDAY MORNING, October 3. I'm Betty Nguyen.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Drew Griffin, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, 6:00 in the West. Let's get started with today's top stories, shall we?
We are following this event. Mount St. Helens building toward an eruption, and the threat to life and property could be imminent. The volcano erupted with its second burst of steam yesterday, capping off a week of ominous rumblings. Scientists don't believe any impending activity would match the ferocity of its 1980 eruption which killed 57 people.
A developing story out of Baghdad. Iraqi police say they've found the bodies of two people south of the capital. They are described as a man and woman, both believed to be westerners. Police say the man was beheaded.
In Iraq, U.S. warplanes have struck Fallujah, a city long considered the most defiant stronghold of the terrorists. Hospital officials say two people were killed and a dozen wounded. U.S. forces say they struck an insurgent training area overnight. Part of the bombardment of sites linked to terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry may be enjoying a bit of a bounce from Thursday's debate with President Bush. Two polls released this weekend showing that most Americans believe the Massachusetts senator won the contest. In fact, "Newsweek" says Kerry's performance won enough new supporters that he's erased the lead held by Bush since the GOP convention.
NGUYEN: Here's what we've got coming up as well: a soldier's story. B.J. Jackson lost his legs in a Baghdad street battle, but he says he also gained perspective on the life and challenges that lie ahead. He'll explain in just about 10 minutes from now.
And the battle for supremacy among military Web sites. We'll tell you where you can go for battlefield updates or even locating your old Army buddy. And caring for "The First Patient." Our continuing series on health and presidency looks back to the 1981 assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan.
GRIFFIN: Back to our top story now. In southwest Washington State, many people around Mount St. Helens are heeding scientists' warnings to evacuate. Volcano experts saying that Friday's eruption of steam and ash may have just been a warm-up.
CNN's Donna Tetreault is on the phone from Castle Rock, Washington, near the peak.
Donna, good morning to you. You had to actually get off of the site where you were yesterday?
DONNA TETREAULT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right, Drew. Good morning.
We did. We had to be evacuated. And I am in Castle Rock right now. That's 35 miles from Mount St. Helens.
Now, life and property are threatened by Mount St. Helens. The alert level was raised to three. And that means an eruption is imminent.
Yesterday, scientists reassessed the activity after a puff of steam flowed out of the crater at about 12:15 Pacific Time. The earthquakes, which were up to 3 magnitude and occurring two to four times per minutes, had stopped. But a harmonic tremor was in place.
Now, a harmonic tremor moves magma to the surface. Magma is lava underground. When there's first magma at the surface, an explosion or eruption will take place.
The harmonic tremor lasted for about 50 minutes, and then the earthquakes kicked up again and have been ongoing since then. All this activity led to evacuations, as we talked about. Tourists were evacuated from Johnson Ridge, where they were trying to get a glimpse of the volcano.
At this point, seven miles out, is a safe distance away from the volcano. The closest town to Mount St. Helens is Cougar. And if the eruption spews out ash, people there could be affected.
Friday's eruption forced out steam and ash. Scientists at the USGS continue to monitor the volcano. And again, they believe another significant eruption could happen at any time -- Drew.
GRIFFIN: Donna, thank you for that.
We're going to talk now a little more about this, why St. Helens is losing its temper. Some insight from meteorologist Rob Marciano, who is at the big board -- Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hey, Drew. Back in 1988, there was a series of small earthquakes that didn't do much at the surface. But scientists believe that's when a time when some magma from below came a little bit closer to the surface. And now they believe the pressure that was built up since then is what's created the recent activity.
And now the most recent survey or most recent analysis shows that, you know, that that magma's gotten even a little bit closer to the surface. So they think there's some new magma, and that's why they're thinking this thing's going to be more a little bit more intense than the last go-around, but not as intense as was 1980. And that's good news.
All right. Let's take you to KeyHole and show you exactly where Mount St. Helens is. It's in southwestern Washington state. And this is the southern flank of the mountain. And basically, the crater is on the other side.
Cougar is about probably the closest town near it. It's just -- it's a little mountain town. And if you're going to climb this thing, that's where you have to pick up your climbing permit, and then you make your way up the peak.
It's pretty much a day climb there. A lot of folks can bag that in just a day.
We'll swing this thing around to the northern side, and you can see where exactly the crater is. A totally different view and a totally different landscape.
This is what blew in 1980, the northern flank of the system. And this is all that was devastated during that time.
Since then, there's been -- there's been a little bit of a dome that has been built, a lava dome in the center of this thing. And that's what's created the activity the last couple days.
What we expect to happen or what the scientists expect to happen, if this thing erupts later on today, or when it does, depending on how intense the eruption is, will obviously tell you how high the stuff will go, the ash and debris will go in the air. Last go-around two days ago, it didn't go up but more than a couple thousand feet. So it just kind of settled in the eastern and northern flanks -- or western and northern flanks of the mountain.
If this thing erupts more intensely, that will send debris higher in the sky. And if that happens, if we get it high enough, then we're talking about metropolitan areas that could be affected.
This is the Portland metropolitan area, including southwest Washington, and Mount St. Helens is right there. Upper flow way up there is out of the northeast, which would bring some of that ash and debris into the Portland metro area.
That's not what we think is going to happen. It would take an eruption of -- a more intense eruption than they actually think will happen.
So right now, winds are pretty light, Drew. When this thing does blow, if it's the intensification that they think it will erupt in, it shouldn't affect too many people other than some of the camping areas to the east of the mountain, to the north of the mountain, and south of the mountain.
There's not much in the way of populated areas right around that mountain. You'd really have to go west towards I-5 and then north or south.
That's the latest from here. We'll keep an eye on it. It should be an interesting day, that's for sure.
GRIFFIN: Yes. In fact, later in the broadcast, Rob, we're going to have a scientist come on from the Cascades Observatory to talk, I guess, with you, I hope, about it.
MARCIANO: Oh really? OK.
GRIFFIN: So we'll see that later in the show. Thanks.
NGUYEN: It appears Democrat John Kerry scored big during the presidential debate Thursday. And the race for the White House is tight once again.
The "Newsweek" poll shows of those who watched the debate, 61 percent thought Kerry won. Nineteen percent thought President Bush did.
The poll also found 47 percent of registered voters questioned. They support Senator Kerry for president, while 45 percent favored President Bush. That is a statistical dead heat. Independent candidate Ralph Nader has a 2 percent point.
Plus, Bush led 49 to 43 percent in the poll from early September. And CNN releases its own poll tonight at 6:00 Eastern.
Well, the Bush camp is downplaying those survey results. The president's chief political adviser, Karl Rove, says the campaign always expected the race to become tighter and the poll results have nothing to do with the debate. Instead, he says, it is the nature of this contest. Meanwhile, Rove says no major changes are planned for a second debate, which takes place on Friday.
Now, for his part, Kerry is putting the spotlight on the economy. While in Florida, the Massachusetts senator painted himself as a patron of working families. By contrast, he said President Bush cares more about the wealthy and well connected.
And you liked our e-mail question so much yesterday that we are bringing it back for a second time. Will you watch the next presidential debate and why? Send in your responses to wam@cnn.com. We'll read them on the air.
GRIFFIN: In Iraq, a mystery this morning near the capital. Two bodies, those of a man and woman, were found 13 miles south of Baghdad.
The man had been decapitated. His hands were tied behind his back. The woman shot in the head. Both victims, Iraqi police say, appear to be westerners.
Meanwhile, more U.S. air strikes today on suspected terrorist facilities in Fallujah. A hospital official says two people killed, a dozen injured in the latest raid. The U.S. military says a primary target was a building housing terrorists and their weapons.
Occasional gunfire heard today -- gunfire heard today in Samarra. An Iraqi government official visited the city seized from insurgents in a fierce battle that began Thursday.
CNN's Jane Arraf has our exclusive report from there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): For Iraq's interior minister, it was kind of a victory tour of Samarra's holy shrine.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not a lot of damage.
