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CNN Saturday Morning News

Interview with Legal Experts Nelda Blair, Lida Rodriguez- Tassef

Aired January 22, 2005 - 08:00   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.


TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR, CNN SATURDAY MORNING: ...looking to troop reductions over time, as more of a transition, rather than a complete rapid destabilizing withdrawal."
And as I mentioned, plenty of e-mails. Here's the question: When should U.S. troops leave Iraq? We'll be reading those responses throughout the morning. Here's the address at wam@cnn.com.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR, CNN SATURDAY MORNING: But right now, the next hour of CNN SATURDAY, begins -- you guessed it, right now.

From the CNN Center this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It is January 22, a very cold morning. And 8:00 a.m. here at the headquarters here in Atlanta; 5:00 a.m. out on the West Coast.

Good morning, everyone, I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: It is cold and we're watching a blizzard. I'm Tony Harris. Thanks for being with us.

NGUYEN: "Now in the News": Dangerous weather, a blizzard warning, as Tony just mentioned, has been issued for the entire New York City metro area from noon today until noon tomorrow.

Now other places will get socked as well. A massive snowstorm is moving from the Midwest to the Northeast. People in many areas are bracing for a foot of snow or more today. Meteorologist Rob Marciano will have the complete forecast. That is straight ahead.

A search is underway this morning in Georgia for a convicted child molester suspected of kidnapping an 11-year-old Florida boy. The boy was found safe last night in northwest Atlanta. Authorities believe he was taken from his school yesterday by Frederick Fretz, who lived with the boy and his father.

A makeshift memorial is up in Tyler, Texas, where a Wal-Mart cashier was kidnapped Wednesday. She was found shot to death, yesterday, about 400 miles away in a ditch in western Texas. The suspect is a decorated Marine who served in the Iraq war. He was found in Arizona and held on a million-dollar bond.

Also this, security moves for Iraq's upcoming election. The government says it will close Baghdad's airport was a precautionary measure. The airport will be closed January 29 and 30, which is Election Day.

HARRIS: And on our agenda in the next 30 minutes, dangerous minds. Call it the al Qaeda primer. Inside the covers of the writings of Osama bin Laden and his second in command.

In our "Legal Briefs" a journalist fights to avoid testifying in the Michael Jackson child-molestation case.

And on this 32 anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark abortion ruling thousands of supporters demonstrate across the country. Let's go now to Gary Nuremberg.

Gary.

GARY NUREMBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And clinic escorts in Washington are prepared to escort patients into a clinic, as demonstrators prepare to mass on the anniversary of Roe V. Wade. We'll have that story coming up.

NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Gary.

Courtesy of a blustering snowstorm out of Canada winter weather arrives in the Midwest with a flourish and vengeance. More than eight inches of snow expected around Minneapolis this morning. Conditions are far worst in western Minnesota where a blizzard warning is posted in some areas.

Northern Illinois is in for heavy accumulations as well. Up to a foot of snow blown around by strong winds could whip up blizzard conditions in the Chicago area. Ohio is bracing for a snowy weekend, too, as crews salt down roads, shoppers clear grocery shelves of bread and milk. Six to 10 inches of additional snow is predicted for Ohio.

HARRIS: I have to tell you, Rob, six inches of snow is fun for the kids and parents out there with them, these totals that you are talking about a foot, 18 inches of snow, that starts to be pretty dangerous.

NGUYEN: No fun.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Then with the cold and wind when you drop wind chills below zero. It is just going to be terrible. And it is going to be snowing so hard that the roads crews just won't have time to keep up with it. You can salt it all you want. You are going to have to wait a couple days before the roads get close to driving.

(WEATHER FORECAST)

HARRIS: Some now developments coming out of Iraq this morning. Iraq's interim defense minister saying former Defense Minister Ahmed Chalabi will be arrested today to face bank fraud charges in Jordan. Chalabi was a key U.S. ally in leading up to the war in Iraq, but he fell out of favor with the White House last year when the prewar intelligence he supplied didn't pan out. China confirms eight Chinese nationals held hostage in Iraq are free. A statement aired an Arab TV said they were being freed after China agreed to advise its citizens not to travel in Iraq.

