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CNN Sunday Morning
Kidnapped Teen Found In South Carolina; Bombings in Iraq Kill Dozens
Aired September 17, 2006 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN ANCHOR, CNN SUNDAY MORNING: speech last week has caused in the Muslim world. The pope had quoted a 14th century manuscript that linked Islam and violence.
Meanwhile, an Italian nun has been shot to death in Somalia. It's unclear whether her death is linked to the controversy, but coming up in five minutes we'll have a closer look with our CNN Faith & Values Correspondent Delia Gallagher.
Bombings in Iraq killed dozens of people today. Most died in a series of car bomb attacks in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. A live report from Baghdad is just minutes away.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR, CNN SUNDAY MORNING: A tornado hop scotches across eastern South Dakota. Local reports there seem to indicate the two farms were hit by this tornado. Meteorologist Bonnie Schneider shows us today's severe weather forecast. She's going to be coming up in about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile Shuttle Atlantis prepares for a returns to Earth. Ten minutes ago it undocked from the International Space Station. In a few minutes Atlantis will begin flying around the station to inspect new additions. Atlantis is due back Wednesday.
Here's what we do, we run down the top stories every 15 minutes here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, with in-depth coverage all morning long. Your next check of the headlines is coming up at 9:15 Eastern.
This is the CNN Center and this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It's September 17th, 9 a.m. in Atlanta, 3 p.m. at the Vatican.
Good morning, I'm Rick Sanchez.
ROESGEN: I'm Susan Roesgen filling in again this morning for Betty Nguyen. Thanks for starting your day with us.
We have big story, a developing story, in South Carolina this morning. An arrest just within the last few hours of a suspect in the kidnapping of a 14-year-old girl; she was rescued from an underground bunker after text messaging her mother. It is an incredible story detailed by Dan Tordjman of our affiliate WIS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN TORDJMAN, REPORTER, AFFILIATE WIS (voice over): Fifteen feet deep, nearly twice as long. Authorities say this is the tunnel Elizabeth Shoaf was forced into by kidnapper Vinson Filyaw.
SHERIFF STEVE MCCASKILL, KERSHAW CO., S.C.: We found food and clothing, you know, propane cylinders.
TORDJMAN: Complete with cooking appliances and a makeshift pantry, WIS getting an inside look at what deputies say is one of four bunkers built by Filyaw. Officials also finding hand grenades and flare guns. Each underground home camouflaged by leaves and branches.
But when authorities found Shoaf she was above ground, standing frozen at the top of the bunker.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's doing fine and I really have no details as to where they found her or anything like that, but she is fine. She's alive and God did bring her home, and she was not a runaway.
TORDJMAN: A point stressed by family for nearly 10 days wanting to know why authorities wouldn't put out an Amber Alert.
(on camera): Why wasn't the Amber Alert issued?
MCCASKILL: Well, it did not meet the criteria, number one. They did not leave the house. They'd been within half a mile from her house the whole time. We had absolutely nothing to lead us to believe that she had left this area.
TORDJMAN: How about the fact that there was a known sex offender in the area.
MCCASKILL: We've had several in here, and we've cleared them out. You know?
TORDJMAN: OK. Do you feel OK about the way the case unfolded?
MCCASKILL: Sure, I do. We all hated that we could haven't done it quicker, but we worked as fast and quickly as we possibly could.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROESGEN: Again, the girl is safe. The suspect is in custody. And we talked to the Sheriff Steve McCaskill there, about the arrest earlier this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCASKILL: We were able to capture him this morning after a lady reported an attempted carjacking in Richland County, near the Pontiac area. After she reported that her car -- she'd almost been carjacked by an individual. She was shown a picture of Filyaw by Richland County deputy and she positively identified him. And we were able to put the bloodhounds down, as well as the air support, the helicopter, and the airplane that we already had in the air.
And moved the perimeter team that was in place in Kershaw County over to Richland County and we were able to track him down -- pardon me, and capture him.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROESGEN: In fact the girl was standing outside the bunker with the cell phone when her mother found her. She had been missing again for 10 days.
