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CNN Sunday Morning

Bush Travels to Europe; Israel's Cabinet Meets to Vote on Gaza Withdrawal Plan

Aired February 20, 2005 - 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.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: A fence mending tour for President Bush. That is set to begin this hour. From the CNN Center right here in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
Good morning to you.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: It is February 20th. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. 7:00 a.m. here in the East and 4:00 a.m. in the West. Thank you for being with us. Now more on this and other headlines this morning.

President Bush leaves Washington within the hour on a five day European tour to patch up relations frayed by the Iraq War. He's visiting three countries and will meet with nearly every major political player on the continent.

Israel's cabinet is meeting this morning to approve Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Most controversial in Israel are parts of the plan that call for dismantling Jewish settlements.

CNN's John Vause is watching that cabinet meeting. And he'll have a live report when the vote is taken.

Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush are -- have been touring Indonesia's Aceh province, the area hardest hit by December's earthquake and tsunami. Clinton and Bush are leaving this morning for Sri Lanka. The two ex presidents are leading the U.S. fund-raising effort for tsunami survivors.

NGUYEN: And you'll definitely want to stay with us for the next hour, especially if you're feeling insecure about Social Security. We'll help you sort through the surplus of rhetoric coming out of Washington these days.

Also, the NFL on the threshold of historic decision as team owners ponder the latest application to their exclusive club. And a little bit later, with crooks like this, we don't need jails. You won't want to miss this story of a very honest convict.

HARRIS: But our top story this morning is President Bush's European trip. And the president leaves the White House, as we mentioned, this hour on a five day transatlantic trip to the continent.

He hopes to smooth over some lingering ill feelings over the war in Iraq. The president's itinerary includes stops in three countries -- Belgium, Germany and the Slovak Republic. Even though it's just three countries, the president will meet with a long list of political leaders. That includes French President Jacques Chirac, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and the new president of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko.

It's no secret President Bush does not have a warm and friendly relationship with the Europeans, especially Germany and France, the most vocal critics of the Iraq War. During this trip, Mr. Bush will try to sell himself as dare we say a kinder, gentler president.

More from CNN's senior White House correspondent John King.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Off to Europe, where the goal is setting a new tone for the second term, a challenge rooted as much in a personality clash as it is in the many policy differences.

RICHARD PERLE, COUNCIL OF FOREIGN RELATIONS: The Europeans don't like the president's style. They're comfortable with Jacques Chirac.

OK. He's not my taste, but they've carried this disapproval of the president's style to an extreme.

KING: Not that there aren't numerous policy divides that make fence mending difficult. Lingering tensions over the Iraq War. Mr. Bush won't join negotiations about Iran's nuclear program and wants the Europeans involved in those talks to take a tougher line. The White House opposes European plans to resume arms sales to China. Europeans can't fathom why Mr. Bush won't join the Kyoto Climate Change Treaty.

Just back from a big conference in Germany, Senator John McCain sees a desire on both sides of the Atlanta for a more friendly tone. Yet he sees little movement on the policy divides with France and Germany.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: In the case of the Germans, Mr. Schroeder, a little straight talk is interested in his re-election. He played an anti-American card last time. And it helped him. So it shouldn't surprise me.

Case of the French, as long as many French leaders believe in their words that they are counter weight to the United States of America, it's hard to forge a close alliance.

KING: The Iraq War is the biggest, but not the only source of anti-Bush sentiment across much of Europe.

WOLFGANG ISCHINGER, GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: Some of it has to do with style. Europeans, Germans, and others may have some difficulty with this open, frank manner.

KING: How these differences are conveyed can be remarkably personal, portrayed as an aid in Britain's guardian newspaper.

Elsewhere in Europe, flipping a coin before marching or dancing off to the next war. Or in this German cartoon as a biblical figure and on reshaping the world.

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: We've got to stop scapegoating George Bush as a person. They got to deal with America. He's the president of the United States. He's been re-elected. His policies reflect more or less the will of a majority of the American people. And the Europeans have to deal with that.

KING: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was well received on her recent trip to Europe. And in Germany, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld tried humor to move past his controversial labeling of Iraq War critics as old Europe.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SEC. OF DEFENSE: Oh, that was old Rumsfeld.

KING: Now Mr. Bush takes his turn. One goal in Europe, narrowing the policy divide. The other, recasting or at least softening his image.

John King, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And listen to this. Tapes from the past are giving us surprising glimpses of a would-be future President George Bush. "The New York Times" says the tapes came from Doug Weed, an old family friend of George W. Bush. The paper says Weed secretly recorded some of their private talks when Mr. Bush was the governor of Texas.

Now according to the tape, then Governor Bush appears to have acknowledged trying marijuana in the past. He reportedly says, "I wouldn't answer the marijuana questions. You know why? Because I don't want some little kid doing what I tried."

He also reportedly says "Baby boomers have got to grow up and say, yeah, I may have done drugs, but instead of admitting it, say to kids, don't do them."

Now in the next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING, learn what the president reportedly said about gays in America.

NGUYEN: Very interesting there. All right, well, one of the president's big domestic pushes is Social Security. It is our hot issue this morning. President Bush says he is trying to save the program.

Now some Democrats say he's trying to destroy it. Both sides are using crisis language in their sales pitches. But is there really a Social Security crisis?

CNN's Alan Chernoff looks at the facts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a sound byte society...

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The system will be bankrupt.

CHERNOFF: A political hot potato like Social Security...

SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D), CALIFORNIA: He wants to destroy it. He wants to change it.

CHERNOFF: ...is handled one way. It is thrown as a verbal hard ball.

BUSH: I want you to think about a Social Security system that will be flat bust.

CHERNOFF: Social Security is facing trouble, but probably not for a long time. It'll be running a surplus for another 13 years, according to the Social Security administration's forecasters. And they say the system can keep paying full benefits for 37 years before there would be any cuts.

But the president knows he has to sell his plan. Mr. Bush even concedes there's got to be a sense of urgency to get the nation's attention.

BUSH: In the halls of Congress, if people do not believe we have a problem, nothing's going to happen.

CHERNOFF: Democratic opponents are using their own urgent appeals to protect the current system.

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: We want to keep it close to what it is as possible, and not come up with a scheme that results in retirement roulette and greater social insecurity.

SEN. JON CORZINE (D), NEW JERSEY: We're not going bankrupt in Social Security. This is a problem. It's not a crisis.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Both sides are animated by real principles here. And they're doing whatever they can, using whatever language they can, pricking whatever emotions they can to try and get people to support their point of view.

CHERNOFF: It is a public relations battle across the political aisle.

SEN. CHARLES GRASSLEY (R), IOWA: Unless we do something about it, my children and grandchildren are going to be out in the cold.

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MINORITY LEADER: It's wrong to replace the guaranteed benefit that Americans have earned with a guaranteed benefit cut of up to 40 percent.

CHERNOFF (on camera): Actually, nothing is guaranteed yet. There isn't even legislation on the table. The only assurance, more verbal jousting because the best sales job may very well determine the future of Social Security.

Alan Chernoff, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Well, here's our question this morning. Are the Vikings, the Minnesota Vikings.

NGUYEN: Yes.

HARRIS: We're talking football.

NGUYEN: Yes, we are.

HARRIS: About to make a football history. An inside scoop when we take you beyond the game with our sports guru Rick Horrow.

NGUYEN: You're being nice to him, aren't you? Well, plus, what do you expect when you go to the movies? Is it those previews? What about those ads? Are you really expecting to see the movie itself? Well, one state is starting to weigh on the issue.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Avril Lavigne for you this morning. Hey, but first, the future of America's Social Security program and how you see it.

HARRIS: Now we're looking at the issue all morning long on CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Here's what some of you say about the issue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I already am receiving Social Security. I started receiving money at 62-years of age. I'm retired military. And so, I have a pension, but this amounts to about $1200 in my pocket once a month. And I look forward to it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it's certainly wouldn't be for somebody who didn't have the opportunities I've had in spending 30 years in the military and earning that pension.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: And speaking of Social Security is the topic of our e- mail question this morning. Here it is. Does the Social Security system need to be fixed? Tell us what you think. E-mail us at wam@cnn.com. We'll read those replies throughout the program.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HARRIS: Yes, yes, yes, it never rains in southern California.

NGUYEN: Right.

HARRIS: Well, what is this? What is -- this is -- well, this is the result of patchwork, a powerful storms, that struck with -- look at this. Thunder and hail, two tornadoes yesterday. What is the deal here? Thousands are still without power, traffic accidents, injuries have been reported. And the rains have raised the fear of mudslides. More rain expected today.

NGUYEN: OK, why do they have to show video of the toilet on that -- why, why?

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well, in news across America today, the most heavily armed spy submarine ever built. It's enough to make a president proud. In Connecticut yesterday, the Navy added the U.S.S. Jimmy Carter to its fleet. The more than $3 billion (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is the first to be named after a living ex-president.

Carter is the only president to have served on a submarine. And among the jobs for the 12,000 ton boat, surveillance missions.

And speaking of missions, one of New York City's politicians has won to make movies start on time.

HARRIS: Good, good.

NGUYEN: I know, it bothers me. Although I get to go to movies a little bit late, because I know it's not going to start on time. A councilwoman wants theaters to list the actual time a movie will start, not the time the previews and ads begin, which could be, what, 10, 15 minutes before the actual movie starts.

HARRIS: Right.

NGUYEN: She introduced a bill in the city council. And theater owners say this attempt to not waste people's time is itself a waste of time.

Well, apparently this face that you see right here could not tell a lie. Ricky Lee Lacom was let out of prison in Ohio on Tuesday. Now the problem is Ohio should have sent him to Colorado to serve out a robbery sentence there. Well, officials apparently forgot about that, but no, not Ricky. Once out, he called. He actually called the Ohio Jail, said he should be doing time in Colorado. And get this, Tony, he even arranged his trip back to the slammer himself. Now that's an honest man.

And speaking of curious plots, Cruella Deville and her clan are plotting to run amuck in Yellowstone Park. Well, actually, it's just a Disney plan to do business there. A company is thinking about opening theme parks in Yellowstone and in Hawaii. Disney says they'd offer weeklong tours through Wyoming and Hawaii. One of the tours is appropriately titled Quest for the West.

HARRIS: And still to come, it's a first for the NFL. The league is close to getting its first black team owner. After the break, our sports analyst Rick Horrow goes beyond the game for a closer look at this historic deal.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REGGIE FOWLER: We spent the last 10 months just getting to this day.

HARRIS (voice-over): Some would say it has been more than eight decades getting to this day. If the sale of the Minnesota Vikings to Arizona businessman Reggie Fowler is officially approved by the National Football League owners, Fowler will become the first African- American to own an NFL team.

FOWLER: I think it's a great thing. You know, I'm happy that I'm black. James Brown says say it loud. I'm black and I'm proud. You know, that doesn't really play a big part to me. You know, I just happen to be black.

HARRIS: Approval could still be three to 10 weeks away. It could be history in the making. This morning, as we take you beyond the game.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: So the next step in this historic process is for the owners to approve the deal. Yesterday, we talked about that with one of the highest ranking African-Americans in football, the chief administrative officer with the Atlanta Falcons, Ray Anderson and our own CNN Sports business analyst Rick Horrow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Hey, Rick, I got to ask you, what makes an NFL franchise such a hot commodity right now? Seemingly hotter than any other sports franchise out there?

RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, here's the deal. The NFL has what the NHL wants, by the way. That's why they went to war and closed the season in hockey. They have...

HARRIS: For the cap, yes.

HORROW: They have salary cap. And they also have revenue sharing at 85 percent of the revenues are shared. So the bottom line is $17 billion of TV dollars and also the ticket dollars are shared among the teams.

The cap, that two-thirds of the money, is given to the players. That's why each team had a $40 million cap a decade ago. Now it's about $85. And it adds up to franchise values. 19, 20, Chicago Bears bought for $100.

HARRIS: Oh, my goodness.

HORROW: According to "Forbes" Magazine recently, the franchises like Washington and Philadelphia, New York are about $1 billion, even though small market franchises like Jacksonville and Green Bay and Kansas City, they're at about $600 million. And the average franchise about $630 million. 20 percent increase over last year.

Now the Vikings were set at about $542 million. And Reggie Fowler was said to buy it for about $625.

So now let's talk about the Vikings. And of course, we have Ray Anderson.

HARRIS: Yes.

HORROW: An old man. You know, we went to Harvard Law School 25 years ago together. And so, you're the guy. Big deal in the NFL. So let's ask you why it's taken so long for an African-American to get into that position.

RAY ANDERSON, FALCONS CHIEF ADMIN. OFFICER: Well, it's about opportunity. You know, there are 32 clubs. You know, this business...

HARRIS: It's not a big pie.

ANDERSON: It's not a big pie.

HARRIS: Right.

ANDERSON: This business like any others has to change with time and with exposure to different types of peoples and different types of demographics. So it's just a function of where we are and who we are.

HARRIS: Is there any evidence to suggest that blacks have been kept out, have been excluded, locked out of this process of ownership?

ANDERSON: None that I'm personally aware of.

HARRIS: Yes.

ANDERSON: You know, there's 32 owners. Not more than 32 people get in those rooms, but I'd like to believe that there hasn't been an intentional process, but in my view, as the world gets bigger, the business has gotten bigger. Perhaps size or a little more open.

HARRIS: Yes.

ANDERSON: Since those 32.

HARRIS: Yes. Got to ask you, Rick, are the challenges any different? I can't imagine that they are, but something tells me that maybe they are. Are the challenges any different for blacks trying to get into ownership, and in the case of Fowler, maybe even actually owning a team?

HORROW: Well, it requires access to capital.

HARRIS: Yes.

HORROW: Like anything else. But the challenge from the NFL perspective is as it has been. We talked about it last month at the Super Bowl. It's expanding the demographic base. You know, the NFL is 83 percent white fan wise. We talked about promoting for women. We talked about promoting internationally. 230 countries. And minorities is no different.

So the NFL has to keep its eye on the ball and make sure it continues to be as diverse as it's trying to get it.

HARRIS: Ray, what's the bottom line on Fowler's bid? Is it just dollars and cents? Does he have the money?

ANDERSON: Well, his people and he indicates that he -- they do. I'd like to think that Red Macones wouldn't get this far down the road with Mr. Fowler if he didn't believe the financing was in place.

But at the end of the day, it is going to come to the finances.

HARRIS: And Rick, he's going to need a stadium there in Minnesota soon, won't he?

HORROW: Yes, he will. And of course, the NFL has done 23 stadiums at $7 billion. There are challenges that remain in New Orleans and New York and a few other places. And of course, Minnesota is always front and center on that list. And it'll be interesting to see how that shakes out.

HARRIS: But I do -- maybe I'll ask you this, Rick. I do want to come back to this question of access to these teams. It does seem to me that it's been easier for blacks to be owners of NBA teams or even minority partners in the ownership of NBA teams, than it has been for NFL teams. In your experience, are there any issues out there that have held minorities back? Or is it just money?

HORROW: Well, hey, it's an Anderson question, too, as far as the NFL is concerned. But it is access to capital. You know...

HARRIS: Yes.

HORROW: ...Bob Johnson, BET, spent $300 million on the Charlotte Bobcats. So he had those dollars. If you like a team and you want to buy one, an NFL team, there's a darn good investment, but you got to be prepared to pay $500 million to $1 billion. And you know, Ray ought to answer the part about access to capital.

HARRIS: Yes. And I've got to ask you, Ray, Mr. Fowler seems to have been under the radar. There are a number of other people who seem to have been in line to get a team or at least to make a bid on a team. What do we know about this guy? Where did he come from? Am I right in suggesting he seems to have come in under the radar on this? ANDERSON: Well, indeed he has come in under the radar. Apparently he's been making this effort for some months now.

HARRIS: Sure.

ANDERSON: And a lot of -- and not a lot publicly is known about him. But that may have been part of his strategy.

HARRIS: Yes.

ANDERSON: Tony, and that's just to be seen. But with regard to Rick's point, it is about access to capital. And the price tags in the NFL certainly are way up there. Certainly in comparison to basketball. So access to capital is the primary point.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: The deal between Reggie Fowler and the Minnesota Vikings is far from final. Fowler still needs approval from three-fourths of the NFL owners. The entire process is expected to last anywhere from three to 10 weeks.

NGUYEN: Well from one sport to another, hunters in Britain have their sights set on a new law. And they don't like what they see. In our going global segment, we'll tell you how some of them are testing the legal limits.

Also, are you getting the straight facts about Social Security? You might not be. A CNN fact check. That's later this hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: U.S. and Japan urged North Korea to return to six party talks. We'll see how far that goes. Welcome back everyone to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Tony Harris.

NGUYEN: And good morning, I'm Betty Nguyen. We'll have that story in just a moment. But first, here's a look at what's making news this morning.

More fence mending overseas. President Bush is heading to Europe at this hour, kicking off a week long trip. He'll visit Belgium, Germany, and the Slavic Republic. The president is sounding a note of unity and trying to drown out divisions over Iraq.

Also, Israel's cabinet is holding a crucial meeting at this hour. It is voting on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's controversial plan to pull out of Gaza and parts of the West Bank. The plan is expected to pass despite opposition from hard line ministers and protests by Jewish settlers.

Well, his voice was clear. And he seemed to be in good form. Pope John Paul II read his Sunday blessing at the Vatican this morning to the cheers of worshipers you see here. It is the pope's second appearance at St. Peters Square since being released from the hospital 10 days ago. Time now to check out some of the other stories making news all around the world today.

HARRIS: And as usual, let's go to Anand Naidoo at the international desk.

Anand, good morning.

ANAND NAIDOO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you from the international desk. A lot to tell you about. We begin in Washington. There's been new efforts underway to undo the nuclear log jam in North Korea.

Japanese foreign minister was in the nation's capital. He's been meeting top administration officials after talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Both sides are urging Pyongyang to get back to the all party negotiating table.

North Korea has claimed -- it claimed a few weeks ago, that it has nuclear weapons and said that it was pulling out of the all party talks.

Disaster in Bangladesh. At least 50 people dead, 130 missing after a ferry boat capsizes near the capital Dakar. And that figure -- 50 dead, 130 missing is going up by the hour. So we'll keep tabs on that and keep you posted.

Officials estimate there were 260 people on board that boat, although it was only designed to carry 160. 500 people died in a similar accident last July.

Now to Britain and a new law there, banning fox hunts is stirring up some emotions. In fact, that law came into effect this weekend. It didn't stop tens of thousands of people from attending fox hunts across England and Wales. Police made at least four arrests. The new law is a little murky. Not all hunts are banned. Some forms of hunting are still allowed.

Experts are saying that what happened this weekend was people actually testing the limits of this law and seeing how far they could go. We shall see.

That's all for me. Back to Tony and Betty.

NGUYEN: Yes, people always have to test those limits, Anand. We'll be checking back with you. Thank you.

Well, we do have a story out of Iraq this morning that may make you feel pretty good and could spring you into action. Here's Bob Martin of affiliate KRQE of Operation Iraqi Children.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB MARTIN, KRQE NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For troops in Iraq even humanitarian missions like this one are dangerous. Convoys have been attacked. Soldiers have died. Despite the hazards, troops like Mary Prophit, a reservist and library assistant from Glenoma, Washington are delivering school supplies sent from young students in America. It's called Operation Iraqi Children.

MAJ. MARY PROPHIT, U.S. ARMY: Now the children in America wanted to give you presents to help you with your studies.

And all the kids in America want to say hi to you.

MARTIN: Operation Iraqi Children was created by CSI New York's Gary Sinise after he came here and saw soldiers trying to fill a critical need for supplies.

GARY SINISE, OPERATION IRAQI CHILDREN: I saw a lot of goodwill there between the Iraqis and the soldiers. And I wanted to try and support that in some way. So I went to the principle of my own children's school and said let's do a drive for school supplies. And out of that, I was able to connect with Lori Hilenbrand, who wrote "Sea Biscuit" and "American Legend." She had a small project of her own. And we joined forces.

MARTIN: Through Operationiraqichildren.org, American students put together special packages of supplies. In less than a year, more than 100,000 packages have been shipped. FedEx carries them overseas to volunteers in Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With all the other organizations that have gone away from Iraq, we're trying to make the difference.

MARTIN: Founders hope the program is changing some impressions in Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The American soldier would be viewed as not just a warrior, not just somebody carrying a gun, but also a messenger of friendship and goodwill.

MARTIN: Students are grateful for the supplies, anxious to achieve.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I study to learn, to be an educated person.

MARTIN: American GIs and kids, any war, the same result.

Bob Martin for CNN, Mosul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Do you see their faces? All their smiles? How they lit up when they got those supplies?

HARRIS: It's our favorite picture. Soldiers giving the kids (UNINTELLIGIBLE.)

Boy, we could use some of those supplies around here. Can't find a pen around here. NGUYEN: It is hard. I'm holding onto this.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: Got my name on it.

HARRIS: And we had to ask you this morning. How safe are you feeling when you fly? Some airlines are now outsourcing repair work? Is this the safest way to go? At least one airline official warns of possible tragic consequences. It's a story you'll see only on CNN. Tune in tonight for this special investigation on CNN SUNDAY NIGHT at a new time, 11:00 p.m.

And beginning tomorrow, our sister network CNN Headline News is unveiling its new prime-time line-up. You heard about this?

NGUYEN: I've heard about it.

HARRIS: But we're getting a sneak preview on CNN tonight at 7:00 p.m. "Showbiz Tonight" debuts in award winning style from the East coast to the West. Karen Bryan and A.J. Hammer take you behind the scenes of the Academy Awards. If it happens today, it's on "Showbiz Tonight."

Then at 8:00, she is doing justice to legal news. Nancy Grace from prominent trials to possible wrongful convictions. Former prosecutor Nancy Grace takes on the legal issues of the day, always live and always unscripted.

NGUYEN: Well, millionaire Steve Fossett is at it once again, trying to break another record, of course. Find out what he is up to this time. That's next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

Plus, we want to say a big good morning to Daytona Beach. Oh, look at this sun this morning. What a beautiful picture. Bright weekend weather for you. We'll have the forecast coming up, as well as for the rest of the nation. That's in about 15 minutes.

HARRIS: And our e-mail question this morning is does the Social Security system need to be fixed? E-mail us at wam@cnn.com. We'll read your replies throughout the program.

And now it's time for a CNN fact check on Social Security. The question, are the personal retirement accounts that President Bush is proposing guaranteed? In his state of the union speech, Mr. Bush claimed, "Your money will grow, over time, at a greater rate than anything the current system can deliver -- and your account will provide money for retirement over and above the check you will receive from Social Security."

