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CNN Saturday Morning News

Latest Developments in the Jessica Lunsford Case as Search for Body Continues. A Look Back at the War in Iraq on the Two-Year Anniversary of Invasion.

Aired March 19, 2005 - 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.


(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGELA BRYANT, MOTHER OF JESSICA LUNSFORD: Some man took my child's life from me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: One family tries to cope with heartbreaking news as the search goes on for the body of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford.

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: While this couple is still holding onto hope that their brain damaged daughter will not be left to starve to death.

From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

It is March 19.

Good morning.

I'm Randi Kaye, in today for Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris.

7:00 a.m. in the East and 4:00 a.m. in the West.

Thank you for being with us.

Let's get started with the morning's headlines.

Police in Georgia say registered sex offender John Evander Couey has confessed to killing Jessica Lunsford, the 9-year-old Florida girl, missing for three weeks now. The search is underway for Jessica's body, believed to be buried behind Couey's sister's home, across the street from the Lunsford family home. The Lunsfords are planning to speak to reporters in about two hours. We'll bring it to you live.

Republican leaders of the U.S. House and Senate say they're not giving up on keeping Terri Schiavo alive. Schiavo is the brain damaged Florida woman whose feeding tube was removed yesterday. The U.S. Supreme Court has denied an appeal from the House to intervene in the case. Her brother talks to us live in one hour. A powerful car bomb exploded this morning in a Christian area in Beirut, injuring at least nine people. No deaths are reported so far. The blast sheared off huge chunks of an office building and the vehicle that contained the bomb? Well, it was tossed about 50 yards.

KAYE: Our top story, the search for 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford resumes in Florida, but now they're looking for her body. Authorities in Georgia claim they have a confession from registered sex offender John Evander Couey that he killed Jessica. And the sheriff in Florida says, "I've got my man."

CNN correspondent Sara Dorsey is live in Homosassa Springs, Florida -- good morning, Sara.

SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Randi.

It is not clear at this point whether the body of Jessica Lunsford has been found, but I will tell you, investigators from the Citrus County Sheriff's office were out here throughout the night and into the early morning hours. Currently, there's still a crime scene investigative truck behind me, and that is parked behind the home that John Couey shared with his family members.

There is also a tent set up back there. We assume that that is to cover the area that investigators are searching in.

Now, this search did continue through the night. We expect for those folks to be back out here looking for further evidence today, if, in fact, there is more to collect.

As far as the Lunsford family themselves, we are told that once they got the news, they remained in their home as a family. But we are awaiting a 9:00 a.m. press conference from Mark Lunsford, the dad of Jessica. He has been good at keeping the media informed since this began three weeks ago, and intends to do that again this morning.

Now, last night as this search went on, community members who have been very much involved in this case -- they have come out and volunteered to search -- many of them gathered right here at the site holding candles, an impromptu vigil over this little girl's -- the investigation for this little girl.

Now, as far as John Couey, the man who allegedly confessed to this crime, he will be extradited back to Florida. He's going to be doing that willingly. And we are also told by the Citrus County sheriff that three people they are calling associates of Couey have been picked up and are being questioned by the Citrus County sheriff -- Randi.

KAYE: Sara can you give us an idea of the area being searched there this morning, how large it might be and how long this search might take?

DORSEY: Well, what the sheriff told us yesterday is that there is a very general area that they are searching. And as of last night, he said it could take several hours. You know, we are hearing reports that some large items were taken out of here last night. We are not at all sure what those items could be or if, in fact, they might have found the body of this little girl.

I will tell you, this morning investigators are not back there just yet. But we were told that they were here until something like 4:00 this morning and we do, indeed, expect to see them again this morning collecting further evidence from behind that trailer.

KAYE: All right, Sara Dorsey live on the scene for us in Homosassa Springs, Florida this morning.

Thank you, Sara.

In New York, a 48-year-old mechanic is accused of raping at least seven children and a top police inspector says there could be more victims. Michael Flory, now a Long Island resident, is charged with rape, criminal sexual acts and sexual abuse. Police claim boys and girls between seven and 11 years old were attacked during the past year, some of them when they visited Flory's home in Queens to play with his own children. The investigation began when two children told their parents what had happened.

HARRIS: And the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to get involved in the legal tug of war over the Terri Schiavo case. The court denied an appeal by Congress to intervene and to order the brain damaged woman's feeding tube reinserted. Doctors removed the tube yesterday, despite an extraordinary last minute push by Republicans on Capitol Hill to use subpoena powers to keep her alive.

Schiavo's husband has fought for years to have the tube removed, saying she would not want to be kept alive artificially. Schiavo's family disputes that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUZANNE VITADAMO, TERRI SCHIAVO'S SISTER: There's quite a bit of speculation out there as to why he is so bent on killing Terri. You know, Michael has his family now. We agree that this is a family decision. But we are Terri's family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure.

VITADAMO: He has a fiance and children. We're asking him to take care of his family and let us take care of ours.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CNN'S "LARRY KING LIVE")

LARRY KING, HOST: Do you understand how they feel?

MICHAEL SCHIAVO, HUSBAND OF TERRI SCHIAVO: Yes, I do. But this is not about them, it's about Terri. And they have also said that in court. We didn't know what Terri wanted, but this is what we want. And...

KING: And you have not -- this didn't cost you anything? This is not something where you're looking to save money, right?

SCHIAVO: No. There's no money involved. We need to move on from that question. That question has been asked to me 50 million times.

KING: Right.

SCHIAVO: There is no money.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Without nutrients or water, Schiavo is expected to die in two to four weeks. Congressional Republican leaders are pledging to pass a compromise bill to keep Terri Schiavo alive. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist have issued a statement. It says: "We're very disappointed by the Florida court's decision to allow Terri Schiavo's feeding tube to be removed. The House and Senate leadership are committed to reaching agreement on legislation that provides an opportunity to save Mrs. Schiavo's life. Now that the House and Senate have each passed different legislative remedies, the House and Senate committees are working urgently together. We will be working through the weekend to resolve the differences and reach an effective solution that can clear our chambers and be signed by the president."

We'll be covering this story from all the angles throughout the morning. Coming up at the half hour, we'll talk to Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos. And in our next hour, we'll talk with Bobby Schindler, Terri Schiavo's brother.

And here is our e-mail question for you this morning. Who should decide what happens to Terri Schiavo? E-mail us at wam@cnn.com and we'll be reading your replies all morning.

KAYE: Last Friday night in Atlanta, Shelton Warren opened his apartment door to find Brian Nichols holding a gun to his girlfriend's head. The courthouse shortage suspect was on the run and desperate. Two hours from now, only on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, you'll hear from the man who confronted Brian Nichols and lived to tell about it. How did Warren and his girlfriend stay alive? 9:00 a.m. Eastern only on CNN.

Now to "Security Watch." We update you on the week's major developments in the war on terror every Saturday morning.

The Department of Homeland Security has complied a list of what it considers to be the most likely targets of a terrorist attack. No specific locations are mentioned, but the list includes events such as a nuclear bomb blast in a major financial district and a truck bombing at a sports stadium. The government says the list of 15 scenarios was put together so it could figure out the best way to allocate homeland security funds.

The government says terrorists may still be planning attacks using aircraft flying inside the U.S. A new government overview says the U.S. is particularly concerned terrorists may exploit vulnerabilities in private and general aviation. Eighteen men of various nationalities are charged with trying to smuggle Russian made military weapons into the U.S. Federal officials say the weapons included shoulder fired missiles and rocket propelled grenades. Authorities say the suspects had planned on selling the items to an unknown group of terrorists.

As always, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

HARRIS: So what might be your worst nightmare as a parent? Just ahead, it's something even a late night talk show host won't joke about, as it almost came true for David Letterman.

KAYE: And later, it was two years ago today that bombs first started raining down on Baghdad. We'll look back at shock and awe.

HARRIS: And good morning, Baltimore. Weather for you and the rest of the nation coming up in about five minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And coming up in the next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING, Terri Schiavo's family is in the midst of a war. At 8:00 a.m. Eastern, an exclusive interview with her brother, Bobby Schindler, who gives us his perspective on the battle over his sister's life.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, I'm Rob Marciano in the CNN Weather Center.

Time now for the cold and flu report.

