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CNN Sunday Morning

Bush Struggles to Recover From Tough Week; Explosions Rock India

Aired October 30, 2005 - 09:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone. If you're just waking up, Hurricane Beta slammed into Nicaragua about an hour ago. It came ashore as a Category 2 hurricane, packing 110-mile-an- hour winds. Thousands of people have been evacuated.
It is 7:00 p.m. in India, where cleanup is under way. Some stores in New Delhi are back in business after yesterday's bombings at two crowded markets and on a bus. At least 59 people were killed. Another 210 wounded. Police are investigating a group who has claimed responsibility.

The public will get to pay its respects to Rosa Parks today. Her body will lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington tonight and tomorrow morning. Parks is credited with jump-starting the civil rights movement when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man.

All Hallows Eve.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: It sure is, yes.

HARRIS: Hallows -- October 30th.

Good morning, everyone. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Tony Harris.

NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Good morning, everybody. We want to thank you for starting your day with us.

Here's the latest radar imagery on Hurricane Beta, the 23rd -- oh, goodness, just think of that, 23rd named storm of the season. The storm is hitting Nicaragua as a Category 2 hurricane.

Now the National Hurricane Center has Beta packing 105-mile-per- hour winds when it hit the eastern coast of Nicaragua. The storm could bring 25 inches of rain to that area. We'll keep a watch.

Beta's slow speed has given ample time for evacuations. That's the good news. Thousands have fled from Nicaragua's coastal fishing villages, but many refuse to leave their homes. That is a big worry for state official, who fear the relative rickety structures may not hold up against hurricane-strength winds.

Beta has already hit San Andres, Colombia and the island of Providencia, where ripped roofs and toppled trees are the norm. But as of now, no storm-related deaths have been reported. For the latest on Hurricane Beta, we turn now to CNN meteorologist Brad Huffines, who has been keeping a close eye on this storm.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: And you definitely want to stay tuned to CNN as we track Hurricane Beta. We are your hurricane headquarters.

Now we're going to talk about cheap political payback. That is what former U.S. ambassador Joe Wilson says prompted the outing of his wife, CIA operative Valerie Plame. In an opinion piece in Saturday's "L.A. Times," Wilson laid the blame squarely on the Bush administration. Wilson says the White House wanted to punish him for publicly criticizing the president's justification for going to war against Iraq two years ago.

In the editorial, Wilson praised the grand jury's indictment of former vice presidential aide Scooter Libby. He wrote, "We are heartened that our system of justice is working and appreciative of the work done by of our fellow citizens, who devoted two years of their lives to grand jury duty."

He goes on to say, "The attacks on Valerie and me were upsetting, disrupter and vicious. They amounted to character assassination. Senior administration officials used the power of the White House to make our lives hell for the past 27 months, but more important, they did it as part of a clear effort to cover up the lies and disinformation used to justify the invasion of Iraq. That is the ultimate crime."

And we want to tell you about this program note. You can hear more from Joe Wilson himself. He is going to be a guest in a special edition of "THE SITUATION ROOM" with Wolf Blitzer. That is tomorrow night at 7:00 Eastern.

And another reporter caught up in the CIA leak scandal is also going public now that Libby has been indicted. It's "TIME" magazine reporter Matt Cooper.

According to the special prosecutor, Scooter Libby testified Cooper was among those he talked to about Wilson's wife. In tomorrow's edition of "TIME" magazine, Cooper writes, "I was surprised last week that the Libby indictment even mentioned me. But apparently his recollection of the conversation differed from mine in a way that led the prosecutor to think he was lying."

HARRIS: An embattled President Bush returns to Washington from Camp David this afternoon. He wants to take the spotlight off of his political troubles, like the Libby indictment, and create some positive buzz.

Live now to White House Correspondent Dana Bash.

Dana, easy to say, tough to do. DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right. You know, they understand here that going from what they even understand, they say, was the week from hell to positive political buzz is going to be a Herculean task for them at this White House, Tony. But one of the first moves we'll likely see to that end will be perhaps as early as tomorrow. The president announcing a new pick for Supreme Court.

Now the president is at Camp David, been there all weekend. We understand he has been doing some talking, deliberating, discussing with some top aides about who he's going to pick. Aides say that before, when he picked Harriet Miers, one of his top priorities was to pick a woman to replace Sandra Day O'Connor. Well, that's not necessarily his top priority now.

