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CNN SATURDAY MORNING NEWS

Report on Horrific Case of Child Abuse In Florida; A look at Popularity of the Super Bowl

Aired February 5, 2005 - 07   ET

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


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Cell phones help police track down a Florida couple accused of torturing and starving their children.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: It is February 5, 7:00 a.m. in the East and 5:00 a.m. in Utah, where the couple was captured.

From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

And good morning, everyone.

I'm Tony Harris.

NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen.

Thanks so much for being with us today.

That story in just a moment.

But first, let's check the headlines this morning.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the Middle East is in need of reform and change. Rice is in Poland, stop number three in her whirlwind tour of Europe and the Mideast. She'll be in Poland another hour or so. And then after that it's on to Ankara, Turkey. She's expected to arrive there around 11:00 Eastern time.

Delegates from 50 nations are in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the opening of a four day conference on counter-terrorism. Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah opened that meeting by calling for countries around the world to create an anti-terrorism center to share information. Now, the conference follows an aggressive campaign by the Saudis to uproot al Qaeda terror cells in the kingdom.

A NATO helicopter has found the wreckage of an Afghan passenger plane that went down during a snowstorm Thursday near Kabul. There is no report of survivors among the 104 people aboard. Among the passengers were three American women who worked for a company based in Massachusetts.

HARRIS: And here's why you've got to stay with us for the next hour.

Just ahead, you'll hear from the college professor who compared the victims of 9/11 to a Nazi figure. He spoke at length with CNN's Paula Zahn about the blistering controversy. Also, Super Bowl 39 presents the perfect opportunity to examine the NFL's evolving fan base. Changes over the past decade will shatter a lot of stereotypes.

And later, before having plastic surgery, you need to understand the pros and cons. You'll hear from a former model who's blazing a trail in a new field, cosmetic surgery consulting.

NGUYEN: Now to our top story this morning.

It is a horrific tale of child abuse. Teenagers so malnourished they weighed the same as 4-year-olds, imprisoned in a closet, victimized by instruments of torture. But this morning, the couple accused of abusing the children are in jail and child advocates are wondering why it's taken years.

CNN's Jason Bellini picks up the story.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Police in Utah Friday evening arrested Linda and John Dollar. Both are wanted in Florida on charges of aggravated child abuse and torture of five of their seven foster children.

CAPT. JIM CERNICH, CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: They combed the area and were just about ready to shut down operations when they spotted the vehicle, stopped the Dollars on the roadway and then arrested them and took them to the county jail.

BELLINI: Friday morning, the sheriff's department in Beverly Hills, Florida, revealed the gruesome details of what the children say went on inside their home. The Dollars allegedly used electric shock on the children, forced them to sleep in a closet, chained them to walls, pulled their toenails out with pliers and left them severely malnourished.

GAIL TIERNEY, CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S SPOKESWOMAN: I've seen pictures of the children that have been, you know, been taken in connection with this case and, you know, I mean they have, they have very sweet faces. But when you look at their bodies, I mean it looks like Auschwitz.

BELLINI: The investigation began January 21. Paramedics responded to a 911 call. They discovered a 16-year-old boy bruised, bleeding and weighing only 59 pounds. It wasn't until six days later that Florida's Department of Children and Families recovered the other six children, including twin 14-year-old boys weighing 36 and 38 pounds.

Child advocates are questioning why it took so long.

KAREN GIEVERS, CHILD ADVOCATE: There's no excuse for leaving children in danger under the circumstances that we're hearing about.

BELLINI: Governor Jeb Bush says the children were not on record with Florida's foster care system and the agency acted swiftly to remove the children.

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: It's just tragic that parents, in this case, adopted parents -- these were parents that received these kids under adoption in the early 1990s -- would do what they did.

BELLINI: The Dollars and their adopted children had lived for a couple of years in Knoxville, Tennessee, and then moved back to Florida. The woman who leased the house to them said the children never played outside.

JEAN UNDERWOOD, FORMER LANDLORD: There were seven children and they told me they were from homes in Florida, that they were mistreated and they were -- it was a foster care deal of some kind.

BELLINI (on camera): Jean Underwood also told us that on her visits to the Dollar household, something seemed very strange there. The children were virtually silent. They never played outside. She was looking for a reason to call child protective services, but she never found one.

Jason Bellini, CNN, Knoxville, Tennessee.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

HARRIS: A professor who compared 9/11 victims to an infamous Nazi has refused to apologize to victims' families. University of Colorado Professor Ward Churchill spoke to CNN's Paula Zahn last night. It was Churchill's first public comments since the school launched a review that could lead to his dismissal. In an essay written on the day of the attacks, Churchill said those killed in the World Trade Center were "little Eichmanns." It was a reference to Adolf Eichmann, who organized Nazi plans to exterminate Jews.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CNN'S "PAULA ZAHN NOW")

PROF. WARD CHURCHILL, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO: I can understand the sense of outrage, and that's what I was attempting to engender. I wanted to engender a response comparable to that experienced and manifested by peoples elsewhere when they are treated in a similar fashion as a matter of course in the U.S.

