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CNN Saturday Morning News
Latest Developments in fighting Between U.S. and Iraqi Government Forces, and Muqtada al-Sadr; A Look at Cleanup Efforts in Areas of Florida Ravaged by Hurricane Charley
Aired August 21, 2004 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
It's August 24.
Good morning to you.
I'm Drew Griffin.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen.
Thanks so much for being with us today.
Now in the news, U.S. combat operations resume this morning outside the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf after a brief stand down for talks with renegade cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. He is expected to hand over the mosque keys to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who plans to remove al-Sadr's militiamen and lock the doors.
The group calling itself Swift Boat Veterans for Truth is out with a new attack ad aiming at Senator John Kerry. The Kerry campaign fired back by complaining to the Federal Election Commission that the group illegally is coordinating with the Bush campaign. But the Bush campaign labels that claim "frivolous" and "false."
Now to a judge in Louisiana who says a plan to ban same-sex marriage in that state is unconstitutional. It's one provision of a proposed state constitutional amendment. The judge says that amendment proposal addresses too many other issues and it must be removed from the ballot.
Also, American Michael Phelps will be sitting out the next one after swimming or winning five gold and two bronze medals at the Athens Olympics. The latest gold for Phelps was in Friday's 100-meter butterfly. Now, if the men's relay team wins the gold later today, Phelps will pick up a record tying eighth medal without swimming a stroke. Phelps gave up his spot in today's race so that his friend, Ian Crocker, could swim. We are keeping you informed. CNN, the most trusted name in news.
GRIFFIN: In the hour ahead, the 9/11 Commission closing one big door on its investigation. But the panel's members are vowing to continue their fight to make you safer. We're going to have details just ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The tub is perfect. Everything else is destroyed. There's nothing left.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: Surviving the rebuilding process can be as hard as surviving the hurricane. We will follow this woman's struggle.
And are you watching the Olympics? Boy, corporate sponsors hope you are. We'll see if the athletes are the only ones bringing home gold from Athens.
NGUYEN: Sporadic shelling heard this morning around the mosque in Najaf and apparently Muqtada al-Sadr's militiamen still control that mosque despite a reported deal to turn it over to Iraq's grand Ayatollah. Now, the situation in Iraq is very confusing, as it has been for days now.
CNN's John Vause is in Baghdad, trying to sort it all out for us.
It has been very confusing as of late, especially -- John.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Betty.
Claim and counter claim, demands and retractions and back tracking, back and forth. No one really knows where we stand. But what we know from Najaf in the last few hours is that the sound of gunfire is once again being heard around the Imam Ali Mosque. It was quiet overnight, just the occasional mortar. That is what passes for quiet these days in Najaf. There was a cease-fire put in place while negotiations were under way to try and end this stand-off.
But we do know that as of this hour, the Mehdi militia remains in control of the Imam Ali Mosque while these negotiations are under way to hand the keys of the mosque, literally the keys to the front odor, the gate, and also to the safe, hand these keys over to senior Shiite religious leaders.
Now part of this deal to hand the keys over we understand, or it's being reported, rather, that the Mehdi militia has stopped carrying weapons inside the mosque.
Now, the keys will be handed over to a representative from the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Now, his negotiation -- his delegation is now wanting the MARCHINI: militia to leave the mosque before they accept the keys. As far as al-Sadr's men are concerned, they want a delegation from Ayatollah al-Sistani to come to the mosque before they leave, to inspect it, to ensure that all the treasures inside the mosque are still there, the they're not going to be blamed for any damage, that kind of thing.
But the delegation from Sistani is saying that it is too dangerous for them to visit the mosque at this time.
We know that Iraqi police are still manning checkpoints outside the Imam Ali Mosque. Apparently they've arrested about 50 members of the Mehdi militia. This according to the governor of Najaf, saying these members of the Mehdi militia are, in fact -- were, in fact, trying to leave the mosque.
Inside the mosque, preparations under way for that hand over. They have been sweeping up and cleaning, that kind of thing. There's also a spiritual ritual which they must go through to cleanse the mosque before they hand it over to the senior Shiite leaders.
Now, as far as Muqtada al-Sadr, the man behind this uprising, no one really knows where he is. Yesterday at Friday prayers, he didn't show up at the Kufa mosque, where he normally delivers his Friday sermon. He hasn't been seen for many, many days. The U.S. military now saying they have no intelligence about exactly where he is.
And one last final note here, Betty. In the south of Baghdad, a U.S. soldier was killed when an RPG was fired at his vehicle. Two other U.S. soldiers were wounded in that attack -- Betty.
NGUYEN: A lot of developments overnight.
We'll see when this handoff of those keys will take place. All right, CNN's John Vause in Baghdad, thank you.
Family and friends of the French-American journalist being held in Iraq are hopeful this morning. An aide to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is appealing for the release of Micah Garen. The aide says Garen, who is based in New York, is in good health and will likely be freed today. Garen and his Iraqi translator were kidnapped last Friday. A group is threatening to kill them unless U.S. forces leave Najaf.
Now, in a tape aired on the Arabic language channel Al Jazeera yesterday, Garen said he is being treated well.
GRIFFIN: The 9/11 Commission says it's closing its door today. The commission investigated, held hearings on and reported on the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. And then the commissioners spent weeks selling their recommendations to Congress and the public.
Well, now the panel's records will be sent to the National Archives, available for public viewing in 2009. Commission members say they will continue to lobby Congress to take up security changes that they have recommended in their report -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Well, first there was "Fahrenheit 911." Now comes another hard-hitting documentary challenging President Bush's theory that Saddam Hussein harbored weapons of mass destruction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID ALBRIGHT: And then they tried to use the fact that inspectors found 16 of these as evidence that thousands more existed. And, again, I mean as a methodology, it's a very weak way to predict anything. And I think it borders on propaganda.
(END VIDEO CLIP) NGUYEN: It's called "Uncovered: The War On Iraq." And tomorrow on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING," the director of the film, Robert Greenwald, joins us live. That is tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. Eastern on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING."
GRIFFIN: It was one week ago this very morning we were getting our first glimpses of the damage Hurricane Charley brought to southwest Florida. Now state officials have pushed the death toll to 24. The estimated damage to ensured properties, $7.4 billion, and more than 240,000 customers still without electrical power.
We want to find out how the folks are doing with recovery efforts on this seventh day after.
CNN's Sara Dorsey joins us from Punta Gorda, a hard hit town that's slowly coming back to life.
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Drew.
Things here are just waking up this morning. The entire community remains under a curfew from 9:00 at night until about 6:00 in the morning. All of the communities in this area that were hit by Hurricane Charley are continuing the cleanup process and just trying to make do with the resources that are available.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DORSEY (voice-over): Darlene Bills refuses to leave her massively damaged home in Punta Gorda, Florida. Tents serve as her shelter for the night. Her cold shower the only relief from the brutal heat during the day.
DARLENE BILLS, PUNTA GORDA RESIDENT: It ain't livable, but it's standing up. You can go in and take a shower. You can use the commode. It flushes.
DORSEY: Her family, like thousands of others in Florida, is still without power. The water in many areas undrinkable. FEMA inspectors roam neighborhoods in the hardest hit areas of the state trying to estimate the damage. Sixty thousand people have already registered for assistance.
JAMES CAMPBELL, PORT CHARLOTTE RESIDENT: The limb from one of these trees landed right there, poked a hole down through the roof in there and right into the bathroom.
DORSEY: In Port Charlotte, James Campbell is still working on his insurance company. In the meantime, his damaged home and lack of air conditioning have forced him to leave, for now, until power can be restored.
CAMPBELL: It's hot in there. I can't stay here. I can't afford to buy a generator, either. It was either a generator or the chain saw.