Out of the CDC, less and less red showing up on the map as of March 5. That's good news. We peaked out of the flu season about three weeks ago, so folks will begin to feel better. Red indicating widespread flu activity, less on the map this week. And blue still some regional activity. These colors will begin to simmer down as we get closer to spring, which officially begins tomorrow.

Hope you're feeling well today and enjoy your weekend.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Stories making news across America this morning.

Former Connecticut Governor John Rowland has been sentenced to a year in federal prison on a corruption conviction. Rowland admitted that he was guilty of trading his influence for more than $100,000 in trips and used state money for repairs to his lakeside home. Rowland told the judge he lost sight of his ethical judgment.

In California, San Diego's Roman Catholic bishop is denying funeral rights to a man who owned a bar and dance club popular with gays. Church officials say they decided not to grant John McCusker the rights to avoid scandal. Several gay community leaders plan to file a formal protest with the diocese. HARRIS: A man who worked as a painter at David Letterman's Montana ranch is behind bars. Authorities say Kelly Frank plotted to kidnap the talk show host's young son and nanny and then hold them for a $5 million ransom. In a statement, Letterman says he is forever grateful to law enforcement.

In Ohio, a 9-year-old girl helps bring her baby sister into the world. Alicia Gonzalez stepped in to lend a hand when her mother went into labor at their home. Fifteen minutes later, baby Mya was born.

And check out these pictures. This pit stop has people coming back again and again. We'll explain our "Wows of the Week." And that's coming up later this hour.

MARCIANO: Wow!

KAYE: Wow!

MARCIANO: Look at that bathroom.

KAYE: That must be it.

MARCIANO: Look at that ceiling.

HARRIS: It's tricked out, as the kids say.

MARCIANO: Hey, Randi.

KAYE: How are you, Rob?

MARCIANO: I'm great.

And you see how he pronounces those Spanish names.

KAYE: He's very, very good at that.

MARCIANO: Enthusiasm, authority...

KAYE: Tony can do it all, you know.

MARCIANO: Yes, well...

HARRIS: Oh, will you stop?

Good to see you, man.

MARCIANO: Good to see you.

HARRIS: Back from New York, the big city.

MARCIANO: Oh, yes, the big city. Nice and chilly up there. Saint Patrick's Day I walked across Fifth Avenue, where they paint that green line.

HARRIS: That's right. Great.

MARCIANO: I did great up there, all the Irish people.

HARRIS: That's right.

MARCIANO: And they...

KAYE: Were you in the parade this year?

MARCIANO: I'm Italian. I don't know, they don't like me. They barely let me cross the street.

KAYE: They didn't invite you.

MARCIANO: Hey, St. Joseph's Day is today. That's the big Italian holiday.

HARRIS: OK. OK.

MARCIANO: Yes. So you know nothing about that.

HARRIS: I know nothing.

MARCIANO: Randi and I were talking about it.

KAYE: Where's that parade?

MARCIANO: Yes, it's in Little Italy and it's very small.

Let's go to the map.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAYE: Disconnected from her feeding tube, in the center of a bitter tug of war. Should Terri Schiavo be allowed to starve to death? We'll hear from her husband's attorney ahead on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

HARRIS: And remember these images? Two years ago today, the U.S. unleashed shock and awe on Baghdad. So what has happened since? Reflections from CNN's Nic Robertson next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: The Iraq war began two years ago today with shock and awe -- a spectacular bombardment of Baghdad. Many things have happened since then, some of them expected, some totally unexpected.

Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson has seen it all, most of it up close in Iraq.

And Nic is here with us in Atlanta this morning.

So good to have you here in Atlanta with us.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

KAYE: Let's talk a little bit about some of the differences. You've been there for some time now.

What are some of the greatest differences you see now in this post-Saddam Iraq?

ROBERTSON: I think most Iraqis would probably tell you lives are not as secure as they were immediately after the war. Immediately after the war, there was a lot of looting, but the insurgency hadn't gotten off the ground. Now people fear the potential for kidnapping in their life, just for small ransoms, maybe hundreds of dollars, several thousands of dollars, maybe. And then there's a chance of getting caught up in the random violence, the roadside bombs or shootouts on the streets.

That is probably the biggest difference that Iraqi people will tell you about.

However, they would also tell you about the elections that have happened. And I think the feeling we're getting in Iraq at the moment is that the elections have really put on a light on at the end of the tunnel. The insurgents promised so much violence. It didn't happen. And the Iraqi people were able to go to the polls and they've seen not only the elections happen, but they've seen for their first time that the elections have not been fraudulent, that the government officials have allowed the elections to represent the people's will. And I think for a lot of Iraqis, that's a real, a real encouragement about the potential for their future.

KAYE: So mixed in with all the violence, you are seeing some of the positive changes, which we don't get to hear about on a daily basis?

ROBERTSON: Certainly there are. I covered, for example, in bodybuilding championship in Baghdad a few weeks ago. They hadn't held it last year because the violence was too bad. This year, the violence was worse, but people want to get on with their lives and they held it. And more people are going out to the parks, even parks where half a mile away, let's say, a bomb had gone off a few days before. So people are getting on with their life and that's something that you see in conflicts all around the world, that people will get used to it, put that to one side.

Also, some of the big financial aid projects that were planned over the last few years that the finance and the actual physical planning was put in place last year. The money is being spent this year, huge power plants being built in Baghdad and other places. Water projects underway. So people are beginning to see those things that they thought were going to happen in the immediate days and weeks after the war are beginning to happen.

A public relations campaign on television from their own government telling them that the police are good, trust the police, and putting on the television insurgents. And the insurgents are confessing to their crimes. People are beginning to understand some of the chaos that's happening around them.

All these things are sort of the positive changes. KAYE: And before we let you go, what is it like for you on a daily basis there just trying to cover the story? Is -- do you feel any safer, any more unsafe?

ROBERTSON: Compared to two years ago, immediately after the war, when we could travel the country and talk to whoever we wanted whenever we wanted, which was a tremendous feeling, because under Saddam that had been impossible. Now it's very difficult. And I think toward summer last year, or the end of summer last year, the insurgency really began to target journalists in amongst the Westerners. And the threat of kidnapping, the threat of being targeted as a person caught up in the violence is very real. And that has changed the way that we work.

It doesn't mean -- it hasn't stopped us getting out and talking to people. We just have to be more careful. And I think for journalists, that's the way that it's changed fundamentally.

But it is a hugely interesting story to cover right now and I think the developments that are happening there are the real developments that are showing you the future of the country, that make it very interesting.

And I think we are able to get out enough and touch enough of that and see the changes.

KAYE: All right, well, I know you're heading back there soon.

Be safe.

ROBERTSON: Thank you.

KAYE: Nic Robertson, thank you -- Tony.

HARRIS: We are taking you to the front lines live here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

Just ahead, our own Jane Arraf, embedded with Marines on the Iraqi border with Syria, talks with a soldier who signed on for his second trip to Iraq.

And later, a fight of another kind on courtrooms and hospital rooms for a woman whose family remains torn apart by her illness.

KAYE: But first, one family remembers their loved one on this second anniversary of the Iraq war.

Staff Sergeant Darren Vankomen died in a suicide attack on a dining facility in Mosul.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID VANKOMEN, DARREN'S BROTHER: He was pretty shy in school. I remember one time he bought a motorcycle from one of my friends and instead of riding it, he tore it all apart and decided to clean it all up and put it back together. He was always doing that sort of stuff. He went to Fort Bragg for, at first. He stayed there a little while. He met his wife, Stephanie. And he tried to be closer to home, so he got stationed over here in Fort Lewis.

ANDREA VANKOMEN, DARREN'S SISTER-IN-LAW: He needed to serve. He was ready to go to Iraq. He told his wife that he wanted to go. And he told his mom before he left that if he died, that was god's will and he didn't have any hesitation about it at all.

DAVID VANKOMEN: I think he just wanted to make a difference.

ANDREA VANKOMEN: The biggest abomination I think he had was to make sure that his wife knew how much he loved her and his daughter, as well. You know, he just absolutely adored the ground that those two walked on. They meant the world to him. I think that that was his biggest motivation in life, you know? And I think that that was part of why he went to Iraq. He wanted to get it done so he didn't have to go back.

DAVID VANKOMEN: He loved Stephanie and Chelsea a lot. He was always doing things for them. He'd always run to Idaho to visit family on the weekends, just so that Chelsea would get a chance to see the cousins and all the aunts.