But according to our own CNN fact check, the president and vice president incorrectly suggest that personal retirement accounts are guaranteed to provide greater returns than the current system. There is no guarantee that a worker will always receive a higher return on his or her investment with a personal retirement account than under the current system. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In all honesty, I'm not really counting on it at all. Luckily, I'm young enough so that I have my whole life ahead of me to make sure I invest property and set aside, you know, my own retirement, but with the state of Social Security as it is now, I just -- I don't think it'll be solved by the time that I would come into retirement. So I'm not counting on it at all.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm concerned about Social Security for my retirement. And I'm all for the president's plan to partially privatize our funds.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not counting on it at all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: OK, circling the world in 80 hours, piloting a solo plane, and making no stops? If there's a man for the job, it is millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett.

His latest launch is an attempt to break yet another aviation record. The dot-com desk Christina Park is here to explain his latest exploration.

This guy's always up to something.

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes. I'm so excited about this story. We have to stay tuned. More than 100 years since the Wright Brothers first power flight. Mankind is still breaking records in the sky and boldly going where no one has gone before. CNN.com was along for the ride as a retired investor tries to pilot an airplane alone, non-stop around the world for the first time.

That's right, millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett has set records in five different sports already, including sailing and ballooning. This time, you'll take the Virgin Atlanta Global Flyer around the globe. You'll have to log onto cnn.com/tech to track his route from country to country. He's starting in Salina, Kansas, though. While you're there, click on over for a tutorial on one of the coolest planes you'll ever get to see. And don't forget to check in on the all important record that Fossett hopes to set.

He must log some 23,000 miles to make his goal. And he needs to fly fast before delirium sets in, because see, buddy, Fossett will have to forego sleep for at least three days.

NGUYEN: Eighty hours.

PARK: Yes, he'll just have some 10 to 15 minute cat naps.

And to help keep him awake, Fossett will be in contact with flight controllers. He'll also have a text messaging system, as well as a satellite phone. But to cheer him on and check his route, log on to cnn.com/tech. Now Betty, he's also the first solo balloonist to circle the globe.

NGUYEN: Right.

PARK: Without stopping in 2002. And he also set tons of records otherwise.

NGUYEN: OK, 80 hours, no sleep.

PARK: Yes.

NGUYEN: And he has text messaging. Great.

PARK: Yes, I want to know where he goes to the restroom.

NGUYEN: You know what? That's a whole another segment. Yes, no stops on that flight, too.

PARK: Oh, yes.

NGUYEN: Christina Park, thank you.

PARK: Thanks, Betty.

HARRIS: And checking our top stories. President Bush and the First Lady left just moments ago. You saw it here live on CNN to begin their five day European trip. The president is mindful he ruffled some feathers over his Iraq policy. And now is trying to mend some fences he wants to garner European support for his plan to rebuild Iraq and shape Middle East politics.

A critical vote in Israel today. The cabinet is expected to give the go ahead to withdraw Jewish settlers from Gaza and part of the West Bank. It will also approve new roots for the West Bank separation barrier.

Powerful storms unleashed thunder, hail, and tornadoes in southern California. The storm snapped trees, knocked out power, and triggered plenty of flooding.

And coming up right after the break, he may look like an ordinary patrolman, but this man wears many hats. Force trainer, sniper, hero. Find out the story behind that last one when CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues.

NGUYEN: Though a CNN extra, your favorite pointy grooming tools are about to be confiscated at the airport security checkpoint. But instead of losing them forever, you now have the option of mailing them home instead. A Texas based company is setting up automated mailing kiosks in major international airports. So far, kiosks are installed in four airports, but more are expected by the end of the year.

According to the Transportation Security Administration, more than half a million items are confiscated from passengers in the U.S. each month.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Esprit de Corps, French expression meaning a common spirit of enthusiasm and devotion to a cause. What better way to define the man in our next story. A hero for whom duty, honor, and service are not just words.

Here's CNN's Casey Wian.

BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's 5:30 A.M., and Orange County sheriff deputy Scott Montoya is finishing the 12-hour patrol shift.

SCOTT MONTOYA: Today's my last day of training so -- thank you for all your time and patients.

WIAN: It's taken Montoya 15 years to win promotion to patrolman because of his other job, a Marine Corps sniper.

MONTOYA: I joined the Marine Corps for the esprit du corps, what they call it in Orange County Sheriff's Academy. They would walk up to each other and kind of look at each other and kind of see the bad haircut and look at each other like, hey, Marine, you a Marine? Immediately they would be best friends.

WIAN: At dawn, Montoya wears a different hat.

MONTOYA: I come out here every day to look at him. It's kind of like my therapy.

WIAN: His easy calm with his horses reveals a different side of a man who's a martial arts expert and war hero.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant Scott C. Montoya.

WIAN: On April 8, 2003, the Marines were in a street fight outside Baghdad. Under a barrage of gunfire, Montoya rescued an injured Iraqi civilian, then returned to the middle of the street 5 times to rescue wounded Marines.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire and utmost devotion to duty, Sergeant Montoya reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

WIAN: Montoya is humble.

MONTOYA: The scripture in the Bible says no greater love hath no man than a man who lays down his life for his friends. And I believe that in my heart. Is that I would have done it. I never met the Marine before that day, and I haven't seen him since that day. All those Marines helped out. I never even shook their hands again. But you know what, I would do it all again. I would do it all again.

WIAN: Montoya plans to remain in the Marine Corps and move on to a leadership role in the sheriff's department. Casey Wian, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Wow. We bring you hero stories every week on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: Always look forward to that segment.

Well, here's a question for you today. Does Social Security need to be fixed? That is our e-mail question this morning. We want to hear what you think about it. We're at wam@cnn.com. And we'll read those responses throughout the morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: A little Herbie Hancock for you. You know, that young stuff at Avril Lavigne. I'm the old...

NGUYEN: You're into the old school music. All right. I know Herbie Hancock.

HARRIS: Good morning, Boston. It's called Symphony Hall, but tonight, it's all about the jazz. Jazz giants Herbie Hancock and Michael Brecker of the Brecker Brothers and Roy Hardgrove are on tap to perform some of the best known work on Miles Davis and John Cole Train.

NGUYEN: That is a show. Well, you know, who put on a show a little bit earlier?

HARRIS: Who was that?

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: A question today. Our e-mail question of the morning is what do you think about Social Security? Does the system need to be fixed, overhauled?

Here's one from Elisa. "I am a 42-year old Democrat. However, this is the one thing I agree on with President Bush. We need to see privatization of some of the social security withholding. The sooner we bite the bullet, the less it will cost Americans."

NGUYEN: And Rob says, "Yes, Social Security needs to be fixed. The President's proposal does not fix Social Security; indeed it makes the problem worse. The system can pay full benefits for the next thirty-seven years. Let's fix the system to make full benefits permanent and not take even more money from the system to set up government run 'private accounts.'"

And we invite you to continue sending thoughts in to wam@cnn.com.

HARRIS: To get this big train rolling down the track.

The next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING begins right now.

NGUYEN: So as we roll along, from the CNN Center this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Good morning, Tony. How are you?

HARRIS: Good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: It's 8 a.m. here at the CNN headquarters in Atlanta, an early 5 a.m. out there on the West Coast. Good morning everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris, thanks for being with us.

Now in the news. President Bush is on his way overseas to begin a three nation tour of Europe. First stop is Brussels and a NATO summit. The president will try to shore up the Atlantic Alliance meeting during the next five days with nearly every major head of state on the continent.

Israel's cabinet is moving to approve Prime Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Among the most controversial parts of the plan, are those that call for dismantling some Jewish settlements.

Five Marines are on suspension, another on administrative duty after recruit Jason Tharp drowned February 8th in a training pool at Paris Island, South Carolina.

Now video recorded by CNN affiliate WIS on the day before the drowning shows a drill instructor grabbing Tharp and pushing him. The Marine Corps says Tharp drowned because of complications in the water.

The rain just keeps coming. A major storm is leaving a mess in parts of Southern California. Yesterday the storm spun off at least two tornadoes. It broke windows, knocked down trees and power lines. More rain is possible for most of the week.

NGUYEN: Who says it doesn't rain in Southern California.

Well, straight ahead here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, reforming Social Security and what does it mean for you. We'll do a fact check about your Social Security check.

Also a very special war memorial built by young hands. Some youngsters learned the hard lessons of war.

And in our "Faces of Faith," our Sunday morning look at religious issues. We will show you one man's mission to make the Bible a bit more hip.

HARRIS: President Bush is off to Europe on a fence mending mission that will take him to three countries in the next five days. The German chancellor and the presidents of France and Russia are among the leaders the president will need.

More on his trip now from CNN's Dana Bash in Washington. Good morning, Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony. And the president within the past 15 minutes or so -- and this, of course, is the president's first trip abroad of his second term and one he said over and over this week he hopes will underscore the common goals and interests of the U.S. and Europe, not the major differences that really define the first Bush term.

Now the president is not only going to talk about Iraq, of course, with these world leaders, but also growing U.S. pressure on Iran to stop its alleged nuclear program.

Now for many Europeans that sounds like deja vu. In fact, one European interviewer said this week that 70 percent of its people are convinced that the president intends to attack Iran. Not so, said Mr. Bush.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: First of all, you never want a president to say never. But military action is certainly not, you know, it's never the president's first choice. Diplomacy is always the president's first -- at least my first choice. And we got a common goal and that is that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now the president is going to three countries in Europe. But along the way he will meet with virtually every major European leader. In Brussels, for example, he will meet with French President Jacques Chirac, where the president will ask for French help in trying to pressure Syria to get its troops out of Lebanon. And, according tot he president, to stop supporting terrorism.

But the meeting likely to be most scrutinized will be at the end of the week with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Now since the president called Mr. Putin a dear friend nearly four years ago, the Russian leaders has done away with many of the basic checks and balances of democracy. Like, for example, taking over TV stations in Russia.

Now a month after Mr. Bush linked freedoms in these countries, countries around the world to strong relations to the United States in his inaugural address, the question is how publicly critical he will be, Mr. Putin, Tony.

HARRIS: Very interesting. We'll watch, wait and see. Dana Bash in Washington. Dana, good to see you. Thank you.

NGUYEN: Most European leaders seem ready to meet President Bush halfway despite different approaches to problems with Iran's nuclear program.

Now leaders of the European Union have been negotiating with the Iranians and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the U.S. also favors diplomacy.

While Rice says military action against Iran is not quote, "on the agenda," it is a concern.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VICTOR BULMER THOMAS, ROYAL INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL AFFAIRS: Strikes on specific targets and in particular, nuclear or potential nuclear weapons sites yes, that's a real fear in Europe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: The United States and France are finally on the same page on one issue, Syrian troops in Lebanon. President Bush wants them out, and so does President Jacques Chirac.

HARRIS: Secret tapes reportedly give a glimpse into George W. Bush's political strategy when he was considering a run for the presidency. The "New York Times" reports Doug Wead, an author and Bush friend, recorded private conversations with then Governor Bush.

On one tape "The Times" reports Bush explains that he told a prominent evangelical that he would not quote, "Kick gays because I'm a sinner. How can I differentiate sin." In the next hour we'll tell you what the tapes reveal Bush said about faith.

NGUYEN: On to the president's father. He and former President Clinton are touring tsunami damage in Indonesia's Aceh province. Both say they were surprised by the scope of the scope of the damage. Something they say you cannot appreciate from television pictures.

