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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
Pakistani Authorities Identify Daniel Pearl Kidnappers; Arrest Made in Danielle van Dam Case
Aired February 22, 2002 - 17:00 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.
KATE SNOW, GUEST HOST: Do the people behind the Daniel Pearl killing have another plot in mind?
Is there a break in the case of a missing 7-year-old? Police in California make an arrest.
A figure skating showdown.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The judging system worked, integrity was restored and the right person won.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: The Russians beg to differ, and may make good on their ultimatum.
And after years of restoration, the Washington Monument throws out its welcome mat. Bring your family, bring your camera, and maybe just a little patience.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(on camera): How do you protect something this grand? How do you make sure that it's really secure?
GALE NORTON, INTERIOR SECRETARY: Your average visitor is going to come in and go through something that is much like airport security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: The makeover is over and the changes to this structure are not only cosmetic. Hello, I'm Kate Snow, in today for Wolf Blitzer. We're coming to you from the roof of interior department building: the government agency responsible for the monument behind me. The Washington Monument towers over the national Mall, the Capitol and the White House.
At the top, it offers unobstructed views, breathtaking views. But because of its height, it's also a challenge to protect. The new security measures mean your visit to this attraction will never be quite the same. We'll explain this hour. But first, we bring you the news of the day, and this news alert.
Police in California have arrested a suspect in the disappearance of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam. A police spokesman says David Westerfield, a neighbor, was arrested for the kidnapping of Danielle. Westerfield has been questioned several times. Danielle was last seen three weeks ago, when her father put her to bed. We'll have much more on that in just a moment.
President Bush wrapped up his trip to Asia by urging China to embrace religious freedom and political dissent. Speaking to university students in Beijing, Mr. Bush said liberty should not be something to fear, but something to welcome. His remarks were broadcast throughout China.
The General Accounting Office is suing Vice President Dick Cheney over information related to the Enron scandal. The investigative unit of Congress wants to see a list of Enron officials who met with President Bush's energy task force last year. The task force was chaired by Cheney. The White House says it will fight the move in court.
Pakistani investigators say they know the names of the Islamic militants who kidnapped and killed American journalist, Daniel Pearl. The Pakistani interior minister says the government is taking the strongest possible action to bring the kidnappers to justice. Pearl disappeared last month in Karachi, Pakistan.
Now back to our top story: it's been exactly three weeks since the family of Danielle van Dam last saw her. While their nightmare is not yet over, police now report a break in the case, one that has led to the arrest of a neighbor. CNN's Eric Horng has our update.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERIC HORNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nearly three weeks after 7-year-old Danielle van Dam disappeared from her San Diego home, police announced a break in the case, arresting 49-year-old David Westerfield outside his attorney's office, charging him with kidnapping.
CHIEF DAVID BEJARANO, SAN DIEGO POLICE: We believe, without a question, that the DNA evidence links Mr. Westerfield to Danielle's disappearance. Danielle's blood was found on an article of clothing which belongs to Mr. Westerfield, and also in his motor home.
HORNG: Police still haven't located the child, reported missing February 2nd. Authorities began focusing on Westerfield days after the girl's disappearance, impounding two of his vehicles and removing items from his home, just two houses down from the van Dams.
Westerfield also voluntarily led police on a tour of a desert area east of San Diego, where he said he went camping the weekend the second-grader disappeared. The parents of Danielle van Dam launched a media offensive in the hopes of finding their daughter, setting up a Web site and offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to her safe return. After the arrest, they remained focused on the search effort.
BRENDA VAN DAM, MOTHER: We are very happy that the police have made arrests. We were forewarned it was going to happen. But the fact still remains that we don't have our daughter. We need to continue searching for Danielle.
HORNG: A search the van Dams hope will now soon come to an end. Eric Horng, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: Danielle's case has been featured on "America's Most Wanted." And joining us now by phone is the host of that program, John Walsh, who, as many of you know, knows firsthand the pain of a kidnapped child. Mr. Walsh, thanks for being with us.
JOHN WALSH, "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED": Glad to do it, Kate.
SNOW: Why do you think it took so long for police to find this neighbor?
WALSH: Well, he's been a suspect right from the beginning, and we've worked inside the case. It takes a while for DNA, as you know, for the medical labs to be absolutely positive. But he was a suspect right from the beginning. He was in the house that evening, he'd just moved into the neighborhood, he knew Danielle. And he was the logical suspect. It just took a while for the lab to get conclusive proof that her DNA and her blood was on his clothing.