DARREN VANKOMEN: Well, there's old Darren. He snuck down out here and he come down here and he just surprised the heck out of her.

ANDREA VANKOMEN: Darren was a Dale Earnhardt fan. He'd go strutting around in the morning with that jacket on.

DARREN VANKOMEN: Oh, yes, I can -- Dale Earnhardt. Whoo-whee!

DAVID VANKOMEN: We miss our brother a lot. We wish he was here.

Hey, Darren, when you -- what's your plans now?

DARREN VANKOMEN: I don't know. I go with the wind.

DAVID VANKOMEN: You go with the wind, huh?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Terri Schiavo's parents are refusing to give up their fight for their daughter's life. But her husband's attorney says let her die in peace.

Good morning and welcome back, everyone.

I'm Tony Harris.

KAYE: And I'm Randi Kaye in for Betty Nguyen.

We'll be talking to Michael Schiavo's attorney in just a minute. He's one of the several key players in the case we'll hear from throughout the morning.

First, a look at some other headlines this morning.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Seoul, South Korea this morning. She's meeting with top leaders on how to get North Korea to return to multinational six party talks. Those talks are aimed at getting the North to scrap its nuclear weapons program.

Authorities in Florida say this man, a convicted sex offender, has confessed to kidnapping and killing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford. Authorities say John Couey told them he buried her body behind his sister's home in Citrus County. While crews search for her body, her family plans to talk to reporters at 9:00 Eastern. CNN will bring this to you live.

The legal wrangling over Terri Schiavo is not over. Late yesterday, the Supreme Court denied a request by the House to intervene and order her feeding tube reinserted. An attorney for Schiavo's parents and Republican members of Congress are working through the weekend to find a way to keep the brain damaged woman alive.

HARRIS: And time now to check on some of the other stories making news around the world.

KAYE: Quite a bit happening this morning.

For the details, let's hand it over to Anand Naidoo at the CNN International Desk.

ANAND NAIDOO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Randi.

And a very good morning from me.

First up, to Iraq. There's mounting anger in Iraq against Jordan. That's right, Jordan. Shiite demonstrators demand an apology for the alleged involvement of a Jordanian in a suicide car bombing that killed 125 people. That bombing taking place a few weeks ago. Thousands took to the streets after a national assembly member accused Jordan of not doing enough to prevent terrorists from slipping into Iraq.

Violence in the country continued. A U.S. soldier was killed and two Marines suffered burns in separate incidents around the country. In Kirkuk, Iraqi police officers, three of them, were killed, and six others wounded. And that was in a bomb explosion. That bomb explosion taking place at a funeral procession.

On to Pakistan now. Officials there saying the military carried out a successful test of a long range missile. The missile, with a range of 1,250 miles, is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The country's leader, General Pervez Musharraf, witnessed the test firing.

In Beirut, a bomb blast in a largely Christian neighborhood. Nine people were injured. Dozens of cars and buildings damaged. The explosion came as the country's Syrian-backed president, Emile Lahoud, called for talks with anti-Syrian opposition groups. Lahoud says a dialogue is needed to protect the country. There are fears among some that this latest attack in Beirut could lead to more violence and could also complicate efforts to form a new government, efforts to form a new government that have been taking place there for several weeks.

That's all from me.

We'll be continuing to follow these developments here at CNN through the day.

Stay with us.

Now back to Randi and Tony.

HARRIS: Anand, thank you.

KAYE: All right, thank you, Anand.

HARRIS: More now on the Terri Schiavo case.

Joining us now from Florida, one of the lawyers at the center of this dramatic case.

George Felos represents Terri Schiavo's husband, Michael.

And I believe Michael is with George, as well.

Gentlemen, good morning to you both.

MICHAEL SCHIAVO, TERRI'S HUSBAND: Good morning.

GEORGE FELOS, ATTORNEY FOR MICHAEL SCHIAVO: Good morning.

HARRIS: Michael, let me start with you. 1:45 yesterday afternoon the feeding tube on your wife was removed. Give me a sense of what you're thinking this morning.

SCHIAVO: I have a sense of relief for Terri. I feel that this is her time, this is going to work for Terri. She's going to finally be at peace. And I spent the entire day with her yesterday, besides doing some interviews. But I spent the morning with her, also.

I will stay by her side. I will love her and I will hold her hand.

HARRIS: Michael, I know you've talked about this case a lot and you've done a lot of interviews over the last couple of days.

Can I ask you what, why you're doing them? What's the case you're trying to state, as clearly as possible, from your point of view?

SCHIAVO: I should be with my wife right now holding her hand. But I felt the importance to get out and talk about what the Congress, this government is doing. They're stepping into my personal life and they're getting in the middle of something they know nothing about. They don't have the facts and it's sad. It's sad what this government is doing. And if they can do it to me, they'll do it to everybody in this country. If they don't like the decisions, they're going to step right in. And it's sad.

HARRIS: And George -- yes, George, let me get your response.

How surreal a moment was it for you yesterday when you received a subpoena from the House of Representatives?

FELOS: It was an absolute outrage to have a federal marshal serve upon us that bogus subpoena requiring that Terri Schiavo be tube fed against her will and against a court order. The U.S. House of Representatives has no more authority to step into a bedroom and order medical treatment than a person on the street. That was pure political strong-arming. It was an outrage. And people should be outraged at what the United States Congress has done, without any committee hearings, without any thought, passing an unconstitutional bill to step into a personal case.

You ought to write the people or write your senators and congressmen and tell them let Terri die in peace. This poor woman, who expressed her wishes, has a constitutional right to have her wishes carried out and these politicians, for their own gain, should not be trampling over her death bed.

HARRIS: Michael, when was the last time you...

SCHIAVO: Just leave her alone.

HARRIS: Michael, when was the last time you talked to the Schindlers?

SCHIAVO: I haven't talked to the Schindlers in years.

HARRIS: In years?

SCHIAVO: In years.

HARRIS: When did that relationship turn, I don't want to characterize it. When did you become estranged from Terri's side of the family?

SCHIAVO: In 1993.

HARRIS: Bob Schindler is...

SCHIAVO: Valentine's Day.

HARRIS: Valentine's Day?

SCHIAVO: Yes, in 1993. That's when Mr. Schindler got angry because he didn't receive any money.

HARRIS: Because he didn't receive any money? Would you elaborate, please. SCHIAVO: Right.

HARRIS: What does that mean? We don't...

SCHIAVO: Well, he wanted money. He wanted money from the settlement. And he was angry about that. And he testified to that, too, that he was angry that he didn't receive any money. He wanted money from Terri.

HARRIS: So you're alluding to a motive for all of the conflict over the years. You understand that?

SCHIAVO: Oh, yes. I understand that fully. I mean it's in the testimony.

FELOS: It's not only in the testimony, it's in the conclusion of the court that the breakup of that family relationship was because Mr. Schindler didn't get money. And this case has never been about money to the courts, to Michael. It's always been about Terri's wishes. This is a young woman who said no feeding tubes for me, I don't want to be kept alive artificially. Please let me go when my time comes. She said this to her best friend, to Michael, to her brother-in-law. And that's why the court has ordered this, because they found that these were her wishes. And it's just horrific that people want to step in, as Michael said, who know nothing about this case, and want to trample her freedom of choice.

People really need to understand that if this can happen to Terri Schiavo, it can happen to you and your family member. And you need to be vigilant to protect your constitutional rights and let those politicians up there in Washington know that they can't do this and that you won't stand for it.

HARRIS: Michael, Bob Schindler says that the family believes they can still communicate with Terri.

SCHIAVO: Terri doesn't communicate with anybody. That's their soap box. That's what they're going on. That's what they tell people. Terri doesn't communicate with anybody. We've had neurologists come in that are -- have credentials that you wouldn't believe. And they've testified that Terri does not communicate.

HARRIS: So, Michael, how disappointed are you with Congress, that they stepped in the way that they have, that they continue to appeal, that they are trying to craft legislation that can be passed by both chambers and that this is not over from a Congressional standpoint?

SCHIAVO: I want everybody to know that -- I want them to imagine that you have a personal family matter that you're dealing with about your personal choices and whether you want to live or you want to be with the lord. And then you have these government officials coming in and pandering to -- for votes to the religious right, to the anti- abortionists, to the coalitions for votes. The people of the United States have to realize this is going to happen to me, it's going to happen to them, it's going to happen to you, sir. HARRIS: OK.

