Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Saturday Morning News

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf Declares Democracy Will Prevail In His Nation; Popular Pakistani Politician Detained During Anti-Bush Protest; Anna Nicole Smith's Supreme Court Battle

Aired March 04, 2006 - 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: And good morning, everyone.
Headlines now in the news, President Bush is in Pakistan this hour. His visit is under extremely heavy security. At a press conference earlier, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared democracy will prevail in his nation.

The latest in a live report is straight ahead.

No warm welcome here. Pakistani police have clashed with thousands of anti-Bush protesters, and they to curtail the demonstrations by arresting the protest organizers. The day before the president arrived in Pakistan, an American diplomat and three other people were killed in a suicide bomb attack.

In Iraq, a mortar exploded in a busy market just outside Baghdad early this morning. Seven people were killed, 15 others hurt.

Several other bombings also struck the capital city, killing two other people and wounding several others.

A judge has ordered the Bush administration to release the names of detainees at Guantanamo Bay. The order follows a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by the Associated Press. The Pentagon had claimed that releasing the names would put the detainees or their families in danger.

From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING, March 4, 8:00 a.m. here at CNN headquarters in Hot-lanta, 6:00 p.m. in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Good morning, everyone, I'm Tony Harris.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Not so hot this morning...

HARRIS: No, no.

NGUYEN: ... but hopefully will be soon.

And I'm Betty Nguyen. We want to thank you for being with us.

Topping the news this hour, the president in Pakistan. Mr. Bush is preparing to attend a state dinner next hour. He's been talking to President Pervez Musharraf today about the war on terror and a whole host of other issues. And the whole trip has been under very tight security.

Let's go live now to CNN's Suzanne Malveaux, Suzanne Malveaux, in Islamabad with the latest on this. Talk about the progress that's being made, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, really amazingly, take a look at this, of course, two different scenes here. The official ceremony, a very warm welcome for President Bush. This was in what's called the red zone, a government-fortified compound very far away from protests or any type of terrorist elements that might put the president's trip at danger.

And, of course, that far away from the protests that did occur that was rather light, relatively light today, because many of those opposition leaders were arrested or held in the last 24 hours before Air Force One landed.

But the main focus, of course, was the alliance between President Bush and Pervez Musharraf when it comes to the war on terror. President Bush's main focus, of course, is to push forward, to praise Musharraf, but at the same time, say that more needs to be done to crack down on al Qaeda and the Taliban.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Mr. President, I've reaffirmed our shared commitment to a broad and lasting strategic partnership. And that partnership begins with close cooperation in the war on terror. President Musharraf made a bold decision for his people and for peace after September the 11th, when Pakistan chose to fight the terrorists.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, Betty, it has been a rewarding alliance, but also a frustrating one. On one side, Pakistanis seeing a failed U.S. air strike that was targeted al Qaeda but killed civilians back in January. Then it was just two days ago that you saw this twin suicide bombings that occurred in Karachi, targeted at the U.S. consulate, killing a U.S. diplomat and three others.

President Musharraf today also expressing his frustration, but his condolences.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN: I expressed Pakistan's deepest regrets on the very sad incident of the killing of a United States diplomat in Karachi. We know that it had been timed very viciously to vitiate the atmosphere during the president's visit. But I'm very glad, and I'm extremely grateful to the president for showing understanding, and showing also the resolve not to let such terrorist acts interfere in the normal process of our strategic cooperation.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MALVEAUX: And, Betty, of course, the serious business aside, both leaders, of course, participating in much lighter events later in the day, President Bush participating in a game of cricket, if you will, of a national pastime here, of course, national treasure, and then the president later today will be joining the first couple for dinner and entertainment as well, Betty.

NGUYEN: Suzanne, let's get back to the serious business of this nuclear deal with India. Obviously, Pakistan has to be frustrated by that.

MALVEAUX: Well, that's right, because President Musharraf actually wanted something similar. He had expressed that before as well as officials here in Pakistan, looking at this landmark nuclear deal that President Bush just announced with India.

