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CNN Sunday Morning
Rice Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq
Aired May 15, 2005 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice makes a surprise trip to Iraq. We'll tell you all about that. Good morning everybody. From the CNN Center in Atlanta this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It's May 15th. Thanks for being with us. I'm Betty Nguyen.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Tony Harris, 9 a.m. here in the east, 5 p.m. in Baghdad. Thank you for being with us. Let's get you started with the mornings headlines now in the news..
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is making a surprise visit to Iraq today. She met with U.S. troops in one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces. Rice is also meeting with Iraqi political leaders including Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.
The bodies of 34 Iraqis were found in three separate locations this weekend. Thirteen men apparently tortured and shot to death were found in a garbage dump in Baghdad today. Police also found the bodies of 11 Iraqi men in two trucks about fifteen miles south of Baghdad. And the bodies of 10 Iraqi soldiers were found in the western city of Ramadi.
Iraq's most wanted terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi reportedly was seriously wounded. London's Sunday times cites a doctor who claims to have treated him last week. The doctor told an Iraqi reporter that Zarqawi was bleeding heavily when he was brought to the hospital in the city of Ramin, (ph) west of Baghdad. The doctor says al-Zarqawi later left the hospital. The claim was supported by a senior commander in the Iraqi resistance.
NGUYEN: Here's what we have coming up this hour. A reporter on the front lines in Iraq talks to us about the high price one Marine unit has paid. Swift reaction follows questionable comments from Mexican President Vicente Fox. And CNN digs deeper into the southern California freeway shooting. And talks with a couple still grieving for their son.
But we begin the hour with a Sunday surprise. Under he cloak of secrecy and clothed in armored clothes Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has made a surprise trip to Iraq. This is fresh video in to CNN this morning of her trip. Rice is there for some high power diplomacy and to deliver tome high level messages.
CNN's Jane Arraf is in Baghdad with the latest on this visit. Jane, were you just as surprised as everybody else?
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, you know, this country is full of surprises, and given the security situation pretty well every high level visit is cloaked in secrecy. But Condoleezza Rice did don body armor to take that helicopter ride to Salahadeen (ph) in the heart of Iraqi Kurdistan, where she met, first of all, Massoud Barzani, one of the key Kurdish leaders here to talk about putting together a new government. She then flew to Baghdad where she gave a pep talk to troops and embassy staff.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: This is a tough environment sometimes, maybe all the time, but I want you to stay focused on what it is we are doing here. You see this war came to us not the other way around.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARRAF: She's holding more talks later today with Iraqi leaders, including Prime Minister Jaafari, and that is expected to focus on what's happening with putting together a committee for a new constitution and how to fight the insurgency. She says it's important to fight it politically as well as militarily.
Betty.
NGUYEN: Also when she talks about this insurgency there's been a lot of violence over the past hours. Tell us a little bit about what's happened in Iraq.
ARRAF: Betty, sadly it has been almost a typical day. One of the things about the violence in Iraq is it's very hard to piece together. What we do know is there have been at least three reports of civilians killed in various places. Very difficult to get accurate details. Yesterday we were told that a senior foreign minister official had been assassinated. We're now told by the foreign minister he was not a senior official. He was an employee in the personnel department. But it is part of the drum beat of daily life in Baghdad. It's not so bad in other parts of the country except today, perhaps, in Baquba, in the heart of the Sunni triangle, where two suicide bombs targeted the governor. He escaped unhurt, but some of his aides were killed. But again, this is what passes for normal life here in Baghdad these days.
Betty.
ARRAF: A difficult one at that. CNN's Jane Arraf. Thank you for that.
HARRIS: And now a check of some of the other international stories making news around the world.
NGUYEN: We have some new details in the violent anti-government protest in the Uzbekistan town of Andijan. For those details let's talk to CNN's Anand Naidoo at the international desk.
Good morning.
ANAND NAIDOO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey a very good morning to you. Fist up the crisis in Uzbekistan. It has ended for now, but we're hearing high causalities. Funerals for some of the victims are being held. Russian's Interfax News Agency quotes human rights monitors saying, "Hundreds of people were killed by government forces in the eastern town of Andijan.
The violence began when a group stormed the prison where several businessmen are being held and then other protesters called for the government to resign. Correspondents say thousands of Uzbek refugees are heading south and crossing the border into Kyrgyzstan. The Uzbek president, Islam Karimov, a close ally of the United States, is blaming this violence on Islamic militants.
Now to Iraq, 34 bodies have been found in three separate locations. Officials say the bodies were found in the western city of Ramadi a key stronghold of the insurgency. The men had been for around two days. They Iraqi police also found the bodies of 11 Iraqi men in two trucks they stopped near Baghdad, and 13 male bodies were discovered in the same area. There were indications that those bodies were tortured.
From Afghanistan a warning to the United States that it could face a holy war over the issue of the Koran, the Muslim holy book. At least 16 Afghans have died in recent anti U.S. protest. Now 300 clerics say they will declare a holy war against the U.S. if it doesn't hand over the military interrogatories who allegedly defiled the Koran at Guantanamo Bay. The U.S. military says or its parts it has carried out an investigation and so far there is no evidence to support those allegations.
That's all from me for now. Back to Tony and Betty.
HARRIS: Thank you.
NGUYEN: All right.
HARRIS: Operation Matador, one company of Marines who was hit the hardest. What happened to them? We'll ask a reporter who was on the front lines.
NGUYEN: Also, Fox fallout. Look who's going on the defensive after the Mexican president's controversial comments.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Jesse Jackson bristled at Mexican President Vicente Fox's comments on African Americans. You hear this discussing the immigration policy between Mexico and the U.S. President Fox said quote now, "There's no doubt that the Mexican men and full of dignity, will power and a capacity for work are doing the work that not even blacks, not even blacks want to do in the United States."
Well, that prompted this angry response from civil rights figure Jesse Jackson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JESSE JACKSON, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER: The comparison with Mexicans coming across the border and African Americans is a (inaudible) comparison, that it is unnecessary and a diversion from his point. I would think that there's an (inaudible) error in his comparison. The fact is most poor Americans are not black. They're white, their female, they're young.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: So here's our e-mail question this morning. Should Mexican President Vicente Fox apologize for his controversial comments. E-mail us your thoughts and our new address weekends@cnn.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And turning now to the latest out of Iraq. In the western part of the country the U.S. says Operation Matador is over calling it a successful mission. Officials say the week long say the week long offensive near the Syrian border killed more than 125 insurgents and foreign fighters. Nine U.S. Marines were also killed.
NGUYEN: Our Soldier's Story this morning, Operation Matador took a heavy toll. Marines from Ohio's Lima Company had been hit the hardest. Our Tom Foreman reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In every town on every street at fire stations, schools, stores, the people of Ohio wait for news of their sons and daughters on the front lines of their latest assault in Iraq. Wesley Davis' parents got the visit everyone dreads.
MIKE DAVIS, FATHER I was making dinner.
JODY DAVIS, MOTHER: Yes. One minute you have a normal life with dinner cooking and the next minute everything changes.
M. DAVIS: We regret to inform you...
FOREMAN: Their son died one day past his 20th birthday. His friend and fellow soldier, Dustin Dirga (ph) died on Mother's Day. Dustin's lifelong buddy and fellow firefighter, Chris Smith is still in shock.