Americans may get a unique look inside the mind of Osama bin Laden. A book with Osama bin Laden's writings published next year, but it is already drawing criticism from people who suffered in al Qaeda attacks. CNN's Mary Snow has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's to be titled "The Al Qaeda Reader". Publisher Doubleday says it will include writings from Osama bin Laden and his second in command, Amin Al Zawahiri, from the 1990s. News of the book prompted at least one publisher to raise a red flag about profits.

PETER OSNOS, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, LLC: How do you deal with something like this in the market place. That is the issue that I suppose most people are wondering about. Should a company make money off of Osama bin Laden and his colleagues?

SNOW: Up until Thursday night, Doubleday hadn't decided about profits. Today it said it will donate all net income of U.S. sales to a charity or charities yet to be named, saying we have a historic opportunity to make the works of these dreaded terrorists known to all Americans, at the same time provide relief to the victims as a result.

But the agent for the translator who discovered the writings says his client and Doubleday have every right to profit from the book.

GLENN HARTLEY, WRITER'S REPRESENTATIVE: I don't think that Doubleday should be expected, or feel compelled to donate this money. I think whatever profits they make are rightfully theirs. And they are doing, as I said, a public service through publishing this book.

SNOW: Glenn Hartley's client, Raymond Ebraham (ph), found the writings at the Library of Congress where he works and thought the public should read them.

HARTLEY: It's the ruthless nature, the no holds barred, no such thing as cruelty attitude that Zawahiri has, that is most disturbing -- and enlightening.

SNOW: Al Zawahiri was indicted in the U.S. embassy bombings in 1998 in Kenya where Edith Bartley lost her father and brother.

EDITH BARTLEY, BOMBING VICTIMS' RELATIVE: As a victim, a person who lost half of her family, I think the public needs to have as much information as possible about al Qaeda, about bin Laden, and about our government and how we really did slip down on the job, in terms of protecting our citizens.

SNOW: Some compare this to publishing Hitler's "Mein Kampf".

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The benefits to understand what we face as a free society. We would rather give up our freedom, not to hear the vicious words of Adolph Hitler or Osama bin Laden or Zawahiri.

SNOW (on camera): Houghton-Mifflin, which publishes "Mein Kampf" in the U.S., says all profits go to a fund to promote racial and religious understanding. The al Qaeda book is set to be published sometime next year -- Mary Snow, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: What do you think? Is the government doing enough to protect you? Tune in tomorrow for "CNN Security Watch" special report, "Defending America", an in-depth look at homeland security. Again that is Sunday, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.

HARRIS: Well today is the 32nd anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion. There are a number of events taking place across the country to mark the occasion, live now to Gary Nurenberg, in the nation's capital.

Good morning, Gary.

GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

Both sides are marking that anniversary here in Washington. A Planned Parenthood clinic that is going to remain open for 24 hours to provide reproductive services as one way to separate the Roe Vs. Wade decision. Erin Crawford is a student at Catholic University who represents students for life. She'll be demonstrating here today, as she does every Saturday.

Erin, why take the time and make the effort to do this?

ERIN CRAWFORD, STUDENTS FOR LIFE, CATHOLIC UNIV.: Good morning.

We're here to peacefully and prayerfully witness to the dignity and sanctity of all human life. We, the younger generation, recognize that abortion is an act of violence upon a woman. And that we need to offer alternative options and allow the woman to have love and care and know that she doesn't have to make the decision.

NURENBERG: Miss Crawford, thank you very much.

We'll be following your demonstration and march to the Supreme Court later today.

Representing the Planned Parenthood of Washington, D.C. is its CEO.

Let me ask you, why this 24-hour effort?

JATRICE MANTEL CAITER, PRES. PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF D.C.: We're here to provide the services that we provide six days a week, birth control, family planning, and reproductive choice so women can make their own choices about there health here in Washington.

NURENBERG: Thanks very much for helping us out.

Both sides of the issues here in Washington, both sides with a heavy presence; there will be a march to the Supreme Court later today. We'll cover it and bring you updates as the day progresses. Live in Washington, this is Gary Nurenberg. Back to the studio.

HARRIS: Thank you.

The Michael Jackson molestation trial is set to begin in just over a week. Ahead in our "Legal Brief" a journalist tries to avoid having to take the stand.

NGUYEN: At the bottom of the hour, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and his fab five meet five people chosen from thousands who are getting a little help with their new year's health resolutions.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: After a series of deadly car bombings in week in Iraq, a question that's on the minds of many Americans is when U.S. troops can pull out of the region. Next hour, a former official with the provisional authority joins us to talk about the U.S. exit strategy from the war-torn nation.

