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CNN Live Sunday

4thetroops.com Sends Care Packages, Boosts Morale; Chalabi Denies Selling Intelligence To Iran; Californians Fed Up With High Gas Prices

Aired May 23, 2004 - 18:00   ET

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

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


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR, CNN LIVE SUNDAY: I'm Betty Nguyen for Carol Lin, welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY. If you think you are paying more each day at the pump, you are right. Gas prices are going through the roof. We'll take a look at the latest numbers and see if there's any relief in sight.
And the power of one. How one woman's campaign to support Americans in Iraq started a movement. Now hundreds of people are involved, and they are doing some amazing things to support the troops. That story is just ahead.

Nebraska is reeling from a rash of tornadoes that have ravaged the southern part of the state. Twisters capped two days of severe weather that caused damage and left hundreds of thousands of people without power. From the upper plain states to West Virginia.

Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns has declared a state of emergency. The small village of Hallam took the worst punishment. The winds destroyed or damaged every home there, and killed a 73-year-old woman. All 276 residents had to evacuate.

Let's find out if the folks in the region are getting any relief from the storms. Meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is in the CNN weather center. Jackie, it's been a rough few days.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it really has been. In fact yesterday, the most active tornado day of 2004, but we're still counting the numbers. These are preliminary tornado reports from yesterday, 85 total most of which happened in Nebraska and in Iowa. But the thing to keep in mind as you take a look at these numbers, these are just reports of tornadoes. So it could have been the same tornado spotted in a different town or a different county as it tracked along.

So 40, not the actual number of tornadoes. Probably about half of that is what we're expecting. Now there is more active and severe weather going on right now. We just have word of a couple of new tornado warnings which are in effect. I hope I'm saying this right. I'm guessing Genesee County in Southeastern Michigan, and this includes the town of Flint.

Doppler radar indicating a tornado there near Flushing, 12 miles west of Flint, moving eastward. If you live in Flint Michigan in that area, you want to be taking cover right now. Get to the lowest level of your home. Get to the basement if you have one, away from doors and windows. Wait until your sirens go off. Wait until the storm passes. Very dangerous situation shaping up right now in right now in Flint.

We also have tornado warnings--both of these also in Michigan for Livingston County and also, Shiawassee county in southeastern Michigan until 6:30 local time. This is the same storm system that produced the tornadoes yesterday across Iowa, and into Nebraska.

We have a particularly dangerous situation labeled for the storm prediction center for this tornado watch. Very strong cell here. South of I-70 the tracking on off to the east. Probably going to see a lot of large hail and damaging winds, maybe 60, 70 miles per hour out of that particular thunderstorm cell.

We have a severe thunderstorm watch as the frontal system lifts up to the north including New York City until 10:00 tonight and a brand new tornado watch, a different system all together, Betty, believe it or not. Including Rapid City. This one in effect until about 10:00 local time. So while one severe storm system progresses off to the east, we've got a new one, and it's going to be a very active start of the next week, as well.

NGUYEN: All right, Jacqui Jeras, staying on top of it. Thank you. You'll find full coverage of the deadly tornadoes in Nebraska. National weather maps and your hometown forecast at our website, cnn.com.

Before the U.S. invaded Iraq Ahmed Chalabi was thought to be one of America's biggest assets. Now many Washington insiders say he's become a huge liability and even accuse him of spying for Iran. Today, the former Iraqi exile spoke out in his own defense. CNN's Elaine Quijano has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Iraqi governing council member Ahmed Chalabi once a favorite of the Pentagon denied that he spied for Iran.

AHMED CHALABI: We never provided any classified information from the U.S. to Iran. And neither I nor anyone in the INC. And that was a charge being put out by George Tenet.

QUIJANO: Chalabi says he's a victim of a CIA smear campaign, and he wants a hearing before congress to clear his name. But judging by the reaction of senior lawmakers, congress will be a hostile audience.

SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-CA) INTELLIGENCE CMTE: I think he's a Charlatan, I think he's manipulator. I don't believe he's a man that you can trust.

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL, (R-NE) INTELLIGENCE CMTE: What we have here is a guy who has a record like we all do. And that record has not turned out very well. Trouble has followed him everywhere he's been.

QUIJANO: Chalabi heads up the dissident Iraqi National Congress which advocated war to oust Saddam Hussein, helped gather intelligence for the U.S., and until this month, was on the U.S.'s payroll receiving more than $30 million in all.

SEN. PAT ROBERTS, (R-KA) ARMED SERVICES CMTE There is a school of thought, especially by the CIA, that Mr. Chalabi's intelligence input was not that good. And that's probably an understatement.

QUIJANO: As for Chalabi's request for congressional hearings to clear his name, a Democratic member of the Senate Intelligence Committee said why bother?

It's not clear to me that Mr. Chalabi speaks for anybody other than Mr. Chalabi right now. I don't know if you have a congressional hearing just to give a platform to one individual to sort of speak out.

QUIJANO (on camera): Neither the White House nor the Pentagon will comment on Ahmed Chalabi's credibility. When asked last week, a White House spokesman said it was not the president's place to weigh in on who the future leaders of Iraq should be. Elaine Quijano, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: President Bush will be weighing in on the future of the U.S. role in Iraq tomorrow night. He'll address the American public in a speech at the Army War College in Pennsylvania. It's expected to be a first in a series. Our Dana Bash previews what the President needs to accomplish and how he hopes to do it.

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Bush arriving in Connecticut for day two of private weekend celebrations for his college-graduating daughters. He was also reviewing drafts of Monday night's speech the White House is counting on to turn around growing concern about the mission in Iraq, and sinking support for Mr. Bush as a leader. Recently, the president has struck a defiant tone.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES: The world watches for weakness in our resolve. They will see no weakness.

BASH: But on the eve of the speech, calls from both sides of the aisle to go light on the platitudes, heavy on specifics and candor.

FEINSTEIN: People are going to want hard answers. We have gone on now with the sense of, we will stay the course for to long. We need to know precisely what that course is.

NEWT GINGRICH, FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER: When he says let's stay the course, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) you can't special defend, then I think he loses ground.

BASH: Bush sources say he will detail a series of steps for the transfer of power to Iraqis June 30, and the U.S. role beyond that date. The President will use the primetime address to lay out plans for an interim government set to take over in just five weeks, though he'll give no names. While the President talks of democracy, a key Bush ally set lower standards.

REP. DUNCAN HUNTER, (R-CA) ARMED SERVICE: The nation that has a modicum of freedom for it's people, basic freedoms for it's people, and is benign with respect to its relationship with the United States.

BASH: Aides say the President will unveil new information about the command structure for the U.S. military as part of a multinational force. But negotiations continue with countries like Germany and France who want to see the U.S. set an exit date. One Republican said the President is too isolated, and should learn from the mistakes of his Iraq policy.

HAGEL: To essentially hold himself hostage, to two or three key advisors and never reach beyond that is very dangerous for a President.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH (on camera): (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and relying on the U.N. to write plans for the new Iraqi government. And Bush officials have been hammering out details on a new U.N. resolution to bless the process that the president will talk about tomorrow night. And Bush officials hope to find compromise on that new resolution as soon as this week.

NGUYEN: Dana, this speech tomorrow night is the first in a series. What will the others focus on?

BASH: Well, what Bush officials say is that the President will continue to speak out. Obviously we've been talking about tomorrow night. We're going to hear from the President when he talks at the dedication of a World War II memorial later this week. The following week, he'll be talking at an Air Force academy commencement.

All of those speeches will be sort of platforms for the President to give new details as they emerge about the plans. There won't be maybe a lot of specifics tomorrow night, but as the President gets more plans, he will be offering them in the speeches.

But it's really about continuing to try to lower the level of concern in America. As all part of a broader public relations effort to try to turn around really the sinking support for the President on the Iraq policy.

NGUYEN: A lot of questions to be answered. CNN's Dana Bash, thank you.

Well, a penny a day. That's how much the already record price of gasoline has gone up over the last two weeks. The Lundberg (ph) survey shows the average price at the pump in the U.S. has shot up 14 cents in as many days to $2.07 a gallon. CNN's Miguel Marquez is watching the price pick up at the gas station in Burbank, California. Miguel, prices just keep going up, it seems.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's really no fun, is it, Betty? The city with the highest average gasoline prices is San Diego. The lowest, Charleston, South Carolina all the way across the continent. We are at a Costco where this is pretty much normal fare for a Sunday.

