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CNN Live Sunday

Political Book Readers Rarely Cross Party Lines; Formula One's First Middle Eastern Track To Open In Bahrain

Aired April 04, 2004 - 16:30   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.


CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR, CNN LIVE SUNDAY: Here's a check of the latest developments at this hour. A dispute over nuclear inspections has surfaced, in of all place, Brazil. A state department official tells CNN that the Brazilian government is refusing U.N. inspectors access to a uranium enrichment plant that is under construction near Rio DEBOLT: Janeiro. Brazil renounced its nuclear weapons program back in 1990.
And in Baghdad, four U.S. troops were killed today in an ambush in a Shiite neighborhood. At least 40 others were wounded. An armed group believed to be loyal to a radical Shiite cleric took over several police stations there. A coalition official says that the U.S. army has regained control of the police stations.

And in southern Iraq, in the town of Najaf, protests today by supporters of the same Shiite cleric turned deadly. Insurgents firing on a military post of mostly Spanish troops killed a Salvadoran soldier.

So just who are the insurgents apparently causing the trouble in Iraq and how serious is this resistance, let's talk to our expert Fawaz Gerges, he is a scholar at Sarah Lawrence College and the author of "Islamist and the West" he is joining us this afternoon from New York. Thanks for being with us.

FAWAZ GERGES, SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE: My pleasure.

CALLAWAY: We just had an incredible report from Jim Clancy on the activity that has been taking place in Iraq today. He is hearing most of this violence is being taken by protestors and supporters of the cleric Moqtada al-Sadr outsider. What are your thoughts on this group that's considered to be behind all these protests?

GERGES: I think what we need to understand, for our American audience, is that the protests by the supporters of the fiery young Shiite cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, I think inject a new alarming factor into the volatile Iraqi equation.

Why do I say that? I mean, so far the insurgency has been limited, as you know, to the so-called Sunni triangle. It is a strategic area hundreds of square miles in central Iraq, and most of the insurgents, so far, have been Sunni Iraqis as opposed to Shiite Iraqis. The Shiite Iraq represents about 60 percent of the population.

The protests in the last 24 hours by the followers and supporters of the Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr I think bring a new element into the equation and threaten to escalate the current conflict between the American forces and Iraqis.

And truly, by the way, if the Shiites or if some of the Shiites join the insurgency, I think the United States will likely face a major bloody confrontation on its hands in Iraq, and I doubt it very much.

We already have so much on our hands I don't think that the United States could really confront both the Sunni community and supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr at the same time.

CALLAWAY: It seems, at least according to Jim, that the handling of these assistants to the cleric is going to play heavily in what happens next. They have been arrested. What's to happen now?

GERGES: Well, I think what we need to understand, not just the way you handle, I suppose, the advancers and associates of Moqtada al- Sadr, let's remember, that the shutting down by the occupying authority of the newspaper, which is the newspaper of Moqtada al-Sadr, was, I think, a highly misguided decision.

Apart from the fact that we should pay attention to the question of freedom of speech and press, I think the decision itself to shut down the newspaper did not take into account the strategic realities in Iraq, you don't need to antagonize the Shiite community, whereby, the Sunni community is already in full arms against the U.S. forces.

So yes, you're absolutely correct. Not only I think we should rethink the decision to shut down the newspaper of Moqtada al-Sadr, we should be very careful of how you deal with the Shiite community, in particular, with the fiery young cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

CALLAWAY: Well we're running out of time here. So I want to get to some solutions if there are any. Is it a military solution? What is it a diplomatic solution? It's going to be very difficult for diplomacy when there are soft targets and Americans and Iraqi police being targeted by this group.

GERGES: I think this would be a very good question here. And remember, and lets remember despite the capture of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, despite the killings of his two sons, despite the killing of hundreds if not thousands of insurgents, the incarceration of thousands it of Iraqi, the insurgency continues. Attacks continue.

