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CNN Live Sunday
Cornerstone For Freedom Tower In New York Laid Today; Lance Armstone Attempts Record 6th Straight Tour de France
Aired July 04, 2004 - 16:00 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.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GOVERNOR GEORGE PATAKI, (R), NY: Let this great Freedom Tower show the world that what our enemies sought to destroy--our democracy, our freedom, our way of life, stands taller than ever before.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The Big Apple marks the nation's birthday with a cornerstone moment at Ground Zero.
Heading for home after 15 months in Iraq: We'll show you how some U.S. soldiers are preparing for their long awaited departure. And forget fireworks. What's a 4th of July without Nathan's Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest? This year's winner took in a record haul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Hello, welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY, I'm Fredricka Whitfield. All that and more after a look at headlines.
Islamic militants who claim they're holding a U.S. marine captive in Iraq deny they have killed him. The group Ansar al-Sunna has posted a statement on its Web site insisting that reports of Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun's death on three other Islamic Web sites are baseless and untrue. Hassoun was last seen June 19.
Senator Max Baucus of Montana is missing the 4th of July parade in Butte as he nurses cuts and bruises from a motorcycle accident. The five-term senator lost control of his Harley and hit a guardrail on his way to a family picnic yesterday.
Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry is spending the holiday stumping in Iowa with Governor Tom Vilsack who is said to be on his short list of potential running mates. Kerry is on the third leg of a bus tour courting voters in the Midwest.
President Bush is back in Washington after a July 4th campaign trip to West Virginia cut short by a mechanical glitch with Air Force One. The President flew in a backup plane to a rally in Charleston after canceling a stop at a church service there.
Well, this Independence Day marks a new beginning at Ground Zero in New York. Construction began today on the Freedom Tower, the skyscraper designed to replace the World Trade Center Towers. As our Alina Cho reports, a 20-ton slab of granite is the cornerstone for what's expected to be the world's tallest building.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What the curtain revealed was breathtaking. A 20-ton piece of New York granite now the cornerstone of the Freedom Tower, the first and tallest building to be built at Ground Zero.
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, (R), NEW YORK CITY: Today, as we lay this cornerstone, we remember the liberties that are the bedrock of our nation. The foundation that can never be shaken by violence or hate.
CHO: Along with the music...
(MUSIC)
CHO: ...there was symbolism this 4th of July. The son of a Port Authority police officer who died on 9/11 read the Declaration of Independence.
JULIAN DAVIS, SON OF 9/11 VICTIM: We hold these truths, be self- evident...
CHO: The height of the Freedom Tower is symbolic. 1776 feet to mark the year America declared its independence. A spire that echoes the profile of the Statue of Liberty. All the vision of master planner Daniel Libeskind.
DANIEL LIBESKIND, WTC SITE MASTER PLANNER: One thinks of how incredible to redirect and rebuild New York in a way that is inspiring and that is meaningful and that is not just founded on height but the liberties and freedoms this country was founded on.
CHO: Family members who lost loved ones on 9/11 were on hand. John Foy lost his mother-in-law.
JOHN FOY, 9/11 FAMILY MEMBER: It feels good, this is like-it's a closure and it's a new beginning.
CHO: Some touched the inscription; others want construction to wait for a memorial to be built first at what they regard as sacred ground.
WILLIAM HEALY, 9/11 FAMILY MEMBER: This is a grave site; today it would had been much more appropriate had it been a cornerstone for the memorial.
CHO: A memorial will be built here and is set to open around the same time as the tower.
PATAKI: What our enemies sought to destroy--our democracy, our freedom, our way of life,stands taller than ever before.
CHO (on camera): What is clear about this ceremony is that it marks the first step in rebuilding here at Ground Zero. What the final landscape will look like or when that will happen is still an open question. Alina Cho, CNN, New York. (END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Wet weather is taking some of the sizzle out of celebrations on this 4th of July. It's already dampened spirits for parade-goers in the Nation's Capital and it could pull the plug on tonight's much anticipated fireworks display. Still, the sog factor? There are concerns about security. Our Jeanne Meserve is in Washington keeping track of both. And usually about this time, Jeanne, a whole lot of folks are converging down on the Mall, but what's happening now with the weather?