ARRAF: U.S. and Iraqi special forces took this mosque with little resistant. Interior minister Falah Al-Naqib told us the operation, which used more than 1,000 Iraqi security forces, and about 2,000 U.S. troops, was meant to send a message.
FALAH AL-NAQIB, IRAQI INTERIOR MINISTER: That Iraq is back. Iraq is back. And the Iraqis, they are back to their real world. And, you know, Iraqis, always they have been very proud of themselves, and will keep that going. We won't allow those criminals to destroy our country.
ARRAF: He says the Iraqi government, with U.S. forces, would continue to crack down in other cities to prepare for planned elections in January. And while the streets of Samarra are calmer, they're not entirely secure yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Those shots that were taken from the eastern portion, on this side of the mosque, were not friendly. Confirm that with the adjacent unit, the Vikings.
ARRAF: Soldiers still on alert for attacks and roadside bombs. U.S. forces backed by Iraqis search and secure building after building.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the other two battalions, two reports (ph) has conducted operations in the north, and two in the south. In addition, the 7th Iraqi Army Battalion is...
ARRAF (on camera): What was that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was a breach charge.
ARRAF: What were they firing at?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, they were breaching the gate.
ARRAF (voice-over): Here, the soldiers blasted open the door of the school. They detained the guard, saying he had a gun and 1,000 rounds of ammunition. His wife says a man came and left the weapons.
(on camera): These streets are almost completely deserted. Only soldiers and tanks are moving around.
In the rest of Iraq, school started today. But here, people are staying well indoors.
(voice-over): In the mostly empty streets near the Golden Ali al-Hadi Mosque (ph), a man carried the limp body of a boy. It wasn't clear whether he was still alive.
In other parts of town, few Iraqis on the street. So, too, the commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division, who's troops are securing Samarra.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's good to see the people of Iraq out of Samarra back on the streets. This is probably the first time they've been back out of their homes now since the operation started about 36 hours ago.
But these are largely good people. They've been held hostage by a small number, relatively speaking, of terrorists and foreign fighters, some criminals. This is a beginning for these people with a whole new future.
ARRAF: Major General John Batiste (ph) jumped out of his Humvee to talk to Samarra residents.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you all think about the security situation now in your city?
"We're a city under siege," this man told him. He said, "They need the bridge across the Tigris River closed after attacks on U.S. and Iraqi security forces reopened." The general said it would take some time, but with the insurgents defeated, Samarra, he promised, could sometime soon return to normal.
Jane Arraf, CNN, Samarra, Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: The scars of battle sometime last forever, like those suffered by B.J. Jackson. He's going to join us live with his wife, Abby. There they are in Des Moines, Iowa, to tell us about his experience and their experience now.
NGUYEN: Plus, the latest on what's brewing inside Mount St. Helens.
And good morning, Miami. Rob Marciano is coming back with the forecast for today's football game between the Dolphins and the New York Jets. It's a sunny morning there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Tourists have been evacuated, and the alert level raised on Washington's Mount St. Helens. Scientists say a second blast of steam means an eruption there could be imminent. The week's seismic activity has reached its highest point since the 1980 eruption that killed 57 people.
A hospital official in Iraq says police have found two bodies south of Baghdad. Both are believed to be westerners. A woman had been shot in the head. The man, beheaded, with his hands tied behind his back. The bodies have not been identified.
And U.S. military officials in Iraq say they've reclaimed Samarra after a three-day offensive by American and Iraqi forces. Those troops are now going door to door in a search for remaining insurgents, and sporadic fighting is still being reported.
GRIFFIN: Now our soldier's story this morning. He lost both legs below the knees in Iraq. But this Iowa National Guardsman hasn't lost his spirit. Purple Heart recipient B.J. Jackson and wife, Abby, are in Des Moines this Sunday.
Good morning to you both. Hope you're doing well.
SPC. B.J. JACKSON, PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT: Good morning.
ABBY JACKSON, WIFE: Good morning.
GRIFFIN: Abby, it's ladies first on this show. Tell me what happened to your -- to your husband.
A. JACKSON: My husband was injured in Iraq in a commercial district. He was the driver of an unarmored Humvee. I just got a phone call that said, "Unfortunately, I regret to inform you that your husband's been injured, and he was hit by an RPG in a phosphorous landmine."
GRIFFIN: At that moment, when you got that phone call, you didn't really understand what he had been going through. Basically, B.J., you were in a firefight, or your colleagues were in a firefight for a long time, just trying to extract you from that vehicle.
B.J. JACKSON: Correct. My legs were trapped in the vehicle, and they had an ambush for, I believe, about a four-and-a-half hour firefight during the time. And it took them about a half-hour to get me out of the burning vehicle.
GRIFFIN: And this all happened on what was to be your day off. What were you doing before this event in Iraq?
B.J. JACKSON: I'm sorry?
GRIFFIN: What was your job in Iraq prior to this one day off? B.J. JACKSON: I was in a military police unit. We did convoy security, EPW missions, basically everything MPs do over there in Iraq.
GRIFFIN: And tell me about your experience and how you feel about it now. You've obviously come home. You're a changed man both physically, and I assume mentally as well. Do you view things differently?
B.J. JACKSON: Not really. The support I received when I got back, and the support that my wife and two daughters have gave me is just wonderful. So really, the only difference between me and any able-bodied person is it takes me a little longer to get out of bed. So...
GRIFFIN: Abby, this guy sitting next to you is now skiing, I'm told. Has he surprised you in the strength that he has?
A. JACKSON: Yes. I wouldn't say surprised, but he definitely gives you a new perspective at looking at life. So he loves to ski, and he loves to make challenges out of life.
GRIFFIN: So you two are moving ahead with your life.
This is a political season, B.J. And I hate to throw you into the politics of U.S. domestic issues. But I'd be interested to know what you'd like to tell or have President Bush and Senator Kerry know about your experience and your colleagues' experience in Iraq. Is there something that they are missing?
B.J. JACKSON: Really, I don't really -- couldn't really touch on that. I could speak to the general public in saying you don't have to support the war to support your troops. And it doesn't matter what political party you are, Republican, Democrat, whichever, it's about the troops that are over there dying every day or losing limbs and getting injured.
GRIFFIN: And in your mind, it is a good mission? It's a mission worth fighting for?
B.J. JACKSON: I believe in Iraq it's just like anywhere else. You've got good people, you've got bad people. The day of my accident, I just happened to run across the bad people. So...
GRIFFIN: Abby, how do you feel about your husband and his future?
A. JACKSON: I think he's got a really promising future, and he's taken a step in the right direction. And he's working really closely with a really great organization called Salute America's Heroes, and he has got a goal-driven purpose. And everything happens for a reason, and we're just going to make the best of it, which he does good at.
GRIFFIN: Terrific. Abby and B.J. Jackson, we thank you both for your service to this country and wish you nothing but the best in the coming months and years ahead together. Thank you for joining us.
B.J. JACKSON: Thank you.
A. JACKSON: Thank you.
NGUYEN: And we are keeping a close eye on Mount St. Helens this morning. This is a live picture of it as the sun comes up.
We do have an update on the mountain as the volcano, or another eruption is expected sometime today. We'll get you the latest on that a little bit later.
GRIFFIN: On the other side of the country, we say good morning to Miami. What's this weekend without a hurricane? They're enjoying it now. Rob Marciano back with the forecast here on SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: We know first time in, what, over a month that we haven't been talking about hurricanes on these weekend shows. But...
GRIFFIN: But a volcano.
NGUYEN: I know. Another storm is brewing, and that's inside Mount St. Helens.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: And, you know, in fact, we want to go live to Mount St. Helens right now and take a live look as the sun comes up over this volcano. Now, the steam that's been coming from the top of Mount St. Helens has been looking harmless enough, but it does little to hide the energy brewing inside this potent volcano.
We will have a live update from one of the persons watching every rumble.