And the reason that they're coming here, is because gas prices are probably cheaper here than just about anywhere in Los Angeles. Where you can find gas prices are about $2.70 a gallon typically. The cheap stuff is $2.26 and that has people rethinking the cars they drive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: This Toyota dealership sells more alternative fuel vehicles than any other in the country. The reason, pretty obvious.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I drive a Jeep Cherokee and I spent about $80 a week in gas.

MARQUEZ: Californians, used to higher gas prices than the rest of the U.S. are beginning to balk at prices making a run at $3.00 a gallon. Nowhere has the effect been more immediate than the car lot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our large SUV's have -- the percentage of vehicles sold is declining.

MARQUEZ: And that trend may be playing out nationwide. Auto Data, a company that tracks vehicle sales says in April consumers bought fewer large SUVs like the Ford Explorers, Chevy Suburban, and Hummer H2. While it's still not clear if high gas prices are driving SUV sales down, pricing petroleum is driving interest in hybrids up. How many of these could you sell if you could?

CHRIS ABRAHMS,TOYOTA SALES MANAGER: We could use another 2 or 300 right now. Today.

MARQUEZ: Marketing firm J.D. Power estimates the next few years, up to 20 models of hybrid will be on U.S. roads. In yearly sales will hit half million vehicles. That's ten time what's they are now. Some consumers considering buying a hybrid say it's not just that gas prices are high, it's that they expect them to stay high.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're not going to go down below $2. Probably only go up. And, yes, $3, $4. It seems likely.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ (on camera): So, what does the future hold for gas prices? Well, even though the OPEC has indicated that it's going to raise production by 28 percent starting in a month, Trilby Lundberg with the Lundberg Report that studies the gas industry says that because it's a summer months, where Americans travel more, they're reformulating the gasoline for the summer months to bring down the smog and the economy is picking up, all that may negate any production increase that OPEC does. So it looks like high prices may be here to stay.

NGUYEN: And while the hybrid market is doing great, how worried are carmakers? Especially those making the SUVs?

MARQUEZ: Well, I think there is concern, although Ford has a new hybrid coming on later this year. Toyota has another model coming on Acura or Honda has another model coming on. So it looks like they are just ready to make the switch as soon as consumers are -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. Miguel Marquez in Burbank California, thank you.

Imagine this, if every home in your town were leveled or at least damaged by a tornado. That's what happened in Hallam, Nebraska. Reporter Brandi Peterson of affiliate KETV is there live. What can you tell us about the situation?

BRANDI PETERSON, KETV: well, I'm here in Hallam, Nebraska right now. It's about 20 miles south of our capital of Lincoln. This is just one of a dozen towns in Nebraska that have been devastated by last night's storms. As you can see, every house or structure that was in this twister's path was flattened.

There's pile after pile of rubble laying where houses sat yesterday, and many of the houses that are still standing have broken windows, torn off roofs and exposed beams or planks just jutting out of the sides.

Now as we arrived here this morning, we saw hundreds of people were streaming in here trying to get back into the town and find out if their house was still standing. Or what happened to their belongings. Many of the people we talked to said they're so overwhelmed right now. They don't know where to turn or what to expect next.

We do have one confirmed death. She's a 73-year-old woman. At least 37 people we know of are injured. Governor Mike Johanns has declared a state of emergency for the area. No word yet on dollar damages for Hallam or any of the other towns affected by this storm.

NGUYEN: Brandi if we look at those pictures behind you, it is just amazing that all the destruction that we see in the town. You say every house is flattened. What's being done for those folks who live there? What kind of shelters are set up?

PETERSON: Well I tell you what, right after the storm happened last night, Halem residents were bused to Lincoln, where there was a shelter set up. They could reunite there and make sure all of their family members were together and OK, and that seemed to work really well.

Today, the American Red Cross has come in. There are stations set up here and at several other towns in the area. Hundreds of volunteers have really come together and that's the one good thing. Many of the towns are small and they are devastated by this. But being small, they all come together and help each other when things like this happen.

NGUYEN: All right. Brandi Peterson of affiliate KETV, thank you.

We showed you pictures of a funnel cloud earlier in the show. Coming up later, we're going to talk to the man who shot this picture and ask him what was he thinking?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a legacy for us. It's a painful legacy. It has a lot of risk in it. It has a lot of fear in it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Are your genes against you? Could you lose your health coverage if your DNA were tested for cancer? Plus a little later, you've heard of soccer moms and NASCAR dads, but who are the Lipstick Liberals? Why don't they vote? The answers might surprise you. Stay tuned.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: In New York today, some 2,000 people took to the streets to rally in support of same sex marriage. Marchers walked over the Brooklyn Bridge carrying banners. They're celebrating same sex marriage rights in Massachusetts, and demanding equal rights in New York State. Organizers call it a success, and say it shows how many people support equal rights for gay and lesbian couples.

A new debate is raging about how to protect people from genetic discrimination. Especially since new technology can predict what illnesses and diseases you may be more likely to get. CNN's Kathleen Koch reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky Fisher and her daughter share more than a family resemblance. Genetic testing reveals they share a heightened risk of cancer. Ovarian cancer claimed Becky's grandmother at age 41. Becky and her mother were both diagnosed with breast cancer in their 30s.

BECKY FISHER, BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR: It is a legacy for us. A painful legacy. It has a lot of risk in it. It has a lot of fear in it.

KOCH: One of the greatest fears for both women, losing health insurance or a job because of their genetic makeup.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right now I'm covered under their group insurance plan. So I don't have that risk right now. It's definitely a fear for the future.

KOCH: More than 30 states have laws barring genetic discrimination. And the senate last year unanimously voted for a federal ban against it. But the measure is stalled in the House. Health insurers oppose a clause in the House bill that could block questions about a patient's family medical history. KAREN IGNAGNI, PRES. AMERICA'S HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS: The definition was so broad that it would have prohibited any kind of questioning in the area of family history, which otherwise would have been relevant for disease management.

KOCH (on camera): The Chamber of Commerce insist there are already enough protections against genetic discrimination. Its business owner members fear the bill would encourage frivolous lawsuits

LAWRENCE EORBER, U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: They are concerned about having genetic testing be converted into another cause of action to cause yet another series of lawsuits when there's no evidence whatsoever that there's employment derivation because of people's genetic makeup.

KOCH (voice over): But advocates point out fear of discrimination is real and could hinder progress in genetic research.

DEBRA NESS, NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES: We fear that the enormous promise that this research holds out will never be realized because people will be afraid to get tested.

KOCH: The Fishers point out having the genetic proclivity toward an illness doesn't necessarily mean you will be ill. Still, they want federal protections so their genes can never be used against them.

FISHER: We have a problem with being absolutely vulnerable and hung out to dry because of something that we couldn't help.

KOCH: Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: We have two kinds of eggs in this show. Back in Russia after 75 years, these Fabarge eggs made for Czars and the women they love. Just wait until you hear which millionaire is responsible for their come back.

And back home in this country, a different kind of egg. When was the last time you had a caviar omelet? Bet it didn't cost what this one does.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Our next story has its beginnings with an Easter present from a loving husband to his wife. The husband was a Russian Czar and the present was the first of the jeweled Faberge eggs. Over the years, many were removed from Russia but now thanks to a Russian billionaire, nine of them have come home. CNN's Jill Dougherty has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice-over): Easter eggs fit for a Czar, crafted by imperial jeweler Karl Faberge, gifts from two Russian emperors to the women they loved. Now, back in Russia after almost 75 years, under tight security, nine Faberge eggs arrived at the Kremlin from New York where they used to be part of the collection of American Capitalist Malcolm Forbes. Now, they belong to one of modern Russia's biggest capitalists, billionaire Viktor Vekelsberg.

VIKTOR VEKELSBERG, VICE PRESIDENT TNK APPLEGATE: OIL COMPANY, (via translator): I think I really didn't comprehended right up to the last minute that I'm the owner of this collection. I guess that will come in time.

DOUGHERTY: The eggs, along with 100 other Faberge items were to be auctioned off at Southabes (ph) but Vekelsberg stunned the art world by purchasing the entire collection for an estimated $100 million. Only 50 eggs were ever made. The Kremlin Armory has ten, but the Vekelsberg collection includes some of the most famous pieces.

(on camera): This is the very first imperial Faberge Easter egg, a gift from Czar Alexander III to his wife Maria Feodorovna. She loved it so much it became an annual tradition for the Czars and the eggs became more and more elaborate.

