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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
Is Iraq Out of Control?; Interview With Lynne Cheney
Aired July 01, 2003 - 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.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, GUEST HOST (voice-over): A missing basketball player and a shocking tip about a teammate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to leave no stone unturned.
SAVIDGE: Iraq, out of control?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will not let a small remnant of die-hard opponents to freedom have their way in this country.
SAVIDGE: Explosions rip through a mosque compound, and U.S. military vehicles.
From drought to drenched.
Why is there suddenly too much of a good thing?
And tax cuts, don't count your chickens.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I promised my wife a new refrigerator.
SAVIDGE: What the feds give back your state may take away.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: It is Tuesday, July 1, 2003. Hello from the CNN Center in Atlanta. I'm Martin Savidge reporting. Wolf Blitzer is off. It is great to be with you.
Some bizarre and complicated twists in the search for a missing college basketball player have led investigators to Maryland and one of Patrick Dennehy's teammates.
We have two correspondents on the story. Gary Tuchman is at Baylor University in Waco, Texas and Bob Franken is in Maryland, now the focus of the investigation.
And lets begin with you -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is a focus because it is the home of Carlton Dotson who is a teammate of the missing basketball player Patrick, the one who is missing. And so as a result of an affidavit that was filed, Dotson has now become one of the focuses, at least, of an investigation. Dotson was a teammate of Patrick Dennehy. He drew up here in Hurlock, Maryland and has reportedly come back.
What happened was an affidavit was released by the police in Waco, Texas. They were seeking to gain a warrant and had to give the judge some reason to issue the warrant. It said that an informant had told a police officer in nearby Delaware -- Seaford, Delaware, which is a about a dozen miles from here, that a cousin had told somebody who had told an informer that Dotson had said that he had killed the person who was missing, the basketball player, had killed him, Dennehy, because they had gotten into an argument during some target practice and Dennehy turned his weapon on him and then Dotson had fired that weapon.
Now this does get very convoluted. From the affidavit it says, informant had been told Carlton Dotson told his cousin. So it is already three times removed. And that is why investigators are saying they are not focusing all their energy on Dotson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE ANDERSON, WACO POLICE: I would say it's a person of interest that we're talking to. We've spoken to him once. I'm sure investigators will speak with him again, as well as other individuals they have spoken to, maybe once and will also speak to again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: Although so much of the focus has been on Dotson here in Maryland it has become clear that he is not considered the most specific target of the investigation. Look no further than his house. There was no police lineup, no police tape, nothing like that. Reporters were allowed to come and go on the property. Although the family was quite reluctant to appear on television. Another sign is the lack of involvement by the police.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: Essentially tell us what police have been involved in and have you been contacted by Texas authorities? what's going on?
CAPT. CHRIS FLYNN, HURLOCK, MARYLAND POLICE: As of this point, we have not been contacted by anyone from the Waco Police Department or any other law enforcement agency.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: The officials in Waco, Texas, don't even know if they have a homicide here. All they know is they have a missing person, Patrick Dennehy. That missing person an aspiring star at Baylor University. But a lot of the focus has been on one of his teammates, the person who lives here, who is reported, Martin, to be still in this area, although police officials say they don't know exactly where or what happens next -- Martin.
SAVIDGE: Bob Franken live in Maryland. Thanks, very much Bob.
Now let's head south. Gary Tuchman at Waco University at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Were a news conference started about 30 minutes ago.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Baylor University is a private college. It's the largest Baptist College in the world. 14,000 students here. But despite its size, the leader of this university says it's a very tight-knit community and that makes this case especially shocking. You are right, Marty, a few minutes ago a news conference ended with the president of this university, Dr. Robert Sloan. We asked him if he had any insight into this case that we didn't know about. Any insight into a very troubling and complicated situation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT SLOAN JR., BAYLOR UNIV. PRESIDENT: We still have many questions and very few answers. We do have confidence in the various law enforcement agencies that are operative in this situation. We know that they are working tirelessly to solve this rather mysterious disappearance. We know that the Baylor Department of Public Safety, the athletic department, and others of the university staff and family are working very hard in assisting the local and national authorities in every way possible to find Patrick Dennehy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: Sloan, told us he does not want to speculate on what might have happened, but emphasized once and twice and three times that Baylor will do all it can to help police.
Marty, back to you.
SAVIDGE: Gary Tuchman live in Waco, Texas, thanks very much for that.
We are not done. For more insight we are joined on the telephone by Mark Smith. He is also in Waco covering the story for the "Albuquerque Journal."
We have Carlton Dotson, the name being floated out there, and yet no charge against him.
What are you hearing?
Well, Marty, you know, when it first came down yesterday that the affidavit, everyone was sent scrambling thinking, well, here we go, we finally got something that's going to lead to the end of this. But, you know, you start looking at the affidavit, and as you heard in earlier reports, there were so many holes in it. When you talk about hearsay, this is hearsay times three. And so when they called for the news conference today, I completely expected to hear what we heard, which was there was no arrest. There still has to be a lot more investigation, and, you know what surprised me maybe a little bit was that Dotson is not even being called a suspect at this point. In fact, they are not even listing anyone as a suspect, just persons of interest.
SAVIDGE: That affidavit is based upon somebody who told somebody who told somebody else. I mean it just seems so way out on a limb when you start mentioning a man's name and start linking it to a disappearance.
It's really bizarre. And one of the questions I asked in the news conference with the Waco Police today was, how much stock are they putting into this A, and, B, are you investigating this informant to see if anything was fabricated?
And they said that, you know, they are kind of just taking it as it is right now. It has been investigated, but they only talked to him one time and as you see, there's no arrest warrant out for him, and he doesn't appear to be going anywhere right now. So they are not pursuing him hot and heavy. I think there is going to be a lot more to come out of this before we see any kind of arrests.
SAVIDGE: Have you heard anything that Mr. Dotson is going to come forward and have some sort of statement. Try to explain how he got into the limelight or and everything?
That's a good question because, Marty, that's something a lot of people would like to know. He -- I actually spoke with his former high school coach today, who I had spoke with on Saturday as well, when I first started hearing about his name circulating. And he told me that Dotson was looking for a lawyer and then he would like to make a statement through his lawyer. But he had not found one at this time. He had not retained anybody.
SAVIDGE: All right. Mark Smith, I know it's not the last time we're going to talk on this one. Thanks for joining us on the telephone.
Well, it's exactly two months since President Bush declared a major end to major combat in Iraq, U.S. forces in still though have their hands full. And the casualty count on both sides is climbing.
Let's go live to CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson, in Baghdad -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Marty, another six U.S. Soldiers injured this day. At least two of them seriously, and U.S. Officials here acknowledge now that some of the attacks are being perpetrated by people who have at least some degree of military training.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON (voice-over): A smoldering wheel hub. The only recognizable remains of the latest attack on a U.S. military Humvee. According to eyewitnesses, the vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade or RPG, fired by civilians from a passing car.
"We saw one of the Americans with his fingers missing," he says. The other two were in critical condition.
U.S. officials confirm these casualties and say an Iraqi interpreter traveling with the troops was killed. Less than 20 kilometers away in another RPG attack, the U.S. military truck was damaged. U.S. officials say two soldiers were wounded in that attack and one more injured in a third RPG attack north of Baghdad. In the area being scoured for former regime officials in "Operation Sidewinder."
(on camera): Impossible to say whether this latest series of attacks is in response to "Operation Sidewinder." The increasing U.S. casualty toll, however, highlights the urgency facing the coalition in tracking down its opponents.
(voice-over): An opposition increasingly seen by coalition officials as trained and partially organized.
PAUL BREMER, U.S. ADMINISTRATOR IN IRAQ: The great majority of the attacks of from members of the ex-regime, the Ba'athist, Fedayeen Saddam, a demobilized Republican Guard, members of the SSO.
ROBERTSON: The potential for further attacks on troops raised by an overnight explosion at a mosque in Fallujah, west of Baghdad. According to local hospital officials, the casualties included at least six dead, most pulled from the rubble of the destroyed out building in the mosque compound. Already a town renowned for friction between Iraqis and U.S. troops, blame quickly heaped on the coalition. "They were responsible for the incident," he says. It was a plane that fired. Eyewitnesses have seen it. While U.S. officials investigate the explosion, rumors of U.S. responsibility will likely already be rampant, creating the potential for more trouble ahead.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON: Now one of the things we've been able to see with these attacks is that the attackers tend to go for the smaller, more lightly armored vehicles or even the softskin vehicles, some of the humvees, not some of the larger armored vehicles, not some of the fighting units that are ready to prepared to shoot back -- Marty.