And I have quite a number of Holocaust...

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: How can you possibly equate...

CHURCHILL: I'm sorry.

ZAHN: Professor, how can you possibly equate the activities going on in the World Trade Center, people waiting on tables at the Windows On the World Restaurant, police officers on duty that day, stockbrokers, with the actions of Adolf Eichmann?

CHURCHILL: You are, I believe, mixing apples and oranges there. I don't believe that there is any...

ZAHN: I'm just reading what you wrote. CHURCHILL: ... any reasonable definition by which you can consider a food service worker or a janitor or even a fireman or a random passerby as being a member of a technocratic corps. How do you define pushing a broom as being a technical operation? It was rather clearly stated who I was talking about.

I think terrorism is a phenomena to be quelled. But if you're going to deal with any phenomena, you first must define and, more importantly, understand it. And what I'm saying, this is a perfectly comprehensible response to the way that the U.S. projects itself in the world.

ZAHN: I think you're more clearly laying out what you, in your judgment, constitutes victims on 9/11.

Do you think you owe an apology to the families who read the same essay I read...

CHURCHILL: I don't think I owe an apology...

ZAHN: ... who thought that you were referring to their loved ones, the waiters in restaurants, the janitors in the building, as somehow being responsible for kind of fueling the military industrial complex?

CHURCHILL: I don't believe I owe an apology because I don't believe I included their families, the people you're talking about, in. I think some other people have very conscientiously attempted to put those words in my mouth and I think it may be that there are quite a number of people who have been imputing things to me that I didn't actually say could well and truly owe an apology. There are media sources that have me calling for the deaths of millions of Americans. Nowhere in there do I do that.

My object is to figure out, if we're going to solve this problem, how to go about it. And the first thing is to understand the nature of the response. And my thesis basically was that any people subjected to the kind of degradation, devaluation and dehumanization of, say, the Iraqis, of, say, the Palestinians, will either respond in kind or people will respond in their name in kind. And it doesn't matter whether they're Arabs or they're Americans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The controversy over Churchill's writings erupted last month after he was invited to speak at Hamilton College in Upstate New York. The college canceled his appearance, citing death threats and security concerns. That prompted a protest that Churchill's freedom of speech had been violated.

Now to "Security Watch."

We update you on the week's major developments in the war on terror every Saturday morning.

Tuesday in Belgium, authorities arrested a Moroccan man who is wanted as a suspect in last year's deadly train bombings in Madrid, Spain. Spanish authorities say he could be the same man who appeared in a video after the bombing who said he was al Qaeda's spokesman in Europe.

A new wave of sonar technology is about to hit the water to help the Coast Guard fish for bad guys at the nation's ports. This new device, unveiled Wednesday, is so powerful that it can send back detailed pictures of swimmers and divers in the water. In 2002, the FBI began investigating whether al Qaeda members were taking scuba training to launch underwater attacks.

And on the field as well as around the stadium, the key word at tomorrow's Super Bowl will be defense. The plans for security include a 30-mile no fly zone around Alltel Stadium, rerouted traffic, Coast Guard patrols and beefed up security at Jacksonville Airport. Some 100,000 visitors are expected to the city on game day.

And this is a reminder to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

HARRIS: OK, about nine minutes after the hour.

Good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: Good morning.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, good morning.

HARRIS: Good morning, Rob.

How are you?

NGUYEN: Good morning.

MARCIANO: Good morning, Tony.

Good morning, Betty.

Nice to see you.

Is there something going on in Jacksonville we should know about?

NGUYEN: Just a little game.

HARRIS: A little get together of a couple of football teams...

NGUYEN: A tiny little game.

HARRIS: ... in the National Football League.

NGUYEN: Yes. Nothing big.

HARRIS: Just a little confab. They do it every year about this time.

MARCIANO: Well, what if we can't see it? Can we see it right here on CNN or (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

HARRIS: I think we can make that happen.

MARCIANO: How?

HARRIS: I mean if that's your wish.

MARCIANO: Really?

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: The full game?

HARRIS: Look, whatever you need...

NGUYEN: Maybe just the highlights.

HARRIS: ... we're here to facilitate.

MARCIANO: OK. Something tells me that Tony at some point in his life, Betty, was (UNINTELLIGIBLE). And hardly ever delivered on his product.

NGUYEN: Oh.

MARCIANO: Dude, there's one station that has the rights to this game. I think it's Fox. Is it Fox?

NGUYEN: It's not us, I can tell you that.

HARRIS: It's either CBS or Fox.

MARCIANO: CBS or Fox.

HARRIS: Those are the options, right?

MARCIANO: Those are the options.

