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CNN Saturday Morning News

President Bush Eager To Demonstrate He Remember People of Gulf Coast; Talks Still Underway to Free Fox News Hostages; Barack Obama in Kenya; Tropical Storm Ernesto Could Possibly Turn Into Hurricane; Sunni Hostage Released in Iraq; William Cohen Interview

Aired August 26, 2006 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Tropical Storm Ernesto already a focus of nervous attention today.
Where is it headed and how strong will the storm get?

It is Saturday, August 26th.

Good morning, everybody.

From the CNN Center here in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone.

I'm Tony Harris.

Thank you for starting your day with us.

Bonnie Schneider will be along in just a moment with much more on this developing story.

But now in the news, defiant Iran. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad officially opened the heavy water production plant today. Heavy water can be used in preparing uranium for nuclear weapons. But Iran says the plant will be used for peaceful purposes.

The move comes just days before a U.N. Security Council deadline for Iran to stop uranium enrichment.

Family members are hoping for the best while sources in Gaza report encouraging signs in efforts to free two Fox News journalists kidnapped last week. The Palestinian interior minister says there are no direct talks, but some third parties may get involved.

The militant group, Holy Jihad Brigades, demanded Muslim prisoners be released from American jails by today. A live report from Jerusalem is 30 minutes away.

NGUYEN: The Space Shuttle Atlantis sits on the launch pad in Florida while NASA watches the stormy weather heading to the area. NASA is holding a countdown status briefing this hour. If all goes well, lift-off will be late tomorrow afternoon. The 11-day mission is to restart construction of the International Space Station.

Illinois Senator Barack Obama is in Kenya, where just a little while ago, he was given an AIDS test in front of thousands of cheering people. His message was, if I can do it, you can, too.

CNN's Jeff Koinange is also in Kenya.

He's going to join us by phone in about 30 minutes.

HARRIS: A long night for many in Dover, Delaware, after a chemical leak forced evacuations and sent nearly two dozen people to the hospital. The leak happened at a Dow Chemical plant. Residents within five miles of the plant were warned to stay indoors, turn off air conditioning and close the windows.

We run-down the top stories every 15 minutes here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, with in-depth coverage all morning long.

Your next check of the headlines is coming up at 10:15 a.m. Eastern.

ANNOUNCER: CNN, your hurricane headquarters.

NGUYEN: Well, the Gulf Coast could soon be staring at its first hurricane of the Atlantic season. Right now, Ernesto is a tropical storm in the Caribbean. But hurricane watchers think that will change.

If you are just joining us, Bonnie Schneider is in the Hurricane Center and has the latest on this storm -- look at that map behind you, Bonnie.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: That's right, Betty.

These are the computer models -- 15 different computer models that meteorologists use to help track where Ernesto will go next.

Now, we've seen these throughout much of last year, going in all different directions. For the most part, the storm looks like it will head in the direction of the west-northwest. But some of these computer models, it was interesting to note, to the south, you'll see several of them, about four, interacting with the Yucatan. If that were to happen, that's likely to weaken Ernesto, which would be good news.

However, a good portion of the ones you see to the north have it interacting with Cuba slightly, and then coming into the Gulf of Mexico.

So what's important to note is as we're watching this storm, it's going to come into some much warmer water. Right now it's in the Caribbean Sea and you can see the convection is mainly to the east of the storm's center at this hour. Maximum winds are at 50 miles per hour.

But as we start talking about Monday, into Tuesday, what'll happen is, according to our projected path by the National Hurricane Center, is that the storm will continue on this track south of Cuba, south of Florida and then come into the warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico. That's some warm, deep water that's likely to intensify Ernesto and make it become the first hurricane of this season -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Bonnie, thank you.

HARRIS: hurricane victims in Louisiana have been granted an extra year to file insurance claims or to sue their insurance companies. The state legislature recently approved the extensions over the objections of insurance companies. Now, the state supreme court has ruled the new laws are constitutional. The court says the extensions are reasonable and appropriate because of the extraordinary destruction caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

NGUYEN: Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco-is in damage control mode following a controversial remark by New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin. She has apologized to New York City for a remark he made to "60 Minutes" while on a walking tour of a damaged neighborhood in New Orleans.

So in case you missed it, here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR RAY NAGIN, NEW ORLEANS: We have cleaned up just about everything except for things on people's personal property. Now, we have to contact a lot of these individuals and get their permissions to go here and demolish these properties.

QUESTION: But you can't get the cars out yet. You can't get this demolished.