But he was a suspect because of several things. Not only because he had knowledge of the house, but also because he did some strange things, like Clorox the floor of his motor home. The FBI got into his computer and found child porn on his computer. So he's been a suspect from the beginning, but law enforcement has done a good job, waited. Waited for the test results to come in. Now the real job is to find Danielle.
SNOW: Those test results showing evidence, anyway, of Danielle's blood on some of Mr. Westerfield's clothing. How crucial is that going to be, as the search for her continues and as the investigation continues?
WALSH: Well, it's critical. Now that they've arrested him and charged him with kidnapping, that's the first step. But the real important thing is to find out what happened to Danielle. Three scenarios could evolve here: he may have sold her to someone, he may have a third party that has her somewhere and she's alive. That's what we hope for, parents always hope for that.
If she's dead, if he killed her, and that was her blood because he killed her, then the main thing is to find the body. Because it's very, very difficult to prosecute for kidnapping and murder, and to get the sentence that you need, which is the death penalty, without the body. So a couple things could happen in the next couple days before the arraignment. He could either do the right thing and make a deal with the district attorney, or he could say, "I had nothing to do with it." And then the real battle becomes the search for Danielle.
SNOW: Right. Do you think she could still be alive, Mr. Walsh?
WALSH: I'm praying. I never give up hope. We've gotten children back, even though the vast majority of statistics -- and I've been doing this for 20 years since my son was murdered -- the Justice Department says that most children stranger-abducted are murdered within the first four hours.
But we have gotten 24 children back alive on "America's Most Wanted," so I never give up hope. There may be a third party that's holding this little girl. So until we find Danielle, until we find her body, I never give up hope. But the likelihood is that this man has done something terrible to her.
SNOW: I think we all share that hope. Thank you so much. John Walsh, host the of "America's Most Wanted," joining us by telephone this afternoon. Thanks.
More now on the murder of "Wall Street Journal" correspondent, Daniel Pearl. One day after Pearl's death was confirmed by U.S. and Pakistani officials, the president of Pakistan today vowed to capture each and every one involved in his death. CNN's Chris Burns is in Karachi, Pakistan with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The day after the gruesome announcement of the videotape showing Daniel Pearl being executed by his captors, the focus of the investigation is now on trying to retrieve his body. That is one of the focuses. Authorities say they are trying to find exactly who delivered that videotape, exactly, perhaps some forensic evidence on the tape itself.
The tape, authorities say, was not a complete tape of what happened. It is a series of jump cuts. One part of the tape showing Daniel Pearl as speaking to his captors. The second being executed, his throat being slit by his captors. And the third showing his body.
What happened between those scenes and who delivered that tape -- well, there is a bit of new information that was given by the interior minister earlier today, who says that the Karachi-based reporter who received the tape from three men, he has given the descriptions of those three men, offering new leads in an investigation that has gone hot and cold ever since the January 23rd kidnapping of Daniel Pearl.
Also, the focus of the investigation is on requestioning the suspects, including Sheikh Omar Saeed, who is seen as the mastermind, the one who organized the kidnapping. He, as well as Fahad Naseem. Naseem had admitted the day before to having actually sent the e-mails with the pictures of Daniel Pearl in captivity, by showing him with a gun to his head. Also having sent the request -- the demand that the United States release Pakistani prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.
Where does this investigation go from here? Well, Pervez Musharraf, the president here, says that they will go to all ends to arrest all of those involved in the kidnappings. He also says that if this is seen as a -- if the kidnapping and slaying of Daniel Pearl is seen as a backlash against his crackdown on militant groups here, a month old crackdown, he says that will not phase him. He will continue with that crackdown.
So far, he has banned five different militant groups and arrested some 2,000 people. He says that will continue. Chris Burns, CNN, Karachi, Pakistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: Daniel Pearl's widow today expressed her heartfelt thanks for the support she has received around the world. In a statement, Marianne Pearl said, in part: "The terrorists who say they killed my husband may have taken his life, but they did not take his spirit. Danny is my life. They may have taken my life, but they did not take my spirit."
Some analysts in Pakistan believe Pearl was kidnapped to strike back at Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf for his support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism. Joining us to talk more about that is terrorism analyst, David Isby. Mr. Isby, thanks for being with us.
DAVID ISBY, TERRORISM ANALYST: Thank you.
SNOW: Tell me more about whether -- do you believe what other analysts have said, that this is a revenge, or meant to embarrass the president of Pakistan?