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, a lot of people are trying to get away from the Mall, because it was so horrible there because of the weather. But, first the security, the Madrid train bombings have heightened concerns al Qaeda could strike in the run-up to the U.S. elections. As a result, every big event, and especially a symbolic one like the 4th of July is going to have heavy security. But officials say there is no specific intelligence about 4th of July celebrations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SECRETARY TOM RIDGE, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: There's nothing to suggest that this particular weekend is a weekend that they targeted some activity. They will strike when they're ready to strike, and we've never seen anything that suggests that they would be committed to a particular date. They would be committed to doing something when they think it could be successful. The date's almost immaterial.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: The 4th started out just lovely here in the Nation's Capital with a traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives. But midday, just as the parade through the heart of the city was getting under way, the rain started and it came and it came; marchers were soaked through their uniforms and costumes. If you're looking at your TV thinking your picture looks a little fuzzy, it is not your television. That is just the rain interfering with our camera shot. It got so bad, the parade was delayed, then it was canceled altogether. Throughout it all, though, the crowd was disappointed but good natured.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So we're here, and we're here through the rain and we're going to endure.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All we saw was the cat in the hat so far, huh?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And a bunny.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, what do you do, you know? When it rains, it rains. It could be 95 and sticky.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: But it sure wasn't sticky today. It was flooded. Streets in downtown were so waterlogged. Water was up to pedestrian's knees in some places. The museums on the Mall were the only place to find shelter. Of course, tonight, as you mentioned, Fredricka, is the big night. We have just heard the concert at the Capitol has been canceled because of the weather. We're still waiting to hear what's going to happen to the fireworks at the Washington Monument. Back to you.
WHITFIELD: All right, Jeanne. Well, so far, from behind you, it looks like the weather is holding off a little bit. But is there a cutoff point when they are going to determine whether the fireworks are on or off?
MESERVE: Well, the last I heard, and this may not be the most up to date information was that they're going to wait a for a couple more hours before they make a final decision on the fireworks. Of course, a major event here in DC. 600,000 people expected for it.
WHITFIELD: It will be a huge disappointment, but I'm sure they'll just postpone it for another day. Thanks a lot, Jeanne Meserve.
The 1st celebrates the 4th in Iraq. It's an especially meaningful day for the Army's 1st Armored Division. Members are finally going home after the longest tour in Iraq of any U.S. combat command. CNN Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For the soldiers who have been here the longest in Iraq -- 15 months -- this was a ceremony that proved to them they are finally going home. 1st Armored Division soldiers flying home to Germany, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment going back to Louisiana. They were supposed to go home three months ago. The helicopters were shrink-wrapped at the port, the soldiers were on the way out. Instead they were sent south to fight the militia loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr. They have been replaced by the 1st Cavalry Division, in Iraq for five months, in charge of Baghdad for three, and these soldiers have arrived to a much different Iraq, but one, according to the second highest-ranking U.S. military official here, Lieutenant General Thomas Metz, that is steadily improving.
LTG THOMAS METZ, U.S. ARMY: I think this 4th of July, you'll sit back and are thankful for what we have. I think we have been benevolent in the victory we had a year ago. It's been a tough fight against the insurgents but it's worth every bit of it to give the Iraqi people freedom, a right to live under a rule of law and be as prosperous as this country can be; it's awesome potential.
ARRAF: It's not much like home, but here the 4th of July meant cookouts, volleyball games, runs and awards -- awards for medals of valor to some of these soldiers. According to these soldiers, they would much rather be home. There's no doubt about that. But for them, celebrating American Independence Day in a newly independent Iraq almost makes up for it. Jane Arraf, CNN, reporting from Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: In less than 12 hours, Iraq's interim government is planning to reach out to those it calls misled insurgents. A spokesman for Prime Minister Iyad Allawi says they'll be offered a partial amnesty during an announcement tomorrow. Those described as hardcore criminals would not be eligible. It's not clear whether the amnesty would cover radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, but Mr. Allawi indicates Sadr and his army may be eligible.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRIME MINISTER IYAD ALLAWI, IRAQ: It depends really on what action, whether they will surrender the weapons or not. Whether they'll practically dismantle the Jaysh al-Mehdi. Once they do, this they are welcome. You know, this Iraq now is a new Iraq, it's for every Iraqi citizen to be part of the new democratic Iraq. Anybody who respects the rule of law and the human rights is welcome to be part of Iraq. Anybody who does not is not really welcome. So that's up to him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: At least one lawmaker is bristling at the idea of granting amnesty to Sadr. Republican Senator John Warner says it, quote, "Strikes us as not correct." But he adds it's important to support decisions made by the new Iraqi government.
Iraq's government is accusing neighboring countries of helping the insurgents. In an interview with a British newspaper, Iraq's foreign minister says his country has intelligence other nations have provided money, logistical help and training. He didn't name the countries but the paper says Iraqi officials have pointed to Syria and Iran. The minister was quote as saying Iraq will publish its findings this week.
There are new questions about the release of five terror suspects from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The "New York Times" reports it was part of a secret deal to satisfy important allies in the war in Iraq. The paper says under the arraignment--arrangement, rather, U.S. officials agreed to turn the men to Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials reportedly then released five Britons and two other people in exchange. The National Security Council says there was no link between the two actions. The men released in Saudi Arabia were convicted of terrorist attacks in the kingdom. But the "New York Times" says British officials believe they had been tortured into falsely confessing.