What they've learned, one of the many lessons they've learned from the debacle, frankly, of the Harriet Miers nomination is that they want to pick somebody with a strong, clear judicial record. And that is something that the president is looking at right now. They hope that will help to heal the rifts in the conservative base -- Tony.

HARRIS: Hey, Dana, back to the Friday indictment, is there any thought in the White House being given to cleaning house?

BASH: Well, certainly that is something that the president and his top aides are hearing from outside advisers, particularly those who were in second term administrations where that actually helped, like the Reagan administration. Even the Clinton administration, where they had some serious problems, and bringing in some fresh blood did help.

Now, talking to people who are inside the White House, people who are close to the White House, they understand that this is a very small group of people, many of whom have been here for a long time. The chief of staff and other top aides who have been really running at full speed, full tilt you know, 12, 14 hours a day for five-plus years, and they're tired, and frankly, there is concern that they're simply too insular.

Right now, talking to people who are close to the White House, there does not seem to be an immediate appetite for that. This is a president who likes to have his comfort zone, people around him whom he knows very well and is comfortable with. But, you know, it really depends on whether or not this White House can create what you said, positive buzz, move forward, change things between now an the first of the year, more likely starting with the first of the year. We'll see.

HARRIS: Dana Bash, easy to say, tough to do.

BASH: That's right.

HARRIS: White House Correspondent Dana Bash for us.

Dana, thank you.

BASH: Thank you.

HARRIS: Former president Bill Clinton calls on fellow Democrats to stand up and fight back if they want to regain power in Washington. Clinton spoke in Austin, saying Democrats can't be afraid to talk about issues like abortion. And he said they should fight back against personal attacks from conservatives.

Massachusetts Senator John Kerry is weighing in on the CIA leak scandal and Libby's indictment. Last night in New York, the former Democratic presidential candidate wondered aloud what might motivate Libby to allegedly lie to investigators.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: I think the larger implication is why is there a coverup? If Mr. Libby lied, what was he lying to accomplish? And does this go do the larger question of the White House's efforts to stop criticism of the war and to try to try to change the facts? Those issues still need to be resolved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Other issues on the table, trimming your budget and checking it twice. Trying to find ways to afford gas for your car and home. With rising fuel costs, no doubt last week's news that big oil companies made bigger than usual profits during the past three months caught your attention.

ExxonMobil posted a 75 percent increase in third quarter profits, creating nearly $10 billion. That's billion, with a "B."

Same thing at Royal Dutch Shell. Profits jumped 68 percent, to $9 billion there.

And don't forget about our e-mail question this morning. It is related. Who do you hold accountable for high gas prices?

Boy, we are getting a flurry of responses.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: E-mail us. Don't hold back. E-mail us your thoughts at weekends@cnn.com. And we'll read those responses on the air.

HARRIS: Many people in India are less than 48 hours from a huge religious celebration. But at this hour they're counting the cost today from yesterday's deadly explosions in the capital city of New Delhi. At least 59 people were killed and 210 wounded in three blasts, two at crowded markets and one on a bus just before -- days before a major religious celebration.

Shops are reopening in the market areas after police shut businesses Saturday to investigate the explosions. The prime minister says it is no doubt that it is the work of terrorists. Security is tightened in most Indian cities in the wake of the blast.

Let's get the latest now from CNN's Satinder Bindra in New Delhi.

And Satinder, yesterday at about this time it was evening in New Delhi. What was the scene like? What did you see at first light?

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, clearly the scene yesterday was very somber. A lot of damage and destruction, and today people trying to pick up the pieces of their lives.

The police have launched a major investigation. They're saying what happened was a terrorist attack. But so far they've not made the finger of blame on any group or organization. But in the meantime, those people who have been most affected are trying to go about their business, they're trying to pick up the pieces of their lives.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BINDRA (voice over): Bank executive Satish Ochani (ph) was at work when he received word several of his family members had been injured in one of the blasts. By the time he reached this hospital, his 26-year-old sister-in-law was dead. Five other members of his family are still being treated for burns and other injuries.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My mother-in-law, sister-in-law here...

BINDRA: "My mother-in-law, sister-in-law, wife and two girls are at this hospital," he says. "Three members of my family are still critical."

More than 55 people were killed, and almost 200 people were injured in Saturday's blasts.