ISBY: Yes, certainly there is that major factor showing that he cannot keep these Americans alive. And I would group this also with the aborted rocket attack against U.S. Air Force facilities in Pakistan, as the start of action against the U.S. presence there by religious extremists.
SNOW: Pakistan says now that they think they know who is responsible for Mr. Pearl's death. If that's the case, why wouldn't they have gone after these folks sooner?
ISBY: One thing which they may have been is to keep him alive. They may have wanted to go slowly, afraid that if they did show up and pull in all their leads, he would be killed before a rescue attempt could be made. Certainly, the suspects, Harakat and Mujahedeen, others, the major extremist groups, plus Pakistanis who fought with al Qaeda and the Taliban coming back to Afghanistan, are pretty much the cast of characters here.
SNOW: Are we certain that they -- so all those groups you've just named would be considered Islamic extremists, right?
ISBY: Yes, and that's generally what they're look at here. Again, want to embarrass the Pakistani government, want to stand up against the U.S., at a time when, after their defeat in Afghanistan, they need to prove to their supporters that they're still a viable force.
SNOW: How vulnerable right now is Pervez Musharraf?
ISBY: Musharraf is actually on top. He is now starting, for example, to cut back the ISI, the Pakistani intelligence agency, which has been closely connected with these groups in the past. One of the great fears in this whole Pearl incident is that rogue ISI agents have been working with the extremists in this incident. Now, cutting back ISI, he'll be able to prune away people suspected of working with militants.
SNOW: Musharraf said again today that he'll work with the U.S. authorities, he'll do everything he can to detain the kidnappers. Where do you see that going on the ground in Pakistan? Will they be fanning out and going after anyone they can find at this point? What do you see playing out?
ISBY: I actually think they'll be pulling in strings. Certainly, the Pakistanis have a fairly good idea of where the religious extremists are up to. They've been close to them in the past. But it's hard to get specific individuals, as we've seen in our search for Mullah Omar from Afghanistan, in our search for Osama bin Laden. So, certainly getting specific individuals is going to be hard. But attacking these groups that were guilty of this, or of the attack on the Indian parliament in the past, this is likely to be stepped up.
SNOW: OK. Thanks so much, David Isby, for joining us this afternoon. Appreciate it.
Friends and colleagues of Daniel Pearl describe him as a tough reporter, one who didn't stop until he had his story. Joining us with some insight on Daniel Pearl himself is journalist Joe Davidson. He worked with Pearl at "The Journal"'s bureau here in the early 1990s here in Washington. Thanks for joining us on what must be a difficult day for you.
JOE DAVIDSON, JOURNALIST: Thank you very much.
SNOW: Tell us a little more about the man you knew, and about him as a reporter, and then outside his life as a reporter. What can you tell us?
DAVIDSON: Well, he was kind of a low-key guy. He really wasn't -- you know, he didn't follow the stereotype of the hard-driven reporter who only lives for the next edition. He liked to play the fiddle at office functions and at small clubs here in D.C. We would play basketball on Friday mornings with a group of journalists from the "Journal" at the local Y. And so he had quite a full life, I thought.
He was, while fairly easygoing, he also had an eye for kind of the unusual story. I remember one from '97, where he wrote about people making really huge carpets in Iran. And perhaps because he liked to play the fiddle he did another piece that I read not too long ago, about a lost Stradivarius violin in California. So he kind of found some stories that gave dimension and a fullness to humanity.
And even in the case of Iran, of a place where we don't know that much about, a place where we sometimes -- we only know about their leaders and what they do and their misdeeds, and we don't really know about the people. So, that particular story on these huge carpets helped to bring those people alive.
SNOW: I know sometimes people say journalists seek out danger. Was he the kind of guy who would seek out dangerous spots and be enticed by that?
DAVIDSON: He didn't strike me as the type of reporter who would go out of his way to find danger. He wasn't you know, what we sometimes call a cowboy type. I thought that he was cautious and in some ways, reserved, but a very good and detailed reporter. And sometimes, you know, in this profession, you have to go where there is danger. You have to be careful. You have to follow your gut. But sometimes you simply can't escape it in order to get the story.
SNOW: Do you have any sense why he would have been targeted?
DAVIDSON: Well, I think it's totally irrational, so I don't think it makes any sense. So no, I don't.
SNOW: Tell me a little bit more about his colleagues. I don't know if you've been able to talk to any of them here in Washington. Do you have a sense for how the community is mourning his loss?