Michael Schiavo, we appreciate it.

George Felos.

Thank you very much this morning.

SCHIAVO: Thank you.

FELOS: Thank you.

HARRIS: We are following this developing story all morning long and bringing you the people at the heart of it, from lawmakers to loved ones. In our next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING, the other side of this emotional case, Terri Schiavo's brother, Bobby Schindler, joins us live.

KAYE: On the border between Iraq and Syria, the battle rages on even two years after the war began. Our Jane Arraf is there next, only on CNN SATURDAY MORNING. She talks to one U.S. Marine who's back in the fight for the second time.

HARRIS: And good morning, Washington. Weekend weather for you and the rest of the nation coming your way with Rob Marciano in about 20 minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Last Friday night in Atlanta, Shelton Warren opened his apartment door to find Brian Nichols holding a gun on his girlfriend. The courthouse shortage suspect was on the run and desperate. You'll hear from the man who confronted Nichols and lived to tell about it, 9:00 a.m. Eastern only on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GREG DITRINCO, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, "SKI" MAGAZINE: One of the best kept secrets of winter resorts these days is that dining in the mountains is as good as it is in the big cities. Successful chefs are being drawn to the mountains because of the serene setting, beautiful scenery and low stress lifestyle. So why the sudden popularity in sophisticated dining in the mountains? The higher the altitude, the lower the attitude. The dress is casual, the setting is serene and the service is attentive without being snobby.

High mountain dining also tends to be relatively inexpensive. The cost of the menu reflects the local costs of doing business. And the coolest part of high mountain dining, you can be on vacation at a winter resort, call the hottest restaurant in town and get a reservation that night. Try that in New York or L.A.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Today marks the second anniversary of the U.S. led invasion of Iraq that led to the fall of Saddam Hussein.

CNN's Jane Arraf joins us this morning from near the Syrian border, where she is currently embedded with U.S. Marines -- Jane, good morning.

Good to see you.

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony.

If anyone has any doubt that this war is still going on, they only have to look at this area, western Al Anbar Province, where the Marines are right up against the city of Husaba on the Syrian border and fighting a raging insurgency.

But perhaps one of the best people to talk about the difference between then and now is someone who was actually in the fighting.

We have with us Lieutenant Michael Hood, from New York City, who was a platoon commander in 2003 in Nasiriyah and is back here again for his second deployment.

Thanks very much for joining us.

Tell us, if you could, what is the difference between that fight and the fight you're fighting now?

LT. MICHAEL HOOD, U.S. MARINES: Well, in al-Nasiriyah during OIF1, we were very clear on the intent behind that. We knew when we encountered hostile targets out there, they would present themselves to us, meaning that they would openly fight us. Here, the concern is a little bit different. We live 200 meters away from the local populous and the enemy hides himself in there. He also fights us differently. He fights us with IEDs, with mines and things it really took a long time for us to prepare for.

So it's a much more confusing environment here for us.

ARRAF: The IEDs you're mounting, those improvised explosive devices, the roadside bombs, you had said when we were talking earlier that if anyone -- if you had mentioned welding steel plates to Humvees two years ago, they would have thought you were crazy.

Have other things changed, as well, in terms of that fight?

HOOD: They have. We've adapted very well. We've learned for the Marines to operate in this environment, they have to be able to show a greater degree of caution and make clear decisions than they were previously trained for. And they're doing that very, very well here. And that's really the difference when you look at and you determine, hey, is that guy out there actually planting an IED or is that guy fixing a hole in his wall? That's a decision that the Marines are making on a daily basis here.

ARRAF: Would you ever have expected, when you were here two years ago trying to topple Saddam Hussein, that you would be back again? HOOD: I did picture myself being back, but I never imagined it would be exactly like this, in a city like this, as close as I currently am.

ARRAF: There's obviously a lot to do here.

How long do you think that it's going to last?

HOOD: If you're talking about Husaba, locally, I think that this might take a while in this area of Iraq simply because I think the insurgency, from the interactions that we've had and from the Marines that have come before us, it's deep rooted here. So I can't really speak on how long I think it's going to take, but I think there's some serious effort that needs to go into this city. You want to turn to someplace like Baghdad or Falluja.

ARRAF: Thanks so much.

That was Lieutenant Michael Hood from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, back here for the second time, two years after the start of the war -- Tony.

HARRIS: Jane Arraf in Iraq near the Syrian border, embedded with U.S. Marines for us.

Jane, thank you.

KAYE: Updating our headlines right now, a sex offender picked up in Georgia has allegedly told police where to find Jessica Lunsford's body. That search has been underway all night across the street from her home. We expect to hear from Jessica's father a little over an hour from now and will bring that to you live.

Also in Florida, Terri Schiavo is now without the feeding tube that has kept her alive. Her family and some members of Congress vow to restore the tube by any means necessary.

And major insanity invades March madness. Bucknell dumped 3rd seed Kansas 64-63. And Vermont routed 4th seed Syracuse 60-57.

Meanwhile, on the ice, a thrill for American ice dancers. These guys have done something America has not seen for the past two decades. Details ahead on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, in case you didn't get your fill of headlines this week, let's "Rewind" through some of the big stories of the past few days.

Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan warned Congress Tuesday that Social Security and Medicaid will be stretched to the limits to handle the needs of retirees in just three years. He said the government will have to fix the problem by either raising taxes or reducing benefits. Bernard Ebbers, who once sat at the head of the table at WorldCom, was found guilty Tuesday for his role in an $11 billion accounting scandal that ultimately destroyed the company. Thousands of former WorldCom employees counted on the company's now worthless stock for retirement.

Wednesday, the Senate narrowly approved a plan to open part of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration. Both the House and Senate are expected to pass a hybrid version of the bill.

Thursday, U.S. representatives vote in favor of deep cuts in Medicaid, the government insurance program for those needing assistance. At the same time, the Senate voted to eliminate Medicaid cuts from the budget altogether. The stalemate must be worked out before Congress can adopt a final budget this year.

KAYE: All right, here's something you have not heard in 20 years. Two American ice dancers are now world medalists. Two time national champs Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto, on the right there. They came in second at the world figure skating championship in Moscow last night. The last time the U.S. medaled in the world competition was back in 1985, when Judy Blumberg and Michael Seibert got the bronze. The ladies are skating for the gold at this hour in Moscow. American Sasha Cohen is second after the short program.

Meanwhile, the new judging system is not helping nine time national champion Michelle Kwan. She's only fifth heading into the final skate.

We'll bring you the results tomorrow on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

HARRIS: And don't forget our e-mail question this morning. Who, in your opinion, should decide what happens to Terri Schiavo? E-mail us at wam@cnn.com.

And, Randi, the e-mail box is stuffed.

KAYE: They're pouring in.

HARRIS: Stuffed. Your replies, coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: First, a CNN extra. Here is a somber prediction. Researchers say obesity will cut the life span of Americans by two to five years within the next five decades. That means it will affect more people than even cancer or heart disease. Right now, Americans live an average of 77.6 years. But skeptics say the impact of obesity will be lessened by advances in medicine. Two thirds of U.S. adults are overweight, while one third qualifies as obese. Up to 30 percent of children are also overweight. That number doubled in the past 25 years.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAYE: And we want to get back to our E-mail Question of the Day. That question is who, in your opinion, should decide what happens to Terri Schiavo? You've been e-mailing us all morning at...

HARRIS: Boy, have you.

KAYE: ... wam@cnn.com. Our e-mail in box is loading up and we wanted to share just a couple with you.

This one, first, from G. Madden: "Terri's family has her best interests at heart. Her husband is no longer acting as her husband. He needs to relinquish his marital rights to her parents, brother and sister."

HARRIS: And this from Vicki: "Terri's husband Michael should decide. This is not an issue the government should be involved in."

And Randi, you're right. The e-mail box is loaded to the brim. We want to encourage you to send along those e-mails. We'll get to as many of them as we can. Who should decide what happens to Terri Schiavo? There's the address, wam@cnn.com. Again, we'll get to as many of them as we can.

And just another reminder, Mark Lunsford, the father of Jessica Lunsford, is scheduled to speak to reporters in the next hour, at 9:00 a.m. And, of course, when that happens, we will bring that to you live.