But President Bush made it very clear that these two countries have very different histories. This is not something they prepare to offer Pakistan. That is mainly because of the history of A.Q. Kahn, that is, of course, known as the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb. It's very well known that he had spread nuclear technology and secrets to Iran, North Korea, and Libya.

So this is not something the Bush administration feels comfortable with, Betty.

NGUYEN: CNN's Suzanne Malveaux in Islamabad, Pakistan. Thank you, Suzanne -- Tony.

HARRIS: Well, President Bush's visits sparked angry demonstrations by thousands of people. And Pakistani police detained protest organizers, including a popular politician.

CNN senior Asia correspondent Mike Chinoy joins us by videophone from just outside Islamabad this evening where you are, Mike. But good morning from Atlanta.

MIKE CHINOY, CNN SENIOR ASIA CORRESPONDENT: Morning.

Well, there was an attempt at a protest here in Rawalpindi, which is the other major city, part of the Islamabad area just a short drive away. A few people did gather, but police prevented the protest from turning into anything major. And that was the story throughout the day. There had been calls for a march from Rawalpindi into Islamabad, but the authorities were determined to prevent it from happening.

The man who made the call was one of Pakistan's prominent politicians, Imran Khan, a former cricket star, and now a member of parliament. On Friday night, he was placed under house arrest. We weren't able to see him, but were able to reach him on his cell phone. And he warned that President Bush is making a mistake by allying too closely with President Musharraf.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

IMRAN KHAN, OPPOSITION POLITICIAN (on phone): I don't think that George Bush has learned anything from history, because the relationship should be with the people of the country, and that is, people means democratically elected people. When you have relationship with just one dictator and alienate the people, then the example of Shah of Iran is right in front of it, the revolution against the Shah, turned against the United States.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

CHINOY: The irony here, of course, is that President Bush and President Musharraf were talking about the need for greater democracy at their press conference at precisely the time the police were on the streets ensuring that no large-scale protest against Mr. Bush's visit took place, Tony.

HARRIS: That's Mike Chinoy for us. Mike, we appreciate it. Thank you.

NGUYEN: Eight years in prison. It is the longest ever sentence for a former member of Congress, and that is what ex-California rep Randy "Duke" Cunningham got slapped with on Friday. Cunningham pleaded guilty last year to taking more than $2 million in bribes involving defense contractors. He admitted to conspiracy to commit bribery, mail and wire fraud, as well as tax evasion. Prosecutors say the message is very clear.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JASON FORGE, ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY: We do think a very good message was sent today. A 100-month sentence is an extremely lengthy sentence. It's over eight years. As I indicated earlier, it's the longest sentence ever for a member or former member of Congress. So hopefully, again, it will help restore the public's trust in our political system.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Now, after Cunningham was indicted, a House panel launched an investigation into his access to classified material and any potential illegal releases to defense contractors.

HARRIS: All right, here are a few of the stories making news across America this morning.

In Georgia, two sheriff's deputies are out of a job. Take a look at this video here. They're accused of endangering lives during a three-county car chase and beating up the suspect once they caught him. It was all caught on the squad car's dashboard camera. No word yet on whether the deputies or the suspect have hired attorneys.

Look at this, looks like an entire city block is on fire. This blaze broke out last night at a warehouse in Pompano Beach, Florida. The warehouse is full of propane tanks and wooden pallets stacked three stories high. And that, of course, fueled the flames. One firefighter was slightly injured.

A convict dad who left his son without a kidney may be in Mexico. An American couple vacationing in Puerto Vallarta saw Byron Perkins' picture on CNN. At an airport, they say they spent time with him and his girlfriend, Lee Ann Howard, while on vacation. Perkins was released from jail for the sole purpose of donating his kidney to his son, but he ran off instead. If you see Byron Perkins or Lee Ann Howard, the police want to hear from you. You can call 1-877-WANTED- 2.