More than 121,000 people died in Indonesia alone. The former president's who are leading a private U.S. relief effort later went to Sri Lanka. They plan to visit the Maldives tomorrow.

And former Presidents Clinton and Bush will be guests today on CNN's "LATE EDITION" with Wolf Blitzer. You can catch that beginning at noon Eastern.

HARRIS: Construction paper, paint and young hands all of those went into building a very special war memorial. But this memorial isn't at a military base or a battlefield. It's at a Maryland middle school. Our Pentagon correspondent Kathleen Koch has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was not your typical art assignment to paint portraits of U.S. service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thirteen year old Carlin Thomas chose Private Leslie Jackson of Richmond, Virginia, killed in Baghdad by a roadside bomb.

CARLIN THOMAS, STUDENT: I had to paint for a graduation picture. She -- there were no other pictures. She was just 18.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have nearly every name typed, as far as I know.

KOCH: But the 40 students in Linda McCaunehey's (ph) art class at Hartfield Middle School couldn't bear to leave anyone out. So they decided to research and display the names, home towns and cause of death of the more than 1,600 service members who died in both wars.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's kind of hard because like, you know, that could be you in just a couple of years.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And it has become much more real to them, and what they're seeing are the names have made a big impact on them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've seen so many names on the wall.

KOCH: Mike Adle came to see the portrait of his youngest son, Patrick, just 21 when he died near Baghdad.

MIKE ADLE, FATHER OF FALLEN MARINE: That's him. He's got a big smile. It's a fun thing that everybody remembers about Patrick is his smile.

KOCH: This first visit by a parent was not easy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn't really know what to say because I don't -- what do you say to someone who has just been hurt so much.

KOCH: So she offered him the painting.

ADLE: I would love to have it. It would be great. It would be an honor. You did a wonderful job.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. I'm sorry for your loss.

ADLE: Thank you.

KOCH: For Antonia Vega, the project reminded her of the risks her father took serving in Afghanistan.

ANTONIA VEGA, STUDENT: He always told me that he loved, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), funny. Working on this project is really quite moving. These people died for their country and I'm just grateful that it wasn't my dad.

KOCH (on camera): This powerful display has impacted students emotions and opinions. Many who once supported the Iraq war have changed their minds.

(voice-over): But believe, as family members do, their individual sacrifice was honorable.

ADLE: When you look at all the names up and down these hallways each and every one of them believed in what they were doing 100 percent. They gave it their all.

JENNIFER BATES, STUDENT: I think it's a risk that sometimes you just have to take to help others. But maybe one day like we can find a better way to solve these problems without war.

Kathleen Koch, CNN, Hartfield, Maryland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: I'll second that.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. And just seeing all of the names laid out like that really kinds of brings it home for you.

HARRIS: Actually I know that school, growing up in Baltimore. I know that school very well and I'm not surprised they...

NGUYEN: Good kids there.

HARRIS: Yes, very good. All right moving forward. As the Bush administration considers a major restructuring of Social Security, we want to hear what you think about the situation.

Our e-mail question. Does the Social Security system need to be fixed? Send your comments to wan@cnn.com. We'll read some of then a little later in the show.

NGUYEN: Also ahead the word on the street about God. In our "Faces of Faith," you'll hear one man's interpretation of the Bible with a little street credibility.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nothing like a little Willie Nelson to get you going. Daytona Beach, gentlemen start your engines. Daytona 500 this afternoon and looks like it's going to be some nice weather.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: We'll be back with the full forecast. CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Let's take a look at this. These colorful images came from a very creative pair of brothers. Comic book characters inspired by a boy's life with Type I diabetes. The creators of Omega Boy live next hour, 9 a.m. Eastern right here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Let's talk about some horse power, shall we? Good morning, Daytona Beach. Get your engines running. NASCAR season kicks off with Daytona 500. We'll have your complete weather forecast. That is straight ahead.

HARRIS: Weather, it is a much different scene in rain soaked southern California. There's water, water everywhere and more on the way. the rains expected to keep falling today. A weekend storm has already caused flooding and the threat of mud slides. Home are flooded in Long Beach, where some people had to evacuate. The region has been just drenched by nearly three times the average rainfall of the season, three times the average.

NGUYEN: My goodness. Not only that, but I've heard some part of it, LA, Rob, got some hail yesterday. Is that true?

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Time now to check out our top stories this Sunday morning. President Bush is on his way to Europe for a week long fence mending mission. He is visiting Belgium, Germany and the Slavic Republic. The president is hoping to put to rest deep divisions over the Iraq war.

Also, the Israeli cabinet is meeting at this hour in historic session. Ministers are voting on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to pull out of Gaza and parts of the West Bank. It is expected to pass.

And in South Carolina more fallout over the drowning of a Marine recruit. Five Marines have been suspended and another put on administrative duty as a military probe continues. Nineteen year old Jason Tharp, drowned in a training pool at the Paris Island base.

HARRIS: Fewer thees and thous and more you and me, that's the goal of author Rob Lacey, who we feather in our Faces of Faith this morning. Lacey is the author of "The Word on the Street," which he calls an informal interpretation of the Bible.

Lacey translates parts of the Bible into everyday English. And as we found out, he is a man on a mission.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll make you king of Israel. I'll keep Saul off your back, I'll give you this palace, I'll give you wives, I'll give you the whole country and if you wanted more I'll give you more.

RON LACEY, AUTHOR: I didn't start by thinking -- waking up one morning and thinking, oh, what can I do today.

HARRIS: OK.

LACEY: I'll rewrite the Bible. You know, it wasn't -- it didn't happen like that. It basically was in my own personal times of studying the Bible, trying to get a hang of it, trying to help it to affect my life.

HARRIS: OK.

I realized that because I've been brought up in church and because I knew it really well and because I've been a Christian, more or less, all of my life, since about seven, I realized it had gone stale on me.

And as a creative writer, as a performance poet, as actor it was just the most natural thing in the world to say, OK, I will try and put my own life into it. I will try and put my own language into it. And the second I started to do that of course it comes to light. It started speaking to me again in my language.

I volunteered to be a martyr but my love plan dead and I'm a waste of space. What is love any way?

HARRIS: We'll give folks a couple of examples and let them judge for themselves. For example, the Lord's prayer, our father who art in heaven. In your book it's God in heaven hey, you're out dad. That's an example, right?

LACEY: Yes, exactly. And it's just trying to bring it alive, trying to make it vivid. There's an amazing contrast. God is in heaven, you're our dad. That's huge. And sometimes we're so familiar with the words, our father who art in heaven, we reel it off like it's a script and it doesn't mean anything to us any more.

So I just want to bring a bit of oomph into it and give it some light again.

HARRIS: OK, Rob, another example here. From Revelation 1-7, behold he is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him. In your book that reads, look up. Is it a bird, is it a plane, is it a computer game gone 3-D? No, it's him surfing the clouds full orbit so everyone can see, hello.

LACEY: I love the way you perform it. It is designed to come off the page to make it performable again, to bring it out. Not just to be black and white on the page, but to be embodied in somebody's books.

HARRIS: Rob, Rob, Rob, Rob stop right there. Because people are going to say you know what, this is sacrilegious. What is he doing? Has he lost his mind?

LACEY: Downloading some love. Simply restoring heaven on earth. Sending death to the recycle bin.

Some people will say that and I do hear that. And for, you know, basically I don't want to upset anybody. But I would rather upset a few who are very happy with perhaps the King James, which incidentally I love. I still read the King James. I was brought up on the King James, but I know how to speak that language.

HARRIS: Yes.

LACEY: I know what that means. Now why -- my passion is why should we ask people who are not into it, who have not bought into it to learn a second language in order to get the Bible. That's my thing.

HARRIS: All right, and Rob...

LACEY: What I want to do is give it to them in their language so that they can understand it and they can make their own decisions. (END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Again, Rob Lacey's book is "The Word On the Street." It was named book of the year in the United Kingdom last year by Christian booksellers.

And straight ahead, privatizing Social Security. Is the system really headed toward bankruptcy. Stay with us for a fact check and your e-mail comments

NGUYEN: Plus at the bottom of the hour on "HOUSE CALL" our Dr. Sanjay Gupta looks at drug safety and tries to answer the question, what can you take for your pain. That's at 8:30 eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: All right. The future of America's Social Security program. It is a hot topic all across the country as the president pushes for reform.

HARRIS: Well, we're looking at the issue all morning long on CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Here's what some of you say about the future of Social Security.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very small amount. We're doing outside planning for our retirement. We don't think Social Security will be able to help us that much.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not really counting on it to be a whole part of my retirement. I'm investing now already, putting money away on my own. It would be nice to get some of it, but I'm not counting on that as paying all of my bills when I retire.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Well, time now for a Social Security fact check. In his State of Union speech President Bush said by the year 2042 the entire system would be exhausted and bankrupt.

According to our CNN fact check it is true that the Social Security trust fund likely will be depleted either in 2042, according to the Social Security trustees report or in 2052, according to the Congressional Budget Office, but most of the benefits owed at that point can continue to be paid through payroll tax revenue.

The trustees report says that the system will pay 73 percent of the benefits owed once the trust fund is depleted in 2042 and 68 percent starting in the year 2075.

Now aside from its survival some African Americans worry that revamping Social Security would hurt them more than it would whites. The leader of the NAACP calls Mr. Bush's plans quote, "Extremely dangerous for Blacks." Saying twice as many black couples rely on Social Security than white couples. President said instead that blacks would benefit under his plans. The Civil Rights groups wants to meet with the president.

NGUYEN: Now all of this gets to our e-mail question of the day which is, "Does the Social Security system need to be fixed? Neil from Canada has decided to weigh in today and he says, "So the wealthiest nation on the planet has decided that it cannot afford a social safety net for its senior citizens? What kind of a signal will this send to the rest of the world? And you might as well forget about mandatory retirement at age 65. Some people will now need to work until the end of their natural lives."

HARRIS: And Betty, how about this from Bill. "There is a problem with our Social Security and the problem is too many politicians are using money that doesn't belong to them."

We hear this a lot. "They did not ask us, the people, if they could use our money to pay for wars and all the other stuff they have used it for. I would say most Americans feel our money is being stolen and we can do nothing about it."

I want to thank you for those e-mails and encourage you to ...

NGUYEN: A good response, again.

HARRIS: ...yes, good, to send more e-mails We'll take more of those at the top of the hour. The address is wam@cnn.com.

How safe are you when you fly? Some airlines are now outsourcing repair work. Is this the safest way to go. At least one airline official warns of possible tragic consequences. It's the story you'll see only on CNN. Tune in tonight for this special investigation on "CNN SUNDAY NIGHT" at a new time, 11 p.m.

NGUYEN: And beginning tomorrow our sister network "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is unveiling its new prime time line up. But we are getting a live sneak peak on CNN tonight. That is at 7 p.m. You'll see "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." It will debut its award winning style from the east coast to the west. Karen Bryant and A.J. Hammer take you behind the scenes of the Academy Awards. It happens today. It is on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT."

Then at 8 Eastern, she is doing justice to legal news, "NANCY GRACE," from prominent trials to possible wrongful convictions. Former prosecutor Nancy Grace takes on the legal issues of the day and as always, live and unscripted.

But straight ahead, how are you dealing with your pain? "HOUSE CALL" with Dr. Sanjay Gupta looks at how safe the painkillers really are that are in your medicine cabinet.