The carnation egg alone is worth $24 million. The new owner says he wants to bring back to Russia art that was sold abroad. And Russian tax authorities are making it easier by ending a 30 percent import duty.

MIKHAIL SHVIDKOI, FMR RUSSIAN CULTURE MINISTER: Just at the beginning of the first century this kind of -- this is very important.

DOUGHERTY: The Faberge eggs will be on display across the country. A chance for today's Russians to admire the artistic achievement of their Czars heritage. Jill Dougherty, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: We have a recap of our top stories, that's straight ahead. Plus, up close and personal.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: We want to get an update now on these spring storms. Jacqui Jeras is at the scene in the weather center. Jacqui are we getting some new warnings?

JERAS: Yes, actually we are. The same system that hit Nebraska last evening is now hitting parts of Michigan at this time. And a tornado was spotted about an hour ago at Williamston, Michigan. No damage to report with that one. But the parent cell now, there is a tornado warning on that one for Lapeer County in Southeastern Michigan.

This one has a history of producing tornadoes. If you live in Lapeer County, you want to be taking shelter right now. Also, Genessee County, and Scott County in Illinois. Genessee County in Michigan and the Scott County in Illinois. Tornado warnings on those. And so we are seeing things really develop here this evening and becoming quite active.

We have some new watches. Even a severe thunderstorm watch now has been extended across southern parts of Missouri. Considered a particularly dangerous situation here for this thunderstorm watch, which kind of clips the St. Louis metro area heading on up towards Peoria. We have severe thunderstorms at this time.

We also have severe thunderstorm watch in effect for parts of New York into Pennsylvania including New York City. Severe thunderstorms just to the west of the Hartford area at this hour. Gusty winds and large hail can be expected there. And a different storm system, this one separate altogether with a tornado watch across parts of Montana, into Wyoming and into Western South Dakota.

That includes Rapid City but no warnings out of that one right now. This continues to be a volatile situation this evening. Our storm system moving very slowly off to the east, so we are anticipating more severe weather across the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and into the Northeast over the next several days.

NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Jacqui.

We turn to Iraq where a car bombing near Fallujah wounded three U.S. soldiers today. Meanwhile American troops and tanks left the city of Kufa this morning after an overnight raid. Hospital officials say 29 people were killed in that operation which netted several stockpiles of weapons according to CNN's Jane Arraf. She says the operation did not appear aimed at Muqtada al-Sadr, the anti-American cleric whose militia is entrenched there.

The commander of U.S. ground forces is emphatically denying a news report suggesting he knew about and even witnessed some of the prisoner abuse in Iraq. The "Washington Post" quoted a source as saying he heard it from a captain. That Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez was present during some of the in some interrogation.

Right now though, we want to focus on a different aspect of the prison abuse scandal. We want to know when soldiers cross the line between coercion and torture. For some expert insight into the question, we turn to Philip Zimbardo. He's a professor of psychology at Stanford University. Thanks for being here with us.

PHILIP ZIMBARDO, STANFORD UNIVERSITY: Good to be here.

NGUYEN: Let's talk about that line if we will. Is it a fine line between coercion and torture?

No, it's not a fine line at all. It's a line that is constantly shifting. You see, what happens is in addition to the research I did at Stanford many years ago which has eerie parallels to what the soldiers did here in Iraq. I also studies tortures in Brazil.

I talked to men who had been state sanctioned tortures and death squad exclusionists. And it starts off, you want to get information, you want to get information about terrorists. You want to get information about insurgents. And you're not getting that information, and so, you begin to use physical torture. You begin to use psychological torture.

And then you still don't get that information. And then, those people are worthless to you. And so you kill them. You get rid of them. I think what happened here is a progression. This happened over many months, not a day. At the beginning, it was most likely the CIA and civilian interrogators staged some of those first photographs.

Which meant they gave permission, they didn't give orders, they gave permission for the soldiers to begin to do these horrendous things. After they had enough pictures, they didn't need a thousand more. The soldiers now were given permission to play with the prisoners. Engage in fun and games.

And I think what we have seen in the pictures is really the second stage where they're doing these abusive things. The third stage, the last month, are probably the horrendous things that the military's holding back from us because they go from simulating sodomy probably to actual sodomy. They go from having the dogs pretend to bite the prisoners, having the dogs chew on the prisoners.

NGUYEN: How do they get to that point? At the beginning we're thinking that this is something that was part of the plan, but then it got way out of control. Is this a group thing situation where peer pressure really played a role?

ZIMBARDO: Exactly. See, I've been saying all along with the parallels to my study that these are not bad apples. These are not a few isolated incidents as General Myer and the other people say. It's systematic. It was going on for months.

And in addition to the perpetrators of evil, if you will, the particular soldiers who did these horrible things, there were dozens of people who watched. Who approved tacitly, approved openly. And there's only a very few heroes, people that resisted like G.I. Joe Darby.

So what happens is in that situation, you begin to get what I call a Mardi Gras effect. That is you leave behind your morality, all the things you were -- the good boy you were back at home, the good woman. There is no future. The future is where you would never take any of these pictures because they -- you're legally culpable, your liable.

So what happens is, they are trapped in the middle of this Mardi Gras effect, living for the moment, living for pleasure. And so, they not only cross that line, it's one -- one soldier said, it was all fun. We didn't think anything was wrong. And so, the behavior gets more and more turned in on itself. And it's like Mardi Gras.

That Mardi Gras is the church gives you permission to indulge in lust and gluttony because this is a time out of time and this Abu Ghraib prison is a place out of place.

NGUYEN: So quickly, if these lines keep shifting, how do you set boundaries? ZIMBARDO: Well see, the problem is you have to set boundaries from the beginning. That's where the military was wrong. That's where Rumsfeld was wrong. In this situation, you have to have very strict sanctions. Because all prisons are places of evil until proven otherwise because they're places of total power.

Guards have the power of life and death over prisoners unless there are clear rules, sanctions for violating those rules. Rewards for following those rules and training. To be a prison guard is a very difficult job and these poor army reservists had no training, and in fact, they had no supervision, or supervision that gave them permission to engage in the evil.

NGUYEN: Very interesting insight. We have Philip Zimbardo from Stanford University. Thank you for that.

ZIMBARDO: Thank you very much.

NGUYEN: When we come back, young, affluent, opinionated, but politically uninvolved. Can the Democrats motivate Lipstick Liberals to head to the polls?

And we're talking to the women behind the web site 4thetroops. Why did they start it, and what do they do?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Democrats and Republicans are battling this year to get voters passionately involved in the presidential election. But they may be overlooking some Americans who routinely don't cast ballots even though they are passionate about the issues. Our Alina Cho introduces us to the so-called Lipstick Liberals and the impact they could have on the election.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Some call them the "sex and the city" demographic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you saying you have never voted in New York City?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are correct Mr. President.

CHO: Others, Lipstick Liberals. Jennifer Dematio (ph) fits the ballet.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you vote?

JENNIFER DEMATIO (ph): I just registered. I haven't voted in a while. I have to admit I haven't voted in a while.

CHO: Dematio (ph) is not alone. She's young, single, successful, and doesn't vote.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is it scary to think about politics? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's not scary. It's boring. It's confusing. It's boring.

CHO (on camera): New studies by several universities found just one in five women under 30 regularly goes to the polls. Experts say most are skipping elections and instead are chasing careers and looking for love.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have to meet him. How am I going to meet him?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Women who have what we call the four magic M's, marriage, munchkins, mortgages, and mutual funds, are much more likely to vote than their unmarried, non-stake holding non-ownership counterparts.

CHO: Perhaps no one knows better the importance of voting than Karenna Gore Schiff. Her father Al Gore lost Florida, ultimately the presidency in 2000 by a mere 537 votes.

UNIDENTFIED FEMALE: The candidates will go to swing states, and they'll go to senior centers. And there's a reason for that. That's who will decide the election because they're out there voting. If young women do the same thing, they could really change the direction of the country.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pretend it's a hair appointment we won't miss. Make an appointment with Election Day, and get there.

CHO: Dematio (ph) lived in Florida in 2000, could have voted but didn't. Now she says the war in Iraq is pushing her to the polls.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It only needs to be one thing you say, this is something I care about, and if nothing else focus on that and --.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then register?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And register?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then vote.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And vote.