And that leads to our e-mail question of the day. How would you punish the fugitive father? E-mail us at weekends@cnn.com, and we'll read your responses throughout the morning program.

NGUYEN: And so far, those responses are showing no mercy at all.

HARRIS: Yes, it's true.

NGUYEN: Well, it's a billion-dollar battle that's making for some strange bedfellows. A former "Playboy" model, the family of a Texas oil tycoon, and the Supreme Court as a referee?

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: Take a look at how Anna Nicole Smith's day in court could impact lawsuits nationwide.

Hi, Bonnie.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Betty and Tony and everyone.

If you like the winter weather, it's good news for those in northern Vermont. We're looking at some heavy snow for the ski resorts there.

But if you're suffering from the flu, that's probably the last thing that you want.

Here's a look at your cold and flu report for Saturday. We can take you across the country and show you places where we've had outbreaks of the flu so far this season. Much of the country, a lot of it, actually, reporting widespread activity from Texas to Florida, much of the eastern seaboard and some sporadic outbreaks out to the Southwest, with local activity out towards the West Coast in California.

That's a look at your cold and flu report.

Stay tuned, your full forecast is coming up next on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS (voice-over): A billion-dollar battle. On one side, a celebrity who's a famous former stripper and a "Playboy" pin-up. On the other, the family of a Texas oil tycoon. In the middle, Supreme Court justices. It's not a case you see every day.

That's one of our topics today in our legal briefs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

And joining me now from San Francisco, how about this? Susan Bozorgi, you're getting up first thing in the morning...

NGUYEN: Very early.

SUSAN BOZORGI, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: That's right.

HARRIS: ... to join us from San Francisco. Susan, good to see you.

BOZORGI: Good morning, Tony.

HARRIS: And from Houston, former prosecutor Nelda Blair. Nelda, good to see you, as always.

NELDA BLAIR, FORMER PROSECUTOR: Thank you, Tony, you as well.

HARRIS: Well, let's start with this Anna, Anna Nicole Smith was at the Supreme Court this week. How about that? Probate cases. Nelda, how often do these cases make it to the Supreme Court? My guess is not often at all.

BLAIR: Not very often at all do they make it to the Supreme Court, and even less often do we hear about making them to the Supreme Court, because it's boring. It's a probate case. It just happens to involve Anna Nicole Smith this time.

HARRIS: Yes, that goes down. Look at that stuff. Susan, what is...

BOZORGI: Yes, Tony.

HARRIS: ... what is, what is, what is probate?

BOZORGI: Well, probate is essentially when somebody dies...

HARRIS: Yes.

BOZORGI: ... then it goes before a court to decide the disbursement of their estate.

HARRIS: Yes, prove, proving the will, right?

BOZORGI: Yes.

HARRIS: Yes, yes.

BOZORGI: I mean, it's basically...

HARRIS: Up.

BOZORGI: ... probating where the money's going to end up.

HARRIS: Is that, is that the real issue here? My understanding is, there was a trust involved. And now the U.S. government is involved on behalf of Anna Nicole. What is the issue that we're arguing before the court, Susan?

BOZORGI: Well, what we're seeing on TV is certainly a sexy issue between Anna Nicole and her deceased husband's son...

HARRIS: Yes.

BOZORGI: ... the fight over the money. But really, what's before the Supreme Court is purely an issue of jurisdiction, it's boring, it's mundane, it's not exciting at all. It's an issue of whether a federal court has the power to decide probate issues.

HARRIS: Well, what do you think?

BOZORGI: That would -- well, I think that they're going to rule in her favor. And I think that this Supreme Court, and Ginsburg said it herself, is not about to say that the federal courts don't have the power over one specific area of law, meaning probate.

HARRIS: Got you. I got you.

Nelda, what do you think about this case?

BLAIR: Well, you know, the situation here is that the Texas probate courts are saying, Hey, we are Texas, and we have the right to make our own rules, and the federal government doesn't have a right to interfere. But the Supreme Court is trying to decide whether Anna Nicole had the opportunity to not only go to Texas probate court, where she lost, by the way...