I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. We'll see you again at the top of the hour. "HOUSE CALL" and your top stories are straight ahead.

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 February 20, 2005 - 07:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: A fence mending tour for President Bush. That is set to begin this hour. From the CNN Center right here in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
Good morning to you.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: It is February 20th. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. 7:00 a.m. here in the East and 4:00 a.m. in the West. Thank you for being with us. Now more on this and other headlines this morning.

President Bush leaves Washington within the hour on a five day European tour to patch up relations frayed by the Iraq War. He's visiting three countries and will meet with nearly every major political player on the continent.

Israel's cabinet is meeting this morning to approve Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Most controversial in Israel are parts of the plan that call for dismantling Jewish settlements.

CNN's John Vause is watching that cabinet meeting. And he'll have a live report when the vote is taken.

Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush are -- have been touring Indonesia's Aceh province, the area hardest hit by December's earthquake and tsunami. Clinton and Bush are leaving this morning for Sri Lanka. The two ex presidents are leading the U.S. fund-raising effort for tsunami survivors.

NGUYEN: And you'll definitely want to stay with us for the next hour, especially if you're feeling insecure about Social Security. We'll help you sort through the surplus of rhetoric coming out of Washington these days.

Also, the NFL on the threshold of historic decision as team owners ponder the latest application to their exclusive club. And a little bit later, with crooks like this, we don't need jails. You won't want to miss this story of a very honest convict.

HARRIS: But our top story this morning is President Bush's European trip. And the president leaves the White House, as we mentioned, this hour on a five day transatlantic trip to the continent.

He hopes to smooth over some lingering ill feelings over the war in Iraq. The president's itinerary includes stops in three countries -- Belgium, Germany and the Slovak Republic. Even though it's just three countries, the president will meet with a long list of political leaders. That includes French President Jacques Chirac, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and the new president of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko.

It's no secret President Bush does not have a warm and friendly relationship with the Europeans, especially Germany and France, the most vocal critics of the Iraq War. During this trip, Mr. Bush will try to sell himself as dare we say a kinder, gentler president.

More from CNN's senior White House correspondent John King.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Off to Europe, where the goal is setting a new tone for the second term, a challenge rooted as much in a personality clash as it is in the many policy differences.

RICHARD PERLE, COUNCIL OF FOREIGN RELATIONS: The Europeans don't like the president's style. They're comfortable with Jacques Chirac.

OK. He's not my taste, but they've carried this disapproval of the president's style to an extreme.

KING: Not that there aren't numerous policy divides that make fence mending difficult. Lingering tensions over the Iraq War. Mr. Bush won't join negotiations about Iran's nuclear program and wants the Europeans involved in those talks to take a tougher line. The White House opposes European plans to resume arms sales to China. Europeans can't fathom why Mr. Bush won't join the Kyoto Climate Change Treaty.

Just back from a big conference in Germany, Senator John McCain sees a desire on both sides of the Atlanta for a more friendly tone. Yet he sees little movement on the policy divides with France and Germany.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: In the case of the Germans, Mr. Schroeder, a little straight talk is interested in his re-election. He played an anti-American card last time. And it helped him. So it shouldn't surprise me.

Case of the French, as long as many French leaders believe in their words that they are counter weight to the United States of America, it's hard to forge a close alliance.

KING: The Iraq War is the biggest, but not the only source of anti-Bush sentiment across much of Europe.

WOLFGANG ISCHINGER, GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: Some of it has to do with style. Europeans, Germans, and others may have some difficulty with this open, frank manner.

KING: How these differences are conveyed can be remarkably personal, portrayed as an aid in Britain's guardian newspaper.

Elsewhere in Europe, flipping a coin before marching or dancing off to the next war. Or in this German cartoon as a biblical figure and on reshaping the world.

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: We've got to stop scapegoating George Bush as a person. They got to deal with America. He's the president of the United States. He's been re-elected. His policies reflect more or less the will of a majority of the American people. And the Europeans have to deal with that.

KING: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was well received on her recent trip to Europe. And in Germany, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld tried humor to move past his controversial labeling of Iraq War critics as old Europe.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SEC. OF DEFENSE: Oh, that was old Rumsfeld.

KING: Now Mr. Bush takes his turn. One goal in Europe, narrowing the policy divide. The other, recasting or at least softening his image.

John King, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And listen to this. Tapes from the past are giving us surprising glimpses of a would-be future President George Bush. "The New York Times" says the tapes came from Doug Weed, an old family friend of George W. Bush. The paper says Weed secretly recorded some of their private talks when Mr. Bush was the governor of Texas.

Now according to the tape, then Governor Bush appears to have acknowledged trying marijuana in the past. He reportedly says, "I wouldn't answer the marijuana questions. You know why? Because I don't want some little kid doing what I tried."

He also reportedly says "Baby boomers have got to grow up and say, yeah, I may have done drugs, but instead of admitting it, say to kids, don't do them."

Now in the next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING, learn what the president reportedly said about gays in America.

NGUYEN: Very interesting there. All right, well, one of the president's big domestic pushes is Social Security. It is our hot issue this morning. President Bush says he is trying to save the program.

Now some Democrats say he's trying to destroy it. Both sides are using crisis language in their sales pitches. But is there really a Social Security crisis?

CNN's Alan Chernoff looks at the facts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a sound byte society...

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The system will be bankrupt.

CHERNOFF: A political hot potato like Social Security...

SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D), CALIFORNIA: He wants to destroy it. He wants to change it.

CHERNOFF: ...is handled one way. It is thrown as a verbal hard ball.

BUSH: I want you to think about a Social Security system that will be flat bust.

CHERNOFF: Social Security is facing trouble, but probably not for a long time. It'll be running a surplus for another 13 years, according to the Social Security administration's forecasters. And they say the system can keep paying full benefits for 37 years before there would be any cuts.

But the president knows he has to sell his plan. Mr. Bush even concedes there's got to be a sense of urgency to get the nation's attention.

BUSH: In the halls of Congress, if people do not believe we have a problem, nothing's going to happen.

CHERNOFF: Democratic opponents are using their own urgent appeals to protect the current system.

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: We want to keep it close to what it is as possible, and not come up with a scheme that results in retirement roulette and greater social insecurity.

SEN. JON CORZINE (D), NEW JERSEY: We're not going bankrupt in Social Security. This is a problem. It's not a crisis.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Both sides are animated by real principles here. And they're doing whatever they can, using whatever language they can, pricking whatever emotions they can to try and get people to support their point of view.

CHERNOFF: It is a public relations battle across the political aisle.

SEN. CHARLES GRASSLEY (R), IOWA: Unless we do something about it, my children and grandchildren are going to be out in the cold.

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MINORITY LEADER: It's wrong to replace the guaranteed benefit that Americans have earned with a guaranteed benefit cut of up to 40 percent.

CHERNOFF (on camera): Actually, nothing is guaranteed yet. There isn't even legislation on the table. The only assurance, more verbal jousting because the best sales job may very well determine the future of Social Security.

Alan Chernoff, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Well, here's our question this morning. Are the Vikings, the Minnesota Vikings.

NGUYEN: Yes.

HARRIS: We're talking football.

NGUYEN: Yes, we are.

HARRIS: About to make a football history. An inside scoop when we take you beyond the game with our sports guru Rick Horrow.

NGUYEN: You're being nice to him, aren't you? Well, plus, what do you expect when you go to the movies? Is it those previews? What about those ads? Are you really expecting to see the movie itself? Well, one state is starting to weigh on the issue.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Avril Lavigne for you this morning. Hey, but first, the future of America's Social Security program and how you see it.

HARRIS: Now we're looking at the issue all morning long on CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Here's what some of you say about the issue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I already am receiving Social Security. I started receiving money at 62-years of age. I'm retired military. And so, I have a pension, but this amounts to about $1200 in my pocket once a month. And I look forward to it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it's certainly wouldn't be for somebody who didn't have the opportunities I've had in spending 30 years in the military and earning that pension.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: And speaking of Social Security is the topic of our e- mail question this morning. Here it is. Does the Social Security system need to be fixed? Tell us what you think. E-mail us at wam@cnn.com. We'll read those replies throughout the program.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HARRIS: Yes, yes, yes, it never rains in southern California.

NGUYEN: Right.

HARRIS: Well, what is this? What is -- this is -- well, this is the result of patchwork, a powerful storms, that struck with -- look at this. Thunder and hail, two tornadoes yesterday. What is the deal here? Thousands are still without power, traffic accidents, injuries have been reported. And the rains have raised the fear of mudslides. More rain expected today.

NGUYEN: OK, why do they have to show video of the toilet on that -- why, why?

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well, in news across America today, the most heavily armed spy submarine ever built. It's enough to make a president proud. In Connecticut yesterday, the Navy added the U.S.S. Jimmy Carter to its fleet. The more than $3 billion (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is the first to be named after a living ex-president.

Carter is the only president to have served on a submarine. And among the jobs for the 12,000 ton boat, surveillance missions.

And speaking of missions, one of New York City's politicians has won to make movies start on time.

HARRIS: Good, good.

NGUYEN: I know, it bothers me. Although I get to go to movies a little bit late, because I know it's not going to start on time. A councilwoman wants theaters to list the actual time a movie will start, not the time the previews and ads begin, which could be, what, 10, 15 minutes before the actual movie starts.

HARRIS: Right.

NGUYEN: She introduced a bill in the city council. And theater owners say this attempt to not waste people's time is itself a waste of time.

Well, apparently this face that you see right here could not tell a lie. Ricky Lee Lacom was let out of prison in Ohio on Tuesday. Now the problem is Ohio should have sent him to Colorado to serve out a robbery sentence there. Well, officials apparently forgot about that, but no, not Ricky. Once out, he called. He actually called the Ohio Jail, said he should be doing time in Colorado. And get this, Tony, he even arranged his trip back to the slammer himself. Now that's an honest man.

And speaking of curious plots, Cruella Deville and her clan are plotting to run amuck in Yellowstone Park. Well, actually, it's just a Disney plan to do business there. A company is thinking about opening theme parks in Yellowstone and in Hawaii. Disney says they'd offer weeklong tours through Wyoming and Hawaii. One of the tours is appropriately titled Quest for the West.

HARRIS: And still to come, it's a first for the NFL. The league is close to getting its first black team owner. After the break, our sports analyst Rick Horrow goes beyond the game for a closer look at this historic deal.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REGGIE FOWLER: We spent the last 10 months just getting to this day.

HARRIS (voice-over): Some would say it has been more than eight decades getting to this day. If the sale of the Minnesota Vikings to Arizona businessman Reggie Fowler is officially approved by the National Football League owners, Fowler will become the first African- American to own an NFL team.

FOWLER: I think it's a great thing. You know, I'm happy that I'm black. James Brown says say it loud. I'm black and I'm proud. You know, that doesn't really play a big part to me. You know, I just happen to be black.

HARRIS: Approval could still be three to 10 weeks away. It could be history in the making. This morning, as we take you beyond the game.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: So the next step in this historic process is for the owners to approve the deal. Yesterday, we talked about that with one of the highest ranking African-Americans in football, the chief administrative officer with the Atlanta Falcons, Ray Anderson and our own CNN Sports business analyst Rick Horrow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Hey, Rick, I got to ask you, what makes an NFL franchise such a hot commodity right now? Seemingly hotter than any other sports franchise out there?

RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, here's the deal. The NFL has what the NHL wants, by the way. That's why they went to war and closed the season in hockey. They have...