SAVIDGE: Nic, just wondered if there was an update on how "Operation Sidewinder" was doing, number of Arrest, any major finds that sort of thing?
ROBERTSON: No more major finds in the last 24 hours, but at least 36 more people detained. A number of mortars found. A number of weapons found and seized at houses. The troops there still working on that particular mission, we are told, are likely to continue with it at least through the rest of the week -- Marty.
SAVIDGE: Nic Robertson, live in Baghdad, thanks for the report tonight.
The U.S. moved to punish countries that have not agreed to exempt American personnel from prosecution in the International Criminal Court. Some 50 nations, including Colombia and half a dozen future NATO members face cuts in U.S. military aid. Many key allies have receives warnings or waivers rather. The action falls under a law that is to protect service members from what some fear maybe politically motivated war crimes charges abroad. First the drought. Now the floods. Nature relentlessly pounding away with bad weather. Find out if this summer will continue to rain on your parade.
Plus escalating violence, dozens of cats murdered out west. Find out why police fear a human could then next victim.
And tax cuts kick in, but how much cash will end up in your pocket?
A consumer report on your money and who may be taking it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: The remnants of Tropical Storm Bill are coming down on us here in Atlanta and throughout the southeast after drenching the east coast. Winds gusting over 50 miles an hour drove 6 to 8 inches of water over roads in the Mobile, Alabama area overnight, closing a causeway.
Early this morning more than 200,000 homes and businesses in southern Louisiana lost power during high winds. Power pretty much has been restored now.
So, why is so much of the nation that was parched with drought last year enduring too much rain this year?
CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras has some answers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST (voice-over): Mother Nature just can't seem to get it right in the southeast. Just a year ago, the water reservoirs were drying up, watering restrictions were in place and the hot, baking sun had folks praying for rain. Be careful what you wish for. One year later, the rain just won't quit. Frequent storm systems brought record statewide average rainfall to Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. The southeast as a whole, had the fourth wettest spring on record. And from down east Maine to the Florida Keys, the drought is virtually eliminated.
Now one problem is replaced by another. Tropical Storm Bill slammed Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida with torrential rain, leaving 3 to 13 inches of water in its paths. Bill caused Mobile, Alabama, to have the wettest June on record with more than 20 inches for the month. The remnant of that storm is now dumping what could be 4 to 8 inches of rain on top of already saturated ground in the Appalachians and mid-Atlantic.
So what's making the southeast so soggy this spring?
The jet stream, fast-moving winds in the upper atmosphere that steer the direction of storms, has had a persistent ridge in the west. This has helped to pull moisture from the Gulf of Mexico into the east and bring plentiful rainfall. But it's also keeping the west very dry. Much of the Great Basin and Four Corners region is in the midst of an extreme drought.
(on camera): So will this trend continue into the summer months?
Keep your umbrella at your side. With an active hurricane season predicted, the southeast will stay soggy until September.
Jacqui Jeras, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: Now we're going to take you to a thrill of a different kind not weather related. In Landover, Maryland, we're going to show you live pictures of people that are stuck on a roller coaster. This is at a Six Flags Amusement Park. These images coming courtesy of WTTG. They are caught, literally, hanging in midair. We don't have any reports of anybody injured. But as you can see the ride is definitely not moving, and how they are going to get it moving or bring those people down is something we'll continue to watch.
Again, that's in Landover, Maryland. A roller coaster stuck at a Six Flags.
Cats being murdered by the dozens in Colorado. It's something even more sinister. Next, why police fear a violent criminal may be in the making.
Plus historic handshake: new hope in a violent land.
And life by the vice president's side. Lynne Cheney talks war, books and her husband's health.
First, today's news quiz.
Which state is the birth place of the most U.S. vice presidents? Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, the answer coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: Now a very strange incident of a cop attack caught on tape. We obtained this video today of an Orange County, California deputy giving a motor a traffic warning when an arrow struck him in the leg. He was treated for a shattered bone. Officials arrested a nearby property owner after finding a bow and matching arrows at his home. He's being held on $1 million bond on suspicion of attempted murder.
In two cities out west, pet owners are terrified of letting their cats out of the house. They are fearful someone is getting their thrills in a cruel and hideous way.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE (voice-over): Authorities in the Denver and Salt Lake City areas are trying to solve a group of grisly deaths.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It will never be the same without Sonny (ph) again. I'll never get to hold and tell him I love him. I'm going to miss him.
SAVIDGE: Who or what is responsible for some 40 cat mutilations in the Denver area and around a dozen more in Salt Lake City, in a little more than a year. No shortage of theories, but according to newspaper and television reports from both regions, there are similarities in many cases. Some of the animals appear to be cut with surgical precision. Many have reportedly been dismembered, their organs placed in patterns. Some have been drained of blood.
In both Utah and Colorado, the attack stopped in the winter months, then resumed. And often, reports say, cats disappear after their owners put them out for the night and are found near their homes the next morning. Many of these could be coincidental attacks from larger animals. This victim's owner seems to believe otherwise.
FRED ORAMAS, CAT OWNER: There is evil people out there that are out to hurt you and out to hurt animals, and out to do devious things. I don't know how you can kill something, someone's animal and get off on it.
SAVIDGE: One investigator says cats are desirable targets for human or nonhuman predators.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're smaller. They are easier to catch and contain and the offender may well feel less threatened when it's a cat because they are less likely to bite and attack back.
SAVIDGE: Officials have not established a direct link between the attacks in Denver and Salt Lake City. But several law enforcement agencies in the Denver region have formed a task force. And agencies from both cities are sharing information. One overriding concern, that these incidents could be a precursor to attacks on humans.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: And we may find out more about these cases tomorrow afternoon. The police chief's office in Aurora, Colorado, where much of the investigation is centered, is scheduled to hold a news conference.
Fighting words, from the president.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As long as terrorists and their allies plot to harm America, America is at war.
SAVIDGE: Renewed resolve to stay on in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Is there any end in sight?
Plus money in your pocket. The tax cut kicks in. But is your state government about to pull it back out? A consumer report on your money.
And fighting cancer, the test that could save your life. First a look at news making headlines around the world. Police say 350,000 people protested in the streets of Hong Kong against the pending security law that would outlaw subversion and give police more power. It overshadowed the sixth anniversary of the six British territories return to China.
On the mainland a critical speech by the president and communist party leader. He gave little indication of any plans for political or party reform.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has been in Afghanistan visiting Kabul and Kandahar. He talked with local and national leaders, with security issues high on the agenda.
Efforts to sue 27 of the world's largest airlines are now in a British appeals court. Another court struck down the lawsuit by victims of so-called economy class syndrome. They say airlines knew cramped seating could cause deadly blood clots.
Getting physical in Spain. British soccer star David Beckham's checkup was A-OK, clearing the way for him to play with team Madrid. He'll be officially presented tomorrow.
And turkey and olive oil. It's not a Thanksgiving recipe, but a centuries' old wrestling tradition in one Turkish town. Thousands of people come to watch the competitors who say they use only the highest quality olive oil. And that's our look around the world.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: Welcome back to CNN.
Tax cuts in effect, but will any of that cash end up in your pocket?
We'll take a closer look.
First, the latest headlines.
(NEWSBREAK)
SAVIDGE: The Bush campaign is in the middle of a fund-raising frenzy. The campaign says it's raised more than $34 million since the president formally started his bid for re-election in May. That amount far surpasses the money raised by the nine Democratic presidential contenders. The president is expected to raise more than $200 million for next season's primary.
And we want to take you back once more to Landover, Maryland, Six Flags. Thrillseekers caught, actually stuck on a roller coaster that appears to be stuck. Normally the ride is over too fast. Now it can't end fast enough for the passengers that were there. Those images coming from WTTG. Live pictures now, we have not heard of any injuries, but still the ride is getting fairly old for them, especially in that position.
Back on May, 1 that is, President Bush stood on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln and said that the major combat in the Iraq war was over. Today the addressed the continuing violence there. Let's go live, that is, to the CNN White House correspondent John King -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And Mary, the president's speech now two months after he declared combat over, major combat over, designed to deal with a shift in public opinion here in the United States and the situation on the ground in Iraq.
Mr. Bush says the attacks are part of an effort to drive the troops out. Mr. Bush also says that's not going to happen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KING (voice-over): The president vowed to stay the course in Iraq and to destroy those responsible for attacking American troops.