CHRIS SMITH, CPL DAVIS' FRIEND: He was always so upbeat. It as just unreal. He'd always make you laugh.
FOREMAN: What did you think when you heard the news?
SMITH: As you can imagine I was just devastated. It - I was just speechless.
FOREMAN: Back in January 150 Marine reservists shipped out of Ohio in what was known as Lucky Lima Company. But in Iraq the luck has been bad. Many are in the middle of Operation Matador and casualties are reportedly very high. A "Washington Post" reporter in embedded with Dustin's unit says every person in the squad of 21 have been hit at least six killed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The last time I saw him he was here in his dress uniform.
FOREMAN: So flags are lowered at Dustin's high school, fears are raised.
KEN SCHNEIDER, HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER: This is the first one that has really hit home, and I think it makes it real all of a sudden.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, how are you doing?
FOREMAN: An informal network has emerged among Ohio's military families and friends. Chris Smith is working the phone too calling in memories of Dustin.
SMITH: You know I saw some voice mails on my phone that he left.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (by phone): I just got a chance to call. I don't think I will for a while. You probably won't be getting to use these phones very much, because I'm not going to be staying where I am right now. We're going to a place that won't have this stuff.
FOREMAN: Most days many here say they live their lives unaware of what is going on in Iraq, but not this week.
SMITH: He wont be forgotten around here that's for sure. He died a hero that's for sure.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're so patriotic.
FOREMAN: Many Ohioans are proud and scared and praying about a distant war that is suddenly so close to home..
Tom Foreman CNN, Pickerington (ph), Ohio.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: The Lima Company death toll has risen to eight since Tom visited Ohio.
HARRIS: So how and where did these Marines die? We go deeper now into our Soldier's Story to find out what happened to the Lima Company on the front lines of the battlefield. Joining me now is Solomon Moore, a Los Angeles Times reporter who was embedded with Marines during Operation Matador.
Solomon, Good morning.
SOLOMON MOORE, LOS ANGELES TIMES: Good morning.
HARRIS: Well, let me begin by asking you, the U.S. military is calling Operation Matador a success, so how is success being defined? MOORE: Well, basically they're defining it as killing a number of insurgents, especially on the first day of fighting, last Sunday. They say at that time they killed dozens maybe as many as 75 to 100 insurgents. And then after that day they really didn't come across too many insurgents, in fact. They hope to find more insurgents but it seems that many ran after the first day and they went to Syria. They may have filtered back into the east of Iraq. But they say that even that wasn't all bad because they're not in those areas where they were entrenched for so long.
HARRIS: So why was this operation undertaken? What was the U.S. military responding to?
MOORE: They were responding to intelligence that insurgents had created safe havens, training grounds, places where they would find respite in the west part of Iraq in a place called Al Anbar, and this was north of the Euphrates River in a region called the Ramana (ph) region, and the military hadn't been up there for some months because it was so hard to get heavy machinery across the river and weaponry that the military wants up there when they conduct one of these operations.
HARRIS: How would you describe the fighting?
MOORE: Well, the first day the fighting was really dramatic. They -- it came from an unexpected place, a city called Ubata (ph), south of the river. It was even before they had crossed over. And that citing was very close in, urban combat. It as supported by air. You had Cobra helicopters swooping down. You had 518 hornets dropping bombs. You had Marines going house to house, fighting house to house and it was very close in combat. After that it became more of a cat and mouse game and you'd have insurgents taking little pot shots here or there and fleeing in cars and the Marines would go after them. But for the most part it was more of a just gathering intelligence after Sunday.
HARRIS: Tell us about these Marines, these brave Marines from Lima Company.
MOORE: Well a lot of them are from Ohio. Many of them are reservist. They come from -- they're students, they are construction workers, they're folks who have everyday jobs back home and families. A lot of them are young. They come from all different ethnicities, all different classes and they were out there doing their best to get these insurgents. And they got hit really hard on Sunday. They took, I believe they took the three casualties that occurred on Sunday, three or four casualties then, and they lost their sergeant. And then, of course, they were in that amphibious vehicle, that armored personnel carrier that was hit by the improvised explosive device later on in the campaign.
HARRIS: Solomon, did you see any of the cave complexes reportedly being used to smuggle weapons into the country? Did you see any of this with your own two eyes?
MOORE: Well, I saw some caves, but to my knowledge they haven't found any caves that actually go into Syria and, you know go back and forth between Syria and Iraq. They did find some caves and in those caves I believe they found some fighting positions that insurgents had taken up at some time and they bombed those caves. But as far as a tunnel between Iraq and Syria I have no knowledge of that..
HARRIS: OK, civilian casualties. Any idea of how many, if any civilians were killed?
MOORE: Yes, that's pretty hard to get at. The military says that civilian casualties were kept pretty low especially -- basically because there wasn't a whole lot of close end fighting after that first day. But these insurgents, I mean they're guerrillas, and part of their strategy is to be hidden among civilian populations. That's what they do.
The first night I was out on a cliff looking out over the fighting and you could see insurgents kind of going into homes in the city pulling out weapons, and there was a time when Marines were going to cite one of these buildings for a bomb, but then they saw kids in the yard. They saw a woman hanging up cloths. So they held off. So there probably were some civilian casualties, but it's a hard thing to get real numbers out here.
HARRIS: Yes, OK. Los Angeles Times reporter, Solomon Moore in Iraq with Lima Company from Ohio. It was Lima Company that took part in Operation Matador. Solomon we appreciate it. Thanks for your time.
Let's take a break and come back with more of CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Terror on the freeways of southern California. A dozen shootings since March. As police search for suspects, a family searches for answers.
NGUYEN: Plus defining a family. One Montana couple, and we'll talk about their plight and the surprising partner that they found. That's ahead when CNN SUNDAY MORNING returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK).
NGUYEN: This morning, a family remembers their son, his life taken away by a highway shooting in southern California. We want to welcome you back, today. I am Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: And I am Tony Harris. That story coming up in moments, first here are today's headlines "Now in the News."
Secretary of state Condoleezza Rice is paying a surprise in heavily guarded visit to Iraq, today. She thanked U.S. troops and diplomats for taking risks to help Iraqis build a new nation. She is also meeting with Iraqi leaders. Pope Benedict XVI ordained 21 new priests, today. Many of them come from Latin American and Africa. The Roman Catholic Church and Western Europe struggles with dwindling numbers of recruits for the clergy.
And after getting pummeled by four hurricanes last year, Florida emergency workers are kicking off hurricane preparedness week, today. They will take part in drills testing their ability to handle two hurricanes at once. Hurricane season begins June 1.
NGUYEN: Freeway shootings are unfortunately uncommon in Southern California. Police don't know who's doing it, but so far this year four people have been killed. One couple, whose son was killed, talked it our Kareen Wynter about their pain.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was the afternoon of March 29, on the crowded 110 Freeway in Southern California. A 20-year-old college student was behind the wheel of a shiny sports car. One he'd had for only a few months, a gift from dad. Michael Livingston wrapped up classes that day and was headed it a friend's house in Los Angeles, but he never made it. Michael was minutes away from his exit when someone fired several shots into his car, killing him. Christina and Dennis Livingston were nowhere near the scene, in fact they were 70 miles away, here inside their San Bernardino county home, but it wasn't long before they had to start grappling with the horror of their son's death and it wasn't police who broke the news.