HARRIS: For the cap, yes.

HORROW: They have salary cap. And they also have revenue sharing at 85 percent of the revenues are shared. So the bottom line is $17 billion of TV dollars and also the ticket dollars are shared among the teams.

The cap, that two-thirds of the money, is given to the players. That's why each team had a $40 million cap a decade ago. Now it's about $85. And it adds up to franchise values. 19, 20, Chicago Bears bought for $100.

HARRIS: Oh, my goodness.

HORROW: According to "Forbes" Magazine recently, the franchises like Washington and Philadelphia, New York are about $1 billion, even though small market franchises like Jacksonville and Green Bay and Kansas City, they're at about $600 million. And the average franchise about $630 million. 20 percent increase over last year.

Now the Vikings were set at about $542 million. And Reggie Fowler was said to buy it for about $625.

So now let's talk about the Vikings. And of course, we have Ray Anderson.

HARRIS: Yes.

HORROW: An old man. You know, we went to Harvard Law School 25 years ago together. And so, you're the guy. Big deal in the NFL. So let's ask you why it's taken so long for an African-American to get into that position.

RAY ANDERSON, FALCONS CHIEF ADMIN. OFFICER: Well, it's about opportunity. You know, there are 32 clubs. You know, this business...

HARRIS: It's not a big pie.

ANDERSON: It's not a big pie.

HARRIS: Right.

ANDERSON: This business like any others has to change with time and with exposure to different types of peoples and different types of demographics. So it's just a function of where we are and who we are.

HARRIS: Is there any evidence to suggest that blacks have been kept out, have been excluded, locked out of this process of ownership?

ANDERSON: None that I'm personally aware of.

HARRIS: Yes.

ANDERSON: You know, there's 32 owners. Not more than 32 people get in those rooms, but I'd like to believe that there hasn't been an intentional process, but in my view, as the world gets bigger, the business has gotten bigger. Perhaps size or a little more open.

HARRIS: Yes.

ANDERSON: Since those 32.

HARRIS: Yes. Got to ask you, Rick, are the challenges any different? I can't imagine that they are, but something tells me that maybe they are. Are the challenges any different for blacks trying to get into ownership, and in the case of Fowler, maybe even actually owning a team?

HORROW: Well, it requires access to capital.

HARRIS: Yes.

HORROW: Like anything else. But the challenge from the NFL perspective is as it has been. We talked about it last month at the Super Bowl. It's expanding the demographic base. You know, the NFL is 83 percent white fan wise. We talked about promoting for women. We talked about promoting internationally. 230 countries. And minorities is no different.

So the NFL has to keep its eye on the ball and make sure it continues to be as diverse as it's trying to get it.

HARRIS: Ray, what's the bottom line on Fowler's bid? Is it just dollars and cents? Does he have the money?

ANDERSON: Well, his people and he indicates that he -- they do. I'd like to think that Red Macones wouldn't get this far down the road with Mr. Fowler if he didn't believe the financing was in place.

But at the end of the day, it is going to come to the finances.

HARRIS: And Rick, he's going to need a stadium there in Minnesota soon, won't he?

HORROW: Yes, he will. And of course, the NFL has done 23 stadiums at $7 billion. There are challenges that remain in New Orleans and New York and a few other places. And of course, Minnesota is always front and center on that list. And it'll be interesting to see how that shakes out.

HARRIS: But I do -- maybe I'll ask you this, Rick. I do want to come back to this question of access to these teams. It does seem to me that it's been easier for blacks to be owners of NBA teams or even minority partners in the ownership of NBA teams, than it has been for NFL teams. In your experience, are there any issues out there that have held minorities back? Or is it just money?

HORROW: Well, hey, it's an Anderson question, too, as far as the NFL is concerned. But it is access to capital. You know...

HARRIS: Yes.

HORROW: ...Bob Johnson, BET, spent $300 million on the Charlotte Bobcats. So he had those dollars. If you like a team and you want to buy one, an NFL team, there's a darn good investment, but you got to be prepared to pay $500 million to $1 billion. And you know, Ray ought to answer the part about access to capital.

HARRIS: Yes. And I've got to ask you, Ray, Mr. Fowler seems to have been under the radar. There are a number of other people who seem to have been in line to get a team or at least to make a bid on a team. What do we know about this guy? Where did he come from? Am I right in suggesting he seems to have come in under the radar on this? ANDERSON: Well, indeed he has come in under the radar. Apparently he's been making this effort for some months now.

HARRIS: Sure.

ANDERSON: And a lot of -- and not a lot publicly is known about him. But that may have been part of his strategy.

HARRIS: Yes.

ANDERSON: Tony, and that's just to be seen. But with regard to Rick's point, it is about access to capital. And the price tags in the NFL certainly are way up there. Certainly in comparison to basketball. So access to capital is the primary point.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: The deal between Reggie Fowler and the Minnesota Vikings is far from final. Fowler still needs approval from three-fourths of the NFL owners. The entire process is expected to last anywhere from three to 10 weeks.

NGUYEN: Well from one sport to another, hunters in Britain have their sights set on a new law. And they don't like what they see. In our going global segment, we'll tell you how some of them are testing the legal limits.

Also, are you getting the straight facts about Social Security? You might not be. A CNN fact check. That's later this hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: U.S. and Japan urged North Korea to return to six party talks. We'll see how far that goes. Welcome back everyone to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Tony Harris.

NGUYEN: And good morning, I'm Betty Nguyen. We'll have that story in just a moment. But first, here's a look at what's making news this morning.

More fence mending overseas. President Bush is heading to Europe at this hour, kicking off a week long trip. He'll visit Belgium, Germany, and the Slavic Republic. The president is sounding a note of unity and trying to drown out divisions over Iraq.

Also, Israel's cabinet is holding a crucial meeting at this hour. It is voting on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's controversial plan to pull out of Gaza and parts of the West Bank. The plan is expected to pass despite opposition from hard line ministers and protests by Jewish settlers.

Well, his voice was clear. And he seemed to be in good form. Pope John Paul II read his Sunday blessing at the Vatican this morning to the cheers of worshipers you see here. It is the pope's second appearance at St. Peters Square since being released from the hospital 10 days ago. Time now to check out some of the other stories making news all around the world today.

HARRIS: And as usual, let's go to Anand Naidoo at the international desk.

Anand, good morning.

ANAND NAIDOO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you from the international desk. A lot to tell you about. We begin in Washington. There's been new efforts underway to undo the nuclear log jam in North Korea.

Japanese foreign minister was in the nation's capital. He's been meeting top administration officials after talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Both sides are urging Pyongyang to get back to the all party negotiating table.

North Korea has claimed -- it claimed a few weeks ago, that it has nuclear weapons and said that it was pulling out of the all party talks.

Disaster in Bangladesh. At least 50 people dead, 130 missing after a ferry boat capsizes near the capital Dakar. And that figure -- 50 dead, 130 missing is going up by the hour. So we'll keep tabs on that and keep you posted.

Officials estimate there were 260 people on board that boat, although it was only designed to carry 160. 500 people died in a similar accident last July.

Now to Britain and a new law there, banning fox hunts is stirring up some emotions. In fact, that law came into effect this weekend. It didn't stop tens of thousands of people from attending fox hunts across England and Wales. Police made at least four arrests. The new law is a little murky. Not all hunts are banned. Some forms of hunting are still allowed.

Experts are saying that what happened this weekend was people actually testing the limits of this law and seeing how far they could go. We shall see.

That's all for me. Back to Tony and Betty.

NGUYEN: Yes, people always have to test those limits, Anand. We'll be checking back with you. Thank you.

Well, we do have a story out of Iraq this morning that may make you feel pretty good and could spring you into action. Here's Bob Martin of affiliate KRQE of Operation Iraqi Children.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB MARTIN, KRQE NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For troops in Iraq even humanitarian missions like this one are dangerous. Convoys have been attacked. Soldiers have died. Despite the hazards, troops like Mary Prophit, a reservist and library assistant from Glenoma, Washington are delivering school supplies sent from young students in America. It's called Operation Iraqi Children.

MAJ. MARY PROPHIT, U.S. ARMY: Now the children in America wanted to give you presents to help you with your studies.

And all the kids in America want to say hi to you.

MARTIN: Operation Iraqi Children was created by CSI New York's Gary Sinise after he came here and saw soldiers trying to fill a critical need for supplies.

GARY SINISE, OPERATION IRAQI CHILDREN: I saw a lot of goodwill there between the Iraqis and the soldiers. And I wanted to try and support that in some way. So I went to the principle of my own children's school and said let's do a drive for school supplies. And out of that, I was able to connect with Lori Hilenbrand, who wrote "Sea Biscuit" and "American Legend." She had a small project of her own. And we joined forces.

MARTIN: Through Operationiraqichildren.org, American students put together special packages of supplies. In less than a year, more than 100,000 packages have been shipped. FedEx carries them overseas to volunteers in Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With all the other organizations that have gone away from Iraq, we're trying to make the difference.

MARTIN: Founders hope the program is changing some impressions in Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The American soldier would be viewed as not just a warrior, not just somebody carrying a gun, but also a messenger of friendship and goodwill.

MARTIN: Students are grateful for the supplies, anxious to achieve.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I study to learn, to be an educated person.

MARTIN: American GIs and kids, any war, the same result.

Bob Martin for CNN, Mosul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Do you see their faces? All their smiles? How they lit up when they got those supplies?

HARRIS: It's our favorite picture. Soldiers giving the kids (UNINTELLIGIBLE.)

Boy, we could use some of those supplies around here. Can't find a pen around here. NGUYEN: It is hard. I'm holding onto this.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: Got my name on it.

HARRIS: And we had to ask you this morning. How safe are you feeling when you fly? Some airlines are now outsourcing repair work? Is this the safest way to go? At least one airline official warns of possible tragic consequences. It's a story you'll see only on CNN. Tune in tonight for this special investigation on CNN SUNDAY NIGHT at a new time, 11:00 p.m.

And beginning tomorrow, our sister network CNN Headline News is unveiling its new prime-time line-up. You heard about this?

NGUYEN: I've heard about it.

HARRIS: But we're getting a sneak preview on CNN tonight at 7:00 p.m. "Showbiz Tonight" debuts in award winning style from the East coast to the West. Karen Bryan and A.J. Hammer take you behind the scenes of the Academy Awards. If it happens today, it's on "Showbiz Tonight."

Then at 8:00, she is doing justice to legal news. Nancy Grace from prominent trials to possible wrongful convictions. Former prosecutor Nancy Grace takes on the legal issues of the day, always live and always unscripted.

NGUYEN: Well, millionaire Steve Fossett is at it once again, trying to break another record, of course. Find out what he is up to this time. That's next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

Plus, we want to say a big good morning to Daytona Beach. Oh, look at this sun this morning. What a beautiful picture. Bright weekend weather for you. We'll have the forecast coming up, as well as for the rest of the nation. That's in about 15 minutes.

HARRIS: And our e-mail question this morning is does the Social Security system need to be fixed? E-mail us at wam@cnn.com. We'll read your replies throughout the program.

And now it's time for a CNN fact check on Social Security. The question, are the personal retirement accounts that President Bush is proposing guaranteed? In his state of the union speech, Mr. Bush claimed, "Your money will grow, over time, at a greater rate than anything the current system can deliver -- and your account will provide money for retirement over and above the check you will receive from Social Security."