KAYE: In the meantime, 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 March 19, 2005 - 07:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGELA BRYANT, MOTHER OF JESSICA LUNSFORD: Some man took my child's life from me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: One family tries to cope with heartbreaking news as the search goes on for the body of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford.

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: While this couple is still holding onto hope that their brain damaged daughter will not be left to starve to death.

From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

It is March 19.

Good morning.

I'm Randi Kaye, in today for Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris.

7:00 a.m. in the East and 4:00 a.m. in the West.

Thank you for being with us.

Let's get started with the morning's headlines.

Police in Georgia say registered sex offender John Evander Couey has confessed to killing Jessica Lunsford, the 9-year-old Florida girl, missing for three weeks now. The search is underway for Jessica's body, believed to be buried behind Couey's sister's home, across the street from the Lunsford family home. The Lunsfords are planning to speak to reporters in about two hours. We'll bring it to you live.

Republican leaders of the U.S. House and Senate say they're not giving up on keeping Terri Schiavo alive. Schiavo is the brain damaged Florida woman whose feeding tube was removed yesterday. The U.S. Supreme Court has denied an appeal from the House to intervene in the case. Her brother talks to us live in one hour. A powerful car bomb exploded this morning in a Christian area in Beirut, injuring at least nine people. No deaths are reported so far. The blast sheared off huge chunks of an office building and the vehicle that contained the bomb? Well, it was tossed about 50 yards.

KAYE: Our top story, the search for 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford resumes in Florida, but now they're looking for her body. Authorities in Georgia claim they have a confession from registered sex offender John Evander Couey that he killed Jessica. And the sheriff in Florida says, "I've got my man."

CNN correspondent Sara Dorsey is live in Homosassa Springs, Florida -- good morning, Sara.

SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Randi.

It is not clear at this point whether the body of Jessica Lunsford has been found, but I will tell you, investigators from the Citrus County Sheriff's office were out here throughout the night and into the early morning hours. Currently, there's still a crime scene investigative truck behind me, and that is parked behind the home that John Couey shared with his family members.

There is also a tent set up back there. We assume that that is to cover the area that investigators are searching in.

Now, this search did continue through the night. We expect for those folks to be back out here looking for further evidence today, if, in fact, there is more to collect.

As far as the Lunsford family themselves, we are told that once they got the news, they remained in their home as a family. But we are awaiting a 9:00 a.m. press conference from Mark Lunsford, the dad of Jessica. He has been good at keeping the media informed since this began three weeks ago, and intends to do that again this morning.

Now, last night as this search went on, community members who have been very much involved in this case -- they have come out and volunteered to search -- many of them gathered right here at the site holding candles, an impromptu vigil over this little girl's -- the investigation for this little girl.

Now, as far as John Couey, the man who allegedly confessed to this crime, he will be extradited back to Florida. He's going to be doing that willingly. And we are also told by the Citrus County sheriff that three people they are calling associates of Couey have been picked up and are being questioned by the Citrus County sheriff -- Randi.

KAYE: Sara can you give us an idea of the area being searched there this morning, how large it might be and how long this search might take?

DORSEY: Well, what the sheriff told us yesterday is that there is a very general area that they are searching. And as of last night, he said it could take several hours. You know, we are hearing reports that some large items were taken out of here last night. We are not at all sure what those items could be or if, in fact, they might have found the body of this little girl.

I will tell you, this morning investigators are not back there just yet. But we were told that they were here until something like 4:00 this morning and we do, indeed, expect to see them again this morning collecting further evidence from behind that trailer.

KAYE: All right, Sara Dorsey live on the scene for us in Homosassa Springs, Florida this morning.

Thank you, Sara.

In New York, a 48-year-old mechanic is accused of raping at least seven children and a top police inspector says there could be more victims. Michael Flory, now a Long Island resident, is charged with rape, criminal sexual acts and sexual abuse. Police claim boys and girls between seven and 11 years old were attacked during the past year, some of them when they visited Flory's home in Queens to play with his own children. The investigation began when two children told their parents what had happened.

HARRIS: And the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to get involved in the legal tug of war over the Terri Schiavo case. The court denied an appeal by Congress to intervene and to order the brain damaged woman's feeding tube reinserted. Doctors removed the tube yesterday, despite an extraordinary last minute push by Republicans on Capitol Hill to use subpoena powers to keep her alive.

Schiavo's husband has fought for years to have the tube removed, saying she would not want to be kept alive artificially. Schiavo's family disputes that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUZANNE VITADAMO, TERRI SCHIAVO'S SISTER: There's quite a bit of speculation out there as to why he is so bent on killing Terri. You know, Michael has his family now. We agree that this is a family decision. But we are Terri's family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure.

VITADAMO: He has a fiance and children. We're asking him to take care of his family and let us take care of ours.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CNN'S "LARRY KING LIVE")

LARRY KING, HOST: Do you understand how they feel?

MICHAEL SCHIAVO, HUSBAND OF TERRI SCHIAVO: Yes, I do. But this is not about them, it's about Terri. And they have also said that in court. We didn't know what Terri wanted, but this is what we want. And...

KING: And you have not -- this didn't cost you anything? This is not something where you're looking to save money, right?

SCHIAVO: No. There's no money involved. We need to move on from that question. That question has been asked to me 50 million times.

KING: Right.

SCHIAVO: There is no money.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Without nutrients or water, Schiavo is expected to die in two to four weeks. Congressional Republican leaders are pledging to pass a compromise bill to keep Terri Schiavo alive. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist have issued a statement. It says: "We're very disappointed by the Florida court's decision to allow Terri Schiavo's feeding tube to be removed. The House and Senate leadership are committed to reaching agreement on legislation that provides an opportunity to save Mrs. Schiavo's life. Now that the House and Senate have each passed different legislative remedies, the House and Senate committees are working urgently together. We will be working through the weekend to resolve the differences and reach an effective solution that can clear our chambers and be signed by the president."

We'll be covering this story from all the angles throughout the morning. Coming up at the half hour, we'll talk to Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos. And in our next hour, we'll talk with Bobby Schindler, Terri Schiavo's brother.

And here is our e-mail question for you this morning. Who should decide what happens to Terri Schiavo? E-mail us at wam@cnn.com and we'll be reading your replies all morning.

KAYE: Last Friday night in Atlanta, Shelton Warren opened his apartment door to find Brian Nichols holding a gun to his girlfriend's head. The courthouse shortage suspect was on the run and desperate. Two hours from now, only on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, you'll hear from the man who confronted Brian Nichols and lived to tell about it. How did Warren and his girlfriend stay alive? 9:00 a.m. Eastern only on CNN.

Now to "Security Watch." We update you on the week's major developments in the war on terror every Saturday morning.

The Department of Homeland Security has complied a list of what it considers to be the most likely targets of a terrorist attack. No specific locations are mentioned, but the list includes events such as a nuclear bomb blast in a major financial district and a truck bombing at a sports stadium. The government says the list of 15 scenarios was put together so it could figure out the best way to allocate homeland security funds.

The government says terrorists may still be planning attacks using aircraft flying inside the U.S. A new government overview says the U.S. is particularly concerned terrorists may exploit vulnerabilities in private and general aviation. Eighteen men of various nationalities are charged with trying to smuggle Russian made military weapons into the U.S. Federal officials say the weapons included shoulder fired missiles and rocket propelled grenades. Authorities say the suspects had planned on selling the items to an unknown group of terrorists.

As always, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

HARRIS: So what might be your worst nightmare as a parent? Just ahead, it's something even a late night talk show host won't joke about, as it almost came true for David Letterman.

KAYE: And later, it was two years ago today that bombs first started raining down on Baghdad. We'll look back at shock and awe.

HARRIS: And good morning, Baltimore. Weather for you and the rest of the nation coming up in about five minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And coming up in the next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING, Terri Schiavo's family is in the midst of a war. At 8:00 a.m. Eastern, an exclusive interview with her brother, Bobby Schindler, who gives us his perspective on the battle over his sister's life.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, I'm Rob Marciano in the CNN Weather Center.

Time now for the cold and flu report.

Out of the CDC, less and less red showing up on the map as of March 5. That's good news. We peaked out of the flu season about three weeks ago, so folks will begin to feel better. Red indicating widespread flu activity, less on the map this week. And blue still some regional activity. These colors will begin to simmer down as we get closer to spring, which officially begins tomorrow.