HARRIS: Right.

BLAIR: ... but also to go to federal court to decide some of the bankruptcy rules. She's trying to basically take a different tack, make a different argument. And honestly, I really think she does have that right. The interesting part is, Tony, you know, normally we would not have heard anything about this case, because it's whether state or federal courts have a right in a probate case, it's boring.

HARRIS: Right.

BLAIR: But Anna Nicole appeared. There was no reason for her to appear in court. She didn't get to say anything. But she did, and that's what made the commotion.

(CROSSTALK)

HARRIS: She's Anna Nicole Smith. That's why it is news for us. All right, well...

BLAIR: But every blonde has a right to be at the Supreme Court. HARRIS: Well, so, all right, no fireworks there. You know, I want to hit the gavel, just because we've got a new toy. So bang the gavel for me, and let's move on. OK. That's it? That was the gavel?

NGUYEN: You talked through it, Tony.

HARRIS: That was pretty weak. I'm sorry.

All right, Lionel Tate, this is a serious matter here, he has accepted a plea deal. Now, this happened on Wednesday, for holding up a pizza delivery man. And this is a young man with a troubled past. What, at 12 years old, he was charged as an adult. He says he was practicing wrestling moves on a young girl, and the young girl, she died in that case, as I remember.

What about this new plea deal? Should this deal, Susan, have even been put on the table?

BOZORGI: Absolutely, this deal should have been put on the table. I mean, we have to remember, at this point, I think he's around 18...

HARRIS: Yes, yes.

BOZORGI: ... or 19 at most. He's a young ... he's a young man, at best.

HARRIS: Right.

BOZORGI: He's still a very young person. And he's looking at a life sentence. So absolutely, somebody should be considering a lesser sentence. So, you know, unfortunately, it might be a little too late for Lionel Tate. He was looking at life, and he had to decide to best, better the situation as best he could. So now he's looking at between 10 to 30 years.

HARRIS: Yes, 10 to 30 years, Nelda, is that too harsh?

BLAIR: No...

HARRIS: No?

BLAIR: ... absolutely not. And Susan, I hope that you would like this guy living next door to you and staying alone with your kids once he's out back on probation. You know ...

BOZORGI: It's not an issue.

BLAIR: ... this guy...

(CROSSTALK)

BLAIR: ... this guy was sentenced to life by a jury, Tony.

HARRIS: Yes. BLAIR: Life in prison. They did not buy his story that his wrestling moves were some accident, he was just playing, even though he was 12 years old. He was given a reprieve because that case was overturned. And when it was overturned and went back to court, that's where the prosecutors made their mistake. They made a deal with him where he got on 10 years' probation.

Since then, he's been caught with a gun or knife. He's also held up a pizza delivery man.

HARRIS: Right.

BLAIR: He had at least three strikes. He needs to be out.

BOZORGI: Well, Tony, Tony...

HARRIS: Yes, go ahead, Susan.

BOZORGI: ... I got to weigh in on this. Let me tell you what happened to this young boy. We took a 12-year-old, and I have to repeat that, a 12-year-old, and we charged him as an adult, we stuck him in a system where we put him in an adult prison system while we waited for an appeal court to come back and tell us the obvious, that he had no idea what was happening in that trial.

Then we put him on adult probation. We gave this boy no rehabilitation. And at the end of the day, we're shocked and surprised that he can't live by the laws of our society?

HARRIS: And, and...

BOZORGI: We contributed to who this boy is today.

HARRIS: Nelda, take the last word on this.

BLAIR: I'm not saying that he shouldn't be rehabilitated, but he shouldn't be out on the streets.

HARRIS: Right, OK.

Ladies, good to see you. Give me that gavel again, just, just for good measure. Where's that gavel? Is that it? Was that it there at the bottom there?

All right, good to see you, Susan.

BOZORGI: Thank you, Tony.

(CROSSTALK)

HARRIS: There it is.

BLAIR: Thanks for having me.