DAVIDSON: Well, I think everybody probably feels a great sense of emptiness, a great sense of frustration. And I know I personally feel a great deal of anger. I think it was such an outrageous crime, such a barbaric crime, that along with all of the sadness, I also feel a great deal of anger toward the perpetrators.
SNOW: Mr. Davidson, thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
DAVIDSON: Thank you.
SNOW: For updates anytime on the Pearl murder case, you can go to cnn.com. You'll find the latest on the suspects in Pakistan, and a look at the reporter's career. You can hear from his friends and family, and find other readers' reaction to his death.
Turning to the battle between the General Accounting Office and Vice President Dick Cheney. The investigative arm of Congress today sued Mr. Cheney in a bid to get a list of Enron officials and others who met with President Bush's energy task force, a group chaired by the vice president. The suit states, in part: "Despite its efforts to reach a reasonable accommodation, the GAO has been denied access to information it has a statutory right to obtain."
Joining us with the administration's response to that, our White House correspondent, Major Garrett. Major, how is the White House going to handle this case? How will they fight those charges? MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kate, they will fight it by addressing the final words of that excerpt from the GAO lawsuit, where the GAO contends it has the statutory right to seek the information that was asked of the vice president. The vice president's office and the White House agree, exactly the opposite, that the General Accounting Office does not have that statutory authority. And White House officials I've spoken to today are absolutely bristling to go to court to fight this out.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Scott McClellan released this very brief statement earlier today, saying: "We've been waiting to fight for this important principle since the GAO said they were going to file since last summer."
The White House is also keyed on the fact that the General Accounting Office has threatened this lawsuit since August of last year. The White House believes that one of the reasons the General Accounting Office took so long to actually file it is because they believe, the White House, the General Accounting Office is on shaky legal ground, and they expect to prevail -- Kate.
SNOW: And they say just the opposite. How far is the White House willing to take this, Major?
GARRETT: To the very end, the White House officials tell me now. And here's the reason -- and this is a bit of a technicality, but it's really the crux of the disagreement between these two very powerful institutions here in Washington. In a demand letter the General Accounting Office sent to the White House in July of last year, it was very explicit in saying it wanted from the White House and from the vice president's office, "minutes or notes and any information presented in these various meetings with the energy task force and outside industry representatives."
The White House says it simply will not give that information, and the General Accounting Office simply does not have the statutory right to ask for that. Now, in its lawsuit, the General Accounting Office acknowledges that it informally told the vice president that it was not going to seek those specific contents of these meetings. But it did not do so in a formal way. To do so would have required them to redraft that demand letter.
That hasn't happened, and the White House says until that demand letter is redrafted and the General Accounting Office request is smaller and more narrow in focus, it will go to court. And again, expects to prevail -- Kate.
SNOW: We'll keep watching. Major Garrett, thanks.
A monumental reopening takes place in the nation's capital. Can a new and improved Washington Monument bring a much-needed boost to D.C. tourism?
And a cloud of controversy hangs over the Winter Olympics. We'll get the latest, live from Salt Lake City.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SNOW: Taking a look at a symbol of the nation's capital. It is a big day here in the nation's capital, where the Washington Monument has reopened to the public after an extensive face-lift. Interior Secretary Gale Norton called the event, "a symbol of America returning to business as usual after September 11th." Earlier I spoke with Secretary Norton about the reopening.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
There's not a lot of noticeable changes in security, at least to the naked eye. How do you protect something this grand? How do you make sure that it's really secure?
NORTON: We have changes that are taking place in terms of our procedures, making sure that we're screening people as they go in. Your average visitor is going to come in and go through something that is much like airport security. There's an X-Ray machine, magnetometer and so forth. And we prevent people from bringing in large backpacks or other kinds of items. So we've got in place a very high degree of security.
SNOW: Any of that new because of September 11th, or would that have happened anyway?
NORTON: We've enhanced the security since September 11th, but there was already a heightened level of security, stemming from 1998.
SNOW: OK. A lot of people are going to wonder about how much time it takes to get in. Our crew, it took about 20 minutes for them to get through security this morning. Is that going to be typical for visitors?
NORTON: That will have to be factored in as people go through the process. I imagine that people will have some time to wait as they go through. But we take people through in small groups, so each group would essentially go through that screening process and then make their way up the elevator.
SNOW: One thing I noticed is the barricades are still here, those ugly jersey barriers. Are those going to go away eventually?