In fact, since the capture of Saddam Hussein as you know, a drumbeat of attacks have resulted in hundreds of American casualties and Iraqi casualties as well. As you know today, our casualties of American casualties reached the number 600. And this is why I don't believe personally that there is a military solution to the violent struggle unfolding in Iraq. And we need to think about political solutions. And here are three basic points.

CALLAWAY: Quickly, please. Because we've run out of time.

GERGES: Absolutely. Firstly, the United Nations must take charge of the Iraqi project. A multilateral force to replace the American forces. Secondly, I think Iraqis must be helped, not just by the United States, but also by the international community, the United Nations, Europe, Arab and Muslim states. And thirdly, the Sunni community must be fully integrated into the political scene, so that it doesn't provide more insurgents to fight American forces and the coalition forces as well.

CALLAWAY: Fawaz Gerges we have to leave it that. Thank you very much for coming in today and for your insights on the matter.

GERGES: My pleasure.

CALLAWAY: Israel's weekly cabinet meeting turned into a shouting match today. Israeli officials say hard-liners argued with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon over his so-called disengagement plan that includes some type of withdrawal from the Gaza strip and parts of West Bank.

The hard-liners oppose any withdrawal. And are threatening to pull of the government. Mr. Sharon says that plan isn't final. And if anyone wants to leave the cabinet, they can simply get up and go.

There may be talk of a partial Israeli withdrawal, but on the West Bank, Israeli checkpoints will likely remain. One activist, with a long family history in Israeli politics is keeping a very close eye on them. And CNN's Chris Burns talks to Checkpoint granny.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dalia Golomb arrives at the Howeta (ph) checkpoint outside Nablus. A Jewish grandmother from Tel Aviv, she is part of the Israeli group, checkpoint watch and she doesn't like what she sees. A man and a youth bound and blindfolded. Others wait behind barbed wire for permission to pass. Get lost. Get lost, the soldier tells the group.

DALIA GOLOMB, ISRAELI ACTIVIST: This is the kind of punishment they are here sometimes for us.

BURNS: Golomb asks for an explanation, especially about construction worker Muaz Nasser (ph), he cries out to the soldiers for water; handcuffs cutting into his wrists. The troops say he's on their list of militants.

Do you know he's a killer? The soldier asks.

BURNS: Golomb tries to get Israelis lawmakers to help free Nasser, or at least improve his treatment. Not clear if the phone call to officials helped, but Knaussor is at least taken from his dusty pen to jail. The other bound and blindfolded suspect, a student who's father asked Checkpoint Watch for help is freed.

GOLOMB: I think things like this.

BURNS: How often?

GOLOMB: Every day.

BURNS: Every day. And how do you feel when you see that?

GOLOMB: How do I feel? I am ashamed to be Israeli.

BURNS: Tough words from the niece of Moshe Sharett, Israel's second prime minister after David Benguria. Now on Israelis 20 shackle bill, and she is the daughter of Eliyahu Golomb, who founded the Jewish militia Haganah, precursor to the Israeli army.

Golomb says her father established the Haganah in the 1920s after a Turkish pasha ordered him beaten for refusing to work on the Jewish Sabbath and that he would be doing exactly what she's doing, because he knew what it was to be humiliated.

Hawata is among dozens of fixed checkpoints across the West Bank. Golomb says most are unnecessary harassment, except for those between Israel and the territories.

You don't accept the argument that they are trying to prevent militants from crossing and passing into Israel?

GOLOMB: I don't believe one word of it.

BURNS: But within days, troops at this same checkpoint found a boy pulling a bomb on his cart, and another with an explosive belt. Golomb remains undeterred and says she's won some hearts and minds among Palestinians at the checkpoints.

So you want to change attitudes on both sides?

GOLOMB: That is right.

BURNS: Are you having any success?

GOLOMB: If I can go with success, I will go home and -- and watch -- not...

BURNS: You still have hope? You still have hope, though?

GOLOMB: Yes.

BURNS: That's good. Thank you very much.

GOLOMB: What can I do?