Prosecuting Saddam Hussein: What the trial of the former Iraqi dictator could mean for the world. I'll talk with a media expert coming up.
Plus: The President takes his Independence Day message to a campaign battleground state. We'll tell you what he had to say.
And still to come: Why you may be driving a gas-guzzler and not even know it.
ANNOUNCER: On July 4th, 1776, General George Washington was defending New York City against the British. John Hancock sent him a copy of the Declaration on July 6th and Washington had it read to the troops. Washington was known for demanding discipline and hard work from his soldiers, and so, against tremendous odds, the Americans finally won the war in 1781. With his reputation as a brilliant military leader, he was unanimously selected America's first president. In his farewell address in 1797, he warned against permanent alliances abroad. A statue now stands in England with American soil beneath it, as Washington refused to step foot on British soil again.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Saddam Hussein was in an Iraqi court last week to hear the preliminary charges against him. But his country isn't alone in wanting to put him on trial. Iran says it has put together a criminal complaint against him. It cites Hussein's invasion of Iran 24 years ago and his use of chemical weapons against Iranians during the war that followed. An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman says the complaint will be filed in the Iraqi court where Hussein is standing trial.
The trials of Saddam Hussein and 11 prominent figures of his former regime aren't expected to start until next year, but their appearances in court last week may be a preview of things to come. Joining us from New York is Professor Paul Levinson; he is the Chairman of the Department of Communication and Media Studies at Fordham University. Good to see you, Professor.
PAUL LEVINSON, COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSOR, FORDHAM UNIVERSITY: Good to be here, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Well, Saddam himself described the proceedings in court as theater. How did you see it?
LEVINSON: Well, I'm sorry to say I think Saddam was completely right, and, of course, the image is just as important as the trial itself, and the image that I think went out to everyone in the world was of Saddam Hussein in many ways dominating that appearance in court. In many exchanges he seemed like the one who was in charge, it seemed as if he was cross-examining the judge, and I think all of that stems from the fact that, obviously, the Iraqi government is very recently minted. They have no tradition of a judicial process, and that comes across in the proceedings, or at least the ones that were viewable last week.
WHITFIELD: What was once the indelible image is what the world saw last December, a man who was climbing out of a spider hole who was disheveled, and now that image being replaced by a man who was on the stand, in control, defiant. Does that set the tone of what is to come in terms of his presentation in a courtroom?
LEVINSON: Well, I hope it doesn't. It may have been a mistake for the trial to take place under total Iraqi supervision, the way it seems to be. Saddam Hussein is accused of crimes against humanity. You just mentioned that Iran wants to prefer(ph) charges against Saddam Hussein. It might have made more sense had the World Court try Saddam Hussein where he wouldn't have been able to dominate the situation. There was something that really seemed almost like a kangaroo court just looking at it. You know, from the point of view of a media observer earlier this week, when the judge said if there's not enough evidence here you're going to walk out of court a free man. I don't think anyone believed that for an instant. So it seemed as if the judge, although he meant well, was almost operating by the seat of his pants, without the tradition of a long judicial history to back him up.
WHITFIELD: Is that, in your view, what made Saddam Hussein look a bit more human, a lot less sinister, a lot less of a dictator?
LEVINSON: Yes, I think that was part of it. And just the whole shape of the courtroom, the judge wasn't sitting on a bench, he was almost sitting in a the same place an American prosecutor would sit.
WHITFIELD: In fact, some would point out that Saddam was sitting at a higher level, in fact, than the judge, and that sent some real symbolism there?
LEVINSON: Absolutely. Saddam looked better than the judge, and that's why when Saddam was saying, I'm still the President of Iraq, and he was sort of urging the judge to do what a good Iraqi would do, as perverse and as absurd as that may be intellectually, on an emotional level and on an image level, that's what it seemed to be.
WHITFIELD: Now you have to wonder about the 11 other top aides who were arraigned that very same day but getting a little less coverage than Saddam Hussein's presence on the stand. At least one person, a former defense minister apparently revealed in court that we were only following orders, and if anybody is to blame then it's Saddam Hussein. So does that kind of set a tone, perhaps, or set some path of what's to come that there may be some plea bargains, would that be acceptable in this court?
LEVINSON: Well, there is a tradition in the Nuremberg Trial of a defense that says I was just following orders not being acceptable. And I hope in the really serious cases such as Chemical Ali, that would not be sufficient to get him off. But perhaps someone like Tariq Aziz, if he was willing to give up valuable information, which I understand so far, he has not, that might be a helpful thing. I hope, by the way, the other defendants are tried first so that, again, by the time we get to Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi judicial proceedings have enough gravitas or significance so that they're believable around the world.
WHITFIELD: Professor Paul Levinson of Fordham University, thanks very much.
LEVINSON: My pleasure.