(on camera): Police are still investigating what they describe as a terrorist attack. But 24 hours after the explosions, they still haven't revealed any details. In fact, they've just announced a $2,200 reward for any information leading to the bombers.

(voice over): Two of the explosions were in crowded marketplaces where thousands were shopping for the Indian festival of Diwali. Among the shoppers, software engineer Eron Paduarj's (ph) parents. His mother escape unhurt, but even after visiting the morgue and all the city's hospitals, Paduarja (ph) has still not been able to find his father.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know what happened to my dad. He's nowhere to be found.

BINDRA: More than 30 people were killed in this south Delhi market. But the day after, several store owners, including 42-year- old Argin Kumar (ph), are busy cleaning up. "if I cry, it's not going to help," he says. "I need strength to rebuild my life."

Strength and resilience is also what Satich Ochani (ph) will need in the coming days and weeks. As he's comforted by his friends, Ochani (ph) says he remains disoriented and confused.

"I don't want to say anything to the people who did this," he says. "I just hope my government takes notice and wakes up."

After these attacks, the government has increased security nationwide. It may be too late for these families who, until just yesterday, were planning weeklong festivities. Now they're cremating their dead.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BINDRA: Tony, the Indian festival of Diwali, or the festival of lights is just 48 hours away. But many people in this city of New Delhi just don't feel in the festive mood anymore.

HARRIS: Totally understandable. CNN's Satinder Bindra for us in New Delhi.

Satinder, thank you.

And still ahead this morning, another murder scene in California by another disturbed teenager. Details next.

NGUYEN: And later this hour, honoring the fallen. Through the stroke of a brush, how a group of artists is paying tribute to those who paid with their lives in battle.

HARRIS: You're watching CNN SUNDAY MORNING. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Our top stories this morning, if you're just joining us, Hurricane Beta has made its way on shore in Nicaragua with winds at 105 miles per hour. It is a strong Category 2 hurricane and could bring up to 25 inches of rain, prompting flooding and mudslide fears. Thousands have been evacuated from Nicaragua's coast.

It's a number hidden in a report to Congress, and it indicates the U.S. military may be keeping track of how many Iraqi civilians are being killed in the war. The report says nearly 26,000 Iraqis were killed or wounded in insurgent attacks from the start of 2004 to September 2005. The number is considered a very rough estimate and does not include civilians who may have died in coalition-led attacks.

Florida's death toll from Hurricane Wilma continues to rise. Twenty-one deaths are now blamed on the storm in Florida. Some during the cleanup.

NGUYEN: Well, three people are dead this morning in Orange County, California, after a 19-year-old went on what appears to be a random shooting spree yesterday, and then killed himself. Authorities say William Prun (ph) was dressed in black cape, helmet and paintball mask when he shot a 45-year-old man and his 21-year-old daughter in an upscale neighborhood.

He then walked across the street and fired into another home before killing himself. Police are currently investigating his background. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We had no prior contact with the suspect. We had no prior calls to the location. I will say, though, that his behavior is definitely strange and bizarre.

Anyone that leaves his home with a shotgun dressed in a dark cape with some type of a helmet on is definitely -- does exhibit strange behavior. I'm not sure exactly what the problem was.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Now, police Prun (ph) near lived his victims, but they say his relationship to them and a motive for the shootings are still not known.

And another teen remains in jail as a suspect of a high-profile killing. Scott Dyleski is charged in the killing of Pam Vitale, the wife of a prominent defense attorney, Daniel Horowitz. Meanwhile, Dyleski's mother has been released from jail in Contra Costa County, California.

Esther Fielding had been charged as an accessory to murder in the Vitale death. The charge was later dropped when she agreed to testify truthfully at her son's trial.

These cases, like so many others, rely on forensic science to determine the guilt or innocence of the suspect. Would you believe there is no regulation for experts working in crime labs? That their facts are rarely double-checked?

"CNN PRESENTS" investigates.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice over): From the way it's presented on television shows, like "CSI," or in courtrooms, you would think forensic evidence like fingerprints, hair samples, bullet analysis, is infallible, high-tech detectives nailing the culprit with scientific precision. But it turns out the aura of infallibility is a myth.

Forensic evidence is subject to human error. Crime labs are unregulated. Standards with ad hoc or even nonexistent. And fingerprint identification, the gold standard of forensic evidence, is more art than science.