BURNS: Dalia Golomb says it's the least she can do, driven by her own history to try to ease the ordeal for Palestinians. Chris Burns, CNN at the Hawata (ph) checkpoint of the West Bank.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: A political war is erupting at your local bookstore. Bill Schneider explains why it could be a futile fight, with the hearts and minds of voters.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CALLAWAY: The war of words between conservatives and liberal has become a real page-turner, quite literally. CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL SCHNEIDER, SENIOR POLITICIAL ANALYST (voice-over): The literary arms race is on. Books have become weapons in the cultural war that has been going on since the '60s. Left versus right. A war that reached the peak with the baby boom presidencies of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

RICH LOWRY, NATIONAL REVIEW: The Clinton and Bush are sort of archtypes for each side in this conflict.

SCHNEIDER: The Clinton's spawned and entire industry of anti- Clinton books with titles like "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" and "No One Left to Lie to." But the Clintons got their revenge when Hilary Clinton's "Living History" became a worldwide best seller. Now there's a thriving market in anti-Bush books with titles like "Bush Whacked" and "Weapons of Mass Deception." The secret of success in that market? Timing, says David Corn author of "The Lies of George W. Bush."

DAVID CORN, AUTHOR: In the spring of 2002 I talked to my agent about doing a book like this, she sniffed around, the publishing houses at that there was no interest.

SCHNEIDER: But times change, quickly.

CORN: In October 2002, my agent tried again and got, got 6 houses within a day to say, yes, we want to do it.

SCHNEIDER: Now with the campaign on, there's also a thriving market in pro-Bush books like "Deliver Us From Evil" "The Faith of George W. Bush" and "Bush Country." Each side is armed to the teeth with shocking revelations...

CRAIG UNGER, AUTHOR "HOUSE IF BUSH HOUSE OF SAUD:" Never before in history has a president of the United States had such a close relationship with another foreign power as the Bush family has with the Saudis.

SCHNEIDER: And up front agendas, like a new book by presidential adviser Karen Hughes.

KAREN HUGHES, BUSH ADVISER: Important to my family and all the families in America, that he be reelected.

SCHNEIDER: You know how on Web sites like Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, they tell you customers who bought this book also bought these other books. One scholar used that information to map out books that shared the same readers. Sure enough, he found two distinct markets: a network of conservative readers, who purchased books like "The O'Reilly Factor" and a network of liberal readers who purchased books like "The Oh, Really Factor." Blue readers and Red readers rarely read each other books, and there are very few books that both sides read. Who needs neutrality when there's a war on.

(on camera): You want to see the literally arms race go nuclear? Wait until this summer, when Bill Clinton's book is supposed to come out. Bill Schneider, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: Chances are there's a bit of a bookworm in most jeopardizes' contestants. Fifteen celebrity players will appear on the television quiz show coming up in May and among those playing for charity, members of the CNN family. Here is a preview from one of the shows that's already been taped.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: From Washington, D.C. This is power player's week on "Jeopardy."

(APPLAUSE)

ALEX TREBEK, HOST, "JEOPARDY:" Try to relax. Understand that you're playing for charity. You're putting your egos on the line for your charities and that is a good thing. So you're a winner already.

CHRISTINE TOPP WHITMAN, FORMER EPA ADMINISTRATION: I've made a fool of myself for no money at all, so doing it for this amount of money for charity, it's OK.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) ARIZONA: I'm glad to see that these very high-profile smart people are really showing how they're not very smart after all.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: I'm all ready to just blame my failure on the buzzer.

PEGGY NOONAN, WALL STREET JOUNAL: I'll teach them a lesson.

TUCKER CARLSON, CNN HOST: I think the odds are to be crushed, spanked, destroyed, and beaten. And I'm prepared for that.

All right, 2001 for $600 please.

TAVIS SMILEY, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO: My first strategy is to hit the buzzer first. And I play nor video games than Christie Whitman and Tim Russert.

ARI FLEISCHER, FORMER WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I'm home when they ask me who the prime minister of China is, that way I can say who is who.

AL FRANKEN, COMDIAN & RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Bong-e, boing-e, bunky, bunky, boinky, boinky, boinky, boinky .