Plus, the best of the Internet. This morning, military Web sites where you can get up-to-the-minute updates on the war in Iraq.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Here's another live look at this rumbling volcano that much of the nation has been watching over the past couple of days. It is time to get out of the way in southwestern Washington. That's the thinking near Mount St. Helens as scientists say another eruption is coming. Welcome back. I'm Betty Nguyen at the CNN center in Atlanta.
GRIFFIN: I'm Drew Griffin. That story's coming up. But first, at 9:32, the headlines.
NGUYEN: A hospital official in Iraq reports that the headless body of a man and the body of a blonde woman shot in the head were discovered today just south of Baghdad. The official says the victims appear to be westerners. Their identities, though, have not yet been determined. In Fallujah, coalition officials are saying a large number of insurgents were presumed killed early today by an air strike on their suspected hideout. Hospital officials in the city confirm two killed and a dozen wounded. Authorities say an air strike yesterday targeted a group of militants training just outside of Fallujah.
U.S. troops are conducting door to door searches in the Iraqi city of Samarra, searching for remaining insurgent fighters. The U.S. military has reopened streets to the hospital after claiming that its three-day offensive reclaimed control of the city. Local residents are angrily rejecting a claim by an Iraqi official that no civilians are among the 130 people believed dead.
And in the U.S. presidential race, Democrat John Kerry may be enjoying a bounce from Thursday's debate with George W. Bush. Two polls this weekend show that most Americans believe the Massachusetts senator won the contest. In fact, "Newsweek" says Kerry won enough new supporters to erase the lead that Bush had held since the GOP convention. Drew?
GRIFFIN: We're going to begin in the Pacific northwest where a harmonic tremor is sending people scurrying away from Mount St. Helens. Geologists describe a harmonic tremor as a long even vibration, a sustained chord from deep inside the earth. They say it's caused by rising magma and a sure sign of an impending volcanic eruption.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM PIERSON, USGS GEOLOGIST: They've rethought the probability of whether or not this fresh new magma is involved that might have more gas and therefore might make is more explosive when it does come to the surface. The thinking now is that at least a 50 percent chance -- you know, 50 percent or greater chance that new magma is involved. And so we're looking at the possibility of larger eruptions than we had been talking about previously.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: That assessment prompted scientists to issue a level three alert, a dire warning to leave the area immediately. The exodus spurred by the surrounding landscape still showing vivid scars of the blast 24 years ago that killed 57 people. For geologists, Mount St. Helens is now a minute-by-minute waiting game. Stephanie Hanna of the U.S. Geological Survey has an update for us from her observation post in the Cascade Mountains of southwest Washington. Good morning.
STEPHANIE HANNA, CASCADES VOLCANO OBSERVATORY: Good morning.
GRIFFIN: Maybe you can just tell us, what is a harmonic tremor and the difference between new magma and old magma which would lead to this new warning?
HANNA: Well, we believe that there was magma that was pushed into the -- underneath the lava dome and two episodes, one in 1998 and one in 2001 and that last lava has cooled subsequently. And the earthquakes that we see at the range of about a half a mile to a mile is what are called rock-breaking earthquakes against that older magma. What we saw yesterday for the first time was a pattern of earthquakes which is virtually a constant earthquake called a harmonic tremor. And that is a sure signal of new magma present in the common (ph) area.
GRIFFIN: So does that actually -- that harmonic tremor is actually magma on the move?
HANNA: Yes, it is.
GRIFFIN: OK. And so the caps that were developed after 2001 and 1998, basically, they have been broken and anybody's --
HANNA: Well, it's kind of like a big cork. And the new lava will be pushing like a piston against that cork. And what we saw was the steam eruptions is that it's coming -- the steam is coming out in fractures along the side around the flanks of the Mountain near the lava dome, but not under the lava dome.
GRIFFIN: We keep being told that this event, whatever it happens to be will not be as big or as catastrophic as what happened in 1980. Stephanie, how do you know that?
HANNA: Well, we've made our projections based on the patterns that you see and that continues to be, there's going to be a science meeting at approximately 11:00 a.m. Pacific time -- I mean eastern time to reevaluate the situation. At the present time, when we issued the level three or code red volcano imminent alert, we believed that there was a chance -- a much higher chance of an explosive eruption.
GRIFFIN: Stephanie Hanna with the U.S. Geological Survey, thank you for that. We're on top of the Mount St. Helens story. As Stephanie said, there would be another meeting at 11:00 and we're going to update you then. Keep it right here on CNN. We'll have continuous updates whenever something happens at Mount St. Helens. Betty?
NGUYEN: With the first presidential debate now in the history books, the running mates are preparing for Tuesday's face-off in Cleveland. Aides say Vice President Cheney has been practicing since August. The debate format will be more to Cheney's liking. He and Senator John Edwards will debate sitting across a desk from each other. Edwards wanted a podium.
Speaking of Edwards, the North Carolina senator is in western New York this weekend boning up for that debate. You can watch the vice presidential debate right here on CNN. That happens Tuesday night. Our coverage begins at 7:00 Eastern. The debates are at 9:00 Eastern. And John Kerry and George Bush hold their second debate. That happens on Friday. We begin our coverage again at 7:00 Eastern. Drew.
GRIFFIN: And each Sunday between now and the election, we're going to take a look at a different issue that could affect the outcome. High oil prices today. Today where the candidates stand on alternatives to that, the alternative fuel issue. Take a look. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN (voice-over): Gas prices and the future of alternative fuels are among some of the pocketbook issues voters are thinking about as the election gets closer. Here's a look at where the candidates stand and how they feel changes can be made. President Bush has proposed $1.7 billion to develop hydrogen-powered fuel cells and automotive technologies. He also supports a 1.5 mile per gallon increase for SUVs and light trucks by 2007. The current standard is 20.7 miles per gallon. President Bush says partnerships with the private sector and his hydrogen-fuel initiatives will make it cost effective for lots of Americans to choose clean hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by 2020.
Senator John Kerry supports hybrid cars and would push for a much larger increase in mileage per gallon, 15.3 miles per gallon for SUVs. That would mean a 36 mile per gallon minimum by the year 2015. He's also promoting clean renewal fuel sources, especially, he says, ethanol. Kerry has said America's automakers should take the lead in developing hybrid-powered cars, something he says that would create jobs and save money at the gas pump. For more on the election and issues, log on to CNN.com/americavotes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: And speaking of, we've been asking if you're going to watch the next presidential debate after watching the first one. I think we have a couple of responses. Here it is. Will I watch the next debate? Of course I'll watch the next debate. I feel a stronger obligation than ever before to tune in and pay attention to what's going on. This active duty military member doesn't plan to follow the status quo. Bobby from Hampton, Virginia. Thanks for righting.
NGUYEN: These Floridians write yes, yes, yes. We need good substantial debates on the issues, not just sound bytes. We need a plan to depart the war and work harder on nuclear nonproliferation, stopping of job outsourcing, better budget control, a whole list here and cutting growth of health care and prescription drugs for our seniors and poor families. And, of course, we appreciate all your responses all morning long to our e-mail question of the day. Thank you for that.
Time now to fast forward to the week ahead. The winners of this year's Nobel prizes will be announced in Sweden starting with the medicine prize on Monday followed by physics and chemistry. The Nobel peace prize will be announced on Friday from Oslo, Norway.
Now, Tuesday vice presidential nominees Dick Cheney and John Edwards hold their one and only debate in Cleveland. That debate starts at 9:00 p.m. Eastern and you can watch it right here on CNN.
Plus Martha Stewart is scheduled to report to a Federal prison in West Virginia on Friday. She will serve a five-month sentence in the minimum-security prison camp. Stewart was convicted in March, as you recall, for lying about a stock sale.
GRIFFIN: Can't find an old army buddy or perhaps you need some information about military benefits? A good place to start looking, the subject of this morning's best of the web segment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: Welcome back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Drew Griffin. Mount St. Helens this morning, it could erupt at any moment following the ominous sound of magma rising deep inside that mountain. Scientists have issued a level three alert calling for an immediate evacuation of the surrounding area. That's a live shot right now, no smoke yet.