WHITFIELD: And happy 4th.
LEVINSON: You, too.
WHITFIELD: American Andy Roddick tried to conquer the courts of Wimbledon today. Could he upset number one seed? We'll have the results coming up next.
And a holiday competition of a different sort has the Japanese taking top honors again.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: They're celebrating the 4th of July in Switzerland today but it has nothing to do with America's birthday. Swiss player Roger Federer won the Men's Singles Championship at Wimbledon beating American Andy Roddick in four sets. Federer won the title last year as well. Not surprisingly, he calls Wimbledon his favorite tournament.
Atlanta, Georgia began its Independence Day celebrations with the 35th annual 10 kilometer race today. Two Kenyans won the Peachtree Road Race. Susan Chepkemei finished in just under 32 minutes. There she is. And Martin Lel finished in just over 28 minutes. With 55,000 runners, the Peachtree is the world's largest ten kilometer race.
In Baghdad American runners had their own Peachtree Road Race of sorts. More than 400 U.S. Soldiers went on a predawn run as an extension of the Atlanta race. In soaring temperatures, soldiers ran 10k around their Camp Victory base.
Now, to another major race, Lance Armstrong plays it safe in today's first full stage of the Tour de France. He finished 48th in the 125 mile ride, saving himself for future battles of the race. The five-time champion is aiming for a record sixth straight Tour de France win.
So can the tough Texan make cycling history this year? CNN's Michelle Bonner looks at Lance Armstrong's chances and challenges.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHELLE BONNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak. UCLA's seventh straight national championships. And the Boston Celtics eight straight NBA titles. Those are some of sports' most famous streaks, and Lance Armstrong will be breathing that rare air with a win in this year's Tour de France. But as the Texas native goes for a sixth straight title in cycling's biggest race, history and age could work against him. Of the four previous riders to have won the Tour de France five times, none were able to do it a sixth, and none were able to win the race after the age of 31. Armstrong will be 33 in September.
In addition to battling age, Armstrong had to defend himself against accusations of using banned performance-enhancing drugs. The allegations were made in a recently released book. Armstrong continues to deny the charges and is suing the book's co-author.
For years, Armstrong's biggest asset in the Tour de France was his dominance through the mountains, but that aura of invincibility seems to be fading. Last year after battling through illness and injury, Armstrong won his fifth tour by 61 seconds. It was his slimmest margin of victory and he was admittedly disappointed with his performance. That said, with a $9 million budget geared towards winning this one race, Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service team is still formidable. And as the five-time defending champ, Armstrong must still be considered the favorite. Michelle Bonner, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Meanwhile, on Coney Island, New York, eat your heart out. Another multi-year champion holds on to his title in a very different world-renowned competition. For the fourth straight year a Japanese man today won a quintessentially American contest, Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition. Yum. Well, he downed 53 1/2 wieners in 12 minutes, beating his own record by 3 dogs. That keeps the coveted mustard-yellow belt in Japan. The contest dates back to 1916. Don't try that at home.
Well, across the bridge in New Jersey, people are inhaling something different than hot dogs, more like a whiff of nitromethane. CNN's Jeanne Moos reports on fans who never get exhausted chasing exhaust fumes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (VOICE-OVER): Is it an anthrax scare? Is it a tear gas attack? Nah, it's just exhaust inhalers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's not a stink, that's an aroma.
MOOS: What do you expect with a guy wearing a hat that says "Still Plays With Cars"? At National Hot Rod Association races like this one in Englishtown, New Jersey, it's not just the race that turns heads. It's the engine warm-up. The pit crews are smart enough to wear masks, and so do drivers like the Army's Tony Schumacher. But some fans flock unprotected to experience engine start-up, up close.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can't breathe and you see them choke on it, and as soon as it stops they go "Yeah!" and they run to the next car.
MOOS: These 8,000-horsepower dragsters go more than 300 miles an hour. They're fueled by nitromethane.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The smell of the nitro and when they rap(ph) that throttle, the ground shakes, crowd jumps, and I still get off on it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When these cars start up, they register at 2 1/2 on the earthquake Richter scale.
MOOS: Actually, it's 2.2. But who's counting? Protect the kiddies!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can see it, you can feel it, you can breathe it and we love it.
MOOS: Some fans say gas masks are for girls.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know what? If you're going to wear a gasmask and earplugs, might just stay home and watch it on ESPN.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We could be going to the ballet, but that's not us.
MOOS: After all, ballet dancers don't stink, smoke or spit fire. Jeanne Moos, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Fueling a unique passion.
Well, Democrats are accused of dirty tricks in the race for the White House. But the charges aren't coming from the camp you might expect. Why Ralph Nader is lashing out at John Kerry's party today.
Plus, President Bush looks to boost his standings in the polls with a stop in a battleground state.