CHO: A giant step towards having a voice. Alina Cho, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Time now for some news around the world. In the West Bank, two members of the militant group Hamas were killed when the car they were in exploded. Another person in that car and two passersbys were wounded. The cause of the blast is not sure. Security officials say the explosion occurred inside the car.

In Southeastern Bangladesh, police say most of the 200 people on board a capsized ferry are feared dead. That ferry sank during a tropical storm when many passengers were asleep. About 50 people were able to swim ashore. Fifteen bodies have been recovered.

A deadly attack in Kashmir is testing India's new prime minister. A bus carrying soldiers and their families blew up killing at least 29 people and injuring 7. The militant group (UNINTELLIGIBLE) has claimed responsibility. The attack happened within hours of India's new government beginning its work.

Time and time again, we've seen images of U.S. soldiers going about their duty in Iraq. Their day-to-day morale can sometimes hinge on something as simple as a letter from home. Or even a care package. If you have ever wanted to be a morale booster yourself, look no further than the online organization known as 4thetroops.

Mia Elliot-Supe co-founded the Web site last year, and she joins us now from Cincinnati. And Anne Galvan also does work for the troops, and she is in Los Angeles. Thank you both for joining us.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks for having us.

Mia, let's start with you. You started this. What compelled you to do that?

MIA ELLIOT-SUPE, 4THETROOPS.NET: My brother was in Iraq last year. Actually, he just returned home very recently. But he went with the 4th ID's (ph) and he had called my mother and I, and said that many of the soldiers were not getting mail at the time. So we pulled it together and went throughout our community and that's basically how it started. We just started through the churches and schools, and I got online and met Anne and we created the Web site, and here we are.

NGUYEN: And so you ladies only met on online. You've never seen each other. Ann, how did you get involved?

ANNE GALVAN, 4THETROOPS.NET: Well, I got involved at my firm Lincoln and Watkins (ph). We started supporting marines back in the inception of the war. And I created the Web site so I could share the letters with them and let them know what a big difference they made in supporting the troops.

And shortly thereafter, I met Mia online and she told me about her brother's concern over his comrades not receiving any mail or packages, and I wanted to be a part of it. So she and I got together and we started a group, and we started supporting his comrades with care packages and letters and let to them know we were here for them and that we care.

NGUYEN: And how important are these letters? I'm sure it is a huge morale booster. Mia, you know firsthand, right?

SUPE: Absolutely. Just recently, just today, we received a letter from the major from the Sunni Triangle, hopefully Anne will be able to share a little bit of that soon, but the site each day someone is getting a letter, and they are sharing the information with us. What good work that's happening through the support group all across the nation. NGUYEN: Can you share a little bit of the letter with us?

SUPE: Yes, I think Anne can do that.

GALVAN: I have the letter. It's from a major in Iraq and he writes. "We receive many boxes from many folks 4thetroops. We are busy trying to write back to everybody. I'm telling you, it's like being a kid again. Christmas morning. The experience was part reliving it as a child and as part of a parent watching the others. It was truly moving. I continued to be amazed by all that you do. I never expected to see this outpouring support.

So many of us thought with the war officially over, the U.S. public normally quickly moves on to the next hot thing in the news. My impression has been that the public normally forgets about us during post hostilities, peacekeeping and nation building. I was wrong.

Please thank all your folks, especially you and Mia. I don't think you'll ever truly understand the full impact you're having on the men and women over here. You're helping us on a physical level with all the wonderful care packages you send, but you are also touching us on a deeper emotional level. We reflect on the people supporting us from the states."

You can see it's very important to support the troops. Receiving our letters, receiving our letters, receiving our care packages. It is what's going to keep them motivated to complete their missions, knowing that we care. There are people out here that care. Really inspires them to move on and to do a good job for us.

NGUYEN: That letter really hits home. Gives you some insights to what they're feeling and how important what you're doing is to them. Mia quickly, how can folks get involved?

SUPE: It is very easy. The first thing they need to do is go to the site, which is www.4thetroops.net. You can go to the site. If you're very interested, a very loyal supporter, please contact us. We would love to start the interview process with you. But most of all, we are desperate seeking corporate sponsors through this.

Over the years, we have done so many wonderful programs. We have been able to send over close to 100,000 phone minutes last year. We're in the middle through some wonderful supporters right now; they're actually making sand scarves and purchasing goggles to send over.

NGUYEN: Great work that you're doing. We are out of time, unfortunately. But there's the website for folks to get involved. Mia Supe, and Ann Galvan, thank you. Best of luck to you.

GALVAN: Thank you so much.

NGUYEN: And when we come back, do you find it hard to stay up past the 11:00 news? Well don't worry; we've got the best of last week's late-night laughs including what Laura Bush told Jay Leno about her trip to Vegas.

Also, there's a new giant at the box office. Make that an ogre. Shrek sweeps up. Details when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Where can you find the most extravagant and expensive omelet in the world? Only in New York of course. CNN's Jeanne Moos goes looking for the secret behind a $1,000 omelet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's an egg dish that will cost you a nest egg. A 1,000 bucks for an omelet?

It's enough to make a chicken cluck. Enough to make the front page. Enough to make diners at the Parker Meridian Hotel restaurant say...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We thought that was the calorie count when we saw 1,000.

MOOS: Take six eggs, a lobster tail and claw meat. Pop in the oven, then cover with caviar. Ten ounces of caviar. That's $500 to $600 worth of caviar alone.

SYLVESTER STALLONE, ACTOR: Does that come with a liver transplant? Because you're going to need it.

MOOS: We stumbled on Sylvester Stallone eating at the Parker Meridian. Here's a guy who had experience with eggs filming "Rocky."

(on camera): You're probably the only guy in here who could afford this omelet.

STALLONE: You feel like you're eating a generation of sturgeons there. I'd feel a little guilty.

MOOS: On the menu, the wife of the owner dares you to expense the $1,000 omelet.

This guy did. He's a reporter for a London tabloid doing a story on what is technically a frittata. Since this was the first one sold, it got applause.

And though we couldn't expense one, our colleague gave us a bite.

(on camera): You know, I'm not crazy about caviar.

(voice-over): But our British friend said he loved it. Watch the eyebrows.

(on camera): You know, we could get about 200 omelets at a regular diner for this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know. (voice-over): There's also the bargain hunter's $100 version, with a mere ounce of caviar.

STALLONE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Donald Trump is due for a snack.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos.

STALLONE: Hey, darling.

MOOS: CNN.

STALLONE: Love you.

MOOS: New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well it is not easy being green, but it sure is profitable. "Shrek 2" frightened away the competition at the box office. Hollywood insighters say the forecast is anything but grim for this animated sequel. The fairy tale about the big green ogre made more than $104 million in it's debut weekend which began on Wednesday.

"Troy" landed at distant second taking in nearly $24 million. "Van Helsing is third with 10 million. "Mean Girls" made nearly 7 million, and "Man on Fire" rounds off the top five with 3.5 million.

On the small screen, presidential politics is generating the biggest buzz and more than its share of late night laughs. Even the First Lady joined in. Here's a sample.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY LENO, TALK SHOW HOST: The White House is now saying that they still don't have a timetable for when the U.S. will be out of Iraq. They don't have a timetable although they hinted it could be early than the Kerry administration.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is so weird. I just saw John Kerry's new television commercial. And he says, I am John Kerry and I approve of this message if I had one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LENO: You were in Los Vegas last night. I imagine partying until dawn. Did you gamble at all while you're there? Did you pull a slot machine? Did you go to a Chip-N-Dales show?

LAURA BUSH: Jay, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. LENO: Really?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID LETTERMAN, LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST: John Kerry met with Ralph Nader. Wouldn't you like to have been a fly on the wall for that? And if you were, you would have been the most charismatic thing in the room.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LENO: When was the last time you and your husband had a disagreement on an issue?

BUSH: Jay, what happens in the White House stays in the White House.

LENO: Really? Wow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Well, that is it for us. Coming up at 7:00 Eastern on PEOPLE IN THE NEWS, profiles of "American Idols" Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken and Shrekker, Mike Myers.

At 8:00, CNN PRESENTS, President Kennedy has been Shot. Journalists who covered the president look back at the event 60 years later. At 9:00 Eastern, a LARRY KING encore presentation of odd couple Tony Randall and Jack Klugman.

And at 10:00 Eastern on CNN SUNDAY NIGHT, a military court sentenced a Florida national guardsman to a year of hard labor for refusing to return to Iraq. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) says what he saw there made him question American motives. Does the punishment fit the crime? We'll take a look.