DORSEY: Keeping in good spirits isn't always easy, but volunteers are on hand to help. Distribution centers are set up and teams take to the streets to make sure no one is overlooked.
Bills says she couldn't make it without the extra help.
BILLS: There is money coming in, so whatever I gather, I'll just put to a place for my kids and my mom.
DORSEY: A tale of two lives damaged but not broken by the fury of Hurricane Charley.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
DORSEY: It's been a week now and as you can see behind me, there are still buildings just like this standing open, untouched virtually at this point by any person here. A true sign that this recovery process is going to take quite a while.
Live from Punta Gorda, Florida, Sara Dorsey, CNN.
GRIFFIN: Thank you.
You know, those who survived are feeling despair now. Many elderly, they lost everything and don't really know where to go from here.
CNN photojournalist Mike Miller brings us one woman's person story in her own words.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was Friday the 13th, right? Well, it started in the afternoon. I've never seen wind and rain screaming. The roofs all flipped and flopped.
This is my kitchen and my dining room. That's all I've got is a chandelier. My bedroom is back there. The other bedroom. The tub is perfect. Everything else is destroyed. There's nothing left.
I found one hat because I collect hats. I have about 25 hats, too. Well, I did.
Two hundred and seventy-five scarves. One set of dentures. This is the only thing left and when I opened the door yesterday, all my underwear was hanging on the line. But I got my pictures, so I'm glad.
That's me and my husband. Federal Aviation Administration, Atlantic City, New Jersey, that's where he worked. There's the picture at the console. He was great. He was great. He had polio but he did good.
I've been alone six years now and that took a lot out of me.
The last couple of weeks I don't know what made me do this, I just thought I'm going to say this little psalm when I lay down. Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray to walk my husband, my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I hope I meet him at the gate. This is what I've got. It's all I've got. I'm going to go.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
GRIFFIN: The emotions of a lifetime there.
NGUYEN: It's like an emotional roller coaster. You come back and you see your house in shambles like that and you think first of all, OK, I've got to get everything back together. But then you see pictures like that and it just, it brings it all home. It's important.
GRIFFIN: And no doubt wishing and hoping that her husband was there to help her through this next struggle.
NGUYEN: Well, help is on the way. And we'll be talking a lot about that throughout the show this morning.
We also want to talk about humans. They aren't the only ones suffering after Hurricane Charley. At 20 past the hour, we'll get a live report on the ongoing efforts to rescue animals stranded by the storm.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's the same tangled web of people who tried to do this to John McCain four years ago. And let me tell you something, it's not going to happen to John Kerry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: The Democrats' campaign taking swift aim at a new round of ads attacking Kerry's record of service.
One week down, one to go -- we'll get a situation report on how well sponsors are selling those Summer Olympic Games. And the athletes in Athens aren't the only ones getting a workout. We'll meet some brides on a mad dash -- he's not a bride -- for the perfect dress.
NGUYEN: There they are.
GRIFFIN: It's happening in his hometown, though.
NGUYEN: You'll be able to hear "you're fired" over and over again when the first season of "The Apprentice" comes out on DVD next Tuesday. I know you're looking forward to that. And some other releases include "Dogville," starring Nicole Kidman; "Ella Enchanted," which is something for the kids; "The Elvis Collection" for all you Elvis lovers; and a special edition of "Purple Rain."
And, playing at the movies, new offerings this week include both comedy and horror. We'll have a preview just a little bit later this hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) GRIFFIN: Here's the headlines across America this morning.
Don't expect it to last. Prices at the gas pumps have dropped -- have you felt it -- nearly a nickel a gallon over the past three weeks. But experts warning the rising price of crude will likely catch up with us in the coming weeks.
An eight-year-old Iraqi boy couldn't get the help he needed at home in Iraq so he's now in Florida at a hospital there for what officials hope will be a life saving heart operation. The U.S. military sent out information about that boy and a Tampa nurse arranged it all, bringing him to the U.S. for treatment.
A chemical spill in Oregon leaves four people with caustic burns. A tanker traveling on Interstate 5 leaked sodium hydroxide at a rest stop. This was near Portland. People walked through the spill, spreading the chemical. All four of those people have been treated and released for their burns there.
And forget Athens, the real race this week was in Boston, in the basement of Filene's. Look at this. The annual wedding dress dash brought out the athlete in brides to be looking for a bargain. A $3,000 gown could be snagged for just $250. The sale has been a regular event since 1947.
And what about this? How this horse got into trouble, later this hour on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
And here is our e-mail question for you this morning. Do you think high oil prices are jeopardizing the U.S. economic recovery? You can e-mail us at wam@cnn.com and we'll be reading your replies throughout the program.
NGUYEN: All right, if you're in the mood for a movie this weekend, here are some previews of current attractions.
(VIDEO CLIP FROM "BENJI: OFF THE LEASH," COURTESY OF MULBERRY SQUARE RELEASING)
NGUYEN: Meet Benji the dog again. And this time he is off the leash. Benji's job is to stop an illegal backyard puppy mill. But critics aren't charmed. The "Atlanta Journal Constitution" notes that, "Long before the happy ending arrives, even the most dedicated dog lover will cease to care."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING, COURTESY WARNER BROTHERS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We must leave now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where's Sarah? Oh, no.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take the boy to Nairobi to Father Geonetti (ph). UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: This could be spooky. In the wake of the Second World War, young Father Merrin is facing evil for the first time while performing missionary work in Africa. In "Exorcist: The Beginning," a young boy is said to be possessed by demons and it's up to Father Marin to save his soul.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM WITHOUT A PADDLE," COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tom, man, get out of here. You're going to die of pneumonia.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, but we will die of hypothermia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: And here's a comedy where everything that could go wrong does. Search for lost treasure brings this trio face to face with death defying rapids, tree hugging hippie chicks and a crazy old mountain man played by Burt Reynolds, of all people. No praise for "Without A Paddle" from the critics, though. The "Chicago Tribune" calls it "dumb, dumber and dumbest." Ouch.
GRIFFIN: Well, up next, these guys had no idea what was happening. The cats of Hurricane Charley -- homeless and ownerless and now maybe bound for a new life. An update next on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
NGUYEN: And Michael Phelps makes an announcement in Athens. We'll have a live report a little bit later this hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: Hurricane Charley left a lot of people homeless in Florida, and a lot of their pets, as well. The Humane Society is working now, alongside the Red Cross, to try and help.
Dr. Jennifer Maners is a veterinarian with the University of Florida.
She joins us by phone.
Doctor, how many animals are we talking about and how are they faring?
DR. JENNIFER MANERS, VETERINARIAN: Well, there's multiple organizations rescuing these animals. At our station, I can tell you that we've been doing pretty well. The animals that come in that can be treated and sent on are being forwarded to other holding areas, hopefully for their owners to find them. Animals that are too ill or have injuries that need special care, we're trying to keep them here until we can find functioning veterinary hospitals that we can send them out to.
GRIFFIN: Tell us about these animals and their injuries.
Are these animals basically being brought in from the rubble of Hurricane Charley?
MANERS: Some of the animals actually were found in the rubble. Many of these animals coming now are coming with their owners. The word has gotten out that our services are here, so a lot of people are bringing them in. And the ones that are able to bring them in, it's mostly lacerations, animals that have been missing for a few days now and have suddenly come home and are just extremely dehydrated. And, again, we're still seeing animals being brought in by animal control on their search that basically have heat exhaustion, that type of thing.
GRIFFIN: And I imagine the owners of these pets, if they are with their pets, are having trouble just getting supplies to take care of them, as we see that, you know, the power is still out, water is out in some areas.
Are they getting any help?