I say, ask not what "Jeopardy" can do for you, ask what Alex Trebek can do for "Jeopardy"!

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: Moving on now, for all of those racing fans out there, formula one racing that is, there is a new track in town. But you may be surprised to find out where that town is.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CALLAWAY: In Bali, Indonesia, an annual kissing festival gets under way. Couples kiss to ensure good health and prevent bad luck in the village. Wow!

Now the ceremony dates to the late 19th century it ends with village priests dumping buckets of water on the couples to douse their passion. Some bruising going on there.

The Persian Gulf isn't a place that you normally expect to find Formula One racing cars, but the country of Bahrain is changing that at speeds even Indy drivers would envy. Our Bret Sadler takes us then on the fast track.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRET SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's one of the greatest high-speed shows on earth. Formula One Grand Prix. Sporting a lineup of cars that fly like rockets, fueling a multibillion-dollar business, spanning much of the planet. Now there is a new player on the global circuit, with a state-of-the-art track, in the heart of the Arabian Gulf. A league of its own.

This isn't Monte Carlo, it's not Silverstone, it's not Monza. We are in the Middle East, we are in Bahrain.

Built on a sea of sand and there's nothing quite like it. There are 17 other circuits in the world that meet the strict standards of F-1 competition, but none can boast a desert setting. Massive grandstands, feature designs with an Arabian twist. Sandstorms, not rainstorms, are more likely to test the best.

And even before the first checkered flag waves home a winner, the circuit has broken a record, taking just 483 days from start to finish to qualify for this season's Grand Prix. In a $150 million dollar race against time, a small army of architects, civil engineers and construction teams worked nonstop, day and night, in a frenzy of activity. This is what the F-1 drivers themselves will see through the twists and turns.

Mohammed Bin Sulayem is a veteran Bali driver, Middle East champion for 14 years.

MOHAMMMED BIN SULAYEM, FORMER MIDDLE EAST RALLY CHAMPION: It's a demanding track. I think it's the best for passing. And this gives a very equal in terms -- the big team wants tracks to pass. So, then, they're not stuck. If somebody leaves from the beginning, from pole position and some of the tracks like Monaco and others, it's very, very hard to pass. That's not fair.

SADLER: OK. We're on the straight now. What speed are we doing?

SULAYEM: That is 110, to 220, 230, 240, 250, 260.

SADLER: Don't forget to brake. Will you?

SULAYEM: I know. No, no, no, no.

SADLER: A circuit with plenty of thrills -- but hopefully no spills. On the toughest section.

KARIM SAMY-PACHA, F-3 DRIVER: It is a very high-speed track with very heavy breaking corner. It would be very good for overtaking, because many spots where I think are difficult.

SADLER: Karim Samy-Pacha is half Lebanese, half Egyptian, and drools over the circuit. He competes in lower rated Formula Three competition, but aspires to become the first Arab driver to break into F-1.

PACHA: It makes me feel very proud that Formula One is finally in Bahrain and in the Middle East, and I think it will open eyes to many, many people who have never come to the Middle East to really see how hospitable we are. How friendly everything is here.

SALMAN BIN HAMAD AL KHAME, BAHRAIN CROWN PRINCE: We built this race to send a signal, not just from Bahrain, but from the Middle East that things are changing. Things are getting better. There's a new drive, a new determination, and a new acceptance and responsibility.

SADLER: A message that will be transmitted on television to around 350 million race fans watching Grand Prix drama in 150 countries. And an historic view for a desert kingdom hoping to take the fast track to sporting fame. Bret Sadler, CNN, Bahrain.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: And that's it for us. Coming up next on CNN, technology and tornadoes.

"NEXT@CNN" takes a look at how high-tech advancements may predict the seemingly unpredictable.

Then at 6:00 Eastern Time on "CNN Live Sunday," salvaging Michael Jackson's image amid child molestation charges. We'll talk with a "Newsweek" contributing editor about the entertainer's Capitol Hill visit and what the racecar may have to do with his GR campaign.