CHRISTINA LIVINGSTON, MICHAEL'S MOTHER: I just happened to walk past the television, which was on, and I saw the breaking news alert.
WYNTER: Michael's cherished '98 Chevy Camaro, the one he polished with such care was now a twisted piece of metal on the side of the freeway. Police say he was shot several times and lost control of his car which then smashed into a center divider.
C. LIVINGSTON: We recognized the rims on the car.
WYNTER (on camera): Did you know instantly that it was Michael's car?
C. LIVINGSTON: I absolutely did.
WYNTER: But at the time, the Livingston's didn't know this was just the beginning of a rash of random freeway shootings.
DENNIS LIVINGSTON, MICHAEL'S FATHER: Mike was ripped from our lives. I mean, he was just taken and it's not going to bring him back but at the same time...
C. LIVINGSTON: Oh, wait a minute.
D. LIVINGSTON: OK... C. LIVINGSTON: Yeah, he was ripped from our lives. That's what makes it so difficult. The reality of that moment is earth shattering.
WYNTER (voice-over): These parents haven't even buried their son yet when they turned their anger into action. Hitting the streets, ignoring warnings from Los Angeles police, the Livingston's searched for Michael's killer.
The family handed out information to the public. Police have no solid leads in any of the shootings. Officials say statistically, they've had about the same number of shootings here as last year. And that these cases are not unusual.
D. LIVINGSTON: That statistic doesn't really matter very much.
C. LIVINGSTON: Our son was killed. And those statistics don't offer us any comfort.
WYNTER: The Livingston's say what does ease the pain are pictures. Precious memories of their son's short life, his infectious smile.
C. LIVINGSTON: Birthday parties, first trip to the beach.
WYNTER: Which blossomed into a love for the water.
(on camera): This is one of Michael's favorite places, you said, to be, just out here in the backyard by the pool?
D. LIVINGSTON: Yeah, correct. He'd be back here swimming in the pool with his friends, and his sister would be on the patio watching, and I'd be barbecuing. There are a lot of good times back here.
WYNTER (voice-over): Echoes of laughter now replaced by this. A mother, sister, and father grieve in silence.
D. LIVINGSTON: It's times like these I think Michael's just going to knock on the door and just going to come walking in.
C. LIVINGSTON: Come running out the back door and jump in the swimming pool.
WYNTER: The Livingston's say it's hard to imagine life without Michael, but what makes it even worse is his case remains unsolved.
C. LIVINGSTON: I'm almost begging for that one person out there that knows something would come forward.
Kareen Wynter, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And here are some of the stories that'll be making news order during the week. As early as Tuesday, there could be a showdown in the Senate. Republicans are threatening to change Senate rules to eliminate the use of the filibuster in President Bush's judicial nominees, so-called nuclear options, would mean only 51 votes could approve a judge rather than the current 60. Democrats have used filibusters to block 10 of President Bush's 215 court nominees. Democrats point out that republicans used the filibuster for about 60 judicial nominees during the Clinton administration.
On Thursday, may the force be with you. "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" opens nationwide in theaters. It's the final prequel in the "Star Wars" saga.
Then on Saturday, it's the 130th running of the Preakness Stakes. The horse race is the second of the Triple Crown races. All eyes -- odds will be on the Kentucky Derby winner, Giacomo.
NGUYEN: Giacomo
HARRIS: Well, we know where comedian Dave Chappelle ran off to, but until now we didn't know why. An exclusive interview in "Time" magazine Chappelle explains he walked away from his hit show on Comedy Central to chill out with friends in South Africa and to figure out whether he had sold his soul for $50 million. As for all of the rumors, Chappelle tells "Time," "I'm not crazy. I'm not smoking crack. I'm definitely stressed out...it was a clumsy dismount."
Chappelle's interview is in this week's "Time."
NGUYEN: I have to grab a copy of that.
All right, rights for gay couples. See what one couple went through to prove they are a family when CNN SUNDAY MORNING returns.
HARRIS: But first, a CNN "Extra." Trying to lose weight, are you? Stop counting carbs and start attending meetings and drinking shakes. Consumer reports ranks Weight Watchers and Slim-Fast the top two diets. The highly popular Atkins' Diet had some good scores for short-term weight loss, but poor marks on retention and nutrition the results are in the June issue of "Consumer Reports."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE RUBIN, FMR. ASST. SECRETARY OF STATE: Our position on this issue is clear and longstanding.
ANNOUNCER: A way with words and a knack for policy, James Rubin, Jamie, was known as Secretary of State Madeline Albright Albright's right-hand man. He served as a popular, but tough State Department spokesman for three years and a top Albright adviser for even longer.
RUBIN: As a boss, I have to say, it would be hard to image a more inspiring and better friend that Madeline Albright.
ANNOUNCER: Until he suddenly left diplomacy in April of 2000 to become a fulltime dad. RUBIN: Well, raising a kid is just about as difficult of a thing as can be, but it it's a great thing, too. So, it's exhilarating, but often frustrating.
ANNOUNCER: Jamie Rubin now lives in London with his wife, CNN correspondent Christine Amanpour and their 5-year-old son Darius. He teaches at the London School of Economics and frequently appears on television as a guest analyst. Most recently, he worked on the Wesley Clark and then the John Kerry presidential campaigns. Rubin says he hopes to return to public service one day, but not elected office.
RUBIN: That place where politics and foreign policy meet is the place I am happiest and most fulfilled.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN, watched by more Americans than any other news channel. Now back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING with Betty Nguyen and Tony Harris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Well, good morning. We have a look at our top stories right now. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Iraq today. She met briefly with U.S. troops and embassy staff during the surprised trip. Rice is stressing the importance of drafting a new constitution by the August deadline.
Meanwhile, the bodies of 34 Iraqis were found in three separate locations this weekend. All the victims are men, 10 of them, Iraqi soldiers. Now some were tortured and shot to death, some were beheaded.
And Mexican president Vicente Fox is being blasted for comments comparing African-Americans to Mexican immigrants. In discussing U.S. immigration policy, President Fox said that Mexicans are doing work that not even blacks in the U.S. want to do. So we're asking you this morning: Should Mexican President Vicente Fox apologize for that comment? We are reading those e-mails coming right up.
HARRIS: Almost a year after Massachusetts legalized gay marriage the nation remains divided on the issue. A new nationwide poll by the "Boston Globe" finds half of the people questioned, disapprove of same-sex marriages, just 37 percent approve of the unions, also, half of the people asked also said unions from Massachusetts, were gay marriages are legal, should not be recognized in their states.
NGUYEN: Well, we do have a unique opportunity, here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, to take a longer look at some of the issues that really matter to you, like the same-sex marriage debate. Our investigative unit went to Montana, a state you might not think is on the cutting-edge of the issue, but as our Jonathan Freed found out, alternative families are demanding to be recognized.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Carla Grayson and Adrianne Neff may not seem like activist and nestled away in Montana they felt worlds away from the gay marriage battles grabbing headlines in Massachusetts and San Francisco, but as a lesbian couple, living in a state where gay marriage has long been prohibited, they didn't have access to partner benefit like health insurance and for a couple with a young child, that was too big a price to pay.
CARLA GRAYSON, LESBIAN PLAINTIFF: We have a child and so we realized, oh, OK, we're in many more ways a more traditional family unit that people would understand, like why it would be important for us to have those health benefits.