And, still to come, why a test 20 years ago may be costing you gas money today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired July 4, 2004 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GOVERNOR GEORGE PATAKI, (R), NY: Let this great Freedom Tower show the world that what our enemies sought to destroy--our democracy, our freedom, our way of life, stands taller than ever before.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The Big Apple marks the nation's birthday with a cornerstone moment at Ground Zero.
Heading for home after 15 months in Iraq: We'll show you how some U.S. soldiers are preparing for their long awaited departure. And forget fireworks. What's a 4th of July without Nathan's Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest? This year's winner took in a record haul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Hello, welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY, I'm Fredricka Whitfield. All that and more after a look at headlines.
Islamic militants who claim they're holding a U.S. marine captive in Iraq deny they have killed him. The group Ansar al-Sunna has posted a statement on its Web site insisting that reports of Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun's death on three other Islamic Web sites are baseless and untrue. Hassoun was last seen June 19.
Senator Max Baucus of Montana is missing the 4th of July parade in Butte as he nurses cuts and bruises from a motorcycle accident. The five-term senator lost control of his Harley and hit a guardrail on his way to a family picnic yesterday.
Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry is spending the holiday stumping in Iowa with Governor Tom Vilsack who is said to be on his short list of potential running mates. Kerry is on the third leg of a bus tour courting voters in the Midwest.
President Bush is back in Washington after a July 4th campaign trip to West Virginia cut short by a mechanical glitch with Air Force One. The President flew in a backup plane to a rally in Charleston after canceling a stop at a church service there.
Well, this Independence Day marks a new beginning at Ground Zero in New York. Construction began today on the Freedom Tower, the skyscraper designed to replace the World Trade Center Towers. As our Alina Cho reports, a 20-ton slab of granite is the cornerstone for what's expected to be the world's tallest building.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What the curtain revealed was breathtaking. A 20-ton piece of New York granite now the cornerstone of the Freedom Tower, the first and tallest building to be built at Ground Zero.
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, (R), NEW YORK CITY: Today, as we lay this cornerstone, we remember the liberties that are the bedrock of our nation. The foundation that can never be shaken by violence or hate.
CHO: Along with the music...
(MUSIC)
CHO: ...there was symbolism this 4th of July. The son of a Port Authority police officer who died on 9/11 read the Declaration of Independence.
JULIAN DAVIS, SON OF 9/11 VICTIM: We hold these truths, be self- evident...
CHO: The height of the Freedom Tower is symbolic. 1776 feet to mark the year America declared its independence. A spire that echoes the profile of the Statue of Liberty. All the vision of master planner Daniel Libeskind.
DANIEL LIBESKIND, WTC SITE MASTER PLANNER: One thinks of how incredible to redirect and rebuild New York in a way that is inspiring and that is meaningful and that is not just founded on height but the liberties and freedoms this country was founded on.
CHO: Family members who lost loved ones on 9/11 were on hand. John Foy lost his mother-in-law.
JOHN FOY, 9/11 FAMILY MEMBER: It feels good, this is like-it's a closure and it's a new beginning.
CHO: Some touched the inscription; others want construction to wait for a memorial to be built first at what they regard as sacred ground.
WILLIAM HEALY, 9/11 FAMILY MEMBER: This is a grave site; today it would had been much more appropriate had it been a cornerstone for the memorial.
CHO: A memorial will be built here and is set to open around the same time as the tower.
PATAKI: What our enemies sought to destroy--our democracy, our freedom, our way of life,stands taller than ever before.
CHO (on camera): What is clear about this ceremony is that it marks the first step in rebuilding here at Ground Zero. What the final landscape will look like or when that will happen is still an open question. Alina Cho, CNN, New York. (END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Wet weather is taking some of the sizzle out of celebrations on this 4th of July. It's already dampened spirits for parade-goers in the Nation's Capital and it could pull the plug on tonight's much anticipated fireworks display. Still, the sog factor? There are concerns about security. Our Jeanne Meserve is in Washington keeping track of both. And usually about this time, Jeanne, a whole lot of folks are converging down on the Mall, but what's happening now with the weather?