NAGIN: Tsar. You guys in New York City can't get a hole in the ground fixed. And it's five years later. So let's be fair.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: So, as you can imagine, Nagin's dig at New York City didn't go over too well. Not at all. The mayor, though, did offer this clarification.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NAGIN: I think some people will say that is a bit insensitive, calling it a hole in the ground. But the comparison is relevant. You know, it's difficult to recover from a disaster, whether it's a couple of blocks in New York or whether it's 80 percent of the City of New Orleans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Well, Katrina, one year later, also on the president's mind today. It's the subject of his radio address, which we're about to hear shortly.

White House correspondent Elaine Quijano joins us live from Kennebunkport, Maine -- good morning, Elaine.

And what are you expecting to hear? ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Betty.

Well, the president is here in Kennebunkport to attend a family wedding. But, of course, after what happened last year, the president is anxious to demonstrate that he, in fact, has not forgotten about the people of the Gulf Coast Region.

So look for the president to reiterate that message and also to say that the federal government is more prepared now than ever to deal with a hurricane.

Here's the president's radio address.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... in the White House. Rockey is from St. Bernard Parish in Louisiana and he and his family lost everything they owned to Hurricane Katrina. Rockey drove to Washington to thank the federal government for its efforts to help people like him, and he brought a trailer along to help remind us that many good people along our Gulf Coast are still living in difficult conditions and that the hard work of rebuilding has only just begun.

This Tuesday marks the first anniversary of Katrina, one of the deadliest and most costly natural disasters in American history.

In Mississippi, the storm wiped out virtually everything along an 80-mile stretch of the coast, flattening homes and destroying entire communities.

In Louisiana, flooding left 80 percent of the City of New Orleans under water. The human costs were even more terrible. More than 1,000 people died. Countless families lost their homes and livelihoods and tens of thousands of men, women and children were forced to flee the region and leave behind everything they knew.

During the storm and in the days that followed, Americans responded with heroism and compassion. Coast Guard and other personnel rescued people stranded in flooded neighborhoods and brought them to high ground. Doctors and nurses stayed behind to care for their patients and some even went without food so their patients could eat.

Many of the first responders risking their lives to help others were victims themselves, wounded healers with a sense of duty greater than their own suffering. And across our great land, the armies of compassion rallied to bring food and water and hope to fellow citizens who had lost everything.

In these and countless other selfless acts, we saw the spirit of America at its best. Unfortunately, Katrina also revealed that federal, state and local governments were unprepared to respond to such an extraordinary disaster and the flood waters exposed the deep- seated poverty that has cut people off from the opportunities of our country. So last year, I made a simple pledge -- the federal government would learn the lessons of Katrina. We would do what it takes and we will stay as long as it takes to help our brothers and sisters build a new Gulf Coast where every citizen feels part of the great promise of America.

That was the same pledge I repeated to Rockey during his visit to the White House. This pledge meant stronger levees and rebuilt homes and new infrastructure. It also means safe streets and neighborhoods filled a locally owned businesses and more opportunities for everyone.

Next week, Laura and I will return to Mississippi and New Orleans to meet local citizens and officials and review the progress we have made. The federal government has conducted a thorough review of its response to natural disasters and we're making reforms that will improve our response to future emergencies.

With help from Congress, we've committed $110 billion to the recovery effort and we're playing a vital role in helping people clear debris, repair and rebuild their homes, reopen their businesses and schools and put their lives back together.

The federal government will continue to do its part. Yet a reborn Gulf Coast must reflect the needs, the vision and the aspirations of the people of Mississippi and Louisiana. And their sate and local officials have a responsibility to help set priorities and make tough decisions so people can plan their futures with confidence.

One year after the storms, the Gulf Coast continues down the long road to recovery. In Mississippi and Louisiana, we can see many encouraging signs of recovery and renewal, and many reminders that hard work still lies ahead. This work will require the sustained commitment of our government, the generosity and compassion of the American people and the talent and vision of people determined to restore their homes, neighborhoods and cities.

We will stay until the job is done and by working together, we will help our fellow citizens along the Gulf Coast write a new future of hope and justice and opportunity for all.

Thank you for listening.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

QUIJANO: So, there you have President Bush nearly a year after the White House and the president were roundly criticized for the sluggish federal response to Hurricane Katrina essentially previewing the message that he will bring with him when he travels to the Gulf Coast Region.

You heard him mention there he will be visiting on Monday and Tuesday, Mississippi and Louisiana, and really the overall broad theme not only that he has not forgotten, that he continues to remember the people who were affected by Hurricane Katrina, but also that the federal government has, in fact, taken steps to ensure that next time there is a hurricane, the government will be better prepared -- Betty.

