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CNN Saturday Morning News
NATO Helicopter Crashes in Afghanistan; East Coast Still Feeling the Affects of Tropical Storm Ernesto; 16 Men Arrested in London as Terror Suspects
Aired September 02, 2006 - 11:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: U.N. Chief Kofi Annan is in Tehran today for talks on Iran's nuclear program. Iran ignored a U.N. deadline this week to suspend uranium enrichment. The U.S. and other U.N. powers meet Thursday in Berlin, they're going to discuss the next move in a stalemate that could bring sanctions.
Looking thin but flashy in red pajamas, Fidel Castro welcoming the Venezuelan president back to his bedside, this clip is designed to try and show that Castro is recovering from intestinal surgery. Castro turned over power to his brother Raul when it was revealed that he was sick in late July.
The Atlantis astronauts returned to the Kennedy Space Center last hour. NASA has rescheduled the space shuttle liftoff for Wednesday. Ernesto interrupted last week's launch. Crews say they found no damage to Atlantis from the tropical storm.
We run down the top stories every 15 minutes here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, with an in-depth coverage all morning long. Your next check of the headlines is coming up at 11:45.
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: To the Mideast now, Italian troops came ashore, some helicoptered into southern Lebanon today. It is the first wave of 3,000 Italians. They'll help keep peace between Israel and Hezbollah. Our Paula Newton on the scene near the city of Tyre.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well behind me the advance team from the Italian contingent is trying to see whether or not they can bring more soldiers on board through land. But it's been a very difficult day here as the surf's up and they've been unable to really do it in that kind of a manner. So instead it's a slow and steady progress of machinery, heavy machinery and weaponry being brought into a nearby port and the rest of the soldiers are being brought on by helicopter. What they will do now is in a convoy they will go to what they will call their base which is a few kilometers inside southern Lebanon, they will set up that base of operations and hopefully be out doing their patrols hopefully by the end of the week. They will be joined by thousands of other European troops, most notably the French contingent will be up to 2,000 troops. The United Nations is hoping that this really lends some substance and some teeth to the cease-fire. They're really hoping that at this point with such a strong European contingent on the ground that this cease-fire will hold and Lebanon can begin to rebuild. Certainly though, as one U.N. official told me, this is not about disarming Hezbollah.
JEAN MARC GARNEAU, U.N. OFFICIAL: Well, disarmament is always more effective when it's the result of a political process. When you just try to take weapons away from people by force, most of the time the experience in peacekeeping is that it doesn't work. It has to be part of a political process. That being said, the rules of engagement of UNIFIL are going to be very robust rules and the kind of challenge, sometimes humiliation that UNIFIL had to endure because it had neither the capacity nor the mandate in the previous period, that's coming to an end.
NEWTON: You know he talks about humiliation, that's all about having what was previously a UNIFIL force of 2,000 troops which they didn't even have the equipment, the soldiers or the mandate to really intervene in those border skirmishes, the U.N. is hoping to turn a page with UNIFIL here and make it the credible force that it needs to be to make sure that peace can return to southern Lebanon. At issue now is how they will coordinate those activities with the Lebanese army. They will be in talks next week to see if they can set up some kind of a joint command structure. What is most crucial here is that they exchange information on a real time basis so that if they do see any activity that can lead to hostilities that they're able to prevent it or at least intervene. Paula Newton, CNN, in Tyre, Southern Lebanon.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Meanwhile there seems to be no end in sight to the bloodshed in Iraq. Over the last 24 hours or so, more than two dozen deaths are reported. In one incident, insurgents shot and killed at least 14 pilgrims from India and Pakistan who were traveling to the holy Shiite city of Karbala. The attack happened near Ramadi.
Despite the ongoing violence in Iraq, President Bush says the country has not descended into civil war. This weekend Mr. Bush continues his push to boost public support for the war in Iraq. He had this to say in his weekly radio address.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
BUSH: Our commanders and diplomats on the ground believe that Iraq has not descended into a civil war. They report that only a small number of Iraqis are engaged in sectarian violence while the overwhelming majority want peace and a normal life in a unified country. America will stand with the Iraqi people as they protect their new freedom and build a democracy that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself.
(END OF AUDIO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Democrats meanwhile accuse Mr. Bush of offering up public relations campaigns instead of sound policies on Iraq. Let's go back over to Randi.
KAYE: Thanks Rick. Push the positive that is the focus of a new move by U.S. military commanders in Iraq. They say media reports about the ongoing war are not giving Americans the true picture of what's happening on the ground. The story from CNN's Brian Todd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: U.S. military commanders in Iraq seem more fed up than ever that the mainstream media is reporting mostly what they believe are negative stories on the war.