Anyway, it's happening in Jacksonville and I'm sure our sports department will have at least the highlights after the game.

The river city there will -- old school, U2 playing in the background.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: The expected temperature at game time kickoff tomorrow, 6:30, not here at CNN, Tony, no matter how badly you'd like that to happen. But it looks like the weather is not going to be too much of an issue. Not as warm as maybe the patrons would like it...

HARRIS: Right, right.

MARCIANO: ... who, I'm sure, will be toasty themselves by the time of the kickoff.

NGUYEN: It's still good football weather, though.

MARCIANO: Yes, it'll be a good game. I'm looking forward to it.

HARRIS: Have you got a rooting interest in this?

MARCIANO: You know, I'm from New England and they're a fun team.

HARRIS: Yes?

MARCIANO: Yes. I would root for New England. They're not my team.

HARRIS: They're good, too.

MARCIANO: The Giants are my team, but they lost it a long time ago.

HARRIS: Right.

NGUYEN: Yes, they're not in that.

OK.

HARRIS: They were never in the game.

MARCIANO: You guys want to play -- we'll place some wagers, maybe, during the break.

HARRIS: OK.

MARCIANO: All right?

NGUYEN: All right.

All right.

HARRIS: That works.

Thank you, Rob.

NGUYEN: Up the ante there.

Well, Super Bowl Sunday is tomorrow.

HARRIS: And, will you be watching? If so, are you looking forward to the game or the commercials? That's our E-Mail Question this morning. We're at wam@cnn.com. We'll read your replies throughout the morning.

NGUYEN: Whatever part of the game or commercials you're watching, chances are good you won't be watching alone. So just ahead, we go beyond the game to look at the growing fan base of women.

HARRIS: And check out this Louisiana hospital. It is battling one heck of a pest problem.

NGUYEN: Ooh.

HARRIS: But first, need to entertain your kids? "Shark Tale" is one of three Oscar nominees for best animated picture and it's out on DVD this coming Tuesday.

And on the big screen something's lurking in the closet.

Also, Debra Messing buys some companionship.

NGUYEN: Hmm?

HARRIS: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. And gets more than she bargained for. We'll show you some previews next on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And here's what we are working on for you all new in the next half hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

The jury pool in the Michael Jackson case shrinks a little bit further. Our legal experts look at the process.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: In other stories across America this morning, Howard Dean appears to have all but locked up chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee. Two more candidates for the post have dropped out and endorsed the former presidential candidate. One week from today, more than 400 voting members of the Party's National Committee will choose between Dean and former Indiana Congressman Tim Roemer.

The U.S. Army's top general says more armored Humvees are on the way to Iraq and Afghanistan. The armor provides an extra layer of protection against roadside bombs and production has been ramped up for February and March, with 8,000 now on order. General Peter Schumacher toured a plant in Fairfield, Ohio, where the Humvees get armored.

HARRIS: Two days of talks between NHL owners and players have ended with little hope of ending the lockout that's erased nearly two thirds of the hockey season. Officials, however, are denying reports that the League is on the verge of canceling the entire season. It would be the first time a professional sports league in the U.S. has lost an entire season to a labor dispute.

In Shreveport, Louisiana, workers are dealing with dozens of bats that have invaded parts of a hospital and prompted at least one partial evacuation. Workers disinfected the area and the patients were returned. Crews had sealed what they believe was the entry point and some employees have been given nets to capture any stragglers.

You think that's tough work? Wait until you see what you need to go through to get the official tough guy title. Details in our "Wows of the Week" later this hour.

NGUYEN: All right, well, if you're in a mood for a movie this weekend, here is what's all new on the big screen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "BOOGEYMAN," COURTESY SCREEN GEMS)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I haven't talked to the man who lived here. He said his daughter was taken.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: What are all these words?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not sure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: A young man returns to his childhood home to confront some terrifying visions that have haunted him for life. Are his fears real or just a figment of his imagination? No official word from the critics just yet on "Boogeyman."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE WEDDING DATE," COURTESY UNIVERSAL PICTURES)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, this is Cat. Leave a message and I'll call you back.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Cat, it's mom. Your sister's worried you won't bring a date to her wedding. She doesn't want the guests feeling bad for you on her day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: If you're a single gal in New York, you know it can be tough to find the right guy. So, where do you go when you have to have a date for your sister's wedding, especially when the best man is your ex, who dumped you two years ago? Whoo. Hire a male escort, according to the movie, and see what happens next. But critics aren't toasting "The Wedding Day." The "Atlanta Journal Constitution" calls it only "mildly appealing."

HARRIS: It is one of the most watched network sporting events on the planet year after year. Pro-football's Super Bowl kicks off Sunday evening. And tomorrow on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, we go one-on-one with the man in charge of the $5 billion empire. An interview with NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Again, that's on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, 9:00 Eastern.