BUSH: These groups believe they have found an opportunity to harm America, to shake our resolve in the war on terror and to cause us to leave Iraq before freedom is fully established. They are wrong, and they will not succeed.
KING: The president blamed three distinct sources for the attacks. Saddam Hussein loyalists hoping to regain power, indigenous Iraqi terrorist groups and foreign fighters entering Iraq with a chance to attack Americans and cause political turmoil.
BUSH: The restoration of that country is critical to the defeat of terror and radicalism throughout the Middle East. With so much in the balance, it comes as no surprise that freedom has enemies inside of Iraq.
KING: Six soldiers were wounded in fresh attacks Tuesday and 23 Americans have been killed by hostile fire since Mr. Bush declared major combat operations over two months ago.
The president's new assessment of the war effort was an effort to stop a skeptical shift in public opinion. More than 4 in 10 Americans now say things in Iraq are going badly and nearly half say they are not confident the attacks on U.S. troops will stop.
BUSH: We will stay on the offensive against the enemy. And all who attack our troops will be met with direct and decisive force.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And if you would raise your right hand and repeat...
KING: Mr. Bush used this re-enlistment ceremony at the White House to claim significant progress in dismantling al Qaeda.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: But the dicey situation in Iraq is overshadowing any progress in the broader war on terrorism, and administration officials suggested a short time ago were calling these attacks isolated episodes, now say there's an urgent effort to bring the situation under control -- Marty. SAVIDGE: And John, the situation there can obviously override into the political season. Is he worried about the ramifications and what it could mean?
KING: White House officials say no. But there are some around town who said this speech was important today and that it is more important for the president to be more clear in describing the mission and in addressing when there are problems or pitfalls like these attacks.
The White House says it believes, and the polling supports it, at least now, that the American people are still very much behind this president, but certainly there is growing skepticism as the casualty toll, since the president said major combat was over, keeps going up.
SAVIDGE: We'll see. John king, live at the White House.
KING: Thank you.
SAVIDGE: A month ago they were in Iranian custody, seized from work boats in the Persian Gulf. Now they are home, and it's almost heaven. Let's go live to CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr with this unusual story -- Barbara
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: It is. Hello to you, Marty. Well four West Virginia National Guard soldiers are now home, back with their families a month after they were held by Iran for 29 hours while they were doing some security work on contractor boats June 1 at the northern end of the Persian Gulf in the Shatt al-Arab waterway, where as you know, those national boundaries can be very murky. You can be in one country one minute, another country's waters the next minute.
No these four young men, of course, were the first American servicemen to be held by Iran against their will since the hostage crisis of the Carter administration. The Bush administration has said almost nothing about this incident. It does remain under investigation, but the four young men talk today about the emotion of returning home, what had happened to them, and how they felt about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you asked about feelings and we're saying that we're scared. There's more to that, and you can picture things and you can say whatever you want to say. It's good to be here right now. I'll let you know my heart is beating right now just to talk about it. I'm glad to see you. I don't even know you, and I'm glad to see you. It's good to be here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STARR: Well even though these very happy young men couldn't say much about what happened to them, relatives of some of the men say that the soldiers have told them that they were interrogated by the Iranians. They were taken at gunpoint. They were blindfolded. They were not physically abused. The incident does remain under investigation. The -- it is believed, at least by the U.S., that when they were on these contractor boats at the northern end of the Gulf and taken, they actually were in either Iraqi or international waters, and that an Iranian patrol boat was waiting for them at the northern end of the Gulf and picked them up then, that they had not drifted into Iranian waters as Iran had claimed. But all of this remains under investigation and we are likely to hear more about it in the days and weeks ahead. But for now, they are home -- Marty.
SAVIDGE: That is good news, Barbara, but why would the Pentagon be so tight-lipped on this.
STARR: Well you know, the whole anything about relations with Iran is indeed very sensitive. I think it does still remain to be sorted out exactly how this incident occurred. They were doing security support work for some contractors, working in the oil fields, in oil terminals of Iraq, as those were being rebuilt several weeks ago after the end of the war.
Basically anything to do with Iran remains sensitive. The Bush administration not really wanting to talk about it. So we just really haven't heard very much about it. This is the first time we've actually seen pictures of these young soldiers.
Again, the first soldiers to be held by Iran since, you know, that hostage crisis of the Carter administration, but Pentagon is not talking too much about it.
SAVIDGE: We'll wait for the follow-up. Barbara Starr, at the Pentagon, thanks very much.
Your paycheck may be a little fatter this Friday, thanks to tax cuts. But how much of that cash will actually stay in your pocket. We'll take a closer look at "money matters".
Plus, a potentially live saving test. New advice for warding off cancer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: Starting today, Americans will begin seeing the effects of tax cuts in their paycheck, but will they spend enough of their windfall to boost the economy. For more, CNN's Kathleen Hayes is in New York -- Kathleen.
KATHLEEN HAYS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Martin, you know, we're going to see this impact so quickly. Lower income taxes, those cuts will show up immediately in our pay checks, that's being phased in now. And another major effect will be from the expanded child tax credit. Starting July 25, the government is going to be mailing about $13 billion dollars worth of checks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAYS: For Alan Batt and his wife, having twins is now even more than a double blessing, each child is worth an extra $400 in tax savings. Add in all the other tax cuts Washington passed and the Batt family is saving $2000 this year. Alan, already knows what he's going to do with the money.
ALAN BATT, FATHER: We have a wonder, beautiful white refrigerator, but now that we have two kids, there just isn't enough room in it.
HAYS: Spending it is not what Kathy Boyle, his long-time investment adviser, thinks he should do. Like many other financial experts, she says Alan should save it.
KATHY BOYLE, CHAPIN HILL ADVISERS: Most people are well behind the eight ball. They haven't saved enough. They're not saving enough. So while, yes, the economy hopes that we'll go out and continue to spend, we hope that people will put it to work saving.
HAYS: The supporters say even if consumers save some of their tax cuts, they'll spend enough to help double the economy's growth rate in the second half of the year.
JOHN RYDING, BEAR STEARNS: I think the economy is poised to accelerate to around 4 percent economic growth. I think if you look at the size of the tax cuts, it's not unreasonable to think that the tax cuts can account for perhaps 1 percent of that growth.
HAYS: Problem is, while the federal government cuts taxes, 21 states with big budget deficits, from Alaska to Arkansas, are raising theirs and several more are thinking of hiking taxes, too.
But even this may not deter a dedicated consumer and husband like Alan Batt.
BATT: The best investment I can make is in my wife's peace of mind.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAYS: An example of one of these tax hikes that could offset the federal government's tax cut, New York City raising the income tax rate on the top 5 percent of income earners means about $900 at least for people in that bracket. So you do get a sense that you are putting it in one pocket and taking it out of the other. Obviously President Bush is hoping that he's leaving enough in that pocket to get this economy really growing in time for the 2004 election -- Martin.
SAVIDGE: Kathleen, we will wait and see how the money goes. Thanks very much for joining us.
Well, here's your turn to weigh in on this story. Our "Web Question of the Day": "What will you do with your tax cut money? Spend it or save it?" We'll have the results later in the broadcast. Vote at cnn.com/wolf. And while you're there, we'd like to hear from you. Send us your comments, and we might read some of them at the end of the program. That's also, of course, where you can also read our daily online column, cnn.com/wolf. Also we should tell you, we will have yesterday's poll results, the question of the day was, "Should or will President Bush be re-elected?" Woo! The computers are still smoking on that one at the end of the show.
It is the country's No. 3 cancer killer. So a study just out this afternoon on screening for colorectal cancer is getting a lot of attention. At issue: how often and what kind of test should people be getting?
Here with some answers, Dr. Robert Schoen of the University of Pittsburgh. His just released study is in the Journal of American Medical Association. Doctor, thanks for being with us.
DR. ROBERT SCHOEN, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH: Thank you.
SAVIDGE: What did you find?
SCHOEN: Well, this study was part of something called the PLCO Cancer Screening Trial, which is a very large study, over 154,000 people in the trial in the United States. And as part of that study, one of the cancers that's being screened for is colorectal cancer. And for colorectal cancer, the patients receive sigmoidoscopy, flexible signoidoscopy. Those that were randomized to the intervention get it initially and then three years later.
What we did in this study was look at the people who had a negative test, the first time around, and came back in three years later and we looked to see what was found in those patients.
SAVIDGE: So what are we saying? That we should increase the frequency? I'm not sure I follow.
SCHOEN: No, I'm not advocating changing the recommendations right now.