FREED: The couple had been generally accepted on campus at the University of Montana in Missoula, where Carla Grayson worked, but community reaction was very different once they filed suit against the school and the state.
GRAYSON: Somebody broke into our house in the middle of the night, they soaked rope and rags in gasoline, and then laid them throughout the house.
One of the things -- the images of that that still stays with me that was this person laid rope over my son's toys. So there were toys, plastic toys melted into the floor. So whoever came into our house, we're talking about killing a child. And I think you have got to wonder, that's an incredible amount of hate.
FREED: Burned out of their home, Carla and Adrianne didn't back off their case and in late December, the state's highest court sided with the couple in a split, 4-3 decision. Justice Jim Nelson wrote an outspoken concurring opinion.
JUDGE JIM NELSON, MONTANA SUPREME COURT: Health insurance in our country anymore is a huge benefit. In many cases, I think it's more important to people than what they get paid, and to deny a class of people that economic benefit, simply because of their sexual orientation, their gender orientation, at least under my view, under our constitution is wrong, it's discrimination, purely and simply.
FREED: It's an opinion that sparked protest. Justice Nelson says he's a bit surprised by the criticism, but he says no one should be surprised Montana is out in front of the civil rights issue.
NELSON: We have a very visionary people-oriented constitution and, at least in my view, it's my job to give voice to that constitution, to give voice to those unique provisions and to give to people the rights that that unique constitution protects. That's our job.
FREED: Montana is known for its live and let live attitude, but it's also known for its social conservatism. (on camera): The state supreme court ruling came less than two months after 70 percent of voters here approved a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Now, some social conservatives feel that the court has stepped on the spirit of the vote and is frustrating the will of the people. Jeff Laszloffy is the head of the Montana Family Foundation. While a state lawmaker, he led the effort to pass the constitutional marriage ban.
JEFF LASZLOFFY, MONTANA FAMILY FOUNDATION: I saw the issue being taken away from the people. I saw the courts playing a greater role in whether or not the definition of marriage would be changed, and I believed that the people should have the say, the final decision.
FREED (voice-over): He sees Justice Nelson and the court decision as examples of improper judicial activism.
LASZLOFFY: Most justices and judges are -- stay within the constraints of the judicial branch of government and don't try to play legislator. I believe they did in this case, though.
FREED: For many here, the state of gay rights in Montana is now unclear. The marriage ban remains, but the state's highest court has recognized that under the Montana constitution, equal protection extends to same sex couples. For Carla and Adrianne:
GRAYSON: We were really glad that at least this one small step forward for civil rights and that that the court had un -- had acknowledged in some small way that we are really are a family.
FREED: That more than justices the enormous price they paid.
Jonathan freed, CNN, Helena, Montana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And good morning, Atlanta! Well, the cloud deck, I was going to say, it's lifting a bit, but no, it seem to be shrinking, sinking.
NGUYEN: Wishful thinking.
HARRIS: Over the city. We're going to come back with the forecast for Atlanta and the rest of the nation when CNN SUNDAY MORNING returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. Check out. A saucy story for nervous brides to be, before walking down the church aisle, one man wants you to walk down this aisle and try Jennifer's Hightailin' Hot Sauce. Oh yeah, based on Jennifer Wilbanks, the bride to be as you recall, who recently ran away just days before her Georgia wedding. You knew it would happen sometime, right? The merchant says the hot sauce could be a cure for cold feet.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jennifer's Hightailin' Hot Sauce, and if you read over here on the warning label, this sauce may cause you to seek intense professional help voluntarily.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Too much. All right, with that we are going to hightail it over to Kathleen Hays in Washington with the latest "On the Story".
Hi Kathleen.
KATHLEEN HAYS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well hi. I'm just thinking one of the other products, you know...
NGUYEN: Oh yeah.
HAY: Jennifer running shoes.
HARRIS: No.
NGUYEN: Go to eBay, I am sure you'll find tons of them.
HAYS: Well, I'll tell you what we're going to be "On the Story" today, from here in Washington to New York, Los Angeles, and Baghdad. Suzanne Malveaux talks about the light plane security scare in Washington this week. Should two confused guys from Pennsylvania really get all of the blame?
Jane Arraf is "On the Story" of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's surprised visit in Iraq, today. Kelly Wallace on the prom story what she found when she followed, really and truly, two New Jersey seniors to the night of their prom. And "Newsweek's" Alison Samuels is in Los Angeles about the Michael Jackson trial, all kinds of hot stuff this week and all coming up, right now, on "On the Story". Back to you, Betty and Tony.
NGUYEN: Can't wait to see it, thanks, Kathleen.
HARRIS: We're going to get to your e-mail responses to our question this morning: Should Mexican President Vicente Fox apologize for some racially charged comment? Do I have a moment just to read this to you, just so that you know, the frame it up for you. He said, "There is no doubt that the Mexican men and women full of dignity, willpower, and a capacity for work, are doing the work that not even blacks want to do in the United States. Well, that touched off a firestorm of e-mails this morning.
NGUYEN: Oh yes, it did. Mark in New York says, "President Fox spoke the truth from his heart. Lots of the jobs that Mexicans do, Americans 'even blacks,' won't do. You can choose to look at it as a derogatory comment, but let's face it...it is the TRUTH. And I am black."
HARRIS: OK and this from Steve, "My husband owns a construction company and he cannot find blacks or whites that are willing to work five or six days a week. He is willing to pay a good salary but they still will not show up for work. The only people that will show up for work have been the Mexican workers. Truth hurts."
NGUYEN: And Duane has a different take on it, he says, "Well it must be very gratifying to be president of a country where so many of your citizens must risk their lives to illegally enter a foreign country to be able to work for very low wages just to feed their families."
HARRIS: Ouch!
NGUYEN: We appreciate your comments all morning long. Boy, it is a hot-button issue.
HARRIS: Yeah, it really is. All right, let's get a final check of the weather for the weekend from Jacqui Jeras in for Rob Marciano this morning.
Good morning, Jacqui.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hey, good morning, guys. I saw your story a little bit earlier about Hurricane Preparedness Week. That begins today and we're going to have a series of reports of this coming up in the week ahead. You want more information on hurricane, you can go to www.nhc.noaa.gov. And tomorrow at 12:30 Eastern time, NOAA will be releasing their forecast for the 2005 season. Dr. Gray has already done so, expecting an above normal season and I think that NOAA will be likely concurring for that are. And just for fun, one of my favorite things to do, don't ask me why, take a look at names expected. And notice, Betty, Tony, no hurricane Betty's or Tonys out there or Jacqui's, there never is. There you go.
NGUYEN: Has ever been a Betty, Tony or a Jacqui?
JERAS: I'll look it up for you. I'll let you know.
HARRIS: There is a Hurricane Betty on this set every weekend. Sorry Betty. Sorry.
NGUYEN: Oh, Tony.
JERAS: She is, isn't she?
NGUYEN: Get out of here.
JERAS: You know we love you, Betty.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: I was going to say, that's high-tech.
HARRIS: That's high-tech, isn't' it?
NGUYEN: Exactly, windshield wipers on your camera, that is high- tech.
JERAS: I love that.
HARRIS: Thank you Jacqui. And that is it for us this morning. Thank you very much for watching.
NGUYEN: But we do want to see you next weekend,. we'll be here. "On the Story" is next.