NGUYEN: And football fans are changing and the NFL is cheering all the way to the bank. You know it. Rick Horrow is taking us "Beyond The Game."

HARRIS: Oh, no.

NGUYEN: There he is -- to check out the new faces of the fans in the stands. And look at all those yachts and boats behind him.

HARRIS: Hobnobbing with the goober smoochers.

NGUYEN: That's the -- that's living it good. All right, we'll be talking with him next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, you know, it might as well be a national holiday. Super Bowl Sunday has certainly taken on a life of its own. The annual pro-football spectacular is the most watched sporting event on TV. And that fan base is getting new energy every year.

Joining us now to tell us just where these new football lovers are coming from is the author of "When the Game Is On the Line." Also, we must inform you that his request to perform at the half time show tomorrow night was rejected.

We say good morning to Rick Horrow, joining us from Jacksonville, Florida -- good morning, Rick.

RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: Hey, good morning.

It might be a national holiday here, Tony, but it's a cold one. You know, I don't care what the Chamber of Commerce says...

HARRIS: Oh, is it cold, Horrow?

HORROW: Yes, but you know what? Luckily the kickoff is not 7:21 a.m. on Saturday, it's 6:36 p.m. tomorrow.

HARRIS: So it's a little chilly.

HORROW: And the good deal is...

HARRIS: OK.

HORROW: All right, you know what? But when you talked about rejecting the singing at the national anthem, at least I know I can't sing, pal. That's the difference in that deal.

So the bottom line is we're here to talk about the business of the NFL and what better way to do it than talking about the marketing to the women fan base? And you and I both know that over the past 10 years, the numbers have jumped dramatically.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm crazy for this little lady. I'm sneaking for my little baby.

HORROW (voice-over): The image of the so-called football wife slaving in the kitchen while her husband and his posse hoop and holler at the TV screen is fading fast.

JOANNE GRUNTER, FOOTBALL FAN: I love football and my husband will leave the room when I'm watching a football game. I get kind of rowdy.

HORROW: NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue says females are now 43 percent of the pro-football fan base. That's up from 25 percent a decade ago. The reasons vary, says Tagliabue.

PAUL TAGLIABUE, NFL COMMISSIONER: I think the biggest factor is more and more women participating in athletics. That's been one of the mega trends of the last 20, 25 years in America, helped by Title IX. And when women participate in track and field or soccer or field hockey or rugby or flag football or tackle football, which they do, they become more interested in the NFL.

HORROW: That fan base is not just in the United States. Marketing consultant Rachel Church was hired to help build on the astounding numbers in Europe. She says it's simple -- the NFL is now a family experience.

RACHEL CHURCH, MARKETING CONSULTANT: And as far as the NFL is concerned, obviously, the grassroots initiative in the U.K. means that families are getting involved. You know, they're watching their children -- you know, moms and dads are coming along. They're watching their children and helping them train. So suddenly it's being promoted as a family sport, not just women, not just men, but certainly for women, kids and husbands.

HORROW: A theory backed up by women we talked with.

LEIGH ZUPAN, FOOTBALL FAN: I'd have to say a big majority of it was growing up with brothers and my father always watching sports. So a lot of my days were devoted to golf or football and now I'm married to a guy who, I'd say I spend probably 30 percent of my day watching sports centers. So I obviously have no other choice but be brainwashed into the sport.

CONNIE SMITH, FOOTBALL FAN: I like the violence. I like killing, smashing, you know, hurting them. I like to see a good hit.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

HORROW: Hey, you know, she likes the violence, I understand. But the Reebok deal with the NFL has a new line of women's clothing. The Eagles have sold nearly 50,000 of these pink hats before they even made their Super Bowl run. And NFL products for women have more than tripled this season alone. So it is big business.

HARRIS: Nice hat. Looks good. It's a nice accessory. Keep the hat.

Now, tomorrow, tomorrow you actually, I understand, have a ticket to the game. You'll actually be -- you're actually going to go and see the game tomorrow, correct?

HORROW: Later on in the afternoon. But in the morning, you know, we've got a piece on how Super Bowl cities are chosen, which is a big deal. Then we've got the one-on-one with Paul Tagliabue, which is a big deal, I think. That'll be important, to talk about his take on the business of the NFL. And then you and I are going to have our predictions, so you can get yourself out of the hole you created the last couple of weeks.

HARRIS: Oh, yes. You're right.

HORROW: You know, I've been looking around here and -- by the way, Atlanta, notwithstanding your prediction -- is not in the Super Bowl.

HARRIS: Not bad...

HORROW: I don't know if you know that, but they're not in the Super Bowl.

HARRIS: Thanks for the reminder, Rick.

See you tomorrow.

Have a good day.

HORROW: Hey, see you tomorrow, man.

Yes, you, too.

HARRIS: All right -- Betty.

NGUYEN: He looks pretty good in pink.