NGUYEN: CNN's Elaine Quijano.

Thank you for that, Elaine.

And next hour, Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu delivers the Democratic radio response. And CNN will bring that to you live, as well.

HARRIS: And stay with CNN next week, as we take you back to the scene of all the devastation, all the destruction. Hear stories from the people affected and see how their lives changed.

"Katrina: One Year Later" -- live, extensive coverage begins on Monday.

NGUYEN: Well, Tony, a battle is brewing over the evidence in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case.

We will have a live report from Boulder in five minutes.

HARRIS: And later, Illinois Senator Barack Obama pays an emotional visit to his ancestral home in Kenya.

Our Jeff Koinange is there and he'll have a live report in 20 minutes.

You're watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Now in the news, we are closely watching Tropical Storm Ernesto.

Take a look at this latest track of the storm.

Bonnie Schneider is following it, as well, from the CNN Weather Center -- and, Bonnie, as you look at this path right now, first of all, where are the wind speeds now?

SCHNEIDER: Right now the maximum winds are at 50 miles per hour. And Ernesto definitely has strengthened since last night and since early this morning. We've been tracking this since 2:00 a.m.

And you can see that right now the maximum winds, 50 miles per hour. What's also interesting to note is that the pressure has dropped to 997 millibars. That's down a couple of millibars from the 5:00 a.m. advisory.

The track takes the storm steadily to the north-northwest and eventually intensifies it to hurricane status, as early as Monday. We may even see that by Sunday night. A lot of the ingredients to get this storm going are in place and depending on how fast it moves -- how slow it moves -- we'll be watching to see whether or not it does intensify.

But right now our computer models are pointing it in that direction of intensification and strength, growing to a category one and then possibly a category two hurricane as early as Tuesday -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right, Bonnie.

Hey, let me ask you a quick question, if I could, Bonnie.

You talk about the pressure and the millibars.

Explain to us exactly what the means and how it affects the path of this storm.

SCHNEIDER: Well, we were talking a lot about that last year during the busy hurricane season that we had.

When a storm center has such a low number here, it usually means that the storm is intensifying and the pressure is deepening in the storm's center. And when you're talking about wind getting created, there's usually a difference in pressure, a pressure gradient that creates the wind. So the lower the pressure in the center of the storm, that contrasts with the pressure around the storm. And when we see that contrast, we see the storm growing, getting stronger and the winds intensifying, as well.

NGUYEN: Understand.

Thank you, Bonnie.

Appreciate that.

Now in the news, U.S. military officials say two coalition soldiers were killed in new clashes in Afghanistan. The soldiers died in a roadside bombing while on combat patrol. Now, the military says that attack triggered a battle with insurgents.

Israel is reportedly encouraging some Muslim countries to send peacekeepers to Southern Lebanon. That's being reported this morning by the Associated Press. Europe will be sending nearly 7,000 troops, but Europe and the U.N. say the peacekeeping force must have a strong Muslim component to be credible.

Israel objects to troops from Muslim countries that do not recognize the Jewish state.

HARRIS: An Israeli raid turns deadly in the West Bank. Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen traded heavy fire -- listen to this.

This was during a standoff at a fugitive's hideout in Nablus. Doctors say a 16-year-old Palestinian was killed and 20 Palestinians were wounded.

Seven different security scares on airplanes across the country yesterday. One major incident, a partial stick of dynamite found in a college student's checked luggage. Dogs sniffed it out during a stop in Houston. He says he bought it as a souvenir from an abandoned Bolivian mine. The student could face federal charges.

NGUYEN: Well, pop singer Michael Jackson wasn't at his Neverland Ranch when a wildfire burned within a quarter mile of the main house. You can see some of the pictures now. Fire crews contained that wildfire, but not before it burned about 40 acres. None of Jackson's animals was injured. The cause of this fire? Well, that's still being investigated.

We do run-down the top stories every 15 minutes right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, with in-depth coverage all morning long.

Your next check of the headlines coming up at 10:30 Eastern.

HARRIS: DNA and a handwriting sample -- the fight for evidence in the JonBenet Ramsey case is already beginning and no charges have been filed yet.

Christopher King is following developments in the case from Boulder, Colorado for us this morning -- Christopher, good morning.

CHRISTOPHER KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony.

John Mark Karr is spending the weekend in isolation at the Boulder County Jail.

On Monday, he'll go before a judge here at the Boulder County Justice Center.