Hope you're feeling well today and enjoy your weekend.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Stories making news across America this morning.

Former Connecticut Governor John Rowland has been sentenced to a year in federal prison on a corruption conviction. Rowland admitted that he was guilty of trading his influence for more than $100,000 in trips and used state money for repairs to his lakeside home. Rowland told the judge he lost sight of his ethical judgment.

In California, San Diego's Roman Catholic bishop is denying funeral rights to a man who owned a bar and dance club popular with gays. Church officials say they decided not to grant John McCusker the rights to avoid scandal. Several gay community leaders plan to file a formal protest with the diocese. HARRIS: A man who worked as a painter at David Letterman's Montana ranch is behind bars. Authorities say Kelly Frank plotted to kidnap the talk show host's young son and nanny and then hold them for a $5 million ransom. In a statement, Letterman says he is forever grateful to law enforcement.

In Ohio, a 9-year-old girl helps bring her baby sister into the world. Alicia Gonzalez stepped in to lend a hand when her mother went into labor at their home. Fifteen minutes later, baby Mya was born.

And check out these pictures. This pit stop has people coming back again and again. We'll explain our "Wows of the Week." And that's coming up later this hour.

MARCIANO: Wow!

KAYE: Wow!

MARCIANO: Look at that bathroom.

KAYE: That must be it.

MARCIANO: Look at that ceiling.

HARRIS: It's tricked out, as the kids say.

MARCIANO: Hey, Randi.

KAYE: How are you, Rob?

MARCIANO: I'm great.

And you see how he pronounces those Spanish names.

KAYE: He's very, very good at that.

MARCIANO: Enthusiasm, authority...

KAYE: Tony can do it all, you know.

MARCIANO: Yes, well...

HARRIS: Oh, will you stop?

Good to see you, man.

MARCIANO: Good to see you.

HARRIS: Back from New York, the big city.

MARCIANO: Oh, yes, the big city. Nice and chilly up there. Saint Patrick's Day I walked across Fifth Avenue, where they paint that green line.

HARRIS: That's right. Great.

MARCIANO: I did great up there, all the Irish people.

HARRIS: That's right.

MARCIANO: And they...

KAYE: Were you in the parade this year?

MARCIANO: I'm Italian. I don't know, they don't like me. They barely let me cross the street.

KAYE: They didn't invite you.

MARCIANO: Hey, St. Joseph's Day is today. That's the big Italian holiday.

HARRIS: OK. OK.

MARCIANO: Yes. So you know nothing about that.

HARRIS: I know nothing.

MARCIANO: Randi and I were talking about it.

KAYE: Where's that parade?

MARCIANO: Yes, it's in Little Italy and it's very small.

Let's go to the map.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAYE: Disconnected from her feeding tube, in the center of a bitter tug of war. Should Terri Schiavo be allowed to starve to death? We'll hear from her husband's attorney ahead on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

HARRIS: And remember these images? Two years ago today, the U.S. unleashed shock and awe on Baghdad. So what has happened since? Reflections from CNN's Nic Robertson next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: The Iraq war began two years ago today with shock and awe -- a spectacular bombardment of Baghdad. Many things have happened since then, some of them expected, some totally unexpected.

Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson has seen it all, most of it up close in Iraq.

And Nic is here with us in Atlanta this morning.

So good to have you here in Atlanta with us.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

KAYE: Let's talk a little bit about some of the differences. You've been there for some time now.

What are some of the greatest differences you see now in this post-Saddam Iraq?

ROBERTSON: I think most Iraqis would probably tell you lives are not as secure as they were immediately after the war. Immediately after the war, there was a lot of looting, but the insurgency hadn't gotten off the ground. Now people fear the potential for kidnapping in their life, just for small ransoms, maybe hundreds of dollars, several thousands of dollars, maybe. And then there's a chance of getting caught up in the random violence, the roadside bombs or shootouts on the streets.

That is probably the biggest difference that Iraqi people will tell you about.

However, they would also tell you about the elections that have happened. And I think the feeling we're getting in Iraq at the moment is that the elections have really put on a light on at the end of the tunnel. The insurgents promised so much violence. It didn't happen. And the Iraqi people were able to go to the polls and they've seen not only the elections happen, but they've seen for their first time that the elections have not been fraudulent, that the government officials have allowed the elections to represent the people's will. And I think for a lot of Iraqis, that's a real, a real encouragement about the potential for their future.

KAYE: So mixed in with all the violence, you are seeing some of the positive changes, which we don't get to hear about on a daily basis?

ROBERTSON: Certainly there are. I covered, for example, in bodybuilding championship in Baghdad a few weeks ago. They hadn't held it last year because the violence was too bad. This year, the violence was worse, but people want to get on with their lives and they held it. And more people are going out to the parks, even parks where half a mile away, let's say, a bomb had gone off a few days before. So people are getting on with their life and that's something that you see in conflicts all around the world, that people will get used to it, put that to one side.

Also, some of the big financial aid projects that were planned over the last few years that the finance and the actual physical planning was put in place last year. The money is being spent this year, huge power plants being built in Baghdad and other places. Water projects underway. So people are beginning to see those things that they thought were going to happen in the immediate days and weeks after the war are beginning to happen.

A public relations campaign on television from their own government telling them that the police are good, trust the police, and putting on the television insurgents. And the insurgents are confessing to their crimes. People are beginning to understand some of the chaos that's happening around them.

All these things are sort of the positive changes. KAYE: And before we let you go, what is it like for you on a daily basis there just trying to cover the story? Is -- do you feel any safer, any more unsafe?

ROBERTSON: Compared to two years ago, immediately after the war, when we could travel the country and talk to whoever we wanted whenever we wanted, which was a tremendous feeling, because under Saddam that had been impossible. Now it's very difficult. And I think toward summer last year, or the end of summer last year, the insurgency really began to target journalists in amongst the Westerners. And the threat of kidnapping, the threat of being targeted as a person caught up in the violence is very real. And that has changed the way that we work.

It doesn't mean -- it hasn't stopped us getting out and talking to people. We just have to be more careful. And I think for journalists, that's the way that it's changed fundamentally.

But it is a hugely interesting story to cover right now and I think the developments that are happening there are the real developments that are showing you the future of the country, that make it very interesting.

And I think we are able to get out enough and touch enough of that and see the changes.

KAYE: All right, well, I know you're heading back there soon.

Be safe.

ROBERTSON: Thank you.

KAYE: Nic Robertson, thank you -- Tony.

HARRIS: We are taking you to the front lines live here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

Just ahead, our own Jane Arraf, embedded with Marines on the Iraqi border with Syria, talks with a soldier who signed on for his second trip to Iraq.

And later, a fight of another kind on courtrooms and hospital rooms for a woman whose family remains torn apart by her illness.

KAYE: But first, one family remembers their loved one on this second anniversary of the Iraq war.

Staff Sergeant Darren Vankomen died in a suicide attack on a dining facility in Mosul.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID VANKOMEN, DARREN'S BROTHER: He was pretty shy in school. I remember one time he bought a motorcycle from one of my friends and instead of riding it, he tore it all apart and decided to clean it all up and put it back together. He was always doing that sort of stuff. He went to Fort Bragg for, at first. He stayed there a little while. He met his wife, Stephanie. And he tried to be closer to home, so he got stationed over here in Fort Lewis.

ANDREA VANKOMEN, DARREN'S SISTER-IN-LAW: He needed to serve. He was ready to go to Iraq. He told his wife that he wanted to go. And he told his mom before he left that if he died, that was god's will and he didn't have any hesitation about it at all.

DAVID VANKOMEN: I think he just wanted to make a difference.

ANDREA VANKOMEN: The biggest abomination I think he had was to make sure that his wife knew how much he loved her and his daughter, as well. You know, he just absolutely adored the ground that those two walked on. They meant the world to him. I think that that was his biggest motivation in life, you know? And I think that that was part of why he went to Iraq. He wanted to get it done so he didn't have to go back.

DAVID VANKOMEN: He loved Stephanie and Chelsea a lot. He was always doing things for them. He'd always run to Idaho to visit family on the weekends, just so that Chelsea would get a chance to see the cousins and all the aunts.