NORTON: Those unfortunately unattractive barricades are what we need for security now. But we have a process in place that is going to lead to some much more attractive ways of meeting those same security requirements. There will be an underground visitors center. That's the plan that's in the works. We're consulting with all the planning groups that need to approve it. And we have some money that's proposed for our budget for the next fiscal year. So hopefully we'll be starting this before too long.
SNOW: Talk to me about the inside -- you made a lot of changes inside. What are visitors going to notice if they've been here before and they come back now? What is different about the experience?
NORTON: As people get on the elevator, they will see that it is improved.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd like to welcome you all this morning to the newly-restored Washington Monument. After being closed for a period of 14 months, and on the anniversary of George Washington's birthday, the monument that remembers the father of our country is being reopened for the first time.
NORTON: It is a beautiful view. I was able to see it last night in a preview, and people are really going to enjoy getting to see this again. They'll really see the improvement when they go down though, because on the downward trips, there are portions of the elevator that go from being opaque to being clear. And as the elevator slows down, people will be able to look out and see the commemorative stones that are inside the monument. And that will be something very interesting for them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This one on this side is the New York City Fire Department. A firemen was killed in the line of duty, he's going to heaven, and the artwork in the picture depicts the city of New York caring for his widow and his orphan.
SNOW: Talk to me about the structure. Did you have to make any major changes? It's been here more than a hundred years. Kind of incredible that it still stands there.
NORTON: This building that was completed in 1888 is a very solid building. It has stone in it that is 15 feet thick at the base. And so the restoration of it was really more just fixing little corners that were chipped off, and things like that.
SNOW: You oversee more than just this monument. Obviously, every monument, every national park is under your agency. Talk to me about how you keep all of those other places secure in a time like this.
NORTON: It has been a very large part of our effort since September 11th, to really look at our facilities and make improvements so that our visitors are secure. We have enhanced security at the Statue of Liberty. In fact, we're screening people off the island before they ever even get to Liberty Island. The statue itself still remains closed, because we want to be sure that we really have a screening process in place.
SNOW: Moving into the summer tourist season, do you still encourage Americans to get out there and see their monuments and their parks?
NORTON: Absolutely. We have such wonderful places to visit in this country. The tourism industry has been off a little bit, but I think it's coming back. I've gone through a lot of airplane travel myself the last few months. And the security measures there are very extensive. I think people are beginning to understand that America is back in business.
(END VIDEOTAPE) SNOW: Back in business. The first visitors are checking out the new and improved Washington Monument. Many came in today especially for the grand reopening. CNN's Kathleen Koch has been out there all day. She joins us with some of their reactions. Kathleen, what are you hearing from the folks coming out of the Monument?
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kate, actually there are a lot of them that are still waiting to get in. Because it may have taken you 20 minutes to get into the monument. It is now taking visitors about two hours, primarily because of that very intense security. But you know, Kate, they are toughing it out. They are bundling up. They've very excited about having a chance to get up inside the monument for the very first time in such a long time.
And those who come down said yes, despite the cold, despite the hours-long wait, it was worth it. They're especially excited about seeing those commemorative stones that you just showed in your piece there, because this is really the first time you have been able to see those without walking all the way down all the stairs -- all 897 of them, Kate.
SNOW: Kathleen, this was supposed the take, I think, about three years, and it was supposed to reopen about a year ago. What was the delay for?
KOCH: Well, Kate, you're absolutely right. It was supposed to reopen in March of 2001, and there was a bit of controversy about that. The company that designed the elevator cab said, well, they got the final specs on that just a bit late. The people who run the monument here, they say, well, they got the cab late -- the cab of that elevator. And then the cab didn't meet the design specifications that they had put out, so then the elevator cables were not long enough. But, Kate, eventually, they worked all that out. And no one is complaining today. Everyone is really just happy to have a chance to finally get back up inside their monument and enjoy that spectacular view.
SNOW: And worth the two-hour wait. Thanks very much.
KOCH: That's what they say.
SNOW: OK. Kathleen Koch, down the Monument, thanks.
It took about three years, as we said, to get the Monument cleaned up, fixed up and ready to reopen. It took more than 30 years to build. though, to build it in the first place. Delays, funding problems, political disputes and party politics all took their toll on the construction effort.