The hour's headlines when we come back and then PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

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


Aired May 23, 2004 - 18:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR, CNN LIVE SUNDAY: I'm Betty Nguyen for Carol Lin, welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY. If you think you are paying more each day at the pump, you are right. Gas prices are going through the roof. We'll take a look at the latest numbers and see if there's any relief in sight.
And the power of one. How one woman's campaign to support Americans in Iraq started a movement. Now hundreds of people are involved, and they are doing some amazing things to support the troops. That story is just ahead.

Nebraska is reeling from a rash of tornadoes that have ravaged the southern part of the state. Twisters capped two days of severe weather that caused damage and left hundreds of thousands of people without power. From the upper plain states to West Virginia.

Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns has declared a state of emergency. The small village of Hallam took the worst punishment. The winds destroyed or damaged every home there, and killed a 73-year-old woman. All 276 residents had to evacuate.

Let's find out if the folks in the region are getting any relief from the storms. Meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is in the CNN weather center. Jackie, it's been a rough few days.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it really has been. In fact yesterday, the most active tornado day of 2004, but we're still counting the numbers. These are preliminary tornado reports from yesterday, 85 total most of which happened in Nebraska and in Iowa. But the thing to keep in mind as you take a look at these numbers, these are just reports of tornadoes. So it could have been the same tornado spotted in a different town or a different county as it tracked along.

So 40, not the actual number of tornadoes. Probably about half of that is what we're expecting. Now there is more active and severe weather going on right now. We just have word of a couple of new tornado warnings which are in effect. I hope I'm saying this right. I'm guessing Genesee County in Southeastern Michigan, and this includes the town of Flint.

Doppler radar indicating a tornado there near Flushing, 12 miles west of Flint, moving eastward. If you live in Flint Michigan in that area, you want to be taking cover right now. Get to the lowest level of your home. Get to the basement if you have one, away from doors and windows. Wait until your sirens go off. Wait until the storm passes. Very dangerous situation shaping up right now in right now in Flint.

We also have tornado warnings--both of these also in Michigan for Livingston County and also, Shiawassee county in southeastern Michigan until 6:30 local time. This is the same storm system that produced the tornadoes yesterday across Iowa, and into Nebraska.

We have a particularly dangerous situation labeled for the storm prediction center for this tornado watch. Very strong cell here. South of I-70 the tracking on off to the east. Probably going to see a lot of large hail and damaging winds, maybe 60, 70 miles per hour out of that particular thunderstorm cell.

We have a severe thunderstorm watch as the frontal system lifts up to the north including New York City until 10:00 tonight and a brand new tornado watch, a different system all together, Betty, believe it or not. Including Rapid City. This one in effect until about 10:00 local time. So while one severe storm system progresses off to the east, we've got a new one, and it's going to be a very active start of the next week, as well.

NGUYEN: All right, Jacqui Jeras, staying on top of it. Thank you. You'll find full coverage of the deadly tornadoes in Nebraska. National weather maps and your hometown forecast at our website, cnn.com.

Before the U.S. invaded Iraq Ahmed Chalabi was thought to be one of America's biggest assets. Now many Washington insiders say he's become a huge liability and even accuse him of spying for Iran. Today, the former Iraqi exile spoke out in his own defense. CNN's Elaine Quijano has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Iraqi governing council member Ahmed Chalabi once a favorite of the Pentagon denied that he spied for Iran.

AHMED CHALABI: We never provided any classified information from the U.S. to Iran. And neither I nor anyone in the INC. And that was a charge being put out by George Tenet.

QUIJANO: Chalabi says he's a victim of a CIA smear campaign, and he wants a hearing before congress to clear his name. But judging by the reaction of senior lawmakers, congress will be a hostile audience.

SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-CA) INTELLIGENCE CMTE: I think he's a Charlatan, I think he's manipulator. I don't believe he's a man that you can trust.

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL, (R-NE) INTELLIGENCE CMTE: What we have here is a guy who has a record like we all do. And that record has not turned out very well. Trouble has followed him everywhere he's been.

QUIJANO: Chalabi heads up the dissident Iraqi National Congress which advocated war to oust Saddam Hussein, helped gather intelligence for the U.S., and until this month, was on the U.S.'s payroll receiving more than $30 million in all.

SEN. PAT ROBERTS, (R-KA) ARMED SERVICES CMTE There is a school of thought, especially by the CIA, that Mr. Chalabi's intelligence input was not that good. And that's probably an understatement.

QUIJANO: As for Chalabi's request for congressional hearings to clear his name, a Democratic member of the Senate Intelligence Committee said why bother?

It's not clear to me that Mr. Chalabi speaks for anybody other than Mr. Chalabi right now. I don't know if you have a congressional hearing just to give a platform to one individual to sort of speak out.

QUIJANO (on camera): Neither the White House nor the Pentagon will comment on Ahmed Chalabi's credibility. When asked last week, a White House spokesman said it was not the president's place to weigh in on who the future leaders of Iraq should be. Elaine Quijano, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: President Bush will be weighing in on the future of the U.S. role in Iraq tomorrow night. He'll address the American public in a speech at the Army War College in Pennsylvania. It's expected to be a first in a series. Our Dana Bash previews what the President needs to accomplish and how he hopes to do it.

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Bush arriving in Connecticut for day two of private weekend celebrations for his college-graduating daughters. He was also reviewing drafts of Monday night's speech the White House is counting on to turn around growing concern about the mission in Iraq, and sinking support for Mr. Bush as a leader. Recently, the president has struck a defiant tone.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES: The world watches for weakness in our resolve. They will see no weakness.

BASH: But on the eve of the speech, calls from both sides of the aisle to go light on the platitudes, heavy on specifics and candor.

FEINSTEIN: People are going to want hard answers. We have gone on now with the sense of, we will stay the course for to long. We need to know precisely what that course is.

NEWT GINGRICH, FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER: When he says let's stay the course, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) you can't special defend, then I think he loses ground.

BASH: Bush sources say he will detail a series of steps for the transfer of power to Iraqis June 30, and the U.S. role beyond that date. The President will use the primetime address to lay out plans for an interim government set to take over in just five weeks, though he'll give no names. While the President talks of democracy, a key Bush ally set lower standards.

REP. DUNCAN HUNTER, (R-CA) ARMED SERVICE: The nation that has a modicum of freedom for it's people, basic freedoms for it's people, and is benign with respect to its relationship with the United States.

BASH: Aides say the President will unveil new information about the command structure for the U.S. military as part of a multinational force. But negotiations continue with countries like Germany and France who want to see the U.S. set an exit date. One Republican said the President is too isolated, and should learn from the mistakes of his Iraq policy.

HAGEL: To essentially hold himself hostage, to two or three key advisors and never reach beyond that is very dangerous for a President.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH (on camera): (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and relying on the U.N. to write plans for the new Iraqi government. And Bush officials have been hammering out details on a new U.N. resolution to bless the process that the president will talk about tomorrow night. And Bush officials hope to find compromise on that new resolution as soon as this week.

NGUYEN: Dana, this speech tomorrow night is the first in a series. What will the others focus on?

BASH: Well, what Bush officials say is that the President will continue to speak out. Obviously we've been talking about tomorrow night. We're going to hear from the President when he talks at the dedication of a World War II memorial later this week. The following week, he'll be talking at an Air Force academy commencement.

All of those speeches will be sort of platforms for the President to give new details as they emerge about the plans. There won't be maybe a lot of specifics tomorrow night, but as the President gets more plans, he will be offering them in the speeches.

But it's really about continuing to try to lower the level of concern in America. As all part of a broader public relations effort to try to turn around really the sinking support for the President on the Iraq policy.

NGUYEN: A lot of questions to be answered. CNN's Dana Bash, thank you.

Well, a penny a day. That's how much the already record price of gasoline has gone up over the last two weeks. The Lundberg (ph) survey shows the average price at the pump in the U.S. has shot up 14 cents in as many days to $2.07 a gallon. CNN's Miguel Marquez is watching the price pick up at the gas station in Burbank, California. Miguel, prices just keep going up, it seems.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's really no fun, is it, Betty? The city with the highest average gasoline prices is San Diego. The lowest, Charleston, South Carolina all the way across the continent. We are at a Costco where this is pretty much normal fare for a Sunday.