Now, no formal charges have been filed against John Mark Karr. But he does face a number of charges, including murder, kidnapping and sexual assault.

we spoke with his lawyer, Seth Temin, the public defender.

Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SETH TEMIN, KARR'S ATTORNEY: How he's doing? How is anyone in jail doing? It's a very difficult place to be. It's very challenging. There's a lot of pressures on him, like there are on many, many inmates that are in the jail.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Now, yesterday Temin filed a number of motions, one of which included a request that a gag order be placed on attorneys and law enforcement personnel involved in the case.

Now, Judge Roxanne Bailin agreed, saying that anybody who is involved in the case speaking out could result in an unfair trial. Temin had also asked that a hearing be held before any DNA evidence is taken from Karr. And he also requested that access to Karr be limited only to his defense team. Now, another request dealt with handwriting. Now, Temin wants the judge to seal a request written by hand, by John Mark Karr, that he be represented by a public defender. Temin is concerned that that note can be compared to the handwritten ransom note left at the Ramsey home back in 1996 -- Tony.

HARRIS: Christopher King following developments in the John Mark Karr -- JonBenet Ramsey case from Boulder, Colorado for us.

Christopher, thanks.

NGUYEN: All right, talk about putting your work experiences to good use. A new novel offers a virtual behind the scenes tour of global politics and powerful world leaders. And the author? Well, he ought to know something about it.

HARRIS: Hey, we know him.

NGUYEN: Yes. Former Defense Secretary William Cohen, he's going to join us live in 20 minutes.

HARRIS: And, Betty, it may be easy for me to say Mahmoud Ahmadinejad...

NGUYEN: Very nice. You're good at that.

HARRIS: Well, I'm ...

(CROSSTALK)

NGUYEN: You've practiced a little, haven't you?

HARRIS: I'm a professional.

But as Jeanne Moos finds out, it's an international tongue twister, for sure.

CNN SATURDAY MORNING continues in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, this just in out of Iraq. A kidnapped Sunni lawmaker has been released today after being held for nearly two months. This lawmaker and seven of her beginnings were kidnapped July 1st by gunmen in a Shiite area east of Baghdad. Now, no one claimed responsibility for this kidnapping, but officials announced that her abduction and a group alleging to hold her demanded the release of Shiite detainees. And that appeared to confirm Sunni suspicions that she was taken by a Shiite militia.

But the news today being that this Sunni lawmaker, who as kidnapped for nearly two months, has been released today. We are going to get more information and we will go live to Baghdad to get the latest on this. Just as soon as we get that in, we will bring it to you.

HARRIS: You know, I meant a moment ago to remind everyone at home that the next update on Tropical Storm...

NGUYEN: A hurricane.

HARRIS: ... Ernesto is scheduled for, what? At 11:00 a.m. this morning Eastern time.

In the meantime, Bonnie Schneider is following the storm right now.

NGUYEN: Right.

HARRIS: Bonnie, what's the latest?

SCHNEIDER: Well, that will be very interesting once we get that advisory in, because we'll get an updated forecast track, as well. That's considered a significant advisory at 11:00.

But in the meantime, we can show you the latest satellite imagery. Right now, maximum winds with Ernesto are at 50 miles per hour. So this is a strong tropical storm that's fairly large in size. The tropical storm force winds extend outward of 115 miles.

And we'll have an update track for you in less than 30 minutes.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: And, again, the National Hurricane Center will release that new report at 11:00 a.m. just a little over 30 minutes from now.

And we will bring that to you.

HARRIS: OK. A sentimental journey for a U.S. senator. We will take you to Africa and talk to our very own Jeff Koinange, who is traveling with Illinois Senator Barack Obama. That story coming up.

But let's check in now with Brenda to see what she's working on from the International Desk -- Brenda.

BRENDA BERNARD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A peace deal to end one of Africa's longest running conflicts.

I'll have the details in Going Global, coming up on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: This just in. We're continuing to follow this story. A kidnapped Sunni lawmaker has been released today in Iraq after being held for two months. Now, this lawmaker and seven of her bodyguards were taken on July 1st by gunmen in a Shiite area in East Baghdad.

But we are learning today that she has been released.

We're going to be speaking shortly with CNN's Michael Ware, who is in Baghdad with an update on this release today and all the information that comes with that. So stay tuned for that. HARRIS: And good morning again, everyone.

Forecasters are keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Ernesto this morning. We're expecting the next update, the latest news, from the National Hurricane Center in Miami, oh, in about a half an hour's time.

But in the meantime, Bonnie Schneider joins us now from the CNN hurricane headquarters -- Bonnie.