SAVIDGE: Which are?
SCHOEN: The recommendations currently for sigmoidoscopy are every five years beginning at age 50 for those of average risk.
This study -- at the time this study was done, the recommendation were every three years. And that's what the protocol was at that time.
SAVIDGE: Now what do you say to men who are squeamish about doing this, understanding full well it is good for your health, good for screening. Has it improved? Has it gotten better? Should we feel better about it?
SCHOEN: Right. You know, colorectal cancer is a terrible disease. Once it's advanced, the treatment is very poor. It's not very effective. The test to prevent colorectal cancer, the data suggest they are effective.
Furthermore, we've done studies looking at the satisfaction, for example, like, what did you experience after you had this test? And overwhelmingly, people say it was not as bad as they expected. They are willing to come back again for another test. So really this test or these type of tests can really prevent you from having a very hard time down the road and you ought to get over your squeamishness.
SAVIDGE: And colonoscopy, is that the same thing or different? And if so, how?
SCHOEN: The colonoscopy is a more extensive test than the sigmoidoscopy. It examines the entire colon, whereas the sigmoidoscopy only looks at half the colon.
SAVIDGE: Dr. Robert Schoen, thanks very much for joining us. His just-released study is in the Journal of American Medical Association. We appreciate it.
Well, what is she doing? Way up there. Coming up, a grandma gets gutsy.
But first, Wolf goes one on one with Mrs. Cheney. A rare chance to hear her take on Iraq, the Supreme Court's controversial rulings and raising money for the president's re-election.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE (voice-over): Earlier we asked: "Which state is the birthplace of the most U.S. vice presidents?" The answer? New York. It's been home to eight. Kentucky comes in second. It sent four vice presidents to the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: Lynne Cheney, wife of the vice-president, headed over the first ever James Madison Book Award in Washington today. It went to the author of "First to Fly," a book about Wilbur and Orville Wright. Mr.s Cheney established the Madison Award with proceeds from her own book to recognize children's books on historical events.
Before he took a few days off, Wolf Blitzer sat down with Mrs. Cheney to talk about current events, including Iraq, the 2004 election and Supreme Court controversies.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Let's talk a little about your husband. How is he feeling? How is he doing? He wants to serve, I take it, another four years, if the president is re-elected.
LYNNE CHENEY, DICK CHENEY'S WIFE: He feels great. He's done a good job of pacing himself, as has the president. These are hard times that we have been through with terrorism, September 11, all the follow-ons. But both of them, and I see Dick up close and personal, of course, do a good job of exercising every day, watching diet. These are things we all ought to be doing all the time. BLITZER: While I have you, let me also pick your brain on a couple of issues that are obviously of great interest to the American public.
Iraq right now. There seems to be this debate, the questioning, was the intelligence appropriate, was it not appropriate, was it exaggerated? What do you make of this debate and the port mortem that seems to be going on among the American public right now?
CHENEY: Well, the question, of course is about the weapons of mass destruction. And I think we just need to be patient. We will find out where the weapons of mass destruction are in time. I have every confidence of that.
BLITZER: And you have no doubt this war was justified, was worthwhile?
CHENEY: Oh, none. None.
BLITZER: Iraq will be better off whether all the dust settles?
CHENEY: And CNN, other news outlets, have shown us the little boys coming out of the prison and the mass graves and people trying to identify loved ones from old pieces of clothing that are on skeletons in these awful graves. And we've seen the prisoners who have come out of these terrible circumstances.
Of course, it was a very important thing we did.
BLITZER: And the vice president spends a lot of time -- does he, I guess -- agonizing or studying or worrying about this?
CHENEY: You know, he's not an agonizer and he's not a worrier. But he certainly gives it his close attention.
BLITZER: As he always did. I remember covering him when he was the defense secretary at the Pentagon.
As well a couple of huge Supreme Court decisions that took place only within recent days. Affirmative action, sustained affectively by the highest court. You've spoken out on these issues over the years. What do you think about it?
CHENEY: Well you know there were really two decisions. And one decision -- this is so simplistic, I'm sure that any of your viewers that have legal training will recognize that. But one of the decisions seemed to say that quotas were wrong, and the other decision seemed to say that diversity is right.
And so as I look at the whole package, what it is encouragement for us to pursue diversity without doing it in ways that are in effect quotas and are wrong. I think it was a very balanced decision.
BLITZER: So you don't have a problem with the bottom line is that universities will have an opportunity to provide racial preferences, if you will, so that that diversity exists on the campus. CHENEY: You know, I spent a long time before I got back into politics again when Dick became vice president in the business world serving on corporate boards. And one of the things I saw is how committed American business is to diversity. And how important American business sees having an inclusive representation, not only in the board room, but in executive offices and throughout companies.
I think, in essence, that what the Supreme Court did was recognize something that has become part of the fabric of our society. Diversity is important.
BLITZER: And the other big issue that came out, the gay rights decision, effectively saying that they can't be discriminated against. Homosexuals and lesbians in the bedroom. Is that something you've been thinking about? What did you make of that?
CHENEY: Well it seemed to me to be exactly the right decision. I've been a conservative for a pretty long time. And it's always seemed to me to be a stretch, the idea that somehow government has any business in bedrooms.
BLITZER: Going to continue going out fund-raising for the Republican party, for the president and the vice president to get them re-elected?
CHENEY: You know, it's what now, 17 months now to the election and it's starting. And instead of looking on it with any sort of fear and dread, I think it seems like it will be a very invigorating campaign, in which we'll get to talk about important issues.
BLITZER: It's not a burden for you?
CHENEY: No. Not at all.
BLITZER: You like to go out and campaign?
CHENEY: Well it's fun to get outside the Beltway For one thing. I sometimes joked it's great to get out there where people seem to want the government to succeed. When you are inside the Beltway you are not always sure that everyone has that particular agenda.
BLITZER: I can identify. I can certainly identify with that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: Lynne Cheney, the wife of the vice president.
Now let's take you to Largo, Maryland, Six Flags amusement park and show you live pictures from there. Thrill seekers on a roller coaster ride have certainly gotten more than they bargained for. The ride appears to be stuck. These images coming from WTTG, one of our affiliates in, again, Largo, Maryland.
They have been -- well, the passengers have been stuck hanging here for a while now, at least about half hour from our vantage point. No one, we have heard, has been injured and we also believe that rescuers are on their way to get them. You can imagine, though, from that vantage point it's not too easy.
We'll continue to monitor events and hopefully have them safe on the ground soon.
Coming up, a grandma's gutsy jump.
Also, our hot web question of the day. What will you do with your tax cut money? Spend it or save it? vote now at CNN.com/wolf. The results when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: And it's time for our picture of the day. She waited 80 years to do it, then finally took lessons to prepare. So now it was time to take the jump. Geneva Crawford of Selinas (ph), California brought in her 80th birthday high above the skies of Monteray Bay. She jumped out of a plane as family and friends waited around, the sky diving granny wore a gold jumpsuit she made herself.
Once on the ground grandford (ph) said the trip was a great experience and the view from up top was gorgeous. Congratulations to her. Next time if you want a jumping partner, don't look at me.
We have two results to bring you now concerning our Web question of the day. Many viewers were pretty frustrated that, because of breaking news, we didn't bring you the results of yesterday's question. That question, do you think President Bush will be re- elected in 2004? The answer yesterday, 12 percent of you said yes. 88 percent of you said no.
Now here's how you are weighing in on today's question. What will you do with your tax cut money? 29 percent said spend it. 71 percent said save it. As always, as we like to tell you, the poll is not scientific, but that wouldn't be good news for the economy.
Now time to hear from you and read some of your e-mails. Elisa writes, "The restructuring of Iraq should be in the hands in those Iraqi people which choose themselves. If President Bush is to fulfill his statement that he wants Iraq to become a democracy that he must Iraqis to draft and enact their own constitution to do any less would be tyrannically undemocratic."
Mark sends this, "The body count continues to mount in the ongoing war in Iraq which has deteriorated into a guerrilla war. It is time for the United States to pull out and let the United Nations take over. Our forces have become vulnerable. We need international support."
And Walter asks, "Where are all the Iraqi members of the deck of cards who have been captured? Are they not talking or would divulging? The public wants to know what they know."
A reminder you could always watch WOLF BLITZER REPORTS weekdays at this time 5:00 Eastern.