SANCHEZ: This morning the intersection of faith and fury. Pope Benedict says he's sorry Muslims reacted angrily to his Tuesday remarks. He says the 14th century quotes that linked Islam to violence do not reflect his own feelings.
At least one Muslim group is satisfied with that, a significant Muslim group, we should add. Here now to offer some perspective, CNN's Faith & Values Correspondent Delia Gallagher.
Bring us up-to-date, if you would, Delia, on what the pope has said so far.
DELIA GALLAHGER, CNN FAITH & VALUES CORRESPONDENT, CNN SUNDAY MORNING: I think we should go straight to the direct quotation that he used.
He said, "I'm deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries two a few passages of my address at the University of Regansberg (ph), which were consider offensive to the sensibility of Muslims. This were, in fact, a quotation from a medieval text, which do not in any way express my personal thought."
So, that's really the sum total of his apology. And it is a fairly complete apology. As we pointed out earlier, it's not an apology for saying what he said, but it is an apology that perhaps he feels his comments were taken out of context.
SANCHEZ: It's important in two parts. First of all, he says I regret what's happened after as a result of what I said. Obviously, he feels bad about it. In the latter part he says those are not my personal thoughts. In other words, he's saying, I do not think Islam is a violent religion.
GALLAGHER: Right. He's saying, I was using this in a context to make a different point, and the point is more of a subtle one about violence and religion in general. And sometimes what happens when we don't truly follow what religion says we should do.
SANCHEZ: He's a follower, he is a by-the-book pope, right?
GALLAGHER: Yes, he is a rational man. He's a pope who believes we can sort of arrive at truth. That we can know things with certainty and the way to do that is to engage in this kind of philosophical discussions about it. But, you know, that's very counter culture. I mean, we don't have time for that in today's world. This is what we're seeing this kind of clash between a very intellectual pope and a modern media society which needs sound bites.
SANCHEZ: He doesn't speak in sound bites now, does he? GALLAGHER: No.
SANCHEZ: Delia, thanks so much. We appreciate it.
GALLAGHER: You're welcome.
SANCHEZ: We'd like to hear what you have to say about the pope's comments on Islam and the hubbub that has been caused as a result. Is an apology need by the pope? Perhaps you think it should be more direct, or is the controversy, in your estimation, much ado about nothing? E-mail us. We want to know what you think. The address is weekends@cnn.com.
ROESGEN: If you're just catching up with the news this morning, it has been a deadly Sunday in Iraq. Four car bombings already in the northern city of Kirkuk. 23 people killed, dozens more injured, and we've got an update now with CNN Cal Perry in Baghdad -- Cal.
CAL PERRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT, CNN SUNDAY MORNING: Good morning to you, Susan.
What we understand from Iraqi police at this point, in a period of less than three hours, four car bombs exploding in the northern oil-rich city of Kirkuk; 23 people are dead and at least 66 others wounded.
It started at 10 a.m., the first target a criminal investigations building, there in that city, about 10 minutes later outside an NGO office, 20 minutes following that, an explosion outside a mosque. And about four hours ago, up until this point, the fourth and final car bomb, on a busy street, in a downtown neighborhood. As I said, 23 people dead, at least 66 others wounded -- Carol (sic).
ROESGEN: OK. Thank you Cal Perry, reporting for us from Baghdad this morning.
"This Week At War" is today at 1:00 Eastern. CNN correspondents will discuss the grim assessment of Iraq. Fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan and the crisis in Darfur. John Roberts hosts "This Week At War" today at 1 Eastern, only on CNN.
SANCHEZ: A suicide bomber driving to his mission, or maybe not. Powerful propaganda from Al Qaeda? We'll have that, plus.
ROESGEN: Caught on tape, several Tornados sweep through South Dakota and Nebraska. What's heading your way? We'll have your full weather forecast straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Right "Now in the News": Pope Benedict says he is sorry that Muslims have reacted so angrily to his speech. He had quoted a 14th century text that linked Islam and violence. However, he says that does not represent his personal view. Important words.