In Samarra, Iraq, the U.S. military confident local insurgents have been dealt a serious blow during three days of heavy fighting there. U.S. forces report they are in control though they continue to seek out scattered groups of militant fighters.
Democrat presidential candidate John Kerry may be enjoying a bit of bounce from Thursday's debate. Two polls released this weekend show most Americans believe Senator Kerry won the contest. In fact "Newsweek" says Kerry's performance won so many new supporters he's erased a lead that was held by George Bush since the GOP convention.
NGUYEN: Well, have you been trying to catch up with an old military buddy or perhaps you're looking for information about military benefits? A stop at www.military.com just might help. Military Web sites are the focus of this morning's best of the web segment. Blaise Zerega is managing editor of "Wired" magazine. He joins us every Sunday morning for a look at the best of the web. He's here this morning to run down some of the notable Web sites with military themes. Good morning to you Blaze.
BLAISE ZEREGA, MANAGING EDITOR, "WIRED": Good morning Betty.
NGUYEN: I think when people are looking to stay in contact with their friends and family in Iraq, a lot of them are just trying to find out where they are. Is there a good buddy finder out there on the web?
ZEREGA: Absolutely. Military.com, it's a very, very rich site serving the millions of active duty, retired personnel plus their families. It has a buddy finder feature which searches about 16 million records, enabling friends to track down their loved ones overseas or if you're a retired veteran, you can look up buddies from your past.
NGUYEN: Oh, really? That's some really good information. Besides the buddy finder, what does it have in store?
ZEREGA: On military.com, there's also links to units where loved ones can post messages, hi, I'm looking to get in touch with my son stationed over in Baghdad somewhere. Again, retired personnel are using it to chat with each other. Military.com also boasts a very rich portion of the site dedicated to benefits such as the GI bill and insurance. NGUYEN: All right. Let's talk about another site that is called cbftw.blogspot.com. What is this one all about?
ZEREGA: This is a great blog. There's a large number of soldier blogs out there or milblogs as they're called here in certain circles. Colby Bissell (ph), he's a specialist, he's an infantry man, he's running a site called my war, fear and loathing in Iraq and like other soldiers, he complains of boredom. He writes about missing loved ones and he reports on the horrors of war. An amazing account from a few weeks ago that really gives a sense as to what it's like there on the ground in Iraq. He writes of being on patrol at night, hearing a burst of gunfire. He ducks, he takes covers. And then everything goes quiet. He rolls over, looks at a fellow soldier who pops out of his Bradley fighting vehicle and says, "don't worry, Iraq is up 1-0." turns out the gunfire was in response to Iraq scoring a goal during the Olympics.
NGUYEN: I imagine there's pretty colorful entries in a lot of these sites. There's one that really drew in my attention with all the kidnappings and beheadings going on in Iraq. In fact there's a contractor out there with his own, somewhat of a journal site.
ZEREGA: Yes. This site is called giant laser. It's run by someone named Tyler. And sadly, he was able to confirm the recent rumor here in the U.S. that VHS tapes of the beheadings in Iraq are a hot item on the streets of Baghdad. However, he also corrected the rumor by saying that VHS is not very popular. Turns out they are DVDs.
NGUYEN: Now is the best way, these blog spots, to get the real deal, what's happening on the ground in Iraq? Quickly if you would answer that for me.
ZEREGA: Yes, it is. I mean, as the Iraqi war becomes a political hot potato, something that's abstract, it's important to hear firsthand from the soldiers on the ground what it's really like in Mosul and Baghdad and Samarra.
NGUYEN: All right. Blaise Zerega, managing editor of "Wired." magazine, always a pleasure. We'll see you next weekend.
ZEREGA: Thank you very much.
NGUYEN: Thank you.
GRIFFIN: Well, it's perhaps one of the most stressful jobs in America. Tonight we're going to take a rare look inside the world of being a White House physician. When we come back, a preview from Dr. Sanjay Gupta, live here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, good morning, the city on the Potomac. Let's get the weather for the end of the weekend from Rob Marciano in the weather center. We'll have that in just a few moments. Look at that. I don't know if that's some steam coming off of a building or a cloud or what's going on there. Well, we'll have the latest on that.
GRIFFIN: ... smoking a cigar. Kelly Wallace now with a look ahead to the next hour. Kelly?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Drew. We don't have the answer for you but it is a beautiful day here in Washington. And IP SUNDAY up ahead. It is all about great expectations. We'll preview round two of the presidential debates with strategists from the Bush and Kerry camps.
Plus, a sneak peek behind the scenes of Tuesday's showdown between Vice President Cheney and Senator Edwards. What do the voters want to hear? We have the latest polls and some advice for the candidates as we head into the final 30 days before the election. It is all ahead on INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY at the top of the hour. Drew and Betty, I know you both will be watching.
NGUYEN: Absolutely.
GRIFFIN: I will for sure.
Health care for U.S. presidents, Kelly. We don't often think about it because they get top-notch care, right, but what happens when the unexpected occurs?
NGUYEN: That will be explored tonight in a prime-time special hosted by of course Dr. Sanjay Gupta and he joins us this morning with a little preview.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Are you guys going to watch?
NGUYEN: Absolutely. We're going to be glued to CNN all day long.
GUPTA: Listen, worst case scenarios, assassination attempts. Everyone remembers 23 years ago when Reagan was shot. There was no medical contingency plan at that time to handle that. That's remarkable, just 23 years ago. How that was handled has changed for all subsequent presidents on worst case scenario.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA (voice-over): March 30th, 1981. 2:25 p.m. Six shots ring out as President Reagan leaves a Washington hotel. A Secret Service agent pushes President Reagan into his limousine as would-be assassin John Hinckley is wrestled to the ground. President Reagan arrives at George Washington University hospital minutes later near shock.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He collapsed. His blood pressure was 70, very low. And we put him on the gurney. And residents immediately started IVs and got fluid in him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president has been shot once in the left chest. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were watching the blood come out of the chest tube and a very significant amount came out and there was no question in our mind that he had to go to surgery.
GUPTA: 3:24 p.m. President Reagan is wheeled into the operating room and placed under anesthesia. At the White House, a desire to show the world there is no leadership vacuum that might be exploited by an enemy.
ALEXANDER HAIG, SECRETARY OF STATE: As of now, I am in control here in the White House.
GUPTA: 6:45 p.m. President Reagan emerges from a successful operation to stop his internal bleeding and remove the bullet lodged near his heart.
QUESTION: Has the president turned over control or authority to the vice president?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There has been no cause for that to take place.
GUPTA: But there was a need in the 48 hours following surgery. According to Dr. William Knaus, an intensive care physician who treated President Reagan.
DR. WILLIAM KNAUS, TREATED PRESIDENT REAGAN: I think that day after surgery, you know, vice president Bush had walked in and said, you know, I'm taking over now. I think it would have been absolutely appropriate. I don't think any medical person -- I certainly would not have questioned it. I would think it was absolutely the logical thing to do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: Really remarkable. President Reagan was very disoriented after the operation. All the doctors recognized that. People say that he probably should not have been running the country. How that was handled changed a lot of things for future presidents.
NGUYEN: Very interesting special. And that's tonight, 9:00 Eastern?
GUPTA: 9:00 Eastern -- 9:00: Western as well and 12 midnight and so the west coast audience can watch it as well.
NGUYEN: All right. Looking forward to it. Thank you.
GUPTA: Thank you.
GRIFFIN: And we're going to go to Rob Marciano right now for a quick look at the weather.
(WEATHER REPORT)
GRIFFIN: Thank you, Rob. NGUYEN: And that does it for us. INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY, that's next. Stay tuned.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 3, 2004 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: It's been two decades since scientists have worried so much about activity at Mount St. Helens. A steam eruption yesterday sends a signal that something more powerful is imminent.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to CNN SUNDAY MORNING, October 3. I'm Betty Nguyen.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Drew Griffin, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, 6:00 in the West. Let's get started with today's top stories, shall we?