I'll be back tomorrow at noon Eastern time. Does fast food share any blame for Americans getting fatter? E-mail us now at the CNN newsroom at CNN.com. We'll include your comments tomorrow.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 1, 2003 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, GUEST HOST (voice-over): A missing basketball player and a shocking tip about a teammate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to leave no stone unturned.
SAVIDGE: Iraq, out of control?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will not let a small remnant of die-hard opponents to freedom have their way in this country.
SAVIDGE: Explosions rip through a mosque compound, and U.S. military vehicles.
From drought to drenched.
Why is there suddenly too much of a good thing?
And tax cuts, don't count your chickens.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I promised my wife a new refrigerator.
SAVIDGE: What the feds give back your state may take away.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: It is Tuesday, July 1, 2003. Hello from the CNN Center in Atlanta. I'm Martin Savidge reporting. Wolf Blitzer is off. It is great to be with you.
Some bizarre and complicated twists in the search for a missing college basketball player have led investigators to Maryland and one of Patrick Dennehy's teammates.
We have two correspondents on the story. Gary Tuchman is at Baylor University in Waco, Texas and Bob Franken is in Maryland, now the focus of the investigation.
And lets begin with you -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is a focus because it is the home of Carlton Dotson who is a teammate of the missing basketball player Patrick, the one who is missing. And so as a result of an affidavit that was filed, Dotson has now become one of the focuses, at least, of an investigation. Dotson was a teammate of Patrick Dennehy. He drew up here in Hurlock, Maryland and has reportedly come back.
What happened was an affidavit was released by the police in Waco, Texas. They were seeking to gain a warrant and had to give the judge some reason to issue the warrant. It said that an informant had told a police officer in nearby Delaware -- Seaford, Delaware, which is a about a dozen miles from here, that a cousin had told somebody who had told an informer that Dotson had said that he had killed the person who was missing, the basketball player, had killed him, Dennehy, because they had gotten into an argument during some target practice and Dennehy turned his weapon on him and then Dotson had fired that weapon.
Now this does get very convoluted. From the affidavit it says, informant had been told Carlton Dotson told his cousin. So it is already three times removed. And that is why investigators are saying they are not focusing all their energy on Dotson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE ANDERSON, WACO POLICE: I would say it's a person of interest that we're talking to. We've spoken to him once. I'm sure investigators will speak with him again, as well as other individuals they have spoken to, maybe once and will also speak to again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: Although so much of the focus has been on Dotson here in Maryland it has become clear that he is not considered the most specific target of the investigation. Look no further than his house. There was no police lineup, no police tape, nothing like that. Reporters were allowed to come and go on the property. Although the family was quite reluctant to appear on television. Another sign is the lack of involvement by the police.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: Essentially tell us what police have been involved in and have you been contacted by Texas authorities? what's going on?
CAPT. CHRIS FLYNN, HURLOCK, MARYLAND POLICE: As of this point, we have not been contacted by anyone from the Waco Police Department or any other law enforcement agency.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: The officials in Waco, Texas, don't even know if they have a homicide here. All they know is they have a missing person, Patrick Dennehy. That missing person an aspiring star at Baylor University. But a lot of the focus has been on one of his teammates, the person who lives here, who is reported, Martin, to be still in this area, although police officials say they don't know exactly where or what happens next -- Martin.
SAVIDGE: Bob Franken live in Maryland. Thanks, very much Bob.
Now let's head south. Gary Tuchman at Waco University at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Were a news conference started about 30 minutes ago.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Baylor University is a private college. It's the largest Baptist College in the world. 14,000 students here. But despite its size, the leader of this university says it's a very tight-knit community and that makes this case especially shocking. You are right, Marty, a few minutes ago a news conference ended with the president of this university, Dr. Robert Sloan. We asked him if he had any insight into this case that we didn't know about. Any insight into a very troubling and complicated situation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT SLOAN JR., BAYLOR UNIV. PRESIDENT: We still have many questions and very few answers. We do have confidence in the various law enforcement agencies that are operative in this situation. We know that they are working tirelessly to solve this rather mysterious disappearance. We know that the Baylor Department of Public Safety, the athletic department, and others of the university staff and family are working very hard in assisting the local and national authorities in every way possible to find Patrick Dennehy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: Sloan, told us he does not want to speculate on what might have happened, but emphasized once and twice and three times that Baylor will do all it can to help police.
Marty, back to you.
SAVIDGE: Gary Tuchman live in Waco, Texas, thanks very much for that.
We are not done. For more insight we are joined on the telephone by Mark Smith. He is also in Waco covering the story for the "Albuquerque Journal."
We have Carlton Dotson, the name being floated out there, and yet no charge against him.
What are you hearing?
Well, Marty, you know, when it first came down yesterday that the affidavit, everyone was sent scrambling thinking, well, here we go, we finally got something that's going to lead to the end of this. But, you know, you start looking at the affidavit, and as you heard in earlier reports, there were so many holes in it. When you talk about hearsay, this is hearsay times three. And so when they called for the news conference today, I completely expected to hear what we heard, which was there was no arrest. There still has to be a lot more investigation, and, you know what surprised me maybe a little bit was that Dotson is not even being called a suspect at this point. In fact, they are not even listing anyone as a suspect, just persons of interest.
SAVIDGE: That affidavit is based upon somebody who told somebody who told somebody else. I mean it just seems so way out on a limb when you start mentioning a man's name and start linking it to a disappearance.
It's really bizarre. And one of the questions I asked in the news conference with the Waco Police today was, how much stock are they putting into this A, and, B, are you investigating this informant to see if anything was fabricated?
And they said that, you know, they are kind of just taking it as it is right now. It has been investigated, but they only talked to him one time and as you see, there's no arrest warrant out for him, and he doesn't appear to be going anywhere right now. So they are not pursuing him hot and heavy. I think there is going to be a lot more to come out of this before we see any kind of arrests.
SAVIDGE: Have you heard anything that Mr. Dotson is going to come forward and have some sort of statement. Try to explain how he got into the limelight or and everything?
That's a good question because, Marty, that's something a lot of people would like to know. He -- I actually spoke with his former high school coach today, who I had spoke with on Saturday as well, when I first started hearing about his name circulating. And he told me that Dotson was looking for a lawyer and then he would like to make a statement through his lawyer. But he had not found one at this time. He had not retained anybody.
SAVIDGE: All right. Mark Smith, I know it's not the last time we're going to talk on this one. Thanks for joining us on the telephone.
Well, it's exactly two months since President Bush declared a major end to major combat in Iraq, U.S. forces in still though have their hands full. And the casualty count on both sides is climbing.
Let's go live to CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson, in Baghdad -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Marty, another six U.S. Soldiers injured this day. At least two of them seriously, and U.S. Officials here acknowledge now that some of the attacks are being perpetrated by people who have at least some degree of military training.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON (voice-over): A smoldering wheel hub. The only recognizable remains of the latest attack on a U.S. military Humvee. According to eyewitnesses, the vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade or RPG, fired by civilians from a passing car.
"We saw one of the Americans with his fingers missing," he says. The other two were in critical condition.
U.S. officials confirm these casualties and say an Iraqi interpreter traveling with the troops was killed. Less than 20 kilometers away in another RPG attack, the U.S. military truck was damaged. U.S. officials say two soldiers were wounded in that attack and one more injured in a third RPG attack north of Baghdad. In the area being scoured for former regime officials in "Operation Sidewinder."
(on camera): Impossible to say whether this latest series of attacks is in response to "Operation Sidewinder." The increasing U.S. casualty toll, however, highlights the urgency facing the coalition in tracking down its opponents.
(voice-over): An opposition increasingly seen by coalition officials as trained and partially organized.
PAUL BREMER, U.S. ADMINISTRATOR IN IRAQ: The great majority of the attacks of from members of the ex-regime, the Ba'athist, Fedayeen Saddam, a demobilized Republican Guard, members of the SSO.
ROBERTSON: The potential for further attacks on troops raised by an overnight explosion at a mosque in Fallujah, west of Baghdad. According to local hospital officials, the casualties included at least six dead, most pulled from the rubble of the destroyed out building in the mosque compound. Already a town renowned for friction between Iraqis and U.S. troops, blame quickly heaped on the coalition. "They were responsible for the incident," he says. It was a plane that fired. Eyewitnesses have seen it. While U.S. officials investigate the explosion, rumors of U.S. responsibility will likely already be rampant, creating the potential for more trouble ahead.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON: Now one of the things we've been able to see with these attacks is that the attackers tend to go for the smaller, more lightly armored vehicles or even the softskin vehicles, some of the humvees, not some of the larger armored vehicles, not some of the fighting units that are ready to prepared to shoot back -- Marty.