And we want to hear from you on our e-mail question of the day. When do you think U.S. troops should leave Iraq? Send your comments to wam@cnn.com and we'll read some of your responses, your e-mails on the air.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Checking our top stories this SATURDAY MORNING.

Old man winter stomps through Ohio with miles to go before he sleeps. A huge winter storm is heading for the Northeast after dumping heavy snow across the Midwest. A blizzard warning is up in New York City, which could see more than a foot of snow.

A massive man hunt is on for this man, convicted sex offender Frederick Fretz. Police say he kidnap a young Florida boy on Tuesday. The boy was found safe last night about 400 miles away in northern Georgia. Fretz was a friend of the boy's family.

Some bizarre images out of Iraq. Take a look as a hostage standoff ends. A video tape out this morning shows insurgents freeing eight Chinese workers and even shaking hands with them. A voice on the tape says China agreed to urge its people to stay out of Iraq.

NGUYEN: Let's talk about some weather this morning. Boy, is it cold out there, especially in the Northeast part of the nation.

(WEATHER FORECAST)

NGUYEN: The search for that elusive fountain remains fruitless, at best. Instead, more than 8 million people a year turn to cosmetic surgery and the numbers are rising. But before you see a doctor you may want to visit a consultant so you know exactly what to expect, once you go under the knife. Some insight tomorrow on "CNN Sunday Morning" from former model and cosmetic surgery consultant Carol Martin.

HARRIS: When the best intentions go awry.

NGUYEN: Taken from the family that takes care of him or has taken care of him since birth. We look at a Florida court's ruling to give full custody back to the biological parents.

HARRIS: And at the bottom of the hour on "House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta" the new you revolution. Will you meet five people struggling to trade in some bad habits for some good ones.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Prosecutors want a man who produced a documentary about Michael Jackson to testify in Jackson's child molestation trial. But Martin Bashir says California's shield law protects journalists from having to take the stand to testify about their sources.

Also, on the docket this morning, in Florida, a heated custody dispute between a boy's natural parents and the couple who adopted him. We toss these legal disputes into the laps of regular SATURDAY MORNING analysts, former prosecutor Nelda Blair joins us form Washington this morning.

NELDA BLAIR, FMR. PROSECUTOR: Good morning.

NGUYEN: Good morning.

And civil liberties attorney Lida Rodriguez-Tassef is in our Miami bureau. Good morning to you.

LIDA RODRIGUEZ-TASSEF, CIVIL LIBERTIES ATTORNEY: Good morning.

NGUYEN: Well, Nelda, let's start with you, because Friday a judge ruled that experts can testify on the behavior of sexually abused children in the Michael Jackson case. Is this a win for the prosecution?

BLAIR: Oh, absolutely, it is the prosecution that wanted to put those experts on. It's the right decision by the judge, by the way. Because what they want to show is children react in certain ways to sexual molestation. This expert is going to be able to tell the jury that, yes, sometimes they don't talk for a long time, sometimes they tell part of the story. Sometimes they confide in unusual people.

That's what these two children did, the one boy that was sexually molested and also his brother. So think it's great thing for the prosecution. They are going to be able to at least explain why the children acted in the way they did.

Lida, I'm sure you agree with me on this, this morning.

RODRIGUEZ-TASSEF: Oh, you know, I absolutely do. The cold has affected your brain, Nelda.

(LAUGHTER) Absolutely ridiculous.

The only reason this expert is being put on is to bolster the credibility of otherwise weak witnesses and to prop up the prosecution case. Expert witnesses are supposed to testify on things that are scientific and complicated, that juries cannot understand that's not what this expert is going to testify about. He's going to testify about typical behavior of typical kids that are molested.

There's no such thing as a typical child who is molested or who is raped. Therefore, this testimony is merely intended to make these kids look credible, to make them look believable. And to make the prosecution's case stronger for them. That's not the use of expert witnesses.

NGUYEN: Let's talk about the children who will be testifying. Do you both agree? And I guess I'll start with you Nelda, that they should make this testimony in secret?

BLAIR: It's not in secret. That's really not the word. It's just not in public. And most children who testify, in most cases, particularly sexual molestation takes cases do so in private with the judge and the jury and the attorneys present.