We are following this event. Mount St. Helens building toward an eruption, and the threat to life and property could be imminent. The volcano erupted with its second burst of steam yesterday, capping off a week of ominous rumblings. Scientists don't believe any impending activity would match the ferocity of its 1980 eruption which killed 57 people.
A developing story out of Baghdad. Iraqi police say they've found the bodies of two people south of the capital. They are described as a man and woman, both believed to be westerners. Police say the man was beheaded.
In Iraq, U.S. warplanes have struck Fallujah, a city long considered the most defiant stronghold of the terrorists. Hospital officials say two people were killed and a dozen wounded. U.S. forces say they struck an insurgent training area overnight. Part of the bombardment of sites linked to terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry may be enjoying a bit of a bounce from Thursday's debate with President Bush. Two polls released this weekend showing that most Americans believe the Massachusetts senator won the contest. In fact, "Newsweek" says Kerry's performance won enough new supporters that he's erased the lead held by Bush since the GOP convention.
NGUYEN: Here's what we've got coming up as well: a soldier's story. B.J. Jackson lost his legs in a Baghdad street battle, but he says he also gained perspective on the life and challenges that lie ahead. He'll explain in just about 10 minutes from now.
And the battle for supremacy among military Web sites. We'll tell you where you can go for battlefield updates or even locating your old Army buddy. And caring for "The First Patient." Our continuing series on health and presidency looks back to the 1981 assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan.
GRIFFIN: Back to our top story now. In southwest Washington State, many people around Mount St. Helens are heeding scientists' warnings to evacuate. Volcano experts saying that Friday's eruption of steam and ash may have just been a warm-up.
CNN's Donna Tetreault is on the phone from Castle Rock, Washington, near the peak.
Donna, good morning to you. You had to actually get off of the site where you were yesterday?
DONNA TETREAULT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right, Drew. Good morning.
We did. We had to be evacuated. And I am in Castle Rock right now. That's 35 miles from Mount St. Helens.
Now, life and property are threatened by Mount St. Helens. The alert level was raised to three. And that means an eruption is imminent.
Yesterday, scientists reassessed the activity after a puff of steam flowed out of the crater at about 12:15 Pacific Time. The earthquakes, which were up to 3 magnitude and occurring two to four times per minutes, had stopped. But a harmonic tremor was in place.
Now, a harmonic tremor moves magma to the surface. Magma is lava underground. When there's first magma at the surface, an explosion or eruption will take place.
The harmonic tremor lasted for about 50 minutes, and then the earthquakes kicked up again and have been ongoing since then. All this activity led to evacuations, as we talked about. Tourists were evacuated from Johnson Ridge, where they were trying to get a glimpse of the volcano.
At this point, seven miles out, is a safe distance away from the volcano. The closest town to Mount St. Helens is Cougar. And if the eruption spews out ash, people there could be affected.
Friday's eruption forced out steam and ash. Scientists at the USGS continue to monitor the volcano. And again, they believe another significant eruption could happen at any time -- Drew.
GRIFFIN: Donna, thank you for that.
We're going to talk now a little more about this, why St. Helens is losing its temper. Some insight from meteorologist Rob Marciano, who is at the big board -- Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hey, Drew. Back in 1988, there was a series of small earthquakes that didn't do much at the surface. But scientists believe that's when a time when some magma from below came a little bit closer to the surface. And now they believe the pressure that was built up since then is what's created the recent activity.
And now the most recent survey or most recent analysis shows that, you know, that that magma's gotten even a little bit closer to the surface. So they think there's some new magma, and that's why they're thinking this thing's going to be more a little bit more intense than the last go-around, but not as intense as was 1980. And that's good news.
All right. Let's take you to KeyHole and show you exactly where Mount St. Helens is. It's in southwestern Washington state. And this is the southern flank of the mountain. And basically, the crater is on the other side.
Cougar is about probably the closest town near it. It's just -- it's a little mountain town. And if you're going to climb this thing, that's where you have to pick up your climbing permit, and then you make your way up the peak.
It's pretty much a day climb there. A lot of folks can bag that in just a day.
We'll swing this thing around to the northern side, and you can see where exactly the crater is. A totally different view and a totally different landscape.
This is what blew in 1980, the northern flank of the system. And this is all that was devastated during that time.
Since then, there's been -- there's been a little bit of a dome that has been built, a lava dome in the center of this thing. And that's what's created the activity the last couple days.
What we expect to happen or what the scientists expect to happen, if this thing erupts later on today, or when it does, depending on how intense the eruption is, will obviously tell you how high the stuff will go, the ash and debris will go in the air. Last go-around two days ago, it didn't go up but more than a couple thousand feet. So it just kind of settled in the eastern and northern flanks -- or western and northern flanks of the mountain.
If this thing erupts more intensely, that will send debris higher in the sky. And if that happens, if we get it high enough, then we're talking about metropolitan areas that could be affected.
This is the Portland metropolitan area, including southwest Washington, and Mount St. Helens is right there. Upper flow way up there is out of the northeast, which would bring some of that ash and debris into the Portland metro area.
That's not what we think is going to happen. It would take an eruption of -- a more intense eruption than they actually think will happen.
So right now, winds are pretty light, Drew. When this thing does blow, if it's the intensification that they think it will erupt in, it shouldn't affect too many people other than some of the camping areas to the east of the mountain, to the north of the mountain, and south of the mountain.
There's not much in the way of populated areas right around that mountain. You'd really have to go west towards I-5 and then north or south.
That's the latest from here. We'll keep an eye on it. It should be an interesting day, that's for sure.
GRIFFIN: Yes. In fact, later in the broadcast, Rob, we're going to have a scientist come on from the Cascades Observatory to talk, I guess, with you, I hope, about it.
MARCIANO: Oh really? OK.
GRIFFIN: So we'll see that later in the show. Thanks.
NGUYEN: It appears Democrat John Kerry scored big during the presidential debate Thursday. And the race for the White House is tight once again.
The "Newsweek" poll shows of those who watched the debate, 61 percent thought Kerry won. Nineteen percent thought President Bush did.
The poll also found 47 percent of registered voters questioned. They support Senator Kerry for president, while 45 percent favored President Bush. That is a statistical dead heat. Independent candidate Ralph Nader has a 2 percent point.
Plus, Bush led 49 to 43 percent in the poll from early September. And CNN releases its own poll tonight at 6:00 Eastern.
Well, the Bush camp is downplaying those survey results. The president's chief political adviser, Karl Rove, says the campaign always expected the race to become tighter and the poll results have nothing to do with the debate. Instead, he says, it is the nature of this contest. Meanwhile, Rove says no major changes are planned for a second debate, which takes place on Friday.
Now, for his part, Kerry is putting the spotlight on the economy. While in Florida, the Massachusetts senator painted himself as a patron of working families. By contrast, he said President Bush cares more about the wealthy and well connected.
And you liked our e-mail question so much yesterday that we are bringing it back for a second time. Will you watch the next presidential debate and why? Send in your responses to wam@cnn.com. We'll read them on the air.
GRIFFIN: In Iraq, a mystery this morning near the capital. Two bodies, those of a man and woman, were found 13 miles south of Baghdad.
The man had been decapitated. His hands were tied behind his back. The woman shot in the head. Both victims, Iraqi police say, appear to be westerners.
Meanwhile, more U.S. air strikes today on suspected terrorist facilities in Fallujah. A hospital official says two people killed, a dozen injured in the latest raid. The U.S. military says a primary target was a building housing terrorists and their weapons.
Occasional gunfire heard today -- gunfire heard today in Samarra. An Iraqi government official visited the city seized from insurgents in a fierce battle that began Thursday.