MANERS: They are. Alongside us here is another facility and there's just been a huge outpouring of help, not only from people around the State of Florida and organizations around Florida, but out of state, as well. And there is free dog food, cat food. I see they have rabbits and ferret chow. They also have hay whose shipments come in that people can bring in their vehicles, load up and take it home.
So it's turning over pretty quickly and they are getting help.
GRIFFIN: All right, Dr. Jennifer Maners, part of the recovery process down there in Florida, taking care of all these animals.
Thank you for joining us and thanks for your work.
MANERS: Thank you.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: The Kerry campaign fires back at the Swift Boat group. Could there be a Texas connection to the controversial ads?
GRIFFIN: And it turns out Ted Kennedy, he's not the only big name politician on the terror watch list. Forget their familiar faces, it's their names that are giving them airport hassles.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Women in the U.S. are waiting longer in life before having children, according to new information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 1970, the average age of a new mom was just 21 years old. But in the year 2000, the average age of a new mom was 25. Why the wait? Well, most experts point to increasing career and educational opportunities for women. The steady upwards shift in average age corresponds to lower teen birth rates, as well as an increased number of women in their 30s and 40s having kids.
And a recent study in the journal "Fertility and Sterility" shows that women who have had their last child after the age of 35 had a 58 percent lower risk of getting ovarian cancer as compared with women without children. Women who had children before the age of 25 only had a 16 percent lower risk.
Holly Firfer, CNN, Atlanta.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: A Texas connection to the anti-Kerry Swift Boat group.
Welcome back.
I'm Betty Nguyen at CNN headquarters here in Atlanta.
GRIFFIN: I'm Drew Griffin.
We'll have that story in a minute, but first the news.
Some mortar bursts in Najaf. But it's been fairly quiet in that tense Iraqi city. U.S. military officials say they are resuming limited combat operations after a temporary halt in fighting with Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's militia. Officials trying to let planned talks with the cleric go forward.
There is another attack, though, this morning in southern Baghdad. Coalition officials say insurgents hit a U.S. military vehicle with a rocket propelled grenade. One American soldier killed, two others there are hurt.
Now to the U.S. and southwest Florida. The hospital open again and businesses are reopening for the first time in a week. Signs of life returning to Punta Gorda. Hurricane Charley ravaged that town a week ago, causing death and massive destruction. Officials planning to open schools a week from Monday.
On the campaign trail, it is a billion dollar campaign, at least that's what the combined spending on the November election has been so far. President Bush spending $209 million through July; John Kerry spending $186 million. The parties themselves have spent about $400 million each, according to the Associated Press.
Keeping you informed, this is CNN, the most trusted name in news.
NGUYEN: Also on that campaign trail, the Kerry campaign says it now has proof that the Bush camp supports the Swift Boat veterans group. That group has been running ads criticizing Senator Kerry's war record. A volunteer for Kerry says he visited a Bush-Cheney campaign office in Gainesville, Florida and picked up a flyer promoting a rally by the vets. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL SHILLING, KERRY CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER: I think that in this case, someone somewhere violated the rules. And it needs to be stopped.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This isn't an official Republican event. It's not a Bush-Cheney event. These are folks who are concerned, who want to get the message out, and that's their first amendment right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Now, the White House has insisted it has no connection to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.
In other news, meanwhile, John Kerry has formally filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission. He alleges the veterans group is illegally working with the Bush campaign.
And we have more on that from CNN's Ed Henry.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The second wave of the swift boat attack takes aim at John Kerry's dramatic and controversial 1971 testimony to a Senate committee. As head of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Kerry repeated allegations that some U.S. soldiers had tortured innocents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, SWIFT BOAT VETERANS FOR TRUTH AD)
KERRY: ... they had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads...
JOE PONDER, WOUNDED NOVEMBER 1968: The accusations that John Kerry made against the veterans who served in Vietnam was just devastating.
KERRY: ... crimes committed on a day-to-day basis...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He betrayed us in the past. How could we be loyal to him now?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: But the veterans targeting Kerry are now under fire themselves, with the Democratic candidate charging the outside group is doing President Bush's dirty work. Central to that charge, Bob Perry, a Houston homebuilder who has poured $200,000 into the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ad campaign.
Perry gave $46,000 to Mr. Bush's two gubernatorial campaigns and has maxed out to both of Mr. Bush's presidential campaigns. Perry is also a long-time political ally of Karl Rove, the president's chief political adviser. TAD DEVINE, KERRY CAMPAIGN ADVISOR: It's the same tangled web of people who tried to do this to John McCain four years ago. And let me tell you something, it's not going to happen to John Kerry. John Kerry will fight back.
HENRY: The White House said the friendship between Perry and Rove, proves nothing.
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECY.: I they know each other, I know that. But that still shouldn't be used to draw any connection there, because we have not been involved in this ad what so ever. And Senator Kerry, seems to have lost his cool, and now he's just launching into false and baseless attacks against the president.
HENRY (on camera): Some Democrats are privately grumbling that the Kerry campaign took too long to fight back and that some political damage has already been done, especially in light of a new poll showing Senator Kerry's support with veterans dropping. Ed Henry, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Now, U.S. veterans who support John Kerry are making their case in Hanoi, Vietnam, calling President Bush a draft dodger. The veterans are selling T-shirts that read, "Americans Overseas for Kerry." Proceeds from those shirts will go to support Kerry's campaign.
GRIFFIN: Who wins the November election may hinge on undecideds. So why not tune into a CNN town meeting tonight? Paula Zahn is going to take the pulse of undecided voters in the battleground state of Ohio. What will make them vote for Bush or Kerry? That's at 8:00 Eastern, right here on CNN.
NGUYEN: Now, this week's developments in the war on terror.
Eight of the 13 men arrested on terror charges earlier this month in Britain had their first court appearance in London on Wednesday. One of the suspects is described by U.S. officials as a senior al Qaeda operative. A plea hearing is set for August 25.
A striking failure," that's what a leading Democratic congressman said about a program designed to protect the nation's borders from terrorists. Representative Jim Turner of Texas is the ranking Democrat on the House Domestic Security Committee. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, he says an investigation by his committee showed problems with the system. Homeland Undersecretary for Border Security, Asa Hutchison, says the findings were based on some incorrect information.
And Friday, cracking down on alleged Hamas activities in the U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft says two men are in custody in an alleged terrorism financing scheme. A third person is still at large overseas. And one of the suspects appeared in court in Chicago Friday and pleaded not guilty. The men are accused in a scheme to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars to the group Hamas. GRIFFIN: And more about the anti-terrorism and security, this time from two Democratic law makers. Georgia Congressman John Lewis says airport officials have stopped him for extra searches up to 40 times over the last year. He says a name similar to his appears on a federal watch list, which is aimed at keeping terrorists from getting on airplanes. Lewis says he's contacted authorities, but they're warning him he could still face extra security checks because of that similarity in names.
And earlier, Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts said he's also been stopped at airports because his name is similar to a name on that watch list.
Boy, it's been a busy week. And if you've been too busy to keep up with the news this week, we're here to help. Time now to rewind. Florida residents began picking up the pieces after Hurricane Charley blew through that state last Friday. Emergency crews have cleared roads but are still working to restore water and electricity. Two hundred and forty thousand customers still without power there. The storm causing 24 deaths.
An Army report on interrogation practices by the military at Iraq's Abu Ghraib Prison found the abuse was not ordered by senior commanders. Known as the Fay Report, it's expected to be released next week.
Google made that long awaited debut on the Nasdaq marketplace on Thursday. Within the first few minutes, more than nine million shares changed hands, making Google one of the most actively traded stocks on the Nasdaq. It gained $15 a share on its first day of trading, up to about $100.
And crude oil prices soared to a new high Friday, nearly $50 a barrel. And it shows no signs of slowing. The rapid rise is partly the result of escalating violence in Iraq and increased worldwide demand.