Fingerprint identification has been used in courts for almost 100 years. Even critics say examiners probably get it right most of the time. The problem is juries are led to believe it's accurate 100 percent of the time. And surprisingly, the reliability of fingerprint identification has never been tested.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There hasn't been a validation study designed to measure the accuracy of fingerprint identification.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And there is evidence plenty of mistakes get made. The International Association for Identification tests fingerprint examiners who want to be certified. Nearly half of those who take the test fail it. And those are the ones who take the trouble to get certified.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But you don't need to be certified to testify in court. There are -- there are thousands of uncertified examiners testifying in this country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Now, that's an eye-opener. And you can watch the entire "CNN PRESENTS" investigation called "Reasonable Doubt." That's tonight, right here on CNN, at 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific -- Tony.

HARRIS: Now Betty, another hurricane in the Caribbean, another headache in the making. We are tracking Beta all day long at CNN. An update is coming up.

Plus, honoring an icon. A nation pays final respects today to civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks. We'll tell you how coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: CNN is your hurricane headquarters. A live look now at the radar with Hurricane Beta, Betty, and Central America in mind.

Beta flirted briefly as a Category 3 hurricane this morning, but made landfall as a Category 2 roughly 90 minutes ago. Expected to drop as much as 10 to 15 inches of rain. We haven't even started talking about storm surge or anything. That could trigger mudslides in the mountainous areas.

CNN meteorologist Brad Huffines has more on Beta, plus our weather outlook coming up in just a couple of minutes.

NGUYEN: Right now we want to know what the situation is like in the hurricane zone on the ground in Nicaragua. Joining us now from Nicaragua is journalist Rosemary Thornton. Rosemary is in the area.

And the first thing I want to know, since it's been about two- and-a-half hours since it made landfall, what's the damage like, what's the situation like where you are?

ROSEMARY THORNTON, JOURNALIST, MANAGUA, NICARAGUA: OK. I'm in Managua. It's cloudy here, but there has been no rain yet. Planta Cozo (ph) is a different story. The hurricane touched land there at 4:30 in the morning. And as of -- as of 1:00 a.m. this morning, there has been no power in that area.

The hurricane, right now its winds are at 60 kilometers per hour, and the radius is of 30. So it has lost a lot of strength.

NGUYEN: Have a lot of people taken the warnings to heart and headed to shelters?

THORNTON: Yes. Yes. About 45,000 people are in shelters. There is some report that there has been flooding reported in the areas, a couple of trees fallen, roofs that have been blown off. But so far, no loss of human life has been reported.

NGUYEN: Let's get back to those shelters for a minute, because there was talk that the fear that these shelters would not be able to sustain a hurricane of this strength. What do you know about that?

THORNTON: Well, at least these shelters are made out of concrete. These are mostly schools, government buildings. The houses where these people live are basically wooden shacks, so anything built with concrete is better than what they're living in.

NGUYEN: Yes, but of course. And those folks staying at home, did you find -- I know 45,000 are in shelters, but there is also a lot of word of people deciding just to ride this one out at home.

THORNTON: Yes. They think about one-third of the population stayed. But two-thirds of the population did move. So they're pretty happy about that at civil defense.

NGUYEN: That's good news, except for the fact that this hurricane has come ashore. And of course the damage has to be assessed. And as you mentioned, the power is out in many of the areas.

Rosemary Thornton in Nicaragua. We appreciate the update.

Thank you.

And straight ahead this morning, we want to tell you about portraits of the fallen.

You've got to see these, Tony.

A group of artists, well, they've just done some remarkable work. And it's a touching way of honoring soldiers killed in Iraq. We'll talk with one of them next.

HARRIS: And later, Hallows Eve is upon us. We don't have any tricks for you, but we do have a treat, America's first black horror novelist. Who knew? She joins us live to talk about -- you would think there would be more -- to talk about her books and her new movie thriller.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And now in the news, Japan and the United States agreed to reduce troop levels on the island of Okinawa by about half. The decision was announced after talks at Pentagon between defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld and a Japanese delegation. Under the agreement, about 7,000 U.S. Marines will be moved from Okinawa to the island of Guam.

There's still major fallout from Hurricane Wilma in south Florida. Motorists are still waiting for up to three hours to get gas. Long lines have formed at gas stations. But Governor Jeb Bush says more gas stations are coming back online as supplies come in.