CNN's Jane Arraf has our exclusive report from there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): For Iraq's interior minister, it was kind of a victory tour of Samarra's holy shrine.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not a lot of damage.
ARRAF: U.S. and Iraqi special forces took this mosque with little resistant. Interior minister Falah Al-Naqib told us the operation, which used more than 1,000 Iraqi security forces, and about 2,000 U.S. troops, was meant to send a message.
FALAH AL-NAQIB, IRAQI INTERIOR MINISTER: That Iraq is back. Iraq is back. And the Iraqis, they are back to their real world. And, you know, Iraqis, always they have been very proud of themselves, and will keep that going. We won't allow those criminals to destroy our country.
ARRAF: He says the Iraqi government, with U.S. forces, would continue to crack down in other cities to prepare for planned elections in January. And while the streets of Samarra are calmer, they're not entirely secure yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Those shots that were taken from the eastern portion, on this side of the mosque, were not friendly. Confirm that with the adjacent unit, the Vikings.
ARRAF: Soldiers still on alert for attacks and roadside bombs. U.S. forces backed by Iraqis search and secure building after building.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the other two battalions, two reports (ph) has conducted operations in the north, and two in the south. In addition, the 7th Iraqi Army Battalion is...
ARRAF (on camera): What was that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was a breach charge.
ARRAF: What were they firing at?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, they were breaching the gate.
ARRAF (voice-over): Here, the soldiers blasted open the door of the school. They detained the guard, saying he had a gun and 1,000 rounds of ammunition. His wife says a man came and left the weapons.
(on camera): These streets are almost completely deserted. Only soldiers and tanks are moving around.
In the rest of Iraq, school started today. But here, people are staying well indoors.
(voice-over): In the mostly empty streets near the Golden Ali al-Hadi Mosque (ph), a man carried the limp body of a boy. It wasn't clear whether he was still alive.
In other parts of town, few Iraqis on the street. So, too, the commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division, who's troops are securing Samarra.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's good to see the people of Iraq out of Samarra back on the streets. This is probably the first time they've been back out of their homes now since the operation started about 36 hours ago.
But these are largely good people. They've been held hostage by a small number, relatively speaking, of terrorists and foreign fighters, some criminals. This is a beginning for these people with a whole new future.
ARRAF: Major General John Batiste (ph) jumped out of his Humvee to talk to Samarra residents.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you all think about the security situation now in your city?
"We're a city under siege," this man told him. He said, "They need the bridge across the Tigris River closed after attacks on U.S. and Iraqi security forces reopened." The general said it would take some time, but with the insurgents defeated, Samarra, he promised, could sometime soon return to normal.
Jane Arraf, CNN, Samarra, Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: The scars of battle sometime last forever, like those suffered by B.J. Jackson. He's going to join us live with his wife, Abby. There they are in Des Moines, Iowa, to tell us about his experience and their experience now.
NGUYEN: Plus, the latest on what's brewing inside Mount St. Helens.
And good morning, Miami. Rob Marciano is coming back with the forecast for today's football game between the Dolphins and the New York Jets. It's a sunny morning there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Tourists have been evacuated, and the alert level raised on Washington's Mount St. Helens. Scientists say a second blast of steam means an eruption there could be imminent. The week's seismic activity has reached its highest point since the 1980 eruption that killed 57 people.
A hospital official in Iraq says police have found two bodies south of Baghdad. Both are believed to be westerners. A woman had been shot in the head. The man, beheaded, with his hands tied behind his back. The bodies have not been identified.
And U.S. military officials in Iraq say they've reclaimed Samarra after a three-day offensive by American and Iraqi forces. Those troops are now going door to door in a search for remaining insurgents, and sporadic fighting is still being reported.
GRIFFIN: Now our soldier's story this morning. He lost both legs below the knees in Iraq. But this Iowa National Guardsman hasn't lost his spirit. Purple Heart recipient B.J. Jackson and wife, Abby, are in Des Moines this Sunday.
Good morning to you both. Hope you're doing well.
SPC. B.J. JACKSON, PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT: Good morning.
ABBY JACKSON, WIFE: Good morning.
GRIFFIN: Abby, it's ladies first on this show. Tell me what happened to your -- to your husband.
A. JACKSON: My husband was injured in Iraq in a commercial district. He was the driver of an unarmored Humvee. I just got a phone call that said, "Unfortunately, I regret to inform you that your husband's been injured, and he was hit by an RPG in a phosphorous landmine."
GRIFFIN: At that moment, when you got that phone call, you didn't really understand what he had been going through. Basically, B.J., you were in a firefight, or your colleagues were in a firefight for a long time, just trying to extract you from that vehicle.
B.J. JACKSON: Correct. My legs were trapped in the vehicle, and they had an ambush for, I believe, about a four-and-a-half hour firefight during the time. And it took them about a half-hour to get me out of the burning vehicle.
GRIFFIN: And this all happened on what was to be your day off. What were you doing before this event in Iraq?
B.J. JACKSON: I'm sorry?
GRIFFIN: What was your job in Iraq prior to this one day off? B.J. JACKSON: I was in a military police unit. We did convoy security, EPW missions, basically everything MPs do over there in Iraq.
GRIFFIN: And tell me about your experience and how you feel about it now. You've obviously come home. You're a changed man both physically, and I assume mentally as well. Do you view things differently?
B.J. JACKSON: Not really. The support I received when I got back, and the support that my wife and two daughters have gave me is just wonderful. So really, the only difference between me and any able-bodied person is it takes me a little longer to get out of bed. So...
GRIFFIN: Abby, this guy sitting next to you is now skiing, I'm told. Has he surprised you in the strength that he has?
A. JACKSON: Yes. I wouldn't say surprised, but he definitely gives you a new perspective at looking at life. So he loves to ski, and he loves to make challenges out of life.
GRIFFIN: So you two are moving ahead with your life.
This is a political season, B.J. And I hate to throw you into the politics of U.S. domestic issues. But I'd be interested to know what you'd like to tell or have President Bush and Senator Kerry know about your experience and your colleagues' experience in Iraq. Is there something that they are missing?
B.J. JACKSON: Really, I don't really -- couldn't really touch on that. I could speak to the general public in saying you don't have to support the war to support your troops. And it doesn't matter what political party you are, Republican, Democrat, whichever, it's about the troops that are over there dying every day or losing limbs and getting injured.
GRIFFIN: And in your mind, it is a good mission? It's a mission worth fighting for?
B.J. JACKSON: I believe in Iraq it's just like anywhere else. You've got good people, you've got bad people. The day of my accident, I just happened to run across the bad people. So...
GRIFFIN: Abby, how do you feel about your husband and his future?
A. JACKSON: I think he's got a really promising future, and he's taken a step in the right direction. And he's working really closely with a really great organization called Salute America's Heroes, and he has got a goal-driven purpose. And everything happens for a reason, and we're just going to make the best of it, which he does good at.
GRIFFIN: Terrific. Abby and B.J. Jackson, we thank you both for your service to this country and wish you nothing but the best in the coming months and years ahead together. Thank you for joining us.
B.J. JACKSON: Thank you.
A. JACKSON: Thank you.
NGUYEN: And we are keeping a close eye on Mount St. Helens this morning. This is a live picture of it as the sun comes up.
We do have an update on the mountain as the volcano, or another eruption is expected sometime today. We'll get you the latest on that a little bit later.
GRIFFIN: On the other side of the country, we say good morning to Miami. What's this weekend without a hurricane? They're enjoying it now. Rob Marciano back with the forecast here on SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: We know first time in, what, over a month that we haven't been talking about hurricanes on these weekend shows. But...
GRIFFIN: But a volcano.
NGUYEN: I know. Another storm is brewing, and that's inside Mount St. Helens.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: And, you know, in fact, we want to go live to Mount St. Helens right now and take a live look as the sun comes up over this volcano. Now, the steam that's been coming from the top of Mount St. Helens has been looking harmless enough, but it does little to hide the energy brewing inside this potent volcano.