Tomorrow we'll fast forward to the week ahead. We'll tell you which story is most likely to grab the spotlight.
NGUYEN: All right, thrilling victories and agonizing defeats continue to make the headlines worldwide at the Summer Games, including the incredible odyssey of swimmer Michael Phelps. Now comes track and field events. We will have a live report from Athens right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, good morning, New York. A little foggy there, where the eighth annual Great Hudson River Swim gets wet and wild a little later today. Folks will be swimming from 79th to 23rd Streets.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Checking our top stories this Saturday, the federal commission investigating the September 11 attacks officially disbands today. The group is sending its notes to the National Archives. Members promise they'll keep lobbying Congress to implement the security changes they've recommended.
Now, to people in central Florida. They are still struggling to get their lives back to normal. Businesses are starting to reopen and cell phone service is being restored. More than 240,000 people are still without power statewide.
A miraculous rescue for a 22-year-old horse in Oregon. Check this out. The horse was spooked during a ride and tumbled into a muddy creek. The rider had just minor injuries. But the Arabian mare was stuck in deep mud for hours, as firefighters struggled to free her. At one point, she went into shock. But good news -- the horse is doing well and expected to be released from a hospital a little bit later today.
GRIFFIN: American swimmer Michael Phelps has been one of the big stories of the 28th Olympiad. But there's a lot more going on, too, in sports there.
Larry Smith joins us live from Athens -- Larry.
LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Drew.
How are you?
It's a very warm day, a warm Saturday today in Athens, near 100 degrees as we approach almost the midway point of the games. A week from tomorrow will be the closing ceremony and we'll look forward to Beijing in 2008.
You mentioned Michael Phelps, though, as phenomenal as he is has been in the pool, it's what he did outside of the pool Friday night that is making everyone kind of shake their heads and smile today. After winning his fifth gold medal and seventh medal of these games when he won the 100-meter butterfly and narrowly beat out teammate Ian Crocker, he then withdrew from today's 400-meter medley relay and gave his spot to Crocker, saying we came in as a team, we leave as a team.
Everyone admiring this young, 19-year-old from Baltimore and his phenomenal exploits as he tries to become the first swimmer ever to win eight medals. He'll still do that. If the U.S. gets a medal tonight, as he is a part of this team and he swam in the preliminaries.
In fact, IOC Chairman Jacques Rogge said he's a great champion, one of the icons of these games.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL PHELPS, U.S. GOLD MEDALIST: I wanted to come in here, I wanted to win one gold medal. I did it the first night, so, you know, from then on out, I was just -- I was here to have fun and I was here to swim and I was here to represent my country as best as I could. And, you know, I feel that, that I've done that in this past week.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Today is the final day in swimming. However, at the same time, it is, well, a very big way for U.S. basketball. The men take on Lithuania in their toughest test so far in these games. Dream team two and one right now in these games after the root over Puerto Rico last week, or by Puerto Rico last Sunday, took some of the luster off this team. And Larry Brown is really giving them -- hoping to get them to focus and play with more desire. They play 1:00 Eastern time versus Lithuania. And, again, they need a win. If they get a win today, they should at that point then qualify for the quarter finals, which begin next week.
Track and field on the way, day two of track and field. And this morning already the early first round heats of the 100-meter men's running. And it was Sean Crawford and Justin Gatlin with the top two times respectively in those heats. Also qualifying is 2000 gold medalist Maurice Green of the U.S.
Tonight is the women's 100-meter semifinals and finals. Gayle Deevers, a two time gold medalist, she is in that hunt, as well, for a gold medal. Also, LaTasha Colander and Lauren Williams are also in that, as well. As is Merlene Otty, the 44-year-old formerly of Jamaica. Now she is of Slovenia. Her seventh Olympics, trying to reach the finals later tonight -- Drew, let's get back to you.
GRIFFIN: Larry, thanks.
We hope you can stay cool there in Greece. You're hitting that summer heat now.
SMITH: Thank you.
NGUYEN: All right, well courtrooms are busy across America and our legal eagles are on the cases. Michael Jackson and Scott Peterson on the docket in our Legal Briefs. That happens in the next hour at CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
GRIFFIN: But first, video is wonderful. But sometimes a still photo tells a more compelling story. These images from the Summer Games in Athens capture the wordless poetry of athletic excellence.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Welcome back.
Could it be a sign of a wider problem? New Jersey Governor James McGreevey resigned after admitting to an affair with a man. Experts say the governor is one of many men leading what amounts to double lives.
More now from Brian Todd in Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A public admission of a very private matter. GOV. JAMES MCGREEVEY (D), NEW JERSEY: Throughout my life, I have grappled with my own identity.
TODD: When Governor James McGreevey came out of his closet, his wife at his side, revealing a double life, John Craig saw a very familiar story. Craig runs a telephone counseling service called the Voice Roundtable, a confidential voice message sounding board for men living their own double lives.
JOHN CRAIG, VOICE ROUNDTABLE: In the world that they live in, they identify as heterosexual. But within the group they acknowledge that they have a bisexual orientation and have attractions both to men and women.
John Craig.
TODD: The complications begin there, and can extend virtually anywhere. Of his two to three dozen clients, all male, Craig says, some are still in love with their wives.
One caller says, quote, "I have been together with my wife for 27 years. We have two children. And basically she's known about this part of me for about 25 of those 27 years."
Then there are callers like this: "My wife does not know. I think it would threaten her. Other people do know in my life, and it feels good to have that support."
For others, perhaps an even more delicate dilemma.
CRAIG: And those who have not revealed this to their children will get a lot of insights from hearing the stories of other men who have revealed this to their children.
TODD: The common thread is that, at least when they start out in Craig's groups, everyone is hiding their orientation from someone and needs to sound it out.
Experts agree there is no way to calculate how many people are in this situation. By its very nature this is a very secretive subculture, navigating the grayest of areas.
But for many, the predicament is clear. In some three-dozen states you can still be fired from your job for being gay. Craig, himself bisexual, says some of his clients have a lot to lose professionally.
CRAIG: Many of these men are quite leadership oriented in their communities. They wanted to be at the head of the church, at the head of their business, at the head of their civic organization. And so they have hidden these feelings.
TODD: Craig says he doesn't so much offer advice to clients but rather gives comparisons, a chance to think and reach their own decisions. One of Craig's original clients, who's also a psychoanalyst, tells us many of these men are not confused about that sexuality, just over what to do about it.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: The rains came to Cornwall, England and just kept coming.
We're going to have an update on this next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: Time now for some of the outstanding video of the past several days, which we call our Wows of the Week.
First up, this is what happened on the British west coast when the remnants of hurricane Bonnie arrived there. Heavy rain sent a gigantic wall of muddy water roaring through the tourist village of Bocastle in Cornwall. Some 50 to 60 vehicles swept to sea. There were no reports of deaths or injuries.
This is what happened when a pleasure boater in New York City's Rockaway Inlet fell overboard. He was plucked out of the water, but his runabout was left running about. It stayed in a tight circle. The U.S. Park Police eventually managed to corral that runaway craft.
Also in New York, a new kind of dining experience for animal lovers. A posh eatery on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan caters exclusively to cats. But they must be accompanied by an adult. As everyone knows, cats notoriously lousy tippers.
NGUYEN: Yes, someone's got to pay the bill there.
All right, this morning we've been asking you our e-mail Question of the Day. Do high oil prices jeopardize the economic recovery? We've got a response now from Jeffrey in Tennessee. He writes: "Economic what? It seems to me I work harder for less each day, while corporate America rakes in the profits,. Not much of a recovery, if you ask me. However, until gas gets to $5 a gallon, I really won't pay attention."
And we invite you to keep on sending those response in to wam@cnn.com. We'll read those responses on the air.