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 May 15, 2005 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice makes a surprise trip to Iraq. We'll tell you all about that. Good morning everybody. From the CNN Center in Atlanta this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It's May 15th. Thanks for being with us. I'm Betty Nguyen.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Tony Harris, 9 a.m. here in the east, 5 p.m. in Baghdad. Thank you for being with us. Let's get you started with the mornings headlines now in the news..
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is making a surprise visit to Iraq today. She met with U.S. troops in one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces. Rice is also meeting with Iraqi political leaders including Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.
The bodies of 34 Iraqis were found in three separate locations this weekend. Thirteen men apparently tortured and shot to death were found in a garbage dump in Baghdad today. Police also found the bodies of 11 Iraqi men in two trucks about fifteen miles south of Baghdad. And the bodies of 10 Iraqi soldiers were found in the western city of Ramadi.
Iraq's most wanted terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi reportedly was seriously wounded. London's Sunday times cites a doctor who claims to have treated him last week. The doctor told an Iraqi reporter that Zarqawi was bleeding heavily when he was brought to the hospital in the city of Ramin, (ph) west of Baghdad. The doctor says al-Zarqawi later left the hospital. The claim was supported by a senior commander in the Iraqi resistance.
NGUYEN: Here's what we have coming up this hour. A reporter on the front lines in Iraq talks to us about the high price one Marine unit has paid. Swift reaction follows questionable comments from Mexican President Vicente Fox. And CNN digs deeper into the southern California freeway shooting. And talks with a couple still grieving for their son.
But we begin the hour with a Sunday surprise. Under he cloak of secrecy and clothed in armored clothes Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has made a surprise trip to Iraq. This is fresh video in to CNN this morning of her trip. Rice is there for some high power diplomacy and to deliver tome high level messages.
CNN's Jane Arraf is in Baghdad with the latest on this visit. Jane, were you just as surprised as everybody else?
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, you know, this country is full of surprises, and given the security situation pretty well every high level visit is cloaked in secrecy. But Condoleezza Rice did don body armor to take that helicopter ride to Salahadeen (ph) in the heart of Iraqi Kurdistan, where she met, first of all, Massoud Barzani, one of the key Kurdish leaders here to talk about putting together a new government. She then flew to Baghdad where she gave a pep talk to troops and embassy staff.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: This is a tough environment sometimes, maybe all the time, but I want you to stay focused on what it is we are doing here. You see this war came to us not the other way around.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARRAF: She's holding more talks later today with Iraqi leaders, including Prime Minister Jaafari, and that is expected to focus on what's happening with putting together a committee for a new constitution and how to fight the insurgency. She says it's important to fight it politically as well as militarily.
Betty.
NGUYEN: Also when she talks about this insurgency there's been a lot of violence over the past hours. Tell us a little bit about what's happened in Iraq.
ARRAF: Betty, sadly it has been almost a typical day. One of the things about the violence in Iraq is it's very hard to piece together. What we do know is there have been at least three reports of civilians killed in various places. Very difficult to get accurate details. Yesterday we were told that a senior foreign minister official had been assassinated. We're now told by the foreign minister he was not a senior official. He was an employee in the personnel department. But it is part of the drum beat of daily life in Baghdad. It's not so bad in other parts of the country except today, perhaps, in Baquba, in the heart of the Sunni triangle, where two suicide bombs targeted the governor. He escaped unhurt, but some of his aides were killed. But again, this is what passes for normal life here in Baghdad these days.
Betty.
ARRAF: A difficult one at that. CNN's Jane Arraf. Thank you for that.
HARRIS: And now a check of some of the other international stories making news around the world.
NGUYEN: We have some new details in the violent anti-government protest in the Uzbekistan town of Andijan. For those details let's talk to CNN's Anand Naidoo at the international desk.
Good morning.
ANAND NAIDOO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey a very good morning to you. Fist up the crisis in Uzbekistan. It has ended for now, but we're hearing high causalities. Funerals for some of the victims are being held. Russian's Interfax News Agency quotes human rights monitors saying, "Hundreds of people were killed by government forces in the eastern town of Andijan.
The violence began when a group stormed the prison where several businessmen are being held and then other protesters called for the government to resign. Correspondents say thousands of Uzbek refugees are heading south and crossing the border into Kyrgyzstan. The Uzbek president, Islam Karimov, a close ally of the United States, is blaming this violence on Islamic militants.
Now to Iraq, 34 bodies have been found in three separate locations. Officials say the bodies were found in the western city of Ramadi a key stronghold of the insurgency. The men had been for around two days. They Iraqi police also found the bodies of 11 Iraqi men in two trucks they stopped near Baghdad, and 13 male bodies were discovered in the same area. There were indications that those bodies were tortured.
From Afghanistan a warning to the United States that it could face a holy war over the issue of the Koran, the Muslim holy book. At least 16 Afghans have died in recent anti U.S. protest. Now 300 clerics say they will declare a holy war against the U.S. if it doesn't hand over the military interrogatories who allegedly defiled the Koran at Guantanamo Bay. The U.S. military says or its parts it has carried out an investigation and so far there is no evidence to support those allegations.
That's all from me for now. Back to Tony and Betty.
HARRIS: Thank you.
NGUYEN: All right.
HARRIS: Operation Matador, one company of Marines who was hit the hardest. What happened to them? We'll ask a reporter who was on the front lines.
NGUYEN: Also, Fox fallout. Look who's going on the defensive after the Mexican president's controversial comments.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Jesse Jackson bristled at Mexican President Vicente Fox's comments on African Americans. You hear this discussing the immigration policy between Mexico and the U.S. President Fox said quote now, "There's no doubt that the Mexican men and full of dignity, will power and a capacity for work are doing the work that not even blacks, not even blacks want to do in the United States."
Well, that prompted this angry response from civil rights figure Jesse Jackson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JESSE JACKSON, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER: The comparison with Mexicans coming across the border and African Americans is a (inaudible) comparison, that it is unnecessary and a diversion from his point. I would think that there's an (inaudible) error in his comparison. The fact is most poor Americans are not black. They're white, their female, they're young.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: So here's our e-mail question this morning. Should Mexican President Vicente Fox apologize for his controversial comments. E-mail us your thoughts and our new address weekends@cnn.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And turning now to the latest out of Iraq. In the western part of the country the U.S. says Operation Matador is over calling it a successful mission. Officials say the week long say the week long offensive near the Syrian border killed more than 125 insurgents and foreign fighters. Nine U.S. Marines were also killed.
NGUYEN: Our Soldier's Story this morning, Operation Matador took a heavy toll. Marines from Ohio's Lima Company had been hit the hardest. Our Tom Foreman reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In every town on every street at fire stations, schools, stores, the people of Ohio wait for news of their sons and daughters on the front lines of their latest assault in Iraq. Wesley Davis' parents got the visit everyone dreads.
MIKE DAVIS, FATHER I was making dinner.
JODY DAVIS, MOTHER: Yes. One minute you have a normal life with dinner cooking and the next minute everything changes.
M. DAVIS: We regret to inform you...
FOREMAN: Their son died one day past his 20th birthday. His friend and fellow soldier, Dustin Dirga (ph) died on Mother's Day. Dustin's lifelong buddy and fellow firefighter, Chris Smith is still in shock.