We will have a live update from one of the persons watching every rumble.
Plus, the best of the Internet. This morning, military Web sites where you can get up-to-the-minute updates on the war in Iraq.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Here's another live look at this rumbling volcano that much of the nation has been watching over the past couple of days. It is time to get out of the way in southwestern Washington. That's the thinking near Mount St. Helens as scientists say another eruption is coming. Welcome back. I'm Betty Nguyen at the CNN center in Atlanta.
GRIFFIN: I'm Drew Griffin. That story's coming up. But first, at 9:32, the headlines.
NGUYEN: A hospital official in Iraq reports that the headless body of a man and the body of a blonde woman shot in the head were discovered today just south of Baghdad. The official says the victims appear to be westerners. Their identities, though, have not yet been determined. In Fallujah, coalition officials are saying a large number of insurgents were presumed killed early today by an air strike on their suspected hideout. Hospital officials in the city confirm two killed and a dozen wounded. Authorities say an air strike yesterday targeted a group of militants training just outside of Fallujah.
U.S. troops are conducting door to door searches in the Iraqi city of Samarra, searching for remaining insurgent fighters. The U.S. military has reopened streets to the hospital after claiming that its three-day offensive reclaimed control of the city. Local residents are angrily rejecting a claim by an Iraqi official that no civilians are among the 130 people believed dead.
And in the U.S. presidential race, Democrat John Kerry may be enjoying a bounce from Thursday's debate with George W. Bush. Two polls this weekend show that most Americans believe the Massachusetts senator won the contest. In fact, "Newsweek" says Kerry won enough new supporters to erase the lead that Bush had held since the GOP convention. Drew?
GRIFFIN: We're going to begin in the Pacific northwest where a harmonic tremor is sending people scurrying away from Mount St. Helens. Geologists describe a harmonic tremor as a long even vibration, a sustained chord from deep inside the earth. They say it's caused by rising magma and a sure sign of an impending volcanic eruption.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM PIERSON, USGS GEOLOGIST: They've rethought the probability of whether or not this fresh new magma is involved that might have more gas and therefore might make is more explosive when it does come to the surface. The thinking now is that at least a 50 percent chance -- you know, 50 percent or greater chance that new magma is involved. And so we're looking at the possibility of larger eruptions than we had been talking about previously.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: That assessment prompted scientists to issue a level three alert, a dire warning to leave the area immediately. The exodus spurred by the surrounding landscape still showing vivid scars of the blast 24 years ago that killed 57 people. For geologists, Mount St. Helens is now a minute-by-minute waiting game. Stephanie Hanna of the U.S. Geological Survey has an update for us from her observation post in the Cascade Mountains of southwest Washington. Good morning.
STEPHANIE HANNA, CASCADES VOLCANO OBSERVATORY: Good morning.
GRIFFIN: Maybe you can just tell us, what is a harmonic tremor and the difference between new magma and old magma which would lead to this new warning?
HANNA: Well, we believe that there was magma that was pushed into the -- underneath the lava dome and two episodes, one in 1998 and one in 2001 and that last lava has cooled subsequently. And the earthquakes that we see at the range of about a half a mile to a mile is what are called rock-breaking earthquakes against that older magma. What we saw yesterday for the first time was a pattern of earthquakes which is virtually a constant earthquake called a harmonic tremor. And that is a sure signal of new magma present in the common (ph) area.
GRIFFIN: So does that actually -- that harmonic tremor is actually magma on the move?
HANNA: Yes, it is.
GRIFFIN: OK. And so the caps that were developed after 2001 and 1998, basically, they have been broken and anybody's --
HANNA: Well, it's kind of like a big cork. And the new lava will be pushing like a piston against that cork. And what we saw was the steam eruptions is that it's coming -- the steam is coming out in fractures along the side around the flanks of the Mountain near the lava dome, but not under the lava dome.
GRIFFIN: We keep being told that this event, whatever it happens to be will not be as big or as catastrophic as what happened in 1980. Stephanie, how do you know that?
HANNA: Well, we've made our projections based on the patterns that you see and that continues to be, there's going to be a science meeting at approximately 11:00 a.m. Pacific time -- I mean eastern time to reevaluate the situation. At the present time, when we issued the level three or code red volcano imminent alert, we believed that there was a chance -- a much higher chance of an explosive eruption.
GRIFFIN: Stephanie Hanna with the U.S. Geological Survey, thank you for that. We're on top of the Mount St. Helens story. As Stephanie said, there would be another meeting at 11:00 and we're going to update you then. Keep it right here on CNN. We'll have continuous updates whenever something happens at Mount St. Helens. Betty?
NGUYEN: With the first presidential debate now in the history books, the running mates are preparing for Tuesday's face-off in Cleveland. Aides say Vice President Cheney has been practicing since August. The debate format will be more to Cheney's liking. He and Senator John Edwards will debate sitting across a desk from each other. Edwards wanted a podium.
Speaking of Edwards, the North Carolina senator is in western New York this weekend boning up for that debate. You can watch the vice presidential debate right here on CNN. That happens Tuesday night. Our coverage begins at 7:00 Eastern. The debates are at 9:00 Eastern. And John Kerry and George Bush hold their second debate. That happens on Friday. We begin our coverage again at 7:00 Eastern. Drew.
GRIFFIN: And each Sunday between now and the election, we're going to take a look at a different issue that could affect the outcome. High oil prices today. Today where the candidates stand on alternatives to that, the alternative fuel issue. Take a look. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN (voice-over): Gas prices and the future of alternative fuels are among some of the pocketbook issues voters are thinking about as the election gets closer. Here's a look at where the candidates stand and how they feel changes can be made. President Bush has proposed $1.7 billion to develop hydrogen-powered fuel cells and automotive technologies. He also supports a 1.5 mile per gallon increase for SUVs and light trucks by 2007. The current standard is 20.7 miles per gallon. President Bush says partnerships with the private sector and his hydrogen-fuel initiatives will make it cost effective for lots of Americans to choose clean hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by 2020.
Senator John Kerry supports hybrid cars and would push for a much larger increase in mileage per gallon, 15.3 miles per gallon for SUVs. That would mean a 36 mile per gallon minimum by the year 2015. He's also promoting clean renewal fuel sources, especially, he says, ethanol. Kerry has said America's automakers should take the lead in developing hybrid-powered cars, something he says that would create jobs and save money at the gas pump. For more on the election and issues, log on to CNN.com/americavotes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: And speaking of, we've been asking if you're going to watch the next presidential debate after watching the first one. I think we have a couple of responses. Here it is. Will I watch the next debate? Of course I'll watch the next debate. I feel a stronger obligation than ever before to tune in and pay attention to what's going on. This active duty military member doesn't plan to follow the status quo. Bobby from Hampton, Virginia. Thanks for righting.
NGUYEN: These Floridians write yes, yes, yes. We need good substantial debates on the issues, not just sound bytes. We need a plan to depart the war and work harder on nuclear nonproliferation, stopping of job outsourcing, better budget control, a whole list here and cutting growth of health care and prescription drugs for our seniors and poor families. And, of course, we appreciate all your responses all morning long to our e-mail question of the day. Thank you for that.
Time now to fast forward to the week ahead. The winners of this year's Nobel prizes will be announced in Sweden starting with the medicine prize on Monday followed by physics and chemistry. The Nobel peace prize will be announced on Friday from Oslo, Norway.
Now, Tuesday vice presidential nominees Dick Cheney and John Edwards hold their one and only debate in Cleveland. That debate starts at 9:00 p.m. Eastern and you can watch it right here on CNN.
Plus Martha Stewart is scheduled to report to a Federal prison in West Virginia on Friday. She will serve a five-month sentence in the minimum-security prison camp. Stewart was convicted in March, as you recall, for lying about a stock sale.
GRIFFIN: Can't find an old army buddy or perhaps you need some information about military benefits? A good place to start looking, the subject of this morning's best of the web segment.