It's absolutely the right thing to do. It's the protection of these children, that's important. There is no question that they should not be made to testify in public.

NGUYEN: You agree, Lida?

RODRIGUEZ-TASSEF: Nelda, this is hilarious.

BLAIR: Lida!

RODRIGUEZ-TASSEF: Betty, the idea that it is not in public is therefore still kind of not in secret? That's not the case. The Sixth Amendment protects the right for people to have public trials. And the First Amendment allows us all access into the courtroom.

To say that you can close down the courtroom just because teenagers are testifying is essentially saying you are going to close down the First Amendment just because the prosecution has weak witnesses that it doesn't really want the world to see.

Ridiculous and unacceptable, these need to be open.

NGUYEN: We're almost running out of time. I have to get to a lot of these issues quickly. Martin Bashir, who did the documentary about Michael Jackson, he has been asked to testify. But, Lida, does the California shield law protect him from testifying?

RODRIGUEZ-TASSEF: Yes, it does. It's been on the books since 1934. Protects him from testifying. It protects him from testifying because the law says that if you are a witness, as a reporter to the goings on and you report about it, you don't have to talk about what you didn't report about. That's why he's protected. BLAIR: No way. Lida, what happened with this guy he asked Michael Jackson a bunch of questions, many of which he answered on camera, many of which were questionable, about his behavior, all the prosecution wants is the other questions that Michael Jackson may have answered that ended up ton cutting room floor. That is not shielded by this lawsuit. This guy is going to get locked up.

NGUYEN: We have to move down to the case of Evan Scott in Florida. This is a little boy given to his adopted parents at the age of just two days old. He has been given back to his biological parents due to a court order.

Did the judge, Lida, rule in the best interest of the child in this case?

RODRIGUEZ-TASSEF: He ruled as the law requires him to rule, which is that there had been no adoption, no proper transfer of adoption rights, because the father had not signed off on the adoption. Therefore, the biological parents still had their full rights. Did he the right thing.

NGUYEN: Do you agree, Nelda?

BLAIR: It is a failure of the justice system, absolutely a failure. Because this kid is three and a half years old. It has taken that long for this adoption and the father's intervention in it to make it through the courts. That's wrong. That is just wrong.

NGUYEN: Hey, quickly, though. Should Governor Bush, Jeb Bush, get involved in the case? What kind of legal authority does he have, Lida?

RODRIGUEZ-TASSEF: He has none. He's a governor. He's not a judge.

NGUYEN: Some lawmakers want him involved. Nelda, what do you think?

BLAIR: I have to say I agree with Lida on that one thing, but that's all.

(LAUGHTER)

RODRIGUEZ-TASSEF: Thank god!

NGUYEN: All right. We'll leave it there.

We thank you ladies, as always. Always been a pleasure on these morning shows with you two. Thanks.

HARRIS: OK, let's quickly now turn to our e-mail question of the day. When do you think U.S. troops should leave Iraq? Let's start with this first e-mail, is it from Steve?

It's from Steve, "Soon after the elections."

Thank you, Steve.

NGUYEN: And we have another e-mail coming from Scott, who writes, "God love them, but they need to be remain until the local war against tyranny and chaos is won. Leaving prematurely will only enbolden the global Islamic jihad."

Of course, we invite to you keep on sending the responses in. When should U.S. troops leave Iraq? E-mail us your response at wam@cnn.com.

HARRIS: "House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta" is straight ahead. This week you'll meet five people who are looking to make some big changes in the new year to become a new person. I'm Tony Harris.

I'm Betty Nguyen. Top stories and "House Call" just ahead. See you again at the top of the hour.

HARRIS: "Now in the News": This is what is in store for much of the Eastern U.S. today. A huge winter storm has made a mess of roads in Minnesota and across the Midwest. These are pictures from Cleveland. It is now headed for the Northeast and is expected to drop more than a foot of snow. New York City has posted a blizzard warning.

A major manhunt is underway for this man. Police say Frederick Fretz, a convicted sex offender, abducted an 11-year old boy from Florida on Tuesday. The boy was found safe in northern Georgia last night, walking up a highway ramp. The search for Fretz is focused on a nearby wooded area.

Word coming out of Iraq this morning. Government officials say Bagdad's airport will be closed on January 29th and 30th. It's a security precaution for the national election, which is scheduled for the 30th.