CHRIS SMITH, CPL DAVIS' FRIEND: He was always so upbeat. It as just unreal. He'd always make you laugh.
FOREMAN: What did you think when you heard the news?
SMITH: As you can imagine I was just devastated. It - I was just speechless.
FOREMAN: Back in January 150 Marine reservists shipped out of Ohio in what was known as Lucky Lima Company. But in Iraq the luck has been bad. Many are in the middle of Operation Matador and casualties are reportedly very high. A "Washington Post" reporter in embedded with Dustin's unit says every person in the squad of 21 have been hit at least six killed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The last time I saw him he was here in his dress uniform.
FOREMAN: So flags are lowered at Dustin's high school, fears are raised.
KEN SCHNEIDER, HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER: This is the first one that has really hit home, and I think it makes it real all of a sudden.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, how are you doing?
FOREMAN: An informal network has emerged among Ohio's military families and friends. Chris Smith is working the phone too calling in memories of Dustin.
SMITH: You know I saw some voice mails on my phone that he left.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (by phone): I just got a chance to call. I don't think I will for a while. You probably won't be getting to use these phones very much, because I'm not going to be staying where I am right now. We're going to a place that won't have this stuff.
FOREMAN: Most days many here say they live their lives unaware of what is going on in Iraq, but not this week.
SMITH: He wont be forgotten around here that's for sure. He died a hero that's for sure.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're so patriotic.
FOREMAN: Many Ohioans are proud and scared and praying about a distant war that is suddenly so close to home..
Tom Foreman CNN, Pickerington (ph), Ohio.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: The Lima Company death toll has risen to eight since Tom visited Ohio.
HARRIS: So how and where did these Marines die? We go deeper now into our Soldier's Story to find out what happened to the Lima Company on the front lines of the battlefield. Joining me now is Solomon Moore, a Los Angeles Times reporter who was embedded with Marines during Operation Matador.
Solomon, Good morning.
SOLOMON MOORE, LOS ANGELES TIMES: Good morning.
HARRIS: Well, let me begin by asking you, the U.S. military is calling Operation Matador a success, so how is success being defined? MOORE: Well, basically they're defining it as killing a number of insurgents, especially on the first day of fighting, last Sunday. They say at that time they killed dozens maybe as many as 75 to 100 insurgents. And then after that day they really didn't come across too many insurgents, in fact. They hope to find more insurgents but it seems that many ran after the first day and they went to Syria. They may have filtered back into the east of Iraq. But they say that even that wasn't all bad because they're not in those areas where they were entrenched for so long.
HARRIS: So why was this operation undertaken? What was the U.S. military responding to?
MOORE: They were responding to intelligence that insurgents had created safe havens, training grounds, places where they would find respite in the west part of Iraq in a place called Al Anbar, and this was north of the Euphrates River in a region called the Ramana (ph) region, and the military hadn't been up there for some months because it was so hard to get heavy machinery across the river and weaponry that the military wants up there when they conduct one of these operations.
HARRIS: How would you describe the fighting?
MOORE: Well, the first day the fighting was really dramatic. They -- it came from an unexpected place, a city called Ubata (ph), south of the river. It was even before they had crossed over. And that citing was very close in, urban combat. It as supported by air. You had Cobra helicopters swooping down. You had 518 hornets dropping bombs. You had Marines going house to house, fighting house to house and it was very close in combat. After that it became more of a cat and mouse game and you'd have insurgents taking little pot shots here or there and fleeing in cars and the Marines would go after them. But for the most part it was more of a just gathering intelligence after Sunday.
HARRIS: Tell us about these Marines, these brave Marines from Lima Company.
MOORE: Well a lot of them are from Ohio. Many of them are reservist. They come from -- they're students, they are construction workers, they're folks who have everyday jobs back home and families. A lot of them are young. They come from all different ethnicities, all different classes and they were out there doing their best to get these insurgents. And they got hit really hard on Sunday. They took, I believe they took the three casualties that occurred on Sunday, three or four casualties then, and they lost their sergeant. And then, of course, they were in that amphibious vehicle, that armored personnel carrier that was hit by the improvised explosive device later on in the campaign.
HARRIS: Solomon, did you see any of the cave complexes reportedly being used to smuggle weapons into the country? Did you see any of this with your own two eyes?
MOORE: Well, I saw some caves, but to my knowledge they haven't found any caves that actually go into Syria and, you know go back and forth between Syria and Iraq. They did find some caves and in those caves I believe they found some fighting positions that insurgents had taken up at some time and they bombed those caves. But as far as a tunnel between Iraq and Syria I have no knowledge of that..
HARRIS: OK, civilian casualties. Any idea of how many, if any civilians were killed?
MOORE: Yes, that's pretty hard to get at. The military says that civilian casualties were kept pretty low especially -- basically because there wasn't a whole lot of close end fighting after that first day. But these insurgents, I mean they're guerrillas, and part of their strategy is to be hidden among civilian populations. That's what they do.
The first night I was out on a cliff looking out over the fighting and you could see insurgents kind of going into homes in the city pulling out weapons, and there was a time when Marines were going to cite one of these buildings for a bomb, but then they saw kids in the yard. They saw a woman hanging up cloths. So they held off. So there probably were some civilian casualties, but it's a hard thing to get real numbers out here.
HARRIS: Yes, OK. Los Angeles Times reporter, Solomon Moore in Iraq with Lima Company from Ohio. It was Lima Company that took part in Operation Matador. Solomon we appreciate it. Thanks for your time.
Let's take a break and come back with more of CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Terror on the freeways of southern California. A dozen shootings since March. As police search for suspects, a family searches for answers.
NGUYEN: Plus defining a family. One Montana couple, and we'll talk about their plight and the surprising partner that they found. That's ahead when CNN SUNDAY MORNING returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK).
NGUYEN: This morning, a family remembers their son, his life taken away by a highway shooting in southern California. We want to welcome you back, today. I am Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: And I am Tony Harris. That story coming up in moments, first here are today's headlines "Now in the News."
Secretary of state Condoleezza Rice is paying a surprise in heavily guarded visit to Iraq, today. She thanked U.S. troops and diplomats for taking risks to help Iraqis build a new nation. She is also meeting with Iraqi leaders. Pope Benedict XVI ordained 21 new priests, today. Many of them come from Latin American and Africa. The Roman Catholic Church and Western Europe struggles with dwindling numbers of recruits for the clergy.
And after getting pummeled by four hurricanes last year, Florida emergency workers are kicking off hurricane preparedness week, today. They will take part in drills testing their ability to handle two hurricanes at once. Hurricane season begins June 1.
NGUYEN: Freeway shootings are unfortunately uncommon in Southern California. Police don't know who's doing it, but so far this year four people have been killed. One couple, whose son was killed, talked it our Kareen Wynter about their pain.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was the afternoon of March 29, on the crowded 110 Freeway in Southern California. A 20-year-old college student was behind the wheel of a shiny sports car. One he'd had for only a few months, a gift from dad. Michael Livingston wrapped up classes that day and was headed it a friend's house in Los Angeles, but he never made it. Michael was minutes away from his exit when someone fired several shots into his car, killing him. Christina and Dennis Livingston were nowhere near the scene, in fact they were 70 miles away, here inside their San Bernardino county home, but it wasn't long before they had to start grappling with the horror of their son's death and it wasn't police who broke the news.