SCHNEIDER: Tony, this is what we call here at the CNN Weather Center, informally, the spaghetti map. It's a map of all the different computer models showing you the direction where Ernesto may go over the course of the next three to four days.

Fifteen different models showing you generally a west- northwesterly movement. But will it interact with the Yucatan and weaken? Or will it head for the warm, deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico?

We'll be tracking Ernesto throughout the day and certainly as we get the next advisory, we'll bring that to you live -- Tony.

HARRIS: Thank you.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

NGUYEN: Well, now in the news, defiant Iran. Tehran says President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad officially opened a heavy water production plant today. Heavy water can be used in preparing uranium for nuclear weapons. But Iran says the plant will be used for peaceful purposes.

This move comes just days before a U.N. Security Council deadline for Iran to stop uranium enrichment.

HARRIS: One of a half dozen airline security scares Friday occurred in Houston. A search found a partial stick of dynamite in a college student's checked luggage. He says he bought it as a souvenir from an abandoned Bolivian mine. He could face federal charges.

From Dover, Delaware, a leak at a Dow Chemical plant sent almost two dozen people to the hospital. They were treated for headaches and nausea and released. Residents within five miles of the plant were warned to stay indoors, turn off the air conditioning and close the windows.

NGUYEN: Pop singer Michael Jackson wasn't home when a wildfire swept through his Neverland Ranch in California. Crews controlled the fire late yesterday, but not before it blackened 40 acres. Officials say the ranch's amusement park rides were within the burned area, but no structures caught fire.

We do run down the top stories every 15 minutes right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING with in-depth coverage all morning long. Your next check of the headlines coming up at 10:45 Eastern.

Sources in Gaza report encouraging signs in efforts to free those two Fox News journalists kidnapped last week in Gaza City. The Palestinian interior minister says there are no direct talks, but some third parties may be getting involved. \

CNN's Chris Lawrence joins us now from Jerusalem. I don't know, third parties, does that include the Reverend Jesse Jackson, perhaps?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Haven't heard his name talked about just yet Betty. We have no word that he's actually in this area. But I think what they're talking about is the fact that the Hamas government is not directly dealing with this Holy Jihad Brigades, the kidnappers, but they're using other sources within Gaza to facilitate some sort of communication.

We're five hours past the deadline now, the kidnappers' self- imposed deadline. And the word we're getting out of Gaza is that both men are healthy and have not been harmed. In fact, a spokesman for the Hamas government says he expects a good resolution to this kidnapping in the next two days.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE (voice-over): Authorities now have a videotaped and written statement from the kidnappers hoping they can help in the intense search for two journalists.

STEVE CENTANNI, FOX NEWS CORRESPONDENT: I ask you to do anything you can to try to help us get out of here.

LAWRENCE: Before Wednesday no one had heard of the group that claims responsibility. The Holy Jihad Brigades is not one of the main militant groups in Gaza. They pull verses from the Koran, but make no explicit threat to harm their hostages. The group has promised to free them the journalists if Muslim prisoners are released from American jails by Saturday.

JACOB WALLES, AMERICAN CONSUL GENERAL: ... concessions to kidnappers. We don't intend to do that.

LAWRENCE: The American consulate general told me additional help is on the way from Washington.

WALLES: People who have experience in hostage situations and they're going to be coming out here in the next couple days to support what we're doing here in the consulate.

LAWRENCE: By August 14th, most journalists had rushed north to cover Israel's war with Hezbollah. Fox News correspondent Steve Centanni goes west into Gaza with cameraman Olaf Wiig. Gaza is a small strip of land with 10,000 people per square mile.

Centanni and Wiig are in a supposedly safe area when witnesses say they're cut off by two trucks. A masked man puts a gun to their bodyguard's head. The journalists are dragged from the van and driven away. Palestinian officials immediately condemn the kidnapping. Olaf Wiig's wife begs for their release.

ANITA MCNAUGHT, OLAF WIIG'S WIFE: They are good men and they should be allowed to come home. Please let them come home. Please.

LAWRENCE: In the past two years, 26 foreigners have been kidnapped in Gaza. All have been released unharmed, most within hours. This time, no contact, no demands until the tenth day of captivity.

CENTANNI: I love you all. Please don't worry. I'll do all the worrying for us.

LAWRENCE: Olaf Wiig's wife can't help but worry. On Thursday she met with Palestinian officials in Gaza to take the message of her own to the kidnappers.

MCNAUGHT: And we trust that you will continue to care for them until their release.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE: There's some speculation that this group Holy Jihad Brigades is actually a faction of one of the larger political groups in Gaza, but that they are operating independently outside the command structure of the parent organization. Betty.