GRIFFIN: And the next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING begins right now.
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 August 21, 2004 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
It's August 24.
Good morning to you.
I'm Drew Griffin.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen.
Thanks so much for being with us today.
Now in the news, U.S. combat operations resume this morning outside the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf after a brief stand down for talks with renegade cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. He is expected to hand over the mosque keys to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who plans to remove al-Sadr's militiamen and lock the doors.
The group calling itself Swift Boat Veterans for Truth is out with a new attack ad aiming at Senator John Kerry. The Kerry campaign fired back by complaining to the Federal Election Commission that the group illegally is coordinating with the Bush campaign. But the Bush campaign labels that claim "frivolous" and "false."
Now to a judge in Louisiana who says a plan to ban same-sex marriage in that state is unconstitutional. It's one provision of a proposed state constitutional amendment. The judge says that amendment proposal addresses too many other issues and it must be removed from the ballot.
Also, American Michael Phelps will be sitting out the next one after swimming or winning five gold and two bronze medals at the Athens Olympics. The latest gold for Phelps was in Friday's 100-meter butterfly. Now, if the men's relay team wins the gold later today, Phelps will pick up a record tying eighth medal without swimming a stroke. Phelps gave up his spot in today's race so that his friend, Ian Crocker, could swim. We are keeping you informed. CNN, the most trusted name in news.
GRIFFIN: In the hour ahead, the 9/11 Commission closing one big door on its investigation. But the panel's members are vowing to continue their fight to make you safer. We're going to have details just ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The tub is perfect. Everything else is destroyed. There's nothing left.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: Surviving the rebuilding process can be as hard as surviving the hurricane. We will follow this woman's struggle.
And are you watching the Olympics? Boy, corporate sponsors hope you are. We'll see if the athletes are the only ones bringing home gold from Athens.
NGUYEN: Sporadic shelling heard this morning around the mosque in Najaf and apparently Muqtada al-Sadr's militiamen still control that mosque despite a reported deal to turn it over to Iraq's grand Ayatollah. Now, the situation in Iraq is very confusing, as it has been for days now.
CNN's John Vause is in Baghdad, trying to sort it all out for us.
It has been very confusing as of late, especially -- John.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Betty.
Claim and counter claim, demands and retractions and back tracking, back and forth. No one really knows where we stand. But what we know from Najaf in the last few hours is that the sound of gunfire is once again being heard around the Imam Ali Mosque. It was quiet overnight, just the occasional mortar. That is what passes for quiet these days in Najaf. There was a cease-fire put in place while negotiations were under way to try and end this stand-off.
But we do know that as of this hour, the Mehdi militia remains in control of the Imam Ali Mosque while these negotiations are under way to hand the keys of the mosque, literally the keys to the front odor, the gate, and also to the safe, hand these keys over to senior Shiite religious leaders.
Now part of this deal to hand the keys over we understand, or it's being reported, rather, that the Mehdi militia has stopped carrying weapons inside the mosque.
Now, the keys will be handed over to a representative from the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Now, his negotiation -- his delegation is now wanting the MARCHINI: militia to leave the mosque before they accept the keys. As far as al-Sadr's men are concerned, they want a delegation from Ayatollah al-Sistani to come to the mosque before they leave, to inspect it, to ensure that all the treasures inside the mosque are still there, the they're not going to be blamed for any damage, that kind of thing.
But the delegation from Sistani is saying that it is too dangerous for them to visit the mosque at this time.
We know that Iraqi police are still manning checkpoints outside the Imam Ali Mosque. Apparently they've arrested about 50 members of the Mehdi militia. This according to the governor of Najaf, saying these members of the Mehdi militia are, in fact -- were, in fact, trying to leave the mosque.
Inside the mosque, preparations under way for that hand over. They have been sweeping up and cleaning, that kind of thing. There's also a spiritual ritual which they must go through to cleanse the mosque before they hand it over to the senior Shiite leaders.
Now, as far as Muqtada al-Sadr, the man behind this uprising, no one really knows where he is. Yesterday at Friday prayers, he didn't show up at the Kufa mosque, where he normally delivers his Friday sermon. He hasn't been seen for many, many days. The U.S. military now saying they have no intelligence about exactly where he is.
And one last final note here, Betty. In the south of Baghdad, a U.S. soldier was killed when an RPG was fired at his vehicle. Two other U.S. soldiers were wounded in that attack -- Betty.
NGUYEN: A lot of developments overnight.
We'll see when this handoff of those keys will take place. All right, CNN's John Vause in Baghdad, thank you.
Family and friends of the French-American journalist being held in Iraq are hopeful this morning. An aide to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is appealing for the release of Micah Garen. The aide says Garen, who is based in New York, is in good health and will likely be freed today. Garen and his Iraqi translator were kidnapped last Friday. A group is threatening to kill them unless U.S. forces leave Najaf.
Now, in a tape aired on the Arabic language channel Al Jazeera yesterday, Garen said he is being treated well.
GRIFFIN: The 9/11 Commission says it's closing its door today. The commission investigated, held hearings on and reported on the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. And then the commissioners spent weeks selling their recommendations to Congress and the public.
Well, now the panel's records will be sent to the National Archives, available for public viewing in 2009. Commission members say they will continue to lobby Congress to take up security changes that they have recommended in their report -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Well, first there was "Fahrenheit 911." Now comes another hard-hitting documentary challenging President Bush's theory that Saddam Hussein harbored weapons of mass destruction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID ALBRIGHT: And then they tried to use the fact that inspectors found 16 of these as evidence that thousands more existed. And, again, I mean as a methodology, it's a very weak way to predict anything. And I think it borders on propaganda.
(END VIDEO CLIP) NGUYEN: It's called "Uncovered: The War On Iraq." And tomorrow on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING," the director of the film, Robert Greenwald, joins us live. That is tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. Eastern on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING."
GRIFFIN: It was one week ago this very morning we were getting our first glimpses of the damage Hurricane Charley brought to southwest Florida. Now state officials have pushed the death toll to 24. The estimated damage to ensured properties, $7.4 billion, and more than 240,000 customers still without electrical power.
We want to find out how the folks are doing with recovery efforts on this seventh day after.
CNN's Sara Dorsey joins us from Punta Gorda, a hard hit town that's slowly coming back to life.
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Drew.
Things here are just waking up this morning. The entire community remains under a curfew from 9:00 at night until about 6:00 in the morning. All of the communities in this area that were hit by Hurricane Charley are continuing the cleanup process and just trying to make do with the resources that are available.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DORSEY (voice-over): Darlene Bills refuses to leave her massively damaged home in Punta Gorda, Florida. Tents serve as her shelter for the night. Her cold shower the only relief from the brutal heat during the day.
DARLENE BILLS, PUNTA GORDA RESIDENT: It ain't livable, but it's standing up. You can go in and take a shower. You can use the commode. It flushes.
DORSEY: Her family, like thousands of others in Florida, is still without power. The water in many areas undrinkable. FEMA inspectors roam neighborhoods in the hardest hit areas of the state trying to estimate the damage. Sixty thousand people have already registered for assistance.
JAMES CAMPBELL, PORT CHARLOTTE RESIDENT: The limb from one of these trees landed right there, poked a hole down through the roof in there and right into the bathroom.
DORSEY: In Port Charlotte, James Campbell is still working on his insurance company. In the meantime, his damaged home and lack of air conditioning have forced him to leave, for now, until power can be restored.
CAMPBELL: It's hot in there. I can't stay here. I can't afford to buy a generator, either. It was either a generator or the chain saw.
DORSEY: Keeping in good spirits isn't always easy, but volunteers are on hand to help. Distribution centers are set up and teams take to the streets to make sure no one is overlooked.
Bills says she couldn't make it without the extra help.