Coming up at 7:00 Eastern Time, "People in the News" profiles billionaire and reality television star Donald Trump. Thanks for joining us, everyone. I'll be back with the headlines after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired April 4, 2004 - 16:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR, CNN LIVE SUNDAY: Here's a check of the latest developments at this hour. A dispute over nuclear inspections has surfaced, in of all place, Brazil. A state department official tells CNN that the Brazilian government is refusing U.N. inspectors access to a uranium enrichment plant that is under construction near Rio DEBOLT: Janeiro. Brazil renounced its nuclear weapons program back in 1990.
And in Baghdad, four U.S. troops were killed today in an ambush in a Shiite neighborhood. At least 40 others were wounded. An armed group believed to be loyal to a radical Shiite cleric took over several police stations there. A coalition official says that the U.S. army has regained control of the police stations.

And in southern Iraq, in the town of Najaf, protests today by supporters of the same Shiite cleric turned deadly. Insurgents firing on a military post of mostly Spanish troops killed a Salvadoran soldier.

So just who are the insurgents apparently causing the trouble in Iraq and how serious is this resistance, let's talk to our expert Fawaz Gerges, he is a scholar at Sarah Lawrence College and the author of "Islamist and the West" he is joining us this afternoon from New York. Thanks for being with us.

FAWAZ GERGES, SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE: My pleasure.

CALLAWAY: We just had an incredible report from Jim Clancy on the activity that has been taking place in Iraq today. He is hearing most of this violence is being taken by protestors and supporters of the cleric Moqtada al-Sadr outsider. What are your thoughts on this group that's considered to be behind all these protests?

GERGES: I think what we need to understand, for our American audience, is that the protests by the supporters of the fiery young Shiite cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, I think inject a new alarming factor into the volatile Iraqi equation.

Why do I say that? I mean, so far the insurgency has been limited, as you know, to the so-called Sunni triangle. It is a strategic area hundreds of square miles in central Iraq, and most of the insurgents, so far, have been Sunni Iraqis as opposed to Shiite Iraqis. The Shiite Iraq represents about 60 percent of the population.

The protests in the last 24 hours by the followers and supporters of the Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr I think bring a new element into the equation and threaten to escalate the current conflict between the American forces and Iraqis.

And truly, by the way, if the Shiites or if some of the Shiites join the insurgency, I think the United States will likely face a major bloody confrontation on its hands in Iraq, and I doubt it very much.

We already have so much on our hands I don't think that the United States could really confront both the Sunni community and supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr at the same time.

CALLAWAY: It seems, at least according to Jim, that the handling of these assistants to the cleric is going to play heavily in what happens next. They have been arrested. What's to happen now?

GERGES: Well, I think what we need to understand, not just the way you handle, I suppose, the advancers and associates of Moqtada al- Sadr, let's remember, that the shutting down by the occupying authority of the newspaper, which is the newspaper of Moqtada al-Sadr, was, I think, a highly misguided decision.

Apart from the fact that we should pay attention to the question of freedom of speech and press, I think the decision itself to shut down the newspaper did not take into account the strategic realities in Iraq, you don't need to antagonize the Shiite community, whereby, the Sunni community is already in full arms against the U.S. forces.

So yes, you're absolutely correct. Not only I think we should rethink the decision to shut down the newspaper of Moqtada al-Sadr, we should be very careful of how you deal with the Shiite community, in particular, with the fiery young cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

CALLAWAY: Well we're running out of time here. So I want to get to some solutions if there are any. Is it a military solution? What is it a diplomatic solution? It's going to be very difficult for diplomacy when there are soft targets and Americans and Iraqi police being targeted by this group.

GERGES: I think this would be a very good question here. And remember, and lets remember despite the capture of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, despite the killings of his two sons, despite the killing of hundreds if not thousands of insurgents, the incarceration of thousands it of Iraqi, the insurgency continues. Attacks continue.

In fact, since the capture of Saddam Hussein as you know, a drumbeat of attacks have resulted in hundreds of American casualties and Iraqi casualties as well. As you know today, our casualties of American casualties reached the number 600. And this is why I don't believe personally that there is a military solution to the violent struggle unfolding in Iraq. And we need to think about political solutions. And here are three basic points.

