Powell Meeting at U.N. with Mideast Quartet Over Stalled Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at the top stories at the bottom of the hour. Commuters riding the rails near Washington, D.C. may take part in an experimental anti-terror program today. The Transportation Security Administration unveiled a pilot project in New Carrollton, Maryland. It's about nine miles from the nation's capital. An air sniffing machine will search for signs of explosives. It will screen both passengers and baggage. A federal jury has ruled against the leaseholder of the World Trade Center who wanted to double his insurance payout by having the twin towers collapse recognized as two separate events. the jury instead decided the 9/11 attacks were single occurrence and eligible for just one payment of $3.5 billion. Defense attorneys for Scott Peterson want his double murder trial moved again. The legal team filed the motion claiming an impartial jury cannot be seated in Northern California's Bay Area. The trial was first moved from Modesto, the hometown of Peterson's slain wife Laci to Redwood City. That is about 90 miles away. A pesky computer worm has reared its ugly head. It's dubbed called "Sasser" and it has snarled hundreds of thousands of computers world wide. It happened yesterday. It doesn't cause permanent damage but it does makes some computers continually crash and then reboot. Computer users are advised to go online to find patches and Windows updates that correct the flaws that it preys upon. Now to the crisis in the Middle East and harsh criticism over President Bush's policymaking in the region. Some 50 former U.S. diplomats are releasing an open letter today. It sharply criticizes his support of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. They say the policy backing Israel's hardline stance are costing the U.S. international allies and credibility. The letter mirrors one that was sent last week by 52 retired British diplomats to Prime Minister Tony Blair. The Bush administration's top diplomat, Secretary of State Colin Powell, is also focusing this hour on the Middle East. He is meeting at the U.N. with other members of the so-called Mideast Quartet in the hopes of reinvigorating the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Our senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth sets the stage for that meeting. Richard, good morning.</s>RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. The quartet is an interesting name. It's got a very peaceful sounding name to it. Quartet sounds all very tame. But, in effect, this quartet has got a lot of vicious problems to deal with in the Middle East. The quartet is made up of the United Nations, the United States as seen by Secretary of State Colin Powell, Russian Ambassador Sergei Lavrov, now the foreign minister, and Javier Solana there, the European Union. The aim here is to try to figure out what are the next steps since Ariel Sharon, the prime minister of Israel, unilaterally, in effect, went ahead with the disengagement of the idea for -- to get people and troops and everyone out of Gaza and a widespread withdrawal from the West Bank. The road map here calls for complete withdrawal by everybody. However, President Bush has warmly endorsed Prime Minister Sharon's idea , much to the consternation of the Palestinians and everybody else. So the idea here is what's the next step? The Palestinians want the Quartet to come up with a new reinvigoration of the plan, the road map, which calls for simultaneous peaceful steps by both sides, something that is a long way away. Back to you -- Daryn.</s>KAGAN: So is this just a bunch of talks today? Is anything going to happen from this, Richard? Well, Richard, we'll work on Richard's ear piece. Get questions for him later.</s>ROTH: I'm sorry, Daryn, you're going to have to repeat that.</s>KAGAN: All right, can you hear me now?</s>ROTH: Yes.</s>KAGAN: All right, I was just going to ask you is anything going to come from this talk and from this meeting?</s>ROTH: Well, they may try to figure out strategy for how to help and reconstruction or financial aspects should Israeli indeed withdraw from Gaza, what would happen in Gaza. But there's going to be a big press conference by everybody in about two hours. And only then will we know if they've made any concrete steps. Right now the quartet seems to be reacting to Israel. The Palestinians say Israeli is violating the terms of this road map by making unilateral actions when the road map is supposed to be side-by- side steps. Prime Minister Sharon is frustrated saying the Palestinians are not a solid negotiating partner. The White House still standing by its support of Prime Minister Sharon's actions even though his own Likud Party on the weekend by a 60 to 40 referendum shot down his proposal. They oppose such a widespread withdrawal from Gaza. The issue of return of refugees remains a major problem. And many people from the European Union are upset that the White House supported Prime Minister Sharon.</s>KAGAN: Richard Roth at the United Nations. Thank you, Richard. We're also going to hear from more from Colin Powell tonight. He will be on CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE." That is 9:00 Eastern, right here on CNN. And now to the presidential campaign trail where the rubber meets the road, literally on this, the second day of President Bush's bus tour. Michigan fades into the rearview mirror and Ohio looming large on the horizon. Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux takes a closer look at the trip. Suzanne, good morning.