BILLS: There is money coming in, so whatever I gather, I'll just put to a place for my kids and my mom.
DORSEY: A tale of two lives damaged but not broken by the fury of Hurricane Charley.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
DORSEY: It's been a week now and as you can see behind me, there are still buildings just like this standing open, untouched virtually at this point by any person here. A true sign that this recovery process is going to take quite a while.
Live from Punta Gorda, Florida, Sara Dorsey, CNN.
GRIFFIN: Thank you.
You know, those who survived are feeling despair now. Many elderly, they lost everything and don't really know where to go from here.
CNN photojournalist Mike Miller brings us one woman's person story in her own words.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was Friday the 13th, right? Well, it started in the afternoon. I've never seen wind and rain screaming. The roofs all flipped and flopped.
This is my kitchen and my dining room. That's all I've got is a chandelier. My bedroom is back there. The other bedroom. The tub is perfect. Everything else is destroyed. There's nothing left.
I found one hat because I collect hats. I have about 25 hats, too. Well, I did.
Two hundred and seventy-five scarves. One set of dentures. This is the only thing left and when I opened the door yesterday, all my underwear was hanging on the line. But I got my pictures, so I'm glad.
That's me and my husband. Federal Aviation Administration, Atlantic City, New Jersey, that's where he worked. There's the picture at the console. He was great. He was great. He had polio but he did good.
I've been alone six years now and that took a lot out of me.
The last couple of weeks I don't know what made me do this, I just thought I'm going to say this little psalm when I lay down. Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray to walk my husband, my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I hope I meet him at the gate. This is what I've got. It's all I've got. I'm going to go.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
GRIFFIN: The emotions of a lifetime there.
NGUYEN: It's like an emotional roller coaster. You come back and you see your house in shambles like that and you think first of all, OK, I've got to get everything back together. But then you see pictures like that and it just, it brings it all home. It's important.
GRIFFIN: And no doubt wishing and hoping that her husband was there to help her through this next struggle.
NGUYEN: Well, help is on the way. And we'll be talking a lot about that throughout the show this morning.
We also want to talk about humans. They aren't the only ones suffering after Hurricane Charley. At 20 past the hour, we'll get a live report on the ongoing efforts to rescue animals stranded by the storm.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's the same tangled web of people who tried to do this to John McCain four years ago. And let me tell you something, it's not going to happen to John Kerry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: The Democrats' campaign taking swift aim at a new round of ads attacking Kerry's record of service.
One week down, one to go -- we'll get a situation report on how well sponsors are selling those Summer Olympic Games. And the athletes in Athens aren't the only ones getting a workout. We'll meet some brides on a mad dash -- he's not a bride -- for the perfect dress.
NGUYEN: There they are.
GRIFFIN: It's happening in his hometown, though.
NGUYEN: You'll be able to hear "you're fired" over and over again when the first season of "The Apprentice" comes out on DVD next Tuesday. I know you're looking forward to that. And some other releases include "Dogville," starring Nicole Kidman; "Ella Enchanted," which is something for the kids; "The Elvis Collection" for all you Elvis lovers; and a special edition of "Purple Rain."
And, playing at the movies, new offerings this week include both comedy and horror. We'll have a preview just a little bit later this hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) GRIFFIN: Here's the headlines across America this morning.
Don't expect it to last. Prices at the gas pumps have dropped -- have you felt it -- nearly a nickel a gallon over the past three weeks. But experts warning the rising price of crude will likely catch up with us in the coming weeks.
An eight-year-old Iraqi boy couldn't get the help he needed at home in Iraq so he's now in Florida at a hospital there for what officials hope will be a life saving heart operation. The U.S. military sent out information about that boy and a Tampa nurse arranged it all, bringing him to the U.S. for treatment.
A chemical spill in Oregon leaves four people with caustic burns. A tanker traveling on Interstate 5 leaked sodium hydroxide at a rest stop. This was near Portland. People walked through the spill, spreading the chemical. All four of those people have been treated and released for their burns there.
And forget Athens, the real race this week was in Boston, in the basement of Filene's. Look at this. The annual wedding dress dash brought out the athlete in brides to be looking for a bargain. A $3,000 gown could be snagged for just $250. The sale has been a regular event since 1947.
And what about this? How this horse got into trouble, later this hour on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
And here is our e-mail question for you this morning. Do you think high oil prices are jeopardizing the U.S. economic recovery? You can e-mail us at wam@cnn.com and we'll be reading your replies throughout the program.
NGUYEN: All right, if you're in the mood for a movie this weekend, here are some previews of current attractions.
(VIDEO CLIP FROM "BENJI: OFF THE LEASH," COURTESY OF MULBERRY SQUARE RELEASING)
NGUYEN: Meet Benji the dog again. And this time he is off the leash. Benji's job is to stop an illegal backyard puppy mill. But critics aren't charmed. The "Atlanta Journal Constitution" notes that, "Long before the happy ending arrives, even the most dedicated dog lover will cease to care."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING, COURTESY WARNER BROTHERS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We must leave now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where's Sarah? Oh, no.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take the boy to Nairobi to Father Geonetti (ph). UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: This could be spooky. In the wake of the Second World War, young Father Merrin is facing evil for the first time while performing missionary work in Africa. In "Exorcist: The Beginning," a young boy is said to be possessed by demons and it's up to Father Marin to save his soul.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM WITHOUT A PADDLE," COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tom, man, get out of here. You're going to die of pneumonia.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, but we will die of hypothermia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: And here's a comedy where everything that could go wrong does. Search for lost treasure brings this trio face to face with death defying rapids, tree hugging hippie chicks and a crazy old mountain man played by Burt Reynolds, of all people. No praise for "Without A Paddle" from the critics, though. The "Chicago Tribune" calls it "dumb, dumber and dumbest." Ouch.
GRIFFIN: Well, up next, these guys had no idea what was happening. The cats of Hurricane Charley -- homeless and ownerless and now maybe bound for a new life. An update next on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
NGUYEN: And Michael Phelps makes an announcement in Athens. We'll have a live report a little bit later this hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: Hurricane Charley left a lot of people homeless in Florida, and a lot of their pets, as well. The Humane Society is working now, alongside the Red Cross, to try and help.
Dr. Jennifer Maners is a veterinarian with the University of Florida.
She joins us by phone.
Doctor, how many animals are we talking about and how are they faring?
DR. JENNIFER MANERS, VETERINARIAN: Well, there's multiple organizations rescuing these animals. At our station, I can tell you that we've been doing pretty well. The animals that come in that can be treated and sent on are being forwarded to other holding areas, hopefully for their owners to find them. Animals that are too ill or have injuries that need special care, we're trying to keep them here until we can find functioning veterinary hospitals that we can send them out to.
GRIFFIN: Tell us about these animals and their injuries.
Are these animals basically being brought in from the rubble of Hurricane Charley?
MANERS: Some of the animals actually were found in the rubble. Many of these animals coming now are coming with their owners. The word has gotten out that our services are here, so a lot of people are bringing them in. And the ones that are able to bring them in, it's mostly lacerations, animals that have been missing for a few days now and have suddenly come home and are just extremely dehydrated. And, again, we're still seeing animals being brought in by animal control on their search that basically have heat exhaustion, that type of thing.
GRIFFIN: And I imagine the owners of these pets, if they are with their pets, are having trouble just getting supplies to take care of them, as we see that, you know, the power is still out, water is out in some areas.
Are they getting any help?
MANERS: They are. Alongside us here is another facility and there's just been a huge outpouring of help, not only from people around the State of Florida and organizations around Florida, but out of state, as well. And there is free dog food, cat food. I see they have rabbits and ferret chow. They also have hay whose shipments come in that people can bring in their vehicles, load up and take it home.