CALLAWAY: Quickly, please. Because we've run out of time.

GERGES: Absolutely. Firstly, the United Nations must take charge of the Iraqi project. A multilateral force to replace the American forces. Secondly, I think Iraqis must be helped, not just by the United States, but also by the international community, the United Nations, Europe, Arab and Muslim states. And thirdly, the Sunni community must be fully integrated into the political scene, so that it doesn't provide more insurgents to fight American forces and the coalition forces as well.

CALLAWAY: Fawaz Gerges we have to leave it that. Thank you very much for coming in today and for your insights on the matter.

GERGES: My pleasure.

CALLAWAY: Israel's weekly cabinet meeting turned into a shouting match today. Israeli officials say hard-liners argued with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon over his so-called disengagement plan that includes some type of withdrawal from the Gaza strip and parts of West Bank.

The hard-liners oppose any withdrawal. And are threatening to pull of the government. Mr. Sharon says that plan isn't final. And if anyone wants to leave the cabinet, they can simply get up and go.

There may be talk of a partial Israeli withdrawal, but on the West Bank, Israeli checkpoints will likely remain. One activist, with a long family history in Israeli politics is keeping a very close eye on them. And CNN's Chris Burns talks to Checkpoint granny.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dalia Golomb arrives at the Howeta (ph) checkpoint outside Nablus. A Jewish grandmother from Tel Aviv, she is part of the Israeli group, checkpoint watch and she doesn't like what she sees. A man and a youth bound and blindfolded. Others wait behind barbed wire for permission to pass. Get lost. Get lost, the soldier tells the group.

DALIA GOLOMB, ISRAELI ACTIVIST: This is the kind of punishment they are here sometimes for us.

BURNS: Golomb asks for an explanation, especially about construction worker Muaz Nasser (ph), he cries out to the soldiers for water; handcuffs cutting into his wrists. The troops say he's on their list of militants.

Do you know he's a killer? The soldier asks.

BURNS: Golomb tries to get Israelis lawmakers to help free Nasser, or at least improve his treatment. Not clear if the phone call to officials helped, but Knaussor is at least taken from his dusty pen to jail. The other bound and blindfolded suspect, a student who's father asked Checkpoint Watch for help is freed.

GOLOMB: I think things like this.

BURNS: How often?

GOLOMB: Every day.

BURNS: Every day. And how do you feel when you see that?

GOLOMB: How do I feel? I am ashamed to be Israeli.

BURNS: Tough words from the niece of Moshe Sharett, Israel's second prime minister after David Benguria. Now on Israelis 20 shackle bill, and she is the daughter of Eliyahu Golomb, who founded the Jewish militia Haganah, precursor to the Israeli army.

Golomb says her father established the Haganah in the 1920s after a Turkish pasha ordered him beaten for refusing to work on the Jewish Sabbath and that he would be doing exactly what she's doing, because he knew what it was to be humiliated.

Hawata is among dozens of fixed checkpoints across the West Bank. Golomb says most are unnecessary harassment, except for those between Israel and the territories.

You don't accept the argument that they are trying to prevent militants from crossing and passing into Israel?

GOLOMB: I don't believe one word of it.

BURNS: But within days, troops at this same checkpoint found a boy pulling a bomb on his cart, and another with an explosive belt. Golomb remains undeterred and says she's won some hearts and minds among Palestinians at the checkpoints.

So you want to change attitudes on both sides?

GOLOMB: That is right.

BURNS: Are you having any success?

GOLOMB: If I can go with success, I will go home and -- and watch -- not...

BURNS: You still have hope? You still have hope, though?

GOLOMB: Yes.

BURNS: That's good. Thank you very much.

GOLOMB: What can I do?