NGUYEN: All right, CNN's Chris Lawrence joining us live. Thank you, Chris.

HARRIS: Illinois Senator Barack Obama is in Kenya today, his ancestral home. He's visiting with family and dignitaries, but he's also there to help increase awareness of the AIDS epidemic. Our Jeff Koinange is following Obama's trip to Kenya. He joins us on the phone with more and Jeff, good to talk to you my friend. First of all, give us an update on where the senator is right now.

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT: Tony, literally moments ago the senator left his grandmother's house. As you know, this was supposed to be one of the highlights of the trip, coming back home for what people consider home, for the first time in 14 years, coming back as senator, a huge homecoming all day long.

Tens of thousands of people wherever he went because the word had been out Tony, for the past six months that Senator Barack Obama was coming back. They named schools after him. They named all kinds of institutions out there and now he came to meet his grandmother for the first time and there was a tearful sight. There wasn't a dry eye there. They were dancing. They were talking, because she doesn't speak English.

He doesn't speak the local language, but they communicated because they're family. Right now he leaves, goes back to Nairobi. He spends a couple of days onto Darfur -- onto Chad, rather, and then to Djibouti. So he has a tight, tight schedule, but the Kenya part, definitely a highlight Tony. HARRIS: Jeff, I have to ask. We're starting to hear some rumblings in the press now that too much is being made of this trip. Talk about the significance, first of all, of Barack Obama taking an AIDS test.

KOINANGE: I tell you, Tony, unbelievable sight, in front of literally tens of thousands of locals who were cheering him on. Before he took the test he looked at them and he said, look, if someone can come all the way from the United States and take an AIDS test that takes 20 minutes to get a result, why can't you? You have no choice. The senator and his wife both took a test. They sat there. They were counseled for like 20 minutes, came back out, addressed the crowd.

I'm telling you, they went crazy. But the message, Tony, the message was so powerful because so many Kenyan men, African men are so afraid to go and have an AIDS test. This one person showed that you can just walk into a center, get it done, move on. He did say if the result had been positive, he would have known where to go from there and that's the bottom line. You're not going to die from the disease. You can live longer if you get the right advice, right counseling, Tony.

HARRIS: I tell you what, everybody is talking about Barack Obama being treated like a rock star. I suggest to you that it is Jeff Koinange. Let me tell you something. There is Barack Obama today and yesterday, he was with Oprah. You are...

(CROSSTALK)

HARRIS: You are the man.

KOINANGE: Tony, I'll tell you what, I'll tell you real quick, if you've done the stories I'm used to doing as you well know, if I can get a couple of really good news stories out of Africa, hey, I will take them out there.

HARRIS: All right, Jeff, good to talk to you, my friend. Take care of yourself.

NGUYEN: Well, we do want to stay now overseas because it is time to go global.

HARRIS: Our Brenda Bernard joins us from the international desk. Brenda, good morning.

BERNARD: Good morning, Tony. I've got a bit from Africa, Asia and Europe for you. First, a peace deal in Uganda. Officials say the government has signed a truce with the Lord's Resistance Army. That group is known for abducting thousands of children and forcing them to become fighters, servants or sex slaves. It's one of Africa's longest wars, lasting 19 years. The government says today's peace agreement will take affect on Tuesday.

Aid is finally getting to residents in Sri Lanka. The International Red Cross is evacuating foreigners and distributing aid to people on the northern Jaffna peninsula. This comes after two weeks of heavy fighting between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels. Officials say the fighting has left more than 200,000 people displaced and half a million more cut off from essential supplies.

And just when you think you've heard it all, there's this. British farmers say their cows moo with an accent, Tony. Cows from one region of the country moo differently from herds in another region and phonetics experts say the idea isn't that farfetched. One explanation offered is that it's a result of the animals spending time with farmers who have different accents.

HARRIS: All right, I guess that's one explanation. You need at least one, right?

BERNARD: I guess. Whatever works.

NGUYEN: Cows with accents. I've heard it all.

BERNARD: I know.

NGUYEN: Power struggles, fear of attack. We're going to be talking about that, but look at this. Bonnie Schneider is here. She's got the latest on this tropical storm that maybe might turn into a hurricane. Hi, Bonnie.

SCHNEIDER: It's certainly looking that way Betty. Right now this is the latest advisory just came in from the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Not too much has changed, but an important note to make, actually two of them. A hurricane watch is now in effect for Jamaica and the Cayman Islands because the National Hurricane Center is expecting Ernesto to gain strength and actually become a hurricane within the next 48 hours.