CHRISTINA LIVINGSTON, MICHAEL'S MOTHER: I just happened to walk past the television, which was on, and I saw the breaking news alert.
WYNTER: Michael's cherished '98 Chevy Camaro, the one he polished with such care was now a twisted piece of metal on the side of the freeway. Police say he was shot several times and lost control of his car which then smashed into a center divider.
C. LIVINGSTON: We recognized the rims on the car.
WYNTER (on camera): Did you know instantly that it was Michael's car?
C. LIVINGSTON: I absolutely did.
WYNTER: But at the time, the Livingston's didn't know this was just the beginning of a rash of random freeway shootings.
DENNIS LIVINGSTON, MICHAEL'S FATHER: Mike was ripped from our lives. I mean, he was just taken and it's not going to bring him back but at the same time...
C. LIVINGSTON: Oh, wait a minute.
D. LIVINGSTON: OK... C. LIVINGSTON: Yeah, he was ripped from our lives. That's what makes it so difficult. The reality of that moment is earth shattering.
WYNTER (voice-over): These parents haven't even buried their son yet when they turned their anger into action. Hitting the streets, ignoring warnings from Los Angeles police, the Livingston's searched for Michael's killer.
The family handed out information to the public. Police have no solid leads in any of the shootings. Officials say statistically, they've had about the same number of shootings here as last year. And that these cases are not unusual.
D. LIVINGSTON: That statistic doesn't really matter very much.
C. LIVINGSTON: Our son was killed. And those statistics don't offer us any comfort.
WYNTER: The Livingston's say what does ease the pain are pictures. Precious memories of their son's short life, his infectious smile.
C. LIVINGSTON: Birthday parties, first trip to the beach.
WYNTER: Which blossomed into a love for the water.
(on camera): This is one of Michael's favorite places, you said, to be, just out here in the backyard by the pool?
D. LIVINGSTON: Yeah, correct. He'd be back here swimming in the pool with his friends, and his sister would be on the patio watching, and I'd be barbecuing. There are a lot of good times back here.
WYNTER (voice-over): Echoes of laughter now replaced by this. A mother, sister, and father grieve in silence.
D. LIVINGSTON: It's times like these I think Michael's just going to knock on the door and just going to come walking in.
C. LIVINGSTON: Come running out the back door and jump in the swimming pool.
WYNTER: The Livingston's say it's hard to imagine life without Michael, but what makes it even worse is his case remains unsolved.
C. LIVINGSTON: I'm almost begging for that one person out there that knows something would come forward.
Kareen Wynter, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And here are some of the stories that'll be making news order during the week. As early as Tuesday, there could be a showdown in the Senate. Republicans are threatening to change Senate rules to eliminate the use of the filibuster in President Bush's judicial nominees, so-called nuclear options, would mean only 51 votes could approve a judge rather than the current 60. Democrats have used filibusters to block 10 of President Bush's 215 court nominees. Democrats point out that republicans used the filibuster for about 60 judicial nominees during the Clinton administration.
On Thursday, may the force be with you. "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" opens nationwide in theaters. It's the final prequel in the "Star Wars" saga.
Then on Saturday, it's the 130th running of the Preakness Stakes. The horse race is the second of the Triple Crown races. All eyes -- odds will be on the Kentucky Derby winner, Giacomo.
NGUYEN: Giacomo
HARRIS: Well, we know where comedian Dave Chappelle ran off to, but until now we didn't know why. An exclusive interview in "Time" magazine Chappelle explains he walked away from his hit show on Comedy Central to chill out with friends in South Africa and to figure out whether he had sold his soul for $50 million. As for all of the rumors, Chappelle tells "Time," "I'm not crazy. I'm not smoking crack. I'm definitely stressed out...it was a clumsy dismount."
Chappelle's interview is in this week's "Time."
NGUYEN: I have to grab a copy of that.
All right, rights for gay couples. See what one couple went through to prove they are a family when CNN SUNDAY MORNING returns.
HARRIS: But first, a CNN "Extra." Trying to lose weight, are you? Stop counting carbs and start attending meetings and drinking shakes. Consumer reports ranks Weight Watchers and Slim-Fast the top two diets. The highly popular Atkins' Diet had some good scores for short-term weight loss, but poor marks on retention and nutrition the results are in the June issue of "Consumer Reports."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE RUBIN, FMR. ASST. SECRETARY OF STATE: Our position on this issue is clear and longstanding.
ANNOUNCER: A way with words and a knack for policy, James Rubin, Jamie, was known as Secretary of State Madeline Albright Albright's right-hand man. He served as a popular, but tough State Department spokesman for three years and a top Albright adviser for even longer.
RUBIN: As a boss, I have to say, it would be hard to image a more inspiring and better friend that Madeline Albright.
ANNOUNCER: Until he suddenly left diplomacy in April of 2000 to become a fulltime dad. RUBIN: Well, raising a kid is just about as difficult of a thing as can be, but it it's a great thing, too. So, it's exhilarating, but often frustrating.
ANNOUNCER: Jamie Rubin now lives in London with his wife, CNN correspondent Christine Amanpour and their 5-year-old son Darius. He teaches at the London School of Economics and frequently appears on television as a guest analyst. Most recently, he worked on the Wesley Clark and then the John Kerry presidential campaigns. Rubin says he hopes to return to public service one day, but not elected office.
RUBIN: That place where politics and foreign policy meet is the place I am happiest and most fulfilled.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN, watched by more Americans than any other news channel. Now back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING with Betty Nguyen and Tony Harris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Well, good morning. We have a look at our top stories right now. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Iraq today. She met briefly with U.S. troops and embassy staff during the surprised trip. Rice is stressing the importance of drafting a new constitution by the August deadline.
Meanwhile, the bodies of 34 Iraqis were found in three separate locations this weekend. All the victims are men, 10 of them, Iraqi soldiers. Now some were tortured and shot to death, some were beheaded.
And Mexican president Vicente Fox is being blasted for comments comparing African-Americans to Mexican immigrants. In discussing U.S. immigration policy, President Fox said that Mexicans are doing work that not even blacks in the U.S. want to do. So we're asking you this morning: Should Mexican President Vicente Fox apologize for that comment? We are reading those e-mails coming right up.
HARRIS: Almost a year after Massachusetts legalized gay marriage the nation remains divided on the issue. A new nationwide poll by the "Boston Globe" finds half of the people questioned, disapprove of same-sex marriages, just 37 percent approve of the unions, also, half of the people asked also said unions from Massachusetts, were gay marriages are legal, should not be recognized in their states.
NGUYEN: Well, we do have a unique opportunity, here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, to take a longer look at some of the issues that really matter to you, like the same-sex marriage debate. Our investigative unit went to Montana, a state you might not think is on the cutting-edge of the issue, but as our Jonathan Freed found out, alternative families are demanding to be recognized.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Carla Grayson and Adrianne Neff may not seem like activist and nestled away in Montana they felt worlds away from the gay marriage battles grabbing headlines in Massachusetts and San Francisco, but as a lesbian couple, living in a state where gay marriage has long been prohibited, they didn't have access to partner benefit like health insurance and for a couple with a young child, that was too big a price to pay.
CARLA GRAYSON, LESBIAN PLAINTIFF: We have a child and so we realized, oh, OK, we're in many more ways a more traditional family unit that people would understand, like why it would be important for us to have those health benefits.