Well, plastic surgery can be a little risky, Tony.

So how do you know when you're making the right choice? I know you've been asking. So fashion model Carol Martin shares her tips in the next half hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

HARRIS: Also, a glimpse of hope in a place where survival didn't seem possible anymore.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: This tiny island in the Indian Ocean was nearly wiped out by the tsunamis. But now it is the scene of an amazing story of survival.

We want to welcome you back this morning.

I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris.

That story in a minute.

First, a look at the morning headlines.

Now in the news, 100 bishops gathered this morning in Rome to hold a special prayer service for John Paul II. The pope is hospitalized with a respiratory infection. The bishops met with the pope and say he appears to be getting better. A few moments ago, the Vatican confirmed the pope will take part in his usual Sunday prayers.

An Army Reserve sergeant is now serving a six month sentence for his admitted mistreatment of detainees at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib Prison. Javal Davis also faces demotion to private and a bad conduct discharge. During his court martial at Fort Hood in Texas, Davis described Abu Ghraib as hell on earth.

And a Florida couple accused of torturing their children are in jail this morning in Monticello, Utah. A nationwide manhunt for John and Linda Dollar ended late yesterday when sheriffs deputies spotted their gold Lexus in San Juan County. The Dollars' location was given away by their cell phone signals.

NGUYEN: Well, after their village was destroyed by the tsunami, nine people survived for more than a month in the jungle. Then, searchers found them on the remote island off of the Indian coast. And here's their survivor's story from CNN correspondent Suhasini Haider at Campbell Bay, India.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

SUHASINI HAIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the first time Justin Edward has been in clean clothes in more than a month. He's one of nine survivors of the tsunami who were rescued 38 days after the wave swept through their homes on the western side of this island in the Indian Ocean.

"We saw the tsunami submerge our village," he says, "and ran for our lives. We lived on coconuts for days, then we met some jungle tribals who showed us how to make a fire and to hunt wild boar."

Police officials who found the group say they stumbled upon them when they took a motor boat on a random search operation. They say the route was made especially difficult because of trees that had fallen into the water and a dense jungle environment.

B.B. CHOUDHURY, RESCUE POLICE OFFICIAL: It's very difficult for a normal person like a regular sized person. You can't move more than four or five meters, 100 meters in a whole day.

HAIDER (on camera): News of their discovery has re-energized search and rescue operations here, say officials. More than 5,000 men, women and children are missing in tsunami hit regions of India.

(voice-over): Most of them from here, in this string of islands off the mainland, just about 100 miles from the earthquake's epicenter. Officials hope others are still living off the land, waiting to be rescued.

"We were so happy when we saw the police," says Edward, "and so very tired."

"Too tired and dazed to think about the future," says 12-year-old Clara (ph). "My parents probably died in the tsunami," she explains, "I don't know what I'll do next."

But these survivors say they'll take care of her and each other. They're all that's left of their village now, the only family they have. Suhasini Haider, CNN, Campbell Bay, in the Indian Ocean.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

NGUYEN: In other news, former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush, Sr. leave later this month for an inspection tour of areas damaged by the Indian Ocean tsunami. Clinton and Bush have been spearheading a nationwide fundraising campaign for tsunami survivors. The U.N. has chosen Clinton as a special envoy to promote cleanup and reconstruction in that region.

HARRIS: And time for a check of the other stories making news around the world.

NGUYEN: And for that, let's go now to the international desk and Anand Naidoo -- good morning.

ANAND NAIDOO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning to the two of you.

And we've got a developing story out of Afghanistan. NATO forces there have found the wreckage of that missing Afghan airliner. The plane disappeared off radar screens in a snowstorm while coming into land in the capital, Kabul. Reports coming in right now say a Dutch helicopter found what appears to be the crash site. It's in a mountainous area just east of the capital.

Reuters reports the Boeing 737 was initially turned away from Kabul Airport because of bad weather. A NATO rescue and recovery team has been airlifted to the site. This information coming into us in the past few hours. There were eight crew members on that flight, six Russians and two Afghans, and 96 passengers. That plane was on an internal flight. It was flying from Herat, which is in western Afghanistan, to the capital, Kabul, when it was turned away and when it disappeared off radar screens.

Three American women are among the passengers on that plane. They work for a company that is based in Massachusetts.

More details on what is going on in Afghanistan as we get them here at CNN.

On to Iraq now and results from the election there are trickling in. They show that the coalition backed by the country's top clerics has taken two thirds of the vote. That puts them quite a bit ahead of the alliance backed by the, or, rather, the alliance headed by the U.S.-backed interim prime minister, Ayad Allawi. So far, returns from 35 percent of polling stations have been counted. That is about 3.3 million votes that have already been counted. Overall results in the election are not expected for some time. Possibly in the course of the next week we'll have results from the election.

That's all from me for now.