The original design was an Egyptian obelisk surrounded at the base by a Greek temple. The cornerstone was laid in 1848. Construction continued for six years until the money ran out. For 20 years, the Washington Monument became the Washington stump, actually. Mark Twain once described it as a factory chimney with the top broken off. And, finally, in 1876, President Grant authorized funds to finish the project, minus the Greek temple, to mark the nation's centennial. The Washington Monument was completed in 1884 and remains, by the way, the tallest masonry structure in the world.
And now it's time to test your knowledge. Our Web "Question of the Day" is a quiz for you: Which D.C. landmark attracts the most tourists each year? To be fair, we are using figures from 1999. Your choices: the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the White House. You can vote at CNN.com/Wolf. And we will have the answer for you at the end of the show.
The Russians cry foul over results from the Winter Olympics. Will they pull out of the Games? We will have the latest from Salt Lake City as things heat up on the ice. And the government issues new recommendations for mammogram testing. We'll turn to a doctor to help us sort it all out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SNOW: Coming to you live from just above the memorials here above the National Mall in Washington, let's check our "News Alert" for this hour.
Pakistani officials say they know the names of the militants who killed American journalist Daniel Pearl. And they vow to bring them to swift justice. In a statement, Pearl's widow says his kidnappers may have taken his life, but they failed to take his spirit.
In the Philippines, three bodies have been recovered from the crash of a U.S. military helicopter. All 10 Americans on board were killed when their chopper crashed in the sea yesterday while on a routine mission. It was taking part in an anti-terrorism training operation with Philippine forces.
In Italy, a court convicts four Tunisians, all suspected al Qaeda terrorists. One of them, known as "The Saber," is accused of heading Osama bin Laden's terrorist network in Europe. They were convicted of criminal association with intent to obtain and transport arms, explosives and chemicals.
Defense witnesses are taking the stand in the trial of Andrea Yates. The Houston, Texas woman who confessed to drowning her five children has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecutors rested their case after presenting both video and audio tapes made after the bodies were discovered.
The Russians aren't going anywhere. That's what Russia's president says after Olympic officials from his country threatened to walk out of the Winter Games. But the controversy is far from over.
CNN's Carol Lin is following it all in Salt Lake City -- hi, Carol.
CAROL LIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kate.
Yes, the controversy is reigning on. The Russians are staying. And, in fact, the men's hockey game between Russia and the United States is going to get under way in about an hour. But, in the meantime, the Russians did file a complaint about last night's women's figure skating competition. They are saying, yes, Sarah Hughes got the gold, Irina Slutskaya, the Russian, got the silver. But they are petitioning the International Skating Union to change that silver into another gold, ala the Canadian pairs skating scandal. They are saying that scandal set the precedent in this case, because they are saying the judging was biased.
Well, in the last hour, the Reuters wire service is saying that the International Skating Union has rejected the Russian's petition. But, earlier today, I spoke with the president of the Russian Sports Federation and asked him why he was going forward with this complaint.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEONID TYAGACHEV, PRESIDENT, RUSSIAN SPORTS FEDERATION (through translator): We are nothing less than the whole world that saw Irina received predictable lowest mark in the presentation, a 5.6, which is unfair. And we see that Irina, after following the two major contenders for the American team for the gold medal, had absolute possibility to win the Olympic Games.
And, as far as this issue was corrected during the Canadian pair competition, we feel that it will be most likely to be possibly corrected this time as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: What the Russians are alleging is that the Italian judge intentionally gave Irina Slutskaya, the Russian skater, a low mark of 5.6 for her artistic presentation, which is something that Irina is not known for. She is an athletic, fast, high-jumping skater. Last night, she tried a more interpretive program. And it fell flat on some of the judges.
In the meantime, Sarah Hughes trying to remain above the fray -- this is what she had to say about the controversy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH HUGHES, GOLD MEDAL WINNER: I don't really know what's going on or anything. And, you know, I'm just happy I have one gold medal.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)
HUGHES: You know, it's not really up to me, I guess. But I'm just happy with my skate. And, in my heart, I know that was the best I've ever done.
ROBIN WAGNER, COACH OF SARAH HUGHES: If I could just make a comment on that, I think that probably one of the issues that people were concerned about in awarding the second medal to Jamie and David was that it was going to set a precedent. I would just like to say that I thought clearly last night Sarah's performance was the best.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: The Russians have one more option now: to take their complaint to a court of arbitration. It is an emergency court set up at each and every Olympics. If the Russians do take their complaint there, because of the nature of the Olympics and the short time span, the court is expected to rule within 24 hours. But we have yet to determine whether they are going to go to that court of arbitration.