It is not a Bentley or a Lamborghini, it's a 1975 Ford Escort and it sold for a cool $690,000. The car was once owned by Pope John Paul II. Now it belongs to a Houston multimillionaire. The car has no hub caps, no radio, and no air conditioning.

NGUYEN: A grim milestone was reached this week in the Iraq war. The death toll of American troops now exceeds the 2,000 mark. Now at least 2,014 members of the U.S. military have been killed since the war began. The latest count of these include three U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq yesterday in three separate incidents.

In this morning's "Soldier's Story," we remember the 2,014 servicemen and women who have died in Iraq. In tribute, artist Kaziah Hancock formed Project Compassion. She and other artists, friends, will paint or draw the pictures of fallen soldiers and they're going to do it absolutely for free. Joining me now is one of those artists. Jim Morin, is live in Miami this morning.

Jim, first of all, you are a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist. How did you get involved in this project?

JIM MORIN, PROJECT COMPASSION ARTIST: Well, I know Marie Wolf pretty well, she's been a friend and she's also a colleague, an excellent political cartoonist in her own right and she had found out about this, I think, was helping spread the word. And I kind of waited for about six months or so. I was a little nervous about getting involved and painting on deadline as opposed to drawing cartoons on deadline, which I'm pretty much used to, this is a taller order. And, but I was thrilled to become involved in it.

NGUYEN: It's really a neat project and I know it means so much to the families that receive these pictures. Tell me, do you get to learn much about the people you're painting besides just seeing their picture?

MORIN: Yes, absolutely. The family members send us a detailed biography and talk about how they feel about these people and it's essential, really, because by the time I finish reading -- for example, I just did a gentleman named Lance Corporate Stephen Tyler Kates, and by the time I finished reading about 20 pages about him, I felt like I almost knew him, and that was essential to painting him. Because when you paint someone...

(CROSSTALK)

NGUYEN: Yeah, are just beautiful. And I was going to say, because looking at them, it's almost as if their personalities come through.

MORIN: Yeah. Well, it really, you know, it's a lot of work. Most of these, by way, I think are done by Kaziah and it is -- you -- some of yourself comes through, but mostly it's those people, because you look at them for hours and hours and hours. You look at these photographs that the families send you.

NGUYEN: You know, I was reading that you've actually had conversations with these paintings. Tell us about that.

MORIN: With the paintings, I have conversations -- I just have imaginary conversations with the people, because you're looking at this photograph, and on one hand you're painting them, but on the other hand, you know, you have to -- you have to -- I just end up talking to them almost. I mean it's -- you have -- it's a strange kind of relationship. I've only done one of these, and it's going to be -- I'm sure, a more interesting relationship the more I do them. But you really do get to know them a little bit. And it's important to do so because it becomes it comes out in the painting.

NGUYEN: You know, I can tell by just talking to you and listening to your voice and what you're saying that this is really enriched you, this has really touched you.

MORIN: It has, because as a political cartoonist, I'm dealing with the politics of it, I'm dealing with President Bush and, you know, Secretary Rumsfeld. But this is personal. And it doesn't matter how you feel about the war, this is a totally apolitical organization, and, it you know, you can be for it or against it, all of us, all of us really feel for these soldiers who have lost their lives and we are, you know, incredibly appreciative for those ones that go over there.

NGUYEN: And quickly, have you gotten to see what your painting an the paintings of these others mean to the families that receive them?

MORIN: That's a funny question, because the first painting that I've done, we had to go through a hurricane and we went through a tropical storm, which delayed finishing the painting. I finished the painting, brought it to the framer, and then we got Hurricane Wilma.

NGUYEN: My goodness.

MORIN: And my framing shop I think just got power back on Friday. So next week I get it and next week I'll FedEx it to the wife of the soldier, which I look forward to doing.

NGUYEN: Yes, no doubt, she is so appreciative. Jim Morin, you're doing a great job. It's a wonderful thing that you do. We appreciate it and we thank you for your time.

MORIN: Thank you very much.

NGUYEN: Tony.

HARRIS: People across the country are paying their respects to the woman known as the mother of the Civil Rights movement, Rosa Parks. A memorial was held in her honor Saturday in Montgomery, Alabama, the same city where she sparked the movement by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man back in 1955. The public will also get to pay its respects to Miss Parks. Her body will lie in honor at the U.S. capitol rotunda in Washington tonight and tomorrow morning sheet first woman ever allowed to do so. Rosa Parks' coffin will lie in honor tonight from 6:30 p.m. until midnight. We will have live coverage as President Bush pays tribute to the Civil Rights icon. The coffin will also be on display for three hours Monday morning from 7:00 until 10:00. Her funeral is Wednesday in Detroit.