Let's kind of some of the other updates. Right now maximum winds are still at 50 miles per hour. The storm's center is now 250 miles to the south southwest of Santa Domingo and the movement has slowed down We've been watching it slow down little by little since 2:00 this morning. Right now the movement is to the west/northwest at 14 miles per hour.

This slower movement is very significant because as this storm slows down, these strong upper level winds that have been working their way across the northern Caribbean are likely to weaken and lessen and as that happens, with less of an upper level wind sheer, the storm is likely to intensify. Not only that, but it's working its way across the warm waters of the Yucatan channel by Tuesday.

So here's the latest forecast for you, the latest track of tropical storm Ernesto, likely to become a hurricane, a category one as early as Monday morning or possibly even by Sunday night and then eventually strengthening possibly to a category two.

Now know, this forecast is subject to change as we work our way day by day. You see that cone of uncertainty pretty wide, as we extend further off to the future, but we'll keep you up to date here on CNN. Once again, tropical storm Ernesto, maximum winds at 50 miles per hour, still gaining strength in the Caribbean. Stay tuned. We'll have another check of your top stories coming up.

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HARRIS: And we are just learning that a Sunni lawmaker has been released by her captors nearly two months after she was kidnapped with her seven bodyguards. Michael Ware is with us from Baghdad. Michael, we're not used to these situations ending this well. Give us the update, the latest information that you have, sir.

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Sunni member of parliament Tayseer al-Mashhadani was kidnapped almost two months ago, sparking an uproar within the Iraqi parliament with Sunni members of the house threatening to boycott the proceedings and to withdraw from the cabinet has just been released according to government officials and Iraqi state television.

This is a very interesting development here in Iraq. Mashhadani, one of the few women in parliament and also a Sunni representing the minority Sunni block. Remember, of course, the main stay of the insurgency is Sunni, so she was seen to be as part of their voice in parliament.

Now, when she was abducted on the first of July, according to reports at the time, it was in an area controlled by one of the rival Shia militias which are imbedded within the government. You need to understand that here in Iraq, here in Baghdad, every suburb, every district is divided up. The currency of politics is still found at the end of the barrel of a gun.

So each suburb is controlled. The Sunni politicians claim that because she was intercepted in that area, allegedly by men in government uniforms, they claimed that a militia within the government or allied to the government was involved. However, we now see that today as the reconciliation process pushed by the Americans and supported by the prime minister, al-Maliki began, she has suddenly been released. Tony?

HARRIS: CNN's Michael Ware for us in Baghdad. Michael, thank you.

NGUYEN: Talking about power struggles, fear of attack, political bickering. Sounds more like fact than fiction, especially when you hear who wrote it. Meet the man behind the new novel called "Dragon Fire." That happens just after this break. You're watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING:

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NGUYEN: Using a fictional tale to expose a real threat, former Defense Secretary William Cohen is drawing on his extensive experience inside the halls of government in his latest novel "Dragon Fire." The plot involved a Russian mob boss, a rogue Chinese general and terrorists attacking American interests. The dashing hero, well, a secretary of defense who once served as a U.S. senator. Sound familiar? Oh, yes it does. Here's one of those guys right now. Joining me is William Cohen from Washington. Thanks for being with us today.

WILLIAM COHEN, FMR. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Great to be with you, Betty.

NGUYEN: Your book, very interesting. It is fiction. Before we get to that, let's talk some facts. First of all, let's talk about Iran. This deadline is looming. The U.N. has said Iran, you need to stop enriching uranium or you could face sanctions. That deadline next week, but today we hear that the president of Iran has opened a new heavy water plant. If sanctions do come to pass, is that enough or is this going to take military action?

COHEN: First of all, the sanctions would be an important step for the U.N. to take. Frankly, I'm not optimistic that the Security Council will back up its words with deeds in this particular case, serious economic sanctions to be imposed upon Iran for not accepting the offer that's been put before them. And this in my judgment only breeds contempt for these resolutions much as passing laws and not enforcing them breeds contempt for the rule of law. There is a great deal at stake here for the U.N. as well as the rest of the world.

NGUYEN: There is a great deal at stake. Also in Iraq, let's shift to that area quickly because statistics show about 100 Iraqis die each day. If you were secretary of defense right now, what's the solution to this? Would you send more troops?

COHEN: Well, there are more troops going on a temporary basis. I think we have to provide relief for the troops that are there. These young men and women of ours are making extraordinary sacrifices because they're very thinly stretched in that region and elsewhere and so relief is being provided. Some short-term boosts may be necessary, but I think ultimately the goal is to reduce our presence there and hopefully transfer the authority and responsibility over to the Iraqi military.