And the reason that they're coming here, is because gas prices are probably cheaper here than just about anywhere in Los Angeles. Where you can find gas prices are about $2.70 a gallon typically. The cheap stuff is $2.26 and that has people rethinking the cars they drive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: This Toyota dealership sells more alternative fuel vehicles than any other in the country. The reason, pretty obvious.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I drive a Jeep Cherokee and I spent about $80 a week in gas.

MARQUEZ: Californians, used to higher gas prices than the rest of the U.S. are beginning to balk at prices making a run at $3.00 a gallon. Nowhere has the effect been more immediate than the car lot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our large SUV's have -- the percentage of vehicles sold is declining.

MARQUEZ: And that trend may be playing out nationwide. Auto Data, a company that tracks vehicle sales says in April consumers bought fewer large SUVs like the Ford Explorers, Chevy Suburban, and Hummer H2. While it's still not clear if high gas prices are driving SUV sales down, pricing petroleum is driving interest in hybrids up. How many of these could you sell if you could?

CHRIS ABRAHMS,TOYOTA SALES MANAGER: We could use another 2 or 300 right now. Today.

MARQUEZ: Marketing firm J.D. Power estimates the next few years, up to 20 models of hybrid will be on U.S. roads. In yearly sales will hit half million vehicles. That's ten time what's they are now. Some consumers considering buying a hybrid say it's not just that gas prices are high, it's that they expect them to stay high.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're not going to go down below $2. Probably only go up. And, yes, $3, $4. It seems likely.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ (on camera): So, what does the future hold for gas prices? Well, even though the OPEC has indicated that it's going to raise production by 28 percent starting in a month, Trilby Lundberg with the Lundberg Report that studies the gas industry says that because it's a summer months, where Americans travel more, they're reformulating the gasoline for the summer months to bring down the smog and the economy is picking up, all that may negate any production increase that OPEC does. So it looks like high prices may be here to stay.

NGUYEN: And while the hybrid market is doing great, how worried are carmakers? Especially those making the SUVs?

MARQUEZ: Well, I think there is concern, although Ford has a new hybrid coming on later this year. Toyota has another model coming on Acura or Honda has another model coming on. So it looks like they are just ready to make the switch as soon as consumers are -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. Miguel Marquez in Burbank California, thank you.

Imagine this, if every home in your town were leveled or at least damaged by a tornado. That's what happened in Hallam, Nebraska. Reporter Brandi Peterson of affiliate KETV is there live. What can you tell us about the situation?

BRANDI PETERSON, KETV: well, I'm here in Hallam, Nebraska right now. It's about 20 miles south of our capital of Lincoln. This is just one of a dozen towns in Nebraska that have been devastated by last night's storms. As you can see, every house or structure that was in this twister's path was flattened.

There's pile after pile of rubble laying where houses sat yesterday, and many of the houses that are still standing have broken windows, torn off roofs and exposed beams or planks just jutting out of the sides.

Now as we arrived here this morning, we saw hundreds of people were streaming in here trying to get back into the town and find out if their house was still standing. Or what happened to their belongings. Many of the people we talked to said they're so overwhelmed right now. They don't know where to turn or what to expect next.

We do have one confirmed death. She's a 73-year-old woman. At least 37 people we know of are injured. Governor Mike Johanns has declared a state of emergency for the area. No word yet on dollar damages for Hallam or any of the other towns affected by this storm.

NGUYEN: Brandi if we look at those pictures behind you, it is just amazing that all the destruction that we see in the town. You say every house is flattened. What's being done for those folks who live there? What kind of shelters are set up?

PETERSON: Well I tell you what, right after the storm happened last night, Halem residents were bused to Lincoln, where there was a shelter set up. They could reunite there and make sure all of their family members were together and OK, and that seemed to work really well.

Today, the American Red Cross has come in. There are stations set up here and at several other towns in the area. Hundreds of volunteers have really come together and that's the one good thing. Many of the towns are small and they are devastated by this. But being small, they all come together and help each other when things like this happen.

NGUYEN: All right. Brandi Peterson of affiliate KETV, thank you.

We showed you pictures of a funnel cloud earlier in the show. Coming up later, we're going to talk to the man who shot this picture and ask him what was he thinking?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a legacy for us. It's a painful legacy. It has a lot of risk in it. It has a lot of fear in it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Are your genes against you? Could you lose your health coverage if your DNA were tested for cancer? Plus a little later, you've heard of soccer moms and NASCAR dads, but who are the Lipstick Liberals? Why don't they vote? The answers might surprise you. Stay tuned.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: In New York today, some 2,000 people took to the streets to rally in support of same sex marriage. Marchers walked over the Brooklyn Bridge carrying banners. They're celebrating same sex marriage rights in Massachusetts, and demanding equal rights in New York State. Organizers call it a success, and say it shows how many people support equal rights for gay and lesbian couples.

A new debate is raging about how to protect people from genetic discrimination. Especially since new technology can predict what illnesses and diseases you may be more likely to get. CNN's Kathleen Koch reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky Fisher and her daughter share more than a family resemblance. Genetic testing reveals they share a heightened risk of cancer. Ovarian cancer claimed Becky's grandmother at age 41. Becky and her mother were both diagnosed with breast cancer in their 30s.

BECKY FISHER, BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR: It is a legacy for us. A painful legacy. It has a lot of risk in it. It has a lot of fear in it.

KOCH: One of the greatest fears for both women, losing health insurance or a job because of their genetic makeup.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right now I'm covered under their group insurance plan. So I don't have that risk right now. It's definitely a fear for the future.

KOCH: More than 30 states have laws barring genetic discrimination. And the senate last year unanimously voted for a federal ban against it. But the measure is stalled in the House. Health insurers oppose a clause in the House bill that could block questions about a patient's family medical history. KAREN IGNAGNI, PRES. AMERICA'S HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS: The definition was so broad that it would have prohibited any kind of questioning in the area of family history, which otherwise would have been relevant for disease management.

KOCH (on camera): The Chamber of Commerce insist there are already enough protections against genetic discrimination. Its business owner members fear the bill would encourage frivolous lawsuits

LAWRENCE EORBER, U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: They are concerned about having genetic testing be converted into another cause of action to cause yet another series of lawsuits when there's no evidence whatsoever that there's employment derivation because of people's genetic makeup.

KOCH (voice over): But advocates point out fear of discrimination is real and could hinder progress in genetic research.

DEBRA NESS, NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES: We fear that the enormous promise that this research holds out will never be realized because people will be afraid to get tested.

KOCH: The Fishers point out having the genetic proclivity toward an illness doesn't necessarily mean you will be ill. Still, they want federal protections so their genes can never be used against them.

FISHER: We have a problem with being absolutely vulnerable and hung out to dry because of something that we couldn't help.

KOCH: Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: We have two kinds of eggs in this show. Back in Russia after 75 years, these Fabarge eggs made for Czars and the women they love. Just wait until you hear which millionaire is responsible for their come back.

And back home in this country, a different kind of egg. When was the last time you had a caviar omelet? Bet it didn't cost what this one does.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Our next story has its beginnings with an Easter present from a loving husband to his wife. The husband was a Russian Czar and the present was the first of the jeweled Faberge eggs. Over the years, many were removed from Russia but now thanks to a Russian billionaire, nine of them have come home. CNN's Jill Dougherty has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice-over): Easter eggs fit for a Czar, crafted by imperial jeweler Karl Faberge, gifts from two Russian emperors to the women they loved. Now, back in Russia after almost 75 years, under tight security, nine Faberge eggs arrived at the Kremlin from New York where they used to be part of the collection of American Capitalist Malcolm Forbes. Now, they belong to one of modern Russia's biggest capitalists, billionaire Viktor Vekelsberg.

VIKTOR VEKELSBERG, VICE PRESIDENT TNK APPLEGATE: OIL COMPANY, (via translator): I think I really didn't comprehended right up to the last minute that I'm the owner of this collection. I guess that will come in time.

DOUGHERTY: The eggs, along with 100 other Faberge items were to be auctioned off at Southabes (ph) but Vekelsberg stunned the art world by purchasing the entire collection for an estimated $100 million. Only 50 eggs were ever made. The Kremlin Armory has ten, but the Vekelsberg collection includes some of the most famous pieces.

(on camera): This is the very first imperial Faberge Easter egg, a gift from Czar Alexander III to his wife Maria Feodorovna. She loved it so much it became an annual tradition for the Czars and the eggs became more and more elaborate.