And checking stories across America now, negotiations are scheduled to resume this morning in a Philadelphia transit labor dispute. The union says it will strike if a deal isn't reached by midnight. Workers are seeking more money and disciplinary rule changes. A strike would virtually shut down all subway bus and trolley services in the city and surrounding suburbs.

In Sacramento, California, dueling demonstrations over a proposed ballot initiative to create state border police. Authorities report at least three arrests. Rival groups are at odds at how best to secure California's border with Mexico to stop illegal immigrants and drug smugglers.

Former Soviet Union president Mikhail Gorbachev is Lindsborg, Kansas promoting a Chess for Peace initiative. The effort started by a Russian immigrant organizes games among traveling players and on the Internet. He hopes to make Lindsborg a Chess Mecca. Two world champion players square off there today.

They come in all shapes and sizes and from all over the world, the most popular stories on our web, cnn.com. Joining us now with a rundown of the top stories, Shannon Cook from the dot com desk.

Shannon good to see you today.

SHANNON COOK, CNN DOT COM DESK: Good morning. And would you believe the most popular story is -- of course you would -- is about Pope John Paul II and his 30-year-old automobile. I'll get to that one in a second, thank you. For the top 10 reports our users are clicking on most, log onto our Web site and click on "Most Popular" at the top right-hand side of our screen.

Getting a lot of attention at the moment, a story out of southern California, a 19-year-old wearing a cape and paintball mask went on a shooting rampage there Saturday. The teen killed a man and the man's daughter before committing suicide.

Another popular story on the web impacts folks Central America. Hurricane Beta has made landfall in Nicaragua. This morning winds are clocking in at 105-miles-per-hour. It's now a Category 2 hurricane and could dump 15 inches of rain. Thousands of people have evacuated to shelters and Honduras is under a state of alert. This Atlantic hurricane season has seen a record 23 named storms. Beta is the 13th hurricane.

So, which story is most popular at the moment? Well, how's this for a holy car? A pale blue 1975 Ford Escort that was once owned by Pope John Paul II fetched nearly 700,000 bucks at an auction in Las Vegas. The seller had hoped to get closer to $3 million for the car? Too bad. The car is believed to have been the only one the late pontiff ever owned. It went to a Houston multimillionaire who plans to put it in a museum he wants to build in his hometown. Apparently the seller really didn't want to lose the car but he was bankrupt, so he had he to get rid of it.

HARRIS: Oh, really?

COOK: Yeah. Well he got rid of it all right.

HARRIS: Yeah. He did.

NGUYEN: $700,000!

COOK: He didn't get his $3 million, though.

NGUYEN: How do you put money on a holy car like that? You know? .

COOK: I know, it seems disgusting in a way.

NGUYEN: I know.

HARRIS: Shannon, good to see you. Thanks.

COOK: Thank you.

NGUYEN: Well, she has writ an number of acclaimed books and has a new film on the way and she's also one of few African-American horror novelists in the U.S. What inspires her unique take on the world? She's tell us next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And good morning, Chicago! Home of the World Series champion White Stockings. We'll have your complete weather forecast coming up. You're watching CNN SUNDAY MORNING, we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Whether you're a he relaxing or heading out the door here's the check of the top stories today for you. Nearly 60 people are dead and hundreds more wounded after yesterday's deadly string of blasts in New Delhi, India. Police are investigating a report claim -- a reported claim of responsibility. Earlier the government blamed unidentified terrorists.

How will the U.S. fight a super flu? That's the question. President Bush will give his answer to that question this week. He's going to reveal his strategy on how to prepare for the next flu pandemic, whether it's bird flu or some other deadly strain.

And finally, police have no motive for a shooting rampage in an upscale southern California neighborhood, Saturday. They say a 19- year-old in black cape and paintball mask fatally shot a man and his daughter. The gunman then killed himself.

HARRIS: You know, you've probably have seen plenty of Dracula and Frankenstein movies this Halloween, so how about Blair Underwood in a supernatural romantic thriller? Wow! Underwood is teaming up with one writer that's paving her own way. Author Tananarive Due is one of the few African-American horror writers in the United States, her latest novel "Joplin's Ghost" eases into suspense and horror with the sweet sounds of rhythm and blues. Tananarive Due joins us from Los Angeles this morning.