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, a lot of people are trying to get away from the Mall, because it was so horrible there because of the weather. But, first the security, the Madrid train bombings have heightened concerns al Qaeda could strike in the run-up to the U.S. elections. As a result, every big event, and especially a symbolic one like the 4th of July is going to have heavy security. But officials say there is no specific intelligence about 4th of July celebrations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SECRETARY TOM RIDGE, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: There's nothing to suggest that this particular weekend is a weekend that they targeted some activity. They will strike when they're ready to strike, and we've never seen anything that suggests that they would be committed to a particular date. They would be committed to doing something when they think it could be successful. The date's almost immaterial.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: The 4th started out just lovely here in the Nation's Capital with a traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives. But midday, just as the parade through the heart of the city was getting under way, the rain started and it came and it came; marchers were soaked through their uniforms and costumes. If you're looking at your TV thinking your picture looks a little fuzzy, it is not your television. That is just the rain interfering with our camera shot. It got so bad, the parade was delayed, then it was canceled altogether. Throughout it all, though, the crowd was disappointed but good natured.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So we're here, and we're here through the rain and we're going to endure.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All we saw was the cat in the hat so far, huh?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And a bunny.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, what do you do, you know? When it rains, it rains. It could be 95 and sticky.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: But it sure wasn't sticky today. It was flooded. Streets in downtown were so waterlogged. Water was up to pedestrian's knees in some places. The museums on the Mall were the only place to find shelter. Of course, tonight, as you mentioned, Fredricka, is the big night. We have just heard the concert at the Capitol has been canceled because of the weather. We're still waiting to hear what's going to happen to the fireworks at the Washington Monument. Back to you.
WHITFIELD: All right, Jeanne. Well, so far, from behind you, it looks like the weather is holding off a little bit. But is there a cutoff point when they are going to determine whether the fireworks are on or off?
MESERVE: Well, the last I heard, and this may not be the most up to date information was that they're going to wait a for a couple more hours before they make a final decision on the fireworks. Of course, a major event here in DC. 600,000 people expected for it.
WHITFIELD: It will be a huge disappointment, but I'm sure they'll just postpone it for another day. Thanks a lot, Jeanne Meserve.
The 1st celebrates the 4th in Iraq. It's an especially meaningful day for the Army's 1st Armored Division. Members are finally going home after the longest tour in Iraq of any U.S. combat command. CNN Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For the soldiers who have been here the longest in Iraq -- 15 months -- this was a ceremony that proved to them they are finally going home. 1st Armored Division soldiers flying home to Germany, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment going back to Louisiana. They were supposed to go home three months ago. The helicopters were shrink-wrapped at the port, the soldiers were on the way out. Instead they were sent south to fight the militia loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr. They have been replaced by the 1st Cavalry Division, in Iraq for five months, in charge of Baghdad for three, and these soldiers have arrived to a much different Iraq, but one, according to the second highest-ranking U.S. military official here, Lieutenant General Thomas Metz, that is steadily improving.
LTG THOMAS METZ, U.S. ARMY: I think this 4th of July, you'll sit back and are thankful for what we have. I think we have been benevolent in the victory we had a year ago. It's been a tough fight against the insurgents but it's worth every bit of it to give the Iraqi people freedom, a right to live under a rule of law and be as prosperous as this country can be; it's awesome potential.
ARRAF: It's not much like home, but here the 4th of July meant cookouts, volleyball games, runs and awards -- awards for medals of valor to some of these soldiers. According to these soldiers, they would much rather be home. There's no doubt about that. But for them, celebrating American Independence Day in a newly independent Iraq almost makes up for it. Jane Arraf, CNN, reporting from Baghdad.
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WHITFIELD: In less than 12 hours, Iraq's interim government is planning to reach out to those it calls misled insurgents. A spokesman for Prime Minister Iyad Allawi says they'll be offered a partial amnesty during an announcement tomorrow. Those described as hardcore criminals would not be eligible. It's not clear whether the amnesty would cover radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, but Mr. Allawi indicates Sadr and his army may be eligible.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRIME MINISTER IYAD ALLAWI, IRAQ: It depends really on what action, whether they will surrender the weapons or not. Whether they'll practically dismantle the Jaysh al-Mehdi. Once they do, this they are welcome. You know, this Iraq now is a new Iraq, it's for every Iraqi citizen to be part of the new democratic Iraq. Anybody who respects the rule of law and the human rights is welcome to be part of Iraq. Anybody who does not is not really welcome. So that's up to him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: At least one lawmaker is bristling at the idea of granting amnesty to Sadr. Republican Senator John Warner says it, quote, "Strikes us as not correct." But he adds it's important to support decisions made by the new Iraqi government.
Iraq's government is accusing neighboring countries of helping the insurgents. In an interview with a British newspaper, Iraq's foreign minister says his country has intelligence other nations have provided money, logistical help and training. He didn't name the countries but the paper says Iraqi officials have pointed to Syria and Iran. The minister was quote as saying Iraq will publish its findings this week.
There are new questions about the release of five terror suspects from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The "New York Times" reports it was part of a secret deal to satisfy important allies in the war in Iraq. The paper says under the arraignment--arrangement, rather, U.S. officials agreed to turn the men to Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials reportedly then released five Britons and two other people in exchange. The National Security Council says there was no link between the two actions. The men released in Saudi Arabia were convicted of terrorist attacks in the kingdom. But the "New York Times" says British officials believe they had been tortured into falsely confessing.
Prosecuting Saddam Hussein: What the trial of the former Iraqi dictator could mean for the world. I'll talk with a media expert coming up.