Meanwhile, an Italian nun has been shot to death in Somalia, not clear whether her death is linked to the controversy.
Iraq's northern oil city of Kirkuk is hit by a wave of car bombings; 23 people were killed in four attacks there. Nearly 70 others were injured and most of the casualties were Iraqi police officers.
Rallies and protests taking place in 30 cities worldwide are drawing attention to the Darfur region of Sudan. Three years of ethnic conflicts have killed more than 200,000 people and driven more than 2 million others from their homes. More details at the bottom of the hour.
ROESGEN: Health officials now say 102 people have gotten sick from e. Coli linked to tainted spinach. One person has died. So the FDA says you should avoid all fresh spinach, not just the pre-packaged kind, until they can pinpoint the source of the bacteria.
Powerful winds are fueling a wildfire 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles. People in the nearby town of Fillmore have been told to prepare to evacuate. The blaze is apparently only about 30 percent contained.
We run down the top stories every 15 minutes here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING and we have in-depth coverage all morning long. Your next check of the headlines is coming up at 9:30 Eastern.
SANCHEZ: The question, is there any severe weather out there at this time? Bonnie Schneider has a handle on that, so let's check.
(WEATHER REPORT)
ROESGEN: In news all "Across America": Have you seen this newborn baby girl? The police say she was snatched from her home in rural Missouri on Friday, by a woman with a knife. Detectives say this woman attacked the 21-year-old baby's mother saying I'm here to take your child.
The mother now is in stable condition. She has numerous wounds including a slashed throat. They have had no sign of the baby, but they do say they have several leads.
In Los Angeles, this is a controversial and live art exhibit. It's an adult elephant painted red and gold. It's intended to be a protest of global poverty, with the elephant representing the issue that everyone can see, but no one wants to acknowledge, the elephant in the room. Animal rights activists, though, don't like it. They say painting this elephant was the wrong way to make an artistic statement.
And in Miami, two home invaders were no match for this 80-year- old guy -- and his National Guardsman son. This guy, Carl Muscarello, is a retired New York City police officer, who stayed in pretty good shape for his age.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CARL MUSCARELLO, FORMER NYPD DETECTIVE: Just trying to take care of myself -- trying to keep my weight down. I still want to be attractive to younger women, you know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROESGEN: He jokes about it, but it was a pretty serious brawl that he got into, but he finally got one of the intruders in a choke hold and he just wouldn't let him go until the police got there.
SANCHEZ: He's got no scratches on that beautiful face of his.
ROESGEN: And a good story to tell.
SANCHEZ: Are you possibly a genius?
ROESGEN: Could be.
SANCHEZ: If you answer this question that I'm about to pose. Are you ready?
What is the number that is two more than one-tenth of one-fifth, of one-tenth of 1,000? Did you get that? Two more than one-tenth of one-fifth of one-tenth of a thousand? We want you to be able to answer this. You don't need the multiple choice. It's easy to do. Susan got it in like three seconds. We'll have the answer for you after the break.
ROESGEN: Oh, yes, Rick. MENSA material, right here.
And you have heard you can never be too rich, or too thin. But in one city, half of that is no longer true. We'll ask a top modeling agent, how thin is too thin?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: This is great. Dr. Sanjay hosts a CNN primetime special. You've heard about it or seen it. It's called "Genius: The Quest For The Extreme Brainpower." It's tonight at 10 Eastern.
But you can get a preview right now on CNN.com. And Nicole Lapin is here from "CNN Pipeline", we should add. You can see her there during the week. She's back to help us all get a little bit smarter because part of this involves a test, right?
NICOLE LAPIN, CNN.COM CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. Not only does it have a test, but you can watch to get a little bit smarter tonight, at 10:00, but you can get even smarter by testing your skills at CNN.com. And that's where you can find Dr. Sanjay Gupta talking about his experience at The Mind Institute. It's an independent research center that studies creativity and genius levels inside your brain.
Also at CNN.com you can view some amazing artwork, two prodigy painters. One, six-year-old that you see there, another one who began painting at the age of two. And also at cnn.com we have a couple of quizzes for you to find out if you are a genius, as well. Earlier I asked you, Rick, to figure out this question from one of our quizzes.