Good to talk to you!

TANANARIVE DUE, AUTHOR: Good morning. Great to talk to you.

HARRIS: Well, let me ask you this. Sort of tongue in cheek here, as I get into it. When you go to the African-American horror writer's association convention, in whatever city, how crowded is that convention hall?

DUE: You know? It's -- I wouldn't call it a convention hall. It might be a little meeting room. It's more crowd than it used to be. When I first started writing novels in 1995 I didn't know of any other black horror writers. There actually is a regular horror writer's association with a handful of black members. But you know, since I've been writing, you know, this is just a testament to how everything is opening up -- there are others coming along. There's a woman named L.A. Banks writing "Vampire Huntress" and Brandon Massey, he did an anthology of short stories by black writers. So we are a growing group.

HARRIS: So, you consider yourself a bit of a trailblazer here?

DUE: You know, I do like to look at myself that way. But there were people who blazed a trail before me and it's ironic, I don't think the publishing industry would have been knocking on my door for black horror novels if not for Terry McMillan and even thought she doesn't write horror, although if you are dating you can consider some of the things she writes about as horror. But she doesn't write horror but she really opened the field for commercial black writers and that was why the publishing industry was willing to sort of take notice and say, oh, let's give this book a chance.

HARRIS: Yeah, but you know what, I was trying to think of -- before we get to your new book -- your latest book, I was trying to think of white horror writers. And I could only think of Stephen King and Ann Rice, so I'm wondering, how big a deal is this?

DUE: There are actually a lot of white horror writers. You have -- there's John Saul and a lot of people consider Dean Koontz to be a horror writer. There are a lot of names. When you go to the horror section, there area a lot of names there. You'd be surprised. But you know, what's very interesting Ann Rice has a huge following, and so does Stephen King. I think a lot of people read Stephen King who don't even consider themselves horror readers because he's captured the essence of the universal character. And that's really my role model in terms of what I try to do in my own work. Yes, characters are often black. I'm writing from my experience and sort of black culture and black middle class experience, but really you're talking about universal things of loss and immortality and love and that's really what I striving to accomplish.

HARRIS: Tananarive, how many lives have you lived? I mean I'm looking at your resume here. You've been a journalist, you've been a columnist, you've written non-fiction, now you're writing fiction. You're writing in the horror genre.

DUE: (INAUDIBLE).

HARRIS: You've always wanted to be a writer, it sounds like.

DUE: I have. I was really, really lucky since the age of four, I knew I wanted to write. My parents were very, very, very supportive of that dream of mine. And what's interesting, you know, I was raised by two Civil Rights activists. My mother, Patricia Stevens Due spent 49 days in jail for sitting at a lunch counter in Tallahassee, Florida, in 1960 and made some history herself. My father is a Civil Rights attorney, John Due. And I really felt a sense of wanting to make a contribution. And I was a little nervous about writing supernatural suspense in the beginning because I was afraid I would not be respected. And it was through a chance conversation with Ann Rice on the phone. She did not know I was an aspiring writer, but I was working for the "Miami Herald" and I had a chance to talk to her and she put me at ease without knowing it, by letting me know, you know, she's not worried about people not respecting her work. She was making an impact in her own way.

HARRIS: Well, you mentioned your father and your mother. I have to ask you what your thoughts are on this day about Rosa Parks.

DUE: Oh, yes, absolutely. You know, such mixed feelings. Of course, its see sad when we lose anyone, especially an icon, but I have to say, I also feel a great sense of just satisfaction in seeing how she's been treated in her passing, because she will live forever. She is an immortal. You know, I co-authored "Freedom in the Family: A Mother daughter Memoir of the Fight for Civil Rights" with my mom. And what that really taught me is that it was a series of individuals who stood up, or in the case of Mrs. Parks, sat down and changed this nation. And I hope that's the lesson people will walk away with, is the understanding that it only takes one person, one person to make a difference.

HARRIS: "Joplin's Ghost," very quickly, I'm sorry, I sort of mismanaged the clock here. Tell us about your new book and the message of it.

DUE: "Joplin's Ghost" is about an R&B singer, and Alicia Keys- type, who discovers the ghost of ragtime, Scott Joplin, is following her. And on the surface, like a lot of my books, it's a supernatural story. But underneath I'm really looking at the music industry then and now and the problems that have plagued it and continue to plague it.