Plus: The President takes his Independence Day message to a campaign battleground state. We'll tell you what he had to say.
And still to come: Why you may be driving a gas-guzzler and not even know it.
ANNOUNCER: On July 4th, 1776, General George Washington was defending New York City against the British. John Hancock sent him a copy of the Declaration on July 6th and Washington had it read to the troops. Washington was known for demanding discipline and hard work from his soldiers, and so, against tremendous odds, the Americans finally won the war in 1781. With his reputation as a brilliant military leader, he was unanimously selected America's first president. In his farewell address in 1797, he warned against permanent alliances abroad. A statue now stands in England with American soil beneath it, as Washington refused to step foot on British soil again.
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WHITFIELD: Saddam Hussein was in an Iraqi court last week to hear the preliminary charges against him. But his country isn't alone in wanting to put him on trial. Iran says it has put together a criminal complaint against him. It cites Hussein's invasion of Iran 24 years ago and his use of chemical weapons against Iranians during the war that followed. An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman says the complaint will be filed in the Iraqi court where Hussein is standing trial.
The trials of Saddam Hussein and 11 prominent figures of his former regime aren't expected to start until next year, but their appearances in court last week may be a preview of things to come. Joining us from New York is Professor Paul Levinson; he is the Chairman of the Department of Communication and Media Studies at Fordham University. Good to see you, Professor.
PAUL LEVINSON, COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSOR, FORDHAM UNIVERSITY: Good to be here, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Well, Saddam himself described the proceedings in court as theater. How did you see it?
LEVINSON: Well, I'm sorry to say I think Saddam was completely right, and, of course, the image is just as important as the trial itself, and the image that I think went out to everyone in the world was of Saddam Hussein in many ways dominating that appearance in court. In many exchanges he seemed like the one who was in charge, it seemed as if he was cross-examining the judge, and I think all of that stems from the fact that, obviously, the Iraqi government is very recently minted. They have no tradition of a judicial process, and that comes across in the proceedings, or at least the ones that were viewable last week.
WHITFIELD: What was once the indelible image is what the world saw last December, a man who was climbing out of a spider hole who was disheveled, and now that image being replaced by a man who was on the stand, in control, defiant. Does that set the tone of what is to come in terms of his presentation in a courtroom?
LEVINSON: Well, I hope it doesn't. It may have been a mistake for the trial to take place under total Iraqi supervision, the way it seems to be. Saddam Hussein is accused of crimes against humanity. You just mentioned that Iran wants to prefer(ph) charges against Saddam Hussein. It might have made more sense had the World Court try Saddam Hussein where he wouldn't have been able to dominate the situation. There was something that really seemed almost like a kangaroo court just looking at it. You know, from the point of view of a media observer earlier this week, when the judge said if there's not enough evidence here you're going to walk out of court a free man. I don't think anyone believed that for an instant. So it seemed as if the judge, although he meant well, was almost operating by the seat of his pants, without the tradition of a long judicial history to back him up.
WHITFIELD: Is that, in your view, what made Saddam Hussein look a bit more human, a lot less sinister, a lot less of a dictator?
LEVINSON: Yes, I think that was part of it. And just the whole shape of the courtroom, the judge wasn't sitting on a bench, he was almost sitting in a the same place an American prosecutor would sit.
WHITFIELD: In fact, some would point out that Saddam was sitting at a higher level, in fact, than the judge, and that sent some real symbolism there?
LEVINSON: Absolutely. Saddam looked better than the judge, and that's why when Saddam was saying, I'm still the President of Iraq, and he was sort of urging the judge to do what a good Iraqi would do, as perverse and as absurd as that may be intellectually, on an emotional level and on an image level, that's what it seemed to be.
WHITFIELD: Now you have to wonder about the 11 other top aides who were arraigned that very same day but getting a little less coverage than Saddam Hussein's presence on the stand. At least one person, a former defense minister apparently revealed in court that we were only following orders, and if anybody is to blame then it's Saddam Hussein. So does that kind of set a tone, perhaps, or set some path of what's to come that there may be some plea bargains, would that be acceptable in this court?
LEVINSON: Well, there is a tradition in the Nuremberg Trial of a defense that says I was just following orders not being acceptable. And I hope in the really serious cases such as Chemical Ali, that would not be sufficient to get him off. But perhaps someone like Tariq Aziz, if he was willing to give up valuable information, which I understand so far, he has not, that might be a helpful thing. I hope, by the way, the other defendants are tried first so that, again, by the time we get to Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi judicial proceedings have enough gravitas or significance so that they're believable around the world.
WHITFIELD: Professor Paul Levinson of Fordham University, thanks very much.
LEVINSON: My pleasure.
WHITFIELD: And happy 4th.
LEVINSON: You, too.