I'm Tony Harris. HOUSECALL starts 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 January 22, 2005 - 08:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR, CNN SATURDAY MORNING: ...looking to troop reductions over time, as more of a transition, rather than a complete rapid destabilizing withdrawal."
And as I mentioned, plenty of e-mails. Here's the question: When should U.S. troops leave Iraq? We'll be reading those responses throughout the morning. Here's the address at wam@cnn.com.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR, CNN SATURDAY MORNING: But right now, the next hour of CNN SATURDAY, begins -- you guessed it, right now.

From the CNN Center this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It is January 22, a very cold morning. And 8:00 a.m. here at the headquarters here in Atlanta; 5:00 a.m. out on the West Coast.

Good morning, everyone, I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: It is cold and we're watching a blizzard. I'm Tony Harris. Thanks for being with us.

NGUYEN: "Now in the News": Dangerous weather, a blizzard warning, as Tony just mentioned, has been issued for the entire New York City metro area from noon today until noon tomorrow.

Now other places will get socked as well. A massive snowstorm is moving from the Midwest to the Northeast. People in many areas are bracing for a foot of snow or more today. Meteorologist Rob Marciano will have the complete forecast. That is straight ahead.

A search is underway this morning in Georgia for a convicted child molester suspected of kidnapping an 11-year-old Florida boy. The boy was found safe last night in northwest Atlanta. Authorities believe he was taken from his school yesterday by Frederick Fretz, who lived with the boy and his father.

A makeshift memorial is up in Tyler, Texas, where a Wal-Mart cashier was kidnapped Wednesday. She was found shot to death, yesterday, about 400 miles away in a ditch in western Texas. The suspect is a decorated Marine who served in the Iraq war. He was found in Arizona and held on a million-dollar bond.

Also this, security moves for Iraq's upcoming election. The government says it will close Baghdad's airport was a precautionary measure. The airport will be closed January 29 and 30, which is Election Day.

HARRIS: And on our agenda in the next 30 minutes, dangerous minds. Call it the al Qaeda primer. Inside the covers of the writings of Osama bin Laden and his second in command.

In our "Legal Briefs" a journalist fights to avoid testifying in the Michael Jackson child-molestation case.

And on this 32 anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark abortion ruling thousands of supporters demonstrate across the country. Let's go now to Gary Nuremberg.

Gary.

GARY NUREMBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And clinic escorts in Washington are prepared to escort patients into a clinic, as demonstrators prepare to mass on the anniversary of Roe V. Wade. We'll have that story coming up.

NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Gary.

Courtesy of a blustering snowstorm out of Canada winter weather arrives in the Midwest with a flourish and vengeance. More than eight inches of snow expected around Minneapolis this morning. Conditions are far worst in western Minnesota where a blizzard warning is posted in some areas.

Northern Illinois is in for heavy accumulations as well. Up to a foot of snow blown around by strong winds could whip up blizzard conditions in the Chicago area. Ohio is bracing for a snowy weekend, too, as crews salt down roads, shoppers clear grocery shelves of bread and milk. Six to 10 inches of additional snow is predicted for Ohio.

HARRIS: I have to tell you, Rob, six inches of snow is fun for the kids and parents out there with them, these totals that you are talking about a foot, 18 inches of snow, that starts to be pretty dangerous.

NGUYEN: No fun.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Then with the cold and wind when you drop wind chills below zero. It is just going to be terrible. And it is going to be snowing so hard that the roads crews just won't have time to keep up with it. You can salt it all you want. You are going to have to wait a couple days before the roads get close to driving.

(WEATHER FORECAST)

HARRIS: Some now developments coming out of Iraq this morning. Iraq's interim defense minister saying former Defense Minister Ahmed Chalabi will be arrested today to face bank fraud charges in Jordan. Chalabi was a key U.S. ally in leading up to the war in Iraq, but he fell out of favor with the White House last year when the prewar intelligence he supplied didn't pan out. China confirms eight Chinese nationals held hostage in Iraq are free. A statement aired an Arab TV said they were being freed after China agreed to advise its citizens not to travel in Iraq.

Americans may get a unique look inside the mind of Osama bin Laden. A book with Osama bin Laden's writings published next year, but it is already drawing criticism from people who suffered in al Qaeda attacks. CNN's Mary Snow has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's to be titled "The Al Qaeda Reader". Publisher Doubleday says it will include writings from Osama bin Laden and his second in command, Amin Al Zawahiri, from the 1990s. News of the book prompted at least one publisher to raise a red flag about profits.