</s>SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. President Bush just wrapped up a pancake breakfast. He spoke for more than an hour to the party faithful, really rallying the crowds. This is in Maumee, Ohio. As you know, Ohio is a critical state for the president. He narrowly won it back in 2000. He wants the 20 electoral votes. And he wants them bad. Now, of course, Ohio has seen its share of problems. Its unemployment rate nearly doubling under President Bush's watch. But the president here today really trying to rally the base, win those swing voters and maximize the media coverage. The president also wants to make clear distinctions and comparisons to his opponent.</s>GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is going to be a tough campaign. I'm under no illusions and I look forward to it. My energy level is high. My enthusiasm for the job is strong. I have a deep desire to serve the American people for four more years. But it's going to be a tough contest. I'm fully aware of how tough it's going to be. I'm running against an experienced United States senator. He's been there a long time. He's been there so long he's just about on both sides of every issue.</s>MALVEAUX: That's a common line the Bush campaign is taking that his opponent is waffler. Now this is being billed as "The Yes, America Can Bus Tour." As you can see that bus. But many of his stops, and the president really spending more time today on Air Force One than on the bus. He is actually going to be traveling, flying at certain places. But he'll be traveling, doing a round table in Dayton, Ohio. Also some rallies in Lebanon and Cincinnati. All of this, of course, the big push to get those swing voters on board. The president clearly mapping out Ohio as one of the most important states. And as you know, Daryn, it's something that many people have actually stressed here. That is the fact that there has been no Republican that has won the presidency without the state of Ohio -- Daryn.</s>KAGAN: I believe Bill Hemmer has pointed that out on more than one occasion, being a native son of Cincinnati. Thank you so much for that, Suzanne Malveaux. Let's talk jobs. It's one of the more timely issues in this presidential election. But education with one of the most enduring in any campaign. Presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry visits an elementary school in New Mexico today. He'll be speaking on strengthening America's schools. Later he travels on to Los Angeles. The fight for Iraq and the debate in the U.S. A California man is building a portable memorial for the American troops killed in combat. This embodies both grim symbolism and political statement in a field of crosses nicknamed "Arlington West." Miguel Marquez pays a visit.</s>MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It has become a Sunday morning ritual.</s>STEPHEN SHERILL, CREATOR, ARLINGTON WEST: First and foremost, and above all else, it is to honor and memorialize those who have given their lives in service to our country. It's also a wake-up call.</s>MARQUEZ: Part memorial, part protest, it is the passion of Stephen Sherill, one cross for every American servicewoman and man killed in Iraq. On this Sunday, there are 747.</s>SHERILL: It seems to cut through all social strata. Rich, poor, young, old, white, black, brown, Democrat, Republican, it hits everyone equally.</s>LORRAINE ELEAUT, VISITOR: They're dead. They have mothers. They're people that believe -- they're people that believe in our freedom.</s>MARQUEZ: Though Sherill, a building contractor, never served in the military, every Sunday since November, he's had help from those who did.</s>RICHARD NELSON, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: I was in Company G (ph), 36th Armored Regiment of the 3rd Armored Division.</s>MARQUEZ: In World War II, Richard Nelson fought his way across Europe. He says he saw things no one should see, and planting crosses 60 years later is a little like therapy.</s>NELSON: You know, you try to stuff all that stuff all these years. It doesn't work. So that's the way it is.</s>MARQUEZ: Nelson is a member of Veterans for Peace. The group has taken up Sherill's cause as its own.</s>LANE ANDERSON, VIETNAM VETERAN: Even if the war was a mistake, even if the war was wrong, even if wrong things are done in warfare, it's not the fault of the soldiers doing it.</s>MARQUEZ: Anderson served in Vietnam. He helps place the crosses. Names of the dead attached to each, and donated flowers are placed at their bases. Loved ones of those killed in Iraq sometimes make their way to the beach and leave personal touches behind. They call it Arlington West, a reference to the national cemetery outside Washington, D.C. The only question now? How long will the ritual continue?</s>ANDERSON: We can't quit, anymore than it seems like our commander-in-chief can quit.</s>MARQUEZ: So every Sunday, as the sun rises, the crosses go up. There is talk that if the number of dead Americans hits 1,000, no more crosses beyond that will be built. It's a decision they hope never to make. Miguel Marquez, CNN, Santa Barbara, California.</s>KAGAN: To San Jose, California. Remembering a man who was bigger than life and increasingly immortal in death. Three thousand people gathered to remember hometown hero Pat Tillman, the professional football player so moved by the 9/11 attacks that he rejected a multimillion dollar contract with the Arizona Cardinals to become an elite Army Ranger. Tillman dies last month in a firefight in Afghanistan.</s>KAGAN: Here in Georgia is the dawn of a new day for Marcus Dixon. For the first time in 15 months, he awoke in his own bed. He is newly freed after the state supreme court overturned his conviction on child molestation charges. Civil rights groups say that his greatest offense was having sex with a high school classmate who was white, but Dixon's legal troubles may not be over. Eric Philips has that story.