We'll have more later, including an update on the situation in Afghanistan, as well as the condition of the pope. That's later.

Now back to Tony and Betty.

NGUYEN: All right, thank you.

HARRIS: Fine.

Thank you.

OK, how far would you go for plastic surgery and how do you know you've picked the right doctor? We'll tell you what your first stop should be. Your first, not your first step, but your first stop should be. That's ahead on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: And Rob Marciano is here to fill us in on the weather outside -- good morning, Rob.

MARCIANO: Hi.

Good morning, Betty.

I forgot to mention that today is a holiday that you guys may not know about. We'll talk about what exactly that is and we'll begin the celebration.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: We'll be right back.

CNN SATURDAY MORNING continues in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: We want to tell you about a few changes in our programming lineup this morning.

CNN SATURDAY MORNING welcomes a brand new show at 9:30 Eastern. It's called "OPEN HOUSE," buying, selling, refinancing. Gerri Willis takes you through it all.

Then at 10:00 a.m., "DOLANS UNSCRIPTED," and we mean unscripted.

HARRIS: Yes, really.

NGUYEN: They debut on CNN. It's an hour on personal finance, a very entertaining hour.

And for fans of "THE NOVAK ZONE," not to worry. It's at a new time, 2:30 p.m. Eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: So, imagine being the inspection for some of rock's most heart wrenching love songs. Cnn.com's Valeria Delacruz is here and, well, we're talking about you? Oh, no. We're talking about a woman who was a muse for a number of groups, aren't we?

VERONICA DELACRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, yes, yes, yes, a muse for a number of groups. I thought you were talking about me for a second. I did. And I'm a little disappointed. But actually...

HARRIS: Oh.

DELACRUZ: But actually who we are talking about is Patti Boyd.

Beatles and Clapton fans are going to be very excited about this one.

We have the gallery on the site right now, a photo shot by Boyd, who is the ex-wife of Eric Clapton and the late George Harrison.

In it, she shares with us her pictures and personal memories of both rock legends.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

PATTIE BOYD, PHOTOGRAPHER: I love it. I love it with a passion. I photograph everything. I western terribly aware of them before I met them. I just knew that they were a band. I never thought they'd be part of my life. You never know what's around the corner, do you?

I had no idea what I was really getting involved with until I was in it.

When I met the Beatles on the film, they were all so charming and so nice and so amusing, so funny. And we sort of became friends. He was always -- he always played guitar, whether he was writing a song or had just found a little phrase. I was never really sure until the end, until suddenly, you know, he'd got something absolutely definitive on tape.

He is such an incredible musician that he's able to put his emotions into music in such a way that one, you know, the audience can feel it instinctively. It goes right through you. He has that ability to sort of touch your heart.

GEORGE HARRISON (SINGING): If not for you...

BOYD: I feel deeply flattered and honored. They are the most beautiful songs that have been written about me.

Well, it wasn't until I started collating these images that I had looked back. Once I've taken photographs, I look at them and I might get into them and I'm there for the moment and then that's it. So I move on.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

DELACRUZ: Now, Boyd actually has a showing in San Francisco, which starts on Valentine's Day. And for more info and to actually see the slide show yourself, you can log onto cnn.com.

Is that something that sounds good to you, Tony?

HARRIS: No, no, I just needed to know where to go, where to go. Cnn.com, right?

DELACRUZ: There you go, cnn.com.

HARRIS: Veronica, thank you.

NGUYEN: If you've had a tough time keeping up with the news this week, we are here to help you out.

Time now to "Rewind" through some of the week's top stories.

Jury selection began Monday in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial. Lawyers on both sides have until Monday to review questionnaires from the potential jurors.

Wednesday, confirmation hearings for homeland security secretary nominee Michael Chertoff. Chertoff played a key role in the creation of the Patriot Act and headed the Justice Department's criminal division for nearly a year and a half. A vote on Chertoff's nomination is expected on Monday.

The Federal Reserve boosted a key short-term interest rate Wednesday by a 1/4 point, to 2.5 percent. Banks use that figure to determine rates for several types of loans. And the analysts expect more quarter point hikes until rates hit 3 1/2 to 4 percent.

And Thursday, the Senate voted 60-36 to approve Alberto Gonzales as attorney general. He went to work on Friday. Aides say he has no plans to make immediate policy announcements.

And tomorrow, we will "Fast Forward" to the week ahead and tell you which stories will grab the spotlight.

HARRIS: Is plastic surgery something that your heart is just set on? Well, you might not want to rush to get under the knife. Fashion model Carol Martin tells us how to make the informed choice.

That is next on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Oh, good morning, Philadelphia.

Are the Eagles feeling the love down in Jacksonville this weekend? We will find out soon enough. Our Rob Marciano will have your forecast in Philly and the forecast for the Super Bowl in Jacksonville in about 10 minutes.