PETER OSNOS, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, LLC: How do you deal with something like this in the market place. That is the issue that I suppose most people are wondering about. Should a company make money off of Osama bin Laden and his colleagues?

SNOW: Up until Thursday night, Doubleday hadn't decided about profits. Today it said it will donate all net income of U.S. sales to a charity or charities yet to be named, saying we have a historic opportunity to make the works of these dreaded terrorists known to all Americans, at the same time provide relief to the victims as a result.

But the agent for the translator who discovered the writings says his client and Doubleday have every right to profit from the book.

GLENN HARTLEY, WRITER'S REPRESENTATIVE: I don't think that Doubleday should be expected, or feel compelled to donate this money. I think whatever profits they make are rightfully theirs. And they are doing, as I said, a public service through publishing this book.

SNOW: Glenn Hartley's client, Raymond Ebraham (ph), found the writings at the Library of Congress where he works and thought the public should read them.

HARTLEY: It's the ruthless nature, the no holds barred, no such thing as cruelty attitude that Zawahiri has, that is most disturbing -- and enlightening.

SNOW: Al Zawahiri was indicted in the U.S. embassy bombings in 1998 in Kenya where Edith Bartley lost her father and brother.

EDITH BARTLEY, BOMBING VICTIMS' RELATIVE: As a victim, a person who lost half of her family, I think the public needs to have as much information as possible about al Qaeda, about bin Laden, and about our government and how we really did slip down on the job, in terms of protecting our citizens.

SNOW: Some compare this to publishing Hitler's "Mein Kampf".

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The benefits to understand what we face as a free society. We would rather give up our freedom, not to hear the vicious words of Adolph Hitler or Osama bin Laden or Zawahiri.

SNOW (on camera): Houghton-Mifflin, which publishes "Mein Kampf" in the U.S., says all profits go to a fund to promote racial and religious understanding. The al Qaeda book is set to be published sometime next year -- Mary Snow, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: What do you think? Is the government doing enough to protect you? Tune in tomorrow for "CNN Security Watch" special report, "Defending America", an in-depth look at homeland security. Again that is Sunday, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.

HARRIS: Well today is the 32nd anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion. There are a number of events taking place across the country to mark the occasion, live now to Gary Nurenberg, in the nation's capital.

Good morning, Gary.

GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

Both sides are marking that anniversary here in Washington. A Planned Parenthood clinic that is going to remain open for 24 hours to provide reproductive services as one way to separate the Roe Vs. Wade decision. Erin Crawford is a student at Catholic University who represents students for life. She'll be demonstrating here today, as she does every Saturday.

Erin, why take the time and make the effort to do this?

ERIN CRAWFORD, STUDENTS FOR LIFE, CATHOLIC UNIV.: Good morning.

We're here to peacefully and prayerfully witness to the dignity and sanctity of all human life. We, the younger generation, recognize that abortion is an act of violence upon a woman. And that we need to offer alternative options and allow the woman to have love and care and know that she doesn't have to make the decision.

NURENBERG: Miss Crawford, thank you very much.

We'll be following your demonstration and march to the Supreme Court later today.

Representing the Planned Parenthood of Washington, D.C. is its CEO.

Let me ask you, why this 24-hour effort?

JATRICE MANTEL CAITER, PRES. PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF D.C.: We're here to provide the services that we provide six days a week, birth control, family planning, and reproductive choice so women can make their own choices about there health here in Washington.

NURENBERG: Thanks very much for helping us out.

Both sides of the issues here in Washington, both sides with a heavy presence; there will be a march to the Supreme Court later today. We'll cover it and bring you updates as the day progresses. Live in Washington, this is Gary Nurenberg. Back to the studio.

HARRIS: Thank you.

The Michael Jackson molestation trial is set to begin in just over a week. Ahead in our "Legal Brief" a journalist tries to avoid having to take the stand.

NGUYEN: At the bottom of the hour, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and his fab five meet five people chosen from thousands who are getting a little help with their new year's health resolutions.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: After a series of deadly car bombings in week in Iraq, a question that's on the minds of many Americans is when U.S. troops can pull out of the region. Next hour, a former official with the provisional authority joins us to talk about the U.S. exit strategy from the war-torn nation.