What's the number that's two more than one-tenth of one-fifth of one tenth of 1,000? Is the answer -- hold on: A, 40, B, 4, C,18, D, 24? They gave it away.
SANCHEZ: They already have it away. They've already got it checked as number four.
LAPIN: But you got it.
SANCHEZ: I felt so braggadocios. I was going to tell the whole world that I had finally figured out something beyond two plus two.
LAPIN: No, you're a total genius. The answer is 4. Here's how we figured it out. We figured it out together. You just go backwards, right? One-tenth of 1,000 is 100 and, then one fifth of 100 is?
SANCHEZ: Twenty.
LAPIN: OK.
And then 1/10 of 20?
SANCHEZ: Is two.
LAPIN: OK. And then add two, two plus two.
SANCHEZ: And then you add two, and you get four.
LAPIN: Pretty easy. Simple right?
SANCHEZ: Susan and I were all excited about this.
ROESGEN: We were all over it.
SANCHEZ: We finally nailed one.
LAPIN: If you want to try to nail another one, to see if you are a real genius, go to CNN.com. You can get other questions at CNN.com/genius. And don't forget to tune in tonight Dr. Sanjay Gupta's special tonight, "Genius: Quest For the Extreme Brainpower", at 10:00 Eastern Time.
SANCHEZ: I have a 13-year-old son. I can't wait to go home and get online with him, because I think he'll do very well at this.
ROESGEN: Probably better than we do.
SANCHEZ: As he tells me all the time, Dad, I'm the smart one.
ROESGEN: Oh, yeah. They know everything at that age.
Thanks, Nicole. We've been running this e-mail question all day asking for your thoughts on the pope's comments. The question is, the pope's comments, do they require an apology? Should he give an apology? Is one needed? Or do you think the whole thing is much ado about nothing? And we've gotten some interesting e-mails.
SANCHEZ: A lot of e-mails, I understand. They've just been pouring in.
ROESGEN: The first one comes from A.C., in Indiana. He says, "No apology needed. These people talk about holy war, and killing innocent people that don't believe or worship as they do. I find it evil and barbaric. The violent and angry way they have reacted greatly supports the pope's remarks."
SANCHEZ: Here's a contrasting point of view. This comes from Therese, in Newton, New Jersey. She says, "I feel a simple, straightforward apology should be given to the Muslim world by the Holy Father. No ifs, ands or buts. Offense was taken, misunderstood or otherwise."
ROESGEN: Then you have, I think, the realist in the bunch here. This is Sean who says, "I think the pope has handled this situation appropriately. Try wearing a shirt that says I hate Mohammed in any Muslim country and see how quickly someone uses violence to disagree with you. In many cases you would find your head on a platter."
SANCHEZ: And then we have, interestingly enough, someone named Cleveland, who writes to us from New York. "The pope must know that his words are inflammatory, right or not, careless talk costs lives, especially when they come from the most influential religious lead on the planet."
And we tried to pick those in such a way - obviously it's unscientific, we're not trying to say it is -- but it's representative of all of the different opinions and e-mails that we've been getting. We try and read all of them. Can't put all of them on the air and certainly appreciate you sending them.
ROESGEN: If you are online right now and you want to send us a comment, go ahead.
Now, coming up, remember when thin was in? Actually it never really went out, but some people are trying to change the trend. We'll get the skinny from a leader in the fashion world ahead on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Here's what we're following for you right now. An arrest in the case of a kidnapped girl in South Carolina. She was found in a hand-dug, booby-trapped bunker about a mile from her home. Earlier this morning police arrested 37-year-old Vinson Filyaw. He's also wanted on unrelated sexual assault charges involving a 12-year- old. Pope Benedict says he's sorry his Tuesday speech ignited outrage. He had quoted a 14th century text that linked Islam and violence. Meanwhile, an Italian nun has been shot to death in Somalia. It is unclear whether her death has been linked to the controversy though some say it appears to be.