So it's turning over pretty quickly and they are getting help.
GRIFFIN: All right, Dr. Jennifer Maners, part of the recovery process down there in Florida, taking care of all these animals.
Thank you for joining us and thanks for your work.
MANERS: Thank you.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: The Kerry campaign fires back at the Swift Boat group. Could there be a Texas connection to the controversial ads?
GRIFFIN: And it turns out Ted Kennedy, he's not the only big name politician on the terror watch list. Forget their familiar faces, it's their names that are giving them airport hassles.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Women in the U.S. are waiting longer in life before having children, according to new information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 1970, the average age of a new mom was just 21 years old. But in the year 2000, the average age of a new mom was 25. Why the wait? Well, most experts point to increasing career and educational opportunities for women. The steady upwards shift in average age corresponds to lower teen birth rates, as well as an increased number of women in their 30s and 40s having kids.
And a recent study in the journal "Fertility and Sterility" shows that women who have had their last child after the age of 35 had a 58 percent lower risk of getting ovarian cancer as compared with women without children. Women who had children before the age of 25 only had a 16 percent lower risk.
Holly Firfer, CNN, Atlanta.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: A Texas connection to the anti-Kerry Swift Boat group.
Welcome back.
I'm Betty Nguyen at CNN headquarters here in Atlanta.
GRIFFIN: I'm Drew Griffin.
We'll have that story in a minute, but first the news.
Some mortar bursts in Najaf. But it's been fairly quiet in that tense Iraqi city. U.S. military officials say they are resuming limited combat operations after a temporary halt in fighting with Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's militia. Officials trying to let planned talks with the cleric go forward.
There is another attack, though, this morning in southern Baghdad. Coalition officials say insurgents hit a U.S. military vehicle with a rocket propelled grenade. One American soldier killed, two others there are hurt.
Now to the U.S. and southwest Florida. The hospital open again and businesses are reopening for the first time in a week. Signs of life returning to Punta Gorda. Hurricane Charley ravaged that town a week ago, causing death and massive destruction. Officials planning to open schools a week from Monday.
On the campaign trail, it is a billion dollar campaign, at least that's what the combined spending on the November election has been so far. President Bush spending $209 million through July; John Kerry spending $186 million. The parties themselves have spent about $400 million each, according to the Associated Press.
Keeping you informed, this is CNN, the most trusted name in news.
NGUYEN: Also on that campaign trail, the Kerry campaign says it now has proof that the Bush camp supports the Swift Boat veterans group. That group has been running ads criticizing Senator Kerry's war record. A volunteer for Kerry says he visited a Bush-Cheney campaign office in Gainesville, Florida and picked up a flyer promoting a rally by the vets. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL SHILLING, KERRY CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER: I think that in this case, someone somewhere violated the rules. And it needs to be stopped.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This isn't an official Republican event. It's not a Bush-Cheney event. These are folks who are concerned, who want to get the message out, and that's their first amendment right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Now, the White House has insisted it has no connection to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.
In other news, meanwhile, John Kerry has formally filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission. He alleges the veterans group is illegally working with the Bush campaign.
And we have more on that from CNN's Ed Henry.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The second wave of the swift boat attack takes aim at John Kerry's dramatic and controversial 1971 testimony to a Senate committee. As head of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Kerry repeated allegations that some U.S. soldiers had tortured innocents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, SWIFT BOAT VETERANS FOR TRUTH AD)
KERRY: ... they had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads...
JOE PONDER, WOUNDED NOVEMBER 1968: The accusations that John Kerry made against the veterans who served in Vietnam was just devastating.
KERRY: ... crimes committed on a day-to-day basis...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He betrayed us in the past. How could we be loyal to him now?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: But the veterans targeting Kerry are now under fire themselves, with the Democratic candidate charging the outside group is doing President Bush's dirty work. Central to that charge, Bob Perry, a Houston homebuilder who has poured $200,000 into the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ad campaign.
Perry gave $46,000 to Mr. Bush's two gubernatorial campaigns and has maxed out to both of Mr. Bush's presidential campaigns. Perry is also a long-time political ally of Karl Rove, the president's chief political adviser. TAD DEVINE, KERRY CAMPAIGN ADVISOR: It's the same tangled web of people who tried to do this to John McCain four years ago. And let me tell you something, it's not going to happen to John Kerry. John Kerry will fight back.
HENRY: The White House said the friendship between Perry and Rove, proves nothing.
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECY.: I they know each other, I know that. But that still shouldn't be used to draw any connection there, because we have not been involved in this ad what so ever. And Senator Kerry, seems to have lost his cool, and now he's just launching into false and baseless attacks against the president.
HENRY (on camera): Some Democrats are privately grumbling that the Kerry campaign took too long to fight back and that some political damage has already been done, especially in light of a new poll showing Senator Kerry's support with veterans dropping. Ed Henry, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Now, U.S. veterans who support John Kerry are making their case in Hanoi, Vietnam, calling President Bush a draft dodger. The veterans are selling T-shirts that read, "Americans Overseas for Kerry." Proceeds from those shirts will go to support Kerry's campaign.
GRIFFIN: Who wins the November election may hinge on undecideds. So why not tune into a CNN town meeting tonight? Paula Zahn is going to take the pulse of undecided voters in the battleground state of Ohio. What will make them vote for Bush or Kerry? That's at 8:00 Eastern, right here on CNN.
NGUYEN: Now, this week's developments in the war on terror.
Eight of the 13 men arrested on terror charges earlier this month in Britain had their first court appearance in London on Wednesday. One of the suspects is described by U.S. officials as a senior al Qaeda operative. A plea hearing is set for August 25.
A striking failure," that's what a leading Democratic congressman said about a program designed to protect the nation's borders from terrorists. Representative Jim Turner of Texas is the ranking Democrat on the House Domestic Security Committee. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, he says an investigation by his committee showed problems with the system. Homeland Undersecretary for Border Security, Asa Hutchison, says the findings were based on some incorrect information.
And Friday, cracking down on alleged Hamas activities in the U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft says two men are in custody in an alleged terrorism financing scheme. A third person is still at large overseas. And one of the suspects appeared in court in Chicago Friday and pleaded not guilty. The men are accused in a scheme to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars to the group Hamas. GRIFFIN: And more about the anti-terrorism and security, this time from two Democratic law makers. Georgia Congressman John Lewis says airport officials have stopped him for extra searches up to 40 times over the last year. He says a name similar to his appears on a federal watch list, which is aimed at keeping terrorists from getting on airplanes. Lewis says he's contacted authorities, but they're warning him he could still face extra security checks because of that similarity in names.
And earlier, Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts said he's also been stopped at airports because his name is similar to a name on that watch list.
Boy, it's been a busy week. And if you've been too busy to keep up with the news this week, we're here to help. Time now to rewind. Florida residents began picking up the pieces after Hurricane Charley blew through that state last Friday. Emergency crews have cleared roads but are still working to restore water and electricity. Two hundred and forty thousand customers still without power there. The storm causing 24 deaths.
An Army report on interrogation practices by the military at Iraq's Abu Ghraib Prison found the abuse was not ordered by senior commanders. Known as the Fay Report, it's expected to be released next week.
Google made that long awaited debut on the Nasdaq marketplace on Thursday. Within the first few minutes, more than nine million shares changed hands, making Google one of the most actively traded stocks on the Nasdaq. It gained $15 a share on its first day of trading, up to about $100.
And crude oil prices soared to a new high Friday, nearly $50 a barrel. And it shows no signs of slowing. The rapid rise is partly the result of escalating violence in Iraq and increased worldwide demand.
Tomorrow we'll fast forward to the week ahead. We'll tell you which story is most likely to grab the spotlight.