SAVIDGE: Nic, just wondered if there was an update on how "Operation Sidewinder" was doing, number of Arrest, any major finds that sort of thing?
ROBERTSON: No more major finds in the last 24 hours, but at least 36 more people detained. A number of mortars found. A number of weapons found and seized at houses. The troops there still working on that particular mission, we are told, are likely to continue with it at least through the rest of the week -- Marty.
SAVIDGE: Nic Robertson, live in Baghdad, thanks for the report tonight.
The U.S. moved to punish countries that have not agreed to exempt American personnel from prosecution in the International Criminal Court. Some 50 nations, including Colombia and half a dozen future NATO members face cuts in U.S. military aid. Many key allies have receives warnings or waivers rather. The action falls under a law that is to protect service members from what some fear maybe politically motivated war crimes charges abroad. First the drought. Now the floods. Nature relentlessly pounding away with bad weather. Find out if this summer will continue to rain on your parade.
Plus escalating violence, dozens of cats murdered out west. Find out why police fear a human could then next victim.
And tax cuts kick in, but how much cash will end up in your pocket?
A consumer report on your money and who may be taking it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: The remnants of Tropical Storm Bill are coming down on us here in Atlanta and throughout the southeast after drenching the east coast. Winds gusting over 50 miles an hour drove 6 to 8 inches of water over roads in the Mobile, Alabama area overnight, closing a causeway.
Early this morning more than 200,000 homes and businesses in southern Louisiana lost power during high winds. Power pretty much has been restored now.
So, why is so much of the nation that was parched with drought last year enduring too much rain this year?
CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras has some answers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST (voice-over): Mother Nature just can't seem to get it right in the southeast. Just a year ago, the water reservoirs were drying up, watering restrictions were in place and the hot, baking sun had folks praying for rain. Be careful what you wish for. One year later, the rain just won't quit. Frequent storm systems brought record statewide average rainfall to Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. The southeast as a whole, had the fourth wettest spring on record. And from down east Maine to the Florida Keys, the drought is virtually eliminated.
Now one problem is replaced by another. Tropical Storm Bill slammed Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida with torrential rain, leaving 3 to 13 inches of water in its paths. Bill caused Mobile, Alabama, to have the wettest June on record with more than 20 inches for the month. The remnant of that storm is now dumping what could be 4 to 8 inches of rain on top of already saturated ground in the Appalachians and mid-Atlantic.
So what's making the southeast so soggy this spring?
The jet stream, fast-moving winds in the upper atmosphere that steer the direction of storms, has had a persistent ridge in the west. This has helped to pull moisture from the Gulf of Mexico into the east and bring plentiful rainfall. But it's also keeping the west very dry. Much of the Great Basin and Four Corners region is in the midst of an extreme drought.
(on camera): So will this trend continue into the summer months?
Keep your umbrella at your side. With an active hurricane season predicted, the southeast will stay soggy until September.
Jacqui Jeras, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: Now we're going to take you to a thrill of a different kind not weather related. In Landover, Maryland, we're going to show you live pictures of people that are stuck on a roller coaster. This is at a Six Flags Amusement Park. These images coming courtesy of WTTG. They are caught, literally, hanging in midair. We don't have any reports of anybody injured. But as you can see the ride is definitely not moving, and how they are going to get it moving or bring those people down is something we'll continue to watch.
Again, that's in Landover, Maryland. A roller coaster stuck at a Six Flags.
Cats being murdered by the dozens in Colorado. It's something even more sinister. Next, why police fear a violent criminal may be in the making.
Plus historic handshake: new hope in a violent land.
And life by the vice president's side. Lynne Cheney talks war, books and her husband's health.
First, today's news quiz.
Which state is the birth place of the most U.S. vice presidents? Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, the answer coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: Now a very strange incident of a cop attack caught on tape. We obtained this video today of an Orange County, California deputy giving a motor a traffic warning when an arrow struck him in the leg. He was treated for a shattered bone. Officials arrested a nearby property owner after finding a bow and matching arrows at his home. He's being held on $1 million bond on suspicion of attempted murder.
In two cities out west, pet owners are terrified of letting their cats out of the house. They are fearful someone is getting their thrills in a cruel and hideous way.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE (voice-over): Authorities in the Denver and Salt Lake City areas are trying to solve a group of grisly deaths.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It will never be the same without Sonny (ph) again. I'll never get to hold and tell him I love him. I'm going to miss him.
SAVIDGE: Who or what is responsible for some 40 cat mutilations in the Denver area and around a dozen more in Salt Lake City, in a little more than a year. No shortage of theories, but according to newspaper and television reports from both regions, there are similarities in many cases. Some of the animals appear to be cut with surgical precision. Many have reportedly been dismembered, their organs placed in patterns. Some have been drained of blood.
In both Utah and Colorado, the attack stopped in the winter months, then resumed. And often, reports say, cats disappear after their owners put them out for the night and are found near their homes the next morning. Many of these could be coincidental attacks from larger animals. This victim's owner seems to believe otherwise.
FRED ORAMAS, CAT OWNER: There is evil people out there that are out to hurt you and out to hurt animals, and out to do devious things. I don't know how you can kill something, someone's animal and get off on it.
SAVIDGE: One investigator says cats are desirable targets for human or nonhuman predators.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're smaller. They are easier to catch and contain and the offender may well feel less threatened when it's a cat because they are less likely to bite and attack back.
SAVIDGE: Officials have not established a direct link between the attacks in Denver and Salt Lake City. But several law enforcement agencies in the Denver region have formed a task force. And agencies from both cities are sharing information. One overriding concern, that these incidents could be a precursor to attacks on humans.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: And we may find out more about these cases tomorrow afternoon. The police chief's office in Aurora, Colorado, where much of the investigation is centered, is scheduled to hold a news conference.
Fighting words, from the president.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As long as terrorists and their allies plot to harm America, America is at war.
SAVIDGE: Renewed resolve to stay on in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Is there any end in sight?
Plus money in your pocket. The tax cut kicks in. But is your state government about to pull it back out? A consumer report on your money.
And fighting cancer, the test that could save your life. First a look at news making headlines around the world. Police say 350,000 people protested in the streets of Hong Kong against the pending security law that would outlaw subversion and give police more power. It overshadowed the sixth anniversary of the six British territories return to China.
On the mainland a critical speech by the president and communist party leader. He gave little indication of any plans for political or party reform.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has been in Afghanistan visiting Kabul and Kandahar. He talked with local and national leaders, with security issues high on the agenda.
Efforts to sue 27 of the world's largest airlines are now in a British appeals court. Another court struck down the lawsuit by victims of so-called economy class syndrome. They say airlines knew cramped seating could cause deadly blood clots.
Getting physical in Spain. British soccer star David Beckham's checkup was A-OK, clearing the way for him to play with team Madrid. He'll be officially presented tomorrow.
And turkey and olive oil. It's not a Thanksgiving recipe, but a centuries' old wrestling tradition in one Turkish town. Thousands of people come to watch the competitors who say they use only the highest quality olive oil. And that's our look around the world.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: Welcome back to CNN.
Tax cuts in effect, but will any of that cash end up in your pocket?
We'll take a closer look.
First, the latest headlines.
(NEWSBREAK)
SAVIDGE: The Bush campaign is in the middle of a fund-raising frenzy. The campaign says it's raised more than $34 million since the president formally started his bid for re-election in May. That amount far surpasses the money raised by the nine Democratic presidential contenders. The president is expected to raise more than $200 million for next season's primary.
And we want to take you back once more to Landover, Maryland, Six Flags. Thrillseekers caught, actually stuck on a roller coaster that appears to be stuck. Normally the ride is over too fast. Now it can't end fast enough for the passengers that were there. Those images coming from WTTG. Live pictures now, we have not heard of any injuries, but still the ride is getting fairly old for them, especially in that position.
Back on May, 1 that is, President Bush stood on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln and said that the major combat in the Iraq war was over. Today the addressed the continuing violence there. Let's go live, that is, to the CNN White House correspondent John King -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And Mary, the president's speech now two months after he declared combat over, major combat over, designed to deal with a shift in public opinion here in the United States and the situation on the ground in Iraq.
Mr. Bush says the attacks are part of an effort to drive the troops out. Mr. Bush also says that's not going to happen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KING (voice-over): The president vowed to stay the course in Iraq and to destroy those responsible for attacking American troops.