And we want to hear from you on our e-mail question of the day. When do you think U.S. troops should leave Iraq? Send your comments to wam@cnn.com and we'll read some of your responses, your e-mails on the air.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Checking our top stories this SATURDAY MORNING.

Old man winter stomps through Ohio with miles to go before he sleeps. A huge winter storm is heading for the Northeast after dumping heavy snow across the Midwest. A blizzard warning is up in New York City, which could see more than a foot of snow.

A massive man hunt is on for this man, convicted sex offender Frederick Fretz. Police say he kidnap a young Florida boy on Tuesday. The boy was found safe last night about 400 miles away in northern Georgia. Fretz was a friend of the boy's family.

Some bizarre images out of Iraq. Take a look as a hostage standoff ends. A video tape out this morning shows insurgents freeing eight Chinese workers and even shaking hands with them. A voice on the tape says China agreed to urge its people to stay out of Iraq.

NGUYEN: Let's talk about some weather this morning. Boy, is it cold out there, especially in the Northeast part of the nation.

(WEATHER FORECAST)

NGUYEN: The search for that elusive fountain remains fruitless, at best. Instead, more than 8 million people a year turn to cosmetic surgery and the numbers are rising. But before you see a doctor you may want to visit a consultant so you know exactly what to expect, once you go under the knife. Some insight tomorrow on "CNN Sunday Morning" from former model and cosmetic surgery consultant Carol Martin.

HARRIS: When the best intentions go awry.

NGUYEN: Taken from the family that takes care of him or has taken care of him since birth. We look at a Florida court's ruling to give full custody back to the biological parents.

HARRIS: And at the bottom of the hour on "House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta" the new you revolution. Will you meet five people struggling to trade in some bad habits for some good ones.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Prosecutors want a man who produced a documentary about Michael Jackson to testify in Jackson's child molestation trial. But Martin Bashir says California's shield law protects journalists from having to take the stand to testify about their sources.

Also, on the docket this morning, in Florida, a heated custody dispute between a boy's natural parents and the couple who adopted him. We toss these legal disputes into the laps of regular SATURDAY MORNING analysts, former prosecutor Nelda Blair joins us form Washington this morning.

NELDA BLAIR, FMR. PROSECUTOR: Good morning.

NGUYEN: Good morning.

And civil liberties attorney Lida Rodriguez-Tassef is in our Miami bureau. Good morning to you.

LIDA RODRIGUEZ-TASSEF, CIVIL LIBERTIES ATTORNEY: Good morning.

NGUYEN: Well, Nelda, let's start with you, because Friday a judge ruled that experts can testify on the behavior of sexually abused children in the Michael Jackson case. Is this a win for the prosecution?

BLAIR: Oh, absolutely, it is the prosecution that wanted to put those experts on. It's the right decision by the judge, by the way. Because what they want to show is children react in certain ways to sexual molestation. This expert is going to be able to tell the jury that, yes, sometimes they don't talk for a long time, sometimes they tell part of the story. Sometimes they confide in unusual people.

That's what these two children did, the one boy that was sexually molested and also his brother. So think it's great thing for the prosecution. They are going to be able to at least explain why the children acted in the way they did.

Lida, I'm sure you agree with me on this, this morning.

RODRIGUEZ-TASSEF: Oh, you know, I absolutely do. The cold has affected your brain, Nelda.

(LAUGHTER) Absolutely ridiculous.

The only reason this expert is being put on is to bolster the credibility of otherwise weak witnesses and to prop up the prosecution case. Expert witnesses are supposed to testify on things that are scientific and complicated, that juries cannot understand that's not what this expert is going to testify about. He's going to testify about typical behavior of typical kids that are molested.

There's no such thing as a typical child who is molested or who is raped. Therefore, this testimony is merely intended to make these kids look credible, to make them look believable. And to make the prosecution's case stronger for them. That's not the use of expert witnesses.

NGUYEN: Let's talk about the children who will be testifying. Do you both agree? And I guess I'll start with you Nelda, that they should make this testimony in secret?

BLAIR: It's not in secret. That's really not the word. It's just not in public. And most children who testify, in most cases, particularly sexual molestation takes cases do so in private with the judge and the jury and the attorneys present.

It's absolutely the right thing to do. It's the protection of these children, that's important. There is no question that they should not be made to testify in public.