LT. COL. BARRY JOHNSON, DIR., COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ: You know that bombs and deaths and the tools of our enemies tend to make the news more quickly than the things that we're doing to reinforce democracy and the progress that our troops are making each day and decreasing the violence which is less likely to make it on the news.
TODD: Now for two years and up to $20 million, U.S. military commanders in Iraq plan to hire a civilian PR firm to keep a close eye on news reports on the war. On a new contract document, CNN tops the list of so-called western news sources along with the pentagon channel and so-called pan Arabic news outlets like Al Arabiya. But the firm won't just monitor the news, it will also brief commanders on their public messages, draft ideas for newspaper columns and news conferences. The goal, to send what they believe is a more positive message on the war. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in his own editorial this week writes-the war on terror -- to a great extent, will be fought in the media on a global stage. Analysts believe insurgents in Iraq have already mastered that.
ROBERT MALLEY, INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP: If they're going to go on a sniper attack or an IED attack, they send journalists, a media team to tape it, to record it, to have commentary and then it is posted on the website.
TODD: Is the new coalition effort propaganda?
JONATHAN ALTERMAN, CTR. STRATEGIC & INTL. STUDIES: To the extent we're trying to do the sort of audience research that people in media do all the time, that's useful. But to the extent that we are trying to buy good news, Iraqis don't need more news about what we're doing because they look out the windows and they see what we're not doing.
TODD (on camera): The U.S. military has hired PR firms before for this kind of thing. Last November it was disclosed that the military had used one firm to plant articles written by American soldiers in Iraqi newspapers while hiding the sources of those articles. An internal investigation found that did not violate military policy. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Brian Todd is part of the team covering the world for "THE SITUATION ROOM." You can catch Wolf Blitzer weeknights in "THE SITUATION ROOM" that is at 7:00 eastern, 4:00 pacific.
Frank Schaeffer's son John did something unheard of in his upper middle class social circles. When he finished high school he joined the marines. Frank and his son wrote a book about that experience. Frank also co-authored AWOL, the unexcused absence of America's upper classes from military service and how it hurts our country. During World War II young men from all walks of life served together. Frank says young people and the country would actually benefit if that happened again today. Frank, good to see you, glad you're with us. Are you saying that we need a draft?
FRANK SCHAEFFER, AUTHOR, "BABY JACK": Yes I am. The thing is, since Vietnam, what happened was that the spirit of the student deferments has been carried forward into our own period of time. We're now in the situation where our elites and our upper classes leave it to the middle and lower middle class to do all the heavy lifting and there's something very wrong with that.
KAYE: What makes you believe that the poor and the underprivileged are actually shouldering the burden?
SCHAEFFER: Well, there's no mystery here. If you read the book AWOL you'll see that we have statistics and studies that show very clearly that the majority of recruits who go in as enlisted marine soldiers and so forth come from everywhere but the elite. I'll give you one example, in 1950 half the graduating class of the Ivy League schools on average went into military service, now less than half of one percent do.
KAYE: Won't there always though, whether we have a draft or not, won't there always be a way for the wealthy or the privileged to evade it?
SCHAEFFER: Well in 1917 that wasn't the case. Congress reinstituted the draft for the simple reason that they said that they need to even the playing field. Too many upper class people from the best schools were volunteering and as we say in AWOL, they gave the reason that they needed more people from the lower and middle class. But this whole issue actually rests on something else and that is America has become a very class ridden society. I've got a novel about to come out called "Baby Jack" and one line in this book sums it up, there's a father whose son becomes a marine and in "Baby Jack" he quits talking to him. And he says, "I cringed when my son said he wanted to be a marine. How could my son have become someone who after his exposure to the life within our home after he and I had been such friends, could even joke about joining this collection of victims. And the fact of the matter is, the son replies, "Is America worth defending? I think so. If that's right aren't we all somehow responsible." And we are.
So, when I talk about the draft in "Baby Jack" and in "AWOL," I'm not talking about going back to the Vietnam era with deferments, I'm talking about a draft that has a nonmilitary component where people can volunteer to do other things besides military service. But look, the gaps between those who do all the heavy lifting and everyone else is ridiculous. After 9/11 George Bush just told the American people to go shopping. And then the military people have to bear the burden. We have to close this gap somehow and as "Baby Jack" is about, it's a question of morality.
KAYE: The president though, he said to go shopping in order to keep the economy going, not go shopping instead of serve your country. But I want to mention this, this is what Donald Rumsfeld has said, our Secretary of Defense. He said that all this talk of a draft is just scaring people and there never has been even a whisper of the word draft in the oval office. How do you feel about that? Do you really think you can make this happen?