Two Israeli politicians suggest there may be progress in the case of a kidnapped soldier. He was taken by Palestinian militants June 25th. An Israeli cabinet minister and Vice Premier Shimon Peres say they're hopeful about his release that the point.
Susan, over to you.
ROESGEN: A tornado touched down in eastern South Dakota. Television stations there are reporting two farms were hit by this tornado. No reports of any injuries. But apparently there were as taken as 10 tornadoes in South Dakota yesterday. So, let's check in now with Bonnie Schneider.
(WEATHER REPORT)
ROESGEN: OK, we're warned. Thank you, Bonnie. We run down the top stories every 15 minutes here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING with in-depth coverage all morning long. So, your next check of the headlines will be coming up at 9:45 Eastern.
Now we're "Going Global," we're focusing on the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. CNN's Brenda Bernard is at the International Desk.
And to tell us about the rally today -- Brenda.
BRENDA BERNARD, CNN INTERNATIONAL DESK: Yes, Susan it's Global Day for Darfur and more than 30 cities around the world are hosting meetings and rallies demanding an end to the crisis in Sudan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CROWD: No more war in Darfur!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERNARD: Some highlights include this demonstration in London. Protestors took their message to the Sudanese embassy followed by an inner-faith prayer outside Prime Minister Tony Blair's residence.
Rallies also took place in Rwanda and Cambodia. Survivors of genocide in both countries identifying with the victims of Darfur. And in New York later today refugees from Darfur and supporters will march to Central Park for a massive rally there.
The U.S. Calls the situation in Darfur genocide. At least 200,000 people have been killed and more than two million displaced since 2003.
Olympic gold medalist Joey Cheek is one of several celebrities calling for action. He talked about it last hour here on CNN. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOEY CHEEK, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST: I think the people in the U.S. care. Everyone I've talked to about this situation, everyone who knows -- excuse me, the facts of it is a over and over again that this is something that we think is worth trying to put a stop to, and it's not just the United States, the United Nations passed a resolution at the end of August saying that we need up to 22,000 troops, and that's not -- that's United Nations troops on the ground.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERNARD: This rally in Khartoum represents a big part of the problem. More than a thousand volunteer fighters from Sudan's government militia demonstrated yesterday against U.N. intervention in Darfur. Dancing to nationalistic folk music and chanting "god is great," they vow to wage a holy war against any international force in Darfur -- Rick.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Thanks so much, Brenda.
A man on a suicide mission or part of an al Qaeda propaganda machine in Afghanistan? That's the question that's raised by the tape that you're about to see. It surfaced online and was translated by an Israeli monitoring group. CNN has not independently verified events that this tape, you're about to see, shows as they took place, but it demonstrates al Qaeda's determination to spread the message. CNN's Anderson Cooper explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, ANDERSON COOPER 360 (voice-over): The video starts with the animation for al Saham, al Qaeda's production company. A flag map of the United States blown up by missiles. The tape titled the "American Inferno in Afghanistan" first surfaced on the internet and was translated by memory -- an Israeli monitoring service.
We found the translation pretty accurate, but CNN could not determine where and when or if the events depicted in the tape took place. On the video we see a man showing off a trunk filled with mortar rounds, mortars like these are commonly used in suicide car bombs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (speaking foreign language)
"I pray to Allah that this operation will be vengeance upon the American pigs and their apostate collaborator dogs."
COOPER: The would-be suicide bomber called, Abu Muhammad, makes a statement from a name later in the tape he appears to be from Yemen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (speaking foreign language)
"To my family and friends I say: We will meet in Paradise, Allah willing."
COOPER: The video then cuts to inside the bomber's car, a crudely-rigged detonator is attached to a wooden board.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (speaking foreign language)
"We will carry out the operation within a few minutes...Test it for the last time, Muhammad. Only 10 minutes left until the operation. What do you feel, Abu Muhammad?"
"I feel a great calm."
"In your heart"
"Yes, I pray that Allah accepts me. I've never felt so calm in my life."
COOPER: For a brief moment we see the man who recorded these pictures. He urges the bomber forward.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (speaking foreign language)
"Allah willing, your prayers and ours will be answered."