BUSH: These groups believe they have found an opportunity to harm America, to shake our resolve in the war on terror and to cause us to leave Iraq before freedom is fully established. They are wrong, and they will not succeed.
KING: The president blamed three distinct sources for the attacks. Saddam Hussein loyalists hoping to regain power, indigenous Iraqi terrorist groups and foreign fighters entering Iraq with a chance to attack Americans and cause political turmoil.
BUSH: The restoration of that country is critical to the defeat of terror and radicalism throughout the Middle East. With so much in the balance, it comes as no surprise that freedom has enemies inside of Iraq.
KING: Six soldiers were wounded in fresh attacks Tuesday and 23 Americans have been killed by hostile fire since Mr. Bush declared major combat operations over two months ago.
The president's new assessment of the war effort was an effort to stop a skeptical shift in public opinion. More than 4 in 10 Americans now say things in Iraq are going badly and nearly half say they are not confident the attacks on U.S. troops will stop.
BUSH: We will stay on the offensive against the enemy. And all who attack our troops will be met with direct and decisive force.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And if you would raise your right hand and repeat...
KING: Mr. Bush used this re-enlistment ceremony at the White House to claim significant progress in dismantling al Qaeda.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: But the dicey situation in Iraq is overshadowing any progress in the broader war on terrorism, and administration officials suggested a short time ago were calling these attacks isolated episodes, now say there's an urgent effort to bring the situation under control -- Marty. SAVIDGE: And John, the situation there can obviously override into the political season. Is he worried about the ramifications and what it could mean?
KING: White House officials say no. But there are some around town who said this speech was important today and that it is more important for the president to be more clear in describing the mission and in addressing when there are problems or pitfalls like these attacks.
The White House says it believes, and the polling supports it, at least now, that the American people are still very much behind this president, but certainly there is growing skepticism as the casualty toll, since the president said major combat was over, keeps going up.
SAVIDGE: We'll see. John king, live at the White House.
KING: Thank you.
SAVIDGE: A month ago they were in Iranian custody, seized from work boats in the Persian Gulf. Now they are home, and it's almost heaven. Let's go live to CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr with this unusual story -- Barbara
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: It is. Hello to you, Marty. Well four West Virginia National Guard soldiers are now home, back with their families a month after they were held by Iran for 29 hours while they were doing some security work on contractor boats June 1 at the northern end of the Persian Gulf in the Shatt al-Arab waterway, where as you know, those national boundaries can be very murky. You can be in one country one minute, another country's waters the next minute.
No these four young men, of course, were the first American servicemen to be held by Iran against their will since the hostage crisis of the Carter administration. The Bush administration has said almost nothing about this incident. It does remain under investigation, but the four young men talk today about the emotion of returning home, what had happened to them, and how they felt about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you asked about feelings and we're saying that we're scared. There's more to that, and you can picture things and you can say whatever you want to say. It's good to be here right now. I'll let you know my heart is beating right now just to talk about it. I'm glad to see you. I don't even know you, and I'm glad to see you. It's good to be here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STARR: Well even though these very happy young men couldn't say much about what happened to them, relatives of some of the men say that the soldiers have told them that they were interrogated by the Iranians. They were taken at gunpoint. They were blindfolded. They were not physically abused. The incident does remain under investigation. The -- it is believed, at least by the U.S., that when they were on these contractor boats at the northern end of the Gulf and taken, they actually were in either Iraqi or international waters, and that an Iranian patrol boat was waiting for them at the northern end of the Gulf and picked them up then, that they had not drifted into Iranian waters as Iran had claimed. But all of this remains under investigation and we are likely to hear more about it in the days and weeks ahead. But for now, they are home -- Marty.
SAVIDGE: That is good news, Barbara, but why would the Pentagon be so tight-lipped on this.
STARR: Well you know, the whole anything about relations with Iran is indeed very sensitive. I think it does still remain to be sorted out exactly how this incident occurred. They were doing security support work for some contractors, working in the oil fields, in oil terminals of Iraq, as those were being rebuilt several weeks ago after the end of the war.
Basically anything to do with Iran remains sensitive. The Bush administration not really wanting to talk about it. So we just really haven't heard very much about it. This is the first time we've actually seen pictures of these young soldiers.
Again, the first soldiers to be held by Iran since, you know, that hostage crisis of the Carter administration, but Pentagon is not talking too much about it.
SAVIDGE: We'll wait for the follow-up. Barbara Starr, at the Pentagon, thanks very much.
Your paycheck may be a little fatter this Friday, thanks to tax cuts. But how much of that cash will actually stay in your pocket. We'll take a closer look at "money matters".
Plus, a potentially live saving test. New advice for warding off cancer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: Starting today, Americans will begin seeing the effects of tax cuts in their paycheck, but will they spend enough of their windfall to boost the economy. For more, CNN's Kathleen Hayes is in New York -- Kathleen.
KATHLEEN HAYS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Martin, you know, we're going to see this impact so quickly. Lower income taxes, those cuts will show up immediately in our pay checks, that's being phased in now. And another major effect will be from the expanded child tax credit. Starting July 25, the government is going to be mailing about $13 billion dollars worth of checks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAYS: For Alan Batt and his wife, having twins is now even more than a double blessing, each child is worth an extra $400 in tax savings. Add in all the other tax cuts Washington passed and the Batt family is saving $2000 this year. Alan, already knows what he's going to do with the money.
ALAN BATT, FATHER: We have a wonder, beautiful white refrigerator, but now that we have two kids, there just isn't enough room in it.
HAYS: Spending it is not what Kathy Boyle, his long-time investment adviser, thinks he should do. Like many other financial experts, she says Alan should save it.
KATHY BOYLE, CHAPIN HILL ADVISERS: Most people are well behind the eight ball. They haven't saved enough. They're not saving enough. So while, yes, the economy hopes that we'll go out and continue to spend, we hope that people will put it to work saving.
HAYS: The supporters say even if consumers save some of their tax cuts, they'll spend enough to help double the economy's growth rate in the second half of the year.
JOHN RYDING, BEAR STEARNS: I think the economy is poised to accelerate to around 4 percent economic growth. I think if you look at the size of the tax cuts, it's not unreasonable to think that the tax cuts can account for perhaps 1 percent of that growth.
HAYS: Problem is, while the federal government cuts taxes, 21 states with big budget deficits, from Alaska to Arkansas, are raising theirs and several more are thinking of hiking taxes, too.
But even this may not deter a dedicated consumer and husband like Alan Batt.
BATT: The best investment I can make is in my wife's peace of mind.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAYS: An example of one of these tax hikes that could offset the federal government's tax cut, New York City raising the income tax rate on the top 5 percent of income earners means about $900 at least for people in that bracket. So you do get a sense that you are putting it in one pocket and taking it out of the other. Obviously President Bush is hoping that he's leaving enough in that pocket to get this economy really growing in time for the 2004 election -- Martin.
SAVIDGE: Kathleen, we will wait and see how the money goes. Thanks very much for joining us.
Well, here's your turn to weigh in on this story. Our "Web Question of the Day": "What will you do with your tax cut money? Spend it or save it?" We'll have the results later in the broadcast. Vote at cnn.com/wolf. And while you're there, we'd like to hear from you. Send us your comments, and we might read some of them at the end of the program. That's also, of course, where you can also read our daily online column, cnn.com/wolf. Also we should tell you, we will have yesterday's poll results, the question of the day was, "Should or will President Bush be re-elected?" Woo! The computers are still smoking on that one at the end of the show.
It is the country's No. 3 cancer killer. So a study just out this afternoon on screening for colorectal cancer is getting a lot of attention. At issue: how often and what kind of test should people be getting?
Here with some answers, Dr. Robert Schoen of the University of Pittsburgh. His just released study is in the Journal of American Medical Association. Doctor, thanks for being with us.
DR. ROBERT SCHOEN, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH: Thank you.
SAVIDGE: What did you find?
SCHOEN: Well, this study was part of something called the PLCO Cancer Screening Trial, which is a very large study, over 154,000 people in the trial in the United States. And as part of that study, one of the cancers that's being screened for is colorectal cancer. And for colorectal cancer, the patients receive sigmoidoscopy, flexible signoidoscopy. Those that were randomized to the intervention get it initially and then three years later.
What we did in this study was look at the people who had a negative test, the first time around, and came back in three years later and we looked to see what was found in those patients.
SAVIDGE: So what are we saying? That we should increase the frequency? I'm not sure I follow.
SCHOEN: No, I'm not advocating changing the recommendations right now.
SAVIDGE: Which are?