It's going to take some time. But I think the emphasis ought to be on expediting their training as well as the police force being trained up. That's not going to happen quickly, but hopefully some improvement in a very short period of time.

NGUYEN: A lot of problems obviously. You've been watching this. You say it's going to take a lot of time. In the meantime let me ask you, how do you think your successor is doing? How do you rate Rumsfeld?

COHEN: I've never been involved in fault finding and I've tried to find fault lines in our system and I think what we've tried to do identify the things that we need to do and haven't done. But I would never be in a position or want to be in a position of trying to grade either a predecessor or a successor and I certainly wouldn't do so here.

NGUYEN: Understandable, but you know I had to ask the question. So, let's talk about your book shall we. "Dragon Fire" is the name of it. You've studied national defense for what, 30 years in public office. Why write a fiction novel? You know so much when it comes to the facts of these matters.

COHEN: There are literally thousands of books that are written each year on terrorism, international power struggles. What I tried to do is to combine my 31 years of public service, most of it devoted to the study of military issues and intelligence issues, as well as being secretary of defense and to help illuminate a number of serious issues and to do so in a format that's entertaining so that I might reach a broader audience that otherwise might dismiss a nonfiction book. So it was really an effort to reach a much broader audience that otherwise I might be able to do.

NGUYEN: Well, how does this book -- you have said that it opens the doors for planning ahead and protecting American interests, especially here at home. So what does this do? What kind of clues does it provide? What kind of lessons can we learn from this fiction novel?

COHEN: The first lesson we have to learn is to not be complacent, that there are real enemies in the world who mean to inflict serious harm upon the United States and we shouldn't slide into a state of complacency. I think there was a rallying around the country, the flag, so to speak, after 9/11 that we were all in this together. I think since that time, only a few people are in this together, and that is our military men and women who are over there fighting and dying for us.

I think what we have to come back to is a sense of national service, a commitment to something greater than our individual selves and hopefully once the elections are over, I see very little opportunity before that, but once the elections are over, I am hopeful that we can put aside a Democratic national security policy or a Republican national security policy, have an American national security policy.

NGUYEN: You talk about coming together. But in your book, it deals a lot with that power struggle, people playing for the same team, yet because of their own political ideas and how they think solutions should be made, they don't seem to always come to that one end as a team.

COHEN: There is the human factor involved whether you're looking at any large corporate organization, any sort of institution, including our political institutions. You're bound to have tensions that exist, competition. You've got strong-willed and strong-minded people who are heading up these various agencies and departments.

There's bound to be some ego clashing, some turf protection. That takes place in any organization. It's no different for the Pentagon or Capitol Hill or virtually any institution in this country. What I tried to do is to show how it takes place and the kind of dynamics and interpersonal relationships that occur on a daily basis.

NGUYEN: And it's no coincidence that the security of defense in this novel is the hero here.

COHEN: Well, the second secretary of defense, because the first one is assassinated through an anthrax attack and that's something of course that I try to deal with as secretary of defense and that is alerting the American people about the danger posed by large volumes of anthrax being in existence.

NGUYEN: All right, William Cohen, we appreciate your time today, very fascinating book. Thank you so much.

COHEN: Glad you liked it Betty, thank you.

NGUYEN: Stick around. Bonnie Schneider is in our hurricane headquarters. We'll the latest on tropical storm Ernesto in just a moment.

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HARRIS: Straight to Bonnie Schneider now. Bonnie, where are we now at the moment with Ernesto?

SCHNEIDER: Right now we are just getting in the 11:00 advisory that says Ernesto hasn't strengthened since 5:00 this morning, but the storm has slowed down. Right now the movement is to the west/northwest at 14 miles per hour, so that is slower than where it was earlier. Right now the center of the storm is 250 miles to the south/southwest of Santa Domingo in the Dominican Republic and it's still fairly large and fairly powerful.

It looks like the track is going to take the storm to hurricane strength as early as Sunday night or even Monday. We're tracking it for you here at CNN. And coming up in just a few minutes, I'm going to talk to someone from the National Hurricane Center in Miami to get more details about where this storm is headed.

HARRIS: Good, good, good, OK, Bonnie. Thank you.

NGUYEN: Next hour, what began as a lark turned into a video diary of Katrina's devastation along the Gulf coast.

HARRIS: Justin Pierce joins us to share his dramatic pictures. Stay with CNN, the most trusted name in news.

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