NGUYEN: All right, thrilling victories and agonizing defeats continue to make the headlines worldwide at the Summer Games, including the incredible odyssey of swimmer Michael Phelps. Now comes track and field events. We will have a live report from Athens right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
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NGUYEN: Well, good morning, New York. A little foggy there, where the eighth annual Great Hudson River Swim gets wet and wild a little later today. Folks will be swimming from 79th to 23rd Streets.
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NGUYEN: Checking our top stories this Saturday, the federal commission investigating the September 11 attacks officially disbands today. The group is sending its notes to the National Archives. Members promise they'll keep lobbying Congress to implement the security changes they've recommended.
Now, to people in central Florida. They are still struggling to get their lives back to normal. Businesses are starting to reopen and cell phone service is being restored. More than 240,000 people are still without power statewide.
A miraculous rescue for a 22-year-old horse in Oregon. Check this out. The horse was spooked during a ride and tumbled into a muddy creek. The rider had just minor injuries. But the Arabian mare was stuck in deep mud for hours, as firefighters struggled to free her. At one point, she went into shock. But good news -- the horse is doing well and expected to be released from a hospital a little bit later today.
GRIFFIN: American swimmer Michael Phelps has been one of the big stories of the 28th Olympiad. But there's a lot more going on, too, in sports there.
Larry Smith joins us live from Athens -- Larry.
LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Drew.
How are you?
It's a very warm day, a warm Saturday today in Athens, near 100 degrees as we approach almost the midway point of the games. A week from tomorrow will be the closing ceremony and we'll look forward to Beijing in 2008.
You mentioned Michael Phelps, though, as phenomenal as he is has been in the pool, it's what he did outside of the pool Friday night that is making everyone kind of shake their heads and smile today. After winning his fifth gold medal and seventh medal of these games when he won the 100-meter butterfly and narrowly beat out teammate Ian Crocker, he then withdrew from today's 400-meter medley relay and gave his spot to Crocker, saying we came in as a team, we leave as a team.
Everyone admiring this young, 19-year-old from Baltimore and his phenomenal exploits as he tries to become the first swimmer ever to win eight medals. He'll still do that. If the U.S. gets a medal tonight, as he is a part of this team and he swam in the preliminaries.
In fact, IOC Chairman Jacques Rogge said he's a great champion, one of the icons of these games.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL PHELPS, U.S. GOLD MEDALIST: I wanted to come in here, I wanted to win one gold medal. I did it the first night, so, you know, from then on out, I was just -- I was here to have fun and I was here to swim and I was here to represent my country as best as I could. And, you know, I feel that, that I've done that in this past week.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Today is the final day in swimming. However, at the same time, it is, well, a very big way for U.S. basketball. The men take on Lithuania in their toughest test so far in these games. Dream team two and one right now in these games after the root over Puerto Rico last week, or by Puerto Rico last Sunday, took some of the luster off this team. And Larry Brown is really giving them -- hoping to get them to focus and play with more desire. They play 1:00 Eastern time versus Lithuania. And, again, they need a win. If they get a win today, they should at that point then qualify for the quarter finals, which begin next week.
Track and field on the way, day two of track and field. And this morning already the early first round heats of the 100-meter men's running. And it was Sean Crawford and Justin Gatlin with the top two times respectively in those heats. Also qualifying is 2000 gold medalist Maurice Green of the U.S.
Tonight is the women's 100-meter semifinals and finals. Gayle Deevers, a two time gold medalist, she is in that hunt, as well, for a gold medal. Also, LaTasha Colander and Lauren Williams are also in that, as well. As is Merlene Otty, the 44-year-old formerly of Jamaica. Now she is of Slovenia. Her seventh Olympics, trying to reach the finals later tonight -- Drew, let's get back to you.
GRIFFIN: Larry, thanks.
We hope you can stay cool there in Greece. You're hitting that summer heat now.
SMITH: Thank you.
NGUYEN: All right, well courtrooms are busy across America and our legal eagles are on the cases. Michael Jackson and Scott Peterson on the docket in our Legal Briefs. That happens in the next hour at CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
GRIFFIN: But first, video is wonderful. But sometimes a still photo tells a more compelling story. These images from the Summer Games in Athens capture the wordless poetry of athletic excellence.
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NGUYEN: Welcome back.
Could it be a sign of a wider problem? New Jersey Governor James McGreevey resigned after admitting to an affair with a man. Experts say the governor is one of many men leading what amounts to double lives.
More now from Brian Todd in Washington.
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BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A public admission of a very private matter. GOV. JAMES MCGREEVEY (D), NEW JERSEY: Throughout my life, I have grappled with my own identity.
TODD: When Governor James McGreevey came out of his closet, his wife at his side, revealing a double life, John Craig saw a very familiar story. Craig runs a telephone counseling service called the Voice Roundtable, a confidential voice message sounding board for men living their own double lives.
JOHN CRAIG, VOICE ROUNDTABLE: In the world that they live in, they identify as heterosexual. But within the group they acknowledge that they have a bisexual orientation and have attractions both to men and women.
John Craig.
TODD: The complications begin there, and can extend virtually anywhere. Of his two to three dozen clients, all male, Craig says, some are still in love with their wives.
One caller says, quote, "I have been together with my wife for 27 years. We have two children. And basically she's known about this part of me for about 25 of those 27 years."
Then there are callers like this: "My wife does not know. I think it would threaten her. Other people do know in my life, and it feels good to have that support."
For others, perhaps an even more delicate dilemma.
CRAIG: And those who have not revealed this to their children will get a lot of insights from hearing the stories of other men who have revealed this to their children.
TODD: The common thread is that, at least when they start out in Craig's groups, everyone is hiding their orientation from someone and needs to sound it out.
Experts agree there is no way to calculate how many people are in this situation. By its very nature this is a very secretive subculture, navigating the grayest of areas.
But for many, the predicament is clear. In some three-dozen states you can still be fired from your job for being gay. Craig, himself bisexual, says some of his clients have a lot to lose professionally.
CRAIG: Many of these men are quite leadership oriented in their communities. They wanted to be at the head of the church, at the head of their business, at the head of their civic organization. And so they have hidden these feelings.
TODD: Craig says he doesn't so much offer advice to clients but rather gives comparisons, a chance to think and reach their own decisions. One of Craig's original clients, who's also a psychoanalyst, tells us many of these men are not confused about that sexuality, just over what to do about it.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: The rains came to Cornwall, England and just kept coming.
We're going to have an update on this next.
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GRIFFIN: Time now for some of the outstanding video of the past several days, which we call our Wows of the Week.
First up, this is what happened on the British west coast when the remnants of hurricane Bonnie arrived there. Heavy rain sent a gigantic wall of muddy water roaring through the tourist village of Bocastle in Cornwall. Some 50 to 60 vehicles swept to sea. There were no reports of deaths or injuries.
This is what happened when a pleasure boater in New York City's Rockaway Inlet fell overboard. He was plucked out of the water, but his runabout was left running about. It stayed in a tight circle. The U.S. Park Police eventually managed to corral that runaway craft.
Also in New York, a new kind of dining experience for animal lovers. A posh eatery on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan caters exclusively to cats. But they must be accompanied by an adult. As everyone knows, cats notoriously lousy tippers.
NGUYEN: Yes, someone's got to pay the bill there.
All right, this morning we've been asking you our e-mail Question of the Day. Do high oil prices jeopardize the economic recovery? We've got a response now from Jeffrey in Tennessee. He writes: "Economic what? It seems to me I work harder for less each day, while corporate America rakes in the profits,. Not much of a recovery, if you ask me. However, until gas gets to $5 a gallon, I really won't pay attention."
And we invite you to keep on sending those response in to wam@cnn.com. We'll read those responses on the air.
GRIFFIN: And the next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING begins right now.
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