In the meantime, this isn't the first complaint about the judging at this Winter Olympics. As you know by now, Kate, not only are the Russians complaining about the overall judging at these Winter Games, the South Koreans are going ahead with their complaint against Apolo Ohno, the men's speedskater, the United States men's speedskater who took the gold by coming in second the other day, because the judges are alleging that the South Korean skater, though finishing first, had leaned into Apolo Ohno.
That is process called cross-tracking. It's illegal to prevent another skater physically from passing. And so the South Koreans are pursuing their complaint with the International Olympic Committee. And, in the meantime, Apolo Ohno has received as many as 40 e-mail death threats. That is something that the FBI is now getting into.
So lots of games on and off the ice.
SNOW: Carol, it is like we need a scorecard to keep track of the controversies now. Thanks very much for joining us from Salt Lake City.
LIN: Sure.
SNOW: The number of appeals and protests at these Games may seem a little unusual, but they're not unprecedented. I will speak with an Olympic historian and two prominent journalists about the controversies in Salt Lake City on ""WOLF BLITZER REPORTS: Judgment Call: The Olympic Controversies." That's tonight at 7:00 Eastern.
From controversy to glory, the latest Olympic results lead our "Newswire." Janica Kostelic of Croatia became the first alpine skier to win four medals in one Olympics. She raced to gold in the women's giant slalom, adding to her two gold and one silver. Tonight, the U.S. and Russian men's hockey teams battle it out for a chance to play Canada for the gold. Canada blew passed Belarus 7-1.
The wife of Congressman Gary Condit wants $10 million from "The National Enquirer." Carolyn Condit is suing the tabloid over a story that she had a telephone screaming match with Chandra Levy just days before the former government intern disappeared last spring. Condit's wife maintains she has never even met Levy nor spoken with her.
The city of New York wants eBay to pull the plug on some of the items for sale on its Web site, in particular those relating to the World Trade Center attacks. If eBay refuses, the city's top lawyer is threatening legal action.
Does a decade make a difference? Every woman needs to know. There is new guidance on just when a mammogram is a must. And a man who ran a Georgia crematory makes a first court appearance. Plus, we will update the search for bodies and the search for answers.
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SNOW: Federal health officials today announced they are standing by their recommendations that women 40 and over should get a mammogram every year or two. It is another development in the growing debate over whether mammograms really save lives.
Joining us is Dr. Susan Love, an adjunct professor of surgery at UCLA and also the medical director of the Susan Love M.D. Breast Cancer Foundation.
Thanks for being with us, Dr. Love.
DR. SUSAN LOVE, MEDICAL DIRECTOR, SUSAN LOVE M.D. BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION: Thanks for having me.
SNOW: Talk to me about this new recommendation that came out today from the federal government. Is this meant to clear up some of the controversy about mammograms?
LOVE: Well, it is actually not a new recommendation. What they are doing is reaffirming what has been their recommendation now for several years, which is that mammograms should be every year to two years 40 to 50, and then every year after 50.
You know, we're never going to get the answer to whether mammograms save lives because the data just isn't clean enough to give us an exact answer. So they are giving us some guidance in the face of, you know, inadequate and confusing information.
SNOW: I think what is confusing, Dr. Love, at least to me, is that breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the U.S., as I understand it. So, if you have got a tool that can maybe find a tumor and maybe save a life, why not use it?
LOVE: Well -- and that's exactly what the government is saying.
But there are some downsides. And, particularly in younger women, mammography is less accurate. And it may lead you to have more biopsies unnecessarily, more radiation. And so it is not perfectly simple. After 50, it is very clear that it is probably worth doing mammography. And the controversy is really in this younger age group.
But the government is saying that, in spite of the controversy, they feel there is enough evidence to suggest to women that it is still worth doing.
SNOW: Is the concern also that it could lead to surgeries that are unnecessary? Is that part of it?
LOVE: Absolutely, because it -- especially before menopause, it finds all kinds of benign things that you can't really tell if they are cancer or not unless you do a biopsy. So, it ends up with lots more surgery than maybe you would like to have.
And what we really need -- and I think one of the problems with this is that all this controversy clouds the fact that mammography is the best tool we have, but is limited. And we really need to find something a lot better.
SNOW: What kinds of things -- I mean, do you have any idea what potentially could be better than mammography? Are there things in experimental stages now that might be better diagnostically?
LOVE: Absolutely.