SCHAEFFER: I don't think it will happen in terms of the Iraq war but I think when you have one group of Americans concentrating on building 30,000 square foot homes and another group out in Iraq doing the heavy lifting for us, it has nothing to do with whether you approve of the war or voted for George Bush. The military belongs to all Americans and we have to reinvest ourself in that reality. And what "Baby Jack" is about is a kind of a metaphor for the divide between the upper classes represented by this father and everybody else and he's so shocked when his son joins the Marine Corps that he quits speaking to him. And they can't reconcile and the kid is killed. And how do you put that back together? In our period of history now, we have to figure out, how do we become one country again in a pre-political way that has nothing to do with who you vote for and national service with a nonmilitary component can be part of that.
KAYE: All right. Frank Schaeffer, we're going to have to leave it there. Thanks for your time this morning. We appreciate your passion.
SCHAEFFER: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Interesting discussion. Also, this you might find interesting, a little bit different. This is a grandma with some gumption.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was right back there and I said what are you doing? Why did you do it, why did you do it?
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: The advice this spunky granny gave the guy who stole or tried to steal her purse.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fashion has inspired Kimora Lee Simmons since she started modeling at 13. As lead fashion designer for "Baby Phat" she has taken the company from simple t-shirts to a glammed out teen line. And she plans to roll out a home collection this fall.
KIMORA LEE SIMMONS, CEO & CREATIVE DIRECTOR, BABY PHAT FASHIONS: A good business leader I think is someone that knows what they want and what they need and can effectively bring others into that process of getting it done and accomplishing your overall goals.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Earlier this year, Simmons released her first book, "Fabulousity," which emphasizes boosting self-esteem and not letting hostility from others get the best of you. (END OF VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Stormy skies causing problems like this all over the Atlantic coast and pacific coast for that matter in North America. Here's what we know right now, the remnants of tropical storm Ernesto slowly moving into the north after dumping torrential rain on several mid Atlantic states. Flooding now a serious concern in parts of North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. Now we take you to the other coast, this is Mexico's pacific coast. Pretty pictures but could be problematic. Hurricane John slammed into Baja, California just hours ago, after making landfall it has lost a lot of its punch. Major tourist resorts in the region were spared a direct hit after the storm wobbled just a bit before moving on.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAYE: CNN LIVE SATURDAY is coming up at the top of the hour and Fredricka Whitfield is here with a little bit of a preview for us.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: That's right, good to see you guys this morning. Have a lot straight ahead. Of course this week, the stunning capture of one of America's most wanted, Warren Jeffs. There he is right there. Well, this is a man, a religious leader, a polygamist who had thousands following him, what is it about leaders like him who can convince and cajole, in this case convincing minor girls to marry older men. We've got an expert who kind of gets in the minds of leaders like him, followers like him.
Also, a real difficult turn to make here in our dollars and deals segment. Kids and computers. Well kids seem to know the ins and outs of the computer, but it's the parents, right Rick, who end up footing the bill and trying to make the selection of the best kind of computer, whether it be a laptop or a desk top, for their kids as they get ready to go back to school. And here's a question for you. Is it smart to buy secondhand? We're going --
SANCHEZ: We did.
WHITFIELD: Did you?
SANCHEZ: That's what we did. Yeah.
WHITFIELD: OK. Well we're going to talk to an expert.
KAYE: And we should have you along, too.
WHITFIELD: To join our expert from Kiplinger's to talk about how you buy.
SANCHEZ: There's a place, I think it's called "Computer Renaissance" or something like that. That's what they do.
WHITFIELD: And you were happy with it?
SANCHEZ: So far.
WHITFIELD: So far so good, that's good.
SANCHEZ: So far.
WHITFIELD: All right, well all that straight ahead in the noon hour eastern.
KAYE: I think he just solved it for us. Thanks Fred.
WHITFIELD: I think so.
SANCHEZ: She relates to it more than I do. Anybody younger than me knows more than I do when it comes to computers.
KAYE: That is true.
SANCHEZ: It is.
KAYE: And his kids know it. It is time now to see what people are watching online and Veronica de la Cruz is standing by to tell us the most popular videos at cnn.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back. It is time now to see what people are watching online.
SANCHEZ: Veronica de la Cruz is joining us now with the most popular videos on cnn.com. Can't wait to see them.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well I was just trying to tell you about them moments ago.
KAYE: We could hear you because we weren't too far away.
DE LA CRUZ: Let's try again.
SANCHEZ: Now make it clear for the viewers. You had your microphone on, right?
DE LA CRUZ: I was on, and I checked.
SANCHEZ: So it was a technical deal?
DE LA CRUZ: Yeah and I wasn't in the bathroom right before, you know none of that.
KAYE: We don't know what you're talking about.