DARREN VANKOMEN: Well, there's old Darren. He snuck down out here and he come down here and he just surprised the heck out of her.

ANDREA VANKOMEN: Darren was a Dale Earnhardt fan. He'd go strutting around in the morning with that jacket on.

DARREN VANKOMEN: Oh, yes, I can -- Dale Earnhardt. Whoo-whee!

DAVID VANKOMEN: We miss our brother a lot. We wish he was here.

Hey, Darren, when you -- what's your plans now?

DARREN VANKOMEN: I don't know. I go with the wind.

DAVID VANKOMEN: You go with the wind, huh?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Terri Schiavo's parents are refusing to give up their fight for their daughter's life. But her husband's attorney says let her die in peace.

Good morning and welcome back, everyone.

I'm Tony Harris.

KAYE: And I'm Randi Kaye in for Betty Nguyen.

We'll be talking to Michael Schiavo's attorney in just a minute. He's one of the several key players in the case we'll hear from throughout the morning.

First, a look at some other headlines this morning.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Seoul, South Korea this morning. She's meeting with top leaders on how to get North Korea to return to multinational six party talks. Those talks are aimed at getting the North to scrap its nuclear weapons program.

Authorities in Florida say this man, a convicted sex offender, has confessed to kidnapping and killing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford. Authorities say John Couey told them he buried her body behind his sister's home in Citrus County. While crews search for her body, her family plans to talk to reporters at 9:00 Eastern. CNN will bring this to you live.

The legal wrangling over Terri Schiavo is not over. Late yesterday, the Supreme Court denied a request by the House to intervene and order her feeding tube reinserted. An attorney for Schiavo's parents and Republican members of Congress are working through the weekend to find a way to keep the brain damaged woman alive.

HARRIS: And time now to check on some of the other stories making news around the world.

KAYE: Quite a bit happening this morning.

For the details, let's hand it over to Anand Naidoo at the CNN International Desk.

ANAND NAIDOO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Randi.

And a very good morning from me.

First up, to Iraq. There's mounting anger in Iraq against Jordan. That's right, Jordan. Shiite demonstrators demand an apology for the alleged involvement of a Jordanian in a suicide car bombing that killed 125 people. That bombing taking place a few weeks ago. Thousands took to the streets after a national assembly member accused Jordan of not doing enough to prevent terrorists from slipping into Iraq.

Violence in the country continued. A U.S. soldier was killed and two Marines suffered burns in separate incidents around the country. In Kirkuk, Iraqi police officers, three of them, were killed, and six others wounded. And that was in a bomb explosion. That bomb explosion taking place at a funeral procession.

On to Pakistan now. Officials there saying the military carried out a successful test of a long range missile. The missile, with a range of 1,250 miles, is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The country's leader, General Pervez Musharraf, witnessed the test firing.

In Beirut, a bomb blast in a largely Christian neighborhood. Nine people were injured. Dozens of cars and buildings damaged. The explosion came as the country's Syrian-backed president, Emile Lahoud, called for talks with anti-Syrian opposition groups. Lahoud says a dialogue is needed to protect the country. There are fears among some that this latest attack in Beirut could lead to more violence and could also complicate efforts to form a new government, efforts to form a new government that have been taking place there for several weeks.

That's all from me.

We'll be continuing to follow these developments here at CNN through the day.

Stay with us.

Now back to Randi and Tony.

HARRIS: Anand, thank you.

KAYE: All right, thank you, Anand.

HARRIS: More now on the Terri Schiavo case.

Joining us now from Florida, one of the lawyers at the center of this dramatic case.

George Felos represents Terri Schiavo's husband, Michael.

And I believe Michael is with George, as well.

Gentlemen, good morning to you both.

MICHAEL SCHIAVO, TERRI'S HUSBAND: Good morning.

GEORGE FELOS, ATTORNEY FOR MICHAEL SCHIAVO: Good morning.

HARRIS: Michael, let me start with you. 1:45 yesterday afternoon the feeding tube on your wife was removed. Give me a sense of what you're thinking this morning.

SCHIAVO: I have a sense of relief for Terri. I feel that this is her time, this is going to work for Terri. She's going to finally be at peace. And I spent the entire day with her yesterday, besides doing some interviews. But I spent the morning with her, also.

I will stay by her side. I will love her and I will hold her hand.

HARRIS: Michael, I know you've talked about this case a lot and you've done a lot of interviews over the last couple of days.

Can I ask you what, why you're doing them? What's the case you're trying to state, as clearly as possible, from your point of view?

SCHIAVO: I should be with my wife right now holding her hand. But I felt the importance to get out and talk about what the Congress, this government is doing. They're stepping into my personal life and they're getting in the middle of something they know nothing about. They don't have the facts and it's sad. It's sad what this government is doing. And if they can do it to me, they'll do it to everybody in this country. If they don't like the decisions, they're going to step right in. And it's sad.

HARRIS: And George -- yes, George, let me get your response.

How surreal a moment was it for you yesterday when you received a subpoena from the House of Representatives?

FELOS: It was an absolute outrage to have a federal marshal serve upon us that bogus subpoena requiring that Terri Schiavo be tube fed against her will and against a court order. The U.S. House of Representatives has no more authority to step into a bedroom and order medical treatment than a person on the street. That was pure political strong-arming. It was an outrage. And people should be outraged at what the United States Congress has done, without any committee hearings, without any thought, passing an unconstitutional bill to step into a personal case.

You ought to write the people or write your senators and congressmen and tell them let Terri die in peace. This poor woman, who expressed her wishes, has a constitutional right to have her wishes carried out and these politicians, for their own gain, should not be trampling over her death bed.

HARRIS: Michael, when was the last time you...

SCHIAVO: Just leave her alone.

HARRIS: Michael, when was the last time you talked to the Schindlers?

SCHIAVO: I haven't talked to the Schindlers in years.

HARRIS: In years?

SCHIAVO: In years.

HARRIS: When did that relationship turn, I don't want to characterize it. When did you become estranged from Terri's side of the family?

SCHIAVO: In 1993.

HARRIS: Bob Schindler is...

SCHIAVO: Valentine's Day.

HARRIS: Valentine's Day?

SCHIAVO: Yes, in 1993. That's when Mr. Schindler got angry because he didn't receive any money.

HARRIS: Because he didn't receive any money? Would you elaborate, please. SCHIAVO: Right.

HARRIS: What does that mean? We don't...

SCHIAVO: Well, he wanted money. He wanted money from the settlement. And he was angry about that. And he testified to that, too, that he was angry that he didn't receive any money. He wanted money from Terri.

HARRIS: So you're alluding to a motive for all of the conflict over the years. You understand that?

SCHIAVO: Oh, yes. I understand that fully. I mean it's in the testimony.

FELOS: It's not only in the testimony, it's in the conclusion of the court that the breakup of that family relationship was because Mr. Schindler didn't get money. And this case has never been about money to the courts, to Michael. It's always been about Terri's wishes. This is a young woman who said no feeding tubes for me, I don't want to be kept alive artificially. Please let me go when my time comes. She said this to her best friend, to Michael, to her brother-in-law. And that's why the court has ordered this, because they found that these were her wishes. And it's just horrific that people want to step in, as Michael said, who know nothing about this case, and want to trample her freedom of choice.

People really need to understand that if this can happen to Terri Schiavo, it can happen to you and your family member. And you need to be vigilant to protect your constitutional rights and let those politicians up there in Washington know that they can't do this and that you won't stand for it.

HARRIS: Michael, Bob Schindler says that the family believes they can still communicate with Terri.

SCHIAVO: Terri doesn't communicate with anybody. That's their soap box. That's what they're going on. That's what they tell people. Terri doesn't communicate with anybody. We've had neurologists come in that are -- have credentials that you wouldn't believe. And they've testified that Terri does not communicate.

HARRIS: So, Michael, how disappointed are you with Congress, that they stepped in the way that they have, that they continue to appeal, that they are trying to craft legislation that can be passed by both chambers and that this is not over from a Congressional standpoint?

SCHIAVO: I want everybody to know that -- I want them to imagine that you have a personal family matter that you're dealing with about your personal choices and whether you want to live or you want to be with the lord. And then you have these government officials coming in and pandering to -- for votes to the religious right, to the anti- abortionists, to the coalitions for votes. The people of the United States have to realize this is going to happen to me, it's going to happen to them, it's going to happen to you, sir. HARRIS: OK.