The carnation egg alone is worth $24 million. The new owner says he wants to bring back to Russia art that was sold abroad. And Russian tax authorities are making it easier by ending a 30 percent import duty.

MIKHAIL SHVIDKOI, FMR RUSSIAN CULTURE MINISTER: Just at the beginning of the first century this kind of -- this is very important.

DOUGHERTY: The Faberge eggs will be on display across the country. A chance for today's Russians to admire the artistic achievement of their Czars heritage. Jill Dougherty, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: We have a recap of our top stories, that's straight ahead. Plus, up close and personal.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: We want to get an update now on these spring storms. Jacqui Jeras is at the scene in the weather center. Jacqui are we getting some new warnings?

JERAS: Yes, actually we are. The same system that hit Nebraska last evening is now hitting parts of Michigan at this time. And a tornado was spotted about an hour ago at Williamston, Michigan. No damage to report with that one. But the parent cell now, there is a tornado warning on that one for Lapeer County in Southeastern Michigan.

This one has a history of producing tornadoes. If you live in Lapeer County, you want to be taking shelter right now. Also, Genessee County, and Scott County in Illinois. Genessee County in Michigan and the Scott County in Illinois. Tornado warnings on those. And so we are seeing things really develop here this evening and becoming quite active.

We have some new watches. Even a severe thunderstorm watch now has been extended across southern parts of Missouri. Considered a particularly dangerous situation here for this thunderstorm watch, which kind of clips the St. Louis metro area heading on up towards Peoria. We have severe thunderstorms at this time.

We also have severe thunderstorm watch in effect for parts of New York into Pennsylvania including New York City. Severe thunderstorms just to the west of the Hartford area at this hour. Gusty winds and large hail can be expected there. And a different storm system, this one separate altogether with a tornado watch across parts of Montana, into Wyoming and into Western South Dakota.

That includes Rapid City but no warnings out of that one right now. This continues to be a volatile situation this evening. Our storm system moving very slowly off to the east, so we are anticipating more severe weather across the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and into the Northeast over the next several days.

NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Jacqui.

We turn to Iraq where a car bombing near Fallujah wounded three U.S. soldiers today. Meanwhile American troops and tanks left the city of Kufa this morning after an overnight raid. Hospital officials say 29 people were killed in that operation which netted several stockpiles of weapons according to CNN's Jane Arraf. She says the operation did not appear aimed at Muqtada al-Sadr, the anti-American cleric whose militia is entrenched there.

The commander of U.S. ground forces is emphatically denying a news report suggesting he knew about and even witnessed some of the prisoner abuse in Iraq. The "Washington Post" quoted a source as saying he heard it from a captain. That Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez was present during some of the in some interrogation.

Right now though, we want to focus on a different aspect of the prison abuse scandal. We want to know when soldiers cross the line between coercion and torture. For some expert insight into the question, we turn to Philip Zimbardo. He's a professor of psychology at Stanford University. Thanks for being here with us.

PHILIP ZIMBARDO, STANFORD UNIVERSITY: Good to be here.

NGUYEN: Let's talk about that line if we will. Is it a fine line between coercion and torture?

No, it's not a fine line at all. It's a line that is constantly shifting. You see, what happens is in addition to the research I did at Stanford many years ago which has eerie parallels to what the soldiers did here in Iraq. I also studies tortures in Brazil.

I talked to men who had been state sanctioned tortures and death squad exclusionists. And it starts off, you want to get information, you want to get information about terrorists. You want to get information about insurgents. And you're not getting that information, and so, you begin to use physical torture. You begin to use psychological torture.

And then you still don't get that information. And then, those people are worthless to you. And so you kill them. You get rid of them. I think what happened here is a progression. This happened over many months, not a day. At the beginning, it was most likely the CIA and civilian interrogators staged some of those first photographs.

Which meant they gave permission, they didn't give orders, they gave permission for the soldiers to begin to do these horrendous things. After they had enough pictures, they didn't need a thousand more. The soldiers now were given permission to play with the prisoners. Engage in fun and games.

And I think what we have seen in the pictures is really the second stage where they're doing these abusive things. The third stage, the last month, are probably the horrendous things that the military's holding back from us because they go from simulating sodomy probably to actual sodomy. They go from having the dogs pretend to bite the prisoners, having the dogs chew on the prisoners.

NGUYEN: How do they get to that point? At the beginning we're thinking that this is something that was part of the plan, but then it got way out of control. Is this a group thing situation where peer pressure really played a role?

ZIMBARDO: Exactly. See, I've been saying all along with the parallels to my study that these are not bad apples. These are not a few isolated incidents as General Myer and the other people say. It's systematic. It was going on for months.

And in addition to the perpetrators of evil, if you will, the particular soldiers who did these horrible things, there were dozens of people who watched. Who approved tacitly, approved openly. And there's only a very few heroes, people that resisted like G.I. Joe Darby.

So what happens is in that situation, you begin to get what I call a Mardi Gras effect. That is you leave behind your morality, all the things you were -- the good boy you were back at home, the good woman. There is no future. The future is where you would never take any of these pictures because they -- you're legally culpable, your liable.

So what happens is, they are trapped in the middle of this Mardi Gras effect, living for the moment, living for pleasure. And so, they not only cross that line, it's one -- one soldier said, it was all fun. We didn't think anything was wrong. And so, the behavior gets more and more turned in on itself. And it's like Mardi Gras.

That Mardi Gras is the church gives you permission to indulge in lust and gluttony because this is a time out of time and this Abu Ghraib prison is a place out of place.

NGUYEN: So quickly, if these lines keep shifting, how do you set boundaries? ZIMBARDO: Well see, the problem is you have to set boundaries from the beginning. That's where the military was wrong. That's where Rumsfeld was wrong. In this situation, you have to have very strict sanctions. Because all prisons are places of evil until proven otherwise because they're places of total power.

Guards have the power of life and death over prisoners unless there are clear rules, sanctions for violating those rules. Rewards for following those rules and training. To be a prison guard is a very difficult job and these poor army reservists had no training, and in fact, they had no supervision, or supervision that gave them permission to engage in the evil.

NGUYEN: Very interesting insight. We have Philip Zimbardo from Stanford University. Thank you for that.

ZIMBARDO: Thank you very much.

NGUYEN: When we come back, young, affluent, opinionated, but politically uninvolved. Can the Democrats motivate Lipstick Liberals to head to the polls?

And we're talking to the women behind the web site 4thetroops. Why did they start it, and what do they do?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Democrats and Republicans are battling this year to get voters passionately involved in the presidential election. But they may be overlooking some Americans who routinely don't cast ballots even though they are passionate about the issues. Our Alina Cho introduces us to the so-called Lipstick Liberals and the impact they could have on the election.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Some call them the "sex and the city" demographic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you saying you have never voted in New York City?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are correct Mr. President.

CHO: Others, Lipstick Liberals. Jennifer Dematio (ph) fits the ballet.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you vote?

JENNIFER DEMATIO (ph): I just registered. I haven't voted in a while. I have to admit I haven't voted in a while.

CHO: Dematio (ph) is not alone. She's young, single, successful, and doesn't vote.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is it scary to think about politics? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's not scary. It's boring. It's confusing. It's boring.

CHO (on camera): New studies by several universities found just one in five women under 30 regularly goes to the polls. Experts say most are skipping elections and instead are chasing careers and looking for love.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have to meet him. How am I going to meet him?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Women who have what we call the four magic M's, marriage, munchkins, mortgages, and mutual funds, are much more likely to vote than their unmarried, non-stake holding non-ownership counterparts.

CHO: Perhaps no one knows better the importance of voting than Karenna Gore Schiff. Her father Al Gore lost Florida, ultimately the presidency in 2000 by a mere 537 votes.

UNIDENTFIED FEMALE: The candidates will go to swing states, and they'll go to senior centers. And there's a reason for that. That's who will decide the election because they're out there voting. If young women do the same thing, they could really change the direction of the country.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pretend it's a hair appointment we won't miss. Make an appointment with Election Day, and get there.

CHO: Dematio (ph) lived in Florida in 2000, could have voted but didn't. Now she says the war in Iraq is pushing her to the polls.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It only needs to be one thing you say, this is something I care about, and if nothing else focus on that and --.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then register?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And register?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then vote.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And vote.

CHO: A giant step towards having a voice. Alina Cho, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Time now for some news around the world. In the West Bank, two members of the militant group Hamas were killed when the car they were in exploded. Another person in that car and two passersbys were wounded. The cause of the blast is not sure. Security officials say the explosion occurred inside the car.