Our top stories.

Police in San Juan County, Utah have arrested John and Linda Dollar, the Florida couple accused of abusing and starving five of their seven children. Detectives tracked their cell phone calls and arrested them last night without incident.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is pledging a new chapter with Germany, which bitterly opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq. Rice is traveling across Europe and to the Middle East on her first trip abroad as secretary of state.

And earlier this morning, bishops from around the world gathered to pray for the health of Pope John Paul II. The pontiff, who is recovering from a respiratory infection that prompted his being rushed to the hospital, is now expected to bless the faithful tomorrow.

And don't forget our e-mail question this morning. For all of you Super Bowl fans, are you looking forward to the game itself or the commercials? Just write us at wam@cnn.com.

NGUYEN: All right, experts say extreme makeover reality shows are fueling a boom in cosmetic surgery.

But our next guest has a warning -- make sure you do your homework if you're considering a surgical procedure.

Earlier, I talked with Carol Martin, who has created a unique job for herself as a cosmetic surgery consultant.

Her company is called The Informed Choice.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

NGUYEN: What is it that a plastic surgery consultant can tell a person and, say, that the doctor actually doing the surgery can't?

CAROL MARTIN, COSMETIC SURGERY CONSULTANT: Well, usually the doctors haven't had surgery themselves. Most of them have never been under the knife, most of the cosmetic surgeons. I myself have had many procedures, so I give patient to patient advice, Betty.

NGUYEN: We'll talk about your procedures in just a moment.

MARTIN: OK.

NGUYEN: But for those who come to you and want a little nip and tuck, what are the first thing that you tell them?

MARTIN: Well, the first thing that I tell them is you've got to understand, this is an operation. It is not like going to the dentist to have your tooth filled. There are things that can happen and that it is not a perfect science. And if they're expecting to be perfect coming out, they're going to be really disappointed.

NGUYEN: Because, the first thing after surgery, you definitely don't look perfect.

MARTIN: You do not, especially when you're having surgery on your face. It can be very frightening.

NGUYEN: Well, what are some of the most common, most popular procedures out there right now?

MARTIN: Well, the most common ones are eyelid surgery; rhinoplasty, which is your nose; breast augmentation, of course, for women; and then for men, they have breast reduction. That is technically called gynecomastia, that men develop the breasts get enlarged. And that is becoming a very popular surgery amongst men.

NGUYEN: So mentally people have to be prepared to go into this surgery, but physically how prepared do they have to be?

MARTIN: Oh, I always recommend that they have been exercising as much as possible. If they don't exercise to start maybe in a small, you know, exercise program. Don't start it just a week before your surgery. Plan, plan, plan. And also to know that you've got to go in with a positive attitude, Betty. That will go so far. And you've got to...

NGUYEN: Does that help with recovery time?

MARTIN: Oh, absolutely. The mind is so powerful. And I have people visualize what they're going to look like after.

NGUYEN: And you have gone, I guess, undergone some 10 strategies. I can't believe it by looking at you. I couldn't even pick out what they are.

But kind of tell us what you've been through.

MARTIN: Well, thank you. That is probably the best compliment I can get, is that I don't look as though I've had anything done.

Some of my procedures have been surgical and some have not been surgical. I've had my eyelids done, upper and lower. I've had a rhinoplasty. I've had a little touchup in the lower part of my face.

NGUYEN: A little touchup.

MARTIN: A little touchup. I have had a breast augmentation and numerous other surgeries, too.

NGUYEN: You know, plastic surgery has become so popular that even teenagers are asking for it as a graduation present.

MARTIN: Yes.

NGUYEN: Does that scare you a little?

MARTIN: It does a little, and I had teenagers come into my office with their moms wanting a breast augmentation. They have just, oh, really got to be prepared for this. It's a very painful surgery, first. And I think if the mom and the daughter have really discussed it and it's OK with the doctor and the doctor gives the OK, it's fine. Until you've been in those shoes of being a flat-chested person like myself, it's a great surgery and it really makes you feel great.

NGUYEN: But every surgery comes with risks. MARTIN: Absolutely.

NGUYEN: So what do you tell people as they prepare for this surgery? What are the dangers?

MARTIN: Well, the biggest danger, of course, is making sure that your surgeon is qualified to do your surgery. The most popular thing that you hear about being dangerous is the anesthesia, being put to sleep. You want to make sure that the doctor, that he's working with a board certified nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist. That's very, very important. And that it is dangerous and you must...

NGUYEN: Yes, absolutely.

MARTIN: ... you know, do your homework. Ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions.

NGUYEN: Be an informed patient.

MARTIN: Absolutely.

NGUYEN: All right, Carol Martin, founder of The Informed Choice.

MARTIN: That's right.

NGUYEN: Speaking of which, we thank you for your time.

MARTIN: Thank you.