Michael Schiavo, we appreciate it.

George Felos.

Thank you very much this morning.

SCHIAVO: Thank you.

FELOS: Thank you.

HARRIS: We are following this developing story all morning long and bringing you the people at the heart of it, from lawmakers to loved ones. In our next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING, the other side of this emotional case, Terri Schiavo's brother, Bobby Schindler, joins us live.

KAYE: On the border between Iraq and Syria, the battle rages on even two years after the war began. Our Jane Arraf is there next, only on CNN SATURDAY MORNING. She talks to one U.S. Marine who's back in the fight for the second time.

HARRIS: And good morning, Washington. Weekend weather for you and the rest of the nation coming your way with Rob Marciano in about 20 minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Last Friday night in Atlanta, Shelton Warren opened his apartment door to find Brian Nichols holding a gun on his girlfriend. The courthouse shortage suspect was on the run and desperate. You'll hear from the man who confronted Nichols and lived to tell about it, 9:00 a.m. Eastern only on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GREG DITRINCO, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, "SKI" MAGAZINE: One of the best kept secrets of winter resorts these days is that dining in the mountains is as good as it is in the big cities. Successful chefs are being drawn to the mountains because of the serene setting, beautiful scenery and low stress lifestyle. So why the sudden popularity in sophisticated dining in the mountains? The higher the altitude, the lower the attitude. The dress is casual, the setting is serene and the service is attentive without being snobby.

High mountain dining also tends to be relatively inexpensive. The cost of the menu reflects the local costs of doing business. And the coolest part of high mountain dining, you can be on vacation at a winter resort, call the hottest restaurant in town and get a reservation that night. Try that in New York or L.A.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Today marks the second anniversary of the U.S. led invasion of Iraq that led to the fall of Saddam Hussein.

CNN's Jane Arraf joins us this morning from near the Syrian border, where she is currently embedded with U.S. Marines -- Jane, good morning.

Good to see you.

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony.

If anyone has any doubt that this war is still going on, they only have to look at this area, western Al Anbar Province, where the Marines are right up against the city of Husaba on the Syrian border and fighting a raging insurgency.

But perhaps one of the best people to talk about the difference between then and now is someone who was actually in the fighting.

We have with us Lieutenant Michael Hood, from New York City, who was a platoon commander in 2003 in Nasiriyah and is back here again for his second deployment.

Thanks very much for joining us.

Tell us, if you could, what is the difference between that fight and the fight you're fighting now?

LT. MICHAEL HOOD, U.S. MARINES: Well, in al-Nasiriyah during OIF1, we were very clear on the intent behind that. We knew when we encountered hostile targets out there, they would present themselves to us, meaning that they would openly fight us. Here, the concern is a little bit different. We live 200 meters away from the local populous and the enemy hides himself in there. He also fights us differently. He fights us with IEDs, with mines and things it really took a long time for us to prepare for.

So it's a much more confusing environment here for us.

ARRAF: The IEDs you're mounting, those improvised explosive devices, the roadside bombs, you had said when we were talking earlier that if anyone -- if you had mentioned welding steel plates to Humvees two years ago, they would have thought you were crazy.

Have other things changed, as well, in terms of that fight?

HOOD: They have. We've adapted very well. We've learned for the Marines to operate in this environment, they have to be able to show a greater degree of caution and make clear decisions than they were previously trained for. And they're doing that very, very well here. And that's really the difference when you look at and you determine, hey, is that guy out there actually planting an IED or is that guy fixing a hole in his wall? That's a decision that the Marines are making on a daily basis here.

ARRAF: Would you ever have expected, when you were here two years ago trying to topple Saddam Hussein, that you would be back again? HOOD: I did picture myself being back, but I never imagined it would be exactly like this, in a city like this, as close as I currently am.

ARRAF: There's obviously a lot to do here.

How long do you think that it's going to last?

HOOD: If you're talking about Husaba, locally, I think that this might take a while in this area of Iraq simply because I think the insurgency, from the interactions that we've had and from the Marines that have come before us, it's deep rooted here. So I can't really speak on how long I think it's going to take, but I think there's some serious effort that needs to go into this city. You want to turn to someplace like Baghdad or Falluja.

ARRAF: Thanks so much.

That was Lieutenant Michael Hood from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, back here for the second time, two years after the start of the war -- Tony.

HARRIS: Jane Arraf in Iraq near the Syrian border, embedded with U.S. Marines for us.

Jane, thank you.

KAYE: Updating our headlines right now, a sex offender picked up in Georgia has allegedly told police where to find Jessica Lunsford's body. That search has been underway all night across the street from her home. We expect to hear from Jessica's father a little over an hour from now and will bring that to you live.

Also in Florida, Terri Schiavo is now without the feeding tube that has kept her alive. Her family and some members of Congress vow to restore the tube by any means necessary.

And major insanity invades March madness. Bucknell dumped 3rd seed Kansas 64-63. And Vermont routed 4th seed Syracuse 60-57.

Meanwhile, on the ice, a thrill for American ice dancers. These guys have done something America has not seen for the past two decades. Details ahead on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, in case you didn't get your fill of headlines this week, let's "Rewind" through some of the big stories of the past few days.

Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan warned Congress Tuesday that Social Security and Medicaid will be stretched to the limits to handle the needs of retirees in just three years. He said the government will have to fix the problem by either raising taxes or reducing benefits. Bernard Ebbers, who once sat at the head of the table at WorldCom, was found guilty Tuesday for his role in an $11 billion accounting scandal that ultimately destroyed the company. Thousands of former WorldCom employees counted on the company's now worthless stock for retirement.

Wednesday, the Senate narrowly approved a plan to open part of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration. Both the House and Senate are expected to pass a hybrid version of the bill.

Thursday, U.S. representatives vote in favor of deep cuts in Medicaid, the government insurance program for those needing assistance. At the same time, the Senate voted to eliminate Medicaid cuts from the budget altogether. The stalemate must be worked out before Congress can adopt a final budget this year.

KAYE: All right, here's something you have not heard in 20 years. Two American ice dancers are now world medalists. Two time national champs Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto, on the right there. They came in second at the world figure skating championship in Moscow last night. The last time the U.S. medaled in the world competition was back in 1985, when Judy Blumberg and Michael Seibert got the bronze. The ladies are skating for the gold at this hour in Moscow. American Sasha Cohen is second after the short program.

Meanwhile, the new judging system is not helping nine time national champion Michelle Kwan. She's only fifth heading into the final skate.

We'll bring you the results tomorrow on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

HARRIS: And don't forget our e-mail question this morning. Who, in your opinion, should decide what happens to Terri Schiavo? E-mail us at wam@cnn.com.

And, Randi, the e-mail box is stuffed.

KAYE: They're pouring in.

HARRIS: Stuffed. Your replies, coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: First, a CNN extra. Here is a somber prediction. Researchers say obesity will cut the life span of Americans by two to five years within the next five decades. That means it will affect more people than even cancer or heart disease. Right now, Americans live an average of 77.6 years. But skeptics say the impact of obesity will be lessened by advances in medicine. Two thirds of U.S. adults are overweight, while one third qualifies as obese. Up to 30 percent of children are also overweight. That number doubled in the past 25 years.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAYE: And we want to get back to our E-mail Question of the Day. That question is who, in your opinion, should decide what happens to Terri Schiavo? You've been e-mailing us all morning at...

HARRIS: Boy, have you.

KAYE: ... wam@cnn.com. Our e-mail in box is loading up and we wanted to share just a couple with you.

This one, first, from G. Madden: "Terri's family has her best interests at heart. Her husband is no longer acting as her husband. He needs to relinquish his marital rights to her parents, brother and sister."

HARRIS: And this from Vicki: "Terri's husband Michael should decide. This is not an issue the government should be involved in."

And Randi, you're right. The e-mail box is loaded to the brim. We want to encourage you to send along those e-mails. We'll get to as many of them as we can. Who should decide what happens to Terri Schiavo? There's the address, wam@cnn.com. Again, we'll get to as many of them as we can.

And just another reminder, Mark Lunsford, the father of Jessica Lunsford, is scheduled to speak to reporters in the next hour, at 9:00 a.m. And, of course, when that happens, we will bring that to you live.

KAYE: In the meantime, the next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING begins right now.

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