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GRIFFIN: Welcome back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Drew Griffin. Mount St. Helens this morning, it could erupt at any moment following the ominous sound of magma rising deep inside that mountain. Scientists have issued a level three alert calling for an immediate evacuation of the surrounding area. That's a live shot right now, no smoke yet.
In Samarra, Iraq, the U.S. military confident local insurgents have been dealt a serious blow during three days of heavy fighting there. U.S. forces report they are in control though they continue to seek out scattered groups of militant fighters.
Democrat presidential candidate John Kerry may be enjoying a bit of bounce from Thursday's debate. Two polls released this weekend show most Americans believe Senator Kerry won the contest. In fact "Newsweek" says Kerry's performance won so many new supporters he's erased a lead that was held by George Bush since the GOP convention.
NGUYEN: Well, have you been trying to catch up with an old military buddy or perhaps you're looking for information about military benefits? A stop at www.military.com just might help. Military Web sites are the focus of this morning's best of the web segment. Blaise Zerega is managing editor of "Wired" magazine. He joins us every Sunday morning for a look at the best of the web. He's here this morning to run down some of the notable Web sites with military themes. Good morning to you Blaze.
BLAISE ZEREGA, MANAGING EDITOR, "WIRED": Good morning Betty.
NGUYEN: I think when people are looking to stay in contact with their friends and family in Iraq, a lot of them are just trying to find out where they are. Is there a good buddy finder out there on the web?
ZEREGA: Absolutely. Military.com, it's a very, very rich site serving the millions of active duty, retired personnel plus their families. It has a buddy finder feature which searches about 16 million records, enabling friends to track down their loved ones overseas or if you're a retired veteran, you can look up buddies from your past.
NGUYEN: Oh, really? That's some really good information. Besides the buddy finder, what does it have in store?
ZEREGA: On military.com, there's also links to units where loved ones can post messages, hi, I'm looking to get in touch with my son stationed over in Baghdad somewhere. Again, retired personnel are using it to chat with each other. Military.com also boasts a very rich portion of the site dedicated to benefits such as the GI bill and insurance. NGUYEN: All right. Let's talk about another site that is called cbftw.blogspot.com. What is this one all about?
ZEREGA: This is a great blog. There's a large number of soldier blogs out there or milblogs as they're called here in certain circles. Colby Bissell (ph), he's a specialist, he's an infantry man, he's running a site called my war, fear and loathing in Iraq and like other soldiers, he complains of boredom. He writes about missing loved ones and he reports on the horrors of war. An amazing account from a few weeks ago that really gives a sense as to what it's like there on the ground in Iraq. He writes of being on patrol at night, hearing a burst of gunfire. He ducks, he takes covers. And then everything goes quiet. He rolls over, looks at a fellow soldier who pops out of his Bradley fighting vehicle and says, "don't worry, Iraq is up 1-0." turns out the gunfire was in response to Iraq scoring a goal during the Olympics.
NGUYEN: I imagine there's pretty colorful entries in a lot of these sites. There's one that really drew in my attention with all the kidnappings and beheadings going on in Iraq. In fact there's a contractor out there with his own, somewhat of a journal site.
ZEREGA: Yes. This site is called giant laser. It's run by someone named Tyler. And sadly, he was able to confirm the recent rumor here in the U.S. that VHS tapes of the beheadings in Iraq are a hot item on the streets of Baghdad. However, he also corrected the rumor by saying that VHS is not very popular. Turns out they are DVDs.
NGUYEN: Now is the best way, these blog spots, to get the real deal, what's happening on the ground in Iraq? Quickly if you would answer that for me.
ZEREGA: Yes, it is. I mean, as the Iraqi war becomes a political hot potato, something that's abstract, it's important to hear firsthand from the soldiers on the ground what it's really like in Mosul and Baghdad and Samarra.
NGUYEN: All right. Blaise Zerega, managing editor of "Wired." magazine, always a pleasure. We'll see you next weekend.
ZEREGA: Thank you very much.
NGUYEN: Thank you.
GRIFFIN: Well, it's perhaps one of the most stressful jobs in America. Tonight we're going to take a rare look inside the world of being a White House physician. When we come back, a preview from Dr. Sanjay Gupta, live here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
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NGUYEN: Well, good morning, the city on the Potomac. Let's get the weather for the end of the weekend from Rob Marciano in the weather center. We'll have that in just a few moments. Look at that. I don't know if that's some steam coming off of a building or a cloud or what's going on there. Well, we'll have the latest on that.
GRIFFIN: ... smoking a cigar. Kelly Wallace now with a look ahead to the next hour. Kelly?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Drew. We don't have the answer for you but it is a beautiful day here in Washington. And IP SUNDAY up ahead. It is all about great expectations. We'll preview round two of the presidential debates with strategists from the Bush and Kerry camps.
Plus, a sneak peek behind the scenes of Tuesday's showdown between Vice President Cheney and Senator Edwards. What do the voters want to hear? We have the latest polls and some advice for the candidates as we head into the final 30 days before the election. It is all ahead on INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY at the top of the hour. Drew and Betty, I know you both will be watching.
NGUYEN: Absolutely.
GRIFFIN: I will for sure.
Health care for U.S. presidents, Kelly. We don't often think about it because they get top-notch care, right, but what happens when the unexpected occurs?
NGUYEN: That will be explored tonight in a prime-time special hosted by of course Dr. Sanjay Gupta and he joins us this morning with a little preview.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Are you guys going to watch?
NGUYEN: Absolutely. We're going to be glued to CNN all day long.
GUPTA: Listen, worst case scenarios, assassination attempts. Everyone remembers 23 years ago when Reagan was shot. There was no medical contingency plan at that time to handle that. That's remarkable, just 23 years ago. How that was handled has changed for all subsequent presidents on worst case scenario.
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GUPTA (voice-over): March 30th, 1981. 2:25 p.m. Six shots ring out as President Reagan leaves a Washington hotel. A Secret Service agent pushes President Reagan into his limousine as would-be assassin John Hinckley is wrestled to the ground. President Reagan arrives at George Washington University hospital minutes later near shock.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He collapsed. His blood pressure was 70, very low. And we put him on the gurney. And residents immediately started IVs and got fluid in him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president has been shot once in the left chest. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were watching the blood come out of the chest tube and a very significant amount came out and there was no question in our mind that he had to go to surgery.
GUPTA: 3:24 p.m. President Reagan is wheeled into the operating room and placed under anesthesia. At the White House, a desire to show the world there is no leadership vacuum that might be exploited by an enemy.
ALEXANDER HAIG, SECRETARY OF STATE: As of now, I am in control here in the White House.
GUPTA: 6:45 p.m. President Reagan emerges from a successful operation to stop his internal bleeding and remove the bullet lodged near his heart.
QUESTION: Has the president turned over control or authority to the vice president?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There has been no cause for that to take place.
GUPTA: But there was a need in the 48 hours following surgery. According to Dr. William Knaus, an intensive care physician who treated President Reagan.
DR. WILLIAM KNAUS, TREATED PRESIDENT REAGAN: I think that day after surgery, you know, vice president Bush had walked in and said, you know, I'm taking over now. I think it would have been absolutely appropriate. I don't think any medical person -- I certainly would not have questioned it. I would think it was absolutely the logical thing to do.
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GUPTA: Really remarkable. President Reagan was very disoriented after the operation. All the doctors recognized that. People say that he probably should not have been running the country. How that was handled changed a lot of things for future presidents.
NGUYEN: Very interesting special. And that's tonight, 9:00 Eastern?
GUPTA: 9:00 Eastern -- 9:00: Western as well and 12 midnight and so the west coast audience can watch it as well.
NGUYEN: All right. Looking forward to it. Thank you.
GUPTA: Thank you.
GRIFFIN: And we're going to go to Rob Marciano right now for a quick look at the weather.
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GRIFFIN: Thank you, Rob. NGUYEN: And that does it for us. INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY, that's next. Stay tuned.
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