NGUYEN: You agree, Lida?

RODRIGUEZ-TASSEF: Nelda, this is hilarious.

BLAIR: Lida!

RODRIGUEZ-TASSEF: Betty, the idea that it is not in public is therefore still kind of not in secret? That's not the case. The Sixth Amendment protects the right for people to have public trials. And the First Amendment allows us all access into the courtroom.

To say that you can close down the courtroom just because teenagers are testifying is essentially saying you are going to close down the First Amendment just because the prosecution has weak witnesses that it doesn't really want the world to see.

Ridiculous and unacceptable, these need to be open.

NGUYEN: We're almost running out of time. I have to get to a lot of these issues quickly. Martin Bashir, who did the documentary about Michael Jackson, he has been asked to testify. But, Lida, does the California shield law protect him from testifying?

RODRIGUEZ-TASSEF: Yes, it does. It's been on the books since 1934. Protects him from testifying. It protects him from testifying because the law says that if you are a witness, as a reporter to the goings on and you report about it, you don't have to talk about what you didn't report about. That's why he's protected. BLAIR: No way. Lida, what happened with this guy he asked Michael Jackson a bunch of questions, many of which he answered on camera, many of which were questionable, about his behavior, all the prosecution wants is the other questions that Michael Jackson may have answered that ended up ton cutting room floor. That is not shielded by this lawsuit. This guy is going to get locked up.

NGUYEN: We have to move down to the case of Evan Scott in Florida. This is a little boy given to his adopted parents at the age of just two days old. He has been given back to his biological parents due to a court order.

Did the judge, Lida, rule in the best interest of the child in this case?

RODRIGUEZ-TASSEF: He ruled as the law requires him to rule, which is that there had been no adoption, no proper transfer of adoption rights, because the father had not signed off on the adoption. Therefore, the biological parents still had their full rights. Did he the right thing.

NGUYEN: Do you agree, Nelda?

BLAIR: It is a failure of the justice system, absolutely a failure. Because this kid is three and a half years old. It has taken that long for this adoption and the father's intervention in it to make it through the courts. That's wrong. That is just wrong.

NGUYEN: Hey, quickly, though. Should Governor Bush, Jeb Bush, get involved in the case? What kind of legal authority does he have, Lida?

RODRIGUEZ-TASSEF: He has none. He's a governor. He's not a judge.

NGUYEN: Some lawmakers want him involved. Nelda, what do you think?

BLAIR: I have to say I agree with Lida on that one thing, but that's all.

(LAUGHTER)

RODRIGUEZ-TASSEF: Thank god!

NGUYEN: All right. We'll leave it there.

We thank you ladies, as always. Always been a pleasure on these morning shows with you two. Thanks.

HARRIS: OK, let's quickly now turn to our e-mail question of the day. When do you think U.S. troops should leave Iraq? Let's start with this first e-mail, is it from Steve?

It's from Steve, "Soon after the elections."

Thank you, Steve.

NGUYEN: And we have another e-mail coming from Scott, who writes, "God love them, but they need to be remain until the local war against tyranny and chaos is won. Leaving prematurely will only enbolden the global Islamic jihad."

Of course, we invite to you keep on sending the responses in. When should U.S. troops leave Iraq? E-mail us your response at wam@cnn.com.

HARRIS: "House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta" is straight ahead. This week you'll meet five people who are looking to make some big changes in the new year to become a new person. I'm Tony Harris.

I'm Betty Nguyen. Top stories and "House Call" just ahead. See you again at the top of the hour.

HARRIS: "Now in the News": This is what is in store for much of the Eastern U.S. today. A huge winter storm has made a mess of roads in Minnesota and across the Midwest. These are pictures from Cleveland. It is now headed for the Northeast and is expected to drop more than a foot of snow. New York City has posted a blizzard warning.

A major manhunt is underway for this man. Police say Frederick Fretz, a convicted sex offender, abducted an 11-year old boy from Florida on Tuesday. The boy was found safe in northern Georgia last night, walking up a highway ramp. The search for Fretz is focused on a nearby wooded area.

Word coming out of Iraq this morning. Government officials say Bagdad's airport will be closed on January 29th and 30th. It's a security precaution for the national election, which is scheduled for the 30th.

I'm Tony Harris. HOUSECALL starts right now.

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