DE LA CRUZ: Let's move on. A couple of off beat stories to share with you guys this morning. We're going to go ahead and start in China where they have developed a new robot and dude, she looks a little like a lady. You're going to see her in two seconds. Her name is Miss Rong Chang and her designers say that she is equipped with cutting edge technology that allows her to speak two different dialects in Chinese and respond to human voices. Ms. Rong Chang will be employed at a museum as a receptionist and a tour guide. There she is. Her price tag is $37,500.
KAYE: She's dressed well.
DE LA CRUZ: Yeah, she looks pretty fancy. Her designers hope to sell more of these female robots next year to hotels and entertainment outlets. So Randi, we kind of want to watch our jobs there.
KAYE: Yeah, no kidding.
DE LA CRUZ: Ok, next story for all you dog lovers, listen up. Do you guys own dogs?
KAYE: Yes we do.
SANCHEZ: We have a Rottweiler.
KAYE: I have a Jack Russell.
DE LA CRUZ: Oh, too cute. Ok, next time you want to toss Fido a treat, forget those doggie biscuits, now you can take your Jack Russell Terrier out to dinner instead Randi. A restaurant in Seattle is taking doggie dining to a whole new level, you can dine with your pooch at the dinner table.
KAYE: Love it.
DE LA CRUZ: Yeah. Before you start that meal you can actually order cocktails. On that menu, Barkaritas and Chowtinis.
KAYE: Alcohol free of course?
DE LA CRUZ: Of course.
KAYE: They must be.
SANCHEZ: So is this a animal restaurant where people can eat or a people restaurant where animals can eat?
DE LA CRUZ: It's a doggie diner and they don't have food on the menu for you. But you can bring your own food or you can order take out. I guess it's against health regulation.
KAYE: That's so cute, I love that.
SANCHEZ: That's not cute, that's ridiculous.
KAYE: I love that. Would you actually do that and you wouldn't -
SANCHEZ: No, no, it's ridiculous.
DE LA CRUZ: I don't need to, my dog eats at home.
SANCHEZ: It's a dog, it's a dog! DE LA CRUZ: You spoil them.
SANCHEZ: No, it's a dog.
KAYE: Your dog is man's best friend, come on.
SANCHEZ: There are people in this world who don't have enough to eat, we're taking dogs to a place like this?
DE LA CRUZ: Yeah, I wouldn't take that at dinner either.
KAYE: We're out of time, we have to move on. Veronica, thank you very much. Rick?
SANCHEZ: 75-year-old Salt Lake spitfire didn't let the thief get the best of her. This is a story that we've been setting up for you. That's right, here's Keith McCord from our affiliate KSL.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEITH MCCORD, KSL: Whatever you do, do not make Betty Horton mad -- ever.
BETTY HORTON, CHASED PURSE SNATCHER: I asked my boss, I got a hot temper, but you know what? I get over it fast.
MCCORD: And by all means, don't steal her purse. On Wednesday afternoon she was putting groceries into her car when a guy about 5'10" in his late 30s grabbed her purse and started running.
HORTON: Well I just shoved this like this. Grabbed my keys, had my keys in my hand, like that, and I come around here and he was heading down that way. That guy, he's got my purse. Hey, somebody help me, help me. He's going over there. Now, call the police.
MCCORD: We asked Betty to explain step by step as to what happened that day. We told her she didn't have to actually run, but that didn't stop her. You were full out, right?
HORTON: You betcha, and I was huffing and puffing by the time I got around the corner, but I didn't care.
MCCORD: She opened the front door to this small store and asked if anyone had seen the man. Nobody had so Betty kept running. Then she saw an open gate down this alley.
HORTON: That opened, maybe he came back this way to hide.
MCCORD: A couple of kids over the fence motioned that the man was hiding around the corner of the building.
HORTON: He was right back there and I said what are you doing? Why did you do it, why did you do it, why did you do it?
MCCORD: The man didn't answer until Betty demand that he put the purse down. HORTON: If you don't and I get a hold of it, there's a gun in there, darn, I'm either going to take your ear off or I'm going to take your toe because you're not taking my purse away from me.
MCCORD: The man handed over her purse and the $3 that was in it. The man apologized and said he was having a tough time right now. Betty gave him the three bucks along with one last piece of advice.
HORTON: I said ok, get the hell out of here because the cops are going to be here any minute.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: You tell him Grandma. Boy, she took care of him, didn't she?
KAYE: She was huffing and puffing chasing that guy.
SANCHEZ: But kind enough to make sure he wasn't grabbed by the police.
KAYE: Yes, very nice woman. All right, Fredricka Whitfield is coming up next. Have a great morning.
SANCHEZ: Goodbye everybody.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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