BURNS: Dalia Golomb says it's the least she can do, driven by her own history to try to ease the ordeal for Palestinians. Chris Burns, CNN at the Hawata (ph) checkpoint of the West Bank.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: A political war is erupting at your local bookstore. Bill Schneider explains why it could be a futile fight, with the hearts and minds of voters.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CALLAWAY: The war of words between conservatives and liberal has become a real page-turner, quite literally. CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL SCHNEIDER, SENIOR POLITICIAL ANALYST (voice-over): The literary arms race is on. Books have become weapons in the cultural war that has been going on since the '60s. Left versus right. A war that reached the peak with the baby boom presidencies of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

RICH LOWRY, NATIONAL REVIEW: The Clinton and Bush are sort of archtypes for each side in this conflict.

SCHNEIDER: The Clinton's spawned and entire industry of anti- Clinton books with titles like "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" and "No One Left to Lie to." But the Clintons got their revenge when Hilary Clinton's "Living History" became a worldwide best seller. Now there's a thriving market in anti-Bush books with titles like "Bush Whacked" and "Weapons of Mass Deception." The secret of success in that market? Timing, says David Corn author of "The Lies of George W. Bush."

DAVID CORN, AUTHOR: In the spring of 2002 I talked to my agent about doing a book like this, she sniffed around, the publishing houses at that there was no interest.

SCHNEIDER: But times change, quickly.

CORN: In October 2002, my agent tried again and got, got 6 houses within a day to say, yes, we want to do it.

SCHNEIDER: Now with the campaign on, there's also a thriving market in pro-Bush books like "Deliver Us From Evil" "The Faith of George W. Bush" and "Bush Country." Each side is armed to the teeth with shocking revelations...

CRAIG UNGER, AUTHOR "HOUSE IF BUSH HOUSE OF SAUD:" Never before in history has a president of the United States had such a close relationship with another foreign power as the Bush family has with the Saudis.

SCHNEIDER: And up front agendas, like a new book by presidential adviser Karen Hughes.

KAREN HUGHES, BUSH ADVISER: Important to my family and all the families in America, that he be reelected.

SCHNEIDER: You know how on Web sites like Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, they tell you customers who bought this book also bought these other books. One scholar used that information to map out books that shared the same readers. Sure enough, he found two distinct markets: a network of conservative readers, who purchased books like "The O'Reilly Factor" and a network of liberal readers who purchased books like "The Oh, Really Factor." Blue readers and Red readers rarely read each other books, and there are very few books that both sides read. Who needs neutrality when there's a war on.

(on camera): You want to see the literally arms race go nuclear? Wait until this summer, when Bill Clinton's book is supposed to come out. Bill Schneider, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: Chances are there's a bit of a bookworm in most jeopardizes' contestants. Fifteen celebrity players will appear on the television quiz show coming up in May and among those playing for charity, members of the CNN family. Here is a preview from one of the shows that's already been taped.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: From Washington, D.C. This is power player's week on "Jeopardy."

(APPLAUSE)

ALEX TREBEK, HOST, "JEOPARDY:" Try to relax. Understand that you're playing for charity. You're putting your egos on the line for your charities and that is a good thing. So you're a winner already.

CHRISTINE TOPP WHITMAN, FORMER EPA ADMINISTRATION: I've made a fool of myself for no money at all, so doing it for this amount of money for charity, it's OK.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) ARIZONA: I'm glad to see that these very high-profile smart people are really showing how they're not very smart after all.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: I'm all ready to just blame my failure on the buzzer.

PEGGY NOONAN, WALL STREET JOUNAL: I'll teach them a lesson.

TUCKER CARLSON, CNN HOST: I think the odds are to be crushed, spanked, destroyed, and beaten. And I'm prepared for that.

All right, 2001 for $600 please.

TAVIS SMILEY, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO: My first strategy is to hit the buzzer first. And I play nor video games than Christie Whitman and Tim Russert.

ARI FLEISCHER, FORMER WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I'm home when they ask me who the prime minister of China is, that way I can say who is who.

AL FRANKEN, COMDIAN & RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Bong-e, boing-e, bunky, bunky, boinky, boinky, boinky, boinky .

I say, ask not what "Jeopardy" can do for you, ask what Alex Trebek can do for "Jeopardy"!