COOPER: The two men survey their target. A voice says the vehicles are American.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (speaking foreign language)
"Stop it, Sheik."
COOPER: There is an edit in the tape, now the suicide bomber is driving on the road, his white car clearly visible. The video is shot from a distance while the bomber talks to the cameraman on a walkie- talkie.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (speaking foreign language)
"Can you see them in front of me?"
"Did you see the Americans in front of you? Go on a little further and you will see them in front of you. Abu Muhammad, there are Muslims behind you. Move a little faster, they are in front of you now. Place your trust in Allah, Muhammad. Remember Paradise, my brother, remember Paradise."
COOPER: You can hear the cameraman's heavy breathing, waiting for the explosion. The U.S. military says it has no record of such an attack. It's not clear whether this video is purely propaganda or a blend of propaganda and an actual attack. On the tape, the cameraman drives off, rejoicing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (speaking foreign language)
"Allah willing, we will massacre you and help the Taliban until we die."
Anderson Cooper, CNN, Eastern Afghanistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Certainly, for more on the "War on Terror" and other stories join Anderson Cooper weeknights at 10:00 Eastern only on CNN.
ROESGEN: And still ahead here, runway models and fashion. Is it more important to be a role model than a thin model? We'll ask a top modeling agent about the ban on skinny models in Madrid when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dave Newman has been working for the past seven years to invent a safer spacesuit so comfortable it actually feels like a second skin.
PROF. DAVA NEWMAN, AERONAUTICS & ASTRONAUTICS, MIT: Current suits are gas pressurized, very massive. They don't have much mobility and that's find when you're floating around in space because it's weightless.
SIEBERG: But a much lighter suit that allows for mobility is needed to explore another planet of interest.
NEWMAN: When we get to Mars there's incredible terrain, high mountains, and deep canyons. The explorers will have to be like extreme athletes. The bio symptom will provide them the life support that they need, the pressurization, oxygen, but they'll be able to move around.
SIEBERG: Newman hopes to have her suit ready in time for the maiden voyage to the elusive red planet some time in the next few decades.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROESGEN: The fashion industry is reeling from a body blow. Fashion officials in Madrid are banning the skinniest models suicide bomber attacked a military convoy west of Kandahar arrest in the case of a kidnapped girl near Columbia, South Carolina "Atlantis" undocked from the station Italian nun has been shot to death in a Somali hospital Irene Marie from the runway. They'd rather see role models than the stick figures we're used to seeing and the ideas rocking the fashion world. Former model, Irene Marie, is now a modeling agent who has launched the biggest names and you might know her from the MTV show, "Eighth and Ocean."
Irene Marie, thanks for joining us, there in Miami.
What do you think of the skin model ban in Madrid?
IRENE MARIE, PRESIDENT, IRENE MARIE MODELS: Well, I think the Madrid Commission has really stood up in a socially responsible way, although the fashion industry models have traditionally been very thin and there's reasons that the designers make that choice, but I think there is -- it's important in life and in business to have a good balance, and I think that what the Madrid Commission is really saying is we don't want to accept an extreme.
ROESGEN: Well, hat is extreme here? What do you think is extreme? What -- they say it's a body mass index under 18 and you're too thin, but just visually, how are we supposed to tell what's too thin on these women who do look better in designer clothes because they're too skin.
MARIE: Well, I think that there's a difference between skinny or looking at a young woman and saying, "oh, my gosh." And I think that what the Madrid Commission is trying to do, and I'm not saying that they've perhaps developed the perfect formula yet, but I think that what they're trying to do is say, we don't want that young woman that you feel you want to give some food to or you want to ask her, please, eat a little bit more. I think that's what they're saying.
In our business, it's not a formula that we really use, but we do know that for a certain height there is a certain weight that's always been pretty much appropriate, and I think that there is a weight that goes below that and I'm not one to say exactly what that is in a mathematical formula, but there is one that goes below that where you just look at a young woman and say that just as a person, as a woman, and as a professional, as a model, that just doesn't look good.