There are a number of new imaging techniques that are trying to look at different aspects of cancer so they can find it earlier. And then there is a tool that I helped develop where you look into the breast duct. You can actually wash out cells from the breast duct, where all breast cancer starts, and find the cells, not that are cancer, but are just thinking about being cancer some day when they grow up. And that's really where we need to be: much earlier in the process.
SNOW: Before we go, remind us one more time what the guidelines are now. What should women who are over 40 or over 50 be thinking about?
LOVE: Well, it is very clear that, over 50, women should be getting a yearly mammogram. And everybody agrees. And there is really no controversy on that.
Between 40 and 50, there is a little more controversy. But the government and the American Cancer Society are saying every year to two years from 40 to 50. And I think each woman has to look at that and look at her own risk and make her own decision.
SNOW: And talk to a doctor, probably, just like you.
LOVE: Absolutely.
SNOW: OK, Dr. Susan Love, thanks very much. Appreciate it.
LOVE: Thank you.
SNOW: Checking stories making headlines around the world now: another bloody day in Nepal. Maoist guerrillas attacked a police post in the western part of that country, killing 34 officers. The attack follows a similar one last weekend in which more than 150 people were killed, most of them police and army personnel.
More blood was shed today in the Middle East. A Palestinian bomber set off a blast in a grocery store in the West Bank, injuring an Israeli woman. He was shot dead by a security guard. When police examined the bomber's body, they found he was wearing a belt packed with explosives.
Former President Jimmy Carter is criticizing President Bush for calling Iraq, Iran and North Korea an axis of evil. Carter says the description is, in his words, "overly simplistic and counterproductive." He adds it could take years to repair U.S. relations with those countries.
Washington or Lincoln or where our living presidents reside? Coming up, find out: What is the top on the list for tourists?
And there is no fixed address with a life on the ocean wave. That's a new choice for retirement these days. We will float that idea by you right after this.
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SNOW: Now a look at other stories on today's "Newswire."
For now, the operator of a North Georgia crematory remains behind bars. A judge says he will wait a few days before deciding whether to release Ray Brent Marsh. He is accused of dumping bodies instead of cremating them. Authorities already have recovered almost 300 remains from his properties.
In DeKalb County, Georgia, just outside Atlanta, a grand jury indicts a former sheriff in the killing of his successor. The indictments accuse Sidney Dorsey of murder and 18 other counts. Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown was gunned down outside his home just days before he was to have taken office.
Tired of living ashore? Owners of a new cruise liner say step on board. Their ship -- The World it's called -- is filled with apartments that sell for as little as $2 million. It is registered in the Bahamas, though, so it won't save you from paying taxes in your home country.
Let's go to New York now and get a preview of "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE," which begins at the top of the hour -- Lou.
LOU DOBBS, "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE": Kate, thank you very much.
Coming up next, we will be telling you about that historic legal battle that was enjoined today between Congress and the White House: congressional investigators suing the White House over documents related to the energy task force and Enron. We'll have a live report for you. Violence in the Middle East continues -- tonight our special guest: Senator George Mitchell. And a solid finish to the week on Wall Street -- I will talk with Mario Gabelli -- all of that, a lot more at the top of the hour. Please join us.
Now back to Kate Snow in Washington -- Kate.
SNOW: Thanks, Lou.
Your e-mail is coming right up and the answer to our pop quiz: What's the most visited spot in our nation's capital?
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) SNOW: Now to our "Question of the Day," which is a quiz: Which D.C. landmark attracts the most tourists each year? To be fair, we were using figures from 1999. The choices were the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and the White House. Most of you, more than half, went with the Lincoln Memorial. And the correct answer is the Lincoln Memorial, with more than four million visitors each year. The White House had almost two million in 1999, the Washington Monument more than 500,000.
Time now to hear from you. Many of our viewers wrote in with thoughts about the way the United States deals with kidnappers.
Don from New York says this: "I cannot imagine how the decision for the government to consider paying ransom was ever made. This is an open invitation to every nut, wacko, and weirdo to pull Americans off the streets of the world and try to make an easy buck. This policy has made me cancel any thoughts, let alone any plans, to travel outside the Northern Hemisphere."
But Ann doesn't think it is such a bad idea: "I would like to know why the U.S. didn't give the kidnappers a few prisoners from Guantanamo or offer to pay some kind of ransom to keep Danny Pearl alive."
I'll be back in one hour with our report on the Olympics, looking back at controversies past and present.
I'm Kate Snow in Washington. Wolf Blitzer will be back on Monday. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" begins right now.
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