[Phillips:] A story we're continuing to follow here at CNN Center. An American contractor kidnapped in Iraq. We're just starting to get in more information. We are told this American contractor was kidnapped today somewhere within the Baghdad area. That's according to a U.S. embassy spokesperson. We also are being told that this individual speaking to us on one condition, that we not use their names. The contractor was working on a reconstruction project reconstruction project, rather. The contractor's family has been notified of the abduction. Once again, that's all the information we have at this point. We're working this story for you right now, but as you know, in Iraq right now, a lot of American companies along with U.S. military, are over in Iraq rebuilding throughout that area, rebuilding businesses and schools and getting water, of course, running and other utilities. Now we are being told that one of the American contractors was kidnapped today somewhere in the Baghdad area, a contractor that was working on a reconstruction project. As soon as we get more information, we'll bring it to you.
[O'brien:] Now let's go to the woodshed of the presidential ranch in Crawford, Texas, metaphorically, at least. As you know if you've been watching CNN all day, President Bush today told the visiting prime minister of Israel to tear up plans to expand a key Jewish settlement in the West Bank. We get details from CNN's Elaine Quijano Elaine.
[Elaine Quijano, Cnn Correspondent:] Hello to you, Miles. Well, that was one of the points of discussion, but the one that the two leaders chose to emphasize, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon essentially coming here to Crawford, seeking back-up, if you will, once again, from President Bush on Israel's plan to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Well, today he got that reassurance from President Bush that the U.S., in fact, does back that plan. Now, Ariel Sharon met with President Bush just a short time ago at his ranch here in Crawford, Texas. Mr. Sharon is facing some heated opposition, intense opposition, really, from settlers, even receiving death threats. But President Bush today praised Sharon as courageous, saying he demonstrated strong visionary leadership. And the president also took the opportunity to repeat his position. He sees the road map to peace, as he calls it, encompassing two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side.
[George W. Bush, President Of The United States:] ... States supports the establishment of a Palestinian state that is viable,
[Quijano:] President Bush there, essentially recognizing that the new leader of the Palestinians, the new president, Mahmoud Abbas, will be needing some help in carrying out, in laying the groundwork for democracy. President Bush, though, also well aware of the criticism surrounding the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, that perhaps he has not done enough, not done all that he possibly can do in order to disarm and dismantle terrorist organizations, as required by the U.S.'so-called road map for peace. Now the other issue that you brought up, the issue of a settlement in the West Bank that Ariel Sharon recently announced he would like to expand. Essentially, that issue was swept under the rug by Mr. Sharon, if you will, or at least pushed that discussion back to another day, but President Bush said unequivocally, what he had said earlier and what the United States had made clear, and that is it believes under the road map for peace, Israel has certain obligations, including freezing all settlement activity. That is certainly a sticking point that did not appear to be resolved today. That discussion, as I said, Miles, looking like it will be pushed off for another day. But President Bush making quite clear he feels this is a prime opportunity that this Gaza withdrawal is a step forward, hopefully, in the peace process and he is urging all sides to take the steps necessary to move that process ahead Miles.
[O'brien:] Elaine Quijano, Crawford, Texas. Thank you Kyra.
[Phillips:] Developing news now out of Santa Maria, California, at the Michael Jackson trial. Our Ted Rowlands there with the developments Ted.
[Ted Rowlands, Cnn Correspondent:] Kyra, another day of testimony from witnesses that are talking about prior bad acts or allegations against Michael Jackson. This morning, we heard from the mother of the accuser back in '93. This is the young man that eventually came to a financial settlement with Michael Jackson, and she, through very compelling testimony this morning, talked about the relationship that herself, her son and her family had with Michael Jackson, talking in detail about how Jackson had a chance meeting with her son. She then talked about how Jackson called her son, next thing you know she said that they were going up to Neverland, saying it was a wonderful experience at the beginning but then she started to detail the relationship as it went bad, in her opinion. She said that Jackson asked for the son to start sleeping with Michael Jackson in the same room. She said in Las Vegas they were in a suite and all of a sudden, Michael Jackson started crying and broke down and said, don't you trust me, we're family, urging the mother to allow her to have her son sleep with Michael Jackson. She says that she relented after about a 45-minute discussion and from there on, her son slept with Michael Jackson dozens of times, even at their house in Santa Monica, saying that Michael Jackson would come over to their house for weeks on end, sleep in the boy's bedroom and then he would leave when the boy went to school and come back when the boy came back from school. She's talking about a lot of similar themes that we have heard, not only from the accuser and the accuser's family in this case, but from other families that have accused Michael Jackson of improper acts. This is all coming in on the judge's decision to allow these prior bad acts to come into this trial. None of this was substantiated in terms of criminal charges, but the jury in this case is hearing it. Thomas Meserau, Jackson's defense lawyer, will have his opportunity to cross-examine the mother, coming up after the short break in about five minutes Kyra.
[Phillips:] All right, Ted Rowlands, live from the Michael Jackson trial. Thanks so much. Well, straight ahead, attention, gadget geeks. Miles. You've heard of i-Pod. Now get ready for i-Pot. That's pot with a
[T. O'brien:] Is that legal? I-Pots? For medicinal purposes.
[Phillips:] It does something totally legal that i-Pods can't do. We'll explain.