ROESGEN: Do you think this is a trend, what's happening in Madrid? Do you think other fashion industry officials will follow suit?
MARIE: Well, I think they've -- as I said, taken a very socially-responsible position, and it would be wonderful as citizens of the world and partners in humanity that we can all stand up as participants in this global commerce and make a position, take responsibility for the well-being of others and if we feel that there's something, perhaps that we're doing that jeopardizes that well-being that we can say something about it.
ROESGEN: Well you know, I think fashion has always just been a fantasy. I mean, I don't relate to any of the women I see in the fashion magazines, but I am looking at the clothes. How responsible should the fashion industry be? Do they need to be so responsible?
MARIE: Well, how responsible is so responsible? I think there's a good balance that needs to be made, and I think that you're right. That we know -- most of us know that fashion is an illusion and that it's something that we're looking at that's not the reality of who we are, but perhaps for younger people who haven't had the maturity yet to be totally -- to be totally sure of who they are, it might have some kind of an influence. I'm not saying it would have a total influence.
So to be conscious that perhaps something that we're showing, whether it's in fashion or any other walk of life, I think is a responsible thing to do. It's up to the designers to make the ultimate decision and perhaps if we also knew why they choose women who are so thin, maybe -- and be more educated, we could understand better and make sure that no one is looking at it as something to follow, but something that they can understand better from the designers' perspective.
ROESGEN: What do you think the next step is, then? I mean, are we see anchors with -- a Freudian slip there, television anchors, television anchors, people we look up to in the world with bad teeth and ugly hair? I mean, how far do you take this if you want people to be realistic?
MARIE: I don't think it's about a choice of look. I think we're talking more about a point of healthiness, and, you know, having had in different times in my career, girls who have been anorexic, we're talking more about a healthy issue. It would be if you had a brother or sister or mother or somebody that you felt needed to do something to better their health, that you would make a comment about that.
I think that's what we're talking about, not a judgment or a level of beauty or judging whether someone's teeth are the right way or whether how their hair is. This is more a health issue, in my opinion. And I'm not taking -- I don't want in any way to dishonor the fashion designers and the great creativity that they bring to the fashion industry.
As I said earlier, perhaps if we just understood why they would want a young woman so thin -- we're not talking about here, the normal fashion model, that one that we all can recognize as being the beautiful embodiment of womanhood. We're talking about someone that's very, very thin.
ROESGEN: OK. Thank you Irene Marie, you've given us a lot to think about appreciate it.
MARIE: Thank you very much.
ROESGEN: Rick.
SANCHEZ: "In the News" right now, Pope Benedict says he is sorry for the angry reaction his speech last week has ignited in the Muslim world. The pope had quoted at 14th century manuscript that linked Islam and violence. He now also says those are not his personal feelings.
Meanwhile, an Italian nun has been shot to death in a Somali hospital. Not clear whether her death has been linked to the controversy.
In Iraq, the northern city of Kirkuk has been hit by another wave of car bombings, 23 people killed in four attacks, there. Nearly 70 others injured. Most of the casualties were Iraqi police officers -- Susan.
ROESGEN: In Afghanistan, security officials say a suicide bomber attacked a military convoy west of Kandahar. Three Afghans and three members of the NATO-led forces were wounded. But wire reports say NATO has announced that the Taliban has been driven out of one part of Afghanistan, successfully completing a two-week mission. An arrest in the case of a kidnapped girl near Columbia, South Carolina. She was found in this hand-dug, booby-trapped bunker about a mile from her home. Early this morning the police arrested 37-year- old Vinson Filyaw. He is also wanted on an unrelated sexual assault charge involve a 12-year-old.
SANCHEZ: Shuttle astronauts have spent 30 minutes now flying around the International Space Station inspecting their handwork of the past week. "Atlantis" undocked from the station about an hour ago, due back home, by the way, Wednesday. We'll have that coverage for you.
We run down the top stories every 15 minutes here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING. In-depth coverage when need be all morning long. Your next check of the headlines is coming up at the top of the hour.