But according to our own CNN fact check, the president and vice president incorrectly suggest that personal retirement accounts are guaranteed to provide greater returns than the current system. There is no guarantee that a worker will always receive a higher return on his or her investment with a personal retirement account than under the current system. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In all honesty, I'm not really counting on it at all. Luckily, I'm young enough so that I have my whole life ahead of me to make sure I invest property and set aside, you know, my own retirement, but with the state of Social Security as it is now, I just -- I don't think it'll be solved by the time that I would come into retirement. So I'm not counting on it at all.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm concerned about Social Security for my retirement. And I'm all for the president's plan to partially privatize our funds.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not counting on it at all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: OK, circling the world in 80 hours, piloting a solo plane, and making no stops? If there's a man for the job, it is millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett.

His latest launch is an attempt to break yet another aviation record. The dot-com desk Christina Park is here to explain his latest exploration.

This guy's always up to something.

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes. I'm so excited about this story. We have to stay tuned. More than 100 years since the Wright Brothers first power flight. Mankind is still breaking records in the sky and boldly going where no one has gone before. CNN.com was along for the ride as a retired investor tries to pilot an airplane alone, non-stop around the world for the first time.

That's right, millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett has set records in five different sports already, including sailing and ballooning. This time, you'll take the Virgin Atlanta Global Flyer around the globe. You'll have to log onto cnn.com/tech to track his route from country to country. He's starting in Salina, Kansas, though. While you're there, click on over for a tutorial on one of the coolest planes you'll ever get to see. And don't forget to check in on the all important record that Fossett hopes to set.

He must log some 23,000 miles to make his goal. And he needs to fly fast before delirium sets in, because see, buddy, Fossett will have to forego sleep for at least three days.

NGUYEN: Eighty hours.

PARK: Yes, he'll just have some 10 to 15 minute cat naps.

And to help keep him awake, Fossett will be in contact with flight controllers. He'll also have a text messaging system, as well as a satellite phone. But to cheer him on and check his route, log on to cnn.com/tech. Now Betty, he's also the first solo balloonist to circle the globe.

NGUYEN: Right.

PARK: Without stopping in 2002. And he also set tons of records otherwise.

NGUYEN: OK, 80 hours, no sleep.

PARK: Yes.

NGUYEN: And he has text messaging. Great.

PARK: Yes, I want to know where he goes to the restroom.

NGUYEN: You know what? That's a whole another segment. Yes, no stops on that flight, too.

PARK: Oh, yes.

NGUYEN: Christina Park, thank you.

PARK: Thanks, Betty.

HARRIS: And checking our top stories. President Bush and the First Lady left just moments ago. You saw it here live on CNN to begin their five day European trip. The president is mindful he ruffled some feathers over his Iraq policy. And now is trying to mend some fences he wants to garner European support for his plan to rebuild Iraq and shape Middle East politics.

A critical vote in Israel today. The cabinet is expected to give the go ahead to withdraw Jewish settlers from Gaza and part of the West Bank. It will also approve new roots for the West Bank separation barrier.

Powerful storms unleashed thunder, hail, and tornadoes in southern California. The storm snapped trees, knocked out power, and triggered plenty of flooding.

And coming up right after the break, he may look like an ordinary patrolman, but this man wears many hats. Force trainer, sniper, hero. Find out the story behind that last one when CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues.

NGUYEN: Though a CNN extra, your favorite pointy grooming tools are about to be confiscated at the airport security checkpoint. But instead of losing them forever, you now have the option of mailing them home instead. A Texas based company is setting up automated mailing kiosks in major international airports. So far, kiosks are installed in four airports, but more are expected by the end of the year.

According to the Transportation Security Administration, more than half a million items are confiscated from passengers in the U.S. each month.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Esprit de Corps, French expression meaning a common spirit of enthusiasm and devotion to a cause. What better way to define the man in our next story. A hero for whom duty, honor, and service are not just words.

Here's CNN's Casey Wian.

BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's 5:30 A.M., and Orange County sheriff deputy Scott Montoya is finishing the 12-hour patrol shift.

SCOTT MONTOYA: Today's my last day of training so -- thank you for all your time and patients.

WIAN: It's taken Montoya 15 years to win promotion to patrolman because of his other job, a Marine Corps sniper.

MONTOYA: I joined the Marine Corps for the esprit du corps, what they call it in Orange County Sheriff's Academy. They would walk up to each other and kind of look at each other and kind of see the bad haircut and look at each other like, hey, Marine, you a Marine? Immediately they would be best friends.

WIAN: At dawn, Montoya wears a different hat.

MONTOYA: I come out here every day to look at him. It's kind of like my therapy.

WIAN: His easy calm with his horses reveals a different side of a man who's a martial arts expert and war hero.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant Scott C. Montoya.

WIAN: On April 8, 2003, the Marines were in a street fight outside Baghdad. Under a barrage of gunfire, Montoya rescued an injured Iraqi civilian, then returned to the middle of the street 5 times to rescue wounded Marines.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire and utmost devotion to duty, Sergeant Montoya reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

WIAN: Montoya is humble.

MONTOYA: The scripture in the Bible says no greater love hath no man than a man who lays down his life for his friends. And I believe that in my heart. Is that I would have done it. I never met the Marine before that day, and I haven't seen him since that day. All those Marines helped out. I never even shook their hands again. But you know what, I would do it all again. I would do it all again.

WIAN: Montoya plans to remain in the Marine Corps and move on to a leadership role in the sheriff's department. Casey Wian, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Wow. We bring you hero stories every week on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: Always look forward to that segment.

Well, here's a question for you today. Does Social Security need to be fixed? That is our e-mail question this morning. We want to hear what you think about it. We're at wam@cnn.com. And we'll read those responses throughout the morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: A little Herbie Hancock for you. You know, that young stuff at Avril Lavigne. I'm the old...

NGUYEN: You're into the old school music. All right. I know Herbie Hancock.

HARRIS: Good morning, Boston. It's called Symphony Hall, but tonight, it's all about the jazz. Jazz giants Herbie Hancock and Michael Brecker of the Brecker Brothers and Roy Hardgrove are on tap to perform some of the best known work on Miles Davis and John Cole Train.

NGUYEN: That is a show. Well, you know, who put on a show a little bit earlier?

HARRIS: Who was that?

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: A question today. Our e-mail question of the morning is what do you think about Social Security? Does the system need to be fixed, overhauled?

Here's one from Elisa. "I am a 42-year old Democrat. However, this is the one thing I agree on with President Bush. We need to see privatization of some of the social security withholding. The sooner we bite the bullet, the less it will cost Americans."

NGUYEN: And Rob says, "Yes, Social Security needs to be fixed. The President's proposal does not fix Social Security; indeed it makes the problem worse. The system can pay full benefits for the next thirty-seven years. Let's fix the system to make full benefits permanent and not take even more money from the system to set up government run 'private accounts.'"

And we invite you to continue sending thoughts in to wam@cnn.com.

HARRIS: To get this big train rolling down the track.

The next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING begins right now.

NGUYEN: So as we roll along, from the CNN Center this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Good morning, Tony. How are you?

HARRIS: Good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: It's 8 a.m. here at the CNN headquarters in Atlanta, an early 5 a.m. out there on the West Coast. Good morning everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris, thanks for being with us.

Now in the news. President Bush is on his way overseas to begin a three nation tour of Europe. First stop is Brussels and a NATO summit. The president will try to shore up the Atlantic Alliance meeting during the next five days with nearly every major head of state on the continent.

Israel's cabinet is moving to approve Prime Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Among the most controversial parts of the plan, are those that call for dismantling some Jewish settlements.

Five Marines are on suspension, another on administrative duty after recruit Jason Tharp drowned February 8th in a training pool at Paris Island, South Carolina.

Now video recorded by CNN affiliate WIS on the day before the drowning shows a drill instructor grabbing Tharp and pushing him. The Marine Corps says Tharp drowned because of complications in the water.

The rain just keeps coming. A major storm is leaving a mess in parts of Southern California. Yesterday the storm spun off at least two tornadoes. It broke windows, knocked down trees and power lines. More rain is possible for most of the week.

NGUYEN: Who says it doesn't rain in Southern California.

Well, straight ahead here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, reforming Social Security and what does it mean for you. We'll do a fact check about your Social Security check.

Also a very special war memorial built by young hands. Some youngsters learned the hard lessons of war.

And in our "Faces of Faith," our Sunday morning look at religious issues. We will show you one man's mission to make the Bible a bit more hip.

HARRIS: President Bush is off to Europe on a fence mending mission that will take him to three countries in the next five days. The German chancellor and the presidents of France and Russia are among the leaders the president will need.

More on his trip now from CNN's Dana Bash in Washington. Good morning, Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony. And the president within the past 15 minutes or so -- and this, of course, is the president's first trip abroad of his second term and one he said over and over this week he hopes will underscore the common goals and interests of the U.S. and Europe, not the major differences that really define the first Bush term.

Now the president is not only going to talk about Iraq, of course, with these world leaders, but also growing U.S. pressure on Iran to stop its alleged nuclear program.

Now for many Europeans that sounds like deja vu. In fact, one European interviewer said this week that 70 percent of its people are convinced that the president intends to attack Iran. Not so, said Mr. Bush.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: First of all, you never want a president to say never. But military action is certainly not, you know, it's never the president's first choice. Diplomacy is always the president's first -- at least my first choice. And we got a common goal and that is that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now the president is going to three countries in Europe. But along the way he will meet with virtually every major European leader. In Brussels, for example, he will meet with French President Jacques Chirac, where the president will ask for French help in trying to pressure Syria to get its troops out of Lebanon. And, according tot he president, to stop supporting terrorism.

But the meeting likely to be most scrutinized will be at the end of the week with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Now since the president called Mr. Putin a dear friend nearly four years ago, the Russian leaders has done away with many of the basic checks and balances of democracy. Like, for example, taking over TV stations in Russia.

Now a month after Mr. Bush linked freedoms in these countries, countries around the world to strong relations to the United States in his inaugural address, the question is how publicly critical he will be, Mr. Putin, Tony.

HARRIS: Very interesting. We'll watch, wait and see. Dana Bash in Washington. Dana, good to see you. Thank you.

NGUYEN: Most European leaders seem ready to meet President Bush halfway despite different approaches to problems with Iran's nuclear program.

Now leaders of the European Union have been negotiating with the Iranians and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the U.S. also favors diplomacy.

While Rice says military action against Iran is not quote, "on the agenda," it is a concern.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VICTOR BULMER THOMAS, ROYAL INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL AFFAIRS: Strikes on specific targets and in particular, nuclear or potential nuclear weapons sites yes, that's a real fear in Europe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: The United States and France are finally on the same page on one issue, Syrian troops in Lebanon. President Bush wants them out, and so does President Jacques Chirac.

HARRIS: Secret tapes reportedly give a glimpse into George W. Bush's political strategy when he was considering a run for the presidency. The "New York Times" reports Doug Wead, an author and Bush friend, recorded private conversations with then Governor Bush.

On one tape "The Times" reports Bush explains that he told a prominent evangelical that he would not quote, "Kick gays because I'm a sinner. How can I differentiate sin." In the next hour we'll tell you what the tapes reveal Bush said about faith.

NGUYEN: On to the president's father. He and former President Clinton are touring tsunami damage in Indonesia's Aceh province. Both say they were surprised by the scope of the scope of the damage. Something they say you cannot appreciate from television pictures.