HARRIS: And more legal problems for Snoop Doggy Dogg. A Hollywood makeup artist is now alleging sexual assault.

In an exclusive interview last night with CNN's Larry King, the rap star acknowledged he had given money to Kylie Bell for more than a year before suing her last November for extortion.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CNN'S "LARRY KING LIVE")

SNOOP DOGG, RAP ARTIST: My attorneys advised me to pay her this certain amount of money monthly because she was having problems with her medical bills, and it just all kind of excuses that they were making up to pay her because they felt it was a nuisance and it was going to all go away.

So I agreed with them because I was doing so much work. But then after a while, I said you know what? I'm innocent. Why am I paying her? I need to be suing her like she's trying to sue me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The woman alleges she was sexually assaulted by Snoop Dogg and four other men in January, 2003. She declined Larry King's invitation to appear on last night's show.

NGUYEN: So, if you think running is not a contact sport, well, think again. First aid comes with the mud when you sign up for this gutsy foot race. It is just ahead in our "Wows of the Week."

HARRIS: But first, a CNN extra.

Medicare announced this week that it will start covering Viagra and other drugs that enhance sexual performance, a move unpopular with some conservatives and public watchdogs. The new prescription coverage is expected to cost more than $500 billion over the next decade.

And did you know that Viagra also works in treating enlarged hearts that can result from high blood pressure?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Look who's back on the charts. LeAnn Rimes is making a

"This Woman." Rimes lands at number three on the Billboard charts, behind Kenny Chesney, whose album, "Be As You Are," sung from an old blue chair, debuted at number one this week, pushing last week's winner, "The Game," to the second spot. Green Day is in at number four and Eminem's "Encore" at number five.

HARRIS: Now for some video that deserves another look, which we call "Wows of the Week."

Let's start at the top, literally. These are the stair masters. Every year runners from around the world race to the top of Manhattan's most famous skyscraper. That's 86 floors. The record, set in 2003, is just a shade over nine and a half minutes. The oldest runner was a 93-year-old man from Sicily. This year was his 14th climb.

NGUYEN: Goodness.

HARRIS: He got from the lobby to the observation deck in just under 50 minutes.

Now, back to sea level. Glowing red lava from Hawaii's famed Kilauea volcano keeps marching into the sea. This eruption has been going on for more than 20 years and scientists say it could easily last 20 more.

And finally, think you're tough? This down and dirty obstacle course in Britain will sort that out for you, that's for sure. Expect a few cuts in bruises before it's over. And it's also bone chilling cold. Fortunately, there's a hot mud bath waiting at the end. That's your prize.

NGUYEN: Exactly.

You know who's a tough guy?

HARRIS: Who's that?

NGUYEN: Rob Marciano.

MARCIANO: Oh, yes.

NGUYEN: You could take in that no sweat.

MARCIANO: Oh, no problem. I just don't like to get dirty like that.

HARRIS: Yes, see?

NGUYEN: Oh.

MARCIANO: Hey, guys, I gave you a full hour now to wish me a special holiday. You have no idea what...

NGUYEN: Mardis Gras!

HARRIS: Well, it's -- yes.

NGUYEN: Wear your beads.

MARCIANO: It's National Weatherperson's Day, February 5.

NGUYEN: Oh, I was thinking of a different kind of holiday.

HARRIS: Hey, congratulations.

You know, pomp, circumstance...

MARCIANO: Yes, there's a parade downtown later on.

NGUYEN: Yes?

MARCIANO: I expect you guys to be there.

HARRIS: Absolutely. Right down Peachtree.

MARCIANO: Very good. A little cake would be nice, too.

Here you go.

I'm not kidding. Google it. Look it up. It's a day.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Super Bowl XXXXX. Just stop me. Just hit me. XXX...

NGUYEN: Just say 39.

MARCIANO: And Weatherman's Day.

HARRIS: Oh, yes, we can't forget that.

NGUYEN: Yes, it's a big day here at CNN.

HARRIS: Yes, we can't...

MARCIANO: You guys are too excited about it. HARRIS: No, no, no. We're planning a telethon.

MARCIANO: Thanks, I'll take it.

HARRIS: OK.

MARCIANO: See you.

HARRIS: Here's our E-mail Question of the Day.

Hey, what are you looking forward to in the Super Bowl tomorrow, the game itself or the commercials? Let's read a couple of responses. What do you say, Betty?

This is from Chris from New York: "I'm surprised the teams haven't pulled out yet. All of the main companies have pulled their ads."

I did not know that.

NGUYEN: And Jeff says: "I'll be watching the game, but the reason I'll be watching is to see the commercial spots."

I'm with you there, Jeff. I'm interested in the commercials.

HARRIS: So there's the address, wam@cnn.com. Are you looking forward to the game or the commercials? Send those e-mails along and we'll read those throughout the course of the morning program.

NGUYEN: And the next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING begins right now.

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


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