SCHOEN: The recommendations currently for sigmoidoscopy are every five years beginning at age 50 for those of average risk.
This study -- at the time this study was done, the recommendation were every three years. And that's what the protocol was at that time.
SAVIDGE: Now what do you say to men who are squeamish about doing this, understanding full well it is good for your health, good for screening. Has it improved? Has it gotten better? Should we feel better about it?
SCHOEN: Right. You know, colorectal cancer is a terrible disease. Once it's advanced, the treatment is very poor. It's not very effective. The test to prevent colorectal cancer, the data suggest they are effective.
Furthermore, we've done studies looking at the satisfaction, for example, like, what did you experience after you had this test? And overwhelmingly, people say it was not as bad as they expected. They are willing to come back again for another test. So really this test or these type of tests can really prevent you from having a very hard time down the road and you ought to get over your squeamishness.
SAVIDGE: And colonoscopy, is that the same thing or different? And if so, how?
SCHOEN: The colonoscopy is a more extensive test than the sigmoidoscopy. It examines the entire colon, whereas the sigmoidoscopy only looks at half the colon.
SAVIDGE: Dr. Robert Schoen, thanks very much for joining us. His just-released study is in the Journal of American Medical Association. We appreciate it.
Well, what is she doing? Way up there. Coming up, a grandma gets gutsy.
But first, Wolf goes one on one with Mrs. Cheney. A rare chance to hear her take on Iraq, the Supreme Court's controversial rulings and raising money for the president's re-election.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE (voice-over): Earlier we asked: "Which state is the birthplace of the most U.S. vice presidents?" The answer? New York. It's been home to eight. Kentucky comes in second. It sent four vice presidents to the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: Lynne Cheney, wife of the vice-president, headed over the first ever James Madison Book Award in Washington today. It went to the author of "First to Fly," a book about Wilbur and Orville Wright. Mr.s Cheney established the Madison Award with proceeds from her own book to recognize children's books on historical events.
Before he took a few days off, Wolf Blitzer sat down with Mrs. Cheney to talk about current events, including Iraq, the 2004 election and Supreme Court controversies.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Let's talk a little about your husband. How is he feeling? How is he doing? He wants to serve, I take it, another four years, if the president is re-elected.
LYNNE CHENEY, DICK CHENEY'S WIFE: He feels great. He's done a good job of pacing himself, as has the president. These are hard times that we have been through with terrorism, September 11, all the follow-ons. But both of them, and I see Dick up close and personal, of course, do a good job of exercising every day, watching diet. These are things we all ought to be doing all the time. BLITZER: While I have you, let me also pick your brain on a couple of issues that are obviously of great interest to the American public.
Iraq right now. There seems to be this debate, the questioning, was the intelligence appropriate, was it not appropriate, was it exaggerated? What do you make of this debate and the port mortem that seems to be going on among the American public right now?
CHENEY: Well, the question, of course is about the weapons of mass destruction. And I think we just need to be patient. We will find out where the weapons of mass destruction are in time. I have every confidence of that.
BLITZER: And you have no doubt this war was justified, was worthwhile?
CHENEY: Oh, none. None.
BLITZER: Iraq will be better off whether all the dust settles?
CHENEY: And CNN, other news outlets, have shown us the little boys coming out of the prison and the mass graves and people trying to identify loved ones from old pieces of clothing that are on skeletons in these awful graves. And we've seen the prisoners who have come out of these terrible circumstances.
Of course, it was a very important thing we did.
BLITZER: And the vice president spends a lot of time -- does he, I guess -- agonizing or studying or worrying about this?
CHENEY: You know, he's not an agonizer and he's not a worrier. But he certainly gives it his close attention.
BLITZER: As he always did. I remember covering him when he was the defense secretary at the Pentagon.
As well a couple of huge Supreme Court decisions that took place only within recent days. Affirmative action, sustained affectively by the highest court. You've spoken out on these issues over the years. What do you think about it?
CHENEY: Well you know there were really two decisions. And one decision -- this is so simplistic, I'm sure that any of your viewers that have legal training will recognize that. But one of the decisions seemed to say that quotas were wrong, and the other decision seemed to say that diversity is right.
And so as I look at the whole package, what it is encouragement for us to pursue diversity without doing it in ways that are in effect quotas and are wrong. I think it was a very balanced decision.
BLITZER: So you don't have a problem with the bottom line is that universities will have an opportunity to provide racial preferences, if you will, so that that diversity exists on the campus. CHENEY: You know, I spent a long time before I got back into politics again when Dick became vice president in the business world serving on corporate boards. And one of the things I saw is how committed American business is to diversity. And how important American business sees having an inclusive representation, not only in the board room, but in executive offices and throughout companies.
I think, in essence, that what the Supreme Court did was recognize something that has become part of the fabric of our society. Diversity is important.
BLITZER: And the other big issue that came out, the gay rights decision, effectively saying that they can't be discriminated against. Homosexuals and lesbians in the bedroom. Is that something you've been thinking about? What did you make of that?
CHENEY: Well it seemed to me to be exactly the right decision. I've been a conservative for a pretty long time. And it's always seemed to me to be a stretch, the idea that somehow government has any business in bedrooms.
BLITZER: Going to continue going out fund-raising for the Republican party, for the president and the vice president to get them re-elected?
CHENEY: You know, it's what now, 17 months now to the election and it's starting. And instead of looking on it with any sort of fear and dread, I think it seems like it will be a very invigorating campaign, in which we'll get to talk about important issues.
BLITZER: It's not a burden for you?
CHENEY: No. Not at all.
BLITZER: You like to go out and campaign?
CHENEY: Well it's fun to get outside the Beltway For one thing. I sometimes joked it's great to get out there where people seem to want the government to succeed. When you are inside the Beltway you are not always sure that everyone has that particular agenda.
BLITZER: I can identify. I can certainly identify with that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: Lynne Cheney, the wife of the vice president.
Now let's take you to Largo, Maryland, Six Flags amusement park and show you live pictures from there. Thrill seekers on a roller coaster ride have certainly gotten more than they bargained for. The ride appears to be stuck. These images coming from WTTG, one of our affiliates in, again, Largo, Maryland.
They have been -- well, the passengers have been stuck hanging here for a while now, at least about half hour from our vantage point. No one, we have heard, has been injured and we also believe that rescuers are on their way to get them. You can imagine, though, from that vantage point it's not too easy.
We'll continue to monitor events and hopefully have them safe on the ground soon.
Coming up, a grandma's gutsy jump.
Also, our hot web question of the day. What will you do with your tax cut money? Spend it or save it? vote now at CNN.com/wolf. The results when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: And it's time for our picture of the day. She waited 80 years to do it, then finally took lessons to prepare. So now it was time to take the jump. Geneva Crawford of Selinas (ph), California brought in her 80th birthday high above the skies of Monteray Bay. She jumped out of a plane as family and friends waited around, the sky diving granny wore a gold jumpsuit she made herself.
Once on the ground grandford (ph) said the trip was a great experience and the view from up top was gorgeous. Congratulations to her. Next time if you want a jumping partner, don't look at me.
We have two results to bring you now concerning our Web question of the day. Many viewers were pretty frustrated that, because of breaking news, we didn't bring you the results of yesterday's question. That question, do you think President Bush will be re- elected in 2004? The answer yesterday, 12 percent of you said yes. 88 percent of you said no.
Now here's how you are weighing in on today's question. What will you do with your tax cut money? 29 percent said spend it. 71 percent said save it. As always, as we like to tell you, the poll is not scientific, but that wouldn't be good news for the economy.
Now time to hear from you and read some of your e-mails. Elisa writes, "The restructuring of Iraq should be in the hands in those Iraqi people which choose themselves. If President Bush is to fulfill his statement that he wants Iraq to become a democracy that he must Iraqis to draft and enact their own constitution to do any less would be tyrannically undemocratic."
Mark sends this, "The body count continues to mount in the ongoing war in Iraq which has deteriorated into a guerrilla war. It is time for the United States to pull out and let the United Nations take over. Our forces have become vulnerable. We need international support."
And Walter asks, "Where are all the Iraqi members of the deck of cards who have been captured? Are they not talking or would divulging? The public wants to know what they know."
A reminder you could always watch WOLF BLITZER REPORTS weekdays at this time 5:00 Eastern.
I'll be back tomorrow at noon Eastern time. Does fast food share any blame for Americans getting fatter? E-mail us now at the CNN newsroom at CNN.com. We'll include your comments tomorrow.
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