More than 121,000 people died in Indonesia alone. The former president's who are leading a private U.S. relief effort later went to Sri Lanka. They plan to visit the Maldives tomorrow.

And former Presidents Clinton and Bush will be guests today on CNN's "LATE EDITION" with Wolf Blitzer. You can catch that beginning at noon Eastern.

HARRIS: Construction paper, paint and young hands all of those went into building a very special war memorial. But this memorial isn't at a military base or a battlefield. It's at a Maryland middle school. Our Pentagon correspondent Kathleen Koch has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was not your typical art assignment to paint portraits of U.S. service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thirteen year old Carlin Thomas chose Private Leslie Jackson of Richmond, Virginia, killed in Baghdad by a roadside bomb.

CARLIN THOMAS, STUDENT: I had to paint for a graduation picture. She -- there were no other pictures. She was just 18.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have nearly every name typed, as far as I know.

KOCH: But the 40 students in Linda McCaunehey's (ph) art class at Hartfield Middle School couldn't bear to leave anyone out. So they decided to research and display the names, home towns and cause of death of the more than 1,600 service members who died in both wars.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's kind of hard because like, you know, that could be you in just a couple of years.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And it has become much more real to them, and what they're seeing are the names have made a big impact on them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've seen so many names on the wall.

KOCH: Mike Adle came to see the portrait of his youngest son, Patrick, just 21 when he died near Baghdad.

MIKE ADLE, FATHER OF FALLEN MARINE: That's him. He's got a big smile. It's a fun thing that everybody remembers about Patrick is his smile.

KOCH: This first visit by a parent was not easy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn't really know what to say because I don't -- what do you say to someone who has just been hurt so much.

KOCH: So she offered him the painting.

ADLE: I would love to have it. It would be great. It would be an honor. You did a wonderful job.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. I'm sorry for your loss.

ADLE: Thank you.

KOCH: For Antonia Vega, the project reminded her of the risks her father took serving in Afghanistan.

ANTONIA VEGA, STUDENT: He always told me that he loved, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), funny. Working on this project is really quite moving. These people died for their country and I'm just grateful that it wasn't my dad.

KOCH (on camera): This powerful display has impacted students emotions and opinions. Many who once supported the Iraq war have changed their minds.

(voice-over): But believe, as family members do, their individual sacrifice was honorable.

ADLE: When you look at all the names up and down these hallways each and every one of them believed in what they were doing 100 percent. They gave it their all.

JENNIFER BATES, STUDENT: I think it's a risk that sometimes you just have to take to help others. But maybe one day like we can find a better way to solve these problems without war.

Kathleen Koch, CNN, Hartfield, Maryland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: I'll second that.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. And just seeing all of the names laid out like that really kinds of brings it home for you.

HARRIS: Actually I know that school, growing up in Baltimore. I know that school very well and I'm not surprised they...

NGUYEN: Good kids there.

HARRIS: Yes, very good. All right moving forward. As the Bush administration considers a major restructuring of Social Security, we want to hear what you think about the situation.

Our e-mail question. Does the Social Security system need to be fixed? Send your comments to wan@cnn.com. We'll read some of then a little later in the show.

NGUYEN: Also ahead the word on the street about God. In our "Faces of Faith," you'll hear one man's interpretation of the Bible with a little street credibility.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nothing like a little Willie Nelson to get you going. Daytona Beach, gentlemen start your engines. Daytona 500 this afternoon and looks like it's going to be some nice weather.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: We'll be back with the full forecast. CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Let's take a look at this. These colorful images came from a very creative pair of brothers. Comic book characters inspired by a boy's life with Type I diabetes. The creators of Omega Boy live next hour, 9 a.m. Eastern right here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Let's talk about some horse power, shall we? Good morning, Daytona Beach. Get your engines running. NASCAR season kicks off with Daytona 500. We'll have your complete weather forecast. That is straight ahead.

HARRIS: Weather, it is a much different scene in rain soaked southern California. There's water, water everywhere and more on the way. the rains expected to keep falling today. A weekend storm has already caused flooding and the threat of mud slides. Home are flooded in Long Beach, where some people had to evacuate. The region has been just drenched by nearly three times the average rainfall of the season, three times the average.

NGUYEN: My goodness. Not only that, but I've heard some part of it, LA, Rob, got some hail yesterday. Is that true?

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Time now to check out our top stories this Sunday morning. President Bush is on his way to Europe for a week long fence mending mission. He is visiting Belgium, Germany and the Slavic Republic. The president is hoping to put to rest deep divisions over the Iraq war.

Also, the Israeli cabinet is meeting at this hour in historic session. Ministers are voting on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to pull out of Gaza and parts of the West Bank. It is expected to pass.

And in South Carolina more fallout over the drowning of a Marine recruit. Five Marines have been suspended and another put on administrative duty as a military probe continues. Nineteen year old Jason Tharp, drowned in a training pool at the Paris Island base.

HARRIS: Fewer thees and thous and more you and me, that's the goal of author Rob Lacey, who we feather in our Faces of Faith this morning. Lacey is the author of "The Word on the Street," which he calls an informal interpretation of the Bible.

Lacey translates parts of the Bible into everyday English. And as we found out, he is a man on a mission.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll make you king of Israel. I'll keep Saul off your back, I'll give you this palace, I'll give you wives, I'll give you the whole country and if you wanted more I'll give you more.

RON LACEY, AUTHOR: I didn't start by thinking -- waking up one morning and thinking, oh, what can I do today.

HARRIS: OK.

LACEY: I'll rewrite the Bible. You know, it wasn't -- it didn't happen like that. It basically was in my own personal times of studying the Bible, trying to get a hang of it, trying to help it to affect my life.

HARRIS: OK.

I realized that because I've been brought up in church and because I knew it really well and because I've been a Christian, more or less, all of my life, since about seven, I realized it had gone stale on me.

And as a creative writer, as a performance poet, as actor it was just the most natural thing in the world to say, OK, I will try and put my own life into it. I will try and put my own language into it. And the second I started to do that of course it comes to light. It started speaking to me again in my language.

I volunteered to be a martyr but my love plan dead and I'm a waste of space. What is love any way?

HARRIS: We'll give folks a couple of examples and let them judge for themselves. For example, the Lord's prayer, our father who art in heaven. In your book it's God in heaven hey, you're out dad. That's an example, right?

LACEY: Yes, exactly. And it's just trying to bring it alive, trying to make it vivid. There's an amazing contrast. God is in heaven, you're our dad. That's huge. And sometimes we're so familiar with the words, our father who art in heaven, we reel it off like it's a script and it doesn't mean anything to us any more.

So I just want to bring a bit of oomph into it and give it some light again.

HARRIS: OK, Rob, another example here. From Revelation 1-7, behold he is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him. In your book that reads, look up. Is it a bird, is it a plane, is it a computer game gone 3-D? No, it's him surfing the clouds full orbit so everyone can see, hello.

LACEY: I love the way you perform it. It is designed to come off the page to make it performable again, to bring it out. Not just to be black and white on the page, but to be embodied in somebody's books.

HARRIS: Rob, Rob, Rob, Rob stop right there. Because people are going to say you know what, this is sacrilegious. What is he doing? Has he lost his mind?

LACEY: Downloading some love. Simply restoring heaven on earth. Sending death to the recycle bin.

Some people will say that and I do hear that. And for, you know, basically I don't want to upset anybody. But I would rather upset a few who are very happy with perhaps the King James, which incidentally I love. I still read the King James. I was brought up on the King James, but I know how to speak that language.

HARRIS: Yes.

LACEY: I know what that means. Now why -- my passion is why should we ask people who are not into it, who have not bought into it to learn a second language in order to get the Bible. That's my thing.

HARRIS: All right, and Rob...

LACEY: What I want to do is give it to them in their language so that they can understand it and they can make their own decisions. (END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Again, Rob Lacey's book is "The Word On the Street." It was named book of the year in the United Kingdom last year by Christian booksellers.

And straight ahead, privatizing Social Security. Is the system really headed toward bankruptcy. Stay with us for a fact check and your e-mail comments

NGUYEN: Plus at the bottom of the hour on "HOUSE CALL" our Dr. Sanjay Gupta looks at drug safety and tries to answer the question, what can you take for your pain. That's at 8:30 eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: All right. The future of America's Social Security program. It is a hot topic all across the country as the president pushes for reform.

HARRIS: Well, we're looking at the issue all morning long on CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Here's what some of you say about the future of Social Security.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very small amount. We're doing outside planning for our retirement. We don't think Social Security will be able to help us that much.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not really counting on it to be a whole part of my retirement. I'm investing now already, putting money away on my own. It would be nice to get some of it, but I'm not counting on that as paying all of my bills when I retire.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Well, time now for a Social Security fact check. In his State of Union speech President Bush said by the year 2042 the entire system would be exhausted and bankrupt.

According to our CNN fact check it is true that the Social Security trust fund likely will be depleted either in 2042, according to the Social Security trustees report or in 2052, according to the Congressional Budget Office, but most of the benefits owed at that point can continue to be paid through payroll tax revenue.

The trustees report says that the system will pay 73 percent of the benefits owed once the trust fund is depleted in 2042 and 68 percent starting in the year 2075.

Now aside from its survival some African Americans worry that revamping Social Security would hurt them more than it would whites. The leader of the NAACP calls Mr. Bush's plans quote, "Extremely dangerous for Blacks." Saying twice as many black couples rely on Social Security than white couples. President said instead that blacks would benefit under his plans. The Civil Rights groups wants to meet with the president.

NGUYEN: Now all of this gets to our e-mail question of the day which is, "Does the Social Security system need to be fixed? Neil from Canada has decided to weigh in today and he says, "So the wealthiest nation on the planet has decided that it cannot afford a social safety net for its senior citizens? What kind of a signal will this send to the rest of the world? And you might as well forget about mandatory retirement at age 65. Some people will now need to work until the end of their natural lives."

HARRIS: And Betty, how about this from Bill. "There is a problem with our Social Security and the problem is too many politicians are using money that doesn't belong to them."

We hear this a lot. "They did not ask us, the people, if they could use our money to pay for wars and all the other stuff they have used it for. I would say most Americans feel our money is being stolen and we can do nothing about it."

I want to thank you for those e-mails and encourage you to ...

NGUYEN: A good response, again.

HARRIS: ...yes, good, to send more e-mails We'll take more of those at the top of the hour. The address is wam@cnn.com.

How safe are you when you fly? Some airlines are now outsourcing repair work. Is this the safest way to go. At least one airline official warns of possible tragic consequences. It's the story you'll see only on CNN. Tune in tonight for this special investigation on "CNN SUNDAY NIGHT" at a new time, 11 p.m.

NGUYEN: And beginning tomorrow our sister network "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is unveiling its new prime time line up. But we are getting a live sneak peak on CNN tonight. That is at 7 p.m. You'll see "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." It will debut its award winning style from the east coast to the west. Karen Bryant and A.J. Hammer take you behind the scenes of the Academy Awards. It happens today. It is on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT."

Then at 8 Eastern, she is doing justice to legal news, "NANCY GRACE," from prominent trials to possible wrongful convictions. Former prosecutor Nancy Grace takes on the legal issues of the day and as always, live and unscripted.

But straight ahead, how are you dealing with your pain? "HOUSE CALL" with Dr. Sanjay Gupta looks at how safe the painkillers really are that are in your medicine cabinet.

I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. We'll see you again at the top of the hour. "HOUSE CALL" and your top stories are straight ahead.

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