In Southeastern Bangladesh, police say most of the 200 people on board a capsized ferry are feared dead. That ferry sank during a tropical storm when many passengers were asleep. About 50 people were able to swim ashore. Fifteen bodies have been recovered.

A deadly attack in Kashmir is testing India's new prime minister. A bus carrying soldiers and their families blew up killing at least 29 people and injuring 7. The militant group (UNINTELLIGIBLE) has claimed responsibility. The attack happened within hours of India's new government beginning its work.

Time and time again, we've seen images of U.S. soldiers going about their duty in Iraq. Their day-to-day morale can sometimes hinge on something as simple as a letter from home. Or even a care package. If you have ever wanted to be a morale booster yourself, look no further than the online organization known as 4thetroops.

Mia Elliot-Supe co-founded the Web site last year, and she joins us now from Cincinnati. And Anne Galvan also does work for the troops, and she is in Los Angeles. Thank you both for joining us.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks for having us.

Mia, let's start with you. You started this. What compelled you to do that?

MIA ELLIOT-SUPE, 4THETROOPS.NET: My brother was in Iraq last year. Actually, he just returned home very recently. But he went with the 4th ID's (ph) and he had called my mother and I, and said that many of the soldiers were not getting mail at the time. So we pulled it together and went throughout our community and that's basically how it started. We just started through the churches and schools, and I got online and met Anne and we created the Web site, and here we are.

NGUYEN: And so you ladies only met on online. You've never seen each other. Ann, how did you get involved?

ANNE GALVAN, 4THETROOPS.NET: Well, I got involved at my firm Lincoln and Watkins (ph). We started supporting marines back in the inception of the war. And I created the Web site so I could share the letters with them and let them know what a big difference they made in supporting the troops.

And shortly thereafter, I met Mia online and she told me about her brother's concern over his comrades not receiving any mail or packages, and I wanted to be a part of it. So she and I got together and we started a group, and we started supporting his comrades with care packages and letters and let to them know we were here for them and that we care.

NGUYEN: And how important are these letters? I'm sure it is a huge morale booster. Mia, you know firsthand, right?

SUPE: Absolutely. Just recently, just today, we received a letter from the major from the Sunni Triangle, hopefully Anne will be able to share a little bit of that soon, but the site each day someone is getting a letter, and they are sharing the information with us. What good work that's happening through the support group all across the nation. NGUYEN: Can you share a little bit of the letter with us?

SUPE: Yes, I think Anne can do that.

GALVAN: I have the letter. It's from a major in Iraq and he writes. "We receive many boxes from many folks 4thetroops. We are busy trying to write back to everybody. I'm telling you, it's like being a kid again. Christmas morning. The experience was part reliving it as a child and as part of a parent watching the others. It was truly moving. I continued to be amazed by all that you do. I never expected to see this outpouring support.

So many of us thought with the war officially over, the U.S. public normally quickly moves on to the next hot thing in the news. My impression has been that the public normally forgets about us during post hostilities, peacekeeping and nation building. I was wrong.

Please thank all your folks, especially you and Mia. I don't think you'll ever truly understand the full impact you're having on the men and women over here. You're helping us on a physical level with all the wonderful care packages you send, but you are also touching us on a deeper emotional level. We reflect on the people supporting us from the states."

You can see it's very important to support the troops. Receiving our letters, receiving our letters, receiving our care packages. It is what's going to keep them motivated to complete their missions, knowing that we care. There are people out here that care. Really inspires them to move on and to do a good job for us.

NGUYEN: That letter really hits home. Gives you some insights to what they're feeling and how important what you're doing is to them. Mia quickly, how can folks get involved?

SUPE: It is very easy. The first thing they need to do is go to the site, which is www.4thetroops.net. You can go to the site. If you're very interested, a very loyal supporter, please contact us. We would love to start the interview process with you. But most of all, we are desperate seeking corporate sponsors through this.

Over the years, we have done so many wonderful programs. We have been able to send over close to 100,000 phone minutes last year. We're in the middle through some wonderful supporters right now; they're actually making sand scarves and purchasing goggles to send over.

NGUYEN: Great work that you're doing. We are out of time, unfortunately. But there's the website for folks to get involved. Mia Supe, and Ann Galvan, thank you. Best of luck to you.

GALVAN: Thank you so much.

NGUYEN: And when we come back, do you find it hard to stay up past the 11:00 news? Well don't worry; we've got the best of last week's late-night laughs including what Laura Bush told Jay Leno about her trip to Vegas.

Also, there's a new giant at the box office. Make that an ogre. Shrek sweeps up. Details when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Where can you find the most extravagant and expensive omelet in the world? Only in New York of course. CNN's Jeanne Moos goes looking for the secret behind a $1,000 omelet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's an egg dish that will cost you a nest egg. A 1,000 bucks for an omelet?

It's enough to make a chicken cluck. Enough to make the front page. Enough to make diners at the Parker Meridian Hotel restaurant say...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We thought that was the calorie count when we saw 1,000.

MOOS: Take six eggs, a lobster tail and claw meat. Pop in the oven, then cover with caviar. Ten ounces of caviar. That's $500 to $600 worth of caviar alone.

SYLVESTER STALLONE, ACTOR: Does that come with a liver transplant? Because you're going to need it.

MOOS: We stumbled on Sylvester Stallone eating at the Parker Meridian. Here's a guy who had experience with eggs filming "Rocky."

(on camera): You're probably the only guy in here who could afford this omelet.

STALLONE: You feel like you're eating a generation of sturgeons there. I'd feel a little guilty.

MOOS: On the menu, the wife of the owner dares you to expense the $1,000 omelet.

This guy did. He's a reporter for a London tabloid doing a story on what is technically a frittata. Since this was the first one sold, it got applause.

And though we couldn't expense one, our colleague gave us a bite.

(on camera): You know, I'm not crazy about caviar.

(voice-over): But our British friend said he loved it. Watch the eyebrows.

(on camera): You know, we could get about 200 omelets at a regular diner for this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know. (voice-over): There's also the bargain hunter's $100 version, with a mere ounce of caviar.

STALLONE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Donald Trump is due for a snack.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos.

STALLONE: Hey, darling.

MOOS: CNN.

STALLONE: Love you.

MOOS: New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well it is not easy being green, but it sure is profitable. "Shrek 2" frightened away the competition at the box office. Hollywood insighters say the forecast is anything but grim for this animated sequel. The fairy tale about the big green ogre made more than $104 million in it's debut weekend which began on Wednesday.

"Troy" landed at distant second taking in nearly $24 million. "Van Helsing is third with 10 million. "Mean Girls" made nearly 7 million, and "Man on Fire" rounds off the top five with 3.5 million.

On the small screen, presidential politics is generating the biggest buzz and more than its share of late night laughs. Even the First Lady joined in. Here's a sample.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY LENO, TALK SHOW HOST: The White House is now saying that they still don't have a timetable for when the U.S. will be out of Iraq. They don't have a timetable although they hinted it could be early than the Kerry administration.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is so weird. I just saw John Kerry's new television commercial. And he says, I am John Kerry and I approve of this message if I had one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LENO: You were in Los Vegas last night. I imagine partying until dawn. Did you gamble at all while you're there? Did you pull a slot machine? Did you go to a Chip-N-Dales show?

LAURA BUSH: Jay, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. LENO: Really?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID LETTERMAN, LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST: John Kerry met with Ralph Nader. Wouldn't you like to have been a fly on the wall for that? And if you were, you would have been the most charismatic thing in the room.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LENO: When was the last time you and your husband had a disagreement on an issue?

BUSH: Jay, what happens in the White House stays in the White House.

LENO: Really? Wow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Well, that is it for us. Coming up at 7:00 Eastern on PEOPLE IN THE NEWS, profiles of "American Idols" Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken and Shrekker, Mike Myers.

At 8:00, CNN PRESENTS, President Kennedy has been Shot. Journalists who covered the president look back at the event 60 years later. At 9:00 Eastern, a LARRY KING encore presentation of odd couple Tony Randall and Jack Klugman.

And at 10:00 Eastern on CNN SUNDAY NIGHT, a military court sentenced a Florida national guardsman to a year of hard labor for refusing to return to Iraq. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) says what he saw there made him question American motives. Does the punishment fit the crime? We'll take a look.

The hour's headlines when we come back and then PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

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