FREED: The couple had been generally accepted on campus at the University of Montana in Missoula, where Carla Grayson worked, but community reaction was very different once they filed suit against the school and the state.
GRAYSON: Somebody broke into our house in the middle of the night, they soaked rope and rags in gasoline, and then laid them throughout the house.
One of the things -- the images of that that still stays with me that was this person laid rope over my son's toys. So there were toys, plastic toys melted into the floor. So whoever came into our house, we're talking about killing a child. And I think you have got to wonder, that's an incredible amount of hate.
FREED: Burned out of their home, Carla and Adrianne didn't back off their case and in late December, the state's highest court sided with the couple in a split, 4-3 decision. Justice Jim Nelson wrote an outspoken concurring opinion.
JUDGE JIM NELSON, MONTANA SUPREME COURT: Health insurance in our country anymore is a huge benefit. In many cases, I think it's more important to people than what they get paid, and to deny a class of people that economic benefit, simply because of their sexual orientation, their gender orientation, at least under my view, under our constitution is wrong, it's discrimination, purely and simply.
FREED: It's an opinion that sparked protest. Justice Nelson says he's a bit surprised by the criticism, but he says no one should be surprised Montana is out in front of the civil rights issue.
NELSON: We have a very visionary people-oriented constitution and, at least in my view, it's my job to give voice to that constitution, to give voice to those unique provisions and to give to people the rights that that unique constitution protects. That's our job.
FREED: Montana is known for its live and let live attitude, but it's also known for its social conservatism. (on camera): The state supreme court ruling came less than two months after 70 percent of voters here approved a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Now, some social conservatives feel that the court has stepped on the spirit of the vote and is frustrating the will of the people. Jeff Laszloffy is the head of the Montana Family Foundation. While a state lawmaker, he led the effort to pass the constitutional marriage ban.
JEFF LASZLOFFY, MONTANA FAMILY FOUNDATION: I saw the issue being taken away from the people. I saw the courts playing a greater role in whether or not the definition of marriage would be changed, and I believed that the people should have the say, the final decision.
FREED (voice-over): He sees Justice Nelson and the court decision as examples of improper judicial activism.
LASZLOFFY: Most justices and judges are -- stay within the constraints of the judicial branch of government and don't try to play legislator. I believe they did in this case, though.
FREED: For many here, the state of gay rights in Montana is now unclear. The marriage ban remains, but the state's highest court has recognized that under the Montana constitution, equal protection extends to same sex couples. For Carla and Adrianne:
GRAYSON: We were really glad that at least this one small step forward for civil rights and that that the court had un -- had acknowledged in some small way that we are really are a family.
FREED: That more than justices the enormous price they paid.
Jonathan freed, CNN, Helena, Montana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And good morning, Atlanta! Well, the cloud deck, I was going to say, it's lifting a bit, but no, it seem to be shrinking, sinking.
NGUYEN: Wishful thinking.
HARRIS: Over the city. We're going to come back with the forecast for Atlanta and the rest of the nation when CNN SUNDAY MORNING returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. Check out. A saucy story for nervous brides to be, before walking down the church aisle, one man wants you to walk down this aisle and try Jennifer's Hightailin' Hot Sauce. Oh yeah, based on Jennifer Wilbanks, the bride to be as you recall, who recently ran away just days before her Georgia wedding. You knew it would happen sometime, right? The merchant says the hot sauce could be a cure for cold feet.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jennifer's Hightailin' Hot Sauce, and if you read over here on the warning label, this sauce may cause you to seek intense professional help voluntarily.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Too much. All right, with that we are going to hightail it over to Kathleen Hays in Washington with the latest "On the Story".
Hi Kathleen.
KATHLEEN HAYS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well hi. I'm just thinking one of the other products, you know...
NGUYEN: Oh yeah.
HAY: Jennifer running shoes.
HARRIS: No.
NGUYEN: Go to eBay, I am sure you'll find tons of them.
HAYS: Well, I'll tell you what we're going to be "On the Story" today, from here in Washington to New York, Los Angeles, and Baghdad. Suzanne Malveaux talks about the light plane security scare in Washington this week. Should two confused guys from Pennsylvania really get all of the blame?
Jane Arraf is "On the Story" of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's surprised visit in Iraq, today. Kelly Wallace on the prom story what she found when she followed, really and truly, two New Jersey seniors to the night of their prom. And "Newsweek's" Alison Samuels is in Los Angeles about the Michael Jackson trial, all kinds of hot stuff this week and all coming up, right now, on "On the Story". Back to you, Betty and Tony.
NGUYEN: Can't wait to see it, thanks, Kathleen.
HARRIS: We're going to get to your e-mail responses to our question this morning: Should Mexican President Vicente Fox apologize for some racially charged comment? Do I have a moment just to read this to you, just so that you know, the frame it up for you. He said, "There is no doubt that the Mexican men and women full of dignity, willpower, and a capacity for work, are doing the work that not even blacks want to do in the United States. Well, that touched off a firestorm of e-mails this morning.
NGUYEN: Oh yes, it did. Mark in New York says, "President Fox spoke the truth from his heart. Lots of the jobs that Mexicans do, Americans 'even blacks,' won't do. You can choose to look at it as a derogatory comment, but let's face it...it is the TRUTH. And I am black."
HARRIS: OK and this from Steve, "My husband owns a construction company and he cannot find blacks or whites that are willing to work five or six days a week. He is willing to pay a good salary but they still will not show up for work. The only people that will show up for work have been the Mexican workers. Truth hurts."
NGUYEN: And Duane has a different take on it, he says, "Well it must be very gratifying to be president of a country where so many of your citizens must risk their lives to illegally enter a foreign country to be able to work for very low wages just to feed their families."
HARRIS: Ouch!
NGUYEN: We appreciate your comments all morning long. Boy, it is a hot-button issue.
HARRIS: Yeah, it really is. All right, let's get a final check of the weather for the weekend from Jacqui Jeras in for Rob Marciano this morning.
Good morning, Jacqui.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hey, good morning, guys. I saw your story a little bit earlier about Hurricane Preparedness Week. That begins today and we're going to have a series of reports of this coming up in the week ahead. You want more information on hurricane, you can go to www.nhc.noaa.gov. And tomorrow at 12:30 Eastern time, NOAA will be releasing their forecast for the 2005 season. Dr. Gray has already done so, expecting an above normal season and I think that NOAA will be likely concurring for that are. And just for fun, one of my favorite things to do, don't ask me why, take a look at names expected. And notice, Betty, Tony, no hurricane Betty's or Tonys out there or Jacqui's, there never is. There you go.
NGUYEN: Has ever been a Betty, Tony or a Jacqui?
JERAS: I'll look it up for you. I'll let you know.
HARRIS: There is a Hurricane Betty on this set every weekend. Sorry Betty. Sorry.
NGUYEN: Oh, Tony.
JERAS: She is, isn't she?
NGUYEN: Get out of here.
JERAS: You know we love you, Betty.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: I was going to say, that's high-tech.
HARRIS: That's high-tech, isn't' it?
NGUYEN: Exactly, windshield wipers on your camera, that is high- tech.
JERAS: I love that.
HARRIS: Thank you Jacqui. And that is it for us this morning. Thank you very much for watching.
NGUYEN: But we do want to see you next weekend,. we'll be here. "On the Story" is next.
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