WHITFIELD: American Andy Roddick tried to conquer the courts of Wimbledon today. Could he upset number one seed? We'll have the results coming up next.
And a holiday competition of a different sort has the Japanese taking top honors again.
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WHITFIELD: They're celebrating the 4th of July in Switzerland today but it has nothing to do with America's birthday. Swiss player Roger Federer won the Men's Singles Championship at Wimbledon beating American Andy Roddick in four sets. Federer won the title last year as well. Not surprisingly, he calls Wimbledon his favorite tournament.
Atlanta, Georgia began its Independence Day celebrations with the 35th annual 10 kilometer race today. Two Kenyans won the Peachtree Road Race. Susan Chepkemei finished in just under 32 minutes. There she is. And Martin Lel finished in just over 28 minutes. With 55,000 runners, the Peachtree is the world's largest ten kilometer race.
In Baghdad American runners had their own Peachtree Road Race of sorts. More than 400 U.S. Soldiers went on a predawn run as an extension of the Atlanta race. In soaring temperatures, soldiers ran 10k around their Camp Victory base.
Now, to another major race, Lance Armstrong plays it safe in today's first full stage of the Tour de France. He finished 48th in the 125 mile ride, saving himself for future battles of the race. The five-time champion is aiming for a record sixth straight Tour de France win.
So can the tough Texan make cycling history this year? CNN's Michelle Bonner looks at Lance Armstrong's chances and challenges.
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MICHELLE BONNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak. UCLA's seventh straight national championships. And the Boston Celtics eight straight NBA titles. Those are some of sports' most famous streaks, and Lance Armstrong will be breathing that rare air with a win in this year's Tour de France. But as the Texas native goes for a sixth straight title in cycling's biggest race, history and age could work against him. Of the four previous riders to have won the Tour de France five times, none were able to do it a sixth, and none were able to win the race after the age of 31. Armstrong will be 33 in September.
In addition to battling age, Armstrong had to defend himself against accusations of using banned performance-enhancing drugs. The allegations were made in a recently released book. Armstrong continues to deny the charges and is suing the book's co-author.
For years, Armstrong's biggest asset in the Tour de France was his dominance through the mountains, but that aura of invincibility seems to be fading. Last year after battling through illness and injury, Armstrong won his fifth tour by 61 seconds. It was his slimmest margin of victory and he was admittedly disappointed with his performance. That said, with a $9 million budget geared towards winning this one race, Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service team is still formidable. And as the five-time defending champ, Armstrong must still be considered the favorite. Michelle Bonner, CNN.
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WHITFIELD: Meanwhile, on Coney Island, New York, eat your heart out. Another multi-year champion holds on to his title in a very different world-renowned competition. For the fourth straight year a Japanese man today won a quintessentially American contest, Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition. Yum. Well, he downed 53 1/2 wieners in 12 minutes, beating his own record by 3 dogs. That keeps the coveted mustard-yellow belt in Japan. The contest dates back to 1916. Don't try that at home.
Well, across the bridge in New Jersey, people are inhaling something different than hot dogs, more like a whiff of nitromethane. CNN's Jeanne Moos reports on fans who never get exhausted chasing exhaust fumes.
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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (VOICE-OVER): Is it an anthrax scare? Is it a tear gas attack? Nah, it's just exhaust inhalers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's not a stink, that's an aroma.
MOOS: What do you expect with a guy wearing a hat that says "Still Plays With Cars"? At National Hot Rod Association races like this one in Englishtown, New Jersey, it's not just the race that turns heads. It's the engine warm-up. The pit crews are smart enough to wear masks, and so do drivers like the Army's Tony Schumacher. But some fans flock unprotected to experience engine start-up, up close.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can't breathe and you see them choke on it, and as soon as it stops they go "Yeah!" and they run to the next car.
MOOS: These 8,000-horsepower dragsters go more than 300 miles an hour. They're fueled by nitromethane.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The smell of the nitro and when they rap(ph) that throttle, the ground shakes, crowd jumps, and I still get off on it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When these cars start up, they register at 2 1/2 on the earthquake Richter scale.
MOOS: Actually, it's 2.2. But who's counting? Protect the kiddies!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can see it, you can feel it, you can breathe it and we love it.
MOOS: Some fans say gas masks are for girls.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know what? If you're going to wear a gasmask and earplugs, might just stay home and watch it on ESPN.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We could be going to the ballet, but that's not us.
MOOS: After all, ballet dancers don't stink, smoke or spit fire. Jeanne Moos, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Fueling a unique passion.
Well, Democrats are accused of dirty tricks in the race for the White House. But the charges aren't coming from the camp you might expect. Why Ralph Nader is lashing out at John Kerry's party today.
Plus, President Bush looks to boost his standings in the polls with a stop in a battleground state.
And, still to come, why a test 20 years ago may be costing you gas money today.
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