ROESGEN: And there is still quite a bit of anger, outrage from the Muslim world over the pope's choice of words in his speech last week. Is an apology needed or has it all been taken out of context?
SANCHEZ: We would like to know what you think about this controversial issue. E-mail us your thoughts, you've certainly been doing so this morning. We'd like to share them with others. All our viewers, weekends@cnn.com is where you send them. That's weekends@cnn.com. We're going to read your responses right after this break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Oh, it's about seven minutes until the hour, it's time to check in with Howard Kurtz in Washington to see what's ahead on CNN's RELIABLE SOURCES.
Hello, Howard.
HOWARD KURTZ, RELIABLE SOURCES: Good morning, Rick. Coming up, the press openly challenges the president on torture and the politicizing of 9/11, but why are journalists losing interest in the Valerie Plame case?
Meredith Vieira makes her "Today" show debut, while Matt Lauer pursues the teacher who seduced her student.
Veteran journalist, Lynn Sheer talks about sexism in the television business and the strange site of "lonelygirl15," an Internet cult figure who wasn't quite what she seemed.
That's all ahead on "RELIABLE SOURCES."
SANCHEZ: Sounds like a great menu, thanks Howard.
Well, that's RELIABLE SOURCES, it's coming up again at 10:00 Eastern, it's followed by Wolf Blitzer and LATE EDITION and THIS WEEK AT WAR at 1:00 Eastern. stay tuned with CNN as we go in-depth into some of the stories of the day. ROESGEN: And now some more e-mail. All morning long we've been asking your thoughts on our e-mail question, it is: The pope's comments on Islam: Apology needed or much ado about nothing.
The first one we got here is from Nailah. She says, "In regards to the pope's comments, I am a Muslim and I think the whole issue is much ado about nothing. The world needs to realize that people are going to say things and it's not always meant to offend or hurt individuals or a group of people." She says, "I respect the pope highly, however I think if he honestly wanted to make a correlation between religion and violence then he should have used an example he could probably identify with, such as the Christian initiation of the crusades in history. Religions other than Islam," she says, "have also had a history of violence."
SANCHEZ: And we also have this from Jennifer. She's e-mailing us from the island of Bermuda. "I think that the pope didn't take the current world situation into account when he made his public comments. I think it's a bit disingenuous to say that he is an intellectual and does not speak in sound bites as he should have considered the effect of his words."
Greg in South Carolina e-mailing us says, "The pope should never have backed off his original comments. At least he didn't apologize for what he said, but only for upsetting the delicate sensibilities of the offended Muslims." He says, "Maybe next time they will get equally upset when the Islamic terrorists behead a hostage, kidnap a journalist, or launch unprovoked attacks against Israel." Again that's Greg in South Carolina.
We've gotten a lot of e-mails today this topic. A lot of people have a lot to say when you talk about religion.
SANCHEZ: This is Laura and she is saying, "The pope should apologize." She has a contrasting point of view than Greg's. She says, "Extremism is a problem in any religion including Christianity. His quote only fans the fire. The terrorists and fanatics in the Middle East and elsewhere are using Islam as a shield to prove their right to kill, it really isn't about the religion. Most Muslims realize that and reject the idea of a holy war, just as most Christians would object to starting their own holy war." Again, that's Laura writing to us.
We thank all of you for writing to us. It's unscientific, but we really do appreciate you're sharing your thoughts.
ROESGEN: Yes, food for thought, yeah.
SANCHEZ: Yeah, and it's a real cross-section of what people have been writing so far.
ROESGEN: And now let's get one last check of the weather from Bonnie Schneider.
(WEATHER REPORT)
ROESGEN: Thanks, bonnie.
SANCHEZ: RELIABLE SOURCES is next followed by LATE EDITION and THIS WEEK AT WAR, so don't go away. And I want to tell you, I've really enjoyed working with you.
ROESGEN: Thank you, Rick. I've really enjoyed working with you.
SANCHEZ: Enjoy things in New Orleans.
ROESGEN: OK, I will.
Fredricka Whitfield will be up next with live news updates throughout the morning. Until then have a great Sunday.
SANCHEZ: See you.
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