HARRIS: Tananarive Due, good to see you, thanks for taking time. Thanks for getting up early out there in Los Angeles. We appreciate it.

DUE: Oh, thank you for having me on the show.

HARRIS: Thank you.

NGUYEN: She's really a dynamic. I'm looking forward to reading that. That looks like a good book. Yeah. I don't know, scary though. Yeah, that's not up my alley.

HARRIS: You can handle it, Betty. You're grown up! You can handle it!

NGUYEN: OK, we'll see. We'll see. I may be calling you in the middle of the night, "I'm scared!"

HARRIS: Yeah, exactly.

NGUYEN: All right, stay with us because up next we'll share some of your responses to this morning's e-mail question. There it is on the screen. Who do you hold accountable for high gas prices? We're getting a lot of thoughts on this, some good ones, too.

Also a fascinating feline tale. How in the world did this Wisconsin kitty end up in France of all places? We're going to tell you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: And this just in, two U.S. Soldiers have been arrested in Afghanistan for assaulting prisoners. That's what we are learning. Let's go now on the phone to CNN's Barbara Starr with the latest.

Barbara, what do you know?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Betty. This word now just coming from the U.S. Military which has released a statement within the last 10 minutes. Indeed charges have been filed against two U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. They are accused of striking detainees that were in their custody. The soldiers allegedly punched the detainees. That is the military statement saying they punched the detainees on the chest the soldiers -- the shoulders and stomach. Now the detainees did not require medical attention, but the charges against these two soldiers now include conspiracy to maltreat, assault, and dereliction of duty. If the charges are proven true, the military says it could lead to disciplinary action against the two soldiers.

Of course, this comes at an already-awkward time for military discipline in Afghanistan. The U.S. military and the Afghans are continuing to investigate that very difficult case of soldiers suspected of burning Taliban bodies and further misconduct related to that, making some statements about the burning of those bodies that the military considers inappropriate. That criminal investigation, a separate matter, goes on, Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. And gain, two U.S. soldiers have received charges for assaulting detainees. Barbara Starr on the phone with us. Barbara, thank you. I know we'll be checking in with you throughout the day.

HARRIS: And time to check in now with Howard Kurtz for a preview of what's ahead on CNN's "RELIABLE SOURCES."

Howard, good morning.

HOWARD KURTZ, HOST, RELIABLE SOURCES: Good morning to you. And coming up, lots of topic here to cover. Dana Milbank, David Frum, Elisabeth Bumiller, senior Washington reporters on the indictment of Dick Cheney's top aide, the collapse of Harriet Miers nomination, and how the media played a key role in both those stories.

Plus, the "New York Times" Baghdad bureau chief on a sad milestone in Iraq. A panel of top bloggers and Al Roker's hurricane moment. It's all ahead, 10:00 a.m. Eastern on "RELIABLE SOURCES."

HARRIS: OK, Howard, thank you. Our e-mail question of the day: Who's the blame for the high prices? Who are you blaming?

NGUYEN: Well Lee Jing says, "I wonder if anyone who drives a monstrous gas-guzzling SUV is willing to put the blame where it belongs -- with the man or woman in the mirror."

HARRIS: And this, "Who stood by and did absolutely nothing while allowing it all to happen? The talking heads at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, that's who."

NGUYEN: And Kenny C. says, "Tell Bush keep fooling around with Iraq and then work and gas prices in America will soon be $6 per gallon. Don't forget, Bush doesn't buy gas. The American taxpayers keep his ride full!"

Of course, we appreciate all your responses today. And we'll have another e-mail question for you next weekend.

HARRIS: And finally this morning, a stow-away cat is getting star treatment in France. Emily turned up in a cargo container of paper that had bee, shipped across the Atlantic. Workers heard her meows and were impressed with her coolness given the circumstances. Luckily, Emily was wearing a name tag. The company contacted her owners back in Wisconsin. They live near a paper warehouse and they say she went missing about a month ago. There's -- is that the reunion? No, that's a picture before. Now they're trying to figure out how to get Emily back home.

Talk about nine lives. OK. She's headed back home. That's a good thing. Good for Emily and her family.

Thanks for watching this morning, we'll see you back here next weekend.

HARRIS: "RELIABLE SOURCES" with Howard Kurtz begins after a short break.

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