HARRIS: Good to see you, Nelda. And see you guys next week.

BLAIR: All right.

NGUYEN: Gavel just makes the segment, doesn't it, Tony?

HARRIS: Well, you know.

NGUYEN: All right, we have some new video. You talk about a gavel. Check this out. New video coming in to CNN that we want to put on the air right now. Hopefully they're going to cue that up and get it to you.

HARRIS: Oh.

NGUYEN: It's President Bush in Pakistan, as you know, in Islamabad. What he's doing and what you'll be seeing in just a moment, see some kids there with their cricket sticks. He will be playing a little cricket with some young Pakistanis ...

HARRIS: Are those the bats, the cricket bats there that -- oh, there -- OK ...

NGUYEN: Look, the president's got one in hand. He's going to try his arm at it and see how well he does. And this is at a youth clinic there in Pakistan. As you know, there's been a great deal of security. You can see the...

HARRIS: Oh, yes.

NGUYEN: ... Secret Service walking around in the background, surrounding this trip to Pakistan. It's one that's filled with extreme security, because of just the situation there.

President Bush has been in the country speaking with President Pervez Musharraf about the war on terror, also the fight against al Qaeda. And he'll be departing a little bit later today, heading back off of his trip. But a quick look there at the president having a little fun while in Pakistan.

HARRIS: Yes, a little breather, all right.

NGUYEN: Yes, something he tries to do I think ...

(CROSSTALK)

HARRIS: Trying to get a technique down. And it's through the wicket. Through the, through the wicket, I think, is the whole...

NGUYEN: Is that the way it works?

HARRIS: Yes, there it is.

NGUYEN: I'm not up on my cricket skills.

HARRIS: There it is. Yes, he's getting a lesson. How about that? Oh, this is the moment we've been waiting for. Will we get a bowler? Will, we get a ...

(CROSSTALK)

NGUYEN: Yes, will he get a chance there actually use those skills?

HARRIS: No, that doesn't look like that's going to happen.

NGUYEN: No.

HARRIS: No, that's it, that's it, I'm done.

NGUYEN: Just going through the motions. All right. President had a little fun.

HARRIS: Thanks for the photo op, I'm done.

NGUYEN: Yes.

HARRIS: Moving on.

NGUYEN: Well, this is a serious business, a father turned fugitive. The search is on while his son's life hangs in balance. The dad was released from jail so he could donate a kidney, but he apparently had other plans. So how would you punish this father if he's caught? What would you do? E-mail us your thoughts, weekends@cnn.com. We're going to read that on the air.

HARRIS: Let's go to upstate New York, Albany. Good morning, Albany. Weather forecast for your neighborhoods and the rest of the nation coming up in just a couple of minutes with CNN meteorologist Bonnie Schneider. Good morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: You know, I'm just going to go on record. This is the first...

HARRIS: You are?

NGUYEN: ... time that I would rather be at work than on the beach in Hawaii. And you know why.

HARRIS: Oh, well, yes, because the weather's so bad out there.

NGUYEN: It's a mess out there.

Bonnie Schneider, what is going on?

(WEATHER FORECAST)

HARRIS: This is insane.

NGUYEN: Our director.

HARRIS: Can we get to "HOUSE CALL"? "HOUSE CALL" is coming next with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

(LAUGHTER)

HARRIS: And here's a preview.

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Thanks. Well, this week marks the start of our "Fit Nation" tour. I want to be traveling to cities across the country, hopefully to one near you. Join me this morning as I talk with Governor Mike Huckabee. And he lost more than 100 pounds and started healthy programs in one of the most overweight states in the nation, Arkansas.

Also joined by an obesity expert. Together, we're going to try and answer all your questions and hopefully motivate you to make some healthy changes.

All that's coming up on "HOUSE CALL" at 8:30.

NGUYEN: Plus, while many celebrated Mardi Gras this past week, others wanted to help those in need. And coming up in our next hour, connecting devastated homeowners with volunteers willing to help them rebuild.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com