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: Moving on now, for all of those racing fans out there, formula one racing that is, there is a new track in town. But you may be surprised to find out where that town is.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CALLAWAY: In Bali, Indonesia, an annual kissing festival gets under way. Couples kiss to ensure good health and prevent bad luck in the village. Wow!

Now the ceremony dates to the late 19th century it ends with village priests dumping buckets of water on the couples to douse their passion. Some bruising going on there.

The Persian Gulf isn't a place that you normally expect to find Formula One racing cars, but the country of Bahrain is changing that at speeds even Indy drivers would envy. Our Bret Sadler takes us then on the fast track.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRET SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's one of the greatest high-speed shows on earth. Formula One Grand Prix. Sporting a lineup of cars that fly like rockets, fueling a multibillion-dollar business, spanning much of the planet. Now there is a new player on the global circuit, with a state-of-the-art track, in the heart of the Arabian Gulf. A league of its own.

This isn't Monte Carlo, it's not Silverstone, it's not Monza. We are in the Middle East, we are in Bahrain.

Built on a sea of sand and there's nothing quite like it. There are 17 other circuits in the world that meet the strict standards of F-1 competition, but none can boast a desert setting. Massive grandstands, feature designs with an Arabian twist. Sandstorms, not rainstorms, are more likely to test the best.

And even before the first checkered flag waves home a winner, the circuit has broken a record, taking just 483 days from start to finish to qualify for this season's Grand Prix. In a $150 million dollar race against time, a small army of architects, civil engineers and construction teams worked nonstop, day and night, in a frenzy of activity. This is what the F-1 drivers themselves will see through the twists and turns.

Mohammed Bin Sulayem is a veteran Bali driver, Middle East champion for 14 years.

MOHAMMMED BIN SULAYEM, FORMER MIDDLE EAST RALLY CHAMPION: It's a demanding track. I think it's the best for passing. And this gives a very equal in terms -- the big team wants tracks to pass. So, then, they're not stuck. If somebody leaves from the beginning, from pole position and some of the tracks like Monaco and others, it's very, very hard to pass. That's not fair.

SADLER: OK. We're on the straight now. What speed are we doing?

SULAYEM: That is 110, to 220, 230, 240, 250, 260.

SADLER: Don't forget to brake. Will you?

SULAYEM: I know. No, no, no, no.

SADLER: A circuit with plenty of thrills -- but hopefully no spills. On the toughest section.

KARIM SAMY-PACHA, F-3 DRIVER: It is a very high-speed track with very heavy breaking corner. It would be very good for overtaking, because many spots where I think are difficult.

SADLER: Karim Samy-Pacha is half Lebanese, half Egyptian, and drools over the circuit. He competes in lower rated Formula Three competition, but aspires to become the first Arab driver to break into F-1.

PACHA: It makes me feel very proud that Formula One is finally in Bahrain and in the Middle East, and I think it will open eyes to many, many people who have never come to the Middle East to really see how hospitable we are. How friendly everything is here.

SALMAN BIN HAMAD AL KHAME, BAHRAIN CROWN PRINCE: We built this race to send a signal, not just from Bahrain, but from the Middle East that things are changing. Things are getting better. There's a new drive, a new determination, and a new acceptance and responsibility.

SADLER: A message that will be transmitted on television to around 350 million race fans watching Grand Prix drama in 150 countries. And an historic view for a desert kingdom hoping to take the fast track to sporting fame. Bret Sadler, CNN, Bahrain.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: And that's it for us. Coming up next on CNN, technology and tornadoes.

"NEXT@CNN" takes a look at how high-tech advancements may predict the seemingly unpredictable.

Then at 6:00 Eastern Time on "CNN Live Sunday," salvaging Michael Jackson's image amid child molestation charges. We'll talk with a "Newsweek" contributing editor about the entertainer's Capitol Hill visit and what the racecar may have to do with his GR campaign.

Coming up at 7:00 Eastern Time, "People in the News" profiles billionaire and reality television star Donald Trump. Thanks for joining us, everyone. I'll be back with the headlines after the break.

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