</s>ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nineteen-year-old Marcus Dixon said on his first night of freedom, he was thankful.</s>MARCUS DIXON, RAPE CONVICTION OVERTURNED: I just want to say to everybody, how thankful I am to have supporters and all of the letters of encouragement and cards and everything. It really helped me through the time I had in prison.</s>PHILIPS: It's the end to a 14-month-ordeal for Dixon and his adopted parents. The news from the Georgia Supreme Court was like music to their ears.</s>KEN JONES, MARCUS DIXON'S GUARDIAN: Marcus was crying. I was crying. We was both doing the dance.</s>PHILIPS: Finally, tears of joy, rather than sorrow for this 19- year-old former high school star athlete, honor student and college hopeful. It all came crashing down with a court conviction last May. He and a classmate had engaged in sex in this classroom at Pepperell (ph) High School in Rome, Georgia. Oprah Winfrey interviewed the accuser.</s>OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: And you are aware of the fact that throughout the country that there are people who say that if Marcus had been a white boy that he would not be in jail. You are aware of that, right?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It doesn't matter what color he is. It's not his color that has to do with anything about it. It's his actions that make it wrong.</s>PHILIPS: She was 15. He was 18. She said it was rape. He said it was consensual. The jury believed Marcus and threw out the felony rape charge, but still convicted him of statutory rape, a misdemeanor and aggravated child molestation. The second conviction meant a mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison. Defense attorneys appealed, and the Georgia Supreme Court agreed, overturning the conviction saying: "The legislature most recently declared that sex between teenagers less than three years apart should be punished as misdemeanor statutory rape and not felony child molestation." Prosecutors plan to ask the Georgia Supreme Court to reconsider its decision. Eric Philips, CNN, Atlanta.</s>KAGAN: Madonna and her husband, Guy Ritchie, head to court. Coming up, who really came up with the idea that bombed.</s>KAGAN: Music lovers, listen up. New technologies let you go to a live performance of your favorite show and then relive the magic just moments later. CNN's Denise Bellgrave has that story.</s>DENISE BELLGRAVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Music fans love this stuff, merchandise to remember an event. A concert, their favorite band. And now they can literally take the concert home with them. New technologies are popping up in clubs and festivals around the country. With it, vendors can record the show and turn around the sound almost immediately. (on camera): At Atlanta's Music Midtown Festival one such technology was on display. It's called Instant Live. (voice-over): Fans bought CDs of Jazz horn player Carl Dennison's gig almost as if he was walking off the stage.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You listen to it and you go, oh, man, it's so good.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And you pop it in your CD player, and you're like, my gosh, I was right there.</s>BELLGRAVE: And it's not only the fans who were excited by the new technologies.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's really important, you know, because night-to-night, you might have one of those magic nights and it goes off into space.</s>BELLGRAVE: Here's how Instant Live works: Technicians plug into the soundboard and use ambient microphones to get quality sound from the stage and the fans. It's then fed into this mobile unit where it's mixed and packages. About a hundred CDs can be produced in just five minutes. Some artists have adapted the technology to their own purposes.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On the way home, you know, we'll listen to it and be like, oh, that was good, and that wasn't so good, you know.</s>BELLGRAVE: Other technologies, like E-Music Live, let fans download MP3s of a band's performance after a concert. Although the different technologies boasts a variety of advantages, they all share one thing. Denise Bellgrave, CNN, Atlanta.</s>KAGAN: Now to news from a woman who has sold a few CDs of her own, music mogul madonna and her husband, Guy Ritchie, will be in court today. The are fighting allegations that they stole the idea to remake the movie "Swept Away." A man says the couple got the idea to remake the Italian film from him, and he's suing them for $10 million. Attorneys for Madonna and Ritchie says the man has no evidence to prove that point. Madonna's fellow rocker Prince might have a musical dilemma of his out. Check out CNN.com/entertainment to learn why the singer doesn't want you to call his new album and his concert tour a comeback. That's CNN.com/entertainment. We are back in a moment.</s>KAGAN: In New Hampshire, the old man of the mountain gets a high-profile facelift. Thanks to some high-tech wizardry, this is how the granite formation looked before a large chunk fell off about a year ago yesterday. Now, 3D view-finders are available that will allow visitors to see the human-like face in its old glory, so there you go.</s>KAGAN: The West might be cooling down, but wildfires are still heating up, and forestry officials say it may get even worse in the tinder dry region. A look ahead is just ahead. Prosecutors seize Michael Jackson memorabilia from a New Jersey collector. Hear what they were going after, as the second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY 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